Chapter 48: Back to Blakk
[Flashback]
Young Thaddeus Blakk, a young troubled boy sat by his father's business cart in Slag Rock Cavern. "You look troubled, son." His father, Dr. Harlan E. Blakk, said. "It's nothing, father." Young Blakk said. "It's not nothing! It's time you learn the true meaning of my business, son." Harlan said. Young Blakk nodded. "You know, business won't open for a few hours. Go on out and explore the town. I'll call you when we're ready." Harlan said. "Yes, sir." Young Blakk said, walking off.
Young Blakk just sat down by a building, unsure of what to do. "You look troubled." A voice said. Young Blakk looked up to see a boy about a few years younger than him, with a rather handsome face, standing over him. "It's nothing. I'm just new in town." Young Blakk said. "Yeah, I get that. I'm Cilan Garcia." The boy, Cilan, introduced, holding out his hand. "I'm Thaddeus Blakk." Young Blakk said, shaking it. Cilan then pulled young Blakk to his feet. "Come on. I'll show you around." Cilan said.
Cilan showed young Blakk around the cavern, introducing him to many people and showing him many sights. The boys enjoyed their time together. They practically became best friends. But it was too good to last. "THADDEUS!" Harlan called. "Oh, that's my dad. I gotta go." Young Blakk said, taking off. He stopped for a second to wave bye. "It was nice meeting you, Cilan!" Cilan waved back as young Blakk left. But as he watched him leave, Cilan sensed a dark streak in young Blakk.
"You heard me right. My product is proven to make that untamable slug of yours a slinger's best friend." Harlan announced. "For those fortunate enough to obtain a quantity from this extremely limited supply, I guarantee the potency in efficacy 100% or my name isn't Dr. Harlan E. Blakk!" He then looked at his son, holding a box. "This is how you reel them in, son." He whispered, before turning back to the crowd. "I feel obliged to warn you there won't be enough for everyone. If you make an orderly line, my assistant, Thaddeus, will see to you." The customers began lining up to buy Harlan's so-called 'profitable product.' "Give me 2!" "I'll take 3!" The customers called, buying the product. Cilan watched all this from afar.
Just then, a slug was fired. Everyone turned to see the dreaded crime boss of Slag Rock, Viggo Dare, glaring at the Blakks. "You sir will have to wait in line with everybody else." Harlan said, smiling sheepishly. Young Blakk smiled sheepishly too. "Oh, I'm not buying. I'm only wondering if my eyes are playing tricks on me." Viggo said, reloading his blaster. "You see, I could swear you look exactly like that gentleman I denied permission to be here." "You can't stand in the way of science! I have a very valuable product! And people should be free to make up their own minds!" Harlan objected. "These people listen to me. My cavern, my rules." Viggo said clearly. He glared at the people, who were trying to look innocent. "And what happens to people who break my rules?" He asked. "B-B-Bad things, Mr. Dare." A person said, holding out a bottle he bought. Viggo chuckled as he took the bottle. "That's right. Bad things." He said, smashing the bottle on the ground. Cilan watched with a glare.
"Father, we should go." Young Blakk said. "Listen here, you little coward! Your father never backs down! Never!" Harlan said. Young Blakk felt scared. Harlan walked up and pulled out a blaster. "Your sheep may not mind, but no one tells me what to do!" He said. The crowd scattered. Viggo smirked and took aim. Blakk looked on in horror as both men fired their slugs. Harlan slung an Armashelt, and Viggo slung a Rammstone. The Rammstone bashed through the Armashelt and knocked Harlan down. "NO!" Young Blakk cried.
'What is it that makes us who we are? Is it pain, suffering, triumph in the face of unbeatable odds? Or is it something else? In my case, a moment's hesitation revealed a much greater truth.'
Harlan fell on his back and his blaster landed near young Blakk. "Pass me the blaster, you fool!" Harlan ordered. Young Blakk reached for the blaster, but he hesitated. Viggo readied a Hop Rock. Young Blakk just stood there in fear. "What's the matter with you?! Give me the blaster!" Harlan ordered. But Viggo had already slung his Hop Rock, almost hitting Harlan. Young Blakk was horrified. "Surrender! I surrender." Harlan said, giving up. "Well, you don't have to worry, 'doctor.' I'm feeling generous today. I'll even allow you to leave with something. Your life." Viggo said.
Harlan got up and motioned to young Blakk. They started to flee, but Viggo grabbed young Blakk's shoulder. "Father!" Young Blakk called. Harlan stopped and looked back. "I said he'll leave with his life. Nothing else." Viggo said. "Unless you have a problem with that?" Harlan considered his options. "Father. No." Young Blakk said. Harlan turned and ran, leaving his son. "Father! Father!" Young Blakk yelled. "Step foot in this cavern again and you will suffer!" Viggo said. Then he held young Blakk up by his shirt. "Time you learned what real work is, son." He tossed young Blakk to the ground. "Take him to the mines." He ordered as 4 of his goons circled the boy. "NO!" Young Blakk cried. Cilan could only watch as they dragged his best friend away.
