Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?
Back in Action: Alien Universe
Season	Shorts
Episode	6
Production Code	WDCCR
Air date	November 1, 2021
Written by	Color
Episode Guide
Previous	Unity Broker
Next	Azmuth's Plumbing (Shorts) Maximum Slumber (chronologically, episode)

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? is the sixth Short in Back in Action: Alien Universe.

Story

Wikitext Issues
Hey, thanks for reading! Copy-pasting directly from Word leads to weird formatting errors in the editor, so I use a custom script to convert Word's styling to Wikitext! Sometimes this doesn't come out perfectly and Visual Editor bugs cause lines to disappear, so if you see text that seems out of place, or is unformatted or not formatted properly, please give me a heads-up! <3 Enjoy

[Somewhere in Bellwood, Darkstar attempts to wrangle a 10-foot-tall chicken with red, robotic eyes. Darkstar speaks on comms.]

Dawn (on comms) Darkstar, what happened to the dome? Darkstar (struggling) Uh, it went down. Dawn And why didn’t you let me know? Darkstar Umm… kinda dealing with something right now actually. Dawn Dealing with what?

On the ground around him are all four members of the Omega Squad.

[About an hour earlier, at Bellwood’s Plumber Headquarters: Max briefs the Omega Squad, while a display behind them shows a still of an ongoing airborne battle between the All-Powerful Eunice(?) and Gwen Tennyson.

Reginald Poe, leader of this squad, speaks up.]

Reginald Poe We’re here for whatever you need, Magister Tennyson. Max Good, because we don’t want a repeat of last time. What we have going on behind us needs to be contained to just Bellwood. The Mayor’s breathing down my neck, and the state’s breathing down hers, and so on. They have every reason to shut us down, and believe it or not, the Mayor’s the only thing stopping that from happening. I need you guys to continue to show that the Plumbers – not just Ben, Gwen, and Kevin acting of their own accord – can get the job done. Graca (briefly revealing her second set of arms) Show us who and where to punch, Magister. Max After the Vance Vetteroy situation, you’re on timeout. Armando What’d I do? Mars Not you, idiot. Armando Hey… Graca Don’t be mean to Mando. Max Case in point. And it’s all of you, not anyone in particular. Reginald Poe Wait, what did I do?

Mars and Graca glare at him.

Max You’re all just on evac. We’re working on establishing an energy barrier around the area- Armando Like when Vilgax invaded. Max Precisely. Once it’s up, there is going to be only one exit point southwest of this battle. One of you stays outside manning that point so we don’t have any unlawful entry, and the other three of you are tasked with getting civilians out from inside. Do not engage with the battle. Mars This is kind of not what I signed up for. Max Then the Plumbers can show you the door. It comes with a fine for abandoning your post. Mars …On second thought, I guess my ink guys can help. Max Good. Reggie, I’m putting a lot of faith into you. Reginald “Reggie” Poe You’re not going to be around. Max Duty calls.

He draws a Null Void projector from a holster, firing it and putting a foot into the opening portal.

Max Counting on you guys.

He barrels in, the portal closing behind him.

Reggie Our easiest mission yet. Mars How’s this gonna go wrong?

[Near Kevin’s garage: From afar, we witness the mind meld connect Chelsey and Charmcaster. As it occurs, Eunice? arrives via rift and Ben is forcefully transformed into the Anodite transformation Anos.

As the ensuing battle wages, the energy dome is erected around the space in an area hundreds of square meters wide.

The Omega Squad arrives on the singular exit point and hand off responsibilities from Molly Gunther, who installed the dome. After she departs, Reggie turns around and speaks to his squad.]

Reggie So, who’s going to man the door?

The three others look awkwardly at each other and shrug.

Reggie It’s not hard. Just someone raise their hand.

He throws his own hand up.

Reggie Just like this. Anyone? Mars (devilishly) Oh, look, guys, he’s raising his hand! Such a good leader.

In single file, the three pass by him and enter the dome.

