GT: It's the final chapter of this arc.
SZ: Hai, so let's see how Tsubaki dealt with her day while the others dealt with their own adventures. We own nothing but original content, so...someone start us off!
Z0: Bwahahahaha! *aims at and shoots energy blast at the sun* And out goes the lights *sun explodes leaving us in total darkness*
SZ;...dang it. Oh and before anyone ask or makes assumptions...the new characters shown in this chapter are an exceprt/based on a certain series. it doesn't mean we're adding that series..just a sorta reference and excerpt/based on sorta thing.
"Greetings, Ms. Yayoi," a Plumber Agent greeted as Tsubaki walked by, a clipboard in hand as she walked through Plumber's HQ.
"Agent Jackson," Tsubaki greeted, focused on her clipboard.
After the events that took place a week back on Galvan Prime, she and the others were given a week off to relax and enjoy themselves. She, however, decided to spend her time off helping Ben's grandfather run things at HQ while she was off the field...and make sure everything was in proper order. She already had the Resource Department tell Noel about a certain overexcited scientist friend of theirs about a new certain...project she was working on.
"Okay...Send someone to deal with Kajun before she goes too overboard? Check…" Tsubaki whispered as she crossed some stuff off, "Make sure Blukic and Driba don't blow up the lab again? Check… Properly sort paperwork for Patelliday? Check… Now what else…"
"Hah!" Max shouted from his office/kitchen as the sound of fighting could be heard, "Ooh, nice and fresh just like I love my stir fry!" at that, the sounds of shooting could be heard as a horrible screech followed by silence indicated whatever it was...was now his lunch.
"...So glad I sent Noel the opposite direction," Tsubaki muttered before looking back at her list, "Let's see...oh. Check the computers and see if anything is happening on the surface and Undertown."
"Man, she's really been working hard lately," Jetson noted nearby as Tsubaki walked up to the main computer.
"No kidding. You'd think she'd take advantage of having a week off," Wilhelm added.
"These girls from the future really take their work seriously. But none more so then Tsubaki. She'll become our boss in no time at this rate," Jetson nodded.
"That is if Magister Tennyson is secretly training her to be one," Wilhelm guessed.
"If that's true, you'd think…"
"You know I can hear you two, right?" Tsubaki spoke, her gaze focused on the screen as she typed away at the keyboard.
"GH?!" the two tensed as they ran for it.
"Hah…" Tsubaki sighed, "Well...it's still a better place to work, then back home."
"Ah Tsubaki. Perfect timing," Tsubaki looked over to see Max approach her, cleaning his hands from finishing his meal, "I had a feeling you'd be working at the main computer."
"I just wanted to do something to pass the time is all."
"Hah...oh I know the feeling, kiddo," he sighed, patting her shoulder, "In that case, maybe I got something better for you to do. Come with me. I need someone who can whip some new recruits into ship shape and can't think of anyone better for the job."
"Really?" Tsubaki asked as she stood up.
"Yes," Max nodded as he began to walk off, Tsubaki following behind him, "All of them are recent graduates from the Academy that wanted to come to work on Earth. If there's anyone that can help whip them into shape and make them a proper team, it's you."
"Why thank you, Magister," Tsubaki thanked.
"Though I do have to warn you that this will be a bit hard," Max advised.
"...Not to sound a bit arrogant sir, but I've dealt with Makoto, Noel, Mai, and Kajun back at the Academy we went to, and after coming here, the same applies but with Ben, Rook, and Jenny added into the mix," Tsubaki stated, "I am pretty sure I can handle some trainees."
"...Alright. Just...promise me you won't freak out when you see one of them," Max chuckled, earning a raised brow from Tsubaki as the two approached the training room.
"Whatever for, sir?"
"One of them is an Ursidaean subspecies known as a Melanoleucan," Max replied.
"Ah. Ursidaeans...They're from the planet Ursaeus Prime if I remember correctly," Tsubaki recalled as she pulled out the ALDB, "Let's see...Melanoleucan…should be right..."
"Yo, Magister T! Glad I found ya!"
"Hmm?" Tsubaki blinked as she looked over...only to tense up when she saw a humanoid panda wearing a red Proto-Armor running over, "?!"
"Hey. I know you said not to leave the training room, but I was feeling a bit peckish and headed for the cafeteria," the panda said to Max before whispering to him, "By the way, you may want to restock on the dumplings…"
'P...P…p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p…' Tsubaki mentally stuttered, the red-head trying her best to not absolutely freak out right now.
"Aw, It's fine. I was just bringing the person that's going to help instruct you and the other trainees," Max chuckled before patting Tsubaki's back, startling her out of her state, "Tsubaki Yayoi. She recently graduated from apprenticeship under my grandson, but is more than ready to be an instructor."
"A-ahem! Y...yes. I will make sure y-" Tsubaki began before she was suddenly lifted up, "?!"
"You were Ben Tennyson's apprentice?! Awesome…" the panda awed, "Do not worry. I will do my best to make sure I don't fail you!"
"...A...n...noted…." Tsubaki said with a strained smile...while mentally screaming and begging to be let down, "A...ahem! And what is your name…?"
"P'li!"
"A...pleasure, P'li. Now...if you'll please put me down?" Tsubaki asked, 'Don't freak out, Tsubaki. Don't freak out...be calm and professional.'
"Hmm? Oh! Eh heh...sorry," P'li chuckled as he put Tsubaki down, "I hug when I get excited."
"Duly...noted," Tsubaki whispered, dusting herself off, "Ahem. Now...let's go meet the other rookies."
"Sure, though I should tell ya though...these guys from what I've seen at the academy are experts," P'li chuckled.
"It's true. I turned on the training program for them and...well…" Max began as he opened the door to the training room, "Observe."
"?" Tsubaki raised a brow at that as she peeked inside...before her eyes slightly widened as she saw five aliens of various species working out in the training room...and were passing the program set up with ease.
A pair of robots charged ahead, only for claws to tear through them with a roar from their owner. Said owner was a female Apopplexian wearing a red and gold Proto-Armor. A gold Arachnachimp wearing a crimson Proto-Armor jumped onto her shoulder and off it, firing some webbing into the face of two more robots before deploying a staff version of the Proto-Tool and quickly used it to smash them apart. Artillery guns fired stun round rapidly at a small green blur before tiny balls of slime hit the guns, causing them to explode. The blur halted, revealing a pale-green mantis-like alien barely eight inches in height wearing a dark-green Proto-Armor with an antennae that looked familiar to Tsubaki.
"He's a subspecies of Ben's Ball Weevil form," Max explained, seeing the pondering expression, "Came into being on Aranhaschimmia when Ball Weevil's species arrived on it."
"Ah…" Tsubaki nodded before watching a slender, human-sized, female snake-like alien in a light-green Proto-Armor with arms ending in snakeheads and a pair of flowers on the sides of her head use a Proto-Tool in a whip configuration to strike and tie up another robot and used it to smash several others, "...Wait...Tiger, Monkey, Mantis, Snake…"
A pair of blades shot by her, making her tense a bit as what looked like a thinner, more crane-like variant of Kickin' Hawk's species in a dark-blue and whilte Proto-Armor deflected the blades with ease with the wings on his arms.
"...And Crane… Tsubaki finished in her notes, "...Five diffrent martial art fighting styles."
"How awesome are they, huh?" P'li asked in glee.
"Alright you five, I believe that's enough," Max spoke as he pulled out a remote and pressing a button, causing the training program to shut down, "Now gather around. I have your instructor ready for you."
"Yes, Magister," the five complied as they gathered in a straight row.
"P'li," Max spoke.
"Huh? Oh! Oh! Right," P'li chuckled sheepishly as he ran over to the row and stood at the far end by the Arachnachimp.
"Tsubaki?"
"Hm? Oh yes," Tsubaki nodded as she stepped forward, "Greetings. I am Tsubaki Yayoi, and I will be your instructor for the time being. I know who..." she quickly held back a shudder, "...P'li is, but I do not know the names of the rest of you. Please, identify yourselves."
"I am Dasheng," the Arachnachimp introduced with a bow, "A pleasure, Instructor Yayoi."
"Vipresss, daughter of King Kobura," the serpent greeted with a bow of her own, "A pleasure, Instructor Yayoi."
"My name is Qrow. It's nice to meet you, Instructor Yayoi," the crane-like alien greeted.
"Name's Ma'antis," the insect-like alien informed, "Good to meet ya."
"My name is Razorclaw," the Appoplexian replied, giving a bow, "We are in your care, Instructor Yayoi."
"Ahh...a pleasure to meet you all as well," Tsubaki nodded before saluting to Max, "I promise I will not fail you, Magister Tennyson." Even if I have to also work with a...being of monochrome evil…'
"Excellent," Max grinned, "I'll be leaving you in her care, everyone."
