Chapter Text
“Sir, you really should take some time off.” Began Nerve to his superior, concerned.
“No. I had enough time off when I was in hiding. I’ll rest when I’m dead.”
“You’ll end up dead if you keep doing this.”
“Keep doing what?” The Commander asked, scribbling furiously.
“Pulling all nighters.” Nerve deadpanned. Peepers, however; in typical Peepers fashion, waved him away.
“I’ll be fine. Someone has to keep this place running.”
“Sir, I did fine when you were gone.” Nerve reminded him. “For several years. Pretty sure I’ll manage for a few days. Besides, we don’t want you passing out like you did all those years ago, right?” Nerve recalled the events of the army’s founding years, when Hater was still alive and the then known Hater Empire was nearing it’s peak. Peepers had been pushing himself too hard back then. And he still was.
The Commander’s thoughts drifted to the late skeletal Lord. He sighed in defeat, pushing back his chair and standing the best he could in his fatigue. Nerve was right. Hater certainly wouldn’t approve if he could see his best friend now. “Okay Nerve, you win. But only if we keep this as quiet as possible. The last thing I want is for Hemlock to find out.”
“Don’t worry Sir. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Then I’ll make the necessary arrangements for myself and the rest of the family. I never was one for travelling alone.”
Little did they realise that the fly on the wall had been listening to the whole thing.
Hemlock sat back in her seat, amused. “So, Peepers and his little family are going away.” She paused. “Well I intend to make it a break they will never forget.” She cackled, the light fading before the room was engulfed in darkness.
“Darn. I need to get those fixed.” She said, looking up at the offending light sources.
———
“Dad.”
“Yes?” Answered Peepers, who was piling an assortment of clothing into a large suitcase. “You can just tell me you know. You don’t have to worry.”
“I was wondering if Andy could come with us?”
“I don’t see why not.” He said, pushing down the lid of the suitcase. “He’s more or less part of the family now.”
“Thanks Dad.” Iris said, before turning around to leave. Her fathers voice stopped her from walking out the door.
“Uhmmm, Iris?” She spun to see him struggling to do up the zip. She sighed.
“Okay, open it up.”
He did so. Iris barely resisted the urge to eyepalm. “Dad, I know this’ll be on the hold and all, but you don’t need three blasters.”
“I’m an army officer, what did you expect?”
“I’m an officer too, Dad. You don’t see me stockpiling weapons.”
Peepers opened his mouth to argue, but then realised she was right. “Okay, you have a point. I’ll just take my handgun.”
“I doubt you’ll need it, but okay.”
The suitcase closed easily after that. Iris left the room, happy that her father had listened to her. She went to her own room on the ship and went to bed. The night was filled with pleasant dreams.
———
“Promise me you’ll let me know if there are any problems.”
Nerve rolled his eye before replying. “I promise. It’ll be fine Peepers.”
Just as it looked like the Commander might change his mind, Nerve started pushing him out of the door. “Just spend time with your family and enjoy your holiday.”
Nerve ignored the squeak of protest as he pushed his commanding officer into the waiting taxi, slamming the door shut. The Lieutenant looked up at Eyela, who shook her head at her husbands’ antics. Eyela made eye contact with the acting officer before waving goodbye at him and stepping into the vehicle with her family and Andy.
The taxi sped off, the inhabitants of the Skullship waving at the retreating it before returning to their scheduled routine. Nerve continued to smile until the taxi had completely disappeared from view, sighing heavily when it did. He better get started with the mountain of paperwork so he could finish it before the Commander returned.
Stepping into the office, he groaned upon seeing the piles upon piles. For someone so hardworking, he thought, Peepers sure left a lot of stuff.
Cracking his knuckles, he sat down, grabbed a pen and drew in a stack of papers. This was going to be a long week.
———
Peepers sighed when they reached the hotel room. He and Eyela would be sharing one. The three boys, Cornea, Retina and Andy would be in one as well, with Iris getting a lone room. The reason for this being that the two parents still didn’t quite trust Andy, even though he had been a trusted member of the Watchdog Army for several years, and was a veteran.
“What’s up?” Asked his wife from the doorway, pulling off her coat.
Peepers sighed again, happy to be able to confide in someone. “Did I make the right choice leaving? What if something happens and I’m not there to help?”
Eyela gave her husband a sympathetic look, before sitting on the bed and patting the mattress for Peepers to join her. He did so without question, too stressed out to even consider arguing with his strong willed wife. “Everything will be fine, honey. It’s only a week. It’s not like we’ll be gone for a year.”
