Operation: NECSUS, Part 24

Chapter 24: A Fight on Equal Grounds

Coruscant Capital (Play "Underworld Castle" from Kid Icarus: Uprising.)

Final stage: Coruscant Capital, Act 3

Team Nebula were still in the sewer as they reached a dark chasm with three tiny, zigzaggy balance beams leading across, with two Split Pads before them. On the other side were three switches, likely to be pressed by two Nebula halves and MaKayla. Nebula split in two and had both halves take the very left and right paths, since those two mirrored each other, and Kayla took the middle. Parts of Nebula's paths turned around at different times, so Kayla had to freeze one's part in time so they both could cross. Once all were at the other side, they pressed the switches and stopped the flow of water in the pipes ahead. There was a dirty mirror leaned against the wall on their right, so Nebula shot a S.P.O.U.T. to clean the mirror off.

Nebula then shrunk MaKayla with Space Shrink, then shrunk herself using her reflection. The three walked to a small pipe that was sticking upward, with an opening on the top. A Grav-Path led around it, so Nebula had the three walk around it to reach the top. They dove in the gentle water and swam under to get into the pipes that led upward. Much to their disgust, they resurfaced inside a toilet, climbing out and dropping to the bathroom floor as two Cragmites were speaking to each other. "The future sure is weird. I mean, little glass things that let us see ourselves? Freaky."

"And didja hear what the emperor said? One of those Zathurians that lived back when we did is still alive. And she has two kids that have her powers."

"Geez, I'd expect a whole army by now if she could live that long. But just one thing: if SHE was able to live that long, what happened to the other one?"

"Who knows. Apparently, Zathura got sealed and the female escaped, so maybe her brother's still in there."

"What would he have done all this time, do you think? The girl made a army of little munchkins, so maybe he did the same with Zathura's kids."

"Why did she make that army to begin with?"

"I don't know." While they talked, MaKayla ran a good distance between her and Nebula so the latter could reverse the Space Shrink on her. "Something to do with wanting to live forever. Which REALLY contradicts the theory the other one is still-" MaKayla was expanded to full height as she flipped and furiously bashed the Cragmites, freezing them in time before picking the little Nebula up, and holding her to the mirror. Nebula re-expanded herself before tossing N.I.N.S.T.A.R.s at the monsters, then grabbed Vweeb before dropping a grenade to blow them up.

They exited the bathroom and found both directions of this building's hall to be swallowed in rubble. So, they jumped out the window onto a road right beside. Many hovercars were wrecked as Cragmites roamed about destroying stuff as always. MaKayla used Rewind to send back lasers that they were launching, and Nebula tossed Vweeb at their faces to shoot lasers in their eyes. The trio continued down the road as Tachyon's image appeared on a giant TV along some buildings.

"Nebula D. Winkiebottom… why do you insist on trying to stop me? What purpose in the universe could your Kids Next Door possibly have? Sure, my whole reasons for trying to ban them were to take revenge on your wretched people… but you must admit, my reasons have truth to them. Just what force in the universe TOLD you pathetic children to fight off adult tyranny? Your filthy mother did, THAT'S who. But only so SHE was able to live to this day! Your organization never had meaning from the beginning, it was all based around her petty lies and desires. You must come to grips that in the grand scheme, NO child was meant to rule! You all were meant to be SLAVES to the higher authority! For the simple reason you were too unintelligent to run things on your own.

"Even the Irken Empire knew that, which is why I applauded them, to be honest. And the way you create tremendous treehouses to block the sun, engage in battles that leave whole landmasses in ruin, letting you run things will destroy the universe all on its own! Nebula… as someone who cares deeply for space itself, you must understand. SURRENDER to me and allow me to shut these wretched groupings down! Would you rather have all of them die in their own adventures or let them live in fear peacefully under my rule? Make your decision, Nebula. As Leader of the Kids Next Doors, any decision that affects your operatives is YOUR responsibility!"

"Maybe the original Kids Next Door was based around lies… but that's the very reason New GKND was created. To get a fresh new start and erase the crimes of the first one!" Nebula thought aloud. "And my mom wants to forget all of that, too. And the only way she'll be happy is if you're gone! And that's JUST what I'll do, Percival Tachyon! I'll send you back to where you belong!"

"You know he can't actually hear you." Kayla said.

"I know. But it makes good practice."

The road was burning up ahead, but on the side of some buildings on their left was a Grav-Path. Nebula floated them to it so they could journey across the buildings, dodging missiles that were launched down from above. They reached a part of the path where a platform floated between them and the next set of buildings, where two missile cannons blasted from the other side. Nebula used the V.I.S.S.I.L.E. to send her own missiles across and blow the cannons up, letting them ride the platform safely. They continued up the buildings' sides as turrets emerged from gaps in their path, blasting the trio, but MaKayla hit the shots back with her staff.

Eventually, they made it to a building's roof, where a squad of Drophyds attacked them. MaKayla jumped up an Enforcer's legs and pierced its armor through the bottom with her staff. Nebula shot two T.O.P.M.A.N.s to wrap around the bases of a Cyclocannon's wheels, making his cockpit spin around while she pelted its back with grenades. Normal Drophyd troops tried to shoot Vweeb, but the swift Kateenian jumped around and entered one's armor to make its jetshoes malfunction and shoot into others, pushing them off the edge.

