The Arcadian Job
The night of Acradia was calm and quiet, even within the junkyard where the Zaron brothers resided remained rather peaceful. The two surviving brothers stared down at the corpse of their brother, hands crossed over his chest in a proper way as they combed his body with a golden case.
"Are we witnessing an alien funeral?"
"We shouldn't care enough, they are killers. The only thing we benefit from this, is knowing one is really did if we were unsure."
"Whoa, you are harsh."
It was only a moment before his body lifted from the concrete ground, rising into the air just as a lantern would, Alpha watching his brother ascend as he spoke, voice deep and emotionless.
"You fought with valor, brother," he raised his arm, firing the weapon at his fallen brother, watching the body explode in a golden light as Omega spoke, mask free from her face.
"And your death will not be in vain."
"In due time, we will have our revenge," Alpha stated as he and his remaining member stepped away from the blast of gold that lingered in the sky before the screen went black.
Went the images reappeared on the screen, the night sky still hung around Arcadia as a Goblin climbed up a fallen tree, staring at the strange glowing green orb that seemed to cut closer.
A voice spoke through an intercom as the saucer continued its descent, exploding once it hit the ground. "Area 49-B, Base Command to ground team, we're clocking an unidentified flying object descending 20 degrees…"
The crowd perked up, realizing a military base who going after another saucer, "so this is what happens and how we've become so blind to knowing they walk among us."
"This is insane, I don't know if I should start living in fear, look at all the assassins hanging in the shadows going after people we know!"
"Please don't say that, I'm never walking home at night."
Combing through the woods, men in strange orange outfits shined their flashlights as they leaped over nature's barricades.
"Roger that, Base Command."
"Proceed with caution. We may have a Russian spy plane on our hands," the man over the intercom stated as the men came up to the fallen saucer, buried in the dirt. The group chattered as they came up to the object, their devices filling with static as a hand appeared from the opening of the alien ship.
"Uh... Base Command?" The suited man said before pulling off their mask, revealing Eli who was smiling happily. "I don't think this guy is Russian." It was a smooth transition as Eli was found in front of the class, who looked rather bored as he presented, after all, Toby was snoring in the back.
"WHAT!?"
"No way, Eli is not a part of some government thing!"
"That would make sense, after all, he is a nerd."
"How did he even get to this point?" Darci asked, glancing at Eli who chuckled.
"According to legend, that flying saucer resides 300 miles away at Area 49-B Military Base, the government's top-secret facility for extraterrestrial research." He said, trying to put his duct-taped saucer back in his box while Aja and Krel looked perplexed.
"Fascinating, Mr. Pepperjack," Senor Uhl stated, voice dry as he tried to muster a smile. "Really A-plus work there."
"Yay! Thank you, Señor Uhl."
Suddenly, his expression changed, scribbling down an 'f' on the project. "In creative writing. Unfortunately, this is a physics class, and even as your substitute teacher, I know this deserves the F. Please clean up your mess, Mr. Pepperjack. We don't have all day."
Eli groaned as a paper airplane was thrown across the room, a kid catching it before tossing it back and managing to land it in Toby's open mouth, the boy still sleeping peacefully, eating the plane in his sleep.
Jim raised an eyebrow, turning to face his friend who simply shrugged, face as stoic as ever. "What, your mother was kidnapped by Gunmar, we worked so hard to get all that for Merlin so he could turn you into a troll and then we ended up running all over Arcadia to find you and help you. It's tiring."
"Sorry, Tobes," Jim said, rubbing his friend's shoulder.
"That makes sense on why Jim wasn't there the entire time, he was busy being a half-troll."
"And we barely even realized it. Poor Jim!"
"What if the Pepperjack is right?" Aja asked, looking at her brother.
"Come on, it's just something he read on the Internet. The Internet is full of nonsense… and cats playing pianos." Krel said as he tried to open the glass jar, which Aja did with ease once she took it from his hands.
"But we only need one final part to complete the Daxial Array. Correct?"
"Yes, the osmic circuit," he answered before Eli began to scold Senor Uhl, seeming to gather more courage.
"I should have known you'd try to silence me. You work for the government!" Senor Uhl began to scold the boy, pointing to his desk as Aja seemed intrigued, looking at her brother.
Everyone glanced at Eli who laughed nervously. "I feel like once you found out about Trolls, you got addicted to finding out more."
"Hey, that's not true!" At that, the Trollhunting team glanced at him with knowing looks, and even Steve joined in on the look. "Okay, we don't have to talk about this anymore."
"If this facility really does have a spacecraft, then we can steal its osmic circuit."
"It's a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top! The top, I tell you!" Eli hissed as he walked through the rows of desks, yelping when he tripped and crashed to the floor, everyone gasping and staring at him in surprise while Krel seemed unaffected by the fall, more interested in his sister's idea.
The crowd laughed, remembering that and now seeing it at a different time, they couldn't help but laugh at the issue.
"And I missed all of this," Jim stated, shaking his head.
"Hey, I was passed out, I missed it too," Toby answered.
"Okay, so maybe someone else, someone reliable, has heard of this military base." At that, the Tarron household found themselves in Stuart's shop, the man quickly denying it as he walked away in the loft.
"I don't know anything about it, I've never heard of it, I have never been there, and I am certainly never going back."
"Huh. So you have been there?" Krel answered and Stuart instantly facepalmed.
"Kleb!"
"Feel free to maintain your silence, Stuart. Enhanced interrogation is a favorite hobby of Varvatos Vex," the old man said, climbing up and picking the back of Stuart's robe up with his cane, dangling the man over the railing.
