"So that is about as much as I am aware of so far," Mako said, "This new force is definitely an alien, and I suspect it's linked to Giygas since many of the same creatures are here as well."
"Supreme Starman..." Brian said, "He definitely sounds like one of the biggest threats."
"I will rise to defeat him," Mako declared, "In honor of my father."
Brian wasn't sure what to say. Mako appeared to be too proud and brave to accept him simply saying "sorry". He was so ready and almost eager to head out and face these enemies. Brian wondered how a kid manages to function like that.
"So do you have any ideas of what we should do now?" Brian asked.
"The best thing I can figure is to try and gather as much information as we can," Mako said, "You said there were prisoners in that village? Maybe some of them would know something useful."
"My dad might!" Heath exclaimed, "He's the mayor. The mooks had him and the others locked in the prison cells."
"Well, we better head off to free them then," Mako said.
"Right," Brian answered.
The three headed back into town. Heath led them to the prison building and they went in.
"Heath!" an old man called from a cell.
"Hi, Dad!" Heath called, "I brought help with me. This guy here saved us from the Mooks."
Everyone in the cell exchanged looks and gasps and they gazed upon Brian. Brian soon felt very uncomfortable and wanted to leave.
"Let's just get the keys and let them out," Brian said hurriedly.
"The keys are over there in that drawer," the mayor instructed.
Mako went to the desk and retrieved the keys. He went around and let everyone out of the cells. The people expressed their thanks as they welcomed freedom once again.
"We are all deeply within your debt," the mayor beamed, "Please, anything we can do to help you. Just ask,"
"Well," Brian said, "I guess we need to know if you know anything about what those Mooks were doing here."
"Well, they did tend to talk very fast when they talked to each other," the mayor said, "Whenever I tried to listen to them, I only picked up a few things here and there. From what I could understand, it sounded like they were here to begin enslavement. They mentioned a master and that he wanted things under control for the next step."
"The next step," Mako said, "I wonder what he could be planning."
"I'm sorry, but that's all I really know," the mayor said.
"That's all right," Mako answered, "I'm sure it won't take long for the enemy to surface again, especially after Brian wiped out part of his army."
Brian once again shifted uncomfortably.
"I suppose we should be heading off then," Mako said, "We need to figure out what our enemy is up to before he strikes again."
"Thank you again for everything," the mayor said, "Oh, and on your way out, do you think you can take care of this little mice problem the prison seems to have developed?"
"Mice!" Brian exclaimed, "That's right. Their mother is in the forest. She asked me to find them. They're exit mice."
"Good," Mako said, "We'll get them on the way out."
"Bye," Heath said, "And good luck!"
Mako nodded his head and Brian gave a faint grin.
On their way out, Mako spotted the mice in the corner.
"We can bring you back to your mother now," Mako said.
"Thank you," one of the mice said, "We got caught up in all of that mess and couldn't leave without being caught."
Brian and Mako took one mouse each and left Brindlewood. Brian led the way back into the forest and to the mother mouse's home.
"My sons!" she exclaimed as they came up, "Thank you so much for bringing them back to me!"
"You're welcome," Brian said, "I'm glad we could help."
"Maybe I can help too," the mother said, "I gather the two of you are going to be fighting this new alien that's come to Earth."
"We will try at least," Brian said.
"We are," Mako corrected.
"Perhaps then you should take the road north from here," the mother explained, "Legend says there's a wise figure beyond the northern borders of this forest. He may be able to help you more."
"Thanks," Mako said, "We'll head that way at once."
"Take care," the mother said.
"Bye!" the two mice chirped.
Brian and Mako waved bye and left.
"There's the path leading north," Mako said, "If we hurry, we can reach the edge of the forest by sundown. Hopefully, this wise person lives in another village where we can rest for the night. By tomorrow, we will hopefully have something to go on in the coming fight."
"Uh, yeah," Brian said lowly, "Great."
"You don't seem to be that into this," Mako noticed.
"It's just a little overwhelming," Brian admitted.
"Well, it's bound to get more overwhelming," Mako commented, "So I suggest you get yourself more into the fight before going much further."
"I'm doing the best I can," Brian said, "And besides, since I apparently was able to defeat all those Mooks, I must be somewhat capable."
Brian didn't mean to sound that defensive, but he couldn't help feeling offended by Mako's words.
