Hearts Of War: Wrestling Holiday One-shots

By: Jurassicfatt

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They are owned by WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling, and many other promotions. This story is entirely fictional.

Chapter 5: Pirates Life For Mami (Rhea/Dakota)

Rhea's POV, Stasis Pod, Unknown

Dreams of black night and the sound water crashing over the rocks. I hear Siri 2, the AI installed in the pod, speak.

"Destination reached. JWS Planet 15674-b, in the Saurion solar system of the Milky Way Galaxy. Planet habitable and conducive to human settlement. Estimated pods landed successfully at 250,345. Reanimation sequence in progress. 2 hours elapsed. Remaining time estimated at: 3 minutes and counting."

Little by little, I feel warm liquid cover my arms, body, and legs, followed by my hair. I feel myself take in breath; my eyes still shut. I start trying to move my muscles, wiggling my toes and feet, and stretching my leg out. The warm gel surrounds my neck and face, the skin there heating up. I groan weakly, still waking up from my deep sleep. My mind wanders over nothing, little thoughts passing by and forgotten instantly. I take a few more breaths from my nose, not wanting to let my mouth open and taste that horrific gel. I toss around slowly, trying to wake my body up and alleviate the stiffness. The gels slosh against the sides as I do, coating my chest and abs in more of it. The AI continues warming me, before speaking again.

"Reanimation sequence complete. Please stand-by, Ms. Rhea Ripley."

"Ugh!" I groan out, stretching my arms as far as I can in front of me.

"Good morning. I hope you had a wonderful time sleeping. This is the Aux-Tech Quantum series sleeper pod, after all." the female AI voice tells me.

"Could you please stop talking?" I assert, moaning as my eyes begin to open. Damn, this stuff better come off with water.

"Are my words bothering you, Rhea? I can imagine you must be quite thirsty after travelling such a long distance."

"Where am I?"

"In your pod. I'm Siri 2, by the way. "

"I know. Which planet? Don't tell me I'm going to die of no oxygen or atmosphere, Siri."

"No, you're fine. This planet is similar to Earth, although just a bit smaller. Gravity calculated at 9.6 m/s/s. This planet is mostly comprised of ocean. Approximately 92% of the planet's surface is water, with several islands-"

"Siri, could you please shut up? Is there any risk of sinking? And can I contact other pods?" I grumble, my head splitting. I put a hand to my forehead to alleviate the pressure. "Fuck, my head."

"Most likely post-pod headache syndrome, or PPHS. And no, our pod is floating nicely on the surface. It's actually quite a sunny day. As for communication with other pods, unlikely, due to atmospheric re-entry leading to communication system damage. We could chart a path to the nearest opened pod? You'd be able to speak to another human."

"Alright, do it. But please get rid of this gel and get me some clothes."

"Right away, Rhea! Oh and happy Valentine's!" Siri 2 says. I'm surprised Aux-Tech put holiday calendar responses in Siri's programming. The gel starts draining from the pod as a drying feature melts the rest off my skin. It's like being in one of those wind-tunnel exhibits at a science center, but super warm. "I've taken the liberty of printing you a pair pants and shirt in your style." A hologram shows a pair of stretchy black pants and white short-sleeve. Water-resistant sneakers are also provided.

"You did well, Siri. Ow, my head!" I admit, before yelling out.

"Would you like a liquid ibuprofen? I've been supplied one for you to take to alleviate-"

"Yes, please, for the love of God!" I yell, cutting her off. My head is splitting. Fuck! A dispenser shoots out from the side. Grabbing it, a small tube of ibuprofen 'liquid paste' falls into my hand. Unscrewing the lid, I slurp it down. It's familiar taste on my tongue, Siri dispenses a mini water, which I gulp down. Placing the tube and bottle back in their holders, I lay back and wait for my clothes to be dispensed. Once they are I, with great difficulty, get dressed. Luckily the shoes are slip-ons, though it takes me a moment to get the right angle. Finally, they are on, fitted perfectly to my feet. "Siri? Do you know if any of my squad landed yet?"

