Episode 12: “Double Time Trouble!”

The Stellar Express cruised silently through the stars, its engines humming a low mechanical lullaby. The bridge was bathed in deep violet light from a distant nebula outside. Comet spun lazily in his chair, his tail flicking across a control panel. His holographic eyes traced two blinking red points on the map projected in midair.

Comet: Well... we’ve got good news, bad news, and worse news. Good news: Two Chrono Key signals just lit up like a Glortok firecracker. Bad news: they’re nowhere near each other. Worse news... Velvette Rex already beat us to brunch at one of ‘em.

Tackleton was looking at a picture of his brother Jett, before he stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest, his cape draped dramatically to one side even though there wasn’t a breeze.

Tackleton: Two keys left. And one cosmic scoundrel trying to upstage us. Figures.

Lunara leaned against the rail, arms folded, her boots resting on the edge of a glowing console.

Lunara: We’re splitting up, aren’t we?

Tackleton: Exactly. Two teams. Two final keys. One galaxy-saving deadline for justice.

Comet brought the map into sharper focus. One red dot pulsed above a swirling gas planet—Nimbos-12, its atmosphere a churning sea of electrical storms. The other blinked from the depths of Nerathis IV, a once-vibrant ocean world turned to whispering darkness.

Magnum PT stepped forward with a calm click of his boots on the floor.

Magnum PT: Splitting our forces reduces the friendship factor, Chief. However, if we're running out of time, then pitter patter let's get at her.

Tackleton nodded.

Tackleton: Then it’s settled. Lunara, Comet, Magnum—you’re with me. We take the skies. Zirca, Ignis, Mariner, Prism, and Blaze—you’re diving.

Zirca gave a tight nod. Ignis cracked her knuckles and smirked.

Ignis: You want the fire to take a dive? I'll do what I gotta do. 

Blaze: I'll protect the ladies with my life. 

Comet: Great. One team gets lightning, the other gets soggy.

Nimbos-12

The Aeon Spire loomed like a jagged spear thrust up through the stormclouds—twisting, golden, and impossibly tall. Each ringed platform spiraled around the central tower, floating in shifting gravitation. Lightning arced around it, as if time itself protested its presence.

The Stellar Express released four Stellar Sailboards. Tackleton adjusted his cape and flipped his goggles down.

Tackleton: Okay, gang. Keep tight formation. The spire’s unstable, and the higher we go, the weirder it gets.

Lunara: Define ‘weird.’

Comet: Time dilation. Broken gravity. Remember, these keys are the uh "key" to unmaking a critical moment in past that would plunge the entire universe into darkness. 

Magnum PT: How are we breathing in space?

They launched.

Wind screamed. Clouds swirled like ghostly hands. Sparks of static danced along their boots as they sailed from platform to platform, each one more warped than the last.

As they touched down on the first ring, the air shimmered—and suddenly they stood in a dense jungle. Vines looped down from above, the sky pulsed red, and a massive robotic saber-toothed tiger prowled nearby, eyes glowing with predatory calculation.

Tackleton: I don’t remember packing the time zoo.

The saber-tooth pounced. Tackleton sidestepped and unleashed a bright arc of light from his cosmic sword. It slashed through one of the beast’s mechanical fangs, sending sparks flying.

Comet ducked under a swinging tail and shot a bolt from his tail-mounted stinger cannon.

Comet: This is why I don’t camp.

Magnum PT leapt onto the beast’s back, wrapped his arm around its neck joint, and twisted sharply. The creature collapsed into a heap of twitching servos and steam.

Lunara looked impressed despite herself.

Lunara: Remind me not to challenge you to sparring again.

Magnum PT: Learned that from an amigo named Amigo.

They landed on the next platform—and were suddenly standing in a neon-lit alley lined with flickering digital signs. Holograms of other versions of themselves moved around them.

One Tackleton was older, scarred, wearing a crown. Another lay face-down in the street.

Lunara’s expression darkened. She walked up to a version of herself sitting on a bench, silent and still. The older Lunara wore a black cloak and no expression.

Lunara: Who are you?

Future Lunara didn’t answer. 

Comet: Someone is trying to scare us away. 

Tackleton: No time to be scared. 

Lunara: Can I do it anyway?

A wall slid open. Dozens of security bots wheeled out, blades whirring. The team leapt into action. Tackleton slashed, Comet fired, Lunara waved her cosmic wand, and Magnum PT dropped an EMP grenade that shorted out half the grid.

When the lights came back up, everything was gone. 

At last, the top of the spire. A great golden chamber spun slowly, surrounded by a halo of collapsing gears. At its center stood a ten-foot tall regal machine. Chancellor Chromos.



His voice echoed in fractured layers.

Chromos: Who dares climb the spiral without reverence?

Tackleton: I’m the Star Prince. Reverence is optional.

Chromos: Then you shall be dismantled in all directions.

Suddenly, robots that that looked like smaller versions of Chromos appeared. One raised a burning red sword. One fired erratic blasts. Lunara found herself surrounded. Magnum PT was immediately grabbed from behind. 

Magnum PT: Cheap shot!

Tackleton fought the sword wielding robot, with swords clashing in starlit arcs. He parried, leapt, and impaled the robot, which shattered into stardust.

Meanwhile, Lunara was losing ground—the robots circled her and spun. 

Real Lunara fell to her knees.

Comet dove in, firing a concussive blast that staggered the shadow.

Comet: No time to get dizzy, Lunara! Finish them off!

Lunara: Right! Prismatic Lunar Spiral Attack!

Lunara spun with her wand and destroyed the robots. 

Magnum PT finished off his enemy with a leg drop. 

Chromos spasmed, gears locking up.

Chromos: Impossible!

Tackleton: Are you the guardian of the key!? 

Chromos: I was built by Alaric Angelsmythe to protect the key. The keys are the only thing capable of unlocking the moment that created the universe. The moment the Intercessor fired the weapon that killed Entity V. 

Tackleton: And we're trying to prevent Dark Heart from doing just that. That's why we need the key. I am Tackleton Angelsmthe, son of Alaric Angelsmythe, grandson of the first Tackleton Angelsmyth, the Star Prince that worked with the Celestials to defeat Entity V.

Chromos lit up, and a hologram appeared, showing the iconic moment. Magnum PT caught sight of a familiar face in the struggle. 

Magnum PT: Who was that, Chief? 

Chromos: Records indicate the Celestial Azrael. 

Magnum PT: Kind of looks like someone I knew.

A compartment opened. Inside: the Chrono Key. 

Tackleton picked it up gently.

Tackleton: One more for the stars. One more for justice! 

Chromos: Forgive me attacks. I did not know who you were. 

Tackleton: You performed your job well. Thank you. 

Magnum PT: Seriously, I think I knew that guy! 

Lunara: You're not THAT old! 

All: AHAHAHAHAHA!!!




Zirca: Looks like Team A got the key! 

Ignis: And now it's up to us! Velvette Rex danced away with the prize, and we sank in shame. We’re the ones who fell. Time to rise again like a flame! 

Zirca: Loss leaves a mark. Burns you in ways winning never could. It brands you.

Ignis: And maybe that's what we need right now. A burn deep enough to remember.

Zirca: The final Chrono Key is still out there. And we’re not letting anyone else take it.

Ignis: Not Velvette. And especially not Dark Heart.

Zirca and Ignis: This time...We don’t miss. Next time! Double Time Trouble Part 2!

Last edited by Machismo (7/30/2025 1:42 am)