Astral's Rise Part 91: Vacation

Astral and Jaimie walked on the bridge as Achilles and Adam waved to them. James and Angel were too busy with their paperwork to look up. "So, as you can tell we are in the middle of space." Astral chuckled as Adam rolled his eyes.

"Well what is this place?" Achilles asked as Astral felt no hostility to him or anyone on the bridge. Astral waved his hand over the command table as it lit up. Astrid slowly walked over as the five of them huddled around.

"This is a galaxy filled with humanoid life on each and every planet, according to our source of Red Merle here." Jaimie gave the AI a fistbump as he lit off fireworks with the lights.

"We just get to stay back and relax for once. That's the vibe I'm getting." Adam set his notebook down as Anders stomped over.

"You aren't going to let me explore this galaxy with you." Anders spoke out lashing at Astral as he rested a finger on her mouth.

"Let him finish doctor." Jaimie bent down, staring her friend in the eyes. Anders crossed her arms to pout as Astral whistled. Zane hopped over the couch as he entered the table scene.

"Drones are being sent out, Adam, you get to dig into the film of the current galactic state. Alexa and Murphy are staying here as well." Adam raised his hand as he had a question. "However, something feels wrong. Zane, prepare the legions and get them on standby. Achilles?" Astral looked at the Polemistis man.

"Yes sir?"

"Your forces are sitting this one out. So are the civilian forces. Airsoft has this to read to brief himself." Astral set down a tablet as Achilles nodded. "Go tell your forces Achilles. The next operation after this one your forces are up."

"Thank you sir for the break." Achilles bowed. Walking out of the bridge as he hailed Airsoft to pick up on his line.

"Yes, Astral? Their paperwork down here is almost done." Airsoft commented.

"When you get done with overrated babysitting you need to take the hyperlane to the north bridge for the next briefing. A tablet will be waiting for your commands and the commands of Proto and Omaha." Astral saw the heads of the two mentioned move.

"And can I get a spoiler?" 

"Yes Airsoft, you will be guiding Anders around the galaxy under max protection." Jaimie looked to the doctor to catch her face as Airsoft groaned.

"The other important things are on your document up here. Ciao." Astral hung up as Airsoft groaned once more, the Dogpound rolling their eyes at his dramatics.

"Wait, you two are leaving for some time aren't you?" James popped up as he finally registered the conversation.

"Yes we are." Jaimie wrapped her arms around Astral as he leaned into it.

"Can we come with?" Angel asked as the tow swarmed Astral and Jaimie.

"No, you two have something more special for you." Their faces lit up as Astrid tapped their shoulder.

They turned around as Astrid smiled and brought them in with a hug. "You guys will be working on fighting abilities without relying on your normal ability. With the help of Astrid and Shiro." Astral smiled as the twins were happy!

"Wait, who are we facing and where?" The twins asked as Astrid grabbed them by their collars. Sal and Jax waved their papers in the air as they still needed to finish their report.

"To the training room, facing the battle tournament folk!" Astrid was cheery as the twins wondered how this was possible. Shiro slowly floated out of the bridge and followed the two young ones.

"Now the kids are gone. I do this." Astral opened his hand up as a white flash appeared followed by a thud. Airsoft was now on the ground of the bridge as he rolled over.

"Oh get up that didn't hurt that much, it's a ten foot drop." Adam mocked him as Airsoft stood up.

"At my age, I don't bounce anymore." Airsoft joined the table.

"Between everyone in this room, I have a weird wired feeling about this place." Anders froze up as the rest outside of Jaimie looked at him. "Not like the nightmarish foresight ability. Just something that doesn't feel correct. Like this galaxy is out of order right now."

"Which means, you press this button if anyone from the battle tournament shows up. Adam. Unless they are on achilles' level." Jaimie handed him the button.

"James and Angel will be the best thing to deal with any threat from the battle tournament outside of the final four fights. That being said, that shadow thing might be in this galaxy." Astral stated showing images for all of them to be on high alert for.

"Then why are you leaving? Would it not be safer to stay here?" Airsoft asked as Astral and Jaimie fanned their hands down.

"We are taking the aggression to them, while trying to learn about the galaxy. Best of both worlds." Astral just made them all confused.

"So you two are asking the locals why you feel this way and what's happening while the drones can feed you information on where to go?" It clicked as Adam asked.

"Meaning if you can figure the reason you feel this way you can end it without worry. And keep us safe from the threat at the same time." Airsoft solved it for the table as Proto and Omaha looked over. Waving their hands to finish the paperwork of James and Angel.

"See this is why we brought them on. All on the same wavelength." Astral laughed for a second as Proto and Omaha walked behind the doctor.

"For clarity, we are just hired protection for Ms. Anders here?" Proto asked as Omaha loosened her body up from the siting. Taking the completed paperwork and handing it to Alexa.

"Yup." Jaimie bounced up and gave him a thumbs up.

"We aren't your personal bodyguards for your fucking doctor." Omaha spoke as Anders jabbed her in the ribs bruising them before anyone reacted.

"I, uh, see, she is the one who studies every piece of biological data that enters this facility." Proto helped his sister up as Sal and Jax stood behind their general. "Especially humans." Astral saw Omaha smile.

"You are having her work on cures. And medical advancements not possible in the milky way." Omaha sputtered out words. "Like replicating the gas from the Peon planet." Astral walked over and patted her head.

"Yup. Jaimie!" She jumped as Astral smiled. "Are you ready for a second honeymoon?" Jaimie jumped into his arms as the two walked out of the bridge.

"Sir, permission to say what I want to?" Airsoft looked to his right as Adam nodded his head to agree as Jaimie and Astral left the bridge and earshot. "We let them be in charge? And then us? It's a miracle we aren't dead. Thank god half of us are competent fighters." All of them started laughing on the bridge.

"Where to first?" Astral pointed among the stars as their suits fired to life.

"Somewhere tropical, where we can make a hammock, enjoy the breeze and be almost naked." Jaimie ran her hand up his suit.

"Race you there?" Astral laughed as Jaimie nodded. "GO!" Astral marked the planet on their helmet's display as they raced away.