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-------------Chapter 4: Meeting the Other Side--------------
"Ugh..." Nina pressed a steel hand to her head as she slowly sat up from the bed she was laying in. Looking around, her eyes widened as she let out another groan. "I was hoping it was all a dream..." She sighed.

"I hope the same thing almost every day." That light, feminine voice appeared again as Nicolette slowly strode down the ladder, still in her dress, and sat at her vanity mirror once again.

"Ugh...Even yourself?" Nina scowled as she got out of bed herself, mentally thanking Nicolette for taking off her boots after setting her to bed.

"...Sometimes..." She looked sad for a moment, before turning back to Nina. "Now, I believe you had some questions for me?" Nicolette gave Nina a look that, to Nina, said "I hope you realize how completely insane this is." Nina couldn't help but chuckle. Markus said she'd given a similar look to him numerous times.

"Yeah, actually, I-" Suddenly, there was a tapping at the chamber doors. Nina raised an eyebrow, but Nicolette looked genuinely surprised.

"That's strange...No one knocks..." She walked over to the door and unlocked it, only to be greeted by a huge face, resembling a cross between a human and a bat, complete with large pointed ears, scruffy brown fur, bat-like nose, and pointy teeth. "AH!!" Nicolette shouted in surprise, backing up hurriedly and almost bonking her head on the bed in her panicked attempt to put as much space between her and the bat-person as possible.

Nina jumped between the creature and Nicolette. She couldn't explain it, but she felt the need to protect this person...The only kind person she had met in this crazy place. But then she got a better look at the creature.

It was clearly a Battler, with a huge, muscular chest with traces of grey fur, long, powerful legs that were bent so it's face could be seen, and a tattered pair of blue shorts to keep it's decency intact. But it's arms were made of metal, including the wings. Both the wings and the arms themselves looked rather sharp, giving it the general aura of a deadly predator, made even deadlier. And finally, clutched in one of it's sharp hands, was a familiar metal mask...

"What did you do to Hai-Kutt, you brainless sack of fur and scrap?" She asked, her eyes narrowing as her fists clenched. Hai-Kutt didn't go down easy, so this thing had to be strong...

"Uhhh...I AM Hai-Kutt." Was the thing's response, raising an eyebrow. "Jeez, you'd think you could tell a person by looking them in the eyes." Nina looked at the eyes, and indeed, they were the familiar black with tiny red dots that was something she had only really seen in Lockbolt and the mask.

"Fine. If you're Hai-Kutt, tell me something only you would know." Nina crossed her arms, still ready for a fight if need be.

"Uhhh...Ok. Slash keeps a Goth Turtle journal under his bed as a decoy in case- OW!!" Hai-Kutt was cut off as Nina threw a spring-loaded punch at his unprotected face, which knocked him right in the chin.

"Alright, now get in here before someone sees you." Hai-Kutt ducked his head under the doorway and managed to fit inside. Luckily the ceiling was high enough that he didn't hit his head on it. "What the heck did you do to yourself?" Nina snapped at him.

"Well, after we left Crazy Overlord back there, I decided to leave the little conga line and find the place of this "Cyber-Titan" project thing I overheard said Overlord talking about. I found a lab by a stroke of luck and...Oh, by Spider-Man! They were trying to make titans into cybernetic killing machines! There were bodies everywhere! Some of them were even KILLED!! Oh, the inhumanity!" Hai-Kutt wailed dramatically.

"Then how do you have this body now, Mr. Hai-Kutt?" Nicolette asked, finally getting over a little bit of her shock, but still staying a safe distance away from the large former mask.

"Well, this one was...mostly fresh, so I just transferred my being into the body and took over. Luckily, it wasn't too far gone or I would've been walking around as a zombie. Speaking of zombies, Igma's the head lab guy. And he mentioned Hanced being in this castle as well."

"Ugh..." Nina pressed a hand to her temple once again. "I think I feel another headache coming on. First Thorn, now Igma and Hanced... Who isn't here?" She groaned.

"That's what I was thinking when I saw him. Anyway, now that I've explained where I got this kickin' new body from, who's this? And why does she look so much like-" Nina smacked him, a small blush on her face.

