Beetle Mania

When the darkness cleared, the image of the exposed alien had been unconscious and tied in a mysterious room. He woke with a gasp, panting as he studied his pinned arms.

"Come on!" He grunted, scooting around the small kitchen, trying to find himself. "Wait, hey, hey!" A blur passed beside him, "hello? Is anyone there? This isn't the least bit funny." In front of him, the blur stopped, back turned toward him before their head turned, the rest of the body following.

Aja groaned in annoyance, remembering this day very clearly. While they had captured a future ally, they also had to deal with an annoying situation. She knew how stressful it was and already despised the fact she had to relieve it again.

"Wow, you kidnapped your biggest fan."

The robot father stared down their target, wearing a pair of sunglasses as he slurped from a mug. "Okay, mug. We're only gonna do this once, are you ready to talk?" He cut the distance between the tied alien, turning on a burner as his robotic hand cracked with blue. "Quit your jitterbuggin', you gashouse palooka. We can either do this the hard way–"

"Or the very hard way," the robotic mother interrupted, pushing her fake husband away and trying to crack her neck.

"What?"

"No one messes with our children without messing with us first," the alien gulped as she slammed her fist on the burner, lighting a flashlight and shining it in his eyes. "So, what'll it be?"

The crowd glanced at one another before Toby shivered. "Remind me to never be interrogated by any of you guys, and I mean all."

"Sorry, we try not to be so frightening…" Aja stated.

"Varvatos disagrees."

"Before I answer that, um–"

"Stand aside, you glorified washing machines," Vex hissed, moving toward their hostage. "And leaving the torture to a professional." The parents straightened and turned off the burners before exiting the room, ignoring the growling Luug.

"That was fun."

"Gotta jet!"

"Taco merchant," Varvatos started as Aja and Krel stepped beside him. "You will tell us why you were spying on Varvatos' charges, or Varvatos will feed you your eyes!"

"I—I told you–!" The alien cried, shaking as Varvatos charged, slamming his fist down on a nearby surface as their target was shaking in his chair.

"And hang you from a noose made of your own intestines!" Luug barked, leaping in the background.

"Uh, is he allowed to say that?"

"That was a very descriptive threat, I think I might need to scootch my chair over just a bit, yep…just a bit." The student besides Varvatos said, trying not to show fear but failing miserably.

"That's a colorful threat, isn't it?"

"We should never have taken him back home with us," Aja said before sniffing, her and Krel plugging their noses. "Ugh, what is that horrendous stench?"

"Must be the smell of fear, as Varvatos was about to introduce this menace to the art of torture!"

"You don't have to torture me at all, I come in peace and all that jazz," Varvatos growled as he stepped out of view, leaving the siblings in front of the newcomer.

"Jazz? Now you have my interest," Krel answered.

"The name is Stuart, I'm a huge fan! I'm a– I'm a huge fan."

"And we aren't going to talk about where that random smell keeps coming from?"

"Hey, right now, I am just glad they aren't so focused on taking my thumbs," Eli mentioned, still holding the appendages.

"Oh, no. They are for sure still coming for those."

"A fan?" Krel questioned, "You create wind?"

"Only after one or two burritos," Stuart snorted. "Seriously, I follow all the great royal houses of the galaxy, but House Tarrron of Akiridion-5? O-M-Gorbon, I mean, pure class, Princess Aja, you're like the coolest, bravest, most butt-kickingest teenager on this side of the known universe. And Prince Krel…Tech whiz extraordinaire! I wanna be you when I mentally grow up."

Mary groaned and threw her head back, "he talks way too much. I know what is going to happen already and know that I am the star of today, so can we just get to that?"

"Really? What did you do, Mary?"

"Uh, more than half of you that ran in terror."

While Aja looked surprised at what he said, Krel smiled. "I am now King-in-waiting."

"I can't believe I'm in the royal kitchen. So, uh, what are you doing here?" Stuart asked.

"General Morando led a coup, and we were forced to flee for our lives," Krel answered but Varvatos had pulled the chair back.

"We're supposed to be asking him the questions!" Luug barked and glared as Stuart wasn't much affected by Varvatos.

"Royals in exile? Of course! Everything makes much more sense now." He jumped forward away from Varvatos. "I mean, if it makes you feel any better, I didn't choose to come here either." He leaped too far forward and fell on his face. "Crash landed, actually."

Luug barked and snarled, Stuart looking up to see the animal standing before him with a long drool. Luug opened its mouth, rows of teeth coming extremely close as he snarled, liquid covering the screen. He pulled away, wagging his tail, and blinked.

Stuart looked rather displeased but continued, "Originally, I'm from Durio." Varvatos lifted Stuart off the floor as Aja commented.

"The stinkiest planet in the universe!" She mentioned as they covered their faces.

"That would explain the malodorous odor."

"I want to know what they are saying, but I don't so I am going to act like I know. Yeah, damn, that stinky planet! Gosh, couldn't he come from another one?"

