Chapter 12

-Curse in the Campus

Gibson sweated over his computer module. His metal fingers swiftly tapping the holographic buttons. His eyes scanning the screen intently, black optics reflecting the calculating equations popping up on the screen. Clenching his jaw while reaching over for another king sized dictionary, he briskly swept through the pages. Searching for anything that could assist in calibrating this complex problem.

He had been studying for twelve hours straight. The pressure already cooking his confidence to small useless embers. He reached a shaky hand to grasp his coffee mug. He took a big swig of the steamy liquids before reassuming his fruitless research of the impossible formulas.

After another hour, Gibson finally pushed his books and devices away. He brought his face to his hands in grief.

"Twelve hours…" He gurgled out. "Twelve hours I have studied and still haven't cracked the base of just one of the theories." He rammed his head into his desk over and over again. "Why can't I get this? Have I really become this much of a fool?"

"You're not a fool my friend." A deep sage like voice reached out to him. Antauri smiled gently as he walked around the corner. His soothing voice calming the blue primate's nerves. "You are working very hard to accomplish a very difficult goal."

"But I have studied over ten years at this very university." The scientist rebuttable the wise simian's words. "To suddenly be dropped into a field I should know is catastrophic to my confidence when I don't understand a single digit of these string theories!"

Antauri shook his head, sighing. "You cannot operate properly when your mind is so fogged with self-doubt. Mind you that you still possess thirty six hours left."

"But that's not enough time!" The scientist argued, his ears blowing out beams of steam. "Monkey hell, the challenge before me is next to impossible Antauri! In twelve hours I have spent studying and I have yet to even crack the code to just one of the theories and there is over fifty five of them! Just the mass amount of these alone mathematically eliminates my odds of winning. In conclusion, thirty six hours is not near of enough time to achieve this!"

When Antauri didn't respond to the over stressed monkey's rants, Gibson covered his mouth. He bowed his head apologetically to his elder brother. "Please forgive me for such language Antauri… I shame myself for that…"

Revealing a small smile, he placed an understanding hand to Gibson's shoulder. "You have not slept nor eaten. Your time draws near, so allow me to help you."

"But I have already have medications in my lab."

Antauri frowned and shook his head. "I do not encourage the use of drugs. I simply mean you join me for meditations. To sooth your spirit so your mind can become relaxed."

The medical officer stared at the sapphire blue optics staring intently back at him. Then he chuckled at the thought. "Oh dear, while I do appreciate the offer. I really do not see how urban voodoo could really succumb my high stress levels."

The silver monkey chuckled as he rubbed his chin. "So that's what you call it behind my back." The wise monkey re-worded his sentence. "Would it not be logical to try a new approach when the former have done nothing to assist in your strife?"

Gibson's doubtful smirk faltered. He pressed a contemplating thumb to his chin as he looked to the side. Breathing out a curious 'hm'. "When you say it like that, I do see your point." He cleared his throat and straightened up. Fighting back the pain of popping his back. "'Alright, I'll will adjure to your room in a few hours. Just let me finish this current book or I'll never be able to finish."

Nodding, Antauri turned his back to him. "I will be expecting you then." He stepped out of the library.

Sighing, Gibson returned to his seat. The minute he sat was the moment his mind quit working. He stared at the book in front of him. The words suddenly became a foreign language to him. His heart sped up when his brain refused to cooperate. Shaking, he quickly pulled away from the suffocating stack of homework.

Twiddling his thumbs, a thought hit him. Turning around, he ushered himself up to a library computer. He pulled out a small slip of paper from his helmet compartment. He stared at the printed English letters written down on the crumbled yellow paper. He logged onto the computer and clicked on a big 'S' symbolled icon. The screen was then replaced by a black monitor.

The webcam started to glow as a video popped up, mirroring the monkey's movement. Gibson then punched in the contact information and hit 'call'. He watched as the empty black screen projected a transparent logo of a blue phone ringing. He tapped his fingers together in heavy anticipation.

After ten minutes, a loud happy chime boomed off the speaker. Then the black faded and took on a new pattern of bright colors. The brown furred monkey that appeared on the screen was wearing a welding mask and a greasy white shirt. An electronic torch firmly clasped in her gloved hands. The background revealing tall metal walls of a huge warehouse.

