(Author's Note: Due to the nature of the enhanceds' speaking, if the quote surrounding italics are also italic ("Example"), the speech is telepathic. If not ("Example"), the speaker is yelling. No quotes (Example) indicates thinking.)
"Help!"
"No!"
"What's going on!?"
Fire rained down on the members of the EarthGov Special Forces. The group had been infiltrating a Maverick base, when suddenly a raging inferno was raining down on them.
"What kind of a joke is this!?" Spirit yelped telepathically as she leapt aside from a rather large fireball.
"I don't know, but I'm going to kill him when we get out of this..." Snipe grumbled as he, too, avoided a fireball. "Forget about revenge right now! Move it!"
"If he's sending this now, I'm not sure if I want to keep moving..." Paladin muttered. His comment fell on deaf ears as everyone left their cover and dashed for the base. Shaking his head, he dashed after the rest of the group.
"You sure about this, Snipe? The firestorm out there makes me kind of nervous about what's ahead..." Avatar's telepathic message entered everyone's minds.
"You should know that we need to be prepared for everything, Ryan," Snipe retorted back. "Now, keep moving!" The group sped for the quickly approaching base. They quickly reached it, finding no opposition whatsoever.
"Weird... I would've thought that we'd have run into some Mavericks..." Ripple muttered. Suddenly, the area dissipated, replaced by that of the EarthGov Headquarters Training Center.
"What did I tell you about using the simulation equipment without permission!?" Steel's voice reverberated throughout the center. A rare sight confronted everyone: Chris "Diamondback" Carter without a comeback.
"I... uh... er..." the young man telepathically stuttered. "That I'd be dead if you caught me?"
"Damn right, kid. Now drop and give me three hundr..."
"I gave him permission, General," a female voice said from behind the tall Reploid. "And considering I command this area, my rank overrules yours." Steel turned around angrily and stormed out of the training center. A group of stunned EarthGov agents watched as he left, then looked at the woman who had successfully chased off their General.
"Th... thanks for the save, Nova," Diamondback stammered.
"Yeah, no telling what Steel Balls would've done to poor Chris," Spirit commented, receiving a few laughs.
"Anytime," Nova responded. "I like seeing him cower down, anyway," she added, receiving more laughs.
"By the way, Diamondback," Snipe interrupted, "what was up with that fire storm in the trainer?"
I didn't do that, Diamondback explained. That was about the time General Asswipe took control of it. "Oh"'s resounded. "So... I'm tired of everything being so freaking serious! Anybody up for a party tonight?" He knew it was a rhetorical question when he asked it, as everyone responded with "Yeah!"s and "Whoo hoo!"s. "It's settled, then! I'm driving!"
"AAAH!"
John's scream echoed through the van as Chris took a right turn a little bit too sharply and nearly ran over an old lady.
"These pedestrians think they own the road, dammit!" Chris complained telepathically, receiving a few groans from the back of the van. "What?" More groans sounded. Chris shook his head and turned his attention back to the road, narrowly avoiding a motorcyclist.
"Please, Chris, slow down!" Matsuoka's yell from the back of the van sounded. A telepathic snicker from Andrew followed the comment, and everyone had a sudden case of whiplash as the brakes were jammed into the floor. Everyone except Andrew and John.
"Payback's a bitch, ain't it, Chris?" John asked rhetorically, getting a few laughs and a few groans. Andrew grinned evilly.
"The only reason I'm driving is because everyone agreed that we shouldn't let you behind the wheel, remember?" Chris retorted. "So that you wouldn't break our necks!" John muttered something vulgar and sat back in his seat, crossing his arms. Everyone laughed as Andrew let go of the brakes and Chris actually began to obey all... most of the traffic laws. After a couple more turns - and quite a few more screams - Chris screeched the van to a stop next to a curb. "Here we are!"
"Figures it's Tony's," Andrea commented.
"But of course!" Chris commented back. "Best party spot in Mega City!"
"Who cares where the party is?" Ryan spoke up. "Let's party!" Cheers resounded as the EarthGovian slackers got off the van and acted like a group of teenagers as they proceeded into the pizza joint/bar, making a lot of noise, much to the annoyance of the nearby businesses.
"Well, well, if it ain't this place's best customers!" Tony's voice greeted the EarthGovians.
"What's up, Tony?" Chris replied. "We'll take the usual - three larges, drinks for everyone, and some loud music!" Tony nodded and flipped the stereo on, the volume blaring. Ten minutes later, the EarthGovians were either sitting behind a pizza or were on the dance floor showing off the latest dance moves.
"What'd I tell you? This place is great when you can party uninterrupted!" Chris said from the dance floor, dancing with Matsuoka.
"Yeah, and I like the crowd that hangs out here!" Ryan commented, dancing with a girl he had met minutes before.
"Leave it to you to pick up somebody that quick," Andrew commented, spinning Andrea under his arm in a dance move.
"Yeah. Doesn't take you too long," Andrea added. The song the six were dancing to finished.
"How about we tackle those pizzas? Looks like everyone else didn't wait," Chris started. Laughs resounded from the dance floor as they moved for the booths. Suddenly, Chris put his hand on his forehead. "Urrgh... Dizzy..." he started. Before he could say anything else, he tipped over and slammed face first into a pepperoni and sausage pizza.
"Chris? What the... ungh..." Ryan started, but immediately became very weak, and fell forward, falling into the girl he had picked up's arms. Ripple's hand also flew to his forehead. Although he also tried to steady himself, he pitched forward and landed in a booth, slamming into the seat just beside a quickly retreating Gravedigger.
Wh... what's going on? I... I can't control my body!
"We lost 'em!" the young man said, panting.
"It isn't going to last, if we don't keep moving..." one of the teenage girls replied.
"We can't let 'em catch up!" the other added. "We've gotta keep going!"
Who are you? What's going on!? Diamondback attempted to send a telepathic message to the three teenagers, but found himself unable to.
C... Chris? That you? a familiar voice greeted him.
Ryan? You're here too? Diamondback replied.
Yeah, I'm in the body of the guy over here, Avatar answered. The answer prompted Diamondback to pay more attention to his own body, and he found that he was in a female body.
AAAH! What the hell!? Diamondback's telepathic scream echoed, unheard by any but Avatar. And...
Gah, keep it down, Carter! Ripple's voice greeted the two.
You too? both Diamondback and Avatar asked. Before any more could be said, the three were forced to pay attention to what was happening around them as the three bodies they had assumed got up and started running.
"Hurry it up, you two!" the girl whose body Diamondback had taken yelled backwards.
"Well, isn't Miss Arenson impatient today?" the other girl commented.
"Yeah, Jennifer," the teenaged boy added.
Jennifer Arenson!? Diamondback and Avatar yelled, startled. I haven't seen Jennifer in forever! And now I am her! Diamondback added. And the guy you are, he continued, is John Puckett! Skyrider! Before Avatar could reply, the unidentified girl tripped over some loose gravel and went flying. Jennifer doubled back to help her up.
"You ok, Erica?" Jennifer asked, receiving a nod. The two got up and continued running.
Erica... Erica Faircloth... Ripple said telepathically. Recognizing the tone, neither Diamondback nor Avatar asked. Suddenly, the three teens felt sharp pains in the back. All six screamed, as the stunner worked its way through their bodies. They quickly slumped to the ground, and the Maverick sniper kicked Jennifer's body.