Alone... (Rude/open)

[Deleted]

Cue the Music

That was an understatement.

"Be careful of the trees, she said. THERE ARE TREES EVERWHERE!"  If she was immature, she would've kicked the control panels; instead she took a moment to exhale and recuperate from THAT. Curled up in her chair, she collected herself in a series of breathing, "Okay Lilo it's no big deal. We'll just get the hoverboard and see how bad it is."

Earlier that day...

"Alright Luka, what's the next one?" The Captain sat casually in her chair Indian style, while swiping through the photos she took in Traverse Town and Agrabah. She met some people along the way, which was nice after being alone in space for so long.

She doesn't know whether to call it all a friendship, but it was a start with her lengthy trip amongst the stars. She would run into them again, but she had business to attend to. Inquiring about cataloged and unlisted worlds was her primary task even if it was a guise to hunt down Stitch. Still she would have to make follow-up reports every now and then. If not she maybe considered AWOL or dead, and she couldn't do that to her sister, David, Jumbaa, Peekley, The Ohana.

They knew what she was after, but not communicating will tear at them. On that note, she would have to make a reminder to call her sister later. She would have to fill her in on everything and vice versa; she had to keep tabs on them. Lilo didn't want to come unexpectedly as an aunt. Her thoughts snapped with Luka's AI's voice.

Now approaching new destination... 


Deep Jungle, s moist subtropical world with broadleaf montane forests. There
aren't a lot of evidence of human contact unless the people are indigenous amongst the overall wildlife in this world. Beware of the heartless and native predators.
Trees may cause landing difficulties; find a clearing. There is also a 50% chance of rain.

"That doesn't sound too bad." Lilo hummed, while she contemplated in how heavy were these 'native predators'. She'd carry her pistols and take the hoverboard; it couldn't be too compromising if there weren't a lot of people inhabiting it.

"Alright, time to jam!" Grabbing hold of the wheel, she whirled Luka towards the upcoming planet. Who knew she was going to jam and skid all over the forest and get stuck in a tree. 

---

Cue the Other Music

"Stupid atmospheres, stupid flock of birds, and stupid tree," the young woman grumbled as she packed her backpack. Opening the side hatch exit, she locked her feet into the hovercraft before tapping it on. With a second, it buzzed and hummed lifting her to a hover. With a lean, she drifted out of the spacecraft to observe that she wedged her in thick branches right above a tree house.

"Well that's somewhat convenient," looking up, she wondered if that was enough foliage to hide the bright red and white floral printed ship. At least, she didn't have to busy herself hiding it, and a tree house was an easy landmark to trace back to.

"Actually I only hope no one lives in there...," talking to herself was a normal factor, it made everything less quiet. Dipping down, she silently peaked through the windows. It would've been easier if it was covered in webs, and dust; wiping it left a thick layer on her fingers. She groaned before trying to wipe it off on the humble wooden house, "so much for cleanliness. Talk about neglected."

When she swerved through the entrance, she noted how very empty it was. There were a few stray and broken furniture that indicated life at one point, but nature was slowly taking over. Greenery coated the roof; vines started to elaborate wrap around the beams inside, and other flora was uprooting the floor panels for more space. The light filtered in with dancing dust particles. The homey nature it had was long go in the decrepit treehouse; still at one point, it was a home to someone, a family. That was enough to make it photo worthy.

"With no one here, I guess I can't jeopardize world order," it was bittersweet. She wouldn't have to be too cautious in revealing herself, but it could mean that this family was long gone or worst. Slinging her backpack over her shoulders, she grabbed her tablet to take pictures. The more data she collected, the more she reminisced and missed home.  Little did she know that the house was completely vacant. When one moves out, another can easily move in. She was trespassing a territory; at least she would be a bountiful meal.

       

[Deleted]

Checking out other worlds was like a vacation. A job within a vacation. Rude couldn't remember when the last time he had a real vacation after everything going on. This mission was just a routine check-up on this world. Just to make sure it had not been override with darkness. Then he would need to report back to Radiant Garden before heading back to his own world.

