Moonlight Run
Merlin sighed as he stepped in front of the screen, frowning as he heard the massive group lost in numerous conversations. He narrowed his eyebrows before slamming his stick into the ground, causing everyone to quickly silence themselves and turn their focus to the wizard.
"Alright, as you know, I have stated many times that we are transitioning from what you have lived, to what you will soon be living. Once you go back, anything that you witness from here on out, will not be remembered until you live that moment, however, you will still remember seeing every part, every side of the story."
"It's creepy but cool if you think about it," Douxie added, looking at Aja and Krel who were new to the entire thing.
"Yes, thank you, Hisirdoux," Merlin said dryly. "I only ask that now that I am here and you all realize that I can see the future, to please not ask me any questions. I refuse to answer."
"I just want to know if I get my friends back," Toby said and Merlin sent a glare his way. "Sorry, Merl."
"Now, let's continue, please, enjoy the future lives of Aja and Krel and the fate of Arcadia."
It was dark and quiet as a familiar alien figure snuck through the darkness, the glowing lines that decorated Stuart's body seemed to be the only visible thing as he slid close the door. However, he could not see what was beneath him and began to stumble on an object, smacking the floor as a result.
"Kleb! This is why every light in my condo has a clap-on feature." His hand hovered against the walls, feeling for the small notches he quickly adjusted when he found them. Once he did, the entire room lit up, screens and consoles filled the room he was in, surrounding him in a nice green tone.
"You know, Stuart seems like the one to never be serious in a serious moment. I think if someone died… wait, maybe not."
"I think I should take that as a compliment, which means I'm funny," Stuart stated, crossing his arms.
"Ah! There she is. Yes! You're looking good, my old darling. Oh! A bit dusty, isn't it? Looking a bit long in the tooth, but it's always been part of your charm." The alarm blared, startling Stuart after he gently banged his fist against the console. "Who did that? Did I?"
"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" The voice over the comms spoke, revealing that Stuart had been in his enemy's territory, standing in the saucer that he had crashed in the moment he arrived on Earth.
Guards followed Colonel Kubritz, armed with their guns as they cut closer to the spaceship. "Charge your neurometers, full power. Whatever this is, it's not gonna get out alive."
The group charged toward the saucer that already began to hover, barely grazing the walls, right as the top opened, Stuart smiling as he popped out. "Sup, Colonel K? I-I know what you're gonna say. I forgot to knock."
"Stuart of Durio," She gagged. "I knew something stunk in here."
"Hey, the only thing that stinks is your security system. I mean, what is this? It's the second time I've broken into this place." He ducked just as a blast shot past his head, the wall behind burning to a crisp.
The crowd couldn't help but laugh as Stuart taunted them, especially seeing how quick he was to drop back down. Of course, as the crowd laughed, Stuart began to smile, it was as if he had told a joke and wouldn't react unless others found it amusing.
"Get out of the ship, or next time I'll aim."
"The thing is it's kind of a rental. It's about 30 years past due, so I really should be going, huh?" He disappeared into the saucer, Kubritz quickly firing as her men did the same, the blasts bouncing off the small shield that wrapped around the opening of the ship.
"Open fire! Don't let him escape!" She yelled as the ship struggled to get free from the suspension. Thankfully, with enough force, the ship was yanked free from its hold, the force of it had knocked over a large metal beam that nearly crushed the men that once stood under it.
"I know she has updated tech, but what do you do when you bring guns to a vehicle party? Especially one that doesn't have tires and probably had protection."
"You dream that the gun side wins because taking down a saucer should be a lot more powerful, right?" The students turned to both Aja and Krel, then to Stuart.
"A nice blast could damage it, but aimed right or a more powerful blast could take it down."
The colonel watched as the saucer busted through the ceiling, taking off and disappearing from view. Her confidence never faltered as soon as she began spitting out a command. "Activate the ship's tracking device. Locate the Durian and get that spacecraft back!"
"Uh, it didn't fly before now, so, um, we never put a tracking device on it, ma'am," the guard said nervously and the confidence she once wore, turned into seething rage. She aimed her gun and fired at the guard who quickly leaped from the blast and ran.
While she handled her loss, Krel and Aja had been waiting near the planetarium, Eli had currently been on watch as he pointed binoculars at the sky. "He should have been here by now. Those Durians are always late!" Krel hissed.
"Hey! It appears that I was having a conversation and insulting a government facility while I was at it! Who would pass up an opportunity like that," Stuart said in a defensive tone.
"Well, Varvatos' life is on the line."
"And this is all one big rescue mission for your geezer friend?"
"For Varvatos, yes. He's being held at a bounty hunter outpost on the Earth's moon." Krel answered, causing Toby to grow excited as he heard.
"The moon? So flipping cool! Although, probably not so much for your friend." Aja walked passed, laughing as she spoke on the phone, Zadra being on the other end, trying to ignore Lucy who tried to suck up Luug in the vacuum cleaner.
"I told you, we're at a sleepover with our friends Toby and Eli."
Zadra looked offended, staring at the screen with wide eyes and then the kids who began to look sheepish. "You lied to me? When you are currently being hunted by Morando!"
"You wouldn't allow us to go, and we knew we needed to save Varvatos, you guys don't get along so asking would result in us not saving him," Aja answered.
"It is a convincing lie, Varvatos Vex is also honored that they are going through this to save my life, even though Varvatos would tell them to leave for being in a dangerous place."
