Chapter 1

Silver opened her eyes and felt cool metal under her pillow. Where am I…

"Battle Force 5, we have a situation." A sentient voice echoed in the hall outside. Silver jumped and drew the dagger from its sheath. It took a moment of blinking in the dark till her memory came back slowly and she relaxed her grip. Oh, yeah… I'm with Vert and the team… she breathed. Sheathing the dagger, she sat back on the bed and stored it under her pillow. The sentient voice repeated itself and the guardian heard shuffling steps drift down the hallway. Sage… Silver shook her head and frowned. I hate you, for all that you are and have done… but why can't I help but feel sorry… She took her sword resting against the bedside table, as well as a pouch of water and strapped both to her side before slipping on her boots. Curiosity drew her out into the hall and to the hub elevator space where she found five very sleepy team members in their battle suits in the garage below. One in particular was missing.

"We are in a state of emergency," Sage was saying. "I have equipped your vehicles with sentient submersible technology." The elevator was already at the bottom and Silver didn't know how to bring it back up. Yawning, it's so early… she drew a stream of water from her pouch and formed a small elevator floor of her own.

"Submersible?" Zoom asked in a groggy voice, hair a disaster. "As in… blub blub?" The team turned as Silver descended. She drew the water back into her pouch and capped it. "Morning," Zoom brushed his disheveled hair back and greeted her with a small wave.

"This helmet will allow you to function under the vandal ocean," Sage handed Zoom the equipment. "without blubbing." Silver couldn't help but chuckle a little and Zoom grinned sheepishly. Standing off to the side with the Cortez brothers, she nodded an acknowledgement to Sage. The blue sentient nodded in return before turning back to her computer.

"Wait, am I still in my nightmare?" Agura frowned. "Did you just say, 'vandal ocean'?"

"Don't. tell. Stanford." Sherman whispered to the guardian. She wondered why. But then again, no one liked that planet anyway.

"I picked up a distress signal from a mobi that crashed there." Sage pulled up the data on her triangular computer. "It carries an invaluable cargo: data logs."

"Like the one that Zeke found?" Spinner asked.

"Except there's not just one," the big guy explained.

"Who's Zeke?" Silver looked at the brothers, confused.

"He runs the diner where we get our za," Spinner perked up instantly as he started daydreaming about food. "He also has chocolate milkshakes and burgers and fries…" the girl thought he would start to drool.

"What's a diner?" Silver looked more confused. "And what are milkshakes, burgers, and… fries? I assume they're food?" Sherman had to manually close his brother's gaping jaw. "What? I may look like you, but I'm not from here… we didn't have those on my homeworld…" she looked around at the amused faces.

"Don't mind Spin," Sherman chuckled. "we can take you later."

"So," Vert turned back to Sage. "what about these data logs?"

"These contain data that can help restore blue sentient civilization."

Silver looked at the sentient, understanding the importance of this mission. Part of the guardian wanted to do all she could to keep Sage from getting those data logs. But in her heart, she also knew the hope that the sentient must have for her homeworld. Silver would have killed for Favian information like that.

"Well then," the leader nodded. "let's start the treasure hunt."

"What is the meaning of this rude interruption?" Stanford walked up, mohawk flattened, and stuffed animal under his arm. Here was the missing member of the team, fresh out of bed. Silver wondered how he got down from the 2nd level without making a sound.

"Dude," Zoom pointed and laughed. "what's with the teddy bear?" Everyone looked at the plain brown fluffy bear. It was the kind you give to a five-year-old. Silver raised an eyebrow.

"Sir Flufflot?" the brit gestured to his toy. "he's a family heirloom, and he helps me sleep." Both of Silver's eyebrows elevated when he proceeded to baby-talk to the stuffed animal. She looked at the Cortez brothers, and then at Agura who rolled her eyes and shrugged. Stanford then noticed Silver's presence and stopped, then cleared his throat before straightening up.

"Right, uh," he said awkwardly. "good morning."

"Good morning." Silver replied with an amused expression.

"Where were we?" Vert turned back to Sage a second time.

"The mission." She said, handing him a battle key.

"Uh," Stanford pointed to the key. "where are we going?"

