Now this kind of thing was pretty whacked. After arriving back at HQ, Dudley and Jeremiah went directly to Dark Wolf's office to report the disappearance of Jack Rabbit during their battle between some of Zero's androids. Kitty and Iris went off to get their stuff prepared and some other things. As they went down the halls as usual, the other teams had come back and informed their side of information and Dark Wolf looked pretty overwhelmed so Dudley and Jeremiah decided to let Dark Wolf catch a few minutes to get his stress under his belt by doing a couple of simulations. But before the simulation started, Jeremiah wanted Dudley to get a few things in order.

"First off, you may be good with a group. Now let's see how you fare when it's just you and me."

After several simulations, Jeremiah believed he had developed a pattern to get Dudley's combat and field training skills up. But unfortunately there came a time when single combat came in and Dudley ran into a little bit of a bother. There he was all ready to rumble with Jeremiah on the sidelines coaching him on.

"You ready for this?", Jeremiah asked him.

"Ready as I'll ever be.", Dudley told him.

As soon as he finished, Dudley noticed his opponent was...Kitty Katswell?! No way! Dudley was stunned.

"My next opponent, is my partner?!", he asked.

"Correction, was your partner", Jeremiah stated, "but now..your enemy!"

Kitty's simulation was not gonna wait, but Dudley backed away as if backing down. Jeremiah then grabbed Dudley by the front of his shirt and instantly had his face up close to Dudley's.

"What do you think you're doing?!", Jeremiah spat.

"Jeremiah, she's my friend. I can't just-"

"You're just going to back down like a coward?!",Jeremiah yelled, "And I thought German shepherds were fearless. Apparently I was mistaken."

Jeremiah released Dudley from his grip, but Dudley was still frazzled. After all that fun, Jeremiah was now back on his drill sarge attitude. Calling Dudley a coward? That was quite a whack. And what's more, when Dudley finally swallowed his pride and faced his partner, she held nothing back. No matter how many times he tried to talk to her, she drowned him out and kept up her assault. Well, that kind of training took it's toll. By the time the simulation ended, Dudley was bruised, panting, and sore. Jeremiah however looked disappointed and angry both at the same time.

"What was that?!", Jeremiah spat(and Dudley thought his first time with this guy was hard), "You should be giving your all, nothing less!"

Dudley flinched.

"Jeremiah-"

"Don't interrupt!", Jeremiah yelled, "You hesitate, you lack too much, and you're too unstable!"

Unstable. That was a blow to Dudley's ego. And Jeremiah was far from finished.

"By the rate you did with those androids earlier, you took your eyes off Jack and now he's missing because you didn't make sure he was there!"

Dudley had put up with this attitude pretty long, but now he was pretty sure he was about to snap(wouldn't you?). Jeremiah was now taking a breather.

"Are you finished?", Dudley asked.

"Yes."

Well that cleared the air a lot. But Dudley did have an idea about where Jeremiah was going with this. This may be low on fighting, but would Zero be the same? Not at all. Zero would go lower.

Dorian was busy working on his cold fusion combination down inside his lab( hey he hardly ever leaves). His assistants made the job more easy. Now ever so carefully, Dorian added the gamma radiation( in small amounts mind you and wearing protective gear) which seemed to go without a hitch until he was rudely interrupted.

"Dorian?", Dudley called out.

Dorian jolted a sec which caused the radiation to get unstable and make a small bang again and Dorian's assistants lifted him down to ground floor where Dudley had entered.

"What brings you here?", Dorian asked as he wiped the smudges off his goggles with a sanitation sponge.

"Dorian, I was wondering if you could alter the simulation room so I could have a little down time for me."

"I think you mean you can try and goof off", Dorian informed, "and as tempting as that sounds, I can't. Simulations are for battlefield training not your personal playground. Besides, I'm already busy in here."

Dudley felt a little down and he noticed something nearby.

"Hey what's that?", he asked and Dorian followed his line of sight.

Dorian pulled out a small mobile television with a couple of blasters connected to it through a few wires.

"Is that a heart reading machine?", Dudley asked.

"It was a heart reading machine", Dorian informed, "but with the latest upgrades, I have made a devise that will revolutionize the world of psychiatry. I give you..the Heart Communicator 3000."

