Disclaimer (and claimer)-I do not own anyone but Vivi/Nikki, Arix, Jackie, Aryn, Damian, Leah and Bruce…and any other characters I decide to shove into this story. Pure/Tiff, Draco and further characters of my friends I decide to shove into the story belong to her. So there! NYU! *sticks out tongue*

A/N-HOLY COW! It's been six years since I posted! WOW!. Forgive me for my absence. I shall update this story with a few chapters then head on over and miss with the others. Expect an update within the next week or so. But please don't hold me to it because I have to get the flow back. Lol. The rating is because I will not hold my cussing back. It'll flow naturally. Plus I can't help it if the characters are in love. ON WITH THE SHOOOOWWW!

Summary: Ever wonder what it'd be like if there was a world full of all the fictional characters anyone has ever created? Nikki soon finds out after a friend from her world, who's already been living there for two years, yanks her out of reality and into…fictional reality? Follow them as Nikki and her friends, along with some familiar heroes, fight through the fictional world where a war has broken out between the good and the bad to see who can gain more people, who's brought over from reality after learning they hold power, to their side.

Collectors

Damian

I walk up to her swiftly almost forgetting the need to look normal in this world. Shifting my speed to an agonizingly slow human pace. The butterflies in my stomach already full swing at what I'm about to do.

I look around to make sure none of her managers or fellow employees are watching, not needing to make a scene out of this. I then look straight at her forcing a smile onto my features hoping I don't look ridiculous.

Gathering up all the courage I can, I begin to nervously straighten up my hair and shirt. It's taken me quite a long time to get the courage to do this. I've known her all throughout high school and never once took notice to her. It felt strange that out of the blue only just the other month I started noticing her bright smiles and greetings once she sees me. The way she seemed so blue being at work. How lonely she looks all the time.

Only after about a month I found myself purposely going to her work just to pass by her. Even if it were to only take one glance if by chance she'd see me she would smile in greeting being glad to see me. This also made my heart soar. Which confuses me the most. I'm a married man. I hope later on all of these feelings that came out of nowhere can be explained away as some sort of ability she has unknowingly been using.

Plus she's the complete opposite of what I'm attracted to. She is very much overweight, she has cavities like it's a new style with one missing tooth in the front, and next to all my other female friends she seems very self-conscious and very, very much shut inside her own bubble. It pains me to see her update her profile online saying how depressed and sad she was. I really hope that one day I can make her happy. Where did these feelings come from? I honestly don't know but I really need to act on them.

Only inches from her now, she catches sight of me in the corner of her eye. The woman raised up from the floor, nearly falling over in the process from being out of shape, after stocking the few items in her hand. She straightened out her smock and smiled up at me not recognizing who it was at first. Probably thinking me to be the average customer about to ask her where an item was in the store.

Her face lit up with sudden realization at who was standing before her. Visibly relaxing knowing at once it was no ordinary customer. "Hey Damian!" she greeted excitedly beginning to play with the corner of the box on her work cart.

I stood straight up trying not to fidget with anything. "Hey Nikki. How are you?" I asked hoping my voice wouldn't crack from pure nervousness.

She sighed and looked to the shelf in what looked to me like pure boredom. "Well I'm at work and I'm bored. So yeah. Other than that I'm ok. How about you?" She looked back up to me, her eyes shifting from depression to happiness once the subject was changed.

I smiled at her. "I'm doing great. Actually I wanted to talk to you about something. I mean I know we haven't had an actual conversation since school or occasionally online but I really have been meaning to speak with you." I said quite fast before I lost my nerve completely.

Taken back by my suddenly fast confession she smiles even bigger. "Uhm. Sure you can talk to me about anything." she looked around also checking for the managers and employees who'd be glad to tell on her. "I don't know how long I can talk though. They'll probably write me up for talking to anyone."

I sigh as I really do see her point but then I get an idea. "Well let's pretend I'm asking you were something is. What's something you don't really know the location of?"

She looked to the shelf in thought. I smile at how long it's taking her knowing she's been working here for about 5 years. It'll be a miracle if she doesn't know where anything is. Finally thinking of something she snaps her fingers and points to me. "Pita bread. I couldn't even begin to tell you where it is."

I clear my throat about to put on the show. "Excuse me, ma'am. Would you happen to know where I could find Pita bread?"

Giggling to herself she smiles at me. "Honestly, Sir. No I do not. But here. Let me help you find it." She gestures up the aisle in the general direction of where we would go. Both laughing, we begin walking next to each other up the aisle. She looks up to me. "That was funny." she said giggling again.

I smile down to her still chuckling. "Yes it was." I agreed but then got nervous again and lost my smile. Her eyebrows pulled together in curiousness. "Damian, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

I nervously lifted my hand and pushed back my hair mostly out of habit. Walking faster than we should have, we made it over to the bakery department in less than a minute. I pretended to pick up some bread, as did she. " Well. I have a sort of confession to make and some how I had gotten the courage this past month of randomly coming in to see you. Along with this confession there is something entirely different I need to talk to you about. First off…" I trailed off wondering how to begin. I felt like a stupid little teenager.

