Sunflower had gotten back from a quick visit to the pharmacy. She had bought vitamins and medicine for Peashooter, and special flu medicine for Marigold. Peashooter took the vitamins and medicine, thinking that perhaps they would nullify his aches.

"Here Mary, the pharmacist Sunflower made you an extra strength flu syrup. Hopefully this will make you feel better." Sunflower said to Marigold.

"Thank you." Marigold replied.

As Marigold took a sip of medicine, Crazy Dave and Penny stepped outside of the garage carrying pieces of the Temporal Teleporter to assemble near the garden.

Penny designed the teleporter to be easily assembled and disassembled for ease of transport and to minimize the risk of Crazy Dave making a mistake when putting it together. After the teleporter was completed, Crazy Dave's smartphone began ringing, which he answered promptly.

"Hello? Welcome to Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies! May I take your order?" Crazy Dave joked.

"This is Kernel. I am due for a landing at my farmyard airstrip. Can I expect a hero's welcome?" Kernel spoke.

"You know we'll always do that for you. You've been doing a heckuva job. I'll get the other Plants to meet you there. They're gonna be happy to meet you in person!" Crazy Dave said.

"Thank you, sir. I'll be seeing everyone soon. Over and out." Kernel finished, breaking communication.

"Hey everyone! Wanna go meet Colonel Kernel? The Timey-Wabby-Wo can wait." Crazy Dave called out.

Crazy Dave and Penny left for the farmyard, leaving the rest of the Plants to decide on attending or not.

"Are you going to meet Kernel?" Peashooter asked Sunflower.

"Yeah, sure. Are you?" Sunflower said in return.

"Of course, why not? Supposedly he's been recruited for a while now, and Crazy Dave never mentioned him once to us. Do you have any idea why?" Peashooter asked.

"Maybe Crazy Dave wanted to keep Kernel's name under the covers so that Zombie spies can't track him. Either that or he…just forgot to mention Kernel." Sunflower replied.

"Cactus, are you coming?" Peashooter called to Cactus, who was still cuddling Andy.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm going. Andy's coming with me too." Cactus responded.

"Should Chomper come too?" Peashooter said, eyeing the still napping Chomper.

"No, let him rest. He deserves it." Sunflower responded.

"Should I come too?" Marigold quietly asked.

"Well, you already sound better after taking medicine, but I think you should get some rest. Just take the week off until you can eat solid food again." Sunflower suggested.

"Oh, alright then." Marigold replied in understanding.

"We're with you all the way chap." Agent Pea said.

"Time to make an acquaintance with the Colonel." Law Pea added.


Crazy Dave, Penny, and the Plants eagerly awaited the arrival of Kernel, looking up at the skies above the farmyard. Crazy Dave's smartphone started ringing again, which he answered immediately.

"Hello?" Crazy Dave said.

"This is Kernel. Am I clear for landing? I don't want anyone to get hurt." Kernel spoke.

"Clearer than the sky on a wedding day!" Crazy Dave answered.

"Excellent. Butterhawk incoming!" Kernel finalized.

Kernel's aircraft fighter, called the Butterhawk, could be seen soaring through the cloudless skies above the farm. Kernel slowly and smoothly piloted the Butterhawk onto the airstrip, and slowed to a halt. Kernel stepped out of the plane and promptly saluted everyone present. Crazy Dave tipped his hat, Penny beeped in acknowledgment, and the Plants greeted Kernel with applause.

"How are you Kernel? Feeling jetlag?" Crazy Dave said to Kernel.

"Jetlag is for infrequent flyers. But the only things I've been able to eat are ration packets and airline peanuts." Kernel replied.

"I'm gonna make some tacos for you! Anything you want." Crazy Dave offered.

"Your tacos are always a treat, sir. Thank you." Kernel said with a grin.

"Before you ask me User Dave, I must decline travelling back in time to retrieve a taco for Kernel. My, uh…battery is running low." Penny stated, sickened of going back in time to perform mundane tasks for Crazy Dave.

"Don't worry Penny. For Kernel, he'll have the honors of a fresh-made taco served by yours truly." Crazy Dave responded.

"By the way, sir, didn't you hire two new mercenaries for the team? Have they arrived yet?" Kernel asked Crazy Dave.

"That's right! We still have to bring them over here. But I don't know how to do that. Penny, can you help us?" Crazy Dave said.