Afterwards, Nebula and Kayla began to grind down a nearby rail, with Vweeb on Nebula's shoulder like always. There were several gaps in the rail, with those missing parts down below, so Nebula had to shoot T.O.P.M.A.N.s down to pull them up. There were also parts hanging above via strings on mini helicopters, which Nebula cut down with the N.I.N.S.T.A.R., and other parts where the rail led downward and ended, with Nebula having to use the T.O.P.M.A.N. to lift the ends up and connect to the continuing. The rails finally ended on a business street where citizens were screaming and running out of restaurants.

MaKayla twirled her staff and ran to the first Cragmite, bashing his head as she flipped over him. He fired his ray gun, but she jumped away and let another Cragmite take the hit, and while the former was distracted, Nebula blasted him with the V.I.S.S.I.L.E.. Many more Cragmites were blasting them, but Nebula flipped over the fire and zapped them with Space Lightning. She zapped a high portion as they shook furiously, but her lightning soon died down, and the Cragmites all took aim. However, MaKayla froze them in time and Rewinded them so they'd turn back into Cragpoles, proceeding to beat them away. "Nebula, be careful with how you exert your Space Chi. Lightning will be all you have until we get your powers back." she cautioned.

"Yeah, I know…"

The team hurried around the corners of more buildings, in which Vweeb recognized this route as the one that led to Galactic Council, from the very beginning of this adventure. And lo and behold, there lay the great long bridge that led to the dome-shaped building. The three quickly dashed across, eager to be done with Tachyon once and for all. Cragmites warped around and tried to shoot them, while Drophyds flew over the edge and shot from above. The heroes threw a few shots, but mainly ignored the enemies as they charged forth. A line of Killbots was on their way as well, but Nebula ducked their bullets while MaKayla twirled her staff like a propeller and knocked them back.

The trio made it to the council and dashed up the wide stairway. "Stop right there!" demanded a Drophyd troop who guarded the entrance. "By order of Emperor Tachyon, the Zathurian is NOT allowed to enter. I will stop you here and now, with my Turtle-Turtle Fruit!" And the three stood and watched as the Drophyd morphed into a small turtle that was only as high as their ankles. "…I knew I should've taken the Bull. DAAAAAAAHH!" MaKayla sent him flying with a powerful kick.

With that, the three burst through the council lobby and made their way to the vacant courtroom. "Tachyon and Vendra have to be here somewh-" Nebula stopped when a Starburst shot in their path. (End song.)

"I'm right here." said the Space Witch as she floated down from above. "If you're looking for Yells-A-Lot, he's in the audience room. But just how do you plan to fight him without your spacebending?" she smirked.

"Well, I managed to get this far with what little bending I had."

"Only with the help of those little Whats-a-call-its. But really, Nebula… I would be happy to give your bending back. We both want the Dimensionator for generally the same reason, and I feel like Tachyon isn't beginning to trust me anymore. Why don't we call a truce and attack him together?"

"I can't trust a wanted criminal." Nebula replied seriously. "I can't take a chance on you releasing the King of Space. I don't know who he is and YOU don't, either. But I presume he was locked in the Netherverse for a reason."

"He's an innocent being that was wrongfully lost from his homeland and stuck inside my own! I'm the only one that can free him and help him see his own people. What kind of person are YOU to stop that?!"

"The kind that cares about the safety of the universe!" she declared. "And if you insist on releasing this being, I'll defeat you here and-"

"Hold on." Kayla held her back. "Your battle is with Tachyon. With your lesser spacebending, Vendra is more than a match. But I can easily win with my timebending. I'll defeat her and get your spacebending back. Meanwhile, you look for Tachyon and try to fight him as much as you can."

"…" Nebula nodded. "Okay."

"But don't forget, Tachyon is a Logia matterbender. That means he can control any substance, like the Four Light Elements. You've seen what he did to the Gilligans, so be wary when facing him."

"I will. Good luck." Nebula ran off to find the audience chamber.

"Hmm… I know who you are. Timebender." Vendra said coldly. "I was eavesdropping with my power. You don't want Nebula to have the Dimensionator, either. The one item that can let her SEE her people! That's all she wants… that's all anyone would want. But people like you don't know how it feels. Whether you had my experiences or not… you could see your people whenever. Just travel in time, to when they were around. If I had your power, I might not need to worry 'bout any of this. I could live in the past and be with my people… forever and ever. But no… even though you hold the greatest power in the world… you say that power is DANGEROUS. Act like a bunch of stuck-up snobs! You just don't want anyone to have the power you do! Because you feel challenged! That's why you won't allow Nebula to fulfill her dream and SEE her people!"

"That's not true." MaKayla told her seriously. "Indeed, I warned Nebula of the dangers with using the Dimensionator for too many purposes… but I have no intention to stop her. My duty as a timebender is to not interfere too much with the past. There are some points in the river that must be altered… and some that shouldn't be touched. The decision of the water to take its own path. Nebula must defeat Tachyon, the one who threatens her race and her organization… but when she takes the Dimensionator from him, I will let her decide what she wishes to do. She can see her people if she wants. She could risk destroying the universe by meeting other cultures, too. While I may hold the greatest power… my true strength is knowing when to use it."

