A Time of Crisis: Chapter 23
Chapter 23, icon by Chaos Croc
Chapter 23 New Hope City
“We have to be here for two more days? Two more? We’ve been here for three already. They’ve already tried voting for my destruction and failed, why are we still here? I have a war to fight,” grumbles Crisis as she paces back and forth in the living room of her hotel room. Joshua sits on the couch watching some television as he looks over at Crisis who glances up at Sasha who is standing by the door, back in her military uniform.
“The only flight home is with General Raszer, and he still has business to attend to here before we head back, not much we can do about it,” explains Sasha.
“There’s nothing we can do, might as well relax,” says Joshua as he leans back in the couch and flips the channel.
“Protests about the ruling against the destruction of Dromaeosa weapons for their violation of the treaty continue across the...” reports a news reporter as Joshua quickly changes the channel.
“Seems we’re still making the news,” chuckles Sasha.
“I’ve noticed, but I just can’t stay here, locked away in this room like some animal. I’ve gotten treated like one enough as it is, their damn collar is still and my neck, why do I need to be trapped here?”
“The general doesn’t want to cause any incidents that may jeopardize our precarious position. By staying here, you are increasing your chances to defeating Chaos Croc. If you leave here there is a chance that would go down to zero,” explains Sasha.
“Yes, yes, but I want to get out of here. I want to see this city, these other people. I am not defending just our kind but theirs too.”
“Yes, but why do you want to see these people? They’re not like us. Many of them hate us, they’ll give you nothing but the worst experience possible. Trust me on this I know,” replies Sasha.
“Regardless, I want to experience it. I want to see this city, see these other people. Is that so wrong? Can’t I just experience it? I know the consequences of causing an issue, and I know they won’t like me. Let me make this decision.”
“I never said you couldn’t you can go if you want, and I’ll keep an eye on you, but the guards at the door, or down the hall, or at the hotel’s lobby,” explains Sasha.
“I already told you what I thought about this,” chimes in Joshua.
“And I don’t care, I want to see the city, who knows when I’ll get back here, if I’ll get back here, I’m going.”
“And how do you expect to do this? Can’t use the elevator, or the fire escape, are you just going to jump out of the window?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I am going to do.”
“What?!” exclaims Joshua.
“I’ll be outside,” replies Sasha as she exits the room.
“You can’t be serious, we’re eleven stories up!” he says as he stands up and walks over to Crisis who goes over to the glass sliding door that leads to the balcony.
“Relax, I am not dumb enough to jump all the way down, there are several ledges I can jump to make the descent quick and easy without any bodily harm to me,” she replies.
“No, I can’t, it’s too risky,” warns Joshua.
“What are you going to stop me?”
“I… uh... I will... I can’t let you do this, what happens if you get hurt?”
“Then why don’t you come with me?”
“Come with you? But you plan to jump out the window.”
“Yes and?”
“How can I come with you?”
“Just hold on,” states Crisis as she grabs Joshua’s shirt and pulls him onto her back.
“Crisis what are you doing?”
“Going down, I do recommend you hold on tight,” she says as Joshua reaches around and grabs Crisis’ chest for extra support.
“Huh...” comments Joshua as he holds onto Crisis’ bust.
“What’s wrong Joshua?” asks Crisis as she looks over at him just as she gets to the balcony edge.
“Nothing, nothing,” replies Joshua nervously.
“Good just hold on tight.”
“Won’t be a problem,” remarks Joshua as he wraps his legs around her his tail around her tail as he looks over her shoulder, “I really didn’t think it be this high up...” comments Joshua as he gulps, he lets out a light scream as Crisis jumps down to the balcony below her claws gripping the metal railing as she jumps down over to the next and the next, jumping off to the side to grab a stone block which breaks in Crisis’ claws causing her and Joshua to fall.
“Crisis?!” exclaims Joshua as he looks down at the quickly approaching ground.
