Chapter 24: Dan
I nodded to Fabia and then looked to Drago as a question hung in my mind.
"Drago." I called to my Bakugan partner as he popped open and looked to me, "Can you teleport us to Earth?"
"With the Neathian shields down it is possible, but that nightmare was too much for me and I don't think I can open a portal to Earth. Maybe New Vestroia or Vestal would be better choices if Earth is being threatened, we'll need back up." Drago suggested as he looked to Aronaut for a moment, "Do you think even Gundalia or Neathia armies could help us?"
Aronaut was silent and turned to Fabia so my gaze went to her as I was confused as to why the Haos warrior was looking to her. Fabia met my eyes and I knew something else was up.
"Dan, I'm sorry I should've told you outright, but our scientists aren't sure what the cause of it could be." Fabia said vaguely.
"What?" I asked as I was getting more confused.
"We lost communication with Earth and thought it could be because a satellite was down, but we can't even pick it up on the deep space radar mapping system." Fabia explained her face downcast, "I was ordered along with a few others to not inform you of it. We still don't know why this is happening, but I think the dream we had together just revealed it all. Magmel must've done something to Earth."
Now I knew where to direct my anger. Magmel, this jerk was causing all sorts of trouble for me lately and I think it's high time I confronted him.
"Well I think it may be a trap to go to Earth, so I agree with Drago that we should gather allies, but it would be unwise to trust the council to officially allow this." Aronaut said.
"Like I was saying, we should just go ahead and jump to New Vestroia as I am sure that several Bakugan there will be glad to provide their assistance to us. Plus we may run into our old Vestal friends." Drago said and I nodded in agreement.
"Right, but one thing I need a bakumeter and the only available one is in my Castle Knight uniform which I don't know where it is." I mentioned.
"I know where it is." Fabia said and rushed over to her closet, "I'll go get it."
"Hold on Princess, we need to plan this out more." Aronaut said stopping her and she came out halfway dressed in her normal dress.
"Agreed, sorry." Fabia said and I looked at her a little weirded out when she noticed my expression she asked, "What?"
"Could it be possible that you accidently take on personality traits of the one you bond with, temporarily?" I asked.
Fabia blushed and I chuckled before Aronaut silenced me.
"Anyway, we need to plan and get some supplies." Aronaut suggested, "Since we aren't being official with this it's best that we be as stealthy as possible, but I don't think you should wander around too much Dan as you are supposed to be in your own room recovering."
"Right, but that's why I wear this projector." I said as an idea came to mind, "Since I know so much on how to tweak them I should be able to sneak around as need be."
"That'll work until you start speaking." Drago joked earning a side scowl from me, but I smiled.
"So how about this," I began, "I'll go fetch the rations and other things we may need and Fabia gets us our Castle Knight uniforms."
"Wait I'm getting mine as well?" Fabia asked a little confused as to why.
"Yeah, it'll be perfect armoring to wear as New Vestroia is a peaceful planet, but the terrain can't always be so nice and there are some Bakugan you gotta watch out for. Plus I would feel bad if you got hurt." I replied with at the last part I tried to be smooth, but she snorted at the last bit as commentary to my corny romance.
"I've proven many times I can handle myself." She said confidently and I nodded.
"Yeah, sorry." I laughed in embarrassment.
"Alright so I'll go get the uniforms and you get the supplies, but where should we meet up at?" Fabia asked trying to get everything in motion.
I paused in thought for a bit before replying, "The garden of course, towards the outer section, you know the place, it's our favorite spot."
I felt a pair of eyes glaring holes into as I said that last bit and from the corner of my I noticed Aronaut looking straight at me. I quickly pretended to be oblivious and got to my feet grabbing up my projector. It took me a few tries to get it to a disguise of a Castle Guard before I went on my merry way.
Drago didn't accompany me as it would kill the disguise and Aronaut promised to make sure they too were at the meeting spot. Deeming it best we separate for now as I had a feeling to not really trust some of the castle staff, I couldn't shake it, this urgency to leave the planet. Sure, I felt like this before, but as my eyes were hidden behind the projected helmet I was able to gaze unwarranted as I passed by a few of the staff members. They nodded to me and a few ignored my existence all together which I didn't mind, but getting into the kitchen was a different matter.
As I neared the door, the bustle of morning activity could be heard, well at least that was what I was expecting, but instead I heard hushed voices conversing.
"We cannot do it, without him." A female voice hissed, "I mean both of them, but then again do we really know what they are capable of individually?"
"Yes, one is just as good as the other." A new voice replied curtly, this one was male though, "However the time is not right and I haven't heard from the others about the condition of the situation."
"Perhaps they've already done it?" A younger male voice piped in, "I mean, could they have forgotten to inform us, or maybe they're in the process, or they have done it, but want to wait until the proper time so all can know?"
"Yes, those are some ideas, but for now we must wait." The older male voice responded as if in thought.
"Indeed." The female added, "I think we should return to our cooking, there's plenty of mouths to feed and I want to be done before lunch so I can rest a bit more than yesterday."
"Go check on the staff preparing the dining room and see their progress." The older male voice commanded.
I knew then I needed to back up and pretend I was just arriving, I moved quickly before whoever was daring to come out that door could beat me to my restart point. As the door was being pulled open I started back towards it, nodding to the Neathian boy that passed through as he gave me a, "Good morning."
The simple nod worked for him, but as I entered the kitchen it became a whole other story. There were only two of them in the kitchen and I felt the male and female gazing at me.
"What brings you to the kitchen? They all seated and anxious?" The tall male, with blonde hair and green eyes asked as I stood there nervously.