She waited patiently occasionally looking around the breads so no one would suspect us chatting. I rubbed the back of my neck as I looked into her eyes once she lifted her gaze to mine. "Nikki…please keep an open mind ok? I know this must be a shock because I never ever shown any interest before but…" I stop not really knowing how I want to continue with confessing feelings I am unsure of.

I am getting frustrated with myself. I am the commander for Christ sake. I stand before a room full of my teammates barking out orders. Go on rescue missions and saved countless others from this world yet here I am standing in front of the woman I am, for some reason, in love with and a simple paragraph is suddenly difficult to speak.

I looked all around myself for the courage that I knew wasn't there to help me finish this confession. "Yes?" she asked truly curious. My eyes snapped to hers. Studying them I see a look of longing in them. I wonder if she understands what I'm about to say.

That gave me the courage I needed. "I was wondering if you'd go out with me. Tonight. After work. It's sudden, I know. I don't want to sound like a stalker but I come in her a lot to buy something just so I can see you. The smile I put on your face every time you see me. It makes me happy to know I have that ability to make you smile." I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

I stepped closer to her seeing her eyes fill up with tears. Both my hands reach up and gently hold onto her upper arms. Determination coursing through me. I look deep into her eyes willing her to see the love I have for her.

She smiled up at me. Staring deeply into my eyes. Unable to believe her ears. Shyly she looked to the floor as she answered back. "I-I'd love to." she looked back up to me. "I never knew you felt that way. Or could feel that way…for me."

I shook my head at the silliness of her thoughts. "Anyone would be foolish to not feel for you the way that I do. I've been wanting to do this for a while now. Forgive me for taking so long." Even though I'll most likely regret it later on.

The tears she had been trying to keep at bay fell down her cheeks as she listened to my words. She smiled the biggest smile I've ever seen. "It's ok. I just can't believe this. This is really how you feel?" She asked with a glow on her face.

Suddenly not caring about anyone seeing us, not caring whether she got fired, I gave her the biggest most warmest hug I could muster without physically harming her. Her arms immediately wrapped around under mine, across my back as mine wrapped around her shoulders. She squeezed her eyes shut listening to the beating of my heart as her head leaned against my chest her tears still falling at the suddenness of this information.

It seemed like hours to me since I first started hugging her. A part of me felt like leaping for joy for having the courage to confess my undying love for her, another part of me was so beyond confused as to where these feelings came from and another part of me sensed something odd around us.

Still hugging her I lifted my head and looked around. My eyes still taking in my surroundings they stopped dead in their tracks as a dark, thick, pure evil laughter was heard from behind me. My eyes widened as it continued chuckling as it was joined with a few other laughs. My body stiffened.

Nikki, noticing my suddenly tense form, flashed open her eyes and pulled backing looking up into mine. "Damian? What's wrong?"

I lowered my head carefully so that my mouth was just at her ear. "Nikki. Do you trust me?" At my question she pulled back to look at me only to see the most serious of looks. Looking from one eye to the other she answers. "Of course I trust you. What's wrong?"

I give a slight nod at her answer. "I'm sorry this is happening. I'll explain everything later. I know it'll be hard for you to but when I say to I need you to run as fast as you can."

She pulls back away from me at my odd request. "What are you talking about? Why would we need to run?" she asked looking frantically around for any sign of danger. Not seeing any she looked back to me for answers.

I sigh and grab onto her hand. "Nikki. Just trust me. We need to run." I said tightening the hold on her hand. Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion at my sudden change in mood and behavior. Probably thinking I'm either bipolar or just psychotic.

My eyes grew wide as the laughter I heard behind me stopped. I turn around to see four of my most hated enemies. "Collectors." I spat in disgust, just above a whisper.

They began screeching their unnatural birdlike voices as they noticed I have spotted them. They fan out about to attack. I snap my head back to Nikki seeing her watching me with worry as I seemed to have just stared off into what looked to her like 'space'.

"Nikki RUN!" I yelled practically ripping her arm out of it's socket as I began pulling her through their pack and ran for our lives. She was smacking at my hand doing her best to keep up. Luckily my strength came in handy to pull all her weight and still keep a reasonable speed.

I immediately dug into my pockets. A second later pulling out a communicator that looked very much like a regular wireless cell phone you stick in your ear. Slamming it into my ear I tap it causing a little light to flash blue then turn red. I immediately started barking out orders. "I need an immediate travel portal clearance at my location. I am being chased by four Collectors. I have Nikki with me. They came a little earlier than we thought. Call a code X in the area I'll be coming in. They don't look armed. Be ready to pick us up at that location. Commander Ian OUT". Once finished, I tapped the device again but leaving it in my ear. I looked back to her and cursed seeing them right behind us. I swiftly turned into the aisle we were in earlier.