"Of course, Magister," the six nodded...with P'li nearly stumbling for a moment just as Max was leaving.
"Ok, let's see what I have to work with…" Tsubaki whispered as she grabbed a nearby digital notepad, "Okay...Razorclaw...oh. You've excelled in most of your classes and taken an extensive mental training...That does explain why you're not shouting at me constantly like Ben does to everyone as Rath."
"Yes. My teacher helped me with learning how to control my constant anger," Razorclaw replied, "Though now that you've brought him up, I have to ask if he's even aware that Appoplexians consider not wearing clothing a great shame?"
"I beg your pardon?" Tsubaki blinked at that.
"I still say it's a glitch in that Omnitrix thing," Qrow noted.
"All I can say is that if he is aware, he probably doesn't care and finds it hilarious," Dasheng snickered, earning a growl form Razorclaw and immediately stood at attention, "Sorry."
'...So all this time...Ben has been fighting as Rath in...in the…the n...no no, Tsubaki. Stay focused,' Tsubaki thought, pushing that image in the back of her head as she looked back at the notes, "Qrow, you got into the academy after being the janitor for several years through getting the flag in the hardest, near impossible, course?"
"Needed a little confidence was all," he chuckled sheepishly, rubbing an arm while trying not to look at anyone.
"Ahh...Well, confidence can go a long way and bring out someone's hidden potential," Tsubaki nodded, "Dasheng, I have to admit, I'm startled you were able to graduate with this many detentions. ...How did you even do that to Instructor K'halil without any webbing?"
"How indeed," Dasheng chuckled.
"He stated in the dining hall the very next day that he'd never tell until someone guessed it right," Ma'antis deadpanned, "So far, it's not melting a rubber ducky, bribing someone else, blackmailing someone else, bribemailing someone else, using the Null Void Projector and then another one set to go to another dimension to bring another him to do the deed with him, hypnosis, sleep hypnosis, paid Ma Vreedle to do it discreetly, traded private information to Vilgax, blackmailed Vilgax, blackmailed Ma Vreedle, blackmailed Ma Vreedle and Vilgax, and got so drunk he can't remember it are all wrong. Though it did let him skip a year."
"...I'm honestly afraid what he and Makoto could accomplish," Tsubaki whispered to herself before looking back at the notepad, "Vipresss...You were recommended by your father, King Kobra, and took down an invading Tetramand wearing Taedenite armor when you were twelve using ribbon dancing?"
"Anything can become a weapon with enough practice," Vipresss shrugged.
"Just ask Dasheng, P'li, and Ma'antis," Qrow chuckled, making Vipresss blush.
"It was so awesome getting tied up like that!" P'li exclaimed, "Even when the blood rushed to my head and I nearly blacked out, it was still so awesome seeing her awesome ribbon dancing technique!"
"I see...interesting," Tsubaki noted, 'Ribbon dancing technique...I had heard rumors of a troupe with their leader a master of it back in my time...perhaps...n-nevermind. Moving on before I lose focus,' she thought before looking back at the notepad, "Ma'antis…"
"That's me," Ma'antis spoke.
"It says here before coming to the academy, you had been captured by bandits and was kept in a cage for days and forced to stay still without being able to use yoru species special talent," Tsubaki noted, "How were you able to escape?"
"Oh that? Simple really...I just played dead and tricked those guys into opening my cage."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Though to be honest...would not think of it because I used to be a really impatient guy," Ma'antis shrugged, "After a few days passed, I pretty much entered a trance-like state and surveyed the world moving faster than me, giving me some time to devise an escape plan."
"An...um...interesting way to learn patience, I suppose," Tsubaki sweatdropped before looking back at her tablet, "And finally...P-P'li."
"Hey," P'li waved.
"It says here you…ended up failing most of your classes aside from cooking...and passed the close-range combat course…" Tsubaki muttered, blinking a few times to make sure she read that right, "H...how…"
"Oh that? Heh..Magister T saw me one day at the ol' academy and decided to give me some pointers," P'li chuckled, "It was so awesome, but very hunger-inducing. Seriously, I still have phantom stings from the taser bo he used when I tried to get a bowl of soup he was guarding…"
"...a...and the cooking classes?"
"Oh, I was raised in an intergalactic noodle shop," P'li replied, "Just coasting from planet to planet, selling all kinds of noodles from Terran ramen to Vok antimatter stir-fry. Always had to wear hazmat suits for their orders."
'...I...I don't...wh...no no, Tsubaki...if Magister Tennyson trusts him..you….c-can too…' Tsubaki thought, holding back a shudder before clearing her throat, "Duly noted…Now then you six, if we are to be working together, I have a few simple rules to be followed. One; stay focused on the task at hand unless something dire comes up. Two; make sure to have things straight and orderly. And three; stay close to your assigned team mates and follow the group leader's lead."
"Yes, Instructor," everyone replied.
"Good. Now…" Tsubaki began before something popped up on the tablet, "Ah...perfect timing for a field test. It seems we have two escaped criminals located in the forest mountain near Bellwood. Vulcanus and Dr. Animo…wait..." she blinked she took a better look, 'How...how does he keep esca…Chadzmuth...ugh…of course. The one Galvan not at all interested in science...chose to study how to abuse the galactic legal system.'
"Dr. Who?" Ma'antis asked.
"Dr. Animo? As in Doctor Aloysius James Animo?! That's one of Ben Tennyson's oldest arch enemies!" P'li gasped, "He's a former researcher of veterinary science that got cut short when it was discovered that he was performing twisted genetic experiments on animals. Five years of hiding later and he became a geneticist who developed technology that mutates animals! He's been in jail over a hundred and seven times! One more and he gets a free extra treat every mealtime during his next capture."
"That is very well detailed and accurate. Good work, P'li." Tsubaki muttered, "Well, it's good to have a member of the team who has read through the prisoner files."
"Yes…'cause that is exactly what I did," P'li spoke, "Not look up all things pertaining to Ben Tennyson out of fan obsession at all…" he whispered that last part while covering his mouth.
"...Well regardless, your first test out on the field involves recapturing both Vulcanus and Dr. Animo...And luckily for the former…" Tsubaki began as she tapped the notepad, causing a holographic window to appear and show said Alien villain out in the woods, "He tends to stand out when it comes to his...ahem...'projects.'"
"Like his illegal purchase of Earth to terraform two years ago?" P'li asked.
"Yes. That was indeed a difficult issue to overturn I hear," Tsubaki sighed, "But thankfully, these are among the least...stealthy inmates we have. Finding them is always the easy part as per Ben's gameplans, but stopping them is always different each time as they never use the exact same concepts twice...just the same enemies to fight."
"Then what shall we do first, Instructor?" Vipresss asked.
"Simple. We observe from a hiding spot near his current base of operations, then devise a plan to deal with him," Tsubaki answered, "Now before we head out, does anyone have any questions or business they need to deal with?"
"Oh oh! Will we be meeting Ben on this mission?!" P'li asked excitedly.
"No. He and his partner Rook Blanko are off planet."
"Ahh man…"
"...Does anyone else have any questions?"
"Yes. Wouldn't it be a good idea to split the group into two so we can search for Dr. Animo?" Razorclaw asked.
"Hmm...A good point, Razorclaw," Tsubaki agreed, "Very well. When we get to the forest, one group will go and find Dr. Animo while the rest deal with Volcanus. With that said, let's move out."
"Yes, Instructor."
"Come on, you idiots! I don't have all day!" Vulcanus snapped as his grunts were carrying some boxes within a clearing in the woods, "I'm getting a good amount of Taedenite for this job, and my client needs this stuff in contact!"
"!%#!"
"No. Because no doubt that Grim Reaper would butt in and ruin it...and I can't afford another suit! I'm still reeling from the last time Tennyson and his team stopped me," Vulcanus argued with one of his grunts, unaware that he was being observed from some bushes by Tsubaki and P'li.
"A client?" Tsubaki whispered as she observed, "Odd...he's usually in business for himself…what could he be planning?"
"Maybe he's working with Psyphon?" P'li suggested.
'...Why did I have to be stuck with him…?' Tsubaki mentally whimpered before quickly calming down, "Psyphon?"
"Yeah. Vilgax's lackey and actually the only organic that will willingly work for him? Got several upgrades a few months back? Currently in therapy due to encountering Toepick?" P'li replied.
"I know who he is, P'li. I just honestly doubt that as-like you just said-is currently in therapy," Tsubaki argued before adapting a thinking pose, "And I honestly doubt it's Animo…speaking of whom..." she turned her badge on, "Razorclaw, have you and your team detected any signs of him?"
=Nothing yet= Razorclaw answered quietly =I have Qrow and Dasheng looking from above while Vipresss and Ma'antis are helping me look from below=
"Good. You're using your teammates' natural abilities to observe every possible angle," Tsubaki noted, "Report once you find Dr. Animo."
