Author's Note ~
We will try to get multiple chapters up each month after Trollhunters had taken like three years to complete…
Yeah, we aren't doing that again.
Also, we didn't realize how much Senor Uhl had for screen time so he will be here.
Side Notes ~
We will do more One-Shots, but either in the same book or start over. But our next One-Shot is Pre Trollhunters and how DreamWorks imagined Claire and Jim first met!
Terra Incognita - Part 2
Krel looked unamused while Aja stared down Eli who was currently being threatened by old man Vex. His cane pointed toward Eli as he held a steady glare.
"Leave this place, or suffer certain death!" He jutted the staff forward but Eli wasn't screaming as he did before, only giggling as he pushed the cane aside.
"Hey, you're pretty funny," Vex growled as he received a reaction he rarely got, but the tough facade was quickly replaced by a yelp as he pulled back from the newspaper that Eli had pushed forward.
Eli grinned as Mary rolled her eyes, "so, what on earth was the point of screaming for?" She asked as she looked at the boy.
"I mean, I wasn't expecting an old man so suddenly."
"Can I interest you guys in a newspaper subscription?" Krel and Aja's heads appeared in the doorway, inspecting the folded paper.
"What's a newspaper?" Aja asked.
"I know, right?" Eli pulled it back. "It's a dying medium. When'd you guys move in? It's like it just sprouted out of nowhere." The small boy pushed through them and inside the house, studying the place.
"Alright, Eli. Just help yourself and walk in." Toby muttered as the crowd laughed.
"So, you just go walking into people's houses. You are the worst to represent us to Aliens." Mary started.
"It wasn't so bad, after all, we learned a couple of things that day," Aja answered.
Eli stepped away and further into their camouflaged house, "what are you doing?" Krel asked but went ignored.
"Perhaps Varvatos should destroy him."
Eli circled around the kitchen, which had currently been empty if not for the objects that randomly appeared as his back was turned. The house had been designed as if it was built in the '80s, a much less modern house.
Eli gasped, "Whoa, retro cool! Really cool crib. Do people say crib anymore?" Eli gasped once more as objects continued to appear, even a record player that whirred and clicked, "There's a pool, too?"
The Trollhunter team groaned as they threw their head back and Eli blushed as he listened to Mary and Darci snicker.
"Can we mention that he is literally missing everything that appears and doesn't bother to ask about it?"
The recording played instantly, an older song whirling around the record player and shocking the Aliens.
You can be my flip-flop
To the top, don't stop.
"Fascinating," Krel mumbled and put his ear against the record player, the man's voice continuing to rock out. "What's that sound? Where is it coming from?"
Eli turned to face him from inspecting the blinds. "You've never heard of vintage music?" It was clear Krel hadn't but his shoulders began to move in a rhythm as he smiled, dancing along with it as Aja chuckled.
"Lively." Krel stood up and began to move to the music as a normal-looking dog rushed from his hiding spot, barking frantically and charging toward Eli. Instead of attacking, Luug had circled around, begging for pets which Eli easily gave.
"Who are you, cute fur-ball?" While Eli closed his eyes, giving gentle scratches, Luug glanced towards his owners, eyes glowing blue and shocking both Varvatos and Aja.
"Is that Luug?" Vex questioned. Eli was laughing as Luug bounced around excitedly, eyes turning back to normal. Krel had bent backward, looking at his pet.
"What happened to him? He's covered in terrestrial fungus." Krel continued his strange dance moves as Aja bent to pet her animal, which Luug was excited about.
"It's so soft, lively!" Aja laid her head gently on Luug's stomach as Vex poked the animal with the soft part of his cane.
"Mother must have changed him."
"So, where are your parents?" Eli asked, instantly catching all of their attention.
"Who demands to know?" Varvatos hissed.
"Me, I guess?"
"Our parents are in stasis." Krel simply replied, still messing with the record player.
"What?"
"There was an accident, they are regenerating," Aja added as she held her new pet dog closely. Varvatos had stepped closer to Eli, inspecting the boy.
"Huh, so they're, like, at a spa?"
"Yes," Aja answered.
"And we don't like interlopers. Who sent this insidious nuisance?" Vex gripped Eli's shoulder, moving him toward the door as Aja watched them go with a questioning look.
Everyone chuckled as they heard the insult, Eli seeming to not mind as he sat in his seat, grinning madly.
"Wow, you're strong for a geezer."
"Geezer," Aja repeated. "I like that word!"
Varvatos shoved Eli outside as he spoke, Aja still within the house, continuously yelling the word: "geezer," all while Varvatos once again threatened Eli. "Speak of what you have seen to anyone and Varvatos Vex will see that you face a terrible, terrible death."
Jim gave Claire a look as they stifled their laughter as the crowd laughed.
"What are we laughing at?" Krel asked and his sister shrugged.
"The fact that we could hear you yell geezer so randomly like that, it's so stupid it's funny," Darci answered.
"What a strange way to say something stupid is amusing."
Varvatos slammed the door as Eli gasped, "he's intense." Back within the home, Vex turned from the door to glance at the ship around him.
"Mother, what have you done?"
"I've altered the ship's structure to match the indigenous, primitive architecture."
"No, I mean, why is Varvatos wrinkled and saggy?"
"I think the local term is geezer," Aja mentioned as she sat next to the fireplace.
"Varvatos is like a feeble larvox. His bones, brittle, not good for crushing."
Aja rubbed her hands against her cheeks, "I love this fleshy covering."
"Unlike on Akiridion-5 where life is energy-based, the inhabitants of this planet are biological." Mother spoke as Krel jumped on the couch while Aja and Vex inspected parts of the house.
"Oh, flisghaag," Krel groaned out
"I believe the Earth idiom is gross."
"Wow! That's rude."
"They just called us gross!"