Stuart panicked, dropping his items in his hand. "You should really find some less creepy hobbies, Vexy. Perhaps canasta?" he tried, staring at the drop-down where Aja and Krel caught his fallen objects.
"Okay, just imagine if you were walking near that shop and found a really old man holding someone over a railing with his cane with ease."
"We don't bother to question it anymore."
"You do if you haven't lived through the Eternal Night yet."
"Stuart!" Vex yelled.
"All right, fine, I'll spill!" At that, he was thrown down, crashing into the floor. "Oof! Not literally, but thank you."
"So the rumors are true. Is it a research facility?" Krel asked, leaning down to Stuart's level.
"If by "research" you mean sticking interplanetary life forms under a microscope, then sure, yes, it's research. This is the real deal, baby. In 60 years, no life form has ever managed to escape Area 49-B. Except for one." Stuart closed his eyes before he was met with silence. Slowly, he opened his eyes to find the family looking at him with blank expression. "I'm pausing for dramatic effect. You're more than welcome to guess."
"Not a clue," Aja said.
"No one comes to mind," Krel added.
"I've yet to meet any intelligent life on this planet," Varvatos ended.
"Hello! Me, Stuart! Me! I escaped the dreadful facility. They pulled me right out of my spacecraft," he answered before the flashback arrived, Stuart appearing from the top of his ship as the group of orange men surrounded him.
"Earthlings! I come in peace…" Once he was fully out, darts filled his body, causing him to groan and slump over, one more dart embedding in him once he collapsed.
The crowd stared in shock before laughing at how unceremoniously he fell forward. "You see, this is why they are afraid to tell us that they exist, so many things told us they were dangerous and we literally fill them with darts."
"We are afraid of things we can't understand," Jim said. "That's why I did what I had to with the trolls, they don't deserve not to get a chance."
"We appreciate the understanding humans that we met so far," Aja mentioned, giving the crowd a pleased smile.
"You have a spacecraft?" Krel asked, causing the scene to switch to him from the flashback.
"Had. A real primo antique. But, I mean, they have it now. Although, technically, it was a rental."
"It could have an osmic circuit! We need to get into the base," Krel said, beginning to like the idea.
"We'll need all the intelligence you have on this base. You are the royals' only hope of getting back home," Varvatos said.
"Great. Yeah, I am in!" Stuart backed up, hitting the door and rubbing his head before turning to lock the handle, switching the sign over to show the store was closed. "Oh! I am so in."
"When you say "in," you mean, like…" Krel asked as the phone was taken from his hands, Stuart plugging it in, pulling the cord, and causing Varvatos to be taken out by the thick string.
"Down. If House Tarron is going, then I'm coming with. I left behind a lot of unfinished business, shall we say, and now I'm gonna show these men in black what old Stuey of Durio is made of."
"You're made of slime, right?" Krel stated as Stuart had dialed a certain number, the center of the phone glowing blue. The thicker man hit the button, revealing a hidden entrance, almost like a small spaceship-themed bar.
"It's fun when you make a comment to make yourself look strong, but they end up calling you out unintentionally."
"That's normal, you just let it happen," Stuart responded (we totally forgot about him, pretending he was always here)
"Yes, of course, but my spirit is solid."
"Fascinating," Aja and Krel breathed out as they moved to a table where the model of the target base sat.
"You know, truth be told pulling off a heist has always been a big-ticket item
on the old bucket list."
"How many types of buckets are there?" Aja asked.
"Enough to fill a whole list, apparently," Krel answered before Stuart patted his head, chuckling.
"That never stops being lovely. You're adorable, both of you, Your Highness-eses-seses." He moved to the table, the kids staring down at it. "Is that the plural Okay, now gather 'round, crew. It's time to plan a heist. We shall call it "The Arcadian Job. I've always wanted to say that. "The Arcadian Job." I did it again. I love it! Okay, now, security at this place is top of the line. Top!"
Varvatos plucked the handmade base to study it, "But designed by humans. Meaning, by definition, it is most easily vanquished." Varvatos laughed evilly before the model was ripped from his hands, Stuart placing it back down.
"No, no. You'd be surprised. If there's one thing humans have mastered, it's the art of keeping secrets."
"I can't tell if we are good at it or not, but we are blind enough not to care." Mary mentioned, glancing knowingly at Jim and Toby who instantly looked shocked as they were called out.
"We have no idea what you are talking about."
"What's that thing?" Aja asked, grabbing a strange model creature and studying it. "Can I pet it?"
"That? Just a keepsake. Reminds me of an old friend. Definitely not a secret,' Stuart said, grabbing the object back. "Why would it be a secret? What you need to concern yourself with is this," he threw the object before pointing to the model. "Cement perimeter wall, ten feet thick. And I mean thick."
"You seen my bum? Four times as thick!"
The scene changed as Varvatos spoke, he charged at the wall, holding out his weapon in his normal form and leaping up in the air, ready to strike a blow at the wall. "Which we can blast through with our serrators."
"No, no, no, that would trigger the explosives inside the wall… and kill us all," Stuart answered, the blade of the serrator sticking in the wall before it exploded, Varvatos flying back as he yelled out.
"Glorious!" Back to the actual present, Varvatos seemed intrigued. "Impressive!"
"And then, of course, there's these... Blast doors."
Every time something was planned, it showed. Krel moved in the dark, heading toward the panel, ready to unlock the gates. "Which we can deprogram and unlock on-site."
