A/N I can't remember whether the characters had established what series was on presently on their Earth, so I'm going to just assume that GI is out, and MS has been announced. If it turns out I'm wrong I'll edit one of Mike's lines accordingly.
?- Well its about time you bring me here Jet.
Jetravenex: Hmm? Ah yes, unfortunately the story didn't allow for me to bring you in at Chapter 50 which would've been amazing, but oh well, chapter 52 and you'll be in by the end too!
?- Hmph
Jetravenex: Anyways, since you're here say the disclaimer.
?- Very well, JetravenEx doesn't own bakugan. She also doesn't own Pierce who is owned by Antex the Legendary Zoroark.
Chapter 52
Mike groaned not only was his whole body throbbing after he'd slammed front first into the ground; he landed in the middle of what looked like a very intense brawl. Getting to his feet he rubbed his head and looked to Jenny and Masquerade.
"What's going on?" He asked at last, he glanced back at the duo's opponents and frowned. He'd never seen the three in the show before, unless they were new characters that were introduced in the upcoming Mechtanium Surge. He also never recalled an episode where Masquerade and Jenny from Super Sync Sound teamed up in a brawl.
Jenny was looking at him oddly. "Well, these three jerks came after Masquerade for some reason, cause he's their um…" She frowned tapping her chin thoughtfully. Mike had to resist the urge to give an exasperated sigh.
"Target," Masquerade offered moving towards Mike eyeing him. "You're from Jet's world aren't you?"
Mike's head snapped to Masquerade his eyes narrowed. "What do you know about Jet?"
Jenny grinned. "You're one of Jet's friends?! Oh, she'll be so happy to see you! She's in the hospital now though."
Mike gritted his teeth glaring at Masquerade, who merely folded his arms and met his gaze calmly. "So, I've heard. But I have to ask." He stepped towards Masquerade. "Why is she there?" He asked icily.
Jenny blinked looking between Masquerade and Mike her expression one of confusion. Why was this guy so angry? She could understand his concern for his friend, but why act so aggressively to Masquerade who had according to Julie and Jet helped get them out of the situation. "An incident occurred with one of Masquerade's former minions resulting in Jet getting stabbed in the shoulder and Julie…"
Masquerade sighed. "Somehow Billy went nuts and attacked Jet and Julie, I intervened and took the two to the hospital to receive care. I could take you to see her-"
"Hello! We're getting killed out here!" Skylord shouted as she circled the battle field above Kravoid right on her tail. The subterra pterodactyl like bakugan opening his mouth and attempting to take a bite out of Skylord's tail. The dragoness hastily pulled in her tail close shooting him a dark glare.
Masquerade scowled. "Except I'm in the middle of something." He said flatly turning away from Jenny and Mike to study the field.
"He's not allowed to join you!" Victor shouted from across the field, "That'd be cheating, we only agreed to fight you two."
Jenny clenched her fists as she shot him a dirty look. "Oh so you jerks'll fight us when we're disadvantaged but when we try to make things fair you immediately call it cheating!" She stamped her foot. "Well… That's just not fair!"
"Life isn't fair," Vanessa said icily. "You shouldn't have agreed to the rules stated in the brawl." Masquerade's head raised marginally as he brought a hand to his chin and gazed at the battle field his mask scanning.
Jenny threw her arms into the air. "We didn't have a choice!"
Victor snorted. "Too bad so sad, rules are rules, no strange kids who fall from the sky are allowed." Mike frowned glancing back and forth between the two.
'What should I do? They seem like they're in real trouble, but-' His thoughts were cut off as Trent burst out laughing.
"Not that he'd help," Trent said with a snort Mike's head raising to look at the larger black haired boy. Trent sneered at him and Mike frowned, "Stupid kid couldn't even stick the landing, he probably can't even brawl." Victor cracked a smile while Vanessa shot them a nasty glare.
'What?! Why you!' Mike's eyes narrowed as he stepped up to the field brushing past Masquerade. "Oh is that so Fatty?" He snarled clenching his fists glowering at the larger boy. "I can too brawl, and I will show you!" He reached into his pocket snatching out the first ball he grasped, and raising it to throw it out.