Almost to her cart a voice came over the communicator. "Commander Ian. Travel Portal Clearance approved. You have a go for travel. Scott Out." Sighing in relief I fling out my right arm as I yell out calling forth the portal. "Transportia" Within seconds a bright flash of white light then a large oval portal filled the gap of the aisle. It had every color of the rainbow in it looking a lot like a kaleidoscope.

Nikki's eyes grew wide seeing this. She batted at my hands more roughly trying to get me to stop pulling. "Damian! Let me go. Where are you taking me?" I look back at her only a second and smile.

Right as I reached it I pulled her along with me straight through the portal. Another flash of light and we were through. I quickly looked back and watched as the portal closed. Knowing all pretense was gone in this world and also knowing Code X was enforced here I pull out my blaster gun ready to fight off the Collectors once they have created their own portal and follow us through.

I looked down to Nikki noticing her still pounding on my hand. "Nikki. Come on we need to get out of here. They're still behind us." I said pulling on her arm again.

Pulling back, making us stop, Nikki looked up to me as if I'd completely lost my mind. "Are you nuts? Have you seriously lost your mind? I didn't even see a single thing behind us. First you come up to me and blurt out your sudden feelings for me, which by the way I'm starting to doubt. Then you go insane and drag me through the store and through some sort of portal. I don't even want to know how you did that. What are you looking at?" she asked suddenly in the middle of her rant.

The whole time I had been trying to hold back my laughter while looking at her. "Uhm. Nikki. You might want to pull up your pants." I said looking away to make it less embarrassing for her. Completely lost as to what I'm talking about she looks down to see her pants had indeed fallen to the floor. Her face completely beat red, she snaps down and pulls them up with the one hand she had free.

I turn my head back to her. "If I would have had more time to explain everything to you I could have warned you about that. It's one of many things that will happen to you in this world. Come on I'll explain everything once we're back at HQ. We have to go befo-" A flash of white light interrupts me. A second later screeching is heard. Great. "Let's go!!" I yanked on Nikki's completely shocked form. One look at her now completely slim and toned body sent her mind into shock.

The both of us running now we made our way through the throng of people laying on the floor. Jumping over some and going around others. I smiled at everyone knowing that creating Code X was a brilliant idea me and my fellow team members came up with.

Calling on a Code X emergency told everyone of this world that someone from the X team was being chased by the Collectors and gun fights were to happen. Everyone knew to fall to the floor and not move a muscle. The Collectors were birdlike creatures created specifically to 'collect' the person the X Team went to the other world to get in hopes to take them back to their masters so that person would join or be forced to join the side of evil. The Collectors relied specifically on heat sensor like eyes. Anything with heat throughout their body that moved would get attacked. Another reason Code X was so brilliant.

At last we reached the doors. They slide open allowing us to burst through and out the lobby past another sliding glass door. Once outside we ran across the parking lot heading towards the street. I looked back to a huffing and puffing, Nikki. "Come on Nikki. It's just a littler further. They will pick us up at the street." I yelled as I ran still dragging her as she held onto her now extremely baggy cloths.

She looked back as she heard a screeching sound. "I can see and hear them now! They're gaining on us, Damian!" I snapped my head back in their direction. "Shit! Come on! Run faster!" my eyes grew wide as one of the Collectors put on some more speed then pushed himself up off the ground flipping in the air, grabbing the gun out of my hand as I began shooting at it before it landed in front of the both of us causing us both to stop in our tracks. The both of us gasping, I pushed Nikki behind me. "Stay close to me." She clutched onto the back of my shoulder with her free hand.

"You guys can't have this one!" I yelled at the one in front of me. They all began laughing at me. It began talking in it's screechy voice as it crushed my gun into a blob of metal. "Youuuu can not run from usss any longer, Commander Ian. Youuu both are ourssss!"

I forced a laugh. "You pathetic Collectors are going to take on the great Commander Ian? Yeah right. I think your boss would be a little pissed at you. He wants my demise to be his doing. You wouldn't have the guts to try." I said pretty confident with my guess. Truly laughing now the Collectors behind us yelled out. "Who sssaid it would be ussss?"

A loud ferocious growl met everyone's ears followed by a few clings as claws meet the blacktop heading straight for us. Spinning to the side, and spotting the source, I instantly push Nikki away from me as the large black panther jumps towards me, taking me to the ground. We immediately begin to wrestle. "C'mon, Chupa. You know you don't wanna do this. They've brainwashed you." I said reasoning with my old comrade. Pausing, Chupa, the large black panther, stares at me. "I have a new master now. You'll soon be his once he breaks you." he said sounding almost as if the thought thrilled him. Before I could respond to that, he swiped his paw at my head making it hit the blacktop pretty hard. Darkness overtook me.