Loonatics: United

Compromised System

Episode 143: Way to Rojus

The inside of the 'Leviathan' made great contrast with its outside, the walls, the floor and the ceiling were of pure white, adorned by patterns conformed by dim, orange lights. "All the rooms are the same size, with private bathroom, TV, closet, among some other amenities." Tech explained while they walked through the brief hallway. "And here's a…" Tech placed his hand on a pad that was on the wall, then the wall slid upwards, revealing what hid behind. "…kitchenette." Tech winked at them while pointing his hands at the compact, yet functional amenity. "We got coffee, some MREs, juice, uhm…well lots of stuff." Tech smirked at them. "It's all yours."

"Thank you, Tech." Vale said.

"No problem." Tech pointed at the cockpit behind him. "If you excuse me, I have to go to my place." He chuckled briefly. "Hold on tight until we are off planet." He turned and then looked at a pair of lenses that were attached to the door, a dim green laser scanned his face and after a beeping sound, the door slid open and he got in.

Ace glanced at the Maniacs. "We arrive at Rojus in three hours or so. You better get some sleep now that you can."

Duck put his backpack on the floor and began to unpack his things, hanging his clothes in the closet at the end of the room, putting his earphones on the side table next to his bed and getting his numerous personal hygiene products in the bathroom. He turned on the faucet in the sink and let the water run as he looked at himself in the mirror. "One…two…three…" A flashing memory of Alfons' head rolling over the ground came into his mind. He clenched his fists and kept counting. "…four…fiv…five…" Duck looked at his backpack, as he had left the bathroom's door open. He closed his eyes and started to take deep breaths. "…six…seven."

In a blink, Duck was already kneeling before his backpack, with a rectangular shaped device on his right hand, no bigger than an antique cassette tape. It was gray and metallic, and it had a transparent middle that revealed its content, a dense, purple liquid. Duck got his thumb on a small black button at the edge of the device, he then brought the other edge to his nostril and pressed the button. A purple fume exited the edge of the device, entering Duck's nose violently. Duck groaned while looking upwards and dropping himself to the ground, breathing in and out arrhythmically, hearing his heart beating as his sight got completely distorted, his eyes teared quickly, a growing smirk appeared on his face as his eyes got lost in the nothingness.

Rev was laying down on his bed, looking at the white ceiling while moving his feet impatiently. He sighed and got off the bed quickly, exiting his room. "Oh, hey man what's up? Feeling too energized?" Rev told Randy as he approached him.

"Yeah, I guess." Randy took a bottle of iced tea from the small fridge in the kitchenette.

Rev chuckled. "Same here, pal." He shrugged while rolling up his eyes. "One of the few downs of being a speedster. Uhm, could you hand me one of those?" Randy stood up, giving him another bottle. They both took a long sip from their beverages. Rev exhaled with satisfaction. "Thanks bud. So…anything you wanna talk about?" He leaned on the edge of the kitchenette's bar.

"Not really." Randy took a sip from his tea, then just kept glaring away. "Uhm…"

Rev raised an eyebrow while looking at him. "Yeah?"

Randy shook his head. "Nothing."

"You sure?" Rev drunk from his bottle again. "What's up bud?"

Randy hesitated for a couple more seconds. "What do you do to stay this…calm?"

"Huh? Rev expressed. "Calm? Me?" He chuckled briefly while shaking his head. "I'm everything but calm right now, but you…" Rev poked his chest. "You are calm, man, you're the first speedster I know who doesn't try to say everything that's in his mind every time. I mean you are the only other speedster I know but, still."

"I'm shy…quiet." Randy took a sip from his tea. "But there's…noise inside, like, a lot of noise. I'm afraid all the time, right now, yesterday, last week." He glanced at Rev. "All the time, I'm afraid all the time."

"Afraid of what?" Rev asked while placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not sure. Many things, I guess." Randy lowered down his gaze. "Of failing, being alone, dying…killing."

"Hm, I get you pal." Rev replied.

"You do?" Randy looked at him with doubt.

"Yes." Rev responded firmly. "I mean, those are very common and natural fears, I've experienced them many times throughout the years. Losing a battle, losing all of your loved ones, your life…that's pretty scary. And taking another's life, man, that's the worst of it all."

Randy thought for a moment. "Have you, well…?"

"Killed before? Oh no, no thank God I haven't. It hasn't been necessary." Rev said.

"When is it?" Randy kept glancing into Rev's eyes.

"Sorry?" Rev inquired.

"When is it necessary, when is it…just okay?" Randy asked.

"Oh, well…never, Randy, never. I just spoke my mind before giving some thought to my answer, sorry." Rev replied.

"It's alright." Randy scratched his nape. "It's just that…my friends, well, teammates, whatever. They think a bit differently."

"You kidding? That's what our whole 'issue' was about in the beginning, remember?" Rev took another sip.