"I am Nicolette Kaine, the Grand Heir of the Chaotic Overlord. Just call me "Nic", if you please." She once again curtsied, this time, to a stunned Hai-Kutt. "And...I am the result of my ..."Father"'s almost maniacal obsession with my mother..." Nina blushed, looking at the "n" on Nicolette's forehead. "My father had wanted his beloved back, but, he did not have the means to do so. Shortly after taking over the world, he looked all over the Cortex Castle for...A sample of my mother's DNA. He gave the sample to the only person he trusted to have any knowledge of geneology, his current Military General, Benjamin Thorn. He originally wanted to...to clone Mother, but the sample was too old. Anything made from this would be highly unstable. So Father decided to have the next best thing. He provided a sample of his own DNA and General Thorn created...me."

"...Whoa..." Hai-Kutt's eyes were wide.

"Wait a minute..." Nina frowned. "Thorn didn't exactly have a lot of knowledge in cloning. He was the Botany teacher, for Pete's sake." She said.

"Thorn did not clone me...He CREATED me." Was Nicolette's reply. "General Thorn has vast experience in combining genes of lizards and plants together. I was his first human subject, but I was a success, too. He also had some help from one of the...prisoners...And thus, I was "born", and raised to be his heir should my father die."

"So...That would mean technically your...Slash's and...MY child?" Nina said. She had her theories about Nicolette, but dismissed them as ridiculous. Now that Nic's story backed said theories up, there was no denying it. She clutched her head in her hands again. "Well...That's a surprise."

"I'm afraid so..." Nic held her right arm with her left hand. "I did not ask to be created. And if I had the power, I would stop my...father at this very moment. May I ask you...what was my father like? Before all this happened?"

Nina scowled and prepared to tell the girl off, when Hai-Kutt whispered in her ear. "C'mon, Nina...She has a right to know. Besides, she's your daughter, right? Get to know her a bit before treating her like a moron."

Nina scowled and punched Hai-Kutt rather lightly in the chest. "Fine. You see...Markus-"

Nicolette giggled. "His name is Markus? An odd name for my father...I always imagined his name to be more...intimidating."

"He never even told you his name?" Nina asked, eyebrow raised.

"No. He's not the...warmest of figures..." Nic responded, her mouth curved into a frown.

"Alright, don't go turning on the water works, right when I'm about to start my story..." Nina sighed. "See, it all began when..."
--------------------------------------------

It had continued for hours, seemingly. Nina had begun, and intended to end, by talking about the past Chaotic Overlord's life, only for Nicolette to ask for more information. So, Nina began telling of his personality and the things he had done. But still, Nicolette wanted more. Out of things about Markus to speak about, she began telling Nic about herself, and the things she had done. It was late in the night by the time she finished talking.

"Look, I don't have any more, ok? I've told you everything, Nic." Nina sighed. The girl's thirst for knowledge was insatiable. Just then, the door slid open and a guard walked in, carrying three trays of food on a large platter, setting them down on the vanity table and leaving without saying a word.

"Finally, I'm starving!" Hai-Kutt said as he stood and stretched his legs before heading over to the trays. One of them was a small salad, another a bowl of beef stew, and the last, a pair of steaks. He quickly tore into the steaks, almost inhaling them, much to Nina's disgust and Nicolette's shock.

"If you're QUITE FINISHED grossing me out, Hai-Kutt, I'd like to eat too." Nina growled. Hai-Kutt blushed and handed her and Nic the other two trays.

"Sorry. I just haven't eaten in...A long time, I guess." Hai-Kutt scratched his head bashfully before eating in a slightly more civilized manner.

Nina didn't respond as she began to eat the stew in silence, Nicolette joining her, daintily munching on her salad. As she ate, Nina's thoughts turned to their situation. How are we going to get back to our own time? I don't think Markus would be any help, since, according to Nic, he's been insane for me for years...And he had Tropy killed...Maybe Tropy had an old Time Twister machine around where he was found. I mean, I'm not sure if he could've made the Time Orb we were caught in without his Time Twister. But wasn't that machine very delicate? Her thoughts were cut off by Hai-Kutt's voice.

