Author's Notes: If you're one of the few people who favorited this story and are now reading it after almost a complete year of neglect, than I thank you. I wouldn't have made this chapter had it not been from the encouragment of one said fan and so, I give you chapter 4 of EP. Oh, there's also an announcement at the bottom.
Chapter 4
Unexpected Ventures
Melodious tweets, fresh scented dew, and brilliant cascades of lights. And the none-too-subtle sound of the latest explosion. Johnny's blue eyes cracked open slowly and was graced with a slobbery tongue across his visage.
Definitely morning. Johnny though as he swatted away his fuzzy buddy. Hopping out of his sheets, he soared through the air until he came back to earth inexplicably clothed in his usual attire. Not bothering to waste his arguably slow wit on such frivolous things he opted to race Dukey downstairs. Clearing the two flights in a single bound, they burst through the doors.
"Ah, sweet weekend Summer time! So what should we do first: extreme roof surfing, skateboarding off the Library into the lake, or back-flipping off Death Mountain?" the boy rambled, rubbing his hands together eagerly as he came upon more and more outrageous stunts with which to spend the day.
"How about getting blasted and ceasing to exist!?" a voice boomed behind him
"Nah, too boring." he replied before turning to come face-to-face with barrels of several laser cannons.
Wielding each was the three members of the Evil Johnny Stopping Force Five, all wearing equally manic expressions. Johnny dodged the collective fire and landed; in his hands was now an incredibly and destructive looking bazooka with five barrels and twin bulbous containers on either side. The villains all looked at their weapons and then the massively superior version the young teen was totting. And when they saw his finger jab at the trigger, they did what came naturally.
They fled in every which direction as a blast of ionized light, thick, nasty looking liquid, and then a multitude of missiles came raining down upon the very position they once stood. Wacko escaped the blast and took aim, sights aimed for the flame-haired boy and scratched the trigger. A shot of pressurized liquid stopped him cold and sent him sprawling across the pavement.
"Take that, you hack!" Susan screamed from the rooftop
Mittens glanced at his fallen ally before resuming his assault on the accursed mutt. The canine weaved through the fire and dashed at the feline, proceeding to unleash a bevy of Kung-Fu skills. The cat was lost in a torrent of punches and kicks before finally flying into a tree. The last of the trio looked on in shock and blinked, his weapon falling apart in his hands. He held up his hands in surrender...
...And promptly received a blast to the face. Johnny hoisted the weapon onto his shoulders, beaming with pride as took in his victory. A moment later he was washed in the embrace of his family; all offering words of praise and admiration. A giant cake suddenly appeared and dropped from the sky, covering the boy and his companions in icing and moist confection goodness.
"This is the best day ever!" Johnny exclaimed before sucking his hand of icing.
The morning air swept into the room with an unexpected surge of strength, swiping at the resting boy's face. Johnny drowsily opened his eyes and hazily removed his hand from his mouth. Rubbing his head, he surveyed his room to take mental inventory. It was something he did help wake himself up in the morning and made finding things easier when he fully woke up.
Bat? Check.
Box of video games? Check-a-roo.
Sock that's been needing a wash for going on three months? Double Check.
Then he came upon the sleeping mass at the foot of his bed. It looked so very much indeed like his fuzzy buddy: soft, slightly gnarled fur, long face, and fluffy golden brown tail. He seemed so close; all he needed was to reach out and he'd be able to run his hands through the dog's fur once more and then he'd wake up and they'd go off and have some wild adventure.
But it wasn't Dukey.
The fur wasn't real; it was high grade imitation fibers. The face was reinforced titanium alloy just like the rest of it. And the tail was powered by spring loaded motors with shock absorbers. Not to mention there was a large metal panel sticking from the back, the checkered surface taking in the energy from the light that seeped into the room. A solar panel conserved on energy and was more efficient than electricity as Mary had told him. The panel suddenly slammed down and the automaton rose. It turned it's optics turned the boy in front of it and gave off a lifeless bark before smiling and playfully wagging its tail.
