COLD❄BLOOD/Story Expansions/HEART💔PATCH

Sometime after COLD❄BLOOD's release came its second expansion pack HEART💔PATCH, which continues Zinfestation's story immediately following the events of first pack BITTER💊SCARS. This time around, the characters in focus are Silver Zin and Mallory Zin, who're now working together post-reconciliation to put an end to the shadow legacy that swallowed their family whole beginning centuries ago. Using what they've learned from their experiences, they must stop distant relative Hammerhead Oscato from carrying his plans to resurrect their father and use his knowledge and power to rule the Zaxiverse with an iron fist. As they journey together for the first time in a very long time, they learn about and meet many of their relatives, some that'll help them out and some that'll do otherwise. The main question here is, is it possible for Silver and Mallory to patch up everything and expel whatever remains of the darkness haunting their demented family tree?
The player plays exclusively as Silver Zin and Mallory Zin in the campaign missions, sometimes able to swap between leader characters at the touch of a button. This expansion pack is heavier on action and mystery when compared to the expansion pack that came before it. Please do not read this followup to Zinfestation if you haven't read the main story and the first expansion pack BITTER💊SCARS. Once you've read those, return here and catch up back here.
==HEART💔PATCH: Main Story==
===Prologue===
:8:37 P.M. · TUESDAY November 8th, ZXE-233
:The Zin Seal, Kosmoxeth
Little did Silver and Mallory know that they weren't really out of the woods yet. Somewhere far away from their home was the zombified planet Kosmoxeth, a decomposed and crumbled world that is now famously known for serving as Saliva Zin's resting place following a great war that lasted almost two centuries. High up on the hill he died on was Hammerhead Oscato, a powerless cousin of Saliva's that is guaranteed to bring along a new wave of hell. Fitting to his name, his head resembled a hammerhead shark's and he had fins running down his back.
:Native #1: This way, this way!
Hammerhead is currently walking towards some temple nearby, hiding from some hooded natives by staying behind the trees at all times. He needs to be especially careful.
:Native #1: I think I'm hearing someone rustle about here, keep your eyes peeled.
:Native #2: Right, there should be nobody besides us guardians on this sacred holy ground.
The second native folds his arms as he looks around himself. There didn't seem to be any visible signs there was an intruder around here, but he could hear very faint rustling. It was driving him nuts.
:Native #2: This seems to happen every Tuesday, doesn't it?
:Native #1: Everything always happens on Tuesday, we should stop giving Monday so much shit.
:Native #2: Mmm, I think I can vouch for that.
:Chief: Stop rambling and keep searching, if any intruders can hear us they're gonna know we're here out looking for them. We can't just keep talking crap.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: Damn right!
Hammerhead quietly snickers as he quickly runs by, keeping every step he makes as quiet as he could possibly make it. He knew how easy it was to slip by the natives, he comes here every Tuesday after all.
:Chief: Y'all hear somethin'?
:Native #2: Probably just the wind, you're both a couple of dumb crackheads.
Hammerhead sticks his tongue out as he uses one of the fins on his back to carve a middle finger into a tree he's hiding before, just to get his sick kicks out.
:Hammerhead: Hmmm hmm hmmm, hehe.
Hammerhead looks out from behind a tree, seeing if he's still being followed.
:Native #2: Maybe we should look somewhere else, I don't think they're anywhere close to here.
:Native #1: You're right, let's go.
:Chief: I don't know, I definitely think they're around here.
:Native #2: Well, I definitely think you're wrong. Let's look elsewhere.
The chief sighs as they all walk off. Hammerhead watches as the first native gets dragged off, cackling as he flips him off. It couldn't be seen well from the shadows, though.
:Hammerhead: Hehehe, now's my chance.
Hammerhead cackles to himself, keeping his voice low as he sneaks through a stone temple with murals depicting the Zin family's legacy covering the walls. A silhouette can be seen slipiping behind one of the temple's pillars.
:Hammerhead: Ah, my cousin Saliva, here I am now! It's been so long since I've last been up here for ya.
Hammerhead snickers as he sets down a toolbox, crouching down as he opens it up. Inside the toolbox were six needles, two cases that look like they can fit the Zins' weapons inside of them, and some magical staff. The whole box reeked of rotten salmon, which were distributed messily inside.
:Hammerhead: I don't know if ya can hear me from beyond the grave, but lemme reiterate what I said last time I was up here. Soon I will bring ya back from your resting place and I'll help ya gain control over the universe once more, using all the brilliant things I've got in this toolbox!
Hammerhead snickers again as he stares down upon the seal.
:Hammerhead: Besides all this stinky fish I mean, but y'know! Now...
Hammerhead rubs his fins together, snickering for a third time as he looks around the temple and then runs a fin across Saliva's seal. He looks really comfortable in this little zone.
:Hammerhead: Ahahaha, sweet... my dear cousin, I say within days' time, it'll be time to once more hail to the king! Hehehe! And you know I'll be looking forward to that with great pleasure!
Out from the shadows, three eyes glare at Hammerhead, watching him gloat as he keeps himself knelt on the ground. Hammerhead raises his fins up and cackles, thunder dramatically booming above the temple.
:Hammerhead: I just gotta do something about those two Zins that came back... y'know, your precious little children? They're extremely important to my upcoming plans to bring you back!
Hammerhead looks through his toolbox again, rubbing the inside of one of the weapon cases.
:Hammerhead: And once you're finally out, I'm gonna help you get back on your feet ONCE MORE and see just what you ca-
:???: Hey, dumbass, keep it down!
:Hammerhead: Sweet Zinfandel tomfoolery!
Hammerhead drops his toolkit and swings his hammer-shaped head around, looking very terrified and surprised.
:Hammerhead: Wuzzat!?
:???: Shhh, shhhhh!
Out from the shadows walks a strawberry-textured human being with three vertically-aligned eyes and arms made of grapeyard vines, folding its arms as it looks at Hammerhead.
:???: Okay, how long are ya gonna stay there and babble words, Hammerhead? What're you doing?
:Hamerhead: Oh, it's just Strawberry, eh? I told ya to wait for me to do my mournin'.
:Strawberry: Whatever that was, that wasn't mourning. Now cut to the chase.
:Hammerhead: Ya see Strawberry, erm, I'm just having one of my episodes. I'm really dyin' to see Saliva again ya know, I miss him so feckin' much and I-I just wanna see his evil smile again ya know??
Strawberry looks at Hammerhead and holds a gun at his forehead, making the shark-human wince.
:Hammerhead: H-Hey, now hold up!
:Strawberry: Let's go, our spaceship doesn't have a lot of fuel remaining. Besides, if the natives find us here, they can easily kill us. You know we're not supposed to be here.
Strawberry folds his arms.
:Strawberry: I could've given you more time, but the natives are becoming more and more weary of our quick visits to this place and we can't linger for as long anymore. Let's move.
:Hammerhead: Ehhh, f-feckin' fine. I'll mourn some other time! Ahaha.
Hammerhead reaches into his toolbox, pulling out a bonquet of roses. He drops it above Saliva's grave.
:Hammerhead: These are for you, my cousin. 'Till we meet again, in less than a week.
:Strawberry: Why a bonquet?
:Hammerhead: I wanted to let him know from beyond the grave that I still care for him. Let's go.
Hammerhead looks reluctant to leave Saliva's grave, but did so by Strawberry's side, walking outside the temple and through a window just as natives began to pour in during their search for the intruders.
:Native #1: I swore, I thought they were in here!
:Chief: Bah. Damn it, they're probably not here on our holy ground after all. Let's get back to our posts.
:Native #1: But-
:Native #2: No buts! The chief said it's time to give it up!
Hammerhead and Strawberry walk down a hill, advancing towards a rocket. As they hop in quickly and quietly, Hammerhead looks back, snickering to himself (brace yourself for a lot of that) as he adjusts his business tie.
:Hammerhead: Soon enough, you will open your eyes, Saliva!
:Strawberry: You keep telling yourself that.
:Hammerhead: I'll say it again then, Strawberry punk! Soon enough, you'll open those beautiful eyes of yours, my precious cousin Saliva! Ahahaha!
Hammerhead's rocket takes off as Strawberry rolls his eyes to his partner's dramatic speech, both of them shooting off elsewhere through space. A time limit to doomsday is finally imposed...
:5:06 P.M. · WEDNESDAY November 9th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
Following Hammerhead's escape into space, we take a look at Silver and Mallory Zin, who haven't been seen in a while. They were hanging out by themselves in their mother's living room, sipping tea while seated together on a couch and watching something that seems to be a direct parody of Fox News.
:TV Host: These snowflakes out in the open may define peace as the absence of conflict, but I personally define peace as the ability to defend yourself and blast your enemies into smithereens.
:Silver: Man you were right Mallory, there's nothing right about the right side of Zaxina!
:Mallory: Heh, yeah.
Silver chuckles as he turns his head to face his sister.
:Silver: Anyway I'd say this little vacation worked out well, how 'bout you Mal?
:Mallory: Yeah, I'm glad we've had a couple of weeks to reconcile together. I really miss Altha so I'm delighted to be seeing her again in a few days, but it was really nice to just fix up our relationship and become good friends.
:Silver: Aye, I think the same back at ya sis.
Silver grins as he holds out his hand, which Mallory shakes with a smile.
:Silver: I didn't think we'd be over our differences, ever. Even if neither of us deserve to be living the happy ending we're living right now, I'm glad to have sorted things out with you at long last, and that's a good enough ending for me.
:Mallory: Meh, I think we deserve our happy ending. I mean, we could've gone without causing all the damage we've done, but there's no point wishing things could've turned out differently when things are good as they stand right now.
:Silver: Well, I think we could've gone without hurting our mother. That's my only big regret I guess.
:Mallory: Touché.
Silver sighs as he takes a sip of his pennyroyal tea, keeping his eyes firmly on Mallory's.
:Silver: Don't think about it anymore though, it's something all three of us can look past now. I just have trouble letting go of the past when it involves me hurting someone or someone hurting me.
:Mallory: I'll be fine Silver. I just want you to relax, alright? [sighs] We can't let this weigh on us anymore.
To Mallory's pleasant surprise, Silver flashes a big smile at her.
:Silver: You've got it, sis. It's over.
Mallory shuffles closer to her sibling and wraps her arms around him, giving him a hug. Silver places down his cup of tea and returns the hug, both of them keeping themselves warm in each other's embraces.
:Silver: Thank ya.
:Mallory: Hey, it's the least I can do.
Mallory lets go of him.
:Mallory: Always let me know if I can do something for you, alright? Even if it means breaking someone's bones, I'd do anything to resolve the tensions that still linger in our family blood.
:Silver: I appreciate the offer, and same back for you Mallory.
:Mallory: Be sure to call me up on Risquord.
Just as Mallory's about to finish her sentence, the two suddenly notice Mallory's phone go off. They look at each other when they see that their mother, Spittle, is calling them with Nickelback music blasting off. Silver gives his sister a disapproving glance as Chad Kroeger goes off with some really vulgar lyrics.
:Mallory: Don't judge me and my tastes, Silver! Just pick up the phone, I'm holding tea.
Silver rolls his eyes (not that you could see) as he picks up the phone, placing it to his ear.
:Silver: Hello, you've reached Hooter's! How can I be of assistance tonight?
:Spittle [voice]: Haha, you're just as charming as ever Silver. But I've got serious news tonight, so do you mind if I have you stay silent while I try and figure out how to phrase the news?
:Silver: Oh jeez.
Spittle sighs while on the phone. Silver could hear her breathing get a little off-rhythm on the other line.
:Spittle [voice]: So, uhhh... oh, umm... tomorrow, you're going to meet your stepfather. He goes by the name of Michael and he's been helping me keep things tidy around the house since you two left my home. And we became a couple the same night I told him that you two were coming home for a little vacation.
Spittle's voice sounds unusually dead, even at her age.
:Spittle [voice]: I think he's a nice enough person, so try not to make a lot of trouble around him, you hear?
:Silver: Yes mother, I understand completely.
:Spittle [voice]: You've got no words of excitement over the reveal that you have a new stepfather?
:Silver: Admittedly I don't, the only thing I'm intrigued by is why you waited until telling us now.
:Spittle [voice]: I guess I didn't really do a great job highlighting what a great person he is, hah. Trust me, he's probably going to make things very fun for your final few days of vacation.
Silver raises an eyebrow.
:Silver: Huh? Wait, why're you only telling us about him now?
:Spittle [voice]: Do you mind if I tell you why some other time? Now's not a great time.
:Silver: Sure, I guess?
:Spittle [voice]: Whatever you do, make sure you don't injure yourselves or come too close to him.
Spittle sighs as Silver can hear a snicker in the background.
:Spittle [voice]: He can be, erm, a very very tight hugger. I'm almost afraid that if he comes too close he can make your heads just pop off with a single forceful squeeze. You hear me, son?
:Silver: Yeah, I do.
:Spittle [voice]: Very good. I'll see you all in a few days when I'm done watching over your aunt Vanilla's Echeno pets.
:Silver: Have fun with that!
:Spittle [voice]: I will, I love you son. Tell Mallory I love her too.
Spittle hangs up right there.
:Mallory: Huh, usually mom likes to talk for way longer than that, what happened Silv?
:Silver: For some reason, our mother told us that she got together with someone and we're gonna see them for the first time tomorrow. It apparently happened the night my mom told him we were coming back.
:Mallory: That's really absurd, why did she wait until now?
:Silver: I don't know, but she said that he helped her keep the house tidy for her. I've never seen him around here though, at least I don't think I have, so I'm bewildered above all else. Still we gotta be on our best behavior.
:Mallory: Welp.
:Silver: Our mother warned us to try and not get too close to him though or injure ourselves while we were around him, that's the only stuff she really wanted us to hold onto based off that phone call.
Silver gives his sister a tight hug which she returns quickly.
:Silver: She also told me to tell you that she loves you, so I'm giving you a hug for her.
:Mallory: Awww.
Mallory gives a goofy smile before dropping it.
:Mallory: Anyway, maybe she wanted to keep everything about him a complete secret so we could spend time getting to know him ourselves? I dunno, that's just a shot in the dark but I think we should trust our mother.
Mallory shrugs.
:Mallory: I don't know, a lot of the relatives we've met through her were very nice.
:Silver: You're right, Mal. I'll try and give this Michael person a chance, maybe he's not a bad person in all actuality?
:Mallory: Yeah, let's not be paranoid over things we know absolutely nothing over.
Silver nods as he picks up a remote and uses it to turn off the TV.
:Silver: How about we go make dinner or something and then go to bed? I'm really tired and I want to be well-rested for when our stepfather arrives. Better safe than sorry.
:Mallory: Yeah, I'm with you. Let's go concentrate on that.
Silver and Mallory go and walk off to the kitchen, away from the camera before the next scene starts, when Silver is shown tripping over the divider that leads to the kitchen. He quickly picks himself back up with Mallory's help as the camera view shifts outside their house, over a huge lake of blood...
:8:20 P.M. · WEDNESDAY November 9th, ZXE-233
:Eyesocket Lake, Zaxina
...And by that lake of blood sat a strange elderly-looking being, who was staring at his reflection within the lake. The reflection would change to reflect two individuals: Silver and Mallory, but as babies in the hands of younger and happier Zin parents. As he lowers a wrinkled and bony finger into the reflection, it breaks apart.
:???: It seems like it was an eternity ago when we, the Zin Empire, held complete ownership of the universe.
He sighs, raising his elderly head up. His pale eyes stare high into the demonic-red skies.
:???: If my son never submitted to his wicked ways and crumbled at the hands of the Kosmoxeth people, maybe this world would be in a much greater place. But alas, it is not.
This majestical-looking figure licks off his blood-soaked finger.
:???: Wouldn't even be here without this pool of royal blood supplying me with the juices I need for my body to run, but I've already reached my limits. I'm not capable of much more anymore.
Upon closer inspection, we can see this man holding a weapon that's just like Silver's and Mallory's, only battered and weathered by comparison. Not a single drop of energy flowed from it.
:???: Alzheimer's, or whatever they call this dementia, has destroyed my ability to rule whatever remains of the Zaxina Empire. That's why I'm asking you, stranger, for your assistance.
Familiar snickering can be heard as the camera pans to show a strangely-shaped human being with a gigantic steel helmet covering his peculiar head. He kicks his feet around, probably grinning under that thing.
:???2: Why, I'd be delighted to help ya Master Dribble Zin! What're the problems exactly?
:Dribble: Well, world hunger is beginning to dominate the planet, infrastructure across the globe is rotting away, and the amount of mouths I have to feed and support is growing ever higher by the day.
:???2: I don't specialize in that kinda stuff, but I know someone who will!
The unfamiliar elder, Dribble, smiles.
:Dribble: And who would that be?
:???2: Heh, I don't wanna say anything in case knowing the answer will make ya lose faith in me, but just trust in that I'll find the right man for the job! Shouldn't take longer than two weeks, a few days at least!
:Dribble: You do seem very confident, very well. I believe you.
:???2: Sweet! I'll make you real damn happy master, just you wait and see! Actually, why the hell are you asking a stranger for his help? I'm not like, related to you or anything of the sort, no no.
:Dribble: Nobody comes up to my castle for my aid anymore, only to scream at me. They're still really peeved about how I chucked Silver into space and those that remained loyal to me for so long are all dead now.
Dribble sighs as he buries his face into his hands, looking distressed. The stranger places a fin on his shoulder, gently rubbing it as the current king of the Zaxinian Empire stares into his helmet. He can barely make out joyous, almost empathetic golden eyes with crimson-fire pupils, a look of confidence.
:Dribble: I can't be picky, can I? Besides, I don't know how you're going to screw me over.
:???2: Heh, I see now. Glad ya confide some trust in me, I'm gonna help ya however I can.
:Dribble: I would appreciate that so much, you have no idea how grateful I'd be to see everything in this god-forsaken universe go right again. 
:???2: Oh, I'd say I have a pretty good idea of how badly ya want everything return to normal.
The masked stranger turns away, giggling a little bit to himself before turning back to face Dribble.
:???2: I'll be sure to relay each and every one of your problems back to someone I'll simply refer to as my secret agent for the time being. Don't worry, I'm sure everything will turn out smoothly.
:Dribble: I'm counting on you, alright? I mean, if your claims of attracting the Zins back where they belong through a phone call are true, then I'm sure you'll be able to do things well.
:???2: Did ya ever meet your grandchildren a second time, Dribble?
:Dribble: I haven't, but I hope to change that somewhat soon. I haven't gotten the time to see them because, well... wherever I go, an angry mob will follow, and I don't want to tangle them in my personal affairs.
Dribble sighs.
:Dribble: I am glad my grandchildren are back where they belong though. Someday I'll see if I can make Silver the king he was supposed to be all along, but alas that day will have to wait.
:???2: Oh believe me, when ya see what I've got, ya're gonna be so stoked.
The stranger grins fiercely underneath his helmet, bending his fins in the shape of a heart for Dribble.
:???2: Ya've got a whole lotta love coming for you, my master!
:Dribble: I hope so.
:???2: Heh. How 'bout I ditch this place and quickly carry out my plans, does that sound alright with ya?
:Dribble: That sounds like it'd be a delightful plan.
:???2: Cool beans, pops!
As the stranger prepares to fly away with his jetpack, Dribble quickly crawls in front of him, making him literally cool his jets and give his master a funny look.
:???2: Hey, what's the holdup?
:Dribble: Do you know a place where I can make my plans in peace?
:???2: Don't ya have your castle?
:Dribble: Well I do, but it's getting harder to keep out intruders by the day and I just need a place that can efficiently house me. You understand the pain I'm going through, right?
:???2: Ehh, I don't know, I don't know how much room I've got for ya at my place.
The stranger mumbles nasty things under his breath as he silently begs for Dribble to change his mind.
:???2: Are you sure you're completely alone in there, my master?
:Dribble: I... uhhh, hmmm. I think I am?
:???2: Oh right, your Alzheimer's. Uggh.
The stranger reluctantly takes Dribble's hand, giving it a very tight grip.
:???2: Listen 'ere. When we're at my place, I don't want you to touch absolutely anything, and I want you to stay in the places I tell you to stay in. If you look around too much, and I can tell because I can see EVERY little dust particle, you will take a beating for defying my wishes.
:Dribble: Like your threats scare me, I'm the empire's king.
:???2: Yeah? How well does that weapon of yours work, Dribble?
:Dribble: Ummh, well, how about we try and see...!
Dribble raises his Mind Weaver, as if to conjure a thought from his head, but it doesn't work. It still looks dusty and weathered, without an ounce of life appearing to remain inside.
:Dribble: Shit, I can't focus...!
:???2: If you knew how to work that thing, I doubt you'd even be in this mess right now. Let's stop wasting time and head to my place, because there's some things I have to learn from you anyway.
:Dribble: Right.
Dribble takes the stranger's hand, watching him cackle as he suddenly finds himself high in the air with this strange new friend of his. Well, was he a friend? Or just some poser?
:???2: Once again, don't touch anything!
:Dribble: I understand.
:???2: Good!
And together, these two are whisked high into the air. They fly very high in the skies as an angry mob appears just in time to miss them, with the stranger guiding them towards a fortress in the shape of a great white shark poking its head out of the ferocious waters of the Pacific Ocean.
:???2: Heh, this might be even easier than I anticipated it'd be.
:3:54 A.M. · THURSDAY November 10th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
Early the next morning, something would happen that'd change the lives of Silver and Mallory permanently from that moment on. They laid asleep together on the same bed, conked out to Monster House on repeat while eating Lays chips in excess. Fortunately their windows and door were all bolted down, but it didn't mean anything in the end, especially with their Mind Weavers in plain sight against the wall. The camera switches over to their door, which is shown getting unlocked through usage of a shove knife.
:??? [whispering]: Never leave home without this little thing... ooh, here we are.
As the door swings open, we see Hammerhead standing in the entrance of their room, holding his toolbox.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: Hehehe, this should be real quick.
Hammerhead, the owner of the silhouette, silently slips into Mallory's bedroom. He smirks as sets down his toolbox on the floor, cleaned of fish this time, and stares at the two siblings.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: They really are Saliva's children, just as beautiful as she implied.
Hammerhead smiles faintly before walking forward to stroke Silver's hair. Little did either of them know the things that would be awaiting them in future chapters, but this minimal interaction made Silver smile in his sleep.
:Silver [murmuring]: Heh heh, that feels nice honey.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: Oh, one of those dreams, erm... crap.
Hammerhead backs away from Silver and leaves him alone, reaching a hand to Mallory and feeling her cheek.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: Not gonna lie, might need to make a detour later for this lady.
:Mallory [murmuring]: Mmm, hmmm, Cody I don't feel so good...
Hammerhead steps back from both of them, resting his fins on his hips.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: Kinda glad they haven't woken up already. It won't be the last they hear from me though, hehe, but oh dear oh my what do we have here?
His eyes suddenly focus on the Zins' shimmering Mind Weaver weapons resting together above a bookshelf, leaning gently against the wall. Hammerhead snickers as he tip-toes over to them.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: Saliva's children may be precious, but my my, are they so dimwitted to leave such valuable weapons lying out in the open where criminals like me can easily see 'em?
Hammerhead turns to the viewer, grinning evilly.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: Make sure ya keep your precious valuables in a really safe spot or I just might steal them from ya when ya're not lookin'. Ya don't want me to find the skeleton in yer closet.
Hammerhead grabs the Mind Weavers, placing them in his mouth as he snickers to himself.
:Hammerhead [whispering]: Alright, all I need now is their DNA and my plans will all be set. Hehe!
But just as Hammerhead prepares to walk back over to his toolbox, he freezes as Mallory groans and wakes up from her sleep.
:Mallory: Who's making all this nois- Who the hell are you?
Hammerhead makes very brief eye contact with Mallory before lunging into the shadows, to which she responds by trying to shake Silver awake to little avail.
:Mallory: Silver, Silver! Wake up!
:Silver: Damn Ryona, you're getting me seasick...
As Mallory tries to shake her sibling awake, she screams and grabs him before diving to the floor, their dresser having been thrown onto the bed in an effort to crush them. Silver groans sleepily, leaving Mallory to grab an absinthe bottle and smash it against her bedside table, standing up and holding it by the neck.
:Mallory: Who the hell are you? Answer me!
Hammerhead doesn't reply, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at Mallory's head to knock her to the floor. As she gets up, she learns she's too late to take action as Hammerhead apparently took a running start and busted a hole in their wall with blunt force, exposing the nighttime skies of Zaxina to the Zin siblings. Silver gets up, scratching his head.
:Silver: Wha-
:Mallory: Silver, someone just stole our weapons!
:Silver: Okay, let's go and stop wasting time!
Silver goes to chase after Hammerhead, Mallory following suit after grabbing Hammerhead's toolbox off the floor. They try and chase him, but he's just too quick for them and leaves them to eat his dust.
:Silver: He's way too fast, we need to turn back and figure out what to do!
:Mallory: Yeah, I'm right with you!
They turn around and start to head home again, but just as they try, Mallory gets the toolbox gets snatched out of her hands. As she turns around, she sees Strawberry stare down at her, holding the toolbox up high with a vine.
:Strawberry: I'll be taking this, thank you very much!
:Silver: No you don't!
Silver charges at Strawberry to make the toolbox drop out of his grip, leaving Mallory to grab it and begin heading home with it. As Silver wrestles Strawberry, Mallory screams as she suddenly gets tackled by Hammerhead.
:Hammerhead: Ya two don't know what you're in for! Stay the hell away from us, hehehe!
:Mallory: Give us our weapons back!
:Hammerhead: I'll bury 'em with ya when your time comes to die, worthless worm!
As Hammerhead begins to squeeze Mallory with his weight, Silver kicks away Strawberry and rushes over to help Mallory push the gigantic figure off her body using his very limited physical strength.
:Mallory: T-Thank you Silver!
However, Strawberry quickly gets up and uses his vines to retrieve the toolbox, breathing harshly from the beating Silver gave his weak body.
:Strawberry: The reawakening won't happen if you pesky children keep getting in our way! 
:Silver: What reawakening!?
:Hammerhead: Hey wait, I just realized I've got them right where I want 'em! Hehe, throw me those needles, Strawberry!
Hammerhead throws the Zins against the fleshy ground, grinning wide as he prepares to steal something from them. Silver tries to get up as Hammerhead gets ready to punch, his hands wide open to grab some needles.
:Silver: Give our weapons back!
Just as Strawberry throws Hammerhead a couple of needles to work with, the sound of a car honking could be heard as a pizza delivery truck comes by and knocks over Hammerhead, making the needles get lost in the soil.
:Hammerhead: Shit! Retreat, Strawberry!
Hammerhead and Strawberry quickly disappear with their toolbox in the latter's vines, with Hammerhead noticeably limping as they make their timely escape. Silver grabs the one Mind Weaver that was left behind- his own, the weaker one when compared to Hammerhead's own.
:Silver: Damn it, they got away!
The guy in the pizza delivery truck sighs and pokes his head out, taking a look at the fallen Zin siblings.
:Pizza Delivery Man: Uhh, sorry about that. I'm doing my 4:30AM pizza delivery to someone called "Vindi". Did I run over anybody because I heard a loud bump just moments ago? Name's Butch, by the way.
:Silver: No, you didn't. Uhh, just carry on Butch, we'll be fine. 
:Butch: You sure? I can give you both a ride back to your place, Spittle's children, right?
:Silver: Yeah, how'd you know?
:Butch: I'm pretty sure you're the one that tried to flirt with me, Silver.
:Silver: Oh yeah, Sorry 'bout that. I was having fun pranking a bunch of businesses with my sister.
:Mallory: Not that I really wanted to, to be honest...
:Butch: Hey, I used to do that crap all the time, don't sweat it. Now come aboard, there's some pizzas in the back if you two get hungry at any point.
Butch laughs.
:Butch: Some of them are supposed to be for waiting customers, but I for one do not care about the customer. Call me a Squidward, if you will. Well actually, I'd prefer if you called me Butch.
:Silver: Well thank you Butch.
:Mallory: Yeah!
Silver and Mallory board Butch's pizza delivery van, fetching a pizza from the back and beginning to eat it. Just as they prepare to get started on feasting though (it was early morning, who wouldn't be hungry?), Mallory feels her phone suddenly go off. The caller's identity was unknown.
:Silver: Mal, your phone's going off.
:Mallory: I'll answer it.
Mallory lifts her phone to her ear, and immediately knew who was calling her just judging by the voice.
:Hammerhead [voice]: Ya made a big mistake returning home, Zins! Now that ya're here and I've got one of yer weapons, everything ya've grown to know and love since the day ya were born, in a fortnight's time, will diiiiiiiie!
===Chapter One: The Veil of All My Fears===
:9:10 A.M. · THURSDAY November 10th, ZXE-233
:S15-Zaxina Route
As things begin to rapidly unfold in the Zaxiverse once more, the camera switches to a group of people that seriously have no idea what they're getting into this time. Rounded up in a fast-moving shuttle were Valerie, Scotch, Pierce, Zellen, Medea, and Altha, who each looked worried or at least cautiously excited about what laid in store for them. Some haven't even seen any serious action since the days of the original Satellite 15 and were kicking their legs nervously.
:Zellen: Sorry about kinda waking all of you up like ten minutes ago, but you know that when Silvie and Mallie are in danger I'm not all that eager to leave them behind you know?
:Scotch: No it's fine, I get it, I just wasn't expecting to get wrapped up in anything today.
Scotch lays back in his shuttle seat, pulling the cigarette in his mouth.
:Scotch: Wouldn't have come if Hector Forger didn't agree to look after my troops.
:Medea: I'm just thankful I get to see Silver again, I understood that he wanted to spend some time with his family but I was just waiting for the day for him to come back to us.
:Zellen: I'm psyched to see Silvie too, but let's refresh ourselves on what the fuck happened down there. Care to tell everyone the emergency Altha now that everyone's awake?
Valerie was only half-awake, chewing down on a donut. She put on a little weight since her last expedition but she still looked reasonably fit.
:Valerie: What's the story, morning glory?
Altha pulls out her phone, scrolling down her Risquord conversation with her wife Mallory.
:Altha: Mallory sent me an emergency message very early this morning, she told me that someone stole her Mind Weaver and that she and her brother got beaten up pretty badly. They may not be safe anymore and they need immediate back-up in case they get attacked again.
:Valerie: That's horrible!
:Pierce: Nobody panic please, I love Silver but I've seen him go through worse, and I think whatever we're getting into this time won't be anywhere as bad as anything else from this decade or before.
Pierce sits up straight, holding his own Mind Weaver weapon as his girlfriends follow suit.
:Pierce: These may not be as strong as Silver's own weapon, 'cause they were manually crafted by Mallory as apology gifts to us while she was stuck in prison and she didn't have much to work with, but...
Pierce smiles.
:Pierce: It's about time we put these babes to use.
:Medea: Right, no point worrying when we're armed. [tilts head] ...Did we ever thank Mallory for these?
:Pierce: I wrote her back half-assedly, I'll have to give her a proper thanks later.
:Scotch: Pierce is right, panicking won't get us anywhere.
:Valerie: Mhm.
:Altha: I want to say that Zellen helped make things easier by sending all of our children to someone's place. I don't remember a thing about her except she used to be a professional performer?
:Valerie: Ms. Supertzar? Yeah she's good now, Clair did a great job giving so many of those old evildoers therapy.
:Scotch: Right, that old hag. Glad she's improved.
:Zellen: Hah, I try. I also wanna say that we're stocked up with loads of lasagna, spaghettis, manicotti, uhh... just lots of pasta and not that much else. Sorry, I've been having an Italian craving.
:Scotch: Hey, it's food, I'll eat it.
:Pierce: Thank you babe.
Medea yawns.
:Medea: Hey, I have a serious inquiry for my knowledgeable friends. Why can't we just teleport all the way to Zaxina? I mean, three of us are Heralds, right?
:Zellen: Okay, let me explain something about Heralds that isn't really known except by people that were naturally born as Heralds. So, some places that're aware of their existence have giant radio towers designed to create waves so strong that we can't phase through them. Zaxina is littered with them!
Pierce looks outside one of the shuttle's windows. Sure enough, there are several massive radio towers sticking out from the fleshy planet's surface, making easy penetration impossible.
:Pierce: She might be right.
:Medea: Shit!
:Valerie: Nothing we can really do in that case, let's just stay patient. I guess I'll ask this so nobody else does for a solid hour, how long will it take for us to get there, Altha?
:Altha: Probably twelve hours, the distance between Zaxina and any of its satellites is deceptively huge so that's why it seems like we're moving at molasses speed. It shouldn't take too long though.
Valerie nods as everyone else groans and sits back.
:Pierce: Now, when we find Silver, there's something I wanna do with him sometime even amidst all the chaos. Call me crazy, but I just really wanna take all four of us somewhere far, far away when it's all over and done with.
Pierce reaches into his pocket, pulling out four wedding rings. Three of them we saw previously near the end of Zinfestation, and a new diamond ring that represents Silver.
:Pierce: I'm so sick of looking at these rings and acknowledging they're not on our fingers yet.
:Medea: One day, Pierce...
Medea places a hand comfortably down on Pierce's as Zellen does the same with his other hand. Altha keeps her eyes affixed on them, interested in their romance especially because it's far more complex than her own.
:Altha: I'm surprised you guys didn't just marry during the decade you didn't have Silver.
:Pierce: It just didn't feel right.
Altha nods as Pierce gets up and walks over to the window.
:Scotch: Hey Pierce, you alright dude?
:Pierce: Yeah. I just hope wherever Silver he is, he's doing okay. I want you all to stay optimistic because I sure as hell am trying to be, but I can't help but worry about him.
Pierce stares out into space as the camera zooms away from the shuttle. We see the Dream Weaver sitting criss-cross on an asteroid, smirking as the shuttle makes it way over to Zaxina.
:Dream Weaver: Trouble again, I see? This should be interesting.
:11:28 A.M. · THURSDAY November 10th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
The scene switches to the Zins, who were busy patching up the hole Hammerhead left in their room. Silver was sawing apart wood for Mallory to hammer over the wall, protecting them from the sweltering heat Zaxina is rather infamous for. As soon as they were done, they didn't have time to even breathe when their doorbell rang.
:Silver: Someone's at the door.
:Mallory: I've got this, it shouldn't take long.
Mallory quickly moves out of her bedroom to check on who's at the front door. She doesn't recognize the person outside her peephole- nobody she knows has a golden pompadour haircut or slick black glasses and she certainly doesn't recognize anyone with big goofy teeth. He looked like normal, if only a little like a drug addict.
:Mallory: What's your name, stranger?
:Stranger: Name's Michael! I'm Spittle's boyfriend, I presume you're one of her children?
Mallory opens the door, standing to meet Michael face-to-face.
:Mallory: Yeah, I'm one of Spittle's children. Nice to meet you Michael, we were expecting you.
:Michael: Heh, it's nice to be here for you Mallory. Where's Silver?
:Mallory: He's helping repair some damage in my bedroom, you'll be able to meet him soon.
Mallory holds out her hand, which Michael eagerly takes.
:Mallory: C'mon, how about we chat for a little bit?
:Michael: Yeah! Sure, sure, I was gonna ask some questions anyway.
Mallory leads Michael over to the living room, beckoning for him to sit down in a crimson recliner. Mallory then walks over to a hallway, yelling down it.
:Mallory: Silver! Michael's here when you're ready to come speak to him!
:Silver: In a minute! Just putting all our clothes back in our dressers, and... why do you own Creed undergarments...
Mallory smiles as she walks over to Michael, sitting down on a couch opposite of him.
:Michael: So let me introduce myself, I'm Michael Albany and a long-time friend of Spittle's that recently became engaged to her. I've made it my sworn duty to watch over you kids and I plan on committing to that goal.
Michael smiles with plenty of charisma, flashing his scaly teeth at her.
:Michael: I specialize in, well... house-husband duties. So I can help repair your room in a bit if you want.
:Mallory: That'd be delightful but don't worry about it, we're almost done last time I checked.
:Michael: 'Course. Good to know my new children are productive.
:Mallory: Yea. My name's Mallory by the way, you already know my name but it'd still be wrong for me to not introduce myself. I'm a professional writer and my autobiography WARM🔥BLOOD can be found on store shelves.
:Michael: Nice to meet you Mallory, I'll be sure to check out your story. Why the "fire emoji" bit though?
:Mallory: My wife asked that same question and to be honest, I don't really know anymore.
