Here's episode two of Today's double bill.

Episode Eight - The Proposition

Takeda was in the lab. Teams of scientist were buzzing around workind quickly, running diagnostics on the machine as it opened another fold.

He gazed through the fold. There was now a second world for them to search for samples from. He was glad that Robinson had found the way to new worlds. However, his methods were begginning to make him untrustworthy.

He had used the machine behind his back on several occasions, not to mention using mind control on people. Which he had no idea how he managed to do that.

Robinson had shown up a few days after the destruction that had occourred in Downtown Heatherfield. He said he could help fund his project to open the folds. How he found out was still a mystery, that was kept top secret. Only fifty employees were aware of the machine being built. Less than half of which actually knew wht it's purpose was.

Robinson had proved himself useful, However Takeda himself did not agree with his methods. If the public found out what was happening wthin the walls of the company, he would be finished.

Takeda Cleared his throat before speaking. "Attention everyone." Everyone in the room, turned their attention to Takeda. "Thestrike team will be assembled and will be entering the new world in a few hours. Be sure the tests are completed by the end of the day. And I don't want Robinson is all." Takeda walked away.

Sheffield was in the middle of class time. Will sat in History. The entire class was waiting for the results of tests back. Mr Collins was walking around the room, commenting on the grades people had gotten. He came to Will. "Very nicely done will. A Plus."

A murmur went throughout the room. "She only got that because her mom is dating the teacher."

"Yeah." one voice came across the room.

"Teacher's Pet." yelled another.

Will felt anger surge through her body. She had worked hard for that grade. Since her duties as a Guardian were not as strenuous she had got time to study. Now all the credit was being taken away and placed elsewhere.

"That's enough. No one gets any special favours." Mr Collins stated. "I grade everyone fairly, based on their performacne."

Cornelia looked sypathetically towrds her friend. 'Ignore them, Will. They're just jealous.' Cornelia thought to her.

'Jealous of what. Being the Teachers pet.' Will thought sullenly.

'Relax Will. Everyone knows Taranee is the Teacher's pet.' Cornelia reminded her.

'I heard that Cornelia.' Taranee's voice angrily came over psychic link.

The bell rang to indicate the end of class. Will and Cornelia made their way towrds the door. "Will, can I see you for moment."

Will stopped. "Uh...Yeah sure, Mr Collins." The rest of the class made their way out of the room.

He sat behind his desk. "Will I've told you before, Call me Dean."

"Yeah, I know but, it'd be kinda weird me calling you 'Dean' during school." Will replied.

Dean chuckled. "Yes, I suppose you're right."

"Sooo...What can I do for you Mr Collins?"

"Well, Will. You're mother and I have been talking, she's very happy with the progress you're making."

"Well, I do what I gotta do." Will said.

"Yes well. I want to congratulate you on you're rising grades."

"Thanks. I appreciate it." Will said. A silence passed between the two for a few minutes. "That's not all you wanted to see me about is it Mr Collins?"

Dean shook his head. "No. It's not." He took a deep breath before he spoke again. "Will...Your mother and I have been dating for a long time now."

"Yeah. I'm okay with that now. I know I wasn't always nice about it." Will said. She regretted being rude to him in the past in regards to her mother. "You make my mom happy."

"Well. You see, I wanted ask you something before I asked your mother." Dean said.

"O...K." Will said. She wsn't entirely sure where this was going.

"I want to ask your mother to marry me." Dean said.

Will felt as though something inside her head exploeded. Marriage? That hadn't worked out well last time for her mother. Will was totally shocked. "Uhm. Wow. I'm speechless."

Dean frowned. "Good speechless or badspeechless."

Will didnt know how to react. She decided there was only one course of action. Running. "Sorry Mr Collins. I have to get to class." Will said turning and leaving.

"Oh, yes of course." Dean said, visibly disappointed.

For the rest of the morning classes Will absent mindedly worked. Her head was still spinning from what Mr Collins had said.

Robinson was in his office. He was Holding a Morpion in a jar. He was listening for thoughts. He could hear Takeda, who was ordering the strikes teams prepare to traverse the next world. He focused on Takedas thoghts.

'Robinson isn't to be informed of this. I don't want him having anything to do with this.' His thoughts came through Roinson's mind. "Intersting." He said to himself. "Seems as though the game is afoot." He smirked. "Well Takeda. Game on."

Lunch time came and Will took her seat at a table. The others arrived. Talking about the how to proceed now that they knew who Riddle was.

"Will...Will...WILL!" Irma yelled.

Will snapped out of her trance. "Huh...What...Who...?"

The others looked at her. "Will can you focus? Caleb is trying to help us figure out how to get Riddle." Cornelia said.

"Oh...Right." Will said apolegeetically.

