Somewhere in a provisionary lab of an undisclosed location, Van Kleiss glowered in the dim red light of the nanite reactor he had painstakingly pieced together over the past few months. He stared into the light, observing the enhanced nanites he had singlehandedly engineered. After all, the hard work of invention had been done for him by the original nanite team years ago, all he had had to do was improve their designs. And yet, despite all he had devised, he was still coming up short.
"Although finding cryptids has proven considerably easier with your efforts we are still unable to control the EVOs I create. Do you have anything to show for yourself besides my wasted resources?" He asked Argost who paced behind him.
"Testy. Remember you asked me for help, not the other way around. I want just as much to control the cryptidss as you, but they cannot be controlled by anything but kur, and now even that prospect is looking dim," Argost replied eyeing breach.
"Then it seems we are at an impasse," Van Kleiss said. A thought of ridding himself of Argost and his cryptids altogether crossed Van Kleiss's mind, but this was interrupted.
"Perhaps I can offer a solution," Said a low metallic voice. They looked around but found no body to the voice. "You've been approaching the equations from the wrong side. His knowledge of the Earths cryptids cannot help you." Argost raised a brow but the voice continued, "But these machines, these... nanites, they have to power to create life itself." Van kleiss caught sight of a red and black light creeping across the floor. The light seeped out of crevices and corners, moving into a puddle-like mass in the center of the floor. "Who's to say they can't control life as well." As the tendrils of red and black merged together, the mass took shape and rose into a figure, something not quite humanoid. The red circuits of light blinked as it said, "All you need... is an upgrade."
Rex wandered through Undertown, vaguely recalling that Gwen and Kevin said they were down there searching for leads. He'd lost all sense of direction in the bustling alien city and became consumed in his thoughts. He questioned (probably for the hundredth time) what Van Kleiss could be planning. Rex had come here with a plan to find his allies and take down his enemies. But the task grew increasing complicated and Rex wondered who it was he could really trust.
Rex froze as something hard was shoved against his back. He was yanked from his thoughts only to realize he had wandered into a shady part of undertown; the streets were no longer lively with merchants and alien kids, the buildings looked shabby and dark, he felt eyes on him from the shadows.
"Alright kid let's make it quick. Gimme all yer Tadanite and I'll let u keep your head" said a voice from behind him.
"Tada-wha?" Rex said. He realized whatever was pressed against his back must be some sort of weapon. He slowly glanced over his shoulder and raised his gloved hands to show he was unarmed. A fish looking alien a little taller than rex held the weapon against him.
"You heard me, terrain. I ain't got all day" he said.
"I don't suppose you two have seen a big guy with a red head way out of his league come through here?" Rex asked. The green alien made a face. "I'll take that as a no."
Quick as lightning, a pink ball of energy knocked the alien to the side. The alien looked around confused and trained the weapon on Rex. Suddenly a stony mass made impact with the aliens face. Rex realized it was Kevin donning Concrete armour.
"Who's idea was it to let the foreigner wander around the slums of undertown alone?" Kevin asked.
Rex turned and saw he was talking to a pretty purple alien girl with glowing pink hair. She put a hand on her hip. With a wave of her hand, pink energy tied itself around the green alien and he wriggled angrily on the ground.
"If I had to guess, Ben had something to do with it," Gwen said.
"Gwen! Kevin! What are you guys doing over here? I thought you were looking for leads?"
"You don't look for leads on a major villain undertaking in the safe part of town. What are you doing here?" Gwen countered.
"Getting mugged apparently. Isn't it bad enough we have to clean up Tennyson's messes? Now we have to babysit his friends too." Kevin said dusting off his hands.
"Babysit? I had it handled," Rex said.
"Really? From where I was standing it looked like you were about to get blasted back to your freaky robot dimension." Kevin said annoyed.
"Can't you two get along for five minutes? Kevin, stop teasing him," Gwen asked.
"Me? We just saved his sorry butt, the least he could do is thank us." Kevin said.
"Thank you Gwen," Rex said, turning his nose Up at Kevin. Kevin growled and Gwen threw a shield between the two boys. They fumed at each other through the transparent pink energy.
"Rex, Ben gave us a heads up that Argost was on the loose. What happened?" She asked. Rex turned his attention to Gwen.
"Turns out Arogsts "top-security cell" didn't count on evos. When we showed up one of Van Kleiss' old lackies had already busted him out."