"Gibson?" Said the female as she removed her metal mask. Revealing the familiar face of Cassia. She smiled upon seeing the sight of her blue furred friend. "Fancy seeing you again!"

"Yes, it is good to see you to." Her voice brought comfort to his rattling conscious. He finally took a breath of comfort. "Are you busy?"

"I'm never too busy to speak to a friend." She smiled as she tossed her gloves off. Then she wrapped her hands in her shirt to wash off. "So what can I do for you?"

Sighing, Gibson massaged his neck nervously. "Well it's just… I'm just in need to talk to another analytical mind."

"Alright," She untangled her hands from her shirt. "I'm all ears."

"Well it's just we recently arrived to Cranius-Epsolon, the planet I have trained on for years. Well we're recently hunting down the next gem similar to the one you had given us back on earth. But while we stumbled back to my home planet, I've ran into an old rival of mine whose pitted himself against me in a nearly impossible challenge. If I do not defeat him, he will kick us off the campus and refute our search for the next gem. Everything rests on me and I cannot fathom the unimaginable amount of pressure welding up inside of me. The neurotoxins flooding my brain have depleted my energy cells, leaving me with barely enough fuel to function on. My brother is going to help me through spiritual meditations but I still don't know if it'll be enough!" Gibson took a breath before opening his eyes to study the female's reaction.

Cassia blinked at the long winded explanation. "Well I asked you to explain and you sure did."

The male held his breath for the capuchin to answer.

After a few minutes of pondering, she finally did. "Well quit a dilemma you got yourself in. But the best advice I can give is for you to not give up."

Gibson stared before smacking his face. He drug his hand down his cheeks, tugging his eyelids down before releasing. "I was hoping for more tactical advice."

Cassia giggled before shrugging. "Well sometimes the best advice is the simplest words." She turned her back to the monitor and started digging through a box. Gibson watched with an eyebrow raised before the female finally turned back. She held a big book decorated in red paint artistically circling a black center. She blew the dust off it before presenting it to the scientist.

"Take this story book for instance, it's called "The Tale of Odysseus". Basically it's about an old Greek hero pitted against impossible tasks by the Greek Gods to get back home. He faces all sorts of challenges that get tougher and tougher."

The blue medical officer just stared at the capuchin. He scratched his head. "What is a 'Greek' first of all? And what does this have anything to do with the current situation I'm facing?"

She sighed, shaking her head. "Greek is a citizen of the nation Greece on Earth. Also in regards to the book, I'm trying to tell you that no matter how tough things might be. You must try. The greatest enemy you can face is yourself. If you just defeat your self-doubt, you can think clearly. But sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone."

Gibson sighed as he looked to the side. Internally twitching at the oddity of her example. He was beginning to feel like he was talking to another riddler. "I guess I can see the logic to that, just wish there was more of a theory to this."

"Sometimes logic isint the answer as I'm sure your friends have told you before." Cassia snickered as she waved her hand. "You just have to try."

A warm feeling bubbled up in the blue monkey's chest. Feeling a smile coming on, he looked to the kind eyes staring back at him. Before he could thank her, the whole monitor was consumed in a bright yellow flash. He gasped in alarm when a loud BOOM nearly deafened him. Cassia gawked and ducked under the table before smoke filled the room.

"Cassia? Great scott are you alright!?" He pressed his eyes against the screen. "What's going on!?"

A hand popped out from under the wooden table. Cassia coughed while she flung a big blue rag everywhere. Attempting to fan the smoke out the nearest window. "Don't worry! Just had another blow out with the recent upgrades to my ship."

Gibson paused and doubled take. "Ship? Wait, you're a pilot?"

Cassia shrugged and chuckled. "Well ever since I was young I had dreams of exploring other planets beyond the stars. I always had a knack with handling tools, so I've been building a small ship capable of intergalactic travel. Been working on it for ten years. It's a working progress, but I'm getting there."

The scientist blinked as he glanced at her. "You've been engineering a whole ship by yourself for that long? How did you manage to find the means to accomplish the parts if you have such a limited budget?"

