Hey guys, I am back with another chapter of the story.
Chapter 13: it isn't easy is it?
"Activating reverse thrusters," Perihelion announced before coming to a complete stop inches away from the ground.
"Mom, I peed," Shade said; still in shock.
"You're not alone kiddo," Rage said looking at his pants that were now wet.
"We did not have to know that Chip," Ryan said; moving away from his brother.
"Hold on sweetie, I'll clean you up when we settle a bit," Storm said; wiping the sweat off her fur.
"Peri, where are we?" Loyde asked; walking up to the front.
"We are on Marcadia on the outskirts of the town Columbus," the ship responded, "would you like me to fly to the nearest home?"
"Uh, sure…" he responded.
The ship began to hover to its destination.
Storm's POV
"Um Storm, where's Cal?" Ryan asked walking up to me.
"She's in the bedroom. Okay um please watch Shade for me," I said whilst handing him the child and walking to the bedroom.
I open the door and see Calvary sitting on the bed; knees to her chest and head down, "may I come in?" I asked to which there was no response from her.
Sighing, I walk over to the bed and sit next to her, "it isn't easy, is it?" she asked; startling me in the process.
"What do you mean?" I asked now facing her.
"life isn't easy, is it?" she continued, "losing the one person that mattered in your life by the blaster of someone you once considered a loved one," she explained, "I should have just died during training now that I know what the future holds but sadly, I'm already facing it."
"Cal, you don't know what you're saying. Everything happens for a reason," I said whilst holding her shoulder, "the Being in charge of fate and destiny allowed this to happen for a reason."
"I can't do this anymore Storm. It's over for me now," she said as tears began pouring out of her eyes.
I pulled her into a tight embrace; allowing her to cry on my shoulder, "Cal, it's going to be okay."
"I've lost everything Storm! What's there to live for?" she sobbed.
"You still have me. You still have Loyde, Rage, Ryan and you still have Shade," I reassured, "you still have friends that care about you and are willing to make you happy. You still have a lot to live for."
Her crying lessened and only sniffles could be heard, "Storm, you're right. I have what to live for," she said whilst pulling away and clasping my hands in her own, "I can't believe I was so selfish. Thank you Storm," she smiled to which I returned.
"Um girls, we've landed," Ryan said from the other side of the door.
"Coming!" we chorused.
No one's POV
The group got off the ship and walked towards the door of a small house, "um, who's knocking?" Rage asked.
Everyone then turned towards Loyde, who simply sighed and knocked on the door, "coming!" responded a voice from the inside.
"Hello," greeted a Markazian woman who looked to be in her early forties, "how may I help you?"
"Well, we crash landed on this planet and we were wondering if you had any room for us to stay here for a bit?" Loyde asked blushing in slight embarrassment.
The woman looked at the entire group before finally speaking, "I think I have some room. Please do come in," she said before allowing them in and of course they chorused a thank you.
"My son and I will share my room while his room will be empty and since we can't have boys and girls in the same room…" she paused, "the ladies will have my son's room and the gentlemen will take the living room." She declared to which they all agreed.
"Mommy I still need to be changed you know," Shade said looking uncomfortable.
"Oh, right. Let's go," Storm said reaching her hand out to her to whom she denied, "um Shade, is there anything wrong?" she asked rather confused.
"I want daddy to change me," she stated whilst reaching her hand out to Loyde to which he simply looked at the older female for approval.
"Uh, sure," she responded rather surprised at her child's action.
Loyde took the cub's hand and led her to the bathroom.
"You know Storm, you could always change me," Rage said walking up to her, "trust me, it won't be a boring experience," he grinned which only earned him a hard slap.
"Go take a shower or something," she said disgusted.
Time Skip
The group were all seated outside around a campfire all enjoying the warmth of the blaze, "Okay, well why don't we introduce ourselves. You know, since we'll be staying together," the woman suggested.
"I'm Rage."
"Ryan."
"Loyde."
"Calvary, but you may call me Cal for short."
"Storm."
"How about you, young lady?" the woman asked.
"Well since you asked… I am the smart and mystewious Shade," she said dramatically earning chuckles from the rest of the group.
"Well, it's my turn isn't it?" she realized, "I am Clare Winter."
