Soapy water rinsed on the glaring metal mask staring out at the ocean. A trail of it waterfalled down the side of its cheek like runny blood. The hue of excess fusion that had caked the metal plates was slowly being scrubbed off by a thick, sluggish sponge. Though the fusion slime had been wiped away, the scrapes and scratches from the fight last night remained. The already brand new armor was weathered partially, used up. Maybe a few of the scratches would be buffed out, but otherwise, it would remain somewhat tarnished. Thankfully the suit didn't suffer any extreme damage, simply just a few nicks in the thick armor itself. As for the overall appearance: the black cape drifted slightly in the salty summer breeze with some tears and rips. The altercations ruined its rubbery and pristine design. Oh well, not all good things last forever.
Niles gave his suit a concerned look while brushing it all off. He was nearly finished cleaning his suit, though became obsessed with the scuffs that couldn't come off. It was somewhat aggravating to see, though deep down knew he couldn't do anything about it. So he just continued cleaning until it was finally finished, tossing the used-up sponge into a small iron bucket beside him. The excitement of yesterday's success woke him up early, feeling rejuvenated and well-rested. He still had bags under his eyes, as well as a few sores stretched across his body, but that was the least of his worries.
He was still in his equivalent of pajamas: a plain white t-shirt with a navy blue collar, navy blue gym shorts, and a pair of flip-flops which were resting right beside the suit. His bare feet were touching the ship's deck without any concern for dirt or grime. He could just wash it off later since he planned to take a bath. He also slept with his NanoComm, just in case if anything came up while he was asleep.
The first light of dawn had broken over the valley for some time now, the remnants of last night's storm leaving a little destruction in its wake. The ground was still wet and muddy, a few trees had fallen over and even a slight mudslide had drifted fully out to sea. Though the chaotic environment last night wasn't entirely for nothing; the morning after the storm came peacefully. In this early morning, the sky lit up in a blend of orange and pink, with only a few wispy clouds drifting across the ocean.
Our young hero stood beside his titanium suit, pausing to gaze out at the peaceful scene around him. The stress on his mind was eased thanks to his success, giving him a well-deserved respite. He placed a hand on the shoulder of the suit, using it as a rest, and just stared out at the sea in front of him.
The warmth of the rising sun gently touched his face, the wind invading his nostrils with a salty smell. His greasy hair drifted along with it too, indicating that he needed to find a shampoo bottle on this big post. Regardless, that didn't matter right now. His thoughts drifted along with said breeze as he stood there, feeling gratitude and peace. Somehow, it felt like the world stopped. At least the valley was at peace after a long time; no roars of fusion monsters, no anxiety of an oncoming attack, just a man and his time on the ocean.
If he had time in a bottle, which could stop at any moment in his life for as long as he wanted, this morning would be one of those moments.
"Hm, my records state that the Forsaken Valley was entirely infected in the future. This was its original state? What a sight."
Niles darted his head up and over to see X sitting on the other shoulder of the suit, swinging his little stubby feet. He also appeared to be looking out toward the horizon, enjoying the morning view.
"Yeah, that's right. I never got to see it like this since I was placed at Mount Blackhead for a majority of my easier years," Niles replied solemnly. "I can't remember the last time it was this quiet."
X spoke up, "What was it like, being here last?"
The man took a moment to think about it, the stress somehow shielded by the view. He felt like it was an open place to speak his mind, and so he did. "It wasn't safe. Near the end of the war, Jack was truly the last line of defense. The only reason they sent me up here to help was because I needed to get away from my captain, after the incident. It was just me, Jack, and thirteen other guys and gals. Without anything fantastical about us, we were some of earth's best. Most of the greatest guys on the field had already fallen, replaced with their fusions. But this.."
The ocean waves moved gracefully, their gentle white swells brushing up against the shore. Each wave retreated in foam, then pushed itself forward again with the next upcoming wave. The water's surface shimmered like glitter under the early morning light, foaming like a freshly opened bottle of sparkling water.
With the wind distinctly blowing, the trees along the shoreline swayed gently. Their leaves whistled softly, the branches moving all in unison together creating a calming rustle. The air next to them was filled with the sounds of natural wildlife rather than roaming monsters–the distinct calls of seagulls, the occasional chirp of an insect, as well as faint rustling from small creatures moving through the underbrush. It was like something out of a nature documentary, watching the wildlife heal itself.
"This is nice." Niles finished on a good note, shutting his eyes and grinning.
X responded, "Would you care for a recommendation, sir?"
"What's that?" he asked back, peeking over to look at his nano.
The nano lifted himself and orbited over to Niles' actual shoulder, sitting down on it and looking at him from the side. "You did a lot yesterday. You mentioned that you liked it a lot, so.. perhaps you could go for a swim?"
"Out there? What for?" the man questioned.
The nano continued, "Take a rest day, you've earned it. It is just like Blossom advised, 'Pace yourself in the work and you won't get burnt out.'"
"Hm.." Niles thought long and hard about it, the idea of continuing his quest still fresh on his mind. "Yeah, you've got a point. Okay, I'll take a rest day."
X nodded along, "As you should. Perhaps we could relax by the beach today without worrying about fusion monsters trying to attack us?"
"Yeah, that sounds great," Niles lifted his head, squinting at the sky. He raised a hand over his eyes, shielding the sunlight. "Hold on a minute, what's that.."