"As I was saying...This guy Riddle is clearly a powerful psychic. He's able to control people and read minds. We don't know how powerful he is."

"He doesn't seem to be powerful enough to combat us directly." Taranee said. "Otherwise he'd be able to turn us against eachother."

"Right so far he's used people close to us." Cornelia said.

"And we know that he's in control of Lurdens, and Muslugs." Hay Lin added.

"Plus he's been wreeking havok in Meridian." Elyon grumbled.

"So where do we go from here?" Matt asked. He looked towards his girlfriend, "She seemed to have drifted off again. "Uh...Will?"

"I'll handle this." Irma said before clearing her throat."Ahem...WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILL!" She yelled so loud she not only caught Will attention, but the entire cafeteria's.

"What...Huh?" Will said confused.

"Will, you gotta focus." Matt said.

"Yeah, where's you're head at?" Elyon asked.

"What did Mr Collins say to you that's got you so...out of it." Cornelia said.

"Nothing." Will lied.

"Will, you can tell us yourself. Or we can just read your mind." Taranee said.

"Okay, okay. Mr Collins was congratulating me on my grades." Will said.

"The full story Will." Taranee said. "I will probe."

"FINE." Will yelled. "Mr Collins wants to propose to my mom."

The girls were quiet for a moment before bursting with excitement.

"Oh my gosh. A wedding?" Hay Lin said.

"Are we invited?" Elyons sqealed.

"Where's it gonna be held?" Taranee said.

"Who's the dress maker?" Cornelia asked.

Matt and Caleb looked at eachother. "You wanna go sit with the others?" Matt asked.

"Yep." Caleb answered. They lifted their trays and left the table. They made their way over to another table where, Nigel, Eric, Stephen and Ryan were sitting.

"Hey." Nigel said. He was writing furiously in his notebook.

"Hey." Matt said sitting beside him. "Working on a project?"

"More like, homework." Stephen said.

"Since when do you do homework during Lunch?" Matt asked.

"Stephen, pointed out if we do the work at school, then we get more free time after school." Ryan said he was flicking throught the pages of a book.

"It's simple and it's elegant." Eric said.

"That's a good idea." Caleb said. "I have way more important things to do with my time."

"Ditto." Matt added. "So, wait if this was your idea Stephen, why aren't you working."

Stephen swallowed the bite of a sandwhich that was in his mouth."I did my homework in class."

Everyone stared at him for a moment. "How'd you do your homework in class?" Nigel asked.

"That my friend, is my secret."

"Nerd." Matt said jokingly.

"Maybe, but I'm not gonna having to think up lame excuses for why i wasn't done." He took another bite of his sandwhich in triumph.

"Man, how are you not in college." Eric asked.

"Yeah dude. You're like the smartest guy I've ever met." Ryan added.

"Yeah, why not go to college now and be done with it." Nigel asked.

"Mainly because I'd rather go slowly. Life's easier that way. Plus I'd rather hang with people my own age." Stephen said.

"Interesting." Caleb said raising his fork to his mouth.

"Uh, Caleb? Remember the last time you ate the Meatloaf?" Matt asked. Caleb stopped and looked at the contents of his fork. He dropped it in disgust.

Everyone, at the table looked towards the meatloaf. "Word of advice to you guys." Matt directed at Stephen and Ryan. "Don't eat the meatloaf here...Ever."

"Yeah, got it." Stephen said.

"It looks like its alive." Ryan said.

"It tastes like its alive too." Nigel told him.

Takeda stood in the centre of the lab. The strike team was preparing to traverse into Zambala. "Men. You know you're objective. Secure samples and neutralize any threats. Use Lethal force on if required.

Carlin Stood to the side. He couldn't be sure if Takeda was under Robinson's control or not. He looked towards one end of the room. His wife was typing into a computer. She didn't have as much knowledge of the program as he did. She only ran Diagnostics on the machines. She Didn't know that Irma was one of the Guardians either. He sighed, he was stuck in the worst possible scenario.

He left his position. He made his way to the Exit.

"Carlin where are you going?" Takeda asked.

"I need to use the restroom." Carlin lied.

Takeda nodded in acknowledgement. Carlin made his way out of the room. He took out his phone and scrolled through the saved numbers.

"I can't believe you're not excited about a wedding Will." Cornelia said. They group was heading to the silver dragon.

"And I can't believe you guys are all so excited by it. He's only proposing, she might say 'no'." Will grumbled.

"Will how can you say that." Elyon gasped.

"Because...I don't know OK." Will yelled.

"Will calm down." Taranee said.

"How can I calm down? My Dad's already got remarried, and now my mom."

"So you have to write a few more christmas cards." Irma joked. "It'll all be fine." Irma's phone began to ring. "'Scuse me." She took her phone out of her pocket and answered it. "You've reached Irma how can I help." She said jokingly.