It'd been fun having it around at first; having someone to play fetch with was fun and made things simplier to explain than when he playing by now, the sight of it made him simultaneously mad and depressed. This thing was a mockery; an insult to the memory of his prized pooch who was most likely in all kinds of pain, especially if that twisted cat Mittens got a hold of him. And thinking of such things made him depressed because he knew that they still hadn't managed to find them yet. Eugene had been working non-stop for nearly a week and still hadn't gotten even an educated guess as to where they might possible be by chance.
Mary had classes in the afternoons and occasional evenings and thus was unable to assist the boy. She had her hands full keeping her sister's substitute in line. Programing personality was Susan expertise not hers. As a result, there were numerous glitches she had to tend to at random, and easily the most inopportune moments, something that left her exhausted after dealing with so many at a time.
"Johnny! Are you ready? The bus leaves in five minutes!" his mother's voice ranged from downstairs
The boy snapped from his thoughts. He'd almost forgotten it was a school day. He vaulted from his bed to the floor, plucking his clothes from their respective piles and hurriedly slipping them on. Halfway through putting on his cargoes, he stole a glance at his calender. Thursday, two more days until the weekend. Time he'd be able to send helping look for his family. He laced up his shoes, grabbed his backpack and burst through the door. He bypassed the kitchen, in no mood to eat at the moment, and exited the house before catching the bus.
Junction Ahead.
Mary tapped her pencil on her cranium, attempting to urge it to think harder. Ever since her twin's kidnapping, she'd been having trouble focusing on anything that didn't pertain to this in some way, shape, or form. Which was why she was having trouble with the current problem presented to her. It seemed like something she should be able to breeze through: Name the three different Domains and their differences. Then choose an example from each and briefly describe why they should be placed in such a category. Like she said: easy. But the whole Susan/Dukey situation had completely thrown her off her game recently-
"Finished."
Mary swiveled her head and came to see the replica of her sister holding a paper aloft and staring expressionlessly at the professor. The aged, thin man adjusted his glasses and approached the red-haired contraption look-alike. Taking it in his metal claw, he scanned quickly over the page before nodding and returning to his desk and his issue of Science Weekly.
Mary shot the robot a look. The gesture was lost on the machine, which had already gone into Idle Mode. Having a machine best her at a test brought her no small degree irritation; she was full blown mad. She returned to her paper and scribbled answer feverishly, making sure to curse the despicable contraption a hundred times over. She was half way through the final answer when a trio of hands shot up.
"We're done, Professor." A blonde haired boy with braces announced, smirking smugly in Mary's direction.
The genius girl broke her pencil as she snapped it in fury, the two halves falling to table. Adding the blonde geek to her growing list of cursed individuals, she retrieved the lead bit and continued to write.
"Like, over and done with." A girl with rich brown hair and a sleek blue dress that stopped just short enough to be decent but still arouse the male interest.
Mary groaned and wrote faster.
"Totally done over here." A teen with tan skin, blonde hair and goatee and a green collared shirt declared
"I've been waiting for five minutes." The latest voice chimed from a girl with glasses and a dress with golden neck collar and purple sleeves.
Mary banged her head against the oak table and slowly raised her own paper. She remained in this position until the bell rung signaling the end of the last class of the day. Praising all two hundred and eighty-six deities she could name off the top of her head, she grabbed her 'twin' and headed out the door.
Caution Sign.
School dragged on even longer than usual since he no longer had his best friend waiting for him when he escaped the brick and mortar prison of useless information. As if he'd ever need to know when Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo. Drumming his fingers absent-mindlessly on his wooden desk, he glanced at the clock.
2:56
So close and yet so far. If he had the means, he would've blown the mockingly slow time keeper to dust with some invention from the girls' lab. But he didn't so he'd simply have to make due with waiting. Even then, he found his mind drifting back to Dukey. Thinking of all the times they'd handed the burgundy cat his rear, he could only guess about what he'd do to even the score. Images of his friend being ducked in chilling ice water, zapped at for target practice, or made into a mindless puppet via brain scrambling device popped into his thoughts like uninvited guests. And like all unwanted guests, they were immediately cast out with extreme prejudice.
