Disclaimer chapters 1 and 2

Chapter 7

Several blocks away from the house of Professor Utonium, Blaine and Brisbaine were in a darkened dank alley. Brisbaine had gotten Blaine to fly them to this alley, only a short distance away, to review his plan one final time to Blaine, even though he had already gone over it with him several times during the speedy and turbulent flight. However, as Brisbaine reviewed, Blaine listened disinterested, leaning against the side of the alley, with his hands behind his head. On Blaine's waist was the belt with orbs Brisbaine had retrieved from the truck.

"Alright…did you get all that?" said Brisbaine, having finished his review. He sounded irritated once he noticed Blaine's attitude.

Blaine smiled and closed his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. I know all that."

"It's very important you do this exactly the way I tell you…everything must be perfect."

Blaine smirked to himself and thought, Won't be too long from now…finally…

"Blaine, did you hear me?" asked Brisbaine, raising his voice.

Blaine closed his eyes.

Don't raise your voice at me, old man, thought Blaine.

Blaine smiled, his expression going directly against his thoughts.

"Whatever you say, sir. Whatever you say."

I won't need you anymore, thought Blaine.

"Well, I'm glad you're attitude has improved," said Brisbaine smiling. "Make sure your belt is on tight enough."

Blaine, humoring Brisbaine, straightened his belt.

"Thanks for the reminder, Dad," said Blaine, smiling.

I know how to wear a belt, you son of a bitch. Who do you think I am? Boomer?

"Well, good. Now…just to be sure, let's review one more time."

Blaine hid his resentment, but inside his head, he scoffed.

This is useless. This is only time taking away from killing Brother. He needs to suffer. He needs to die. It's my right. And I'll be damned if I'll let you interfere, old man. And I need to do it as soon as fucking possible.

However, outside, Blaine still wore that same smile. Behind that smile lurked a troubled, dangerous mind; an unstable, yet intelligent mind that could justify killing through the slightest change of his emotions.

Brisbaine began reviewing his plan, yet again, while Blaine still wore that happy smile.

"So, you see what's at stake here," said Weasel to everyone, after recapping to Coop what was on the video. "Brisbaine is working with these…people to destroy the world. He played us all for fools, planning to turn the Rowdyruffs and the Powerpuffs against each other, just as a diversion, while he began work on that clone army. We were all deceived…even me."

"That little mother fucking Bastard," said Buttercup, angry.

"Buttercup! Language!" said the Professor.

"Well, what do you expect me to say!" said Buttercup. "That 'John' guy is a bastard! He messed with Bunny, he tried to trick us into trying to go off killing each other, and he messed with the Rowdyruffs."

"I thought you didn't care about us," said Brick, remarkably suppressing his rage towards Brisbaine.

"That's beside the point. He's still a bastard."

Boomer looked down at the ground, reflecting on what was said in the video. Suddenly, all of Brisbaine's attitude made sense.

Bubbles stared at Boomer, concerned.

"It all makes sense now," said Boomer, quietly. "No wonder he hated me so much."

"What are you talking about?" said Buttercup, who was slow on the uptake.

"Don't you get it? Because of my…"

He glanced over at Bubbles and stammered.

"…emotions, I wouldn't fight you guys."

"OH! I get it!" said Blossom.

"What? Get what?" asked Buttercup, annoyed that she didn't seem to understand.

"With Boomer not fighting, that means you and the Rowdyruffs wouldn't have been evenly matched. It would have been 3 on 2," explained Weasel. "That means you Girls would have won."

"And Brisbaine wouldn't have his oh so precious distraction," said Brick.

"And that allowed for the possibility that you Girls could simply stop Brisbaine from making his Rowdyruff army," said Dexter.

"And that's why Brisbaine wanted me out of the way…" said Boomer. He suddenly felt relieved that Brisbaine's words to him were all lies.

I'm not useless. thought Boomer. It was just a lie…

For the first time in a while, Boomer felt like he was worth something. His self-esteem was still lacking but now he felt better. Boomer was aware it was an odd feeling to have at such a time, but he couldn't help it. Oddly enough, this was the high point of his day. Brick was there, Bubbles didn't hate him, and nobody was trying to kill him.

But then he remembered what Weasel had said about his double, and his mood receded.

Blaine… thought Boomer.

As he thought, Buttercup spoke.

"So, Brisbaine's plan was almost ruined because Blue had feelings?" said Buttercup.

"Feelings aren't anything to be trifled with," said Weasel. "Wars have been fought because of them. Civilizations destroyed because of them. America was founded on them. Lifetime bonds are made with them. The entire world has been changed more than once because of feelings. They're not to be taken likely."

"Wow…that was poetic…" said Blossom, admiringly.

