There was nothing but darkness. Everywhere she looked, dense blackness met her vision. Only her hands, feet, body were visible to her, though from what light she could see herself she didn't know. She was able to walk, but she didn't know where she was going. There was no light to follow and the darkness only darkened. Her NanoCom was nowhere to be found, so there was no way to make artificial light to brighten her path. The bit that kept her on guard, that put goosebumps on her flesh, was that she had the distinct feeling of being watched. Somebody or something was out in the darkness, watching her.
"Hello?" she called, and flinched when she heard her voice echo.
The great and mighty Arthenadites...reduced to a mere child.
She gasped at the deep, baritone sound that pierced the silence. It sounded like it was around her and in her head all at once. The voice was unrecognizable to her, but the tone dripped with malice and contempt. There was the added bonus that while she had no clue who this individual was, they certainly knew who she was.
"Hello?" she called out again. "Who are you?"
You made a foolish mistake coming here. So close to my kingdom. But I would like to thank you. You've made my job of eradicating you that much easier.
She tensed at the words, and spun around once more to search for the voice. There was still only darkness, but she felt the space decrease in temperature. The coolness bit her skin and when she exhaled, she saw her breath form into a little cloud. She attempted to create a force-field over her to retain some heat, but the protection never came. She tried a few more times to will it into being, and then tried for form an energy ball in her hand when it didn't work. To her astonishment and terror, she couldn't call on any of her powers. She was utterly defenseless in the dark with a voice that wished nothing but malice upon her.
You escaped me once before. I don't know what trickery you performed to survive our encounter, but I won't let you escape for a second time. You are the sole remaining Arthenadite, and I cannot - will not - allow you to continue existing.
Her pulse began to race and she had a real fear that her heart would jump straight through her ribs and skin. Her blood pounded in her ears so loudly she was shocked she could even hear the voice speak to her. Could the voice hear her blood pounding? Could it sense her fear? Her body trembled, but she couldn't identify if it was from fear or the cold. Could it be from both?
Did you think you could bring me to ruin? You believe someone as powerful and feared as I would be felled by you? Many have tried, and many have failed, and none of them were a little child. You won't even be difficult to eliminate.
She knelt down and cupped her hands over her ears, trying to keep the words out but it did little good. The voice surrounded her in the empty space and invaded her in her mind. There was no escaping it.
Once you're dead, I will finally have fulfilled by revenge against your cursed race. I will finally have eradicated every Arthenadite from the known universe!
A pair of deep, blood red eyes opened in front of her, spooking her by its suddenness. Quickly, something that resembled an arm shot from the shadows and headed for her. Her eyes widened as she watched the impending attack come for her, accompanied by the voice loudly, and hatefully, demanding for her to DIE!
The pointed claws plunged into her chest and she opened her mouth to release...
...a scream filled with absolute terror as Alice flung herself upward into a seated position.
For a moment, her mind was still trapped in the nightmare she had violently awoken from. Her heart still pounded, threatening to escape if another stressor taxed it, and the blood pounding in her ears tuned out the noise of the real world. Her breathing was erratic as her lungs attempted to get as much air into them and as much oxygen to the brain to help it think straight. Her hand gripped at her pajama top, gripping the exact spot where the claws had penetrated her skin.
"Alice?"
A hand brought itself down on Alice's shoulder. She still lingered in the state between sleep and consciousness, so she tensed upon feeling the contact. It took her a moment to recognize the face staring at her as her friend. Suzy was standing over her, looking at her with worry. The redhead was using her NanoCom flashlight to see, and it was from this lighting that Alice could see Junior sitting up on his cot, searching for his glasses.
Seeing her friends and recognizing she was safe, Alice felt she could breathe easier. It was just a nightmare, she told herself. Just a nightmare. She used to get them as a child, especially whenever she spent the night in Nowhere. It was just a nightmare.
The ache in her chest made her have doubts.
"S-sorry," Alice muttered, struggling to find her voice.
"Are you okay? Was it a nightmare?" Suzy asked, taking a seat on Alice's cot.
"Yes," Alice admitted, dropping her eyes in embarrassment. "S-sorry. For waking you."
"Can't say I'm surprised you're apologizing for having a nightmare," Junior chimed in from his cot, having found his glasses. He stared at her with the same worry Suzy stared. "You know you really shouldn't."
"Especially a scary one," Suzy said, looking over Alice critically. "You're cold, Alice, and pale."
Alice looked down at her arms, finding that her skin did look paler than normal. She felt cold, which was strange because the night air was warm. Even with a blanket over her body, she shouldn't feel as cold as ice.
"Is everything alright here, young ones? I heard a scream."
Alice snapped her head upward, and Suzy turned her flashlight over in the direction of the voice. It wasn't necessary, because the man walking their way was carrying a small lantern to provide light. Despite all the technology Mandark's airship provided, the lantern the man held in his palm was simple and provided a softer glow. Suzy turned off her NanoCom's flashlight because she liked the softer glow better.
The man approaching was a samurai - an honest to goodness samurai, to the team's astonishment -known simply as Jack. The man didn't look like he'd even hit his mid-20s yet, but he was actually a man from the ancient past, according to Ben.
"Yes, I'm sorry," Alice admitted, dropping her head again. "I didn't mean to."
The samurai offered a comforting smile.
"You should not apologize for something out of your control, young one," he said to her sagely.
"See, even Jack agrees," Suzy said, smiling at her friend. "Sooo, wanna talk about it? Nightmares usually aren't so scary once you talk about them."
"I..." don't want to bother you was on the tip of her tongue, but she cut herself off when she remembered who she was talking to. It would just lead to a mini argument that would end in her admitting what had bothered her, so she might as well save time and just retell them her nightmare.
Alice told them about what she went through in the nightmare. About how dark it was and that no matter where she looked or which way she walked, the darkness never let up. She told them about her inability to use any of her powers, and how cold the dream had become. And finally, she told them about the voice that spoke to her, and how it had attacked her, leading to her waking herself and all of them up. Jack and her team looked properly concerned at the mention of the voice.
"Did you ever see who you were talking to?" Junior asked.
"No," Alice answered. "But it had red eyes, and the claws looked like they were branches, or something similar to it."
"A Fusion?" Suzy guessed. "I didn't know they could talk."
