SZ: Greetings folks, and welcome back. Last time things went pear shaped fast…
Z0: Shit got bad!
SZ; Eeyup, and now they gotta find Max before he's used as a living battery for Dredd!
Z0: Shit's still Bad folks, get ready for the other boot to drop.
SZ: Yup...as usual, we own nothing aside from original content! Let us..*kicks screen*BEGIN!
Z0: IT's still working *walks over and shoots it* Done~
"Ugh…" Max groaned as he began to regain consciousness, a stinging pain in his body as he looked around at his surroundings. And then looked to see he was strapped to some kind of table, with strong metal bindings. His armor was barely glowing, but his strength hadn't returned in full., "..."
=Ahh. Glad to see you awake, Maxwell…= Dredd's voice chuckled from a nearby radio.
"So...Lab table...That afraid I'll get out?"
=Hm...well given how much Turbo energy you can produce, better safe than sorry~=
"...where are my friends?"
=Oh don't worry. They're okay….ish= Dredd answered =And do not hope of them finding you…=
"Why? We're not out in space are we?" Max quipped before wincing when some electricity coursed through his body.
=Well now...still have that rebellious spirit= Dredd noted
"Well I hope you don't expect me to shut up and listen the whole time, 'cause my former teacher can attest...I have the attention span of a schnauzer!"
=Duly noted...not that it matters. Once you're rested enough, I'll have myself another helping of your Turbo Energy= Dredd countered.
"What was that? I was thinking about burgers…" Max replied.
=Heh...We'll see how long that bravado lasts…= Dredd stated as the Radio turned off.
"Great...So, I'm stuck in a lab, strapped to a table, kidnapped by a guy that can drain me dry, and no Steel in sight," Max noted to himself, "...I wonder if this is how Ben feels on a normal Tuesday?"
"Okay...so I still taste red energy...so either that guy gave me a concussion, or his energy is both metaphorically and literally nasty," Ben complained.
"The latter...and I still feel it, too," Skurd muttered.
"Tch...We got careless," Jin frowned, his hands balling up into fists as he was covered in some bandages.
=And paid for it big time= Steel noted as his face changed to a battery gauge =Me, especially. I'm on a time limit now unless we find Max in the next few hours. Otherwise, I'll go back to being a ball that does nothing more than act like a paperweight=
"And without you...Max could go nuclear on us…" Ben sighed.
=Well that is how symbiosis works= Steel sighed =You should know=
"I don't need Skurd to live." Ben argued.
=I meant the fluffy tailed mate you are deeply emotionally bonded to...=
"..."
"And you just reminded him of her current condition," Skurd sighed as he shot Steel a deadpan stare, "Honestly...learn some tact, man."
=Ugh. Right. Sorry, just...just stressed out and upset over Max getting swiped and I'm projecting it out on others=
"It's fine," Ben assured, "Makoto's a pretty tough gal...once she's healed up, you know she's gonna jump in on the rescue mission for Max."
"The two of you are equally thick headed. This we can agree upon." Skurd added.
"My current worst nightmare is the two of you reproducing." Jin added.
"Why? Scared our kids are gonna bug ya?" Ben smirked.
"No...I'm scared whatever son you may have might distract my own k…." Jin began before blinking a bit, "...I almost walked into that."
"Noel!" Ben called out as he began inching away with a malicious grin on his face, "Noel~!" he laughed.
"Tennyson, don't you dare…!" Jin growled.
"Jin is dreaming of his future kids with Tsubaki!" Ben shouted as loud as he could while running away.
"K-KIDS?!/KYAAAAAA!" Tsubaki's voice exclaimed while Noel let out a very high-pitched squeal.
"I'm going to murder you!" Jin roared, chasing Ben as best he could.
"Love ya too, best buddy!" Ben laughed.
=Well I suppose Max wouldn't want them to be all depressed, he'd probably be happier knowing they are still as weird as ever even now= Steel noted.
"Don't lump me with the weird ones!" Jin snapped at that.
"Dude, you're afraid of the moon falling on you!" Ben laughed.
"It is a legitimate threat to life on Earth!" Jin argued.
"Nope…" Ragna stopped at the door and turned back down the hall, "I am not getting involved in this, and so help me, both hands to god, I am not going to be Uncle Ragna!"
"Don't encourage it, brother!" Jin snapped.
"Uncle Ragna does what he wants!" he laughed, walking past a heavily blushing Tsubaki, "Welcome to the fam...we do not do Christmas." he joked.
"Mmm…." Tsubaki groaned a bit, her blush increasing before she shook it off, "M-moving on…"
"Ahh…" Noel complained as she ran in, "Right, right I know, our friend has been taken." she shook her head, "Later, this shall be pushed back to later."
"Please don't…" Jin and Tsubaki sighed.
"Ahem! Now then...Ben, are you and the others well rested and ready?" Tsubaki asked.
"Yeah," he nodded, before pausing, "Since I feel I tempted fate...Makoto hasn't...broken out of her healing tube has she?"
"No," Tsubaki shook her head, "She's awake, but she has another hour and a half until she's allowed out."
"To be safe...Kajun gave her a muscle relaxant...so she couldn't...cause she tried…" Noel muttered.
"I HATE THIS!" Makoto's voice shouted from down the hall.
"That….she tried that," Tsubaki deadpanned.
"We all love her, we know what she's like." Ben replied with a small chuckle.
"Yes...and we're glad she's awake," Noel nodded with a small smile.
"Hai...but as I mentioned, she only has an hour and a half left before she's let out," Tsubaki added, "That will give us time to develop our game plan, search for Dredd's and/or Forever's hideouts, and go rescue Max."
"Good…" Jin nodded a bit.
"Wait...why…" Ben began before blinking, "...ahh I get it. Just in case both of them are in either location."
"Exactly," Tsubaki nodded, "Which is why we'll need to be extra cautious...knowing Forever, he'll have a trap set up just as we enter."
"He's probably already thinking ten steps ahead of that too." Ben sighed.
"Hai...and then there's…" Tsubaki paused with a frown, "Camellia…"
=AKA your crazy evil cloned twin….oh lord now that I say it, it sounds like something out of a bad soap opera= Steel gagged.
"Shush you." Tsubaki pushed Steel away, "Conserve your energy. What I'm worried about is the weapon that she has and the potential it can attain. Compounded with her dangerous, violent and...crazy personality."
"Yeah I don't think he finished her brain…" Ben muttered.
"...I'm afraid that might actually be the problem." Tsubaki nodded in agreement.
"I'm just glad you're over all that." Ben sighed, "And adapted enough to join in the taunting of your creepy clone."
"I am…and lord knows Makoto has quite a few….colorful words saved just for her," Tsubaki muttered.
"If it's any consolation, we're only okay with hitting her cause she's nothing at all like the real thing." Noel offered, "You we love...creepy clones made by our enemies…"
"I'm just gonna stop thinking about how they have that kind of technology." Ragna spoke up as he poked his head back in.
"Probably best we don't mention it," Skurd admitted
=I highly suggest you destroy whatever he used to make said clone. Then the building around it...and then the computers, then maybe the internet as a whole…= Steel offered.
"Given how Relius is working with them, he'll probably end up magicking the stuff away to whatever secret lab he has," Ben pointed out, "If not...yeah. I'm looking forward to smashing that stuff, because I do not wanna see what a crazy evil clone version of my girlfriend is like."
"Please do not give us nightmares…" the friends of said girlfriend all complained.
"I heard that!" Makoto shouted again.
"Guess that muscle relaxant is wearing off…" Noel muttered.
"Damn straight, now lemme o...oh hey...when did you get here, Ms. Tail~?" Makoto giggled in a loopy manner.
"I had to use the extra strong stuff!" Kajun's voice called out, "She should be good in an hour and a half...again!"
"Okay let's not trigger her. Honestly don't know how I feel about Kajun drugging my girlfriend with potentially untested stuff…"
"Oh it's not that bad...but she will taste color for a couple hours…" Kajun replied.
"I taste orange...no no...chestnut brown…" Makoto spoke up, "...heh heh….chest~"
=...=
"Steel…" Ben began.
=I am very tempted, but Max comes first and foremost= Steel stated
"Least you have priorities…" Skurd deadpanned.
"Mmm...where are you…?" Kagura frowned as he, Grandpa Max, Hibiki and Rook were looking at a holographic map of the Earth, "He has to be hiding somewhere…."
"So far we scanned every part of the USA and other continents, and only found a few possible locations," Hibiki added as he was tapping on a tablet, "And most of them were different branches of the Forever Knights…"
"And knowing that new ring leader of theirs...no chance he's in any of the ones we found." Grandpa Max sighed, "If anything he's probably...and somehow literally waiting in the very last one."
"Meaning he will anticipate us in striking there," Rook added
"Our only bet is to find him first and hit him with all we got." Kagura sighed.
"Which he is expecting us not to do by running ourselves thin with all these locations and Max being kidnapped." Grandpa Max sighed, "So if anything it's best we focus on that avenue, and then worry about the Knights once we have less issues."
"Good idea…" Kagura nodded, "Hibiki, see if you and Rook can narrow out the locations with the least amount of Forever Knight activity."
"Can do," Hibiki answered as he tapped on his tablet, causing some spots on the map to fade, "Hmm….Rook, see if there is an influx of energy in the remaining locations."
"Hmm?" Rook blinked at that, "...oh I see now. Whichever might have the highest energy spike…"
"Is where Max is most likely," Kagura finished with a grin, "Nice eye there, Hibiki."
"Thank you, Lord Kagura," Hibiki nodded before looking to the side, seeing Tsubaki and the others walk in, "And greetings."
"Did you find anything yet?" Tsubaki asked as she and the others walked over.
"Funny you ask, cause we literally just got an idea." Kagura replied.
"Oh?"
"Hibiki and Rook are narrowing down the locations that had the most Forever Knight activity," Grandpa Max explained, "They're also seeing which of them will have the highest influx of energy."
"And whichever one has the highest…" Ragna began with a grin, "We storm the place and raise some hell."
"Something you know how to do well, brother," Jin snarked.
"I take pride in it, so if that was meant to insult me, you suck at it." Ragna replied, "Besides this somewhat feels...nostalgic, so I'm all in for raiding a base and raising some hell."
"I mean we have an expert," Ben pointed out, "Seems like not using his skills is a waste of a violent brute."
"See now that's better. I was almost insulted," Ragna turned to Jin, "But you'll get there, Little Brother. Thanks to Ben and my future Sister-In-Law...I can almost stand your company."
"Grr…"
"Enough. We need to focus on finding Max," Tsubaki stated, "Noel, how is Robotboy?"
"Still charging with Sari looking after him," Noel answered.
