Episode 1: Brave New World
So… how did it all begin? Oh, right. Salem shows up in a conference to showcase the lovely Shockwave Gem and keeps going on with how wondrous it is. He sends me to another dimension just to show off, and thanks to my massive blunder, I find myself lost in a dystopian Anjal. Even worse, I blunder once again and let Robo-me take not one but two Shockwave Gems! Even worse than that, turns out the guy’s up for an unholy crusade on the entire Anjalverse and an unbelievably tiring hunt for the Shockwave Gems. The gang, ever so loyal, decide to jump into the fire and get me out of this mess, but to the surprise of absolutely no one, that wasn’t the case, and they ended up in that mess as well.
It was fun, though. Got to discover some worlds and meet some new friends, foes, and people somewhere in between, and so did the others. And gotta say, I enjoyed the occasional fights against 2.0. And then we come to the final act, the battle for the Anjalverse, and… we didn’t exactly win. ABDO 2.0’s unleashed his Genesis thingy, and honestly… I’ve got no idea what happened then. What happened to the Anjalverse? Did ABDO 2.0 win? And most importantly… where am I?
(Abdo wakes up in yet another world. He slowly gets up, groaning and stretching his arms, only to find himself in a world he’s never seen before.)
Abdo: (scratching his head) Okay, where am I?
(He then looks around and finds a serene sight: sprawling green grass, a lovely noon sky, and the cool breeze sweeping through his body, which only adds to his confusion.)
Abdo: (his frustration increasing) So am I back home or what? And where are the others? And what happened with this Genesis thing?! So many questions, little to no answers! (sighing deeply) Now what is it this time? The Amazing Anjal Digital Circus? Anjal-jutsu Kaisen? Hotel Anjal-vania? Hog-jal? Pain-in-the-back-jal? I-don’t-know-what-the-heck-is-this-jal? (moaning) What-am-I-doing-jal?
(Abdo suddenly realizes a group of young, purple men dressed as biker gangs headed for a village, batons in hand. He immediately heads for a bush and observes them up close, and he finds them confronting some short, small-in-stature sky blue aliens.)
Scrooge: (smirking) ’Sup, Xenos?
Xenos 1A: What are you here for, Scrooge?
Scrooge: Oh, come on. You know what I’m here for. The usual.
Xenos 1B: (angrily) Haven’t you had enough?! You and your Dominion been intruding our village and taking our goods for far too long! Just back off already!
Scrooge: (chuckling loudly) Someone here’s forgot their place in the pecking order. Boys, please remind him.
(One of the Dominion strikes the Xenos with his baton, sending him falling to the ground, groaning in pain. The other Xenos immediately tend to him, while Scrooge’s smirk widens. Meanwhile, Abdo gasps in shock as he sees this unfold behind a bush, his expression turning to a grim scowl. The Dominion then approaches the Xenos, ready to beat them up once more, but a blast is fired at the ground, alerting Scrooge and his men. They find Abdo standing on top of a house and descending to confront them, a stern expression on his face.)
Scrooge: (sneering) Now what is that?
Abdo: (smirking) Hey there, Scrooge. Name’s Abdo. I just happened to be in the neighborhood and caught a glimpse of what you’re doing.
Scrooge: (smirking as well) You’re not from around here, are you?
Abdo: Yep, but let’s just cut to the chase. Leave these guys alone and respectfully get your butt off this village.
Scrooge: (chuckling) And if I refuse?
(Scrooge’s men then surround Abdo, who looks around and smirks. He takes his fighting stance, signaling the Dominion to come at him. One does lurch at him, only to receive a quick punch in the gut. The others attack Abdo with their batons, only for the latter to rise up and land quick blasts at them. He then fires several more blasts at the ground, distracting the Dominion for a while. He makes use of that lapse of focus and lurches at them all one by one, kicking each in the face. The Dominion all fall to the ground, groaning in pain as Abdo’s smirk widens.)
Abdo: (chuckling) You thought only 20 of these guys would take care of me? Boy, you need a reality check, Scrooge. Now how about you make a run for it before things get really nasty?
(Scrooge scowls, clenching his fists, but he relents, signaling his men to come follow him as he leaves the village. He turns back at Abdo one last time, his smirk returning.)
