The Sun Riders Return.
Ellie's POV.
Oh boy... Another day, another monster threatening to attack Shuggarzoom.
The Monkeys, Chiro and I were in our stations of the Super Robot, chasing after a giant, red space-squid.
Chiro was firing the Torso Cannons at the squid as it 'swam' away from us, "Nothing attacks Shuggarzoom City and gets away with it! Not even this..."
"Uh... 'Octo-Critter'?" Otto gave the space-squid a name.
Gibson nodded, "Yes, Otto. It does seem to be derived from some sort of mollusk invertebrate."
The squid retaliated by spitting a cloud of acid at the Torso Cannons.
"That spits acid." Sparx added in disgust, "Story of my life."
The squid flew off. The Super Robot chased after it. The squid lead us to a large planet just outside of the system.
"Curious. The creature's attempting to reach the primordial planet, Delta 5." Antauri noticed.
"Who cares? Let's trash it already!" Nova shouted.
The Super Robot chased after the squid. Once it was close enough, I made the Super Robot grab the two longer tentacles of the squid, "Got it!"
"Twirl it and hurl it." Chiro instructed.
The Super Robot's torso span at great speed, then threw the squid into the nearest volcano.
"We've gotta get one of these monster cookers for back home." Sparx suggested.
"Wait." Antauri spoke up, "I'm picking up a distress beacon. There's an inhabited outpost not far from our location."
With that, the Super Robot made its way to the outpost.
"Who'd live on this burned out piece of rock?" Sparx asked.
We arrived at the outpost. It looked like a large mining site. The Monkeys, Chiro and I exit the Super Robot and walked to the door. It was too quiet to feel safe.
"I dunno, Team. It looks abandoned." Chiro shrugged.
Gibson looked at his scanner, as it beeped, "I'm picking up movement."
The large doors started opening. On the other side was a familiar robot we thought we'd never again. The Nebutron 7. That must mean the Sun Riders are back.
"Sun Riders..." Chiro growled lowly.
"Hold it right there, Hyperforce." Johnny Sunspot told us, as two laser cannons aimed at us.
The Monkeys and I summoned our weapons, ready for a fight.
"Surrender, Sun Riders." Chiro instructed.
The Nebutron lowered to its lowest height.
"That was easy..." Otto noted.
Sparx looked at Otto, "If it looks like a trap, and it feels like a trap..."
The Nebutron's orb opened and the Sun Riders hopped out, weapons ready.
"Give up and we'll go easy on you." Chiro told them.
"We're not giving up anything." Johnny argued.
"You've got us all wrong, Chiro." Aurora 6 tried to explain.
"I don't think so." Chiro shook his head, "You're the bad guys. There was a distress call."
Super Quasar nodded, "We know, Chiro-san. We sent it."
I lowered my weapons. Something felt off about the Sun Riders this time. I wasn't getting a cold feeling anymore. Are these guys telling the truth?
"Why?" I asked.
Super Quasar looked to the door way. Hiding behind to door were three people with grey skin. Two men and a woman.
Chiro looked and assured, "Don't worry. You're safe now." He glared at Johnny, "We'll protect you from them!"
Johnny glared back, "That's swell, Monkey Team, but we're not the problem."
I gasped, as I felt a jolt of cold run through me from behind. The ground shook for a second. Then a horde of Formless appeared from the ground.
Johnny pointed at them, "They are!"
These Formless were different from the normal ones. They had a pink-ish red hue and crystals on their chests and growing out of their heads.
"Formless! It is a trap!" Nova shouted.
These new Formless attacked us with energy blasts. A blast hit Nova, before she could move.
"Chiro Spear-o!" Chiro shouted, as he threw a spear of lightning at one of the Crystal Formless.
The Crystal Formless lost its arm, but it quickly grew back. Okay... That's new.
Antauri used his claws to disarm another one of the Crystal Formless. But the Crystal Formless grew its arm back and blasted Antauri down.
"Antauri!" I cried in worry, dodging the Formless attacks aimed at me.
Sparx fired his magnets at another Crystal Formless, but it was able to dodge his attack and struck him down too.
"Sparx!" I shouted.
