Another collaboration between Steelcode, Redbat132, and myself. Here you go, Amigos! Enjoy! :)
Ben 10 belongs to Cartoon Network and Man of Action. Lauhin and Jocu (both mentioned here) belong to guestsurprise. Sage belongs to Steelcode. Macy, Andy, Marcus, and Tommy belong to Redbat132. Forrest and Summer belong to VinnieStokerLover. I only own Megan, Vampiro, and Rachel. All other characters mentioned belong to their respective owners.
A Gas Of A Laugh
"Come on, Sis! Pleeeeease?" Tommy asked.
"For the hundredth time, no! It's too dangerous!" Macy harshly replied.
Tommy had been begging Sage and Macy to take him to Undertown for nearly a few straight days. But the two older siblings kept refusing because they were worried he'd end up captured, hurt, or worse. Unfortunately for them, the young boy was persistent.
Sage raised his head up from the rug where he and Macy were relaxing. He was in his wolf form with her using him as a pillow while she looked for ways to upgrade her armor.
"Tommy, please stop asking. We already said no," Sage said. "Maybe in a year or two, when your older."
"But that's not fair! Megan, Forrest, Summer, and the others got to go! And some of them were my age and or younger! Why are you guys treating me differently than them?!" The young boy complained.
Sage sighed. "Tommy, listen. The others have been around my family a while longer than you. So, they understand to not be unruly in Undertown while many aliens are nice there some are like the ones on Anur Transyl. We just don't want you getting hurt just because you made a mistake," he explained as he tried to hold back his annoyance.
"I can behave! I've learned not to do that since the Goop thing! I promise I won't wander off, touch anything, break anything, talk to anyone, or any of that! Please? Pretty please?" Tommy continued begging, now giving the puppy dog eyes and quivering lip, hoping it would sway his siblings.
Sage sighed heavily before looking at Macy. "What do you think, my Moon? If he keeps one hand on my collar or back as a rule, then the trip will be safer," he said.
The Brunette thought about it before sighing too. "Well...I suppose that sounds fair. But one slip up, and we're going back home," she said sternly
Sage nodded. "And the next time we go, you'll be on a toddler harness and leash," he warned, looking at Tommy, who turned red at the thought.
"Noted," he managed to say after visualizing that embarrassing scenario.
"Alright." Sage sighed motioning for Macy to sit up as he stood doing a downward dog and then a stretch to his back legs and spine. "Get your jacket and we'll go," he said as he yawned, showing his fangs as he shook out his fur.
"Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Tommy exclaimed before giving Sage and Macy a quick hug.
Sage gave a light growl as he nudged Tommy's hair.
"Alright, go get you jacket and remember what I said," he said calmly.
"You got it, Big Brother," Tommy said, letting go and running to get his jacket. "This is gonna be so fun!" He exclaimed.
"Should we be worried about doing this?" Macy asked her Wolf.
Sage turned to Macy, rubbing his head against hers before answering.
"As long as we stay alert and aware we should be fine. Besides if we didn't agree soon, I have a feeling that Tommy would have gone to extreme measures to go to Undertown. I thought I heard him go over ideas with Andy and Marcus. Somehow, massages came into the mix, along with waiting on your hand and foot," he said, licking his shoulder to straighten out his fur.
Macy held back a laugh. "That desperate, huh? Yeah, I guess it was a good thing we finally agreed. I don't think I can stand seeing him embarrassing himself like that. I'd probably pass out from laughing before accepting," she admitted.
Sage chuckled. "Yeah, but I think we should have a backup plan just in case Tommy's ten-year-old brain pulls him away," he suggested.
"Good idea," Macy agreed.
Sage nodded. "What about placing a small tracker on him? You said you had made tracers for enemies we could also stick some of my fur on it so I could find him as well," he continued.
"That may actually work. Plus, I always wanted to see how my trackers work with Frankenstrike's help this time," Macy answered, nodding her head in agreement.
