CHAPTER 11: RANNIAN RESCUE
UNDERTOWN, UNDERNEATH NEW YORK CITY
Three low-life aliens are threatening several aliens at the Undertown to make sure they paid their bills for "protection". Otherwise, they'll wreck their store. Ben, currently as Omni-Knight, and Rook is facing off against Liam, Bubble Helmet, and Fistina at the market.
Liam's appearance is very chicken-like, having feathers and a beak. He also wears silver arm guards and two bandoleers connecting together on his chest. His upper half is beige, the lower half is brown, he has orange feet-like hands and sticking out of his head on the top as well as his bottom are red feathers.
Bubble Helmet is a pink caterpillar-like alien wearing life-support power armor. The armor is mainly silver except for the torso which is black with purple accents. He wears purple gloves and has three sharp claws on each of his hands. He has a prominent blue round helmet.
Fistina is a pink alien with yellow eyes inside a red and black power armor.
During the fight, Omni-Knight uses his Ultimatrix to transform into Cannonbolt to fend off the 3 alien villains.
Bubble Helmet began to strike first with his two staffs that can be swung around and can shoot lasers, as well as a laser gun, which he fires towards Cannonbolt. But Cannonbolt curled himself into a ball, encasing himself in his plating, which allows Cannonbolt to roll toward Bubble Helmet, Liam, and Fistina, knocking them over like bowling pins.
As the three alien criminals are about to recover, Rook quickly uses his Proto-Tool to use his energy nets to capture them. Despite being net, they're desperately trying to escape.
"I got this," says Cannonbolt to Rook, who realizes that the three criminals are trying to escape. Then Cannonbolt presses the Ultimatrix dial to transform into Gutrot. Gutrot quickly uses his ability to create a sleeping gas and put Liam and Fistina asleep, except for Bubble Helmet, who has been protected by his helmet and finally breaks free from Rook's energy net.
"That didn't work," teased Bubble Helmet.
"Not even as a distraction fishbowl?" teased Gutrot.
Rook fired his energy arrows from his Proto-Tool to fire towards Bubble Helmet and knocked him down completely.
"Chili fries or Meatball subs?" asked Rook. Ben enjoys Chili fries while Rook enjoys Meatball subs, but they're confused about who should back down?
However, their lunch has been cut-off after Martian Manhunter contacted Omni Knight, who's currently as Gutrot, and Rook. "Omni Knight, Rook, I'm afraid you're needed back to the Watchtower," ordered Martian Manhunter, from Omni Knight's and Rook's comm.
"Ugghhhh…" grumbled Gutrot and Rook.
WATCHTOWER, MONITOR ROOM
It turns out that the Martian has called out Omni Knight, Rook, Ester, Titano, and Zeno. It has been a long time for them on the same mission together.
"The five of you are needed on planet Rann," said Martian Manhunter.
"Planet Rann?" Ben has a history with Adam Strange and Planet Rann. "Couldn't you send Orion or the guys from New Genesis there to assess what's going on by himself?"
"Orion is on disciplinary issues about disobeying the High Father countless times," replied J'onn.
Omni Knight, Rook, Ester, Titano, and Zeno, didn't reply but raised their eyebrows at what Orion did.
"That's the only information I've got from Highfather." answered the Martian.
"You know, there are so many guys in the League, it makes me forget about the others," whispered Titano, who's currently climbing on top of Zeno's back, and whispered to him.
"Big Barda is busy with Mister Miracle trying to stop a forest fire," J'onn added. "Forager is helping Tempest with a new invention. And Lightray, well, I couldn't reach him."
"Last I heard, he was exploring Earth, wanting to familiarize himself with the planet," said Rook.
Ben scoffed, "Please, he's probably just goofing off or meeting some girls." he said. "For all I know, he might get dissed."
"No shit," replied Titano.
"Ahem." interrupted Rook. "The Martian is still standing in front of us, you know."
The Martian just raised his eyebrows.
"Right, ahem." Omni Knight begins to get his focus again. "So why does Planet Rann need us? Specifically us?" Omni Knights ask, referring to the Galactic Guardians.
"I'm afraid Planet Rann was invaded by your common foes; the Incurseans."
Ben and his teammates start to groan together. "Oh man, not them again."
