The Cartoon Continuum
Chapter 1:
The Mission
Liv's POV:
"So what exactly does Dexter want us to do?" Kenneth, my friend with chocolate brown hair combed back into the likeness of a fusion spawn asked me.
"I don't know," I reply looking over at him. "All I know is that he sent a fax back to HQ asking for us to come immediately."
Ace sighed. "Well whatever it is I hope it has us beat down some Fusions."
"You and me both, Ace." I laugh as the four of us continue walking down the cybernetic halls of Dex Labs. You see were not your average Fusion Fighters. Two of us have been through the hellish future and back whereas worked their way up the ranks at the academy.
First there's Kenneth Greystone, The Leader. You see Kenneth is your average everyday suburban hero. He's gone to the future after his run-in with his fusion self and managed to save countless people from Fusions, he has every nano out there and vows to smite any fusion he runs into. It's no wonder that we have such trouble with his fusion because despite the fact that he's not as physically strong or as smart as me he has a lot of courage and no matter how much you bring him down he'll always be coming back up. I know from personal experience when Fusion Humongosaur almost bit my head off. The guy has my forever respect and despite he doesn't have as much as experience as me he is still our fearless leader. I'd hate to go up against him in a fight, Kevin almost lost his teeth last time they got in a disagreement. We ran into each other a few times in the future and when Dex was ready to send people back to the present he specifically chose the two of us to start a team. Things started out rocky but in the end we became good friends and an incredible duo in a fight, add Ace and Epic in and you have a nearly unstoppable force.
Then there's Ace, The Cadet. Ace grew up with an imaginary friend, but when the Fusion Invasion started his friend saved him from a fusion spawn but sadly met a horrible fate. After that he went to the academy to make sure nobody would ever get killed by another Fusion. Ace takes every mission seriously and that's courtesy of the academy, despite the academy turning weak little kids into heroes I disagree with their teaching methods. When you reach the Providence stage you end up in Providence's hands and the way they train their men is a bit unorthodox. Lucky for us they didn't get Ace too badly as when he's not doing mission's he's a happy-go-lucky kid. He tries to keep us like a military force but he's still fun to be around and does we always talk late into the night whether it be improving the Terramech (our any terrain battle car) or just hanging out and being teenagers, we always outlast Kenneth and Epic when it comes to staying up late, though Kenneth will never let Ms. Laura Gauthier know, despite how much he tries to convince us we all know that he likes her. But don't even get me started with Epic and his "Best Friend" Smile, the two of them claim there's nothing but I know the looks they give each other. Moving on… Ace has your back in a fight and is a great friend. Don't get me started on how much he loves Foster's and his big brother-esque friendship with Mac.
Then there's Epic Kingdom Man, The Nice Guy. Epic has had a hard life, and when I say hard I mean hard. He grew up as the son of one of the most intelligent people in the world Ms. Alice Mansfield. She was a very successful scientist who ended up dying before the Fusion War, though Epic won't tell us how I respect his personal space, especially when I won't talk about my past. Despite what Epic's gone he still makes an effort to find the good in people every day, something I've can't do myself. He tends to work with blades and has a soft spot for his "best friend" Smile who he's saved on countless occasions and vice versa. He's really the only reason I trust the Golden Explorers despite their irritability.
Finally there's me. Liv Hex Barten, The Mysterious. I guess the title doesn't fit me as much as it used to since I've opened up to the others more recently. But I still hide my past. Having a few run-ins with Kenneth back in the future he knows more than anybody else. When I was younger I was constantly bullied and when Dexter's time experiment started, I of course was one of the 1,000 people who got sent too far ahead by Dee-Dee. When I learned what Fuse was doing to our planet (despite my past) I became a hero who could save the world along with several others, including some of the Golden Explorers, who I had some interesting encounters with. Of course there's more to my past than that I would never dare share with the others. Other than that I work on most of the tech for the CNUD next to Dexter of course. Then there's the fact that next I'm the most experienced member of the CNUD. Even though Kenneth and I both started out our enlistment in the Fusion War at the same time I've done far more missions and have gotten to the point where I've dealt with far too many people, luckily my guide Ben Tennyson has taught me shown me how to deal with some of these things, like Cheese I would've brought Ace had I known him at the time. Like it or not I've meet some of the ugliest Fusions.
Together we make the Cartoon Network Universe Defenders! We're willing to fight for our planet no matter the cost. We've had our share of ups and downs, we've lost two of our original members to the war, but one thing's for sure that we will win this war against Lord Fuse.
We finally reach the door to Dex Lab's conference room. The blue door slides up and out walk none other than the Golden Explorers.
