Chapter 112: Venturing Into Trouble
The City of Townsville.
We find ourselves at the Townsville Volcano mountain, at the very center of Townsville. The proud and majestic force of nature stood idly surrounded by the towering skyscrapers and the greenery of the Townsville Park, creating a particularly odd contrast just by existing. Indeed, if this were any other city with a good common sense over its head, no one in their right mind would live near a volcano let alone build a sprawling metropolis around it. Yet, Townsville Volcano exists as a mark of how nature and man truly coexist side by side, and how maddening and yet trivial that a volcano can even be considered to be a part of normal life.
Such was its surprisingly whimsical nature that a particularly eccentric mutated simian had erected a lair (With the assistance of our erstwhile heroines) right atop the volcano, becoming its most infamous inhabitant. It was occupied for a decade or so, and everyone soon came to associate the lair with the volcano. But when its sole inhabitant left, the structure was left to rot over the volcanic structure. The derelict structure atop the volcano blights both the natural majesty of the volcano and also the triumphant architecture of the city.
Yet today, the abandoned structure found itself visited by two individuals.
[Mojo Jojo's lair, Downtown Townsville, 9.00am]
Two teenage boys, one wearing a maroon red cap over his fiery orange-red hair with a waist-length braided ponytail and the other donning a dark green hairband over his charcoal-colored hair descended upon the abandoned structure with a graceful descent. A pair of crimson-red eyes looked at one corner of the lair while a pair of jade-green eyes looked the other way. Once both teenagers made contact with the floor, they split up and went about searching for something, though that they are looking for is not apparent.
"So, Brick. What are we looking for?" Butch asked as he lifted a sofa effortlessly over his head. However, the target of his conversation appear to be absorbed in pulling books out from the bookshelves in a frantic pace.
"Not sure Butch, but there must be something here. I'm sure of it." Brick clicked his tongue while pulling out the books from the shelves, wondering if it is a very stupid idea to assume that Mojo Jojo would even make the lever for opening a secret door by pulling a book off its shelf.
"Right. Wouldn't Boomer be better at this kind of work? " Butch wondered as he placed the sofa back down.
"Boomer snuck out somewhere, so you'll have to do." Brick said nonchalantly as he decided to lift the bookshelf over his head in an attempt to find something.
"Right...I'm the last option." Butch rolled his eyes, but he is not mad by Brick's reason. It is true that if Boomer decided to sneak out from anywhere, he will be able to do so without anyone knowing and no one will be able to find Boomer.
The Rowdyruff Boys looked around for the next half and hour, trying to find something resembling a plan or maybe even a secret passage. However their efforts bore no fruit and they found nothing. Brick exited from the simian's laboratory while Butch exited from the simian's bedroom. The two brothers met at the center of the observatory lair, both visibly annoyed by their lack of progress.
"Nothing on my side. " Butch informed.
"This place should have something of note. Or else why would they set it right next to the damn TOCTSeF base?" Brick bit his lips, expressing his frustration.
Indeed, it makes no sense at all. A great portion of the Townsville base had been turned into a de-facto military base, and for Him to confidently try to do something to the volcano here is either an act of flaunting Him's grand superiority or a sinisterly planned location to enact the most damage to the city. Brick is leaning more towards the second thought, and Brick shudder to see the entirety of Townsville being submerged in lava, melting everything in its molten-red touch.
"Maybe they haven't set up their operations. " Butch shrugged.
"Him is never that sloop-wait. You hear that? " Brick asked his brother. Butch waited for a moment, listening in on their surroundings.
The subtle sound of fabric making friction with one another made its appearance in Butch's hearing, and the sound of ropes tightening accompanied by light tapping sounds evenly spaced in between the other sounds. The subtle clanging of something made out of steel or some metallic object accompanied the sounds, and it appeared that there are quite a number of them.
"The sound of twenty heavily armed people rappelling down from the outside of this stupid dome? " Butch highlighted what he heard, and Brick rolled his eyes before nodding his head.
Without needing to communicate further, the two Rowdyruff Boys searched for a place in which they can hide themselves. Brick pulled his brother towards vault where the simian supervillain once placed all his weapons, and placed themselves behind some of the empty weapons rack. Now both of them will wait and see what will be the best course of action. Brick peeked over the edge of the broken blast door to observe the newcomer's arrival.
