Battle of Jack Hanma: War for the multiverse

Chapter 1: Victims of the desert

As Team Hanma arrived in the pocket dimension of Slavoj, everyone got busy. Louis was washing his face in the bathroom, he got handed a towel from Legoshi, let out a thanks, then after drying his face, he was about to leave the room, before turning his head to the wolf. "If you tell anyone what happened in the car, you'll banned from the drama club for life." The carnivore sheepishly nodded.

As the antlered guy walked through the house of the philosopher, he wondered why there had to be so much books in one place. He walked past the Wild Kratts, who were flexing at each other, to see who was the strongest. "Aviva is going to have her jaw on the floor once she sees our physiques" said Martin in a provocative tone to his brother. "Yeah, we'll see bro" he said it before they started wrestling. Louis got annoyed at the frat boy natures of the brothers and walked outside. During his trip, he saw Jack talking with the Slovenian, the man who beat him in an insult battle, discussing their next plan.

As the Herbivore got outside, he took out a piece of paper he kept in his pocket and started reciting the lines of Addler, the role he played for the play of the Drama club. He recited them in an overly dramatic fashion, as he had pristine acting skills. However, it was interrupted by the cackles of the british heister. The herbivore made an angry expression as he turned his head towards the criminal. "Don't you have anything better to do than being an ass!?" Hoxton laughed it off. He was smoking a cigarette while sipping on some tea on the side. "I'd be drinking beer and partying with the lads, if they weren't kidnapped by those twats." He said it before he exhaled from the ciggie.

The herbivore, seeing the Englishman doing drugs made him calm down a bit, as he wanted some. "Uhh, nevermind. I just had an awful day." His eyes were on the cigarette being smoked. "Can I have one?" Then let out a hesitant please. Hoxton raised his eyebrow. "What's your age?" "18" The criminal scanned the late teenager with his eyes, before handing him one. "Take it, but don't be like me and get addicted to it. Life is short, so you better not make it shorter." Louis took it, and lighted on it. He sat down next to the criminal, as they were on cheap plastic outdoor furniture. He seemed to be stopped being on edge, however, he was still far from getting rid of his stress, as the heister failed to suppress a laugh. "Uuuh. What is it now?" Hoxton pinched himself, to halt the laughter. Like anytime, he refused to hold any punches. "Sorry mate, I just find it funny how you play a serious role like that, while bawling like a baby in the car." Louis seethed. "Yeah, because the guy is from the Balkans. you said it yourself. And you people would react the same, hell, maybe have a worse reaction than I did if he insulted you." Hoxton smiled wide. "Yeaah, but the difference between you and I lad, is that I know not to mess with the wrong people. I know this ever since I started by career in crime." Louis had a negative impression of those who broke the law, but can't help, but be curious. "Really? When did you start?" He asked as he let out a smoke from the cigar. Hoxton took a sip of tea and was ready to answer. "Around the same age as you're now." The eyes of the deer widened, as the criminal was still in his jovial mood. "What are you doing now?" Louis was ready to get serious, to impress the british man. "I'm the most respected student of my academy. My fellow students respect and fear me and I'm the lead actor for the drama club." Hoxton was neutral. "If you like that type of life, good on ya. But for me, it was different. I beat up people that supported the wrong soccer team, I robbed stores and regularly went out with the lads at the pub. I also often had to deal with the cops. Hard to get them off ya ass if you get what I mean." He remarked proudly as he took a sip of tea. Louis was irked out. "I don't get what's attractive about that style of life. You might wake up one day with a knife in your back." This remark failed to make the heister back down. "That's the fun part lad. The danger." The pointed with his index finger at the herbivore. "If I lived a life like yours, I'd be bored to tears. Everything is served to you on a silver platter. It's boring and dulls the senses." Louis retorted the remark. "It isn't all served. You need to have the right connections and social skills to charm an entire academy." Hoxton smirked. "By connection, you mean daddy and his large wallet?" Louis rolled his eyes at the remark. He'd usually be mad at the other, but something about the heister was different. There was that charm oozing from him, he never really saw from others. Maybe it was the accent or experience, but he sure was a british geezer. "Yeah, very fun. If you think you know how to live life so well, then what would you do if you were in my place?" The criminal smiled and replied. "Rob some bank, get into fights, get into trouble with the cops. Stuff like that." Louis facepalmed in disappointment. "What is up with people like you and the Kat, or whatever brothers, who are in their 30s or 40s, yet act more immature than those that are still in school?" Hoxton crossed his leg and leaned back in his cheap chair, which almost broke. "Because we don't conform. What's the fun in following all these bloody rules? I'd rather live a short life filled with adrenaline and action than one that is stable and boring. Hell, thanks to the fact I'm in the crime business, I was able to go all around the world, meet amazing and dangerous people and was able to get money legitimate business owners would kill to own." He then pointed his index finger a second time at the deer, who was listening both out of disgust and curiosity. "With a life like yours, you need to follow a code to get what you want. You break it, you lose it. In a life like mine, you don't have to lick out the ass of anyone to get what you want. You gotta be more vigilant, but you get to take whatever you please." Louis was shaking his head, with a grimace. "You're an incredibly disgusting and immoral man. But honestly… I want to hear more." The heister smiled.

