Ok, so here's Chapter 8. The second last chapter! But there's a sequel :D This wasn't too hard to write (I just didn't really work on it at all :P). Anyway, I hope you enjoy it-I honestly love this chapter! :D Don't forget to review!
"So how are we getting to the Vandal homeworld?" Sherman asked through the com link. Nexus also had one inside his helmet, and he'd adjusted his so he'd be able to talk to the Cortez brothers.
"Well, south of here there's a small inter-planetary portal that's permanently open. It's in a closed off location, and I'm pretty much the only one that knows where it is. I'm hoping it'll take us to the Vandal homeworld," Nexus answered.
"And what if it doesn't?" Spinner asked.
"Well then...My daughter dies and we probably do too," the bearded man replied. The older Cortez brother gulped.
"Don't you think that's a little risky? I mean it taking us to the Vandal homeworld is far from guaranteed..." Sherman commented, frowning.
"I know, but it's the best thing I can think off right now...Let's go," Nexus responded, driving ahead of the Buster Tank to lead the way to the portal.
They drove through the forest, avoiding most plant life. They ended up in front of a wide lake and on the other side of that, there was a rocky wall. As the Cortez brothers drove around the lake, they could see a small cave. The bearded man zipped into the cave, making the two brothers follow. After a zigzagging trail through the cave, they came out in a small cavern. The portal, set in the rock wall, flickered just slightly ahead of them.
"I don't know about this," Sherman said. Nexus didn't answer. He hopped off the bike, pulled out a piece of chalk and drew a large V in front of the portal. The portal sparked once, twice. As it released a bolt of electricity straight into the V on the ground, the portal turned a bright blue. Nexus hopped back on his motorcycle and before the Cortez brothers could protest, he drove straight into it.
"What do we do?" Spinner asked Sherman. The younger shrugged.
"I guess we follow his lead," the taller Cortez answered, and drove into the portal after Nexus.
They came out on the Vandal homeworld. The portal closed with a pop behind them.
"Well that worked. Unfortunately we came out a pretty far distance from the Hepaconica flower..." Nexus informed the Cortez brothers.
"Then let's put the pedal to the medal and get going!" Sherman exclaimed.
"Where IS this Hepaconica flower anyway?" Spinner asked as they were driving.
"It's...um...close to Kalus' village," Nexus replied.
"What do you mean by 'close'?" Sherman asked, curiously.
"It's about three feet from the gate," the bearded man asked.
"It's only THREE FEET from the gate?" the older Cortez screamed, "We'll die before we even get close to it!"
"No, no, no...Well maybe," Nexus responded. They drove in silence after that.
"So how are we going to get the pollen?" Spinner asked once they got to the village. The Hepaconica flower was a tall thin stalk. At the top of the stem, a wild shimmering flower that looked like it was on fire exploded outwards. There were two tiny blue cups sprouting out of the center of the flower.
"There's always the direct approach," Nexus said.
"The Vandals would notice, and then we'd have to deal with Kalus..." Sherman pointed out.
"Well we don't have much time so I don't feel like sitting around and waiting for something else," the bearded man answered, agitated. Before either Cortez could stop him, the man drove forward in a blur. He stopped right in front of the flower and hopped off his motorcycle. He froze when he heard a voice behind him.
"Freeze sub-creature," Kalus growled. Nexus gulped. The Vandal warlord got out of his vehicle holding a piece of rope. He grabbed Nexus' wrists roughly, forcing them together and bound them with the rope. Kalus hauled his captive back to his vehicle, and took him into the village.
The Cortez brothers watched this happen, shocked into silence. When the gate slammed shut, Spinner spoke up.
"What're we supposed to do now, little bro?" he asked.
"Well...We still need the pollen..." Sherman voiced. "But we'll be spotted by the guards," he said, until he noticed that the guards at the top of the gate weren't looking into the jungle. They were concentrating on something on the inside of the village. "Maybe we won't," the younger Cortez voiced, surprised.
