Author's Note: Thanks to Shelby the Hedgehog and Sage of Dorks for reviewing the last chapter. I would have updated sooner, but last week, my computer began acting screwy. I won't go into all the details, but I will say that I have mixed emotions at this point: I'm happy because I was able to ship off my computer and it's back and working again, and I'm ticked because…all my stories, DeviantArt creations, and everything else that was on it is now gone. UGH! So, needless to say, I've been going out of my mind the past few days…but it's getting better now.

But enough about me. In this chapter, Murdoc explains the shady secrets surrounding the Demon Boy and the El Manana incident; his story is derived from the Gorillaz "biography" Rise of the Ogre. If this chapter seems a little shorter than the others, I apologize. Happy reading! ;)-AMX

Chapter 9

Eventually, Murdoc, Eddy, and Ed found their way back inside the hotel where everyone else had been waiting for them. The group was stunned when the three guys told them what had happened outside, and at Murdoc's condition; three bleeding gashes on his face did not go with his mis-matched eyes.

Anyway, after everyone had settled down, Murdoc (with a makeshift bandage on his face thanks to Double D) stood up in front of the group so he could finally explain himself.

"Okay, mates," he said, taking a deep breath through his slightly deformed nose, "at this point, I guess I 'ave no other choice than to explain myself to ya. To all 'o ya. I know what it seems like, but I wasn't planning on gettin' anyone on the outside mixed up in this." He paused to look at the three Eds, who looked just as curious as his band mates. "Well, as you all 'ave probably noticed by now, the Demon Boy is back and the El Manana video…well, it wasn't what people were expecting…"

"Muds, we already know all o' that," said 2D. "We wanna know why you've been all secretive-like with us." The spacey singer then looked at Russel (how he could "look" at Russel with no visible eyes, I don't know). "That is what we wanna know, right Russ?"

"If he wants to live long enough for us to make another album, yes," Russel replied.

"Don't rush me, Dullard!" Murdoc barked at the singer. Then he clenched his fists and inhaled deeply again. "Anyway…" he growled. "I guess I should start the beginning…

"I'm guessing you boys already know the story of how I created the Demon Boy. But I'm tellin' ya, I can't be blamed for that. I was completely doped up! People who are doped up make mistakes! Technically, it ain't my fault."

"You know, you could just stop the excessive drinking and drug use," said Double D.

Murdoc looked at Double D like he had said the dumbest thing in the world. "That'd be like tellin' 2D to stop takin' his meds, or for Russ 'ere to only eat small portions. It ain't gonna happen."

"Muds…" Russel warned.

"All right, all right," said Murdoc. "I suppose I should explain the video…

"See, back when we were makin' the music video for Dirty Harry, I met this rogue musician on the set. His name was Jimmy Manson…"

"Manson?" asked Russel. "Dammit, I knew that guy was bad news!"

"What do you mean 'was'?" asked Double D.

"I was wonderin' if anyone would catch that," said Murdoc. "Anyway, when I first met Manson, he was tellin' me how he was this huge fan an' how he wanted to 'ave a piece of the action an' all that crap…" He paused. "Anyway, he 'ad this big, elaborate plan all laid out that would help him become a member of the band. He was aware that Noodle wanted to star in the El Manana video by herself, and he figured that was the perfect opportunity to…make sure she wasn't gonna see the final cut, if you know what I mean."

"He wanted to kill Noodle?!" asked 2D.

"That's not very nice…" said Ed, through a mouthful of popcorn (he had insisted that he make another batch before the "storytelling").

Noodle just sat there in silence, coincidentally, right next to Eddy.

"Eh, what can I say?" Murdoc asked. "The dude was messed up, even by my standards."

"And you actually went along with it?" asked Russel.

"Well, that's what I told him," said Murdoc. "But I personally knew the guy was full of s-- (A/N: in case you can't tell, that's a censored word). I mean, come on. He was gonna off one of the members of my band just so he could get a piece of the action? Please! So…I just pretended to go along with it to ensure that the bloke would never bother me again…

"We had the basic layout of the music video set out: Noodle would be on the floating island, helicopters would shoot it down, and it wouldn't be clear if Noodle survived the attack or not. However, while we were shooting, Jimmy was to hide in this back room, and when I gave him the signal, he'd jump out and shoot Noodle."

2D and Double D (A/N: I still can't get over the similar names) clapped their hands over their mouths in shock, Russel shook his head, Noodle unconsciously grabbed onto Eddy's arm (causing Eddy to jump, but not because of Murdoc's story), and Ed just sat there, munching on his popcorn.

"But…" Murdoc continued, "what I didn't tell him was that Noodle was instructed to take this parachute and jump out of the island as it fell into the cliffs. I also "forgot" to tell him that the door in the room he was hiding in locked behind him."

"But then…how did he get out of the island before it collapsed in the cliffs?" asked Double D.

Murdoc just gave a smug smirk.

Russel's eyes widened. "Aw, Muds…" he groaned. "You didn't…"

There was a peculiar glint in Murdoc's eye. "I can still remember the whole scene…"

--

Murdoc watched as the floating island that had played such a significant part in two Gorillaz music videos burst into flames because of the helicopters that were shooting mercilessly at it. In the distance, he could just make out the figure of Noodle jumping off the island, safely attached to a parachute.