=Of course= Razorclaw answered as she cut communications on her end.
"Now P'li, I want you to come with me a-" Tsubaki began before noticing the 'panda' was no longer there, "...oh no…"
"Hey Vulcanus!"
"What the?! Who are you?!"
"...Oh no no no…" Tsubaki groaned as she looked forward, seeing P'li standing half way across from Vulcanus as his minions put down the boxes, 'It's like Ben has become one of the black and white demons from hell!'
"Oh me? No one special really...just the guy here to whoop your butt," P'li smirked at the robotic-suit Alien, "Qhich should be easy since Ben 10 whoops your butt...well constantly."
"Ha! Li...wait. I'M NOT EASY!" Vulcanus snapped in annoyance.
"Uh...Sure ya are. I mean, ya got blown up several times with the really bad one making you just a head and now you're on a teeny weeny baby body in a mech suit," P'li replied.
"Wh…"
"Teeny weeny."
"Oh, y…"
"Teeny weeny."
"Aw co…"
"Teeny."
"Oh-hoh-hoh…! Why y..."
"Weeny."
"He's gonna get himself killed…!" Tsubaki groaned, mentally hitting her head against a wall.
"...Men…" Vulcanus began as his grunts pulled out pickaxes, "GET HIM! Show him who's the teeny weeny!"
"HOO BOY!" P'li yelped as the grunts leapt right at him, the panda-like alien bracing for impact.
"HA!" Tsubaki shouted as he leapt forward, her sword and shield out as she used teh latter to block the grunts' pickaxes.
"Ahh! Instructor Yayoi!"
"I told you to stay hidden until we had a plan!" Tsubaki snapped before pushing the grunts back.
"Sorry, but...I mean there's not much else to observe," P'li argued.
"Of course there was! Y…" Tsubaki began as she turned to face him, one of the grunts jumping right towards her.
"Ah, look out!" P'li yelped.
"!?" Tsubaki tensed as she quickly turned and blocked the incoming pick ax, "Ugh..nevermind. P'li, you deal with the grunts. I'll take care of Vulcanus!"
"Yes sir...er, ma'am!" P'li saluted
'Why did it have to be a p-p-panda? I know Magister Tennyson trust him, but...just why~?!' Tsubaki mentaly complained.
"Anything you two?" Razorclaw asked as Dasheng and Qrow landed near her.
"Not a thing. For one, we don't even know what this guy normally does," Qrow spoke up, "The only person who really knows what he does on the regular is Ben 10."
"And P'li, who's a big fanboy of Ben 10, decided to go with Instructor Yayoi," Dasheng added.
"Darn…" Razorclaw whispered before noticing Vipresss and Ma'antis returning, "And what of you two?"
"Sadly nothing…" Vipresss shook her head.
"Yeah...unless you count a large furred wing," Ma'antis added.
"...What?" Razorclaw asked.
"Yeah. It was big and, well, furry," Ma'antis replied.
"...Impossible. Th-" Razorclaw began before a howl was heard, "...We're not alone…"
The other four tensed as they all got into a fighting position with her, standing ready as they carefully examined their surroundings. A few moments passed as wind calmly blew through the area, causing some nearby bushes to rustle…before some blurs flew straight out of them and right towards the five.
"Dodge!" Razorclaw shouted.
"Got it!" the other four compiled as they all jumped out of the way of the blurs.
"Just wh…" Qrow began before he got a look at the blurs, "...A…are those...Earth wolves with furred eagle wings and tail?"
"That...that should not be able to fly…" Dasheng muttered.
"It really shouldn't...It's a defiance of nature and aerodynamics…" Qrow rambled.
"This must be Animo's work," Razorclaw spoke, "Takes these things down!"
"How literal should we take that?" Qrow asked before gulping at the glare he got, "Right. Interpret as you wish."
The eagle-wolves growled before leaping at the group of five once more, letting out screeching howls with talons stretched out to eviscerate them. Two leapt right towards Vipresss, only to miss as she swerved out of the way before knocking them back with her tail. One tried to constantly claw at Ma'antis, only to miss each time as he zipped around it and left small strikes with each pass. It tried to swipe at him once more, only to tense for a moment as it slowly fell to its side.
"Heh...and people say you can't use acupuncture to fight," Ma'antis smirked a bit.
"How can you fly?!" Qrow demanded as one flew after him through the trees, "You shouldn't be able to with that structure!"
"Is now the time to be questioning stuff like that?" Dasheng questioned, jumping onto a nearby branch as one eagle-wolf tried pouncing him.
"Yes! Because this shouldn't even be possible!"
"Let it go!"
"No!"
"Will you two focus!?" Razorclaw snapped, doing a roundhouse kick on an approaching eagle-wolf as she reached for her communicator, "Instructor Yayoi, we've engaged with Dr. Animo's creations"
=Already? What are they like? His themes are very indicative of what he's up to=
"From what I can observe…" Razorclaw began as she drove her elbow into a eagle-wolf's face, "They seem to be a mix of Earth wolf and eagle."
"Which I still say is impossible!" Qrow complained as he dodged another lunge.
=Wolf eagle...Oh, he's copying Silverbolt!= Tsubaki realized, =Ugh, there's no big elaborate scheme. He's just being petty and trying to get Ben's attention…=
"You have got to be kidding…" Razorclaw muttered.
=I wish I was, but I think you'll find all these evil masterminds and warlords Ben has locked away...are less after a means to conquer the world...as much as they just want to get revenge on Ben who's too busy dealing with the actual Masterminds and warlords out to conquer the known world…=
=She's not wrong! It's arch nemesis 101!= P'li laughed in the background.
=ARE YOU TWO SERIOUSLY IGNORING ME?!= Vulcanus snapped.
"...Is everything okay, Instructor Yayoi?" Razorclaw asked.
"Yes. Everything…" Tsubaki began before using her shield to block Vulcanus' fist, grunting a bit from the force "...Is just peachy! Just focus on your mission and find Animo!"
=Understood= Razorclaw replied before hanging up.
"Come on, Teeny Weeny! Over here!" P'li shouted, waving at him with both arms.
"I'm getting real tired of you!" Vulcanus snapped, "Get over here, you donut eating Red spot!"
"Oh a donut sounds so good right now," P'li sighed before yelping as he ducked under a punch, "Can't Touch this!" he cheered, kicking his legs up and ducking under another swing before bouncing up and back onto his feet.
"What the!?" Vulcanus blinked as he landed a punch to his stomach...as the force seemed to ripple through his body, his arms swinging up and forward as he punched back and the force was translated back into Vulcanus sending him flying, "AUGH!"
"What?" Tsubaki blinked a few times.
"That tickled!" P'li laughed.
"...What just happened?!" Vulcanus snapped as he shot up.
"Well, you bopped me and got bopped twice as hard," P'li replied, "Did you get short-term amnesia from that?"
"...why you...?!" Vulcanus growled as he charged and punched him again in the stomach...which resulted exactly just like before, "GAH!"
'...Is...Is he using his body to reflect the force of the damage?' Tsubaki thought as she watched P'li fall over in laughter.
"Oh! Oh, I'm g-gonna pee-e-e-e~!" P'li exclaimed in his laughter.
"STOP LAUGHING!" Vulcanus snapped.
"...Maybe…" Tsubaki whispered before using her shield to block a grunt's pickaxe, "P'li, keep him distracted! I'll take care of the stragglers!" she added as she pushed the grunt back, using her sword to slice their pickaxe in half.
"Huh...oh! Can do, instructor!" P'li nodded as he got into a stance, "I'll take care of Teeny Weeny here!"
"Grr...DON'T YOU MOCK ME!" Vulcanus roared as he charged once more, throwing his fist out at the Panda-like alien once more.
"Oof!" he grunted as he was sent flying, only to bounce off a tree and bodyslam back into Vulcanus.
"What are you!?" Vulcanus snapped, "Some kind of sentient bouncy ball!?"
"I mean my race is covered in a layer of shock absorbing fat…" he muttered, patting his stomach, "It's always been kind of a complex...I mean am I big boned, husky...Is it a genetic thing?" he rambled before laughing as he was punched again, each one just causing his body to ripple.
"Just go down already!" Vulcanus snapped as he punched one last time into P'li, only for him to take a deep breath...and his stomach seemed to suck in Vulcanus's arm, "Oh...oh no…"
"Oh yeah," P'li smiled as he let go of the breath as his stomach expanded and shot the escapee away and through several trees.
Vulcanus roared as he skipped literally head over heels a few times before face planting into a large tree, he groaned as it slowly cracked and fell over...forward leaving him pinned under the tree now. P'li blinked looking around as if unsure he actually just did that before adopting a victorious smirk as he raised his hands up.