"I have heard no reports of this feature," Jack concurred, looking perplexed.
Alice hesitated to answer, because a Fusion didn't feel right. They certainly matched the malice requirement, but this voice spoke to her in too personal a manner to be a Fusion. And then there were the things it said.
You've made my job of eradicating you that much easier... You escaped me once before... Once you're dead, I will finally have fulfilled by revenge against your cursed race... DIE!
Only one person wanted to wipe her out. Only one person she had escaped from. Only one person had made it their lifelong mission to exact revenge on the Arthenadites. The realization shot a chill down her spine, and for a moment she forgot how to breathe.
"Fuse," Alice said, her voice low as if afraid saying the name would make the owner magically appear.
"What?" Junior asked, his mouth dropping open slowly.
"No wonder you had a nightmare," Suzy consoled, patting Alice sympathetically on the arm.
"Have you suffered from nightmares like this before?" Jack asked.
Alice shook her head. The answer caused Jack to frown and close his eyes. He fell into his mind, allowing his thought process to work through the information given.
"I do not believe this is a nightmare you have suffered," Jack proposed, keeping his eyes closed.
The three youths snapped their heads in Jack's direction. They gave each other a confused look, silently asking each other if they knew what the samurai was speaking about before looking back up at him.
"Uhhh, sounds like a nightmare to me," Junior stated.
Jack shook his head, opening his eyes. "I do not believe so. As I recall, you have a connection to Fuse."
Alice tensed up at the reminder. She was getting better about letting it slide, but Ben had made a big deal about how cool Jack was and how he was one of the best warriors that the Earth had. If Jack viewed her as a threat, would he cut her down? He had been nothing but kind to her and the team when they arrived on the airship, but what if he decided she was too dangerous?
"She has nothing-"
Jack held up his hand, cutting off Junior's protest. Reluctantly, the boy shut his mouth, willing to hear out the samurai's explanation.
"I was not implying she was working for him. Many have assured me that she is firmly on our side," Jack said. "Besides, connections work two ways. She is connected to Fuse."
"And Fuse is connected to me," Alice finished.
Jack nodded, confirming this was what he was saying. "I believe Fuse was contacting you while you were unconscious."
"What, like telepathy?" Junior asked.
"It's possible," Suzy chimed in, her tone thoughtful. "You can sense when other Fusions are around; who's to say that isn't a form of telepathy?"
"So he...was talking to me?"
"I believe this to be the case, though I cannot say for certain. It is only my best guess."
Alice looked down at her hands, biting her lip. She didn't like the sound of it, but she found herself agreeing with Jack, which made her blood freeze. The thought of Fuse being able to contact her scared her. If he could reach her in her sleep, what more could he do?
"I will consult with Tetrax to see if something like this is possible. He has been doing investigations on the different Fusion Monsters that roam the island, and may possibly shed a light on the situation," Jack said, his voice calm and reasonable. "I know it may be difficult, but I would advise you all to try and get some sleep. Sunrise is still not for several hours, and you will need all the energy you can get."
"You think we'll be able to get some sleep after this?" Junior asked incredulously.
"No, that is why I suggested you try," Jack replied.
"Jack's got a point," Suzy piped in. "Ben needs our help tomorrow, and the Darklands are too dangerous for us to slip up. Even if it's hard, we need to at least try and get some more shut eye."
Junior sighed dramatically and flopped back on the cot, crossing his arms with a huff. "Fine, fine," he agreed. "But if I wake up from nightmares, I'm playing some President Evil."
Suzy rolled her eyes good-naturedly as she got off Alice's cot. "Oh right, because that wouldn't give you more nightmares."
Junior turned on his side and propped himself up on his elbow.
"Have you forgotten who my dad is?" Junior asked. "I live in the Center of the Earth. I visit the Underworld on the weekends."
Suzy chuckled. She grabbed her cot and wheeled it so that it was positioned next to Alice's. With her cot in place, she climbed in and laid her head on the pillow.
"Alright, fair point," Suzy conceded. "You win this round."
Jack smiled lightly at the light banter the two held, appreciating the way they attempted to lighten the mood for their scared friend. It was a slight change, but Jack saw how her worried brows softened just a little.
Jack knew having them go back to sleep was a difficult request to make, especially because he knew he'd have difficulty following it himself. The thought of Fuse attacking Alice, a mere child, in a state of vulnerability infuriated the samurai so much he wanted to march into Fuse's stronghold and strike the evil overlord down with his blade. At present, it was impossible, and he had to comfort himself with the knowledge that Fuse would be stopped soon.
"I will be close by if you are in need of assistance," Jack told the three. "Goodnight, children."
"Night, Jack," Alice and Suzy said, speaking over Junior's protesting, "I'm not a child!"
Jack smiled indulgently and the boy's complaints and turned away without another word. The light went with him, leaving only the moonlight to help the kids see in the dark; not that it helped much. With some reluctance, Alice settled back under the blanket and put her head on the pillow. She laid on her back and looked up at the stars, taking in the moment of the silence and the warm air and the beautiful stars. Its peacefulness calmed her nerves, and she found that she could almost fall back asleep.
"Are you going to be okay, Alice?" Suzy asked out of concern, keeping her voice low so only Alice could hear.
Alice turned her head to her friend, barely able to make out the concern look on her face.
"I'll be okay," Alice answered.
It was a weak answer, she knew, but Jack and Suzy were right. Ben needed their help in launching Max's satellite, and she would be of no use to her team if she was dead tired. Suzy seemed to recognize this fact as well but didn't call it out. Instead, she offered the blue-haired girl a reassuring smile.
"We're right here, okay?" she reminded the girl. "We're right here if you need us."
Alice smiled at the sentiment and nodded. With no more words needed to be said, Suzy closed her eyes, trying to fall back asleep. Alice followed suit. She closed her eyes and remembered happy memories of her childhood with her mother to help her fall asleep.
The bright yellow sun woke the team from their slumber. Alice was amazed she'd even been able to get some shut eye at all, though very pleased she didn't have another run in with Fuse. Wanting to get a head start on the day, the team jumped into action. They broke down their little camping experience and returned the borrowed items - the cots, the blankets, the pillows - to the Mandroids who were already wandering around the ship doing repairs or setting up shop. The team then retreated inward to the rooms set up for them to change into their normal clothing and grabbed breakfast in the ship's cafeteria where they encountered S.A.C.T. and Plumber agents in various states of wakefulness. By the time they returned to the deck, the airship was bustling with the other inhabitants starting their day.