"We are gross."
"Yeah, but we don't say that in front of them! Don't you know anything?"
"Surely there are less gross forms for us to take!" Vex moved in front of the rocker, struggling to sit as the chair sprung and pulled him back. "Reconfigure the camouflage matrix to something more befitting of Varvatos Vex." He sighed once he was laid across the chair, arms dangling off the sides. "Oh, this is comfortable."
"I am afraid I cannot, Commander." Aja had been nearby, clicking the remote and turning the old television set on, shocking her. "The energy expenditure required to alter the matrix is too high."
"Energy expenditure? Our parents," Krel breathed out before his face filled with realization and both he and Aja ran towards the ship's circular entrance. They entered the room, moving to the sides of the capsules as Luug barked, running passed Vex.
Aja gasped before relaxing, "Thank Gaylen! They're still in stasis."
"Secondary Manifold, the Kelso transponder, the CDR sensing unit," Krel said as he shifted toward the screen, moving his fingers against it.
"What does all that Klebso mean?" Vex asked.
"I think it means we have a problem," Aja answered but it caused Krel to laugh.
"Ha! A problem? Mother, tell them."
"I calculate I have enough energy reserves to sustain the royal life force for only three parsons."
"Three parsons?" Aja repeated, "Wait, do you mean—"
"If I cannot maintain the cores, the king and queen will be lost."
Krel stepped forward, head full of thoughts, "How is the ship so low on power?" He gasped as the realization struck him. "The plasma fields must have blown in the Daxial Array." In front of him, the pieces of the ship had been sparking, blinky red with a strange buzzing sound. "Where is the Daxial Array?"
The crowd gave the screen strange looks as Krel groaned out, knowing that he had to explain almost everything to these people. Which, wasn't very amusing to him.
Mary scoffed, "These are definitely Eli's people."
"I take that as a compliment," Eli answered as Steve grinned.
"Yeah, nice job, Mary." The said girl simply rolled her eyes at the two, mumbling a small "nerd", which must have gone unheard or the two simply didn't care. Especially since Steve needed to impress the girl of his dreams.
The group walked around the damaged area, "Judging from the damage we sustained in the escape from Akiridion-5, I would put its current position somewhere within the Adrell Meteor belt."
Krel passed a massive hole within the ship wall, electricity crackling around him as he lowered to the floor, inspecting broken machinery.
"Ay, ay, ay."
Aja appeared beside him, "It's going to be okay, we're just going to have to go out there and find the new "that's the other way"," Aja spoke, completely butchering the term.
"Daxial Array and we can't go out there. This dump-heap planet is primitive beyond description."
While the humans had found it rather funny, Krel had given a confused look. His sister was more intrigued by the planet than he was, so he didn't expect her to feel the way he did, but he didn't expect her to laugh with them.
"It will be an adventure, come on, let's go!" Aja yelled out excitedly as Luug's face lit up, panting within the dark room.
The light poured out behind Luug as he stepped through the town, leading his family down the sidewalk, a rather interesting song playing as they studied the town, Krel looking more against it than Aja had.
Brother Pele's in the back
Sweet Zina's in the front…
The music stopped as Vex's back cracked, his knees bending at a strange angle as he groaned out, cradling the sore spot as they stopped at a crosswalk. A nearby car had passed, horn honking "La Cucaracha". The music resumed as Aja and Krel crossed the street, leaving a pain-stricken Varvatos as they caught sight of something interesting and ran in different directions.
Varvatos glared at the sudden pain he felt on the screen, remembering every ounce of it, which he was never used to. He cursed his human saggy body while trying to ignore the laughs of the crowd.
"How dare you laugh at Varvatos Vex!"
"Sorry dude," Toby snorted. "The music and the sudden crack, it was so sudden." He started to laugh as Jim began to laugh with his friend. Varvatos crossed his arms and frowned as the siblings glanced at him.
"Oh, lighten up, this is funny now that we see how much we stood out!" Aja commented.
Cruisin' down the freeway in…
A fit of giggles had caused Vex to straighten, his eyes moving down to see a young girl scout holding his hand. He quickly pulled his cane away in disgust but the little girl pointed to her sash to an open spot.
Suddenly red-blue lights flash us from behind
Loud voice booming, please step out onto the line
"Uh, what kind of song is this? This is the weirdest song I have ever heard."
The little girl grabbed the end of his cane, trying to pull him back toward her in desperation but Vex was not having it. He used all he could to yank the cane from her and his back collided with the light post behind him.
His cane was still raised as he glanced down, more girl scouts surrounding him with grins and big eyes. From that, the walk symbol appeared as the crosswalk was empty.
How bizarre…
The crosswalk was swarmed by numerous girls as a group held his cane while the others had been carrying a screaming Vex above them.
Jim and Toby glanced at one another, Jim's eyes were wide but Toby had a grin as he stood up with a yell, pointing at Jim and startling Claire.
"I told you those things are scary!"
The crowd gave him a confused glance before Jim spoke up, "Toby had a bad experience once. We were thirteen and Toby was trying to keep up on that diet but when the girls told him to buy cookies and he stuck to his diet, they jumped him to make him buy the cookies. When he told me, I didn't believe it."
"I never want to see those kids again!" Toby shivered as Darci rubbed his shoulder when he sat back down.
"You got jumped by a bunch of little girls?" Steve asked.
"Uh, do you see what they are capable of?"
One of the girls had been riding a small rocket placed outside in front of a store as Krel crossed them, hand on his chin as he studied the ride.
"Huh, let me make it work," Krel stated, dropping to the ground and messing with the wiring beneath the ride. There was the soft sound of clicking before the machine buzzed causing Krel to stand and slam his fist against the green button. Smoke poured from the back of the rocket as it sat at an angle, the little girl screaming as it shot off, passing a couple of buildings.