A new S.C.A.M.P.E.R. appeared on the horizon, glaringly obvious with its dark contrast compared to the light sky. It grew larger as it approached, the sound of its engines becoming more distinct compared to the calm noise of the waves. For this sudden approach, Niles turned his back to witness a handful of Mandroids moving into action. They prepared a landing zone for the incoming craft, working with efficient precision to ensure all obstacles were out of the way.
By the time the vehicle had arrived, smoothly it began to descend. The bottom of it touched down on the deck, the landing gear making contact with a loud thud sound. Smoke from the engines poured out all across its sight, billowing up into the air like a miniature forest fire as the rugged two-by-four technology did its job. Finally, the engines died down and the ship stopped, the hum of the big aircraft dying with it too. The Mandroids ensured everything was good to go and most of them left just like that, leaving only one to stay behind and wait for the oncoming traffic to arrive.
From his suit, Niles squinted his eyes and fully turned to face who was showing up. "I think the supply run came a bit early this morning, don't you think?"
"That is not a supply run S.C.A.M.P.E.R., sir," X replied. "That is directly from Sector V."
He retorted, "Must be more reinforcements, then? Surely there would be more, wouldn't there?"
"With a world like ours? You would be surprised," the nano replied humorously.
The side door popped open as the sounds of multiple figures became apparent. There was a lot of movement, including a loud bang echoing from within the aircraft. The first person to come out moments later was a younger man dressed from head to toe in leather black KND armor. He had a firm glare on his face, his bleach blonde hair blocking part of his face due to how unbrushed and muffin-shaped it was. He huffed in slight frustration and spoke up in a familiar accent, "Whew! I forgot how hot this place was in the summertime! I'm gonna need to ditch some of this armor A-S-A-P!"
"It wouldn't be so bad if you didn't bring your entire set with ya, now would it?" riposted a sassy and recognizable woman stepping out behind him. A hand adjusted her red cap, surveying Mandark's ship left and right. Both of her pop guns clacked against her hips with each step, finding some room to brush herself off and stretch.
"For once, Numbuh Four was the one who packed too much," the next one to come out adjusted his sunglasses to the blaring morning sun. He had a tired but optimistic grin on his face, having replaced his red sweater with a red t-shirt to adjust to the temperature. He brushed a hand across his bald forehead and chuckled a little. "I'm beginning to suspect something might be wrong here."
"I really hope not!" a loud higher-pitched voice interrupted him as another girl stepped out. She had also changed from her usual green sweater to something more sleek: a black tank top. Though it was hidden behind her own set of armor which dangled after each step. "We didn't come all this way just for everything to mess up, now did we?!"
Finally, the last one to step out of the ship was the pilot. He took off his cap and goggles, brushing his eyes with his hands. "Whew! That flight was booor-ing! I wanna find some action pronto!"
"Yeah it was boring, and being stuck in the backseat with Kuki was even worse! I could barely sleep because of her!" Numbuh Four glared, crossing his arms, and shook his head.
Three poked her fingers together shyly, "D-Did I? I'm sorry Wally; the seats were just so comfy-"
"I slept just fine," Five replied with a smirk, crossing her arms. "Numbuh Five definitely needed that rest."
"Wake yourselves up, everybody; we've got a mission to complete," One replied seriously, glaring as per usual. "First we need to check in with Jack and Tetrax, then establish a plan to directly confront the control center. We'll need to hit it hard and fast-"
Niles opened his eyes just a little more as they all came funneling out. He was in shock, blinking rapidly and counting who all was there. Numbuh One through Five were all together as a team, something he'd never thought of seeing. What were they doing here, out of all places?
"S-Sector V's team? Oh my gosh, it's you guys!"
All five of them eventually turned their heads to look at the slightly older man, who was now power-walking over to the entire team.
Two opened his eyes, recognizing the sound of his voice and the image of his suit in the background. "Hold on just a sec. Niles? The guy with the metal suit?"
"Huh," One was stunted, adjusting his sunglasses and crossing his arms. "This is a surprise."
Four blinked a couple of times, "Wait, hold on. It's the metal man!"
Two quickly jogged up to Niles and held a hand out, his smile widening the longer he stared at him. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you here, man! Bring it here!"
Smack! Punch! Snap!
Both Two and Niles shared a nasty combo: the ultimate bro handshake. First, it started with a dab up, sliding their hands out. Next, they punched each other's knuckles, fired off a finger gun at each other and, to finish it all off, snapped their fingers.
One crossed his arms, slightly humored at their reunion.
Both Three and Four stood beside each other, watching with sudden interest.
Five grinned, taking off her cap and using it as a fan in the morning heat.
Finally, they both hugged each other tightly before letting go. Two eyed him up and down before speaking his mind, "You look a little rough! What are you doing here out of all places, Niles?"
"Just stayin' out the way," Niles smiled, then looked down at his outfit and sighed. "Oh, I was just helping Mandark's ship with an attack."
Quickly Nigel replied, "Mandark's ship got attacked? When?"
"Last night," Niles turned to look at Numbuh One. "Fusion Demongo led a clone army to assault the ship, but we handled it and took him out."
Five opened her eyes up," You knocked Demongo's fusion sideways? Ain't he the freaky demon fella Jack's got beef with?"
