A/N: Hello. :) At long last, the new event is here. And just like the last 2 books on a TV standard, there will be 2 episodes per day. I even set up a few references. I think you can identify them along the way. For now, you get to see the main cast. You already know a portion of it from the prologue. But the rest is as follows, Kirby Baptiste-Howell as Grace Monroe, Kyle McCarley as Simon Laurent, Isabella Abiera as Hazel, Diane Delano as Tuba, Ernie Hudson as Atticus, Marc Evan Jackson as Zenith and Kellen Goff as Polaris. Speaking of which, the chapters of the story may get darker because of Polaris after Chapter 4. That's all I can say. For now, enjoy. :)
Infinity Train X Glitch Techs
Book Three: Chapter 1: The Musical Car
It all started as a bunch of kids in the mall car, otherwise known as the Apex were playing around with Todd giving his friend a shave in the back of the head with the symbol of the Apex practically engraved on it. Elsewhere, the other kids were gathering loot from the pile as two more were trying out spiked shin guards and football armor and another was fashioning a baseball bat decorated with nails with a hammer. Meanwhile, in the fitting room, renamed the throne room, Grace was in front of a few mirrors as she got out the lipstick and drew a wavy line on the middle of her face, resembling the wave on the pods before she gave it a glance and smirked as the mirrors then raised upward with Grace walking off the chair before twirling and leaping around like a ballet dancer. As for Simon, he was putting the finishing touches on a small toy soldier and set it down on a green board before turning around with a smirk. In the meantime, Grace walked towards a red curtain, opened it, and looked inside to notice an assortment of knee pads before looking around and then selecting a purple pair of kneepads just as Simon put his utility belt on and looked toward the radar on his hand showing red dots in it before Grace put on her mask from when she was in the Lucky Cat Car and did some poses. Then, Grace and Simon went closer to each other before turning around and going down the escalators before they marched forward with the Apex gathered around them from both sides just as two of the kids opened each side of the door and held them open for them before Grace led the charge as the kids ran out the door, not knowing that a man in a green jacket with a purple feather plumage and white gloves were setting up cameras all over the mall car through various timings, as meanwhile, the denizens in the Musical Car were finishing the song "Empathy Goes", the title of which was read on a sign on the ground behind the seats with Jesse Cosay's name underneath the song title.
🎵When I look at you, I see me
And when I look at me, I see you
It may sound kinda funny at first, but you'll see
If you give it a try, you'll like it, too
I'm from the west; And you're from the east
You like to rhyme; And I don't know how
We're not the same and that's a good thing
There's a whole lot of good being different can bring
Life's too short to only look for difference (wa-wa)
We should learn to celebrate our difference (wa-wa)
I'm blue; I'm brown
I smile, I frown
I eat things backwards and upside down
I've got legs; I've got none
Where I'm from vacuuming's fun
Here, there, everywhere
Who are you? I don't care
Just be kind and understand
We all hail from equal lands
Everybody!
When I look at you, I see me
And when I look at me, I see you
It may sound kinda funny at first, but you'll see
If you give it a try,
when you give it a try
Won't you give it a try?
you'll like it, too
Just then, the apex caught the denizens off-guard both from behind and in front of them before Grace landed on the ground and shouted to her team.
"Take what you want, Apex! Highest number gets the pick of the raid!", Grace announced.
Then, it wasn't long before chaos ensued as one of the kids pounced on the walking fan as another smashed the cardboard bush as two other kids were pushing against the side of the broadway rainbow before it tumbled onto the stage with the kids fanning out before Todd went for the sign and smashed it with his feet as while another chased the frightened denizen, two more ripped apart the cardboard tree as the spotlights looked on in horror, not noticing Simon climbing up behind them with the spotlights noticing him too late before whacking them with a nailed baseball bat while Grace danced like a ballet below and pushed the comedy and tragedy masks away while doing so as sparks flew out and set the curtains on fire before she flipped her mask up as she noticed Simon.
"You see that?! Already up 14!", Simon bragged.
"Not bad, Simon.", Grace responded as she then tore off the curtain before Simon landed near her.
"'Not bad'? Think you can beat it?", Simon asked.
"Already have, socks-in-sandals.", Grace retorted before a walking brochure with arms and legs ran as fast he could only for Grace to grab onto his pages and tear them off, causing Grace's number to escalate higher as it went from 510 for the last three digits of the extremely high number to 539.
"Aw, come on! Give me a new nickname. I was 10. My mom thought they were practical.", Simon groaned.
"Ha! Never trust an adult. She ever heard of 'shoes'?", Grace asked just as a live spotlight was running as well before getting tripped into the ground.
