Songs featured:
Battle in the Hangar: "Smasher" by Kota Hoshino
The Sponsor appears: "Vendetta" by Kota Hoshino
Transmission 18: Silhouette of Terror
"The comms are back up!" A member of the M.-B.L.U.B.B.E.R.'s CIC yells to Numbuh Kappa-7, who sighs from relief.
"Finally. Numbuh Pi-80, get me Moonbase right now. I wanna know what happened."
"Sir!" A few seconds later, a stone-faced Herbie appears on the bridge's main screen.
"Numbuh Iota-3, what was that blackout?! We've lost 30% of our forces!"
"…I'm sorry, Kappa-7. It was sabotage, that's all I can say for now. We'll send reinforcements ASAP. Iota-3 out." Herbie hangs up before Kappa-7 can ask more question, frustrating the TND Special Operations Commander, but he pushes his personal feelings aside.
"Okay, we'll worry about that blackout later. We've got our communications back and that's all that matters now. Where's Agent Halcón`?"
"He's currently engaged with the Ninjas who are trying to shoot down our Shuttle Pods, Sir."
"Deploy our reserves now! At this rate, the Ninjas will push us back before the reinforcements arrive. Scramble everything we have!"
"Sir, yes, Sir!
…
Deep inside the Ice Cream Factory, Patton, Eliza and Keith are trying to catch up with an angry Rachel, who has so far torn through dozens of Knightamatons that are roaming the factory's upper levels. Thus, they have been unaware of the blackout. "Dammit, why the heck is she like this? It's not like her at all!" Eliza complains as the trio follow Rachel's path of destruction.
"She's pissed off about what Numbuh Delta pulled. *sigh* and I just managed to make her lighten up…" Patton replies as he fires a burst of lasers through a Knightamaton while Eliza slices another cleanly in two with her katana-like sword.
"And I thought I was the hothead here."
"You are, but Rachel's not herself right now."
"Hey, we're nearing that hangar, guys. It's probably crawling with Ninjas by now, mon." Keith interrupts while pointing down the hallway, where Rachel is destroying Knightamatons with her Laser Lance.
"Argh, we gotta catch up before she barges in there by herself!" Patton shouts and activates his jet boots, eyes focused on an icy Rachel.
Up ahead, Rachel destroys yet another Knightamaton with little effort, but her mind is solely focused on finding Chad. While she had been willing to come to terms with him after Patton talked her down yesterday, now she only wants to unleash her fury on him. How could he do something so reckless? While she did know that Chad was prone to doing things like that even back in their KND days, now she can't find it in herself to understand his decision to surrender to the Ninjas like this. The more Knightamatons she destroys, the further she gives into her rage and her vision blurs. However, she soon arrives in-front of the door that leads to the main hangar but she doesn't register it and prepares to slice it apart when suddenly, she feels someone grabbing her wrist.
"Numbuh Epsilon!" Rachel hears a familiar voice and stops as her vision clears. Then, she sees Eliza gripping her wrist and glaring at her sternly. "Calm down."
"…*pant*…I am calm…I was just clearing the way to our target…"
"No, you were on a rampage. If we hadn't stopped you, you would've run headfirst into the Ninjas behind that door." Eliza snaps at Rachel, who shakes her head but then realizes what happened.
"I…"
"We know you're angry about what Numbuh Delta did but put that aside. We've got a mission to complete, and we need you at your best, okay?"
"I…yeah…you're right…sorry I…lost myself." Rachel replies to Eliza let's go of her wrist and smiles under her mask.
"It's okay, just stay focused from now on. Numbuh Zeta, contact Numbuh Sigma and tell him we're in position."
"Roger that, Numbuh Alpha." Patton nods and places his left index finger against his helmet's left side. "Numbuh Sigma, do you copy, Numbuh Zeta here. We're about to enter the hangar, what's you status?"
"*ZZZZTTT*…Sigma here…we're on the same floor, headin' for the hangar, can't talk, many Ninjas! *ZZZZZTTT*" Maurice hangs up and Patton immediately looks at his teammates.
"They're on their way, but they've got company. Should we bust in?"
"Not even the four of us can attack a hangar full of Ninjas, though I don't want to admit it…" Eliza shakes her head.
"Then let's sneak in. We'll wait there until Sigma's team arrives and then we'll join 'em." Keith suggests, prompting the others to nod.
"Solid plan, Agent Hermit. Okay, stealth cloaks on. We'll force the door open just enough for us to fit through and then find a spot to hide."
"Got it." Patton replies to Eliza who turns herself invisible while Patton, Keith and Rachel do the same, but Rachel is still struggling to keep her thoughts in check, because she is still livid about Chad's antics.
Inside the hangar, as Battle Ready Cycles and Vans fly in and out of the facility, Piggy arrives to the control booth protruding from the eastern wall. Having heard about Maurice's break in, he has come to the hangar to wait for their arrival. "Boss!" the Ninjas salute him, but Piggy does not react and simply walks over to the window.
"Those TNDorks are gonna come to the hangar any second now. I want all exists sealed when they do, got it?"
"Totally!"
"Good. Pull down the dividing wall to so our fight doesn't interfere with Cycles and Vans taking off. Are the Football Teams in position too?"
"Yeah, like, they're ready to kick butt, Boss."
"Alright. I'm going down there as well. If Chad's really among 'em, I wanna bash his skull in myself for betraying us." Piggy says angrily and marches out of the control booth. Down below, the Ninjas are pouring into the hangar, awaiting for any intruders. However, because of Chad's appearance drawing everyone's attention, both Piggy and most of the Ninjas have completely ignored the two TND Special Operations teams who infiltrated the Factory in their drill equipped P.I.P.E.P.O.D.'s and are currently making steady progress through the factory's lowest floors, towards the hangar.
Among the Ninjas who are waiting in the hangar is Stacey. She had lost sight of Chad and Chuckie soon after they jumped down the hole Corvus had created and now, she stands silently near the southern wall. While she normally doesn't use a B.R.A. since she is not an active Ninja, she has now donned a standard Teen Ninja dark red and charcoal gray B.R.A. and waits for Chad and Chuckie to arrive. Chad's words are still ringing in her head and Corvus's appearance has only made her confusion worse as she tries to figure out if Chad really told her the truth, that he had been in space and aliens are real.
