Chapter Three.

Boomhauer sat near his deflated friend, and sighed in anticipation of the bullshit to come. Not one of his compatriots could understand him, and so his pleas for peace fell on deaf ears. Even so, he could not abandon his friends when they needed him most. He was relieved, however, to have this one moment of respite, and welcomed the change of pace. He knew it would not last, for he realized some insanity was soon to come crashing down from the accursed heavens. Such was his lot in life, but he was happy for even this brief moment of calm. He rested his hand upon the flattened shoulder of his incapacitated friend, and reassured him that his strength, as well as his skeleton, would be returned to him soon. Boomhauer looked up towards the ashen skies, and marveled at how, even after such tragedy, the world still held such beauty. It was a world worth defending, to be sure, and he truly believed that his friends could save it. His confidence in himself was less so, as he that little of his own combat abilities. He placed his faith in those he cared for, and fought with all that he had in their defence. Fate had not proven kind to him these past few years, and he sought to ensure the horrors of those days long past were never to repeat. It was as he began to reflect on his sordid past that Bill raised him a simple question.

"Am I a burden to you all?"

Boomhauer was shocked at the sudden severity of Bill's words. Never had he expected such talk from one of his teammates. He looked down towards his partner and asked himself that same question. The question meant for Bill, yet applicable also to Boomhauer, was one born of fear. Perhaps they feared failing those they cared for. Perhaps they dreaded being left behind.

"ImmatellyouthisrightnowyouveneverheldanyonebackbutyourselfwiththattalkofyoursyouneedtorealizeyouarebetterthanyoubelieveandIhavefaithinanythingyouwilleverattemptsolistenwellboyeveryoneherecaresmoreaboutyouthanyoucanpossiblyeverknow."

His speech was a flood of indescribable sound to the dim witted Bill, and as such most of the message was lost. Even so he understood the emotion behind them, perhaps more so than Boomhauer himself. Bill saw the care Boomhauer's pure heart held within, but also the insecurities that only another familiar with the affliction could detect. Bill smiled warmly at his old friend, and resolved to push himself as far as he needed to for his he was able to stand, he would do so proudly. If fear was the stigma of a coward, and if facing it was the trial of a true friend, then Bill would not mind being either.

Boomhauer saw the fire in Bill's eyes, and marveled at the inner strength only he could friends would fight to their last, and so would he. The two longtime friends silently assured one another of their conviction and awaited the next stretch of their journey without qualm. However, it was after this soul searching that a great movement could be felt deep beneath the crust of the earth. A great crash was heard in the distance, and Boomhauer stood to face this new development. He would stand here in defence of the vulnerable Bill, should the battle move here, and was thankful for the brief moment of rest he was able to enjoy. Boomhauer looked towards the distance, and was greeted by the sight of Hank punch a building sized amalgamation of countless skeletons.

Quite a distance from his friends Hank found himself continuously bitch slapping a mass of fused skeletons. The beast let loose a screech similar to the wailings of thousand dieing car engines, and charged headfirst into Hank. The beast connected, and drove downwards, imbedding Hank's body into the ground. The weight of the impact sent forth a great shock wave, forming a great crater in the crust of the earth. Faultlines broke along miles of land, causing earthquakes all along the countryside. The beast stood upon its hind legs, and raised five malformed arms to bring them down again and again onto Hank.

Dale appeared behind the beast, and from his stand rocketed forth countless projectile sandstone shards. They embedded themselves within the external shell of the skeletal monstrosity, and the sharp pain diverted the attention towards himself. The creature slung one of its lumbering arms towards Dale, who was saved only by the pull of gravity forcing him to fall out the arms path. Landing serenely on the floor before, Dale sprinted towards the center of the crater. Reaching the center he picked up Hank's unconscious form, and sprinted towards a nearby ruin. Hiding Hank among the rubble, and beelined away to drag the danger far from his friend.

The beast gave chase to Dale, and as it began to gain upon him Dale stopped dead in his tracks. The forward momentum of the creature carried it far past where it attempted to stop, and found itself standing directly above Dale. Our hero shot a single sharpened boulder upwards, and tore the creature in two. One side fell to the floor motionless, though the other seemed to continue to house it's consciousness. It writhed in agony, however it was alive nonetheless. Dale was drained of power, and could fight no longer. The blast had propelled the creature towards Boomhauer, and attacked him in an attempt to absorb his skeleton. Boomhauer braced himself for the attack, yet it never came. He realized that the attack had been taken by another. Bill.

Standing proud, Bill defied the need for a functioning skeleton. He had materialized his own stand in place of it, and with his own fists he had blocked the great strike.

"Impossible! How could one such as you find the strength to transcend the need for bones!"

"I will break whatever limits are needed. You will fall here!"

Bill grasped the beast's claw, and rushed backwards. He dragged the beast off towards the ruins of a destroyed house, and stood atop it. He looked into the creatures serpentine eyes, and arched himself backwards. Lifting from the ground, the monster began to screech pleas for mercy, yet all Bill could hear were the cries of the thousand lives this beast had taken. His heart burned at the thought of this injustice, and he slammed the great evil into the ground behind him, the shock wave expanding miles outwards.

Bill Walked towards his friends once more, and Boomhauer nearly shed a tear from the sheer pride he felt for his friend. Hank had awoken, and produced an unusual carving that he had been guarding. The team inspected it and could gather nothing of its origin or proper usage. Hank spoke of his encounter with the beast, and the conversation he had had with it before his friends had joined the battle.

"So this beast was an invasive species? From there?"

"Yes Dale, this breed originates from-"

"So we're off?"

"Yes. To Florida."

"God damnit…"