"Heart Communicator?", Dudley asked.

"It helps you and someone else understand one another", Dorian told him.

"Still not following you."

Dorian sighed.

"It allows you and someone else to look into each others hearts."

Dudley cringed.

"Eww."

Dorian saw this and quickly made an explanation.

"It helps you see someone's deepest feelings, past memories, and the like. I was developing this for psychiatrists who deal with bickering couples."

That calmed Dudley down a bit and he started to get excited real fast.

"Really?! I want to try it."

He reached out to grab a blaster, but Dorian's assistant Gamma reached out and grabbed his arm and held him back.

"I don't know Dudley, I'm still working on a few bugs. It should be up in about a couple hours", Dorian explained, "By the way, did you inform Dark Wolf about anything?"

That got Dudley back on schedule.

"Thanks Doc, gotta run now."

"Anytime", Dorian called after him as he released his assistant's grip and Dudley ran out.

A while later, Dudley, Jeremiah and Dark Wolf were in the conference room discussing the matter Dudley and Jeremiah reported.

"Hmm",Dark Wolf said in thought, "it would seem Zero found out that Dudley's deal is off."

Dudley looked interested.

"So no more Monster 01?", he asked.

"Let's hope not.", Jeremiah added, "Still, we need to find out where Jack went off to. He could have been abducted during that last fight we had on our way back."

"Indeed", Dark Wolf stated, "but he has to be alive or he wouldn't have been targeted by those drones. But we don't know why."

The large screen was displaying several different things at a time while Dark Wolf was putting pieces together( or attempting to). After about a couple minutes, Dark Wolf had narrowed down the number of reasons and the screen showed it.

"Maybe he's discovered Jack's true colors?", Dudley suggested as he fidgeted with his pants.

"If that was the case, Zero would have had him killed there.", Jeremiah pointed out, "He's got to be up to something. And with Jack at his mercy, who knows what he's doing?"

Nobody could argue with that. Zero as Jeremiah knew was as unpredictable as he was powerful. Dudley had seen first hand how cruel and unyielding he could get( especially the time Zero inflicted pain to him on purpose just to get him to do Zero's bidding).

"Well, the site seems to have been raided already. Seems to me Zero started a spike in our radars to get our attention", Jeremiah theorized, "unusual for his behavior. He tends to get one of his high ranked officials to this limit."

Jeremiah's comment made a little bit of sense to Dudley. He recalled seeing a patch of crimson during the fight earlier. Could that have been one of Zero's goons or just his imagination? He didn't know, but he was sure that there had to be a reason.

"I'll look into this further", Dark Wolf informed Dudley and Jeremiah, "why don't you two get some driving in? To sharpen your skill behind the wheel."

Jeremiah was quick to agree, so was Dudley and soon, they were on their way to the hangers where the vehicles were stashed( Jeremiah carried his in it's small cube form).

Stationed outside the base( and oblivious to the mountain's formation) Zero and the Gemini twins were lying in wait. They had flown a long way and after picking up Dudley's trail( Byron and Glacia were excellent trackers), Zero had already prepared a new deal for his "acquaintance". Zero was regaining some genetic power while Byron and Glacia scanned the area. Their ally Monster 07 was certainly showing his potential. Those drones' formation and coordination were on the dot as always, and now Zero was sure it was time to persuade Dudley to serve him again. Leaving Petropolis would take it's toll on his progress of world domination. He realized that.

"Sir", Byron started, "forgive our doubt, but we still don't see-"

"What your scheme is.", Glacia finished.

"Patience,", Zero informed them, "All will be revealed. Our target should be coming out anytime now."

Although they were ment to serve him unconditionally, the Gemini twins felt a little unsure. But Zero noticed.

"I know you two are doubting my foresight.", Zero sneered, "Perhaps you'd like to join Galaril in the incinerator?"

That got them back in line. Byron and Glacia went back to scanning while Zero( having recharged) waited patiently. Finally, the Gemini twins' radar started beeping rapidly.

"We have visual sir.", they reported with pride.

"Let us fly.", Zero instructed.

With that, the Gemini and Zero's coats(Zero's was orange this time) shifted into their pairs of wings and they were off in the air once more. Although Zero could open a portal and just teleport to the location, this put less strain on him and got him out of the house longer. After following the radar, and Zero's coat changing color from orange to red again, they found Dudley and Jeremiah getting some driving lessons in. Keeping a low profile, Zero observed while the Gemini took notes.