"Hey, Nina?" Hai-Kutt asked. "Didn't Tropy tell us to find Neal Sect?" At the mention of the name, Nic's eyes widened and she quickly poked her head out the door and looked around. Finding no one, she closed the door again and glared at Hai-Kutt, who recoiled as if the young girl had physically struck him.

"What's with the look, Nic? What's so bad about N. Sect?" Nina asked. Nic frowned.

"Neal Sect is the leader of the rebel force that has been trying to dethrone my father for several months now." She whispered. "I've never seen them, but Neal and my father fought once. Neal manged to wound him greatly, but Father...Well, since he's alive, I doubt Neal is in any good shape."

Nina sighed. "Just frikkin' perfect. What luck! We're transported to the future where my boyfriend is apparently a psychotic, world-dominating...well, psycho. And the only one who can possibly return us to our time is the leader of the resistance. What a GREAT two days in this stupid future." Nina finally just lost her temper and punched the wall, her metal hand forming many sizeable cracks in the brick. Smirking, she sat back down.

"Say..." Hai-Kutt stated slowly, his ears twitching. "Does anyone else hear that?"

"Hear what, Hai-Kutt?" Nina asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That there's a huge commotion outside...It sounds like people are fighting." He responded, his ears still twitching.

"Finally, some action!" Nina's smirk widened as she flexed her fingers. "Let's check it out." Hai-Kutt opened the door, and Nina slowly walked out. Now that they were out of the bedchamber, the noise was finally audible to Nina's ears, and Hai-Kutt was right. There was indeed the sound of fighting going on. "Nic, come on! We don't have all day."

"Alright, I'm coming, already. Sheesh...No patience at all." Hai-Kutt couldn't help but chuckle at Nicolette's attitude as she exited, allowing Hai-Kutt to leave himself. "It sounds bad...But no one but the resistance has ever attacked the castle..."

"Well, if it is the rebels, then more power to them, I say." Nina responded. "I'd do anything to get out of this castle. Everything's the same..."

"Nina! Don't you know Murphy's Law? If you say something like that, then-!" Hai-Kutt's statement was cut off as the wall next to them exploded. The trio ducked low to avoid most of the force, and Hai-Kutt stretched his arms, and large metal wings extended from the steel shoulders. He quickly spread the wings, covering the girls and keeping the debris from striking them, although when it was over all three of them had small cuts.

"Darn you, Murphy's Law..." Hai-Kutt growled, smacking his face with his metal palm.

"Oh, lucky day! Our first shot into the castle wall and I find what we're looking for!" Said a voice as the smoke cleared, and standing in front of them was a much different person than Nina or Hai-Kutt was expecting.

It was clearly Neal Sect, and his physical appearance hadn't changed much, they observed as he stood on the hood of what looked like a larger, more car-like version of Neo Cortex's hoverboard, piloted by a man with a black cloth wrapped around his face. A light blue labcoat, with two holes on the sides for his insectoid arms, blue jeans, and a pair of brown shoes. A pair of yellow and black antennae still protruded from his light blonde hair, and he still wore glasses. But, a few things were different.

For one thing, on Neal's face was a large scowl, and in each of his four hands were guns. Two of them looked like the average gun that fired bullets, while the other pair looked like ray guns. But the most interesting change were his wings. Simply put, they weren't there anymore. Only small remnants of wing-flesh attatched to Neal's back were left.

"Well...I can see how Neal could fight Markus to a standstill now..." She said, not expecting something like this out of her old teacher at the Academy of Evil.

"C'mon, you three. None of you will be safe from that nut for very long!" Neal grabbed Nicolette, and pulled her onto the board.

"Well, you wanted action, right?" Hai-Kutt chuckled. Nina glared, and he shut up.

"Just give me your stupid mask so you can fly unhindered you idiot." Nina grumbled as the bat handed his former body to her. Hai-Kutt mock-saluted and looked at Neal. "You might wanna get out of the way, Bub." Neal obeyed, and Hai-Kutt ran and jumped out of the freshly-created hole. Flapping frantically, he somehow managed to clumsily stay in the air, but only just barely.