"I don't give up."

The words knocked Gibson right off his seat. Words that he heard a thousand times never registered to him till now. He stared at her black stained face for the longest of time. "I really needed to hear that… thank you dear."

Cassia waved him a thumbs up. "No problem handsome, and who knows. Maybe one day we'll see each other again." She winked before looking back. "I need to go now, but remember if you ever need to talk again. Just let me know."

Smiling, he could feel his eyes moistening. Clearing his throat, he quickly straightened up. Cheeks glowing red at the forward compliment on his looks. "T-thank you, I'll be sure to call you again. Or don't be afraid to give me a ring."

Nodding, Cassia gave him the peace out sign before hanging up. Causing Gibson's monitor to go black. He stared at his reflection in the empty console for a long minute. Pondering on their conversation. Then a dedicated smile grew on his smile. Puffing his chest out, he hopped off his seat. Gathering his things, he strutted out the door. Ready to get down to business.

~Back on the Robot~

Chiro, Otto, and Nova all sat on the floor. Gazing up the mighty goliath sized monitor. The flat screen projecting a series of cartoon style ninjas battling each other. Chiro quickly ran his fingers against the controller. Sweat dripping down his brow as he battled against the gold and green primate.

Nova smirked as she officially had the boys cornered. Then using her final fatality, she clobbered Otto. Sending his avatar right into Chiro's. Destroying both in an array of fiery lights. Then big letters flashed across the screen, declaring Nova the winner.

"Oh yea!" Nova yelled while throwing her hands into the air. She moon walked before break dancing. She spun on her knees and pointed to a flabbergasted Otto and a sour Chiro. "That's how you do it!"

"That's not fair, you've had more practice with this game!" Otto protested loudly while pointing his remote at the gloating female.

Nova pressed her hands to her face. Mimicking a fake feeling of regret. "Naw, don't be a sore loser, loser!" She smirked.

Chiro dropped his remote and yelled right back. "You cheated!"

As they irrupted into a loud banter that could be heard throughout the cosmos, footsteps became known to them. Fearing the stranger could be Antauri, the trio scrambled to hide the evidence of their online gaming. Fearing the strict simian could confiscate their games for three months again.

Then the sight of a familiar tall, dark, and scary figure came in. Revealing itself to be Vex, she raised her brow at the sight of the three rummaging around like a pack of scattered rodents.

Upon seeing it was only Vex, they sighed and sat back on the floor. "Woo it's just you, we thought you were Antauri!" Chiro laughed nervously while scratching his head.

The dark monkey then glanced at the small objects resting in their hands. She combed the tuft of hair hanging from her chin in curiosity.

Following her gaze, Chiro noticed she was staring at their game controllers. A big mischief smile curled around his lips. "Hey, how you'd like to try and play a round with us? I could use a teammate against Nova and Otto."

The undead simian just stared. Looking behind her, she stepped forward. She approached the pair and sat down next to them. Her thick tail tapping the ground behind her, dragging the weight of her limb's spiked weapon.

Nova then shoved a plastic W shaped object into her big hands. Her claws wrapped around the handles as she stared at it oddly. She looked back to the other female. Wondering what the hell this thing was.

Nova caught the look and laughed. "Never played video games before?" She shook her head in astonishment. "Geez how old are you!?" She asked sarcastically.

"A hundred and twenty," Vex answered bluntly, examining the cord hooking to the big monitor before them. As if trying to figure out the controller's purpose.

Otto spit his soda out during mid gulp. Drenching Chiro in the sticky orange liquids. He gawked at the monkey version of jaws.

"Y-you're, that old?"

Vex stared at him blankly. Her mouth as straight as a flat bored before looking back to the controller. She nodded matter-of-factly to his question.

Looking at each other is huge shock, Chiro awkwardly cleared his throat. "O-okay good to know, means she has some experience!"

Vex sighed, contemplating about leaving. Before she could put the remote down, her blind eye flashed. A voice whispered through her private intercom.

'I'm watching you…'

Her breath got caught in her throat as she inhaled. Leaning forward, she grasped the controller.

