The Dark Side was appropriately named. Any lights within the ship's corridors were few and far between – and what lights there were gave off only the sparsest amounts of illumination.

Calvin thought of this as a favorable turn of luck. It made it all the easier to slink about the predacon vessel without running into it's occupants. "Okay; so far, so good." he said to himself as he made a dash from one shadow to another. "No sign of any preds - so all I have to do is figure out where Susie's being held, break her out and somehow get us both out of here without being caught... Yep, easy as pie." he crept down the hallway, clinging to the wall like a blind man while he trudged onward trying to decipher a way through the labyrinth of a ship. "Of course, if I keep talking to myself, it's likely that somone'll - "

"Scorponok, terrorize!" Calvin made a quick about face at the sound of shifting metal, the sound of a robot transforming. Directly in front of him stood the massive gray from of Scorponok.

" - find me." Calvin gulped, putting his hands up in the form of surrender.

Scorponok peered down at Calvin through a yellow vizor-like optic. His mouth opened in what could've been a grin. "Well what do ya know?" he mused, pointing his claw-concealed missile launcher at the intruder. "We've gone all out trying to find you, and you end up coming strait to us. Oh, Megatron will be pleased." he then turned his gaze to a distance behind Calvin. "Inferno!" he bellowed. "Come here!"

Calvin looked around at the sound of footsteps sounding against the metal floor. As he turned around, a gigantic red ant plowed into view. The ant turned it's gaze toward the other robot; Calvin wasn't sure, but it seemed like the ant looked irate.

"Why have I been summoned?" the ant – Inferno – demanded in a steely voice.

Scorponok prodded Calvin toward the ant with his claw cannon. "Take him to the brig." he ordered. "I will inform Megatron of his capture."

Inferno looked at the scorpion with what Calvin assumed was a glare of malice. "I serve none but the Royalty!" he proclaimed. "I am not some mongrel to be ordered about!"

Scorpokon's expression turned sour and his voice surly. "Don't give me that slag, Inferno. I am second in command, you will do as I say, or Megatron will hear about this insubordination!"

Inferno fixed Scorponok with look of disdain. After a long and hostile moment, the ant finally submitted. "Very well... commander." he said, acidly. He than converted into his robot form – a hulking red giant with a silver, demonic face – and brandished an enormous gun which he aimed at Calvin. "Move." he ordered. Calvin was quick to comply.

Inferno marched Calvin further along the corridors of the ship – deeper into the heart of the predacon base; Calvin, fearful of rousing the ire of his captors, wisely remained silent throughout the trek. At length, they arrived at some sort of station where several hovering platforms were held. Inferno shoved him in the back with his gun. "Get on." he barked. Again, Calvin hurried to comply, jumping onto the nearest hover-board as quick as he could. The huge red robot stepped on after him and set the platform flying off to the holding cells.


Susie had never really given much thought to how she would die. At the very least, the had figured that she would be old and white haired by the time it happened; probably in a hospital bed with scores of family and friends around to spend her last precious hours with. She never once thought she would be barely nine, sitting alone in a cage held prisoner within an alien spaceship.

But that's the way it turned out. Once Megatron had gotten what he wanted from her, (and she shuddered to think what it was he wanted.) they would no further reason to keep her and the most likely course of action they would take would be to kill her. Silently she prayed that her extermination would be swift, like snuffing out a candle – she desperately hoped the predacons weren't into torturing their victims.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she noted the sound of moving metal – like a steel door opening and closing. Then there was nothing else but the brooding silence.

"So, how long ya in for, toots?" sounded a voice from behind her.

She cringed, trying to curl into herself. "Shut up, Calvin." she replied. After a moment, the realization of the situation struck her. "CALVIN!" she cried as she turned around to see that Calvin was indeed locked in another cage behind her.

"It's me..." Calvin replied, giving her a corny grin.

Susie gripped the bars of her cell, beaming at Calvin with overwhelming emotion. "I can't believe it! You're here! You came for me! You – you're,... you're... Oh wait, you're caged too." she slumped back down as the full realization of the predicament struck her.

"Yeah, this wasn't quite according to plan." Calvin agreed. "But, on the other hand, they brought me right to you. So that's part of the plan accomplished."

"Plan?" Susie asked warily. "You have a plan?"

"I always have a plan!" he replied. "I sneak in, find you, break you out, then we sneak out."

"Really?" she countered, humorlessly. "And just how far did you get before getting caught?"

"... After the sneak in phase." he admitted, sheepishly.

"Oh great." Susie slumped her head against her bars, sighing in dejection.

