Chapter 21: Roboslugs
Futuria Cavern, a cavern stocked on high-tech buildings and machinery. Here, Dorium from the express train the Shane Gang stole, is at the Slugerra Institute of Technology to make a donation.
"The Slugterra Institute of Technology welcomes you, sir. I'm thrilled to show you what your generous donation is funding." The head professor, Bartholomev, said, leading Dorium through the building. "SIT has a long tradition in ground breaking research. And here are 2 of our top scientists." Bart introduced the first scientist, Tobias. "Tobias here has made some fascinating inroads in the field of gravitation." Tobias typed in a code and activated an anti-gravity device, slowly lifting a Thresher slug on the panel. "Doesn't that lift your spirits?" Bart asked, trying to make a joke. Dorium just rolled his eyes as the machine started to short out, dropping the slug back on the panel. "Once I work the bugs out my Zero-G machine, Slugterra will own the air." Tobias said with confidence.
Bart brought Dorium over to meet the second scientist, Katherine. "Katherine's ideas about sonics are worth listening to." Bart said. Dorium adjusted his monocle as he witnessed the demonstration. Katherine dropped a leaf down a holo-scanner, which gave off a whooshing sound on some high-tech speakers. "Sound is invisible, but its effects can be powerful." Katherine said. Bart chuckled.
"What about me, Professor?!" A voice came. There in the doorway stood a boy around Eli and Harley's age, wearing high-tech armor and glasses. "Aren't you gonna show Mr. Moneybags my invention?!" The boy asked like he owned the place. Dorium looked at Bart with shock and confusion. "Ahem. Dr. Kalowski has been researching artificial slug technology." Bart said. "Sir, don't pay any attention to Quintin's unfunded research. Let me show you more about my work." Tobias advised.
"I thought we told you never to come back here! You and your crazy robots!" Bart said, marching towards Quintin. "Oh, you'll never get rid of me!" Quintin said. He looked over to Tobias. "Your anti-gravity machine will never amount to anything, Tobias!" He said, firing a robot slug from a high-tech arm blaster. The robot transformed and destroyed Tobias's machine. Dorium looked on in shock. "Nor will your pathetic sound amplifier, Kate." Quintin said, firing another at Katherine's machine. Katherine ducked behind a table next to Tobias. "Now, let's talk about the future. My future to be specific." Quintin said. "We need help." Tobias whispered. Katherine nodded. "As of this moment, all research will be directed by me." Quintin declared, aiming his blaster at Bart and Dorium. Katherine slipped away and activated her phone. "Eli and Harley Shane! We need you! Now!" She said in a panic. "The only science in this cavern is my science!" Quintin said, pulling up one of his robot slugs. "Behold, my Roboslugs!"
(Intro)
The Shane Gang have just arrived in Futuria Cavern. "Futuria Cavern. Always wanted to see this place!" Kord said with excitement. "This place is very big on science, you see." Mario said. "Hence why 'future' is in the name." Vance added. "Bah! Science is vastly overrated. Pronto has no need for science. I go with my gut." Pronto said. That is until his stomach growled, shocking everyone. "Oh! And my guy says it's past my lunchtime." Pronto said. "I'm hungry too. We skipped lunch just to respond to the emergency call we got." Harley added. "If these so-called 'scientists' are such 'geniuses', where did they put all the restaurants?" Pronto asked. "Where did they put all the people?" Trixie asked, noticing the city was empty. "Probably evacuated." Lash guessed. "I don't see any slugs either." Trixie added. "The slugs are all hiding." Katherine's voice said. The gang turned to see her walking up to them. "I'm Katherine McGregor." She introduced. "You're the one who called about the rogue scientist." Eli guessed, shaking her hand. "Quintin's always been a little quirky. This time, he's crossed the line." Katherine said. "Anyone ever try to stand up to this guy?" Eli asked. "We're scientists, not slug slingers. That's why we called you." Katherine said. "She's got a point, babe." Trixie said. "Right. Guess so." Eli said sheepishly.
