~~000~~

Tales of the Multiverse Bit 253

"So, what should we do now?"

Upon hearing question from Owen Brannons, Crusher the Highlands Goat, Kouta Fujiki, Marcus Reservoir, Sharpshooter Jane, Soaphie Lapislazuli and Sora Aozora looks at each other in confusion.

~~000~~

One morning in bustling Neo-City, we head towards the Training Camp and within its gleaming chrome embrace, the entrance hall reverberated with the echoes of footsteps from days gone by the footsteps of heroes and legends who had once called it home. The hall remained silent now, a testament to the solemnity of the morning, the only sound being the rhythmic tick-tock of an antique clock that hung proudly on the wall, a relic of a bygone era in this city of tomorrow.

Penelope von Steiner sat with an unyielding posture behind the reception desk, the digital screens before her flickering with the soft hum of inactivity. Her eyes, however, were sharp, her gaze piercing through the quietude as if expecting something—or someone—to disturb the calm. Her stoic demeanor, a facade that had weathered countless battles and unearthed truths, remained unflappable, yet there was a glimmer of warmth in the corners of her mouth, hinting at a kindness beneath the armor of professionalism she donned.

Just then, three figures made their presence.

The first figure is a young woman with an average height, she had a slender build and pale complexion, she had a waist-length auburn-pink hair and she had reddish-pink eyes. She wears a white long-sleeved collared shirt with a red ribbon tie underneath a black vest, she wears a red checkered mini skirt with white frills and a pair of black leather below-the-knee boots with pink soles. She wears a butterfly-themed headphones on her head and had a lollipop in her her mouth. This is Chelsea Gaea.

Night Raid Assassin

Chelsea Gaea

The second figure is a young woman with an average height, she had a slender build and light-brown complexion, she had semi-long curly brown hair and she had black-colored eyes. She wears a yellow trench coat with a brown belt wrapped around her midsection over a white-collared shirt with flesh-colored bowtie, white tights and dark-green boots. This is Emmy Altava.

Journalist Fighter

Emmy Altava

The third figure is a young woman with an average height, she had a slender & curvaceous build and a fair complexion, she had a long blonde hair and she had blue-colored eyes behind round glasses. She wears a sleeveless light-blue Diasy Dukes collared shirt which shows her midriff, she wears an underwear-shaped denim blue shorts, a pair of light-brown boots with white folds, a pair of brown gloves and a light brown brim hat. This is Gina Diggers.

Archaeologist and Super Scientist

Gina Diggers

Their entrance was less than grand, a subtle blend of stealth and fatigue, their boots treading lightly on the gleaming marble floor. The air of camaraderie that surrounded them was palpable, a bond forged in the crucible of adversity. As they approached the reception desk, Penelope's gaze sharpened and her smile widening to reveal a set of gleaming teeth.

"Welcome back." Penelope greeted with her voice a blend of warmth and authority, "I trust the ancient temple provided the answers you sought?" she inquired.

Emmy smiled in agreement, "The temple was a labyrinth of enigmas, Penelope." she replied with her voice a melodious blend of excitement and weariness, "The history we uncovered there was as rich as the gold we left behind." she shared.

Gina nodded in agreement and her eyes alight with the spark of discovery, "Indeed, the technology was unlike anything we've seen before." she admitted, "It's going to take weeks, if not months, to fully decode and understand the artifacts we've retrieved." she declared.

Chelsea leaned against the desk with a playful smirk on her lips, "And the sweets we found in the hidden chamber were heavenly." she added, "I've never tasted anything quite like it." she said.

Penelope shook her head, "Ah, I see your sweet tooth hasn't abandoned you, even amidst the dust of the ancients." she uttered in bemusement.

Chelsea, Emmy and Gina chuckled in response with the tension of their mission momentarily lifting. They had faced ancient guardians and unearthed lost knowledge but the simple pleasure of sharing a laugh in the aftermath of victory was a treasure unto itself.

"The debriefing will be in the next 48 hours." Penelope informed them with her tone switching to one of business, "But first, I imagine you'd like to clean up and rest." she beckoned.

"Rest?" Gina uttered out loud with her eyes bright with curiosity, "There's no time for that." she dismissed, "We need to get these artifacts to the lab before they start degrading." she declared in excitement.

"Rest." Penelope reiterated firmly, "Your findings will keep." she said, "You, however, are not as indestructible as the relics you've brought back." she reminded.

Chelsea, Emmy and Gina exchanged knowing glances, conceding to Penelope's wisdom. They had pushed themselves to the limits of endurance, their bodies and minds craving reprieve. They knew that to face the next challenge with the clarity and strength required, they needed to heed her advice.

"Alright, we'll grab some shut-eye." Emmy conceded with her voice a tapestry of reluctance and respect, "But I'll be dreaming of that temple's secrets, waiting to be unraveled." she mused.

"Sleep tight." Penelope beckoned with her eyes twinkling, "Dreams can often be the gateway to revelation." she shared.

Chelsea chuckled lightly, "I hope so." she mused.