"Sorry loser, but you can't do that, that'd be breaking the rules," Victor said with a laugh. "Doing so would declare this fight forfeit." He put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. "Sides these guys are doomed anyways,
"Actually this battle is far from over," Masquerade said straightening up with a smirk as he glanced at the bakugan ball Mike held in his hand. 'Good he uses Aquos,' He thought.
Vanessa tensed, "Oh and how do you intend to come back from such a large gap." She asked her red eyes glancing from Masquerade to Mike.
Masquerade grinned. "The rules only said we could start with 3 bakugan apiece on each side and 3 abilities as well." He jabbed a finger at the Docorrians. "And you lot using Mage's Spell Binding Circle you removed my Hydranoid from play, so what's stopping Jenny from using Rising Tide to bring in the new kids Aquos bakugan." The Docorrians stiffened up and Trent and Victor looked nervously at Vanessa who clenched her fists her razor sharp claws unsheathing a bit.
Mike glanced at Masquerade his lips turning down into a frown. "I have a name you know." He said a hint of irritation in his voice.
Masquerade waved a hand at Mike who bristled at the flippant gesture. "Well since no one seems to have any objections, Jenny." Masquerade looked pointedly at Jenny who jumped.
"Ah, right!" She said hastily digging through her cards pouch pulling out a card looking at it before hurriedly stuffing it back in. After a minute of searching she sheepishly looked at Masquerade before quickening her scanning of her deck.
The corner of Masquerade's lips twitched down at the delay, the Docorrians however seemed to gain confidence.
"Quickly Felanoid! Annihilate the Siege!" Vanessa ordered. The cat gave a fierce screech before she rushed at Siege. The knight raised his staff defensively in front of him. Mouth opening wide her teeth bared as she leapt at him grabbing the staff in between her teeth.
In the air Mage and Kravoid began to double their attempts to land a hit on Skylord who managed to stay just out of their grasp.
"Jenny," Masquerade said harshly. "Get the card out now!" He said mind racing. If Siege went down, Skylord couldn't get another bakugan on the field, nor could she break the attack that had happened to Hydranoid since Double Dimension only negated an ability that affected the bakugan that was using Double Dimension. He had been too cocky, he was too used to having so much control over battles, to be able to arrogantly make a show of what moves he was going to use to finish the battle whereas here Skylord and Siege were a hit away from being taken down.
Jenny squeaked and fumbled with her case, only for the case to slip out of her grasp and tip over the cards spilling all over the ground. "Oh no!" She cried dropping to her knees grabbing at her cards and flipping them over rapidly trying to search for the right one.
Siege let out a grunt as Felanoid wrenched his staff out of his grip, jerking her head to the side she tossed it out into the center of the field grinning as it bashed the trapped Hydra's head. Hydranoid shot her a glare which she responded with a cackle. Siege staggered back away from Felanoid.
Masquerade looked at Jenny and the mess of cards his hands moving up by his head his fingers twitching and he had to resist the urge to grasp his blond spikes and tug at it in his anxiety, his heart starting to pound.
Vanessa laughed as Felanoid dropped into a crouch and began to stalk towards Siege who continued to back away from the cat the knight's hands raised in front of him as a last means of defense. She cocked her head and sneered at Masquerade. "You were so so close, but in the end your partner's incompetence did you in. But don't worry she'll be joining you on your trip to Docorrus."
Jenny looked up tears in her eyes as she saw Masquerade grasp the sides of his head and grit his teeth. Siege began to run out of room to back up, and Skylord began to tire in the air every wing beat seeming to take every bit of her energy to keep ahead of Mage and Kravoid.
Siege was the first to break. Felanoid pounced mouth opened wide fangs glinting brightly. The knight tried to grasp at the cat but was knocked over. After struggling to knock her off with his hands Felanoid drew back and snarled, before lunging like a python for Siege's throat.
"SIEGE NO!" Jenny shrieked as Felanoid bit down on Siege's neck the knight giving a wail before he reverted in a flash of blue. Jenny began to shake violently as Siege's ball form dropped to the ground and rolled up next to her leg. She sniffed big tears beginning to track down her face before she buried her face in her hands and began to sob her shoulder's shaking violently.
