The Machine Ghost grunted as he pushed up a switch, and as he did, his robotic body sputtered and rattled for a few moments.

A few bursts of water poured in from the pipes that stuck out around the body. One of them dumped its waters onto a sleeping Ermit's head, splashing him awake! The Machine Ghost chuckled while Ermit flailed around and shouted, but soon the torrent stopped and left a very soaked Ermit in its wake.

The Machine Ghost coughed and turned back around to the controls. "It seems as though all this water is slowing our progression speed," the Machine Ghost said as his fingers hovered over the controls. He tapped away with furious speed. "Re-routing all power to the thrusters immediately."

The lights above flickered and dimmed for moments, earning attention and confused whispers from the rest of the group. Finally, the lights completely dulled! The whole room turned cooler and dimmer, now lit only by the light of the windshield ahead while the paneling rattled. The area ahead of them blurred in the windshield's view, and behind them, the Machine Ghost’s body roared as it sped up so fast that everyone not in the pilot's seat flew back and pinned to the back of the room!

Their gums flapped, and their eyelids peeled wide open as steam rattled around them. They only watched as their robot escort powered even faster, so fast that copters smashed against its windshield like bugs! The Machine Ghost’s body veered right as bit as they all tumbled right. Another swerve and they all rolled left before they smashed into each other in one big, amorphous pile. One more tip backwards flung them onto the back of the floor once more!

Ermit grunted, spat out a broken tooth as he crawled out from underneath the pile, and shook a fist. "Hey, watch where you're piloting, you half-dead half-wit!" Ermit shouted. "We're all getting dizzy back here!"

The Machine Ghost turned around and winced at the sight of everyone crawling out from the pile—eyes spinning around in heads, bruises on bodies, and all—and cleared his throat.

"It seems as though I may have forgotten to account for passengers in our speeding up," he remarked. "Unfortunately, I cannot bring up any seats without re-routing the power again."

"Just let me take care of that!" 'Enehana shouted as they waved an arm.

The floor below glowed orange as it started to rise in pillars and bubbled, but it didn't split or break. Rather, seats morphed from the floor of the room, and lifted the rest of the group inside their comfort. Belts strapped around them as the sunny orange glow that dusted over the floor faded away.

Some relieved chatter came from the back as everyone marveled, but then, they hit another turn and went flying sideways! The straps strained their hardest to keep everyone in tight. A few grunts and pained, choked shouts came as they swung right, but soon they settled back in, the chairs creaking underneath them.

"This feels like the worst roller coaster ride I've ever been on," Ermit lamented as he hung his head, his face paling by the second.

"What's a roller coaster?" 'Enehana asked. They shook their head, smiled and looked to the windshield. "Well, nonetheless, you won't have to stay there for long! I can already see the west dam on the horizon!"

The Machine Ghost’s body’s thrusters burst, sparks and embers flying in front of the windshield. The fires disappeared as it charged forward! Its speed started to slow as it came closer to the bridge leading on to the dam, and it moved towards a more upright position. The bridge came the closest it could, and the Machine Ghost’s body started to settle in.

Before the Machine Ghost’s body could bridge the gap, it slammed right into something and flew backwards! Its back smacked into the canyon, and a few more steam valves burst as everyone in the back flew backwards. Their seats disappeared underneath them, and once again they smashed into the back wall, bodies shuddering as they piled together.

"Is this part of the trip too?" Luz grunted as his arms trembled.

"Shouldn't be!" 'Enehana shouted back as they pulled themselves up with the side of the console as their crutch. 'Enehana rubbed their eyes and turned to the console. "I thought we had enough breathing room between there and the bridge! What could have—"

A shadow cast in front of the windshield, and the entire room almost completely darkened!

Those in the back shouted and questioned as 'Enehana and the Machine Ghost clung to their controls. ‘Enehana and the Machine Ghost’s mouths clenched tight as their fingers twitched. Their eyes didn't move an inch from the front, the sole source of their blocker.