Back inside the institute, Quintin still had Bart, Tobias and Dorium hostage. "I envision a world where the only slugs that people use are my Roboslugs. To that end, anyone found with a live slug will be punished!" Quintin declared. "I don't have to listen to this madness!" Tobias said, walking out. Quintin targeted him with his special glasses, loaded a Roboslug into his blaster and fired it, trapping Tobias with a Flamspire, shocking Bart and Dorium. "I'm not FINISHED YET!" Quintin yelled. "Yeah. Actually, I think you are." Eli's voice came. Everyone turned to see Eli and Harley standing in the doorway, aiming their blasters at Quintin. Bart and Dorium were actually surprised to see the Shane brothers here. "We were kinda hoping we could reason this out, but you are way beyond reason, aren't you?" Harley asked. "I prefer to say that I'm beyond your understanding, Eli and Harley Shane." Quintin said. Eli and Harley were shocked. "Oh yes. I know who you 2 are." Quintin said. "Then you know how we work." Harley guessed. "We're gonna give you one chance to do the right thing, and apologize to all these people. Otherwise-" "Otherwise we duel?" Quintin guessed. "Yep. Me and Harley against you." Eli said. "Oh, this will be fun. Except I won't be dueling you 2 alone." Quintin said, activating a button on his arm blaster. Then, a man-sized robot with weaponized arms walked in from the doorway. Eli and Harley looked shocked. "Meet Sluggertron 367. A new state of the art security bot prototype I designed. My partner for this duel." Quintin explained. "I think we're in way over our heads this time, bro." Harley whispered.
Outside, Eli and Harley prepared to standoff against Quintin and his robot. "I'm gonna blast that nasty thing right off your shoulder!" Quintin said. Burpy chittered angrily. "I think you just insulted our slugs. Big mistake." Eli said. He held up a barrel for Burpy to jump in. Quintin scanned Burpy with his glasses as Eli loaded him into his blaster. "Species: Infurnus. Attack modes: Flashfire, Flamespire, Novaclaw. Downloading counter measures to Roboslug brain matrix." He said. He activated and loaded one of his Roboslugs. Both Eli and Quintin fired their slugs. As they transformed, the Roboslug suddenly broke apart and scattered little disks all over the ground. Burpy was confused, until the disks started shooting spouts of water. Eli, Harley and Burpy were shocked. Burpy did his best to avoid the spouts, but they were closing in fast. "Hang on, Burpy." Harley called, loading Frostbite. Sluggertron took notice and scanned Frostbite. It then downloaded the countermeasures, readied its right arm blaster and fired a Roboslug. It transformed and fired several fireballs. They circled Frostbite until he was trapped in a fire cage. The heat was too much for Frostbite and he crashed down to the ground. Burpy was also in trouble. One of the spouts hit his wing, making him lose control and flew into another. Burpy went into a spin dive until 3 more spouts hit him at once, knocking him back into his protoform as he landed on the ground. "Burpy? Are you okay?" Eli asked in worry. "Frostbite, you hurt?" Harley asked. Both Burpy and Frostbite chittered with saddened at their loss.
Eli growled and loaded Rammer. Quintin scanned him and downloaded the countermeasures. He loaded and fired another Roboslug as Eli fired Rammer. As they transformed, the Roboslug launched a green net at Rammer, shocking him. Rammer dropped down dizzy as the Roboslug flew back to Quintin. Eli and Harley were shocked. "You were beaten before you began." Quintin gloated. "I've downloaded databases on every slinger whose ever shot a slug. You 2, your friends, even your father, the great Will Shane." "He'd beat you in a minute. Our technique too." Eli said as he fired Spinner. Spinner launched a string of web from her mouth as she passed Quintin. "Your father was a slug lover, just like you 2." Quintin said as he saw Spinner loop around a street light and launched a web towards him. As he was distracted, Harley saw his chance and fired Claws. As Quintin fired another Roboslug at Spinner, Sluggertron zipped in front and fired a Roboslug at Claws. Quintin's Roboslug deforested Spinner's web and slammed her to the ground. Sluggertron's Roboslug fired a slimy liquid in Claws' face, blinding him as he zoomed into a building wall. "Ha! He successfully used that identical Arachnet move in 17 different duels. Along with the backup aid of an Armashelt. Your attempt however has failed! And my Roboslugs and Sluggertron will continue to triumph over your weak, disgusting slugs and tired old tactics!" Quintin said.