"Oh, don't give me that rubbish. Acting so high and mighty like any other bully. If that's really what you think, let me use the Dimensionator, too."

"That, I can't allow. This King of Space you wish to awaken is a dangerous entity. And, like Dimentia beforehand, he has overstayed his welcome, although I don't know how. But Dimentia had light inside her, that's why Clockwork allowed her a chance at redemption. Be warned, if you awaken this entity, the universe WILL be in grave peril."

"Heh, we'll just see what I do. But I don't picture you doin' much. Besides what little timebending you have, all you have is a whacking stick. Without the Chrono Clock, you're nothing, and you won't be able to find-"

"I wouldn't count on that."

Vendra gasped as they looked to the side. Standing in purple pajamas and bare feet was George King, holding the Chrono Clock in his left hand. "Looking for this?"

"You…You're that-" Vendra gasped.

"MaKayla?" He said to his sister. "I thought about what you said… and it reminded me of something." (Play "Setting Sun" from Naruto: Shippuden.)

After MaKayla took George on her journey to record snapshots of the rulers of Glomour and Kateenia, the two stood before another Time Gate in the Great Clock. "I'm going to help Nebula now, so my mission will become a lot more dangerous. Here are some instructions on what I want you to do after I leave."

George took the small paper and stared, but then shook his head as he argued, "If it's becoming more dangerous, I can't let you go! You're my sister, and you-"

"I appreciate the concern, George, but you'll have to understand it's my duty to go, as a Keeper of Time."

"Since WHEN are you a Keeper of Time?? We're in the same sector, and you're learning timebending at the same time as me-"

"I don't have time to explain, but the real truth is, my mortal body contains timebending far greater than the average bender. It's just a special privilege I was born with."

This made George feel very weak. Even though her timebending was better, they were still learning at the same time. But if what she says was true, and being guided by Clockwork, she really was a superior bender. Maybe even too good to be in his sector.

"But you don't have to think of it that way." George looked up when MaKayla touched his shoulder, giving an assuring smile. "Think of it as a general Kids Next Door mission. Our mission is to save the Galactic Kids Next Door by a force that threatens kidkind. We're aiding Supreme Leader Numbuh Eternal herself. Her title as the Supreme Galactic Leader isn't just self-given. It was her destiny to lead many brave cultures across the vastness of space. Higher than all other Kids Next Doors… the leader of many cultures… that's the source of her ultimate spacebending. And I have to make sure she knows that. But no matter what happens… always think of me as your sister. MaKayla King… Numbuh High Noon of Sector IC. Your second-in-command…"

George only watched as MaKayla backed into the portal, and vanished. The brother looked once again at her instructions.

"Y-You want me to what?!" exclaimed Sigmund.

"Link a portal to Planet Reepor ASA… 7:00 tomorrow evening!" George demanded.

"Now hold your hankers now, Pajama Boy! No one but Junior or Senior Caretakers have privilege to use the Time Portals! Under your father's orders, I let MaKayla go, but you are FAR from-"

"MaKayla failed to mention something." Sigmund silenced himself as George smirked. "She is on official Kids Next Door duty as a member of Sector IC, a sector controlled by me. I am MaKayla's leader. So any duty she carries out is my responsibility. Any privilege she has goes to ME, too. This oversized clock is merely a tool used by her to carry out her duty. While she may've chosen to use it on her own, it has officially become a tool for Sector IC. Which means it belongs to ME, too."

"B-But, you can't-" But Sigmund saw behind George, his father standing in the shadows. Jagar only nodded before backing away, unseen by his son. "Siiiigh… I get new superiors every millennium. Okay…" Sigmund linked Reepor's projector with his laptop and began to conjure a portal for the appointed time. "But you DO know that without the Chrono Staff, you won't be able to come back. You better know what you're doin'."

"For my sector… I'll be ready to risk anything." And he jumped in the portal without a second thought.

Planet Reepor, 7:00 that evening

"Ahhhh, the smell of victory." Tachyon sighed. "Smells like tart. Oh well. But with the powers of Space and Time at my command, the Cragmite Empire will NEVER-" However, he heard a spiraling sound above and looked up with confusion. "What the…?!" His eyes widened.

"YAAAAH!" George fell out of the Time Portal and STOMPED on Tachyon's head, knocking him off his throne as the Dimensionator fell off his head. The skimpy emperor looked up as George grabbed it. "Hey! That belongs to me!"

"You can have it!" He ripped the Chrono Clock out and tossed him back the helmet. "This is all I want!"

"Hand it over!" Vendra yelled as she lunged to take the clock, but George froze her in time before jumping off the ledge and sliding down the cliff on his feet.

Trunchbull tried to chase him, but- "Let him go." Tachyon stopped her. "I don't require a means of time-travel. The Dimensionator is all I'll need to establish dominion. For now, we'll destroy the kids' ship to keep them from escaping."

George hid in the open field where the Aloha previously rested, and waited 'til the R.O.C.K.E.T.-T.R.A.I.N. eventually landed down. While no one was looking, George snuck onto the back of the train, and when they made it over Coruscant, George got down in his own escape pod without anyone else noticing. From there, he began his careful journey across the city, to the council, in his pajamas.