Krel looked away, acting as if it was nothing.
How bizarre…
Krel grinned as the crowd watched with big eyes, staring at the kid fly away while the song perfectly explained the situation.
The group had finally made it back together, stopping as Aja focused on an object within the store's display window, a television set playing different videos.
"Fascinating," Krel said as Aja laughed.
"Glorious!" Luug suddenly jumped up, knocking Vex to the ground to get a good look.
"Glory!"
"Please, I beg of you, do not start that again!"
"Glorious!"
"AGH!"
How bizarre…
From then on, the group was seen exiting a movie theater, Aja laughing excitedly as she dug in the bucket of popcorn.
"I love popp-ed corn!" Massive sized popcorn rained down over the group, the scene changing as they passed a coffee shop, a date leaving their table as Krel moved up to it, inspecting the cup. He pulled it to his nose and sniffed it curiously.
"Co-fefe." He took a sip of the new liquid, and instantly bile taste flooded his mouth as he groaned out, dropping the cup and spilling the contents on the ground, giving Luug the chance to try, however, his reaction was different.
"This part is not as serious as Jim's life, besides all the mess ups."
"Hey!"
"The way he said coffee is so fun, I think I might start saying that."
"Co-fefe."
His eyes turned into his normal black and blue eyes before charging away, his family watching with shock. The dog leaped back and forward, nothing but a blur as they continued to watch him destroy things around him.
Destination unknown as we pull in for some gas
A freshly pasted poster reveals…
They continued to walk as Aja gasped, seeming to enjoy everything she saw. Her eyes lit up and she couldn't contain the giggle as she ran across the street, Luug in tow as they dived into the grass.
Elephants and acrobats
Lions, snakes, monkeys
Aja laid on her back, laughing as she made a grass angle, while next to her, Luug was rubbing his behind against the grass, legs jutted outwards as he left a trail of smushed grass behind him.
Pele speaks righteous
Sister Zina says funky, funky, funky
Everyone is staring at the screen with their jaws dropped, watching the chaos continue. Steve, however, had a look of love as he didn't pay any mind to the dog, only to Aja. While he hoped she wasn't glancing at him, he still couldn't hide the look of love and wished that she had.
"I feel like we are watching Jim with the Grit Shaka again, what kind of song is this?" Jim groaned at the memory before facepalming.
"How do you guys remember every embarrassing thing I've done?"
"Because it lives in our heads rent-free." Jim hid his face as Claire giggled, gently grabbing his horn in a calming manner.
"Hey, relax, that goofiness is still irresistible." Jim glanced up at her and smiled, and if he could blush like before, his face would be colored.
Luug's attention was captured by an object across the street, growling slightly before he charged at it. The object of wonder he couldn't help but sniff was a fire hydrant and like every dog, he raised his legs up, only it wasn't pee.
"Oh, no!" Aja cried out as she watched her dog, his private area glowing a bright blue before a string of light poured from him, completely decapitating the fire hydrant. The family ducked from the blast as water shot up from the hydrant.
Luug barked and ran under the water as the trio gaped at the sight, only Aja had her tongue out. "So squishy, I love this Earth!" She ran her hand through the water before running off, family close behind.
"Aja!"
Behind, Detective Scott had stopped his car, watching them with a confused look as the strange music finally ended, Aja found herself at a nearby food truck, spelling out the word burritos.
"Are you absolutely sure?" The Vendor asked. "This is the atomic, super-double, bowel-loosening, Diablo Maximus breakfast burrito with extra hot sauce." He laughed but all Aja did was grab it, curious.
Toby perked up, knowing that he would come along soon, especially since she had ordered the spicy burrito they had.
He was still impressed, but now knowing she was an alien, it kind of made sense why it didn't affect her.
"Fascinating."
"Hey, you got to pay for that!" The vendor yelled as Aja was ready to bite into it, Toby appeared behind her, one in his hand and a bite already taken from it.
"Careful," he started, catching her attention as she turned to face him. "The Diablo Maximus is not for the faint of heart. Mere humans can't withstand more than one or two bites before they–" Toby's words were cut off as he stared in shock as Aja gulped down the entire thing, unphased. "Wha-aa-at."
"Mmm," Aja hummed, a gleeful smile on her face. "That was lively, I'm going to go ask for another one."
The crowd laughed at Toby's face, "you know I'd be just as shocked if she wasn't alien."
"Is it supposed to be spicy? What is spicy, exactly?"
"It makes your mouth burn, your insides turn, and your eyes water."
"Your insides can turn and burn?" Krel asked, "Weaklings."
"A second one?" Toby said in shock as Vex, Krel, and Luug stepped up to him.
"You seem to know a lot about this planet," Krel mentioned before Vex angrily spat at him.
"Are you one of its rulers?"
"Eh," Toby shrugged. "I do kind of rule, I'm technically a duke. The name's Toby, Duke Toby, if you're fancy."
"Tell me, do you know where I can find a Daxial Array?" Krel questioned but it was clear Toby was unsure what he meant, unaware of their strange behavior.
"Daxial Array? Is that a band? You can get that at the record store." The cover of the Papa Skull band passed through the screen, Krel tossing records off the shelves as he looked rather disturbed.
"Nope, nope. No." He laughed in irritation before his face dropped into a stoic expression. "No." Suddenly, his face lit up as he picked up a record, grinning madly. "Yes!" He exited the store, and the soft chime of the bells alerted his exit, record in hand. "Finally, the dump heap has something to offer. Music."
Aja dove for the falling record that slipped from the cover, studying the black wheel. "Fascinating," she licked the record curiously. "Though it doesn't taste as good as the Diablo Maximus breakfast burrito."
"Okay, not everything is edible," Dari said.
"Such a strange thing on Earth," Aja commented.
