With the Monkey Team

Antauri tiredly walked into the command center to see why Gibson called a team meeting. He was always tired these days as sleep aluded him. He would often find himself meditating, focusing on Chiro's power primate to reassure himself that his son is indeed out there. What could Gibson have found that required the entire team's attention? Could it be - no he wouldn't give himself false hope.

He arrived in the command center at the same time with Quintus fallowed by Otto and Sparx. Nova was waiting for them impatiently while Gibson was fidgeting nervously looking like he caught a cold.

"Okay Brainstrain, what did you need us so urgent for?" Sparx asked.

"I found this in the mainframe. It's been sitting there for six weeks." Gibson told them. Nova swallowed.

"What is it Gibson?" She gently asked the troubled simian. He opened and closed his mouth several times but no sound came out. Giving up he pressed a button on his controller instead.

A video came on and began as Chiro backed away from the camera. He looked tired but flashed them a smile none the less before he started talking.

"Hello team. If you are seeing this it means I wasn't able stop this from sending." He looked down. "Which also means I'm dead. I don't know what happened but I always knew this was a possibilty all along. My death I mean. Everything that begins ends. Just know that our time together, the good and the bad, is something I will cherish forever. Please don't ever beat yourself up over could have beens." He looked lost again. "I don't know what else to say but always remember that people we love don't have to be gone as long as we don't let them go. I love you all so much. You are with me wherever I go."

The screen went black as the echo of his last go faded away. Six monkeys in the room were all frozen in their spots. Quintus' jaw had dropped, Sparx's face was burried in his hands, Nova had tears running down her face and Otto was sobbing openly. Gibson hadn't moved and inch after playing the message, still facing the wall opposite the screen.

Antauri had a deeply pained expression on his face, his grief far too deep for tears. He was the first one to snap out of it, practically running out of the room after a few choking breaths. The next one to return to reality was Nova and by gods she was pissed.

"You said that he was coming back, that he sent you here." She yelled at Quintus angrily. She already had her battle fist out and was waving it at his general direction. This forced Quintus to face her.

"Well I don't know anything about this message but I am here because he asked. He wants me to watch out for you while he can't. You can ask about it to him when he comes back because he is coming back." He yelled back though he wasn't as sure as he sounded.

Could it be why he was sent here? To be a part of tis teambecause they were missing a member. But he fought those thoughts. Of course not. They needed Chiro in the first place because none of them were made to lead. And neither was he. Besides Chiro loved these guys far too much to not find a way to come back to them.

All he had to do was hang in there a little longer and not get into fights with the members of this team. Alas it was getting harder as Nova looked ready to start a fight with him. I hope you won't mind this too much, Quintus thought as he realized there was no getting out of a fight today.

"I knew we couldn't trust you!" Nova exclaimed as she attempted to strike him. He jumped out of the way gracefully and activeted his ghost claws.

"Don't do this Nova. I'm not your enemy." He tried but she wouldn't have any of it. The other monkeys hadn't got involved yet but he knew he had to stay defensive if he wanted to keep it this way. He knew Nova was getting her strength from unleashing her pent up frustrations so he only resorted to blocking her attacks when he couldn't avoid them.

"Nova stand down, I don't want to hurt you but I will have to fight back if you don't back off." He warned growing tired of this pointless fight. His warning fell on deaf ears as she was even angrier at his instruction to stand down.

Quintus sighed at the furious monkey and changed his stance to a more aggressive one. He formed a sickle made of energy and threw it at the first opening he caught fallowing up by a few more of those on the other opening she gave as her movements grew jerky. Finally a direct hit on the head left her on the ground stunned.

The silver monkey kneeled to see if she was okay. When he saw no signs of an injury he grasped her elbow and pulled her to her feet. Then he addressed to both her and the remaining trio.

"I'm not your enemy." He repeated. "And I'm not looking for a team either. Chiro and I go way back. He is the sole reason I'm here. And I will remain here untill he is back. I care about him too, I don't want animosity between us for no reason. You should take Nova to her room. She needs rest after a fight like this." When he was finished he exited the room to go to wherever he goes when he isn't with one of them.

In the meanwhile a black monkey was trying to calm his heart after what he had seen. He left the room unable face his companions but his feet had led him to his room. He went in, unable to resist the pull the room seemed to have on him.

Everything was as Chiro had left it, if not for the light layer of dust coating everything he would have expected the boy to come out from somewhere and ask him what he needed. Even his scent lingered in the air faintly. He choked unable to handle the familiar room without it's sole resident there.

But he grabbed something before leaving. The spare orange scarf belonging to the youth who used to live in the room was clenched in his hand as he left for his own chambers. He would return it to his owner upon seeing him again, because he would see him again, but he needed it more at the moment.

And this is how the monkey team is doing without their leader. Lots of family drama and secrets. The next chapter we are back with Chiro to see what he is been up to with monks, Captain Shuggazoom and the Alchemist. It even sounds like trouble. See ya later champs.