Bold age

"Then everyone on that planet begged me for mercy." Maximus was sitting at a dinner table in his citadel, laughed, as his 'date' was just sitting there. His 'date' being one of his ceramic ducks dressed as a woman. "But enough about me, tell me a little about you."

As expected the ceramic duck didn't say anything, even if it wanted to it couldn't as after Maximus had asked the duck was smashed with a hammer, making Maximus scream out. Max Sr was not hitting the hammer into his palm as he looked at his son. "Sorry to disturb you son but… errr… the old man wants to see us. Now!"

Maximus' ears flattened at hearing this. "The old man." Maximus was shaking as he slid down his chair.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Over on earth Dede was standing with her friends, minus TJ, as they were all crowded around Mikey who was sitting on the steps to the school.

Spinelli rested her hands on her hips. "Talk, Mikey, talk!"

Gus came to stand next to her, hands in a pleading manner. "Please!"

Mikey shakes his head with a smile. "I'm sorry, but I just can't tell you about our wonderful Saturday surprise until everyone is here, and that includes TJ."

Dede messes with the bill of her hat to try and get rid of some of her jitters, wanting to know what Mikey had planned. "Man, I wish Teej would just show already. This is driving me nuts."

Regeena nods before a smirk creeps onto her face. "We won't have to wait long thankfully. Here he comes!"

Everyone looked over to where Regeena pointed and saw TJ running up to them with a huge grin on his face. "Guys! Guys! Guess what we're doing Saturday!"

Mikey smiled bigger at this and answered before TJ could continue. "Going to visit senior citizens."

TJ just looks at Mikey before shaking his head. "Good one, Mikey, but no. We're going to the Señor Fusion fest at the mall."

This made the others all gasp in excitement at this news. "Oh, man, TJ, you serious?" Vince asked.

TJ nods. "S. F. Himself is gonna be there, signing trading cards and any flat surface you bring."

All of them started to chat excitedly, with Dede and Regeena high giving each other. "Oh, yeah!"

While all the others were excited about this, Mikey wasn't. "But I made an appointment this Saturday for us to share our youth with those less youthful at the Red "Biff" Danderson Center for the extremely mature."

Spinelli shakes her head, holding a hand up to stop Mikey from talking. "Sorry, Mikey, but if the choice is Señor Fusion or an old-folks home, the guy in the matador get-up wins every time."

"Perhaps, we could visit the old-folks' home some other Saturday." Gretchen suggested.

Mikey looked defeated. "But I promised I'd arrive with seven friends this Saturday."

Dede looks at Mikey with pity. "Sorry big guy. Anyway, we best get to class."

As the others were walking past Mikey to get to class Gus stops next to him. "Um, maybe you can find seven other friends."

Mikey hums as he watches the front door close. "Or maybe I can find a way to convince the seven friends I already have."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"Give me liberty or give me death!" Miss Grotke quotes to her class. "Powerful, powerful words! And now, let's take minutes to discuss your history project with your partners."

Mikey walked over to Gretchen and she looked up at him. "I suspect a little trip to the library will provide the required historical data, eh, Mickey?"

Mikey smiled. "Maybe, but a little visit to the Danderson Center this Saturday would provide real, live historical data."

Gretchen hummed at this suggestion. "While that's true, I believe we could easily extrapolate most of that data from books and other secondary sources without having to miss the Señor Fusion fest on Saturday."

Mikey sighed in disappointment at being shot down again. "Oh."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Mikey's next attempt came during art class. The students had to draw a real life person they knew and something they've been through. Mikey turned to look at Dede as she was next to him. "Who are you planning on drawing Dede?"

Dede smiled up at Mikey. "I'm planning on going to see my Nana after we finish at the Señor Fusion fest on Saturday."

Mikey took Dede's sketchbook from out of her hands, turning some of the pages. "Why not come to the Danderson Center instead, you've already drawn your Nana and probably already know everything about her so going to see these senior citizens will give you new ideas to draw."

