Loonatics: United

Compromised System

Episode 151: Rage and love in the Leviathan

Ace was looking at Duck with eyes of understanding and support, but also ones of deep concern. "Duck, why did you do it?"

Duck stood silent for a moment, holding the lump in his throat. "I'm not okay." A tear ran down his face. "Since…" He sobbed. "…since that day, in Apilex."

Ace raised an eyebrow. "What d…?" His eyes widened for a moment. "…oh, what happened with Alfons?"

Duck nodded. "I've been having nightmares since then, every single night." He let out another sob of great sorrow.

"You can't change what you did, Duck." Ace said. "You made a decision, a bad decision."

"But he deserved it!" Duck continued crying. "I shouldn't be feeling like this, why am I feeling like this?! He deserved to die!"

Ace sighed. "This guilt you're feeling won't go until you recognize your mistake, it's the only way. I wanted to kill him too, with all my heart and soul, I wanted to give the final strike, end with his life for all the atrocities he did."

"And why didn't you go ahead?" Duck sobbed. "That makes you a coward."

"No, Duck!" Ace exclaimed with a straight tone. "True cowardice is to disdain the chance of forgiving a man's life, that is true cowardice!" He kept looking into his eyes. "Your heart knows it, that is why you've been feeling like this, taking refuge in drugs, lying to yourself."

Duck shook his head, looking away. "Just leave me alone already." He sobbed.

Ace stood silent for a moment then got onto his feet and walked towards Duck, standing before him. "You're not a kid, I'm sure you're aware of that. It's your call if you want to get rid of that trash, which I think is a good start." He stood there, glaring at him with pity, he then stroked his head gently, making him look up into his eyes. "You just need time and reflection, those two things combined can do wonders." Ace smirked at him then turned and walked away, exiting the room.

Tech was in the cockpit, sitting on the pilot seat, pressing buttons on the console while looking at the tollers that were shown on the map displayed on the windshield, with a serious gaze, frowning a bit. Rev entered the cockpit all of a sudden. "What's up man?" Rev sat down on a chair and got next to him, looking at his serious face with an eyebrow raised. "Are you okay?"

Tech sighed. "Yes, Rev, I'm fine."

Rev looked at him with worry. "What happened?" He knew his best friend too well.

Tech stood silent for a couple of seconds, then looked at Rev briefly and let out a sigh while shaking his head. "Duck, he is using trancer, he brought it to my ship."

"Trancer? The drug?" Rev inquired.

"No, the DJ." Tech said with sarcasm. "The freaking drug, what else?!" He snarled.

Rev placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, man calm down it's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal? His health, everyone's health is my responsibility and he thinks he can just do whatever he wants and do my work harder." Tech argued, crossing his arms while looking at the ceiling, closing his eyes and sighing. "I knew he was stupid, just…not this stupid."

"Maybe he's going through something and that's his way of winding down, I'm not saying it's okay though." Rev said.

"So? Who cares about that?" Tech said with anger. "He got that crap in my ship, as if it was a damn night club, he has no respect for anything."

Rev patted his shoulder amicably. "Relax man, have you told Ace?"

"He's talking with him, but I don't think it will make any difference." Tech sighed. "Can you leave, please? I need some silence now."

"Sure." Rev got onto his feet and began to walk away.

Ace was in the kitchenette, having a coffee. "Hey Rev." He said as Rev walked past him.

"Oh hi Ace, uhm, is it true? The thing with Duck?" Rev stood next to him.

Ace sighed. "Yes, but don't say a word to anyone else okay?" He looked at him with a subtle look of warning.

Rev did a gesture on his beak, as if he was closing a zip. "My beak is sealed, man, not literally though."

"Thanks." Ace took a sip from his coffee, looking away.

Rev stood next to him for a moment. "Okay, I'm gonna head to my room."

"Okay, man." Ace replied coldly, Rev walked away after so.

Lexi exited her room, then walked down the brief staircase that led to the first deck of the Leviathan, arriving at the kitchenette. "Hey, sweet." She approached Ace and kissed his cheek, getting her arm over his shoulders while stroking his chest. "How are you?"

