Battle Heroes X Vetera: S01E17

Meet the Xrudites is the seventeenth episode of Battle Heroes X Vetera.

It was an early morning in Belview City. At the SPD Earth Base, Zack, Cloud and Popple were being guided out of the HQ through the back by Commander Roy.

"Popple, I know that you're still dealing with what happened. You don't have to be here if you don't want to."

Popple looked at him with a steely gaze. "I'm alright, sir. I'm ready to get back to work."

Roy nodded his head. "I respect your determination. And where did you two say Julius was?"

"He's not feeling so hot!" Cloud covered up.

Zack glanced at Cloud. "Yeah, he's sick in the head. *Really* sick in the head."

The base's rear was dedicated to landing pads and strips. There were multiple large doors made to accept aircrafts and other vehicles. Roy stopped in front of a landing pad and looked up to the sky.

Cloud turned to Zack. "What was that all about?"

"Me? Why didn't you just tell the truth? He quit."

Before Cloud could answer, Roy turned back to the rangers. "As you all know, this case with the void has been getting out of hand. The Negative Ranger has been on the offensive, disrupting our actions. One concrete fact we know is that the void is from space. So SPD requested for help beyond Earth. And now, we are recieving assistance in the form of the Xrudites."

Cloud nodded excitedly. "No way! We're gonna meet aliens?! Ass-kicking aliens?!"

"They will be helping us in a far more useful area. The Xrudites are a highly advanced species with a wellspring of knowledge. Their Minister of Technology personally decided to come here. It has been a long time since they have travelled to meet anyone outside of their planet."

"Why didn't you tell us earlier? We could've set up a 'Welcome to Earth' party where we show off our cool Earth stuff! Like hamburgers!"

"I don't believe they would have the time for that," Roy responded, looking back up at the sky. He took a deep breath. "They're here."

Cloud looked up and saw nothing. "I don't see any ships."

Zack peered up. "I see it. Their ship's cloaked. Look a little closer."

Cloud squinted up and his eye caught the faintest silver of shimmering metal. He followed it as it descended and puff of air on the ground indicated it had landed.

"Xrudite vehicles are rather distinct in look, so they did not want anyone to know of their journey."

The air around the landing pad began to shimmer and the Xrudite ship became visible. It was shaped like a cube with four thin spider-like legs holding it up. The entire craft was made of a yellow metal, with diamonds encrusting the legs. The back of it opened up and a landing ramp slid out to the ground. Five large and bulky aliens red-skinned aliens in dark yellow armor marched out, meticulously scanning their surroundings. When they were satisfied, one of them stepped forward.

"Your presence is graced by Lord Balgreth! Along with his son Oreh and daughter Noha!" He announced before bowing and turning to the side. Three more aliens walked down the landing ramp one by one, two males and one female. The first was bald and wore a green robe with black linen under it. The second one was younger with a full head of red hair. He wore a red robe along with a cape. The last one was significantly younger than the first two. She had long red hair and green eyes, along with freckles. The first two had an air of superiority around them, as if being here was above them. The girl looked down to the ground, emotionless.

Roy nodded in respect to Balgreth. "Welcome to Earth, Lord Balgreth."

Balgreth was looking around before acknowledging Roy's greeting. "Thank you. Your planet is rather...quaint."

The younger male Xrudite didn't keep his contempt to himself. "I don't see why anyone would want to come here, father. Much less try to conquer it."

"You'd be surprised, we've got a lot to offer here!" Cloud said cheerfully, offering his hand to him. "My name's Cloud, welcome to Earth!"

The Xrudite looked down at the hand, then to Roy.

"These are the SPD rangers who defeated Bane. I wanted them come to assist in any way possible."

"Ah," He said absentmindedly, as if he cared little for the answer. He turned to his father. "They don't look very strong."

"I suppose a...middling planet calls for middling defense, Oreh," Balgreth noted. The two shared a laugh.

Zack stepped forward. "If being here is so beneath you, why don't you just leave your fancy technology here and leave?"

Balgreth cooly raised an eyebrow at his statement. and Oreh simply smirked in Zack's face. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? It pains you to be in the presence of a superior being."

"You're a superior something alright, you--"

"Zack, stand down. Now." Roy commanded.

Oreh continued to smile at Zack's predicament. "You heard your commander."

Finally, Zack backed down. Roy cleared his throat. "Shall we go inside? Our facility is eager to meet you."

Balgreth nodded and Roy guided the aliens inside. The Xrudite guards marched to the ship to begin unpacking. As Balgreth and Oreh followed the commander, the rangers lingered outside. Cloud looked to Zack. His face was obscured by his helmet, but his body language spoke volumes.