"We have discussed the process that which we will perform, User Dave. Let us go back to the Temporal Teleporter and bring our new mercenaries to the present." Penny responded.

"Righto!" Crazy Dave exclaimed, leaving alongside Penny.

Kernel made his rounds to introduce himself to the other Plants.

"So, I'm sure you all know me by now. The name's Kernel. Great to have your company on this fine day." Kernel said to the group.

"Mah name's Law Pea. How are ya doin'?" Law Pea said.

"Agent Pea, 007, at your service." Agent Pea said.

"I have to ask, does the 007 mean anything significant?" Kernel asked Agent Pea.

"Not really, I only have that mark because I was the 7th applicant at the old agency I worked for. The number stuck, the rest is history." Agent Pea replied with a smile.

"You are Kernel? My name is Commando Pea!" Commando Pea shouted.

"Heh, I know who you are. I've never seen a more passionate soldier than you. I think you should tone down on the protein shakes." Kernel joked.

"Protein shakes are delicious! They're better than eating rations and sugar cubes, for sure!" Commando Pea responded.

"I like your passion, Commando. I'm going to enjoy being a part of your team." Kernel said.

"Sir, my name is Peashooter. Do you know me?" Peashooter spoke up.

"Yes, of course I know you. You're one of the frontline soldiers of the group just like the other Peashooters. You've been doing an excellent job, by the way. I'm proud of your team." Kernel stated.

"Thank you Kernel." Peashooter said with a tiny smile.

"One last thing, kid. I know your team has been at a loss for Peashooters. Is it just you four now?" Kernel asked the peashooters.

The peashooters nodded, prompting Kernel to continue.

"Well, I want you to know something. I've heard rumors from my comrades in France that there are at least two other peashooters alive somewhere in the world. But don't take my word for it unless we can confirm it later. Don't want to give anyone false hopes, but this is what I have heard. That is all." Kernel stated.

Hearing Kernel mention rumors of surviving peashooters sent a surge of optimism through Peashooter. He simply wanted to feel secure with the knowledge that the Peashooter race would outlast the war. Knowing the current status of the war, he knew that it was going to be a critical decision to either allow more peashooters to fight (at the risk of dying), or to keep them sheltered (at the cost of a potentially weakened militia).

"Do you know who these peashooters are?" Peashooter asked Kernel.

"I've only heard these rumors for about a week, so no intel on the identity of these peashooters. Sorry about that. You seem to be anxious for their safety." Kernel answered.

"I just don't want any more peashooters to lose their lives. I've seen too many of them die now." Peashooter said in response.

"I'm with you, Peashooter. I've lost just as many friends in battle. But we're both still here, aren't we? That's the most anyone can ask for, a chance to continue living. Sounds good?" Kernel said as he placed his hand on Peashooter's shoulder.

"Yes…" Peashooter said quietly.

"Good. It's great speaking with you. Stay strong, Peashooter!" Kernel said with a smile.

"Hi Kernel! I'm Sunflower!" Sunflower chirped.

"Hello Sunflower. Are you the frontline medic?" Kernel replied.

"Just another part of the team." Sunflower said.

"I see." Kernel said and nodded.

"Hey Kernel! I'm Cactus, and this is my fiancé, Andy." Cactus spoke up, holding Andy in her arms.

"Ah, yes. The bride-to-be. Crazy Dave spread the word to everyone in my squadron. We celebrated with a bottle of champagne and pack of hardtacks." Kernel said with a smile.

"C-Crazy Dave told you? I uh…I had no idea. I thought it was just between me and my friends." Cactus muttered, her cheeks flushing pink.

"You wouldn't want to keep something like that to yourself would you? You're a very lucky Cactus, and this little guy is a very lucky armadillo. If you don't mind me asking, will I be invited to the big day?" Kernel asked while gently patting Andy on the head.

"Of course! How can I say no?" Cactus beamed.

"Excellent. Let's get going, soldiers. If we don't hurry, Rose and Citron are going to be waiting for us." Kernel said to the group.


The Plants stood alongside Crazy Dave and Penny as the two prepared the Chronal Immunity Core to be sent through the teleporter.

"So we just twist it here, spin this doodad, press the big red button, and bingo! Awesome jawbreaker!" Crazy Dave exclaimed.