The flame headed boy dug his head into his history, an event that caused raised eyebrows all around him. His eyes ran over word after word, attempting to past time that way, but each time he encountered a word that reminded him of what could possibly be happening to his favorite canine.
Imprisonment. Shunning. Mind-Altering. Mistreatment. Depravity. Pain. Torture.
Johnny's head shot up in an instant and he turned to face the clock just as the bell rung. He set a new record for fastest sprint on his way out. Jetting out the doors, he continued his pace until he came to an abrupt stop in front of the tree just three blocks from his house. He bend down to grip his knees, taking in gulpfuls of precious oxygen. He'd not even noticed how fast he'd been running when he left, his mind was still in turmoil. The possible things that could be happening to his friend scared him beyond reason and he wanted to get away from such thoughts. Running had been the first thing that came to mind. Sighing to resume some semblance of calm, he stepped forward and ate cement.
"Oops, sorry Test. Didn't see ya there." Bumper heckled, the larger boy looking down condescendingly at the target of his bullying.
Johnny slowly got to his feet, saying nothing. He didn't have a witty retort at the ready or a counter action. He was still upset over Dukey and wanted nothing to do with the orange buzz cut ruffian. He turned his head and gave him a look that expressed his irritation before resuming his walk. Bumper didn't like being ignored so he grabbed and pushed Johnny forward, causing him to stumble. He remained silent.
"What's the matter with you, Test?" Bumper asked curiously "And where's that mutt of yours?"
His response was a flinch before the boy decided to move on. Seeing that he managed to get some sort of action out the boy that way, he smirked deviously and spoke again.
"Did he finally wise up and run away or did you just give him away?" he chuckled a bit at the end, adding insult to injury.
Johnny stiffened and froze in place. All day he'd done nothing but worry about how his beloved friend was doing and here Bumper had the audacity, the gull to accuse him of something like that? All his sorrow over his dog's kidnapping turned to rage, rage that his fingers curled tightly around and squeezed until it hurt. He then swiftly turned and landed a solid right hook into his face, sending the larger boy to the ground.
Bumper looked up, stunned at what had just occurred. He had picked on Test numerous times and every time he retaliated it had been in the form of a snappy comeback or some form of counter action. But never had he'd actually hit him. For all his bark, the flame-hair youth had little strength in those scrawny arms of his, definitely not enough to hurt him or cause anything more than a brief jolt. He'd only fell because he'd been so shocked but now that the shock had worn off, so had his playful attitude.
Johnny stood his ground, even as the larger boy rose and saw that the normal sneer was gone from his face and in its place was a frown and narrowed eyes. It took every ounce of his willpower not to run on the spot. When he lowered his hand at him, he flinched and closed his eyes, awaiting whatever punishment that was coming his way.
"That punch was pulling to the left."
"...Say wha?" Well that certainly caught him off guard.
"Your punch. It's leaning to the left." he reached and grabbed his smaller wrist and proceeded to walk in the direction opposite of his destination "Com' on."
"Where are we goin'?" Johnny asked, writhing in the bully's superior grip.
"My house. Duh."
Upcoming Intersection.
"You're kidding?!" Dukey cried out between fits of hysterical laughter
"Yeah and then I had to break out the hedge clippers and those snapped in two! That's when I took a chainsaw to it..." Susan herself was finding it difficult to explain her story without breaking down as well.
After they're reunion, they had caught up on the ends and out of their currently insane lives as well as what their respective wardens. She also, begrudgingly, thanked Wacko for the chance to talk to someone she was familiar to and they're once-a-day meetings were something she looked forward to greatly. Ideas about escape had been tossed around but neither believed that they were currently in any position to attempt such a venture. So they're most immediate concern had become making sure that they didn't do anything that might tamper with their captors' suspicion.
Finally, they managed to outcome they fit long enough to calm down. Wiping a tear from his eyes, the dog took a long, slow slurp from his coffee mug. Smooth cinnamon with a hint of cream and dash of flavor essence of bacon. He set the mug down with a satisfied smirk , wondering just how the brunette teen managed to get such flavor in such a small vessel.