"Sure, if you want to trip the 20,000-volt electric flooring underneath and, again, kill us all," Stuart said as Krel was electrocuted, posing in different ways as he screamed before turning into dust.
The crowd looked perplexed as they stared at the screen, watching in silence as they watched them plan how to sneak into the base.
"I feel like we are going to get arrested for just watching this, not stopping a crime."
"It's not a crime if the base did something terrible and you want it back."
"So what you are telling us is this base is completely impregnatable.," Varvatos said, spinning the model as Aja smiled, grabbing a hold of it and walking her fingers across the board.
"Then we walk in through the front door," the cars drove on the bridge over the canals, kicking a can to the side as Aja spoke. "First step, we lay the trap," the can clattered to the ground, Luug growling and catching it with his mouth as Stuart, Aja, and Krel took a photo. "Luug! Say, "flexel"!"
The dog burped out the can just as the camera clicked, getting the image of Luug barfing out the can with a line of blue smoke.
"We can post a photo of an alleged alien sighting on my conspiracy theory website," Stuart said, posting the photo and reading the name that instantly popped up. " ?"
"Don't you mean ?" Krel asked.
"Oh, I wish, that was taken, sadly. 11-year-old kid from Des Moines." The sun fully set, turning to night as the group hid behind the walls of a canal as a truck raced to where the picture was taken. "A military reconnaissance team will be dispatched to investigate. And that's when we strike."
Jim gave a weird look as he watched all of it go down. "I like how all of this is in the canals, right where we hide out."
"It would help if Trollmarket was still our thing though, just imagine walking out and seeing that."
The group of nameless men walked up, weapons pointed at Luug who didn't seem to mind. "Well, was right again."
"And that's when we strike," Aja mentioned as Varvatos waited above the bridge, staring down at the group.
"Glorious," he whispered before leaping off, everything moving in slow motion as the men aimed their weapons at Varvatos who was close to tackling them.
"GLORY!"
"Stop bringing up my embarrassing moments," Jim begged.
"No can do, got to keep it crispy!"
"AGH!"
"Whoa! Don't come in too hot because that team will be packing major firepower. Neurometers. Thermo-radiant pulse weapons that the humans recovered from an Antidum ship in the '40s. A hit from one of those bad boys, you'll be knocked out six ways to Sunday." Just as the blasts came, it stopped as Varvatos sighed.
"Fine," Everything rewound, back to where the weapons were pointed at Luug, however, this time, Varvatos appeared behind them. "So I should attack them like a larvox," Varvatos was quick to bash them together, throwing the men around as they sloppily shot at him. Luug barked, leaping up and latching on Varvatos' arm as he tried to rip him off before striking at the men. "Luug, not playtime!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh as Varvatos tried to soak in the good moments, wanting to treasure them before he had to witness himself being dishonored and losing his family no matter how sorry he was.
The men seemed frightened as Varvatos took one out, the other running away with screams of terror, just as Luug latched back onto Varvatos. The commander watched the man flee before pulling Luug off and throwing him at the man.
The animal easily caught onto the man, who stumbled and tripped before faceplanting, giving the Akiridon group an easy entrance into the van.
"We can use the science team's van to drive through the front gates undetected," Stuart said as they drove off, leaving the men tied in the canals. Once they made it to the base, Stuart was dressed in disguise, while an army man stood at the window.
"I.D., please." Stuart showed the badge as the man pointed out the cat carrier. "What's in the cage?"
"Oh, this? It's just an alien with an incurable virus," Stuart answered, showing the kennel. The man peered into the darkness right before Luug's mouth opened, his tongue moving through the bars and startling the guard.
Everyone laughed once more as Stuart chuckled, it felt so good to do that, even if he knew it wasn't nice. However, they had it coming, they weren't understanding and captured aliens that had no chance to defend themselves.
The man was thrown back against the door as he screamed, pressing the red button. "Go, go, go!"
Once Stuart drove in, he stopped the truck as the gate closed, a scanner moving over the truck as they were locked in a small area. Taking the moment, Stuart ripped off the top of his outfit, turning back to face the group he smuggled in.
"Okay, we all know the plan?"
"Set up all the camera feeds to the remote location," Krel answered, each of them dressed in their glowing blue attire.
"Okay, for a government facility, you think they'd check the back of that truck."
"Thank Seklos and Gaylen they didn't," Aja mentioned.
"No one said they were smart, this isn't the secure base, it's just the sad sister of Area-51."
"Break into the building housing the spacecraft," Varvatos added.
"Grab the osmic circuit," Aja said with determination.
"And break out," Varvatos finished.
"Great, I think my plan is foolproof, which means even I should be okay," he wheezed before the gates opened. Stuart turned to face the front, driving through as groups of men who were armed walked through, ignoring the truck.
"Lieutenant Connolly to the Comm building. Lieutenant Connolly to the Comm building." A voice over the P.A spoke. The truck passed a small alley before backing up and turning into the cover of the buildings, backing up to a small control panel before the truck door was open, Krel instantly got to work.
"Krel can hack into the base's surveillance feed...And shoot it to our backup team," Aja stated before Krel turned to them with a thumbs up.
"In a discreet stakeout vehicle, which is a taco truck, which technically makes it a "steak-in" vehicle, 'cause you know, carne asada," Stuart replied as his taco truck was parked nearby, the numerous screens lighting up and giving all eyes to Ricky and Lucy Blank who waited patiently.
