Chapter I: Beginning of the End
The bell signifying the last day of school rung loud and clear throughout the halls of Sherman High. A flood of students of varying cliques streamed out of the front entrance eager to start their summer vacations. Among them were Lance, Ilana, and Newton, three teens with very noticeable differences. Lance was the typically bad boy who wooed every girl in Sherman High. Ilana, though likable, was a tad bizarre in her choice of clothing and words. Newton was an average nerd and though her appeared to be on the heavier side, he excelled in every physical activity the school threw at him. After all they had been through, all three of them couldn't wait for a break. Now they could hopefully have a period of rest. Now, they could be like average human beings.
However, they were far from average by human standards. They were actually refugees from the distant world of Galaluna, a world much like our own but where Old World colonial ideals and architecture similar to that of 17th century England blends with the futuristic technology and star gazing of Asimov. Over a year ago they fled from Galaluna on the heels of an invasion from the traitorous General Modula. Modula was once a respected general of the Galalunian military, but was declared killed in action during a battle against the Mutraddi on their homemoon of Mutrad.
To the disbelief of Galaluna, the general lives and has acquired a hatred for his former home. With a tamed army of Mutaddi at his disposal he invaded Galaluna and reduced much of it to rubble. The last act of the king was to send his daughter Ilana through the Riftgate, a once-deemed unsuccessful form of travel, and to a safe, but random position. He entrusted Corporal Lance and Octus, a high-tech robot, with defending Ilana. Their random destination? Earth.
Once they landed they set up their new home in the town of Sherman. Still, they weren't completely safe. General Modula sent wave after wave of Mutraddi Mega Beasts towards Earth in an attempt to wipe out the royal line. Each has failed. And with news of each Mega Beast perishing, new rebellions spring up with the oppressed people of Galaluna. Those to are crushed.
Despite all of their difficulties, Lance, Ilana, and Octus have lived a somewhat normal life amongst Earth's populations while maintaining their secret. Lance and Ilana attend high school and maintain relationships with fellow teens while Octus assumes the dual role of friend, Newton, and father figure, simply named Father.
Recent events have shaken their lives though. About a month ago Octus was killed by an electrical Mutraddi monster, thus separating a key component of the Sym Bionic defense protocol and the formation of Titan. Though powerful in their individual suits of power armor, they lacked the strength to defend Sherman from Modula's Mega Beasts.
In self-imposed exile they fled hoping to find a way to revive Octus. Despite the efforts of Lance's own ingenuity and the aid of the Galactic Guardian Group, they couldn't crack the code to revive him. Matters only got worse when General Steel of the US Army cobbled together his own giant robot from the pieces of fallen Mutraddi technology. When word got out the G3 were harboring Lance and Ilana, he attacked the flying headquarters of the G3, the Fortress of Deception.
A battle between G3, Army, and the Galalunian duo was only halted with the appearance of three Mega Beasts. Steel, G3, and Lance and Ilana valiantly fought the three Mega Beasts individually, but all three were only defeated when Octus was revived by the G3's mysterious and rarely seen leader. Oddly enough, he knew the key to restarting Octus and with him back in action, Titan was formed and the three beasts slain.
Being gone for over two weeks is not so easily overseen and so the three heroes created the cover story of being trapped in France visiting relatives. They said it took so long to get home because their flights kept getting canceled due to the monster previously running rampant in Sherman. Luckily it worked and they finished off the year.
Now summer has arrived and at least one nuisance has been put off the table temporarily.
Octus, still in his Newton persona, opened the driver's side door of their minivan and started it. Lance and Ilana piled in and each breathed a sigh of relief.
"I can't believe school is over," Illan exclaimed.
"Me neither," Lance quietly said.
"I have so many plans for us to do over summer," Ilana said, "Over the Internet I've found tours of various cities, family activities, and..."
"Don't you think we should take it easy a bit considering all we've been through?" Lance replied cutting Ilana off mid-sentence.
"Well sorry for trying to brighten our lives a bit," Ilana shot back with a hint of dejection.
"I'm just saying I don't think everything is completely safe," Lance explained, "It wasn't like the Mutraddi to send three Mega Beasts at once to kill us, something doesn't add up."
"I agree," Octus added robotically, "We still need to keep our guards up. However, a vacation may be what we need to build up our strength and rest."
"Okay," Ilana relented, she sat in the back, arms crossed with a pout on her face, "But once we get home I am going to start planning the best vacation the both of you will ever have."
"Fine," Lance mumbled.
They left the school and sped towards home, all three hoping for a brighter future, in their own special ways.
Meanwhile on Galaluna, General Modula was none to pleased with the newest failure, three more to add to his ever growing list. He proceeded through the ruined halls of the Royal Palace and made hos way to his prized captive, the King.
"Modula," the King grunted weakly as he struggled to lift his head.
Modula stepped closer to the ring-shaped holding cell the King was confined in and smiled.
"Hello old friend," the traitorous general chuckled, "I assume you know why I'm here."
"Another one of your beasts has failed to kill my daughter?" replied the King with a laugh, though it turned into a laborious cough.
"Unfortunately," Modula growled, "But I felt I owed you the honor of informing you of what I plan to do next."
"What could you possibly do to defeat my daughter?" the King asked, "When will you give up? Every plan of yours has failed!"
"Up until this time I have been rather narrow minded in my pursuit of the princess," Modula admitted, "I've been thinking like a petty tyrant and not the strategic commander you know me to be. That's why I'm going to stop sending individual Mega Beasts and invade that backwater world your daughter is hiding."
The King's mouth dropped and he barked, "No, you can't do that."
Modula ginned, "Watch me. I will torch that world like I did this one. It's cities will burn, it's people will tremble before my iron fist, and I will ensure none will stand before me."
"Modula!" the King shouted in vain as the general walked out of the holding area.