SZ: The chapter train doesn't stop and it won't stop coming!
GT: 100 chapters here we come!
Z0: *Sips Hell Coffee again* YEAH!
SZ: He's still hopped up on the coffee…but we are not giving up! So let's speed things up! We own nothing aside from original content, so let's start!
Z0: *swings sword at the screen* BURN! THOSE WHO GET IN MY WAY SHALL BURN IN THE PITS OF HELL! *breathes flames at the screen*
Another day had come to Bellwood, and our heroes were still going through their day to day grind. Villains of the week, and general missions. Thankfully things were starting to…reach a form of stability for them. Thanks to Intergalactic Plumbers traveling through and offering help, and the new Techadon Robot Police force loyal to Celica in Undertown, things were honestly calming down for them. Granted…Supervillains still got out, caused chaos and called them to action, but there were astonishingly far less frequent dangers to the stability of the world as they knew it in the past few weeks. However this felt like too much down time for the Omni Team as felt by Max Tennyson. So it was time for Grandpa to shake things up to keep his kids ready for anything.
"Wait what?" everyone blinked at a meeting with Magister Tennyson.
"Well I think we've gotten used to routine around here." Max Tennyson explained, "I think we should alternate shifts and team formations for a bit,"
"Well…I guess that kinda makes sense." Ben muttered looking at his grandfather, "But knowing you Grandpa…I feel like someone did something and ruined the good thing we had going."
"I didn't do it. I've been locked in the lab with Kajun for the last week helping her power some new project." Max spoke up, before turning to Jin.
"You think I did it McGrath?" Jin frowned.
"I don't know…sometimes it's just a knee jerk reaction." Max admitted.
"Oh someone totally ruined it," Makoto sighed.
"Regardless, I feel we should still alternate your Team, Ben," Grandpa Max explained before grinning, "And luckily I know just who to help with that."
"Who?" Ben asked before Ragna's yelp went off, making the group turn to see Ragna being punted over by Jubei.
"I'm going, I'm going! Jeez…" Ragna muttered as he stood up.
"...wait…" Jin began in realization.
"Eeyup," Jubei grinned, "Fer th' next week, you boys and girls will be swapping shifts! The boys will handle Undertown while the girls take care of Bellwood."
"Aww…Today was a sale at Ko'luu's stall for intergalactic fish. They just got a new shipment of Atrocian piranhas I needed for tonight's jambalaya," Noel sighed.
"Thank the Celestialsapiens for that. Atrocian fish are sealed in hazmat material then encased in an air-tight container made of protosteel-not from the franchise you like, Makoto; it's a real thing-before it's even allowed to be taken out of the water during fishing," Kajun whispered to the others.
"Why?" Max asked.
"The smell. It's so horrible, it dissolves clothing and can stick to anything that doesn't dissolve. Only counter for the cling is to eat the fish."
"I hated learning this so much…" Max muttered.
=Same. Just…ugh= Steel added =So glad I don't have a nose or mouth=
"...wait," Makoto spoke up, "The boys are getting Undertown…which is also looked after by Celica's Techadon Robot bodyguards…you boys have the easy job…"
"IE…less property damage." Skurd pointed out, "Put all the super powerful ones who just by accident can tear down an entire city block, in the one assignment that has literally nothing to do?" he reasoned.
"That was not on purpose…I wanted to see how many times I could stack Strength before I turned giant." Max muttered.
"I have no excuse…I probably didn't need to pile drive a Mammoth down main street…" Ben shrugged, "But…Ragna bet I couldn't."
"...I regret nothing." Ragna replied.
"It's not my fault…we just learned sneezing makes me do that involuntarily…" Jin crossed his arms.
"You made a Glacier!" Kajun argued.
"Hey…snowball fight in summer…pretty awesome." Ben argued.
"So what you're saying is…the boys are too dangerous to be allowed to fight unless it is something comparable in threat?" Kajun asked.
"Well…basically." Max Tennyson shrugged.
"Ben, Max, Ragna and Jin alone can cause some massive damage…but together? Heh heh…ahh they'd probably destroy an entire city if angered enough in a fight," Jubei added with a chuckle.
"Oh come on…whe-nope can't make that argument with a straight face." Ben chuckled a little.
"Nope..we are just pure chaos in a fight," Ragna admitted.
"You maybe…" Jin muttered.
"..." Kajun held up her tablet and pulled up a video from the incident with the Ben 10 Externet show, "Ehem…"
"Hahahaha…" most of them laughed at the memory.
"...mm," Jin frowned as he looked away with crossed arms, "I…had no control of myself…"
"Uh-huh…" Ragna smirked.
"Well guess this means the Girls get to handle the normal work." Makoto smirked, "We can totally handle it with less property damage."
"I don't doubt that." Ben shrugged.
"I am a walking destroyer of technology…kind of have the odds stacked against me." Max added.
"I give them an hour…" Ragna argued.
"..." Jin moved to speak, only to notice the small glare from Tsubaki, "I…think my best choice is neutrality."
"Wow…you really do have him whipped." Mai awed.
"Now if only they'd stopped blushing when they are called a couple." Sari giggled.
"Sari…" Tsubaki whispered with a blush.
"I don't hear arguments or denial~" Sari went on.
"...L-let's just get this assignment dealt with."
"Fine with me," Makoto shrugged, "Can use the down time kinda."
"Good, then you can help take care of my deputy then," Ragna stated.
"...wait, what?"
"You have got to be freakin' kidding me…" Makoto and Bullet frowned, sitting across from one another in the Plumber base's female locker room.
"Oh…Ragna set this up somehow…I know it." Tsubaki groaned, knowing this was a horrible matchup.
"Now…you can't know that for sure…" Noel muttered, holding Drei in her arms.
"Arf!" Drei barked.
"Okay maybe he did." Noel sighed.
"See? Even the adorable dog can read the set up." Tsubaki sighed, "Wait, why did you bring Drei to work today?"
"...He snuck into my duffle bag with my gear…" Noel muttered, "I wanted to take him home…but…oh he mastered the puppy dog eyes." she held Drei up as he gave pleading eyes to Tsubaki, adding a sad whimper.
"...Okay, he can stay," Tsubaki replied with no hesitation.
"Yay!"
"Great…as if working with the Beastkin was bad enough," Bullet muttered.
"It's not a picnic for me either, hothead," Makoto frowned at her.
"Please don't argue," Noel begged.
"And what can you do about it?" Bullet huffed.
*THUMP!*
"I have an Elephant-Sword that is very strong," Noel replied, petting Funkfreed before he shifted back into his sword state to rest on her hip.
"Noted…" Bullet groaned, she and Makoto lying flat on their faces with a smoking bump on their heads.
"She's got too many pets…" Makoto muttered.
"It's just the three…I left Mari to take care of the house today with Robotboy. Tomorrow is Drei's turn." Noel explained.
"Of course…"
"Plus La-chan is helping take care of her and your siblings Makoto."
"I know," Makoto whispered as she got up, "Ma wanted to hangout with Sandra and there's that fishing trip Daddy and Carl wanted to take with Grandpa Max."
"Admittedly still not used to Ben's dad being named Carl considering we knew one back at the academy," Mai admitted.
"How do you think I felt my first week here?" Makoto pointed out, "It….actually felt awkward at first and I couldn't help but envision Ben's dad with glasses and short blonde hair."
"Pfftt…" Noel giggled, "It's kinda silly to imagine that on Mr. Tennyson."
"Little bit," Mai giggled as well before frowning in concern, "I hope he's safe wherever he is…"
"Yeah I'm…now worried where he could be," Makoto admitted.
"I'm…sure he's okay out there…somewhere," Tsubaki added, starting to feel worried as well.
"And I'd honestly like to get this stupid assignment done with," Bullet stated as she got up.
"Fine, Ms. Crabby," Sari muttered as she sheathed her sword.
"I'm not crabby…"
"Arf!" Drei barked.
"The dog…disagrees." Noel explained.