"It sounded more like something they put on the back of a shampoo bottle," said Buttercup, once again covering up her true feelings with her tough attitude.

"Do you always have to be so cynical?"

"Yes. Yes, I do. So…who were those other guys in the film? The 'Darkstar Council'?"

Weasel looked over at her and shrugged.

"That…I'm afraid I do not know," said Weasel. "But they are obviously not anything we should take lightly."

Dexter, after pondering all this information, said his hypothesis.

"Do you think they were the same guys who helped Mandark? The guys with the robots?"

Buttercup closed her eyes and put her hands behind her head.

"Nah, couldn't be. They can't be behind everything. It's too much of a coincidence."

"Maybe they're simply that good," said Dexter, defending his hypothesis.

Buttercup did not answer. She only shrugged and walked around the porch.

Boomer looked over and saw that Bubbles was slowly moving towards him. Boomer gulped, and tried to relax, like he had earlier.

"Are…you okay?" asked Bubbles, while putting her hand on his arm gently. Boomer's heart felt like a jackhammer.

"Y-yeah…I'm…I'm alright," he said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah…thanks."

"It's okay."

Bubbles bit her bottom lip again, which Boomer had begun to identify as the signal that she was thinking deeply about something.

"Umm…Boomer?"

"Y-yes?" he said, apprehensive.

"About…before…" she began.

However, she was interrupted by a voice.

"Ahh, isn't this a Kodak moment?" said the voice, sarcastically.

Boomer heard the voice and was shocked.

It sounds…just like mine, he thought.

Everyone turned to see the two figures that had appeared on the front yard. The villain in the white coat, Brisbaine, had appeared.

With him was a boy a black suit, with a small "R" emblem near the shoulder area. Boomer recognized it as the same kind of suit all the Rowdyruffs wore. Boomer also noticed something else about the boy.

He looked exactly like him. He wore a devilish smile.

Blaine… thought Boomer. Oh god no…

Meanwhile, light-years away from the earth, Butch sat on an asteroid in the middle of space, deep in thought.

I can't… he thought, angrily.

Butch fell to the ground and punched the surface of the asteroid with all his strength, creating a crack that spread through the surface of the asteroid. He took his anger out on the asteroid; anger he felt towards his brother, as well as himself.

"I CAN'T DO THIS!" he yelled out, angry. After much thought, he come to many realizations. He was angry at the decision he had come to.

"I CAN'T DO THIS!" he repeated.

The large crack began to spread throughout each size of the asteroid. It shook, as the very foundation of the rock began to rupture.

Butch jumped up from the asteroid as it began to crumble in upon itself, causing the smaller rocks on the surface to be swallowed within, until finally the asteroid broke apart and was scattered throughout the cosmos.

Angry at himself and the world, Butch flew out into the dark recesses of space, towards a destination that only he could determine.

"YOU!" yelled out Weasel, furious.

Boomer looked at Brisbaine and his doppelganger, shocked. He felt fear claw into the surface of his brain once again.

Buttercup, being the impulsive and aggressive person she was, waited no time. Upon the sight of Brisbaine, she felt her anger burst from within her. He leapt towards him, green light emitting from her feet. She flew at him, parallel to the ground.

Bubbles saw this and jumped up to join her assault, for she too had anger towards Brisbaine; more anger than Buttercup could even imagine. Bubbles flew at him as well, closing in. She raised her hand and began to charge a ball of blue lightning in her hand.

Brisbaine nudged Blaine, who grudgingly reached for the belt. He quickly pulled out two of the small orbs that lined the belt. He held one in each hand. He looked at Bubbles and Buttercup, both closing in fast, with looks of hate and anger in their eyes. Blaine pushed a small button on the top of each orb and threw them at both the Girls. His superhuman eyesight made aiming extremely easy.

The orbs flew at the Girls as they closed in, and there was a big, blue flash, that temporarily blinded all the onlookers on the porch. Boomer closed his eyes, the light being painful. After a moment, he peaked his eyes open and saw the result of the flash.

He saw that Bubbles and Buttercup were each incased in domes made of blue sparks, like they were trapped in an electric bubble. The sparks flickered throughout the air, like a bug zapper. Through the sparks, he could see Bubbles touch the electricity, and recoil, as if it had caused her pain.

"OW!" she cried, which made Boomer's heart ache. Her voice sounded like it was coming through static, like on a bad television station. "What is this thing?"

Brisbaine stepped forward, not having to fear them anymore.

"It's something to get you out of my way, deary," said Brisbaine.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BRISBAINE?" yelled Weasel, loudly. Near Weasel, Blossom inhaled air, obviously preparing to use her ice breath on Brisbaine and Blaine momentarily. Brick was nearby, summoning all the energy who could, as if he wanted to shoot all his rage at Brisbaine.

