Chapter Text
Somewhere in a city being overrun by Badniks like a swarm of wasps, Lanolin and her team were the typical volunteers to go make the hard difficult attempt to eliminate all Badniks in that city. Dr. Eggman had a good major hold of the city and kept the remaining civilians captive. Lanolin, Whisper, and Tangle were balls deep into the wild chaotic mess. They fought off a dozen varieties of Badniks that were not an easy fight especially when they were a mixed category and not singular. It was a definite struggle for the three. Currently, the three member team that is known as the Diamond Cutters were hiding inside a medium sized store that is reduced to ruins.
They were extremely low on ammunition and had Badniks in their area looking for or waiting for them to jump out from hiding. Lanolin, who was sitting behind empty refrigerators that once had cold drinks, holding her assault rifle that had five bullets left hard in her hands. Her wool is dirty from all the sliding and crashing hard from being attacked or ducked from fall debris. She and her team haven't bathed in days since arriving in the conquered city. Whisper, who is sitting behind the store counter holding her pistol with one bullet, was keeping her ears open for anything approaching near them, while Tangle is sitting in the corner holding her empty long range rifle and keeping eyes outside through the available closed blinds.
Lanolin wrinkled her nose when taking a whiff of herself. “Ugh, I fucking stink.”
Whisper heard her before taking the moment to smell her right armpit before shaking her head. “Whoooo, that's musty.”
“I don't even have to know fucking reek that I am.” Tangle holded her empty weapon. “My feet are giving off that corn chip smell.”
Lanolin tried her best not to gag at what she just said. “We're not going to last out here. We're low in ammunition. We have no food or water. We have no choice but to retreat back to base.”
Tangle started messing with her radio headset to make another attempt in contacting HQ but getting constant static. “Still getting nonstop static. Signal is still having major interference.”
“Then fix it.” Lanolin ordered while trying to ignore the dry thirst in her mouth. “We need a pelican pickup.”
Tangle started to get frustrated. “I'm trying, Lanolin. I'm doing the best I can in my capabilities.”
Whisper nodded in agreement. “We need to keep moving. If we stay here, we're just going to become easy targets for those robots outside."
"I know, but there aren't any good hiding spots." Lanolin sets her gun to the side. "Tangle, go adjust the antenna of your radio until you make it static-free."
Tangle nods and starts to fiddle with the antenna while Lanolin and Whisper remained still and didn't do anything. Lanolin's stomach growled, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at the noise for letting her know that she needed to eat something. She fought it down, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger. Tangle managed to adjust the antenna to the right spot and heard clearness to her delight.
"Diamond Cutters to the Resistance HQ. This is Tangle the lemur, member of the Diamond Cutters, do you read me?." spoked Tangle and then waited.
"This is Resistance HQ's communications. I read you loud and clear." spoke a male on the other end.
Tangle spoke with joy and said to her friends. "I have contact."
Lanolin's eyes lit up with hope, she whispered "Tell them of our situation."
Tangle nodded and spoke into the radio, her voice urgent but composed, "We're pinned down in sector 8C, low ammo, no supplies, and we need an extraction, stat."
"Sorry, but we can not do that at this time or any other time." He informs her.
The joy in Tangle's eyes faded away immediately. "What do you mean?."
"The city that you and the Diamond are in is too heavy with Badniks to the point it's no way we can attract a pelican to your location." He tells her.
"What are they saying, Tangle?." Whisper spoke over the counter.
Tangle's expression grew grim. "We're on our own. They can't send a pelican."
"What?." Lanolin got upset. "Toss your headset over to me. ASAP."
Tangle removes the headset before tossing it over to which small aisle Lanolin is in. "Catch."
Lanolin catches the headset in mid-air. "Thanks, now let's see if I can talk our way out of this." She puts on the headset and grabs the microphone. "Hello?."
"You're still connected." He spoke. "Who am I speaking to?."
"This is Lanolin, leader of the Diamond Cutters. We need extraction or we won't be making it out of here." Lanolin's voice is firm and unwavering despite the fear that is slowly creeping in. "We're completely low in ammunition. We have no food rations or fresh water to survive off of. Badniks are everywhere. We can't jeopardize ourselves in trying to escape here."
"I'm sorry, Lanolin, but we can't send any pelicans to come rescue you and your team." He tells her with sympathy.
Her eyes widened with shock and anger. "What are you talking about?. This is our lives we're talking about!."