Nova jumped up. "Okay first this is what you have to do." She pointed to each button, explaining what each switch did. Also demonstrating how to select an avatar and how to follow the rules of the game's dojo. Once done, Nova hopped down. "Alright let's go!"

After a few minutes of playing, Vex's frown inched to a micro sized smirk. She leaned forward as she studied the opposing team's moves. Her big thumb-claws pounding on the buttons as her mind flashed all sorts of tactical maneuvers.

Chiro kept up with her character as he took the lead. He smiled as he sent his character in swinging.

After an hour of game play, it came as a draw. Vex put her remote down and silently walked off. Nova and Otto looked at each other before Chiro raised his hand to stop her. "Hey wait where you going? You're just gonna walk off? We tied, which is like victory for both sides!"

Pausing, she glanced back to them. "It was fun." She whispered before leaving.

Right on cue, Antauri walked in. His eyes narrowed at the sight of his team swooning over their virtual addiction. Raising his hand, he short circuited the game and destroyed the screen's color to monochromatic static.

Upon sensing his approach, the three slammed into each other as they scrambled. They raced out of the room before the stern monkey could say anything. Antauri raised a confused brow at the sight of the ungraceful get away. He sighed and hovered up to the game consol. He unplugged it and did what he always did when catching the team. Hide the virtual box in the laundry room. Knowing all too well his family wouldn't dare set a foot near that room.

Once that chore was taken care of, he then went up to his room. There he mediated, listening to the silent clicks of his clock. After an hour of silence, the loud whooshing of his door alerted him. With eyes still closed, he greeted the new presence.

"Glad you could make it Gibson."

The blue monkey nodded while holding all his books. "Of course, why wouldn't I?"

The silver primate opened one eye to see his brother. "You seemed less than thrilled to join me in my 'urban voodoo' procedures."

Gibson blushed red while scratching his helmet with his tail. "Well uh, I had some good convincing." He stacked his books on the blue eyed robot's desk before having a seat. "So how do we begin?"

Smiling, Antauri hovered over to the blue primate. "First… we begin with deep breath. You must learn to empty your mind before you can seek the balance you need from within."

Nodding, Gibson attempted to follow the spiritual instructions without rolling his eyes. He thought of Cassia's words. True he had become more open minded, but he still can't help but fall back into his default ways. But in order to do this, he had to overcome his own personal discomfort.

Pushing his logical view points down the drain, Gibson listened to his brother. Sitting in a similar lotus style, Gibson breathed in. He focused on clearing his mind. Which was a lot tougher then he originally thought. The blue primate strained immensely. All the equations, mathematical terms, string theories, and all that was science had to be quieted. His mind burned under the effort. Unused to not going a second without thinking, as was his nature.

Antauri sensed his struggle and gripped his shoulder. "Don't force yourself Gibson, you must let the energy flow. Let it come to you."

Nodding, Gibson closed his eyes and relaxed. His wires felt like jello when he pushed his pressuring thoughts away. For one brief second, he could literally feel the cybernetic half bound to his organic side. Feeling the metal weaved into his skin. The way his blood vessels moved alongside the electrical currents. Like his body was in complete harmony with the two different extremes.

Antauri nodded. "Good, you're getting the basics. Now let us begin with acknowledging the problem straight up."

~Half a Night Later~

Gibson yawned as he stretched his arms. His back popping in the process of slowly climbing his way out of bed. His batteries feeling recharged as he felt the early morning sun warm his body. He smiled as he grabbed his drink and took a swig of water. It's felt like an eternity since he's felt this good.

"Perhaps Antauri's methods are not mumbo jumbo after all." He yawned as he cracked his mechanical shoulder.

After a few short minutes of preparing for the new day. He wasted no time in getting back to his studies. This time a different outlook dominated his mind before he hit the books. He knew his hours were coming to an end so he had to prepare quick.

As the hours ticked slowly into noon, the team was growing restless. Within the command room, Sprx was the first the voice his distress.

"Guys I'm getting worried here! It's almost time for this nerd fight off and we have no idea if brain strain is ready! I mean his whole performance is our only shot at finding that crystal!"