"Yeah, like, seriously, we all know that the planet he mentioned is so smelly!"

"This is sad, like really sad."

"Ugh, I thought it was a Luug fart," Krel mentioned.

"Hey, I'm very sensitive about that. But, trust me, you're gonna love Earth, yeah. You've got cheese fries, monster truck rallies, and, oh, flash mobs."

"I want all of it!" Aja said dreamily.

"Enough prattle," Vex commented as the house began to flicker, his fist slamming down on the counter. "Prepare for agony!" He gripped Stuart's neck just as the refrigerator had floated from its spot, nearly taking the two down as it made its way to Aja and Krel.

"Our refrigerator is running," Aja mentioned.

"Jeez, is this place up to code?" Stuart asked as Vex shoved his head down.

"Seklos and Gaylen," he breathed out as Krel had peaked below the moving fridge.

"Skeltegs?" The boy mentioned as they grabbed the fridge, the said beetle-looking creatures flew off.

"We seem to have developed a skelteg infection."

"Seem to?" Krel repeated as Varvatos crushed one in his hand.

"How did these get aboard the ship?" Vex questioned, wiping the goop against Stuart while Krel and Luug chased a couple, trying to stomp on them.

"This is your fault!" Krel commented.

"Don't even start!" Aja hissed.

"You're the one obsessed with skelteg fighting!" Krel tumbled over the couch while Aja had tried to use her surroundings to crush them.

"On Akiridion-5. It's easy money." Luug barked and chased one as the view appeared on a nervous Stuart. "They probably stowed away when we left." Aja used a bowl to trap one on the counter but was nearly taken out by it moving frantically inside.

One had crawled on Stuart, the alien laughing as it circled on him, "This is horrible!"

"How are there so many?" Varvatos questioned.

"Well, you have a house full of electronics," Stuart started as one sucked up the toaster, glowing and reproducing. "And creatures that feed on them, and breed! You'd better hope they don't nest."

The students gasped as they realized what was flying around their school only a couple of hours later.

"It was alien bugs? Damn it, the world is now ending, my true fear has come true."

"Okay, but like, this is how it started?"

"No, no it did not."

"Shut up."

"Interior camouflage diminishing." Mother said as every source began to flicker.

"What's the status of our exterior camouflage?" Varvatos asked.

"Failing." Outside, the house switched into a massive orb that was buried in the ground, "It will only be a matter of time before you are exposed to the entire neighborhood." The house had constantly flickered before righting itself back into the shape of the house.

"Kleb-tastic! Your skelteg obsession is going to out our secret to everyone on this dump heap."

"Don't make me dump heap you, Krel!"

"That didn't even make sense!"

"Don't worry, A-fivers. Stuart can turn those frowns upside down." Varvatos growled as the siblings looked confused. "It just means I can make you happy." A beetle had landed on his face, pushing him against the counter. "Untie me, please!"

As the beetles swarmed in front of the camera, it had grown dark, leaving a figure grunting as they lay on the table, eyes sealed shut. Zadra seemed to be affected by harsh nightmares.

Aja and Krel perked up, they really didn't know much about Zadra's status after they fled. Knowing that she was still okay had made them feel a little better. They didn't get much information on what she had to dwell through and what they have figured out had been already shocking, there was a lot that had affected the siblings, and spilling it right now would only lead to chaos, so they simply remained quiet.

But at least they got to see every side, every explanation, maybe giving them certain answers they were looking for.

Aja and Krel were reaching for their parents, worried etched on their faces as Zadra held them back.

"No!"

"Mama! Papa!"

"We should hurry!" Varvatos cried, moving toward the mothership as Zadra was quick to reply.

"I'll hold them back!"

She groaned as her eyes didn't open.

"Stop them!" Morando yelled as they loaded into the ship, Zadra standing with her weapon drawn just as the guards swung.

Zadra sat up with a gasp, panting heavily, only to find herself bounded to a table. She struggled against the bonds as a strange woman ran to the screens, pressing numerous things upon them.

"Don't move, you've taken quite a hit."

"I should be–"

"Dead?" Morando finished, walking up to her as she began to struggle once more. "I would've killed you if I wanted to. You should thank your king for sparing your life."

"My king is gone, you destroyed him."

Krel nodded with a glare, she was right. He was no king to them, the real king had been hurt and out of sight, weak, and vulnerable. If only he could reach through that screen and punch Morando in the face.

"A fate that can be easily arranged for you as well, unless you were to join me." The orb he had been touching had changed from a cool blue to a deep red, even the table she had been put on glowing the eerie color. "As the new Commander of the Taylon Phalanx."

The color died off as Morando moved to her other side. "You only want me in command of the Taylon in order to bring them into line. If I obey you, so will they."

"Exactly," He slammed his hands down. "Akiridion-5 has changed while you were asleep. The prince and princess will soon be dead, executed at the hands of the Hunter's Guild. This isn't a request. You will join me, or you will join them in death."

