A pair of eyes opened to the ceiling of the RV.
Revealing Will awake on his bunk. He turned to the exit of their sleeping Quarters, hearing only silence.
The boy lingered, staring at the ceiling. He forced himself out of bed.
"Agh." Will groaned, sitting up from his bunk. His feet crashed onto the carpet.
Gwen, Sunny, and Max is nowhere to be found. The boy looked over his shoulder to Benita, still in bed facing the wall with earbuds in her ears.
The boy hid a yawn before pushing: open the curtains to Max sitting in the booth. The boy noticed the Alien Dog lying behind the chair closest to their sleeping Quarters.
Max raised his head to Will.
"Good. Morning." Max stated.
"Good. Morning." Will replied before digging into the cabinet.
The awkward silence filled the room.
"I managed to come in contact with someone." Will looked over his shoulder at Max. "Yet, it's going to be a few days." The boy turned from him. "Tops." He said under his breath before Will grabbed a box of cereal pouring: himself a bowel.
He begins walking to their sleeping quarters. Closing the curtains behind him. The boy turned to Benita.
"Hey, I got you. Something." Will said softly, not getting a response. "And no, it's not your grandpa's cooking." He chuckled.
The boy approached her bunk, taking a knee while placing the bowel to the side. He remained silent, staring at her back.
"Come on. You gotta eat." The boy said, hearing silence. He sighs. "What you did. It was right...you didn't know what he would do." Will bites his lip. "And your Grandpa. He's a good man." The boy closes his eyes before standing to his feet. "You know we're here for you."
Will sighed once more before exiting the sleeping Quarters to Max again, staring at the handles Enoch wielded, placed on the table.
The alien dog noticed the boy's presence as he entered the closest in front of the bathroom. He threw on his shoes.
"Max?" The boy approached Max trance to weapons. "Max." The older gentleman snaps out of it at a touch of Will.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you saying something?" Max questioned.
"I'm heading out."
"Ok. I'll keep an eye on Benita." Will nod before heading for the door, only to notice the alien dog following him. "And Anthony." The boy looked at Max, facing his back at him. "I'm sorry."
The boy furrowed his brow thinking of what to say, only to say nothing.
Will let the dog out before closing the door behind him.
Standing before him was the Autobot's HQ. He noticed everyone but Sunny among them. The boy begins approaching.
"Hmm, what do you think it might be?" Raf questioned within earshot of Will.
"Maybe it's a protein stick?" Jack questioned, shrugging his shoulders.
"Protein Stick?" Miko and Bulkhead questioned, cocking their heads.
Ratchet opened his mouth.
"In your terms. It's Dark Energon." Gwen cut him off, getting an 'Ah' look from the two. "Sorry." She looks at Ratchet getting a sigh from him.
"It's alright." Will noticed a needle within Gwen's hand.
"Where you get that from?" The boy questioned, getting all eyes on him.
"Oh, uh. From Sunny." Gwen answered as the boy approached her. She hands him the needle of liquid as the boy inspects it. "Enoch was pulling that out when-"
Will slams the needle onto the ground.
"Hey!" Everyone flinched while the boy's arm shifted into Nova before blasting a beam, incinerating it.
The boy's eyes look at everyone, alerted by his action.
"Dude! Chill!" Miko shouted as Will's arm returned to normal.
"I can't chill." The boy's said as his hardened eyes looked at Miko. She only staggered. "That thing is Dragon's Blood. The Forever Knights used this to enhance themselves by the use of my blood. The aliens captured were a stepping stone to the Dragon's Project. And this alone has a low chance of manifesting on its own. Or their presented death."
"It's a low chance."
"A chance. Is chance."
"Hmm...I was wondering why they're running." Bulkhead commented.
Bee beeps, moving his hands about before raising his brow.
"He said how did they get; their hands on this before the ambush?" Raf translated.
"Oh my. God." Gwen said under her breath, getting their attention. "The hospital."
"By the help of Dr.Animo. They managed to infuse the DNA into their willing lab rats, only for them to go Wild. Until they used my blood; the majority failed while others were trained." Will crosses his arms. "He told me this on a memo in his office. Reason? I don't know."
"So we should. Track this. Dr.Animo." Jack added.
"As much as that sound like a good idea, Jack." Acree cuts in. "The guy booked it after the whole fiasco and gave the kid information knowing he would break out, so he probably long gone."
"As a matter of fact, your right." Ratchet joins in, staring at his screen. "He's a Ghost, you humans called it."
Will rubs the bridge of this nose.
"That's fine. I need you guys to promise me." The boy stared at every individual Autobot before staring at Optimus. "You see more of this or a Forever Knight with this. You. Shut. This. Down."
"Your method. Is our last resort." Optimus stated, causing the boy to lighten his hardened eyes.
"That's fine. Whatever to keep; it at bay." He looks to Gwen. "I'm sorry about that."
