Chapter 3
The SCAMPER flew across the dark and ominous sky with vigorous speed. Numbuh 2 explained to Kyle that a lot of the Kids Next Door's technologies were given acronyms. "SCAMPER" stood for "Shabby Camper Actually Makes Perfect Emergency Rescue-mabob". Kyle thought it was a little stupid, but Numbuh 2 seemed to really like it. The operative proved to be an excellent pilot, expertly maneuvering the ship and shooting down the Tech Wings attempting to claw their way into the cockpit. Other KND operatives were manning the weapon and control systems, firing rockets and repairing the energy shields. They mostly dressed in protective suits made out of various common materials. Painted in white on their helmets was a number. Numbuh 2 also explained that every member of the Kids Next Door was assigned a codename upon joining the ranks.

A girl named Blossom had come inside the ship to help guide Numbuh 2 in the right direction. She was another member of the Powerpuff Girls. Seeing her made Kyle remember the little childhood crush he had on her, but he was over it now. Still, he blushed in embarrassment when he the memories came back. Blossom dressed in a similar manner as Buttercup but pink in color, and she had long, flowing red hair. Buttercup and the last Powerpuff Girl named Bubbles, the blonde and blue-colored one of the girls, were clearing any remaining monsters getting in the way. They all had the ability to fly and use heat vision, which the they used to destroy the flying Tech Wings. They were same creatures Kyle saw upon awakening in this post-apocalyptic world. They were much more ferocious up close. Just like the Cyberus they were made out of different Dexlab technology pieces corrupted, fused, and given minds of their own by the green slime. They looked like a mix between winged dinosaurs and dragons whose arms doubled as wings like a pterodactyl. They had somehow gained natural, sharp teeth which dripped green slime. Kyle couldn't tell if it was just their saliva or the gooey bonds slowly decomposing.

Kyle stood by the open cockpit door, held back by a short cord to prevent him from falling off. He tried his best to shoot down the monsters. He was getting better at using his weapon now that Numbuh 2 had shown him all of its capabilities. It was a slow process, but Kyle progressively shot down every Tech Wings in sight. He either pierced a wing, rendering it unable to fly, or right through its heart, causing it to explode.

"Pretty good for a newbie." Numbuh 2 remarked.

"It's...no big deal. So where are we going?"

"To the power reactors." Blossom answered. "Since Tech Square is the center for Dexlab products and machinery, it would make sense that there would be a powerful energy source nearby. But now, most of them have been destroyed. One of the remaining ones is the main reactor, but it's inside an Infected Zone."

"Infected Zone?"

"It's an area that's been hit real badly with Fusion Matter, that green goo that you've seen a lot of around here. Inside Infected Zones, Fusion Matter practically distorts the laws of gravity and maybe even science itself. Inanimate objects like destroyed remains float and move around, acting like platforms. These areas also tend to be home to the nests and dens of these monsters so they're very dangerous to wander through. Since they're a serious threat that can spread the infection very quickly, Dexter had set up many shield barriers to contain them. And one of the most dangerous threats of these Infected Zones is that most of them are the home bases of Fusions."

"Fusions?"

"They're evil, twisted versions of us made out of Fusion Matter. Fusions are usually the most powerful of these monsters and act as commanders of these armies. Some are more powerful than their real counterparts. When we have to face one, we're usually on par on them and they eventually get away. Plus, whenever we do manage to destroy them, they eventually come back, badder than ever."

"So one of these 'Fusions' kidnapped Dexter?"

"Yup. We don't know the exact details, but we can assume one of them took Dexter."

"And whose Fusion is it?"

"Buttercup's. She's difficult to take down since she has our Powerpuff powers and only those who can handle a superpowered being can take her on unless you're clever or smart enough to trick her."

"Kyle, are you sure you want to take her?" Numbuh 2 asked. "You'll still have a squad of KND agents with you, but there's no telling if you'll win."

"...Yeah, I'll go."

"If you insist..." he said nervously. "Okay, we're approaching the main reactor! Kyle, you'll have to get out when we land and use the teleporter to get inside. A Dexbot may or may not be guarding it depending if it was destroyed or caught in the crossfire. Once inside, make your way to the reactor. It's a pretty straightforward path."

"Bubbles will be going with you." Blossom added. "We want to make sure the Fusion doesn't have an advantage."

"Okay, we're landing! Hurry!"

Coming to halt in midair, the SCAMPER slowly descended vertically and landed in front of the reactor's entrance. Blossom and the KND operatives quickly exited the ship to help out Buttercup. Once the passengers had exited, Numbuh 2 closed the doors and flew away. He began circling the battlefield to get ready for the getaway trip. Kyle, Bubbles, and five armed Kids Next Door operatives stepped on the panel and were instantly teleported inside the Infected Zone. Kyle had used teleporters on occasions before, but they usually made him nauseous. He almost fell over the moment he was fully materialized, but Bubbles caught him.

"Are you okay?" Bubbles asked worriedly.

"Yeah...I'm fine." he replied trying to hold down his stomach.

The group looked ahead to see multiple Cyberus guarding the area, another pack of them.