"Isn't it easier for us to have Cyborg boom tube us to Rann?" Titano asks nonchalantly.
"He can't." Omni Knight was the one who replied instead. "Vic is on a mission with Kara, Hal, and Aquaman, dealing with some kind of flood problem in Thailand." Omni Knight knew earlier when his girlfriend, Kara was texting him about the mission.
"Go to Paddock 9, the Javelin is standing by," ordered J'onn.
SPACE, HYPERJUMP
As the Galactic Guardians are riding abort on the Javelin, Omni Knight and Rook are piloting the Javelin, while Ester, Titano, and Zeno, are sitting on the back.
"You know, I think it's better if I'm the one who's piloting," Titano complained that he didn't get to pilot the Javelin.
"You snooze, you lose." teased Omni Knight.
"You remember the last time you piloted the ship right?" Titano began to tease Omni Knight, "You know… when you crashed down our spaceship to a Triceraton's vessel."
"Okay, first, that was my spaceship," replied Omni Knight
"Our spaceship." corrected Rook.
"And second," Omni Knight continued, ignoring Rook's correction, "the ship was shot from the back."
"Pathetic." teased Titano.
"What is your goal here? To make everyone hate you?" Omni Knight begins to get fed up with Titano who's being an asshole. "Well, it looks like it's working."
"You know, you've always been such a dick to everyone, even with the other League members." Ester agreed to Omni Knight, about Titano.
"Yeah, you're like the king of the dicks." Zeno joked to Titano.
"Meh, it's just how I am," Titano replied. "Been that way as long as I can remember."
"King of the dicks? Seriously? That's disgusting!" Ester was grossed out by Zeno's way of calling Titano, she turned her attention back to Titano. "And that's your excuse?"
"You know, it has been a while since we've been on the same mission together before we've joined the League." Rook interrupted to ease the tension. Then he started to joke "What could go wrong?"
"Dude, you've gotta stop pushing your luck." Omni Knight groaned.
PLANET RANN
Once the Hyperjump arrives near planet Rann, the Javelin beeping with an alarm
*BEEP-BEEP-BEEP*
The Javelin's alarm always turns on whenever it's being attacked.
The attackers are known as the Incurseans, most of them are on their space vessels invading Planet Rann.
Suddenly, one of the vessels fired their ventral cannons
*PHEEWWW*
"Incoming!" warned Ester.
The ventral fires the cannon with their lasers; able to follow the target to hit the Javelin.
*BLAM*
The cannon hits the Javelin's thrusters, and it's about to fall.
"THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BEN ALWAYS FLIES!" complains Titano while screaming, who's still sitting while about to fall.
"SHUT UP!" yelled Omni-Knight.
Then, a roof up the top of the Javelin opens up, revealed to be Adam Strange, who has his jet-pack on his back. "Need a lift?"
"Adam Weird." Omni Knight said, "Can you get the rest out of here?"
"That's not my name." Strange complained, then he asked Ben. "But what about you?"
"Don't worry about me." Omni Knight didn't panic. Instead, he activated his Ultimatrix and transformed into Big Chill, who then grabs Rook.
"Grab Ester!" ordered Big Chill to Adam Strange.
"Not me!" Zeno shouted, excited for battle, as he grabbed his large jetpacks; specifically designed for the Triceraton.
"What about me?!" asked Titano, since no one is going to grab him.
"You can hang out with Zeno," says Big Chill.
"You wanted this, did ya?" Titano is getting the feeling that he's always been the one who's getting carried.
Big Chill didn't reply, but carried Rook and turned intangible and flew away.
"Asshole," muttered Titano.
Then Zeno opens the hatch, Titano jumps toward Zeno, and finally, they jump off the Javelin behind the hatch.
They watched on as the ship started to burn, a mile-long trail of smoke behind it before it exploded in mid-air.
As soon as Big Chill flies away while carrying Rook, several Incurseans vessels are flying towards and firing their guns at them.
"Son of a…" Big Chill was about to curse while avoiding the blasters and carrying Rook at the same time.
"Ben, throw me at one of the vessels," told Rook.
Big Chill drops Rook on the top of the vessels.
Rook alone manages to use his Proto-Tool to fire the vessel's thrusters.
*BOOM*
Then one of the Incursean ejected from his seat to flee the vessel.
