Galactic Shift Extend

by Seanzilla1988

A familiar Beastkin goes through a familiar abandoned Cauldron. However, she doesn't end up in another timeline, but Bellwood, home to a teen with a watch he wears on his arm that can change his shape to save the world from harm.

59. A Dredd Intrusion

SZ: Welp..it is time...we've reached the next big arc for GSE

Z0: Indeed, time for some more action and story!

SZ: Yosha! You know the drill folks. We own jack squat aside from original content, so z0...START US OFF!

Z0: Okay *begins absorbing dark energy before transforming into a demonic armored version of myself* You asked for this! *punches a beam of dark energy causing everything to explode*

---

"Psst...you sure this guy is safe?" One guard whispered as he and another were walking through a line of prison cells leading to an elevator.

"He should...no way he can eat through the bars, and he can't get out without getting zapped," the other answered.

"Can he even be zapped? I mean..he's like living acid right?"

"I don't know man, I don't ask how these freaks even function."

"True…" he muttered as they stepped into the elevator, which closed as it was taking them to the bottom floor.

"And yet...this guy is dangerously smart," the second muttered, "So...best be on high alert if he tries anything."

"Got it," the first nodded as the elevator stopped, opening to show heavily locked cells as the two guards stepped out, "Maximum security….hoo this place gives me the spooks."

"Considering it houses some of Earth's most dangerous criminals, agreed," the second nodded as they began approaching one of the cells, "Prometheus Black, A.K.A Meltdown step forward!"

"...heh heh heh…" a voice chuckled as a rather tall figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing a humanoid face made of acid while a pair of goggles acted as his eyes, "Can I help you, officer?"

"Don't give me lip...you should be lucky we found you in the state you were in," the second guard frowned.

"Ah yes….my body has taken time to recuperate after that little...incident with the Autobots and that one half-organic Cybertronian," Meltdown chuckled, looking at his currently gloved up hand, "But now I have a full body again...but that is less important at the moment. Tell me officer…" he paused as he leaned forward, "Why did you two come forward really…?"

"..."

"I-it's because one of your creations were spotted attacking innocents in Detroit," the first guard spoke up, "A few more years were added to your sentence…"

"Oh really?" he asked in interest, "That sounds very bad indeed. But that is a long list of projects, exactly which one do you mean?"

"The one known as Colossus Rhodes."

"Oh I wondered what happened to him. A personal favorite of my works."

"Well he's been caught and locked up already thanks to the Autobots and Maximals."

"Maximals?" Meltdown repeated before giving a low chuckle, "My my...what have I missed during my regeneration and isolation?"

"Earth was taken over by space frogs and managed to beat the Autobots the first time around," the first guard spoke, "Then a month later they failed thanks to Ben Tennyson and his army of heroes."

"Billy, why're you answering him?!" the second guard hissed.

"I dunno...he's been down here for so long, it's best to catch him up on what's happened on the surface, Jim."

"Much has happened I see…" Meltdown replied, "Surely next time I face the Autobots it will be difficult,"

"Hah! Good luck with that. Most of them have gotten cool upgrades! Their leader's almost twice the size and can go all Megazord with other robots!" Billy laughed.

"Truly now?"

"Yeah, he's even got this awesome giant sword that shoots lasers!" Billy seemed...rather excited. Possibly showing a lot of his inner nerd.

"God damn it, Billy…" Jim groaned, "Regardless, there's no chance of you getting out. The cells down here are durable enough to keep people like you out."

"Yeah, so you will…" billy began as he turned, only to blink at what he saw, "...uh, Jim?"

"What now?" Jim asked as he turned.

Standing near the closing elevator doors was a woman wearing a modified, female variant of the Forever Knights' armor colored in rose-red metal. A pair of feathered pauldrons decorated her shoulders while the image of an Eagle flying between a shadowed sun and the Forever Knight's symbol. Flowing from her back was a pale cream-white cape as her eyes stared at the two guards from the visor of her helmet.

"Wh-who are you?!" Jim demanded as he and Billy pulled their guns out, "Lay down any weapons you have a-" he gagged out when the female knight was instantly before him, a shield that seemed to resemble a book embedded into his gut.

"Jim n-" Billy began before he was knocked to the side by the woman's armored hand.

"...well now, what is this?" Meltdown noted as the woman reached down, pulling an ID card from one of the guards as she stood up.

"Her best time to date." a voice laughed as Meltdown looked to see Forever now standing at the exit, "To think we even had to simulate more then two...maybe I over prepared her for her first mission."

"...you are the Forever Knights," Meltdown realized, "Hmph...I had thought you were merely a myth."

"We are real…" the female knight spoke up, scanning the ID card on a card reader near his cell, causing it to open up, "And you are being liberated in my lord's name, Prometheus Black."

"Oh? For what exactly?" Meltdown asked as he stepped out, revealing he was wearing a white high-collared suit and armor covering his shoulders and upper arms, acid dripping a bit from his hands, "What could the Forever Knights want with me?"

"Let's say...I am a man of science, a nerd, a geek, if you will." Forever began, "I'm a fan of your genetic work." he laughed, "I dabble," he motioned to the female knight, "But this is like comparing Leng Jun to Van Gogh." he chuckled, "One is fantastic in it's own way, and the other...a different but equally amazing."

"...heh. Good to meet a fan, but…" Metldown began as he stepped forward to Forever, "I assume this is more than a meeting for admiration."

"Yes...you see I need you to assist us in one..simple task...to attack Plumbers HQ in Bellwood."

"Hmm?" Meltdown raised a non-existent brow at that.

"Oh I am not offering this to you without...incentive." he chuckled, "Besides freeing you that is, but let's call that one just common decency and courtesy," he motioned, he then held his hand out forming a hologram of Sari hanging out with the others, "Optimus Prime is...sadly far to powerful at the moment for you to strike at. Even my own forces are not ready…" he sighed, "But...his beloved Sari Sumdac...has left the garage and is away from his watching optics. Imagine the sweet revenge this will enact upon both Optimus and her father?"

"...I'm listening," Meltdown grinned, growing more interested in this deal.

"Wonderful!" Forever clapped his hands, "But please, we are men of intellect and class...lets get out of this garbage fire first my good sir!"

"Yes...let's. It has been a long time since I've seen the sun…"

"Then let us be off. Camellia my dear? You will help lead the forces in the invasion...do not forget that."

"I won't, your majesty."

"Excellent."

---

"...our instructor...is a talking cat…" Sari blinked as she, Ben, Makoto, Max, Rook, and Mai stood in the training room while standing around Jubei.

"Oh I'm more than that, little lady," Jubei grinned as he looked around at the group, "Alright kids, you did rather well with that training course I provided ya last time."

"We stayed off survival horror movies and games for a week," Max muttered.

"But today's training will be different," Jubei stated as he crossed his arms, "I want you kids to hit me."

"...is that all?" Mai asked.

"No no...more simple than that, "Jubei chuckled, "I don't want you to go easy on me with your punches...not half a hard. Not a pinch. Not even a tickle. I want you kids...to try and hit me….as hard. As. You. Can."

=You're sure you want that?= Steel asked.

"Of course I'm sure," Jubei assured.

"I am not triggering that booby trap," Ben muttered.

"No traps," Jubei stated, "No hidden anything...just try and hit me."

"...ok…" Max muttered, his helmet forming as he took on his Strength form, charging as he threw a punch at Jubei, who merely side stepped to dodge the blow.

"Point of this exercise kids? Try to hit your opponent, especially if they're a speedy dodger!" Jubei laughed as he jumped up, doding Mai's thrown spear as he contorted his body to dodge the rebounds from it. Just as he lauded, he moved his head side to side to dodge some incoming laser fire from Rook and Sari before jumping up, landing right on top of Makoto's thrown punch before leaping back, "See?! No matter how many of ya there are, You can't do a thing to touch me." A flash of green went off before he jumped up, doding XLR8's attempted grab, "Same goes if yer a fast fella too."

"I would just like to point out that your powers are nonsense…" XLR8 groaned.

"Ragna said th' same thing, only he used more colorful language!" Jubei laughed before ducking and rolling, making Makoto miss her attempted grab grab as she ended up crashing into Mai and Sari, "Oop! Almost had me, little lady."

"No wonder Ragna's so tough...Jubei's training is brutal," Mai groaned as Makoto got off her.

"No wonder he's so cranky...if he trained for god knows how long like this…" Makoto grumbled.

"I don't know who this Ragna is...but he sounds really scary and angry if he can handle this guy's training." Sari groaned.

"Surely there has to be a way we can complete this test," Rook spoke as the group focused on Jubei, who yawned a bit as he rubbed his face.

"Steel, you or Skurd have any ideas?" Max asked, "I'd say go for hsi blind spot, but he probably has some wicked good hearing to make up for it."

"Oh goodie~ I'm allowed to flex my superior creativity." Skurd laughed.

=On please he clearly meant me, being a technological life form, I should have the superior brain for this=

"He meant both of ya," XLR8 deadpanned.

=No. He referred to me before bringing up the booger= Steel argued.

"Yes, because I might have a better option, roomba," Skurd countered.

"Hey hey. Focus you two," Max spoke.

=Right right...hmm...sensitive hearing…= Steel muttered =...got it. We unleash a sound attack to make him deaf, and while he isn't paying attention...we pounce him=

"Yes that could work." Skurd nodded in agreement.

"Good. Ben, you ready for a Sonic boom?" Max asked.

"Heh…" XLR8 smirked as Skurd produced a pair of speakers similar to Echo-Echo's face on his shoulders, "I got the sonic, you got the boom."

"Hoo boy," Makoto gulped, quickly pulling out a pair of earmuffs and put them on to block the incoming sound attack.

"Hmm?" Jubei raised a brow as XLR8 and Max stood next to each other.

"In advance! Sorry!" Max shouted, raising his currently giant hands before clapping them together so the sound went into the speakers.

"?!" Jubei tensed as the resulting soundwave hit him, making him wine as he held hsi ears in pain, "Gah freakin' hell!"

"He's blinded! Get him!" Makoto shouted, taking her ear muffs off as they charged right at him.

"..." Jubei said nothing as the group prepared to pounce him, time seemingly slowing down as he took a slow deep breath. His eye shot open, revealing it to be slit as he became a blur.

"What th-" Rook began before the group was suddenly sent flying and crashing into the walls.

"...ow…" Sari winced as the group slowly slid down the wall.

"Not a bad tactic…" Jubei admitted, his sheathed katanas in hand as he put them away, "But not good enough...even if you can stop your opponent from moving, they'll have the right opportunity to strike back while you're attacking them."

"Duly...noted," Ben, Rook and Max groaned.

"I don't like this game…" Makoto groaned.

"Same…" Mai and Sari groaned.

=Cheating cat= Steel groaned.

"You strike me as a sore loser, good sir." Skurd grumbled.

=How's about we finish up for today?= Tsubaki offered.

