My apologies for not updating this work for a long time.
My mental health hit the lowest point in those past few weeks, and I lost interest in the series.
I am feeling better now, and my interest in the series is back.
Here's the long anticipated chapter 2! Enjoy!
This chapter takes place between "The Trade" and "The Slugout". In my fanon timeline, this time interval lasts for 1.5 months.
Chapter 2: The Game is Set
It was morning in Security Cavern. The Security Lieutenants were having a meeting in the Slugterra Security Headquarters (SSH).
"There is a video clip being uploaded on Slugnet concerning the slug trading practices of Barton and Spinks. The person that uploaded the video is Beatrice Sting, or most people called her "Trixie". She is currently a member of the Shane Gang," Lieutenant Otis Clark, who represented the Department of Slug Trade and Valuation reported to Captain Cleary Miller.
"We have obtained a court order to enter the premises and we have completed an investigation on the shop. We found that the last recorded trade between a Tazerling and some blaster upgrades is fair in the trading laws under the Department of Slug Trade and Valuation. The slug scanning machine is reported to be working properly at the time the trade is finalized, and the shop owner has made an appropriate evaluation of the trade. However, we found that the shop's refund and exchange method is inappropriate as a pair of Floppers is not enough to match the value of a highly experienced Tazerling slug. We found that the shop has violated the consumer's right to have an appropriate refund. The Department of Slug Trade and Valuation will work alongside with the higher ups in Treasury Cavern to establish an appropriate refund valuation on slugs."
"Anything else on the matter?" Captain Miller questioned the lieutenant.
"We also found that hundreds of traded slugs are being locked in cages and stored in an enclosed dim-lit room, matching the video footage. The slugs have been cleared out a few days ago by Dr. Blakk's men, led by Dr. Blakk's top enforcer, El Diablos Nacho," he added.
"We found that the shop has violated the Slug Storage and Transport Rules. Cages are inappropriate storage methods for slugs as they are detrimental to their health even if the slugs have high slug energy to keep themselves healthy. Furthermore, storing hundreds of traded slugs in an enclosed dim-lit room poses an unusual danger to anyone, in reference to the Slug Biology Department incident in Futuria Cavern many years ago, where a young boy was found buried by the slugs in an enclosed dark room for two days, almost suffocated to death. The Department of Slug Trade and Valuation will obtain a court order to close the shop temporarily for necessary improvements to the premises."
"Alright then. I am satisfied with your report, Lieutenant Clark," Captain Cleary Miller said. He then turned to Lieutenant Lucius Trustin, who represented the Department of Slugslinger's Ethics. "You seem to have a concerned look on your face, Lieutenant Trustin. Perhaps you have an urgent report for us?"
"Yes, Captain," Lieutenant Trustin replied. "There have been reports of slingers joining Dr. Blakk and receiving ghoul slugs from him. The term "ghoul" is coined by Eli Shane in the final tournament last month, in reference to the slug used by John Bull to defeat his Infurnus. John Bull is reported to be working for Dr. Blakk after winning the tournament."
"Based on multiple eyewitnesses' accounts, most specifically the spectators of the final tournament and the spectators of Dark Spores Cavern, the ghouls are reported to be more powerful than slugs, even the Shane Gang struggled to face slingers using ghouls like C.C. The video clip concerning Barton and Spinks as mentioned by Lieutenant Clark earlier contains allegations made by Beatrice Sting, who claims that the traded slugs are being sent to Dr. Blakk to be turned into ghouls. Moreover, she also claims that there are many small businesses that work for Dr. Blakk and implement the barter system as requested by Dr. Blakk. If these allegations are true, Dr. Blakk is gaining an unfair advantage in battle, including the slingers who have pledged their allegiance to Dr. Blakk. I suggested that we carry out further investigations and issue a warning to discourage slingers to accept ghouls."
"I understand your concern in regard to the slugslinger's ethics, Lieutenant Trustin," Captain Miller responded. "However, this 'unfair advantage' posed by the ghouls, as you have claimed of, can promote healthy competition among slingers. After all, powerful ghouls can force the slingers to train their slugs more often so they can get ahead in the battle."
"I have to respectfully disagree with that statement, sir. Many slingers are joining Dr. Blakk after John Bull won the tournament against the Shane using the ghoul slug. This proves that most slingers only want instant gratification. They are unwilling to put in the effort to train their slugs. They are willing to abandon their slugs in favour of ghouls because of their hunger for power and status."
