Chapter 10: The Time For Action

"Well, that's it. I'm stumped. Honestly, I can't think of anything." Rancis admitted.

The group had rendezvoused back at the apartment base (it turned out that Plankton's troops had left after raiding it because they weren't very bright). They had brainstormed the possible location of Plankton's base, but to no avail.

"It has to be somewhere. Tappers?" Vanellope asked.

"He converted it into a super restaurant." Peach replied.

"But everyone's mind controlled so they can't eat there." Destiny said, confused.

"It was an ego project." Peach explained.

"I'll say. Well, maybe it's..." Candi started to say.

"We're all so stupid." Damon said.

There was a long silence.

"What did you call me?" Adorabeezle asked angrily.

"Plankton! Base! Think about it!" Damon replied.

There was another long silence.

"Of course. Where else would he be? Plankton's base is at..." Jubileena started to say in realization.

"Vanellope's castle!" Plankton exclaimed.

Tamora shook his head.

"No, too many letters, my lord." Tamora replied.

Plankton sighed and looked up from his crossword.

"Okay, a famous building, two words..." Plankton said absently to himself.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened and Crocker limped in.

"I caught them! I put them into a trap and I..." Crocker started to say.

Plankton and Tamora silently pointed to the security screens, revealing that the group had escaped.

"Oh." Crocker muttered.

"It doesn't matter. Even as we speak, my helmets are taking over Earth in the real world. It's already over and there's nothing that they can do about it!" Plankton said.

Crocker nodded.

"Right. Where's Vlad?" Crocker asked.

"I sent him to get Calamitous from the palace. We need the gang all here for our final victory." Plankton replied.

Vlad walked into the throne room, his arms behind his back.

"Calamitous, we need to talk. Plankton is out of..." Vlad started to say.

He trailed off. The room was occupied by bucketheads, all standing in rank-and-file behind a Centurion.

A short centurion with a hunchback and an ugly moustache.

"Vladimir Masters, you will surrender yourself to Emperor Plankton immediately or face violent response." Calamitous droned.

"Oh, typical." Vlad muttered.

He shifted into his ghost form and crossed his arms.

"Well then, who's first?" Vlad asked.

"So, Swizzle, your voice is sounding more lighter, I hear." the techie said.

Swizzle rolled his eyes as he, the other Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Candace, Toxika, Damon, Crepe, Sour Bill, Peach, Nell, and Destiny gathered around Vanellope's portal key.

"Can it, techie. So, let me get this straight. Plankton's basing himself out of Vanellope's castle, and Candlehead's boyfriend knows she exists even though that shouldn't be possible. It's really that kind of day, ain't it?" Gizmo asked.

"Who's this guy?" Kandle asked.

"Gizmo Anders, CIA." Gizmo replied. He then asked "Anyway, is Monty with you?".

"Nope. I don't think they thought he had any information." Nougetsia replied.

There was a long silence.

"Right, understood. Do you have any idea where the Tairseach is?" Gizmo asked.

"No, but if we can get into the castle, we can probably find out." Minty replied.

"Easy said then done. The whole area's crawling with bucketheads." Sour Bill explained.

"I can get you support." Gizmo said.

"Yeah, because that went so well last time! You got us into this, Gizmo! How can we trust you?" Taffyta asked angrily.

There was another long silence.

"He's got you there." the techie replied.

"Shut it, techie." Gizmo ordered.

Peach crossed her arms.

"Well?" Peach asked.

"I'll get you everything I can. Heck, I'll even come in there myself. You've got to understand. The Tairseach needs... we need to fix this and we need to destroy it." Gizmo replied.

Vanellope sighed.

"Alright, we'll play along. Just one thing." Vanellope said.

"Name it." Gizmo said.

"Commander Bill takes charge." Vanellope said.

"What?" Sour Bill asked.

"What?" Gizmo asked.

Vanellope shrugged.

"He knows the area, he knows the enemy, and he's probably the second best tactical mind in this room, apart from myself and Adorabeezle." Vanellope replied.

There was yet another long silence.

"Whatever, let's just get this over with." Gizmo said.

Vanellope nodded and handed the portal key to Sour Bill.

"Alright, Commander, what do we do?" Vanellope asked.

Sour Bill scowled.

"The only thing we can do. We fight." Sour Bill replied.