Ode to Oddity
By The Chronicler
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Chapter Eight
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Perfect Tommy sneezed. God, he hated the gardens. "Next time ol' Bucky wants to play hide 'n' seek he sure as hell better find a pollen free place to do the hiding." he mumbled.
He started to shake his head, trying to clear the sinus fog that was quickly taking over. But his head stopped, looking to his left.
There, lying on the ground, was a nearly decapitated body. The flesh was ripped from the arm, the neck was broken and torn. The trail was soaked with blood.
"Well, shit." Perfect Tommy complained. Fingering his go-phone, he waited for Rawhide to answer. "Um, big guy... think I found the trail."
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Buckaroo Banzai knelt on the ground in the middle of a circle of blossoming dogwood trees. Their fragrance washed over him in a most hypnotizing way. With head back, eyes closed, breath slowed until it was nearly impossible for the human eye to detect, he put himself in a trance-like state. The world around him did not exist, yet he could feel it all about him, feel it in him. Feeling the dirt under him. Breathing in the pollen in the air. Listening to the sweet song of the birds and the chirps of the insects.
The world, at least for that moment, was just as it should be....
"Buckaroo!"
With an annoyed sigh, Buckaroo opened his eyes and turned his head slightly. "Perfect Tommy..." he started, but stopped.
Perfect Tommy stood at the edge of the clearing, a pistol in his hand.
Between them was Oddity, crouched down, ready to leap. His white fur was splattered with blood up his chest and around his face. The dog glanced back sharply at Perfect Tommy, then snapped his attention back to the unsuspecting doctor.
"What's going on, Perfect Tommy?" Buckaroo asked softly.
"It isn't Oddity." Tommy started to explain. "It's a du.... Get down!" Perfect Tommy leaped forward, but was too late.
The dupe had lunged, its front paws slamming into Buckaroo's shoulders, its unnaturally heavy body pushing him back to the ground.
Instinct, more than anything, prompted Buckaroo to grab the beast by the fur around its neck, holding its head back.
Steel teeth snapped just a breath from his throat.
"No!" Perfect Tommy yelled, leaping on the thing's back. Wrapping his arm around it's neck, he pulled back. Jabbing his pistol into the android's ribs, he pulled the trigger over and over until it clicked on empty chambers.
Each shot jerked the thing, but otherwise, did little, but make it angry. The dupe bounced its front paws off Buckaroo's chest, jerking free of Perfect Tommy's hold. It spun about, grabbing his arm.
Perfect Tommy cried out as the steel teeth ripped into his arm. He tried to pull free, but only succeeded in ripping his own flesh. Numb fingers dropped his gun as the thing shoved him back to the ground, teeth drilling down to the bone. He tried to kick the dupe away, but it jerked away, its teeth twisting in PT's arm as it moved. Tears of pain flooded his eyes, his free hand blindly swinging up at his attacker.
Its head jerked about, releasing the arm so as to snap at his fingers.
But Buckaroo had recovered and leaped into the fray. Grabbing the thing's tail, he pulled with all his might.
The dupe spun about and lunged once again at its primary target.
Center of attention again, Buckaroo stumbled back, hoping to keep their deadly attacker's eyes on him, and away from his withering friend. Perfect Tommy had lasted one minute against this thing. No way was he gonna let the dupe get a second bite at the kid.
It was working.
Completely ignoring its previous victim, the Oddity dupe leaped at him.
Buckaroo dropped, rolling onto his back, intending to kick the thing over the top of him.
But, apparently, the dupe was ready for that. It stopped just short, its teeth snatching onto the doctor's ankle and jumped back.
Buckaroo's feet went out from under him, his ankle snapping under the vicious strength of the thing's jaw. Somehow he managed to bite back a cry.
With all the cruelty its evil creators could program it to, the dupe began to twist and pull, dragging the helpless man into the bushes for a quick, hidden kill.
With a bark and a snarl of his own, another Oddity leaped through the air, plowing into the first with enough force he broke the hold the dupe had had on its victim and carried both across the small clearing. The two identical creatures rolled across the ground until they slammed into a tree. The second Oddity instantly rolled free, only to spin about and lunge onto the back of the first, teeth latching onto its ear. paws digging at the flesh covered back.
The first quickly rolled, smashing its look-a-like into the tree.