"That'd be correct," One reaffirmed. "Though that's another entire topic to be discussed. How'd it go?"
Patiently by the sidelines, the Mandroid crossed its metal arms and let them speak. It didn't want to interrupt, letting them convene for the time being.
"It was rough, but it went well," Niles admitted honestly. "I take it they sent you guys here to help?"
Four shook his head, "Nah mate, we're here for something else entirely."
One said, "We found the estimated location of one of Fuse's control centers and aim to take it out. Turns out that slimy eel has been lurking closer than any of us thought, and if he sent a fusion of someone powerful enough like Demongo, then he's got plans."
"Here in the Darklands? A control center? There's actually four."
Two scratched his hair, "Do what now?"
"Yeah, there are four command centers," Niles continued. It then hit him, causing him to rub his forehead. "Right, sorry. Uhm, yeah. I don't remember where each of them are, but there are a few here. I'd be more than happy to help, though I need to rest a bit today. Yesterday knocked the wind out of me.."
Numbuh One stepped forward, "Where can we find Jack and Tetrax? We need to have a little chat with them if you don't mind."
"Downstairs, likely on the bridge," Niles pointed sideways. "I think Jack might be awake now. It's not too early."
"If you don't mind, we'll be on our way," One nodded, gesturing for the group to follow along beside him. "I'd like to talk about the control centers with you later, once we've gotten an update about our mission."
Niles held both of his hands up, "Right, don't mind me. I know you guys have got stuff to do."
"It's no trouble, man," Numbuh Two grinned and offered a fist out. "If we get a sec, I'll come talk to ya after the briefing. I'm happy you're here!"
Niles smiled, fistbumping him. "Same here, Hoagie."
With a two-finger salute, Two joined the rest of the troop in their walk towards the lower deck.
Five gave a nod.
Three waved her hand, "See ya later, suit guy!"
"Later, dude." Four spoke.
One gave a respectful nod to Niles, not saying a word. He followed beside the Mandroid who was happy enough to lead them toward the lower deck of the ship. The man with the suit was left behind, while the group focused on the task ahead.
"Well isn't that a surprise," Niles crossed his arms, watching them all go. "Maybe things are turning out for the better after all."
X patted him on the shoulder, "Maybe so! I did not expect to see Sector V here, either. This is a much brighter light than I anticipated."
From that point, the main five walked together down the steps and into the main section of Mandark's ship. Their footsteps could be heard echoing across the vast metallic halls, the dimly lit corridors now lighting up with automatic lights from their presence. The air was cool with several vents in comparison to the heat outside, the hum of the ship's engines providing a white noise to help some of the ship's inhabitants sleep. Together they followed along, quietly mumbling about directions of signs up on the wall. Their goal was the bridge of the airship, searching for any signs of either Jack or Tetrax who would be up in the morning. This trip was a first time for a couple of the KND members, lost to the extrinsic patterns of black and red all across the ship. One of them might have carried a resentment for the boy genius Mandark, though others didn't have an issue with him and admired his work. It was a technological marvel, one that met with Dexter's work quite easily.
The airship's bridge was an expansive room with high ceilings and a panoramic view of the jungles down below. The walls had dozens of control panels and monitors being controlled and used by several Mandroids on duty; many of these computers displayed vital information regarding the ship's status, equipment in storage, messages from Sector V, and so on. The only natural light that poured its way into the room was the light of the rising sun, giving an orange hue to the room.
A familiar samurai treated himself to a white mug with a hot liquid inside. A soft steam billowed from the rim, touching his white robes while he quietly sat in the corner. His hands delicately cradled this small drink, his lips blowing on the steam before taking a sip. He waited a moment, letting it sit in his mouth, and then swallowed it. What came after was a satisfied hum in relief, shutting his eyes and a creeping smile over his face.
In the center of the bridge, a square table held a holographic display of the surrounding area, showing the ship's position relative to the Forsaken Valley and the nearby coastline. The plans of last night's fight had been cleaned up, now replaced with simply just a wonderful and empty display of the cleaned-up jungle. Resting on his hands at one end of the table, Tetrax meticulously continued to work. He had stayed up all night, logging the reports and taking into account the casualties of the previous battle. He had sent several messages to several bases and factions, detailing the events of what happened. Though he had managed to complete quite a lot within the last few hours, he was quite tired.
Watching from the sidelines, Jack sipped his hot water slowly. The atmosphere on the bridge was calm while the Mandroids worked, leaving just the two of them to finish up their responsibilities for the day. On this pleasant morning, Jack decided to speak up. "So, Tetrax. When will you be finished with your work?"
"Soon," the alien replied bluntly, huffing. His large fingers dragged across the hologram, looking at a handful of replies he received. "It is imperative I inform Providence and the Plumbers of their losses. I am sure they are going to want to hear them."
Jack nodded, "I see. What of the work for the ship? Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Actually, there is," Tetrax stopped briefly, turning his heavy head to look at the samurai. "I would like to ask that you brief everyone of their duties; additionally, inform everyone to leave me be. I will be retiring to my quarters and taking a long-desired rest."
"As you wish," Jack nodded his head. "I appreciate you willing to let me rest. That was selfless of you."
Vwoosh!
The main door to the bridge slid open, and marching in was Numbuh One.