"I really don't think Battler's were built for this, Nina!" Hai-Kutt cried out in panic.

"Just keep trying, you wuss!" Nina shouted as she hopped into the hoverboard, landing neatly into the seat next to Nic. "Go UP you idiot! UP!" Hai-Kutt flapped his winged arms frantically, and slowly, but steadily, he managed to get back to eye-level with Neal and his vehicle.

"Let's go." Was his only remark as the hovercar flew off, Hai-Kutt clumsily following. Nicolette frowned as she watched the two warring factions decimate each other. Nina looked at her and smirked lightly.

"You shouldn't worry about them when you're in the vehicle of the 'enemy'." She said. The small joke caused the younger girl to giggle slightly, but the frown returned soon enough. Nina smirked and reclined in the chair as the man with his face covered flew them off into the distance, far away from Slash and his castle.
------------------------------------------

On the ground, General Thorn had just been fighting the invaders on the ground when they had fled suddenly.

"Uh-Oh. When that happens, usually it's because of..." He trailed off as he looked to the sky, barely able to see the two blots in the sky make their getaway with the sun right in his eyes. "Oh, crap." Just as he was about to curse himself into eternity for letting his guard down, a guard came up to him, panting heavily. "What is it, soldier?" He asked.

"Sir, the Chaotic Overlord wants to see you in his chambers immediately." Thorn twitched. That was rarely a good thing. "And he has sent for Lab Technician Igma as well." That was even worse. He quickly ran for the castle doors before his "boss" could get even angrier.
-----------------------

And there's Chapter 4! I hope you all liked it. I've been having killer writer's block recently, and now I'm just writing these things up like crazy! It makes me happy.

Anyway, what's up with Neal, and why is he SO badass? Well, that MIGHT be delved into next chapter. Depends on how well the changes to Neal and the other characters introduced in the last two chapters are received, really. But I had lots of fun writing this, and I hope you have just as much fun reading!

BTW, critique if you can. I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing.

Slash, Nicolette, Hai-Kutt (C) Me
Nina (C) Whoever owns her, I forget.
Igma (C)
Benjamin Thorn (C)

Description
-------------Chapter 4: Meeting the Other Side--------------
"Ugh..." Nina pressed a steel hand to her head as she slowly sat up from the bed she was laying in. Looking around, her eyes widened as she let out another groan. "I was hoping it was all a dream..." She sighed.

"I hope the same thing almost every day." That light, feminine voice appeared again as Nicolette slowly strode down the ladder, still in her dress, and sat at her vanity mirror once again.

"Ugh...Even yourself?" Nina scowled as she got out of bed herself, mentally thanking Nicolette for taking off her boots after setting her to bed.

"...Sometimes..." She looked sad for a moment, before turning back to Nina. "Now, I believe you had some questions for me?" Nicolette gave Nina a look that, to Nina, said "I hope you realize how completely insane this is." Nina couldn't help but chuckle. Markus said she'd given a similar look to him numerous times.

"Yeah, actually, I-" Suddenly, there was a tapping at the chamber doors. Nina raised an eyebrow, but Nicolette looked genuinely surprised.

"That's strange...No one knocks..." She walked over to the door and unlocked it, only to be greeted by a huge face, resembling a cross between a human and a bat, complete with large pointed ears, scruffy brown fur, bat-like nose, and pointy teeth. "AH!!" Nicolette shouted in surprise, backing up hurriedly and almost bonking her head on the bed in her panicked attempt to put as much space between her and the bat-person as possible.

Nina jumped between the creature and Nicolette. She couldn't explain it, but she felt the need to protect this person...The only kind person she had met in this crazy place. But then she got a better look at the creature.

It was clearly a Battler, with a huge, muscular chest with traces of grey fur, long, powerful legs that were bent so it's face could be seen, and a tattered pair of blue shorts to keep it's decency intact. But it's arms were made of metal, including the wings. Both the wings and the arms themselves looked rather sharp, giving it the general aura of a deadly predator, made even deadlier. And finally, clutched in one of it's sharp hands, was a familiar metal mask...

"What did you do to Hai-Kutt, you brainless sack of fur and scrap?" She asked, her eyes narrowing as her fists clenched. Hai-Kutt didn't go down easy, so this thing had to be strong...