"Dr. Blakk only gives ghouls to slingers who pledge their allegiance to him, and he has the power to take away the ghouls if he no longer wants their services. It is a contractual relationship. The slingers who do not want to side with Blakk can maintain their position by training their slugs, collecting more powerful slugs and using some blaster upgrades. Ghouls are like slugs – they need to be trained to be powerful as no slug or ghoul are born to be immediately powerful. I am certain that a powerful and highly experienced slug can defeat a ghoul, so there is no need to discourage slingers to accept ghouls. The presence of ghouls is going to force others to step up their game, especially the Shane Gang. I have no choice to dismiss your suggestion on the basis of lack of evidence as allegations are not credible evidence."
Lieutenant Tala Paddock, who represented the Department of Slug Treatment noticed Lieutenant Trustin becoming disheartened by the Captain's response. The Captain turned to Lieutenant Benjamin Eckert, who represented the Department of Special Task Forces.
"Any new requests, Lieutenant Eckert?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir," the lieutenant responded confidently. "Our spies have obtained multiple ghoul slugs from Dr. Blakk. We request an increase in our budget to conduct research on the ghouls so we can teach the Security Slingers and Cadets to identify them."
"Alright. We will discuss more about this in private. Everyone except Lieutenant Eckert is dismissed from this meeting," he announced.
It was noon and the workers in the Slugterra Security Headquarters (SSH) were having lunch in the cafeteria. Lieutenant Paddock approached the table where Lieutenant Trustin was sitting.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Lieutenant Paddock asked politely.
"Oh, no. You may sit with me," Lieutenant Trustin replied with a small smile.
Lieutenant Paddock took a seat next to him. "I noticed that you were disheartened by the Captain's rejection," she said.
"Yeah, but that's how it is. Most people don't care about ethics. Only the strongest survives, and they don't care about the weak and the helpless," he sighed.
"That may be true, but not for us. We are here to protect the people, and my gut tells me that the ghouls are indications of bad things coming. The fact that Dr. Blakk can hand out so many ghouls is just unusual unless he already has so many of them for the past few years."
"Are you saying that Dr. Blakk has been turning slugs into ghouls for at least 5 years? Since Will Shane mysteriously disappeared and that he retired from slugslinging unrivalled?"
"I'm afraid so, and I suspect that the ghouls are the reason why Will Shane disappeared. Dr. Blakk must have experimented the ghouls on him."
"And with Will Shane out of the picture, Dr. Blakk could create more ghouls without worrying anyone to stop him. But why would he want to create so many ghouls? He's already the best slugslinger after Will Shane disappeared."
"I don't know, but I have a feeling that it has something to do with his top enforcer. He certainly looks like a corrupted being. He could have made a deal with some… dark forces."
"You kidding, right?"
"I wish I am, but my instincts say otherwise. One thing I know is that the presence of many ghouls could disrupt the balance of Slugterra, and I fear that it has already begun for a long time."
At the dormitory in Slugterra Security Academy (SSA), four Security Cadets were relaxing in a residence hall. Channing Brooks and Macario Reyes were playing video games while enjoying a bowl of nachos. Casey Turner sat on an armchair as she read a book.
"Hey, guys! Have you all checked the bulletin board?" Conan MacDonald burst into the hall, startling his dormmates. "It is an announcement from Captain Miller."
"What does he say?" Casey asked as she stared at Conan while Channing paused the game.
"He said that we are going to have new lessons coming soon, and they are about ghouls!" Conan exclaimed.
"Really? Awesome!" Channing cheered.
"Finally! Something exciting at last! I was getting bored of repetitive lessons!" Macario cheered as well.
"So I guess Captain Miller got some ghouls for research?" Casey guessed.
"From the Special Task Forces, yes," Conan replied. "I just hope these new lessons can help us to keep Blakk in check. That madman has so many ghouls to give as if he has won the lottery!"
"Heh, yeah. Even though the Shane still struggles to face him, I believe that he will find a way. The Shane never gives up on his pursuit of justice!" Channing said.
"And we better train our slugs well!" Casey added. "We can also collect some more slugs and maybe get some blaster upgrades."
"And we should work together as well. Security Slingers always look after each other like brothers and sisters, and this includes cadets like us!" Conan reminded his friends.
"Yes, and we should be able to face any of Blakk's men like that!" Macario cheered. "Though, I really can't stop laughing about this: why is Blakk's top enforcer called 'El Diablos Nacho'?"
