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 were 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.”

Then they heard a distant sound.

A terrifying, terrible sound.

It went, “Quack, quack quack!”

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.”

Chapter Fifteen

Out of the passageway of horrors, Rover and Krill Mathias barreled into a calmer chamber.

“I’ve had enough of Maelstrom monsters.” panted Rover. “This place must be extremely infected to have so many of them.” While he stopped to breathe, Krill pulled out a rifle and headed back the way they came.

“Where are you going?” Rover called.

Krill tilted his head, not to Rover, but to the infected side of his body. He didn’t have much time. “If my hunch is correct, we’re in the lair of the Darkitect.” And I will kill him, he thought.

….

“Master!” Demonstrait announced as he bowed low before the Darkitect with Torchblight by his side.

“Rise, and speak, my servant.” the Darktitect boomed.

Demonstrait rose. “I have what you requested.” he stated, gesturing to Hael’s golden telescope which dangled near Torchblight’s feet.

“Good, good.” the Darkitect said. “Now get back to Crux and capture Nexus Tower for me.” With a snap of his fingers, Demonstrait and Torchblight were back at Crux Prime, and the giant telescope sat neatly inside a display case full of several other artifacts.

…

== Chapter Sixteen

==

Intrepid stopped dead in his tracks a few feet away from the cliff’s edge, to stare down at the most horrendous sight an Avant Gardens recruit could imagine.

Sergeant ran up next to him and slumped to the ground. “No....” he groaned.

The Sentinel Base Camp’s walls were torn down, their remains strewn across the ground, and splotches of infection tarnished the earth. Only Avant Gardens recruits were there to battle against Maelstrom Dragon, Stromling, Mech, Ronin, Admiral, Ape, and Pirate invaders, and they were being smashed rapidly. The lack of imagination in the area due to the high concentration of Maelstrom made rebuilding in the camp near impossible, and minifigures either rebuilt far away near the monument, or remained permanently smashed forever. Butterscorch had returned as well, setting the ground ablaze and smashing everything not infected in her path.

“Is there anything we can do?” Intrepid asked. He wasn’t about to jump down when suddenly a hand covered his mouth and pulled him behind a rock.

“Hush!” a minifig said, before shooting down into the fray with an Exceptional Pea Shooter MK-2. Intrepid stared at him as the minifig shot down a few mechs, then ducked behind the rock to hide from the Maelstorm which would look up for him. There was another minifig up there too with them.

“Who are you?” Intrepid asked, once the guy had removed his hand from Intrepid’s mouth.

The minifig turned to him, and said, “I’m Argon Dragon Udon, and this is my friend, Spakybob.” he said, and the other minifig nodded. Argon sighed, and looked down at the Maelstorm attackers and smashing minifigs, shaking his head. “This is all wrong. There’s been no word from Nexus Tower.”

“And no reinforcements.” Spakybob added. “All we can do is shoot them, but we’re not even thinning their ranks.”

“What else is there to do?” Intrepid asked.

There was no answer from Spakybob, then someone screamed. Intrepid turned, and saw a Stromling Invader standing on their ledge next to them, with Spakybob in his arms. In a swift motion, the Stromling had jabbed a tube into Spakybob’s neck, and Maelstrom pulsed through it into Spakybob’s bloodstream. In one fateful second, the former recruit had been infected.

Chapter Seventeen

Before the Stromling Invader could infect anyone else, it was smashed by Sergeant’s Elite Force Blade of Lightning.

“Save..... yourselves!” Spakybob said, before turning and diving off the cliff. Argon tore his gaze away.

“He was my friend.” Argon cried.

“Come on,” Intrepid said, then jumped off the ledge. He landed on the ground next to Sergeant, Blade, Brocktree, Suave, Stunt, Rare, and Shrill. A few seconds later Argon jumped down next to them.

Brocktree lead them to behind the entrance to the Avant Gardens Survival simulation. “We have a plan,” Brocktree stated. “We were lucky to survive Butterscorch before, and now she’s here in addition to several more dragons and powerful Maelstrom creatures. But Butterscorch is the leader. If we take her out we can win this.”

“I know what to do,” said Suave. He pulled out his Space Ranger Ray Gun, and fired supersonic waves at the rock wall over where Butterscorch was standing as she smashed minifigures after minifgures. The sonic waves collided with the cliff, causing huge rocks to fall down and entrap the Dragon Invader. The rocks covered up Butterscorch, and her tail which stuck out of the pile twitched one last time, before stopping. “Butter’s down.” Suave informed them, as the rest of them stared at the joyous minifigs who cheered at the falling of the terrible dragon. “Now what, Commander Brocktree?”

Brock raised his sword. “Let’s finish them off.” The valiant minifigs charged out from behind Survival, and fought for the freedom of Avant Gardens and all of its minifigures from the Maelstrom.

There were still a lot of Maelstrom running about haphazardly, and the Nexus Forcers were soon separated as they ran in different directions to target different groups of Stromlings; yet Intrepid and Shrill found themselves next to each other just outside the base camp, where some Pirates and Stromling Apes were reorganizing.

Shrill swung her sword, knocking down three of the Pirate Invaders and stunning an Ape, while the rest closed in. She ran up to Intrepid, and back-to-back, they waved their sword and staff respectively, knocking down the Stromlings who neared and keeping them at bay. The Invaders created a circle around them, and slowly moved in to infect or smash the two recruits.

Intrepid poked an Admiral with his staff, then sent a Ronin flying with a swing. “I haven’t seen you in awhile,” Intrepid said, slicing at a Stromling in the process. The Stromling jumped out of the way, and into another Stromling’s blade, causing it to smash. “What made you come back?”

Shrill swiped a Pirate and sent it spinning into an Ape. “Why don’t we fight now, and talk later.” she replied, before an Admiral fired its cannon at her. She ducked, and the anchor embedded itself in her Nexus Force helmet. She tore it off and threw it back at the Admiral before it could blow her up with its rings of doom.

“I’ve got a better idea,” Intrepid called, before swinging his staff back and forth in one direction, clearing an escape route. “Why don’t we run away now, and talk later?”

“Works for me.” Shrill agreed, and they grabbed each other’s arms and ran out of the Maelstrom circle into Argon, who was holding his own against a horde of Dark Ronin.

“Hey-” he yelped before falling to the ground under the combined weight of Intrepid and Shrill. The Ronin moved in to corner them against the wall.

“Cornered again.” Shrill said.

Suddenly all the Ronin smashed by a bunch of blasts from two Space Marauder blasters. Stunt and Rare ran over, kicked away the lifeless suits of armor that lay on the ground, and shot at any Maelstrom that dared come near.

Then suddenly a huge screeching sound blasted through the air. Intrepid covered his ears, and stared into the Sentinel Caves to see Beck Strongheart standing there with a bunch of Sentinels and Shouty McBullhorn.

“I LOVE SHOUTING, EVEN THOUGH MY THROAT IS HOARSE!!!” Shouty screamed, the soundwaves emanating from his bullhorn blowing all the Stromlings away.

“Tell them that we’re fighting back!” Beck told him.

“WHAT WAS THAT???!!!!” Shouty shouted, aiming his bullhorn at Beck’s ear. “CAN’T HEAR YA BECK!!!!”

Beck shook violently and nearly smashed from the soundwaves that blew into his head. “Shouty McBullhorn, you put that noise maker down this instance!” Beck ordered. “Or else!” His Sentinels surrounding Shouty with their swords and guns drawn.