"...Ahem! G...good job out there, P'li," Tsubaki muttered, putting her sword away as she approached one of the boxes, "Now then...Let's see what inside these boxes…"
"I got it," P'li offered as he hurried over, grabbing one of the grunts' pick axe and used it to pry the box opened...to reveal a slew of different weapons, "...woah."
"...These are level 5 to level 8 tech…" Tsubaki whispered as she examined them, "They even looked like they were recently repaired…someone is trying to set up a war...but who?"
"Uh...does this help?" P'li asked as he held up one of the guns, revealing an insignia of sorts.
"...The Incursean Empire…" Tsubaki whispered with wide eyes...before shooting a glare at Vulcanus as he tried to move, "Why were you transporting such dangerous weapons to the Incurseans?"
"Ha! Like I'd tell you!" Volcanus laughed.
"...P'li, sit on him."
"Huh?" P'li blinked twice.
"Wait, what?" Vulcanus blinked at that.
"Your limbs are unable to move, and you currently can't reach the eject button…" Tsubaki stated in a serious tone, "Unless you tell me what exactly the Incurseans are planning, I will have P'li sit on you…"
"Uh, can I get a second opinion?" P'li asked.
"...Y...you don't scare me…"
"The weapons you have here are enough for a world-wide war or invasion...if you refuse to comply, I will see to it that you're locked away for aiding and abetting war criminals."
"...S-so? I can have Chadzmuth help bail me out."
"Actually, he's working on a very big case at the moment," P'li noted, "Apparently, this one Vok is suing Sentinel Magnus of Cybertron over something and abducted Chadzmuth for it. Seriously, have you met a Vok? You just don't say 'no' to those guys if you don't have the might to fight 'em or outsmart 'em."
"Tracking one of the most hated Lawyers on Plumber records as well? Excellent," Tsubaki complimented.
"Yep! Totally. That's exactly what I was doin'!" P'li beamed before whispering to himself behind his hands, "Totally not looking up guys that have caused Ben 10 tons of problems over the years that might could do zip about…"
"...So Vulcanus…" Tsubaki began as she leaned down to look at him in the face, "What will it be? Will you comply, or no?"
"...I...I'm still not saying anything…" Vulcanus muttered.
"..."
"...Why are you staring at me like that? ...Why do I feel like I got in trouble with my mom?"
"..."
"...Seriously lady, cut it out. It's starting to freak me out…"
"..."
"Huh? What's happening?" P'li pondered.
"S-Seriously! Stop it! I am starting to freak out here!"
"..."
"...Okay, okay! Truth is I don't know! They just told me to transport these weapons for them in exchange for a ton of Taedenite!" Vulcanus finally caved in.
"And?"
"...And I was gonna try and backstab 'em into paying me more!"
"And?"
"...I was the one who took the last pudding cup during prison lunch and blamed Liam for it! Just please stop giving me that stern look! Just please stop~!"
"Wow! What did you do to make him crack?" P'li asked.
"Nothing. Just a simple stare is all," Tsubaki answered as she stood back up while pulling out her Plumbers Badge, "Magister Tennyson, we captured Vulcanus and learned he was transporting some highly illegal weaponry to the Incurseans."
=The Incurseans? We'll need to look into that= Max noted =More than likely, they were the reason behind his escape this time=
"More than likely…" Tsubaki nodded as she stepped away, her back turned towards Vulcanus and P'li, "However, it seems they didn't tell Volcanus what they were planning on doing with the weapons, so we're still in the dark about that."
=I see...and what of the trainees?=
"P'li is with me while Razorclaw and her team are dealing with Animo's latest creations...which ended up being wolf and eagle hybrids...most likely based on Silverbolt."
=It was always a gamble showing Animo that feather. Though now it's got me curious. See if you can bag one so I can cook it later. ...No, wait. Make it two. Noel would probably like to cook with it as well=
"Magister…"
=Still, I'm glad you're getting along with P'li. Was a bit nervous considering your phobia= Max noted.
"Wh-What? Phobia? What phobia? I don't have a phobia. No, not at all. Not me," Tsubaki quickly denied, "Just a healthy aversion and awareness of the evil and vileness within those things."
"...Yeesh. That is the most passive aggressive denial I've ever heard…" P'li cringed, "...Wait. She's not scared of noodles, is she?" he raised an arm and sniffed his pit, "No, I showered this morning, so I shouldn't smell of them…"
"...A-ahem! I'I'll give Razorclaw a call and see how she and her team are doing…" Tsubaki muttered.
=Understood. Contact me when you apprehended him=
"Of course. Tsubaki out," Tsubaki replied as she tapped her badge, taking a slow deep breath.
"...Wait. You're not afraid of dumplings, are you?" P'li asked as he pulled one out, "If so..who can be afraid of dumplings? They are a gift from the Celestialsapiens…"
"...No, P'li. I'm not afraid of Dumplings...and I don't have a phobia," Tsubaki sighed as she turned around.
"You sure? Because I…" P'li began as he walked over...and tripped over one of Vulcanus' arms as he fell over, sending the dumpling into the air, "WOAH!"
"Huh?" Vulcanus blinked as it looked up, seeing the dumpling in the air before it fell into an opening in his suit, "?!"
"Oh geez! Sorry!" P'li apologized.
"You idiot! I can't get anything stick in my s-!" Vulcanus began as he suit began to twitch and sputter...before the back opened as he was ejected out of into and flew into the distance, "AHHHHH! Wait...FREEDOM!"
"..."
"...oops."
"...Oops…? Oops…?" Tsubaki began, blinking a few times as she began to chuckle...in a rather uncalm manner.
"...uh…Instructor Yayoi? Are...you okay?"
"You...you let him escape…" Tsubaki whispered as she continued in her unsettling chuckling, "I was hoping to interrogate him further for anymore information on the Incurseans...and you ended up letting him escape…Not just that...you also disobeyed me earlier when I told you we needed to observe before we take action..."
"...Ohh...I am getting Magister Arnux after Dasheng caused that statue of Magister Tennyson to be knocked over and crush his office at the academy because I asked him how big he could make his ProtoTool's Staff Mode get vibes," P'li gulped, nervously poking his pointer fingers together.
"I...I tried to give Magister Tennyson the benefit of the doubt when he assigned you to my care...I thought it was gonna be easy...but no...never...NEVER have I met ANYONE so incompetant or clumsy in my entire life!" Tsubaki snapped in pure anger, "I thought it was gonna be like with Makoto and Ben, but no! Your first day on the field and you let the villain escape before we could get any further information out of him! And all you have to say to that is...is 'oops'?! I….I was right."
"Huh? Right about what?"
"You...pandas are nothing more than scourges on life itself!" Tsubaki snapped, "So here's what is going to happen, I am going to go meet with Razorclaw and her team, and you are going to stay here!"
"What?! B-"
"No buts! I've tried to remain calm, but you...you ruined that and I will see to it you are returned to the academy you monochromed, acid spewing, flesh rendering, doll-eyed, razor fanged ursine from the ten rings of hell!"
"...Wait, how did you know I threw up acid for a few days after I tried to eat some noodles a Vok ordered?"
"AHA! SEE?! You're further proving my point that pandas are the living embodiment of evil!" Tsubaki snapped, pointing an accusing finger at him before she turned her back towards him.
"...Oh I get it now...you're afraid of pandas, aren't you?" P'li realized, earning silence from the red head, "...One hurt you pretty bad, didn't it?"
"What? NO!" Tsubaki denied.
"Disfigured toy doll given as a present and you couldn't get rid of it and had to sleep with it for years with its creepy stare?"
"No!"
"...Right. Uh...me neither…Just guessing," P'li noted while glancing away for a few awkward moments, "...Bad, cheesy documentary as a kid?"
"..."
"Ahh…I bet I'm right, aren't I?"
"...chocolate."
"Hmm?"
"It was Halloween...I put my bag down for a moment to get a drink...and when I got back...a Panda Beastkin ate my entire bag."
"...A panda ate your candy as a kid?"
"IT WAS CHOCOLATE~!" Tsubaki actually whined for a moment before calming down, wiping some tears from her eyes, "P..pretend...pretend you…*sniffles*didn't hear that."
"Nah it's fine...I get it," he sighed, "If someone took my chocolate as a kid, I'd be traumatized for life, too...I mean it's chocolate, sweet...wonderful...rich…" he rambled before slapping himself, "Sorry, I lost myself there. Don't know if ya noticed, but I'm kind of a foodie."
"I...noticed…Ahem! Wh-what's your point exactly, P'li?"
"Well besides the fact you don't like me 'cause I look like a panda...we aren't so different." he smiled, "Yeah I goofed up bad...and trust me, I'm kicking myself pretty bad as is, and everything you said isn't wrong…"
"Why aren't you upset?" Tsubaki asked.
"Eh, I've always been a screw up," he shrugged, "I'm not upset when I get told what I did wrong...I'm more nervous when no one criticises me at all." he explained, "It means you care enough to tell me so I can do better."