The team needed to speak with Tetrax, who they had been sent to meet from Ben. Max was setting up a satellite to get a better idea of what Planet Fusion's surface was like. Unfortunately, it was learned that Fuse was planning to shoot the satellite down, so Ben needed the team to shut down the interceptor. Tetrax had scoped out where it was, and so he knew what way to send the team. The airship wasn't very large, so it took them no time to spot the alien up on the deck conversing with Jack and an adult woman dressed in a black suit.
Suzy led the way toward the adults, completely ignoring the ugly sneers the Skyway Agents sent the team's way. Alice grabbed Junior's arm and pulled him along behind her. She wanted to pull him past the minions before he could start a fight like he had the day before. There was bad blood between Mojo's minions and Team Super Stars, and it began when Boomer Bango was released from the Kids Next Door's custody.
Numbuh One had sent Numbuh $1.50 an Hour to facilitate the return of Boomer Bango to Mojo Jojo. The villainous simian had threatened to pull all his Skyway Agents back to him, and while S.C.A.M.P.E.R.s and vehicles were popular, the Skyway Agents were still useful for quick travel, especially so in very dangerous areas, so Dexter agreed to let Numbuh One handle the arrangement since the outpost was under K.N.D. control. The terms of the agreement were that Boomer Bango would be returned to Mojo and the Skyway Agents would remain in operation. While this was agreed upon, there was one more stipulation Mojo demanded just before he shook hands with the 5th grader: Team Super Stars was to be banned from his country, Simian Nation.
Despite the name, it was actually an unofficial nation led by Mojo Jojo. After the infamous fight with the Powerpuff Girls down in Orchid Bay, Mojo Jojo had gone into self-exile. Rumors had floated around that Bubbles had threatened him into leaving Townsville, but nobody could prove it and nobody really cared to set the record straight. While in his exile, he had raised an army and took over the area, uniting Monkey Foothills, Monkey Mountain, Monkey Cove, and Monkey Shorelines into the single entity of Simian Nation. Even when Mojo made his return to Townsville following Fuse's invasion, he still kept a brigade of his minions in the area, doing scouting missions.
Numbuh $1.50 an Hour attempted to remove the condition since Mojo struck it last minute, but the simian refused. He would only remove it if the team fessed to who had assisted them in thwarting his plans. How had the team known to be in the exact spot where his airships were? Who was the traitor that was working to undermine his fantastical plans? Suzy never spoke a word, doubling down that it had been good luck that led them to stopping Mojo's inane plans. So the conditions were finalized when Numbuhs 44A and 44B flew Boomer Bango out of the Outpost: Boomer Bango was returned, the Skyways Agents were still in operation, and Team Super Stars was banned from ever stepping foot in Mojo's dominion.
Junior had snorted upon hearing the verdict and made a snarky comment about how - between Alice's flying and their hovercars - they didn't need to step foot in his land. Suzy had considered the trade off a good deal and the team a martyr because them being blamed kept Mojo from knowing that they had only known of his scheme because Numbuh Vine had tipped them off and because Mandy had sent off a minion of her own to undermine Mojo's actions. Even if Mojo had an idea that someone had betrayed him, he had no proof and this kept Mandy as his liaison, giving her unfettered access to his future schemes.
Jack was the first to spot the youths and offered them a warm smile as they approached.
"Good morning, children," Jack greeted. "Were you able to get any sleep?"
"A few more hours," Suzy answered honestly. "At least until the sun came up."
Jack's smile turned relieved. "I am pleased to hear this." His eyes wandered over the gathered group, lingering on Alice as he asked, "I can assume there were no other issues?"
Alice shook her head at the answer. No Fuse plagued her on her second round of sleeping, though she felt a little off. Something was settled at the back of her mind, like her senses were registering a Fusion Monster constantly nearby. She simply assumed it was the Terrordactyls that constantly circled under the airship that was triggering her, so she shrugged it off and paid it little mind.
"Did we have a perimeter breach?" Tetrax asked. "The Mandroids did not report any such sightings."
"No Fusion Monsters," Suzy answered, reassuring the Petrosapian. "We had other issues."
"Very well, that is good to hear," Tetrax stated. "We've been lucky that the Terrordactyls have been unable to reach these heights, but it is only a matter of time before Fuse figures out a work around."
"Doesn't this ship have some guns to deal with it?" Junior asked, raising his hand to wave it over the airship.
"It does, though we should still be on the defense when it comes to the monsters. Right now, they have the home advantage," the woman answered. She smiled kindly at the youths. "We didn't get a chance to meet yet. I'm Doctor Holiday."
"You're with Providence, right?" Junior asked.
"That's right," Holiday answered. "We haven't met before, have we?"
"Nah, I just know you from papers you wrote," Junior replied. "Aunt Gladys thought she was going to be an E.V.O. six years back and sent some magazines with your work to my mom. Mom kept them and I looked at a few." He shrugged. "I was curious what an E.V.O. was."
"Soooo, what brings an E.V.O. expert out here?" Suzy asked with curiosity.
"Sorry, but I'm not at liberty to say," Holiday said with a smile. "Confidential matters."
"It was worth a shot," the redhead said with a shrug. "So Tetrax, what do you have for us?"
"You have the Shield Fragmentation Device, correct?" Tetrax asked.
"Grabbed it from Hoss Delgado," Suzy answered. She pulled out a simplistic remote with a few buttons and an LED screen from her NanoCom.
"Good," Tetrax said with a satisfied nod. "You will need it to disable the shield protecting Fuse's Satellite Interceptor. Once you have the shield down, the mainframe must be destroyed."
"Sounds easy enough," Suzy commented. "Where do we go?"
"I believe I can be of assistance."
Alice was very surprised by the newest addition to the conversation. Alice made a guess that this newcomer was mechanical in nature, based on their design and the machinery found under a blue, transparent "skin."
"Salutations," the being greeted, raising up a hand. The light flashed with every word he spoke, making it look like someone was flicking a switch on and off repeatedly. "I overheard you speaking of the Satellite Interceptor. Is this correct in this assessment?"
