New New York City – 3010
"Bad news, everyone." The professor entered the room with a sorrow filled expression. "It seems our friend Eliteteammario13 is unable to continue the next part of the story due to technical problems, mostly because his computer died with Part 14 in it. So now he's forced to use a tiny netbook to write Part 14 all over again, which has been delayed for next month."
Everyone in the Planet Express lounge room panicked. "What! But I have to know what happened to Pokey and that dame, Mist." Bender complained.
Everyone in the room looked at the robot with surprised expressions. "What? A robot can't read internet fanfiction?"
"Yes, yes. But I have unexpected good news, everyone! To make up for this, he's writing Part 2 of Wasteland Connections. Huzzah! Ow, my spine."
January 30th, 2027 (11:17 A.M.) Oasis...
"Whoa..." Leo gasped as he left the subway station to the outside world. Oasis was as beautiful and amazing as his father described. The first thing that caught his eyes was the large glass building in the middle of Oasis. It was very tall; nearly 2,000 feet tall. In front of it were 10 military cabins. There was also a military warehouse and an airbase to the left of the building.
To the right of the building, he saw a factory that was a near an icy lake; it was the bottling plant. He also saw something that made his heart stop for a second. Near the lake was a fenced off area which resembles a graveyard.
Surrounding Oasis was a large field that stretched almost a mile and a half from the tower and beyond that started the seemingly endless forest of evergreens. Though he could not see them, mountains surround the forest in a sort of fence; protecting Oasis from any intruders.
While his mind was wondering the landscape, his stomach had other thoughts. He clenched his belly and smiled at his parents and Councilor Dimfree who were looking at him curiously. "Sorry, I'm just a little hungry." His stomach growled again.
Jeff smiled at him. He turned to Paula and said "Sweetheart, why don't you and Leo go to the cafeteria and grab some lunch. I'll meet you two when I'm done here."
Dimfree agreed. "That sounds like a good idea. I'll have a guard escort you there." he looked around for a guard who wasn't busy and pointed to one. "You there!" he shouted.
The guard looked at Dimfree and ran up to him. He salute, "Sir!"
"At ease, soldier" Dimfree said. The guard stood there waiting for his command. "What is it that you acquire Councilor?"
"I need you to guide Senator Polestar and her son to the cafeteria. Is that understood?"
The guard saluted again. "Understood, Sir." He patted Paula's back, "This way, Madam." And led her and Leo to the glass building.
"Cute kid you have there." Dimfree spoke.
Jeff smiled at the compliment. "Thanks you. I just hope she remembers to sign him up for the Users' Guild."
Dimfree was surprised by that. "Users' Guild? So, your son is a user?"
"Yes. I was surprised when I first saw it when he was young. His mother has lost her powers permanently because of the radiation, but somehow he was able to get her powers."
Dimfree let out a small chuckle. "Strange how somethings miraculously happen. Your son was able to get his mother's powers, you invented the R.A.D. out of the radiation around us. Well enough small talk, if you kindly follow me I'll lead you to the Grand Master."
He walked towards the graveyard with Jeff following behind him. Jeff couldn't help to think something was off though. He can see many soldiers around the area, but the cabins he saw couldn't fit them all.
"That's because they don't Jeffery." Dimfree said out loud. Jeff wasn't surprised by Dimfree's answer, because he knew Users can read minds.
"So, where do they stay in?" he asked.
"Those cabins are mostly guard houses where the guards take their breaks, and stock up on weapons and ammunition. However, three of them belong to the three generals of Oasis. It's where they sleep, bathe, and do whatever they normally do when they're not busy."
"So where do these soldiers and trainees sleep at?" Jeff asked.
"Nine years ago, the Grand Master started an underground facility for the soldiers and trainees to live in. Two years after, he finished and they live there. They exit and enter the facility from a tunnel that's located behind the tower."
Jeff could help to think that was a little inhumane. But his thoughts were overturn when he realized that they need to keep Oasis a secret. And a large military base filled with hundreds of tents and cabins isn't really a good way to hide a secret.
They passed through the gates of the cemetery and stopped a few steps after.
Dimfree spoke. "He should be at his wife's grave." He turned to Jeff, "I think you can handle it from here. I need to return to my office to review some applications for the Guild." He turned to the gate and left the graveyard. But before stepping out through the gate, he smiled. "Miracles don't happen... Everything was written." Then he disappeared before Jeff very eyes.
