Hey guys, finally back with another chapter of Beach Bandits! After, like, a year-long absence...sheesh.

In the last chapter, Soos' brains managed to eradicate the Pumping Station, allowing the gang to completely destroy one of Tech's landmarks that disrupted the water flow, peace, and tranquility at The Lakes. The surrounding area was filled with mud and water and all signs of robo-life in the immediate location was destroyed. Go Mystery Team! However, the path doesn't end there!

Now with nowhere else to go but forward, the group has found themselves required to traverse a dense forest to keep going towards the true source of Tech's "evil" within The Lakes. The Pumping Station truly can't be the end, right? It would be too easy.

What will the gang find in the forest? Read to find out!

Now, on with the show!


Chapter 9

The Lakes Arc - Part 6

"Lost in the Forest"


The dark forest was barely lit by the sun, seeping in through the thick canopy of leaves looming overhead. The gang of four was nervous. Still, they remained determined, slowly stepping forward into a grassy opening, a gaping hole in the leaves above to allow evening sunlight to flow inside.

Dipper tightened his grip on his hockey stick, glancing around the wooded area, looking between every tree and around every rock. "We gotta be careful, there could possible be robots in here...or worse. Keep your eyes peeled. We gotta find our way through, and then-"

"Look out!" Mabel shoved her brother back, then swung her hockey stick to swipe away a flying sphere of plasmatic energy. A pump-like robot had swiveled into view, taking aim at the group. "I got this!"

The girl charged forward, glaring harshly at her target and ducking another blast of energy, before hopping up and slamming the end of her hockey stick down, creating a clean stab through the torso of the robot. Yanking the stick out, the girl stumbled back a bit as the robot shook before exploding into a mess of ash and metal.

Wendy's eyes widened. "...sheesh, there actually are robots here."

"Tech must have something ahead if he has robot dudes around here…" Soos stepped forward.

"Well then we gotta be extra careful, we don't know what might pop out of the darkness." Dipper said. "Let's move out."

The group of four continued into the darkened forest, occasionally having their pathway lit by the sunlight creeping in from above. The maze-like paths the forest provided made them all equally as concerned; which path to take? Which one would take them out, which would lead them deeper in? Splitting up proved useless, as they all ended up circling back on to their original path, making no progress at all. Going straight seemed pointless, too. It was as if the path went on forever.

They were entirely lost.

Eventually, they stumbled into a clearing of sorts, which had plenty of sun dipping down into it. There were less paths to take this time, and now the forest butted up against a rocky cliffside. The four of them decided now was a good time to rest and truly make a plan for both getting out and stopping Tech.

"We've found, like, zero more robots…" Wendy sat on a rock and leaned against a tree behind it. "And I have the feeling that that's honestly a bad thing."

"A bad thing?" Soos asked. "What makes you say that, dude?"

"I think I get what she means." Dipper sat on the grass, against the rocky wall. "Tech would obviously have robots guarding the path to his 'landmarks', right? To deter people onto paths like these, so that they don't interfere."

"Oooooh, so we gotta find the enemy to beat the enemy?" Mabel grinned as she sat beside her brother. "Then we get to shut down his private beach?"

"It's not a private beach!" Dipper groaned and threw his hands up. "I wish you'd stop with that stupid assumption!" Mabel only giggled.

Wendy rolled her eyes and took up her hockey stick. "I'm gonna go look around. Take the time to eat or something, we've got a long road ahead."

The three others nodded, and the red-head teen trekked off down the remaining path into the forest. It was then it began to sink in that the four of them were just thrust into this...adventure of sorts. It was still real life, a fight for survival against all odds now, if anything. But against...robots? To save...sand? Water?

Weirdest adventure ever.

"We're just sitting in the middle of the woods in California, fighting robots to get some sand and water." Dipper laughed and sipped from a water bottle. "This is kinda dumb."

"And fun!" Mabel seemed particularly energetic, jogging about the small area. "Taking on bad guys! Saving the world!"

"Saving portions of two states. Not the world." Dipper corrected.

"Cmon dude, have some fun! Some kinda sense of adventure!" Soos urged, taking up his own hockey stick.

Dipper was about to respond when they heard a shout from Wendy in the forest.

"A-Augh, no, get off!"

Eyes wide with surprise, the three grabbed their things and hurried off in the direction of the noise.

They stumbled upon Wendy, the teen panting and standing rather tensely, gripping her hockey stick in both hands. Before her were a couple of destroyed robotic humanoids, similar to the guards they had fought outside the Pumping Station. There were also two destroyed Robot Spawners. She turned to look at them, agitation in her eyes.

"...what." She mumbled, regaining her composure.

"...what happened?" Mabel muttered.

Wendy sighed and stretched. "They got the jump on me. My whole body feels dislocated..."

"Sheesh…" Dipper winced. "...but hey, we must be going the right way now, right? If we're finding robots?"

"Duh. Let's keep moving." Wendy turned and hurried off. "I'm gonna beat any damn robot I see until it explodes!"

They just watched her run off, the three of them stunned.

"...YEEEEEAAAAHHH!" Soos and Mabel cheered and ran after her, leaving Dipper to just watch in confusion and shock.

"...alright then."

Hurrying to follow them, the four regrouped and continued to tackle robot after robot along the way, finally making some progress getting through the forest. Light became more prominent the farther in they went, and soon enough, they came across a large opening to the outside; an exit to the forest.

"Aw yes!" Mabel leaped up and ran for the exit. "Freeeeedoooooom!"

"Hold on dude, don't take all the freedom for yourself!" Soos called, following her.

Wendy watched them hurry out of the woods. "Sheesh, those two are gonna be excited about this whole adventure, aren't they?"

Dipper laughed. Maybe it was an adventure after all. "Yep, yep. They're gonna milk the crap outta this summer."

"You know it." Wendy chuckled, and the two followed Mabel and Soos out of the woods, ready to face whatever would soon stand in their way next.


-(End Of Chapter)-


To be continued…

Welp. Still not much happened. But the next couple of chapters, lots of stuff will happen! Stick around, you won't wanna miss what the gang finds outside the forest…

Anyways, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter, reviews are highly appreciated, and as always…

Stay Tuned!

~087-B