Full Circle

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   <default>Full Circle</default>
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</image> <label>Written by</label> <label>Written on</label> <label>Posted on</label> <label>Theme song</label> <group> <header>Info</header> <label>Universe</label> <label>Date</label> <label>Locations</label> <label>Characters</label> </group> <group> <header>Timeline</header> <label>Previous</label> <label>Next</label> </group> </infobox>

Chapter One

The Darkitect was gone, and so where Cyclone, Kate, Rover, and Krill Mathias.

Intrepid, known as Intrepid Fusion Eclipse for long, painfully opened his eyes. He lay in the midst of shards of glass from the cockpit of his crashed rocket. Through the ripped fabric of his seat, the rocky – and glassy – ground pressed painfully into his back.

With his right arm he brushed his hair out his face, and with his other he pushed himself up. He managed and pulled himself out of the wreck.

For once the sun was peeking out behind the dark clouds that surrounded this Raven’s Bluff property. Clutching his Bat Lord Shield and Staff, Intrepid grimaced and limped towards a trio of non-smashed Nexus Force tanks. He would survive. A few tired Rank 3s stood by them, offering mugs of Expressos and consumables to their fellow soldiers.

“Hey,” Intrepid greeted them. “What happened?”

A Sentinel turned to him. “The Darkitect is gone, thankfully. We’d never be able to defeat him, though there’s more in my arsenal I wouldn’t mind trying on him. The simulations will have to do until then.” the Sentinel remarked. “My name is Brocktree, by the way. Lord Brocktree for long.” He stuck out his hand, which Intrepid shook wearily.

“Hey, Intrepid!” someone called. Intrepid turned to see Sergeant Ghost Mustache and Master Blade Nine running towards him from near the launchpad.

Intrepid waved, and Sergeant and Blade nearly tumbled into him. “Whoa, guys.” Intrepid warned as he steadied himself on one of the battered tanks. “I’m hurt, you know.”

“Have you seen Cyclone, or Rover?” Sergeant asked earnestly. “They disappeared not long ago, but Blade thinks they sprouted wings and went flying.”

“Who are you looking for?” asked Brocktree, stepping forward with interest.

“Who are you?” Sergeant asked the Sentinel while still rubbing his side.

“I’m Lord Brocktree. So, as I said before, who are we looking for?”

Intrepid told him, and Brocktree nodded. “Well then, when are we going?” the Sentinel asked.

“Now?” Intrepid suggested.

“Wait, hold on a second.” Blade said, motioning with his hand to stop. “It may have been my imagination, but did any of you happen to notice Kate here with Cyclone or anybody?”

“Well, you seem to have a pretty big imagination.” Sergeant said.

Blade groaned. “Just answer my question.”

“No, I didn’t.” Sergeant replied.

“Me neither.” Intrepid also said.

“Who?” Brocktree asked.

“Whatever, let’s just go.” Blade said.

“Where?” Brocktree asked, and he was grinning too.

“This isn’t funny.” Blade stormed off in exasperation, and the others followed.

Chapter Two

Baron Typhonus’s body, now occupied by the Darkitect, sat on the throne in the throne room in his lair. Only the highest in his Maelstrom army knew of its secret location, and even then they could only arrive via his summoning them through the Maelstrom mist.

His personal Stromling servant, Demonstrait, entered the chamber. “Master.” he greeted in his gravelly Stromling voice.

The Darkitect stared down at the Stromling by his feet, tiny in comparison to his chaotically enlarged form. “Speak.” he intoned.

“I have news.” he announced. “Your excellency’s army has annexed Sentinel Point Zeta from the weakly Nexus minifigures, and the infinitely weak weaklings at Gnarled Forest have begun to crumble.”

“If they are so ‘infinitely weak’ as you say, Demonstrait,” the Baron said, “I am surprised that the old fool Vargas the Tormented has taken so long to actually accomplish something against the Nexus fools. Perhaps the army at Gnarled Forest needs a new leader.” He pondered for a moment. “Demonstrait, summon Admiral Flogmore and his bumbling fool Rawstew. Perhaps their greater experience with the environment will prove them better than Vargas.”

As Demonstrait turned to leave and carry out his master’s orders, the Darkitect raised his hand, causing Demonstrait to fly back to his previous position by the Darkitect’s feet. “You may as well send Kinga Hurl as well for some extra firepower.” the Baron added, before changing the course of his telekinetic grip on Demonstrait and flinging the Stromling across the chamber.

...

