This Striker demon looked quite intimidating. He looked similar to a cowboy, a demonic cowboy. He was as tall as Blitzo, and he had a thin mustache above his upper lip, and had eyes that looked like he was hypnotized a little bit.
It reminded Cody of Rattlesnake Jake from Rango. As a matter of fact, this Striker was snake-like or lizard-like. He looked quite intimidating. "Howdy, little man." he said flatly in a mildly gruff voice.
Cody didn't know what to say and his heart was pounding like a drum. If he thought Verosika Mayday was scary, this guy was probably even worse, considering the fact that he was holding Cody at gunpoint with a long revolver. "I don't... I don't understand." Cody said. "What's going on here?"
"Now don't panic and try not to scream." said Stella in a calm voice, walking up to him. "I have some use for you. I want to have my vengeance on that cheating, cocksucking, imp-loving husband!" she looked scary when she was angry, and it understandably frightened Cody.
He realized that she was probably pure evil and bad to the bone. "but, I didn't do anything wrong. what does this have to do with me?"
"I know you're an innocent child, dear." said Stella, sounding more calm. "I will have you as bait for my dear husband and that Blitzo too."
"I have no idea you hate him so much, your majesty." said Cody.
"Ohh, I have had this vendetta against him ever since he and that loathsome imp were in the act."
"Are you going to kill me?" asked Cody.
"Nah, of course not." said Striker. "I could do that. yeah, I can kill you right now. But... I won't."
"Because Octavia really likes you a good deal, I have decided to spare your life." Stella added. "That is, if you behave of course."
"Or else, ny client here might change her mind." Striker cocked his pistol, putting it against the right side of the kids' head.
"Please, let me go." said Cody. "I'll do anything."
"I know you will, Cody." said Stella with a sinister smile. she knelt down and gently laid her hands on his shoulders. "All you have to do is rather simple."
Striker was the one to answer and he specifically stated: "just get Stolas here and tell him that his beloved wife here wants to talk to him. And be sure to bring your new friends too."
"Including Loona?"
"Yes." said Striker. "Those guys have foiled my plan to kill Stolas the first time. I wanna have my revenge on them."
"No! No! I won't do this to my new friends!" Cody exclaimed, trying to be brave. "I will never do something like-!"
"Cody?" said another voice. they looked and saw that Stolas, who managed to unlock the master bedroom door. Octavia was with him and she was in shock to see what was going on. Stolas looked guilty about this and he said: "It's alright. I'm here now, my wife has what she wanted. You want me, Stella? you got me."
"Dad! what the fuck are you doing?!" Octavia tried to stop him.
"Via! it's ok. Don't worry about me. Just go and get out of here."
"You heard your father, missy." said Stella before she shrieked: "Get out of here!"
Octavia slowly backed away and wanted to do something, but she was powerless against Striker and her own mother. She always had a feeling that she wanted to have revenge on her father for cheating on her, but not like this. She had no choice bu to walk away right now so she probably wouldn't get hurt..
"Look, Stella," said Stolas, "I am here, you have what you wanted. This isn't about him."
"I know, but I still have some use."
"Well, he's here now, ma'am." Striker smiled sadistically. "Should I give the order on him personally?" he cocked a blessed carbine rifle and aimed at Stolas, but Stella stopped him by gently lowering his gun.
"No!" she shrieked. "We will have my revenge on him, and those meddling assassins soon enough. But first, I want him to suffer a little longer. Besides, I want to execute him personally. He is my husband after all."
"You're call. you pay me the money, and I just go with the flow." Striker said. "But I would like to get IMP what's coming to 'em."
"You can do whether you like to them for all I care, but he," Stella pointed at Stolas, "he is mine."
Stolas bowed his head and said: "What do you want from me, dear?"
"Like I said," Stella said. "For you to suffer a little longer. First, get on your knees." The price complied and knelt down on the floor without question. "Good. Now, then; Striker!"
"Ma'am?"
"Bind him!"
"Got it." Striker did just that and bound the Goetia prince's hands behind his back. "Got ya right where we want ya, Stolas." he sneered.
"Now, I want you to make a little phone call to those assassin friends of yours." said Stella, "and bring them here."
"You're setting up a trap." Cody realized in shock.
"What a smart kid." Striker said. "You catch on real fast, Cody."
"You know my name?"