"Nice to meet you Clare," the group chorused.
"Nice to meet you too," she responded.
"Mommy, I'm home," said a little boy who ran towards the group and hugged his mother before realizing that there were more people, "hello."
"Hi," they all chorused.
"My name is Richard Winter but you can call me Ricky for short," he smiled, "what are all of your names?" he asked curiously.
A chorus of groans began to unfold until the sound of a throat being cleared was heard, "their names are Storm, Calvary, Loyde, Ryan, Rage and I the beautiful Shade," Shade said.
"Nice to meet you all," he said with a smile to which they all mirrored.
"So… handsome, why don't you give me a tour," Shade said; attempting to flirt but due to the boy's naivety, her attempts were rendered useless.
"Uh… okay, follow me," he said leading the other child into the house.
"Glad she's found something that caught her attention," Storm sighed.
"So, tell me about yourselves," Clare suggested to the group.
"Well, um where do we start?" Ryan asked rather unsure.
"Well, you can start by telling me what you all do," she suggested.
"Well, I'm specialized in Robotics and work for Bot Fighting entertainment," Ryan said rather proudly.
"I'm specialized in Mechanical engineering," Rage said; looking at an old hover car "and it looks like that vehicle needs a lot of work."
"I'm a General in the Peace Keeper Force," Calvary said showing her badge to which Clare flinched, "is everything alright, Clare?"
"Of course dear. It's just that Peace Keepers Bring back many memories," she reassured, "please continue."
"I don't have a job as at now though I did undergo training in the Martial Arts," Storm said.
"Well, I don't really have a career per say but I do complete tasks for a fee," Loyde said avoiding exposing his criminal record.
"I must say, you all have interesting lives," Clare said with a gentle smile, "I guess it's my turn to say something about myself."
"I've been living on Marcadia from the time I was born," she said looking at the stars, "I grew up with four rambunctious brothers who all seemed to cooperate whenever an opportunity to explore was given to them."
"Where are they now?" Rage asked only to be met with a chorus of shushes, "sorry."
"It's okay Rage; they're all out there enjoying their lives with their families and careers," she politely answered.
"How come you're out here in the dust when they're enjoying themselves?" Ryan asked.
"I'll get there as I explain my story," she responded, "anyway, my father was one of the most strict men out there," she explained, "he was once a Peace Keeper officer as well. He made sure all missions were successful and disciplined all who defied his orders."
"Glad he wasn't my dad," Loyde mumbled, "ouch!"
"Serves you right, jerk. Please continue Clare," Storm smirked.
"My mother was a doctor for the Force," she continued, "she always knew how to cure any problem."
"I then met and fell in love with one of my father's cadets when I once escorted my mother to work," she smiled, "when my parents found out, dad went mad," she chuckled, "he ordered us to stay away from each other but that didn't keep us apart."
"We would meet secretly almost every single day; growing closer each time," she reminisced with a warm smile, "but when I fell pregnant, dad became furious," she continued, "he became so mad that he kicked me out of the house forcing me to move in with my lover."
"We stayed together for a while until I was kidnapped leaving him with our daughter."
"Who kidnapped you?" Calvary who was deep in the story asked.
"He was a secret admirer that had been stalking me for a long time and I guess he finally got his chance." Clare responded.
"What happened next?" Rage asked.
"Well, I got to know him better after four years of being under his captivity and we got married," she said blankly earning dumbfounded looks from everyone, " I later bore his son and we named him Richard. My husband later passed on and I've been out here ever since."
"That's one heck of a story alright," Calvary sighed earning sounds of agreement from the others.
"Wow it's pretty late, I think we should get some rest," Clare said standing up.
"Um Storm, you've got something on your back," Loyde alerted, "let me get it."
"Uh, okay," She responded.
"You know Storm, you're lucky to have such a caring mate," Clare confessed causing the two to blush madly.
"Wait, hold on!"
Hey guys, that was Chapter 13 of this story and I hope you enjoyed it. I guess you now know Shade's crush and Clare's back story so don't worry, she's not an isolated psychopath but she's a friendly old lady who happens to live on the outskirts of town. A little spoiler here, next chapter will be filler so expect it to be about anything. Well I guess I've said a lot so…
Bye!