Meanwhile, Tommy already got his jacket but realized that his camera was not in his pocket.
"Oh, man! I can't leave without my camera!" The young boy said, trying to look for it by retracing his steps on where he last saw it while around the Grant Mansion, hoping to find it quickly.
Just then, he noticed a slightly opened door and heard some hissing sounds. Curious, Tommy decided to check what was there. Once entering, his vision began to get hazy with his mind feeling heavy.
"I don't feel so good…," he said to himself, falling forward with a groan. Before his vision turned black, he thought he saw someone with glowing green eyes from a distance coming towards him.
"That can't be good," a gruff voice from the figure said as he spotted the unconscious young boy. Knowing the boy had gotten a wiff of the gas in the air, he picked up the young one gently, checking for a pulse and nodding to find the boy's pulse was strong. "Alright, let's get you taken care of."
A few minutes passed with Sage and Macy waiting by the front door.
"Wonder what's taking him so long?" Sage questioned.
"I'm not sure. Maybe he went into the bathroom or something like that?" Macy asked.
Sage grew restless on his paws. "Maybe we should go look for him. The mansion does have a few twists and turns would make getting lost pretty easy."
"You make a good point. The mansion is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. Let's find him!" Macy exclaimed, running ahead.
Sage soon came to her side beginning to sniff the air for any traces of Tommy.
"Got anything, Wolf Boy?" Macy questioned, secretly worried about her little brother.
Sage slid to a stop before placing his nose to the ground and giving a collective sniff as his eyes caught the multicolored scent trails that traveled all over the hallway. Instinctively he narrowed in on the heavy grass smell of Tommy.
"Yeah, he went further down the hall," he replied.
"Then that's where we're heading! Lead the way, Sage!" Macy replied.
Sage nodded as he took in the scent again before taking off down the hallway the scent trail leading him around left and right corners till it stopped at a partially opened door. Going slightly rigid, the wolf slunk forward till he could peer through the door. The inside of the room looked like a chemist's version of his Uncle Frankenstrike's lab. Sage quickly took note of a large figure leaning over a table his back towards him blocking his view of the table.
"There. A little O atomic number 8, a line of atomic antibodies with H2O, and you'll be back on your feet," the figure, looking like a walking gas can, said, turning around revealing his gas mask like face. However, Sage's eyes fell on the person unconscious on the table.
"Tommy!" Sage gasped at the sight of the boy with an oxygen mask on and an IV in his arm.
"Sage, what's wrong? Did you find-" Macy said before gasping in shock, catching up until she saw her brother in the mercy of a strange being and knocked out. "HEY! Who or what are you?! What did you do to my brother!?" She demanded, bringing out her kusari-gama from her left ankle.
Sage snarled, his fangs revealed as his hackles raised as he moved forward.
"What the? Who are you?!" The figure questioned, standing in front of Tommy.
Sage growled. "Step away from the boy," he said, ready to pounce.
"Sorry, but this child is under my protection," the figure said.
Snarling, Sage leapt at the figure, only to get blasted by a large amount of blue smoke in his face. Like a bag of nails, the skinwalker dropped to the floor unconscious.
"Sage!" Macy yelled, now mad. "That's it! You're going down!" Without warning, she spun her chained weapon and threw it at the mysterious gas-masked being.
"Huh, Japanese weapons. Not bad," the figure said, before releasing a gas that melted the weapon. "Not good enough."
Macy's eyes grew wide in shock, pulling what was left of it. That creature just melted her kusari-gama as if it were nothing.
"What the-?! How did you...?" Macy questioned in utter disbelief.
"All good questions. But now, I think it's time for sleep," the figure said, as he released a large amount of the blue gas.
Macy coughed, trying to prevent herself from breathing the blue fumes. But some of it got in her system and she ended up falling on the floor.
"No...Tommy...," she muttered, before passing out. The figure picked her up and set her down on another table, getting her set up before going over to Sage and picking him up, getting him set up too.