Rook uses his Proto-tool again and uses it as a grapnel to grapple other vessels flying in the sky.
Meanwhile, Big Chill, still floating up in the air, feels like he needs more power. So Big Chill pressed the Ultimatrix dial and evolved into Ultimate Big Chill. He quickly uses his fiery freezing breath to freeze out some of the Incurseans' vessels and disable their engine when it cools off.
On the other hand, Zeno is jumping aboard one of the vessels along with Titano, as Zeno pulls the engines' wires with his bare hands due to his enormous strength as a Triceraton, while Titano grins with excitement firing his machine gun blasters toward some of the vessels.
"Come and get some, Space Frogs!" Titano yells while firing his machine gun blasters.
Titano leaps toward Zeno and hangs tight, then Zeno uses his jet pack again and fires toward the other vessels.
"DIE, SPACE SHITS!" Zeno yells as he is excited about the heat of the battle while firing his heavy-arm machine guns toward the vessels. Titano, while standing on Zeno's shoulders, fired his machine gun blasters too.
*RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT*
After the team destroyed a couple of Incurseans' vessels in less than an hour later, the Galactic Guardians gathered on the ground along with Adam Strange.
"Well, glad for you to ask for help." Ultimate Big Chill said to the Rannians.
"Let's go to the capitol to discuss," said Adam Strange, as he would rather not waste any time when the planet is under attack.
MEANWHILE, INCURSEANS MOTHER SHIP
"TENNYSON?! TENNYSON'S HERE?!" Emperor Milleous yelled in disbelief, as his arch-foe, Ben Tennyson had returned.
"I'm afraid so, my lord." said one of the Incursean soldiers.
"Son of a gun…" the Emperor slammed his fist on the arm of his chair. He then said something else to his troops.
"If I may, daddy.." Princess Attea, Milleous' daughter, interrupted. "Our canon is almost finished. It doesn't matter if Tennyson and his pals were helping the Rannians."
"The sooner, the better," replied Emperor Milleous.
PLANET RANN, RANN'S MILITARY BASE, RANAGAR,
"All our interstellar communication systems were all down, we couldn't call for help with the rest of the Justice League or any of the Green Lanterns," explained Sardath, a Rannian scientist. "They've neutralized most of our defense system as well."
"Lemme guess, the only thing that stands between Rann's destruction and the Incurseans is us." said Omni Knight, who was referring to the Galactic Guardians as "us".
"Yes, we've seen the triumphs and the heroism from the Galactic Guardians; especially against the Incurseans." says Alanna, Sardath's daughter, and Adam Strange's wife. "Which is why we're dire to ask for help."
30 minutes later, the Rannian troops and the Galactic Guardians are preparing for war and carrying out the battleships. Then on a large computer screen, Titano notices that the Incursean ships are not charging ahead towards Planet Rann.
"Something's a bit off, doncha think?" Titano is getting suspicious.
"It's weirdly unusual." Zeno agrees with Titano.
"Then we don't have any time to waste," replied Omni Knight.
The rest of the Rannian armies have gathered towards the computer. Sardath is typing on the computer to reveal a screen about Emperor Milleous' flight ship.
"This is Emperor Milleous's flight ship," explained Sardath. "If we can cut off the Incurseans' communications, we'll stand a chance to neutralize the entire armada, in a confusion."
"If I may interfere." Omni Knight politely interrupted. "We also need to find Princess Attea's ship too."
Omni Knight knew that Emperor Milleous may be the one in charge, but he also knew Princess Attea is more sly and smarter, which makes her more dangerous than her father.
"Rook and I will go after Princess Attea. The rest will strike Emperor Milleous." Omni Knight told his team.
"Alright then, the Alpha and the Beta team will take care of the remaining Incurseans' flight ships," ordered Sardath.
SPACE, PLANET RANN'S BORDERS
A couple of Rannian battleships fly over, fending off the Incurseans battleships, while Ester, Titano, and Zeno's ship are heading towards Emperor Milleous' flight ship, and Omni Knight and Rook's ship are heading towards Princess Attea's flight ship.