"Unable to confirm. Last know location of Commander Finn Devitt, Sergeant 2nd Class Damian Priest, Corporal Toni Rossall, and Private Dominic Mysterio are unknown at present, though my sensors indicate their pods did launch sometime before yours." Damn it. I haven't seen them since we left Earth. At that time, the world was on the brink of collapse, and wars were popping up all over. Eastern Africa. Northern China. Peru, Brazil, and Mexico. Hell, there were skirmishes in Central Europe and the U.S., with raiders fighting police and looting storehouses for wheat and vegetables. Food and medicine were their main targets. Aux-Tech Special Forces and Science Division was formed to protect greenhouses and supply chains from piracy. The amount of warfare I saw off Australia's Western Coast was more than I could have ever imagined. We were sent in to help the Australian armed forces, after the government asked for it. Seeing those pirates' tanker ships firing missiles at Perth will remain one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. We were tough, but damn were those grueling months, where we questioned everything, including our own allegiance to the fight.

Aux-Tech also used new emerging technologies to come up with solutions. Some of their competitors built underwater cities where people would farm sea plants and animals. But the crush depth prevented them from pursuing more than 5 units at a time. Instead, Aux-Tech looked to the stars, using the James Webb Space Telescope to find habitable exoplanets, and developed, alongside new AI, large sleeper pod ships to send a proportion of the population to another planet. It took quicker than most though- 18 months. People could volunteer in some countries, while others forced drafts on their populations to determine who could stay and who would leave. People under 20 or over 75 could only go under circumstances, such as their parents being drafted or if explicit consent and waivers were signed.

Aux-Tech also had a draft, and we all got an email confirming our spots. Damian was a little sad to leave him hometown of New York. Hell, we all were. But Finn made a good point: "Judgment Day will be beacons, no matter what planet they're stationed." He made us promise that, if we made it, we contact him immediately, so we could get the band back together. Everyone agreed. Finn went into his pod first, to be the exemplary leader. He gave us a thumbs up before falling into cryosleep. Each person followed, until it was just Toni and I left. She punched my face, shrugged while flipping me off and then got in her pod. Last words she said to me were "First fight I want when we get to the new planet will be with you. Can't let ourselves get rusty, now, can we? Loser buys dinner!" she teased. I owe her a good right hand to the jaw for that. Hehe! I grab my dog tags, the word 'Nightmare' written right underneath my name. *Sigh*, I've got to find them. With my family having passed in the war, they are all I have left.

"Rhea, I've located a pod about 15 miles North of us. It washed up on a nearby beach." Siri 2 states, breaking my train of thought.

"Can you tell if it's opened?"

"Yes. It looks like it could be Aux-Tech Special Forces, too. Shall I take us there?" Fuck, that could be one of the gang.

"Do it!" I tell her.

"On it, Rhea. Just one-"

Shink! A large metal blade stabs into the top of my pod, puncturing the top. What the fuck!

"Warning, pod punctured. Rhea, sensors indicate a large vessel is approaching us!" Siri warns. I feel the pod get yanked in another direction, the movement causing me to bang against the sides.

"Ow! What the hell! Siri, can you get us out of here?!" I yell. More metal puncture sounds, one near my feet causes sea water to start leaking in. "Just great!"

"I can't get us free. Warning, Rhea, we have a leak!"

"I noticed! Can you plug it- aaagh!" I start asking, before another yank shoves me into the pod again. "I'm going to kill whoever is yanking us."

Suddenly, the pod begins moving upward, as if we're being pulled out of the water. I think I can hear a crank being used to lift us. "Siri, do we have any weapons onboard?"

"Yes, Series 12 Aux-Tech stun rifle, along with a transponder."

"Get them ready. And can you transfer yourself to the transponder? I might need your help on this planet." Sorry Toni. Wasn't expecting to fight the minute I came to, but obviously someone is asking for it.

"No problem. It'll be you and me. Now," I hear a few mechanisms start churning in the background, before the rifle appears right outside the glass. The gun is shaped like a slim white and blue sniper, with a silver barrel and stock. A solar-powered core allows the gun to run completely on the Sun's energy, although firing too quickly can lead to overheating. Siri's transponder goes right next to it, "Rifle prepared. Downloading myself into transponder, now. Be ready- we've got at least 12 heat signatures on the ship. Press that red lever to open the glass portion, and then the red and yellow lever outside to open the pod."

"Thanks Siri." Cracking my neck, I ring my hands and stretch. I feel the pod slam to the ground, making me bounce inside. I pull the first lever, the glass opening horizontally. I grab the gun, cock it, and check the charge. 100%, but locked to stun. That'll be fine. I rub a hand over a lockbox, a memento I brought from home. Inside is a necklace my mother got for me for my 16th birthday. I take the transponder and press a button. Siri sends me a smiling emoji, then a map of my surroundings. Placing that on my wrist, it wraps around my arm, like an Apple watch. Taking a breath, I grab the second lever. I think I can hear a few muffled voices outside. Calming myself, I pull it, the pod doors flying open. I jump out, aiming around. Immediately, a massive blue hand grabs my gun, pulling it upwards. I come face-to-face with a large human-looking creature, with a long feather earring and beard, his solid brown eyes staring daggers at me as he grits his teeth.