Michael rubs his chin with his bony finger.
:Michael: Right. So, what bands are you into? I'm into Theory of a Deadman and Blood on the Dance Floor.
Mallory gives him an odd look before crossing her legs.
:Mallory: Limp Bizkit, Korn, Slipknot, Disturbed, pretty much any band from the initial nu metal movement.
:Michael: Ah, so you and I have some similar music tastes. That's interesting.
:Mallory: Mhm. So, how come we haven't seen you during our stay here?
Michael looks frozen for a second.
:Michael: You see, I'm a very busy man. I've got a close friend called Vindi, at least I see her that way, she keeps breaking up the walls of her residence and I have to repair all that damage every day.
Michael grins enthusiastically.
:Michael: I made her check out a therapist though so I could use my time to hang out with my children rather than do the repetitive wall patchwork my clients usually make me do.
:Mallory: Ah okay, I don't know why Spittle was so reluctant to tell us that.
:Michael: Hey now, your mother probably forgot. She's getting kinda old, y'know?
:Mallory: I guess that's true, she doesn't really have the powers or vitality her children do.
Michael nods as Silver steps out into the living room, wearing a Slayer t-shirt as he strolls out into the living room and takes a spot next to Mallory on the couch.
:Silver: Heh, what's up doc?
:Michael: Hello Silver, how are you this fine morning?
:Silver: I'm doing pretty good, just fixed up a hole but pretty sure Mallory already told you about that. Your name's Michael, correct? What's all the hubbub, bub?
:Michael: There's not much going on I suppose, I heard that you two got attacked overnight by a secret client and I promise that I'll eventually get to the bottom of this. Or maybe you will!
Michael chuckles innocently.
:Michael: Don't look at me like I'm weird, I'm shy so I dunno what to really say sometimes.
:Silver: Uh huh...
Silver wasn't really sure what to think of Michael. Mallory seemed comfortable with him though.
:Silver: Where do you come from Michael?
:Michael: I come from Karins, that's the city that can be found stranded in this planet's right eye. God, it feels really weird to use that terminology for a planet but it is shaped like a skull.
:Silver: Isn't that a lost legend?
Michael freezes again, shuddering.
:Michael: Ye, you know, the...? One thing I should... [sighs] Excuse me for one second.
Michael gets up from his recliner and goes off into another room. Silver turns to Mallory.
:Silver: What an odd fellow, am I right?
:Mallory: I won't lie, talking to him feels... a little bit off. But we should probably give him a chance, I mean, for all I know he could be very helpful in the long run.
:Silver: Alright, but once our back-up arrives, I'd like to have their support over this dude's.
:Mallory: Yeah I share your sentiments, I look forward to when Altha and the others arrive. Should happen tonight if I'm not mistaken, space travel between Zaxina and the satellites is slow and they can't just waltz right in with Herald magic.
:Silver: The reason why it's like that is-
:Mallory: Because our grandpa didn't trust Heralds to not steal our valuable resources, I know. [sighs] They'll arrive soon and that's all I really care about.
:Silver: Mhm.
Without warning, the lights in their house suddenly go off, swallowing the house in darkness besides windows filtering in light from outside. Silver and Mallory get up, taken by surprise.
:Silver: Whoa, what in Sam Hill?
Michael comes running back in, looking really worried. As he's holding half-microwaved Totino's rolls, he couldn't have just switched off the power. A different force at work.
:Michael: I don't know what happened! I was just innocently microwaving Totino's when this happened!
:Silver: You went off to just microwave Totino's? You didn't think about putting them in the oven, you absolute buffoon?
:Michael: I'm hungry okay? HEY LOOK OUT!
Michael suddenly dives, pushing Silver and Mallory out of the way of a gigantic vine. Michael turns around, seeing Strawberry walk through a new hole in the wall and hissing at the very sight.
:Michael: Ah yes, Strawberry, my sworn enemy!
:Silver: You!
:Strawberry: Alright, now I've got you both where I want you, I want that spare Mind Weaver!
Strawberry gives Michael a confused look.
:Strawberry: "Sworn enemy", huh? I don't know who you are so shut the hell up.
Strawberry holds Michael in a chokehold as Silver and Mallory get up and quickly wrestle him out of the sentient plant's grip, with Mallory choosing to hold him as Silver picks up his Mind Weaver and hisses at the intruder.
:Michael: I'll remember this save!
:Silver: Pick on middle-aged monsters your own size!
:Strawberry: You really are middle-aged by human years, aren't you?
:Silver: Meh, true but we're really in our early adulthoods by Zin standards. We're supposed to grow up to become big mythical monsters, y'know? We're not even fertile 'til a century later or something.
:Mallory: Silver, we need to get out of here!
Strawberry attempts to smash the Zins with his vines, but they both backflip and void his attacks. Silver only just realized that Strawberry was much bigger than before, realizing that he's gotta lead it somewhere else...
:Silver: Hey you, walk this way!
Silver dashes out the front door, Mallory following suit as Strawberry turns away from their home and begins to chase them down fleshy terrain. Right into a strange farm.
:Silver: Alright Mallory, we gotta be quick! Let's outrun this thing pronto!
:Strawberry: Come back here, you can't hide from fate for long!
:Michael: Be quick! I know a little 'bout this Strawberry person and he can keep up a chase for a long time!
Silver nods and dashes off, getting chased by the giant figure.
::
::
It took time, but Silver and company managed to outrun Strawberry, who appears to have gotten himself stuck in a ditch for the meanwhile. They breathe as they run into a little village with ancient, corroded-looking buildings and take a stop on a bench.
:Michael: That was a close one! You two think well as a pair, I'm very impressed.
:Silver: Thank you pops, but we've both put up with way worse believe us. That was so random though.
:Mallory: Yeah, talk about completely random.
:Michael: Hm, I can't imagine why it'd just show up out of the blue, you know?
Michael shrugs.
:Michael: Let's stick around here for a bit and hope that oversized strawberry bastard goes back where he came from, alright? I'll repair the damages to the house tomorrow morning.
:Mallory: So where're we sleeping?
:Michael: I mean, we'll be back home tonight.
Michael stretches his hands out.
:Michael: Wonder how your mom's doing, to be honest...
:2:57 P.M. · THURSDAY November 10th, ZXE-233
:Vanilla's Residence, Zaxina
The scene switches to Spittle Zin, who's currently inside a pastel-made house with cream color and feeding little creatures that're shaped like monstrous bookshelves. C'mon, like you have better pets.
:Spittle: Almost 3PM, meaning Vanilla's going to be back soon.
Spittle gets up from her rocking chair, limping as she grabs a cane.
:Spittle: I hope Silver and Mallory are doing okay with Michael, I'd hate to think things aren't going as planned over there you know? But they're probably used to such feelings, haha.
Spittle sighs in relief when the doorbell rings. But little did she know just how unusual today was going to be as she got up to answer it. Vanilla's young pets waddle after her, with one tripping on its face and having to be dragged along by what appears to be its siblings.
:Spittle: Mmm, is anyone there?
The door was opened for her, revealing what appears to be a relative of Silver's, only with fun glasses, whipped cream hair, and a pastel dress. She was distinctively related to the Zins though, having blank-slate eyes and what looks like strawberry juices staining her skin like scars.
:Vanilla: Hello Spittle! Thank you so much for taking care of my little ones, that business trip was dreadful and I'm so grateful to return home to something clean and fresh!
:Spittle: It was no problem Vanilla, thank you for giving me something fun to do!
Vanilla and Spittle tightly hug, horns interlocked before letting go.
:Vanilla: Heh, I should probably return to making milkshakes, helping my extended family out with the chores they've been demanding from me was nothing short of exhausting. Sighh.
Vanilla goes to sit down in her recliner, her little Echeno pets scampering up her legs and cuddling up in her lap as she wheels her chair around to face the grinning, tall-standing Spittle.
:Vanilla: I truly appreciate your help though Spittle, you're the best sister I could ask for.
:Spittle: Same back at you Vanilla, have life treat you well alright? You need to relax after that busy business trip you had and I think just soaking in what's good about life right now would work for you.
:Vanilla: Oh I will, don't worry sis.
Vanilla smiles as she conjures a cup of graham crackers, popping off a finger to fill the cup with raspberry juice and squeezing at her hair to grab a sizable amount of whipped cream and place it in the cup. She offers it to Spittle.
:Vanilla: I need to work on my craft again after so long, but how about you be my first customer today? I'll work on perfecting the art starting tomorrow.
:Spittle: Don't mind if I do!
Yeah you might think it's gross but there's a lot of things that're strangely considered normal by the Zins, including having a relative that is half-milkshake half-Zin. Spittle sips from the cup.
:Spittle: So, should I come back to take care of your little pets again?
Vanilla watches her little Echeno pets bite onto the chocolate bars poking out from her skin, laughing before shooting a friendly glance at her sister.
:Vanilla: In due time, but I need to warn you about something.
Vanilla drops her smile.
:Vanilla: Keep your children absolutely safe, because they're the only ones left in the universe with Saliva's royal blood and with the brains necessary to use it. I can't say too much besides that.
:Spittle: Why not?
:Vanilla: Please trust me, I'm not a bad person, but there are some things that just can't be discussed openly here. I learned the hard way that I wasn't as safe as I thought I was.
Vanilla turns her head, looking at what appears to be a camera lodged in the ceiling corner of her room.
:Vanilla: We're not alone, Spittle.
:Spittle: You're right, jeez everyone's just kinda after Silver and Mallory huh?
:Vanilla: Shhh sis, they could be hearing you!
Spittle stops talking, taking steady breaths.
:Vanilla: Thank you for keeping silent.
:Spittle: Hey, uh, no problem.
Spittle walks outside Vanilla's house, Vanilla smiling ass he rubs one of her pets on the head.
:Vanilla: We'll meet again! Safe travels, sister!
Spittle leaves Vanilla's home peacefully, climbing down a spiral staircase that resembles the outline of a whipping cream top. She thinks about some of the things Vanilla's told her.
:Spittle: There's some suspicious stuff running in the family huh? I probably should've taken notice a long time ago but chose to be ignorant to the problem 'cuz I was already stressed as hell.
:???: Ignorin' somefin' just 'cuz it's stressin' yer brain out ain't da best vay ta go 'bout fings, Spittle.
Before Spittle could have a chance to turn her head around, she gets herself thrown to the ground, with a looming figure quickly standing over her menacingly. In his hand was a long staff with a skull on its tipper, which was lit with neon blue eyes. His own eyes appear to be sewn shut.
:Spittle: Tristian! What is the meaning of th-
Then Spittle swallows her breath. She was indeed too loud.
:Tristian: Ya vere, n' now I've gotta do somefin' 'bout it. Ya really fought ya could hide from us ferever?
Tristian grips her arm, pulling her up as his robes disband to display his very emaciated, maggot-infested body. A swirling crimson vortex was in the middle of his ribcage, which stretches itself out to grab, shrink, and swallow Spittle inside of it. Tristian guffaws as Spittle struggles to move.
:Tristian: Vot a pity, ve fought ve vere gonna have ter fight harder ter get ya, hehe ve fought it'd be a challenge ter steal ya from yer strong children. But ve must do vot ve must do.
:Spittle: Hey, let me go!
Spittle tries to beat against the inside of her imprisonment, which only delighted Tristian if anything.
:Tristian: Me me, ya really are Spittle, aren't ya? A troublemaker since ya vere born, and frankly, da least interesting metherfecker dat Saliva could've gone fer. Nyeh hee hee. Ve're gonna take ya back vere ya belong, all da vay ter vere Hammerhead verks. Ya know him already, anyvay.
:Spittle: N-No I don't!
:Tristian: Yea, yea ya do. Don't even try ter hide crap from us, ve vere plannin' everyfin' since yer kids came back.
As Spittle tries to demand release, Tristian uses his staff to open a hole in the floor, sinking himself and Spittle through it. Who knows where he's going to? Vanilla looks outside, seeing the hole in the floor.
:Vanilla: Oh no, she was taken! Crap, just when I was going to relax!
Vanilla holds her head in frustration.
:Vanilla: Hmmm, I guess there's one thing I can do now.
In the next shot, Vanilla is shown riding off on a motorcycle, her Echeno pets mounted on her shoulders.
:Vanilla: Alright Zins, I guess I've gotta step in until I can figure out what's going on!
:7:48 P.M. · THURSDAY November 10th, ZXE-233
:Paper Heart Town, Zaxina
Strangely enough, although Vanilla drove to the Zins' residence to go see them, she didn't know that they were actually all in the same town she left behind. Silver, Mallory, and Michael were sitting together.
:Silver: Hey, uh, when do you think we can go home Michael? I am starved by every stretch of the word.
:Michael: Oh, we'll be able to go soon. To be honest, I wasn't anticipating things to get out of hand only 15 minutes after arriving at your place. Maybe even less than 15 minutes after.
Michael sighs as he stops messaging and places his phone down.
:Michael: Now, uh, I know pointing out how many fire hydrants in town is getting really boring but how about we try again from the top? Lesse here, one, two, three, four, five, six...
:Silver: You can't count higher than fifty, I am so not doing that again. I'm probably going to fetch myself some absinthe and maybe some jelly beans, I need my bad boy fix and I'm gonna zoinkin' get it.
:Mallory: Do you want me to come with you, Silver?
:Silver: Yeah, I'd be delighted if you followed me in. I can help find that sweet alcohol you really like.
:Mallory: Well I really want gummy worms, that's it really.
:Silver: The live kind or dead kind?
Mallory takes time to process what Silver just said. Michael rolls his eyes and rests his head on his hand.
:Michael: Avoid eye contact with the cashier, just grab what you need and leave alright? I'm expecting to get a ride very soon and I don't want you kids to be tardy.
:Silver: You do realize we're adults right?
:Michael: Well yes, but now you're my kids. You get what I mean, right?
Silver forces a laugh as he grabs his sister's hand and pulls her up. As they walk over to the convenience store on the other side of the street, Michael picks up his phone.
:Michael: We're right here on Tapeworm Drive, we've got things to do, so let's roll things along.
Silver and Mallory enter the convenience store together, breathing in the scent of blood. Mallory looks a little disturbed as Silver breathes in it like it were the best thing in the world.
:Silver: Ahhh...
:Mallory: Let's get this over with, the scent of blood makes me feel weak.
:Silver: Right right, sorry, I have a natural killer instinct inside me.
Silver rushes over to the alcohol section, looking around and grinning to himself, snatching a bunch of absinthe bottles and carelessly stuffing them into a bag. Silver held the last bottle up to his face, watching the bubbles inside form the shape of a skull before dissipating.
:Silver: Hey kids, don't try this crap at home!
As Silver carelessly packs wine, Mallory smiles as she picks up a bag of gummy worms. Unanimated ones, anyway. There were animated gummy worms squirming about inside a different bag.
:Mallory: Man, I remember gummy worms and how important they were to me in my youth. They were my favorite snack.
Mallory looks left and right before reaching her finger inside the unpaid-for bag and eating a gummy worm.
:Mallory: Mmm! Sweet and sour at the same time.
Silver catches back up to her, holding a bag of absinthe bottles loosely over his shoulder.
:Silver: Ya ready?
:Mallory: I should probably pay for all this first.
:Silver: Oh c'mon Mal, you know we can very easily take on the police if we wanted to.
:Mallory: You know how horrifying those five years of prison were? I don't really want to do any thieving right now, I just wanna do the right thing. I've been living that life for a decade.
Mallory looks away.
:Mallory: Sure I pull pranks with you but that's as far as I go.
:Silver: I understand Mal, if that genuinely would make you feel better then that's the right thing to do. Michael did say to not make any eye contact with the cashier though, so are you sure?
:Mallory: I'm sure.
Silver nods, giving his bag of jelly beans to Mallory.
:Silver: Alright, I'll just head out with what I've got, but I'll be outside to accompany you when you're done.
Mallory nods as she watches her sibling walk off, turning the corner to walk up to the cashier. Well, nobody seems to be there, so Mallory just patiently waits for someone to show up.
:Mallory: Hello?
Mallory waits and waits, but nobody was showing up.
:Mallory: Uhhhh...
Silver crawls back in through a window.
:Silver: C'mon Mallory, you've only got two things to pay for!
:Mallory: I know, but the cashier isn't done using the restroom. If that's what he's doing...
Mallory sniffs the air.
:Mallory: That smell's getting much much worse though.
:Silver: Aight, well, whatever happens be sure to come out here! Our aunt Vanilla's arrived to take us back up to our house, Michael made sure we have a reliable way to go back home.
Mallory nods as Silver crawls back out. She eventually looks over the counter, getting thrown back in surprise.
:Mallory: Shit!
Before Mallory lays a body that looks identical to Michael's, torn open by the ribs and being infested with leeches and all sorts of nasty bugs. Mallory averts her gaze and holds back her nausea.
:Mallory: W... Was that...
Mallory checks again. Yes, that body was identical to Michael's body. Mallory shakes nervously as she steps back, trying to process what the hell she just saw.
:Mallory: Uhh, S-Silver? I don't, think we were meant to be here.
:Silver: Eh?
Silver crawls back in a second time as Mallory runs to him and hugs him tightly, trying to push what she just saw to the back of her head.
:Mallory: The cashier was unresponsive... the cashier was unresponsive...
:Silver: Oh? Erm... then maybe we should get outta here.
:???: Not so fast!
Much to Silver's anger, the doors and windows all get covered up with vines, with the body found on the ground getting used as a speaking vessel for some entity as it gets wrapped up in vines. Strawberry juices drip from the vines, making it obvious who the monster behind this is.
:Silver: Hey Strawberry, you've already tried to attack us three times in the same 24 hours, mind if you dial back your asshole levels a little bit?
Then Silver takes a closer look at the half-dead body being lifted from the ground.
:Silver: Isn't Michael outside? What the hell is this?
:Mallory: How come you're not disturbed by the corpse, Silver!?
:Silver: I mean, I had to deal with two corpses that looked identical to you. I don't even know where that second corpse went, probably got blown up to smithereens or something though.
:Strawberry: Pay attention to me you dimwits!
Strawberry, through the new vessel, thrusts a hand forward to wrap Silver and Mallory in loads of vines.
:Strawberry: I keep having to resort to drastic measures just to get my hands on your goddamn Mind Weaver! And I swear, when I finally get my hands on it, the world will see a new miracle!
:Mallory: I-In your wildest dreams!
Mallory bites down on the vines trapping her in, slashing Silver's vines to set him free.
:Strawberry: You know, the more Hammerhead talks to me about reviving the Zin Empire and giving me a position as his second-in-command, the more interested I am in straight-up killing you!
:Silver: Then give it your best talk! I don't care for a bitch that talks the talk rather than walking the walk!
Strawberry makes the vessel's eyes pulsate before summoning a bunch more vines. Another round against Strawberry is about to begin!
::
::
Leaping above a series of leaves, Silver grins as he grips his Mind Weaver tightly with Mallory.
:Silver & Mallory: TERIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
With a leap, Silver and Mallory come down and slice through the vessel, breaking it apart as Strawberry wilts away, all of his roots becoming undone as the store is just a mess at this point.
:Silver: Okay, I've found our groceries, let's get outta here.
:Mallory: Yeah, on it.
Silver and Mallory awkwardly leave the mess behind. Strawberry, now just a head, rolls away for now as they reach Vanilla and Michael who were having a small chat.
:Michael: Silver! Mallory! I can hardly believe you're not dead!
Michael laughs eagerly as he hugs his children, who share a hug back before thinking about what he just said.
:Silver: Uhhh, yeah, we're not dead! I kinda just realized that convenience store wasn't always there.
:Michael: Hah, really? I wonder why.
Michael watches as the entire convenience store collapses in on itself, going down some kind of sinkhole.
:Michael: I'm sure whatever it was there for, it was already resolved.
:Silver: Yeah.
Vanilla smiles as she looks at the Zins, moving aside to show a black limo.
:Vanilla: Hello cuties! I've rented a limousine for the night, and I found some guests that crash-landed near your place.
:Silver: Whoa, how did you get the money?
:Vanilla: Almost every Zin steals, cutie.
Vanilla laughs and rubs his hair before realizing she's smearing whipped cream all over his head.
:Vanilla: Oh crap, sorry.
:Silver: It's fine! Uh, who's in the limo?
:Vanilla: How 'bout we look inside?
Silver, Mallory, and Vanilla get themselves loaded up in the limo when suddenly Silver and Mallory get ambushed by a flurry of arms and then get pulled into a pile.
:All: SILVERR!! MALLORYY!
:Silver: Whoa!
It was just Pierce, Medea, Zellen, Valerie, Scotch, and Altha. They each grin and hug the Zins, holding them closely. Valerie and Scotch weren't as possessive, but were still pleased to see 'em.
:Pierce: My god, it's been a few weeks huh? More like years if you don't count that brief little party we had.
:Silver: Haha, yep! Really glad to see you guys, just the right time too!
:Valerie: Kinda surreal that I'm saying I'm glad you two are still together and doing well.
Valerie kisses Mallory's cheek gently as she and Altha hang out with her. The rest were affixed on Silver, with Medea holding him up on her lap and holding him closely.
:Medea: Score one for the Zins! Next point involves finding the Mind Weaver!
:Zellen: Hella, god, I didn't think I'd live to feel warmth in my heart.
Zellen passes out on Silver's lap as Vanilla puts her keys in the ignition, turning her back to see everyone.
:Vanilla: Alright, all of you arrange yourselves carefully, one person in a seat at a time. Trust me, I love my fun too but we'll wait on doing that 'til we make it back home, okay?
:Medea: Of course, of course.
That was a bit of a mood breaker but everyone arranges themselves on seats. Secretly Silver holds the passed-out Zellen on his lap, looking after her body as Vanilla begins to work the limo. Vanilla looks outside to face Michael, who hadn't gotten in yet.
:Vanilla: You getting in, Michael?
:Michael: I have unfinished business here, ma'am. I must look after the children, besides, what's Hammerhead up to? What does he want from my beautiful children, especially my daughter?
:Vanilla: Mmkay. You think you can get back home easily?
:Michael: I have my ways.
:Silver: Then why didn't you take us back earlier?
:Michael: I'm slow in the head, Silver. Uh, sorry about that.
Vanilla sighs as she begins to drive the limo out of town as our perspective turns to Michael. That's the last we'll see of the Zins 'till next chapter, when things start to pick up a little more.
:Michael: Hah. What do I do, laugh? What would be good for my character motive?
Michael thinks for a moment.
:Michael: Ooh wa ah ah ah? Hee ah ah ah? Fu fu fu fu?
Michael walks over to the sinkhole.
:Michael: My brain's telling me there's something here.
Michael steps into the sinkhole, suddenly letting out a bloodcurdling scream as he goes down the sinkhole. That's not the last of him, I'll be promising you that!
:9:11 P.M. · THURSDAY November 10th, ZXE-233
:Hammerhead H.Q., Zaxina
Storming in through a door was an angry-looking Hammerhead, who furiously walked through the steel interior of his fortress and leaped to break his couch in half. There were five people playing poker around a table, who each turned to Hammerhead as soon as they heard the thud.
:Tristian: Must yer entrance alvays be so dramatic, me king?
:Hammerhead: Yes yes Tristian, but ya see, my inconvenience store deploy didn't work! And I've only got a couple of hours to work something out before I've gotta, do something! Ahahah??
:Tristian: Chill it, let us help ya out.
:Hammerhead: Right. Role call time, Hades, Agnes, Ivo, Tristian, Alice, Vanilla, aaaaaaand Spittle! Expecting a 6 out of 7 response today.
Near the necromancer Tristian Aries were the clairvoyant Hades Yin, the sorceress Agnes Yang, the master of disguise Ivo Black, and the mirror master Alice Amour. These four respectively looked majestic, ominous, clownish, and very cold. They all turned to Hammerhead, everyone's pale white eyes but Tristian's shown.
:Hammerhead: Ah we've only got five, goddamn it ahhhh! Where did Vanilla go?
:Tristian: She fought ya vere outta yer mind so she left. Ve got Spittle doe!
Tristian eerily grins as Spittle is shown tied up in a chair, much to Hammerhead's delight.
:Hammerhead: Hehehe, perhaps I can work on capturing Vanilla if we need her again.
:Hades: Senior Hammerhead, it pains me to tell you that through my see-all visions that the Zins have reunited with their friends. Taking them down will take much more effort now.
:Agnes: More-ever, we spent all our resources on that inconvenience store plan. Perhaps you can still make use of the assets we provided you with?
:Hammerhead: Yes, I have something from each of ya that should still prove useful in the long run. Let me re-address what I need, what I need is that other Mind Weaver and DNA from both of the Zins! They're the only magical Zins left and without them my plans will be squandered! And we can't have that, nonono!
Hammerhead sighs as he sets Strawberry down on the table, who was just a head and torso with two arms at this point. Hammerhead gives him a very strict look.
:Hammerhead: How come that when we gave ya all that extract and those body manipulation powers that ya failed so easily, twice? We have no room for failures here at Hammerhead H.Q., soon to be the Hammerhead Empire!
:Strawberry: Listen to me, motherzoinker, we don't know much about the Zins besides how strong they are. You still need a sample of their heads to know how to deal with them!
Hammerhead jolts in place.
:Hammerhead: That's right, we need a sample of their heads! Yar life is spared for now, Strawberry. Uhh, hey Agnes, can ya pass me your x-ray gun? And Alice, can ya pass me one of yar magic mirrors?
:Alice: This sounds like a feasible idea.
Agnes and Alice pass their tools over to Hammerhead, who holds them up.
:Hammerhead: Alright, with these- oh cra!
The tools are blown out of his hands, leaving the fortress through the window. Hammerhead runs over to the window with his comrades, who look horrified as the tools fall into the black mist below.
:Hammerhead: Damn it, those are the ONLY existing copies of those items!
:Alice: We can plan around this setback.
:Hammerhead: Hmmm, I don't know, I really wanted to use them.
Hammerhead sighs as he looks away from the window.
:Hammerhead: We'll find another way! Hehe!
:Ivo: Aye, that's the spirit captain.
:Tristian: Hm, I can certainly agree vith dat.
Hammerhead directs everyone back to the table, leaning against a bathroom door as he grins at his comrades.
:Hammerhead: I'm going to use this restroom for maybe a few hours straight, lots of business to do after all, I want ya all to come up with things we can do once we get our hands on the Zins' precious skins!
:Alice: Can do. I want to murder them in prison.
Alice tilts her head, looking very sadistic as a wide grin crosses her deranged face. Hades was keeping himself busy by looking through a mirror, focusing on the lost tools.
:Hammerhead: Right!
Strawberry makes his way over to the window, looking out from it. He sees someone already find the weapons, which also shows up on Hades' clairvoyant vision.
:Michael: Hey, what're these?
Michael gathers the tools, making Hades jump.
:Hades: Someone managed to find the tools ever so quickly, this raises concern!
:Tristian: Who... is that?
Strawberry rolls back over to the others, looking in Hades' vision.
:Strawberry: That's the monster that claimed to be my biggest adversary...! We need to make sure to take him out too, because he might be one of the Zins' allies!
:Alice: Cute. Another innocent soul to torture.
Alice really drags out that last word, making the others cringe a little bit.
:Strawberry: Keep an eye out for him, I believe his name is Michael? Soon, he and the Zins will see the kind of crap that they deserve to have coming after them!
:Ivo: You're not usually that violent Strawberry, what happened?
:Strawberry: I got beaten up three times, jackass!
:Alice: Can I add a fourth time?
:Strawberry: No! Where's Hammerhead, I want his opinion on this...
Ivo walks over to the bathroom door, knocking on it.
:Ivo: Hello matey, we kinda need your word on something.
No response.
:Ivo: Hello?
Ivo tugs on the door.
:Ivo: Bah, he won't respond, he must be really concentrating.
:Tristian: I am intrigued n' disgusted all at once.
:Strawberry: Whatever's going on between all sides, it'll only end with one outcome. Saliva will rule the world, and time is quickly ticking down to the moment where he rules the world.
Outside the castle, we see Michael carrying Hammerhead's tools back home, using a hangglider to reach the Zins' household.
:Michael: I guess it's time for Chapter 2? God, why am I saying that, what's wrong with me?
===Chapter Two: X-Ray Mind===
:7:40 A.M. · FRIDAY November 11th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
Several hours later, we see all the lights on in the Zin family's house as Silver and Mallory hang out with their familiar Satellite 15 friends. They've caught up and are generally having a good time, with Vanilla smiling and making breakfast in the kitchen. A rather normal morning, thankfully.
:Pierce: So, we're supposed to be on the lookout for the idiots that stole Mallory's Mind Weaver and then take them out if we can? Doesn't sound too hard.
:Scotch: At least not compared to some of the things we've seen before.
:Silver: Yeah, you kinda got the gist down. I don't know how we're going to take out the bad guys because they seem way smarter than we are, but hey we just don't know Hammerhead's weak point. Think that's the name of the shark dude.
Scotch looks down, pondering to himself.
:Scotch: Well, we gotta figure out things quickly, because we don't know if we're on a time limit to do these things or not. We have to figure out where they're hiding.
:Silver: Right, we have to figure out where they're hiding.
Silver looks around himself, smiling as he sees his sister chilling out in Altha's arms.
:Silver: Hey Altha, thanks for making my sister happy. I don't think you get the props you deserve.
:Altha: Heh, I didn't think I'd get anyone quite like her.
Silver turns his attention back to Scotch and Pierce as Valerie and Medea walk in together, talking to each other.
:Valerie: Yeah, I'm really glad you helped me kick Gonzalo's ass, thank you Medea for pulling me out of that rough patch hah.
Valerie turns to Silver.
:Valerie: Did you guys figure out anything?
:Silver: Eh not really, I think we have a generally better idea of what we should be doing with our time though. I think by tonight we'll figure out what goals we should be working towards. I mean, we gotta find Hammerhead, but.
:Valerie: Hmm, we'll figure something out soon.
Valerie walks over to a desk, picking up a few items. They were the same items that Hammerhead threw out that Michael subsequently collected.
:Valerie: I was too sleepy to mention this earlier, but I saw someone come by here earlier and drop these off. Might be that weird Michael guy you keep talking about.
:Silver: Huhh.
Silver takes the x-ray gun and magic mirror from Valerie, looking at them.
:Silver: They have Zin insignias on them, so they're made by someone from our blood. I'll have to ask Michael about them later though in case we're not supposed to be messing with them.
:Valerie: Were the Zins some kind of ancient family that specialized in making strange artifacts like these? There's a lot about you and your kind I don't really know.
Silver places them down, turning to look at Valerie.
:Silver: The Zins used to be the family that ruled over the Zaxiverse, I think? I thought that was common knowledge, Val.
:Valerie: Well, I think a lot of stuff was considered classified information by Kýrios and Zodiez? They refused to tell me anything about your history and none of your ancestors showed up in our history books.
:Silver: Hmmm, I don't know then.
:Scotch: If you think about it, Earth had similar practices where its schools would regularly block out info they don't want kids to know. Sometimes they'd be taught things that really don't matter.
Scotch chuckles a little bit.
:Scotch: Err, when Earth was still around of course. The religious people killed it.
:Medea: I don't think that's fair, I've known some genuinely great religious people. The politicians and war generals killed it.
:Silver: Oh shut up, everybody killed Earth.
:Valerie: You're right.
Valerie winks at the camera.
:Silver: So uh, we should probably discuss where you're all going to stay. This house has a bomb shelter and I think in the meantime that'd be a good place for you all to sleep in and plan things out. Unless you have any better ideas?
Silver sighs.
:Silver: If Michael turns out to be a prick, I don't want you all getting torn apart by him or anything. Mallory doesn't doubt him but I do a little bit.
:Mallory: Mmm.
Mallory stays quiet. Although smiling in Altha's comfort, she looks somewhat uncomfortable based on some of the stuff she's seen yesterday- mainly that dead Michael body.
:Mallory: I don't trust him that much but I might need help from him later getting rid of that gruesome experience we shared yesterday, euugh.
:Silver: I'll be around for you. Don't worry too much.
:Pierce: So, 'bout the bomb shelter idea you had, honestly I think that's the only real choice we have. As much as we'd love to share your bedrooms, that's unfeasible and I don't think any of us would like to bed with Michael or Vanilla.
:Valerie: I mean, Azrail would probably share space with Vanilla, but he's not here.
:Medea: I dunno, he's very committed to Crymsia.
:Valerie: Eh, true. But in my mind he's still a wackjob simp.
Silver giggles to himself.
:Silver: Hey, where's Zellen?
:Pierce: Smoking a cigarette out back, I think she wants to have a private talk with you soon. She got really overwhelmed by the amount of attention flocking towards you and felt like she couldn't have a moment alone with you.
:Silver: Understandable, I'll make sure to see her as soon as I can.
Silver steps back from everyone, staring at everyone.
:Silver: So, everyone knows about the bomb shelter plan? How 'bout you all check that place out while Mallory and I eat breakfast?
:Altha: Alright, I think we can do that now.
Silver watches Pierce, Medea, Scotch, Valerie, and Altha pack themselves into the basement, holding Zellen's boxes of pasta and taking them down as well. Silver smiles as he winks at Vanilla.
:Silver: I'll be out in a moment, okay Vanilla? I've gotta check up on Zellie.
:Vanilla: Okay dear, your chocolate pancakes will be waiting here!
Silver walks outside onto the back porch, sitting on the railing as he looks at Zellen. Zellen drops the cigarette out of her mouth as she goes to hug Silver which he gleefully returns.
:Silver: Hey babe, you alright?
:Zellen: Yeah, it's just...
Zellen sighs as she clutches onto Silver's shoulders.
:Zellen: Ya know about how Saliva might be coming back, Silvie?
:Silver: Yeah.
:Zellen: That news drew itself outside our homeworld, and we have a secondary problem I don't know how to mention to anyone else.
:Silver: What do you mea- oh no...
High up in space where Zellen is pointing, a new portal is opening up, and out steps nobody other than Zellen's mother. Her green eyes flash vibrantly as she freely floats in the cosmos, her eyes set on Kosmoxeth.
:Zellen: Mmm. I'm sorry.
Ivy flies towards the planet at blinding speeds. Gee, that'll be fun to see later!
:10:11 A.M. · FRIDAY November 11th, ZXE-233
:Paper Heart Town, Zaxina
Somewhere far off, Michael was stumbling on his lonesome through Paper Heart Town, waltzing his way into a store that he didn't appear to recognize. He was holding his head as he looked inside, swinging his head around wildly for something.
:Manager: Uh, can I help you?
:Michael: Yeah, can I speak to your manager?
:Manager: I am the manager.
:Michael: Oh.
Michael freezes for a second.
:Michael: Where can I find steel and electric parts, lots and lots of them?
:Manager: All the way in the back, costs will be hefty though.
:Michael: Not a big deal!
Michael scurries himself all the way to the back of the store, shuffling his feet as he quickly made his way from Point A to Point B while pushing a shopping cart. He stopped in his tracks as soon as he found a lot of stray steel beams, smiling to himself as he packed a lot of them into the cart with perplexingly little effort in spite of his weak and frail human build.
:Michael: That was easy, very easy actually.
Michael jumps into his shopping cart and uses two of the steel beams to paddle himself over to the register, making the manager look really weirded out.
:Manager: So, you're gonna pay for all of that?
:Michael: For the sake of protecting my children and reinforcing their home with whatever parts it'll take to prevent them from getting harmed, yes! I may return later for soundproofing parts, though.
:Manager: Uhhh, it's gonna take a lot of Zaxinian cash money to pay for all that. Lemme work out the total as fast as I can for you.
As the manager begins to count all of the steel beams and electrical wires in Michael's cart, Michael opens up his wallet and looks at it, looking at his ID.
:Michael: Hey wait, this isn't my ID.
Michael scratches his head and throws it away. It was Hammerhead's legal ID, not his, much to Michael's absolute bewilderment.
:Michael: Where's my ID? Ehh...
Michael pulls out his credit card - who knows if it's even his - and hands it over to the manager who takes it almost cautiously from his hand.
:Manager: You lost your ID? What's your name?
:Michael: My name is Michael, uh, Michael Cornflour.
:Manager: I thought you died?
:Michael: I died?
Michael twitches an eye in confusion. So does the manager!
:Manager: Doesn't matter anyway, your card is short on cash.
Michael stares at the manager straight in the eye for eight seconds before socking him in the face, paddling away with all his electronics and beams.