The voice remained calm but firm. "I understand your frustration, but the risk is too high. We have intel that Dr. Eggman has deployed a new model of Badnik in your area. It's called the 'Guardian'. It's capable of taking down a pelican with ease. We can't risk losing any more resources or lives."
Lanolin rubs her chin and ponders what to do in this situation. She knows that they can't survive another few days without food and water and no ammunition. There was one and only one way that could rescue them, let alone attract them out of their situation. She had planned and wanted to see her crush anyway.
"Forward me to Sticks." said Lanolin.
"Sticks the Badger, is not currently available for communication." replied the male voice.
"Then send my message to the Subzero Cool Chamber. Tell them to unthaw Spartan-2X2 and give him my message." said Lanolin.
Silence was filled for a few seconds until getting a response. "Accessing Spartan-2X2's services is way above your rank and you don't have any high authority to have the privilege of waking him."
Lanolin gritted her teeth and spoke with urgency, "Look, I know the protocol, but I'm telling you this is an emergency. Tell the ones in charge of that section that it's a life or death situation, and I need Spartan-2X2's unique skills to get us out of here. If you don't do this, the Diamond Cutters will be wiped out. Do you want that on your conscience?."
There was a brief pause before the voice responded, "I'll pass on the message, but I can't guarantee anything."
"Trust me, he is going to make it a guarantee." Lanolin tells him before turning off the radio. "Now, girls, we just have to wait it out until Spartan-2X2 arrives."
"You still haven't told us his name yet, Lanolin." Whisper stood up on her knees to look at the sheep with a smirk. "After you told me and Tangle that he was smitten with you after he literally smelled your feet."
Tangle couldn't help but giggle. "Yeah, he sure fooled you into believing that your soles are the only scent that he can fully identify you with."
Whisper smirked. "You think he's going to be the knight in shining armor to come rescue us, but more importantly you?."
Lanolin rolled her eyes while trying to fight her blush. "It's not like that. He's a dedicated soldier and this is life or death. Plus, he's got the skills to be able to take out those new Guardian Badniks."
Whisper can't stop grinning. "Oh, I bet you wish you weren't dirty and smelly when he comes to save us."
Lanolin scoffs. "That's not the point. The point is we need his help."
Tangle rolled her eyes. "You are so adorable, buddy."
Whisper's smirk grew wider. "I'm just saying, you might want to clean up a bit for when Spartan McHunkyPants shows up."
Lanolin can't stop blushing. "F...Fuck the both of you."
Whisper chuckled. "You know we're just teasing around."
Tangle nodded. "Yeah, but you gotta admit it's a bit romantic. The hero swoops in to save the damsels in distress."
Lanolin rolled her eyes again. "We're not damsels in distress, we're soldiers."
"You didn't hear Tangle very well, Lanolin, she meant you being the damsel in distress." Whisper spoke before seeing a middle finger sticking out at her. "Oh, that's really mature of you, Lanolin."
"I'm not in a mood for your shit, Whisper." Lanolin said, her voice a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.
Back at Resistance HQ, specifically in the Subzero Cool Chamber, Zeke is being fully thawed out before his door is opened. Once awakened he got right out of the chamber and looked at the male coyote standing there to greet him.
Zeke looks at him. "What's the situation?."
"Sir, you have a distress message and a rescue mission." He tells him.
"Go on." Zeke waited.
The coyote handed him a tablet. "Lanolin and the Diamond Cutters are trapped in sector 8C. They've encountered a new model of Badnik called the Guardian. It's too much for their current capabilities. They're low on ammo, no supplies, and HQ won't risk a pelican."
Zeke took it very seriously as soon as his personal favorite sheep's name was mentioned. "Why can't we attract a pelican to pick her and her team?."
"The city is surrounded by a swarm of Badniks, sir. And the new model, Guardian, is capable of taking down a pelican with ease. HQ has deemed it too risky." The coyote informed him with a straight face.
"I see." Zeke knows that he will take matters into his own hands. "Test my armor's generator and functions."
The coyote nods and starts the diagnostic tests on the Spartan's gear. The armor lights up and makes a few whirring sounds before the coyote nods back. "Everything is operational, sir. Your body armor's generators are fully charged and active."
"Good." Zeke walks over to the gun rack and grabs his signature rifle and puts it on his back as soon as he feels the back's magnet pull. He loaded two grenades on his side leg after grabbing a pistol.
