The sound of a mechanical wheelchair echoed through the hallway of one of Barker and Green labs. The crippled, weary man inside it only stared angrily ahead of him, partially in anticipation. The door opened automatically, allowing him to pass into the main science chamber, where a large amount of scientists were milling about.

Wheelchair man: I got the report. So where is it?

Scientist: Well, the reploid you purchased is… undergoing maintenance. The Maverick Hunters did quite a number on him, Mr. Barker.

Barker: Well, then. See that it gets done SOON! I’m sick of all the damn waiting and bureaucratic bullshit that you keep putting me through.

Scientist: Well, I’m still not certain that we should be doing this without Mr. Green’s authorization…

Barker: I still own 15% of this company, and YOUR paycheck is coming out of that 15%. If Green finds out, your going to be in worse shape than ME! Understand?

Scientist: Yes, sir.

Vincent Barker, one of the co-founders of the company that his name is a part of, shot a grin of pure malice. He turned around, wheeling back down towards the hall. He stopped by the bathroom, in order to look himself over to kill time. His sleep deprivation showed in his eyes, as well as the numerous laceration scars adorning his face. He rubbed his chin with his only, remaining, real arm. He cursed his luck, since he wasn’t always like this, but soon that was going to change.

He was once a tall, strapping man provided with success and wealth. He had clawed his way up the corporate ladder, starting his own business with a childhood friend, William Green, who shared his ambitions and attitude. He was groomed for success from birth, living a life of hard knocks to prepare him to surpass his “peers”. He was physically and mentally hardened, and was even named after a distant, but successful ancestor who was once a king of an entire nation. He started his electronics empire along with Green, the two naming the industry after themselves.

Vincent recalled the day his life turned so wrong. His partner, Green, got a little too ambitious for his own good. Vincent was accused of several illegal activities, which Green was happy to provide “evidence” of. Embezzlement, murder, and several others were lining his record, seemingly out of the blue. Vincent knew exactly what was going on. In a fit of rage, Vincent remembered fleeing his office, with a handgun in hand. He figured if he was going to prison for murder, he might as well commit it.

He had trounced in on Green in his office, unexpectedly. He saw in his eyes that Vincent was going to kill him, and darted for his own weapon. Vincent had every intention on shooting him there and then, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. That hesitation cost him his life, as Green didn’t return that kindness. Several gut-shots, a tumble down the stairs, a severe beating, and only God knows what else later, Vincent awoke in the hospital, shattered, broken, and under arrest.

Vincent lived in the hospital, and was finally moved to a prison for ten years, being subjected to the worst humanity had to offer. For ten years he rotted away, fuming, slowly slipping into a downward spiral of madness. Soon his mind broke to match his shattered body, and he could only see a cesspool of humanity that he was a part of. It drove him mad, day in and day out being forced to live that kind of life. He had much spare time, so he spent it plotting.

One week about halfway through his prison, the news was detailing the events of the Eurasia crisis. Vincent found a small token of relief in the fact that humanity could soon end, but was ultimately disappointed when it was averted by X and Zero’s efforts. But, when he heard the coverage of the 8 reploids that had gone mad during the incident, a plan formulated in his mind, and just grew and grew as a result. Much to his relief, it was soon after that all charges were dropped on his case, thanks to a few “revelations” on Green’s part.

His release from prison was just as painful as his incarceration. In his absence, he learned that his wife, Janet, had left him for none other than William Green himself. Green offered his “sincerest” condolences to his friend, offering him a limited partnership, 15% of the company, and a moderate fortune as a sort of “welcome back” gift. And that’s how he was to remain. Second-fiddle to the man who he helped build HIS empire, and robbed him of everything he had. His body, his future, his lover, and his innocence.

But all that was soon to change. Only an hour later the scientist found him in his room, tapping his metal fingers against the rail of his wheelchair.

Vincent: Is he ready?

Scientist: Yes sir. The procedure is being prepared. Please follow me to Med Bay 4.

Vincent grinned menacingly, slowly following the scientist to see his new future unveiled. A short trip later, he saw it, and it was magnificent.

Vincent: (Admiring the dead reploid) So this is Volt Kraken?

Scientist: Yes, sir. He has been repaired and visually reformatted to your specifications.