In the next couple hours, Louis would listen intently, as the criminal would talk about some of his favorite events he lived through. He talked about the golden days, like robbing the First world bank, attacking a convoy, whose battle went into a slaughter house. The time he was arrested and was broken out by his partners in crime. He also talked about some of the more nonsensical jobs he did, like when he and his team had to catch goats who had drugs stuck up their rectum. Throughout all that, the deer soaked in all the words like a sponge. Sometimes he was disgusted, sometimes curious, sometimes laughed, sometimes raised an eyebrow, but overall, it was an interesting series of stories. However, he felt a shadow go over him. As he looked up, he saw the towering figure of Jack Hanma in front of him. "Time to talk." The herbivore gulped, while Hoxton stared.

[…]

*5 minutes earlier*

Jack and Slavoj were inside the kitchen, while the other members were resting from the fighting. The room was a bit small for Jack, but he didn't care about it too much. "And where are they planning to go?" Slavoj pulled on his nose. "We don't knhow yet. Bhut one thing is fhor sure, it isn't good." Jack was scratching his chin, as he was thinking on what they could do.

The brute saw the wolf from the corner of his eye, who discreetly entered the kitchen. Jack greeted him confidently. "Hey… uh. What was your name again?" "Legoshi…." "Ah, hey Legoshi, how's it going?" The wolf shrugged. "I just have nothing to do and everyone was busy, so I thought I'd seat here. And I also wanted to thank you, for rescuing my friend." Jack smiled. "Anytime. These bastards won't get away with what they have done." The trio were awkwardly silent in the kitchen table. The fighter and the wolf scanned each other.

Legoshi was surprised to see the sharp contrast of the violent beast, who massacred an entire squad without mercy and the polite giant in conversation, while the brute was surprised to see someone with such potential to be powerful be so submissive even to the smallest of forces. Slavoj didn't really do anything, as his brain wouldn't turn off.

The silence was broken by the voice of Legoshi, who was less timid than before, when interacting with the brute. "Were you guys having some conversation?" The old man and fighter nodded. "Zhach and his chompany where planning on ushing yhour friend for shome for something, but *sniff*, we dhon't knhow it yet." Jack got up. "Do you mind if we would question him?" Legoshi was hesitant. "Uh, sure, but please don't go hard on him. Like, don't torture or hurt him in any form. "The brute raised his eyebrow. "Why would I do anything like that?" "The way you've been talking to him… The way you generally act." Jack could feel the fear in the eyes of the wolf, which made him regret his behavior a bit. Jack felt like he was looking at someone who he could truly trust. "Sorry if I can be disturbing to be around, but sometimes pressure is necessary to get things done." The wolf didn't know what to say, as he didn't want to piss off the brute. "Can you get your friend to come here?" The carnivore looked outside, but then shook his head. "I don't think I can do it. He's deep in conversation." Jack sighed. "Fine, I'll get it done.