"Wha…" Bullet gawked before glaring at Drei, the dog not at all worried.
"Okay, so what shall we do first?" Ben asked as he and his team-consisting of himself, Max, Rook, Ragna, and Jin, walked through the streets of Undertown.
"Not much to actually do. Celica's little robot helpers have made this place…kinda boring," Ragna admitted, glancing over at a pair of said 'helpers' on patrol…with tiny police hats on their heads.
"Techadon Police force drones…if anyone else but that girl had them…it would be worrisome," Jin spoke.
"Most true." Rook nodded.
"I guess Ben's Gramps really doesn't want us…causing more work to file all the collateral damage." Ragna sighed, "Especially if it was from friendly fire."
"Control F U," Ben and Max chuckled, even Rook snickered having learned the joke a while back.
"So if anything…we can just chill and do whatever," Ragna shrugged, "...fine with me. New restaurant opened up near Thrax's place and figured we could give it a shot."
"This can't seriously be all we do?" Jin asked.
"By all means bring it up with your direct superior." Ben smiled.
"IE your girlfriend. Who lets face it is probably stressed from Makoto and Bullet sharing a room with her for extended periods of time." Max added.
"If you do, you are a braver man than I." Rook smirked patting Jin's shoulder.
"...Let's just go get the damn food."
=Fine then, krabby…= Steel snickered.
"I will freeze you, you tin-can…"
=Careful, I have your keeper within instant contact via group chat= Steel argued.
"D'oh…!"
"Come on Jin, for once just be one of the guys." Ben sighed.
"My brother, heh!" Ragna laughed, "He's got that ice blade so far up his ass he probably can't even sit right anymore."
"Colorful…" Rook rolled his eyes at the profanity.
"What do you even mean by 'be one of the guys'?" Jin ignored his brother.
"Dude, we only ever see you at work," Max pointed out, "Besides the times we play each other in soccer…you avoid hanging out with us like a plague."
"For the record I don't want to invite him to bowling." Ragna muttered.
"You all go bowling together?" Jin asked.
"Well not on Earth, we know a place in our asteroid belt." Ben explained, "Uses some sort of wormhole for the pins and balls so we can actually use super powers for fun."
"For the record, I still call foul on that perfect game with ReBoot…" Ragna frowned at Ben.
"You can't prove anything." Ben replied.
"We try to invite you." Rook explained, "But you always have the same look of annoyance and lock yourself in your bunk."
"That's because most of the things you all do are asinine or ridiculous…" Jin deadpanned, ".. .or even both."
"...know what? I've got a solution to this," Max spoke up, "Steel?"
=Ooh~ I get to test the thing?=
"Yup."
"Thing? What th-" Jin began before Steel flew by him, the blonde suddenly finding a metal collar with a neon blue line in the middle around his neck, "!? Wh…what is this?!"
"Anti-antisocial collar," Max grinned, "Something Kajun whipped up on Tsubaki's request."
=Basically anytime you act anti-social…it lets out something that gets ya= Steel added.
"...This is a shock collar, isn't it?"
=Yes…and…= Steel began before faint gas spewed from the collar and hit Jin in the face…causing him to fall over laughing =No=
"Wha-HAHAHAAHA-What have you done!?" Jin demanded between laughter fits.
=It has other means…like an ear splitting screech emitted close to your ears so as to not harm others= Steel explained, =And while yes it does shock, it's more mildly annoying…unless you try and take it off…then it amps up=
"Why would Tsubaki ask for this!?" Jin asked.
"You embarrass her at social functions." Ben explained.
"That and the tv show, 'Von Freezer,'" Max added.
"Wow you are a horrible life partner." Ragna smirked.
"It's not…we're…I mean…she…and I…" Jin stammered at that, making Ragna laugh, "D'oh…"
"Face it Jin…you need to hang out with the guys more…and just be one of us," Ragna chuckled.
"You're not exactly part of any elite family anymore. You're just…Jin." Ben pointed out, "Nor are you the highest ranking person here."
"Technically within our circle of friends that is Ben and Tsubaki." Rook smiled.
"Don't remind me…" Jin sighed.
"Well I mean I'm only high rank in name…my multiple accomplishments more or less make it so if I wasn't some high rank in the Plumbers…people would complain." Ben sighed.
"Space Politics…don't care for them." Ragna shrugged.
"Exactly!" Ben smiled.
"Two of the most powerful human beings on the planet…and the idea of political power annoys them." Jin muttered.
"You know how I was back in our old time," Ragna countered before smirking, "Besides…whenever we met, didn't you ignore orders from the higher ups just to fight me?"
"Boy the brotherly love sure was strong with you guys back in the day," Max chuckled sarcastically.
"Believe me…the stories I could tell from all the stab wounds and scars he left me," Ragna sighed, "...at least I paid him back with as many scars, stabs…and busted lips and noses."
"Times were different then." Jin sighed, "Being sucked to this time…might have actually been the best thing for all of us. Gives us an actual chance to start over."
"Well…it wasn't intentional, but glad whatever Alien X did worked out." Ben sighed, "But it's not like we don't have problems to deal with, either now or later."
"Super villains out the wazoo…" Max sighed.
"Basic scum and assholes with a coat of ET paint." Ragna chuckled.
"At least whatever comes our way, we shall be here to fight it, together." Rook smiled as he gently nudged Jin.
"Hmph. Your optimism is admirable Rook, I guess you're not wrong." Jin rolled his eyes.
"Great! Let's get some food and watch Celica's robots put bad guys in timeout!" Ben cheered.
"Ha! That is always funny!" Max laughed.
"It h-" Ragna began before ducking just as a crate nearly hit him in the head, "..." he slowly took his phone out and dialed in a number, "...hey Celica? Yeah it's me…one of the bots you assign to packages is acting up again."
=Oh for…Bastion!=
"...she named it Bastion?" Max blinked.
"She gave them all names…mostly based on whatever assignments she gives them," Ragna explained as he hung up.
"Wait, she named all of them?" Max asked.
"Once she ran out of pun-like names for their jobs…she began assigning them normal names…and genders…" Ragna sighed, "The weird thing is…I think they actually are developing personalities."
"Why am I not surprised?" Jin sweatdropped.
"So that's why the security ones tend to be more…combative." Ben muttered.
"That girl has the most interesting effect on Artificial Intelligence programs…" Rook scratched his chin.
"I'll say…" Ragna muttered, "...then again it's honestly hard to say no to her…"
Meanwhile on the surface, the girls were busy doing their part in helping to protect Bellwood. However unlike the boys, the girls…were having a bit more trouble as it seemed today of all days Fistrick's goons(along with a few thieves and robbers) decided to go on a crime spree.
"You come back here, you Gym-Bro loser!" Makoto shouted, punching one of Fistrik's goons into the sky.
"You're not getting away from me!" Bullet snapped as she pounced a goon before punching his face in.
"Whoa! These chicks are angry!" Fistrick grunted as he tried to reach his get-away vehicle, only to hear a finger snap before a bolt of green lighting to block his path, "?!"
"No you don't," Sari smirked as she lowered her hand.
"Boss, we can use some h-" one thug began before one of Lambda's flails wrapped around him, making him grunt before he was tossed straight into a trash can.
"Dude…" Fistrick looked at this scenario, "What is…"
"Mine!" Makoto and Bullet shouted, punching Fistrick at the same time, sending him flying through a wall…well more like four walls, "Got him! What?! No, I go-OI! Stop it! No! You St-WHY YOU…!"
"Enough!" Tsubaki snapped as she finished handcuffing one of Fistricks goons, "Honestly you two…"
"Is he dead?" Noel couldn't help but ask as Mai poked him with the bottom end of her spear.
"Uh…I don't know…it looks like he's breathing." Mai muttered.
"Oh no bro…" Fistrick wheezed out in pain.
"Oh good he's alive." Noel nodded, "That's good, that would have been a lot of paperwork."
