Things back in Petropolis were more or less just plain horrible. Everything around the surrounding areas( which included the neighboring cities) was either getting burned or corrupted by the infernal forces that kept coming from below. With the massive wall being built, and patrols and wardens keeping the enslaved civilians in row, Zero knew he had the entire place under his heel. But for now, he had been escorted back to his restoration chamber by Byron and Glacia Gemini. While Zero rested up and regenerated his infernal power that he had spent redecorating the joint, both weasels stood guard outside. Just then Herbert's captor approached them still keeping his captive in tow.

"Gemini.", he answered gruffly which they both silenced with a glance.

"Zero doesn't wish to be-", Byron started.

"Disturbed at the moment warden", Glacia finished.

The warden instantly quieted his voice down so Zero could "hopefully" not hear the conversation that would take place and the Gemini did the same.

"So what's this?", the weasels asked quietly.

"Slacker.", the warden informed in an equally quiet tone, "Couldn't pull his weight."

The weasels looked down on Herbert who had frozen up on fear. Usually this happened on camera, but in this case, it was more than that kind of paranoia, it was like his execution and a trial all happening at the same time.

"So, we have ourselves-", Glacia started.

"A troublemaker do we?", Byron finished.

The warden smiled devilishly as he once again put Herbert in between the weasels and himself.

"What do you propose we do to him?"

"White hot metal?", Byron suggested.

"Nah, too slow on torment."

"Shock by electricity?", Glacia asked.

"Too power draining."

While they continued to make suggestions to Herbert's punishment, Zero( who had been sleeping through the whole thing) had about finished his rejuvenation and was almost at full power. As he continued to snooze on the fine silk covers, and plush pillows, his sensitive ears picked up faint whispers in the hall just outside his door. With his eyes snapped open, Zero's coat(now cobalt blue) once again formed his phoenix wings and he hovered toward the door.

"Flaming tar?", Byron asked hoping this one could be it.

"No. Too sticky."

Just as they were about to go any further, the door they stood by slid open to reveal Zero who didn't look at all pleased to notice. And Byron, Glacia and the warden were in shock. In all their talk, they had kept quiet, so why was Zero up now?

"Sir, Monster Zero.", the warden said as he dropped into a kneeling position, "Forgive my intrusion my-"

He didn't have time to say anymore because Zero had just fired an array of chaotic energy which really hurt both the warden and Herbert. Zero then looked down at the still smoking body of the warden with his arms crossed.

"I have been in a peaceful state of regenerating my infernal power that I have spent to fix this infernal place, and WHAT HAPPENS?! You have the nerve to invade and DISTURB ME!"

Byron and Glacia quickly positioned themselves at Zero's sides. They were most certainly not about to stand up to Zero. Not in this mood anyway because if they objected, Zero would fry both of them as he would the warden.

"Of course..oh evil one.", the warden said barely able to talk.

Zero noticed that the warden had a captive that looked pretty burned, crushed, and worn so he swiped Herbert off the warden's fingers, and with a wave of his claws, the warden was levitated off the floor, and sent flying out the open window which formed in the wall. As the window faded, Zero then turned to Herbert, thought for a second then turned to return to his regeneration. As the Gemini twins followed, Zero paused, turned and gave a threatening look.

"Leave us.", he sneered and the Gemini left down the hallway.

After they left, Zero paused in the door, and the room shifted into a throne room based one. The rest of his regeneration he could do himself without rest. Zero hovered over to his chair, and after seating himself on the throne of steel, bone and who knows what else, brought out his infernal power stone, and made it hover nearby so he could taunt his audience.

"Why oh why did I take this long to dispose of you? I first thought my lowest ranking underlings could get you out of the way on their own. I actually considered you TUFF agents a major thorn in my side. Outwitting you mortals is like outwitting a bunch of children. And I HATE CHILDREN!"

Herbert was barely able to keep his ears from bursting from that yell. As much as he wanted to object, he found it hard to do so.

"I can see you strain that elderly, feeble mind mortal", Zero chuckled wickedly, "Too bad you don't even have the slightest clue how I pulled this victory out so flawlessly."

And before Herbert could say anything, Zero pointed at him with his other claw and after an icy beam hit Herbert, he was in cased in a block of black ice. Zero's devilish smile got bigger.

