The ship landed on Veldin, a few minutes before a teenage Lombax ran past them.
"Gotta get there...I just gotta...!" he huffed as he ran.
"What the heck was that?!" Felicity yelped.
"That's...a Lombax!" Tech gasped. "Nobody's seen one of those in years!"
"A Lombax, huh?" Jenny replied. "Can't say I've heard of that before."
"Well, you guys are from the 21st century." Ace replied.
"Not to mention sometimes hang out here and sometimes see The Jetsons family." Akito commented, offhandedly.
LJ just rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let's just go civilian and ask him what's going on." he suggested.
They soon parked their air jet and they came out to explore as the Lombax appeared to be running off.
"Hey, buddy, slow down!" Akito said as he ran to catch up with the Lombax. "What's up?"
"Whoa!" The Lombax yelped as he slid to a halt. "No time to talk. I gotta get to the city so I can make it to the Galactic Ranger try-outs!"
"Oh, cool," Akito replied. "Um, at least let us come with you."
"Uh, okay." The Lombax replied as he got back to running towards the city.
"Follow me, guys!" Akito smiled. "We're gonna see these Galactic Rangers up close!"
"By the way, my name's Ratchet." the Lombax introduced himself.
"Hey, Ratchet," Akito smiled. "I'm Akito, and those are my friends. I'll introduce ya later."
"Okay!" Ratchet replied. "Aleero City, here we come!"
Akito smiled as he looked to the others and had them follow him.
"He was always the persistent one." Chip commented.
"Eh... I don't see it." LJ shrugged.
They soon followed after Ratchet to get where he was planning on going before he ran into them.
Eventually, they arrived in Aleero City, where the try-outs were being held, and the citizens were celebrating.
"What a turn-out." LJ commented.
"I think I'm gonna like this adventure." Akito smirked to himself.
"This is gonna be so awesome!" Ratchet beamed.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, get on your feet, put your hands together, and give a big Planet Veldin welcome to the Galactic Rangers!" The loudspeaker announced.
Everyone else applauded out of excitement.
"Looks good so far." Lee commented.
"First up, she'll shoot first and ask questions when she's good and ready: Cora Veralux!" The loudspeaker then introduced the girl of the team.
LJ gave an impressed whistle. "Not bad, not bad." he remarked.
The female lunged out and soon shot what was like fireworks into the sky. A lot of the crowd tried to catch the falling sparks from the sky.
"You loved him in Grapplemania, you'll love him more as a Galactic Ranger," The loudspeaker then continued. "Get ready to feel the pain of Brax 'The Brute' Lectrus!"
"Yeah, baby!" Brax whooped.
"He doesn't look so tough." Slam smirked, almost challengingly.
"Maybe you two can share a wrestling ring." Akito smirked back to the Tasmanian Devil.
"Don't get cocky, big guy." LJ advised.
"We shall see." Slam smirked.
"Provided a certain duck tries not to make money off of it like last time." Akito then said in a warning tone of voice.
Duck rolled his eyes.
"And finally, ladies and gentlemen, the savior of Solana: Captain Qwark!" The loudspeaker soon concluded.
Everyone cheered as the large, muscular man emerged from behind the curtain.
"Hello, Veldin!" Qwark exclaimed.
"Hello, Captain!" Ratchet grinned.
But Qwark ended up walking through a literal firewall, which left him covered with flames.
"He's on fire again." Brax commented.
"I know." Cora replied as she dispatched an extinguisher bot to put out the fire.
"My name is Copernicus Qwark, and yes, that was an impressive wall of fire I just walked past," Qwark explained as the fire was extinguished. "I'm going to be real with you folks for a moment; when President Phyronix recommended I take on a new ranger, I knew just where to go."
"Hmm..." Felicity paused, feeling unsure about this Captain Qwerk character.
"That's right! We want you!" Captain Qwerk grinned as he pointed into the audience much to their delight.
"Yeah!" Ratchet beamed.
