Another pre-chapter note another excuse. I just haven't been feeling like myself recently but I managed to finish this chapter and now it's time to dig in.
Chapter 12: Offing a psycho
(Ashley's POV)
The whole field the battle was taking place in was a chaotic mess. Both ghouls and slugs transforming without warning "well this is a rather peachy scene" I chuckled. Seems Zander's sarcastic sense of optimism and humour has rubbed off on me
"Get down!" I heard Zander yell before he tackled me. Falling to the ground with a thud he joked "just in the nick of time again huh?" Something seemed off about him but I couldn't quite place it. "Listen I know I shouldn't be here but some weird things have been going in" he finished drawing on me "I'm no longer the man you love! I'm..." A loud crack of thunder interrupted whatever he was going to say
Not even second later a body flew at break neck speeds towards Zander and sent them both flying. When I looked where the figures had landed what I saw was... Odd to say the least. A tall man in a white coat was on top of Zander he brought a fist up and stuck him "DON'T! YOU! EVER! TRY! TO! HURT ! HER! AGAIN!" He yelled in between each strike in a slightly robotic tone.
I got up and crept towards the white cloaked man. Blaster at the ready. I cocked the blaster and coldly stated "make a move and I'll turn you to Swiss cheese" seeing the man get up I started to pull the trigger "don't say I didn't warn you" I muttered as Reef was released from his tube. But before I could even hear the boom he was behind me
As Reef flew off into the air he muttered "turn around please. I need to see that it's really you. Not another trick" he finished almost in a drained tone
Before I could talk Zander, beaten and horribly bloody, exploded into red sparks revealing himself as Twist. Turning around I asked "so who are you?" His lower face was obscured by a gas mask and his upper by his white hood
Pulling it off with a hiss of air he cockily asked "suuuuuup. Remember me?" It was Zander ,hopefully , the real one
Drawing again I denied it "no I'm not falling for it again" I stated "if you are real prove it. Tell me something only Zander would know or I'll turn you to jerky"
Cracking a gleeful smile he asked "listen with your heart but speak with your mind? Kisses from a hoverbug? Any of this ringing a bell?"
"Oh... My... Gosh. It really is you" was all I got out before I jumped him with a hug "I'm so glad you're okay" I stated as he nuzzled into the hug like the first time this happened
Pushing back and getting up he stated "I'll tell you all about the crazy jerk that's finally out of my head later. For now this is the closest I've been to Blakk's citadel. He's bound to have some dirt on his hard drives" he finished walking over to Twist and grabbing his ghoul. Zander stated with a cold tone "you ghouled him willingly. You don't deserve a slug" at this he popped open his arm and slid Loki into it "you come for me or my friends again. I'll shove this blaster so far up your butt that you'll be crapping solidified slug energy for the rest of your life" Zander threatened Twist as he walked back
"Well let's finish these Darkbane off and help Eli. Oh! I almost forgot here" I stated handing Zander his blaster with the accelerator mod fitted on it's power core
"Thanks thought you might have it. Say what this you've added to it?" He asked in an inquisitive tone
"Go on. Fire Volts. You'll see" was all I said as Zander pulled the trigger, the accelerator started to spin like a centrifuge. Releasing Volts at a Darkbane it was shocked beyond recognition as Zander flew back a little lending on his back
"Okay gonna need a little time to adjust to the insane increase in speed. Other than that I'm fine" Zander stated getting up as Pronto and the cavalry charged in
"EAAAAT MY STIIIINK!" Could be heard throughout the battlefield as Pronto screamed a war cry and fired his slug
At this Zander and I ran to the large doors of Blakk's citadel flanked by Kord, Trixie and Pronto. Kord was the first to speak "Zander? What are you doing here?" Kord asked
"Well I thought I'd come out for a good fight and kick down the gates of hell. What do you think? Even I don't fully understand" Zander retorted
"Well let's go regroup with Eli and interrogate your boyfriend later" Trixie stated in a matter of fact tone
"Hey Trixie? I have a question. Have you and Eli got together while I was out?" Zander asked as Trixie blushed a little
"W-what?! Of course we haven't! He's my friend that's all!" Trixie stammered
"Again I can see these sort of things. Just tell him how you feel. It'll be a hell of lot less awkward" he joked
"Can we please finish this some other time?" I asked trying to break them up "Trix? Thanks" was all I needed to say
"No problem. This was difficult for all of us. Not just you" Trixie responded after calming down a little
"Yeah thank you for not giving up on me. I may tease you a lot Trixie. But I want you guys to know I consider all of you as my family" Zander stated with a smile that could split Slugterra in half
(Zander's POV)
Inside of Blakk's citadel
"Holy... Crap" was all I managed to eek out at the sight of the terra portal the gang had been explaining to me
"Zander. Bro stop staring and help us" Kord yelled at me loading his Rammstone
I could feel the darkwater pumping through my veins fuelling my attacks as I smashed my way through Darkbane after Darkbane. Throwing them against walls and firing at them with Reef and Blaze "I! Will! Not! Yield!" I yelled as I threw a Darkbane back through the portal "woo hoo! Twenty points!"