The small convoy of Nexus Force soldiers, tanks, and flatbed trucks carrying grounded fighters slowly made its way to Nexus Tower. Sentinel Point Zeta had fallen, its walls torn down by the Apes, its defenders injured by the Dragons, and Point Zeta itself being infected by Maelstrom.

Hael Storm stood near the entrance to one of Nexus Tower’s underground garages, helping the exhausted recruits into the tower. “Don’t worry lads, we’ll take Point Zeta back and kick them Maelstrom behinds back to wherever they came from!” he cheered. However, very few of the tired recruits agreed with the Venture leader’s optimistic mood. There morale was low and would stay lowered for awhile. The battle had gone terribly for the Nexus Force.

The other faction leaders were neither as cheery about the situation., especially Duke Exeter when he heard that the Sentinel base had fallen.

“This is a magnitudinal failure!” he cried to the cowering Rank 1 Knight standing across the room from him. “Sentinel Point Zeta, the stronghold we put thousands of hours of resources into, half-as-much as Nexus Tower’s… fallen!” Duke had nearly grabbed the freaked-out Knight and tossed him out his window, but after composing himself he excused the Rank 1 from his office. He stared at the wall behind his desk in an attempt to further hide his seething anger, but most of all his worry to the war effort.

Vanda and Overbuild were as well disturbed, but didn’t react as harshly as Duke and weren’t as overly calm as Hael.

While the survivors of Sentinel Point Zeta were evacuating to the tower, the general fighting grew more intense as the Maelstrom grew more aggressive on all worlds.

The Nexus Force was weakening in the looming Maelstrom threat, and if the Nexus Force lost the war, the last known Nexus would be corrupted, and all of Imagination would fall with it.

Chapter Three

The darkness was so pitch-black that Cyclone thought his eyes were still closed. Cyclone propped himself up on one arm, grimaced with the pain, and determined he was in a cavern of some sort. His whole body ached, as if he had fallen on the hard stone floor which he was lying upon now.

There weren’t many other sounds in the room. Water dripped someplace in the distance, and closer by, he just managed to hear the shallow breathing of someone next to him. Cyclone could hear them, but not see them; he couldn’t even see his hand when he moved it directly in front of his face.

Wherever he was, he had no idea. Cyclone leaned back into the wall, waiting for whoever was with him to wake up. In the mean time, he sat back and waited.

...

Krill Mathias’s infrared vision still worked. He gave his battered helmet a few knocks before looking around the wide hallway, his rifle in hand. It had a light which was knocked out. The dark corridor stretched on for a long time, but the infrared sensors in his helmet detected a warm stream of water farther ahead.

Gripping his rifle harder, Krill continued down the hall. The drips grew louder as he progressed. Soon he was standing over a small stream, fed by falling water from stalactites above his head. The water was clouded with a purplish tinge. Krill placed his gloved hand under one of the stalactites, and a drop of water splashed onto it. It fizzled for a second, before being absorbed into his glove.

Some kind of solvent, he thought, before staring down two other hallways which now branched off the corridor. They looked manufactured, with straight walls and rounded only at the corners. One had a light while the other was completely dark. Replacing his rifle with an enhanced Wormholer, Krill went down the lit path.

If Krill had happened to take another look at his gloved hand, he would have seen a purplish mist rising from it. And if he had also looked back at the stream, he would have also noticed a slimy creature pulling itself up out of the tiny waterway, and slithering silently after him.

Chapter Four

“Come on!” Brocktree called back at the others before climbing over the top of one of Avant Garden’s many rocky cliffs and disappearing over the other side.

Sergeant panted as he tightened his harness around his waist for the twelfth time that day, and straddled up the cliff side. “Excuse me Lord Brocktree sir, but we’re not as capable as you are at climbing up a cliff in five minutes straight!” he shouted up the cliff face. He pulled out a bottle of water, and just as he removed the cap and just barely got a drop out of it, a wire flew down from the top of the cliff and wrapped around his wrist.

Surprised, Sergeant dropped the water bottle with a yelp of protest as the wire yanked back and pulled him up over the cliff where he landed in a heap in front of Lord Brocktree.

“Aren’t you going to thank me?” Brocktree asked with mock disappointment, the frown replaced by a dry grin a moment later, and without waiting for a response Brocktree turned around and ran over the next hill, leaving Sergeant in the dust near the top of the cliff.

Blade reached an arm over the cliff and pulled himself up. “Hey,” he said. “Where’s Brocktree?”

“That way.” Sergeant replied, pointing in the direction where Brocktree took off.

After Blade and Intrepid were completely over the cliff, they and Sergeant continued going and soon found Brocktree setting up a camp five hills later. The sun was setting, and Sergeant noted with disappointment that they hadn’t gotten very far where they were headed, with most of their time spent climbing the cliff.