[Flashback End]
In the present, Blakk sat in his cell in Stalagmite 17. 'The truth is in this life, we only have ourselves.'
(Intro)
"And so, it is here, on this great field of battle, a day that Slugterra will long remember. The day we crushed our enemies and returned our leader to his rightful place! Now who's with me?!" CC shouted. His cohorts, consisting of Locke and Load, Jon Bull, Frost and Flame, were unimpressed by his speech. "Go ahead and soften them up for us. Then we'll go rescue Dr. Blakk ourselves." Locke said. "And get the reward." Load said, shocking himself with his blaster. "Ha-ha-ha! I like the sound of that!" Flame said. "Rewards are best served frosty, baby." Frost said. "How do you know there'll even be one? Dr. Blakk probably doesn't even know we're here to spring him." Bull said. "Dr. Blakk always rewards those loyal to him." Locke said. "Hear that? Rewards. So, go on. Show 'em what you got." CC readied his blaster booster. "And give us a sneak peek at their defenses." Locke whispered, making Load and Flame chuckle. "Groovy." Frost said.
"INTO THE BREACH FOR VICTORY!" CC shouted and charged his mecha towards the prison as the guards started firing at him. CC fired back with his ghouls. Locke and Load were surprised and confused that someone like CC took out the guards so easily. "I'm here for Dr. Blakk! Hand him over or there will be consequences!" CC warned. But the guards moved aside, revealing the Shane Gang. "We'll take the consequences." Eli said, slinging Bugby. The Hoverbug snatched CC and tossed him back at his cohorts. "Yep. Saw that coming." Flame said.
"And stay out!" Pronto shouted. "We're lucky they're too greedy to work together." Kord said. "Stalagmite 17 maybe nearly impossible to break out of, but it's not completely impervious to someone breaking in." The lead guard said. "Never you worry. There is nothing they can throw at us that Pronto and his merry band of heroes can't stop." Pronto boasted. "Oh, please." Dana said. "We got things covered here, Eli. You guys better get back to your posts." Kord said. "Fine. But call us if you need us." Eli said.
Eli, Harley, Eliza and the Garcias went back to Blakk's cell to watch over him. "Let me guess. Some of my associates are outside attempting to rescue me?" Blakk guessed. "They're wasting their time." Eli said. "Yeah. With us around, they're not getting anywhere near you." Harley said. Blakk chuckled. "Loyal to a fault." He said, making the 7 glare at him. "Usually when we meet, you're running away from my ghouls. Now we have a chance to talk. Face-to-face." Blakk said. "We'll pass." Eli said. "Oh, come now. You mean to tell me that none of you have nothing to ask me?" Blakk asked. "Now that you mention it, yes. You could be anything you want. Why be evil? Why not use your power for good?" Eli asked. "And why is it that you hate our father so much?" Aerona asked. "Not everyone can be the hero, young ones. And if you want to know the answers to that, to understand who I am, we have to go back to where it all started." Blakk said. "And where would that be?" Eliza asked. "Slag Rock Cavern." Blakk revealed as he began to tell his origin.
[Flashback]
Young Blakk was slaving himself in the mines, carrying heavy rocks up to when he reached 15. "In its day, you'd never find a more wretched place." As Blakk waited to receive a slop lunch, there was a scuffle going on behind them. "We had our own brand of justice here. Only the strong survived." An amphibanoid engaged in a duel with another man, but the man was beaten quickly. His blaster and Rammstone landed in front of Blakk. "And if you were quick and clever, you do even better." Blakk picked up the blaster and the slug and smiled, knowing what to do.
Blakk traded the slug for an apple. Just then, a man got blasted from behind them. "Lording over it all, the gangster, Viggo Dare." Viggo and 2 of his men walked up to the man. The man tried to shoot Viggo, but Viggo swatted his blaster away and took aim at the man, chuckling without a care. He then took an expensive looking watch from the man. Blakk eyed the watch, knowing that it would pay him more food than just a mere apple. As Viggo attached the watch to his belt, Blakk walked up to him. Viggo shoved Blakk aside, not noticing that Blakk snatched the watch from him. "I learned quickly how to take care of myself in more ways than one."
Blakk tried to trade in the watch, but the trade keeper saw through him and whistled for Viggo's boys. "To get ahead, you had to be a good slug slinger." Blakk tried to run, but the trade keeper restrained him. As Viggo's boys turned up, Blakk slung a Hop Rock at them. "And as a young man, I was very good." Afterwards, Blakk walked away with 2 blasters and half a dozen apples.