Scrooge: (smirking) I’ll be back, Abdo, only more prepared for the likes of you this time around, and I’ll make sure you get to know your place.
Abdo: (unamused) Yeah yeah, sure, whatever. Bye now, see you never.
(As Scrooge takes his leave, Abdo’s approached by the Xenos, who greet him with warm expressions. Some others come out of their houses — having hid from Scrooge a while ago — and immediately head for Abdo.)
Xenos 1A: (warmly smiling) Thank you, Abdo. We’re grateful for your help.
Abdo: (chuckling sheepishly) Don’t sweat it, pal. I’m just happy to help. But if you don’t mind, I’d like a place to stay here for a little while and perhaps get to know a thing or two ’bout this world.
Xenos 1B: (nodding with a smile) We’ll be happy to welcome you into our village. Make yourself at home.
(Meanwhile, at a lush forest, Dread wakes up, groaning as he stands up and picks up his sword, taking a look at the surroundings. He finds Classified waking up next to him and immediately helps him up.)
Dread: Classified.
Classified: Dread.
Dread: (firmly) Good t’ see a familiar face in ’ere, but… where are we? What be that place?
Classified: No clue. As far as I recall, we were taking on ABDO 2.0 and tryna stop that Genesis of his. Ya think he’s done it?
Dread: Nay, doesn’t look like it. Let’s just move on ahead, see if any o’ the others are around.
Classified: By all means.
(Dread and Classified ventured further into the jungle, the former slicing off the overgrown leaves in their way. They keep looking around, trying to navigate their way around this jungle and perhaps find any of their allies, but their efforts remain fruitless. Suddenly, a giant, three-headed venus flytrap emerges from the ground, roaring at the duo, who step back in shock.)
Classified: Good grief! What the heck?!
(One of the plant’s heads immediately lurches at the duo, who jump out of the way and take their battle stances. The plant then launches blasts at Dread and Classified, who try to get in behind the plant. Dread jumps at the plant, ready to slice off one of its heads, but it suddenly spawns an arm and holds Dread down.)
Classified: Dread!
(As the plant was about to devour Dread, Classified intervenes, holding its jaw up with all his effort. Dread then finds his sword on the ground barely manages to reach it, cutting off the plant’s arms and then one of its heads. The plant then keeps trying to strike the duo with its arms, who get out of the way, waiting for an opening. Unbeknownst to them, though, the ground below them is starting to break. Classified manages to throw Dread at one of the plant’s heads, and the latter cuts it off. The plant roars, launching several blasts at the duo, who manage to sidestep them, but they hit the already unstable ground, which ends up collapsing.)
Dread: (grimacing) Oh, that ain’t good.
Classified: We gotta get outta here!
(Dread and Classified immediately try to make it to stable ground, but the plant grabs them its remaining arm as it falls, taking the duo down with it. As they fall deep underground, Dread and Classified try to unsuccessfully free themselves from the plant’s grip. The former finds his sword falling down his way, and he immediately grabs it, cutting off the plant’s last arm afterwards. He and Classified get thrusted up as the plant falls into an empty abyss, giving off one last scream.)
Dread: (to Classified) Now hold on to me!
(Classified holds on to Dread as the latter brings out his harpoon and hooks them into a wall. They manage to swing into a tunnel and slide down its lengthy path, eventually falling to the ground. Dread slowly gets up and helps Classified in getting up as well.)
Dread: (helping Dread up) Ye okay there, lad?
Classified: (groaning) Yeah. Cutting it kinda close there, Dread.
Dread: (smirking faintly) But we managed t’ survive. Kinda expectin’ a ‘thank you’ fer that.
Classified: (letting out a faint chuckle) Yeah, guess I should be grateful. Where are we, anyway?
(Dread and Classified look around and find themselves in a small temple city, with many grey, horned, human-like aliens roaming around several stone buildings, most of them heading for a giant throne, kneeling before one of their own.)
Classified: What is this place?
(Meanwhile, ABDO 2.0 slowly gets up, a grim scowl on his face as he scans his surroundings and finds himself in an orange, autumn-themed jungle, which only adds to his frustration.)
