Underneath the dark clouded sky, Dudley Puppy, his partner Kitty, and their new ally Jack were speeding down the road in Jack s car. A lot has happened since the big event happened. An evil organization know as the Overlords Managing Evil Genetic Armies or OMEGA had invaded and taken over Petropolis and were still on the move for bigger and better plans. Dudley had been part of this. He would know, because he met OMEGA's leader: an abomination known only as (pause for effect) MONSTER Zero. Being jealous of the new "mystery agent" that had shown up and his Dad visiting right out of the blue, Dudley just wanted things to be back to normal and had signed over his loyalty to Zero in exchange for him being the new chief of TUFF due to Kitty receiving the job and not him. Now that felt like it was more off than he imagined. Kitty wasn't as easily convinced the Dudley wanted to change his ways, but for this she was willing to make an exception. Jack pulled up in a lot by the side of the road and they all filed out as they started to chat.

"Jack, we've been driving for hours", Kitty insisted, "how much longer til we get to where we're going?"

Jack didn't look worried. He wanted to get there too, but the trip could not be rushed. He had to be sure they were not being followed.

"We'll be there soon Kitty. In the meantime Dudley, what exactly drove you to making a deal with Zero?"

Dudley sighed heavily.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You'll feel better if you do", Jack assured him.

Dudley then took a breath.

"Okay. It all started with the promotion of the new chief of TUFF event. At first I was all excited because I thought it would be me and then Kitty got it due to Herbert thinking I'm too childish for it. That really hurt me because Kitty was the only partner for me. Yeah I mess up a bunch of times, but who doesn't? Herbert tried finding me a replacement, but all my antics did was drive all the candidates away."

"Wow", Jack thought to himself, "that really stung."

"And then the new "mystery agent" showed up in my life and seemed to be taking my glory away. That I didn't want to happen. I tried to do my job, but this new guy kept taking my arrests away. Not to mention all my other TUFF agents claiming he would make a great agent for us."

"I didn't think so",Kitty stated.

"That's not the way I remember it."

Kitty did feel a little on the edge. The way he acted towards her was more than enough to question his ability to fight crime like the time he used fake tears to manipulate his fellow agents when he wanted something and he was sure they would say no.

"Finally Dad shows up and for a while he seemed great. We played, he told me about what he's been doing with his life, and having a blast til Herbert told me that Dad was not what he claimed to be."

"You can say that again", Kitty thought.

"Then I meet a very bad person who tricked me into working for him, and then all this stuff happened."

Dudley seemed to be okay admitting the thing that was troubling him, but Jack seemed to be quite concerned. Kitty saw this and thought that maybe Jack should share his side of information.

"So Jack, what made you be a TRIPLE agent?"

"Jack's a TRIPLE agent?!", Dudley asked in shock, "Why wasn't I told?!"

"It was a while back Dudley", Jack explained as he adjusted his cufflinks, "I was on a mission with Kitty as usual. And then Herbert called me into his office one day. I didn't know why, but he made me tell Kitty it would be private."

Kitty feeling like she should listen too, sighed as she fixed the collar of her spy suit and dusted her shoulders off with her white gloved hands.

"I was going to be assigned a special assignment. At first I was hesitant because I felt strong connections with Kitty. Herbert could tell I was feeling that way, but he informed me that the rules applied here, and all agents abide by them. So all in all, Herbert made it all look like I retired when I was really joining the TRIPLE brigade and retrieving intel so TUFF could stay ahead of crime."

"So that's it?", Dudley asked him, "Herbert assigns you a new position and you had to follow it?"

"It was either that or let crime get a lead on us", Jack admitted, "At least I made sure when I had to look bad, I was able to pull my displays off with you and Kitty."

"Displays?", Dudley asked, "How bout the time you drained Kitty's brain?"

"A few pots and pans welded together, a few lights and a sound disk", Kitty informed.

"And the rest were just acts?"

"Nothing else.", Jack answered, "We TRIPLE agents need to make it look convincing."

Now Dudley was the one getting all confused.

"Wait, if chief knew you never retired, why didn't he tell us?"

"The TRIPLE brigade is a secret force of TUFF", Jack explained, "only the chief of every organization is allowed to know. Nobody else."