:Manager: Owww! Ooohh, get back here!
Michael shrugs as he escapes the store gracefully, taking out his "oars" as he rides down a hill at dangerous speeds. The cops are sent after Michael.
:Officer #1: Attention white person! If you get arrested, you'll be the first white person we've ever arrested and you'll change our reputation for good!
:Officer #2: I think the more important news is that you stole shit and you're going to jail for it!
:Michael: You'll never catch me, for if my name isn't... what's my name again?
:Officer #2: Hold up, isn't that Michael Cornflour?
:Officer #1: Forget what I said then, we're going to arrest someone we've believe to be dead, this is far more important than supporting the hashtag BLM movements!
:Officer #2: Am I the only one who cares about my job?
Michael doesn't get caught by the officers, as he instead goes off a ramp and gets launched high into the sky. Thinking ridiculously fast, Michael activates a surprise parachute that allows him to land safely near the Zins' home. The cops snap their fingers as soon as they realize they have no idea where he is anymore.
:Officer #2: Shit, he got away!
:Officer #1: Press "F" to pay respects for the Zaxinian authorities.
:Officer #3: "G".
:Officer #2: "G".
:Officer #1: Oh come on guys, I'm just... I'm just... racist!
The first officer is shot through the chest by the manager from the store.
:Manager: Racists don't belong here.
:Officer #2: Neither do murderers.
As the manager gets arrested and shackled by officers #2 and #3, they're each shot down by Alice from a distance, who giggles to herself.
:Alice: Just doing my job.
Michael is shown floating down near the Zins' home, in perfectly fine condition.
:Michael: Where am I even getting half the stuff I have? How did I have that parachute, or that credit card, or even anything at all?
Michael contemplates everything for a moment.
:Michael: I exist? Am I thinking too hard?
As Michael heads up to the Zins' home with his illegally-obtained goods, he is watched by Strawberry and some of Hammerhead's crew.
:Strawberry: Who is Michael? And why is he so... successful?
:Hades: I'll be blunt, I have no idea. He is running off of luck, and luck alone.
:Ivo: That luck won't last forever though, there has to be something that'll tear the truth out of him. We just gotta keep looking, where's Tristian?
:Hades: Paying a visit to the Highness of Darkness, who is not yet aware of Silver's return. You know, his planned bride, before he was suddenly exiled from our world?
:Ivo: Oh dear.
:Hades: Oh dear indeed, my friend.
:Agnes: Tristian told me that he was going to involve as many powerful people as he could that could make trouble for the Zins, but he never explicitly told me which ones they'd be.
Agnes folds her arms, twirling around the wand in her hand.
:Agnes: But things are going to get real ugly.
:12:31 P.M. · FRIDAY November 11th, ZXE-233
:Hivemind Acres, Zaxina
Somewhere out in Zaxina, far north of Paper Heart Town, sat a rather small black castle. It looked very uninviting, especially because the castle was slightly organic and had a big angry eye keeping an eye out for intruders. Tentacles slapped everywhere on its perimeter, but resting atop the castle was an angry and furious-looking Vindozz Ignes who sat by her lonesome 'til Tristian managed to make his way to the top.
:Tristian: Dere ya are, me lady. [snickers] So, I bring big news, vich can be seen as good or bad dependin' on how ya see it.
Vindozz turns to face Tristian, her narrowed eyes making him grimace even with his stitched-together eyes making it hard to see her.
:Vindozz: Spit it out, Tristian.
:Tristian: Erm, yer Highness, I'd like ter inform ya dat Silver mighta come back 'ere sum veeks ago n' mighta forgotten 'bout yer existence. Mebbe ya should pay 'em a surprise visit n' knock 'em dead mebbe?
:Vindozz: Silver came back and never told me? Terrific.
Vindozz crushes the plastic cup of grape juice in her hand.
:Vindozz: Where did you last see him, by chance?
:Tristian: He's kinda just hangin' out at his mum's, havin' da time of his life. Again he mighta not remember ya n' I dink ya should kill 'em fer it.
Vindozz stands straight up, walking over to Tristian and placing two obsidian nails under his neck and making him quiver on instinct.
:Vindozz: When Silver was destined to rule the world, I was to help him conquer it and teach him how to rule the world like I once have. I felt with someone wicked and wild like him, that I had a perfect mate, then he left me at the last second.
Vindozz throws Tristian to the floor.
:Vindozz: Pretty sure my New Prime counterpart is having the time of her life while I'm stuck here suffering because my legacy will never be continued.
:Tristian: Yeah yeah, I see dat yeah, but ya aren't gonna accomplish much by hurtin' me bones. How 'bout ya give me cousin da ass-kickin' he needs?
:Vindozz: I might just do that, then reinvent his slate. I need him to help me restore that reign I held over this planet in Saliva's absence.
Vindozz walks away from Tristian, looking at every part of Zaxina she could see from the roof of her castle. Several villages could be seen (including Paper Heart Town) but also Hammerhead's shark-shaped fortress.
:Vindozz: Heh. I'll just take him for myself, what do you think Tristian?
:Tristian: Sounds like a plan ter me, I dink.
:Vindozz: Good.
Vindozz tilts her head as she begins to walk to the trapdoor that Tristian came out of before suddenly turning her head around to face him.
:Vindozz: Have you seen someone named Michael Cornflour?
:Tristian: Mmm, I don't recognize da name, vhy do ya ask?
:Vindozz: I've had some very vengeful moments lately and he usually comes by to help patch up the walls after I'm done busting them open, but I haven't seen him in ages now.
:Tristian: I can keep an eye out fer 'em, but no guarantees me beautiful lady.
:Vindozz: Thanks, besides Silver he was the only man I found likeable.
:Tristian: Hey, yer a strange lady n' all by da standards of da norm, any chance he's dis crazy vacky man strollin' 'round Paper Heart Town?
:Vindozz: No, he was a very ordinary man.
Vindozz opens her trapdoor, walking down a spiral staircase with Tristian being quick to follow suit. We get a glimpse at her black throne room, which had many holes in the walls that Vindozz presumably punched holes through.
:Vindozz: I was curious because Butch, my pizza delivery guy, told me that Michael was dead. But I have a hard time believing that, to be honest?
:Tristian: Hmmm, dat's interestin'. Vonder vere he is den.
:Vindozz: Mmm, it's bad enough that all my assistants left me, and now I don't know where Michael is. Ughh. Do you know anything about Silver?
:Tristian: Errmm...
Tristian scratches his head as Vindozz pushes over a statue of Silver that represented him from about 15 years ago, watching it shatter on the floor.
:Tristian: He's kinda hot?
:Vindozz: That's really all you know? I already knew that.
:Tristian: Vell, he's gettin' along vith his sister I guess n' he's a goodie two-shoes dese days or somethin'. I dunno, I don't care much 'bout him.
:Vindozz: Hmmm, guess I'll have to take drastic measures.
:'Tristian": Vot do ya mean by "drastic measures"?
:Vindozz: I think I sort of implied I planned on taking Silver and completely resetting his character? I have no interest in working with the person he is now.
Vindozz thinks to herself about the comment "goodie two-shoes".
:Vindozz: Heh, that's the only way I'm gonna have my reign again, right?
:Tristian: So basically, ya vanna go yandere on 'em?
:Vindozz: Don't think about it that way, gross.
Vindozz sighs.
:Vindozz: I guess that's close enough though.
:Tristian: Okay cool, I'll keep an eye out fer Michael although I doubt I'm gonna find 'em. Erm, in da meanvile, stay cute n' capture Silver fer us.
:Vindozz: Who are you working for, Tristian?
:Tristian: Da other Zins, remember? Ve're tryin' ter, erm, I'll tell ya later okay adios!
:Vindozz: Hmmm.
Vindozz watches Tristian flee outside her castle. Vindozz evilly cackles to herself as she pushes over another statue of Silver, watching it shatter on the floor.
:Vindozz: I shouldn't be too mad he didn't miss me, there is no riper opportunity than now to take the whole world by storm!
:1:54 P.M. · FRIDAY November 11th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
Meanwhile, back at the Zins' home, Silver and Vanilla were sitting together on the back porch, with Zellen sleepily sitting next to her boyfriend. Silver and Zellen looked a little weary, distressed by a lot of things that've been recently coming on, but Vanilla looked cheery as she handed the two some raspberry drinks, the same she made for Spittle.
:Vanilla: Here you go dears, drink up.
:Silver: Thank you Aunt Vanilla, much appreciated.
Silver thirstily drinks from his cup as Zellen just sips at hers slowly.
:Vanilla: I know there's a lot of things stressing us out right now, like I've heard about Ivy's appearance in our universe and how Hammerhead plans on bringing back Saliva, but please don't fret too hard. We can do this.
Vanilla rubs Zellen's hair gently, this time with a glove so she doesn't get whipped cream over it. She proceeds to do the same with Silver's.
:Vanilla: Can I do anything for you two?
:Silver: I don't think there's anything you can really do for the moment if you don't know where that shark bastard is, but thank you for the comfort.
:Zellen: Mmmm.
:Vanilla: I understand. Still, I'm here to support you all until we can figure out wherever your mother went. I think someone kidnapped her but I don't know who.
Vanilla thinks to herself as Silver eats the cup. It was made of graham crackers, after all.
:Silver: Do you know anything about Michael at all? I can't tell if anything he says is truthful or not, I can't figure him out and neither can my friends.
:Vanilla: I believe he's a repairman doubling as convenience store owner.
:Silver: I guess that does match up with his offer to help repair the hole in our bedroom wall when that was still a thing. Anything else?
:Vanilla: He told me earlier that he was going to go to that one store in Paper Heart Town that sells materials intended to be used for construction.
:Silver: Hmmm, I guess that also lines up.
Silver shrugs.
:Silver: Damn, I'm not really figuring out anything wrong about him even though I don't trust the vibes he gives me.
:Vanilla: He has been acting very strangely for the past couple days, I don't know why. He's not usually this strange, maybe he's just shy around you two?
:Silver: I don't see why, it's not like we'd hurt him.
:Zellen: If he was so shy, I don't know why he'd sit between Silver and Mallory for several hours straight and be constantly talkative to them? Just doesn't seem likely.
:Vanilla: Maybe, I'm more of a milkshake maker than a mystery solver if you couldn't tell. Maybe my wife leaving me has been rotting my chocolate brain.
:Silver: Oh, what happened?
:Vanilla: Apparently I'm too messy to live with and... I kinda see that, seeing that I have to sleep in a refrigerator-like crib to keep my cool energies going.
Vanilla chuckles to shake off the awkward feelings she's having at the moment, pulling a chocolate bar out of her skin and eating it as her little Echeno pets scramble up her leg and cuddle up together on her lap.
:Vanilla: Why don't you check on Michael and ask him if he wants to drink with us? You two are a little quiet and I wanna spice things up.
:Silver: Sure can do.
Silver runs into the house and races into the living room, where he sees his sister get startled and shake as Michael turns around to see him, holding the x-ray gun.
:Silver: Whoa shit, what's going on here?
:Michael: Ah Silver, this really isn't a good time to be bothering me.
Michael pulls away from Mallory's head, pocketing the tool.
:Michael: Your sister had a panic attack and came to me, and to help her I checked for a fever and gave her some ibuprofen to kill her headache.
:Mallory: Yeah don't worry, he wasn't doing anything bad to me, just looking after me like a stepdad should. [sighs] I'll be fine.
:Michael: She said she found a dead body yesterday so I tried to help her push back the memory. I don't know why it'd look like me though.
:Silver: Hmmm, I don't know, you don't look like a doc-
:Michael: Don't question me! I know what I'm doing here.
Michael folds his arms.
:Michael: Alright Silver and Mallory, so there's a mountain of flesh near this place. I think if you go to the very top, you'll be able to find wherever Hammerhead's headquarters are. I have a funny feeling I was near them not that long ago.
Michael throws his x-ray gun out the window, giving the mirror to Mallory.
:Michael: This mirror is weird, it can take pictures, maybe you can get a good faceshot with it? I don't know. Can you take care of what I ask of you?
:Silver: Sure, but when you have a moment, Vanilla wants to have a milkshake with you. She probably wants to know you better.
:Michael: She does?
Michael rushes past Silver and Mallory, knocking over some desks and potted plants as he trips over the doorframe.
:Silver: Alright cool, how are you doing Mallory?
:Mallory: I'm doing okay.
Mallory smiles and wraps her arms around Silver, hugging him tightly.
:Mallory: The ibuprofen is helping, I guess Michael's heart is in the right place.
:Silver: We'll see. I still think something's not right about that person.
Silver walks outside, seeing just what Michael was talking about: there really was a mountain of flesh leading fairly high. Silver rubs his chin- he had seen it before, but never thought to look from up there.
:Silver: Well, let's not waste any more time. Let's see if we can spot anything from there even if it takes all afternoon to climb to the top!
:Mallory: Right, right.
Mallory mounts Silver's back, pinning him to the floor. Silver gets up, laughing as he uses some of his strength to give her a piggyback ride to the flesh mountain.
::
::
Silver and Mallory manage to make it to the summit, with the former sticking his Mind Weaver through the fleshy earth like he were one of the American astronauts grounding a flag on the Moon.
:Silver: Man, we've got quite a view from here, look at all this flesh!
:Mallory: Damn.
Silver and Mallory look around. They see several locations we've already seen before, but it was from here that they could also see many of the satellites floating about. Satellite 15 wasn't in sight, but Satellites 2 to 9 were, and they all looked differently structured. Silver was in total awe.
:Silver: It's kinda like being somewhere completely different. Oh hey, look!
Silver points in the distance. Two chapters in, and he's already managed to find Hammerhead's headquarters, which resembled (to nobody's surprise) a shark-shaped fortress. Then he realizes something.
:Silver: How the hell are we gonna get there?
:Mallory: I don't know, maybe that's something we can discuss with our friends. But we're getting closer and closer to figuring out what Hammerhead wants!
:Silver: Well, I mean, we already know what he wants. I want to know why.
:Mallory: Right. ...So, should we snap some photos for coming up so far?
:Silver: Yeah, take a photo of the fortress with your weird mirror thing. Then you can take some photos of us if you want.
:Mallory: Oh thank god we didn't come all the way up this gross flesh summit just for a chance of figuring out where Hammerhead's fortress might be, haha.
Mallory hits a button on her magical mirror to snap a photo of the fortress, then takes a photo of Silver's face and then her own. Neither of them were great at smiling when forced to smile, but they suppose they looked happy enough in the pictures.
:Mallory: Okay, these look good.
:Silver: Epic. I think we can maybe head back?
:???: I don't think so.
Silver and Mallory turn around, seeing that the Dream Weaver has managed to climb up the summit after them. He buries his staff in the ground, cackling.
:Silver: Whoa, what the hell are you doing here, Dream Weaver?
:Dream Weaver: See, my help was summoned by someone you're up against, Zins, and I came here to warn you both that there will be dire consequences if you manage to get in their way! I can't say who, so let's just say they're anonymous.
The Dream Weaver chortles as he stares intensely at the flabbergasted Zins.
:Dream Weaver: You're getting closer and closer to the end of your rope just by trying to pursue goals way out of your league!
:Silver: Oh cool, so you're just here to get in our way, is that right?
:Dream Weaver: Talk like that again and I may show you the very depressing reality you two live in. The reality you all live in. And believe me, it's not pretty!
Silver looks a little peeved as he pulls his Mind Weaver out of the floor.
:Silver: What does that mean?
:Dream Weaver: Here's a taste!
Silver suddenly, without any implication of force, gets thrown backwards off the mountain with his Mind Weaver falling before Mallory's feet. Mallory screams as she runs to the side of the mountain, seeing Silver fall all the way down to the ground. With a snap of the Dream Weaver's fingers, Silver lands harmlessly on the ground.
:Mallory: What in the world was that about?
:Dream Weaver: If I told you the answer, you'd ruin the immersion.
The Dream Weaver cackles.
:Dream Weaver: Watch out for me, Mallory, because I can do much worse than just killing you here and now. You'd only, hmm, I almost ruined the immersion.
The Dream Weaver opens a portal leading to a black dimension, but before he can enter it, he gets thrown back by a blast from Silver's weapon.
:Mallory: You're going to explain everything, right now!
The Dream Weaver backflips onto his feet, grinning evilly as he lodges his staff between his teeth and lets the wind spread out his black cape intimidatingly.
:Dream Weaver: If you kill me, you'll break the cage. I'll leave you to decide what that means.
:Mallory: We'll see about that!
The Dream Weaver laughs, spreading out his staff.
:Dream Weaver: This'll be easy.
::
::
:Mallory: Hyyahh!
Although Mallory tries her damnedest, she just wasn't making much of an impact on him. He blocks her attack and takes her by the wrist.
:Dream Weaver: You're a joke, Mallory. Off you go!
With a swing of his staff, the Dream Weaver makes Mallory suddenly get swept off the mountain, cackling as he watches her fall. Once he sees she's been caught by Silver, he snickers before disappearing.
:Silver: What the hell, I've never seen the Dream Weaver act like that before!
:Mallory: I haven't either, something strange happened with him.
Silver nods.
:Silver: Honestly, if that evil cackling he's done around us every now and then means anything, he might've been planning this the whole time.
:Mallory: That seems like a stretch.
:Silver: Probably. But let's go inside, eat, and then do the opposite of what he says because screw it... what can he really do?
:Mallory: Yeah, you're right, let's not lose our spirits.''
:8:03 P.M. · FRIDAY November 11th, ZXE-233
:Hammerhead H.Q., Zaxina
Back at Hammerhead's Headquarters, we see that Hammerhead's entire assemble roster sans Vanilla was sitting at his planning table, playing poker to pass the time.
:Hammerhead: Okay boys, so I've made a vital discovery today!
:Alice: And girls...
:Hammerhead: Anyway, hehehe, so I've managed to snatch that x-ray gun out of that no-gooder's hands! And I've learned a surprising amount of stuff from it.
Hammerhead grins sharply at Agnes, pulling out the gun and lifting it high up. All of them stared at the x-ray gun like it were an ordinary object.
:Hammerhead: Whatever that monkey was doing with this, he captured some very valuable memories from one of the Zins with it and now I know a lot of substantial information about them! They are seriously haunted children.
Hammerhead gets out of his chair, pulling down a projection screen and shooting the gun at the screen. It displays a montage of frightening things that Mallory has gone through and comes equipped with slightly distorted sound.
:Mallory [voice]: If I lose my family and my friends, I'm really nobody.
Hammerhead hits a button on the gun, displaying a different memory.
:Mallory [voice]: I've committed so many wrongs, just seeing anyone show even a trace of the terrible being I was before makes my skin crawl.
Hammerhead smirks as he hits the button again.
:Mallory [voice]: If someone were to kill everything I've tried so hard to care for and raise for, I'd honestly feel better dead.
Hammerhead clicks through memory after memory, cackling madly as he examines Mallory's brain. Everyone sitting at the table looked intrigued by what they were seeing on the screen, with Alice's grin widening with each passing memory.
:Hammerhead: That'll do, right?
Hammerhead makes the projector screen roll up.
:Agnes: Good lord, I feel kinda bad for her if I'm being honest.
:Ivo: Who knew my niece was going through such a tough time?
Hammerhead shakes his head.
:Hammerhead: Listen up boys! The point of this wasn't to make ya empathize with her, the point was to learn her experiences so that when the time comes to talk to Saliva, I will come off as knowledgeable as possible!
:Hades: We know, it's that... we didn't anticipate that we'd be attacking traumatized people. You still want their DNA though, hm?
:Hammerhead: Yes, because if I don't have their DNA, then what I want to do will be strictly impossible! See, I could bring him up from the ground right now if I wanted to because someone gave me the magical means necessary to unseal him through this magical staff.
Hammerhead swings the staff that we saw near the beginning of this expansion pack.
:Hammerhead: But he will kill me and likely seize control of everything in a mere instant! I do not want to be dead, I want to help advise him.
Hammerhead spins the staff around in his hand.
:Hammerhead: I want to be his special second-in-command.
:Ivo: Aight, cap'n.
:Hammerhead: Now, hehehe! What needs to be done next is sample DNA from the Zins, but I don't really know how to do that if I'm being honest.
Hammerhead places his fin to his chin.
:Hammerhead: Unless that human stranger, hehe, gets to help me in some way like he did with the x-ray gun! I'll call him Agent 8, I think he can be considered an unofficial member of our little crew, don't ya think?
:Alice: If he treads this sacred ground, then I'll brutally kill him, ehehehe.
:Hammerhead: Mhm. Let me check on our captives! I gotta ask them some important questions, hehe! I bet it'll be interesting to talk to them, especially since one of ya caught them looking in our journal.
Hammerhead grins as he walks off, breaking down a door next to the bathroom and moving his way down. He enters some facility we haven't seen yet, shutting a different door behind himself as his eyes focus on Dribble and Spittle, who are now tied up and dangling above a pit of lava.
:Hammerhead: Alright, one at a time, hehe! Dribble, I seriously can't believe ya thought I was going to help ya take back Zaxina! What did ya think I meant when I said, "I don't want ya to touch absolutely anything"?
:Dribble: I didn't think you were a criminal mastermind! Let... let me go!
:Hammerhead: That whole conversation I had with ya was to see if I could convince ya into living with me! And now ya're my perfect question answerer, doomed to dangle above fire until your spine gives away.
Hammerhead reaches a fin across the fire, rubbing it against Dribble's disgusted face.
:Hammerhead: Time to get some mileage out of ya. Is there anything that can be used to drain the magic out of Silver and Mallory? If ya don't know, that's fine. Ya just won't be going anywhere but down.
Dribble swallows. Should he tell the truth so he could have a chance at seeing the economy restored or sacrifice himself to protect his children? It was a tough decision.
:Dribble: There is no way to do it right now. Saliva never passed on his brilliant powers onto his children, as was per Zin tradition, because he died before they reached an age mature enough to use such risky powers. He had more special powers than just that, too.
:Hammerhead: I'm glad ya think highly of yer grandchildren, Dribble.
Hammerhead spins around Spittle, taking the rope off her mouth.
:Hammerhead: Now Spittle, ya've been with those Zins for a few weeks now, what do ya consider to be the best way of getting them to stay still?
:Spittle: I'll never tell you, you extinct-going son of a bitch!
Hammerhead walks over to a dial, rolling it in one complete loop, lowering Dribble and Spittle closer to the heated lava below them. An evil grin crossed his wide face.
:Hammerhead: Care to repeat that?
:Spittle: I-I'll never tell you, you extinct-going son of a bitch!
Hammerhead turns the dial another loop, bringing them dangerously close to the death trap below them. Hammerhead's stomach growls, but he resists the temptation to lower them by another meter.
:Hammerhead: One more spin and ya'll be my toast, Spittle. You would go perfectly with the delicious meat that will be your father-in-law!
:Spittle: T-They like alcohol!
Hammerhead smiles, almost sweetly except it's impossible because his teeth were too angular to allow for a sweet smile, reeling them back up and out of harm's way.
:Hammerhead: Thank ya for thinking highly about yar children, Spittle.
Hammerhead walks off, laughing his head off as he slams the door on them and walks over to the window of his fortress, a lot more knowledge in his head.
:Hammerhead: Mark my words Zins, ya may think ya're winning, but ya are doing anything but winning. If all goes well tomorrow, then ya will be too late to stop me!
===Chapter Three: Chains Around My Heart===
:2:31 A.M. · SATURDAY November 12th, ZXE-233
:The Zin Seal, Kosmoxeth
Back on Kosmoxeth, the zombified planet that was seen earlier in this story's prologue, we see Ivy walking over to Saliva's temple while fidgeting and twitching uncomfortably. She breathed harshly as she shakily made her way inside, overlooking Saliva's seal with greedy eyes that looked even greedier than Hammerhead's.
:Ivy: T-There it is.
Ivy runs a shaky hand across Saliva's seal, breathing tensely as she buries her finger in the dirt.
:Ivy: I feel so much power radiating from this seal... hngh, I'm so hungry.
The seal on Ivy's stomach vanishes as it begins to growl, Ivy's fascination with the powerful radiant light emerging from the seal making her shake violently.
:Ivy: S-Something that could s-satisfy this hunger is here, I can feel it.
But Saliva wasn't coming out, at least not just yet. She sits down by the seal, intensely staring down at it as she licks at her lips hungrily. Her lips were half-eaten just from her metabolism starting to eat at her sensibilities.
:Hammerhead: Hey, who the hell are ya?
Hammerhead walks over to Ivy from the shadows, standing over the kneeling Herald as her stomach growled only more tensely. Feverish sweat rolled down her cheeks as she stared tensely at Hammerhead.
:Ivy: That's none of your business!
:Hammerhead: Oh please, I came here to mourn to my cousin and ya're here to hog the floor?
:Ivy: S-Some magical boy told me in my dream that eating your cousin would cure my immense h-hunger. What makes you think I'm going to go a-away, you bonehead?
:Hammerhead: Hey, it's probably that same magical boy that told me that freeing my cousin would lead me one step closer towards ruling the Zaxiverse as a whole! Heh, who knew we were going to meet like this?
Ivy stands up, slightly towering over Hammerhead with her large frame.
:Hammerhead: Okay, tell ya what, how 'bout we make a deal since we came here for the same thing?
:Ivy: What is it...
Ivy's deadpan voice kind of intimidated Hammerhead a little bit. Was he messing with the wrong person?
:Hammerhead: Here's the deal! In a few days, if not tomorrow, I'm going to bring out Saliva Zin from his grave and somehow trick him into promoting me into an almighty god! And when I'm done, I'll throw his body down to you for you to consume.
:Ivy: W-Would be a good deal if I wasn't so damn hungry.
Hammerhead side-steps out of the way to avoid Ivy as she charges at him, watching her slam recklessly against a wall and fall down onto her front.
:Hammerhead: What the hell was that about?
:Ivy: I wanted to straight-up devour you!
:Hammerhead: How about ya devour these instead, like good lord!
Hammerhead throws a bunch of dead fish at the floor. Ivy crawls onto her hands and knees, scrambling over to the fish and eating them up quickly. Hammerhead was taken aback a little by her speed.
:Ivy: This isn't e-enough, sharkbait.
:Hammerhead: Uhh, what's yar max capacity?
:Ivy: I can eat whole planets.
:Hammerhead: I'm pretty sure nobody would complain if ya ate up Satarth, that planet's probably really spicy and flavorful. Maybe Zeurth would be more of yar thing? I don't know, who are ya again?
:Ivy: I-Ivy. And thank you.
:Hammerhead: Name's Hammerhead, I'll fetch ya Saliva's body when I'm done taking the reins of the Zaxinian Empire from him. Shouldn't take too long if I'm being honest with ya.
Ivy nods as she gets up from the floor, looking at Hammerhead top to bottom as he gives her an awkward stare.
:Hammerhead: Errm, see ya 'round. Ya staying here or what?
:Ivy: I suppose so, I can't draw myself away from such powerful energy.
Ivy attempts to walk away to demonstrate, but as if she were rubberbanded to Saliva's seal, she gets snapped right back towards it.
:Ivy: I'll just wait here until you're ready to help me.
:Hammerhead: Aight, I'll just walk off now. I was only gonna tell him his time was close.
As Hammerhead begins to walk away, the temple gets suddenly invaded by the natives that we saw in the prologue, who point fingers at the two criminals without even a second's hesitation.
:Native #1: I knew someone was sneaking around here!
:Native #2: Get 'emmmmm!
The two natives charge at Hammerhead, holding giant scythes that immediately knock Hammerhead to the floor. Hammerhead screams as he gets torn at by the scythes, Ivy's stomach growling excitably.
:Ivy: FOOODD!!
Ivy charges at the native, her stomach clamping onto the second native and consuming him from above as she steals his scythe and uses it to knock the first native to the ground.
:Native #2: HELLPPP!!
:Native #1: I'm on it, Jeremy!
The native tries to steal back his scythe, but Ivy uses it to behead him in an instant.
:Jeremy: TIMOTHYY!
Ivy makes quick work of Jeremy, swallowing him whole before pouncing to feast on what remains of Timothy. Ivy turns around, seeing the chief panic and run away like a coward.
:Hammerhead: Holy crap... [coughs] Ya saved me.
Hammerhead gets up, dusting himself off.
:Hammerhead: Thank you.
:Ivy: No problem, I'll clean up this place, I have nothing better to do and my hunger feels slightly satisfied for the moment. If you see one of the stars in the sky disappear, you'll know what I decided to do.
:Hammerhead: I'm sure I will.
Hammerhead walks outside the temple, with Ivy watching him get into Strawberry's rocket before turning her eyes back to the seal, running her fingers across it.
:Ivy: Soon, very soon, my hunger will finally be satisfied. What a dream.
Ivy cackles to herself, almost evilly, before crying into her hands instead.
:Ivy: And once this is all done and over with, I can finally focus on the pain of being a terrible mother.
:8:30 A.M. · SATURDAY November 12th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
Back on Zaxina, the scene switches to the Zin family's bomb shelter, located in the basement. Silver and his friends are rounded up in one place, including Michael who was itching at his forehead.
:Silver: Alright, so we now know where Hammerhead's fortress is, but now we just need to find it. Have any of you had any luck with tracking down Mallory's Mind Weaver?
:Medea: I looked around that fleshy mountain you two cuties climbed up, but I didn't find anything.
:Scotch: Several of the villages that Valerie and I checked were completely emptied out, there were carcasses everywhere. All of them were found dead around reflective surfaces, mostly mirrors.
:Silver: Hmm well, that's unfortunate. Guess we've got no choice but to storm inside the fortress.
:Michael: I can help with that.
Silver turns to Michael out of curiosity.
:Michael: I had to go to one of the stores in Paper Heart Town kinda recently, and I found an ID that wasn't mine and threw it to the ground. Last night I went to retrieve it because I recognized the name after you blabbered about it.
Michael passes Silver Hammerhead's ID card, which he looks at.
:Silver: Hmmm, Hammerhead Oscato, 42069 Hammerhead Drive, Zaxina-born. Male, 7'05", born like 40 or 50 years ago I'm dyslexic today... damn, this gives a lot. This card also calls him an incel.
Silver pockets the ID.
:Michael: Does it?
:Silver: Legally no, but someone scribbled it on there.
Silver then gives Michael an awkward look.
:Silver: Why did you have his ID to begin with?
:Michael: I don't know! I don't know why I have a parachute or most of the things I have!
:Silver: Eh don't worry about it, the fact you handed me it means a lot.
:Michael: It does?
Silver sighs as he turns to the others.
:Silver: What've the rest of you been up to?
:Zellen: Doing whatever it takes to make the thought of my mom go away. Sorry for not really helping out much, it's just that... [sighs] I was hoping I'd never see her again.
:Silver: No it's okay, come here baby, I'm here for you.
Silver takes Zellen into his arms as he looks at Altha and Pierce, the former of which had an arm around Silver's snoozing sister.
:Altha: Uhhh, just keeping everybody together I suppose!
:Zellen: Yeah, Altha's been putting in a lot of work to make sure none of us are relying too much on our vices.
:Silver: Right, right.
:Vanilla: I've just been making breakfast and doing motherly things while Spittle's away.
Vanilla smiles cheerfully. Each person was holding a plate of chocolate pancakes over plates made from very sturdy (probably stale) graham crackers, all courtesy of Vanilla's handy talent for making breakfast.
:Vanilla: Least I can do in a time like this.
Silver nods eagerly, shoving a whole pancake into his mouth.
:Silver: Everyone's efforts, whether they were towards making progress or towards just staying alive, are massively appreciated. I'm not a leader of men, I kinda prefer to follow, but I have a little bit of confidence in that I'll move us forward.
Silver grins sharply at his friends before turning to Pierce.
:Silver: Oh yeah, crap, did you have anything to say Pierce?
:Pierce: Haha, don't worry, I was only gonna say that I ate a lot of bananas. Brain food, y'know?
:Silver: Ah.
Silver takes a moment to clear his throat.
:Silver: So, overnight Mallory and I made a plan and we're gonna carry it out tomorrow night if all goes as planned. We can probably wait until the night after if necessary but we don't know how much time we have.
:Vanilla: What's the plan, little nephew?
:Michael: Little? Ma'am, he's the same height as your average basketball player.
:Vanilla: Riiight.
:Silver: Yeah, I'm six-foot-four. Anyway, so the plan is kinda all over the place, but we need Valerie and Scotch to sneak in that shark-head fortress and clear the way so that the rest of us can slide in with ease. Medea and Zellen can find Spittle, Altha and Vanilla can serve as support, an-
:Vanilla: Support?
Vanilla pulls out her spine, which happens to be a long black licorice whip. She limped funny but those whip cracks didn't lie, and she was able to stick together still somehow.
:Vanilla: Put me on offense, Silv!
:Scotch: Damn, guess you could say she'd bring a lot of flavor to the fight.
Scotch gets whipped against a wall, with Silver trying his hardest to not burst out laughing.
:Silver: That was bad, Scotch. That's cool shit though Vanilla, I'll accept your offer.
:Scotch: It was worth it!
:Valerie: I think I'm on board with this plan, in fact I don't think any of us can come up with something better. But how're we going to get inside? None of us can exactly fly.
:Silver: Hmmm, and we don't really have any devices that can make flying easy...
:Michael: Hmmmm.
Pierce clears his throat, making everyone turn their heads to him.
:Pierce: I mean, I can fly us all there.
:Silver: You're crazy! Wouldn't that kill you Pierce?
:Pierce: With enough brainpower, eh, probably not if I'm being honest.
Pierce steps back, channeling some energy to lift everyone at the same time before dropping them, making plates go crashing down to the ground. Pierce stares at the scene in embarrassment.
:Vanilla: HEY!
:Michael: I'll clean this up, don't fret.
:Silver: If you feel like you can do it Pierce, we'll trust you. Just don't do anything rash, alright?
:Pierce: I won't. I promise you, hubby.
:Silver: That's a new word for you, heh.
Silver kisses Pierce's cheek as he begins going upstairs.
:Silver: We'll leave you to the mess Michael, thank you for taking the offer. We're gonna go upstairs and make plans to see what we can do next, see you when you're ready.
Everyone barring Michael goes upstairs. As soon as everyone else leaves, Michael gets on his hands and knees and begins eating the pancakes off the floor, cleaning it up with his tongue exclusively.
:Silver: So, uhh, what do we do now?
:Valerie: I suppose we'll just lounge around and wait for something to happen. I kinda wanna be productive, but we can honestly only do so much at the moment.
:Medea: I did get an anonymous email that basically wanted Silver and Mallory around some wishing well. It said that it they're being anonymous because they don't want any third-parties knowing who they are.
:Valerie: Hmmm, does that mean we should all go there?
:Medea: No, it just wants Silver and Mallory exclusively.
:Zellen: I don't feel comfortable having them go by themselves to some anonymous person.
:Silver: Whoever they are, I assume they're important to the troubles we're dealing with, so I think it'd probably be worth taking the risk. Besides, it's not like I get baited all that easily.
:Scotch: I mean, you're hooked up with a nurse with a bad bad reputation, I don't think you have room to talk.
:Silver: I hooked up with her voluntarily!
Scotch chuckles. Medea giggles a little bit herself.
:Medea: Okay, he kinda has a point, all your lovers are bad bitches. The good kind of bad bitches.
Medea sighs.
:Medea: Still, be careful Silvie. You too, Mallie.
Silver smiles as he holds his half-awake sister in his arms.
:Silver: When do they want me?
:Medea: 5PM sharp.
:Silver: And where exactly is the wishing well?
Medea hands Silver her phone.
:Medea: Just take this, it has the directions on it.
:Silver: Many thanks, love.
Silver pockets the phone. Michael looks at Silver and Mallory from the shadows of the basement entrance, sucking up a pancake in his mouth as he looks at them suspiciously.
:9:41 A.M. · SATURDAY November 12th, ZXE-233
:Hivemind Acres, Zaxina
Back at Vindozz's place, we can see her starting to patch up the walls of her castle with the help of the pizza delivery guy we saw earlier, Butch. Tentacles squirmed around them as Vindozz was hard at work, sweat running down her face and between her four angry eyes. If looks could kill...
:Vindozz: Remind me to kill Michael next time I see him, god.
:Butch: I told you, that guy is dead.
:Vindozz: Look, I know you told me that he was dead, but I tried to get into Silver's house last night. And you know who I saw there? I saw Michael sipping tea with some strange milkshake lady.
:Butch: Eh?