Suddenly, she is snapped out of her thoughts as the northern wall's doors are blown wide open, followed by Leo and Corvus appearing out of the dust, followed by Chad and Maurice riding Numbuh 9L while Cygnus flies overhead. "My, they've got a welcome party prepared for us."
"Hot damn, that's a lot of Ninjas…" Maurice grimaces as he jumps off 9L's back and Chad does the same.
"We'll have to fight through them all…" he mutters as he lands and flips his gauntlet's blade forward. However, none of the Ninjas open fire on them.
"CHAD!" Chuckie yells as he leads more Ninjas into the hangar from the corridor Chad and his group came from, block the exit. "End of the line for you!" Chuckie booster jumps between Chad and the rest of the Ninjas but before he can act, Piggy intervenes.
"Hold it, Chuckie!" the hangar falls silent as the eastern doors open and Piggy marches in, flanked by Football Ninja Guards. The other Ninjas make a corridor for him and the Ninja leader walks across the hangar before stopping next to Chuckie.
"…Piggy…" Chad mutters under his mask as his old comrade glares at him.
"Too scared to show your face, Chad? Come on, lemme see that ugly mug of yours." The hangar fills with murmurs, since only a few knew that Chad was actually at the factory.
"Delta, don't." Maurice hisses but Chad steps forward and retracts his visor and mask, revealing his face for all to see, creating an uproar among the Ninjas.
"So it really is you. I admit I didn't wanna believe it at first when Chuckie told me over the radio but now, the proof's right here. Chad Dickson is back…but on the wrong side. And here I thought we'd finally get to have a ScumBucketPunks reunion after all these years."
"I was never on your side to begin with…" Chad mutters, angering Chuckie and the rest of the Ninjas.
"Damn you…urgh!" before he can attack however, Piggy elbows Chuckie, nearly knocking him to the floor.
"Now, now, let's calm down, Chuckie. I wanna hear this myself. Chad, if what you're sayin' is true, then ya know what that means, right?"
"Then get it over with already. We've got a mission to complete." Chad replies coldly, causing Piggy's face to twitch.
"Well too bad for you, we ain't gonna let you or any of your buddies through this hangar. We Teen Ninjas are gonna make you traitors pay for what you've done to us!"
"Then bring it on, Piggy!" Chad yells back while behind his group, Eliza and her team prepare to join the fight when suddenly, a lone voice intervenes.
"WAIT!" the hangar falls into silences and everyone's attention is drawn towards an 18 year-old girl wearing a B.R.A.
"…Sta…Stacey…?" Chad says in disbelief as she starts walking towards Piggy, Chad and Chuckie.
"What are you doing here, Stacey? You should've gone to the…"
"Shut up!" Stacey yells furiously at Chuckie, silencing him instantly. Then, she deploys a heat laser cannon from her right wrist and points it at Chad. "What is that thing?" she gestures towards Corvus, who becomes incensed by her comment.
"Who are you calling a…"
"Shh…" Cygnus stops him with her wing as Stacey glares at Chad.
"Are those…the aliens you mentioned? Were you really in space?! I saw that thing appear from thin air and it freed you. Was it with you the whole time? You could've escaped any time you wanted, but you didn't. ANSWER ME!" she screams at Chad's face as he looks at Corvus, Cygnus, Leo and Numbuh 9L over his shoulder.
"I didn't lie to you, Stacey, and here's the proof. These guys are aliens and I was with the Galactic Kids Next Door, in space, for 6 years. They can vouch for me." Chad explains, confusing Piggy but Chuckie quickly dismisses his words.
"Don't listen to him! There are no aliens, those things are just…TND robots or something!"
"Then how do you explain his escape, Chuckie?! Was he really lying to us?"
"It doesn't matter now! Now get outta the way, I'm gonna make him pay right now!" Chuckie pushes Stacey aside and prepares to hit Chad with his Drill Combat Staff when something hits him in abdomen, knocking him to the floor. "Uargh!"
"Sorry, but we've wasted enough time." suddenly, Eliza de-cloaks in-front of Chad while Patton, Keith and Rachel appear to his side.
"Guys…?"
"You really love being the center of attention, don't ya, Numbuh Delta?" a smirking Patton says as Chad notices Rachel's stony expression.
"I…"
"You can apologize later, mon. We've got a fight to win." Keith remarks as Eliza confronts Piggy.
"So you're the new leader of the Teen Ninjas? Then allow me to introduce myself: I am Numbuh Alpha, the Supreme Commander of the Teens Next Door." she says with a commanding voice and points her sword at Piggy, who clenches his fists.
"Tsch, and you actually have the guts to show your face here. I figured you preferred hiding in your comfy Moonbase instead of getting your hands dirty, princess."
"Oh I think you misunderstand something. I love getting my hands dirty, especially if it involves beating the snot out of lug-head Ninjas like you." Eliza's condescending tone hits a cord as Piggy deploys his spiked knuckles.
"That's it, time to knock you traitors out of the picture once and for all, GET 'EM!"
"TEENS NEXT DOOR, ATTACK!" Eliza shouts as Piggy sends the hoard of Ninjas charging at her and her comrades.
"Let's thin the heard, shall we boys?" Cygnus says to Leo and Corvus, who nod, though Corvus isn't as enthusiastic.
"Aw yeah, time to bust some heads! Eat this!" Leo yells gleefully and charges at the Ninjas, reels his fists back and then punches the air with them, unleashing a horizontal, cylindrical-shaped kinetic force shockwave that sends one fourth of the Ninjas in-front of him into the air while Cygnus disables their B.R.A.'s with her magnetism but Corvus hangs back, his eyes focused on Chad, who is immediately swamped by 5 Ninjas at once.
"Alright, let's see you handle yourself."
"Take this you traitor! RAAAHH!" the Ninjas gang up on Chad, but he crouches and dives under the Ninjas as they jump at him before Stupefying two of them instantly but then, Chuckie joins the fight, staff ready.