"Indeed, Octus," Jack agreed. "The young ones were just given their assignment."
"I am aware that Max Tennyson is launching a satellite into space, but needs the interceptor to drop," Octus explained. "I have been keeping an eye on the area's energy levels, and have pinpointed the origin of the interceptor." Octus turned in the team's direction so that he was better addressing them. "If I may, I would like to accompany you on your mission today."
"What about your companions?" Tetrax asked.
"They will be handling the assignment on their own for the day. I will analyze the data once they return," Octus answered. "I believe I will be of greater help joining Team Super Stars in bringing down the interceptor."
"First, how do you know who we are?" Junior asked. "I don't remember introducing ourselves."
"It was not very hard to deduce," Octus answered plainly. "As I mentioned prior, I am aware of Max Tennyson launching a satellite because I have been on the satellite project with him. I have even been in continuous conversations with the Tennysons over how to launch it properly. I identified the interceptor and the danger it possessed as well as the solution to the problem." He took a momentary pause, and then added almost smugly, "Besides, Ben Tennyson informed me of your arrival."
Junior blinked at the lengthy response. "Point taken."
"There is a possibility valuable information can be gleaned from the interceptor considering the lengths Fuse has made to ensuring its protection," Octus said, continuing his pitch. "I would like to download its mainframe before we destroy it."
"You know, that's not a bad idea," Dr. Holiday mentioned to her fellow compatriots. "We already know Fuse sends messages through his Gooby Traps, but who's to say he hasn't hidden information in some of his machines?"
"We ultimately need the interceptor destroyed if we want to launch the satellite into space," Tetrax reminded the gathered group. "However, I don't see an issue with downloading anything that may be useful against Fuse. So long as the interceptor is destroyed, then it doesn't matter."
"Don't worry, it'll be destroyed," Suzy assured the alien. She grinned over at Octus. "Lead the way, robot man."
"It's Octus."
Because the team had arrived at Mandark's air carrier at sunset and didn't step off it, Team Super Stars' first impressions of Forsaken Valley was based solely on a top-down observation. From several miles above the jungle's canopy, the island looked wild and untamable with so many trees populated that it was difficult to see the ground. Once they were off the air carrier, it felt like stepping back in time to the Jurassic period. It was like a glass jar had been placed over the island and preserved it, except for the lack of dinosaurs. Fuse's minions took care of that, taking on the forms of pterodactyls, triceratops and frilled dilophosaurus, all of them deadly and eager to attack on sight. Very little was known about Forsaken Valley and the rest of the island referred to as the Darklands. Archaeologists and geologists and historians visited the island and tried to make heads or tails of it, but outside of basically detailing the area's geography, little was known about the island. No one could understand why time seemed to have skipped over the island and left it in its prehistoric prime.
The monsters were more vicious on the island than the team had encountered before. Terrordactyls that hung in the area attacked as soon as the team descended to the ground. It took great delight in exploiting its aerial advantage, although they didn't know that this advantage was rendered useless against the team. Alice's flying alone put her on even terms with the flying dinos, and Junior's tentacles made it possible to drag the monsters down to ground level. The Fusion Monsters never had a chance when they went toe-to-toe with the team. The Terrordactyls were not the team's target, however. According to Octus, they were after the Fossil Crawlers.
Fuse was super serious about not letting anything escape Earth's atmosphere. Not only was the interceptor protected by a shield that was impregnable save for a specially crafted device, Fuse put the Fossil Crawlers in charge of protecting the machine.
"So the plan is to just take out all the Crawlers in the way?" Junior asked.
"Correct," Octus replied. "The Crawlers were put in charge of protecting the machine and have been patrolling the area to keep wanderers away from the interceptor. Based on my scans, the quantity of Fossil Crawlers has dramatically increased since yesterday."
"You mean there's more of them out here?" Suzy asked.
"Indeed," Octus replied. "I have reviewed the sensors on Mandark Industries airship and have noticed the spike in numbers occurring in the middle of the night."
Alice tensed up at Octus' response. Fossil Crawlers - whose job it was to protect the Satellite Interceptor - just happened to have their numbers increased over night? The same night Alice encountered Fuse in her mental space? Did Fuse glean anything from his visit? She hadn't been thinking about the satellite, but who is to say he didn't pop into her subconscious and find it? What other thoughts did he take a peek at? What else did he know?
Everything.
Alice gasped, though even she didn't know if it was from the sudden, sadly familiar voice in her mind or the stinging that started up at the back of her head. She threw her hand up to the back of her head, clutching at it in a vain attempt to dispel it.
Go away! she thought to the voice in her head.
The voice laughed at her, but it seemed to be obeying her since it was shrinking. Before it left her mind completely, she caught its last farewell.
Enjoy my creations.
The voice went away, taking the stinging. As soon as it was gone, her senses went off, warning her at the last second that a monster was upon them. Thinking fast, Alice threw up a protective dome over herself, her team, and Octus. The dome went up just in time - three Fossil Crawlers appeared and rammed the dome.
"Whoa, good catch, Alice," Junior complimented.
"Are you okay?" Suzy asked the girl, giving her a concerned look. "You look pale."
"My sensors indicate that you are experiencing an accelerated heartrate," Octus contributed to the conversation.
"Can we focus on the monsters first?" Junior cut in. He pointed at the world outside of the dome. "Those things just called in their pals."
The three Fossil Crawlers were accompanied by two more packs of Fossil Crawlers, all nine of them spreading around the dome and bashing into it. It momentarily reminded Alice of that horrible day in Devil's Canyon, but she forced that thought from her mind. Now wasn't the time to be reminiscing about the past; she needed to be the present.
Alice called out Nano Bubbles from her NanoCom and then opened a little circle at the very top of the dome. It was big enough for Nano Bubbles to zip out, which the miniaturized Powerpuff did without needing to be prompted. The Nano hovered over the dome and sent a raspberry at the monsters, drawing their attention to the tiny thing. With a giggle, Nano Bubbles used her Tornado Trap on the monsters, sending a spinning tornado at the monsters. Unfortunately, there were too many for the tornado to snag, so a few were still at the dome trying to bring it down. Nano Megas joined its Nano brethren at the top and used its Garden State Slam to put the rest to sleep.