"Fine, I'm just tired." Ace looked at her. "What about you?"

Lexi sighed. "Same, but I can't sleep."

Ace placed his hand over hers. "Why is that?"

"I don't know." Lexi yawned. "You should try, though, you look awful."

"Thank you." Ace said with a brief chuckle.

Lexi let out a brief laugh while stroking his back tenderly. "I'm serious though, you need to rest."

"I'll sleep in the…" Ace yawned. "…toller, when we arrive."

"Hm, maybe we could try to take a nap together." Lexi kissed his cheek again.

Ace chuckled while blushing. "That doesn't sound too bad." He kissed her briefly. "Okay." Ace smiled at her.

Ace and Lexi went upstairs, then entered Lexi's room, laying down on the bed, embracing each other. Ace toyed with Lexi's hair while rubbing his nose with hers. "We need a vacation." He chuckled along with her.

"I would kill for that right now." Lexi kissed him for a few seconds. "But it's okay, you are all I need now." She stroked his chest lovingly.

Ace smirked and brought her closer to him, she rested her head on his chest as he caressed her. "I don't know if I could've made it this far without you, baby." He kissed her head tenderly.

"I'm sure you would have, Ace." Lexi stroked his back while snuggling against his chest. "You're a strong man." She sighed with bliss and love. "My strong man."

Ace kept caressing her, with his snout rubbing her head. "And you're my strong girl." He chuckled softly and kissed her head again, starting to toy with her ears, stroking them lovingly.

Lexi sighed. "I want to be with you my whole life."

Ace smiled, closing his eyes while still taking good care of her. "We will always be together, baby."

They both started to get sleepy. "I feel in peace when I'm…" Ace yawned. "…close to you." Ace kissed her head.

"Same." Lexi kept stroking his back gently. "You make me feel safe."

"I will always protect you, baby." Ace nuzzled her head with his snout, stroking her ears tenderly. They fell asleep after a pair of minutes, in a loving and warm embrace that brought good rest to their souls.

Tech was still in the cockpit, this time laying on the floor, inside a sleeping bag, as he had found a good toller near their location and he wanted to take a short nap, letting the autopilot do the job for a few minutes. His nap was frustrated as Vale entered the cockpit, the sound of the door opening woke him up. "Oh, uhm sorry man."

Tech looked at him, rubbing his eyes a bit. "It's okay, I just needed a…wait you should be resting in the infirmary."

"I'm okay, I feel muc…" Vale groaned and covered his wounds. "Damn."

Tech rolled up his eyes and got out of the sleeping bag, getting onto his feet and walking towards Vale. "Those bandages are not magical, Vale, you need more time to fully recover."

Vale groaned. "Okay but I'll stay in my room."

"Why?" Tech said while helping him stand on his feet, exiting the cockpit with careful steps.

"I don't want to spend another second with the lovebirds, it's uncomfortable." Vale explained. "Besides, the floor is cold as heck."

"Those are valid points I guess." Tech replied. "Let's head to your room, then."

Akinyi gave Edison a kiss on the forehead. "You need to rest, Ed." She said while stroking his arm.

Edison yawned. "I know." He placed his hand on her cheek. "You as well." He brought her snout close to his and started to kiss her. She gently placed both hands on his cheeks while kissing him back. After a long moment, they broke the kiss. Edison let out a brief laugh of bliss. "I love you babe."

Akinyi blushed. "I love you too." She stroked his chest.

"Uhm…did you talk to him?" Edison asked.

"Mhm." Akinyi sighed. "He understands, I think." She shook her head. "He just seems like…broken."

"I'm sure he will let go." Edison said.

"Yes, but, I love him so much and I hate seeing him like that, and it's my fault." Akinyi glared down.

"Hey, babe." Edison made her look at him, gently moving her lower jaw. "You don't have to feel guilty for anything, it's your choice if you want to be with me or with him, or any other guy." He took her hand and squeezed it lovingly. "And I'm so grateful that you chose me." He kissed her hand with tenderness. Akinyi chuckled and blushed, approaching his snout and giving him another kiss.