“Remind me,” Sergeant said over a Handsome Mug filled to the brim with some imagination water. “Why are we sitting here in the middle of some hills on Avant Gardens?”

Brocktree shrugged, then said jokingly, “To drop you and Intrepid off here. You don’t belong outside Avant Gardens.”

Sergeant and Intrepid looked ready to shout at him, but Brocktree raised a hand. “I was only kidding.” he said.

Sergeant sighed. “Then how about the real reason?”

Brocktree waved his hand dismissably at him. “Soon. This is a test of your patience. The data I’m looking for isn’t even ready yet. We’re also on patrol, you see, in case there’s a Maelstrom presence in these hills.”

The sun disappeared over a hilly horizon, and soon night fell. Lying down in their sleeping bags, Brocktree was pointing out the different worlds in the Nimbus System to Sergeant and Intrepid, who being limited recruits, had yet to explore the whole of the Nimbus System.

“You see that bright star there?” Brocktree said, pointing to a brightly shining star in the Avant Gardens night sky. Intrepid and Sergeant nodded, and Brocktree told them, “It’s Gnarled Forest. And that series of little dots there is the remains of the Venture Explorer. Nexus Tower’s all the way over there.” he said, swinging his arm to point at a speck near the horizon. Of course that one was obvious, since the blue spire extending out to the astronomic north belonged to the Imagination Nexus.

While Intrepid and Sergeant were awed by Brocktree’s astronomy lesson, Blade sat by the remains of the campfire. The bright stars in the sky cast eerie lights over the hills, illuminating certain patches of ground. One bright patch washed over what appeared to be another camp up in a farther away hill. It was only for a second, but Blade was almost sure that there was someone there.

Someone Brocktree knew about, but wasn’t telling them about yet.

Chapter Five

“Bring me my lunch!” the Darkitect roared.

“Yes, master Baron!” Demonstrait bowed, and left the room in a cloud of purple. He reappeared with a bunch of Stromlings and Dark Ronin in chef’s hats. They placed a tray with a Maelstrom Chicken on it and a bottle of punch in front of the Darkitect, which he enlarged.

“Mmmm, you’re getting better.” the Baron remarked as he sipped his punch. “Now get back to work.”

Demonstrait snapped his fingers, and the chefs disappeared from the room. “What now pleases the master?” he inquired.

The Darkitect finished gnawing on an oversized drumstick, then said to Demonstrait, “Bring me the Orb of Sights.”

“Yes, master.” Demonstrait snapped his fingers again, and a large spherical orb materialized in front of the Baron.

Typhonus’s head dipped, regarding Demonstrait. “I see your skills are improving. It pleases me better to see you actually work.” He waved his hand over Demonstrait, and the Darkitect’s personal servant was suddenly deprived of Maelstrom magic. “You’ll need to earn them back.” he boomed, before flicking the Stromling away with his finger.

After finishing the last of his punch and the chicken, the Darkitect stared into the orb. Instantly he was staring at the whole of the Nimbus System. He homed in on Nexus Tower to spy on what the pitiful leaders of the Nexus Weaklings were up to. The Baron’s former friend Duke Exeter was doing his usual nowadays, moping around in his private chambers reviewing battle plans and occasionally calling his commanders. ‘There will be one less commander for Exeter to worry about,’ Typhonus thought, and with his mind he ordered an attack on Avant Gardens.

Next he spied on Hael. The Venture league commander was in his alcove in the Venture room, staring off into space with his giant telescope. ‘Grander, but definitely not as powerful as the Orb of Sights.’ the Darkitect thought. ‘I’ll remind Demonstrait to seize that telescope for my collection. I wonder where old Hael is staring at.’

He followed Hael’s gaze to Gnarled Forest. The new commanders he’d posted on Gnarled Forest were doing a good job, with more pirate territory under the Maelstrom’s control than ever. The Darkitect laughed, and took his gaze off the Orb of Sights. He had enough sightseeing for a day. With a contented laugh, he summoned a huge bed and took a nap in it.

Chapter Six

The sun rose, and Blade opened his eyes. But he hadn’t awoken because the sun was rising, but rather because Brocktree had just bashed two cymbals together above his head.

“Dagnabbit!” Blade screamed and covered his ears. Intrepid and Sergeant awoke as well, clutching their ears and grimacing.

“On your feet, soldiers!” Brocktree commanded. When they didn’t move, he sighed, “Come on, guys.”

Blade gritted his teeth and climbed out of his tangled sleeping bag.