With the immediate threat no longer swarming them, Alice dropped the dome so that the team could finish up taking care of the Crawlers. A few energy blasts, electric shocks from demonic tentacles and hits from a Camp Oar turned the Fusion Monsters into Fusion Matter.
"Very impressive," Octus complimented when the fighting was over with. "I can see why Ben Tennyson recommended you for the job."
"We're Team Super Stars," Suzy told him. "We do nothing less than a super job."
"I really wish you wouldn't say that," Junior complained. "It makes us sound lame."
"Blasphemy," Suzy retaliated.
"My sensors indicate that the Fossil Crawlers are regrouping and heading this way," Octus informed the team.
Suzy raised her NanoCom and called on Nano Raj. The little elephant Nano twirled around upon appearing in the space beside Suzy. He looked left and right, taking in his surroundings before his pink skinned paled.
"Where are we?!" Nano Raj whined. "There's so many scary monsters nearby!"
Suzy ignored her Nano's complaints and focused on her NanoCom's screen. She hummed as she looked at it, moving her finger methodically as she counted up all the blips that popped up thanks to Nano Raj's Mappy! power.
"Yep, about twelve monsters are in the area," she replied. "Let's deal with them and head out for the interceptor. We can't let these things bog us down."
"Alright, but what if we just didn't fight them?" Junior proposed.
"You mean avoid them?" Suzy asked. "I don't think we can outrun them. Maybe we could use Alice to transfer us."
"No, I mean Nano Numbuh Five," Junior replied. "We'll use her sneaking ability to get past them."
"This is a good option," Octus chimed in. "It would cut down on time."
"Shouldn't we shrink their numbers?" Alice asked.
"My companions are handling this," Octus replied. "We should handle our current directive immediately."
"Plus, we can always come back and thin out the numbers when we're finished," Junior assured the blue-haired girl.
Alice frowned for a moment, feeling uneasy about letting the Fossil Crawlers run around, but she had to concede that they were working on a timetable. The sooner Fuse's interceptor was destroyed, the sooner Max Tennyson could launch his satellite into the atmosphere. She nodded her head in agreement. Suzy switched out Nano Raj for Nano Numbuh Five, who did a little backflip when she appeared.
"What can Nano Numbuh Five do for ya today?" the Nano asked, tipping her hat downward.
Suzy grinned at her Nano. "Time to go invisible."
Nano Numbuh Five mirrored the grin and tipped her hat down further. With a declaration of Secret Agent, Nano Numbuh Five obscured the team from the Fusion Monsters' view. Suzy led the team forward with Nano Numbuh Five sneaking beside her, the little Nano swishing her head back and forth to make sure no monsters could see through her cloaking. Octus followed closely behind since he was the one who knew where the interceptor was, and Junior and Alice followed behind. Alice looked over her shoulder more often than she usually did, keeping her senses spread out and keeping tabs on where the monsters were. Surprisingly, the presence in the back of her mind was missing, bringing some relief to her. One less thing for her to worry about.
The team made their trek through the jungle, breaking out of the tree line and stopping at the juncture where the jungle met the beach. Octus stepped in front of the group, taking the lead momentarily.
"Our objective is over there," Octus indicated, pointing to the left of the team, up the beach.
For someone who wanted to keep the interceptor protected, it was strange how the device was sitting haphazardly in the sand. Perhaps the energy shield was protection enough for it, so Fuse felt confident in letting it sit in plain view of anyone who decided they wished to take a walk up the shoreline.
"Hmm, how odd," Octus said, sounding confused.
"What's the matter?" Suzy asked.
"My sensors indicate Fusion Monster energy readings near the interceptor's energy signal," he replied. "This was not there the night before."
"Let me guess," Junior cut in. "Fuse decided to add in more muscle."
"That indeed seems the case," Octus replied.
"No need to worry. We're monster exterminators extraordinaire," Suzy assured, putting a hand over her eyes to shade them from the sun. She squinted off into the distance. "My guess is they're the Terrordactyls since I see something moving in the air."
"You would be correct. Fuse has indeed placed Terrordactyls around the interceptor to protect it," Octus explained.
"Alright. Then the plan will be this: When we're in range, I'll use the SFD to bring the shield down. Octus, you head in and download whatever it is you think is worth extracting. Alice will accompany you and keep the monsters off you while you're busy downloading. She'll destroy the interceptor once you're finished. Junior and I will handle the flying rats," Suzy laid out.
"You sure there's anything worth downloading?" Junior questioned their robot companion. "Its only job is to mess with satellites, right?"
"Correct, and I am unsure of what is on the interceptor's mainframe. However, Fuse has gone to great lengths to keep the interceptor safe, indicating there is something hidden inside," Octus countered. "Even if there is nothing worth value on the mainframe, it is safer to check rather than let the chance pass by."
Junior shrugged. "Well, I can't argue with that." He glanced at Alice. "You okay with this arrangement?"
Alice looked a little startled by the question.
"Back in the jungle you looked a little out of it," Junior continued when he saw the look on her face.
Alice tensed up at the mention. So, Junior had seen that.
"I'm alright now," Alice answered, making sure she sounded convincing.
The nod she got in return from the half-demon sent a flood of relief through her. She didn't want to hide what had happened, but she also didn't want to have to explain it just yet. There were more important things to handle at the moment, and Max and Ben were counting on the team. Once it was all over and they were back on Mandark's air carrier, then she'd tell them what happened. For now, she needed to focus on their mission.
Suzy kept Nano Numbuh Five out as they continued their approach on the interceptor and its Terrordactyl guards. When they were within a few yards of the monsters, several things happened simultaneously. Suzy sent Nano Numbuh Five back into the NanoCom and pulled out the Shield Fragmentation Device, clicking on it. The shield protecting the machine dropped, startling the Terrordactyls who had just noticed the intruders coming upon them. Junior called out Nano Megas and used its Garden State Slam to put a portion of the monsters to sleep. This provided the distraction for Octus and Alice to sneak by - or more accurately, for Octus to grab the girl by her arm and use superspeed to cross the distance. It took the blink of the eye for Octus to bring the two of them to the interceptor.
"My apologies," Octus said to her, removing the paneling that protected the mainframe. "This was the quickest option."
"I-it's alright," Alice replied, blinking and brushing down her hair. She watched him extend a digit and connect with the mainframe. "How long will this be?"
