I let it happen again. This is unacceptable. You all deserve better than my sporadic updates which range from anywhere between a few days to a few years. I'm done being unpredictable. From now on, I'm updating once a week.

Enjoy this little chapter. I own nothing.


Gibson looked at the dragon currently sleeping on Sprx while he extracted himself from beneath her, "I take it she has shed normally." Gibson said.

"Yeah, she seems a little bigger too." Nova added.

"Hmm." Gibson took a closer look while Sprx got up, sliding the dragon to the ground with an indignant squeak. "You're right, Nova, she is. Hold on." He picked her up, the dragon suddenly started scrabbling to get loose. "Curious. Normally reptiles would grow only a little bit after shedding. She has grown quite a bit."

"How much is 'quite a bit'?" Sprx asked, concerned. How fast was she going to grow?

"Well, she was about 46 centimeters before, now she seems to be closer to 60 centimeters. Odd that she should grow so much with one shed cycle, but not especially surprising, I must admit, considering how large her mother was." Gibson said, placing the dragon on the ground where it then dashed over to Sprx.

"Why does this thing keep following me?" Sprx asked, annoyed, trying to avoid the dragon currently attempting to jump on him again.

"I think she has imprinted on you." Gibson said.

"Like a duck?!" Sprx said, alarmed.

"Aww, that's adorable." Otto said. "You're a mama duck!"

"Anyway," Sprx said, desperate to change the topic, "You said that you found more robot fuel in Shuggazoom City?"

"Yes, but it wasn't very much." Gibson said, "I calculate that it would only be enough for a short trip to Ranger-7 and back. Really only enough for a fueling stop."

"Then let's do that." Chiro said. "Gibson, take Sprx with you and gather more moon rocks from Ranger-7. We can convert it here. The Super Robot needs more repairs before it can go anywhere."

"How do I ditch this?" Sprx asked, dodging the dragon that was currently trying to pounce on him.

"I'll watch her!" Otto offered. He quickly scooped up the dragon. She chirped playfully and started swatting at his head. "Wow, you really are getting bigger. I can barely carry you."

"Great. Otto, you can dragonsit. Gibson and I are out of here." Sprx said, already anxious to leave. Finally, he could fly again, and there was no dragon shedding crisis to hold him back this time.


Flying in his Fist-Rocket, Sprx was already feeling better. He missed this, he hadn't flown in so long. He executed a few tricks as he and Gibson made their way towards Ranger-7.

"Sprx, remember what we are here for." Gibson said.

"Aw, come on Brainstrain." Sprx said, "Its been forever, I need to really fly."

"You're wasting fuel." Gibson warned.

"It'll be fine." Sprx said. "Look, Ranger-7 is just ahead."

All too soon Sprx found himself on the surface of Ranger-7, smashing rocks until those special crystals were revealed. The monotony of the task allowed his thoughts to wander, and he couldn't help but think of the dragon. How was she doing? He's never been so far away from her before, it was an odd feeling. "Hey Gibson," he said, "how fast do you think she'll grow?"

"The dragon?" Gibson asked. "It is difficult to say, I need more data to see if her growth pattern is linear or exponential in its pattern, perhaps even logarithmic now that I think about it. But two data points are not enough to form a conclusion."

"Sorry I asked." Sprx said.

"Why the sudden curiosity?" Gibson asked.

"Just wondering." Sprx said. "You know, we oughta call her something other than 'the dragon' all the time."

"What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know. But I'll think of something." Sprx said.

"Interesting." Gibson said.

"What is?"

"Only a mere few weeks ago, you couldn't even be bothered enough to care about the dragon at all, now you're thinking up names for her." Gibson said.

"What!" Sprx shouted. "No way! Forget it! It doesn't need a name!" Sprx's thoughts were racing. Why did he suddenly care about naming that dragon? He didn't even want it, didn't he? It just showed up in his life and he was saddled with the responsibility of watching over it, that was it! He wasn't forming any sort of bond with it or anything, he was just watching out for it. Over it! He meant over it.

And yet...

He didn't have to stay with the dragon last night when it was suffering. He didn't have to stay by it's side and make sure that everything was all right for the little thing. He wanted to. He wanted to make sure that the little dragon had someone by her side as she escaped her own skin. He wanted to be there for her.