"Then I guess we'll just have to show you some new tactics." Eli said, holding up Joules and Mo. Quintin scanned Joules, recognizing her as a Tazerling. But as he tried to scan Mo, a buzzer blared. "What?!" Quintin looked through his slug database. He couldn't find a match to Mo. "No match found? What're they-?" He asked himself. Eli tossed up Joules' barrel and slung Mo first. Quintin and Sluggertron jumped out of the way. Eli caught Joules and slung her, shorting out Quintin's blaster. Sluggertron was distracted from what happened, he didn't see Harley slinging Shredder, slicing off the robot's head. Quintin gasped at what happened. "Smart slug slinging will beat mad science any day, Quintin." Eli said. "He's right. It's over." Harley agreed. "Over? Oh, you have no idea what I'll bring when I come back." Quintin said, activating a button on his arm. A green light shined around him, but strangely though, nothing happened. "Uh, you're still here." Trixie pointed out as the rest of the gang joined the brothers. Quintin chuckled sheepishly and ran off. "That's right! You slink away, scoundrel! While your betters-" Pronto boasted until his stomach growled again. "While your betters look for lunch." He finished embarrassed. "Yeah, good idea. Let's look in there." Harley suggested, pointing to a nearby cafeteria. The 2 walked over. "We better ger ready for this guy. Sure, don't think he's gone for good." Eli said. "Where do you suppose he went?" Mario asked. "He's probably back at his secret lab." Kord guessed with an effect in his voice. "Get real, Kord. You've been watching too many fiction vids. Not all scientists have secret labs." Trixie said. Kord just nodded.
Meanwhile, Quintin sat in some kind of cockpit, powering up his devices. "The great Eli and Harley Shane and their 'wonderful' slugs. Think they have all the answers. Well, wait 'til they see what mad science can do. I'll show them big like they've never seen!" He gloated.
Harley and Pronto continued to look for food. "There must be some food around here!" Pronto said. "Just keep looking! My appetite isn't exactly enjoying this game of hide-n-seek-food, you know." Harley said. They nearly turned the place inside out, until they finally found food. "Aha!" Pronto said as they exited with 2 cans of beans. "I bet he's got some kind of super doomsday weapon he's gonna spring on us." Kord guessed on Quintin's next move. "Bah! Let him bring his super weapon of doom! Once Pronto fills his mighty stomachs, he will be the match for any foe." Pronto boasted. "Now, a more pressing matter. Did anyone bring a can opener?" He asked. Just then, there was the sound of a can opening. Everyone turned to see Harley munching on his beans. "What?! How did you do that?!" Pronto asked in shock. "I just opened it." Harley said. Pronto was now getting hangry with Harley.
Just then, they heard something coming. Something big was stomping towards the gang. To their surprise, it was a giant mecha mech suit! "And my day just got worse!" Pronto whimpered. "Oh, you have no idea how bad it's gonna get!" Quintin said from the cockpit.
"Round 2, slug lovers!" Quintin declared. "Mechas now!" Eli called. The gang mounted their mechas and sped towards the mech. Quintin targeted each one of them. "Take that thing down fast!" Eli said. Kord fired Bludgeon and Vance slung Crust, but the mech just swatted them away. "Uh, Eli? Plan B?" Kord asked. "Stay alive!" Eli suggested. The mech activated twin blasters on both its arms and fired 4 Roboslugs towards the gang. The gang turned around as the roboslugs hit the ground in front of them. Trixie slung Slicer, spinning towards the mech with Throttlebite, but the mech fired another Roboslug, grabbing Slicer and stopping his attack. Eli slung Chiller, blowing Deepfreeze. "Frostcrawler slug. Fireball defense." Quintin said, firing a Roboslug and melting Chiller's attack with a flamethrower attack. Eli then fired Noodle. "Flopper slug." Noodle just went splat on the windshield. "No defense needed!" Quintin just laughed as he wiped Noodle's mess off the windshield. Kord looked at Eli with amused confusion. "I had to try." Eli assured. "Lash! Take Down from Down Under!" Harley called. He and Lash took aim at the mech's legs and fired their Armashelts. Quintin saw them coming and fired 4 more Roboslugs, forming an energy shield and knocking the poor slugs back to their owners.