"Or the week…" Makoto groaned.

"Aye!" most of them agreed.

"...heh. Fine. Me and the older Max were about to think of somethin' for lunch," Jubei grinned as he walked off, "You kids earned it...but next week, back to dodge training."

"No!" most of them cried in complaint.

"Okay okay!" Jubie chuckled as he stepped out of the room.

"Hoo...now we can relax," Sari sighed in relief as she and the others got up, "So who's up for lunch?"

"Me…" everyone grunted standing back up.

"Good...I'll pay," Sair sighed as the group began to step out.

=I am so sorry...I did not expect him to pull something like that at the end= Tsubaki muttered.

"...actually Sari…" Makoto spoke up, "...let Tsubaki pay for our lunch."

=What?! B….no no. I get it…I'll pay for it...=

"You better…" Max muttered.

"I can go for anything that would help me relax," Rook sighed.

"I think there's a new hot springs that opened in town," Makoto spoke as she leaned against Ben, "Maybe after lunch we can head there and chill."

"That...sounds awesome." he looked at Skurd.

"I can keep a secret if you promise to leave me in the sauna...no questions asked." Skurd responded.

"Deal," Ben grinned a bit.

"I think I'll just head home to relax," Mai sighed as she wiped some sweat from her face, "I think it's my turn to cook dinner tonight, so I'll have to prepare early."

"Kay!" Makoto waved, "You're not allowed to ask Noel for help!" she shouted once she was out the door.

=I heard that!= Noel complained.

"You know what you did!"

=MMM~!=

"Someone really needs to keep an eye on her when she cooks," Sari muttered as they walked into the main room.

"We've tried...so many times," Tsubaki sighed as she walked out a separate door.

"You just can't say no to her face," Makoto shook her head.

"How can a woman her age make a face that makes you feel like you kicked a puppy and kitten?" Max muttered.

"Yeah I'm not sure that's a face that goes away with age. Though given her special circumstances, maybe Noel will...age super slow?" Makoto muttered, "Boy won't that be awkward for the future if you ever have kids."

"Maybe. Just gotta find the right girl," Max shrugged.

"Oh?" Makoto grinned at that.

"Stop it...Stop trying to pair me with Kajun," Max deadpanned.

"I mean...she does seem to drag you away a lot…"

"To experiment on my body…" he argued.

"Sure it ain't more than th-" Makoto began before a rumbling sound could be heard, "?! What was that?!"

"...Kajun!" Tsubaki called out.

"Yes?" Kajun answered, Blukic and Driba an her shoulders as they paused from looking at something on the main computer.

"...if that wasn't her...then…" Mai began before something dripped before her, "?" she blinked as she looked down, seeing something eating away at the floor, "...acid?"

"...oh no…" Sari whispered in realization as the group looked up, seeing acid eating away at the ceiling.

"...Tsubaki…" Makoto began as a hole began to form on the ceiling...revealing Meltdown and a group of Forever Knights looking down at them.

"We've been breached!" Tsubaki called out as the group quickly pulled their weapons out.

"Okay that...is one of the creepiest things I've ever seen." Max spoke as his helmet formed.

"Meltdown!" Sari gasped as her own helmet formed.

"Hello young Sari...missed me?" Meltdown grinned as he and the Forever Knights jumped down from the hole, landing on the floor as the knights began to open fire, "Forever Knights, leave Sumdac for me. The rest...heh. Do as you wish."

"Code red! We got a code red!" Tsubaki called out, using her shield to block some incoming shots before converting her weapon into a bow, firing off a few shots to destroy the Forever Knights' blasters.

"In the name of the k-" one began before a wave of ice knocked a large number of them over.

"I sit down to read a book, and we're dealing with another invasion," Jin frowned as he hurried over to Tsubaki, using his katana to block more shots.

"Hey we never expected Acid-Man!" Max spoke punching a few over, he then crossed his arms and let their lasers wash over his armor to little effect, "My turn." he swung his arms down as Steel fired multiple beams of blue energy from his spot on Max's chest that knocked them all over. Their weapons short circuiting and their armor locking up on them.

"...hmm. You could be a bother…" Meltdown noted as more Forever Knights dropped down form the hole.

"I just wanted a trip to the hot springs with my boyfriend!" Makoto snapped as she charged, beaning a knight upside the head with a punch before jumping off him, driving her feet into the face of another as she jumped away from him, "Is that all too much for a girl to ask?!"

"We can enjoy it later!" Ben offered quickly cycling through aliens before slapping the Omnitrix and being replaced by Fourarms.

"Agreed!" Mai shouted, throwing her spear at some Forever Knights while Rook fired off a few shots from his Proto-Tool, moving back as the former caught ehr spear just as they got behind some cover to join their fellow Plumbers.

"How'd these guys get past our security system?!" Makoto exclaimed, ducking under some shots before punching the ground hard, making some knights stagger as Fourarms charged and clotheslined them, "Isn't it supposed to activate unless it's us, grandpa Max, or Tsubaki?!"

"That's what I'm wondering…!" Tsubaki grunted, pushing back a Forever Knight before driving her shield into another, "There's no way they would've gotten in here a-" she tensed as she quickly turned, blocking a strike from a female Forever Knight. Her eyes soon widened upon what she saw what the female knight was wielding, "...The Izayoi…why do you have it?!"

"Because you spurned its gift," the female knight countered before throwing her sword at Tsubaki, who quickly blocked with her own shield as she and the female knight were countering each other's moves.

"What the?" Makoto noted how similar Tsubaki and this female knight moved.

"I'm starting to get some red flags…" Sari muttered, using her energy blades to slice some knights' blasters in half before kicking them back.

=...that's odd…= Steel muttered, eying the female knight as Max was fending off some knights =She has the same heat signature as Tsubaki...the same movements...same fighting style…=

"...wait. Did...did they clone her?" Max blinked as he swung and punched another knight.

=Maybe…=

"Ugh. Not more clone nonsense!" Jin snapped, creating a wall of ice to block more laser fire, "And what's worst...this one has the Izayoi….Tsubaki! Destroy that damn thing!"

"But..it's my family's..legacy…!" Tsubaki grunted as she and the female knight clashed blades.

"Wrong...you're nothing but a disgrace to the Yayoi name!" the female shouted as she swung, her sword turning into a bladed whip as she swung it at Tsubaki.

"This is crazy!" Fourarms grunted swinging and knocking several knights away.

"Crazy, Mr. Tennyson?" Meltdown asked as he stepped forward, "Oh my dear boy...you have no idea what crazy is."

"Pretty sure I'm looking at it." Fourarms replied as he clapped his hands together to send out a thunderclap that blew Meltdown and several Knights back into a wall.

"How are you even here Meltdown?!" Sari demanded as she flipped over a pair of knights, "No...better question, how are you even alive?!"

"Oh right last you saw me, I lost control of my body and liquified." he chuckled, "If you had bothered to come home you'd have known I reformed with time and rest, and was once again fighting the Autobots. Optimus captured me with a specially made crystal capture device. The only thing I couldn't melt." He laughed, then blinked as a flash got his attention.

"Good work Sari," Diamondhead smirked, "Getting the bad guy to monologue."

"...blast it," Meltdown frowned before he was encased in a cage of crystal, "You tricked me…"

"Hey. Not my fault you smart bad guys like to monologue," Sari smirked.

"Plus Sari figured Ratchet and Optimus must have made something to keep you locked away. But we figured the only way to find out on the spot..." Diamondhead held up his cellphone, "...was to get you to tell us."

"Ben's a good multitasker." Sari smiled, tapping her helmet to reveal how she got the message.

"Grr…"

"Useless," the female knight scoffed before blocking Tsubaki's blade, "But he served his purpose…"

"Tsubaki, I don't think you can beat yourself!" Makoto called out, "And before you get mad, I'm meaning that literally! She thinks like you! You can't outsmart yourself!"

"Half of the idiot couple is right!" Jin spoke up, clashing swords with one of the Elite Knights that had gotten in, "She knows every one of your moves!"

"...You're right…" the female knight began, kicking Tsubaki back before charging at Jin, "But I know your moves as well, traitor!"

"Traitor?" Jin repeated before blocking the female knight's blade.

"You betrayed the NOL...you betrayed what justice stands for…!" she growled as she pushed him back, "But I serve a higher purpose...the Forever Knights will bring true justice to the world!"

"Justice…" Tsubaki repeated before wincing, a stinging sensation in her head for a moment as she felt some memories starting to return, "Wh...what...no..th...that's no longer me…that's not me..."

"Oh give me a break about that nonsense…" Jin growled, "I don't know what the hell true justice is, part of me fears it might actually be that alien shapeshifting buffoon…"

"Love you too, best buddy!" Diamondhead laughed as he pelted the Elite Knight with exploding crystals giving Jin cover.

"But I just don't give a single care anymore!" Jin growled, "I somehow built a decent life in this weird timeline, so screw those stupid lies of justice and higher puprose, I'm content just doing good here."

"...then I won't hesitate in executing you," the female knight frowned, her sword shifting into a curved glaive as she did a rising slash at Jin, only for some gun shots to hit her helmet and send her staggering back, her helmet falling off in the process.

"Sorry. Some knights held me…" Noel began as she ran over..only for her eyes to widen as the female knight rose her head, "N...nani?"

"She is a clone!" Makoto exclaimed as the group saw that the female knight's face...looked exactly like Tsubaki. Down to her hair and facial features...minus the fact her eyes were a scarlet red, "She's Twobaki!"

"Silence, you half-human freak," the other Tsubaki scowled as she grabbed her helmet, "My name is Camillia...the real daughter of the Yayoi family, and servant of our lord...the Forever King."

"Wh-what?" Tsubaki whispered in disbelief as Camillia looked over at her.

"Unlike you...I discarded everything I see as a weakness...anything that goes against justice itself…" Camellia began as she raised her sword at Tsubaki, "Deserves death."

"Oh geez Tsubaki's clone is insane…" Sari whispered.

"Grr…" Camellia growled at that before calming herself, "But first...since she's here…" she paused before charging at Noel, "I'll deal with you first, Vermillion!"

"Wh-!?" Noel began before she brought her guns up to block Camillia's sword, "Ngh!"

"Unlike that fake...I remember who I need to kill...thief."

"Th...thief?!" Noel exclaimed before crying out when Camillia kicked her back, "I-I'm no thief! I didn't steal anything!"

"You did...you stole my life...and for that…" Camellia began as her sword became an executioner's sword, "You die...monster."

"No you don't!" Diamondhead slammed his hand on the floor as a wall of crystals formed between Camellia and Noel.

"...Ben Tennyson. Age 18, born in Bellewood, and wielder of the Omnitrix…" Camellia whispered as she turned to face him, "You are by far the biggest threat to my lord's mission..to justice itself."

