Sector V, the once renounced base all across the world, was a shell of its former self. The sky was a foggy green; the grass slowly died out as the ground itself revealed fissures of fusion, pussballs of the liquid slowly filling up as time went on. The earth was dying, several of the suburban houses eaten away from the landrot. A small outpost was what was left, the giant treehouse slowly being sucked in by the land. Anyone with decent vision couldn't see past the fog in the distance, further toward more sectors and areas. Clouds coated the air, pouring down a drop of green here and there. Where there were once skyscrapers now recreated a putrid ruin. Armageddon chose its favorite color: green.

Standing in one of the surviving houses, with a garage, Niles looked out toward the landscape. He had cleaned himself up quite nicely, a shaved face with a trim to some of his long hair. His teeth were now a brilliant white, his clothing no longer ripped and tattered but fresh from his own wardrobe. All he wore was a black t-shirt and gray sweatpants, his running shoes having been worn out a little bit. He was out of the medical wing now, having only been a week, his arm and parts of his body wrapped up in medical tape. The bags under his eyes were a lot better, although indicated that he still could use more sleep. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, forming tight fists.
The sight of Jack dying in his arms was still fresh, though the wounds of those who had fallen were still on his mind. The amount of burials they had to do now felt hollow, more like counting the days of who would be next. It was a roulette spin between life and death, each hero betting on who would be claimed next. Even Grim had to leave, seeing the clear indications that earth was doomed.

He thought about the opportunities he had lost, broken in a loop in his mind with deep regret. He shut his eyes, breathing in slowly. It was a heavy burden he struggled to bare: the trauma of warfare.
"Hey Niles?" a familiar voice called out to him.
He opened his eyes and turned around, watching Blossom calmly hover over to him. She had worn her typical black jumpsuit, her military boots hitting the ground as she stopped beside him. "How do you feel?"
"Better," he said lightly, looking down at her. "I hate lying in hospital beds."
Blossom frowned, crossing her arms and turned to look out at the view of the ruins in front of them. "I can tell you've still got something on your mind."
Niles sighed, looking back out to the sector. "There's a lot on my mind; I'm just a little overwhelmed is all."
"I understand how you feel," Blossom replied. "though our work never stops, unfortunately."
He turned to look down at her, "Is there something you needed?"
The girl grinned, "I have a feeling it'll make you feel better."
"Well," Niles gestured with a hand to go ahead. "I'm tired of looking at this dump."

Blossom started Niles on a trail behind her, opening the closet door to his temporary home and stepped inside. The man followed in pursuit, shutting it. Her hand wandered the wooden walls as they stood in the dark, finally discovering a little button and pressed it. Within seconds did the small closet begin to move, forming an incognito elevator which started its way down. Grinding against the walls, it went down as a soft light lit up from the ceiling. The man annoyingly pushed a couple of his shirts out of the way, backing up a little bit so he and Blossom weren't so crowded together.
"I'm sure you know what's at stake, when we start," she began. "So I decided to do a little bit of homework prior to your departure."
The front door opened up, revealing a tech lab hidden deep within the earth. The walls and floors were a bright, shiny white. White lights flared from the ceilings, revealing a long hallway with several entrances.

The two stepped out and began to walk down the hall, their shoes echoing. Within several halls lied many doors, some with windows and others with not. Everything was a bright white, rooms indicated with plaques of names and what experiments belonged where. A pair of agents dressed in black with pop guns passed by the two of them. Blossom only gave a nod, while Niles waved.
"It's scary to think I'm going to be the first man who travels through time, at least for our team that is. That time traveler, Rick, he's still out there," he spoke up, his words traveling in the quiet halls. "Do you think it would help if I searched for him?"
"If you have completed your initial mission, then I don't see why not." Blossom replied. "We need a motive, why he's indirectly helping us. I personally wouldn't take mystic jumbo for an answer, either."
Niles shrugged, "At least it's safe to conclude that he's a possible ally; after all, he had the option to give his book to Fuse but he didn't."
"How do we know that?"
He turned to look over, "Huh?"
"I said how do we know that he didn't?" Blossom asked, turning left down another hall.
Niles shrugged, "Well, he's human. As far as I know, no fusion version of us was made that we didn't know about from some other timeline. Everything came from space, so there's that."
"Proceed with caution, Agent." Blossom replied, looking up at him. "If you find him, get answers. I'm going to stay paranoid until I know for certain."
The man nodded, "Yes ma'am."

