Don't Fear the Reaper: Part 7
Mantis had begun to think that something was wrong when she realized that Trisha had been gone for at least 45 minutes, much longer then it should've taken to buy clothes...
If she had still been wearing her helmet, Trisha's muffled shriek would have been clear as day to her. She was so lost in these feelings though...touch...after so long without it, even the light cool breeze on her cheeks felt like heaven.
She hadn't even noticed Scarecrow walking up to the pipeline exit with Trisha in his arms.
"Excuse me miss, I believe this is yours?" the feline said as he put the mare down in front of the pipeline. Mantis was shocked, to say the least.
"I thought I'd never see you again," she said in disbelief. "You walked away."
"In the short time I had to myself, I realized that walking away doesn't necessarily mean good-bye," Scarecrow said with a smile. Mantis jumped off the pipeline and wrapped her arms around him. Scarecrow's eye twitched for a moment before he ducked out of the hug defensively.
"No touchy," he muttered nervously and looked over at Trisha. "Now what?"
"Agreed, now what do we do?" Mantis asked as well. Trisha felt trapped, but then she thought up an easy way to break the tension.
"Either of you ever go skinny-dipping?" she said with a devilish smile.
"Isn't this proof enough?" Infernus asked the giant screen as Mother glared down at him angrily. He was holding Scarecrow's hat and trying to show Mother that the Skinner was indeed dead. Mother was not convinced.
"That isn't anything!" she cried. "I want his body! If we don't have his body then he isn't dead! Clear?!"
"But Mother I did find three bodies in the debris! The hat was on top of one!" Infernus continued.
"Fool! Those were three of your own soldiers! Your own Chimeras! God you're an idiot," Mother rubbed the bridge of her nose gingerly in annoyance. "Get out..."
"Mother?" Infernus asked.
"GET OUT!" Mother screamed. Infernus snarled for a second, then shimmered and was gone.
"I NEED new employees," Mother said with a groan, a lock of silky blue hair falling onto her snout.
"Tough day on the job?" a voice echoed from the shadows. Mother looked around from her screen, more irritated that someone was playing games with her then worried that someone had just broken into her headquarters!
"Who is that?" she asked angrily. A figure stepped from the shadows.
"Just me," the figure said. Mother's eyes widened in shock.
"Void?" she asked, eyes still wide. "I thought you were dead..."
"Didn't everyone?" General Void replied with a smug chuckle. Mother straightened herself out and brushed the hair from her face.
"What...what are you doing here?" she asked. Void unzipped his heavy coat and turned it inside out, laying it down on a nearby chair with the fur facing outwards. He looked like a casual businessman, wearing his white, button-down shirt with black jeans. The red tie added nice contrast though. His helmet was something completely familiar though...
"May I?" he asked, motioning to the chair. Mother nodded once, still frustrated. Void's tone was light and happy as he sat down. "Thank you."
"I'll ask again, what do you want?" Mother asked, this time beginning to sound furious.
"Nothing," he replied cryptically. Mother became enraged.
"Don't play games with me you miserable ant!" Mother screamed, her hair becoming frazzled and falling into her face.
"Temper temper, Mother Dearest!" Void laughed quietly, his deep voice resonating through Mother's room.
"You always used to say that," Mother said quietly with a small, brief smile. "But I have work to do, just tell me the point of this situation."
"A better question indeed," Void said. "I don't want anything, as I said. I'm here because word on the street is you have two rogue Skinners on the loose with some rather interesting information."
"Where did you hear that?" Mother asked, her hair again falling in her face.
"The street," Void said monotonously. "Regardless of whether or not this is true, I propose a truce. It would be in both of our interests to keep this little secret to ourselves eh?"
"Whatever you've heard, I guarantee you that there's no leak in my organization. The street must be lying," Mother said. Without warning, Void stormed up to the screen and slammed his gloved claws down on the keyboard!
"I am no fool! Don't you dare insult my intelligence," Void hissed. "You of all people are in no position to be playing me. Not after what you did to us in Mogadishu. You're lucky the Skinners you currently employ are denser than brick walls or you'd be out of business and in the grave."
"I..." Mother was speechless. "I didn't..."
"You didn't what?" Void pressed. "Excuses only make you look less dignified. Be quiet and listen to me."
"Yes sir..." Mother said submissively, looking down. Void backed away from the screen.
"If I wanted to come for you, I would have already. I've had the loyalty to overlook your stupidity and even perhaps forgive it, but I will not let what that Skinner knows be brought to light. I could be the arm of justice for you and punish you for your sins...but I won't. I remember the things I owe you and they don't keep me in my boundaries of respect, not by a mile...but they remind me of a time when they used to," Void said solemnly. Mother looked up for a moment, met Void's gaze, and then looked back down.
"Void, I..." she began. "I didn't mean to..."
"Not a word," he said, his mechanical voice had begun to ring in Mother's ears, echoing inside her brain. "The past is the past. We must move on to a brighter future, and I need you to do that. So let's join forces like we were back then, Mother Dearest...let's help eachother get to that brighter future. What'dya say baby?"
Mother was silent for a moment as she looked up at him. Her eyes were glimmering.
"Good girl," Void said and gently drew his claws across the screen. Mother shuddered at the touch. "Let's agree to move into your HQ, mine is rather well-suited to a smaller group."
"Very well," Mother said in agreement. "When can I expect you?"
"Now," Void said and vanished. His coat was gone as well. Mother looked excitedly shaken...