Kitty was now starting to get why she didn't know about Jack still being on her side even though she was never told about it. If TUFF's enemies knew that there were spies in their midst, that would land TUFF in big trouble. And knowing him, Kitty knew he was the best person to retrieve information for them to use against anyone who was out for world domination. Dudley had also been reflecting and then a sudden ideal popped into his head.

"Jack, my mom, did she-"

"I wouldn't worry about it", Jack assured him, "She's safe. I would know. I'm the one who got her to safety."

Dudley felt better. Now that he knew that Peg was safe, he had one less thing to worry about. And seeing that they had been at this spot chatting for the past few hours, Jack knew they had to move or OMEGA could catch up to them. Kitty knew as well. After they got back into Jack's car, Jack started the ignition and they were on the road once more.

Meanwhile back in Petropolis, Zero was hard at work seated in his new office. Byron and Glacia stood nearby and on the lookout while Zero observed the activity from below. Being in the chief of TUFF's office, he had quite a view. The fight was long, but he was victorious just like he planned it. Now most pedestrians were put to work constructing a massive wall while others were doing other projects. Just then, a knock came on his door.

"Enter.", he called.

Snaptrap entered with Ollie and Larry at his side. Snaptrap as well as other villains in Petropolis were given criminal technology and plans by Zero who sold it to them on conditions. Finally, Zero put his foot down and took matters into his own claws. As Snaptrap approached 00, his nerves were shaking. And he noticed that Zero's trench coat was violet when it was once crimson.

"Hey sir, new coat color? What for?"

No sooner had he finished, Zero's bodyguards Byron and Glacia Gemini( known by Zero as Monster 03 and 04) had their short range assault rifles aimed right at him.

"Got a problem-", Byron started.

"With that Snaptrap?", Glacia finished.

Snaptrap shook his head nervously and the weasels backed down, but kept their rifles up. Zero turned, making the glowing markings on his black nearly hairless body shimmer, his whip like tail swish, and his gaze penetrating. He wasn't one to be questioned and anyone who dared to do so would then be put down.

"If I wanted an opinion, I'll BURN IT OUT OF YOU!", Zero roared causing the dark cloudy skies that had covered Petropolis flash violently.

Snaptrap could tell this comment was aimed at him and he quickly changed the subject hoping to keep Zero on his good side( if he had one).

"Sir, the bordering counties will be falling shortly."

"Swell", Zero grumbled.

It always seemed Zero was in a bad mood even though he brushed a lock of his snow white flaming hair away from his face and keeping his blazing red eyes on Snaptrap.

"And then there's the report on Agent Puppy..or I mean Monster 01 still MIA."

"You LOST HIM?!", Zero sneered causing the clouds outside to flash once more.

"I don't know, his signal just went dead and-"

Unfortunately, Zero had heard enough and after blasting Snaptrap with a massive bolt of chaotic energy, Snaptrap instantly zipped the lip even though he was singed terribly( jeez what's this guy's problem?).

"If you value your life", Zero warned with his sneer darkening even further, "then get your disease carrying behinds into high gear, and AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTION!"

Snaptrap was carried out by Ollie and Larry who saw that Zero ment every word followed by several more bolts of energy Zero hurled after them. Zero then lifted himself off the chair he was sitting in, looked out the window and then turned to grab the infernal power stone off his desk and lifted it outward. Byron and Glacia stood back as the pitch black stone started to glow ominously ( there was no telling what would happen if that was occurring). Zero's eyes and markings also glowed brighter and the window he was in front of shook, cracked, and then blew apart and fell below. Zero concentrated into the stone and as if on cue, rays of infernal energy erupted outward and started pelting the base of TUFF HQ. The ground rumbled as the skies flashed with lightning striking where the rays ended. Just then, jagged pieces of dark iron shot out of the building's sides and slowly started to bend and shift the once skyscraper like building into a colossal fortress. It took about a few hours, but when all was set and done, Zero put the stone back on the desk and collapsed in the chair which was now shifted into his own personal touch( the inside was altered as well as outside): plush seating upon a throne of bone and iron. Byron and Glacia knew that display. As Zero spent massive power, his own strength and power diminished over time. A massive drawback, he realized this.

"03, 04", he called as if winded, "I need...power."

Byron and Glacia immediately rushed down the new halls and arrived a few minutes later with a vial of MONSTER formula and handed it to Zero which injected it into himself without hesitation. These regular scheduled dosages were consuming, but kept Zero in his top form and this redecoration certainly took a lot of power( you ever try to change a whole building inside and out with that kind of power and time?).