Blossom's hand reached into her pocket and pulled out a keycard, sliding it through a small slot in the wall. It blinked a bright green, a white door with the holographic plaque 'Blossom's Officer' smacked on the wall beside it unlocked. The room inside illuminated vibrant yellow, large stadium lights pouring down on a vast room. There were at least several different workshops, stacks of spare resources and parts necessary for construction. A large computer terminal sat in the back, several empty seats waiting to be operated by either assistants or other staff.
The two walked inside and the first thing that stuck out was a large rectangular box covered by a black tarp. It spread out across the ground, standing ominously under a singular light. The door quickly shut behind them, locking the two in alone.
Niles grew keen, squinting as he stepped forward. "Is it what I think it is?" His voice grew.
A grin quickly formed on Blossom's face as she hid it, walking in front of him and pressed her hands against the tarp. "I guess we'll have to find out, won't we?"
"Well go ahead, don't let me stop you." He crossed his arms gently, striking a pose and made a face to some of his stiff pain.
Blossom's hands started to pull, lifting the tarp in a slow and dramatic reveal. It continued to unravel and unravel, more of the cloth conglomerating on the ground until a bright light flashed in the room underneath.

Glass reflected the bright light, forming a spotlight. Sitting in its own tall glass case was a suit of armor. It had a slim design, the main colors of the metal plating a glaring red and white. For the helmet, two bright yellow eyes looked forward; a wide white mouth was carved in, mimicking a face. Parts of the helmet were covered by a fake, plated black hair. The neck was covered in a tight and resistant leather for extra support. A long, black cape draped from behind, stiff only made for display. Small spots for exposed relief of heat showed dozens of wires traveling across the exoskeleton like veins, gloved hands with red knuckles showing off circular holes in each palm. A plate had been placed directly on the crotch, the inner thighs slightly exposed although padded with extra toughened leather. Two thick boots formed slim rockets, designed in a military boot shape.
Niles smiled, stepping up to the glass and saw himself through his own reflection. He looked up at the set before him and took in every single detail. The light in his eyes came to life, his hands twitching to get a feel for what it was. That feeling of being powerful longed for him again, urging to break the glass and climb in immediately. He didn't, although the excitement billowed up from within. "It's perfect, v-visually I mean-"
He quickly took a couple of steps and analyzed it from every angle, his hand tracing while another was kept in his pocket. "The parts for exposure are strategically the best; the neck and groin looks comfortable, I mean-"

"I put in a few extra surprises, tools for when you go back so you can get nasty with some fusion monsters." Blossom chimed in.
He turned to look back at her, a wide smile on his face. "Blossom, this is the best gift I've ever gotten."
"Now now, don't thank me yet-" she held her hands up. "First you have to use it, then you can thank me."
Niles quickly paced over and wrapped his arms around her back, leaning it for a tight hug. She did the same, squeezing him strongly with her small arms. The two held it for a moment, until the man let go and took a step back.
"I can already tell this suit is going to make the old one feel like a tin can." Niles joked. "Will it survive the jump?"
Blossom firmly posed, "It better! That plate is made from titanium!"
"No," Niles' jaw dropped. "How did you find a sizable amount for a heap like this?"
"I have my ways," she nodded, taking a step forward and pointed at the shoulders. "It's important to know that, unlike the last suit, this one is solar powered. The battery doesn't last as long as the original suit did but it still packs quite a punch. If not, it has a better punch."
Niles scratched his chin, holding his other arm. "How did you even manage.. that?"

"Well, given what I could work with, the plating on the suit has two sides. The front side is made of titanium, while the other has aluminosilicate glass panels. It comes with several modes in the suit's helmet, easily capable of switching from just one to all seventy panels. You can leave some panels on and some panels off, although it's hard to replace glass like that. I would suggest flipping if you know you can get away with it." Blossom explained.
As she followed around, she pointed up at the shoulders and continued. "I know you had trouble with the cape last time, so I took an extra measure to provide clip-on slots for this cape specifically. If you don't want it flying around while you travel, you can clip it off and store it for later. Besides, the only superhero who can get away with wearing a cape is Major Glory. Us supers really shouldn't wear capes during combat."
"Says you! Maybe I wanna wallop a guy while looking good!" Niles teased.
Blossom huffed, "I'd like to think I look good walloping anyone, jerk. Anyways.."