"A fitting imprisonment. It's cold like my stare, and pitch black like my heart if I had one. GALARIL!"

A black devil like horse slithered out of the shadows near the throne, walked in front of Zero, and bowed. Galaril was a nightmare from Hades and Zero's adviser. Please keep in mind that this is no ordinary horse. It was the real deal. With the ability to project fear into their opponent's mind, Galaril and his herd had won Zero's favor long ago. He sported glowing markings on his body like Zero though his were red and his flaming white mane was complimented by his dark gray cape and dark brown pants.

"You summoned master?", Galaril asked. His voice sounded faint and ominous like a sound from beyond the grave.

Zero said nothing. He just tossed the ice cube that held Herbert at him and Galaril caught it.

"Place that slave in the icy depths of the freezer.", Zero instructed.

"By your command.", Galaril declared as he bowed again, turned and left taking his frozen little captive with him.

Outside among the moaning and very miserable crowds, Snaptrap, Chameleon, and Bird Brain were in a group meeting. After all this destruction, mayhem and terror they were now stuck in the Petropolis area while other forces were being deployed. Their underlings were on patrol so it was just the three of them.

"Can you believe Zero put us on guard duty here while all the good stuff is occurring outside that wall he's making us watch over?", Bird Brain asked( doubtlessly annoyed).

"I know", agreed Chameleon, "You think he could deploy us for one more act of treachery? Or at least an intimidation once or twice?"

"And instead, we get stuck being under the eye of our boss who in my opinion is a real hot head.", Snaptrap grumbled.

Chameleon shifted his arm into a coffee maker and the trio had a few cups of cocoa to try and settle their mood. Then the clouds flashed, and it started raining turning the once barren ground into a mucky street where they grew worried they would develop trench foot( if you know what I mean). So to combat this, Chameleon shifted his left hand into a ray gun which molded the muck into large benches which hardened into steel ones complete with built in foot stools. But they didn't have time to relax because that was when Galaril was coming back from throwing Herbert into an icy and very dark spot where he had hoped nobody would look and when he saw what these three were doing, he was not pleased. And before any of them could say anymore, Galaril had rushed over and after hitting them with about five minutes worth of fire, eyed their charred bodies which looked up feebly.

"Greetings boys."

Snaptrap, Chameleon and Bird Brain had now regained enough health to move and see who they were now talking to( hey the formula Zero put in them could have boosted their healing benefits. Please refer to book 1 for details on that). And caught off guard with this face, they decided to play it cool.

"So, do what do we owe the pleasure?", Bird Brain asked.

"Name's Galaril.", the black horse sneered.

"Wait.", Chameleon stated, "Where's Zero?"

"I'm afraid my master is...occupied at the moment. I speak on his behalf in his absence."

Snaptrap looked interested immediately.

"Wait, Zero's not here?"

"He will be.", Galaril informed, "If you three don't get to your posts."

"Uh..Zero never assigned posts.", Bird Brain said cautiously.

Galaril reached into his cloak and pulled out three files and handed one to each of them rather forcibly.

"Now you do. Have a nice day."

Galaril turned to leave, and then paused and looked over his shoulder.

"By the way, what's this I hear about my boss being a hot head?"

Snaptrap, Chameleon, and Bird Brain were not about to answer that one. If they said anything that may be upsetting, much less annoying, Galaril would fry them again they way he did before so they just ran off to their new positions and Galaril looked satisfied.

"They always run.", he muttered to himself, "When they know they're in trouble."

Down the street, several pedestrians were hard on their work. At least to the eyes of their harsh wardens. Keswick was especially hard working. He had scrubbed muck out of warden feet, butchered rotting corpses, and had been mocked and humiliated every five minutes or so. He was right now serving tea to a warden( a rhinoceros) who was taking a breather in a bench and adjusted his face mask. Cautiously, Keswick handed over the tea.

"Your t-t-t-tah-tea sir", Keswick offered trying not to stutter, but having difficulty.

The warden just looked annoyed.

"I specifically told you I wanted five ice cubes, and I only see four in the glass.", it sneered in a menacing sort of way, "Don't make me call Zero."

