Big Guy glanced from side to side, looking for his target but he saw nothing except for the city and the trees and grass at the outskirts.

"Where is it? People have seen it heading this way from the forest and they said it was huge. So where could something that big have gone to?" Big Guy wondered.

"Don't know Big Guy. I'm not picking up anything strange. This place is the same as it was before," Rusty said. "I know people have seen it but what are we supposed to do when we can't find it?"

"The only thing we really can do Rusty, is wait. It wants to be found but not quite yet," Big Guy replied. "At least that's what I believe. Let's head back."

Rusty smiled and nodded in agreement before they started to head back.

"There's been no sign of any trouble lately, not even from Hapar. Wonder what happened to him?" Rusty mentioned.

"Don't know sport but we all know he's nearby. All we can do is we wait and see what happens. He's not going to give up that easily," Big Guy told him.

Rusty nodded before he found himself being pushed forward. He soon found himself head first into the ground. Big Guy turned to find something that surprised him. He found a giant figure, covered entirely in mud that was about the same height he was. The figure turned to face the bigger of the two robots.

"You will both be finished. Hapar will claim this planet as he own," the figure loudly exclaimed.

"You must be mistaken about something since no one is going to take over our planet. At least not while we're around," Big Guy replied.

The muddy figure laughed as he walked towards the robot. Rusty shook his head free of some mud before flying into the air behind the creature, who glanced at the boy robot.

"We don't want you to forget that if you attack one of us..." Big Guy started.

"...the other one will be there to attack you," Rusty finished.

The muddy figure growled as he repeatedly glanced between them. Without saying or doing anything, it collapsed onto the ground and remained still. The two robots cautiously walked over to it. Big Guy kicked the mound of dirt to find it wasn't moving.

"That was strange," Dwayne said from inside the robot.

00000

"So it essentially disappeared into the ground?" Jo asked.

"Yeah, it did. I think it's almost toying with us," Dwayne replied. "Waiting for the right moment to attack."

"You really think that's possible?" Mack wondered.

Garth, Jo and Dwayne all shrugged their shoulders. The lieutenant sighed as he stood up and walked over to a table near the Big Guy. Jo watched him and noticed that there was an ever so slight limp from where he broke his leg. She walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, you are going to have fun sometime soon, aren't you?" Jo quietly asked him.

"Are you trying to get off of the subject at hand?" Dwayne asked her with a smile.

"Maybe but you should get your mind off of things. It seems like you've been too uptight lately and that you're trying to get off the subject at hand," Jo replied.

Dwayne rolled his eyes while Mack gave a disbelieving laugh and Garth burst into laughter.

"Has he been too uptight lately? That's an understatement. It's more like everything that could go wrong has been happening to him between having to deal with Hapar and then breaking his leg," Garth said.

Jo gave him an 'I don't believe you' look. Dwayne couldn't help but laugh for he knew Garth was right while Mack didn't say anything. General Thorton walked up to the group and the four turned to look at him. He looked between everyone.

"What is it General? IS there anything wrong?" wondered Dwayne.

"You are all to meet up with Doctor Slate. She would like to talk to you about these aliens. Maybe what she knows can help you in future," Thorton told them.

They all nodded before they started to head towards the plane. Thorton placed a hand on the lieutenant's shoulder and Dwayne turned to face his superior.

"Are you ready for tomorrow night?" Thorton quietly asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Dwayne replied.

The general gave him a fatherly smile as he held his hands behind his back. He watched the lieutenant as he thought about what he was going to say.

"Are you planning to bring a guest with you?" Thorton wondered.

Dwayne gave a sigh to the general's inquiry. Part of him wanted to roll his eyes since he felt like everyone wanted to know what his personal life held, despite knowing that he had no time for one considering his job description. Of course there was one person he could always confide in...

"I really hadn't thought about it much. I guess I wasn't going to bring anyone with me," Dwayne replied.

"Well, whether you bring someone or not, I just hope you're going to have a good time. Just remember that we worry for you, whether you realize it or not," the general told him.

Thorton started towards the door, leaving a slightly stunned Dwayne Hunter behind. He thought about what Thorton said for a moment before following him.

00000

"So what's the verdict Slate?" wondered Dwayne.