"Ah the conduit awakens" I heard that Darkbane that was I my head say in a deep voice
"Not happening you lava chocking pice of trash" I stated as I threw a punch straight to his jaw
With a crack of bone he replied "you may have outlasted me in your head but here I will control you. Conduit" he snarled. As his his hand started to glow red and my blood literally began to boil
My knees buckled and I started coughing blood. As the world started to fade away I saw Ashley tackle the screwball. And my senses began to return. Weakly I stated "you know I had planed this elaborate revenge scheme for Blakk but you. You deserve a round of applause" I stated before clapping my hands over his ears and kneeing him in the face "son of taint burn in the deep cravens" I stated as Ashley kicked him back down the portal
"Wait now I remember! The shadow clan also gave me this" Pronto yelled holding up Doc
"A healer?! No!" I heard Blakk yell before running in the opposite direction
"Well Eli your turn" I stated with a wink
Eli didn't respond instead he just ran past after him "BLAKK! IT'S OVER!" He yelled only to fly off the the side down the terra portal and Burpy fly up and out followed by Blakk and Burpy flying back down
A few minutes later
"And that is why I joined up with you guys" I stated in an exasperated tone letting off a whoop to expel some energy
"Zander are you sure you're okay? You just kinda showed up. And you were coughing blood" Ashley asked in a concerned tone
"I'm fine. In fact I feel better than ever now that both Blakk and the Darkbane are gone from my mind" I stated "oh crap I almost forgot! I need to check Blakk's terminal. He's bond to have some reason beyond target practice to have killed my parents" I stated running over to the computer
"Why? I wouldn't put it past him" Ashley stated "that's pretty much how he got my dad"
"You said your dad was your caverns home town hero. Whereas my parents were just walking along" I stated sitting down in a chair continuing with "plus all the crap that's been going on can't have been a coincidence. I'm just going to run a quick search on the name Tukavara" I stated typing it in
Three options came up: John, Niki and Zander
I clicked on my name
Name: Zander Tukavara
Height: 5.11
Race: human
Build: lean
Subject is a prime candidate for protect Conduit Darkwater division. Due to his savage nature in fights, observed by friends of the family, Zander is suitable for genetic darkwater enhancement. Parents are likely to cause a problem. Lethal force authorized. Capture Zander Tukavara at all costs.
After this I ran a search on this project Conduit. One file popped up labeled: Top Level Access Only
Clicking on it brought up three more names
Subjects: Matt Dally, Zander Tukavara, James Vegat
Subjects are to be subjected to: pure slug energy. Various concentrations of Darkwater and both to create super soldiers
I clicked on both James and Matt, opening them on separate tabs
Name: Matt Dally
Height: 5.0
Race: Human
Build: Short
Subject is chosen for project conduit slug energy division for his mental capacity. Lives away from his parents after a heated argument about Slugterra university. Currently spends his time at the local library in Tumbleweed cavern. Likely easy capture.
Name: James Vegat
Height: 6.5
Race: human
Build: toned
Subject is chosen for project Conduit mixture division. Vegat is a body builder who used to be top of his class at Slugterra university. Chosen for his build. Subject should have positive responses from both slug energy and darkwater. Capture at all costs. Civilian casualties not an issue
"See? I told you guys. But who are these other two on the file?" I stated printing the files
"Zander? Explain how exactly you got here so fast" Ashley demanded
"Well that's tricky to explain" I started getting up from the chair that I sat down in "the thing is... A creature of heavenly light banished the Darkbane from my head. He or it told me to 'think speed' and that the darkwater caused the strength and speed I've recently shown" I finished with a small sigh
"Well what did this creature look like?" Eli asked his curiosity getting the better of him
"Almost... Inhuman. Alive yet not alive. He spoke as if they were not his words" I stated cryptically "blue wings of flame, eyes as white as the snow and a body as black as the night sky on the surface" I said feeling my heart start to race
"So this thing is now in your head?" Trixie asked with concern in her voice
"No. No it invaded my mind briefly but since it has stayed out" I stated my eyes widening in shock "my god. I think I met my other half. The one exposed to pure slug energy" I stated in a shocked tone
"What? Are you sure? What did he look like? He could be in danger!" Ashley demanded still thinking of anyone but herself
"Blond, scruffy hair. About 5 foot. Matches the description perfectly! We gotta run! He could be cornered!" I yelled getting up
Hearing chirping from my arm I looked down to see Loki unghouled "is that Loki?" Kord asked
"Yeah. It is Loki" was all I said as the world started to glow red "gah my head!" I yelled putting my right hand over my eyes to block out the sensory input. When I looked again I could see multiple tanks glowing red out on all sides of the terra portal. I looked back at Loki and he (as well as the rest of the slugs) were glowing light blue as the world faded back to reality everyone stood frozen "I-I'm I'm good" I stuttered I stated looking down at Loki. I asked him "do you even like the name Loki?" Getting a playful chirp in response I chuckled "okay then. Loki it is" I stated sliding him back into my arm
"Zander. Your eyes" was all Ashley said pointing at them
Putting a hand in front of my fave I saw my eyes were glowing crimson. After a few seconds the colour returned to my face and left my eyes "well that was weird" I stated holding my temples before falling down
Helping me up she embraced me "Zander. You have got to stop scaring me like that" she whispered into my ear
Nuzzling in to it I whispered back "what can I say? It's a bad habit" slowly pulling away I chuckled "come on we need to check on that guy. By the way Loki's clean. Not an once of darkwater in his system" I finished as I reached the door of the room