With a yipe, Oddity laid against the hard trunk stunned. But when the dupe went after Buckaroo again, assuming Oddity was finished, the loyal Aussie shook himself and lunged after. This time he went after the thing's legs. Grabbing one hind leg, he pulled back, dragging his evil counter part away from its victim.
The dupe spun about on the dog and snapped its steel teeth with such force a spark twinkled.
Oddity bounced away on three legs. One of his front legs still wounded from the accident.
Apparently deciding it wasn't going to get a peaceful moment to kill until Oddity was out of the way, the dupe turned its full attention on the dog before it.
With a snarl, Oddity hunkered low, challenging the thing.
The dupe took the challenge. With jaw hanging open, ready to bite the first flesh its teeth came into contact with, it ran at the dog, instantly reaching its top speed.
Oddity bounced to the side, letting the faster, more maneuverable thing over step, racing passed him. As it passed, Oddity slammed against the thing's side, knocking it off its feet.
Its own momentum and the blow from its advisory sent the dupe sliding across the ground on its side and back, its feet momentarily kicking up into the air.
Oddity took quick advantage of the fallen dupe. Leaping on top of the frailing copy, he followed instinct and sank his teeth into the throat of that mechanical thing.
If Oddity had been fighting one of his own kind, he would of won right then and there, succeeding in ripping the throat out of his enemy.
But he was not fighting another dog. And when his teeth sank through fragile flesh and muscle, he hit hard and unforgiving steel... and then the dupe really got angry.
Kicking up with its hind legs, the beast struck Oddity in the underbelly with such brutal force even Buckaroo, several feet away, could hear the dog's ribs break.
Oddity attempted to yipe, but, refusing to release his hold that, in his mind, should of been ending this fight, it came only as a muffled wine.
"Oddity!" Knuckles screamed, running onto the scene, quickly followed by Peggy, Rawhide, Reno, and Pinky.
The dupe rolled, taking the top position in the fight. Front paws braced against the dog's chest, it ripped its own throat out as it yanked free. Once again assuming that this pathetic original was done for, the dupe glanced around to find Banzai.
But Peggy had already moved to get her husband out of harm's way.
With a snarl, the mechanical creature took a menacing step toward the couple.
With his last strength, Oddity lifted himself up with one front leg and snapped his teeth down on the dupe's hip.
With a startled bark, the dupe spun about.
"Can't get a clear shot!" Reno complained as once again the two identicle creatures were rolling across the ground.
Beside him, Knuckles and Rawhide found themselves in a like situation. Rolling about, the two looked like just one big fur ball.
Then there was a heart wrenching scream. It took them only a breath, then, to know which was which: Oddity hung, apparently lifeless, by the throat in the steel grip of the monster's teeth.
"No!" Knuckles cried. "Oddity!" She ran forward, swinging her rifle up, over her head, and bringing it down with all her strength across the dupe's back. The blow snapped the rifle in two.
The dupe dropped its hold on her dog, spinning about to face this new distraction.
"Knuckles, get back!" Rawhide grabbed her around the waist and spun her out of the way of the steel teeth.
Peggy was the first to fire, the blast taking the dupe full on, as soon as Knuckles was clear.
Its face and chest riddled with holes, revealing the steel innards, the dupe snarled at the girl. Before it could strike, though, Reno and Pinky came up on either side of her, and fired.
The dupe jerked, its front legs failing under the onslaught. Its chest crashed to the ground. But, still snarling, it continued its attack, snapping at the Cavaliers' feet.
Pinky circled around, pressed the barrel of his shotgun against the thing's head, and fired again.
The head of the dupe exploded in a shower of shrapnel, sparks, and hisses. Dead android legs kicking, it fell to its side.
For a moment the armed Cavaliers stood silently, waiting for the headless machine to continue its attack. But, when it remained on the ground, unmoving for the exception of an occasional twist as last flashes of energy burned out, they quickly spun about to see to their wounded.
Peggy dropped down beside her husband and helped him sit up. As soon as his head was at proper highth, Peggy grabbed it in both her hands and kissed him, making sure that he was still alive.
"I'm okay." Buckaroo assured. "Just my ankle. It's broken." He waved to Reno. "Help Perfect Tommy! He's bleeding."
"Damn, damn, damn..." Perfect Tommy was cursing, holding his arm to his chest. "I REALLY HATE those things!"
Reno quickly dropped to his side, yanking a bandanna from his back pocket and tying it around his upper arm as a truncate.
"So," Buckaroo growled through clenched teeth. "Who wants to tell me just what the hell is going on?"