"The galaxy is a dangerous place: space pirates, invasions, supernovas," Qwark continued. "I know what you're wondering- 'do I have what it takes'?"
An image of a villainous being appeared on the screen behind him among with a few others.
"After all, you may not have prevented Dr. Nefarious from atomizing Aleero City," Captain Qwerk told them. "You may not have stopped Neftin Prog from rendering the entire population of Aridia color-blind! Twice! After all, you may not have this chiseled jaw or god-like pectoral region, but if you have heart, then you have what it takes."
"YEAH!" Ratchet cheered.
And so, began some interviews.
"Come on, buddy, you got this!" Akito coached Ratchet.
"...You DON'T have what it takes." Captain Qwark told Ratchet later.
"But I have heart." Ratchet replied.
"Yes, but unfortunately that heart is encased in a weak, muscleless mass of inexperience," Captain Qwerk replied, leaning back in his chair, crossing his legs. "Plus, there's your history to consider."
Ratchet winced at that as Cora brought up his file.
"You got a long line of citations here," Cora informed. "Possession of an illegal gravity repulsor-"
"Oh, that was a misunderstanding," Ratchet spoke up. "I thought that space pirate was on the level!"
"Operation of a black-market accelerator." Brax added.
"Operation is a strong word," Ratchet stated. "It blew up as soon as I turned it on!"
"Willful disruption of the space-time continuum?" Cora continued.
"That is a funny story." Ratchet smiled nervously.
"You're reckless, you're a loose cannon, and you're dangerous," Captain Qwerk glared to him. "That's my shtick." he then began to kick him out to reject his offer of wanting to be a Galactic Ranger.
"Wait, just gimme a chance!" Ratchet begged.
"Sorry, no time! Galaxy in jeopardy!" Captain Qwerk told Ratchet while shooing him out. "Get back out there, and remember, you can do anything... As long as you're me. Next!"
"I guess that was a fun time." Emi deadpanned.
"Yeah, fun like a crummy conclusion to a prematurely cancelled TV series," LJ replied. "Sis, about that 13 Ghosts situation...?"
"Hm?" Zofia blinked.
"They made this film called Scooby-Doo & the Curse of the 13th Ghost, and from what I heard, it was a TOTAL letdown," LJ explained. "It basically said that the events of the 13 Ghosts were just some stupid hallucination! What a ripoff! What a waste of eight bucks! So forget it! We're NOT doing that story!"
Zofia nodded with two thumb's up to what her brother told her.
"Uh... What?" Ace asked.
"I don't think you should question it, Ace." Akito suggested to the bunny.
"Long story short: 34 years of buildup and the grand reault was a cheap write-off," LJ replied. "I am just so PISSED off right now!"
"Here he goes again..." Zofia sighed.
"Looks like I'm not the only one having a bad day." Ratchet commented.
"Yeah, no kidding," LJ replied. "I feel like I wasted my time! I'd have rather gone and seen a Captain Planet movie, if they bothered to MAKE one! I am full of rage and I need something to take it out on!"
The others stepped back slightly while Duck was zoning out to his music again.
LJ grabbed the music player and ground it to dust in his grip, then began punching the ground with all his might. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!" he screamed as a burst of flames shot from his mouth.
"What's his problem?" Duck asked.
LJ finally stopped, panting heavily as he collapsed in the dirt. Duck leaned over and then poked LJ with a stick. Duck leaned over and then poked LJ with a stick. He finally got up with a sigh.
"Better?" Zofia asked.
"...Actually... Yeah..." LJ replied with a smile.
Zofia gave a small smile back.
"So, now what?" Vincent asked.
Suddenly, screams of terror rang out in the city.
"What's going on?" asked Lexi.
"I think it might be what Zadavia sent us here for." LJ replied.
"Well, come on, we gotta stop it," Ace replied. "Let's jet!"
And they headed back into the city, where they saw Black Velvet and her shadow-bots wreaking havoc as the people screamed and ran.
