This story is written in counterpoint. Alternating segments are told in first-person by The Monarch and 21. It felt like the best way to write it, and it was inspired by the style of "A Party For Tarzan."
HENCHMAN 21
"Duuuuuuude!"
Monarch's terrified voice faded away. For a few seconds I just bobbed there on the scooter, watching the Doom Factory lair fade into the haze of light pollution over the city.
I had just watched my best friend get carried off by a vehicle that was loaded with explosives. No. No, this was NOT happening again...
"Oh yes it is!" 24's voice said inside my head.
"Fuck!" I gunned the engine on the scooter and sped back toward the Morpho Cave.
About ten minutes later, after red-lining the engine all the way home, I sloshed the scooter into the tiny docking bay. I leaped off it, ran toward the Morphomobile, started the engine, and revved it. The tires screeched and laid down rubber as I floored the accelerator, following the short driveway that led out of the underground lair.
As soon as I was above ground I engaged the flight mode and blasted into the sky, heading back toward the city. I knew the Doom Factory was arching Venture tonight, so it just made sense that that flying hideout of theirs was on its way to VenTech Tower.
Sure enough, as I neared the tall, well-lit skyscraper, I spotted the spinning, Mexican-Hat-shaped lair. It hovered about 50 feet from Venture's poolside patio. I brought the jet in close, and was setting it down on the landing pad above the patio, when it happened.
KA-BOOM!
The ball of fire lit up the sky, spreading out in tentacles-like tendrils, flaming debris falling to the street far below.
My whole body went numb. I let go of the controls and the Morphojet bounced down, less than gently, on the roof. Probably damaged the suspension. I didn't care. I had just watched my best friend get blown to pieces. Again. And I had done nothing to save him. Again.
I laid my head down on the steering wheel and cried. For long minutes, I don't know how long. Time didn't seem to register on my brain anymore. All I could feel was despair, hopelessness, and an intense feeling of loss.
"Kano?"
Oh God, Monarch had been dead less than ten minutes and he was already haunting me... I held my hands over my eyes, willing his voice to go away.
"Kano. KANO! DUDE!? Down here!"
It wasn't bad enough that he was haunting me, he was haunting me from Hell! At least 24 seemed to have gone to a more neutral part of the afterlife. Poor Monarch was sentenced to burn for all eternity...
My cell phone suddenly rang, and I jumped. I instinctively pulled it out of my pocket to see who was calling me, and I froze. Monarch was calling me. From Hell. Despite my despair, I couldn't help but be impressed with his cellphone carrier's range...
I pushed the button to receive the call, and hesitantly held it up to my ear. "H-h-hello?"
"What the fuck are you doing?" came Monarch's voice, sounding annoyed.
I blinked. Wait a minute. "Are you... are you... in Hell?" I asked uncertainly.
"What are you... HELL? I'm standing next to Venture's pool, you big retard! Look down here!"
The phone dropped from my fingers, and I leaned forward to stare through the windshield. Sure enough, a tall figure dressed all in blue was on the level below the landing pad, waving up to me.
I tumbled out of the car onto the tarmac, my knees shaking, and my legs like Play-Doh. But I managed to run to the stairway leading down to the poolside patio, and practically skidded down it on my heels.
Monarch was grinning, striding across the roof toward me.
"Did you SEE that?" he exclaimed, pointing to where the Doom Factory had exploded, "I told you it would be epic!"
I ran across to him and grabbed him up, crushing him in my arms, lifting him off the ground a good six inches. I must have looked like an idiot, but I didn't care. My best friend was alive. Back from the dead. I pressed my face into his chest, and couldn't hug him tightly enough.
"What, uh... OK," Monarch began, sounding amused and more than a bit confused, "What's this about, then?"
"The explosion," I mumbled into his shirtfront, "Thought you were dead..."
"Oh, dude!" Monarch's arms came around me, and hugged me back, "No, I got tossed off when the friggin' thing lifted off from the patio!"
I just nodded, keeping my tear-streaked face hidden against him. Part of me was mortified about my behavior, but the other part, the dominant part, was just overjoyed to still have him alive.
"Hey Kano?" Monarch asked, after another minute or so.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"Can you put me down, now?"