Dede shakes her head as she looks at one of her recent drawings of her Nana Mikey was showing her. "Nah, Nana always has new stories to tell."

Mikey sighs as Dede takes her sketchbook back and turns to a new page. "Oh."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

It was now lunch time.

TJ had just got his tray of food and turned around to go and join the others but was stopped in his tracks by Mikey standing in front of him, holding his hands together in a pleading manner with a hopeful expression. TJ groaned at this, having heard from both Gretchen and Dede about Mikey trying to get them to agree to miss the Fusion fest. "Mikey, no! How many times do I have to say it?"

Mikey still tried to change TJ's mind. "Oh, TJ, please, think it over. These old people have experienced the most amazing things in their lifetimes."

TJ rolled his eyes. "Mikey, the Fusion fest is gonna be one of the most amazing experiences in my lifetime."

Mikey watched as TJ walked past him. His disheartened expression turned into a determined one as he rolled up one of his sleeves. "All right, that does it. No more Mr. Mike guy." His sleeve rolled back down, dumbfounding him.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

It was now recess and Mikey had managed to corner the last four members of the group he didn't manage to convince. "Sitting in my rocking chair, looking to the door, I dream of someone standing there, I couldn't ask for more. Though now I'm old and getting round, can sometimes cause a fuss. I know I'd like to have a friend, maybe one named Gus?"

Gus looks up at Mikey, who leaned down to be closer. "Gee, I sort of know how they feel. OK, when do we leave?"

Mikey smiled triumphantly at this, standing up fully again and turned to the other three. "Can you three imagine your grandparents, all alone, waiting for some youthful cheer?"

Regeena shakes her head, frowning. "Don't go there, Mikey."

Mikey didn't listen. "Now imagine their sad faces when they hear you're not coming."

Spinelli sniffles just thinking about what Mikey said. "Granny and Papa, sad?"

Vince groans sadly. "Oh, man!"

"OK, Mikey, count me in."

Regeena looked down, nodding. "Me too."

Mikey grinned happily. "Thanks, Spinelli, Regeena, not just from me, but from all those dear, sweet, older people who'll be overjoyed to see the four of us."

Vince looked down. "Make it five."

Dede was with TJ and Gretchen, the girls were helping TJ make the perfect paper airplane. "Hola amigos." The three look over to see Mikey standing there with the other four members of their group. "I come to you now with a majority."

This shocked TJ. "What? You guys gave in?" The four nodded. "Come on, guys, the Señor Fusion fest is a once in a lifetime happening."

Mikey joined his hands together. "Is this fictional favorite of yours really more important than living, breathing people?"

TJ rubbed his head over his hat. "Quit asking me hard questions, Mikey!"

Gretchen interjected before anyone else could say anything. "Sorry to interrupt, but according to my calculations, we could fit in time for both on the same day."

This delighted Mikey. "Oh, joy!"

TJ groaned. "I'll give it half an hour. We get in, we get out. Nobody gets bored."

Dede sighs. "Hopefully that half an hour doesn't drag too much." She gasped and hid her bracelet as it started to beep. "I'm gonna go grab a drink, i'll be back soon."

TJ and Spinelli share a quick look as they watch Dede run off. Spinelli coughed into her fist to get the others' attention. "So what time are we meeting to get to the old folks home?"

As the others were all distracted by Spinelli, TJ snuck off to follow Dede. He followed Dede into the school and watched as she went into an empty classroom. TJ looked through the window on the door, seeing as a blue portal opened up before Dede jumped into it. "So we did see her jump into a portal back then." His shocked expression turned into a determined one. "I gotta talk to Spinelli."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Dede and her team were standing in front of Admiral DeGill's desk, waiting to get their next mission. "Team." DeGill said as he turned to look at the three. "Grievous news. Max Sr Sr is retiring here in moose jaw heights."

