"Gauntlet is that you?" Andon spoke with curiosity. It was indeed the blue ninja, only he had been downsized to a 8-bit Shadowman. Much smaller, and much less effective that the Six in their 32-bit armor.

"Yes, it's me. Super Chaos has some weapon that can downsize any robot master to a 8-bit sprite. He had tested it out on me, and now is coming after you with it." Shadowman bit his lip in anger.

A large laughing sound came from Iceman. "Well, look at the bright side 'G'. At least I'm not the short one anymore!!" He laughs again.

A large glare lit up in Gauntlet's eye. Everyone paniced as he pulled out a Shadow Blade.

~Log from Sinister Six: 8-bit Blues

CHAPTER 4

All night were the Sinister Six on patrol. Sometimes taking shifts. Either way not a single member was rewarded with rest. Epically Tim who got more worried as days progressed. The world around them seemed to be eaten alive. Grasses have turned to an ugly, pale yellow. The Sky was filling with rotting Blue. Almost sickly looking. Animals looked skinner from lack of food. Whether they were stricken with fear...or food isn't as perishable. Trees slumped lower than Scott who was on the floor eating the leftovers from the Mechanical Maniacs.

Wait...what?

When Tim had opened the door, to his disbelief and sorrow...they had done it again. The Main entrance room inside the lighter part of the big Mansion didn't look to inviting. Not at all. Not the usual welcome when you enter Sinister Six HQ that you'd expect. Chairs clustered around in piles around the main television set. Signs of fatigue of butt marks on the living room couch. Crumbs from a variety of foods were piled all over anything that had a surface to pile on.

Armor dented, signs of tire and fatigue...the last thing Tim wanted to see was his home. His base. His CASTLE a mess. Anger and rage was the next thing that filled Tim's mechanical brain. The other five members sensing danger, immediately take cover in the other room.

"GAUNTLET!!!!!!" The name echoed throughout the H.Q. Almost as if the voice shook the entire foundations like an earthquake.

There was a short silence, but soon hustling and moving about can be heard in the next room. A few words were said...but hard to make out from behind the wall. Something similar too. "He's home...oh no!" and "Home already!?". Tim stood with anger. Looking at the door he knew the Mechs were on the other side. He awaited the door to open. Almost like a Tiger ready to pounce on the prey when it entered close quarters. Tim's fist shook violently. As if this situation has occurred once to many times. Finally the door opened slowly. Out peeked Gauntlet's mystic head.

"Did you call Tim?" He spoke with a lame innocent look on his face. Tim wasn't amused. Let at all fooled. "Pack your things, you're all leaving tonight!!" Tim said finger a pointing. Gauntlet, though shocked, wasn't surprised by his anger. A quick thought leapt to his head. The same thoughts that came to mind on past occasions in this exact situation.

"Tim...Tim." Gauntlet spoke with one eye closed and one hand at the waist. Tim though familiar with this sneaky tactic quickly interrupted Gauntlet.

"Don't Tim...Tim me!" Tim walked past Gauntlet and into the next room where all the other members were. At first glance the room wasn't any better than the last. Trash stockpiled on the rug. Coke Cans lying out half empty. The rest of the contents staining the carpet. Game puzzles and pieces left out of boxes. Some crushed by obvious weight of a certain robot.

Lennon was focused on the Television set, potato chips in hand. He quickly turned to an aggressive looking Tim who had his eyes fixed on the remaining seven members of the Mechs. Carefully peeking over Tim's large and shrewd stance were the other members of the team. Iceman's mouth stupidly sprung open. "Hey guys...how did it go?" Lennon said piling in a mouthful of potato chips, with crumbs piled on the sofa.

Hexlaser and Jonathan were playing board games, and Topman had obviously taken in to much soda, as he exited the restroom with a satisfied look on his face. Sparkman was lazily lying on the floor, painting what looked like a picture...or some other weird form of contraption. Though his paints and markers stashed on the floor, unfortunately it looked like somebody had shot the place up with Paint balls.

Hadrian was fast asleep. Lying on top of Game boxes, crushed by his enormous bulk.

Needle Gal seemed to be the cleanest of the group, but even then. At a closer glance, you can see small tears and holes on the large sofa in the corner. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out she was sprawled out on it, with no intention of removing her helmet.

