Happy Friday, we're almost at the end. Just not quite yet. Penultimate, that's your vocab-builder of the day.
Cocotte's communicator chirped 30 minutes after breakfast. She answered the call, just audio, no Top filling the entire screen, and received an update and an estimated time of arrival.
"One hour!" the female Pride Trooper announced. K'nsi was the only one in earshot, but he hurried over upon hearing the news.
"I'll find Hit and Dyspo and tell them," he said.
"Maybe I should do it instead," Cocotte replied. "You're doing such an excellent job cleaning in here I don't want to interrupt."
That made sense to K'nsi, who returned to his mopping. Though he did wonder why Cocotte's face looked a little pinker than usual.
"They better both have clothes on," Cocotte muttered as she left the cafeteria and headed for the barracks. Maybe, to be safe, she'd just shout her message from the hallway. She really didn't want to knock on a door and hear awkward fumbling behind it. Or worse.
The Pride Trooper practically stomped down the hallway, making her presence known. Dyspo's door opened and he peeked out to see why Cocotte was trying to put holes in the floor. "What's up?"
"We've got one hour. Is Hit in there with you?"
"Don't I wish. What I meant to say was, no, he said he was gonna meditate. I offered to tag along but he wanted some alone time."
"You could have offered to clean instead of laying around and doing nothing," Cocotte said.
"We're not having an inspection so I don't know why you're concerned. Besides, Hit's the neat freak, not me."
"I don't know how he tolerates you."
"You want the deets? They're spicy."
Cocotte recoiled in horror. "Absolutely not! And I'm sure Hit would kill you and any witnesses if you talked!"
Dyspo chuckled. "I'm joking, my lips are sealed. Though I guess I should find Hit and tell him. Thanks for the news."
Leaving Cocotte to her indignation and offended sensibilities, Dyspo went for a run. Hit buried his energy far too well for Dyspo to find him that way, but the Pride Trooper had a couple of ideas where the assassin might be hiding.
Circling the lake, it didn't take Dyspo long to find Hit. The assassin was sitting near the shoreline, his arms crossed and eyes closed. The Pride Trooper jogged over to him.
It was a peaceful spot, the air already warm from the morning sun. The gentle rhythm of waves slapping the shore was hypnotic, a natural metronome that induced relaxation. Dyspo began to wonder if even he could get into the proper frame of mind for meditation given the atmosphere.
"How long?" Hit asked. He didn't open his eyes or otherwise move.
"An hour," Dyspo replied. "Minus however long it took me to get here. Couldn't have been more than a minute or two."
Hit nodded in confirmation. He then returned to his silent endeavors. Dyspo was left standing there like a third wheel.
"I don't wanna get roped into cleaning, so is it cool if I stay here with you?"
The assassin wordlessly patted the ground next to him. He then opened his eyes, knowing any further attempts at mediation and image training were going to be fruitless. At least the trade-off was acceptable.
"No chance you're getting cold feet about facing Top?" Dyspo asked.
"No chance you're getting cold feet about speaking to him on my behalf?" Hit replied.
Dyspo sighed and shook his head. "You've got my word as a Pride Trooper. I'll do it."
"Then it's settled. We can talk about something else."
"Like what?"
"Anything you'd like, anything that can fill an hour."
Dyspo thought about it for a minute and then rose to the occasion admirably. He did most of the talking, Hit most of the listening, and time rolled forward.
Just under an hour later, the three Pride Troopers were gathered together in a tight, excited cluster. To Hit they looked and sounded like children chattering about what gifts they were going to receive on an upcoming holiday. He stayed well back, almost but not quite lurking in the shadows of the building he leaned against.
About a minute before the expected time of arrival, Hit sensed something. Something he didn't care for in the least. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the heavens, awaiting confirmation.
"What's up?" Dyspo asked, noticing the assassin looking at the sky, obviously tense. He hustled over to make conversation easier. And quieter.
"There are three of them," Hit replied.
"Three what?"
"Three visitors."
"How do you know that? Hang on, can you sense divine energy?"
"Yes. Two of them I recognize—Top and Marcarita—and the third is...vaguely familiar."
"Where the hell did you pick up that trick? Lucky bastard!"
"I have no idea. I was several hundred years old before I encountered a divine being."
Dyspo looked skyward, where there was still nothing of interest to see. "If I was a betting man, I'd say the third person is-"
"Belmod."
"Damn it, you took my answer!" the rabbit groused. "But yeah. I guess he decided he wanted to be here for Top's announcement. Wow, this might be really big news. I'm getting a little nervous."