The wolf watched from a distance, as the giant approached the herbivore, to get him ready for the interrogation.

[…]

Louis was nervously playing around with a pen on a coffee table, waiting for his interrogators to enter. Legoshi reassured him that they won't hurt him, as he trusted the Jack, while the deer had a hard time trusting that man, especially after seeing how he fought inside the plane. The door creaked open, as Jack, followed by Slavoj entered the room.

Before the interrogation could begin, the herbivore started talking. "You do realize I was deep in conversation with that british man over there?" Jack made a neutral look. "You'll get to continue once you tell us what we need." Slavoj nodded, while the Deer let out a frustrated sign. "Let's get over with it."

Jack and Slavoj took a seat, however, it was a bit awkward for the giant, as the chair was too small, making the herbivore be close to let out a chuckle, but quickly resumed his annoyed behavior. The philosopher took out a paper and took away the pen Louis was playing with, as the giant spoke up. "Okay, tell us this. After you were incapacitated by that soldier, what happened?" The deer cleared his throat, took a look into the innocent eyes of his wolf semi servant and looked back into the stern eyes of the fighters. "After that prick kidnapped me, I woke up inside the back part of a van, still wearing my school uniform, but with tears and rags after I was forcefully carried through the campus's ventilation system." The old man was feverishly writing down each sentence, which was illegible for everyone outside of the man himself.

He then made eye contact with the guy he just humiliated in the car ride back to his house, which was welcomed by the herbivore with a death stare. "Yhess. Conthinue." After the man sniffed one, the deer continued. "Inside the vehicle, I saw the man, who I presume to have kidnapped me." He grimaced with disgust after uttering his kidnapper. "The man was an Italian, with a strong build and blonde hair. He also showcased an exceptional lack of intelligence and a desire to…" He grimaced again. "In his own words, to pet the deer. Like, he kept wanting to do it, but he was yelled at by the other scum inside the vehicle that he isn't allowed to." The herbivore looked at Legoshi, realizing that after meeting so much weirdos and jackasses in such a short span of time, maybe this wolf isn't that bad. Jack questioned the late teen. "Were there any key information during the car ride?" The deer shrugged. "Well, the failure of intelligence was staring at me throughout the whole ride in the back of the vehicle, while in the front was a soldier who wore the same uniform, but without a gasmask and if I remember correctly, a predator was on the passenger seat, who wore a white tank top. So, he very likely wasn't aligned with those people." This caught the attention of the interrogators and the wolf, who spoke up. "Maybe he's a collaborator of that PMC." Remarked the wolf. Slavoj was scratching his head, while Jack his chin, who made eye contact with the carnivore. "Pretty likely. You said it yourself, that your city has a guarded perimeter, right?" The dog nodded. It was also confirmed by the deer. "Yes. Ever since that event, people like you have been trying to break in." The eyes of Jack got darker. "What? I'm just making a reference. No need to get offended over everything." Jack knew it was low of him to lose his cool over minor things, so he didn't say anything, outside of signaling the deer to forget about it. The prey continued to comment on the situation. "They can range from a couple of poorly equipped thugs to small armies of other city states. Though thanks to the increase in drafting and training here, none were able to break in. Those Private military contractors very likely used some connection inside the city to infiltrate it. Hell, with the current state of the world, who knows what sort of scum and criminals could sneak in and commit atrocities. My dad even invested into building a bunker system a bit further from the city, in case things were about to get extremely heated."