"No...just no," Lambda shook her head as she flung another grunt into another trashcan, "Last one…"
"Ugh. Finally," Sari sighed in relief as she sheathed her sword and shield, "The one day Ben gets the easy assignment…"
"I think we take for granted how often Ben and Max compete to see who can punch the most grunts out." Mai muttered, "But then again at least with them…it's fun and comical, unlike…" she motioned to Makoto and Bullet who were arguing about who beat the most goons.
"16!" both shouted, "What…Stop that!"
"Those two…"
"Yeah.." Sari sweatdropped, "...You'd think they'd get along with how much they like to punch things…"
"Just that they're completely opposite in terms of personalities…" Mai muttered.
"Also Bullet is very cranky and harsh towards Beastkin…" Noel added.
"Hah! Vindication!" Makoto snapped while pointing at Bullet.
"Grr…!"
"Down girl." Sari snapped her fingers, making a bolt to hit the ground behind Bullet to spook her into calming down.
"This Unfriendly Rivalry is somehow more difficult than Ben's nonsense." Tsubaki sighed.
"At least Ben makes it funny." Noel smiled.
"Agreed," Lambda nodded, "This…not so much."
"I'm a former mercenary…we don't do fun or make jokes, especially not on the job," Bullet argued before tensing as another bolt nearly hit her.
"Yeah we know your history, it's not so much your past or methods that are the problem." Sari explained.
"It's that you and Makoto won't just shut up and make your arguments more our problems." Tsubaki bluntly stated, making Bullet pause as she honestly had no argument be it anger, ego or logic driven against that very sound point.
"I'm not apologizing." Makoto crossed her arms.
"I'm just amazed at the rather…logical reasoning…" Bullet admitted.
"Oh it's cute you think you're difficult compared to Ben when he swings a burning truck like a war hammer…" Sari smiled patting her shoulder, "No…your just very mouthy and annoying,"
"Oi…" Bullet frowned.
"Also, unlike Ben…I'm pretty sure we can rein you in…if Ben loses himself…well…everything would be broken…and on fire." Mai motioned.
"..."
"Oh come on, Mai. It wouldn't all be on fire," Makoto pointed out, "...Some of it would be frozen, crackling with electricity, covered in goop of some sort, crystalized, or covered in LEGOs."
"Why do you sound proud of that?" Bullet blinked.
"I love that man, faults and all!" Makoto smiled, "Maybe you'd find someone too if you drop the attitude."
"...If only they'd notice," Bullet whispered quietly to herself.
"Hm?" Noel blinked at that.
"...ugh. Who else do we need to find and take in?" Bullet questioned with a sigh.
"According to reports," Tsubaki began as she pulled her Badge out, tapping it as a wanted poster popped up on it, "Another of Ben's villains was seen recently. Rojo."
"...is her name mispronounced spanish?" Sari blinked.
"I just noticed that." Tsubaki blinked.
"Rojo…oh scary robot lady!" Makoto remembered, "She fused with a Vilgax drone once and when Ben beat her, he had some psychic link formed with Vilgax which is how he could sense he was coming after him as a kid."
"Wait what?" Noel blinked at that, "That happened?!"
"How do you…fuse with a…know what Vilgax's tech is weird as is," Mai muttered.
"According to her notes, she's wanted for destruction of property and stealing high-tech equipment to use for her bike," Tsubaki spoke as she read the notes.
"So it's just some biker chick with advanced tech," Bullet noted, "...hmph. Easy enough."
"Heh….good luck with that," one of Fistrick's goons that were still conscious spoke up, "That crazy chick's on the boss's shit list because she ends up stealing our shipments."
"You mean shipments you stole," Lambda countered.
"Potato, potatoh…Not like the guys who owned them will miss it."
"Perhaps…but counterpoint?" Lambda used her Ancient Flails to grab a garbage can lid and fling it at the thug, beaning him right upside the head.
"Good point, La-chan," Noel smiled.
"Well this lady has been around since Ben was a little kid and he's beaten her each time," Makoto smirked, "We just need to knock her off the bike, grab some rope, we stand at two points across the street, and just wait before pulling it taught."
"That sounds potentially deadly to a person," Noel pointed out.
"Oh come on, Ben's been punching her as FourArms for years…she'll be fine," Makoto smiled, waving off the concern.
"For once…I agree," Bullet sighed.
"Still…best not to underestimate her," Tsubaki stated as she dismissed the wanted poster.
"Again…she's a biker punk," Bullet stated, "Not all that hard."
"I mean she has just a power suit; it won't be the hardest fight. It's not like we're fighting Vilgax," Makoto smirked.
"Just because Ben knows how to beat her in record time doesn't mean you do," Tsubaki put her hands on her hips.
"..."
"Makoto, it is not a challenge!" Tsubaki groaned.
"Nonsense! Of course it is. Ben is my boyfriend, we are equals in our joint life, so that means I need to be able to beat his Rogues for they will be our Rogues when I have a ring on this finger," Makoto smiled.
"Oh for the love of…" Tsubaki groaned.
"Yo boss, your new ride's ready!"
"Hmm?" a shadowed figure blinked a bit, looking up from welding something as they turned towards a female biker, "How good we talkin' this time? Is it enough to beat that annoying snot Ben 10?"
"Heh…by the time he finds ya, yer gonna be driving circles around him."
"...show me," the figure ordered.
The biker grinned as she moved over to a nearby shutter, moving up to let the light shine in, revealing the figure to be an older woman in red-and black cybernetic armor, a skull on the chest area while she wore an open helmet that revealed her face and short red hair. A grin grew on the woman's face as she saw it...the large cybernetic red and black bike that looked like it came straight out of Mad Max, neon-red lines glowing off the three large tires that helped support it as a large skull was seen in between the handlebars.
"What do ya think, boss? We souped it up with all that stolen tech we got from raiding Fistrick's stuff."
"Ha! It's amazing and even better knowing it's stolen from that Roid fueled monkey." she laughed, "How does she run?"
"Try it," her subordinate replied as she moved to the side, letting her boss walk over and hop right into the seat of her bike.
The armored woman soon gripped the hands as she gripped them, causing the engines to come roaring to life, "Oh ho…oh listen to that baby purr~"
"So what's first on da list, boss?"
"Knowing that snot…he's gonna come at the first sign of trouble, so…" the armored woman began as she revved her bike's engines again, "What say we raise some hell?"
"Hell yeah!" her subordinate cheered.
"Hmm…I felt a chill just now." Ben muttered.
"Probably nothing," Ragna shrugged, taking a chug of his drink.
"Probably one of your rogues cursing you out," Max noted.
"Boy…that is a long list…" Ben groaned.
"The fact you have a long list of villains that can attack you at any time worries me," Jin muttered.
"Pfft. What's your excuse, Mr. 'Hero'?"
"Grr…" Jin began before a puff of smoke came from his collar and hit him in the face, "Pfffft…HAHAHAHAHAHAHA~!"
"Down he goes," Ragna chuckled, "I like this thing. Makes it easier to enjoy Jin's company."
"D...Dam-hahahahahaha! …Damn you!" Jin managed to get out through his laughter.
"Well don't be so anti-social," Ben quipped with a grin.
"The boy is too prideful for that," Skurd shook his head before looking at Jin's sheathed sword, "...hmm…"
=...You really want to test that?= Steel asked.
"I don't, but…I'm curious at least…" Skurd whispered as he extended a tendril to touch the hilt...only to tense as he pulled back, "?! ...Well…that explains a few things…"
"Explains what?" Rook questioned.
"Just for a moment, I felt that sword…making me hyper-focus on certain emotions of mine," Skurd explained, "Also, I swear that thing has some form of life or something in it because I heard something yell 'Kill all who stand in your way' over and over again."
=That explains a lot…mostly why he sometimes glares at Ben as if he wants to cut him down like this was a Samurai movie…=
"I knew it!" Ben declared, pointing at Jin.
"Sh…Shut…up…" Jin panted once his laughing fit ended, managing to get back in his chair.
