Monday…

Bjorn Bjornson went over to the panorama window of his luxury cabin's living room.

He actually came,Bjorn thought to himself, as he watched the spacecraft land on his front yard. And to think they called him mad when he had a landing craft ramp installed on his mountain property. He walked outside to greet his latest guest:

"General Yakitori! I'm so glad you could make it!" Bjorn exclaimed.

"This had better be good.", the old cyborg muttered as he slowly halted out of his ship, putting his bionic peg leg first.

"It is, old chap, it is."

"I can only assume it concerns Moshimo and his creations."

Bjorn shrugged. "Am I that predictable? Oh well. You are of course right. Now, I know that you have limited interest in Robotboy, but I am forming a group of people who have at least some experience with fighting him. And I would like your participation."

"What's in it for me?"

"I am quite the skilled robot technician myself, General. I'm sure you have body parts you'd like to have exchanged."

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with my – ", Yakitori began, before his voice suddenly tuned out. He pulled a string in the back of his neck and continued:

"- Components! Well…maybe just a few upgrades would be nice." He admitted.

Bjorn nodded. "It's ironic. Robotboy was created as a machine, but he's trying to be a man. You were created as a man, but have spent you adult life trying to become more and more of a machine."

"Just don't ask me to hurt young Tommy. I had this…fling with his grandmother and…well, I get a little sentimental.", the general admitted.

Bjorn grinned.

"Maybe, you're not as much of a machine as I thought." He said jovially. "Well don't worry sir, I won't ask you to hurt young Turnbull." He coughed. "But if someone else wants to do it, I might not be able to stop them."

***

For once, Gus was late for lunch. When he entered the cafeteria, the room was buzzing more than usual. Confused, Gus looked around to see if he could find someone who would explain him what everyone was talking about, when Lola suddenly pushed a card into his hands.

"What's this?"

"Take a good look at it, 'cause it's something you're seeing for probably both the first and the last time in your life" a snorting girl's voice told him "It's an invitation to a party."

It was a voice Gus knew better than he wanted to. It was the voice of Portia Gibbons, one of Lola's friends from the in clique – or rather, someone that Lola tolerated because they were both part of the in clique.

"Yes, thanks, but I don't think he was asking you, Portia." Lola remarked before she turned to Gus: "My grounding period ends on Sunday", Lola told him "And I'm celebrating it by throwing a major party on Saturday. Dad and Vivian are even going to be away, and it'll be huge! Everyone's gonna be there!"

"Yeah - Maybe too many. Seriously Lola, do you have to invite him?"

"It's my party, Portia, and I'll invite whoever I want!", Lola snapped. "Besides, Gus is one of my oldest friends."

"Whatever. It's exactly that kind of sentimental attitude that'll keep you away from the top of the clique!"

"Let's be fair to Lola, Portia." Another girl's voice butted in. "Now that she's dating Turnbull, she's kinda has to include that bloated carrot. It's like a package."

"Well, maybe it's time Turnbull chose his friends more carefully as well." Portia turned to Lola: "He is dating his way upward on the social ladder. It's time he acted accordingly."

Lola frowned at the two girls, who barely seemed to notice this as they left.

"Gus, I'm sorry about that", she said, looking guilty.

Gus shrugged, trying to look cool. If he couldn't have Lola's love, he didn't want her pity either. "What, for the way the Portia and Gwen spoke to me? Oh, I've heard worse."

"Worse than 'bloated carrot'?"

"You'd be surprised."

Naturally, this didn't make Lola looks much less guilty.

"Well, anyway…you'll come to my party, then?"

"Hey, as long as you've got food there, Portia and Gwen can insult me all night for all I care!"

"Ahem, yes about that, Gus… I have a suggestion…."

***

Saturday…

"I don't quite understand, Lola." Robyn commented as the Mbola household's girls were getting ready for the party. "I thought you wanted to celebrate the end of your grounding period with you and Tommy going on your first date, alone!"

"Well, I was", Lola admitted. But dad suggested a party… I guess he was beginning to feel guilty. And when he promised that he and Vivian would even be away – how could a say no to an offer like that? Everyone's so excited about this! I've never been more popular than right now, Robyn!"

"So you admit, you just like to show off!"

"Well, yeah. But you will benefit from this too, you know. You and Tommy."

"I guess…"

"And Portia is almost completely sidelined right now." Lola added.

Robyn smiled "That is worth a party, for certain!"

Lola had forgotten how many invitations she handed out, although according to Robyn, it was exactly thirty-eight, and that according to her quick head-count, there were forty-three guests present, currently standing in the front yard outside her house. That was expected, because Lola had allowed some of the guests to invite others as well.

Standing up in the front was Tommy, who waved and smiled at her before he put his hands in his pockets and flaunted his roughed-up hair nonchalantly. Lola smiled back at him, somewhat overbearingly. Tommy had matured so much over the last few years, but he was still vain enough to think roughing up his hair a little made him completely irresistible. Triumphantly she walked out on the porch, preparing to address her guests. She cleared her throat.

"Please, can I have your attention for a moment?"

The buzz died down.

"Thank you. Now, like I've already said, my parents aren't home tonight."

There was a general murmur of approval.

"And you won't be seeing any chaperones tonight, either."

There was a murmur of even greater approval.

"However, that doesn't mean that there aren't any."

There was a general murmur of slight disappointment.

"There are cameras everywhere" she explained, "and while some of them are easy to spot, some are expertly hidden. So don't ever assume that you're out of sight. Now I've been asked to introduce Captain Charles Kadinga…"

There were more than a few giggles, until a black man who was seven feet tall and had shoulder as wide as the front of a car, appeared in the doorway. Even Constantine would've dwarfed next to him. He was wearing sunglasses and an Italian suit that was probably tailor-made – since it was hard to believe that a suit jacket of that size could have been factory-made.