Morando walked beside her before letting the table and the area around her grow red, making her grunt as he stepped out of the room. Thankfully the woman who was aiding her earlier ran to her side and the color of the room changed.

Aja and Krel gave one another a look, not liking the sight of her having to choose between a traitor or death. They ignored the crowd giving angered shouts at the screen, glad the others felt the same, but still worried as they weren't sure what they'd fully witness.

Back on Earth, Stuart had been in his human form, messing with the keys as the three had also been with him, groaning in annoyance as he struggled with the kets. "Ah, here we go!" He held onto the key right before he dropped it.

He finally pushed open the door, revealing his business, "Bienvenidos, Bienvenue. Welcome to Stuart's Wonderful World of Electronica." Krel looked at it in awe as they walked into the store.

"I thought you sold burritos," Aja commented.

"Yeah, and used electronics, and uh, graphic tees. Objects in T-shirts are thinner than they appear," Stuart chuckled. "One of mine. I'm also a notary and justice of the peace. I have been here on Earth for 30 years. I've had lots of time to reinvent myself. That's the wonderful thing about Earth, you can be whoever you wanna be."

"The same place that saved Jim and Toby from Bular? No, way! Go, Stuart!"

"Now I get it!"

Aja had studied him just as Krel spoke up. "Expect someone who can get off this planet, apparently."

"Did you choose this human form?" Aja asked, poking his stomach.

"Why?" He chuckled nervously. "Don't you like it? I know it's a little more primitive than your transduction chambers, I admit, but I devised this tech myself out of some enriched plutonium and parts I scrounged from an '86 Pinto."

"Where is this solution you promised?" Varvatos suddenly yelled out. "We have skeltegs turning our ship into–"

Stuart dodged the cane, "A Vegas buffet, yeah, I know. Hang on, looking." Krel had dug through a box, a book standing out to him as he pulled it out, the cover telling him ways to screw in a lightbulb.

"Where's that–uh, I should really start alphabetizing things, shouldn't I?" Stuart commented.

"Screwing in a light bulb, step one, find a friend." Krel read out loud while Aja had been staring into a camera, her face appearing on the numerous television screens behind her.

"How many humans does it take to screw in a lightbulb?" She was making weird faces while Luug looked surprised staring at a version of her. She set down the camera as Luug sniffed it, the screens showing the animal barking and rubbing on his back.

Krel had still been reading off random book titles. "Setting up a remote control, setting up a hair dryer, setting up a.." He gasped suddenly, "Stuart, you have a daxial array?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure." The man responded, distracted as he stood on a ladder and threw things off the shelves. "It's right behind you, yeah. And I should tell you, I've got a unicorn in the basement."

Krel grabbed the nearest object behind him, which had been a boom box as Aja appeared by his side suddenly.

"A unicorn? We have to see that unicorn."

Krel folded his arms against his chest, knowing what sarcasm was and now seeing how it had nearly crushed his dreams when he realized Stuart was being a big head and giving up his hopes.

"Damn, you think he would know not to use complicated sarcasm on newly arrived aliens who barely understand what a metaphor is."

"Yep, this dude is kind of weird, and you buy tacos from him!" Mary said, turning to Toby who shrugged.

"Who knew, I have been eating Alien tacos and wondering why it took so long to stomach one."

"You're something else."

"No, no. There's no unicorn, it's a figure of speech. It means I'm lucky to have a manual. You won't find a daxial-anything on Earth."

"So, what's this then?" Krel asked as he pressed a button, a very loud strange yodel echoing from it and startling everyone, even Luug who whimpered nervously while Varvatos groaned, holding his ears.

"That cacophonous rot is assaulting Varvatos' ears!"

"Fascinating! A musical box!" Krel said, pressing it against his ears.

"It's called a boom box, nah, it's not exactly the portable music that the kids are into these days, but, uh, you want it? It's on me."

"No, it's in Krel's hands," Aja corrected.

"I mean, it's on the house."

"But this isn't a house," Aja said as Stuart hopped down.

"It's free, alright? I'm just saying it's free.

"Peculiar frequencies," Krel mentioned as Stuart walked away before chuckling.

"Ta-da! Splitting image of the skelteg's natural predator, the long-trunked hamfisk. This'll clear up the infestation yippee-skippee." In view was an older vacuum. Varvatos groaned before turning to the kids.

Toby groaned, "I think I would rather listen to BLinky talk and not understand any of it than listen to this guy speak."

"Tobias, I suggest you would cease whatever you are thinking."

"You two will be late for academic prison, and worry not, this gloober shall help Varvatos fix the ship." He turned to see Stuart vacuuming Luug who seemed really happy about it.

"My boy, my little–" Stuart said before Luug had puffed up in a big ball of fur and barked before leaping into Varvatos' hands.