"Velours Noir." Felicity whispered as she recognized the villainess.
"I didn't think we'd see her again." Lexi huffed about Black Velvet.
"Now we can see you guys in action." Ace said to LJ and Zofia.
"Alright," LJ replied as he became QuadStar. "I owe Black Velvet a lifetime's worth of thrashings!"
And with that, they moved out as Black Velvet laughed and spread her chaos. There were goons she had known as Shadowborgs who were helping out like when she threatened Acmetropolis.
"Hey, Black Velvet!" yelled QuadStar. "I got a bone to pick with you!" he plowed through the Shadowborgs with relative ease.
"Ah... It appears I have some new and old friends... So nice..." Black Velvet smirked. "Hello, Felicity."
Felicity narrowed her eyes before they flashed.
"Hey! Your fight isn't with my sister," LJ snapped. "It's with me: HER BROTHER!"
"This should be interesting then." Black Velvet smirked.
"Yeah," QuadStar smirked back as his hands lit up with fireballs. "I'll teach YOU for trying to manipulate my sister!"
"Let's see about that then." Black Velvet smirked back.
It was now a fight between the darkness and the fire.
"What do they call you then?" Black Velvet asked QuadStar.
"My name is QuadStar. And if you mess with my sister, then you mess with ME," QuadStar explained. "Have a taste of my comet cruiser special!" he remarked as he summoned some rocks and combined them with his fireball. "Or as I like to call it, the Volcanic Panic!"
"Volcanic Punch! That's a good one, buddy!" Chip beamed.
"Ooh, clever!" QuadStar beamed. "Boy, you ARE smart! Now I get why Felicity likes ya." he wound up, spun his arm, and shot the volcano ball at Black Velvet.
Black Velvet dodged the volcano ball and soon shot out some electric volts from her cape towards QuadStar.
"Look out!" Chip cried out.
"Whoa! Rock and rumble!" QuadStar shouted as a rocky coating surrounded his body. The lightning struck him, but didn't even affect him. "Good thing I remembered that rocks can't conduct electricity."
"Hmm... You're smarter than you look, but that may not be saying much." Black Velvet smirked.
"Just leave moi and my family alone!" Felicity cried out. "You can't bewitch me no more!"
"Yeah, or else I'll MAKE you!" QuadStar added. "I've got plenty more where THAT came from!"
"All right, I'm not afraid of rejection or losing, I just like an interesting banter now and again." Black Velvet grinned.
"Yeah, well let's say I'm pretty mad about what'cha did to my sis," QuadStar replied. "And I feel like getting EVEN!" He began charging a series of volcano balls and launching them wildly with furious rage.
Black Velvet smirked as she dodged them with ease while fighting back with her own powers.
"What're you doing here anyway?" Lexi glared.
"Oh, just helping out some friends in need." Black Velvet smirked.
QuadStar snorted. "You? Have friends? I don't buy it." he remarked as he seemed to vanish from sight.
"Now where did he go?" Black Velvet narrowed her crimson eyes.
Suddenly, she felt a heavy blow to the back of her head. "What's wrong, can't find me?" QuadStar's voice snickered.
"I could've done that!" Duck complained. "That kid's gonna steal my job!"
"Peek-a-boo, I see you!" QuadStar cackled as he faded from sight again and shot an invisible fireball at Black Velvet.
Black Velvet dodged what she could and that seemed to hit Duck instead.
"Whoops." Zofia said nervously for Duck's sake.
QuadStar finally turned visible again, and extended his fist to deliver a haymaker to her chin. Black Velvet growled to the others in annoyance.
"Still hungry for more?" QuadStar asked. "Or have you had your fill?"
"I have to admit, you fight pretty well for a newbie." Black Velvet commented.
"Thanks," QuadStar replied. "Same to you."
"Maybe you'd like to join the dark side." Black Velvet smirked.
"Don't do it, QuadStar!" Felicity cried out.
"Thanks, but no thanks," QuadStar replied. "I'm happy with my friends AND being a hero."
