on cloud 9 (1/2)
Title: on cloud 9
Pairing: gen / monsta x
Rating: pg
Genre: sci-fi crack
Word Count: 4.7k
a/n: originally posted on extrafictionary's 2015 round for team sci-fi.
Summary: an elite team embarks on a bizarre mission to save planet Earth.
Humans had left a tragic legacy on planet Earth - trails of death and destruction and disease, and as fate would have it, they would eventually have to bear the brunt of it all. What limited produce remained was now entirely genetically manufactured in laboratories, hospitals were on constant standby for the next killer virus attack, and a permanent blanket of smog stifled the air, making it lethal to step outside maskless within city limits. And now, to top it off, a race of aliens had landed overnight to construct an ominous contraption high up in the sky before leaving as mysteriously as they had arrived.
It took days of painstaking, arduous work. But with the combination of Jooheon’s mental prowess and Changkyun’s research team, a ray of hope finally shone bright.
“What they have sent us is a test," Changkyun’s wild white hair bristled with electricity as he paced across the conference auditorium. "A test where we must display our bravery, and our aptitude for surviving and thriving as a species.”
“…and so, the only way for the survival of humanity is if we ride that roller coaster in the sky,” Changkyun hurled his piece of chalk across the room for emphasis, panting as he beamed at the members of the conference. “As proud members of the Mon Star Platoon, we will represent the human race, ride that monolithic beast with fervor, and return triumphant!”
The Starship military commander-in-chief nodded thoughtfully, fingers tented. “The data is indisputable. But how does your platoon propose to reach the coaster? And what of the potentially grave peril you may face? I’m afraid we cannot provide any funding for transportation or safety, as we’re saving up to provide the entire military personal hoverblades.”
“They put together a hoverblades petition,” another chairperson sniffled. “If there’s a way to say no to those adorable faces, I won’t hear it.”
Changkyun adjusted his glasses and smiled enigmatically. “Don’t concern yourself. The Mon Star Platoon has its ways.”
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Kihyun is a professional, so he deals with the morons of the JYP Intelligence Bureau as he would with children: through lies, fake smiles, and a good dose of over-the-head sarcasm.
"What do you mean, Shownu’s booked?" he asked.
The officer at the front desk, Mark, cowered a bit. But the bureau director standing behind him coolly stepped forward and took off his shades. Who wears shades indoors? Oh that’s right. Assholes.
"He means back off, Cap," Jinyoung threw a warning glance at Kihyun, putting a hand on Mark’s shoulder. Mark looked equally terrified of both the superiors.
“Shownu’s helping out on special biz ops. We’re not letting go of our best subject matter expert until we’re done."
Kihyun tried to simmer down his growing anger with a forced smile. Our best subject matter expert? Not only did these buffoons have the audacity to steal one of his own men, now they were giving him attitude about it.
“I have two potential teammates in mind,” Kihyun had declared when Changkyun debriefed him on Mission Cloud 9. The scientist pushed for a larger team but Kihyun insisted. He wanted those two and by god he'll get those two.
"With all due respect, Director," Kihyun patiently began, "Shownu’s time with your team may be cut short, on account of a high-priority case issued by headquarters."
“And which case is that?” Jinyoung leaned forward, curious.
“That’s classified information.”
Jinyoung scoffed. “Look here-“
“Captain.”
“Look here, Captain, but I’m not letting him go. There’s no way in hell. You can go ahead and whine at headquarters if you’ve still got a problem.”
Generally, Kihyun did have a problem with the Bureau. Tonight, however, he had about nineteen different problems, the Bureau being only two of them. "Of course not, Director. I respect an organization that utilizes its resources to the fullest."
Jinyoung took his hand off Mark’s shoulder, and the latter sighed in relief. "All right, then. You have a good night, Captain-"
"But choosing to keep Shownu is no longer under your jurisdiction, I’m afraid," Kihyun shrugged.
“What-“
"Director," Kihyun said, putting on his best look of concern. "You see, this isn’t any ordinary case. The higher ups have just given me an all-clear over the entire tactical support branch to pick and choose members for my own team." When in doubt, lie.
Jinyoung thought about this for a minute. "Who’s in charge?"
"Classified, sir."
Jinyoung scowled.
Kihyun tried again, "Hey, I didn’t even want to be a part of this. I drew the short straw."
That convinced him. A depressing number of people would believe that about him. Maybe he should use a different idiom.
The director had Mark lead Kihyun into the building’s interior. As he was walking away, he heard one of the officers ask, "C'mon, Jinyoung, why'd you gotta give him a hard time? Mon Star Platoon helped us with the E.Titans invasion, they fought right next to us!"