"Great. Now theres two evil maniacs on the loose," Said Kevin folding his arms.
"And I'm still no closer to finding Circe" Rex added glumly.
"Actually, maybe I can help. If you have anything that belongs to Circe, I might be able to find her," Gwen said.
"How?" Rex asked.
"Just trust her," Kevin said.
"I don't really have any- wait!" Rex stuck his hand in his jacket pocket and pulled out the photo Breach had given him. "It's one of Circe's pictures. Will this work?"
"I'll give it a try," She said.
"What are you going to do?" Rex asked curiously. Gwen's eyes glowed with pink light and after a moment the picture adopted the same pink glow.
"My powers allow me to track the mana of a person by sensing the energy left on something that they touched," Gwen explained while she concentrated.
Finally the glow faded.
"I've got something but it's faint. We should hurry if we're going to follow it," She said. Rex eagerly built his Rex Ride and pulled his goggles over his eyes.
"Hop on!" He said. Kevin shook his head.
"No way thats happening dude. We'll take my car," Kevin said.
Kevin sat at the wheel as Gwen, with pink glowing eyes, directed him. Rex squirmed in the backseat.
"Left here," Gwen said and Kevin turned the car down a busy uptown road. "We're getting close," She said.
Kevin looked at Rex in the rear-view. "So whats with the communicator in your ear?"
"Huh?"
"Your communicator. It works across dimensions?"
"Oh, yeah." Rex said remembering the ear piece for the first time since shutting it off.
"Thats some complex tech. I know a bunch a guys that would pay top dollar," Kevin said offhandedly. Rex took it off then reached over and put it in the cupholder between Kevin and Gwen.
"Keep it," He said.
"Don't you need it to talk to your team or whatever?" Kevin asked.
"Nah. They would just give me an earful and demand I go back to providence. And I'm not really up for following orders," Rex found it familiar; running away from providence. An old habit he'd somehow picked up again. Only this time he wasn't running to find his family, he already had one, he just needed to get part of it back.
They turned again and came to a tall, gaudy red and gold building.
"Stop here," Gwen said suddenly. "Her mana is hard to connect with but this is the last place I sensed something."
"We're at Billions Tower, G. Why would she be in there?" Kevin asked.
"Lets find out," Gwen said.
Meanwhile
"How is looking at old plumber records going to help us find Argost and Van Kleiss?" Zak asked his parents.
"Well we figured that if this Van Kleiss is creating his own nanites then he must be getting his supplies of energy and technology from somewhere," said Drew with a hand on her hip.
"We noticed a pattern in reports of recent crime. These records show every major technological robbery from the past six months. I've narrowed it down by systematically selecting the events with similar characteristics. The items taken in these cases are all the components required to make a takion power core generator," Solomon said.
"Would a power core have enough energy to make a nanite?" Zak asked.
"I'm no expert on that Earths technological capabilities, but a takion generator packs a punch, even by this Earths standards. Van Kleiss would have the energy to create nanites indefinitely. If our theory is correct, then we should be able to predict the next piece of equipment that'll be stolen, and be ready for whoever shows up to take it," Solomon said.
"So can someone explain whats happening… in English," Ben asked narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"Mr. And Mrs. Saturday have linked recent crime activity to Van Kleiss and believe they can use it to set a trap for him," Rook said without hesitation as if he had been expecting Ben to ask.
"So where are we headed," Ben said seriously.
"It looks like there's only two places on earth with the tech we are looking for," Solomon said. "Plumber headquarters, and-"
"Billions tower," Rook and Ben said in unison.
"We'll check it out. You guys warn my grandpa in case the bad guys come knocking." Ben said.
Gwen Kevin and Rex reached the laboratory at the top of billy billions tower.
"I can see Billions is a real modest guy," Rex said scoffing at the gold decor that covered every inch of the building. They heard voices deeper in the lab and went towards the sound, until two figures came into view, one Rex recognized as Scalamander, and the other...
"Circe!" Rex called.
Kevin absorbed the golden floor and knocked Scalamader away with a solid punch. The EVO was taken out by the surprise attacker.
"Rex!" Circe said with shock running up to him. He opened his arms expecting a hug but she pushed him towards the door and looked over her shoulder, "You shouldn't be here."