"Hmm.. PK Teleport Delta. Why am I not surprised. But what he said.. I wonder..." Jeff said before he search the yard for the Grand Master while thinking about what Dimfree said.
It didn't take long for him to find the Grand Master. After all, he was one of the people who attended the memorial. But what he saw made him stay a distance from the Grand Master. He didn't want to interrupt his mourning.
He saw him crouched down on the grave. "I missed you, Ana. There are time in which I wish you were near me. Our daughter is quite the scholar. It was her idea of saving as many books as possible and reprinting them that allowed knowledge and entertainment to spread around the colonies of the Earth."
He started to weep. "I just- I hope you can see her and her accomplishments, because I know you would be proud." He kissed the gravestone, "I love you, Ana. Forever and beyond the stars."
Jeff stood there uncomfortable; he didn't know what to say.
"Jeffery Andonuts."
Jeff stopped his train of thoughts and looked at the Grand Master who has risen from the ground. He bowed down before the all powerful leader.
The Grand Master laughed, "Jeff, there is no need for such gestures. You are a friend."
Jeff stood straight and went over to shake his hand; a most offensive gesture unless the Grand Master shown his hand first. But because Jeff was a close friend of his, he could get away with it.
"Sorry if I disturbed you, Ninten." Jeff said.
Ninten smiled and nodded. His face still had tears running down, but he was a little happier now. "It's no problem, Jeff. You didn't bother this old bag of bones."
Jeff looked away from him. You see, Ninten isn't as old as he looks. While he may look like a 90 year old man, he was in fact only 53 years old. Malnutrition was one of the reasons he looked older, but what really caused him to age was a terrible experiment back 15 years ago. It was also the reason his wife died.
Ninten sighed. "Jeff, it wasn't your fault. Your machine worked; it created Oasis."
Jeff turned to him with a saddening expression. "I know, but I still feel guilty for your aging and her death."
Ninten gave placed his hand on Jeff's shoulder and patted him. "Come now, we have much business to discuss. Also, you mispronounced my name again; it's pronounced nit-en. I seriously don't know why a lot of people pronounce it Nin-ten like the first six letters of the Japanese video game company Nintendo. Just because my name is spelled the same doesn't mean they sound the same."
Jeff started laughing, "You're acting your physical age, Ninten!" It wasn't long until Ninten started to laugh too.
"Oh Jeff, your cunning ways knows no end." Ninten said as the laughing died down. "Thanks, Jeffery. I need that laugh and it seems you needed it too."
"Yeah, I did." he replied. They started walking out of the cemetery with more joyful expressions on their faces. Though, it wasn't long before their faces turned more serious.
Ninten started the discussion, "Jeff, did you ever read the Book of Revelation in the Christian Bible?"
Jeff pondered. He read many books in the past, but the Christian Bible wasn't one of them. "Sorry Ninten, I never actually read the Christian Bible. Though I have read the Old Testament once when I was a boy."
Ninten started explaining, "The Book of Revelation was written by Saint John the Divine. Most of the books in the New Testament are just written words of wisdom that were written by normal people who were followers of Jesus Christ. Saint John, however, wrote about the End of Days; the Apocalypse. The reason why I'm most interested in this is because he was in possession of the Apple of Enlightenment during the book's development."
"You think what he described in the book might be true?" Jeff asked.
"As you know, the Apple has the power to see deep into the future and I believe he saw what would happen. But because it was written almost 2000 years ago, what he saw through it was hard to explain at that time; much like Nostradamus."
Jeff was starting to get interested. "I heard something about seven seals relating to the Apocalypse. Can you tell me about it?"
"If I can understand it correctly, I can say that all the seals have been unleashed. The first seal: Conquest. What he calls an Antichrist will be seen as a hero."
Jeff groaned. "Ness..."
"Yes, it seems that way. The second seal: War. World War 3 happened after the Plague of 2002. The third seal: Famine. Because if the war, countries had to rely on themselves for food. Thus, many of their people died from hunger. The forth seal: Death. In 2005, 98% of humanity died in a single day. The fifth seal: The Death of a Martyr. My wife was a saint; she died for Oasis to be built in 2012. The sixth seal: Cosmic Disturbances. December 21, 2012, a global earthquake caused by a galactic alinement killed exactly 144,000 people. And the last seal: The Second Coming. The Antichrist and the return of Christ will awaken a war between good and evil."