"CHAD!" reacting quickly, Chad flips his sword forward and blocks the attack, causing sparks to fly everywhere. "You bastard, you were using Stacey! You made her believe that crap!"
"I wasn't lying, Chuckie! I was in space!" Chad replies as they jump away from each other before clashing once again.
"Then all that talk about going to an exchange program *pant* was a lie…urgh…and I bet you weren't even Delightfulized, right?!"
"I couldn't come clean because…"
"Because you were gonna smoke out our Hideout! You took it away from us! And now you wanna do the same with this place too?!" Chuckie shouts as they exchange blows with their weapons but remain at a deadlock.
"As long as you keep serving your Sponsor and use S.I.N., I'll be your enemy, Chuckie! Aren't you forgetting what that stuff did to your friend back there?!" Chad reminds Chuckie of Tucker, the Ninja who downed an entire vial of S.I.N. and turned into a monster. "He was barely alive after what happened to him! And you still justify using it?!"
"We gotta use it! S.I.N. makes us stronger, way stronger than any of you traitor teenagers! We'll keep using it until you and your TND are gone! RRRAARGH!" Chuckie kicks Chad in the knee, staggering him and with his guard down, Chuckie hits him in the stomach with the blunt end of his staff, knocking Chad to the floor but before Chuckie can do anything else, a laser hits his hand, knocking the staff off his hand.
"Don't think so, punk." Patton says as he fires a barrage at Chuckie, forcing him to jump away as Maurice runs to Chad's side and pulls him up.
"You okay?"
"*cough* Yeah…*pant*…"
"We're wasting time fighting one on one with these Ninjas. I know you've got a score to settle with Chuckie but save it for later. We gotta get to that door." Maurice points at the eastern entrance where Piggy came from.
"I know…" Chad replies as he clenches his left fist. "Then let's go."
"That's more like it. Zeta, cover us! O.M.E.G.A. Numbers, this way!" Maurice says to Patton as he and Chad dash forward, followed by Patton, who flies overhead while raining both lasers and Stupefying beams from his rifle.
"Leo, our assistance is required!" Cygnus points at the charging agents and she joins their assault along with Leo but Corvus remains passive, keeping himself out of the Ninjas reach as he silently observes the battle unfolding in the hangar. However, Chad's confrontation with his old Ninja allies reminds him of his own time in the GKND and how it ended.
"Why am I remembering that stuff now? Gah, it's because of that guy…everything he does and says just reminds me of…urgh, forget it. He's still just a…powerless…human…"
Down below, Eliza has engaged in a duel with Piggy and despite him being taller and older, Eliza's combat prowess is proving to be a problem for him. "Come now, you can do better than that!" she mocks the bulky Ninja while elegantly evading Piggy's attacks.
"Guh, hold still! If all you're gonna do is dodge then thisUARGH!" Piggy groans as Eliza delivers a powerful kick squarely on his abdomen, sending him flying slightly before he lands on the floor.
"Then what? I couldn't quite hear you." Eliza huffs as Piggy jumps up and draws a large bat from under his cape and presses a button on its handle which makes the weapon vibrate.
"GGRRAAAA!" he roars and brings the weapon down on Eliza, who backflips away but as the bat slams to the floor, it creates a massive shockwave that reverberates around the hangar and hits the Ninjas nearest to Piggy.
"Tsch, you only managed to hit your own allies, idiot." Eliza remarks while landing as Piggy lifts his bat and glares at her with his wild eyes.
"They're fighting for the same cause; they know the risks! Now stand still so I can turn ya to dust!"
"And they actually follow someone like you? You Ninjas are truly lost."
"SHUT UP! You're the one to talk, allying with the KND! No self-respecting teenager would EVER team up with those brats! They took The Steve and lots of our other buddies from us." Piggy yells and swings his bat horizontally but Eliza again dodges the attack with little effort.
"That is true, but the KND were being controlled. Besides, don't you have a cure for Erasure?" Eliza's question shocks Piggy, causing him to lose focus for a split second, which gives Eliza the chance to slice his massive bat in half.
"Grrrr…"
"So many Teen and Adult Super Villains are back and the Ice Cream men too. How do you explain that?" Eliza says as she tries to punch Piggy, but he blocks her attack with his gauntlets. "Hmph, I guess your sponsor hasn't told you about it then."
"Damn you…" Eliza's words have struck a chord in the Ninja Leader's head as he can't give her an answer.
"Surely your sponsor could bring all your buddies back. Or are they just using you Ninjas as tools, just like Father did?"
"GRRRAAAHH! SHUT UP! QUIT TALKING CRAP!" enraged, Piggy jumps backwards and dashes at Eliza, who steps aside but right as Piggy passes her, he turns around and aims his right fist directly at Eliza's head. With her back facing the huge Ninja, Eliza reacts instantly and moves her left arm under her right and releases a shockwave from her left palm. "GUARGH!" Piggy is blasted into the air over a fair distance before he falls to the ground with a mighty thud, shocking the Ninjas nearby.
"*pant* You guys are being used…you just don't want to admit it…hmm?" Eliza notices a faint glow behind the nearby armored door that was closed when Chad's group entered the hangar. Then, it explodes, and 20 members of TND Special Operations infiltration teams fly out, laser and Stupefier guns blazing.
"Hah-haa, they finally caught up!" Patton shouts over the radio while a relieved Eliza is greeted by the team leader.
"Supreme Commander, sorry we're late."
"It's okay. Follow me. We're going to breach that big door on the eastern wall."
"Yes, Ma'am!" the leader replies as Eliza starts leading them towards the eastern wall. Further ahead, Chad, Maurice and Patton have made good progress through the seemingly endless lines of Teen Ninjas, who are unable to hold their own against Leo's kinetic force attacks. Rachel, Keith and Numbuh 9L have also joined them, with 9L sticking very close to Chad. However, before they reach the wall, another group of Ninjas intercept them, but they aren't ordinary Ninjas.
"Damn, a Football Team." Maurice mutters while Chad notices all of them clutching small vials of S.I.N.