"Why, no! 'What are these sho-es you speak of'?", Simon asked jokingly before Grace's number escalated even higher where the last three digits are 776.
"Wow. Nice combo. Guess you win again, 'kneepads'.", Simon smirked before Grace faked how hurt she is.
"You're just jealous I know how to make practical look good.", Grace retorted just as Lucy walked up to the spotlight and grabbed hold of it.
"🎵No! What are you doing?! Help!🎵", the spotlight sang frightfully as Lucy removed him from his broken and battered body before the rectangular wood fell down and landed on the stage.
"Time to go?", Simon asked.
"Time to go.", Grace smirked as she put her mask back on before she and Simon got out their magnetic harpoon packs and fired them toward the metallic catwalk above and swung over on top of the pile before giving a whistle, alerting the rest of the Apex just as Simon tried to open the exit, but had no luck.
"It's locked! Ugh, another dumb train puzzle?", Simon groaned.
"Barely.", Grace scoffed as she landed before Simon went up to her level with the apex as well.
"Apex! Take a bow.", Grace spoke as she and the others held hands before the apex burst out through the exit with Grace and Simon being the last ones to leave only for the two to be met with a few familiar faces and a couple of unfamiliar ones in front of them all while wearing armor with a white "H" on them as Gummi was on top of one of them by the pads on her shoulders as they landed in front of them.
"Hello, Grace. Simon. It's been a long time.", Tulip greeted.
"You three. You all have some nerve showing your faces around here.", Simon glared.
"Tulip? Jesse? And, uh..., you?", Grace puzzled in slight joy.
"My name's Lake.", Lake responded.
"Oh, wow. You came up with a name for yourself this time? It sounds nice. And you're back to normal, too, Tulip. That's great.", Grace grinned.
"Uh, thanks?", Tulip puzzled as Gummi squeaked puzzledly.
"Oh, look. You even got yourself an adorable little gummy bear-looking hamster, too? He's so adorable. And it looks like you brought two more passengers with you, too. What are your names?", Grace asked as she petted Gummi on the head and noticed Miko and Five.
"I'm ME_KO. And this is Hi_5. Of course, those are just our gamer tags.", Miko responded.
"'Sup.", Five greeted.
"Right back at ya. So, did you change your minds about joining the apex?", Grace asked eagerly.
"Not exactly. We are coming with you, but we're only going there to keep an eye on you guys.", Tulip responded.
"Oh, boo!", Grace groaned humorously.
"Look, we appreciate your honesty, but we can take care of ourselves.", Simon spoke as he and Grace continued walking.
Then, One-One popped up from Tulip's backpack.
"So, now what?", Tulip asked.
"We follow them from behind, what else?", Sad One responded.
"Heh. My thoughts exactly.", Lake smirked before she and the others walked behind Grace and Simon.
Play Secession Studios & Greg Dombrowski Music: "Devour"
Inside the wrecked car, a man in a black robe named Zenith and another with a green short-sleeved jacket with a stylish purple feather plumage on top of it named Polaris, wearing a red beak-like mask, were surveying the damage wrought upon the Musical Car, even noticing the tragedy mask sadly singing.
🎵When I look at you..., I see me...
"And all those denizens did to deserve such chaos and misery is sing.", Zenith tensed a bit.
"Disgusting, isn't it?", Polaris agreed.
"We must stop this whole thing! Why, for nearly a decade, I've put up with their destructive antics, now! We must destroy the apex before they have a chance to destroy another innocent car along with its denizens! But how?", Zenith pondered.
"There is a solution, you know. How about we regroup back at the security camera car and see if we can find the apex in one of the recent cameras I installed so we can see what they're planning and put an end to them on their next raid?", Polaris suggested.
"That's actually a sound idea. Let's get to work.", Zenith smirked.
Then, the camera went up above Zenith and Polaris before amidst the smoke, a green infinity symbol formed before "Infinity Train" appeared in the symbol before the logo vanished.
Later, the duo were now back at the security camera car looking through the recent cameras before finally spotting the apex in the mall car as they saw Lucy picking up a bag from the loot pile near the other apex kids.
"Incredible. How did you manage to set up those camera without rousing suspicion?", Zenith asked.
"Well, it's all a matter of stealth and timing. You'd be surprised what you're capable of with that kind of knowledge.", Polaris responded before both figures saw Tulip (with One-One secretly in tow), Jesse, Lake, Miko, and Five watching from an unnoticeable distance as the apex kids lined up in front of Grace as a girl with shades knelt proudly.
"Tulip Olsen. Of course she'd be here.", Zenith growled.
"You know, I'd be surprised if the Apex's next raid turns out to be in one of the cars where we originally planned to draw her back out.", Polaris spoke.
"Hm. I wonder...", Zenith spoke.