Slavoj chuckled a bit. "Thypical bourgeois activities…". Louis got heated and was ready to throw an insult, but the wolf quickly reminded him of what happened before, making him reluctantly stop. "Can we just do this interrogation? I'm getting sick of everyone treating me like a punching bag." Jack agreed and told the old man to quit taunting the late teen. The brute then posed a question. "And why exactly do you think people want to invade your city?" Louis had some knowledges of politics and economics thanks to his dad and because of his preparation to become the next Beastar, so he could muster out an answer. "I think it's simple. Cherryton has great reserves of oil, minerals and other important resources allowing us to live pretty well with minimal trade. So, I think the groups that perform those skirmishes likely want in on our natural riches, without trading for it." Legoshi joined in. "Is it like when you have a bag of chips in class and everyone wants from it, right?" Louis was baffled by the remark, but he expected something like this from the wolf. "In your words, yes, you could say that." The prey pulled back on his suit's sleeve and glanced at his watch. "Okay, we need to seriously rush this out now, because I've been missing for like a week already in school." Jack agreed, but mostly because he hated wasting time.

But before Louis continued, he looked at the wolf. "I can't speak while my throat is soar. Legoshi, be a good dog and bring me a cup of water." The predator sheepishly nodded and left the room to get into the kitchen. Slavoj and Jack made an ugly look at the deer for this, which he shrugged off, with a detached stare.

When the dog came back, the deer let out a reluctant thanks, took a sip and continued. "So, basically, they didn't really say anything during the car ride, as it was mostly the predator guy telling the Italian to behave. After we arrived somewhere, they took a bag over my head and injected something into me, which knocked me out." Slavoj nodded, signaling he wrote it down.

The deer continued. "Afterwards, I woke up in my underpants on an operating table, with stitches over my abdomen." Legoshi made a worried look while Jack raised his eyebrows. "You seem pretty calm after what you went through." The prey rolled his eyes. "I have been raised ever since I was little to preserve my cool, even in a situation like this." The philosopher asked to see the marks on him, to which he pretty casually unbuttoned his shirt a bit and showed off the stitches, before quickly closing it back as he saw the wolf peeking at it. He took another sip from the glass of water. "A lot of the other parts were insignificant, as they then transported me to some holding cell. They originally wanted to give me some used-up prison uniform but I was able to pressure them into giving me this suit. Other than that, most of my days there was just sitting in my cell, while hearing them outside of it talk. The other notable thing to say is when they transported me to that plane but that it's." Jack raised his index finger. "You mentioned that you heard them talk, right?" The deer arrogantly nodded. The brute continued. "Tell us, did you hear them mention of what is their goal?" The deer started thinking, and after emptying out the glass, he threw out an answer. "Well, I heard them talk often about everything, but there was a case, where two asses talked about why they picked me to lure out someone at a place called Black Mesa or something." The eyes of the philosopher lighted up. "I think I knhow that plhace. It is where they studied dimhensions and theihr properthies." The deer made some distance, to ensure no saliva hit his suit then confirmed it with a head gesture. "Likely, yeah." Jack looked at the philosopher. "You know what they say. The enemy of my enemy is my friend." The Slovenian nodded. "Yhep. Lhooks like we knhow where to gho." However, before the two figures could continue talking, they saw the deer got up from his chair without their approval. "Woah woah woah. Where do you think you're going?" The deer ignored the man and went straight out the door. Jack was about to get up, but Slavoj caught a part of his pants. "Nho nheed to worry, he chan't leave without mhe opening a phortal."

[…]

The sounds of a fiddle, feverishly being played in large underground military bunker, with the ceiling being over several meters tall, could be heard as military personal were moving all around the place.

The Judge, shirtless was dancing, while fiddling to the soldiers doing their job. Outside of the instrument being played, the sounds of soldiers practicing with firearms, the moving of large vehicles, like tanks and APCs to be placed onto train cars and the sounds of boots hitting the ground, as soldiers were running to keep up their cardio all combined with the fiddle, to create an orchestra of impending death and suffering for the ear of the Judge, which touched his soul like the singing of an angel, as he was dancing to all this in the middle of the commotion.

However, he couldn't enjoy himself for enough, as Zach with a frown quickly closed the distance between himself and the Judge. The pale giant, before being chewed out, quickly spotted the stickman, to which, he put the instrument away and put on a white shirt, which he rapidly buttoned on.