"They can't be, we still have another hour or two." The thin short female said as she moved a lock of blue from her face.
I didn't know what to do at that point, except speak, which I wasn't supposed to do as I could blow my cover. So I cleared my throat and in a fake deep voice I replied.
"No, I'm running an errand for a few of the Knights. Some of them are about to go on a mission that leads away from civilization so I'm here to round up their rations for them." I did my best to sound official and not, well, me.
They stared at me for a moment and then the male spoke, "How many bags and how full?"
"Two and halfway, please." I said remembering my manners as it made me sound more official and the two began to relax.
"I'll take care of it." The woman said as she rolled up her sleeves moving from the pot she had been stirring to a large fridge with several empty packs piled next to the door, "Do you know how long they be away?"
"A-a couple of weeks I think, they didn't really know an exact time of when they'll return, but three weeks at the most is what I overheard." I tried my best to guess a good length of time in case things went wrong.
"Alright I'll pack it full of nutrient rich food, I hope neither of them are junk food eaters." The female joked as she disappeared into the walk in fridge for several minutes.
She returned and handed the packs to me and I was surprised to find them a lot less heavier than I anticipated.
"There you go, now wish them luck for me." The female said with a wink.
"I will, madam. Uh, good day." I quickly said as I nearly darted out of the kitchen.
The vibe coming off those two wasn't bad, but I just didn't like the way they were eyeing me. Plus hearing their awkward conversation brought a lot of questions to my mind. Who were they talking about? What was the it, item? Who were they waiting for? I shook off the questions as I neared the armory and was glad to find it empty.
I swiftly made my way to the smoke bomb supplies and filled each pack equally with them. Shun used these a lot as well as Fabia so I figured they would do us some good. I grabbed a few flash bombs and stink bombs as well. I hoped we wouldn't have to use all these, but if Shun liked to carry some around they might prove useful to me as well. I paused noticing the spears and swords and guns. For peace loving aliens they sure loved their weaponry. I grew quizzical of why they had such things, but understood it might be a last resort. I handled one of the spears and played with the buttons on the side. One activated the laser edge and as I held down the button the edge continued to extend. Another button shot out a small laser shot. I prayed no one heard that. I found a button that pressing it once collapsed and shrunk the spear to the size of a dagger and pressing it again made it go back to it's original size. I figured that would be useful so I place one in each pack. I found some flare guns and rounds for them so I placed a flare gun in each pack and several cartridges equally. I was almost done as I was about to leave I heard the door open and I instantly threw myself into hiding behind one of the cabinets. I heard two pairs of footsteps enter, but they came nowhere near me thankfully.
"Did you hear?" A male voice asked.
"Hear what?" replied another male.
"They're still not telling the truth to the public." The first male voice replied.
"Why does it matter? It would only cause panic anyway." The second replied as a door to a cabinet was opened.
"Well I hear it may be causing an uprising, but then again those only may be rumors." The first said in a hushed tone.
The second laughed, "Rumors are of no concern. Relax, after all, we shouldn't assume what isn't confirmed."
"Fine, but if it turns out true you owe me." The first replied as they started to walk away.
"Hey, don't con me into buy a drink for you." The second joked as they faded away and the door swung shut.
"Weird." I murmured before moving out of my hiding place and giving the armory a good look before I too left.
I eyed one of the swords for a moment before deciding to meddle with it. Like the staff it too had button on the handle. One, extended and retracted, the other gave it a laser edge. I placed it in one pack and hurried off. I tried my best to avoid people after that and almost made it to the garden without suspicion when I ran nearly right into Anubias.
"Pardon me." I said and in the middle of speaking I remembered to mask my voice.
Anubias paused and raised an eyebrow before turning and heading down the corridor. I heaved a sigh of relief before pushing open the garden doors and quickening my pace. I sprinted through the shrubs and bushes and almost ran into Fabia's backside.
"Oh sorry, uh…" Fabia trailed off and I regained my composure.
"It's me, Dan." I said as I turned off the projected disguise, "Got the uniforms."
She nodded and I noticed she was already wearing her's.
"Here." She said handing me mine, "Better hurry up and change."
I nodded and went behind the large oak tree that she and I would have our make out sessions at. I heard Aronaut and Drago arriving as I slipped off my pants leaving on, only my boxers and grey tank top before slipping on the suit. I returned from behind the tree, smiling. Fabia was looking through a pack.
"You got a lot of stuff for us to use, but why so many bombs?" Fabia asked as I picked up the one next to her and slung it over my shoulder.
"Well, Shun uses them a lot so I figured they might come in handy." I stated as she zipped it up and slipped it on like a backpack, "Is there enough supplies, anyway?"
"Yeah, you know how to pack, which I kind of find surprising." She teased and I smirked.
"Well maybe-" I began before Aronaut cut me off.
"We should leave, I get the feeling someone is watching us." The haos warrior hissed as he rested on Fabia's shoulder.
"I have to agree. It's best we stop dragging this out." Drago admitted as he glowed and a portal appeared behind him, "It's best to hurry, we only have a minute or two before the portal closes."
I took Fabia's hand and we ran into the portal together.
New Vestroia here we come.
Sorry for the long wait. I've been busy - Same old excuse. Anyway, it'll be awhile before another chapter as this coming weekend I'll be at a convention doing a panel with a friend, we're doing a discussion panel on the Bakugan series, nothing about Bakutech, just plain old Bakugan. Anyway I'm pumped for that. Wow, six pages for this chapter. I broke my record. XD