"You're fine. It just caught me by surprise." He nodded softly before heading for their massive hall. "Uh? Where are you going?" Gwen questioned, only to trip on her words. She jogged after him.
"Gwen. You don't have to." Will stated as they walked down the giant hall together with the alien dog on the boy's right.
"No. I do." The girl lightly glared before staring ahead. They remained silent, their shoes clicked, and the dog's paws pressed against the sand-tan floor. "What are you gonna do?" Gwen starts up.
"Just talk."
"About what?!" Gwen raised her voice, getting the boy's attention.
"I don't think you should come with me."
"You're stuck with me." She furrowed her brow at him, causing him to lightly sigh.
They arrived at a door the boy remembered so well. Entering the training room.
The three stared through the glass at Sunny sitting on the floor in a black t-shirt.
They entered through the door, approaching her.
"Ah. Look who's up." Sunny grinned, watching them grow close. "And I thought you would mope forever." Will's eyes followed the sweat rolling down Sunny's tone legs. She flexes it. The boy's eyes look to Sunny, smiling warmly at him. "You like what you see?"
Gwen bumps Will's shoulder.
"Uh. It's just I've never seen something as tone as that." His eyes wandered back to her legs, only for Gwen to clear her throat, glaring at him.
"You would like to talk to her about something." Gwen reminded him as Sunny only stared blankly at her.
"Right." Will nodded. "I have a question."
"Shoot." Sunny leaned back on her arms.
"Were you and Gwen captured that night?"
"Mhm."
"Did you-"
"Kick her ass out of a moving car?" She chuckled under her breath. "That was priceless." Will noticed Gwen glaring at her.
"That night...I forgive you."
"WHAT?!" Gwen shouted, causing the boy to wince. "Y-you can't be serious!"
"As much I would want to agree with you. Sunny doing that is the right thing." Sunny smiled at him. "Did they hurt you?" The boy questioned as Sunny raised her hand, shaking her head.
"Let's just say their research is on hold."
"W-what?" Gwen chuckled. "This is one of her tactics! Don't tell me you don't see it!"
"Tactic or not, you're safe." Will grabs her hand. "That's all it matters to me." Gwen blushed while the boy's brown eyes lingered on her green only to blush himself. He pulled away.
"Aw." Sunny coo'd. "You two are so cute. I hope this is not too late to ask, but Can I be your best woman?"
"Fat. Chance." Gwen said, glaring at Sunny.
"Hey!" A voice calls out from the entrance; of the training room to Miko, waving to them. "It's your grandpa. He said he was ready to go."
Sunny cleared her throat, getting the boy's attention. She left her hand out for the boy to take. He took it, pulling her to her feet only for her to cling to his arm.
"Can you not?" Gwen cocked a brow.
"Can't a girl cup a fill?" Sunny questioned with a smirk feeling Will's arm. "Oh." She pressed her head on his shoulder. "Looks who's gaining muscle."
"Ok. You let go now." The boy said calmly, getting a sigh from Sunny.
"Alright. Fine." She lets go approaching Miko across the room. "I need a shower." She said under her breath within earshot of Will and Gwen, watching her leave with squinted brows.
They soon followed after her, approaching Miko.
"Is everything alright?" Miko questioned the boy approaching the exit of the training room she stood.
"I'm fine." He answered, following Miko to the hall where Sunny waited for them.
"Alright, just wondering." They begin walking down the hall together. "Does this little guy have a name?" Miko looked at the dog, ignoring her gaze.
"I don't know." The boy looked to the dog that ignored his gaze, only for it to look back at him.
"Great! What about Spike? Or maybe DOOOOM!!" She chuckled.
"There's no point. It'll leave." He said dryly.
"Dude, it followed you through a portal!" Miko argued.
"She's right." Gwen sighs. "It's no small feat."
"Tell me! Did you use one of your aliens? To maybe mind control it to be your slave?!" Will squinted his eyes. "No. No. No. Maybe you dominated it!"
"I did none of that." The boy answered. "I only scratch behind its ears."
"Seriously?" Sunny questioned, getting the boy's attention to her crossing her arms. "It followed you through a portal for attention?"
"There is a thing called. Neglect." Gwen stated. "Or it's never experienced something stimulating like his touch."
"Hell, touch me all you want." Sunny gazed at the boy that choked on his spit.
"Christ!" Will coughed.
"Can you knock it off?!" Gwen raised her voice.
"I'm joking! I'm joking...Mostly." Sunny said under her breath, causing Gwen to glare at her.
"Uh. Anyway." Miko stated, rubbing her neck. "What about Zed?"
"Zed?" Will questioned as his cough came to a halt getting the alien dog full divided attention. "Zed." The dog ears shaped horns raise, staring at the boy.
"Ha. Ha! He likes it!" Miko giggled.
"And where did you get that name from?"
"It's my cousin's." They reached the end of the hall to Max, chatting with Jack and Raf. "Heyo!" She shouted, getting their attention.