"You do realize that your behavior is against company policy?!". The Judge smiled. "Art is a form that can be found in almost anything, man creates. What's life if one doesn't appreciate it?". Zach facepalmed. "You think fiddling either shirtless or naked to staff walking around is appreciating art? I really want to know who raised you." The Judge smiled. "Just as any other man. War did." Zach rolled his eye. "Whatever, you get a pass, because you're a well-educated man. Follow me, we got important stuff to do."

The pale duo got onto a 4 seated caddy, which was being driven by a Zachbot, as they started rolling around the bunker. Zach quickly composed himself and was ready to talk with his right hand." Because of those accursed Wild Ratts and their meathead friends, we'll have to change plans." The Judge looked around, as they were going through several sections of the bunker. In the current section they were, they went through a corridor, where to the left side, was a training area for soldiers, with simulation for urban combat, a shooting range and a place where the basics of firearms were taught. Zach started showcasing the weaponry while the Judge was amazed by all the things related to the military. "The Wild Ratts clearly are powerful enemies, so I took your advice, and started giving our military a harsher training, to make them more powerful." The Judge nodded "A man always adapts to its environment." "Of course." remarked the inventor, as his mood went from angry, to a more upbeat one, but with a devious touch, after seeing the fruits of his labor. As they left that section, a giant metal door opened, to the next part of the complex. In there, trucks were being filled up with all sorts of equipment, like guns, rations, tents and navigation technology for the soldiers. Some of the trucks left the complex through a tunnel, while others later got onto either planes or trucks. Zach continued praising his achievements. "Varmitech Robotics and Military Guaranteed Weapon… ""Military Grade" corrected the Judge. "Doesn't matter… got one of the best transportation systems for any PMCs. Having access to thousands of trucks, helicopters, planes and other instruments to transport items with. If we would be in New York and a squad would be in Manhattan, they would receive equipment in no time!" The Zachbot turned its head to its creator. "Actually, My Greatness. Manhattan is a borough of New York city, as in it's a part of it, so it would make no sense if…" Zach was about to kick it for questioning his intelligence, before the Judged grabbed the bot and stared into its eyes while smiling, silencing the robot, by Holden's intimidation skills, which even neutralized programming. Zach was impressed. "There's a reason you're my favorite employee." The Judge smiled.

They left that section and entered the one that was before the exit. In this part of the bunker, could be seen several conveyer belts and large machinery, where firearms, vehicles and Zachbots were created. The Judge felt like a child in a candy shop, as he looked with an amazed glare at all the firearms being created, hearing the clicks and thumps of firearms being assembled. Large numbers of them were placed onto racks by Zachbots, as the caddy got closer to an open shipment. Zach took one out and handed it to the Judge, who feverishly started checking every small detail on the weapon. "Truly, the greatest creation of mankind." Expressed the pale giant, while looking at the instrument of death in his hand. "All of its Varmitech quality." Said Zach while making an okay sign. Being around all these weapons and vehicles, the Judge was ready to get up and start fiddling, but was stopped in time by Zach, making an angry look. However, the Judge's smile disarmed him.

Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over the two men, as they looked up what caused it. "Agent Horrigan, reporting for duty." Zach was shocked to see the man to be this size, while the Judge smiled, whom was noticed by the armored giant. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Holden." Exclaimed the mutated beast in an excited tone. The Judge and him started doing weird handshakes and gestures, a clear sign, that the two weren't just colleagues. "Always happy to see a war appreciator in life." Said the pale man, to which the mutant laughed. "After this job, wanna go burn down some villages? I know a couple. „The Judge's eyes lighted up. "Do they have juveniles?" Frank nodded, which made the Judge smile wider, while Zach was a bit annoyed. Not at the fact, at what the Judge does in his free time, but rather the time that was being wasted, as he went in to interrupt with an annoyed cough. "I can understand you two have unpopular interests, but our time schedule is being tight. Can we get a move on?" Horrigan was annoyed, but was quickly consoled by the Judge's hand gesture. "Absolutely true, let's go." Frank and Holden did a high five, with the giant promising to buy a beer for the pale man, before the behemoth waked away.