Trixie hid in an alleyway. "He's gotta have a weak spot!" She said, putting a scope on her blaster and scanning for anything on the mech that might pose as a weak spot. She targeted the mid-section of its back and slung Rocks at it. She grinned. "Cheap shot, Trixie." Quintin said, making her gasp. "But I don't have any weak spots. While you and your pathetic meat bag slugs are one enormous weak spot!" He fired more Roboslugs at Trixie as she rode Boomer for their lives, dodging the robots left and right and catching up to the gang. "So, what now?" She asked, riding up to Eli. "Hate to say it, but retreat." Eli said regretfully. The gang retreated to the outskirts outside the cavern. "That's it! Run slug lovers! Run from my superior technology!" Quintin yelled triumphantly before turning to Bart and Dorium, hiding behind a pile of rubble. "You see? Not even Eli and Harley Shane can protect you from me!"
The gang regrouped with Kate at a nearby forest. "Well, that was humiliating." Kord said. "Nothing to be ashamed about. Quintin's got awesome tech. But that doesn't make him better." Eli assured. "My poor little Rocks couldn't even get near the guy." Trixie said. "Neither could Claws and Trench." Lash added. Suddenly, there was a banging noise. Everyone turned to see Pronto banging his bean can against a rock. Apparently, he was frustrated with hunger. "Hey, hey, hey! Why you beating up that innocent rock there, Pronto?" Kord asked. "Perhaps I should beat this stubborn can against something harder. Like your thick troll skull!" Pronto said, continuing to beat his can against the rock. "I'm glad you made it away safely. But you aren't safe here with all that banging." Kate said. "Quiet Pronto!" Everybody whispered, making Pronto stop. "Okay. So, what are we gonna do?" Vance asked. "I've got a place nearby where we can regroup." Kate offered. "Ooh! A secret lab perhaps?" Kord asked intrigued. "Oh please." Trixie scoffed.
[Scene Switch]
Trixie was in shock. Kate lead the gang to a secret lab deep in the forest. Tobias met up with them shortly after. Kord leaned towards her, waiting to hear it. "Okay! I was wrong." Trixie said in defeat. "All us scientists have secret labs." Kate chuckled. Trixie playfully punched Kord's bicep. "So, what's the story with Quintin? He really hates slugs." Eli asked. "He doesn't just hate them. He's terrified of them." Kate revealed. "Really? That's good to know." Eli said, starting to think of a plan. "Ever since the accident when we were kids." Kate said. "What accident? What happened?" Harley asked.
[Flashback]
A female scientist was walking with Tobias, Kate and Quintin as kids. "It was during a fieldtrip to the slug biology department." Quintin broke off from the group and examined a keypad lock. "Quintin always considered a locked door as a challenge." As Quintin unlocked the door, he accidently fell into a large pile of slugs. "He was in there for 2 days before they found him." Quintin was so scared, he was crying like crazy. Being surrounded by slugs with no way out. That is until security found him and pulled him out.