Sparky screams at hearing this, falling to his knees. "No! Not Sr Sr. Not to moose jaw heights. Oh, the humanity." Dede, DeGill and X-5 all shared a look at Sparky's reaction. "Wait, who's Max Sr Sr again?"

Admiral DeGill blows some bubbles from his pipe as he answers Sparky. "Max Sr Sr is Maximus' grandfather and Max Sr' father."

Okay, this news shocked Dede a bit, not expecting that. "Maximus has a grandfather. Who's coming here?" Then Dede got annoyed. "Is there a sign that says 'earth, home of atomic Candy. Messing up her life is fun.'"

Admiral DeGill raised one of his fish brow at Dede's annoyance. "Actually, it's not always about you, atomic Candy. Watch this." He pulled on a string that was next to his chair. The TV showed Max Sr Sr talking about his retirement with his son and grandson behind him. Once the screen cut out, DeGill stood up on his chair. "We're not sure what his plan is but this is pretty fishy." DeGill stopped talking as he realised what he said and saw the looks the three galactic guardians were giving him. "Your mission is to go undercover at the Red "Biff" Danderson Center and take him. Our research shows he'll be arriving here on Saturday."

This shocked Dede, knowing what was happening on Saturday. "Are you kidding? I can't do this mission."

Admiral DeGill just looks shocked at Dede's reaction. "Why not?"

Dede started to pace. "Because my friends are going to the Red "Biff" Danderson Center this Saturday. Mikey managed to convince them all to go. I'll be found out."

DeGill hums as he thinks about this. "This might be perfect, it'll give you an excuse to be there."

Dede shakes her head. "Do I really have to?"

DeGill shrugs his shoulders. "Then undercover it is, the bangoons are wearing the undercover uniforms right now."

The four in the room all looked over and saw a couple of bangoons strutting around in a hideous looking yellow nurse outfit. Dede literally flinched away when she saw them. "No way. Not happening! I'm not wearing that dorky outfit."

X-5 looks over at Dede. "On the up side, it comes with worst case scenario attachments."

Dede just shakes her head. "I doubt I'll use that stuff." She sighs. "I'll just go with my friends and try to not be seen by any of them."

Sparky bounces next to Dede. "This is gonna be fun, sing alongs, board games and they mush up your food, sign me up!"

Dede just sighs, not looking forward to saturday.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Once school finished TJ made sure to pull Spinelli aside, under the guise of them walking home together. None of their friends questioned it as they live down the road from each other.

Spinelli looked around to make sure no one was close by. "So, what'd you see?"

TJ whispered so no one would hear, even though there was nobody around them. "She definitely jumped into a portal-like thing."

Spinelli's eyes widened. "So what we saw was real!?" TJ nods. "But why's she going through a portal? And how?"

TJ shrugs. "I don't know, and I think we won't be able to find out for a while."

Spinelli hums. "Maybe she's a spy, or a secret agent?"

"We'll just have to wait and see. If she is a spy or secret agent, it'll explain why she didn't tell anyone." Spinelli nods before the two split up.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

It's now Saturday and Dede was nervous as she walked up to the old folks home that now houses Max Sr Sr.

The group was surprised when Dede arrived with Lapis, Sparky and X-5, with the alien and robot in their human disguises.

Mikey was happy about this though, as he said, the more the merrier. "Here we are, about to begin the greatest Saturday ever. I can't wait to see the smiles on their faces when they see us."

Mikey reached the door first and rang the bell. The door opened to an older lady. "Go away! We don't want any!"

They were all shocked as the door was slammed closed. TJ just shrugs. "Well, we tried. Let's hit the Fusion Fest."

Mikey shook his head. "Wait, friends, I'm sure it was just some misunderstanding."

Mikey knocked on the door and the same lady opened the door. "What do you want?"

Mikey smiled at the lady. "Please, ma'am, I'm Mikey Blumberg. My friends and I are here for a visit."

