"Who are you people?!" Rob asked the villains in a panic as Doctor Gross encircles Rob. "I'm C.Y.L.A.S., leader of M.E.C.H., a group dedicated to advance human technology beyond current understanding." C.Y.L.A.S. introduced himself. "I am Doctor Morocco, a humble inventor." Doctor Morocco introduced himself. "My name is Doctor Gross. I aim to evolve humanity through technology." Doctor Gross introduced herself. "I'm Martin. I'm their getaway." Martin introduced himself as he sat on a crate.
"We're a coalition; people with differing goals, but common interests." Lockdown added. "Give it straight to the kid, Lockdown. Tell him why we're here." C.Y.L.A.S. told Lockdown. "Rob, your world has something we need, and you're the key to gathering it." Lockdown explained. Two M.E.C.H. Commandos present a collection of disc-shaped devices that fit on the palm of a Cybertronian. "These are machines I acquired recently that siphons a peculiar… fundamental force from this universe." Lockdown explained.
"Fundamental force?" Rob asked. "We're not quite sure what it is, but from testing, it's quite powerful." Doctor Morocco answered. "We've already procured a significant amount upon our arrival, and we were able to create this." Doctor Gross elaborated as she presented a sentient test tube filled with green liquid, with stick limbs attached. "Hi!" the test tube waved. "This test tube was brought from our reality, and expressed no sapience or animation until we used this fundamental force on it." Doctor Gross added.
"With it, it can shape reality itself." Lockdown answered. "What do you need me for?" Rob asked. "Intel suggests you've been to a powerful source of this force called The Void. We believe that you are somewhat linked with the dimension as a result of your simultaneous state of existence and non-existence. We can use this link to find points where this force is plentiful." Doctor Morocco explained.
"What's in it for me?" Rob asked. "For starters, we won't kill you if you do what we say." C.Y.L.A.S. answered. "Second, it can potentially restore your original self." Doctor Gross said. A Commando places a disc on the ground before Rob and presses a button. A surge of energy escapes from the disc and surrounds Rob.
His polygonal body starts to smoothen, and his static skin turns blue. "I'm turning back to normal!" he exclaimed. The energy ceases and he rapidly revert to his half-rendered appearance. "There goes half our supply." Doctor Morocco said. "We'll get more, won't we, Rob?" Doctor Gross asked Rob.
Rob looks at his right hand, which was last to turn back into an abnormal grey. "I'll do it. I'll do whatever you want if it means getting what I want." Rob accepted. "Glad to hear, Rob." Lockdown said. He kneels down and extends his giant hand to Rob. The two shake hands in agreement. "Where do we start?" Rob asked.
Elsewhere in Elmore, Darwin takes the adventurers to Ripley 2000, a local video game store. "Sweet-looking games they got. Too bad I don't recognize any of them." Jake said. "I only recognize less than a quarter of their stock." Simon said as he takes a case from the shelves. "All the games we've ever had were loaded on our little BMO." Jake commented. "What's a BMO?" Darwin asked.
"He's our game console and friend. He's like a sentient robot-console who loves to play video games." Finn answered. "We had a sentient game console before. We had to destroy it." Darwin said. "I don't recall that episode. Did it happen recently?" Simon asked Darwin. "Please don't call it an episode. I'm not used to being reminded I'm in a cartoon this bluntly." Darwin told Simon. "Anyway, I think it happened last month?" Darwin answered.
"Let me call Alvin. He should know what episode that was." Simon said before dialling Alvin's number on his Amp Arsenal. The signal from the device travels through an internal extra-universal receiver that relays it to their home universe through one of Hub City's phone towers, and into Alvin's HubCell phone. "Wassup, Simon?" Alvin greeted Simon. "Guess what universe I'm in." Simon asked. "You meeting up with Chowder? Did you get food sickness?" Alvin asked Simon.
"I'm in The Amazing World of Gumball." Simon answered. "Nah, nah, nah! You gotta be kidding me! Where's Gumball? Can I see him?" Alvin asked Simon. "He left for a date with Penny. It's just Darwin." Simon answered. "Do you remember what was the name of the episode where Gumball and Darwin fought a sentient game console?" Simon asked Alvin. "That's gotta be The Console, a Season Five episode." Alvin answered.
Simon turns away from Darwin and cups his cand over the phone's microphone. "That means we're in Season Five timeline-wise." Simon said. "On the last half of it." Alvin said. "You planning to tell Gumball and Darwin about the finale and the movie?" Alvin asked Simon. "I'll avoid doing that. It's like telling the future to someone in the past." Simon said.
"Aight. Hey, the nurse is coming, so can I wanna say a few words to Darwin?" Alvin asked Simon. "Nothing about the future." Simon said. "Nevermind. It was all about Season Six. Peace!" Alvin said before hanging up. Simon turns back to Finn and Jake talking to Darwin about video games. "You've never played anything with 3D graphics?" Jake asked Darwin. "Too expensive for us." Darwin answered.
"Should we move on? I think the Forest of Doom should be right up Finn and Jake's alley." Simon suggested. "You guys got protection?" Darwin asked. "We've been fighting all sortsa things for years, 'course we've got protection." Finn answered. "Speaking of, can I see some of this protection?" Darwin asked in anticipation. Finn holds up his right arm and deploys his arm sword from his wrist.
"That's not the only thing it can do." Finn said. He swaps his sword blade into a double-headed axe. He swings the axe around, showing off to Darwin. "Sir, please don't swing weapons inside the store!" a lanky rock-person employee, Larry, pleaded from behind the counter. Despite being a seasoned and careful warrior by this point, by a stroke of misfortune he trips and vertically cuts a shelf in half.
