Okay, so I just got a new computer. Now I can write faster since I don't have to use the app. I mean, seriously. My phone was NOT made for excessive typing.
Chapter 11: Rusty Road Trip
Brain Squad was surprised to hear about the massive invasion, and was even more surprised to hear that Cabbage-pult was behind it. When Steve asked why they hadn't been called to service, Zomboss said that without Buck, the squad has no clear leader, which diminishes performance. Steve understood what Zomboss was saying, but also understood that Zomboss was hiding something. He had quickly shrugged it off.
A week after the invasion, Suburbia had been almost completely reconstructed. Almost. Steve used his hacking skills to check the drone footage, and was partially relieved yet partially disappointed to see Peashooter was still alive. None of the plant heroes or commanders had been killed, although Green Shadow was severely injured.
Rustbolt chose February twenty-second for Brain Squad's latest assignment. He was seemingly handling mission assignments to know where Brain Squad was at all times, but Brain Squad soon figured out that he did it out of kindness, offering transportation tips and additional info from the Bloominati.
Buck and Steve were arguing about invasion tactics while Allstar and Brian tried unsuccessfully to end their argument. In all fairness, Buck and Steve were really just engaging in playful banter. The four were waiting in the hangar when Rustbolt arrived. Everyone grew silent at the look on Rustbolt's face.
"Alright, Zomboss thought it would be funny to put all of you under Cabbage-pult's command. Since obviously Cabbage-pult isn't a general or even remotely fit to lead, I was against it. Zomboss got angry, and well, let's just say I'm lucky to even be giving you mission briefings. But all personal problems aside, you four are in for a treat. See, there's this huge stalemate in the Dead Zone, or the middle of Old Suburbia. It's been that way for years. Part of the reason Valentine's Day failed was because the military lent a helping hand. Our job is to clear out the southern border and let our military come in at full force. Any questions?"
"Um, yes," Buck replied. "You said 'Our job' like you were included in the mission. So how are we going to get to the southern border if a blimp only holds four people?"
Rustbolt shrugged. Brian signed something to Steve, who shook his head in protest, but Brian went through with it anyways.
"You guys ever heard of a road trip?"
/Not long after…
Steve was growling in the passenger's seat of the jeep as Allstar and Rustbolt pushed it to the charging station. It didn't help that Brian was head-banging into Steve's chair while listening to the radio. Buck was trying to help push the car, but just wasn't strong enough. After a few minutes of waiting for the solar-charging to do its thing, they were off. The trip wouldn't take too long. At least, that was the plan.
It did NOT go according to plan.
Firstly, the jeep wasn't one of the newer, high-tech ones. It was a 2036 model, meaning it wasn't fit to travel across the rubble of skyscraper or over a caved-in bridge. Luckily, they didn't run into any of those problems. Instead, they had to wait for three hours for Rustbolt to shrink a billboard enough for them to pass. Many unstable buildings could've collapsed if they used explosives, so the Shrink Ray was the best option. That didn't mean it was a good one. Brain Squad got through an entire game of Monopoly (which Brian won) before the billboard was shrunk enough. Once back in the jeep, Allstar tried to get the others to play "Allstar" by Smash Mouth. Rustbolt didn't see a problem with it, but Buck and Brian heavily protested. Steve ignored all of them.
"Why won't you let him play the song?" Rustbolt inquired.
"He sings along to it"
"What's so bad about that?"
"with a megaphone.'
Rustbolt glanced at Allstar, who had brought out his megaphone, and became slightly pale. He didn't say anything for over an hour after that.
/The Dead Zone: Three hours later…
The group had been lost for almost two hours. They had encountered multiple dead-ends and almost got killed twice. Steve had gone through seven different GPS systems before giving up. Eventually, the five companions decided to go back and drive around. Buck wasn't in the mood for the literally mindless chatter happening behind him. Rustbolt and Steve had switched places, and Brian was asleep. It wasn't even noon yet and Buck was extremely tired. After thirty more minutes, they had finally exited the Dead Zone. Rustbolt made Buck pull over and the two had an argument.
"Just rest for once!"
"No! It's my job to lead these guys and make sure they're safe!"
"Since when did you grow a heart?"
"Since I realized their lives were in my hands!"
"Letting someone else drive isn't going to put them in danger."
"They don't have licenses!"
"Then I'LL drive."
"I won't let you be responsible for them! You've got enough troubles!"
"YOU'RE going to be IN TROUBLE if we don't get there soon!"
"Which is why you should just let me drive!"
A ridiculously loud air horn blew before the argument could continue. Steve was leaning out of the jeep, an air horn and a megaphone in his hands. He was wearing noise-cancelling headphones. He shot Buck a look before talking.
"I installed autopilot while you two were squabbling. So get back in the car before I have to come out and force you."
Buck and Rustbolt hastily got back in the car. Steve turned on the autopilot, and they were off once more. Buck and Rustbolt didn't look at each other the whole time.