By The Chronicler
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Chapter Eight
----------
Perfect Tommy sneezed. God, he hated the gardens. "Next time ol' Bucky wants to play hide 'n' seek he sure as hell better find a pollen free place to do the hiding." he mumbled.
He started to shake his head, trying to clear the sinus fog that was quickly taking over. But his head stopped, looking to his left.
There, lying on the ground, was a nearly decapitated body. The flesh was ripped from the arm, the neck was broken and torn. The trail was soaked with blood.
"Well, shit." Perfect Tommy complained. Fingering his go-phone, he waited for Rawhide to answer. "Um, big guy... think I found the trail."
----------
Buckaroo Banzai knelt on the ground in the middle of a circle of blossoming dogwood trees. Their fragrance washed over him in a most hypnotizing way. With head back, eyes closed, breath slowed until it was nearly impossible for the human eye to detect, he put himself in a trance-like state. The world around him did not exist, yet he could feel it all about him, feel it in him. Feeling the dirt under him. Breathing in the pollen in the air. Listening to the sweet song of the birds and the chirps of the insects.
The world, at least for that moment, was just as it should be....
"Buckaroo!"
With an annoyed sigh, Buckaroo opened his eyes and turned his head slightly. "Perfect Tommy..." he started, but stopped.
Perfect Tommy stood at the edge of the clearing, a pistol in his hand.
Between them was Oddity, crouched down, ready to leap. His white fur was splattered with blood up his chest and around his face. The dog glanced back sharply at Perfect Tommy, then snapped his attention back to the unsuspecting doctor.
"What's going on, Perfect Tommy?" Buckaroo asked softly.
"It isn't Oddity." Tommy started to explain. "It's a du.... Get down!" Perfect Tommy leaped forward, but was too late.
The dupe had lunged, its front paws slamming into Buckaroo's shoulders, its unnaturally heavy body pushing him back to the ground.
Instinct, more than anything, prompted Buckaroo to grab the beast by the fur around its neck, holding its head back.
Steel teeth snapped just a breath from his throat.
"No!" Perfect Tommy yelled, leaping on the thing's back. Wrapping his arm around it's neck, he pulled back. Jabbing his pistol into the android's ribs, he pulled the trigger over and over until it clicked on empty chambers.
Each shot jerked the thing, but otherwise, did little, but make it angry. The dupe bounced its front paws off Buckaroo's chest, jerking free of Perfect Tommy's hold. It spun about, grabbing his arm.
Perfect Tommy cried out as the steel teeth ripped into his arm. He tried to pull free, but only succeeded in ripping his own flesh. Numb fingers dropped his gun as the thing shoved him back to the ground, teeth drilling down to the bone. He tried to kick the dupe away, but it jerked away, its teeth twisting in PT's arm as it moved. Tears of pain flooded his eyes, his free hand blindly swinging up at his attacker.
Its head jerked about, releasing the arm so as to snap at his fingers.
But Buckaroo had recovered and leaped into the fray. Grabbing the thing's tail, he pulled with all his might.
The dupe spun about and lunged once again at its primary target.
Center of attention again, Buckaroo stumbled back, hoping to keep their deadly attacker's eyes on him, and away from his withering friend. Perfect Tommy had lasted one minute against this thing. No way was he gonna let the dupe get a second bite at the kid.
It was working.
Completely ignoring its previous victim, the Oddity dupe leaped at him.
Buckaroo dropped, rolling onto his back, intending to kick the thing over the top of him.
But, apparently, the dupe was ready for that. It stopped just short, its teeth snatching onto the doctor's ankle and jumped back.
Buckaroo's feet went out from under him, his ankle snapping under the vicious strength of the thing's jaw. Somehow he managed to bite back a cry.
With all the cruelty its evil creators could program it to, the dupe began to twist and pull, dragging the helpless man into the bushes for a quick, hidden kill.
With a bark and a snarl of his own, another Oddity leaped through the air, plowing into the first with enough force he broke the hold the dupe had had on its victim and carried both across the small clearing. The two identical creatures rolled across the ground until they slammed into a tree. The second Oddity instantly rolled free, only to spin about and lunge onto the back of the first, teeth latching onto its ear. paws digging at the flesh covered back.
The first quickly rolled, smashing its look-a-like into the tree.