"Uhhh...I AM Hai-Kutt." Was the thing's response, raising an eyebrow. "Jeez, you'd think you could tell a person by looking them in the eyes." Nina looked at the eyes, and indeed, they were the familiar black with tiny red dots that was something she had only really seen in Lockbolt and the mask.

"Fine. If you're Hai-Kutt, tell me something only you would know." Nina crossed her arms, still ready for a fight if need be.

"Uhhh...Ok. Slash keeps a Goth Turtle journal under his bed as a decoy in case- OW!!" Hai-Kutt was cut off as Nina threw a spring-loaded punch at his unprotected face, which knocked him right in the chin.

"Alright, now get in here before someone sees you." Hai-Kutt ducked his head under the doorway and managed to fit inside. Luckily the ceiling was high enough that he didn't hit his head on it. "What the heck did you do to yourself?" Nina snapped at him.

"Well, after we left Crazy Overlord back there, I decided to leave the little conga line and find the place of this "Cyber-Titan" project thing I overheard said Overlord talking about. I found a lab by a stroke of luck and...Oh, by Spider-Man! They were trying to make titans into cybernetic killing machines! There were bodies everywhere! Some of them were even KILLED!! Oh, the inhumanity!" Hai-Kutt wailed dramatically.

"Then how do you have this body now, Mr. Hai-Kutt?" Nicolette asked, finally getting over a little bit of her shock, but still staying a safe distance away from the large former mask.

"Well, this one was...mostly fresh, so I just transferred my being into the body and took over. Luckily, it wasn't too far gone or I would've been walking around as a zombie. Speaking of zombies, Igma's the head lab guy. And he mentioned Hanced being in this castle as well."

"Ugh..." Nina pressed a hand to her temple once again. "I think I feel another headache coming on. First Thorn, now Igma and Hanced... Who isn't here?" She groaned.

"That's what I was thinking when I saw him. Anyway, now that I've explained where I got this kickin' new body from, who's this? And why does she look so much like-" Nina smacked him, a small blush on her face.

"I am Nicolette Kaine, the Grand Heir of the Chaotic Overlord. Just call me "Nic", if you please." She once again curtsied, this time, to a stunned Hai-Kutt. "And...I am the result of my ..."Father"'s almost maniacal obsession with my mother..." Nina blushed, looking at the "n" on Nicolette's forehead. "My father had wanted his beloved back, but, he did not have the means to do so. Shortly after taking over the world, he looked all over the Cortex Castle for...A sample of my mother's DNA. He gave the sample to the only person he trusted to have any knowledge of geneology, his current Military General, Benjamin Thorn. He originally wanted to...to clone Mother, but the sample was too old. Anything made from this would be highly unstable. So Father decided to have the next best thing. He provided a sample of his own DNA and General Thorn created...me."

"...Whoa..." Hai-Kutt's eyes were wide.

"Wait a minute..." Nina frowned. "Thorn didn't exactly have a lot of knowledge in cloning. He was the Botany teacher, for Pete's sake." She said.

"Thorn did not clone me...He CREATED me." Was Nicolette's reply. "General Thorn has vast experience in combining genes of lizards and plants together. I was his first human subject, but I was a success, too. He also had some help from one of the...prisoners...And thus, I was "born", and raised to be his heir should my father die."

"So...That would mean technically your...Slash's and...MY child?" Nina said. She had her theories about Nicolette, but dismissed them as ridiculous. Now that Nic's story backed said theories up, there was no denying it. She clutched her head in her hands again. "Well...That's a surprise."

"I'm afraid so..." Nic held her right arm with her left hand. "I did not ask to be created. And if I had the power, I would stop my...father at this very moment. May I ask you...what was my father like? Before all this happened?"

Nina scowled and prepared to tell the girl off, when Hai-Kutt whispered in her ear. "C'mon, Nina...She has a right to know. Besides, she's your daughter, right? Get to know her a bit before treating her like a moron."

Nina scowled and punched Hai-Kutt rather lightly in the chest. "Fine. You see...Markus-"

Nicolette giggled. "His name is Markus? An odd name for my father...I always imagined his name to be more...intimidating."

