Shadow: Forces (Cringe)

Chapter 10: The Crew

A/N: some love scenes in this chapter, just in case you're one of those who puke when the MC and their love interest share a smooch at the end of a movie. Lol. Don't worry (Y/N), I'm like that too!

Arnec and Dare went home, where they sat down together on the couch. "Hey Arnec... I uh... I've been meaning to ask you..."
"What is it?"
"Well... You know I'm sorta new around here... And..."
"What is it? Is something up?"
"Ever since we met, I felt something... About you..." Dare said with a heavy blush. Arnec raised his eyebrows
"About me?"
"Y-yeah..."
"What is it?"
Dare struggled to get the words out before she turned to him. His eyes showed confusion, and... Concern, for her. Finally she let it all out as she grabbed his head and kissed him! Arnec's eyes shot wide open as he tried to comprehend what just happened. Slowly though, he closed his eyes as he kissed back. Dare slowly pulled away "S-sorry... I... Couldn't say how I felt." she said as they just awkwardly stared at each other.
"It's okay. I just didn't expect it."
"Please don't tell Shadow!"
"I won't, promise."
Dare smiled "Thanks... Who knows what he'd do if he found out about this. I kinda thought I made it obvious though..."
Arnec chuckled "I'm slow when it comes to people... To say the least." Arnec said with a nervous chuckle. Dare smiled before they heard their radios go off
"It's Shadow, the ship's ready. It's near the docks, I'll send you the coordinates."
"Copy that!" Arnec swiftly responded. Arnec and Dare got up and headed to the coordinates. There was a cruiser, resembling the one Shadow had stolen, except it was black and red. "Also, your new team members are inside."
"Alright."
They walked into the bridge and saw a raven "Name's Whiplash!" the raven said happily as he shook Arnec's hand. Arnec smiled "I'm Arnec, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you too! Alright so I guess the commander already wiped us from history. Oh well, I'm your pilot. We'll need a name for the ship. Any ideas?"
Arnec smiled "Only got two cruisers right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I got an idea. I remember an old book I read. Had two horses that represented day and night. Scinfaxi and Hrimfaxi. So, we name this the Hrimfaxi since it's black and red, I'll ask Shadow if he can name the other Scinfaxi. Is there anyone else here?"
"Sure is. Got three other members." Whiplash said as the door opened and three Mobians stepped through. A red wolf, pink cat, and a blue bird. "I uh, believe their names are Gadget, Fushia, and Lot. They don't like talking, I know that."
Arnec smiled "It's good to meet you three again. Egg-ladon was pretty crazy."
Gadget nodded as he adjusted his glasses. Arnec excused himself before calling Shadow, them talking for a bit. Whiplash looked over at Dare "So... You two...?"
"I got the feeling you're going to get punched in the face later." Dare said with a straight face. Whiplash chuckled nervously before backing off "Message taken!"
Dare glared at him, arms crossed before Arnec walked in. There was a hologram of Shadow in front of them suddenly, it flickering blue as he looked at them
"Alright, time for your briefing. I've got your first mission Warwolf, you'll be hitting a base. It seems simple but there is one minor problem..."
"That is?" Arnec asked.
"It's right by Capital City, there's heavy AA."
"With the Hrimfaxi we should be able to do a good hit and run."
"I've got a plan for you that should let you fly right through the city and deal some damage before hitting the base. Only thing is that no normal person can do it. Tails installed a warp drive onto the ship, allowing it to essentially teleport. I won't give the science lesson... But you'll be warping into the city. You can see why no normal person could get that. It's like hitting the head on a thumbtack from a mile away. Which is why Tails was kind enough to develop an A.I. just for this."
Whiplash groaned "I just got here, and I'm already getting replaced!?"
"No, she'll work alongside you."
"It's a she!?" Whiplash yelled. Shadow sighed "Her name is Nicole. Tails is currently uploading her to the ship's computer. Good luck Warwolf!" Shadow said before signing off. Whiplash grumbled before hearing a girl's voice "Hello, my name is AIM-001, you may call me Nicole."
