Path of the Hunters [PART 5] (NSFW)

"Yeah, it's weird as fuck... But the sudden pressure change would still feel fucked up and it's not like we wouldn't get sucked out of the damn place. So, yeah, I took that into consideration before I did anything."

*

"If they're willing to make you one." Star smiled, following the AI. "No harm in asking." Trip followed, walking beside the stroller the twins slept in. The rocker Sunny made was pretty neat, he decided. It was a stroller and a rocker and a bouncy seat thingy. Nova and Aurélie would really like it when they got back. Probably.

*

The dog sighed, lying her head on Nova's shoulder. Both babies had fussed, making their exit that much more saddening. "So first to the Kane blade I 'ave in London and then onto France through the underground channels."

"...At least put it back the way it was when you're done..." Note to self, pass this on to R&D...

---

"If that's what you want, then we can get you one."

"Lighten up, man!" Elesis said, smirking at the window. "What, afraid to look out at space?"

*

"Really? Awesome! Mama would never let me get away with it!"

*

Kane nodded. "Right. If they 'ave stuck to their schedules, the Laroche and Baudoin elders move at different times. This means we can secure them without 'aving to separate."

"Works for me," Nova said, stroking his wife's soft hair. "As long as we wrap this up quick."

"No, I just don't want to explain to your friends why and how you died from exposure..." He stated in an annoyed tone.

---

"No comment. Not my problem."

"Shit, I'm not an idiot. I'm careful, obviously, and I'll put it back when we land. That cool with you?"

*

Star laughed. "Then let's not tell your mama."

Trip smiled.

*

"Oui. The sooner the better." She itched to take out the Tuefel blade, but kept it away. She'd get it when she needed it and not before.

"Yeah. That's good."

---

"We're here."

It was a small little area, very obviously a store, but instead of racks of items, there were holographic screens depicting the items on sale and several dressing rooms in the back.

"As you may have noticed, there is a lack of racks for the items, this is for space reasons. Dressing rooms have scanners that will effectively scan you and produce what you want in your size."

Mani clenched her fist. It was like he didn't even hear what Sol said! Sol placed a hand over hers, gave her a consoling, yet firm, look. She sighed and sat back.

"Look," Sol said. "If need be, I'll keep the cabin pressurized, in case of a breach, 'kay?"

*

Yue beamed. "Awesome! It's just like on TV!" She skipped into one of the dressing rooms.

*

Crescent sighed, settling back. "Will things return to some semblance of normal, after this?"

"What do you mean?" Aurore asked.

"Will we be able to safely travel into Europe, and everywhere else?"

"Look, Mani, he's human. You just let them rant like idiots and move on. I moved on. What's the ETA?"

*

"Cool," Star mused. Trip just held onto her pant leg, nervous. "And how would it work for the twins? Could I put them both in a scanner with me? Or... what?"

*

Aurélie studied the wolf. "I... do not know. I would like to think that we could, but the actual chances are... slim."

He raised an eyebrow behind the faceplate, glad it was polarized to hide the annoyed look on his face. The prejudices, while more-or-less accurate, were starting to get annoying. "Any minute now."

As if on cue, the ARK station showed up in view as the ship manuvered itself into the landing bay and settling into a hover, the sides opening with Damien and the elites jumping out and landing 20 or so feet below on the deck with barely a noise despite the good ton or so worth of equipment and body mass landing on the metal. The two seraphs started to circle the station.

---

"Yeah, it'll differentiate between you and the kids."

"Easier said than done..." she muttered.

Briggs sighed. "Shit, girl, stop tryin' to control what comes outta other people's mouths. Human, Mobian, or otherwise, they got their own voices, and it ain't yours. You ain't the World Police, y'know." With that, he jumped from the ship.

Her lips curved slightly. World Police was a new one on her, and it was actually quite refreshing.

Cross sighed, jumping out as well. "Relax. It's one person. Besides some normal traps or whatever, this place is deserted. And we want to convince him to help, not threaten."

*

Yue had almost closed the door, but stopped. "Hmm, maybe I should take Aurora."

*

"Even if things go a-ok," Nova said. "There's gonna be those fundamentalist psychos that act against us, despite orders. One thing's for sure: there's gonna be a big revolution among the ranks of both clans."

"Ain't it all the same with Shadow?" Sunny mused, grinning. She hopped out after them.

*

"Okay, cool. Thanks. Come on, Trip, you go in with Yue."

"Um... Okay..." He walked into a dressing room shyly, looking around.