"Enough with the shouting." Ratchet stated, looking over his shoulder. "We've been over this!"
"Yeah, Sorry. Doc."
"Well, it seems we're all here. Ready to get going?" Max questioned.
'Don't forget our agreement.' A voice of Will stated in the boy's head.
Will remained still as a statue getting Zed's attention.
"Wait." Ratchet and the children gazed at the boy. "I have a question. Have you ever heard of Rudea?"
"Rudea?" Ratchet hummed, rubbing his chin. "Never heard of her."
"Rudea. Huh." Another familiar voice caused the boy to turn back to Arcee leaning on a wall by the hall they walked down from.
"You know-" Arcee put her finger up, cutting Raf off.
"The name sounds familiar." She begins snapping her fingers before looking up at the boy in question. "I heard that name a couple years back. At a beach." She said under her breath. "Doc, do you remember. The scouting mission you assigned Bulkhead and me About some unknown energy signature that went ghost not so: long ago?"
"Uuuh? Oh, quite...it took days before we terminated the assignment."
"Can you pinpoint the location?" Will questioned.
"Who's Rudea?" Raf questioned. "She sounds important."
"An Alien or something beyond our understanding. All I know is that Rudea could help fix me."
"Fix you?" Miko stated, cocking her head. "You can turn into kick butt aliens all the time. Why would you throw it away!"
Will remained silent, getting a look from Sunny.
"Alright, Miko. Cool it." Jack recommended.
She sighs.
"Fine." Miko crosses her arms. "I can't stop you anyway."
They noticed Bulkhead walking down the hall, passing Arcee.
"Hey! Big guy." Arcee called, causing Bulkhead to cocked a non-exist brow. "Don't you remember the name Rudea? A scouting mission down at some beach a few years back? "
Bulkhead scratches his head, squinting his eyes.
"Uh, I don't know." He hummed before his eyes lit up. "Ha! Yes, some girl mentioned her name. I believe she'd have a skin condition. Or is that just the shading of the night?"
"I would love to hear the night of your first kiss, but I need you to focus."
"Sorry." He rubbed his neck. "All I'd remember is it took place somewhere in Delmarva."
"Delmarva." Ratchet said under his breath, typing on the console. Presenting the screen for everyone to see. "Huh, Ocean Town."
Will looked at Max, gazing back at him.
Max sighs.
"Alright." Will nodded.
"Finally!" Sunny exclaimed. "A place I can agree with!" She raced to the RV.
"One moment." Optimus voiced, stepping past Bulkhead. Sunny stopped looking over her shoulder, annoyed. "I would like to apologize for the way I acted. I accused you of a crime you didn't commit, not only that you stood before Miko during a time of crisis. You're bravery and kindness have not gone unnoticed."
Sunny rolled her eyes before heading to the RV.
"Hey!" Bulkhead and Gwen shout.
"Sunny!" Max called as Sunny entered the RV.
"It's. Fine." Optimus reassured.
"No. It's not." Max sighs. "I'll talk with her." Max stared at Gwen and Will. "Come on. Let's not wait."
"Look out for. Benita." Jack stated, gazing at the two children. "She needs your support."
"Yeah. Do that." Raf added, staring at Will only to quiet himself.
"Thanks. For everything." Will stated, gazing at everyone.
"It's all in the line of duty." Bulkhead stated, crossing his arms.
"As in duty, I would love for you to turn into that gooey thingy and make Bulkhead. Fly." Miko added.
"I second that." Arcee joins, causing Bulkhead to roll his eyes.
"Keep. Dreaming."
The boy chuckled under his breath before heading to the Rv.
He opened the door for Zed only to look over his shoulder at Arcee gazing at him.
A Hologram of Highroller stood before the boy staring back at her.
"She seems to be doing fine here." Highroller stood as a statue watching Arcee squint her eyes and mouth ajar. "Good." He disappeared before the boy entered the quiet RV.
He gazed around, not seeing Sunny before sitting in the Passenger seat. Max and Gwen followed in before closing the door shut.
Max climbed onto the driver's seat before starting the RV.
Watching from the windshield, Max steered to the aligned bots leading to the ground bridge. Starting up, revealing a swirling portal coming alive.
"Alright, I'll send you as close as I can." Ratchet shouted through the Groundbridge, humming.
"I can't thank you. Enough." Max calls out to Ratchet through his window.
Will noticed Zed standing by his seat. He turned to Bee beeping at him.
"Good luck!" Raf, Jack, and Miko called as the RV entered the color scheme tunnel.
Max and Will watch quietly, trying to eye the end of it. Zed hopped across the boy's lap before poking its head out the window.
"Don't you think we should take a break at least?" Gwen voiced over the boy's head.
"Can we least get the first clue?" Will questioned, patting the back of Zed's that hopped down from his seat.
"You all. Need it." Max said, getting Will's attention. "Even Ben."
