The Harpy Queen let out a soft, melodic sigh, a sound like the rustling of a thousand silk feathers in a gentle breeze. She looked at Bombom, her magnificent golden eyes holding not malice, but a profound, ancient weariness. "Oh, you humans," she began, her voice a low, musical murmur. "You live such short, frantic lives, you never stop to look up. To see the walls of your own cage."

Bombom stared, completely bewildered. "Cage? What are you talking about?"

"She means the invisible wall," the half-human harpy translator chirped from beside her queen. "It surrounds the entire planet. It's been there forever, since I was a child, and probably long before that. It keeps us all trapped here. Most beings can't get past it. We've seen some strange ones, like that man with the weird hair, just appear out of nowhere, but no one can simply fly out."

The queen nodded sadly. "After your government discovered the barrier, they started sending their rockets, trying to break it. But all they do is explode against the wall, and the shockwaves… they are damaging our city." She gestured with a graceful, clawed hand to a crack that snaked across one of the golden, cloud-like buildings in the distance.

The revelation hit Kenjiro with the force of a physical blow. A planetary prison. It explained so much—the strange isolation of this world, the almost comical concentration of bizarre and powerful beings. They were all trapped here together. He spun around, his red eyes blazing with a new, furious suspicion, and fixed his gaze on the sleek, chrome-plated android standing silently at the edge of the group.

"Care to explain that, Mr. 'I'm the personal toy of the government'?" Bombom demanded, his voice a low, dangerous growl.

TGP's single optical sensor whirred, focusing on him. "Processing query," the robot stated, its voice a perfect, professional monotone. "I cannot explain further than to reiterate my core directive: everything we do is for the sake of humanity. Official government records indicate there is no invisible wall or containment dome that keeps us locked here. Any claims to the contrary are classified as unsubstantiated myth."

"It clearly exists," Nomu cut in, stepping forward with his arms crossed over his chest. "When I arrived here, I couldn't enter. The barrier blocked me. I had to teleport through it."

TGP's head swiveled to face the Super Jean. "Your statement is logged as anecdotal and unverifiable. Furthermore, you are making this claim while being broadcast on two separate, unsanctioned livestreams. Spreading misinformation on the internet is a Tier-3 violation of inter-realm communication protocols. You cannot lie while on live."

Nomu looked from Bombom's active hover-drone to Case, who had his phone pointed directly at his face, and let out a long, frustrated sigh. He knew he couldn't push it. Interfering too much with the politics of this strange, backward world was a breach of his own protocols.

"Another rocket will be launched in approximately one hour," TGP announced, its voice returning to its default informational tone. "The launch originates from a government facility near HozyHoo. It is an unauthorized launch, orchestrated by a rogue military personnel. We must intercept and ascertain the objective of this unsanctioned action."

Bombom scoffed. "We can't," he said, turning away. "We're here just to gather information, not to start a fight with your government's secret army."

Suddenly, TGP's pleasant monotone was replaced by a series of loud, official-sounding beeps. The monitor on its face, which had been displaying a calm, blue light, now showed the face of a stern-looking man with graying hair and a sharp, well-tailored suit. It was the President.

"Top-secret mission for you, Mr. Bombom," the President's voice was crisp and commanding, crackling with a digital urgency. "Can't explain further. Something is happening at one of our facilities near HozyHoo. Unauthorized access to a rocket has been confirmed. Your objective is to stop the launch and secure the facility. Do not go sharing information when you're there. Stop the live broadcast now. You may resume recording once you are inside, but blur any sensitive documents. President Zamp, out."

The call ended as abruptly as it had begun, leaving the party in a stunned, awkward silence. Bombom just sighed, a sound of pure, unadulterated resignation. "Alright," he grumbled. "We're going there to find out what's happening."

"Do not forget the stipulations regarding the streaming broadcast," TGP added helpfully.

Case, who had been listening with a rapt, almost reverent attention, suddenly burst out laughing. "I hope there will be no oiled up aliens with their giant backsides while dancing this time, chat!"

Everyone turned to stare at him, their faces a mixture of confusion and profound disgust. Case just held up his hands, a placating, goofy grin on his face. "I'm joking, guys! I'm joking! I'm just saying what the people want!" He turned his phone back to his own face. "Thanks for the 25 gifted subs, MrIloveBombom! Can I record Bombom? Of course I can, he's my buddy! Look!" He swiveled the camera to get a close-up of Bombom's annoyed, blushing face before turning it back to himself. "See? We are insta-buddies."

