"My servants, the time has come. Hunt down and corrupt or destroy any and all remnants of these cartoons, old and new, until there are none left to oppose us. Let their makers know they're next."
It was sometime after a major attack at the Lakewood Plaza that the alter ego of K.O., Turbo K.O., had emerged from a deep sleep. Earlier a few weeks ago, he was locked away in his otherwise peaceful yet childish counterpart's subconscious. Earlier today, it was something even he didn't see coming. A mysterious man asking for aid from the heroes of the plaza after a devastating accident he endured on his travels from across the universe had offered his assistance for something he doesn't quite remember. In detail, the memory of the man described him as tall, silver haired and had an outfit styled like a samurai, exerting such grace and authority unlike any other. Black and red in color which to someone like Radicles would argue looked totally rad. He had powers no one had ever seen. Environmental manipulation. Energy blasts without strain on the body or visible movement. Speed unmatched by even the fastest of them all. He had it all but seemed friendly enough to be trusted. But when he hovered into the sky to depart and Enid and Radicles slowly turned and faced their little friend, eyes hollow, void of any and all emotion, the man they thought was a hero proved to be worse than even the villains they've fought over the years. In under a few seconds, he ordered them to strike K.O. down, which they did. The last thing T.K.O. remembered from that moment was Radicles and Enid firing an unusual white beam of light at K.O.
Normally, T.K.O. is meant to be part of what makes K.O the perfect fighter. But this time, K.O. is gone. To him, as he rises from the ashy surface, he's both excited and very disheartened as in this case scenario, he is now his own man free of his primary counterpart's doing. "Finally," he says aloud raising his fists. "That cutesy mama's boy's gone! Serves him right for keeping me locked up over a cookie!" Carefully, T.K.O. steps foot on the grey-red grass next to him to check and found that he could finally feel it brush gently against the soles of his feet without his original redirecting him somewhere else. He iis finally free. As the air, both cold and flaming hot blow against his skin, Turbo is compelled to face behind him to the right. The entire Lakewood Plaza had been demolished! Set ablaze from the fires the villain from before had started. There's almost no trace of anyone left. Likely, the man had taken Enid and Radicles away to do his bidding knowing how well they were mind-controlled. Seeing this, T.K.O. stops himself and thinks again. His earlier judgement over his sibling had clouded how he really was. K.O. was sweet. He was a kid just like him, and he only meant the best of intentions for his darker counterpart, feeling regretful in the end that he could not help him. He could feel the pain from K.O.'s body. Not physical, but mental sorrow; almost like an apology to him. Still, this didn't sway T.K.O.'s sense of freedom. All it did was make him feel more conflicted and happy to still be alive somehow.
That moment, in the distance, a familiar masculine scream could be heard. To T.K.O.'s knowledge, it's Mr. Gar. This is very, very unlike him to be doing this, but he knew how powerful the villain from before was. He was unlike anything the world had ever faced. Not even those from other worlds allied with the Toon Force had known about this. This only served to put a smile to his face. Still craving the violence, Turbo K.O. assumes his original's mentor is facing the villain himself and begins to walk. Too sore to run at the moment since the damages from K.O. are still inflicted. However, it's barely enough to keep the edgy young man down. Just when it seemed Mr. Gar was pleading more in the thick smoke in the burning town, he was cut off abruptly. T.K.O stopped himself immediately in thought once again. "DO IT" is the first thing he hears, but this time, he refuses. Instead, he speaks to himself. "Ok. Not so fast me. That's what got you an' scrub in trouble constantly!" T.K.O already knows what happened the last time he went off impulse, ruining everything for himself and K.O. Or the many times K.O. sought a fight with villains. This was most certainly not the time for hasty decisions like that. "Now if you were a hero, not like faker, what would you do?"
"FIND TROUBLE!" A voice in him tells him to go where the danger is. The same voice deeper than his that feeds his savagery. But yet again, he stops himself. "No. That's what got everyone else killed too, most likely."
"Get help." This thought in his head is a lot calmer than his usual ones. Much to his reluctance. He hates the thought of help from anyone. Especially K.O. now that he betrayed his own trust. "I could always call the Toon Force, but knowing them, K.O. told em about me and they'll just imprison me like he did!" Quickly, T.K.O. sets his face in his palms in distress. "Isn't there anything I can do without screwing things up for once?!"