"HEY, At least I did Something!" Calvin retorted. "The maximals were all content to just let you rot here!"

"They were?" Susie looked around in surprise.

"Yeah." Calvin replied, grimly. "Overheard them talking about it as they were carting me away."

"So, that's it then." she said in a tone of defeat. "We're both gonna die here."

"Don't count us out, yet." Calvin countered.

Susie groaned. "And just what sort of means do we have of getting out of here?"

"My wits, a bit of luck,... and a lock pick." was the reply.

"Well, forgive me if that fails to boost confidence." she retorted, sourly. " – wait, lock pick?" As she turned around, there sounded a creak as the door to Calvin's cell swung open. Calvin held up a long piece of metal for her to see. Susie gaped at him with a look of total shock.

"Nicked this from Rattrap." he said to the question she was unable to speak.

Calvin then slowly climbed onto the top of his cage. There, with a good twenty foot drop beneath him, he made a daring leap to the side of Susie's cage. He made contact to the cage with a loud clatter. Susie gasped as she thought he was about to fall, but he managed to keep a hold and slowly climbed to the front and shoved the pick into the lock.

When Susie's cage was opened, Calvin once again climbed atop the cage and leaped to the side of the chamber where a small ledge jutted out from the wall. "Alright Susie, your turn!" he called.

Susie looked back at him in astonishment. "You, you want me to jump?"

"Sure, just do what I did!"

"I can't do this, Calvin!" she cried, starting to hyperventilate.

"It's all right, I'll catch you!"

"I, I don't know." she whimpered, clinging to the bars like a lifeline.

Calvin fixed her with a look – a look she had never seen on his face before. I t was a look of concern, worry and desperation all meshed together. But there was something else mingled in that expression; it was like honesty – as if by wearing that expression, he had become incapable of saying anything other than the truth.

And then he spoke, saying "Susie, I know I've hardly ever been at my best around you, but I really need you to trust me now. I'm right here, I won't let you fall. But we're not going to get out of here unless you jump... I'm right here."

So slowly, tentatively, Susie did as Calvin instructed. Forcing herself with all her willpower not to look down, she climbed up to the top of the cell.

At the top of the cage, she paused for a moment, steeling herself for what she had to do. Then, taking a deep breath, she cast herself toward the ledge with all her might.

Calvin wrapped him arms around Susie as she fell forward. Heaving and grunting, he hoisted her up onto the safety of the ledge. "Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked.

Susie didn't respond. She was still clinging to Calvin like a drowning person clings to a life saver with her eyes clamped shut.

"... You can let go, now." he said, tersely.

Susie warily opened her eyes to see that she was, in fact, safe. " – Oh!" she gasped when she realized the position they were in. She hastily got down onto the ledge. "Well, glad that's over."

"You're tellin' me." Calvin agreed. "Now let's get out of here before – "

"And where do you two think you're going?" a voice behind them demanded.

" – something else happens." Calvin grumbled as they turned to face their threat.

Susie made a frightened gasp. Behind them, standing on one of those hovering platforms, was Blackarachnia.

"I don't know how you got out of your cages," the femmbot snarled. "but you'll be lucky to move at all once I finish with you!"

At that moment, Calvin made a throwing gesture. Susie couldn't see what it was, but when she looked back at the she-spider, she had a rectangular shaped object with a blinking green light attached to her chest.

Blacharachnia looked down at the object. She had just enough time to make a startled gasp when the demo charge exploded, sending her falling backward off of her hover platform.

Susie peered over the edge to see the femmbot had landed on a rocky outcropping; stopping just short of the lava. She turned to Calvin with an incredulous look. "Something else you borrowed from Rattrap?" she asked.

"Yeah." Calvin grumbled. "That's all I got, too. So, let's hope we don't run into any more surprises." he moved to leave the room, ushering Susie along. But she noticeably winced when she put pressure on her foot.

"What's wrong with your foot?" Calvin asked.

Susie groaned. "I kicked Megatron yesterday."

Calvin gaped at her. His expression looked unbelievable – and maybe a little impressed. "You did?" he practically laughed.

"Yes." she replied. "I'm afraid it might be slow going for us."

Calvin smiled. "Maybe; maybe not." Susie turned to see that he was looking keenly at the now pilotless hovercraft.


"You're sure you can fly this thing?" Susie's voice trembled as she tried to keep her balance on the platform.

"Sure, I watched Inferno as he brought me in." Calvin replied. "It's easy, you got your propulsion, steering, some sort of controls and this... doohicky. So, if we turn it like this – " The platform lurched violently sideways, slamming into the wall.