Vindozz grumbles as she fixes up the walls of her castle, repairing the drywall holes with some ease as she keeps working her way around the room. She had a lot of work to do, not even considering all the debris she made fall on the ground from destroying those Silver statues.
:Vindozz: I tried to break into their home, but some girl with blades in her hair pushed me all the way back down the hill. The nerve of that girl, she broke my spine, I had to ask Tristian to fix it after an awkward phone call.
Vindozz sighs as she turns her head, looking at Butch very coldly and without an ounce of remorse in her weary, very tired eyes.
:Vindozz: All I want is to have my hands on... ermm, all I want is to be happy damn it!
:Butch: Well, why don't you just knock on the door and ask if you could see Silver? Is it hard to be polite?
:Vindozz: Okay uh, let's say that your girlfriend just came back from Satellite 6 after having not seen her for fifteen or so years, and she didn't tell you ever that she returned. How would you feel, Butch?
Vindozz buries a nail in his chin.
:Butch: I'd probably feel like shit?
:Vindozz: Bingo, I don't have a reason to be polite.
Vindozz lets go of him as she continues repairing her walls, her blood boiling as she tried hard to focus.
:Vindozz: I'm gonna recount all the times I tried to get into their home lately, because I actually tried up to four times with absolutely no success. I swear, it's like they're trying to really irritate me!
:Butch: I'm listening.
A dream bubble appears over Vindozz's head, showing her mounting the hill that Silver's family lives on.
:Vindozz: The first time I tried to go up there, like I just said, that blades-in-her-hair girl pushed me off.
In this flashback, Vindozz looks over the back porch, watching Silver and Zellen drink champagne and foolishly dance around in each other's arms. Enraged, Vindozz tried to attack them, but Zellen's elbow collides with her face and sends her tumbling all the way down.
:Vindozz: And it made me so mad! So the second time I tried, it wasn't that much better! Tried to get Silver while he was distracted and showering!
Vindozz scampers back up the hill and opens the bathroom window while Silver is showering, but as she prepares to grab him by the neck she slips on the slick flesh hill and falls backwards in failure.
:Vindozz: I swear, it's like he's teasing me, knowing that I'm there and trying to dismiss me like I don't exist! And like, god I don't even want to mention how I got disrupted the third time.
We get to see for ourselves that Vindozz snuck into Silver's bedroom, but Vanilla's little Echeno pets scampered over her and tickled her, rolling her outside and out into a garbage can. Silver walks outside in this vision of Vindozz's, shrugs like nothing happened, and walks back in saying "huh".
:Vindozz: I was getting so furious that I tried to take out Michael myself!
Vindozz is shown trying to grab Michael from behind, but he bumps her backwards with his behind and sends her tumbling off into a bush. Michael shrugs and eats the cigarette in his hand.
:Vindozz: And, then I just kinda, stopped after that because I really needed a shower. Don't think anyone ever saw me though. Now that I think about it, this is really really embarrassing.
:Butch: You really need try a head-on approach Vindi.
:Vindozz: Ah, damn it you're right.
Vindozz leans weakly against the wall, drinking from a mug of black liquids.
:Vindozz: How does my New Prime counterpart deal with this kinda cra? I'm so envious of her and I honestly regret finding out about her from that clairvoyant Zin or whatever his name is.
:Butch: I dunno, maybe she's just lucky.
:Vindozz: Some luck alright, good lord.
Vindozz finishes repairing one wall, moving to the one that's behind her throne as Butch comes after her.
:Vindozz: You know what? One of these days I'm gonna go kick her ass, someday after I kick Silver's ass.
:Butch: Yeaaahh. Good luck with that.
Vindozz rolls her four eyes when she gets a message on her phone.
:Vindozz: Yeah? Can't you see that I'm loathing right now?
:Tristian [voice]: 'Ey queen, good news! One of our friends' anonymous messages ter one of Silver's friends got replied ter! If all goes vell, I'm gonna tell ya ter head right over n' steal 'em ven da time is right!
:Vindozz: Real shit?
:Tristian [voice]: Real shit.
:Vindozz: Send me a message when it's over and done with so I can take back what's mine!
:Tristian [voice]: 'Course I vill. Stay safe. Love ya.
:Vindozz: I don't love you back, bye!
Vindozz hangs up and pockets her phone.
:Butch: What happened over the line?
:Vindozz: Uhhh, so Silver invited me over for a date and he's breaking up with anyone else he's with at the moment so he can squeeze in some quality time with me, the Black Queen!
:Butch: Really?
:Vindozz: I wish.
Butch snickers to himself as Vindozz walks over to him and grabs him by the neck.
:Vindozz: But I'm going to do it anyway.
Vindozz throws him in the slammer, hitting a button to trap him in.
:Butch: Whoa, uh, that was sudden!
:Vindozz: Now that you know my motives, I don't trust having you out here and able to call the cops on me. I won't lie though, I mostly just imprisoned you so I can have all that pizza in your truck to myself.
Vindozz haughtily laughs as she walks away from him.
:Vindozz: Tonight, I'm gonna eat all your goddamn pizza, and tomorrow, I'm taking back Silver whether he'll like it or not!
Vindozz walks outside, leaving Butch to sigh.
:Butch: Not the first time she's done this to me, sigh, she'll just let me out when she realizes she can't make pizza on her own without burning the kitchen down, heh.
:Vindozz: SHUT UP!
:3:02 P.M. · SATURDAY November 12th, ZXE-233
:Open Plains, Zaxina
Much later in the day, Silver and Mallory were running together away from their house, looking out for the wishing well that their phone is trying to guide them to.
:Silver: Let's make this quick! I don't know what's going to happen there, but we need to know what's going on if we wanna progress any closer towards getting your weapon back and stopping Hammerhead's plans!
:Mallory: Right! Right.
Mallory tightly grasps Silver's hand as they speed down the open plains really quickly, running over the fleshy fields of Zaxina as they have their eyes focused on reaching their next destination. Watching them from a distance was Michael, who used binoculars to watch them while a book belonging to Ivo stood by his side.
:Michael: Don't like how far from home they're getting...
Silver and Mallory leap over many throbbing, alive cracks in the floor, speeding along as Michael creeps atop a series of high-rise boulders all by himself, holding a magical mirror. In it, he switches between the three pictures that've been taken, which actually aren't pictures but rather magical videos that focus on any object that's been "snapped" and animate them based on current circumstances. He gets close-up views of Silver and Mallory's faces, which are sweating profusely and ridden with anxiety.
:Michael: You can do this, Silver and Mallory, but don't fall for anything.
Michael pockets the mirror.
:Michael: I kinda worry about how many weird things I have and how much about them I know.
Silver and Mallory leap over one more crack in the floor, realizing that they're now going to be running along a massive, winding snaky road with lots of emptiness to its sides.
:Silver: Shit. Well, we better hurry through.
:Mallory: I'm right with you, Silver!
The two venture forth on the snake road. Michael follows along, keeping his eyes firmly on his adopted children.
:Michael: Hmmm.
::
::
:Silver: Well, we've made it.
:Mallory: Augh, god I'm exhausted and that about wore me out.
Silver and Mallory sit down near the wishing well, where they weren't expecting much to happen. Stepping out from behind it was a lady that, while having her face hidden, looked like an average gardener.
:???: Welcome... I was anticipating both of you.
:Silver: You were... you were indeed.
:???: That must've been a long journey for both of you. Do either of you have coins to cast in the wishing well?
:Silver: Erm, no not really.
:Mallory: I don't think the message asked we bring any.
The gardener shrugs and passes two coins over to both of them.
:???: It's alright, I brought backup coins. Cast them into the well, let's start with the incubus.
Silver flips his coin into the well.
:???: I can read your wish, it's to see where Hammerhead's fortress is. There is no feasible way to get there besides by flying, and you are aware that you have a friend that can help you with that.
:Silver: Huh? I wished for a burrito.
The gardener goes silent.
:???: Ummm, well, that was probably not a strong enough wish then.
:Silver: I'm so hungry though! That's why I made that-
The gardener cups Silver's mouth.
:???: You next, succubus.
:Mallory: Kinda weird for someone to call me a succubus when I'm probably the ugliest thing that's lived.
Mallory flips a coin into the well.
:???: I see your wish, it's to know what Hammerhead's weakness is. It's blood. He can smell it from miles away and can consume pretty much anything that's warm-blooded. Be careful.
:Mallory: I wished to be forgiven for my sins...?
:???: Aren't you already forgiven?
:Mallory: What do you me-
The gardener silences Mallory before releasing their mouths.
:???: Obviously, you're both tired from your long and weary walk over here, yes? That might have been impairing your ability to think, so you must need rest. Yes, lots and lots of rest.
:Silver: I mean, I suppose? Thank you for your advice about Hammerhead though-
:???: No, don't leave.
The gardener points to a stone bench.
:???: Sit, or I might have to do something gruesome.
Before Silver and Mallory could interject, they're pushed down onto the bench.
:???: I have a lot to talk about concerning Hammerhead, so please, be honored enough to take my drinks.
:Silver: Eh?
The gardener gives them both glasses of absinthe, smiling under her gardener's hat.
:???: Don't worry about paying me back. Once you're refreshed, I will show you how to take out Hammerhead and achieve victory. Don't move now, keep steady.
:Silver: Might as well, you seem nice enough.
:???: Heh, thanks.
Silver and Mallory relax themselves, drinking at the absinthe. But something just wasn't stirring right with either of them, especially because their bodies began reacting quickly to the substance.
:Mallory: Why do I already feel so... light?
:Silver: Uhhh, I don't know...
:???: Imagine that all your problems are already over and done with. Smell victory.
That wasn't necessary, because the two were already brought out of their senses with how strong the drinks were. The gardener pulls out needles, slowly slipping one through Silver's left elbow vein and another through Mallory's right elbow vein, collecting blood and snickering to herself.
:???: S-Stay steady for me, Don't mess this up Alice, don't mess this up Alice...
Ailce breathes as she pulls out the needles, slipping another pair into the Zins as her body shakes.
:Alice: Aha, don't m-move, almost there.
Alice continues draining the Zins, getting the third pairs of needles inside. Alice grins to herself as the Zins look totally conked out, now having their blood- and therefore, their DNA.
:Alice: That was much simpler than I thought it'd be, to be honest.
Alice cackles greedily to herself.
:Alice: Now, to carry these needles back to Hammerhead and revive Saliva!
Alice grins evilly at the Zins, who are only capable of breathing at this point.
:Alice: AHAHAHAH! Victory is ALL OURS FOR THE TAK- OOOOMMPFFFF!
Alice gets sent straight down to the ground. Michael walks out from nowhere, having fired a tranquilizer dart into her stomach. She falls over to the floor as Michael walks over, gathering the needles up with a glove.
:Michael: Nobody harms my children and gets away with it. That bloody scent... I could only recognize it as Silver's.
Michael walks over to his children, picking them up.
:Michael: Heh, I should've known this was a trap.
Michael tries to sling them both over his shoulders, but he falls over.
:Michael: Hmmm, okay, how do I do this?
Michael thinks to himself as hard as he can.
:Michael: Ahhh, I'm just gonna get one at a time. I'll come back for the other body later, I'm going to drag Mallory first because it just makes more sense to get the harder work out of the way.
Michael begins dragging Mallory back home, leaving Silver stranded by his lonesome on the bench with an unconscious Alice laying nearby. Uh, I don't think Michael had the brains to realize what big mistake he just made here...
:7:20 P.M. · SATURDAY November 12th, ZXE-233
:Hammerhead H.Q., Zaxina
Hammerhead is shown studying a magic mirror, examining Silver's sleeping face and holding all of the filled-up needles that Alice filled up in his glove. He cackled maddingly.
:Hammerhead: Well boys and girls, I'm one step ahead of the game again. Ahaha!
:Agnes: What else is new?
:Hammerhead: The fact that this strange squishy human being keeps leaving crap outside Silver's house for me to steal and use for myself, like it's some natural instinct he has or something to leave things out for me.
Hammerhead snorts to himself as he sets his heavy self down on a couch, drinking at some champagne.
:Hammerhead: Okay, so everything is beginning to come together, y'all. We've got the DNA, we've got insider knowledge to the Zins' private lives, and we've got the mean spirit necessary to pull all this shit off.
:Hades: It's certainly impressive, master, how much progress you've already made. Sooooooo, you can awaken Saliva tomorrow, correct? Or tonight if you're feeling extra saucy?
:Hammerhead: I can in fact awaken Saliva with little consequence! I'm waiting until tomorrow, however, to make sure the Zins can't interfere with my plans once they begin! We've struck up deals with a planet-eating monster, a yandere wannabe queen, and Dribble's tortured mind to make sure everything goes as planned.
:Tristian: Everythin' felt so random 'till ya said dat, now it really is all comin' together.
:Ivo: Last time I said "comin' together", my wife left me.
:Tristian: I'd leave ya as a joke, but boss says yer really important, so.
:Hammerhead: Correct, Ivo whether he realizes it or not is vital to the success of this entire operation! He may not know it, but he taught me a number of things about brain-swapping, brain-reading, and disguising. We wouldn't be anywhere as far as we are today without it!
:Ivo: What does any of that have to do with our plans, I haven't seen you use any of it, cap'n?
:Hades: Extra spicy tonight, I like it.
:Hammerhead: I'd tell ya Ivo, but when the time comes, I'll do the big reveal and ya will wish ya were even a tenth as smart as me. Ya'll see what I mean by the time I've conquered the world! Ahahaha!
Hammerhead turns his head sharply to his comrades.
:Hammerhead: And all of ya will get all the Cheese Whiz ya've ever hoped for, if my name ain't Hammerhead Oscato!
:Agnes: Hooray.
Hammerhead cackles as he stands up high on a podium.
:Hammerhead: Once I know those pesky Zins are out of our way permanently, I will bring forth my cousin and ya'll all see the future ya wanna see! A big great odyssey is waiting for each of us!
:Tristian: It's good knowin' dat ve're almost done vrappin' fings up 'round 'ere.
:Hades: Mhm. My current predictions say that things are gonna be looking really good tomorrow!
:Agnes: Didn't you want to show us a new trick tonight?
:Hammerhead: Oh right... right, I was going to wait for Alice... but she's taking a eternity, so I'll just do it now.
Hammerhead pulls out a megaphone and screams into it.
:Hammerhead: JEREMY!
Some ordinary human being wearing swimming googles kneels down before Hammerhead, attached to a ball and chain. He politely saluted before Hammerhead, who grinned ferociously.
:Jeremy: Yes sir?
:Hammerhead: God, why is every asshole either called Jeremy or Bob or Donald?
Hammerhead points his finger at Jeremy, winking at him to turn him instantly into stone. Hammerhead's entire group jumped at this sudden and new ability of his.
:Hammerhead: Once I get on Saliva's level, that power is going to mean a lot more than it does right now. I've been studying some "silent chants" from Agnes' spellbook and I'm going to use them if anyone dares screw with me!
Hammerhead folds his arms triumphantly, as if he made a point. He then tips over Jeremy's statue, watching it break apart on the ground. He then picks up some of the debris and eats it.
:Hades: The ability to turn people into stone with a wink?
:Ivo: That power seems kinda dangerous, Hammerhead.
:Hammerhead: I've got such the perfect use for it, and the best part is, nobody will see it coming. If nobody's figured out about something I'll dub "the mystery", then nobody will 'till the time comes.
Ivo tilts his head.
:Ivo: You're hiding something from us?
:Hammerhead: Yes and no.
:Ivo: Why? We're your friends, aren't we cap'n?
:Hammerhead: I suppose so, but some people aren't my friends and they're hearing this conversation right now.
Hammerhead turns his head to face you, giving you an ugly scowl before turning back to the others.
:Hammerhead: Don't worry, ya'll all be impressed and maybe horrified when ya figure things out.
:Tristian: I'm eager ter see vot ya mean.
:Agnes: Erm, me too. Interesting use of my silent spells.
:Hades: Aha, if Alice were here right now she'd love to be hearing this information.
:Ivo: Whatever you say, cap'n.
Hammerhead looks away from his friends and looks out one of his windows.
:Hammerhead: In more pressing news, one of my favorite things about these magical mirrors is how they give me insight to everything that's going on with the people that've had photos taken of them.
Hammerhead cackles.
:Hammerhead: Their faces, animated against nothing but sheer emptiness, telling me every word of what they're going to do next. I don't know who Pierce is, but look out for something in the skies tomorrow night.
Hammerhead wickedly grins as his fins grip the bottom of his window.
:Hammerhead: Ya can't fool me Silver, I'm always one step ahead of ya and yar chummy friends!
:10:55 P.M. · SATURDAY November 12th, ZXE-233
:Open Plains, Zaxina
Alice gets up. An early winter blizzard was violently beating down upon Zaxina's ground and it was making it hard for her to continue her (unprompted) sleep. She gets up and finds Silver's body, chattering alone.
:Alice: Left behind?
Silver didn't respond. Alice gently picks up his body, dragging him over to the well as she brings a bucket all the way up to the top, frosty breath escaping her mouth as she holds his body near her.
:Alice: No, I can't just hide you in the well, I'm going to die if I don't have something warm to hold onto.
Alice reluctantly gets down on her knees, wrapping herself tightly around Silver as her blood-stained hands clutch onto his hoodie. She looks at him in the eyes.
:Alice: Don't let go of me, Silver. Not unless you want us both to die.
Alice stays quiet as the cold winter beats down on her, breathing coldly as she holds Silver as closely as she can, her face buried against his shoulder. Silver's eyes slowly open, unable to really make out anything.
:Silver: Ang, is that Medea? The AC's kinda acting overkill right now...
:Alice: No, it's... I mean, no... it's Alice. Alice as in, one of Hammerhead's friends.
Alice sighs as Silver wraps his arms around her, looking down to look at her eyes.
:Silver: Why're you wrapped around me then?
:Alice: Let's look at it this way, it is cold as hell and I said if you let go that we'd probably die.
Alice sighs as she gently cuddles up with him. Silver lets her, closing his eyes as he tries to fight the heavy cold with her. She shivers as she tries to tear up the flesh in the floor, but it was frozen stiff and riddled with frostbite.
:Alice: Shit, not even the ground is warm...
:Silver: It'll be okay, don't panic.
Silver picks up two bones sticking out from the ground, rubbing them together really fast to make a bonfire. Silver gets up, embracing the flames as he fetches more bones for it.
:Silver: Reach through the ground. I don't like doing that either, but there's bones you can throw in there.
:Alice: I love blood and guts and gore, I don't have a problem with that at all.
Silver and Alice build up the fire slowly.
:Alice: Thank you Silver, I am starting to feel a little better now that we have something going here.
:Silver: Me too, and hey, the ground's getting its color back.
Silver points to the ground underneath the blaze, which is becoming warmer and lively again.
:Silver: We should probably eat something.
:Alice: Ummm, well, not to be gross but... hey, can you look away for a second?
As Silver turns away, Silver hears some squelching sounds that make him almost want to throw up. Silver visibly cringes until it stops, when Alice taps on his shoulder.
:Alice: Turn around, Silver.
Silver turns around, seeing well-roasted meat resting in her hands.
:Silver: Where'd you get this?
Alice sits over the gap she made in the ground.
:Alice: Erm, magic?
:Silver: Fair enough.
Silver and Alice eat some of the highly questionable meat that Alice roasted in the fire. Silver feels like he was human meat as opposed to like turkey meat or goat meat, but he didn't complain because he had plenty of samples of human meat on the satellite.
:Silver: This is a little weird.
:Alice: Yeah, I know, I like it though. Don't you?
:Silver: Errm, yeah, it's pretty good.
:Alice: Alright, turn away then, I've got something else for you to enjoy!
Silver hesitantly turns away, but he immediately regrets it when he hears a really loud snap. He turns away, falling back in surprise when he sees that Alice tore off her entire right arm.
:Silver: Well, that escalated quickly!
:Alice: Eat up! Don't worry, I'm left-handed!
Silver blinks.
:Silver: Alice, uh... I don't know what to really say besides that I'm not a cannibal.
:Alice: I... I thought you were mine...
:Silver: Lady, I didn't sign up for a one night stand, I don't even know where I am anymore or why Mallory left me behind! This ain't a game of finders keepers, Alice!
Alice grabs a hatchet leaning against the well, grinning evilly.
:Alice: You sure about that, Silver?
:Silver: It'd be easier for you to catch me if you had your other arm, Alice.
Alice shakes almost violently when a new arm gets pushed out of her right arm socket, stretching freely and drenched in blood. Alice swings her hatchet, sneering at her unlucky prey.
:Alice: You will love me, damn it!
:Silver: No I won't! See ya!
Silver runs off into the winter cold, trying to get away from Alice who violently swings her hatchet as she comes after the Zin.
:Alice: Ready or not, here I come! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!
:Silver: Lemme be!
::
::
:Silver: Thank god.
Silver swipes the snow off his robes.
:Silver: Where am I?
:???: Oh, I thought I was gonna have to snatch you up tomorrow, but guess I don't have to now.
Silver looks around when a pair of dark claws snatch him by the shoulders, with a pepperoni falling down on his shoulder. Silver shivers before turning around, seeing a pair of four eager eyes looking down at him.
:Vindozz: There you are, Silver! Don't ever run away from me again!
===Chapter Four: Angel Eyes===
:1:05 A.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Hivemind Acres, Zaxina
Silver is shown getting dragged inside Vindozz's black castle by none other than the Black Queen, who gave Silver a glare the entire time as she moved him along.
:Vindozz: Until I can figure out how I want to word what I want to say to you, you're going to remain in this cell until I say you can get out. Where the hell have you been, Silver?
:Silver: Who are you again?
Vindozz cackles as she punts Silver into his prison cell, watching him slide across the floor like he were on ice.
:Vindozz: My name is Vindozz, a.k.a. the Black Queen! You know, your girlfriend?
Vindozz folds her arms.
:Vindozz: Why the hell did you leave me alone when we were so close to establishing a reign over Zaxina?
:Silver: Whatever history we had before I've honestly forgotten, uh, I had an amnesia accident on Satellite 15 and I seriously don't recognize you in the slightest. Fetch me a break!
:Vindozz: Yeah right, amnesia, that's what all of my lovers use as an excuse for leaving me.
:Silver: Damn Vindy, maybe the problem is you!
Vindozz rolls her four eyes as she places on an iconic mask. Well, it looked very iconic.
:Vindozz: Listen to me. Whoever you're with now, you better kiss that relationship goodbye, because you're with me from now on and until your long Zin life expires.
:Silver: Are you crazy? What've you done for me that'd make severing my ties with my current lovers worth it in even the 'slightest?
:Vindozz: Oh you know, I helped you hone your powers into what they are today and educated you personally on the dark arts! We also raided a lot of fast food establishments together!
Vindozz sighs as she gives Silver a cold stare. It looked a lot more intimidating with her mask on.
:Vindozz: You probably won't ever understand, no matter how many times I beat it into your head in the foreseeable future. But trust me, I remember, and I was more of a caretaker than your mom ever was!
:Silver: I mean, if that's true, thank you for helping me as much as you have. But I really don't have any interest in getting back together with you when I was happy enough just yesterday!
Vindozz pulls on her eyelids out of irritation, growling intimidatingly.
:Vindozz: Shut the hell up.
Vindozz wretches the Mind Weaver out of Silver's hands, giving it an impossibly powerful throw that makes it land back on the Zin family's property.
:Vindozz: You can have that back if you can somehow make it back home!
:Silver: Damn, you really are bent on having me aren't you?
:Vindozz: Hey, sometimes I gotta complain a lot to make a point.
Vindozz walks away, giving Silver a last stare.
:Vindozz: If you even think of escaping, I'll break all your limbs! I've watched enough ASMRs to know what it'd be like to have your limbs broken by your loved one!
Silver sighs as he watches Vindozz walk off, turning around and almost jumping when he sees Butch sitting alone on a bench, his wrists and ankles shackled.
:Silver: Whoa, what're you doing here Butch?
:Butch: Hey Silver, uhh... Vindozz captured me the moment she realized she gave me too much information about her future plans, and I might be in here for a long time because she's afraid I'll get the police involved with her.
:Silver: Wait, why would she give you inf- I ask too many questions.
Silver sits down next to Butch, kicking his feet gently as he looks at him. It was still a freezing winter night, so Silver huddled up to Butch to warm him up a little bit.
:Silver: You alright?
:Butch: Yeah I'm alright, I'm just freezing cold Silv. How did you like the pizza you got to eat some days ago?
:Silver: It was alright, although I'm a thick crust person so it wasn't something I'd consider coming back to regularly or anything. I appreciate you got to let me and Mallory feast though.
Butch nods, his messy curled hair drooping over his tired eyes.
:Silver: That's not to say it was crap though.
:Butch: Oh I know, the issue is that my company is so goddamn biased. They think thick crust is crap and I'm honestly considering starting a revolution against them at some point.
:Silver: They don't listen to customer or employee feedback?
:Butch: Nope.
:Silver: Man, that's bullshit.
Butch nods again, yawning as his back arches over rather painfully. He has scoliosis in his back.
:Silver: Can I help ya with anything in particular Butch? You look real lonely.
:Butch: You don't have to help me with anything, but I regularly get intel about what's going on thanks to Vindi's slave Nell. Uh, you probably won't see her tonight because Vindozz was up late, but I've got some shit to tell ya if you want to hear it.
:Silver: Yeah sure, fire away Butch.
Butch takes a moment to clear his throat.
:Butch: So, Vindozz apparently planned to rule the Zaxiverse with you as early as twenty years ago and was working hard to rule it with you until you, kinda just disappeared. She thinks that you've been brainwashed to a goody two-shoes state so she's been trying to force these changes on you.
Butch folds his arms, looking away from Silver.
:Butch: I could've stopped her, but tried to do so by being polite and gentle. But sometimes you gotta put up a fight or act aggressive to get your way and that's what I didn't do.
:Silver: Well, sometimes we don't know how to handle situations! We're not perfect Butch.
Silver grins as he gives Butch a noogie.
:Silver: We just have to make sure we're always trying to do the right thing!
:Butch: Aha, thank you Silver.
Butch smiles as he moves his head out of Silver's way and leans on him gently.
:Butch: The rest of what I know is that Vindozz is in cahoots with some of that shark dude's gentlemen criminals and you have to try and get out of here as fast as you can.
:Silver: Ah, I see. Damn, everyone has it out for me here.
:Butch: Well, I'm sure you'll do fine. Honestly, earliest you can probably escape is tomorrow if you play your cards right against Vindozz. You get me?
:Silver: Yeah.
:Butch: Here's my tip, I've gotten out of this castle before and all it really takes is just bribing VIndozz or pleasing her in such a way that she feels an obligation to release you.
:Silver: Well, her goal is to keep me ain't it?
:Butch: Yeah, but I'm sure if you make her see a different light, she might change her mind. Or, maybe you can kill her just to get her out of your way.
:Silver: I'd kill her, but she's too funny to die.
:Butch: Fair enough.
Butch laughs to himself as he lays himself out on the bench, looking up at Silver.
:Butch: She does get a chuckle out of me when she's ignorant to just how terrible her plans are.
:Silver: Yea-
:Vindozz: LIGHTS OUT, MOTHERZOINKERS!
Vindozz hits them both with tranquilizer darts, knocking them out in the meanwhile.
:Vindozz: What will it take to get even an ounce of respect around here?
:8:01 A.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
Mallory opens her eyes, groaning as she hears her alarm clock go off. She sits up in bed and looks around for the alarm clock, scratching her head.
:Wes Scantlin [voice]: She fuckin' hates me, trust she fuckin' hates me, LA LA LA LOV-
Mallory smashes her alarm clock, smashing it into smithereens.
:Mallory: Godd, not a great way to begin what's supposed to be the big day.
Mallory looks around herself, looking for signs of Silver. Realizing he's not in the other bed, she gets up and immediately runs down the stairs, where she comes by Vanilla who was holding a tray of protein cupcakes.
:Vanilla: My my, it's still quiet time Mallory!
:Mallory: Look I know, but Silver isn't here!
:Vanilla: Silver's not here? Where in lord's name has he run off to?
:Mallory: I don't... really remember? This hangover is screwing with my head.
Mallory sighs as she heads down into the basement cellar, turning on the lights. That annoyed all the guests who were still sleeping, with Pierce's face inside an Insane Clown Posse album booklet.
:Pierce: Erm, what's up Mallory?
:Mallory: Silver's not in the house, have any of you guys seen him lately?
:Pierce: What do you mean, he's not with you?
Pierce scrambles out of his sheets and runs over to Mallory, gritting his teeth in worry.
:Pierce: Where did you last see him?
:Mallory: I'm having trouble remembering, but yesterday we were supposed to go somewhere and I'm somehow here but he's not and I don't know I'm just upset!
:Pierce: Don't panic, I'm not mad at you, I just, god, we had important plans to carry out today!
Medea and Zellen move their heads out from under the covers, with a cigarette dropping out of the latter's mouth.
:Zellen: Silver's missing??
:Mallory: Yeah.
:Scotch: Everybody, single file upstairs!
Scotch jumps out of his mattress in just his jeans. That made everyone giggle.
:Scotch: If you can't handle me when I'm shirtless, you won't be able to handle me on the battlefield! C'mon troopers, let's make a move on or we'll fall behind!
Scotch tramples his way up the stairs as Pierce immediately follows, with the rest following suit after dressing up appropriately for a search. Mallory goes up the stairs last, shutting the door.
:Scotch: Here's my proposal! If we don't find Silver after splitting up and looking everywhere we can for him, then I'll lead everyone straight into Hammerhead's castle. Ka-bam!
:Valerie: How're we going to face Hammerhead if he can just counter us with Mallory's weapon? We don't even have Silver's weapon!
Michael walks back in, holding Silver's weapon firmly in his hand. He tosses it over to Mallory.
:Valerie: Well, there it is!
:Michael: You're welcome.
Mallory sighs, holding Silver's weapon close to her chest in remembrance of her sibling.
:Mallory: I like Scotch's idea. Let's split up and search for Silver, and if we don't find him, we'll round up back here and try to invade Hammerhead's fortress early. At least I hope so.
:Medea: What if any of us get lost?
:Mallory: Uhhh, that's a really good point.
Mallory sighs as she thinks. Vanilla, who was watching, reaches up into a cupboard and stops short of touching any walkie-talkies, knowing that she'd kind of ruin them with her whipped cream fingers.
:Vanilla: Dears, there are walkie-talkies in here if you need them.
:Mallory: Thank you very much Vanilla.
Mallory easily reaches the walkie-talkies, pulling them out and giving everyone one including herself. She sighs as she looks at everyone, her hands on her hips.
:Mallory: Well, this has all the potential to go wrong, so keep your walkie-talkies on and report to me if you find Silver. If we don't find him today, try not to stress out too much, we'll eventually find him.
:Pierce: I hope so.
:Zellen: I just want to live a normal life with Silvie and Pierce and Meddy again.
:Pierce: I know how you feel Zellen, I'm sorry that things have been so convoluted since finding him again.
Pierce hugs Zellen tightly, with Medea joining them as they cuddle up closely. Michael looks away, clutching his forehead in pain as he turns a corner and finds his shopping cart of parts he got from the store not all that long ago. He decides to push it along to places unknown.
:Pierce: Let's not linger too much though. The sooner we do this, the sooner we'll find him.
:Mallory: I know that what's happening right now might be stressing everyone out, but I promise that things will get easier from here on out. If we stick together, it'll stay that way.
:Valerie: By the lord's name I hope you're right.
:Scotch: Okay, so now that we know what the hell we're doing, let's begin that search now! I'll go south, I want Mallory to go north, I want the poly lovebirds to head west in different directions and the rest of you idiots to head east in different directions!
Scotch pumps his fists together as everyone nods agreeably, stepping out of the house as they begin their search for Mallory. The camera focuses on Michael as he leaves the Zins' property with his shopping cart, walking a considerable distance towards the capital of Zaxina- Sylvania.
:Michael: My aching head, why does my head hurt always hurt so bad at random times of day? Where am I going? What is this road I'm taking? Isn't that, the planet's capital?
Michael then jumps up a bit.
:Michael: I should tell Mallory something.
Michael turns on his walkie-talkie, shoving it up to his ear.
:Michael: Hey Mal, uh... I feel like I'm going to die or something? I want you to run over to the brain fields which are coincidentally north of our home. Pierce needs brain fruit if he wants to carry us all.
:Mallory [voice]: Thank you Michael.
The view switches back to Mallory.
:Mallory: I'll try to find them because it is somewhat required that Pierce can lift us all the way to Hammerhead's place, no exceptions whatsoever. Thank you for telling me this.
:Michael [voice]: No problem. Don't worry, dear.
:Mallory: You know, do you know why Spittle was so reluctant to talk about you?
:Michael [voice]: Probably because I'm a clumsy man and nothing more. Don't worry about it.
:Mallory: You sure it was just that?
Michael goes silent for a little bit.
:Michael [voice]: She was honestly worried I'd steal blood from you two, and as you can clearly see, I've had no reason to steal blood from either of you. I get my meat elsewhere, like from fish.
Michael shrugs, which Mallory could somewhat hear over the line.
:Mallory: Okay then.
:Michael [voice]: Don't think too deeply into it? I don't know, uh, goodbye I'll be back at your place soon.
Michael hangs up, leaving Mallory to pocket her walkie-talkie and begin making a mad dash. She could see the brain fields that Michael was referring to- unsurprisingly found on the "brain" part of this skull-shaped planet. She takes a deep breath as she looks at it from a distance.
:Mallory: Guess I shouldn't hesitate any more.
::
::
:Mallory: That should do it.
Mallory sweats, holding all this brain food in a bag.
:Mallory: Now to just haul the goods home.
:11:29 A.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Palace of the Powerful, Zaxina
Several dozen miles away from the Brainfood Fields lies the Palace of the Powerful, which used to be where Dribble ruled Zaxina from. It's found right smack in the middle of Sylvania, somewhat ruined by all the protests that've been happening there for over a decade now. People aren't getting the resources they need, which is why Dribble tried to seek out Hammerhead's help, but everything seems lost for him at this point.
:Hammerhead: Aha! There we go!
Found on the second floor of this palace was Hammerhead and company, with Hammerhead sitting down on a couch with Hades, Agnes, Ivo, Tristian and Alice sitting patiently before him. Spittle and Dribble, who remained captured, were sitting all bonded up in rope with their mouths taped shut.
:Hammerhead: Gentlemen, so today I've brought along a booth! It is essential to my plans to take everything I need from Saliva and I think it's high time to show ya five how it works!
:Hades: Couldn't we have done this at your usual headquarters...?
:Hammerhead: We could've, but I need to get used to this place because I plan on making this palace my own! Plus, I think it'd be neat to get ya all outta the house, ya're all putting on weight.
Agnes tucks in her belly and looks away from Hammerhead, sticking her tongue out in annoyance.
:Hammerhead: Someone left behind a shopping cart full of expensive materials here, so when I'm done showing ya all my trick, I want ya all to start fitting the castle with those materials so it's extra-protected for when I have to use it later!
:Agnes: Duly noted.
Hammerhead grins sharply as he walks over to the booth, winking at his "friends".
:Hammerhead: Now, are ya all ready?
:Tristian: As ready as ve'll ever be, boss.
Hammerhead slips into the booth, his body transforming behind the curtain and causing his silhouette to achieve weird forms in front of his comrades. His laughter went from being very masculine to very feminine almost instantaneously, intriguing Alice and Tristian particularly.
:Tristian: Vhoa, vot da hell's goin' on in dere?
:Alice: Whatever it is, it'll probably make him look cute for a change.
Alice licks at the blood leaking from her forehead from where she was struck by a tree as Hades and Ivo looked like they were on the edge of their seats.
:Ivo: Oh!
Out from the booth steps Mallory, with the right Mind Weaver, who femininely cackles before her subjects.
:False Mallory: You can all thank Ivo for teaching me how to shapeshift! At will, I can switch brains, switch bodies, and switch voices, all with minimal silent enchantment from Agnes' assistance!
:Tristian: Jeez, ya look real good boss.
:False Mallory: Shut up. Now, the reason why I have this form is so I can trick Saliva into thinking I'm one of his children! Heh, and with Mallory's memories tacked onto me, I know how to convince him I'm his daughter! Same thing with Silver, although I lack his memories.
False Mallory swings around the real deal's Mind Weaver around confidently.