"ALRIGHT! This has gone long enough!" Tim unable to find the remote through the mess, shut off the television manually with a large grunt.

Lennon quickly sat up in his seat. "Hey, we were watching that!" His armor shining in the reflection of Tim's angry face. Gauntlet sprang into action and quickly followed after Lennon's question. "Ahhh...that's right. You guys were up all last night! Would have helped you out...but you know how it is keeping the place all tidy and all while you're out..." Gauntlet finished lamely. Once again Tim wasn't amused. His anger blistering even more.

"What! Look at this Place! Everyone, pack your bags!" Tim had to catch his breath before continuing. "You're all moving out....Tonight!!" Tim finished.

Gauntlet's eye flickered. "Tonight?"

"Yes! Go find your own base to trash!" Tim raised his voice a little more, scaring the other Sinister Six out of the room. The Mechs were all staring. Mouths open and surprised looks. Though Gauntlet didn't see why. You'd think they'd get use to Tim being like this. Epically leaving trash around the base at least once a week. Tim's reaction would always be the same.

Gauntlet stood up and put his right hand on Tim's agitated shoulder. "My friend, that isn't the answer. You're just frustrated because you have to get up, fight and protect Megalopolis from harm and come home all pooped. It's the same thing everyday!" Gauntlet said. "What you need to do, is relax. Sit down, have a drink." Gauntlet motioned for the dirty couch.

Tim looked in the direction of Gauntlet's blue armored finger and saw the couch. He was awfully tired from that last night run. He needed to relax and let up some. Tim slowly moved his enormous hulk body to the couch and was about to sit down when a thought hit him like a ton of bricks. "Wait a minute...your smooth talking ain't..."

Gauntlet immediately sensed this and quickly interrupted Tim. "Think of the other Sinister Six." The other members by now have piled themselves into the room, joining the Mechs in their activities. Andon however wasn't present at the time. Gary was focusing on cleaning up a bit, but saw from the entire room, that it was pointless. So he gave up. Scott was still gorging himself on the left over pizza that was glued to the floor, melting cheese attaching itself to the rugs. IRA sat on the opposite Couch. Talking to whomever Mechanical Maniac was close by. Jason too had left the room for reason's unknown.

Tim had looked at the other members of his team when Gauntlet continued his speech. "Look at the example you're setting. Do you want them to be angry all the time? Be strong about your wits. Show them you can handle anything! From a tough, nearly unstoppable opponent, let alone, to a little mess inside your own base!"

Tim lets off a large sigh. "You're right Gauntlet, I need to show my team that I can handle any situation. And not lose my temper over it." Tim lowered his head. Signs showing that he was pretty exhausted. Gauntlet let off a smirk under his mask.

" Great! Okay Mechs. Let's leave Tim alone to think." Like turning on a light switch, the Mechs instantly responded to Gauntlet's sentence, and piled out of the room. Each giving Tim some sort of encouragement. before disappearing out of sight. Tim then plopped down on the couch, causing the thing to take in his enormous weight. Crumbs falling down into his lap. Once they all have fled the room, including the other Sinister Six, and Tim was relaxed, Gauntlet gave one last words of wisdom.

"Good....." He pauses and stealthily hands him the hand held vacuum cleaner. " You can show your worth to them by cleaning up this awful mess. Jeeeez.. You guys need to hire some house cleaners or something." Gauntlet spoke as he neared the door. He quickly vanished in a puff of gray and black smoke.

Tim sat in the empty room. Taking in the quietness and was finally able to rest. Tim took a brief smile as he turned on the Vacuum and started sucking up the left over crumbs. The noise from the Vacuum egged him on to clean up the rest of the couch. So Tim arose from his seat and finished slurping up the extra unneeded contents of the dirty couch.

It was 10 minutes later when something caught Tim's attention. Why was he holding the vacuum cleaner in his hand...cleaning up the Mech's mess? Again...a short word was yelled across the base.

"GAUNTLET!!!!!!!"

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A far ways away, a lone black robot marched soley on his two feet, carring a injured Dr. Wily strapped to his back. Bass was missing one arm, but he was able to lift the light-weight scientist. Bass for the first time was actually retreating into hiding, for a while ago he came face to face with the ultimate horror. A large Beetle-like creature. They wanted to retreat back to the castle. Where they could be safe. Cause neither character wanted anything to do...with the creature that attacked them some time ago!

