21st December 2013 Saturday

Day 355

10 days to go! A round number! The final 10. You know, I was reading the reviews to early August, and they just made me laugh so much. Thank you for giving me such happiness.

Disclaimer: You always want what you can't have.

"She is absolutely gorgeous," Winston Sr. bounced the tiny Sammy on his lap, the team completely oblivious to their impending attack. The older man peered over his round glasses to look at his proud son. "You know, she reminds me a lot of your mother."

The smile appeared to grow ten-fold on Dex's lips. "Thanks dad."

"Grandpa, are you going to stay for Christmas?" Junior asked in a pleading tone, craning his head up to amplify his puppy dog eyes. Winston chuckled as he handed Sammy back to Jane, hauling Winston Jr. on to his knee.

"But of course I will," he said, moustache twitching with his smile. "I wouldn't miss it for anything-"

A loud, low rumbled crossed above everyone's heads, sending their noses skyward in search of the noise.

"What was that?" Tung questioned, still looking around the empty ceiling. Jenny furrowed her brow as she strained to listen.

"I'm going to go and check the cameras," she sprinted towards the computers, just as another more loud and distinct clank against metal was heard right above them.

"Sounds like we've got some visitors," the leader said with curiosity. "Anything on the screens Jenny?"

"You're not wrong, we've got an unidentified craft on our roof," the clone scrolled on the zoom button, showing the entire crew an image of a dark purple ship.

"Ok everyone, emergency drill number two. Dad, you come with us while Bream takes the kids to the shelter."

As everyone disbanded, Zap tiptoed quickly up to Jenny. "Hey, I must've forgot to read that page; what do we do in drill number two?"

The engineer sighed loudly. "We go, to the roof," she pointed upwards with a sarcastic finger.

"Fine, but we take Max with us," the toddler ran up to his father at the sound of his name. "He can be helpful."

Dex, with Jane and Winston, ran through the habitat's enclosures, looking around frantically. Dex flipped open his com, connecting to a camera that displayed Syrrus entering the building after his giant insect creations.

"Yep, it's Syrrus all right," he said, closing his com in frustration. "The only way we can get him would be a trap-"

"Well, hello, old friends," a cold voice echoed behind them. The group turned around, spying their arch enemy surrounded by his creatures. "Although, we were never friends…hello old foes…fiends…well, maybe-"

"What are you doing here?" Dex ordered, standing protectively in front of his father and his wife.

"Why, I've come for your collection," he said, walking up to a glass pavilion and stroking the outside. "I have always admired it, and to create the most destructive species in the galaxy, it would save me a lot of time by simply taking your work."

"This habitat has been run by generations of Hamiltons," Winston interrupted, standing protectively in front of his son. "We've got you outnumbered around this place."

"Yes, well, that may seem true, but as we speak my insects are doing some of the laborious destruction while another counterpart of mine is right behind you."

They spun around, seeing Doctor Monogan grin evilly with another herd of the large, purple insects behind him. "So liberating being out in the fresh air, but you would know, you were the ones who sent me to that horrid jail."

"You deserved it!" Dex cried out, moving to address the man. "You tried to take a child away from his caring family."

"And now, I can destroy both that family and their home," as though one of his words were key, the insects behind him began scurrying around, destroying many pavilion doors and shattering glass. "Better not stay, unless you want to be flattened."

"Quick, try and keep our insects protected," he handed his wife a plaster gun, which she began to fire around. It broke away as soon as another insect collided its claws with the repairing walls.

Syrrus let out another evil cackle. "You seriously think that's going to stop what is happening here?"

"I sure do," she turned the weapon on to the monster and fired. A large slab of concrete began to form in his mouth, causing him to scream and groan in pain. Jane spun the weapon around in her hand, before firing on all the giant insects. Their claws became encased in growing concrete, keeping them from moving or causing further destruction.

"Dex, you need to round them up somehow."

"I'm on it," called a voice from above. Zap was piloting the yellow hover-ship down to the team, and to Dex and Jane's surprise, there were two Jenny clones in the car with him and Max. A large net fell from below their craft, encasing the insects in a big group before settling the ship down beside it. The clone in the back seat jumped over the door, striding towards the villain.

"I can't believe you let me do this?" she screeched, gesturing with her hands. "I mean, hiring me to destroy my sister's habitat, their work. What did you take me for?"

Syrrus pulled his hands away from his face, rubble powdering his palms as he smirked. "Completely gullible, of course. Doc, it's time!"

The green man produced a small device, with a single red button placed on top. His pointed finger pressed down on the button.

From the distance, a loud rumbling rolled across the team, and great chunks of the building came tumbling down as a result of the bomb.

"Another one is going to go off," the monster explained, standing and raising his hands as though he were a puppeteer. The insects began to follow him, even those that had escaped from their enclosures. "But, I wouldn't want to be here for that."

Their ship came hovering down on autopilot to a now collapsed wall, and insects began scurrying in as quickly as they could. Syrrus walked over to the wall, with Doctor Monogan running to catch up. "Good luck, Hamilton."

Their ship soared off, leaving the team sprinting for the exits as the building continued to collapse around them.

R&R!