"Oh, right, that reminds me," said Brisbaine, mockingly. "Blaine?"

Blaine smiled and picked another one from his belt.

"OH NO YOU DON'T," yelled Buttercup. Buttercup tried to use her eye lasers to break through, but it only succeeded in making the sparks flare outward.

Boomer had finally realized he was doing nothing.

Do something, stupid, he thought to himself.

Blaine threw another orb into the air. It sailed past the domes Bubbles and Buttercup were incased in. Boomer saw it go over his head. He flew out of the porch, raised his hand, quickly charged some energy, and shot a blue spark at it.

Blaine saw this coming and shot a blue beam from his finger. It intercepted the blast that Boomer had let out, causing the energy to create a small explosive reaction, as the energy negated each other. The orb sailed past the explosion unaffected.

The orb landed on the Utonium's porch and created another large flash. Boomer averted his eyes. When the flash subsided, he saw that Coop, the Professor, Weasel, Brick, Blossom, Dexter, and Otto were all caught in this new dome. Boomer was luckily out of range.

However, Boomer thought something.

Wait…my clone…he saw reacted pretty quick…did he expect me to do that? And if he did, why didn't he just through another one of those…things?

Boomer did not have time to ponder this further at the moment. Weasel, from inside the dome, yelled out at Brisbaine.

"What is this!" yelled Weasel, through the static.

Brisbaine, no longer having to fear attack from the Girls, replied this comment calmly.

"Portable Electronic Containment Fields, or P.E.C.F's for short. Advanced technology built by the Cluster. They're to stop you all from…interfering. I imagine you already know all about them, don't you Weasel?"

Weasel did not reply.

"You know, I part of me hoped you were still alive after I made Blaine blow up your chopper. Because, if you had died, I would never be able to see you suffer. Fate is in my favor, it seems."

Brisbaine noticed Brick nearby Weasel, trying to break through the field futilely.

"Hmm...I didn't expect to see you here, Brick. Perhaps your smarter than I gave you credit for. I seem to be underestimating people all over the place today."

"Shut up, you son of a bitch," said Brick.

Brisbaine smiled.

"How so unlike you, Brick? Losing your temper like that. You prototypes are becoming quite the thorn in my side. First Boomer's feelings, now your...interference. Seems that Butch is the only one who knows how to obey and mind his own business. You would think that eventually, children would learn to listen to their fathers."

"You're no dad of mine you son of a mother fucking bitch and bastard! I can't believe you you fag!"

"Well, no matter. This is yet another minor inconvience. I still have your backup, thankfully. You can die, since that seems to be what you desire."

The sight of Brisbaine acting so smug angered Boomer. He raised his hand and began to charge energy in his hand.

"Let them go, Brisbaine," said Boomer, trying not to sound nervous or afraid.

Brisbaine saw Boomer charge the energy and he let out a laugh that cut through Boomer like a knife.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, child," said Brisbaine. "If you even try to do attack me, I will have Blaine blast these fields from the outside. A blast from outside the field strong enough could cause the electric energy to overload and cave in upon, detonating it all inside. I don't think your friends will live very long after being imploded inside such a small, confined area.

Boomer, ashamed he could not do anything, lowered his hand.

Why…why can I never do anything? He thought.

"I thought so," said Brisbaine, after Boomer lowered his hand.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU," interrupted Buttercup, once again repeating her futile attempts to break through the fields.

"Try all you want, Powerpuff, but you won't be able to break through that," said Brisbaine, walking around the field, taunting her. "Energy from the inside of the dome only strengthens the field. Only energy from outside can cause any real damage."

"Why Brisbaine?" yelled Weasel. "WHY DO THIS?"

Brisbaine looked over at Weasel.

"Why? Why what? Why want to do this to the Rowdys? Why manipulate everyone? Why go through all this trouble? It's obvious isn't it? I want control."

Brisbaine walked closer to Weasel.

"My work before now has been overshadowed. Everytime I made a discovery, it made no difference. It all seemed insignificant. I sought to unravel the inner workings of the human genome, but what did everyone care about?"

Brisbaine pointed at the Professor.

"Three girls created by shear buffoonery. Nobody appreciates true genius. So…long ago I realized that I had to…learn from the competition. If I could not be appreciated, I would MAKE myself appreciated. Upon chance, I happened upon the Darkstar Council, who shared my own ideals."

"So..." said Brick. "You wanted to do all this...kill us all...take over the world...just because you're feel fucking insecure? You bastard!"

"Why not?" replied Brisbaine. "If Napoleon could do it, why couldn't I? But it's not just about that. Don't you see the power of this? Within my grasp, I have the ability to clone beings made of pure Chemical X. Chemical X…energy reduced to its simplest form. An army that has pure, liquid energy coursing through every vain in their body. With that army, the world would be unified. The world would bask at the genius that could create such power."