"Mhm." Randy looked at him with intrigue. "What changed?"

"I don't get you bud." Rev replied.

"Why aren't we, well, enemies anymore?" Randy shook his head while looking away. "My teammates haven't changed their ways. At least not fully." He glared back at Rev. "And you know it."

Rev got thoughtful for a moment and took a sip from his drink. "There are other ways to change people, better than judging. Believing you are the only one who does things right, that's the purest form of arrogance if you ask me."

Ace was in his room, napping already. He heard someone knocking the door. Ace groaned and yawned while stretching. "Come in."

Lexi entered, smiling at her boyfriend while walking towards him. "Hey, baby." She sat down at the edge of the bed.

Ace gave her a quick and loving kiss. "Trouble sleeping?"

"Mhm." Lexi placed her head on his shoulder, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. "What's the plan?"

"Hm?" Ace kissed her head. "For the mission, you mean?"

"No, for dinner. Yes for the mission." Lexi chuckled while stroking his back. "You dummy."

Ace let out a brief laugh. "We have very little info to make something elaborate. We'll have to improvise."

"I don't wanna trouble you, but… I got a bad feeling about this." Lexi said.

"You know what?" Ace stroked her hair gently, with care and love. "I feel the same."

Lexi chuckled. "We really are for each other, aren't we?"

"You doubt it at this point?" Ace kissed her forehead.

"No, I'd never doubt that, baby." Lexi stroked his thigh gently.

"Me neither, Lex." Ace caressed her cheeks while looking into her eyes.

Tech was sitting on the pilot seat with a relaxed position, having both hands behind his neck, looking into the fast-moving stars and checking the console's screen once in a while. He hear the door opening, accompanied by a beastly grunt. "Shoot!" Tech put his hand over his chest after jumping by the fright, looking over his shoulder and letting out a sigh of relief when seeing Slam entering the cockpit. "Damn it, Slam, could you even knock? You scared the crap out of me."

Slam shrugged while grunting with disdain, he then snarled again, telling Tech he was bored.

Tech raised an eyebrow. "And what do you want me to do?"

Slam grunted, asking if he had video-games or something, that they could play together.

"What? Of course I have, I installed dozens of them in this beauty." Tech crossed his arms while looking away with disapproval. "But we're on a mission and it's my duty as pilot to stay concentrated and fully alert."

"Video-games?" Rev entered along with Randy. "I'd be up for that."

Tech sighed. "No! I have to…"

"You could just put the auto-pilot." Rev suggested. "Come on man."

Tech looked at them with hesitation, then he just sighed and pressed a button on the console, then the large frontal window turned into a screen, a picture-in-picture display of the horizon appeared on the lower right corner of the screen. "You happy now?"

"Yes." Rev said.

Slam growled affirmatively.

Slam, Rev and Randy took a swivel chair each and sat down before the screen. "What you got man?" Rev asked.

Tech used the console to travel through the large game list that was showing on the screen. "Well, I got everything from the 1980's to this very day."

"Sick!" Randy exclaimed, then glared at his comrades with embarrassment. "Sorry." He chuckled silently.

"Indeed, it's sick." Tech winked at him. "What about some good, old 'Tiny Toon Adventures'?"

"Woah that's like, ancient." Rev nodded. "That means it's good, run it already man."

"Uhm, I'll ask the others if they wanna join." Randy stood up and then exited the cockpit. He walked through the hallway then went upstairs to reach the ship's second deck. Randy approached the door of Akinyi's room and knocked with shyness. "Uhm, Aki?" He waited a moment but heard no answer. Randy hesitated for a couple of minutes, but then he gathered enough courage to open the door, placing his hand on the recognition pad next to it. The door slid open and Randy's eyes widened when seeing Akinyi and Edison kissing and hugging each other, standing in the middle of the room.

Akinyi gasped and backed away from Edison a couple of steps. "Damn, Randy!" She was blushing while rearranging her head's fur. "Would you mind knocking at least?"

"I…" Randy clenched his fists while looking at Edison with a straight face.

"Do you need anything?" Edison inquired.

Randy breathed in and out slowly, calming himself down while slowly undoing his fist, glaring down with embarrassment. "Sorry, I should've knocked."

Akinyi looked at him with worry. "Amigo…"

"Sorry." Randy backed away, exiting the room, then he closed the door again by placing his hand on the recognition pad.

Edison had an eyebrow raised as he looked at the closed door. "So, you haven't told him?" He turned his gaze to Akinyi.

Akinyi sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, covering her face with both hands. "What do you think, Ed?"

"Hm." Edison glanced at the door again. "Maybe I sh…"

"No." Akinyi uncovered her face and looked into his eyes. "Stay, I…I will talk to him later, okay?" She stood up and approached him, placing a hand on his face.

"Okay." Edison began to kiss her again, favor she returned, as they both embraced each other with a burning love.