Later that day, after finishing breakfast while walking, Brocktree lead the three minifigures down the hill and then up another, and down again, and up again. As Blade had thought, Brocktree was leading them towards the other camp which he had noticed the night before. ‘I wonder why he’s bringing us there,’ Blade thought, ‘or what ‘there’ is.’

After scaling a rock wall and climbing yet another hill, Brocktree raised his hand. “Stop guys, we’re here!” he announced.

“Huh?” Sergeant asked, staring around. “There’s nothing here.”

“No, look here.” Intrepid said, rushing to some dark patches on the ground surrounded by a few scattered rocks. “There was a campfire here.”

“So we’re having a picnic?” Sergeant asked sarcastically.

Then suddenly a patch of grass moved downwards an inch. Intrepid, Sergeant, and Blade all stared at the patch of grass as it shifted around, then popped up on a hinge. “A trap door.” Intrepid stated.

“Ooooh.” Sergeant said, rolling his eyes. “A trap door, how observant, Intrepid.”

A guy in casual clothes popped out of the hole revealed by the trap door. “Hey Brock, what’s up?” he greeted Lord Brocktree, when he noticed the other three standing around. “Oops.” The minifig disappeared back into the hole and reappeared in a bunch of assorted Sentinel Gear. He wore a Rank 2 Samurai helmet, carried a Rank 3 Knight sword in his right hand, and a Space Ranger ray gun in his left hand. For armor he had the armor of a Rank 3 Knight, and he had a Samurai bow and a Powerjouster strapped to his back. A Space Ranger gun was in a holster on his right thigh.

“When I have guests, I have to wear my Supa Sentinel outfit.” the minifig explained. He then glanced at Brocktree. “Brocktree, why didn’t you tell me we were having visitors?”

Brocktree shrugged. “I’m a visitor too, and I certainly told you I was coming.”

The ‘Supa Sentinel’ sighed. “Not you, Brock. Them.” he said, gesturing to Blade, Sergeant, and Intrepid. Then his face brightened. “Anyways, I’m Suave Able Cat, the Supa Sentinel.” he told them.

“Intrepid Fusion Eclipse,” Intrepid said, sticking out his hand, which Suave shook. “Level 38 Free To Play Bat Lord and awesome Survival Master.”

“What?” Suave asked, his face blank having not understood anything Intrepid had just stated.

“I’m Sergeant Ghost Mustache.” the other guy said.

“I’m Master Blade Nine,” Blade told him. “You keep saying Supa Sentinel. Can you say Super?”

“Yeah, sure.” Suave said. “Supa Sentinel.” Blade facepalmed.

Chapter Seven

Duke Exeter was NOT happy. He was pacing around in his office muttering curses to the Maelstrom who had infected his Sentinel Point Zeta when the Red Alert siren suddenly blasted throughout the tower, which meant the Maelstorm were attacking Nexus Tower.

Duke quickly put on his helmet before grabbing his sword and shield. The slimy, ugly, disgusting Maelstrom beasts had ruined his Point Zeta, and now they dare think of attacking his prized Duke Tower?!

‘No,’ Duke corrected himself. ‘Not Duke Tower, Nexus Tower. I’m way too self-centered and selfish. Maybe my psychologist is right.’

After alerting all Sentinels in Nexus Tower to guard every window of the tower, Duke went off to organize the recruits of other factions. First off was the Venture League-ers. He might not be their faction leader, but he was still the main general in the army of the Nexus Force.

“Okay everyone!” Duke rallied. “The Maelstrom is attacking, and-”

“Kindly hold on a second.” Hael Storm interrupted kindly. A Rank 1 Adventurer had walked up to Hael and tugged at his shirtsleeve. “Uh, Admiral Storm?” he said hurriedly.

“‘Admiral’ Storm?” Duke chuckled.

Hael glared at Duke, then answered the Rank 1, “Yes, what ails you?”

The Adventurer gulped, then pointed to Hael’s giant telescope. “Is that a Stromling up there trying to steal your telescope?”

Hael turned just in time to face the Stromling that heaved the giant telescope onto its shoulders and hopped out the window.

Chapter Eight

Cheerful Power Rover’s eyes opened to the darkness and his mouth opened to pant. Now that he was awake, he became consciously aware of how spasmed his body was. He tried to get up and someone touched his wrist.

Turning to the side, Rover could just barely make out Cyclone’s silhouette. Despite them being alone, in the dark, Rover couldn’t help but feel relief that Cyclone was here and safe. As safe as Rover.

Rover cleared his throat. “Where are we?” He sat himself up against the wall and tried to focus on farther off.

“No idea.” Cyclone replied. “Any idea who else is here with us?”

