\u201cSo, now that we\u2019ve got the Sources,\u201d remarked Richard the next day, \u201cwhat now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…I\u2019m honestly not sure,\u201d I replied. \u201cMaybe the Horsemen might have something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…You\u2019re still thinking about what X-PO did,\u201d observed Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m still thinking about what X-PO did,\u201d I confirmed. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I can trust him anymore. He really hurt us. I\u2019m not sure if Alesandro and Victor are gonna stay with us after this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think they are,\u201d replied Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat makes you so sure of that?\u201d I quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, Alesandro asked me to help him unpack,\u201d replied Richard, \u201cso I\u2019d say it\u2019s a safe bet he\u2019s staying with us. Colleen and Victor talked and he decided on staying, so we\u2019re good there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent,\u201d I answered, feeling that much better. \u201cAll the same, I really need to apologize to them. The results may have been altered but we still made the choice to hide my emotional collapse from them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cActually, Alesandro asked us to stop,\u201d revealed Richard. \u201cHe gets that we regret it and will do what we can to make sure we don\u2019t make that mistake again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Inundated with apologies from everyone?\u201d I guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYep,\u201d confirmed Richard. \u201cBy the way, X-PO\u2019s been arrested by the After Academy police for willful endangerment of students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen\u2019s the trial?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn two weeks,\u201d replied Richard. \u201cMiles Edgeworth is the prosecutor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd X-PO\u2019s defense attorney?\u201d I quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA Mr. Elkrandek from Tarlax 14,\u201d answered Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot exactly the most scrupulous lawyer,\u201d I replied. Just then, alarms sounded throughout the base. \u201cWHAT NOW?!\u201d I snapped. Elphaba\u2019s voice then came over the comms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll Riders, we have multiple vessels inbound!\u201d she reported. \u201cThey\u2019re cloaked, so we can\u2019t get a good i.d. on them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s too suspicious for comfort,\u201d I declared as I took over the broadcast. \u201cAll hands, red alert! Assume battle stations and raise shields!\u201d I then morphed into Tora-Onna (Tiger Woman) as I strode towards the Gateway Room to coordinate the action. Richard followed close behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy are you going fuzzy?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never really had a chance to use this form,\u201d I answered. \u201cSure, I turned into it on occasion, but never fully used it. Might as well \u2018go fuzzy\u2019 if it means an edge in battle if we\u2019re boarded.\u201d We arrived at the Gateway Room. Elphaba and her team were finishing up in locking down the Gateway. They didn\u2019t want anyone trying to take advantage of any weakness in battle, much less anyone trying to go through and sneak up from behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll of our codes have been locked into the Gateway,\u201d reported Rusty. \u201cWe await yours.\u201d I then leaned towards the mic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cComputer,\u201d I directed, \u201cthis is Queen Megumi Hishikawa. Lockdown 2-7-8-7-4-7-3-7. No one uses the Gateway until all codes have been verified and all voice patterns confirmed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll Gateway functions disabled,\u201d reported the secondary computer as it took over for X-PO. \u201cFull functionality will not be restored until authorized personnel give the necessary codes.\u201d I then made a secure call to the Virginia<\/em>. Since Emily was needed in Sick Bay, Hiroki took command of the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNee-san, ship status,\u201d I requested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll lights are green,\u201d reported Hiroki. \u201cLiam\u2019s back in Engineering with Dell and R9, Michael and Irina are manning the weapons, Tanisha\u2019s the pilot again, and Crescent and Jason are working Communications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood to know,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMegumi,\u201d called the Brigadier, \u201cwe\u2019re receiving a transmission from the Hammer of Tarlax<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cScorpainia\u2019s ship and the Tarlaxian flagship,\u201d I replied. \u201cWhat does she want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s requesting to aid us as Shocker Rift has managed to steal Famine\u2019s source and has reason to believe the cloaked vessels are of Shocker Rift origin,\u201d explained the Brigadier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell her we happily accept and will offer any aid to get the Source back,\u201d I directed. \u201cHave the Tarlaxian fleet form up on the Virginia<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood,\u201d replied the Brigadier as he saluted. He relayed my message. The Tarlaxian fleet arrived out of the large portals that ships need to go through the Rift safely and formed up on the Virginia<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll stations report ready,\u201d reported Elphaba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll ships standing by,\u201d called Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow comes the fun part,\u201d I mused. \u201cWho will make the first move?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat fleet must have followed us from Tarlax,\u201d muttered Igura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re just sitting there,\u201d observed the Joker. \u201cWe should have our fun now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe instant we beam down,\u201d I argued, \u201cthe fleet will know where we are. No. Hold position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI say, that can\u2019t be right,\u201d muttered Michael.