As the war lover put the gun back to its place, the caddy went on to finish its journey. It drove onto a platform, with several trucks, as it ascended towards the surface. As it reached it, light hit the eyes of Zach, who blocked them with his hands while making annoyed screams. The Judge handed him a sunglass, which Zach signaled his gratitude by exclaiming "thank me."

They were inside a hangar, from which they exited and started driving towards another one. In the distance, transportation planes could be seen, as vehicles and other shipments were loaded onto them, all of them being observed by the Judge with a large smile as usual. The caddy drove past several airport workers, and Zach couldn't help but stroke his ego as usual. "How does it feel to work for the world's greatest mind!?" The workers were about to shrug, until they saw the Judge inside the vehicle and forced out a smile. "The best in the world!" Zach reciprocated the smile, but it was one fueled by ego. As the went past the two men, they let the mask slip and one of them showed the middle finger to the inventor. The Judge saw it, but didn't intimidate the man nor told it to his boss.

They drove inside a hangar, in which resided the private luxury jet of the inventor. As they got out of the caddy, they walked up a platform, to get into the vehicle filled with luxurious furniture, many of them being made from endangered woods from places like Borneo. The two took seat and Zach was ready for takeoff, until he felt the hand of the Judge on his shoulder, who was clearly suppressing his true strength. "What is it now?" The Judge pointed towards the hologram machine. "I received a phone call from our mutual boss. Her highness would like some words with you and I." Zach grunted and took out a remote controller to activate the machine.

The windows of the plane got obscured by black curtains as the hologram machine lighted up. From there, revealed the woman, who helped Zach's company be saved from failure. The woman wore a blue navy officer uniform, with her hair loose, which was against military rules, signaling that she wasn't exactly someone to follow scripture of any kind. Her eyes were somewhat dead, as they were less alive than that of the Judge, while the hologram projected her to be over 12 feet tall, as she looked down on her two goons. The Judge kneeled for the woman like a knight, while his eyes were on the floor. Zach was confused, but was quickly put into line, when Holden nudged him to do the same, to which the business man reluctantly did, being in a bad mood that someone thinks they're better than him. As they finished, the Judge looked into the eyes of the woman. "Good evening Ms. Theresa". The woman let out a grin, satisfied at the pale man's gesture. "Well, if it isn't my favorite gentlemen." The Judge smiled, as she started monologuing. "I can make this world a million times better. Better than people like Churchill, Lincoln or Hitler. But filling it with gentlemen like you is a task I'll never be able to accomplish." She exclaimed while putting her hand on her face in shame. The Judge jumped into action with the ass kissing. "Her highness may be limited in several aspect, but it shouldn't stop one to realize her powerful abilities." The ego stroke seems to have calmed down the woman, but quickly went back to a bad mood, as she made eye contact with Zach, who was surprised, as she got into a more passive aggressive tone. "You should really learn a thing or two from him." The inventor felt his ego pierced, as he was ready to retort, but he was quickly grabbed by the Judge, as he excused themselves for a moment, before forcing him into a private cabin inside the plane. "WHAT IS…!" The Judge made a gesture with his hand, to make the inventor keep a low tone of voice, who reluctantly agreed. "What is it? She unironically believes that she's better than the greatest mind in the universe." The Judge, still wearing a grin, looked into the eyes of the man. "It is not a fallacy to think that, but one needs to think about her highness as well, as one wrong word and one may lose their entire company to her." Zach wasn't happy, but he felt a bit of fear he couldn't suppress at losing his company. He let out a frustrated sigh and agreed to work on his behavior.