"Assuming Varvatos can find the manual to shut his snout." A skelteg had been crawling on the boom box as they exited the building. At school, Krel had it proudly on his shoulder as everyone smiled.

"Why are you bothering with that thing?" Aja asked.

"It's pretty cool, right?"

"Sure, back in the '80s." A random kid mentioned but it went ignored as Shannon suddenly appeared by Aja's side.

"Girl, you rule!" She said before running off.

"I turned down being queen, actually." She mentioned before Mary stopped her, smiling happily.

"Aja! I posted your epic Steve take-down on my Facespace," she showed the video of Aja kicking him down before putting away the phone with a grin. "And it went super viral. Now the whole school is, like, obsessed with you!"

Steve groaned out, tired of the embarrassment, but knowing full well what was coming. At first, he was okay with it because at least Jim hadn't known much or bothered to bring it up. And, how stupid it was to get your butt kicked in front of someone you use to kick around.

Not like he would do it anymore.

"Ah, I still love that so much!"

"Why is everyone praising her?"

"Uh, Jim walked so we could run, obviously," Shannon mentioned.

"Because I hurt someone?"

'No just someone," Darci added. "Steve Palchuk. Not that we condone violence though."

"I would have done the same if I'd had my serrator," Krel added.

"Ugh, nice boom box, Kevin."

"My name is Krel."

"You should stick with Darci and me," Mary looped her arm around Aja's and pulled her forward. "I'm kinda the queen bee around here. You can be a princess."

"Seriously, Mary?"

"What? How could I know I was talking to an Alien princess?"

"Technically, I was Spring Fling Queen."'

Aja quickly pulled her arm away, "No, no, no, no. I don't want to be a princess on any planet."

"Wait! Ugh!" Mary complained as Shannon appeared once again.

"Not wanting to be cool is so cool!" Krel opened his locker, shoving the box into the locker before shutting it, the beetle crawling down. Beside him, Steve had slammed his own locker and stormed up to Krel.

"Tell me something, barf bag," his face turned from profound to slightly love drunk. "Is your sister seeing anyone?"

"She can see everybody, her vision is excellent."

"No, I mean…" Steve groaned out. "Forget it!" Steve went to punch a locker as Krel's opened, the beetle flying out and flying through the school, and seeing through its vision, it passed into the microwave within the teacher's lounge where Coach Lawrence had been placing food in it.

"Forty-five seconds..and start." He let the microwave run, but only for a second before it began to crackle, Coach instantly noticing. "What? Dodge!" Coach ducked as the microwave exploded, his hat flying off and revealing his bald head while the beetles flew off, now two instead of one.

Coach stood, frantically feeling his head and looking toward the opposite wall where his hat and the door of the microwave lay. He gasped again, reaching in for his burrito and taking a bite, only to groan in annoyance.

The crowd roared in laughter as Coach covered his head, not finding it funny at all. "Dude, we are laughing at the baldness, but the fact that you still got mad because it was cold and not the microwave exploding above you, is priceless!"

"That is not funny! Knock it off!"

"Gah! Still cold in the middle!"

From Coach, the scene changed to Zadra who still panted as she lay on the table, the nurse running to her bedside and checking the status.

"I know you're weak, but we need to go now."

"Who are you?" Zadra asked, looking toward her.

"My name is Izita, I'm with the Resistance."

Zadra sat up, instantly intrigued. "The Resistance?"

Aja perked up, instantly recognizing the lady once she got a clear look at them. Her heart thumped, silently thanking her for repaying Aja by saving Zadra. She just hoped that she didn't have to see anyone else she cared for to get hurt.

"Come with me," The woman calmly commanded, letting the bonds against Zadra disappear. She helped Zadra from the table, before aiding her out of the room. "An uprising has been forming. Citizens of Akiridion, men, and women, prepared to do whatever it takes to restore House Tarron to the Akiridion throne."

"You heard Morando, they're as good as dead."

"Lies," Izita stated and pulling Zadra out of view when guards passed. "Never trust Morando. The royal heirs can evade his hunters. I have to believe that." She pulled Zadra into a room, holding her close.

"During Morando's attack," Izita continued a flashback playing of Aja setting Luug aside and saving the child as the building nearly crumpled on top of him. She used her shield, protecting them from the falling pieces. "Princess Aja saved my child's life, I'm forever indebted to House Tarron."

The crowd gave loving smiles in Aja's direction, remembering the scene when they had attacked. "Looks like the good deed paid off and saved your friend."

"Yeah, we're very thankful for that," Aja mentioned, glancing at Krel.

The platform lowered, Izita gently moving Zadra to an upcoming pod, the glass vanishing and revealing a man driving who had shown a strange object.

"For the Royals," he said as Izita helped her into the orb.

"There's a rebel base just outside the Adronis Quadrant, he'll take you there."

"No, I can't leave," Zadra said.

"Please, the Resistance needs you, Lieutenant."

"I know, which is why I need to stay behind."