“Krill Mathias.” Rover remembered.

“And?” Cyclone prompted.

“‘And’?” Rover questioned. “Who else do you think is here?”

“Probably Kate,” Cyclone surmised. “I remember she was there with us before we got sucked up into that Maelstorm vortex.”

Rover’s voice wavered. “Do you think we’re Stromlings again?” he asked.

“No,” Cyclone answered. “I don’t sound like a Stromling, and you don’t sound like a Stromling. And I don’t feel like a Stromling.”

“Then why is there a scratchy sound when I move my left hand?” Rover asked.

“You’re holding Hesevalints.” Cyclone told him.

“Oh.”

“So if Kate and Krill are here, where are they?” Cyclone asked his question.

A light flashed on, and Cyclone blinked in the sudden light. Rover was holding two flashlights, and handed one to Cyclone. “In the Venture League, it’s mandatory to have flashlights.” he explained with a grin.

“Really?” Cyclone asked, his eyes adjusting to the glare of the flashlights.

“In my mind they should.” Rover admitted. “Let’s have a look around.”

Rover got up and aimed his flashlight at the ceiling. The beam of light illuminated a bunch of purple bats with red glowing eyes and many sharp talons. They shifted under the glow of the light, disturbed, and began to bat their wings. The noise alerted the other bats, and soon hundreds of purple bats were swooping around, divebombing Rover and attacking his flashlight.

“Turn it off!” Cyclone shouted, turning his off.

Rover just waved his hands and ran around in circles, chased by bats. Then he tripped over something and went sprawling on the stone floor. The flashlight dropped and broke apart, spilling double A batteries across the floor. Cyclone could hear them rolling away before the bats commenced another sharp attack. After divebombing Rover one last time, they went back to the positions at the top of the cavern.

By their glowing red eyes, sharp black talons, and purplish color, it was obvious to Cyclone and Rover they were Maelstrom infected bats. Now Cyclone and Rover really hoped they weren’t infected.

“Owww....” Rover groaned softly as he cautiously got up while rubbing his head. “What did I trip over?”

Keeping it aimed at the ground, Cyclone switched his flashlight on. He moved the beam over to where Rover was, and his heart leaped when he saw what, or in this case, who Rover had tripped over.

It was the sleeping body of Kate.

Chapter Nine

Krill Mathias advanced quietly, before stopping to listen. There was the noise again. It was definitely the skittering sound he had heard from behind him earlier. He gripped his mini Wormholers and turned around, and as he suspected he found himself face-to-face with an enormous one-eyed Maelstrom slug that raised itself up to be at his eye-level.

Krill shook his head in disgust, then fired his Wormholers straight into the slug’s open mouth. The slug squealed, and slapped its long tail against the ground. The cavern shook, and Krill lost his balance, nearly toppling into the slug. He quickly reached down and pressed a button on his leg armor. Jet boosters opened up out of his bulky boots and he flew backwards away from the slug, firing his Wormholers as he went. The slug growled and slithered after him.

The skilled assassin continued to zoom backwards down the passageway. However, though skilled and experienced he was, Krill had seriously underestimated the ceiling height. With a bang, he banged into the roof of the cavern and nearly impaled himself on a bunch of sharp stalactites that resembled teeth. He fell down, expecting to crash into the floor, but instead landed on something soft and squishy.

Krill sat up painfully, and stared around. Water dripped down from all sides, but what made him most suspicious was the soft surface he was lying on. A blast of wind hit his back, and a growling sound from behind made the hairs on his arm rise.

Krill turned around and found himself staring down the dark throat of something. Realizing what was going on, he quickly threw a Big One down the throat and rolled off of the soft surface while avoided a row of sharp stalagmites. An instant later the roof of whatever he had been under fell down, and Krill stared at the head of a huge Maelstrom infected crocodile.

The Maelstrom crocodile glared at him evilly, but then the Big One exploded, imploding the crocodile and smashing it. It’s bricks flew all around, but Krill had no time to celebrate. He turned to see the Maelstrom slug slithering towards him quickly, its mouth wide open and its long tongue sticking out, ready to pull him in and ingest him.

Krill attempted to use a similar tactic, and searched for another Big One. Finding none, Krill rummaged through his bag of gear some more until his hands closed around a Flash Bang.

The slug neared, and Krill tossed the Flash Bang as hard as he could at the slug. Sensing something approaching, the slug instinctively shot out its tongue and swallowed the Flash Bang. The slug stopped for a second, and then the Flash Bang exploded. The slug flopped to its side and writhed around, before smashing.