Armando (in earnest) Thanks, Reggie.

Reggie sits there, twitching an eye after they go. He then stands, vigilantly monitoring the space around him.

[Dawn’s headquarters, just beyond Bellwood. Dawn and Darkstar observe a display of the battle inside the dome.]

Darkstar What's this?

He points out another display that shows a burst of energy just outside the dome.

Dawn Animo do you recognize this?

The doctor steps up and looks.

Dr. Animo I can't say I do. It's alien. Not too different from the signature of yours and Tennyson's transformations. But different.

Dawn becomes Streak.

Dawn Streak Azmuth. At last.

[On the opposite end of the dome from where Reginald stands guard, Azmuth arrives with Altrazon and Zennith. Dawn’s Streak arrives through a portal, just in time to watch the group cut into the dome using a special key of Azmuth's design. Dawn, reverting to human, walks up after this and bashes the side of their fist against the dome.]

Memories replay in Dawn’s head of catching live footage of the moment two years prior when Vilgax came to Earth. A similar dome was erected, and at its core, some form of beacon. In the present, something in Dawn clicks.]

[Later, Darkstar arrives through a rift to their headquarters. Behind him are two of their drones, as usual disguised as Dawn.]

Darkstar (a hand on each of the bots’ chests) Do we really need both of them? Chronospect Streak I can skip a lot of steps in my plan if I make it to Azmuth right now. Darkstar Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, are you just going to walk in there and ask him to help you? Chronospect Streak It’s my best bet. The only other person who could help me is dead. Darkstar (replacing his hands at his sides; hesitantly) Alright. I'm with you. What's the plan?

Dawn's Streak points to Reggie, clearly failing at being vigilant.

Chronospect Streak Distract. However you can. Darkstar Wait, why can't you just teleport in? Chronospect Streak Do you remember when Vilgax came to Earth to conquer 2 years ago? Darkstar (confused) Vaguely. I was fighting to survive back then. Chronospect Streak Well, when he came, they put up a dome like this. Signals had a hard time getting through. And I can’t even cut a rift into it. It’s impenetrable. And based on Azmuth just waltzing through, it’s his design.

Darkstar groans.

Darkstar I really don’t like this Azmuth guy. Chronospect Streak Join the club.

Streak becomes Seismix.

Darkstar But what are you going to do then? We can’t get in. Dawn Seismix As far as I can tell, there is one weakness to these domes – it is deployed via a pad in the center. It does not create its own gravity, nor does it suspend structures. So, if I can collapse the ground under the dome, that pad might stop working when it’s shaken out of place. Darkstar And if it doesn’t? Seems like we’re going out on a big hunch here.

Dawn’s Seismix begins to shake the ground beneath them.

Dawn Seismix Then we fail and go back home.

Their Omnitrix ticks, adding an orange arc into a series of concentric circles on their badge.

Dawn Seismix I’m running out of time. Darkstar Just ask Tennyson to disable it. Dawn Seismix Non-negotiable.

The ground finally breaks up. Under Seismix’s feet, a hole begins to form. Gradually, they let themselves in.

Darkstar turns around to the bots.

Darkstar You two ready?

He pulls open a panel on one of their chests and taps a few buttons. After closing the panel, the bot transforms into a small old lady.

Darkstar I’ve seen this woman around town. Do me a favor, won’t you?

The old lady – specifically, in the form of Moira Yourouguaduan – begins sprinting full speed around the dome until they’re at a street ahead of the entrance where Reginald Poe is perched. The Moira bot feigns dropping a cane, and with it, collapses to her knees as well. Reggie spots it. He looks around to ensure no one is coming near the door then rushes over. After glancing back to the dome’s entryway, he grabs the cane and tries to help the elderly woman up. So as to make things as difficult as possible, she grounds herself, laying down firmly.

Reggie Ma’am, I need you to help me here so I can help you. Moira Bot Oh, woe is me. Hath my end of days come.