The boy noticed Zed staring at him. He scratches its jaw, causing Zed's tail to wag.
"Where did you-Uh, no, never mind." Gwen cut herself off.
"No. It's fine." Will reassured before staring back at the color scheme tunnel. "I found her on the second floor where I was held."
"She?"
"Well, I don't know. I don't like assuming like the other person."
Max quickly gazes at Zed before staring at the road.
"No. You're right." Max strikes up.
"That's a lucky guess." Gwen pats Will's shoulder.
"The big question is why she's on that floor? We picked up Sunny."
"That happened. To the be a Forever Knight." Gwen adds.
"Transfusion, that is what the mutants and aliens. Called them." Will adds getting their attention. They nodded while Max continued.
"We had to fight a giant worm, but it escaped. Now your new friend here poses a threat, but not on a level like you and Sunny."
The RV reached the end of the tunnel.
They arrived, rolling on a dirt path surrounded by grass and fences. The night stars lit the night sky while They drove under and past a tree heading for the road on the cliffside.
The rust bucket turned on the road.
"Well, it seems. The day at the beach gonna has to wait." Gwen said under her breath.
Will and Max remained silent until they saw a town and a massive hill across it.
"Hey, it's that a giant woman on the side of that cliff?" Will questioned, squinting his eyes, and so did Max, Gwen, and Zed.
"It could be the lore. Of the city." Gwen commented before they noticed the RV steering toward the guard on the cliffside.
"Grandpa!/Max!" Gwen and Will shouted before Max quickly steered back onto the road, causing their heart to race.
"S-sorry! I just got a little carried away." Max bites his lip as Will and Gwen gaze at him wide-eyed.
Gwen's polar opposite burst through the bathroom door with nothing but a towel.
"Can't a girl get the time to think?!" Sunny screamed, causing Will to blush, only for Gwen to block his view.
"Why you out here!?" Gwen shouted, pointing to the door she burst out of. "Get back in!"
"And ignore a sudden shift that spilled my LAVANDE DOUCE!!!"
"You used shampoo?"
"You wear butty shorts?"
"It's Leggings!"
"From here, your ass wider than Grand Canyon."
Gwen gasped, hiding from Will's sight.
"Sunny!" Max shouted, staring at the head mirror.
"Fine." Sunny raised her hands cocking her head to the side. "I'm just stating a fact that You...Overlooked." Sunny entered the bathroom, closing the door shut.
Gwen quickly rushes to their sleeping Quarter closing the curtains behind her.
Will lead back on his chair, releasing a sigh. He smiled. Max noticed this. The boy's smile soon fades to static as he watches them grow closer to the town.
...
"Hm!" His voice grunts as something cracks. "Ha!" Something mushy fills his ears. A rapid thud of something smacking against the ground grew louder.
The boy jolt awake. Seeing darkness. Light snoring filled his ears.
Soon his eyes adjusted, seeing he was still on his bunk. He peaks under his bed to see Benita in the same position. Gwen and Sunny are still asleep.
Will stared back at the ceiling.
'Hydra?' He called, within his head, hearing silence. 'Talk to me.' The boy clenches his black t-shirt. 'Please.' The silence continued as the boy closed his eyes.
He climbed out of his bunk, quietly opening the foot drawer. To see his jacket, Max's gloves, and his notebook.
Will threw on his blueberry-colored hoodie before putting on his glove to hide his dead veins. His eyes lingered on his notebook. He grabs it.
The boy pushes the curtain aside, eyeing the center of the RV.
Max lay on a pull-out bed that resembled a booth. And Zed slept facing Max and the door.
The boy sneaks to the closet in front of the bathroom.
He opens it, causing the door creaking to break from the silence. The boy cringed.
"No. I didn't mean to rush in." Max said under his breath, gaining Will's attention. "I-I didn't know better." Max tosses in his sleep while the boy throws on his shoes, closing the door shut.
The boy sneaks past Zed before nearly coming to a halt, passing Max sleep talking. Max's breath quivered, causing the boy to look over his shoulder.
Tears begin rolling down the older gentlemen's face while his shaking breath is all he can hear.
The boy watches, staggering. He noticed Zed's red eyes gazing at him.
Will open the door letting in the blue light of the night. Zed sneaks after the boy.
The boy turned to say something, only for the girl to leap out of the vehicle. Will sighs before silently closing the door shut.
Turning from the door stood a small park lot. The RV was parked behind the back of some fast food joint.
"You will. Get me in trouble for this." Will whispered as Zed stared up at him. "Come on."
Will and the alien dog walked from the parking lot, entering the boardwalk. He peaked, watching his surroundings, only for it to be a ghost town.
The boy's shoes thumped on the board as he kept his hands in his pockets, hearing the gentle waters.
He stared past a railing to the crashing waves pressing against the sand. The boy leans on the boardwalk railing, eyeing the notebook.
