"Whooahhh!!!" Martin Kratt screamed as he hurtled through the tunnel at breakneck speed. The tunnel's walls shimmered with a kaleidoscope of lights, each hue blending seamlessly into the next. Intricate mathematical equations and cascading lines of code stretched endlessly through the darkened void.
Far ahead, Martin spotted his brother Chris gallantly carrying WordGirl over his shoulders. The trio, who had sought Motherboard's help to create the portal to Cyberspace and were now racing through the tunnel.
The sensation of the portal ride was both exhilarating and disorienting. The rush of wind, the dizzying array of symbols and numbers, and the pounding of their hearts combined to create a surreal experience.
Finally, they approached the end of the seemingly infinite tunnel, a bright light signaling their imminent arrival in Cyberspace.
"Uhh!" Martin Kratt groaned as he hit the ground with an unforgiving thud. "I didn't expect the portal ride to be this rough!" He rubbed his forehead, trying to ease the throbbing pain.
"Agreed," Chris Kratt replied, feeling queasy and disoriented as he felt the room spun around him.
"You'll get used to it after a while," Matt reassured them, extending a helping hand.
As they gathered their bearings, they took in their surroundings with a mixture of awe and confusion. They stood inside a vast, futuristic room with a glass dome suspended above them. The sky outside was a mesmerizing shade of dark green, adorned with countless glistening stars that seemed almost too perfect to be real.
The platform they were on led to a massive monitor with an oversized control pad. On the screen was a vibrant 3D image of a blue-skinned woman with curly hair, alongside a peculiar cyborg with a glass bulb for a head and a purple bird with a red cap and bowtie.
"Welcome to Cyberspace," Matt said, gesturing towards the screen. "That's Motherboard, she's the ruler of this place. And over there is Dr. Marbles, her trusty assistant."
"Earthlies! I'm so glad you're here!" the bird said enthusiastically, addressing them with a welcoming smile. He then turned his gaze to the Kratt brothers, who stood close behind, staring in astonishment. "Um, hey Earthlies, who are these guys? Do you know them?"
"Chill, Didge. They're cool. These are the Kratt brothers, Martin and Chris," Inez said with a reassuring smile.
"Wait! You mean THESE are THE Kratt brothers? The ones who go on those incredible creature adventures?" Digit asked, his eyes widening with excitement.
"Wow! Even in other dimensions, we're well known!" Martin chuckled.
"Absolutely! We're huge fans of yours. Your work is incredible!" Digit exclaimed, extending his wing. "Digit LeBoid, at your service!"
"Nice to meet you, Digit!" Chris Kratt replied, eagerly shaking Digit's wing.
As WordGirl slowly regained consciousness, she floated up from Chris's shoulders, disoriented and groggy. "Ugh... What happened? And where am I?" she groaned, feeling her bare head in realization of her missing helmet. She felt a surge of vulnerability.
"Hey, is that WORDGIRL!?" Digit gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Seems like you're familiar with her too, huh?" Martin Kratt asked, noting Digit's reaction with curiosity.
"Absolutely! It's an honor to have both of you here!" Digit exclaimed.
"Can someone please tell me what happened?" WordGirl asked, her voice slightly impatient.
Jackie hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Well, after you went down, things got chaotic. The villains were all over the place, and we barely managed to slip away. We ran into the forest to shake them off, and it worked... for a little bit," she recounted with tension.
"We barely managed to contact Motherboard in time and create a portal to Cyberspace, which is where we are now," Inez added.
"Thanks for filling me in. I'm just glad we're all safe," WordGirl said, reflecting on the situation. "So, I see you figured out my secret identity..."
Matt, feeling the weight of the revelation, spoke quietly. "The whole park did…"
"Becky Botsford, is it?" Inez confirmed softly, her eyes filled with empathy.
WordGirl nodded, speaking quietly. "Yeah, that's me."
"My memory of what happened is hazy. I remember flying around, trying to stop the villains, then suddenly feeling a strange pulse and getting dizzy!" she said, rubbing her temples. Then, realization hit her. "Lexonite!"
"Lexi-what? What's that?" Digit asked, puzzled.
"Lexonite is a substance from my home planet, Lexicon. It's also my weakness," WordGirl explained. "The villains must have used it against me to capture us and take over the city!"