“OH REALLY?!??!?!” Shouty yelled, and all the Sentinels blew away, including Beck. Annoyed, Beck through his sword and it stuck through Shouty’s bullhorn, creating another massive screeching sound of epic proportions. All the Maelstrom smashed from the terribleness of the noise, and they didn’t rebuild, being Maelstrom.

“Well,” commented Intrepid as he stared at the sky which began to clear of Maelstrom clouds, “That was short.”

“Shame they couldn’t have shown up sooner.” Argon pouted. No doubt, if they’d arrived five minutes earlier, the Sentinels could have saved Spakybob. He looked around, hoping to see if the semi-turned recruit was anywhere to be found, but he was gone...

Chapter Eighteen

“Kate,” Cyclone called quietly as he nudged her sleeping form. “Kate! Get up already!”

Giving up, Cyclone sighed and leaned back against the wall. It was so boring to have to sit in the dark with no one to talk too, and not knowing where he was, and not knowing anything that was going on. Cyclone stared up at the roof of the cavern, just barely making out the dark forms of the Maelstrom bats hanging there. He started counting them. One bat, two bats, three bats....

Then he stopped. Was someone screaming?

Cyclone turned, and saw Rover running in, screaming his head off.

“Rover!” Cyclone shouted at him. “What’s going on?!”

“I know where we are!” Rover exclaimed, disturbing the bats.

“Okay, where?” said Cyclone.

“WE’RE IN THE DARKITECT’S LAIR!!!!!” Rover screamed.

“What?!” Cyclone asked, taking in what Rover had just said. “The Darkitect’s lair?? Really?”

“Yes!” Rover told him. “There are Maelstrom bats up there, Mr. Krill got attacked by Maelstrom slugs, crocodiles, frogs, ducks, everything, and he nearly got infected by a Maelstrom stream!”

Cyclone hung his head, then looked up, saying with a twinge of panic in his voice, “Do you think the Darkitect knows we’re here?”

“If he did, we’d all be captured by now.” another voice said, and Krill stepped into the room. “More captured than we already are.” The assassin held a flashlight, and making sure not to aim it upwards, shone it around the room. He stopped when he noticed Kate lying on the middle of floor. “Who’s the girl?”

“Oh, that’s Kate,” Cyclone told him. “She’s been lying there for.... a long time. Do you think she’s alright?” he asked with concern.

“There’s one way to find out,” Krill stated, and he threw a bucket of cold icy water over Kate’s sleeping form. A second later, Kate was up and sputtering, splashing water everywhere.

“It worked,” remarked Rover with a chuckle. “I’m beginning to like you, Your Majesty.”

“Huh?” Cyclone asked, flabbergasted.

Rover waved his hand at him. “I meant King Mathias.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Krill replied.

“So,” Cyclone said, turning to Kate. “You’re finally awake. Need a recap?”

Chapter Nineteen

With Avant Gardens more or less back to normal, minus the Paradox Lab ruins and the walls of the Sentinel Base Camp and the inclusion of giant megaphones at every strategic location on the small world, Lord Brocktree and Suave Able Cat went back to leading Blade, Intrepid, and Sergeant, joined by Stunt, Rare, Argon, and Shrill, on their mission to find the Darkitect.

After taking off from the Nimbus Station launchpad at the launch area, Brocktree told the others how to override their autopilots on their rockets. There were, however, some arguments with Sky Lane over whether Intrepid, Sergeant, Argon, and Shrill, being limited recruits, would be allowed to take off on the Nimbus Station launchpad. Finally, after much insisting from Brocktree, the four were allowed to take off.

“Okay Commander, where are we headed now?” Rare asked over the inter-rocket communications device once they were travelling through space.

From inside his rocket, Brocktree looked up from his copy of the map he and Suave had made. “The first place we’ll check out is a specific Darneu near Forbidden Valley.”

After several near collisions with asteroids, it was discovered that the Darkitect’s lair was definitely not in the Forbidden Valley asteroid field. Not discouraged, Brocktree lead them to the next area, all the way near the Venture Explorer wreck, near the heart of the Maelstrom vortex. However, unlike how it was commonly believed by all minifigs, the Darkitect’s lair was not inside the Maelstrom vortex.

After several more fruitless searches, Intrepid yawned and said, “Okay, I’m tired. We’re all tired. And we have not found the Darkitect yet or any traces of him. This is worthless, and we’ll never find Cyclone and the rest of them!”

“Since when is it like you to give up?” Shrill asked. “What Intrepid means is he’d love to keep searching while the rest of us book a hotel.”

“Thanks Shrill,” Intrepid scowled.

After more flying, and finding all the places where the Darkitect’s lair wasn’t, Brocktree finally agreed to let them end their search for now and take a break at Nimbus Station, with assurances that Intrepid, Argon, Sergeant, and Shrill wouldn’t be kicked out by Nexus Commandos.

Chapter Twenty

“We need to find a way off this rock, before the Darkitect finds us.” Cyclone declared.

Krill stared at him. “Where do you expect to find a place out of here anyway? It’s an endless maze. At least we have supplies, we can last while, if we want to conserve our energy; some of us, anyway.”

Cyclone looked at him hard. “How do you suppose the Darkitect leaves? There’s got to be a launch pad somewhere.”

“The Darkitect doesn’t use rockets, I don’t think.” Rover said, and turned to Krill. “Krill, you’re infected. What will you do if it gets worse?”

Krill drummed his fingers on his wormholer’s saw.

Rover blanched. “None of us are doctors. Amputation would only open you to more infection.”

“I’m not suggesting amputation.” Krill said, tight-lipped. He made a finger gun and pointed at his head. “Bang.”

Rover looked ready to say something assuring, that everything would be fine, at least he hoped so, but then he noticed Cyclone picking up his backpack and stepping out into the tunnels. “You’re really serious about finding a way out?” Rover called.

“Yeah,” Cyclone replied. “If you want to come, you’re welcome too.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Cyclone stopped counting after a hundred steps. He stopped looking at his watch after two hours. After wandering through the tunnels for perhaps a few days, Cyclone, Rover, Kate, and Krill finally arrived at a source of light.

The light was created by a bright purple artificial star that hovered near the roof of an immense cavern, filled with hundreds of thousands of Stromlings and Maelstrom creatures.

“Whoa,” Cyclone gasped in awe at the Maelstrom city that stretched out ahead and below of them. They stood on a balcony overlooking the cavern.

“Double wow,” Kate agreed, pointing to a large circular object near the opposite end of the chasm. “The Maelstrom have Ferris Wheels?”

“This could be a Cruxian city.” Rover suggested.

Cyclone was about to say something, when they all suddenly heard rustling sounds from behind them, heading the way they came. From the accompanying low snarling sounds, it was most likely that or whoever was coming up behind them was a Stromling.

Or many Stromlings.

“Come on!” Cyclone beckoned his friends as he leaped over the balcony railing. As he had suspected, the semi-circle shaped balcony was supported by at least one pillar. There were two. Gripping one of the rough stone cylinders, Cyclone quickly slid down into the shadows. “Hurry!” he called as Kate and Rover also climbed over and began sliding down. Last was Krill, but he didn’t even use the pillars. He fired a cable from one of his many guns into the balcony and dropped to the ground that way, before releasing the cable’s hold and having it clatter down back into its launcher.

