Disclaimer: I do not own "Swamp Thing." "Swamp Thing" belongs to DC Comics and the animated series specifically belongs to DIC Entertainment. This story is purely a work of fan fiction. No profit is being made from it.
In his secret lab under the Arcane plantation Dr. Anton Arcane was peering through a microscope and muttering to himself. The fluorescent lights gleamed faintly off his pointed canines and the ivory skull-head of his twisted wooden cane.
In a corner of the creepy, dungeon-like lab his three henchmen, Skinman, Weed Killer and Dr. Deemo watched intently. All of them were curious but knew better to pester their master when he was at work.
"What do you think Dr. Arcane is working on?" Skinman whispered.
"I dunno. He's been poking and prodding at those leftover bits of Swamp Thing for weeks now" Weed Killer replied.
"Such pondering is moot. Dr. Arcane will say when his work bears fruit" said Deemo.
Arcane had hit upon the idea that he might be able to extract the growth formula he needed to become immortal from the various tendrils and other extensions of his body that Swamp Thing often grew and separated from himself. To his frustration these attempts had all met with failure. In each case the growth formula had deteriorated past the point of viability. From what he had determined the breakdown occurred instantaneously once Swamp Thing detached them. He had been about to burn the extensions in a fit of rage but then another idea had come to him.
"Yes, yes" he muttered. "It works perfectly."
He stood up and turned to his henchmen. "Behold, I have at last found the means to defeat Swamp Thing!"
"What is it Dr Arcane?" Skinman asked.
Arcane held up a conical flask filled with red dust. "By analysing Swamp Thing's cells I have been able to develop a bio-engineered fungus that will neutralise his powers, making him easy to capture."
"But if his powers are gone doesn't that mean he'll be no use to you?"
"I've thought of that you idiot!" He put the flask down and picked up another one, this one filled with blue liquid. "Once that mountain of mulch is in my hands and securely contained I'll eradicate the fungus with this chemical and then extract the growth formula."
"Wow, that's brilliant boss!" Weed Killer exclaimed.
"Ingenious" Deemo agreed.
"Yeah, he won't be able to fix this with a little water." Skinman sneered. "Too bad Weed Killer, looks like you're not needed anymore."
The blue-skinned mutant glared at him but before he could reply Arcane said, "on the contrary, Weed Killer will be of great importance to my plan."
Weed Killer shot a triumphant look at Skinman and said, "just tell me what you want."
"Listen carefully…"
Alec Holland, AKA Swamp Thing, sighed contentedly as he looked around at the bayou, taking in the natural beauty of the area he called home. Sunlight gleamed off the surface of a lake as waterfowl swam across, leaving ripples in their wake. The grass and leaves of the trees were a vibrant green.
"Beautiful" he said.
Most of his time was spent in his tree-lab, working to find a cure for himself so he could become human again. But whenever he needed to clear his head he would take walks around the swamp and appreciate the wonders of nature. It helped give him the resolve to carry on.
The idyll was interrupted by the sound of an engine. Normally he would immediately take cover upon hearing such a sound but this time he stood in place. He knew the sound of this particular engine. After all he had built it.
Tomahawk drove the Bog Rover out from the undergrowth and brought it to a smooth halt. Swamp Thing's smile disappeared as he saw the alarmed look on his friend's face.
"Swamp Thing! We've got trouble."
"What's wrong Tomahawk?"
"Weed Killer's on a rampage. He's poisoning everything in sight and he's heading right for this lake."
Swamp Thing scowled. "If Arcane thinks I'll let his goon pollute this swamp then he can think again."
With that he transformed his body into roots and burrowed under the ground.
Weed Killer aimed his spray gun at a nearby tree and doused the ground beneath it with a jet of noxious chemicals. Within seconds the leaves of the tree withered and dropped off, leaving just bare branches. Behind him was a trail of other contaminated plants.
"Come on out muck man" he called. "Come out or I'll turn this entire bayou into a poisoned waste land."
Behind him Swamp Thing rose up from the ground and reformed. Weed Killer turned around but before he could react Swamp Thing lifted him into the air and hurled him into a tree. He bounced off of it and hit the marshy ground.
"Weed Killer! What is the meaning of this senseless destruction?" Swamp Thing demanded as Tomahawk drove the Bog Rover into view.
"That's for me to know and for you to find out green guts" Weed Killer sneered as he got to his feet. "Now!"
Swamp Thing turned to see Arcane, Skinman and Deemo emerge from hiding aboard their own vehicle, the Bayou Blaster. Arcane immediately pressed a button and fired a torpedo.
"Get back Tomahawk! That torpedo's loaded with Arcane's mutation formula!" Swamp Thing yelled.
Not this time it isn't Arcane thought with an evil smile.
Knowing Tomahawk wouldn't be able to get clear in time, Swamp Thing extended and enlarged his hand, allowing him to catch the torpedo and halt it in mid-air. Arcane pressed another button and it exploded, releasing a cloud of red dust between his fingers.
It is done Arcane thought, his smile broadening. Aloud he called, "retreat!"
Weed Killer scrambled aboard and the Bayou Blaster roared away.
"Swamp Thing! Are you all right?" Tomahawk asked.
"I'm fine" he replied. "Arcane's formula doesn't work on me."
"What was all that about?"
"I have no idea. Still at least they're gone now. Let's get back to my lab and prepare some fertilisers to help the swamp recover from Weed Killer's poisoning."
"I don't get it Dr Arcane. Swamp Thing got hit with the stuff. Why are we running?" Skinman asked as the Bayou Blaster continued to speed away.
"We are not running you cretin!" Arcane snapped. "This is a strategic withdrawal. It will take time for the spores to take effect. We'll return to the plantation and head out again in a few hours. By then Swamp Thing will be powerless. Finally, immortality will be mine!"
His evil laughter rang out over the swamp as they drove on. Little did he know that it wasn't going to be as simple as he thought.