She moved around and pointed at one of the hands, continuing on. "Your hand cannons have been slightly shrunken down but empowered for more effect. That way you can focus on accuracy instead of just blasting everything in sight, as fun as it is."
"Gosh I.. I feel spoiled," Niles remarked as he rubbed his bottom lip. His eagerness grew larger the longer she explained the details, internally begging to get a taste. For a moment, the pain in his arm went away as his mind had fully fixated on this new gift. "You think I can reach your numbers with this suit?"
Blossom made a face, "Oh, no, I don't think you'll ever be able to beat me. Unless you find a way to overclock the battery and fight for hours, you won't even get close. Still, you'll definitely be able to last longer in battle. That's for sure."
"One step closer I suppose," Niles sighed. "Everytime I step into that suit, I feel like a different man. I feel like I could take on planet fusion alone and win. Then it shorts, or breaks, and I'm forever reminded of just how fragile I am."
Blossom looked over at him, giving him a bittersweet face. "You will still be my successor, no matter what. It's safe to say, with how far you've gone, my sisters and I are very proud of who you've become today. Even if Bubbles and Buttercup were still here, they would be.." she frowned, looking down at the ground. "It'll be the day when you reach those numbers, though."

Niles took a step forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I will never forget everything you've done for me; the same goes for Bubbles and Buttercup."
"Ah, there's another matter to be discussed, Niles." Blossom replied shallowly.
The man raised an eyebrow, letting go and crossed his arms. "What's that?"
"Should Dexter's time machine work, and you are sent back in time, there is something I've been meaning to talk to you about for a while. It's specifically about Buttercup." Blossom said.
Niles grew anxious, remaining silent and nodded along.
"I don't know if they'll know it's you, or if they recognize you, but I know how you felt about my sister." Blossom started. "It was obvious."
The man took a deep breath, holding it and squinted. "Really?"
"Yes."
He exhaled, lowering his head and rubbed the back of it. "I mean, I never got to tell her how I really felt."

"I've spent plenty of time with you to know now fully, compared to how defensive I might have been in the past." Blossom spoke calmly, looking into his eyes. She didn't let him look away for a second, remaining in contact with him and made him face forward. "I know you will be given a second chance, and I'm okay if you want to get together. My past self won't agree, but just know you have my support, even if it may be in an alternate timeline."
Niles remained silent, looking into her eyes with shock. He felt the connection on a deeper level, clawing into an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time. He stood there, moved by her words before he could form any himself. "Thank you, Blossom. I won't let either of you down."
"Good," she replied firmly, looking off to the side and sighed. "I will warn you: she was a loose cannon."
A distant memory dug itself up in his mind; Buttercup had been rather reckless in her fighting. Her ferocity is the reason she had gotten so far in the first place, a force Niles envied. She never would accept a loss and be devastated even when she did. "I liked that about her; she was always strong, and things went from bad to worse when I wanted to confess to her. To be honest, I was scared you'd think differently of me back then when I did."

"Awe, really?" Blossom smiled.
Niles nodded, "Yes, I was a bit scared I'll admit."
"Good to know I'm still intimidating," she snickered. "That's something I'll remember as a compliment."
He backed up a bit and let go, putting his hands in his pockets and stood between her and the suit. "All three of you were intimidating when you got mad, and together: something not to be reckoned with."
"Well, the Powerpuff Girls live on in us now. I guess.. The Powerpuff Duo." she bargained, although didn't put much thought into the name.
The agent agreed with her decision and turned to look up at the suit.
There was a moment of silence shared between the two of them as they admired this hunk of titanium, Blossom almost even too scared to let it out of the glass. She had spent countless days working to perfect every piece of this suit, in hopes of improving Niles' skills. On the other hand, it would be now marked as the strongest super-suit an agent could wear; the engineering Dexter had taught her proved to be incredibly helpful.
Blossom put her hands on her hips, sighing heavily. "Are you ready to go?"
"I'm still a little bit sore, and anxious, but yes." Niles replied.
She understood him quite well, approaching the glass case and bent over. Her hand pushed in a small slot, pressing a couple of smaller buttons and watched it interact.
The glass began to fold and undo itself, sliding down from out of a protective case and fully unlocking the suit with a small bit of steam to add to the effect.
Niles grinned, kicking his feet a little bit while it slowly unlocked.