"Now to wait until you two wake up," he said, not liking that he had had to knock the two out, but it was the only way at the moment before he could decide if they were a friend or foe.
Sage groaned as he woke up, feeling as if his head had been slammed against a wall.
"What the?" He asked as he tried to move, finding he was unable to.
Opening his eyes, the wolf found an oxygen mask over his snout strapped to the back of his head with an IV line in his leg.
"You'll be able to move in a little while," the figure said, as he came to view before stroking Sage's back gently.
Sage growled. "Who are you? What did you do to Tommy, Macy, and me?"
"My name is Gutrot. I'm one of the residents here. As are you, Sage. Am I right?" Gutrot asked.
Sage nodded. "Yeah, but why did you attack Tommy? He didn't do anything to you!"
Gutrot shook his head. "I found a camera and, apparently, it belonged to the young boy. Unfortunately, he walked in when I was experimenting with a new knock out gas, so he got exposed to it. The same that I used on you and Miss Monroe. The oxygen and the fluids will help you get back on your feet."
"Ugh...my head is killing me," a familiar female voice was heard.
"Macy!" Sage said worriedly, trying again to get up but found he still couldn't move.
Gutrot stepped over to Macy, adding a pain killer to Macy's IV. "That should help with any discomfort. Just rest and relax," he said, placing a hand on her head.
Slowly opening her eyes, Macy gasped and tried to get up, but seemed stuck like Sage. "Relax?! You got a lot of nerve knocking us out like that and hurting my brother! When I get out of this, I'm so gonna crack that rock-like head of yours!" She threatened.
Sage sighed. "Mace, he's on our side. Meet my Uncle Gutrot. Apparently, Tommy opened his door looking for a camera he dropped and got exposed to a new knock out gas."
"Gutrot?!" Macy exclaimed, making sure she heard that correctly. "...Not like this is the first time I came across someone with an unusual name. And probably not the last."
"Yes, Miss Monroe. It's a pleasure to meet you. Have to say, I'm rather impressed that you and my nephew came to, first, after the dose of gas I gave you. Sage I expect, because of his immune responses. But for someone like you, I suspect that you trained yourself against them, correct?" Gutrot asked calmly.
"That would be the case. Both physically and mentally," Macy replied in honesty. "It's helped me many times when facing danger. Along with bad guys."
"Hmmm, have you tested yourself against nitrous oxide?" Gutrot asked curiously, as he attached a second hose to the one on Macy and Sage's masks.
Sage's eyes narrowed. "Nitrous oxide? Isn't that the stuff they use to knock you out at the dentist office?" He asked, having a bad feeling about this.
"Yes. However, nitrous oxide also has a more common name." Gutrot said, a smirk appearing in his eyes as he attached the other ends of the hoses to his right arm release a small bit of gas to them.
"Whoa, wait a second! What are you-?!" Macy started in panic, only to end up giggling all of sudden. "Whahahahahat did you dohohohoho?" She managed to say through her small fits of laughter.
Sage soon began chuckling as well before outright laughter filled the air.
Gutrot chuckled. "The other name for nitrous oxide is Laughing Gas. A useful and harmless way to take down an enemy."
Sage laughed. "OHOHOHOHOHOHOF COURSE IT IHIHIHIHIHIS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He laughed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MAHAHAHAHAHAKE IT STAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!" Bellowed Macy, unable to control her laughter.
Gutrot released the second hose from the first and opened the valve of oxygen a little more.
"It will be out of your systems in two minutes," he said as he moved to check on Tommy.
Sage growled as he tried to focus, soon feeling the laughing gas lose affect. "Guess there are more goohoohoohood points on being a Skihihihihihinwahahahahahalker!" He laughed.
Macy continued to laugh a little longer until she managed to calm down a bit. "It would seheeheeheem so," she tittered, still have the laughing gas in her system that was slowly getting kicked to the curb.