"Of course. My client told me about you from Stolas here."
"And I know how much that mutt has grown fond of you over time. That mangy bitch will certainly come looking for you."
"Hey!" Cody exclaimed, "You can't talk about Loona like that!"
Stella got angry and walked up to him like an angry mother about to discipline his child. She gave him a slap in the face.
"Ow!" Cody said. "That hurt."
"How dare you disrespect your Elders like that!" the female owl demon shrieked. In a much calmer voice, she said: "Need i remind you of who your talking to?"
Cody was tearing in the eyes from how painful the slap was, and Stella knelt down to make better eye contact with him.
"Darling, please, just let the boy go," Stolas pleaded with her. "I told you this has nothing to-"
"Shut the fuck up!" Stella shouted before Striker hit the owl demon in the back of the head with the back of his gun. The impact of the blow knocked off his crown. "As always, you are an embarrassment, Stolas."
"Stella, you've cheated on me before a few times."
"With royal people yes, but with Imps? they are just common rabble! and doing that is just ruining our family's good name. Now then, make the phone call and bring the IMP people here."
"Yes dear." Stolas sighed. Striker held up Stolas' phone and the owl demon said: "Blitzy, are you there? I... want to give you a million dollar reward for your success. as a business. Will you come over please?"
"Money baby!" Blitzo said.
"Perfect. See you in a few minutes?"
"Probably a few seconds." Blitzo said. "How's Cody doing?"
Stolas looked at the poor human boy and he gave him a sympathetic look. "He's just fine."
"Good. See you in a few minutes."
"Good. see you soon."
Striker hung up and smiled. "Excellent. I will get what I want soon enough. hehe."
"I'm sorry I got you in this mess, Stolas." Cody said.
"No! no, do not apologize." said Stolas. "It is certainly not your fault. No. I'm the one to blame. I was a complete fool, and I paid the price for it."
"You most certainly will in a minute, imp lover." Stella said. "And you're right, you are a fool."
"You know, Cody." said Striker, "I gotta hand it to you: you're brave for a kid your age. I would expect a kid like ya to cry at the sight of me like a baby. But, I can see you're a little braver than most."
Suddenly, the bedroom door flew open and it was the IMP crew, along with Vortex, looking fierce and angry. "Get away from him, you evil bitch!" Loona said.
"Loona!" Cody exclaimed, happy to see his friend. Suddenly, Striker jumped up and held and landed behind him, pointing his gun behind the boy's head.
"Not so fast." Striker said. "You're not going anywhere."
"Let him go, buddy." Loona said. "Or i will slowly gouge your eyes out with me claws and make you eat them."
"Ooh, tough talk, cookie." Striker taunted her.
"Cookie?!" Loona growled.
"Wait!" said Blitzo. "We're here. what do you want?"
"Well, first, I want to know how you found out about this so quickly." Stella said.
"Isn't it obvious, mother?" said a female voice. Octavia emerged from the group, crossing his arms at her mother.
"How dare you turn against me like this?" Stella seethed in anger.
"You've brought this upon yourself, Mum." Octavia said. "I won't let you hurt this poor child!"
"I couldn't agree with you more." said Vortex. "Let him go, or I will make a throw rug out of you." he addressed Striker.
"Ooh hoo hoo! Tough talk, big boy." said the mercenary. "But I've been called worse."
"Go fuck yourself, Striker!" Moxxie shouted
"Same with you, Mox. Just as whimpy as ever. Just a little weakling with nothing to accomplish."
"He accomplished many things you fucking snake!" Millie shouted.
"Yeah, I married the greatest wife any husband can ever ask for."
"You're growing up, Moxxie." said Blitzo. "So proud of you."
Cody realized something while in a headlock, Striker's right arm was right under his chin and it gave him an idea.
"Blitzo, come on, you need an extra member in your little business. just give me a chance to- Aaarrgghh!" he felt Cody bite hard into his skin, making him howl in pain. Cody even kicked him in the crotch, hard, bringing even more pain to this mercenary imp.
Loona looked surprised and smiled: "At a boy, Cody!" an all-out ensued and Cody got out of the way so he wouldn't get hurt. Striker was trying to take on the three imps while Loona was fighting with Stella, who pulled out a sword from her dress.
"I took fencing in high school, you know? en garde!"