"Just know, I'm the captain!" Whiplash said, smiling. That smile wouldn't last long
"You are not the highest rank however, sergeant. Both commanders Arnec and Dare outrank you. One of them is the captain due to military regulation."
Whiplash's tail feathers stuck straight up as his eye twitched. Arnec chuckled "Alright calm down. We got a mission to do."
"Oh yeah, we got a mission alright... Hahahahaha..." Whiplash said, sounding like he was on the verge of punching something. Arnec and Dare headed down to the vehicle bay and saw a gun truck. He looked at her "He said a hit and run right?"
"Let the others use that while we rush in. We can easily outrace that thing. After all, we can handle ourselves."
"Agreed. Let's head to the bridge." Arnec responded before they headed to the bridge. As they walked through one of the hallways Arnec looked over at Dare "When did I get promoted!? He said he was promoting you when we spoke in private earlier, but I didn't think I'd get one too!"
Dare smiled "Guess he was being generous. Glad though... You earned it."
"Earned it? How exactly? I mean I helped with the Egg-ladon and with Park Avenue."
Dare then thought to herself and answered
"It's because you saved me..."
"I've saved plenty of people throughout my life... This is the first time I've actually gotten something out of it!"
They got back to the bridge, where Whiplash was arguing with Nicole.
"Commanders, I have something to give you all. It's important."
"Is it a way to turn you off!? I can fly perfectly fine!" Whiplash groaned. Nicole made a low robotic chuckle "Your record says otherwise."
Whiplash at this point was fuming and cawed loudly before leaving. Arnec and Dare walked up to the console
"What is it?"
"Here, put these contacts in."
Several pairs of contacts appeared inside a box. Arnec and Dare opened it and put the contacts in. "I mean my vision was fine last I checked. What are these for?"
"Give it a second commander."
Suddenly a HUD flashed onto Arnec's view, showing his objectives, rings, health and other things. "Woah!"
"That's not the only thing. Uploading..."
Suddenly on the top right corner of his view he saw a Lynx with the name Nicole under it. "Woah, what's going on!?"
"Now I can give you orders on the go. I can also relay any Intel we've got. This goes for all members of Warwolf team. Even Whiplash... The goofhead."
"This is a lot of stuff you're giving me..."
"Dont worry, Shadow had placed his faith in all of you for a reason." Nicole quickly said, Arnec rolling his eyes amusingly. "Alright, what do we do?"
"I have a plan that should ensure our success. Got to the backdoor. Whiplash should remain here in the bridge."
"Copy that. Hey Whiplash, get your hiney in here! We need you up here!"
"Whyyyy!?"
"That's an order!"
"Fine... Swear you people just loooovvve it when my feathers are ruffled!" Whiplash said with a groan as he walked in. Arnec and the rest of Warwolf team went to the hangar bay. They heard Nicole on the intercom "Initiating warp in 3, 2, 1..."
The ship jolted for a second before they heard the cannons on the ship firing. The cargo bay door opened and they could see capital city, AA guns blazing. They quickly got back and waited on Nicole "What're we supposed to be doing Nicole!?"
"Just wait. And scoot a little to the right, would you please?"
Arnec and the others moved a bit and a large bomb slid by them. It opened in mid air and carpeted a small area in explosions, with the door closing.
"Shields still at 80%. T-minus 2 minutes to drop zone, readying gun truck." Nicole said on the intercom. Almost two minutes passed and the door opened again, with the guntruck ready. Gadget, Fushia and Lot got in while Dare and Arnec were at the edge of the ramp. (Yeah sorry Gadget and Co, kinda had to nerf ya. Can't have every character using super speed! )
(Fighter - Ace combat assault horizon OST. This song might appear later. Well, a version with lyrics...)

"Prepare to drop." Is all they heard besides the wind. Arnec looked at Dare, both smiling and nodding.
"And... Drop!"
They both hopped out backwards, doing a back flip and landing on their feet, building up momentum and running beside the truck as it's engine roared. The Hrimfaxi flew overhead and turned "I'll be providing air support!" Whiplash said on the radio.