"Then we need another heavy hitter to help in the raid…" Tsubaki whispered.
"Who else is there?" Ben asked, "I mean there's me, Makoto, Ragna, Jin when he's angry enough, and Kagura if tempted right…"
"The fact that that's a reason for him to 'go wild' still worries and scares me," Hibiki muttered.
"Plus, we can't call on the other heroes we know of, so...who else can we get to help in the raid?" Ben continued.
"Hmm…" Tsubaki pondered at that, "...We can't contact Tager-san since Azmuth and/or Kokonoe would need him…"
"...I might have a suggestion," Rook spoke up, earning the group's attention, "Ben, do you recall that woman that Will Harangue hired to go after you?"
"Bullet? Yeah, wh…" Ben began before blinking in realization, "..."
"No," was both Ben and Ragna's responses.
"She is a mercenary from what you informed of me, and we are kind of thin on 'brute force' so to speak…"
"I'm afraid the moment we let her out, she'll come after me or Ragna," Ben deadpanned.
"Ben gets it," Ragna nodded, "Besides...I'm tired of her going after me when I do something to piss her off…"
"But you do have Celica to keep you company and help heal you, right?" Noel asked.
"Yes...but that's because you guys kept losing track of her," Ragna countered, "But this isn't about her...this is about Ms. Hotpants…"
"I thought you called her B…" Ben began to ask.
"One of Pakmar's stores sells toilet paper and he calls the business 'Buttfloss,'" Ragna informed.
"Oh…"
"Look…" Tsubaki began as she walked up to the two, "I know you two-especially Ragna- don't have the best...relationship with her given what she did in the past…"
"Anyone hired by Harangue? Yeah….no I…" Ben began before Tsubaki whapped him with her paper fan, "OW!"
"Regardless, it's clear that he used her by feeding her false information and an empty promise," Tsubaki argued, "And as Rook said, we are still thin on bruteforce, so we will need her help in raiding the place Dredd and Forever have Max locked up."
"Fine...but I'm not being in the room for this." Ben sighed.
"Ditto." Ragna agreed.
"That's fine...I need to go speak to her alone anyways," Tsubaki stated, earning a look from Ben, "...Ragna sent her our way after she nearly destroyed a few stores in pursuing Ragna."
"Jeez...What did you do to her to make her that angry at you?" Ben asked as he looked at Ragna.
"Hell should I know!" Ragna snapped, "First I thought she'd be after my arm, but no...she keeps pestering me for some info or something!"
"Info?"
"Yes info...don't bother asking. I don't know what the hell she's on about with that."
"Okay, so we're right...she's crazy." Ben nodded.
"Mmm...no no. I hereby enact th…" Harangue began, currently reading some law books in his cell before the sounds of a fist hitting something interrupted his train of thought, "Will you keep that down!? I am trying to figure out this...ugh...Non-human language so I can prove my innocence!"
"Apologies, but…" Bullet paused, her jacket and shirt off as she was currently punching a punching bag that hung from her cell, "I need to workout…"
"...Wait...you!" Harangue snapped as he shot up to his cell down, peering over to see her figure, "You still haven't eliminated Tennyson?! That menace is still roaming freely?!"
"Yes...but I've started dropping that," Bullet stated as she kicked the bag, "Also I realized something during my time in Undertown before coming here….you lied to me…"
"Wh-?! I most certainly did n-"
"You did…" Bullet scowled, Harangue swearing he could feel her glare from within his own prison cell, "I agreed to hunt down Ben Tennyson for you in exchange for the information I required...which given your current situation, you do not have…"
"...tch. Forget this...I need to get back t-"
"Excuse me…" Tsubaki spoke up as she walked past Harangue's cell.
"You! I demand to see my…!" Harangue began before a glass panel slid before his cell door, completely blocking any noises he made.
"Bullet-san, I…" Tsubaki began as she stepped before Bullet's cell door….and saw that the taller woman was in nothing but her bra and her short-shorts, "...ahem. D...do you mind…putting your shirt back on?"
"...What do you want?" Bullet asked, wiping some sweat from her face as she grabbed her shirt and jacket, "If this is about what happened in Undertown..."
"No no. Just...l-listen…" Tsubaki stated as she took a deep breath, "We need your help."
"...with what?" Bullet asked, slipping her shirt on as she began to zip up the front of it.
"As I understand it, you are doing all these...I'm just gonna call it what it is, stupid...all these stupid things for the sake of much needed information."
"Harsh…"
"But not false…" Tsubaki argued back, "Given you're just dangerously focused and not an actual threat to innocent people, Magister Tennyson has given me permission to change your sentence to...a form of community service. With the promise we will help you, if you help us. Also you're not allowed to attack random people anymore...or you shall be shocked via the nanites Kajun has slipped into your food."
"Wait what?!" Bullet exclaimed in shock, "...That explains why I've been waking up with stomach pains at night…." she muttered before shaking it off, "You said you need my help then...correct?"
"Yes...and given you're a mercenary...we are more than willing to help pay any prices you might have," Tsubaki answered.
"..." Bullet said nothing as she slipped her jacket on, "I don't need money...but I require information…"
"On…?"
"Kokonoe's whereabouts...and any information regarding my commander."
"Simple...wait, did you just say Kokonoe?" Tsubaki blinked.
"...So you do know where she is," Bullet frowned a bit.
"Yes...sadly I do." she sighed, "I can tell you right off the bat...you're not going to find her on Earth...let alone this Galaxy. She's currently been taken in by the Galaxy's smartest being to keep an eye on her. And honestly I think that might have been the best thing ever since he often keeps her from doing anything here…"
"...tch..." Bullet clicked her tongue at that as she turned, "So she's off planet...damn it."
"I'm sure if you're that intent to meet her, sticking around here is your best bet." Tsubaki sighed, "Next time Ben does something stupid and nearly breaks the Omnitrix, her and Azmuth the creator will pop back up and yell at him."
"...Fine…" Bullet sighed as she turned back around to face her, "I will assist...only until I get the information I want…"
"Understood," Tsubaki nodded as she held her Badge before the console near the cell door, letting the barrier shut off to let Bullet step out, "Also keep in mind...this is going to be a heavy raid, so perhaps some Proto-Armor would…"
"My uniform is just fine," Bullet stated, grabbing a tied up travelling bag as she slung it over her shoulder and walked past Tsubaki.
"Perhaps some Proto-Armor." Tsubaki repeated with a smile. her arm shooting out and grabbing Bullet by the shoulder.
"?" Bullet raised a brow as she looked back at Tsubaki, "...No."
"No...I insist…" Tsubaki stated the smile not fading from her face.
"Eh…?" Bullet blinked.
"Mmm….finally out of there…" Makoto grunted, currently stretching as she was back in her Proto-Armor, "Was afraid I'd get cramps from being in there for so long….say Kajun, I didn't do anything...weird after you hopped me up on muscle relaxants, did I?"
"Define weird for us?" Kajun asked simply, "Because I don't consider you talking to your tail that strange."
"...Ms. Tail?"
"Ms. Tail…"
"Well...can't top that…" Makoto muttered.
"You also talked about making Ms. Tail a bridesmaid at your future wedding." Kajun added.
"Eh heh heh...n-noted…" Makoto noted with a sheepish chuckle.
"At a point it just devolved into you holding conversations with people who you thought were in the room but aren't. Apparently, you ironically had lots to say to imaginary me…" she frowned.
"Anything else?" Makoto frowned.
"Nothing I'd like to bring up." Kajun smirked.
"...Moving on then," Makoto muttered, "So what did I miss?"
"We may have a location as to where Maxwell is," Kajun noted, "Steel will need to get to him soon or his energy will drain completely."
"Ahh...so Max rescue time. Got it," Makoto grinned as she activated her Proto-Gauntlets, "So who's gonna smash in and raid the place while the rest go and search for Max?"
"..."
"Kajun?" Makoto blinked.
"From what I understand...Tsubaki enlisted someone to help us in the raid," Kajun answered, "As for who it is….you might not like it."
"Pshaw. What do ya mean? I can handle anyone ya brought," Makoto assured.
"WHY IS SHE OUT OF HER CELL?!" Makoto exclaimed, seeing Bullet wearing dark-grey and navy blue Proto-Armor...with the leggings torn off so they look like short-shorts.
"I hired her," Tsubaki explained.
"You realize she is a violent psychopath who tried to hurt the man I love, right?" Makoto argued.
"I already realized that Harangue tricked me…" Bullet muttered, "I am not after your mate at all, Beastkin…"
"She has fifteen seconds to rephrase that before I punch her to Venus," Makoto frowned, "Also she's stupid...you really think that means we can trust her? Who is dumb enough to belive Harangue besides this psycho?"
"Believe me...if I wasn't locked in my cell, I'd have beaten his face in...literally," Bullet argued as the two glared at one another
"Ooh congratulations on realizing your stupid, after the fact. It just took you getting totally owned." Makoto growled.
"Oh hey, Babe, I hear you're...out…" Ben trailed off as he walked in on the scene, "Makoto...I love you, but my survival instincts tell me to be anywhere but this room!" he exclaimed as he backed out.
"Book it, man!" Skurd agreed, clinging to the Omnitrix for life.
"Oh and BTW...you tore your outfit…" Makoto added as the two stood before each other face to face.
"I prefer shorts over pants...it helps me move faster, and it'll feel like I'm in my uniform," Bullet argued back.
"This suit is like a literal second skin! By this point, you're an exhobitonist!"
"Uh…" Tsubaki spoke.
"Doesn't count!" Makoto shouted, actually making Tsubaki flinch.
"Oh, this might have actually been a mistake…" Tsubaki realized, "Also I drastically underestimated Ben's survival instincts…"
"Grr…" Bullet and Makoto growled as they were practically face to face, Tsubaki swearing she saw lightning crackling between their eyes.
"...Look, Beastkin…" Bullet sighed as she backed away, "I'm just here for this raid alone...after it, I won't be bugging you anytime soon...as long as I get the information I require, I'll be good."
"What info? The reason you…"
"The whereabouts of my commander…"
"Who the what now?" Makoto asked, blinking twice.
"My commander of the mercenary group I was in…" Bullet admitted with a sigh, "We were sent on a mission to the 4th Hierarchicale City in search for a Nox Nyctores for Sector Seven...I don't recall what happened, but I awoke in one of Sector Seven's medical bays...and learned that my teammates were killed while my Commander was MIA…"
"Okay that seems...heavy." Makoto muttered, "And so for that you run around half naked and attack random folks without a second thought to if you're doing the right thing?"
"...More or less…" Bullet muttered as she looked away, "But yes...I just...want to know what happened that day...what happened to my commander…"
"...Do you...recall anything from that day?"