So was Hit, though for decidedly different reasons. He and Top had an agreement. He and Belmod did not. If the Destroyer was as much of a zealot for justice as Top was, Hit could find himself in trouble.
"This'll be fine. Just be respectful. And don't, under any circumstances, even think the word 'clown.' Belmod will kill you on the spot," Dyspo said.
Hit nodded. He wasn't much for insulting his opponents, especially not their physical appearances, but he took the warning to heart.
"It'll be fine, it'll be fine," Dyspo repeated, the phrase becoming a mantra. Or a nervous tic.
At least they didn't have long to wait. What started as a burning speck in the sky was on the ground in under sixty seconds. It was still more sedate than Top's first arrival. This time there was no major dust cloud, just the controlled descent of, exactly as Hit had sensed, three beings.
Dyspo hurried forward to properly welcome the visitors. Hit was not about to prostrate himself before anyone, god or not, but he did offer the new arrivals a formal bow. He wasn't sure if anyone even noticed; they all seemed much more engaged with the Pride Troopers.
Belmod took a good, long look around. "Not bad. We don't have much infrastructure or influence out here. I might have a word with those scientists and see if they'd like to make this arrangement permanent."
"It's a pleasant planet, temperate, most zones habitable," Top agreed. "With plenty of colorful wildlife."
"The lake monster, right. I think I'd like to see that. If you don't mind waiting on your announcement a little longer?" the Destroyer asked.
"Of course not! I will readily admit my own curiosity in regard to Spot."
Belmod raised an eyebrow. "Spot. Interesting choice in names."
"Don't look at me, I didn't pick it," Dyspo muttered.
"Maybe it'll make more sense once you see him, Lord Belmod," K'nsi suggested.
"I'm sure it will. Lead the way," the Destroyer invited.
"Would you rather fly or-"
"Let's take the scenic route."
K'nsi nodded and, as a herd, the Pride Troopers set out for the lake. Belmod looked like he planned to follow, except when the time came for him to put one foot in front of the other, he pivoted backward instead. Hit had his guard up in an instant, ready to meet any tricks the god deployed.
The assassin and the Destroyer locked eyes. Belmod grinned, though it only served to make him more menacing. Hit met the disingenuous smile with a slight frown, just enough of a down-turn to let the clo- god know Hit saw straight through him.
Still grinning—though now it might be better labeled a sneer—Belmod raised his right arm. The hand was curled into a fist. His index finger emerged as did his thumb, the gesture an unmistakable facsimile of drawing a weapon.
It was the perfect pose for firing a death-beam. Lethal, difficult to dodge or reflect, the type of attack Hit would employ if ki blasts were his style. The assassin's frown deepened as he tried to prepare himself to counter what would be a very dangerous strike.
"Bang."
Hit flinched. Barely, but there was no hiding it. Belmod chuckled and lowered his 'gun,' evidently satisfied with the reaction he'd gotten. Still smirking at the assassin's expense, the god turned away.
Had the bastard really just threatened him with finger guns, like a child pretending to be a bandit?! Hit stared at the Destroyer's retreating back, completely flummoxed. He wanted to be outraged that Belmod would treat him so lightly, but the petty silliness kept him from getting properly angry.
"Did you say something, Lord Belmod?" Dyspo asked, turning around.
"I was just telling our guest that of course he was invited, he didn't even need to ask," Belmod replied.
Dyspo was sure he'd heard none of those words. He was just as sure he wasn't going to refute the Destroyer. If Belmod said he'd been singing the Intergalactic Anthem of Friendship and Cooperation, Dyspo was happy to go along with it.
Hit forced himself to drop his guard. Belmod appeared to be done toying with him, at least for the moment. If Dyspo saw him with his fists raised and his body tense, there would be questions Hit preferred not to answer.
Lagging well behind the group, the assassin tried to gather his thoughts. Belmod hadn't been a part of his plans. Though, in retrospect, he should have been. The Destroyer had inserted himself into Top and the Pride Troopers' conversation, and he had asked specifically about Hit's activities.
Regardless of his poor foresight, Hit understood a potentially momentous problem had arrived on his doorstep. While it was possible Belmod had just come for Top's announcement—and to have childish fun at Hit's expense—the assassin couldn't afford to rely on good faith. As he walked, he plotted, adapting his general strategy against Top for a foe that might not be so keen on the idea of a casual spar.
Hit arrived at the lake to find K'nsi and Cocotte regaling the visitors with their adventures in lake monster training. Even Marcarita seemed mildly interested.