Will whipped out his phone before squinting his eyes.
Dad
8 messages. 40 calls
The boy hit enter on his phone.
Dad Will
How's the trip?
Are you having fun?
Are you alright?! Ben's grandpa told me something happened to you. Please, Will, talk to me.
Young man! Answer me! Now!
Will closes his phone, hiding his head behind his arms. He clenches his teeth before hurling the notebook.
Zed leaped over the railing, chasing after it. The book crashed onto the sand before she picked it up, racing back to the boy.
Zed leaped over the railing standing before him.
"Leave it." The boy took the notebook from her before hurling it. She fetches it once more. "I said. Leave it." He throws it once more, and Zed jolts to action. "ZED!"
Zed immediately lay on her stomach.
"Wow. Can you shout any louder?" A familiar voice fills his ears while Sunny, in her sleeping wear: leans on the railing beside him. "After you are done training her. I want next."
"You need something?" Will gazed back at the waves leaning on the railing. "Besides, are you cold?"
"How can I be cold when I'm near you?" She grins at him. The boy glares, keeping silent. "Jeez, you so dark I can hardly see you."
"Sunny."
"Alright, cutting the bullshit." Sunny presses her back against the railing folding her arms. "I like to apologize for tricking you into fighting me. You breaking my arm made me see different...a little."
"I broke your arm?"
"In two, but don't think this is over." The boy remained silent.
"That was a cunt move." Will glared at her while Sunny remained unfazed. "But thanks to you, I know what fusion I will not use."
"You're welcome." She said as they remained silent, listening to the waves. "But on the other hand, I did enjoy our little session."
"After the fact, I broke your arm?"
"You are never gonna let that down."
"Yup." He smirks before his face becomes blank. "I want to hate you." Sunny gazed away from him. "But, I can't. If you haven't done that. I wouldn't do what I did." The boy brushes his face with his hands. "These powers...I don't know. If I love them or I hate them, but this Rudea." He looked at Sunny, staring back at him. "She could be my key to turning back."
Sunny blank gaze turned to a glare.
"The hell you are."
"What?"
"You can't fool me. As much of the shit; coming out of your mouth, you want it."
"I-"
"I'm talking." Sunny pupils shimmered pink. "You think I don't want this? Hell, I dream! Of being normal, but fuck that! This inheritance gave me something that no one wouldn't." She clenches her fist. "Strenght...You can break me, and then I'll break you." Her shimmering eyes vanished. "Besides, I don't care. You ate someone. I did worst."
"Like what?" Will questioned while Sunny stared blankly.
The boy's eyes lingered on hers. He noticed a dark pink spark radiating from her eyes as if the environment shallowed them in darkness.
Before you know it, Sunny pink pupils cuts from the darkness lingering on the boy that gazed nervously at her before the environment around them lightened up, revealing Sunny giving a smirk.
"Now, what's your power?" She cocks her head to the dazed boy. "I know I'm pretty. There's no need to say it." Will snaps out of the trance.
"You go first." The boy said.
"I am-" Sunny cut herself off, chuckling. "You almost had me. How in the hell you do that?"
"Do what?"
"You're funny. Off you go." The boy stared back at the ocean before pulling his glove off and staring at the dead veins surrounding his hand.
"I was so focused on adapting, I didn't think much of it." The boy grew quiet. "The Omni-Hex or Vex. That is off the top of my head." Sunny chuckles. "What? I'm not good with coming up with creative names: usually Ben does that."
"It's fine, dumbass." She planted her head on his shoulder. The boy only gazed at her black-short hair, smelling the shampoo scent rushing in his nose before staring back at the ocean with his heart racing. "I won't stop you. It's your power, after all."
Will gazed at the crashing waves brushing against the sand. The calming sound roamed into his ears.
Minutes felt like hours before Sunny stood to her feet.
"I'm freezing my ass off." Sunny hissed under her breath.
"What happened to me being your embodiment of warmth?" He smirks. His remark gains her attention. "I didn't tell you to come out here. In only a shirt." Will grins as Sunny gazes locked on his. "Sun?" He questioned as Sunny snapped from his eyes: looking away.
"Don't stay out here too long." Sunny paced herself from the boardwalk.
The boy's eyes linger on Sunny pacing through the small alley cutting to the parking lot. The boy stared at Zed, staring at the ocean.
Will crouches, kissing her on the head, gaining the attention of Zed.
"I'm sorry about that." The boy scratches behind Zed's ears, causing her to close her eyes while her tail wag. "I shouldn't yell at you like that." Zed's red eyes stared at Will's brown before her head snapped to the side as her nostril flared. The boy's grin returned blank. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Zed sprints past him.
"Zed!" Will shouted under his breath before rushing after her.
They raced along the boardwalk, making a lot of noise in the quiet town before Zed outruns the boy. Turning into an alley, the barking of a dog filled the night, causing the boy's heart to race.