Masquerade stood stock still his mind frozen as the darkus cat like bakugan reared back her head and gave a yowl of triumph which Kravoid echoed and Mage cheered. Though with the three temporarily caught up in their small victory Skylord took a moment to catch her breath. She was the last one standing, she wouldn't give up, and they'd have to drag her down from the sky to win. She gritted her teeth and squared her shoulders.
Vanessa leaned back grinning, 'Though I was worried for a moment, this fight's ours, maybe we can even take that boy..." She glanced towards Mike who had his head down, his bangs shadowing his eyes as he began to move forwards. 'Hmm?"She cocked her head to the side and eyed the boy frowning.
"You know," Mike's voice cut in the former Chicagoan stepping up unzipping his parka. "I'm not particularly fond of Masquerade, but he knows where Jet is and I need him to take me to her." Mike said as he pulled off his parka revealing the dark blue hoodie he wore underneath, "But I'm not just going to beat the crap out of you for that." He said tossing his parka aside. "You insulted me," He said raising a card and gripping Hydrogator tightly in his right hand. "And worst of all." His eyes narrowed and he glared daggers at them. "You made Jenny cry! Ability Activate! Cut in Savior!"
Hydrogator glowed brightly in his hand as he tossed the card up into the air the card exploding multiple blue sparkles as Mike brought Hydrogator into his chest. "Give em Hell! Aquos Hydrogator!" He snapped his arm outwards releasing Hydrogator as he did the bakugan ball hitting Felanoid in the muzzle before landing on the ground and popping open a blast of water erupting upwards a silhouette of an alligator appearing. Then the water split in half and crashed off to the side revealing a blue alligator with sharp teeth and flashing amber eyes.
"Time to make waves!" Hydrogator snarled glaring at Felanoid who hissed at him.
"Ha! You're still not strong enough to defeat us!" She said teeth barred. "You'll suffer the same fate as Siege!"
"Somehow I doubt that." Hydrogator said glancing at Skylord. "Skylord you still got enough fight left in you to turn this thing around."
Skylord huffed and puffed out her chest her gem glowing brightly. "Does Hydranoid weigh more than a ton of rocks?" She said glancing at the trapped Hydra who glared at her and struggled against his chains and made muffled sounds.
"Um," Hydrogator tilted his head to the side. "Does he?"
Skylord looked at him and deadpanned. "Yes."
Aquos Hydrogator recognized at 400 gs. Combined power level with Darkus Skylord at 840 gs.
Jenny looked at the numbers once before bursting into tears once more. "It's still not enough!" She wailed covering her eyes tears still failing.
Mike grinned. "Take it easy Jenny, I'll turn this around." He said tossing up a card he had stuffed into his pocket and then caught it in the air.
Masquerade glanced at him and then his lips curled up slightly "Is that what I think it is?"
"Why not take a stab in the dark and see if you're right, Masky?" Mike asked waving the card in his hand raising an eyebrow at him grinning maniacally.
Masquerade scowled at the nickname. "Oh I know I'm right!" He spat at Mike who merely tilted his head slightly at him.
On the field Hydrogator ducked under Kravoid's rush at him. The pteradactly let out a shriek when his teeth bit down on nothing while Hydrogator laughed. "With aim like that you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn." Kravoid glared at him before he flew up higher circling around for another go.
Skylord meanwhile danced around Mage the spellcaster swinging her staff wildly at the dragoness, growing increasingly frustrated as she failed to hit her.
Trent growled clenching and unclenching his hands as he watched the two bakugan keep their bakugan at bay. "Milady, while I know you prefer to stick to the rules of the hunt we'll fail to bag our game at this rate."
Vanessa frowned but said nothing shooting him a spare glance but otherwise choosing to ignore the comment.
"Gah! Let's just go grab them!" Victor said rushing around the brawling beast heading towards Masquerade, Mike and Jenny.
Jenny lifted her head slightly and saw Victor's charge. "Guys look out!" She shrieked jabbing a finger towards the charging boy who was fast approaching
Mike frowned and drew himself up. "Let's wrap up this brawl quick before we get into real trouble!" He raised his ability card glancing at Masquerade who nodded.