As the Judge finished his disciplinary session, the two came back into the room, with Zach forcing a smile. "My apologies my…" He suppressed a grimace. "My highness. I simply don't meet woman that often." The woman made an arrogant gesture. "Not surprised whatsoever." The remark made Zach use the most amount of willpower he ever did in his life, from retorting. The woman continued. "I talked with your right hand about the failed mission involving the deer. Do you have any shame?" The inventor continued holding together the mask. "Yes…. All of it in the world." Theresa made a headshake of disapproval. "God is highly disappointed in you. Our paradise is in danger from being built, because of these godforsaken atheists. I have had to work for 2 hours got get you those resources and you sit on it while failing to do your task." She put the back of her palm on her face to overdramatize her expression." Zach quickly rolled his eyes while she wasn't looking, while the Judge watched. "What do you have to say about yourself?" The businessman cleared his throat. "Miss…. I mean my Highness. There has to be hundreds of thousands of people like that deer. Hell we, got like one of the largest armies on earth. We could just overrun them with tanks and stuff. Or I could capture an animal and brainwash them, that could also help." Theresa frowned more at the ideas, while the Judge smiled wider as ever. "Don't think I keep you around because of your intellect. Your mission will be to eliminate Black Mesa, while finding the freaks that will ruin our paradise. If you fail any more, Mr. Holden will take over the company." Zach saw his enter life flash before his eyes." You got it?" He nodded with fear, which pleased the woman. "Alright. For now, I'll have to deal with my husband. Mr. Holden, have a nice day. And uh… whatever your name is. Behave. Well." The hologram turned off.

Zach, with pulsating veins covering his face, looked into the eyes of the Judge, who's were illuminated after the curtains went up. The inventor whispered. "Can she hear us in any way here?" The Judge shook his head, as he handed the inventor a paper bag. He immediately grabbed it and yelled with all his power into it. The Judge smiled. "Growing skin, thick enough to withstand th…." "I DON'T CARE!" As he made a death stare at the giant, which didn't even intimidate him in the slightest. "I'd rather have dinner with the Wild Ratts than deal with this woman again. My damn god." He said it as he put his head in his hands after the mental challenge. The Judge cleared his throat. "I forgot to also bring up the fact, that our adversaries are likely still out there." Zach immediately made eye contact with his advisor. "AND WHY DID YOU ONLY TELL ME NOW!?" The pale giant, offered a stress ball to the inventor, before continuing. "I wouldn't have liked to see one be punished by our mutual empress. Besides, one was in such a good mood on the plane after the incident and I wouldn't have liked to see one's joy be trampled on." Zach was grinding his teeth while squeezing on the ball. "Great. Not only do we need to deal with a bunch of dorks in the desert, but also with a bunch of dorks, meatheads and dirty animals. Geeee." The Judge was ready to bring the inventor into a better mood, when suddenly, Zach's phone rang. He grabbed it and reluctantly picked it up. "Uugh. What now?" On the other side was one of his employees. "Sorry for bothering you boss. It's just there's a car awaiting entry at the gate. The man is someone who personally knows you." Zach raised his eyebrow. "And who is it?" "Well, some kind of Gaston…" The eyes of the businessman widened, as he got into his thoughts. *That guy? What is he doing here now? * The inventor resumed the call. "Let him in, I want to see him personally." "Roger." The inventor put the phone down, as he got up to leave the vehicle, while the Judge followed him.

As they got outside, they saw an SUV get nearer. As it entered the hangar, six men left the car. Four of them soldiers, while other two were people he knew personally. "Hello boss." Said a man with an Italian accent. "Can I pet the deer now?" Zach facepalmed. "When we get them back, Dabio." He then looked at the other man, who seemed to have this certain aura around him. The man was big, with a body full of fat, that hid powerful muscles. He had a wide grin that could impregnate any woman, a nose that can find the finest of ingredients, eyes that could intimidate a bear, a walking stance that oozed confidence and testosterone, arms that could crush a tank, all while wearing the uniform of a chef. The man closed the distance between himself and the inventor, as he held out his for a handshake. "If it isn't my favorite customer." The eyes of Zach were mesmerized. "Gaston Gourmand…"

A/N: Sorry to all readers of this fanfic, for taking so long to release this chapter. I just needed time for ideas and to write. The following chapter will be broken into several parts, as it's very long. Thank you for your patience.