He turned the corner to see Zed pounce on a Golden retriever, snapping its neck within her jaws covered in blood.
Will staggered before Zed began eating at it.
"Stop!" The boy shouted, racing to the scene. Zed growls at him. "No." He said firmly. Zed growled before leaning back at her prey. "No." Zed only ignored him, eating at the dog.
Will could only gaze in horror before standing in front of a fire. Watching the corpse of a golden retriever burn to a crisp along the sand.
He stared down at Zed, gazing at the corpse. The boy eyed the blood along her blue jaws before Zed stared at Will.
...
The boy's eyes opened to the ceiling of the RV to an enriching smell he was; so familiar with. He suddenly rockets out of his bunk, followed by Gwen and Sunny.
The girls headed out of the curtains while Will looked back to Benita, still in bed. He followed the girls only to a stop behind them.
"Well. Look who's up this morning." Max stated, smirking.
The children's eyes followed a stack of pancakes by the stove cooking bacon, scrambling eggs, and pancakes pouring smoke. Max flips them, revealing the golden brown, releasing the buttery aroma filling the RV.
"Now, now, come along. You don't want your food to get cold." Will wipes the drool from his mouth, followed by Gwen and Sunny.
They raced to be seated along the booth. Will sat outside the booth facing their Sleeping Quarters with Gwen sitting a shoulder from him and Sunny in front of him.
Max chuckles, placing three plates on the booth for an assigned child.
The boy noticed melted butter along his pancake: this only made his stomach rumble while Max set a bottle of maple syrup between them.
Sunny was the first to grab it.
"See? My cooking is not always bad." Max continued as the three digs in. The curtains opened, gaining everyone's attention.
"Wow!" Benita smiled, exclaiming at the scene in front of her. "Save some for me!" She paced herself at the booth as Sunny let her in. Benita scoots herself against the window presenting the parking lot filled with sun rays.
Nothing but the hissing of bacon and pancakes filled the RV while Benita's eyes bounced to every: individual but Sunny's.
"What? Come on, I've been waiting for this!" Benita bounces in her seat, causing Max to chuckle.
"Glad. You can join us." Max said, fixing Benita a plate.
"Me too. You know we are always there for you." Gwen said, nodding with sincerity pouring from her eyes.
"Awww!" Benita coos while Max place down her plate. "You care about me."
"Ugh. Now you've ruined it." She stared down with disgust before forking an egg.
"Ha. I miss you too." Benita grabbed the maple syrup while Max pulled something out of the stove.
"Anyone wants french toast?" Max questioned as they all raised their hands, devouring their breakfast.
"You really put your foot in this." Will stuffed his face with pancakes.
"Your feedback is knowledge. And don't talk with your mouth full." Max smirked before staring at Zed, watching them eat. "Anthony, Have you fed your companion?"
Will begins coughing.
"Slow down." Gwen pats his back.
"I'm fine. I'm fine." He said: deeply before answering Max's question. "No, not yet."
"I would love to feed her, but she seems to trust you."
The boy gazed at Zed, breaking a piece of his pancake. He left it in his hand as Zed slowly approached before consuming it.
She sits wagging her tail. Will gives her the leftover of his food before Max places another plate in front of the boy.
"Well. Not only you have a dog, but an alien at that." Benita chirps." What would your dad say?" She questioned, causing the boy to pause.
"I can. Take Zed in." Max adds, gaining the attention of the children. "After the summer, I wouldn't mind having company."
"The things you say really grab my interest." Sunny started. "What did you do before all this?" The children followed Sunny's line of sight to Max, grinning nervously.
"You all know I was a Plumber." Max begins cleaning the dishes. "It was wacky and serious, but it's all behind me."
"Oh, come on, Go in-depth. Behind that forgetful and jimmy two-shoes persona, you are full of experience at your age." Sunny leaned on her hand. "I'll wash the dishes." Sunny chirped.
Max chuckles.
"You're like your Grandmother." Max turned back at her with a grin. "But that's for another time." Max begins collecting the dishes.
"So!" Benita stretches. "What's next?"
"Around here, there's someone that knows Rudea." Will started.
"Oh, no." Max interrupted the boy. "How about touching the sand? Feeling the Sun. Have fun."
"Were we doing that?" Benita raised a brow.
"And besides, that sounds boring." Sunny commented.
"You could. I don't know." Max said, turning to the children. "Get to know each other."
"I think. We already got that covered." Benita stated.
"Oh, ok." Max gazed at Will. "Will, what is Gwen's favorite color?"
"It's. Blue." Will answered.
"Uh." Gwen's voice gains the boy's vision. He noticed Gwen looking away from him. "It's. Red. Blue is just my second."
"Benita, What does Sunny like?" Max questioned as Benita snapped her fingers while Sunny leaned on her booth, crossing her arms.
"Ha! Breaking Noses and Breaking Necks!" She points with a grin.