"We'll be that little voice inside your head, pointing you in the right direction," Ricky said as Lucy appeared beside him, speaking up.
"Just like your conscience!" A knock at the door instantly caught Ricky's attention.
"Gee-willikers! Are you expecting anybody?" Lucy shook her head as the person who knocked was outside, scanning their flashlight into the truck.
"Hello? Hey, you can't park here," The man commanded before Ricky appeared, opening the window to the truck.
"Howdy-do there, fuzz... I mean, officer."
"You can't park here, mister. This is a restricted area. You have any clearance?"
"Oh, afraid we don't, Mr. Security Man. Only tacos," Ricky sniffed the air before humming in delight. "You smell that tomatillo? Mmm!"
"I'm going to have to ask you… for the two-taco plate!" The guard said, pulling out money while the group inside was walking through, music playing as they slowly and dramatically walked until Stuart pulled out his wedgie.
Stuart laughed nervously as the group eyed him in disgust. "Sorry, desperate times call for desperate measures!"
"Sorry, one second, just…" Stuart said, stopping his group in their tracks as he circled around, looking. "I've got myself a little turned around here."
"Bogey at your three o'clock," Ricky said, appearing out of nowhere before disappearing.
"What?" Aja hissed before they jumped behind the building, Stuart squealing as he did so.
"You said you memorized the grounds during your escape," Aja scolded.
"Did I? I did. Yes, I did say that. It sounded good. I mean, I kinda remember it. It's been a long time. And they have renovated. A lot." Stuart pulled out a photo of a simple building with barely anything around it as Aja groaned. Once he pulled the photo down, he realized how vastly different it was.
"This is a disaster!" Krel whispered.
"I know. It's too industrial. I'm more of a mid-century modern guy, myself."
"Ops team," Varvatos said, pushing the device in his ear as Lucy's voice was heard.
"He wants carnitas and extra guac. 86 the onions, Daddy-o!" Lucy mentioned that they now had a line of people waiting.
"No onions. On it, Mamacita!" Ricky stated as the screens were perfectly out of view as he handed his partner a wrapped burrito.
"Any sign of the ship on the surveillance feeds?" Varvatos asked.
"No, sirree, Bob," Ricky answered as Lucy leaned her head on his shoulder.
"And you know how much it breaks our hearts to disappoint you, children. Next customer!" Lucy yelled, handing Ricky a ticket before disappearing as Varvatos didn't care about the tacos.
"I know they are robots, but I would pay to have the energy and their positive outlook."
"They for sure have a very interesting personality."
"Does there appear to be extra security around any particular building?"
"Yes, two buildings are chock full of deathtraps. Looks like the base hangar and a lab of some kind, buckaroo," Ricky said, scanning the screens as the group that was inside the base, studied the area.
"If the ship is here, it's most likely in one of those buildings," Krel whispered before Ricky spoke up again, giving them a chance.
"All clear, Daddy-o." Varvatos waved at the group as he studied his surroundings, letting them run to another building for cover.
"You guys go ahead. Thinking I might scope out that lab. You know, cover our odds?" Stuart started.
"Oh, that's the most ridic…" Varvatos glared as the zoom on his face got closer. That was until he realized, "Oh. Shockingly, that is not a terrible idea. Aja, accompany him. We shall rendezvous here once we've recovered the ship's osmic circuit.
"Teamwork, huh? What a beautiful thing." Stuart chuckled, raising his hand up as Aja did the same, only confused. "Right up there!"
"Uh... hi?" Aja left him hanging, running in a certain direction as Stuart high-fived himself before following.
"There it is. Here we go!"
With Krel and Varvatos, they had been moving past the buildings swiftly, until Ricky was heard calling to them, warning them of the camera that was standing tall on a building, surveying the area.
"Uh-oh. Freeze! Eye in the sky," Once it cleared, Ricky gave them the command to continue forward. "And... break!" When the duo made it to the door, looking around, Ricky spoke again. "You're clear. Absolutely no one ahead."
"Hey!" An unfamiliar voice called, both Krel and Varvatos turning to face the man in the orange suit, weapon raised.
"Whoa, where did he come from?" Ricky commented before Vex leaped into the air, using his foot to disarm the man before smacking him in the head. The man groaned in pain as Vex laughed before turning the unfortunate man around.
"Ooh! Don't hurt me!" He pleaded.
Varvatos answered with a fist, knocking the figure out before stuffing him in a trash can. "Too late!"
The crowd blinked as they glanced at Varvatos, seeming to do this to everyone who had done something shocking. "Remind me to not be on the opposing time."
"Exactly, do not mess with Varvatos Vex!" Aja and Krel blinked at him, he hadn't spoken in a long time and maybe it was him trying to hide the mistakes he made, but they were feeling different emotions every time he showed up, especially when doing something…. violent.
When clear, Krel and Varvatos made it to the door, Krel pulling on the handle but the door never opened.
"It's locked," Krel whispered as Ricky had been heard once again.
"Yep, it's locked. Uh-oh, clear out, boys."
Krel and Varvatos took the warning, moving to the left as the door opened, barely covering them but going unnoticed as a group of three walked out, excited about the taco truck nearby.
"All right, let's get some tacos!"
"Yeah!" As Varvatos and Krel snuck in, the third man froze, looking back where Krel and Varvatos once were.
"Huh?"
"Hey, you coming?"
"Yeah, wait for me!"
When the duo made it inside, the room was dark and full of red lightning and Krel instantly reacted when bars of red zipped in different directions in the hallways. "Ay-yi-yi."
