Power (Book 1 in SRMTHFG Series)

5- Fighting

"Make sure Chelsea's safe," Chiro says. Otto runs over to my pod.

"Sorry," he says, tapping a code into the touchscreen on the outside of the pod. The door slides shut and I here clicks and beeps.

"Security lock on," the computer in the pod says. I try to pry open the door. It doesn't budge. He locked me inside!

"Otto!" I yell, banging on the door.

"Hey, be quiet in there!" Sparx hisses. "You want them to find ya?"

"Monkeys, go!" Chiro says. I hear footsteps and the swoosh of something going through pipes. Voices come over the intercoms throughout the robot. They all come together to say:

"Super!"

"Robot!"

"Monkey!"

"Team!"

"Hyper!"

"Force!"

"GO!"

I feel the robot move and vibrate, sounds of weaponry in use. Voices ring over the intercom, announcing the title of the attack about to be used.

I feel utterly useless and blind during this battle. An idea comes to me.

"Computer," I command, "show me the current battle." A number of holograms come up; one for a view of each person and monkey in the robot, and another lot showing what's going on outside.

Black-and-white figures scale the robot, digging their gooey claws into the metal. The clouds are gray and dark.

"Formless," I whisper.

Suddenly, footsteps padded against the floor. I heard someone outside. They cackled maliciously.

"Stupid Hyper Force," a voice said. "Security like this is space trash. Now, where is she?"

I hold my breath and stay quiet and still. Is he looking for me?

At that instant, I hear beeps coming from right outside my pod. The door slides open, revealing a ragged, orange, cyborg monkey. He's dressed in dark cloth and bones.

"Mandarin!" I hiss.

He cackles. "Ah, yes, you know me, girl."

"How?!"

"You've been off of Shuggazoom for a while, I've heard. Let me refresh your memory!"

He reaches in and yanks me out, throwing me across the room. I hit the ground with a thud. I try to get up, but he tosses me around.

"What's wrong, Siren?" he calls after me. "Monkey got your tongue?"

Siren? What's he talking about? I don't care right now- he's coming at me with a flaming sword. I crawl away quickly.

In Otto's pod, there are a lot of stray pipes and parts. I grab a long, heavy pipe and drag it out.

"Sorry, Otto," I mutter. I take the pipe and act like it's too heavy for me. When Mandarin comes near, I quickly swing it at him, knocking him down. He slams against the wall really hard and falls down. I quickly pin him down with the end of the pipe.

"Foolish child," Mandarin snarls. A purple pendant around his neck glows with a pulsing light. He growls and looks up at me.

"To be continued," he says, "but you shall remember me!" He swings a claw at my face.

"Aaaaggghhhh!" I scream, grabbing my cheek and falling. Mandarin slips away. I bring my hand down from my left cheek.

It's bright red with blood. I hold my face and curl up on the ground. I can't believe I actually fought.

See, Chelsea? I think to myself. This is what happens when you fight. You always lose and get even more worthless.

At that moment, a hand touches my shoulder.

"GO AWAY!" I scream.

"Chelsea? What happened?" Chiro says. I look up to see the Hyper Force standing around me.

"M-Mandarin," I say, my voice trembling.

"That's impossible!" Gibson stammers. "Security levels were secure and-"

"He got in, Gibson," Sparx says.

"Wait," Jinmay interrupts. She comes and kneels down by me, taking my hand away from my face. She gasps.

"Chelsea, you're-you're bleeding! Bad!"

I try to say something, but I fall back as everything turns to black.