“I got this, don’t worry,” she calmly replies as she digs her feet and hands into the stone her claws digging into stone, leaving long deep gashes into the stone. Joshua holds even tighter onto Crisis’ body as he closes his eyes.
“This was a bad idea, such a bad idea,” mumbles Joshua.
“Joshua.”
“Yes?”
“You can open your eyes now, we’re on the ground,” says Crisis as Joshua slowly opens his eyes and looks down to see himself inches above the ground, he slowly releases Crisis as she releases the stone on the side of the building, Joshua looks and sees the claw marks going down the side of the building.
“That was too risky, don’t do that again,” warns Joshua as Crisis dislodges her claws from the side of the building.
“Don’t worry about it, we made it down safely didn’t we?” asks Crisis as she looks around, “And look I landed us in a secluded area so no one saw us.”
“I wouldn’t say no one,” chimes in Sasha as she looks at Crisis and Joshua with a smile.
“How did you get here?” asks Joshua.
“I jumped off the side of the building,” replies Sasha with a chuckle, “What do you think? I used the elevator. I wasn’t confined to the room and neither were you, so I have no idea why you decided to go her route.”
“This isn’t going to end well, I just know it.”
“Then why did you come?” asks Crisis.
“I have my reasons,” he replies as the group steps onto the streets and start their walk. Crisis sees various species, Fox, Wolf, Triceratops, Dolphin, Snake, and many more. “They are already staring at us,” comments Joshua.
“They’d stare at us regardless if Crisis was here or not,” remarks Sasha.
“I already prepared myself for less than a warm welcome, and that’s not going to stop me from seeing this city, which direction should we go first?”
“Judging by the time, I suggest lunch.”
“Lunch?” asks Crisis.
“Well us organics have to eat, and I’ve noticed that Joshua has been eating only the finest foods that the hotel has to offer, and he could use more suitable nourishment, don’t you think Joshua?” asks Sasha as she jumps on Joshua and noogies him.
“I don’t know those donuts and bagels were quite filling,” replies Joshua as he attempts and fails to get himself out of Sasha’s grasp, “Now would you please let me go?”
“Oh alright,” says Sasha with a smirk, “You scientists never could handle anything that is even remotely physical.”
“I suppose sitting down to converse about what to see as you two eat wouldn’t be too bad.”
“That is if we can find a restaurant willing to accept us,” remarks Sasha.
“I’ll take that challenge,” replies Crisis as they start their stroll down the street an aura of avoidance quickly forming around them as they move towards the commercial and entertainment district of the city.
As the group moves farther away from the political center of the city, Crisis notices that the clean streets become more littered and less finely dressed are about, a few people are even in tattered clothes. Children hold close to their parents as their gets close to them before their parents whisk their children away across the street or in the opposite direction.
“Enjoy being the center of attention Crisis?” asks Sasha.
“After what I experienced at the Confederation meeting, I am not surprised, and I wouldn’t call it enjoyable...”
“I’m shocked we haven’t been assaulted yet,” comments Joshua as he looks around nervously.
“Relax they wouldn’t try to do anything publicly,” replies Sasha as they arrive at an oriental Feline restaurant.
“How about this place?” asks Crisis.
“Here? You want to try to eat here?” asks Joshua.
“Well I wouldn’t be eating.”
“Oh this place would be interesting,” comments Sasha as she takes a step towards the entrance where a large tiger steps at the entrance.
“Sorry we’re closed,” he says with a soft growl, the tall buff tiger with his orange fur and black stripes looks down at Sasha with his yellow eyes.
“Closed? Really now, I see plenty of people in there at this very instant.”
“We’re closed to your kind, and there is no way I am going to let that thing in my restaurant, I’d lose all my business,” he humphs.
“I am not a thing,” remarks Crisis.
“It speaks... That’s a surprise.”
“Of course I speak, think I am some mindless automaton?” exclaims Crisis with a soft growl.
“Let’s try another place, I never fond feline cousin, it never really agreed with me,” comments Joshua.