"Well, out of what we already know about these aliens, it's not good. There also appears to be two distinct groups within the population. One group is represented by Hapar and his crew, who want to completely take over the planet. Hapar appears to be particularly stubborn and will go to any lengths to get what he wants and that's Tera. Remember what he did to Rusty several weeks ago?" Slate told the group.

"And that would leave Justin and Jennifer representing the other group, ones who are trying to stop Hapar and help Tera with whatever her problem is," Dwayne finished.

"Exactly," Slate said. "By what I understand from what the cats have already said, there's only one way Tera can be helped and that it can only happen at a specific time by specific people. When that time is and who the people are, I don't know. They won't elaborate for fear of us wanting to help too soon."

"'Fear of us wanting to help too soon'? Someone's in trouble and we don't know where they are or how to help them. Tera could literally be anywhere in the city and her time could be running out. I wish they would trust us more," Dwayne told her.

"I have a feeling they do trust us but they want to protect us at the same time," Slate said.

Garth and Mack walked over to the window, listening in on the ensuing conversations between the lieutenant, doctor and Jo.

"Speaking of Tera, I wonder where she is right now?" Garth mused.

"Don't know, don't care," replied Mack. "Those cats will find a way to help her. They won't need our help."

Garth shrugged his shoulders as he stared out the window. He heard a screech coming from outside and turned his head to see what was happening. Mack and Garth were horrified to see Tera outside the building. She was flying away from something and they soon saw that it was a figure of mud.

"Hey guys! The Mudman's decided to join us here too!" Garth called out to Jo, Dwayne and Slate.

The three hurried over to the window to see what was happening before heading. Dwayne squinted his eyes, noticing Justin and Jennifer on the ground, guns in hand. They were slowly backing away from the Mudman. Once he saw them, he ran out of the room.

"Dwayne!" Jo cried out to him.

She glanced over at Mack and Garth before the three of them ran after him.

00000

"Get out of there Tera! We can't stay here any longer! There are lives in danger if we stay here!" Justin yelled up to the Tera.

"Good, I was getting nowhere! I don't know what it will take to defeat this guy!" Tera yelled back.

She flew towards the Mudman and punched him, which only resulted in a giant hole in his midsection. He laughed as he stared at her.

"Uh-oh," she said.

She turned and flew higher into the air. She glanced into the building on her way up and saw the doctor looking out at her. She hovered in front of the building, staring at them before heading down to the ground to pick up the cats.

"She's here today. The doctor is in the building," Tera told them.

"There's nothing we can really do. I doubt anyone would let us inside to talk to her," Justin said. "Now let's get moving and lead him out of town."

Tera flew for the outskirts of New Tronic city and Mudman followed, just like Justin said it would. Dwayne ran out of the building and watched them leave. He slightly shook his head, while gasping for air. The Pit Crew ran out of the building and up to him.

"Lieutenant, what's wrong?" wondered Garth.

"I don't know. I had been hoping to get some answers but I guess it'll have to wait," Dwayne replied before heading back inside.

Mack, Jo and Garth glanced between each other, all wondering what was wrong.

00000

The four walked back into Doctor Slate's office. She looked up from the papers on her desk and walked over to them.

"Is everything all right?" she asked.

"Yeah, I just thought I saw something," replied Dwayne.

"Anything else you need to tell us?" wondered Garth.

"No, I've told you all I know but I will let you know if I find out something else," Slate told them with a shake of the head.

The three members of the Pit Crew started to head out the door but Dwayne stayed behind with the Doctor. She walked up to him with a worried look on her face for the lieutenant had a neutral stare in his face.

"Is there anything wrong Lieutenant Hunter?" she asked him.

"Nothing's wrong Slate. I simply wanted to ask you something," he replied.

"You know you can ask me anything. What would you like to know?" Slate told him.

He closed his eyes and gave a deep breath. He turned to face her, hoping that he wasn't an idiot in asking.

"Well, the Army's going to be holding a dance tomorrow night in honour of those coming home from conflicts overseas. I was wondering if you would like to join me?" he finally said.

Slate was a bit surprised with the question but she soon nodded her head in reply.

"Of course I'll go with you," she replied. "Pick me up at 1900 hours."

The two shook hands and Dwayne left the room, a smile on his face. He didn't notice that someone was watching him from outside. The figure gave a smile before leaving.

TBC...