Battle Heroes X Classic: S01E08

Julius! Zack! Cloud! Popple! Save the Earth! is the eight episode of the Battle Heroes X series that aired on TV Nexus, the eighth episode of season one, and the eighth episode overall. The episode is also the first part of the final episode of season one and the final episode of the TV Nexus version of the series. It revolves around disaster striking Julius, Zack, Cloud, and Popples' attempt to rebuild the hangout of their childhood when Bane attacks them.

Disaster strikes as the heroes try to enjoy their weekend.

### Next Episode

Julius! Zack! Cloud! Popple! Save the Earth! (Part 2)

## The Episode

It was another Friday afternoon at Belview High. The bell for the last period of classes had just rang through the halls. Soon, they began to fill with students, eager to leave school for the weekend. The front doors opened and people flooded out to their cars, bikes, or onto their path home. Among the students were Julius, Zack, Cloud, and Popple, who were walking home together.

Julius and Popple were holding hands as they walked. Both looked the happiest Zack and Cloud had seen them in a while.

"So, what do you say to going out for ice cream next week?" Julius asked Popple.

"Ice cream? Can't we do something a little more active? How about we go biking?" Popple suggested.

Julius thought for a second. "Hmm, how about a compromise?"

The two thought for a moment before talking at the same time. "Biking *and* ice cream!" They suggested at the same time again. "It's a date!"

Zack and Cloud just stared at them. "This is going to take some getting use to," Zack said.

"That Popple and I are together now?" Julius asked.

"That you're not being a beta wimp anymore," Zack replied simply.

"Damn straight, man. My wimpy days are over!" Julius pumped a fist triumphantly in the air.

"So, what do you guys wanna do this weekend?" Popple said.

"Well, if nothing comes up that we need to defend the world from, I was thinking we could play some video games at say...Retro Boy World?" Cloud offered, smiling.

Zack, Julius and Popple looked at Cloud, bewildered looks on their faces.

"Retro Boy World? We haven't been there in years," Zack said, confused.

"Besides, your mom tore it down, remember?" Julius added.

"Yeah, but then I thought to myself, 'Why don't we rebuild it together'?" Cloud answered.

"Didn't it take months for you and your mom to build it?" Popple asked.

"That was a mother and a 5-year old boy building a treehouse. Scratch that, just a mother and occasionally a 5-year old boy carrying something with the help of his mother building a treehouse. This time, we'll have 4 strong and able-bodied 16-year olds building it. So, what do you say?"

Julius, Zack, and Popple considered the offer before each made their answer.

"Sure. As long as Bane doesn't show up to ruin everything as usual, I'll do it," Julius said.

"Nothing better than a little nostalgia! I'm in!" Popple said.

Cloud, Popple, and Julius looked to Zack for his answer.

"Alright, I'm in." Zack said finally.

"SWEET!!" Cloud shouted happily. The hype Cloud of his youth was returning.

"So when do you want to start, Cloud?" Popple asked.

"I already have the supplies at our place. All that's left is to start building, baby! Let's go!" Cloud replied, picking up his pace to get home faster.

MEANWHILE, ON BANE'S SPACE SHUTTLE

"INCOMPETENT, THAT'S WHAT YOU TWO ARE!!!! INCOMPETENT!!!" Bane screamed at his two henchmen Chan and Hoji, getting saliva all over their faces.

"W-we're sorry boss, we didn't think we would be detected so soon!" Chan whimpered.

"I TAUGHT YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW, EVERYTHING I LOVE: BEING EVIL!! YET YOU NUMBSKULLS CAN'T EVEN KILL FOUR PESKY TEENAGERS?!! MAYBE I NEED NEW HENCHMEN TO USE INSTEAD OF YOU TWO..." Bane pointed the palm of his hand at them, charging a shadow ball in it.

"C-come on boss, we said we were sorry! Don't do this to us!!" Chan and Hoji begged, sweating profusely. Both henchmen got on their knees and begged for their lives as the shadow ball got larger and larger. Finally, it shrunk and disappeared.

"Alright, alright. Enough begging, minions. Instead of killing you two, I'll let this serve as a lesson. DO NOT. LET. ME. DOWN," Bane turned his back on them and walked towards the massive computer monitor mounted on his wall. A keyboard appeared in front of him.