"Oh, shut it, you traitor," Zadra hissed, crossing her arms.
"Varvatos Vex haven't spoken since, Varvatos had no idea if he could speak after seeing everything. I could not let them hate me again if I spoke too early and ruin what was being fixed. Vex has stayed quiet enough, now he wishes to fix things and to speak once more. So, excuse me for my comment."
"The lack of security measures has me very concerned. Do their parental units have any tactical expertise? Hand-to-hand combat? Edged weapons?" Zadra asked as Lucy tried to use the vacuum on Zadra.
"I'll find out and report back. Tomorrow," Aja answered quickly to hang up the phone before sighing and turning to the group. "Thanks for covering for us. Did you bring the gear?"
"As requested," Toby answered, tapping his hand on the box. Before anything else could be said, the large saucer that Stuart had taken back, suddenly arrived over the railing of the planetarium.
"Awesome!" Eli breathed out.
"Sauc-er!" Toby said, nearly jumping out of his skin in excitement.
"Greetings, Your Majesties. Your chariot awaits." Stuart said, appearing out of the top right as the saucer smoked and jerked, mostly unstable and broken after the shooting it endured. After all, its past was pretty rough.
"That doesn't inspire confidence," Krel said dryly.
"And how long is it going to take us to reach the moon… in that?" Aja asked, jumping onto the saucer and climbing up to the entrance.
"Assuming we make good time, 20 to 30, tops," Stuart answered as Krel helped his sister load up the box.
"Wow! Minutes?" Eli said in shock, his voice cracking as he spoke.
"Very droll. Ha! This one's a comedian. No, not minutes, hours!" Stuart answered as he dropped into the driver's seat of the ship. "So, if you have to use the john, do so now or forever hold your pee." Aja and Krel both dropped into the ship, right as it took off. Eli and Toby waved toward the fleeing ship that had directed itself toward the moon and left the atmosphere.
"You're joking right."
"I mean, look how long it takes us to get to places in space with rockets. AND THEY'RE IN ALIEN TECH! Which mind you, is a lot more advance and faster."
"I take that compliment, however, Stuart's ship is very old fashioned. It will go nowhere fast," Krel answered as Stuart frowned, crossing his arms.
"What do you guys have against my ship! I'm from a suffering planet!"
On the moon, the view of Earth was seen, hidden in the craters of the moon was the entrance to the jail cells where Varvatos was currently doing push-ups. He had himself in a handstand position, pushing himself up and down with one hand behind his back.
"Seven... eight... nine and ten... million! Million with an M," Varavtos added once he saw the boots of Alpha stepping up to his cell.
"I'm going to start doing that, for some reason when he added the Million with an M it made it so much more funnier."
"I think our humor is broken because we find a lot of weird and simple things humorous."
"We're all broken."
"The indomitable Varvatos Vex rotting away in a cell. It's almost sad, really."
Varvatos stood straight, pacing his cage. "Sad? Every delson in here, there's either a prison brawl or a grisly murder. For Varvatos Vex, this is practically what the hoomans call a spa weekend."
"I see prison hasn't dulled your bluster." Alpha turned his back on Varvatos, the former guardian yelling out and trying to strangle the Zeron, however, once his arms pushed through, he seemed to get stuck and filled with pain.
"No touching! Stay back!" The guard that had been watching hissed, holding out his spear.
"Don't bother nursing those burns. You won't be alive long enough to see them heal." Alpha laughed, leaving as Varvatos was ready to punch the brother.
"I said no touching!" The guard stated once more. While Varvatos had been struggling with his capture, the saucer continued to race toward the moon, the passengers within the spaceship seemed bored out of their minds as Aja threw her head back, groaning.
"Hold on, lemme slap his hand. EH! NO TOUCHING!"
"Why do I feel like I've heard this song a thousand times?" Krel moved to the controls, ready to change it, right before his hand was smacked away by Stuart.
"Ah, ah, ah!" Stuart warned as Krel recoiled his hand, cradling it with a yelp. "It is Uncle Stuey's turn to pick the music."
"But I'm the…"
"Yes, yes, king-in-waiting. It's a nice try. Out here, rules of the road, thank you very much."
"But there are no roads," Krel stated before joining his sister who threw her head back, groaning with annoyance.
"I'm so bored!"
"Are we there yet?" Krel asked, spinning in a circle in his chair while he and Aja took turns being that one kid on a road trip.
"No."
"Are we going to be there soon?"
"No."
"How much longer?"
"Not for a while."
"Like, ten mekrons?"
"No."
"Twenty mekrons?"
"No!"
"Thirty mekrons?" Aja asked as the view of the ship slowly moved through the massive abyss.
The crowd blinked as they watched the entire scene, especially the ship seeming to move through space extremely slowly.
"You know, they have a right to ask because that looks like something I would end it all in. How do you spell boring? S-T-U-A-R-T'-S S-H-I-P."
"Personally, these attacks are very offensive, my ship is just as good as the rest of them," Stuart replied.
"And Denial is a river in Egypt."
"We'll get there when we get there! Oi!" Stuart broke, yelling and his voice echoed through the ship. The kids were still very much bored as mellow music began to play making the situation so much worse. However, when a flash of light blinded Krel, his curiosity peaked and whatever he saw, impressed him.
"Huh," he breathed out as a smile stretched across his face. He turned toward his fast-asleep sister and began to shake her, instantly causing her relaxed face to turn into an annoyed look.
"If you're waking me up, we better be there."
"Come on! You're gonna wanna see this."