The Golden Explorers are yet another group of Fusion fighters who are just as powerful as we are. Dexter assumed when he formed our two teams that we'd get along great but sadly we all can't stand each other and the only two things keeping us from tearing each other apart are the fact that we know that without the other team Fuse will turn our planet into a baron wasteland, and really for the sake of Epic and Smile.
First member of the Golden Explorers is Ice, Their Leader. Ice is a girl with cold piercing blue eyes and snow white hair with soft blue highlights in them.Ice is a natural born leader as she knows very well how to lead the five of them to victory. I don't really mind that part of her, but she isn't exactly the kindest person. Ironically she was born with the natural ability to control fire makes her quite hot headed and impossible to reason with. She and Kenneth are always competing against each other especially when we have missions together. She has each of her teammates on a tight leash and never allows them to stray too far from her guidance. She was sent to the future and did far better than even Kenneth, Gus and I. She gives me looks that make me feel uncomfortable, I feel she doesn't trust me and the feeling is mutual.
Then there's Gus Test, The Strategist. Gus has sky blue eyes and blond hair that leads to slight wisps of red at the ends making him resemble a living flame. Gus comes up with most of the battle plans in the Golden Explorers though Ice is the one who carries them out. The two of us never see eye to eye as our relationship was once Gus is to Liv as bully is to victim. Gus is one of the few people in this world that I've truly hated which says something. The one thing I have to thank him for despite all our previous transgressions he managed to make me stronger. That doesn't mean I'll ever forgive him for putting me in such dark places or making my inactive magical abilities activate once. My middle name is Hex for a reason and like it or not he once infuriated me enough once that I lived up to that title, but that's the only time it ever happened and I hope it never happens again; because of him I learned the meaning of my middle name.
The third member of the golden explorers is Dawn Wilson-Spicer, The Bright. The girl with Emerald green eyes and silky blond hair is Ice's best friend. The poor girls' parents died and she ended up being adopted by Bruce and Amelia Spicer making Jack Spicer her adopted brother. Despite this she is a happy go-lucky girl who ended up helping Jack with a lot of his inventions making her the Golden Explorers tech guru as she claims. Though the girl is quite happy most of the time Ice constantly fills her with lies about us making her quite 'bitchy' towards all of us even though Smile insists Epic and the four of us are cool.
` The Golden Explorers also have Epic's sweetheart Smile O'Connor, The Voice of Reason. Smile has brown eyes with
Smile smiles, "Hey Epic!"
"Hi Smile," Epic blushes. "What's up?"
Smile is about to answer but is lightly pushed aside by Ice, "None of your concern Joker boy!"
"All the kid asked was an honest question!" I retort.
Gus struts over to me. "And who said we had to answer?" I clench my fists looking him straight into his arrogant brown eyes.
"Can we please remain calm?" Epic asks dragging me away from Baxter.
"Ya," Smile agrees pulling Gus away from me. "You don't have to get into a fight every time we pass each other by."
"You guys did, start it though." Ace informs us.
"It's not my fault that we hate having a look at your ugly mugs." Dawn scoffs.
"Guys, let's just go these jokers aren't worth our time." Kenneth commands, waving us into the Dex Labs™ Conference Room.
"Golden Explorers!" Ice commands each of them stand at attention. "Move out!"
They begin to head out and Gus glares at me. "Keep your kiddies on a leash there!"
I harden my glare into his eyes. "Just remember to stay on the right side; we're all fighting the Fusions! In case you've forgotten."
He hardens his glare, and then leaves me. Smile and Epic look at each other sadly. "Bye Epic."
He sighs. "Bye Smile." Despite the fact I can't stand them. The one thing I hate about this feud with them is that it makes the two of them feel horribly. I like Smile and have had a couple offhand conversations with her. Honestly I'd invite her to be one of us, if Kenneth allowed it and if I wanted those Golden lame-os to come after us. Especially since recently Smile's been looking so down with them.
I turn and head into the conference room where I see Dexter sitting at the head of the table with computress standing attentively behind him. To his right are: Ben Tennyson, Samurai Jack, Jeremy Belpois, Finn and Numbuh 1 to his left are: Fred Jones, Octus in his father form, Mojo Jojo, Mordecai, Rex Slazar and Double D. We all take our seats and Dexter announces "You're late!"
"Sorry about that Dex," Epic apologizes. "We had a little holdup in the hallway with the Golden Explorers."
"I don't care." Dexter exclaims. "All I care right now is that the 4 of you hear this mission whether you chose to accept it."
"My question to you is," Kenneth starts. "What's with the big setup? Usually it's just you computress and maybe an escort or two when you give us this kind of mission." He says gesturing towards the other heroes around the table.
"That is because the importance of this assignment is so great it could turn the entire tide of the war." Dexter replied.
