Victor and Anita stood around, talking with Commander Ayja about the possibility that the Puddleheads must have somehow been snuck aboard by one of the crew. Suddenly, they heard two aircrafts landing outside the I.C.E. headquarters.
"Sounds like Professor Professor's just arrived," Anita said.
"Cool, but then who's the other person who's come with?" Victor asked curiously.
"Oh, that would be Doctor Doctor," Commander Ayja nonchalantly answered.
Victor and Anita were both caught off-guard by this revelation. "What?"
Commander Ayja nodded. "Oh yeah, your boss insisted that she come along to help your top scientist. I have to admit, I was kinda dubious at first given... her history, but Marijuana Pepsi managed to sell me on the idea."
"How could you do that?!" Victor asked in disbelief. "She tried to betray us and leave us to die on the Sun!"
"I heard about that. Even so, I have a good feeling. I've heard she went to school with Professor Professor, so it shouldn't be too difficult for them to work together again." She beamed up when she saw Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor walk in. "Speaking of..."
Commander Ayja ran off to greet Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor, leaving Victor and Anita alone with each other.
"I can't believe Marijuana Pepsi would just recommend Doctor Doctor to Commander Ayja like that," Anita said while sounding miffed. "Why would he do that?"
Victor shrugged. "He must have been drinking, I guess. Still, I can't see this ending well."
"Me neither. All we can do now is hope she doesn't try to betray us again. I mean, who knows? Maybe Marijuana Pepsi was right to recommend her."
"Oh, Professor Professor, Doctor Doctor!" Commander Ayja exclaimed upon seeing them. "I'm so glad you're both here. Jinjur, Ojo, Tyrmric, and I can't wait to start working with you."
Doctor Doctor just chuckled. "Thank you. I can't wait, either."
All Professor Professor could do for the moment was grumble for a bit.
"Oh, come now, Professor Professor," Commander Ayja chided. "Don't be so cross. You two will be helping us stop a threat not just to my entire race, but also to other species across this galaxy. I just hope we're not too late to do so."
"I certainly hope not," Professor Professor said. "There's only so much we could do for you. I just... I don't want you to go extinct, okay?"
"If we play our cards right, then we won't. I know entire species going extinct is inevitable, but I want that to happen later than sooner. You understand, right?"
"Of course."
"Good. You and Doctor Doctor can help us figure out where these Puddleheads came from and what we can do to stop them."
And so Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor followed Commander Ayja down to the I.C.E. laboratory where the Puddlehead specimens were being kept. Once inside, Commander Ayja produced a small transparent plastic container containing an iridescent Puddlehead. The little thing was thrashing around inside the container and squealing as if to express anger at its situation. Professor Professor squinted at it.
"You said you found this while it was still aboard the Polychrome 3?" Professor Professor asked.
"Yes, sir," Commander Ayja replied. "This is one of the specimens that Jinjur and Ojo somehow overlooked. From what my crew and I can guess, these things were eating the space satellite from the inside out. Can you figure out why these things, especially this specimen, were aboard the Polychrome 3 in the first place?"
"Sure. Doctor Doctor and I will need time, though. Just give us some space."
Commander Ayja nodded. "Sure thing, Professor Professor. Just take your time."
Inside the broom closet, a Mombi with long, curled up antennae and wavy vivid blurple hair sat in a ball on the floor while stripped down to her undergarments and bound by her hands and feet. Someone had also placed a gag in her mouth, leaving her words muffled. She honestly couldn't believe the situation she was in right now. The last thing she remembered before she was beaten unconscious and left in here was seeing an Impostor come at her with a blunt object and then hit her over the head with it. She hadn't looked at the weapon very closely, but from all appearances, it seemed to have been an eku (more specifically, her own).
How was she supposed to get out of this? The Mombi had to think long and hard before suddenly remembering that her antennae gave her the power to shapeshift.
Of course! the Mombi thought to herself. I can just shapeshift out of these restraints. The question is, what can I shapeshift into?
In her mind, she quickly went through a list of small animals she'd researched during her time on Earth. Through the elimination process, she whittled down her options to rodents. There was the field mouse, the wild rat, the guinea pig, and the chinchilla. In just a few seconds, she decided on the field mouse.
I gotta do this now! the Mombi thought to herself again. It's my only chance.
With that, she wiggled her antennae and began to morph into the field mouse, instantly freeing her from her bondage. Just as quickly as she'd morphed into the field mouse, the Mombi reverted back to her true form and began to unlock the broom closet door.
Despite herself, she couldn't stop herself from trembling just a little bit. "Keep steady, Riedelia. The sooner you can come out of the closet, the better..."
Ayja stopped for a second upon hearing footsteps coming her way. Oh no, what if it was her tormentor coming back? She stiffened up and braced herself. Soon, the door opened to reveal... someone she could only assume to be Victor Volt.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Ayja asked him, confused.
Victor just looked at her, equally confused. "Uh... it's me... Victor. You met up with me and Anita? You joked about an exam I'd have to take?"
"I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"What are you even doing in here? I thought you were with Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor?"
"Victor?" Ayja could hear Anita ask. "What's going on? Who are you talking to?"
Anita came into Ayja's line of sight a few seconds later. Anita immediately squinted her eyes at her and then mentally scanned her from head to toe.
"Commander Ayja, what are you doing in the broom closet?" Anita asked curiously. "Aren't you supposed to be with Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor? And what happened to your uniform?"
"You're Anita, right?" Ayja asked.
Anita nodded her head. "Yes, but you haven't answer any of my questions."
Ayja immediately placed her hands on Victor and Anita's shoulders. "Both of you, you have to believe me. I have something important to tell you."
"Well, what is it?" Anita asked again.
Ayja took a deep breath and let out a sharp exhale. "That wasn't me who greeted you. That was an Impostor."