The older woman seemed to finally realise who they were and smiled at them. "Oh! Oh, young'uns! Well, why didn't you say so before? I thought you were another salesman. Come in, come in."

Mikey's smile grew. "See, guys? We're gonna have a wonderful time."

TJ rolled his eyes. "Speaking of time, Gus, initiate stopwatch."

Gus set the timer on his watch. "Stopwatch initiated, minutes and counting, Teej."

"Let's do it." TJ said as they all walked into the home.

"Look who's here, everybody, the kid who's supposed to sing for us and his little friends." The woman called out to all the other occupants of the room.

A couple of women came up to Mikey cooing and giggled as they pinched his cheeks. "Look at those cheeks. Come here, young fella."

Mikey just continued to smile, "See how happy they are to have us here?"

"Come on, boyo, we got a karaoke machine and everything."

Mikey followed the ladies that were fawning over him. "Have fun, guys. I'm sure I will."

The lady that opened the door grabbed Spinelli's hand and pulled her away. "Come on, girlie, you're with me."

Regeena looked around, unsure of what to do. "So, what do we do now?"

Dede hummed, she needed to separate from the others. "Mingle?"

Everyone went their own way with the galactic guardians all splitting up to hopefully find Max Sr Sr quickly. After about 10 minutes of searching Dede met up with Sparky and X-5. "Any luck?"

X-5 shakes his head. "Negative."

Sparky shrugs as he finishes eating the sandwich he somehow got. "Maybe your calculations were wrong."

X-5 glared at Sparky. "No chance. According to our research he should be here now."

"And he is." The three look over and see Lapis walking over to them. "He's out back."

They all ran over to look out the window, and low and behold, there he was. Dede looked around the backyard, seeing a few other older people relaxing there. She gasped as she caught sight of two figures fighting over a bag. "Maximus!"

"Oh, there you are." The galactic guardians looked behind them and saw one of the women that dragged Mikey off. "Would you be able to invite the new guy to come see your little friend sing? He just got here so he might like the invitation."

Dede smiled nervously. "O-okay." Dede walked out to the backyard on her own and approached Max Sr Sr. "Uh… sir? Would you be interested in joining some of the others to listen to my friend sing?"

Maximus raises an eyebrow as he looks at Dede. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

This made Dede sweat nervously. She couldn't think of a response to that but thankfully she was saved by Max Sr Sr who walked over to Maximus and hit him on the head with his cane. "We're not going to any karaoke."

Dede turned around, sighing in relief at this. The relief was short lived though because as she turned back around all three villains were gone. Dede ran all around the home looking for them while trying to avoid her friends.

Dede walked past the kitchen where Regeena was baking something with one of the older women, only to gasp as she ran into someone.

"I'm looking for my bandundian pig snouts. Did you take them?" Dede stepped back in shock. "You did, didn't ya? Maybe it was the robot? Even the dog?"

Dede gasped as she looked closer at the old wrinkled green guy, wearing the same outfit that Sparky was earlier. "It can't be! Sparky!?" She grabbed onto him, waking him up from his little nap. "Who did this? Was it Maximus? Or Max Sr? Or Max Sr Sr?"

Old Sparky waved Dede off of him. "Where's my pig snouts? My money's on that wiley robot."

Dede grabbed onto Sparky and started to pull him away. "Let's get you out of here." As they were walking Dede connected her bracelet to X-5's. "X-5, meet me at the arts and crafts room."

Dede chose this room as she saw it was empty in her search. "You hear that?" Sparky said as he stopped walking. "Enemy radio!"

Old Sparky tried running to the sound of Mikey singing but tripped after two steps, making Dede facepalm.

.-.-.-.-.

Now in the arts and crafts room X-5 and Lapis just stared as Dede dragged in Sparky. "Well, if it isn't the pig snout snatching robot." Sparky glared at X-5.