He exited out of the room to make his way to the hanger while radioing his trusted badger friend. "Spartan-2X2 to Sticks. Do you read me?."
Sticks's voice crackled through the radio, "I read you loud and clear, Zeke. Hey, why are you awake?."
"All thanks to an urgent distress plea and certain white wooled sheep." Zeke spoke before reaching the elevator.
"You know Lanolin is a good apple, Zeke. She wouldn't ask unless she really needed you." Sticks responded with a hint of amusement.
"I need someone crazy enough to fly a pelican to sector 8C with chances of being shot at by Eggman's new Badnik. You fit the bill." said Zeke.
Sticks sighed over the radio. "Fine, I'll prep the Pelican. Just don't die on me, okay?."
"I won't." Zeke spoke.
Upon reaching the hanger to see a pelican's engines roaring and ready to deploy, Zeke gets in as Sticks flies out of the hanger to take them to the exact city where the Diamond Cutters are in. Sticks, who is good at piloting, flew the pelican to sector 8C that looked like ground zero from a distance. Zeke looks at the dashboard to pull up a hologram of the Guardian as it is the size of a two story house. Packed with two double plasma cannons and a help guided laser target.
"There's one in front of us. The other on the other side. The third one is on the left side and the last one on the right. They're all guarding all four corners of the city to prevent any air support." said Zeke.
"Great, we're flying into a metal hornet's nest." Sticks spoke with sarcasm as she dodged a plasma beam from the Guardian in the front. "What's the plan?."
Zeke looks at her. "You stay away from being hit until I disable all four of the Guardians. After I find and rescue the Diamond Cutters."
"I'll keep this baby in one piece," Sticks assured him with a nod. "And how are you going to touch the ground?."
Zeke, who is in the back of the pelican facing the door before pressing the button to open it, spoke. "I'm skydiving."
Sticks grinned. "You're a crazy ass wolf. Guess that's why we get along too well."
"Just keep this bird steady." Zeke responded, double checking his gear before jumping out of the pelican.
Zeke skyfalled in the air while putting more speed into his drop as he was flying directly towards the machine. He pulls out one grenade and timed carefully to be in close distance before pulling off the safety pin. In the right body position, Zeke made contact with the Guardian with his fist punched through the exterior of the machine to set the grenade in. He immediately jumps off the machine and then pulls out his rifle to open fire at a couple of Badniks that were guarding the machine. As soon as he landed down on a destroyed Badnik from his handy work, the Guardian exploded and fell into chunks of burnt parts and debris. Smoke had formed as it messed with the robot's sight sensors while Zeke on the other hand took advantage, as he started shooting them in the heads or backs before jumping on one of them to pull out their wires.
Whisper and Tangle looked at each other as they heard explosions in the distance. Lanolin's ears perked up as she recognized the sound of Spartan-2X2's rifle. "It's him. He's here."
Whisper couldn't help but smirk, "Looks like your knight in shining armor has arrived."
Tangle, who looked through the blinds and saw Zeke easily take out Badniks like practice dummies, spoke in deep respect. "Yeah, and he is kicking serious robotic asses."
The sound grew closer as Zeke was making his way to their location. Lanolin took a deep breath and stood up with her team. She looked at Whisper and Tangle. "Get ready. He's coming for us."
Zeke went one on one with a heavy armored Ball Hog that had a hand cannon. The Ball Hog shot at him, but Zeke rolled out of the way with his incredible speed and agility. He shot back at the weak point in the Ball Hog's shoulder joint, causing it to stumble before he dashed to its side and shot it again. The Ball Hog went down with a metallic screech. Watching be down and out, Zeke went to radio contact.
"Sierra 2X2 to Diamond Cutters. What's your status?." Zeke asked while reloading his gun.
Tangle, who had the headset on, responded quickly, "We're in a ruined store, but we're okay."
Zeke looks and sees the store in front of him before approaching it. He enters to see the three standing and waiting. "Are you ladies alright?."
"We're fine." Lanolin spoke up while looking at Zeke, who is covered in dust and debris from the explosion but not a scratch on him. She can't help but feel relief and admiration at the same time. "Thank you for coming."
"My pleasure. Besides." Zeke reached to caress her cheek in a smooth loving way. "I couldn't let nothing happen to my little white sheep."