"Well, you see my point."
"Wait, hold on!"
"You all get to know one another. Without your powers." Everyone but Will stared wide-eyed.
"Wait, you can't be serious!" Sunny exclaimed.
"You all get a shower. Get Dress. You leave at nine." Max said firmly. "Go. On." He points his open hand to their sleeping quarters. Sunny and Benita groan, getting out of their booths. Followed by Gwen. "Will, promise me. That you won't start until then." Max stated, gaining the boy's attention.
"But-" Will cut himself off, staring at the floor. "I-I promise." Max smile.
"Thank you. For understanding." Max rubs the boy's hair.
The boy head to the curtains before closing them.
...
"Alright, Like I said-" Max was cut off by Benita.
"No powers." She crosses her arms.
Gwen headed out the door, followed by Sunny and Benita.
Will goes for the door only to notice Zed following.
"Oh no. I need you to stay." The boy got to a knee, making Zed whine. "I can't take you with me, but I need you to protect their Grandpa while I'm gone." The boy scratches behind her ears before standing to his feet.
He headed out before closing the door behind him. He sighs.
The boy's vision land on the three.
"So. What now?" Benita questioned.
"Well, I don't know. Why ask me?"
"You always have something in mind."
"We could take a walk. Down the boardwalk." Gwen suggested. "We'll find something to do."
"And that will do." Will nods his head, leading the way.
They walked through the small alley before entering the boardwalk. The children noticed some people walking down it.
"Is it me, or Does this feel different?" Benita questioned.
"What do you mean?" Will questioned.
"Like the majority; of this Summer, Grandpa is always leading, telling us what to do and what not. But, now here we are without him."
"If you think about it. We're still children, after all." Gwen answered.
"Don't rope me in this." Sunny voiced while Gwen rolled her eyes.
Still walking down the boardwalk, they see a small crowd and electro music playing.
They approached, noticing a teen in a blue hoodie break dancing.
The teen in a blue hoodie does a Baby swipe before continuing with a flare.
"Sour Cream. Sour Cream." Another teen in a red jacket wearing shades cheered.
Sour Cream does a windmill before spinning on his back at a rapid pace; before stopping. He kicks to his feet.
He builds up movement before doing a corkscrew flip. Sour Cream lands on his feet with ease before throwing his hands into his hoodie pockets.
"Now. That's how it's done." He said calmly. Everyone cheers throwing money in a cap in front of a boombox. An older man with a cane approaches the cap. Sour Cream noticed this. "Sir. You don't have to do that."
"Youngman. You made my day." The older man with a cane said, grinning ear to ear. He reaches down, dropping down twenties dollars in their cap. "Back in my day, I used to do what you're doing. My crew was called the Railroad."
"Is that so?" Sour Cream raised a brow with a smirk.
"Haa. Memories." Benita said under her breath, smirking while the children gazed at her.
"Wait, you used to break dance?" Will questioned.
"Uh, yeah." Benita raised a brow staring at Will. "Two years ago, don't you remember me asking you to join me in Dance Club? All you said was, "I have a club. I called it the Home Club. It's where I can escape from my responsibility and sleep all day." Benita impersonates the boy's voice.
Will squinted his eyes.
"Well. It does sound like you." Gwen comments.
"Are you still there?" Will questioned.
"I only stayed for two months before they kicked me out. Because I was 'Unpopular' "
"Huh, I'm sorry about that." They begin pacing past Sour Cream and the Older man conversing. "Can you still do some moves?" Sunny and Gwen raised a brow to Benita.
"It has been quite some time, and besides. I don't think I could fight while Breakdancing." Benita pondered on the idea. "But, I'll think about it." Benita gazed at Will. "You still haven't told me how you can turn into smoke."
"Uh, all I remember is combining Novis memories with mine. When I'm Nova, all I do is follow my instinct, but in human form, I only can smoke dash."
"Is he the only one you combine?" Gwen questioned.
"Well, there is HighRoller, but I have no idea what it is." Will ponder before his jaw slowly drop. "Oh. Crap."
"What?"
"Hollow. That alien in the dairy factory, in desperation, I used it to get me out of the pod." Will's eyes grew dead.
Benita gazed away while Gwen gazed worried at him.
"Uh, hey. Look at that." Gwen points to the building on the boardwalk, revealed to be an Arcade.
Benita raced to it before looking back at Will with a grin.
"Don't be so slow."
"I'm coming." He said calmly, following Benita racing inside as the three followed them.
...
The boy played a shooting game, shooting robots with a handgun as they fired back at him on the screen. Only to explode.
"You see this as fun?" A voice draws him to Sunny crossing her arms.
"To a full extent. Yeah." The boy states focus on the screen.
"I miss your point."
Will turned from the screen, still firing at it.
"What do you want to do?"
"Isn't it obvious? It's been two hours, and I want to punch something."
"As much I would like you to do so, we don't need a bill."
