The Shadow

CHAPTER 1 - REGS

 "Z! Get up!" Hunter shouted, and Z rolled over in her bed. Grumbling slightly. After saving her brother's asses for the last few hours, the least she could do was get some sleep. Clearly Hunter didn't see it that way. Or Tech. Seeing as he was standing at her doorway. At least she could assume it was him by his breathing, and his lighter footsteps. She sat up, turning to glance, and sure enough it was Tech.

"We are approaching Anaxes, I suggest you get up before Hunter takes matters into his own hands." Tech said before turning on his heel and walking down the hall, her door closing behind him.

"I hate everyone." Z mumbled as she sat up, running a brush through her hair and putting all of her armour back on. She stared at her reflection for a moment before opting to leave her hair down. They weren't leaving right away, and she could probably just shove it into her helmet if need be. She would have time to braid and pin it up later. Hunter may even decide to get off his ass and help (he always did).

She shoved her blasters into her holsters and twirled her largest vibroblade before sheathing it in the slot on her arm, identical to Hunter's. The rest were already sheathed, in places where they were easily accessible. She stepped into the hallway, rolling her shoulders and making her way into the main ship.

"Look who decided to join us." Hunter said, and Z rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out at him. Crosshair snorted, and she sat down across from him.

"One of us has to get beauty sleep." Z retorted, turning away and crossing her feet on the console in front of her, her helmet resting in her lap.

"You need it more than me." Hunter said teasingly before he turned away, walking into the cockpit. Crosshair turned the chair, Z could hear it, and sat forward. She could feel his stare on the back of her head. Z sighed, leaning over the side of the chair and propping her arm on the armrest to turn and look at him.

"What's got you in a mood?" Crosshair asked, a toothpick resting in his mouth as usual. Z cocked an eyebrow.

"I don't like this mission." Z admitted, something she would have never said to Hunter or any of her other brothers. "Regs and all that. I'm not very keen at being stared at."

"Well, let me know if any of them need to be...relieved of their ability to stare." Crosshair smirked, and Z nodded at him before spinning her chair in the direction of the cockpit. She heard a rather loud beeping noise and hissed, quickly pulling her hair into a bun tying it off using a stray piece and shoving her helmet on. The relief was immediate. Everything was so much quieter. She couldn't hear Tech or Wrecker breathing. She couldn't hear Crosshair's every shift or the noise his armour made against the chair. She couldn't hear his heartbeat, or the loud humm of the engines.

It was one of the only times it was peaceful. She leaned back in the chair, letting out a quiet sigh. This was the calmest she had felt since they had left for their mission on Yalbec Prime. She was just happy to have a few moments of muffled noise, she reached up, flipping a switch and silencing everything completely. Tech had made Z, Hunter and Crosshair modified helmets after their first few missions. The migraines and constant pain the three could get wasn't worth having their senses amplified all the time. She closed her eyes, counting to 30 before flipping the switch again.

"I will be landing the ship, Wrecker." Tech was insisting.

"Try and stop me!" Wrecker shouted and Hunter sighed. Grabbing his younger brother by the collar and dragging him away from the cockpit. Hunter glanced over at Z, noticing her helmet and grimaced a little. He got it. Hunter understood, with his enhanced senses, sometimes things could get too strong for him. Too much energy or currents in one place. Sometimes, if it was bad enough, Z could hear them too. The buzzing that took over her senses, the same that took over Hunter's.