Titan flew over the city, watching as Sherman had rebuilt itself. Lately the Mutradi had stopped attacking the city and landed more often in rural areas, and the trio was thankful for that. Keeping civilians safe was become a major priority.

"So, what are we fighting this time?" Ilana asked her allies. She made sure not to have her thoughts on Jason and what she had told him, and Octus did so, too; their thoughts were partially shared while in Titan, and there was a good chance Lance would find out if they starting thinking things like, "I hope Lance doesn't find out!" Even when they "spoke" to each other it was really more like telepathy, although while they were inside Titan it sounded as if they were simply speaking.

"It appears to be an amphibian," Octus answered, "And quite similar to the frog species found on Earth. However, it's brain is much more highly developed."

"Usually these beasts are mindless. I hope we're not fighting something super-intelligent."

Titan hovered in place once it was above Lake Sherman.

"It's down there somewhere," Lance said, stating the obvious to coerce the others to go underwater. "Well? What are you guys waiting for?"

"Titan's aquatic combat abilities remain untested," Octus explained. Before he could elaborate, a giant tongue shot out of the water and wrapped itself around Titan, dragging it underwater with surprising force. The giant robot was shoved underwater before it could react and slammed to the lake floor. Titan could only watch as its latest opponent leaped through the water as if it were air, slamming its hands on Titan's chest to pin it down. It then proceeded to bash Titan with its fists as if it were a nothing more than a giant human. It also balled up the tip of its tongue and used it as if it were a third fist, hitting Titan in the face with surprising force.

"How much damage are we taking?" Lance asked Octus.

"Minimal, but frequent damage to the same place will add up," he warned.

"Ilana, the frog is attacking our chest. Fire up a laser and blast the thing off!" he told her. Ilana was going to do just that, but something made her stop: the giant frog's eyes seemed to look off distantly, as if it weren't aware that there was a giant robot in front of it and that it was trying to pound it to a pulp.

"No, wait. I don't think this monster knows what it's doing. Didn't you say it had a developed brain, Octus?"

"Yes, but it is not utilizing it well," the robot mused. "What alternate idea do you have?"

"So you're just going to let it pound us because you looked in the eye and it's supposed to be smart?!" Lance cried in confusion.

"No, you'll see! Just leave it to me!" Ilana told him. Letting her take over, Titan kneed Ranaron in the leg, stunning it enough so that Titan could knock it off its chest without using a laser. She then made Titan grab the frog monster's still outstretched tongue and took flight, dragging it by its long tongue until they were both out of the water. Titan then swung the monster in the air and let go of the tongue when it was over land, causing it to crash by the shore of the lake opposite the city. The frog monster recovered but looked dazed, and stared up at Titan blankly. Its tongue was too weak to be used, so it just stuck it back in its mouth and stared with empty eyes.

"Why is it not attacking?" Lance asked Ilana.

"If I did what I wanted to correctly, I roughed it up enough to realize that it doesn't really want to fight at all."

"That won't work!" Lance replied dismissively. But as he said this, the frog monster lowered its head until its chin touched the ground, as if it was trying to demonstrate its submission.

"Yes it is! See, he doesn't want to fight anymore!" Ilana declared.

"If that's true, then what do we do with it?" Lance asked. "Oh, I just had an idea! We could try sending it back through the Rift Gate to Galaluna. Maybe my dad's finished working on it."

"No, no! That's not a good idea at all!" Ilana countered.

Ranaron looked up at Titan with dread. He could tell why it wasn't doing anything; its pilots were deciding what to do with him. After the way he had attacked them, he assumed that they would just kill him like the other monsters. After all, how could he explain that he was doing this against his will, and that Modula's control was making him act like this? But perhaps if he showed shame for the battle, maybe they would spare him? He hoped that there was a chance that mercy would win out. But then a familiar voice echoed in his mind:

Continue the battle, now, while Titan is vulnerable! Ranaron heard the command, but unlike the rest of the monsters Modula couldn't compel him to move on his own. From all the way on another planet, Ranaron could feel the electric shocks coming from Modula's hat, coursing through his body and mind. They told him to attack, and to do so would mean that the pain would stop.

But Ranaron had heard that before so many times that he decided now was a time to stop listening. It occurred to him that now that he was far away from Modula now; the General had much less control over him. He couldn't punish him for disobedience except to give him pain. And Ranaron had endured that a million times, so now he was used to it. What good was a punishment if it meant nothing? As he realized this, the pain began to fade, and he could feel himself be able to think again.

No. I will not continue the battle. I do not wish to fight for you. I would rather die!

Just as I thought. What a loyal servant you turn out to be!

And so Modula let Ranaron go, and he could finally find himself able to speak again. He listen to Titan's ongoing argument so that he could speak up at the right time:

"We should kill it or do something to it! It's just another mindless beast, even if it used to be something else!" Lance was arguing.

"I am a he, not an it," Ranaron replied, his voice deeper than usual due to his size. "And I believe I have reverted back to my normal self." Ilana smiled, and Lance's jaw would have dropped had he not actually been in a state of suspended animation.

"You can talk?!" Titan cried aloud through Lance.

"I will contact G3 to inform them of this development," Octus told the group. Seconds later Solomon spoke to Titan the same he would as if he was talking to just one member of it:

"We recognized this around the same time you did. Keep it—or, him—there. Edward's worked on something that could help be a bit more helpful." The Titan trio reverted to their solo robot forms. Lance was still cautious, but Ilana flew right up to Ranaron to talk to him.

"So, who are you exactly? And why were you able to break free from Modula when the others weren't?"

"I think I simply have a stronger will than they did. And I was mutated into the form you see now. Normally I was shorter than humans. I would very much like to revert to normal, but even if I can't I want to help you in some way."

"How?" all 3 asked.

"I'm not sure. I have a lot of knowledge of the war and Modula's plans, so that might be of interest to you. I also have an extensive knowledge of Mutradi la-" but before Ranaron could finish he suddenly fainted.