And not a moment to late, as they all watched from the shadows below they saw three Hammerlings step onto the balcony and stare down in their direction. They would have noticed them if Krill hadn’t slipped an invisibility cloak over them. From under the cloak, they could see the Hammerlings staring about, but they couldn’t see them.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Hammerlings turned and left. Cyclone sighed in relief. “That was close.” he murmured.

“Well, if it wasn’t for your quick thinking, this would have played out differently,” Kate told him. “Nice work.”

“Thanks,” Cyclone replied. He looked up and noticed what appeared to be a billboard. “Hey, what’s this?” He reached up to pull off what appeared to be a map stuck on with a thumbtack, but Rover grabbed it first.

“I’m the Venture, I get the maps.” Rover said. “You can get your own over there.” he stated, pointing to a pile of maps nearby.

A pile of maps next to a vendor stall with a Stromling Ape Invader in it.

And that Stromling Ape Invader was none other than Roo Morg.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Cyclone held his breath, afraid that they had given themselves away to the named Stromling Ape. But Roo Morg didn’t make any movements, other than to scratch his head with one of his many hands.

“Don’t worry.” Krill reassured them. “This isn’t only an invisibility cloak, but it also blocks all sound from inside it. They can’t hear a thing. Besides, to them, we look like a rock. And oh yeah, that’s not Roo Morg. It’s his less intelligent brother, Big Urgh.”

“Oh,” Cyclone said. “Well, that’s good.”

Rover bent over the map and began scanning it quickly with his eyes. “Aha!” he announced. “The way out of here is that way.” he said, pointing to a very distant hallway all the way on the other side of the Maelstrom city.

“Great,” Kate stated with dismay. “How’s a moving rock supposed to get all the way across Maelstrom land without being seen?”

Krill turned, and noticed a small stream similar to the one that he had encountered earlier in the passageway. It was clouded with purple Maelstrom mist. “I think I have a solution to that problem. We’ll have to be quick, though.”

A few minutes later, when Krill threw back the cloak to reveal all four of them, Maelstrom mist covered each of their arms.

“Are you sure this is a safe idea?” asked Cyclone as he stared at his partially Maelstrom infected arms. He could have imagined it, but his throat felt scratchy.

Rover was intrigued that he could be Maelstrom infected but still a minifig at the same time. Cyclone explained to him that it was probably something like how Wisp Lee was, but he didn’t understand how the old Paradox Scientist managed to stay a minifigure for how many years he had been standing at that same old post by the Paradox Lab.

Kate seemed particularly distressed about the idea of having to go through being infected by Maelstrom. She mentioned something about imagination sparks, but that was all Cyclone could get out of her.

“Why?” he asked. “Scared that there will be three of you?”

“No!” she responded, a little forcefully. In a quieter voice, Kate muttered, “That would be impossible anyway.”

Cyclone didn’t ask anything more about it, he just concentrated on not catching any attention as he and the rest of them walked through the packed crowd of Stromlings, Dark Ronin, Apes, Pirates, Admirals, and even a few Dragons.

A couple of minutes later, they had just passed by a Maelstorm-infected library, when Cyclone noticed the mist had spread to his shoulders and chest. “Oh boy,” he muttered, watching the mist spread so intently, that he didn’t notice that he had stumbled into a rushing crowd of Stromlings that were heading into a museum. Cyclone turned and tried to fight the crowd to get back, but he couldn’t budge. Soon he was in the museum itself.

Cyclone gasped as he stared at a portrait of a Stromling striking down a minifig at Avant Gardens, and at another one of a massive Darkitect kicking down Nexus Tower as it fell down upon the faction leaders. To create anti-Nexus Force propaganda, the Maelstrom had to have some intelligence among their ranks. As he was pushed farther along with the crowd, Cyclone noticed a Stromling in guard uniform. A holstered double-barrel Maelstrom gun was holstered at his side, and the Stromling had a haughty attitude, bossing around other Stromlings and kicking at Dark Ronin.

Cyclone tried resisting, but the crowd pushed until he was right next to the guard Stromling. The Stromling took one look at him, and snapped, “Only complete Stromlings allowed beyond this point. In fact, there is a law prohibiting partial Stromlings from even being in this city.”

The Stromling pulled out his gun, and aimed at Cyclone’s heart. “After this, you’ll be a Stromling completely under the great grand and glorious Darkitect’s control,” it said. “Prepare to be infected.”

Cyclone ducked and rammed his full body weight into the Stromling’s stomach, and the Maelstrom beam flew harmlessly over him. The guard lurched and teetered on his platform, but Cyclone gave him no time to react. He quickly disarmed the guard and silenced him with a blow to the jaw.

The other Stromlings stared as Cyclone stood up. “Continue on,” he shouted as he waved his way through them towards the door. “He was being mean anyway, right guys?” he pointed out, before escaping the museum. He stood, panting outside, when Rover, Kate, and Krill ran over to him.

“You okay?” Rover asked. “I saw you get stuck in there, but we couldn’t get in.”

“And I couldn’t get out,” Cyclone told him. “I’m okay now, but there are guards after me. We’d better hurry.”

Suddenly a loud roar filled the air, and a Dragon flew in through a large hole high up on one of the walls. Cyclone watched in horror as Torchblight, an elite dragon invader, flew around the cavern, with four prisoners held in a net hanging from the dragon’s underside.

Those four prisoners were Duke Exeter, Dr. Overbuild, Hael Storm, and Vanda Darkflame.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Demonstrait was the most gleeful he’d ever been as he guided his dragon through the immense caverns of the Darkitect’s lair. Under his command, the Maelstrom Army had finally broken into Nexus Tower, and he had captured his prizes: the faction leaders themselves, now to become slaves of the Darkitect forever.

Smiling with content and self-congratulation, Demonstrait thought back to how the battle at Nexus Tower had gone, just a few hours before.

…

At first, the battle had continued well for the Nexus Force. But only after they had pressed forwards and were at quite a distance from the tower did they realize they had fallen into a trap.

Dragons descended behind them cutting off a retreat to the tower. In the rising panic, the Nexus Force allowed itself to be swarmed with the Maelstrom, and the brave Sentinel, Assembly, Venture, and Paradox fighters were smashed. Undefended, it still took ten combined dragonfire blasts before the tower’s defenses cracked.

In the confusion, Duke Exeter, Dr. Overbuild, Hael Storm, and Vanda Darkflame were captured by the Maelstrom and brought to where they were now, the Darkitect’s lair, hidden in the darkest corner of the universe.

…

“I still can’t believe it actually happened,” Lord Brocktree said softly.

Standing outside the defeated Nexus Tower on the surface of Crux Prime, Brocktree, Suave, Stunt, Rare, Argon, Shrill, Blade, Intrepid, and Sergeant stood in the deserted site of one of the greatest battlefields in history. The battle that determined whether the Nexus Force would stand, or fall. The tower still stood, barely, a shell of its former self.

“All the brave fighters...” Suave murmured, shaking his head sadly.

The group had just taken off from Nimbus Station when they had received a distress signal emanating from Nexus Tower. The call had ended as abruptly as it had begun, making them suspect that they were the only ones to had heard it.

And from what they saw now, apparently they had thought the truth.

Brocktree sadly turned and walked over to a charred launchpad, placing his rocket onto it.

“Where are you going?” Intrepid called.

Brocktree rotated his head to face them, and said strongly, “I must serve my duty to you, to the Nexus Force, and to all minifigures. With the faction leaders missing or dead, it is now my job to lead the surviving Nexus Force to its next battle.” he told them. “Suave, continue where I have left off, and help these minifigures find their friends.” Brocktree took one last look at them, before saying, “Good luck,” and launching off into space.

