"FIRE!"

The Star Troopers begin blasting away, with Sammy blocking himself and the others with his energy shield as my force field belt does the same. I begin firing at the soldiers, taking them down with ease. No way can we fight the Commander, so we make a run for it!

"Get back here!"

The Gravity Gauntlet takes hold again and we're pulled back towards Cosmoron, who readies his blue plasma blade. Once he swings it, I manage to dodge it and land a punch, stunning him long enough for us to escape.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! COWARDS!" He laughs. "And here I thought you had honor! You won't get far! All available units! The spies are escaping! Capture and subdue! You have orders to vaporize them if capture fails!"

He only cuts through any doors we seal, and we soon come across the armory again, with the reinforced door buying us time. There's not much weapons here, but Mirpo recovers the confiscated weapons and gear.

"We gotta get back to Earth!" I say. "But there's no way they'll let us use the teleporters now! And I've never flown a ship before!"

"Same here." Sammy says. "Neither has Stanley!"

"Ahem!" Mirpo clears his throat. "Well…guess who's got the fastest ship this side of the Milky Way Galaxy?"

He only twirls his ray gun with a smirk, then sets it on Vaporize.

Seconds later, he kicks the door down and begins disintegrating various Star Troopers. We follow him to the hangar, blasting more soldiers on our way. Soon, we spot the odd one out of the bunch: A flying saucer.

"Oh no, confiscated AGAIN?!" Mirpo curses as we rush towards it.

"Will it fly?" I ask.

"Well, I got it back from the Earth government, so…"

We begin boarding via abduction when Commander Cosmoron cuts a hole in a door and kicks it open. Ooo, he's mad.

"AW COME ON!" Mirpo begins blasting lasers at him, but the plasma blades only deflect them. We get beamed up into the cockpit, and Mirpo begins pressing buttons frantically. "Comeoncomeoncomeoncomeoncomeon!"

The U.F.O. powers up and we begin taking off, but as soon as we fly out of the hangar, the saucer begins glowing blue as Cosmoron begins using the Space Stone to pull it back towards us.

"Gah! No!"

Mirpo struggles and hits full engine power, but the stone's power begins to be too much. However, when he sees the direction he's facing, he gets an idea.

Mirpo then hits the abduction button, and soon Cosmoron yells as he gets pulled towards the saucer, using his energy sword to stab onto the ground and hold him as we engage in a tug of war.

It seems futile, at first. But then Stanley finds the weapons and squeezes the trigger on one of the joysticks. The saucer blasts Cosmoron full force, sending him flying into a wall and freeing us.

"YEAH!" Mirpo whoops. "Nice shooting! Now, you might wanna hold onto something!"

The saucer flies out with a hum out of the hangar, and soon we see Zoron fighters hot on our tail! Mirpo quickly banks away from Earth and flies away!

"Wait!" Stanley says. "We have to-!"

"Yeah, I KNOW!" Mirpo says. "But I can't do that with a hundred fighters on my tail! I gotta lose them first!"

Soon enough, the chase is on!

MIRPO

I bob and weave between enemy fire, silently cursing that this isn't a two-man saucer fighter, otherwise one of them would be able to man the guns and shoot back.

It takes all of my piloting expertise to evade the fleet of Zoron starfighters in hot pursuit, one point swerving into reverse to fire the forward cannons, blowing a fighter up.

I try losing them behind the Moon, and that's when I notice that there's some kind of green glowing aura on it. Radioactivity?

"What in the…?" Billy and the rest notice it too. And that nearly gets us blasted when a stray laser bolt narrowly misses us and makes another crater!

I kick the engines into full power and blast into Mars, looking rather ancient in these past times. Knowing the landscape, or what becomes of it, I use the home terrain to my advantage, ducking in between canyons and threading the needle. Quick swerves here and there, and I can imagine one of the pilots letting out the Howie Scream before crashing into a canyon.

But these guys must have a lot of pilots, because I can't exactly get them all on the planet's surface, and I'm forced back up into space.

"There!" Billy points. "We can lose them in the asteroid field!"

