Cyberchase: When Worlds Collide [On Hold]

When Villains Attack! - Part 1

Hacker grinned. "And if all goes according to plan… this festival will be their last."

....

In the depths of Control Central's storage room, Dr. Marbles and Digit labored away, dusting and organizing the neglected shelves that seemed to stretch on forever.

The air was thick with dust, and each breath felt heavier than the last. The dim lighting flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows over the cluttered space.

Old gadgets, half-finished inventions, and forgotten contraptions piled high, some sparking faintly or emitting odd beeps—a testament to their long abandonment.

Dr. Marbles wiped a streak of dust from his brow, looking like a frazzled librarian caught in a dust storm, while Digit sneezed repeatedly, his circuits misfiring from the oppressive air.

"Ugh, this place is a mess!" Digit complained, coughing as he wiped his face. "I'm heading upstairs to make us a snack—looks like we'll need it to survive this cleanup!"

"Very well then," Dr. Marbles muttered, still focused on his dusting, his eyes scanning the clutter. He barely looked up, absorbed in the task at hand.

As he worked, a feeling gnawed at him. Something about this room... something on these shelves felt different. He couldn’t pinpoint it, but the sensation kept pulling at his mind, distracting him.

His hands trembled slightly as he reached for another forgotten gadget, but it wasn’t the machines that had his attention—it was the nagging sensation that something important was here, hidden in the mess.

He accidentally knocked into a nearby shelf. The resulting crash sent a cascade of forgotten objects tumbling to the floor. "Oh! How clumsy of me!" he exclaimed, quickly adjusting his glasses, which had slipped off during the chaos.

Sighing heavily, Dr. Marbles bent down to collect the scattered items, muttering to himself as he sorted through the debris."No time for mishaps now. Let's restore order to these run-away belongings, shall we?"

Amidst the mess, something unusual caught his eye. A weathered book with a tattered leather cover lay half-hidden under a pile of broken gadgets.

Curiosity got the best of him, and he reached for it, noticing a strange gap in the cover, shaped with four distinct points.

He bent down, searching the pile of fallen objects. After a few moments of rummaging, his hand brushed against something cold and metallic.

It was a golden amulet, intricately adorned with mystic symbols. The amulet's four points were perfectly shaped to match the gap in the book, each point housing a miniature crystal glowing softly with different colors.

Dr. Marbles’ heart raced. This was no ordinary find.

With trembling hands, he carefully placed the amulet into the book’s gap. It slid perfectly into place, as if the book had been waiting for this very moment. A surge of energy seemed to pulse through the room as the amulet locked in.

Dr. Marbles’ eyes widened in awe. He cautiously opened the book, flipping through its fragile pages. "This... this can't be..." His voice filled with awe and shook. "And yet... it’s here—right in my graps."

The book was filled with strange writings, ancient knowledge, and cryptic illustrations, but one thing was certain—it held power. Dangerous power.

At that exact moment, Digit returned, balancing a tray of sandwiches and snacks. His eyes caught sight of Dr. Marbles holding the book, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, Doc! What do you have there?" Digit asked, but before he could continue, Dr. Marbles raised a finger to silence him.

"We need to inform Motherboard and the Cybersquad immediately," Dr. Marbles said urgently, his voice filled with panic. "We can’t let anyone—especially Hacker find out about this book. It’s not just a threat to Cyberspace—but to the entire universe!"

Digit’s eyes buzzed in alarm. "W-what’s in the book that’s so dangerous?" He stammered worriedly.

Dr. Marbles gave a quick, serious glance at the book before nodding decisively. “I’ll explain when they get here. Hurry, Digit! We have no time to lose!”

Digit hesitated, but the seriousness in Dr. Marbles' tone left him no room to argue. The two rushed up the stairs, urgency in their every step.

....

"Wow, this place is incredible!" Matt exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he took in the sprawling exhibits and vibrant displays.

"I know, right?" Jackie agreed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "They've really outdone themselves with this."

Inez smiled warmly, her compassion shining through as she glanced around. "I'm so glad we’re here. This place is doing such important work to help animals and their habitats. Those poor creatures really need our support."

They continued to take in the surroundings, the air alive with the sounds of excited chatter and the scent of fresh food from nearby stalls.

Suddenly, Matt’s backpack rang, cutting through the moment. He quickly pulled out his Squawk Pad and answered the call.

"Digit? What's going on? Have you found out what Hacker is up to?" Matt asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and urgency.

"Not yet, but Dr. Marbles needs you back in Cyberspace. It’s urgent!" Digit's voice crackled through the device, a note of worry in his tone.

"Urgent?" Inez leaned closer, her brow furrowing. "What’s going on?"

Before Digit could respond, a loud announcement blared through the park's speakers. Koki's voice rang out, cheerful but commanding, calling everyone to gather at the stage for the Kratt brothers' speech.

"Oops, sorry, Digit, we have to go," Matt said, quickly ending the call and slipping the Squawk Pad back into his backpack. "We'll catch up later. Come on, let’s get to the stage before all the good spots are taken!" He gestured ahead, eager to make sure they didn’t miss anything.

Inez glanced at him, her curiosity piqued. "But what did Digit want? What was so important?"

Jackie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "He said Dr. Marbles had something important to tell us. We can head to Cyberspace after the Kratt brothers’ speech."

"But shouldn't we go there right now?" Inez asked.

"I'm sure it's fine." Matt said. "Now come on, before we lose the good spots!" He led the way, his excitement palpable as they joined the throng of people heading toward the stage.

....

"Hurry, sir, the Kratt brothers are about to start their speech," Leslie urged, her eyes flicking nervously toward the stage, where the crowd was gathering in anticipation.

"Patience, Leslie," Mr. Big replied coolly, his tone smooth but laced with an air of confidence. "Everything is carefully orchestrated. I'm just waiting for the signal." He chuckled darkly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of his chair. "Soon, victory will be ours."

Leslie’s gaze lingered on Mr. Big, her brow furrowing slightly. "And by 'ours,' you mean everyone who's part of the plan, right?" she asked, her voice edged with skepticism.

Mr. Big’s eyes narrowed, a sly smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "Of course. Everyone who’s necessary. No need to worry, Leslie." His voice was chillingly calm, betraying none of the tension that simmered below.

Leslie swallowed hard but nodded, still unsure. "Right. Just making sure we're all on the same page."