Aja stood and gasped once her eyes landed on the object. "Oh, lively!" Out of the window was the planet Earth, its silhouette cast in a bright ring of light as the sun barely peaked out from behind it.
It was a beautiful sight.
The crowd 'oohed' at the sight, never really seeing their home planet look divine. They should spend more time focusing on things that are beautiful. "Space is so cool and fascinating but also I'm deathly afraid of it!"
"Tell me about it, I could watch hours of planet edits but you'll never catch me willingly going to space."
"You know, for a dump heap, it's really quite beautiful."
"Or as Vex would say, glorious," Aja breathed out, leaning to get a better view but a large cloud of gas had poured out in front of them.
"Ah!" Krel recoiled, plugging his nose as Aja tried to swat the smell away.
"Ah! Stuart!"
"That was rank, even for you."
"The fact that you'd assume immediately that it's me, it's really very offensive," Stuart replied. Finally, after so long, the spacecraft hovered over the jagged parts of the moon as Stuart stared at the diagram of possible entries. "According to the computer, there appears to be an anomaly in quadrant 245, here in sector 45."
"So, then who is it? Hmm? Just a random fart cloud?"
"It doesn't always have to be me!"
"Eh, agree to disagree."
The craft moved through the sections of the moon, finally landing on a landing pad, giving the siblings the chance to break out. Once the door opened and the gas flooded out, both Aja and Krel appeared desperate and gasping.
"Get me out of here!"
"I can't take it anymore!" Krel gasped, coughing as he tried to regain himself. "Ay, yi yi." While he was hunched over, Aja had already begun to float away, surprised.
The crowd let out a fit of laughter at the quick escape from the kids, especially when Krel had flopped out dramatically. "The fact that it was only on the inside."
"It was either the ship letting out a dying breath, or Stuart's bottom."
"Why am I being picked on!"
"You're Stuart, we love you but have to pick on you."
"A moon with low gravity. So lively!"
"I got you, I got you!" Krel said suddenly, grabbing onto his sister and unaware of the predicament.
"Great, but who's got you?" Aja asked as the two noticed they were floating away, and to make the scene even better, the blue Danube began to play, a very moon-like music.
A pair of arms grabbed onto Krel's ankles and the added weight helped them make it to the ground. "Ah! I forgot how much I love it here," Stuart said as his feet touched the ground, gently letting the two go once they made it as well. "You weigh less, you've got none of that unnecessary oxygen clogging up your respiratory system."
"For us, that unnecessary oxygen is a lot different."
"Zadra's ship!" Krel said, no longer paying attention to Stuart when he noticed the jet-like ship behind Stuart. "Alpha must have taken it when he captured Vex."
"Then the intel from that hammer guy was right. They're here," Aja stated, moving to get the mission completed, however, Stuart stopped her.
"Yeah, whoa, whoa! Easy there! This is the Hunter's Guild lunar outpost, where the most dastardly bounty hunters in the galaxy refuel and reload. It's also got a temporary prison. Humans would call it a drunk tank."
Zadra's face held the unmistakable expression of anger. She was bothered that the kids lied, but she was more bothered that they were in space in one of the most dangerous areas, only protected by Stuart. She hadn't even seen a weapon in sight.
Aja and Krel tried to ignore her, already catching her expression and giving off nervous smiles to one another. "Maybe we should apologize later?"
"Yeah, once we succeed though," Aja answered to her brother's whispered statement.
They began to move toward the door, leaping with every step. "I get it! It's a rough crowd," Aja replied.
"Which is why we're going to stick to the plan, thanks to Toby and Darci," Krel added, twirling the box and spinning it like a basketball, however, it floated too high up and Krel gasped in a panic, right as his sister silently scolded him. "Oh, yeah, yeah." The box finally floated down, landing in Krel's hands as he took out the Mole mask. "Let's do this."
Within the bar, the robot bartender ignored the numerous cups flying across the room as it turned around with a filled cup, speaking to the two bunnies that sat across the bar. "We've got a quasar sour for Foo-Foo the Demolisher."
One of the bunnies grabbed the cup, chugging it the moment it was in his hand, "Ah! Another!"
However, the robot then served the other bunny. "An oxiom mead for Foo-Foo the Ambivalent."
"I don't really know if I want this anymore. I just don't know," The bunny spoke in a British accent before his partner confiscated the cup in an instant, chugging the contents inside it. The act angered him and he tackled his partner, "Well, maybe I did!"
"And a bloody Martian, extra spicy," The bartender said, ignoring the fight and turning to a much shorter bunny. "For Foo-Foo the Minuscule."
"That's Foo-Foo the Mighty," A bunny beside him, spoke, grabbing the cup and revealing himself to be much larger than the one believed to be minuscule. "I'm Foo-Foo the Minuscule."
"Are they serious right now?"
"Every time I see a bunny robot, it becomes a fever dream."
"Sorry. Small mistake." The bartender said before walking out from behind the bar, "Ha ha. Small." As it passed the doors, both Stuart in his regular alien attire, and Krel who was dressed in the mole mascot stepped in, Krel's hands bounded by a couple of handcuffs.
Right as they stepped in, Krel was whacked in the head by a flying cup, "Oh!" He groaned in both pain and annoyance.
"Bounty hunters are a touchy lot. You have to stay alert," Stuart stated, fixing the head slightly.
"You try staying alert without any peripheral vision."