"Uh… um…" the leader fumbled for an answer. "the… ah… the beach!"

"The beach?" Stanford's energy popped up. "I love the beach!" The team breathed a sigh of relief as he walked to Reverb to get ready to go. Everyone else dispersed in quick preparation to leave but the leader held a quick quiet conversation with Sage before approaching the guardian.

"Silver," Vert combed back his hair as he spoke, slight hesitance in his voice. "I know that you and Sage aren't exactly on good terms," A dark look entered Silver's eyes, causing Vert to hesitate even more. "…but we could really use your help. You beat our butts back at Tors-ten's and helped us get out, your magic is perfect for this mission..."

"I wanted out more than you did, of course, I helped you then." She said in a low tone.

Sage floated up from behind the leader and landed, hands at her chest, looking nervously at the favian.

"I do not expect your help. I know I am the last possible being you would ever want to lend your abilities in assistance..." she spoke sadly and bowed her head. "but because of my people's doing, I know you also understand. I have hope that you were brought here for a reason…"

Silver's face held a stern expression, contemplating the pros and cons. She paused and spoke slowly. "Is it possible there's information in the logs that could help defeat Krytus?" Sage looked up and nodded.

"Yes. It is possible."

Silver then rested her hands on her hips. "You trust that when I get there, I won't sabotage the mission?"

"If you wanted to destroy my civilization you would have killed me when you arrived," Sage replied gently. "I believe the guardian of Faven has a good heart in her." Silver looked at the vehicles circled in the hub. Even with the updates, she knew they wouldn't fare well underwater, but why should she help the race that destroyed her people? Why should she care about Sage's civilization? Silver pulled on the small chain hanging from around her neck and a round pendant slipped out from her shirt. She stared into its dark surface, feeling the smooth edges. What should I do, mother? she thought…

"Silver," Vert prompted gently. "I know we're asking a lo-"

"I'll do it." The guardian declared. Sage's face looked astonished and grateful, and the blonde smiled and firmly nodded.

"Yes!" Zoom pumped the air with his fist, then let out a nervous laugh when he realized Agura, Sherman, Spinner, and Sage had all turned to look at him. Vert grinned with a knowing look in his eye. The scout popped on his helmet and faced his bike, hiding his expression. His leader didn't need to see his face to know that his cheeks were turning red.

"Do what?" Agura looked over at the Silver, confused.

"Silver, you'll ride with Stanford." He said while striding up to Saber and releasing the battle key to its magnet. Agura, concerned, watched Silver unbuckle her sword and leave her pouch with Sage.

"Vert!" Agura yelled, waving her hands. "she just got sliced up by Krytus yesterday! She's not fully healed yet!"

"Relax," Vert chided. "she'll be safe inside Reverb, and we need her, seeing as this mission is entirely underwater. Silver would be a great advantage in case we run into any…" he glanced at Stanford hauling a foldable purple plastic chair into the car. "…vandal trouble." Agura groaned but hopped into Tangler's driver's seat without saying anything else.

"Are you sure I'll fit?" Silver asked the leader, poking a thumb in the Reverb's direction as Stanford proceeded to stuff in a beach umbrella. Vert rolled his eyes.

"Stanford!" he yelled over. "make room for Silver, she's coming along."

"What?" the brit paused and looked at the girl standing with a sheathed sword and a hand on her hip. "Oh. Last time we did this it didn't end well." He frowned. "I couldn't get the bloodstains out and had to replace Reverb's leather."

"Don't worry," Silver pulled herself in and squeezed next to the beach chair and umbrella. "I'm pretty sure I'll be getting out when we arrive." The brit huffed his disapproval.

"Well alright then." He said, irritated. "Buckle up, guardian, and keep that sword away."

"I could give her the ride." Zoom offered to Vert. His leader smiled and shook his head.

"Sorry Zoom," he said. "I need you free to do your thing and we don't have time to make another suit and helmet for her." Zoom looked slightly disappointed through his visor and Vert chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get another chance."

"What?" the scout smiled. "I'm fine." Uh-huh, Vert's expression responded.

"Alright team," he shouted. "move out!"