As Blakk sat in his hideout, looking over his blaster, the door was blasted open. He readied his blaster. "Yeah, that's him, boss." One man said as Viggo came out from the smoke. "Relax, kid. You think I care about a watch? You're working for me now." Viggo said. "Any questions?" "What happens when I say no?" Blakk asked. Viggo just laughed. "We got a comedian here, boys." He said, walking away. "He only picks the best, you know." A young Maurice said. "I don't take orders from anyone!" Blakk said. "You'll get used to it. I did. You don't want to cross him." Maurice advised. Blakk thought about it, knowing that he had no other choice.
Viggo handed Blakk his signature badge and a newly modified blaster. "And so, I began my employment for Viggo Dare. The same man that ran my worthless father out of town and pressed me into servitude." Blakk assisted Viggo's men as they ransacked numerous stores. "It wasn't entirely unpleasant. For the first time in my life, I never wanted for anything. Materially speaking." Blakk traded a few pieces of gold for a cage full of slugs. "I learned the ways of commerce and how fear can be a tremendous motivator." Blakk used his slugs against a group of resistant amphibanoids, earning Viggo's respect. "In no time, I had more than proven my worth."
"I also learned a valuable lesson. No matter how loyal you are, no matter how hard you work, you're always expendable." Blakk was transporting a shipment of slugs to Viggo, but he readied his blaster, seeing that he had come across Jimmo Shane and Cress Garcia. "Best move yourselves, Jimmo Shane and Cress Garcia." Blakk warned. "You're one of Viggo's boys. A long way from Slag Rock, aren't ya?" Jimmo asked. "You might wanna just hand over those slugs. We don't wanna have to hurt you." Cress said. Blakk just slung a Hop Rock. But Jimmo and Cress dodged to the sides. Jimmo slung a Rammstone. Blakk reloaded his blaster and prepared to fire again, but Cress slung a Lariat, grabbing the blaster with Wrappler and pulling it away. Blakk got hit by the Rammstone and was thrown in jail. Blakk glared at Jimmo and Cress as they walked away.
"My mistake wasn't challenging a Shane and a Garcia. It was thinking that if I held my ground, it would show my loyalty. 6 months and not a word. I was, as you put it, left to rot. And upon my return-" Blakk returned to Slag Rock, only to see that Viggo was furious with him. "I lost an entire shipment because of you!" Viggo shouted, firing his slugs at Blakk and chasing him out of the cavern. "Step foot in this cavern again, and you will suffer!" Viggo warned. Blakk continued to run, pondering the same words Viggo said to his father. "I had heard those words before."
[Flashback End]
"It was the best thing that could have happened to me. It would set me on a journey that would end where I am today." Blakk said. "Back in jail?" Eli guessed jokingly, making Harley and the Garcias snicker. "I learned something from that 2-bit gangster. Power is everything." Blakk explained. "To have power, you must be feared. And the best way for me to be feared, was to become a better slug slinger than anyone else."
[Flashback]
Blakk traveled throughout the known caverns, slinging slug after slug after slug. "For years, I trained in secret. Preparing myself for a real wakening. Only 2 people would stand in the way of that." As Blakk got older, he prepared to face his next foe. Will Shane. "Your fathers." Cilan Garcia, having grown up as the most charming young man, watched from afar.
[Flashback End]
Meanwhile, outside, Locke, Load, Frost and Flame were bombarding the prison. "Sorry, guys! We didn't sign up for a job like this!" The lead guard said as him and his fellows retreated in fear. "We understand!" Dana called. "Give up, Shane Gang! You're all that's left!" Locke called. "That's a big negative!" A familiar voice said. The villains turned to see Millard Milford, Shorty, Goggles and a troupe of security slingers. "The calvary has arrived." Kord said. "Just in time too." Mario said. "Ha! Security slingers? They're just a bunch of mall cops." Locke said, thinking that this was a joke. But then, the slingers started slinging Hop Rocks, Rammstones and Frostcrawlers all at once. "How's this for a mall cop, boys?" Shorty asked, slinging a Jellyish. "Retreat! And run away!" Load cried, running away with Locke following.
"Are we glad to see you guys." Trixie said as the gang walked up to their friends. "You can always count on us security slingers. Whether it's a mall or a movie house, the playground or the pool." Millard said. "Well, now that includes prisons." Kord said. "Booyah." Millard said.
Back at his cell, Blakk continued his story. "Slugs are power. The more you have, the stronger you are. But you have to know how to use them. How to bend them to your will." Blakk explained. Eli, Harley, Eliza and the Garcias glared at him while Burpy and Hestia shook their heads with mumbled anger. "I would duel anyone who would accept my challenge. And many who did not."
[Flashback]
Blakk dueled another slinger, dodging a Hop Rock and knocking him down with a Rammstone. "I did lose, but increasingly less. Then, one day, a stranger walked out of the mist." Blakk turned to see Master Shanai, along with Ping and Yang, walking towards them from out of the mist.