"How about I unguard you, cunt." Loona said. she lunged at her with her teeth bared. The Goetia princess was swinging her rapier at Loona multiple times with great speed.
Loona kept on dodging many swings and jumped over Stella's shoulder, clawing her in the face. Blood was dripping from the wound, and Stella looked even more angry than ever.
"You will pay for that, pathetic harlot!"
"Which person still says that word?" Loona rolled her eyes.
Stolas was under a little pressure, but was glad to see his little "Blitzy" come to his rescue. "Oh! silly me." he realized something. "I forgot I had this trick on me."
"You're lucky your daughter told us everything, Stolas." Blitzo unlocked his shackles with a key.
"Yes. She is quite a delight." Stolas agreed. "We need to help Cody."
"Right."
The boy saw the blessed rifle fly out of the fighting between the good demons and two evil demons, and picked it up. Stella caught sight of it, and said: "That's mine, give it to me!"
she tried to grab the rifle from him, but Cody was holding onto it tight, and threw him in the air. Luckily, Loona caught sight of this and caught him in her arms before landing back on the floor. "I gotcha, you ok?"
"Thanks to you." Cody replied.
Stella pointed her gun at the two, and said: "I never thought it would come to this, but I can say: you have become a small thorn on my side, Cody. But, I will out an end to it, right now." she cocked the gun and was ready to Gun Loona and Cody down. They both hugged one another tightly and closed their eyes so they wouldn't have to see their gruesome demise. Suddenly, something heavy had hit Stella on her right side, knocking her to the ground like a battering ram, and the rifle flew out of her hands.
"Leave the kid alone." Vortex said. "You gotta deal with me now." he cracked his knuckles at her.
"Come on, Blitz, you know you want to be with me."
"Sounds enticing."
"Don't listen to him, sir!" Moxxie said before he gave Striker four painful punches to the face, and one painful uppercut kick to the face. It caught the bounty hunter off-guard and his mouth was slightly bleeding and bruised. "And you thought of was weak, partner?" Moxxie said
"Maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe you have the heart of a true warrior after all." Striker coughed up some blood. "But I will kill that Stolas."
"Au contraire." said the male owl demon, standing in front of him. "If anyone is going to die, it will be you. You threatened an innocent child and almost killed him, but this chaos ends here."
He widened his eyes and it was glowing a brighter red at Striker. He was slowly turning to stone, and he began to panic. "No! No! You have not heard the END OF MEEEEEEEE!" he screamed at he was fully turned to stone as if Stolas was Medusa.
"One less loose end to worry about." said Millie. "Wanna do the honors, sweetie?" she referred to her husband.
"It will be my pleasure." Moxxie pulled out metal baseball bat and swung at the petrified Striker, breaking him into little pieces of gravel. Striker was finally dead and they will never worry about him again.
"No! Stella said. "I will not let my plan end like this! nothing will stop me from having my revenge! Nothing!"
"Enough is enough, Stella!" said Stolas.
"Mum, just stop this and nothing bad will happen to you."
"I can't believe you would betray me like this, Octavia." her mother sneered at the teen owl demon.
"Mum, please. open your eyes. I love you and I don't want it to come this." Octavia continued reasoning with her. "My dad is sorry. Think about me too."
"You could never understand." said Stella. "I need my revenge on him. Nothing can stop me from having my revenge!"
"I'll never let you kill my dad." Octavia stood in front of her father.
Stella sighed and said: "very well then." she had a change of tone when she added: "I'll have to kill you both."
"What?!"
"You heard me!" Stella exclaimed. "I have had enough of this infidelity! I should never listen to a pathetic excuse for a daughter."
"Now wait a minute!" said Stolas. "That is going too far! Octavia is the greatest person ever! nothing in all the rings of Hell could matter more to me than my on daughter.
"I can't... I can't believe you don't care about me." Octavia said, feeling like tearing up. "I tried to be as royal and majestic like you, but this?"
"I gave you a chance to back away, and you blew it." Stella said. "Why am I not surprised that a Gotchic wretch like you would betray her own mother like this?!"
"Don't you dare talk about our daughter like that, Stella!" Stolas said. "How dare you talk about our own pride and joy in that such tone!" Stolas calmed himself down, and he said in a more calm voice: "Dear, please. Let's just let all of this go while we are even. You are outnumbered and there is only one of you now. Let's just try to talk about this. I beg you!"