“Alright... we can try some other place, since your weak stomach can’t handle this ‘food’,” replies Sasha as the group walks away, the Tiger keeping an eye on them till they are far enough away from the building before moving back inside..
“That could have ended badly,” sighs Joshua.
“Yes it could have ended with us eating, such a horrible ending indeed,” remarks with a Sasha with a growled sigh.
“It’s not like that, I just know when a situation wasn’t going to end well and that’s one of them. There are plenty of places to eat, we can just find another.”
“For some reason I don’t think you know how to handle a bad situation.”
“Me? I know how to handle myself.”
“Sure you do,” replies Sasha with heavy sarcasm, “I see you as the guy who was always locked in his room studying. Have you ever had a date?”
“What? I’ve had plenty of dates.”
“Right, when’s the last time you’ve had a date? And this doesn’t count.”
“Uh... hu...”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I don’t want to say.”
“Oh tell, I’m quite curious,” chuckles Crisis.
“Scared in telling us? Grow a backbone, tell,” remarks Sasha.
“Five years,” mumbles Joshua.
“What was that? I didn’t quite hear that.”
“Five years alright?”
“Five years? How’s that even possible?
“When you’re working on a secret project stuck at a secret military base, it’s hard to find someone to date alright?”
“Oh come on that’s no excuse. I’ve told my last lover that I was an aerodynamics expert and I was busy on ‘projects’,” she replies.
“How is being a sniper qualify you as an aerodynamics expert?”
“I have to know how the bullet travels through the air, don’t I?” chuckles Sasha
“Good point... wait why does this have to be about me?! I could get a date I just didn’t want to.”
“Oh and why is that?” asks Sasha.
“I have too much work to do, Crisis needs all the help she can get, isn’t that right Crisis?”
“This is true he does spend a lot of time helping me, though, judging by how organics form relationships he still has plenty of time to find someone,” she replies.
“I think Joshua has a crush o— Did you just kick me?” asks Sasha as she glares at Joshua.
“Y-yes I did. You were going to you know make things complicated?”
“Oh I see... alright I’ll keep your little secret but you’re paying for dinner.”
“Thanks,” replies Joshua as he looks away.
“What is this about?”
“Nothing, don’t worry about it Crisis, I just know a little bit of embarrassing information about Joshua and he doesn’t want it out,” explains Sasha with a big grin on her face.
“Thanks Sasha, you’re so tactful about this.”
“What you get for kicking me, oh and do that again, you’ll be missing your sickle claw of yours got it?” warns Joshua with a scowl.
“Got it,” replies Joshua with a nod. Of course that wasn’t the end of the group’s problems, attempt after attempt they ran into similar scene as they did with the Tiger’s restaurant, blocked from one place to the next after a full hour of rejection...
“You’re making our species look weak,” states Sasha.
“I am not; I am just playing it smart.”
“All these issues trying to get you two some food has been disconcerting,” states Crisis with a soft growl, “I do nothing but try to help my people and these other species treat me like the plague.”
“I thought you were prepared for this,” says Sasha.
“I thought I was too, though when I noticed they were willing to accommodate you two but not I, I’ve been less than pleased with this city than for what I was hoping for.”
“Aye, the name is misleading..., hmm how about this place?” asks Sasha as she walks us to a restaurant named, “Hot Scales Grill”.
“I snake grill? You honestly think after all the species based restaurants that barred us from entry that a snake one will let us in? Only the herbivore dinosaurs and the felines hate us more,” remarks Joshua.
“Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“I’m afraid I have to agree with Joshua on this one, the snakes have not been so happy to see me. They were one of the most adamant voices for my destruction.”
“You’re agreeing with him? What’s the worse can happen?”
“I don’t know. Those bodyguards from the last place? Or that gruff bunch from three restaurants back that had some concealed weapons on them? There are plenty of things to go wrong,” answers Joshua.
“And an empty stomach is one of them,” remarks Sasha as he grabs Joshua’s collar of his shirt and drags him towards the restaurant.