"...I...ahem. I suppose that is true somewhat, yes…" Tsubaki admitted as she cleared her throat, "When I'm assigned to a team, I make sure they're able to accomplish the task at hand with their given abilities…"
"I promise to try and not goof up next time," P'li added.
"At least unlike Ben, you don't have that stubborn pride and can own up to a mistake," Tsubaki sighed, "...ahem. Come on...let's hurry and meet with Razorclaw and her team. Hopefully they'll have wrapped things up on their end."
"That should be the last of them," Razorclaw muttered as she and her team looked down at the downed eagle wolves, "And yet no sign of Animo…"
"Not really...these things just ambushed us. Like they were waiting in the trees for someone...anyone..."
"Hmm...Ya think Magister Tennyson would want us to bring some back?" Ma'antis asked, "I mean, I've heard the guy's got one strange appetite for a Terran."
"Who in their right mind would eat one of these?" Qrow asked.
"ACHOO!" Max sneezed, causing him to drop the metal pole he had been holding and letting the thing on the other end flee, "...And I just caught that for my Xeno Cuisine tonight."
"Ah-choo!" Noel sneezed.
"Bless you, Noel!" Jenny called out from under the car.
"I just got a shiver up my back…" Tsubaki mumbled.
"Hmm?"
"Nothing, P'li. Just...slightly mentaly worry is all," Tsubaki assured.
"Well, might as well call these in for pick…" Qrow began before squawking.
"What happened?" Vipresss asked before hissing.
"What?" Dasheng pondered before tensing.
"Oh come on. What's wr…" Ma'antis began before yelping.
"What are you all d…" Razorclaw began before quickly catching something while spinning around, revealing the object to be a dart, "A dart?" several thuds made her turn around to see the other four passed out with the same dart on them, "An ambush?!"
"You thought that was all there was, didn't you?" a voice laughed, "But you are wrong!"
Razorclaw snarled before dodging another dart. Several more followed after her as she quickly used a tree as a target for them by running up it and flipping over the darts. She spun around before crying out as a red blast struck her, causing her to collapse.
"Did you need to cut me off?"
"I was getting tired of the flipping…" a familiar gravely voice responded, "Though it is interesting. An Appoplexian that doesn't just roar and punch everything. If they were not needed for something of greater importance..." Khyber picked up the outcold Razorclaw by her head, "...I'd enjoy hunting them, starting with this one."
"Do you just kill anything interesting and turn it into a trophy?" Animo complained.
"No...sometimes I eat them." he replied simply.
"Fair enough I suppose…" Animo sighed.
"Still this deal could be more lucrative than I thought given how quickly you cobbled together those...things," Khyber spoke.
"Ah yes...My dear lovelies," Animo sighed wistfully, "After that...mockery of my career, I just had to prove it could be done without robotics."
"Hmm...Something we agree on," Khyber spoke, "No fun in using machines in place of beasts."
"Oh, quite true," Animo chuckled as he looked over the others, "Hmm...Yes, yes. I believe I can work with these. My good huntsman, with these five, I will have your agreed upon payment for my liberation."
"Very good," he nodded, tapping his gauntlet as a DNA helix hologram formed, "I've gone to the lengths of...drawing the map for you, so to speak."
"Hmm...Quite the fascinating structure," Animo noted before grinning, "It will be done before day's end."
"Excellent," Khyber smirked.
"...And to make a long story short, I broke my last record by two dumplings and Ma'antis paid for the next time we all ate at a buffet," P'li chuckled as the two walked along the mountain's forest.
"That's...interesting, P'li," Tsubaki noted as she kept glancing at her tracker on her badge, "Their last signal came from around here."
"Hey guys!" P'li shouted, "Where are ya!? Did ya catch Animo already? ...Come on, guys. I'm getting hungry!"
"...It's quiet...too quiet…" Tsubaki whispered, keeping her sword and shield at bay as she cautiously looked around, "P'li, be on guard…"
"I'm guarding everything I got…" he replied.
"Good, because there's something that's bugging me…" Tsubaki whispered as she stayed close..and tried to suppress the urge to freak, "At first I thought Chadzmuth helped Animo escape...but what you just said earlier makes that theory moot, so I'm guessing someone else helped him escape…"
"Someone else?" P'li asked almost excited, "Like who...like uh…"
"I'm not sure…" Tsubaki whispered as she pondered for a moment, "Who would need Animo for his special skills? ...Wait…" her eyes slowly began to widen, "Forest setting...hunting animals in the eagle wolves...Khyber."
"You mean the scary huntsmen dude who's been fighting Ben for the last few months, whom none of you have been able to beat?! Who's kicked more but then any enemy since Vilgax?! Who-AH!" he gagged as a pinecone was jammed into his mouth.
"Yes...him…" Tsubaki sighed, having kicked said pinecone and scored a perfect shot, "But...The question is this: how was he able to get him out? We upgraded our defenses after what happened with Dr. Psychobos."
"Maybe he's had a secret way in for months we don't know about?" P'li offered, "Like the vents...I hear that they are big enough for a skinny enough dude to crawl through."
"...Of course..the vents…" Tsubaki whispered, about to facepalm before tensing, "...P'li, move!"
"Huh?" P'li blinked before Tsubaki got behind him, using her shield to block some incoming darts, "Woah!"
"He's nearby…" Tsubaki whispered, standing ready as she examined the area, "Khyber, show yourself!"
"Oh, now what would be the sportsmanship in that?" his voice echoed, "It's no fun if you see the shot coming."
"Hoo boy…" P'li tensed as he got into a defensive stance.
"Where are Razorclaw and the others?" Tsubaki demanded, "And Animo...what do you need him for?"
"The rookies are with Animo, a sort of payment for the first favor of releasing him," he explained as a laser round shot through the air and tore apart a tree, "As for the need...well, what I need is a replacement beast for the one your friends took from me."
"...The Nemetrix…" Tsubaki realized, "You need a new creature to use it."
"Of course. At first I was going for a Panucian for a replacement...but then I heard of the doctor's special talents, how he can twist and alter the DNA of any life form," he went on, "And outside of Azmuth's own students, he is the only scientist in the cosmos to have had any hands on work with a part of the original Omnitrix."
"So you assisted in helping him escape prison," Tsubaki surmised with a frown.
"Ha! Well jokes on you, buddy! Ben's not here!" P'li laughed.
"Exactly why I chose now to make a move." Khyber argued, making P'li pause as his face developed a stupefied look, "Not the brightest flashbang, is he?"
"Well not over...wait. Flashbang?" Tsubaki paused as something rolled across the ground, "Cover your eyes!"
"Wh-OH GEEZ!" P'li freaked upon realization as he quickly closed his eyes with Tsubaki, the object exploded in a flash of light.
*KAPOW!*
"This is not good…" Tsubak whispered as she slowly opened her eyes, ringing sharp in her ears, "We need to hurry and find Razorclaw and the others fast."
"WHAT?!" P'li screamed, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU! DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?! UGH! ALL I CAN HEAR IS RINGING!"
'Forgot about the 'bang' part of it,' Tsubaki thought.
"Now let's see...Let's see…" Animo muttered as he put a vial of blood into a device with several others in it, the Nemetrix nearby and connected to the machine, "The reflexes of the crane, the durability and might of an Apopplexian, the dexteribility of an Arachnichimp, the speed of the mantis, the flexibility and toxin of the serpent, the biting force of the crocodile, the pack mentality and sense of smell of a wolf, and the ocular ability of an eagle." he went on, "As per request, a canine-like body structure to keep theme…" he ducked down before pulling out an extra vial, "And, of course, a simpler mind composition with no chance of falling for the sways of those that are not its master. He was very very specific on that part." he shuddered in anticipation, "Oh, this is going to be a glorious creation! Why, I might have to make three of them. One for him and two to breed and study."
Animo began to hum a tune to himself as he sat in a chair that hovered a few inches off the ground. He pushed across his lab to a computer as he typed away at his machine which would work his genetic magic. He pulled out a fast food soft drink jug and began slurping. He looked up at the progress before spinning around at his prisoners and unwilling DNA sample donors.
"Ooh right...prisoners...I'm not use to hostages who don't sass me back every second…" he muttered, "I miss Ben…"
"Grr…." Razorclaw growled, giving him a death glare.
"Oh hush you. You're here to witness something great: my masterpiece! My piece de resistance!" he went on and then paused as if waiting for something; after a few more awkward moments, he sighed, "Really? Nothing in response? No witty comebacks...no puns...ugh…" he groaned, "This...this is why I don't like Police or Plumbers that aren't Tennysons or related to them in some way. Too professional, not enough personality. It feels so pointless to put in the same effort like I do with Ben and his company...ahh...I hate galactic trouble. Earth is so boring in the meantime."