"I'm sure you could make some fellas happy with your abilities." Black Velvet smirked.
"Oh, just get out of here," Zofia narrowed her eyes. "Carpe Diem."
"What are you implying...?" QuadStar asked Black Velvet.
"Never mind it for now... You're clearly not interested..." Black Velvet replied. "I'll just pack up my things and go."
"Hey, since you're leaving, might as well fill me in," LJ replied. "Might as well know WHAT I'm saying no to."
"No, no, I shouldn't waste your time." Black Velvet smirked in a bewitching way.
"C'mon, tell me!" QuadStar replied. "Pleeeeeease?"
Black Velvet soon stopped and turned around with a small smirk. "Well, I have this friend who seems interested in you as much as I was in your sister."
"Really now?" QuadStar asked. "Any name on that?"
"Oh, no one special..." Black Velvet smirked. "Just Dr. Nefarious."
"Dr. Nefarious?" QuadStar wondered. "Intriguing..."
"Yes... But too bad, right?" Black Velvet replied.
"Yeah. What can ya do?" QuadStar shrugged. "Them's the breaks," "Now you'd best be leaving, or else I'll have to teach you the same lesson again." he added, aiming a fiery hand at her.
The others got into defensive stances, ready to strike just in case.
"See you around, you too, Loonatics." Black Velvet smirked as she began to leave.
QuadStar glared as Black Velvet left.
"That wasn't too bad, I suppose." Felicity commented about Black Velvet's meddling.
"Yeah," LJ replied. "Least I sent her packing."
"Knowing her though, she'll come back later." Felicity said.
LJ nodded. "Persistent. I respect that." he remarked.
"Good work out there though, kid," Ace smiled. "You could be Loonatic material yerself like when we met the others."
"Hm... Thanks." LJ replied.
"So, now what, Ace?" Lexi asked.
"I guess we could go back to what we were doin' before." Ace shrugged.
"Good idea." LJ shrugged, as they headed off.
They then walked off after a while. Felicity rubbed her eyes and just sighed as she felt exhausted just having to see Black Velvet again.
LJ patted his sister on the shoulder. "It's alright. She's not gonna take advantage of you OR me or Zofia." he urged.
"Aw, you're so sweet," Felicity smiled to him. "Like sugar~"
LJ blushed. "Aw, shucks..." he replied.
Chip smiled to that as they walked off after taking care of Black Velvet.
"I guess at least it wasn't Mallory Case again." Tech commented.
"Mallory Case?" asked LJ curiously. "Who's that?"
Tech grunted slightly, feeling embarrassed.
"An enemy of course, but she had an interesting past," Felicity told her brother. "She used to be tutored by Tech before she was given evil powers. She's now known as Mastermind."
LJ chuckled at this. "Must have a problem finding a hat..." he remarked.
"I'd have to agree with that." Felicity smirked herself.
The group laughed at this as they continued their trek on foot.
"I feel bad that Ratchet didn't make it as a Galactic Ranger, I wish I could do something." Akito frowned.
"Yeah, me too," LJ replied. "Question is, WHAT?"
"Making friends because friendship is magic!" Jenny giggled playfully.
"Jenny." Vincent smirked as his girlfriend was being goofy for once.
Suddenly, they looked up at the sound of engines roaring. They saw that the source was Ratchet, flying a ramshackle-old-spacecraft right over their heads.
"Ratchet?" The others asked as the Lombax was off.
"Looks like someone's in trouble, and this time, it's not me." Duck smirked to himself.
"I think we better follow him..." LJ commented. "He might be headed into some serious danger."
"Must we?" Duck replied.
"YES!" The others told him sharply.
"Besides, it IS our duty as heroes." Zofia added.
"Fine. Fine." Duck replied.
Felicity rolled her eyes slightly about Duck's behavior.
"To the ship!" Tech announced.
They went back into their own ship and soon decided to fly after Ratchet to see where he was going.