"Take this," Izita said pulling an object from her finger and handing it to Zadra. "The ring will signal you as a member of the Resistance."

"Trust me," was all that Zadra said before walking back inside, Izita watching as her hands crossed nervously.

Back on Earth, within a dark classroom, a screen lit up with numerous problems, Miss. Janeth perched near her desk as she spoke to the kids.

"Okay, class. The test is about to begin." Krel had scribbled on his paper before standing up.

"Finished."

Everyone glanced at Krel with questioning looks. "I'm afraid to see what's filled out on that test."

"Knowing him, something completely different from what we've all seen."

"Calculators out, my little parabolas."

In front of the projector, a skelteg had crawled down, its shadow reflecting on the screen and instantly noticed by Krel who mumbled a, "Oh kleb."

"Ms. Janeth, I think someone's dog ate my calculator," Mary said before Krel gasped, moving toward the projector, seeing the bug ready to consume.

"The electronics!" He cried and tackled the device.

"Mr. Tarron, remain in your seat!" Krel continued to stomp on the floor, trying to squash the beetle as he tried to fix what he had said.

"I mean, you depend on calculators far too much, phones, too." He looked up, watching two massive beetles crawl from the light fixtures. "You're always on these things."

"Hey, my phone!" A lady cried as he plucked it from her desk, continuing to take more from the students. "Less emojis, more emotion." The students complained, even Steve trying to reach for his, "Less texting, more talking!"

"So, that's why you took them! We thought you were becoming less cool than you already were."

"Wow, so kind of you guys."

"Hey! You're learning!"

"Don't read my texts, new kid." One said as he somehow managed to avoid losing it to Krel. The only issue was the beetles had multiplied, swarming down and noticed by students as they covered their heads and screamed.

"Ew, flying cockroaches!" Mary yelled out.

"Last week, the teachers' coffee got spiked, and now this?" Darci mentioned, swinging at the beetles while Krel booked it from the classroom, phones tucked in his hands as Aja joined his side.

Jim and Toby choked on their air as the topic had been brought up, not expecting them to be called out for an accident again. Beside them, Claire laughed, thankful she wasn't there but found it very much amusing.

"Huh, I wonder who did that?" Senor Uhl said with a sassy tone, the boys giving an awkward look to one another.

"Strickler, definitely Strickler."

"Mmhmm. First Troll ashes now flying beetles."

"Krel, they followed us to school."

"Obviously. Why do you think I'm confiscating their food supply?" Krel replied before Steve's voice had caught their attention, the boy playing basketball in the hallway.

"He passes to Palchuk, Steve shoots, Steve–" He tossed the ball at a nearby beetle, only for it to bounce off the creature and whack Steve down to the floor. "Foul! Hey, Aja." He screamed as a swarm of beetles brushed passed him, flying at Krel and Aja.

"Get down!" Krel cried as the phones dropped to the floor, leaving them vulnerable to the rapidly multiplying beetles.

"They're multiplying!" Steve yelled as he ran past Aja and Krel, students following him while the Beetles ran through the hallways.

"We need to stop this before the whole school gets colonized."

"Would that really be the worst thing?" Krel asked.

"Krel!"

"Just remember, sister, you're the one who brought them here." Darci who had passed when Krel said it, stopped to question her.

"Aja, did you do this?"

"Finally, you made a mistake!" Krel said happily.

"Ah, attention, students and faculty." Senor Uhl spoke over the comms, surrounded by beetles in his office. "Due to unexpected circumstances, classes are canceled." The beetles began to devour the microphone as the students cheered, Darci pulling her into a hug.

"Yes! Aja, you just saved my butt! I was gonna fail that quiz," Krel looked disappointed as Shannon turned to face her, fangirling once again.

"Okay, now this gets more terrifying for me, I have severe trust issues with what is actually around me. Knowing that we were swarmed with alien bugs that explode things..nope."

"Question, where on Earth are Jim and Toby for this whole thing? I don't remember this in his story."

"Maybe because they were never at school," Barbara joked as Jim gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Yeah, that's funny."

However, Toby had only reacted to Shannon, throwing his hands up. "Dude, are you coming out of the walls or something?"

"This is sad for her."

"Oh, man! She even makes infestations look cool." A beetle flew into Shannon's face, knocking her glasses off, making her drop to the floor to find them.

"You literally cannot lose!" Krel cried in despair. Students laughed as they ran out of school, just as the lights began to fail.

"Oh, I think we are about to lose, big time."

"The skeltegs found the power generator." As all the lights had flickered off, leaving them in complete darkness, Aja's phone screen lit up the darkness. "What are you doing?"

"Calling Vex for help before my phone gets eaten." As the phone rang on the other side, it had been swallowed by a skelteg, Aja's call going unanswered. While the robot mother calmly sprayed the bugs, Stuart had been frantically running around, vacuum pointed in every direction.

"I almost got them!"