"NO!" he shouts just as they empty their vials, causing their eyes to turn completely yellow and their muscles grow.
"RRAAAARRGH! CRUSH 'EM!" their captain roars and they attack the group as a single wall of enraged muscle.
"No you don't!" Leo intercepts them and punches the air in-front of him, unleashing two kinetic blasts at the Football Team, who take the attack head-on but it merely slows them down. "Huh?"
"Get back Leo!" Cygnus yells and uses her magnetic powers to grabs the Ninja's B.R.A.'s and throws them against the southern wall but they simply get up and charge again. "They are strong. Is it because that S.I.N. you mentioned?"
"Yeah. It boosts their power…but at a cost." Chad bites his lip as the sight of the yellow-eyed teenagers both disgusts and saddens him.
"We'll handle them, Numbuh Delta. You should keep going." Cygnus says while pointing at the closed door up ahead. "Leo, Numbuh 9L, don't underestimate them."
"Grr, where the heck is Corvus?"
"He's probably brooding again somewhere."
"You were saying?" Suddenly Corvus appears behind Cygnus, having just knocked a few Ninjas unconscious with his electric attacks. "I was merely charging my batteries. Now get ready, here they come."
"Mrrrau!" 9L growls as the Football Team attack the aliens like a pack of wild beasts and they quickly prove to be more than a match against them.
Meanwhile, Chad and Maurice have been joined by Keith and a silent Rachel and together, they dash towards the door when they again come under fire from another group of Ninjas, who then draw their Combat Staffs and engage in close combat. However, Chad becomes separated from the others and is suddenly hit in the back by a single heat laser shot, knocking him to the floor. "Urgh…" he quickly rolls onto his back but as he gets up, he comes face-to-face with his attacker. "Stacey…"
"…" time seems to stop as they stare at each other from behind their respective weapons.
"I don't want to fight you Stacey, now out of my way." Chad says and points his gun-sword at Stacey, who refuses to move.
"Too bad…I'm not letting you…get through…" Chad notices that her wrist is shaking. "Ever since you came back everything's been messed up…"
"Thing's were messed up way before I came back, Stacey. We don't have to be enemies!"
"You've got some nerve saying that while siding with the KND!" Stacey yells and tries to tackle Chad but he easily restrains her. "Urgh, let go!"
"I know what happened to you guys while I was gone. I've read all the reports."
"Then why?! Why are you on their side?!"
"Because the KND was controlled by the Splinter Cell! I told you already!" Chad yells at Stacey who struggles free and points both of her heat-laser cannons at Chad but then, they both realize that they can't bring themselves to fight each other. "You can still walk away from this, Stacey."
"And you won't?"
"I'm fighting for something bigger, Stacey. I…URGH!" Suddenly, Chad is struck from behind by Chuckie's foot and he falls face first onto floor before Chuckie stomps on his back and points his staff's tip at Chad's head. "*gasp* *pant* Chuc…kie…"
"You're mine now, traitor!" with maddened eyes, Chuckie lifts his staff as Stacey realizes what he's about to do.
"Wait, Chuckie don't do it!"
"Shut it! This is between him and me. You're gonna pay for everything you've done to us, Chad."
"No…I can't lose here!" Chad starts struggling and frees himself by activating his jet boots, sliding out of Chuckie's hold. "You're really starting to piss me off, Chuckie. Don't you realize you guys are just being used by your sponsor?! They're enslaving you with S.I.N." Chad shouts at Chuckie, who hesitates slightly but he quickly regains his composure.
"All I care about is making you pay Chad! Nothing else matters right now! RAAAHH!"
"YOU DAMN IDIOT!" the two former friends engage in a heated melee, matching each other blow for blow as their pent-up anger and frustration finally erupts. "Gah, your technique still sucks!"
"I don't need technique to bring you down, traitor!" Chuckie yells back and tries to find an opening in Chad's guard, but he isn't about be brought down a by a cheap shot again and he counters every attack Chuckie dishes at him. "*pant* Don't tell me you were holding back the whole time?! You're looking down on me, dammit!"
"No, I was holding back because I didn't want to fight you, Chuckie!"
"That so?! Well too bad, because I'm about to make you suffer the same way we have for years! RAAARRGH!" Chuckie booster jumps over Chad and drives his Combat Staff at him, but Chad swings his gun-sword's blade against the staff's spinning drill tip, creating a surge of sparks. Chuckie however refuses to yield and applies more power from his jet boots, pushing Chad backwards.
"Urgh…"
"GO TO HELL, TRAITOR!" Angling his staff slightly, Chuckie manages to break Chad's guard, leaving his body wide open. However, despite seeing the rapidly spinning drill barreling towards him, Chad keeps his cool.
"Sorry." he activates his left jet boot and spins his body 90 degrees to the left, causing Chuckie's staff to miss Chad and because he is moving to fast, Chuckie can't stop himself on time, allowing Chad to grab his helmet and face with his left hand before he blasts Chuckie at point-blank with EMP.
"GUUUUARRRRGHHHH!" The EMP instantly short-circuits his B.R.A., subjecting him to an electric shock before Chad let's go and Chuckie falls to the floor.
"Chuckie!" Stacey screams as Chad looks down on his defeat former comrade.
"*cough* *pant*…urgh…*cough* damn you…" Chuckie curses at Chad and tries to get up but the attack has drained his stamina completely and he has nothing left to keep going. However, both he and Stacey notice Chad's sad expression as he retracts his visor and faceplate once more.
"You think I wanted things to go this way? Yeah, I was a spy, a double agent who sabotaged you for years but I still enjoyed being you and everybody else back then…" Chad clenches his fist as Stacey slowly approaches the boys. "I know I can't…take back all the things I did to you guys…but I…" Suddenly, Stacey draws her heat laser cannons and points them at Chad but her entire body is shaking.
"Chad…" However, her ex-boyfriend doesn't put up a guard and he simply stares back at her, causing tears to form in her eyes.