"Sorry, you lost me when you were listing things," Ma'antis noted.
"You...have potential," Animo noted, "Anyway, as you are new to this I shall explain how this works: I escape, begin another brilliant plot to rule the world, you find me, banter as we battle and then...well the dice land where they may." he shrugged.
"I'm sorry, but it sounds like you almost want to get caught…" Qrow spoke.
"Not want. It's like a gamble, either I win or I don't," he sighed, "Though to be fair, my normal opponent is Ben Tennyson, whom has been my arch nemesis since he was 10 years old!" he snapped before laughing maniacally.
"Oh I'm not liking the flags this guy raises…" Ma'antis noted.
"So are you underestimating us?" Razorclaw asked.
"On the contrary. All of you have forms that are of the same race or similar to a form Ben has used. At the moment...I am planning how to dispose of you. Primarily the Apoplexian...your kind...survives a lot. I have blown up, blasted, burned, electrocuted, crushed, and trapped Ben's Rath form in just about every possible way available to me, and yet he just gets right back up."
"Well technically Apoplexians are highly durable…" Vipress spoke.
"Mainly 'cause most of them are too dumb to realize their hurt...hehehe...aha...not...not that you count…" Ma'antis began sweating at the look he got from Razorclaw.
"Smooth…" Dasheng muttered.
"...You know what? Nevermind. I need to focus," Animo huffed as he turned back around and resumed his work.
"You know, I have to admit something: they did not properly cover a situation like this in the academy," Qrow noted.
"No kidding. You'd think they would add a course on being captured by a huntsman and a mad scientist," Vipress added.
"I am not a mad scientist! I am a geneticist!" Animo argued, "And of course they didn't teach you to deal with this…" he muttered, "Like I said, you aren't Ben. You haven't faced the amount of unexpected things the world you're currently on has to offer."
"Oh come on. It's just Earth...I mean sure, Vilgax has an unhealthy obsession with it…" Ma'antis muttered.
"The Highbreed failed to conquer it…" Vipress added.
"Don't forget the rumor that some interdimensional entity called a 'Dragon' or 'Diagon' attacked here...with Vilgax…" Qrow rambled.
"It's why I wanted to come here."
"They really need to re-evaluate this planet's danger level…" Razorclaw groaned.
"And now it feels better," Animo chuckled under his breath as he continued his work.
"Ha!" Tsubaki shouted, using her sword to slice an incoming spiked log in half, "Another trap...Khyber is determined…"
"I...I taste color…" P'li groaned, falling over and revealing his posterior was covered in darts.
"That's rather impressive really, one of those darts has enough sedatives to knock out an Apoplexian…" Khyber spoke, "Though I suppose having to travel through all that fat must have diluted it…"
"It's not fat...it's fluff…" he grumbled.
'This is not good...The closer we seem to get to where the others are, the more traps we come across, each one more deadly and difficult than the next…' Tsubaki thought, 'And I'm not sure how much more P'li can stand…'
"Hey...can...hoo…" P'li groaned as he staggered to get back up, "Can he...track both of us at once?"
"...huh?"
"I mean...He doesn't have his pet anymore, so what's keeping him from tracking both of us at once?" P'li asked before he began to pull the darts out, flinching with each one.
"That's true...but which one of us?" she questioned, "He's better in combat than me...but...his traps don't bother you…"
"...I can...distract him," P'li offered.
"P'li?"
"I mean, it's like he said; my body is immune to his tranq darts and I can take more damage then the regular Plumber." he added, slapping his belly, "Plus, no way is he prepared for me at all!"
"Hmm...That's a good point." Tsubaki muttered going it over in her head, "I'm not a fan of the idea, but if you think you can then...I'll put my faith in you. Just...be careful."
"Yes, Ma'am!" he saluted, "Hey fish face!" he shouted.
"I am not a fish!"
"You got the gills, scaly complexion, and rasp outside of water. You're a fish face!"
"Grr…"
"Oh btw...you think you're the universe's greatest hunter, huh? Then why haven't ya caught Ben 10 yet, huh?" he jumped as a spear stabbed into the ground, "Uh-oh."
"Tonight I dine on panda soup," Khyber growled, his mask forming on his head while emerging from the trees with another spear in hand.
"Ohh...Yeah, ya see? Now that is terrifying," P'li noted before screaming and jumping out of the way of the lunge of Khyber and his spear, "Nyah-ah-ah-ah!" he ran off with Khyber in pursuit, "Ya can't catch me, fish face!"
Khyber simply snarled as he gave pursuit.
"I'm not sure if I'm seeing the rise of the Plumbers' greatest goof...or the next Ben…" Tsubaki mumbled before continuing on, 'Still...I hope he'll be okay. With Khyber distracted, I can figure out where the others are…' she thought, avoiding another trap as she slipped through some trees, "And knowing Animo, it should be…" she paused when she noticed a small cave entrance, almost like it was leading to a wolf's den, "...perfect."
"Yes...Yes…" Animo chuckled in glee as he looked upon three clear containers filled with a glowing blue liquid as cables sent electricity into them, "Here it comes!"
"Doctor Aloysius James Animo!"
"Ahh...Finally. A recognizable v-" Animo began as he turned...only to pout as he saw Tsubaki enter, "Oh...it's Ben's boring apprentice."
"B-Boring?!"
"Yes, boring. Not many quips and even when you do use them, the timing is either poor or wrong for the moment," Animo replied, "Then again, it was only through word of mouth from some small time crooks you were involved with catching. Nevertheless, you are far too late."
"Are...are you timing us in this?" she asked.
"Yes!" he declared honestly, "I have standards, young lady! I expect my enemies to live up to them!"
'Wow. Villainous he may be, but also proper,' Tsubaki sweatdropped.
"Which, fortunately for you, you were quite successful on the timing," Animo continued as alarms blared from the pods, "Now behold! The culmination of a deal beyond any before!"
"Oh, you have to be kidding me...this is far too convenient," Tsubaki sighed.
"Well, it is a good learning experience," Dasheng noted, making Tsubaki look over at the cages, "Hello."
"Cages?"
"I ran out of capture pods…" Animo sighed, "I know...not good form, but you work with what you get."
Vents on the first pod opened at the bottom and the liquid poured out of them. The lights finally began dimming down as the pod finally opened with a hiss of released pressure. As the pod fully opened, a growling could be heard as clawed feet stepped on the ground.
"Ah...it's even more magnificent…" Animo awed as the creatures fully stepped into visible light.
The new creature to an extent greatly resembled the Anubian Baskurr Khyber once owned but different in just as many ways. It was larger with a stronger build akin to a large cat. Its paws ended in retractable claws which scratched the ground with each step. Its body was a dull grey-white with a mane of white fur along its neck and going down its back. Its snout still looked dinosaur-like, but now with sharper exterior fangs, a smaller reptile-like nose, and notable pit sensors as well. Its eyes were sunken and had a single slit iris. Its tail was much longer and more akin to a cat or monkey's. It swished around a few times before stopping and shooting at Tsubaki, forcing her to jump out of its path.
"Glorious…" Animo spoke as it roared and rushed at her again.
The monstrous creature roared, jumping over a lab table and pouncing again. It bit into the wall and tore a massive chunk of metal out of it. It crunched down harder, splitting it apart in its jaw. Realizing this wasn't edible to it, the beast roared louder, causing the very lab to shake. Tsubaki pulled out her shield in time to block a swipe that still sent her skidding back and into another pod.
"Another one!?" she gasped, seeing inside.
"Yes. That one is a female and that one is male," Animo explained, "What? I can't just make one. What am I? Dr Frankenstien?! I made three. One for Khyber and two to study."
"Seriously?" Tsubaki asked.
"I am a former researcher in veterinary sciences and a geneticist. Of course I'd make a male and female for study!" Animo replied.
"TMI!" Ma'antis shouted from his cage.
"Shut it, you! I don't do it for some sick reason like that! I am a humble gentleman of science...Now, Alpha, rip your prey apart." he coughed into his hand to regain his composure.
"You named it!?" Tubaki complained, using her sword to keep the beast from biting her.
"Of course! I named all of them. My research pair are Gamma and Omega." Animo explained, "Alpha is built stronger with a stronger hunting instinct and desire to rip apart any prey that is not I or Khyber."
"GH!" Tsubaki grunted from another slash, skidding back a few feet, 'Not good...if Khyber has one of these things...no. I can't let these things out."
"Of course I can't awaken the other two yet...who knows what having two of the same gender in one room will cause…" Animo muttered, hitting a button as the two extra pods were moved under the floor, "Also can't have you damage the pods before they finish growing into adulthood."
"That thing's not even fully grown!?" Ma'antis snapped.
"No...it gets much spikier and much meaner as an adult," Animo explained as Alpha roared and tore through a lab table to get to Tsubaki.