The two inspected the record as Vex pushed through, "Okay, youngsters, it's time to go home." As they walked away, Krel absolutely distracted by the music, the store clerk called to them, running out of the store and stopping them in their tracks.
"Hey, hey! You've gotta pay for that!" The three turned in surprise but Varvatos had been more pleased with the matter.
"She seeks vengeance against you! Exciting."
"I mean, he needs to buy it, you know, with money?"
"Like crestons?" Aja questioned.
"Like money." The store clerk replied as the sound of wailing sirens approached them, Detective Scott exiting his car and stepping toward the group.
"Do we have a problem here?" He asked, pulling out his badge.
"He just shoplifted that."
"Impossible," Krel exclaimed. "That shop is far too heavy to be lifted."
"Do you have money to pay for the record, kid?" Scott asked as Varvatos moved to the building, hands moving to wrap around the building.
The crowd laughed as Krel gave a confused look. Why were they laughing? Was that not the correct term and meaning? After all, only he heard it once and it seemed very straightforward.
"That doesn't mean actually lifting the building, it means taking something from inside without paying for it," Claire mentioned.
"Perhaps you humans should make better names for such actions." Krel scolded lightly.
"It would appear doubtful."
"Lift!" Vex cried as he grunted, straining to lift the building. "The King-in-Waiting is correct. This structure defies even Varvatos' vaunted strength." The sounds of his bones snapped as he tensed in pain. "Uh, ow!"
Detective Scott took the record from Krel's hands, the boy unpleased to lose it. "Problem solved."
"Whatever," the clerk mumbled as she walked back into the store.
"You guys aren't from around here, are you?" Detective Scott asked, turning to face Aja.
"You could accurately say that, yes."
"But you live in Arcadia, don't you?"
"Maybe," the two siblings spoke in unison.
"Well, why aren't you kids in school? You know what a school is, right?"
Krel chuckled nervously, "Let's assume not."
"It's a big building with a lot of math and books, wise guys."
"Math!" Aja exclaimed happily, "Do you think we might be able to find a "dance the world away" there?" Krel couldn't answer as Detective Scott stood in front of the teens.
"You know what I think? I think it's illegal for you not to be in school." From behind, Varvatos had lifted the bench from the sidewalk, perching it easily over his head as Luug was perched happily on it.
"But Varvastos is strong, very strong."
"What the?" Detective Scott asked, turning to look at the old man. "Yeah, you're a spry for your age. Now put the bench down."
Darci facepalmed, her father wasn't the brightest person and it was easy to tell that they did not come from Arcadia. Granted, no one knew they were aliens, but it so was easy to tell that they were confused and lost.
"He should totally get that they are confused."
"Eh, my dad is serious about the law," Darci commented, making Toby shiver.
"Tell me about it."
"How is he not questioning the old man lifting up a bench like that?" Eli asked.
Vex threw the bench to the floor, his knees hitting the ground as he groaned. "This weak back!"
"Are these your grandkids?"
"They are under the protection of Varvatos Vex!"
"Who's Varvatos Vex?" Detective Scott asked.
"Varvatos Ves is unexplainable, unknowable. Who are you, good sir? Who do you serve?"
"I am Detective Scott, Arcadia Oaks PD. You know, here to serve and protect." The said man circled behind the kids, placing his hands on their shoulders.
"What about destroying, pillaging, feasting upon the bones of your enemies?" He cackled, and while Krel and Aja looked a little perplexed, Scott had been slightly shaken by the strange response.
"Uh, yeah. Well, Varvatos, these kids are going to school, now."
Aja moved toward Varvatos, "It's alright, Grandpa Geezer. Krel and I will go to the building of math and search for the array."
"You…" Varvatos breathed out as Aja stood beside him, the older man glaring at the taller policeman. "You seem trustworthy. But harm my charges, and Varvatos will slay you while you sleep!"
Detective Scott looked to his passengers in his car, "Is your grandpa off his medication?"
"It's entirely possible," Krel mumbled while Varvatos watched them leave, Luug bouncing happily around him.
"Remember!" Vex called to them, "In your sleep!" He chuckled evilly as the scene changed, the vast and familiar high school of Arcadia, Senor Uhl speaking to the two teens.
"Detective Scott tells me you're not from around here."
"Not anywhere close, no," Aja mentioned as she spun the planet placed on a table, however, she had spun it too hard, breaking it off its stand and watching as it bounced off the floor and bounced off the wall, fiercely back into Aja's hands.
"In fact, we just arrived," Krel answered, turning to face Senor Uhl after watching his sister.
"Really? From where?" As Aja joined her brother's side, he had grown tense and nervous, unsure how to answer.
"From where?" He chuckled before leaping from his seat and adjusting it higher, seeming to wear a glare as he stared at his sister.
"Yes, from where? Ustedes hablan anything?" Their response was confused and nervous, unsure how to answer while Senor Uhl stared them down. Yet, Aja's attention had moved to a nearby poster of a cantaloupe, trying to sound it out but it hadn't come out correctly.
"Can-ta-loupes."
"What?" Senor Uhl asked.
"Cantaloup.."
"Pia," Krel finished confidently, giving Aja the answer she was looking for.
"Cantaloupia!" Senor Uhl hummed as he swiveled the chair in the direction of his laptop.
"That's where you got it from!" Toby suddenly cried out. "All from a cantaloupe poster and Senor Uhl didn't even realize!"
"It does sound almost like cantaloupes," Jim shrugged."
"I am sorry," Senor Uhl said with slight venom in his voice. "I did not realize such a silly word was fruit when I had two strange students in my classroom."
"How do you spell it?"
"Spell?" Aja questioned, "We don't have magic on Akiridio… on Cantaloupia."
"I can't seem to find it on the internet," Senor Uhl stated.