Vincent: Then what are we waiting for? I want my new body now.

Scientist: Sir, I feel I should warn you one more time. The operation has no guarantee of success, and is actually highly illegal. You could perish from this.

Vincent: I’ll be better off then. So go ahead. Let’s get started.

The scientist sighed, defeated, and obeyed his boss’s request. Another one injected Vincent’s arm with a fluid, watching him pass peacefully into unconsciousness. The scientist reviewed his orders, not completely understanding.

Hours passed, piling up as the day wore on. Vincent’s mind was removed and uploaded into Volt Kraken’s AI processors, perfectly replicating his memories and personality. Vincent’s heart was removed after that, placed inside a capsule that was to dwell in Volt’s chest cavity. Vincent was convinced that it’d transfer the rest of his “soul” into his new body. Volt’s face was also reconstructed, built to resemble his own. Finally, 33 hours after beginning, they were finished.

Scientist: (Nervously) Activate the reploid’s power cell.

Volt’s eyes opened immediately, darting about the room. Slowly he took his first awkward steps, getting used to being alive. He looked around, at the scientists, and then at his own hands, and let out a hearty laugh.

Scientist: Mr… Mr. Barker?

 Volt: I guess you can call this a success! Hahahaha! This is fantastic!

Scientist: Oh, thank God.

The room burst into applause and cheer. Even Vincent joined in, clapping his newfound hands together. He took his helmet off, revealing the fairly replicated face that replaced his.

Vincent: Good job, gentlemen. Very good job indeed.

Vincent flexed his fingers, suddenly aware of his new abilities. It was like he was born knowing how to use this reploid’s body. He looked back at his own, useless remains with disdain. He scoffed, lifting his hands up to each other and watching the electricity ark between them.

Scientist: So, Mr. Barker, what will you do now?

Vincent: I’m not sure. After this, I’m probably going to be completely bankrupt, and probably go right back to prison. Hm hm hm hm.

The scientists all gave each other concerned glances before returning their attention to their eccentric boss.

Vincent: It’s too bad I just died along with you all when Green’s secret weapon project that was housed in here went haywire, isn’t it?

With that, they all began to panic, seeing where he was going.

Vincent: Well then! Let’s see what this body can do!

With that he lashed out with his four tentacles, and began tearing the entire room apart. A flurry of electric spheres lit the room, colliding into scientists as Vincent laughed away. It only took him a few moments to destroy the entire lab and kill every single one of the room’s inhabitants. He grinned and shot another sphere at his own useless remains, obliterating them. He calmly walked over and plucked the ID card off the scientist’s sizzling remains, using it to hack into the research computer.

Vincent: Oh, William, my dear friend. What an ideal day we’ll have here, hahahaha.

With that he typed away furiously, using his profound understanding of electronics and programming to enter in the “secret document” he was working on for many months. With that, the “evidence” of a secret electric weapons project was scribed into the Barker and Green database.

Vincent: Well, this has been fun. But it all ends here.

With that, he slammed his hand into one of the nearby computers, shocking it with a huge surge of electricity. He continued to pump out energy, finishing it off with one last blast of pure anger. Soon, the entire complex was beginning to detonate, and the newly-risen Vincent Barker fled, finally washing his hands of his old life, forever. Well, almost, anyway.

News of the lab’s destruction only took minutes to reach Green’s ears, who was, at the time, relaxing with his wife at his summer-home.

Green: What do you mean half the lab exploded!? I know what exploded means! Ugh!... Barker was in there? You mean he might be dead? Find out, and make damn sure. If he’s alive still, fix it! *Slams the phone down on the receiver*

Janet: Who was that, dear?

Green: Bad news. One of our labs had a malfunction.

Janet: Oh, dear. I hope no one was hurt.

Vincent: No one important, DEAR.

The two lovers spun around, seeing the floating figure hovering over them.

Green: Who the hell are you!?

Vincent: It’s me, Vincent! Hah hah hah! I’ve been waiting for this! *Grabs Green by his throat*

Green: (Strained) Vincent, old friend! Please, wait!

Vincent: Heheheh. Like music to my ears.

The reploid turned around and hurled the screaming man into the air, laughing manically.