**********************************************************

That very night, once again The Sinister Six went on patrol. Only this time a broad smile was upon Tim's lantern jaw. The Mechanical Maniacs this time were sent downtown Megalopolis to investigate a strange power source. The last mission The Mechs were sent on, they never even completed. From watching the news in China Town, the renegade robots were eventually brought down. But by Chinese Robotic Police Forces. The battle was intense but the good side won. And where were the Mechs the whole time this battle took place?

"They were lounging at the nearest Café." Gary spoke in a small laugh. "Gauntlet wanted to try the newest Sushi in town." He finished. The others broke off in timed laughter. Andon didn't look very much amused, and Tim wasn't too happy with his guests at the same time.

"I swear...if that team doesn't see any action, they'll turn out to be fat slobs." Tim sighed again as they fell deep within Central Megalopolis. Gary imagined a fat Gauntlet sitting in front of a television set, robes torn from his obvious weight. Food packages stock piled by the wall and all over the place. He pictures himself coming in playing a joke on the obese Star thrower. And after the task was complete, Gauntlet pulling out his trademark Shadow Blade. However he is unable to throw it because his hands are so large. Gauntlet shuffles in the sofa trying to grab at Ice, but ends up falling off his perch. He lands roughly on the ground causing a loud shake. Gary smiled a thin smile but soon was interrupted from his fantasy.

"Earth to Gary/" Tim spoke loudly, causing the Parka wearing clad to jump in his boots. "I want you to cover This section here!" Tim roared with anger. "Pay attention!"

"Sorry man..." Gary apologized but grinned again from his apparent thought. Tim looked around the darkened streets. He seemed to want every inch of the town covered. It was a few minutes later when he finally spoke again. "We'll meet back here in exactly 2 hours. Remember to report anything odd, or out of place." He said as he walked off past Magma Dragoon's old, abandoned Dojo. The others moved off in their separate directions. It was then Gary felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Ack! Don't do that Jason!" Gary yelped with sudden alarm. Jason turned to Gary and then checked for any sign of the others. "We have to talk." He muttered and motioned for Gary to follow him. Gary nodded without words and followed the orange, white clad robot to Forte-Chan's old kitchen. The sign on her front door said she was closed. Many people thought that she left the area. But Jason and Gary knew she went to attend her Mango Tree. Like all other local plant life, her tree was dying. Gary really hated to see Forte-Chan in the slumps.

"I didn't want to tell anyone else this...I figured you'd understand the most. Considering you founded the team." The scissor head whispered to Gary. Gary could tell by Jason's eyes, that something was troubling him. Gary didn't speak and let Jason continue.

"I....I...." He muttered nervously. "I want to quit the team...." He finally ended without looking at Gary. He obviously didn't want to say it. Like the words were poison in his mouth. Gary at first was in half shock, and couldn't speak. But finally words hit his Voice Box. "Quit! Why!" Gary shouted.

Jason put a finger to his mouth. "Keep it down." He said, but immediately continued. "I just don't think I..." It was then that both Jason and Gary had jumped in their boots. There was a large explosion. The electricity in the area began to light up the streets. Gary and Jason leapt to their feet and without further conversation ran for the source of the problem.

Andon was in the middle of a battle. Electricity flying in every direction. Andon was mostly on defensive. And one could make out the golden lights and shiny white armor from that of Thunderman. Whom the Six had the displeasure of meeting at Midnight Simmons. Andon put up his arms blocking all electric blasts shot at him from afar.

Plow! Plow! Plow! The last blast however connected and sent Andon sky rocketing to the back wall. Thunderman didn't stop. He continued his pursuit. He picked Andon up by his collar and lifted his body in the air. "Elecman. Why won't you fight me! You make the power of electricity look bad!" Thunderman yelled in rage at the squirming Andon. "FIGHT ME NOW!" He threw Andon as hard as he could, but to the tall robots surprise, he was caught in mid-flight by a giant robot. Gutsman.

"Alright Thunderman. Enough is enough." Tim spoke aloud. Thunderman gave a weary smile but heard noises all around him. The Sinister Six had him surrounded. IRA emerged from his left. Jason and Gary from his right. Scott had emerged from the roof of the building Thunderman was next too. Scott jumped down and was now behind Thunderman. They closed in on him.