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs something the matter?\u201d asked Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m reading Sontaran ship transponder codes,\u201d explained Michael. \u201cUsing cloaking devices? That\u2019s not like a Sontaran.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy would Sontarans join Shocker Rift?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMegumi,\u201d interjected Scorpainia, \u201cif it pleases you, I have an idea on finding our targets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBrigadier Stard,\u201d reported the Sontaran Communications Officer, Lieutenant Krek, \u201cwe are receiving a broad transmission on all frequencies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPut it through,\u201d barked Brigadier Stard. Scorpainia\u2019s face appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is Queen Empress Scorpainia of the Tarlaxian Fleet!\u201d she snarled. \u201cVorton is under my protection! Withdraw or be destroyed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIgnore,\u201d ordered Stard. \u201cHold position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf there are Sontarans stupid enough to think they can win against me,\u201d continued Scorpainia, \u201cpermit me to remind you that the last time you invaded Tarlax, before we moved to a new Tarlax, you required help from a god-like being. It\u2019s clear enough that you are afraid of us. Why else would you hide behind a cloaking device?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Make the call two-way!\u201d snarled Stard. Scorpainia\u2019s head twitched a bit, indicating that she had Stard on her viewscreen. \u201cHOW DARE YOU!\u201d roared Stard. \u201cScorpainia, you impugn my honor!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhatever passes for Sontaran honor,\u201d dismissed Scorpainia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvidently,\u201d hissed Stard, \u201cyou are unfamiliar with Standing Order 44 Subsidiary Clause 2! Mockery of a Sontaran Officer is to be considered an act of war!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA war where you will not receive a glorious death!\u201d warned Scorpainia. The transmission ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll ships, disengage the cloak and engage the enemy fleet!\u201d ordered Stard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Sontarans are disengaging the cloak and moving towards the enemy fleet!\u201d reported Dalek Drone 2248292.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are those fools doing?!\u201d shouted Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFleet Marshal Skrag,\u201d I ordered, \u201cget them to return to formation and reengage the cloak!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re not responding, Sir!\u201d reported Skrag. \u201cBattle had been joined!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIdiots, this is too early!\u201d I roared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHiroki, the Sontarans took the bait!\u201d reported Michael. \u201cGood thinking, Scorpainia!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll ships, open fire!\u201d I ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAssist the fleet in taking down the enemy,\u201d I ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, Your Majesty,\u201d called Richard as his fingers danced across the weapons console. A brilliant, multi-colored display of weapons fire illuminated the battlefield. Just then, the rest of Hiro\u2019s fleet de-cloaked and moved to aid the Sontarans. Their weapons fire added to the display, affecting shield integrity in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe can\u2019t keep this up much longer!\u201d warned Lukas. \u201cAny more and we\u2019ll lose them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHongo, what\u2019s your status?\u201d I called on the comms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re ready and waiting,\u201d replied Hongo. Vorton rocked again and the slightly blue tinge of the shields faded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve lost shields!\u201d called Lukas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTarget shields down!\u201d reported Dalek Drone 2248292.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell the boarding parties they may begin,\u201d I ordered, grinning all the while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re being boarded!\u201d reported Richard. Combatmen shimmered into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow\u2019s the time, Minna-san!\u201d I called as I extended my claws. There was a TREMENDOUS fight on Vorton. This time, it wasn\u2019t going to be so easily blind-sided. I clawed and bit my enemies as my friends kept the rest at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s funny,\u201d I mused as visual data from the Daleks she had killed came to my ship, \u201cshe hardly uses that form.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs there any progress on locating the Sources?\u201d grumbled Igura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSource Team is encountering heavy resistance,\u201d reported Dalek Drone 2248292, \u201cfrom Batman, Wyldstyle, Gandalf, and Ichig\u014d.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re not that strong,\u201d I muttered. \u201cHow could they be encountering resistance?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, my turn!\u201d called Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll yours!\u201d I replied as I delivered a Rider Punch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShift Keystone, activate!\u201d announced Batman. \u201cYellow, on the wall left to me! Magenta, on the wall right of me! Cyan, on the ceiling! Shift! Cyan! Ichig\u014d!\u201d I went to the ceiling and tackled a Combatman to the floor. A Dalek brought its gunstick to bear on me! \u201cShift! Yellow! Batman!\u201d Batman delivered a side kick as he came through the yellow portal. \u201cShift! Magenta! Gandalf!\u201d Gandalf ran his sword through a Sontaran as it turned to face him. Wyldstyle built a large machine that ran a large pillar through the hall and knocked down the enemy forces. They just kept beaming on board! I leapt into the air and extended my foot towards a Combatman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRIDER KICK!