All of the Mandroids stopped in sync, spinning their heads to scan him up and down. Shortly afterward, they went back to their work.
Tetrax and Jack both eyed him as he made his way in, startled by his sudden appearance.
Next came Two and Five, then Three and Four.
"Oh, I did not know we had visitors," Jack quickly brushed himself off and got up from his seat. With a hand on the butt of his blade, he shuffled over to Sector V's team and gave Tetrax an 'ok' sign.
The Petrosapien huffed grumpily, going back to one of his messages and ignored the group.
"Well well well, if it isn't the front-line defense," Nigel spoke, his British accent cutting the empty air. "Numbuh One, leader of Sector V. It's an honor to see you again."
Jack set down his cup gently. His gentle gaze eyed him up and down, offering a small bow in response. "I am honored, Number One. It is nice to see you fine warriors once more."
"Hiya Jack!" Three waved enthusiastically.
Five nodded her hat, "Samurai Jack, how's it been?"
"It's always great getting to see you again!" Two offered a hand out for a handshake.
Jack took him, shutting his eyes and grinning at the flattery. "Ahah, yes, yes."
Four crossed his arms, giving a hard nod to the samurai.
"Tetrax, you remember the members of the sector?" The man turned his head back, offering a hand out.
Tetrax narrowed his eyes, nodding his head. "Greetings, Sector V. Now if you will excuse me, I must finish this."
"He has been busy all night, recording the battle from yesterday," Jack placed his other hand on his hip, exchanging looks between all of the members. "If you have come here to discuss something, you may direct your attention to me. I will be taking over for the day."
One nodded his head, "Excellent, we have just that as a matter of fact. Where would you like us to sit?"
"You may join us at the table," he gestured a hand out toward where Tetrax was. "Please, make yourselves comfortable."
The group migrated and invaded the alien's space, claiming chairs for their own and dumping their equipment in their seats.
Once he was finished, the alien gave a stoic nod to the group and departed from the bridge. Seconds later, he disappeared behind the closing doors. He was going to enjoy one of the best rests of his lifetime after this, or so he hoped.
"Right, the matter we've come to discuss with you is our mission here, Jack. We'll be checking in, stocking supplies for the mission, and will be departing." One began.
Jack stood at the head of the table, having scooped up his hot water and sipped it calmly. He nodded his head casually, treating this whole thing with both care and caution.
"Would you like us to pull it up, Numbuh One?" Two asked, reaching for something in his backpack under the table.
One replied, Yes. Jack, if you don't mind, may we use the table?"
The samurai gestured with a hand to go ahead.
The young man reached out towards the central console, activating the holographic interface with his hand. As the map began to materialize, Nigel inserted the coordinates Two provided with his journal into the search bar. It zoomed in swiftly, the holographic terrain shifting and adjusting until it focused on the specific location. A bright red dot blinked ominously on the display, marking the enemy's estimated control center. The room got quiet again as One continued to speak up.
"I am sure you won't be surprised to hear that back home, Fuse had a trick up his sleeve. Dozens of beacons have been planted secretly behind our territory, feeding his vile spawn information on what we're up to," Nigel glared, pinching at his sunglasses. "Thanks to Dexter and Blossom's work, we've indicated that this location right here is the source of where these beacons are communicating!"
His finger firmly pointed to the red dot as he stood up from his seat.
Jack scratched his chin, narrowing his eyes while he continued.
"We will be traveling to this control center to not only cut off his communication but give that big green piece of work a little present ourselves. Numbuh Four?" he turned his head over with a smirk.
Four jumped up from his seat and threw his fists in the air, "WE'RE GONNA BLOW THAT SUCKER SKY HIGH!"
Jack's expression shifted subtly as he listened. The mention of the control center stirred a distant memory, something unsettling. He placed his cup down, stepping closer to the holographic map. His gaze fixated closely on the dot, his eyes widening a little. "You would be right, that is a control center. However.."
"Yes?" One questioned.
"That is not just any stronghold. It is overseen by a formidable adversary of mine–one of Fuse's strongest warriors."
The entire team's interest heightened, Four's confidence slowly fading away as lowered his fists. "Wha?"
Jack continued steadily, "The fusion that controls it is a being with immense strength, one I have the displeasure of facing twice. He is Fuse's first fusion ever created, a fusion of.."
He sighed. "Myself."
Nigel frowned, absorbing the information. "So, Fuse managed to stick it to you too, hm? Your fusion self is guarding the control center? It makes sense he'd send someone so powerful to guard it."
Jack remained silent, grinning while humbled by the compliment.
"Hold on a sec, how do you know this?" Five pushed her cap up, revealing a pair of curious eyes.
Jack continued, "There are several control centers located within the Darklands. The one you speak of is the most prominent, though it only controls a portion of Fuse's forces. We have had several problems establishing camps in these lands, given that my fusion has interrupted our work."
"Woah, this got heavy," Two held his hands up in defense. "I don't even know where to start."
The samurai looked over, "Indeed, it is a dangerous mission, but it is crucial to cut off Fuse's communication. I have a feeling you may be the key to solving this issue, and for that I am grateful."
"By all means," One popped his fingers. "Let's start planning and get to work."