[Townsville High, 9.00pm]
Boomer felt confident enough that he can take anything on.
Boomer think that he felt confident enough that he can take anything on.
Yet, why is it that as the Winter Ball approaches, he felt less and less confident? Boomer had never felt such lack of confidence in him, as he is always pretty sure of himself all the time. There are times he felt a little deflated, but that had never took out his self-assuredness. The nervousness of having such a loss of confidence caused Boomer to take a short walk in the hallways of Townsville High, hoping that he can burn it all out.
Why on earth would Boomer be in Townsville High during the night? He broke in of course. The blonde Rowdyruff Boy had been practicing his act and had it down perfectly, or at least that is what he wanted to believe in. Yet, Boomer is uncomfortable by the growing unease within him.
"Seriously, this is really dumb." Boomer grumbled.
Boomer soon find himself beside the door to the basement, and he figured that breaking through one more lock will not make the difference in the world. With ease, Boomer pulled the padlock and unlocked it through the precise use of his strength. Boomer opened the door and decided to walk down the dark stairway, before realising that he could just hover instead.
Boomer found himself looking at several boiler units with his acute sight, which encompasses various spectrums. Other electrical appliances used to support the various functions that allowed the school to function are also located in this area. Boomer moved deeper into the room to find an ominous metal door greeting 's ears picked up the slight reflection of sounds from the hallway behind the metal door and also the smell of unclean water informed Boomer that the door leads to the also picked up on two particular scent that he would never though he will smell here.
"What on earth are those red-haired idiots doing here? Didn't know that the basement is such a cool spot to be." Boomer said sarcastically.
Boomer decided that the easiest way to find out why Brick and Blossom came here is to open the door and follow the breadcrumbs. Boomer grabbed on the door and pulled it with enough strength that the door almost got ripped off its hinges. Entering in without any hesitation, Boomer felt a little more comfortable that his self-confidence was back for an instant. Boomer took his first step into the dark hallway, followed by another.
Boomer found himself traversing through the darkness and the subtle smell of his brother and the Powerpuff Girl is unmistakable. The scent informed Boomer that they were here a while back, and Boomer picked upon the smell of other things that made no sense to him. Three other scents caught its attentions, and each one made no sense to Boomer.
"What the fuck." Boomer had no idea what to make of these scents. Boomer slowly noticed several other scents, and his mind started to piece together the puzzle of a scene.
The scent of burnt flesh.
The scent of pulverized bricks.
The scent of particularly pure water.
Boomer recognized a fight when he smelled one. Brick was injured, but from their appearance a few days before, Brick and Blossom got out from the fight in one piece. The question is more like what on earth made them retreated. Boomer raised his head up in the air, allowing the scents to enter into his nose. The Rowdyruff Boy caught three scents that piqued his interest.
One smelled human, but with a sickly sweet stench that Boomer recognized as Red Candy. However, the human scent felt as if something is wearing a human guise to pass off as being human. Boomer had a scant familiarity with the scent but his mind is unable to remember where he had caught this particular scent.
Another smelled of a rotting corpse that trailed around the room, causing Boomer to wonder why would someone moved a corpse around the entirety of the sewer.
And last and perhaps the most disturbing, multiple scents of the same person. No, Boomer further sniffed the air, it is the scent of many people moulded into a single scent, and there are multiple of these monstrous things that smelled the same. Boomer felt sick in his stomach, as something is inhuman about all these scents.
Boomer wondered if this is one of Him's latest tricks, but then why didn't the two redheads told them about their particular encounter? Or perhaps they couldn't?
[Mojo Jojo's Lair, Downtown Townsville, 9.15am]
Several masked individuals rappelled from the curved ceiling of the observatory, each armed to the teeth with weaponry and other high-tech equipment only seen on special forces operatives. The armed individuals scanned their surroundings as they descended downwards, and as they land they released their harnesses and spread out to secure the immediate parameter. Once the initial phase of securing the location is completed, the masked man closest to one of the ropes tugged on the rope, as if to signal that the area is , more armed men descended from the ropes and before long the area is populated by the presence of no more than several dozen heavily-equipped operatives One of the operatives spoke out, with an accent best described as particularly eloquent.