"You alright, Zack?" He asked, offering his fist. Zack exhaled and bumped his fist.

"Roy sure knows how to pick them. Invasion of the assholes." He said, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, what a bunch of--" Cloud began before cutting himself off. The female Xrudite had lingered, staring at all three of them. "Uh...hello," Cloud said instead. She quickly looked away and rushed in after the others. The rangers looked at each other before going in as well.

...

"And this is our laboratory, where we conduct research and craft tools and weaponry for our ranger."

Roy was introducing the Xrudites to the lab. Balgreth was wholly uninpressed. Dr. Haley and Dr. Koss were probing a mechanical device that looked like an engine. When they looked up and saw the Xrudites, they paused their work. "Greetings, Lord Balgreth, we've been expe--"

"...Hm, I see. Certainly less developed than what we have on our home planet. But it will suffice." He turned around to Roy. "I would like to get started immediately. I will require everything you have on the void, as you call it. Eyewitness accounts, footage and data."

"Understood." Roy looked at his scientists, who hastily began clearing up space and looking through a computer to compile what was requested.

Oreh watched them scurry and turned his father. "While you're helping these earthlings, father, what are Noha and I to do?"

"My rangers would be more than happy to show them around, perhaps show them a little Earth culture."

Oreh balked at the idea. "I'd rather study in my pod than engage in Earth culture."

Balgreth pondered Roy's offer. "Hm. If you say that these rangers saved Earth, then I see no issue in safety. Noha." The girl looked up. "Go with these rangers."

"Yes, father," She said obediently. She walked from her father's side to the rangers.

"Show her your...culture. This business shouldn't take all day. Bring her back by 5:00, in your Earth time."

"We'll talk again, rangers. Dismissed," Roy said before engaging in conversation with Balgreth. Oreh looked at the rangers and smirked.

"The soldiers, forced to play tour guides," He snickered before walking out of the lab and back to the ship. Zack walked out the other way. "Come on, let's get out of here."

...

Zack, Cloud, Popple and Noha were driving back home in the Delta Cruiser. Zack and Cloud were in the front, while Popple was in the back with Noha.

"I can't be the only one kinda pissed that we woke up at 6 in the morning, just to play babysitter," Zack said, his voice tinted with irritation.

"Zack." Popple spoke up.

He remembered Noha's presence. "Right. It's just that we're used to stopping bad guys. This is new."

"It's okay..." Noha said quietly.

The four continued to drive in silence. Cloud felt reluctant to speak, as talking with her father and brother didn't go so well. "So what do you like to do on your planet?"

As if the question set something off in her, Noha began to quietly sob.

"It is not my day..." Cloud observed, looking out the window.

She took a hankerchief from a pocket and dabbed at her eyes. "I'm sorry, it's just that I...I've never been outside my home planet before. Or away from my family."

"What's your home like?" Popple asked.

"It's like one big city, with lots of hovercrafts. Our vehicles don't have wheels."

Cloud smiled. "Hovercars for everyone? I know where we're going for vacation!"

Zack laughed. "If everyone else on that planet acts like Baldie and Baldie jr., then count me out."

...

The teens arrived at the boys' house. Zack opened the door, revealing Julius lounging on the couch. He was eating from a tub of ice cream while watching TV.

"We're back!" Cloud announced.

"Oh, hey Cloud," Julius said, tired.

Zack glared at his former leader. "You're still here? What happened to resigning?"

"I'm going in later to talk with Roy. Then it'll all be over."

Noha walked in and looked around the house, curiously. Cloud walked next to her.

"Allow me to give you the grand tour of casa de Cloud!" He offered. Noha thought for a moment before nodding. Cloud walked up the stairs and beckoned her to follow him. When they were gone, Julius scooped some ice cream into his mouth. "Normally, I would start acting shocked because there's a girl with red skin in the house. But after tonight, it won't be my problem."

Popple walked into the house. As soon as he saw her, he yelped and sat up. "Zack! Why didn't you tell me she was gonna be here?! We have a system!"

"Because that crap's between you and Cloud." He answered bluntly.

"Great." He turned to his former teammate. "Popple...h-how's it going? Were you guys assigned to protect the girl?"

"What do you care?" She snapped at him. "You're running away after today, anyway. Not your problem."

Julius grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. "I thought that you'd be celebrating me stepping down."

"Why would I celebrate you running away?"

"Because you really hate my guts? You made it pretty clear that night."

Popple threw her hands up. "After everything I said, that was your takeaway?"