"It's new," the two spoke but Senor Uhl shot from his chair, leaning on his desk.
"I can't find it. I don't know how things are done in Caliapy–"
"Cantaloupia," Aja and Krel reminded but Senor Uhl simply continued.
"But this is the United States of America. Kids here go to school. Do you have any papers?"
"Papers?" Aja questioned.
"Papers, IDs, passports."
"Sports!" Aja cried out excitedly, "I have the agility and reflexes of a larvox."
The crowd wanted to facepalm but understood their confusion. It was more than clear that things were different and they didn't want to be mean about something that was uncontrollable. Yet, Aja was still flushed with embarrassment, as she learned things about the planet, already understanding more, she couldn't help but cringe at her arrival.
"Hey," Steve said, gently tapping her. "I think it's cool."
Krel came to a stand as Senor Uhl leaned against the front of his desk, "Listen, school bureaucrat, we don't know anything about "eye-Ds" or "pass ports". We're just here to find a Daxial Array."
"Why does everyone think it's a band?" Krel cried out.
"Dude, it sounds like a band," Toby mentioned.
"I've never heard of that band, I only listen to Barry Manilow."
"What's a Manilow?" Aja questioned.
"What's Barry Manilow?" Senor Uhl repeated as his face wore an angry expression. "That's it! What's your number? I am calling your parents."
The crowd turned to face Senor Uhl, giving a look of 'really' as the two not knowing his favorite singer had pushed him to call their parents in anger.
"Do not glare at me, I am the principal."
"You're calling them what?" Krel questioned as Senor Uhl looked mildly confused by the question as he sat back down while the new principal picked up the phone.
"What my little brother means is, our parents are away, at the spa," Aja replied, Senor Uhl turning around with a slightly evil smirk.
"I'll let you what, my two little delinquents. When your parents get back, you can tell them all about a little something I like to call math class." Senor Uhl pulled them close by their shoulders, wearing a big grin before Miss. Janeth's voice was heard, her dry-erase marker scribbling across the whiteboard of certain formulas and shapes.
"The formula for the area of a triangle is…" Her voice was drowned out by Krel who turned back to face his sister who was placed in the desk behind him.
"They receive knowledge by being talked at, rather than through thermogenic cosmesis." He turned back to face the teacher, "I have a question."
"Then raise your hand," Miss. Janeth said, turning back to face him.
"Uh, which one?"
"Either will do," she responded and Krel chuckled, raising both his hands at the same time.
"Back home, I have four of them."
The crowd couldn't help but laugh at the action, they tried to blend it but didn't realize some things weren't natural.
"I agree, four hands are better than two," Blinky grinned, looking at his team who groaned out.
"You also said that about eyes, but I really don't see the difference," Toby muttered, looking at Jim who shrugged.
"Do you have a question, Mr. Tarron?" Miss. Janeth stepped closer to him as he kept his arms raised high.
"Do you have a Daxial Array?"
"We are talking about Triangles."
"Hardly," Krel replied. "You forgot to account for the triangle's area when applied to the fourth dimension." He came to a stand, took the marker from her, and moved to write on the board, however, the language hadn't been normal English. "The fluctuations of the hypotenuse alter the triangle's shape but if we use Claxon's 38th Theorem, we get a reasonable approximation of…"
Miss. Janeth stared in shock while Aja cheered for her brother as he moved to the side, his work neat and detailed. The class gasped in surprise as Krel continued, however, not about the math problem.
"Now, strange woman, can you lead us to a Daxial Array?" Miss. Janeth gasped as she caught the marker that had been thrown to her, glaring at the boy before the scene changed, focusing on Vex who walked through the city, Luug guiding him.
Everyone laughed as Krel commanded Miss. Janeth, this had been an interesting sight, especially because it was no longer strange but funny.
"I am starting to like these guys," Mary commented.
"Poor Miss. Janeth, every strange thing has happened in her classroom," Claire laughed.
"That better not be a reminder of what I have done," Jim stated but shrunk as he noticed Claire's grin. "It is."
"Take me back to the ship, Luug." Luug whimpered in reply and it angered Vex. "What do you mean you don't know where it is?"
"Got your queen!" A voice yelled from the distance, catching Varvatos' attention instantly.
"Queen?"
"Your queen is gone!" The man laughed and Varvatos didn't hesitate to pluck his dog from the sidewalk before charging in the direction of the voice, rolling and jumping over cars as he made it to the other side.
He set Luug down as he chuckled in victory, but it was short-lived as his back once again cracked and crippled him. "Agh!"
Varvatos' head appeared from below the elevated ground where two people had been sitting at a chess board, the same guy still taunting his opponent.
"I'm about to take your knight." His friend moved another piece, "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. That would leave your king in jeopardy."
"I'll worry about my own king," The other player responded, the two frantically moving their pieces. "You worry about your own king, thank you very much." Varvatos watched as their hands moved quickly, moving a pawn on the board before clicking the timer.
The second opponent had picked up a piece, grinning as he took it from the board, "Wow, wow, whizzy-wow." As he did so, Varvatos appeared at the side of the board, picking up the discarded piece.
"Can I help you with something?"
"This queen you speak of, is she trapped inside? Is this a means of representing combat? Are you warriors?" Varvatos asked.
"You never heard of chess?" The first guy asked as Varvatos played with his face as he stared down the chess piece.
"Chess?"
"Yeah, Chess." The second guy mentioned.
Vex pushed his finger against the second man's cheek, the guy bothered by the action. "You, too, are also wrinkled. Are you geezers? Are you gross?"
"Can we help you with something?" The first guy asked again as Luug jacked a piece from the board, smiling as the first guy had swiped it from him. "Hey, give me that!" Luug panted as his head tilted, but it never stopped doing a full 360 before straightening, the poor man nearly going into shock. "WHAT?"