"…I was so caught up in the excitement… that I almost forgot." George continued as Kayla and Vendra still listened. "As your Sector Leader… you can't do anything without my order."

"Hmm." Kayla half-smiled wittingly. "Well then, Sector Leader… what is your order?"

George smiled and wagged the Chrono Clock in his fingers. "Kick her ass." And he tossed it to his sister.

MaKayla smiled as she grabbed the clock and stuck it on her staff. "Now I'm BACK in business!"

Vendra chuckled lowly. "How nice… you once again hold the power of the most powerful timebender. Now you can bully me the same as everyone else did."

"Vendra… I understand your desire to find your home. But some doors… aren't meant to be opened. Your home is not like it was since you were born. And your parents had reasons for abandoning you and Neftin. But as long as you have Neftin… you really are home. Where at least one person loves, protects… and thinks about you. That's your home. Not the place you were born."

"Hmph… you wouldn't understand… lousy timebender. You have a brother AND parents. Friends, a planet… I see it in your eyes. In your internal space. It's very wide, with all those things. You're the lucky one… but I was born and raised in darkness. The only way I can be happy, is to be at the place I was spawned. And I'll distort you to nothing… to get there. Then I'll destroy TACHYON, too."

"So it's decided… but as a Kids Next Door operative… I must aid my Supreme Leader. And I'll do so… by taking back her powers!" (Play "Final Battle With Specter" from Ape Escape 2.)

Boss fight: Vendra Prog

Vendra floated around the courtroom and launched quick Starbursts, which MaKayla flipped and avoided, then blocked with her staff when Vendra shot over. The Space Witch flew to the ceiling and blasted a storm of Starbursts, but MaKayla dodged most of the shots before freezing three of them, then Rewinding them at Vendra to knock her to the floor. Vendra got up and dodged when MaKayla tried to whack her with her staff, and continued to dodge as the timebender chased and swung her staff rampantly.

Finally, MaKayla tossed a Time Bomb, slowed Vendra, and WHACKED her on the side of the head. MaKayla landed several more blows on her until Vendra grabbed the staff and shoved MaKayla away. MaKayla twirled her staff and pressed it to the ground to fling to the air, aiming to do a jump attack on Vendra. The Space Witch merely floated backward, but the Chrono Staff sent a beam along the ground that struck Vendra and slowed her in time. Kayla twirled her staff and slammed it for a Time Recordance. Vendra regained normal speed as MaKayla ran, jumped, and BASHED her head downward.

The Recordance restarted, and while the clone hit Vendra downside the head, the current MaKayla slid underneath and shot straight up with her foot aimed upward, kicking Vendra's head back. The Recordance restarted, and the third MaKayla kicked Vendra away from her side. One more Recordance, and when Vendra was kicked away, the fourth Kayla waited at that spot and bashed her forcefully in the head with her staff.

"Grrrr!" Vendra growled hatefully before ripping open a portal and dropping inside. The portal reopened behind Kayla as Vendra kicked her away. MaKayla stood up to face her, but she'd already gone in another portal and kicked MaKayla from behind again. Vendra repeated the process and kicked MaKayla from all sides until she stayed flat on her back. "Aren'tcha gonna counter, Misses Knows-What's-Gonna-Happen?" Vendra taunted.

As MaKayla lifted her head up, Vweeb peeped out from the top of her gown. "She's got a point. I'm gettin' really dizzy in there."

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN UNDER THERE?!" MaKayla screamed with burning rage in her eyes.

"You're the timebender, you tell me."

"IF I WASN'T WEARING A BRA, I'D CRUSH AND MAIM YOU 'TIL YOU WERE NO MORE!"

"Well, why don'tchu get a gown with some pockets, 'cause nothing can squeeze in that navel of yours."

"What are you doing here, anyway, shouldn't you help Nebula?"

"Come on, even YOU know Neb's the only one that can hit 'im. But honestly, you've been selling me kinda short since you started tagging with us. So I wanted to watch you get your butt kicked by Vendra." He winked.

"At the risk of her hitting a spot where YOU were hiding?"

"If you were as tiny as me, you'd be shifty as a bee." He winked again. "So in lieu of that footrub I owe you, how about I help you beat this witch instead. I still need to get back at her for attacking my friends before."

"Didn't I already tell you she'd enjoy you as a snack? Our powers are at equal level, far higher than your own, so someone at your size wouldn't last 10 seconds."

"So let me fight with you for 10 seconds and see how I do."

"…Fine." With that, MaKayla hopped back up as Vweeb dropped down to her right foot. He held on as MaKayla ran at Vendra, and when the witch warped to Kayla's left, the timebender flipped upside-down and kicked her in the face, and Vweeb grabbed onto her nose in the process as Vendra slipped past Kayla.

"Huh?" Vendra rolled her big eyes together to see him and tried to shake the tiny bug off. MaKayla jumped and kicked the back of Vendra's head, hopping off and flipping in the air to gracefully catch Vweeb.

"Was that 10 seconds?" he asked.

"Okay, you make a valid point." Kayla decided. "Just watch yourself. I'm not liable for stepping on bugs on the battlefield." Vendra launched at her again, but Kayla slowed her down to whack on the side of her head. Vendra snapped her fingers and trapped Kayla inside a Space Block, but Vweeb jumped away in time as he ran to Vendra and shot up at her with his Tri-gun. She winced from the tiny shots before looking down and kicking the Kateenian away.