"Circe, Whats going on? Why did Van Kleiss kidnap you?" Rex asked.
"He didn't," She said looking at Rex sadly.
Scalamander stirred from the ground holding something, as a red portal opened next to him.
"He's got a takion power core!" Kevin said.
"Too late Rex," Scalamander said mockingly before disappearing through the portal. Kevin moved to go after him, but something stepped out of the portal taking salamanders place, a cat like EVO with glowing red eyes.
"Cmon Circe, we're getting out of here" Rex said leading her by the hand. She pulled out of his grasp.
"You don't get it Rex. I'm not going."
Six more portals opened around them, and similar looking creatures came out surrounding the four teens.
"It's a trap!" Gwen said, lighting up with pink energy and donning her lucky girl persona. The EVOs circled them, barring long fangs.
"Did you know about this?" Rex said turning wide eyes on Circe. The EVO's attacked all at once, lunging with their powerful jaws. Gwen flipped over two, hitting them will balls of energy and led them away. Kevin punched one in the muzzle as it snapped at him and it tumbled into another. Rex built his smack hands and swatted one cat to the side as another EVO tackled him. He struggled to hold its powerful jaws away from his face. Thats when Circe blasted it off him with her song.
Rex gaped at her in shock.
"You're an EVO? But you were cured!" Rex said. She didn't meet his eyes.
"No I wasn't. Breach saved me from the cure event..."
"She saved you?"
"She said it was a favor from Van Kleiss. A few months ago… Van Kleiss' contacted me about plans to start over in a new world. This world. He said I could come along if I just helped him with a few missions," She said.
"You're… helping Van Kleiss?" Rex said backing away from her.
"I'm sorry I lied to you. But think about it. I never belonged in our world. Not when EVOs existed and especially not now. I'm incurable Rex. When Breach teleported me away from the Cure Event I missed my one chance to be normal. But here, I can start a new life. We both can! This was the only way."
"You're wrong. Theres always another way, Circe. But for some reason you're always choosing Van Kleiss' way."
"Van Kleiss has changed, he wants to start over. Come with us," She said.
"He's lying to you. I won't be a part of his game."
"Then I guess you've made your choice." She turned as a portal opened for her.
"Circe wait," He said grabbing her hand.
"Rex, if you care about me at all, you'll let me go." He looked into her pleading eyes for a long moment, then let go of her hand. "I'm sorry," She said, her back to him as she stepped through the portal and disappeared. Rex stood gaping at the spot where she vanished, when the doors flew open and Zak, Rook and Ben ran in.
"Guess we're a little late to the party," Ben said.
"What part of this looks like a party to you?" Rook asked.
"What's he doing here?" Rex asked sourly reffering to Zak.
"I'm here to help with the cryptids," Zak said brandishing the claw.
"I told you I don't want your help," Rex said.
"Then its a good thing I'm not a very good listener.".
"Guys! Little Help?" Gwen called. She was struggling trying to keep four EVOs at bay. Rex realized she was shielding an dazed Kevin. The two other EVO's had recovered and growled menacingly.
"That's probably not good," Rex said.
"Great, not this again," Ben said.
"No look! Somethings different. All the EVOs before this were on mindless rampages, but these… this is organized," Zak said. They noticed as he said it that the EVOs eyes all glowed red. "Someone's controlling them."
"Thats definitely not good," Rex said.
The team lept into action, fighting the EVO's back. With the reinforcments they easily outmatched the six cryptids and the heroes finally gained the upperhand.
"Rex, do you think you could cure them?" Zak asked kneeling next to the defeated cryptids sadly. Rex remembered the last thing Doc and Six had told him and shook his head.
"I ca-" Suddenly a final portal opened above zaks head, and a canister fell from it.
"Look out!" Gwen cried instinctively shielding herself, along with Rook Ben and Kevin who were nearest to her. Rex saw in slow motion as the canister hit the ground and burst, releasing a shock of red light. He and Zak were knocked back but the blast wasn't very strong. Rex realized all at once what had happened. It wasn't a bomb, the canister had been filled with nanites.
Zak writhed on the ground as his body reacted to the nanites. Scales erupted from his skin, and a gold light engulfed him. His screams of pain turned to deep roars as he transformed into a towering dragon creature. His eyes turned a golden yellow, and then red as the nanites took control. The five teens looked on in horror.
"No."
Zak had become an EVO.