The Galactic Guardians and Rannians, against the Incurseans, are in the middle of an intense battle
*BLAM-BLAM-BLAM*
*BAZOOM*
As a couple of missiles and blasters are fired among the Rannians and the Incurseans, the ship containing Ester, Titano, and Zeno is on a borrowed Rannian's spaceship, about to infiltrate the Emperor Milleous' flight ship. In the other direction, Omni Knight and Rook are in another Rannian's spaceship, about to enter Princess Attea's flight ship.
As both Ben's and Titano's ships are both recklessly firing toward both Emperor Milleous' and Princess Attea's flight ships, both ships manage to fire both Ben and Titano's ships at the same time.
*BLAM*
Finally, Titano's ship managed to crash towards Emperor Milleous' flight ship while Ben's ship crashed towards Princess Attea's flight ship.
*CRASH*
EMPEROR MILLEOUS' FLIGHT SHIP
On the crash of the spaceship, it is revealed that Zeno was covering both Titano and Ester when the ship crashed and pushed away from the pieces of the ship.
PRINCESS ATTEA'S FLIGHT SHIP
On the other side, it is revealed to be Ghostfreak, currently carrying Rook while intangible, manages to infiltrate the ship.
"Ben, Rook. Do you copy?" asked Ester from Rook's ear comm.
"Copy," replied Rook. " Try your best not to draw too much attention, guys."
FLASHBACK, TO AN HOUR AGO, BACK AT RANN'S MILITARY BASE, RANAGAR
Before the Galactic Guardians head towards the borrowed Rannian spaceships, Omni Knight discusses the plan.
"Okay, sneaking into the flight ships isn't as easy as you guys think." Omni Knight is explaining the plan. "Which is why we're going to crash-land our spaceships into their flight ships, assuming that we're dead."
"Isn't that too reckless?" asked Ester
"No, it's extremely reckful." corrected Zeno.
"Yes, but I like it." agreed Titano.
"Great, no arguments. The same page right?" said Rook.
BACK TO THE PRESENT, PRINCESS ATTEA'S FLIGHT SHIP
"Yeah, well… we've kinda crashed into an Incursean flight ship, so we've already drawn too much attention," answered Titano from Rook and Ben's comm.
EMPEROR MILLEOUS' FLIGHT SHIP
It turns out that the Incursean troops surround Ester, Titano, and Zeno.
PRINCESS ATTEA'S FLIGHT SHIP
After realizing that they knew that there's no way that Ester, Titano, and Zeno will more likely get caught, Rook turns his attention towards Ghostfreak. "What's the word you've always said? You've got to be shitting me?"
"Yeah, that's the word," replied Ghostfreak. "Besides, Zeno's on the team and you know how sucks when he sneaks in."
"Ahh, now I remember," says Rook.
EMPEROR MILLEOUS' FLIGHT SHIP
Despite being surrounded, Zeno, careless about it, starts charging toward the Incursean troops and sends them flying like bowling pins.
"Now, this is the heat of the battle that I'm looking for!" Zeno roars as he always gets excited in the middle of a battle.
It is Titano's turn to strike back, as fires his double-hand guns and blasts away the Incursean troops.
*RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT*
The remaining Incursean troops were dead.
"Alright, both of you should go hiding," ordered Titano. "There's no way we're getting to the Emperor unless we get rid of the guards."
Ester and Zeno couldn't argue because of how true Titano is. Titano is preparing the traps for the Incursean troops.
As the traps are finally being set by Titano, he sets up his traps all over the ship, then he turns on his song where it was heard all over the flight ship.
The song played was Five to One, The Doors.
When the song was played, all the Incursean troops heard the song, they scattered to find where the song was coming from.
At the alley, one of the troops managed to step into a trigger. The troops felt nervous, then a couple of tranq dart turrets were revealed and fired toward the troops' bodies. They finally fell paralyzed.
On the other side of the alley, a couple of the troops are on guard. Despite that, they didn't realize that there was an invisible mine lying on the ground. The mines are Anti-Gravity mines. Once one of the troops steps very close to the mine, it activates the blasts.
"AAAHHHHH!"
They scream as it sends the Incursean troops flying up to the air and falling to the ground, on and on and on again.
Meanwhile, at the air vent window, Titano was looking towards the Incursean troops flying and falling over again as he giggled at them.
Finally, Titano, Zeno, and Ester are heading towards the command chamber, where the Emperor was waiting. Then Zeno crashed the door.
