Chapter Three
"Healing Old Wounds"
"Keep running!"
"They're almost on us!"
The two men ran through the scattered, unsettled ground surrounding the Fright Zone. Directly behind them were nearly a dozen Horde soldiers, laser primed and ready for stun.
"Sir, they are close to reaching the Whispering Woods," reported one of the Horde Troopers.
"Don't let them enter! They must not reach the Great Rebellion! Adding their powers to the resistance movement can only have negative effect," Hordak snorted on the comm-line.
"Don't worry, sir," came the voice of General Sunder.
"Ah! Good to have you on it, Sunder! Get them fast or eliminate them!"
"Yes, sir."
General Sunder, the most honored and respected of all Hordak generals, gained speed with the Horde Troopers. The pair they were chasing were nearly to the Whispering Woods, which meant that they would be protected from the Troopers.
"What are their names?" questioned Sunder.
"Extendar and Snout Spout."
Sunder pulled out a communicator and set it to project his voice. "Extendar! Snout Spout! Stand down! We are not going to harm you if you surrender!"
Extendar, a man in full metal, his face covered in a grated face-plate, looked over at his friend. Snout Spout, whose body was human, but head looked like a mechanical elephant, shook his head. "No. We're almost there."
"Good. Because I wasn't going to stop running."
And that's when they entered into the Whispering Woods. The Horde Troopers stopped in their tracks, as did Sunder. He looked back at them. "Stay here," he ordered. "I'm going in."
"Sir! You can't!"
"SILENCE!"
General Sunder turned on his heel and entered into the Whispering Woods. Carefully, and moving much more silently than his robotic allies, General Sunder watched the pair. After nearly an hour of careful tracking, Extendar and Snout Spout stopped at a pond.
Extender slammed his enter face into the pond, soaking up the water the only way he could. That face plate prevented him from drinking it in any sort of human fashion, so his was stuck dunking in his head. Snout Spout had to plunge his elephant nose into the pond and drink it up like a straw.
Sunder sat in the bushes, silently lifting up his weapon. He took aim and began to pull the trigger . . . but didn't. He couldn't. These poor bastards had been through enough. In these woods, they could find help and maybe even find way to help themselves.
So, he feared upwards, and the two ran off. Sunder put the gun away, then walked back to the Fright Zone. He would catch hell for not retrieving the two of them, but he didn't care. It was the right thing to do and so he didn't do it.
***
Adora studied the map hard and realized just how much trouble she was having coming up with a good strategy. She rubbed her temples and leaned back in her chair, trying to push her blossoming headache away. But to no avail.
It had been nearly a month since the liberation of Brightmoon Kingdom and all they had really done is study attacks and deal with a few scouts. Hordak had been so busy, it seemed, with making a few visits to Eternia. There was talk of He-Man popping by Etheria for a few minutes to destroy one of Hordak's Horde Trooper Creation Machines.
But what was she to do? The Great Rebellion was no where near strong enough to take out Doom Tower and the Fright Zone. There were plenty of outposts, but Adora . . . Adora was afraid of the worst. Afraid that she would screw it up. That something terrible would happen and someone would be killed.
At this point, though, people were starting to lose faith in her. She even heard someone talking about how Adora was still apart of the Horde and was only here to stall out the rebellion. And everyone wanted to know where She-Ra was.
Out doing patrols, Adora would lie. Checking things out. Meditating. Always something. At least, though, Kowl knew about it too. That She-Ra and Adora were one and the same.
"Ugh. I need a shower," muttered the blond-haired princess. "Bad."
Adora stood up and had just walked out of the room and into the corridor, when two strange looking men appeared.
"It's Force Captain Adora!" yelled one covered in metallic armor.
"I'll get her!" yelped up one with an elephant face. He nose shot out a stream of water, sending Adora crashing to the ground in a sobbing wet mess.
"Well, there's my shower," she grumbled, reaching for her laser.
Just then, four shot out, blasting right around Extendar and Snout Spout. A cloud of mist filled the corridor. When it vanished a few seconds later, the pair were surrounded in Brightmoon soldiers.
"State your purpose for being here, Horde members!" demanded Queen Angella, who had arrived with the soldiers.
"We're not members of the Horde!" yelled Extendar. "My name is Extendar and this is Snout Spout. We need your help."
"Did Hordak do this to you?" questioned Adora.
"Yes."
Adora cursed herself. "Damnation."
"What is it, Adora?" questioned Glimmer.
"Hordak does this. He'll do these terrible experiments on people, make them his warriors. And you two broke out?"
"Yes," Snout Spout answered.
Adora turned to the others. "Rouse Madame Razz and have her fetch a truth-telling dust. If they're telling the truth, then we'll go to Eternia. They are better equipped to deal with this sort of situation."