In front of them laid a robot identical in build to theirs, but much taller and shinier! Its metal was colored in the signature reds and golds of the Arkeyan empire, and its fists lined with sharp spikes around the knuckles while its eyes glowed their brightest. Perhaps most importantly, it completely blocked off the bridge to the west dam with its bulky body! Judging by the way it wound up its arm as if it prepared to punch, it had no intentions of letting them in, either!

'Enehana pulled the robot back while their opponent's punch crashed into the canyon, and they winced as the wall they themselves had dented completely buckled under the punch's weight, taking the entire canyon ledge with it. They frantically pressed a few buttons to be met with nothing but a faint clicking noise, so they jumped to a lever or two and yanked it down. However, not even those would budge!

"It's no use, I'm afraid!" the Machine Ghost cried. A wince came from him as he glanced at the control panel. "I re-routed all power to the thrusters, including the power to the weapons system! Until I can supply it with power, all our weapons are offline!"

'Enehana gasped, and frantically pressed button as if that would do something by some miracle. "How long will it take to re-route the power, then?"

"At least ten minutes, maybe longer!"

"WHAT?"

In that moment, the opposing robot landed another punch! Its spiky knuckles cracked the windshield, and split holes into the inner room as it pushed them into another canyon wall. The Machine Ghost’s body creaked as it hit. The sickening smell of fresh air leaked through the newborn holes and cracks, and the group behind ‘Enehana and the Machine Ghost smashed into the wall once more.

"Good going, you stupid ghost!" Ermit shouted. "Your bloody idea's left us sitting ducks! Couldn't you have at least saved power for some firearms?"

"I wanted us to get there as fast as we could!" the Machine Ghost cried back while his hands fritzed and returned to normal. "We can't—"

Another punch rattled the robot, and the Machine Ghost and 'Enehana both crashed to the floor!

The Machine Ghost phased through it for a moment before he jumped up, grabbed the controls just in time to roll away from another punch, and threw a punch of his own! His punch landed right in the opposing robot's chest. Its metal dented slightly as it skidded back, and the Machine Ghost jumped over to the other side of the console.

"Re-routing power to weaponry now!”

'Enehana nodded as they pulled themself up and cracked their knuckles. With a snap of their fingers, the holes in the walls and cracks in the windshield sealed up. Their orange glow brushed against 'Enehana's back as they dug their hand through their backpack, and slipped out a warp start. The warp start glimmered in the light only a moment, for another strong blow tossed 'Enehana on the floor and the warp start out of their hands! They pushed themselves up as the warp start landed by the now-upright group, and narrowed their eyes.

Behind them, the opposing robot wound up another punch and jabbed—but 'Enehana slammed their hand on the console, and orange light flooded the room! The Machine Ghost's body jumped back. The opposing robot's arm laid static, so the Machine Ghost’s body grabbed it and twisted it tight, so tight that the arm’s metal started to twist and buckle! The opposing robot yanked its arm back, but at that point, it was held so tightly that it only severed the arm. The opposing robot leaned down, and sparks rained down from the empty space where its arm once was.

"We can't afford to dally!" 'Enehana shouted. "Use that warp start to get en route to the west dam! I'll stay here and help keep this guy occupied until our weapons come back online!"

"But, 'Enehana! What about you?" Bouncer shouted, wheeling out as he spoke. "You're the one who has to hack these things! You know their code and everything!"

"You have the Tech Ancient's blessing, correct?"

'Enehana's smirked as Bouncer nodded.

"Something like that would be child's play for you, then. Now, GO!"

'Enehana waved their hand before anyone could protest, and the warp start glowed bright! Its vermilion light poured over the room, and tinged it in warm shades as everyone hesitantly glanced around.

Finally, Bouncer nodded and wheeled ahead. As he disappeared in the light, Ninjini, Sihiri, Swarm, and Eye-Brawl all jumped on after him! The light warped around them, twisting into a tornado of orange sparkles.

It covered their bodies in a warm, magical blanket, and when that blanket faded, they no longer rested within the Machine Ghost’s body’s walls.