On the now desecrated streets, Herbert and fellow pedestrians were hard at work. 00 had enslaved everyone there and now they were working round the clock. Operating the super large machines, lifting super heavy cargo and boulders to make the large idols of 00 and all his glory. The wretched had also been brought up from the foul realm of Hades and now Herbert was trying to lift a rock the size of a bowling ball (and believe me he was feeling a lot of strain). He groaned and pulled, he pushed he cried, but try as he might, the rock only lifted up a few inches before it fell back onto him. Just as he was pulling himself out, a huge shadow fell over him.

"What's THIS?!", the large grizzly bear warden sneered, "WORK FASTER!".

It cracked it's whip and whirred it's buzz saw in intimidation. Herbert strained and he sweated, and although he tried, the rock was too big, and he was too tired to go on. The warden didn't think so because then it snapped it's whip around Herbert's entire body and brought the flea to it's muzzled face.

"So you think you can stop do you? Well, we'll see just how brave you really are."

With that, the warden carried Herbert through the moaning, really miserable, and very sick looking crowds, through the patrolling androids, and past the deconstruction causing squads that were remodeling the whole place. Herbert looked at all the things going on and what was left of his courage seemed to break and dissolve like paper in water. Why did everything have to end up like this? Finally the warden paused at a brigade of patrolling androids who issued a halt.

"Business?", they asked in a very machine like way.

"A slacker", the warden stated raising Herbert in front of him so the androids can get a clear view, "somebody who can't keep up with the rest."

"Analysis: Herbert Dumbrowski. TUFF agent and former chief. Threat level: low. Cause of slacking, fatigue and old age."

"Hey, I resent that", Herbert protested only to have his mouth covered by elastic material and closed tightly.

"Further analysis: short tempered and yells often to be heard by his larger agents. While having high reputation, tends to let it go to his head. Often looked up to by his fellow agents, but hurt badly in doing so. Probability of rescue: 0.5% successful."

As the androids cleared up their statements, one stepped forward.

"Commencing duplication."

The droid shimmered for a moment and then, right before his eyes, Herbert saw the robot shift and shape until (believe it or not) he was looking at himself( stand and all).

"It's like looking in a mirror, only it's not", Herbert's look alike stated, "escort the slave to Zero for cruel and satanic torment."

Herbert's eyes went wide and he tried to scream, but all he could do was muffle.

"Understood", the warden said harshly as he gave a salute and the androids with their new Herbert look alike departed.

By this time, Jack had driven Kitty and Dudley a good distance and had stopped at a gas station to refill his car again. While he was doing that, Kitty was inside gathering supplies and Dudley was snoozing in the back seats( why am I not surprised?). Jack looked at Dudley and a curious expression came across his face.

"Should I tell him?", he thought to himself, "And let him know the truth before he finds out? I know that being partners with him is tough, but did he have to take it this far? Oh Kitty, why did we have to part?"

By now he was done with the gas and as he went inside he got intercepted by Kitty who was carrying a couple grocery bags worth of stuff.

"Kitty, I was going inside to pay for gas."

"No need Jack, I did it for you. How's Dudley?"

"Out like a light", Jack informed as he took a bag from Kitty to ease her load.

"As always...sleeping on the job", Kitty sighed.

"How do you even put up with him?"

"Jack, I know Dudley's not the best partner I ever had, but when the chips are down, he's always there to pull us through."

Even though he never saw all those times, Jack knew what she ment. As they loaded the supplies into the trunk, Dudley yawned and was awake.

"What did I miss?"

"Not much.", Kitty informed him, "Just getting supplies. I can't believe you ate the whole groceries Jack had when he picked us up in Petropolis."

"Hey, I got hungry. And you know how I get when I'm hungry."

"Oh yeah.", Kitty sighed( how could she forget?), "You devour food faster than a swarm of locusts in a field of wheat in the middle of summer."

Jack and Kitty had gotten into their seats and as Jack started ignition and was off again, Dudley went flying out and landed on the street. Jack saw this and backed up, only to knock Dudley back in.

"Dudley, I though you were wearing your seat belt", Kitty said firmly.

"I was", Dudley protested, "I took it off so I could take my nap."

Dudley refastened his seat belt and with proper inspection, Jack put the car in gear, and Kitty and Dudley held on as the car started off down the road once more.