*CRASH*
Several Incursean troops and Emperor Milleous were surprised that Titano, Zeno, and Ester showed up.
"How's it going, fatass?" teased Titano.
"Titano…" sneered Emperor Milleous. "I remember the last time I saw you. I've hired you, but you stab me in the back!"
"Yeah. Nice gig, lousy benefits," complained Titano, who used to be known as a former bounty hunter.
Emperor Milleous once did hire Titano for a bounty, but quickly regrets it when the bounty chimp receives a small number of taydens. So Titano managed to steal more taydens from the Incursean emperor.
"Make sure they're dead," ordered Emperor Milleous to his pilots, who turns out are armed with guns.
Titano and Ester dodge the guns, but Zeno charges toward the Incurseans and easily knocks out several of the Incurseans.
Now Emperor Milleous is carrying a Gatling gun and firing at Titano and Ester.
*RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT*
"Do you need to tick him off?" asked Ester.
"He paid me cheap, so yeah," replied Titano.
Ignoring Titano's sneer, Ester prefers to stay focused on the business. "We'll split up. There's no way he could shoot at both of us at once".
PRINCESS ATTEA'S FLIGHT SHIP
On the other hand, it didn't take long for Omni Knight and Rook to arrive at the command chamber.
"Hey, Tennyson." greets Princess Attea.
"Attea, what brings you here at Rann?" he asked.
"What do you expect? We conquer worlds! It kinda pisses me off for you to get in my way again and again."
Then another figure appears behind Princess Attea's back. "Don't forget about me too." It appears to be Kanjar-Ro.
"Well I kinda pissed a lot of people" Ben immediately transforms into Bullfrag. Then leaps towards Attea.
And it was then that Bullfrag and Attea began punching and kicking each other before he sweep-kicked her, but she got back up and then leaped over to a wall. Attea then used her tongue to whack Bullfrag away, but that did not phase him.
Rook, on the other hand, fends off the Incursean pilots. He used his Proto-Tool as a bladed weapon to block their spears and staffs, "This is not gonna end well." he said.
"Indeed." The Incursean troop agrees.
"No. I was talking to you guys." corrected Rook. He then headbutted the Incursean trooper and then judo threw him to the ground.
While Bullfrag managed to defeat Princess Attea in a duel, the Incursean princess just chuckled.
"Did you think that you managed to beat me just by kicking my ass?" she chuckled. "I was just buying some time so my crew managed to activate the Conquest Ray."
"Mayday! Mayday!" a speaker from the command chamber. "The Conquest Ray has been destroyed! I repeat the Conquest Ray has been destroyed!"
"Son of a… Useless! All of you!" Princess Attea is boiling in anger.
While Rook is in the middle of a fight between the Incursean troops, another troop is about to jump behind Rook's back until someone blasts the trooper.
Princess Attea the familiar stranger. "What the?...You? It can't be!"
It is revealed to be Tetrax, one of the most feared lawmen in the galaxy, Ben and Rook's former mentor, and a former bounty hunter. He was a Petrosapien, who wore a shiny gray suit that had a retractable black helmet, which housed a green triangle on the front. Under the helmet, the suit went all the way up to the bottom of his neck. This triangle was also on the center of his utility belt, and there were markings resembling it on either shoulder pad.
"You let your guard down," Tetrax told to Rook. "Didn't I teach you anything?"
FLASHBACK, TO TWO HOURS AGO, BACK AT RANN'S MILITARY BASE, RANAGAR
Omni Knight managed to contact Tetrax from a Rannian computer. It had been years since he saw him.
"I told you to contact me only for emergencies,"Tetrax said from the computer screen.
"Rannians are invaded by the Incurseans." explained Omni Knight.
Tetrax wasn't interested. "That's something that you could handle. You've already defeated Mongul and Vilgax, so why do you even need me to take care of the Incurseans?"
"It's Attea we're talking about. She must have a trick upon her sleeve unless you take down her plan by surprise," Ben explained. "They took some time to think instead of just attacking and they managed to make us retreat and we're willing to admit that we need help, your help. Also, our other communications are down and we literally can't call anyone else."
"You said to call you in an emergency and this is an emergency." Ester declared. "We need your help along with the people of Planet Rann."