Vincent: The end has come, FRIEND! Hahahaha!

He held his hand over his head, summoning a large sphere of pure electricity before hurling it at his former partner, who practically disintegrated on contact.

Vincent: Scum! All will tremble before me!

Janet: You monster!

Vincent: Hm? Oh, well if it isn’t my faithful soul mate? How long did you wait for me? Two MONTHS if I heard correctly.

Janet: (Hysteric) You have no idea what I went through!

Vincent: I suppose that’s right. Then again, the same is true for YOU. But without hesitation you just abandoned me, like some piece of refuse.

Janet: (Hysteric) Vincent-

The squid-like reploid suddenly appeared before her, grabbing her by her head and hoisting her off the ground by it, covering her mouth with his hand. The face-plate on his helmet retracted, revealing an expression of both grief and twisted joy. His grin widened as he saw her eyes start watering with complete fear. She mumbled something into his palm, trying to break free.

Vincent: What’s that? You’re sorry? HAHAHA! What garbage! Well, NOW who’s the refuse? Goodbye, my love!

He shot her one last snide grin before he charged a blast of electricity into his palm, blasting her head clear off her now-smoldering shoulders. He watched her smoking carcass hit the ground, as Green’s putrid ashes began raining down upon the earth.

Vincent: Hahaha! This is only the beginning!

He looked at their remains, a strange feeling of sheer content welling up within him. He chuckled to himself, looking to the sky. His faceplate clamped over his mouth as he thought. He knew he’d need some kind of help, and he knew just where to find it. Besides, he also needed a place to stay, and figured that one of the other 7 mavericks might be able to provide him with it.

 

 

(REX is running in what is presumed to be the direction toward the warehouse. The sky is well blanketed by clouds and it is raining quite heavily.)

 REX (Thinking): It was all too obvious that the Reploid referenced in the report was Squid Adler. However, whether to include sounds like a potentially risky choice. Would his induction be more of a benefit or a detriment?

(A figure far above in the sky makes a fleeting pass before vanishing into the distance ahead of REX. The sky suddenly becomes darker and cloudier still, and lightning flashes nearby. Reacting to the worsening weather conditions, REX accelerates noticeably.)

 REX (Thinking): I understand that Squid Adler may be extremely violent… but shall my teammates and I be safe?

(A deafening roar of thunder fills REX's ears just as lightning strikes about one hundred feet away.)

 REX (Suddenly shouting): That I MYSELF must rectify as the case may be!

(Lightning causes a large branch to fall off a tree ahead. REX suddenly sprints and then narrowly slides so as to avoid the falling branch, but he then falls forward because of the slippery quality of the rainwater. The metal toecaps and ankles of his favorite boots make a distinctive sound as they hit the ground.)

 REX (Getting up and speaking to himself): I just hope to need not rectify such a problem…

(After a bit more difficulty and time, he does make it to the warehouse.)

 REX (Breathing somewhat heavily): I've… returned…

 Shadow (Looking up from staring over one of Dr. Zap's new works-in-progress): Uhh… Boss-man-person-guy? What were you doing wherever you were?

 REX: I was searching for new responses to my bulletin.

(From REX's point of view, Axle the Red's head rolls ninety degress counterclockwise; if he were human, he would be straining the right side of his neck.)

 Dr. Zap (While putting parts together): He was planning to make a team from the Eurasia Crisis Reploids ever since he found the Burn Dinorex Armour.

 Indy (Sitting up— evidently awakening from a nap— and rubbing his left eye with a balled fist): You found someone who got another armor?

 REX: You may say that…

(Grizzly Slash has his gaze fixed on REX, he seems quite interested in finding out the response.)

 REX: No one claiming possession of the Squid Adler Armor had—

 Dr. Zap (Cutting REX off at "Adler"): VOLT KRAKEN Armour.

 REX: To each his own; if you understand what I mean and there is a choice of terms to use, I ask that you not correct me.

(He pauses momentarily, evidently expecting Shining Firefly to respond.)

 REX: No one claiming possession of the Squid Adler Armor had replied to my online bulletin, but a recent news report has implicitly— yet glaringly obviously— stated that Squid Adler was spotted destroying the famous Barker and Green Industries. I have an idea as to who bears the armor, but it may be a bad omen.