"Something for me to note," Gutrot said, typing in the new information. "So, would you mind telling me why Tommy was searching for his camera?"
"I think he was planning to bring it on our trip to Undertown, after Sage and I finally agreed to take him there today," Macy elaborated.
Sage sighed as he rolled to his stomach pushing the oxygen mask off.
"Seems though he didn't keep his wits about him," he said, rolling to the ground on his feet growling as he stretched his stiff limbs.
"Guess not," Macy nodded, slowly feeling her body start to work again by sitting up and getting her oxygen mask off, as well. "But the trip is the least of my problems. I just want my brother to wake up again," she told Sage with deep concern.
Sage sighed. "I got a very good way of waking him up."
"Please tell me it's not mouth-to-mouth," Macy deadpanned on that statement.
Sage turned and looked at her. "Macy, only in a near death experience would I do that. You know I like kissing you more."
"Still, the only lips I prefer mine getting kissed are yours," Macy smirked. "So, what is your plan on waking Tommy up?"
Sage smiled. "Set off his alarm clock...loudly."
Macy snickered. "You kidding? I practically do that to him when it's time to get ready for school."
Sage smirked. "Probably not as loud as I can."
"Oooh, show me," Macy said, now intrigued on what Sage is gonna do.
Sage smiled before taking off the oxygen mask on the boy and leaning close to Tommy's ear.
Taking in a deep breath, Sage howled loudly..
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOO!"
That got Tommy to open his eyes immediately and let out a short scream. "AH, I didn't steal any cookies! That jar was already opened, I swear!" He managed to say very fast before falling off the table.
Macy laughed a bit. "Now that's a wake-up call," she said in amusement.
Sage chuckled. "Like I said, alarm clock," he said.
"What happened? Where am I?" Tommy asked, feeling his head. Then he saw Gutrot and screamed again, scooting backwards. "AHHHH! MUTANT ASTRONAUT METEOR MAN!"
Sage sighed as Tommy scooted into his chest. "Tommy, chill. He's one of my uncles," he said.
That got the young boy to stop panicking. "He is?!...Oh, that's makes much more sense," he said while thinking about it.
"Yeah, but I should make you quake." Sage said, pinning Tommy down. "You should have been more careful."
"I'm sorry! I was just looking for my camera!" The young boy reasoned in slight panic. "Please, don't hurt me!"
Sage was shocked by Tommy's words, backing up slightly hurt. "Tommy...I would never hurt you... never." Sage said, slight upset and worried.
"Tommy!" Macy scolded him, disbelieved that her own brother just said that.
"Oh, geez," the young boy said, realizing that he hurt his wolf brother. "Sage, I didn't mean that. Of course I know you wouldn't hurt me. I just panicked for no reason," he continued, sighing while feeling sad. "I guess that's why I'm not ready to go to Undertown. I don't think before I act fast enough. Maybe there's something wrong with me."
Tommy curled up and hid his face with his legs, really depressed.
Sage took a deep breath before moving forward and nuzzling Tommy's head. "Tommy, come with me, please. Climb on."
The young boy refused, shaking his head while not lifting his head up.
"Tommy, please. We need to talk. Just you and me." Sage replied, rubbing Tommy again with his head.
"Na-uh. I made enough messes. I'll just make things worse, like always," the young boy said, turning away.
Sage growled a little before gently taking Tommy by the back of the neck and picking him up like a cub.
"Let's go," Sage said calmly.
Gutrot looked at Macy, making the Brunette roll her eyes. "Don't worry. He picks people up gently with his teeth in his wolf form all the time," she assured.
Sage moved back towards his room where he carefully plopped Tommy on his bed then curled tightly around him.
"Now we're going to talk." Sage said calmly. "Tommy, were you hurt in the past?"
The boy just nodded, still not looking at him.