I tried to fight back, but these Crystal Formless were too fast. All I could do was block and dodge. The Sun Riders fought off the Formless with their weapons.
Johnny turned to one of the citizens, "Cover fire."
The citizen nodded and fired a turret at the Formless. The Crystal Formless retreated.
"You have a tracer in one of those squirt guns of yours?" Aurora 6 asked Gibson.
"Affirmative." Gibson nodded.
He switched the blue tip of his drill to a red one and shot it into the back of the last Crystal Formless as it fled through the hole in the ground.
Once everything calmed down, the leader of the colony, an elder with dark grey skin, spiky white hair and mustache cheered, "Light above darkness. Forever!"
The other colonists cheered and praised the sun Riders.
"I thought they were the bad guys." Otto recalled.
"They are." Chiro answered.
Nova, Sparx and Antauri were on the ground, out-cold and in very bad shape.
*A Little Later, back in the Super Robot...*
The Monkeys, Chiro and I were back in the Command Center of the Super Robot.
Gibson, Otto and I were fixing Nova, Sparx and Antauri, as the leader of the colony explained to Chiro how the Sun Riders became their protectors.
"And so, the Sun Riders have been our guardians since they crashed here." The leader explained, "Imagine our surprise when our tv heroes turned out to be real. It's not the first time they've saved us from those Formless."
Chiro nodded, then told our story, "The first time we met the Sun Riders, they were fighting the Formless too. They act like good guys, but that's all it is. An act. They show their real colors when you least expect them."
"Even with the Sun Riders as our protectors, we're not safe." The leader interjected.
"It's not like lava balls a hot vacation spot. It's just hot." Chiro commented.
"Why stay, sir?" I asked, fixing Sparx's energy cell.
"We're a mining colony." The leader answered, "This planet is our livelihood."
A safe opened to reveal to be full of beautiful gemstones.
"Volcanic diamonds. Natural quantum batteries capable of storing vast quantities of energy." Gibson gasped, fixing Nova's helmet.
"The diamonds power the Nebutron's atomic generators." Super Quasar explained.
"And our weapons." Aurora 6 finished.
Chiro hardened his glare, "Sure... Now I get it. That's why you 'heroes' are guarding the colony. For the diamonds." Then asked, "Have you told these people you work for Skeleton King?"
I glanced at him, "Chiro!"
Chiro looked at me, "What? He gave them power too."
The leader looked at the Sun Riders in shock, "Is this true?"
Super Quasar looked away. Johnny Sunspot sulked.
"We've changed." Aurora 6 assured.
I closed Sparx's rocket pack and walked to the Central Computer, "I know. I believe you."
Chiro looked at me, "You what!?"
The Sun Riders looked at me, "You what?"
Gibson and Otto looked at me, "You what?"
"When we were training before, I phased through Johnny." I explained, "When I did, I saw images of places and people I've never met. Even heard Skeleton King. Somehow I was able to know things. It's how I knew where the Nebutron 7 was. And it's how I know you are telling the truth."
"Fascinating." Gibson noted, "It seems that your ghost-like abilities allow you to meld minds with others."
"That's double the creepy!" Johnny shivered.
Super Quasar looked at me, "We could use some help."
I nodded, "Of course."
Chiro slammed his hand on the control console, cutting the transmission, "Forget it! I'm not giving those phonies another chance to betray us."
"Chiro. There are innocents in that colony, that need help." I spoke up, "Sometimes, we must put the past behind us, for the good of others."
Chiro looked away from me. I felt a growing pain of worry in my gut. I knew this isn't my worry. It was his. Chiro was worried that what if the Sun Riders turn out to be faking and I'll end up paying the price.
I felt a hand over mine. Chiro and I looked and it was Antauri.
"Ellie is right, Chiro. Listen to her." He told Chiro.
I put my hand over Antauri's. Chiro looked at me.
*A Little Later, with the Sun Riders...*
Chiro and I exit the Super Robot and met up with the Sun Riders, just outside of their Nebutron.
"If you're gonna go after those Formless, you're gonna need this." Chiro gave Gibson's scanner to Super Quasar, "It's linked to Gibson's tracer."
"I'm coming along to help you operate it." I offered.
