"Woooaaahhh!!!!!!" Martin screamed, his voice a mix of excitement and fear as it echoed through the tunnel as he hurtled through it at the speed of light. The swirling colors, intricate mathematical equations, and cascading numbers of code surrounded him, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Not far ahead, Martin spotted his brother Chris, gallantly carrying WordGirl over his shoulders, accompanied by the three kids who had sought Motherboard's assistance to create a portal to a realm known as Cyberspace. Soon enough, they finally approached the end of the seemingly infinite tunnel.
"Uhh!!!" Chris moaned, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and discomfort. "I didn't expect the portal ride to be this rough!" He replied while rubbing his forehead.
"Tell me about it," Martin replied, feeling queasy and disoriented. The room seemed to spin around him as he tried to retain his balance.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," reassured Matt, extending a helping hand along with the rest of the Cybersquad to assist them.
As they gradually acclimated to their new surroundings, they were taken aback to discover that they had arrived somewhere other than Earth. They found themselves inside a spacious room with a glass dome suspended in space above them. The sky outside was an enchanting shade of dark green, seemingly adorned with countless stars—although they couldn't be sure if it was an illusion caused by their disoriented state.
Looking around, they noticed they were standing on a peculiar platform that led to a massive monitor adorned with an oversized control pad. On the screen, a vibrant 3D animated image depicted a woman with blue skin and curly purple hair. Standing beside her was a peculiar cyborg sporting a lightbulb for a head, while a purple bird with a matching red cap and bowtie fluttered alongside him.
"Welcome back, Earthlies! I'm thrilled to see you here!" greeted the bird, addressing them with enthusiasm. His gaze then turned to the Kratt brothers, who stood close behind, staring at him in various degrees of astonishment. "Um, hey Earthlies, do you know these guys?"
"Don't worry, Digit. These are Martin and Chris, the Kratt brothers. They're cool," reassured Inez, offering a reassuring smile.
"Wait! You mean these are THE Kratt brothers? The ones you've been telling us about—the ones who embark on incredible creature adventures?" Digit asked, brimming with excitement.
"It looks like we're well known and liked in other dimensions as well!" Martin commented, amused by the recognition.
"Absolutely! We're huge fans of yours. Your work is incredible!" Digit exclaimed, extending his wing to shake their hands. "Digit LeBoid, at your service!"
"Nice to meet you, Digit!" Chris replied, shaking Digit's wing.
"Yeah, it's always great to connect with fellow creature enthusiasts!" Martin added, reaching forward to also shake Digit's wing.
As WordGirl regained consciousness and slowly floated up from behind Chris's shoulders, she groaned, "Ugh... What happened? And where am I?"
"Hey, who's that? Wait a second, is THAT WordGirl?" Digit gasped in disbelief.
"Seems like you're familiar with her too, huh?" Martin inquired.
"Absolutely! I'm honored to have both of you here!" Digit exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
"Ugh... Look, I appreciate that, and it's great to hear, but can someone please explain what's going on?" WordGirl requested, feeling a mixture of confusion and concern.
"Well... After you collapsed, the villains were about to capture us, but we managed to escape. They chased us into the forest, but we lost them. Then, Matt used his Squawk Pad to ask Motherboard to create a portal, and now we're in Cyberspace," Jackie explained.
"Really? All I remember is flying around, trying to stop the villains, and then suddenly feeling a strange pulse and becoming dizzy!" WordGirl shared, rubbing her temples. It was then that she gasped, realizing the potential cause. "Lexonite!"
"Lexi-what? What is that? What are you talking about?" Digit asked, intrigued but puzzled.
"Lexonite is a substance from my home planet, Lexicon. It's also my weakness," WordGirl explained. "They must have somehow gotten ahold of it and used it against me to capture us and potentially take over the city, maybe even the world!"
"Does that mean you've... lost your powers?" Digit asked worriedly.
"No, it only affects me temporarily when I'm around it," she clarified. "But there's a slim chance."
Interrupting the conversation, a voice called out from behind them, causing everyone to turn their attention to Dr. Marbles. "With all due respect, I have some incredibly important information that you all need to know," he stated, sounding slightly impatient.
"Sure, what's going on?" Jackie inquired, eager to hear the news.
Dr. Marbles raised a leather-bound book he had been holding. "I discovered this in the lower storage room while Digit and I were cleaning," He explained.
"A book?" Inez noted, taking a piece of cloth from her pocket to clean her glasses for a clearer view.
"What's so special about it? It's just a book, right?" Matt asked, clearly perplexed.
"It's not just any book; it's a journal! A journal that once belonged to the Protectors of Cyberspace!" Dr. Marbles revealed.
"The Protectors of Cyberspace? Who are they?" Jackie asked, her curiosity piqued.
"And here I thought we were the Protectors of Cyberspace, along with Motherboard, of course," Matt remarked, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Well, you see..."