No one spoke for a long time, until Rare turned to the others and asked, “What now?”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“No! That’s my faction leader you’ve got there!!” Rover shouted, and he ran over to a nearby dragon. Before Cyclone could stop him, Rover was up in the air chasing Torchblight throughout the cavern, and finally into one of the tunnels.

“Rover!!” Cyclone and Kate both shouted, but the Buccaneer was gone.

Krill clamped his hands on their shoulders. “He’s doing what he feels is right.” he stated. “He may have a head start, but we will follow.” Krill said, turning to face a couple of Stromling guards who were pointing and making their way towards them. “Actually, let me rephrase. We are following.”

Cyclone noticed the guards, and quickly grabbed Kate’s arm and ran. Krill lead them through the streets towards the side of the cavern, and they began scaling the cliff face. Luckily, Stromlings aren’t able to climb well with a huge sword replacing their left hands. Or so they thought.

Kate looked down. The Stromling guards were following at a fast pace. The gap between them was narrowing, and then the worst had to happen. Kate slipped on a ledge, and began to fall.

Krill aimed his gun and fired a grappling wire. The hook of the wire snagged Kate’s boot and kept her from falling to the ground. With the press of a button, Krill’s boots hydraulically locked themselves to the rock face. Heaving, he held Kate up until she was steady, then he fired a couple of rounds at the Stromling guards with his rifle. Two smashed.

Cyclone reached the entrance to the tunnel Rover went through first. He pulled himself onto the ledge and helped Kate up. Staring down, he noticed Krill swinging his rifle at the Stromlings that were within melee range of him. One Stromling grabbed at him and Krill brought his rifle down on the Stromling’s head, and it plummeted to the ground. Another one slashed at his leg, and there was a flash of red. Krill aimed a pistol, but the Stromling knocked it away. Cyclone noted with dismay that the Stromling that Krill was fighting currently with was the one he had knocked out earlier.

The Stromling growled, and slashed wildly at Krill’s chest. Krill fumbled around with his belt and found a water gun, which he aimed at the Stromling’s face and fired. The bossy Stromling Guard recoiled and reached for his face, which was a mistake since he needed his hands to hold onto the cliff. A few seconds later the Stromling lay on the ground, unmoving.

“Krill?” Cyclone called down. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Krill shouted up as he clutched at his injured leg. His boots were soaked in blood, and Cyclone could tell Krill certainly wasn’t fine. An injury like that could be infected easily, with any manner of disease. “I can take care of myself, and there’s nothing you can do to get me up faster. Carry on without me, I’ll be up there soon.”

Cyclone nodded, and together, he and Kate turned away from the ledge and entered the dark tunnel. The two original minifigs who started this whole adventure together were now on their own, once again.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Cyclone and Kate stood in the entrance of the tunnel. After a few seconds of silence, Cyclone broke it. “Come on, we’ve got to find Rover, before something bad happens.” he urged. They broke out into a run and charged through the tunnel.

After a full ten minutes of non-stop running, panting, Kate turned her head to Cyclone and asked, “Remind me. How did we get here in the first place?”

“Well, it started on that deserted Raven’s Bluff property world.” Cyclone replied, also panting, but not as heavily. “When the Darkitect created that wormhole vortex thing we all got sucked into it, and it brought us here.”

Kate was silent for a few seconds, then stopped running. Cyclone slowed down and walked back to be with her. “You know,” she said, catching her breath, “Before I came to Raven’s Bluff to rescue you guys, I visited Vanda Darkflame again.”

“After you ran away from us at Avant Gardens,” Cyclone added.

Kate rolled her eyes. “Well, what did you expect me to do? Let myself be smashed continuously by constantly being nearby to my own self?”

“I don’t know how it works.” admitted Cyclone. “Did Vanda know what caused you to smash like that?”

Kate stuck her hands in her pockets. “Vanda sort of explained, since I have a very strong imagination spark, being in contact with another being with an equally strong imagination spark causes it to be damaged, and thus cause me to smash.” Then she sighed and said sadly, “I mean, I had a strong imagination spark. Since my imagination spark is damaged, I’m actually losing it. And another contact with the other me, or something else that will damage it will cause it to be destroyed all together, so-”

Cyclone didn’t give her a chance to continue. Quickly he pulled out a notion potion and spilled all of its contents on Kate. “Hey-” she protested, but the imagination from the potion did what Cyclone was hoping for, and the Maelstrom mist encompassing her arms vanished.

“Can’t take any chances under these circumstances. You’re not going to die on me.” Cyclone told her as he washed off his own Maelstrom mist as well. It felt better to not have the Maelstrom fog scratching at him, and the feeling in his neck disappeared as well. “Having this Maelstrom stuff on you could wear down your imagination spark, which means in the case of you smashing, you wont rebuild, ever again.”

Kate scrunched her nose. “Yeah, I know. But I’d rather take the risk to escape than be trapped down here forever, since you’d never leave.” she told him.

Cyclone gave her a small smile. “I appreciate it.” he said, “We’re going to need to be open with each other, about our thoughts, our worries, and our plans, if we’re going to work together to get out of here.”

Kate smiled back. “I’ll take it into consideration,” she said, and they continued running down the tunnel.

It suddenly occurred to Cyclone that these tunnels were designed to accommodate really tall creatures. A dragon could fly in it. A being like the Darkitect could cross it ten times faster than a normal-sized minifigure.

When they reached the end, the sight they beheld was not what they had expected.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“According to these logs and information we have collected,” Suave said as he poked around with a broken computer bank retrieved from Nexus Tower, “A large spacial anomaly appeared a few minutes after the distress signal was sent.”

The group minus Lord Brocktree were still hanging outside the tower.

“Wow,” Suave exclaimed. “Look at this. Wait, actually don’t, or you’ll block my view. It says that after the anomaly was picked up, it stopped a few seconds later, and the Maelstrom scanners on the ground floor only picked up faint traces of Maelstrom.” He looked up, and said, “Sounds like the anomaly was another vortex, and it sucked up the Maelstorm army and brought them back to the Darkitect’s lair.”

“Good thinking, Suave,” Stunt complimented him. “Now what?”

“What we’re doing now is trying to find what coordinates the vortex was leading to.” Suave said, picking up a scanning device and walking over to a seemingly random area. “According to this information, I can pinpoint exactly which location the portal opened up in. Now, there are two ways we can do this. The slow way: check for dust and other remaining particles, and see if they match any known locations. The fast way: if I launch a burst of tachyon particles at that area,” Suave said as he pressed a button on his scanning device, which in fact was way more than a scanning device. Before Suave could finish, a purple vortex opened above Suave’s head.

“Oh my gosh,” Argon gasped. Intrepid, Shrill, Sergeant, Blade, Rare, and Stunt all watched as Suave was lifted off the ground by the immense force of the Maelstorm vortex.

“Guys, GUYS!!” Suave called jubilantly. “This is it!! We’re almost finished!! Everyone in!! Yahoo!!!” he cheered before being sucked into the vortex all together.

“Come on!” Blade called as his jumped into the air, allowing the vortex to pull him in as well. “We’ve got to rescue Cyclone, Kate and Rover! Let’s go!”

Following suit, the rest of them all ran over and dove into the portal. With a crackling sound, they went through, and then the vortex closed.

…

“Ugh, where.... are.... we....” Shrill groaned. She leaned over and made dramatic throwing up sounds, before opening her eyes and staring around the dark cavern they were in. Sitting up, she noticed Suave’s face being illuminated by the dim light of a laptop screen.