Jeff took in this information and found there was one contradiction. "So, where's our Jesus?" he asked.
This is when Ninten chuckled. "As you know Jeff, Jesus was just a normal person who used the power of the Apple to perform miracles. Who we're looking for is a User that can match the same power of the Apple."
"And who's that?" asked Jeff.
"It's someone who was once a friend of this Antichrist, or Ness in our case, and was misguided by the darkness. I think you know him..."
Jeff thought about what he said, but he still didn't know who he was referring to. It wasn't until they passed by the subway entrance and saw Picky Minch exiting the entrance that he got somewhat of an idea.
Picky waved and ran up to them. His face was smiling when he spoke, "Hey Jeff, I came here as soon as I could. Looks like I'm still assigned as your personal bodyguard; not that I'm complaining or anything."
Jeff nodded at Picky. "Good still have you, Picky. I really-"
It was then that Jeff got a clue about the identity of the person Ninten was referring to. He stopped dead in his tracks, "Wait! Ninten, are you telling me that the chosen one is Pokey Minch?" he asked.
Picky became confused. "Uhh... Why are you guys talkin' about my lost bro?"
Ninten smiled. "Yes, Jeff. He's the Chosen One. The one from the Lost Prophecy of the Spirits."
They both became awestruck at Ninten's words. Explanation time! The Lost Prophecy was written by Nostradamus during the ending years of his life and it had strange mystical power; it could only be read during the humanity's greatest crisis. Nostradamus also had the Apple in his possession during the time he written his cryptic predictions. The Prophecy was found by Ninten during his business trip to France and only a few people know of its contents. Picky and Jeff were one of those few people.
Picky was the first one to speak. "There has to be some mistake! My bro was the most idiotic, evilish, sociopathic dude in the world!"
Jeff agreed, "Yes, this has to be some mistake. He was Giygas' second in command; that's pretty evil if you ask me."
Ninten shook his head. His eyes stared at them with a serious shine. "I know that it seems unlikely, however the prophecy is correct. Just like Ness, Pokey had a change of heart." He sighed, "Think about it... Giygas could have corrupted a general, a politician, hell even a world leader! But instead he chose a 13 year old boy from a Midwestern town who has no influence in the world. Why! Because he looked into the Apple and saw Pokey's true power."
Picky started shaking his head, "Ugh.. This is just too much for me. I'm gonna go to the 'teria for a bite and try to understand what's happening." He started walking towards the build; rubbing his forehead during the way there.
Jeff nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think I shall join him."
He started walking only to be stop by Ninten; who has placed his hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and looked confused. "Uhh.. Yes?"
The Grand Master's face was still serious. He voice had a more deeper tone when he spoke, "I have job for you, and you'll have to be done with it by nightfall. Because afterward, your job and Picky's job will be to travel with Pokey to find the 12 maidens."
Jeff started to shake his hands in a negative fashion, "Whoa! No, no, no, no! There is no bloody way I'm going to do that! You must be monged out of your bloody mind if you thing I'm going to help that tosser!"
He huffed and puffed as he tried to gain his breath. The people who were around him stopped their duties and stared at him with surprised expressions. Ninten himself was surprised at Jeff's reaction.
He blused as he saw looked around him, "Hah, hah... Sorry about that..." he whispered the last part; hiding his shame under his uncomfortable smile. The guards around him slowly got back to their routine and left him the suffer his shame.
He turned back to the Grand Master to see he was looking at his watch. "Jeffery, please step back four feet away from the area you are standing at." Ninten said; not moving his face from his watch.
Jeff just did what he said and stepped back the required distance. He saw the Grand Master raised his right hand up, with his fingers sticking out. He seemed to be counting down the seconds. Soon, his fingers retreated into his palm of his hand. "Five... Four... Three... Two... One..."
A bright blue light appeared about 50 feet away from them. Jeff looked confused, "What in the world..."
Soon a car raced out of the light and was heading straight for them. Jeff panicked, while Ninten stood there unfazed by the event. He looked over to Ninten wondering why he just stood there but his question might not be answered as the car was only about 15 feet away from them running at least 88 mph.