[Flashback End]
"He was never the same since. And all his science has been about finding a way to live without slugs." Kate finished. "Yeah. Slug phobia. There's gotta be an angle there." Eli said. "But still, one problem. What're we gonna do about Quintin's mech suit?" Harley asked. The brothers then caught sight of Pronto trying to chew his can open. "Exasperating, recalcitrant can! You frustrate me with your tenacious tin perimeter!" Pronto said. Most of the gang started to feel uncomfortable with Pronto like this. "Okay." Trixie said. "That was a little mental." Mario said. "Pronto, you're a genius." Eli said. "He is?" The gang asked in shock. "I am?" Pronto asked, before deciding to play along. "Oh, yes. Of course, I am." "I think I've figured out a way to beat Quintin. But we're gonna need some high-tech help." Eli said. "I believe we have that covered." Kate said, gesturing to the high-tech supplies in the lab. "And more importantly, we need you to buy us some time." Eli said. "How're they gonna do that?" Vance asked. "I've got a few ideas in that regard." Tobias said.
Back at Futuria, Quintin's mech suit kicked a rock away. He was getting bored. "This is boring. What's the point of being superior if I can't lord it over everyone?" He decided to give Eli and Harley a yell. "Eli and Harley Shane! I'm ready for Round 3! Are you?" "They're busy right now." Tobias called. Quintin turned to face him. "But I've got something for you." Tobias had his anti-gravity tech worn on his wrists. He raised his left hand and pulled a big boulder out of the ground. "Ugh! Again with the anti-grav? When are you gonna learn? That's nothing compared to me!" Quintin boasted. Tobias flung the boulder at Quintin, but he had the mech suit punch it, destroying it. "I don't even have to waste a Roboslug on your pebble." He said. Tobias pulled up another big boulder, plus a piece of a big stalactite and brought his hands together, crushing the mech suit in between. But the suit wasn't even scratched! "As smart as you think you are, you still end up throwing rocks like a savage. Pitiful!" Quintin insulted as he activated his suit's left arm blaster. "Run, little savage. Run! You can't escape from the superior man!"
Back at the lab, Kate and Bludgeon were attaching the same blaster mod to a big robot hand. Kord welded it in. Trixie walked over, carrying a box of supplies, while Eli and Harley were going over the plan with the gang's Floppers. "And that's all you have to remember." Eli said. Noodle was feeling down. "Don't worry, Noodle. You and Squirm and the other Floppers are gonna do great." Eli assured. Burpy chittered in agreement. That perked Noodle up. "I have my doubts that such spineless slugs can be our key to victory." Pronto said, unsure of the plan. "Every slug is useful, Pronto. Even Floppers." Eli said, holding up Noodle. "He's right. You just need to know the right way to use said slug." Harley agreed. "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to try. Make me proud, Squeaky." Pronto said, patting his own Flopper on her head, making her squeak with pleasure.
Just then, Kate's phone rang. "Tobias is down! I'm going in." She said. "Remember, just stall him. Don't try and be a hero. And don't get yourself hurt." Eli advised. "Excellent advice." Kate said before leaving.
Meanwhile, Tobias was slowly recovering from the blow he got from Quintin. His machines were smoking and shorting out. Quintin leaned his mech suit's head down. "Back to the drawing board!" He gloated. Tobias just groaned. "What's wrong, Tobias? Nothing clever to say?" Quintin asked. "I've got something to say!" Kate's voice came. Quintin turned to see her standing behind him, wearing her high-tech speakers, plus a special goggle-earmuff device. "Oh, this will be fun." Quintin said, hoping for a challenge from her. Tobias took off to avoid the incoming damage. Kate shouted into a mouthpiece and blew Quintin back into the buildings with hyper soundwaves created from her shouting. But Quintin managed to push back and reached down to grab her.
At the lab, Trixie loaded a slug loaded canister into the right arm, and Pronto looked over a pad when Kate's shout reached their ears. "Hey, you guys hear that?" Lash called from below. Kord finished welding the left arm when he started hearing Kate too. "That must be Kate." He guessed. "Never get into a shouting match with her." Trixie said, closing the arm's hatch. Eli heard the shout as well. "Kord, you about done?" He asked. Kord gave a few quick taps on the hull. "Good to go." He said. Eli turned to Vance, Lash and Mario. "You guys know what to do while we handle Quintin's big bot, right?" He asked. "We'll do our best when Tobias and Kate get back, kid." Vance assured. "Then saddle up, guys. Time to take this big-brained bully to school. Shane Gang style!" Eli said.