Everyone in the crowd let their jaws drop as some shrunk into the back of their seats, disturbed by the sight.
"Uh. I never want to see that again."
"Oh my."
"That poor dude, he looks so panicked."
"Yes, Varvatos wishes for the geezers to explain more of this chess now!"
From Varvatos' crazed but determined look, the scene changed back to Aja and Krel who stood in their gym clothes, everyone glancing at them as Coach Lawrence had called for them.
"New kids, you've gotta take the rope challenge!"
Krel glared and followed Coach, pointing a finger at him, "I'm not taking anything! I keep telling you people this." Aja pulled her brother back but grinned at the coach.
"I love challenges."
"Every kid here should be able to climb that rope and ring that bell."
"For what purpose?" Krel asked.
"Cause I said so," Coach responded as he heard the faint sound of a bell, looking toward the top of the rope where Aja had already been perched, smiling happily.
"Next challenge, please."
"What? I've never seen anybody do it that fast before!" Coach Lawrence cried out.
"I thought you said every kid could do this." Coach threw his papers around as Aja swung happily on the rope.
"That was in theory! You two are messing with my head." Aja continuously swung and hit the bell as the regular school bell rang, Krel crying out in distress as he spoke to some kids.
"A Daxial Array is not a band! It is a critical piece of technology!"
"Okay, bro. Chill," a student spoke as he walked by, another one being much more assisting.
"Look, it's tech, maybe the science lab will have it." As Aja stood off to the side, Eli had walked passed the two, only to be stopped by Krel who had a tight grip on Eli's backpack strap.
"Ai-ee!" Eli cried out in panic.
"You will take me to the leader of the science lab now!" From both Aja and Krel's serious faces, the scene switched to Eli standing in the dark classroom of the science lab while they inspected the room.
"What type of country is Cantaloupia, anyway? Are you guys adopted?"
"No," Aja answered simply.
"Then why do you look, um, different?"
Everyone groaned out at Eli as he gave the crowd a strange look, "what?"
"Dude, you don't ask someone that, what is wrong with you?" Steve lightly scolded, whacking him on the arm.
"Especially when you just met them," Mary stated.
"Well, I didn't know the situation!"
"So the first thing you ask is if they are adopted?!"
"Different?" Aja questioned, hopping onto a nearby counter. "What do you mean? Mother made sure we look just like you?"
A loud bang caused Eli and Aja to face Krel who had completely disassembled an electronic device. "Your technology is beyond primitive."
"What do you mean, "your technology"," Eli asked while Aja inspected the nearby skeleton figure.
"Do you always ask this many questions, human?" Aja asked.
"Only when I'm suspicious." From behind, Senor Uhl yelped as he slipped on a small puddle, glancing in the classroom to see the three.
"You are always suspicious," Toby said as Eli lightly glared.
"Of them, yeah."
"Dude, you were constantly working to expose Trolls, it was more work for us just to try and make you think you were crazy!"
Jim snorted, "that was so interesting."
"Que pasa, what's going on here?" Eli yelped in surprise, not expecting to see the principal as Aja looked at him.
"That one is interrogating us."
"And I am trying to locate a Daxial Array, which is not a band of any kind."
"You're not supposed to be here unsupervised," Senor Uhl scolded but Aja replied with a much sassier remark.
"No, we're just not supposed to get caught."
"Students are not supposed–" Senor Uhl grunted, turning his attention from Eli to the two siblings. "I want to speak with your parents, tonight, six o'clock, sharp. I want to meet them, both parents. No excuses."
Aja and Krel stared at him, their silly manners no longer present as they watched Senor Uhl leave the room. While they dealt with trying to cover up their true natures, Varvatos had been sucked into a game of chess, laughing as he stared down the board.
"Very intriguing. And if Varvatos wins, Varvatos can enslave your entire family? Usurp your property? Burn it to the ground?" He laughed as he scooted the chair closer, the two other men looking uncomfortable at his strong threatening manner.
"Dude!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! It's just a game!"
"What is the purpose of a game?"
"Who knows? Maybe, uh, have some fun." The second guy spoke, Varvatos still grinning like mad.
"If that were true, there would be killing," Varvatos chuckled as Luug barked excitedly, managing to slide Vex to the side to greet the siblings as they joined.
"We need to talk to you," Krel started while Aja hung back, playing with her pet.
"It must wait, Varvatos is about to vanquish his foe in chess." His opponent chuckled as he glanced at the old man.
"Or instead, you are scaring almost everyone," Aja said as Varvatos looked away.
"It is not Varvatos's fault for weak humans!"
"Actually, you're down everything but your king and two pawns."
"Varvatos will triumph gloriously!" He cracked his knuckles before using his pointer finger to push the piece forward, his other fist banging against the clock, "ha!" However, his opponent had quickly knocked over his piece, grinning while Varvatos growled.
"Checkmate, butt snack."
"Well, it's good to know that Steve isn't the only one that says that."
Varvatos growled as he leaned on the table with a grin, "Your butt shall be mine to snack upon." He cackled, laughing until his back popped and the laughter turned into a pained yelp, but that didn't stop him. "Victory shall be mine!"
"WHOA! NO!"
"Oh my gosh, the one thing I feared."
"I TOLD YOU GUYS IT SOUNDS DIRTY!"
"This is the worst thing I have ever heard in my life."
"What is so wring with it?" Aja asked.
"Nope, no. If you don't know, it's best you stay that way."
"Dude," the second man commented.
"Could victory be yours tomorrow? Krel and I have a bit of a problem," Aja spoke, looking up from Luug.
"Varvatos Vex shall return tomorrow to smite you both!"
"Oh, I can't wait," the first man stated and the other watched him go with narrow eyes.
"Smite this!"