A donation with a synthesized voice blared from his phone's speaker. "Bombom's team is on Case's belly: The Mountain."

Case's mouth dropped open. "Alright," he said, his cheerful demeanor vanishing for a split second. "Ban him. Permanently."

After everyone had recovered from the sudden, jarring news of their new, top-secret mission, Nomu clapped his hands together. "If we're in a hurry," he announced with a confident smirk, "I'll teleport us there. And you guys won't need to stop streaming. Just for the travel, of course."

And with a final, disorienting ZUUUUUHP, the world dissolved. They reappeared in a flash of displaced air, standing directly in front of a massive, windowless concrete building surrounded by a high, electrified fence. The military base. DragonSlayer let out a whoop of pure, unadulterated joy. "Yes! No more walking!"

Bombom shot him a venomous glare, a flicker of genuine disappointment in his eyes that he had been denied the opportunity to watch the arrogant warrior suffer through another long, arduous climb.

"That will work," TGP stated. It glided to the main gate's control panel, a series of complex holographic interfaces appearing around its hand as it effortlessly bypassed the facility's security. The massive gate slid open with a low, hydraulic hiss. "Let's go. And no monkeying around, just like you humans like to do."

"YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," Case whispered into his phone, his eyes wide with hype.

"We are not monkeys," Bombom grumbled, "but Nomu is. He even has a monkey tail."

Nomu's heroic composure faltered. "Ah, come on," he whined. "This is bullying."

DragonSlayer just laughed. "Don't go monkeying around in there, then."

"W-whaaat?" Nomu stammered, his face flushing. "Just because I have a tail doesn't mean I'm a—"

He was cut off by TGP's arm shooting out, a single, chrome-plated finger held to its metallic lips. "Shhhh," the robot whispered. "There are people around. I'm hacking the cameras."

The monitor on its face flickered, displaying a live feed from inside the base. It showed a group of heavily armed men in black tactical gear gathered around a missile control console. They were speaking in low, urgent tones, their faces masks of grim, fanatical resolve. "...the final coordinates are locked," one of them was saying. "The glorious nation of the Star will finally be free from the tyranny of its oppressors."

"We must stop them before it's too late," TGP stated, its voice a low, urgent whisper.

Kenjiro's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. "Say no more," he growled, a dangerous, predatory glint in his red eyes. He looked at his team of misfits, a clear, concise, and utterly insane plan already forming in his mind. "Nomu, you teleport and grab their guns. DragonSlayer, you flank them, take out any stragglers. Case," he said, looking at the massive streamer, "you're a walking, talking, and probably very absorbent wall. You tank everything. And if someone tries to run, you eat them."

Case just gave a solemn, determined nod.

"Me and TGP," Bombom finished, a wicked smirk on his face, "will make sure everything goes as planned."

The plan was set. The stakes were impossibly high. And the world, once again, was watching.

Nomu took a deep breath, a crackle of raw, untamed energy gathering around him. And with a final, silent nod to Bombom, he vanished. A split second later, a series of loud, confused shouts echoed from deep within the base. "W-WHAT HAPPENED?! WHERE ARE OUR GUNS?!" The Misfit Vanguard had made their move.

"W-WHAT HAPPENED?! GET ALERT GUYS" one of them screamed, his voice cracking with a terror that was as satisfying as it was hilarious.

That was their cue.

"Go," Bombom said, his voice a low, cold command that cut through the chaos.

The Misfit Vanguard moved. DragonSlayer was a blur of speed, a silent, deadly shadow that slipped through a side ventilation shaft. He dropped into the main control room from the ceiling, landing with a soft, predatory grace directly behind the largest cluster of disarmed terrorists. He didn't draw his sword. Instead, with a series of precise, lightning-fast strikes using the flat of his gauntlets, he began knocking them out, one by one. A quick chop to the back of the neck here, a perfectly placed temple tap there. It was a display of controlled, non-lethal efficiency that was completely at odds with his usual, explosive rage. He was showing off. And Bombom, watching from the main entrance with TGP, had to admit, it was impressive.

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