Meanwhile, Quintin tossed down Kate's wrecked machine and held Kate up in his mech's left hand. "Let me go, Quintin!" Kate demanded. "Your harpies voice was even less pleasant at 400 decimals." Quintin insulted. "Put her down, Quintin!" Eli's voice came. Quintin turned to see. The Shane Gang had built their own mech suit, with a few touches from their mecha beasts. Eli was piloting in the Lucky themed head. Kord and Trixie commanded the left and right arms. Harley controlled the blaster arming from the stomach. And Pronto served as the legs, though his cockpit was facing the wrong way. "Our mega mecha mech's gonna kick your mecha mech's iron butt!" Eli said as the mech got into a stance.
"Drop her easy and raise your hands, Quintin. We're shutting you down." Eli said. Quintin just laughed. "In that thing?" He asked, dropping Kate. Kate took off after she landed. "I've been perfecting this suit for years. How long did you spend cobbling that wreck together? 5 minutes?" Quintin asked insultingly. "45 minutes, Smart Guy!" Kord corrected. "It'll take me less time than that to disassemble it!" Quintin said, firing 4 more Roboslugs, hitting the gang's mech with fire, ice, electric and lava attacks. The cockpits stated short circuiting. The mech dropped to one knee. "Critical systems in tact! Barley." Kord said. The gang managed to get their mech back on its feet. Quintin was shocked, but unphased. The 2 mechs started to circle each other. "Try to get close and hammer him with a triple combo!" Eli said. "Roger that! Chiller, Rammer and Joules, locked and loaded!" Harley imformed.
The mech fired Chiller, Rammer and Joules all at once. Chiller blew Deepfreeze, creating an ice ball. "Ice attack. Infurnus defense downloaded. Been there, done that." Quintin said, targeting the ice ball. He then fired a Roboslug, spinning towards the ice ball, leaving a trail of fire behind it. But then, Rammer came in and punched the ice ball, breaking it up and launching ice spears to dodge the robot's fire attack. "Retargeting!" Quintin said, firing 10 more Roboslugs and creating an energy shield between them. But then, Joules slung several Tazerbolts, trailing along the ice spears, towards the robots, deactivating their shields. "NO!" Quintin shouted as the ice spears hit the mech, cracking the windshield. One of them even broke through and split Quintin's high-tech glasses in 2. "Oh yeah! Hi-five, Trixie." Kord said, raising the left arm. Trixie raised the right arm and hi-fived Kord.
"You know, the thing about slugs is you have to find them, train them, take care of them." Quintin said, pulling the one ice spear out from the windshield and putting on a spare pair of high-tech glasses. "Why do that when you can simply manufacture an endless supply?! Which is exactly what I have!" The mech fired hundreds more of Roboslugs towards the gang. "Big burst coming in dodge right!" Eli called. "No, go left!" Trixie said. "My right or your right?!" Pronto asked with confusion. "Too late! Incoming!" Harley yelled. The robots barraged into the gang's mech, backing it up against a building and knocking off Trixie's arm. "Aw man!" Trixie complained. "Don't worry, Trixie." Eli called. "Kord! You've got another arm. Use it!" Kord prepared his arm for firing, but Quintin fired 2 more Roboslugs, shorting out Kord's arm with Tazerbolts. Spinner evacuated from the arm and web parachuted to the ground as Kord's arm fell off. "Oh man! Can I worry now?!" Kord asked.
Back at the lab, Vance, Mario, Kate, Lash and Tobias were preparing bags. "Okay, we're all set." Mario said. "Just so you guys know, this plan has an 87% probability of ending in disaster." Kate said. "Eli and Harley are doing their part. We have to focus on ours." Tobias said. "Speaking of which, we better get going." Lash said. The others nodded and followed Lash out of the lab, carrying the bags.