"Ready your weapons, guys!" one of the operatives exclaimed.

The pack leader stepped forward. It was the same size as the other one Kyle had encountered. It began growling and barking as if it was trying to communicate to the group.

"We'll let you pass, she's waiting." Bubbles quoted.

"You can understand it?" Kyle asked.

"I can talk to animals, but since this thing is just technology, it's hard to understand it. He basically said that he won't hurt us and to just go ahead."

"Alright then..."

Kyle, Bubbles, and the rest slowly walked through the path to the reactor. The Cyberus watched closely and growled from the sides. The group soon stood in front of the entrance before a voice came on the intercom above the door.

"Ah, you're here." a female voice said. The voice was a reminiscent of Buttercup's, but how it sounded was altered and warped like someone being possessed. "The door's locked, but I'll gladly open it. But only for only one person. Sweet-Blonde-and-Innocent can't be one of them.

"And if we refuse?" an operative asked.

"Well, for one, you won't get your precious nerd back. And two, my little Cyberus pack will gladly rip you to shreds~"

"So who's going-"

"Oh wait, I've never seen that kid before! The boy with the jacket goes, the rest stay!"

"You can't be serious!" Bubbles exclaimed.

"Take it or leave it, sister."

"...Kyle, I guess it's up to you. Please be careful."

Kyle was hesitant, but he proceeded inside the reactor, watching the doors close behind. Almost immediately, he heard the sound something smash against the doors. It was soon followed by the sounds of gunfire and dog-like noises. Kyle started banging on the doors and tried to pull them open, but they were already locked. He tried shooting the doors, but the shots were not powerful enough to piece the reinforced metal. It just left a heated burn mark.

"What the hell!" he exclaimed, hoping the Fusion would hear him. "You never said they'd be attacked!"

"I never said the Cyberus wouldn't attack them after you came inside." the Fusion replied over the speaker. "You should have asked~."

Kyle could hear the Fusion laughing just before she hung up. It infuriated him. He tried to at least communicate with the outside by screaming as loud as he could.

"Bubbles! Guys! Are you all right!"

Kyle then suddenly heard an extremely loud scream. It didn't affect him as much as the doors lowered the frequency, but he could tell it was much louder than how he heard it. It was Bubbles' supersonic scream, one of her special abilities that Blossom and Buttercup couldn't utilize.

"We're fine!" an operative exclaimed. "Bubbles just temporarily deactivated those Cyberus with her scream! She exhausted herself, but she's okay! Just go on! We'll clean up this mess while these things are still down!"

Now alone, Kyle proceeded up the reactor. The reactor was cylinder-like in shape although curved at the center area. Two staircases starting on the east and west ends lead higher up as they converged to form the next set of stair leading to the next floor. At the center was an elevator shaft. Upon closer inspection, the control box had been destroyed and the wiring holding up the elevator car was also broken off. As Kyle approached the stairs, the intercom came on again.

"Hm, completely forgot about Sunshine's supersonic scream." the Fusion remarked. It was obvious by her tone that she was annoyed about forgetting this simple fact. "No matter, I'll just have to deal with you myself. You came for your nerd, right? Take those stairs to the main control room. You'll find it. I look forward to our meeting. Hehehe..."

There was no way back now, but Kyle had already made his decision back at the SCAMPER. He ascended the stairs to the center of the building. He soon came to a set of large, red, metal double doors. Slowly, he opened it and stepped inside, weapon in hand for whatever awaited him inside. Instead of some monstrous creature or kind of threat, Kyle was shocked to see Buttercup lying on the ground, badly injured with her clothes tattered. On instinct, Kyle hurriedly ran towards her to see if she was okay.

"Wait!" a voice exclaimed trying to stop him. It was Dexter. He was trapped in an energy-based prison cell. Electrical currents ran through the bars. One could visibly see the electricity trying to escape the metal surface, waiting for someone to touch it. Dexter was safe since he sat in the center, but it seemed the prison disabled use of weapons so he couldn't escape. "Don't go near her! That's not Buttercup!"

"What are you talking about?" Kyle asked thinking Dexter had gone insane. "This is obviously-!"

"Buttercup" clenched her fist and immediately punched Kyle with her superstrength. Kyle was sent flying towards the wall with great force. The impact was enough to leave a human-shaped dent in the wall. Kyle lied on the ground with intense pain. He was surprised he was still even alive from a blow like that. He thought he would be dead or at least unconscious by now.

"Like I said," Dexter continued, "that's not Buttercup! That's her Fusion! They have the ability to impersonate us..."

"Oh, you're no fun." the Fusion said. "You should've been a good little boy and kept your mouth shut. Guess there's no need for to look like this hideous form anymore."

The Fusion began transform. She grew slightly bigger, her clothes and hair became darker, her skin turned dark green by becoming made of Fusion Matter, and her face became twisted with red glowing eyes just like those small creatures from earlier. Kyle was lying there shocked as he gazed upon the Fusion's transformation.

"It doesn't even matter now if you do stop me now! Even if you destroy me, there's no stopping the plan! I've already set the reactor to blow and wipe out Tech Square!"