"He never even told you his name?" Nina asked, eyebrow raised.

"No. He's not the...warmest of figures..." Nic responded, her mouth curved into a frown.

"Alright, don't go turning on the water works, right when I'm about to start my story..." Nina sighed. "See, it all began when..."
--------------------------------------------

It had continued for hours, seemingly. Nina had begun, and intended to end, by talking about the past Chaotic Overlord's life, only for Nicolette to ask for more information. So, Nina began telling of his personality and the things he had done. But still, Nicolette wanted more. Out of things about Markus to speak about, she began telling Nic about herself, and the things she had done. It was late in the night by the time she finished talking.

"Look, I don't have any more, ok? I've told you everything, Nic." Nina sighed. The girl's thirst for knowledge was insatiable. Just then, the door slid open and a guard walked in, carrying three trays of food on a large platter, setting them down on the vanity table and leaving without saying a word.

"Finally, I'm starving!" Hai-Kutt said as he stood and stretched his legs before heading over to the trays. One of them was a small salad, another a bowl of beef stew, and the last, a pair of steaks. He quickly tore into the steaks, almost inhaling them, much to Nina's disgust and Nicolette's shock.

"If you're QUITE FINISHED grossing me out, Hai-Kutt, I'd like to eat too." Nina growled. Hai-Kutt blushed and handed her and Nic the other two trays.

"Sorry. I just haven't eaten in...A long time, I guess." Hai-Kutt scratched his head bashfully before eating in a slightly more civilized manner.

Nina didn't respond as she began to eat the stew in silence, Nicolette joining her, daintily munching on her salad. As she ate, Nina's thoughts turned to their situation. How are we going to get back to our own time? I don't think Markus would be any help, since, according to Nic, he's been insane for me for years...And he had Tropy killed...Maybe Tropy had an old Time Twister machine around where he was found. I mean, I'm not sure if he could've made the Time Orb we were caught in without his Time Twister. But wasn't that machine very delicate? Her thoughts were cut off by Hai-Kutt's voice.

"Hey, Nina?" Hai-Kutt asked. "Didn't Tropy tell us to find Neal Sect?" At the mention of the name, Nic's eyes widened and she quickly poked her head out the door and looked around. Finding no one, she closed the door again and glared at Hai-Kutt, who recoiled as if the young girl had physically struck him.

"What's with the look, Nic? What's so bad about N. Sect?" Nina asked. Nic frowned.

"Neal Sect is the leader of the rebel force that has been trying to dethrone my father for several months now." She whispered. "I've never seen them, but Neal and my father fought once. Neal manged to wound him greatly, but Father...Well, since he's alive, I doubt Neal is in any good shape."

Nina sighed. "Just frikkin' perfect. What luck! We're transported to the future where my boyfriend is apparently a psychotic, world-dominating...well, psycho. And the only one who can possibly return us to our time is the leader of the resistance. What a GREAT two days in this stupid future." Nina finally just lost her temper and punched the wall, her metal hand forming many sizeable cracks in the brick. Smirking, she sat back down.

"Say..." Hai-Kutt stated slowly, his ears twitching. "Does anyone else hear that?"

"Hear what, Hai-Kutt?" Nina asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That there's a huge commotion outside...It sounds like people are fighting." He responded, his ears still twitching.

"Finally, some action!" Nina's smirk widened as she flexed her fingers. "Let's check it out." Hai-Kutt opened the door, and Nina slowly walked out. Now that they were out of the bedchamber, the noise was finally audible to Nina's ears, and Hai-Kutt was right. There was indeed the sound of fighting going on. "Nic, come on! We don't have all day."

"Alright, I'm coming, already. Sheesh...No patience at all." Hai-Kutt couldn't help but chuckle at Nicolette's attitude as she exited, allowing Hai-Kutt to leave himself. "It sounds bad...But no one but the resistance has ever attacked the castle..."

"Well, if it is the rebels, then more power to them, I say." Nina responded. "I'd do anything to get out of this castle. Everything's the same..."