“Not again,” sighs Joshua as he and Sasha walk into the restaurant, with Crisis a few steps behind.
“Welcome to the Hot Scales Grill... oh raptors, we don’t get too many of your kind here,” comments the feline waitress, an orange tabby as she eyes the two while she holds a pair of menus in her paws.
“I’m sure...” replies Sasha as she looks at the feline, as Sasha has a clear foot in height over her.
“I’d be surprised if you get many of mine,” states Crisis as the feline looks at Crisis her whiskers twitching as she takes a half a step back.
“I’ll be right back,” she says as she rushes into the restaurant.
“Here we go again,” sighs Joshua.
“Looks like it,” remarks Sasha.
“You know if it’s really that troublesome I can just wait outside, I don’t need to eat you know.”
“Yes but it won’t be the same.”
“Why?”
“Uh... because.”
“Because...?” asks Crisis as she rolls her finger in a horizontal circle.
“Oh it seems she’s right we do have some surprising guests today,” says a black and blue scaled female cobra snake, her red tongue flicks as she approaches, “What brings you to my humble little eatery?”
“To eat,” replies Joshua.
“And the machine over there, it is going to eat as well?”
“I prefer not to be called anit, I got enough of that at the confederation meeting,” remarks Crisis with a soft growl.
“Well I’ll be damned you are the machine that everyone is talking about. No one has seen you since the Federation meeting, you did cause quite the stir if I might do say so myself.”
“Yes the fact the vote to have me dismantled didn’t pass, was such a shame,” remarks Crisis with a hint of sarcasm.
“A sense of humor too, didn’t think you raptors were capable of such.”
“What creating Crisis?”
“No, senses of humor,” she replies with a smile.
“Excuse me, but as much as I like to chat about this, I’d really like to get something to eat,” states Sasha.
“Ah but of course, come right this way. Forgive my waitress, she was a bit surprised at your arrival, but she’ll be more than happy to serve you,” replies the snake
“I’m surprised,” comments Crisis.
“Surprised about what?”
“We’ve had some complications finding a place to eat,” answers Sasha.
“Ah, say no more, there is lot of anti-raptor folks in the city.”
“That’s an understatement... and what about you? Your kind was very vocal about my destruction.”
“I don’t care about the politics of my country. Was never into it myself, and granted many don’t like your kind, but I don’t care.”
“What do you care about?”
“Money, and I see two very hungry customers, now come, sit, enjoy yourself,” she says with a smirk, her tongue flicking as the group made their way to a small round table able to seat five easily. There the feline waitress was standing by the table, with a less than happy look on her face. The snake walks off as the feline looks down at us with a pad of paper and a pen in her hands.
“Can I get you anything?” she asks as Sasha and Joshua quickly order some drinks, “Right away,” she says as she walks off.
“She looks happy to be serving us,” chuckles Sasha.
“Quite,” replies Joshua. Crisis looks around as she relaxes in her chair, the other patrons talking amongst themselves, a patron or two pay and leave, leaving behind barely touched meals.
“Seems others aren’t too happy we’re here,” comments Crisis.
“We shouldn’t let that stop us from enjoying ourselves,” says Joshua as he opens the menu, “Now let’s see what to have...”
“Anything good?”
“Why do you ask? Not like you can eat anything,” comments Sasha.
“Can’t I be curious?”
“Well there is something that has already caught my eye.”
“And what’s that?” asks Crisis as she leans forward, resting her elbows on the table as she rests her head on her fingers.
“Grilled pizza.”
“Grilled pizza? Sounds interesting.”
“Oh I know, it sounds quite appetizing.”
“It does I don’t think I ever had a pizza grilled before, maybe I’ll try that too,” comments Sasha as she eyes the menu, “So many toppings to choose from.”
“A lot of meat based toppings... what to pick what to pick, it is a shame you can’t have any of this Crisis,” says Joshua.
“Not much of a point for me, not like I know what I am missing, I’ve never had food in my life.”