The exchange of ideas and strategies began, each member of Sector V offering their insights while Jack listened and responded with his own experiences and wisdom. Despite their different backgrounds, they were somehow blending the lines. In Jack's eyes, they were all warriors in their own right, each contributing to the greater good in their unique way.
Meanwhile, back out towards the beach, Niles had traded his comfortable pajamas for a pair of simple swimming trunks. He wrapped a towel around his shoulders, the fabric soft and warm against his bare skin. The sun had risen a little bit more this morning, shifting the sky's colors from orange to a now solid blue. There was a change in the tone of the morning now, though it remained peaceful as it was.
Niles walked along a familiar path from the airship's levitating lift to the ground, each step sinking slightly into the soft sand. The beach was serene, the only sounds being the distant calls of seabirds and the rhythmic lapping of waves against the shore. As he approached the tree line, the dense foliage gradually gave way, revealing the expansive view of the ocean ahead.
When he found a spot to settle, he paused. The sight before him pulled back into a moment of reflection as his hand unhooked the NanoComm from his wrist. He spun around entirely, doing a three-sixty of the view before him.
He fell eerily silent.
This spot, now bathed in the morning light and sand soaked in the crisp salty sea, plucked a strung.
"When are you going to realize that it is pointless?"
It held a significant place in his memories, bringing him slight alarm as he turned completely back. Though he expected to see a formidable foe behind him, he was granted some peace of mind. The sun, in comparison to the shade underneath the trees, brought him into the light.
Niles gulped, dropping his NanoComm into the sand, and took a step back. He could feel his blood beginning to flow, the adrenaline in his veins from… nothing. It was a battle between nostalgia and fear, some strained and hurt emotion that hit him in his core.
"I know a way to ease your pain."
One swift motion into the chest, a katana which found its entrance.
"It is the honorable thing to do."
He could feel the fatigue and desperate tension in his muscles as if his body began reliving the struggle. No, not the romanticized poetry of a boulder, but reality. The memories were vivid, almost tangible. The clash of metal against metal echoed across the beach; it was hissing and clean. The dance of survival replayed: the blade snapping in half. He watched it fly up into the air before sinking into the ground, leaving him with a fractured blade to fight against the greatest swordsman of all time.
The distinct weight of each blast, and the small confidence after each bullet streaking fusion matter. Niles lowered his head, looking down at the calluses formed from his sharpshooter's grip. He remembered the recoil and successive shots ringing out, each one begging for advantage. The echoes seemed to blend in with the natural sounds of the beach, bringing unwarranted chaos to this blissful paradise.
The sensation of his heartbeat drummed from within. For a moment, he almost believed he could hear his fierce breaths, the grunts of effort, and aiming the gun just right. It was a cycle of the past reaching out, mingling with the present. His lines became blurred, making him stumble back out of surprise. Yet, despite the vividness of his memory, he knew it was just that–remembrance. The fight was long over by now, and the lullaby of the waves came back louder than before. It was just the soft murmur of the sea, alone with his thoughts.
Niles breathed in and out, taking off his towel and folding it. He dropped it beside the NanoComm, turning to face the ocean, and struck his usual pose. His fists were balled, his legs slightly spread. An impulsive thought told him he was going to drown the moment he stepped into that water. Another one warned him that if he closed his eyes, he would be right back where he once was: at the mercy of the fusion samurai.
As he gradually shifted his focus back to the present, he started his way towards the ocean. The heat beat down on his shoulders, compared to the cool touch of the water as it began to rise above his feet. As he waded further in, the water took him in gladly. The trickling sweat running down his body quickly went away as the saltwater enveloped him, swallowing him whole entirely. Within a slow, deliberate motion, Niles leaned back, allowing the water to support him. He floated effortlessly on the surface, the waves cradling him as he stared up at the blinding sun above him.
The light was bright, almost too intense. His eyes were tightly squinted shut as he adjusted to the rhythm of the sea. At this moment, there were no battles to fight, no struggles to overcome. It was just the simple existence of floating on the water, alone with the vast sky above.
He lost himself in the sea, forgetting about everything else around him for now with tired eyes. Popping out from the NanoComm, Nano Alien X curiously hovered forward to the edge of the beach and plopped himself down in the sand. He kicked his stubby little feet, remaining stationary while watching Niles lifelessly float above water. He raised an eyebrow, though could barely be heard with the intense sound of the waves crashing on shore.
So knowing this, X watched from the shore like the diligent little companion he was.
Taking a deep breath, Niles slowly submerged beneath the water's surface. The coolness enveloped him completely, muffling the sounds of the world above. Then came the exhale, sinking even further. Air bubbles rose toward the shimmering surface which now seemed so far away. He kept going until his back grazed against the sandy bottom; the world above was a blur, and the only light visible was sunlight filtering through the water like ethereal patterns.
He remained still, staring up at the distorted waves nudging at him. Time slowed down, turning seconds into minutes.
His legs went stiff, and he folded his arms over his stomach like a corpse while watching the waves. His mind also went heavy, losing all gravity. He had a little bit of time to reflect, thinking back to his recent win. It felt great, but now the world just felt so... empty. Why? Was this what he wanted? Everything he ever wished for came true, through dedication and hard work. The road to success was a bumpy one, filled with tosses and turns, though eventually he pulled through.
A wave went by.