Tetrax took a moment to think about it. All of his students were asking for his help, which means that the situation did require his attention. After a deep breath, he gave his answer. Tetrax said. "I'm on my way and should be there soon."
EMPEROR MILLEOUS' FLIGHT SHIP
Emperor Milleous is still firing his Gatling gun, while both Titano and Ester were taking fire.
*RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT*
"For an emperor with a badass gun, he doesn't know how a Gatling gun works," said Titano to Ester.
"Yup." Ester agreed as she and Titano waited patiently until the Incursean emperor finished firing.
Finally, the Gatling gun stops firing due to the overheating.
"Son of a-" as the Incursean emperor was about to curse, then Zeno managed to charge him and easily knock him down.
Titano quickly grabs a microphone to contact the rest of the Incursean fleet.
"Do not cease fire!" ordered Titano who's mimicking Emperor Milleous' voice, while holding a microphone. "The Galactic Guardians have infiltrated the ships! Shoot first, ask questions later! Trust no one, including me! Lord Emperor Milleous, conqueror of… ah screw this!" Titano smashes the microphone.
PLANET RANN
After most of the Incursean ships are heavily damaged due to the friendly fire tricked by Titano, the ships crash on Planet Rann, including Emperor Milleous' and Princess Attea's flight ships.
*CRASH*
As the ship crashed, the heroes managed to arrest both Emperor Milleous and Princess Attea.
Both ships' doors are opened and reveal that Emperor Milleous and Princess Attea are handcuffed as they are arrested.
What's more surprising is that a couple of Green Lantern Corps, including Kilowog, Tomar-Tu, and the others have arrived to arrest the Incurseans.
"You called the Green Lantern corps?" asked Rook to Tetrax. "I thought all communications had been shut down."
"Not mine," explained Tetrax, as he told them that his communication system is still active as he did manage to contact the Green Lantern Corps to arrest the Incurseans.
Kilowog gives Ben and Rook a bear hug as he misses his old friends. "Typical Tennyson and Rook, always been the ones who save the planet. I heard you've finally returned to Earth."
"Yeah, well… I was feeling home-sick." explained the Ultimatrix wielder.
Then Kilowog turns his attention and gives a displeasing look to Titano. "How's it going yah Poozer?"
"Alive and well, yah pink idiot." teased Titano.
On the other hand, Adam Strange and Alanna Lewis are hugging.
"Thank God, you're safe," Adam said in relief.
"Honey, I know it's scary. But we've all taken risks, and I want to be there with you," replied Alanna.
Adam get on his knees and replied to Alanna. "And I want to be there with you for the rest of my life."
Seeing Adam on his knees, everyone is in surprise that Adam is about to purpose to Alanna.
"Alanna, will you make me become the happiest man in the galaxy?"
Alanna was a bit emotional, as she was waiting for a moment for Adam to purpose. "Yes."
Everyone cheered, but Tetrax just gave a small smile to the couple. Adam slid the ring on Alanna's fingers and they passionately kissed.
SPACE, TETRAX'S SHIP
The Galactic Guardians are boarding Tetrax's ship as they're heading back to Earth. Then Rook turned on the comm to contact the Watchtower.
"J'onn, it's Rook. Do you copy?" Rook tried to contact the Watchtower from Tetrax's communication system.
*BZZZZZZZTTTT*
The comm was hard to reach then it was finally able to contact the Watchtower.
"Watchtower has been taken over! I repeat, the Watchtower has been taken over! Do not enter!"
Then Omni Knight came from the back seat and asked, "What's going on?"
As soon as the ship reached the Watchtower, the Watchtower's defense system was active and began to fire toward Tetrax's ship.
*RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT*
"HANG ON!" warned Tetrax, as he was piloting the ship and avoiding the blasters fired from the Watchtower's defense systems.
"Guys, head back to Earth!" Omni Knight ordered. "I'm going to check out what's wrong with the Watchtower." Then he immediately uses the Ultimatrix and transforms it into Ghostfreak.
As Tetrax's ship was about to head towards the Earth's atmosphere, Ghostfreak turns intangible and invisible to get inside the Watchtower to see what was going on.
END OF CHAPTER 11
IN LOVING MEMORY OF GILBERT GOTTFRIED
(1955-2022)