Reggie looks at her, imagining this to be a joke.

Darkstar (over comms, to the bot) Cut the nonsense, please, P.

At that moment, Reggie hears banging by the dome. Looking back to the interior of the dome’s entryway, Mars has a group of bystanders she is trying to evacuate.

Reggie (to the Moira bot) Okay, ma’am, I just need you to stay right there for me. I’ll be right back. Darkstar (over comms) Keep acting distraught. Play into it.

Mars continues to bang on the dome door as Reggie gets up to head her way.

Moira Bot Oh, how will I get up? Please don’t leave me, child.

Reggie bows his head. A car passes by and stops. The driver gets out and also attempts to help Moira up.

Driver Oh, gosh, ma’am, are you okay? Moira Bot (shakily pointing at Reginald) I have fallen and cannot get up. And this poor child won’t help me. Driver (scornfully staring at Reggie) What is wrong with you, dude?

Reggie turns around.

Reggie Look, I have a very important job to- Driver Oh, my gosh, you’re a Plumber aren’t you! I recognize you from the news; you’re that squid kid, come to lay eggs in our minds! Please, come, ma’am, it isn’t safe here. Reggie We don’t lay eggs- look, sir, please. I’ll help.

Mars’s incessant banging continues.

Driver Stay back. Reggie Fine.

He turns around and races for the door.

Driver Of course, you’d just abandon her!

Reggie rolls his eyes as he unlocks the door to let Mars out. With her crowd also comes Graca and another small group. Everyone from inside disperses wildly. Everyone feels a tremor that can only be attributed to Dawn’s Seismix, but instead they conclude it must be from the destructive battle inside.

Reggie (holding his Plumber badge) Omega Squad, requesting two evac vehicles outside Ground Zero. Plumber (over comms) Roger that, Armando. Reggie This is Reginald, the team leader. Plumber Oh, I thought Armando was the leader, my mistake. We are on our way, though, sir.

Reggie sighs as the communication ends.

Darkstar (over comms) Keep playing it up, P.

The Moira bot grins.

Moira Bot Oh, it’s all these Plumbers these days. They aren’t helpful like people used to be.

Reggie returns to her aid, the groups of people around either idly staying by for next steps or running for their lives.

Reggie Ma’am, I assure you, I’m here for you.

[By Darkstar, he spots inside the dome the battle going on from all forces against Eunice and the warped Anos Ben.

He also sees Armando being dragged out by Mars and Graca.]

Darkstar Oh, this is going to be too easy. R.

The other bot in front of him salutes.

Darkstar You’re up. R On it.

[By Reggie, a number of Plumber vehicles arrive, quickly taking in all the remaining bystanders out of the area. The Moira bot is effusive about staying, so the other Plumbers leave.

With Mars’s kicking at the door, Reggie goes to quickly let out his three squad mates.]

Reggie What happened?

While the group looks to each other, R arrives aside P’s Moira. R transforms into, surprisingly, a chicken.

Graca He got hit in all the madness in there. Reggie I’ll tend to him while- Mars (already bored with and distracted from the conversation) Is that a chicken?

The three others flip around to see a small chicken standing at the intersection corner where the Moira bot is.

Reggie Where did he-? Darkstar (over comms to P and R) We’ve got all four. Let’s have some fun.

P as Moira jumps onto her feet into a fighting stance, and R’s diminutive chicken expands to two stories in size.

Reggie We have to keep him safe. Graca Well, sorry, boss, that’s on you. Reggie Why me? Mars You’re the only one with pretty useless powers. Reggie I can fight, though.

Mars points to several ink men standing behind her, as Graca pounds her two sets of fists together.

Mars So can we. Graca (letting one hand off of Armando to tap Reggie’s shoulder) We got this, boss.

Reggie nods hesitantly as he takes on Armando’s body weight. Mars, her ink men, and Graca race towards the battle-ready granny and chicken. P jumps into the air and then remains levitating thanks to her jet boots. Meanwhile, the chicken makes heavy footsteps that crack the ground immediately around it, making the ink men around it fall and fizzle out.