"Welcome aboard, Ellie-san." Super Quasar smiled.
"Look after her, okay? Ellie means a lot to me." Chiro told the Sun Riders.
"Ellie will be in good hands, Chiro." Aurora 6 assured with a gentle smile.
I smiled back. They're not calling me 'Lee' anymore. I entered the Nebutron with Aurora 6 and Super Quasar. Chiro made his way back to the Super Robot.
I looked around, "So, you've upgraded the Nebutron 7. Looks nice."
"This is the Nebutron 8. Bigger. Better." Aurora 6 explained.
Super Quasar nodded, "And modified for mining operation."
I nodded in understanding. Johnny pressed a button, "Atomic generators to power. Turbine drills activated."
The Nebutron purred and a large drill replaced the red window. Then it started drilling underground. The Sun Riders and I watched our path on a computer display.
"We're closing on Formless central." I notified.
"Yes. But avoiding these active lava tubes may be tricky." Aurora 6 pointed out.
"Shame Sparx got taken out. He could've helped us out." I joked.
Johnny took my words seriously, "Are you comparing my skills to a chimp?!"
I waved my hands in defence, "Relax. I'm only joking."
Then we were able to find an empty tunnel. The Sun Riders and I exit the Nebutron and I grabbed Gibson's scanner.
"We'll track them on foot from here." I told the Sun Riders.
I looked at the scanner, it was beeping rapidly. Indicating the Formless were close.
Johnny walked over to me, "Let me see that thing."
He grabbed the scanner and tried to snatch it from me.
"Hey, back Johnny. You don't know how to operate it." I told him, keeping my grip on the machine.
"Says the girl who spends her life in the shadows." Johnny growled at me.
"Don't you listen? I don't have a problem with you. Chiro does." I asked, "Want me to phase through you again?"
Then I felt the cold jolt again.
"You children want to fight?" Aurora 6 spoke up, "Get ready!"
Johnny and I turned and saw a group of Crystal Formless attacking us.
I summoned my claws, "Phantom Strike!" I dug my claws into the ground and black energy attacked the first Crystal Formless.
Aurora 6 drew her Sun Gun, "Sun Gun! Dazzle Sun!"
She fired her gun at two of the Crystal Formless. Direct hits.
"Solar Helmet! Hotshot!" Super Quasar shouted, as his helmet fired a beam of solar energy.
The solar energy hit a Crystal Formless.
"Black Hole Barrage!" Johnny Sunspot shouted as he fired an orb of black hole energy at the last Crystal Formless.
They got caught in the orb, but one of their arms got lucky and fired a blast behind Super Quasar. The aftershock caught Quasar and knocked him into the air. He lost control of his helmet and fired a beam across the ground.
The ground gave out and the Sun Riders and I fell into a lower tunnel. Debris rock fell on top of my legs. I couldn't move. I looked up and saw the ground was giving up under the Nebutron and the Nebutron was about to fall on top of me, with its drill aiming at me.
I tried to get the rocks off, but to no avail. Johnny used two black hole orbs to remove the rocks. I jumped out of the way, before the Nebutron could fall on me.
Johnny extended his gloved hand to me. I took it with a smile, "Thanks, Sunspot."
He helped me to my feet, "Don't mention it."
"Come on. Let's find the Formless lair and destroy it." I instructed.
Then Aurora 6 stop me, "Ellie, take this Solar Shield." She grabbed a diamond with the Sun Riders insignia, "It will provide you with insolation and camouflage."
The diamond opened. Aurora walked up to me, "Here, let me." She equipped the shield over the top half of my overalls, "I promise it will not harm you."
I smiled. The shield activated, making the white of my overalls blend into the tunnel. The Sun Riders placed their hands over the center of their insignia and their uniforms did the same. Johnny grabbed the remote and the Nebutron entered its camouflage mode.
I put my hood over my head and followed the tunnel. The Sun Riders followed behind me. Along the way, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and an aching pain in my back.
"You alright?" Johnny asked me.
I nodded, "Yeah. I think something's attacking the Super Robot."
"The Super Robot?" Johnny repeated.