As her hand pushed down on a slot in the heart, the entire front torso unfolded and opened. The different plates popped out of their sockets, revealing firm padding all from within the suit. The head completely disassembled and folded within the neck slot, forming a comfortable neck plate around the leather. The arms and legs opened themselves, allowing more free space to climb inside.
Niles quickly grabbed onto the arm and lifted himself up, turning around and buried himself inside the suit. Immediately he cozied into the inner confines of the suit, his arms and legs locking into place. The metal closed, tightening around his entire body as he stiffly locked in.
Blossom assisted from behind, making sure nothing was out of place or uncomfortable. She took off a couple of pins attached to the cape, letting it flow freely now that there was no need for display. "How does it feel?"
The man heard a whirring coming from the chest, slowly lifting his leg up and stomped off the perch. He stood upright, putting his hands on his hips. Each sliver of movement was still a little stiff, yet flexible for the muscles and limbs. He slowly lifted one of his hands up and inspected the palm closely, seeing his beam-cannon flare a brilliant sun yellow. His individual fingers curled, then extended again as he quickly switched it over to the palm. "I'm really comfortable in this; I could sleep just standing in it."

His hand guided over to a small slot on his neck and pressed it; the neck-guard quickly reshaped back into his helmet and covered his face. His vision transformed into a see-through visor, glowing a bright blue. The room was scanned and highlighted from within, several small bars and vitals whirling on the top left and right of his screen.
"Blossom, it smells like a new car in here." a speaker voice boomed out from his helmet.
She snickered, taking a couple of steps forward. She stood in the center of his vision and held a hand up, "Give a beam a try, go ahead."
Niles blinked, holding the palm of his hand up. It sounded off, charging up solar energy within his grasp. His hand got a little warm, feeling the natural energy flow through his arm like a current. Shortly afterwards came a charge, firing off with a loud zap. A brilliant, flat line of solar energy soared through the room, lighting it up with the brightness of the sun itself.

In response came a puff of icy breath, blowing sharply from Blossom's mouth as her superpower directly countered his. The beam and breath came together, clashing before one another before dissolving into a small puddle of water on the ground.
The man lowered his hand, pointing it to the ground and did a little jump. "I felt that!"
"Alright, superboy, let's go." Blossom gestured. "Time to get you back to the past."
Surely did the two begin to make their way out of the office, walking down the hall yet again. This time, Niles seemed even taller. His helmet was folded off for now, proudly walking beside her with a big grin on his face.
"Remember, don't get carried away until you get that notebook back safely." Blossom ordered. "We want to make sure that information is safely delivered to the right hands."
Niles replied, "Yes ma'am."

The worry underneath began to grow as the agent's mind began racing over again; the excitement of getting to meet the people who had fallen was present. The second opportunity called out to him, beckoning him to take on the challenge to be an even better warrior than before. The responsibility bestowed onto him was heavy, yet he was used to it. He had witnessed suffering in this terrible universe for far too long; granted, he would be seeing it again, although hopefully there would be a decent chance at winning against Fuse. Everyone, alive or dead, was counting on him for this. He didn't say a word, as there wasn't really room for any. He had come to realize that actions speak louder than words, something many failed to recognize during the war.