"Psst," Aja said as she snuck in, lacking any disguise. "Zeron Brother, 12 o'clock." She pointed to the table where Alpha sat, angrily coming to a stand.
"I didn't order this," He hissed, cutting off the bot's head and turning to his group. "Heads up, comrades. I have a drink I call the energizer," He said, pouring the liquid from the decapitated head into his cup. He then passed the cup to his friend, "Light it up, Tronos."
"With pleasure!" The metal hunter spoke, breathing out blue lightning that cackled and sparked the drink, letting the top burst into flames. "Bottoms up!" He drank the cup's contents before swallowing the cup and burping flames into a nearby comrade.
Jim was the first one to have his eyes wide and stare in shock as he watched the entire scene. "I know it's a robot, but how many times have we heard the threat of ripping off our skull and using it as a cup?"
"Too many, Jimbo. The fact the we just witnessed it."
"Ugh!" The comrade groaned while Alpha and Tronos laughed.
To the side, Stuart had been watching and laughed nervously. "Heh, rough crowd."
"Psst, keep them busy," Aja whispered from the side, ducking behind a wall and disappearing while Stuart sighed, stepping up to the table.
"Room for one more?" Stuart started, catching Alpha's attention. "Let me squeeze in," he chuckled.
"That depends… on whether you can take the heat," he gestured to Tronos whose mouth began to glow before a burst of flames shot across the table, both Stuart and Alpha moving out of the way.
Behind the bar, Aja kept her eye on them before Demolisher the bunny laughed, turning back to face the bar as he talked about the act. "That one's a classic!
Stuart blew at his arm, patting away the flames, "Oh… Well, lucky for me "The Heat" is my middle name." The group looked confused, turning to one another. "I'm just kidding. It's Paul. Uh, what are we playing?"
"Akiridion skelteg fighting," Alpha started, picking up one of the bugs. "Fifty creston minimum bet. Whoever loses...dies." He finished, crushing the bug.
"Okay, so you waste the bug. Whoever's bug that was is now gonna die because you just had to make it dramatic!"
"Why are they unnecessarily killing everything?"
"They're bad guys!"
"Kleb!" Krel said inside the costume, unheard.
Aja, who had continued to sneak around, waited for the perfect time to run across the pathway, unseen as Stuart laughed. "Ah, that was good. Name's Coby Paul von Crumpet. Anyway, here's my latest catch, the Crown Prince of the planet Pooplorth. So, who do I have to kill to get a drink in this place, hmm?"
Where Varvatos waited in his cell, a shadow loomed over him and he dared not to look up. "You enter this cell, Varvatos Vex promises you will only be hastening your dismemberment."
"That wasn't the reaction I was looking for," Aja responded, startling Varvatos.
"Aja? Queen-in-waiting!" He came to a stand the moment he realized.
"Shh! That guard could come back any mekron."
"Varvatos thought you were… What are you doing here?"
"Krel and I thought a little rescue mission might make for a fun summer vacation."
"A suicide mission is more like it. This place is replete with bounty hunters! Varvatos did not train you to be this foolish."
"I'm glad to see prison hasn't changed you, Varvatos," Aja said, her face turning into a more serious look.
He let out a sigh, moving to sit in the back, "This prison is a fitting punishment for what Varvatos did. Now go, and leave him to rot."
"We don't have time for this! As queen-in-waiting, shouldn't I decide what's a fitting punishment?" She got no answer and continued, "By order of the Akiridion-Five throne, I grant you a royal pardon. I overturn your banishment and sentence you to the protection of House Tarron. Come home, Varvatos. We need you."
Varvatos wasn't sure about this new feeling he discovered, but the fact that it felt like his chest was tightening and his eyes seemed to water, which was rather strang, he began to think he was dying. However, the smile on his face was mostly the cause for what he felt.
He never felt human emotions, but hearing Aja confess about how much he meant to her, even after what he had done, it seemed his body reacted.
Out at the bar, the bugs were once again fighting as they stared down at the table, Tronos telling his story. "Then I fired a thermal blast into his bathtub and electrocuted him in a puddle of his own filth like the dirty Kaygon he was."
The two laughed before the nameless one turned to Stuart. "What about you, Coby?"
"Oh! Who?" Stuart stammered.
"Your favorite kill. Surely you have one," Tronos answered.
"Yeah, totally, but, you know, a gentleman never really kills and tells."
"Are you suggesting I'm not a gentleman?" Tronos said as lightning cackled from his mouth.
"No, no. It's just that… Honestly, there have been so many. Um, there was the Professor in the library with the candlestick. Uh, the Colonel in the study. That one I did with a rope. And don't get me on Ms. Scarlet." While Stuart was speaking, Krel had rolled his eyes at the story.
"Dude, are you using the pieces from the Clue boardgame?"
"They don't know that!"
"While this is all very fascinating, I have a bounty to check on," Alpha spoke, coming to a stand.
"Well, what about you?" Stuart said, stopping the hunter. "Surely, the Zeron Brotherhood could fill a supercomputer with its kills."
"There was one. An entire family we took out all at once," Alpha answered.
"Commander Vex's family?" Tronos asked. "The bombing of Satellite-Nine. Very impressive."
"I watched as their cores crumbled to flexel. And in due time, I will complete my set when I rip Varvatos Vex's head from his body with my own bare hands." While Krel was worried, Alpha placed his hands on the mole costume, ripping off the head and Krel's was nowhere in sight as the mask crumbled to the floor.