There was still a long way to go, there was no doubting that. Though, oddly enough he felt empty. The journey was so rewarding that the actual prize itself was empty-handed. Was it a perfect run? No, no it wasn't. He could have done so much better. Yet somehow, even in the worst possible scenario, he lived. A part of Niles told himself that he didn't deserve any of this. There were so many other willing participants who deserved a second life in a better timeline. Blossom worked so hard, not only for Sector V but for him as well. At his lowest point in his life, she was one of the rare few who wanted to pick him back up. Even adjusting to this new world, the reflections and hauntings of the other one bled into his daily life. Not a moment went by when he saw Blossom and couldn't think about his old mentor. Having to rebuild his relationship with Numbuh Two from the ground up broke his heart. Spending time with Buttercup felt languishingly precious. The dozens of faces of those he once knew, now absorbed into a green pile of goop, still burned in his thoughts.
A wave went by.
The countless days when he was younger and stupid, spent running away for his life rather than defending it. There were so many people he could've saved in those times, and so many things he could've done better. Desperation could only drive a man so far, so is this what it really was? Desperation? A badly craved desire to live? Were it not for the others passing the torch along to him, he would have been just another casualty. Another number, just like how everyone else was slowly becoming. The reminder of life in the old world was just fading away into memory, and he was the last one standing. X was a living data bank, though he was the last piece of data that the world carried. In truth, it was just the two of them, forced to bear the causality of an inattentive nature.
A wave went by.
In truth, however, it didn't matter how much he thought about whether or not he deserved to live. He did. The past was the past, no sense in dwelling on it even further. Those who understood their duties passed him along as they should, believing he was meant for more. It was selfish to think about it, as it was disregarding the thoughts and opinions of those who cared. This was what they wanted for him: to succeed. Somewhere, somehow, they were all cheering him on from the sidelines. He had to keep going, to become a nightmarish plague on Fuse to crumble his hivemind piece by piece. Only then, at the victorious end of the war, would he be able to come to terms with these thoughts. He got his wish, and now he had to return the favor for those fallen by winning. With no time left to properly say goodbyes, or to bury the dead, that would be his greatest gift to all of them.
As the pressure on his lungs began building, that was his signal to resurface. With a gentle push off of his sandy bottom, he propelled upward. Breaking the surface, he took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs as he gasped for breath. Salty air invaded his nostrils as he took in that air openly, paddling gently to regain his strength.
He turned and began to follow the gentle current back to the shore, letting the waves guide him. When he reached the shallows, his feet and hands pushed him up and onto his legs. His hands slicked the hair covering his eyes back, making him look less like a wet komondor while blinking rapidly to adjust to the brightness.
Making his way up the beach, he spotted X still sitting on the sand, watching him with a curious gaze. Niles gave the tiny companion a tired smile as he approached, feeling content with himself. His walk was a sluggish waddle, almost like he was ready for a nap.
"Did you enjoy your swim in the ocean?" X asked politely.
Niles nodded, speaking in a much gentler tone. "Yeah, it was nice."
"Good, I am glad," the nano replied, squinting his eyes in a happy smile.
The man walked over and scooped up his towel, immediately going for his hair first and began padding himself down from head to toe. Once he was finished, he joined the nano beside him and laid out his now wet towel on the sand. He sat down on it and outstretched his arms and legs, leaning back while sighing heavily. "I can't remember the last time I felt this calm at the Forsaken Valley. It was always full of creatures, but now it feels so.. safe."
"This is good for you, sir," X turned to look up at him. "I was concerned about seeing you so anxious yesterday, so I concluded that perhaps something like this would be-"
"Yeah," Niles interrupted with a grin. "This was a good idea. Thanks, X."
Eventually, after sitting for a few more minutes, the man got up from his towel and lifted it off of the ground. As the wind pushed him sideways, he held his towel out and began flapping it in the air. The sand spewed out and landed right back on the beach until he threw it back over his shoulders.
"Oh, are we leaving?" X lifted himself off the ground, meeting his eye level.
The man gestured with his hand, "I'm ready to go. I could stay here all day, but that's for another time. We've got stuff to do."
The nano nodded his head, then quickly disappeared back into his NanoComm.
He scooped up the wrist device and clamped it back on, starting his way back toward Mandark's ship with a fresh mind. Naturally, out of curiosity, he quickly turned it on and began going through his messages, scrolling through them one by one while he was away for the past couple of days.
Most of them were routine updates from Sector V, status reports, and a few messages from the people he had checked in on. His expression remained relaxed as he scrolled, slowly making his way toward the end while he walked. Suddenly he paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. One message stood out from the rest, making him stop where he was in his tracks. He focused entirely on the screen as he read it, a somewhat anxious feeling hitting him in the chest. He was still numb to the effects of the ocean though realized the weight of the message still held him.
Flash!
Almost right on time, a flashing lime green line zipped across the sky, heading straight for the airship. Though it wasn't immediately obvious, Niles recognized the telltale sign. A mixture of relief and nervousness washed over him, knowing that the arrival could only mean something pretty important. He quickly shut off his NanoComm, the urgency of the appearance snapping him into a jog. "X, I know you like to care for my health, but you should've said something!"
The nano briefly popped up beside him, gently flying along as he broke out into a jog. "My apologies, sir. I discarded the messages you received due to how yesterday's events were. I did not know you would care so deeply about them."
