Chapter 10: Three Eds, Two Agents
The spurring beats and accompaniment followed Ed as charged forward. The Lotus Edge kicked up green flower petals as Ed swung into the first beast he could find just below the chin. The blade didn't cut through but instead caused the beast to spin and bumble into its comrades causing some to fall backward. Ed took the momentum of his first strike to swing into another beast to his left. The sword caught it underneath the arm, the beast didn't flinch from the impact. Before Ed could pull away, the polygon grabbed the sword and slashed at Ed's chest with it's open hand. The sudden pain caused Ed to let go of the Lotus Edge letting himself get bashed in the face by its hilt. The force of the impact caused the sword's bindings to break and left Ed open to a hammer fist followed with an uppercut. The punch sent Ed flying backward a few feet ending in a roll to the opposing side of the circle. Ed's roll sent him into Eddy and Edd, who then preceded to integrate into the roll creating a ball. An enemy, seeing an opportunity, kicked the ball causing it to careen back into the circle where three others kicked to the outer mob causing the ball to bank off the edges at high speeds like a pinball. So much merriment was had playing with the ball the mob didn't notice the two killjoys kneeling on a column a few meters outside their collective line of sight, Silk's rifle gleamed off the setting sun as Tweak counted the mob's members.
"64-65-66, Ok go for it," Tweak stated as his partner steadied the rifle sight at one of the players kicking the Ed-ball. "Tech 224: Tesla." Silks commanded as the gun glowed brightly before firing a blueish-green bullet. The bullet entered the beast just above the thigh and with a yelp the beast was instantly airborne. Within seconds the beast started emitting a pseudo-lightning out of its torso which arched into the rest of the players in the circle. The lightning then arched into the mob freezing most of then in place as the current increased in voltage. The lightning made it's way through the mob creating a glowing blue web of juice. Ed squirmed out from under his cohorts. The game of soccer sobered Ed up to the point where he couldn't hear the music nor the whimsical singing from his hallucinogenic harem nor even remember they were even there.
"Hello?" Ed asked rubbing his eyes. It took a moment to register the dull pains in his chest. When he did he pulled at his shirt to witness five slashes cut into his skin at varied depths, blood seeping out of the most deep ones embedded over his collarbones. "My worse nightmare came true!" He exclaimed letting go of the shirt. "I BECAME A TOMATO!"
Ed didn't notice the creature deteriorating beside him as the source of the Tesla web disappeared along with it. The growling and bedlam from the entangled mob continued to drown the area causing the columns nearby to start vibrating as the web started to fade. With a slight jerk Eddy and Edd awoke from their slumber.
"Ed, turn the tv down!" Eddy groaned covering his ears from the bedlam.
"I agree! This stereoscopic white noise is not good for the tympanic membrane Ed!" Double d followed suit clutching his ears in agony.
"My friends! My pals!" Ed yelled happily as he scooped Eddy and Double d up into a bear hug. The hug wasn't as strong as it usually was.
"Get off me Methuselah!" Eddy spoke obviously peeved. He gave Ed a little shove breaking the hug.
"OW!" Ed exclaimed pulling his shirt. The exclamation startled the hoard causing them to hush.
"What's wrong now?" Eddy scoffed.
"I became a tomato Eddy!" Ed replied pulling up his shirt. "See? Ketchup everywhere."
"What was able to do that?" Eddy said interested.
"Them," Ed pointed to the crowd.
"What the- there's more of these freaks?!" Eddy yelled. Some of the members of the hoard growled in response.
"It seems they're trapped in some sort of energy field," Double d's trail of thought ended when the three friends heard a sharp sound of glass breaking around them.
You have a decision to make.
"Did you guys here that?" Eddy asked.
Survival or death?
"That voice sounds familiar," Edd remarked.
"Was that Antonucci?" Ed asked.
"No Lumpy its a girl who said that," Eddy answered as another break of glass was heard, along with a cascade of triumphant screeches from the hoard. Horrified the three saw their little respite from the hoard rapidly disintegrate as the beasts broke out of their webbings and charged at their next meal.
"We're trapped!" Eddy exclaimed.
One charge left, make better use of it than last time
"Last time?!" Edd and Eddy yelled out.
"Hey Eddy! Your tattoo is back!" Ed exclaimed. With a swift swipe his hand met the glowing templar mark on the back of Eddy's head.
"Launching napalm" Tweak commanded.
"Wait," Silks responded. "What did Ed do?" They saw a colorless glow emanate from the Eds at a very fast clip. The aura seemed to stop the entire area including the mob in time.
"Crystal Skull Defense!" Tweak commanded.
"Crystal wha- hey!" Silks was immediately embraced by Tweak and the two became entangled by the aura. The aura filled the area for a few minutes then with an earth-shattering rumble the area exploded in a violent cauldron of flames. The force of the explosion caused a shock wave that cleaved through the nearby columns. The flames disappeared leaving the Eds untouched but visibly shaken. The mob was no where to be found.
"ED WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Eddy yelled.
"Tattoo gone," Ed spoke with smile of content.
"I'll make something else gone in a minute!" Eddy threatened jumping on Ed.
"Eddy please lower your voice, we may attract more of those creatures," Edd said noticing the emptiness.
"A little late for that Sockhead!" Eddy roared as he pummeled Ed.
"Oh look a fridge!" Ed pointed causing Eddy to topple off. Sure enough a modern fridge was laying on the side of the column behind them. "Do you think it has drinks?"
"The questions and speculation of this day's events just seem to pile up don't they," Double d mused tiredly, he hung his head. "Might as well try Ed."
"If it does get me one will ya?" Eddy asked as Ed went to fetch the fridge. "I'm melting here."
"So we're not even going to question what caused that explosion?" Double d questioned as Ed started knocking the column.
"If we find anyone that doesn't want to kill us," Eddy answered scratching the back of his scalp.
"Hi Hoe!" Ed grunted pushing into the column. The fridge toppled off the edge and plopped onto the sand with a thud. The landing was in such a way that the door flung open causing Tweak and Silks to roll out into a heap.
"A fridge? Really?!" Silks spoke while coughing. She and Tweak were entangled in an embrace.
"It worked didn't it?" Tweak replied rolling off his partner.
"What the heck were you doing in that fridge?" Eddy spoke up to the two oddly dressed teens.
"Whatever you believe happened, it was completely consensual," Tweak joked and was met by Silks socking him in the face. "Don't be so cruel Silks."
"Idiot," Silks spoke under her breath as she scampered back to her feet.
"What is this the ministry of insane naming? First Vinmill now Silks?" Eddy whispered to Edd.
"Eddy please be polite, they may be our only way out of the desert," Edd whispered back.
"Hello radio people!" Ed yelled jumping down of the column to the back of Edd and Eddy. Ed grabbed them in a hug. "My name is Ed! Master of Toast and Gravy! To my right is Edd or Double d for short, Master of Big Words! And lastly is Eddy: The...the...Eddy what are you called?"
"How should I know?" Eddy grumbled.
"Eddy: How Should I Know!" Ed proclaimed valiantly. Silks suppressed a giggle as Tweak sat upright and peered at the Eds with a stoic face.
"Pull them out Silks," Tweak answered reaching into his pants pocket. Silks did the same. They each pulled out small white badges and showed them to the boys. The badges were structured like sheriffs badges with the words: World Equilibrium, Initialization, and Defense Agency bordering an etching of a mound like structure.
"Lars Rodriguez," Tweak answered. "Agent GearBolt."
"Angelica Pickles," Silks answered. "Agent Silks."
"Welcome to the Universe Gentlemen."