"None...except one thing…" Bullet paused as she frowned, "I thought it was the Nox Nyctores that killed them, but a name comes up when I think back to that day….Azrael."
"?!" Makoto and Tsubaki's eyes widened at that.
"..N-Nevermind...we have a mission to do," Bullet muttered as she began to walk off, "I'll be with the others…"
"...oh god…" Makoto whispered once Bullet was out of hearing range, "She's a survivor of one of Azrael's attacks…"
"And given what Alien X did…." Tsubaki whispered, "...I'll talk with Magister Tennyson about putting a warning out if he's ever spotted."
"Yeah good…" Makoto whispered as they began to walk off, "Because I fear what he's capable of here in the past...er...our new present….mou. Time Travel is still wonky…"
"Which is why I rarely try to think of it."
"So...you want to know the story behind why I need TURBO Energy to survive," Dredd noted as he and Forever looked at one another, "Trying to recreate it, perhaps?"
"Call it a quandary from one scientist to another," Forever replied, "Or more of giving another a cautionary tale."
"Heh. Amusing," Dredd chuckled, "Well, you're already aware of who I am, a former Plumber who worked with young Maxwell's father and mother along with Fergus, all of us taught by Magister Tennyson long before he rose to that rank. But Maxwell's father, Jim, and his power, his TURBO Energy...that power truly fascinated me. An unlimited source of energy that a mere sliver could more than likely power an entire city for decades."
"But I assume you had other ideas for it?" Forever asked.
"Of course. It was cellular energy. His body produced an unlimited supply of energy. Yet...unlike his boy, he could regulate it. That led me to thinking that TURBO Energy also has an effect on cellular life cycles. That there is more that one could do with that energy. But he squandered all that power on his little projects that in the end amounted to one purpose: for the Plumbers and that's it. Everything he made, everything he could do...I envied it. All that power...in the hands of a buffoon who just wanted to use it to that limiting level. I won't deny it was also a personal grudge. I just didn't like him at a point. Something about how all that...alien talent outshined me." he sighed, "So...when he planned for his big new project, one which literally used him as a battery, I figured it would be the perfect chance to get some TURBO Energy samples for me to work with. So I invented a device to siphon the energy during the testing of his creation. Little did I know that I tuned it far too well, and it began feeding off more energy than I calculated. Jim's body began stressing out, producing more TURBO energy to compensate, between the two machines and his rising stress...kaboom." he held his hands and opened his fingers up like an explosion for emphasis, "I have no idea what happened to him; it looked like his own energy ate his physical body. Meanwhile, my machine was accidentally grafted to my body. Resulting in my own body now needing TURBO Energy to live. So...naturally I did what I thought best, faked my death, used Plumber secrets and my own inventions to begin my own tech company, using android surrogates to be the faces. Using said company and an uncountable number of shell companies to find some way to stay alive once I ran out of TURBO energy...make a few other projects etcetera and so on."
"Ahh...I see now…" Forever noted, "How sneaky and devious...using a shell company to hide your true intent…"
"Try dozens, if not hundreds," he replied, "Believe me, I looked at everything to extend my life. From cybernetics to genetics. Most of them just implied making a copy...not what I wanted…"
"Ahh...fair, I suppose," Forever chuckled a bit.
"But now that young Maxwell is in my grasp...whatever shall you do?" Dredd pondered.
"Hmm...well there is one project I am looking forward to involving…" Forever began before a faint explosion went off, "?"
"Ah, it seems they've found us sooner than expected," Dredd noted as he stood up from his chair.
"It would seem so…" Forever noted before tapping the side of his helmet, "Camillia?"
=My King, Ben Tennyson and his team are here..and they're att-GAH!= Camillia began before she cried out.
=That's what you get for being distracted!= Ragna barked.
"...Well, it seems they dropped the pleasantries," Forever noted as he looked at Dredd, "Seems they're going with a full frontal assault this time around…"
"I'm not surprised," Dredd shook his head before cracking his knuckles, "Well, may as well get a bit of a 'recharge' before greeting our uninvited guests."
"Very well..I might as well go see the good doctor before he gets a surprise visit," Forever nodded as he walked off, "One less problem at a time…"
*BANG!*
"What devilry is this?!" a Forever Knight screamed as an explosion from Bullet's punch sent him and a few others flying.
"Legit question…" Bullet began, tilting her head to the side to dodge a laser blast from behind before flipping over and landed on the Knight that tried to fire at her, wrapping her legs around his head before she flipped and slammed him into the floor, "Do these 'knights' realize they are not in the medival ages, or are they this stupid?"
"They're dedicated to their cause if they're going that far with the accent," FourArms noted, banging two knights' heads together and tossing them into several more that were charging in, "I'm kinda shocked at how many people Forever managed to gather up since the original Forever Knights were kinda...dusted by an actual god."
"Dusted?"
"It's something Makoto says but won't tell me where she got it from."
"Ya gotta wait for April of 2018 to get it, Ben!" Makoto replied as she uppercutted an knight, "Or read the comics."
"You won't say which ones!"
"Because of spoilers~"
"Oh, she is good," Skurd chuckled before making an extra set of arms for FourArms to punch at a knight trying to sneak attack them, "Good try, but you forget he has an extra pair of eyes, my bad knight."
"Less talk, more raising hell!" Ragna shouted as he slashed a group of knights before quickly turning, raising his sword as he summoned the demonic wolf/dragon head and sent more knights flying, "Dead Spike!"
"Agreed," Bullet whispered, jumping off the Knight she was on before driving her fist into the face of one, pushing him back until he was on the ground before she gripped her fist, causing an explosion to go off as she leapt back.
"...Okay those gauntlets are kinda cool," Makoto admitted as her tail smacked a Knight away, "Ever thought of installing shotguns into them?"
"...Why?" Bullet raised a brow.
"I dunno. It just feels right," Makoto shrugged, "Plus think about it, you can punch...and unload a buckshot into someone's face!"
"...Hmm…" Bullet pondered at that before backfisting a knight, "...I like it. Not a bad idea...for a Beastkin."
"Letting that slide due to the current situation."
"You can beat the ignorant asshole out of her after!" Ragna offered.
"Agreed!" Jin shouted, summoning a wall of ice to block some incoming shots as Noel, Robotboy, and Rook fired from the sides of it.
"Make sure to keep one awake!" Tsubaki shouted, bashing her shield into one Knight before converting her Variable Proto-Tool into a staff/glaive as she quickly swung it around, sending out a small robotic phoenix as it flew and pecked at a few Forever Knights, "We'll need to learn where Max and any prisoners they have might be located!"
"...I promise I'll only try," Ragna bluntly answered, pausing from beating up a Forever Knight while using another as a club.
"Should've expected…" Tsubaki began before converting her weapon back to its sword and shield state and quickly using the shield to block Camellia's incoming slash, "...you."
"Fake…" Camellia scowled.
"Imposter," Tsubaki countered.
"Traitorous bitch!"
"Oh dear…" Noel whispered as she looked over at Robotboy, who flew out of their cover and clotheslined a knight, "...I just hope Robotboy didn't hear that…"
"If he did, you will not escape my fury…!" Tsubaki growled as she pushed Camellia back.
=Ya know, some days I, uh...I, uh...uh…= Steel began, barely floating above the ground.
"You think?" Skurd supplied.
=Yeah, yeah. That, uh, that. That, um...the redhead is more protective of the size-changing robot than Joyuex is=
"You mean Noel," Skurd corrected.
=Yeah, her=
"Oof, we really need Maxwell," Skurd muttered.
"...New plan then!" Tsubaki shouted as she clashed blades with Camellia, "Ben, you take Steel and go find Max! Makoto, you take a team and find any prisoners the Forever Knights have locked up! The rest of us will stay behind and give you cover!"
"Can do!" FourArms nodded, punching away a Knight as he ran off, grabbing Steel as he did.
"Rook, Noellers, RB, with me!" Makoto shouted as she punched away a knight, "And Ben?"
"Yeah, babe?" FourArms asked as he turned to look at her.
"Get Max back...and kick the asses of both Forever and that Dredd guy."
"Hehehe...I'm looking forward to the first one," FourArms smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"Heh...good," Makoto smirked back as she, Noel, Rook, and Robotboy ran off, the latter two providing cover fire as they did.
=Daisy, Daisy~ Um...how does it go again, a woo?= Steel mumbled out.
"You will not succeed," Camellia frowned as she blocked Tsubaki's sword slash, "The Forever Knights will purge this world of evil and bring true justice to it."
"There's a difference between justice and genocide," Tsubaki scowled.
"And that is why you're a lost c-" Camellia began before she was kicked to the side by Ragna, "Gah!"
"Oh my god shut up, you self-righteous bitch!" Ragna barked before turning to Tsubaki, "No offense."
"None...taken?" Tsubaki blinked in confusion.
"In the name of the Forever K-" one Knight began before Bullet's punch literally dented his helmet's faceplate, "Gah!"
"There is only one king I bow to….and that's King Spice…" Bullet stated before blinking, "...Was...Was that a pun?"
"It was…" Jin answered.
"...I hate it, yet….it's not untrue…" Bullet admitted, "...I miss spicy food…"
"You are one weird stripper…" Ragna muttered.
"I am not a stripper!" Bullet barked.
"You wear hot-pants that doubles as a thong!"
"They are part of my uniform!"
"Wear some damn pants, woman!"
"Never!"
"No normal person refuses to wear pants!"
'For some reason, I feel in another universe...this same argument is happening but with a different guy,' Jin thought as he froze a few more knights.
'I get the oddest sense of deja vu…like I've seen this same argument, but with different yet similar people,' Noel mentally noted while bashing a knight with her gun.
=Hey, ya kn-ya-ya-ya know what's a funny word? Boober= Steel chuckled.
"Oh, you poor, poor being," Skurd sighed, "I'd offer to use one of the samples of DNA to provide power, but I'm not sure if that would be wise."
=You talk fun-ya-uh...funny talker=
"How about giving me something to help track Max, Skurd?" FourArms questioned.
"Hmm...Got it," Skurd noted as some of his slime went up to FourArms's neck and turned into the gills of Wildmutt and then up to his mouth and turned it into Blitzwolfer's, "Vulpamancers and Loboans are two of the galaxy's greatest trackers that aren't small-minded and act on instinct alone. Add them together with the durability of a Tetramand and behold."
"Oh, nice!" FourArms noted, "...Hang on a second. When could you do more than one?"
"Oh, I've been practicing."
"Practi...wait, are you turning me into things in my sleep!?"
=Ehehehehhehehe...You said 'things'=
"Oh relax...I only do it when you are alone in the night…" Skurd replied, his eyes moving as if wagging his non-existent eyebrow, "I'm a bored jerk...not a voyeur."