Meanwhile on the rooftop, Arachnus stood there while keeping a keen eye on the city as folks went about their early routines.

"Mornin' there, Sir Stands-alone - gecko!" Toadal Dude called out in a cheerful tone while strolling over to his rival.

"What's up?" Arachnus questioned.

"Not much, just figured you might be needing some company - gecko." Toadal replied casually, "You know, since you're always solo up here - gecko." he reminded.

"How sweet of you to say." Arachnus responded with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Don't get too mushy, I'm not that kind of guy - gecko." Toadal mused, "But we do need to chew the fat on a couple things - gecko." he beckoned

"More missions on the horizon?" Arachnus guessed.

"Nope, not today, not that kind of deal - gecko." Toadal replied while shaking his head, "This is about now, about sticking together, about trust..." he trailed, "... about you - gecko." he pointed out.

That got Arachnus' attention, "What's been said?" he inquired.

"Let's just say, the young'uns are talkin' - gecko." Toadal replied, "They're seein' how you keep to yourself and they're takin' it the wrong way - gecko." he explained, "It's not about being Mr. Popular, but if you keep on like this, there'll be some issues, you feel me?" he stated.

"I had no idea." Arachnus admitted while looking a bit surprised.

"Well, let me enlighten you - gecko." Toadal said while raising his hands, "The whispers are out there and they're not all sunshine and rainbows." he shared.

The two of them stayed quiet for a moment and then Arachnus broke the silence with a question, "Is this some kind of joke?" he wondered aloud.

Toadal couldn't help but laugh a little, "Oh, that last part was totally a joke - gecko." he admitted, "But seriously, nothing's gone down yet, but everyone's pretty anxious, you know - gecko?" he pointed out.

"Anxious?" Arachnus uttered in surprise, "For me?" he questioned.

"Come on, don't act like you don't know - gecko." Toadal mused, "Sure, these folks can be a bit much sometimes, poking their noses where they don't belong like Eustace did with your old-school rituals - gecko." he admitted, "But deep down, they're all good people who just want to have fun and love each other - gecko." he furthered with a smile, "They see you as one of their own, like family - gecko." he revealed, "But you gotta work with me here - gecko." he beckoned, "Try to blend in a little, crack a few jokes, laugh with them - gecko." he listed off, "That's all it'll take to ease their worries - gecko." he suggested with a friendly smile, "I've said my piece - gecko." he concluded, "Time for me to split - gecko." he added before starting to walk off.

Arachnus took a minute to let it sink in before turning towards his rival, "Hey, wait up." he called out.

Toadal stopped in his tracks and looked back, "What's up?" he replied.

"I just wanted to say..." Arachnus trailed, "... I appreciate your concern." he expressed in gratitude.

Toadal chuckled again, "Anytime - gecko." he accepted before continuing on his way.

Arachnus watched him go, then turned his gaze back to the bustling city with a smile playing on his lips. He began to mull over how he could fit in with everyone better.

bzzzttt...

In a bustling part of the city, the trio known as the Three Brothers found themselves at a restaurant named "Don't Dine N' Dash", kicking off their day with a hearty breakfast. Chess Blakely opted for a steak, Willie Simons went for a classic cheeseburger and fries, and Flannery Faulkner chose a more traditional dish - Haggis with Neeps and Tatties, which is basically mashed potatoes and turnips. They all had sodas to accompany their meals.

As Flannery savored his food, Chess couldn't help but wrinkle his nose in disgust, "Seriously, Flannery, how do you stomach that stuff?" the CEO questioned in disbelief.

"What's the big deal?" Flannery questioned with unfazed expression, "It's Haggis, it's the best, and it's a staple where I'm from." he explained with a proud smile.

"A staple full of sheep guts?!" Chess shot back while poking his steak-laden fork at Flannery.

This led to a small, spirited debate, with Flannery defending Scottish cuisine and Chess expressing his distaste. Meanwhile, Willie took it all in, munching away at his burger without a care in the world.

Later after breakfast, the brothers were walking around in the park with Flannery admiring the fresh air, "Ahhh!" he sighed in satisfaction, "Nothin' like eh stroll through the park after a hearty meal." he expressed in delight.

"Easy for you to say..." Chess muttered in annoyance.

Suddenly, Willie gasped upon looking up, "Guys, up there!" he beckoned while pointing up and when the remaining two brothers looked up, they saw a blue portal that's about fifty feet above them.

"Aw great!" Chess groaned in disbelief, "What now?" he uttered in annoyance, "Is it that big blue hand that everyone's talking about?" he recalled, "Or is it another stray coming out of that blue glowy thingy?" he complained when something came out as it started to fall.

It was a young girl.

Flannery gasped at what he saw, "Blimey!" he squawked, "It's a young lassie!" he pointed out which got Chess' full attention.

"A young maiden!?" Chess gasped before puffing up his chest, "Have no fear!" he beckoned, "Sir Blakely has come to save you!" he exclaimed before jumping high but not high enough and suddenly he did a crouching position as if he landed on thin air and then jumped higher as his jump made a sound as if jumping out of a diving board and he repeated that process over and over but it was a bit slow.

