Mad Malibu Summer!

To Metal Dragon1: I can hardly wait for the new chapter, man! Hurry! Well, they're arguing about which of the members of a wrestling faction known as Evolution is more likely to turn their back on the group. Virus's new toy was inspired by Gear's. I figured that Virus, not being much of a physical fighter, would use a backpack-like device carrying various gadgets and surprises.

To Red Witch: Glad you'll put in a Scottish Beast! That'd be so funny to see your version of one of the staples of the fics. I hope we get to see those projects of yours soon! I can't wait! Oh let me guess, you're doing a version of an X-Men storyline, right?

To Aaron: Yeah, Sunfire and Thunderbolt do work well together in fights, despite the fact they rarely see eye-to-eye outside of battle. Yeah, an argument between them, Leatherneck, and Wet Suit would be something to see. I dunno about the guys crashing. It would really get under Dazzler's skin, as she loves to sing, and if she finds out Cold Slither's going to ruin a performance of hers, they'll get lasers where the sun don't shine.

To Wizard1: When does the next chapter of 'Karaoke Dance Party' come up! I can't wait to see it!

It's Profile Time Again! (Crowd hoots, hollers, screams, yells, chants, and claps. Some hold up signs) This time, we take a look at a Joe whose gone to the dogs: Mutt!

Mutt

Real Name: Stanley R. Perlmutter

Affiliation: Army

Rank: Specialist

Primary Military Specialty: K-9 Officer

Secondary Military Specialty: Infantry

Birthplace: Iselin, New Jersey

Bio: Mutt is a natural for animal handling. He loves animals and they like him. Only one major problem with that: He relates to animals better than he relates to people! The animal he relates to most is his dog and partner, Junkyard. Mutt raised Junkyard from a puppy and they always serve together.

Mutt and Junkyard work so well together that they think as one. Mutt doesn't need to use audio or visual signals to command Junkyard. It was surmised that he had an X-Gene that granted a mutant telepathic ability over animals, similar to the mutant Joes Bulldog and Lionheart, but a genetic scan revealed he doesn't have one.

Mutt is a graduate of Jungle Warfare Training School and is attached to the Security and Enforcement Committee and Special Ops School (As cadre).

Chapter 13: Searching and Snooping!

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(The beach of Malibu)

Ace Starr, the West Coast Misfit codenamed Wildstar, rode the waves on his blue surfboard, with a portrait of legendary Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley on it. After a little while, Ace was mentally prepared for the water. Ace was a mutant with a cat-like mutation. As a result, Ace always was a little apprehensive around large bodies of water. It was at its worst on oceans. Near bathtubs, it was practically nonexistent.

"WHOOOOOOO!!!!!" Ace started humming the famous song "Wipeout" by the Surfaris. "Whoa AAAGH!!!" Ace wiped out. "Ugh…This feral rocker is not surfboard-compatible." Ace shook himself to help dry off as he walked out of the surf and onto the beach. "Man, how does Wipe-Out and Jack do it? Speaking of Jack, where'd he go? And where's Rictor?" Ace groaned. Tarot and Roulette went to browse at a shack. "I can't believe those guys! Aw well, I can always sniff 'em out." Ace chuckled.

"Ace!" Torpedo, Longshot, John, X, Kyle, and Toshiro raced up to him.

"Hey guys. How was the arcade?" Ace asked.

"Virus attacked!" X23 exclaimed. "And that means his Dreadnok buddies are not far behind."

"We need to get the others!" Torpedo said.

"I don't know where Terrell and Tommy went the heck to. I heard a brawl broke out in the skate park but not much else. I can sniff out Jack, though. His scent changes slightly when he assumes a different form, but it's still his." Ace said. "He and Randy disappeared too! And I gotta meet the other Blitzers to rehearse for the fair!"

"Okay Ace, you go practice. X23, you got good senses, right?" Torpedo asked.