"Oh, my! A labyrinth full of lasers," Ricky started. "Hot sauce coming right up! Good luck with that."
"On the bright side, there's a fairly good chance something important is on the other side," Krel commented as Varvatos placed his hands on the boy's shoulder.
"Fear not, Varvatos Vex has encountered systems far more complex than this." He stretched and cracked his back as he readied himself.
"Actually, I have an id…" Krel started but was interrupted by his protector.
"Silence, princeling. Watch. Learn." Varvatos flipped and dove, pulling off moves to fit with the lasers as he skillfully made it through them, even breaking out the classic T-pose, which was rather unnecessary. Krel looked unamused as his idea was still fresh in his mind. When he reached the end, he pulled a celebration move. "Victory requires not only a warrior's dexterity but a warrior's concentration as well."
"Uh-huh. Sure," Krel said dryly before pulling out his serrator and donning his shield, the blue surface wrapping around him and protecting him from the lasers. Varvatos watched with a surprised expression as Krel made it to him easily, patting Vex's chest. "Wow. So agile, Commander."
The crowd laughed as Krel grinned with sass as he made it through with ease while Varvatos had done the most. While he had mixed feelings, he couldn't help but feel proud of himself, and the crowd seemed to enjoy it too.
"Krel, you are funny, I enjoy seeing you on the screen every time."
"I wish this was noticed when I first arrived."
While Krel and Varvatos made their way through, Aja, Stuart, and Luug were doing the same, only avoiding rooms with lasers.
"Luug, come on," Aja waved as she made it around a corner, her dog leaving her side to wander off, but not for very long. When they made it to their destination, Aja peeped through the small glass window, looking at the men all surrounded by various objects.
"I count six agents inside. But I might have a plan," Aja said, glancing at the suits that were hung up.
"Hey, Brant," a person in a suit spoke to another, studying a foreign object.
"Huh?"
"When is that report going to be ready?"
Before they could answer, Aja's voice was heard, dressed in the strange orange outfit as Stuart stood beside her. "Gladys is observing the anniversary of her birth in the break room." The soft noise of an alien squawking was heard as Aja went silent. "There is cake…"
"Odd. I didn't know there were any more of us on duty tonight."
"Um…" As Aja struggled, another nameless person appeared, calling to his fellow coworkers.
"Hey, guys! They've got tacos outside."
The group was instantly running out the door. "Awesome!"
"I'm totally starving!"
"Diablo Maximus, here I come!"
When the room cleared, Aja ditched the suit while Luug appeared from the box. They moved through the room, Aja staring at each suspended creature, even the goblin that had been smushed that laid on the table.
"I'm so confused, how did cake not get their attention but tacos did."
"I mean, tacos are great!" Toby defended.
"If you ask me, first I'd get cake and then get tacos."
One cage had caught Luug's attention instantly, the pet barking and growling as he stared down a large plane of glass. "Luug, wait!" Aja stated as she rubbed his head, she moved to the glass, looking inside and it appeared to be empty before a row of red eyes opened to stare at her.
She let out a gasp as the vast animal stood, raising its head and growling. It smacked its head against the glass and Aja stumbled back, landing on her bum as she pulled out her communication device.
"Krel? I think I found something."
"Me, too," Krel answered as they came up to the ship that Stuart had arrived in.
"We have six eyes on the saucer," Varvatos spoke.
"And I, for one, am rolling mine. This thing is a piece of junk," Krel replied.
Stuart crossed his arms when the crowd murmured in agreement, "you all are just agreeing because you enjoy his humor. It is a rather dashing piece of equipment."
"Yeah, you think it is. There is a difference between your likes and ours."
"I can't believe I got tacos from someone out of this world! That's why Aja can put me to shame with the burritos." Toby said.
"Hey, it's a classic!" Stuart scolded
"Whatever. Let's just get what we came for.," Krel said as they stepped up closer to the stairs, before Krel could even place his foot on the platform, Ricky spoke up, freezing the boy in his tracks.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Watch your step there, kiddo. The electromagnetic floor is pressure-sensitive. It will trigger the alarms."
"Humph! Varvatos Vex is always prepared," the mentor stated before pulling out a small square and letting it drop, the hoverboard appearing and never making contact with the pressured floor.
"Ha! Aja's hoverboard." Krel leaped onto it before he rode beneath the saucer. "So by "preparation," you mean theft?" He tried to jump, struggling to reach the ship, but nearly toppling over. "Okay, I think we have a problem."
Aja moved toward the glass, slowly keeping her arms out. The beast growled lowly and its head moved closer, the breath fogging up the glass for a near second. "
"There's a life-form imprisoned here." The beast lowered its head, seeming to act like a cat as it tried to seek out the attention. "He's hungry, weak. Poor thing. Who knows how long he's been here?"
"21 years, 9 months, 17 days. I started counting the day I escaped from here," Stuart said, no longer in the suit as he walked up to the glass, which the beast rubbed its tongue against.
"That's why you wanted to come with us. You wanted to rescue your friend."
"When I escaped, I barely got out myself. I had to leave him behind. I couldn't pass up the chance to come back for him."
"People can be so evil sometimes," Darci mumbled as Aja stared at the creature, feeling bad about what they could have put him through. She was wondering how he was doing, where he had gone, or if he was okay. Did he make it home?
So many unanswered questions on Buster's health and whereabouts, it was concerning for her.
"Stuart, there is no time," Krel said as he was seen closer to the ship, only struggling to not faceplant. "Hey, would you hold still?"