"Glorious!" Varvatos yelled, in his normal form, stomping on a couple. "Expel these skeltegs to your balloon of death!" Stuart sucked up a couple, smiling.

Everyone slowly turned to face the student, waiting quietly as Jim already knew what would happen, sighing and holding his head.

"What are you all looking at? I'm not going to say it, he won." At that Varvatos grinned as the room was silent, piercing their eardrums. It was only a couple minutes before the student stood and sucked in a deep breath before yelling out:

"MMH GLORY!"

"Son of a crap!"

"How dare you mock Varvatos Vex!"

"Well, it's more of a simulated tum-tum, if you will. The hamfisk, it has an expansive stomach. It's the perfect for storing mass quantities of creepy crawlies." Luug barked and followed the lump in the tube, leading outside where the tank waited, bubbling.

"The ship's reserved power is waning."

"Alright, taco merchant, what do we do next?" Varvatos asked, freeing the man from the hold of the vacuum, only to keep him upside down.

"Uh, how on Earth did he manage to do that?"

"Please, let's not ask, I don't need this right now."

"NOTHING MAKES SENSE!"

"Next?"

"The hamfisk! What does it do to destroy these vermin for good?"

"Yes, I saw an interplanetary nature documentary about them once." Varavtos held him straight up, threatening him again. "I believe it waded into the ocean and unable to swim, it simply died."

"Idiocy!" Varvatos yelled, throwing him to the floor. "Choose your manner of death, you pungent snobglob." He shoved the vacuum against Stuart's face in anger.

"Or you could wait to vanquish me," he chuckled. "I'll have these skeltegs skedaddled in a jiff-pop-n'-skip."

"Varvatos does not know what a skip is, but he will destroy you if you don't make good on your vow!" Outside, the house continued to flash between the downed ship and the olden house.

"Exterior camouflage unsupported."

At the school, objects had been laying on a desk, not really deadly in the sort but the siblings worked with what they had.

"Choose your weapon," Aja said with a grin as Krle reached for the textbook.

"Finally, some use for these knowledge bricks," Krel swung the book as Aja picked up the staff that Steve had always carried around after winning Spring Fling.

"And whatever this is, it better work before Arcadia gets wiped off the map."

"Eh, it's fine, we've got Jim and his trollhunter activities that nearly did it with the Eternal Night."

"...Wow."

"Again, not the worst thing," Krel answered as they made it into the dark hallways, a beetle scuttling across the room while the siblings sneaked through. "They must be in the ventilation system, looking for a place to nest.

As they peaked around the corner, missing a scurrying bug up the wall, Krel had been tackled by none other than Steve who had been armed with a bat.

"What are you doing here?" Krel asked.

"You didn't actually think you could slay these tiny dragons without the power of the Palchuk, did you?"

"In fact, we did," Aja answered, making Steve stand quickly.

"Not to brag, but, uh, my career prediction test said that I'd make an awesome exterminator." His eyes went to the golden object Aja held. "Scepter, my scepter. Uh, you might wanna trade me for this bat, bats are great for battling bugs. Yeah, just give it to me." Steve turned and stared down at the object. "We'll never be apart again, I love you."

The crowd blinked as Mary groaned and rolled her eyes, "are you serious?"

"Come on, man. You're a Creepslayer!" Eli cried as Steve simply shrugged.

"It's my hard-earned trophy!"

"You just said I love you to an inanimate object," Toby said dryly.

"You know what…just shut up and watch me kick beetle butt!"

He turned to wink at Aja when she gave him a strange look. However, the wink had made Aja smile and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "King Palchuk! I'm back, baby! Whoo!" He walked off as Krel came to a stand beside his sister.

"I think the oaf with the golden hair favors me above other humans."

"But you kicked him in the face."

"Human boys are peculiar," She mumbled as they raised their weapons, following Steve as they opened a door, finding Mary standing around the massive bugs.

"Uh, guys?" Steve breathed out.

"Mary, what are you doing here?" Aja questioned.

"Duh! Filming a video worth millions of views. #Ew-Gross-Ew." Aja had been sneaking up slowly behind her, bat raised.

Mary grinned when she finally saw herself, knowing how good she was at protecting herself and the others.

"Oh my gosh, Mary, seriously?"

"It's hard being me and finding the most trending photos."

"Yep, very hard."

"No sudden movements."

"Hey, want to take a selfie?" Mary asked before screaming in terror as Aja skillfully knocked a bug that had been perched on Mary, it shrieked as Krel's book came crashing down, smushing it as blue goop had covered the spot it once laid.

"These books are very useful."

"Uh, these things aren't poisonous, right? Right?" Aja didn't answer, making Mary follow her in a panic.

"I don't know, there's probably an antidote. Like, uh, vinegar or true love's kiss." He puckered up at Aja. "Just spit-balling, you know?" Scuttling had caught all their attention, looking up as countless amount of bugs had been crawling across the ceiling.