"Numbuh Delta!" their stand-off is then interrupted by the arrival of Eliza and Chad's other comrades. As he was too focused on fighting Chuckie, he had completely ignored what was happening around him and now, having been snapped back to reality by Eliza calling his name, Chad looks to his right. All around him, the hangar is littered with unconscious and injured Ninjas and TND agents. Even Eliza has taken a beating and the sight sickens Chad. Was this all worth it? The more he thinks about it, the less and less he feels satisfied by this result. "Numbuh Delta, are you okay?" Eliza asks, causing Chad to fidget slightly before he answers.
"…yeah…I'm fine…" he replies and turns his gaze towards Stacey, who is essentially the last Ninja still standing in the hangar.
"She must be the last one left." Patton mutters as Rachel steps forward and arms her left-hand Stupefier cannon.
"Then let's get this over with and move on."
"NO!" Chad shouts and steps between her and Stacey. "That's enough. We've reached the eastern wall. We don't need to fight them anymore."
"That Ninja might call for reinforcements, Numbuh Delta. Now step aside." Rachel replies coldly, shocking her comrades.
"Numbuh Epsilon, stand down. Numbuh Delta's right. No point in wasting time on her." Eliza says but Rachel refuses to lower her weapon.
"The Ninjas are our enemy, Numbuh Alpha. We can't show mercy to them, not after everything they did."
"Hold on now, this isn't like you, Numbuh Epsilon. Don't tell me you're bringing up that grudge again? I thought you let go of that." Maurice grabs Rachel's shoulder but she does not budge.
"I can't let go, Numbuh Sigma…not when these…monsters made so many of our friends suffer."
"STOP IT!" Chad shouts, silencing everyone. "I don't wanna hear about revenge anymore! Why do you people have to keep bringing back the past?!"
"Stop acting so high and mighty, Numbuh Delta!" Rachel shouts back as her pent up frustration towards Chad is finally released. "You betrayed the KND, nearly destroyed the Moonbase and then you suddenly show from out of nowhere saying you want to help us?! Acting like you could understand what we've been through because of your damn GKND!"
"Rachel, that's enough!" Patton tries to step in but Rachel brushes him aside.
"Shut your mouth." she hisses and walks up to Chad, her eyes wide with rage. "You don't know how much we've suffered. The Ninjas tortured innocent people in their dungeons! Do you understand?! They are our enemy! It's always been like that! The Teen Ninjas are nothing more than fiends who enjoy bullying and hurting kids and other teenagers! I don't have an ounce of mercy towards them, and I never will!" Rachel screams at Chad's face and her words echo throughout the hangar. However, Chad isn't fazed at all.
"But they're teenagers just like us. We might be on different sides but we're all humans, Numbuh Epsilon."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Am I the only one who's trying to look at the big picture here? Yes, the Ninjas are our enemy. Yes, they did do all that horrible stuff to kids and teenagers but holding a grudge and making them suffer because of it is just going to keep this damn cycle going!" Chad shouts back at Rachel. "I wasn't here when all that happened, but I've seen equally bad things when I was with the GKND! They can wipe out entire planets in the blink of an eye! And they'll do the same to Earth too when they arrive! That's why I'm tired of this…this pointless fighting. Our goal here was to stop their S.I.N. production, that's it! Not to exact vengeance on the Ninjas. Or is that the only reason you fight, Numbuh Epsilon?"
Chad looks Rachel in the eye and she glares back intensely as she is reminded of Sector V and Fanny. Ever since they had lost their memories, Rachel had made protecting them her sole purpose, even if she had to do it by herself. And now, Chad's words have reminded her of what made her keep going after the war ended a year ago. She isn't the only one who has been affected by Chad's outburst as the O.M.E.G.A. Numbers and Numbuh 9L look at each other while Stacey lowers her weapons and looks on in silence.
"GUARGH! We ain't done yet!" Suddenly, their standoff is interrupted by Piggy, who has regained consciousness. "Nobody is getting' past that door!" he shouts as other Ninjas stand up, but everyone is worn out by the battle.
"Dammit, they got up. Numbuh Alpha, let's go already." Maurice gestures to Eliza just as the facility is rocked by multiple large explosions.
"What was that?!" Patton asks as Eliza snaps her fingers.
"The KND must've brought down the shield!"
Across the hangar, Piggy is also informed of the events happening outside. "Boss, the shield's gone! The KNDorks are pouring in from the factory level, we need hel…*ZZZZTTT*" the transmission cuts off, enraging the Ninja leader tremendously.
"Grrr, NO! Not again!" he roars as he throws his ornamental Ninja helmet to the ground. "Huh? What are ya standin' there for?! Get 'em! Don't let 'em out of this hangar!" he howls his orders, but with two thirds of the Ninjas either injured or stupefied, the Ninjas are in no condition to resume the fight.
"Come on guys, leave your arguing for later, we gotta move!" Keith says as he pushes Chad and Rachel away from each other. Then, the southern wall's doors slide open, and a group of Ice Cream Men arrive. They immediately cover both sides of the door as silent footsteps are heard, followed by slow clapping. Then, to everyone disbelief and horror, the Silhouette Suit-wearing stranger who sponsors the Ninjas enters the hangar, flanked by the Teen Tornado and a unnaturally large, Delightfulized teenager wearing a blue and white B.R.A.
"Well, well, well, this is quite the sight." he says with an eerie voice as shock grips every TND member present.
"No…that…can't…" Eliza stutters and takes a step back.
"Is that…Omnius?" Maurice asks but the O.M.E.G.A. Numbers immediately shake their heads.
"No. That's not him." Corvus mutters but he can sense that the stranger is clearly dangerous. Piggy meanwhile smiles with glee.
"Y…You! Alright, now we've got the advantage! Let's get 'em!"
"You will do no such thing." the Sponsor says coldly. "While I applaud your plan to trap our foes here, it has ultimately failed."
"Huh?! What are ya saying? They're right there!"
"Yes, but the situation has changed. Two of your four Sky Destroyers have been sunk, along with half of the Radical Ninja Fleet. Not to mention that our enemies have brought reinforcements and are bombarding the facility from space. We have no choice but to abandon this base."
"Are you serious?! There's no way we're gonna leave…urgh…*gasp*…" without even looking his way, the Sponsorgrips Piggy by his neck with telekinesis and lifts him off the ground, shocking everyone.