"Now, let me show you how a villain really gets the job done. Ha ha. HA HA. MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!" Bane pressed a button on the keyboard and the computer monitor hummed to life, broadcasting hundreds of ghostbots next to a large pointed laser cannon. They were building it and seemed like they were almost done!

Back on Earth...

Julius, Zack, Cloud, and Popple were in the backyard, getting to work on Retro Boy World. Julius and Zack were carrying a large wooden plank towards the tree, Popple was hammering down a nail on a plank at the top of the tree, and Cloud was working on some wires connected to the tree and leading to the house.

"How's it going up there, Popple?" Cloud yelled up to her.

Popple hit the nail one more time before replying to Cloud. "Great!"

Zack and Julius arrived at the base of the tree with a saw and began taking turns cutting the plank into smaller pieces which would serve as foot holds for climbing the tree.

"Ah...I can't wait until we finish this baby," Cloud said as he daydreamed about the new Retro Boy World.

BACK ON BANE'S SHIP

Bane paced up and down the room, deep in thought. Occasionally, he glanced at the computer monitor, which was still broadcasting the ghostbots building the laser. Chan and Hoji watched their master intently.

"Once my weapon is complete, I will be in possession of the most powerful weapon in this universe. But I can't be unstoppable unless we deal with a certain group of teenagers.."

Chan and Hoji perked up. "Need us to do some damage boss?"

Bane stopped pacing, momentarily in thought. Finally, a grin appeared on his face. "No, I've got a better idea. Prepare a group of ghostbots to touch down on Earth."

Now to Earth...

Zack, Julius, Cloud, and Popple were enjoying a lunch break at the park. After taking a bite of his sandwich, Cloud began to speak.

"Guys, I'm glad we decided to rebuild Retro Boy World. This is gonna be an awesome weekend, I know it!"

"I feel you, Cloud. Playing video games, eating pizza, it'll be just like when we were kids..." Julius said wistfully.

As Popple took a sip of her water, she began looked around the park. "You guys hear that?'"

The others paused their eating to listen. Zack was the second to hear something amiss. It sounded like something metal was clinking on the ground every few seconds. "Yeah, I'm hearing something. Sounds familiar..."

Julius got up and pointed to the entrance of the park. "I think I found the source!"

At the entrance, ghostbots were appearing in a flash of purple light. Civilians were already starting to panic and scatter away from the robotic invaders.

The heroes wasted no time morphing and springing into action. The ghostbots saw the heroes and began their attack, charging at them. Cloud summoned his blaster and began firing on them. "So much for a relaxing Friday, huh?"

"Don't sweat it, Cloud," Zack reassured him, cutting through one ghostbot, then ducking another's clothesline attack. "Once we kick Bane's butt as per usual, we'll get back to the treehouse."

Bane watched the heroes fight against the invading ghostbots on the monitor. The monitor's display had shifted from the construction of the laser to the point of view of a ghostbot standing back from the chaos. Even as the fight moved away from his favor, he remained calm. Chan and Hoji stood uncomfortably, unsure of what to do.

"Uh, Boss..." Chan began.

"Should we beam down and assist?" Hoji finished.

Bane held a hand up. "No, everything is going according to plan." His eyes began to brighten with a purple hue.

Back on the ground, the heroes were soundly dealing with Bane's ghostbots when Julius noticed one of them beginning to glow purple. It turned its attention to him and ran head on. He aimed one of his blasters at the the chest of a closer ghostbot, then aimed the blaster in his other hand at the glowing one. With a pull of the trigger, its leg was shot off and it tumbled to the ground at his feet. Before he could ponder the color change, it exploded, knocking him off his feet and sending him face down to the ground. "They...blow up now?" He uttered, punctuating his sentence with a groan.

All around the team, more ghostbots began to glow purple. Popple somersaulted over a glowing ghostbot and kicked it from behind, knocking it into another one. The two collided and exploded.

"Well, this wasn't a very nice move by Bane!" Zack commentated, cutting a ghostbot in half by the abdomen and leaping at another, wasting no time in between attacks. "Destroying his own toys before we get to?"

Suddenly, a group of of ten ghostbots touched down behind the heroes' backs, their bodies bathed in purple light. As Cloud blasted another ghostbot, he glanced behind him and watched the ghostbots rush towards the others. They were all dealing with their own opponents, so there was no guarentee they would be able to react in time. He had to do something before they blew up. Springing to action, Cloud began running at them while opening fire. Two went down, but there were still eight more ready to blow.

