Chaos Born

Battle For The Chaos Born - Part 6

According to the GPS, this was the right place: Christmas Isle.

"For a place called Christmas Isle," Sticks had commented, unknowingly echoing Charmy, "it doesn't have a lot of cheer."

It was gone midnight when the plane of three had touched down on the island and the stars resembled spilled glitter which, along with the moon, provided just enough light for the naturally nocturnal anthropomorphic animals to see slightly. They could make out the dark form of a village hamlet in the distance, made clearer by the lamps that were weakly flickering at various doors, and of course the immense form of the Babylon Rogues' airship was doing a grand job of being a lighthouse for them to navigate to. The light from Jet's study could have guided the Titanic in safely, Marine was certain.

Rouge hopped down from the Tornado and grimaced as she felt a brief wave of nausea. Walking it off, she marched up to the airship and glared up at one of the windows, planting her hands on her curvaceous hips and pinning her wings back.

"Hey!" she called up loudly, throwing a stone for good measure. A shape appeared at the glass as it was opened.

"Spare some consideration for the locals, moron! Have you any idea on what time-" Wave stopped as she took in the sight of the ivory coloured bat below her, flanked either side by a racoon and a badger that looked as though they had been separated at birth. "Well, whaddya know?" the swallow laughed, leaning on the window ledge. "Didn't think you'd be making an appearance. Thought you'd be back home sitting in a rocking chair knitting baby booties and getting weepy over charity commercials."

Rouge and Wave didn't get on. And never had.

"How about you bring your smug face down here and I'll tell you exactly what I've been doing?" Rouge threatened, tightening her glossy lips. 

Wave sucked in air and shook her head.

"Shouldn't over-exert yourself, Mother."

"Shut your beak and tell me where everyone is."

"Not here. It's been, like, four hours since Amy and her group left."

"Left where, sheila?" Marine asked, wary of the sharp-tongued bird.

Wave glanced at her and blinked. "...Who in the world are you?"

"Who's with you?" asked Rouge, wishing that there was someone else she could talk to.

"With me?" Wave smiled. "Well take a flying guess, honey! There ain't no way we'd risk our feathers in there. We're racers, not garbage disposal that sort out robots."

Figured. It was just Rouge's luck to be stuck dealing with all three Babylonians.

"Let me get this straight," Rouge venomously spat. "The three of you have been lounging with your feet up while my friends are risking their necks...?"

"Cool it, batty," Jet's voice interrupted her as the green hawk appeared at Wave's side. "For your information, we were told to wait here. Where's the wisdom in everyone charging in without people waiting behind to make a quick get-away when they come back?"

Rouge frowned at him. "No-one is with you besides you?"

"Just the three of us," Jet nodded. "And now you. You're welcome to come in and take the weight off your feet."

At Rouge's side, Sticks had taken out her boomerang.

"All the same to you guys," she snorted, "but I'm lookin' to break some stuff."

"I'm with Spunk here," Marine agreed.

"Have you, I don't know, checked in with them?" Rouge, meanwhile, was enquiring as her anger level rose. "Asked for any updates? A general 'are you okay?' type thing?"