With a yipe, Oddity laid against the hard trunk stunned. But when the dupe went after Buckaroo again, assuming Oddity was finished, the loyal Aussie shook himself and lunged after. This time he went after the thing's legs. Grabbing one hind leg, he pulled back, dragging his evil counter part away from its victim.
The dupe spun about on the dog and snapped its steel teeth with such force a spark twinkled.
Oddity bounced away on three legs. One of his front legs still wounded from the accident.
Apparently deciding it wasn't going to get a peaceful moment to kill until Oddity was out of the way, the dupe turned its full attention on the dog before it.
With a snarl, Oddity hunkered low, challenging the thing.
The dupe took the challenge. With jaw hanging open, ready to bite the first flesh its teeth came into contact with, it ran at the dog, instantly reaching its top speed.
Oddity bounced to the side, letting the faster, more maneuverable thing over step, racing passed him. As it passed, Oddity slammed against the thing's side, knocking it off its feet.
Its own momentum and the blow from its advisory sent the dupe sliding across the ground on its side and back, its feet momentarily kicking up into the air.
Oddity took quick advantage of the fallen dupe. Leaping on top of the frailing copy, he followed instinct and sank his teeth into the throat of that mechanical thing.
If Oddity had been fighting one of his own kind, he would of won right then and there, succeeding in ripping the throat out of his enemy.
But he was not fighting another dog. And when his teeth sank through fragile flesh and muscle, he hit hard and unforgiving steel... and then the dupe really got angry.
Kicking up with its hind legs, the beast struck Oddity in the underbelly with such brutal force even Buckaroo, several feet away, could hear the dog's ribs break.
Oddity attempted to yipe, but, refusing to release his hold that, in his mind, should of been ending this fight, it came only as a muffled wine.
"Oddity!" Knuckles screamed, running onto the scene, quickly followed by Peggy, Rawhide, Reno, and Pinky.
The dupe rolled, taking the top position in the fight. Front paws braced against the dog's chest, it ripped its own throat out as it yanked free. Once again assuming that this pathetic original was done for, the dupe glanced around to find Banzai.
But Peggy had already moved to get her husband out of harm's way.
With a snarl, the mechanical creature took a menacing step toward the couple.
With his last strength, Oddity lifted himself up with one front leg and snapped his teeth down on the dupe's hip.
With a startled bark, the dupe spun about.
"Can't get a clear shot!" Reno complained as once again the two identicle creatures were rolling across the ground.
Beside him, Knuckles and Rawhide found themselves in a like situation. Rolling about, the two looked like just one big fur ball.
Then there was a heart wrenching scream. It took them only a breath, then, to know which was which: Oddity hung, apparently lifeless, by the throat in the steel grip of the monster's teeth.
"No!" Knuckles cried. "Oddity!" She ran forward, swinging her rifle up, over her head, and bringing it down with all her strength across the dupe's back. The blow snapped the rifle in two.
The dupe dropped its hold on her dog, spinning about to face this new distraction.
"Knuckles, get back!" Rawhide grabbed her around the waist and spun her out of the way of the steel teeth.
Peggy was the first to fire, the blast taking the dupe full on, as soon as Knuckles was clear.
Its face and chest riddled with holes, revealing the steel innards, the dupe snarled at the girl. Before it could strike, though, Reno and Pinky came up on either side of her, and fired.
The dupe jerked, its front legs failing under the onslaught. Its chest crashed to the ground. But, still snarling, it continued its attack, snapping at the Cavaliers' feet.
Pinky circled around, pressed the barrel of his shotgun against the thing's head, and fired again.
The head of the dupe exploded in a shower of shrapnel, sparks, and hisses. Dead android legs kicking, it fell to its side.
For a moment the armed Cavaliers stood silently, waiting for the headless machine to continue its attack. But, when it remained on the ground, unmoving for the exception of an occasional twist as last flashes of energy burned out, they quickly spun about to see to their wounded.
Peggy dropped down beside her husband and helped him sit up. As soon as his head was at proper highth, Peggy grabbed it in both her hands and kissed him, making sure that he was still alive.
"I'm okay." Buckaroo assured. "Just my ankle. It's broken." He waved to Reno. "Help Perfect Tommy! He's bleeding."
"Damn, damn, damn..." Perfect Tommy was cursing, holding his arm to his chest. "I REALLY HATE those things!"
Reno quickly dropped to his side, yanking a bandanna from his back pocket and tying it around his upper arm as a truncate.
"So," Buckaroo growled through clenched teeth. "Who wants to tell me just what the hell is going on?"