Pause Secession Studios & Greg Dombrowski Music: "Devour"
Meanwhile, at the mall car, Grace knelt down to the girl in shades with a grin.
"Lindsay, this is amazing! This is going in my personal stash where only my favorite gifts go. Just don't tell the others. I wouldn't want them to feel bad, you know?", Grace asked as she winked.
"Mm-Hmm.", Lindsay grinned before walking away as one of the kids with glasses who broke the cardboard tree in half went up next, anxiously presenting broken light bulbs.
"Wow, Alex, you're so good at presents. Don't tell anybody, but I'm gonna put only these 'things' in my personal stash of favorites.", Grace spoke before patting Alex on the head with Alex then walking away as Grace and Simon looked puzzled it at each other while the former then dumped the broken bulbs on the ground.
"Are you kidding me with this? You can't just dump those bulbs on the ground! Or at all for that matter!", Jesse exclaimed whisperingly.
"Easy, Jesse. They're not worth it.", Lake whispered as she placed her arm in front of him just as Lucy walked up toward Grace and Simon, holding the bag before opening it, causing a spotlight head to roll out onto the ground.
"🎵Please help! Oh, no! You're one of them!🎵", the spotlight sang fearfully.
"Lucy, hold that null.", Grace spoke before Lucy then went on top of the battered spotlight to hold it down.
"🎵Wh-what are you doing?🎵", the spotlight sang with a quiver before Grace shushed him and looked at herself with the red curtain on top of her shoulders like a cape before taking it off.
"Nah, too much. Ah, one of these days, I'll make crushed velvet work for me. Wheel it or whatever.", Grace sighed.
"How can you even suggest that?!", Jesse snapped whisperingly before he was stopped once again, this time by Miko.
"Look, I wanna pwn her as much as the next guy, but we can't blow our cover.", Miko urged whisperingly.
"So, I can keep the light person?", Lucy asked.
"🎵No, no, wait!🎵", the spotlight sang urgently.
"Huh?", Tulip spoke in slight surprise.
"What is it?", Lake asked.
"Lucy, she...she actually wants to keep him.", Tulip whispered.
Just then, Grace stopped and turned back.
"Aw, that's cute. Lucy thinks it's a person.", Grace spoke, making her uneasy.
"Simon, do you see a person?", Grace asked before Simon shook his head in reply.
"All I see is another toy the train made to amuse us.", Simon responded.
Little did Grace know that as she continued afterwards, Tulip was starting to get angry from hearing that as Gummi squeaked in worry for her.
"Uh-oh.", Lake spoke in slight worry.
"Oh, no, she's going to blow our cover!", Jesse spoke worriedly in whispers.
"See, Lucy? It's nothing. Just something to play with when we're bored. And honestly...", Grace began as she got closer, making the spotlight nervous as he shook with his light flickering on and off and on again just as Tulip was about to reach her breaking point as she growled.
"Oh, nerds. She's gonna blow.", Five whispered worriedly.
"You're boring me.", Grace finished harshly.
"THAT'S IT! I have officially lost my patience with you, Grace! Denizens are not just toys made to amuse us! They're our friends who help us through our problems in our time on the train, and you repay them by calling them nulls and treating them like this?!", Tulip shouted as she sprang out and stomped toward Grace, not knowing that her rantings were overheard by nearby Apex members as they gathered near the area.
"🎵Testify, sister!🎵", the spotlight sang.
"How could you disregard them like that?! And what even gave you the idea to do this to them, anyway?!", Tulip shouted.
"You have no right to talk like that to Grace!", Simon shouted.
"Just like you have no right to wheel every denizen you meet because you hate them?!", Tulip retorted angrily.
"Stop! I-I mean, rein it in, Simon. She does have a point.", Grace responded.
"I do?", Tulip puzzled.
"She does?", Simon puzzled at the same time.
"Yeah. I know this is a bit hard to believe, but...maybe I do all this because...I just wanted to be noticed.", Grace continued with a sigh before Tulip gave a sad look in response.
"You do...?", Tulip puzzled sadly as Gummi squeaked.
"Uh..., should I give you guys some space?", Lucy asked.
"Uh..., yeah, maybe you should.", Jesse responded, still surprised before Lucy started off only for Simon to stop her for a moment.
"Wait! I want it. Put it in my room.", Simon spoke.
"Yes, Simon.", Lucy sighed before walking away, carrying the helpless spotlight.
"🎵Let me go, I'm not a toy!🎵", the spotlight sang with a shout, puzzling Grace enough out of her squalor.
"Simon?", Tulip and Jesse puzzled in unison as they turned to Simon with Grace turning to him as well.