'...if I can get to the tubes, I can stop the other two from waking up...but I'll have to deal with the main one...I need to free the others stat,' Tsubaki thought, dodging another swipe, 'And I doubt this thing will let me get the…wait…'
"Come on, come on, come on!" Ma'antis cheered...before Tsubaki ran towards them with Alpha behind her.
"Ah! Go away, go away, go away!" Dasheng yelped.
"...Wait. Is she…" Vipress began.
"Let this work…" Tsubaki whispered as she skidded to a halt, turning to see the beast stopping and growling at her, "C...come on you...you big...beast! I've seen scarier and more ferocious than you!"
"...D'oh! You see?! This is why I see you as boring! It…" Animo began just as his beast leapt at Tsubaki...who quickly jumped out of the way as its claws tore right through the bars keeping Razorclaw and her team captive, "...Well, I retract my previous comment. You are annoying!"
"Anyone injured?" Tsubaki asked.
"No," Razorclaw replied.
"Not yet…" the others replied as Alpha growled at them.
Alpha roared, picking up one of the bars and crunching it in half out of some sort of annoyance at its inability to have caught its prey. But the prospect of more prey to devour only excited it. It crouched down before pushing off the ground with such force its paws left dents in the ground itself. The team of Plumbers scrambled out of its path as it slammed into the ground with great force. They barely had time to fully regain their footing before Alpha lunged and began biting and clawing at Tsubaki and Razorclaw, thinking them the biggest prey to take down at the moment.
"Hmm...Khyberius Baskurr perhaps, considering he did provide the needed supplies," Animo mumbled to himself.
"GH!" Tsubaki grunted as she was knocked into a wall by another swipe of its claws.
"But I did make it…" Animo noted spinning around in his chair for a moment, "...I got it! Khymera Animus!"
"Ah!" the males of the team cried as they were tackled over by Alpha who chased after Tsubaki and Razorclaw.
"Where's P'li?! We can use…" Razorclaw began as she ducked under an attempted swipe from the Khymera Animus and slammed her open palms on its stomach, sending it crashing into the wall, "...use his help!"
"He's keeping Khyber distracted," Tsubaki answered.
"How?"
"EEEEYAH!" P'li screamed as he jumped over a laser shot. He used his belly to bounce off the ground and avoid another shot. He landed on his feet and began running as the shots kept coming, "Why does a spear double as a gun!?"
=Pesky panda= Khyber growled beneath his mask.
"Okay...I need...I need to catch my breath…" the tree next to him was shot and began cracking and tipping over towards him, "...Okay breath caught!" he freaked as he began to run for it again, barely jumping out of the way in time to avoid being crushed, "Gyah! Think, P'li, think! You're going up against the greatest Huntsman in the Milky Way that confirmed the Hunters Guild is a real thing and uses tech from them and whistles through his gills...Come on! Think think think!" another shot went over his head and blew a rock atop a nearby hill behind him into the shape of a lightbulb, "Bingo!"
=Stand still, you ursine fool!= Khyber snarled.
"Okay!" P'li replied as he jumped up and grabbed a branch before releasing it once Khyber got close, letting him get smacked as it reset itself, sending him into a backflip that ended with him landing on his back, "Booyah!" Khyber snarled as he began to get up, "Oop!" P'li quickly ran off around a tree, "Don't follow me!"
=I will enjoy making your skin and fur into a pelt!= Khyber growled as he shot up, pulling out his dagger as he chased after him before skidding to a halt in time to be hit in the face once more by a tree branch snapping back into place, knocking him into several flips that ended with his head stuck in a gopher hole while sending his weapon into the air.
"Told ya~" P'li chuckled before catching the spear/gun hybrid.
=...Grr….= Khyber snarled, putting his hands on the ground as he pulled his head out of the hle, losing his helmet in the process as he gave P'li a death glare, "I...will…end you…"
"Kinda hard when ya don't have your weapon," P'li taunted before yelping when he nearly dodged a punch aimed at his head.
"I don't need my weapon to take down prey like you…" he replied as he swung his leg and tripped P'li.
P'lie bounced up only to cry as Khyber grabbed his arm and spun him around to toss him into a tree. As the young Plumber bounced again, he flew right into a lariat that sent him spinning around and landing head first into the ground.
"Ohhh…" P'li groaned before Khyber pulled him up by his head.
"You are difficult to hurt indeed, panda...but if you don't absorb enough kinetic energy, your kind's form of combat is rendered weakened," Khyber spoke.
"Ugh...Y-Ya know that, huh?" P'li asked.
"I know of your kind," Khyber spoke as he grabbed P'li's finger and twisted it and his arm, spinning him around, letting him slam back into the ground as he held onto his finger, "Your race also has a nerve bundle in this finger that causes you either intense pain...or an uncontrollable laughing fit."
"Uh-oh," P'li squeaked before Khyber squeezed, "?! PFFFFFFTHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA~!"
"Laughing it is…" he noted, keeping pressure, "I've never seen a life form die of laughter...should be new."
"Y...you...heh heh...you suck!" P'li laughed hysterically.
"Be thankful I don't have my new pet here," Khyber countered.
"N-new...hehehehehe...p-pet!?" he laughed.
"Yes...to replace the one Ben's idiotic Osmosian friend civilized," Khyber spoke, "I plan to pay him back by hurting what he loves most…"
"Ah! Miss Tennyson!" P'li gasped.
"No. His car," Khyber corrected.
P'li let out a long gasped in his laugh, "That. hahahaha. Is...hahahahahe-e-e-e-vil~hahah~!"
"I'm a literal cold blooded reptilian life form who hunts sentient and non-sentient life forms to display them in my room...Of course I'm evil," he argued, kicking P'li over, "And you are just another prey of mine to be hunted."
"...th...then where's...the other?" P'li panted with a smirk.
"The other? Wh…" Khyber began before his eyes widened in realization, "...BLAST!"
"Surprise attack!" P'li shouted as he jumped up, "BELLY FLOP~!"
"Wh-" Khyber began, about to dodge before P'li landed right on top of him, resulting in a small crater as he sat on top of him, "Grr...get...off me!"
"What's that? I can't hear ya. You're under my fur!" P'li joked, "Oh and look at that...I just beat the self-proclaimed greatest hunter in the universe...and I am a rookie!"
"Graaaaagh!" Khyber roared in anger as he tried to free himself.
"Heh heh...Wait until the Instructor sees this."
"Oh, this thing is a real pain," Qrow groaned as they regrouped in the center of the ruined cave base.
"And this is just one of them…" Vipress whispered, lightly eyeing where the other two pods had been.
"Instructor Yayoi, what do we do?" Dasheng asked Tsubaki.
"...A Feston Neuro-Grip," Tsubaki replied.
"Hmm?"
"If we can get close enough, we can disable it," Tsubaki whispered, seeing the creature growling as it circled around them, "Question is..which of you five knows it?"
"I do," Ma'antis noted, "I took acupuncture lessons for extra credit. Getting close however..." he tensed when the creature growled at him, "...yeah. I'm gonna need the right opening to get close…"
"Alright. We'll get you that opening," Tsubaki replied, "Make it count."
"We'll follow your lead, Instructor," Razorclaw said as she and the others stood ready.
"Alright...we need it to lose focus for just a moment, if we can goat it into ramming into the wall that will give Ma'antis the opening he needs." Tsubaki spoke, "But we need it angry enough to throw caution to the wind and make that mad leap…"
"Hm...I think we know just the bait…" Razorclaw smirked.
"...Why are you looking at me that way?" Dasheng asked.
"Excuse the wording...but could you…?" Tsubaki muttered.
"Annoy it to the point it wants to murder you with great glee like literally every authroity figure you've ever come across?" Qrow replied bluntly and quickly.
"Yep/Oh yeah/Exactly/Do it already/Sorry," the others all said in agreement.
"...You guys owe me big!" Dasheng growled before cracking all four of his hands' knuckles, "Alright. Let's do this!"
The creature gave a howl-like snarl as it pounced at the group once more, causing them to separate once more. It attempted to leap at Tsubaki before one of Dasheng's hands tugged its tail, making it yelp a bit before it turned and growled at him. He blew a raspberry in its face before smacking it in the face with his staff and ran off, hooting wildly.
"Wh...what are you doing?" Animo blinked in confusion.
Alpha snarled at Dasheng and began to chase him. Dasheng shot a web from his tail and quickly climbed it up a wall. Alpha began to climb it via digging his claws into the wall and pulled itself up. He nearly got up before Dasheng's pole slammed down on its head, sending it down onto the floor on all fours. Dasheng gave a taunting hooting and screeching while slapping his behind at Alpha.
"...whatever you're planning, it won't work!" Animo shouted, "This creature is my magnum opus! My ultimate creation, and he will not lose to the likes of y-!"