Sage looked at Tommy. "Tommy, you don't mess everything up. You're still young, and your sister and I understand that. We're not angry with you. I wasn't angry with you. I was worried."
"You were?" Tommy asked, slowly lifting his head to see Sage half way.
"Yes. I was worried when you didn't come down immediately. There are some of my Uncles I haven't met yet and I know that some can be a little defensive when they need to be. Especially when they think you're an intruder." Sage said calmly. "It's the reason why Macy and I didn't think it was a good idea to take you to Undertown. Not because you make a mess of things, but because I don't know whether Macy or I could protect you if an alien got mad. She and I are not indestructible, even though we act like it most of the time. The worse pain we can have is seeing you in danger or hurt."
"I never thought of it like that," Tommy sniffed. "I'm really sorry that I made you and Macy become worried like that. I don't know what would happen if any of you got hurt, either."
Sage rubbed his head against Tommy's then licked his tears away.
"Hey, it's okay. As long as we're all careful and thoughtful nothing will happen." Sage said giving a smile. "So, do you still want to go to Undertown?"
"Really? Even after what happened?" He asked, titling his head.
Sage looked at him. "As long as you keep to our rule about keeping you hand on my back or collar, we can still go." Sage said smiling. "Besides, a little mistake wouldn't make me go back on my word."
The young boy finally smiled and unfurled himself. "I will! Promise. Thanks," he said.
Sage smiled. "Oh, one more thing." Sage said, as he hopped down from the bed then dug underneath 'til he pulled out a small wooden box. "Here, this is for you."
Tommy opened it and, inside, he found a wolf fur bottle necklace just like his sister's, but the woven cord was red, yellow, and black.
"Whoa...my very own wolf bottle?!" Tommy exclaimed.
Sage nodded. "Promise never to take it off. I'll be able to find you easier if you have it."
"This is so awesome!" Tommy exclaimed, putting the necklace on before hugging Sage. "Thanks, Big Brother!"
Sage smiled. "Your welcome. Macy can give you the specs later. Now hop on so your sister can hug the living daylights out of you."
"You got it," Tommy said, smiling before climbing on Sage and hang on tight for the ride. "Let's go!"
Sage chuckled. "Hold on tight and make sure to lean forward." Sage said before taking off down the hall.
"WOOHOO!" Tommy cheered, having fun while following his friend's instructions.
Sage smiled as he followed Macy's scent to the kitchen where they found Gutrot and Macy talking about Macy as Black Rebel and her armor.
"We miss anything?" Sage asked as Tommy jumped off and rushed to Macy to show his gift.
"There you boys are. I was just telling Gutrot about my battle suit and asking how he can help make it detect different types of gases plus prevent it from breathing specific toxic airs," Macy said, smiling.
"Sis! Sis! Sage gave me a necklace just like yours and Megan's! Now he can track me whenever we separate!" Tommy exclaimed, eagerly showing it to Macy.
"That is neat. I was wondering when you would finally get one of those," Macy said.
Sage smiled. "I figured now was better than his birthday," he said.
"Totally! Still stoked about that coming up!" Tommy exclaimed. He then looked at the alien next to Macy and looked at him in slight embarrassment. "Sorry if I panicked and entered your room earlier. I was only looking for my camera and let my curiosity get the best of me...again," he apologized.
Gutrot chuckled reaching under the table for a moment to reveal Tommy's camera.
"Not a problem. But it would be best to knock, next time. Some of my experiments can be lethal." Gutrot said, holding out the camera.
"My camera! Thank you!" Tommy said, after getting it back from Gutrot. "And yeah. Next time I enter a room in this place, I'll be sure to knock first and avoid passing out from Sevoflurane gas again,"
Sage chuckled. "Let's try to avoid all gases. Except maybe nitrous oxide," he said, getting a gleam in his eye as he looked at his uncle, who caught on what his nephew was thinking.
"Nitrous oxide? I think Andy once told me about that one. Isn't that another name for laughing gas?" Tommy asked.