"So that's who she was talkin' to when she was knocked down." Vweeb looked up as Vendra floated over him. "You're the little bug my brother flicked away. I honestly thought you were just some beetle that wandered onto the path. I didn't actually think you were a real fighter. So feeble and worthless."

"I'm sick of you all saying that about me! I'm as great an operative as anyone else and I can kick just as much butt!"

"Really? I'd like to see how well you fight without your guardian over there." She smirked at MaKayla, who sat and meditated inside her Space Block. "You probably couldn't stop me before I snap my fingers and blow her ta-" She looked down and noticed Vweeb had vanished, but the little alien jumped his way to her ear and creeped inside. "Hey! Get the-" She furiously bonked her head to force him out, but Vweeb shot his ray gun down her ear canal and made her dizzy, causing the Space Block to fade away.

MaKayla got up and ran to kick Vendra on the side of the head, making Vweeb fly out far away, but MaKayla tossed a Time Bomb to slow his descent and run to catch him. "Thank you, Vweeb." She smiled.

"I'm not always the helpless one, am I?"

Vendra growled again and split herself in two, both halves flying at Kayla as the girl hopped to the air and slammed her staff down on both of them. The two regrouped as Vendra sent a horizontal vortex at Kayla, slicing perfectly across her waist and dividing her top half and lower half. She watched as her legs ran about aimlessly, while she had to move her top half around with her arms. Vendra flew at the discarded top half, but MaKayla propelled up using her staff and whacked Vendra away again, and when she landed, MaKayla's legs ran over and started kicking her in the face.

Vendra floated up, but MaKayla still controlled her severed legs from her spot on the ground, making them jump and wrap around Vendra's neck. Vweeb slid down the top half's gown, into the portal, and came out from above the lower half to slide down the left leg and shoot Vendra in the eyes. Vendra grabbed the legs and tossed them and Vweeb to Kayla, who reunited both parts. The timebender began dodging when Vendra started punching into conjured portals, in which her fists emerged all around MaKayla and tried to hit her. Vweeb eventually jumped onto one of the fists and make it pull him to Vendra, then he quickly jumped to start crawling around underneath her armor. She frantically tried to grab him, but unlike regular clothing, she was unable to grab him through the armor.

Once again, she was too distracted to see MaKayla run over and whack her upside the chin, and the timebender was able to land several more hits with Vweeb distracting her. Finally, Vendra warped Vweeb out of her armor and into Kayla's eye, making her stop as Vendra then kicked her away. Kayla ran at her again, but Vendra suddenly shifted the gravity straight up to the ceiling. As the duo fell upward, Vendra kicked Kayla in the chest and knocked her against the wall. When Kayla recovered, Vendra shifted the gravity to the opposite wall, but MaKayla gripped the ceiling (now a wall) as she slid and kicked off to grab Vendra's legs, then flipped upside-down to grab Vendra's head between HER legs. Vendra just tossed Kayla to the previous wall, but with the gravity still shifted, she fell right back, and kicked her in the head, pushing the witch with her as she fell and slamming her face against the wall with her foot.

The gravity went back to normal, but Kayla grabbed Vendra as they fell and kicked her several feet away. Her back was facing MaKayla upon her landing, and when she stood, she found the timebender running around her right. Vendra shot over and kicked her across the room, then quickly enclosed her in a Space Block. Vweeb once again took land on the floor upon her kick and ran at the Space Witch, but when he tried jumping at her, Vendra expanded an anti-gravity bubble and made him float in place. Unable to move well, Vendra easily caught him in her fingers. "Heh! Gonna try to help your friend now?"

"Hnnnngeeh!" Vendra kept her grip tight and kept Vweeb from moving his arms.

"Yeah, ya put up a decent fight with someone else helpin' ya, but let's face it, all you really are are these kiddies' little pet. You cling to someone like Nebula's shoulder and let her do most of the fightin', and it's easy to provoke the bad guys when you have her to run to. But if all your friends are knocked out, you're as good as helpless, which is the very reason you ran away from Nef. You could never fight for yourself, 'cause you'd just end up squished like any other bug. So why don't I just spare your friends the trouble of having to worry about you."

Vweeb began to feel Vendra slowly pinching her fingers together. Even using every ounce of his strength wouldn't break him free. But he was so sick and tired of feeling like that. (Pause song.)

"Hey Mommy, Mommy!" exclaimed 6-year-old Vweeb as he scampered down the wide carpeted hall to his mother, who walked casually from the other side. "…WHOOA!!" He ended up squashed under her giant foot.

"Huh? Oops." Feeling him underneath, Ava raised her foot to peel him off. "Sorry, Vweeb."

"WHOOOOA!" cried an 8-year-old Vweeb as he was strapped to a kickball, and many alien kids were joyously kicking him around. When he was flown to a cat kid, Makava knocked the feline out and grabbed the kickball, pulling Vweeb off. She then furiously kicked the ball and bounced it around the other bullies' heads, knocking them down.

"Anyone tries doing that to my brother again is getting their OWN heads kicked!"

