The trip back home was a quiet one, filled with the sounds of quiet chatter and laughter, the family still reeling from the earlier zoo incident. But soon, the mood shifted as dinner wrapped up, and Mark sat down next to Nolan, looking more serious than usual.
"Dad," Mark said, his voice a little tense. "I just got a call. A planet needs help. Traxon... It's being attacked by Viltrimit forces. They called for assistance. I... I have to go."
Nolan paused for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I understand. You can't ignore it, especially if they're facing Viltrimits. But be careful. It might not be as simple as it sounds."
Mark nodded. "I know. That's why I want to bring someone with me. Someone strong." He turned to face Battle Beast, who had been quietly sitting at the table, his gaze always focused, like a predator observing its surroundings. "Battle Beast, you think you can come with me? I'm gonna need someone who can hold their own."
Battle Beast looked up, his usual gruff demeanor unchanging. "Of course. A good fight is all I need."
"Alright," Nolan said, standing up. "I'll get everything ready. You know how to reach me if things go south, right?"
"Yeah, we'll be fine," Mark said, already standing up, determination set on his face. "Thanks, Dad."
With that, the three of them—Mark, Nolan, and Battle Beast—prepared for departure. Nolan gave his son a final piece of advice before they left.
"Stay sharp, Mark. The Viltrimits don't take prisoners, and if you're outnumbered, don't hesitate to call for backup."
"I will," Mark replied, giving a nod of determination. Then, they took off, flying through the sky and heading to their destination. The air seemed thick with anticipation as they prepared to fight once again, this time on an entirely different planet.
They arrived on the desolate, alien landscape of Traxon, a planet with an almost eerie stillness to it. Towering structures loomed above, their sleek, insect-like design making the planet's cities look like something straight out of a sci-fi nightmare. The inhabitants of Traxon, humanoid in shape, were covered in hard, chitinous exoskeletons, resembling the insect creatures that called this place home. Their antennae twitched nervously as they prepared to meet the newcomers.
Before they could get too comfortable, the ground beneath them trembled, and Mark, Battle Beast, and Nolan knew exactly what that meant. The sounds of war—the unmistakable clash of armies—reached their ears. It had already begun.
"We need to act fast," Mark said, his expression hardening. "We can't let them take the planet. We can't afford to lose anyone."
Battle Beast smirked. "Good. I love a good challenge."
Nolan kept his expression steady but gave a single nod. "Let's do this. Stick together."
The trio set off in the direction of the conflict, their footsteps heavy with purpose. As they approached the battlefield, they saw it—a clash between the Viltrimits and the insectoid natives of Traxon. The Viltrimits, in their typical form, were hulking figures of raw power, with their brutal strength easily overwhelming the alien defenses.
It didn't take long for the three of them to engage the Viltrimits.
Mark immediately squared off with one of the larger Viltrimits, its jagged claws raised in attack. He wasn't sure what level of power he was dealing with, but he was already in motion, delivering a powerful punch to the Viltrimit's chest, sending it stumbling back. But the creature recovered quickly, roaring in fury and charging back at him.
Nolan and Battle Beast were already locked in combat with their own enemies. Nolan's strikes were precise, aimed to incapacitate, while Battle Beast reveled in the chaos, his fists slamming into the Viltrimits with bone-crushing force.
Mark, however, was struggling. His opponent was skilled—stronger than most he had faced—and despite his best efforts, he found himself on the back foot. As he dodged one of the Viltrimit's strikes, he stumbled, and before he could react, the creature had him pinned to the ground.
"You're weak," the Viltrimit growled, tightening its grip around Mark's throat. "You may be strong for a human, but here, you are nothing."
Mark fought back, but he was losing strength fast. The Viltrimit was overwhelming him, and he could feel his consciousness starting to slip. Just as the Viltrimit's claws began to close around his neck, the creature paused, seemingly hearing something.
"You're lucky," the Viltrimit said, its voice full of smug satisfaction. "We don't need you dead just yet."
It turned, dragging Mark with it as it moved toward the two other Viltrimits who were engaged with Nolan and Battle Beast. "You've failed, human. But we can still make a deal. We'll take a few of your people back, and you can live to see your planet crumble. Or, we can leave, but you'll be the one who delivers a message to Earth. You choose."
Nolan's eyes narrowed. He and Battle Beast had successfully defeated the other two Viltrimits, but this one—the leader—was different. He wasn't just here to conquer; he had an agenda.
"Let him go!" Mark shouted, his voice hoarse.
The Viltrimit leader chuckled, his voice dark. "You can have him back. We don't need him to die. But know this, hero: the Viltrimits will return, and we will bring destruction with us. Millions will perish... unless you choose to surrender your people. We'll trade him back for those two Viltrimits."
Mark's eyes burned with anger. "I won't surrender to you. Not now, not ever."
Battle Beast looked at Nolan. "What now?"
Nolan was silent for a moment, his mind racing. He wasn't about to risk the entire planet for the sake of a few Viltrimits, but this wasn't a simple choice. The lives of many more were at stake.
Finally, Nolan spoke. "I'll take the deal. But I'll make sure they understand Earth isn't some easy target."
He looked to Mark, his gaze filled with reassurance. "We'll get through this, son. And we'll deal with these guys in our own way."
Mark nodded, barely able to breathe as the Viltrimit leader released him. As promised, the Viltrimit leader turned over the two captives to Nolan.
"Mark, you're going to have to get stronger," Nolan said, his voice calm but firm. "This was just a taste of what's coming. You're not ready for this level of fight yet, but you will be."
Mark nodded, his body aching, but his resolve solidifying. "I will be ready."
The Viltrimits retreated, their massive figures disappearing into the horizon, leaving the family and their allies to assess the situation.
"We'll take care of the rest," Nolan said, looking to the Traxon leaders. "But mark my words—this isn't over."
And as the dust settled, the family prepared to face an even greater challenge ahead.