“Don’t be ridiculous sure you... have...” replies Joshua as he trails off.
“I have? I don’t remember, nor do I know of my systems having anything that allow me to consume and digest food.”
“Yes Joshua, what do you mean by that?” asks Sasha as she looks at him from over her menu.
“You’ve had... cookies before!”
“Cookies?” asks Sasha and Crisis in unison.
“Like internet cookies?”
“Funny,” sighs Crisis.
“Nerd humor, I’ll never get it,” remarks Sasha with a shake of her head as she looks down at the menu.
“Yeah... so, um... Crisis, how are you doing?”
“Functional, I could be better, such as being back home doing what I should be doing, but since I can’t help that, I am trying to enjoy myself the best of my ability, but it’s difficult.”
“Yeah, I hear you on that one. This city has been less than friendly.”
“That’s an understatement,” remarks Sasha.
“I’ve been keeping the people’s sentiment about myself and our raptor species in mind as I go about the city. Don’t want to cause an incident; I’m sure general Raszer wouldn’t be too pleased about that.”
“I’m sure general Raszer wouldn’t be too pleased about this,” Joshua adds in.
“He’ll survive, he’s a resourceful raptor,” replies Sasha.
“He is,” says Crisis as she looks around, seeing other patrons of the restaurant still looking at her, watching, staring, their whispers audible to Crisis as she hears some of their fears, concerns, anger, “I wish this place was more relaxing than it is,” comments Crisis.
“Don’t pay them any mind... or processing power just ignore them.”
“Hard to ignore when you hear some plotting to do harm against you. I need to survive first and foremost in order to defeat Croc.”
“Yes, yes, but no one will do that here, they’re all talk.”
“And you aren’t alone either,” remarks Sasha.
“True, I should relax a little bit,” replies Crisis as she sits back in her chair.
“That’s the spirit!” exclaims Joshua
“ __Though what should I do as I relax? All I can think about is how to defeat Croc. I do want to defeat Croc, and I will do so, but what about after that? What would I do? Why am I still thinking about this? Why should I focus on what I have to do after I defeat Croc when I still have the long process of defeating him? It was that Empress... she must have done this to me, a virus of some sort... I_ ’ ll have to run some diagnostics on my programming when I get a chance, ”_ thinks Crisis.
“So that will be two grilled pizzas with meat lover’s toppings?” asks the feline waitress.
“Double the meat on mine please,” orders Sasha.
“The normal will be okay for me,” says Joshua.
“I don’t assume you want anything,” says the feline waitress as she looks at Crisis.
“I’m fine, I don’t really eat.”
“Figured, is that all?” she asks.
“I’m good,” answers Joshua.
“Me as well,” replies Sasha as she looks over at Crisis, “So after all you’ve seen thus far what do you plan to do Crisis?”
“I’m not sure. Going to the city’s entertainment venues seems like a silly waste of time, and going by what we’ve encountered thus far, they won’t take kindly to me going to any establishment to enjoy myself.”
“We could always do a little shopping,” suggests Joshua.
“Shopping?”
“Yeah, maybe get a souvenir? I’m sure that we could find something you’d like and get it for you.”
“Hmm, it’s been a while since I’ve gone and done a little shopping, it couldn’t hurt,” remarks Sasha.
“It would better teach me about how these other species live; I will need to understand them better if I am ever to be diplomatic. I can’t make enemies here while Croc’s armies are still out intending to destroy everything we hold dear.”
“At least we now know what we’ll be doing next,” says Joshua with a smile as the waitress brings the group their drinks. The rest of the time at the restaurant was uneventful, though as we were finishing up and leaving the restaurant owner approached us again.
“I hope you enjoyed your meal,” she says with a small tongue flick.
“Oh we did, the food was fantastic. I never had a grilled pizza before,” replies Joshua.
“It’s our specialty dish, native to my home country.”
“I’ll have to visit there sometime once this whole war is over, I always wanted to travel.”
“I’m sure you will one day.”
