Chapter 17

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All the characters stop right after forming a crowd around the ground team, much to their confusion until they all start to explode in pixel fragments to nothing, leaving all the damage behind. "We won? We won! No more taxes! Woo!!" Josh cheers and jumps around with Gaege, cheering together. Mully smiles as they finally win but is saddened a bit as he looks at his invention, knowing its purpose is already done and might not be in use again.

"Hey, Mully?" Gaege calls out as he approaches his friend, noticing the mix of relief and sadness on his face. "What's up? What's with the sad face? We won."

Mully looks at Gaege and Josh and then at the now-useless light cannon on his arm. "Just thinking... I invented these to save the world, and now that the job's done, they're just... tools with no purpose."

Josh places a hand on Mully's shoulder. "Don't be so sure about that. These things might not need to save the world again, but they saved us today. That's a pretty big deal."

"Yeah, Mully. If it's not for your beautiful brain, we wouldn't have any way to shoot these bastards down. That's something you should be proud of and I'm sure Grant would put up in a museum." Gaege said. Their walkie-talkies in their pocket start to crackle out of nowhere and they immediately pick it up. "Hello?" Gaege asked.

After DK has finally been defeated, Eddie immediately runs to Gabby and pulls him into an embrace. Gabby hugs him back just as tightly, relief washing over her. "I knew you could do it, Eddie. I never doubted you." Eddie pulls away slightly, his face a mix of relief and concern.

"You didn't tell me you're pregnant! Why didn't you tell me? You don't know how angry I was when I found out."

Gabby's eyes widen in surprise. "Wait, how did you know? And more importantly, did you trash the apartment?"

Eddie looks guilty for a moment, trying to find the right words. "I... might have gotten a little upset."

Gabby gives him a stern look but is interrupted before she can respond. Suddenly, a hologram of appears before them, flickering into view. "Congratulations, dear warriors of Earth. Glad you used the second chance I had given fairly this time. I sent the message to your 'White House' and we are heading there to drop all of you there. Now, we are no longer enemies as I just now understand the meaning of the 'so-called' time capsule and we apologize by regenerating back all the damages we had caused." She said. Grant happily accepts the apology and also offers to live in harmony, which Dorothy also accepts.

Toad steps towards the hologram with nervousness. "Um... boss. Can I stay here?" Toad's request catches everyone by surprise, and they turn to look at him with a mixture of confusion and concern. Dorothy Zbornak's hologram flickers slightly before she responds.

"Toad, are you sure about that?" she asks, her voice echoing through the room.

Toad nods, his expression earnest. "Yes, boss. I... I don't think I belong there. I've found something here, something worth staying for."

Dorothy considers his request for a moment before nodding. "Very well, Toad. Your choice. But remember, if you ever need us, we'll be there." Dorothy said as small cubes pixel forming a watch around Toad's wrist.

Toad smiles gratefully, relieved that Dorothy has accepted his decision and even gives him a tech for them to still communicate with each other. As the hologram fades away, Eddie approaches Toad with a reassuring smile.

"Are you sure about this, Toad?" he asks, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

Toad nods, his resolve firm. "Yeah, Eddie. I've found my place here. And besides, who's going to take care of your apartment while you and Gabby are busy with the baby?"

Eddie chuckles, touched by Toad's loyalty. "Thanks, Toad. You can stay with me. Right, Gabby?" Eddie turned to Gabby and Gabby happily nodded.

"Hey, guys," Grant called out and made the couple turn to him. "I just talked to Gaege to go the White House and paparazzi are already there. A platform too for me to talk on. So, be prepared." Grant said to them and then turned to the Korean actor and gave him the walkie-talkie.

A jumble of multi-coloured pixels drops out of the Mothership onto the lawn of the White House. As they land, they re-pixelate into Eddie, Gabby, Toad, Kevin and Byeong Kyu. A group of people suddenly run towards Byeong Kyu and the others immediately step away from the reunion. "Kevin!" Gaege screams as soon as he sees Kevin re-pixelate.

"Gaege!" Kevin shouts back, running towards him. They embrace tightly, tears of relief and joy streaming down their faces. Gaege tightly wrapped his arms around Kevin, not wanting to let go.

"You don't know how worried I was when you were up there and how many times I checked my phone for you to at least send a text." Gaege sobbed out Kevin held Gaege close, returning the embrace with equal intensity. "I'm so sorry, Gaege. I wish I could've let you know I was okay, but I couldn't. I'm just grateful we're all safe now."

Gaege nods, tears still streaming down his face. "I know, I know. I'm just glad you're back."

Kevin strokes Gaege's back soothingly, his heart overflowing with love for his best friend. "I'm here, Gaege. I'm not going anywhere. Well, I might have to go back to Guam for my duty anyway." Gaege chuckled a bit. Eddie and Grant smiled at the sweet reunion while both Gabby and Toad nearly tearing up. Josh and Mully walk over.

"I can't believe we did it! I mean, you did it, Eddie!" Josh cheered to the group.

"Josh? Didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"Look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry I cheated back when we were kids, and also for cheating again more recently. I don't have to go back to prison, do I?" Josh asked Grant, kinda nervous.

"No... but you do have to admit to Eddie he's the best in the world," Grant said. Josh groaned, not wanting to say it but also didn't want to go back to Australia just to be thrown back into the hellhole. Josh takes a few deep breaths and looks up at Eddie.

"Eddie, you...(sigh) you're the best in the world."

"Suck it." Eddie jokingly said as he pulled Josh for a hug and Josh hesitantly accepted it. 

A group of press people run across the lawn toward them. One of them asks, "Mr President, are we out of danger?" Grant happily steps up and approaches the press.

"Yes. In fact, I am pleased to announce that I have brokered a peace treaty with the Alien Invaders. This peace was due to and only due to the bravery of the Arcaders, who against all odds stepped up and saved us all. They faced the doubters and the naysayers and came up big when we needed them most. Eduardo Saucedo, Gabrielle Saucedo," Grant turn to Gabby. "I don't your last name so don't mind me." Grant turn back to the press, "Gaege Gibson, William Jonas and Joshua Wanders are American Heroes. World Heroes." Grant finished his speech, and received many cheers and claps from the press.

All of the crew are congratulated by the celebratory crowd, swarming them and thanking them while Josh decided to slowly steps away from the group to have some little time with himself. He turns and about to exit the lawn but then his phone buzzes. He opens it to see a text. From Margaux.

"We can talk. I'm at the Lincoln Bedroom." Josh looks to the White House and standing in a second floor window, dressed in which Josh recognized it was his old hoodie that he had gave to her years ago, waving to Josh. Josh happily smiles and starts running to the room.

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