"...Let's just find Max," FourArms muttered as they turned a corner, "I think I smell him down this hallway."
"That would be the smell of ionized air that surrounds TURBO Energy," Skurd added.
"Right," FourArms spoke as he kept going.
"Surprise attack!"
*THWACK!*
"I cannot believe that actually worked…" Rook muttered as he, Noel, and Robotboy stepped out from behind a corner, seeing Makoto standing before an unconscious Elite Knight.
"But it worked regardless," Makoto grinned.
"I...choose to stop thinking about it." Noel replied, holding Robotboy in his default mode.
"Come on, Rook, let's check his metal long johns for important stuff like keys." Makoto spoke up as she began looting the Elite Knight.
"I believe these are carbon fiber…" Rook corrected.
"Less talky, more looty," Makoto countered before she felt something, "Oh ho~ What have we here?" she grinned as she reached into a compartment and pulled out a keycard, "Now if I were a betting gal…"
"Which you are sometimes…" Noel whispered.
"This has to be for something important," Makoto noted before she heard groaning, making them look down to see the Elite Knight wake up, "Ahh perfect timing...hey buddy."
"Do n-"
"Question...what's this keycard for?" Makoto questioned, "Answer me truthfully, and I won't have to go Saxton Hale on your medieval ass."
"Wha-what?" he asked, clearly confused.
"I don't think he understands pop culture," Noel noted.
"I do believe...he is too old for your reference. Not that I understood it either, but I am an alien," Rook added.
"Which is why I excuse you," Makoto smiled.
"You are a good friend," Rook nodded, "Tonfa or club?" he asked, holding up his Prototool.
"Be sure to hit him in the face first...so he doesn't scream and alert the others." Noel sighed, knowing where this was going.
"What?" the Knight asked, now growing concerned with their casual conversation.
"Tell us what we need to know, big guy..or else," Makoto asked with an innocent smile.
"Never! My tongue shall not leave thy mouth, foul half-breed wench!"
"..."
"I counted two horrible things there. First...he insulted Makoto deeply, second...Shakespear must feel ashamed from beyond the grave…" Rook cringed.
"Tell me about it…" Noel rolled her eyes as they tuned out the violence and muffled cries for help.
"Who Saxton Hale?" Robotboy asked innocently.
"Oh, he's from a game and comic Makoto and Ben enjoy far too much," Noel explained.
"Damn right we do!" Makoto grinned as she dropped the battered, bruised and dented up Knight, "Also good news. There's a prison hall a floor or two below us, so we got some aliens to rescue!"
"How…"
"He mentioned they were captured for experiments…"
"You are allowed one more minute of justice," Noel replied simply, "But nothing life threatening."
"Fair enough," Makoto nodded as she dragged the Elite Knight off, "And while I'm at it...make him regret his life choices and retire."
"This is an example of an unhealthy way to deal with anger," Noel spoke to Robotboy, "Don't copy her."
"Okay, Noel," Robotboy replied, nodding.
"It is effective though," Rook added.
"I sadly can't argue," Noel nodded.
"...Yeesh...What's with the racket?" Max asked as he heard the faint explosions going off, "...Is it the 4th of July, or a raid?" he took a second and listened, hearing the cries of pain faintly heard within the explosions, "Nope...That's my friends. Wait…" he paused 'till he heard an exceptionally sharp cry of pain, "Oh good. Makoto's feeling better."
=Better...noun...better...buon….= Steel's voice slurred.
"Oh dear...He's literally running on fumes…" Skurd's voice muttered.
"Guys?" Max asked, "Oh thank god you're here...it's been so boring being kidnapped. Bad guys just talk at you and tell you all sorts of pointless stuff the whole time..." he groaned.
"Oh, I can relate man," FourArms's voice agreed before a part of the wall was suddenly torn open, letting him walk in.
"Huh...Wildmutt's gills and Blitzwolfer's snout. Skurd's been practicing?"
"Ah, someone appreciated my efforts!" Skurd cheered.
"Besides looking like a Frankenstien's mismatch...Gotta say...looks handy," Max nodded.
"Yeah, yeah. Less talky, more Turboy," FourArms deadpanned as he slapped Steel onto Max's chest.
=Huh? Whuzza…? Oh hey~Maxy!= Steel greeted, barely able to wave an arm =Ugh...I feel...uh...er...what was I saying?=
"Just take a second and recharge, Steel," Max grunted as his armors blue sections began glowing, "Trust me, stress and boredom has let me build up some TURBO for ya." he grunted as he began unleashing his energy, empowering himself enough to break free of his restraints.
"You can hold it in now?" FourArms asked.
"Well just 'cause I think I'm only at less than 25 percent of my normal levels…" Max admitted as he pushed Steel down to fuse him with his chest plate fully, "But that's about it, the rest I'm sending to Steel. After this? I'm tapped."
"After today, you more than deserve a break from crime fighting," FourArms nodded as he tore the bindings that kept Max in place, "Can you walk?"
"Barely...but I think I can manage…" Max grunted as he managed to pull himself up, "I think I can build up more energy as we go." he took a few weak steps, "Ah...man, I never knew being Vampire'd of your alien super energy...would make a guy feel this tired."
"Well, the plus side is getting to eat a lot of snacks," FourArms noted, "Trust me, not my first rodeo with someone that drains energy. I found a nice dozen Hershey bars, a Kitkat or four, and an extra large hot chocolate help the most."
"Your dentist must love your visits…" Max noted as they started walking towards the improvised exit.
"Eh. It's debatable," he shrugged as they began to step out, "Now let's get out of here before…"
"Going somewhere?"
"?!" FourArms tensed before quickly bringing his arms up to block an incoming punch, grunting as he was sent skidding back.
"Well…" Dredd sighed as he lowered his arm, "Looks like someone's not where they are supposed to be." he looked at Max, "Max...what are you doing out of your room, young man?"
"Hey, even prisoners have to use the bathroom," Max quipped.
"Oh don't lie to me boy." Dredd laughed, "You were sneaking out, naughty-naughty." his hands began glowing with energy, "And now I hear you've been holding out TURBO energy? You're just a glutton for punishment, aren't you?" at that, he aimed and fired as FourArms grabbed Max and rolled out of the beam's paths, "Now, now...this is between me and Maxwell, Benjamin...be a good boy and stay on the sidelines."
"I am really getting tired of this talking to us like kids thing!" FourArms complained.
"The still not legal adult says what?" Dredd countered shooting at them again.
"Woah!" Max and FourArms yelped as they rolled out of the way again.
"Ha! Nice try!" FourArms laughed before a blast hit him, sending both him and Max through a wall into another room, "Nevermind…"
"Oh come now….that was a mere tap," Dredd smirked as he followed in after them, "Now Maxwell...be a good boy and go back into your room while I...take care of the trash."
"Okay I'm not taking that one sitting down." FourArms grunted as he got up, "Max, you go on ahead...I'll hold off creepy here."
"Thanks man…" Max groaned.
"Oh this should be cute." Dredd chuckled.
FourArms grunted as he punched Dredd, only for the impact to barely move Dredd. Dredd grunted and punched FourArms back, sending him staggering back.
"I advise you to stand back, boy…" Dredd advised as he began to step around FourArms, "If I wanted, I could use my power to fry that little watch of yours…"
"Yeah, I think you're underestimating the cranky old alien who made this thing." FourArms smirked.
"I imagine he does that a lot." Skurd added.
"Don't say I didn't warn you!" Dredd shouted, blasting FourArms slamming him into a wall. His eyes widened as he walked out of the dust and debris still transformed, "What?"
"Heh…"
-Flashback-
"Hold still…" Kajun grunted as she strapped Ben's arm to her work table and was doing something to the Omnitrix.
"You know I can take it off!?" Ben complained.
"Yes, I know...this is just faster. And your arm helps stabilize my work table." she spoke as she opened up the core and attached something to the side, "There, Azmuth sent me the plans for this new part."
"What's it do?" Ben asked.
"Well it's more or less a Surge Protector." Kajun smiled, "He sent it in the case you ever did something utterly stupid like try to drain TURBO energy again. Which sadly might just happen now thanks to Dredd. But don't get cocky, this is a decent fix, but it's got a limit to just how much it can take." she explained while releasing Ben's arm.
"Ah...so sore…" he complained, "But thanks." he smiled.
"Of course, Max is my friend too, I want to make sure you can save him." Kajun smiled, "Now try not to stress test that surge protector."
"I promise to try!" Ben saluted.
-end-
"Well...I got a very bossy egghead friend." FourArms smiled, "And she's the next best expert on this TURBO energy stuff."
"Well then...I guess you've bumped up the list of problems." Dredd growled as he charged and punched FourArms sending him skidding back.
FourArms grunted slamming into the wall, before pushing himself off with his literal name sakes. He rushed and tackled Dredd through another wall. The two trading blows back and forth in the next room. Dredd growled as he charged his fist with energy before punching FourArms...only to blink as he hit a shield made of crystal.
"We never challenged you to a battle of fisticuffs! En garde!" Skurd shouted as he molded around FourArm's two upper arms and torso covering it in Diamondhead armor and giving him a shield and sword to match.
"What the slimy one said!" FourArms shouted, swinging his sword as Dredd blocked each swing with his arms, "AHA!" he thrust it forward with enough force that it sent Dredd flying back despite not piercing his suit.
"...okay. Now you're annoying me…" Dredd frowned, doing a quick flip as he landed on his feet, "Fine...I'll make sure you're reduced to ash before taking back what's rightfully mine."
"Yeah sorry..but I'm gonna have to say no," FourArms grinned as he stood ready.
"Fine then," Dredd spoke as his armor flashed as he turned into his enhanced form, "Show me what you are capable of, boy!"
With that the two clashed causing a massive shock wave that shook the building.
"Whoa!" Makoto groaned, holding onto the side of an elevator she and her team were riding, "I think Ben found Max...and now a big fight is going on."
"Just hope it doesn't escalate…" Noel whispered.
"Noel…" Rook put a hand on her shoulder.
"I know…" Noel whimpered.
"Eh don't worry. My BF's got this," Makoto assured as the elevator came to a stop, "Oop. Next stop...prison cells, hostages, and possibly some fat lazy knights taking a nap."
"Why Fat?" Robotboy asked, currently using a portable charger to refill the energy he spent on the way in.
"Cause this is probably the lazy job. But it probably means they're still A-...Jerks!" Makoto censored herself.
"Nice save…" Noel replied, lowering her hands from Robotboy's head as the doors opened, "?!"
"...dear Celestialsapiens," Rook whispered as they stepped out, seeing rows upon rows of cells containing various species of Aliens, each one looking little worse for wear with some sporting injuries or missing a limb, some even looking like they had been experimented on.