He started to laugh as he holds up the bowl of nachos. "I mean, he does look like the devil, but nacho? Boy, I guess the people secretly mock him with this name and he took it! Luckily he doesn't understand Spanish."
His friends giggled as well.
Sean Manners was walking across an office hallway with a coffee mug. He noticed Ronald Bernavo was working intently in front of the computer.
"Hey, pal. What are you checking?" Sean asked out of curiosity.
"Hey, man. I am trying to find more information about ghouls," Ronald answered without pulling his eyes away from the computer screen.
"You mean the strange slug that John Bull used to defeat the Shane kid?" Sean deduced and took a sip from his coffee mug.
"Yeah," Ronald responded. "Nobody has seen that kind of slug before, but somehow Blakk has plenty of them to give."
"I guess Blakk invented a new slug and the Shane kid named it. What an icon."
"I believe that the scientific research that Blakk devoted his time into is the creation of ghouls. And I also believe that the ghouls may have been created more than five years ago."
"So you're saying that Blakk didn't bother to let anyone know about these ghouls until the Shane kid arrived?"
"I think so, yeah. Maybe he is stacking up ghouls in secret and only shows them off once he thinks someone like the Shane can oppose him. It is basically a showcase of his power to discourage anyone to challenge him."
"Man, he is already rich from the Slugterran Express, and he is still not satisfied so he created ghouls. That's why I say, 'eat the rich'." Sean took another sip from his coffee.
"Somehow, the back of my mind tells me that the ghouls are the reason why Will Shane disappeared 5 years ago. Think about it: pretty much everyone said that Blakk was the last one to see Will Shane alive. I suspect that Blakk used one of the ghouls he created to get rid of Will Shane to prove that he would always find a way to beat the Shane. Once he succeeded, which he did, he could retire from slugslinging and focus on his scientific research. He also didn't need to worry about anyone investigating him since he's so rich and powerful now."
"Ah yes, you are repeating the same stuffs you have recorded for our unreleased video of Slugfeed Unsolved."
"Yes, I know… but we can't release the video on Slugnet without fearing our lives what Blakk could do to us."
"Yeah, bummer. But you gotta find a topic for our Slugnet series. And you know that I don't really believe in the supernatural or most of conspiracy theories."
"Well… uh… we can do a video about El Diablos Nacho? It seems that he is a new humanoid species we have yet to know about."
"But he is Blakk's top enforcer, and we can't speak on anything that gets on his bad side, remember?"
"Oh, right… but seriously, who calls themselves 'El Diablos Nacho'? That's such a ridiculous name!"
"Yeah, I know right?! But from what I heard of, it's actually the people who called him by that name."
"And he just took it?! Wow, he really doesn't know Spanish!"
"Well, it's for the best tho. At least we can make fun of him without him knowing what it means." Sean finished his coffee. "Since you are having trouble finding a topic, I can help you with it."
"Thanks, man. But please don't be any topics that I am annoyed of."
"Oh, you know that I will do that." Sean winked at Ronald playfully.
Sergeant Slug was reading some posts on Slugnet. The posts were about ghoul slugs, ghoulslingers and the fear that Dr. Blakk would be unstoppable with those ghouls since no slugs could defeat the ghouls for now.
"Hmm… looks like the people are bummed out that their slugs are useless against ghouls, yet they don't want to side with Blakk," he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, an idea popped out of his head.
"I got it! I will make a machine that can train slugs without the need for their owners to lift a finger! They can just relax while the slugs are training! Anyone will want that! It is like a dream come true!" he jumped out of excitement and quickly set out a plan. "But of course, these slugs will get tired after a few shots, and they will need a recharge from my machine. The slingers will have no choice but to keep coming back for more! It is a money-making machine!"
I tried my best to make the characters sound professional when they are in the meeting.
The young boy that almost suffocated to death by slugs was Quintin, and that incident was a flashback shown in "Roboslugs". Using everything I have learned from law school, I feel that the Slug Biology Department was liable for the injury and mental anguish suffered by Quintin. They should set up warnings or block entryways to discourage outsiders from entering the rooms, and the fact that children visited there for field trips, they should be more careful.
Ronald and Sean are a parody of Ryan and Shane from Buzzfeed Unsolved. I did write a story about them discussing the disappearance of Will Shane before.
I also brought in Sergeant Slug because I feel that he came out with this scam during the time where people assumed that slugs are no match against ghouls yet they do not want to side with Blakk. He is going to be important in the next chapter.