Then another scream. This time feminine over across the street from the shopping center. It's located in Boxmore, the more technology-based center operating on weapons and robotics for supervillains. Though, it too was in ruins. The entryway had been completely demolished and blocked off by large chunks of rubble. The magenta, red, and sometimes purple theming of it had been reduced to an ashy grey. And a long metallic tower of sorts lays mangled through the otherwise concrete walls of the side of the main building. Inside through the hole it created, several familiar faces are circling two others in a corner. Fink, the mouse creature raised by Professor Venomous, and Dendy, the scientific friend of K.O, are cornered by Brandon, Drupe, Potato, and Combo Breaker. Each corrupted and shrouded in a distinct oily black mist; eyes hollow and smiles warped and demonic.
T.K.O. remarks, "I'm beginning to think us being next door to each other automatically spells trouble," as he straightens his blue jacket and partially ripped undershirt. His fingernails automatically morph into sharp black claws and his face strains into a twisted grin he wears as he makes a leap several feet in the air. As the manipulated march further and reach for the helpless Dendy and confused Fink, T.K.O rolls into a ball before coming down for a punch into the concrete floor sending all those next to him flying across the vicinity! Fink is generally surprised at the sight. Not recognizing K.O. in this form despite having fought him multiple times in the past. But Dendy is impressed and gracious of his return, almost forgetting T.K.O. is vastly different from her friend. Only Drupe and Combo Breaker both get up at the same time in preparation for a combined attack. While Drupe makes a spin kick that sends a shockwave to T.K.O, Combo Breaker dashes to punch him in the face following the attack. However, the opposite K.O. instantly flashes behind Combo when the wave gets close to him. He takes Combo mid-punch and warps him behind Drupe causing him to punch her in the back before getting tossed by the legs into a steel wall, engraving his face in it!
Defeated, the bodies of the shrouded ones break into digitized particles resembling code, appearing in the form of 0's and 1's breezing into the air when the wind blows; almost like dust being swept away. Still wanting to fight, T.K.O drops his arms to his knees and slouches until his head is the only thing facing the sky.
T.K.O: AaaAAW! Why'd they have to go so soon?! I was ready!
Dendy: K.O! Er-I mean, TKO! You're still alive!
Fink: Yeah, thanks for ruining the fun. I was about to get myself out!
T.K.O: Cut the crap Lousey Mousey and tell me what happened. What the heck is going on here?!
Fink: Woah! Big boy words! Not soundin' like a Mama's Boy now, huh?
Dendy: That's because this is K.O.'s turbo half. Or his evil side. What do you remember?
T.K.O: All I remember is stuff about a tall anime-looking dude who turned Meatloaf and Leg Diva into drones who killed me. Er, I-I mean, killed the other one.
Dendy in shock: ...He's really gone..?
Fink shrugging: Heheh. Figures. He didn't have you or any of his pals to help him that time.
T.K.O: I'm still banged up for sure. But I can take it. For him it's death, but for me it's just a fluke. (Leans against engraved steel wall) Don't need any glorbs or buds to help me out. ...Just don't know how I got here.
Fink: If you're part of the dead dweeb, how're ya talkin' like you're a different person?
Dendy: I believe I have the answer.
T.K.O: Huh?
Dendy: The man who invaded our town said something about deleting characters like a computer virus. My guess is that his program didn't delete you because you ARE like your own man! (Points to Fink) In fact, you sound just like Fink!
Fink: Hey! Don't be making any comparisons with he an' I! I still hate him.
T.K.O: Same, furbag! But, I'll admit, sounds pretty spot on if ya think about it.
Fink: Yeah, how'd you know this was a virus thing?
Dendy: I told you I heard what the villain said earlier. It's reality-bending. I just assumed reality felt T.K.O was his own guy because he's so different from the original. You have a turbo form too, but you're still you. Whereas K.O. changes to a different person each time he's under intense scenarios.
T.K.O: Well, that doesn't explain why this guy was here in the first place, nor what I did before. What's his deal if he was just gonna take over and bring everyone to his cause?
Dendy: I'm not entirely sure either. But the first half is simple. Lord Boxman was trying to develop a superweapon. As you can see by that laser over there.
...
Prior to the destruction of the city, Boxmore's long towering super laser was fully operational and pointed at the sky under "Safety Mode" on its computer. The always scheming and villainous Boxman rubs his palms as he admires the clear blue skies and the cannon next to Professor Venomous, who's monitoring the controls with two red pump strapped to his back labeled with a familiar yellow atom symbol.
Boxman: Soon Gar, your plaza's finally goin' down!
Venomous: For the 700th time.
Boxman: Oh don't say it like that. The last few times were mere accidents. Not defeats. Remember the brain blast Darrell had? That did not look pretty...
K.O: NOT SO FAST, EVIL-DOERS!