Whisper and Tangle couldn't help but exchange knowing smirks, but they remained silent. Lanolin's face went beet red before she shoves Zeke's hand away playfully. "Cut it out, you wolf."
Zeke chuckles and looks around the store. "It was very smart of you to lay hidden in here."
Whisper nodded. "It's our only chance of survival until you arrive."
"How much ammunition do you have?." Zeke asked before looking at their weapons. "In each gun."
Tangle sighs before speaking, "I'm completely empty."
"I got one bullet." Whisper spoke tiredly.
"Just five." Lanolin holds her gun.
"I see." Zeke looks at the three. "We're not out of danger just yet. We have three more Guardians out there, let alone a nice handful of Badniks. Grab a blaster from those offline Badniks that I dismantle outside and follow my lead. That's an order."
The three nodded in unison and quickly grabbed a weapon from the defeated Badniks outside the store. Lanolin picked up a plasma rifle and checked its ammo count. "We're going to need more firepower than this."
Zeke looks at her. "You need to learn to make what you can to work."
"You're right, sorry." Lanolin said with a nod.
Zeke checked his visor's systems and saw a good waypoint. "This way."
They followed Zeke's lead as they cautiously moved through the city's ruins. The sounds of explosions and the clanking of metal were the only things breaking the eerie silence as they approached the next Guardian. Lanolin felt a mix of excitement and fear, but she knew she had to stay focused. The sight of Zeke in action was nothing short of awe-inspiring, and it made her feel a bit safer knowing he was there. He went right in shooting and went blazing while three took a few bots from range and avoided being shot at. Zeke takes out the last one before focusing on his target which is the Guardian and broke through its exterior and found its power source.
"Alright, cover me." Zeke said as he prepared to plant the second grenade. Lanolin and the others nodded, taking positions and opening fire on any Badniks that approached. The grenade went off, and the second Guardian crumpled to the ground, its metal frame twisted and broken.
Zeke nodded in satisfaction before turning to them. "Two more to go. Stay sharp."
They moved out as one cohesive unit, sticking close to Zeke as he led the way. The next Guardian was more heavily guarded, surrounded by a swarm of smaller, faster Badniks. Lanolin and her team had to be quick on their feet, picking off the smaller threats while Zeke focused on the big one. His movements were fluid and precise, his years of training and experience showing in every step he took. Lanolin just couldn't help but admire how amazing he was before shooting a Badnik snapper that was about to shoot Whisper. In just fifty minutes they took down the last two Guardians and liberated the city.
"Once again you did great work, Zeke." Sticks spoke on his radio.
"I had help. Your temporary landing zone is ready. We're ready for pickup." Zeke tells her.
"I'm heading your way now." Sticks tells him.
Zeke looks at Lanolin who was looking at their work. "I heard that you and your team are known for volunteering missions."
Lanolin nodded, "That's right."
"Not wanting to put you or your team's confidence down, but this mission was way over heads. This was too dangerous for just the three of you to make the attempt to liberate this city." said Zeke after putting his gun back on his back.
Whisper nodded in agreement. "We bit off more than we could chew."
Tangle sighed in relief. "But we learned our lesson, and we're still alive to tell the tale. Because of you."
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, I'm just doing my job." Zeke said, his eyes scanning the area for any remaining threats. "But you're right, sometimes it's better to know your limits."
"You don't have limits." Lanolin smirks at him.
"Believe it or not I do." Zeke sees the pelican dropping down.
"Well, we're just happy you're here," said Whisper. "We owe you one."
"Thank you is good enough for me." Zeke walks over to the pelican.
"I never imagined you being the type to want a male who doesn't want an IOU." Tangle whispered to Lanolin when heading to the pelican.
Lanolin rolled her eyes. "You're so annoying."
"But I'm also right," Tangle teased.
They returned back to Resistance HQ where everyone is waiting to welcome them back while congratulating their mission, Lanolin and her team went straight to the female shower room and went to wash themselves. Lanolin was currently putting freshly scented shampoo on top of her head before going over to the shower head. Tangle and Whisper were standing in-between Lanolin while washing their body parts.
"You know, I'm surprised Zeke didn't go full caveman mode when he saw you, Lanolin." Tangle spoke while scrubbing her fur clean.
Whisper giggled, "Yeah, I was expecting him to just scoop you up and run off with you and leave us."
Lanolin playfully splashed water at them. "Will you two quit it?. It's not like that."
"Yet, you wanted it." Tangle started to wash her hips.
