Powerpuff Girls Doujinshi: Boomer's Story

Chapter Seven: "I See Thou Know'st Me Not"

"Um…well…I think its time someone told me what was going on here," said the Professor, honestly confused.

"If you'd just let us come in, I can explain all of this," said Dexter, still trying to keep a disgruntled Buttercup from recklessly attacking Boomer and anything unfortunate enough to be in Boomer's vicinity.

"Sure, you can explain everything, after I'm done with him!" shouted Buttercup.

Blossom leaned against the doorway, thinking. Then, she glanced at Boomer, then at Dexter, then at Buttercup.

"Buttercup…maybe we should let them talk…" she said.

Buttercup stopped thrashing and turned to her sister in disbelief.

"What? What! After what he did!" said Buttercup.

"Well…if Otto and Dexter thinks he's alright…maybe-"

"Oh, excuse me for putting the feelings of my sister before those of some four-eyed, stuck-up, jerks!"

Otto made a dejected look on his face. Dexter cleared his throat.

"You know…we are standing right here" said Dexter.

"You stay out of this!" shouted Buttercup.

Blossom pointed over to Boomer, who was still kneeled down on the ground after making his outburst, his eyes slightly watering. The burns on his wrists were clearly visible, as were the scratches on his body and clothing. His eyes stared at the ground, non-blinking, almost as if he was in a trance.

"Just look at him. Does that look like someone who's trying to ambush us?"

Buttercup glanced over at him, then looked back over to her.

"But…he…Bubbles…them…evil…"

"Let's just hear him out. If he tries anything, it's not like he'd be able to overpower us. What's the harm in just listening to them?"

"Exactly," said Dexter, nodding.

"Am I the only one with any sense around here? Am I the only one who has any thought for how Bubbles would feel about this?" said Buttercup.

Then, Buttercup heard something. Even with her enhanced hearing, it was barely a whisper, but she could still make out what the message was, and more importantly, who it was from. She glanced over to Blossom, who didn't appear to have heard it. Buttercup closed her eyes, pondering.

"This is nuts…" she muttered, but then spoke up. "Alright…but if he makes one false move, just one…" She balled up her right fist and punched into her left hand.

"Alright then," said the Professor. "Now, let's all come inside and sit at the table. Then maybe someone can please enlighten me."

"Alright, cool," said Coop, who was the first one to come inside and walk towards the dinner table. Otto followed suit. Buttercup muttered something very un-ladylike her breath and walked inside.

Dexter went over to Boomer, who didn't look up. Dexter tried to nudge him, but he didn't seem to respond. Dexter then resorted to carefully raising him up by the arm and guiding him inside. Blossom remained in the doorway and spoke to Dexter as Boomer and he passed.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked Dexter.

"Just trust me on this," he said. They walked inside.

From upstairs, Bubble was able to hear the conflict below clearly. She already knew what had to be done.

Downstairs, she heard Buttercup shout, "Am I the only one with any sense around here?"

Bubbles walked over to the bedroom door and sat down against it. Buttercup continued to shout.

"Am I the only one who has any thought for how Bubbles would feel about this?" she shouted below.

Bubbles put her hand against the side of her mouth, like people do when they whisper something in someone else's ear. She got her mouth close to the door.

"Let him in. I'll be okay. It's the right thing to do," she whispered softly.

She heard silence from Buttercup down below, which Bubble's took to mean she heard her message. Then, she heard Buttercup say,

"Alright…but if he makes one false move, just one…"

Bubbles leaned against the door and sighed.

This is not going to be easy she thought to herself.

She went back over to Courage and pet him, while she tried to prepare herself for what awaited her downstairs.

Boomer remained in a trance-like state as Dexter lead him into the house. Boomer honestly didn't know what to do. Inside his head, he was arguing with himself.

Great…I should have known this would happen. Now I've made her upset; the one person I've never wanted to upset. I'm a sad excuse for a human being.

Then he remembered that, technically speaking, he wasn't a human being.

Brisbaine was right. I'm nothing but a mistake.

Another voice inside his head spoke out.

The problem with you is that you spend so much time feeling sorry for yourself that you never actually do anything to fix your problems. You revel in your despair, much like a pig revels in dirt.

You're right…I'm nothing but a swine.

