"No. No. HECK NO."

"Ah come on Blade just for this one time again?" Maru asked, giving his best kicked puppy look. "I promise I won't ask again."

Blade glared. "I did it once and it was enough, not to mention down right embarrassing."

"It was just our way of initiatin' you."

Blade's eyes narrowed. "Stealing my hat and replacing it with… THAT, was still not funny."

"What? You wore it well, and this is the only time I'm gonna ask you to do this again."

"No, no a thousand times NO!"

Hailey looked over, blinking in confusion. "What the…?"

"Aww come on!"

"NEVER!"

Hailey walked over, deciding whatever it was… she might as well see what would happen. She looked to her father giving her best kicked puppy look. "Pretty please Daddy? With a ding dong on top?"

Maru grabbed Hailey, practically shoving her into Blade's face. "You wouldn't say no to this face would you?"

Hailey gave a little whimper for effect. "Pleeeaaaasssseee?"

Blade groaned looking away. "No, anything but that! Fine!"

"AWESOME! And besides… you're gonna like the reason I'm bring this up-"

"What's going on?"

All three looked to see Dusty at the door with a confused look.

Maru grinned. "Ah I forgot you were flying in today for more trip plans, glad you're here, you can help us with a little plot we got cooking."

"Plot?"

Maru laughed, rubbing his hands together. "Something the Smoke Jumpers and I have been cooking up since Patch told us the news."

When Maru and the Smoke Jumpers start working together you know it's something serious… or something evil.

"What… news?" Blade asked. "And how did I miss it?"

"It just came in." Maru answered as he rummaged through boxes. "That's why."

Hailey tilted her head. "Wait… What did I just puppy dog pout to?"

"... You didn't know?" Her father gave her a look.

"... I'm supportive."

Dusty looked to Maru. "Well what the heck is the news then? I might as well know since I'm gonna help, apparently."

Maru looked up. "Well… a certain annoyance is back at the peak trying to prove himself... I'll give you a hint." He gave his best stand offish look. "And who signs all your paychecks? Oh yeah, me!"

Dusty's eyes went wide. "No way!"

Blade's jaw dropped. "No…"

"NOT HIM!" Hailey wailed. "I thought I came home to PEACE!"

"Ya did. But no way in heck is Cad becoming superintendent again, he's under Ol' Jammer's command as a receptionist because Death Valley was getting too harsh for him… but the Smoke Jumpers and I are gonna make him wish he had stayed there."

"And this has to involve me!?" Blade exclaimed. "Why couldn't you devils do it yourselves?"

"... Daddy… You're the best intimidator." Hailey grinned.

"And we're gonna use the whole team and strike the guy when he least expects it… AT NIGHT."

Dusty gulped. "But aren't all firefighters supposed to NOT fly at night?"

"This is the one time we're making an exception. Terrorizing Cad is definitely an exception"

Blade grumbled, giving Maru a glare. "You are a man of pure evil…"

"Oh don't give me that, you hate the guy as much as we do. Come on… Where's that revenge side of yours? He treated you the worst out the bunch of us… and we're not gonna kill him, we just wanna spook him is all."

"You know revenge is a game that goes round and round right?" Dusty pointed out.

Maru gave Dusty a look. "It's CAD."

"... Point taken."

Blade sighed. "Yes, he treated me the worst but-"

"Remember all those times he called me an IT?" Hailey pointed out.

"... Alright, you got me. He's going down."

Maru cheered. "YES! Now where is… AH!" He pulled out a box that was full of costumes and costume accessories. "Knew I still had them!"

Dusty raised an eyebrow. "What's all that…?"

"Well.. during Halloween we sometimes dress up, but these days we generally don't… these costumes however are special, Ol' Ray never wanted us to get rid of these."

"Ray…?"

Blade glanced to the side as Hailey stood on her tip toes so she could whisper in Dusty's ear.

"The chief before Dad, don't ask."

Dusty nodded. "Noted."

"Anyways!" Maru interjected. "This box here is full of old memories" He grinned, looking over to Blade. "including Blade's initiation."

Blade put a hand to his face to hide the shade of red he was turning.

"Wait… what was his initiation?" Dusty asked, Hailey nodding quickly.

"Yeah you never told me that story." Nor did Nick...

"Well, every firefighter or employee has their own unique initiation when they come to work here. Me, got stuck with a mustache on my face all day. Dipper and Dusty, CHoPs, Blade… Oh ho ho, his was the best." Maru dug into the box, pulling out a Batman mask. "His hat got switched out with this and he had to wear it ALL DAY."

