2017: The red, purple, and white form of Depth rubbed his strong hands in
anticipation. The movement sent slight ripples in his well muscled lower
arms, an uncommon sight in a mechanical being to say the least. His yellow
optics gleamed mischievously as erratic thoughts formed. He chuckled to
himself lowly, making his fellow Hydro-Base staffers give him puzzled
expressions. Even his long-time confidant Shadow looked at him sideways
and was automatically suspicious that Depth was up to something.
Underneath his mask, Depth smiled, and it wasn't a friendly one either. He
frame moved casually toward the visiting youth Hot Rod.

"Hi ya Roddy!" Depth exclaimed cheerily, "Say what's that on your
shoulder?" he asked as he whacked the lad hard, "Got it." he then wiped
his hand on Hot Rods' red and yellow chest, smearing something very
similar to squashed guts upon it, "Very big spider ya had there."
Hot Rod stared at the streak and looked absolutely disgusted. A chuckle of
absolute mirth rumbled out of Depth, which soon turned into uproarious
laughter.

He slapped his knee, pointed a finger at the streak and gasped out,
"April Fools!"

Hot Rods' jaw dropped then promptly came up to grit his teeth. He did not
look happy, he balled up his fists. Depth immediately quieted and gave him
a steely glare as his medium-length blades slicked out of his elbows.

"Come on, loosen up Rodder or I'll do it for ya." Depth taunted.

The red, blue and light blue form of Shark put a hand on Hot Rods'
shoulder and said, "Ignore him, don't let him get you."

The red, purple and white form of Shadow walked up to Depth and
stated, "That wasn't nice Cameal."

"And look whose talking," Depth growled, "Mr. Tight Britches
himself."

Depth then stormed out of the room, planning to get another staffer.
Before days end, he'd gotten the best of everyone, save Shadow and
Commander Elliot, the latter was swamped with complaints just as she
walked into the base.

"Now listen, I know you're all angry at Depth and.." She sat down
and there was a long 'Blat'. She sat up and picked up one very large
whoopi cushion. The words of 'April Fools' wafted into the room, soon
followed by a gay skipping down the hall. "That does it," the Commander
growled, "no one does that to me and gets away with it." Shadow just then
walked by the open door, "Shadow," the Commander called, "get in here,
I've got a plan."

Depth walked causally down the hall, whistling "Time Warp" from The Rocky
Horror Picture show. He entered the room where he and Shadow lived. His
optics widened in horror, there on the floor lay Shadow with a large hole
in his armor. A spreading pool of his lifes' blood was present where it
had leaked out of the gaping maw and sparks flew from his disrupted
circuitry, Shadow groaned pitifully.

"By the divine weld! Shadow!" Depth screamed and fell on his knees to
his partners' side, "Who did this?! Damn it Shadow, don't you dare die on
me!!"

Shadow fixed his faintly glowing red optics on Depth, "T-too
la-late." he mumbled weakly and gestured at his feet. There stood
Deathstalker.

"NO! I WON'T LET YOU!' Depth screamed, "FUCK YOU STALKER, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE DIES!"

"Yes." Deathstalker replied calmly, "I'm ready to meet our maker,
how about you?" The vision then reached into Shadows' body.

"Please 'Stalker, I'm begging ya here! Come on, have a heart man!"
Depth cried.

"Sorry." Deathstalker said, pulled out a filmy substance and faded
out.

"I don't wanna die!" Depth balled.

"APRIL FOOLS!!"

At the door, all the Hydro-Base staffers, Hot Rod and the Commander
stood, all smiled broadly.

"But..." Depth began.

He was tapped on the shoulder and he saw Shadow was unharmed. Next to him
was Deathstalker. All laughed at him, he had been utterly fooled.

"He who laughs last, laughs best." Shadow chortled.

"And we sure got you good." Deathstalker stated in a amused tone.

Depth sat there a moment and then joined in on their laughter. They had
indeed gotten him but good.