"Talk back to me one more time and I will end our deal. Now, retreat. Me and my associates will handle our guests." the Sponsordrops Piggy to the floor, leaving him gasping for air.
"*gasp* *pant*…ghhh…fine…" he hisses and stands up. "We're pulling out. All Ninjas, abandon the base!" Piggy shouts but at first, the Ninjas aren't sure how to react. Only a select few had seen the sponsor, the one who has been providing them with S.I.N. and now that he has shown himself, they become conflicted, as his Silhouette Suit reminds them of Father. A year ago, he had Delightfulized nearly every Ninja on Earth, making them his mindless slaves and that experience has left many traumatized. "…*pant* Wha…what are you all waiting for?! I said, retreat!" Piggy roars and despite some hesitation, the other Ninjas start pouring into the west and north exits while the partition slides open slightly, allowing many to run into the other side of the hangar to escape by air. Chad then notices Stacey helping Chuckie up and their eyes meet.
"…don't…Don't go with them…" Chad pleads but Chuckie looks away and so does Stacey as they turn their backs on him and join the other Ninjas. "Dammit…" Chad bits his lip as Maurice uses his left-hand heat-laser cannon to melt a hole into the eastern entrance.
"You will not find anything beyond that door." the Sponsor interrupts as the Ice Cream Men form a wall in-front of him. "I have taken the liberty of removing anything sensitive from the storage rooms, laboratory and computer system. There is nothing of value left in this facility as your KND allies will soon find out." he says and puts his hands behind his back. "However, I am most displeased that you made it this far and thus, it is time to dispense punishment on you traitorous teenagers. And what luck, your leader and almost every important member is present. A perfect chance to cut off your organization's head. Attack." upon hearing his order, the Ice Cream Man charge forward, armed with freezing weapons.
"Grr, just our luck. Listen! Infiltration Teams, get the injured out and pull back. The rest of us will hold them off!" Eliza takes command and draws her sword.
"Yes, Supreme Commander!" the Special Operations agents begin gathering their injured comrades while Eliza leads the others against the Ice Cream Men.
"Come on, Numbuh Delta, we aren't through just yet." Maurice says to Chad, who regains his composure and arms his gun-sword.
"Yeah, I know." he replies and joins the others as the Sponsorchuckles.
"Excellent. Tornado, Lunk, your turn. Spread them out."
"Hah-hah-hah, as you wish! RAAAARH! The purple jumpsuit wearing Teen Villain replies with glee and spins, turning himself into a twister.
"Lunk crush!" the large teenager growls and charges past the Ice Cream Man. He then creates a massive energy shield from his gauntlets and prepares to ram the approaching teenagers. "GRRRRAAARGH!"
"I'll handle this guy!" Leo flies ahead and increases his momentum as his rams the shield, creating a huge vertical shockwave on impact but as the dust clears, Leo realizes that Lunk has not budged at all by his attack, and they have entered a deadlock. "Gah…what the…"
"That guy's Delightfulized! He's way stronger than those Ninjas!" Patton yells as he comes to Leo's aid, firing his Multi-Rifle at Lunk. Then, the Ice Cream Men begin firing their weapons at the others while Tornado charges onward-
"YOU'RE GOING DOWN!" he shouts as Eliza orders everyone to split up, but as Tornado swirls past them, he sees a familiar face among the teenagers. "Hmm? Hey, it's you!" Tornado turns around and makes a beeline for Rachel. "This is for breaking my hand!" Reacting quickly, Rachel dashes out of the way and splits her laser lance into sword mode.
"Bring it on." she replies, still agitated by her argument with Chad.
"LET'S DO THIS!" Tornado changes direction again and attacks Rachel head-on while she lunges forward and performs two powerful slash attacks on Tornado as they pass each other. "You didn't learn anything from last time, blondie! Those light knives aren't gonna touch me when I'm spinning!"
"Then let's put a stop to that!" Keith shouts as he joins the fight, firing his Stupefier pistols at Tornado. "We gotta take him down together, mon!"
"…right…" Rachel mutters and they double-team Tornado as Eliza, Chad, Corvus and Maurice head towards the Sponsor while Cygnus and Numbuh 9L hold back the Ice Cream Men.
"Very bold of you to attack me head-on." the Sponsor says as the three teenagers and Corvus rush him.
"And you're gonna regret underestimating us!" Eliza shouts as she attacks first but the Sponsor stops her with telekinesis before slamming to the ground. "Guah!"
"Oh I assure you, I do not underestimate." the Sponsor replies coldly as he comes under fire from Chad and Maurice. However, their shots simply fly through him.
"Dammit, it's like we're fighting Father all over again." Maurice curses as Eliza gets up.
"Father was way stronger! This guy's nothing more than a cheap copy." she shouts and uses her Acceleration boots to close the distance, dodging the incoming telekinetic blasts.
"Impressive." the Sponsor says as he blocks Eliza's slash attack with his left hand. "You're just as strong as I expected."
"Ghh…oh, did your homework or are you some sort of a fan?" Eliza grips her sword with both hands but the Sponsor doesn't even flinch.
"Fan? Don't be ridiculous, I despise you." he replies bluntly and pushes Eliza back when suddenly, he is hit from above by a powerful thunderbolt. "Urgh…" the attack causes the Sponsor to stagger slightly, leaving him open to attack.
"Now's your chance." Corvus says and the trio waste no time.
"RAAAH!" Eliza and Chad slash the Sponsor's Silhouette Suit at the same time while Maurice hits him with lasers before delivering a flying kick on the Sponsor's chest, sending him into the wall behind him.
"Boss!" noticing what happened, Lunk breaks away from Leo and Patton and thanks to the large booster on his back, he goes after Chad, Maurice and Eliza before they can attack the Sponsor again.
"Oh no you don't! GUAAARGH!" Leo unleashes a bestial roar as he flies after Lunk while Patton also gives chase.
"Guys, you've got company!" he shouts as Lunk rushes towards Patton's friends. "Duck!"