"Or the nest has found us," Krel mumbled before grabbing a spoon and tossing it to Mary, "I think you're going to need this." Suddenly, the swarm dropped down, the group screaming and ducking. "Great Gaylen! There's too many of them!"

Mary hopped onto a table, whacking a couple, "You're not on today's menu."

"Remind me why she never Trollhunted with us?" Toby asked, making Claire let out a laugh.

"She would stop every moment for a photo," Dari mentioned as Mary grinned, not even denying it.

"Bow to the king!" Steve yelled, only for one to pull on his staff. "No, no my scepter! Don't pull my finger!" It resulted in Steve having a tug-o-war with a bug. Beside them, Aja joined Krel on a table, the two smacking any bug in their path.

However, a ringtone had caused the bugs to freeze, Mary's phone ringing. "Hey, Claire-bear, what's up?" She asked after pressing the phone to her ear.

"Play that horrible sound again!" Aja yelled as Mary ducked on the table.

"Huh? My ringtone?" She gasped before talking to Claire. "Call you back, love you, mean it!" She hung up the phone before playing her ringtone loudly. The bugs froze, some exploding that had been near the phone.

Claire nodded, smiling as she realized why Mary was so quick to hang up. "I really thought she would have a full-on conversation with Claire as if nothing was wrong."

"I am not that low…maybe."

'The frequency of the Earth music kills them." Krel stated before leaping off the table, Aja following while the bugs remained still, the one even dropping Steve as he landed on the floor.

"Where are you going?" Mary asked.

"To get more music!" Outside, Krel opened his locker, pulled out the boom box, and saw the back, wires exposed.

"They've been inside."

"So you brought them to school?"

"After you brought them to Earth!"

"Just fix the box of boom, little brother!" Krel sat on the ground, readying to fix the boom box while Stuart had stepped out of the house, covered in vacuum marks and dropping. Behind him, Varvatos had been frantically sucking up as much as he could while Mother spoke.

"My interior functions are limited."

Luug aimed his butt at a nearby bug, leaping into the air and firing, instantly exploding the tiny pest. Varvatos jumped from the couch, continuing to exterminate but realized the one problem they were having.

"Yep, I have officially seen it all, but I bet you, that I haven't but i really don't know what else is possible to shock me anymore."

"Oh, you are in for a treat."

"Your sucking weapon is nearly at capacity," he threw the hose down and caught the dog. "Luug, unleash your intestinal fury," Varavtos screamed as he aimed at the bugs, firing from Luug's butt.

"Yep, when I have dairy, I am officially going to use that line every single time. Now hold on, I have to take a furious number two, I must release that fury of my bowels."

"Oh my gosh."

"Please, I beg of you, don't."

"Hey, remember when Jim got the surprise meal with Toby because of the Grit Shaka and he nearly decapitated a toilet?"

"Can we not bring that up, please?" Jim mumbled.

Outside, Stuart had pushed the lumpy purple sack into the pool before grabbing the vacuum cord. "I'll be needing this," he stated as he looped it around the house. "Once I connect this balloon to the mothership's power source, these suckers are gonna get fried. Commander Vex, route all available power. I'm talking nuclear, thermal, Akiridion-kinetic to the main port."

Stuart struggled to climb up as Varvatos looked at him. "Mother, do as he says, re-route all power." He continued to suck the pests up as Stuart finally made it to the roof.

"We're gonna feed these beasties a meal they'll never forget." He cackled.

"If we die, Varvatos will kill you."

From his threat, Mary had been grunting and grinning as she moved her phone around, bugs exploding the closer they got. She laughed evilly and pointed her phone to another bug, only for it to not react the way she thought.

Her phone had died as she gasped in surprise, ducking from the swarm. "Ah, I'm out of juice."

"Don't worry, I'm locked and loaded." Steve stood, and a softer ringtone that was barely hearable began to play, Steve swaying to it as the bugs moved slower.

Jim let out a laugh as Toby joined in, the two giggling as Steve sighed. "Dude, this is the best thing I have ever witnessed in my life."

"Are we sure this is the same Steve?"

"He is really feeling this one."

"I cannot with this, it's like a crack dream!"

"Uh, nothing's happening, Steve." Outside, Krel was focused as he tapped on numerous buttons, their faces lighting up once Krel had hit a certain button.

"Yes!"

"Nice, Krel!" He turned up the volume, the same yodeling music playing as the bugs exploded above them. He watched as more bugs flew out, changing the music to rock as the creatures exploded.

"Another use for human music!" Krel danced as he continuously changed the music, blue gushing all around them. Inside, Mary had been covering her ears as Steve continued to play the ringtone, dancing.

"Okay, why do we bully him? He's lit."

"Every time we bully someone, we end up seeing the real them and how cool they are because of this theater thing. My life has never been more confusing."

"This music is worse than the bugs," Steve chuckled as he swayed, only to stop when the bugs began to fly away, the sound of bass thumping around had echoed toward them.