Shaking her head, Nova scowled at her mate. "Sprx have some freaking faith in Gibson for once in your life."

That comment deflated the red pilot. "Faith, I see. Is that also too much to ask of you?"

Pink eyes widening, Nova looked away. Ending her rant as she stepped away from him. "It's not the same thing. I at least have faith in my brother."

"But you don't have faith in your own mate?"

Before Nova could counter act his accusations, Antauri intervened. "Have faith in Gibson Sprx, please. He is going to try his best. That's all we can ask for."

The hot head knew better then to argue against the wise words of his spiritual leader. "Alright fine, but you can't blame me in being a little nervous about this whole situation. As you know as well as I do Gibson does not operate well under stress."

Chiro sighed and stood up, drawing the attention of his entire team. "Guys, I understand we're all nervous. But like Antauri said, we got to believe in our own. Gibson is our family, he'd never let us down. So late tonight, we'll watch him compete. Be there to support him no matter what the cost."

Otto smiled as he jumped in joy. "Yea, and just to show our team support, I made us T-shirts!"

Now it was Sprx's turn to question. "T-shirts? What?"

Grinning a mammoth sized smile, the mechanic pulled out a big box. Digging through it, he pulled out six hand crafted blue shirts. "I ordered these off the internet last night!" He held up one of the smaller shirts against his body. "I manage to find four to fit our size and one in Chiro's size. But I had a little trouble finding the right size for Vex. So this one might be kinda snug on her larger body. But they all say 'Team Hal Gibson!"

Sprx snorted a sarcastic laugh. "I doubt tall, dark, and scary would agree to wear this. She's kind anti-style here in case you haven't noticed."

"Sprx," Antauri cut in with a stern tone. "Do not be disrespectful to our companions."

The red hot head gawked. "Oh now you're referring to 'her' as one of our companions? Splendid to hear." He shook his head as he fished out a blue shirt. "Yea I'm sure Brain strain is going to love us cheering with blue pombs pombs on the side." He put the shirt to his chest and looked at Nova. "Um, not that I care… but does this shirt make me look pudgy?"

Nova rolled her eyes as she pulled on a shirt over her head. "Sprx quit worrying about your figure, I'm sure the jocks will find you slimming enough." She arched her eyebrow and snickered at her joke.

Sprx burned a bright red as she looked away, snout scrunching. "Very funny, ha-ha."

Antauri and Otto soon dressed themselves. Chiro observed the picture of Gibson wearing a white doctor's robe while holding up a bubbling green beaker printed onto the fabric. He rubbed his neck, trying to not laugh at the cartoony looking logo. "Oh lord, I'm sure Gibson is going to appreciate this support."

"I know right? I spent all day designing them!" He put his shirt on and ran to Vex. Smashing the blue shirt in her face. Eventually wrestling it over the bigger monkey, who just looked on with her frozen expression.

Once everyone was matching, Sprx glanced back to the med bay. "Hey guys, just wondering. Should we really leave Mandarin here unguarded?"

Vex narrowed one eye and silently glanced over to the out cold orange monkey.

Nova waved her hands. "No way is he getting out of a suspended tube while in the middle of a comma. Plus the super robot is high alert, he breaks out, the alarms will go crazy. Even if he wakes up he'll just be sedated again."

Nodding in reassurance, Antauri crooked his brow to his shirt. "Then I advise haste to the stadium before tonight."

"Yea I wanna get to the hotdog stand before everyone else does!" Otto cheered as he rushed out of the room. Leading the band in an epic, only to him, march to the gymnasium.

Vex stayed behind the group as she sighed. Already disliking the stares she was receiving. But her frozen expression remained icy. She followed on with her lifeless.

~Gymnasium, 3:20 AM~

The whole stadium was packed with students, professors, and visitors. The Hyperforce sat in the row closest to the stage. Their blue shirts practically glowing as they received a few odd stares.

As Gibson stepped into the center stage, Nergal met up with him. The strange looking alien snickered as he eyed his blue rival. "You know Hal, you really got guts for showing up. But now truly believe you got a spine of steel. After witnessing your 'support' group back there on the first stage." He pointed behind him with his thumb. Gesturing to the monkey team.

