Dynamic Patrol: Gel-Squad (Remastering!)

Chapter 56: Pirate

Kori was impatiently tapping his foot on the deck. It seemed his 'saviors' weren't going to show. However, he did remember running into young Kipp earlier— he seemed pretty jittery; that's when Kori learned the extrusion had been left alone in his quarters. So, of course, he was probably terrified... that explained the jitters. Kori quickly comforted him. Then, he sent him on his way to search for the adults, before their window of opportunity to capture the thief closed. Where could they be? 

Thirty minutes later.

After Kori had given Kipp his special assignment, two shadows emerged from around the corner. Kori was relieved to see that it was Kipp returning from his hunt. "Finally! Where have you been—? Now is not the time to be messing around!" Kori growled at Tussell, looking up at him as he approached.

"No, it's okay. This is Tommy and Russell!" Kipp quickly tried to clear up.

"I know who it is. I recognize the patterns. Why did you merge right now when we're on a timed schedule? Don't you think being on a self-discovery journey right before you fight a thief is inappropriate?"

"Oh, would you relax, Kori? It's fine—! If anything, we'll have a better time hunting the vermin now that we've combined Tommy's shifting ability with Russell's tracking skill." Tussell flexed a bicep and winked to show off his newly combined form factor, no doubt thinking they had the advantage now.

Kori waited, but he struggled to come up with a response. Words escaped him. "What am I even supposed to call you? Tomssle? Russy?" Kori sighed.

"We've taken a liking to Tussell." 

"Fine! Whatever! Just get in there and stop that vermin. He's been at it for over an hour now... I can hear him tearing my station apart!" Kori panicked.

"No biggie, Kori, I've got it. Given your position as Chancellor, I assume you won't be joining us?" Tussell asked with a hint of condescension.

"You assume correct," Kori confirmed. Kori wished the team good luck before he slinked back into the safety of the corridor. He'd wait until the coast was clear.

"Let's get this over with." Tussell sighed as he accessed the door's manual override. It slowly opened up, revealing a dark space with sparking wires, and was completely non-functional. He took his first steps into the darkness. Kipp followed behind quietly. 

A warning shot from a plasma pistol broke the silence. It ricocheted off several walls before it burned out. 

"Get down!" Tussell yelled, and he pounced to tackle Kipp.

 Kipp yelped in fear as Tussell tackled him, forcing him into cover behind one of the half-dismantled consoles. 

Tussell hugged Kipp's body and lay down on the station floor, grunting as he landed with a bang. "Are you okay?" Tussell asked Kipp, releasing him from his reverse hug. 

"I'm fine... so much for hunting this guy. I guess he wasn't expecting us, but that makes our job easier," Kipp responded tiredly. They both sat up, their backs toward the same broken console. 

"Okay—! Whoever you are! This is my cargo bay!" The stranger yelled, but he was practically invisible. 

Tussell could hear him huffing. Thanks to Russell's impeccable hearing, he could tell without a doubt that their vermin was probably a generation two Omeocoon, and he was clearly anxious... One didn't inhale and exhale that much oxygen unless they'd been caught red-handed doing something they weren't supposed to be doing and were now locked into a firefight. Tussell could feel his own heart racing now. Despite the situation, the feeling was exhilarating! He wasn't expecting blaster fire. "Just give up, and we'll go easy on you," Tussell blurted out, but another bright pink laser pistol round was fired off, indicating that the stranger was calling his bluff.