"...grr…" Makoto frowned a bit, her fist balling up for a moment, "This is sick…"
"There's probably a control panel for all these cells," Noel guessed as she held up Robotboy, "Robotboy, see if you can find it...and destroy it so this place can never be used to harm anyone again."
"Okay!" he cheered, jumping out of her arms and flew forward, his eyes glowing as he began looking around.
He scanned the cells and followed their internal circuitry back to a main source. He then flew off suddenly. Everyone waited for a moment until they heard what sounded like fighting. After a moment a Knight was tossed over their heads and face first into the wall behind them. Another Knight cried out in pain as he tripped from around a corner. Before he was dragged back behind the cover. They twitched as more cries of pain were heard before the Knight was tossed over their heads into the wall once again. After a moment Robotboy slowly walked across the hall, before grabbing another Knight who was hiding...and dragging him back from where he came. After a moment a clicking sound was heard and Robotboy walked back with what looked like a Remote control.
"Hai, Remocon." he smiled, handing it to Makoto, "Needed three retna scans to get." he smiled while jumping into Noel's arms.
"Good boy," Noel smiled a bit.
"Alright. Now let's hurry and get these people out of here," Makoto stated as they began to move to the opened cells, the Beastkin stepping up to one with a weakened alien.
"Hmm...wh-" the alien began before he began coughing violently.
"Easy now...we're gonna get you and everyone here out and get you some help," Makoto assured as she carefully helped him up, 'May need to call in a favor from Ms. Litchi to help…'
"...you…" the alien spoke, catching Makoto's attention, "You remind me of someone….someone with a tail and ears much like yours."
"Eh?"
"Yes...he was a rather boisterous fellow, but he truly means well despite his muscles…"
"?!" Makoto's eyes widened at that, "...w-was his last name 'Nanaya' by any chance?"
"It was…his family helped provide some shelter for me when I first arrived on this planet…"
"...Noellie, you might wanna come over here!" Makoto called out.
"Hm?" Noel blinked rushing over.
"Does she remind you of anyone?" Makoto asked the alien as she pointed at Noel.
"Hmm...I do not think so...though...young lady, what is your last name?"
"V-vermillion sir…"
"Oh! So you must be the adoptive daughter those two were talking about…" the alien realized before coughing a bit, "Sorry...weak from being locked in here for so long...those blasted knights destroyed that nice gift Mrs. Vermillion gave me…"
"Let's hurry and get you out of here then," Noel said as she helped Makoto in escorting him out, "Rook?"
"I have already contacted HQ. They will be providing a Warp Bridge for us to help escort them out," Rook answered, helping out a Necrofridgian that was missing an eye.
"Yeah cause I don't think it's safe to go out the normal way." Makoto noted as more shaking could be felt.
"Hai," Noel nodded with Robotboy.
'Still….this guy met our parents…' Makoto thought as she looked at the weakened alien she and Noel were assisting, '...after this is over, we may need to ask him where he exactly met them…'
"Ha!" Tsubaki and Camillia shouted as they clashed blades, the force of each strike sending one another skidding back as they were caught in a deadly dance of blades.
The two rushed and clashed again. Their swords clashed, as their speed made them move past one another. Both quickly turning around and rushing to clash again. Tsubaki jumped back before swinging back first, Camellia grunting and barely blocking, with her shield. The two pushed back before swinging again, Tsubaki grunted as she parried a swing from Camellia's sword before swinging her own shield and striking the clone making her stumble back.
"Gh…" Camellia grunted.
"I guess the copy isn't always as good as the original." Tsubaki smiled, making her clone growl in anger.
The two rushed again as they swung and clashed swords, grinding them against one another before slamming their shields against each other, knocking them back. Tsubaki spun around combining her weapons as it began reforming, and transformed into a halberd. She twirled the polearm around before spinning around in place and swinging, the weapons reach knocking Camillia's next swing away, Tsubaki slid her arms along the handle as she kept her swing and slammed the bottom end of her weapon into Camillia's back sending her skidding across the ground.
Camellia growled as she got back to her feet and charged in. She began thrusting with her sword, her swings gaining speed as Tsubaki used her halberd to block each stab. The two began going back and forth as they ran while clashing. Tsubaki twisted around as she swung her halberd and deflected another thrust away, before spinning her weapon around and striking Camillia's back, but she didn't stop there. Tsubaki grunted and moved her foot around to keep the momentum going, and lifted her clone off her feet and swung her around before stopping and launching her off into the distance and slamming into a wall.
"Damn...she's really kicking ass," Ragna muttered a bit as he held a Knight in a headlock while rapidly punching him, "...you really lucked out, Jin."
"Not the time brother!" Jin snapped as he jammed Yukianesa into teh ground, causing pillars of ice to block incoming laser fire aimed at Tsubaki.
"Heh...what can I say...maybe it makes me happy I can finally talk to you like a damn normal person." Ragna admitted getting Jin's attention, "You used to be utterly creepy and annoying to deal with. Now I almost don't mind letting people know your my brother." he spun the knight he had around and into several more.
"...Yeah...well.." Jin began as he quickly turned, using the sheath of his katana to smack a Knight across the face, "The feeling's mutual, brother…"
"What's that mean?" Ragna asked.
"Eh?"
"You were the family embarrassment!" Ragna snapped pointing at Jin, "I'm the cool one!"
"In what world are you the good member of the family!?" Jin snapped.
"You know what you did!"
"I lived a decent life!"
"I was an actual good person!"
At that the two clashed swords...the resulting shockwave blowing the other Knights remaining away.
"...wow," Bullet owlishly blinked at that, raising her fist to knock over a Knight just as he was getting up.
"Grr…" the brothers growled before flinching as they jumped back at the same time. The Red Knight standing where they stood, a large X shape slashed into the ground as the robotic knight gripped his twin ninjato like swords.
"This bastard…" Ragna groaned.
The Red Knight as usual said nothing and charged swinging with amazing speed as both siblings blocked and swung back.
"He's faster!" Jin noted.
"They upgraded him!" Ragna shouted.
The three clashed once again, only for the two siblings to grunt as they were pushed back.
"And...stronger…" Ragna grunted.
"Tennyson said...this thing was always trouble...it must be constantly upgraded to match…" Jin added.
"Joy!" Ragna growled.
The two pushed back and began swinging, putting the Red Knight on the defensive. The Red Knight swung it's swords to the side pushing their next swings away. Its arms rotated as he rushed past them. Both Ragna and Jin grunted as blood flew from wounds to their chest and shoulders.
"Damn it…" Ragna growled as he turned, "To think this bastard's pushing me this far...fine…" he growled as he gripped his Azure Grimoire arm, the core opening up as the blood-red and black aura surrounded him, "Blood Kain!"
"Hishouken!" Jin roared as he slashed forward, sending out a large broadsword of ice at the Red Knight.
The Red Knight crossed his swords and blocked both attacks, but was still sent skidding back and slamming into a wall. The two waited a moment until the wall cracked even more as the Red Knight walked out, his armor slightly dinged. The Red Knight looked itself over...before raising it's head up...its visor glowing as if glaring.
"Well...looks like we pissed him off, brother," Jin noted with a small grin.
"Yeah...looks like," Ragna grinned, cracking his knuckles single handedly as he rested his sword on his shoulder, "Guess that means we did some actual damage to him."
"Whatever shall we do?" Jin questioned.
"They are strangely in sync right now…" Bullet whispered.
"I can't claim to understand them," Tsubaki sighed, having a moment as her clone was picking herself up, "But...even with how much they fight like they do...they are brothers. At one point they were a normal family. Thanks to this world we have somehow made where a true sense of peace is obtainable...maybe even two damaged and hurt people like them can heal?"
"...perhaps you're right…" Bullet noted, "Things are...oddly peaceful in this world compared to our old one…"
"If anything...you were basically a problem to that peace for a bit…" Tsubaki replied with a teasing little smile.
"I'm a mercenary. Peace is not usually my thing," Bullet argued.
"Makoto was a spy while Noel and I were members of the NOL, and look at us," Tsubaki countered, "Your past life shouldn't mean you can't find a better one."
"I finally know what it means to have peace and happiness!" Ragna spoke clashing swords with the Red Knight, "My brother also stopped being a creep!" ,
"I…!"
"You constantly had this look that screamed 'My murderboner is out, brother! I am erect with bloodlust and rage!'"
"Grr…!"
"Ahh see?! You can't even argue!"
"For my k-!" a Knight began as he got up.
"SHUT UP!" Ragna and Jin shouted as they shot past him, the knight crying out as he was sent flying with his armor was sliced to pieces.
"And that is normal sibling fighting more or less," Tsubaki explained before she quickly turned and block Camellia's blade.
"Don't you dare ignore me!"
"Sorry, my life is more or less stable, not interested in losing that to...a remarkably gorgeous clone," She smiled.
"GRRR!"
"...you three do your own thing…" Bullet whispered as she turned towards an entrance, a group of Elite Knights storming into the room, "I'll take care more of the grunts...may as well enjoy myself then," she smirked a bit as she raised her arms into the air, gripping her wrist as a fiery aura began to surround her, "System Override...Afterburner...Mk2."
"After wh-" one Elite Knight began before he was suddenly punched back into the wall, a glowing hotspot seen on his stomach area as Bullet stood in his place...completely surrounded in a fiery aura as her eyes glowed.
"Preparing for battle…" Bullet whispered as she stood in the middle of hte Elite Knights, "Don't hold back!"
"Ha!" they shouted in a show of bravado.
"GH!" Fourarms grunted as he and Max were sent flying into a pair of crates.
"I have to admit...this is getting tiresome Mr. Tennyson…" Dredd sighed, walking up to Fourarms as he picked him up by the scruff of his shirt, "A shame you'll no longer be of this world…"
"Ugh...the Omnitrix can take it...but I don't think we can Skurd…"
"That Negative energy...is...nasty…" the slimbiote agreed with his host.
"Hmph….then your not worth it," Dredd scoffed as he tossed Fourarms aside, "Now Maxwell, come back a-" he began before a blast sent him back, "?!"
"Heh….surprise," Max grinned a bit, panting as he lowered his hand.
"...you little bugger…"
"Heh...like I'd stand back," Max grinned as he forced himself up, "Ben you okay?"
"Been better…" he groaned as he got up, "How about you?"
"Barely moving..but enough juice to help fight at least…" Max answered.
"Your bravado is most adorable kids." Dredd sighed as he lifted his arm, "But...beating on your stupid little friend has drained a good 5 percent of my reserves...I prefer to be topped off...it's like a cellphone. You hate to see it drop to low."