"Yeah, well you aren't the first crazy to say that to me. But you are the first to do so with the face of my friend/sister figure…" he muttered, "Actually no...Gwen's been bodyjacked a few times…"

"And you've impeded on the Forever Knights' plans for far too long," Camellia countered as she stood ready, "Because of you we've lost too many nobel knights, and our attempt to purge Earth of those monsters was stopped because of you...to help free the people from th...no. To free them from false idols like you."

"False idols?" Max blinked.

"You so called heroes...the people worship you because you have powers they do not," Camellia stated, "They applaud you because you 'save them'...no. Deep down they fear you...fear that you'll go rogue one day and attack them. Your so called sense of justice you all believe in is false. True justice is to purge all evil, human and non-human from the face of the Earth...and the way I see it..." she paused as she glared at everyone that wasn't busy fighting the forever knights, "You are all evil...and you must be purged."

"Oh god she's stupid levels of crazy…" Max groaned.

"...yes…" Jin agreed with a small frown, "Which is one of the more dangerous types of crazy...but right now..." he reached for Yukianesa as he glared at Camellia, "We need to get the Izayoi away from her…"

"...you are welcome to try," Camellia challenged, putting her helmet back on as she rose her shield hand, "Knights, do not let up! Kill every monster and human traitor here!"

"Yes, milady!" the knights replied as they continued with the onslaught of lasers, more jumping down to add in their own laser fire.

"They just keep coming!" Mai shouted, about to throw her spear before quickly dodging another laser blast, "Rook!"

"I'm trying to contact Magister Tennyson right now, but I can't get a hold of him!" Rook called out, "Our communications seemed to be down!"

"Eh?! So…"

"It's the Izayoi!" Jin shouted as he summoned another wall of ice to block the barrage of lasers, "It can not only manipulate light, but can disrupt radio frequencies…"

"Why would anyone ever use this thing?" Max asked, swinging a kick and tripping a knight over.

"It was created during the Dark War in our old timeline," Jin explained, jamming his sword in the ground as an explosion of ice sent more knights flying, "It was kept by Tsubaki's family to make sure it wouldn't be used."

"I have some sarcastic not mad just disappointed gags for after this nonsense is all over with your name, Tsubaki!" Makoto complained while punching a Knight several times, before just twisting his helmet around and pushing him into another Knight.

"...that's right…" Tsubaki whispered, just standing there as she held her head, "I….I took the Izayoi out to fulfill the mission Captain Hazama gave me...I...I tried to...I really…" she gave a shuddering gasp as she fell to her knees, "I...I don't…."

"Tsubaki?" Makoto blinked, now growing more concerned than annoyed.

"Tsubaki, what's wrong?" Noel asked, doding more laser fire as she fired back at the knights.

"I...I tried to kill Jin and Noel...I tried to..I...I killed so many people…" Tsubaki continued, panting heavily as more and more memories began to flood her mind, "I did...so many horrible things...in the name of the Imperator...I...I…"

"Is Tsubaki having a mental breakdown?!" Sari exclaimed in worry before grunting, a laser shot managing to hit her shoulder before she fired off her own at her attacker.

"No...she's realizing the truth she's forgotten," Camellia spoke up as she began to step up towards Tsubaki, tilting her head out the side to dodge incoming lasers, "What we did before coming here...we executed those who dared speak against the Imperator...against justice itself."

"Oh now is not the time for this!" Makoto groaned as she ran forward and tackled Tsubaki out of the way before Camellia could swing at her, "Snap out of it!" she slapped Tsubaki across the face with all she had.

"...I..I don't know...what to do…" Tsubaki whispered, an empty look in her eyes, "I...everything I know...is a lie…"

"You mean all the fake nonsense from before, where you probably had a lot of mental trauma?" Makoto argued, "Cause that's not the Tsubaki we all know, love and are annoyed by! So snap out of it and go back to the version we need to tell us what to do and how to save ourselves!"

"You should focus on saving yourself…"

"Wh…" Makoto began before she was suddenly slashed in the back, "?!"

"?!" Tsubaki snapped out of it as she looked up, seeing a shocked look on Makoto's face as she fell over, blood spilling from the wound on her back as Camellia stood before them, "Y...you…"

"She will live...but unless you surrender yourself…" Camellia paused as she aimed at Makoto's neck, "She dies…"

"..."

"Hmph….truly a disgrace to the Yayoi family name…" Camellia scoffed, raising her sword as she glared down at Tsubaki, "The world will be better off with you d-"

*BANG BANG!*

"GH!" Camellia winced as she staggered forward a bit, the back of her armor smoking a bit as she turned to see a glaring Noel, "...you…!"

"Get away from them," Noel ordered in a very dangerous tone, her eyes taking a deep azure color as she aimed at Camellia.

"You…!" Camellia began before suddenly she and the other knights were forced down onto the floor, "Gh! What the…?!"

"Magnetic gravity controls, something I developed in case we were attacked and outmanned," Kajun spoke up as she walked over to Tsubaki and Makoto, holding onto a small device, "The magnetic force pushes you onto the ground and applies gravatic like forces to keep you pinned while we make a strategic retreat."

"Or I encase this whole room in diamonds...and trap them inside." Diamondhead growled, glaring at Camellia and the knightsas he jammed his hands into a wall, covering everything in his crystals while the others began retreating.

"Also a good idea," Kajun nodded, carefully helping Makoto up, "But they might have a counter for Petrosapien crystals, so we'll need to hurry."

"Right…" Diamondhead nodded as Jin walked past him, "?"

"Tsubaki," Jin spoke up, causing Tsubaki to look up at him before he picked her up in his arms, "Ugh...even as adults you're still a hassle."

"Complain later!" Mai called out as the group hurried to the nearest exit.

Jin said nothing as he followed after them, his eyes shadowed over by his hair. One Knight managed to wake up and took aim at him..only for Jin to turn and shoot him a glare that promised death, followed by a fierce blizzard that completely frozen the knight, turning him into an ice statue until he shattered.

---

"...tch. I come back from my own vacation, and this happens…" Kagura frowned, looking on at some of the Plumbers being treated and tended to in the medical wing of the base, "And what's worst given what these guys told us...those damn Forever Knights have the Izayoi."

"Due to the Izayoi's interference, I can't get a number on how many Forever Knights are surrounding the base," Hibiki frowned as he looked at his tablet, "We're more or less fighting blind here…"

"I never expected that to be the problem here." Kagura informed, "This means we're cut off from our leader Magister Max, meaning we'll need to pick up some slack." he sighed, "First things first, we'll start looking for our people, get them out of here and find a safe place to fortify into our zone. We'll have to move fast, I know the old guy can handle himself more than enough, but best not get cocky in this situation. The second important thing is finding our heavy hitters, we'll need them to drive these lunatics away."

"...a problem with one of our heavy hitters…" Hibiki sighed, earning a raised brow from Kagura before he pointed forward, "She seems to be out of commission."

"Wh…?" Kagura belinked before seeing Ben and the others running in, taking notice of the blood dripping from Makoto's back while Tsubaki seemed to have an emotionless, empty stare, "...oh geez…"

"We were doing good until Tsubaki's evil twin showed up," Sari stated, wincing a bit as she held her shoulder, "Gah that hurts…"

"Evil...twin?"

"The Forever Knights seemed to have made a clone of her and she's wielding the Izayoi," Kajun explained.

"She's...having a bit of an episode…" Max added, "We locked the crazy clone, but they could get out at any moment. Makoto's hurt, so focus on that. Jin will handle Tsubaki's mental thing."

"I have concerns about that plan." Kagura spoke up.

"Oh piss off…" Jin replied.

"You see my concerns…" Kagura pointed to Jin.

"Not important right now," Ben spoke, a serious look on his face as he carefully took Makoto from Kajun, "Right now we need to tend to the injured…"

"I'll get a healing tube set up for her," Hibiki spoke as he walked off, Blukic and Adrian hopping onto his shoulders as he did, "Though she might be out of commission for a bit."

"We need to take care of this fast." Kajun frowned, "We are being attacked all of a sudden, and this is far too well planned."

"Yeah...well planned," Ben whispered as he followed Hibiki, holding Makoto in his arms as he walked past Kagura.

=...tch. I hate this feeling…= Steel growled as Skrud hopped on top of him =And I d...=

"I am giving him time by himself with his woman," Skurd stated as his eyes narrowed, "And you are not the only one irked by this…"

"Come on Sari…let's get you checked on," Mai whispered as she helped Sari into the medical room.

"Thanks…"

"Rook, you and Kajun come with me so we can discuss battle strategies," Kagura spoke up, "Jin...you look after the others. Hibiki will come get you when we think of something."

"...understood," Jin nodded, looking down at Tsubaki as his look of anger began to melt down...turning into one of concern as he walked off.

=There has to be something they are after…= Steel spoke =But what?=

"Yeah this...doesn't seem like a normal attack," Max added, "It's as if they planned this in advance…plus there's no way…" he paused as he realized something, "...that's how they got past our defenses...Tsubaki's crazy evil clone."

"Hm?"

"Think about it...the security system activates if anyone that isn't us…" Max paused as he motioned to everyone, "Magister Tennyson or Tsubaki tries to enter."

"...that is how they got in," Rook realized, "Camellia looks like her and shares Tsubaki's DNA...they used that to get past the security system."

"Add in the Izayoi, and you got yourself a recipe for an inside attack," Kagura frowned.

"But Steel is right, what are they after? Forever isn't just some wild risk taker. His moves are...hauntingly well planned." Kajun added, "What do they gain from this attack?"

---

Forever hummed as he was lowered down the hole Meltdown had made, hopping off the rope as he looked around the crystal encased room. He pulled out a tuning fork-like device before flicking it, causing it to vibrate as he held it against the crystal, causing it to shatter as it freed those that were captured by it.

"Lost your temper, my Camellia?" he asked Camellia, who nearly lost her footing for a moment before shaking her head.

"...A...a bit, my lord," she whispered, dusting herself off as she took a deep breath, "Good news is, I took out Makoto Nanaya and my weaker self is trying to deny her true nature...they've lost two of their key aces."

"Yes, but you underestimate emotional reactions my dear. Now Ben is angry, and likely to hold back less against you." he pointed out, "I should have stressed it's a key to take down the Strongest, Benjamin, Maxwell, the cyborgs and androids." he explained.

"Yes...but those memories flared up a bit…"

"...ah yes. The ones of your 'older self'," Forever noted, "Do try and keep those under control. You are one of my most valuable assets after all."

"Of course, your majesty," she nodded with a bow.

"But Good girl you did amazingly well so far." he laughed, "Meltdown, if you'd please help me with the barriers?"

"You could have warned me they could produce Diamonds like that." he muttered as he walked over.

"I ordered her to distract Ben…" he nudged his head to Camellia, "But we've made our way in…"

"Yes...but I feel you have a more ulterior motive here," Meltdown stated, earning Forever's attention, "This seems more simple than a raid and possible execution of everyone in here…"

"Well I wouldn't be much of a genius if I didn't play Three Dimensional Chess with everything I do." Forever laughed happily, "And I love to play with people who can barely play normal Chess."