"Well let's get that pollen," Spinner suggested, and Sherman nodded. The Buster Tank moved towards the gate slowly trying to avoid making too much noise. They were fairly close to the flower, and Spinner was about to pop out of the tank and get the pollen, until...
"Looks like dinner in a tin can!" Sever growled out, thinking with his stomach like always.
"Sever!" Spinner exclaimed. As the shark vandal drove towards them, the older Cortez fired the maces at Sever. The maces hit, and Sever was knocked away.
"Get the pollen, big bro!" Sherman said. Spinner nodded, and he popped out of the tank. The spiky haired boy ran towards the Hepaconica flower. He pulled out a test tube and removed the rubber stopper. He was about to milk the pollen out of one of the blue cups standing in the middle of the flower.
Krocomodo drove at the spiky haired boy. The older Cortez dove out of the way, unharmed. As the crocodile vandal continued forward and then turned to face the Buster Tank, Spinner's heart broke.
The Hepaconica flower was flattened into the dirt. Krocomodo has driven straight over it. Spinner crawled over to it; the stem was partially crushed. The petals were torn and falling apart as he stared. The roots of the plant were even sticking up out of the ground a little. It was clear to see the flower was dead. The older Cortez couldn't believe it; the only thing in the multi-verse that could save Octavia from dying had just been killed itself. He was completely numb.
"Spinner!" Sherman shouted. The spiky haired boy didn't even look up at all. He continued to stare at the plant as if it could be revived that way.
Suddenly, one of the two blue cups puffed up. Spinner snapped out of his daze as the puffed cup popped two fiery-looking seeds. He picked up the two seeds carefully, before noticing that out of the other blue cup leaked a golden liquid.
"The pollen..." he muttered, and carefully lifted the cup and held the test tube under it. He watched the liquid pollen ooze into the test tube, and when it was full he set it down and put the rubber stopper on it tightly, scared of losing any. As he rose to his feet, one of the two seeds fell to the ground, but Spinner failed to notice. Sherman popped the hatch of the Buster Tank open.
"Spinner, get in!" he shouted, and the older Cortez scurried up the tank and slid into the opening, pulling the hatch closed behind him. The spiky haired boy landed in his seat with a thud as his little brother put the pedal to the medal and drove away from the Vandal village as fast as he could. Soon they'd lost Sever and Krocomodo, and Sherman stopped the tank for a minute. He turned and looked at his big brother.
"So what's that seed, big bro?" he asked.
"I don't know, little bro. It just kind of popped out of the flower the way a baby pops out of its mom," Spinner answered. Sherman gave a light laugh, and turned back.
"I guess we better get that pollen to back to Octavia, and fast!" he exclaimed.
Back with the rest of the Battle force 5 and Octavia, things weren't going too well. Octavia had turned a green-tinted white, which the little old lady had said it meant she was somewhat close to dying. The team had brought her water and did everything they could to try to keep Octavia from getting worse, but the dark haired girl's health had definitely not get any better, and it was doubtful the battle force 5 had even slightly slowed the toxins.
Everyone jumped when the door slammed open and Spinner rushed in. Sherman followed close behind him. The little old lady shuffled over and took the test tube from him quickly, going back to her cupboards and adding the pollen to a mixture she already had prepared. She mixed it in quickly, and shuffled over to Octavia.
"Where's Nexus?" Vert asked.
"He uh...Kinda got captured by the Vandals," Spinner informed the others.
"We wouldn't have been able to get to the Hepaconica flower if he hadn't," Sherman added.
"I'll look after Octavia. She should be alright now. You six go rescue Nexus," the little old lady stated. The battle force 5 nodded, going out to their vehicles. The little old lady pulled out a stool and sat down. She removed her glasses; she hadn't slept in a few days, and now she was exhausted. With Octavia out of danger, the elderly woman quickly fell asleep.
So, there you go. Now there is just ONE MORE CHAPTER. And a sequel. Never forget the sequel :D and I hope it'll be as good as this apparently is/was. What do you think, will they be able to save Nexus from the Vandals? Stay tuned and find out!