No, they stood on the rusted remains of what was once another strong copper and bronze bridge. Its surface was cracked, and its top was lined with similarly-cracked crystal orbs that probably would've been sleek otherwise. The rocky, rough texture of the ground below pressed against their lower halves as they stabilized their balance. Beside them, the sounds of punching, denting metal and crumbling rocks alerted them to the battle that warred beside.

In fact, just a glance showed the Machine Ghost's body and the opposing robot punching, swiping, and shooting away at each other! Embedded in the canyons that stretched along the back was a scene near-identical to the one at the east dam: a terminal stretched into the sky along paths carved into the canyon's rock. They all led in from a bridge that spanned from the front of the round platform that rested square in the center of the bridge they stood on now.

The only difference was that there was no power beacon in the circle. Instead, the terminal already charged and shimmered with light. The air was clean and fresh in scent, but the rumbles from aside, paired with the splashing of water as it was disturbed and lashed against the bridge, showed it wouldn't be for long.

Bouncer huffed, leaned forward and rushed off first. His gaze was solely on the bridge underneath his wheel. "With all those orbs cracked, I doubt there'll be any security up," Bouncer whispered. "Now, if I make this play quick—"

"Bouncer, wait! Slow down!" Ninjini cried from the back.

The crackle of electricity came from behind, and Bouncer turned around right as one of the orbs at the front of the bridge sparked. Electricity leaked from its cracks as a lightning bolt jolted from one orb to the other! The lightning spread from orb to orb with rapid speed, and the electricity that leaked from it left the lightning stronger with each pass. As it jolted past Bouncer, it splintered into four! These four lightning bolt jumped into the orbs' cracks and zapped together; they expanded as they fused, until they formed a wall of solid electricity that seated itself right in front of Bouncer!

Bouncer winced, wheeled back a bit, and turned around as Ninjini floated up and gripped his shoulder.

"Looks like they did have security measures here after all," Ninjini remarked. She frowned for a moment, but her frown quickly lifted as she turned around. "Luckily, it seems like the terminal controlling it is over there."

Bouncer swerved back to the beginning of the bridge, Across from the place that Eye-Brawl, Sihiri, and Swarm stood at was another, shorter terminal. It glowed bright as a few tall robots laid down by its side, and slunk down with dim faces as if they were deactivated. Perhaps, they were dormant as they laid in wait for attackers?

"We'll draw out the robots, and you see if you can do something about the terminal." Ninjini winked and flew off. "Besides, it'll be good practice for when you re-route power to the dam!"

Bouncer went to protest, but by that point, Ninjini drew her wishblades and flown off. So, he just sighed and rolled after her.

"I've never really tried this before. Hacking stuff is usually 'Enehana's job," Bouncer said as he held out a hand. His fingers withdrew, shifted, and twirled their parts around until they formed into something vaguely like plugs. "But, new playstyles are always part of the game." Bouncer nodded and zipped behind Ninjini. "Just gotta figure this one out!"

Bouncer clenched his hand into a fist as the plug-like tips sank back into his fingers, and wheeled beside Ninjini. Ninjini glanced in turn, and motioned first towards him, and then towards the terminal.

Bouncer nodded back before he zipped forward, so fast that he knocked the robot that sat at the front of the terminal into the ground! Bouncer yanked open the terminal's panel as the sound of creaking metal and charging guns came from behind, followed by lashing whips and screeching, mechanical noises.

Behind him, Ninjini and Sihiri smirked as ropes made of magic drew the robots right towards them! The ropes faded away right as the robots pushed themselves up, and Sihiri snapped her fingers. She cast up walls of magic in a circular formation, ones that locked off everyone and everything around.

"That should keep you from disturbing Bouncer's work," Ninjini sneered. An explosive orb flew over her shoulder, and she ducked away just as it blew a hole in the wall behind her. "Or not!"

A few more of those green and pink, sparkling, explosive orbs shot for Ninjini, and she waved her hands and cast them back. The orbs shot right into the robots' chest! The orbs exploded right as they reached into the robots' chest cavities, and left only smoldering piles of broken metal where they once laid. Ninjini turned her attention to the larger guards that stood chest-high to her as they held out their hands.