Back on Mandark's ship, by now a majority of the crew and agents had gotten up. The atmosphere was the perfect mix of routine work and lingering celebration. The victory from the previous night was still fresh in everyone's minds, clusters of people moving to get their work done so they'd have a day for themselves. The deck was alive, and the tumult of conversations, clattering equipment, mission briefings, and occasional bursts of laughter could be heard.
As per usual, the Mandroids set up the shops and stands. Many of the current patrons on top visited the repair stand, watching the robots get to work on cleaning out and replacing their weapons with brand-new ones.
Sector V's main five all walked out together like the tight-knit group they always were, discussing the next step with one another.
"Alright gang, listen up," One placed both of his hands on his hips. "We'll be staying here until approximately evening. From there, we will be heading out. You are free to do as you'd like, but remain on the ship so we don't lose you to the mud pits, alright?"
"Yes Numbuh One," Four groaned, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.
Five smirked, "We ain't twelve no more, Nigel. Ain't gotta boss us around like that."
"Yeah! We'll be just fine! Ain't that right guys?" Two said with a smile, turning to look at the rest.
Three reached her hand out and gave a firm thumbs up. She smiled cutely, "On it, boss!"
"Okay, good," Nigel nodded his head. Eventually, his serious look broke into a grin, waving his hand. "It's just that... I missed this, working with you guys."
Two walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "It's no trouble, Nigel! Ain't nothing like saving the world from the hands of evil as a team, huh?"
"Yeah," Five nodded her head. "It ain't the same, but it's still the same ol' five."
Four replied, "Just wait until Fuse sees who shows up at his front door! I'm gonna hit 'em hard and fast!"
Nigel darted his eyes between all of them, seeing them approach. Without getting too sentimental, he made sure to hide behind his sunglasses and cleared his throat. Stoically he replied, "Excellent."
Landing almost right beside them was none other than one of the familiar three Powerpuff Girls. Buttercup marked her arrival with the familiar whoosh of her flight, her iconic green and black outfit flowing in the zephyr of her flight. She took in the bustling scene of activity on the ship, scanning for something out of the many faces while biting her lower lip. In one hand, she held a red bow. In her right hand, she carried a small tank filled with a clear white liquid: the purified fusion matter swirling inside.
Her sudden landing drew the attention of the team, as well as a handful of people running around. Despite her usual tough attitude, she seemed a little bit anxious as she started approaching the group. The weight of the items she had didn't hold her down, yet she acted like it did.
Numbuh One gave a nod of recognition. "Buttercup," he greeted with his steady voice. "It's a pleasant surprise to see you here."
"Hey," she nodded, her voice casual. She looked between all of them and raised an eyebrow. "Whatcha guys up to here? Sector V back together again?"
Three raised her hands, "Yeeeah! We're currently on a mission!"
"For a little bit, yup!" Two grabbed onto his suspenders. "Are you here as backup? Jack and Tetrax mentioned something about getting reinforcements."
The girl took a deep breath, tilting her head left and right in uncertainty. "Well… I… yeah sort of. There's not a lot of time to explain it, though."
"Hm, I understand," Nigel nodded his head. "Don't let us keep you."
She flashed him a warm smile as she continued, "Have you seen a dude around here in a red and black metal suit? He likes to play hero, fights pretty hard, probably mentioned the girls and I at least twice…"
Two opened his eyes up a little more, "Oh! You mean Niles? Yeah! He's around here, somewhere.."
"I got some stuff for him, and some news," Buttercup continued, blinking. "Tell me he's not in the medical ward again, is he?"
Five shook her head, "Nah, he looked just fine when we got here."
"Okay," she replied in relief, setting down the jug and fidgeting with the bow. "I heard you guys got rough with one of the fusions up here. You guys okay?"
Nigel shook his head, "We weren't here when that happened. I'd suggest talking with Jack and Tetrax about that."
"We're here to help too, though. So give us a call if you need Sector V!" Four shouted back, confidently standing tall and crossing his arms.
"Cool," she sighed, looking down at the ground. "I won't hold you guys up. Later!"
Two nodded, giving a little wave, and started splitting up. "Catcha later! I'm off to go get a smoothie at the smoothie bar. I heard they've got great tropical drinks here."
"Wait up!" Four waved his hands frantically. "I wanna try one!"
Five began walking too, "Come to think of it, Numbuh Five's gettin' kinda thirsty herself."
As the group began splitting up, Nigel was the only one who decided to stay behind and raised an eyebrow. "Is everything alright over at Sector V? We left the other morning, and it turned into a longer flight with having to deal with a couple of slight issues.."
"Nah, yeah," Buttercup waved a hand and brushed it through her bouncy hair. "Something came up about Niles and I gotta wrangle him up."
One replied, "I hope everything is alright."
"It should be now that I'm here," she nodded. "There's just a couple of things I need to chat with him about. It's no sweat."
Nigel scratched the back of his head and continued. "Do you have any information for us? I figured I should take advantage of the opportunity with you being here before I get settled."
"Yeah, you see any kind of control center here, you take it out," she replied firmly. "Hell, I'll even help you out if you send me a message. While this place was busy fighting, taking on lame fusions, Fuse made some moves."
One opened his eyes up a little more, "Wow, that's uh… exactly what we're doing right now. I'll be sure to do that once we start."