Krill took off his helmet and wiped the perspiration that had formed on his forehead. That was one terrible fight, and he was lucky to have survived it at all.

After scanning the area and finding no other Maelstrom monsters nearby, Krill sat down to rest.

Chapter Ten

==

==

Suave grinned. “Okay, I just finished this. Here’s what you guys will need.” he said while holding up a map.

Sergeant took one look at the map in Suave’s hand. “That’s just a map of the Nimbus System, it’s in everyone’s passport.”

Suave glanced at Brocktree for support. Brock stepped forward and explained, “Look closer. It’s got more things charted to it, like nearby stars and the asteroid belt between the Nimbus Triangle.”

“Hey, you’re right!” Sergeant exclaimed. “What are these red dots you’ve drawn here?” he asked, pointing to a seemingly random red splotch located near Crux Prime.

“Oh, that.” Suave said. “It’s a hypothetical location of the Darkitect’s hideout.

“How do you figure the Darkitect is there?” Intrepid questioned.

Suave looked again at Brocktree. “You see, Lord Brocktree here is probably one of the highest ranking people in the Nexus Force; he’s like a peer to the faction leaders themselves.”

Intrepid’s jaw dropped. “Wow,” gasped the Bat Lord.

“So, Brocktree is specifically in charge of the division that plans covert attacks on Maelstrom positions. Small, quiet, and precise strikes. Ideally he solves problems before they become problems.”

Brocktree continued, “Suave and I have always been working together to create the best star map of the Nimbus System, an ambitious project. It’s also been a longstanding goal of ours to try and find the Darkitect’s primary hideout. We’ve finally narrowed it down to these few places. As you know, if we defeat the Darkitect in his own lair, we end this war.”

“Wait a minute, why did you bring us here to tell us all about the Darkitect’s lair?” Sergeant asked. “I thought we were looking for Cyclone and Rover.”

“And Kate, Krill.” Blade added.

“We’re killing two birds with one stone here!” Brocktree exclaimed. “If the Darkitect flies into a big swirling purple Maelstrom portal, where do think he’s going? Chantey Shanty to have a party? No way, the only place he’s going is his lair!”

“Which means,” Blade surmised, before he said in horror, “that Cyclone, Kate, Rover, and Krill are in the Darkitect’s lair!”

Chapter Eleven

Across the Nimbus System, the Maelstrom Army was on the move. Acting as artillery, hundreds of Dragons and Apes attacked Nexus Tower from afar, and on the ground Stromlings and minifigures battled in close combat.

Travel through space, and Gnarled Forest, the world of pirates, had its pirate camps under relentless assault by the Maelstrom.

Ever farther was Avant Gardens. Now dragons roamed the skies while Apes and Spiderlings tormented those on the ground. The remains of the Paradox Refinery had been completely taken over, the Paradox Caves served as the base of operations for Maelstrom, the Sentinel Base Camp was under siege, and the Monument was setup into a backup base, with guns and turrets covering every single area they could of the giant statue to protect against Dragons.

Back to Nexus Tower, outside its eastern wall.

Duke unsheathed his sword and raised it high. “Charge!” he yelled, and a mass of Knights, Samurais, and Space Rangers tore out of a trench. Lead by Duke, the knights charged towards a Maelstrom catapult. They attacked it, smashing the few Stromlings that surrounded it while Duke hopped up to the control room. He smashed the window with his shield and stabbed the Stromling Invader in the chest, smashing it. He charged up his sword and brought it down into the catapult and it exploded in a flash of light. Duke leaped off the debris and in a sweeping strike brought down three approaching Ronin.

Meanwhile, Dr. Overbuild and his Assembly Faction recruits were holding the Maelstrom at bay on the Northern side of the tower. They built turrets and gun platforms and summoned creatures to aid them against the Maelstrom army.

On the other sides of the tower, the Venture League fought the Maelstrom back with fast moving and heavy hitting Venture scouts. Vanda Darkflame lead the Paradox Faction on the southern side of the tower, confusing the Maelstrom with Paradox Mechs and summoned Spiderlings fighting for the Nexus Force.

Up on the higher levels of the tower, Assembly Engineers built large anti-aircraft guns to take down attacking Dragons. Airstrike jets also soared through the skies, dogfighting with Dragon Invaders and strafing the enemies on the ground. The Nexus Force was succeeding in this battle.

Down on the ground, Demonstrait guided his dragon Torchblight through the skies, Hael’s golden telescope dangling under the Dragon as it swooped around. He avoided blasts from Assembly anti-aircraft guns and stray Nexus Force jets.