She readied her own hands, perhaps in anticipation of another strings of orbs, but spun away as a laser shot from one's palms. The laser hit into the wall behind her instead! More lasers shot from around, and formed a precarious spiderweb of hot pink light that bounced from one wall to the next and reflected from that.

Ninjini yanked her arm away as one came right for her, and jerked her head to the side as another just barely nicked her ear. The lasers spread past and around her, and pinned her to the hot, searing light of the wall as they glowed brighter and brighter! Before Ninjini, Sihiri, Eye-Brawl, and Swarm all pressed themselves to the other parts of the wall.

The robots that cornered her slowly crept into the center, their hands held out as they brushed against each other's backs. The light around grew hotter, and shrieked like bats as the emanating heat turned it from its pinkish-purple color to a harsh white.

Ninjini cried out as the wall burned against her back, but pressed herself against it once more as she inched closer to the lasers! Ninjini scowled, fished her arms from the lasers, and slowly crept alongside the walls as she navigated between their precarious strings. Sweat dampened her face as she slid between the close spaces of one laser, and then the other, until finally she pulled one arm in! She beamed for a moment as her left arm broke free, slipped her right arm out, and yanked her bottle from her back.

Her whole body turned to sparkly purple fog as she leaped inside the bottle. The bottle itself collapsed to the floor with a sharp clang, one that brought the robots' attention down to it.

The robots lowered their lasers just a bit as the bottle's lip turned to them, and out from the bottle came strings of rockets that smashed through their faces, leaving gaping holes of gutted machinery behind!

The robots' faces smoked as more rockets slammed into their chests. The rockets flung them through the walls, shattering them completely. Their smoking, hole-ridden bodies laid amid the disjointed remains of their fellow robots. One head landed by Sihiri's feet, another few just barely smashed into Brawl's arm, and one more beaned Swarm in the leg.

Sihiri, Eye-Brawl, and Swarm only minded the robots for a few moments before Ninjini emerged from the bottle and attached it back to her back.

As she fixed its position, her glance passed to where Bouncer stood at the terminal with optics wide and a wire in hand. She smiled, set the bottle in place and waved.

"Is the security taken care of yet?" she asked.

"Almost," Bouncer replied as he turned back to the panel. "Just gotta do this, and this…"

Bouncer hummed as he slashed a few wires in half, reconnected them to the other broken halves, pressed a few buttons, fixed some other wires' positions, and closed the panel with a frown. His glance now turned to the bridge.

Its electric wall flickered, and slunk down sightly as it laid on the bridge's top. The wall flashed one more time, slammed down and exploded in sparks as its electricity fed into the orbs that lined the bridge! Each orb sparked for a moment, but all quickly faded save for the ones at the front. They shot out a beam like before, but this time, it merely bounced from orb to orb in a zig-zag fashion before it fizzled out as it reached its end!

"And done!"

Bouncer smirked as he zipped past them, but his speed slowed as he zig-zagged along the bridge in tandem with the laser beam. He came to a complete stop as the others slowly trailed along behind him. Not one pair of eyes moved from the lasers as they walked from space to space.

Well, save for Ninjini, who sneaked into her bottle, hastily rolled along the floor, and popped back up at Bouncer's side. He smiled and lifted up her bottle as she filtered out of it.

Bouncer winked as she claimed the bottle from his hands. "Y'know, 'Enehana's right! This hacking stuff isn't so bad." Bouncer said. "If that terminal's as easy as that was, I'll have it finished in no time!"

Ninjini chuckled as she fastened her bottle onto her back. "Don't get too cocky, now. We still don't know what they have ahead for us."

A crash came from beside, and they both winced as their gazes turned to where the Machine Ghost's body laid pinned to the canyons by the robot he fought. The robot pushed forward, shattering the canyon and leaving its rocks to fall into the depths below. The Machine Ghost’s body punched it away before it flicked out its hand and cast a sword of orange light!

With the sword grasped tight in both hands, the Machine Ghost’s body rushed forward. It slashed away at the opposing robot right as it raised a hand. The sword slashed right through the hand as it became a fist, leaving that fist to crash into the waves below! The opposing robot forged its own light sword in the broken space where its hand once was and slashed back.