The entire bar stared at the dropped head as Stuart ran to pick it up, placing it on the masked body once more and covering Krel's head. "Whoa! That was some story! It really blew his head right off."
The crowd stared in shock as Krel and Aja looked surprised that they had discovered his lie so quickly. "Uh, tell me how the hell he figured that out so quickly?"
"Beats me, I don't think we should bother asking any questions."
Tronos came to a stand. "Next round's on me, boys. We got royalty in our midst." As everyone pulled out their weapons and Alpha towered over them, Stuart stared at the numerous enemies.
"Ah, kleb!"
While that became an issue, Aja was using her weapon to fire at the controls, making no progress. "It's no use. The diavelant laser grid can't be deactivated without the prison guard's key."
Aja began to let out a scream, shocking Varvatos. "What are you doing? You'll alert the guard!"
"I'm getting the key," She answered, placing herself on a taller platform and out of sight while the guard charged.
"Hey, what's with all the noise down here?" Aja charged, kicking the guard down and preparing herself, she never stopped moving as the guard came to a stand and tried to jab his weapon toward her.
Aja moved as the guard struck at her, dodging each blow. Behind her, Varvatos seemed rather bored or unimpressed as he crossed his arms.
"This is some rescue, really."
"A little patience? Or did you forget that part of your warrior training?" Aja prepared herself, moving around the guard and dodging his blows. She took the right moment to press her foot against the guard, shoving him onto the cage door, the electricity pulsing through him as Varvatos helped speed up the defeating process.
"No touching!" Varvatos cried as the guard dissolved into thin air, dropping the keycard to Vex's prison. Once Varvatos was free, any courage Aja held was gone in an instant, as she crossed her arms and looked down. "Varvatos was wrong to doubt your tactical prowess. It is most impressive." The mentor stated, putting his hand on her shoulder.
While Zadra wanted to scold both Aja and Krel, she was impressed with how Aja moved in battle. Granted the risk that she was taking to get the key in the first place was tense, she was proud of the young girl for holding her ground and winning the fight. Yet, she wouldn't have to worry if they never set out for the traitor.
Zadra should have known that once they knew Varvatos' location, they were mostly going to race off toward him. However, they were angry with him before and she hadn't noticed their mood changes.
Now, she was unsure who to hold accountable for this reckless mission.
"You taught me well," Aja said, watching as he stood with a respectful posture, the smile sneaking in. "Wait, you're missing something." She lifted the weapon from where ever she had pulled it from and the seriousness that Vex held was instantly gone.
"Varvatos' serrator?" His laugh was filled with joy. "Oh, how he has missed you, sweet mistress of death!"
"I can't tell if you're happier to see me or your serrator."
"Wait. Wait one delson. Where is Zadra?" Vex asked after frantically kissing his weapon.
Speaking of Zadra, she was walking through the house, speaking on the phone. "Aja and Krel of House Tarron. They are participating in a human hibernation ritual with your grandson as we speak."
On the other line, Nana giggled, "Isn't that darling?"
"I must confirm the safety of my charges at once."
"Charges? Has someone stolen your credit card, dearie?" Suddenly, the phone slipped from Nana's hands as Toby stood behind, chopping the line till the phone recoiled back and fumbled in his hands.
"Aja and Krel are good!" Toby yelled into the phone. "They're awesome, totally safe and not at all on the moon. Bye!" As Toby hung up, Zadra sighed, moving the phone from her ear and walking away while Lucy spoke, currently sweeping.
Claire and Jim laughed as they glanced toward Toby. "You never change with that one."
"What? They never ask questions, which is weird, especially since I out where they are during my panic anyway."
"When I'm feeling a little frosted, nothing calms my nerves like some good housekeeping." She held out the broom for Zadra who seemed offended.
"You do realize on Akiridion-Five, I commanded a platoon 6,000 strong?"
"Or you could try knitting," Lucy said, throwing the broom to the side and pulling out a ball of yarn. Zadra held her face, sitting down as Lucy laughed, thankfully, for Zadra, Mother gave her a well-deserved distraction.
"Apologies, Commander, but I have an incoming transmission from Akiridion-Five."
"Thank Seklos! Authenticate Resistance communication signature." In front of Zadra, a hologram of Morando's logo appeared, turning a deep red.
"The transmission appears to be coming from a vessel registered to General Morando."
Zadra gasped, "Seklos and Gaylen!'
Back on the moon, Stuart was currently cornered by the enemies, hands in the air as he stared down death. "Now, I know people like to resort to violence in these situations, but if I've learned anything from junior high school, it's that name-calling really leaves a more lasting scar."
"Morando's bounty for the royals of House Tarron set a galaxy record. Nine billion crestons. And yet, I'm tempted to forgo the money just so I can kill you myself," Alpha hissed out, pointing the weapon toward Krel who was left maskless, hands up as well.
The crowd was tense, they weren't expecting to watch Krel's life become risky. It was clear that whatever Zadra was mad at, she was now more worried.
"This is a terrible plan, you guys could die!" Zadra yelled out.
"You don't know that," Krel answered with a nervous laugh, rubbing his neck.
"Aja…" Krel breathed out as he winced. However, a large blast collided with Alpha and his body smacked against the wall. "Oh-ho-ho! Thank you…" Krel celebrated before turning to see his next enemy, Tronos. "...scary lightning monster."
"My pleasure. It will be worth the nine billion reward." He spoke, standing much taller than Krel and gripping onto the mole costume, dragging Krel away.