“The Darkitect will be pleased,” Demonstrait thought, letting go of the reins to rub his hands together in glee. “I will certainly be promoted.”

Without Demonstrait’s guidance, Torchblight surged forward suddenly, knocking Demonstrait off his perch on the Dragon Invader’s back and causing him to slide backwards until he was clutching Torchblight’s spiked tail for dear life.

The Dragon Invader whipped around as fast as a bullet very low to the ground, weaving between laser blasts and Maelstrom tanks, until it turned so fast to avoid a cliff that Demonstrait let go and tumbled to the ground. The Stromling rolled on the ground until he came to a stop next to a battering ram. Demonstrait raised his head, and found himself face to face with five angry Sentinels.

“Let’s get ‘im!” one yelled, and they all charged at the unarmed Stromling.

Defying his lack of weapons, Demonstrait raised his hands and unleashed a web of purple Maelstorm lightning at the Sentinels. When Demonstrait lowered his hands, the Sentinels fell to the ground and smashed.

‘An unnecessary distraction,’ Demonstrait berated himself, before summoning Torchblight again. A few seconds later a shadow loomed over the Stromling. Torchblight landed next to Demonstrait. “You fool, don’t drop me again,” Demonstrait scolded as he mounted. He jerked on the reins and the Dragon Invader took off. A purple portal leading to the Darkitect’s lair appeared in front of him, and a second after the Dragon entered, the vortex vanished, unseen by the Nexus Force.

Chapter Twelve

“Kate?” Cyclone called cautiously.

“Mmnhnophghwnngtuppp....” Kate mumbled in her sleep.

Rover grimaced. “Ow, that hurt. You should be calling my name and asking me if I was okay.” he said.

“Rover? Are you okay?” asked Cyclone.

Rover snorted. “Yeah, I’m fine. So what now?” Another flashlight beam turned on, illuminating Rover’s face. “Venture Rule The Second, always carry an extra extra flashlight.”

“I want to join the Venture League,” Cyclone moped. “But I feel obligated to officially join Paradox, since that’s where my Imagination-half went.”

Rover handed Cyclone a Buttery Croissant. “Here,” he said, before sipping a handsome mug filled with Imagination Coffee.

“Thanks,” accepted Cyclone.

“So, what are we waiting for?” Rover asked.

“No idea?” answered Cyclone.

“We need to get a move on if we’re leaving this place.” Rover said as he put the rest of his consumables back in his backpack. He sheathed Hesevalints and pulled out a Heroic Force Blade. “I’m going to find Krill, as well.”

…

Krill awoke to find his whole right arm covered in purple mist. “I’ll be damned.” he said aloud, and began to wrap it in additional layers to hold off the mist from spreading to the rest of him through the air, but as for through his body... he could slow the infection, but now for long.

Krill stood up and looked around, searching for the thing that did this to him. There was nothing alive in sight, except for the scattered bricks of both the crocodile and slug. ‘Good riddance,’ Krill thought as he stepped by them. He continued heading down the way he came, until his infrared sensing helmet picked up a moving form up ahead. Krill gripped a rifle, and ran silently down the corridor. As he neared the form, he recognized it as that Nexus Force Buccanner. Cheerful Power Rover, his name was.

Apparently, Rover had noticed him too. “Is that you, Krill Mathias?!” Rover called.

“And I’m assuming that’s you, Buccaneer?”

There was a pause for a few seconds, then Rover said, “Where have you been? Looks like you’ve had a run-in with some Maelstrom.” He pointing to Krill’s bundled arm. The infection on his right arm had spread up to his shoulder.

Rover pulled out what looked like a gun and fired it at Krill, who stiffened and held back from knocking the device from the Venture’s hands. He recognized it as an anti-infection treatment.

Rover put the foam gun back in his backpack. “This will give you a few more hours.”

Chapter Thirteen

Suave and Brocktree were leading Blade, Sergeant, and Intrepid through a shortcut through the mountains over to the Launch Area, when suddenly a large shadow passed over the group.

“What was that?” Sergeant asked, scanning the skies. He squinted his eyes as he stared up near the bright sun, when a dark shape seemed to pass by. “Is that a dragon?”

Blade looked up as well. “There shouldn’t be dragons on Avant Gardens.”

Five Nexus Force Jets, two trailing smoke, flew by overhead. Another jet encompassed in a fireball trailed after them, before it exploded with a loud boom.

Brocktree and Suave exchanged worried glances. “It’s impossible for the Spiderlings and mechs to be able to target the airstrikes here.” Suave pointed out. “Somethings wrong.”

Then a loud roar filled the air. Brocktree’s eyes widened and he dove over to Sergeant and Intrepid, tackling them and knocking them to the ground.