[Flashback End]
"The Unbeatable Master. I know how this part of the story goes. She told me herself." Eli said. "And he and Shimei told us since some of us weren't there at the time." Aerona said. "Surely you all know there are 2 sides to every story." Blakk said.
[Flashback]
Will and Blakk prepared to duel each other. Blakk drew first and slung an Armashelt. Will dodged the slug and slung a Rammstone. Blakk slung another Armashelt, but the Rammstone knocked it and Blakk down with Rockstorm. Shanai watched with concern. Cilan watched from afar with concern and fear. Will walked over to Blakk and offered his hand of help. But Blakk just swatted it. "Again!" He growled.
Blakk charged in and slung a Hop Rock. Will dodged the slug, loaded and slung his own Hop Rock. Blakk dodged it and slung another slug. Will dodged it and slung a Frostcrawler. Blakk dodged it and slung a Thresher, spinning towards Will with Thorttlebite. Will flipped to the side to dodge the slug and slung a Tazerling, firing Tazerbolt. Blakk dodged it and slung a Rammstone, knocking Will down, causing him to lose his blaster and slug barrels. Cilan was shocked by this. He knew that he had to stop Blakk, even if it would cost their friendship.
Will reached for his blaster, but Blakk walked up to him, preparing to finish him. But as he slung his loaded Hop Rock, an Armashelt blocked the attack. Blakk turned to see Cilan holding a smoking blaster. "Cilan?!" Blakk asked in surprise. "It's been a long time, Thaddeus." Cilan said. "What're you doing?! Why are you stopping me?! I thought you were my best friend!" Blakk shouted in anger. "I am. But I can't allow you to hurt Will. He's a good friend to me too." Cilan said.
Blakk, now furious, loaded another slug and tried to shoot Cilan. But Shanai stepped in and blocked him, knocking him down. "Both of us worthy, but she could only pick one." "Evil is in your heart, Thaddeus Blakk. There is no place for that in a slug slinger." Shanai said. Blakk leapt up and tried to punch Shanai, but she dodged the incoming hit and pushed him back. Blakk picked up his blaster and slung a Rammstone, a Hop Rock and a Frostcrawler, but Shanai blocked all 3 of them with her staff. Blakk slung another Rammstone, but Shanai split her blaster into 2, leapt over the slug and slung her own Rammstone, knocking Blakk down. "Forgive me, Thaddeus." Shanai said. "I don't need you! I don't need anyone! I'm going to be the best! And no one is gonna stop me!" Blakk shouted. "Thaddeus." Cilan tried to say. "Save it, Garcia!" Blakk snapped, scaring Cilan. "If you were really my best friend, where were you when Viggo ran my father out of town and forced me into his servitude?! Come near me again, and you will suffer." Blakk turned around and left. "This one will be great trouble for you, Will Shane. And to you as well, Cilan Garcia." Shanai said. Will and Cilan watched as Blakk left.
Blakk returned to Slag Rock Cavern. His presence earned mutters and shocks from the locals. He walked up to 3 of Viggo's goons. One of them was an older Maurice. "What's your business here, Mister?" Maurice asked. "Payback." Blakk answered, drawing his blaster. The other 2 drew their blasters, but Blakk slung his Hop Rock, sending the 2 flying. Maurice was about to draw his blaster, but Blakk pointed his blaster at him, shaking his head. Maurice decided to stand down.
Just then, Viggo approached the commotion. "Well, well, well, the comedian returns. Still got my watch?" He asked, making a joke from the watch incident. Blakk just slung a Hop Rock, hitting the building behind Viggo. Viggo drew his blaster and slung a Thresher. Blakk dodged the slug and slung a Rammstone, punching Viggo into the side of a building. Blakk then slung an Armashelt, bashing Viggo through the wall. Blakk then slung a Grenuke, blowing up with Viggo inside. Blakk got his blaster ready for one more shot. "It's over! I surrender! I surrender!" Viggo said, giving up as he came out wounded. "This cavern belongs to me now. Anyone still loyal to Viggo Dare will leave with him or suffer the same humiliation. Those of you willing to pledge loyalty to me will be rewarded." Blakk announced. Viggo walked away with 2 of his boys leaving with him. The other goon, young André Geyser, walked in the other direction. Blakk walked up to Viggo's blaster and picked it up, claiming it as his prize. "They'll be back working for me within a month." He said to Maurice.
[Flashback End]
"So, you beat Viggo, captured his cavern, made yourself rich. You had everything you wanted. Why did you need to create ghouls?" Eli asked. "Not yet. Not even close." Blakk said. "What do you mean?" Kala asked. "My forces were growing. And so was my ambition." Blakk explained.