"It's too late for that." Stella narrowed his eyes at her spouse with pure anger and pure hatred. "Far too late."
"But remember when you confessed your love for me before we got married?"
"Love? You?" Stella said. "Please. You have no backbone, and I only married you because of royalty! What makes you think I would love a pathetic excuse for a husband like yourself?"
Everyone was quite shocked to hear that, even Blitzo. "Wow. You know what, Stella, you are quite a piece of shit."
"That is just the lowest of low." Moxxie said.
"I hate that kind of relationship." said Vortex. "Just marrying someone because of loyalty or money. It's like... a celebrity marriage thing from what this looks like."
"Yep." Loona agreed.
"I see." said Stolas. "I guess you leave us no choice. Blitzy! Can you do the honors, please?" The leader of IMP grabbed the powerful rifle and was ready to blast Stella into oblivion. He ordered Stella to get on her knees, but Octavia stopped him.
"Wait a minute! She's still my mum." she said, having a few tears shed from her eyes. She looked at her mother and said: "Come on, at least remember the good times we had together. Loo Loo Land, and all that fun. I'm your daughter."
"You are no daughter or mine." Stella coldly said, breaking Octavia's heart. Stolas was in shock to hear that, and it was the final hurt. He got really angry, and ordered Stella to get on her knees, which she reluctantly did.
"Wait!" said Stella. "I want the child do deliver the blow to me."
"Me?" Cody said.
"Yes. You, darling." Stella looked smug.
"But, I have never..."
"Come on, you can't expect him to just finish the job." Loona said. "He's just a little kid."
"I say let him do it." said Blitzo. "Stella here took him as a hostage and bait against us, and I think Cody should have his revenge on her."
"But, I've never killed someone like that before." Cody said. "I can't do it."
"Come on, dude." said Vortex, "Just leave the kid out of this. He's just scared."
"I can tell." said Stella. "He's shaking."
"But I know that one of these days, he will grow up to be- Agh!" something caught everyone by surprise and a hole pierced through Stella's forehead with blood coming out of it, and she fell dead on the floor, lifeless and limp.
Turns out: Stolas picked up the rifle and shot his own wife from the back of the head. "That's enough, Stella." he said.
Octavia was quietly sobbing to herself and her father comforted her by hugging her, and gently shushing her. "Dad." Octavia said.
"It's ok, Octavia. I'm here. She can't hurt you anymore."
"She... was still my mum."
"I know. I know, Via." Stolas looked at IMP and Cody before addressing, "I'm so sorry about this. I never meant for this to happen Cody."
"It's ok, Stolas." Cody said. "It's Stella's fault."
Loona hugged Cody in her arms and was hugging her like she was his big sister, of even his own mother. "I'm so glad you are alright, Cody." she said to him softly while still hugging him.
Cody was very touched by this gesture and he hugged her back. "I'm just fine, Loona.
"We came here just in time." said Vortex, putting his big, meaty hand on the kid's right shoulder.
"Well, I think this is over now." said Moxxie. "Why don't we get some ice cream?"
"Never thought I would say this, but... good idea, Moxxie." Loona said before picking up Cody and holding him in her arms like he was her own child.
"I'll buy everything." Vortex said.
"Well, Blitzo, still think Tex being part of IMP is a bad idea?" Loona looked smug at him
Blitzo still looked a little conflicted at this, and he sighed in defeat. "Well... I guess you guys are friends and he does seem like a nice guy. Maybe I can put this to consideration."
Vortex smiled gratefully and went up to Blitzo. "Thank you so much, Blitzo. I promise to be one of the best employees you'd ever want to have in your employ." he shook hands with the imp and it was rather rough, considering how strong he was. Nevertheless, Blitzo suffered worse pain before, and he looked at his hand, looking a little crushed. But, nonetheless, he wanted to make Loona happy and he knew how much she really liked Vortex (and the fact that they are close friends). Although, deep down, he still wasn't fully convinced this was a good idea. After all, he did save Cody from Verosika by betraying her, regardless of the fact that it costed him his job as her bodyguard.
Another important thing was: Cody was safe once again, and that Striker will never be able to antagonize him, or his cohorts ever again since Moxxie killed him. Technically, Blitzo still owed him a favor for doing this for him and Loona. Perhaps this could be the perfect thing to thank him (even if he doesn't really like it so much).