"I'm sure you are capable," Mako said, "But we'll need more than last minute acts of desperation to win this war."
"Fine," Brian said shortly, "Let's just go."
Brian quickly started down the path as Mako slowly followed.
Kayla could tell by "Porkle"'s sudden expression of shock and rage that she was right.
"What did you say?" he growled.
"Pokey Minch?" Angela gasped, "That's the kid who allied himself with Giygas to take down Ness! He hasn't even been seen since Giygas' defeat!"
"Well, he's here now," Kayla said, "That's him."
"I do not know what you are talking about," Porkle said uneasily.
Angela stared closely at him and her eyes widened. "Yes, I can tell," she said, "Only slightly, but the features of his face that are still human look like Pokey."
"I am NOT Pokey Minch!" Porkle erupted.
He quickly leapt at Kayla, gripping for her throat.
"Shield Alpha!" Kayla gasped.
Porkle was pushed back by Kayla's barrier.
"You must be him," Kayla said, "Otherwise you wouldn't be getting this upset."
"But what happened to him?" Angela wondered, "He... he completely mutilated himself."
"I have become something more than human!" Porkle yelled, "I am superior!"
"Then it's true," Kayla pressed.
"Fine!" Porkle snapped, "It's true! I am Pokey Minch reborn!"
"You're crazy is what you are," Angela commented.
"Do not push me even more, little girl," Pokey warned, "I am not so forgiving as you may think."
"It's actually pretty hard to believe you are Pokey," Kayla said, "From what I heard, he was pretty cowardly."
"Shut up!" Pokey roared, "What do you know about it! The old Pokey is gone! Now witness what I have become!"
Pokey held his hands up and brought them down. All of a sudden, Angela and Kayla could see his power radiating from him. The air around him seemed to become electrified. And then the ground began to shake. All around Twoson, people were shocked from their normal activity as they got thrown here and there by the vibrations.
"Stop it!" Angela cried, "You'll bring down the whole town!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Pokey cackled.
"That does it!" Kayla yelled, "We have to stop this now!"
She ran at Pokey. She wasn't even sure what to do exactly, but she knew he had to be stopped. She crouched down low and leapt straight at him. She hit him and the two of them went falling to the ground.
"Fool!" Pokey raged, "I'll kill you with one blow!"
"PSI Bubble Alpha!"
Suddenly, this clear sphere surrounded Pokey.
"What is this?" Pokey gasped.
"That should keep you still for a minute," Angela said, lowering her hands.
"Interesting," Pokey mused, "A prison of sorts. Yes, very interesting indeed."
Angela helped Kayla up. "We have to figure something out," Angela said.
"I know," Kayla replied, "I just don't know what to do anymore. We aren't good enough for this."
Angela lowered her head, and then a thought occurred to her.
"We should go get help from them," she said.
"Them who?" Kayla asked.
"The Chosen Four," Angela said.
Just then, Pokey broke through the bubble.
"Nobody can help you now!" he crowed.
He quickly struck the two girls in the head. They let out soft gasps and fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Stupid brats," Pokey spat, "They actually think they're worth something. How sad for them. Well, I can't stay here much longer. Off I go!"
Pokey lifted off into the air, and flew away, leaving the helpless girls in the grass below.
Rygwar floated around his room in his special chair. His mind wandered here and there, and it finally settled down... somehwere in the past...
"This is foolish, Giygas," Rygwar crticized, "There is no way you can predict the consequences."
"There is also no way to achieve what is rightfully ours by sitting back and watching, Rygwar," Giygas argued, "We have to take steps to make sure we can personally make our ambitions a reality."
"But this..." Rygwar said, "This... blasphemy! You would sentence us to abandon everything we believe in?"
"How else are we going to win this? Please tell me!" Giygas answered.
"I can tell you that we are not so desperate yet as to turn our backs on our ancestors. We are a proud and noble race, Giygas. What you're proposing is out of the question!"
"Look at us!" Giygas snapped, "We are both young by our standards and we have trouble walking around. It won't be long until we too will be confined to a hover unit. Is that any less blasphemous?"
"You can't compare that to what you're speaking of," Rygwar replied, "You simply cannot expect the populace to accept this course of action."
"My mind is made up, Rygwar," Giygas insisted, "And you know you can't stop me. Enough of us have suffered already because of our personal disagreements."