"Calvin!" Susie shrieked.

"Okay, that didn't work quite like I expected. Let's try this." The platform suddenly dropped; he just barely managed to bring it up again before hitting the lava.

It took a bit more experimentation and near misses, but Calvin did manage to get the hovercraft under some semblance of control. He then piloted the craft in a hurry out the doorway, blazing past Skorponok and another large robot in the process. Calvin flew the platform to the best of his abilities, and as fast as he dared, through the labyrinthine corridors of the predacon base. At length, they reached the central chamber of the ship, where he paused to get his bearings.

"Okay," he thought aloud. "If we came in that way, then we should be able to get out there!"

"You sure?" Susie asked anxiously. "I could swear I was brought in from there."

"Well, I came in that way! I'm positive!"

"Whichever way, it won't do you any good!" a screeching voice countered. With startled gasps, the two captives turned to see the robotic form of Terrorsaur hovering in the air behind them, leering at them viciously. "Now, you can come quietly, or – "

Calvin, in a moment of panic, clutched one of the platforms controls which sent the craft ramming straight into the predacon. They looked back, aghast, as the fumbled a bit through the air – with his head turned completely around.

Terrorsaur paused to get his bearings, realizing something wasn't quite right. When he discovered his head was backwards, he twisted it around, glaring at the children with a burning fury gleaming in his optics. He sounded a throaty screech, reminiscent of the beast he modeled himself after and brandished his gun. "You're gonna pay for that, monkey!" he screamed and started shooting at the children with reckless abandon.

Calvin immediately set the hovercraft off as fast as it would go; with Terrorsaur in hot pursuit, firing off round after round. Calvin flew the platform in erratic loops, bobbing and weaving and making sudden sharp turns. But no matter what he tried, the predacon stayed hot on their heels.

"Calvin, he's gaining!" Susie screamed.

"I know, I know!" Calvin cursed under his breath. "Man, I wish this thing would move faster." Just as he said it, the platform lurched underneath them and went off at a rapidly increasing speed. The force of movement pushed them backward; were it not for the platforms railing, they would have both gone flying.

"What did you do?" Susie demanded.

"I dunno! Must've hit some sort of turbo boost, or something!" was Calvin's reply.

The platform continued to rush through the ship at breakneck speed. Calvin did his best to steer it, but it was moving much too fast. He could see, with no small amount of despair, that their pilfered vehicle was careening toward the wall with no way to stop it. "Jump!" he shouted at the last minute. Susie and he dove off the platform onto a suspended walkway without a second to spare. The sound of metal crashing into metal exploded behind them. Pieces of metal and shrapnel rained down on them – along with a gun that Calvin recognized as belonging to Tarantulas.

Surprised, Calvin looked back to see the twisted and mangled body of the spider-bot littered among the remains of the broken hovercraft.

"Alright!" Calvin crowed, grabbing the gun with its barbed projectile. "Calvin Mitchell's packin' heat!"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Susie asked, eying the harpoon warily. "It looks pretty dangerous."

"Would you rather we go through the rest of the ship totally defenseless?" Calvin countered.

Susie sighed, but followed after him as quickly as her injured foot would allow.


As it turned out, Calvin's intuition to take the gun was spot on. The two fugitives had only gone a number of steps when they found themselves confronted by Scorponok.

The predacon second in command raised his claw revealing a pair of missiles set to launch. "Ah-ah-ah." he chided, shaking his head in a chastising manner. "Megatron was most displeased when you two flew the coop." he continued, conversationally. "He sent the order to recapture you as quickly as possible."

"Back off, Cyclopes!" Calvin brashly shouted, leveling the gun at the robot. "We're not goin' anywhere!"

Scorponok didn't so much as flinch. "You've never seen Megatron when he's angry." he said. "Trust me, it'll be better for all of us if you just come quietly."

Calvin thrust his weapon forward, to emphasize his point. Scorponok's stance remained unchanged. Susie cast anxious glances between human and robot, while trying to quell her rapid heartbeat.

"Just back away," Calvin reiterated. "or there'll be some serious carnage."

Scorponok glanced at the weapon in Calvin's hands, as if he had just noticed it. "Big deal." he shrugged. "So you managed to get your hands on Tarantulas' gun; doesn't mean you know how to use it."

Calvin than fired the gun – or at least, he tried to. He took a quick glance at the weapon to see that it wasn't built like human guns. Then it dawned on him – Tarantulas' hands in no way resembled human hands; so it stood to reason that his weapons would be tailored to fit his clutch.