Eye-Brawl, Swarm and Sihiri floated around them and winced.

"Looks like they've got things under control there," Eye said before he popped off of Brawl and flew off. "Come on, eye can spy the terminal from here!"

Bouncer pulled himself from the bridge and drove after Eye, though he still cast a single glance back at the battle between the Machine Ghost’s body and its opponent. The others came up to his side as he finally hit solid canyon rock instead of rusted metal. He rolled a few steps forward as a massive crash came from behind, and the winds it crafted were so strong that it knocked them all on their fronts! Bouncer groaned and turned around right as the bridge crumbled to bits.

Not that far from him, the Machine Ghost's body and its opponent tumbled across the canyons! The closer view showed that the opposing robot regained its broken arm, for a giant cannon of some sort took its spot. Its eyes glowed as it thrust the Machine Ghost's body into the wall and cracked it. Despite the dents in its armor, and the steam that leaked from his cracks and orifices, the Machine Ghost’s body grunted and pushed against the robot, knocking it back into the other side of the canyon before punching it in the gut!

Above them, the terminal rocked back and forth in its spot!

Bouncer jumped to his wheel and rushed off. His optics set on the terminal as it swayed back into place.

"I've gotta get to that terminal!" he whispered, lifting his hands as he leaned in. "If they keep this up, it'll be scrap before I do!"

A few robots stumbled out the sides of a cavity in the walls beside him. Their weapons charged with hot light as they turned on Bouncer, but Bouncer held out his hands. His back creaked, and parts of it shifted out as rocket launchers stationed themselves on his shoulders. He gripped his hand tight. The launchers shrieked, preparing to fire, but quickly quelled themselves as sharp winds came from aside!

The winds slammed into the robots, knocking them into the water! Bouncer zipped right for the terminal as the robots tumbled off the side of the cliffs. He leaped up, and crashed right before it with such force that the smaller rocks around him leaped and crashed back down.

Bouncer yanked open the panel, perhaps in expectancy of some stray buttons, or some old wires in need of cutting. Instead, what greeted him was a sleek screen with a keyboard underneath it. Its body was made of sleek red and gold metal with no signs of rust or wear whatsoever! A message and a box flashed across its screen in ancient Common, and Bouncer's optics narrowed.

"’Enter your admin passcode?’" Bouncer read. He grimaced and typed away. "Let's see, what would ‘Enehana make the security passcode? Their own name, maybe? Sounds about right to me."

Nope. The screen flashed red as Bouncer submitted, and the passcode disappeared and the box grew empty once more.

"May Arkilles burn in the pits?"

Also brought nothing but a red screen. Bouncer gritted his teeth, shavings of metal peeling off and falling below him, and typed away further.

"Suffer, Arkeyan Empire?"

"Let the Ancients reduce this place to scrap?"

"I hate my job?"

All nothing but red. His last attempt resulted in nothing more than a flashing red screen, and the sounds of crashing, clashing battles grew louder. Bouncer groaned, banged his fists against the keyboard, and hung his head. Just then, green light flashed against his face while a string of cheerful beeps came, and he lifted his head as the screen changed!

"Well, that's one way to get in," he remarked as he stood to full height.

Several boxes flashed across the screen, each with their own icons of pouring water or levers or more.

Bouncer winced. "Now, which one should I pick?" Bouncer's finger hovered from box to box. "That waterfall looks like it'd work, but—"

A distinct sound of screeching, crashing metal came from behind Bouncer, and he turned around right as the opposing robot flew past him! The Machine Ghost's body came shortly afterward, but not in pursuit. Instead, it leaned against the canyons while its eyes flashed orange.

"Bouncer, what's wrong?" 'Enehana cried from within, their voice amplified over the robot body's speaker. "Have you cracked the code yet?"

"'Enehana, perfect timing!" Bouncer turned back to the terminal. "Which of these buttons controls the power?"

"The bars in the top-middle! That's the power settings!"