"He's quite the adversary behind the wheel", Byron started, "is he-"

"Not?", Glacia finished.

Zero said nothing. He just watched. Jeremiah's cycle was proving more effective. It was pretty obvious who the better agent was. Dudley was still having trouble with his focus and then, Zero got a sneaky idea.

"Wait here", he told the Gemini, "I have a course to investigate."

The Gemini wanted to object, but they were not about to have Zero burn them alive on the spot like most people in Zero's employ.

"Be careful sir.", Glacia warned, "You're not-"

"Safe here.", Byron finished.

As Zero flew in a little closer, the Gemini twins went behind some rocks and kept a watchful eye out.

"Our boss is being quite thorough this-", Byron started.

"Peculiar day?", Glacia finished, "I know. Then again, who would when your-"

Before they got any further in their conversation, they noticed that Zero was on their communicators and happening to be listening to them.

"Sir!", Glacia yelped, "How much did-"

"You here?", Byron finished and sounding equally surprised.

"Keep your voices down", Zero sneered while whispering, "I'm trying to keep myself hidden. Now listen up, because if you two mess this up, the last thing you'll both see is my fire burning away at your souls in Hades til the end of eternity. Understood?!"

"Aye aye sir.", the Gemini answered clear enough so Zero heard them, but quiet enough so they were not heard.

Dudley and Jeremiah were at the moment taking a breather. Dudley's skill was getting better, but Jeremiah still was the better agent.

"I gotta admit, you got some skill", Jeremiah told Dudley, "but stop trying to take your pants off. You look better like this."

"But their getting in the way", Dudley complained, "I can't whistle. I can't juggle."

"At least you see your tail", Jeremiah told him firmly, "I don't want the other agents to see your lower half undressed. It makes you look like a weirdo. And pants look good on you, keep your heat in cold places, and are fashionable."

Dudley couldn't argue with that. Although the he wasn't wearing a belt, his pants still fit him. Jeremiah had just walked ahead a little when he turned to see Dudley about to bite the seat of his pants.

"What are you doing now?!", Jeremiah asked him sounding annoyed.

"I can't run in my pants", Dudley told him.

"You were running in them fine earlier today.", Jeremiah said firmly, "Why is it you make every new thing so hard to learn? I am going to take a bathroom break and if I find out you took your pants off when I get back, bottom line, you better be praying."

That really got Dudley's mind off his pants. As Jeremiah made his way out of sight, Dudley took some time to think to himself.

"Jeez. How does Jeremiah manage to keep ahead of me. I've been on TUFF's forces for a long time, but he still beats me. But I'm not going back to Zero because now I know better."

"Did somebody mention me?"

Dudley turned to see that standing by his car and in his red trench coat, dark gray pants, and white flame like hair was Zero. Dudley was startled for a minute, but quickly pulled himself together.

"What do you want?", he asked.

"Good question.", Zero answered, "You got out of our agreement. And I must say I'm impressed. But you didn't do it on your own. Who told you of the loop hole?"

Even though Dudley remembered his first meeting with Zero, he still felt uneasy. Zero saw Dudley's side shiver and chuckled wickedly.

"I can see you shaking. And so you know, I have someone your missing."

Zero waved a hand in the air and Jack's image appeared before him. Jack was bound in chains, looked really beat up, and was bleeding. It remained for a minute, but then vanished.

"What did you do to him?"

"Nothing yet", Zero answered still smiling devilishly, "but believe me. I wrote the book on torment. I could be persuaded to release him, if we can come to an arrangement."

Dudley now felt even more unsure.

"Why do I not like the sound of that?"

"It's simple", Zero said, "Just catch Jeremiah, let me take him to Hades and I'll release your friend. Sound fair?"

Dudley now was confused. Should he betray Jeremiah, or let Jack suffer longer? Just then, Zero's communicator went off.

"Well, I'll let you think it over.", Zero told Dudley coldly, "But remember, if Jack dies in my realm, I gave you a chance to save him. Deliver Jeremiah, and I'll deliver your fellow agent."

Zero snapped his fingers and was away in a flash of fire.