"Let it go!" I yell. Looking around, I find a bunch of purple and blue-skinned creatures in clothing surrounding my vessel. Most are bipedal, with some even looking like humans except for their solid-color eyes with no pupils. Many brandish swords and… flintlocks? They don't seem friendly. Pulling the gun hard towards me, I fire at the big fucker, knocking him on his back. He shakes, clutching the area where I hit him. The group flinches. "Who's next?!" I scream, firing at another being, who goes down immediately. They yell and run for me. I dodge their swords, running, and bashing their arms and faces in with my gun. I'm running and jumping a bit higher than normal. Must be an effect of the gravity. Feeling someone come close, I turn to see a man with purple eyes and spikes pointing an Aux-Tech rifle at me. I don't have enough time to react as he fires, the stun blast hitting me in the chest. I fall to my knees, the shock going through my body. Holding my chest, my arms and legs shake as the man grabs me by my hair, pulling my head up.

"Another human, huh? You've got some fight in you. You should be a great asset. Pick her up!" he yells, as two purple arms wrap around mine and force me to my feet. My chest is still tingling, and I have difficulty staying awake. "Yes, you've got lots of potential." he murmurs, trying to cup a feel.

I pull my arm free and use whatever energy I have left to sock his jaw, my fist colliding with left cheek. He collapses immediately, groaning. A small man, maybe 5ft.4, with a black and white stripped shirt over his blue skin runs out, a red Aux-Tech hat on his head. "Restrain her!" he yells. The purple men wrap a rope around my neck, pulling my arms behind my back. I try to break free, but they're really strong. "Ale-Rado! Again?" he grumbles, kicking the man while he's down.

"Let me-Ack!" I yell, the rope getting pulled tighter against my throat. My vision starts getting blurry. My chest is really bothering me.

The captain, I assume, looks me over. "You're not like the others." he stares at my rifle, still lying on the ground. "Not with that weapon. I had to kill one like you to get his." My eyes go wide at his assertion, the rage filling me as I try to step forward. "Ah, ah. You aren't going anywhere."

"Captain!" I hear a female voice say, before a 5ft.6 woman comes into view. She must be human, her brown eyes looking around in worry. She wears a brown tattered shirt, black pants riddled with smudges and tears, and a pair of black shoes. Her tan skin is glistening with sweat as she turns to look me over, her pink messy hair falling down her shoulders. Her gold nose ring shines in the blaring sun, and she seems to be pleading with the captain.

"What now, Kota?" he asks, his tone aggravated as he picks up my weapon.

"Don't kill her. She can be an asset to us. Just not like… Ale-Rado was suggesting." she offers.

"How, exactly? She just took on 12 of my best men without any armor!"

The woman flinches as he screams in her face, before responding. "That means she's strong. You could have her lug powder and man the sails under supervision. Just until she learns her place." she suggests, giving him a smile. My vision is staring to get blurry again. Rhea, for the love of God, don't pass out now.

"Like you did?" he asks. She nods.

"Exactly."

The captain grabs her by her hair, yanking her close. "You still haven't learned completely, have you?"

"I have!" she says fearfully.

"Are you questioning me? Calling me a liar?!"

"No! No, captain Rawkti. I would never!" she says quickly, the pain from his hair pulling evident on her scrunching face. He lets go, and she pulls away from him. Poor girl.

"Alright. But 20 days in the stock should be more than enough to bring her under bay. Hulio!" the captain states, before someone hits me behind my head. I see the girl flinch as I fall, my body collapsing onto the wooden deck. She cups my face in her hands, as everything starts to go black.

*Timeskip*

A water droplet hits my forehead. Slowly, my eyes flutter open. I'm sitting in a cell, the wood rotting. It smells like rotting fish in her. Sunlight filters in through a small window. My chest still feels tight from the shot earlier, and my headache is back. Bastards got me. I wonder if I broke his jaw? What was his name, Ale-Ra-something? Looking down, I see I'm wrapped in a bunch of black chains, my hands still behind me.

Slosh! I turn and see the woman from earlier swabbing the deck with a mop, a pail of metal near her feet.