It wasn't like Tseng or Rufus needed him around at the present moment, so he took on the odd job. Besides he would tell them his findings at any rate when he got back. Although he figured that Rufus would already knew about this world. The President wasn't just one to sit behind a desk all day long and do nothing every single day.

Landing had been a bit of a problem for the bald Turk. All the foliage. At least the trouble of it all made him like the challenge. That had been at least an hour ago. Now he was trekking through the jungle and wishing he had a lighter suit. The thick humidity was just as bad as wandering around Costa del Sol in peak summer season.

So far he had not seen any human life, which was to be expected. Why would a bunch of people want to live in the jungle? Or move to this world in the first place? The wild life he had encountered was actually intriguing as the birds and mammals were different from on Gaia. It sort of made him think of what Reno would say about them.

[Deleted]

Her thumb flicked over her screen admiring the pictures she captured. She smiled in satisfaction before closing out of the photo app, “that will d-“

She gasped feeling additional weight slamming on her back as claws grappled her backpack. She knew she was in trouble was hearing a growl. The young woman practically yelped and flinched; instinctively her toe pressed down to start up the hovercraft, while nibble fingers grabbed her guns.

SWOOSH

PEW PEW PEW PEW!

A loud cry followed with a rip of her bag. She was free and took off. Before she dived towards the treetops; she looked back; she had to. She swore she could see herself in the reflection of her eyes as it galloped towards her with a swift speed and ferocity.

They lost sight of each other when she descended below the deck, but that didn’t stop the wide swipe meant for her face.Her breath was raged, hyperventilated; she needed to get away from this tree as quick as possible.

ZOOM!

Sweeping past the net beneath, she followed the thick trunk to the bottom, and she could’ve peed on herself hearing a loud thumping, paws. It was coming for her. Adrenaline made her fingers sporadic; it took too many clicks to change to rotate the ammunition selection. Spotting the dark purple dial for the third time, she locked it in. With a sharp twist of her body, she spun and screamed.

Right before her, it was already air-bound to pounce and tackled her down. Her scream rang louder with two shots. The gravity balls impacted the beast near its neck before expanding and mending together to hold him there. She did a shave to late as the rest of its body naturally swung and hit her before the gravity forced took control.

She was knocked off balanced quickly as the hovercraft sent her hurtling into the jungle. Her gritted teeth muffled her screams as the world spun around her; Lilo was trained to recover from this, but her mind was blown after being prey and the harsh smacks and hits into the tree branches. The impacts had slowed her down with sore tenderness.

Birds hawked at the disturbance displeased causing a flock to fly out of the tree tops, while she skidded on the floor. The hovercraft hummed before turning off, and the rider groan before rolling to lie on her back.

“Welcome to Deep Jungle Lilo; it’s going to be a blast,” her voice dripped in sarcasm; it was really too soon to get up, but she can’t stay down her too long if everything in this world can kill her, “because everything aches.”

[Deleted]

Having found Elena, Tseng and Rufus, Reno was feeling better about himself and life in general. The Turks were indeed out there, and not just a figment of his imagination. He hoped, soon, he would run into Rude, his best buddy and partner. He was a bit at a loss without him. They had been working closely for years and one found they usually went hand in hand. If you got one, you also got there other - sooner or later. Reno could read the man's breathing pattern if he wanted. And Rude could see through his lies if he wanted.

New worlds, new allies, new people and places. Reno's life was taking new turns. Sephiroth was alive and as insane as ever. Apparently Yazoo was around too, and that didn't appear to be a great worry. Kadaj saved his butt from the biggest baddest soldier around, and that monkey was staring at him rather oddly.

It was staring right? It looked pretty much like it was staring. It was an odd shape too, but other worlds had different creatures and called Chocobos giant chickens and he remembered the picture and name pretty well. It was a monkey. and it was staring. It followed him with its eyes when he moved. "Kaaayyy getting a bit freaked out now yo," he said to himself. it wasn't long before the monkey was joined by a friend. Or five.