"Rose, Citron, we are about to send the core through the teleporter. If we have constructed the teleporter and the core correctly, a portal should appear at the specified spacial and temporal coordinates and a metallic orb should appear on your end of the portal. To make certain that you will be safe when travelling through our portal, you must toss the orb back through the portal so that it will hopefully return back to our side." Penny instructed to Rose and Citron through her chronal communicator.

"Let me translate that into Crazy Dave talk! We're gonna play catch with a metal ball and portals so that you don't pull a muscle when you use the teleporter." Crazy Dave spoke up.

"I understand. Who gets the first catch?" Rose asked.

"You can have the first toss. I hope you are content with that, Citron." Penny said.

"Rose may get first dibs, but I always get the last laugh baby!" Citron boasted.

"Very well. Crazy Dave, the honor is yours." Penny said to Crazy Dave.

"Here goes something!" Crazy Dave shouted as he tossed the core into the teleporter.

The teleporter flashed a blinding blue light as the core was transported across the fabric of time and space. Immediately, Rose responded through her communicator.

"Oh, that was fast! What a shiny little ball! I can see my reflection as clear as a mirror!" Rose said, clutching the core.

"Incredible! My readings indicate that the core made it to its destination in a near instant, Planck time, the shortest amount of time that can be significantly measured!" Penny beeped excitedly.

"Whazzat, Penny? Can you translate that to Crazy Dave talk?" Crazy Dave said, clearly perplexed.

"I am saying that the core works as we intended User Dave, it transported instantly to its destination. But before we truly celebrate this achievement in quantum science, we need to see if the core can return back to us." Penny explained patiently.

"I'll just put this here." Rose sang, as she tossed the core back through the portal.

As expected, the core travelled instantaneously to its starting point, at the foot of Crazy Dave.

"Absolutely remarkable! Hail science!" Penny electronically cheered.

"Hey! Does that mean we're clear for takeoff?" Citron asked through his communicator.

"If the core could travel to Rose's location and back, both of you should be fine to travel through the teleporter as well." Penny responded.

"Wonderful! So, do we step through at the same time, or take turns?" Rose asked.

"Hmm…I don't believe there would be conflicts in the transportation of your organic matter if you stepped in at the same time, but just to be safe, you step through first Rose." Penny instructed.

"Go ahead then. The last laugh's still mine!" Citron said.

"Dainty as the feather of a quail, swift as a shrew in the moonlit night, I go forth!" Rose said poetically as she stepped through the portal.

She appeared on the other end of the portal within seconds of stepping through, producing a blinding blue and pink flash of light. She blinked a couple times to reorient herself and smiled before the Plant team.

Rose was a Dark Age sorceress who mastered many powerful magic spells, such as the ability to slow down enemies in an aura, transform her body into an indestructible cluster of magical energy, and turning enemies into goats for a few seconds. She preferred floating gently above the ground as opposed to walking, for she discovered her natural ability to float at a young age and felt that there was no point in walking on the ground anymore. Her Time Snare spell was the closest she ever got to controlling and travelling through time, a concept that no magic tomes seemed to help her understand. When Crazy Dave and Penny contacted her and hired her as a mercenary, she saw it as an opportunity to learn more about manipulating time and a chance to get away from her lonely castle.

Rose curtsied and introduced herself to her new companions.

"Greetings, salutations, or however you say it in this era! Hello my friends!" Rose spoke melodiously.

"Welcome Rose. There was a 1.25 second delay in your arrival through the teleporter, but you seem to be fine." Penny stated.

"Oh, I'm always fine and tidy! Very few things can tatter me." Rose said with a grin.

"Hang on now, I'm going in!" Citron shouted through his communicator.

Citron appeared through the teleporter in a blinding flash of blue and orange light, tightly curled into a ball. He smoothly transitioned from ball form to regular form and gave a gleaming smile.

Citron was a bounty hunter from a future era. He was a quadrupedal orange equipped with armor, an orange laser beam cannon to melt Zombie targets, and a cybernetic peel shield to protect him from onslaughts. His usual job was to eliminate high value Zombie targets and collect their bounty, in his time period. However, after being contacted by Crazy Dave and Penny and being offered a job as a mercenary for the Plant team of the present, he jumped in on the opportunity to save the world from a Zombie infested future and make a fortune while he was at it.

Citron perked up his sunglasses and gave a wink to everyone around him, introducing himself immediately afterwards.

"The name's Citron! I am an orange from the future. There's no time to explain!" Citron said, chuckling at his own statement.