Suddenly, an unexpected voice shouted out.

"YOU'RE AN INSANE SON OF A FUCKING BITCH!"

Brisbaine turned back and saw Bubbles yelling, tears in her eyes. Everyone looked over at Bubbles, astonished at this change of character.

"You want to kill him…you want to kill Boomer…just because you want people to like you? How could you be so selfish? You wanted to kill all of them…and you don't even care! You're no genius. You're…you're…WORTHLESS."

Brisbaine stared at her, stunned for a moment. Then he laughed once again.

"Worthless?" he said. "I think not. But do not worry…once Boomer is gone…you will join him soon enough. After all…his inconvenient feelings are partially your fault, after all."

Boomer's eyes widened. He glared, beginning to feel sparks course through his palms again.

"Don't you talk to her like that," said Boomer, furious.

Brisbaine looked back at him, taking notice of his rising energy.

"Young man, have you forgotten I can kill your friends with a wave of my hand? Perhaps I should make Blaine destroy some of your friends before I turn him on you…just to show you."

Brisbaine looked over at Buttercup. He pointed at her.

"BLAINE! DESTROY THAT ONE! SHOW HIM NOT TO DEFY ME!"

Blaine looked over at Brisbaine and smiled, but he did not move.

"What are you doing? I gave you an order," said Brisbaine.

Blaine's smiled widened.

"Shut the hell up," said Blaine, cheerfully.

"WHAT?" said Brisbaine, furious.

Before Brisbaine could react, Blaine pulled another orb from the belt and hurled it at Brisbaine. The blue flash blinded Boomer yet again, and once it receded, Brisbaine was inside the field. He was yelling over the static.

"BLAINE! RELEASE ME THIS INSTANT!" said Brisbaine.

Blaine put his hand to his head in a mocking manor, as if he was thinking.

"Um…let me think about that…how about…this?" said Blaine, before flipping Brisbaine an indecent hand gesture. That's right. The middle one. The 'I'm #1' sign.

Boomer looked at Blaine, astonished. This clone was nothing like the fake Butch; this one seemed disturbed...but intelligent. Blaine's face was identical to his. His voice was exactly the same. But his demeanor, his attitude was completely opposite of Boomers. It was an eerie feeling.

Boomer was confused. Weasel had made it seem like Blaine intended to kill him, because Brisbaine willed it. But Blaine seemed to not care for Brisbaine.

What does this mean? He thought. What is he thinking? Whose side is this guy on?

Brisbaine gnawed his teeth, furious.

"I AM YOUR CREATOR! I'M IN CHARGE! LET ME FREE!" he said.

Blaine looked upwards and chuckled.

"You're in charge?" he said, amused. "Since when? Do you have super-strength?"

Brisbaine did not answer; He knew Blaine knew he did not.

"Can you shoot energy from your hands? Can you fly? Can you do anything yourself? No. You need me. The way I see it, I run this show!"

Brisbaine, becoming more angry by each passing second, yelled.

"You double-crosser!"

Blaine maintained his smile as he leaned towards Brisbaine, the field being the only separation between their faces.

"Do you not understand? Maybe we should review…" he said, cynically. "You see…you can't do anything. I hold all the cards. All you do is talk, and that takes up my valuable time. I've heard enough of your repetative whining for two lifetimes."

"When I get out of here…"

"Don't worry, 'dad.' You'll get what you want."

Boomer looked up at this, confused. Brisbaine also had a similar expression, as well as everyone listening.

"What?" said Brisbaine.

"I said, you'll get what you want. That is to say, Boomer in a coffin. I just wanted you to know one thing…and one thing only."

For the first time, Blaine broke his smile and looked dead serious.

"You need to know…I'm in charge. You're nothing. You're never be anything except nothing. And just to remind you, the only thing keeping you alive right now is that I don't feel like wasting my energy on you. I have far bigger fish to fry."

Blaine walked away from Brisbaine, who had a shocked expression on his face.

Boomer looked at Blaine. He doesn't like Brisbaine, but he's doing what he wants. Blaine wanted to kill him.

But…why? Thought Boomer. Why is he like this?

All eyes were on Blaine. He turned to Boomer.

"Now then…where were we, Brother?" said Blaine. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced."

Blaine mockingly bowed his head.

"My name is Blaine. I'll be your murderer today."

Blaine's words cut through Boomer's psyche like a magnum right against the temple of his head. The words of this bad twin, using his own voice in such a manner filled Boomer with an unexplainable fear. It was as if he was watching a nightmare, seeing himself do things which he would never do. But this was not a nightmare; Boomer was awake, and unfortunately, the world itself is more frightening than the darkest nightmare.

Boomer looked upon his doppelganger and gulped.