"...I'll admit, I recall my master talking about the Nox Nyctores a few times," Ragna explained before glaring a bit at Jin's sword, "Mucro Algesco: Yukianesa…a katana that can create ice that never melts and eats away at the soul…in exchange for corrupting the mind and make the wielder go into a murderous rage."
"..." Jin stayed silent, knowing full well why his brother was glaring at the sword in the first place.
"Never melts?" Ben blinked, "That seems false 'cause I melt Jin's ice all the time."
"With a walking oven fueled by nuclear energy…" Max argued.
"Hmm…well, I guess that explains why he tends to go so extreme sometimes, he's prone to it," Skurd muttered, "Though the fact he hasn't tried-and believe me, he can try harder-must mean he's gotten some sort of control over himself. Well that or deep down…he actually is intimidated by Ben."
"...What?" Jin narrowed his eyes.
"Down boy!" Skurd formed one of FourArms's namesakes and bonked Jin on the head, "Let's face it, you probably have more control because deep down the part of you that respects Ben knows if you lose it, he will beat you down. For crying out loud, the Elder Tennyson left you chained upside down and disarmed while cooking!"
"Magister Tennyson's age and build are rather deceptive…" Rook added.
"I…am…" Jin grunted, rubbing his head, "...hesitant to admit that level of praise towards Tennyson of all people."
"Well if you wanna be normal, then just chuck the sword," Ben suggested, "That way you can at least be one of the guys."
"It's not exactly that easy…"
"Why not? Watch…" Ben began as he activated the Omnitrix, pressing down on it as he changed into FourArms, "You just grab it like this, and…" he began, grabbing Yukianesa before chucking it far into the distance, "Yeet! See? Easy…"
"..." Jin gave a deadpan stare before holding his hand out, a cross of ice appearing next to him with Yukianesa in it as he gripped it, letting the ice shatter.
"Hmm…right. Magic sword," FourArms nodded, as he scratched his head.
"That is gonna be bothersome…" Rook muttered, "...you think Merlin may know how to deal with it?"
"Granted if we can get a hold of her," Ragna stated.
"True. She likes to come and go," Ben noted, "But she normally shows up around Tsubaki to check in on her and Excalibur."
"Oh, well that's easy, we'll just ask her to talk to her," Ragna shrugged, "Maybe she can, I don't know…fix it, tune it…scrap it?"
"She knows more about magic than most of us," FourArms shrugged before choosing to change the subject, "...Bet I can chug an entire keg of this alien juice." he smirked.
"Do it," Max smirked, knowing this would go dangerously wrong.
"Considering this is a brew I've seen Thrax chug? Do it," Ragna grinned.
"Oh I just know this will be disastrous," Rook sighed as he flicked his ProtoTool before attaching his badge to it to turn it into a camera mode to stream this.
=Oh the guys back at the base are gonna love this= Steel laughed, sending out a message.
"Hmm?" Noel looked at her phone, "'FourArms Fail video…"
"Woof," Drei woofed as he pawed at the phone, playing the video.
"...O-Oh my…" Noel covered her mouth with wide eyes, 'Don't let Makoto watch this…'
"Woof!" Drei barked happily as he swiped the video away with his paw.
"You really are a smart boy~" Noel scratched his ears.
"Hey. We're back," Makoto spoke up as she and the rest of the girls walked over, "Sorry for the wait...long line at Mr. Smoothie's…also a certain someone kept us held up."
"There were too many flavors…non-spicy," Bullet countered.
"You don't drink spicy food! Spicy doesn't go in smoothies!" Makoto argued.
"It's fine," Noel spoke to stop the argument, "You got a Pup-cup for Drei, right?"
"Yup," Sari assured as she put a small cup down, "Here ya go, boy."
"Arf!" Drei barked happily, his stubby tail wagging excitedly.
"So did we miss anything?" Mai asked as she and the rest of the girls sat down at the table Noel was at.
"Not much…just some funny videos," Noel replied, 'And Ben acting like himself as usual…'
"Well at least we can say we did work today." Mai sighed, "I'm sure the guys are busy doing something stupid."
'Oh more than you know…' Noel mentally replied to herself.
Before anything could be said however, the sound of an engine running soon caught their attention. Before the girls could register what was happening, something drove by fast as a red energy blast shot at a nearby car, causing it to explode.
"What the…?!" Sari began.
"Hahahaha!" a voice laughed as a group of female bikers drove by, blasting at buildings, lampposts, and cars as they did.
"Hey, Tennyson! Where are ya?!" the blur from before called out as it skid to a halt, revealing the armored woman on her bike as its engines revved loudly, "I'd like to pay ya back for last time!"
"...Is that…?" Mai began to ask.
"Yeah, that's Rojo," Tsubaki confirmed as Sari grimaced.
"Okay, yeah…Her bike? Not nice at all. You do not want to know what it called me when I tried to 'speak' with it," Sari noted.
"Yikes…" Makoto winced at that.
"I mean it, Tennyson! You better show your scrawny ass, or else me and my girls are gonna make this part of Bellwood our personal hangout!" the armored woman/Rojo called out as the skull on her bike fired out another energy blast, causing another car to explode as the flaming wreckage began to fly straight towards the girls.
Noel reacted first as she pulled out Bolverk and turned it into a minigun as she blasted the wreckage and actually reversed its momentum and sent it flying right back towards Rojo and her gang.
"...Heh," Rojo just smirked as she pressed a button on her bike's grips, causing an energy barrier to form around her as the car crashed into it, only to bounce off as it crashed behind her and her gang, "Well…this is new."
"You did not just call my man's ass scrawny!" Makoto barked, narrowing her eyes as her tail flicked about in irritation.
"That's what you're worried about?" Bullet deadpanned with a sweatdrop.
"Shut up," Makoto replied simply, "This wannabe Ghost Rider bitch has insulted my man," she slowly opened and closed her hands to activate her suit's abilities, "So this is personal."
"Oh good to know the anger at any slight towards one half of this relationship is shared by both sides…" Tsubaki sighed.
"Oh dear…" Noel whispered, praying for no major property damage like Ben has done.
"...Oh I get it…" Rojo spoke as she looked at the girls, "You're those girls that's in Tennyson's entourage, aren't ya?"
"I'm not with them," Bullet argued, "And what's it to you?"
"Oh not much…just been out of the loop for a while dealing with Fistrik and his goons, so I figured I take the chance to get back at Tennyson for ruining my last ride. And since you girls seem to be friends with him…" Rojo began as the skull of her bike began to glow, "Hope he doesn't mind me presenting your charred bodies!"
"I take it she is not well liked by people…" Lambda muttered.
"She doesn't seem very pleasant…but then again…none of Ben's villains are…" Makoto sighed, "At least Animo makes conversation."
"MOVE!" Tsubaki shouted before she and the girls-Noel quickly grabbing Drei-quickly got out of the way, avoiding the incoming energy blast as it destroyed the table...along with the drinks that had been on it.
"Now that was just rude and uncalled for," Sari sighed, "Sorry to say, old lady, but Ben is busy with a different task today; but, given he beat you as a ten year old…you don't seem like the worst enemy to show up today."
"The puppy is okay…" Noel held up Drei as he whined in disappointment of his treat being destroyed, "And now you pay, psycho-biker chick!" she declared while handing the dog over to Lambda.
"Oh…I guess this is happening…" Lambda blinked.
"Oh you girls want some? Then by all means…" Rojo began as she revved her bike's engines, her gang mimicking her actions as they all grinned at the girls, "Bring it!"
"Oh I really wish it wasn't like this," Tsubaki sighed, pulling out Excalibur and pointing it at Rojo, "But we are taking you in, Rojo."
"Heh…As if, space pig!" Rojo shouted as she drove her bike straight at the girls, making them tense as they prepared themselves, only for her bike to suddenly start flying off the ground as the wheels began to turn towards the ground as the biker flew up into the air.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me…" several of them muttered in unison.