“Yes, Brocktree, we made it,” Suave was saying into the microphone. “I’m sending the coordinates of the Darkitect’s hideout to you now. Assemble whatever troops the Nexus Force currently has and get over here. In the meantime, we’ll be looking for their friends. Once they wake up.” he added with a laugh. Then Suave turned and noticed Shrill standing there, staring at him. “Oh, Shrill’s awake. Well, see you then, Brocktree.” He closed the lid of his laptop, and then said to Shrill, “Anything I can do for you?”

“Well, help me wake my cousin and the rest of them.” she said.

“Okay then,” Suave said, getting up and walking over to the sleeping forms of Blade, Sergeant, Argon, Rare, and Stunt. “How about the old water splashing technique, then?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Rover!” Kate shrieked.

Cheerful Power Rover, Rank 3 Venture League Buccaneer, hung upside down in a spiky cage, as a Stromling Pirate Invader. He was infected, and the one who had done it stood over him.

Saddled on the Dragon Torchblight behind the cage was a Stromling. “Welcome, you two brave minifigures.” the Stromling greeted. “I am Demonstrait, right hand of the Darkitect and your worst nightmare.”

Demonstrait raised a staff that glowed purple. A pink diamond was adorned atop of it, the color of the Invaders of Crux Prime. The gem began to glow brighter, and lightning began shooting from it.

“RUN!!” Cyclone yelled. He pushed Kate to the side and dove out of the way before a purple blast of Maelstrom lightning struck the ground where they just stood. A crack appeared in the ground and a chasm opened, widening quickly and separating Cyclone and Kate from each other.

Demonstrait cackled, but then a frown appeared on his Stromling face. “I sense the power of the Maelstrom inside of you,” he said. After a few seconds, he made up his mind, “But you are traitors to the master Darkitect. Prepare to be destroyed.”

As more Maelstrom lightning rained down on them, Cyclone thought back to when he and Kate were in a space battle with Rover, shortly after they had first met each other as enemies. He had summoned lightning similar to the ones that Demonstrait was flinging on them, and Demonstrait was using a stick.

As something to guide the lightning away from him. When Cyclone had first summoned lightning, it had originated from him and he had gotten a searing pain from the lightning. Even though he was no longer Maelstrom infected, he might be able to try again, and this time do it right.

Cyclone ducked and rolled into a somersault, avoiding the lightning just barely, then he ran behind a pillar of stone. Behind it were a few wooden sticks. Quickly, Cyclone picked one up and began concentrating on the thought of lightning striking down Demonstrait.

It was working. Cyclone could feel the power building up, this time not inside of him but inside of the stick. Hurriedly he raised the stick high and the desired effect happened. Blue imagination lightning shot from it and connected with the Straight Demon. With a shout the Stromling fell from his beast to the ground and his staff landed on the ground next to him, shattering to a million pieces.

“No!” Demonstrait shouted, and he crawled over to the staff’s remains. Cyclone ran over to him and struck him with the stick, felling Demonstrait with the blow, but then he turned to Cyclone with an evil glint in his eye. The glint became a powerful glow, and Cyclone’s stick shattered. Pulling out a dagger, Demonstrait slashed at Cyclone faster than any normal Stromling, which he wasn’t, being the topmost servant of the Darkitect.

Quickly Cyclone pulled a Heroic Force Blade from his backpack and swung back at Demonstrait. The Stromling’s dagger just sliced through the Force Blade which fell to pieces on the ground. Cyclone dropped the blade-less hilt he was holding, and he had to act quickly. Demonstrait swung his invincible dagger at his head. Cyclone barely managed to duck in time.

Cyclone tried firing some rounds from his Pneumatic Drill of Blasting at Demonstrait, but the elite Stromling just deflected them with lightning-fast swings of his dagger. The short battle would have ended poorly for Cyclone, if the tip of a sword hadn’t suddenly appeared sticking out of the side of Demonstrait that Cyclone could see. He cringed as the sword slid back out and Demonstrait fell to the ground. Kate stood behind him, holding an Improved Longsword, its golden tip dripping with black.

“I’ve never killed anyone.” Kate whispered.

Cyclone put his hand on her shoulder. “Not bad for a first smash, and he deserved it. Now come on, we’ve got to rescue Rover.”

When they tried running over to Rover’s cage, Torchblight lumbered over and blocked their way. The dragon roared, blasting fire at Cyclone and Kate. Rescuing Rover wasn’t going to be easy.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Without anything to guide his lightning powers with, Cyclone opted against electrocuting himself again. Quickly he dove to the side, just barely dodging the fireball that smashed into the ground where he was. It dissipated but not without scorching the ground, and Torchblight was ready to try burning him a second time.

The only way out of this was to fight their way out. Cyclone quickly grabbed the first weapon he could get his hands on. He pulled it out, and realized he was holding a Powerjouster which Blade must have given to him sometime before. Gripping the weapon, Cyclone swung the valiant and slashed through the scaly armor protecting Torchblight’s stomach. The dragon swiped and Cyclone swung again, this time slicing off the sharp talons on the dragon’s left hand.

Torchblight struck with its other claws, catching Cyclone off guard and knocking him off balance. The dragon’s attention was completely over to Cyclone, giving Kate the ability to slip by and open up Rover’s cage. Rover the Stromling Pirate Invader jumped out, and doing what Stromling Pirate Invaders do, began attacking her.

“Rover!” Kate yelled, dodging a swipe from Rover’s talons. She jumped out of the way of another slash, and quickly pulled out a thirst quencher from her backpack. She splashed it on the Pirate Stromling and Rover growled. He took a few seconds to wipe the imagination off, before growling again menacingly and cornering Kate into a corner.

Kate quickly dug around and pulled out a Steampunk rocket, which blasted Rover backwards and to the side. The rocket continued flying for a few seconds before coming down with a crash and exploding.

Kate didn’t give Rover any time to respond. She ran over and quickly built two handcuffs that stuck out of the ground, trapping Rover to the floor, then she ironically built another cage around him. Time to help Cyclone.

Torchblight blew another fireball. Cyclone realized there was no time to run, so he raised the Powerjouster and it took the brunt of the hit. The force of the collision sent the Powerjouster flying to where Kate picked it up, and Cyclone flew backwards to crash into the wall with a thud.

Kate examined the Powerjouster with dismay. It was burnt crisp, its color was charred, and its edges had turned blunt too. She frowned as it crumbled to ashes in her hands, all that was left was the hilt. Frustratedly she threw the useless thing at the wall. And now there was nothing she could do to try and save her friend.

Suddenly a shot rang out. Torchblight jerked upright for a second, before flopping to the ground with a thud. There she lay unmoving.

Cyclone got up from the ground, and followed Kate’s gaze to the entrance of the cavern. Krill Mathias stood there, lowering a still-smoking rifle. But he wasn’t alone. Flanking him on either side were Blade and another Sentinel, and behind him were two Space Marauders, two Avant Gardens recruits, and the two familiar faces of Intrepid and Sergeant.

Cyclone’s voice cracked. “You’re here.”

In the rush of hugs and cheers that instantly followed, nobody noticed Demonstrait silently rise from the floor and run into the next tunnel.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Master,” Demonstrait croaked as he knelt before the Darkitect. “The minifigures have come, and there is nothing I can do to stop it.”