“Yeah, but it still worries me. What if Hemlock tries something?”
This time, it was Eyela’s time to sigh. “You know, you’re so different from that young, dorky Watchdog who first asked me to go out with him 35 years ago. You’ve changed so much, I bet your teenage self wouldn’t recognise you. I almost didn’t when you visited me again when you first became Hater’s commander. I was so happy to see you, but it felt like I was talking to a stranger at first. But then you visited more, and I realised that you were still the Peepers who was the love of my life. And you still are. But I doubt anyone who hasn’t seen you in decades would think you were the same person.” She reeled, going a million miles an hour. She stopped when she realised. “Grop, what I’m trying to say, is that I miss the carefree Peepers that I married.”
“So, lighten up, is what you’re saying.”
“Yeah, basically.”
Peepers smiled. “I’ll try.”
The woman he loved so dearly grinned back. “That’s all I ask.”
They hugged for a while, before hearing a knock at their door. “Mum! Dad! Come on! Before it’s too late to go swimming.” Bellowed the voice of their younger son. They smiled playfully at each other before chorusing, “Be right there!”
Once ready, they grabbed a couple of towels and the room key, problems away from the resort quickly forgotten. They jumped into the pool with their children, splashing each other with water and proving that you could have fun as a family even when you were all adults.
Andy watched at the grinning faces the skimmed the pools surface. He smiled too. Carefully, he pulled out a small black box from under his towel. He opened it, revealing the piece of jewellery. If he was going to do this, there was no better time than on holiday with his girlfriend. And her protective brothers and parents, and whose father just happened to be his commanding officer. No big deal.
———
Nerve groaned as he set the pen down. All of that time spent on around 20 pages. How did Peepers keep up with it all?
He packed up his things, and was about to leave the office, when a frantic looking Private skidded to a halt in front of the door. He sighed. “Yes, soldier? What is it?”
The Watchdog in front of him huffed and panted before answering, shuddering between words for breath. “The... engines... won’t... start...”
Nerve inwardly grimaced before setting his things down and following the Private to fix the problem.
———
It had been almost an entire week since they had arrived. The family was currently sat down and were eating dinner. Andy wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. He still hadn’t asked Iris. Would he ever?
Peepers took notice of the security officers distant look, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. When Andy looked up, he tilted his head back slightly, a clear signal that he wanted a word. They both stood up. Apologising to the others, Peepers pulled his subordinate turned friend to the side.
“Okay, you’ve had a far off look in your eye for practically the whole week. What’s wrong?”
Andy took a deep breath. May well ask for a blessing now before announcing it suddenly. “I’ve brought a ring for Iris.”
Peepers gave a soft, “Oh” in realisation before asking, “Are you still gonna ask her?”
“Of course! She’s the love of my life! I wouldn’t miss a chance with her like that!”
“Then why are you still talking to me?” At that statement, Andy looked deep into the Commanders eye.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“So, you’re actually giving me your blessing?”
Peepers nodded. “Of course.” Andy smiled. “Go get her soldier.” Peepers finished before letting Andy lead the way back to the table. “And that’s an order.”
They grinned all the way back. This fact was picked up on by the others. “Andy? Dad? What’s going on?”
Andy grinned wider before starting to talk, “Iris, you’re the best girlfriend I could ever wish for...” He was about to continue until the ground shook, a resounding boom joining it. All the Watchdogs turned, shock evident in their eyes as they recognised the ship in the sky.
“Hemlock.” Peepers growled, upset that perhaps the best moment of the past 10 years had been ruined. He turned to his family, quick to shout orders above the chaos around them. “We’ll split up. Cornea, Retina, you’re together.” His two sons nodded. “I’m with Eyela. Andy, you’ll be with Iris.”
Andy was puzzled at first, then realised that his Commander had given him more than enough time to pop the question.
“Me and Eyela will confront them head on. We did pack our blasters. Cornea and Retina, you’ll be on crowd control. Try to keep everyone safe. Andy, Iris, damage control. Investigate that bomb site. Diffuse any other bombs if you see them.” They all nodded, rushing to their assigned jobs.
———
Meanwhile, back at the Skullship, Nerve had fallen asleep on a stack of papers, failing to notice the message that Hemlock had attacked.
———
The couple ran toward the impact zone. It was a medium sized crater, about 2 meters deep and wide.
Iris scoured the area, a glint of steel catching her eye. Another bomb, she presumed. She tapped her boyfriend on the shoulder and pointed. He pulled out an analyser, confirming that the time bomb was active.