There was a special place for each person who had passed, the hollowness slowly beginning to fade. Mentally, it would take months to fully come back; the war here was too hard, and almost nearly over. Any attempts at leaving were slim, if not futile with this awful outcome. This opportunity was almost too good to be true, he thought. Any thought of reasonable doubt also spoke out to him, warning the possibilities of this important mission.
As the two finally made their way to the long and empty walk, a pair of doors opened to a massive chamber from within. This inner dome had metal panels wrapped around, the faintest light shining down on a small metal ball within the middle of the room. Dozens of wires and machinery were hooked up to this small machine, lights flashing in all sorts of different colors. Several Dexbots were moving quickly with their work, checking every square inch of this project to ensure it was correct. A wide metal door was sealed tightly inside this ball, a single circular window peering into an electronic interior. There was a flat ground, although wires and metal covered the walls. A single dim light was within, otherwise pitch black in there.

Off to the side was a terminal room with a handful of agents sitting at desks. With separate headphones over their ears, they were heavily focused on ensuring every chore needed to be complete. The faint outline of a white coat indicated that Dexter was observing this exercise; his lenses flared from the bright light within this observatory, unable to get a look as to how he was feeling. Professor Utonium stood beside him, holding an old fashioned clipboard in his hands. He looked calm, currently scribbling something down with a pencil.
Blossom and Niles came to a stop, taking in the time traveling machine's atmosphere. It felt condensed, heavily focused on the content inside rather than trying to be fashionable much like many of Dexter's inventions. Rarely before had Blossom witnessed the scientist perfect such an experiment, every square inch of this room dedicated to the cause.

Niles gave a wave up to the looking glass, catching the two scientists' attention together.
Dexter started pacing toward a door off to the side, Utonium following slowly.
The moment the door opened, Dexter pulled out a large robotic claw in the shape of a grabber, clamping it a couple times as he smirked. "Ahhh, I see our test subject has arrived! Thank you for bringing him to me! I vill make fine work of you, yes-"
He pinched the edge of his glasses and poked his torso with the claw, making a clank sound. "How do you like your new armor, agent?"
"It's great," Niles replied. "Blossom did a great job with the design."
The scientist waved a hand as Utonium came out, approaching the three with a faster pace. "Good good, because I don't know how exactly this vill work. If the machine were to go awry, which I highly doubt based on my precise calculations, you'll be safe and sound."
Utonium smiled and patted Niles on the metal shoulder, "Agent Arachnid, good to see you are better! Stick your tongue out for me please."
He opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue widely, "Ahhhh-"
The professor gently placed a thermometer at the bottom of his tongue, "Just doing a small wellness check up. I got your records from the medical record but I thought I would take the initiative to do one myself."

"While the professor does that, I have spent countless nights constructing this very thing. Finally, vill we be able to discover the secrets of the time traveler. Remember Niles, you are to find me in the past immediately and get this book to him!"
The professor removed his tool, Niles reaching out and taking the notebook Dexter held for him. Pinching it with his hands, the man searched for a slot in his chest and made a huff in frustration. "Where.."
Blossom pointed at his chest, right over his stomach. "I placed a small compartment here." She pushed in one of the panels, revealing a metal slot.
The man safely tucked it in there, closing it back up like a lunch box.
"Although ve have known you for some time, Niles, I fear our past selves do not. You vill have to start all over again and earn our trust, back as a recruit. I trust you vill make the right calls to avoid any problems with Sector V. We were tight vith protocol back then."
Niles cleared his throat, expressing a little bit of worry. "What should I tell them, if they question the suit or the book?"

"I don't see a problem with telling them you're still the same person; I haven't made your suit in the past, so just say you made it." Blossom nodded. "Besides, you made the first version. You and I would have eventually made this one also."
"Follow the light," Professor Utonium held up a small flashlight, darting it left and right.
Niles stood still hunched over, his eyes following his every direction, "I'm not good at lying, but I'll try."
"You can't possibly screw this up; it vill be easy. Just don't get caught!" Dexter smiled devilishly.
"Well what should I tell them if I do?" Niles said, blinking the moment Utonium got finished and rubbed his eyes.
Blossom crossed her arms, expressing light concern. "Tell them the truth; I'm sure if you mention the time traveler as well, that will set something positive off hopefully." She tilted her head, "After all, it's his book."
The door to the time capsule was pulled open by a Dexbot, Utonium finishing his checkup and turned to look at the other two. "Alright, we're all set. I've finished what I needed to."
Dexter clapped his hand and clamper together and grinned widely, "Excellent! Are you ready, Niles?"
Niles nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes, I'm ready."
"Brace yourself: you may have slight nausea and a headache when you arrive on the other side. You will be undergoing a process called 'Matter Redisplacement'." Utonium warned. "You will lose sense of everything for just a moment, and hopefully rediscover yourself after the end of the transformation. Think of it like your body resetting all of its proper functions."
The armored man blinked, scratching the back of his head. "Okay, sounds scary but I trust you professor."

