Coming into Their Own
Disclaimer: You didn't honestly think I'd give you this box, did you[1
4. Competitions
The following afternoon, the team stumbled into the rec room after a power training session. The boys immediately flipped on the game system.
"I don't see why he keeps having us run these sessions." Regan said. "All of us aren't here."
"He's testing us, Reg." Bryan said. "Andi does that too, remember? She'll have us do what seems like stupid stuff to test what we know."
"Yes, but never like this." The blond sighed. "What are you playing?"
"Battle Tanx." Mitch grinned. "Man, I love this game!"
"All you do is blow each other up." Neal pointed out.
"That's the point!" Ry grinned. "You can lay mines, or get shields, or guided missiles… it's the best war game ever!" [2
"Can I play?" Regan asked.
"Sorry." Mitch winced. "Fourth controller hasn't worked right on this thing since Kris spilled soda on it a few weeks back. Only three can play."
"Hey, but the one with the lowest score gets the controller taken." Ry said.
"Games are fun, but I'd like to play with the real thing." Neal said.
"That's it!" Bryan shouted. "There are some battle drones in the hangar bay!"
"So?" Regan asked.
"They're remote activated." Bryan smirked. "Just like a character in a game! We can play for real this time!"
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" His brother asked.
"Sure, why wouldn't it be?" Bryan shrugged, running out of the room. Out of pure boredom, the other three followed him to the hangar.
"This is totally awesome!" Mitch whooped as his drone grappled Neal's to the floor.
"Do not become cocky." The younger boy growled. "I shall be victorious!" He punched in a few buttons and fire shot from his robot's torso, incinerating the wiring of Golem's drone.
"You won't beat me so easily!" Regan hissed, steering her drone into Neal's. It began to pummel the other robot into a pulp.
"Go get him, Reg!" Mitch cheered as he watched the match.
"What's going on in here?" A Viper asked as a group walked in.
"Shhh!" Bryan hushed the crowd. "This takes concentration."
"Too bad you don't have any." Regan quipped, smashing through the faceplate of the older boy's robot.
"Cool, it's like robot wars." The first Viper commented.
"You know, if we could make some modifications to these things, we could use them to invade enemy bases." Another mused.
"You'll have to wait until after they finish with them." Golem said. "And then repair them."
"That'll be just fine." The second Viper grinned. "As long as they finish before Zartan gets down here."
"Aha!" Chaos shouted as Neal's robot electrocuted. "I've won!"
"Hey! No powers!" Neal shouted.
"If he can use his, then so can I!" Regan glowered.
"Uh oh." Mitch gulped. "I don't think that was a good idea, Bro."
"I will win this time." Regan hissed, her eyes glowing a telltale green. Bryan's eyes took on the same color for a moment, then faded to their original color. He released his hands from the controls, forcing the robot to remain stationary just long enough for Regan's drone to clobber it.
"That's gonna be a lot of bolts to put together again." The first viper said.
"Why will there be bolts to put together?" Zartan asked, stepping through the door. "And why are the battle drones out here?"
"Uhm, well, it's a funny story." Mitch stumbled. "You see…"
"Yes, I see quite clearly." Zartan said. "Wyngarde! Release Chaos at once!" Regan did so with a grunt. "Good! Now will one of you please explain this?"
"Bryan wanted to play Battle Tanx live." Neal blurted as Bryan blinked.
"Only we couldn't get into the tanks, so we used drones instead." Mitch added.
"I won." Regan stated.
"By using your powers." Mitch said.
"Chaos used his to take out Thunderbird!" Regan protested.
"Not on purpose!" Bryan countered.
"Oh, so you have perfect aim with your strength but can't control this teeny mental power?" Regan scoffed.
"Will you all please just shut up?" Zartan shouted. "Thank you! Now, I don't care who started this, but you will all be cleaning this mess up. No buts, Regan!"
"Yes sir." She grumbled with the others.
"Good." He nodded. "You have one hour to put these drones back together. I suggest you make the most of it."
"Man, this isn't fair." Mitch grumbled.
"Yes it is." Neal replied. "We destroyed the robots, so it is only fitting that our punishment entail reassembling them."
"Fitting or not, I don't like it." Regan said. "I don't do hard work."
"You'd better start, Blondie!" Bryan growled, stalking over to one robot. "Come on you wimps, get down here and get to work!"
By hour's end, Zartan returned to the hangar to check up on the teens' progress. Upon entry, he saw all four robots shoved back into their containment cells.
"Well done." He praised them. "You've done well."
"Thank you." Neal nodded. "Anything else for us to do?"
"Not until we return home." Zartan replied. "Go clean up and start packing. Dismissed."
The four were only too happy to abandon the tools for a suitcase.
1) Quote from an awesome movie called Sneakers. Very funny.
2) Battle Tanx is this amazing game for N64 in which you pick a tank, drive around, and blow stuff up. Keep in mind that this is set before Halo was released to the gaming community.
It seems that Zartan has his hands full with only four recruits, but what happens when they return to the rest of the Dreadnoks… And Vampira in a dull mood? You'll have to wait to find out!