"Me and my big mouth." she whispers, unaware that I'm awake.

"H-Hey." I call, causing her to look at me.

"You! Ms. 12 hours of full sleep. You're the reason I'm stuck cleaning this filth! I was supposed to leave in 2 days, but no! I had to save your sorry arse, instead." she asserts, staring at me in anger with angled brows. I was out for 12 hours?

"Hey! I just got here."

"And first thing you do on another planet is fight?"

"What was I supposed to do? Let tall, slimy, and ugly cup a feel?" I question.

"No, but you didn't have to go Rambo on them! Jesus, why did I stick my neck out for you?!" she huffs, kicking the pail over, the contents leaking onto the floor. "You know what? Fuck it. I'm done." she argues, walking towards the round door to the left.

"Wait, please! Get me out of here." I say, as the pink-haired girl turns her back.

"Why? Why should I care? The only reason I'm here is because of you." she tells me, her voice fraught with tension as she punches the wall.

"Because I can help you. You're being treated like garbage. I saw the way the captain hurt you. I'm way more useful to you out of these chains. I can help you escape." I explain, wiggling my arms and making the chains jingle to emphasize my point.

"No thanks. I work best alone. Or with people I can trust."

"What are you going to do, take on this entire ship yourself?"

"If I have to." she murmurs, turning towards me.

"Do you even have a plan?"

"I'll improvise. I'm smarter than them. I'll catch them off guard and-"

"And get yourself killed." I cut in, causing her to blow breath from her nose, her eyes staring intensely into mine.

"Hmph! I've been in tighter spots before. I can handle myself, and anything they throw at me."

"Not if they're using Aux-tech you can't. That rifle will tear you apart before you even think of using that knife. And they have two rifles, now." I say, eyeing the small blade in her back pocket.

The pink-haired girl's eyes go wide, a look of fright crossing over her features as she bites her lower lip. She's kind of cute when she does that. The woman puts a hand to the wall, pondering. "If I let you out, and we're successful, what's in it for you?"

"I give you the ship. You bring me to the nearest port so I can contact my Commander."

"Commander? What are you talking about? Can you trust him?" she questions immediately.

"Absolutely." I'd trust Finn to hell and back. I know he'll come and help me.

"What's in it for me?"

"I'm offering you a way out. What else do you want?"

"What else are you offering?" she teases, eyeing the silver dog tags around my neck.

"Out of the question." I answer.

"Then no deal." she states, turning and walking towards the exit.

"I'll get you something better."

"Like what? Your uniform? Money that has no value here, Aussie?" This time my eyes go wide.

"How do you-"

"I'm from Earth, Queen of Darkness. Auckland."

"A Kiwi? Thought so with the accent, but didn't want to suggest it. I'm from Adelaide."

"Hehe! Figures. Okay, Aussie, what's this 'special item' you were talking about then, huh?" she asks mockingly, tracing patterns on her uniform.

"I had a lockbox with me in my pod. I'm sure one of them stole it when I was knocked out. Gold necklace with my name on it inside. It's yours if you let me go."

"Yeah, right. And I'm supposed to believe you'll just hand it over to me. How do I know you won't try to kill me the second I let you go?"

"If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have asked for your help." I argue.

"Sure, you wouldn't have." she says sarcastically.

"You have a name?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she answers with attitude.

"I would. I'd also like to help you. You aren't my target. The bastard who put me in this cell is. Being stubborn won't change that."

"Don't call me stubborn."

"Don't call me a liar, and we can call it even, sweet cheeks."

The woman stares at me in shock, fuming at the name, before we both hear footsteps. We freeze, before hearing the drunken sailor's mumbling, then stumbling footsteps go further and further away. "How much is the necklace worth?" the woman whispers, coming closer to the cell.

"450$."

"You're fucking with me!" she whisper-yells.

"It's true. It was a gift, and I have the receipt."

"Okay, I'm interested. Who are you?"

"I asked you first."

"Yeah, but I'm the one holding the cards, Aussie."

Taking a deep breath, I answer. "*Deep breath* Sergeant Rhea Ripley. Aux-Tech Special Forces."

"Aux-Tech SF? Infantry or air force?"

"Infantry, but not like the ones you're used to, sweet cheeks. Much more skilled."

"A bit cocky, aren't we?" she teases, giving me an eyebrow raise.

"Haha! I could say the same. And it's not cockiness if it's the truth."