"What? I'm building a diorama for my soldiers. I need a big light to emulate dawn before 'The Battle of Esmaroth'.", Simon explained as he and Grace walked along with Tulip, Jesse, and even Lake, Miko, and Five joining in.
"Oooh. The Battle of Esmaroth. Is that a real battle?", Miko asked.
"It is in my fantasy novel, which you promised you'd read.", Simon responded in slight retorsion toward Grace.
"I'm still on the foreword.", Grace responded.
"You wrote the foreword.", Simon responded.
"I know, isn't it great?", Grace asked.
"Okay. That was not at all what I was expecting.", Jesse spoke.
"Yeah. I mean, they're worse off now than ever, but still, they're not bad. Just misled.", Tulip agreed just as Grace turned to the rest of the Apex below and raised her arm as she shouted.
"Apex! May our spirits be high!", Grace shouted before the apex kids raised their arms and shouted back.
"And our numbers higher!", the kids shouted.
"Down with the false conductor!", Simon shouted next as he raised his arm.
"The Apex reveals the truth!", the kids shouted next before cheering as Grace made a funny raspberry noise while leaning back and then forwards.
"Let's raid another car.", Grace spoke excitedly.
"I'm feelin' it! Yeah!", Simon agreed.
"Who wants to raid one more car?!", Grace shouted before the apex kids chanted.
"One more car! One more car! One more car!", the apex kids chanted as they shook their fists.
"No sign of any passengers in the next car. Well, the next one after the Spa car, that is. Should be easy.", Simon grinned.
"One more car! One more car!", Grace chanted before Simon chanted with her as the kids continued chanting before Grace and Simon turned to each other with smirks.
"Yeah, we should do something.", Miko spoke.
Neither of them knew, however, that Zenith and Polaris were watching them.
"So, the next raid is in the next car adjacent to the spa car. And there's no doubt that Tulip and the others would try to warn their friends there about the Apex.", Zenith spoke.
"Not that it'll do her a favor so much as us. Now, we don't have to worry about drawing her out. Guess that's the only saving grace for us at that point.", Polaris spoke.
Later, at the unfinished car, business was going on as usual as Corgi's and Turtles were coexisting with one another as Tulip, Jesse, Lake, One-One, Miko, and Five met up with Atticus and Aloysius from behind.
"Psst. Atticus. Aloysius.", Tulip whispered.
"Hmm? Who's there?", Aloysius asked before he and Atticus turned to notice, much to their surprise, Tulip (with Gummi on top of her shoulder), One-One, Jesse, and Lake in their uniforms along with Miko and Five.
"Tulip? Jesse? One-One? And M.T.?", Atticus asked.
"Actually, I'm Lake, now.", Lake added.
"Lake, huh? That's a wonderful name.", Atticus grinned.
"And who are they?", Aloysius asked.
"Oh. Well, that's Miko and Five.", Tulip introduced.
"No way! A talking dog and a talking turtle together?!", Five exclaimed.
"I know. Surprising, isn't it?", Lake smirked.
"Surprising doesn't even begin to cover it!", Miko added.
"Either way, I'm so glad you could all join us.", Aloysius grinned.
"Yeah. I just wish it was under better circumstances.", Tulip sighed.
"What do you mean?", Atticus puzzled.
"So, do you remember that group called the Apex?", Jesse asked.
"Apex? What are those?", Aloysius asked.
"They're a group of misled passengers apparently worshipping Amelia as the true conductor and believing One-One to be but a farce.", Atticus explained.
"Yeah. The point is, they're on their way here.", Lake spoke.
"They are?!", Atticus exclaimed.
"Uh, correction. They're already here.", Five spoke, pointing to the door as it opened with the Apex kids charging out eagerly.
"Oh, dear.", Aloysius spoke.
Meanwhile, inside, a turtle named Kevin was cooking some lettuce in the kitchen.
"Oh, yeah, Chief. I'm just making the old desayuno for the family: slow-cooked lettuce with a side of turtle juice. It's like regular juice but for Turtles.", Kevin spoke over the phone as he cooked, before his wife, the turtle mail delivery girl, took a sip of said juice from her cup and gave a thumbs-up.
Just then, there was a crashing sound behind them. Kevin turned and decided to see what the commotion was about.
"I don't know, Chief. What's going on?", Kevin puzzled before noticing the Apex "attacking" the denizens as Lucy even put her left hand covered with goo all across the window.
"Take that, Null!", one of the apex shouted.
"What's happening, Daddy?", the boy named Kevin Jr. asked nervously.
"Yeah, that's right. Now, I'm reassuring my kid, Kevin Jr. and telling him it'll be okay. Yuh-Huh.", Kevin spoke over the phone before Simon opened the door to the house and let himself in.