"You don't have to explain anything, Citron. You are here now. Welcome to the Backyard Battleground. It's less of a battleground and more of a safe house, but we are searching for other prospects." Penny explained.

"It is true, you don't have to explain anything. My crystal ball showed me everything I needed to know about the fate of the Plants. I may not be able to control time very well, but my vision extends far beyond my own era." Rose stated.

"The hunter HQ was going to send me back in time to kill some Zombie targets before you contacted me. By taking this job, I'm kicking two asses with one boot!" Citron stated.

"Great to have you two here! We need to initiate you two somehow. I know! I'm gonna make you a taco buffet!" Crazy Dave chimed.

"User Dave, there are more foods to eat than just tacos. We have hot dogs that you don't seem to be interested in." Penny attempted to say.

"Hot dogs! Toast my overalls! I've gotta make some of those too! I'm gonna go now, I have to prepare the food!" Crazy Dave shouted, quickly running out of the garden to the back of the backyard.

"Does he always behave like that?" Rose asked Penny.

"It would be peculiar if he didn't act that way." Penny responded.

"*giggles* What a character! I like him already!" Rose commented.

"Hey you two! It's me, Kernel, your commanding officer for the team." Kernel addressed Rose and Citron.

"Wonderful. I trust you will lead us to victory?" Rose said.

"Can't make promises, but damned if I didn't try!" Kernel responded.

"I'm used to taking orders, but I prefer doin' my own thing, you know?" Citron said to Kernel.

"Hey, I'll try not to get in your way. Whatever keeps you breathing." Kernel replied.

"Thanks. So when do we get to crush some Zombies?" Citron asked.

"Not for another week, according to Dave." Kernel answered.

"What?" Rose and Citron responded.

"You heard me, Crazy Dave has given us a week to recuperate and abstain from fighting battles." Kernel explained.

"I was looking forward to getting to work, to be honest." Rose muttered, twirling her wand in her petals.

"Don't you know who I am? I'm Citron! I need my daily dose of ass kicking, or else I suffer a case of Vitamin Badass deficiency." Citron ranted.

"*chuckles* You know, you're quite a personality yourself! Do you always speak like this?" Rose asked Citron.

"Bounty hunting's a dangerous and not always fun job, so I gotta lighten it up whenever I can." Citron answered.

"Now, now, I know. It's disappointing to not get straight to fighting. But I gotta tell you. I just got back from the Zombie war in China, so I'm open to any clause that says I get a vacation day away from it. Crazy Dave told me something a little more interesting than just having to sit around. He's hosting a wedding for a happy couple." Kernel said.

"A wedding! Who's the happy couple?" Rose asked.

"These two, right here." Kernel replied, motioning to Cactus and Andy.

"Hello!" Cactus chirped, cradling Andy in her arms.

"*laughs* Ah, I see! I finally get to meet these two! You're Cactus, and that's Andy, correct?" Rose said to Cactus.

"Yeah, this is my bae." Cactus said with a smile.

"Are you sure your fiancé didn't get turned into an armadillo by accident?" Citron spoke up.

"Oh, Citron! Don't be rude!" Rose playfully scolded Citron.

"It's cool. Andy's in on the joke too." Cactus said.

"So does that mean we get to attend your wedding day?" Rose politely asked.

"Of course you do! You're all welcome to join!" Cactus beamed.

"Splendid!" Rose cheered.

"So, your groom to be can curl into a ball and roll around? You're a lucky girl, you know that?" Citron commented.

Cactus burst into fits of laughter, causing the happy sensation to spread to every other Plant contagiously.

"My goodness, it's so nice to be somewhere different aside from an empty castle. I love this era already!" Rose whispered to herself.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I really have to explain myself. I had a "finished" draft within a few days of writing Chapter 13 and was going to upload it, but then the Internet stopped working for some reason. Since I couldn't upload, I looked over the chapter again, shook my head and thought to myself: "This won't do", and started rewriting. I ran into writer's block trying to convey what I wanted and still have the chapter flow well, until at long last, it was truly done. I don't want to make promises or disappoint anyone that enjoys reading my story, but I am afraid that I may or may not be burned out. Since I've finally finished this chapter, things should be much smoother now, but once again, I don't want to make promises. My parents are returning from their trip in a few days, so I may be running around again until we go back home. Once again, I apologize for not updating more regularly, and I greatly appreciate the support everyone has given me since the beginning of this story. Thank you so much everyone.