Dusty and Hailey were silent before breaking out laughing, Hailey falling over. "BAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"M-MY SIDES! Oh my gosh!"

Blade went completely red. "Maru…"

"Ah come on, Hailey would have found out eventually and for this scheme to work Dusty would have to know too."

"... Wait, how does this involve me?" Dusty asked, pointing to himself.

Hailey just cracked up more. "Oh this is gonna be awesome! The newbie and Daddy gettin' it-"

WHACK!

"OW!"

All looked to Hailey.

"That's… been happening a lot." Maru commented. "Another giant mosquito?"

"Spider." Hailey said, a little too quickly.

Maru shook his head. "Never mind. Anyways." Maru put his fingers in his mouth whistling, summoning everyone else to the workshop."

"Alright… so here's the plan…"

Cad had to run out to get something from the base… or least that was what Ol' Jammer had ordered. He was not happy about having to go back to it, let alone suffer through the long walk. It was even more of a pain when he found out there was nothing for him to get but angry glares from Maru and Patch who were currently watching the base for some odd reason… and Maru was all dressed up in a suit for who knows what reason. Either way, he had to make the long trek back to the lodge.

Oh when I get back I'm giving Ol' Jammer a piece of my mind. He thought as he trudged along, kicking some dirt up as he went along… not noticing the eyes that were watching him from the bushes.

"This is Joker to Marufred, the target is in sight." Drip said into his radio.

"Good. Riddler Out goes first, then you and Pinequinn, then Avalanche can go all smash on him."

"Remind me why he's the Hulk? He's not even part of the series."

"He insisted… Plus, it fits him."

"Right, then what about the others?"

"After Avalanche gets him running, Poison Dynamite will give him another scare, then Bat Dipper will swoop in and get him with some retardant, then to wrap things up Dustbin will also fly in, tripping Cad, then Bat Blade can get him with one last blast of retardant."

"Wasn't there someone else?" Black Out asked. "I forgot."

"Yes, but that's a surprise Hailey is in charge of."

"Alright… Let's do this!"

Black Out bided his time until he saw Cad going by and leapt out of the bushes. "BOO!" He screamed, swinging the staff he had to sweep Cad's legs out from under him.

"WAH!"

THUD!

Cad grumbled as he looked up at Black Out. "WHO IN THE-?!"

"Here's a riddle… What's green, hates you and is about to charge out of those bushes?" He asked, leaning on the staff grinning.

"... What?!"

Drip and Pinecone jumped out laughing as they hit Cad with buckets full of ice water. "AVALANCHE!"

Avalanche came out, all painted in green and was wearing purple shorts.

"AVALANCHE SMASH!" he shouted.

Cad screamed as he scrambled to his feet, making a run for ait.

Dynamite waited until swinging in on a makeshift vine rope. "OH NO YA DON'T!" She yelled, dropping in front of him, using another as a lasso. "C'mere you!"

"WAH!"

Cad was pulled towards her, his eyes wide. "WHAT-"

She waited before pretty much throwing him into the bushes. "INCOMING!"

Dipper took her chance, flying out of the bushes and dousing Cad in fire retardant.

"BAT DIPPER!" she yelled.

Cad coughed as he stumbled, back wiping his eyes. "Wait this is that fire-"

Dusty dressed as Robin came flying in, tripping him up. "Na, na, na, na na na!"

Cad fell flat on his face as he got another dose of fire retardant dropped on him. He looked up to see Blade, all fully dressed out as Batman, cape and all.

"HOLY SMOKE STACKS BAT BLADE!" Dusty shouted.

"BAT WHAT?!"

Blade struck a pose. "The savior of the defenseless, the terror that flaps in the night… I! Am…!" He flew up dropping a fire retardant grenade. "BAT BLADE!"

KABOOM!

Cad was covered from head to toe in fire retardant. Soon as the fire retardant cloud cleared he looked around to see his attackers had vanished. He quickly scrambled to his feet, making a break for the lodge, screaming… unaware of the trip wire that was set up a few feet away. Two figures waited in silence before Cad hit the trip wire, falling again.

As he looked up, he saw a woman step out that was dressed in a suit that resembled a cat.

"... WHAT?"

The woman knelt down, giving an evil smirk.

"Just thought I'd drop by since I heard how you treated Bats... " She looked over to the side. "Oh Bat Blade Beyond!"

A young girl in a costume similar to Blade's but covered her whole body swung in on a rope. "You didn't think Bat Blade didn't have a successor?"