"Outnumbering me now are we?" Thunderman didn't seem impressed. "I know all of your weaknesses." He looked at each member with a grin.

"All our weaknesses now? Who do you think you are. Ben?" Tim approached Thunderman with his mighty fists clinched. Ready to strike. The other members slowly moved in on the tall golden robot. His armor reflecting all six images.

"Ah. Magma Dragoon. He holds a place on my grudge list too. Him and his X-Force!" Thunderman leaped straight in the air. Tim and the other members lost site of him quickly. His jumping ability surpassed even that of Scotts, who at the time was the highest jumper on the team. Tim swore to himself to take better watch of his enemy. Cause the whole team would regret it now.

Large bolts of deadly electricity were shot out from the darkness. Hitting various members. Tim was shot straight in the chest and was forced to fall back to the ground. Jason moved fast, but eventually a blast hit him square in the head. He flew back and hit the ground hard. Gary was on edge. If anyone knew Gary's weakness, it was anything electrical. When the other members were knocked back, he knew it was coming.

A large lightning bolt had struck Gary from above. Gary was immobilized in pain. He yelled for what seemed like an eternity. But soon the lightning had stopped and Gary fell to the ground on his hands and knees with blackened scars. He turned his Eskimo head and saw Thunderman slam against the side of a building. Tim had finally got in is hit.

Soon Jason and IRA joined in the fight. Thunderman was a skilled warrior. Able to take on Three members of the Six at once. Gary stood to his feet, holding one of his open wounds with is left hand and carefully moved towards them.

Jason was knocked back by an electric shock. Thunderman leaped to the closest roof top and peered down at The Six Figures who all worked their way to the building. Each holding a different kind of wound. "Is this all that you've learned over the years?" Thunderman scolded them. "I'm disappointed in you..."

Thunderman's praise was interrupted by Tim. "What are you talking about? Why do you keep on bothering us?" Tim looked Thunderman straight into his eyes. Or if you could call them eyes. Something was odd about this opponent. Almost familiar. But why? The guy pointed them out in their civilian clothes, acts like he's known them for years. But how is this possible?

Thunderman let off a disappointed sigh. He was getting to speak again when an uneasy feeling crept into the seven robotic bodies. Any human being would probably ask them what they were doing, and why they didn't continue their little dispute. Animals would sense this uneasy feeling too. It was then weird things started to happen. Lights started flickering on and off. What was stranger were the lights by Shortcut's old house. Those lights burnt out ages ago. No one in the entire community could fix them. Yet here they are shining more brightly than ever.

Car alarms from distant areas went off. The Six desperately looked in all directions. Unsure what was going on. Thunderman didn't like what was going on as well. Then they felt it. "Rumble."

"Rumble."

Something big was close by. You could feel its footsteps in the street. Tim looked at Thunderman who had fled the scene. Fast on his feet, he was probably already in the clearing. The Six however were still in danger. The lights flickered more. The rumbling came closer. Tim didn't know what to do. Should he investigate? His circuits were lined with fear. If such a thing was possible. The other members looked like they had felt the same thing. Soon the rumbling stopped. The lights stopped flickering, but remained on. As if shining the Six in a creepy spotlight.

"LOOK!" Shouted Scott. It was then they saw it. Large white eyes. Staring right at them. Piercing right through them. Tim for the first time in his life was frightened. He couldn't move. The other six stared as well. With mouths hanging open in fear. None of them able to move. There was a sharp roar as the large creature with white eyes showed its body for the first time.

Sharp, insect like armor protruded the outside. A large curving horn right on the forehead of the beast bent backward. The creature had razor sharp teeth. Claws like pincers. When they clanged shut, the noise would make your ears tremble. And its feet were huge. Every step it took caused the entire block to shake. The Beetle-like creature spread out its wings. Winds blowing the frozen statue-like Six back a ways.

Then it was gone. The darkness returned. The lights shut off. Noises shut out. All was left was the Six staring blankly into the night.

The quietness came back and soon the sun rose over the half alive landscape that was Megalopolis. The birds came out, but refused to sing their jaunty tunes. Several Community members started their casual work day activities. The Sinister Six? They finally moved from their trance. The creature had left 4 hours earlier, and just now did its effects wear off.

Could this be true? Have The Sinister Six finally met their match?