"Does that mean you've lost your superpowers?" Digit asked worriedly.
"No, it only affects me temporarily," she clarified.
"Ahem!" Dr. Marbles called out, capturing everyone's attention. "If I may, I have some incredibly important information that you all should know."
"Sure thing, what's going on?" Jackie asked eagerly.
Dr. Marbles raised a leather-bound book. "I found this in the lower storage room while Digit and I were cleaning," he explained urgently.
"A book?" Inez noted, wiping her glasses for a clearer view.
"It's not just any book; it's a journal—one that belonged to the Protectors of Cyberspace!" Dr. Marbles revealed, his voice brimming with excitement.
The Cybersquad's eyes widened in amazement. Inez, usually the most skeptical of extraordinary claims, looked particularly astonished. "O.M.G! The Protectors of Cyberspace? I never imagined they were actually real! I thought it was made up!"
"I guess the legend was real after all!" Matt replied.
The Kratt brothers and WordGirl looked on, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity. "The Protectors of Cyberspace?" Martin repeated, puzzled. "We've never heard of them before."
Dr. Marbles opened the journal, revealing pages filled with detailed drawings, coded messages, and intricate maps. "The Protectors were a group of heroes who safeguarded our digital world long before any of us. They documented their adventures, strategies, and hidden locations within Cyberspace that we can use to our advantage."
"Wow, that's incredible!" WordGirl exclaimed, her interest piqued. "Do you think there might be something in there to help us against the villains?"
"Indeed!" Dr. Marbles proclaimed. "The Protectors used four powerful crystals, which combined to create what was known as The EverCrystal. It was crucial in defeating Patheo and protecting Cyberspace."
"Oh yeah! But didn't the legend say the crystals were scattered to 'worlds beyond Cyberspace'? What does that mean?" Jackie questioned.
"The crystals are connected to an intergalactic network of portals the Protectors created, forming the Multiversal Networking System, or M.N.S. This system stabilizes and protects multiple dimensions, including our own," Dr. Marbles explained.
"Wait, are you saying there are other worlds beyond Cyberspace and Earth? As in the Multiverse?" Inez gasped.
"The Multiverse? What's that?" Digit asked, intrigued.
"The Multiverse is the concept that many different universes or dimensions exist parallel to ours, each with its own properties and realities. Our universe is just one of many in this vast, interconnected network of worlds," Inez explained.
Digit's eyes widened as he absorbed the enormity of the concept. "So, you're saying there are entirely other worlds with their own rules and beings?"
"Well, considering that Cyberspace exists outside of Earth, and WordGirl is from another planet, it doesn't seem all that far-fetched," Martin Kratt mused.
"Wait, is that why you wanted to talk to us earlier? To help find the crystals?" Jackie asked.
"Precisely!" Dr. Marbles confirmed. "If Hacker or any of the villains gain control of the crystals, they could disrupt not just Earth and Cyberspace, but every dimension connected to the M.N.S."
"Well, we're not going to let that happen!" Martin Kratt declared firmly.
"Agreed! If Hacker gets his hands on the crystals, who knows what he could do!" Inez added.
"But where do we even start looking? They could be hidden anywhere!" Digit interjected.
"According to the journal, the first crystal is believed to be concealed deep within an ice cave in Calamore," Dr. Marbles read aloud. "However, there's a chance that Leo, the brilliant trickster he was, might have intentionally written that to mislead readers and protect the crystal's true location."
"Well, we have to start somewhere," Matt said with resolve. "Let's begin our search in Calamore. It might just lead us to the first crystal."
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try," Inez agreed.
"You can count on us as well!" Chris Kratt declared eagerly.
"Count me in too!" WordGirl added enthusiastically, her determination evident.
"Alright then. But we'll need to move quickly before Hacker and the villains catch on to us!" Dr. Marbles said urgently. "If you don't mind, I'd like to join you on this quest as well."
"Of course, Dr. Marbles," Matt agreed. "The more help we have, the better."
"Ready when you are!" Chris Kratt said excitedly.
Soon after, Motherboard generated a shimmering portal that glowed with the colors of Calamore's icy landscape. "Here we go again!" Martin Kratt said with a lighthearted chuckle as the group prepared to leap into the portal.