:False Mallory: Not the first time I've had to body swap, at least I didn't have to kill Mallory to get this form because I would love to take her out when I'm at full strength! See those RPG "9"s rack up to the max!
:Tristian: Ya really seem like a perfect clone of her, it's staggering.
:False Mallory: I know, right?
False Mallory walks away from her comrades, looking out the palace's windows and seeing all the protestors trying to break in through to the first floor. She snickers evilly to herself.
:False Mallory: Now, reading one of the other brains I've copied, I have to show up somewhere else pretty soon or I'll look bad. Make sure you morons take the stuff from that shopping cart and line up the whole palace with it, gotta make it big and threatening!
:Tristian: Y-Ye boss. On it...!
:Agnes: Duly noted, again.
Spittle rolls away from everyone else while they're all distracted with the fake Mallory, spitting off the tape and concentrating her muscles to break free of her constraints. She takes a moment to catch her breath.
:Spittle: This, explains a lot. I have to find my kids!
Spittle goes down the stairs and away from everyone else, panicking as she bolts outside a window and tries to run away as fast as she can. She knows that at this point, they will find out she's left them, and tries to flee. Dribble chases after her, sweating as he holds her up by the arm.
:Dribble: Hey, wait for me haha.
:Spittle: We need to get far away from here. How do you think we can return home soon?
:Dribble: Uhhh.
Dribble swallows his breath as the angry mob has found him and is chasing after him.
:Dribble: Shit. Let's see if I can focus my mind.
Dribble closes his eyes, gripping his Mind Weaver and trying to murmur words under his breath. He strains himself as he tries to make a portal, with Spittle looking worried as the mob gets closer and closer.
:Dribble: I don't know if I can make it sweetheart.
:Spittle: Concentrate! I put together the pieces of the puzzle together and if we don't make it home, the kids are going to die and we can't fail them now!
:Dribble: Hnng, I'm trying...!
Dribble almost falls backwards when he creates a portal. With no hesitation, he and Spittle scramble through it and close the portal, leaving the angry mob to fall on their faces. False Mallory descends down, grumbling as she notes their escape.
:False Mallory: Even if they've escaped, they can't do anything about me no matter how hard they try. This is checkmate Dribble, everything was over from the very moment you let me into your home.
She smirks, swiping out her hands to knock over the mob as they try to get back up.
:False Mallory: Spittle, you fucked up too, but it'd be funnier if I didn't tell you how.
False Mallory cackles to herself in a very overboard way, clutching her head tightly as she realizes just how hard she's countered the heroes.
:False Mallory: Ah, this was all so delightfully easy that I just might cry. I had over a dozen years to plan out how I wanted to take back the world, I certainly won't crumble apart that easy! Suck it, Zins!
Her assistants catch up to her, breaking a sweat because they had to run a considerable distance away from the palace. Tristian in particular was wiping the sweat off his forehead.
:Tristian: Hey uh, how exactly do you vant dat vole palace re-arranged?
:False Mallory: Oh for lord's sake, let's go give it the design I think would be most fitting.
As they leave, False Mallory turns around one more time and raises her Mind Weaver, sending a blast into the sky.
:Tristian: Vot vos dat, boss?
:False Mallory: Oh, I figured if they invade our headquarters while we're away, I'll give them hell.
:12:24 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
Away from Hammerhead (False Mallory) and his crew, we see Saliva and Dribble relaxing together alone on a couch in the Zins' living room. Everyone else came back besides Michael, Valerie and Silver, with everyone hanging out in the living room in front of a bonfire on a rather chilly day.
:Scotch: Couldn't find Silver anywhere, no matter where I looked.
:Medea: I looked through Paper Heart Town and couldn't find any signs of him. Not even in the new liquor shop that opened up, which I had high hopes for finding him in.
:Zellen: Checked out a lake of blood and all I found was my sad reflection.
:Scotch: There's a series of underground passages with trains that're shaped like bones, couldn't find him no matter what trains I checked. I came across Pierce on my travels but not Silver.
:Pierce: What he said.
:Altha: I really thought I'd find him in that spicy food factory but he wasn't anywhere inside. Not even in the area they produce Takis at where I was expecting him at.
:Mallory: I haven't found him either, I'm thankful that we have Spittle back and... who's this other guy?
:Dribble: I'm Dribble Zin, sorry for staying silent. I'm your grandfather and Silver's as well, and the catalyst for pretty much everything happening since I was the one that kicked Silver's arse into space.
:Mallory: Oh! It's nice to meet you.
Mallory shakes his hand, which he's eager to with a smile.
:Dribble: I need to tell you all something very important, do I have a moment to do so?
:Mallory: Shoot.
Dribble leans back on the couch he's sitting on, taking a deep breath.
:Dribble: Lots of exposition to have here, so bear with me as I speak. There is a lot I learned about Hammerhead and his crew while I was captured by them and Spittle knows at least a small portion of things.
:Scotch: Oh cool, we might actually get an idea of what's going on.
:Dribble: As you all already know, Saliva plans on ruling the world with an iron fist, and you might already know he plans on stealing all his power the instant he can.
:Mallory: That's correct.
:Dribble: Right. He plans on taking over the Palace of the Powerful all the way over in Sylvania, and it will probably become his new headquarters. He's gotten on his hands on a lot of stuff, so he's going to build it to be powerful, I recommend looking through his original fortress for things you might want.
:Mallory: Noted.
:Medea: Actually noted.
Medea is writing things down on a clipboard, wearing her hospital reading glasses.
:Dribble: And... something you might know is that Saliva will be awakened tonight. There is simply no way around it at this point, so action needs to be taken beginning sometime before tomorrow dawns upon everyone. Saliva, my son, is probably smart enough to not be reckless with giving away his powers.
:Scotch: Oh crap, tonight?
:Spittle: Yep. Believe me, I was there too, and I've seen so many things! Like, oh god, my bad memory is catching up to me. Uhhh, something something Mallory.
:Dribble: Let me clarify for my daughter-in-law. Basically, he showcased that he could transf-
BAM.
:Dribble: FUUUU-
A hole immediately is shown rippling through Dribble's chest, immediately killing him and putting everyone on edge immediately. Screaming, Medea tries to head over to him to stitch him up, but the damage has already been done. Too unfortunate that Minute wasn't here to reverse this death.
:Mallory: What the FUCK?
Mallory turns around. A shaky Michael was standing there.
:Michael: Stay away from my children, you monster!
:Mallory: Michael, he's my grandfather!
Michael freezes.
:Michael: Oh.
Mallory clutches her head in frustration. She was so close to figuring out such a big piece of the puzzle, but it felt like the one thing that only had a billionth of a chance of happening just happened to mess with her.
:Michael: This is awkward...
:Scotch: Damn it Michael, you can't just shoot people willy-nilly like that!
Mallory looks absolutely horrified, trying to look at her stepfather with a look of disgust but it just wasn't coming to her. Only tears were coming to her eyes. Nobody knew how to properly react to this.
:Mallory: Did you a-at least find Silver?
:Michael: No.
:Medea: I'm trying so hard to bring back Dribble, but it's not working damn it! What kind of drugs are you on Michael to just suddenly shoot an innocent down like this?
:Michael: Sorry, I've been obsessed with Grand Theft Auto.
:Scotch: Okay, if you shot his body, you can at least do something right and dispose of it. We'd give a funeral but we seriously don't have time for tearjerking.
Scotch sighs and waves his arm.
:Scotch: Let's head downstairs.
As the others go downstairs, Michael breathes tensely and drags Dribble's body outside. When he can confirm nobody else is watching him, he begins to drink at the blood.
:Scotch: Okay, so we can just drop by Hammerhead's fortress tonight with no objections right? Mallory's bag of fruits has already been consumed by Pierce, so I don't see much of a need to object.
:Mallory: Yeah whatever, I just want this to be over with.
:Scotch: And has anyone seen Valerie?
:Altha: I haven't, she went to some black fortress with tentacles sticking out from it last time I checked though. That's the most I know though.
:Scotch: Hmmm, well, hopefully she comes back soon, because she's an essential part of the plan.
:Mallory: I wonder how she's doing though.
:Scotch: Probably more okay than the rest of us. What Michael did was fucked up.
:Spittle: I've been meaning to tell you guys something about him, but it's not coming straight to me! Alzheimer's can go frickin' take a hike because holy crap!
Scotch leads everyone outside the basement, looking in the distance.
:Scotch: Don't worry about it Spittle. We're not going to take Michael with us, who is he really, anyway? He keeps giving me suspicious vibes and nobody seems to know much about him?
The camera goes away from Scotch, highlighted on Michael who has a mouth clearly full of teeth.
:5:38 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Hivemind Acres, Zaxina
Much later in the day, Vindozz and Silver were sitting together in a kitchen-like room at Vindozz's castle, with Silver all shackled down as he has to use his tongue as a makeshift fork for spaghetti.
:Vindozz: So, for the seventh time, do you agree to rule the world with me?
:Silver: And for the seventh time, I'd like to keep my morality compass in check.
Vindozz fumes as she rests her cheek on her hand out of boredom, keeping her eyes firmly on Silver's.
:Vindozz: I don't see what's so hard about this, Silver. C'mon, I even offered you the position of being my second-in-command and you're not even going to take it? I thought you'd at least take being maid.
:Silver: You know what I want, Vindi? I want to be with the partners I've had for a long-ass time and I want to live a peaceful life when I'm done doing what I'm supposed to do.
Silver slurps up some of his spaghetti.
:Silver: What's really bothering me about you is that you don't seem to recognize how much danger we're all in. If Saliva gets brought back, we're all going to be in immense danger and you don't seem to recognize that whatsoever.
:Vindozz: Oh come on, would Saliva really threaten me?
Vindozz tries to flutter her eyes convincingly, which Silver responded to with an unamused face.
:Silver: Yes, he would. He can easily destroy everyone and everything, because if I recall correctly he has some serious multiverse-threatening potential you don't seem to be getting like you should.
:Vindozz: Oh, who cares? Even if he rules over everything, I'll still be able to own this patch of land without interference from him. I think you're taking everything too seriously, chill out. You remind me of this doctor I've had to kick in the ass forty dozen goddamn times.
:Silver: Gahh, you're just not going to listen to me huh...
:Vindozz: Admittedly, I'm kinda just mad you're not giving any offer I'm giving even a lick of thought.
:Silver: Maybe I'd give some consideration if you just listened to everything I'm saying!
Vindozz folds her arms stubbornly as she slurps up her entire bowl of spaghetti once as a petty attempt of trying to guilt trip Silver. It didn't really work, though.
:Silver: C'mon, you're not going to win me over by guilt-tripping me. Only losers do that.
:Vindozz: Man, what do your lovers give you that make you so stubborn?
:Silver: Do you not know how bad cheating is?
:Vindozz: You were cheating on me for a decade and a half!
Silver thought about that to himself. He didn't know whether he was right or wrong with getting together with new partners post-amnesia. He seriously didn't remember Vindozz before today.
:Silver: Kind of? Not really?
:Vindozz: Good grief, looks like I have to straighten out your manners later. Was hoping you'd be more mature than that Silver, but I guess all men are just like this aren't they?
:Silver: You're going to give me a headache, dear. I had amnesia, there's no way I could have remembered having a relationship with you. You're just a plot distraction for me right now.
:Vindozz: I'm not a plot distraction, I'm gonna be the thing that moves you forward! And like it or not, you're going to begin that new empire with me because I have no interest in you for anything else!
:Silver: Jeez, maybe I should've broken things up then but I wasn't really as smart then.
Vindozz grumbles as she throws her emptied bowl into the sink, which miraculously doesn't break. She looks at Silver with great annoyance.
:Silver: I don't know what to say, Vindi!
:Vindozz: Me neither, asshole!
Vindozz sighs as she picks up the restrained Silver, who eats up the rest of his spaghetti before she moves him into her living room and puts him down in a recliner. She sits down in another recliner.
:Vindozz: I'm not going to stop pestering you until you do this thing I've wanted to do with you for a long time!
:Silver: Oh my god, I don't kn-
Then Silver pauses, like he just had a brilliant idea pop in his head.
:Silver: So if I'm second-in-command, what does that entail in your eyes Vindi?
:Vindozz: Basically, anyone you want to pick a bone against, we'll do it together and try to conquer their property. I'll have to agree to it, but you can suggest things and I'll do it if it benefits me.
:Silver: Hmmmm.
Vindozz looks at him curiously as Silver thinks things over to himself. What choice did he have?
:Silver: So, if I asked for your help on beating the crap out of some bastard, would you help me with that?
:Vindozz: Depends, which one?
:Silver: There's someone in a shark-shaped fortress that threatens your ruling, my Black Queen, and I am powerless without your assistance. That's, kinda it.
:Vindozz: So, if you give up everything you have right now, then I will help you carry out that goal. Deal?
Silver freezes for a second. He didn't really like the idea of doing this, it felt dirty and immoral, but he didn't have another choice. Besides, he can just make up for it in the end.
:Silver: Alright Vindi, I guess it's a deal.
Vindozz swings her own staff, breaking Silver's restraints. Silver looked really uncomfortable with the deal he just made, but he knew that there was no way out of here otherwise.
:Silver: Come on... [gulps] Babe, let's get a nap in.
:Vindozz: Alright, I can certainly do that. Do you want any more spaghetti or...?
:Silver: Yeah that was honestly pretty damn delicious, let's go back in the kitchen.
Watching them from a high-up window was Valerie, all dressed up as the Sweet Invader, who rolled away as she realized where Silver was, did he dare call mutiny at a time like this?
:Valerie: What the hell is he doing...?
Valerie turns on her walkie-talkie, getting in contact with Mallory as she tries to think about what she saw.
:Valerie: Hey, uh I found where Silver is and you're probably not going to like what I saw.
:Mallory [voice]: What? Where is he?
:Valerie: He's, uh, in someone's castle and seems to be held captive. But he was holding some strange royalty girl's hand and walking away with her with a skip in his step.
:Mallory [voice]: I don't think he's trying to call mutiny, Val.
:Valerie: I know, but something just feels kinda off to me? I'm going to go around the bend and see if I see anything unusua-
Valerie freezes upon reaching a new window, scrambling backwards upon seeing what was happening.
:Valerie: We've got mutiny! I, don't like what's happening!
:Silver: Valerie?
Valerie turns around, seeing Silver looking out that window and looking at her.
:Silver: What the hell are you doing up here?
:Valerie: W-We've got mutiny!
Valerie leaps away. Silver sighs, facepalming when he realizes what repercussions he's going to face later.
:Vindozz: Come on back, Silver!
Silver sighs as he closes the window, watching as Valerie runs back towards the direction of home.
:9:42 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Hammerhead Canyon, Zaxina
Pierce was floating some thousand feet high in the air using his psychic energies, carrying Mallory, Valerie, Scotch, Pierce, Medea, Zellen, Altha, Spittle, and Vanilla as he slowly navigates his way over to Hammerhead's fortress. He was seriously straining himself as he did so.
:Pierce: Hadn't Michael lost the Mind Weavers that me, Medea and Zellen shared, this would be so much easier but nooo I've gotta get a frickin' huge headache because that guy is an asshole!
:Zellen: Don't look down, guys, don't look down.
Pierce's telekinetic energy was the only thing carrying everyone up. If he were to suddenly stop concentrating, everyone would plummet to their death. It wasn't a pretty thing to think about.
:Zellen: Eep! I looked down!
:Medea: Yeah don't worry, I'm too pissed off to look down. I'm disappointed in Silver right now.
:Zellen: Me too.
:Scotch: I don't know, didn't you guys always allow Silver to be openly romantic?
:Medea: I would've liked to know about this woman beforehand.
:Valerie: I don't think it's right to blame them for being frustrated Scotch.
:Scotch: You're right, but I was just confused. I'll keep quiet now.
Mallory sighs as she keeps her eyes on Hammerhead's fortress. There was nothing really getting in their way, which she was relieved about, but Silver's mannerisms lately have been confusing her. And especially Michael's, and she's still really mad at him for being a dick.
:Mallory: Everything will be alright. Look everyone, we're almost there.
:Pierce: Yes, finally.
Spittle sweated as she tried to remember what she wanted to tell them, but it wasn't coming together for her. All she could focus on was what Michael did and it's been negatively affecting her.
:Scotch: Because it's so late, I know that someone of us might be very tuckered out. But we need to somehow slow down Hammerhead before we can even think about sleep.
:Medea: Got it.
:Valerie: Trust me, I think some of us aren't going to get any sleep for a while now until we figure out what the hell is going on with Silver because he refused to explain anything to me earlier.
Valerie grumbles as Pierce begins to lower everyone down onto a rocky platform. They had arrived at the front of Hammerhead's headquarters, which they noticed was guarded with gigantic worm enemies. Mallory looks at everyone.
:Mallory: Alright, uhhh, we should be able to blitz through here without a problem. Is everyone ready to see what we can find by moving through here?
:Scotch: Let's not waste time, let's go.
Just as they begin to move forward, they suddenly watch as a radiant blast happens high in the sky. It's so strong that lightning bolts haphazardly fire around, striking not only the satellites and Zaxina itself but also other planets around it and asteroids, destroying some of them.
:Scotch: WHOA!
A lighting bolt smashes through their platform, making them fall down all the way to the bottom of the cannon they just tried to cross. Pierce thinks fast, activating his powers to smoothen the fall for everyone involved but can't get enough brainpower to rise back up to the top.
:Pierce: What in the hell...?
More lightning bolts display overhead, creating waves of colors high in the sky that're almost blinding to see. Everyone curls together in a nearby cavern.
:Pierce: Hey, what's going on??
:Spittle: Oh no, he's awake!
Far, far away from Zaxina, an incredible amount of commotion was happening on Kosmoxeth. Massive energy was exploding from the seal as Hammerhead watched in pure glee, disguised as False Mallory as a really hungry Ivy sits nearby. The entire temple outright shatters as Saliva's body escapes from his seal, his utterly massive Mind Weaver held in hand as he stands above these two VERY brave people.
:Saliva: HOLY SHIT! Haha, sorry, that was a lot of pent-up energy that had to be released there.
False Mallory's mouth drops.
:Saliva: I'm amazed that I'm finally free, who do I have to thank for this?
Saliva, standing at 8 feet, was considerably taller than either of his children. He recognized Mallory (well, what he thought was Mallory) though and picked her up, looking at her.
:Saliva: Mallory, w-was it you who s-saved me from my seal?
:False Mallory: Yes, father, it was indeed me. I was waiting for you for a long time.
Saliva tightly hugs his daughter, rubbing her hair energetically as a teardrop drops from his eye.
:Saliva: One of these days I'm going to crush Morticia into a bloody pulp for what she did to me back there. Uh, what's been up Mallory? Might as well hear what you've gotta say for your almighty god.
:False Mallory: I've... I've admittedly brought you back so you could properly pass me your almighty powers, father. I want to continue the legacy of the Zin Empire, it shouldn't have gone down in vain.
:Saliva: Heh, I agree a lot with that, but you need to be properly trained first. The powers I have are very dangerous in the wrong hands and you could do a lot of damage with them.
False Mallory smiles as she leans on her father.
:Saliva: That makes sense to you, right? I'm not being an unfair dad, right?
:False Mallory: No, I'm surprised you're so sympathetic and kind, especially after destroying mere planets with your reawakening.
:Saliva: I think destroying planets is fun, but I have always empathized spending more time with my family over ruling the Zaxiverse. I've considered turning over a new leaf and kinda just making everything right for everyone with my second ruling, and hope that you'll do that for me.
Saliva laughs as False Mallory's smile fades.
:Saliva: I honestly don't think highly of being "evil" these days, you know?
:False Mallory: Hmmm, that's okay dad, I'll always love you no matter what.
False Mallory hugs Saliva to hide her fading smile, which he returns by patting her on the back and giving her a brain noogie. He then flips her up in the air.
:Saliva: Until we begin training though, I'm going to hold the reins of the Zaxinian Empire for just a little bit longer. Let's start by broadcasting how you're going to rule the universe tomorrow morning.
:False Mallory: That sounds fair.
:Saliva: And who might you be?
Saliva pulls up Ivy from the ground. Funny that she was barely shorter than he was.
:Saliva: Is this Spittle? I've honestly forgotten during my time in captivity?
:Ivy: N-
:False Mallory: That is my mother, who else would teach me the dark arts like her?
:Ivy: I'm a-actually Ivy Raven Quimbleson.
:Saliva: Ah, don't worry about it, my daughter just might be too happy to see me, hehe.
Saliva smiles as he pulls them together.
:Saliva: C'mon, let's see what I bring to the table!
As Saliva, Ivy, and False Mallory walk away from the temple, False Mallory winks devilishly at you. Maybe this resurrected Saliva might not look anywhere as frightening as hyped up to be, but worse was still to come. And we're only really halfway through the story.
===Chapter Five: Til the Light Guides Me Home===
:9:25 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Hammerhead Canyon, Zaxina
Mallory and her crew waste no time trying to climb back up the mountain. With Saliva alive and wide awake, there was little time to waste- if Hammerhead steals Saliva's powers, it's all over.
:Mallory: Don't waste any time! I don't know if we'll be fast enough even if we never stopped!
:Pierce: I'm trying, damn it! God, my head!
There was little time to complain as they race up the long spiral road winding around Hammerhead's headquarters. Mallory rushes forward as fast as she could with Silver's weapon held firmly in her right hand, trying to make it up as fast as she could. Everyone tries to keep up with her, but it was very difficult to do so especially in a world where you'd need exceptional power to make Herald portals.
:Pierce: How the hell are we going to do this, do we know?
:Mallory: We don't have much of a choice but to just see what happens, so try not to stop at any point! The hot rails to hell are eventually gonna be too scorching hot to handle, you know what I'm saying?
:Medea: Yeah, I think so!
:Mallory: Cool, then let's keep going!
Mallory keeps racing up as fast as she can, watching as dark horses fly swiftly through the air and towards the fortress. She couldn't make out anyone that was riding the horses, though.
:Mallory: Heads up, we're not going to be alone when we get up there!
:Scotch: Well, no shit! Didn't you see the size of the worms in there?
:Mallory: I mean, we're gonna have real bad company! Not talking about the worms.
Mallory breathes heavily as she tries to scale this long, enduring mountain. Zellen tries so hard to think of ways to cheese it, but wasn't coming up with anything as she shrugs.
:Zellen: I can't think of how you're supposed to cheese this!
:Mallory: Me neither, there might not be a w- wait a minute!
Mallory stops right before a cavern entrance. She taps her foot rapidly for a second and then goes inside the cave.
:Mallory: Follow me through here, this might be our only way of reaching the top at a reasonably qui- AIIIIIIIIIIE!
Mallory gets pushed outside of the cavern by a massive worm creature, which nearly eats her alive! Mallory regains her composure and holds her Mind Weaver threateningly, locking eyes with the beast.
:Mallory: Okay so if we kill this thing, we might be able to move forward!
:Zellen: If we kill it, how do we know if we'll be able to reach the top faster!?
:Mallory: I don't know, we just have to try!
Zellen nods as she pulls the blades out of her hair, with the rest of Mallory's crew pulling out weapons too. They looked somewhat determined to split this worm into two halves.
:Mallory: If we're quick enough, we should be able to beat the shit out of this thing! No hesitation, guys!
:Scotch: Alright, let's put it down!
::
::
Now that the giant Gorm is killed off, Mallory and crew can storm their way inside the cavern. And they do so single-file, following Mallory inside. They are relieved to find an elevator leading right inside the headquarters, which stops the need to climb the entire mountain.
:Valerie: Let's see, elevators can't hold too many people at once, so I'm going to give it a test ride. If I don't come back, you can't take the elevator because it's dangerous.
:Mallory: Alright then, go!
Valerie nods as she enters the elevator and takes it all the way up to the top. The rest of Mallory's group turn to each other while waiting for her to come down.
:Medea: Honestly not sure how well things are going to turn out when we see Silver again.
:Mallory: Me neither but we just have to kind of suck up our fears or we're going to slow down. I'm getting great anxiety just waiting for the elevator to come down.
:Vanilla: Just be patient, it probably won't be that bad.
Valerie comes back down safe and sound, doing a thumbs up.
:Valerie: Alright, I think I can take three people up with me. Who wants to come up with me?
Pierce, Medea, and Zellen all raise their hands in perfect sync and run over to the elevator. Valerie nods as she helps them come inside the elevator.
:Valerie: This shouldn't take too long, stay calm and don't let your anxieties eat you up!
Valerie rides the elevator back up to the top.
:Scotch: I'm a little miffed that we're not doing things the way we planned to do them with Silver, but I understand that what happened isn't really anyone's fault.
:Altha: I'm just anxious but staying strong.
Altha kisses Mallory's lips, with the Zin holding her up high and smiling.
:Vanilla: You two are a cute couple, you know that?
:Mallory: Mmm, yeah.
Mallory returns Altha's kiss as Valerie comes back down, taking in Scotch and Spittle and Vanilla with her and taking the elevator all the way back up. Mallory parts from Altha, looking at her wife.
:Mallory: I'm sorry we haven't been getting in a lot of time lately, Altha.
:Altha: It's okay Mallory, it's honestly out of everyone's control.
:Mallory: I know, I just wish the things that've been happening lately wouldn't get in the way of our love so much. But that's something we can probably fix when this mess is all over and done with.
Altha nods.
:Mallory: I think everything's going to turn out fine.
:Altha: I dunno, were you seeing the destruction outside?
:Mallory: I try to not think too hard about it. Even if everything is completely ruined, we should be able to find someplace where we can just have nothing more than a good time together.
Mallory grips Altha's hand tightly.
:Altha: Your optimism is so infectious Mallory, you might as well be my caretaker now haha.
Altha cuddles up in Mallory's hand as the elevator comes back down.
:Valerie: Alright, calling "all aboard" for two lesbians!
:Mallory: Let's go, Altha.
Mallory and Altha scramble into the elevator and ride it high.
:Valerie: I've organized everyone outside the elevator, so when we three get out, we're gonna be ready to take out everything that's inside Hammerhead's headquarters.
Valerie laughs a little.
:Valerie: Luckily the elevator leads up to a place with a water fountain, so everyone's been refreshing themselves while I've been taking all of you up inside the headquarters.
:Mallory: That's good, I've been very thirsty.
:Valerie: Hah, me too. There's a lot of crap we have to deal with once we get inside.
When the elevator reaches a halt, everyone reunites (besides Silver and Michael of course), with Scotch pulling out a bunch of explosives out of his backpack.
:Scotch: Alright, so we're alone in this little room. I don't know what lies beyond that door ahead of us, but we have to be really careful.
:Medea: Of course, Sherlock.
:Scotch: Right. Valerie and I will help clear the way, Mallory you need to help chop through everything that's behind us as we open up doors and hack through security. And by hack I mean...
Scotch watches an ignited bomb in his hand have its fuse going down bit by bit.
:Scotch: Blow up security.
:Pierce: Ah yes, Scotch, my favorite pyromaniac.
:Scotch: Let's get a move on now.
Valerie, donning her Sweet Invader outfit, flips out of the room with Scotch following her out. Mallory runs out, now having a job to do.
::
::
Mallory and her comrades, having killed off most of Hammerhead's summoned creatures and avoided contact with his associates for the most part, take a moment to breathe.
:Mallory: Okay, we're through that bit at least.
:Scotch: I was scared for a moment... hey, there's this strange door. There's a strong radiant light behind it!
:Mallory: Let's peek through, we'll probably be caught but we're strong enough to take on anything at this point. At least, I like to think so.
Mallory peeks through, seeing Hammerhead and Saliva head upstairs.
:Mallory: They're going upstairs! We need to sneak up on them, god, where is Silver?
:10:14 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Hammerhead H.Q. Battle Deck, Zaxina
Silver and Vindozz arrived above Hammerhead H.Q. together some dozen minutes ago, having taken flying black horses to get there. They were walking around, waiting to see what to do next.
:Vindozz: Where's that Hammerhead bastard you talked about?
:Silver: He might be inside the fortress itself, I don't know why we didn't just land in the hangar because I've been looking for a way to enter it from up here for several minutes now.
:Vindozz: Hmph, do you know anything about this place?
:Silver: No, I had trouble reaching this place with my friends and so that's why I needed your help.
:Vindozz: Hmmmm, alright. Where do you think we're most likely to find him?
:Silver: Probably- oh crap, let's hide!
Silver tugs Vindozz's hand so they're both hiding behind a pillar. Stepping out from a secret door in the floor were Saliva and Hammerhead (still disguised as False Mallory). They walked over to the horses that Silver left behind, examining them.
:Silver [whispering]: Oh crap, I'm too late! Pretty sure that's Saliva.
Silver twitches an eye.
:Silver [whispering]: What is Mallory doing with him though, that's so unusual....
:False Mallory: Where did these horses come from? Usually your daughter's secret hideout doesn't have atrocities like these around here. How about you use your powers on it?
:Saliva: Like this, sweetheart?
Saliva bangs the staff of his Mind Weaver against the ground, causing the horses to immediately be roasted beyond edibility. They then turn to smithereens, flowing away like dust in the wind.
:Saliva: That might've been a little stronger than I wanted it to be.
:False Mallory: No, that was perfect. Thank you, I'm afraid of horses.
:Silver [whispering]: No you're not...
Silver watches as Sailva spreads out very wide bat-like wings, grabbing his "daughter" by the wrist.
:Saliva: What did you want to do again?
:False Mallory: You need to train me.
:Saliva: Hah, I said tomorrow morning remember?
Saliva grips False Mallory's wrist more and pulls her into his whole grip.
:Saliva: Let's find a place to nap together, what would you suggest?
:False Mallory: How about the home we used to have together, Saliva?
:Saliva: Excellent! I hope that place is still in tip-top shape!
:False Mallory: Oh, it should be.
Saliva glides off with False Mallory, with Silver snapping his fingers.
:Silver: Damn it, I'm going to need answers from her later!
:Vindozz: What the heck happened?
:Silver: Hmmm, I don't want to waste too much of your time but my sister just kinda ran off with Saliva and I don't know why or how this is happening. Maybe she's been hypnotized. Let's go through the trapdoor, we can probably find Hammerhead from there.
:Vindozz: Let's go, then.
Silver and Vindozz together infiltrate the Hammerhead H.Q. head-on, looking around for signs of the shark-like figure. They haven't found anything immediately, but know that they have to do a lot more searching than that. We already know that Silver is fooled, but he doesn't know that...
:Silver: Let's rip and tear this place up until we figure out where he is!
:Vindozz: Here, let me help you with that!
Vindozz passes her staff to Silver, which he realizes he can immediately use as a makeshift Mind Weaver until he finds his original weapon. He holds it closely.
:Silver: Thank you. Now, let's go!
::
::
Silver, of course, never really found Hammerhead during his mission to tear everything up, but he did end up landing right before the REAL Mallory and in front of all his friends. Silver, dressed up in one of Vindozz's own outfits, was hard to recognize but Valerie knew it was him immediately.
:Valerie: There you are! What the hell have you been doing?
:Silver: I've been trying to look for Hammerhead!
:Valerie: Then what were you doing with this crazy lady, then?
:Vindozz: Silver is mine and mine only, he told me so!
Silver was gonna speak up, but he kinda chose to just not bother.
:Pierce: What!? I don't believe you, Vindozz!
:Silver: Oh Pierce, if you knew the circumstances, this would honestly make a lot more sense.
:Medea: You couldn't just tell us what was going on? We were worried sick and then we found out you were hanging out with this witch of all people!
:Vindozz: Stop questioning him, he's very clearly stressed out.
:Valerie: So are we!
Mallory pushes her way to the front, looking down at Silver and his "girlfriend".
:Silver: I thought I saw Mallory leave, what is she doing here?
:Mallory: I wouldn't leave the battlefield, coward! Not when I worked to get to this point!
:Silver: Mallory, I saw you leave this place with Saliva hardly even minutes ago, you can't hide anything from me! You're certainly not afraid of horses, Mallory, I know that for a fact!
:Mallory: What are you even talking about anymore?
:Scotch: Silver, please for the love of god, tell me you're not messing with my head again.
:Vindozz: Like it or not, this dork is mine now!
:Spittle: Erm, ummm, I'd like to say somet-
:Silver: Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP! If you listened to me for even a moment, you'd understand what I was going through! All of you motherzoinkers are getting me pissed off!
Mallory growls as she pulls out her Mind Weaver.
:Mallory: God, Silver, what the hell has gotten into you lately? Can't we just kinda return things to what they were before and get back on focus? We're wasting time!
:Vindozz: And if you dare decide to get with them, Silver I'm gonna fuckin' kill you right here in front of them.
Silver screams in anguish, unsure of how to handle this.
:Pierce: Guys, I think there's been a huge misundersta-
:Medea: BITE YOUR TONGUE, PIERCE!
:Silver: Fucking hell, uhhh, uhhh...
Mallory growls and pounces down on Silver with her Mind Weaver.
:Mallory: I've given you enough time to say something!
::
::
Mallory falls down. Silver breathes heavily, looking stressed out as he looks over his defeated friends.
:Mallory: Ughhh, damn it, why...
:Silver: Look, lemme explain for you guys.
Silver suddenly reaches around and punches Vindozz in the face, sending her to the floor as he steps on her belly to make sure she doesn't get up until he's ready for her to.
:Vindozz: You trait-
:Silver: Hey, shut the hell up about yourself for one second Vindi! Look everyone, the past 24 hours or so have been very stressful and so many things have been entirely out of my control!
:Mallory: Right...
:Silver: I was kidnapped! I wasn't going to get out of there if I didn't agree with her! I love you all still and I always planned on coming back to you all! Please don't let this misunderstanding destroy everything we have!
Mallory gets up, looking at her brother in the eye.
:Mallory: Right, sorry for not really listening to you on that. I don't think it's worth wasting time on this.
:Silver: Do you know Saliva or not?
:Mallory: I don't know, I really have no idea you were talking about. I have been with these guys the whole time, chances are you probably saw someone that wasn't actually me.
:Silver: Ah. Well, I believe you too.
:Mallory: Thank god.
Silver pulls up Mallory as Silver gets suddenly hugged by his lovers.
:Medea: I'm sorry Silver, I've just been so fucking... stressed.
Silver hugs them back, looking down at Vindozz.
:Silver: Vindi, you need to understand that life isn't about ruling the world, it's about having a meaningful experience. I don't want to help you rule the world, I want to just have a good life.
:Vindozz: You're not going to change me, Silver.
:Silver: Yeah? Well girl do I have news for you!
Silver laughs haughtily as he rubs his heel against Vindozz's stomach.
:Silver: You ain't gonna change me either!
Vindozz winces in pain before getting up, snatching her weapon back from Silver as Mallory hands Silver back his weapon.
:Vindozz: How about we have a temporary alliance, then? If I help you stop this Hammerhead son of a gun, I'll leave you alone and you'll leave me alone? I am losing interest in ruling the world just seeing how stubborn you are.
:Silver: Sure, I guess that'll work by me.
As Silver and Vindozz shake hands, Silver sighs.
:Silver: We need to find someplace to rest until morning.
:Scotch: Huh? Why should we sleep?
:Silver: Saliva said to what I'm now presuming is a fake Mallory that they'll train in the morning at our house. As in, the one we've been using for planning and everything.
Scotch looks baffled.
:Scotch: Screw it, let's just sleep right here.
Everyone just drops to the floor.
:Tristian: Should I attack 'em? Dey're right dere, in plain sight.
:Alice: A-As much as I wanna kill them, we have to go to the palace, we don't need this place and we don't need them, hehe... it's their loss if they sleep right now, I guess.
Tristian sighs as he makes a portal mid-air. He looks at the others.
:Tristian: Through the portal, let's go.
:Ivo: I'd rather make my own.
All of the other evil Zins make their own portals and escape to the palace. Tristian shrugs as he goes through his own portal, leaving Silver and everyone else behind.
:Tristian: Forgot we could all do that...
:6:38 A.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
The scene switches back to Silver and Mallory's house, which is now occupied by Hammerhead (as False Mallory) and Saliva Zin. The place looked like a disaster zone, with the duo having gotten up and early to train Hammerhead. Restoring the original home would be impossible at this rate.
:Saliva: The last thing you need to remember, Mallory, is make sure your mind is completely open!
:False Mallory: Hehe, I will.
:Saliva: Let me recount everything I've taught you. You can now make everything work in a planet-wide vicinity, manipulate galaxies and either create or destroy them, create rifts where everything is born or where everything gets sent to die, and manipulate matter at will. Isn't that cool?
