The first few hours after departing were far less eventful than expected. When you gain the ability to shoot electricity out of your fingertips (Eddy assumed that was what he could do, but it was never really clarified), you assume you're going to start fighting crime or blowing things up and that you will never be bored again. However, nothing really happened to the Eds. They just walked and walked, deeper into the forest, towards whatever it was they were supposed to be looking for. By the time the Eds came across a river, they were thoroughly lost.
"Why were we supposed to come through here again, exactly?" asked Eddy.
"Oh I don't know," shrugged Double D. "The professor just said to leave through the forest."
"What's even in this direction?" asked Eddy.
"I'm not entirely sure," responded Double D. He looked up at the sky to determine the time. "It's almost sundown. We should set up camp here."
#2: RESISTANCE MUST BE ELIMINATED
Double D's survival kit proved to be highly useful that first night. His ability to pitch a tent was surprisingly on point, and the Fritos made a great fuel for starting a fire. Though Ed wished to eat them all, Double D advised against it in case they needed to start another fire in the future.
"Can I have some food, Double D?" asked Ed from one of the logs by the fire.
"Yeah, me too," said Eddy. "I'm starving." Fingering the inside of his backpack, Double D produced two napkin-wrapped snacks and handed them to his friends.
"What is this?" asked Eddy. He was staring at the fruit in his hands at disbelief.
"Grapefruit," replied Double D. "High in Vitamin A and Vitamin C." Eddy couldn't believe this. He tossed the grapefruit at Double D, hitting him square in the forehead and knocking him to the ground. Ed, meanwhile, smashed his entire face into his own grapefruit and went to town.
"What happened to the candy bars?" asked Eddy. Double D sat up and brushed himself off.
"I gave them to Rolf," replied Double D. "I would have given them to Jonny, knowing how much he loves them, but he didn't seem to be at home."
"Why'd you give them away?!" Eddy was furious.
"Because we need to eat healthy on our journey, and I can't have you neglecting your physique when the world's at stake!" said Double Dee. Eddy stared at him.
"That's ridiculous," he stated as he hissed through his teeth. Double D rolled his eyes and pulled out his SEEKER. He checked for messages from the professor. None. Ed, meanwhile, proceeded to pick up the other grapefruit.
"Hey, don't even think about it, Lumpy," said Eddy, grabbing it out of his hands and taking a bite. His face shriveled up in disgust.
"That tastes like shit, Double D," he groaned.
"Actual food usually does," sighed Double D. Eddy continued to eat, though not without complaining all the way through the process.
"Where'd Ed go?" asked Eddy. He realized Ed was nowhere to be found.
"Playing in the mud I presume," replied Double D. He sighed and climbed into the tent, placing his bedroll and pillow inside. Hearing the sound of snapping twigs and crunching leaves outside, the exhausted traveler assumed Ed had returned. Crawling outside, he saw Ed returning with an armful of rocks.
"Ed?" asked Eddy.
"Yes Eddy?"
"Why are you carrying a bunch of rocks?"
"To bring them back here, of course."
"And what are you planning to do with those rocks?" Ed answered this by biting one in half.
"So much better than grapefood."
"Grapefruit," mumbled Eddy, rolling his eyes. "I'm going to bed."
"Then I guess you won't get any rocks."
"How will I ever go on?"
Bifot was one of the Superior's most trusted allies, which made him somewhat irreplaceable. Despite his many abilities, Bifot was rarely allowed to leave the Guardians' place of operations. Instead, he was put in charge of the organization of the Guardians of Evil. The Superior would tell Bifot what he needed done, and Bifot would tell everyone else whatever they needed to sure to ensure the Superior got what he wanted.
The Superior was reclined in his mesh-back rolling chair in front of a computer, with an electronic device in his hands when Bifot stepped into the room. As always, the Superior was wearing his black hood that obscured his face.
"Sir, are you busy?" asked Bifot.
"A little," answered the Superior. "World 8. Never actually won this game." Bifot struggled to determine whether or not he should continue speaking.
The Superior did not look up from his game as he asked, "Did you have news for me?"
"Yes sir," Bifot responded. "Russo just informed me that the hires were successful. The Electric Guardian of Light has been awakened."
"Electric huh?" asked the Superior. "Those are always so boring. We'll definitely have to deal with that one. Thank you, Bifot. Feel free to take the night off."
Double D climbed out of the tent in the morning to find Eddy and Ed already awake. They were roasting hot dogs over the open fire, which Double D would have probably scolded them for if he did not have more pressing matters on his mind.
"Do either of you remember this orb the professor gave us?" he asked, holding the blue sphere in his hand.
"Who cares?" asked Eddy. "I'm eating." He took a bite out of the roasted hot dog. Double D rolled his eyes.