"Jump him!" Tsubaki shouted before the five jumped Alpha, her and Razorclaw grabbing its front legs with Dasheng and Qrow grabbings its hind legs and Cipress coiling around its body, "Ma'antis, now!"
"What?!" Animo gasped before Ma'antis quickly got on Alpha and pinched.
"AWO?!" Alpha yipped before collapsing.
"My Alpha! What have you done with my little Alpha?!" Animo demanded.
"Feston Neuro-Grip," Ma'antis replied before quickly striking Animo with the same grip, making him collapse, "Subdues nearly all form of species."
"C...curse you...Tennyson's...apprentice...you and your...meddling...ways…" Animo slurred.
"Wow. I owe P'li five Tayden because he really did say it," Qrow mumbled.
"This P'li seems like he knows how this works…" Animo noted.
"We should gather up the creations and Animo so we can help P'li." Tsubaki ordered.
"Oh...I don't think so," a new voice spoke, making them all turn to Khyber as he dropped a hogtied P'li on the ground, "Made me take this seriously...not since the Revonnagander have I had to try that hard." he cracked his neck, as he looked at Alpha, "Glorious Doctor...your work surpasses your reputation by spades."
"Khyber…" Tsubaki frowned.
Khyber pulled out the same device he used once before: the triangular tool. The same red blade of solid energy expanded as he held it up, letting its glow illuminate his face. He swung his blade at a nearby pipe, unleashing a large amount of steam into the cave. When it dissipated, Khyber smirked, standing in the same spot as before.
"...This feels like he wasted an escape," Ma'antis noted.
"Oh, I assure you, I will be escaping for another day…" Khyber smirked before his 'gills' flexed and he whistled.
A red glow shined on the new red collar on Alpha's neck. The five yelped as Alpha's body became a red sludge-like material that shot off of them and over to Khyber, reforming into a serpent-like shape with several metallic 'bones' within.
"A Viscosian Assimilator," Khyber informed, "No nerves in its body to use against."
"This is the single most terrifying thing I've ever seen…" Ma'antis spoke bluntly.
"I…need to change my suit," Qrow admitted.
"So now what?" Tsubaki asked.
"Oh don't misinterpret my actions. I still only care for hunting down Ben Tennyson." he aimed his blade at them, "But...I have my partner...so...as far as I see it, I could kill all of you...or I could just go...and you all get to live a while longer." he explained, "But...hehehe...that's all up to you, Tsubaki Yayoi. You are the smart one, correct? The leader?" he questioned, "Which matters more, your beloved rules...or the lives of your men?"
"...Tch…" Tsubaki gritted her teeth at that, mentally hitting herself for what she was about to say, "Razorclaw...you and your team stand down…"
"But…"
"No...this is for the best," Tsubaki grunted, feeling horrible about her choice, "He's hunted Ben in every single one of his forms, and most all of you compose forms I've seen him best in combat. He knows how your bodies work...and he's more skilled in combat than you'd think. My first priority is your lives...the lives of my subordinates."
"Understood…" Razorclaw nodded backing down.
"Hehe…" Khyber chuckled, "This is what I like about Plumbers, they care." he lowered his weapon, "You're lucky the only thing I care for is settling the score with Ben Tennyson...so you have my mercy." he kicked P'li, sending him into his male teammates, "The good Doctor, however, is all yours." he said before slashing his sword, releasing another cloud of steam from the tube he severed, covering his escape.
"Hate...this…" Animo grunted as he was carted into a Plumbers ship, "My precious...creations…!"
"Hah...Your cell will be waiting for you, Animo," Tsubaki sighed, "Please refrain from helping evil space criminals after Ben. We don't want to lock you up in the Megamax cell in the lowest levels...It's actually inhospitable to humans."
"Oh...you're no fun…" he grumbled.
"So what will be done about those two things?" Vipresss asked as she looked over at the two pods containing the other two versions of the creature into another ship.
"We'll be putting them on an uninhabited island to study and figure out the weaknesses it has," Max informed, walking over to them with a tired sigh at all the work he had to do to set that up.
"I'm sorry I let Khyber get away…" Tsubaki sighed, lowering her head in shame.
"Are kidding me Kiddo? You did great today." Max spoke, earning her attention, "You put your team first, and still captured Animo," he explained, "And don't worry about Vulcanus...someone else took care of him."
"Stop hitting yourself...stop hitting yourself…" Ragna spoke, beating said alien criminal with his own robotic arms, "I can do this all day, so stay or back to the Plumbers. Take your pick, Tiny. Also, stop hitting yourself!"
"D'oh...I hate today!" Vulcanus snapped before he got hit once more.
"Still...Khyber got the Alpha...whatever Animo named it…" Tsubaki muttered already forgetting the species name Animo gave it.
"Khyberian Baskurr!" Animo called, "That's its name and that's final!"
"Thank you, Dr. Animo," Max replied nonchalantly, "Tsubaki, I know you're beating yourself up over it, but believe me: at this moment, I couldn't be more proud for the wise choice you made." he went on, putting his hands on her shoulders, "You will be a great leader one day. Heck, I bet when I finally do retire, I will leave this crazy place in your hands!" he laughed.
"?!" Tsubaki looked up at him in surprise, "Th-Thank you, sir."
"Oh man, it was so awesome!" P'li cheered, "I know you'll be a great Magister, Instructor!"
"Thank you." Tsubaki smiled.
"P'li...moments...pick them," Max chuckled, "Now you rookies head on back to base and rest up. You might have more and more days like this here on Earth. I want you guys in peak form at any moment."
"Yes, sir, Magister!" the six replied as they went to get on a ship.
"Ah, kids these days," Max chuckled.
"Sir, I…"
"And you, Tsubaki..why don't you head home? I believe you've worked hard enough." Max spoke, "I need you at a 100 percent if we're gonna keep all these crazy alien criminals in check."
"...Honestly after today...agreed," Tsubaki nodded with a sigh.
"Tadaima," Tsubaki greeted once she walked into her shared home, the sun beginning to set in the distance, "Well today was certainly...something…" she looked down and noticed a small silver-white and blue robot looking up at her, 'Oh my goodness. What is this?! Why is it so cute?!' "...Jenny?"
"A scientist is taking up Mom's profession and this is his first one that's working," Jenny replied as she picked up the small robot, "Tsubaki, meet Robotboy. RB, this is Tsubaki."
"He-llo, Tsu-ba-ki," Robotboy greeted, "Pro-fess-or is let-ting me stay with No-el and Jen-ny to learn many things."
"...Oh my god, you are just precious…" Tsubaki faintly squealed before clearing her throat, "I...I see. Well...I can assure we will do our best to help you in your pursuit of learning…" she instantly pointed at Kajun, "And don't you even think about it, Kajun Faycott."
"Eh?"
"I mean it. You even think about 'examining' this precious little boy, I will lock you in your room until you burn through Science Mode," Tsubak warned.
"Oh like I could be I…" Kajun began before Tsubaki tossed a black and green ball at her that opened up into a net and engulfed Kajun.
*BZZZZZRT!*
"Blaaaarg…" Kajun groaned from the net as she fell over.
"First lesson, if she has a glint in her eye that makes everyone feel uncomfortable, throw that ball I just threw at her," Tsubaki informed, Robotboy in her arms, 'Thank you, Blukic and Driba!'
"Okay, Tsu-ba-ki," Robotboy nodded.
'Oh he's just so precious~!' Tsubaki thought as she softly squealed once more...before clearing her throat before shooting Mai a stare.
"We're good here," Mai quickly held her hands up.
"We better be," Tsubaki warned before giving Robotboy back to Noel, "Now if you need me, I need a shower after today."
"Oh...okay," Noel nodded as Tsubak walked off, brushing a bit of her hair out of her face.
Once she made her way up to her room and grabbed a change of clothes to sleep in, Tsubaki went into the bathroom. Once she locked the door, she turned on the water. She waited until it was on the shower setting before inhaling.
"Eeeeeee!" Tsubaki squeed, "Oh my goodness! So adorable~!"
"I heard that!" Makoto called out from her room, "Also owie…"
"Thank you for volunteering for trying out Noel's latest dish," Tsubaki declared, an annoyed look in her eyes as she blushed hard.
"D'oh!"
SZ; And so...thus ends the mini arc known as 'In the day of'..hoo! These were fun..soem were short, but still fun regardless.
GT: Eeyup.
Z0: This...was actually a lot easier than writing and posting one at a time…
SZ: Kinda yeah...but still pretty fun regardless.
GT: Indeed it was. Hope you all enjoy these, readers!
Z0: Till next time folks! We did a lot we're working on something else next so make do with this! And...that's it I guess...anything else to say boys?
SZ: Nope. Stay tuned for more chapters in the future folks!
GT: Please read and review, folks!
Z0: Now to blow up the sun again! *teleports away while evil laughing*