"Yeah. The Super Robot and I share a deep symbiotic bond." I explained, "It can't fully function without me. And whenever it gets attacked, I can feel its pain."
"That's kinda cool." Johnny smiled.
We arrived at the Crystal Formless lair. It was in a large lava pool. Crystal Formless were carrying barrles of of the volcanic diamonds and waiting at the edge of the pool. On the other side was an area, covered is weird-looking orbs.
"Something tells me, we're in the right place." Johnny noted.
"But at the wrong time." I added.
One of the orbs started to move and poped open to reveal it was an egg of the squid species we fought. It dived into the lava and swam to the other side. Another egg hatched and joined its sibling. More eggs hatched and dived into the lava.
"What are those creatures?" Super Quasar asked in whisper.
"Bad news." I answered.
Then I felt a powerful cold jolt surge through me. I turned and saw Johnny, Aurora and Quasar aging till their skin was grey and hair was completely white.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
A familiar animal cry answered my question. I looked at the skylight, and familiar wryven entered the lair. Upon the back of the wryven was Skeleton King, sitting on his throne.
I helped the Sun Riders to their feet and moved them to another hiding spot before Skeleton King could see us. The wryven landed and Skeleton King climbed off its back.
"It is time." Skeleton King told the Crystal Formless.
The Crystal Formless poured the diamonds into the lava. The squid hatchings ate the diamonds and they grew twice in size.
"Soon you will swarm the skies of Shuggarzoom City, and rain your tentacle terror on all who oppose me." Skeleton King told the squids with a laugh.
"Skeleton King's breeding an army!" I whispered.
"Continue." He told the Crystal Formless, "There is toil for me elsewhere..."
Skeleton King climbed back on to the wryven and returned to his throne. The wryven took off into the air and started leaving. I noticed Skeleton King glancing toward the Sun Riders and I. I removed my hood and looked at him.
Skeleton King narrowed his eyes and our uniforms returned to normal. The Formless and the squid hatchlings saw us. Skeleton King left the planet and the cold jolt faded. I turned to the Sun Riders and they returned to normal as well.
One of the squids grabbed hold of Johnny and lifted him into the air. Its grip tightened on him.
I summoned my claws and attacked the squid, "Spectre Claw!"
The squid let go of Johnny and fell into the lava. Johnny and I landed on the other side of the pool.
Johnny smiled at me, "Nice attack."
I smiled back, "Guess we're even."
The Crystal Formless started blasting us. The Sun Riders and I ran along the path.
"That tunnel's our only chance." I informed, pointing to the tunnel across the lava pool.
We jumped across and journeyed down the tunnel, however we got cornered by the Crystal Formless. Super Quasar threw me across and gave the Crystal Formless a surprise attack with his helmet.
I joined Aurora 6 and she was taking out the other Crystal Formless with her Sun Gun. She was handling them with no problems.
Johnny was having a little trouble keeping up with another Crystal Formless. I striked it in the crystal in its chest. The Crystal Formless fell to the ground.
Then there was a scream. Aurora got caught in the tentacles of one of the squids.
"Aurora!" Johnny cried.
I leaped into the air, "Shadow Haze!" I struck the squid with my attack and it let go of Aurora.
The Sun Riders ran to her to check if she was okay. I delivered a kick in the center of its eyes and the squid fell into the lava. I landed and the Crystral Formless fired a barrage of blasts near me.
"Ready for round 2?" I asked. No reply. "Sun Riders?"
I turned and saw the Sun Riders were running down the tunnel, leaving me with the Crystal Formless and the squids.
"Johnny!" I called after them.
A fire of anger burned, but I tried to keep it cool. I trust the Sun Riders. I just need to wait for them to come back. I know they will. Real heroes always come back.
I fought off the Crystal Formless, but the squids grabbed hold of me, constricting my movement.
I struggled to fight against their grip and activated my communications, "Monkey Team. Chiro. I need back up. Do you copy?"
"Ellie, we're under attack!" Antauri answered, "We are unable to respond. You and the Sun Riders are on your own."
"Yep. I kinda figured." I sighed.
Then the fire of anger returned. Might as well use it.
"Monkey Fu!" I shouted and released a powerful wave of white energy.