Dede turned to look at X-5, ignoring Lapis who was trying to hide her snickers. "Can you two look after Sparky while I try and get to the bottom of this?"

X-5 rests his robotic hands on his hips. "Yes, I can. But I prefer him this way."

Dede ran off, hoping to find the alien feline family before anything else could happen. This didn't go as planned though as an older version of Regeena walked past her. "Regeena!?"

Regeena stopped walking and looked back at Dede. "Hello there."

Dede just stared wide eyed before she shakes her head and drags Regeena to the room Sparky was being watched in and shoved Regeena in there as well. Dede closed the door and ran off again, she looked around a corner, not knowing Maximus was sneaking up behind her.

When Dede turned around she was sprayed with something, making Dede dizzy enough for Maximus to drag her into an empty room. "She looks so familiar to me."

Dede gasped as she realised she was tied to a chair. A young looking feline alien put a strange device on her head. "Hey girly, you're about to learn that getting olds no fun. Especially when you have to rely on dolts to carry on the family name." Maximus and Max Sr started fighting in the background. "As if I'd let 'em take over. Instead, I made a youthinator. It sucks the youth out of one person; such as yourself, and puts it into another." The young feline took out a device that showed a picture of Sparky. "Do you know how much people will pay to be young?" The same device that was currently on Dede's head is shown to be put on Sparky's in the video, turning Sparky from young to old.

Dede smiled condescendingly. "No clue. Thanks for laying out your plan, that was super helpful."

Max Sr Sr raised an eyebrow. "Fat lot of good that'll do you young lady. Or is it 'old lady'?"

Dede glared at Max Sr Sr as he laughed.

The door to the room was kicked open by old Sparky, sending the fighting Maximus and Max Sr across the room. "Who's the one who stole my pig snouts?" Old Sparky points to the two down felines. "You?" He goes to attack Max Sr but Max Sr just grabs him out of the air, stopping his attack short.

Old Regeena then walked into the room with a couple of the home's residents, all of whom started to circle Maximus and Max Sr. Max Sr Sr ran off to go and help his son and grandson leaving Dede alone.

Dede tried to pull her arms free but they were tied too tight. She was able to manoeuvre her wrist that allowed the laser cutter to come out of her bracelet, freeing herself.

Dede jumped out of the chair she was in; detaching the headpiece Max Sr Sr had put on her, and quickly changed into her galactic uniform while no one was looking, setting up a hologram of herself still in the chair.

Dede moved to be closer to the brawl happening, gaining everyone's attention, though none as shocked as Maximus. "Atomic Candy!! I hate this planet!"

Max Sr Sr got into a fighting stance, ready to deal with Atomic Candy. "Now I can show you two how it's done! It's on, girlie!" Dede got into her own fighting stance, worrying Max Sr Sr. "Hey, don't hurt my new young body!"

Max Sr Sr ran off with Dede chasing after him, leaving Maximus and Max Sr to deal with the old Sparky and Old Regeena. Dede followed Max Sr Sr around the old folks home, thankful that he avoided the main room where her friends were all gathered. It wasn't long before they ended up doing a full circle and we're back in the room they started in, all the old people were fast asleep on the floor with Maximus and Max Sr standing by another chair next to the hologram Dede, ignoring her as she was "taunting" them.

Max Sr Sr ran over to his family. "Help me out ya dolts!" He was not, however, expecting Max Sr to grab onto him as Maximus turned the other chair his way allowing Max Sr to force him into it. "What do you think you're doing!?"

Max Sr ties Max Sr Sr up to the chair. "The last thing we want is you, back in power. You call us dolts, never let us be evil."

Maximus started to drag the chair away. "And you think you're better than us. I'm not a minion, I have one." The two felines stopped in front of Dede. "If you let us go we'll make sure he never comes back. And we'll make all the young people…. Young again."

Dede hums as she thinks about this. "And you'll leave the youthinator for us to destroy once you're done?"

Maximus and Max Sr grumbled at this, but knowing it was their only way out, agreed. "Deal."