Aja hid behind her brother, "uh, how about picking up the beat?"

Krel turned the station, techno music playing as they ducked under the cover of the boom box, the bugs that had been flying around, instantly exploding. While Aja had been disgusted and covered in the guts, Krel had been getting down to the music.

The crowd shook their heads to the music, trying to join Krel as he busted a move with ease. "Alright, get it Krel."

"Should we bring this thing back home, or do you think Stuart has things under control?"

Krel stopped, looking at her with his face dropping. "We should go."

"Definitely go."

Underneath Stuart, a plug had lifted up to him, the man grabbing onto it and lifting the two in the air as electricity cackled around him.

"Full power ready."

"For the royals!" As Stuart struggled to plug it in, Varvatos appeared below him, watching.

"Please let this work," Stuart plugged the cord in, confused as it powered down, only for it to explode, everything digitalizing as Stuart flopped on the ground below. He panted as he lifted his head, a small fire singeing his hair.

"Well, that didn't work as expected, or at all." He looked up to find a chair on Varvatos' head.

"Varvatos will punish your failure with glorious death." He raised the chair, ready to use it as a weapon before Krel's voice was heard, the two racing in on Aja's hoverboard.

"Incoming!" Krel tossed the boom box against the sack of beetles, the techno music still rocking out from the speakers.

"Is that my boom box?" Stuart asked. The purple orb lifted into the air, electricity cracking against it. "It's so beautiful!" That was until it exploded, blue liquid shooting in every direction and covering the group. "It went in my mouth! Come to think of it, the hamfisk is known for releasing a high-pitch belch in order to stun and kill its food. Good call, your Highnesses."

"You, sir, are a fool indeed, but your intentions are true," Varvatos said, giving the man a hand from the ground.

"That's the nicest thing anybody's said to me today, to be honest. Let's have a nice group hug, yeah? Come on, guys." He opened his arms but everyone groaned and walked away.

"Not for me," Krel stated.

"It's quite alright," Aja added.

"We can work on that," Stuart said before Luug jumped in his arms, barking wildly.

Back on Akiridon-5, General Morando had been standing in front of a cheering crowd, speaking calmly as his few main followers stood beside him. Zadra had been one to stand beside him.

"For too long, we have been ruled by weak and feckless leaders who promised peace but left us unprepared for war."

Toby frowned. "What is it with enemies and making some big speech, just like Gunmar."

"They have to reel in the moment," Jim joked. "Trust me, I was annoyed to when I had to hear it in the Darklands."

"Dude, the most feared Troll was ready to kill you or make you a minion and now you're like, eh, he was annoying. I admire you!" Someone stated, smiling with pride.

"In the name of the king and queen," a man yelled, running from the crowd, only to be tackled by guards and dragged away.

"Today, together, we will take Akiridion-5's rightful place in the universe," in the crowd Izita glared at the massive screen, projecting Morando, only to see Zadra holding up the ring. "As the superpower, it always should have been."

The siblings smiled, seeing Zadra secretly fighting back. They weren't worried that she would actually join forces with Morando, knowing her too well, but scared that she would get tooo far in and have to watch her get hurt because of it.

"Working under the radar, I like that."

Izita smiled, holding up her hand in the same fashion, flashing the ring.

Back on Earth, Mother spoke to the group as they stood in their normal forms, staring at the golden cases that contained their parents.

"Full power restored, camouflage holding."

"Um, um. Sorry for blaming you for the skeltegs," Krel started. "Even if you did bring them to this planet." He chuckled, patting her shoulder.

"Sorry for blaming you right back, even if you did bring them to school." She playfully punched his shoulder, causing Krel to rub the pained spot. A sudden barking caught their attention as Luug ran to them. "Luug! Your intestinal fortitude saved the day!" She chuckled and lifted him into her arms. "You know if I have to be stranded on a strange planet, I'm glad it's with you, little brother. And you, Luug."

Aja gasped and continued, "Hey, how many Akiridions does it take to build a daxial array?"

"Little do they know, that is considered an insulting joke."

"Just let them have it."

"It's impossible," Krel sighed.

"We exploded skeltegs with a music machine, little brother. Nothing is impossible on this planet." Krel turned to face her with a smile.

"In that case, it'll take two Akiridions." Luug tackled Krel to the ground, the two laughing. "Okay, okay, okay, three."

As the two laughed, Aja asked for Mother. "Mother, can you please open a window? This ship still smells like the Stuart."

"Activating ventilation systems." As the windows opened in the house, a small skelteg shrieked, flying from the house before being crushed by an awaiting fist. The three large robots had been standing on the cliff edge, staring at Arcadia.

"They're here."

Aja was upset on how they had found them so quickly, knowing that some Earthlings could be in trouble just because of the hunt Morando created. She didn't want anyone else to face what they had to, especially people that were unaware of their existence.

"Are you serious!?"