"You cannot so easily place all the blame on me," Rygwar fumed, "Not when the blood stains your blade as well."
"I am merely making a point," Giygas said lowly, "Too many have suffered, and this is the only way out."
"Do what you must," Rygwar said, "Just know that I disapprove, and once you do this, you are no longer my brother."
Giygas looked deeply into Rygwar's eyes.
"I stopped being your brother long before this, Rygwar," Giygas answered.
Giygas turned and left the room. Rygwar let out a sigh and retired to his own chambers.
"Sir!"
Rygwar snapped out of his trance and looked up.
"This had better be good," Rygwar warned.
"Almost everyone is in place, my lord," the mook reported, "Soon we will be ready."
"Good," Rygwar said, "Tell them to hurry. Things are getting more serious on Earth. I don't want any of them progressing much further. The target must be eliminated soon."
"Yes, my lord," The mook answered and left.
"Soon, Giygas," Rygwar said, "From your grave you will soon see why I was right, and your rotted corpse will stir with humility before the mighty Rygwar!"
The gadgets beeped and the sensors made clicking noises.
"I'm afraid it is as we feared," Apple Man said, "They must have been able to mask it until now."
"Stonehenge is active again," Jeff said, "It is as I suspected."
"The base of operations for the Starmen," Robert said from the corner, "I have heard stories of the horrors that go on beneath the surface."
"Trust me, none of those stories over-exaggerated," Jeff said grimly.
"As I have seen," Robert said, "That poor boy I had to abandon is still trapped down there."
"Indeed it does seem that the place you spoke of being held was indeed Stonehenge," Jeff answered, "I suppose no further proof is needed. We are being invaded."
"What should we do, Jeff?" Apple Man asked, "Should we get in contact with Ness and Paula?"
"Ness is still healing," Jeff said, "I can't imagine he'll be in any shape to face these new enemies anytime soon."
"But if Ness can't do it, is there anyone who can?" Apple Man asked.
"I hope," Jeff said simply.
"Well, I will tell you what I am going to do," Robert said, "I've rested enough. I have to go back to Stonehenge. I made a promise."
"I understand that," Jeff said, "But you don't fully know what you're talking about. We really shouldn't return without at least someone who has some PSI power to help out."
Robert let out a grunt.
"You disagree?" Jeff asked.
"I am fully capable of handling myself without any... PSI users helping me out," Robert stated.
"You don't have to say 'PSI users' in that tone, you know," Jeff said, "My three friends all had amazing capabilities, and they helped to save the world. One of them is dead now because he saved the world, so maybe you can just keep your mouth SHUT about things you obviously do not understand!"
"Jeff," Apple Man said.
Jeff continued to glare fiercely at Robert, whose expression hadn't changed any from Jeff's outburst.
"I am sorry for the loss of your friend," Robert said, "But I cannot let that deter me from what I have already decided."
"Fine," Jeff said, "You can go to Stonehenge if you are so eager to, but you aren't going alone. I am coming too."
"Jeff, do you think that's wise?" Apple Man asked.
"Not completely," Jeff admitted, "But there isn't much else I can do. Ness is injured. I cannot ask Paula to leave him and their son now. It is true that there are others out there helping now. I do believe there will be new chosen ones, but so far I only know about Mako and he is in Summers the last I heard. Not only that, but I couldn't ask anyone to face Stonehenge Base now. They simply would not be ready."
"I understand," Apple Man said, "But I still do not like this. I don't like any of this at all."
"Neither do I," Jeff said, "But it's the best chance we have. If nothing else, Robert and I can at least figure out what exactly they're doing. Perhaps we can learn of any possible weaknesses."
Robert nodded, somewhat impressed with Jeff's strategy.
Jeff hurried into the other room and got various weapons.
"I assume you know how to use these?" Jeff asked Robert.
Robert picked up a Moon Gaia Beam and caulked it.
"Just show me a Starman and I will shoot," Robert answered.
"Remember, we don't want to get too carried away," Jeff said, "There's a good chance we won't even get inside, but if we can learn anything at all, then we might figure out a way to get in sometime later."
"Let's go then," Robert said, "We can't afford anymore time lost."
"To Stonehenge then," Jeff said and the former legend and the deteremined soldier walked out into the snowy world outside.