ABDO 2.0: (gritting his teeth) Where am I? The Genesis… what happened to it? Could it have failed?
(ABDO 2.0 looks around, scouting the area. He finds no one around, and he clenches his fists and stomps the ground in frustration.)
ABDO 2.0: (in frustration) I don’t get it! I collected all the Shockwave Gems! I perfected the Genesis! I stopped anyone from interfering! Then how did it come to this?! And what does that mean to the Anjalverse?! (sighing deeply) It’s not the time for that. I need answers.
(ABDO 2.0 then finds a little, indigo girl with small, pointy ears running from a trio of well-built, purple soldiers. The girl tries her best to lose her pursuers, but the trio surround her. ABDO 2.0 watches all of this unfold from a distance.)
ABDO 2.0: I’ve gone through the entire Anjalverse, but never before have I seen such alien species. That could only mean… could this world really exist beyond the Anjalverse? Is it in a way its own plane of existence? (glancing at the soldiers) Perhaps they may help.
(One of the soldiers chuckles as he cracks his knuckles, but as he approaches her, ABDO 2.0 fires a blast in the sky, earning their attention.)
Soldier 1A: (grumbling) Alright, now who are you?
ABDO 2.0: Listen up. I have questions, and I hope you can provide some answers.
Soldier 1B: (smirking) Well, we’ve got some questions too, and we’ll beat the answers outta ya.
ABDO 2.0: Hmph.
(ABDO 2.0 deals a punch to one of the soldier’s gut and moves on to punch another in the face. He then kicks the last one in the gut, grabbing him by the collar.)
Girl 1A: (warmly smiling to ABDO 2.0) Thank you very much, sir.
ABDO 2.0: (to the soldiers, seemingly ignoring the girl) Let me make myself clear: The only reason you three are still alive is because you may have some answers. If that’s not the case, then I don’t know why you’re still breathing.
Soldier 1A: (terrified) Fine fine! I’ll talk!
ABDO 2.0: Very well then. Now tell me… what is this world? Tell me everything you know. Don’t miss a detail.
Soldier 1A: (fearfully nodding) This is the Haven. It’s a massive world inhabited by Dominion such as I and Xenos such as this little girl.
ABDO 2.0: What are your affiliations?
Soldier 1A: We serve Queen Paramount. She’s the one with the authority in this specific region, and she wants to enslave all Xenos.
ABDO 2.0: (letting go of the soldier) That’s enough. I’ll figure out the rest on my own. Now get out of my sight.
(The three soldiers fearfully get up and run from ABDO 2.0, who proceeds to examine his radar, finding — to his annoyance — that it’s not working properly, meaning that he can’t detect any Shockwave energy. The girl slowly approaches him, only for him to turn to her, a grim scowl on his face.)
ABDO 2.0: Now what do you want?
Lily: (waving at him) Hi, I’m Lily. I just wanna say… thank you for saving me.
ABDO 2.0: Tch, I didn’t do it for you. Now back off.
Lily: But… maybe I can help. You seem lost in here.
ABDO 2.0: I said back off. I don’t need your help.
(Lily’s smile falters as she hears this, and she steps away from ABDO 2.0 a bit. The latter keeps trying to fix the radar, but to no avail. He grits his teeth in frustration, but he eventually sighs deeply, turning to Lily.)
ABDO 2.0: You said you can help, right? How so?
Lily: (her smile returning) I can take you back to my village! I’m sure the elder would love to help you out!
ABDO 2.0: Fine. Lead the way.
Lily: Gladly! But first… what’s your name?
ABDO 2.0: (sighing deeply) You may call me… ABDO 2.0.
(Meanwhile, Omar wakes up in a small bed, and looking around, he finds Bader, Nawaf, and Huraib in similar beds beside him, waking up as well. They get up and look around, finding themselves in a massive, Chinese-looking monastery.)
Nawaf: (barely opening his eyes, groaning) Mom… didn’t we agree not to use Chinese decorations in our house?
Omar: (baffled) Where… are we? Where’s everyone? What happened with the whole Genesis deal?
Huraib: How should I know?!
Bader: (rolling his eyes) He was being rhetorical, Huraib.