Indy: So, what do we do? Accept him or blow him off?

 REX: I'm still deciding… It depends on whether we feel confident enough that we can keep any violent behavior of him under control. So… we wait… and contemplate.

Shadow: Yay for rhyming!

 REX (Facepalming): Why is it that YOU, of all possible beings, became the possessor of Axle the Red's armor?

 

 

(After a couple of days of doing research and waiting for Squid Adler to appear on the news, without success, REX and Co. have formulated a plan to try and recruit the rogue reploid. They are actually just a few blocks away from their base of operations at the industrial district …)

Shadow: So… why are we here again?

 REX (whispering): Quiet!

(The team is at a back alley, behind medium-sized warehouse)

 Dr. Zap (whispering as well): REX did some research, and he figured this small warehouse belonged to Barker and Green. If his suspicions about him are accurate, this is the only place where Volt Kraken…

(He takes the time to eye REX condescendingly)

Dr. Zap: …would be able to hide without worrying about the police’s investigation.

Indy: Wouldn’t they be guarding all of Barker and Green’s assets in case he showed up again?

REX: Finding out about this warehouse was not easy as it did not seem as though the warehouse were of any importance to the corporation.  I don’t expect the police to bother to guard an abandoned location.  Now, all of you be quiet and move in!

(Giving the signal with his hand, the team breaks into the warehouse through the back door, seemingly ready to encounter some kind of resistance, but nothing happens. Not even an alarm.)

Indy: Weird…

REX: Actually, it as just as I had expected. Now, doctor, if you please…

Dr. Zap: But of course! You don’t have to tell me twice…

(With much excitement, Dr. Zap pulls a strange device from under his lab coat and holds it steadily in front of him. The device looks like a couple of tweezers joined together by duct tape, with a handheld game console awkwardly attached to them. The screen on the device displayed some sort of compass.)

Shadow: Yay! Can I play?!

 Dr. Zap (using his flyswatter to repel Shadow): Sit boy!

(Shadow runs towards the corner of the room and curls up, howling like a hurt puppy.)

 REX (sighing): Will you focus already?!

Dr. Zap: Right! Just let my voltimeter do all the work!

(Holding out his device, Dr. Zap slowly guides the group through the abandoned warehouse. But after what seemed like hours to REX, especially with the constant nagging from Shadow, REX patience was growing thing…)

Shadow: Are we there yet?

Dr. Zap: No.

Shadow: Are we there yet?

Dr. Zap: No.

Shadow: Are we there yet?

Dr. Zap: No.

REX: Please, doctor, when will we be “there”? Why has is this process required so much time?

Dr. Zap: Shush! There's a very good reason for that! And the reason, which I should be explaining, is a reason so important, that I fear my words won’t make them justice, since that reason might just be the key to finding our target, and it’s so right and unavoidable, that the reason should be obvious to you by now, but if you still want me to state the obvious, I shall explain the reason just because you requested it…

(His pointless explanation continues…)

 REX (Facepalming): For Christ's sake!

(Noticing the increasing tension on REX’s face, Dr. Zap wisely chooses to avoid a scorching fate by coming up with the answer that first crosses his mind.)

Dr. Zap: And the reason is… that we haven’t been through that door!

(Dr. Zap points at a door right next to the backdoor they used to enter the place.)

REX: That figures.  Let’s go, then, and let's stop wasting time!

(Aggressively, REX barges into the room, but finds no resistance either. Instead, he finds himself in a dusty abandoned security room, which also served as the security guard’s quarters.)

 REX (expecting an answer from Dr. Zap, while eyeing him menacingly): Well?

Dr. Zap: Wait, my voltimeter is reacting!

(The team follows Dr. Zap to the end of the room, where there is a small hallway leading to another room. Dr. Zap jumps forward to look around the corner and point at his finding.)

 Dr. Zap (proudly): There!