"time to go," Reno muttered, turning heel and running the hell out of there! Immediately he was pursued by five not very happy looking monkeys with staring eyes and very sharp teeth. He had a feeling he was on the menu tonight and planned not to be. He survived Sephiroth and Cloud and the end of the world a couple of times over now and wasn't about to be bested by a few hungry mammals.

Skidding under a tree branch, then scrambling over the next, Reno used his legendary speed to get away from the creatures pursuing him. He ran in a red blaze streaking through the greenery, failed to anticipate the sudden drop in terrain and fell, spilling to the ground and onto something soft and warm. It may or may not turn out to be a young woman who was also not having a very good time of it in Deep Jungle.

[Deleted]

Unlike the other two in the jungle, Rude seemed to have a more enjoyable time. Nothing really was after him. At least not yet. When the flock of birds took flight it was not that hard to hear them above the treetops. Rude wondered just what caused them to be scared off.

The noise was something to investigate as he heard something crash nearby, which is when he heard the birds take off as well. He took off in a jog to the source. Making sure to avoid tripping over low foliage or getting smacked in the face by a low branch.

Getting smacked in the face was embarrassing enough when not on purpose. At least no one would be making fun of him if it were to happen. As soon as Rude made it to where another noise had came from it was obvious that something was wrong. He came to a stop when he took notice of a familiar red head and an unfamiliar woman.

An eyebrow rose at the sight but the noises of feral animals caught his attention. Looking towards the ledge where Reno had tumbled from, he noticed some baboons pacing around. "What did you do, Reno?" he asked, not really wanting to stick around for them to find a way down to the trio. Clearly a default question on asking his partner as it could have been his fault.

Basically unaware of the hanging leopard in the air from Lilo's gravity shots due to how high up the feline was.

[Deleted]

"I really don't want to get up right now," it would've been a coherent sentence if she wasn't mumbling and muttering. She just laid there with grunts and moans of discomfort with a few comprehensible words.

"What did you do...," the words were muffled in her ears. She can feel a headache coming.

"He was trying to eat me; he was seriously trying to eat me; I could've died," the whisper grew louder with realization before the short-haired islander sat up too quickly with a scream picturing those eyes in her head.  A hand went to her gun and aimed it at the first thing she registered as danger. Switching ammo, she fired a warning plasma shot at the baboons. The plasma splattered contacting some of them to make then run away, "take that you banana eating butts."

She was too overwhelmed to make a good comeback. With a sigh, she wiggled her feet to unlock them from the board. Looking up she noticed a lot of red, it was pretty bright like Luka. Was that even natural? Who was he? How long has he been here? How did he get here, because she would be damned if she had to go back up into the treehouse now.

Grunting she rose to stand. With a grimace, she rubbed the tender spot on her sides looking over the red head, "Yep, you're not from here."

Who wear suits in the jungle? "No wonder you have fans and-"

Shifting around, she swore she saw a familiar face. It was enough for her to jump in his arm for a hug, "BUBBLES!"

The young woman didn't hesitate to throw her entire weight on the bald one; she expected him to be prepared. Why wouldn't he?

"What are you doing here?" she asked with a strong squeeze, "I thought you were retired. Wait, you should be home."

Suspicious she pushed off of him folding her arms over her chest, "They didn't sent you here for me? Hey! I've been sending my reports, and I've been following protocol. And what happened in Agrabah WAS NOT on me!"

[Deleted]

He was sure the squishy thing he was lying on was a young girl and that she was most definitely talking to herself and not him. Why she felt the need to speak out loud was beyond him, especially when she happened to be in company. He noticed as he struggled to sit up, that she was a different kind of girl than he was used to. Her skin was darker, and really, the only dark skinned person he had actually spoken to was Rude. Rude, his tall, dark and handsome friend was not of the Caucasian persuasion which was just fine with him. The big guy could cover himself in green slime and he's still think he was the coolest cat around. Reno wasn't really sure were his thoughts were going, other than he found darker skin exotic. She was kind of hot actually.