"...I feel the girls are having trouble," Max muttered…while carrying a drunk Ben as their group walked through the streets of Undertown.
"Should we have told them that while that beverage has absolutely no effect on us…with Tetramands, it is a very potent inebriant?" Rook asked.
"No…'cause it was funny." Ragna smirked.
"I…l-HIC!-love you guysh~" Ben drunkenly chuckled with a dazed look on his face.
"How is he still drunk though?" Max asked.
"The damage an inebriating drink has on the mind is just that: damage. It's not like his body becoming immune changed the temporary damage which results in the state of inebriation," Skurd sighed, "In short, he's basically just drunk as a side effect, but the harmful effects are long gone since changing back."
"...This honestly amuses me," Jin admitted, "Especially later."
"...Why later?" Max asked.
"Steel, how much would it take to have you play a gong sound effect every ten minutes near Ben's room?"
=...Oh, you, sir, are not going to get me to partake!= Steel declared before moving to the other side of Jin and whispering =Get me the next issue of Sonic the Hedgehog and you've got a deal=
"Understandable," Jin quietly replied, "Deal."
"Let's hurry and get Ben someplace b-" Max began before a poster flew by, "?"
"...The hell?" Ragna raised a brow as he grabbed the poster, "Missing: Tiffin...will reward for safe return."
"Tiffin?" Max repeated.
"It's the child form of the Lewodan species," Rook explained.
"Not the baby…" Ben hiccuped out.
"They were once…ehem…eaten by other races," Rook added, "That is till Ben met one, bonded with it…and threatened the King of the Pantophage that if they ever did that again…he would, and I quote, 'knit their intestines into a sweater.'"
"...Ugh…Great. Leowdans again…" Jin groaned, "...If it's the one that tried to turn Tennyson into a living bomb, I swear to god…"
"I think he is still locked up for attempted murder and trying to start a war," Rook recalled, "...Tsubaki had to file the right paperwork so Chadzmuth would fail in his attempt to let him out."
"What do Tiffins even look like?" Max asked anyway.
"Small, floaty, swirly marshmallow babhe…" Ben slurred out.
Rook pulled out his handheld and typed on it before turning to show its screen to them, showing a small floating creature resembling an ice cream swirl with blue eyes and a mouth, "This is a baby Leowdan."
=...Nobody let the girls…especially Noel and Lambda…see this= Steel stated.
"They are well documented as being adorable, also rather tasty from the files," Rook explained, "Though again…it is a baby."
"I'm honestly more concerned about Celica seeing this little guy or girl first," Ragna noted.
They all tensed as a green flash went off, making them turn to see Rath, "SAVE DA BABHE!" he shouted before running off and through a wall. Rath suddenly ran through another wall a few buildings down the street from them, but…the Apoplexian had his eyes closed and a snot bubble expanding from his nose as he snorted…somehow moving in his sleep. "ZZZZ! Sabe….Babhe-ZZZZ!" he ran into another building.
"Oh for the…" Ragna groaned before spotting a Techadon in a hardhat nearby with tiny hands poking out of the palms of its bigger hands and playing a 3DS, "Bob, get the others. You've got repair jobs!" a clock with a whistle on it popped out of his shoulder, showing a timer, "...Alright. Enjoy your break, but don't forget the repair jobs you're gonna be getting."
"..." the other boys looked at Ragna with raised brows.
"Considering how often stuff gets wrecked, I've learned the names of each of the repair Techadons," Ragna explained, "And, yes, they have a Worker's Union. Don't ask me how they did it, they just do."
"You're not a baby!" Rath shouted as a man was thrown from a window with a yelp of shock. The Apoplexian ran through another wall after a moment; he hiccuped before running off…somehow weaving around everyone in his way in dizzy, swerving motions before flipping over a cart and landing on a moving truck, "SAVE THE BABY!" he shouted.
"...Okay. Who's turn is it to save him?" Max sighed.
"Did it look like he was weirdly…more graceful?" Ragna blinked.
"Oh don't tell me…when drunk, Apoplexians become masters of drunken boxing?!" Jin realized.
=I've heard about it…never thought I'd actually see it happen= Steel noted =...It's scary…=
"Look at him go," Max awed as Rath weaved his way through traffic with almost no damage to speak of 'till he jumped through a wall.
"...Right. Rook, you and Max look for the Tiffin," Jin sighed, "Me and brother will go after Tennyson."
"Huh?!"
"You know Undertown more than me or anyone else down here," Jin replied.
"Touche…" Ragna muttered.
"Dizzy Tiger Flips Table!" Rath shouted as an entire table was tossed out through the hole he made earlier.
"Oh god, this is gonna suck…" Ragna and Jin groaned.
"Well good luck with that," Max spoke, quickly transforming into Flight form as he grabbed Rook and took off through the massive tunnels of Undertown.
"We shall find the Tiffin!" Rook called out.
"Great, now…" Ragna began before him and Jin heard something land behind them.
"Dizzy Tiger Flips Table!" He grew his knuckle claws before jamming into the ground…and flipped an entire chunk of the street, the chunk Ragna and Jin were standing on, and sent it flipping through the air.
"Holy shit! He fights better drunk!" Ragna shouted as they were slammed into the ground and buried under the chunk of street.
"Why are you like this, Tennyson!?" Jin snapped.
"Must…save…Baby!" he shouted, jumping onto a building and leaping away into Undertown…only to underestimate his jump and crash through a window, "You not baby!" at that, some poor alien man was tossed out…while inside his sewage-filled bathtub still.
"...That idiot's gonna be the death of me," Jin groaned.
"GH!" Sari and Mai grunted as they were sent skidding back, the latter quickly bringing her weapon up in its anchor formation to block a strike from one of Rojo's goons.
"Okay…she's a lot tougher than we thought!" Sari exclaimed as she used her shield to block a laser shot before using one of her arm blades to fire a shot back, only for a barrier to block it in turn.
"Wow. That chick's got a neat weapon! It keeps going from anchor to spear!"
"How are you able to fit so much into these bikes? Kevin would be jealous; they seem way more Anti-Ben then his car," Makoto couldn't help but wonder as she jumped over a laser and landed on the bikes before tossing the Biker driving it off and into a nearby dumpster.
"Just some stuff we nicked off that roid monkey, Fisttrick!" Rojo laughed, flying straight towards Tsubaki before she did a quick swerve to avoid a slash from her and kicked the red head down to the ground, "Speaking of nicking, hope you girls don't mind if we take those swords and that spear of yours. They'll look nice in the club room!"
"Yes we do; you're not good enough to hold them," Tsubaki frowned as she got up.
"Well too bad. I'm taking them anyway," Rojo grinned before she pressed a button on her bike, causing chains to come shooting out of it as it wrapped around Tsubaki's sword…only for it to be cut into pieces, "?!"
"Yeah…Rojo, meet the Excalibur," Tsubaki introduced, "And you are unworthy!"
"You gotta be kidding me," Rojo whispered, her eyes going wide, "I thought those were just a shitty story."
"Well it's called education and culture…something you clearly never bothered to learn," Tsubaki smirked, "Also? Squirrel."
"Squi-GAH!" Rojo panicked as Makoto jumped on the back of the bike and put the evil biker in a chokehold.
"GOTCHA!" Makoto declared.
Rojo, however, just smirked as she pressed another button on her bike, causing red electricity to come off it as it shocked the Beastkin, making her cry out as she loosened the chokehold, giving the biker enough time to grab her and toss her right into the leaping Bullet.
"You didn't think I didn't have anything to protect myself, did you?!" Rojo laughed.
"Kokonoe~I found the electrical problem~" Makoto groaned, flinching as small shocks came off her…before her hair and tail poofed out.
"Captain…Schnider overloaded the generator again…" Bullet slurred as sparks came off her...before her hair poofed up as well.
"Well we know why Makoto and Ben are so in love…both of them have half a brain and only make a single working one together," Tsubaki sighed before swinging Excalibur and blocking a laser from Rojo, the sword began to glow as it absorbed the energy, making Tsubaki blink as everyone gawked, "You really are full of surprises." she smirked, swinging the blade in a wide arc with both arms and unleashed a large sword beam that shot out and took out several of Rojo's crew's bikes.