:False Mallory: Yes, and how about controlling who gets to be the next Zin mastermind? Promoting new kings? Demoting old ones?
:Saliva: That's something I'll teach you very soon! We need to still broadcast that you're going to rule over this universe to, y'know, the entire universe you know? Let's save it for when we return to the palace.
:False Mallory: I think that's fair enough.
:Saliva: I'm glad you think so, sweetheart. Where's your brother? I haven't seen him yet.
:False Mallory: Oh, he's lost somewhere in space because he's an idiot. Kids these days.
:Saliva: Jeez, that's a little apathetic of you Mallory! You must've really hated him!
:False Mallory: It's a long story, but basically the entire family went to shit after you were sealed away. Silver started it, I finished it, I was the ultimate hero when Satellite 15 got Zinfested.
:Saliva: Ah, I see. I'm really sorry you're having to go through that, my own father abused me terribly as a child so I guess bad blood runs in the family. That's a shame.
:False Mallory: Whoa, what?
:Saliva: Dribble Zin was a piece of crap that got better with age but was such an asshole to me and my siblings when he was way younger, some of us got killed by his floggings. He didn't fuck around.
False Mallory scratches her head.
:False Mallory: Lord.
:Saliva: Don't worry, I can tell you don't really feel empathy but I just wanted you to know that you're not the only one who had to deal with struggles like that. Neither Silver if he went through anything.
:False Mallory: No, not really. I was the only one who suffered!
:Saliva: I see. Remind me when I see Silver to give him prime punishment for his misdeeds. I honestly thought he was going to grow up to be the smart one.
:False Mallory: Gotttttt ittttttt!
False Mallory snickered to herself. She couldn't really believe how easy it was to fool Saliva just by being his child, he was out of the loop for so many years, he had no choice but to accept the lies.
:Saliva: How about we got get breakfast or something to get our minds off these heavy topics, how about we go empty out an entire Burger Queen? I could really use a Double Whammy sandwich about now.
:False Mallory: Seems... promising.
Saliva makes an enormous portal, which he and his "daughter" get pulled into as if by magnetic forces. The Dream Weaver steps out of the shadows, still wearing his black cape and snickering.
:Dream Weaver: Aha, everything is really kicking off as planned! Delightful, I knew those Zins weren't going to have the brains or talent necessary to stop Hammerhead from reaching his goal.
The Dream Weaver cruelly smiles.
:Dream Weaver: This endless loop that I've made, while it was fun watching generation after generation die, is getting old. Hammerhead will bring fresh blood to the world, getting Silver and Mallory into the same place was always kind of my plan! Ahahahaha.
The Dream Weaver sits under the night skies, looking up at them as lots of moons and stars appear above him and crackle apart, falling down shattering around his body like they were nothing. Something had pulled the Dream Weaver out of his tired, sleepy state into an energetic, dangerous one. Or perhaps he really was a dick pulling strings the whole time.
:Dream Weaver: If Silver and Mallory somehow interrupt, then... oh ho ho.
The Dream Weaver grips his fists really tightly.
:Dream Weaver: These victims have been so fun to play with though, for thousands of years just torturing them in different incarnations, different forms, all while time has stayed perfectly still. Time only flows in here, but never outside.
The Dream Weaver grins evilly to himself.
:Dream Weaver: Not even a universe reset spared these two from me.
The Dream Weaver cackles as he climbs up to the rooftop of the Zins' destroyed home, holding his dream staff and looking really focused on what he REALLY wants.
:Dream Weaver: Ahh, how I love being such a sublime bastard, talking to myself is getting boring though.
The Dream Weaver shakes his staff, suddenly summoning Michael who lets out a loud grunt as he doesn't quite land on the roof very comfortably.
:Michael: What? Where am I? I was... somewhere else.
:Dream Weaver: Tell me Michael, will you defeat Hammerhead?
Michael pauses for a second before replying.
:Michael: Y... Yeah, I will defeat Hammerhead.
:Dream Weaver: Good. So, where's your original body?
:Michael: This is my or-
:Dream Weaver: It really isn't.
Michael freezes again.
:Michael: I don't have time for your games, man!
:Dream Weaver: So, it's not your original body?
:Michael: It's, ummm...
The Dream Weaver smirks.
:Michael: The original was found dead at a convenience store that wasn't always there.
:Dream Weaver: Yes. And what's your real identity, Michael?
:Michael: Uhhhhh...
:Dream Weaver: Spit it out. Or better yet, how about you save it for Silver and company? I'm pretty sure they'll love where all the intel they've been giving you is really going to.
:Michael: Huhh?
:Dream Weaver: Or you know, just how exactly you've been coming across Hammerhead's stuff again and again and somehow regurgitating it back to him flawlessly as if you both know where to look.
:Michael: I genuinely don't know what you're talking about! I'm... I'm just Michael!
The Dream Weaver frowns.
:Dream Weaver: You trickster, I didn't know you could brain swap so fast.
:Michael: H-Huh?
:Dream Weaver: I'm going to just drop you off at the palace. Take into account everything I just tried to worm out of you tonight, and then just admit it to your children.
:Michael: Admit what?
:Dream Weaver: You're so precious. Silver probably won't think the same way, so watching him try to kill you when you're so close to getting what you've always wanted will be so gratifying.
The Dream Weaver warps him off, laying back and grinning to himself.
:Dream Weaver: I'll probably just take everyone to the palace an hour or so from now, I'm so tired of waiting for things to unfold. Hehehe, hahah. I'm so ready.
:7:45 A.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Palace of the Powerful, Zaxina
By this point, everyone was moved to the palace by the Dream Weaver, who waves them off before disappearing. The rest of their fight happens here, or at least that's as much as they knew.
:Michael: Silver! Mallory!
Michael runs over to the Zins that've just arrived by bubble taxi.
:Michael: So uh, when the fake Mallory is done giving off her speech, I'm going to take you right up and admit something to both of you. I wouldn't be surprised if you already knew though.
:Silver: Got it.
:Mallory: Fake Mallory? Oh right.
:Michael: It's very convoluted, but not as complex as Kingdom Hearts.
Michael walks over to a restroom.
:Michael: I don't want to hear her speech, so I'm just going to go in the bathroom and cry until it's over. I'll see you both soon, alright?
:Silver: Yeah, alright.
Michael walks into the bathroom, and out walks False Mallory, who hops up the steps to the palace's altar which rests right atop its roof.
:False Mallory: Hello everyone in the Zaxi- wait, is the mic on?
:Saliva: Oh sorry, it's plugged in now.
:False Mallory: Hello everyone in the Zaxiverse! It is I, your new ruler Mallory Zin, and I will take every single piece of property and person here into my own hands! I promise prosperity, peace, and happiness all around, and everything I do wrong will have a money back guarantee.
:Scotch: Can't we just, y'know, attack this person?
:Silver: Not advisable, the Dream Weaver said something about her having par strength with Saliva.
:Scotch: I'm gonna need an ice pack when I get back home.
:False Mallory: Now, I know a lot of you were probably wanting Silver, but since my brother is dead and died in a tragic car accident, I will take the entire empire in his stead! Haha.
:Scotch: He's not dead though.
:Silver: I know, I'm right here. Probably part of her shtick.
:False Mallory: My anthem? Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit. My new currency? Shark coins. And my second-in-command? Uhhh, I'm probably going to decide on that later.
:Scotch: Disgusting tastes.
:False Mallory: Thank you for coming to my Mal Talk, and this is your new queen Mallory Zin signing off for the night. I just want to say for the record that I loathe k-pop and indie pop, so if you play either, you will burn to death in a fucking instant because you're part of why this world is messed up.
The fake Mallory bows.
:False Mallory: And with that, uh have a great night!
To make his "daughter" feel better, Saliva plays a fake audience clapping track.
:False Mallory: And now, Saliva, king me!
:Silver: Wait, shit!
But they couldn't do anything. Saliva passes his role as the Zin Empire's ruler down to what he thought was the real Mallory Zin, crowning her immediately.
:Silver: Ohhh, great.
:False Mallory: I'm not feeling great though, ironically enough, so let me just use the restroom real quick.
As she goes in the bathroom, out comes Michael, who wobbles his way over to the Zins.
:Michael: I heard every word! And it was absolutely disgusting.
:Silver: Yeah, god we're gonna have to fight hard. When do we start?
:Michael: Very soon I imagine. Alright, follow me up the stairs.
:Mallory: Pronto.
Silver and Mallory follow Michael up the long stairs leading up to the alter. Silver and Mallory's friends follow up after them, reaching a very wide platform with a throne meant just for the Zin Empire's ruler. Michael walks over to the middle of the platform, shivering.
:Michael: 'Allo, Saliva, I won't be long.
:Saliva: It's Mallory's platform, so not a problem. Hey, isn't that Silver?
:Michael: That's just a stage prop.
Silver fumes.
:Saliva: Ahh, carry on.
:Michael: Right, so Silver and Mallory, we've had our great times and our bad times together. I've gotten to experience many things I've never gotten to experience in a typical family.
:Silver: Yeah, you were kind of cool admittedly.
:Michael: Oh man Silver, don't make this any more painful than it has to be.
Michael giggles a little bit to himself, making Silver raise an eyebrow.
:Michael: So, my question is... no, I'll wait on that. What do you two think you're going to see?
:Silver: I wanna see you beat the crap out of Hammerhead, although I guess maybe I'm expecting too much.
:Mallory: Maybe you're going to tell us a secret that'll help us take down Hammerhead and whoever the hell this fake Mallory person happens to be?
Michael tries to hold back giggles to himself, which were only getting louder.
:Silver: What's so funny, Michael?
:Michael: See, you're both correct! Now I have a question for both of you.
Michael grins nastily.
:Michael: How oblivious are you to the truth behind me?
:Silver: Uhhh-
Michael lets out a giggle before cupping his mouth.
:Michael: I've got one more thing to say to both of you before I tell you a terrible secret. This whole time that I've been with you two, I've treasured the great moments, but in the end you're both nothing but...
Michael cackles as he spins around, transforming into False Mallory, and then into Hammerhead, who holds Mallory's Mind Weaver up high as everyone gasps.
:Hammerhead: COMPLETE IDIOTS!
===Chapter Six: The Castaway===
:8:02 A.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Palace of the Powerful, Zaxina
Hammerhead evilly cackles as he stands before the riddled Zins, with Silver and Mallory looking both angry and confused by this sudden revelation. Hammerhead, Michael, and this fake Mallory were all the same person? The Zins were thrown for a loop here.
:Silver: Wait, how the hell and what the fuck?
:Hammerhead: Ahaha! Ya really weren't seeing that comin', weren't ya?
:'Hammerhead folds his fins and has a cackling fit, with Saliva looking really confused.
:Saliva: I demand answers! What the hell is going on here?
:Hammerhead: Oh believe me, ya'll know shortly, Saliva! My dear cousin...
Hammerhead snaps his fins, forming elastic chains that stretch and wrap around Saliva's body, keeping him bound and trapping him against the floor. He tries to shake himself free, to no avail.
:Saliva: I-I demand you to free me, Mallory!
:Hammerhead: Ya can shut it, Saliva.
Hammerhead generates a strip of tape that gets stretched across Saliva's lips, shutting him up entirely.
:Hammerhead: Now, what was I going to do? Oh right, the big revelation.
Hammerhead turns his head to Silver and Mallory, who gritted their teeth angrily as he gives them each a piercing look. They knew that they were certainly outwitted here.
:Hammerhead: Ya see, this whole time I've known how to impersonate others and swap brains! And neither of ya somehow put two and two together, you're both fucking morons.
Hammerhead cackles.
:Hammerhead: I killed the real Michael and impersonated his body so that I'd come off as unassuming, and somehow through Michael got my hands on the girl's brain so I could use her memories for myself! All of ya were fooled big time and there's nothin' ya can do about it!
:Silver: Well jeez, I guess you have us cornered here.
:Hammerhead: Damn right! Look at me right now, ya two barnacleheads.
Silver and Mallory looked up Hammerhead's body, his body glowing radiantly like Saliva's was earlier as he held Mallory's Mind Weaver in an iron grip. A wide grin stretched across his wide face.
:Hammerhead: I'm invincible! Ain't it great? I can easily crush ya both now!
:Silver: You are one sick, twisted evil bastard. Well, probably not as bad as Gonzalo, but still.
:Hammerhead: Oh right, Gonzalo Dorado! That's the one guy that gave me all the intel I needed so I could begin making plans in the first place. Ya have him to thank for helping carry me so far.
Hammerhead's teeth chatter evilly in his mouth as Saliva looks at him and his children with worry and with a sense of fear that was thought to not really be present in his once-almighty personality.
:Silver: That monster Gonzalo, haunting us from beyond the grave!
:Hammerhead: Heheh, do ya miss him? We used to be pen pals.
Hammerhead walks away from the Zins as Silver does an angry lunge at him, missing.
:Hammerhead: Aren't ya gonna say something, Mallory? Are ya just... shocked?
:Mallory: Why does everyone make my life get harder and harder and harder?
Mallory shakes her fist.
:Mallory: The lord is making fun of me, he's laughing up there I can see!
:Hammerhead: Really? The only comment ya have is that ya feel like I'm making yar life harder? Pathetic.
:Mallory: Damn you, Hammerhead! Or by the name I know you better by, Michael!
Mallory takes Silver's Mind Weaver for herself and holds it firmly.
:Mallory: NERVE CHOPPER!
Mallory fires a purple crescent-shaped wave of energy at Hammerhead, which he backflips out of the way of and places a fin down on Saliva's paralyzed shoulder.
:Hammerhead: Awww, ya must be restricted with yar brother's weaker weapon. NERVE BOIL!
Hammerhead fires a blast of magenta-colored boiling water at them, which Mallory pushes her brother out of the way up. Silver and Mallory get up, the former growling.
:Silver: What do you want, Hammerhead?
:Hammerhead: I want the entire world for myself!
Hammerhead cackles as he kisses the tip of Mallory's weapon.
:Hammerhead: I'd like to remake everything that exists right now into my own image! Everywhere ya look, ya see my face and my body, with no chance of escapism in yar reach. Hehe.
:Mallory: You're going to have to make a fight for it, then!
Mallory prepares to cast a spell, but Hammerhead smirks as he holds up Mallory's Mind Weaver and grins toothily. He certainly wasn't going to go down without a fight.
:Hammerhead: I'm surprised ya two aren't just giving up already. There is nothing ya can do now that I've got my fi- I mean, my hands around the entire globe!
:Mallory: We won't be giving up to the likes of you!
:Hammerhead: Then perish! NERVE BOIL!
Silver grabs Mallory's hand and helps pull her out of harm's way, taking his Mind Weaver back and staring Hammerhead with very focused snake-like eyes.
:Silver: SLEEP WELL, BEAST!
Silver conjures a fiery-red spiral spell that heads towards Hammerhead's head. He uses Mallory's Mind Weaver to counter the spell, watching it break before him as Silver looks appalled.
:Hammerhead: Was that really the best ya can do?
:Silver: Shut your annoying mouth please!
:Hammerhead: No can do! Sleep well you filthy rat... NERVE SPLITTER!
Silver takes a direct hit this time, falling over and uncontrollably flinching as the nerves inside his body begin to fail. Mallory looked horrified, taking Silver's weapon back from him and raising it high.
:Mallory: This one's for you, Silver! Heal up...
Mallory quickly heals her brother, who gets up and takes his weapon back just in time as Hammerhead pins Mallory down to the floor, making her scream and squirm under him uncomfortably.
:Hammerhead: Nice job opening yaself like this, Mallory! Ya know, I see why Michael honestly liked ya two so much, it was because ya were both adorably stupid.
:Mallory: GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!
Mallory tries to push him off, but Silver raises his Mind Weaver and points it at Hammerhead.
:Silver: NERVE SPLITTER!
Silver blasts a series of purple crescent beams at Hammerhead, which finally hit him and push him off of Mallory, knocking him down to the floor as blood begins to leave him through his mouth and skin.
:Hammerhead: God damn it, I've had enough of yar horseplay!
Hammerhead hops over to Saliva, pulling on his elastic chain as he rips the tape off of Saliva's mouth.
:Saliva: YEEEEEEEEEOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
:Hammerhead: Now ya listen to me Saliva, I want ya to take out those imposters before ya!
:Saliva: Why should I trust you, you traitor?
Hammerhead smirks as he pulls on the chains surrounding Saliva's throat, making him gag.
:Hammerhead: Because if ya don't, yar life is forfeit.
Saliva grits his teeth fiercely as Hammerhead sits down and tries to heal from his injuries. Saliva does get up though, holding his Mind Weaver and pointing it at his children.
:Saliva: I honestly don't want to do this, because for all I know you could be my real children, but there are things I need to do and I can't do them if you two are in, master's way.
:Silver: We are your real children, though! Weren't you watching us fighting?
:Mallory: Please, we're the deal deal!
:Hammerhead: Don't listen to their nonsense! Lemme put it this way Saliva baby, the real Silver is still somewhere deep in space and I'm the real Mallory disguising as a shark dude to mess with these dimwit props!
:Saliva: Oh dear.
Saliva walks over to his children, with a look of fear evident on his face.
:Saliva: I have no choice, I'm so sorry. Begone, you mischievous stage props... DEARTH WAVE!
In a moment's notice, Saliva bashes his Mind Weaver against the ground, destroying every single ounce of life around himself that isn't Silver or Mallory or Hammerhead, who instead look very weakened and can hardly stand up anymore. They were able to get back on their knees, though.
:Hammerhead: Wow...
Silver and Mallory looked much more wrinkled and blue than they did before, eyes bloodshot as their bodies struggled to even get back up from such an intense attack. Saliva made everything around him look considerably more grey or brown, draining out life even from the palace itself.
:Saliva: This is the end of the road. Your deaths will be swift and painless.
::
::
:Saliva: You are my children, nobody else can still be surviving after all of that.
:Hammerhead: Oh please. Saliva, ya're going to have to get rid of them now.
:Saliva: You are not my daughter!
:Hammerhead: And ya aren't in control! Who has the higher ground here?
Saliva keeps himself silent as Hammerhead points Mallory's Mind Weaver at his heart.
:Hammerhead: Send them flying, you almighty idiot!
:Silver: No! You can't give in like this!
Saliva swallows.
:Saliva: I'm so sorry, but... I don't want to die just yet.
Saliva swings his long Mind Weaver like it were a golf club to send them flying away from the temple, watching them fall down into the metropolis of Sylvania below. He sheds a tear right afterward.
:Zellen: SILVIE!!! NOOOOO!!
Having watched everything were Scotch and Zellen, who immediately run over to the edge to see Silver and Mallory disappear into the fog covering almost all of Sylvania's floor.
:Scotch: I... I saw everything.
:Valerie: That's fucked up!
:Scotch: Pierce, Medea, Zellen, and Altha! I'm immediately dispatching all four of you to go retrieve your loved ones before anything more happens to them! They are in danger!
:Pierce: On it!
:Zellen: I'M COMING, SWEETHEART!
The four lovers leave the scene, leaving Scotch, Valerie, Spittle and Vanilla to concentrate on other matters. Vindozz, who stayed silent, quietly went after them. Scotch took some deep breaths, angry sweat rolling down his strained cheeks.
:Scotch: Silver and Mallory, although they tried their best to take out Saliva, were easily sent plummeting towards Sylvania. He's not even at his maximum strength anymore, that shark dude is.
:Valerie: If any of us go up there, we're gonna get annihilated... we need a lot of backup.
Scotch sighs and folds his arms.
:Scotch: Saliva being alive again and now being used as a powerslave for Hammerhead spells bad news. I guess it's time to carry out a Code Black plan, Valerie.
:Valerie: What's that?
:Scotch: It involves me needing to contact all of the satellite rulers. We're gonna need everyone's help in either sealing away Saliva and that wretched shark monster or at least convincing Saliva he's doing the wrong things and getting him on our side.
:Valerie: I understand, I don't know how you're going to get all of them here so easily though.
:Vanilla: Oh believe me, everyone already knows. You can't just ignore all that damage Saliva did when he finally woke up, right? He damaged some of the satellites outright.
:Scotch: Precisely. I'm going to give all of them the signal to come here and do something. Special priority to Satellite 15 guys because we have the most history with the Zins and I'd love to see Kýrios do something about Saliva.
:Vanilla: Yeah... so we're already halfway there. 
:Scotch: Also, I should point out that Michael and that fake Mallory were just Hammerhead the whole time, that's something I found out before Saliva got pushed under the shark man's control. That reveal doesn't really matter now though so let's just focus on taking this monster out.
:Spittle: That's what I was trying to remember!
:Valerie: That's really disappointing, but it makes sense now. No wonder Michael took out Dribble and didn't really handle anything particularly well back there.
Scotch sighs and nods.
:Scotch: I'm going to go see if I can get Kýrios or Zodiez to give the signal. I'll be back.
Scotch walks off and gets out his phone and calls up Kýrios. Valerie and Spittle catch up with Scotch as Vanilla dangles her legs off the edge of the palace and eats a sundae. The camera pans out to show all the chaos happening below them in Sylvania, showing Silver and Mallory having crashed through a concert roof.
:11:45 A.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Sylvania Ground Zero, Zaxina
Silver and Mallory woke up to find themselves seated up at a concert, wrapped up in bandages and given medical support by someone they haven't seen yet. They were doing fine, still alive, but unsure of what was going on at the moment.
:Mallory: Where are we...
:Silver: I don't know, but we have to find a way out of here and finish what Hammerhead started.
Silver gets up, seeing that he's inside a very 70's-looking place. Classic rock music blasted loudly around the concert and everyone looked like they were having a good time. He pulls up his sister, although almost falls to his knees considering how weak Saliva left him.
:Silver: Damn, not even the adrenaline of grunge music is gonna give me the energy I need to start making my way back up to the top! I knew Saliva was packing in power, but holy shit!
:Mallory: Don't give up Silver, this is just a small setback.
Mallory softly smiles as she pulls up her younger brother. She looked less injured than he did, probably because she tried much harder than Silver to stay out of harm's way.
:Silver: Right. I can't panic.
Mallory nods as she picks up her younger brother.
:Silver: Uhh, how were we given treatment? I've noticed that our worst bruises have been covered up.
:Mallory: I don't know, maybe your girlfriend Medea had a helping hand?
:Silver: She might've, but I feel like if she did that she'd still be around to help me out. Why would she just leave me here?
:Mallory: Yeah, that's a fair point... hm.
Mallory looks around the room. There really wasn't anything interesting around here beyond Blue Öyster Cult rocking the stage. Mallory shrugs as she turns back to her sibling.
:Mallory: We should probably focus on getting out of here in case something terrible is awaiting us here.
:Silver: You betcha, let's get outta here. Wish I could stay and feel the noise, but...
:Mallory: Mmm, don't think too much about it.
As Mallory lifts her sibling and begins to walk down the middle of the concert aisle, the sound of a loud finger snap makes them turn back around. Mallory froze.
:???: Hey! You can't leave yet!
:Mallory: Huh?
Mallory stares at the stage. Blue Öyster Cult's attention was completely shifted towards them, abruptly halting their performance of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" to do so.
:???: Yeah, you two! Where do you think you're going?
:Mallory: Is this how I have to meet my favorite musicians in the world?
:???: Come backstage, please. For all those in the audience please stay patient as I talk to these two about something very important that concerns them. You may call me Eric, by the way.
Silver and Mallory stared at each other in confusion, but followed Eric Bloom and the rest of the band backstage. Mallory placed Silver down in a chair, sitting in one next to him as all the Blue Öyster Cult band members seated themselves. Mallory couldn't tell if she was dreaming or not- did she really just get kickdropped into a concert held by her favorite band of all time, who happened to want to speak to her?
:Mallory: Uhh, what's going on, Eric?
:Eric: We would like to make it clear that we got the emergency room ladies to heal you after you somehow broke through the concert roof and survived on impact. That was very metal.
:Mallory: Erm, thank you?
:Eric: My name is Eric, as you know, and these are my friends Albert, Joe, Allen, and Donald. We were asked by four friends of yours to look after both of you and help escort you to the Palace of the Powerful.
:Donald: We were reluctant at first, but then we examined your bodies and realized that you for some reason or another have great significance to the phenomenons happening in the skies.
:Eric: We loaded up those friends of yours in our band van and we plan on flying you up there.
:Mallory: I really appreciate it, but... how did we just haphazardly end up in your concert? You guys are my favorite band of all time! There has to be something suspicious going on here.
:Donald: Sometimes luck just comes to you. There's no strings attached to our words.
:Joe: We were just going to ask the guards to let your friends come in and retrieve your bodies, but we were swarmed by seas of photographers and fans and so we couldn't really get to the guards.
:Eric: I'm sorry if this very sudden chain of events is making you uncomfortable.
:Mallory: No like, it's perfectly fine, it's just really surprising to me. The chances of something like this happening are so ridiculously small that I can't believe it actually happened.
Eric gives off a hearty laugh as he stands up, walking over to Mallory and reaching out his hand.
:Eric: C'mon, let's get this show on the road.
:Mallory: Alright!
Mallory takes his hand. Eric's smile was warm, a pleasant one that wasn't riddled with layers, much unlike Michael's smiles which always gave off an offputting vibe.
:Allen: Say, why is your friend so silent?
Mallory looks at Silver, who was trembling the entire time.
:Silver: B... Blue Öyster... Cult... talking to... us...
Silver almost passes out, making everyone laugh as Mallory picks up her mesmerized sibling. They walk out the concert backdoor when Eric suddenly stops.
:Eric: Oh wait crap, lemme get the next band to be playing today to take our place. I'll be back in a snap.
Eric vanishes for a couple of seconds, leaving the rest of the band to lead Silver and Mallory to what looked like a big black van with a gap in the roof that can be climbed out of. Inside and buckled up were Pierce, Medea, Zellen, and Altha, who stayed calm even as they saw their lovers were alright.
:Silver: There you guys are...
Silver and Mallory open up the doors to the van, climbing inside as their lovers greet them with open arms. Everything was handled quietly- Silver and Mallory had only been knocked out for hours and everyone already knew that the two Zins were in capable hands.
:Pierce: I'm so glad you can still move Silver, please feel free to rest. We're going to try and move you two back up to the top of the Palace of the Powerful and give those freaks the shit they deserve!
:Altha: Mallory, I'm so happy you're safe...
Medea takes Silver close to her body and strokes his hair, holding him closely. She looked mildly annoyed, like the world kept taking him away from her, and she still felt embarrassment from how she handled that scuffle she had with him just yesterday.
:Vindozz: Glad you're here, Silver. I think.
Silver suddenly wheels his head around, seeing that Vindozz was also strapped in.
:Vindozz: I've kinda given up on the idea of ruling the world with you, now all I wanna see is prove you had that potential the whole time and kick Saliva in the ass for me.
Vindozz passes over her staff to him, which he takes without question.
:Vindozz: That's my Shadow Scepter, use it wisely. Both you and your sister should be armed now.
:Silver: That's very generous of you, thank you.
:Vindozz: Whatever.
Vindozz rolls her eyes and turns away. But her cheeks reddened a little bit, which she hid from the others.
:Zellen: Kinda funny that you two just happened to drop into a Blue Öyster Cult concert of all places. Anyone could've been playing there, imagine all the different possibilities.
:Silver: I suppose I'm lucky.
:Zellen: Damn right you are!
Zellen pulls Silver onto her lap, which turns into a tug-of-war with Medea when Eric suddenly unlocks the driver's seat and the whole band pours into the front seats.
:Eric: Alright, let's take us to the Palace of the Powerful!
:Silver: Who'd you get to replace you guys at the concert?
:Eric: Uhh, I can't remember their name, all their songs sound the same to me.
Silver places his ear to the window, managing to make out the words "I’ll have the quesadilla, haha" and facepalming so hard that you could make a reaction image out of it.
:Silver: Yeah, I know which band it is now.
:Eric: Oh good, I don't have to think about it.
Eric puts his keys in the ignition and begins to drive off the van. Against all of Silver's expectations, the van grows a pair of giant bat wings and begins to ascend into the air, starting to revolve around the Palace of the Powerful. Silver and Mallory were really surprised.
:Silver: Whoa, this baby really can fly?
:Donald: Our friend M. Shadows suggested that design choice, and now we get to finally use it for the greater good. Here we are now, riding the stairway to the stars!
:Silver: I get the reference.
Allen turns around, handing Silver and his friends some Burger Queen meals wrapped up in plastic.
:Allen: We're not really hungry but you can't really fight on an empty stomach, so take these for what they're worth. They're probably going to help you in case you get into a pinch.
:Silver: Thank you!
:Vindozz: Oh, am I really unsophisticated enough to be tempted to eat one of these? ...Yes I am.
As the Zins (and Vindozz) chow down on their burgers and suck in their fries, Eric does a full front loop with the van and begins to take them towards the palace.
:Eric: Alright, this should be a snap- AIIIE!
Eric suddenly swerves out of the way of five wyverns as they suddenly emerge out of nowhere, carrying a frosty breath that threatens to turn the whole van frozen solid.
:Eric: What the devil?
:Silver: Hey, who are those people?
On closer inspection, the wyverns are rode by Hmamerhead's assistants- namely Hades, Agnes, Ivo, Tristian, and Alice. They give chase to the van, leaving Eric to really floor it.
:Eric: How do we shake them off?
:Donald: I don't know! I didn't even know dragons were real?
:Mallory: As someone who carries dragon blood, those are wyverns. But god, not this shit again!
Everyone keeps their eyes firmly on the wyverns, including Eric through a rearview mirror as he tries to swerve the van out of the way of the monsters' frost breath.
:Mallory: Silver, we're going to need to fight them off ourselves! We're the only ones armed in here and the only ones those wyvern-riding fiends want!
:Silver: Right.
Silver shoves his entire burger in his mouth and stuffs some fries in there as he unbuckles himself and climbs over the seats in front of him, climbing out of the gap in the van's roof.
:Silver: Oh, uhhh...
Mallory climbs out after him, shoving two burgers into her mouth to outperform her sibling.
:Mallory [muffled]: What's wrong Silver?
:Silver: Aha, don't worry about it, I'm just a silly acrophobe.
Silver breathes as Mallory grabs his hand, both of the demons armed with magical staffs as they face the frost-breathing wyverns closing in on them and Blue Öyster Cult's batwing van. How did we get here?
:Silver: A-Alright, you monsters! I'm going to give you a piece of my mind!
:Tristian: Oh look, dere dey are! Let's get 'em!
The wyverns swarm in, but Silver raises his scepter to make a shield that blocks their frost breath from reaching him or the van he's using as a platform.
:Alice: Silver, you bad motherzoinker! I'm going to beat you to the fuckin' ground for leaving me behind in the snow! My entire body still hurts from what you did to me!
:Tristian: Yer frickin' insane fer messin' vith us, Zinny! I'm gonna rip ya a new one!
Silver keeps defending himself and the van from the oncoming attack.
:Silver: It's no good just defending this van Mallory, we need to actually blow these guys off the wyverns!
:Mallory: How're we going to do that!?
:Silver: I don't know, but nothing good will come without trying!
As the wyverns zoom back in, Silver's teeth grits.
:Ivo: Without me, Hammerhead wouldn't be anywhere as successful!
Ivo transforms himself into Silver, then Mallory, then Hammerhead, and a multitude of random Zaxinian citizens before resuming his usual form and diving in.
:Ivo: Thar she blows!
Silver blocks off another ice attack as he charges up his scepter, with Mallory tightly gripping the Mind Weaver in her hand as they prepare to give these guys a proper fight.
:Hades: Hammerhead was so smart that not even we knew he was that Michael fuck until he said so this morning!
:Agnes: Anyway... goodbye, Zins.
:Alice: I call dibs on the bodies!
Silver hotly breathes and clutches Vindozz's weapon tightly. It's time to dish out some pain!
::
::
Silver and Mallory, after placing much work in, manage to make all the wyvern riders fall with their strong attacks. Silver wipes the sweat off his forehead as he watches the riders fall.
:Tristian: Yar goin' ter pay fer dis!
Silver watches them plummet into the fog before slipping back into the van, taking deep breaths as he relaxes with everyone else. Mallory joins in, taking her mind off of what just happened with another burger.
:Eric: Thank you for dispatching of those wyvern riders! We can probably make a safe landing now!
:Silver: I am so grateful for that. Talk about being snuck up upon out of nowhere.
Silver gets guided by Eric and his crew back towards the temple, where they prepare to make a second strike against Saliva Zin after being knocked off so easily the first time.
:Pierce: I am frozen in anticipation.
As the van gets taken towards the temple, Strawberry stands in the distance accompanied by a really hungry-looking Ivy, who was looking really impatient as she waited for the chance to eat up Saliva.
:Strawberry: None of them know what they're in for, heh...
Strawberry laughs to himself as Ivy holds her grumbling stomach and looks at Strawberry, whose three eyes weren't directed towards her for the moment.
:Strawberry: I went from thinking Hammerhead was full of himself to thinking he's the best person there is out there, and I look forward so much to helping him out as his second-in-command. Ahaha!
Ivy grabs Strawberry's body and squeezes him.
:Strawberry: What's going o- AHHHHHH!
With no hesitation, Ivy eats up Strawberry with her stomach, the inside of her ravenous stomach working like very sharp fan blades that spread his strawberry juices everywhere around her body.
:Ivy: So hungry, god damn it, Hammerhead's going to kill me for that...
But she was about to eat her words, as she suddenly lets out a shrill scream. Her eyes turn an olive green as her body becomes slightly more sickly, vines spreading from her body as a massive amount of thorns spread over her skin like it were a fast-acting disease.
:Ivy: W-What's happening?
:Strawberry: Don't worry about it Ivy, we can work something out. Just stay low and wait, and then I'll explain an idea I had. For now, embrace yourself as my powerful vessel.
:12:51 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Kýrios' Throne Room, Satellite 15
The camera pans all the way up into the skies, towards the brand-new Satellite 15. Inside we see Kýrios and Zodiez drying themselves off after a shower and walking over to the latter's ringing cellphone.
:Zodiez: Oh, Scotch is calling us. Interesting.
:Kýrios: Talk to the one who calls.
:Zodiez: Heh, never change the way you speak hubby, never change.
Zodiez snatches up the phone with an inky tentacle and holds it up to her ear, listening for Scotch's response. She leans on her husband as she tries to think of what to say.
:Zodiez: Hallo?
:Scotch [voice]: There you are Zodiez, about time you've picked up! Where have you been?
:Zodiez: I was taking a really long shower following a universal tournament I took part in, why? Is there an emergency at hand, my favorite veteran army general?
:Scotch [voice]: I have been trying to call you for hours to provide Zaxina with backup! Saliva Zin is back alive and the entire universe is now at stake because of it! We. Need. Help!
:Zodiez: Oh don't worry about it, I already held a meeting with the rulers of each satellite as soon as almost every satellite reported collision damage with asteroid debris. We decided to not take part unless Silver himself was downed.
:Scotch [voice]: Are you crazy? Silver can't do that by himself! He got his ass kicked anyway.
:Zodiez: Is that so? Well, shit! I'm on it!
:Scotch [voice]: Thank you! We need immediate assistance!
Scotch hangs up, leaving Zodiez to rush out of the bathroom with Kýrios following suit as they run into the throne room and get by the intercom system. Zodiez picks up a mic and screams into it.
:Zodiez: Attention, attention, all Satellite 15 residents and everywhere else across the Zaxina system! We are facing a horrible dilemma down on Zaxina itself; Saliva Zin has been freed from his seal and is threatening the freedom and safety of everyone and everything everywhere! Silver Zin, his successor, has been unable to put him down and we need everyone to be on the front lines!
The camera pans throughout the different rooms in the satellite.
:Zodiez [voice]: All men, women, and children must report to the front lines! Everything you've known and loved may be at stake if Saliva's reign isn't put to an immediate halt!
Zodiez takes a deep breath.
:Zodiez [voice]: Do NOT panic, I repeat, do NOT panic, we need everyone we can to help out!
:Kýrios [voice]: Fight you can, then report. Fight you can't, then be idle.
:Zodiez [voice]: Kýrios is right, sorry. If you do not have skills you believe can be used against Saliva, then feel free to remain behind as everyone else is encouraged to venture off to war!
A montage of reactions is played here, showcasing many of the characters we've grown to know and love.
:Agantuk: Pardon me, what? What's going on outside?