Listen, forget about all that for a minute. You came here for a reason. Now, are you gonna stand there like a dummy the whole time you're here, or are you actually going to do something?

…but…she…

First you have to talk to them, or coming here was meaningless. Once that's done, you need to talk to her.

But…I'm not really good at talking.

Tough. It's the only way.

…I know.

Of course you know. I'm you. If you didn't know, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Now snap out of it.

Boomer blinked and shook his head, bringing his attention back to reality. Everyone was sitting down at the dining table. There was steak, peas, and other foodstuffs on the table. Most people there didn't seem to feel like eating, except Coop, who had a full plate. Buttercup was staring directly at him, her eyes full of distrust. The Professor was preparing the rest of the table.

He shook his arm, indicating to Dexter to release his grip.

"You alright?" whispered Dexter.

Boomer paused, seeming as if he would not say anything. However, after a moment, he did whisper back.

"I haven't been 'alright' for a while"

Dexter and Boomer sat down. There was one empty seat left, next to Boomer. Boomer sighed.

This is not going to be easy he thought, preparing himself for the Inquisition that was about to take place.

Brisbaine stepped outside of his truck and looked up. In the distance, he could hear the sound of a propeller. However, it was dark so he was unable to see where it was. But, Brisbaine himself did not need to see what was going on to do what he was about to do.

Hunting season has just begun, Weasel. And you're the game, he thought.

Brisbaine walked over to the passenger's side door and opened it, revealing the resting body of Boomer's backup; the creature who's codename was Blaine. Brisbaine nudged him. He stirred, then opened his eyes.

"Good morning, Blaine," said Brisbaine.

Blaine looked up at him. His appearance was exactly like Boomer's, but his expression was completely unlike the original. He had a big smile on his face.

"Is it time to kill Brother now?" asked Blaine, in a cheerful voice.

"Not yet, child. I have a very important thing for you to do first," said Brisbaine, smirking.

Blaine leaned back in the chair, now frowning.

"Aww…you promised I would get to kill Brother…"

"In time, in time. Right now I have something else for you to do."

Blaine jumped out of the passenger's seat, putting his hands behind his head.

"So, what do you wish me to do, old man?" he said, cheerfully.

Brisbaine pointed out towards the night sky, in the direction the propellers were coming from.

"Do you see a helicopter out there?" he asked. Brisbaine knew the Boys eyesight was much superior to those of normal humans, so it Blaine should have been able to spot the chopper with ease.

Blaine put his hand above his eyes and looked out.

"Yes, I see it."

Brisbaine smiled to himself.

"Get rid of it" he said.

"With pleasure!" said Blaine, excited.

Blaine held his right hand out, then pointed his index finger out, like it were a gun. Blue sparks began to come from finger. The sparks got brighter and brighter. Once it was bright enough, the energy was released from his finger into a bright blue beam, making a loud "bam" sound. The beam went far off into the distance. Then, off in the distance, Brisbaine heard a loud explosion sound, as the sound of the propeller subsided.

Blaine turned back to Brisbaine, with his hand still pointed like a gun.

"Bang," he said, smiling to himself.

Good bye, Weasel, thought Brisbaine. You might say you were a great scientist. But in another, more accurate way, you were a thorn in my side I'm glad to be rid of. Brisbaine put his hand on Blaine's shoulder.

"Good work, child. You're much more obedient than your brother. You, unlike him, are a good boy."

Blaine smirked, but his smirk subsided when he heard a voice from behind him.

"What the &#$# was that noise?" said a voice from inside a tent a short distance away from the truck cried. Brisbaine immediately recognized it as Butch's voice. There was rustling from inside the tent.

Brisbaine had anticipated this would happen. He leaned over to Blaine.

"Look down at the ground and don't talk. Avoid any eye contact with them. Let me do the talking," he whispered.

"Whatever you say, Pops" Blaine whispered back. He looked down at the ground and remained quiet as Brick and Butch exited the tent.

Butch looked over at the truck to see Brisbaine and who he thought was Boomer, and instantly made an angry face.

"Hey, what's all this about?" said Butch, walking over to them. Brick, who followed Butch, rubbed his eyes and yawned, looking over at 'Boomer.'

"Ah, Boys. Perfect timing," said Brisbaine, clearing his face of all emotion.