"What's that supposed to mean?." Lanolin pretended to be annoyed.
Whisper smirked. "Oh come on, don't play dumb. The way he looks at you is like he wants to devour you whole."
Lanolin rolled her eyes and turned on the shower, letting the cool water wash over her. "You're reading too much into it. We're just friends and comrades in arms."
"Smelling your feet doesn't sound like friends or comrades in arms." Tangle spoke before going to work to clean her vagina. "Hey, L, you should wash your pussy in case he wants it tonight as a reward."
Whisper couldn't hold back her laughter. "Tangle, you're such a slut."
"What?. I'm just saying what's on everyone's minds." Tangle retorted with a smirk. "And when I say everyone I mean Zeke."
Lanolin couldn't help but chuckle despite herself. "You're ridiculous. Besides, I think he is more of a gentlewolf and not a...well a wolf."
Whisper winked at her. "We'll see when he comes to claim his prize."
Part of Lanolin was secretly looking forward to something like that from Zeke while cleaning her wool before working on cleaning her whole body. Once removing every dirt and sweat from her body, she went to get dressed in her spare attire and headed to the council room where the higher-higher ups were on screen waiting for her. She stepped inside and did a military salute.
"Officer Lanolin Sheep, reporting." Lanolin spoke professionally.
The council members, all of whom were various animals from across the Resistance, nodded in approval. "Thank you for your bravery and swift actions, Lanolin. Your report on the new Guardian model has been most enlightening." The lion general spoke with a stern voice.
Lanolin felt a mix of pride and exhaustion. "It was nothing, sir. We were just doing our part."
A female orange-pink hedgehog raised her finger. "However, we had reports of you requesting Spartan-2X2 for assistance. This is way above your rank to be requesting a Spartan."
"With all due respect, ma'am, we were left with no choice. Our lives were at stake." Lanolin replied firmly.
"You overstepped. As a matter of fact, how exactly did you feel bold and confident to request him?." A male tortoise spoke while adjusting his glasses with a suspicious look.
"I didn't do it because of his rank or because of his name, I did it because he was the only one who could get the job done with the highest chance of our survival." Lanolin responded calmly, her eyes never leaving his. "We were low on ammunition and had zero food and water. We weren't going to last."
The council members exchanged glances before the lion general spoke up again. "Understood. But let's not make a habit of this. The Spartan Program is not a tool to be used lightly. They are called when the crisis is too high to control and unable to succeed in the ideal task."
"I'm aware, sir." Lanolin nodded. "But I promise it won't happen again unless absolutely necessary."
"No, it won't happen again." The lion looks at her in seriousness. "Never seek help from Spartan-2X2, unless someone in high rank assigns him to you. Understood?."
"Yes, sir." Lanolin nodded firmly.
"Good." The female hedgehog spoke. "As punishment you and your will remain at base until next summer."
Lanolin felt her heart sink. "But, ma'am, we can't be grounded. We're needed out there."
The tortoise sighed. "Your valor is commendable, Lanolin, but we can't have you disobeying orders like that again. We have to make an example out of you. Now, dismissed."
With that, Lanolin saluted and left the council room, feeling a mix of anger and defeat. She knew the risks they took were high, but she didn't expect to be grounded for it. As she exited, Amy bumped into her with her hammer.
"Oh, sorry!." Amy spoke while helping her up.
"It's okay." Lanolin sighed heavily. "I just got chewed out by the council."
Amy's eyes widened with concern. "What happened?."
Lanolin leaned against the wall, letting out a heavy sigh. "We're grounded until next summer. They said I overstepped my boundaries by calling in Spartan-2X2."
Amy's eyes widened in surprise. "But you guys were in a tight spot. What else were you supposed to do?."
"They said I shouldn't have called him unless a high-ranked member of the resistance did." Lanolin's shoulders slumped. "Guess they’re worried about the Spartans safety, I guess."
"No, they don't want Spartans to be used like room service." said Amy, before patting her on the back. "Cheer up."
"Thanks, Amy." Lanolin forced a smile, trying to shake off the negative emotions. "I just hope we can get back out there soon."
"Until then, why don't you show thanks to Spartan-2X2?." Amy smiled.
"Like how?." Lanolin looks at her.
"He is due to eat. Make him dinner." Amy walks away.
Lanolin sighs. "Fine, but only because he was the one who saved our asses." She walks off with a big smile on her face.