"And if they aren't?" questioned Bow.
"Then we'll figure something out."
"We are telling the truth!" protested Snout Spout.
"What about you?" asked Extendar. "Have you had this truth-telling dust thrown into your face? Your were a Force Captain! How can we trust you? How can these people?"
Queen Angella stepped over to them and scowled. "She has had the truth-telling dust test and came back positive. But more than, she has proven herself and that's all that matters. And you are lucky I am taking your conditions into my judgement, otherwise I would have you sent back to the Fright Zone faster than you could say 'Hordak.' There will be no more talk of this. Understood?"
"Yes."
"Understood."
"Good," Angella replied. She turned briefly to Adora and offered a sweet, motherly smile. Adora suddenly hoped they were telling the truth. It would be very nice to see mother and father again.
***
Teela grimaced as she pulled back the wrappings around her abdomen. The wounds were still pretty ugly and she hoped that they would not scar. That's the last thing she wanted. Of course, she hoped even more that she would be able to be on active duty. She had just heard about an incident a few days ago involving He-Man on the Golden Isles, being attacked by the Horde Troopers. Some sort of scouting party.
At least things at Snake Mountain had quieted down. Nearly a week and half ago, King Hiss was let lose. With so much time passing, the threat of an attack was inevitable. The last thing she wanted - other than scars, that is - was to be on the sidelines during a major attack by Skeletor and King Hiss.
"Teela, don't push yourself," Duncan suddenly chided, entering the room and spotting his only daughter struggling to sit up.
"Father, I've spent the past ten days sitting in bed. I'm tired of this."
Duncan smiled at her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "I understand, but the last thing I want is for you to hurt yourself even more."
Just then, Adam entered the room. "Duncan. We need you in your lab."
"What is it?"
"Adora just showed up with two victims."
Duncan perked an eyebrow. "'Victims?'"
"Yeah. Apparently Hordak did some experiments on them to turn them into super soldiers to work for his cause. But they managed to escape and Adora brought them here because we have better resources."
"Alright. I'll do what I can," he said, standing up. He turned firmly to his daughter before leaving. "Stay in bed, Teela."
"And be bored?"
"Yes."
Teela groaned, and threw herself back into her bed.
***
Randor grinned and extended a hand. A woman with blond hair and large white wings returned the gesture. "Queen Angella, sire."
"King Randor," the king of Eternos replied. "This is my wife, Queen Marlena."
"Queen Marlena. This is my daughter, Glimmer."
Glimmer smiled and introduced herself. Adora was happy she brought these along with her. With all the trouble she was having getting a strategy together, it would probably be nice to have the King and Queen of Eternos meet their Etherian counter-parts.
Duncan entered then and he gave Adora a strong, uncle-like hug. Adam grinned at the two. "It's good to see you again, Adora," Duncan said.
"And you too, Duncan. Now, can you help our new friends here?"
After the introductions were made, Duncan suggested that the royal family and Angella and Glimmer head off to lunch while Duncan sees what he could do with Extendar and Snout Spout.
***
Hordak slammed his fist onto the arm of his chair, causing the sound to echo throughout the chamber. "Modulock! Get in here!"
The red-colored creature scampered into the chamber and faced Hordak. "I have their location, great Hordak."
"And just where are they?"
"Eternia. Specifically, Eternos."
Hordak grunted. "Prepare an assault team immediately."
***
Man-At-Arms Journal
Man-At-Arms Duncan recording
Entry # 12-318b
I've been looking over the experiments conducted on Extendar and Snout Spout by Hordak and his evil Horde. Cellular reprocessing, cybernetic influence, and it seems he wasn't done. Extendar posses the ability to extend his limps, neck, head and torso. Snout Spout was going to be bulkier, stronger than he is now. I can't do anything for Snout Spout, but I can activate those extension gyros on Extendar, if he's willing. He would be an excellent contestant for Heroic Warriors. Both of them, really.
As far as their history is concerned, well, it's more tragic for one than it is the other. Extendar used to live on Eternia. During the Horde War, his wife left him, siting that Extendar is nothing more than a loser. Extendar gave his services to Hordak and returned to Etheria, where he hoped to help out with simple tasks. Instead, Hordak had him sent to the lab. He's been there for twenty years, prepped to become this warrior.
Snout Spout is far more tragic. All he can remember of his time before his change into Snout Spout is that he once lived on Etheria and had a family. Apparently abducted when he didn't pay his taxes, Snout Spout put up such a good fight, he became a contestant for genetic manipulation. They got him this far, but had to put the project on hold once She-Ra showed up.
They broke free and sought help, and eventually ended up here with us. I'm afraid, though, that other than the Extendar's gyros, I can't help them any more than this. They are trapped like this. Possibly forever. Surely, Hordak's touch can be worse than death. Of course, we already knew that, didn't we?