"Did it just unlock that ability?" Sari gawked.
"I think it got annoyed with the lasers," Tsubaki muttered.
"KYA!" the two quickly turned to see Noel falling to the ground, a red energy rope around her neck as she tried to get it off.
"Let's go for a ride, blondie!" the female goon laughed as she tried to drive off…only to end up going nowhere, "...Hey…hey. What's going…?"
"Paon…"
"...Is that an elephant?" the goon asked as Funkfreed had the rope held in his trunk's grasp.
"Where did the elephant come from?!" Rojo asked in disbelief.
"Wait…I think I saw this in one of those freaky comics from Japan," another noted, "And we ain't anywhere near da ocean ta deal with it easily."
"Say wha?" Rojo asked.
"PAON~!" Funkfreed trumpeted as he pulled hard and pulled the biker off her vehicle, swinging her around on the chain she had used to grab Noel by the neck until she was a blur, before slamming her into a dumpster, his trunk shifting to its blade state to cut the energy rope and then shifted back to pet Noel's head, "Paon?"
"I'm…gack…I'm okay…" Noel wheezed, petting Funkfreed's side in assurance.
"You little bitch!" one punk shouted as she and two others drove straight for Noel, only for a few flaming swords to jam in to cut the wheels off their bikes as they were sent flying, "AHH!"
"Hands off my sister," Lambda scowled, her armor on while keeping Drei close in her arms.
"Uh, Boss? This is getting really freaky," Rojo's second noted, "Magic swords, squirrel gals, transforming weapons, lightning from the snap of a finger, and a gal who looks like she's part phoenix…and no sign of Tennyson at all."
"We already told you, Ben's busy someplace else, so he's probably not gonna show up," Sari shouted, "Oh by the way? You're all stupid!"
"Hey!"
"Hey~ right back at ya!" Sari snapped her fingers, making green lightning strike several of their bikes and make them spark before exploding.
"Also we don't plan on contacting Ben. We'd never hear the end of it if we needed back up for one of his D-List supervillains." Tsubaki sighed.
"D…D-List?!" Rojo repeated.
"Didn't you get knocked the hell out by a little girl?" Makoto teased as she got back up, "Ya know…after Ben stripped away your powers and you pulled the 'I'm just a girl' card to avoid getting hit…so an eleven year old girl karate kicked you and took you down in one move?"
"S-Seriously…?" Bullet asked as she got up as well, "Man…That's weak as hell."
"What…I…that's not…" Rojo tried to defend.
"Granted if she's so scared of getting hit she needs to pull the weakest card in the girl handbook…I guess that's why she was only tough while fused with an alien drone," Makoto went on.
"What are you doing?" Tsubaki whispered.
"Ben tells me she's got a seriously crazy ego…bet you she's dumb enough to get so mad she rushes in like an idiot~" Makoto whispered back.
"Oh please, I don't think that…" Tsubaki began.
"I'm gonna strangle you with your own tail, ya freak!"
"You lost that bet," Makoto smiled as she jumped over an attempted rush from Rojo, "Denied!" She cheered, landing on the back of another bike before swinging her leg around to kick the Biker off, sending her towards Bullet who punched her into the ground and left unconscious. "Hey, angry lady, what do you say? A truce 'till we kick the angry biker lady off her high-horse bike?"
"...Truce," Bullet replied after a moment, "Just so I can beat that smug look off her face."
"Eh, works for me. At this point? I don't care who breaks her face, so long as it's broken." Makoto shrugged.
"Agreed," Bullet frowned as she cracked her knuckles.
"Then let's go," Makoto held out her hand, letting Bullet take hold before the squirrel girl pulled her up onto the bike before taking off after Rojo.
"Bring it, bitch!" Rojo snapped.
"See any sight of the Tiffin?" Max asked Rook as they flew above Undertown.
"I do not see the Tiffin yet," Rook replied, looking around with a pair of binoculars.
"Maybe we should have found a way to sober up Ben?"
"Hmm?" Rook turned to see a giant dust cloud as Rath was riding a cabbage cart like a skateboard while Jin and Ragna ran after him, "That may take a while…"
"Damn it, Tennyson! Get back here!" Jin snapped.
"N-hic!-Never! Gotta save Baby!"
"UGH!"
"Just summon a goddamn ice car!" Ragna snapped to Jin.
"For the last time, it's not an ice car!"
"You ride on top of a giant snowflake as you charge at someone! It's a goddamn ice car!"
"Cars have engines and controls to steer it! They have wheels!"
=Maybe we shoulda gone after him= Steel noted.
"Nope. This is a good way for them to get along," Max replied.
"ANGRY SNAKE CHASES RABBIT'S FOOT!"
"What was th-AHAHAHAHAHA~!"
"OH GAHAHAHAHAHA~!"
"Nice distance," Max noted, watching the spinning red and blue 'discs' going through the air.
"It seems his fighting ability is drastically better while in this state," Rook blinked owlishly at the rather impressive skill.
=Now if only he'd focus it on people that are actual bad guys!= Steel complained.
"Well…one of them is Jin." Max muttered.
"Regardless…all this chaos will either help or hinder us." Rook spoke up, "Where would one find a Tiffin?"
"Wait…people…eat them right?" Max asked.
"Yes…"
"You don't think someone took the kid to…eat it?" Max pointed out, "But…who would…"
"A Pantophage would be the most likely suspect…" Rook muttered.
=I doubt it. Those guys are big= Steel stated =How would they even get in here?=
"...Argit?" Rook suggested.
=Doubt it. I think he's been in hiding after that whole fiasco with the Techadon Cubes=
"Then who could've…"
"AHH!" Pakmar's voice yelped, making them look down to see Rath nearly knocking over a wooden cart with steaming food on it, "Watch it, Ben Tennyson! You almost knocked down Pakmar's triple layered dumpling cart!"
"Zzzzz!" Rath snored as he reached his hand and adjusted the stand before serving a plate of dumplings to Pakmar, with another snort he woke up, "Find Baby!" he jumped away.
=So he alternates between sleepy and angry drunk…good to know= Steel muttered.
"Goddamn it, Ben! Get back here!" Ragna snapped as he and Jin resumed chasing after Ben.
"And there they g-" Rook began before he noticed something on the cart, "...oh dear."
"...The Tiffin's amongst the food, isn't it?" Max asked, earning a nod from Rook as he saw the missing Tiffin amongst the pile of steaming, triple-stacked dumplings
"You know what we must do…" Rook sighed.
=Ben!= Steel called out, making Rath stop, =The Baby!= Rook and Max pointed to the stand.
"Eating. Babies. Is not. Cool!" Rath roared.
"What?! No! Don't you dare!" Pakmar snapped before Rath ran right through his wooden cart, the Tiffin in hand, "AHH! PAKMAR'S CART! YOU OWE PAKMAR MONEY FOR IT AND THAT DUMPLING YOU STOLE, BEN TENNYSON!" he squeaked when Rath was before him, the spike of his free fist pressed against his neck.
"Did you try to sell the baby?!"
"What?! Pakmar was not trying to sell baby! Pakmar was selling dumplings!" Pakmar snapped before Rath shoved the Tiffin in his face, "...is that Tiffin?"
"YES!"
"...Oh…Pakmar almost made trouble for himself…" Pakmar whispered…before pointing an accusing finger at Rath, "But you still owe Pakmar for destroying his cart! Cash! Up front!"
"That guy is just made of petty spite," Max whispered as he and Rook landed.
"Yeah, you aren't gonna get much out of him, Pak…he's plastered drunk while in an Apoplexian body," Ragna sighed, "And I think the only thing stopping him from tearing apart the block is that baby."
"D-Drunk Apoplexian?" Pakmar repeated, his skin going ghostly white, "Who made him drunk?!"