"Only a few minutes," Octus answered her. "Fuse's protection is very weak. It will not take me long."
Alice nodded in agreement, even though he couldn't see it turned away from her like he was. Instead, she turned her back to him and scanned for the Terrordactyls. Majority of the flying dinos were being taken care of by Suzy and Junior, but a few broke off when they realized their main objective was compromised. Alice tapped on her NanoCom screen and Nano Boomer appeared.
"What's up, Alice?" he asked her, floating down by her side.
"Go help Suzy and Junior," Alice instructed him.
His face twisted with some levels of reluctance, but ultimately agreed once he glanced over and saw what monsters they were facing. An excited gleam entered his eyes, and he saluted the girl with eagerness in the action. Then, without another word, he zipped across the open air and slammed himself into one of the approaching Terrordactyls. He didn't even bother to use his Batter Up! ability; he simply zipped up and sat on the Terrordactyl's head, grabbing its fin in one hand and pumping his other fist into the air. Instead of taking the monster down, he was treating it like a bucking bronco needing to be broken.
"Wooooooo~ hoooooooo~" Nano Boomer cheered.
Alice frowned at the Nano's actions, but she wasn't going to call him back. She trusted he'd stop playing around with the Terrordactyl and actually help her teammates trim their numbers. He was already doing a good enough job, since his antics caused the other Terrordactyls on the defensive.
"I am finished," Octus announced. "You may now destroy the mainframe."
Alice spun around, raising her hand to do the deed. As soon as her eyes set sight on the machine, she felt her muscles seize up. The presence in the back of her mind that she thought had disappeared returned tenfold. It produced stinging pain at the back of her head so powerfully that her vision whited out for a moment. When her vision cleared, she found that her legs had given out on her, and she was kneeling in the warm sand. Octus was kneeled beside her, his robot hand hovering over her back. He was speaking to her, but the words were muffled to her ears. Slowly, her hearing came back to her, catching the last bits of Octus saying, "...your teammates are almost finished and we will return to the air carrier. Dr. Holiday should still be on the carrier and can give you a medical look over."
Alice didn't make a response to Octus' words. She instead squinted through the pain and looked at the interceptor. There was a hole through the machine, clear and deep enough for Alice to see through. It wasn't big, so it wasn't one of her energy blasts. She reasoned it had to be Octus who had put the hole through it. The question of how he had done it - though Alice had the theory it involved his fist - was pushed to the side at the sudden feeling of a large creature coming up fast behind the two. Craning her neck over her shoulder, she watched as the trees and plants rustled until a Raging Fossil Crawler broke out of the jungle in a mad dash.
The boss monster rushed along the sand on its four legs. It reared its head up, forming a gooey ball in between its pincers. Alice raised her hand, preparing to throw up a shield to protect herself and Octus. She never got the chance to use her power, and the Raging Fossil Crawler never got the chance to attack its enemies. A giant hatchet blade appeared from above the boss and severed its long neck from its body. The hatchet reared back into the air, and the suit of purple armor wielding it shook the hatchet to fling the Fusion Matter off of it. A smaller suit in golden armor flew past the larger suit and dropped down onto the other side of Octus, who had by now stood up.
"Is everyone alright here?" the suit asked, its voice feminine.
Alice nodded her head. The pain had receded and the presence in her head had shrunk to the state when she had woken up.
"I'm okay." The golden armored newcomer looked familiar to Alice, though it wasn't coming to her. Had she met the armored girl before? She felt she would have remembered if she did. "Uhm...who are you?"
"I'm Corus, a friend of Octus," Corus replied, placing golden digits against the heart emblem on her chest. "My companion over there is Manus."
The companion in question was hacking at the Fossil Crawlers that had followed behind their boss. The purple suit of armor made Fusion Monster fighting look depressingly easy when he was able to just take them out with a single cleave right through their bodies. Seeing the gold and purple suit of armors together sparked a memory in Alice that had her gasping in surprise.
"Wait...Mr. Solomon mentioned you."
"You've met Solomon?" Corus asked in surprise.
"This is interesting," Octus chimed in. If he had a human body, he might have stared at her with furrowed eyebrows. "Though here and now may not be the best place for this sort of conversation. I believe it would be in Alice's best interest to return to the air carrier so Dr. Holiday can check her over."
"I'm alright. I wasn't hurt," Alice pointed out.
"No," Octus replied. "But I do not believe it is normal for humans to collapse out of nowhere."
Alice frowned lightly because Octus did have her there. Human she may not be, having her vision whited out and collapsing wasn't entirely normal. But she knew where it originated from, and she didn't think Doctor Holiday's tests could fix her. She wasn't ready or willing to let this particular secret slip out.
"ALICE!"
She closed her eyes as something small smacked into the side of her head, little arms wrapping themselves around her. Nano Boomer rubbed his head into hers, moving so fast she was afraid she'd get a burn from it.
"I shouldn't have left you. I'm sorry, Alice! I won't ever leave you again. Oh man, do you need Nano Numbuh Three? She's got that healing ability! I'll go get her!"
Nano Boomer willingly offering to grab Nano Numbuh Three - a Nano he had been appalled to be neighbors with ever since her Rainbow Monkey themed house plopped itself on their shared island - indicated how concerned he was for her.
"There's no need," Alice assured the Nano, petting his hair. "I wasn't hurt."
"What just happened?" Junior asked, joining the group. He spared Manus and Corus a fleeting glance, but his sole attention settled on Alice.
"Are you alright?" Suzy asked with concern. "We saw you drop."
Alice flitted her eyes away, somewhat in shame. Junior had asked if she was okay enough for the task, and she had said she was. Now she was sitting in the sand and Octus had to cover for her.
"I fainted for a moment," Alice answered.
"I believe this conversation should be taken to the air carrier," Octus voiced his opinion. "I suggest having her looked over by Dr. Holiday."
"Right," Suzy replied. "We should let Tetrax know we finished and relay this back to Jimmy."
"Do you require assistance?" Corus asked. "Manus and I can carry you up to the air carrier if needed."
"We are not a taxi service," Manus called from across the beach, voicing his complaint.
Corus turned her head in her companion's direction. Though she had a molded face that couldn't convey emotion, Corus' disapproval could be heard in her tone.
"We will provide assistance if we must, Manus."