"Hmm. I think you're crazy, you know that? And pretty full of yourself." she asserts, cocking her hip. "But you're a smooth talker, Ripley."

I give her a smile. "You going to let me out of here?"

"I'm still not 100% sure if I should trust you, though. You haven't exactly been the most compliant prisoner."

"Look at me." She looks into my eyes, her brown orbs locked with my blues. "I won't hurt you. If you let me out of here, I'll help you take the ship. And I'll give you the necklace. Those weapons they're carrying are very advanced, and very dangerous. I'm the only one who knows how they work. You'll die if you go it alone. Let me out, and I'll guarantee your safety. Please."

The girl remains still, chewing on her bottom lip again as her face goes flush. "I'm probably going to regret this." she pulls out a bobbing pin, then starts fiddling with the lock, "My name's Dakota, by the way."

"Where did you learn that?" I ask, as she finishes opening the cell door, then starts lockpicking my chains.

"You'd be surprised what a hungry girl with a decent Wi-Fi connection can learn."

The chains finally come undone. I grab my wrists, trying to soothe the ache.

"Okay, hot shot. What's your play?" she asks.

I get up, my legs still wobbly. Feels like I have pins and needles in my feet. I grab the small transponder on the ground, the screen damaged and emitting no noise when I press it. Bastards broke it. Poor Siri. Tossing it aside, I turn to her. "My transponder looks disabled, but if I can get my weapon, we're home free. You'll have your ship."

"Listen, Rhea, you should know… They have my friend. She was in the same pod ship as me, and she's looked out for me since we landed. Took the fall while I became the deck swab for these bastards. Her name's Raquel. She was locked in captain Rawkti's quarters. We need to get her. They had her hooked up to some slug monster earlier, and she's really weak and pale. I need to help-"

"That wasn't part of the deal. And there's no time. If we don't kill that fucker first chance we get, it'll screw up everything." I argue.

"But-"

"No buts. You want this ship? Follow my lead. If not, get out of the way."

Pausing for a moment, Dakota shrugs her shoulders. "Fine. Have fun. Not like a cry from the wee Kiwi might screw over your plan now, eh?"

"You wouldn't." I whisper.

"I've been cleaning this ship for 5 months. I know it inside out. I know the quickest way to the captain… And where all the crew sleep. I can help… but only if you help me."

Staring at her, the determined look on her face means I won't be able to talk her out of it. Rolling my eyes, I respond. "*Sigh* Okay, but I need a weapon."

"There's one in the kitchen. Less guards. Captain Rawkti has your rifle, so we'll go to him first and get Raquel. Then and only then can you kill him. Deal?"

Dakota extends her hand. I look at it, before enthusiastically shaking it. "Deal. Now, where is he?"

"He's probably in his quarters. He usually looks over his maps before getting ready for bed, while his best crewmates guard him. Last crew member who betrayed him was killed before he even got near the room. He's a bastard, but he's untouchable on this ship."

I shake my legs a bit to get blood flowing back into them, then go towards the door. "Not for long."

Dakota peeks out the doorway, checking for anyone in the halls. I feel my eyes linger downwards, checking out her shapely legs and behind. My heart starts beating rapidly. Breathe and focus. My head and chest still hurt, but I think I can take that little fucker. "Most of the crew is asleep, except a few drunken fools and guards. We'll need to stay quiet to avoid them. Stay low and follow me. And stop staring at my arse!"

"Whatever you say, sweet cheeks." I whisper, teasing her before going near the door to check for guards. I hear her breath hitch as I come close to her. "Which way?"

"To the right. And some personal space, please?" Dakota argues, putting some distance between us. I notice her face flush again. Smirking, I respond.

"And here I thought we were starting to get on the right foot." I whisper.

"Find my friend and get us off this ship, and then we can be buddies." Dakota asserts. I follow behind her, getting ready to face off against my target- captain Rawkti. Bastard locked me up, enslaved at least 1 human, and killed an Aux-Tech soldier.

He's going to pay for what he did.

Author's Note: Hey everyone. Hope you've all been doing well. Another chapter for Hearts of War, more sci-fi based this time. I hope you enjoyed. Bringing back an earlier ship from Tempting the Nightmare in Rhea/Dakota. I had an idea to make this into another larger fanfic, but I decided to test the waters by making a one-shot here. Let me know what you think of the idea in the comment section, below. If you enjoyed, remember to follow and favorite. And feel free to review. It's always appreciated. Until next time, take care and enjoy your day!