Chapter 3 — Evolution: Part I

As the "bonding operation" was now in full effect (into the first week), Sweet began to pace around the Tower, deep in thought. Others thought that it was strange, seeing how Sweet would do nothing else until he had a good idea. One day, the wait was worth it, taking a good look at the Danger Room. Dotty walked in, seeing him stare at the inner chamber.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing, I just thought of a great idea." Sweet walked to the window. "It's been awhile since we've have any fun, right?"

"Where are you getting at?"

"Maybe... we, as the Titans alone, could have our own share of head-to-head action, just for kicks. Think of it, we're gonna have more Titans on the team anyway, including our own kids... and it could be good for morale and skill boosting. Wrestling... tournaments, with or without using powers... it's all so clear in my mind."

Dotty began to ponder on his thought. She wanted a share in the fun as well.

"Well," she began to respond, "we can use the Astrodome up north in Houston. People seem to have abandoned the place now, so... I think we should give them a reason to come. As long as we're not dealing with a real crisis, it's a deal."

Sweet loved to hear her agree with his ideas. But he was concerned with one thing.

"Dotty, I have a question... why didn't you go with Wise and Wiser?" he asked. The twin owls decided to leave the Titans for awhile, but for a good purpose. They had received Master's degrees in teaching, since they are almost as smart as she is.

"If I had left, who would take the time to create and manage all of this technology we have here?"

"Good point." Sweet said.

"So, how shall we do it?" Dotty asked.

"Even though the people have seen us in action before, I think that if we can take down a few more serious signs of trouble around the country, we can let the people know that we're planning on setting this up. I would want them to see what we do. It was like Principal Powers said before: people should be more welcoming to people like us."

"We'll see." Dotty spoke before sitting down in front of the Danger Room's operations center. She originally sought to figure out ways of improving the system. Sweet exited.

Back in San Francisco, Titans X was still doing their jobs as heroes. Sweet had visited one time to tell them about his confrontation with Wrinkle, and about where he is. Even though he is closer to Titans X than the Bean Titans are, Wrinkle has not given them any trouble. What Lucky does not understand is why he never takes the time to face-off with Titans X.

He, and the rest of Titans X, were about to find out, as another crime wave swept the city once again. This time, the culprits were not just simple criminals. Titans X flew over to where the Golden Gate Bridge was to find their targets. They landed in front of them.

"What're those giant robots?" K-9 asked, looking at the 15 double-colored (magenta and navy blue) machines.

"They're my Sentinels," stated a big white bear, who emerged from where the robots were standing. He was bigger than Lucky and Hershey were—more plump. He wore a white suit with a red bowtie like Lucky's.

"Who are you?" Lucky asked.

"Pauly... Big Fat Pauly. Nice to meet ya." He had a mobster's voice.

"Big and fat is right..." Sasha imposed on his size.

"Hey, watch your mouth." He turned away from her. "Anyways, I was actually looking to find you guys."

"Well you have. What now?" Ernie questioned.

"Sentinels, you said?" Hershey muttered.

"Yes. These are my partners in crime, see? I control them; I'm their ally. They like to take apart—or maybe even kill—folks like you, since you and I have powers and all. But like I said, their on my side... which is tough nuts for you. You catch my drift?"

"So you're the one..." Hershey stated.

"What do you mean, Hershey?" Lucky asked.

"Sweet talked to me about someone who may be creating these killing machines. He said they've tried to come for him and his friends a few times before. These Sentinels are the machines, and Pauly's their ringleader."

"BIG Fat Pauly," he corrected him on his name, "or BFP for short."

"Whatever," Lucky responded. "All we need to know is that you're the bad guy... *everyone gets into their fighting stances* then we'll take it from there."

BFP chuckled. "Let's do this thing. Sentinels, destroy them!" Having given that command, he then made a break for it.

Lucky, Hershey and Ernie bursted ahead to confront BFP before he escaped, while the rest of Titans X fought off the Sentinels.

"I have you now!" Lucky shouted, preparing to attack BFP from behind. Suddenly, he had disappeared from the dalmatian's sight... until his voice was heard again, from behind Lucky. BFP appeared to have used Flash Step.

"I wasn't planning on running away yet," he said, before smacking Lucky across the road, against the wall of a nearby building. Then, before Ernie went to help him up, 4 more Sentinels appeared around him and began to fight him.

"Why you—!" Hershey uttered, as he began to fight fist to fist with BFP.

Soon they paused in mid-battle. Hershey had barely kept up with his speed; BFP had not broken a sweat yet.

"What was that name you said earlier... Sweet?" he asked Hershey.

"Yeah, what of it?"

"A little birdie told me that he was his worst enemy... well, a dog really. I had a little talk with him—he's alright."

Hershey knew who he was talking about. "You don't mean Wrinkle, do you?"

"THAT was his name. Thanks for refreshing my memory. Yeah, we're partners in crime now, see? He takes care of things on his end, as I would on mine."

"They have an alliance too? This is bad..." Hershey thought.

"Enough talk. I've said enough anyways. Until next time." BFP began to fly off, but Hershey wouldn't let him, trying to stop him.

"No you don't!" Hershey yelled. BFP turned around, with a sphere of darkness in his hand. It was his Shadow Ball, which he unleashed upon Hershey, sending him down to the ground, hard.

"Yes I do. Let's go, Sentinels." They followed his order, as they all bursted away from San Francisco.

Lena rushed to Hershey, to see that he was still alive after the painful attack.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I think so... it looks like we have a big boss against us too. It's not just the Bean Titans versus Wrinkle's gang anymore... it's us against BFP, and whoever else he knows."

"It looks like we have some work to do," Ernie implied.

"Yeah, I'm sure of it," Lucky agreed.

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The war is just beginning. Part 2 is soon to come.