"Well, now they're breaking into my home and taking my novelty apron and second favorite hat!", Kevin added as Simon took said items before Kevin's wife gave a thumbs-down with a glare as her son glared at him as well.
"Uh, it's not really breaking in when your house has no walls.", Simon explained as his point was illustrated before taking off as Kevin yelled at him.
"It is, too, breaking in! And it's against Turtle Law, which is like regular law, but for Turtles!", Kevin shouted before speaking to the phone again.
"No, no, no, no, no, Sensei. I was yelling at a guy, I would never dream of yelling at you. You're golden, Sensei, golden!", Kevin assured.
Meanwhile, the Apex were terrorizing the denizens as one of them, a girl with brown ponytailed hair and spiked shoulder pads, even broke off the swing set with a tug from her bare hands as Grace whacked at the phone booth, raising the last two digits of her number from 34 to 45 before Simon caught up, wearing a chef's hat.
"Looks like someone wants a new nickname, 'Chef's Hat'.", Grace grinned as she tossed the nailed bat aside.
"Oh, man! Am I wearing one? It's so subtle I hadn't noticed.", Simon responded before Grace playfully flicked the hat off with Simon grinning in response.
Suddenly, there was a large metallic tentacle spinning straight toward Todd as he stopped with a gasp before it struck him, knocking him back as he screamed before he landed on the ground and slid toward his friend.
"Todd! Are you okay?", the young girl asked.
"Yeah. I didn't even see it coming, though.", Todd groaned in response as he got up with the incident noticed by Tulip and the other Glitch Techs along with Atticus, Aloysius, and One-One.
"Huh? What just happened?", Tulip puzzled.
"Apparently, the same thing that's about to happen to them!", Aloysius replied as he pointed to the metal tentacles wielded by a sort of black-robed man spinning toward Grace and Simon, earning a gasp from Tulip.
"Grace, Simon, look out!", Tulip shouted before they caught notice of what she was pointing at and saw the tentacles before narrowly rolling past the tentacles, which were now headed for the rest of the Apex as they were struck back one-by-one toward the same spot Todd and his friend are even knocking the girl with spiked shoulder pads back before the tentacles then wrapped themselves tightly around the rest of the Apex trapping them as they detached themselves to hold them tightly in a big ring.
Just then, both Zenith and Polaris stepped closer from the shadows as the metal tentacles returned back to the former around his waist beneath the robe with Tulip and the others noticing them.
"Who is that?", Tulip asked.
"Don't know. But they're giving off a pretty bad vibe over here.", Jesse responded before Zenith stopped near Aloysius.
"Step aside. I'll take over from here.", Zenith spoke.
"Pardon me, but can you tell me your name?", Zenith asked.
"They call me Zenith. And this is my associate, Polaris.", Zenith introduced, gesturing to him.
"We're here because someone isn't doing their job. I apologize for being subtle, but it's you. You're not doing your job. See, you've got an Apex Problem. And I'm a problem solver.", Zenith added.
"Apex Problem?", Atticus puzzled.
"Apex Problem.", Zenith responded before getting out a remote with one of the metal tentacles and pressing it, causing a slide to go down in front of the exit before it then showed a slide filled with trees with the word "Nature" on it.
"Nature. We all love nature. A stroll in the park, a hike on a sunny afternoon.", Zenith began as the turtles and corgi's murmured in agreement happily.
"Another word to describe nature is an individual's true colors, something that shows them for what they really are. But what happens when nature...invades?", Zenith asked before the next slide then showed the same thing, but with the red symbol of the Apex, stunning the audience.
The next slides he showed were each more disconcerting than the last with each gasp growing louder as well as it showed the recent raid from the Lucky Cat Car as well as the raid on the cube car as it even showed Cotton Candy being stolen, corn dogs being eaten, and denizens being upset by their actions.
"Rugrats ravaging concession stands, thieves stealing food, destroyers upsetting denizens! I've seen it all, folks, but I've never seen anything as disturbing as what you see here today.", Zenith spoke.
"Wait a minute. Is he talking about us?", Simon realizes before Zenith glared and let loose his metallic tentacles on Simon before they grabbed him and forcefully moved him closer to Zenith as they tightened their grip as Simon struggled to break free, but to no avail.
"No comments until the end of the presentation.", Zenith spoke before flinging Simon away back toward Grace as he landed.
"Simon!", Grace shouted as she tended to him as he got up as best he could before the metal tentacles went back underneath.
"Those tentacles...could they be...?", Tulip puzzled.