Acting quickly, Chad tackles Eliza while Maurice also dives for the deck just as Lunk roars over them, but the unnaturally large teenager quickly lands and prepares to pound the trio into dust with his armored fists when suddenly, Leo arrives.
"RAAAH!" having gathered a fair amount of kinetic energy in his pursuit, the cat-faced alien rams into Lunk with enough force to drive him to the concrete wall.
"URGH! GUAH! MRRRH!" Lunk groans as his left arm, head and upper body end up buried in the concrete, temporarily trapping him. "Lu…Lunk stuck! GRRR!"
"Flashy as ever." Corvus huffs and joins the others just as Chad helps Eliza back on her feet.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, thanks." she replies but their relief is short lived as the Sponsor stands up and now, small embers begin spewing from his Silhouette Suit.
"Your alien friends weren't a part of my calculations, Chad Dickson." he says coldly as he confronts the teenagers.
"So you've heard of me?"
"Who hasn't? You're a living legend…or were. Now you're just a misguided fool who thinks he can make a difference in a fight he can't win." the Sponsor's words anger Chad, who immediately goes on the offensive.
"Numbuh Delta, don't!" Eliza shouts just as Chad strikers the Sponsor with his gun-sword but he simply swipes Chad aside with telekinesis.
"*groan* Dammit…just…who the heck are you?!" Chad glares at the Sponsor as he stands up and readies his weapon once more.
"That's not important. However, what really matters, is you!" in the blink of an eye, the Sponsor teleports right in-front of Eliza, who instantly reacts and somehow dodges the Sponsor's attempt to grab her, before she hits back with her sword.
"Come on, we gotta help her!" Maurice rallies Patton, Chad, Leo and Corvus to his side but before they can attack, Lunk frees himself from the wall and gets between them and the Sponsor.
"No one touches Boss! Lunk crush you!" the towering teenager activates his arm shields but this time they wrap around his fists and he slams them into the hangar's concrete floor, creating powerful shockwaves which force his foes to evade.
"Grr…this big bozo is starting to piss me off! You should've stayed in that wall! RAAARGH!" angered, Leo executes another ramming attack and Lunk counters with his shield covered fists, placing them into a deadlock once more.
"Now's our chance!" Chad yells but then, the Teen Tornado sweeps past Chad and Maurice, knocking them to the floor. He had seen what was happening and broke away from his fight with Rachel and Keith to intercept Chad and Maurice's attempt to aid Eliza.
"Uh-uh-uh! Don't interfere!" Still spinning rapidly in his twister form, Tornado begins moving in a sideways motion, creating a wall in-front of the boys, who can't get through. "You TND are a bunch of weaklings! Now, get ready to be grinded to ARRRRGHHH!" not impressed by his showboating, Corvus zaps Tornado with a powerful thunderbolt, causing him to slow down and lose control. Then, having followed Tornado, Rachel and Keith bombard the Teen Villain with Stupefier beams which, combined with being stunned by Corvus' attack, leave the Teen Tornado trapped in crystal while in his twister form.
"Man, that guy talks way too much…" Keith remarks as Rachel turns her attention to Eliza, who is still dueling with the Sponsor.
"Numbuh Alpha!" she immediately flies towards her friend, but the Sponsor, without even looking her way, slams Rachel to the floor with telekinesis.
"What is with that guy? He's way too strong." Patton says as he and Keith help Rachel back up.
"He's not like Father…but there's something about him that seems familiar…" Maurice says as Rachel combines her swords.
"Who cares about that, we have to help Numbuh Alpha!" Rachel once again attacks the Sponsor from behind but this time, he envelops both himself and Eliza inside a swirling sphere of fire. "No!"
"Ghh, you think this fire's gonna stop me?!" Eliza shouts at the Sponsor who counters her sword strike by enveloping his hands in flames.
"Oh no, I'm aware of your immunity to fire." the Sponsor's reply shocks Eliza and he catches her off guard. "I simply want to keep your friends away long enough for me to do this!" then, he grabs Eliza's right wrist, lifts her off the ground and tosses her sword out of the flame sphere.
"Urgh…what are you…*gasp*." Eliza sees the Sponsor reach his Suit's pocket and from it, he takes a vial of S.I.N. "No…keep that away from me!" dangling like a fish in a hook, a panicking Eliza tries to break free from the Sponsor's grip as he moves the vial closer to her.
"Struggle all you want; it's not going to help. I came all the way here just for you, Eliza Solis. To perform a small test on you."
"Ghh…urgh…no…don't…NO!" seeing the fear in her heterochromatic eyes, the Sponsor chuckles coldly and pulls Eliza closer.
"Don't worry, this won't hurt, me at least. It's time to reignite the power that's dwelling deep inside you."
Outside the fire sphere and refusing to simply watch, Rachel grabs Eliza's sword off the floor and applies full power from her Acceleration Boots. "LET HER GO!" she screams and flies into the sphere just as the Sponsor is about to pour the S.I.N. down Eliza's mouth. Despite being seared by the flames, Rachel gets through and strikes the vial into pieces with Eliza's sword while also blasting the Sponsor with a powerful shockwave from her left gauntlet.
"No!" the Sponsor shouts as he tumbles to the floor while Rachel and Eliza also drop to the floor. Acting quicky, Chad and Maurice come to the girl's aid while Corvus and Keith move in to cover their allies.
"Numbuh Epsilon you okay?" Maurice asks as he helps Rachel up. As she attacked without her helmet, her hair is singed and she has very minor burns on her face but she brushes Maurice's question aside immediately.
"Don't worry about me…Numbuh Alpha…is she…" however, Rachel stops mid-sentence the moment she see Eliza, who is lying on her side on the floor. "…no…" Slowly, Eliza opens her eyes and sits up but then, she notices that something is off.
"Wha…what happened…huh? No…no…KIIIYAAAHH!" she let's out a terrified scream upon seeing her left arm cloaked in a dark aura with a blue outline. Then, she touches her face and realizes that the entire left side of her face is also cloaked in the same aura, along with her hair, which has turned pitch black. But before anyone can come to her aid, she is gripped by immense pain and the aura starts to spread. "ARRRRGHHH!" Eliza screams louder and begins writhing in pain on the floor.