Huraib: And I was trying to be funny.
Omar: (unamused) And unsuccessfully so.
(Suddenly, the quartet hear footsteps echoing through the room, and they immediately take disciplined stances out of fear.)
Omar: (whispering) Places, everyone. This sounds to me like your classic Chinese/Japanese sensei.
(The door is slowly opened, revealing a blue, bearded, old, bald, and short man with pointy ears and a bo staff, sipping on some tea as he approaches the quartet.)
Omar: (whispering) See? Just as I told you. Except that… I didn’t expect him to be blue… and with pointy ears.
???: Oh, you’ve waken up already. You feeling better now?
Bader: (baffled) Guess so, yeah.
???: (in a prophetic manner) You seem to be of a faraway world, warriors who have returned from quite the epic battle.
Huraib: (in awe) How did you know?
???: (annoyed) You literally fell from the sky, crashed into my roof, and were bruised! Also, you don’t look like anything I’ve seen in this world! I mean… it doesn’t take much foresight to come up with that assumption.
Omar: (whispering) Okay, he’s just gone from “typical sensei” to “typical grumpy old man”.
???: Did someone just call me “old”?
Omar: (confused) And you’re okay with getting called “grumpy”?
???: (rolling his eyes) Just so you know, I’m looking quite good for 69.
(An awkward silence ensues between the quartet, one that the old man doesn’t quite comprehend. He eventually comes to the realization, and he immediately strikes the quartet’s heads one by one with his staff.)
All: (annoyed in unison) Ow! What was that for?!
???: Being dirty-mined brats.
Nawaf: You do realize that you haven’t introduced yourself just yet?
???: Neither did you, roof-destroyers.
Omar: Well then, I’m Omar. Over here’s Bader, Nawaf, and Huraib.
Haruki: And I’m Haruki.
Omar: Now if you don’t mind… would you please tell us what is this place?!
Haruki: This is… the Haven.
Huraib: (baffled) You called your monastery “the Haven”?
Haruki: (exasperated) No, not the monastery! This entire world! This entire world is called the Haven!
Huraib: (chuckling sheepishly) Oh, that makes sense, alright. Please continue.
Haruki: (sighing deeply) Two races inhabit this world: the Xenos — such as I — and the Dominion. The Xenos are known for their leniency and peacefulness.
Nawaf: (mumbling) And their urgent need for growth hormones.
(Haruki immediately strikes Nawaf’s head with his staff, which causes an annoyed Nawaf to relent and listen. Haruki then continues.)
Haruki: Like I said, the Xenos are known to be peaceful and friendly, and unfortunately, they’re oppressed by the powerful Dominion. They get enslaved, tortured, imprisoned, and robbed of their goods.
Omar: (cracking his knuckles, smirking) So we’ve got folks here to beat up. Let’s go, fellas!
Haruki: Hold it right there! You really think YOU can stand up to them?!
Omar: Erm… yeah?
Haruki: They’re spread into six powerful factions, each ruled by a powerful and mighty Dominion leader! The one closest to our location is the infamous Vici! He’s powerful, ruthless, intelligent! He follows no rules, sticks to no bounds! Get in his way, and you’ll be rewarded with a slow and cruel death after he shows you the might of his fabled Shockwave Core!
Bader: Wait a minute! Did I just hear “Shockwave Core”?
Nawaf: I’ve been familiar with Shockwave Gems, but that seems close enough.
Omar: Then that’s all the more reason we gotta kick some Dominion butt!
Haruki: You think you’re ready to take on Vici?!
All: (in unison) Yes!
Haruki: No!
All: (in unison) Yes!
Haruki: No!
All: (in unison) Yes!
Haruki: No!
All: (in unison) No!
(An awkward silence ensues as Haruki glares at the quartet, unamused by what they were trying to do.)
Haruki: (unamused) You were trying reverse psychology, weren’t you?
All: (in unison) No!
(Haruki sighs deeply, then he takes a fighting stance and throws away his staff, to the quartet’s confusion, who reluctantly take a fighting stance as well.)
Haruki: (smirking) Want to prove yourself? Try to land a single blow on me. To make it easier, I’m not even gonna use my staff.