/Five Hours Later…
The jeep finally came to a stop at the edge of a destroyed mansion. Steve remembered it used to be Crazy Dave's before Zomboss invaded. Brain Squad cautiously crept around the ruins of former Wallnut Hills. Upon hearing two plants talking in the distance, Buck signaled a halt. The squad crouched behind a fallen pillar. He motioned for Steve to recon, and Steve left promptly. Then, Buck signaled for the others to follow. The three zombies crept in silence, staying crouched. The two plants' conversation continued, but it was still undistinguishable. Buck signaled for them to draw their weapons, and each zombie held their respective weapons. Brian rose a little higher to see their surroundings. No one was there. An all clear was signed, and the three continued around the rubble.
Scorch and Repeater heard a small "blip" and stopped their conversation. Repeater recognized the sound and whispered to Scorch.
"Brain Squad."
Scorch nodded and the two plants took up defensive positions, slowly and silently moving back towards camp. Steve, hiding above them on an old rooftop, sneered as he remembered Repeater. The fire pea was new. Suddenly, a dislodged shingle next to Steve fell onto the ground with a resonating Crack! The two plants quickly looked at the rooftop, and Steve face-palmed. Upon seeing the scientist, the two plants unloaded on him. Steve barely dodged the peas as they flew by, dropping to the ground on the other side of the house. He drew his shotgun and smirked.
Scorch vaulted over a fallen wall chunk and rolled. As soon as he saw Steve, he shot a barrage of flaming projectiles. Steve warped behind Scorch and shot him, sneering. Before he could finish the job, Repeater tackled him, sending them both to the ground. Repeater and Steve landed, sprawled on the ground next to each other. They both quickly rolled away. Rising, both Scorch and Repeater backed away cautiously. Steve put on his signature sneer once again. Before anyone was able to move, Brian appeared behind Repeater and knocked him out with a head-butt. Scorch realized he was outnumbered and lunged at Repeater. He grabbed his companion and ran. Steve was about to shoot when Rustbolt flew past the two, headed after them. Both zombies ran after them, headed straight for their camp.
Repeater was immediately taken to the medic, and the rest of the group gathered around the medic's tent protectively. Rustbolt landed in front of the entire group of plants with his phone out. He raised his hands and nodded to the phone. The plants didn't lower their guard, but they didn't shoot. A picture was taken and Rustbolt smiled apologetically.
"New wallpaper. You can shoot now."
He immediately wished he had said that later, because the picture came out blurry. And he was being shot at by fourteen plants. Rustbolt used his thrusters to jump back as far as he could and hid behind a tent. His shrink-ray would probably short-circuit if he used it again today. Instead, he drew a modified hair dryer. His hair dryer was hot enough to melt solid concrete, so he used it as a weapon instead of as a, well, hair dryer. Rustbolt noticed Buck and Allstar flanking, so he decided to rush them as a distraction.
Buck and Allstar waited behind the medic's tent for Steve and Brian to show up. When they saw Rustbolt charging, they knew better than to wait. Allstar tackled a bandit cactus while Buck shot shrapnel at a fire rose, knocking them out. Rustbolt faced off against twelve plants, but Allstar shot a grenade that scattered them. Eventually, Steve and Brian showed up, but so did Scorch. Upon seeing the fighting, Scorch's eyes and fire changed to blue. The area's temperature suddenly increased. When Scorch walked further, the ground behind him was slightly charred. Scorch noticed Buck first and shot a flaming pea at him. Buck dodged it, but even from a foot away he was overwhelmed by a wave of heat. Allstar was about to tackle Scorch when Buck grabbed his leg and dragged him back.
Steve conjured a scanner and scanned Scorch. Normally, a fire-plant's temperature is between one-hundred twenty-five to one-hundred fifty degrees. Scorch was at three-hundred thirty. Steve then conjured a water balloon and threw it. Upon contact, the water evaporated and the rubber melted. Steve came to his conclusion:
"Run."
Buck and Allstar disappeared. Steve and Brian saw Rustbolt fly past them and ran after him for the second time that day. Scorch watched them leave with a smirk on his face.
As Scorch's eyes and fire reverted to normal (black and orange respectively), Rocket cautiously approached him.
"Um… what was that?"
"Fire-plant thing. The angrier we are the hotter we get."
Rocket nodded and told him about the rest of the group. All of them, except Rocket, were either injured or sore. Scorch asked if Repeater was awake, and Rocket said no and that he'd always said he'd leave Scorch in charge.
/Meanwhile…
Rustbolt, Buck and Steve were talking over a map while Brian applied ice to Allstar. Allstar winced as it was applied on his sore. Rustbolt and Steve had agreed on a plan, but Buck was skeptical.
"What if you get caught? What if we get ambushed? What about Allstar's sore?"
"Is this that 'We're your responsibility thing again?" Steve inquired. "If it is, then you have to realize that we can take care of ourselves. Holding our hand won't work. Besides, remember Boney Island? I'd say I handled myself well. Just trust us."
"Fine," Buck relented, "We'll use your plan. We start at midnight. They never have more than four night-watchers at a time. Sound good?"
Steve and Rustbolt nodded. Buck smiled.
"Let's tell the others."
Finally! I would've published yesterday, but I didn't have the time. Anyways…