"Uh… UHH!"

She grinned evilly. "For the record… I'm not an it. Let's get 'em Cat-Mir."

Cat-Mir jumped back, pulling a rope that caused a bucket to tip over, getting Cad covered in red paint. "Oh dear, looks like you'll need a new suit."

Bat Blade Beyond smirked. "He's all red in the face."

"Y-YOU-Do you know who I am!?" Cad screamed.

"Yep… And we no like you."

WHACK!

"OW! What was THAT!?"

Nick snickered before whispering in Cad's ear.

"I… AM THE GHOST OF PISTON PEAK PAST! YOU CAD SPINNER SHALL PAY FOR YOUR DEEDS! … AND I WILL HAUNT YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAYS!"

Cad screamed, taking off running. "NO, NO ANYTHING BUT THAT! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!"

Bat Blade Beyond waited until he was gone before taking off her mask sighing in relief.

"Whew! It was hot in there!"

Cat-Mir did the same with her hoodie and goggles. "Fun though Hailey, fun though… Hehe can't wait to see Bat Blade."

"He'll get such a kick out of seeing you." Hailey giggled smiling. "Worth it. Thanks for coming down at such short notice Miranda."

"My pleasure, after hearing about his attitude towards Blade, totally worth it. Now, let's go join the others."

"Right!" Hailey took off running before taking flight. "Last one back is a Cad!"

Miranda laughed as she followed after, slipping her cat hood back on along with the goggles.

Stuffy but good for flight...

When they got back to the base, everyone was falling over laughing at the footage Windlifter and Cabbie had gotten on the cameras they were using while everyone was terrorizing Cad.

"OH MAN LOOK AT HIS FACE!" Maru howled as he held his sides. "PRICELESS!"

"And a big round of applause to Blade for his performance as Bat Blade!" Dipper cheered. "And Dusty as Dustbin."

Blade and Dusty gave a bow.

"We'll be here all night." Dusty said.

Patch wiped away a tear. "Oh that felt good. Cheers for everyone."

Everyone cheered, as Patch started playing some music.

"Ah one more thing… Had some assistance as Bat Blade Beyond." Hailey said, walking up, grinning. "Allow me to introduce… Cat-Mir."

Miranda stepped forward, striking a small pose. "Meow~"

Blade's jaw dropped a bit. "M-Miranda…?"

Miranda lowered her hoodie and took of her goggles. "It was last minute, but I happened to be Rotorberg when Hailey called up so thought I'd help."

Blade ran over to her, bringing her into his arms. "You have no idea how happy this makes me." He said kissing her cheek. "This… was perfect timing."

Hailey giggled standing by Dusty. "You're welcome Dad~"

Dusty blinked, looking over to Maru. "This makes three surprises… BLADE HAS A GIRLFRIEND?!" First finding out he has a daughter, then the Bat Blade and now THIS.

Maru grinned. "There's just some things we don't talk about till you see them yourself."

Hailey nodded. "Yup. What, you thought I didn't have a mom?"

"Um… Not really sure how to answer that one…" Dusty said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just… surprised."

Hailey patted him on the back. "No worries. We Rangers tend to surprise people like that."

"I've noticed…"

Miranda giggled. "I'm guessing this is the trainnee you talked about. Dusty, right?"

"Yep, the racer turned firefighter." Blade nodded. "Dusty, allow me to properly introduce you… to Miranda Lopez."

Lopez!? Okay, that makes four…. but don't make a big deal out of it.

Dusty extended a hand, shaking hands with her.

"Pleasure to meet you Ms. Lopez."

Miranda giggled. "Please, just Miranda."

"Right… Hope you don't mind me asking but… Is there anymore surprises I should be aware of?"

Miranda hummed in thought. "Hm… Not that I can think of…"

"Phew…" Dusty sighed in relief.

"Well… I do wish my boyfriend was here to see this." Hailey mused.

"... WHAT!?"

Make it FIVE.

"Alright, alright, let's not overwhelm the poor man." Miranda giggled. "Let's just focus on what happened tonight. We succeeded in terrorizing Cad."

The Smoke Jumpers got up, all dancing as they sang.

"TROLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO!"

Everyone fell over laughing, holding their sides.

"Can't… Breathe!" Dipper said between laughs.

"So, think Ol' Jammer will believe Cad's story about Batman vigilantes?" Dusty asked, after finally catching his breath.

Everyone hummed in thought before all answering.

"NOPE!"

"Sides…" Maru smirked. "The guy was in on it."

And Cad will never sleep again.