Meanwhile, the gang's mech was pushed back into a building. "The only question remaining is how much longer I extend your suffering." Quintin said, firing another Roboslug. The bot fired 3 buzzsaws, slicing off the right leg. The mech started to wobble. "Come on, come on!" Eli said. "Hang on!" Pronto said, trying to keep the mech standing on its last good leg. Quintin just laughed at the sight. "Maybe a little longer." He said. Pronto continued to keep the mech standing by hopping it on its leg. "Gyros are burning out! This big baby's not gonna keep walking for long!" Kord said. "Well, technically, this is called a death hop." Pronto corrected. The mech started to topple against another building. "Losing control here!" Eli called. "So am I!" Trixie added. "I- am in- complete control." Pronto lied, noting that his cockpit caught fire. Quintin's mech made its way towards the gang's. Pronto tried one last trick. He pressed a little switch on his controls, firing Stinky from Fernando's head and hitting Quintin's mech with Blorfball. "Well, that's just embarrassing." Quintin said, waving off the gas. "I think I'll put you out of your misery." "TRY IT!" Eli yelled, driving their mech towards Quintin. "Points for tenacity." Quintin said sarcasm. The gang's mech crashed right into Quintin's arms. "Or is it just delusion? Either way, I wanna look you in the eye when I break you in 2!" Quintin said. "You thought we were building a robot to beat yours? In 45 minutes?" Eli asked, breaking the windshield with the mech's head. "How dumb do you think we are? We were jus building a can opener." Eli opened his hatch and hopped down to Quintin. "And you were cocky enough to let me get close enough to do this! All yours, Noodle." He dropped Noodle, Squirm and Squeaky down on Quintin's lap, followed by the other Floppers on the team. "Flopper slugs on me!" Quintin cried. He activated his ejector seat and evacuated his mech. Eli dropped down as Quintin's seat hovered from the ground. "Showtime!" He said.
Quintin unbuckled himself as the Flopper trio hopped onto his shoulder, making him scream and unbalance himself on his seat. "Over here, Smart Guy. Where it all began." Eli called. "Where it ends!" Quintin said, loading his arm blaster. "For you anyway. Gonna draw?" Eli pulled up his empty blaster. "Blaster's empty. I used all my slugs to get this far." Eli said, putting his blaster away. "Come here. I wanna look you in the eye when I beat you." Quintin just chuckled. "Beat me? With your non-existent blaster and imaginary slugs?" He asked. "Just because my blaster's empty, doesn't mean I'm out of slugs." Eli assured, pointing his finger at Quintin, who was confused by this. That is until Eli went with a finger bang. Above, Vance, Kate, Lash, Mario and Tobias dropped dozens of slugs from their bags all over Quintin. Noodle, Squirm and Squeaky hopped into the pile and joined in the chitter fest. Quintin was paralyzed with fear. Eli walked up and removed the arm blaster. "Nice work, guys. You didn't even have to transform." He said.
Kord opened his hatch. "That was sweet, Eli!" He said. "Glad this thing held together as long as it-" Just then, both mechs started to tip over. Eli jumped out of the way as debris fell from both mechs. The mechs were about to crush Quintin. But Noodle, Squirm, Squeaky and the other slugs managed to pick Quintin up and carried him. "Quintin!" Eli called as the mechs finally collapsed. Quintin opened his eyes. He was alright. He looked to the slugs. "You- You saved me." He said. Noodle hopped up and nuzzled his cheek, making him giggle. "Cut it out! That tickles." He said as the other slugs joined in, until he realized. "It tickles! And I don't mind!" He rubbed Noodles' cheek. "I- I don't know what to say. Thank you." "Well, that's a good start." Eli said as he, Tobias and Kate walked up. "The magistrate is on his way. I imagine you'll have volumes to say to him." Tobias said.
Trixie, Kord and Harley managed to climb out of the mech wreckage. Pronto on the other hand, was looking for something. "I know it's here." He said. He found his bean can, dented and still not open. "There must be an easier way to open a can of beans." He whined. Harley looked at Kord and nodded. Kord took the can, opened the tab by the horn on his helmet and gave it back to Pronto. Overjoyed, Pronto poured the whole can into his mouth and munched happily. Trixie just rolled her eyes while Kord shook his head. Harley looked over the wreck. "We should get this thing fixed up. We may need it again someday." He said. "I was thinking the exact same thing, bro." Kord said, giving Harley a hi-five.