Reggie Guys, I don’t mean to be a bad leader, but are we seriously failing to deal with an old lady and whatever that chicken is? Mars You are being a bad leader, actually.

Reggie’s eye twitches.

Reggie Fine. Knock out the lady’s boots so she can’t stay airborne!

P, hearing this, drops out of the air and grabs her cane, though Graca also fights for it. R’s chicken form heavily stomps over and causes more fractures in the ground, causing Graca to trip over herself while P hovers just slightly off the ground to take the cane. With Graca downed, Mars leaps for the cane but keeps a heavier grip, ignoring the localized tremors. To get her off, P begins flying higher and higher.

Armando (groggily, held by Reggie) Ugh… where’s the pretty lady? Reggie Don’t have time for that, Mondo. We need to tag you back in.

Armando looks up as Reggie points.

Armando (chuckling) Is that a chicken and an old lady? Reggie Yes. Not our finest moment. Help us out.

Armando feels a sharp pain.

Armando My arm kinda hurts, though.

Reggie gets a better look. Peeling back a flap of his armor on his shoulder, he sees where a blast of Eunice’s mana cut deep.

Reggie I’ll bring you over. Darkstar (seeing this, over comms) Watch the others.

Reggie keeps one of Armando’s arms over his shoulders as the two dash up close. When they’re just out of the range of the R’s hefty stomps, they stop.

Reggie Close enough? Armando I’ll try.

His mouth splits into four quadrants, rings of color in his mouth lighting up as he lets loose a sonic wail in R’s direction.

Darkstar (over comms) NO!

R stops in its place, incurring damage from the sheer amount of damage. Segments of his disguise begin to chip off, revealing the robotic titanium beneath. An eyelid becomes fully open, losing its disguise and revealing an infrared-detecting sphere instead.

Plumber (over comms) Omega, we’re lowering the dome. Mission’s complete. Get final evacuations and extract to HQ.

Armando, exhausted, stops and closes his mouth. The chicken is stopped in its place.

Reggie That was great, Mondo! One last one for the old lady so we can head back?

The two scream as they are blasted from behind. They fall to the floor.

Darkstar (standing five feet behind them, hand smoking from his shot) How dare you.

He looks up to the sky. P flies erratically to try and shake off both Mars and the several ink men she continues to spawn on her back. They have all latched onto P’s actual body, so even releasing the cane would not save P.

One single blast drops her from the air. Darkstar catches her and lays her down with her friends, blasting a slightly moving Graca to keep safe.

P returns to the ground.

Darkstar We need to get out of here. P (staring at R) Is… is he going to be alright?

Darkstar approaches them. Mechanical whirring can be heard upon approach. The chicken, previously still, looks down to Darkstar and again begins stomping.

Darkstar Big guy, it’s me! Stop!

Darkstar looks to P, whose jet boots get stuck in a cracked part of the ground.

Darkstar Can you get up on his back?

He stumbles over to P.

P Now I can.

P leaps into the air, landing on R’s back. When all seems safe, R’s stomping intensifies. It even begins to dance around in circles.

This is when Dawn calls Darkstar.

Darkstar (holding an ear) Uh, it went down… Umm… kinda dealing with something right now actually… You should come help, actually.

Dawn’s Streak arrives in moments through a portal. They look around to see the four Omega Squad members on the ground.

Dawn Streak What in the world have you been up to? Darkstar Talk later. Portal now. Unless you have some other power that could be useful.

Dawn taps their Omnitrix, quickly scanning the DNA from the four Plumbers.

Darkstar Without breaking him. Dawn Streak Beggars can’t be choosers.

Dawn taps their Omnitrix. Their ghoulish form is soon more humanoid, taking on an Inuit parka over lilac skin with its pinkish markings. Icicle-esque frozen eyebrows resembling antlers top off their face. They are unquestionably the feminine Kraaho transformation Plastikitee.