"True…" Fourarms as he tapped the Omnitrix symbol, engulfing himself in green light as Feedback took his place, "But sometimes you gotta make sure you don't overcharge it, or else you dwindle the batteries life."
He swung his arms forward only to blink as Dredd caught his arms.
"Oh...like I didn't know about this form." Dredd smirked, his mouthplate opening and blasting Feedback into a wall, "Clever...but...I was more prepared."
"Ugh…" Feedback groaned, "So...you were told about Feedback?"
"You think I wouldn't ask if there was any form in you that could somehow beat me?" Dredd asked as he stomped Feedback into the ground repeatedly, "I made sure to check every angle! Every problem! I waited years! I'm not gonna give up what I am owed to a bunch of stupid kids playing super hero! The TURBO energy is mine! It should have been mine! But he never gave it to me!" he kept stomping as he put energy into his foot to boost the impact as he began digging Feedback into the ground, "It he had just given me the energy! It he had stopped being such a bleeding heart! I wouldn't have had to kill him!"
"Kill him?" Max asked.
"McGrath! He pissed me off...and now he's gone! If only he'd listened to me! Given me what I wanted!" he ranted as he kept stomping.
"Gh…" Feedback groaned as Skurd stretched over him at some point and was protecting him with Cannonbolt armor. But it seemed the energy was still giving Dredd enough power to make them feel something.
"I wouldn't be a freak...and I wouldn't need to suffer this indignity that I need his stupid little brat!" He raised his foot to stomp again only to pause as he heard footsteps behind him.
"Hah…" Max took a deep breath...as his blue TURBO energy began leaking from his suit, "My...Dad...is...gone...because of you?" he asked, gripping his hand tighter as his energy seemed to be growing exponentially.
"Well well...look at that...I guess emotions make your energy rapidly generate…" Dredd noted.
"My dad….my dad….!" Max growled out, more of his energy coming off of him as electricity seemed to crackle around him.
At that Max shot forward and punched Dredd, the attack seeming to explode on impact and sent him flying through the wall.
"I think it's time we tag out…" Skurd muttered.
"Tag…" Feedback groaned as he struggled to stand, "Tag out…"
"My turn...Lets' go!-!-!" Max roared as he tackled Dredd just as he got up, forcing him through another wall.
The two slammed through several walls. Dredd grunted only to be punched making him stumble back. A kick sending him through another. Dredd growled only to be punched by the giant fist of Max in his Strength mode, the impact sending him down through the building. Just before Dredd could even get up, Max blurred up to him in his Flight Mode and slammed him in the stomach, causing him to bounce off the floor before he kicked him hard, the thrusters on his legs igniting, sending him flying further across the hall until he slammed into a metal wall.
Dredd looked up only for Max to fly into him again. In a single instant flash, Max changed into Strength Mode upon impact. The resulting impact shaking the entire building.
"WHOA!" Makoto shouted as they felt the tremor, "What is all that?"
"It would seem a very big fight is happening…" Rook spoke as another tremor shook the complex.
"The only people I've seen fight this hard are Ben and Vilgax…" Makoto spoke.
At that the ceiling above them collapsed as Dredd and Max fell in. Max grunted and punched Dredd several times across his face each time a small shockwave pushed him back. Dredd growled as he grabbed Max's next punch and began draining him of energy.
"Don't get cocky on me boy!" Dredd snapped.
"Go Turbo Strength...Times 2!" Max shouted as his armor doubled in bulk.
"What the?!" Dredd blinked before an uppercut slammed into his chin sending him flying back up and forming another hole in the ceiling.
"H-hey guys…" Max waved, as he jumped after him.
"...wow," Makoto blinked.
"Was...that Max?" Rook asked.
"I...think so," Noel whispered as Robtoboy blinked in surprise.
"So we're gonna hurry up in case the whole thing...you know...comes down on us right?" Makoto asked.
"Of course/hai," Rook and Noel nodded
"Okay good," Makoto nodded before they quickly moved just as more of the ceiling came down.
"?!" Tsubaki tensed as the area shook, "...what was that?"
"That is the least of…!" Camellia began.
At that the ground beneath them exploded as Dredd was thrown out. After a moment Max flew out as he stopped and floated in the air. Dredd groaned as he pushed himself back up.
"Well...guess I don't have to worry about you losing energy, if getting a little angry refills you that fast!" Dredd chuckled.
"..." Max floated down as he reverted to his basic form, "You...killed my Dad…" he spoke as TURBO Energy began leaking from his helmet's visor.
"I've killed lots of people's fathers. Get over it, I have!" Dredd laughed.
At that the two rushed forward and clashed. Their fists hit one another as energy began surging from both of them. Arcs of Blue and Red TURBO energy filled the area, causing machines to explode and knocking those to slow to dodge off their feet.
"?!" Bullet tensed as she jumped back from some falling debris, "Not good…"
"If they keep fighting like this, they're gonna destroy the entire place…" Tsubaki grunted as she got up.
"Like those two weren't bad enough…" Bullet muttered as she looked over at RAgna and Jin's fight with the Red Knight.
"Ahem…" Tsubaki deadpanned as she pointed at the group of unconscious Elite Knights, their armor dented and burnt.
"..." Bullet countered with a deadpanned look, pointing to the damage caused by Tsubaki and Camellia's fight.
"Touche…" Tsubaki sighed.
"Crap!" Ragna grunted as another burst of energy shook the entire area.
"I...had no idea he was that strong…" Jin muttered as Max and Dredd grasped hands and began pushing the other, their energies clashing and sending out more shockwaves.
"And then there's this bastard…" Ragna frowned as he glared at the Red Knight, "...Jin, I need you to call the Plumbers base, because I have an idea...an idea so crazy, I've rarely done it…"
"...Why does that worry me?" Jin asked.
"Trust me...it's so crazy, even the badguys won't see it coming…"
"I don't feel safe," Tsubaki and Bullet muttered.
"...ugh. Fine…" Jin groaned as he turned his Badge on, "I need a Groundbridge pronto. The Forever Knight's hideout is starting to fall apart."
=Gotcha. Opening a Groundbridge now= Kajun answered as said portal appeared.
"Okay...now wh-" Jin began before Ragna grabbed him, dismissing Blood Kain as he did, "?!"
"Nigerundaiyo!"
"EH?!" Bullet and Tsubaki gawked before they were grabbed in turn.
"WHAT?!" Jin shouted.
"Wh-what the?!" Camellia gawked, "Get back here!"
"NOPE! Later psycho bitch!" Ragna shouted as he ran into the Groundbridge portal, Camellia giving chase before the portal vanished.
"...gh….grr…" Camellia growled out before taking a deep breath, dismissing the Izayoi as she pulled out a communicator, "My lord….I apologize, but they got away…"
=It matters not, get out before you're caught in the resulting...boom~= Forever giggled over the line, =I fear Mr. Dredd has bitten off more than he can chew. Max is putting off more energy than ever before=
"Understood," Camellia nodded before looking over at the Red Knight, "We're moving out. This location is no longer safe…"
The Red Knight just nodded as he leapt into the shadows. Camellia was about to step back before a familiar armored claw slashed some debris from falling on her, startling the cloned red-head.
"My my...not getting sloppy are we?"
"...no, Lord Relius," Camellia answered, turning to face Relius and Ignis, the latter retracting her claw back, "I was about to come find you so we may retreat."
"Ahh...soka," Relius noted before sighing, "A shame really...I would've loved to examine young Maxwell before Dredd was finished with him…"
"Then shall I…?"
"No no. I do not wish to get into some unneeded violence," Relius stated before Camellia could finish, "Though I am irked that Lieutenant Nanaya and Vermillion released all my test subjects."
Another shockwave went off as Max and Dredd punched one another.
"But, I'd rather lost a few simple subjects then my life!" Relius laughed as Camellia opened her arms up, "Come now, Camellia. Let us leave…"
"...yes. Of course, Lord Relius," Camellia nodded, walking over as Ignis grabbed her and Relius, her legs converting to rockets as she flew off.
"Ben!" Makoto called out as they searched for their friend after getting everyone else out.
"Over here!" Skurd called out pulling Ben along the ground by producing FourArms's namesake, "We got our butts kicked!"
"Oh dear," Noel whispered as the girls, rook, and Robotboy ran over.
"Hurt...so much hurt…" Ben groaned as Makoto helped him up.
"Note to self...do not mess with TURBO energy beings." Skurd spoke, "Now...let's get out of here before we end up buried alive."
"Agreed," Rook nodded as Rook pulled his badge out, "Kajun, request for another Groundbridge."
=Understood.=
"But...Max…we can't...leave him behind." Ben argued before wincing in pain
"We're going right outside, we just can't help from here." Makoto assured, picking him up and tossing him over her shoulder, "Come Boyfriend! To safety!"
"Fair...enough…" Ben muttered as Makoto ran off with him.
"I hope Max will be okay," noel whispered as she and Robotboy looked on in worry.
"Do not worry. He should be alright," Rook assured as the three began to follow the couple, 'At least...I hope so.'
"Gh!" Dredd grunted as he was blasted through another wall, "...heh. This bit is getting old, Maxwell…"
"You strapped me...to a table...once again...you. Strapped. Me. To. A Table…" Max huffed from all the energy he'd spent.
"But this is pointless...I just drain your energy and you produce more, this is an endless cycle." Dredd sighed.
"Yeah...but...who's gonna give our first?" Max argued, "You...the human born with no powers pretending to be strong with an invention...or me...the son of the man you'll never surpass?"
"Grrr…" Dredd growled, "You will regret that boy!" he rushed as the two clashed again, "I won't give you the accidental Mercy I gave your father! You'll live as my personal battery!"
"Not gonna...happen!" Max growled as they pushed until their TURBO energies surged off their armors.
The energy arched off before collapsing back at its place of origin causing a huge explosion. The two grunted, punching each other, only for Max to regain his footing faster and swing a kick to Dredd, sending him flying back.
"Gr...you little…!" Dredd growled, flipping in the air as he landed on his feet and skidded to a halt. He then roared out as he charged and delivered a punch to Max's face, causing him to stagger back as his helmet cracked a bit from the blow
=BBZT! Wo...hurt that…= Steel grunted a bit.
"Steel you back?"
=Ugh...that was the worst recharge nap ever…what did I miss?=
"RAAAGH!" Dredd roared out as he sent an energy blast at Max.
"That!" Max yelped as he rolled out of the way.
=Oh right. It's him= Steel recalled.
"Got an idea?" Max asked.
=Well...we think he's got an upper limit and the only way to take him down would be...=
"I think I get it…" Max nodded, "Our chances of surviving that?"
=Not the best…=
"Well...he killed my Dad...so...let's do this," Max spoke.