However, as the flaming island slowly began to disappear into the cliffs, Murdoc could see a panicked face of a bedraggled old man in one of the windows. Jimmy Manson was furiously pounding on the windows. Although Murdoc couldn't hear what Jimmy was saying, he could read lips well enough to tell what Jimmy was saying.

"The door's locked!" Jimmy was yelling. "IT'S LOCKED!"

But Murdoc did nothing. He simply watched as the island began to sink deeper in the abyss. Only after the island was almost gone did he drawl a response:

"I KNOOOOOOW."

As Murdoc spoke, the last scene of the music video played out: one of the helicopters released a bomb from its cockpit, which fell straight on top of the island.

"And…cut!" the director, who had no knowledge of the inside plan, called.

A few minutes later, Noodle appeared, completely unharmed. She had landed on another part of the canyon with her parachute. She walked straight to Murdoc.

"Well, Murdoc?" asked Noodle. "How was it? Was it good?"

"It was perfect, luv," said Murdoc, staring at the spot where the island had disappeared. He gave a pointed grin. "Absolutely perfect."

--

As Murdoc finished his scenario, everyone else just sat in stunned silence.

"Good lord…" Double D finally managed to mutter.

"Man…" Russel shook his head. "I always knew you were into some messed-up stuff, Muds, but that…" he trailed off.

"All that to get rid of one creepy guy?" asked 2D.

"Yep," said Murdoc, smiling proudly.

"But you didn't kill any of your band mates," Eddy pointed out.

"Keen observation, mate," Murdoc said back.

"Why?" asked Ed.

"Why?" Murdoc repeated. "Why do you think? There's no way I'm offing any o' my band. We're Gorillaz! Nobody else is gonna replace us just 'cause they want a taste of fame."

2D, Russel, and Noodle started at this.

"Well, that's good to know…" said Russel, "…sort of."

"Aww, Russ, Muds loves us!" said 2D.

"Watch it, Faceache," Murdoc growled.

Noodle and the Eds snickered.

"All right…" said Double D. "It's apparent that this Jimmy Manson character has been…disposed of…but that still doesn't give us a solution on how to deal with the Demon Boy!"

"I'm gettin' to that," said Murdoc. "If the Demon Boy is back, that most likely means that something's happening with the Hell Hole back in Kong Studios."

"The what?" asked Eddy.

"The Hell Hole," Murdoc repeated.

"It's this giant hole that leads to the center of the Earth under Kong Studios," Noodle explained.

"COOL!" said Ed.

"Uh…no," said 2D. "It's actually really hot down there…"

"So what do you suggest we do, Murdoc?" asked Double D.

"The Demon Boy is just one problem for the moment," said Murdoc. "But if the Hell Hole gets any bigger, we could be dealing with more monsters; ones that we'll have no real chance of defeating."

"Is that bad?" asked Ed.

"No Ed, it's just dandy," said Eddy.

"Anyway, the point is that we have to defeat the problem at its source," said Murdoc. "Which means we're gonna have to go back to Kong."

"YAY!" said Ed. "More road trip!"

"Ed, come on," said Eddy. "This is between the band members."

"That's correct, Ed," said Double D. "Chances are we won't be able to go."

"Now, did I say you three couldn't go?" asked Murdoc?

The three Eds looked at the bassist.

"Dude, are you serious?" asked Eddy.

"I don't kid," said Murdoc. "At least, I'm not right now…"

"Well…" Double D was stunned. "Uh…that's a very generous offer, but we don't have enough money to ride a plane…"

Murdoc sighed. "Mate, what part of "famous rock stars" do you not comprehend? We got a private jet!"

"Classy!" said Ed.

"Well, at least let us pay you," said Double D.

"Eh, it's on me, mate," said Murdoc. "Just don't make a habit out of it…"

"Fine by me!" said Eddy. "Double D, make sure we're all square up at the front desk, will ya?"

Double D sighed. "Of course…" He got up to talk to the person at the front desk, followed by 2D, who had to do the same for his room.

Meanwhile, Eddy, Ed, and Noodle went outside to load everything back into Hoon.

Russel, and Murdoc began to board the Winnebago, when Double D and 2D walked out of the hotel.

2D was about to follow his band mates into the Winnebago, when he noticed they were short one guitarist. He turned back to the Eds and Noodle. "Hey, Noodle!" he called. "You comin'?"

Noodle turned to 2D. "Uh…actually, 2D, I'm going to stay with the Eds. We are on a road trip, after all."

2D was surprised at Noodle's response. "Uh…okay…" was the brilliant response he came up with. He turned to Russel and Murdoc inside the Winnebago. "Did you guys hear that?"

"I sure did," said Russel. "I say we lay down a few rules with those boys, Brooklyn style."

"Now now, Russ," said Murdoc. "Noodle's not ten anymore; she can take care of herself. Let's at least get back to England first…" He revved the engine of the Winnebago.

"Then we can lay down the law Brooklyn style."

A/N: Wow, that chapter was longer than I thought! Anyway...be sure to review!-AMX