"WE will, sergeant."
"Stop itttt!" Whiplash yelled. Arnec busted out laughing before he saw the depot. He looked over and saw the Hrimfaxi raining down fire as it dodged AA fire. Arnec got on comms "Warwolf 1, everyone engage!"
"Warwolf 2, copy!" Dare yelled. "Warwolf 4-7, take those AA guns out. We'll blow this joint and we'll all go home!"
Arnec then looked at Dare "Double boost?"
"Double boost!" She responded before the two charged their power, Arnec's demon form flashing. The both of them shot forward at blazing speed, shooting by the truck as it ran up a hill and engaged the AA guns. Arnec and Dare rushed through the depot, Arnec's sword slicing through everything and Dare's guns blasting anything that wasn't sliced to bits. The AA guns exploded as Gadget was seen using a flame wispon on one's ammo. Fushia covered them using her void wispon, which would suck any bots into a temporary black hole and crush them. Lot skidded across the ground, his drill wispon proppeling him as he sliced several of the guns up. Arnec and Dare continued to wreck the place, several buildings collapsing as their bottoms were destroyed. There was only one building left.
"Warwolf 3, coming in for a strafing run, watch your butts!" Whiplash yelled before the Hrimfaxi swing around, it's guns lighting the last building up as Arnec and Dare slid under the collapsing building. The Hrimfaxi swung around again, it's rear cargo bay door opening. Arnec looked over and saw Warwolf 4-7 back on the guntruck and making a run for the ramp. Arnec and Dare quickly hopped on, dirt covering their boots and shoes. The truck roared as it ramped in, the suspension bouncing as the tires screeched. The trio got out and Arnec smiled "Did a real good job, mission went without a hitch! Nicole, let's head home."
"Setting course for Resistance HQ."
Arnec smiled even more as he and Dare walked into one of the rooms on the ship. "Guess this is our room?" Arnec said quietly. Dare shrugged. Suddenly Arnec heard Shadow on his radio "I'm rerouting your course. I said that the Hrimfaxi was to become your new home, and so I'm moving your stuff onto it. Dropship should arrive shortly. Also, I've been delaying that rescue mission for long enough, so be ready."
"Copy that. So where did you reroute us?"
"Where you're at right now. Might want to get some rest real quick though. After all... Tommorow... That's when we get our Sonic back. I don't know if you heard, but Red Gate Bridge was retaken today. And good thing too, we can use it as a rally point."
"Copy, anything else?"
"One thing... Take care of Dare. I mean it."
"I'll do my best!"
"Good... Good..."
Shadow got off and Arnec looked at Dare before they both sat down on the bed.
"So... Just to make sure... We are a thing... Right?" Arnec asked. Dare blushed "Uh... I mean we've already kissed each other, premarital hugged, and admitted our love so... We might as well be!"
Arnec smiled as he held her hand, the soft quills of her fingers against his gloves. The door slid open and Whiplash stepped in "Hey, is this the complaint depar-? Oh..."
Dare's eyes narrowed and Arnec heard an adorable little growl from her.
"What is it you need?" Arnec asked. "It's freaking Nicole doing my job for me!"
"I mean I'd like to have my job be easier."
"Yeah, but I want to do something! If I wanted to just sit around, I'd work at an office! But I'm a pilot!"
"Yeah, I know. But I think she'll be a valuable asset for us. And plus, maybe she'll grow on you!"
"Oh, the migraines will!" Whiplash mumbled to himself. "...Well, I'mma leave you two to have fun."
Dare was still looking ticked as her sharp Hedgehog fangs were now visible (they're like Shadow's little fangs.). Whiplash left, almost shivering as he gave Dare one last look before the door closed. Dare and Arnec gave each other a look before falling back onto the bed. "I'mma take a nap." Arnec said quietly. Dare nodded "Pretty tired after that mission. I'll take one too."
Both smiled as they cuddled and felt asleep. Meanwhile, Shadow was making his final preperations for the rescue mission....