"How are things going with the Predators?" Messia asked as Beelzi walked onto the main bridge with Pelleta.
All the Queen's wives and subjects that had been captured by the Sky Folk had been allowed to return to their ship, but they were now under strict watch. Beezli and Pelleta had just gotten back from checking on the females that had been, but they were returning with one of them that had to duck to get through the door.
"Things are mostly good now that we have everyone helping them readjust, but there are some that will need a lot of time," Pelleta and Beezli let out an airy sigh.
"That and some serious medical expertise. This would be a good time for the Queen to be here to give out some of those class upgrades," Beelzi said but regretted it instantly as all the wives on the deck flinched. They all knew Ashia was alive, but the time apart from her was physically and mentally draining on all the girls that loved her.
"Ashia is doing what she can for all of us right now. She not only has to worry about us but Miku, Rixie, Tag, Sig, and the rest at the mountain. Then she has to try and stop the Divinity Spike! Our Queen is on the other side of the world working her hardest for us all, so we don't get to complain!" Xani also shouted, and the wives swelled with her words.
"She is right. M, what is the status of the factory? Are we still pumping out jet bikes?" Miasma asked, but Messia shook her head as she walked over to give Xani a hug, and Sierra came as well, instantly relaxing both women with her soft paws and embrace.
"Out of Levi Stones, but there are some special ranged weapons that Pixe has underway from the blueprint her husband left. Listen, we all miss her, but Ashia is stronger than all of us combined. We are the ones that need her, not the other way around. She may have come into this world only a short time ago, but if this world was to have a Queen, then it would be our Queen," Messia said with pride, and then other women all nodded, but then Rena, the one Predator General, and Elephant Folk cleared her throat.
"Sorry to break this, but have any of you thought of maybe getting out of here before the Queen gets here? I mean, we don't have a ton of weapons, but from what I have seen and experienced, you are a scarily resourceful hive. this isn't like normal, you have so many races, and each of them has a special class that they can get better at without the help of the Queen, right?" Rena asked, and everyone looked at her like she had just said the unthinkable.
"You know there are like ten different cannons pointing at us, and we are under strict monitoring except for up here and in the factory? How are we ever going to get out of here without everyone dying?" Miasma asked skeptically.
"We just need to start using the resources that we have. I was just taking a tour of the ship, and one thing that took me out was the transportation. If we can make a way to stick something on a wall and link it to a portal here, we can do a lot of damage in a short time. We can replace all the guards in the turrets with our own people. Once we are free, everyone can come back with us, and we can get you on your way to freedom," Rena said with a smile.
"That does sound like a good plan, and if we can get away from here before Ashia makes her attack on the Divinity Spike, we will have hostages that can be used against her. We are going to need your help, and we are going to have to call up Ryan, the War Bee Tactician! We had sat on our hands for far too long now," Messia said as she let go of Xani.
"She's right. We will help you, but we need to work out the details, so everyone knows what they are going to be doing," Pelleta agreed, and then she turned and looked at Beelzy with a smile. "You know, for someone that wanted nothing to do with anything when we first got here, you have worked really hard for all of us."
"Yeah, well, people change, I guess," Beezly said as she blushed as Pelleta kissed her.
----
Back at the Goblin Mountains, it was starting to get darker, and Miku and Rixie were starting to get worried about Tag and Sig. The two Ferret men had been gone all day long, but they were normally back by now. They were both also tired of listening to Pendra, and Granthus was just ignoring everyone, the same as John was. Either day, he had been training with both girls while Pendra watched, refusing to participate because it had nothing to do with her class.
"I don't know just where they are, but this is getting ridiculous. We have been standing here for hours with nothing," Miku complained as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Rixie, who was nodding slightly, staring into the fire.
"Yeah, I know. At least they left the meat," Rixie said as she opened her mouth and put a chunk in it, soon following it with another.
"I am just tired of waiting around to die! The Queen isn't going to make it in time, and that massive thing is going to be dropped here, and we are all going to be killed by it. Plain and simple... so what are we doing?! Sitting and waiting for it to happen! Pendra raved, but the girls ignored her since complaining was all that she ever seemed to do lately.
"You know, I am going to take a walk. Why don't you guys come with me?" John asked as he stood up, walked over to them, and then grabbed Rixie and Miku's arms and began pulling her towards the trees just outside of camp. "Let's go."
The girls followed behind him till they were at least 100 feet at least away. Following his lead was easy since she had been doing it since they found out about the situation with the Flying Hive Fortress, but she was getting tired of it.
"Okay, John, what do you want to talk about? You said that you wanted to tell me something,' Miku asked as she held on tight to his hand. He had been being pretty secretive lately, and she wasn't sure if it was good or not just yet.
"Well... okay, I will just say this, but I think that I should take you two out of here and take you back to the Skunk Folk Village. The Queen can't lose you two, but the boys can stay and do what they can. I think that they will agree as well because there is nothing that we can really do to help right now. Tag and Sig are keeping the Tellarider from gaining influence, but we are just standing around and waiting for disaster to strike. You both mean too much to the Queen," John said, but the bushes rustled as Tag and Sig walked out.
"Raccoon man isn't wrong, and now we are working on a plan to start moving everyone. I don't know how long we have, but I know our most excellent Queen is on the way to try and stop them. You all should head back. The Skunk Folk Village is a day-and-a-half walk, and it will be deserted, but it is better than nothing. After everything is cleared up, we will come to get you all," Tag said, and Sig nodded along.
"Things are starting to get tight, and as royal guards, it is our job, no, our duty, to make sure that our happy, busy bee of a Queen gets to see you both again. Please head back, and continue to listen to John. Granthus and Pendra will help protect you, but there can't be any arguing on this," Sig said, and Miku sighed, and Rixie patted her shoulder.
"We never get to do anything!" Miku said with an angry sheen in her eyes as she turned to look at Sig and Tag. "You all get to do everything, and we're just supposed to sit back and wait till you come to get us? I don't know if that is fair or not."
'.',
"Life isn't fair," John agreed, but then he smiled at the girls. "The Queen never made any promises about life being easy, but this is for your own protection."
Miku crossed her arms over her chest and glared at John, but then she sighed. "Fine... fine if that is what you all say we have to do."
"So it is settled," Sig said with a smile as he put his arms around Miku and Rixie. "We will find out when everything has been taken care of. Until then, John can take you back where it is safe for everyone else."