The darkness beside the operative that spoke out started to solidify, first forming an outline before more notable features became apparent. The form of a wide-brimmed fedora is the first to form, wit, one side folded over its top. The next thing to form a coat over which sports large rings serving as shoulder pads, followed by a stylized belt, and a trouser decorated with braces around the ankles. The last feature to form is a face with an arrow-like mark underneath what seems to be a large, empty eye.
"What the he-" Butch's mouth is immediately covered by Brick's hand. Butch's forest green eyes glared at his brother, only for him to realise that Brick had an expression that he had not seen in a long time.
"Trouble. " Brick answered, his voice expressing his concerns that the battle that had yet to begun had turned against them.
[Sewers Beneath Townsville High, 9.15am]
Boomer finally entered into the sewers proper, and what he had picked up with his nose he soon saw with his eyes. Several pulverized bricks and several slightly lighter colored bricks informed Boomer of the battle that happened here. Blossom's cryogenic powers at full strength leaves a particularly distinctive mark on its surroundings, and Boomer shuddered to know the thing that can survived through such a raw display of power.
Boomer allowed the scents to lead him around the corner, only for Boomer to instinctively moved back before his mind can interpret what is going on. Boomer leaned his back on the wall before peering out to see what his body noticed before his mind. His cobalt blue eyes saw several heavily armed men with full ballistic body armor cautiously edging forward to where Boomer is. Boomer allowed his body to levitate as he cloaked himself invisible, hiding himself among the shadows of the ceiling.
Mandarin, Boomer recognized the language spoken by the heavily armed men.
The armed men entered into the room and made a sweeping parameter to secure the room. The men spread around, placing themselves at points in the sewer that provided the best vantage point and covering fire. As each one of the individuals voiced out that the room is clear, Boomer looked down to see an unnaturally pristine white feminine figure with black sunglasses entering into the chamber. The inhuman being entered with a grace that is not meant for this world, and it felt as if the world dare not sully the being.
An Asian man with well-combed hair, aviator sunglasses and dapper business suit with a white scarf draped over his shoulder soon entered into the chamber, and Boomer recognized the stylish and charismatically powerful appearance. The square face with soft rounded angles and wide nose of the man looked around the room with a lit cigarette in his mouth.
Mark?, Boomer expressed his surprise at the Dragon Head's presence.
"So this is the place." A young girl's voice and an adult woman's voice spoke simultaneously. Boomer was a little confused by the presence of a little girl's voice, only to realize that the voices are coming out from the white being.
A demon, Boomer came to the conclusion after putting two and two together.
"Yes, this is the last place where the Phantom's Blood was spotted." Mark spoke.
Phantom's Blood?, Boomer wondered. Volcanoes, evil rituals and Phantoms blood. Bubbles is right that Phantom's Blood appear to be a key item in everything. But something felt odd in their tone, as if something about everything did not make make sense.
"I sensed nothing of the sort. The Phantom's blood is also not here." The feminine being pointed out.
"But without the blood, Hecate will not rouse is it not?" The Dragon head queried.
What the hell is Hecate?, Boomer felt that there are even more names being added into the mess Townsville find itself submerged in.
Whatever this Hecate is, it must be something that glued everything together. Or at least formed one part of the adhesive. These people appear to know what is Him up to, and that alone is reason enough to worry. Him's plans are as convoluted as it is seamless, and for someone to understand the demon's mind is an inhuman feat. Boomer watched as the two individuals continued on conversing with each other, absorbing whatever he can understand and informing his brothers about it.
Incubation...maturing...sentiments...makes even less sense now, Boomer thought to himself.
"But the school has its role, and this is why we will strike. This place is one of the keys to activate the Phantom's blood." The white being pointed up, and Boomer was almost certain that it is pointing at him.
"Alright." Mark Gor acknowledged. With a clap of his hands, the other heavily-armed men proceed to carry out their task.
Boomer watched as several of the armed men took out brick-like blocks and some electronic devices, and Boomer knew what those devices are. Boomer will not hide silently as they planted the devices beneath the school. Boomer is aware that if he does nothing, the school will be gone in a very big explosion.