Above the observatory, the ever so cheery K.O. hovers down to the catwalks Boxman and Venomous are standing on.
Venomous nodding: Loving the entrance you've got there. I'll say that.
Boxman: Ah. K.O. Nice to see you again since your admission into the junior division of the Toon Force. (Nudges) Probably gave him a lolipop as a reward. Hehehe.
K.O: Junior and proud, Boxman! And I see the Professor's doing much better after they gave him that breathing thing.
Venomous: We maybe on opposite ends of the spectrum, K.O. But they still own a level of respect and care for friends and enemies. Something you so-called "heroes" don't.
K.O: I do care for everyone. Just can't stand it when you guys're always trying to take over the world! Besides, I don't wanna hurt you when you're sick.
Venomous smiling and looking tired: Admirable...
Boxman: So, where's the other two who watch the shop back home? Or were you being levitated by that Neutron or Phantom fella again?
K.O: Oh they're not here. In fact, I've got someone even better!
That moment, Venomous is almost shot near the back when a small red laser shoots the controls of the cannon! Seeing the trail, he looks up to the sky, eyes widening with fear seeing the man who accompanies K.O. The Toon God descends down to the boy calm and focused on the two villains facing him. Seeing Darrell, Raymond, and Shannon approaching before the still-confident Lord Boxman, he smiles intensively when he snaps his fingers and the three androids' eyes go completely white. Their readied smirks turn blank and lifeless, and they stand in place dead in their tracks.
...
T.K.O: So we beat em, huh?
Fink grunting: You always find someway to ruin our day… Even when we haven't announced it yet!
T.K.O: Not me. If I wanted, I would've gotten rid of you from the very beginning. But they always play it safe! Look what happened to our so-called "heroes" back there since we trusted that obvious liar!
Dendy: I didn't trust him either.
T.K.O: Hehe. Really? You?
Dendy: Not at all. That's why I came here to face Fink instead. Better safe facing an easier foe than the one in front of you.
Fink: Hey! As soon as I got the glorbs out, you ran. (Shakes head) Don't start lying to yourself too.
Dendy: I wasn't leaving because of you. I was leaving for the Toon God, as he calls himself now.
T.K.O: Toon God? HA! The names just keep getting better. Wonder if the shady guy with the grey cloak has a name like that.
Dendy: The shady guy..?
Fink: How many people do you meet?
T.K.O: One too many. So many memories of folks I wanna punch are flashing every second we stand here.
Dendy straightening her goggles: That's what happens when you possess K.O.'s body without K.O. inside it.
Fink getting bright-eyed: Oooh! You know what that means? If he ever comes back, he'll be on the floor crying cause of how much pain he'll be in!
T.K.O smirking: You've just read my mind.
Dendy: N-no! Don't hurt yourself! We don't know how much damage you or K.O. can sustain! The Toon God could kill K.O, but you-
T.K.O: Could be easier to take out? (Rolls eyes) Gimme a break. All you need to know is, I'm the strongest there is. Even the Toon Force don't have anythin' like me. ...Except Ms. Watterson. We don't screw with Ms. Watterson.
Fink: For once I agree. Same with the cloud lady.
Dendy: If we wanted to call for help, we could. But communications are jammed. (Squints in thought) The only possible solution would be to search for a teleporter of some sort.
Fink: I don't wanna call for anyone. I just wanna get outta here and find someplace to stay till this whole mess blows over. You guys're on your own.
T.K.O: Same. And if we end up havin' to fight anyone, no problem. (Palms fists) I'll take em out myself!
Dendy: Well, is there someway we can leave, Fink?
Fink: Oh yeah. (Points to the floor) There's a portal in the basement.
T.K.O: Sweet. (Prepares punch) I'll blow a hole right now!
Fink: Go ahead...if you wanna fall several hundred feet to the stalagmites at the bottom.
T.K.O: No problem. I'll fly! (Seizes and glitches up) Nugh..! (Falls onto knees)
Dendy: Fascinating…
Fink: Not so tough now, are ya bro?
Dendy: It seems the damages done to you by the Toon God are still in effect. Some of your abilities are inactive for now.
T.K.O: Ok, ok. I'll just ease inside and stick with you since you know this body like K.O.'s your goody husband. But don't think I need your help for anything else!
Fink crossing her arms: I sure wasn't expecting any either.
Dendy smiling and pointing: Then show us the way, Fink!
Fink: That's a wall.
Dendy: I know!
As the trio walk into a tunnel created from the wreckage of the laser above, the skies get darker in red until even the moon disappears and is replaced by a certain white double halo looming over the planet and shining down on the surface…
End of Part 1