(REX stares in awe, while Indy proceeds to open the door of the fridge that Dr. Zap is pointing at, and grabs a soda can from the inside. He opens it up nonchalantly and finishes it in one big gulp. REX is about to explode…)

Dr. Zap: Err…

REX: Not a word…

(REX is pointlessly trying not to loose it with the good doc, but fortunately for him, a loud noise is heard from outside, interrupting REX’s line of thought, which involved several ideas on how to maim certain mad scientist. Without loosing a minute, the group ventures outside once again…)

 

(Meanwhile, or rather, a few minutes ago… )

(A hot dog vendor is idly waiting by some sort of arena, at the industrial district. Some would say it’s weird for a theater to be located there, but that’s actually quite normal, given the kind of show that goes on there. Some wrestling posters adorn the walls around it.)

(A by passer approaches the hot dog stand, where a young woman and a man in a trench coat are already eating. Conspicuously, the by passer gets behind the vendor…)

Thug (while pointing a gun at the vendor): Hand me the cash, dude!

(Nervously, the vendor proceeds to stop what he was doing in order to gather his earnings. The young woman notices and screams in fear.)

Woman: Kyaaaaa! Somebody call the police!

Thug (now pointing the gun at the annoying woman): Shut up, bitch!

(The woman kneels down on the floor, holding her arms over her head and trembling, while the vendor continues to pour whatever money he’s able to find. The thug is not satisfied, and proceeds to stuff his mouth with sausages, ketchup and mustard. But he is interrupted by the man in a trench coat, who is also wearing an old fashioned hat, making it difficult to tell what he really looked like.)

Man: Excuse me señor, where is my hot dog? I believe I got here first.

(The man accuses the thug- who is having a feast- with his index finger and a flashy pose, revealing his the face beneath his tilted hat. He is in fact, a masked wrestler, who doesn’t seem to have noticed that the thug isn’t only stealing his place in line…)

Thug (now pointing the gut at the wrestler): Wanna make something of it, freak!?

(In a quick flash, the wrestler takes of his trench coat and hat and throws them at a nearby phone boot, managing to hang them gracefully.)

Wrestler (grinning with excitement): Is that a challenge, amigo?

Thug: Are you retarded?! I have a gun! This is no challenge, this is a robbery, freak-o!

Wrestler (while “warming up” by stretching and such): To each his own, amigo. My style is that of lucha libre, I care not for armas of any kind. You may use the style that suits you best…

Thug (laughing maniacally): You really are a retard! Eat lead!

(The thug empties his gun on the wrestler, but the guy doesn’t even flinch. This makes the thug extremely nervous, and he starts backing off from the scene, loot in hand.)

Wrestler: Hey! Where are you going amigo? La pelea apenas comienza!

(The thug starts to run faster, the wrestler seems to be ready to give chase. But instead, the wrestler runs towards a nearby street sign…)

Wrestler: You asked for it, cobarde!

(When he is about to reach the sign, the wrestler grabs onto the pole and starts spinning in mid air in order to finally launch himself towards the thug with extreme speed.)

Wrestler: HOT DOG CRUSHER WITH JALAPEÑO!!!

(The name of the wrestler’s technique is the last thing the thug manages to hear, before what seemed like tons of titanium crushed him on the pavement.)

(By then the police arrive and apprehend the beaten up thug, while also taking a statement from the vendor, who is excitedly praising and thanking the wrestler. The wrestler, however, is all but interested on the vendor. Instead, he is now gladly signing an autograph for the young woman, who immediately recognized who he was.)

Woman (shrieking with excitement): Mr. Santo-bot, you saved us!

Santo-bot (while bowing): Señorita, it’s the least I could do.

(After exchanging phone numbers, the woman leaves, although still in a dazzle. The police was gone by now, and the vendor had decided to take his cart elsewhere. All that was left was for Santo-bot to pick up his coat and hat… or so he though.)

(The sound of clapping hands was heard from above, making Santo-bot stop in his tracks to turn around and face the source of the oddly located applause. Just above him, Volt Kraken was levitating, while bolts of electricity had already begun spiraling around him.)

Vincent: Impeccable performance, Santo-bot. Or should I say… Tidal Whale?!

Santo-bot (whispering): Señor, please lower your voice! But may I ask, quien es usted and how do you know my secret identity?

Vincent: Don’t try to fool me. I know you’ve been following me! I don’t know how you managed to find me, and although I expected that someone of the likes of you would eventually come after me, I didn’t think it would be this soon.