"Guys, watch your backs! They're trying to sneak attack!" He yelled. The others turned around, noticing the swarm. Summoning their own ranged weapons, they started firing as well. One by one, they took down five bots, which still left three left. And they were about to reach the rest of the team!

"Watch out!" The blue ranger took a step forward and leapt off the ground, drop kicking the closest ghostbot of the way before it could blow up. The other two stopped in front of Cloud, and in a bright flash of purple, exploded.

From above Earth, Bane witnesses the detonation from his cameras on Earth, speechless. Smoke now filled up the monitor, masking his sight.

"I...I did it. I ACTUALLY DID IT!! YES!!! I finally killed those wretched fools! Now no one will stand in my way as I take over the Earth! MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

"Nice work, boss. What's the next step?" Hoji asked.

Bane became speechless again as he took a seat on a chair. "Now? To be honest, I....I don't know. I've never gotten this far before."

Hoji turned to a passing ghostbot and beckoned it over. "You! Bring us some celebratory snacks."

The ghostbot took some time to compute the request before nodding, zipping towards the pantry level of the ship and returning with enigma berries for the three villains. Bane and his henchmen took the berries from the ghostbot.

"I propose a toast to Bane...no, a toast to Lord Bane," Hoji said, a smirk on his face.

"Lord Bane? I like the sound of that. To Lord Bane then," Bane said, raising his enigma berry to the air, the others raised theirs as well before taking a bite out of them. Bane walked over to a window and looked out to the planet now at his mercy. As he did this, footage from his cameras on Earth showed the faint outline of a hand through the smoke.

Smoke still surrounded the impact area. As it cleared out, a hand rose out from a small crater, then another, then an entire body climbed out and rolled onto its back. Thoroughly exhausted but alive, Cloud hissed in pain.

"Is...is everyone alright?" He groaned out, coughing from all the smoke.

Soon, Julius, Zack, and Popple, alive as well, got to their feet. Their first priority was finding Cloud.

"Holy crap, Cloud!" Julius gasped, running to his teammate's side. "You saved us!"

"All...in a day's work, Jolis," Cloud said heroically, in an attempt to mask his pain.

The four heroes had survived Bane's attack. At the last minute, Cloud attracted the last two explosive ghostbots towards himself, taking the explosions head on.

"God, I didn't even know Bane had it in him..." Zack said, coughing as well.

"Well what did you expect, Zack? He's an evil psychopath," Popple answered.

"No, I mean, I didn't think Bane had the brains to just blow us up instead of thinking of ineffective plans every week," Zack replied quickly.

"...Ah, fair point."

"Alright, enough chit-chat, we need to go after Bane. Now," Cloud said heroically before faltering and falling down again. Popple ran to his side, helping him up by the shoulder.

At that moment, his communicator blinked and a hologram of Roy was projected onto the ground from his armor.

"Zack? Cloud? Julius? Popple? Is anyone alive?!" He yelled frantically.

"Augh, my freakin' ear! Yeah, commander, we're alive." Zack said.

"Space Commander Roy!" Julius said, snapping to attention.

Roy breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God. I feared for the worst when we detected that explosion."

Zack coughed. "Yeah? Well, it's gonna take more than a few of Bane's explosives to take us down. Just point us in the direction of the bastard so we can pound him."

"Not in your current conditions. I can't risk losing Earth's best line of defense against Bane. I'm beaming you all to SPD Earth Base immediately so we can plot our next move."

"We already know our next move. Go after Bane and make him p--"

"I'm bringing you all in, Zack. Get ready for extraction, that's an order," Roy said before ending the transmission. His hologram projection flickered out immediately.

"D...did he say SPD Earth Base?" Cloud said weakly, a faint hint of excitement in his voice.

Julius went to Cloud's side and took his other shoulder, helping to hold him steady. "Yup, he did, Cloud. Stay with us, man, you gotta see it," He said encouragingly.

Zack muttered something begrudgingly under his breath as he got closer to the others and a blue beam of light showered over the heroes, whisking them away to to the legendary SPD Earth Base.

AFTER SURVIVING BANE'S VICIOUS ATTACK, CAN THE HEROES PUT AN END TO BANE'S MOST DIABOLICAL SCHEME YET?

OR WILL BANE BE THE TRUE VICTOR AFTER ALL?

ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ON THE NEXT ACTION-PACKED EPISODE OF BATTLE HEROES X!!