:Devina: What!? Shit uh, gotta pack my stuff!
:Black Eyes: Can't I just eat trash in peace?
:Oyster: D-Danger?
:Snickers: Oh cool, this is some of the most exciting news I've heard in years.
:Oyster: S-Snickers are you c-crazy? We might die, you... you idiot!
:Snickers: Hey, at least it'll be a grand death if we lose! And we won't lose!
:Smartie: Hella, fings art lookin' excitin' again! Hella yeah!
:Crymsia: It's time to rip and tear once more!
:Azrail: I hope Silver's doing okay.
:Whiskey: Yeehaw, the apocalypse is nigh!
:Hector: Aye, we're probably fucked now.
:Noise: Well, at least Medea's not bringing along the end of the world this time.
:Junkhead: Ehh? Wowie, holy shit, can't believe what motherzoinkin' mess Silver's gotten himself into this time!
:Chance: Over a century of living and my life gets to end on an interesting note, ooh.
:Vizole: On the count of one two three, I will help set us free....
:Zonas: Jeez, and I thought Mallory was terrifying ten years ago.
:Sinicini: C'mon Zonas! Let's kick some ass!
:Adexene: Affirmative. There are two asses worth kicking on Zaxina.
:Zonas: You're right, let's push on!
:Arikan: Are we going to have to make a new Satellite 15 after this?
:Thanatos: Ahaha, oh boy. Wasn't ready for this.
:Vilicus: It's clobbering time.
:Minute: Stay strong, everyone! No pessimism allowed in my lobby!
:Manikin Man: The radiant man must die!
:Dusty: Hey Keil, do you have any more Doritos?
:Keil: Nope.
:Dusty: Man, I can't fight on an empty stomach.
:Niki: I'm gonna rip everything apart lickity-split!
:Werine: Awwooooooo!
:Lance: It's time for me, Lance, to shine more brightly than any other star in the sky!
:Waxy: Get all the hospital wards ready, there's going to be too many patients...
:Nomila: As if my insomnia can't get any worse.
:Epica: All weapons are 90% off!
:Penny: Someone get the shuttles ready!
:Kispel: Mmm, Mallory, I need to make sure she's safe...
:Quade: Me too! Let's split!
:Mania: This somehow puts me more on edge than the destruction of Satellite 15.
:Ferris: This gives me massive Mallory vibes.
:Electric Eye: God damn it, not again!
:Methademic: Hm. [snorts] Hmmm. [snorts] Damn everything.
:Beck: Let's stop lollygagging and get our asses out there!
:Azul: Roses are red, violets are blue, I'll miss you.
:Rose: I'm not going anywhere hon! Let's stick together!
:Mr. Dick: Anyone want to help me egg Azrail's house?
:Dream Weaver: Ooh, heh, things are finally getting interesting.
That was a lot to take in, wasn't it? Every single one of these people flood over to the satellite's docking haven, grabbing shuffles and taking them down to Zaxina where many troubles wait. Kýrios and Zodiez watch everything happen from their televisions.
:Kýrios: Way by, radiant shark person, eliminate too.
:Zodiez: Right, if you see some strange shark person glowing a bright vibrant color, you'll need to kill them fast! They're directly affiliated with Saliva and causing a lot of trouble!
:Kýrios: Subscribe, you must!
Zodiez shuts off the intercom, sweat pouring down her forehead.
:Zodiez: I think a lot of people got the memo. I hope that we can do something against Saliva, because well, he had a looooong reign over Zaxina and it took an eternity to defeat him. And we weren't even the ones who put him down!
:Kýrios: Righto, think it was Kosmoxethians. But.
Kýrios looks outside a window. Kosmoxeth itself was split into a thousand pieces.
:Kýrios: This time, alone we are.
The camera focuses back on Silver and the van.
:Silver: Thank you for the lift, Eric!
:Eric: No worries! We're gonna uhh go and record a new album now! We'll leave our van to you guys, I feel like you're going to need it and I won't hesitate in handing it over!
:Silver: Wait, how're you going to leave?
:Eric: Erm, don't worry about it! Watch this!
Eric and the rest of Blue Öyster Cult leap off the palace, with Eric creating a portal for the rest of his crew to travel through. So, Eric Bloom is a Herald too huh? How many of them are out there?
:Zellen: Oh come on, everyone is stealing my style! Even old men in their 70's!
:Silver: Don't be too envious of them, honey.
Scotch turns around, grinning as he sees the Zins in one piece each.
:Scotch: There you guys are! I've got good news for all of you!
:Silver: What's it?
:Scotch: We have back-up!
Pouring from the skies were dozens if not hundreds of massive shuttles, hitting Zaxina at varying speeds. In organized squads everyone heads towards the city of Sylvania, with Clair Voyell creating a stairway that leads right up to the palace. Just as Hammerhead prepares to attack her, he gets distracted by the aggressors flying overhead, including the likes of Hector and Millicent.
:Silver: Holy crap!
:Scotch: We've got this in the bag Silver! No matter what Hammerhead does, he can't stop us when we're all banded together against him! I'm fully confident we can somehow do this!
:Silver: Finally, some good news!
:Medea: I'm really excited to see what everyone's going to bring against Hammerhead and Saliva. I'm ready for this long, long acid trip to finally end.
:Valerie: Yeah, I can certainly agree with that.
:Scotch: All I want is for Saliva's ass to get kicked. Let's go back up there and see what happens... maybe it should just be Silver and Mallory that go up first, then we'll all storm on later?
:Vindozz: Mmm, sure.
:Vanilla: I think that's the best form of action we can take, dear.
Silver and Mallory nod as they go back onto the platform where Hammerhead and Saliva are struggling on, pulling out their weapons and pointing them at the two villains.
:Silver: This is the end of the line for you, you troublemakers!
:Hammerhead: Ya two always just come right back around to mess with me, huh? I've had enough of it!
Hammerhead pulls Mallory's Mind Weaver out, pointing it at the Zins.
:Hammerhead: I was always a castaway in the Zin extended family, everyone else had some kind of special talent and I had nothing besides my high intellect. I'm tired of being surrounded by snowflakes like ya!
:Silver: Your entire motivation behind all of this was pitiful envy?
:Hammerhead: Yes! One time, I ran away from home and nobody bothered looking after me. Nobody cared about me because I wasn't special or whatever. But I'm special now!
Hammerhead snickers evilly.
:Hammerhead: Now that I've been gifted with Saliva Zin's long-lost strength, I will crush all of ya! And there won't be a drop of remorse from me for anyone I end up killing, including ya two!
:Silver: I feel like I'm not getting the full story here.
:Hammerhead: I bring ya the truth! The honest goddamn truth, and ya can't tear that out of me!
:Silver: If I wanted to steal the universe and make it my own, I would've done so out of a motivation to change it for everyone's benefit! Not to get petty revenge on my cousins!
:Hammerhead: Ya might think it's just petty revenge, but it's the only way I can justify my existence.
Silver charges up Vindozz's scepter.
:Silver: Then maybe you should cease to exist!
Hammerhead looks taken aback by that before returning his signature toothy grin.
:Hammerhead: If you really want me to die, then how about you try and kill me right here?
:Mallory: With pleasure!
Silver and Mallory charge up their respective weapons and fire a powerful Nerve Chopper at Hammerhead, who moves out of the way and looks at Saliva.
:Hammerhead: Blow them off the top again, Saliva!
Saliva raises his Mind Weaver to do so, but he gasps in shock when he gets it stolen out of his hand.
:Saliva: Wha?
:Smartie: Nyeh heh heh!
Saliva doesn't even look that fazed, but Hammerhead was steaming as he watches Smartie fly away with the ultimate weapon. He looks even angrier as more Zaxinian heroes boarded the palace, making him raise his Mind Weaver high in the air and summon mammoth amounts of shadow soldiers.
:Hammerhead: Attack 'em, soldiers! Clear everything for me!
Silver grins and high fives Smartie.
:Mallory: Thank you, Smartie!
:Smartie: Ay, no problemo! Let's get dis show on da road!
Everyone that was involved in that massive Satellite 15 call was joining up fast. Hammerhead pushes everyone out of the way, facing the Zins himself as he looks very pissed off.
:Hammerhead: Believe me, I'm going to crush you right here, right now.
Hammerhead snaps his fins together, making a cage surround the entire Palace of the Powerful once more. He stares at his cousin's determined children, pulling out Mallory's Mind Weaver.
:Hammerhead: I'm turning you both to sto-
In the midst of all the ongoing rage, Kispel revs his way up the stairs and knocks Hammerhead to his feet, dropping Mallory's Mind Weaver as a result. He throws it back to Mallory, who gives Silver back his Mind Weaver and who in turn throws Vindozz's weapon back to her.
:Kispel: Good luck, you two!
Hammerhead looks powerless for the moment, but seeing as he is the master of the universe still, he yanks the Mind Weaver out of Smartie's hands with just gravity alone and wields it again.
:Hammerhead: Saliva. Do something useful and crush both of them for me, I need to hide somewhere and protect myself from incoming danger as I practice a few spells.
Saliva nods, taking his weapon back as Hammerhead creates a portal and goes off to places unknown. Saliva faces his children, still chained to Hammerhead's will against his own will.
:Saliva: You two are certainly my children, the difference between you and that shark monster is night and day. But my vitality won't last much longer in Hammerhead's fins, and so I need to take you both out where you stand.
Saliva grumbles.
:Saliva: I'm sorry, but that's just how things work around here.
:Silver: If you really can't just put aside the weapon and talk to us, then give me everything you've got! I don't want to feel emotional right now if you know what I mean!
::
::
Saliva breathes harshly, coughing up blood as everyone stands before the again-defeated Saliva Zin. He gasps weakly- he was surprisingly not as strong as many people expected him to be, although his power remained rather unchanged he was simply not immortal anymore.
:Saliva: It... It has been an honor to fight both of you. Know that although we are not on the same side, something that I cannot control because of Hammerhead, I am proud of both of you and wish you the utmost luck in taking out that ridiculous monster.
:Silver: I'm sorry it had to come down to this.
:Saliva: It's okay, well it's not okay, but there are so many ways I could die and I think being bested by my children when I'm in the wrong is the most honorable way to go out.
:Silver: I'm not going to kill you.
:Saliva: What?
:Mallory: We can't kill you, you're our father. You didn't want to battle us, but you didn't really have much of a choice in the end, did you?
:Silver: I had the impression that you held back so that you'd hope for a chance to hang out with us at least one more time. You really are a brilliant father, although oblivious sometimes apparently.
:Saliva: You nailed it, I wanted to spend time with you two and watch you two grow. Now I have, although not in the way I would've liked, it was still an honorable way to watch you two grow nonetheless.
Saliva sits down on his knees.
:Saliva: But please understand that the battle is not over. Hammerhead has stolen all my power and he's the one that you need to worry about. I can't do anything like he can anymore.
:Mallory: Where did he go, anyway?
:Saliva: Probably... I don't know.
:Silver: That's fine, we'll learn eventu-
:Hammerhead: SALIVA, WHAT THE HELL?
Storming out from a portal was Hammerhead, who easily snatched Saliva's weapon away from him and looked down upon him. Saliva whimpered, curling up as Hammerhead charged his weapon.
:Hammerhead: I gave ya a simple task and ya couldn't frickin' fulfill it!
:Saliva: You have to understand, these are my children! I'm tired of hurting them for you!
Hammerhead growls and angrily points Saliva's Mind Weaver (now his at this point) at Silver and Mallory, his teeth gritted together harshly and chattering as we speak.
:Hammerhead: This should've happened a long time ago! Watch and learn Saliva, as ya're going to be my second-in-command I might as well show ya how to handle even those ya love!
:Silver: This is ridic-
:Hammerhead: ADIOS! SHADOWMAKER!
The entire battlefield gets flushed out in just white and black as Hammerhead prepares to take out our protagonists, swiping their bodies multiple times with the Mind Weaver and watching as they become bloody, horrifying messes on the floor. They were still alive, but just as they look up, they see a flash of white.
:Hammerhead: No more! Goodbye, filthy Zinners!
As Hammerhead does the final charge, a silhouette suddenly moves between him and the Zins, knocking Hammerhead off his balance and restoring all the color back to the battlefield.
:Hammerhead: What is the meeting of this!?
Hammerhead looks at the penetrated heart at the end of his Mind Weaver, turning around to see a coughing, wheezing Saliva laying on the floor. There was a hole in his chest.
:Hammerhead: SALIVA! NO! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO WATCH!
:Saliva: S... Stay away from my children, y... you wretched castaway.
Saliva loses his color quickly as his blood pours over the concrete.
:Saliva: There was a reason nobody loved you, and it was because you hurt people. You showed no remorse for the people you hurt and that is why we disowned you in our family tree.
Saliva growls over to Silver and Mallory, who look appalled. Hardly because of his condition, but because of what he did for them- after all that fighting, he selflessly saved their lives.
:Saliva: And Silver and Mallory, I love you bo... b-both.
Saliva passes away on the floor. Hammerhead was steaming the entire time, especially as more and more people kept boarding the palace. He held his forehead in frustration. Silver and Mallory were speechless to everything, but held their father's pulseless hands close.
:Hammerhead: Prepare for hell, because whether ya like it or not, it is coming.
Hammerhead gives them a stern look.
:Hammerhead: Today will be the last day ya will ever see!
===Chapter Seven: So Cruel===
:1:25 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Palace of the Powerful, Zaxina
:Silver: What makes you think you've already won, Hammerhead?
:Mallory: Yeah we've made it this far, we're absolutely not going to give up here!
:Hammerhead: I'm not going to waste any more of my time watching ya two act so cocky. I'm going to enact my Plan B, whatever ya do I advise ya don't go after me. Or ya'll both suffer for it!
Hammerhead growls and turns his back, but just as he prepares to walk off, many more people surround him, leaving Hammerhead to just awkwardly stand there with Saliva's deceased body resting in his filthy fins.
:Hammerhead: There's no point in going after me, ya've already lost! Hehehe!
Hammerhead snarls at the Zins as they back him up against the riled-up crowd, who poke at him with their weapons and make him feel all the more agitated. He gives Silver a really filthy look.
:Silver: If we've lost, how come we're still standing here? How come you haven't taken us both down already? You're just acting cowardly and trying to get away from us because we're stronger than you, right?
:Mallory: Let's hit him, Silver!
Both Zins raise their Mind Weavers and hit him with a couple of Nerve Choppers. He hacks up blood as he gets pushed back into the mob, standing up and giving the two a very bloodshot stare.
:Mallory: Give in or you're probably not going to like what's coming next!
:Hammerhead: Where did all this suddenly cocky behavior come from!? Didn't ya just witness yar father die?
:Silver: We had a moment of silence for him, but he was never someone we got to be close with. All you really did was just make us even angrier, and now there's a price to be paid because of that!
Silver throws Hammerhead backwards, who has to fight off a lot of the people trying to tackle him at one time, whether they're friends or accompliances of the Zins'. He barely pulls himself out of the crowd, raising Saliva's Mind Weaver to completely clear up the space around himself, knocking several people over.
:Hammerhead: Hmmph! Maybe ya're both stronger than I've ever made ya two out to be. I probably shouldn't have unveiled my Michael disguise so soon, because there's nothing I can do now to trick either of ya...
:Silver: And this is the end of the line for you!
Silver fires another Nerve Chopper spell, which again makes collision with Hammerhead and makes him flip over backwards. Although he was now the undisputed ruler of the universe, blood leaked from his snout as he struggled to think.
:Hammerhead: Not so fast, filthy Zinner!
Hammerhead gives off a very evil, mischievous toothy grin.
:Hammerhead: If ya really wanna take me out, ya're gonna have to take yar time mounting the rest of this palace. Ohh, at the top ya'll see the world in a completely new light, and then ya'll be finished for good.
:Mallory: How about we just finish you off right here, right now!?
Hammerhead cackles as he waves his Mind Weaver, forming a spell that throws them both backwards as he begins to ascend up into the air, gloating as he looks down at their bruised and blued bodies.
:Mallory: What're you doing!?
:Hammerhead: I'm doing just as I said I would, girl. I'm going to ascend to the top of this palace.
:Mallory: We're already at the top!
:Hammerhead: That's just what you think, naive troublemaker lady!
Ascending from the ground in the distance was Hammerhead's headquarters, rusty chains and maces hanging off its sides as it floats over to the Palace of the Powerful. Beneath that headquarters apparently lied a sinkhole, the very one that connects with the sinkhole exposed as early as Chapter 1. That's how Michael went back and forth...
:Hammerhead: Now do ya see what I mean?
:Silver: Damn it, he's getting away...!
It was true. Hammerhead cackled like a maniac, still bruised and bloody as he magically makes his way to the top of his shark-shaped fortress. As it rooted itself into the ground, many monsters of various sizes and builds made their way out, armed as they set their eyes on Silver and Mallory. The villain's laughs only got more and more twisted...
:Hammerhead: I'm warnin' ya, don't follow me in here! I've got everything I need to win against you two!
:Silver: You're not going to get away with this!
:Hammerhead: Tough luck kiddo, because I already have!
Hammerhead laughs his head off as Hammerhead's goons charged at Silver and his allies.
:Mallory: Watch out everyone, we've got some monsters to smash up here!
We get shown some cinematics, including Valerie tearing apart the goons with her shurikens and Chance Roulette wrecking things up with his pinball and chain. Smartie can be seen tearing apart her enemies using just her teeth and Agantuk can be shown draining the life of every mortal being around himself.
:Silver: Keep going, we're doing good with tearing them up!
Vanilla stole the show, throwing around sharp-edged ice cream cones that pierce through the skins of Hammerhead's soldiers and casting waves of ice to put out the flames and spirits of those ahead of her.
:Silver: Slick moves, Vanilla!
:Vanilla: Thank you darling, I do try!
Vindozz casts a magical spell that makes some of Hammerhead's gluttonous allies burst from the inside, twirling around her dark scepter as she lets out a very haughty, satisfied fit of laughter.
:Vindozz: Maybe being a hero isn't so inherently repulsive after all?
Silver handles the last attack, shredding through a horde of enemies with an improvised Nerve Splitter that utterly destroys a row of baddies ahead of him, licking the blood off his fingers as they stumble and fall.
:Silver: That should be the last of them, let's not make haste and move inside!
:Valerie: Alright, looks like my time is now!
Many familiar allies of Silver rushed into Hammerhead's headquarters with him, including Zonas, Oyster, Devina, Black Eyes, Mania, Agantuk, Crymsia, and even Ferris. As they storm inside, Hammerhead gasps in a reasonable panic attack.
:Hammerhead: No! No no no, I really should've spent more time with Saliva because I honestly have no idea I'm going to place an end to the Zins' plans to put me down! C'mon Hammerhead, think, think!
Then Hammerhead pauses to think. He sees Saliva's deceased bodies in his hands, then one of Agnes' spellbooks, and that mind-reading device he had much earlier. Thinking about his legion's individual assets, Hammerhead cruelly smiles.
:Hammerhead: Oh ho ho, Hammerhead ya genius, how did ya forget how spoiled ya were?
Hammerhead quickly flips open Agnes' book of silent spells, licking his lips evilly as he flips between pages, trying to look for the perfect spell. He gloats as he looks for something that can work for him, his fins twitching in glee.
:Hammerhead: Let's see here-
:Ivy: Hammerhead, helpp.
:Hammerhead: Ivy! Foolish woman, what're ya doing here while I'm planning my complicated revenge plot!
:Ivy: I've been so endlessly hungry, I was promised food days ago and you haven't followed up on your promise. Please, Hammerhead, more than ever I need to consume that god's almighty power for myself!
:Hammerhead: Lemme do something real quick first.
Hammerhead smirks as he picks up Saliva's body and runs the mind-reading device on Saliva's body, sampling a bit of his blood before throwing him at Ivy. Ivy shivers as she begins to devour Saliva's body, able to once more seal her stomach as Hammerhead twitches his fins and snickers like he were the most evil bastard that ever lived.
:Hammerhead: Alright, I think I found the ultimate punishment to use against these Zins for all the meddling they've caused to me over the past week. Hehe, it's wonderful, so diabolical... it's in this book, right?
Hammerhead quickly checks as Ivy rips apart Saliva's body.
:Hammerhead: Yes. So Silver and Mallory, ya have no idea what yar up against now... Ivy!
:Ivy: Y-Yes?
:Hammerhead: I want ya to venture inside the palace for me and feast on anyone that comes by! I need some alone time to practice some immensely powerful spell and ya need to hold my enemies up. Hehehe, remember the deal.
:Ivy: I will oblige.
As Ivy walks off inside the palace, Hammerhead turns around and sees a fly buzzing around him.
:Hammerhead: Oh, shoo! I don't have time for ya!
Hammerhead winks at the fly while pointing his Mind Weaver, chanting something in silence that makes the bee freeze in place before plummeting towards the floor, shattering into a million marble splinters.
:Hammerhead: I have time for more pressing matters, hehehe!
Listening in on Hammerhead's words was the usually easygoing Black Eyes, who paid close attention to at least half the things that Hammerhead said. Black Eyes walked almost nervously.
:Silver: Is something wrong, Black Eyes?
:Black Eyes: I've heard things that not only would I fit into a cringe compilation, but I'd be very fearful for. The kinds of things people would do to spread a message, somehow even I'm concerned about what's lying in store for us.''
:Silver: Right. We'll be careful.
:1:31 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Sylvania Ground Zero, Zaxina
Meanwhile, down in Sylvania, tensions were ramping up down there as well. Invaded by many millions of intruders from varying satellites in the skies and by citizens who refused to stay silent any longer, it was quickly becoming a fabulous disaster zone and everyone seemed to be relishing in just how much damage was being caused.
:Niki: Ahahahaha!
Niki, the wretched and batcra insane demon from Satellite 15, was particularly relishing in everything. Not only could she drool and spit out gasoline, she could also produce fire to set it all ablaze, contributing significantly to the flames beginning to engulf the once-proud capital of the planet.
:Hector: Aye Niki, yar not supposed ter burn everythin' up!
Niki didn't stop though, continuing to leap from place to place to set every place she could see aflame.
:Hector: Ah feck it, Hammerhead can pay for the damages if he survives all this somehow.
Hector follows Niki around, followed by Snickers who carelessly throws around bombs to nuke innocents and comrades of Hammerhead's alike and throwing explosives in people's bowls or plant pots like they were basketball hoops.
:Snickers: What're we doing here? I'm having too much fun to remember why we're out here.
:Hector: We gotta find that shark-like bastard named Hammerhead and take 'em out! He's got the reins over the cosmos, aye, he needs to be stopped as soon as possible or we're gonna be walkin' the plank!
:Minute: Don't stop moving! I don't know how Hammerhead came to seize so much control of the globe, but we both know he's really powerful and that means whatever allies he's got are probably really strong as well.
Minute catches up to them with a skip in his step, looking at the two of them as Niki's shown bashing down a skyscraper with nothing more than her legs in the very background. She cackles evilly, sadistically grinning at the heroes.
:Minute: If Niki's not afraid, then neither should we! 
:Hector: We're not killin' machines, Minute.
:Minute: Well, desperate times do call for desperate measures, hooky.
:Snickers: Hate to break it to you Hector, but Minute's kinda right. It's immoral to be causing as much damage as we are, but we're going to lose so many more lives if we take things too lightly! We might even die!
:Hector: I suppose yar both right. Let's keep a move on and crush everything in sight unless it's one of our friends.
:Minute: Affirmative, Cap'n Forger.
Hector moves his team through Sylvania in search of Hammerhead, with every place they walk through eventually becoming charred and blackened by the actions they'd take to bring everything down to the ground.
:Hector: Save any innocents you see though, they can probably be of help.
:Snickers: Now that I agree with in particular. Good thinkin', cap'n.
Hector gives the thumbs up as he and his comrades travel further to see what else they can start burning down to the ground. Chuckling from a distance was the Dream Weaver, who was seated inside a burning Olive Garden across from a silhouette that can't be recognized. It was a silhouette of cosmos, so dark on the outside but glittery and shiny too.
:Dream Weaver: What a stunning sight, seeing all of Sylvania engulfed in monstrous flames! The damage being done here is so insane that it'd place just about every other city fire to shame!
:???: Impressive work.
:Dream Weaver: Heh, yes, it's very impressive!
The Dream Weaver lights up the candle between them both, slurping up some spaghetti noodles peacefully.
:Dream Weaver: It's all so wonderful!
:???: Indeed.
A long cosmic tongue stretches out of this being's mouth, taking up all the spaghetti served to them in one single slurp. It leans back to relish in the taste, golden and ruby pigments altering their spacey body.
:Dream Weaver: But this time, this time, I'm so close to letting them out of the cage. I've spent far too long observing the Zins in this current life and I would like to end this experiment before it becomes any more agonizing for me.
:???: Almost there.
:Dream Weaver: You're correct, sweetheart! I'm almost there... I'm so close to having what it takes to take the fun out of everything they have, to end all their fantasies, and see how they live in the next life.
:???: Dispensible.
:Dream Weaver: Yes yes, and little do they know that I've existed for thousands of years, watching over them as they walk, fight, eat, and sleep without acknowledging my universal presence. I waited so long to spy on them, I knew their time was going to eventually be due and I prepared everything in advance to give them a cold shower.
:???: Genius.
:Dream Weaver: Heh, genius indeed! I've waited millenniums and it looks like everything's going to eventually pay off starting tonight I feel. When those Zin brats finally get swept away, I'll be able to free myself too.
The Dream Weaver sloppily eats his spaghetti as the cosmic creature watches with interest.
:Dream Weaver: My grouchy but pleasant demeanor was always just a facade to feed off of the emotions of my victims, and I've gotten enough from these two to be comfortable moving on to find more targets.
:???: You look almost full.
:Dream Weaver: Every ounce of spaghetti in our bowls was made from the tears and fears of the Zins, the same way I've made spaghetti from everyone else's tears and fears from other realities. I am almost full off of suffering.
The silhouette nods as they slurp up what remains of their pasta.
:Dream Weaver: I very much look forward to giving those Zins a taste of what's to come for them.
:???: I am intrigued.
The Dream Weaver and this mysterious cosmic entity finish up their bowls of spaghetti. They look at each other, even as the Olive Garden around them relentlessly burns and the flames appear to be catching up to their bodies.
:Dream Weaver: Continue to be intrigued my dear, there is so much to look forward to! And it'll all be coming tonight, one way or another, so we don't have to wait long to get around to the good stuff.
:???: Mhm.
:Dream Weaver: Trying to get these two to be together and die together was so difficult. But it's worth it.
The wooden framework of the Olive Garden begins to collapse in from above, making the Dream Weaver jump by surprise. The cosmic creature stands up, making their shadowy and elegant clothes show off more.
:???: We should probably leave.
:Dream Weaver: Yes yes, of course my lady, our work is done here.
Without a moment's hesitation, they leave the burning restaurant, the candle on their table flipping over to cause further damage inside. These two antagonists walk over to a ledge, looking at the Palace of the Powerful from a safe distance that ensures nobody will notice them and order an attack against either of them.
:Dream Weaver: Foolish worms, soon the time will come to empty the cage, and once that's done you two will have to deal with the harsh truth that is reality and live in misery until the time comes for you two to die.
:???: Fascinating how they really believe in it all.
:Dream Weaver: It's so sad, isn't it? Can you imagine living years thinking you're living reality, and then one day someone sweeps the rug out from under you and tells you that everything you've known and loved was a lie?
:???: How tragic.
The cosmic being wraps a very cold arm around the Dream Weaver, looking at the palace with him.
:???: But such is life.
:Dream Weaver: I've never thought about it until now, but I'm so cruel! Everything I've done lately was in favor of that shark-like dude and he's going to help me out by making it much easier to make those wretched Zins die.
:???: And then he will cease to exist.
:Dream Weaver: Correct. So really, everyone is just a pawn for my insanely convoluted game of chess. The end of the world is so close, darling, that I can almost taste it. And I can't wait to hear the Zins' precious screams.
:???: Believe me, you will hear them soon.
:Dream Weaver: I know, darling.
Having been spying on them from a distance was Azrail Neos, who recorded the entire conversation down on his phone.
:Azrail: All of this information is so alarming, I need to pass it along to Silver or he might be in for a nasty shock! And I really, really don't want him to put up with any of that, dear me oh dear me.
Azrail gets up, running away from the Dream Weaver as he discusses the end of the world with his strange cosmic girlfriend. Who is she, where did she come from, and what significance does she have to his plans? What's up with all this cage metaphor stuff? The answers aren't lying that far away, to be honest with you.
:Azrail: Let's make it to the palace!
:2:38 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Palace of the Powerful, Zaxina
Inside the palace, Silver Zin was leading the charge as his army of friends and accomplices alike storm through Hammerhead's headquarters, leading an aggressive attack with everyone following right behind him. Silver dashes along at a commendable pace, destroying everything that comes his way using his Mind Weaver. That strategy was applied by his partners as well, including the likes of Valerie, Scotch, Pierce, Crymsia, Junkhead, and even Vanilla.
:Silver: Don't stop, we're getting closer and closer to finishing what my family started centuries ago!
:Valerie: Yeah, let's kick some serious ass!
A montage plays, showing Valerie destroying slug-like monsters with her heels, Medea slicing up slimy beasts with sharp-edged scalpels, Manikin Man poisoning fleshy armored soldiers, Dusty smashing his sand stick through someone's eye, Crymsia stabbing through a dragon-like beast's heart, and Ferris siccing his jaguar on a three-headed dog.
:Silver: Keep going everybody, you're doing great! There isn't much stopping us from taking down Hammerhead if we don't make any pauses anytime soon!
:Crymsia: He's brought out so many beasts to take us out, but in the end we're still standing!
:Pierce: Compared to us, Hammerhead really isn't anything special. Love you hubby.
Pierce kisses a flattered Silver's cheek before skidding to a halt and raising his hands to raise several enemies into the air telekinetically and squeezing his fists to make them all violently pop. Vindozz grins as she moves alongside Pierce, high-fiving him as she does the same with her own scepter, only with darker effects.
:Pierce: You've really got a grip on this, Vindozz.
:Vindozz: Believe me, I've had to squeeze apart many dishonest subjects of mine. I want to say good job on your part though, you look much stronger than your physique implies.
:Pierce: Ermm, thanks?
Silver pulls the thumbs up to them both as several of Hammerhead's goons stand before him, growling angrily as they stretched their claws out. They were ready to give Silver the fight of his life! Or so they thought.
:Silver: Perish!
Silver charges into them with a ferocious Torture Motor attack, making them all split apart before continuing his charge down the hall, pushing aside anything in his way as his friends all quickly follow, grinding along banisters and swinging from chandelier to chandelier. Zellen throws up her Angel Blades before catching them and tossing them at her enemies, decapitating them as Vizole catches up and throws the blades back at Zellen so she can use them again.
:Vizole: There you go, beautiful lady! Can't think of a rhyme this time like Slim Shady- oh wait there I go.
:Zellen: Heh, thank you Vizzy!
:Silver: God, I really can't wait to marry my three wonderful loved ones, they're so precious and brave at the same time. And I've got all my friends here, this should really be a snap and nothing more than that.
:Mallory: That's right Silver, don't lose your fighting spirit! I certainly haven't lost mine! HIIYYYAHH!!
Mallory charges through her enemies with a harsh, swift strike of her Mind Weaver, knocking them over like a line of dominoes as Scotch leaps and throws explosives at the ground, turning some of Hammerhead's minions to smithereens as the explosive sends him flying through the air. Silver grins as he watches Vanilla skate around as if on ice, occasionally touching the bodies of the fortress' knights to freeze them solid in an instant.
:Vanilla: Wheee!
:Devina: Alright Black Eyes, I'm going to need your help.
:Black Eyes: What do you want, you rascal?
:Devina: Hold me high and let's blast away everything with whatever weapons you've got on-hand!
Black Eyes grumbles a little in hesitation before picking up Devina, setting her down on his back before shooting out nearly-blinding pink lasers from his eyes, tearing up the walls and floors of the fortress as he stamps his way through with Devina on his back. Devina pulls on his neck collar so it can double as reins, much to his sudden agitation.
:Black Eyes: I promise I'll be getting my revenge on you later for this, Devina!
:Smartie: Yeah-yeah, look at me everyone! Look at vot I can do!
Smartie glides down from the ceiling, spreading out her wings as she holds out two blades and skewers through several gigantic blobs of flesh. Junkhead grins up at her before throwing his head like a bowling ball, knocking over several of Hammerhead's soldiers before rushing forward and catching up to the others.
:Rose: Alright Azul, we've got some work to do!
Rose creates a big leafy tornado with his blade weapon, which Azul blows frosty breath over to freeze before pushing it to take out a series of soldiers in the way. Sinicini leaps over the tornado, stretching out her arms as her couple of polyamorous lovers pursuit her.
:Sinicini: Hammerhead was an associate of Gonzalo's, huh? Then he can get a taste of these!
Sinicini, wielding completely new variations of fallen friend Shredder's high-voltage arms, speeds along the floor and moves her arms up like a powerful bat to throw some helpless blobs high into the air, which Adexene cuts with a series of homing strikes. As they land, everyone begins to skid.
:Sinicini: Whoa!
:Zonas: Hey, I think there's a huge door ahead of us!
Silver slides to a stop alongside the rest of his friends when they see a huge door ahead of them that might just be leading into where Hammerhead's hiding at. Scotch slams front-first against the door, falling down onto his back and letting out a really sore groan. Silver scratches his head.
:Silver: Looks like this door needs six keys if we want to enter it.
Silver scratches his head. Everyone, who put up a really good fight, managed to catch up to him and Mallory.
:Silver: Mallory and I are going to search for the three keys necessary to open up the way inside Hammerhead's fortress. While we're gone, we'd appreciate it if you kept fighting off Hammerhead's guards.''
:Scotch: N-Noted.
:Valerie: That sounds good to me! Good luck Silver, you're going to need it.
:Silver: Thank you.
:Mallory: Alright Silver, let's not use up any more time!
Silver nods, looking at Mallory.
:Silver: I'm going to see if I can find three keys, you look out for the other three alright?
:Mallory: Yeah I can do that. Let's split!
Silver and Mallory run off as their crew looks ready to fight Hammerhead's still incoming minions.
::
::
:Silver: Here we are, we've got the keys!
As Silver and Mallory put in the keys, the doors open to reveal a screeching, angry Ivy who stretches out her talons and looks down at everyone with an intimidating glare. Silver and Mallory get back up as Zellen looks shaken.
:Zellen: E-Eekk!
:Ivy: There you all are! I'm going to feast like a queen tonight!
:Silver: We'll see about that!
As Silver and Mallory step forward, they hear someone's thraot get cleared behind them.
:Zellen: No worries.
Zellen walks before Silver and Mallory, taking Silver's weapon and pointing it at her mother.
:Zellen: I-I'll handle this, I'm tired of running away from her.
:Ivy: You dare defy me, you... you degenerate spawn!?
:Zellen: I'm not going to let you put me down anymore, Ivy. I'm not going to let you hurt my friends, either!
Ivy stretches out her claws, hissing.
:Ivy: Maybe you did deserve to be destroyed the whole time.
Ivy spreads out the roots in her body as she blocks off the entrance to Hammerhead's hiding place. If they want to get to him, they have to move past Ivy first, and Zellen knew what she had to do.
:Ivy: Perish, Zellen!
:Zellen: No, you perish!
Silver and Mallory step back, watching as Ivy towers over her daughter and spreads out all her vines, making strawberry juices drip all over the floor and indicating just who's using Ivy as a vessel.
:Zellen: You have Silver, Pierce, and Medea to thank for being much better caretakers than you'll ever be! I've had to undo all the wrongs you've taught me through them...
:Ivy: I will crush you!
::
::
Ivy, weakened by her daughter's aggression, falls on top of Strawberry and finally kills him. She gasps as Zellen looks down at her, holding Silver's Mind Weaver and staring down at her eyes.
:Zellen: Goodbye forever, Ivy!
Zellen, without a moment's hesitation, drives Silver's wepaon through her heart.
:Silver: Whoa.
:Zellen: Let's just move on. Take your weapon back and let's move on.
Silver nods as he takes back his Mind Weaver, wiping off Ivy's blood as they climb the staircase and emerge at the headquarters' rooftop, on top of the runway that Hammerhead is resting peacefully upon.
:Hammerhead: Bah, I can't believe that although I tried my absolute hardest to hold ya back, ya ended up coming up here anyway. Ya two are really really getting on my goddamn nerves at this point.