"...Pencilneck," Ragna stated, looking away.
"Ohh…! He is almost as destructive with Pakmar's businesses as Ben Tennyson!" Pakmar complained.
"Baby…" Rath gently patted the Tiffin.
"...Is it alright?" Jin asked as he walked over.
The Tiffin spoke in some adorable high pitched chirping, "Baby okay," Rath replied.
"I've never seen Rath…let alone this new Drunk Rath…so calm," Max muttered.
"Well Apoplexians are rather loving parents. Crazy and aggressive, yes. But no one can dare to call them unloving," Rook explained.
"Here…hold," Rath spoke as he held the Tiffin to Jin.
"...Um…I'm n-" Jin began before Rath put the Tiffin in his arms, "!? T-!" he began before he looked down, seeing the innocent look the Tiffin gave him. Jin…he didn't know why, but…he felt something deep down..something…he's never felt before, "..."
"...Jin? You uh…you okay, man?" Max asked.
"I don't know why, but…looking at this…makes me want to freeze all those who want to harm him."
"Don't you dare go Elsa on me, man," Ragna warned.
=Elsa?" Max, Rook, and Steel repeated.
"Movie that came out last November?" Ragna pointed out, "The one that spent months in the theaters when normally movies are barely there for a few weeks?"
"...To be fair, we have been quite busy with things," Rook noted.
"Been distracted by the stuff Clockwork keeps chucking up when he's been doing practice with Lambda," Max admitted.
"I'm sorry, what?" Jin asked, pausing from lightly tickling the Tiffin.
=...Anyone else freaked out that Jin didn't lash back…or is it just me?= Steel asked.
"You're not the only one…" Skurd whispered once he was finally sober, "Also…ugh…never do that again, Ben…"
"Mmm…no promises…" Rath muttered before he fell over face first with a loud snore.
"...well he's finally knocked out at least," Ragna muttered as Jin carefully held the Tiffin, "...Still, we got the Tiffin safely, so let's git before…"
=HEY!=
"...and cue Pencilneck's goons," Ragna sighed as Bubblehelmet and the rest of Psyphon's goons began to surround them.
=Hand the brat over…da boss will be able to sell it for a pretty penny!=
"..." Jin stayed silent upon hearing that, his eyes shadowed over as the Tiffin looked up at him in concern.
"...Seriously, Jin, say s-" Max began before Jin handed him the Tiffin, "? Wh…"
"Cover his eyes," was all Jin commanded as he walked ahead, "This will only take a second."
"...oh, I-bukawk!-don't like the sound of that," Liam whispered.
=Heh…what's he gonna do? We got him surrou-= Bubble helmet began.
"HM!" Jin grunted as as his eyes snapped open, a sudden shockwave coming off him as it began to sweep over the area…as multiple grunts and a few unlucky bystanders began to faint.
=AHH! Wh-what is this…?!= Bubblehelmet gawked as Liam fainted next.
'...Is he…pulling off Haoshoku Haki?' Rook thought in surprise.
"Tell your boss…no. Tell anyone who wants the Tiffin that isn't his family this…" Jin began as he gripped Yukianesa, "If you harm a single cell on him…I will freeze your entire race into an early cold grave…" he warned as a fierce blizzard began to come off him, an intimidating aura in the from of a white wolf snarling behind him.
=...Yeah…= was all Bubblehelmet got out before he fainted on the spot.
"Good…" Jin whispered as the blizzard died down…before turning to shooting a small smile to the Tiffin, "Sorry, little guy…had to put some idiots in their place…"
=...Again, anyone else freaked out right now?= Steel asked with a wide optic.
"Oh, he's gonna be one of those types of Dads…" Max muttered.
"Those?" Rook asked.
"Cleaning their hunting rifle or shotgun when the little girl brings a boy home," Max explained.
"...ah. An overprotective father…" Rook nodded, "My own father has a rake he sharpens diligently for when my sister does that at last."
"Seriously?" Max asked.
"What? Becoming a Plumber and dating are two vastly different things," Rook replied.
"...Fair enough," Max nodded before looking back at Jin…who was currently carefully rubbing the Tiffin as it trilled happily, "...you do know we might have to return him to its family, right?"
"?!" Jin tensed at that, "...o…of course…I…nearly forgot…"
"Well, if anything? At least the family bloodline will continue in some way with you eventually," Ragna chuckled, "Given you already have a life partner, probably soon."
"...You think so?"
"Hey chicka bump bump…" Rath muttered in his sleep.
"Stop it…" Jin growled…before a smirk grew on his face, "Or else I spoil something for ya."
"Oh please…the boy's practically seen everything with his significant other," Skurd huffed, "What can you offer that…"
"Super Mario Brothers movie."
"...Why tempt him with that movie? It was a poor adaptation to th-"
"Not that one…the new one that comes out a few years later in 2023," Jin retorted, "...with Jack Black as Bowser."
"WHAT?!" Rath gawked, shooting up as a green flash went off, "DETAILS, MAN! DETAILS!"
"Nope…" Jin replied as he began to walk off.
"But I thought you hated…!" Ben began.
"I do for the most part…but I know what you and Nanaya enjoy."
"Who made it?"
"Illumination and that's all I'll say."
"So animated…? Wait, who's voicing Mario?!"
"Not gonna say. All you get is Jack Black is Bowser."
"Curse you, Jin!"
"Huh…Jin finally got a win," Max muttered.
=That's gonna bother me now, too!= Steel complained =I mean, are they gonna use the guy who voiced Mario for it? Is it gonna be some sorta new actor we don't know about? …I'll laugh if the one that voices him is the guy who plays Tony Stark from the live action movies=
"I see much regret in Jin's future when Makoto learns…" Rook sighed.
"...I feel like getting payback on Jin for some reason," Makoto blurted out.
"Focus on the road!" Bullet snapped.
"I can multitask! I got my driving license first outta everyone from our old time!" Makoto defended before driving her bike out of the way of an energy blast from Rojo, "Missed me~!"
"Yeah but you missed the trap~"
"Trap? What tr-OH GEEZ!" Makoto yelped as she barely swerved her bike to the side, barely missing the bombs that had been planted there before the resulting explosion sent her skidding back, "Ahh!"
"Have you driven a bike before!?" Bullet complained.
"I know how to drive one! I just prefer sitting in the back while my boyfriend drives me places!" Makoto huffed, "Also you try fighting a woman who's riding a freaking hoverbike!"
"You gals have no chance of catching up to my level!" Rojo laughed as she flew by them.
"Right, back to the truce." both of them nodded, clearly this synchronized in their dislike of Rojo.
Makoto revved the engines of her bike as she drove it straight after Rojo, who just grinned as the back of her bike began to drop bombs at the two, prompting the Beastkin to swerve out of the way of each one as a red explosion went off behind her. Makoto raised her arm as she formed a shield from her glove and used it to bounce several bombs up, letting Bullet grunt and punch them, sending them rocketing right back at Rojo. Rojo turned only to flinch as an explosion went off almost directly behind her, knocking her bike off balance and careening out of control.
Rojo grunted, able to correct herself only to flinch when she felt a sudden weight on the back of her bike making her turn to see Bullet…who pulled her arm back before punching Rojo, making the bike lose control again. Bullet grunted as she stumbled back but was able to grab onto the back of the seat. Growling in frustration she lifted her gauntlet up as it loaded itself before she punched it into the side and unloaded a blast into its inner workings. The bike sputtered and sparked as small explosions went off inside, Rojo cursed as they began falling from the sky due to its engines failing catastrophically.
"No you don't!" Bullet snapped as she slept off the failing bike, kicking off it as she shot straight towards Rojo.
"That armor is strong right?" Makoto asked as she pulled to a stop and formed her energy barrier for Bullet to land on.
"Does it matter?" Bullet asked as she jumped back onto the bike.
"Well I still want to punch her…but if the fall beat her up…it wouldn't be satisfying." Makoto argued.