Susan smiled as well, drinking a cup of Wacko's newest concoction 'Sippin' Syrup Sunshine' that was designed to boost natural noradrenaline and adrenaline while recharging the cells in the brain and allowing one to stay awake while also getting the rest they needed to function. She was certain that if this ever hit the shelves, people would tear each apart for so much as a sip.
She sat the cup down, however, when she noticed a bandage on Dukey's right forearm.
"Let me guess," getting his attention "Mittens?"
Dukey sighed and returned his cup to the table top. Even with the agreement Louis had brokered with the feline, he still had to return to his service whenever he was needed. When he hadn't been called for two days, he'd thought the cat had lost interest in him; of course he should have seen the ignorance in such thinking. Halfway through the third, the tyrannical maniac had barged in and demanded his assistance. When he returned, he had several new scratches and even a bite mark or two.
Mittens had definitely not lost interest in him. If anything, he was even more interested in him now. He'd leave him alone just long enough for him to believe himself safe before he brutally shattered that way of thinking and completely started anew. It was his way of punishing the vile mutt and breaking his will bit by bit. And Susan had to literally be restrained whenever the cat so much as looked in her direction. Not that he could blame her.
He lifted the injured limb and gave it a poke, cringing slightly "I knocked over a plant and he clawed me." he chuckled lightly "He was actually aiming for my face, but I managed to block in time. Canine instincts and all that."
Susan didn't find it funny "If I ever get my hands on that worthless excuse of genetic genius, I'll skin him and use what's left as raw materials for my drones bio-fuel."
Dukey smiled despite himself. Ever since they came here, Susan had become increasingly protective of him. He never truly would've called themselves friends before hand, but hey, spend enough time with something and you get attached to it. There was suddenly a loud blare and he turned to see Louis leaning against the wall and tapping his watch. Giving the red head girl a quick hug, he followed after his partner and with an 'a-hem', she reluctantly did the same.
Yield.
Johnny had to say he was genuinely surprised. From his previous visit to Bumper's abode, he had though the inside would look as run down as the outside had appeared to be. The neatly painted walls, decorative plates, and masterful woven rugs had proven him wrong, however. Everything had, really, except Boomer's room.
Clothes were hung off any spare hook, toys were tossed about, and unfinished homework assignments lay sprawled across the floor and long forgotten. In a corner of the room was a glass tank, a green lizard basking in the warmth of its heat lamp. Johnny recoiled at the sight of the creature, images of his last encounter with the creature sending willies up his spine. Scanning the room, he quickly seized a spot on the bed that wasn't completely covered in grime and deposited himself. His host rummaged through a pile, flinging various items across the room.
"Um, Bumper?" Johnny asked as he avoided a stray sock "Not that I don't like not getting beat up whenever I'm around you, but why did you bring me to your house?"
He didn't answer, only continuing to rummage through his belongings before finally emerging with a triumphant grin. Once again he confiscated his hands and proceeded to slip something unto them. When Johnny pulled them away, he saw that he was now wearing black fingerless gloves. They were a bit loose, but they wouldn't fall off and they have plenty of room to move about in.
"Here." Johnny rotated his head and watched as a punching bag appeared from seemingly nowhere "Hit it."
Johnny stared blankly ahead, blinking his eyes before continuing to stare. After a moment, he complied and reared back and hurled his fist into the bag.
"Ow! What's this thing made of, concrete!?" Johnny asked as he gripped his hand
"Sand actually." Bumper replied casually "Now hit it again. That last hit was pathetic."
"Oh, yeah? How about this?" he swung, putting whole body into the hit
"...Slightly less pathetic."
Stop Sign ahead.
Mary drug herself into house and closed the door with what little strength she had left. The Susan Bot had malfunctioned nearly five times during school and another two on the way home. She had dutifully decided that once she managed to crawl up the steps, she look through her sister's notes and make sure to fix every little thing that could possible could or would go wrong with it. She glanced into the kitchen and saw that the aroma of fermenting meat and the silhouette of her father were absent. She sighed and started her trek up the stairs.