Santo-bot (while slowly backing off and winking): Look Señor Calamar, this must be a malentendido. And what do you mean by “the likes of me”? Are you a wrestler as well? If so, please leave the action for el cuadrilatero. We don’t want to give a free show, me comprende?

Vincent: It’s useless to play dumb, wrestler. I knew that sooner or later one of you, “vigilantes”, would come looking for me. I don’t know how someone of your… category, was able to find my warehouse, but I saw you sniffing around like a little Mexican rat.

Santo-bot: I tell you, Señor Calamar, you got the wrong hombre here…

Santo-bot (thinking to himself): Carajo! If only he knew that the only reason I was looking around the warehouses was because I couldn’t find my way to the arena… but I can’t tell him that. It would make me look estupido! I’ll have to play along, fans might be watching…

Santo-bot (now menacingly): But I’ll tell you what! Let’s pretend I know what you’re talking about, villano. At least have la decencia to tell me how you unmasked my real identity before we do lucha.

Vincent: Very well, wrestler, but it’s quite obvious really. A quick search through the wrestling bulletin boards gave me all I needed. It wasn’t hard to do the cross reference: in all recent shows with Tidal Whale, there had been sighting of the famous wrestler “Santo-bot” who was thought dead. And I figured that not everyone in possession of a reploid body from the Eurasia crisis would use this power for the same goals as I did, but a stupid wrestler? This really comes as a surprise to me. Wasted potential, if you ask me.

Santo-bot: Wasted potential, eh? Let’s see who will end up wasted then!

(And with that, the wrestler jumped as high as he could, towards Vincent. Santo-bot always believed it was best to take the initiative, so with this first move, he went all out. Morphing into Tidal Whale, he left his massive frame fall upon the surprised Vincent.)

(However, the electrical reploid started electrocuting him on contact. And before Santo-bot could finish his tackle and reach the ground, he was forced to let go of Vincent. But at the very the moment he loosened his grip, his enemy fired a sphere of electricity that sent him flying all the way into a garbage container, a couple of blocks away.)

 Santo-bot (regaining composure): Maldita sea! You asked for it!

(But as he was about to set foot on the ground again, and prepare a second assault, a door from a warehouse was slammed open, revealing REX and his group…)

 

 

 REX (To Tidal Whale): May we lend you a hand, señor luchador?

(Tidal Whale looks up at Mattrex and the other Reploids with him.)

Santo-bot: ¿Quiénes son ustedes?

REX: Explicaré más tarde.

 Shadow (Whispering to Grizzly Slash): Do they come with subtitles?

(Grizzly just shrugs.)

 Shadow (To Mattrex and Tidal While): Do you guys come with subtitles, by any chance? And why's the fight st—

(While he is talking, Axle the Red is attacked with a bolt of electricity.)

Shadow: HEY! What gives?!

Vincent: You wanted the violence to resume, didn't you?

Shadow: But not like THIS! Owie!

(While Axle the Red hops up and down in place for a few seconds, Mattrex begins to speak once again.)

 REX (To Volt Kraken): I see you've redesigned the armor somewhat… (To both Volt Kraken and Tidal Whale) I have a request of both of you.

(Both Reploids in question turn to face the dinosaur Reploid.)

REX: Rather… a demand. I ask that you both join us.

Santo-bot: ¿Que?

Vincent: And WHY should I do that?

REX: You DO want to return to a state of power, don't you… Vincent Barker?

(Upon hearing that name, Volt Kraken prepares to rush in toward Mattrex.)

 Santo-bot (To Mattrex as he prepares to fire his weapons at Volt Kraken): What are you hablando about?

 Vincent (Mere inches from Mattrex— being held back only by the dino's enormous hands— and tentacles surging with electricity): Yes, do tell… and QUICKLY.

 REX (Calmly despite exerting a great deal of force and being so close to danger): I do believe to have hit a sensitive spot… You don't want people to know who you are, do you?

(Suddenly, Tidal Whale unleashes Goo Shaver projectiles from Volt Kraken's right as Grizzly Slash attacks with a Crescent Claw from the left. After briefly noticing the approaching attacks, Volt flies up into the air and leaves Mattrex to be hit by the Goo Shaver and Tidal Whale to be hit by the Crescent Claw.)