"Hang on, did he just…" Stuart started.
"Save me to kidnap me? Yeah," Krel said dryly, acting as if it wasn't too serious, just annoying.
"See, we should be fine. I mean, look how serious I am taking it, and I was just saved by an enemy." He shrugged and turned to Zadra who didn't look pleased with his answer.
"Uh, it makes a lot more sense now. You've gotta respect his hustle, though, right?" The dragging stopped, starling Krel as he glanced up to see another enemy, holding a weapon and tasering Tronos.
"Deal me in. He's mine." When free from Tronos' clutches, Krel was picked off the floor as Stuart slowly caught up.
"Oh, all right, I'm beginning to see a pattern emerging here," Stuart said, not helping the situation.
This time, two tall rabbit bots surrounded Krel and the enemy that currently held him. Between both the bunnies, a much smaller one jumped in front, exclaiming, "I am Foo-Foo the Mighty!"
"Aw!" Krel said, smiling down at the small robot as if his life wasn't on the line.
"Aw! He's so cute!" The much taller enemy spoke.
Foo-Foo the mighty ended up pulling out the largest gun in an instant, shocking Krel and the other enemy as he spoke in a deep voice. "My childhood was pain!" He blasted the enemy who screamed as he disappeared from view in a blink of an eye, Krel dropping to the floor as they screamed. "And now yours will be, too!"
Everyone looked shocked as some chuckled at the scene. "What the hell!"
"Like I said, big ol' fever dream!"
"I have no words for any of this…"
Krel laughed nervously as the weapon was pointed at him, yet, a simple cup slammed into Foo-Foo's head as Alpa leaped down onto them. "He's mine!"
While his partner lay on the ground, unconscious from Alpha's hit, another rabbit came leaping at the tall Zeron Brother. "That's my bounty!" Alpha had to block the angry rabbit feet that threatened to pelt him as another came, kicking him rapidly, but the final brother never fell.
"Behold, Foo-Foo the Foot Loose!" On the floor, Krel watched the frantic moving around him as Alpha ducked and swung at the two rabbits that attacked him.
"I am Foo-Foo the Demolisher! And this bounty is mine!" Ignored, Krel began to crawl away, only to be stopped by another rabbit that towered over him.
"I'm Foo-Foo the Typhoon, and it's about to rain pain." As two more joined behind him, Krel pushed himself to a stand, backing away until his back collided with Stuart who was also surrounded by numerous rabbits.
"Seklos and Gaylen! How many can there be?"
"Well, I'm not positive, but they might be multiplying," Stuart responded as Tronos regained himself and tried to break down the group of bunnies. His blast that poured from his mouth was forced toward another bunny, throwing it against the wall.
"This is the best thing I have ever seen in my entire life. I want to watch this again."
"If this is our future… it is very…" Aja started.
"Interesting," Krel finished.
"Feel the Foo-Foo fury!" Krel and Stuart watched as everyone was overwhelmed, ducking from flying bunnies before Krel turned to look at Stuart.
"Now's our chance. Go! Go!" The two took their moment and leaped over the bar, away from the fighting and taking cover. "Keep an eye out. I gotta get out of this thing," Krel mentioned and struggled to pull himself out of the mole costume.
Stuart peaked around the corner as jazz music played, Alpha fighting someone he had recently hung out with, right before two rabbits appeared, having a heated fight.
"You stole my bounty on Epsilon-Seven!"
"That bounty was my wife!" As the rabbits threw one another out of view, others were on top of an angry Tronos, acting like a bull as he shot random beams in hopes of clearing himself.
"Whoa, you are missing quite a show," Stuart said, turning to Krel before ducking out of the way of a flying bunny. "Oh, show's over."
The crowd chuckled at Stuart's comedic narration as they watched everything unfold.
Another rabbit hit the floor, a decapitated leg flying in front of the rabbit and sending him into instant shock. "M-Mother!" He pulled out a massive gun and began to recklessly fire, screaming in anger and causing Alpha and Tronos to leap out of the way.
Claire's mouth was hanging open while Jim and Toby chuckled, everyone clearly having different perspectives on the scene. It was both shocking but hilarious and while some laughed, Krel began to find it funny as well, even though he was in the middle of all of it.
Behind the shield that Alpha took, he found another enemy to tackle, the two rolling away from the rapid-fire blasts. However, as Aja and Varvatos appeared out in the bar, they had to instantly shield themselves from the flying dishes.
"A room of Foo-Foo fighters," Varvatos started staring at the fights that were occurring. "A battle of the ages!"
"There they are!" Aja cried, ignoring the fight as she spotted her brother and Stuart.
"Glorious!" Varvatos said before they took off running, the bunny who was shooting in every direction, somehow didn't notice them as he yelled out with every shot:
"Die, die, die, die, die, die!"
"Vex, wow! Looks like someone's been getting beefy in the clink," Stuart started as Varvatos and Aja joined them. "Really digging the lats, brah. Boom-boom!"
"I don't know if I should be shocked at what Stuart said, or the murderous rabbit rapidly firing at everything."
"Did you really just say that?"
"WHY ARE WE ALLOWED TO HAVE A CHOICE ON WHETHER WE ARE SHOCKED AT STUART OR THE RABBIT. NO ONE SHOULD BE DECIDING IF THEY SHOULD BE SHOCKED. MURDEROUS RABBIT!"
"Hello, Stuart," Varvatos started, annoyed. "Your Highness!"
"Run now, reunions later," Aja answered.