"My lord," an Elite Knight spo akes he approached, "We've learned that Ben Tennyson's team has retreated to a lower floor, but we cannot hack into the main computer."

"Case in point!" Forever held a hand up, "Worry not men, we have the ultimate means of opening doors." he turned to Meltdown, "Mr. Black? If you will?"

"As long as I can make Sumdac suffer…" Meltdown began as he held his hands up, acid dripping from them as he approached the steel door.

---

"Your lucky you got her into the healing tube in time," Blukic spoke as the two Galvans, Hibiki and Ben looked up at Makoto, who was sleeping as she floated within a tube filled with green liquid while in just her undergarments, "That slash hit a nerve in her spine…"

"Had you been an hour late...she would've been crippled," Driba added.

"..." Hibiki sighed as he flicked the two Galvan's in the back of the head for their lack of tact, "Regardless, she's fine, but I advise we keep her out of the fight till fully healed. Or even till this ends."

"Yeah, good idea." Ben nodded, clearly nervous.

"...she'll be fine," Hibiki assured him, "She knew what kind of risks she would take the moment she joined the Intelligence department and became a spy for Sector Seven."

"I know it's just…" he sighed.

"I suppose this is a thing related to true love. You have no idea how refreshing it is to see such commitment to a singular relationship." Hibiki added, "You two will undoubtedly worry and panic over each other, but you've kept your cool and saved her before. Right now we need that Ben," he added, putting a hand on Ben's shoulder, "The Ben that can be a leader to us…"

"...heh…" Ben gave a small yet forced chuckle at that, "No wonder Kagura trusts you so much…" he whispered as he looked over at him, "You're a pretty great guy, Hibiki."

"I do however I can to help my allies," Hibiki smiled a bit, "So let's see what we can think of to turn this situation around."

"Forever has to be in here by now," Ben sighed, "But...what are they really after this time? He prides himself on being a genius, he doesn't do anything unless he has something to gain. Even when he pissed me off, he had a reason to make me mad, it was to gain advantage."

"Yes...so he has to have an ulterior motive…" Hibiki agreed before holding his chin in thought, "Hmm...what if...Ben, has Forever cooperated with anyone before?"

"Aside from that Meltdown guy, no one I know except that freaky Elementor dude that was going after Max," Ben answered before blinking, "...wait...is he...after Max?"

"But then why didn't Meltdown or that clone actively engage him back then?" Hibiki asked, "Unless...he wanted it that way?"

"There's gotta be something more to it than just that," Ben muttered as he frowned a bit.

"We best discuss it with Lord Kagura and the others," Hibiki suggested as the two began to walk off.

"Yeah…" Ben nodded, shooting one more worried look at before turning back with a frown, 'Forever...you better pray I don't find you…'

---

"How are you feeling, Sari?" Noel asked as she and Mai sat in the medical room.

"It seems good...but the doc says I shouldn't try to move it as much, transformed or not," Sari answered, some bandages over her shoulder.

"Probably for the best," Mai muttered, looking on at the other injured Plumber agents, "Not many of us here to drive back the Forever Knights, and we can;t get any help from the outside…"

"If only we can get someone fast enough out of here to get help…" Noel whispered before blinking, "...oh! Robotboy!"

"Eh?" Sari and Mai blinked as Noel reached into her bag, pulling out a deactivated Robotboy before she tapped her wrist device.

"?!" Robotboy's eyes flashed for a moment as he stood up, "Morn-ing. Wh…" he began before he noticed Sari's injury and the other injured Plumbers, "...what did I miss?"

"Oh a lot." Noel spoke, "Lots of bad stuff going on. But, you're small, small enough to fit in the now smaller vent system. You can sneak around, check for things and get out to go get help."

"Oh...Understood!" Robotboy nodded with a salute, "Robotboy will go and get help!"

"Good boy." Noel spoke as she helped him up to the vent, "Just stay safe."

"Can do," Robotboy nodded, taking the cover off before hopping into the ventilation shaft, putting the cover back as he hurried off.

"I really hope nothing happens to him," Noel spoke in concern.

"He should be ok...hopefully," Mai whispered in equal concern.

---

Tsubaki said nothing as she sat in a bed in a separate room, staring blankly at the wall as she recalled her encounter with Camellia. As she sat there...more and more memories from before she came to this time began to come back...and she was beginning to question herself if what she believed in...was real or not.

Nearby, Jin gave a sigh as he leaned against the wall nearby, looking at her in slight concern before he decided to move over to her, "Tsubaki…"

"...yes...Jin?"

"What that….thing said about you...that's not who you are. Not anymore…" Jin stated.

"But...I truly did all that...the memories…" Tsubaki paused, looking at her shaking hands, "These hands….they've spilled innocent blood...and for what? To justify my actions? To fight for justice...to fight for what I believed is right? No...I...I did it in the name of the NOL...in the name of the Imperator...I…I tried to kill you...Noel...Makoto...I..." she paused as she lowered her hands, "I'm a monster…"

"No...you were stupid." he argued getting her attention, "There is a clear difference...as my brother has...relentlessly bashed into my head when we spar. Believe me...he still holds a grudge for my horrible choices. But he's made sure to beat the lesson into me...an idiot can make some horrible choices, but they will regret it, they will want to rectify their mistakes. A Monster just does horrible things cause they enjoy the horror of their own acts. You and I...were very much stupid. Unbelivably stupid, and we don't have the right to forget that, but we hate ourselves for those mistakes. That should be proof we aren't monsters."

"..."

"And that other you...that...fake those Forever Knights concocted? That's not you...not anymore," Jin added, "The you I see before me? You would never dream to hurt those loud lunatics you call friends. If you did once...well you've moved beyond that horrible mistake. I can't say anything your own friends wouldn't say to you already, and they are better at this then me. We don't have Magister Tennyson...we need our second in command to get us working together," he sighed, "Ben...is worried and panicked, his lover is hurt, and if he doesn't get his shit together, you're our only hope...cause I have no faith in the womanizer."

"..."

"Tsubaki say something...we need you...I need you."

"...Jin…" Tsubaki whispered, thinking on what Jin had said. He was right...that wasn't her...not anymore. That thing...Camellia...it was not her. Or rather...it was more or less her shadow...the side of her she long forgotten...the side she should seal away, "...you're right...I am an idiot...I put too much responsibility on myself, and I try to justify my actions….no more…" she frowned as she got up out of bed, "Camellia...she's not me...I am who I am. My name is Tsubaki Yayoi...daughter of the Yayoi family, second in command to the Plumbers earth branch in Bellwood...and co-leader of Team Remix Heart."

Jin just smiled as Tsubaki grabbed her Variable Proto-Tool from the nearby counter.

"I won't ever lose myself...not ever again," Tsubaki countered, tapping her necklace as her Proto-Armor formed, "I will never stray from the path I believe in...I won't let my actions be clouded. I will do what I believe is right...and…" she paused as she looked at Jin, "I'll have those precious to me make sure I stay on that path."

"Oh thank god...I am horrible at this…and we know I'm horrible at this...god Niisan never lets me forget that," Jin sighed at that, "Next time I'm leaving it to your dumb friends, cause this is stressful...how do you people do this all the time?"

"Simple...we speak what's in our minds and hearts," Tsubaki replied with a smile as she walked up to him, blushing slightly before giving him a slight peck on the cheek.

"?!" Jin tensed up at that as Tsubaki walked past him, his entire face blushing from the action alone.

"And Jin...thank you. For telling me what I needed to hear," Tsubaki said as she walked out of the room.

"Hah…" he took a deep breath, "Being normal is so much harder than being crazy…"

---

"What if we snuck through the hanger?" Kagura asked as he, Rook and Kajun were discussing plans.

"By then they'll have cut the power, preventing us from escaping," Kajun stated.

"Damn it…"

"We are going to have to find a path and then take a gamble. The odds are just simply against us at the moment." Rook spoke.

"Yeah...and we don't have any way to reach the outside," Kagura frowned, "Ugh...damn those medieval rejects…"

"I'm sure there has to be a solution we can think of," Kajun spoke before the doors opened, letting Ben, Hibiki, Tsubaki and Noel walk in, "Hmm?"

"Catch me up to speed," Tsubaki stated, a serious tone in her voice as she moved over to the three, "What did I miss?"

"You're back?" Kajun asked happily.

"I am." Tsubaki sighed and gave a small smile.

"Oh thank god!" she sighed happily, "Being in charge...it's horrible! How do you do this all the time?"

"I'm a little bit of a control freak…" Tsubaki shrugged.

"She really is," Ben nodded, "And good to see you back, Tsubaki."

"Hai," Tsubaki nodded before getting serious once more, "Once more, catch me up to speed."

"I sent Robotboy through the Ventilation shafts to eavesdrop on the enemy and get outside for help," Noel answered.

"Good. They won't expect that," Tsubaki nodded, "Ben, Hibiki-san?"

"Makoto is healing up and we got her in just in time." Ben sighed, "But we think there has to be a greater goal for all of this,"

"Ben is right, Forever never does things in such a simple manner. He always acts with a greater scheme in mind." Hibiki spoke, "This has to be part of a plan to capture something."

"...hmm…" Tsubaki began to ponder at that, "...where's Max?"

"Standing guard," Kagura answered.

"Hmm...given last time, Forever collaborated with someone to try and get Max...and possibly it wasn't just Elementor," Tsubaki stated, holding her chin in thought.

"You're thinking there might be a second person that was after Max?" Kajun asked.

"We know that Max is still in danger for his Turbo energy." Tsubaki added, "If they were after Ben, they would've caught him by now, but no...and then there's that new villain...Meltdown."

"Formerly Prometheus Black," Rook spoke up, "He was a scientist before an incident involving nanotechnology happened that led to his current appearance."

"Yes...so why w-" Tsubaki began before it dawned on her, "...It's a distraction…Max is alone right now."

"Huh?"

"...?!" Kagura's eyes widened upon realizing that, "Oh sh-"

---

"Shoot!" Max yelped as he jumped back, blocking the incoming shots from the Forever Knights as they began to storm the hallway, "I gotta talk to Kajun about giving me back that experimental gun…" he grabbed Steel and used him to blast back from his cover.

=You said it= Steel agreed =All this shooting's making me feel like I need to dunk my optic into lubricant=

"Come now, Maximillion! Why resist?!" Meltdown called out as he stood behind the barricade of knights, holding his hands out as he unleashed twin streams of acid, "It's better to just cooperate with us!"

"Yeah...I heard that one before!" Max called out, "But like I told the last guy who talked to me like that...bite my well toned armored ass!" he looked around before getting up, he bashed his hand into a control panel and fried it, making the door back to the safe zone close and lock up. He then took off and began running down another hall.