The warden had his torture bladed hand on a radio receiver that he had on his belt in case a riot occurred and Keswick bolted off to find another ice cube before the warden got to impatient. Luckily he knew where the ice was kept. Just as he was about to get to the large freezer( which was placed near a building the way a vending machine would be), he slipped and slid through the muck and accidentally bumped into it and caused it to rock. He tried to steady it, but unfortunately Keswick was more suited to developing methods before hand than doing things right away. And with a freezer that big, it was no contest. So in conclusion, the freezer toppled over. CRASH! And needless to say, it got the warden over there and after pulling Keswick out, he certainly didn't look all to thrilled.

"What's THIS?! Vandalizing personal property of Zero? Well, it looks like someone's in BIG trouble."

Keswick flinched under the shout.

"It was an accident.", he protested.

But, too late. The skies had begun to rumble and Keswick turned to see a patrol of super soldiers( about three) led by Galaril. He had overheard others mention him under their moaning, but seeing him was a whole new experience. The warden however looked pleased to see them.

"As if on cue.", he said smiling under his mask, "Oh you are so gonna get it worm."

Galaril walked over and eyed Keswick menacingly.

"What happened?"

"Well.", said the warden, "I was in the middle of-"

BZZZT! Galaril's guardsmen opened fire with the huge plasma cannons they had on the warden and made him dance a bit until he was out of breath.

"I was talking to the worm.", Galaril snapped at the warden, "Remain silent."

That shut the warden up. Keswick was as nervous as if he was about to talk to the most pretty girl he ever saw( he has a phobia of girls) and Galaril just stood there tapping his fingers on his waist still staring at him menacingly.

"SPEAK!", Galaril shouted.

Keswick snapped out of his state right away.

"I'm sorry Galaril. I was t-t-t-tah-trying to-"

BZZZT! Galaril's patrol opened fire once to make him silent.

"When you speak to me worm, you will speak with reverence.", Galaril sneered, "Or ELSE!"

Now Keswick was even more nervous. Even though he tried to speak clearly, whenever he stuttered( even for a second) Galaril's guards fired once more and straightened him up. Finally, Galaril got what he wanted, but still showed the same look on his face as he turned away.

"Warden, escort this stuttering misfit to...the Bone Crusher."

Keswick's eyes went wide. The Bone Crusher was one of the most aggressive and vicious wardens. Those who went to see him, never came back. Alive that is. Keswick tried to run, but the warden ensnared him in his razor fingers and dragged him through the muck lined street with his shoulder clutched, his eyes watering, and his mouth blabbering.

Zero at this time had finished his power regeneration and was now enjoying some personal time. Just an evil hound from Hades and his thoughts. Though the Gemini twins were scorned for disturbing his process of rest, they were still his top hunters and therefor had still a purpose to serve and not burned into cinders. Zero pondered as his trench coat shifted from it's cobalt blue to pale green( I know it's weird, but when you add different elements to fire it changes color so you get the idea). His throne was certainly the best seat in the newly formed tower he had built himself.

"Just me alone to ponder.", he thought to himself, "What to do? What to do?"

Just then, he snapped his fingers and a couple butlers came in and kneel at the throne's base.

"You called sir?"

"I'm bored. All this chaos and domination is underway, and I need entertainment."

The butlers stood up, and after a couple minutes, they thought they had an idea.

"Sir, we think that-"

Zero cut them off by zapping them with chaotic energy.

"I do the thinking thank you very much.", he grouched.

Finally after a sigh he wrote down some orders for his morning meal (morning was on it's way), and handed it to the butlers that left in a rush( Zero ran a tight ship). Zero conjured his infernal power stone and took a look at all the chaos and destruction he was bringing.

"After so long, I finally get to establish a new reign of authority. 01 may be out, but I know he's out there. Dudley should be a wreck by now. Gibbering fool, always so deceptive and doing things he wasn't allowed to do."

As Zero continued to ponder, his coat changed color once more( this time it was dazzling orange).

"I must say, he was an actual natural at being such an evil dog. Not that I'm surprised. After all that stuff he did, it would make sense it would be this strong. The apparition I implanted in his mind did it's job. Or did it?"

Zero smiled devilishly.

"Hold everything, I just had an idea. If that foolish mutt thinks it's behind him, he's even crazier than me. I think I'll send a little reminder to feed his paranoia."