Bouncer nodded and tapped the button, and in turn it expanded, changing the screen to a selection of sliders.

"Now, there's a specific input code to re-route the power. You press the down button twice, up button twice, and then press right, left, right, left, and hit the two runes at the top simul—"

'Enehana grunted as the opposing robot swung forward. It nailed the Machine Ghost's body in the side with a sharp punch, and slid both the robot, and presumably ‘Enehana as well, back in turn! The Machine Ghost’s body collapsed into the sea yet staggered up, but the robot stomped down on its chest, pushing it further into the depths. The Machine Ghost's body grabbed its foot and yanked it up! Water splashed up in large torrents as the robot fell on its back. Water rained down on the battlefield, and drenched the rocks in its cold, salty liquid while both robots jumped up and wrestled each other.

Bouncer winced as they crashed into the waters below and fell to their knees. He flinched as water snapped his head, and turned back to the console.

"Let's see, down, down, up, up," Bouncer whispered as he pressed the keys in turn, "right, left, right, left, hit the two runes at the top…" Bouncer narrowed his optics and winced. "Which two runes?" Bouncer glazed over to two slightly larger, round runes near the top of the keyboard. "These two?"

Just before Bouncer pressed down, a shriek of purple light came for him! He ducked right as a purple orb of magic slammed against the wall behind him and exploded. He winced and got up as the orb poured down the wall in a cascade of sparkles, turned back to where the others battled swathes of robots below, and balled his hand into a fist. His wheel started to turn, and he leaned aside, as if he prepared to jump into the fray—but stopped as Ninjini turned to him.

"We've got this covered, Bouncer!" Ninjini shouted as she held back an ax-wielding robot with a pair of wishblades. Ninjini leaned forward, slashed the robot's head off, and flew back into the battle with eyes set on another, larger robot. "Just get that dam taken care of!"

Bouncer nodded, leaned back at terminal, and pressed a pair of buttons on the keyboard—but the screen only flashed red! Bouncer grimaced as the color faded and retyped the combination, his hands pressing on another pair of keys instead. Still no luck, for once again the screen taunted him with its red glare. A crash sounded behind him, and Bouncer grimaced as a few rocks pelted him in the head.

"Hey, 'Enehana! Hate to interrupt your match there," he shouted as he turned around and waved for 'Enehana, "but what was the last part of the combination?"

No use. 'Enehana didn't even acknowledge him as the Machine Ghost's body grabbed the robot and turned around. It spun back and forth before it slammed the opposing robot against a wall! The opposing robot squirmed against the Machine Ghost's grip, trying its hardest to pry his fingers off. Instead, the Machine Ghost gripped it tight!

Bouncer scoffed and crossed his arms, his optics narrowing. "If only they weren't stopped by that tinhead. This hacking stuff's way out of my league, and only they know the code…"

The Machine Ghost’s body squeezed the opposing robot's shoulders tight as it squirmed. It slipped away at least, wound up its arm before it sent a double punch directly for the bottom of the robot's chest! It sent another double punch up top.

Bouncer blinked and wheeled forward. "Wait, down, down, up, up…" Bouncer whispered as his optics brightened. "That's part of the code!"

The Machine Ghost punched away further, and Bouncer cracked his knuckles.

"Right, left, right, left…"

The Machine Ghost's body grabbed the robot by the shoulders, swung around, and headbutted it! Its head slammed into the upper-left of the robot's head, smashing the glass of both its large eyes in. Letting go of the robot as it staggered back, the Machine Ghost's body stumbled back and wound up a punch.

Bouncer's attention drifted away from them with a blink, and turned back to the keyboard as he scratched his head. His eyes drifted back to two, larger keys stationed at the head of the keyboard. They were in a triangle shape, much like the opposing robot's eyes, and he gasped before he typed away!

"Down, down, up, up, right, left, right, left, and then…"

Bouncer slammed down the two larger keys, and a green light flashed against his face! He lifted up his head as the sound of something unlocking pricked his auditory sensors, and the bars on the screen grew brighter! He beamed widely, moved his finger across the screen as the bars all slid as far as they could, and the sound of gargling, rushing water brought his attention away from the terminal at last!