The massive form of the Darkitect turned around on his rotating throne. “And you think that I do not know of it?” he questioned. “I have with me the Orb of Sights, used to view anything at my bidding. And I was thinking of giving you a promotion regarding your recent deeds,” he rumbled, gesturing to the faction leaders propped unconscious in stasis tubes arranged in the Baron’s massive display case, “But your foolishness has gotten in the way once again.”

“Allow me to redeem myself, master!” Demonstrait wailed. “They are right outside, but they are only eleven in numbers, if I am allowed a Ronin horde-”

“You have already lost any ability to redeem yourself, you fool!” the Darkitect roared. “And now you will be replaced by my new servant.”

A door opened and a familiar face entered the room. Spakybob, Argon’s old friend, was now Spakybob the Stromling, the new personal servant of the Darkitect.

“Welcome Spakybob, my new personal slave.” the Darkitect boomed. “However, Demonstrait, I am not a complete tyrant, and I will allow you to redeem yourself to the level of personal slave to Spakybob.” Another door opened, and the horde of Ronin Invaders entered through it. “Here are your Ronin. Go defeat the enemy.”

After Demonstrait left, the Darkitect laughed at the suicide mission he had just sent Demonstrait into. Through the Orb of Sights, he could see quite well that there wasn’t only eleven Nexus Forcers out there, rather an entire army. And when they defeated Demonstrait and came to challenge him, he would crush them all.

Chapter Thirty

“Anyone call for reinforcements?” a familiar voice called, and a squad of Nexus Force scouts suddenly entered the room. Lord Brocktree entered shortly after, Verminbane clutched in his hand, with nearly the entirety of the rest of the Nexus Force behind him.

“Lord Brocktree,” a Rank 3 Daredevil said, running up to him. “We have captured the Maelstrom city. The infected inside are quarantined for later disinfection.”

“Good, Brave.” Brock complimented him. “You have done a great service not only to me, but to all the Nexus Force.”

“Thank you sir,” Brave the Daredevil said gratefully.

“Wait,” Kate whispered to Cyclone. “If the whole Nexus Force is here, then does that mean my double is here?”

“Who-” Cyclone asked. With all the chaos they’d been through, it took a moment for him to remember Kate’s predicament. “I’m not sure.” he amended. “Most likely, yeah, I guess.”

“Oh no.” Kate hung her head. “Well now you know, no matter what, don’t even think of trying to get us near each other again, got it? If you see her, I’m getting away.”

“Yep,” said Cyclone.

“Good,” Kate replied.

After disinfecting Rover and freeing him from the prison Kate had built around him, the hundreds of minifigures led by Brocktree continued down the tunnel that Demonstrait had left through, with Suave, Stunt, Rare, Blade, Krill, Argon, Shrill, Intrepid, Sergeant, Kate, Rover, and Cyclone near the front.

The tunnel was narrow, many of the fighters were packed in and only a few were able to get through at a time. They had only gone a meters when a bunch of Dark Ronin Invaders suddenly fell on them.

Two Dark Ronin landed atop an Assembly Summoner, tackling him to the ground with invisible limbs. The Summoner had no time to scream before one of the Ronin jabbed its sword into the Assembly’s stomach. The Summoner saw no more.

“Duck!!” someone called, and Cyclone instinctively ducked as the Daredevil Brave double jumped over him. Blue exhaust flames erupted from his Rutcarver that he rode into the Ronin, knocking the ones to the sides away and crushing the ones unfortunate enough to get in his path, until a hand grabbed the engine of the one-wheeled motorcycle and infected it with Maelstrom energy.

That hand belonged to Demonstrait.

“What!?” Cyclone exclaimed. “I thought we smashed that guy!”

“Then we’ll smash him now!” Rover shouted, and he charged Demonstrait with Hesevalints. The two exchanged and blocked deadly strikes with their swords, but from the beginning of their duel it was apparent that Rover had the upper hand.

The surprise attack from the Ronin had knocked out several of the tightly packed Nexus Forcers. Amidst fallen suits of armor and minifigures, other recruits were scattered around battling with Ronin.

Blade swung his knight sword and felled one of the Invaders he was dealing with. When his sword caught fast in the Ronin’s armor and wouldn’t come out, and with a Ronin approaching fast on his left, Blade bashed its invisible face with his shield to knock it back.

A rank 1 Space Ranger ran by screaming, with five angry Ronin Invaders chasing it. For some unknown reason, Space Rangers made Maelstrom very angry. Forgetting his Ronin, Blade wrenched his sword from the stubborn armor and charged the Ronin chasing the Ranger. He felled three and struck down another, but one managed to leap away from Blade and bring down the Space Ranger with a strike to the side. By the time Blade wiped it out, the Space Ranger had smashed.

Rover gritted his teeth as he put all of his force trying to angle his blade away. Demonstrait as well pushed his full weight against Hesevalints with his Maelstrom sword, and Rover’s strength was waning. But the Buccaneer was full of surprises. A pistol slipped out of Rover’s left sleeve, and in a quick motion, he blasted the Stromling backwards into a wall. He stepped over to his fallen foe and prepared to fire the pistol one last time. “This is your end, Stromling.”

Demonstrait kicked and the pistol flew from Rover’s hand, blowing a hole in the ceiling. Enough of this, Rover thought. Spinning his sword, Rover stabbed it down into Demonstrait’s form, and at last all was silenced for the torturous servant of darkness.

Chapter Thirty-One

The Ronin were vanquished a short while later, but several Rank 1s and 2s didn’t make it. Brocktree assigned commanders to the small pockets of minifigures that remained. Intrepid was joyous at being promoted to commander over a few Rank 1s, and also over Argon, Shrill, and an annoyed Sergeant.

“How come HE always gets positioned over me?” Sergeant complained.

“Relax,” Argon said. “From what I’ve seen, he seems like a natural.” He turned and looked at a Rank 1 Sorcerer, Knight, and Inventor that were also under Intrepid’s command, who were fidgeting nervously under their gear at the thought of having an Avant Gardens recruit as their commanding officer, since what should he know about battling these advanced enemies? Not anymore than the rest of us, Argon thought.

Sergeant sighed and awaited orders from his Bat Lord commander. They still answered to Brocktree, who gave the order to march ahead further into the Darkitect’s realm.

…

The Darkitect laughed a purely evil laugh. He looked up from the Orb of Sights. “They dare come to me?” he bellowed. “I shall enjoy crushing them, don’t you think, my new servant of darkness? Hehehe, darkness, like me!”

“Yes, my master.” Spakybob said darkly. Unlike Demonstrait, Spakybob had a less raspy and clearer voice, something the Darkitect had given him after he had decided a raspy voice is one of the things that made him hate his previous slave so much. “Those imagination fools will realize their mistake in waging war with you in the first place.” he intoned. “When their leaders are defeated, the survivors will beg for your mercy.”

“Yes, yes, Spakybob.” the Darkitect cackled, “You are way better than that fool of a Stromling Demonstrait could ever become.” He showed no emotion over his betrayal to Demonstrait, nor appreciation for Demonstrait’s submissiveness and devotion.

Such is evil.

…

The Nexus Force’s march through the cavern continued uneventfully. Courageously they walked on to the final confrontation between good and evil, Imagination and Maelstrom, Nexus Force and the Darkitect.

“This is it, kid,” Krill said, giving Cyclone a pat on the head. “I’ve been looking forward to this moment. No one gets to double cross me. We’re cool, you and me?”

Cyclone considered. Despite trying to kill him earlier, Krill Mathias has shown his better side to them and done plenty to his and his friends’ lives after Raven’s Bluff. He nodded. “We’re good.”