Later, the two siblings went to the newly-opened GKND H.Q., standing in a line with many other aliens like Sollyx, Tronta, and Arianna. "As Supreme Galactic Leader and founder of this New Galactic Kids Next Door," Nebula spoke as she paced before the line of operatives, "I am honored to welcome you, our first line of cadets. You have been selected among many of your home planet to represent your race, ensuring peace for kidkind all throughout…" There was an empty spot between Makava and Arianna. "Arianna, can you scoot over a little, we can't leave empty gaps."

"Oh? But I'll step on Vweeb."

"Vweeb?…" Nebula looked down and finally noticed the tiny cadet that took that space. "What're you doing here?"

"Here for cadet training, duh!" Vweeb retorted.

"Perhaps I should've added that size limit after all." Jerome mentioned.

"Vweeb, I'm not sure if you're cut out for training." Nebula said. "You're kinda… small."

"So what?? You said we could sign up if we had the spirit! Even though Makava had to sign for me."

"That being my point, you wouldn't last 10 seconds on the battlefield. The enemy could finish you like that." She snapped.

"You know, our dad was as small as Vweeb when HE got to join GKND." Makava informed.

"Well, that's because my mom only cared about-" Neb tried to say.

"And Nebula, didn't you say there'd be no discriminating for any race?" Arianna asked. "Not welcoming a Kateenian in because of his height would count as prejudice."

"Siiiiigh. Fine. But I won't be held liable if he's injured."

"Waaaaaah!" Soon enough, training began, and when teams were pitted against each other, Vweeb frantically dodged an opposing team's laser blasters.

"I'll cover you, Bro!" Makava said as she blocked the lasers using her swords.

"Th-Thanks!" Vweeb was able to catch his breath, knowing his sister could prevail. But it made him feel weak. Having to cower behind a teammate of superior strength. And it was his sister, no less, even though it was a common thing. Maybe Nebula was right after all. He could never last on the battlefield.

But several feet away (a few miles from Vweeb's size), Tronta was desperately trying to throw his Light Discs at Sollyx, who was on the ceiling and easily dodging the Frisbees, wearing goggles that connected to his computer, which told him the exact inches in which to dodge left or right. "Heh heh heh! My new 'Danger Incoming' app is never inaccurate!"

"Man, stupid nerd!" Tron snarked, having to also dodge Sollyx's laser blasts as Vweeb hurried over.

"Hey, Tron, use me!"

"Huh?" Tron spared a quick glance at Vweeb. "For what?"

"Just put me on the Frisbee, come on!"

"Okay, whatever." Tron grabbed his little friend, set him on a Light Disc, and tossed him at Sollyx. While the disc missed again, Vweeb jumped onto the nerd's computer and creeped inside, beginning to tear up wires and make it malfunction.

"Eyeh, what?! Bug detected in hard drive? What bug is intelligent enough to navigate- OOF!" A Light Disc slammed him in the face and caused him to fall. "Owwwww. My celluplex."

"HAHAAAA!" Tron jumped in victory. From the monitoring station, Nebula and Jerome were impressed by the teamwork.

Then just earlier today, on the way to Coruscant. Nebula sat patiently on her bench while Vweeb lied depressedly on her lap. Even from her view, Nebula noticed it. "What's wrong, Vweeb?"

"You know, ever since we got back from Kateenia, I realized… I've really strayed far from my own culture. BOTH of them. Those Kateenians are insanely strong, and I…I couldn't even pick up a robot's crotch-plate."

"Please don't bring that topic up." Nebula said with disgust at that little dilemma. "Regardless, Vweeb, you've actually come a lot farther than I would've expected at first. Even without fighting battles on your own, you've proven to be a valuable member of our team."

"Yeah, but that's the problem. I'm SUPPOSED to fight my own battles if I ever wanna beat my mom. I can't just let YOU do the fighting while I sneak up and bite her ear."

"Well, all I know is, every operative improves their skill as they fight, and every operative becomes more formidable. Maybe not in this quest, but I'm sure you can improve your own strength in the future. For now, don't feel as small as everyone says you are. Including me. Because you are. Very small. Just know that, without you, the team could never win on their own."

"Fine… I might not be able to last on my own, Vendra… but Nebula, and even Pajama Girl over there, know they couldn't do this without me. I'm small, but we ALL stand at equal ground as a team! And I'll do my part while MaKayla does hers!"

"Oh- pfft, and what part is that exactly since BOTH of you are trapped?"

"Well, my Tri-gun had plenty of time to heat up for a Powuh Shot."

"But you weren't heating it up."

"Well, if Kayla's calculations are correct, my paradox clones should have."

"Clones?" (Resume music.)

At that moment, MaKayla restarted the Time Recordance, back to when she landed on the floor after the Gravity Shift. While her and Vweeb's first clone ran around Vendra's side, only to be trapped, MaKayla was doing a series of Recordings. They went unnoticed as Vendra was paying too much attention to the first Vweeb, and while that flashback sequence went on, three more Vweebs (including the current) gathered below the Space Witch and were aiming and charging their Tri-guns.