"Alright then Ability Activate!" Mike began.
"TIDAL WAVE!" Masquerade and Mike shouted in unison.
Water began to gather around Hydrogator who stepped back towards Hydranoid, Skylord moving towards the two. Then the water began to rise up behind the three bakugan growing into a wave that became more and more massive.
Victor halted his charge and his eyes widened in horror as the wave cast a large shadow over him.
Felanoid hissed and began to creep backwards ears flattened. "No! Not the water!" She shrieked before turning tail and running back towards her brawler.
Mage and Kravoid began to draw back as well keeping their eyes on the growing wave.
"Good bye." Hydrogator said with a laugh as the wave crested over the three bakugan and crashed down water surging towards the Docorrians and their bakugan.
All previous enemy abilities negated, Darkus Hydranoid recognized, Combined power levels at 1290 gs.
Docorrian bakugan at 1260 gs.
Victor turned to run just as the water picked him up and the boy struggled to swim as he was carried backwards towards the mansion.
The water slammed the three bakugan back as well Kravoid, Felanoid and Mage each giving various cries as they were knocked back reverting as they went.
Vanessa scowled as water splashed onto her clothes making her leather clothing feel even more skintight than before. By the time the wave reached her and Trent the massive wave only slammed against their lower limbs making them stagger back but remain on their feet.
She gritted her teeth as their three bakugan balls washed up to their feet along with Victor who lay unconscious in the water. She clenched her fist as she looked up to see the three opposing bakugan revert and fly back to their brawlers. Mike raised a hand to catch Hydrogator, as Hydranoid and Skylord merely perched themselves on Masquerade's shoulders. The masked brawler folded his arms across his chest and lifted his chin smirking at Vanessa.
"That's game."
In a flash of light time restarted around them and the water disappeared. Trent heaved a sigh and crouched down to pick up Kravoid and Mage before going over to Victor and kneeling down beside him.
"I win." Masquerade said coldly glaring at Vanessa. "Now get out of my sight."
Vanessa snorted as she snapped her fingers a dark portal appearing behind her, Trent picked up Victor shooting the opposing trio a nasty glare before he turned and headed into it.
Vanessa picked up Felanoid before straightening up and locking eyes with Masquerade's mask. "Don't think for a second I'm letting you go Masky." She spat. "Next time," She said turning to enter the portal her red eyes glancing back at him. "You're mine." Then the portal swallowed her up and silence fell upon the clearing.
Masquerade let out the breath he was holding and sighed heavily reaching up a hand to rub his aching cranium. But unfortunately he couldn't rest his poor battered head just yet.
Jenny's tears had stopped by then and she began to jump for joy. "You guys did it! You won!" She cheered clapping her hands.
Mike grinned shoving his hands in the pocket of his hoodie and leaned back slightly. "Well it was mostly me, but Masquerade did help."
Masquerade glared at him. "Excuse me?" He said his tone as cold as ice.
Mike glared back, "What, it's not my fault that you choked under pressure." He said
Masquerade clenched his fists and whirled around giving a soft humph, "Watch yourself kid, don't forget I can kick you to the doom dimension anytime I'd like." He said with a low hiss.
Mike rolled his eyes. "And that's the thanks I get for saving your hide." He muttered.
Masquerade didn't say anything he instead tried to focus on the line of trees ahead, wait, why were they spinning. His head was beginning to pound again. Oh right, he had hit his head twice today… Or was it once? Or thrice-? His vision began to grow fuzzy and he stumbled his balance going as he fell sinking into unconsciousness.
Jenny's cheer immediately evaporated into horror as she let out a scream when Masquerade went down, hands reaching up to cover her mouth. Mike immediately knelt down besides the masked brawler and rolled him over.
"Master? Master?!" Hydranoid cried popping open by Masquerade's head, Skylord floating above flitting about keeping her eyes on the masked brawler.
Mike pressed his fingers to the other boys throat and he frowned. "He's got a pulse and he seems to be still breathing, but we need to get him to the hospital as soon as possible." Mike punched the ground. "But how the hell are we going to get there?!" Then he snapped his fingers eyes widening. "Wait Masquerade's DT!" He began to reach into the boys pockets.