[Flashback]
Blakk looked over blueprints for the railway of his newly constructed and built Slugterran Express. "I took a broken-down cart line and turned it into the backbone of commerce in Slugterra." Blakk and Maurice then forced an entire population of people to be evicted from their homes to further construct the Express' railway. "Many were more than willing to provide me the rights of way I needed. Others needed more convincing."
Jimmo Shane and Cress Garcia were dueling 2 of Blakk's amphibanoid troops, but they were blasted down due to their aging. "Jimmo Shane and Cress Garcia had grown old and weak, compose of little consequence. Until there was a changing of the guards." The amphibanoids were about to finish the 2 off, but they were shot down by a couple of Rammstones. Jimmo and Cress turned to see Will and Cilan with smiles. Jimmo and Cress gave their blasters to Will and Cilan, making them the new protectors.
"The new Shane and Garcia were more of a complication. Especially after I heard about what they did to Viggo." Will and Cilan rode into the outskirts of Slag Rock Cavern, where they found Viggo. They dismounted their mechas and walked towards the former gangster. Viggo looked up at them as they reached him. "What do you want?" He asked. "We heard about what happened to you. How Blakk forced you out of your cavern and took over." Will said. "What's your point?" Viggo asked. "No point. We want to offer you a chance of redemption." Cilan said. Viggo looked up at the 2 with surprise. "You hurt a lot of people when you were a gangster. But you can make it up to all of them by helping us right the wrongs caused by Blakk." Cilan said, holding out his hand with Will. Viggo thought about this for a minute. Then, making his decision, he reached out and took both their hands as they helped him up. "When do we start…partners?" Viggo asked with a smile.
Later, as Blakk and his troops were about to force another cavern of people out of their homes, Will, Cilan and Viggo, along with 3 other men and a molenoid rode up on their mechas. "It has to stop, Blakk." Will said as he and his team dismounted their mechas and took aim at the enemy while the crowd scattered. "The intimidation. The dirty dueling. The stealing and cheating." "He's right. It all has to stop now." Cilan said. Blakk just chuckled. "You're in no position to dictate terms to me, Shane Gang." He and his followers took aim at the gang. Burpy, who was Blakk's slug at the time, chittered with worry. He then started to push his barrel out, trying to escape the blaster. The other slugs watched with interest. "Get in there, you worthless runt!" Blakk shouted, trying to shove Burpy back into his blaster.
"You don't have to do this, you know." Will said, putting his blaster away. "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear." Blakk said. "Wasn't talking to you." Will interrupted. "It's okay. You'll be safe with me." The slugs in Will's arsenal chittered along in agreement with their slinger. "And none of you have to follow someone like Blakk. Join with us and we can help give you a new start." Cilan said to Blakk's troops. Burpy and Blakk's slugs hopped out of their barrels. Burpy then chittered to the other slugs. They all hopped out of their barrels and joined Will and his friends, with Will putting Burpy on his shoulder. The troops then looked at each other, nodded and walked over to join the Shane Gang.
A furious Blakk tried to grab an escaping Arachnet, but it was too quick. "You'll never be a slug slinger, Thaddeus. No slug or slinger will ever willingly work with you again." Will said. "Then I'll find another way! Something better! And then, Will Shane, you and your friends will know what it's like to lose everything!" Blakk said as he left with Maurice and a hesitant André Geyser. Will, Cilan and Burpy all looked at each other with concern, wondering what Blakk was planning to do.
[Flashback End]
"For years, I studied, analyzed, tested and retested." Blakk continued.
[Flashback]
Blakk looked between to beakers of liquids. "I knew everything there was to know about slugs. Except how to make them loyal to me." Just then, a hooded figure walked up to Blakk. "Then, a figure appeared and presented me with something interesting." "I believe these will help you achieve what you are searching for." The figure said, handing Blakk a series of scrolls.
"The ancient texts spoke of the primal sources that made the slugs, about the First Protectors, about good and evil, and of darker forces beneath us, waiting to be unleashed." Blakk looked through the scrolls, telling him about the slugs, the First Protectors, the Shadow Clan and the Darkbane. "And then I found it. The wellspring of ghouling. Dark Water." Blakk came to the home cavern of the trolls, finding a crack seeping Dark Water. He scooped a bottle full of Dark Water. "But I would need more than what little seeped up through the cracks. Much more."
Back at his lab, Blakk poured a vial of Dark Water into another beaker. "I began a series of Dark Water experiments." After Blakk finished pouring, an explosion was created. "Through trial and error, I knew I was up to something never before seen. Then it happened." A portal appeared in front of Blakk. As he reached for it, a hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him in. "A portal to the Deep Caverns opened. And I was pulled in." As Blakk was tossed through the swirling of the portal, his body began to damage and pale. "The effects of this trip would wreak havoc on my body. But it was well worth it." Blakk than appeared in front of Brimstone on his throne. "You have something I need." Blakk said.