=Gotcha= Steel agreed.
"Oh please...as if whatever you concocted with your little pet will do anything to me," Dredd taunted as he prepared to fire another energy blast.
"I don't know...I'm starting to think you don't know much about TURBO energy...you know...unlike my Dad," Max smirked behind his mask.
"...you know...just for that, boy…" Dredd growled, more and more TURBO energy coming off him as he charged at Max, "I'll drain you completely dry!"
"Come on!" Max challenged as the two clashed.
Both their energies clashed forming a sphere of Blue and Red energy around them as it began eroding the surrounding area. Max grunted as he transformed into Flight form and ignited the thrusters full power, pushing Dredd upwards into the air, through floor upon floor. Their energy destroyed more and more of the structure as they kept flying. Max roared out as he tore straight through the ceiling, reaching the outside as he flew high above the now collapsing structure.
Dredd grunted as he began draining energy, his energy growing larger as they kept flying upwards into the atmosphere.
"I don't know what you're planning, but as long as I have your energy, I can keep going while you remain a lifeless husk!"
"Don't know...about the lifeless husk part…" Max grunted, his helmet further cracking to reveal a bit of his smirking face, "But I thought of something...what would happen if you took in too much TURBO Energy?"
"? What are you on about? You…" Dredd began before it dawned on him, "?!...you...you fool! You're not thinking….?!"
"I'm only a half breed...and I can't handle that much energy! What about you? A fake?" he laughed as his energy began surging higher and higher as Dredd kept absorbing.
"What?! No!" Dredd realized as his armor began glowing as his body was forced into its enhanced state, his own energy leaking from his body.
"Come on, body...pull out all you got!" Max grunted his armor glowing blue as the light began growing more intense.
"That's enough!" Dredd grunted, "You'll take us both out!"
"You wanted TURBO energy didn't you? So take some!" Max smirked.
"AAAAHHHH!" Dredd screamed as his body began leaking beams of light.
"Where's Max?" Ben groaned as everyone regrouped outside before they all flinched hearing a massive explosion in the sky far above them.
"...oh god...did Max…" Makoto began in worry.
"He didn't…" Noel whispered, holding her hands over her mouth as her eyes were wide in shock.
"There is a large amount of TURBO energy in the air…" Rook spoke looking at his scanner, "Did...Max he…"
"Hey do you guys see that?" Ben asked as he pointed to a shimmering speck falling...towards them!
"...Incoming!" Makoto panicked, picking up Ben and jumping away as the others scrambled and ran.
After a moment, the spec slammed into the ground, causing a huge crater. A faint blue glow came from the crater as the others turned back and got close enough to see what it was. They heard a pair of groans as the smoke and dust began settling. A white armored arm suddenly burst out from rubble before the rest of the body followed.
"Ugh...okay...so...I'm...tired...like...so...SO tired...c-can someone carry me...please?" Max asked, dragging himself up, "Also...I'm like so hungry...and...tired...I...I think I'm gonna fall asleep now...Coma time…" he fell over with another groan, "Ow…"
=Are we dead? I think not, because everything hurts…Is this heaven?=
"No...you are indeed alive," Skurd spoke up, "But….you honestly did worry us…"
"Yeah...just us," Makoto added, shooting Skurd a teasing grin as she walked over and picked Max up with her free arm, "But seriously Max….don't worry us like that."
"I...promise to try...on an unrelated note...should I be happy...or concerned that I can't feel my arm at the moment?"
"...Let's get you guys patched up," Makoto smiled a bit as she walked back over to the others.
=It seems all your nerves are...currently overloaded…= Steel explained =You are gonna feel a lot of pain in a few hours…=
"Worth it…" Max groaned.
"...hoo boy," Max whispered as he rested in a bed at HQ, Kajun giving him a small frown, "I…"
"You overcharged yourself…"
"Technically I overcharged Dredd…" he raised his hand up, "I was just...right next to him when he went kaboom...so if you think about it…"
=Oh she is stressed...and angry…= Steel muttered.
"I am...but I was also worried about you," Kajun stated, walking over and sitting in the chair next to Max's bed, "But also...ashamed of myself."
"?" he arched an eyebrow in confusion.
"If I had known there was someone with powers like yours...no no. Someone who had the ability to absorb and steal your power, I could've thought of a way to turn it back on him...or make it impossible for him to absorb...I…" She paused before sighing, "I could've made it..so you wouldn't have been captured."
"You make it seem like this was your fault," Max chuckled, "I chose to risk it by facing that on my own. I was sure they were after you guys too. We didn't expect the guy who killed my dad to be a TURBO energy Vampire. But...I got him, I'm back, Steel is okay…"
=I am NOT okay!= he argued, only to be smacked away into a trashcan =Abuse!=
"Don't worry about it. Honestly, knowing I just kicked the butt of the guy who took my dad...makes me feel better than I should be. And according to you guys I am Effed up!" he laughed.
"Yes...and you will be out of commission for a while," Kajun argued.
"...You're not gonna experiment on me are ya?"
"What? No," Kajun answered, "I'm taking some time off from the lab to...well...take care of you."
"Beg pardon?" Max blinked.
"It was Makoto's idea to 'help me get out of the lab more often,'" Kajun explained with a sigh, "So starting today, I will be your nurse so to speak."
"I'm starting to think Noel has enticed Makoto to the Dark side…" Max muttered.
"If she did, I will personally switch her and Ben's bodies for a week," Kajun countered with a small smile, "But in all seriousness….I'm glad you're okay, Max."
"Thanks," Max smiled, "Sorry I made you guys worry so much. But I do feel good I dealt that Dredd guy the biggest loss ever. But I think I should try to unlock more of these thousands of forms Steel has."
=At least a Thousand!= Steel spoke up, =Our united form is highly modular, we could literally make anything=
"...well then…" Kajun began as she pulled out a notebook with Max's symbol on it and a pen, "Challenge accepted, Steel."
"What's that?" Max asked.
"A little something I've been working on after you joined the team," Kajun explained, "It shows the different forms you can currently transform into, and possibilities for future forms you could take."
=I believe the term is: You need a hobby…= Steel muttered floating over, =Oh...oh these are nice…= he changed his tune rather quickly.
"Glad you think so," Kajun noted before tapping her cheek, "Hmm...why don't we have a brainstorming session on some new ideas? We could think of ways to mix and match your forms to form new ones."
=...Ok. I'm really starting to like you= Steel admitted.
"I got nothing better to do, so may as well rest and chat," Max shrugged a bit, only to wince a little, "Ah….regret."
"You know remarkably you got hurt worse but are complaining less then Ben…" Kajun noted.
"He's so milking it isn't he?" Max asked.
"Tsubaki all but vetoed the nurse outfit from Makoto…"
"Pretty sure Ben would get a bloody nose just from that combination alone," Max joked.
"No. Apparently that was the bellydancer outfit she bought for him during their worldwide trip," Kajun countered with a slight giggle.
"She lies!" Makoto shouted offscreen, "Tsubaki! Tsubaki wait! No no...put the fan away! I assure you it wasn't what you th-ITE!"
"We all know that it's only a matter of time till the 'us being Aunts and Uncles to their kids stops being a joke' right?" Max asked.
"I live in fear of the day I am forced to babysit a little child with green eyes and a squirrel tail…" Kajun admitted.
=I am not being a teething toy…= Steel added.
"Then I guess that would make me the fun uncle," Max joked.
"Let's not dwell on the idea further…" Kajun muttered.
=Agreed= Steel deadpanned.
"That should be everything," Bullet muttered as she was back in her regular clothes, tying up her knapsack as she picked it and threw it over her shoulder.
"You're not planning on skipping town are you?" Jin asked with a slight frown, "You're still under probation…"
"I know…" Bullet sighed as she walked out of her cell, "I'll probably find somewhere to stay for now...see if I can gather the information I need..."
"Well Undertown's a great place to find info," Kagura chimed in, instantly standing next to her as he slung his arm on her shoulders, "I'll even help guide ya…"
"You sure you wanna deal with that?" Ragna asked in a deadpanned tone, "She can and will kick your ass."
"Come on, Rags…I am far above that now. I just wanna show her ar-GH~?!" Kagura squealed, gripping his groin as he fell on his face, "My….jewels…"
"Nice try, pervert," Bullet deadpanned, "But his suggestion of Undertown...might be for the best."
"Info travels fast, Hotpants," Ragna nodded a bit, despite the annoyed growl from her, "Oh and btw...nice job back there with the Knights."
"..hmph. Thanks...not every day I often fight alongside a former wanted criminal," Bullet admitted.
"Yeah well in this world I'm a literal man of the law," Ragna replied with a cocky smirk, "Here you're the criminal~"
"I'm a mercenary…"
"So? You're still a criminal," Ragna grinned further, "Though...I will admit, having you roam semi-freely with your scary strength seems like a bad idea…"
"Oh what...you're going to have me locked up again?" Bullet asked with a scoff.
"Nope...I'm thinking of making you my deputy."
"...come again?" Bullet blinked in utter confusion.
"Brother...what are you thinking?" Jin asked in equal confusion.
"Just like what Old-Man Tennyson figured with you dumbass…" Ragna muttered, "He didn't want a strong freak like you running around. So he took you in, then he whipped you into shape. I figure if I let this walking explosion in the shape of a stripper run around my home turf...I'm probably gonna be called to deal with her in...maybe an hour."
"Oi!"
"I figure if I keep her in arms reach...eh...at least I can aim her at something that has it coming." he shrugged.
"That...is very wise," Jin spoke, now understanding his point.
"I told you school is bullshit…" Ragna smirked, "I learned way more on my own from a weird cat and a vampire then you ever did being stuck in high school."
"Wait a what?" Bullet blinked.
"None of your business." Ragna replied simply, "So what do you say….either you stay solo and possibly get zapped by whatever is keeping you on probation...or you become my deputy and help me kick some ass."
"..." Bullet just blinked as she stared at him for a moment, "...Are you absolutely sure?"
"I am," Ragna nodded, "Plus admittedly, Celica ended up becoming my secretary in dealing with paperwork and any new cases, and Ester and Tora make sure to keep an eye out for her in case she gets lost...which is a lot, so I figured one more set of hands wouldn't be so bad."
"...hmm…" Bullet began to ponder at that. She wasn't sure if she shouldn't take the deal or not, but then again….it could help with her search for her missing commander. Find out what truly happened that day possibly...and maybe, just maybe...find him, "...fine. I'll accept your terms, Ragna the Bloodedge...and become your deputy."
"Good, because I was gonna draft ya anyways if you declined," Ragna smirked, "Now let's hop on out...getting hungry."
"Fair enough…" Bullet nodded as the two began to walk off, "But wherever we eat...it has to have some very spicy food."