"Tonight make amends with your women!" Varvatos yelled but was once again groaning in pain, once he regained some posture he resumed his threat. "For tomorrow, you face death." As he laughed, walking away with the two royals behind him, the two men watched them go.
"Jeez, that guy's intense."
Back at their home, Aja had been fascinated by the plastic globe that she continued to spin while Varvatos had questioned what he had been told.
"How is this a problem? Simply defy the petty tyrant's orders. Now can Varvatos get back to his pawns?"
"It's not that simple," Krel stated. "All youth must attend this school of theirs." Behind them, Aja had been playing with the toaster, two pieces popping out freely and startling her, causing the toaster to slip from her hands and right into the now purple-colored Luug's mouth. "And if we don't, we'll remain prisoners in this ship.
Luug barfed out the toast, no toaster in sight as Aja picked up a slice, talking to the group. "It's full of humans our age, and they play games and have really easy challenges." She giggled at the idea of it.
"Either way, we won't be able to return unless we have parents to show the bureaucrat." He tossed a piece of candy, Luug easily swiping it.
"Then we are doomed. There is no chance of transforming the pair of you into "pay-rents."
"I'm drawing a blank," Aja stated before Krel perked up.
"Blanks. Maybe blanks."
"Where's he going?" Varvatos asked.
"Right!" Aja cried before following, "the blank robots." Within the corridor of a ship, within a row of folded humanoid objects, two had floated from their containment and toward the group, their forms opening into a tall figure as Krel gestured them to follow.
"Blank units, come along."
"What are you doing with the blanks?" Aja asked.
"Madness!" Varvatos yelled.
Krel ran toward the circular opening, putting the blanks in the center of it, "Mother, initiate camouflage protocol. You'll be dad and you'll be mom. Mother, load their data caches with your research of human culture."
The robots had a bit of a sassy but worried attitude as Mother spoke, "Before we do this, you should know my information on this planet is approximately 60 human years out of date."
"No matter," Krel pushed a button, a blue shield falling over the robots. "Like you said, this dump-heap planet doesn't evolve that fast."
"Should we be offended?"
The scene changed as the robots were transformed, a blast of white was seen before Krel pushed open the office door of the school. Senor Uhl had been perched in his chair, staring at his watch with a small smile.
"Ah, are your parents here?"
"Yes, both parents." Krel chuckled nervously. "No excuses." Krel moved to the side as a real perky lady appeared at the door, a plate in hand.
"Hey, hey, hey, Mr. Underpaid Bureaucrat. Nice to meet you." The father said, suddenly popping out from the door and running strangely to Senor Uhl who came to a stand.
Senor Uhls' eyes wen twice, finally understanding on why their parents acted the way they did. They weren't even real people! Yet, he couldn't contain his groan, he did not want to relive this and knowing the students, they could find anything to nitpick and bring it to more attention that wasn't needed.
"Senor Uhl," the principal greeted.
"Blank," the dad moved quickly as he shook Senor Uhl's hand.
"We're French," the mother answered.
"Your children said you were from Cantalope-something."
"Cantaloupia, it's French," Aja spoke.
The father who was still frantically shaking Senor Uhl's hand spoke up, "Parlez-vous francais, fella?"
"The name is Uhl, or preferably, Interim Principal Uhl."
The father backed up as Senor Uhl tried to break free from the shaking. "Easy, fella. What are you trying to do, break my hand?" Finally, the hands were ripped apart. "That is one heck of a grip. Strong and manly, I like it." He chuckled as the mother appeared, a plate of dessert on the desk.
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression, right?" The mother laughed, "No."
"Yes…" Senor Uhl breathed out, staring at the strange parents. "That is right. Do you know your kids were caught walking around town during school hours today?"
"By gum, those scamps. That sure ain't swell."
"It's ten p.m. Do you know where your children are?" The mother asked.
"It's 6:37 p.m., and I have no children, but yours were busted sneaking into the science lab."
"Oh, those scamps. That sure ain't swell." The dad repeated.
The crowd stared at the screen, eyes narrowed with an eyebrow raised as they watched in confusion, unsure what to think.
"Well, I'm glad we didn't have to go this far," Toby stated.
"I started singing and playing the piano as you jumped out his office window, this is just as bad."
"Swell?" Senor Uhl questioned. "Is this some kind of joke?
"Do you find it funny?" Aja asked.
"No, and I don't find it funny that you broke into the science lab." Senor Uhl's glare had disappeared instantly when the mother appeared by his side.
"You break it, you buy it." She laughed.
"Oh, you want money, fella?" The father asked, holding a mask. "I'm a little strapped for Benjamins this mother, but I'll see what I can do. You know, it doesn't grow on trees."
"Yeah, put your money where your mouth is," the mother stated.
"You can say that again," the father said, both parents taking a turn to swivel Senor Uhl in each direction.
"Put your money where your mouth is."
"You can say that again."
"Put your money where your mouth is."
Jim gave Toby a surprised look as the crowd could barely find the words as their mouths were once again hanging open.
"Poor Senor Uhl," Eli said.
"This is great!"
"Again, again—" The father started but Senor Uhl shot up from his chair, yelling to stop.
"Nein! Don't put your money anywhere, you're, you're, you're–"
"Oh, no! Mr. Bureaucrat's all tongue-tied." They laughed as Senor Uhl grew irritated, all the while the two kids stared at them with a bit of worrisome.
"Alright! Enough!" The mother appeared on the corner screen, laughing.
"I'm contacting Child Protective Services. Clearly, your home life is not stable." Senor Uhl placed the phone to his ear.
"Home?" Aja repeated. "This isn't our home. Our home has been stolen from us by General Morando. He destroyed the capital and hurt our parents and we were forced to come here where we know no one." Aja whimpered as Senor Uhl moved the phone and glanced at her. "Seklos and Gaylen, we are alone here."