Blakk, Brimstone and Nacho filled a canister with Dark Water from one of their wells. "The Darkbane supplied me with Dark Water and in exchange, I agreed to allow one of them to disguise itself and return with me." Blakk returned to Slugterra with Nacho, carrying the canister as he disguised himself.
[Flashback End]
"Nacho." Harley growled. "You know how dangerous Dark Water is. And the Darkbane, we've met them!" Eli said. "They wanna conquer Slugterra! And then-" Eli stopped himself as he and the others realized. They looked at Blakk, who just chuckled. "They may be strong, but the Darkbane are backwards and naïve. They'll agree to anything when the hint of escape is dangled in front of them." Blakk said. "You're being played, Blakk." Eli said. "He's right. You're nothing to them, but a means of escape." Harley said. "We'll see." Blakk said.
[Flashback]
Blakk tested the Dark Water with his new ghouling machine on a Grenuke, mutating it into a Greneater with complete success. "Once I had the Dark Water, it was a matter of trial and error. Success was mine. My first test subject was obvious."
Blakk found Will in the very forest cavern where they had their last duel. Will was shocked by Blakk's appearance. "What's happened to you? You look like a ghost." He stated. Blakk just chuckled. "Funny you should mention that." He held up the Tempesto's barrel. "Is that a slug?" Will asked as Burpy looked on with anger. "Blakk, what have you done to it?!" Will demanded to know. "I fixed it. Made it better." Blakk loaded the ghoul into his blaster. "Good enough to finally beat you." He fired the ghoul, creating the Skyclone. "The power! I could never imagine!" Blakk said. "Corrupting slugs?! You could destroy all of Slugterra!" Will yelled. Blakk pulled away from the pull and ran for it. "Blakk! Stop this! Blakk! BLAKK!" Will shouted as he was consumed.
[Flashback End]
Eli and Harley were now filling with anger. "It took me some time to perfect the ghouls. But the rest, as they say, is history." Blakk finished. Eli punched the cell. "No! What happened to our father?! You're the only one who knows! Where did he go?!" He asked demandingly. Blakk just stayed silent. Eliza fell to her knees and started crying. Paulina knelt down and hugged her to try and comfort her. Harley, now filled with rage, transformed to his Darkbane form. "You're beyond twisted, Blakk! You tell us everything! Except the one thing we need to know most!" Harley roared. "Believe me. What I did your father was nothing compared to what I did to Cilan." Blakk said. That got the sisters' attention. "What did you do to him?" Aerona asked, filling up with anger.
[Flashback]
"After Will Shane disappeared, Cilan came looking for me." Cilan found Blakk skulking around Nightmare Ridge. "You've made your last mistake, Blakk." Cilan said in anger, not being his charming negotiator self. "What? Not feeling charming, my old friend?" Blakk asked mockingly. "What did you do to my friend?!" Cilan shouted. "Allow me to show you." Blakk said, aiming his blaster, revealing a Goon Doc. Cilan gasped as Blakk slung it. Cilan drew his blaster to retaliate, but the ghoul struck him in the chest with Leachfang. Cilan clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground. Blakk chuckled, thinking that his former best friend was dead.
[Flashback End]
The Garcias now glared at Blakk with rage and ferocity. "You're the reason our father is in that coma." Kala growled. "I originally intended to leave your father for dead. But once I heard that you 4 were his daughters, I see I was mistaken." Blakk said venomously. "Once Viggo and the rest of your fathers' team got word of what happened, they went into hiding, fearing that I would do the same to them." Eli, Harley and the sisters just glared at him. Even Eliza glared through her tears. "Perhaps you might consider sharing a few stories of your own in exchange. Your families do have a few secrets." Blakk said. The group were surprised to hear this. "This so-called 'Burning World' for example? Or maybe your bond with the Wind Spirit?" Blakk asked. "Forget it. The family secrets are gonna stay that way." Eli said, walking away with Harley. "Pity." Blakk said. "Although, if it was up to me, I'd lock Harley in there with you. Let him tear you to pieces for what you did to our father." Eli said darkly. Harley turned and glared at the madman, growling with his bearing teeth. Blakk just chuckled, unphased by this threat.
Meanwhile, the gang and the security slingers had successfully driven out Bull, CC, Frost and Flame. "That's the last of them, citizens." Millard said. "Eli, guys, it's over." Kord said into his comm.
Eli and the others got the message. "Sorry to break it to you, but your lackeys' plan to bust you out tanked." Eli said, turning to Blakk. "Too bad you couldn't hire anyone who was actually 'confident' enough to bust you out." Harley taunted. Blakk just laughed as he dusted off his boots. "They mean well. But this situation calls for a somewhat different approach. And only 2 of my associates are prepared for that." He explained.