[Mojo Jojo's Lair, Downtown Townsville, 9.30pm]
That is bad, Brick noticed his brother's unusual docility as he slowly lifted his hand from Butch's mouth, hoping that his brother is not stupid enough to expose them.
Brick further observed his brother, and picked up the signs of Butch's muscle twitching. This is not the signs of nervous or excited muscle twitching, but instead it is a sign of a calm and collected manner of revving up the fast twitch muscles within Butch's body. Just like how a race car driver revs up the car's engine while remaining calm to pick up the signs to press the accelerator,
Butch's twitching and his unusual docility often means that he is ready to spring into action explosively. Butch only does this when he is unsure of what will happen next. Brick knew what they are up against, and he placed his hand on his brother's boulder-hard chest. However, nothing prepared Brick for what happen next.
The dark observatory was illuminated by a countless flames gently descending like snow, each one glowing in a yellowish-white light with a red fiery core. One of the flames grew larger than the rest, and formed itself into a slender snow-white woman with frosty icy-cold blue ones and blood crimson hair. The woman's face bear claw-like markings that flowed from her eyes like bloody tears down her cheek and nine large white brush-like tail radiate out from the base of her hip. The utterly white appearance of the fox-like being is soon engulfed by a malicious red glow from a floating white lantern above the female's head.
"Renee? Butch's voice trembled as he saw the figure entering into the fray.
This is really bad, Brick thought once more. Brick is at a loss for words, as he recognised the figure that had just revealed itself. Renee Delacroix, hold many meaning to the Rowdyruff Boys.
Commander.
Guardian.
Friend.
And for Butch, something more.
To see someone so dear to them appear as something so unnatural and almost unrecognizable is a heartbreaking experience. A tragedy to be exact, for an erstwhile ally to turn into an implacable enemy is a very bitter pill to swallow. Even Brick's pragmatism can only do so much to dull the sense of sadness and perceived betrayal that he felt within him. Brick will need to look after his brother less he will do something stupid.
"Butch, sta-god damn it." Brick cursed. His brother is no longer in his sight, and Brick frantically look around to find his particularly impulsive brother.
"I knew you'll come." The woman spoke a her feet graced the floor.
"So...the lieutenant is here to greet us. " The dark figure stepped forward, the utter blackness of the being's body appear to not be lighted by the glow of the floating flames.
"No, I am here to escorts you out from the premise. "
Brick watched the two individuals staring at each other, knowing none of them will back down. Renee had just challenged a being that is best described as illogically powerful, and for such an insult to escape without any further retaliation is not acceptable. The dark being gave out a hearty laugh. Sensing the antagonism from the dark being, the armed men aimed their weapons at the woman. Brick knew what will happen next, and honestly hoped that Renee will dodge or shield herself from the ensuing retaliation.
"Fire. " The dark being commanded, and the men opened fire.
[Sewers Beneath Townsville High, 9.30pm]
Boomer hovered lower towards the ground, but taking care to not step on the ground. Boomer moved seamlessly towards the armed men, remembering the limits of his 'invisibility' powers. Not being able to use any other powers, and he is as strong as a normal teenager if anything were to happen to him in this form. Boomer reminded himself that he will need to name his 'invisible' form soon enough, as he peeped over the shoulders of one of the men setting up the device.
Whatever those are... they ain't good, Boomer confirmed while watching the man placing the devices on the walls. Boomer wondered what should do to stop them, only to realize that he can't stop them one by one. Boomer closed his eyes, wondering what he should do given the situation. It took him only a second to decide, and Boomer knew that he will regret it.
"OOOOHHHHHHHYYYYYEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
Boomer's yell is loud enough that the dust and dirt trapped above the ceiling rained down, and the unfortunate souls that was the closest to Boomer collapsed on the ground like a limp ragdoll. The other individuals within the room were stunned by the yelling, and they instinctively covered their ears. Boomer's optical camouflage dissipated, revealing his presence to everyone within the room. Boomer decided that this is the moment where he will make a run for it. However, something held Boomer back.
Or to be exact, something is holding Boomer's back.