Jeff shut his eyes; waiting for his death. But after a few seconds, it never came. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Ninten using his powers to surround the car with a blue aura that somehow caused the car to come to a complete stop.
The driver's side of the car opened and the first one to step out was Claus; who was very disorientated. "Grandpa, that's my waffle." was all he said before he vomited all over the floor.
Christie was the second person who left the car via the diver's side. She looked down at Claus and laughed charmingly. "Come on Claus, it wasn't that bad."
He threw up once again, but this time he almost vomited on Christie. Luckily she avoided it.
She rubbed her neck and looked down at him. "Well it was your first time, so..." She wrapped her arm around him and helped him up. "Alright big boy, try to regain your stance." she said. Claus smiled at her drunkenly before his head slumped down again. She looked back at the car. "Hey, Ty!" she shouted, "You can get out now!"
The tyrant exited the car via the passenger side and stretched for a few seconds before going over to Christie's side. After all, a four foot car can't really be a comfortable place for an eight foot bioweapon. Ty grabbed onto Claus and held him straight for her while she stretched herself off as well.
Jeff was overcome by joy when he saw Christie leaving the car. "Dianna! You're alive!" he shouted happily at her. He ran up to her and hugged her. Christie return the hug. "Uncle Jeffery!" she laughed, "Of course I'm alive. Did you really think I would die that easily?"
Jeff patted her back before he let go. "Spies said you were captured and sentenced to execution. So, I thought- We thought you died."
"Well I was captured and sentenced to be executed, but Ness decided to keep me alive for special reasons..." she explained.
It was then that Jeff's face went for happy to worried. "Did he... Did he touched you?" he asked.
She looked at him surprised by his question. "No, Uncle Jeffery!" she shouted at him. "I was kept alive for intelligence." she explained, "He wanted to know the location of Oasis."
She playfully punched his shoulder which cause him to hug her again. "Oh Dianna, I'm glad you're okay. I'm...sorry about what happen to your family."
She squeezed him tighter when he said that. Jeff sense her lament and kissed her on the forehead. "There there, sweetie. I might not be your real uncle, but I've always treated you like family. You still have me, and Paula, and Leo-"
"Don't forget about me." Ninten interrupted, "I have always been here for you, Dianna." Ninten went to them and joined the hug. It was a touching moment, until Claus let out a large burp.
"Sorry.." he said before his head slumped down again.
Christie let out a groan as she looked at Claus. Ninten looked at the boy and the tyrant, and smiled at Christie. "I see you brought me the boy and this creature as I asked you to." he said as he walked up to the two.
He examined the tyrant's features, but was more interested at the boy. He then stood quietly as he stared at the boy. Both Jeff and Christie was confused by his silence. After a few seconds, he spoke. "He's perfect."
"Perfect?" Jeff questioned, "Perfect for what?"
"Perfect for being my apprentice" Ninten replied. He grabbed the boy up and held him in a bridal style. Apparently Claus fell unconscious after he said sorry and Ty was supporting his weight.
"Jeffery, I want you to fix him up." Ninten lifted Claus' pant cuffs to his knees, "I believe you are familiar with this technology"
Jeff looked at the boys leg and was amazed by what he saw. His leg was made of titanium steel with man-made neuro-wiring. It was a medical feat if you pardon the pun. But what was more interesting to him was the name of the person who made it. Located at the shin was the name Dr. Gillian Andonuts; Jeff's father.
"M-My father... He rebuilt this boy."
Ninten placed the boy on Jeff's arms "And now I need you to fix him up again. That is why I called you here" he explained. "Can you do it?"
Jeff looked at the boy and nodded. "Yes, if anyone knows my father's tech, it's me."
Ninten smiled and patted Jeff's shoulder. "Great." he said before turning to Christie and told her, "Dianna, why don't you return to your cabin and get yourself clean up. Afterward, come and join me for lunch."
She gave a quick nod and walked to her cabin which was the second one in front of the glass building.
Jeff watched her go before Ninten tapped him on the back to get his attention. "Come Jeff, we have work to do." said Ninten. He turned to him and nodded in agreement.
"Oh and Ty, if you kindly could, please follow me to our lab when we enter the building." Ninten said to the tyrant. It let out a soft grunt and a slow nod has a sign of agreement.
"Well then! Shall we?"