Gibson's face nearly turned ketchup red at what he saw. His entire family wearing shirts with his face on it. He shook his head in alarm as he rushed past Nergal. "Oh great scott this has Otto written all over it!" Once he rushed to his team, he waved his arms in embarrassment. "What are you guys doing!?"

"Supporting you!" Otto yelled loud enough for everyone to hear. "We're team Hal Gibson of the Hyperforce!" He chunked some cherry blue cheer leader pombs pombs around like a cheer leader.

Nova smiled as she turned around to show her back. "All night long ya'll!" Points to the text written on her back.

Chiro rubbed his neck at the sight of the scientist getting ready to burst into flames. "I swear this wasn't my idea."

Sighing, Gibson waved his hands in heavy protest. "Okay okay, please no cheering! I don't need to be distracted and this is double that extreme!"

Antauri looked at his own shirt. "I believe the occasion is appropriate for showing you much needed positive reinforcement."

"Oh by the love of science they got you wrapped in to…" Gibson rammed his head into his hands. "Okay fine fine, guys as much as I appreciate this, just please don't make a scene."

When they nodded, Gibson sighed and went back onto stage. He stared at the smug smiling Nergal watching him. "Shut it," The monkey snapped at as the alien leaned against his chair. "At least they care."

"Good, now you'll have a family of circus clowns to go running back crying to when you lose."

Gibson stopped, his look darkened. "Don't you dare call them circus clowns." He jabbed a finger into the dean's chest. "You know Nergal, I have put up with your bullying for years. Tricking me, humiliating me, having me popular girls' homework in taking advantage of my youthful gullibility into think I had a shot at courtship with any of them. But you will not insult my family in front of me. If anyone is failing a miserable grief stricken defeat, it is going to be you!"

Smirking, he leaned forward, getting eye to eye with him. "Big talk for such a weakling. Then consider it, game on." He turned around and strutted away, leaving Gibson fuming at his incompetence.

Rushing to the center stage, both competitors sat across from each other. Their arms folded neatly on polished tables with joy buzzers placed before them. A tall cyclops like woman with purple haired tied back in a ponytail stepped forward.

"Hello everyone, welcome to this year's Psychics Super Bowl!" She smiled when everyone cheered. "Today we have a very interesting event this morning. With former graduate with a ten year doctor degree Mr. Hal Gibson going up against the Dean himself, Nergal!"

The team clapped with everyone else as the competition soon begun.

"Alright challengers, remember the rules. The first one to press the button after the question is asked will be answering first. If you're correct, you'll be given five points. If you answer incorrectly, the other player is given the question. If both get it wrong, no one gets the five points. Any form of cheating will result in immediate disqualification as well as possible suspension. Is this all clear?"

Gibson and Nergal nodded. Both scientist raising their hands over the buzzer. Muscles tensing in anticipation as they glared each other down.

The spokeswoman nodded. "Alright, remember the goal is to reach 300 points. Whoever achieves the number first wins. Let's begin."

She flipped through a tall deck of silver cards. "First, who was the first scientist to discover dark matter?"

Nergal hit the button first. "Nordic Ressure of the Nexus galaxy."

"Correct!"

Gibson scowled as Nergal stuck his tongue at him. Then the Cyclopes flipped to the next card. "What is the name of the third largest black hole to destroy the Illmanti space station XII in 2819 of the Milky Way?"

Gibson spiked the buzzer first. "The Quantum Disruptor ninety nine point two!"

"Correct, five points to Mr. Hal Gibson!"

Gibson cut his rival a smug smile. Nergal snarled as he raised his hand. Preparing to smack the buzzer.

The next few hours consisted nothing but button pushing and long winded answers to complicated questions. Gibson started to win after the second round but Nergal quickly caught up to him. Now both were getting neck to neck. The pressure was building the longer the minutes ticked away.

Sprx had fallen asleep hours ago, Nova was lying back with her eyes wide from boredom, Otto built a nest of empty hotdog and popcorn holders, Antauri scratched his chin as he struggled to remain engaged, Chiro was nodding off, and Vex just continued to stare unfazed by the hours ticking away.