"Hey! Get your hands out of there!" Hydranoid snapped, Mike halting and eyeing the hydra who hopped up and down in irritation. "Plus Master's DT has stopped working thanks to something those Docorrians did to it."
Mike swore as he drew his hand out of the blond's pockets and ran a hand through his hair. "Well shit how the hell are we going to get him there! We don't have anything to use to help him and I have no intention of going to that freaking ugly green goblin doctor for help." He said.
'You and me both.' Hydranoid thought.
"Um," Mike and Hydranoid looked to Jenny who was pressing her two fingers together. "I… I have one… But I can't leave without Jewls and Julie."
"Call them real quick," Mike said immediately looking down at the downed masked brawler. "We need to leave, the longer we wait the less likely Masquerade can recover from whatever it is that's caused him to collapse like that."
Jenny bit her lip her eyebrows furrowing before she nodded and got to her feet and took off running into the mansion leaving Mike, Hydranoid and Skylord.
"Is there anything we can do?" Skylord asked.
Mike shook his head. "I don't know what caused him to go down. Heck I'm not sure I can even do basic CPR!" He said glancing back towards where Jenny had gone. "He needs a hospital."
"But Master doesn't like hospitals!" Hydranoid snarled floating up in Mike's face. "They might try to unmask him!"
Mike swatted him away. "What's more important Hydranoid?! His identity or his life?! Whatever's wrong with him, it's bad enough to make him go unconscious that means it could be potentially life threatening.
Hydranoid grunted and looked at his partner floating to rest at the ground beside Masquerade's head.
Skylord floated by Mike. "So, you're from Jet's world huh?"
Mike nodded. "Yes, I'm one of her good friends." He admitted.
Skylord didn't say anything for a moment looking at the mansion before turning back to him. "She never mentioned you."
Mike winced his eyebrows furrowing. "Ouch, you sure know how to land a blow to a man's ego Miss Skylord." He said lightly forcing a smile.
"By the way, what is your name anyways?" Skylord asked perching on his shoulder opposite of Hydrogator.
Mike grinned. "I'm Mike Pasters." He said nodding to the dragoness. "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Skylord."
Skylord huffed flapping her wings slightly. "Enough of this 'Miss' stuff Mike, if you're a friend of Jet's then you can just call me Skylord." She said.
Mike chuckled. "If you insist Skylord." He said lifting his head as he heard the front door to the mansion collide with the outside wall with a bang after it was thrown open and Jenny, Jewls and Julie raced out. The two pop stars raced towards Mike and Masquerade while Julie grabbed onto the front door and slammed it shut standing with her back against it a moment her chest heaving a moment as she tried to catch her breath from a lot of running before she rushed to join them.
Mike frowned as he looked at the three girls, all of them looking covered in sweat, out of breath and wide eyed like they'd been just frightened out of their wits. "What happened?"
Jewls raised a hand to signify for Mike to wait as she bent over and gripped her knees taking deep raspy breaths.
Julie was the one to speak. "You-you…don't….want to… know." She rasped out before doubling over panting as well.
Mike frowned. "Well, can you guys at least help me get Masquerade to the hospital." He asked gesturing to the unconscious masked brawler.
Jewls lifted her head and gave the darkus brawler the stink eye. "After that, I really don't want to." She said.
Jenny shook her head. "Jewls, we promised Jet. Jet wouldn't want us to abandon him, lets get him to the hospital."
Mike froze and stared at Jenny a moment as Julie straightened herself up and raised the DT up above their heads. "Alright then," The preppy Australian said smiling slightly. "Lets go!" The DT flashed as they were all enveloped within the bright light.
Vanessa was sitting in her chair in her apartment on Docorrus purposefully ignoring the calls of outrage her client was giving her. She was frustrated herself, how could she have failed such a simple mission?
She sighed and leaned back in her chair and gazed blankly at the ceiling, she was going to have to find a way to get the masked brawler one way or another, not for the payment anymore, but to ensure her reputation as one of Docorrus's finests didn't fall.
But how was she going to do that when not only her boys failed her, but her own abilities as well.