"Get to the point Dexter," Ben yawned. "I mean even we don't know why we're here."
Jeremy laughed. "Maybe if you listened a bit during briefing instead of scrolling through that watch when Dexter opened his mouth you'd know what was going on."
"I can't help it that Dexter's speeches are longwinded and boring!" Ben stated defensively.
"Young warriors, you must remain calm and focus your strengths." Jack scolded.
"Can we please get to the point?" I ask.
"Liv is correct." Dexter responds. "We must inform them of the brilliant idea that had formulated in my mind quite some time ago."
"Get on with it…" Fred mutters.
"I have formulated a heavy blow to Lord Fuse." Dexter informs.
"Finally!" Ben shouted, getting many glares from the others, myself included. "What… we've all wanted old evergreen gone for a long time."
"Yes, Benjamin is correct. That is why I have decided the best way to get Fuse is to tackle the root of the problem." Dexter concludes. This lets out a lot of murmurs from the group. "As some of you may recall I had initiated a time travel experiment prior to the Fusion War. Said Experiment was ruined by my stupid sister who ended up sending a hundred people two years into the future. Liv and Kenneth here each have their individual tales to tell about the future and the horrors Fuse had dawned on this planet."
Heads turn towards Kenneth and I. I shrug and Kenneth simply nods in agreement.
"With careful readjustments this machine could send all of you back with the Cartoon Network Universe Defenders to stop Fuse from taking prime parts of the planet."
"So you mean we're gonna be going back and stopping stuff from happening?" Finn asked.
"Yes, after careful investigation I have decided that you will be saving the Renault Factory, which houses the supercomputer created by none other than Franz Hopper." Dexter informed us.
"Can't we save Megas first?" Rex asked. "I mean who needs some super genius guy when we could have a giant fighting machine?"
"We'll save Megas eventually. You see the delicate balance of the space time continuum will only allow certain things to be changed in a certain order, and right now we need Franz and XANA."
Jeremy fumed. "This is absurd, Franz was scattered across the network the only way to get him back would be to gather all the pieces!"
"I have a program ready for you to do so in no time at all right now, we need to make sure Fuse doesn't overtake the factory." Dexter replied.
I stood. "I just have a question. Why us? I mean there are lots of other teams that could've done this, and I know the Golden Explorers are your favorites Dexter."
Dexter sighs. "This is true. You four have a reputation for being reckless, show a complete disregard for the rules of war and have violated direct orders on several occasions. However, you get the job done and have saved countless lives from Fuse despite the things you've done, you've made what looks to be a failure become a complete success and like it or not you are one of the best teams I've got. That's why you four are heading into that time machine with Benjamin Tennyson, Finn, Jeremy Belpois and Octus tonight."
Epic stands."But-but-"
"No butts, you four are going tonight and I don't want to hear any complaints." Dexter responds and grabs his wrench. "You all are dismissed and I will meet the four of you outside Dex Labs promptly at 1900 hours."
"We'll report firmly at the required time sir!" Ace salutes.
"Let's go guys we better go suit up." Kenneth tells us.
Present Ways A/N:
If I'm not mistaken this was the first thing I ever wrote for the CNUD and I'm cringing so hard right now lol.
Part of me is tempted to clean this up and yet, the rest of me can't be bothered. Especially because I decided that this story would be largely untouched from what it was but ah… The temptation. But uh… let's go down the list of funky decisions by what was probably 15 year old Ways.
The characters in general are just not that great. Both from OC perspective and from a Cartoon Network character perspective. All of it is bad! Haha. They're very flat and don't have a lot of personality that stand out apart from each other. Hate it.
Uh… I was big on the Code Lyoko agenda and have no idea why I paired up Kenneth and Laura at all. Who knows what I was on. Also, yes. Code Lyoko Evolution, this would eventually be removed from later iterations of my universe but it certainly existed alright.
The Golden Explorers were the creation of the friend who created Epic. I admittedly gave his characters more connection to Cartoon Network characters and I'm not sure how crazy I am about that anymore admittedly. They were supposed to be Dexter's golden group that is perfect while the CNUD was this rash group that got the job done but didn't really have a great track record for collateral damage and stuff like that.
While I was on the Code Lyoko agenda and still am, I think I picked this first both because Code Lyoko was the show that I was most comfortable with writing and because the whole time travel element felt right.
The characters I picked to travel with them?
I really liked Ben and wanted to write more of him.
Finn has narrative reasons that'll come up in this later.
Jeremie should be obvious and it's a testament to how old this is because Jeremie is still spelled with a y at the end lol.
Octus… I can't remember why exactly.
2013 writing is somethin' guys and as an old man now, I am cringing haha. But I hope you all enjoyed this well enough and until the next one.