Scorponok made a smug little scoff at Calvin's predicament. "Thought so. Now come here!"

As the predacon strode toward the children to apprehend them, Calvin made a last ditch effort to make some use of his weapon – that is to say, he threw it at Scorponok. And by some stroke of fortune, the blow struck true. The barbed projectile hit Scorponok square in the neck; the serrated edge combined with the force the force behind the throw took the predacon's head clean off.

"Woo!" Calvin hooped, jubilantly. "Did you see that?"

Susie did see it – and she couldn't believe it. She fixed Calvin with a look of shock and bewilderment. "How did you do that?" she asked, pointedly.

Calvin stopped in his celebration to throw a confused glance at Susie. Then it hit him that what he had just done would almost assuredly be classified as impossible. "Well,... I uh... duck!"

Susie wasn't sure what he meant; until she realized that Scorponok's body was still lurching toward them – albeit ridged and more zombie like. The children quickly skittered out of the way of the headless robot, which kept going in a straight course.

"Hey, Come back! The humans are this way!" Called a voice from behind. Calvin and Susie turned to see Scorponok's head calling out after his body.

No sooner had the head called out it's instructions than the body strode off the walkway and tumbled out of sight.

Scorponok's head heaved a heavy, dejected sigh.

Calvin heaved a sigh as well, one of relief. He retrieved Tarantulas' gun, then grabbed Susie's wrist saying "C'mon, let's book it!"

"Wait!" Susie called as he pulled her toward the corridor Scorponok had appeared from. She turned and ran to where the robot's head lay. Picking it up, she looked at it very seriously. "Tell us how to get out of here." she said.

"I'm not telling you anything!" the head responded, indignantly.

"Susie, are you nuts?" Calvin whispered behind her. "We gotta go, come on!"

"I'm sure you know how to get out." she persisted. "What's the harm? You can't possibly get into any more trouble than you are now."

"Oh, ho, ho, you wanna bet?" Scorponok's head countered. "Besides, I would never betray Megatron like that!"

"Nor would I!" exclaimed a new voice from behind.

Calvin made a sharp intake of breath. Susie turned around and made the exact same motion. Standing before them was a hulking red monstrosity pointing a very big gun at them.

"Oh my gosh." Susie squealed. "Who is this big brute?"

The predacon made an insane smile, showing a mouthful of huge, needle shaped teeth. "I am Inferno, sentry of the colony." he proclaimed proudly. "And you have the honor of being captured for the glory of the Royalty!" At the mention of the Royalty, Inferno made a gesture like saluting with his armed hand; then turned it back on them, adding "Now BUUUUUUURN, fleshlings!"

In a split second, Susie (acting on instinct, it would be safe to assume) shoved Scorponok's severed neck into the muzzle of Inferno's gun, plugging it with a sound like phoong. The two fugitives then made a mad dash down the corridor.

Inferno watched as they ran off. He looked down at the end of his weapon to see the second in command's protruding out of it. Then he laughed. He laughed a deranged, mad cackle that only those not in full possession of the facilities are capable of making. He laughed long and full. And as he laughed, he pulled the trigger, causing his weapon to explode in a giant ball of flame.


Calvin and Susie both heard and felt the effects of the explosion even as far down the passage as they were. They made their way through the tunnels, taking whatever turns popped up in hopes of losing any pursuers.

"What made you think asking the enemy for directions would be a good idea?" Calvin half shouted at Susie.

"We don't know how to get out, and it never hurts to ask!" she answered, sharply.

"Ya never know!" he countered. "Although, plugging Inferno's flamethrower with Scorponok's head – that was pretty slick!" he added as an afterthought.

"Thanks." she gave him a halfhearted smile. "I really don't know how I thought of it – just sort of came to me."

They ran a little longer before stopping to catch their breath. As Calvin rested, he cast his eyes about; as he looked around he found something that made him smile. "Susie, look!" he said, pointing down.

Susie looked where Calvin had directed, and saw what had him so excited. "A vent!" she cried.

"Yeah, might just be our ticket outta here." Calvin said, absently. He rubbed his hands together, then seized the grating and pulled with all his might.

It didn't budge.

Susie slumped against the wall. "Well, so much for that." she sighed.

Don't count us out, yet." Calvin replied as he picked up Tarantulas' gun. He swung the weapon down, hitting the barbed harpoon hard against the grate.

"You really think that'll work?" Susie asked.

"It might." he replied. "You keep watch, I'll keep hammering."

So Susie turned to keep a lookout, straining her eyes into the darkness of the corridor for any sign of hostile movement. For the longest time, her only companion was the constant clang, clang, clanging as Calvin repeatedly hit the grate.