A mans voice came from the other line. "Irma. There's a strike team heading into another world."

"Wait...What. Who is this?" Irma asked.

"It's not important. Lethal force has been authorized. Purple Forest." The line went dead.

"What was that?" Will asked.

"Someone said that a strike team is heading through a fold." Irma said. "Then he said 'Purple Planet' and hung up."

"A fold." Elyon repeated.

"ZAMBALLA!" Cornelia yelled. "Riddle must have found a way to Zamballa."

"That's Impossible." Will said.

"Well it doesn't matter. We have a job to do." Elyon said. She was about to tear open a fold when she realised. "Uh, Will you're gonna have to fold there, because I have no idea where it is." She admitted.

Will took the Heart of Kandrakar form her pocket. "Guardians Unite." The Guardians transformed. Will tore open a fold to Zamballa and they all dissappeared into it.

The purple world of Zamballa, was more or less an endless Jungle. The Srike team mad their way through. They took several small plant sample. "Still no sign of intelligent life." One of the soldiers said.

"Seems like such a waste." Another commented.

"Yeah. This place has tonnes of food resources." He said taking a piece of fruit from a tree. And putting it in a jar.

One soldier approached a tree. He took a knife and began to cut bark from the tree.

"Oww. What are you doing?" a deep voice came.

The soldiers all aimed their guns. "Reveal yourself." One of them called out."

Leaves rattled. They aimed upwards towards the treetops. But nothing could have prepared them.

A tree had pulled its roots from the ground and stood on two legs. "State your business here."

The men backed away panicking. "Open fire." One of them yelled. The men began shooting ath the tree. However they seemed to be ineffective.

More and more of the trees began to walk towrds the men.

The Guardians landed on a cliffs edge. "Okay, Time to find out where the strike team is." Will said. "Cornelia, can you do that thing where you listen to the voices of the trees?"

"Don't bother. I already know exactly where they are." A voice came from behind them. The group turned to see Kadma.

"Kadma. What're you doing here?" Cornelia asked.

"I like to come back to Zamballa to visit once in a while." Kadma replied. "Zamballa was my home for forty years. I do miss it."

"Well we're here to get those guys." Irma said.

"Wait, how did you know about the intruders?" Kadma asked. "I was about to send word to you."

"How?" Hay Lin asked.

"More importantly, How are you here?" Taranee asked.

"I had a little help." Kadma told them. She indicated to the sky where Matt's regent form of Shagon was clearly visisble. "I ran into him on his way home."

"Look we can discuss this later." Will said.

"Indeed. Matt is on his way to help the fight. Follow him." Kadma said. They all took off.

The strike team were shooting at the trees and insects. To little avail. "That's it." One soldier cried. He took a grenade from his belt, he pulled the pin and flung it away. A massive explosion followed , igniting several of the trees.

The other soldiers began to do the same. One soldier threw his grenade only to witness it being disintegrated by a green light.

Shagon loomed over them Hovering several meters above there head. "You have no business here. Leave. While I still allow it." Matt Growled.

The soldiers didn't listen. The fact that Matt was not a tree, had renewed their faith in their guns. They all began to fire at him.

Matt quickly dodged the hail of bullets. Weaving between the trees to avoid the sting of firey lead. The soldiers began to feel as though they could win.

One of the soldiers felt his gun heating up. The entire frame began to burn red hot. He quickly dropped it. The others, all did the same, as their guns began to melt in their hands.

"I don't think those, make this fight very fair." Taranee said.

"Its one of the Guardians." One soldier yelled.

"Shoot her." Another shouted. The soldiers all quickly took their sidearms in hand and began to shoot again.

Taranee gasped as the bullets flew towards her. They froze mere inches from her body. Cornelia flew level to Taranee. "Don't worrt. Taranee. I got your back."

"Thanks Cornelia." Taranee replied.

Elyon floated close to the soldiers level. She smirked as they looked at her.

"Is this kid for real." One laughed.

"She ain't even as tall as the others." another remarked.

"You know I think you guys could use a lesson in manners." Elyon said. She sent a large wave of light cascading towards the Soldiers, who were promptly knocked off their feet. They all swifly got to their feet.

Will zoomed down close to them. "You guys are leaving." She said. She sent a bolts of electricity which knocked them flying.

Matt was waiting behind them and tore a fold open which the soldiers tumbled through. "Nice job, Will. " Matt remarked. As she landed beside him.

"WILL, HELP US PUT THE FIRE OUT!" Irma yelled, completely ruiing the moment.

Takeda stood in the lab awaiting for the team to return. A radio on the desk buzzed. "This is Alpha team. Can anyone hear me? Over."