“Then cover for me.” Krill said before he charged ahead and soon disappeared from view. Cyclone thought he saw the assassin climb up the wall and into a ventilation shaft, without making a sound.

A massive door soon loomed up over them.

“Why is this door so familiar?” Suave whispered to Brock.

Brocktree cocked his head, and stared at the door and doorway from different angles. “There are these strange symbols which feel familiar, but I can’t parse it.” he said, rubbing his hand over some strange characters that adorned the doorway.

Stunt and Rare stepped near to the door with an armada of other Space Marauders, all brandishing Wormholers except for Rare who carried two Rocket Launchers instead. They aimed their guns at the door while a few Ventures drove a battering ram up behind them. Lord Brocktree gave the signal and the battering ram swung.

Log and door collided in a cloud of dust. The door fell forwards and the Space Marauders charged through, aiming their weapons around the room. When the dust cleared Brocktree and the rest of the Nexus Force entered....

…. into one of the greatest chambers in the entire Universe.

A relic of the First Builders, a Temple of Imagination.

With the Darkitect, in his massive form, seated on a massive throne built over it.

Chapter Thirty-two

“Well, well, well,” the Darkitect rumbled, crossing his arms. “It is no surprise that Demonstrait did not stop you.”

Lord Brocktree stepped forward and unsheathed Verminbane. “Baron Typhonus. Stand down, or we will defeat you.”

“Oh really,” the Darkitect said coolly. “You think you are in any position to give orders to me?”

Undeterred, Brock waved his hand, and the Space Marauders circled around the edge of the room, all aiming at the Darkitect. “Then we will do this the hard way.”

The Darkitect rose, his ever present smile plastered evilly on his degraded face. “I will enjoy crushing you.” he bellowed and he swung his staff. A blast of strong wind sent Stunt, Rare, and the other Space Marauders flying into the wall. They fell to the ground, dazed, their wormholers clattering to the floor, while all around the room, the dark cavities in the walls lit up. Ghostly beings of pure Maelstrom floated out, and hundreds of purple tinted apparitions soared around the chamber.

“Dark Mythrans!” a Sentinel cried out, and panic rushed through the Nexus Force as the mythical creatures known as Dark Mythrans began spawning several clones of the fallen Butterscorch throughout the room. The Dragon Invaders roared jets of fire, setting the columns that supported the chamber ablaze.

The Darkitect aimed his staff directly at Brocktree. Swinging his cape, he roared, “You dare attack the Master of Chaos!”

A bolt of Maelstrom lightning shot from his staff, headed straight for Lord Brocktree. Minifigs all around the general ran, and the lightning smashed into Brocktree. A massive bright light of epic proportions illuminated the room for a moment. It died down to reveal Brocktree standing where he was, Verminbane raised and still glinting from where the lightning had struck.

“You will need to try a different tactic.” Brocktree stated. He tilted his sword to aim at the Baron’s heart.

The Darkitect laughed and charged towards them. Brocktree swung his sword but he was kicked aside. Amid his laughs of pure evil the Darkitect trampled through the Nexus Force soldiers, crushing those in his way and kicking others into the walls with smash-inducing force.

Lord Brocktree tried rising from where he lay against the wall of the chamber. Suave, Blade, Cyclone, Kate, Rover, Shrill, Argon, Intrepid, and Sergeant ran over to him and helped him into a sitting position.

“Are you all right?” asked Suave alarmed. “Brocktree, you’ve gotta be hearing me. You have to be okay!”

Brocktree groaned and opened his eyes slowly. “I’m alive....” he muttered between gasps of breath that exited his pale face. “I think I broke some ribs....”

Blade whipped out a scanning device and waved it over the commander’s torso. Blade frowned harder, and his mouth formed a thin line. “You’ve got several fractures in your ribcage, general.”

Two recruits carrying a stretcher ran over. “Sir,” one called, “are you all right?!”

Blade shot a look at them. “Just get him to safety, that’s your first priority.” As the recruits loaded Brock on the stretcher, he said, “He’s got several fractures to his ribcage.”

Cyclone shook his head sadly. “This whole operation was a failure. The Darkitect is gone, this place is in ruins, and the Nexus Force is crumbling.” he added, taking a peak at the groaning survivors of the Nexus Force who lay in the tunnel the Baron had escaped through.

Argon tugged on Suave’s shirtsleeve, and he looked up from where he had been staring at the floor. “Uh, sir?” he mumbled.

“Yes, Argon?” Suave asked.

Argon gulped. “I think we have a bigger problem than a missing Darkitect.”

The group turned and stared at the ghastly sight of the army of hundreds of Butterscorches and horde after horde of Dark Mythrans who stood before them, evil and hate burning in their eyes.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Suave, Blade, Rover, Argon, Shrill, Intrepid, Sergeant, Kate, and Cyclone raised their swords. They knew they stood no chance against the power of a Mythran, even more so with thousands of Dark Mythrans and hundreds of Butterscorch clones. It dawned on Cyclone that it was these Dark Mythrans who constantly respawned the fallen Maelstrom enemies on every world, unlike minifigures who (99% of the time) automatically rebuilt themselves with imagination. It angered Cyclone to know that the power of these evil beings stretched all the way across the Nimbus System. These monsters were playing with the Nexus Force!

A wall of blue fire tore through the Dark Mythran horde. Butterscorch and her five hundred clones screeched in agony and smashed, not into bricks, but into tiny particles of dust which fell to the ground. The Dark Mythrans evaporated in low pitched moans, and the wall of flame dissipated, revealing a normal-looking Rank 3 Assembly Engineer.

“Whoa,” Sergeant gasped.

“How- did- you-” Argon stuttered.

“Hi, I’m TheGuy.” the Engineer said, sticking out his hand. “TheGuy1 for full.”

Argon shook it, then exclaimed, “I’m ArgonDragonUdon, Talmid’s, Thingguy2’s, and now YOUR greatest fan!!!”

The other members of the group exchanged looks of confusion. “Wha-?” Intrepid stammered. Sergeant looked flabbergasted.

Shrill poked Intrepid’s side. “Who’s Talmid?” she asked. “Know him, Fusion-Dude?”

“Nope,” Intrepid replied, shaking his head, “But the name sounds very eerily familiar....”

Shrill rolled her eyes. “I thought you knew everyone,” she mumbled.

Argon was bubbling with excitement. “How’d you do that?!” he shouted.

“You might not believe me,” TheGuy answered, “But I’m half-Mythran. And by being half-Mythran, I am like a normal minifig, but with Mythran powers-”

Suddenly someone struck TheGuy from behind. Their savior gasped and fell to the ground at Argon’s feet, revealing a scene extremely terrible, so terrible, it not only was terrible, but horrendous.

“Spakybob-” Argon gasped too. “No-”

Spakybob the Elite Stromling Invader grabbed Argon and threw him against the wall with a thud. Rover and Blade unsheathed their swords and charged the Stromling, but just as they got near him, he grabbed their throats and raised the two choking soldiers into the air.

Shrill threw a Basic Dagger at the Stromling and it embedded itself into his chest armor, felling Spakybob to his knees and he released Rover and Blade from his grasp. They fell and crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Not wanting to give him a chance to recover, Suave, Cyclone, Intrepid, and Sergeant charged over to Spakybob and whacked him repeatedly with their swords while Kate and Shrill ran over to check on Argon. They found him lying against the wall, sobbing.