Afterwards, Quintin sat in his jail cell, when suddenly, he heard his cell open. "He's all yours." The guard said as Dr. Blakk walked in. "Hey, you're not my lawyer." Quintin pointed out. "Figured that out pretty quick." Blakk said. "I heard you were smart. And you know, Quintin, I can use a few smart men." He offered. Quintin thought about it and smiled.
Well, that's finished. The Shane Gang went up against a very dangerous scientist with a fear of slugs. What will ever occur next? Leave a review if you want.
Authors note: Don't worry, friends. Eliza Shane will rejoin her sons after The Unbeatable Master.
Slug Arsenal:
Eli Shane: Burpy (Infurnus), Joules (Tazerling), Noodle (Flopper), Banger (Armashelt), Bolo (Polero), Rammer (Rammstone), Rocky (Hop Rock), Chiller (Frostcrawler), Burner (Lavalynx), Suds (Bubbaleone), Goober (Jellyish), Sparky (Grenuke), Doc (Boon Doc), Larry (Lariat), Gust (Tormato), Buzzsaw (Thresher), Digger (Crystalyd), Spinner (Arachnet), Mucky (Dirt Urchin), Tangles (Vinedrill), Spooker (Frightgeist), Charger (Fandango), Stunts (Speedstinger), Glimmer (Phosphoro), Mo (Enigmo), Dazer (Hypnogriff), Urchin (Sand Angler), Dozer (Slyren), Jinxer (Hexlet), Torch (Forgesmeltor)
Harley Shane: Matchstick (Flaringo), Squirm (Flopper), Frostbite (Frostcrawler), Webs (Arachnet), Gels (Jellyish), Zipper (Hoverbug), Ivy (Vinedrill), Masher (Rammstone), Frights (Frightgeist), Shredder (Thresher), Smelly (Flatulorhinkus), Claws (Armashelt), Splatz (Lariat), Twister (Tormato), Lucky (Hexlet), Sizzle (Grenuke), Quill (Dirt Urchin)
Trixie Sting: Bluster (Tormato), Blizzard (Frostcrawler), Spider (Arachnet), Twirl (Polero), Balloon (Bubbaleone), Haunter (Frightgeist), Pounder (Rammstone), Slicer (Thresher), Rocks (Hop Rock), Jelly (Jellyish), Blossom (Vinedrill), Spotty (Flopper)
Kord Zane: Bludgeon (Rammstone), Sploder (Hop Rock), Jolt (Tazerling), Trip (Polero), Flycatcher (Arachnet), Floatie (Bubbaleone), Iceberg (Frostcrawler), Scorch (Flaringo), Jetstream (AquaBeek), Spitz (Lariat), Chuckles (Gazzer), Floppy (Flopper)
Pronto Geronimo: Stinky (Flatulorhinkus), Slimey (Jellyish), Soapy (Bubbaleone), Bruiser (Rammstone), Flame (Flaringo), Loogie (Lariat), Windy (Tormato), Squeaky (Flopper)
Vance Volt: Blast (Hop Rock), Bloom (Vinedrill), Crust (Lavalynx), Legs (Arachnet), Swimy (AquaBeek), Hardcase (Armashelt), Squish (Jellyish), Blow (Tormato), Cheep (Flopper)
Mario Bravado: Ricochet (Sppedstinger), Slide (Frostcrawler), Crawler (Arachnet), Echo (AquaBeek), Mess (Jellyish), Breeze (Tormato), Kate (Flopper)
Lash: Zing (Tazerling), Speedy (Speedstinger), Hopper (Hop Rock), Bubba (Bubbaleone), Stinx (Flatulorhinkus), String (Polero), Goat (Rammstone), Sleepy (Slyren), Webber (Arachnet), Ice (Frostcrawler), Spark (Flaringo), Winger (Tormato), Witch (Hexlet), Phlegm (Lariat), Peep (Flopper)