"Varvatos approves of this plan."
"Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die…" The rabbit yelled before he stared up at Varvatos who had leaped from out of the bar, ready to crush him, "I'm dead."
"Bounty hunters!" Varvatos yelled, holding up a limp rabbit, everyone turning to face him. Even Alpha was currently choking someone else out, had turned to look. "Now...come...get... some!" As he used Foo-Foo as a set of nunchucks, the small enemies wailing, everyone charged at Varvatos.
Toby let out a laugh as everyone raised an eyebrow. "Do you hear the rabbit wailing as he's thrown around? That's funny!" He turned to face his best friend, "right, Jimbo?"
"That is pretty funny," Jim stated, staring to chuckle.
He dodged each swing toward him, everything seemed to move in slow motion as he used Foo-Foo to shield him from the blows and knock the enemies back. Even before Alpha could attack, the ball of enemies that Varvatos created, came flying toward the enemy and crushed him between the wall and bodies.
"Varvatos thanks you for the light exercise," The mentor stated as Aja and Krel joined his side, Krel hanging onto Varvatos' lifted arm while Aja dragged him out, even Stuart looking shyly at the pile of bodies before running out.
"Varvatos Vex!" Alpha yelled as they chased after him up the stairs, Stuart letting out a nervous laugh. "Your death is mine!"
Once the group made it free, they leaped into the air, "Glorious!" That smile on Varvatos changed into a frown as they floated slowly. "The gravity here is most unhelpful."
"Kleb!" Aja hissed as they finally pushed themselves to land, Alpha catching up and floating into the air, aiming his weapon.
"They're mine!" He shot his weapon, the blast hitting the controls to the door and shutting the other villains inside.
On the ground, Aja was trying to help Varvatos to a stand, "Hurry! He's right behind us!" As she stayed beside Varvatos, Krel, and Stuart took a slow leaping run toward the ships.
"If we want a shot at outrunning these guys, we should take Zadra's Stryker."
"Hey, what are you trying to imply about my ship?" Stuart asked, however, their plan was cut short when a blast collided with the intended ship they were going for.
"Look, Stuart. You're in denial, but that's okay. Listen, buddy…. Your ship… well, it doesn't meet the fleeing standards…it… sucks."
"Wow, thank you," Stuart said dryly.
"Oh, but I'm sure we can make it work," Krel answered.
Varvatos turned to look back at his family, Alpha stalking up to them. "You three, go ahead. Varvatos Vex will hold him off."
"We came all this way, we're not leaving without you," Aja said, pulling at his arm but he didn't budge.
"Alpha killed Varvatos' family. Varvatos must end this."
"Now give Alpha a glorious death," Aja answered.
As both Varvatos and Alpha met in the middle, Varvatos spoke to him in a low tone. "Varvatos Vex has long waited for this delson. With your death, the Zeron Brotherhood will be extinguished and Varvatos' family will finally be avenged. Glorious death!" He pulled out his serrator, running with a battle cry and lifting off into the air as Alpha shot frantically at Vex, who thankfully dodged every blast.
Once he came to a land and tried to strike a blow, Alpha dodged and spoke. "You soolian! Are you that stupid? You've been doing Morando's bidding this entire time."
On the ship, Krel and Stuart climbed to the top as Aja caught up, Stuart speaking up when he realized Varvatos was alone. "Is no one gonna back up Vex and his boom-boom?"
"The Zerons killed Vex's family. This is his fight," Aja stated, watching the two dodge and strike below. They continued to attack one another, however, Alpha broke the truth about what really happened to Varvatos' family, Alpha getting the upper hand and tossing Varvatos to the ground.
"Who do you think hired the Zeron Brotherhood to attack Satellite-Nine?"
The Akiridions instantly sat up, even Zadra looked rather perplexed when Alpha began to reveal.
"What are you talking about?"
Alpha laughed and charged, colliding with Varvatos and the two floating off. "We were under orders to exterminate your family." Varvato's back hit the wall of the crater, Alpha continuing to close the distance but Vex reacted quickly, using his shield to keep his enemy at bay.
"No! Morando offered to help me get vengeance!"
"He needed you to betray the king and queen. He knew you would only do that to avenge the loss of your own family." Varvatos wailed and blindly attacked Alpha, resulting in him being thrown to the ground. He groaned and pushed himself up, realizing what had been said.
Aja and Krel looked at one another with wide eyes before glancing at both Zadra and Varvatos. The fact that both were oddly quiet, processing the information, made the two kids worried but they also were surprised at the answer they received.
"So, you didn't do it willingly, this was all planned. He knew how you would react and used it against us." Aja started.
"He killed your family just to get to us and here we yelled and put you down," Krel added. "You know the pain of losing your loved ones and their deaths were nothing but a ploy."
Varvatos seemed to grow angry, but not toward anyone in the room, only at the screen as his fists were balled tightly. Zadra couldn't speak, she thought she knew that Varvatos had done it willingly, she moved so fast in a story, but how could she not? She saw his traitorous act and had to act upon it.
Yet, the entire story behind it had made her shocked and almost guilty.
"What a plot twist."
"Morando planned this? He destroyed Varvatos' kin, and then he… I nearly destroyed the royal family," He said, turning to face Alpha who caught up. The anger fueled him, Varvatos moved from the blow Alpha was about to lay on him, taking his chance to have his fist collide with Alpha's jaw.