"Are you kidding? You know who my old man is?" X23 gave him a "you're-kidding" look.

"If I see the girls or anybody, I'll call!" Ace yelled as he ran off. "Good luck finding and stopping the Dreadnoks!"

"Yeah, sure." Longshot sighed. "Now what?"

"Well, I am a good tracker." John shrugged. "Let me try to find them."

"This way." X pointed. "Jack's scent changes and becomes more horselike, but it's still him."

"Ace did say Jack's scent changes slightly when he assumes the form of an animal." Longshot shrugged.

"And according to Wipe-Out, he smells funny as an ocelot." Kyle quipped. He burst out laughing at his own joke. "Ow!" Toshi smacked him upside the head.

"Baka." Toshiro Yashida grumbled.

"Jabroni." Kyle grumbled back.

"Egomaniac."

"Circus clown."

"Moron."

"Simpleton."

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(Backstage, Malibu Fair's stage)

Ali Blaire, the West Coat Misfit codenamed Dazzler for her mutant power to convert ambient sound to light, flattened herself against a wall next to the door of Cold Slither's dressing room. She was clad in her West Coast Misfit uniform, which also doubled as a set of performing clothes: A white jumpsuit with a gold chain, disco ball earrings, silver wristbands, and special "disco ball" platform boots (Her platforms could be removed quickly and easily if she got into trouble, converting them into regular boots). She had painted around her eyes in blue shapes, the same she wore when she first battled the Mimic. The costume was modified by the Malibu Joes to store ambient sound so she could use it as a source of noise for her light tricks if she needed to.

Good thing I told the Blitzers to stay back in the locker room. After all, I am a ninja in training, as Toad would say, hee hee. Ali mused to herself with a slight giggle. Man, those Cold Slither guys give me the creeps. I mean, I know heavy metal musicians are supposed to do that, but these guys give me an unusual amount of the heebie-jeebies.

"Will you stop complaining, Zandar?" Zartan snapped as Dazzler peeked in.

"I don't know how to play bass!" Zandar whined.

"I don't know how to play bloody second guitar, but you don't see me complain!" Zarana snapped. "That's what Virus's soundboard does."

"Let me get this straight." Buzzer said behind a set of neon blue drums. "Virus's soundboard makes us sound real good?"

"Once our microphones and the speakers are hooked to it, we could pluck scales and it'd come out 'Back in Black'!" Zartan replied, holding his red Ibanez. "All Virus has to do is work the dials, and we're all set."

"Speaking of Virus, where is the psychotic little plonker?" Buzzer asked.

"Who knows. He has his stupid projects." Zarana replied. "You know him. If it isn't his latest 'Die Toad' bit, it's some other stupid thing. That boy seriously needs to get himself some help."

"You know Virus, at the mention of the words 'psychological help', he goes nuts and insists he's not a nutball."

Oh no! Ali mentally exclaimed. The Dreadnoks! Those guys are the Dreadnoks! No wonder they gave me the creeps! And if they're here posing as a rock group, that means they are up to no good! Hmm, I wonder why they're faking this performance…

"I hope this works." Zartan grumbled. "I can imagine how pleased Cobra will be with this device Virus built. They'll pay through the nose for it!" He smiled and started singing. "We're in the money, We're in the money…"

"Yeah, and they'll get hypnotized soldiers, ready to do our bidding." Zarana laughed. I always wanted to be waited on hand and foot…

I'll finally get some &%$#& respect…Zandar smiled wistfully. And finally, people will recognize me and I'll be famous…

Well, I'll be a regular in a roller rink. Ali blinked. They're going to create zombie soldiers! And they'll be using music to do it! I'd better warn the Blitzers, then get the heck out of here and warn the others!

Looks like the Dreadnoks have been exposed! What insanity will happen next? Can Ali warn the Blitzers and the other West Coast Misfits in time? Will Malibu become Cobra-controlled? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!