Why…why does he want to kill me? Thought Boomer.

Boomer was about to summon the courage to ask this, but Blaine cut him short.

"I know what you're thinking," said Blaine, behind that sinister smile.

Boomer looked up from the ground. Boomer was not used to hearing anyone identify with his feelings, because he felt no one understood him, with the possible exception of Bubbles.

"What? Did I shock you?" continued Blaine. "Come on, think about it. We're both virtually identical, at least in the genetic sense. We're both made up of the same chromosomes, genomes, and everything, so logically we must think somewhat alike."

Boomer finally overcame enough of his fear to speak.

"You and I are not alike. You're…"

"Crazy?" finished Blaine. "Maybe I am. You really shouldn't say that about me."

"I-I didn't say that. You did."

"But you were going to, weren't you?"

"No. I was going to say a maniac, but crazy works too." Said Boomer, upset.

"Well, the way I see it, you've got a lot of gall to call someone ELSE crazy," said Blaine.

At this, Bubble's voice rang out from behind the electric dome.

"Hey! Don't you talk to him like that!" shouted Bubbles.

Under normal circumstances, Boomer would have probably blushed at such a caring display of affection towards himself. However, at the moment, the feelings from Boomer's heart were currently drowned out by the fear in his brain.

Blaine turned and looked back at Bubbles, not expecting her to shout out. Blaine slowly walked over to her field.

"Listen, girl," said Blaine. "I've no problem with you, at the moment. I suggest you stay out of this, for your own safety. This moment belongs to me and Brother. You don't belong in this. Three's a crowd, as they say."

"Why don't you shut your face before I break it?" said Buttercup from the other dome nearby, furious.

Blaine did not acknowledge Buttercup's comment and continued speaking.

"As I was saying before that imbecile interrupted, I'd appreciate you to be voluntarily silent before I make it physically impossible for you to speak."

Boomer heard that, and some part of his brain click. Boomer found a well in his brain that contained all of his pent up anger. Anger towards Butch, Brisbaine, everyone, and released it. Boomer suddenly found the strength to yell out, with all the force it was possible to put in his own voice.

"DON'T EVER TALK TO HER LIKE THAT! EVER!"

Blaine turned back, looking amused.

"Oh," he said, advancing on Boomer. "Have I struck a nerve, Brother? I thought I would. But…before you react…I would like to tell you one very important thing…"

Blaine stood in front of Boomer, looking as if he was about to say something. But instead, Blaine lept off the ground quickly and shot his leg out into the left side of Boomer's face. Boomer was propelled across the ground, skidding against dirt, grass and rocks on the lawn. Boomer could vaguely hear Bubbles yell over the sound of his head ringing.

Blaine looked down on him, no longer smiling. He wore the look he gave Brisbaine only moments earlier.

"Don't…EVER raise your voice to me, Brother!" he said. "In case you haven't noticed, I can get offended easily. And, unlike with you, when I get offended, people get hurt. And I don't mean emotionally."

Boomer slowly brought himself up, putting his hand to his head. He looked back to Blaine, who looked like he was preparing himself for a fight.

"Stand up, Brother," he said. "And face your death head on!"

Boomer crouched down and looked into Blaine's eyes. An odd feeling came over Boomer. His eyes were exactly like his own in the physical sense, but there was something different about them. Something darker, in a way other than its shade of color.

"Why?" asked Boomer, wincing at his headache. "Why are you doing this?"

At this, Brisbaine, who had been silent for sometime, shouted out.

"He's doing it because he's knows how to take orders," said Brisbaine. "Although his attitude leaves much to be desired. But-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU WORTHLESS SACK OF BULLSHIT," shouted Blaine, turning back towards him.

Through the field, Boomer could see Brisbaine had an annoyed expression on his face. Regardless of this, he did shut up.

Blaine turned back to Boomer.

"Why?" he said. "Why doesn't matter now. Telling you why would only waste time. You couldn't possibly understand."

Boomer did not like Blaine one bit, but Boomer couldn't bring himself to fight him unless he knew why this boy, this person who looked exactly like him, hated him with such passion.

"I…if you're going to try to kill me, I think I deserve an explanation," said Boomer.

"You don't deserve anything, aside from despair."

Boomer looked over at the field Bubbles was in. She was staring at him, with a worried look on her face. Boomer looked back at her, hoping that their small eye contact could offer her some comfort; however, Boomer doubted this.

Boomer looked at Blaine, who had moved so close to Boomer he was almost on top of him. Boomer remained crouched down.

"Get up," said Blaine, irritably.

Boomer said nothing.

Blaine threw his hand back and backhanded Boomer across his jaw. Boomer's face fell, and he felt blood gush in his mouth.

"I said, get up. Now!" said Blaine.

Brick yelled out from the largest field.