Disturbed by that thought, he poured all of his energy into digging up more stones.


Sprx and Gibson were flying back through Shuggazoom's atmosphere. Sprx taking great joy in riding the eddies that formed, he could do this all day. The two of them had collected plenty of rocks and were now returning to the Super Robot. It had taken forever with just the two of them, but Sprx appreciated the break from the dragon, all the same.

As they approached the clear landing spot, they were suddenly accosted by a fierce crosswind. It rattled their Fist-Rockets and jostled their controls. An alarm sounded in the cockpit.

"Whoa!" Sprx said, pulling up on his controls, "Wind shear. We have to go around."

"Already on it." Gibson said.

The two of them freed their Fist-Rockets from the wind and looped around waiting for the wind to die. It didn't take too long, and they were able to land safely in just a few minutes.

"I hate wind shear." Sprx said. "It's always troublesome no matter where it happens."

The two of them entered the Super Robot, carrying their gains from Ranger 7 with them. "We're back!" Sprx announced. A white blur suddenly leaped on him, knocking him to the ground and scattering the rocks everywhere. "What the-" Sprx said. The dragon was currently on top of him and licking him.

"Get off of me!" Sprx said, shoving the dragon off as he got to his feet.

"Hi." Otto said, scurrying after the dragon, "I think she missed you."

"You don't say?" Sprx said, trying to keep the dragon from jumping on him again. "Otto, can you help Gibson with the stones, I've gotta take care of this."

"Sure thing, Sprx!" Otto said, already rushing to gather up the rocks.

"Let's get you somewhere safe before you break anything." Sprx said as he carried the dragon to his tube and up to his room. The dragon licked him a few more times before finally settling down and eating her dinner. "You are so needy." Sprx said. "I can't even leave for a few hours without you attacking me, you're so troublesome."

The dragon snorted smoke, as if laughing at what Sprx said. She finished eating quickly and let out a loud burp, a thin stream of green flame slipping past her teeth as she did so.

"Still better than the sneeze explosions." Sprx chuckled. "I've been thinking, it's so annoying having to call you 'dragon' all the time. I think you need a name. Hold on, let me think about it."

She sneezed, causing a small explosion.

Sprx coughed up some ash before pointing an accusing finger at the dragon currently acting all innocent. "Windshear! That's your name! Because you're so troublesome!"


Mandarin hurried into the Skeleton King's throne room. "My Lord, Project Ardent is underway and ahead of schedule. I do not know how or why, but its progress has accelerated. I push our timetable up by a month."

"Very good, Mandarin." The Skeleton King said. "Keep me updated on its progress. For now though, return to your chambers."

"As you wish, Master." Mandarin said before slinking away.

The Skeleton King watched Mandarin leave before laughing. More good news. He had devised of Project Ardent after the grim realization that he needed more manpower, manpower that could think for itself. Perhaps he had been a bit hasty in killing Valina. But what's done is done. Skeleton King had thought long and hard about it before deciding on creating another robot monkey, but this one as Mandarin's subordinate. Oh, it would still have to be loyal to Skeleton King, without a doubt.

But this time, he wouldn't repeat his past mistakes. He would remove all of its emotions, leaving it loyal only to his cause. And if it was a failure, he could just replace Project Ardent, it was a win-win. And if all else failed, then he could rely on the back-up plan that fate had given him.

Nothing would make him happy quite like destroying all that he did back when he was a weak, pathetic human. And if he couldn't destroy it, then he could twist and defile it beyond all recognition. Project Ardent would be his key to destroying the Hyper Force and undoing his greatest mistake. Once they were gone, Mandarin and Project Ardent would have no more use in his plans, and he could finally be rid of them.

He laughed once more. Once he was rid of those bothersome primates, there would be no one left to stop him from finally accomplishing his goal and destroying every last living thing in the cosmos.


Oh, Sprx, didn't your hear that age old adage: "Once you name it, you start to get attached to it"?

Keep drinking that denial soup buddy.

I will update next Wednesday, I'll see you all there. Have a wonderful day, and I hope everyone reading this is healthy and safe.