"Good luck, Cybermates!" Motherboard called out with a final, wistful look as the team disappeared through the portal, ready to support them from afar and eagerly awaiting their safe return.
...
As the Cybersquad and their friends began their quest to locate the crystals, The Hacker and the villains emerged from a portal into the Northern Frontier. Their faces were a mix of disbelief and intrigue as they took in the unfamiliar, expansive landscape of the new dimension.
"Wow! So this is Cyberspace, huh?" Chuck marveled as he stepped out of the portal, with Hacker and the rest of the villains following closely behind.
"Sure is a lot colder than I expected!" Granny May said, hugging herself and shivering against the chill.
"This place does look rather serene," Paisley admitted. "Though, I'd prefer it without all these trees. Maybe a bit of pavement and some modern touches would make it more appealing."
"I don't think the Boss would appreciate that," Buzz pointed out. "Those are HIS trees!"
Hacker scowled, shaking his head. "That's right! No one's touching my trees while I'm around. But let's focus on our mission. We need a plan to deal with those Earth kids, the Kratt brothers, and that pesky superhero. Any ideas?"
"Wait. Didn't you say they'd be here? I don't see anyone!" The Butcher complained, scanning the area with a frown.
"That's probably because they're at Control Central," Hacker said, his tone confident. "They're probably with Motherboard and Dr. Marbles, trying to come up with a plan to stop us."
"So how do you propose we stop them?" Mr. Big asked, his voice tinged with concern. "From what you've told us, they're incredibly smart and resourceful."
"That's true," Zach agreed. "If we try to trap them, they'll likely find a way to escape, just like that time we tried to trap those Wild Rats in the Antarctic Sea last Christmas."
"And when they managed to find their way back to Varmitech Village and thwarted our plans?" Dabio chimed in, adding to their frustration.
"Exactly! But this time, we'll be ready. We need to think of something they won't expect. Let's use their own tactics against them." Hacker declared.
"We need a plan that will catch them off guard," Ledge added, his tone resolute. "If they're busy at Control Central, that's our chance to strike! Our plan has to be flawless. The Cybersquad, Kratt brothers, and WordGirl make a formidable team, so our approach must be strategic."
"What about the Cybersquad? A small, cheerful voice interjected. Hacker turned to see his young niece, Harmony, standing behind him with a bright smile.
"Hi, Unky Hacker!" Harmony greeted warmly, waving her hand. "Wow! I didn't know you had so many friends!"
"Unky Hacker?" Dr. Two-Brains repeated, his voice laced with confusion. While a few of the other villains exchanged amused glances and stifled chuckles at the peculiar nickname.
"Hey! What's the meaning of this?" The Butcher loudly proclaimed, feeling perplexed.
"Hacky, you didn't mention you had a niece!" Wicked remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Hacker shrugged, trying to maintain his composure. "I don't usually talk about family when it comes to our plans."
"Well I, for one, think she's a very sweet little darling!" Donita said warmly, bending down to greet Harmony.
"Thanks! I think you're very pretty!" Harmony replied with a bright smile.
"Ohh! Isn't she just a doll!" Donita gushed, delighted by the compliment.
Hacker moved closer to Harmony, bending down to be at her level, while forcing a smile. "Harmony dear, if I may ask, what are you doing here?"
"Auntie said she had to visit her sister in Botopolis for a week, and she wanted you to take care of me while she was away," Harmony explained.
Hacker leaned in closer to Harmony, maintaining his facade. "I see, as much as I'm thrilled by the surprise visit, I'm afraid I'm rather busy at the moment. Could you please go play somewhere else for now? I'm sure Buzz and Delete would love to keep you company."
"Of course, we would!" Delete eagerly responded, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Yeah, come on Harmony, let's go build a snowbot or something," Buzz chimed in, his tone friendly as he gently took Harmony's hand.
"Unky Hacker?" Ledge chuckled under his breath. While some of the other villains struggled to stifle their laughter. Hacker rolled his eyes and sighed as they headed inside to focus on their planning.
Hacker rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, trying to maintain his composure. He adjusted his posture and gave his team a stern look before heading back inside with them. As they re-entered the room, the atmosphere shifted to one of serious focus, the villains once again immersed in their scheming and plotting.