Sage looked at Gutrot, who chuckled before releasing a small bit of nitrous oxide into Tommy's face.
"Yeah, it is." Sage said smiling.
"Hey!" Tommy coughed, only to end up laughing uncontrollably and holding his stomach while keeping balance to stand. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! WALKED RIHIHIHIGHT INTO THAHAHAHAHAHAHAT ONE!"
"You sure did," Macy chuckled, crossing her arms while enjoying the show.
Sage smiled as he walked over to Macy, letting her stroke his neck. "Guess we'll have to do a little more training," he commented.
"Definitely. Especially when facing nitrous oxide," Macy agreed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THIHIHIHIHIHIHIS IS JUHUHUHUHUST LIKE TIHIHIHIHIHIHICKLIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHING!" Tommy laughed, now on the floor and hugging his tummy tight.
"Hey, it could be worse. You could be dealing with that and Jocu." Sage said smiling.
"Boy, I'll say. Still can't believe you and your family actually know Jocu for years. Even before I came here," Macy remarked with a giggle.
"Speaking of meets, remind me again how you first knew him?" Sage asked.
"Heh, we met before I moved here. Let's just say that it involved him stealing my shoe and I had to chase him, ending up in his world," Macy explained, smiling. "What about you?"
Sage smiled. "Remember when I told you about the monster that tried to take Megan when we met my Uncles Chill and Rojo? Jocu and his family saved my parents and Megan. Aunt Rachel, Uncle Ben, and Mom have known Jocu and his brothers, along with the Tickle Kingdom, for a long time. I've only met them a couple of times."
"Same here. They're pretty cool guys...even if they tickle me to pieces as bad as the Grant Mansion aliens," Macy admitted, chuckling.
Sage chuckled. "And that's just them personally. You haven't seen the whole kingdom, yet. Great Uncle King Lauhin can really make you laugh," he said, smiling before looking down where Tommy was huffing and puffing. "Get the giggles out, Buckaroo?"
"Sure...did," Tommy answered, after catching his breath. "So, your uncle can create different chemicals and release them? Like a walking chemistry lab?"
Gutrot chuckled as he helped Tommy up and set him on his knee.
"Indeed. I'm working on non-lethal ways to deal with our enemies. That is part of my job, as a Plumber's agent," he said. "Tell me, what were you three doing that required a camera?"
"I was gonna take some pics and videos of my first trip in Undertown," Tommy answered.
"He's been asking Sage and me for nearly a hundred times," Macy added, rolling her eyes.
"We agreed to take him under some guidelines that he keeps his hand on my back or collar during our visit." Sage said. "I agreed that we'd still take him. If you're still up for going, Macy?"
"I don't have any other thing on my to-do list. I'm down if you still are," Macy replied.
"How about I join you all?" Gutrot said calmly, standing up and setting Tommy on his feet. "Would be safer with a chaperone."
Sage looked at Gutrot for a minute, before looking at Tommy and Macy. "If you guys are cool with it, I don't mind," he said.
"Well, we can definitely use some extra assistance when watching Tommy. So sure," Macy answered. "What do you think, little brother?"
"You kidding me? That's sounds 'gas-tly' awesome!" Tommy answered, laughing at his own joke.
Sage groaned. "Tommy, any more jokes like that and I'm upping you to being stuck on my back or Gutrot's shoulders during the trip."
"Aw, you guys are no fun," Tommy whined, crossing his arms.
Sage chuckled ducking under Tommy's legs before allowing Macy to climb on.
"Hey, could be worse. I could have suggested a stroller," he said smiling.
Macy laughed. "Now that's funny," she said.
"Not really," Tommy grumbled.
"Anyway, let's go. We should be able to grab some lunch down there to." Sage said, moving towards the door with Gutrot right beside him.
"Sounds good to me. Let's go!" Macy said.
Gutrot chuckled and followed them as they headed for Undertown.
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