After what had passed as the most exhausting, pain-riddled climb up the tortuously bare oak steps, she hauled her form over the top and deposited herself on the mercifully carpeted floor. Her vision was hazy, her sight slipping in out as she quickly surrendered to her tired body's demands for rest. It wouldn't be the strangest place she'd fallen asleep in.
BOOM! Mary abruptly sat up and rose to her feet. That was a chemical explosion that was coming from her room. True, it had been reinforced with everything their monthly funding from the institute would allow, but that didn't mean it could defend against everything and dealing things of chemical nature always made things a matter of urgency. She rocketed through the door and came upon a most peculiar sight.
Eugene was crouch over the ashes of what use to be Susan's bed, face blackened with soot and other undesirable muck. His hair was frozen in a blown back position and his outfit was now riddled with holes of all kinds and marred beyond repair. His eyes were pinpricks, still fixated on the spot where his beloved had rested. Then, by the laws of comedic physics, he fell over with a loud and painful thud. Mary didn't know whether to burst into hysterical laughter or groan at the complete absurdity of the situation.
She knew that her sister had treated the boy like a phobia and had taken precautions to avoid him at all costs. One such precaution was to install a bio-bomb into her bed that released acidic agents to destroy her bed as Eugene had touched it and therefore it must be burned and to also send a contained burst of explosives at the directions her intruder had came from. Mary had called it overkill, since Johnny would never allow him more than two feet near her unless absolutely necessary. Susan had said that it was better safe than sorry.
As she watched the smothering genius on the floor, she decided that the situation called from a groan and walked over to him. Reaching into her pocket, she produced a large orb filled with a blue liquid with an extendable pipe protruding from the side. Pressing one of the many buttons, the charred Eugene was promptly doused with a jet of high pressurized water, cleaning him off and spending him into a scramble.
"Eugene, why were you in our room?" Mary asked "Don't tell me you were trying to sniff Susan stuff or something."
"No! For your information, I was searching for some fresh genetic material so we could improve the efficiency of the bio-scan! I'm in love with your sister but even I can see the importance of this situation!" he snapped back at her, folding his arms
Mary stared at him briefly and tapped a finger to her mouth. A fresher DNA sample would give them a more accurate search seeing as how the samples they had were from the newly finished lab and most likily were contaminated with who knows what while a sample from their room would be far more sterile.
"That's...actually pretty good thinking. Good thinking, Eugene." Mary said with a smile
She was expecting the usual 'It's Bling-Bling Boy!', but was surprised when he said nothing at all. Instead he looked at her like she told him the sky was raining cookies and chocolate milk. He shook his head and quickly left the room, Mary following behind shortly before halting as she saw Johnny hauling himself up the stairs, almost as tired as she was.
"Where have you been?"
"Boxing practice." Johnny responded before trudging to his room and shutting the door tight.
Mary gave a perplexed look before shrugging and continuing on to the lab. The duo worked well into the night, scanning around the globe only to come up empty handed every time. Eugene had insisted the failures had been due to his own miscalculations, but Mary knew better. Wacko was a genius. One of the most brilliant minds she'd ever encountered in all her thirteen years. If he wasn't certifiably insane and hellbent on destroying her family, she might actually admire him. But he and so she couldn't.
The moon had risen well past its course before the two retired to the bunk-beds stationed in the lab. As she lied in the bed and attempted to find sleep, her mind kept drifting back to the mumbling voice below her. Eugene had been acting strangely, even for him, and she had decided that figuring out the reason would be more than enough to help keep her mind off her sister. And what he'd said in her bedroom had confused her.
'That's the first time anyone's complimented me.'
Author's Notes: Sorry if the chapter's flow was a little choppy, I had real block with this chapter for some reason. But moving on, I've decided to wrap this story up in about...14 to 15 chapters. That means that this adventures going into overdrive soon, mostly because I wants to finish before school starts again so except some rapid updates over the few days. Once this story's done, I get to move on to another to fill up the Johnny Test files. TTFN!