Manus grumbled but made no further complaint; he had been overruled. The frown Junior shot to Manus was filled with sympathy, probably because he was usually in the exact same shoes as Manus in various scenarios.
"That's alright," Suzy said. "You're friends of Octus, right? He mentioned you were doing things for Tetrax, so we'll let you finish that up. Besides, we'll be alright.
"I can fly us up," Alice contributed, getting onto her feet. Nano Boomer still attached himself to the side of her head, unwilling to release her. It probably made her look silly, but she didn't have the heart to send him away. "I'm alright now."
Suzy stared intently at Alice, like she was trying to discern the lies from the truths. Alice wasn't lying, and Suzy saw that. She nodded her head.
"We'll be alright," Suzy reiterated.
"Very well. We shall meet you when Manus and I are finished dealing with the monsters," Corus said. "Safe travels, my friends. Call if you are in any trouble."
Alice breathed in deeply through her nose, held it for five seconds, and then exhaled slowly. The sun had set only a couple minutes ago, so the breeze on the air carrier was still humid and warm, making it a wonderful night to sit outside under the stars beginning to twinkle in greeting. It was going to be another nice night to sleep outside, and that was the plan for Team Super Stars. As for Alice, she was taking the moment to be alone.
Her friends were down in the halls mingling with the other inhabitants occupying the air carrier. Lance and Ilana - suit wearers of Manus and Corus respectively - were good people, even if Lance wasn't very talkative and kept giving her an intense look. The intensity let up some degree when Octus brought up Solomon and Alice explained the very brief exchange the two had all the way back in the graveyard. Ilana was a social butterfly and got along well with Suzy, which wasn't at all surprising; Suzy was just a likeable person. When Alice saw her opportunity, she slipped out of the mess hall and went up to the top deck where no one but the Mandroids would bother her, sitting at the edge with her legs hanging over. The Monkey Minions were already inside to sleep or gamble, and volunteers that were not bunking down for the night had taken the last S.C.A.M.P.E.R. to the mainland. It was just Alice, the empty deck, and the stars.
Somewhere up in space, Max Tennyson's satellite was spying on Fuse's planet and getting as many pictures of it as it could. The aged Plumber had launched it as soon as Jimmy relayed that the interceptor was no longer a factor. He had been very grateful to the team and sent a personal message to them. The project had been a long time coming, having been thought up ever since the start of the invasion. Now that it was up above the exosphere, Max promised this was going to be a game changer. Alice really hoped so. She really wanted something good to come out of it, some way to discern how they can thwart their enemy.
The thought of Fuse had her touching the back of her head, where she still felt the presence sitting there. It hadn't done anything since leaving the interceptor; the voice hadn't even bothered making a comment. Doctor Holiday's tests had revealed nothing, which didn't surprise Alice at all, though she was disappointed. She had hoped maybe it was something Doctor Holiday could get rid of, but that was sadly not to be. The very thought of her having to live with this parasite at the back of her head made her shiver despite the warmth of the night air.
"You are all alone tonight?" Jack asked.
Alice looked over her shoulder, watching the samurai approach with the silence of a cat. It was pretty incredible how little sound he made despite wearing wooden geta. In his hand was the paper lantern he had carried with him the night before, providing a soft source of light.
"I needed to space to think," Alice replied. "My... mind is a little busy."
"I can understand," Jack said with sympathy, taking a seat beside the girl. "I couldn't help but overhear the conversation your friends had during dinner." He smiled sheepishly at the girl. "My apologies for that."
"It's okay," Alice replied. "You overheard that?"
"Yes. To my understanding, there was an incident that happened at the beach," Jack recapped. "It involved you, didn't it?"
Alice nodded. Jack stared at her knowingly.
"Did it happen to be related to what happened to you last night?"
Alice's eyes immediately dropped to her knees, and she bit her lip. She mulled over the question, trying to think of an answer that would be acceptable, but she didn't need to think up one. Her hesitancy to answer was not lost on the samurai, who looked at her in sympathy.
"I see," Jack responded. "I had hoped he was only bothering you in your sleep. It is a shame that he has been able to do something so heinous in daylight."
"I thought it was my internal radar warning me about the Terrordactyls," Alice admitted, moving her thumbs around to release her anxiety. "But then...he spoke to me and I knew it was him sitting there."
"Was that all he did?" Jack asked her.
Alice bit her lip once more, fearful of how he would receive her answer. She didn't even know if anyone would accept it well. She hadn't had the chance to talk to her friends about what happened down at the beach, and after Doctor Holiday gave her a clean bill of health, Junior and Suzy had almost suspected it to just be a case of heat exhaustion. She hadn't been ready to correct them on the matter because the truth terrified her.
Alice thought about staying silent on the matter, or even lying, but one look at Jack had her deciding against both. Something about Jack made her want to trust him; made her want to divulge everything in the hopes that he would find the solution. Maybe it was because he was from an ancient era and was therefore older than her by hundreds of years. Surely his wisdom could come in handy for her situation.
"I...think he read my mind," Alice answered, hating how her voice choked on the last word. "Octus mentioned that the number of Fusions doubled from last night, and I think that's when he read that I was sent here to destroy the interceptor." She pulled her legs up from over the edge of the air carrier and brought them to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.
"This hasn't happened to me before," she continued, "and I'm scared it's because I'm closer to him. I'm scared of what else he can see in my mind. If I know too much about a mission or a plan, then he'll know, and he can thwart it, or do something worse. What if that causes someone to die? What if that causes him to win? What if..." She took in a shaky breath. "What if he finds a way to control me and I hurt someone under his control?" Tears began to form in her eyes, and she had to fight to not let them fall.
Her emotions got the better of her, and in a small voice, she muttered, "I'm so scared. I don't know what to do."
It was a silent plea for help. All at once she felt like a little girl scared of the Boogeyman. She needed help and guidance, but she was afraid of what she'd actually get. Alice wasn't lost on the fact that she'd just admitted that their enemy could read her mind. She was now a liability to Earth's efforts and anyone she cared about. Would Jack actually help her knowing this new information? Would he think she was worth it, or just send her back to the mainland where she wouldn't be a liability?
Cutting through her downward spiral thoughts, Jack reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder. It wasn't gripping or menacing; it was supportive and comforting, like how Professor Utonium would touch her when she was feeling down. Feeling the contact had her swiveling her head to look at him, surprised yet relieved to see a sympathetic smile on the man's face.