"Oh how cute...he's running," Meltdown laughed as they gave chase.

Forever walked up after a few moments and then looked at the now sealed door, "He's a lot more clever then we gave him credit. He actually made the point he came from inoperable."

"Yes...A rather interesting challenge," Meltdown noted before approaching the metal wall, placing his hands on it as the acid began to eat away at it, "But this game of cat and mouse can only be delayed for so long…"

"True," Forever agreed as he glanced at the direction Max had taken, "But at least one cat will soon catch his mouse."

---

"Damn it...That caught up fast," Max panted as he leaned against the metal wall.

"Well, of course...they have someone that can eat away at metal walls," Skurd pointed out.

=Oh great. I forgot you were on me= Steel grumbled.

"Not a fan either. Maxwell's DNA is spicy even for my tastes," Skurd replied dismissively, "But not important. Ben and the others are distracted, meaning this was all a trap just to get Maxwell alone."

"Yeah...I figured that," Max muttered, "And if we don't do something...they're gonna target everyone in the medical wing."

"We need to out play them somehow," Skurd spoke.

=The only we we can do that is is we gave them what they wanted= Steel spoke =They want Max, and giving them the source of unlimited ultimate energy seems like a very bad, stupid, and terrible idea=

"Do we have another one?" Skurd argued.

=I hate you…=

"Look, it's me they want, but not you guys," Max spoke, "Steel, take Skurd back to Ben. He's gonna need his secret weapon."

=I am on record that I hate this plan!=

"I know. Now go," Max ordered as he jumped and ripped an air vent grate off.

=Ah come on...I'm not Bruce Wilis! I shouldn't be rummaging an organic air circulation system…= Steel complained.

"Oh just go before those knights of the xenophobic square table catch and disect you," Skurd deadpanned.

=Fine, fine, I'm going...but I swear if this all ends in a fight in a burning skyscraper or in a snow-covered airport, I am done for the week!=

"You know the series goes beyond the second…"

=I haven't gotten to 'em yet…=

"Not many do, it seems," Skurd rolled his eyes.

"Just get in there, you two," Max sighed, taking Steel and shoving him and Skurd into the opened vent.

"We're going, we're going…= Skrud and Steel muttered as the latter floated off.

"...And now I am currently defenseless in a way," Max muttered, "Shoot...I gotta think of something to defend myself…"

"Oh Maxwell…!" Forever called out, making Max tense up a bit, "Where are you? I know you're hiding here, boy."

"Welp...brain...good a time as any for you to start being useful," he began running before charging his hand with faint energy and running it along the wall as he kept going.

"There he is," Forever spoke as he and his team caught up, "Where is he…" he stopped as the walls beside them began sparking and exploding, knocking all his Knights off their feet from the blast, "Huh...He's actually clever. Now this could be fun."

"Why not have your little pet pursue him?" Meltdown asked.

"I'm having her watch the first floor. Can't have any surprise intruders or someone getting the main computer afterall."

"Fair, I suppose…"

"Besides...with the defenses I've laid outside, no one would be able ot get in or out...so who could possibly help Maxwell now?"

---

"...I'm bored," one Forever Knight yawned as a few in advanced medieval themed tanks stood outside the shop used to get to HQ, "Why'd our lord have to set us up out here when we can bring our entire forces in there?"

"I dunno...he always likes to play 3D chess," another shrugged.

"Anyone gonna comment on the little robot that snuck out?" one meekly asked.

"SHUT IT, RAMIREZ!" the first knight snapped, making the meek one squeak out, "But I would give anything for some action!"

"Seriously, he just crawled out and flew off…" the meek one began.

"Interrupt me again, Ramirez! See what happens!"

"Ahh…!"

"Seriously, Bruto, ease up on the rookie…" the second knight sighed.

"I can't help it, Stan! I got so much pent up energy in me!"

"...Did you binge on Red Bull again?"

"What did I just say, Ramirez!?" Bruto snapped.

"Eeep!"

"He didn't say anything," Stan deadpanned.

"Don't care! Raging here!"

"I should've stuck with Biggs and Wedge…" Stan sighed, "Least exciting stuff happens with them…"

*BOOM!*

"?!" the three knights tensed as they turned, seeing one of the tanks sliced in half while burning...Ragna standing on top of it as he hopped off.

"Alright…" Ragna began, planting his sword into the ground for a moment as he cracked his knuckles, "Who's first?"

"AHH! ALERT!" Ramirez freaked before some Forever Knights came charging out.

"Trespasser, halt in the name of the F-!" one began.

"Master, Ben's gramps, your up," Ragna grinned a bit

"Hello there," Max Tennyson spoke up as the Knights turned to see him holding up a rather large and...intimidating rifle weapon, "You have my men, and you have my kids. I would like both back," he smiled, cocking the weapon as the barrel began glowing, "That wasn't a request." he pulled the trigger as a powerful blast of energy fired out, tearing up the street and knocking the Knights flying back, their armors seeming to crumble and peel off leaving them in only whatever underclothing they had under said armor. Their tanks were far worse off.

"What kinda weapon is that!?" a knight gawked before a yellow blur zipped by him, "What was th…" his armor fell off in slivers, leaving him in white boxers with pink hearts, "!?"

"Should've payed attention," Jubei stated, retracting his claws as one by one, more of the knights' armors fell to pieces.

"Ahh! I've been disarmed!"

"And I've been dis-armored!"

"What is that?!"

"Ahh! Bakeneko! They're real!"

"Boy, this is almost tragic." Grandpa Max sighed, he then swung his arm up into the face of a knight trying to sneak up on him, leaving him with a black eye and broken nose.

"Agreed," Ragna added, clothslining one knight before picking up by his leg and slammed him into another, "But let's not waste time on these grunts...Ben and the others need us…"

"Ag-reed!" Robotboy shouted, poking out of Ragna's pocket.

"Dang it, robo-kid! What did I say about hitch-hiking in my pockets?!"

"Ve-ry spacious…" he smiled...before sinking back in and just vanishing into the spaciousness.

"You little brat!" Ragna growled before blocking a laser with the flat of his sword, "...Thank you for being my venting target!"

"Oh geez!"

"Hold it!" Jubei called out, making Ragna and Grandpa Max look at him, "You two rush inside...I'll handle these guys out here."

"You sure?" Grandpa Max asked.

"Trust me…" Jubei paused as his eye became slit, "I'm more than capable of dealing with a buncha xenophobes playin' dress up…"

"How dare you, you feline monstrosity!" an Elite Knight shouted.

"Monstrosity? So I didn't groom one time and everyone calls me a monster, eh?" Jubei pondered, "Well, not sure how I feel 'bout that."

"Silence!" the elite knight snapped as he fired at Jubei...who quickly unsheathed his blades and sliced the beam in half, "?! What?!"

"Oh yeah...don't know about my weapons now, do ya?" Jubei asked as he stood ready, "My swords...the Dream Blades: Musashi can cut anything that can't normally be cut...fire, water...acid...even lasers."

"...oh...we are screwed aren't we?" Stan asked with a gulp.

"You are…" Ragna grinned as he and Grandpa Max rushed inside.

"However the side effect is I can't cut normal objects, so…" Jubei began, re-sheathing his blades before bringing his claws out, "I trained myself to use my claws for just that."

"...Oh, we're in for a lot of shots later, aren't we?" one muttered, paling.

"Nah. I washed my claws earlier. 'Course, I did have some spicy chicken wings, so that sauce may still be on 'em."

"...Oh f-"

---

"...Something doesn't feel right," Forever whispered, stopping just as they were nearing the medical wing. He then pulled out a special communicator as he turned it on, "Camellia, report."

=Yes, your majesty?= Camellia answered.

"Has anything happened during our pursuit of Maxwell?"

=It seems from last, I heard Ragna the Bloodedge and Magister Tennyson are making their way in=

"...What?"

=Yes, and…=

=POCKET ROBOT!=

=Wh-AHH!=

"And they've arrived…" Forever muttered, taking a deep breath for a moment, "Alright...It seems the plan has been...somewhat changed a bit."

"Changed?" Meltdown asked.

"Yes. Rest assured, the young lady Sari will still be yours to deal with today," Forever assured, "It will just be a few extra moves for myself, is all."

"...Again, fair…." Meltdown muttered, moving to melt another wall before them...however just as the wall was melted by his acid, he was met face to face with Noel aiming Bolverk right at him, "?!"

"Bang."

*BANG BANG!*

"GAH!" Meltdown cried out as he staggered back, kneeling down on one knee as he panted, "That….That actually hurt...!"

"That actually worked?" Noel blinked as well.

"Unexpected…" Forever muttered.

"Grr...I'll take pleasure in seeing the look on young Sari's face…" Meltdown began as he got back up, the holes in him starting to close up slowly as he glared at Noel, "By turning one of her precious friends into a melted puddle!"

"Ahh!" Noel yelped as she ran off with Meltdown chasing after her.

"..."

"Sir?" one elite knight spoke.

"...Well played…" Forever whispered, "They caught onto our strategy, so they're reversing it on me…"

=We have= Tsubaki spoke from the radios, making Forever tense up =It took a bit of time, but thanks to Kajun and the boys from the lab, we were able to hack into the base's communications system without having to worry about the Izayoi cutting us off, so anyone else that is in the base has caught onto the attack...and by now, Magister Tennyson and some backup have arrived thanks to a friend of ours=

"...The little robot…" Forever realized, "I never assumed she could part with it for long…"

=That's what happens when you underestimate my friends...this is what happens when you underestimate us= Tsubaki countered =And Camellia...I know you are listening…=

---

"Gh!" Camellia grunted as she skidded back, quickly using her shield to block Ragna's sword.

=You called me a disgrace to the Yayoi family name...you're wrong= Tsubaki stated with a frown.

"Oh, so that's your name," Ragna noted, "Was just gonna call ya a ripoff of Mewtwo."

"Silence!" Camellia snapped, changing her sword into a bladed whip as she swung it at Ragna, "And she's wrong!"

=No...I know who I am. You're nothing more than my shadow...my former self before coming here= Tsubaki continued =I will never become you...and I will never let you pervert justice=

"?! Me pervert Justice?! Why you…" Camellia snarled before blocking Ragna's punch with her shield.

"Hey now. We're fighting, ya wilted flower copy."

"...Fine...then I'll succeed in doing what that fake and Jin failed to do…" Camellia frowned as she jumped back, her sword and shield changing into a bow as she pulled back the 'string' on it, causing a few arrows of light to appear on it, "Killing you, Ragna the Bloodedge!"

"And that's the ninety-ninth time I've heard a variation of that line," Ragna noted, rolling his eyes in exasperation.=

"Silence!" Camellia snapped as she let the arrows fly, "Shinei!"

"Get him, mil-" one Elite knight began before he was blasted back by Grandpa Max's weapon, "Gah!"

"I'm honestly surprised at how fast he recruited so many folks," Grandpa Max admitted.