"No…that's…that's a…" Maurice stutters just as the Sponsor stands up and cackles silently.
"Not exactly to plan, but the result is satisfactory."
"You bastard! What did you do to her?!" Rachel jumps up and screams furiously at the Sponsor who shrugs.
"I wasn't able to do anything, before you decided to splash that S.I.N. all over her face, Rachel T. Mackenzie. But the deed is done and Eliza Solis once again has her Silhouette Suit, as it should be."
"DAMN YOU!" Chad charges at the Sponsor who simply turns himself intangible and lets Chad go through him.
"You all believed she had lost her Suit a year ago when Numbuh 1 destroyed her Delightfulization chip? Don't make me laugh. Eliza Solis might not be a member of the Uno bloodline but Father's experiment's still bore fruit: he didn't simply give her the Suit, he imbued S.I.N. directly into her DNA! But unlike the Uno's, she can't use the Suit just like that. It needs a catalyst to awaken and S.I.N. is that catalyst!"
"We don't care about your explanations! You're gonna pay for this!" Chad attacks the Sponsor from behind but once again, he allows Chad to pass through before him while Rachel tries to approach the screaming Eliza, with half of her body already covered by the blue outline Silhouette Suit, the very same one she had a year ago.
"Eliza!" but when Rachel get's close, blue flames surround Eliza, who can't hear anything through the pain. "Dammit…" Rachel curses as the Sponsor is amused by her blight.
"It's useless. Once the Suit covers her completely, she'll no longer be your precious Supreme Commander. Then, I can simply watch as she burns you all to ash."
"Enough talk, you freak!" Corvus now joins Chad in attacking the Sponsor and fires multiple electric blasts at their foe, he evades instead of becoming intangible.
"You aliens are proving to be a real pain…" he mutters and looks around the hangar. With the Teen Tornado stupefied, the Ice Cream Men too busy fighting Cygnus and Numbuh 9L and Lunk trapped in a pushing match with Leo, he let's out a frustrated sigh. "Useless, all of them. Fine, I'll deal with you myself before I take Eliza Solis with me."
"You're not taking anyone, you Father knock-off!" Maurice and Keith open fire on the Sponsor while Chad and Corvus attack him from both sides, forcing the Sponsor to slip into the floor and appear a short distance away. With the boys keeping the Sponsor busy, Rachel tries to reach out to Eliza, who is going through immeasurable pain.
"Eliza, listen to me! You can't let it control you! Fight it!"
"*groan*…argh…it hurts…help…me…" Eliza reaches back to Rachel with her face almost completely covered in the black aura.
"I will! I won't let you end up like that again!" Rachel tries to take Eliza's hand but the blue flames react and separate the girls. "Eliza!"
Behind them, the Sponsor is easily holding his own against the three teenagers and Corvus. "Even with your superior numbers, you are no match for me!"
"We'll see about that!" Chad shouts but no matter what he does, the Sponsor allows all physical attacks pass through him. Then, without warning, Lunk suddenly appears and flies into the Sponsor, having lost his fight against Leo, who arrives with Cygnus and Numbuh 9L, who had knocked out the Ice Cream Men.
"The cavalry has arrived. Let's pound that guy to dust!" Leo says boisterously as the Sponsor tosses the unconscious Lunk aside and now, he is visibly angry as a flaming pillar surround him.
"I'm getting tired of this. It's time I put you pests in your place!"
"Attack him together!" Chad yells and he leads the others against the Sponsor, who releases a massive telekinetic pulse that immediately knocks out Keith, Patton and Maurice while Chad and Numbuh 9L are thrown to the floor. "Guah!"
"You fiend! Have at you!" Cygnus and her fellow O.M.E.G.A. Numbers attack the Sponsor who first let's a charging Leo fly through him, causing the cat-faced alien to slam into the wall, the impact knocking him out cold. Then, the Sponsor sends a stream of fire at Cygnus, who counters by enlarging her wings into shields, but while they withstand the flames, Cygnus is pushed back and she hits the floor, burying her in a small crater.
"I'll have to take you aliens with me as well. I can't allow such powerful beings to serve my enemies. Now then." the Sponsor turns his attention towards Eliza and Rachel but as he starts approaching them, Corvus gets in his way. "So, only you remain. You cannot defeat me by yourself, alien."
"Says you." Corvus replies and glares at the Sponsor, not intimidated by his formidable foe.
"You chose poorly by allying with these weaklings. And now, it's going to cost you.
"Not so fast!" suddenly, Chad comes to Corvus' side and stares down at the Sponsor. "You're laying a finger on anyone."
"Tenacious to the very end, Chad Dickson. However, your resistance is futile." the Sponsor creates a flame sphere from his right hand and aims it at Chad and Corvus.
"Corvus, let's do it." Chad eyes Corvus and the alien eyes him back.
"…fine. Let's teach this guy a lesson." that very moment, both of them hear each other's heartbeats and Chad detaches his gun-sword from his right gauntlet before pointing his right fist at the Sponsor.
"Overlay!"
End of Transmission 18
Note: Well, I did originally plan to make this the last chapter of the first arc but then decided to split it in two. Anyway, lots of stuff happened in this chapter so let's go through some important things.
We finally learned how exactly Numbuh 10 (Eliza) actually got her Silhouette Suit back in RETRIBUTION. While she can't inherit it, who's to say she can't receive it artificially. We'll be delving into this further in the next arc.
Teen Tornado also rejoins the story (not for the last time I assure you) and we're also introduced to Lunk, a member of the Six-Gum Gang who did get Delightfulized in the series (in OP: F.O.U.N.T.A.I.N.) and I decided to bring him back here.
I also forgot to mention Piggy in the previous chapters. He's a very minor Teen Ninja who was first mentioned in OP: C.H.A.D. and later showed up in at least OP: T.R.E.A.T.Y. as the drummer of the SkumBucketPunks (The Steve's band). I stumbled upon him by accident while going through Teen Ninja characters and it totally made sense to add him into the story due to his connection to Chuckie.
Next is the the REAL final chapter of the first arc.