*

"Which will not be our problem," the dog mused.

"Looks clear, where's that hedgehog? This place is a ghost town, metaphorically speaking, of course..."

---

He appeared on a blank screen in the circular room. If one looked up, one could see the scanner at the top of the room, sitting snugly in the cieling. "Once the humming starts, close your eyes, the light's a bit blinding. Think of it like an oversized copier, except it's copying you instead of some paper. The process takes about a minute."

Sunny shrugged, tucked her hands in her pockets. Then let out an ear-splitting whistle between her teeth.

*

Trip jolted, grabbing Yue's hand. "Uh..."

All but Briggs-who just scratched his ear-covered their ears. No matter how many times Sunny did that, it was always a surprise!

Briggs smirked. "Now that's a whistle."

*

"'Sokay..." Yue smiled shyly. Wouldn't they have to take their clothes off? How would they manage that?

*

"And if some of them come after us?"

"Then we fight," Kane said, flashing the Akira blade. "They will never be as strong as they are now, and even that is questionable."

"And it should get his attention."

"It did." His usual stoic expression in place, the ebony hedgehog landed nearby. "And it's just as useless as normal. I was already on my way without it, Sunshine."

"Whatev."

*

He kept his hand in hers, looking around warily. He was so glad she was there... He hated being alone...

*

"Oui. And it is doubtful that they will even think about us for many years, Crescent."

Damien was very glad his helmet had sound dampening tech, or his ears would be ringing for weeks. He took note of the hedgehog and kept his battle rifle pointed down, but ready to be brought and fired at the first sign of hostility.

---

The booth started to hum as the ring made its way down at a steady rate, the scanning device indeed producing a bit of light as it passed over the two, once it reached the bottom, it stopped, then reversed course. The whole process taking around a minute.

His eyes narrowed on the human, then scanned the area. They all had weaponry of some sort. He scanned again, and, should they try a thing, he had a good idea as to how to take them all down within fifteen seconds.

"Cross, just what did you need to see?"

*

Trip opened his eyes slowly, looking around again. "Okay...? Are we done?"

Briggs grinned at the imposing figure. "Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Life-Form. I finally get to meet one of the greatest badasses in existence."

"Stand in line, Briggs!" Elesis pushed her way to the front. "This is a rematch I've been waitin' for."

"Enough," Cross said with authority. With a huff, both stepped back. Cross looked at the hedgehog across from him, his violet eyes locking with Shadow's ruby red. "Access to the ARK's mainframe. I have a special project that needs special research."

*
Yue opened her own, smiling. "Looks like it."

*

She nodded. "D'accord..."

He lifted a single brow. "For?"

*

"Okay..."

*

Aurélie sighed. "The time could not go fast enough..."

"I'm going to attempt to create an android body."

*

Yue smiled. "Well, that wasn't so bad."

*

Nova stroked her soft hair. "Don't worry. Once it's all over, we'll want time to slow down a little."

Shadow's eyes narrowed. "No."

*

"Yeah." He walked out, smiling slightly

*

She sighed. "I know..."

His grip tightened on the weapon, but he kept his mouth shut.

---

As if on cue, the screen turned back on and split, showing a list of various styles of swimwear approriate for the bodies and age. The screens were within reach of both kids. "Treat it like a touch screen, use the scroll bar to look through the list and tap what you want to look at to see a preview of what you would look like in it."

---

The copilot stood in the cockpit doorway as he announced that they would be arriving soon and for them to get ready before shutting the door.

Trip blinked. "Um... Okay."

"Now, hear us out, Shadow." Mani stepped up, but Cross stopped her, shaking his head. With a sigh, she understood, stepping back.

"Anything you want in return?" he asked the hedgehog.

*

Yue grinned. "Cool!" She got right to work, perusing through the selections.

*

Nova sighed, steeling himself. "This is it..."

"Well-"

"Fuck this. Shadow, we need access for that one's wife. All right? Cross is the only one who's gonna get access, blah blah blah. And the only friggin' human who's gonna go in is Damien." When he opened his mout hto further protest, Sunny growled and said something in undertones.

Shadow glared at her a long moment, then turned his fiery gaze on Damien. "Your men - back on those ships. If any of them take a step off, access will be cut off."

*

Trip touched one and when it moved, he jumped back, fur standing on end. But Yue wasn't having a problem, so... He went back and, very quickly, chose a light blue pair of trunks. "Now what?"

*

"Bonne."