Soon the clock reached ten in the morning. The pressure was now on as the competitors reached the final question. Gibson was in the lead with two hundred and eighty five points. Nergal right on his tail with two hundred and eighty.

The judge smiled as she held up the final card. "What I hold here is the final question, and whoever gets this right wins this game." Looking at the card, she smiled and read it out. "What is… the square root to eighty ninth power of element -five?"

Both Gibson's eyes as he tried to work the formula out in his head. "Oh crap," He muttered, his mind becoming blank. Panicking, he slapped the button down.

"Mr. Hal Gibson?"

Gibson clenched his jaw as he looked down. "Sorry I panicked."

"I need your answer."

The simian started to breathe hard as he looked up. "Um… eight… point five?"

She raised her eyebrow. "Um, no I'm sorry but eight point five is incorrect." She looked to Nergal as Gibson brought his head down in assumed defeat. "Dean Nergal, if you get this right, you win the super bowl."

Nergal stared as his nose started to twitch. Sweat poured down from his forehead as he looked back to his buzzer.

Noticing this, Sprx waved his hand to get his family's attention. "Guys look, he doesn't know it. He's got squat!"

When Nergal failed to answer. The timer went off. The speaker raised her hand, pointing to Gibson. "Time is up, so by default, Hal Gibson wins!"

Everyone burst into cheer. Antauri smiled as Chiro, Otto, Nova, and Sprx leaped from their seats; clapping in joy. Vex gave a small nod of approval to the blue monkey, impressed by his close call; but still a success never the less.

Smirking, Gibson clapped his hands and faced Nergal. "Well my old friend/enemy, since I have one, I believe it's time to hold up your end of the bargain."

Nergal stared at the floor, a shadow veiling his face. He chuckled darkly. "Oh Mr. Hal, I tried to be nice and scare you away. But you were just too stubborn, couldn't take a hint."

The scientist raised his brow at the darkening atmosphere. "What hint? I beat you fair and square! Now let us continue our search for the gem!"

Vex noticed the change in scenery and narrowed her eyes. She quickly slid back into the shadows.

The dean removed his glasses, eyes beginning to light up. "You want the crystal? Hehe so be it." Raising his hands, something sparked from beneath his shirt. Right on his belt buckle was a dark aura rock.

The crowd of students suddenly began to rise from their seats. Shadows consumed them all as their eyes began sparking in burning balls of purple embers. They moaned as they started walking to the pair up on a stage. Surrounding them as they hissed. Nergal smirked darkly.

"You want the crystal? Come get it." He waved his hands, commanding his zombiefied minions to attack.

Before the brain washed crowd could advance, flames burst from above. Nova came flying through the air. "Flame fist fury!" She boomed a huge ball of inferno from her fist. The beam of fire swirling down, creating a big ring around Nergal and Gibson. Preventing the blood thirsty students from reaching.

Taking his chance, Gibson jumped Nergal. He wrestled the master mind to the floor as he made a grab from the gem. But was easily kicked off by the short alien.

Chiro ran towards the ring of fire. "Monkey team, be careful! They're still students, we don't want to hurt them!"

Narrowing their eyes, they all deactivated their transformers. Antauri used his mind over matter to pull six students into a ball. Binding them together in an invisible force.

Nova used her raw strength to take on the much bigger buffer jockeys. She grappled them by knocking one into the other. Making them all tumble over like dominos.

Otto and Sprx tag teamed each other to keep the dancers at bay. But they quickly got their tails handed to them when the thin aliens skillfully tangoed around them. Tripping them and knocking them down.

Right as Gibson managed to subdue his rival, the crystal glowed. Nergal gave a menacing grin as he blasted the primate with the azure lightning. Sending him flying into some nearby tables. Knocking them clean over.

Chiro leaped through the fire and tried to aid his blue friend. "Gibson!" His knuckles sparked into electricity. "Thunder punch!" He drew back and struck Nergal, sending flying across the room. Then the boy wonder rushed to Gibson's side.