Flannery rolls his eyes, "Tha's not fast enough ye mongrel!" he yelled before making big jump, and I mean a very big jump and it was as if he blasted off like a rocket.

While Chess was jumping as fast as he can, Flannery flew past him, "Hey!" the CEO shouted in annoyance, "No fair!" he complained.

Ignoring what Chess' shouting, the young Scot was closing in on the free falling girl, "I got ya!" he shouted, "I got ya!" he repeated, "I got-!" he tried to say but he misses of cathing the girl, "I don't got ya!" he exclaimed in disbelief while falling down, he then speeds himself up like a bullet while trying to catch up with the girl.

Both Flannery and Chess were almost close enough to catch the girl.

"I gotcha!" Chess shouted while reaching out with his arms.

"I got ya!" Flannery shouted while also closing in.

"I gotcha!/I got ya!"

"I gotcha!/I got ya!"

"I got-/I got-"

But then...

"BAM!"

Both brothers missed and they slammed at each others faces and were falling ahead of the girl.

"My fair maiden!" Chess shouted in dispair.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star!" Flannery blabbered a bit disoriented and the both of them landed on the ground with a "BOOM!".

As for the girl who hadn't stopped falling yet, she was about twenty feet from the ground when she was grabbed, "Dat-da-da-daaa!" Willie hollered, "It's a save by Simooons!" he shouted with excitement while catching her mid-air with what appeared to be a baseball bat with a helicopter propeller attached to it in his left hand.

Willie then gently touched down and placed the girl on a bench that was conveniently nearby. Then, he glanced over to his brothers who were stuck in holes that perfectly fit them.

"You guys okay?" Willie yelled into the holes.

"We're fine, Willie!" Flannery reassured from his own hole, "Great catch, brother!" he complimented.

"Thanks!" Willie replied with a grin.

"Ooohh, the pain!" Chess moaned dramatically from his hole.

"Cut the act, you drama king!" Flannery shouted back in clear annoyance.

"But it really hurts!" Chess complained.

Once they had all recovered from their minor, amusing mishaps, the three of them turned their attention to the girl. She had short, green hair, a bit of a tan, and was dressed in clothes that didn't cover much.

"I reckon we should get her to the sick bay and let Dr. Ziegler check her out." Flannery suggested while picking her up like a bride.

"On it!" Chess said with a gesture of agreement.

"Hold up, I'm coming with you!" Willie exclaimed.

And so, the Three Brothers, with the girl in tow, made their way back to the Training Camp.

bzzzttt...

While the Three Brothers are preoccupied with transporting the unconscious female individual to the medical bay, we proceed to exit the Training Camp and observe an assembly comprising of several distinct characters such as Kamaitachi, Kyuubi, Nyaruto Nyazumaki, SpongeBob Squarepants, Teddie, Toadal Dude and Venoct, whom are are leisurely traversing the perimeter of the vicinity.

"Now that we've got a little downtime, what's the plan?" SpongeBob asked with his porous hands gesturing to the vast possibilities of the day ahead.

"I know!" Teddie exclaimed with his round cheeks flushing with excitement, "Let's hit the batting center!" he suggested, "It's supposed to be a real smash!" he cheered.

Kyuubi rolled his eyes, "Batting?" he questioned, "How utterly dull." he commented, "Surely there's something more enchanting to do?" he beckoned.

Toadal Dude chuckled in response, "Well, Kyuubi, I heard it's quite the hot spot for the ladies." he shared, "You know, swinging for the fences without using your tail." he described.

This unexpected revelation sparked Kyuubi's interest and with a dramatic pivot, "Alright, lead the way to the batting center!" he beckoned, "Let's show them some real moves!" he declared.

Venoct couldn't help but sigh, "He's as predictable as ever." he uttered out loud.

Kamaitachi, eyeing the situation with a hint of amusement, grinned in response, "It could be an interesting change of pace." he chimed in, "I might enjoy a swing or two without the need for my scythe." he mused.

Before they could proceed, Arachnus strolled up to them, offering a courteous nod, "Good day, everyone." he greeted, "I couldn't help but overhear." he expressed, "Are you all off to the batting center?" he inquired.

Nyaruto grinned in response, "Yep, we're going to smack some balls around - nya!" he confirmed.

Teddie looked at Arachnus, curious about his sudden interest in joining their escapade, "But why?" he asked, "Don't you usually get annoyed with our energy?" he reminded.

Arachnus chuckled in response with a touch of mischief in his eyes, "Well, after some contemplation, I figured it's time for a little change of pace." he replied, "Besides..." he trailed while leaning in conspiratorially, "I've always been a fan of a good laugh." he admitted.

The group, now swelled with the addition of Arachnus, made their way to the batting center, a place where the sound of bats cracking against balls would soon fill the air. Kyuubi, ever the charmer, attempted to woo the female patrons, only to be bombarded by a barrage of baseballs thrown by his unsuspecting companions, much to their delight.

A/N: Inspired from Jexi the Hunter, Hope the Victor and David the Almighty Paladin. If the OCs are not created by moi, then it's not mine.