"Clones?" And when Vendra was close to noticing, the Vweeb copies FIRED their Powuh Shots and sent the witch flying to the air. Just as well, the three latest MaKayla clones hopped high up from three directions, one kicking Vendra to the other, then the current, who kicked Vendra straight to the Space Block that trapped the first one. She broke through the block as the first clone grabbed her fingers and made Vendra snap. Immediately, the Space Block exploded, destroying the first MaKayla and leaving Vendra covered in soot.

Kayla and Vweeb approached the Space Witch cautiously, unsure if she was really unconscious. Their suspicions proved accurate as Vendra shot up and channeled a powerful surge of gravity on Kayla's form. "I'm officially SICK! I'll crush you with your OWN WEIGHT!"

Vweeb was forced against MaKayla's body and unable to move, too, the two grunting as the gravity squeezed tighter and threatened to smoosh them any minute. "Stop!" The Space Witch was frozen in time by George King from behind. (End song.)

Kayla and Vweeb were freed from her grasp as the two looked curiously. George walked to Vendra's front with a casual smile, then began furiously punching the witch from all sides of her face. After a few more seconds, the Stop stopped. Vendra reacted to George's punches as her face knocked around, gaining bruises and a black left eye. The barrage ended when teeth flew out of Vendra's mouth from a left punch, and she was knocked on the ground unconscious.

"Lucky she forgot I was there." George said.

"...You are NOT taking credit for that." MaKayla told him.

"You fought her under MY order." George remarked.

Vendra's body glowed as pink energy leaked from her mouth and flew across the halls of the Council H.Q.. "What was that?" Vweeb asked.

"Nebula's Space Chi. It senses its body nearby and is flying to it. However, Dimentia's chi is merged with it, too. It can't tell the difference because Nebula's chi is the same. Which means we have to leave the rest to her." MaKayla explained.

"Yeah." Vweeb agreed. "But you were awesome though, MaKayla! Being able to tell PRECISELY where Vendra would land and knowing the position of her hand and fingers! GENIUS!"

"My special privilege as a timebender." Kayla smiled. "You were a really big help too, Vweeb. Although you aren't at our level in power, I couldn't have bested Vendra without you."

"You make me blush." Vweeb waved her off. "But honestly, you two didn't seem as powerful as you made yourselves out."

"Vendra didn't exert much chi for me to need to. It's likely she was conserving it for fueling the Dimensionator. At the moment, Nebula can hold her own while facing Tachyon."

"Speaking of which," Vweeb began, "if you can see the future and all, do you know if I'll ever beat my mom??"

"Now, the future's no fun if you know how it will turn out." MaKayla smirked.

"Come oooon. Just one hiiiint?"

"Nope! Sorry!" And MaKayla turned and walked away, leaving Vweeb to run after her.

"Hey!! I can't have a sneakpeek?? A teaser trailer?? What about a journal entry on deviantART?"

"Not for YOU, little guuuuuy!" She walked away faster, easily outrunning the tiny alien.

"Come baaaaack!"

George only chuckled as he walked behind Vweeb.

Jedi Temple

"SHUROOOOO!" screamed Caesar Clown when the Drophyd Leader pressed the remote and zapped him.

"It should've become apparent by now there's no escape." the leader told him.

"Shurororo. If you think you're so tough, why don't you put the remote down and I'll GIVE you something to be SHOCKED at."

"Emperor Tachyon has entrusted me with your protection, so I will hold you here as long as it takes."

"Shuroro! FINE, KEEP me here, because as soon as Doflamingo realizes where I am, I get a FRONT ROW seat to watch him maim you."

"Hur, hur, hur. Your Flamingo friend will never find his way here. With our legions of Drophyds and Cragmites roaming the city, how can he possibly-" The alarms began ringing, and the two checked a camera monitor to see Sector DR charging to the temple.

"Like that?"

"ALL TROOPS, prevent Doflamingo and his associates from reaching the temple!" Leader yelled through an intercom.

"If we lose Caesar, we lose a great amount of offensive/defensive power, not to mention Tachyon might not invite us to the afterparty, so get on it and take those birds down!"

Sector DR charged headfirst to the colossal building as Doflamingo spun, lashed his strings, and sliced the Drophyds' armor. A squad of Cragmites took aim at Sweetie-1, but she pressed her hands on the ground and made cannons rise and shoot the monsters. When they broke into Cragpoles, Bison launched propellers from above and sliced them, while he flew over the action with Sugar in his mouth. "Nueeeeee! I'll keep you safe up here, Sugar-daizokun."

"There's nothing safe about your filthy mouth. Now let me fight."

They reached the main entrance as a swarm of Cragmites stood in the way. Sugar dropped from Bison and quickly zipped around to touch the warriors, turning them into toys. Sector DR continued inside the temple and dashed across the halls, taking out more Drophyds. Caesar's voice echoed from the intercom.

"Oh wheeeere, oh where has my flamiiiingo gone? Oh wheeeere oh where can he beeeee? His grin, his chin, his patience so thin. I hope, that he's coming for meeee, shuroro!"

"This feels a little too easy, now that he mentions it." Sweetie-1 said.

"This may be our only chance." Doffy said. "We might as well take it."

Finally, Sector DR burst down the doors to the library, where Caesar waited with the Drophyd Leader. "Caesar!"

"DOFFY- SHARAAAAAH!" he was shocked by Leader.