As they made their way to the bomb, diffusers in hand, Iris asked, “So, what did you want to say back there?” Andy paused before realising what she was asking.
“I’ll ask when I’ve finished this diffusion, ‘kay sweetie?” She nodded. After he finished, she urged him to tell her.
He sighed. “Now probably isn’t the most ideal time, but okay. You’re the best girlfriend in the universe. You’re the love of my life.”
“So far so good...” She chuckled. He did so as well.
“I was wondering if you were willing to take our relationship to the next step.”
She gasped, hands flying to where her mouth would’ve been if she was another species. “This isn’t what I think it is? Is it?”
He continued regardless. “The next step being this...” He cleared his throat and got down on one knee, opening the box to reveal a gleaming sapphire ring. She gave a small sob of happiness. “Will you marry me, Iris?” She started to cry, flinging her arms around her boyfriend. No. Fiancé.
“Yes!” He laughed with her. “Yes I will take the next step with you!”
They stayed that way for a while, oblivious to the chaos around them.
———
The other couple on the battlefield were having a less enjoyable time. They fought back wave after wave of Aconite soldiers. They never split up though, not even for a second.
A break for them soon emerged. They slumped against each other, backs together. They breathed heavily. But the struggle was by no means over. They heard a demonic voice just a few meters away.
“Oh Peepers, you should have known better than to run from me. Again.”
“I wasn’t running from you.” He snorted, standing shakily. He pulled Eyela up with him. “It’s a family holiday. You know, for a break!” He emphasised the last word, hoping to get the point across. Instinctively, he stood between where he thought the voice came from and his wife, hoping to shield her. He knew it was wishful thinking, but still he tried.
“Oh, a break, you say? That sounds nice. Too bad I don’t take stuff like that into account. Or anything, really.”
Peepers eye palmed. Of course. But how did she find them? He had kept it as silent as possible. “Now that I think about it, how did you know where we were?”
Hemlock shrugged. “Let’s just say... I bugged your office.”
Peepers scowled. Of course. He thought that fly had looked a little unnatural. “It doesn’t matter now. Could we do this later, maybe?”
“Not really.” Hemlock retorted. “I’d rather fight you now.”
“Seriously? Not even during the final chapter...” he paused. “Of our lives?”
The villain opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she heard a female voice strongly come from next to her arch enemy. “Leave. Now.”
Eyela was glaring at the villain. Hemlock had a shocked look on her face. Up until now, she hadn’t even given Peepers’ wife a second thought. She quickly brushed away this shock though, straightening to her most threatening. “Very well. I’m not that heartless, I’ll let you finish your break now. But you haven’t seen the last of me.” She recited the age old cliche, disappearing into the shadows.
The couple looked at where she had been standing in puzzlement, wondering why she had left so suddenly.
They cautiously made their way back to the resort.
———
Nerve had barely been awake when he got a call from the hanger. He groggily accepted it, using his best awake voice. “Yes?”
A random Watchdog replied. “Sir, the Commander and his family have returned.”
Nerve barely hid his sigh of relief. “Okay, tell them to wait for me. I want to welcome them back personally.”
When he got there, he pulled his superior aside, who seemed troubled about something.
“Thank grop you’re back.”
“Okay, what did you do?” Peepers asked, sighing.
“I fell asleep. A lot. And there may still be a problem with the engine I had no idea how to solve.” Peepers chuckled. Nerve continued. “How do you manage? I did fine when you were in hiding.”
Peepers paused slightly before answering his question. “There’s a huge difference between running an army and a federation. When I first went into hiding, you had Hater to help you with the army and to lead the federation as a whole. And when Hater died, Eyela was helping you. Because there was essentially no one to help you this time, you didn’t do well.”
“I think I get it. And the reason why you can do it by yourself is...?” He asked, curious.
“Thing is, I’m not doing it by myself.”
Nerve raised a non existent eyebrow. “I don’t just have Eyela and my kids. There’s also you. I wouldn’t be half as good at running the Federation if I didn’t have you with me.”
“Thanks, Peepers.”
“Anytime.”
“So, how did the holiday go.”
“Well, Andy proposed to Iris.” Nerve grinned at this. “She said yes, so they’re engaged now.”
“That’s great!”
“Yeah, too bad Hemlock attacked right in the middle of it.”
Nerve groaned. “Okay, tell me about it.”
Peepers did so, the Skullship taking off from its resting place.