"Vell, agent Arachnid, allow me to express my heartfelt thanks." Dexter approached and offered a hand for a handshake. "If ve do not see you again, I vant to personally thank you for your duty here in the fight against Lord Fuse."
Niles took his hand, shaking it softly. "Yes sir; I owe you a lot of credit for teaching me some of your own work."
"I vill take my credit where it is due, thank you." Dexter replied pridefully. "Blossom has told me many great things about you; hopefully ve get to spend more time together in the past."
Niles playfully pointed a finger at him from his elbow and smiled, "Ease up on the projects first, then we will for sure. Not everything's about work, you know."
"Not everything is about saving the world, either," Blossom grounded, giving Niles a look. "Don't forget about what I told you about your suit."
He looked over at her and replied sarcastically, "What? I love playing the hero."
"I know you do, so don't die!" Blossom sharply poked at his chest, looking up at him. "Oh, speaking of, one more thing!"
The girl quickly dug into her pocket and pulled out a small, black eye mask. She slightly hovered up and leaned in, covering Niles' face with it. "I bestow onto you your very own superhero mask! I officially grant you the Blossom superhero seal of approval!" she playfully announced and patted him on the shoulder.
Dexter smirked and started clapping, while Professor Utonium chuckled and joined in on this charade.
Niles' face burned red a little, knowing it was a joke but always grew shy around any flattery. "Thank you, thank you." He sighed, exchanging looks between the three. "I'm going to miss these little moments with all of you."
Dexter adjusted his glasses, "Again, all you need to do is earn our trust again! Save the sobbing for when you jump, alright? Don't want your tears short circuiting anything."
"Alright, I think we're ready to go." Professor Utonium approached Niles. He extended his hand and together did the two share a father-son handshake. "My daughters always spoke very fondly of you, Niles. Make us proud."
"Yessir."

Dexter and Professor Utonium split away, beginning to head back into their observing room. The young scientist gave Niles a slight wave goodbye, while Professor Utonium gave a nod and wave to him.
Blossom wrapped her arms around him and gave him a firm hug, patting him on his metallic back as she teared up slightly.
Niles nuzzled into her neck, frowning but didn't say a word. Both of his arms tightly held her in place with back rubs. After a long, extended grip did the two let go, locking into each other's sights.
"Niles, do me one last favor when you get to the past, will you?" she asked, slightly choked up as her tears built up.
The man nodded, "Of course?"
"Whenever you see my sisters again, or get close, will you tell them at some point that I love and miss them?"
"I will."
Blossom sniffled as a single hot tear fell down her cheek. She frowned miserably, holding his shoulder. "T-Thank you."
He still gave her a few more pats and rubs on the back before letting go, putting his hands at his sides. "Goodbye, Blossom."
"Goodbye, Niles." Blossom took a couple of steps back and wiped a tear. She gave him a wave and smiled bittersweetly.
His helmet folded back up over his face as he gave a two finger salute. He gave her one last look as she started walking away, finally going inside.
The inner chamber was very tight. The main center within the capsule lit up brightly, the door closing behind him and air-sealing him in. The natural flow of oxygen from within the suit started now as Niles breathed in heavily, standing still. He took a deep breath, a cold sweat running down his face.

Dexter watched the capsule closely, "Alright, let's begin."
Several agents operated and quickly got to work at their consoles, transferring electronic power from all across the sector. His brow furrowed in concentration, adjusting the controls with precision, his fingers dancing over the intricate panel of buttons and switches. Each movement is calculated, each adjustment made with meticulous care as he prepares to initiate the time travel sequence. Beside him, Professor Utonium monitors the readings on a series of glowing monitors, his eyes scanning the data with keen interest. Blossom, her expression a mix of hope and apprehension, watches with bated breath, her hands clasped tightly together as she waits for the moment of truth.
Suddenly, a low hum fills the air, growing steadily louder as the wires reach a critical condition. The metal walls of the time capsule begin to vibrate, a faint shimmering light dancing across the surface as an electromagnetic distortion field takes hold.