The squids let go of me and stepped back. The energy faded and the Crystal Formless attacked me again.
"Nether Shield!" I created a shield of black energy around me and braced myself.
The last blast destroyed my shield and knocked me on to my back. The Crystal Formless towered over me. Then the entire lair started to shake. Like there was an earthquake.
Out of the walls, the Nebutron arrived and took out the remaining Crystal Formless. The Nebutron approached me, floating on the lava, and opened to reveal the Sun Riders.
I knew they'd come back.
Johnny extended his hand to me. I took it and he helped me to my feet, "Hey. Real heroes always come back."
"I knew you would. I never gave up hope." I smiled. Johnny blushed.
"It takes all three of us to pilot the Nebutron." Quasar explained with a thumbs up.
But, our victory was short-lived. Quasar looked around and gasped. The Crystal Formless were back, and there were more of them. They fired blasts at us.
"We've got this one." Johnny assured.
The Sun Rider held hands, "Super Solar Strike!"
I covered my eyes and the Sun Riders released their Super Solar Strike on the Crystal Formless and the squids. The Sun Riders and I quickly entered the Nebutron.
"行きましょう! (Ikimashou/Let's go!) Time to go!" Quasar shouted.
"What about them?" I asked, referring to the Crystal Formless and the squids.
"Too many for now. Come on." Johnny told me.
The Nebutron closed and we took left the lair the same way Skeleton King did. We found the Super Robot getting attacked by the giant squid from before. That explains the aches and pains I've been getting.
Johnny had an idea and rammed the Nebutron into the squid's beaked mouth.
"We're outta here!" Johnny instructed.
Aurora put her hand over my shoulder, "Better have a seat."
She threw me on to her lap. I held on tight and the seats ejected out of the Nebutron and out of the squid.
Once we were in the clear, I contacted the Hyperforce, "Antauri. Chiro. We've got get that squid back into the volcano."
"But, Ellie, we did that last time. It didn't work." Chiro argued.
"It's Johnny's idea. I trust him." I assured him.
The Super Robot repeated what it did last time, and threw the squid into the volcano. However the Robot went offline and fell on to its back. The Monkeys and Chiro exit the Robot and joined us. The squids started climbing out of the volcano.
"It just made it angry!" Sparx noticed, then turned to Johnny, "That was your big plan?"
"No." Johnny answered, grabbing a remote, "This is my 'big plan'."
He pressed the button and the volcano exploded with a massive display. All the squids were destroyed in the blast. The Monkeys and Chiro were dumbfounded.
"You sacrificed your ship?" Antauri asked the Sun Riders.
I nodded, "For the good of others."
The Sun Riders struck their signature pose.
"Light!" "Above darkness!" "Forever!" "Sun Riders! Fight on!"
The colonists cheered and praised.
*A Little Later...*
It was time to get back to Shuggarzoom. The colonists were saying their goodbyes to the Monkeys.
The leader stepped forward, "To show our appreciation, we'd like to share our bounty with you."
He gave Gibson a large volcanic diamond.
"Thank you." Gibson smiled, "This will greatly increase the Super Robot's power drive." Then he started acting like a child scientist in a science fair.
I giggled and translated, "Gibson says 'Thank you'."
Chiro threw his arms around me, "I'm glad you're okay, Ellie. I'm sorry I didn't listen."
"Water under the bridge, Chiro." I assured, "You were listening to your heart too much."
Johnny walked up to me, "You know, Ellie. We could use someone like you in our team. How about we make you an official Sun Rider member." He quickly waved his hands, "No shock jacket."
I shook my head, "I appreciate the offer, Johnny, but my place is in the darkness." Then gestured to the Hyperforce, "And with my primate family." I gave them back their Solar Shield, "I won't be needing this anymore."
"Keep it." Aurora insisted.
"Who knows." Johnny shrugged, "We might work together again, someday."
A sweet smile grew on my face. I'm glad my instincts were right on trusting the Sun Riders this time around. I felt a powerful punch behind me. I turned and it was Quasar.
He laughed, "Ellie-san."
With that, the Monkeys, Chiro and I entered the Super Robot and made our way back to Shuggarzoom.