Before him, the river's waters rose even further! They reached up to the Machine Ghost's body's waist, and just inches underneath the remains of the bridge!

"The dam's up!" Bouncer cried as he pumped his fist. "Score two for Bouncer!"

Another blast of magic sounded behind him, and Bouncer smirked as he turned his attention back to the battlefield. A clunking sound came as parts of his back shifted open once more, and a twinkle shone in Bouncer's optics.

"And I'd better rack up some extra points while I'm here!"

His rocket cannons emerged from his back and shifted onto his shoulders as he rushed down below, their insides charging up and lighting with blazing hot fire. With one sweep down, the cannons shifted back, and fired a whole swath of rockets for the robots ahead of him! The robots turned around as the rockets crashed into the ground below their fight and exploded, blowing their metal bodies to smithereens. Their broken bits soared across the skies and rolled along the ground as the flames quelled.

Bouncer grinned as he rolled over their remains. "Alright, got the dam taken care of," Bouncer shouted, placing his hands on his hips as he spoke. "What's next?"

A rumbling avalanche roared from beside as another cliff collapsed beside them—and from what else than the Machine Ghost’s body? It pressed tight against the rocks, cracking their stone surfaces and shattering them completely with every further strain and push. Steam bellowed from its neck as it gripped the shoulders of the opposing robot. The Machine Ghost's body pushed back, yet its grip was barely felt as the robot lifted it up, and slammed it back against the ledge. The ledge shattered to bits, and the body's metal dented, caving in and splitting in parts even!

Bouncer's shoulder cannons folded back into his body, and beside him, Ninjini summoned her wishblades and floated up.

"If you ask me, the answer's obvious," Ninjini said, pointing a blade towards the Machine Ghost's body before shifting it towards his opponent. "Everyone, formation sixteen!"

Sihiri jumped up as a pool of lavender magic sparkled below her feet, floated up to Ninjini's shoulder and sat down! Beside her, Eye flew up and sat down right as Brawl ran underneath him, and Swarm floated down not long after. Swarm huddled in close to Bouncer, gripped his hand as he in turn grabbed Ninjini's, and soon, Ninjini joined hands with Brawl. Their hands held tight as the light below them glowed its brightest, and they all closed their eyes right as the sounds of crashing rock sounded in the distance.

When they opened their eyes, they found themselves on a rocky cliff, well above where the now-destroyed platform they once stood on was.

"Good thing we made it outta there," Swarm smirked as he rubbed his wings.

Ninjini and Sihiri made no remarks. They held out their hands, and a set of rotating scopes that churned within each other like gears formed before their palms. The scopes shot out and swung around the river; they hovered around the Machine Ghost’s body as it and its opponent trudged through the water, and disappeared for moments. In their place, pillars of lavender light shone across the opposing robot—some from its neck, another from its back, a few more where the hinges were…

"Those are where its weak points are!" Sihiri cried. "Target it there!"

"On it!" Bouncer cried. The antenna on his head unfolded, and out from it burst another fleet of rockets that burned with all their might as they zipped across the river!

Their flames' red light shone even against the midday sun. Their smoke and flaming scent lingered in the air, and grew stronger as they turned around. The rockets smashed into the opposing robot's back! An explosion burst and shattered a few more cracked cliffs as the opposing robot went limp.

The Machine Ghost’s body punched the opposing robot in the chest, knocked it back, and left it stunned enough to body-slam it right into the waters!

Bouncer winced and closed his optics. "Man, glad I wasn't in there," he whimpered.

"Eye, Swarm!" Ninjini called. "Target the arms while it's distracted!"

"Got our eyes on the prize, ninja lady!" Swarm shouted.

His wings reverberated with harsh buzzing as he flew off with Eye in tow. The two of them jerked and jolted through the skies as they charged for the opposing robot. Their movements were sharp and swift as they wove around its punches and blows, moving towards the Machine Ghost’s body.