"Why is everybody talking in double meanings?! 'Julius you're a screwup, but not really. Julius, you're a stupid idiot, but there's more!'"

Popple closed her eyes and composed herself. "No one's talking in riddles, Julius. Stop being so dense and *think*."

"Fine! Know what I'm thinking?" He got up and picked his morpher off the table. "I'm thinking I'm out of here. Get this over with so I can go back home and not have to deal with this again!" He then stormed out of the house. Popple sat on the couch, looking ahead at the blank TV. Zack sat next to her, looking at his hands.

"You alright?" He questioned after some time.

"I'm fine," She replied. Cloud and Noha came back down the stairs.

"You are allowed to have designs and posters in your room?" She asked, intrigued.

"You're not?" Cloud asked back. He then looked around the room. "Where's Julius?

...

Finally, he made it to SPD Base. It was a long walk, made longer because of all the thoughts swimming in his mind. *It's all gonna be over soon*, was his only drive. When he entered the base, a twang of sadness hit. *Walking through the base, for the last time.* Using the elevator, he travelled to the floor where the Commander's office was, walking downn a hall to reach it. He knocked on the door and awaited an answer.

"Come in."

Julius entered the office and Roy gestured for him to sit down.

"Your teammates informed me on how sick you were. Although you look to have a clean bill of health."

"Something's been on my mind, sir. Something that has been there for a long time," Julius replied, reaching for his morpher and setting it on the Commander's desk. "I'm not the guy for this job. No matter what I do or try, I'm always stumbling and screwing up. I'm not strong enough to lead this team."

Roy looked down at the morpher, then back to Julius. "I see," He replied, musing. Finally, he took a deep breath. "Before you leave, I would like to tell you something. You are a ranger. The red ranger. Which means you're the leader of your team. And that team is your strength. You all cover each other's weaknesses. Whenever you feel yourself slipping, that team's going to be there for you. You were all put together for a reason."

That phrase again. Julius remembered it from before, on the train. "Right, the team. With teammates who either hates me or think I'm a spaz."

"Earlier this year, everything was alright. That's an issue you need to consider and figure out. You're the leader, and a good leader knows his team."

*How am I supposed to know all that? We may be friends, but I can't read minds.* Popple's voice permeated his mind. *No one's talking in riddles, Julius. Stop being so dense and think.* Julius focused, trying to see things instead of immediately reacting. Zack, who was always on his case. Always criticizing him, always giving him trouble for every little thing. *Stupid, stupid, stupid Julius.* Julius felt his words vindicated. *I*n his own abrasive Zack way, he's been trying to shape him up. Cloud, always looking on the bright side. And Popple. Sweet Popple, her spirits crushed after he ran in her time of need. Angry as she was with him, she didn't want him gone, right?

"Although I am disappointed that my choice to make you team leader after Silas' departure proved faulty, I have no choice but to honor your decision...if it's still your decision."

Roy gave Julius a deep stare, prompting him to squirm and look away. Should he quit? Could he put things back together? Julius put both his hands on the desk and got up.

"I...can't give you an answer right now, sir. Sorry."

"Don't be," Roy reassured him. He handed Julius' morpher back to him. "This is an important decision. Take some time to think about it and come back tomorrow."

Suddenly, Roy's morpher went off. "Hello?" He answered. "...Yes...on my way." He hung up and got up. "I'll walk you to the lobby. I have to meet with someone."

As the two left the room and went to the lobby, Julius' mind raced. *Leave, or stay?* He sighed at the latest diliema of his life. At the very least, he thought to himself, the future was multiple choice.

When they reached the lobby, Zack, Cloud and Popple were standing around. Across from them, Noha was with two larged armored aliens.

"Commander Roy," One of the guards greeted. "Lord Balgreth send us with a message. His experiments with your substance have brought forth concerning details. He announces that his stay must be extended while he sends for additional research tools from his homeworld."

"Right, thank you for letting me know," Roy noted, looking to Noha now. "It was nice to meet you, Noha."

She shyly nodded before being led by her bodyguards. Roy turned to the heroes. "Rangers." He then walked away.Zack wasted no time drilling Julius.

"So, you finally did? You're off the team, ready to move back with your mom?"

Julius looked away and scratched the back of his head. "Uh, well..."

He rolled his eyes. "Typical Julius. All talk, huh? Or worse, you wimped out. Again."

Before Julius could say something, he turned around and walked away. Popple looked at him as well with her now usual downtrodden stare until she decided to walk out as well. Cloud stuck around, giving him a smile. "Hey, least you didn't say yes."

Julius smiled back. "Yeah. You're right, man."

Together, the two friends walked out of the SPD base.