“I have a question for you,” asks Crisis as the snake turns her attention to her.
“Oh you do? Do tell what is it?”
“You said you allowed us to be here because of the money, right?”
“That I did.”
“I noticed you lost a few customers as we were here, how are we to be so profitable to you?”
“Observant aren’t you?”
“I’m programmed to be.”
“Well since you’ve been such good patrons, far better than even I anticipated, I’ll tell you. You may scare off a few of my customers today, but guess how many will come when they learned you were here? In fact, if you don’t mind, I would like to take a photograph, me and you, and then the rest of your group.”
“Uh... sure, I don’t mind,” answers Crisis.
“You want me in a photograph?” asks Joshua.
“I was wondering the same thing,” says Sasha.
“I want to include all those involved, including my lovely waitress who was so kind to put her grudges aside to serve you,” explains the snake.
“Sorry, but I want no part in the photograph,” replies the feline.
“Suit yourself,” replies the snake as the couple of photographs were taken and then the group was back on their way to explore the city.
“That was interesting,” says Joshua.
“She let us eat there to exploit us,” remarks Sasha.
“Regardless we had a good meal didn’t we?”
“True,” she replies. The same trend as before, people avoiding them, talking amongst themselves as they watch Crisis’ group from a distance, they take photographs with their phones, cameras, as they watch the strange group move through the streets.
“This whole circus thing is getting annoying,” remarks Crisis.
“Relax, as you said you knew this was going to happen,” replies Sasha.
“Yeah, we don’t want to cause any issues now,” comments Joshua.
“Yes, but after a while... it gets to you,” says Crisis as the group arrives at an open strip mini mall filled with dozens of stores of various sizes.
“Anything that catches your eye Crisis?” asks Joshua.
“I know what catches mine,” says Sasha as she looks at a pro hunter shop, “If you don’t mind I think I’ll have a look around... don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone,” she warns as she walks off.
“We won’t do anything stupid,” remarks Joshua.
“You know... since you know me, I’m curious...” says Crisis as she rubs her chin as she looks around.
“Curious about what Crisis?”
“That electronic store over there, why don’t you find me a suitable souvenir from there?”
“An electronic store? Isn’t that a bit strange you think?”
“Yes I know of the irony, but I want to see what you’d get for me.”
“Me get for you? As in a gift from me to you?”
“More like shopping for me, to remember my time here if that makes any sense?”
“Uh... sure, I’ll be back in a bit, stay out of trouble,” says Joshua as he runs off.
“ __Stay out of trouble, what does he take me for, a child?_ ”_ thinks Crisis as she walks around the area a bit, studying the people and everything else. Taking more notes on how much less organized this place is than Croc city, how much more trash there is. Suddenly a magazine blowing in the wind lands a few feet from here. As it catches Crisis’ attention she notices its some kind of news magazine that has a sketch of a split image of Crisis and Chaos Croc’s head. Below it is text that says, “Which is the Real threat?”
“ __Curious,_ ”_ thinks Crisis as she goes to reach for the magazine before another wind blows it away down a small corridor she peers down to see a trash pickup area, in that area are people living in cardboard homes, “ __How every interesting..._ ”_ thinks Crisis as she goes in for a closer look, the people in the shelters quickly running away as she drew near, “ __Figures they_ ’ d run off. ”_
“My, my, my, what do we have here? The Dromaeosa puppet has strayed from its protective guard,” says a deep toned voice from behind. Crisis turns around to see a pack of four guys standing before her. The first is an anthropomorphic triceratops, his three horns long and as sharp as her own claws, the guy to her right is an a rather buff red furred fox, on his left is a large buff iguanodon with an equally large and buff orca.
“Did you just call me a puppet?” replies Crisis with a soft growl her eyes glowing blue and her claws twitching.
“Oh look it got mad at being told what it is, a puppet, a pawn, a piece of glorified equipment,” chuckles the triceratops.
“I still can’t believe you got to exists due to one fucking absentee vote,” remarks the Orca.