Just then, a Titan had surfaced up from the water and made its way onto the platform. Dred was piloting the controls. As he readied the cannons, Nacho came out, operating a gattler. "What are they doing?!" Trixie asked in shock. The gang all fired at once. Trixie slung Rocks, Kord and Pronto fired Scorch and Flame, Vance fired Storm, Mario slung Crush, Lash slung Ice, Shimei fired Jin, Watts slung Tidal Wave, Dana slung Jinx and Rune slung Milja. But all of them bounced off the Titan's tough armor. Dred cackled, firing a Hop Jack, a Frostfang, a Grimmstone and a Greneater from the cannons, causing the gang to scatter. "It's time." Nacho said, firing the gattler. All the ghouls being fired created a beam above the prison. Then it shot down inside, causing the whole place to shake, rattle and crack.
Eli and the others could feel it from inside. "As it turns out, I'm expecting some new associates." Blakk said. "Ah, they seem to be arriving now." The group turned to see, but they were blinded by a dark light for a second. Burpy gasped at what happened next. A portal opened in Blakk's cell and 4 Darkbane emerged from it. Eli slung Rammer, Harley slung Claws, Eliza slung Ellie, Aerona slung Icestorm, Fareeda slung Jack Hammer, Kala slung Tara and Paulina slung Chainsaw, but they were all just blocked by the cell door. "I've only begun to unleash my power on Slugterra! The Shanes and the Garcias will soon be no more! Slugterra will be mine! And there's nothing you can do to stop it!" Blakk said. "NO!" Eli shouted. "WE WILL STOP YOU BLAKK!" Harley roared in his Darkbane form. "I enjoyed our little chat." Blakk said as he disappeared. Eli and the others hustled to get back outside.
Outside, as Trixie and Kord managed to get Pronto free from a fallen post, Blakk and the Darkbane reappeared inside the Titan. "Welcome aboard, boss." Dred said. Nacho ceased firing ghouls, causing the portal to disperse. The gang started firing their ghouls, but the Titan turned around and escaped into the water.
Later, the gang regrouped outside. "I don't know how that Terraportal worked, but we're lucky that only 4 Darkbane came through." Kord said. "And with Nacho, that makes 5 here in Slugterra. Excluding me since I'm half." Harley said, who changed back to his human form "We have to make sure Blakk doesn't try it again. After everything you did to hold back his minions, I'm sorry that we let him get away." Eli said. Harley, Eliza and the Garcias looked at each other with sadness and regret. Trixie put a comforting hand on her fiancé's shoulder. "It's not your fault, honey. We'll go after Dr. Blakk again. We'll find another way to hold him." She assured. "No. Dr. Blakk is not a man that can ever be jailed. We'll have to meet his fate another way." Eli said. "And after what he told us in his cell, my mind's bending to a fate even I don't like." Harley said. "For now, we've got a bigger battle to fight. We're gonna need all the help we can get. We need to get ready. And we need to spread the word." Eli said. "Well, what are we waiting for? TO VICTORY!" Pronto yelled, riding off on Fernando. The others followed on their mechas.
Well, how's that? Blakk tells the Shane brothers and Garcia sisters his origin while his lackeys tried to bust him out of Stalagmite 17. But now Dred and Nacho have brought a small party of Darkbane into Slugterra. What will the Shane Gang do for the upcoming battle with Blakk and the Darkbane? Leave a review if you want.
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), 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 (Hypnogrif), Urchin (Sand Angler), Dozer (Slyren), Jinxer (Hexlet), Torch (Forgesmelter), Yang (Negashade), Beeker (AquaBeek), Mimkey (Mimikreas), Jaws (MakoBreaker), Gasser (Flatulorhinkus), Crystal (Geoshard), Foggy (Neotox), Jammer (Xmitter), Bugsy (Hoverbug), Nero (Glowbyss)
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), Ping (White Boon Doc), Bubbles (Bubbaleone), Polo (Polero), Skitter (Speedstinger), Flasher (Phosphoro), Gem (Geoshard), Hestia (Infurnus), Drill (Crystalyd), Ashe (Glowbyss)