"What did I do?" Reno asked outraged for a second before realising Rude really was there! Hey! A huge grin split onto Reno's face. He was so happy to see his best friend in the whole wide world. "Well speak of the devil yo! I was just thinking about you!"{/b] Reno was rather excited then, and did not notice the leaping feline above them. Not that he would have thought to look up to see it anyway. It wasn't the kind of thing he thought to check for but probably should considering he was just chased by evil furballs of hell. Which the girl shot. That was good. reno gave her an impressed and appreciative look.

It was quickly eradicated by the sudden desire to laugh. Laugh and laugh and laugh and cry and laugh and basically pee himself. Bubbles? After a couple of minutes a huge snort which was actually a little painful escaped Reno. He just couldn't help it. It was just too too funny. Reno clutched his stomach as it began to cramp. He'd let Rude ask what happened in Agrabah.


a/n - sorry for the delay! Huh. I thought she was like 15! Oops xD xx

[Deleted]

This was something he was not expecting at all. Sure he expected Reno to be in trouble. Check. The girl had managed to scare off the baboons with her gun. The next instant she was hugging him and calling him an odd name. Arching a brow, he watched as Reno started laughing over the name Bubbles.

Now he was confused by what she was talking about. Agrabah? He hasn't been to Agrabah recently. He would get Reno back later for laughing at the situation. “I think you're mistaken me for someone else,” he said, calmly. No need to get upset over it. But he would like an explanation just as much as the other Turk would about Agrabah.

“What do you mean what happened in Agrabah isn't your fault?” he asked. Rude figured that she meant the ones in charge of her to send him here. Clearly he did not know her boss.

[Deleted]

Before she can ramble in her defense, Lilo couldn’t get her thoughts straight with all the laughing. With her arms still wrapped around Cobra Bubbles, she eyed the red-head .

“Is he with you?” Her nose wrinkled wondering when Bubbles ever got a partner. “I thought you worked solo. If you were working in this galaxy, you could’ve at least TOLD ME!”

Leaning off of him, her arms folded over her chest as she puffed her bangs out of her eyes, “I could’ve used the company, and all of THAT mess in Agrabah would’ve been…smoother.”

Leaving Deep Space to travel into deeper space and other worlds was a lonesome venture. She met new people, but it's not like they were stuck together like glue just yet. One person she spent enough time with was silent, while she did most of the talking. It has been a lonesome and awkward journey.

“I think you're mistaken me for someone else. What do you mean what happened in Agrabah isn't your fault?””

Wait. What? Pause.

Her face morphed with each thought in disbelief, and then took a step away from him suspiciously. What kind of man would let a stranger hug him without doing anything? Her lips pursed with contemplation; depending on what he does or say would indicate if he would be cataloged as Code Alpha: CREEP CREEP for creepers.

“You’re not Cobra Bub-“ she realized everything was starting to make sense.

Looking over him the differences were as clear as rain, “Yeah you’re too fair, and you don’t have enough muscle mass. For a moment I thought you lost weight or something. If you’re not Cobra Bubbles, who are you?”

Who she thought was Cobra Bubbles was now Stranger. But wait he wasn’t Cobra Bubbles. So that meant, “if you’re NOT Cobra Bubbles I TECHNICALLY don’t HAVE to tell you.”

Everything was starting to tick, “Yeah you’re NOT Bubbles. So whatever happened to introductions? At least they do that on whatever world you two are from.”

It would seem so they are paired together; they both were silly enough to wear formal suits in a JUNGLE!

“I’m Lilo, Lilo Pelekai of the Pupuka Islands, and as far as I know neither of you are apart or the Intergalactic Confederation. Correct? And since neither of you are my superiors, I can’t get into any trouble if I did or did not interfere with global affairs of another world, because of some crazy dragon weirdo. It’s a long story. “

It’s their turn, “alright spill it.”