"He must be building up an army," Ragna guessed, using his sword to deflect as many light arrows as he can, "I swear if he's building an army to conquer Earth like those damn frogs…!"

"Concerns for after!" Grandpa Max spoke blasting another Knight off his feet.

"Got it! Focus on beating these tin cans and using them to vent!"

---

"Grr...Where are you, little girl?" Meltdown growled, walking through one of the large storage areas within the base as he looked for Noel, "I know you're here somewhere, child! You cannot hide from me!"

"Pretty sure she can!" Sari's voice countered.

"!?" Meltdown's eyes widened as he looked around, "Well now, you're here as well, Sari Sumdac."

"Yeah...but I'm not alone," Sari countered.

"Hmm?" Meltdown raised a brow before jumping back from Mai's thrown spear, prompting him to turn and counter before a few blasts hit him in the back, "Gah!"

"Good job, Robotboy," Noel whispered before hopping back into her hiding spot with a transformed Robotboy.

"So..the little robot Forever mentioned has a battle mode...hmph. Must've snuck back to her while we weren't paying attention," Meltdown noted, hissing a bit in pain as he stood straight back up, "Regardless, I won't lose to a human girl, a cyborg, a half-Cybertronian, and your little robot pet."

"Hey, he is not a pet!" Sari argued.

"Oh? Then perhaps 'toy' is better, especially compared to your Autobot friends," Meltdown countered as he turned and fired a stream of acid at a box, causing it to melt...and show nothing behind it, "Which makes me wonder...how will they react when they hear you've fallen?"

"No idea since that's not happening," Mai replied as Meltdown barely avoided her thrown spear.

"Heh...gotcha!" Meltdown shouted as he turned, firing twin streams of acid at two more boxes, causing them to melt...and reveal the cryonic bombs within them, "?!"

"Sari, now!"

"Allyoop!" Sari shouted as she jumped over the crates and Meltdown, aiming right over him as she fired a pair of shots at the bombs, causing a large explosion as Meltdown was caught in the frozen blast, "Got him!"

"..." Did it work?" Mai asked as she, Noel, and Robotboy poked out, the icy mist dying down a bit to show Meltdown..the right side of his face frozen as his acid was melting the ice on his body, "Oh come on…"

"Not bad...but if it's any consolation…" Meltdown began with a frown, the ice on his face melting as he glared at the girls, "That hurt like hell."

"Well, there goes that idea for catching him," Sari groaned before yelping as she and the others went back to their hiding spots just as Meltdown unleashed more acid.

"You're going to run out of hiding spots eventually!" Meltdown growled, firing another stream of acid at a box before shooting at another, "Even if I have to melt every single thing in here, I will find you!"

"He's mad!" Noel yelped.

"Let's hope Ben and the others are okay on their end!" Mai shouted.

---

"Max...I know you are in here…." Forever called out as he looked around, stepping into a dark room, "No need for this trick...You have no one to protect you…"

"Yeah, well...your own plan seems to be turning on you," Max's voice countered as the lights turned on, revealing Forever had stepped into one of the training rooms.

"...Really now? Is this how you're gonna do things? You're gonna use the tools meant for practice to try and hurt me?" Forever asked in an unimpressed tone.

"Oh that's cute, you think you can take our training program. Which by the way...was designed by a possible masochist." Max laughed, "And no...I wish I was being dramatic about that."

"...heh. My dear boy...You've no idea how many so-called geniuses I've outsmarted…"

"If you're such a genius, then tell me this...why are you after me, huh?" Max asked, "Someone is after my power, they got you and they got the four season stooges to chase me. So who is it that so badly wants my power?"

Forever chuckled, "Ah, you saw that, didn't you? You inherited your mother's sleuthing skills, I see."

"Well I'm no super genius. But I'm not as dumb as I choose to act," Max admitted, "Being stupid is just so much more easier on life."

"...Yes...and you and Ben Tennyson seem to have that in common," Forever noted, "Hiding behind a facade to lower the guard of your foes, letting them think you're an incompetent child only to show your fangs as the dragons you truly are."

"I've always had a thing against bullies, I don't know, I like picking on the guys above my weight class." Max chuckled as he finished typing something.

"...What did you do?"

"I put it to Jubei's super hard mode...also called: 'Oh God Why Mode!'" he laughed.

"...I'll bite. Why?"

"I was tempted to put you on 'DODGE!', but I f…"

"No. Why is it called 'Oh God Why Mode?'"

"Cause no one, not even me and Ben at our best...can get past stage 3…" he chuckled, "And when I say best, I mean 100 percent in the zone, eyes on the prize, nothing can stop me best. Even Ragna calls it torture. And now...you're stuck in it with me," he gripped his hand on the pad and crushed it, "Oops, looks like we're stuck here 'till someone fixes that."

"...hmm hmm….fine. Then let's see what this has in store," Forever chuckled as the area rippled into a large arena, "...This it? I was expecting more than that."

"Oh...it's just beginning, buddy…"

"?" Forever blinked behind his helmet before quickly jumping back as part of the floor opened up, revealing a massive pit field with spikes below before he narrowly dodged a swinging guillotine that came from the side, "Interesting."

"Oh...it's just beginning…" Max chuckled before yelping as the ground below him went off on a spring and smashed him into a wall, "...ow...Forgot that...the times I went through this...I had Steel…"

"Ah yes…" Forever began as he jumped back from twin streams of red and blue flames, "where is your robotic companion?"

"Off doing something stupid," Max replied.

"The painful thing is...I believe you…" Forever sighed.

---

=I feel Max just said we're doing something stupid=

"I believe it…" Skurd argued.

=Oh shut it you…= Steel deadpanned as he made a turn =Besides, I think we're nearing Ben and the others=

"Good," Skurd noted as they moved towards a vent, "The sooner we reunite with him, the faster we can drive the rejects from Mony Python and the Holy Grail."

=I swear if we have to deal with a loony black knight…= Steel sighed.

"We'll just throw a 'cute little bunny' at them," Skurd countered.

=You mean an angry Noel?=

"Exactly!" Skurd laughed, "Ah...but in all seriousness, we just need to collect a collection of adorable curios to bribe her with."

=Tell me about it. I still feel phantom pains from the shots she gave us when we first met= Steel muttered =And don't get me started on when Max, when I wasn't there and beating Ben in Super Smash Bros. Melee…=

"Sounds to me you were losing and lying to yourself."

=...He accidentally broke a little glass puppy and now he avoids anything tiny and made of glass at all costs= Steel went on, ignoring Skurd's factual statement =Though, yeah. Bribing her with the cute and adorable stuff seems to work=

"I think there was a sale on those Eeveelution plushies she's been eying…"

=Small, large, or life-sized?=

"What's our budget?"

=I control Max's bank account=

"Makoto controls Ben's…"

"And I control the team's budget," Tsubaki spoke up.

"Yes I…" Skurd began before blinking, turning to see the vent open and see Tsubaki staring at them, "Oh...you're back?"

"I am," Tsubaki nodded, reaching in as she picked Steel up and pulled him out, "You can lower me, Ben."

"Got it," Fourarms nodded as he put Tsubaki down onto the floor before changing back into Ben, "Max sent you here?"

=Yep. ...This was a trap for him, wasn't it?=

"Yes," Tsubaki sighed as Skurd quickly afixed himself to the Omnitrix.

"Oh I've missed you…" Skurd sighed in relief, affectionately rubbing his tentacles against the Omnitrix.

"...ahem! Anyways, now that you're here, we can resume our counterattack against the Forever Knights," Tsubaki spoke up.

"Any idea where Max is?" Ben asked.

=Judging by where we were at the time, I'd say he would be heading for the training room=

"The training room?" Tsubaki asked.

=Best guess, he's trapping them in the 'Oh God Why Mode' simulation= Steel spoke =It was a plan we made up incase doodoo ever hit the fan. Yes, I'm self censoring, your human curse words are disgusting, get over yourselves=

"Where is Noel? I have an interesting proposal for her," Skurd stated.

"Currently distracting Meltdown with Mai and Sari," Tsubaki answered.

"I plan to bribe her…" Skurd admitted, "With cute things!"

"...Were you two talking about Monty Python and the Holy Grail?" Ben guessed.

"Be silent. You don't know what I think," Skurd responded simply, "Now be a good pretty face and go punch stuff." he stretched up his little pseudopod and tapped Ben's face condescendingly.

"...Fine. I was gonna go search for Max and Forever anyways," Ben admitted as he began to walk off.

"We are gonna go look for them," Jin spoke as he began walking next to him.

"The more pretty faces I can throw at them, the better, men! To arms!" Skurd ordered.

"Who put you in charge?" Ben and Jin asked.

"Well clearly both of you are too prideful to listen to the other so a neutral party should lead. And I'd trade both your lives for a DNA buffet and pay-per-view."

"...Now I see why you're so irritated with him, Tennyson," Jin muttered as the two stepped out.

"I know you dislike the ones I like, so I have no reason to be nice to you," Skurd added, "I take command, and I dare you to try and take it from me!" At that, he grew a Tetremand arm and slapped both upside the head, "Obey!"

"Ow!"

"I will freeze you, slime!"

"Try it, Jinny-boy!"

"GRR!"

---

"Starting to run out of hiding spots!" Mai called out as she barely avoided a stream of acid from Meltdown.

"Noel, please tell me your guns can change into an ice grenade launcher!" Sari called out.

"No...Just a regular grenade launcher…" Noel sighed before yelping as Robotboy carried her up into the air just as Meltdown fired at her, "I can't change what I shoot, sorry!"

"Ah geez...We need a way to stop him…" Sari said before yelping as she ducked, barely avoiding a stream of acid that had pierced the box she was hiding behind, "Ahh!"

"Found you…" Meltdown grinned before firing twin streams of acid at her.

"Ahh!" Sari yelped as she jumped out of the way, landing near one of the remaining crates, her energy blade piercing it a bit, "?!" she tensed up, quickly pulling out before she noticed what looked like bombs in there, "...Please be more ice bombs," she whispered before reading a small label on the corner, "...Crystal bombs?"

"I think Kajun made those…" Mai whispered as she, Noel, and Robotboy moved near her, "I think she wanted something to emulate the cryo bombs, but no worry about them melting."

"...She based these off Diamondhead, didn't she?"

"Probably," Mai replied.

"I'm fairly certain she did and that's why Ben avoided her for a week," Noel added.

"...I got an idea…" Sari grinned, making the three blink, "Okay RB, you take some a-"

"RAAGH!" Meltdown shouted as he unleashed a massive wave of acid, destroying more of the boxes until there were barely any left, "I grow tired of this cat and mouse game, Sumdac….I will kill you, and present your melted remains to your father…!"

"Oh no," the girls gulped as Robotboy picked up some of the bombs.

"Oh please...you think those will work? Your little plan to freeze me won't w-" Meltdown began before Robotboy tossed one of the bombs at him, resulting in an explosion as his arm was being covered in crystals. "!?"