"Get your hands off my brother, dammit!"

Bubbles joined the chorus.

"Stop hurting him!"

Buttercup yelled as well.

"You know, you really are a fucking asshole, you bitchy bastard!"

The Professor, Dexter, Weasel, Otto, and Coop from the largest field joined in.

"How could you?" yelled the Professor.

"You vile piece of filth!" yelled Weasel.

"You can't do that to our friend!" yelled Dexter.

"You're a terrible person!" yelled Otto.

"That's not cool, dude. That's just not cool," yelled Coop.

They continued to yell, their distinct voices clashing together to make a loud, barely decipherable mass of noise. Blaine heard this and his left eye began to twitch. he looked down for a moment, then threw his head upward and yelled out, throwing a fit.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! WHY ARE SUCH LOWER LIFEFORMS BORN WITH SUCH LOUD VOCAL CORDS!"

Blaine reached down and grabbed Boomer by the collar, as everyone else continued to shout.

"Tell them to shut up!" said Blaine. "Tell them to stay out of this! I have to do this! That cannot be changed!"

"Why the hell not?" said Boomer, spitting out blood on the ground.

"Tell them to shut up!" said Blaine, clearly irritated by the shouting.

Boomer noticed Blaine's irritation and used it to his advantage.

"I'm not telling them anything until you tell me why you're doing this," said Boomer.

Blaine stared at Boomer for a moment, then began to laugh. He let go off Boomer's collar, causing him to slump back to the ground.

"You're all so stupid," he said, laughing. He turned away from Blaine. "Why do you think? I'm curious. Why? Because I'm born that way? That I'm just some homicidal maniac? That I'm just plain evil?"

Boomer didn't reply, because he honestly didn't know.

Blaine dropped his head, laughing.

"Let me tell you something, Brother. 'Evil' is merely a hallow word used by the ignorant to justify themselves as righteous. Right and wrong do not exist. Good and evil are make-believe. There is no conscience…at least not for me."

Boomer recalled what the Professor had said earlier.

"The definition of a sociopath is that he can't tell right from wrong."

He wasn't kidding, thought Boomer.

Blaine turned back to Boomer.

"I mean, my God," he said, still giggling. "You really can't figure it out, can you? Damn, I'm ashamed to share you genes."

Boomer stared back at him, thinking about how mysterious and scary his clone was.

"Pop quiz, hotshot," said Blaine, smiling. "How old are you?"

Boomer raised an eyebrow.

"What does that have to do-"

Blaine's expression changed quick as lightning. He glared at Boomer.

"ANSWER THE QUESTION! WHEN DID THEY FIRST START MAKING YOU? HOW LONG!"

Boomer flinched, despite himself. He tried to recall when how long it was since he was 'brought back'.

"T-two years, I guess," said Boomer.

"And how long were you in that tube? How long were you in there?" said Blaine, with mock curiosity.

Boomer thought for a minute.

"Two months, I gue-"

"Two months," shouted Blaine. "Did everybody hear that? Two months!"

He turned back to Boomer and got uncomfortably close to him.

"Do you get it now?" whispered Blaine, with malice. "Do you understand?"

Before Boomer could say anything, Blaine turned away again.

"Of course you don't," he said. "Let me give you a hint. Got your fucking pen and paper ready?"

Blaine turned back to him.

"Here's the hint. You and I are the same age. Exactly the same age. Born, if you can even call it that, at the exact same time. Get it yet? Do you see?"

Boomer didn't see whatever it was he was supposed to be seeing. Blaine instantly realized this and got angry once again.

"Of course you don't! You're so simple. So blind. Which, ironically, is part of the reason for this."

Blaine clapped his hands extremely close to Boomer's face, much to Boomer's shock.

"Wake up!" said Blaine. "Alright, let me ask you this. We were both born at the exact same time. You were released from that tube after two months. We're both technically two years old. So…"

Blaine leaned in close, glaring at Boomer. Boomer's eyes widened and began to feel like he was about to be hurt not long from now.

"Where do you think I've been during all the time you were out of your tube?"

Boomer looked down, trying to assemble Blaine's disjointed message.

"Do you know?" asked Blaine. "I'll tell you. I've still been in that damn tube! Slowly growing…but unlike you, I was completely aware of all of it!"

Boomer looked up in Blaine's fiery eyes, shocked.

Blaine closed his eyes and snickered.

"Now do you see? Because I was made to be just a fucking back-up, I've been stuck in that tube. For two years, completely aware of my surroundings, unable to do anything."

Blaine pointed his thumb behind him, towards Brisbaine.

"Thankfully, that idiot let me out, after all that time."

Boomer looked down, and tried to imagine being trapped in a tube for two years. Being able to see others go by, unable to move, floating there, all too aware of each passing second. Boomer couldn't help but feel some pity for Blaine.