Silver and Mallory step forward, with all of their friends doing the same.
:Silver: You're finished, Hammerhead. I don't know how I'm going to strip away your powers, but that's not going to stop me from trying anyway!
:Hammerhead: Shut yar annoying mouth and listen to me, I'm gonna do something that'll mess ya both up SO HARD that ya can't fight back against me no matter how hard ya try!
Silver and Mallory charge up their Mind Weavers. They were tired of Hammerhead's egotistical attitude.
:Hammerhead: Neither of ya are gonna listen to me, eh? Figures as much.
Hammerhead pulls out Saliva's Mind Weaver and raises it high in the air.
:Hammerhead: Do ya two really believe that just because ya've changed that ya get to be let off the hook so easily? I understand the desire to take me down, but both of ya should've been taken down a long time ago!
:Silver: What are you talking about?
:Hammerhead: Oh ya know, all the abuse yar mother had to endure as a result of yar immoral deeds! Everything ya two have done to mess with yar family and try to make slaves out of each other!
None of Silver's friends were really fazed by this. All of that information was public and it was clear that Silver and Mallory had already changed considerably as people. Still, Silver and Mallory cringed a little bit, knowing that that information remains true and that there's nothing they can really do about the truth. Just because they've improved and were able to push bad memories to the backs of their skulls doesn't mean they didn't do it, and they know that.
:Mallory: H... How do you know that!?
:Hammerhead: None of yar business.
As everyone charges at Hammerhead, he swings his Mind Weaver in such a way that he pushes everyone down to the floor. He evilly grins as he stares down at his prey, who struggle to get up from the floor before he stamps his staff against the floor and lets out a really loud, mischievous giggle.
:Hammerhead: DEARTH WAVE!
Just like last time this move was used, all the life gets drained out around Hammerhead, weakening everyone in his immediate vicinity. Silver and Mallory get up, having defended themselves partially just in time.
:Hammerhead: Still standing, ya brainless maniacs? Do either of ya really deserve a happy ending for killing me considering everything ya've done, all the damage ya've brought upon this society through yar recklessness?
:Silver: I-I-
:Hammmerhead: If ya're going to mention yar amnesia, I don't wanna fucking hear it because it's not going to excuse anything ya or yar sister have done to these sacred grounds. I can read yar brain Silver.
Silver and Mallory rush at Hammerhead, who grins as he swings his Mind Weaver up to flip them over onto their fronts in near-defeat. Viciously grinning, Hammerhead walks over to the Zins, about to stuff his staff through their heads.
:Hammerhead: Any last words?
:Silver: Bite me!
Hammerhead growls before Valerie pushes him over onto his side with a well-timed kick, accompanied by Junkhead who throws his knuckles at his head and Medea who stabs him in the belly with a scalpel. This sudden attack forces the villain against the wall, coughing and bleeding before getting up and shaking his weapon.
:Silver: Thank you for the save, V-Valerie.
:Valerie: No problem.
:Hammerhead: How come all of ya are still standing by Silver and Mallory? Do all of ya normalize criminals and abusers like these fellows because if they're forgiven for the things they've done as children then I should also be forgiven and I know for a fact that nobody wants that but myself!
:Valerie: There's a difference between you and these two, and it's that while they improved and learned from their mistakes, you're still causing loads of trouble and for that nobody will ever forgive you!
:Hammerhead: Hmph, touché, but should we forgive every person that's done damage in their youth? None of ya but these two would be here right now if these two didn't do anything damaging!
Valerie silences herself as do the rest of Silver's friends, who freeze mid-frenzy.
:Hammerhead: That silence, I like it a lot. See, neither of ya Zins deserve the friends ya've got! Ya've sinned and made mistakes, just like me, and ya somehow never got to deal with the consequences!
:Mallory: Fuck youuuu!
Mallory rushes forward to hit Hammerhead with a Nerve Splitter attack, which hits him in the head and sends him back against the wall again. He gets back up, blood dripping from his mouth which was beginning to lose some of its teeth.
:Hammerhead: I think it's time that both of ya witnessed the consequences that ya deserved to face a long time ago. And I'm so glad that out of everyone that could've taught ya justice, that it gets to be me.
:Silver: No you don't!
As Silver starts to rush forward at Hammerhead to disarm him, it was already too late. He sticks his Mind Weaver very high into the air and winks, making it release an explosive amount of energy and forcing Silver and Mallory to defend themselves from the attack as - much to their absolute horror - everyone around them begins being transformed into stone. Valerie, Scotch, Pierce, Medea, Altha, Vindozz, Spittle, Vanilla, Zonas, Oyster, Junkhead, you name them, they were all transformed into stone. His radiant light disappeared as he kneels over and begins sweating.
:Silver: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
:Hammerhead: Punishment is tough to deal with, isn't it?
Hammerhead stamps his Mind Weaver against the ground, making everyone topple over and shatter on the floor. Silver kneels down and winces, beginning to break down while staring at the crumbled stone bodies of people he once considered his lovers, friends, or even adoptive step-sister. Silver began bawling, overwhelmed by this sudden loss.
:Silver: N-No, why, WHY?
He gives Mallory a miserable look, prompting her to stand up.
:Mallory: If you wanted to punish us for our actions, you could've done so without transforming everyone into stone! What the hell is wrong with you, you monster?
:Hammerhead: Think about it this way! If I decided to just warp all of them out of here, they would've still stuck by yar side and come right back. So the way I did it means that there's nothing ya can do to get back with them.
:Mallory: I'm going to kill you for all this damage you've caused to us!
:Hammerhead: Then try it, but it wouldn't be fair for ya to kill me when ya deserve to die!
Mallory aggressively stomps her way over to Hammerhead, who faces her with a big shiny grin.
:Hammerhead: Very well, if ya think ya're more deserving of life than I am, then how 'bout ya give me a taste of how innocent ya really feel? Hit me all ya can, ya dirty satellite killer.
:Mallory: Listen to me and listen to me well. Your words don't mean anything to me when you killed not only a bunch of really well-meaning and powerful people, but you also killed innocent children and ruined whatever families they had outside this place! Not even I was that ruthless even when I was at my worst!
:Hammerhead: Really, ya think I'm still worse than ya even though ya blew up a fuckin' satellite?
:Mallory: I anonymously sent blueprints to the Satellite 15 government to build escape shuttles as soon as I became aware of the Satellite 15 self-destruction program. If I didn't do that, millions of people would've died.
Mallory shakes her fist in annoyance with Hammerhead.
:Mallory: Enough! I'm gonna break you down, you hear? Nothing you can say or do is going to bring me down, if my mother could forgive me and most of Silver's friends could then your words don't matter! If I've already owed up to my actions and tried to make up for them to the best of my ability, your words don't matter!
Hammerhead growls as he aggressively charges at Mallory, grabbing Silver as he hisses loudly.
:Hammerhead: I'll show ya something now, and it's that YOU DON'T MATTER ANYMORE!
::
::
Hammerhead lets out a wild scream as he drops his Mind Weaver, picking it back up and scampering backwards as Mallory continues to stomp towards him. He frantically breathes, looking really unstable as his shape shifts.
:Mallory: YOU'RE FINISHED!
:Hammerhead: Nooo, god damn it, w-why? Why am I so weak?
:Mallory: You spent so much time abusing your strongest powers that you temporarily canceled out the invincibility and durability that Saliva had. You're done for, Hammerhead!
Hammerhead stammers as he rolls out of the way, his head throbbing as he lets out a hoarse scream.
:Hammerhead: AUUUUUUUUGHHH!
Hammerhead releases a powerful blast of energy, pushing Silver and Mallory off the roof of the palace and down onto the ground below. Silver, still a weeping mess, curls into Mallory's arms as they begin to retreat.
:Mallory: Let's go, Silver! I need to take you home for something!
:Silver: B-But, the other-
:Mallory: We can't do anything about them anymore.
Mallory looks at her sibling with worry.
:Mallory: I'm sorry, I'll try and figure something out really soon.
:Silver: O-Okay.
Hammerhead lets out a piercing screech that only he and the Zins can hear as his body transforms into a mess between all of the forms he's ever had, hiding his ugly eyes as he rises high in the air and breathes frantically as he stares down at the world below. He watches Silver and Mallory mount Blue Öyster Cult's van, taking it somewhere out of his sights. He tries to control himself, but he's finding it difficult.
:Hammerhead: The end, THE END IS NIGH! Hehehe, Hahahaha, AHAHAHAHAHAH!
Hammerhead's lost it now. It's time for everything to finally get settled...
===Chapter Eight: I'm Above===
:5:13 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:The Zin House, Zaxina
Mallory dismounts Blue Öyster Cult's van, picking up her mentally-stricken sibling and walking into their destroyed house together. She gently rests him down in a recliner as she sits opposite of him.
:Mallory: Silver, as much as I want to tear out Hammerhead's guts, I need to make sure you're okay first. I can't do this without you and I want to make sure you're safe.
:Silver: I... I'm not okay Mallory! I just lost hundreds of people I held dear to me! We were doing so well until Hammerhead came along and ruined everything in less than a week!
Silver squeezes the armrests of his recliner, taking deep breaths as he tries to calm himself down. No matter how much breathing he did though, he couldn't shake off what happened. What Hammerhead did hit him so deeply and he wasn't sure how to handle that pain.
:Silver: You're the only person I have left Mallory, I... I think I'm going to be sick.
Mallory slides a garbage can across the floor, which Silver upchucks into off-screen. He breathes harshly, taking a sip of water and twitching all over. He was not taking any of this well.
:Silver: If I lose you Mallory, I'm... I'm... god, I can't take it!
:Mallory: Stay down!
Silver doesn't. Silver runs off into the kitchen and reaches over the counter, reaching for a knife. Mallory pulls him back, turning around his head and staring into his eyes.
:Mallory: HEY!
Mallory throws the knife away.
:Mallory: Do. NOT. GO OUT ON ME!
:Silver: I-I DON'T HAVE YOUR STEEL GUTS, MALLORY!
Mallory keeps a very firm grip on Silver's shoulders. She relaxes herself as she keeps Silver firmly in place, his hands forcibly interlocked into hers as she takes deep, calming breaths.
:Mallory: Silver, if you kill yourself, you would be leaving me alone to face Hammerhead's pain. We have to do something about him before he recovers his powers and becomes actually invincible again.
:Silver: Mallory, what's the use? We're just going to keep getting locked into more and more drama. Maybe Hammerhead was right, what I've done shouldn't be forgiven by anyone, or myself.
:Mallory: Silver, please let me stress something to you.
Mallory angrily pushes him down to the floor.
:Mallory: NONE OF WHAT HAPPENED WAS YOUR FUCKING FAULT TO BEGIN WITH!
Mallory angrily taps her chest as Silver weakly pulls his head up and looks at her.
:Mallory: YOU DIDN'T IGNITE THE FLAMES IN OUR FAMILY, YOU DIDN'T BLOW UP A GODDAMN SATELLITE, AND YOU DIDN'T FUCKING DO ANYTHING WORTH SCREAMING AT YOU FOR!
:Silver: But I still contributed, rig-
:Mallory: Look, Silver, you did contribute but does that make it entirely your fault? NO!
Mallory kneels down, grabbing Silver's arm and pulling him back up.
:Mallory: You've already apologized to the people you've hurt and honestly I don't think anything you did compares to the things I've done. If anybody in this god-forsaken universe deserves to die, it's me.
Mallory snarls at him.
:Mallory: But I'm not going to die! I'm living for a reason!
:Silver: That reason being...?
Mallory grips his hands tightly, looking straight into his eyes.
:Mallory: I'm living because I'm your sister and I want to be here for you! I'm living because I want to see the remains of the wonders of the world with you! I want to hang out with you for what everything's worth!
Silver gently locks his fingers in with hers.
:Mallory: Don't you see?
:Silver: Yeah, I'm so sorry, I'm just having so much trouble forgiving myself.
:Mallory: Are you trying to forgive yourself for things I've done? Silver, that's not how the world works. I have to take responsibility for my own actions and I have, so what're you blubbering about?
Silver looked like he hit epiphany. Mallory keeps her grip firmly on Silver's hands, gently leading him in to give him a hug. She takes deep breaths as she looks down at her brother's eyes.
:Mallory: If there's anything I want from you, it's for you to help me tear apart Hammerhead. Wouldn't it be much more satisfying to dethrone him than kill yourself?
Mallory shakes his shoulders.
:Mallory: For something you didn't even do in the first place?
Silver sighs.
:Silver: Okay... I'll help you.
Mallory felt her eyes well up as she held her sibling in a tighter hug. She doesn't let go of him, taking deep breaths as she keeps her grip firmly on his shoulders.
:Mallory: I want to say sorry for the mistakes I've made during the decades we've shared together. I still feel really bad for the things I've done to you and our mother.
:Silver: Don't worry about it, Mallory.
:Mallory: Right. How about we try and focus on what's ahead so the past doesn't eat us alive? I will always be here for you and the lessons you've taught me a decade ago will ensure I won't regress into a monster again.
:Silver: I think I can do that for you, sis.
Mallory reaches over the counter with her Mind Weaver and makes all of them ridiculously dull so that Silver can't use them on himself. She then reaches to grab Silver's hand.
:Mallory: I'm going to do Pierce, Medea, and Zellen a service and look after you. If they were still alive I'm sure they'd appreciate that from me.
:Silver: Whatever you feel is right, Mallory.
Mallory nods as she looks outside the window, seeing a powerful light cast itself over Zaxina. She can't see the source of the light, but knew that it was Hammerhead.
:Mallory: Silver, we have to go. Promise me you won't do anything foolish as we go and stop Hammerhead.
:Silver: I won't... I'll face him with you.
:Mallory: That's the kind of answer I like to hear.
Mallory takes his hand and walks over to the refrigerator, pulling out a bunch of cookies topped with whipped cream. She sets them down on the counter, looking at Silver and letting go of him.
:Mallory: We need to eat something Silver, we need energy in our bodies if we want to face him.
:Silver: Got it. Let's do this.
Mallory nods agreeably as she takes in some of the cookies, with Silver doing the same at a slower rate. After finishing up, they give each other another hug.
:Silver: I feel a little bit better, Mallory. Thank you.
:Mallory: That's what family's for, Silver. Something that Hammerhead didn't get the memo of, apparently.
:Silver: Heh, right.
Mallory pops another cookie into her mouth, walking outside and leaping into the van.
:Mallory: C'mon Silver, the world's not going to save itself.
Silver nods and jumps in after her. Mallory smiles as she puts Silver in the passenger seat, buckling him in. She looks at his eyes attentively, keeping her eyes open.
:Mallory: Do you need anything before we drive off, Silver?
:Silver: Are you sure everything's going to be okay?
Mallory shrugs and looks down a little.
:Mallory: I won't lie, I don't really know if everything's going to be okay, but I'm sure everything's going to be okay eventually if we stick together through all the pain.
:Silver: Then this is a plan I'm all on-board for.
Mallory puts the keys in the ignition and breathes calmly, taking deep breaths. Unbeknownst to her sibling, Mallory too was feeling very miserable and weak, but unlike him she was able to hold it in. She let out her first tear as she took the driving stick and pulled it back, activating the van's wings as they begin to drive off.
:Silver: I love you, Mallory.
:Mallory: I-I love you too, let's crush that bad motherzoinker!
The van begins fly high into the skies, heading towards the power-hungry Hammerhead.
:5:39 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:Black Oblivion, Unknown Location
Elsewhere, we see black oblivion, where the Dream Weaver is resting. He was holding a flask inside his hands, a strange pink pulsating object trapped inside. The cosmic silhouette was with him, too.
:Dream Weaver: I see, they're already taking off to take out Hammerhead while he's vulnerable.
The Dream Weaver is watching the pair arrive through his spatial girlfriend, who served as a makeshift space television for him. The Creator angrily bounced around in his flask.
:Creator: R-Release me at once, Ethan! You've gone far enough!
:Dream Weaver: Know your place, servant. I am the real creator, you're just an oblivious servant. It is a miracle that you're here, able to witness your new selves messing up.
The Dream Weaver smirks, sliding his fingernail against the glass.
:Dream Weaver: Would you rather be falling into the Wastelands again?
:Creator: S-STOP!
:Dream Weaver: It's funny how all of these universes, all of these places, all of these things... they just don't exist. Everything here is just a fabrication, a setup, to torture you.
The Dream Weaver giggles to himself.
:Dream Weaver: Everyone is a chess piece to me. I'm not just talking about the Zaxiverse as a whole, but rather every single individual person that exists across the multiverse. The multiverse isn't real.
The Dream Weaver scratches the flask with his nail.
:Dream Weaver: This isn't the first Zaxiverse, you know. This is the fifteenth, because watching Silver and Mallory go through torture and torment so many different times is always a pleasure to watch.
:Creator: W-What?
:Dream Weaver: I've seen all the Fantendoverses. , everything has their resets. And it's all just to scare the two most vulnerable people I know where I'm from.
The Dream Weaver cackles to himself as his whole body stretches in evil glee.
:Dream Weaver: Getting myself back up into this high position of power, becoming more and more handsome with each new reappearance, is simply delightful. I'm a harvester of sorrow, collecting it to satisfy my own needs, and the longer I'm alive in every new universe the more sadistic and delightful I become.
Flashbacks play of the Dream Weaver examining the Zins' two huge confrontations against each other, the first in Mallory's old castle in the original Satellite 15 and the next deep underwater on Zeurth.
:Dream Weaver: If the Zins lose to that Hammerhead freak, like how they lose to superpowerful variations of Saliva in every other variation of Zaxina, then I will feast off their sorrow and begin this world anew. But if they win.
The Dream Weaver growls dangerously.
:Dream Weaver: I'm going to see them here in my little oblivion of an office!
:Galaxia: Are you finished watching the space broadcast, sir?
:Dream Weaver: You can close it for now, I'm already certain they're going to lose.
Galaxia nods and resumes her usual spacey shape, laying out across the floor tiredly.
:Dream Weaver: I should say though, that I'd be really surprised if they pull through this time and beat the hell out of Hammerhead. That crybaby Silver is probably having a lot of trouble handling the fact that he and his sister are the only non-stoned people in the whole Zaxiverse.
:Creator: I-I demand to be released! R-Release me from this prison!
:Dream Weaver: Tsk tsk. You don't get to order anything around here. The universe resets if I squeeze your flask, so if you want any hope, how about you don't tempt me?
The Creator stays silent.
:Dream Weaver: Almost everyone is dead, that's such a twist I wasn't expecting from Hammerhead. What an intelligent supervillain to have trusted with my strongest artillery...
:Galaxia: Truly.
:Dream Weaver: What a loser if I'm being honest though, driven by nothing but petty revenge and the need to justify his actions as being better when compared to the Zins'.
The Dream Weaver giggles to himself.
:Dream Weaver: If there's anything I'll disagree with him on, it's that he is in fact in the morally worse place. You could've made a case for Mallory being worse before he turned nearly everyone into stone.
:Galaxia: A worthless fiend.
The Creator beats itself around in the flask, trying desperately to escape. It's not successful though, and remains still and grumbles lowly. The Dream Weaver strokes the flask.
:Dream Weaver: I want to see how the Zins are holding up, think you can show me Galaxia?
:Galaxia: Yes.
Galaxia opens up her body, showing that the Zins have made it to Hammerhead and are about to give him the beating of a lifetime. The Dream Weaver gasped in shock.
:Dream Weaver: Unbelievable! How are they not dead yet!?
:Galaxia: But if they were dead, would-
:Dream Weaver: Remember, Galaxia. We don't want to give the Creator any good ideas.
The Dream Weaver watches them head closer and closer to Hammerhead, who's blasting lasers all around space. He breathes heavily, starting to feel a lot of heat upon realizing they might have a fighting chance and even more upon realizing that Silver looks fairly confident.
:Dream Weaver: Look as calm as you want, Silver, but there's nothing you or Mallory can do!
:Galaxia: I can toast to that.
As both of them laugh, the Creator spins around in its flask out of urgency and frustration.
:6:52 P.M. · SUNDAY November 13th, ZXE-233
:High Across Zaxinian Skies, Zaxina
We're finally here. Silver and Mallory, still buckled tight in Blue Öyster Cult's van, ascend high into the skies as they go after the shapeshifting king of the cosmos that Hammerhead became.
:Mallory: There he is, Silver. Once we kill this bastard, it's all over for him!
:Silver: Let's zoom over to him and see how we can take him out!
Mallory nods as she activates the rock engines on the van, blasting forward at high speeds as they begin approach Hammerhead faster and faster. He hissed as he saw them approaching.
:The Ultimate: YOU CAN'T STOP THE ULTIMATE! I HAVE THE ENTIRE MULTIVERSE TO MYSELF!
The Ultimate, ditching his old name Hammerhead in a vain attempt to have something that sounded much bigger and more imposing, laughs his head off as he drifts backwards and away from the approaching Zins.
:Silver: Stop right there, you're going down this time!
:The Ultimate: I think... not!
The Ultimate cackles as he raises his hands, summoning a massive amount of asteroids, planets, stars, and various space debris, crushing it all in his hands before throwing it at the Zins.
:The Ultimate: YOU CAN'T DEFEAT ME!
Mallory steers the van between the incoming debris, keeping herself steady as she moves out of the way of everything she can possibly avoid. The Ultimate cackles as he moves forward and tries to smash them with his fists, which Mallory barely avoids as she makes the van move beyond the debris. Growling, the Ultimate grabs Zaxina and tears it apart, preparing to throw its pieces at them.
:The Ultimate: TAKE THIS!
The Ultimate throws Zaxina's many chunks at them. At this point, the Ultimate was out of control, because he pretty much destroyed his throne and everything else on Zaxina.
:Silver: Shut your piehole, Hammerhead!
:The Ultimate: I AM THE ULTIMATE!
:Silver: What kind of name is "The Ultimate"? Might as well start calling me The Ultimate Life Form!
:The Ultimate: No, I am the Ultimate Life Form!!
Silver snickers to himself as he fist bumps Mallory.
:Mallory: Damn, can't believe you made him say that aloud.
:Silver: Hehe. It was worth it.
:The Ultimate: I'M... I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU EAT THOSE WORDS!
The Ultimate throws an asteroid dead-on at the van, making Mallory scream and steer out of the way just that it only hits a small part of the van. Still, she spirals out of control and crash-lands on another asteroid, forcing her and Silver to get out. All the debris that Hammerhead pulled out was floating around him, and the air was getting thinner because Zaxina's atmosphere is starting to die.
:Silver: Man, I shouldn't have pissed him off, because I don't know how we're going to reach him now.
:Mallory: We're... going to have to travel across all this debris if we want to reach him.
:Silver: I figured.
Silver and Mallory look at everything that the Ultimate has gathered. There was a lot of alternative paths they could take to reach him, and he didn't seem too interested in making everything drop yet.
:Silver: Hammerh-
:The Ultimate: I'M THE ULTIMATE!
:Silver: Sorry, I mean the "Ultimate" is acting as a center of gravity. As Zaxina's atmosphere dies out, we need to get closer to him because there'll be oxygen revolving around him for us to use as we fight.
:Mallory: Let's go then, before he makes it impossible to fight him.
The two hop off their asteroid as it gets struck by a meteor, causing their van to burn. They march forth, daring not look back (or down) as they advance towards the Ultimate.
::
::
Silver and Mallory catch up to the Ultimate, who looks visibly enraged as they approach him.
:The Ultimate: FOOLS!! DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?
:Silver: I have one wish, and it's for you to go away!
:Mallory: We're so tired of your shit, so how about you begone and leave us the hell alone!?
:The Ultimate: DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT ME? I HAVE EVERYTHING AT MY DISPOSAL AND YOU'VE ONLY GOT EACH OTHER! AHAHAHAHA!
The Ultimate reaches his fists forward in an attempt to crush the two Zins, but Mallory grabs Silver's hand and leaps to a new platform, looking at the Ultimate right in the eyes.
:Mallory: You don't deserve to be loved! You don't deserve a redemption arc!
The Ultimate holds his forehead, cycling through a lot of different bodies. Silver looked bewildered as he watched him switch between the likes of himself, Hammerhead, Michael, Silver, Mallory, Spittle, Saliva, Gonzalo, and all of his individual teammates.
:The Ultimate: AHHHHH!!
:Silver: Mallory's right! You don't deserve anything!
The Ultimate keeps scrambling through the many different bodies he has inside of him, faltering as he is once again stuck living as an abomination between all of them.
:The Ultimate: STOP!!!
:Silver: You put everyone else to shame, and you're not going to find any sympathy from me!
:Mallory: We fight for our friends and you're not one of them!
The Ultimate twitches all over, frantically breathing as he tries to deal with the truths that Silver and Mallory throw down upon him. He grins as his fingers sink into meteorites, a lack of control over his own ego beginning to swallow the space around himself. His cackles become increasingly more frightening, matching with his megalomaniac personality.
:The Ultimate: H-HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU DARE YOU DARE YOU!
:Silver: No matter what you do, Hammerhead, you really are nothing more than a loser on the inside!
:Mallory: KILLING EVERYONE WE'VE KNOWN AND LOVED JUST TO RULE THE WORLD!
The Ultimate clutches his pained chest, screaming in agony as he starts to taste the truth a little too hard. He switches over and over again, breathing intensely as his nails scratch against the debris around him.
:Mallory: NOBODY LOVES YOU!
:Silver: AND NOBODY WILL!
The Ultimate screams as his entire body is unable to maintain one form. It violently explodes, skyblue lightning emerging from his body and taking the shape of a swirling mass that begins to melt everything in the Zaxiverse and engulf it, leaving Silver and Mallory standing. His lightning hands can barely keep their form, his jagged teeth and empty eyes focused on the Zins.
:The Ultimate: I... I have no form...
Silver and Mallory look intimidated. The Ultimate's form breaks down, he loses his body and gets left with nothing but a limited mind and immense power.
:The Ultimate: Y-You're really going to get it now, Silver and Mallory. W-When my immortality returns, I will try to swallow you whole. Then, the rest of the world, will melt with you.
:Silver: I'd rather have Mallory kill me than have you do it. Let's finish this at last.
The Ultimate screams as he charges at the Zins, remaining on some of the universe's last platforms.
::
::
The Ultimate howls in agonizing pain as Silver and Mallory stand together, holding each other's hands.
:Silver & Mallory: SHADOWMAKER!
Silver and Mallory turn everything black and white with their Mind Weavers, rushing at the Ultimate and slashing through his otherwise-untouchable body and hacking away at him.
:The Ultimate: GUUUUUUUUUUOOOOO!
:Silver: Take this one last hit, motherzoinker!
Silver and Mallory together dash through the Ultimate, making him scream agonizingly as Silver and Mallory safely land together on an asteroid.
:The Ultimate: OHHHHHHHH I HAD IT ALLLLLLLLLL!!
The Ultimate turns around, trying to slash at them with his electric claws, but he just barely misses them as his body begins to dissipate into oblivion.
:The Ultimate: WHYYYYYYYY!??
Then suddenly, the Ultimate was gone. Silver and Mallory were left alone in the pitch-black darkness. Their war against the Ultimate (well, Hammerhead) finally resulted in victory, but at what cost?
:Silver: Everything...
Silver hugs Mallory tightly.
:Silver: We're going to die here, there's no air.
:Mallory: Right, well... I'm sorry everything had to turn out like this.
:Silver: It's okay.
:Mallory: Hey, if we die here, really all that means is that we spent our final moments as the best siblings in the world. And that can't even be disputed, because we're the last survivors.
Mallory grips his hands.
:Mallory: Oh wait! Silver, we're so stupid!
Mallory laughs as she forms a portal, pulling herself and Silver into it. They arrive inside a big black void together, looking around.
:Mallory: We're Heralds! But I didn't mean to pull us here...
The portal behind them is suddenly closed.
:Dream Weaver: What did I tell you two about interfering with him?
Silver and Mallory turn around, looking at a scowling Dream Weaver as he held the Creator's flask tightly in his hands. Silver and Mallory were really at the end of their journey now.
:Dream Weaver: Come see me at the throne I hold dear.
===Epilogue===
:A Place in Limbo
:Location Unknown
Before we get to Silver and Mallory's confrontation with the Dream Weaver, we need to look somewhere completely different. Somewhere you haven't seen up until this point. And it is inside a world that looks completely washed out of any color, and with everybody frozen. It focuses on a somewhat ordinary-looking house on a somewhat ordinary sight, and we get a look through a window.
:Pierce: WHAAA!?
Pierce opens his eyes, having been laying on a mattress. He looks around at his surroundings.
:Pierce: That was awesome, but what happened? This doesn't look like Satellite 15.
Pierce hears a knocking on his door. Pierce jumps up to answer it, expecting himself to have Silver's agility and strength, but he instead flops over. He grabs a walking cane and uses it to walk to the door.
:Pierce: You can come in, I'm kinda unable to get up for some reason.
The door opens, revealing Medea Neos. She lacks the cold skin and looks surprisingly fresh, with Pierce himself looking just like how he used to.
:Medea: Sorry for interrupting your sleep, but I just had a really wild and strange experience and I wanted to share it with you. Basically, you and I were-
:Pierce: Okay, so I'm not crazy?
:Medea: I don't think so. Erm, does that mean you already know of our awkward romance?
:Pierce: Yes, I'm fully aware. Medea it's fine, I actually liked that. Where's everyone else?
:Medea: People are starting to wake up all across the metropolis, people are saying that everything's all greyscale and some of their relatives and friends were still asleep.
Pierce tilts his head.
:Pierce: Did you check on my crush?
:Medea: He has some strange elegant boy standing over him and his sister. We've been trying to bang our way into the room, but it just won't budge open.
:Pierce: We should maybe help him out, teach.
Medea nods, swinging her brown hair back as she helps get Pierce onto his feet. Walking up the stairs were Clair and Nomila, who looked at him with worry. While they still looked generally the same, they looked less supernatural and more fitting to Pierce and Medea's toned-down looks.
:Nomila: You alright, Pierce? We're late for college work and realized that you weren't waiting outside like you usually were.
:Pierce: The clock says it's like four in the morning. I'm pretty sure college hours don't start at 4AM, at least not in Ohio.
Pierce sighs.
:Pierce: Did you guys have a strange dream too?
:Nomila: Everyone's been reporting having strange dreams, like they keep mentioning satellites, aliens, space pod travel, all of which are luxuries we don't really have.
:Medea: It's impossible for all of us to have shared the same dream, how is this happening?
Nomila shrugs as Clair hugs Pierce protectively.
:Nomila: I don't know, I'm not a scientist.
Nomila walks towards Pierce's staircase, pointing down.
:Nomila: How about we go outside and see if we can figure out what's happening?
:Medea: That sounds like a good idea to me.
The group walk outside of the house, where they see the world is still totally black and white. They look through their neighborhood. In case you were wondering, everyone retains the ages they had around the midway point of Zinfestation. Medea still looked pretty for her age though.
:Medea: This is so bonkers!
:Pierce: Trying to figure out what's going on myself, I can't think of anyone or anything that can do things like this. If only our science teacher were still alive.
:Medea: Mhmm.
Stepping out from several houses were an ordinarily-dressed Crymsia, a filthy and ear-picking Azrail, and a slightly chubby but smiling Devina. In Devina's hands was a small green teddy bear doll.
:Devina: Hey guys, uh, I had a wei-
:Pierce: We know, Dev.
:Nomila: Everyone's been having the same dream, it's crazy?
Crymsia looks at Azrail in wonder before turning her head as soon as he notices she's looking at him.
:Azrail: So you mean, everyone knows I had a relationship with the best-performing girl in high school?
:Crymsia: That was a dream, doofus!
Crymsia folds her arms before looking back at Azrail.
:Crymsia: Fine, you're cute! It felt like I spent ten years with you in that dream!
:Medea: Hmmm, maybe science can't explain everything? I'll get to the bottom of this one of these days.
Scotch, dressed up in clothing you'd expect from a gymnastics teacher, caught up to them.
:Scotch: What the hell are you all doing out here at 4AM?
:Medea: Scotch! Not in front of the... kinda-children? They're my children in my presence!
:Scotch: Medea, I don't know if you know this, but all of us have really bad language.
But everyone almost fainted when a really pretty woman walked by, with her blue hair tied back in a ponytail. She looked like she could be Mother Nature! Wait...
:Medea: Oh my god, Syinara I thought you were dead!
:Syinara: Uhh? I was dead? How long was I sleeping for?
Syinara looks around herself.
:Syinara: Where's Valerie? I dreamt she was a huge superstar.
:Medea: Probably busy taking time to get ready, I'll tell her that you asked where she was.
:Syinara: Oh you don't have to waste her time, I know she's a busy woman.
Syinara looks away from the others.
:Syinara: Some strange dream I had last night, it was really good and then near the end I was kinda in a very dark, scary limbo for some time. What've you guys been up to?
There was near-silence.
:Scotch: Sleeping...
:Azrail: Everyone had the same dream!
:Medea: It's a shame that everything turned out to be a dream, but I got to see so many things I didn't think I'd ever get to see. Azrail, I'm going to break up with your dad, because his misdeeds carried into our dreams.
:Azrail: Good riddance, maybe he can leave my magazines alone and I don't have to lock my door anymore.
:Medea: Hehe, yeah.
The group walk around town, joined by several more people. The heroin junkie Rhett joins up with them, as do the poly trio of Zonas, Sinicini, and Dexa. A silent, head-scratching Frink also joins up with them and a straightjacket-wearing Niki is being carried by a clean, smiling Noise.
:Pierce: To be honest, I kinda forgot you all looked normal, I think my dreams are messing with me right now.
:Rhett: Wasn't expectin' for it all to be a dream, but I call dibs on that twink!
:Pierce: No I do, you bastard!
Pushing them apart was a really handsome Vizole. Admittedly, he didn't really look that much different from his satellite self, and he was still dressed up with natural seashore-related things like shells and jewels.
:Vizole: Ladies, please~ No fighting!
:Oyster: I-I can't believe I was a successful beer-brewer, and married that slob Snickers of all people!
:Dexa: I was a robot for some reason and that was really cool?
Skipping and hopping along was Smartie, who held a yo-yo.
:Smartie: Damn, quite sum dream I had dere! Fer real, fer real, how da fudge did ve all share it?
:Devina: I honestly don't know if I'm being honest with you.
:Clair: Nobody knows, my amateur clairvoyant skills aren't telling me anything either.
:Smartie: Vell, if ya see Rubelline, tell 'er she's a cool bitch fer me!
Walking to the group was Nicholas, or "Shredder", who wore gauntlets with granite lead serving as their spikes. He was equipped with lots of wires, using many devices like laptops and iPods on the go.
:Nicholas: I had a crazy black limbo near the end of my dream, dunno about anyone else.
:Syinara: I had that black limbo!
:Nicholas: Oh thank god. Remind me to go on social media later to cancel Gonzalo.
:Pierce: Okay everyone! Uh, there's definitely more people I haven't seen yet, but let's check on Silver! Apparently he's still asleep and I wanna see what's going on with him.
:Rhett: I dig that idea, let's go fuckers!
Rhett smokes some heroin as everyone goes over to Silver's home. To be honest, considering how souped-up everyone was in Zinfestation, it's probably refreshing seeing everyone look and behave normally.
:Rhett: Aye, upstairs, I think.
Walking behind them was Valerie, who looked more or less the same just with freckles and reading glasses. She turns around and winks at the others, making Syinara faint.
:Valerie: Hello Syi darling, I'm so grateful to see you again! Hehe, you faint every time.
Valerie yawns before windmilling her fist and breaking through the door. Silver and Mallory's home is dressed up in a heavy metal aesthetic and looks really cool.
:Valerie: Having been his tutor in college, I know for a fact that he sleeps upstairs. Let's rush up there.
Everyone follows Valerie up to Silver's door. She grins and knocks on it, making the Dream Weaver flinch on the other side. He looks down at Silver and Mallory, who we can't see yet.
:Dream Weaver: GO BACK TO SLEEP!
The Dream Weaver focuses on the Zins, growling.
:Dream Weaver: This 13,500-year pause is almost ending, I need to take out the whole world's population again with another sleeping spell or I'm not going to have any sorrow to harvest.
The Dream Weaver smirks.
:Dream Weaver: If I kill the Zins in-dream and make them wake up before the others barge in, then I can start the 16th Zaxiverse. Hehehe, this should be really easy.
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