"Fine, shooting rookie!" The game announced, revealing the results.
S: Rank mission
95% : Accurary
"Huh." The boy admired the results before noticing Sunny looking at something. He followed her gaze to a claw machine. "Is there something you like over there?"
"Huh?" Sunny snaps out of it. "Nothing, really."
The boy faced the screen; to start another mission, only to notice Sunny gazing at the machine. He sighs before holstering the gun.
"Come on." The boy said, approaching the claw machine.
"What?"
Will stood in front of the machine, eyeing the prizes. Watches, Plushes, flip phones, and other things littering the black foam. The boy looks over his shoulder to Sunny, gazing at him: annoyed.
"What grabbed your interest?"
"Nothing in particular." Her eyes wandered to the machine once more.
"Nothing in particular? Why said that, and you're doing the opposite?" Sunny glared at him. "What do you want?"
"God, you're annoying." She approached the machine, pointing at a glass case. The boy followed her finger to a black comb design with roses.
"Huh, I figured much."
"The hell is that supposed to mean?"
Will digs into his pocket, pulling out tokens.
He inserts two, starting a catchy tone. The claw opened.
The boy moved the claw across the machine, aligning it. He does a double take before pressing the blue button.
The claw drops onto the comb, only to barely touch it.
"Damn." He said under his breath, watching it reset.
"You suck at this." Sunny comments, gazing through the side of the claw machine.
"Hey, the second time is the charm." The boy does this the second time, grabbing the comb, only for it to drop back onto the black foam. "Ugh!" He groaned in annoyance while Sunny stood by his side gazing around the semi-ghost arcade.
She formed a pink whip, making it slither in the drop door.
Will gazed up, getting his tokens settled.
"Hey!" Will whispered, shouted to Sunny, ignoring him. "You know what Max said." He placed his hand on her shoulder.
He noticed the whip nearly touching the prize she wanted. "Give it a chance. You said you like a challenge, right? I think this is counterproductive."
"Waste all the tokens you want. The game is rigged anyway." The whip wraps around the comb.
"Alright." Will steps back, sighing. "I guess you're a sore loser."
Sunny whips her head at the boy squinting her eyes at him.
"The hell you called me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to talk out loud. Please, proceed." He leans on the machine blocking the view of Sunny's doing.
"God, I hate you." She groans before unwrapping the prize: the whip vanished.
"Excuse me." Will slides to the controls causing Sunny to click her tongue.
He inserted the tokens going for the comb once more.
The claw grabs some cubed black foam and the comb.
The claw reached the top, getting Sunny interest. It slides to the drop zone only for the prize to slide out of it, landing a few feet from the drop zone.
"Christ! I almost had that!" The boy raised his voice.
"Damnit!" Sunny leaned to the glass, glaring, watching the claw reset. "Come on." Will moved the claw to the comb. "Up." Sunny moved her hand while the boy followed her command. "Little to the right. Perfect."
The boy pressed the button, and the claw scooped it up, only for it to flip out of it.
"God! What the Hell!?" Will and Sunny cursed before the boy dug into his pocket.
"Damnit." The boy whispered.
"What?" Sunny questioned, raising a brow.
"This is our last." He showed the last two they had.
"You fuck this up. I'm gonna kick your ass."
"Who said I'm doing this?" Will retorted while Sunny staggered.
"The hell I'm not!"
The boy inserted the tokens starting the game. He raised his hands, backing up.
"Will?!"
"Time ticking."
"Boy!"
"This all you! You're wasting time! Stop looking at me!"
"You fucking asshole!" Sunny shouted, taking the controls while Will chuckled. Sunny moved the claw, grabbing the prize only to miss. "Fuck!"
"Alright, tone it down." Will stood behind Sunny grasping her hand over the controls. "You big baby."
"I'll show you a big baby." She stared up over her shoulder at the boy.
They moved the claw over at the prize while Will doubled checks.
"Ready?" He questioned, staring down at Sunny, being silent. She presses the button. Watching the claw drop onto the comb. It picks it up while their heart beats out of their chest.
The claw grew close to the drop zone as they noticed the comb slowly slipping.
"No. No." Will and Sunny said together while the comb flipped from the claw. "NO!" And fell into the drop zone. "YES!! HAHAHAHA!!!"
They laugh at one another before hugging.
Sunny grabs the comb before brushing her thumb over the design of roses. She grins ear to ear before looking up at smiling Will.
She leaned in, kissing him. Sunny pulled back, watching the flabbergasted boy.
"Oooooooo." They heard voices cooing as they noticed a crowd from outside. Will and Sunny blushed.
"Ah! Young love!" A man said, cracking a smile.
"They looked so cute together." A teen said before Sunny hid behind the boy. "Ah! SO CUTE!!!"
Sunny rushes from their line of sight, followed by Will.
Benita and Gwen watched on the sidelines as Benita watched in determination while Gwen only glared.