"Sweet," the girl held her hand up. "Glad to see you're doing well, Nigel."
Numbuh One clapped his hand with hers, holding it firmly, and nodded. "Same to you, Buttercup. Thanks again."
As Buttercup finished speaking with Sector V's leader, she took a moment to glance around the deck again out of slight concern. She had a fixated poker face, aiming to get the job done more than anything right now.
Almost conveniently enough at the end of their conversations, Niles came logging up from the lift. Both of his hands held the towel over his shoulder, his flip-flops slapping after each step obnoxiously. He was still slightly damp from his dip in the ocean, a few droplets of water glistening off of his skin.
Buttercup's eyes widened as she spotted him, and she broke into a brisk jog as well. Their distance closed between them, briefly stopping to let go of the jug of purified matter and Blossom's bow near the end of it to entirely focus on him.
They both stopped a couple of steps from each other, a mix of relief and surprise on both of their faces. Buttercup took a deep breath, her usual tough demeanor softening as she looked up at him.
Niles blinked rapidly as he spoke up first, "Whew, am I glad to see you-"
She stared at him for a couple of moments, then took a couple of steps closer rather quickly.
WHACK!
Buttercup's hand struck fiercely across Niles' left cheek, reeling him back slightly.
"YEOWCH!" he yelped, grabbing onto his face as it stung horribly.
She voiced, "If I knew you were gonna ragdoll yourself at every horrible threat Fuse threw, I probably would've offered to go do your little stunt myself! Ugh, you reckless idiot!"
Next, she levitated herself up and wrapped her arms around him for a hug. She closed her eyes, gripping him tightly.
Niles flinched slightly as she came in closer, though stopped once she embraced him. He fought through his towel, hugging her back just as hard and took a deep breath. He winced, "A warning would've been nice…"
"I didn't hear about Fusion Demongo until I met up with my sis again," she replied quietly. "I thought you died out here."
Niles softly rubbed on her back, enjoying every minute of their embrace. "No, no I'm alright."
He backed up, smiling as he held his hands up. "Awe, you should've seen it! The fight was incredible! It was raining, everyone was on edge, Jack and I teamed up and we really showed them! I don't know how I did it, but your training pulled off. I held out on my own against a couple of the Justice Friends, too! There were a couple of close calls, but I made it!"
Buttercup crossed her arms and grinned tiredly, listening to him go on and on about it until interrupting him. "Woah, slow down. We've got time to catch up later. I gotta give you something real quick."
Reaching from behind, the girl scooped up both the tank and the bow. She handed it back over to him, offering it out for him to take.
"I took a trip to the nerd-fest Dexlabs while you were out; Bloss had that fusion matter still held on from a while back since you wanted that nano. Here."
Niles scooped up the tank in one arm, looking down at the transfused matter. He cradled the bow in his other, a thumb softly grazing over the fabric. His voice went tender looking down at the two, "Thank you, Buttercup."
"Yeah, don't mention it," she said. "You owe me."
The man raised an eyebrow, carefully holding onto both of the objects, and fixed his posture. "Owe you? Owe you what?"
"Dunno, something later," she suggested as she put both of her hands on her hips. "I'm honestly kinda surprised you came out of that in one piece."
Zipping out from his wrist, Nano Alien X popped out and waved his little hand to the girl. "Greetings, miss Utonium!"
The girl reached out, nuzzling a finger on his starry cheek. "Hey, little dude. You been wrangling up this nerd for me while I've been away?"
"I have done my best," X bowed, placing his hands over his stomach. "That is all I can do."
Niles blinked, "Man, you really have no faith in me, huh?"
"Well of course not; you're not powerful enough to take on such a terrible nightmare like Demongo, yet somehow you pulled through. Though there's a reason for it, and it makes sense why you won," Buttercup snorted.
He replied, "And what would that be?"
She held a hand up, "Well, to explain it, I would need to go back to when I started."
"Well go on then," Niles demanded, crossing his arms. "If you're gonna hype me up like that, I'd like an explanation."
She chuckled, "Okay, okay. It all started back at Foster's Home.."
7/27/24
Hello again! I am back, and officially 21 years old now. My birthday was last Sunday, woohoo!
Have you ever completed something you've been working on for a really long time, and then felt empty afterwards? Yeah, this is that. This chapter had me scratching my head a little bit, and I think the fic needed a bit of calm after the storm (no pun intended). I was tossing around another chapter I was planning on posting, which is actually the next one over, but I figured I'd go ahead and finish up that one for next week.
The title 'Blending the Lines' is a double meaning for this chapter, and this is one of the chapters where I'll actually explain it if you're confused or curious. This was meant to line up the plot relevance and bring the characters together, but also for Niles to come to terms with his troubled past in comparison to the present. The more you read this particular chapter over and over, the more 'blended lines' you'll spot.
With Niles' tender moment on the sea, there's a special reason for his submersion, and props to you for figuring it out.
For the next couple of chapters, you'll get to see what Buttercup has been up to, as well as have a couple of questions answered. Believe it or not, we're starting to reach the end of the fic. I have a sneaking suspicion there may be another one after this. This whole project somehow took on a different meaning for me and it hit me while writing this, so I need to lock in and make sure it wraps up nicely. If you've enjoyed it so far, please let me know what you think. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and have a pleasant week!