A knock sounded on the door to her room and her red eyes darted to look towards it. She entertained the notion of not answering it, when another knock sounded on the door followed by a deep male voice.
"My lady, I know you are in there, please open up."
Vanessa groaned covering her eyes with her forearm. Pierce. Though the man was her most loyal among her… Minions. He wasn't as easily scared into leaving her alone when she wanted no one around.
Sighing she relented but didn't get up. "Come in Pierce, the door is open." The Docorrian huntress told called.
The door slid open and a man with blue hair stepped in. Pierce had golden colored eyes, though his left one was concealed by an eyepatch and had a scar running through it, he wore a black leather jacket over a green undershirt, he also had on a pair of shredded jeans over a pair of boots and on his hands he wore a pair of red and blue fingerless gloves.
The man went over to Vanessa's chair and knelt down in front of her. "My lady, I have come to you with a solution to your masked brawler problem."
Vanessa groaned. "Oh must you bring him up? I want to forget him for a little while." She said throwing her arm over her eyes once more. Then she moved her arm to glare at him. "You'd better not tell me you'll go after him."
Pierce bowed his head. "I am afraid that though I would accomplish more than the foolish Victor and Trent, I doubt I would meet with any more success than you did my lady." He lifted his head to look up at her. "Though I do have a suggestion that may help."
Vanessa frowned pushing herself into a more upright position as she looked at him her interest rising as her red eyes gleamed slightly. "Very well, rise and tell me your suggestion Pierce."
Pierce rose to his feet and procured the box that contained the prototype she had been given before leaving for Earth. "It would seem Masquerade is receiving aid from another world."
"Indeed, and strong and timely aid at that," Vanessa grumbled rubbing her eyes.
"Then we must do one better," Pierce said smirking slightly. "You do know what the device was able to do correct?" He inquired raising the box.
Vanessa's eyes widened and she leaned forwards. "It's able to bring something through the timestream be they from the past or future to now."
"Something, or someone." Pierce said.
Vanessa's eyes lit up and her face split into a grin. "I see, that is…useful." She said then she frowned as she jumped to her feet. "Pierce we must bring a strong ally from the future to now to assist us in defeating Masquerade at once!"
Pierce chuckled. "I'm way ahead of you my lady, our ally should be arriving… right about now." He said grinning as he opened the box and a crystal ball showed the fountain in the center of Wardington Park.
At the fountain a bright burst of light erupted startling the pigeons into flight and making the kids glance towards it. But if they thought the bright light was weird were they in for a shock when the light faded away.
Once the light dimmed, a blond boy wearing a red trench coat with a red mask on his face stood beside another boy with long blue hair and an orange coat. The two looked around.
"Master Spectra?" Gus said slowly. "Something… seems off."
Spectra sighed as he folded his arms. "Indeed," He went over to one of the kids who was gaping at him a blue colored ball in his hands. "Earthlings are still in possession of bakugan, all the bakugan should be on New Vestroia."
"Ahh!" The kid who Spectra now towered over screamed in fear clutching his bakugan ball close to his chest. "Don't take my Aquos Terrorclaw, Masquerade!" He cried tears pricking his eyes.
Spectra looked down at him a moment before reaching a hand towards the boy.
The boy yelped ducking his head and closing his eyes tightly. Only for them to snap open as the masked brawler gently patted his head. The boy shakily opened his eyes and lifted his head to look at the masked brawler who smirked down at him.
"Don't worry, for there is more than one masked brawler in town." Spectra said removing his hand and resting it on his hip. "I am Spectra Phantom, soon to be the one to knock that Masquerade off his throne." He said with a laugh his blue mechanical eye flashing.
A/N
And approximately 40 chapters after I teased the idea of Spectra appearing in this fic he has arrived!
Spectra: It was only a matter of time really.
Jetravenex: Anyways, I worked hard to crank out this chapter because I REALLY wanted to get out this amazingly awesome surprise in my story out. Because believe me there will be more surprises to come!
Spectra: However, in order for her to showcase all her brilliant ideas she has for this story you must give her reviews that are long and filled with good criticism so she can improve her writing.
Jetravenex: In other words, more than one line worth of reviews. REVIEW PEOPLE! They feed my creativity.