The sky was red and smoky. Mongrod walked through the hallway in a secluded location in his fort.

“He’s inside, boss,” said a minion soldier who stood guard outside the heavy cell door.

The door creaked open, and Mongrod stepped in, his glowing blue eyes fixed on the figure chained to the wall. The doctor knelt before him, all chained and beat-up. His fur was messy, and blood dripped from his face. He was the one who’d given Molandak the portal device, a small and round gadget that opened a door through time. Molandak had taken the working one, but the doctor kept a broken prototype, fighting Mongrod’s guards to cover the escape.

“Where’d he go?” Mongrod growled.

“Tell me now!” his voice rough like a busted engine.

The Doctor lifted his head, weak but tough. “You’re too late. Molandak’s out of your reach.”

Mongrod stood, his metal legs clanking. “Out of reach? I’ll drag him back!” He leaned close, red eyes glowing. “Tell me how he left, or I’ll rip it out of you.”

The Doctor smirked. “Try it, you failed freak.”

Mongrod’s temper snapped. He raised his claw, and dark energy shot from the Monorb. It was a black cloud with sparks, hitting the Doctor hard. He yelled as it dug into his head, allowing Mongrod to pull out his thoughts.

He was able to see it all: the Doctor giving Molandak the portal device, pressing its button, a bright doorway opening, and Molandak jumping through to the past. The Doctor’s fight flashed too, him swinging a stick until the guards knocked him down.

“So,” Mongrod said, stepping back, “he went back with that little toy to stop me from getting the Monorb. Thinks he can ruin my future?” He laughed, cold and mean. “I’ll ruin his first.”

The doctor exhaled, “He’ll beat you. Look at yourself. This is madness.”

He leaned close to Doc. “Is it madness? Or is it justice?”

“It’s not justice,” he whispered. “It’s revenge.”

Mongrod grinned. “Maybe. But revenge built my empire.” “Now, tell me… Where is Molandak?”

The Doc said nothing.

“WHERE!!” Mongrod shouted. His metal arm sparked with electricity, and with a punch to the gut, he sent a jolt through the Doc. The scientist screamed, shaking in pain.

Gasping, the Doc muttered, “He’s… the child of prophecy. Molandak. He’ll make sure you never find the Monorb in the past….Salmonad, Mouch, Moyaki, Chog. This time, they won’t lose. He’s got the time machine. And I won’t build you another.”

Mongrod chuckled. “Thanks, Doc. That is all I needed.”

Mongrod signaled to his guards. They brought in Doctor’s bag and ripped it open. Inside was the broken time machine prototype with cracked buttons and a faint blue glow.

He turned to the table. The Monorb in his arm glowed. He raised his hand, and the Time Machine pieces floated, snapping back together.

The Doc’s eyes widened. “No… no!”The prototype started looking meaner, more shiny black with red glows, like Mongrod’s own body. The guards tested it, pressing a button. A small portal popped open, dark and crackling, then shut quick, slicing a table in half. Mongrod laughed. “Good. Almost there.”

“You don’t have to do this!” the Doc yelled.

“Oh, I do,” Mongrod said. “And as for you? You won’t die. You’ll stay right here while I go back in time to kill your hero, and end those rebels for good.”

He held the portal device tight. “Time to stop those rebels.” He pressed the button, and the gadget roared. A big, dark portal ripped open, swirling with Monorb energy. The room shook, bits of the ceiling crashed down, and the Doctor ducked as wind howled. With a loud whoosh and a bright flash, Mongrod stepped into the portal, vanishing into the past.

The portal closed, leaving a burnt spot on the floor.

The Doctor fell back, chains rattling. He stared at the empty space, whispering, “Hurry, Molandak. He’s coming.”