"Wait, wait." Senor Uhl's expression softened. "There's been a coup in your country?"
"Exactly."
Senor Uhl gasped and pulled her into a hug, "I'm so sorry. I will protect you until Cantalucia.."
"Whoa! Senor Uhl can be understanding?"
"I have some feelings!"
"Yeah, not enough of it."
"Cantaloupia," Aja corrected.
"Is free again. For as long as your home is in turmoil, you will have a place in Arcadia Oaks." Aja relaxed in his hug as her eyes shut, mumbling a soft thank you before she felt a slight change.
The only issue was that her eyes had been her natural color, and as she glanced back at Krel who was experiencing the same situation but covering his face from Senor Uhl, she spoke up.
"We should probably get glowing. I mean, going." Senor Uhl opened his door, the whacked parents walking out and repeating themselves.
"You can say that again."
"Yeah, put your money where your mouth is." The mother laughed as they were pulled out of view.
"They are peculiar," Senor Uhl commented. Within the hallways of the school, Krel had appeared around the corner, telling Aja to wait as he ran to the sides of the lockers and pressed himself against them as a janitor rolled on by.
Krel moved to another set of lockers, watching the janitor leave before waving his sister forward, this time, sporting four arms while still in his human form.
Aja motioned the parents forward, the father carrying the mother as they were pushed down the hall while Aja and Krel made a break for it.
"What's happening?"
"The energy dispersal from the transduction must be wearing off," Krel answered as his form began to change, covered in a blue light. "We have to get back to the mother ship now."
As they disappeared behind the corner, Eli had stepped out from a classroom, looking down at his phone while the group crossed the hallway, disappearing behind the wall, this time, Krel completely reverted back to his natural form.
Thankfully, Eli had not seen the fleeing group, only left confused as the scene changed, Vex scolding the kids as he too was back in his normal form as he closed the blinds.
"You could have been discovered! The humans must never see us in our native, non-saggy forms."
"How were we supposed to know the transduction effect would wear off?" Krel asked before Mother's voice caught their attention.
"My apologies. It seems the effect last only twelve horvaths before it requires re-implementation." Aja looked in shock as her human form disappeared as her old skin completely covered her in a blink of an eye.
"Now you tell us?" Krel said lightly as Vex quickly spoke up.
"What is happening to you? What is that?" Vex's words were directed toward Aja who was sniffling as she kept an eye on her hand before sniffling and wiping the tear away.
"My eyes are leaking."
"Humans call this discharge of bodily fluids, tears. They are the result of extreme emotional states accompanied by the irrational expulsion of liquid from the ocular sphere. Humans are so wasteful."
"Wow, thank you computer, now we will cry more."
"We're wasteful because we cry? I don't know how to make sense of that."
"Continous blows toward us. Does every non-human think we are weird?"
"Yes," the trolls and aliens simply answered, making the students squirm in their seats.
"Ouch."
"Are you okay?" Krel asked his hunched sister.
"I– I don't know. I was thinking about how we're never going to find a Daxial Array, and we'll never save Mama and Papa, and then…I think this is what it means to be afraid." Aja turned around and curled into herself on the couch.
Krel and Varvatos shared a look before Krel grabbed a strange object and moved closer to his sister. He gently caught her attention and showed her the object, a smile appearing on her face.
"You saved that?"
"You saved their cores, I saved this. Do you know the ritual?" He asked as Varvatos stepped up beside them.
"Varvatos does," the large alien grabbed the object.
"I don't want to be queen," Aja commented.
"And you won't be. You will be Queen-in-Waiting."
"Hey," Krel started, looking at his sister. "Before the ceremony, Papa told me that we are all each other has. That's why I'm not afraid, because I have you."
"All I ever wanted was to be normal but Mama told me I wasn't." Aja stood and moved in front of Varvatos as the crystal hummed, lighting up the room. Varvatos closed his eyes, silent before raising his arms and looking at Aja, the crystal moving towards her.
Krel guided Aja, opening his arms and her doing the same as she closed her eyes, accepting. The beam of light shot from the crystal, marking Aja just as it had done to Krel, a man's voice echoing as it carved into her forehead.
"This ridge…"
As the man's voice spoke, Varvatos's voice began, much louder but the voice of the man still remained, harmonizing.
"This ridge is the mark of your ancestors and proclaims you worthy of the crown of Akiridion that has stood for righteousness since ages past." The beam shot through the house, silent but bright as it left no damage.
Steve glanced at Aja, knowing it was hard for her but glad she made a choice. Deciding to make her feel a little better, which he hoped he could do, he turned to her fully and smiled.
"I think you would make a wonderful queen when you get your home and parents back."
"Thank you, Steve. I am happy to hear that." She smiled lightly and the two were locked in a gaze before Mary cleared her throat.
"Can you guys look back at the screen please?" She stated. Aja and Steve had turned away to look back at the screen, Steve's face turning red as Aja tried to contain the funny feeling in her stomach.
She wasn't going to panic about the feeling as it felt strange but wonderful, something only Steve could cause when she was human. Instead, she let it rampage through her, smiling excitedly.
Back in the house, Aja was lowered to the ground she felt the mark on her forehead as Krel joined her side.
Outside, Eli had been covered near the window, glancing through the small cracks in the blinds, and gasped as his eyes widened.
Back on Akiridion-5, ships flew over the damaged city as Morando stood in a vast window, two vast creatures behind him as he stared at the smoking homes.
"The royal traitors are still at large. Bounty Hunters, slay the royals and bring their parents' life cores to me and you will be rewarded with treasures that will make you the envy of all bounty hunters." A Bounty Hunter roared. "Destroy any and all who stand in your way."
He laughed as the episode ended.