I would've made it out, too…if my pocket didn't start barking. Magnet, Holes

Chapter 16: Stowaways

"How long's he gonna take?" Xem asked, impatiently.

"Who knows? Maybe he decided to peek in on the ladies' bath-house." Sylar replied.

"He WHAT?" Hanabi asked, looking seriously offended.

"Note that I said 'MAYBE'." Sylar stated.

"Our Gummi wasn't exactly hard to build." Ratchet said, "With Hanabi's help, we got it done pretty quickly. She's a fast learner."

"But does she REALLY have to be so smug about it?" Rattrap asked.

"So I pick up on things." Hanabi said with a playful smirk, "Who knows? I might end up teaching YOU how to work an engine."

"NOT likely." Rattrap growled.

"Don't make me separate you two." Sylar sighed.

"I think TL's approaching now." Clank said as there came the sound of footsteps.

Out came TL…who was accompanied by Sasuke.

"Why's he coming with us?" Xem asked.

"He figured it out and thought he could be helpful." TL replied in a flat voice while hunched over, "He's our new field commander. AND I kinda told him about our group…"

"I'll turn them into fighters soon enough." Sasuke said.

"I don't like the sound of that…" Xem mumbled.

Suddenly, there was a crash and someone screamed in pain.

"VECTOR!" snapped a harsh, female voice.

"Looks like we have some stowaways…" Clank said.

Sasuke pulled out a ninjato and walked onto the Junkpot. TL drew his UFO Blade as Xem pulled out his blaster and Ratchet his wrench.

They looked around the main bridge of the Junkpot. Nothing.

"Where could they be…?" Sasuke asked.

Xem walked over to the ship's main computer and typed in a few keys. Four red dots appeared in the cargo bay.

"Looks like they're in the cargo bay." Xem said.

"And…they didn't show up BECAUSE?" TL asked as one of his eyelids began twitching in irritation.

"A number of possibilities, actually." Clank replied, "The scanner could have missed them, they could have concealed themselves, or…it's simply a plot-hole. I personally think it's a plot-hole."

"There'll be no fourth-wall breaking on my ship." TL snapped, "Now…TO THE CARGO BAY!"

(corny Batman scene change.)

The group was now in the cargo bay of the Junkpot. TL held up his hand, which began crackling with red electricity. The electrical currents flowed from his hand and filled the room, casting a crimson light.

Immediately, the voice of what sounded like a young kid called out, "THAT LOOKS SO COOL!"

"CHARMY, KEEP A LID ON IT!" barked a gruff-sounding voice.

"VECTOR!" the cool voice and a feminine voice shouted at the same time.

"Alright, come out." Xem said, "We know you're here."

Immediately, a green crocodile, a purple chameleon, a bee with a pilot helmet, and a teenage girl clad in black robes stood up.

"Alright, let me put this as delicately as I can…" TL said before shouting, "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"Who are you four?" Sasuke asked.

"I'm Vector the Crocodile!" the crocodile replied.

"I'm Espio the Chameleon." The chameleon stated.

"AND I'M CHARMY THE BEE!" the bee shouted, excitedly.

"And I'm Rukia Kuchiki." The girl stated.

"Charmy wandered into here and we went in to drag him out." Espio said, "And we were about to get out of the ship just as it took off."

"Let's start at square one." TL said, "HOW long have you been here?"

"We were in Annihilation for some fun." Vector replied, "We saw your ship and…well, Charmy got hyped up."

"HA-HA!" Charmy laughed, "YOU COULDN'T KEEP QUIET!"

"Shut up!" Vector shouted as he tried grabbing the bee version of Lunatic121…who only buzzed out of his reach.

"NAH-NAH! YOU CAN'T CATCH ME!" Charmy laughed.

"See what I have to put up with day-after-day?" Espio asked with a flat expression.

"I've been in here since Konoha." Rukia replied, "Hikari told me to look after you."

TL smiled, "Glad to hear she was concerned."

"And you didn't show yourself earlier BECAUSE…?" Xem asked as he lowered his Shock Cannon.

"I figured it would've been better to keep a low profile." Rukia replied.

"Well, looks like you guys are stuck with us!" TL grinned as he patted the shoulders of the Chaotix crew and Rukia, "Welcome aboard! Hope you can contribute…because I don't tolerate laziness on this ship!"

"Then maybe we should throw you out." Clank suggested with a chuckle.

"Oh, VERY funny." TL murmured.

"Are you going insane or something?" Rukia asked as one of her eyes twitched. This hedgehog…was an odd-bird.

"Nope." TL replied as he tipped his hat, "Already there!"

"Who would've thought you guys could COOK?" Ratchet asked as he observed the trio cooking.

"Hey, if you've been bachin' it for a while, you can end up with surprising talents." Vector smirks, "Charmy, did ya separate the yellows from whites?"

"Yup! I put the yellow parts in the sink!" Charmy reported as he showed a bowl filled with eggshells.

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!" Vector shouted.

"You told me to separate the whites. These ARE white." Charmy replied as he showed the eggshells to Vector.

"I OUGHTA…"

"You might wanna leave. This could get ugly." Espio said.

"Well, those three seem to be getting along well." Hanabi said as she rolled her eyes.

"Which a certain member who shall go unnamed could learn from!" TL barked.

"Then what was THIS?" Sasuke asked as he pulled out a picture of a poorly drawn version of himself being beaten up by TL.

The hedgehog swiped the picture and proceeded to burn it.

"You…shouldn't have seen that." TL said, nervously.

"Alright, this is your captain speakin'." Xem called through the inter-com, "Hold onto somethin' and hope you come out as you are NOW, 'cuz I'm hittin' the Improbability Drive!"

Xem brought his hand down on the blue button.