"Varvatos is not accustomed to this sort of work," The mentor said as Krel was perched on his head, the much larger alien struggling to keep his balance. "Varvatos Vex's duty is to the safety of the Akiridion throne, concerning ourselves with anything but the osmic circuit."
Krel and Varvatos could barely stay still, moving constantly as they tried to regain their balance. "But Varvatos…" Aja whispered.
"Return to the extraction point. We shall reconvene in ten mekrons." Aja was quick to hang up as she looked at Stuart.
"Varvatos' duty might be to the safety of the Akiridion throne but as the queen-in-waiting,
my duty is to do what is right."
Varvatos sighed, he figured she wouldn't have listened, and they might have made it out alright without risking Krel's health, but at the same time, she wanted to help, wanted to free the creature. He was unsure if they still would have been captured if the alarm didn't alert the guards to their positions.
"Oh, yeah! Preach! Queen-in-waiting, yeah! Preachin' it."
"Does this guy have a name?" Aja asked the celebrating Stuart.
"Yeah, yeah. Buster."
"Perfect. Because we're busting Buster out." Aja pulled out her weapon, ready to break in as Stuart celebrated, even turning back into his regular form.
"Did you hear that clever wordplay? Wonderful! Old Stuey's gonna get you outta here, mate!" At the sight, the calm demeanor of the beast had changed. It rose, staring at Stuart, growling and the man instantly knew. "Oh, no."
"This thing is... ugh… Really stuck in there," Krel said as he struggled to pull his object out, knocking a stray piece out of the ship and it tumbling to the floor. Krel gasped as Varvatos moved, shaking the entire platform to catch the object before it hit the floor.
"Careful, you'll set off the alarm."
"Just... about finished," Krel said as he continued to pull at the device, managing to get it out, but it had gone flying backward, nearly crashing into the floor if Krel didn't react fast enough. "Ooh!"
"That was close," Varvatos spoke, revealing the strange pose they were in.
"Tell me about it." The alarms blared as the room flashed in red, instantly causing Varvatos to let go, no longer caring about touching the floor as he spoke to the comms.
"Ops team, report."
"Something tripped the alarms," Ricky answered.
"Yeah, about that... sorry," Aja said as the cage was broken, Luug barking as Stuart ran around behind her, being chased by the large beast.
"He's still angry! He's angry I left. Argh! Oh, he's still so, so angry!" Luug barked at the creature, only to be blown back into the wall by the loud, strong roar that echoed from Buster.
Stuart flushed when the crowd laughed once again, finding it more humorous that he was running frantically back and forward.
"Something I learned with humans, simple things that shouldn't be funny, are funny," Stuart commented, looking at Krel and Aja who also couldn't help but giggle.
"Sorry, we find it funny as well."
"Buster, my friend, I am so, so sorry I left you behind. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Sure, I've put on a bit of weight. It's only 'cause the food outside is so good. Mmm! Yeah! You're gonna love it! You're looking a little rough around the edges, a little long in the tooth. But, hey, can I blame you? You're getting poked and prodded all day long. Anyway, I told you I'd come back eventually. And here I am! Right?"
The beast continued to snarl as Stuart grew a little nervous, "Right?" Suddenly, Stuart was whipped with the strong tail of Buster, being tossed into the nearby wall, stiff as he fell. "Ugh!"
"Buster, it's okay. It's okay," Aja spoke, catching the large beast's attention, and he was a lot calmer as he focused on the girl. "We're going to get you out of here. We're going to set you free."
Stuart groaned as he came to a stand as the door opened, the men returning to the lab. "Those were some good tacos."
"I'm so full. That burrito was... huge!" In the last part, the man speaking noticed the beast that had been free, standing next to Aja.
"Uh, I know we just met, but think you could give us a hand here?" At that, Buster lifted his head, roaring and sending the same gust of wind he used to knock Luug back.
"Well, we still would have been caught, it was definitely worth the risk," Aja mentioned, seeming to read Varvatos' thoughts from beforehand.
As Aja was aided by Buster, Krel, and Varvatos ran through the halls, passing a man who scolded them, which didn't do much. "Hey, you're not supposed to… What the...? Huh?"
Varvatos threw the man back into the wall, the man sticking to the wall as his limbs were spread out, slowly dropping with a groan. As the two ran, the device clutched in Krel's hand, Ricky spoke.
"Incoming hazmat team at your twelve o'clock, and they're armed with tummies full of tacos." Both Varvatos and Krel stopped in their tracks as the weapons were aimed at them.
"Hand Varvatos Vex the circuit and stay close."
"Your plan isn't to run at the heavily armed guards, is it?" Krel asked, handing his mentor the device. The question was answered with a simple battle cry erupting from Varvatos as he charged at the group of people. "Wait!" Krel cried as he got onto his hoverboard, following close behind.
"It always is, he is not my mentor, but I already know what he is planning."
"I try to be in denial," Krel answered.
"Oh, don't hurt me again! Ugh!" A man cried before he was thrown across the room as Varvatos moved through the line of people, taking them down before the circuit was thrown in an unsuspecting guard's hand.
"All right, got it!" He cried happily, holding it up, but his victory was short-lived when Krel flipped over him, grabbing the device. "Hey!"
"Glorious!" Vex cried out, causing the mysterious man to turn and stare him down, already knowing what he would face as the big blue Akiridion charged at him.
"GLORY!"
"Please, I beg you, free me!" Jim whined, throwing his head back.