 Santo-bot (Upon taking a hit from his weakness): ¡Carajo! How do we stop him?

 REX (After shaking off the hit, to Shining Firefly): Dr. Zap, any weaknesses?

(Shining Firefly analyzes the armor quickly. In the meantime, Volt Kraken creates an Electric Trap and prepares an Electric Punch.)

 Dr. Zap (After a few seconds of scanning): Well, what if you were to gum up his circuits?

(Mattrex's eyes lit up, and Santo-bot's seemed to light up also.)

 Vincent (The pupils of his eyes glowing a bright white as he turns the ground into an electric field): No "if" about it; that's not going to HAPPEN!

(Mattrex uses his claws to latch onto a wall, Axle the Red hides in a chrysalis-like plant-made structure, Grizzly Slash jumps onto a building roof and Shining Firefly simply flies into the air. However, Tidal Whale is unable to protect himself from or evade the electric floor and takes the full damage.)

 Santo-bot (Damaged again): ¡Ay! Que no comprende que I wasn't LOOKING for your warehouse?

 Vincent (Preparing a Volt Barrage— his strongest attack): LIE!!

(Mattrex activates a Body Crush and rushes towards Volt Kraken. He absorbs the full blast of the Volt Barrage for the others, but also manages to grab Volt Kraken's leg and pull him down as Mattrex himself falls down.)

REX: We have NO intention of turning you in or killing you. Otherwise, we would have done the same to each other first. What's more, I respect people of your caliber too much to have any ill will toward them.

(Volt Kraken neither does nor says anything, and his expression does not change.)

 Indy (Taking a step forward and speaking up for the first time): Don' know what you've gone through, but as far as I know, the EURASIA CRISIS IS DONE, buddy. The earth'll be making a MASSIVE comeback.

REX: Indeed.

Shadow (Opening his chrysalis): Or at least we'll be making a MASSIVE wad of DOUGH.

 REX (Extending his arm): Exactly. I think you'd be a fine asset for us and we for you. So, I implore that you— excuse me; that is, both of you— join my exclusive band of mercenaries; we are known as Critical Mass.

(Although Mattrex doesn't notice; Shining Firefly, Grizzly Slash and Axle the Red all look at one another.)

Shadow (To Shining Firefly): Did YOU come up with that name?

 Dr. Zap (Scratching his, er, head): I don't remember saying that… oh dear.

Indy: You think he just got it from what we were telling the squid guy?

 Dr. Zap (Giving it some thought): Er… I guess it's a good name and goal. I could use some more funding for my research.

Vincent: Very well; I have decided to join you for the time being.

 Santo-bot (Getting up and walking over): Igualmente.

REX: Thank you, Vincent Barker; and you, Santo-bot. I'm glad to have you both.

Santo-bot: Um… Tengo una pregunta, Jefe: Where will we be staying? An equipo has to have a base, right?

 REX (Sighing): Oh, this sounds so familiar…

(On that note, the scene shifts to Volt Kraken's warehouse that night. By this time, the other team members have moved in and brought their own possessions with them.)

Shadow (On all fours, talking to Volt Kraken): Hey, Mr. Squid-guy, what's this stuff? (He points at a strange contraption present in the middle of the warehouse.)

 Vincent (The pupils of his eyes glowing with rage): If you destroy that I will see to it personally that you wake up in at least one hundred pieces tomorrow morning.

Shadow: Uhh… okay O_o;;

 REX (Observing this from the other side of the room): Vile, merciless and aggressive toward inferiors… I had a feeling that the man who had stumbled upon the Volt Kraken Armor would be a fine addition. I do so love when my instinct is proven correct.

 Indy (To Tidal Whale): Can the bear noogie the whale?

Santo-bot: The whale may be bigger, but you can give it a try!

 Dr. Zap (To Data while working on another invention): They seem to be getting along very well, huh, Data?

(Suddenly, the roof can be seen, and on it appears to be an obscured figure of some sort.)

Obscured figure (Quietly, while observing and eavesdropping on Critical Mass's conversations): They sure are; they sure are.

(The figure jumps off the roof and disappears.)