The blue primate coughed as he rubbed his black eye. "Oh dear me, that crystal must be giving him strength beyond his typical physical limit by doubling his stamina and muscle flocculation fields."

Blinking, the chosen one rubbed his head. "Okay I have no idea what that is but I'm assuming that means you're okay." He growled as he stared back to the recovering three eyed alien. "We need to get that gem off him."

"Any ideas?" He coughed harshly. His mechanical limbs sparking, malfunctioning under the dark energy's powers.

Narrowing his eyes in worry, Chiro helped the scientist up. "Go help the others, I'll handle Nergal." When Gibson cut him a defiant look, the teen flexed his authority. "Go now!"

Nodding grimly, Gibson limped to assist Antauri.

Once Chiro faced Nergal, he snarled. "Bring it."

"So be, little boy!" Dark energy slithered around his arms like snakes as he fired more beams.

Gawking, Chiro ducked and sped away. Dodging each shot as Nergal continued to rapidly fire at him. "Hold still you peasant, make this quick!" He clamped his hands together and unleashed a shockwave. The wider ranged attack hitting its mark as the teen was sent flying backwards.

Chiro laid on the ground, holding his gut as the poisonous aura flowed through his veins. He held back his vomit as he curled up like a cocktail shrimp. Shaking hard.

Nergal floated up to him, his feet inches off the floor. He laughed as a black shadow molded over his skin. Soon he looked nothing more like purple veined inky blob pulsing with evil power. He smirked, licking his big fangs.

"Die..!"

Chiro covered his eyes, waiting for the end. But to his surprise, the attack never came.

A spiked club slammed into the possessed dean's head and flipped his body forward. He was given little time to counter before green eyes glowered over him. Vex wrapped her large arms around his neck and chunked him sideways, separating him from Chiro.

The teen gasped at the dark monkey's intervention. He tried to get up.

Nergal quickly recovered, he smiled before spitting up some teeth. "My my, quit a freaky looking chimp you are." Fire consumed his hands. "Here, let me melt away that eye sore of a mug for you!" He chunked the balls of blistering heat to his challenger.

Vex shielded her face as the flames scorched her arms. She dashed forward, head butting the shorter alien. She sent him down and got her big claws around his throat. She slammed his cranium against the floor. The strong force of the head blows denting the tiles.

With ooze rushing from his cracked head, he yelled. The gem glowed in retaliation as a sharp transparent blade shot out. Slicing her stomach wide open. "Get off me!" He kicked her off. "Now you all will pay!"

Before Nergal could command his minions to finish the team off. His strength suddenly ailed. Blinking in surprise, he looked around the room. Taking notice the fire of his powers beginning to die down. The mob began to fall over as their eyes returned to normal. Freeing the monkeys from their devilish grasp.

"What? How is this-" He gawked when he looked to down to his belt. His eyes went blood shot when seeing his gem missing from his belt holster. "The crystal! Where did it-"

"Looking for this?" Gibson asked as he held up with crystal with a pair of pliers. "Even to this day you still do not remember the most important rule of school. Never leave your stuff unguarded."

Nergal's eyes bulged out of his head upon realizing he had been defeated. "No!" He didn't have time to flee before Gibson slapped some hand cuffs on him.

"For crimes against Cranius-Epsolon and the University, you're under arrest." He smirked as he grabbed the squirming alien to restrain him. Satisfied at seeing his most hated rival in chains. "When the authorities get here, you're going away for a long time."

"This is not over Hal, you hear me!?" He yelled as some campus guards got him and dragged him away. "When I get out, I will seek revenge!"

Gibson waved his hand. "Blah blah whatever." He looked back to his family. "Is everyone alright?"

Nova ran and tackled Gibson. "You did it, you got the crystal!" She bear hugged him and spun the weaker male around. "So proud of you!"

Chiro, who leaned against Antauri for support, glanced at the evil gem. "Yes, we got our prize. Let's see where the next destination lies."


A/N: Cliffhanger yes, but thanks for the reviews everyone. Also am happy to announce our 1,200 subscriber on our YouTube account for this novel. So thank you everyone! Stay tuned for chapter 13.

Please forgive grammar mistakes, I was in a rush to write this.