A burst of thunder shot down from the skies, and cleaved off the opposing robot's one remaining arm as it disappeared in the distance—undoubtedly Swarm's doing. The opposing robot limped back as it slogged through the water, and leaned towards its right as the electrified arm's charred shoulder crumbled away. The wiring of the arm slunk down, the actual arm itself just barely visible as the rest of it fell into the deep.

Sharp flashes of golden light shone as the wires snapped, and the rest of the arm went with them! A flash of red and gold light shone from the left arm's open gap, and faded as large shards of what seemed like glass cascaded down from the robot's left side. The glass sank into the river's waters, and on the right side, its arm rusted and corroded before it withered away to bits!

Ninjini grinned, and held her fingers to her temples as she closed her eyes. "'Enehana, little ghost, if you can hear me," Ninjini whispered, "try to bring that robot here, and we'll finish the job!"

The Machine Ghost's body paused in midair, and turned to Ninjini for just a moment before it twisted around. It ran the best it could towards the de-armed robot. Its strides were slow, and muddled by the thick masses of water in the river before it, but they were still wide enough that it reached the robot's side in a matter of minutes. The Machine Ghost’s body yanked the opposing robot up by the neck! The Machine Ghost's body held it tight and swung it back, ready to toss it—but a laser shot from the robot's eyes and zapped the Machine Ghost's body’s neck!

The Machine Ghost's body immediately dropped the opposing robot. Smoke poured from its neck as it backed away. The opposing robot staggered up as laser cannons burst from the empty spots in its arms! The lasers tore straight through the canyon as the robot spun around and halved the tall rocky walls. The Machine Ghost's body just barely ducked before the lasers could saw it in half!

Ninjini gasped, and teleported everyone away as one laser shot right into the cliff she once stood on, reducing it to rubble. She ducked behind a large rock and poked out towards the battlefield. Her fingers dug into the sandy grit covering the rock, but she waved her arm and tossed a blast right towards the Machine Ghost's body. Her lip twitched as its purple light faded for moments. A sparkling purple shield formed around the Machine Ghost's body, and she grinned—yet only for a moment. Her smile soon faded into stern, tight-browed observation.

The Machine Ghost’s body drew back, its fists still raised but its body motionless otherwise. The opposing robot trudged for it, ran the best it could in the thick waters, and it raised a laser cannon as it fired a charge. The Machine Ghost's body ducked underneath, and the laser disappeared into the waves. The Machine Ghost's body punched out the robot's knees, and sent it staggering down before it rammed its knee into the hunched-over robot's head, knocking it back.

The opposing robot landed right in the water before it forced itself back up.

The Machine Ghost's body stormed forward as it staggered and yanked onto the opposing robot’s shoulder. The body's fingers dug into its dented metal before it ripped off the laser cannon, and tossed it into the water below! The cannon slammed into the water with a mighty splash, tossing water against the Machine Ghost's body's back. It ducked underneath the swing of the robot's other cannon, and the body leaped up as it tugged onto the second cannon.

It pulled against the cannon’s hinge, yanked it off and slammed it against the robot's head! The blow came with such force that the robot's head flew clean off, and without a head to guide it, its body fell to its knees. Its headless body barely stood above the waves until the Machine Ghost lifted it up and spun it around. With one last spin, it flung the opposing robot’s body across the horizon, never to be seen again!

"They did it!" Ninjini cheered, and thrust a fist in the air as the others cheered behind her.

Ninjini snapped her fingers. In a flash, her group found themselves within the Machine Ghost's body once more!

The lights turned back on, and showed the somewhat sad state the whole room was in—seems that the power finished re-routing. Everyone else laid sprawled across the floor around them; they were alive, but groaned and shook while their eyes spun around their head. The whole area smelled faintly of saltwater while an orange glow shone around the floor and walls. Remnants of a repair, maybe? Nonetheless, at the head stood the Machine Ghost and 'Enehana, who both grinned back at them.

"The west dam is taken care of, I presume?" Machine Ghost asked.

'Enehana smiled at the sight of Ninjini's nod, and turned back to the controls, wiping their hands the whole time.

"Then it's time to unlock that vault!" 'Enehana cried as they pushed the robot forward!