"Oh, my!"
From two doors, Aja burst from the hallway, Luug in her hand who was itching to get down. Beside her, Stuart dropped to his knees, panting as he finally managed to slow down.
"Ah! Buster can really hold a grudge! Ooh!"
"Go, go!" Varvatos commanded as he and Krel joined the two, tossing an unconscious guard to the side. As cones of light cascaded over the base, the group ducked behind a parked truck for cover as Varvatos called to Lucy and Ricky. "Ops team, we need immediate extraction."
"At least I got the circuit. We're going home, Aja. We're saving Mama and Papa, and we're going home," Krel said, staring at the circular device proudly.
Everyone smiled at them excited about saving their parents and heading home, they deserved to be happy and where they belonged. However, it sucked that their planet was invaded, so it made them wonder how they would return home if the enemy was not dealt with.
But one thought crossed their mind, they weren't ready for the two to head home. They were beginning to warm up to the group and knowing they had to say goodbye soon would break their hearts.
They already had to say bye to Jim and Claire.
"Finally! You can fix the Daxial Array."
"I can fix everything!" Krel said, hugging it as Varvatos looked at them.
"We'll have to move quick," Vex said before he waved the group to follow, all staying in close formation as moved out into the open. However, as they began to depart, no longer protected by any places to hide, the alarm blared and rows of bright light shone down on them, blinding the group.
"No!" Aja cried as they were surrounded by numerous vehicles blocking each exit. The tires squealed as groups of people aimed their weapons. Luug barked at the numerous threats as a voice spoke up, a woman stepping through the narrow passageway that was made for her.
"As the commanding officer of this military base, allow me to offer you your first lesson in Earthly etiquette. Before you walk into someone else's house, you knock." She raised her weapon, Varvatos instantly reacting and donning his shield to protect everyone as she fired.
"I have a feeling we are going to hate her sooner or later."
"Really? She captured people from other planets who didn't mean to come here and experiment on them, then proceeded to act like they were the bad guys for doing the right thing and freeing their friends."
"Yeah, we hate her now."
"They're part of the government…that says enough."
Yet, the serrator did not survive the blast as the shield instantly deflated and left nothing. Only smoke and small sparks of energy poured from the weapon.
"Oh! Ionic energy weapons! Fascinating. We learned about those 20 years ago from the previous invaders, but I've never seen one in person." She began to circle the group as Aja didn't take too well to her words.
"Invaders? You don't know why those lifeforms came here."
"Either way, we didn't invite them. Welcome back, Stuart of Durio. I should have smelled you coming." She chuckled as the said alien hid behind Varvatos. "Oh, but don't worry. Your cage is still waiting for you, and it has plenty of rooms for all your new friends!"
"Yeah, you don't invite them, you fill them with darts before they have the chance to explain!" Stuart yelled out in anger as Blinky gently patted his shoulder.
"Ah, yes. Reasons why us trolls have hid for so long."
"I feel so bad, but your skin is hard to penetrate with darts."
"Thank Deya!"
As she exclaimed, Buster broke free from the building, sending both a truck and a man flying as he screeched in the air. When the truck crashed into the ground, it threw the other trucks aside as the vast beast roared.
"Seklos and Gaylen!" Varvatos exclaimed at the sight while Aja chuckled.
"He has grown so much!" Stuart commented.
"Buster!" Aja yelled as the said creature threw an agent to the side, roaring as he spun, knocking the entire group out with his tail.
"Neutralize the specimen!" Colonel commanded as armed vehicles began to fire at Buster, who flinched at the numerous blasts but was quick to run toward their freedom.
"Grab on!" Aja spoke, instantly leaping onto a moving leg, both Varvatos and Krel doing the same while Stuart was left running behind, trying to join.
"Buster! How about a leg up? Eee!" He had a grip on the tail and was instantly pulled forward.
"Why does he keep doing that?"
"EEEEEEEEEE!"
"Please!"
"Don't let them escape!" The woman commanded. Outside of the fence, there had still been a line of people at the taco truck, waiting patiently before the cone of light seeped over and Buster's loud roar echoed.
"What's that?"
"Let's go, men," the group seemed to take off running to see the commotion.
"The jig is up, honeycakes. Get those carnitas in the fridge, and put the pedal to the metal!"
"Jiminy Cricket!" The two blanks hopped into the driver and passenger seat, getting ready to flee as a man appeared in the window.
"Where do you think you're going? I need sauce!" The only response he got was a punch in the face, received by Lucy.
The crowd recoiled back as if they were hit with a punch. "Robots surprise me so much when they shouldn't."
"See you in St. Louis, screwy!" Ricky said before they sped off, leaving the guy defeated.
"But what about my guacamole? I paid extra!"
"He just got whacked in the face and is concerned about his guac. Okay, I totally understand that."
"He paid extra! EXTRA!"
Back with the escaping group, while everyone had an easier rider, Stuart was being slammed repeatedly into the concrete as he held on tight, "Buster, I said I was sorry!"
"We're almost to the gate," Aja said right as a truck managed to cut the distance, a man aiming the massive weapon and firing. The blast collided with Buster and threw the massive beast to the ground, knocking everyone off.
However, Krel had taken most of the hit as once he hit the ground, he was rendered unconscious, limply holding onto the circuit.
"No! No!" Varvatos was the first to exclaim as he spotted Krel, Aja moving to her brother's side in a panic.
The crowd tensed at the sight of Krel. For someone who was full of comments and always making someone laugh, seeing him so limp and gone was shocking. Wanting to rush in and take the guard was something they were beginning to think of.