"With THOSE odds?!" I yell. "I'll take it!"

I swerve through the field, blasting any incoming space rock that could smash into my ship. More starfighters aren't so lucky, and get smashed, crash, and spiral out of control before exploding!

The ship gives it everything she's got, but I don't know how much longer she can keep her force field up! Combined with blocking the meteors and blaster fire, her levels are dropping quickly!

"AH!"

I narrowly swerve out of the way to avoid another fighter flying right at me, and the saucer's adjusted to have the two starfighters accidentally blast each other into space dust! Another then fires missiles at the ship, and they relentlessly pursue us!

"Gah! I can't shake 'em!" I groan. "Hang on!"

I do a barrel roll (okay, an aileron roll), spinning the saucer multiple times as the three passengers are thrown about while I try not to get sick. This ends up confusing the targeting systems, and the spinning missiles end up crashing into each other!

"Yes!" I pump a fist. "Thank you, Skywalker!"

I keep blasting more fighters as I lure others into crashing into asteroids. It takes a while, but I don't see anymore on our tail!

"Yes! We did it!"

Suddenly, another meteor is blasted apart, and through it emerges a more advanced starfighter…piloted by Commander Cosmoron!

"No! We did NOT do it!"

I try shaking him and luring through the asteroids, but he's good. TOO good! I swerve around and try to blast him, but he's got an even stronger force field! And once we dodge a powerful blast that completely pulverizes a meteor, I yell. No, I am NOT having this girl end up like that space rock!

The dogfight chase goes on for a while, but then I realize…he's too good!

"I…I can't lose him!" I yell, narrowly dodging blaster fire. Shields at 60%...50%...40%...

That leaves only one option left. And then I gasp…

No…it's too risky! What if it malfunctions again?! No way can I stand going back in time again!

Stanley yells as another blast narrowly misses the cockpit! Gah! Cosmoron's relentless! I don't think I have a choice!

"EVERYONE!" I yell. "HOLD ON!"

I begin increasing speed as I exit the asteroid field and fly into empty space, Cosmoron being backed up by more wingmen! And then, I cross my fingers…

And activate the Warp Speed Hyperdrive.

"Come on, come on, please work…"

They begin gaining on us the wingmen firing at us like crazy! I hear the drive power up as I keep boosting forward.

"Come on, come on!"

I look behind us, and Cosmoron's fighter begins charging up a powerful blast! And the shields have been depleted! If that blast hits us, we're finished!

"Come on, big girl…" I whisper. "Please don't fail me now…"

I grab the thruster lever, and once we hit maximum top speed, I thrust it forward and punch it!

And then, we blast off as a white flash explodes all around us…

They had nowhere to run. Nowhere for miles. They were sitting ducks out here. And the wingmen were blasting away until the spacecraft ran out of shield energy. And then, Cosmoron powered up his cannons.

"I've got you now…"

The charge up completion was rapidly increasing. 70%...80%...90%...

Something seemed to be happening to the craft, too. It was sparking. Perhaps it was critically damaged. Meaning it was time to put the craft out of its misery…

When the charge hit 100%, he pulled the trigger. And the blast bolt seemed to move in slow-motion as it neared the craft.

And then…

BWOOSH!

"WHAT?!"

He braked the fighter to a halt. The spacecraft had…vanished quickly off into the distance! But…but how?

"Commander?" Predator One asked. "Where'd they…go?"

"No craft has ever moved that fast before." Cosmoron only remarked. "We DID complete the reverse-engineering of the technology, right?"

"Our scientists got the last bit of it a while ago, before they escaped." Predator Two confirmed. "Apparently the tracker we placed on the craft shows that it's…all the way at Terra?!"

"What?! Impossible! That's galaxies away!" Cosmoron yelled. "Check it again!"

"These…Martians, was it?" Predator One asked. "Are their fighters capable of…light-speed travel?"

Technology that allowed for…movement at the speed of light?! Cosmoron couldn't wrap his mind around this. First time travel, now this?!