They all freeze in surprise before Darwin flees the store. The adventurers follow Darwin out of the door. "We'll pay for damages later!" Simon exclaimed as he left last. Larry stares in disbelief before calling his manager on the phone. "Sir? Yes, it happened again. I understand, sir. It'll be going out of my pay." Larry conversed.
The four flee elsewhere in town and stop to catch their breath. "Dude, careful next time." Jake told Finn as he panted. "Sorry, it's been a while since I used an axe, and at a really weird grip too." Finn apologized. "I think we need to catch a break from all this walking." Simon said. They hear an explosion coming from across town.
"Did you hear that?" Jake asked them. "What are the chances it's Gumball's date going wrong?" Simon suggested. "Pretty high, actually." Darwin answered. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It is Gumball we're talking about." Simon said. "I'll get us a ride." Finn said as he projects a hologram of a car from his robot arm.
Emerging from a Multiverse Bridge before them is Afterburn; Finn's futuristic white sports car given to him by his mother. "Sweet…" Darwin said in awe at the car. Finn gets in and starts the engine, followed by Simon and Darwin, before Jake sits on the front passenger seat and buckles his seatbelt. "Buckle your seatbelt, kid. This isn't your average car." Simon told Darwin. Finn shifts into drive and accelerates towards the explosion.
Moments before the explosion at the Elmore Mall, Gumball and Penny are shopping at a scented candle shop browsing the shelves. "What do you think, Gumball? Lilac or Lavender?" Penny asked as she presented two candles to Gumball. "Anything that isn't bacon or chorizo-scented." Gumball said as he presented the respective candles to Penny. "Those are more suited for your father than my mom." Penny said. "Knowing him, he'll eat one and ask for another." Gumball said.
Penny purchases the necessary candles and hands them to Gumball. "What's next on the list?" Gumball asked Penny. "Mom wants some exotic spices at some imported products shop." Penny answered. "Like cinnamon?" Gumball asked. "Cardamom, ancho powder, zaatar…" Penny read from the list.
"Are those spices or potion ingredients?" Gumball commented. As they leave the store on the topmost floor, the front entrance explodes. Zooming into the mall are spiked grey muscle cars, black Formula-1 race cars, and sleek green sports cars with black stripes. The vehicles transform into Lockdown drones, MorBots, and M.E.C.H. Commandos to wreak havoc upon the mall, tearing up the floor and scaring the patrons. The black Formula-1 cars dissolve into clouds of metal and flies up to the upper floors to reassemble into MorBots.
"Robots?!" Penny exclaimed in surprise. "Run!" Gumball screamed as he takes Penny's hand and runs away. The MorBots tears up the upper floors as the people scream and flee. Gumball takes Penny to an elevator, which is destroyed by a MorBot sniping it from the other end of the building. "Stairs! Now!" Gumball screamed.
The two descend down the stairwell as they hear destruction from outside the walls. They make it to the ground floor where most of the drones are attacking. "Let's get outta here!" Gumball screamed. As they run towards a side entrance, they are stopped by a squad of Commandos training their weapons on the couple. "Gumball, stand back." Penny said as she goes in front of Gumball.
She magically shapeshifts into a dark orange dragon and spews fire upon the Commandos. The drones fire back, but are pounced on by Penny as she bites into them and tears their limbs off. As Gumball watches, he hears the sound of something clicking from behind his head. "Gumball, we meet again." Rob said. Gumball turns around and sees Rob holding a plasma rifle used normally by M.E.C.H. ground troops.
"Rob… nice gun." Gumball greeted Rob with a serious tone. "Thanks, it's a gift from some new friends." Rob said. "Same ones who sent these robots?" Gumball asked. "The very same." Rob answered. "I could shoot you here and end it, but I have bigger plans for you later." Rob said.
A MorBot cartwheels around the corner and dissolves into a metal cloud to envelop Gumball like a cage. "I'll see you later. I've got important things to do." Rob said before running off. "Come back here, coward!" Gumball screamed. As Penny continues fighting the Commandos, she sees a white car speeding towards the glass sliding doors. Afterburn crashes into the building, ejects Jake, Simon, and Darwin, before transforming into robot mode to fight the drones.
He beheads one Commando with a built-in arm blade and drives his enlarged Night Sword into the chest of another. "I guess he's not with them." Penny commented. "Penny!" Darwin yelled to Penny as he waves his arms to her. "Where's Gumball?!" he yelled. Penny turns around to see Gumball caged inside the MorBot cage.
She flicks her head and breathes a concentrated column of fire, melting the cage and freeing Gumball. Simon runs over and freezes the metal with an ice kunai, allowing safe passage for Gumball. "Thanks for coming to save us. It's Rob; he somehow got a robot army." Gumball told the adventurers. "And cyborgs." Afterburn said as he pries a brain pod out of a M.E.C.H. Commando. "I can't believe I abandoned my husband for thiii…" the brain pod spoke in a woman's voice before deactivating.
"Rob? Your nemesis you obsessed over getting back?" Penny asked Gumball as she reverts to her default form. Suddenly, the army ceases their rampage and converge back to the hole in the wall. Riding inside a M.E.C.H. Commandos in vehicle mode is Rob. "Later, Gumball! Enjoy your existence while it lasts!" Rob exclaimed. "He's made friends with Lockdown and his allies." Simon realized.
To be continued…