"In this world, there is a natural order. And when that order is violated, when those passengers are allowed to live among us, in this car, in this train, that's when nature becomes unnatural. Are we really going to tolerate these savages, wreaking havoc aboard the train, destroying everything in their paths, disregarding every denizen they meet as nothing more than nulls, nothing, not even a zero?!", Zenith exclaimed, making the corgi's and turtles murmur nervously.
"And the sickest, most disturbing thing those Apex do? They WHEEL them!", Zenith shouted next, pointing to a slide showing Tulip and Lake wheeling Mace, leaving the crowd in disarray.
"Hang on. You two actually wheeled a denizen?", Grace spoke in shock and awe.
"We didn't want to do it, but we didn't have a choice. He tried to kill Lake first.", Tulip responded.
"So? What's wrong with that?", Simon puzzled.
"What's wrong with that?! Those apex are a threat to the natural order! As long as they're here, your entire way of life is at risk.", Zenith warned.
"Wh-what do we do?", one of the turtles asked fearfully.
"Simple. We do what I do best. Capture, detain, and relocate the invaders. Send these apex to where they deserve to remain in exile. The Ghom-ingested wastelands, cut off from the train's society forever!", Zenith responded.
"You're insane!", Tulip and Grace shouted in unison, puzzling one another as they glanced at each other.
"That depends on your point of view. Of course, from your point of view right now, yes. I definitely am.", Zenith glared in response before raising his metal tentacles and then spinning them, knocking Atticus back as he let out a pained whimper upon impact.
"Atticus!", Tulip shouted.
"Polaris, go after those brats! I'll deal with these denizens myself.", Zenith ordered as he moved forward.
"All right. You got it. Not like I have any problem anyway. In fact, it'll be my pleasure. But after that, we'll continue to look for her. After all, she is the key to my plan.", Polaris responded while speaking to himself after agreeing.
Then, Atticus groaned as he recovered from an attack before noticing Zenith moving in toward him.
"Listen. I know how you feel about the Apex, really, I do. But exile in the wastelands? I wouldn't wish that on even my worst enemy.", Atticus responded.
"It's what they all deserve for everything they've done. You wouldn't understand!", Zenith retorted angrily.
"Actually, I do. And I know because I met someone like them. That person was Amelia. She caused so much chaos because she couldn't stand to adjust to her new life. But as we speak, she's learning to cope and trying to be a better person.", Atticus stated, not knowing that Grace and Simon were listening.
"That's right. And if the Apex are anything at all like Amelia, I have every confidence that they can learn to be better the way she is.", Aloysius added in assurance as one of the apex with spiked shoulder pads and a brown ponytail noticed as well.
"Also, that photo was taken out of context.", Atticus added.
"I don't think you understand. They are not learning AT ALL!", Zenith angrily shouted before attacking Atticus again only to trip him this time as he barely dodged.
"And I know what I saw with my own eyes, dog.", Zenith finished before moving in toward the exit where a podium rose up, revealing a bigger glowing orb on top of it, much to Aloysius' disarray as he gasped.
"Guards, stop that man from reaching the master orb!", Aloysius urged to his guards.
"Yes, your majesty!", the guards responded before charging in toward Zenith as the girl turned to Aloysius.
"Um, is there a reason why we should be scared?", the girl puzzled.
"If Zenith disconnects the master control orb, the car would descend into chaos and the kingdom will be torn apart!", Aloysius responded.
"Okay. Now, I'm scared.", the girl gulped in fear.
Meanwhile, Tulip, Jesse, Lake, Miko, and Five noticed Polaris headed toward the trapped Apex.
"We've gotta do something to set them free.", Tulip urged.
"I think I might have an idea.", Miko grinned.
Then, as the apex kids struggled to break free with Polaris moving in toward them, Todd noticed Tulip, Jesse, Lake, Miko, and Five taking aim seemingly on them.
"You might wanna hold still.", Tulip advised before Todd braced himself, thinking he was about to get blasted when the glitch techs instead blasted Polaris first, knocking him out for a bit, and then the tentacles holding them down as they came apart and fell down, freeing the tykes.
"There. You're free now.", Jesse grinned.
"But...why would you...?", Todd asked.
"Because it's the right thing to do. Especially up against a bad guy like that.", Jesse responded, pointing to Zenith as he was about to pull the orb away when the guards managed to approach him.
"Stop! In the name of King Aloysius!", the guard urged, holding a giant spoon.
"Don't the both of you realize that your hierarchy has failed you in the face of chaos?", Zenith only glared.
"Are you crazy?!", the girl shouted.
"Yes! You did not respond to reason, so now, you will know fear!", Zenith retorted angrily before removing the master orb, causing the podium to emit a circular wave, darkening everything in its path up until the car was under dark blue storm clouds as a swirl appeared in the enter of the sky and winds started blowing heavily before a green spark emerged from where the master orb used to be and turned out to be a glitch as it zipped and zapped until it then slowly transformed into a pink dinosaur in battle armor with a roar as it grew to full size based upon the reptilian nature of the car and started smashing everything in sight just as Phil called Tulip via gauntlet.