Robotboy blinked and looked down at the bombs in his hand then at Meltdown. His eyes narrowed, his arm opening and transforming into a grenade launcher as he loaded the bombs in.

"You...You tricked me again…!" Meltdown grunted as he staggered back.

"Actually, that was more dumb luck," Mai admitted.

"And I forget Robotboy has a lot of hidden weapons and tools," Noel nodded.

"And looks like you're going back to jail as a crystal statue," Sari added as she did a taunting wave, "Bye bye~"

"YOU LITTLE…!" Meltdown roared, about to fire acid from his free arm before he was pelted with another crystal bomb, "GAH!"

"Let's say sometimes Kajun's crazy ideas...are useful," Noel muttered as Robotboy fired every single one he had picked up and loaded into his launcher until Meltdown was trapped as a crystalized statue with an acidic center.

"I'll say," Sari agreed, "And here's hoping that her names for these inventions are better than my dad's."

"Huh? What's wrong with the names of inventions your dad makes?"

"One is called 'Fully Automated Rapid Transport System,'" Sari deadpanned.

"..." Mai snickered, putting a hand over her mouth, "It...It condenses to…"

"Yes," Sari replied as Mai broke out into a laughter fit, "Huh...I thought only guys laugh at that name."

"...?" Robotboy just tilted his head as he changed back to his smaller state, "What...funny? It spell fa-"

"Let's just hurry and meet back up with the others," Noel suggested, quickly covering Robotboy's mouth.

"Is it okay to leave him here?" Mai asked as they were about to leave.

"Feet trapped, too," Robotboy replied.

"We should be good then," Sari shrugged as the four rushed off, Mai still snickering slightly as they left the crystalized Meltdown there.

'...Blast it…' Meltdown thought in annoyance.

---

"...Well, this just feels unfair," Forever noted, looking around to see him surrounded by copies of Ben's Aliens..and their respective predators.

"We call this part 'prey and hunter unite'..." Max muttered, "It was originally a bunch of large Earth predators-dinosaurs included-and their respective prey attacking us all at once...but Jubei overheard about the predators for Ben's aliens and decided to change it up."

"How are you alive?"

"You would not believe the amount of stuff we've survived together!" Max laughed.

"Joke all you want...they are gonna attack you as well."

"...Aw crud," Max realized as the alien predators and their respective prey leapt at the two, "Ahh!"

All of a sudden, the holograms began to fizzle out before vanishing. The arena they were in began changing back to the normal training room, much to Max's surprise. Before Max could say anything, he could hear the sound of someone clapping...and it wasn't Forever.

"Bravo. Oh, bravo," a voice chuckled, albeit it was a weak one, "Attempting a pyrrhic victory of sorts was quite a risk maneuver in this situation, young Maxwell. Putting it on that setting and destroying the only interior way of disabling it not only prevented Forever from disabling it, but also left you to its mercy as well."

"...Who are you?" Max cautiously asked.

"Me? Why, I'm Forever's business partner…" Max turned to see Dredd standing near the broken console, "Glad we could finally meet in person…"

'Aw great…' Max thought before Forever kicked him and sent him to Dredd, who caught him by the shoulders as Max's TURBO Energy flared, "Gah!"

"Now...Give me that energy!" Dredd declared.

"Wh…" Max began before the TURBO Energy leaking off him began to soak into Dredd, causing him to start bulking up to that of the build of a man in his prime as orangish-red energy began to shine beneath parts of his armor, making his chest look as if it had grown four eyes with more glowing 'vents' forming on his body.

"Yes...I can feel it! Such wonderful power!" Dredd laughed as he dropped Max, who collapsed to his side and groaning.

"Surprised, Maxwell? My companion here...well, let's consider him your Predator, shall we?" Forever chuckled.

"Phrasing…" Max and Dredd replied at the same time.

"Oh, be more mature," Forever snorted, "But I've held my end of the deal, Dredd...I've had my men act as decoys for Benjamin and his team...just so you can capture Maxwell here."

"And I am most appreciative," Dredd replied, "The enhancements to my armor make this process oh so much easier."

"Is this the tense part where the two of you begin weighing if you should double cross one another or not?" Max grunted, "Usually the case when two evil genius psychopaths team up…"

"Oh please...What could possibly be gained from that?" Forever laughed.

"You mean besides A: An unlimited super energy source AKA me, and B: Whatever tech this weirdo has?" Max asked, "You already got a creepy clone of my friend following you around. Who knows what weird stuff you'd do with my powers?"

"Both good options really," Forever noted, "But I believe my job is done here...He's all yours, Dredd."

"Great...a bad guy with a sense of honor among thieves…" Max muttered before Dredd grabbed him.

"And you will enjoy yourself in your new home…" Dredd smirked as he picked him up, "No need to resist...You are highly sought after all."

"Wow...Ragna must've heard that line a lot."

"?" Dredd raised a brow as he turned, only to grunt as he was hit by a cutting wave of ice and fire, prompting him to drop Max as he staggered back, "What!?"

"Is it just me...or do all the villains that scream 'danger' always wear black and red somewhere on their person in their period?" Jin questioned.

"Eh. Probably to look super menacing," Swampfire shrugged, wielding a sword that seemed to be made of Heatblast.

"Stalling for time seems to be a mastered skill of you all!" Dredd laughed.

"You guys make it so easy…" Max groaned, falling over.

"Whoa...I've never seem Max this drained before," Swampfire noted as Steel floated over them.

=That guy...I sense TURBO Energy in him but...it feels weird= Steel noted.

"Weird?" Skurd repeated.

=Yes. As if the TURBO Energy has been...reversed or...or corrupted=

"Of course…" Forever spoke up as he walked over to Dredd, "In a way...Dredd here is Maxwell's Predator."

"Dredd?" Jin pondered, "As in...Miles Dredd?"

"Oh, you've heard of me," Dredd noted.

"Your file from your time as a Plumber. While the report said you died alongside Jim McGrath in a lab experiment in Copper Canyon, it seems we'll need to rectify it," Jin replied.

"Well, I kept hidden this long...As long as no one gets out of this room alive," he aimed his hands out as red beams of fire blasted both Swampfire and Jin slamming them into a wall. The energy spread across them as Swampfire timed out and Jin fell to his knees in pain, "Well...how about that? My negative energy seems to have...negative effects on people." he reached down and grabbed Max and drained more energy from him, "And all topped off once more," he smirked behind his mask.

"Hh….Teme…" Jin grunted out, holding his chest as he got back up.

"What...the heck was that…" Ben asked.

"Negative TURBO Energy...While the regular stuff can mess with machines, the negative variant...must shut down some forms of tech…" Skurd groaned, the Omnitrix faceplate and the matching symbol on Skurd both glowing red at the moment.

"Oh, so much more than that," Dredd chuckled.

"What...It can cause equipment to go berserk?" Jin grunted.

"If it did, I would have taken over this entire base and have it attack," Dredd countered, "But it's more health benefits." he chuckled picking up Max and walking over to Ben and Jin...before walking around them and down the halls, "Good day, gentlemen. I hope I never have to see your sad faces again. Not like you'll be around long enough…" he chuckled.

"No...you don't!" Jin shouted as he jammed his sword into the ground, producing a massive wall of ice that blocked the exit, "You're not going anywhere…"

"Ah…" Dredd sighed while he dropped Max before dashing around at surprising speed much like Max as he punched Jin, sending him flying down the other end of the hall, "Okay, boy, let's do this your way." he walked over and grabbed Jin by his leg...only for Jin to suddenly shatter into ice, "?!"

"Got you," Jin whispered as he stood behind him, sheathing his katana as a massive explosion of ice burst forth right underneath Dredd.

Jin stepped back only for his eyes to widen as Dredd's fist hit him in his stomach. Dredd growled as his body was glowing bright red, to the point it looked like his armor was being pushed open by a giant of red energy.

"Hahaha...Oh you still don't understand what I am, do you?" Dredd asked as he grabbed Jin and lifted him up, "I'm not a human anymore; I am a being of energy. Ice? Ice isn't going to work on me! There's nothing left to freeze!" he tossed and slammed Jin into the wall, "I played along, kiddo...but…" his hands began glowing with large orbs of the same red energy, "You've really pissed me off!" he swung and unleashed the beams, causing a huge explosion to rock the base.

"Ugh…" the smoke cleared to show Max using his body as a shield to protect Jin.

"Max…" Jin gasped.

"Hmm? Now what's this?" Dredd pondered.

"I...hate bullies…" Max groaned while passing out, his armor dulling but keeping in place by locking up his helmet to protect him.

"Well...I was sure I drained him to the extent he couldn't move, but he actually was able to pull out enough to move." Dredd spoke while picking Max up, the energy vampire reverting to his black armored form as he began draining more energy from Max, causing the blue sections to fade even further, "Ah...that's the fix." He aimed and blasted the wall of ice, "Well, I'd hate to ruin the poor boy's last heroic act before becoming an endless supply of energy for me, so I shall be taking my leave. Much, much more important things to do then beat up on two dumb kids with far too much ego." he began walking before nudging his leg and flipping Ben over, "Ah good...I was afraid he died in the blast, but still breathing! Can't have Forever mad at me now." he then nudged Ben aside as he kept walking down the hall, "Ta ta."

---

"Alright, if we did this right, then we should have the camera systems back," Driba noted.

"Good. The sooner we can get them back on, the better," Kagura stated as Kajun pushed a button on her tablet and it began to display several feeds.

"It works," Kajun replied before her eyes widened, "Someone has Maxwell and is making their way towards the entrance Meltdown created."

"What?" Tsubaki's eyes widened as she looked over, "...How...b…" her eyes narrowed before summoning her sword and shield, "Contact the others! We need to make sure they don't leave with Max!" she called out as she rushed off.

"I'll go retrieve Ben and Jin," Hibiki nodded as he leapt off into the shadows.

"What the heck even is that thing?" Kagura asked.

"My guess...Forever's other partner Tsubaki theorized," Kajun frowned.

"Well how was he able to be Max so easily?"

"...What if...he's Max's Predator?" Kajun whispered with wide eyes.

"Phrasing…" Kagura coughed.

"I mean, what if that figure is Max's father's natural predator like Crabdozer to Heatblast or Slamworm to Armadrillo?" Kajun expanded her question.

"...Oh shit, you're right," Kagura realized, "And since Ben and Jin aren't chasing them…" a frown soon grew on his face, "This guy is dangerous…"

"Yes...wh-" Kajun began as Kagura began to step out, "?"

"Enough fooling around...It's about time I get serious…" Kagura frowned, bridging his sword out as he stepped out.

"Huh...I didn't think he could be serious," Blukic admitted.

---

"Damn...this bitch...just won't quit," Ragna panted, standing across from a panting Camellia, glaring right at him.

"I will not...not until I see you in chains and executed, Grim Reaper!" Camellia shouted.