Niles's breath catches in his throat as the world around him begins to warp and shift, the air crackling with energy as the time capsule lurches forward into the unknown. Several different lights flash before his eyes, and he opens his breath. He struggles, feeling his entire body in pain, trying to make any noise and scream but is silenced. His body stands still, the bright flashing lights from within blinding him.
His body begins to tear itself apart, fading into nothing through the white overall within the capsule. His hands grip for something, yet nothing is there. The suit is lifted up off the ground, quickly vanishing as the energy within the capsule begins to shift and shape.
From his view, electricity surges through his eyes like being stabbed with needles. His body twitches and aches as the view of the metal doors disappear. Was this suicide? A chamber meant to completely annihilate him? He didn't know. If there had been any fear of death, it was strikingly prevalent now: his consciousness to even complete a rational thought collapsing in on itself. The last view he had before losing everything was a blinding light, piercing the veil of some other direction.

The lights to the lab flickered, power winding down from the middle chamber as hot smoke flooded the testing room. Dexter had leaned in deeply, practically the tip of his nose on the window as his vision fought through it. He took off his glasses, cleaning them off with a small, red handkerchief. "Have the ventilation system circulate; the tests say it is done."
Professor Utonium nodded, giving a gesture with a finger toward one of the agents who quickly went to work.
The door was pulled wide open, smoke pouring into the clear room as Dexter held his breath. Blossom followed in pursuit, blowing some of the smoke away with her own strong gust of wind.
The two fought through it, navigating their way to the front door and watched as small vents on the ceiling began to suck up the excess.
A Dexbot quickly popped the door open and even more smoke flooded out with a chemically sickening smell. Dexter coughed, waving his hand as he backed up and struggled for a breath. "I- I need to see this!"
The two of them crowded the door, Professor Utonium quickly following behind with a worried expression on his face. "What are the results?"
They stopped, staring in disbelief with their eyes widened. They were horrified. The outcome they had reached was not what Dexter had expected, causing him to painfully grip his heart. His eyebrows furrowed, slightly resting on the doorframe. "Goodness.."

Blossom covered her mouth, her eyes wide from fear. She sat against the frame, Professor Utonium peering in to observe what happened.
Where Niles was once was had now been replaced with a teenage boy, struggling to get himself back up as he gripped the floor. Dressed in a set of chromatic plate military armor, he gripped his head and winced from the pain as he picked himself up. His tan skin was smokey, his hair a bright brown. His younger features, followed by a slim frame, revealed it to be none other than Niles' younger self. His lungs fought through the smoke as he held a fist up to his mouth.
He turned to look up at all of them with bloodshot eyes, sitting up while he choked.
"W-Where am I? What's going on?"

4/17/24
Here we're introduced to Niles' and Blossom's relationship just a little bit more, as well as some backstory. So for context, it isn't explicitly stated but she's 26 and he's 20.
We also get to see the suit for the first time, which I was really inspired by the original Iron Man to write. Tony Stark, as a whole, is a big inspiration for Niles' character. The contrast is their roles: billionaire to a soldier, given the settings. Rather than being a genius, he's good with his hands and weapons. With how rough the future was, it's made him more into a Master Chief soldier than anything: incredible luck against all odds.

On the topic of their relationship, originally I was considering having his interest be Blossom instead of Buttercup, though deep down I knew that wouldn't make sense. She's an older sister to him more than anything; Buttercup fits his type anyways.
Dexter and Utonium were also fairly close to him. This whole chapter is really more of a goodbye on Niles part, which had me struggling to write a little I won't lie! Haha. Also, yes, the way time travel works in this universe is that it's a complicated string. Have you ever heard of Kurt Vonnegut's string theory? It will all be explained later down the line.
6/4/24
If you're getting around to this by this point, this is the updated text! Another note to add too, reading back on this while I'm at my current spot is so sad. I had a couple of commenters say this is pretty sad and I promise it's gets better soon! Keep going!