"Uh, guys, I'm getting a major bug in your area. Is everything all right?", Phil asked.
"What do you think?", Tulip asked before showing Phil the glitch released.
"Oh, nerds!", Phil squeaked.
Meanwhile, Grace was only half as frightened.
"Uh, okay, what is that thing?", Grace puzzled, a bit frightened.
"That thing is the manifestation of this car's many failures that will not stop until it's completely destroyed along with all the passengers and denizens inside. One way or another, your reign of terror is coming to an end, Apex!", Zenith threatened.
Then, the glitch roared as it then smashed the ground with the emerging precipice rocks headed toward Grace and Simon only for them to dodge out of the way.
"Well, since you put it that way.", Grace spoke before flipping backwards, leaping up towards the stairway in the air and then jumping off before kicking at the Glitch, knocking it back before the girl then whacked it back in the head with a swing before Tulip realized where it's headed.
"Wait a second. That's it. Jesse, Lake, Miko, Five, with me!", Tulip spoke before she ran forward with the others following her just as the glitch recovered and noticed Simon running past it before chasing after him only for him to walk up the wall in front of him and leap back behind it before tripping it with a sweep, causing it to land on the ground.
Then, Tulip, Jesse, Lake, Miko, and Five aimed at the Glitch before firing purple beams of every at it, starting to suck the Glitch away before it split into five segments and got contained as the "EXP + 250,000" Sign appeared before disappearing as the gauntlets beeped.
"Glitch contained.", the gauntlets spoke.
"No.", Zenith growled.
"Phew. That was close.", Five sighed.
"Okay. What did you guys just do? I mean, that was awesome!", Simon grinned.
"Well, it's kind of a long story.", Tulip responded just as a green light past by the others before the car suddenly shook, worrying both passengers and denizens alike.
"Uh, was it supposed to shake like that?", Jesse asked.
"This car's a shifter. Back to the mall, Apex!", Grace urged before the rest of the Apex hurried back, except for the girl who whacked the glitch earlier.
Then, suddenly both Tulip and Simon got sucked back by the artificial gravity from the wall.
"Tulip!", Jesse shouted.
"Simon!", Grace shouted at the same time before Simon was now hovering beneath the brick wall while Tulip, Jesse, Lake, Miko, and Five were in the air amidst the heavy winds as Tulip lost her balance before getting it back and noticing Atticus and Aloysius in the air as well.
"You guys okay?!", Tulip asked.
"Yes, but barely.", Atticus responded.
Meanwhile, Zenith looked down slightly.
"I need out. Now!", Zenith urged before the metal tentacles emerged and then hoisted him up before moving in toward the unconscious Polaris and picked him up before escaping through the exit with Polaris in hand as the warning tape was destroyed in the process before Grace noticed the girl hurrying to catch up to them.
"Guys, wait for me!", the girl shouted before she arrived outside too late to notice the bridge between cars collapsing as the apex kid made it to the other side.
"No...", the girl spoke sadly, not knowing that Tulip was watching in worry.
Then, it wasn't long before the gravity shut down causing Tulip to fall first before Gummi jumped off her shoulder and grew to a size big enough to get bounced on for support before shrinking back to normal and jumping onto her shoulder as Lake landed next before catching Jesse as Miko and Five landed as well.
"Thanks, Gummi.", Tulip thanked before Gummi squeaked in response with Atticus, Aloysius, and the others landing as well as Grace noticed before realizing with a gasp that with the wall above Simon, if the gravity goes off, the wall could land on top of him.
Sure enough, the instant Simon fell to the ground and looked up, the wall did land on top of him, but only on his back. Afterward, the car suddenly ejected out and moved farther back as the wind blew off Grace's mask before the girl caught up to Grace.
"Grace!", the girl shouted.
"Amber! What happened?", Grace asked.
"I tried to leave with them, but we got separated! The bridge closed on me!", Amber responded.
"Don't worry, Amber. We'll get back to the others soon. Somehow.", Grace assured before overhearing and noticing Kevin floating sideways nearby.
"Sorry, Madam secretary. I'm gonna be late again. First, my breakfast is ruined and now the whole world is flying away, yeah. It's been a bad, bad, bad, bad year!", Kevin spoke as he was suddenly stepped on in the head by Grace as she then jumped on the table and the shell of a turtle before launching her magnetic harpoon toward the brick wall resting on top of Simon's back with only a rock preventing it from resting on him completely before pulling herself closer to Simon with Amber catching up on foot toward Simon as Tulip and the others as Atticus and Aloysius caught up as well.
