Overtaken - a BFB/II2 fanfic (very slow updates)

Beginning of the End

Microphone and Eggy strolled back to the rest of their team only to find them arguing amongst themselves. Donut, Gelatin, and Naily had fortunately stopped and split apart for the moment, but now Fries, Flower, and Soap were standing in a rough circle, talking loudly over each other. "What's going on?" Mic asked as they approached the trio.

"They're fighting over who had the best gardening strategy," a gruff voice said. Knife stood nearby, looking annoyed at the conflict.

Eggy glanced down at their team's patch of grass. "Our section looks fine. I don't see why they should."

"That's what I tried telling them."

Mic stepped closer to the trio. "Guys, stop! Why do you feel the need to argue? Our part of this land is great as it is, with the regrown grass and flowers! I don't even know how you got those! Can't you just stop fighting?"

Soap turned to her. "I appreciate the input, Microphone, but at this point it's more of a battle for pride, rather than strategies."

"Why can't you guys see that the advice of a literal flower would be the best?" Flower complained.

Aggravated, Soap turned back and began to argue again, with Fries cutting in at various points. "Aaaaaaand we've gone back to nobody listening to me," Mic sighed. "Just great..."

Eggy just rolled her eyes and strolled over a ways to join Ice Cube and Pillow, who were spectating the argument from a distance. Pillow had a bowl of popcorn out. "Crazy, huh?" Eggy commented. "We were doing so well, and then boom - they start nitpicking at each other out of nowhere."

"I think it's all very entertaining," Pillow said through mouthfuls of crunchy corn.

"I just wish they'd stop arguing already." Icy sighed. "Why do I always get teams who can never work together..."

They watched for a bit longer as Knife joined the argument again. Flower called Ruby from Team 3 over for backup, then Ruby brought a few members of Team 2, and before they knew it, most of Team 2 looked like they were planning a mini-battle between Knife and Flower.

Eggy glanced at Pillow. "Can I have some of that popcorn?"

--------------------

As Golf Ball approached her underground factory with Test Tube, Tennis Ball, and Coiny, she realized what must have happened.

After her spat with Basketball during the thunderstorm challenge, GB and Test Tube worked together to put a security system at the entrance of the factory - a metal door, activated by a simple handprint scanner. Anybody who had their handprint in the database could open the door with ease (other than her own, GB had only put TB's and TT's handprints in). Anyone else who tried would simply get an error message.

However, after Fan came rushing over earlier and distracted them all with the portal problem, Golf Ball had forgotten to lock up. Thinking back, she remembered that Pencil, Lollipop, and Yin-Yang had never even arrived at the portal with the rest of them.

They reached the entrance and sure enough, it was wide open. Golf Ball was the first one to enter, shooting down the first several sets of stairs before the walls opened up to reveal the rest of the factory. Several individuals were arguing on the ground floor.

Growling, Golf Ball grabbed a nearby pipe protruding from the ceiling and jumped off the stairwell. Normally, this would have meant suicide, or at least a long fall onto the Golf Ball Safety Net. This time, however, she activated a newly-implemented feature on her robotic arms. The hand holding onto the pipe detached from the arm somewhat, still connected by a long and strong metal wire. The wire extended as Golf Ball slowly lowered herself down to the factory floor, her hand snapping back in place once she was safe.