Tags: @reno @rude

[Deleted]

Personally this wasn't the way Reno would have done things but in the long run he supposed rude was right. Lying to the girl would completely shatter relations later on and they were in the business of making friends for Rufus. Or at least dragging their asses to his door and letting him to the schmoozing. Reno would protest that he could do plenty of persuading when he was in the zone and the person he was talking to wasn't an easily offended prick.

Cobra Bubbles? What a name. Reno couldn't help the grin splitting his face so hard his cheeks hurt. OH yeah, Rude was going to make him pay for it later and that was OK - that was entirely alright. It wouldn't be the first time he had to do the ironing. In fact he was a dab hand at that, but make him hoover and he just got tangled up and the hoover got broken rather quick.

Greeeeaaaat, Reno rolled his eyes as she rounded on Rude. They were dealing with an overgrown child. Effing A. This was exactly what he needed. It was a fast track to make him irritable. She was young, pretty, but had the emotional maturity of a gnat. There you go, stamping your foot and turning your head away. the next words out of her mouth were going to be 'it's not fair!'. He was soooo glad to have a whinger on their hands.

Still, she did deal with those baboons. She knew how to handle herself. There was a strength lurking in that annoying child like attitude. A challenge then. Reno could be young and challenging. "I'm Reno. He's Rude," he jabbed a thumb in the other man's direction. "We're adventurers," Technically true these days. They were anything Rufus needed them to be. Right now, adventuring warrior knights. It sounded cooler as awol bodyguards huh? "We like to solve mysteries," he said mysteriously. "Including weird dragon guys with interesting hair,"

Because dragon guys had to have interesting hair, right?


a/n - I am so sorry. *grovels*

[Deleted]

Lost weight? Rude knew he didn't lose any muscle mass or weight. Then that must mean the Cobra Bubbles she was talking about was slightly bigger than him. Not that he had an issue with it. But he did wonder how she got them mixed up. “Like he said, my name is Rude,” he said with a straight face.

He had to mentally sigh at how Reno finished up their introduction on who they are. But he did add in, “Even if you did not tell us what you did in Agrabah. We have our own ways to find out.” Rude did have to wonder about all the things she mentioned. Rufus might be a little jealous that his reach didn't go into outer space yet.

Maybe scare tactics will get Lilo to spill what she did and knows. Even if she didn't, Rude can find out like he said. Besides he wouldn't be one to crack smiles or jokes. At least not very often. His partner was that type of person, which she would find out soon enough.

[Deleted]

They were adventurous who liked to solve mysteries. Okay Shaggy and Scooby.

She observed them incredulously with her head slightly tilted and her arms cross over her chest. They were quite the contrasting pair; there’s no wonder why they were arranged together if they were partner in crimes or just acquainted associates. This Rude simply lacked the warmth Bubbles bestowed; she’ll even judge to say he’s stiffer than Zest. And yet she didn’t feel threatened. Or was she simply being too stubborn to heed the warning. They were strangers; he wasn’t her boss, and her hands were clean. Also seeing how she’s under Intergalactic Jurisdiction; she didn’t feel to phased about them. Plus it was hard to take them THAT seriously when his partner was just as corky.

How odd that they met up so randomly. Perhaps it wouldn’t be too farfetched that they would find out, but it’s not like she did anything wrong to concern ‘mystery hunters’. She wasn’t the center attraction of that one.

“Then hunt away mystery solvers, and whenever you find out, please send me two golden stars for my…,” she paused. Would Zest be considered a friend? They did momentarily work together, and she saved his life? Despite how silent as a mouse he could be, he was kind and resilient at heart. She wouldn’t mind labeling him as one, “friend and I. My address is anywhere and everywhere. I get around.”

“Now what you should be asking me,” she started, while slinging her backpack around to dig into it. She retrieved her tablet before taking a few shots of the rainforest. She even turned to focus on both of them a time with a quick warning, “say cheese!”

Before any objections, it was packed away safely into her bag, “You should be asking me about the crazy dragon weirdo. With world order in a big mess and people from foreign worlds crossing atmospheres, you may want to keep tabs on THAT. No? I’m assuming he gets around via dark corridors, so he also can be anywhere and everywhere.” Taking a few steps away from them, she locked her feet back into her board. Calling it to go ‘up’, she began hovering and leaned to glide to Reno, “Sooo if you and your friend ask me nicely. I may drop a few clues for you mystery hunting adventurers.”