"Sir. May I ask what the purpose of your appearance here is?" asked Brick, with respect.

"Yeah, and what was that noise?" said Butch. He paused for a moment, then added "I mean, what was that noise, sir?"

Brick looked over at Boomer, trying to see if he was feeling better from earlier in the day. He didn't seem distressed, which Brick thought was odd.

Brisbaine adjusted his glasses.

"The noise was Boomer here displaying his energy output for me. I decided it was necessary to test him for any irregularities," he said.

Butch glared at Boomer, then began to rant.

"Oh, I'll tell you all about his 'irregularities.' This little prick here has been-"

Brick, however cut him off. However, as he spoke to Brisbaine, he was still glancing over at Boomer.

"Sir. Boomer has just been feeling…not well, and acting irregular. It is nothing serious," said Brick, looking Boomer up and down. Brick didn't know exactly why he was. Boomer was just standing there, looking at the ground like always, smirking, thinking about something with little connection to reality.

…hey, wait a minute, thought Brick, finally realizing what he thought was unsettling about Boomer.

Butch, however, didn't seem to notice this, which didn't surprise Brick. Butch spoke out loud.

"'Nothing serious' My ass," said Butch, rolling his eyes, then glaring back in Boomer's general direction.

Brisbaine continued.

"I'd appreciate it if you watched your language in my presence, Butch. I am well aware of what occurred earlier today, and let's just say Boomer has since rethought his…opinions."

Brick raised another eyebrow at this statement.

"In any case," continued Brisbaine, "that is not important right now. I have a mission for you two."

Us…two? thought Brick.

"Sir," began Brick. "what do you mean by 'us two?' Won't Boomer be with us?"

"I'm afraid not. I have some tests to perform on him. Just as a precaution, of course" said Brisbaine.

Butch, still being spiteful, muttered to himself.

"I hope he sticks an iron probe right up your…"

"As I was saying," said Brisbaine. "You two must perform a mission for me. Nothing serious. There is a small, Earth spaceship destroyed a distance away from Earth. The government requires that spaceship's remnants. Since you Boys are capable of surviving in space, you two are to retrieve those remnants, and, if possible, retrieve the pilot. However, the chances of her being alive are slim."

"When do we have to leave, sir?" asked Brick, trying to hide his suspicion.

"As soon as possible. You will have ten minutes to get ready. For any spaceship here, it would take years to get there. But, for you Boys, it shouldn't take more than a day or two."

Butch folded his arms.

"Great...two days of this boring job," he muttered.

"Alright, you have your orders. Get ready and be ready in ten minutes," said Brisbaine.

"Yes sir," said Brick and Butch.

Butch walked back in the tent to get ready. Brick walked over to the tent, then took one last look at 'Boomer.'

This isn't right, he thought.

Butch was muttering to himself, almost completely ready to leave when Brick entered the tent. Brick walked over to him.

"We need to talk," he said, in a low voice.

Butch turned around, glaring.

"I'm not really in the mood for another one of your ramblings about leadership and all that other bull-"

"It's not about that. Now keep your voice down" he said, glancing behind him, back to the tent entrance.

"What is wrong with you?" said Butch. "You're acting almost as insane the little turd. Now would you just-"

"Don't you get it? Something is wrong with Boomer" said Brick,

Butch raised his eyebrow.

"Duh. There are a whole bunch of things wrong with him."

Brick got close to him, beginning to lose his temper.

"No, you idiot. I mean just now. Did you see him out there?"

Butch rolled his eyes.

"Yeah. He looked fine. So?"

Brick could not believe the depth of Butch's stupidity.

"Yeah, he looked fine. In fact, he was smiling. That's exactly what's strange!"

Butch arched his eyebrow again.

"I think you've lost it."

Brick grew more aggravated, having to force himself not to scream at Butch.

"Listen to me. In the whole time since we've been back, have you ever seen Boomer smile? At all?"

Butch opened his mouth to say something, then paused.

"I…how should I know?"

"Let me clue you in; he hasn't. Like, at all. Ever. But he was now. Doesn't that seem odd?"

"Why would you expect me to notice something like that about him?"

Brick looked at Butch, disgusted.

"Some brother you are."

Butch glared angrily at him.