"Caesar is staying with us. You are completely surrounded, so you won't be leaving, either." A swarm of Drophyds came down from the ceiling. "As Tachyon's loyal follower, I will not have anyone ruin his plans. So says I… the Drophyd Leader, Soldier!"

"Wait, you're the Drophyd Leader, and your name is Soldier?" Sweetie-1 questioned.

"My parents had expectations for me, and I exceeded them. Now… ATTACK!"

The Drophyds began blasting, but Doflamingo jumped to the air and launched strings down to slice a bunch. Sweetie-1 dodged her way to the bookshelves, grabbed a few, and turned their pages to shurikens as they flew out and knocked their weapons away. Bison became a helicopter and flew upside-down to trap the fish in his propeller and slice them to pieces.

"ENOUGH!" Sector DR stopped to see Soldier having taken Sugar captive, holding an electric knife to her neck. "Make another move and your friend is done."

"…" Sector DR stood in place and raised their arms.

"You've crossed the line, now." They all gasped and turned to the room's entrance. The temple halls were quiet, except for the strumming of a Spanish guitar. A shadowed being, with many feathers on his coat, stood before the entrance. His flippered feet stepped in, and the Drophyds became stricken with horror, while Sector DR's faces beamed.

President of Doflamingo Incorporated, one of the Corporate Presidents

DON QUIXOTE DOFLAMINGO, SR.

Doflamingo stepped in coolly, viewing the area. It was clear that his son was a carbon copy of his father, except his glasses were red and slanted, unlike Junior's round blue ones. After scanning the room, his eyes focused dead on his son. "Junior… I told you not to keep getting yourself into these messes."

"It's not MY fault Sugar got captured!"

"You were ordered to protect her. You have failed in your duty. Now, I must administer punishment."

"Grrrrr!" Junior launched at his father while he did the same. Their fists connected powerfully, and when they jumped away, lines of strings linked their hands. Doflamingo swung Junior around the room, letting their strings spread loose and slice all the remaining Drophyds. When Senior pulled him back, Junior kicked his father straight over the Drophyd Leader, Sugar breaking away from his grasp as their strings came down and SLICED the leader's superior armor to pieces.

Soldier's head bounced around the ground until Doffy Senior caught it, the President sporting a wicked grin. The armor-less Drophyds bounced his way to stop him, but Doffy Sr. grinned wickedly. In just seconds, all of the Drophyds lost consciousness.

"Was that… Conqueror's Haki?" the Drophyd Leader asked.

"Kind of you to notice." grinned Doffy, a devious look behind his glasses. "Anyway… I won't hold it against you for hurting people under a superior's orders. But you would do well to remember… never to mess with my family. Now to make things even… it's fair that Sugar has the honors." He tossed the fish to his daughter, who held him in both hands.

"TO ANY fans who are new to this whole thing, allow me to explain the Hobby-Hobby Fruit!" Caesar Clown said to the readers. "One of my most prized and very convoluted creations, made specially for Doflamingo's intentions!" He smirked wickedly. "This Devil Fruit not only has the power to change people into toys, but it also erases the memory of all those who ever knew them! The fruit also has ANOTHER special feature, but I won't spoil it for you." He winked. "Anyway, back to the story!" He turned around to face Sugar.

"All of your accomplishments as Leader, all your respect… has just been erased." And with no hesitation, she turned the Drophyd Leader into a red toy robot.

"…Who was leading all these creatures, anyway?" Doffy Sr. asked.

"We may never know, Doffy." Caesar shrugged. "We may never ever know…" His maniacal grin returned.

Across the city

While the Drophyds were on duty, a sudden realization overcame their mind. "Hey… what're we all doing here, anyway?" a troop asked.

"Serving an emperor?"

"But why? What's he got on us?"

"I dunno man, but I'm a little creeped!"

"WAAAAAAAHHHH!" Panic immediately spread among the Drophyds as they started running about aimlessly. Sheila and Kirie exchanged baffled glances, since they were in the middle of fighting Drophyds.

Dandy stood atop one of the rooftops and had a great view of this confusion. "Geez, are they late for a tea party or somethin'?"

Galactic Council H.Q.

This realization overcame Tachyon as well. "What are all these fish things doing in my city?? What do they have to do with all of this? GET OUT OF HERE, you buckets of bolts with fish in them!!" The Drophyds immediately cowered out of the audience room.

"Emperor Tachyon, what in Galaxia is going on??" Jeremy demanded.

"I don't even KNOW, anymore! And now that I think about it, I forgot to have someone watch over Caesar! Mom, this is Tachyon!" he yelled into his communicator. "How is Caesar…" No response. "Mom? Uuugh. Star Wolf, what is your condition? Hello? Vendra? Trunchbull? WHY ISN'T ANYBODY ANSWERING MEEEEEE!"

"They've all got their hands full." Tachyon gasped and looked to the room's entrance on the floor below. Nebula Winkiebottom stepped in calmly, her glare fixed on the buggy emperor.

"Nebula!" her father exclaimed.

The skimpy emperor formed a grin. "Nebula D. Winkiebottom… we meet again. Are you here to finally acknowledge me as your ruler, AND as your conqueror?"

"…No. I'm here to finish what my ancestors started!" She sent a surge of Space Lightning at the emperor.