\u201d I announced as I kicked him. That wasn\u2019t enough!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s too many!\u201d called Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re not letting them near the Sources we have!\u201d insisted Batman as he slammed a Sontaran through a Dalek. A Combatman spoke in its usual noises to a Sontaran. The Sontaran gave hand signals to a yellow Dalek, the commander, that bobbed its eyestalk in some form of understanding. It faced us and a flipper came out of the gunstick, moving in and out and causing pain to us, but not enough to kill us. We fell to the ground, unable to move, only observe and listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll enemies disabled!\u201d reported the Commander Dalek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSafecrackers, move in!\u201d barked the Sontaran to his subordinates. They came in with explosives and set the timer. \u201cMove back!\u201d shouted the Sontaran commander. The enemy got to a safe distance. \u201cTHREE! TWO! ONE!\u201d The explosives blew the vault open. A Combatman issued orders to his subordinates. They were wearing metal gloves as they entered the vault. They managed to find the sources and pick them up, suffering no ill effects. They reported some form of success in their noises. \u201cExcellent!\u201d cheered the Sontaran commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDalek Commander 8734739 to Fleet Flagship, Dominus<\/em>,\u201d called the Commander Dalek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSources safely retrieved!\u201d reported the Dalek Commander at the Vault. \u201cRequesting immediate pickup!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet everyone out of there!\u201d I ordered, a grin crossing my features. The teleporter operator obliged and got everyone out of Vorton. He reported that everyone that survived made it. \u201cGet us out of here!\u201d I commanded. \u201cWe move to Foundation Prime!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, Megumi,\u201d called Emily from Sick Bay, \u201cI\u2019m looking on my screen and I see the enemy fleet pulling out even though they reduced ours to a fourth of its original size. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVault, what happened?!\u201d I called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is…Batman,\u201d strained the Dark Knight. \u201cThe enemy managed to…disable us…long enough…to get the Sources. They had…some way of…safely…handling them.\u201d My heart sank at the report. They\u2019re going to Foundation Prime and we didn\u2019t have the numbers to stop them or pursue them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was a general broadcast, Batman,\u201d Emily chimed in. \u201cNone of my patients liked hearing that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOrders, Megumi?\u201d asked Guard. I sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cContact Tarlax and After Academy,\u201d I resolved. \u201cSee if they can spare any ships. Emily, continue treating the wounded. We need all fighters to be at their best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe enemy fleet is not pursuing us!\u201d reported Dalek Drone 2248292. It stood next to Skrag as we sat in my ready room. Igura looked on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSplendid,\u201d I praised. \u201cResume your post.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI obey!\u201d answered Dalek Drone 2248292. As it left, my expression hardened as I turned to Skrag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe actions your ships have taken have halved our fleet, causing considerable disruption!\u201d I snarled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe men were experiencing withdrawal symptoms from lack of battle!\u201d replied Skrag. \u201cThis was a matter beyond my control!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour orders,\u201d hissed Igura, \u201cwere to hold position until the command was given!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was impossible!\u201d pleaded Skrag. \u201cThe men have been out of action for too long!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe responsibility was yours!\u201d I roared. \u201cYou have failed! I cannot, WILL not, accept failure! Since you pleaded, you will NOT look upon your death!\u201d I turned him around and shot him in the back of the head, the worst form of death for a Sontaran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll have Fleet Marshal Strench and his ships report to our position, shall I?\u201d offered Igura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo so,\u201d I answered. \u201cThen, return to our quarters. We need to unwind on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have an outfit that may help in that regard,\u201d purred Igura. We kissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cListen, about what I said yesterday,\u201d I muttered, \u201cI\u2019m sorry. That was unlike me to overlook your talents. I should have planned for Heather to disregard the Source.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I DO know a way you can make it up to me,\u201d chuckled Igura as she wiggled her eyebrows. I\u2019ll probably be making it up to her for…maybe 20, 30 minutes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cSo, now that we\u2019ve got the Sources,\u201d remarked Richard the next day, \u201cwhat now?\u201d \u201c…I\u2019m honestly not sure,\u201d I replied. \u201cMaybe the Horsemen might have something?\u201d \u201c…You\u2019re still thinking about what X-PO did,\u201d observed Richard. \u201cI\u2019m still thinking about what X-PO did,\u201d I confirmed. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I can trust him anymore. He really […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":589,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,104],"tags":[14,16,13,46,9,17,12,15],"class_list":["post-588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kamen-rider-vortex","category-kamen-rider-vortex-movie-chaoters","tag-batman","tag-gandalf","tag-hiro-adachi","tag-igura","tag-kamen-rider","tag-kamen-rider-ichigo","tag-megumi-hishikawa","tag-wyldstyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=588"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1146,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588\/revisions\/1146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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