"You know I almost thought I missed that bit...turns out I was wrong…" Ragna muttered, "So screw you, you crazy psycho clone bitch…"

"You…!"

"That's enough, Camellia…" Forever's voice spoke.

"?!" Grandpa Max quickly turned towards the doorway to open fire, only to be blasted back by an energy shot from Dredd, "Gah!"

"We have accomplished our mission," Forever spoke as Dredd dragged Max along.

"?! ...Of course, my lord," Camellia nodded, the Izayoi fading into light as she walked over.

"Oh no you don't!" Ragna growled as he charged right at Dredd, "Let the kid go!"

"Oh good...another one," Dredd sighed as he simply held his hand up and blasted Ragna sending him sliding back across the ground, "Can we get on with it?! I have things to do!"

"Yes of course...y-" Forever began before Camellia ran to his back, bringing the Izayoi out once more as she blocked Tsubaki's incoming blade, "Oh look..more nuisances…"

"You…" Camellia scowled as she and Tsubaki glared at one another.

"Me," Tsubaki replied ,her eyes narrowed into a glare aimed at Camellia.

"Fake."

"Imposter…"

"Ugh! Must I do everything my…" Dredd began before he was forced back suddenly, staggering forward as he nearly dropped Max, "...Now who…"

"Me…" Dredd turned to see Kagura glaring straight at him, "Drop the kid...or else."

"Or else what, Mr. Black Knight?" Forever asked, "You've barely held your own against me during our first encounter."

"Yeah about that...I was holding back back then…"

"Hmm?" Forever blinked before, all of a sudden, the front of his helmet was almost completely sliced in two, nearly revealing his face, "?!"

"When you've faced a literal devil like I had...you'd be best to prepare in case he ever comes back," Kagura stated, swinging his giant sword single handedly as he popped his neck, "Now like I said...let Max go or else…"

"Ugh...How many times are annoying kids gonna get in my way?" Dredd sighed as he lifted up Max, "This...you mean my source of unlimited Turbo energy that I need to sustain myself and my plans?" he asked as, for emphasis, he began draining Max of energy again, making him groan in pain, "Yeah, no. I don't think I'm handing this over…" he lowered Max before raising his free hand up, his body flashing as he turned into his glowing red form once more, "I would very much like to leave," he began charging a massive ball of red Negative Turbo energy, "And nothing is getting in my way anymore."

"Then by old means, you old leech…" Kagura began, stopping his single-handed sword sings before resting his sword on his shoulder, "Try it…"

"...Very well," Dredd shrugged before firing the red sphere directly at Kagura, who narrowed his eyes before, with a swing of his sword, he sliced it in half with bits of black flames and electricity crackling off it as the two halves of the sphere hit the walls near him "?!"

"...Oh bloody hell. He was holding back," Forever whispered.

"Well...that was unexpected," Dredd spoke in shock, before he swung and used Max as a club and slammed him into Kagura, taking him by surprise for a moment, and using the fact it was his friend to dissuade him from trying that again.

"Ow…" Max groaned.

"...Hmph...I figured you'd be the type to hide behind meatshields," Kagura frowned as he got up.

"You greatly mistake me for being anything at all like my work associate," Dredd spoke, "I've dealt with problems in far more underhanded ways. The last time I personally took care of a headache...I enjoyed watching him explode inside of his own little invention." he laughed menacingly, "True, it also did cause me to end up fused with my own invention that caused his demise, but as you can see…" he drained more from Max, making the teen groan, "The benefits outweigh the drawbacks."

"You sick twisted…"

"Oh please, flattery will get you nowhere." Dredd cut him off, "Listen...I know how this would go...the battle will expand out, resulting in possibly many casualties and the destruction of the base possibly until I go all out myself, thus destroying...possibly half of the city with the resulting explosion." he went on, "How do I know this, you wonder? I am the foremost expert in TURBO Energy on the planet! And I am emanating Negatively Charged TURBO Energy! You've seen the kind of explosions Maxwell here causes with his, do you want to see what the Negatively charged variant does?"

"..." Kagura scowled at him, letting it ruminate within his mind, "...tch...damn it…"

"You realized it too…" Tsubaki whispered, stepping back from Camellia as she put her own weapons away, "Fine...you win then…"

"Heh….th-"

"However...I have one thing to say to you two…" Tsubaki stated with a frown as she turned to glare at them, "We won't let this attack stand...we will rescue our friend from you, whether you like it or not."

"Well I welcome you to try." Dredd replied, "You'll find me in the big black tower down the way. Not that you'll even be able to get in." he laughed, "Or...survive long enough to make it."

"You'd be surprised what we've faced and lived through," Tsubaki argued back as Camellia walked past her, "And you say we won't be able to get into your tower...every fortress, no matter how powerful teh defense it may hold has a chink in it."

"Well...like I said, I doubt you...or anyone in the immediate area will be around to try," Dredd laughed, "So...good day, and please don't be sore losers. I'm just a common cheater after all," he chuckled as he aimed his hand down and blasted energy which propelled him upwards and outward.

"You'll see soon enough your justice is false," Camellia stated to Tsubaki as the two walked over to the elevator.

"Let's agree to disagree then," Tsubaki argued back, making Camellia's frown grow as the elevator doors closed in front of them, "...tch."

"We lost...badly, didn't we?" Ragna groaned as he managed to push himself up.

"True," Kagura replied as he put his sword away, "But...I noticed something that I don't think they did."

"What?" Tsubaki asked.

"He was starting to spark a bit after that last drain," Kagura pointed out, "I think...he has a limit."

"A limit?" Tsubaki repeated before it dawned on her, "...Of course...he can absorb as much energy as he can, but too much…"

"And it'll overload him like a battery," Kagura grinned a bit.

"Not to interject on the nerd talk...but...wouldn't that mean he explodes...you know...like how Max would...the big 'oh shit, we're all dead' kaboom that he needs the alien toaster to stop?" Ragna pointed out.

"...Oh shit," Kagura...and even Tsubaki cursed upon realizing that.

"I mean...it seems like the only way to stop that freak, 'cause...that laser shit really hurt. My hand is just...now…" he emphasised by raising it up, "...starting to feel something, so that means...Max would have to drag him away someplace safe and then overload him. Which...I don't think he can do given how weak he looked."

"And even then...what would happen to Max?" Kagura asked.

"That's what I'm worried about…" Tsubaki whispered, putting her sword and shield away as she walked over and helped up Grandpa Max, "Which is why we need to start planning and searching…"

"Who was that guy?" Grandpa Max groaned.

"I'm not sure aside from the fact that he might explode from absorbing too much of Max's TURBO energy," Tsubaki replied, "But more importantly, let's get you treated for those injuries, Magister."

"Thank you, Tsubaki…"

"Tch...damn it," Ragna cursed as he got up, rolling his shoulders around as a popping sound could be heard, "Damn bastard…"

"Sucks don't it?" Ragna turned to see Jubei approach, holding onto his arm while he was missing his eye-patch, "Losing to someone who had the tactical advantage…"

"Master...you…"

"Bastards got th' jump on me before I could go in to assist ya," Jubei muttered, wincing as he held his arm, "Dislocated my arm too…"

"So any idea on how we should go about this?" Ragna asked, "That new energy vampire guy seems to be a real problem."

"Agreed," Kagura frowned as he walked over, "We need to find a way to use that to our advantage without having him explode and take the city with him...hey. What i-"

"If he tried, chances are he'll become a failed yet semi-perfect Black Beast," Ragna and Jubei instantly argued.

"Rats," Kagura snapped his fingers with a frown.

"Besides it looks like the only energy he desires or even needs is TURBO Energy." Tsubaki spoke.

"Meaning he needs Max to keep him fed, and to power some big project of his," Grandpa Max added, "It's clear that, unlike Forever, this guy just wants to attain his end goals whatever they might be. And I'm sure none of them are good if he is confident enough to put off ending us in favor of his machinations."

"Those two together...they're a truly dangerous combination…" Tsubaki frowned, 'Then there's Camellia...no. She's my problem to deal with...For now, I need to focus on finding and rescuing Max….'

---

"Wake up! Wake up!" Ben heard the voice of Skurd as he was being slapped repeatedly by the Slimebiot's extending pseudopod.

"Gh...N-not so loud…" Ben groaned as he began to wake up, "Skurd?"

"Oh thank heavens...I was getting really worried there," Skrud admitted, "If you died, how would I dare face your significant other? Now get up you lazy hero! Your friend has been kidnapped by a freakish energy vampire!"

"Huh? Morningst...oh wait," Ben's memories quickly caught up to him, "That Dredd guy took Max!"

"Yes...and he and Forever escaped," Skurd added with a sigh, "They also managed to get past your grandfather, Ragna, and Jubei…"

"...Ah geez…" Ben groaned as he sat up, seeing he was lying down on a bed, "...Where are the others?"

"Doing minor information gathering," Skurd replied, "Trying to understand our foe thanks to Jin revealing this character was a former Plumber."

"Another rogue Plumber?" Ben asked, raising a brow, "What is with me and running into guys like that? Phil, then Driscoll, then that Tetramand when the Highbreed were invading, and now this."

"To be fair, it's a little pretentious to assume everyone who is in an intergalactic police force would be 'good,'" Skurd argued, "I've seen your Earth movies. Crooked cops are a thing!"

"Yes I know! Just…" Ben began with a snap, only to sigh as he plopped back down onto the bed he was in, "Damn it...We outright lost back there...bad."

"What did you expect? Azmuth himself did beat it into yours and Makoto's noggin about messing with TURBO Energy." Skurd replied.

"How do you...?" Ben asked in confusion since Skurd wasn't there for that.

"Kajun loves to blab while working. You have no ideas how easy it is to get info from her while she's lost in work. It's like a trance scenario...FYI...I know all she knows about you and the others. In layman's terms, I have blackmail material," Skurd explained, "But enough about how I know all your secrets, get up off your butt and save my rival's partner!" He formed a set of Tetramand arms and used them to lift Ben out of the bed and drag him out and down the hall to the others.

"Ow! Hey hey! Easy!" Ben grunted as he was dragged along.

"No! This shouldn't be bad compared to how your girlfriend drags you around!" Skurd argued.

"When she does it, she's just tall enough so I don't get my face dragged along the ground!"

"Blame your own arms' anatomy!" Skurd argued.

"D'oh…!" Ben grunted as he managed to push himself up, "Just...just let me meet the others my way!"

"Fine...but make haste!"

"Okay okay!" Ben shouted as he ran off the best he could, 'Don't worry Max...we're gonna find you, buddy.'

---

GT: Well, that's not good.

SZ: Yeah...what a way to kick off the next arc, huh?

Z0: This should be crazy indeed

SZ: Aye...well tune in next time folks as the group plans on how to rescue Max from Dredd and so much more.

GT: Eeyup, so please read and review!

Z0: Till next time!