Krel, however, watched the screen, seeing what finally happened. His eyes stayed on Varvatos who panicked and worried. He knew his sister cared, but at that moment, it seemed the traitorous mentor was all he cared for.
"No, no, no! Krel!" Aja turned to face Buster who had been pulled down by glowing green lassos, seeming to affect him as the colonel stepped up, looking at the group she was ready to take back in.
"We must leave at once," Vex said, not noticing Aja's angered glare until she gently let go of her brother and came to a stand.
"Not yet," she grabbed her weapon as Varvatos took Krel in his hands, and the young female charged.
"Yeah, get revenge for your brother, how dare she do that to him!"
"Aja, no!" Varvatos yelled before having to grab a vast slab of concrete to shield himself and Krel from the blasts. Aja let out an angry yell as she charged at the woman, the blade ready. Colonel watched as Aja cut the distance, charging her weapon and firing.
Thankfully, Aja leaped from each blast, ready to strike a blow. Sadly, she couldn't land a hit as Colonel seemed well trained as the two moved back and forward, trying to take the other down. It wasn't until Aja had to duck two blasts before she got even angrier, letting out a grunt as she charged once more.
To the side, Varvatos watched the battle, struggling to keep the concrete from turning into pieces. "This won't hold much longer!" Stuart yelped before taking off in a run, leaving Varvatos's side as Luug barked frantically. "Stuart, you coward. Come back here!"
Krel kept silent, watching as Varvatos protected him. Someone who cared that deeply, willing to stay behind cover and shield Krel, mostly didn't mean what he did when he let Morando in. The guilt and the feeling of sadness ransacked Krel as he thought of his mentor taking the consequences and facing capture on the moon.
While he had taken off, Aja had been knocked to the floor, weapon sliding from her hand as Colonel towered over her. The Queen-in-waiting reached for the weapon, only for it to be blasted away, leaving a burnt spot in its place.
"You'll be a perfect lab rat."
"Beep, beep!" A sudden cry was heard, everyone turning to look at Stuart who was speeding down the path with a truck. "Here comes a monster trucker!" He yelled, never stopping as both Aja and Colonel jumped out of the way, numerous blasts hitting the back of the truck but never stopping it.
"Stuart, that wall is rigged to…" Varvatos warned.
"Explode! Yes, I'm well aware. Then I guess I'm the bomb!" He replied before opening the door and leaping out, just as the truck collided with the wall, an instant blast of fire ripped through the air.
"You guys! Hold him down!" A guard yelled, but the explosion gave enough of a distraction to the other guards, Buster instantly stood up and took the men off their feet.
"Buster!" Aja yelled, grabbing onto his head as he moved through, Colonel having to roll out of the way as the Akiridions made their exit.
The crowd watched with their bodies tense and mouths shut tightly, knowing how dangerous it was to escape a place that knew every move they were going to make. They knew they had to make it out, but it was still frightening.
"Come on!" Varvatos ordered as they made it through the gate, finding no taco truck waiting for them. "Where's our getaway?" Buster looked around before taking off down the dark road.
"Buster? Does this mean that we are even?" Stuart called, causing the beast to look at him with a small growl before taking off once again. "I think that was a yes."
"Ahoy-hoy!" Ricky called as the taco truck appeared, ripping open the door to spot the group. "Oh, no, mi principito!"
"He needs help," Varvatos hissed, "Drive!" As they piled into the truck and sped off, Colonel and a guard stepped through the flames, finding the group fleeing as she cleaned her glasses.
"Colonel Kubritz, it appears they took the orange thing with all the wires sticking out," A man spoke, saluting her.
"It's called an osmic circuit. Good. Their ship must be grounded, which means they'll be easier to find." She wore a grin as the scene changed, Aja gasping as she stuck the last piece into the daxial array. She watched as the machine lit up, sparking as it glowed, Mother, speaking as the power flooded through.
"What the heck?! They shouldn't be that smart to figure it out!"
"Sadly, that's how it never works." Toby muttered, knowing how it felt for the enemies to always have an upper hand, no matter how hard you tried to get ahead.
"Power fully restored." At that, Aja left Stuart behind, running to the room where her parents lay, smiling as the room brightened. "Core regeneration commencing."
Aja let out a breath of relief as she placed her hands on the tubes that held her parents, letting out happy tears before dropping to the floor, and finally relaxing.
However, the other sibling was not able to celebrate as he lay in his bed, still not awake as Ricky sadly placed his hand on the boy. Varvatos waited across the room while Luug lay beside Krel, looking saddened but cuddling up to the boy.
"The king-in-waiting will make a full recovery. I suggest letting him rest."
Luug whimpered as Varvatos moved to the side of the bed, placing his much larger hand onto Krel's crossed arms, sighing sadly. "This is Varvatos Vex's fault, Your Highness. He betrayed his duty, his oath, his king and queen. He betrayed you. But by Gaylen's honor, he promises… I promise I will rectify this. I will restore your family. And I will take you home."
The crowd stayed silent, bowing their heads as Krel and Aja stared at the screen, then at one another. No one connected the pieces, only thinking Varvatos was blaming himself for letting Krel get to the unconscious state, not realizing Vex was speaking about letting Morando in.
Thankfully that kept it calm and no one dared to remind anyone what Varvatos had done, but Krel and Aja began to feel sad, even sharing a look to Stuart who seemed to be sharing the same look they held.
All they cared was for the safety of the family.