"Yes, being stuck there was a bitch," continued Blaine. "But that's not why I'm doing this…no…it's because of you!"

Without warning, Blaine grabbed Boomer by the hair and lifted him up. Boomer winced, as the pulling intensified his headache. Bubbles shouted out angrily.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HIM?"

"Illustrating a point," said Blaine, glaring back at her. He turned his attention back to Boomer.

"You and I are so very different," he said.

Boomer looked back at him and couldn't agree more. Blaine's grip on his hair tightened.

"Here is a perfect example of why I'm not your biggest fan," continued Blaine. "I've been talking for a while now. Any sane person who knew how to take advantage of the trust offered to them would have used that opportunity to attack, get the jump on their opponent, save their worthless friends.

"But not you. Why? Why not?"

Boomer looked back at him, wincing in pain.

"I…I felt sorry for you. I couldn't just…just attack you without a reason."

Blaine drove his spare fist into Boomer's stomach. Boomer's head bent down and his mouth spewed out blood. He coughed repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Blaine continued his monologue.

"That is why we are different. You let your feelings get in the way of the opportunities offered to you. Sentimentality just cost you the chance to save your friends."

Boomer coughed. Even though Boomer didn't like to admit it, Blaine was right, and he felt like scum for that.

"And it goes deeper than that. While you moved about the world, I lied in that goddamned tube. I was completely aware of everything you were doing in that godforsaken lab. Your existence is a waste. You had the freedom and power to do whatever you wanted, make this world whatever you wanted. And what do you do?"

Blaine shook Boomer by the hair, back and forth.

"You stand there silent, looking like an idiot, watching events pass you buy, forsaking any and all control. You wish the world was some way, but you lacked any will to make it the way you wanted. You always let those feelings of yours get in the way. Fear, sentimentality, inadequacy, self-pity. It is an insult to life itself.

"Even though I had the will to do something, YOU were the one allowed to roam free about the world. I should have been free. And now you expect me, after watching you waste such freedom, to allow you to continue living? I cannot allow something with my face, with my voice, to be such a waste. That's just an insult."

Blaine lifted up his spare hand and drew power into it.

"We have godlike strength. We have the power to do anything. The only difference between us is that you allow your conscience, your feelings, your sensitivity, and above all, your fear to get to you. I am not going to make the same mistake."

Blaine closed his fist and punched Boomer again in the stomach, making more blood spew from his mouth.

"If I want something, I will use this power to make it so. If I want something, it will be mine. If I believe something to be wrong, I will destroy it. I will use this power to fulfill all my desires. I will take full advantage of my freedom and will. After all, the way I see it, with all my power, this is my world; you all just happen to live in it. Got that assholes?"

Boomer meditated on these words. Any previous pity he had for Blaine melted away once he heard his ideology.

It's not right…I can't let him do that, thought Boomer.

Boomer, trying to ignore the pain he was in, summoned the strength to move his foot in an upward arc. Unfortunately, Blaine saw this and grabbed it. He let go of Boomer's hair and threw Boomer's foot up the air, making him flip back.

Boomer took advantage of his temporary mobility to become airborne.

"Y…you're wrong, Blaine," yelled Boomer, with all the force he could muster. "You think that just because you have power, you can do whatever you want. That just because you're strong, you're right?"

"No," said Blaine, assuming a fighting pose. "I don't think I'm right because I'm strong. I just happen to believe I'm right, and happen to have the strength to assert that belief. It's quite a timesaver."

"You're wrong," said Boomer, looking down, balling his fist. "I didn't know what was right for a long time…but now I do. I think I do. We can't just use this power for ourselves. To do what we want! Looking out for only yourself…that never leads to happiness…I've come to learn…that making those close to you…making those close to you happy…is the only way to attain true happiness."

Down below, Bubbles looked up at Boomer in admiration. And several yards away, Brick looked up at Boomer as well, envying his conviction.

"Using your power for only yourself fulfills nothing," said Boomer. "You think my feelings prevent me from having happiness, and a while ago, I might have thought you were right. But now I've come to realize something. Love is the only true happiness there is. These feelings stop me from doing things, and sometimes the fear does get to me. But now I know these feelings can make me overcome that, and make me stronger than ever possible. Strength is nothing unless you have someone to use it FOR."

Down below, everyone in the fields looked up at Boomer, shocked at his sudden courage. Even Brisbaine was astounded at how much he had changed.

"The powers I was born with were amazing," said Boomer. "But, now the strength of my heart makes me even stronger. Blaine…"

Boomer balled his fist up more and yelled out.

"WITHOUT ANYONE TO USE YOUR POWER FOR, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW YOUR TRUE STRENGTH! WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO FIGHT FOR YOU FIGHT HARDER TO BE WITH THAT SOMEONE!"