“Spakybob was my best friend,” Argon cried. “He sacrificed himself for us, but now he’s trapped under the Maelstrom like this.”

A growling sound took Kate, Shrill, and Argon’s attention away from Spakybob. Apparently there were still lots of Maelstrom creatures in the throne room, and a horde of Stromling Admiral Invaders stood by them, arring viciously. The lead one raised its cannon straight at Kate and fired. An anchor blasted towards her with rings of doom right behind it.

There was a sudden flash of blue in front of her and the anchor embedded itself in another minifig the lethal rings of doom following, powerful enough to knock the life out of anyone. Kate realized she was still alive, and quickly took the chance to charge into the horde of Admirals, slashing and hacking with her sword until each Admiral was felled. Panting, she slumped to the ground and wiped sweat from her forehead. Then she remembered how she had survived.

“Are you okay?” she called, and looked over at the brave minifigure who had taken the shot for her. And then, Kate quickly paled as she realized with shock the identity of her saviour.

Meanwhile, Spakybob viciously spun the blunt edge of a Broadsider with the intent of hurting his foes as much as possible before ending their lives, hitting Suave in his face and knocking him back. A blow to the jaw knocked the Sentinel out cold, leaving the inexperienced fighters Cyclone, Intrepid, and Sergeant in the way of a mad Stromling Invader. A kick sent Intrepid flying backwards but the Bat Lord transformed his momentum into a backflip to land feet-first on the ground. Intrepid teetered a little from the impact but regained his balance.

“That all you can do?” Intrepid rushed at Spakybob with a shield-slam. The Stromling Invader pushed Sergeant and Cyclone aside and stuck out his foot to trip Intrepid and sprawl him on the ground.

Sergeant was next. A slash from the Stromling’s left-hand blade prompted Sergeant to jump the side, straight into the path of the Broadsider. The recruit was knocked aside and he hit the ground, not moving. Cyclone was last.

Seeing all his friends go down left a scar running through him emotionally. Out of control and in a fit of anger, Cyclone attacked the Stromling Invader viciously. Spakybob took several massive unexpected blows before attempting to fight back. A punch threw the angry recruit to the ground but Cyclone rose less than a second later. He swung his sword in a wide arc and the blunt edge smacked into the side of Spaky’s head. Dazed, the Stromling Invader made little attempt to block the slash that went through his right arm.

Growling, the one armed Stromling swiped its left-hand blade and the tip of it sliced through the skin of Cyclone leg. Cyclone screamed in agony as Maelstrom poison swept through his wound and he fell to the ground. His sword clattered to the floor, and Spakybob prepared to end Cyclone’s life in a final strike.

A laser blast fired and Spakybob fell.

Suave slowly rose from the ground and patted one of his holsters. It was empty, his Space Ranger gun was missing. He turned and saw Argon standing there, Suave’s smoking Space Ranger gun in his hands aimed ahead of him at the spot above where Spakybob lay.

“I had too,” Argon gasped, tears streaming from his eyes. “He would have killed us all.”

Suave placed his hand on Argon’s shoulder while Cyclone, Rover, Blade, The Guy, Intrepid, and Sergeant recovered. Farther away, Stunt and Rare stood as well. But then someone else cried out, and Cyclone turned to its source.

A massive pang struck Cyclone’s chest. Kate was slumped against the wall, her hands on her face, doing little to mask her tears. A familiar looking Sentinel Samurai lay unmoving, her head on Kate’s knees.

When Kate looked up Cyclone realized with horror the identification of the Samurai.

Kate’s double was dead.

Chapter Thirty-four

The Darkitect barreled down the long hallways that crisscrossed through the underground caverns of the large chunk of Crux that held the Temple of Imagination. It was interesting how the Nexus Force had only yet found the legendary relic once again. A pity they would never be able to explore it completely, like their predecessors, Duke Exeter, Hael Storm, and Dr. Overbuild. And Baron Typhonus.

“The body is mine but the name means nothing,” the Darkitect thought as he arrived where he was headed for, a large chamber with a pedestal in its center. As soon as the Darkitect entered his form shrunk back down to the size of a normal minifigure. The transformation completed, the Darkitect raised his head, and under his top hat was the face of Baron Typhonus, one of the original four explorers of Crux.

“You are a failure, Baron Typhonus.” a voice roared from the direction of the pedestal. A dark spherical orb sat upon it. A red skeletal face appeared on its glass border, and Typhonus stared into it.

“Why have you brought me here?” the Baron wept. “You know I regret my actions against my colleagues, but you keep reinstating control over me and mutating my form into a monstrous, beast that does terrible things I never dreamed of!”

The orb clouded and a shadow poured from it. It swirled around the Baron like a parasite and the front of it lifted up to reveal the red face.

“Perhaps you wish for me to finally end your suffering,” the shadow said.

The Baron looked up, and in a fit of defiance grabbed the orb to throw it as hard as he could with as much force he could muster. The glass sphere soared through the air but instead of crashing into the wall and exploding into a million pieces it arced itself through a random basketball hoop that stuck out of the far wall alongside of a bunch of old treasures which stood on small shelves. “Three points!” a mechanical voice droned.

The shadow stretched its long tail and caught the orb. Slowly the being of shadow retreated back into the orb and a second later it shot out again into the Baron’s chest. With a scream Baron Typhonus’s face changed and his form grew back to its previous size.

With a fit of evil laughter the Darkitect turned around and headed back through the hallway.

Chapter Thirty-five

While Cyclone, Intrepid, Sergeant, Blade, and Rover stared in shock at Kate and her dead imagination half, Argon, Shrill, Suave, Stunt, and Rare exchanged glances at each other. Unlike the others, they did not know the full story.

“Who is it?” Shrill whispered to Suave.

Suave shook his head. “I don’t know, but we’d better not intrude. We have other work to do.” He glanced around and noticed a row of stasis tubes lining the far wall near a large shelf filled with important artifacts and treasures, including Hael Storm’s golden telescope. The Sentinel narrowed his eyes to focus on the occupants of the stasis tubes and when he recognized their inhabitants he recoiled in shock.

“The faction leaders.” he gasped. Suave quickly ran over to the tubes with his teammates on his heels.

Back to Cyclone and the others.

Cyclone broke the silence, and he croaked, “Everything is probably ruined now. I’m so sorry.”

Even Rover, Blade, Sergeant, and Intrepid hadn’t yet heard the very full story. “What do you mean?” Sergeant asked. “Can’t you continue living on normally without her?”

Kate shook her head sadly. “You haven’t heard yet, but I’m losing my imagination spark.”

“What!?” they shouted.

“You tell them,” she said quietly to Cyclone.

Quickly Cyclone related the parts about Kate’s imagination spark to their companions who listened wide-eyed and cast worried looks in Kate’s direction, and as he was finishing Suave walked over supporting Duke Exeter on his arm. Behind him Argon and Shrill helped Hael Storm and Dr. Overbuild while Stunt and Rare accompanied Vanda Darkflame.

“Admiral Storm!” exclaimed Rover, “You’re all right!”

“Yarr’, that numbskull of a Baron!” Hael complained. “He stole my Golden Telescope and tried to steal me too!”

Duke looked up. “Where’s the Darkitect now?” he asked, looking around. “What happened here?!” he said in alarm as he took notice of the hundreds of injured and smashed minifigures sprawled across the ground.

“He did this all,” Blade mumbled softly.

“And speaking of the Darkitect,” Rover spoke up. “Where’s Krill?”