"Hey…you…you…shut up!"

Brick continued talking as if he had not said anything.

"And don't you find it odd that Brisbaine just happens to show up here, but all he wants is Boomer's energy output? He's always been hard on Boomer. It just doesn't add up. Do you see?"

"I think you're paranoid," said Butch.

Brick glared at him.

"You don't even care, do you? How can you live with yourself? He's our brother!"

"He's nothing to me!" snapped Butch. "If he can fall in love with one of them, he obviously doesn't care about us! They murdered us and he has feelings for one of them. And you think I'm the selfish one? Go to hell!"

Brick narrowed his eyes back at him. For the first time since he had be brought back, Brick completely lost his cool composure.

"I'm not condoning what he did, but how can you possibly stand by and do nothing! Something is wrong with him, and you're standing by, watching it happen! You just shove off any feelings for him just because he does something to piss you off? You're a sad excuse for a human being and you're a sad excuse for a brother! One day you're gonna look back and regret this, and you'll have no one to blame but yourself!"

They looked at each other, unable to say anything else. The rest is silence.

Several minutes later, Brisbaine yelled from outside.

"Boys! Your time to depart is now. Quickly, time is of the essence."

Butch looked over at Brick.

"We have to go," said Butch, without emotion.

Brick glared at him. Butch continued speaking.

"You're paranoid, just like I said. We have to go. There's no other option. There's nothing wrong."

"It must be nice to be blind," said Brick.

Brick walked out of the tent, trying to regain his poker face.

Butch looked down, and thought about all the things Brick said. He pondered for a few moments, then began to walk out the tent.

"Dammit," he said, before walking out.

"You have your orders and the coordinates of the craft," said Brisbaine, as both of the Boys lined up in front of him. "You are to depart now. That is all."

They remained silent for a moment.

"I said, that is all."

"Yes, sir," they both said. They ascended from the ground and flew upwards into the night sky.

Yes...this foolish mission should keep you two busy just long enough for all my problems to be eliminated, said Brisbaine.

Brisbaine waited until they were out of sight before turning to Blaine.

"Okay, you can drop the act now."

Blaine looked up, smiling.

"Do I get to kill Brother now?"

Brisbaine adjusted his glasses.

"Patience, child. First, I must find out where he is. Not to mention…tie up a few loose ends"

Brisbaine pulled out his laptop and pulled up the PROJECT ROWDY- EMERGENCY BACKUPS program. He went over to the icons of Butch and Brick, clicking on them. He entered the password, then closed his laptop and walked over to the truck. Blaine followed, curious.

In the back of the truck, two more tubes filled with water appeared. Inside them were the naked Emergency Backups of Brick and Butch. Blaine eyed them, with interest.

"Are these my Brothers, too?" he asked.

"Yes, but these two are not nearly as advanced as the original Brick and Butch. Not like you. These two are just poor imitations; mere shells. But…they will serve."

The tubes opened and the water pooled upon the floor. They both stepped out of the tube.

Brisbaine adjusted his glasses. He pointed over at the backup of Brick(Codename: BLITZ).

"You! I want you to scout the city and bring me the location of the original Boomer. Report back to me at once. Do not try to detain him yourself."

Then, he pointed over to the backup of Butch (CODENAME: BARRACK).

"You! I want you to find the remnants of a helicopter around the area. If you see a Weasel in the vicinity, you are to destroy him immediately."

They both saluted Brisbaine.

"Yes sir" they said, in unison.

"And make sure to clothe yourselves. That is all. Dismissed."

Brick and Butch were just leaving the atmosphere, when Brick tried to speak again.

"Butch, there-"

"Shut up. I know what I'm doing," replied Butch, with malice.

Brick paused, then continued.

"Just so you know, I seriously believe you will go to hell now."

Butch looked away from him and continued upward.

I know what I'm doing, he assured himself.

The ruins of the helicopter were scattered throughout the forest. Part of the wreckage was still aflame. For a long time, there was no movement.

Then, from beneath the rubble, Weasel crawled out, with a terrible gash on his left arm and scratches all over his body, but alive. He was clutching his laptop with dear life. Remarkably, it incurred no serious damage.

I have to…find them…everything…depends on it, Weasel thought to himself.

Everything depends on it.