“Aaand,” she leaned again to circle around Rude, “I know you both aren’t in Deep Jungle to ask about Agrabah, so you must be here for some other ‘mysteries’. You show me yours; I’ll show you mine. Call it a momentary partnership.”

She left the bait dangling in the air as she drifted further into the jungle, “I wouldn’t stay in one spot for too long if I were you. Predators like easy targets, so let’s shake a leg before the one I left finds us.”
 
@reno @rude

Note: You got mail.

 

[Deleted]

Reno huffed and put his hands on his hips. They were stuck here talking to a kid who thought she was being clever. He didn’t have patience for this kind of thing. Mellowing had not prepared him for dealing with children. He didn’t like little people. She may be adult sized but her temperament was not cool. Not cool at all.


Reno gave Rude a ‘really?’ look. Did he really expect intimidation to work here? If they pushed this girl she was going to dig her heels in and they would never get anywhere. Let her have control, he stared at Rude hoping he could transfer this thought mentally to his partner. Don’t bother trying. It was a waste of energy. There were multiple tactics which could be used. Reno had already decided to use a different one - he just wasn’t sure which.


Irritated he tilted his head back.


The girl caught his attention though with her offer of a ‘momentary partnership’. Huh. Suddenly less irritated Reno regarded the girl with a look which was bordering admiration. She was young and had the wiles to suggest something to her benefit. She wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t even slightly ruffled. Interesting.


Reno is quick, so when she whipped out her tablet he ducked his head and raised an arm to cover his face. He just didn’t want to make things easy for her more than anything else. He doubted he was on any database she was looking at and he’d be very interesting to read.


”We’re just in the business of making friends,” Reno said. ”Crazy universe like this, we all need as many as we can get,” he said trying a more open approach.

”You’re right. Let’s go,”

[Deleted]

Well intimidation was a thought and he did try, so now he knew it wouldn't work on this young woman. Besides just standing around in this humidity was making his suit stick to him even more. Plus he was surprised nothing else came out to get them. Rude knew he shouldn't be thinking such thoughts but after the baboons it seemed nothing else was around.

As she took out a device and faced it towards them. Rude had given her a disapproval look as the audible click went off. So she was taking pictures of things, which he knew it was a good idea but a camera would be broken in no time between him and Reno. “A partnership will be helpful for the both of us,” he stated.

He began moving along while following Lilo on her hover board. He looked around as they were walking to make sure nothing was going to jump out at them.

[Deleted]

“So who are you working for,” Lilo started interrupting the silence, “or is that type of information so classified you’ll have to cut me as a loose end.”

Her nose scrunched with a small smile; her voice was dripping in playfulness, “And what are two neatly dressed gentlemen looking for in the forest, or is this type a work not your ’thing’?”

She was a smart girl to deduce something, or she was at least crafty enough to draw stray conclusions. However they worked possibly just dropped a random recon work outside of their norm, and she bet he wasn’t the type a guy to take no for an answer unless they respected him with the utmost loyalty to jump out a window into a spacecraft to land in this breeding ball of the circle of life.

Monkeys hooted above them ruffling the treetops with their leaps and swings. She could hear the birds flapping wildly from branch to branch. It would be a beautiful shot to catch nature in her act, while the sunlight filtered through the trees in godsend rays. But she needed to stay attentive in case of ANYTHING!

“Or do you guys have connections here? Someone use to live here, but that tree house up there looked long abandon. It’s not much of a house anymore.”

But why leave a perfectly made home? Being a rainforest, she doubted it was the most practical of places during the wet season. Being a wishful thinker, they could’ve just changed location in some other treetops, which seemed to be the most habitable; leopards and other cats prowled the floors. Other animals stomped and ruled on the grounds like the large bodies grazing ahead, a herd of African forest elephants.