Dawn’s Plastikitee stretches around R, several times over, before lifting them just inches into the air where they are incapable of stomping. P falls off in the process, causing Darkstar to look at Dawn annoyedly.

Dawn Plastikitee Well? They’re subdued. Darkstar I need to get in there to disable him. Dawn Plastikitee (collapsing to a knee as the weight overcomes them) Well? Go ahead. Dawn Plastikitee Your arms are completely covering where I need to go.

Dawn sighs, trudging over to the chicken, before almost dropping them. They instead throw R into the air.

Darkstar What are you doing?!

As R hurtles down, Plastikitee becomes Four to catch it before it lands.

Dawn Four Arms I can hold him longer with this one, pretty sure. But you don’t have long.

Darkstar nods, walking over and opening a panel on the lower torso of the chicken. It continues to try and shake, dropping even Dawn’s Four Arms to the ground, disturbing Darkstar in the process.

Dawn Four Arms C’mon, man.

The shaking in Dawn’s arms becomes too strong that the floor caves in a bit, immobilizing Darkstar.

Beep.

P stands over the trio as the chicken is reverted back to their Dawn-esque default form. She had succeeded in powering R down.

Dawn reverts to normal and uses Seismix to expose Darkstar enough to grab him out.

Dawn Seismix Let’s get out of here.

[Later: Plumbers arrive at the scene since Omega Squad never returned to HQ.

Molly Gunther walks over to the first one to regain consciousness – Reggie.]

Molly Gunther What happened here? Reggie I know it looks bad, but this giant chicken and this old lady-

Molly puts her hand to Reggie’s mouth.

Molly Gunther On second thought, never mind. Magister Tennyson will deal with you. [END OF SHORT]

Synopsis

Taking place during Plight of Pinocchio, Darkstar deploys his androids on the Omega Squad to provide a distraction while Dawn attempts to get to Azmuth.

Minor Events

• Dawn scans the sample for Slyt from Mars, as well as Revonnahgander DNA from Reginald Poe.

Alphaline Omnitrix Alien Debuts

• Plastikitee

Characters

• Michael Morningstar/Darkstar
  • Android P
  • Android R
• Omega Squad
  • Reginald Poe
  • Mars
  • Graca
  • Armando
• Dawn
• Max Tennyson
• Azmuth (cameo)
• Altrazon (cameo, uncredited)
• Zennith (cameo, uncredited)

Aliens Used (by Dawn)

• Streak (x2)
• Seismix (x2)
• Plastikitee (first appearance by Dawn)
• Four Arms

Disguises Used (by P and R)

• Moira Yourouguaduan
• Chicken

Trivia

• This is the second Short taking place during an episode, the last one being Operation Pyros.
• The episode was originally going to be a part of Plight of Pinocchio but made the episode too long.
• The episode continues an older tradition of Shorts not having Endgames.
• Androids P and R, known simply as P and R, are named after Androids 16 and 18 from the Dragon Ball franchise (P and R being the sixteenth and eighteenth letters of the alphabet).
• This is the first completed Short of Season 2 and the first Short in 8 years and 6 months, since Unity Broker.

See also

• Freedom and Prosperity (the scrapped former 6th short of BiA)

Unique Aliens in Back in Action: Alien Universe
First used by Super Ben (Assault Omnitrix)	Obsorber - Nigester - Plastikitee - Anos - Streak - Bugbite - Muckslide - Autosassin - Ultimate Upchuck - Clinger - Healding - Alkamine - Brawnoceros - Combustiball - Cardstruct - Dreadsense - Frisbit - Koldiak - Plasmodic - Seismix - Wavelength - Warrock - Fetterwing - Suctionrupt
Majestic Forms	TBD
First used by Dawn (Alphaline Omnitrix)	Vertigo - Starhavoc - Slyt - Blankslate
First used by Future Ben	Atomhammer - Ultimate Brainstorm