If the Galactic Government got a word on this, and acquired the technology…

"Inform the Furon." Cosmoron ordered. "And report back to the Arbiter. What we have here is a situation…"

I barely hear myself screaming as the lights flash all around me. My skin feels like it's gonna peel clean off, and finally, I find the thruster and pull it back. Suddenly, we emerge back into outer space, and I'm left panting and gasping.

"We're…we're alive!" I gasp. "We're ALIVE! Hahahaha! I…I can't believe it! It WORKED! Wait, what year is it?!"

"Uh…2023…" Stanley says, checking his phone.

"Ah, phew!" I slump back down into my seat. Hey, the fleet's not around Earth anymore! And…hey, did the continents change? How'd THAT happen?

"Uhhh…guys?" I ask. "Is it me, or does Earth look…different?"

"That's not Earth…" Billy says. "That's Terra! My home planet!"

"Ooooooh! I get it now!" I chuckle. "Earth and Terra are two separate planets!"

Suddenly, we get another transmission. This time, Billy answers it.

"No need to panic, Admiral Al." He says. "This craft's with me."

"Billy? What's going on?"

"Long story short, Sammy and I came across a Martian from the future, and we just escaped from the Zoron fleet. And we've learned that their Furon, Flemen, is on Earth."

"Flemen?" Al asks. "Your parents said he was taking the disguise of Mr. Fleshman. And he was just destroyed by a kid called Jack Archer. The Zoron Empire's been dealt a heavy blow today, but my gut tells me there'll be a new Furon. Report back to your station. The fleet should be retreating by now. Regrouping back at their homeworld of Zoron 0."

"Copy."

The transmission ends.

"Zoron 0?" I ask. "What kind of planet is that?"

"It looks like a black hole, so many spacecraft tend to avoid it." Billy says. "Plus, it's dangerous. It's where the Empire has their main base of operations."

"Oooookay…Ooo! That reminds me! I gotta report back to MY guys!"

I turn the saucer around and fly back to Earth. This time, the Warp Speed Hyperdrive works like a charm, and it takes us about 10 seconds of lightspeed travel to arrive back. Sure enough, the fleet is gone, so I fly us back down towards Hollowville.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for flying Air Mirpo." I announce. "And I thank YOU for helping me kick some asteroid."

CORY

The green parasitic Xenos drop dead and explode into green goo, with the blue soldiers being teleported away. All of us just stand there in confusion.

"Woah…" I say. "Okay, what…just happened?"

That's when I got a call from Billy. I only put it on speaker.

"Furon is down." He says. "I repeat, Furon is down."

"Did you blast 'em?" Lisa asks.

"He was on Earth in Hollowville this whole time. Admiral Al told me everything." He says. "Reports from my parents say that Flemen was taking the disguise of Mr. Fleshman, and he was killed by one Jack Archer via entering his brain, thus breaking his control over all subjugated humans."

"Jack Archer?" I ask. "I think I met him before…"

"When we first heard of aliens!" Lisa realizes. "And he just joined the MS after reporting weird behavior from his neighbor! Who he said was Fleshman!"

"Well, tell him I said nice going! He just saved Earth!"

"We'll meet up back at Dead House." Billy says. "But the Empire won't let this go unpunished. A new Furon will soon replace him. And I have a pretty good idea who that might be…"

"So?"

"I'll explain when we get back. If you thought Fleshman was bad, wait until you hear about this guy…"

MIRPO

"Cosmoron?" Lisa snickers. "More like Cos-Moron! Hahahahahaha!"

Billy and the rest have told them all. Including the Space Stone, the Starry Knights, all of it. Meanwhile, my communicator back to the A.D.B. goes off.

"Uh, I gotta take this. It's business."

I use the O.M.N.I. to change back into Martin and duck into a nearby room, and then I pick up.

"Well, I think I got a lead on these invasion plans…"

"It seems to have stopped." The general says. "But we suspect this to be only the first wave. Stay where you are and continue to monitor any extraterrestrial activity you come across. And report back your findings."

"Copy." All too easy.

The transmission ends, and I head back over.

"So yeah…I'm with the government." I state. "Investigating any alien activity."

