//------------------------------// // ...To Forgive Is Divine. // Story: Integration Is Pointless // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// “Wait, what? You want me to knock him out!?” The lady nodded and the other soldiers shrugged. “B-but why!? What if we hurt him! Or, like, he doesn't go unconscious the first time and we have to keep on hitting him which makes him--” The massive guy who had a minigun cracked his knuckles and said, “If ya wont, I kin do tha hittin’.” Lance shifted away from him a little. “You’ve been known to kill people in one punch!” “Lance, this isn't that big of a deal. Just knock him out.” “B-but...” Oh for crying out loud! Just do it already! ~Yeah, waiting is making it worse.~ >DIY?< Sure. As the two soldiers argued I took the opening to wriggle out of his arms and flew straight up a few feet. The soldiers all snapped to attention and began drawing their weapons. One had a sniper rifle, another a massive compound bow, minigun dude’s minigun, and a bunch of rifles. I ignored them as I tucked my wings in and fell towards the ground head first. >Here's to hoping this doesn't break your neck.< ~Or hurt too much.~ I fell through the air before landing with a thump. The world went dark and I heard Lance say, “Look at that, he's smart!” ----------------------------- I woke up to find myself lying on some sort of mattress. I pushed myself up and looked around. I was... inside some sort of building. I walked over to the door but stopped when I saw my saddlebags sitting on a table near me. I should probably grab my magicite just in case. >Wow, you're learning.< ~Good idea!~ I dug it out of my bag and tucked it securely under my wing before walking out the door. I was in some sort of hallway that had five other rooms on either side. I walked towards the only door at one end and opened it to find myself in some sort of common room with a couple screens with couches positioned in front of them, a small kitchen area with a fridge and other such appliances, and a few more doors leading to other rooms. I paused when I saw two of the soldiers talking, one was the lady that now that she was out of her armor I could see had tan skin and black hair. Talking to her was a thin guy with blonde hair who was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Overall, not as intimidating as I was expecting. “So we still don't have any orders?” “No, just to remain in this area and don't be found. I have Lenart and Enoch on patrol now.” “Okay. Hey!” By now they were both looking at me, “He's awake!” I stood still as he walked over to me. “Are ya feeling okay?” I just stood there, staring. I mean, how was I supposed to respond. The lady rolled her eyes and said, “We don't know if he can understand English, let alone speak it.” “But he knew to knock himself out!” “That could have been a fluke. Anyway, we're on next patrol in ten minutes, so get geared up.” Lance groaned and turned to a man sitting quietly reading a book on one of the couches. “Trace, can you keep an eye on him. You know, make sure Lenart doesn't try to hunt him for sport or Enoch tries to disect him or something.” The gruff looking man looked over at us and blinked once. He had skin a few shades lighter than the lady but not as light as Lance. Trace, apparently, shrugged before turning back to his book. “Thanks Trace, and please don't kill him!” Wait, what was that about killing!? >Out of the frying pan and into the fire.< ~Just act adorable whenever someone tries to hurt you.~ Lance poked my nose causing me to scrunch my snout up. “Alright, I... have got... to go. Go... sit... with Trace.” He pantomimed walking with his fingers and pointed at Trace. I nodded and sat down on the couch beside Trace as the lady turned to Lance. “Why not leave him with Atlas?” “Cause he's working out right now. Also Trace is a sniper so he does the whole intimidating, emotionless glare really well.” “Whatever, let's move.” I watched as they walked out the door. A few minutes later a voice said, “Lance and Commander have left the ship.” I saw Trace look around before turning to me. >He's a sniper, be ready to run for your life.< ~Remember, cute face!~ He checked to be sure we were alone again before closing his book and leaning towards me, his expression unreadable. He stopped a few inches away before his face light up. He reached out and started scratching my chin and... wow, just... it felt freaking amazing. Now I know why Doc liked it so much. “You are the cutest thing I have seen, ever! Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?” Me! I'm the good boy! I'm the good boy! More scratches! He apparently read my mind because he then started using his other hand to pet my back. “You're so soft and fluffy! I could just hug you and hug you some more!” >Uh...< ~Is it just me, or is he not nearly as intimidating as before?~ He picked me up and hugged me to his chest as he pressed his cheek against my fluffy neck. Yay! I'm adorable! “Daaaaw, you're the sweetest, floofiest widdle guy I've ever seen.” He pulled away a bit and booped my snout before saying, “Yes you are, yes you are!” Before anything else could happen we heard the door open and the voice (apparently it tells you who's exiting and entering?) said, “Enoch and Lenart are entering the ship.” Trace let go and we both went back to our original positions with him picking his book back up. Meanwhile I pretended to be asleep as I heard footsteps approaching. Trace looked at me and I winked before going back to “sleep.” “Hello Trace, what are you... isn't that Lance’s little pet?” My eyes were closed but I was pretty sure Trace nodded. “Huh, what do you make of it Lenart?” Another voice spoke. While the other one that was assumedly Enoch had a British accent, Lenart spoke with a southern drawl. “Ah think tha bat wings look cool. Probably nocturnal given its eyes are all cat like and stuff.” “Indeed, I'd be very interested in looking at it in greater detail. This is an alien life form after all.” Lenart grunted while Enoch said, “And what else can you expect from strong, silent Trace. He's got an alien sitting next to him and he doesn't even care. Well, I'm going to go take a shower.” “Ah think ah will too.” I heard their footsteps receding before two doors opened and closed. I sat up and looked over at Trace who had turned to me at the same time. He stared at me for a second before smirking and holding his fist out. I bumped it with my hoof and he said, “Nice. Thanks for not destroying my image. Well, I'm going to go get something to drink, back in a sec.” He stood and stalked off leaving me alone again. Not long after I heard a shout from one of the adjoining rooms. “Kin one of yoo jackasses come spot me!” Nobody but me must of heard it. ~Go spot him! It's pretty easy!~ I know how to spot somebody! But just... >Might as well. It could earn his favor thus making him less likely to kill you.< I nodded to myself before walking towards the door. Inside was a weight room occupied by the living mountain himself who I think was named Atlas. “Oh, it's yoo.” I looked at him as he smirked and said in a sarcastic voice, “Did ya come ta spot me little guy?” >Blow his mind.< ~I agree.~ “Yup. You said you needed someone to spot you, and I know how to spot somebody so here I am.” He froze with his mouth wide open. He had the darkest skin tone yet and had tattoos all over his arms. “Uh... ooookay?” He leaned back onto the bench and grabbed the bar. There were so many weights on it it was bending a bit. I trotted over and got ready to push up on it. He lifted it before beginning to lift it up and down in time with his breathing. On the last one he started struggling to lift it which prompted me to help him put it back on the rack. He sat up and looked at me. “That... was tha weirdest thing Ahv done so far. Ah mean, my workout buddy is some sort a horse thing!” “Trust me it's weird for me too.” He nodded before shaking his head and getting ready to do another set. We repeated the process three more times before he was done. He sat there staring at me before shaking his head. “Ah need a drink.” I followed him to the kitchen and as he opened the fridge and grabbed a beer I saw the most beautiful sight I'd seen in weeks. They had Doctor Pepper! Atlas saw me looking and grabbed a can before tossing it to me. Somehow I caught it with my mouth and sat down as he just stared in awe. I opened the can and chugged the whole thing before burping and crushing the empty can against my head. Just then Lance and Commander got back. They saw me sitting with a crushed soda can with Atlas staring at me still. Lenart, Enoch, and Trace chose then to walk back in so now it was all five staring at me and Atlas. He turned to Lance and shook his head. “Lance, yoor new pet is freaking weird!”