"No, we helped Mon Star Platoon. If it weren’t for us, they’d have been tripping over each other’s feet clad with that particular week’s genetically modified excuse of fashion soles cooked up by their mad scientist. The E.Titans would’ve grown pity over us and left Earth thinking we were a charity case. Now lay off, Jackson."
Kihyun heard laughter before the doors soundlessly shut behind him. Be the bigger man, Kihyun.
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Two days ago, Wonho was peacefully minding his own business. And it was a pretty darn important business. He ran the most well-known hospital chain in the east coast. Every day Wonho would patrol the wards, ensuring his patients received exceptional care with the best medical treatments the world had to offer. He wasn’t one of the most reputed doctors in the country for nothing.
Wonho didn't mind the giant pink cloud permanently perched up in the sky- he thought it was kind of pretty, actually. Definitely added color to the boring grey drabness of Drabville. Nor did he particularly care for volunteering with the Mon Star Platoon again. He somehow kept getting roped in to the scientist’s crazy missions ever since he played that prank at the city gala last year. It took an entire team of expert software developers four nights to bring the grid’s extraterrestrial security system back up.
In any case, he was having a fine time spending his life on solid ground, thank you very much. Heck, Wonho didn't even like roller coasters.
And yet here he was, against his will about to embark on a dinky graffitied-up spaceship ("Hashtags have a deep meaning to me!” Jooheon appeared hurt when Wonho pointed out the childish paint job), soon to be hurtling towards his inevitable death.
“Enjoy your time, my loves!” Jooheon cooed. He shoved a picnic basket packed to the brim into Kihyun’s hands and pinched Shownu’s cheeks. “Make sure you don’t eat too much before the ride!”
“Leader, might I be so bold as to question the choice of… propulsion, for the craft-”
“It’s fine,” Changkyun assured, hustling Wonho into the spaceship’s cockpit. “My floating jellyfish are perfectly harmless. In fact, their molecules have been altered to purify the air around you as you fly. Now isn’t that just dandy? Kihyun, will you keep an eye on these cute little scamps?”
“Yes,” Kihyun said, handing the basket over to Shownu. As long as Kihyun maintained that Shownu and Wonho are a handful by themselves, Changkyun would allow him to keep his dream team for all of his missions. In reality, Shownu and Wonho were perfectly capable of taking care of the job and of each other, leaving Kihyun to focus on his own work.
“…gonna ride that coaster, gonna show them all, gonna be the bravest guy in the world, gonna…” Shownu mumbled to himself, mouth in a tight-lipped smile, hands shaking in excitement as he held the picnic basket. Somebody was clearly looking forward to the trip.
“Have fun!” Changkyun waved as the loading dock slowly rose up. “Remember the driving directions I told you - straight up! Now show them what you got!”
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The minute the ship doors closed, Kihyun excused himself to the hyposleep pod (perfect for long naps in limited time) and promptly nodded off, giving the other two full rein of the ship.
All was well until they were mere seconds away from the Cloud.
Shownu fumbled with the controls while trying to avoid the mobs of genetically mutated creatures gone wrong that flew through their path.
“Wonho,” Shownu groaned, “could you have possibly chosen a route with more angry birds than this one?” He swerved to avoid a rather large chunk of feather balls that whirled in front of the console window.
“Well, I’m sorry!” Wonho peeked his head over the display modules. “But it seems that home base neglected to point out that the Cloud is enveloped by an enormous gravitational field, and also never thought to build a spherical thruster into this ship. And unfortunately, I am not a clairvoyant to know any of this. Now, will you please concentrate on piloting this mess?” He roughly pulled down his over-sized vision goggles.
Shownu turned, but Wonho was completely immersed in the display in front of him. Shownu chuckled amusedly. The poor guy was getting more and more antsy the closer they got to the roller coaster.
“For your information,” Wonho continued some time later, as though he had never stopped, “there is a rather high energy signature coming from somewhere near here, so I didn’t just drag us along for a picnic despite what Jooheon thinks. I mean, come on, this is going to be anything but a picnic!” Wonho sighed.
“Aw, cheer up! Worst case, imagine the awesome legacy we’d leave-”
Wonho let out a shriek. “Don’t you dare even joke about that!”
In the few seconds it took for Shownu to stop laughing and turn back to face the screen, a giant object rammed itself into the backside of the ship.
“Oh dear.”
Lights flashed on the control panel, and Shownu felt the spaceship resisting his touch. He tried his best to steady the rocking ship and aim for the Cloud.
“Stay calm,” Shownu announced, knowing full well that through Wonho’s ear-piercing screams, he was anything but calm.
The spaceship suddenly lurched forward, caught in the Cloud’s abnormally strong gravitational field and began hurtling towards it.
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( part 2)