"As an alien?" Lisa asks. "Wow, talk about undercover."

"Hey, I'm used to laying low. I-Is it okay if I tell them about your planet and the other government and all that?"

"Not sure." Billy says. "They might react in hostility. Plus, your world's not advanced enough to be a part of it. But it will be under our secret protection."

"Hey, we're a welcoming world!" Lisa says. "Besides, it's probably for the best that the people think that aliens don't exist."

"Couldn't have said it better myself." I replied. "So uh…is it okay if I crash at this Shadow House place that Billy mentioned to me on our way back?"

Something was wrong. The transmission wasn't getting through.

"Furon! Furon, do you read me? The spies escaped! And their vessel is capable of light-speed travel! Furon, come in, over!"

Nothing. Radio silence.

The commander sighed. Another casualty…

"Light-speed, you say?"

"What?!" He asked. "Who IS this?! How did you get a hold of this communicator?!"

"Oh, don't sound so shocked." The voice said. "I'm the one Mr. Fleshman struck an alliance with. Call me Slappy."

"You're the employer? What do you know of his disappearance? Was it K.I.A.?"

"I know all too well what that car model is, dummy! Apparently it was because of a human child."

"WHAT?! Killed by a mere HUMAN?! AAARGH!"

This was humiliation! Like being killed by a mere monkey! This insufferable act could not stand!

"Oh, but I know a thing or two about getting revenge…Furon Cosmoron."

He paused. He was the second-highest ranking official just below Furon. He looked at the soldiers, then turned back pressing his ears to the communicator.

"Continue…"

The shuttle landed at the coordinates given by the Slappy man. Once the doors opened, Cosmoron stepped outside. It looked like a place made for…entertainment.

He and the two escort soldiers made their way inside the place. There were all kinds and manner of creatures. Undead necrotic beings. Living bones. Canine-like creatures. Living decor. A massive insectoid. As well as a man in a costume, an aquatic creature in a robot body, a three-headed beast, a white furry ape creature, a human in dark armor, and…a wooden figurine?

"Welcome, my dear invaders." The wooden man giggled. "Welcome…to Horrorland."

He only stared at the figure. The voice was indeed that of Slappy's…

"Is this a joke?" Cosmoron asked. "Instead of meeting me yourself, you send this little puppet to do your dirty work?"

"Oh…if I'm a puppet, then I'm the kind who cut off his own strings." Slappy stated.

"I said much the same." The dark knight stated. "But with his help, I was able to bring myself and my army into this era. He would rule the future, I would rule the past, if we succeed, creature from beyond the sky."

"He promised something similar, homo sapien." Cosmoron stated. "He conquered this planet, the empire would colonize the remaining planets in this galaxy."

"Oh, and with my help, that will BOTH happen." Slappy said. "Because I have something very SPECIAL for you two. You're both the leaders of powerful armies, both of ancient magic and interstellar technology. Who knows? They could be more compatible than originally thought. And you will be but two. Two of eight powerful monsters."

"Are you saying we would be your minions?"

"Not minions." Slappy says. "Partners in crime. Now that I have access to both magic and alien tech, it's only fair I give something in return. For King Robert here, I gave him a crate with the armor of an immortal Evil Knight that my friends "borrowed" from an archeological expedition. As for you…I offer the ingredients to create a weapon. A weapon that can help fuel your revenge."

The robot holding the fish steps forward, presenting several vials of light yellow liquid. Cosmoron only took them.

"This better not be what I think it is." He says. "Otherwise we'll see what you look like splintered."

"Oh, it is neither urine nor a joke." The fish says via the robot body. "You'll find that D13 has some beneficial changes."

He recalled something. Yes, a son. Flemen had a son. If anyone wanted revenge, it would be him.

"Do not fail me." Cosmoron said before departing with the vials back to the Arbiter.

"On the contrary, my big blue buddy," Slappy said. "It should be YOU who should not fail ME."

He only scoffed. Failure? That is something the Zoron Empire only knew little of. Only growing stronger with each one.

With this…preparations for another invasion of the planet would soon be underway…