“You know, I still think that vote was rigged maybe we should... rectify this,” suggest the iguanodon with a smirk.
“Do you really think you could hurt me?” asks Crisis as she takes a half a step back, deeper into the corridor.
“If you don’t think we can hurt you then why do you back away?” asks the triceratops.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” she replies.
“Oh, you don’t want to hurt us? Isn’t that rich,” chuckles the triceratops as he takes a step forward and takes a swing at Crisis, his fist hitting her right on the face, Crisis’ head only turning to the side with a loud metallic clank, the triceratops screams in pain as he grabs his hand, Crisis turns her head back towards them.
“By the sound of it, you broke a few bones in that hand of yours,” says Crisis with a smirk.
“Oh, I’ll break a few things of you,” exclaims the Iguanodon as he pulls out a hidden piece of metal pipe hidden within his jacket.
“Hey, now I still don’t want to fight you,” says Crisis as she jumps back just dodging the first swing as the others in the group start to converge on Crisis with more weapons.
“ __There has to be a way out of this... I could use my electro-blades... no that would make things worse! Anything I do to them will only cause an incident and make them want to revote on my destruction... damn it,_ ”_ thinks Crisis as she doges another attack, while a third strikes her left arm, sending shockwaves through her body and scratch her paint, “ __This isn_ ’ t going to end well... ”_
“So you guys like to pick on lone raptors,” says Sasha as the fox turns around, “Hey you’re one of the ones with that machine.”
“Indeed I am, and there is one thing you should know,” she explains as she takes the fox and flips him around onto his back and hits him in the chest to knock on the air out of him, “We raptors always travel in packs.” The orca turns to Sasha and attempts to charge her, Sasha quickly side steps his attack and uses his momentum to run him into a nearby trashcan causing him to fall over, she then moves to the iguanodon who turns his attack to her.
Sasha dodges the first strike and then the second, blocking the third attack with a six inch long knife hidden within her jacket and then kicks him behind the knees so hard that his feet fly up into the air and he lands with a thud on his back, just the triceratops lowers his head and charges her using his horns as a natural weapon, Sasha grabs the top left horn and uses it as a leverage to flip him onto his back where she quickly moves in to press her leg down onto his neck.
“Now are you going to be good prey and leave us alone or do I have to get nasty?” asks Sasha.
“We’ll leave you alone,” says the triceratops between gasps of air.
“Good,” replies Sasha as she releases him, the orca helping him up as the gang makes a hasty retreat.
“Well... I think we’ve had enough fun for the day, don’t you think Crisis?”
“Agreed, let’s get Joshua and get back to the hotel,” replies Crisis as the group heads off. High above them a pair of eagles watches the group from on top of some nearby buildings.
“The robot was more controlled than I thought it would be,” states the one eagle.
“Indeed, shame though, the chancellor really wanted an incident... those raptors are cleverer than we anticipated.”
“They always are,” remarks the other. Meanwhile across town in a high class fancy restaurant general Raszer the shark representative are heaving a nice quite meal together.
“You are very good to treat me to this place, even one such as me has difficulty getting in here,” compliments the shark.
“I have my ways...” replies General Raszer as he takes a sip of his wine, “You know I always repay debts to those I owe.”
“Oh I know you do... speaking of which.... how goes our agreement, I’ve held up my end of the bargain. Getting that representative to leave was no easy feat you know.”
“Quite... and I can see you getting a little bit of extra power to your forces quite soon. Random kidnappings from Croc’s forces are always problematic, guess you’ll need some of Crisis’ forces for protection,” suggests Raszer with a grin.
“Oh yes, Croc’s forces are getting quite pesky, trying to find new avenues to attack nations not even on the front lines,” replies the shark.
“Glad we can come to an agreement,” says the Raszer as he calls the waiter over, “This calls for a celebration, don’t you think? To the bright future of both of our countries.”
“An excellent idea,” replies the shark as Raszer orders the most expensive wine in the house.