Omar: (grinning) Oh, now we’re talking! Except that… I’m not really sure that’s a good idea.
Haruki: Heh, afraid?
Omar: No, it’s just… taking you on would basically be elder abuse.
Haruki: And taking you lot on would be child abuse.
Omar: (offended) Hey! We’re 15!
Haruki: Then 15-year old minors it is!
(In the blink of an eye, Haruki punches Omar in the gut, sending him flying into a wall, to the others’ shock. Before they can react, Haruki proceeds to roundhouse Huraib in the face and kick Bader in the gut.)
Nawaf: That does it! You’re facing me now, old man!
(Nawaf lurches at Haruki, only for the old man to take off the former’s glasses and leave him with blurry vision. Haruki then proceeds to snap Nawaf’s glasses in half.)
Nawaf: Nooooo! Not this again!
Haruki: (mockingly) Oh, my condolences, nerd. Ever thought about LASIK?
Nawaf: I’m not a nerd!
(Nawaf tries to lurch at Haruki, but because of his blurry vision, he accidentally trips Bader and collides with Omar.)
Omar: Hey! Watch where you’re going, Waf!
Nawaf: I can’t! I’m glasses-less!
(Huraib tries to land a punch at Haruki’s face, but the old man eloquently dodges and kicks Huraib in the gut, grabbing him by the arm and throwing him at the others. They try to get up after that, but they’re too worn out to continue. Haruki approaches them, a mildly disappointed look on his face.)
Haruki: My, we’ve got a lot to work on.
(Meanwhile, Abdo was meeting up with one of the Xenos elders in the village, during which they had quite a nice chat. It’s interrupted when Abdo’s stomach grumbles.)
Abdo: (chuckling nervously) Oops. Nevermind.
Xenos Elder: Ah, you must be hungry, my boy. Don’t worry about that.
(Several Xenos carry some food into the table for Abdo and the elder. Abdo then finds a giant plate of Basbousa, and his smile widens with immense excitement.)
Abdo: (his mouth watering) Is that… is that what I think it is?
Xenos Elder: Oh, I guess you’re really into Basbousa.
Abdo: (barely holding his excitement) You bet I am! I haven’t even had breakfast ever since this whole mess began. (clearing his throat) I’m really sorry for what you’re about to witness!
(Abdo immediately starts munching on the Basbousa, basking in its splendor and eating his heart out, while the Xenos Elder just chuckles at this.)
Abdo: (while eating) So you’re saying that there are six separate Dominion factions, all with the goal of conquering the Haven?
Xenos Elder: Yes, that’s right. Unfortunately, our kind gets oppressed in the middle of that.
Abdo: (concerned) You guys had it rough, didn’t you?
Xenos Elder: I guess so. We’ve always thought about fighting back, but with the power of the Shockwave Cores in their hands, we don’t stand much of a chance.
Abdo: (immediately stops eating) Shockwave Cores?!
Xenos Elder: (baffled) Did you happen to encounter one?
Abdo: (grinning) Eh… kinda. So that means.., maybe if I get my hands on one of these things, I can get back home. It can work!
Xenos Elder: Oh, really? I wish you the best of luck with that, Abdo.
Abdo: Oh, and thanks for the hospitality. Really appreciate it. Bye now, gotta hit the road.
(However, as Abdo was about to reach for the door, a female Xenos immediately opens it, a terrified expression on his face.)
Xenos 1A: Elder! Please come quickly!
Xenos Elder: What is it?
(Abdo and the elder immediately head outside, finding a massive, ominous, dark purple cloud approaching on the horizon. Abdo appears to be concerned by that, a serious expression on his face. A dark figure emerges from the cloud and descends to the village.)
???: (chuckling darkly) Oh, how much I’ve missed that. Guess I’ve still got it in me.
Abdo: (firmly) Who are you? What are you?
???: (his smirk widening) So the world managed to forget so easily? Nevermind. I am Strage, and what you see before you, my friend, is the Obitus’s second coming.
(The Obitus have arrived at the Haven, and things are about to turn sour from here. How will Abdo cope with this new threat? How will the heroes adjust to this new world? Find out next episode.)