A jet of fire lit up the ground where Intrepid and Sergeant had been standing moments before.

“It is a dragon!!!” Sergeant shouted, when the dragon landed and rotated its massive head to face him. Evil glinted in its eyes.

Brocktree stood up and pulled out a long glistening sword. On the other side of the dragon, Blade and Suave unsheathed their swords, ready for battle. “It’s Butterscorch.” Brocktree exclaimed. He turned to Intrepid and Sergeant. “She’s more powerful than anything you’ve faced. Run!”

Brocktree turned and charged the named Dragon Invader, swinging his sword. Butterscorch stood up on her hind legs and blowed a stream of flame at Brocktree. The Sentinel Commander dodged the fire and swiped at Butterscorch, chipping off one of her sharp talons. In response she swept her tail at Brocktree, but the experienced Sentinel leaped over it and swung his sword in a wide arc, driving the dragon backwards, when a surprise and fast-moving fireball hit him in the chest. Suave and Blade were already rushing in from behind, they slashed and swung at valiantly, forcing her to turn. The Dragon Invader fought back and soon had both Suave and Blade lying on the ground, unconscious.

Butterscorch turned to face Intrepid and Sergeant, who hadn’t made it very far. They turned around as the dragon lumbered towards them.

Intrepid stepped forward, but Sergeant grabbed him. “You don’t know what you’re getting into!” Sergeant pleaded. “Don’t do it!”

Intrepid turned to face his friend. “I can’t do nothing.”

He aimed his Bat Lord staff at the dragon’s head charged with a shield slam ability and speed boost combined. He just barely ducked under Butter’s fire balls.

At the last moment he spun around, slamming Butterscorch’s armored hulk with his shield and quickly stabbing at the Dragon Invader with his staff. Somehow the sharp staff pierced the scales, and the dragon prepared to whack him with her claws when she was suddenly distracted by Sergeant, who brought his Force Blade of Lightning down on her tail. The barbed tip was sliced off.

With a roar Butterscorch kicked Sergeant away and he skidded far on the ground. When he came to a stop, the Avant Gardens recruit lay motionless.

The last man standing, Intrepid attacked Butterscorch with renewed energy, but it wasn’t a battle for one minifigure to win. The dragon easily batted the Bat Lord away and began puffing up fireballs that would surely smash them all, were it not for another minifigure to fall from the sky and land on Butterscorch’s head. With one stab, the recruit brought down a sword through the Dragon Invader’s head. With a wounded roar, Butterscorch threw the minifigure off before taking flight. The sword remained in her snout.

Intrepid glanced weakly at their savior lying next to him. He recognized her angular face, her flame-orange hair, and tried to mouth her name before falling unconscious.

Chapter Fourteen

“Uhhhhhh......” Intrepid groaned. His eyelids popped open, and he was staring up into another minifigure’s face. “Oh, it’s you.”

The minifigure’s name was Shrill Failed Brick, a brown eyed, flame-orange haired Avant Gardens recruit, and Intrepid’s cousin. “Always saving your butt, cousin.” she said. “And exactly WHY are there Dragons here on Avant Gardens?”

Intrepid sat up painfully. “Oh no, that was NOT a dragon from Forbidden Valley. That was Butterscorch, and through some glitch in the Matrix you defeated her.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” she said.

Intrepid noticed two Paradox Space Marauders, a Rank 3 and a Rank 1, standing nearby. “Who’re they??” he asked.

“I’m Stunt,” said the Rank 3, walking over and sticking out his hand, which Intrepid shook. “From what I’ve heard, you’re Intrepid Fusion Eclipse. Shrill speaks highly of you.”

“That’s hard to believe.” Intrepid said. “Nice to meet you.”

“And I’m Rare Spiffy Agent.” said the Rank 1 Space Marauder.

After reviving Brocktree, Suave, Blade, and Sergeant, and a few more introductions from Shrill, Stunt, and Rare, the former four and Intrepid followed the latter three through the mountains in a direction for the Sentinel Base Camp. Along the way, Stunt supplied information on what was going on.

The news was not nice.

“You’re telling me that Avant Gardens is right now under attack by Stromling, Ape, and Dragon Invaders?” Sergeant exclaimed. “When did this begin?”

“Just this morning.” Rare said.

Sergeant and Intrepid shared glances. “We can’t let Avant Gardens fall,” Sergeant proclaimed. “We’ve lived here long enough, it’s like our home.”

Shrill dripped her head. “Once you see the Sentinel Base Camp, you might change your mind about who owns Avant Gardens now.”