Across the Universe: A BFDI Oneshot Collection

Watchbay: Mission Starts!

Previous chapter: "Tomboy"

"YOU WHAT?!"

Lea-Fee's terrified, screaming voice echoed throughout the room as Ree flinched away from the Altar of Communication. "Are you okay, Junior?!" she frantically asked, her semi-transparent spirit projection briskly walking around Ree and examining his body for injuries. "Your clothes are torn, what—what happened?"

"I'm okay, Mom," Ree explained, stepping away from the altar and shuddering slightly. "We're fine. Nobody's hurt—well, not too much, anyway."

"Where is your commander?" Fee asked as she looked around the room with a frown. "Where's Venn? How could he let this happen?"

"Oh, Venn? He's talking with the Sages," Ree lied. "Something about getting our ship repaired and us getting some ground experience, I think."

"...Well, as long as you're all taken care of. That's all that matters."

"Mom, we're fine. We're not defenseless; we all have our blasters."

"But, Junior," Fee protested, "you're all still cadets. Venn can't protect you from all of the—"

She suddenly stopped and squinted suspiciously. "...The Sages haven't done anything...bad to you, have they?"

"No," Ree lied again.

"Where's Venn?"

"Talking with the Sages, like I said."

"How long has he been there?"

"Uh...a few...well, several...hours?"

Fee gasped for a moment before shaking her head and pulling out her PDA. "Nope. That's it. I'm sending Watchbay."

"MOM!" Ree let out a slightly embarrassed yell of protest and waved his hands defensively. "Seriously, Mom, we're fine! You don't need to send—"

"Junior, you and the others are not safe on Sevendor if the other Sages are with you. They already know you're fighting a war; who knows what those powerful pacifists will do to you if they decide to dispose of you? And you're all barely skilled in combat at all! You all combined wouldn't stand a chance against ONE Sage, let alone all of them. I'm sending Watchbay so you guys will at least have some reliable protection. And if nothing else, Watchbay can be our tripwire so that if anything happens, we can finally do something about Sevendor. That is final."

"Mom! Don't—"

"All right, call me when Watchbay gets there! Love you, bye!"

The projection fizzled out in front of Ree, signaling the end of the call and the moment for Ree to start groaning out loud.

Lee smirked and pushed her foot off the door she was leaning on, walking up behind him. "Looks like someone's got mommy issues," she snickered.

"At least mine's alive," Ree shot back in his head before sighing and shaking his head. "She's just worried is all. For some reason, she's seemed especially stressed lately. Probably just BFDI stuff, but...eh. Watchbay, though?..."

"Who's Watchbay?"

"I...don't really know. All my parents told me was that they were a group of mercenaries who became some sort of special secret service after their planet got destroyed." He grunted again and made his way toward the door with Lee following close behind. "Whoever they are, I'm pretty sure they're kick-ass."

"So then why is your mom so worried?"

Ree pushed open the door and held it for Lee before they both made their way down the hall. "Well, I told Mom that all six Sages are here taking care of us, not just one. She thinks that 'they' might turn against us and attack us for being in the war."