"It is understandable you are scared. Fear is natural and shared among every living creature on this planet. It is powerful, just as Fuse has demonstrated. He has produced such a great fear in you in the hopes of stopping you," Jack explained. "You mustn't let that fear consume you."
"I'm not sure I'm strong enough to fight it," Alice admitted, dropping her head into her arms.
"Everyone has the strength to beat it," Jack encouraged, moving the hand onto her back in a comforting manner. "Even in darkness, the tiniest flame can produce light."
To make his point, he moved the lantern closer so that the warm light alighted on the girl. Alice peeked her eyes over her arms to look at the lantern. She stared at it for a moment before pulling her head away from her arms.
"I don't know how I can stop him," she admitted, expressing her vulnerability.
"The only way is to actually defeat him, something that is not yet feasible," Jack answered. "However, we can try something else in the meantime. If he is entering your mind, then we shall make it impossible to do so."
Alice didn't miss the many 'we's used, but she didn't make a comment on it. She focused more on the solution he was proposing.
"How?"
"We shall use meditation to focus your mind into creating a shield," Jack explained, "protecting your mind from Fuse's future attacks."
"That'll work?" Alice asked hopefully.
"I am unsure. I was subjected to mind control, but nothing like what Fuse is attempting to do to you," Jack admitted truthfully. Alice's shoulders slumped at the answer, but Jack continued, offering her a reassuring smile. "But I believe it will be of great assistance to you. You are able to create shields in the physical realm, so we shall harness that ability and protect you in the mental realm."
Alice thought over the answer for a brief moment. Jack wasn't guaranteeing that his method would work, but what choice did Alice have aside from leaving the island? There was work to be done, and she couldn't keep letting the alien warlord mess with her. She straightened up her back and stared Jack in the eyes.
"Okay," Alice said. "Please teach me how to meditate, Mr. Jack."
Jack smiled encouragingly and set the lantern down to rest beside them. He crossed his legs and motioned for Alice to mimic his pose. He then placed his hands on his knees and watched her turn so she was facing him. She crossed her legs and placed her hands on her knees, waiting patiently for the next instruction.
"Now, close your eyes, breathe in, and focus your mind," Jack instructed, closing his eyes only after he saw her blue eyes disappear. He breathed in and listened as she mimicked him. "Clear it of any distractions and thoughts. Then, imagine a castle wall, strong and sturdy placed around your mind. Fortify it, and make it strong to keep the invaders out. Focus only on this structure."
Alice did as she was instructed. She purged all thoughts and focused only on building a wall like it had been ripped straight from a castle in her mind. She imagined it in stone, and she made it as tall as she could imagine. She made sure there wasn't even a single gap to be found in the stonework, and there were no doors or windows. It was impenetrable. She kept her focus on the walls, ensuring their strength and fortifying them more so that they were better reinforced incase the enemy knocked. Focusing on her task made her feel lighter, made her feel confident that she could protect herself against Fuse and his attempts to break in.
Even better, she felt like it was actually working. The presence in her mind had been shrinking the more Alice worked on her walls until she couldn't even feel it anymore. It was like it had been purged from her all together.
This chapter went through a big reinvention. It was going to take place in Monkey Mountain, but I didn't like how it was going to turn out. It felt boring and didn't offer very much. I made this story 28 chapters, and tried to give each area about seven chapters to each of them, but I had nothing for the last bit of the Wilds area, so I skipped forward to the Darklands.
The team is working on Ben's guide mission "Dark Times" except that Tetrax is the one overseeing the mission instead of Hoss. It always bothered me that we had to talk to Hoss in the Wilds to do missions in the Darklands. For some reason, Dex was the only one with a liaison out in the Darklands while everyone else had to have you go to someone in the Wilds - Double D hijacks Jack for his last three. While the Sym-Bionic trio are mowing down monsters just to keep the numbers down, they're also helping with the Master Weapon arc, specifically around "Going Berserk" when Tetrax was testing his theory.
Alice's "dream" has been in my head for months. I had something similar in the old story, but I knew I wanted another one because of the telepathy Arthenadites possess, which transferred to Fuse. So far Alice has never tried tapping into the mind of a Fusion, but Fuse is centuries old. He's picked up a trick or two.
Numbuh $1.50 an Hour is a one-episode character, but I didn't want to bring in Numbuh One to do the negotiations; so who better to negotiate a prisoner deal than a lawyer? We didn't get to see much of his skills since the Delightful Children interrupted him, but Numbuh Five regarded him as the best, so I think he works.
Simian Nation was first seen in dusky's FUSIONFALL ZERO. I took it because it'd make sense for the egotistical simian to build his own nation, and simply renamed some of the areas. The extra Monkey Mountain and Foothills you see on the map have been renamed to Monkey Shoreline and Monkey Cove, respectively.
Doctor Holiday's outfit is her field outfit from "Dark Passage." The woman is not running around the Darklands in her normal clothing. And Jack referencing his mind control experience is when the Siren's put him under their spell back in "The Scotsman Saves Jack, Part Two."
How I was going to get away with Titan and the Mutraddi was a thought I had to really work through, which is why the trio weren't seen until now. The Mutraddi slipping through to Earth was not a story I wanted to follow because that'd be two invasions to contend with, one larger scale and one smaller scale. So, Fuse has been destroying these aliens as they've been arriving. Fuse is busy invading the Earth to consume it; he does not want to deal with some new guy stirring trouble while he's busy. Since the Fusion Monsters aren't that big aside from bosses - and even then they don't reach kaiju level height - the team hasn't needed to go Titan mode and just remain in their armor form, and even then they don't want to be a big draw to Fuse, who took down Megas and Robo-Dexo 2000.
Darklands was lacking in CN character rep. Of the characters, we had Jack, Tetrax, Demongo and then Albedo & Echo Echo joined in Retro. That was it. So obviously more characters are getting shipped to the Darklands. Right now, all you know is that the Sym-Bionic trio and Doctor Holiday are the newest additions to the Darklands, but they're not the only ones who will be coming to the island.
I also reworked some of Ozpin's speech from the end of RWBY Volume 7 into Jack's speech to Alice. It was too good an opportunity to pass up so I apologize for absolutely nothing.