End Entry # 12-318b
Duncan frowned and sat up, shoulders heavy with the weight of this burden. What Hordak had done to these two was unforgivable. And the fact that nothing could be done for them bothered Duncan to no end. He had explained all the facts to Extendar and Snout Spout. Neither found the news very much to their liking, but they seemed to accept it.
Apparently, they had given up hope along time ago.
"So," Duncan asked Extendar as he began working on the gyro, "will you be returning to Etheria? Or would like to remain here?"
Extendar looked down at Duncan, who was waving a few tools over Extendar's knees. "I'll probably stay here. It's where I was born, it's where I belong."
"I can make arrangements for you to stay in the Palace, until you get back on your feet. Er, no pun intended."
Much to his own surprise, Extendar grinned.
But Snout Spout didn't. He stood in the corner, watching the work being done on his escape partner. He wasn't sure what he wanted right now. Etheria was where he came from, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to go back. Eternia seemed so peaceful and so lovely. Perhaps it would be best to remain here for a while.
Snout Spout walked outside, along one of the Palace walls, eyes looking down at the courtyard below. He sighed, trying to make up his mind.
"Pretty good view, huh?" asked a friendly voice from behind.
Snout Spout spun around and found Mekaneck standing there. "Yeah," he stammered. "Yeah, it is."
"You know, a long time ago, I had a son. We were in the mountains on this ski trip when there was an avalanche. It slammed us pretty hard. My neck was snapped, and my son was gone. A few wizards and scientists took me in, and gave me this new one." Mekaneck's head lifted up a few feet, revealing the length of his neck. "I hated it at first, and I was still bitter over the death of my son."
"Understandable," Snout Spout replied.
"And then I joined the Heroic Warriors and found a sense of peace. I belonged somewhere. I had felt like an outcast because of my neck and so distraut after losing my son. But then . . . amazingly, after I joined, everything started to come together. I didn't feel as lost. And eventually, I found my son. And my accident made me the happiest man alive."
Snout Spout looked long and hard at Mekaneck before answering. "So, what does this have to do with me?"
"We all have our reasons for being who we are. Don't despair in those reasons. Find reason for those reasons."
Before Snout Spout could answer, there was a terrible noise from the courtyard. The pair looked over quickly, and saw a portal thundering open. Then out came Grizzlor, two dozen Horde Troopers, Mantenna, Leech, and Catra. Behind them all came Hordak himself!
"Find them! We haven't the power to keep the portal open for long!"
Snout Spout looked over at Mekaneck, paused, and then leapt into action. Mekaneck followed. The Horde Troopers opened fire, but Mekaneck had two of them smashed onto the ground as soon as he touched down.
Catra was about to enter the fray when She-Ra appeared out of nowhere and slammed her back into the portal. He-Man followed She-Ra and punched Grizzlor right in the stomach. Man-At-Arms, hearing the battle, leapt from the lab and opened fire on the Horde Troopers.
But as he fired his laser beam, Leech snuck up behind him, grabbed his face and absorbed his strength. He laughed as Man-At-Arms fell to the ground.
"Ha ha ha! That'll show ya!" snarled Leech.
Then, though, a metallic hand grabbed hold of Leech's neck. Leech suddenly heard a 'whirring' sound and found that he was now six feet off the floor. His eyes turned back - and was shocked to find Extendar getting higher.
Extendar threw him to the floor, then kicked him with an extender boot. Man-At-Arms regained consciousness just then and smiled as Leech was chucked into the portal.
The others were dealing with Grizzlor, Mantenna, and the Horde Troopers just fine, but Snout Spout knew that it was Hordak that needed to be taken out. He dropped his nose into a fountain then, and fired a huge gush of water out of it! It blasted against Hordak, sending him straight into the portal!
"Right for me, master!" yelped Mantenna, fleeing wildly. Grizzlor, realizing that with the other Heroic Warriors showing up, he was being outnumber, fled behind Mantenna. As soon as they were through, the portal closed shut.
The Horde Troopers were nothing more than scrap metal by then.
After dealing with that, He-Man, Randor, and Man-At-Arms approached Extendar and Snout Spout. "After seeing you two at work, we'd love to have you join us in the Heroic Warriors," Man-At-Arms invited.
"I'm not sure," Snout Spout confessed. "I mean, aren't we needed more on Etheria?"
Queen Angella shook her head. "No. We have more than enough help. Plus, it'll just make you easier targets for Hordak once again."
"And we could really use your help. Now that Skeletor has joined forces with King Hiss, the more allies, the less enemies?"
Snout Spout looked to Extendar. They both outstretched their hands. "Count us in."