Takeda looked towards the radio. He walked over to the desk and pressed the button. "This is Takeda. Report."

"Sir, we have secured several samples. However, we will not be returning through the fold. over."

"What is the meaning of this?" Takeda shouted.

"Sir, the guardians ambushed us. We're requesting a pick up."

Takeda fumed. "The Guardians again!" he stomed off. "Can't anyone do the simplest of tasks.

Carlin pressed the button to respond to the raido call. "Where is the pick required?"

"Uh, I think we're in Mexico sir." the soldier stated. "There's nothing but sand as far as the eye an see."

The Guardians, Matt and Elyon, and Kadma stood with Ironwood. "Thank you all for helping. You saved many, Zamballans today."

"Glad to help." Will said.

"Yeah. Now that that's done, back to the previous topic." Cornelia said. "Will, why are you so opposed to Mr C proposing to your mom?"

"Yeah." Elyon said.

"I'm not opposed to it. I'm just suprised by it." Will said.

"Will." Kadma began. "If I may, most people never meet their true love, I never found love. I don't know what the relationship between your mother and this man is, but is she feels strongly about him then you should allow them to be together."

"But, it's not up to me." Will said.

"Exactly." Hay Lin said. "Don't you get it?"

"Get what?"

"Mr Collins is asking your permission because he has respect for you." Irma said. "He doesn't want you to feel like he's taking your mother away."

"I guess...That makes sense. A lot of sense actually." Will said. "We better go."

"Yeah I have homework to do." Taranee said."I have a date with Nigel tonight."

"Well Nigel's gonna be Early." Matt laughed. "Nigel ahs already finished his homework.

"WHAT! How?" Taranee was both impressed and a little annoyed.

"Stephen gave us all the idea of doing our homework at school." Matt said. "Gives us a lot more free time."

"Well, what do know, Irma's Boyfriend outsmarted Taranee." Cornelia joked.

"He didn't outsmart me." Taranee barked.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Cornelia retorted.

"Are you coming Kadma?" Will asked.

"No I think I'll stay a while longer. You don't mind, do You Matt."

"No, not all." Matt replied. All though it was clear he did mind.

"I'll call you tonight." Will said planting a kiss on his cheek, before tearing open a fold and leading the others through.

Matt stood with Kadma. "You know you need to tell her how you feel." Kadma told Matt.

"WHAT?" Matt yelped.

"You know what I mean, Matt."

"How do you know all this?" Matt asked.

"Call it 'Woman's Intuition'."

Takeda was in his office. Another failure. It wasn't all bad. Samples were recovered. They would aid his Plans.

The door knocked. Carlin Entered the room. "Sir?"

"Come in Michael." Takeda said. "Take a seat."

"Sir I've dispatched a helicopter for the strike team. They're in the middle of a desert."

"The fools should have been careful." Takeda said.

"Well according to their report. The forest was alive. Tree's uprooted themselves and walked.

Takeda gave a little chuckle. "Well it wouldn't be the strangest thing we've seen through this experience. And I doubt it will be the strangest we see by a long shot."

"Sir. If I may. I don't trust Robinson." Carlin said.

Takeda shook his head. "Nor do I. But We need Robinson. He seems to know about these things."

"So, you're just using him?" Carlin asked.

"No more than he is using me. One thing I know is that we have different intersts in this entire operation."

Robinson was listening to every word. "You have know idea how right you are Takeda my friend."

Will was sitting on one end of the couch, Susan on the other she was wearing a lowcut purple dress that went past her knees. A knock at the door caught attention. Susan got up form her seat to answer it. approached the front door. She opened the door to Reveal Dean in the doorway, he was dressed in a light blue suit, and white dress shirt. "Dean? What're you doing here. We're not supposed to be meeting for dinner til seven."

"Well, Susan. I've thought for a long time...about how to do this. And I've decided, that I want' it to be personal. I don't want to be surrounded by strangers."

"Dean what're..?" Susan began.

"Let the man speak mom." Will said.

Dean pulled a purple Velvet box out of his pocket. "Susan Marie Vandom." He got down onto one knee. "I never thought I'd find true love. But I have...with you. Will you marry me." He opened the box to reveal a modest daimond, on a band of gold.

Susan's breath caught. She struggled to speak. "I...Yes...Of course." She managed to say.

Dean slid the ring on her finger. He stood up and the two kissed.

"I'll leave you two alone." Will said getting up from her seat.

"Wait Will." Her mother called.

Will turned to face her mother. "Yeah."

"I think now is a good time to let you both know...I have exciting news...I'm Pregnant." Will felt her jaw dropping as Dean embraced her. "You're gonna be a big sister Will." Her moter said, the words rang through her head.

What a bombshell to end on huh. More next week.