….
In the early years of Cyberspace, before the existence of Motherboard, a powerful ruler named Patheo reigned with an iron fist, plunging the digital realm into a state of evil, chaos, and suffering. However, a group of enigmatic heroes from unknown cybersites emerged to challenge Patheo's oppressive rule. These four cyborgs possessed unique qualities and abilities:
Blade: The resolute leader of the group, renowned for his unwavering bravery and indomitable spirit. Though occasionally perceived as arrogant, his strength and determination inspired others.
Sapphire: Known for her boundless kindness, unwavering generosity, and deep love for all creatures. She possessed a fearless determination to stand up for herself and others when the need arose.
Leo: Often dismissed as a trickster and fool, Leo concealed an extraordinary intellect, earning him the title of the group's strategist and problem solver.
Noir: Despite his ominous name and gloomy appearance, Noir was a beloved figure celebrated for his profound wisdom and unwavering commitment to morality.
One fateful day, these four friends stumbled upon a set of powerful crystals, their origins shrouded in mystery. As fate would have it, when the cyborgs made contact with these extraordinary crystals, they found themselves mysteriously bound to their incredible powers. Empowered by these crystals, the group united their strengths and talents, vanquishing Patheo and forever banishing him from Cyberspace. Their triumph ushered in an era of peace and harmony, restoring balance to the digital realm.
….
"However, the fate of those heroes and the crystals remains largely unknown," Dr. Marbles concluded, his voice tinged with a sense of intrigue. "Leo, being the mischievous trickster he was, left behind a journal that contains incomplete, misleading, and unclear information. It's filled with gaps and uncertainties. But there's one significant revelation the book does provide—a groundbreaking discovery they stumbled upon: the existence of the multiverse!"
"The multiverse?! You mean the idea of parallel universes coexisting alongside our own?" Inez gasped, astonished by the revelation.
"Well, if Cyberspace exists and WordGirl hails from the planet Lexicon, it's not too far-fetched," Matt chimed in, reflecting on the possibilities.
"But how did they manage to uncover it?" WordGirl asked.
"It happened during their early attempts to create portals as a means of faster travel across Cyberspace," Dr. Marbles explained. "You see, many of the technological advancements and tools we use daily in Cyberspace were actually shared with us by those pioneering heroes."
"Anyway, soon after their breakthrough, they delved into the study and mapping of the multiverse, or at least a fragment of it. They devised an intergalactic network of portals, forming a vast system of interconnected hallways. This remarkable creation became known as the Multiversal Networking System, or M.N.S. for short."
"Cool!" Martin exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Is that the reason you wanted us to come here?" Jackie asked, seeking clarification.
"Yes, exactly! You see, as time went on and public interest waned, those heroes made the decision to hide each of the four power stones in undisclosed locations. Rediscovering these crystals would grant access to the Multiversal Networking System and unleash their immense powers. If the crystals fell into the wrong hands, such as Hacker's, they could pose a significant threat not just to Cyberspace but to the entire multiverse," Dr. Marbles explained with concern.
"That's terrible!" Inez cried.
"If we can locate all four crystals and reach the Multiversal Networking System before Hacker does, we can protect the multiverse and safeguard Cyberspace," Dr. Marbles continued, emphasizing the urgency of their mission.
"But how do we even begin to find them? They could be hidden anywhere!" Digit interjected, expressing his uncertainty.
"According to the journal, it is believed that the first crystal is concealed deep within an ice cave in Calamore. However, we must be cautious as the information may be intentionally misleading," Dr. Marbles cautioned, aware of the potential deception.
"Well, we have to start somewhere. What are we waiting for? Let's begin our search in Calamore. Who knows, it might lead us to the first crystal!" Matt declared, displaying his determination.
"Indeed, once we find those crystals, we can access the Multiversal Networking System and save not only the multiverse, but also Earth and Cyberspace!" Martin chimed in, sharing his enthusiasm.
"Backspace! To access the Multiversal Networking System, we will need to create a separate portal. Even if Motherboard were capable of generating such a portal, it would demand an enormous amount of power—more than all of Cyberspace combined," Dr. Marbles explained.
Motherboard's expression turned somber. "Yes, that's true. However, if you can locate a rare cyberite crystal, I can utilize its extraordinary power to amplify mine and create the necessary portal. But such crystals are only found in select cybersites," Motherboard explained, her voice tinged with hope.
"Alright then, Inez, Chris, and I will head to Calamore to search for the first crystal while the rest of you seek the cyberite," Matt proposed.
"Count me in, Matty!" Digit chimed in, eager to contribute, with the others voicing their agreement.
Shortly after, Motherboard created two distinct portals, with one leading to Calamore. "Here we go again!" Chris sighed playfully as the group leaped into their designated portals.
"Good luck, Cybermates!" Motherboard whispered, her voice filled with well wishes as the portals closed behind them.