"You can order your own meal, I just want something," Ragna sighed, "Come on, I gotta tell Old Man Tennyson on the way out, too. I don't want to cause him more trouble...he is more or less re-raising my idiot brother."
"Mmm…" Jin nodded before realizing what he said, "Hah?! Brother, what do you mean by that? Brother?! Dammit, answer me!"
"One more thing we need to address if you're gonna work with me," Ragna continued, choosing to ignore Jin at the moment as he talked with Bullet, "PAnts...find some a-"
"Daga kotowaru," Bullet instantly denied.
"Woman you can't walk around in public like that! Children are out there!" Ragna snapped.
"Then I'll stay in the shadows so people won't see me," Bullet argued.
"Oh yeah like that's any better!" Ragna snapped.
"I refuse to change my uniform!"
"I….know what fine. You can keep them on….on one condition," Ranga began as he held a finger up, "There's this food truck Ben's girlfriend went to on her birthday...and it has a spicy wing challenge. You complete that and not breathe fire from your mouth? You win...you lose and/or breath fire from your mouth in any way, shape, or form...you put some pants on."
"...how spicy are these wings?" Bullet cautiously asked.
"From what I understand, they're made with the world's seven hottest peppers."
"Challenge accepted."
"...This does not bode well…" Jin muttered to himself.
"W-wait...back up," Mai spoke as she, Tsubaki, and Noel were in the medical room Ben and Makoto were in with Grandpa Max standing in the doorway, "You and Noel found someone that knows where our families are?!"
"That's right!" Makoto spoke, "It was totally our folks! That means they really are here! And if they are living among aliens that's why it was so hard to find them!"
"That would possibly explain it," Tsubaki noted, "Did you get a specific location as to where they might be?"
"Not yet," Noel shook her head, "He's currently resting at the moment."
"Fair enough...but once he's able to, we're going to go find them," Tsubaki stated before turning towards Grandpa Max, "If that is fine with you, Magister."
"What possible reason would I have to stop ya?" Grandpa Max smiled, "Your family is the one thing you can never forget in this world. I got a good idea. We've bought ourselves some time from the Knights after that last scuffle, and I need to fix this place up, beef up security, and build up so that next time they come knocking on my door...they'll break their knuckles on it."
"I seriously love your gramps, Ben," Makoto smiled a bit.
"Given how fast you two are going in your relationship, he'll be your grandpa too, Makoto," Tsubaki teased with a slight smirk, causing the squirrel girl to sputter a bit with a blush.
"Well that's the other thing I love about Family," Grandpa Max smirked, "It's always growing, changing, and it's more than just blood. You kids are just as much my own as Ben and Gwen are, don't forget that." he chuckled, "So how's about you kids take some rest time? Then once you and our guests are good and ready, we can begin looking. I imagine it'll be a bit of an emotional trip. So make sure you're prepared."
"Of course, sir," Noel nodded.
"And I'll have time to mentally prepare myself," Makoto whispered, "Mostly emotionally for seeing them after so long….and then having to talk to them about me and my boyfriend."
"Which is a bridge I am still dreading," Ben added.
"Oh relax, Ben. You're a good young man. I'm sure they'll love you," Grandpa Max chuckled, "They raised a heck of a girl, so I'm sure they are understanding. At worst, you'll just have the usual bits of a loving dad being a bit of a pain." he joked.
"Oh that is not funny!" The couple complained in perfect unison.
"And you both tend to be perfectly in sync...kinda hard not to mention that," Tsubaki added with a smirk.
"...You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Makoto asked Tsubaki with a deadpanned tone.
"I might be yes," she smiled.
"Yeah, well...let's see how you act when your folks learn about how close you and Jin are getting...in fact...I bet they'd love it." Makoto smirked back.
"?! Y...you wouldn't…." Tsubaki whispered with a heavy blush.
"Oh I would, girl~" Makoto's smirk grew.
"I was afraid of this…" Mai sighed, "Though...I am relieved I'll be able to see mom and dad again…"
"Same," Noel added, "I just hope they're okay."
"All the more reason to get ready to set out once able." Grandpa Max smiled, "This was some hard few days, rest up and look like you're doing just fine. Last thing you want is to show up looking all worn out from a hard mission. Let your parents see how well you're doing in this new world for all of you. I know I'd be concerned no matter what and seeing my kids show up fine and dandy...would ease a lot of my concerns."
"I see that look, Grandpa…" Ben smirked.
"Well...I always worry about you, but I've worried less since you found Makoto." Grandpa Max smirked.
"She has been a positive influence on you," Tsubaki added, "For one..you've dialed the ego back."
"I…"
"Gomen, Ben, but...you were really that bad," Noel admitted, "It just took Makoto to chip it away…"
"I personally never minded it. Ben always got his karma," Grandpa Max chuckled, "But, I feel happy knowing he has someone that cares about him as much as I always have. Maybe more, and that there will always be someone looking out for him. I've known Ben has always had that heroic heart that makes him risk so much for others. Even as a kid, it shined through even when he was being a little annoying. So knowing someone can watch his back when that heroic heart shines too bright, makes me feel so at ease."
"Plus, no need for me to wear sunglasses when I do," Makoto joked.
"..." Tsubaki sighed as she facepalmed, "Makoto...that...that was so bad that I don't even want to hit you with the fan for it."
"Haha! Bad pun for the win!" Makoto laughed, her tail wagging happily at her victory.
"Alright, alright. I get it…" Ben sighed.
"We tease 'cause we love," Grandpa Max smiled, "That's another part of being family."
"Yeah...and I am nervicited to find ours!" Makoto declared as she put her foot on a nearby chair and posed dramatically, "...mostly nervous but still!"
"You're fusing words again, aren't you?" Ben muttered.
"When have I not?" Makoto replied.
"...Nervous and excited?" Noel guessed.
"Yep! Very nervicited!"
"I guess I should let you kids rest up. I got lots of work to do. Oh right. Tsubaki, just to let you know, I signed off on Ragna taking care of Bullet's parole and community service. I figure it would be best to keep her...separated from Makoto…"
"He's not wrong!" Makoto spoke up.
"I see...that's fair, I suppose," Tsubaki nodded as she began to walk off, "I need to head back to our place to get things ready in case…Noel, Mai?"
"Coming," both replied as they quickly followed.
"I need to go check on some things as well," Grandpa Max spoke as he walked off, "I'll see you two later."
"K," Ben and Makoto nodded.
"And that just leaves you two with me," Skurd spoke up, earning a stare from the two, "...D'oh fine…" he muttered, hopping off the Omnitrix as he slithered off.
"...Oh, finally," Makoto whispered once Skurd was out before the Beastkin sat down as tears began to form in her eyes, "Finally….we found them…"
"Babe?" Ben asked in concern, sitting down beside her and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Ben. It's just...I'm so happy," Makoto answered, wiping the tears away a bit, "I'm just so relieved we found them…"
"Well...once the guy is feeling good enough to talk, then we really will find them," Ben spoke, "So all we can do here is rest, and find them as soon as possible."
"...yeah...yeah that is true," Makoto nodded with a soft smile, reaching out and placing her hand on top of his, "And I know as long as you're there with me...everything will be okay."
"Hey. I'd be a pretty terrible boyfriend if I wasn't there for ya," Ben smiled..
"True...but that also worries me," Makoto admitted, "You know I'm pretty strong, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well who do you think I get it from and who will likely be on you like me on those chestnut smoothies at Mr. Smoothy?"
"...oh…." Ben paled a bit as he realized what she meant, "...crap baskets."
"Well….that was one business venture that somewhat failed," Forever muttered as he and Camellia were walking down a metal hallway.
"Yes...Tennyson and his group got away with Maxwell, and Dredd has been vaporized," Camellia added, "I apologize...I should've expected the surprise attack from them, my lord."
"It matters not," Forever sighed, "I had plans to see if we could use Dredd's work for an engine of limitless energy. But, oh well, I'll figure something out on my own. For the most part we'll need to return to other ventures till we can set up a new observation lab for Sensei…" he chuckled, "But he's a resourceful man, I'm sure he has a creepy back up lab someplace he never told me about."
"Yes, my lord," Camellia nodded before her communicator went off, prompting her to turn it on, "What is it? We…"
=We found it...the fabled sword in the stone=
"?!" Camellia's eyes widened as she stopped, earning Forever's attention, "...Are you sure?"
=Yes...but we're still figuring out to get to where it's hidden=
"...Keep us updated," Camellia ordered as she turned it off, "My lord...the sword in the stone..."
"It's been located," Forever stated.
"Yes, my lord."
"Well, one step back, two steps ahead," Forever noted, "I found that old search from the former Upper Echelon of the Knights," he paused, "But none of them were smart enough to try and decipher it on their own. To think...just a few thoughts of my own from reading it myself and what…? It's only been a week's worth of effort with 0 prior intel?" he chuckled, "Old fools with zero intelligence or passion…" he groaned in remembrance, "But...this is good news." he looked at Camellia, "Now you'll prove your superiority, my Camellia…"
"?!" Camellia's eyes widened at that...before closing them as she got down onto a knee and bowed, "I'll accept this task with great responsibility, my lord...I will not fail you."
"I know you won't, because you might just be the only one who can complete this mission. I doubt there is anyone even close to worthy...other than you." Forever explained, "No one is more noble, no one more just, I know this as truth. No one could possibly accomplish this retrieval."
"...more noble...more deserving…" Camellia whispered as she took all that info in, 'Someone...who can truly use it for justice…'
'I know the sword in the stone is indeed too much for me to go and claim like some fool. After all, I highly doubt I have the noble heart that is required...but...I have someone who does…' Forever smirked behind his helmet, "Let us prepare."
GT: Oh, this is a mixed bag. On the one hand, we have Dredd defeated and the location of their families found. On the other...Forever has a lead on a familiar sword that was barely brought up after introduced in Omniverse. And Z0…*looks over at Z0, who is planning, carrying the Omniverse sword while carrying something wrapped up in his other arm*...Yeah...He's doing something with it that he won't share with you folks. And when I asked, he has a 'no spoilers' guard in the form of a big beefy guy who becomes wimpy at night and terrifying at noon exactly.
Z0: Hahahahahaha! No one could stop me even if they wanted to. *walks off with the sword*
SZ:...yeah probably best not to a-*gets hit with multiple darts*...*collapses while snoozing loudly*ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzz
Z0: If he's left awake...he'll talk…*turns to GT while holding up hands as darts float up with no explanation how* By the way...I ate a nasty fruit with spirals recently...and now can do cool stuff,
GT: ...Please read and review, folks, while I flee for the hills. *flees for the hills*
Z0: Room!