Then, after what seemed like hours, Calvin made a short, triumphant laugh. Susie turned to see what had him so excited. She peered at the base of the vent where Calvin was looking with great interest. As she looked closer, she noticed a tiny, miniscule crack in the grating.

She looked aghast at him. "You actually did it?"

"You bet I did!" his response was exuberant as he continued whacking. "We're on our way, Susie! It's only a matter of – hoit!"

Something latched onto the children from behind and hoisted them into the air. From behind and above them, a buzzing voice proclaimed. "Ooooh, Wazzpinator apprehend fleshy-bots!" The metallic goon then traipsed back the way the children had come from, almost humming as he went along. "Megatron reward Wazzpinator for this." he continued. "Maybe promote Wazzpinator to executive type position! Then, maybe Wazzpinator not get blown up so much!"

Calvin was sick to his stomach. How could this have happened? Had he gotten so far, come so close, only to fail? Only to get himself – and Susie – killed? Miserably, he turned his head as far as he could to look at Susie. He could tell she was putting on a brave face, that she was trying very hard not to cry. But he could see that she was trembling. There was no denying that she was absolutely terrified.

"Susie," he called to her, his voice a hoarse whisper. She looked at him and the expression of abject horror on her face tore him up even more. "I,... I'm sorry."

She graced him with a defeated smile, letting tears drip from her eyes. "It's okay." she answered, just as softly as he. "You tried your best."

He let tears of his own fall, then. Numbly, he reached out his hand toward her. She, in turn, reached out her own hand and clutched onto his like a lifeline. And that is how they remained as Waspinator marched them toward the main chamber of the Dark Side, to face the predacon tyrant's wrath.


A/N: So yeah, got a new compy and everything's good! I had originally meant for this chapter and what will be the next chapter to be one chapter – but I decided that this story really needed an update.

And speaking of updates, once again our story is winding to a close – only two more chapters remain, in fact.

And that brings me to a very crucial point. You see, with this story coming to a close, I must begin consideration for my next project, as it were. Now, I have a great many stories running about in my head all at once – more than I know what to do with, even. And I don't really know which of them to pursue.

So I ask you, my dear readers, which of the following ideas do you think sound best? (Titles are subject to change)

A Grand Aulde Adventure

Calvin and Hobbes fusion with the Sims Medieval

Minstrel Calvin arrives at the kingdom of Mezzogoth. There he meets court wizard Susan and gets swept off in a mystery involving deception, secrets and murder.

A Legendary Journey

Calvin and Hobbes crossover with Greek Mythology

Calvin and Hobbes are time traveling again. This time, they wind up in ancient Greece where they tag along with Heracles as he performs his labors.

Shot Through the Heart

Calvin and Hobbes

Susie has fallen truly, madly, deeply in love – with Moe? How did this happen? And what does Calvin intend to do about it?

Calvaddin

Calvin and Hobbes

A retelling of the classic story of Aladdin, reinacted by the cast of Calvin and Hobbes.

Elemental Flux

Calvin and Hobbes crossover with Avatar, the Last Airbender

Calvin, Hobbes and Susie wake up in a strange world. A world populated by bizarre creatures and people with strange powers. A world devastated by war. They'll have to master the elements and fight for their lives if they want to get back home.

Adventures in Blunderland

Calvin and Hobbes

When Susie falls through a magic mirror, Calvin and Hobbes must go on a daring quest through the weird and wild of wonderland to save her.

Deep Trouble

Calvin and Hobbes

While vacationing at a beach resort, Susie meets a charming young man who begins to woo her – much to Calvin's annoyance. Unknown to either of them, this hansom stranger is a merman – as well as a prince. And he quickly whisks Susie away to his kingdom to make her his bride. But will Calvin stand for this? You better believe not!

The Drums of War

Calvin and Hobbes crossover with Warcraft

Calvin and co. stumble into a rift between dimensions, which lands them in the world of Azeroth. They'll have to make new friends and learn new skills in this world. Cause this time there's no going back – there is only survival.

To Do the Impossible

Calvin and Hobbes crossover with Kim Possible

Hobbes disappears under mysterious circumstances. And Calvin, in an act of desperation, hires Team Possible to help find him. But is this merely a case of a missing friend, or a threat that could unravel the very fabric of reality.

A Smashing Sitch

Kim Possible crossover with Super Smash Brothers

Kim, Ron and Shego have been selected to participate in the next Smash Tournament. New friends, new rivals and old grudges will emerge as they fight their way to the top.