Boomer instinctively fired his eye beams as he turned back, only for his beams to hit a mirage of the white being. The mirage reformed itself, only for it to retaliate with an elbow strike. Boomer evaded the blow within an inch of it reaching his forehead, and Boomer struck back with an elbow strike of his own. The pristine white individual let go of Boomer's back to avoid the blow, but Boomer is already one step ahead by moving forward to follow the white being and striking the being's chest with a straight punch. The blow is strong enough that the being impacted the wall, causing it to cave in.
Boomer wanted to bolt away after striking the being, but it appear that the others had regained their composure and they fired their weapons. Boomer's body reflexively started dodging the bullets each just barely missing its body. However, Boomer's mind registered that he is not dodging bullets but beams instead. Boomer's mind will need to think fast, as beams are bad news to the Rowdyruff Boy especially when they are-
They're orange beams, Boomer realized and that can only mean one thing. Antidote- X weaponry. They are prepared to fight someone like Boomer, and that is truly bad news.
The intensity of the beams grew more intense and Boomer will need to think even faster if he wanted to escape from this damn sewer alive. Boomer decided that he will electrify everyone in the chamber. Boomer's sand blonde hair started to rise, and the static in the air intensified as the air around him started to ionize. Boomer felt his body heating up, and Boomer felt the pressure within his body building up. His reactions started to slow down, and some of the beams soon started grazing his shirt.
Finally, Boomer is unable to hold the pressure anymore within his body and he unleashed the energy outwards.
The chains of lightning lashed out towards everything, electrocuting anything that it touches. The bright light that accompanied such an intense release of energy also illuminated the room. Several of the electrical currents struck the magazines and explosives on the armed me, adding further to the pandemonium by causing the bullets and the explosives to violently explode. Boomer took his chance and bolted off towards the hallway where he came from.
Not my best getaway, but it will have to do.
However just moments before he reached the path to his escape, the wall beside the hallway violently exploded. Boomer stopped in his tracks, and he watched as the pristine white feminine figure stopped his advance. The pristine white being in the business suit and black sunglasses gazed upon him in something of a mild acknowledgement of Boomer's achievements under duress.
"As quick and explosive like a bolt of lightning, you indeed earned your name, Boomer of the Rowdyruff Boys."
"And you are as white as snow?" Boomer wanted to say something witty, but he fall short of having the skills needed to make something truly witty.
"Her." The pristine white being placed its hand on its chest.
"Her?" Boomer is confused by what the white being is referring to, before realizing again what the white being truly is.
It happened in a split second, but Boomer found himself slamming into the brick wall, with his skull clamped by the white being's hands. Boomer felt the rough surface of the wall scrapping on his skin as his head was dragged across the brick wall. The rough sensation felt was short, for Boomer soon found himself being tossed back from where he came from and crashed into the sewer walls. It came as a rude surprise to Boomer, for he did not sense any intent from her to harm him yet he is now embedded in the sewer walls.
"I am Her. Prepare to die." The white being exited from the hallway and Boomer knew that this thing's threat is true and real.
A sound that resembled a wind chime suddenly ringed in Boomer's ear. Boomer no longer hear anything else, and he felt the sensation of a running stream of liquid coming from his ear. Boomer sighed, knowing well that he had just turned deaf once more. He had grown accustomed to his opponents taking away his senses these days, and it is only the thanks of the wall behind him that he did not collapse from the chiming sound that assaulted his senses. The realization that he sensed nothing gave Boomer the motivation he needs.
"No. I am not going to do that here." Boomer reminded himself that he has a reason to come out of it alive.
Boomer grabbed the closest armed goon and decided he will have to improvise.
He will start by throwing this one.
The man screamed as Boomer tossed him towards the white female-thing, only for it to swat the armed man in mid-air like it is a minor annoyance. Realizing that the being is pissed, Boomer immediately rushed towards another armed soldier and grabbed the unfortunate soul. Boomer sensed a difference in air pressure and Boomer shielded himself with the soldier, and a rain of blood soon rained upon Boomer.
"Impressive."
"Thanks." Boomer said nervously, dropping the the limp meatshield on the ground and realize that this will be a really messed up fight.
Boomer figured that it is time to look for the next person around him to be his shield.