"Hey.", Grace spoke before retracting her harpoon pack.
Then, she, Amber, Tulip lifted the wall off Simon and helped him up as Simon tended to his bruises.
"Are you okay?", Lake asked.
"Yeah...but I think I bruised a rib.", Simon responded with a sharp inhale.
"Don't worry, I gotcha.", Grace assured as she out his hand on her shoulder.
"I saw Zenith and Polaris leave through the exit. It'd be easy if it was connected but now that it's been ejected, this could be risky.", Tulip spoke, pointing to the exit door nearby.
"All right, guys. Hang on tight.", Grace warned.
"You sure you can carry us all?", Simon asked.
"Wanna find out?", Grace grinned before Simon gave a grinning scoff in reply.
"Well, whatever we do, we better do it fast.", Five responded.
"I hope we meet again one day, Aloysius.", Atticus spoke.
"And may your kingdom be one day avenged!", Miko added a bit dramatically.
"Quite dramatic, isn't she?", Aloysius spoke.
"Yes, but understandably so given the circumstances.", Atticus responded before he walked over to Tulip and the others.
"Rest easy, Aloysius!", Tulip shouted as Grace fired the harpoon pack outside the exit and toward the top of an adjacent car, sending them sliding against the ground before noticing a stray turtle in their way.
When they did, Grace veered to the right a bit, inadvertently causing the rope on one of the harpoon packs to tear. As the turtle hopped away, the group held on tightly before bursting out of the exit just before the harpoon rope broke and Tulip, Jesse, Lake, Atticus, Miko, Five, Grace, and Amber landed on the bridge of cars and got up weakly.
"Ugh. I do not want to go through that again...", Tulip groaned just as Gummi looked around and spotted something distressing as it hopped twice while squeaking.
"Huh? What's wrong?", Tulip puzzled before noticing Simon in danger of falling as she gasped while Grace and the others noticed.
"Simon!", Grace shouted as Simon slipped and tried to maintain his grip only to fall down before getting caught in the wrists by Lake and Grace.
"Gotcha.", Lake spoke before lifting him up with Grace pitching in.
"I owe you one.", Simon sighed.
"Dude, you owe me a million. Also, a new raid mask. Also, a harpoon pack.", Grace spoke.
"Yours is broken?", Simon asked before Grace took off her broken harpoon back.
"Beyond broken.", Grace scoffed as she then tossed it away.
"You know, in spite of the fact that you support the false conductor, you guys are pretty okay.", Grace grinned.
"Thanks. You and Simon seem pretty okay, too.", Tulip grinned.
"Oh. Can't forget her, either. By the way, what is your name?", Jesse asked.
"Amber.", Amber responded.
"Well, then. Nice to meet you. I only wish it were under better circumstances.", Atticus sighed.
"We'll swap it out back at the mall. It can't be that far.", Simon spoke as he checked his radar and zoomed down as Grace sighed.
"What happened? Cars aren't supposed to move if people are inside.", Grace wondered.
"It does seem rather unusual, doesn't it?", Glad One pondered as he peeped out of Tulip's backpack.
"One-One?! You brought him here with you?!", Grace asked.
"Well, yeah. He said he needed us to help you guys.", Jesse responded.
"And help us how, exactly?", Amber asked.
"Honestly, I had no idea about the guy in a black robe before today. I swear.", Sad One spoke.
"Well, if it wasn't One-One this time, you know who else can do that.", Simon spoke.
"Zenith and Polaris.", Grace glared.
"I think those creeps just made their first move.", Simon spoke.
"You think they have some kind of grudge against us?", Grace asked.
"I wouldn't put it past them.", Simon responded as he finally found the numbers (labeled as red dots on his radar).
"Good news. They're here. Bad news? We're...here. 47 cars away.", Simon sighed as he scrolled the radar down before stopping at where they are and hanging his head down.
"Hey, that's not all bad. It'll be like old times. Me and you. Along with Amber and some new friends, of course.", Grace assured.
"Yeah. Old times.", Simon sighed as he walked forward before Grace then a door that led to a giant jungle car with a grey sky as they looked on in slight surprise.
"Well, we better get moving. If Zenith and Polaris have it out for you guys, there's no telling when they'd find them.", Tulip urged.
"You heard her, ladies and gentlemen! Onward to the Jungle car!", Glad One spoke excitedly before they eagerly went inside the Jungle car before the door closed behind them with the knob turning back.
A/N: And with that, the gang starts off on their adventure in an effort to evade Zenith and Polaris' destructive wrath. And there will be more twists coming soon at certain chapters. Speaking of which, feel free to read the next chapter. :)