Lola nodded. "Yes, most people stop laughing at the Captain's name when they meet him. Anyway, he's a mercenary, a veteran from various armed conflicts on three different continents."

"Four!" the large man barked.

"Four, yes. Sorry, sir. Anyway, Captain Kadinga will be in charge of security and surveillance tonight, and you do not want to have to answer to him for any reason, believe me –"

All the guests looked like they believed her.

"Thank you sir, that'll be all for now", Lola said to the big man, who promptly went back inside.

"Remember, he's watching you.", Lola added, before she made a gesture for Tommy to come up and join her at the porch, and he did.

"So I wouldn't try anything too funny, if I were you." She continued. "You can probably imagine for yourself what would be 'too funny'. However, as a general rule –" she smiled and grabbed Tommy by the collar. Then she kissed him, long and intensely, until all the other guests were whistling, wooing and cheering out loud.

" – This is not considered too funny!" she finished, letting go of Tommy and grinning triumphantly at the crowd, who began clapping.

"Now, let's get this party started!" she announced, and the crowd went wild with cheer.

As the guests poured into Into the Mbola residence's living room, and Gwen complimented Lola for putting on a show before the party had even started, the young hostess looked bewildered around:

"Hey, where did Tommy go?"

Gus, who was standing right behind the two girls, looked towards the porch, and rolled his eyes. Tommy was still standing on the spot where Lola had left him, with a stupid grin on his face. Man, she really did a number on you, dude , Gus thought to himself, You lucky so-and-so.

"He didn't go anywhere" Gus told Lola, and pointed. "I think you put him in a trance. Don't worry, I'll go and get your concubine."

Lola giggled delightfully, probably at the "concubine" remark. Gus sighed. For once, Lola laughed at one of his jokes, and for once, he wished she hadn't.

***

Bjorn couldn't, and didn't, expect all of his potential allies to come to him. But then, Mexico was just a few hours away with his supersonic private jet. As the jet approached the Mexican mountainside, he read through his notes again. Brian Yak had been hiding out in one of Professor Moshimo's old secret labs for nearly three years. Apparently, he had never even actually tried to attack Moshimo in all this time, but he'd sent several threatening letters where is assured the professor that he "was just being patient" and that "he was working on a fool-proof plan" to get his revenge. Well Brian, Bjorn thought, it's time to put your money where your mouth is

"Who's there?" a shrilling voice shouted as Bjorn entered the cave where the lab was hidden.

Not surprisingly, Brian wasn't used to visitors.

"A friend" Bjorn tried.

"Probably not a friend of mine!" the voice from inside the cave sneered.

"That is possible.", Bjorn replied and held up both his hands to show that he wasn't armed. "But I might become one."

Brian Yak slowly walked towards his uninvited guest with an oversized gun.

Bjorn had difficulty getting over how ridiculous the sentinent yak looked. But then, it was exactly because of that kind of attitude that had made Brian dangerous in the first place, so he kept a straight face.

"Bjornson…" the yak muttered.

"Just call me Bjorn. I have come here to suggest an alliance."

He paused. Brian Yak made no sign to lower his gun, let alone put it down.

"Because I think we can help each to accomplish our goals"

"My goal is to get my revenge on Professor Moshimo!"

"Yes, I know. Now, I'm afraid I can't promise that you will get the privilege of killing the professor…"

"Then I have no use for your help!"

"- But I can promise that you will get a chance to kill Moshimo, and that if you still refuse to cooperate, someone else will beat you to it."

"Who?", the yak demanded, still pointing his gun at Bjorn. Less than a second later, the gun was shot out of Brian's hand. Before the gun even had time to land on the ground, another beam pulverized it.

"I WILL. I PROMISE BJORNSON, IF YOU COOPERATE, I NO KILL YOU TO KEEP YOU FROM GETTING TO MOSHIMO FIRST. BUT IF YOU GET IN LINE OF FIRE WHEN I KILL MOSHIMO, YOU DIE TOO."

"Protoboy…"

"Up and going again, as you see. Stronger and more powerful than ever, as you will soon get to see." Bjorn announced smugly. "And working for me."

"FOR THE MOMENT." Protoboy specified.

"Fine, I will cooperate" Brian growled. Then he turned to Protoboy. "And I accept that challenge! I will get to Moshimo first, and I will kill him before you get the chance!"

"I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!"

"Don't get uppity with me!", Brian snapped. "I've defeated you before, remember."

"AYE, BY USING BIG GUNSHIP. AND EVEN THEN, I DESTROY SHIP IN PROCESS! YOU WITHOUT A CHANCE AGAINST ME IN DIRECT COMBAT!"

Bjorn grinned. "Splendid! I can see you two will be getting along like a house on fire…maybe literally." He walked towards his aircraft.

"Now if you'll excuse me…while I'm in the neighborhood – well, at the same continent, anyway – I need to make another stop."

"What for?" Brian asked.

"There's a party, and I'm not invited.", Bjorn explained. "But I've never let that stop me."


A/N: The characters Portia Gibbons and Gwen are taken from the Nickelodeon cartoon The Mighty B!. I needed some extra supporting characters for this part of the story, and since both of these animated series are taking place in San Fransisco, I thought it would be convenient and, quite frankly, a little fun. This is not supposed to be a crossover fanfic, but I have no problems with adding a few guest appearances.

To Tripel Death Core : Well, Wikipedia now says that Bjorn is Icelandic (I haven't heard it from any other source), but it used to say that he is Norwegian. And of course, Wikipedia is not very reliable anyway, so it's probably anyone's guess.