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), Dunes (Sand Angler), Zaps (Tazerling), Roller (Armashelt), Scorcher (Lavalynx), Nighty (Slyren), Starling (Phosphoro), Roxy (Crystalyd), Quinn (Gazzer)
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), Pincer (Armashelt), Glint (Phosphoro), Throttle (Thresher), Quicksand (Sand Angler), Silv (Slicksilver), Pollen (Vinedrill), Flats (Flatulorhinkus), Cliff (Crystalyd)
Pronto Geronimo: Stinky (Flatulorhinkus), Slimey (Jellyish), Soapy (Bubbaleone), Bruiser (Rammstone), Flame (Flaringo), Loogie (Lariat), Windy (Tormato), Squeaky (Flopper), Blocky (Hop Rock), Freezie (Frostcrawler), Doozey (Slyren), Zappy (Tazerling), Stripey (Polero), Planty (Vinedrill), Shelly (Armashelt), Sharky (MakoBreaker), Bitey (Thresher), Zippy (Speedstinger), Molty (Firenzar), Spitty (Arachnet), Fissure (Crystalyd)
Vance Volt: Blast (Hop Rock), Bloom (Vinedrill), Crust (Lavalynx), Legs (Arachnet), Swimy (AquaBeek), Hardcase (Armashelt), Squish (Jellyish), Blow (Tormato), Cheep (Flopper), Punch (Rammstone), Chill (Frostcrawler), Swallow (Bubbaleone), Storm (Tazerling), Tim (Crystalyd)
Mario Bravado: Ricochet (Speedstinger), Slide (Frostcrawler), Crawler (Arachnet), Echo (AquaBeek), Mess (Jellyish), Breeze (Tormato), Kate (Flopper), Porky (Dirt Urchin), Dunk (Rammstone), Crush (Armashelt), Razz (Thresher), Pinkie (Bubbaleone), Chasm (Crystalyd)
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), Melt (Lavalynx), Clash (Armashelt), Shroud (Frightgeist), Oxide (Gazzer), Sprout (Vinedrill), Darcy (Crystalyd)
Shimei: Mong (Hop Rock), Jin (Rammstone), Zeng (Vinedrill), Leng (Polero), Kaz (Grenuke), Hindo (Flaringo), Huong (Phosphoro), Hei-Hei (Hoverbug), Yung (Armashelt), Mai (Arachnet), Fong (Bubbaleone), Wang (Tormato), Feng (Dirt Urchin), Ravine (Crystalyd)
Eliza Shane: Ellie (Flaringo), Min (Jellyish), Tink (Phosphoro), Pimpy (Bubbaleone), Jimbo (Hop Rock), Jason (Frightgeist), Fitz (Tazerling), Flick (Grenuke), Griff (Hypnogrif), Midnight (Slyren), Wilton (Neotox), Oya (Tormato), Canyon (Crystalyd)
Watts: Scourge (MakoBreaker), Polly (Hoverbug), Rush (Rammstone), Sinker (Hop Rock), Maelstrom (Tormato), Tidal Wave (AquaBeek), Preserver (Bubbaleone), Splatter (Jellyish), Gorge (Crystalyd)
Dana Por: Webby (Arachnet), Willy (Frostcrawler), Tailwind (Tormato), Rosie (Vinedrill), Jinx (Hexlet), Nemo (AquaBeek), Poppy (Bubbaleone), Richter (Rammstone), Silvia (Slicksilver), Crevice (Crystalyd), Sprite (Flaringo), Frags (Grenuke), Dupe (Polero)
Aerona Garcia: Goldie (Midas), Hiccup (Flaringo), Cancer (Armashelt), Icestorm (Frostcrawler), Bomb (Hop Rock), Goopy (Lariat), Slabs (Rammstone), Taurus (Crystalyd), Current (AquaBeek), Starry (Glowbyss), Nelly (Arachnet), Kaboom (Grenuke)
Fareeda Garcia: Shiny (Midas), Thunderstorm (Tazerling), X (Xmitter), Aquarius (AquaBeek), Eve (Negashade), Maggie (Slicksilver), Sagittarius (Hoverbug), Jack Hammer (Crystalyd), Little Star (Phosphoro), Lantern (Glowbyss), Leo (Speedstinger)
Kala Garcia: Aurum (Midas), Lila (Thugglet), Scorpio (Hexlet), Aries (Rammstone), Gemini (Polero), Sparkly (Phosphoro), Prick (Dirt Urchin), Bulldozer (Crystalyd), Annabelle (Frightgeist), Angelo (Glowbyss), Tara (Arachnet)
Paulina Garica: Chrysos (Midas), Cepheus (Firenzar), Snowstorm (Narwhaddle), Cassiopeia (Sand Angler), Chainsaw (Thresher), Virgo (Vinedrill), Capricorn (Tormato), Hardstone (Armashelt), Abyss (Crystalyd), Neon (Glowbyss), Libra (Diggrix)
Rune: Uruz (Negashade), Ansuz (Thresher), Raidho (Armashelt), Kaunaz (Rammstone), Milja (Grenuke), Dikruz (Dirt Urchin)
Infinity the Universal Slug
Pets: Bella (Zesherian), Wormy (Crystal Worm), Rath (Ice Ogre), Kobi, Cole and Amra (Lava Bats), Kibble and Nipper (Dino Rats), Reolin and Dew (Cavern Sharks), Marble (Gargoyle), Hydrus (Fish Monster), Crater (Cavern Worm), Buzzy and Musca (Scorpion Bees), Boötes (Slug Hound puppy)