"Agreed," Bullet muttered before tensing when a laser shot hit one of the tires of their bike, "?!"
"That was for Caballo, Perra de idiotas!" Rojo snapped, holding onto a laser rifle with shark-teeth painted on the front of the barrel.
"First one there gets to hit her," Makoto stated.
"You're on," Bullet smirked.
"Good," Makoto grinned before the two leapt off the bike just as another laser hit it, causing it to explode.
Rojo saw the two leaping at her before she aimed her fist at them, causing a missile to pop out as she fired it at the two before shooting at it with her laser rifle, resulting in another explosion as it engulfed the two brawlers. Rojo smirked, only for the smoke to disperse as Makoto's shield parted it, letting the two land before uppercutting the evil Biker, sending her flying back and through a wall.
"Got her! What?! No, I…!" Makoto and Bullet began to argue with each other..before a laser shot sent both of them flying, "GAH!"
"Not…a bad hit…" Rojo grunted as she climbed out of the wall, "But I've taken worse from Tennyson…"
"Well he's pretty tough; but, given how often I train with him, I can give you something almost as heavy," Makoto smirked.
"I've literally taken worse," Bullet grunted as she got up, "You're gonna have to try harder than that to intimidate me."
"...heh. Fine…" Rojo grinned as she began to charge her weapon, "Then hope you enjoy the new holes I'm gonna put in yeah."
"You just have like no filter don't ya?" Makoto replied, forming another shield as she blocked the beam, "Or is that supposed to be like a charm? If so, that might be why your only friends are a bunch of loser bikers."
"Well unlike you space pigs, we love to cause chaos and break norms!" Rojo laughed as she pressed something on her wrist.
"Wh-?" Makoto began before looking down…seeing a bomb blinking right beneath her feet, "...ah sh-"
*BOOM!*
"AHH~!" Makoto screamed as she was sent flying.
"Should've kept a better look," Rojo grinned before using her rifle to block a punch from Bullet.
"I could say the same to you!" Bullet grunted as her gauntlet charged up and blasted Rojo back, "You sure talk a lot! Here I was worried you'd be tough if Tennyson fights you. But I keep forgetting…he beat most of you as a kid. Bet that burns the ego doesn't it, old lady?"
"Oh yeah…?" Rojo growled as she got up, aiming her fist at Bullet before firing another missile at her, "Least my hair doesn't look like you spilled whitener in it!"
"...Really? That's your best come back?" Bullet deadpanned before grabbing the missile midair, making Rojo tense in surprise, "I've gotten worse insults from my sheriff…."
"Wh…what the hell…?"
"Oh…and by the way? …Before I was a deputy…" Bullet paused before crushing the missile in her hand, "I was a mercenary…and we didn't take shit lying down…Also? Up."
"Wh-? Up?" Rojo repeated before grunting from a downward punch from Makoto, "GH!"
"We don't really get along…but if it's to kick your tin plated ass…we can swallow our pride for a few minutes," Makoto sighed.
"We probably won't be friends after this," Bullet scoffed.
"Hah! I've got great friends! Also, I don't need your half-naked ass near my boyfriend," Makoto smirked.
"Hmph. You can keep his scrawny ass."
"It is not scrawny!" Makoto barked.
"And you know this because…?"
"..." Makoto pulled Rojo up by her hair and gestured to a smirking Bullet, "Ya see? Not friends. We can work together, but no friendship here."
"You bitches are crazy…" Rojo grunted.
"Maybe," Both of them smirked before each raised an arm back; then they smirked, punching at the same time, hitting Rojo and sending her flying up into the air.
"I'll get you up there. Spike her down towards me!" Makoto cupped her hands together.
"Works for me," Bullet smirked, stepping on Makoto's hands before the squirrel girl used her boots' air jets to help kick off the ground and swing Bullet up into the sky with enough speed to catch up to Rojo. Bullet spun around before punching the biker and sending her rocketing back down towards Makoto.
"Try and look like you're not trying to hit me!" Makoto called out with a smile as she tapped her glove and encased her arm in a gauntlet before rearing it back as it began sparking with electricity, "Hah!" she punched Rojo just as she neared and, with a loud 'zap' sound filling the air, the evil biker woman was launched away and skipped along the ground before slamming into the wall of a building about a block away, "Ooh…I was aiming two blocks down…sorry~"
"Ugh…" Rojo groaned, struggling to get up before going slack, "Guh…"
"Whoo! That felt great!" Makoto cheered as Bullet made a 'superhero landing' by her, "Now to make the actual arrest."
"UGh…I think I got some debris in my jacket," Bullet muttered as she took her jacket off, revealing her shirt was a sleeveless open vest.
"Huh…" Makoto blinked a few times, "Good support, no sagging in them…Where do you get them?"
"Corner of First and Main. The guy who runs it does a good job at custom orders."
"A guy?"
"His husband makes some good brownies with diced jalapenos in them."
"Ohh…" Makoto nodded.
"Don't go assuming things so soon…" Bullet replied.
"Well, isn't this ironic…?" Makoto huffed as they walked off to get Rojo.
Soon both teams regrouped at the end of the day to process the results of their day's work. Suffice to say, things were said and laughs were had at the stories.
"You let my boyfriend get drunk!?" Makoto snapped, strangling Ragna.
"Uncle! Uncle…!" Ragna wheezed.
"How bad was it?" Tsubaki asked.
"Depending on the Alien…the type of drunk he is…changes," Max smirked, "Weird thing…as Rath…he becomes a graceful master of Drunken Boxing."
=It was both awesome and hilarious when he threw Ragna and Jin about= Steel noted in amusement =Also, congrats! Any kid you and Jin have will be good and…=
"Be silent," Jin glowered as he sheathed Yukianesa as Max caught the block of blue ice with Steel in it.
"What?" Tsubaki pondered.
"Turns out that our Jin here is good with babies," Max sighed, "We had to save a Tiffin."
"Tiffin?" Noel blinked as Lambda tilted her head.
"Here," Ben held up a picture of one on his phone, "They are a baby alien that looks like soft serve ice cream…or a dumpling as is the case with this one."
"...Ah…" Noel and Lambda squeaked in unison, Drei and Bluey hopping out of their arms to land in Ben's arms and on his head respectively, before the sisters fell over, hearts replacing their eyes.
"Well…as long as they remember these are someone's baby, this should be fine," Ben muttered as he scratched Drei's ears while Bluey nodded in agreement, "Well, I think I have a headache from the hangover…I'm gonna go get some food. These two are coming with me." he motioned to the pets, Bluey giving a wave as he left with them.
"He walks it off really well," Bullet muttered.
"So was this a success?" Mai asked.
"Well, according to the property damage reports," Sari muttered while reading a tablet, "Nope. Same amount of damage."
"Great…" Mai rolled her eyes.
"Makoto, you're going to kill him!" Tsubaki shouted as Ragna was turning blue.
"Seeing what Ben's like when tipsy was something I wanted to see first! I am owed this, woman!" Makoto growled, making Tsubaki raise her hands and slowly back out of the room.
"So this is the power of love?" Bullet muttered, not used to seeing Ragna this defenseless.
"Help me!" Ragna gagged.
"Technically, we are still in a truce…so…" Bullet muttered.
"Gah!" Ragna choked as Makoto began shaking him.
"I swear this place never loses its charm," Jubei smirked as he and Max Tennyson watched the chaos.
"No…no it doesn't." Max Tennyson smiled.
GT: *snickers* Oh man, this was a lot of fun.
Z0: Agreed, hahaha! Ah the Drunk Ben bit was just random but so worth it.
GT: Plus, a good way of showing one of the one-off baddies from Ben's early career.
Z0: I mean…yeah that's pretty much the sum of her appearances. Unless you don't count the Negative 10 special as a sort of movie deal…but…I do so mute point. Plus this was just a fun way to have chaos happen. Next time should be fun as well.
GT: Indeed. Hope you guys enjoyed this as we approach Chapter 100 of Galactic Shift Extend! Please Read and Review!