As the enemy slowly tumbled to the ground, trying to regain himself, Varvatos stalked up to him and had a tight grip on his arm. He threw Alpha side to side, a familiar move that Draal had pulled off with Nomura, and slammed Alpha repeatedly on the ground.
Varvatos let out a yell and threw Alpha into the air while the ship where Stuart, Aja, and Krel waited was seen. They had been tucked inside but the view was on the outside of the ship as Stuart's voice was heard. "Do you think he's winning?" Alpha shouted as he hit the roof of the parking spot, dropping onto the side of the ship and slowly sliding off. "Sounds like he's winning."
Even though the situation was serious, especially after such a reveal, some kids couldn't help but laugh at the scene. The fact that they couldn't een see Stuart and hear his comedic comments as they watched Alpha flop around, well, it definitely lightened the mood.
Varvatos quickly leaped into the parking spot, weapon raised as he looked around, right as the lights had turned off. "Ha ha! You have unwittingly handed Varvatos the tactical advantage.
Alpha slowly lowered behind Varvatos, unnoticed before swiping his blade against Varvatos, the large mentor yelled out in surprise and swung his weapon rapidly, only to hit nothing. This continued as the three in the ship appeared out the top, unable to see anything.
"Any idea what's going on out there?" Aja asked.
"Still too dark to see," Krel answered. Varvatos' scream startled the three as the Mentor dropped to his knees, panting. Vex closed his eyes, focusing on what lesson he taught Aja, and breathed out.
"Remember... a little patience," He came to a stand, eyes still closed and completely dropping his guard it seemed. Alpha thinking it was the right time to strike, ran toward Varvatos, ready to end it as the mentor turned in his direction, eyes still sealed shut. "For the honor of Varvatos' family!"
He opened his eyes at the right moment, his blade being thrust forward as Alpha stood only a small distance in front of him. It was only a second before Alpha realized the situation he was in as his body began to pixelate.
"No. No! No!" Alpha's weapons dropped, his body blowing away as Stuart fainted, seeming to have watched the death. Varvatos was silent as his weapon was put away, stepping toward the ship as Aja and Krel had lowered down to him.
"Holy crap… he's dead!" Aja and Krel looked relieved as they turned to smile at Varvatos, despite his massive frown, he mustered a smile back to the kids, glad that everything would turn out okay, even after what he had learned.
Maybe it was because he avenged his family that it didn't hurt as much as he thought it would, or it was the new family that he regained, that came to save him and give him what he needed to move on.
"They're all finally dead! Thank goodness, they were annoying!"
"Oh, what do you do on a normal sunday? Casually cheer for someone that's dying. The usual."
Varvatos bowed to the Royals as Krel stepped forward, placing his hand on Varvatos' shoulder, and giving off a welcoming smile. The scene changed, Earth in view as Aja spoke, Varvatos sitting behind the kids.
"Justice was served. You're with us."
"Varvatos must admit, he is looking forward to returning home… if you were to grant him that honor, despite his own failings," Varvatos said, looking somberly at Krel.
"Hey, we've all made mistakes and we've all lost people that meant the world to us." Krel answered, no longer staring at the man with hate, but a happy smile.
"But the three of us are a family," Aja added, smiling when Stuart cleared his throat. "And Stuart."
"And Varvatos will not fail his family again." The sweet moment turned into a frantic one when a blast hit the ship once it was above the clouds. The group struggled to not fly around frantically as Varvatos held the kids close. "Somebody is shooting at us!"
"But who?" Stuart asked as the answer was standing in the backyard, Zadra holding out her weapon as Luug barked at the rapidly dropping ship. Zadra sent numerous blasts at the ship, watching as it went down and crashed, the birds in that area screeched and flew off.
As Zadra made it toward the crash site, Stuart came out, panicked from last time. "Uncle! Uncle! We come in peace." His fast movements caused him to tumble out of the ship and hit the ground. "Ah! Ouch."
"I thought you were an enemy ship! I could have killed you!"
"Well, you... you definitely tried," Stuart said, rubbing his head as Aja and Krel appeared beside him, Krel clearing his throat as they stood like kids who knew they were in trouble.
"What? You said you were at a sleepover," Zadra said.
Aja laughed sheepishly, "I'm sorry. I feel bad about that."
"You have no idea how much I worried! I nearly took up knitting!"
"Such is the pain of raising teen-agers," Varvatos said, stepping up.
"I know this is a very serious moment, but I like how she is still wearing the red boots and that's funny to me."
"For human attire, they are comfortable, also likable."
"I didn't ask for your opinion, nor did I authorize the rescue of a traitor," Zadra hissed, stepping up to him and holding her blade up to Varvatos who didn't flinch.
"He's family. We had to rescue him," Aja answered.
"We will discuss your actions later. For now, I fear a far greater battle lies ahead,' Zadra replied, stepping away and moving back to the house. Once the group was back in the safety of Mother's walls, sitting on the couch, Zadra played the hologram message, Loth being the one to appear.
"Loth Saborian?" Varvatos asked.
"He was Morando's chief adviser… until now," Zadra spoke.
"Commander Zadra, I can only imagine the surprise with which you will receive this message. In your absence, General Morando has taken his Omen prototype and manufactured an entire army to do his bidding. And with Morando's Omens now raining terror upon our people, I can no longer support him. It gives me no pleasure to inform you that with Akiridion-Five firmly in his grasp, he's coming after the royals. Now!"
"Morando is headed for Earth," Zadra clarified causing the group to come to a panicked stand.
"YOU BAST—"