"I'll get my SEEKER and contact Professor Stanley about it then," said Double D. He turned around and began to walk back into the tent. Going towards his bag, he began to fumble for his SEEKER. It was then the tent rolled over, and Double D with it. Socks and various other items scattered from his bag and danced around in the air.
"EDDY!" shouted Double D, irritated with his friend for the prank he played.
"What?" asked Eddy from the fire.
"Knock it off!" scolded Edd.
"What are you ta- WHAT THE HELL?!" Eddy noticed a large mechanical robot with two legs and two arms, gold plated and coiled in several black tubes that seemed to carry fuel to its extremities. The robot began to tear into the tent and reach inside.
"OH MY LORD!" screamed Double D, evacuating the tent.
"Defender Orb detected," it said. The robot quickly grabbed Double D by the wrist, lifting him up into the air.
"PUT ME DOWN!" insisted Double D. The robot took the orb from his other hand and then obeyed. It turned around and began to walk away.
"We gotta stop him," said Eddy, standing up. "Electric Power!" In a split second, he was reinvigorated and adorned in his Guardian attire.
"How do I attack?" he asked Double D.
"Beats me," said Double D. Ed proceeded to jump from the side of the campfire and charge at the monster, grabbing it at the ankle and holding it back. The robot turned and looked back at Ed.
"Resistance must be eliminated," it said. It kicked Ed away, hurling him into a nearby tree.
"Resistance eliminated, motion free."
"Electricity!" Eddy shouted, citing the first thing that came to his head. Immediately sparks began to dance across his skin, his fingers resembling Roman candles and cheeks feeling as if balloons had been statically linked to them. Eddy charged at the robot, hurling himself into its back, knocking it off balance.
"Resistance must be eliminated," it repeated. It turned to Eddy and attempted to smash him into the dirt, but Eddy quickly sidestepped the assault.
"Double D, any ideas for dealing with this thing?" asked Eddy, as he blocked a karate chop from the machine.
"Well, I assume it is a robot, so it must have robotic functionality and a creator," Edd told him.
"How does that help us?" he asked, jumping over another punch and gripping its arm.
"State your functionality," Double D told it.
"Please login," the robot said, throwing Eddy from its arm. "State your username."
"Admin," Double D quickly spouted.
"State your password." The robot seemed to stop its assault temporarily.
"Password."
"Confirmed. Functionality: Apprehend Defender Orbs through use of force."
"State your manufacturer," Double D commander.
"Manufacturer: Russo Moriarty," it answered.
"Who is Russo Moriarty?" asked Double D.
"Unknown command. What is your next command?"
Double D answered, "Shut down."
"Programs are still running. Shut down cannot commence until operation is complete." It then turned and began to walk towards Eddy.
"I order you to shut down!" Double D insisted.
"Programs are still running. Shut down cannot commence until operation is complete."
"Control, alt, delete!"
"Task manager opened," it said. Double D was stumped at this point. Eddy ducked out of the way of another punch.
"Electricity!" he commanded, throwing himself into the robot. This time, the robot merely grabbed him and threw him hard back onto the ground. Eddy shook it off and said the words at the back of his mind.
"Big Bolt!" He threw his hands forward, releasing an electrically charged yellow-white sphere of energy. It slammed into the robot's chest and evaporated into sparks that rolled across the robot's shell and then flicked off into the air. It stopped momentarily, and then punched Eddy again. As it was about to throw another punch, Double D snatched the orb from its hand.
"Is this what you're after?"
"Affirmative."
"Well, come and get it," Double D taunted, a bit nervously but still as firmly as he could. The robot kicked his feet out from under him, forcing him to release the orb into the air. Double D hit his head hard on the ground, and everything appeared blue and out-of-focus. As it ended its assault, the robot caught the orb and began to walk away.
"Double D, you're glowing!" Ed pointed out.
"Lumpy's right, Double D!" Eddy shouted. Double D was in fact glowing. Swirling into the air from off his skin was an aurora of pretty blue, that slowly moved towards the sky and evaporated into nothingness only inches from its source.
"Water Power," Double D said, assuming this to be the cause of his new-found embellishment. His suspicions proved to be correct, as he found himself hovering above the ground and suddenly full of life. The blue fell away from his vision, and he saw his outfit changing colors: his tee became a light blue, his shorts, a simple white, and his shoes black with white outsoles. At first, he was almost disappointed by the new style, but it was then he found his clothing farther accentuated. His socks twisted into long black leg wraps that disappeared above the legholes of his shorts. He could feel his hat changing, becoming a thick knitted black visor beanie similar to the one he originally wore. A necklace draped itself from Edd's neck, and then a beautiful blue cape that cut off at the knees appeared across his shoulders. It was as if time slowed down for him while this happened, as nothing seemed to change once he had reappeared on his feet.
"Let's get to work," Edd suggested.
TO BE CONTINUED
In the next chapter... The trio deals with their new enemy, all while making a new friend.