Dede smiled as Sparky and Regeena were restored back to their youthful selves and as soon as the feline family left Dede deactivated the hologram and went to wake up Sparky and Regeena.

Regeena sat up and rubbed her head. "What happened?"

Dede smiled nervously. "I'm not sure, I came to find you and Sparky, and saw you were both fast asleep."

Regeena looked at Sparky, who was still asleep next to her. "That's odd. Last thing I remember was making some cookies with one of the old ladies."

Dede smiled at her friend as Sparky sat up with the help of X-5. "Pig snouts!"

Regeena raised her eyebrow at this but nobody could say anything as Mikey ran in the room. "There you guys are, come on, let's go!" The girls just shared a look before they all followed Mikey. "Come on, TJ, hurry up! It's time to catch the bus! Let's go!"

TJ was stunned as Mikey grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the home with all the others following behind. "Bu--Bu--"

Mikey sighed in relief as he saw the bus pull up outside the home. "Thank goodness that's over. Let's get out of here."

TJ shakes his head. "But, Mikey, this Rogan guy invented Señor Fusion."

Gretchen rested her hand on TJ's shoulder. "That's nothing, TJ, my guy worked at Los Alamos. He actually had access to test sites!"

Spinelli punched one of her hands into the other. "Well, my lady's teaching me a thing or two about dealing with southpaws."

Mikey looked from his friend to the bus. "Come on, guys, the bus is here! We don't want to miss the fest."

Vince shakes his head. "But the Streak was just about to give me base-running tips.

Regeena nods her head. "I'm not goin' nowhere. I've got cookies in the oven I'd like to try."

This made Sparky perk up. "Oh, can I try some?" Regeena nods at this, making Sparky happy.

"Yeah, come on, Mikey, we're going back in." Gus said.

Mikey shakes his head. "No! I won't go back in there! I can't deal with those crazy old folks anymore!"

Gretchen tilts her head. "Sure you can, Mikey."

"They're not crazy. They're great!" Gus smiled.

Mikey points back to the home. "They're booing me!" This confused them all. "I expected everyone to be happy just listening to me sing. Instead, all they do is complain about the songs I'm singing."

Dede walked over to Mikey, resting a hand on his arm. "Well, did you ask them what songs they'd like to hear?"

Mikey just looked at Dede. "Uh, no."

TJ smiled as he moved to pat Mikey on the back. "Maybe if you listen to what they're saying, you'll learn some neat stuff and make a few new friends. Sure worked that way for all of us."

Mikey looked at his other friends, all of whom nodded in agreement. "Gee, I guess I wasn't thinking about it like that."

Dede grinned, wanting to give this thing a go as well. "Up for giving it another shot?"

Mikey smiled. "Why, yes, I think I am." Mikey walked back into the karaoke room. "Hello again, ladies."

One of the ladies looked up from her magazine. "Well, looky here. Big boy's back."

"I'll now be taking requests."

Another lady looked up from her knitting. "Oh, ho! Now, that's more like it."

The First Lady nods. "You were singing stuff my mother listened to."

"How about Raul and the gang, or maybe Johnny Velvet?"

"Oh, yeah, that cat really swings. Here, boyo, try this one." The Second Lady reached over and pressed some buttons on the karaoke machine, making lively music play.

Que simpatico

Means I think you're fine

The ladies all stand up, cheering.

Que simpatico

Because you're divine

Let me tell you, now

Sometimes I just have to shout "que simpatico"

Everyone else from the home walked into the room to enjoy Mikey's singing.

Let my feelings ride out

Que simpatico

You are, without a doubt

Que simpatico

I'm so glad you're mine

Oh, yeah!

Cheers and applause was all that was heard as Mikey finished singing. "Happy Saturday, everybody!"

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

THE END

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

We're now in the last countdown to Dede's birthday.

Hope everyone enjoys the chapters to come.