"I'm gonna go make a withdrawal from the fruit bank," Dyspo said, breaking off from the group. "Be back in a flash."
Dyspo took a little detour before starting his snack run. He approached Hit, who was keeping himself well-separated from the Universe 11 cluster. The rabbit did a quick double take to make sure Top and Belmod were occupied, and then, dropping his voice, asked, "What happened back there? What did Belmod say to you? I was focused on Top so I didn't really get it, but it sounded like one word."
"He was posturing," Hit replied. "Maybe trying to test or intimidate me. It was nothing to be concerned about."
"If you're sure…"
Hit gave a quick nod. Even if he wasn't sure, what was the point of worrying Dyspo?
The Pride Trooper returned seconds later, his trusty old box filled past the brim with fruit. He handed the box off to K'nsi and looked for a front-row seat. Considering there were only five total attendees and almost unlimited space, there was scant competition.
While Dyspo chose a spot next to Top, Hit opted to remain standing. He tried to keep his eyes on the lake, where Cocotte and K'nsi were hovering like dragonflies, but he found himself inexorably drawn to the three visitors. What was Top's announcement? What was Belmod's game?
A massive splash won back Hit's attention. He looked to the lake and saw Spot's long neck swaying as the monster caught every fruit that was tossed his way. Once Spot was content with his rewards, he allowed the two Pride Troopers to descend onto his back.
"I see why he's called Spot," Belmod said.
Hit quickly realized the preview he'd been granted the previous day did not begin to do justice to the performance K'nsi and Cocotte had planned. The pair obviously shared a mutual respect with the lake monster that allowed them not only to ride him around like an aquatic horse but to use his broad head as a stage. Standing atop Spot's snout, Cocotte lifted her smaller teammate and held him aloft in a pose reminiscent of a ballerina.
"Magnificent!" Top shouted. "The bond between them, that is true justice!"
Hit wasn't going to ask how Pride Troopers making friends with lake monsters was justice, he was just going to take Top's word for it. The assassin did, however, agree completely with Top's first assessment. It was magnificent. Utterly insane and over-the-top, but completely magnificent.
The performance ended in a finale of environmentally-friendly fireworks and Spot slapping a wide fan of water towards the audience with his tail. Marcarita provided a barrier that shielded herself and those beside her. Hit knew he wasn't included and took a few steps back to avoid the splash zone.
Cocotte and K'nsi rewarded Spot with fruit, praise, and snout kisses. Once the lake monster had his fill, he paddled to deeper water and dived under. The soaking Pride Troopers returned to shore, where it was their turn to be smothered with praise.
"I've been around for a long, long year and I've never seen anything quite like that," Belmod said.
"That was so damn cool!" Dyspo added. "And those fireworks were perfect."
The two Pride Troopers blushed and beamed.
"Thank you all so much! We're glad everyone enjoyed it, but really, we can move on! What about Top's announcement?" Cocotte asked.
"Yeah, we're all dying to hear it," Dyspo said.
Top cleared his throat. "This is not something I decided lightly. But given recent events, I knew my choice was sound."
"Come on, come on, tell us already!" the rabbit pleaded.
"As I progress toward becoming the next Destroyer of this universe, the Pride Troopers will need a leader who is always up to the task. Someone brave and intelligent, someone willing to stand for justice even if it means standing alone."
Dyspo swallowed thickly. He tried to tell himself he didn't feel tears prickling the corners of his eyes, but that only made him a liar.
"Top…"
One massive hand clapped Dyspo on the back almost hard enough to make him stumble. "The job is yours if you want it."
The rabbit sniffled a few times and hastily wiped his eyes. He opened his mouth to answer, only to be interrupted by a harsh cough. Both Top and Dyspo looked to Belmod, the source of the sound.
"Do you have something to say, Lord Belmod?" Top asked.
"Before everything is signed and sealed, I have just one little question I'd like addressed," the Destroyer said.
"Of course. What would you like to know?"
Belmod's visage darkened. "How can you even consider promoting someone who thinks it's fine to invite a serial killer for hire to this universe? Someone who had the audacity to bring that filth here?"
"Dyspo did make a controversial choice in training partners, but Hit has shown-"
"Maybe it's time to bring Jiren out of retirement. I'm sure he'd appreciate the chance to take out the trash."
"Lord Belmod! Both of us swore we'd never use Jiren in such a way!"
Hit stepped forward, putting an end to any further debate. "If you want my life, clown, you can earn it yourself."
Author's Notes:
Is there a line from "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones in the dialogue of this chapter? Indeed there is!
Thanks for reading.