Blaine looked up at Boomer and scoffed.

"I did not come here for your idiotic poetry," he said. "And your talk of the power of heart only makes you look like a deranged Captain fucking Planet…but…"

Blaine looked down, smirking.

"If that is truly how you feel, perhaps we should test this theory of yours out."

Boomer raised his eyebrows.

"What are you-" he said, but Blaine interrupted once again.

"You claim love makes you stronger, that it can give you the strength to defeat me. Well…how about this?"

Blaine reached behind his back towards his belt, and felt around. After a moment, he tripped a button.

Nearby, Bubbles' field began to flicker and fade. She looked at it perplexed. Before she could react, the field was down and Blaine zoomed quickly towards her, moving so fast he was a blur. He got behind her and put his left arm around her neck, restraining her. Bubbles winced as her throat had the pressure of his arm put on it.

Boomer looked down in horror.

"BUBBLES!" said Boomer.

Boomer quickly flew down, blue light zooming from his feet. As he closed in on them, Blaine lifted his right hand, and blue sparks began to cascade from it as the power filled it.

"One more inch and she's a corpse!" yelled Blaine, grinning.

Boomer reluctantly slowed down and stopped. He glared at Blaine. Not a few hours ago, Boomer didn't think it was possible for him to truly hate anyone; now he was proven wrong. He had Bubbles. His Bubbles. No one was allowed to touch Bubbles without her consent, or his.

"Where is that strength of love now?" said Blaine. "Love is a weakness, you see. It is no strength. I wish to defeat you, Brother. But there is more than one way to defeat someone. Brother…the choice is yours."

"What are you getting at, Blaine?" said Boomer.

"You have a choice. This is your ultimatum. If you try to attack me, the girl dies."

Boomer looked at Bubbles, who was struggling against Blaine, prodding, struggling, and violently attacking against Blaine to try to escape, but Blaine endured the pain of her attempts; he was far too determined to let go at those attempts. She stared out to Boomer, clearly feeling ashamed she was like this.

"But…I will let her go, Brother. On one condition…"

"Anything! Just name it!" yelled Boomer.

"I'll let her go…all you have to do…is take your finger, like the one I have now..."

Boomer listened. He was prepared to do anything.

"All you had to do," said Blaine, smiling. "Is take your finger and blow your brains out! It's your choice. And I warn you, I'm not a patient person."

Boomer looked at Blaine. Then he looked at Bubbles. He looked around at all his friends still in the fields.

Boomer looked down at his hand.

"Tick tock, Brother," said Blaine.

From the field, Brick yelled out, worried.

"Don't do it, Boomer! Don't listen to him!" yelled Brick.

Boomer stared at his own hand, and the weight it now held. He looked into Bubbles big blue eyes. He looking into them, and surprisingly smiled.

Boomer looked down at his hand.

"What choice do I have?" he whispered.

"DAMMIT, BOOMER, DON'T DO IT!" yelled Brick.

"Listen to him, Boomer!" yelled Bubbles, in Blaine's grasp. "Don't listen to him! I'll be fine!"

Boomer looked at his hand and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry…for everything…everyone," he said.

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T FUCKING DO IT!" yelled Brick.

Everyone else in the field yammered indistinct yells at Boomer.

Buttercup desperately tried to break out of her field so she could do something, but to no avail.

Boomer's hand shook, then he steadied it. He slowly began to raise it closer to his head. Blue energy began to fill it.

"DON'T DO IT!" yelled Brick.

"STOP IT, BOOMER! DON'T!" yelled Bubbles.

"Shut up, all of you!" yelled Blaine. "It's his decision, whether he wants to die on the inside or the outside."

Boomer remained still. His hand was filled with energy.

I never thought…it would be like this, thought Boomer.

His hand began to shake with energy. Sparks cascaded from his hand, as power began to charge in it. It was like Boomer's finger was a dam for power, and behind that dam was a monster tsunami.

"GODDAMMIT, DON'T DO IT!" yelled Brick.

Boomer's eyes remained closed. Boomer didn't expect his demise to be like this. He expected to be more afraid, but…somehow Boomer knew what he was doing was right. He was sacrificing himself for the greater good. He was sacrificing himself for the women he loved more than anything.

There were much worse ways to die.

And for once Blaine was right.

If Boomer lost Bubbles, he would be dead on the inside anyways.

"DONNNNN'T!" yelled Bubbles.

"Goodbye…I love you," he said. With his spare hand he blew her a last kiss goodbye. If he was going to die now, he had nothing to be shy about.

Brick couldn't watch. At the Boomer's words, he turned away. These were the noises he heard:

WHAM!

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

Thud!

Then, for a moment, there was only silence.