"Nina! Don't you know Murphy's Law? If you say something like that, then-!" Hai-Kutt's statement was cut off as the wall next to them exploded. The trio ducked low to avoid most of the force, and Hai-Kutt stretched his arms, and large metal wings extended from the steel shoulders. He quickly spread the wings, covering the girls and keeping the debris from striking them, although when it was over all three of them had small cuts.

"Darn you, Murphy's Law..." Hai-Kutt growled, smacking his face with his metal palm.

"Oh, lucky day! Our first shot into the castle wall and I find what we're looking for!" Said a voice as the smoke cleared, and standing in front of them was a much different person than Nina or Hai-Kutt was expecting.

It was clearly Neal Sect, and his physical appearance hadn't changed much, they observed as he stood on the hood of what looked like a larger, more car-like version of Neo Cortex's hoverboard, piloted by a man with a black cloth wrapped around his face. A light blue labcoat, with two holes on the sides for his insectoid arms, blue jeans, and a pair of brown shoes. A pair of yellow and black antennae still protruded from his light blonde hair, and he still wore glasses. But, a few things were different.

For one thing, on Neal's face was a large scowl, and in each of his four hands were guns. Two of them looked like the average gun that fired bullets, while the other pair looked like ray guns. But the most interesting change were his wings. Simply put, they weren't there anymore. Only small remnants of wing-flesh attatched to Neal's back were left.

"Well...I can see how Neal could fight Markus to a standstill now..." She said, not expecting something like this out of her old teacher at the Academy of Evil.

"C'mon, you three. None of you will be safe from that nut for very long!" Neal grabbed Nicolette, and pulled her onto the board.

"Well, you wanted action, right?" Hai-Kutt chuckled. Nina glared, and he shut up.

"Just give me your stupid mask so you can fly unhindered you idiot." Nina grumbled as the bat handed his former body to her. Hai-Kutt mock-saluted and looked at Neal. "You might wanna get out of the way, Bub." Neal obeyed, and Hai-Kutt ran and jumped out of the freshly-created hole. Flapping frantically, he somehow managed to clumsily stay in the air, but only just barely.

"I really don't think Battler's were built for this, Nina!" Hai-Kutt cried out in panic.

"Just keep trying, you wuss!" Nina shouted as she hopped into the hoverboard, landing neatly into the seat next to Nic. "Go UP you idiot! UP!" Hai-Kutt flapped his winged arms frantically, and slowly, but steadily, he managed to get back to eye-level with Neal and his vehicle.

"Let's go." Was his only remark as the hovercar flew off, Hai-Kutt clumsily following. Nicolette frowned as she watched the two warring factions decimate each other. Nina looked at her and smirked lightly.

"You shouldn't worry about them when you're in the vehicle of the 'enemy'." She said. The small joke caused the younger girl to giggle slightly, but the frown returned soon enough. Nina smirked and reclined in the chair as the man with his face covered flew them off into the distance, far away from Slash and his castle.
------------------------------------------

On the ground, General Thorn had just been fighting the invaders on the ground when they had fled suddenly.

"Uh-Oh. When that happens, usually it's because of..." He trailed off as he looked to the sky, barely able to see the two blots in the sky make their getaway with the sun right in his eyes. "Oh, crap." Just as he was about to curse himself into eternity for letting his guard down, a guard came up to him, panting heavily. "What is it, soldier?" He asked.

"Sir, the Chaotic Overlord wants to see you in his chambers immediately." Thorn twitched. That was rarely a good thing. "And he has sent for Lab Technician Igma as well." That was even worse. He quickly ran for the castle doors before his "boss" could get even angrier.
-----------------------

And there's Chapter 4! I hope you all liked it. I've been having killer writer's block recently, and now I'm just writing these things up like crazy! It makes me happy.

Anyway, what's up with Neal, and why is he SO badass? Well, that MIGHT be delved into next chapter. Depends on how well the changes to Neal and the other characters introduced in the last two chapters are received, really. But I had lots of fun writing this, and I hope you have just as much fun reading!

BTW, critique if you can. I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing.

Slash, Nicolette, Hai-Kutt (C) Me
Nina (C) Whoever owns her, I forget.
Igma (C)
Benjamin Thorn (C)