Chapter 3

Freakazoid's Day Out!

Dexter gave up. Today was a total bust and there was no two ways about it. He'd thought, "Hey! Maybe if I just stay positive, and look on the bright side of things, everything will turn out okay!" and look where that got him! He'd tried to stay positive, he'd tried to find joy in the little things, and turns out? The little things blast you with insurmountable knowledge and put crazy people in your head! Roddy seemed to notice dexter's foul mood and nudged him.

"Chin up, lad! I promise I'll get you out of this. Gutierrez only needs me, so as long as we don't mention your little blue problem, he'll probably let you go."

Dexter gave a small nod, but otherwise he stayed slumped and miserable in his chair. He couldn't help it! He was tied to a chair in some sinister corporate building, things were grim. He braved looking up at one of the guards stationed around the office, hoping to instill some sympathy. When he made eye contact, the guard shrugged apologetically and looked away. So much for that.

'I could get out of these ropes, easy.'

Oh! And the crazy guy was back. So, there was that. He hadn't tried to resurface yet, but with Dexter's luck, it was only a matter of time.

'Well if that's how you feel. Don't bother coming to me later, jerk.'

Dexter huffed. Good riddance! He only hoped the maniac's attention span would allow him to keep that promise!

'It's Freakazoid!'

"Yeah? And I'm the Arch Duke of Wales!"

"Is that so? And I thought you were Dexter Douglas! My mistake."

Dexter froze as a dignified voice answered him sarcastically, an equally dignified looking man stepping into the office and sitting on the desk in front of him.

"I, am Armando Gutierrez, owner of Apex Industries, the creators of that Pinnacle chip you purchased, Dexter."

Dexter nodded, glancing over at Roddy, who seemed to be turning beet red at the sight of Gutierrez. Gutierrez simply ignored Roddy's scowl and smiled at Dexter pleasantly.

"I just want to apologize for any inconvenience my men may have caused you, my boy. It was a matter of great importance that you and MacStew here were brought to me at once, you see."

Dexter relaxed a little at Gutierrez's explanation, but before he could respond, Roddy cut him off angrily.

"So this was your plan, then? Using the public as test subjects and following me till you got your sample? Are ya happy now, you Bitter Sot?!"

Gutierrez frowned at Roddy's accusations, drawing back from him in an offhand manner.

"Me? Do such a thing? Why I never! MacStew, I'm only trying to help the boy! It was your flaw that caused this to happen after all. I'm only taking responsibility for my employees mistakes!"

Dexter frowned at Gutierrez's words and looked to Roddy, obvious questions burning in his eyes. Roddy attempted to respond, but to no avail. He deflated and sighed, gaze hardening.

"I may have been the one to create it Gutierrez, but it was you who refused to recall them! You intend to keep the public unaware of all this! If you'd done what I asked, the whole world would know of the dangers of the chip, and they'd all be in the trash by now!"

Gutierrez shook his head sadly and turned to Dexter.

"It's a sad thing to see, isn't it? A man in denial of his crimes. I tried to help him, you know? But he refused to listen and tried to take matters into his own hands. And look at all the good that's done! Dexter, let me take those off."

Gutierrez snapped his fingers and one of the guards came forward and untied him from the chair, Dexter was so confused. On one hand, Roddy had told him the chip flaw had been his fault, but on the other hand, Gutierrez was being so nice, and Roddy wasn't exactly…

"Listen, lad. You can blame me all you want for what's happened to you, I deserve it! But don't trust Gutierrez. He's a snake of a man! He only wants you for your-"

Gutierrez made a small motion with his head and a guard elbowed Roddy in the gut.

"He's just upset, that's all. Now my boy, lets walk, shall we?"

Dexter nodded nervously, looking back at Roddy as Gutierrez eagerly pulled him out of the office and into the buildings hallway. Dexter gasped at the size of it, realizing when he was brought here, he'd had a bag over his head so he hadn't been able to identify where he was.

"Um, sir…?"

Gutierrez continued to lead him down the hallway, smiling as he inclined his head politely.

"Yes? Don't be afraid to speak up, my boy."

"It's just...I didn't realize earlier, but, are we in The Apex Industries Tower?"

Gutierrez grinned proudly, waving his hand dramatically to his surroundings.

"One in the same! It's my crowning achievement, the center of my accomplishments, immortalized in reinforced steel and earthquake resistant concrete! Why do you ask?"

Dexter gave a small smile and bushed.

"Well, when I was doing a report on advancements in modern architecture, I kinda centered the whole report on this building. I mean, you literally went out of your way to implement every bit of new advancements in architecture into this one building! Solar powered windows, recyclable and renewable plastics! It's…"

Dexter realized he's begun rambling and blushed again. He'd just been kidnapped by this dude, and now he was going on about his stupid school report. Dexter, what is wrong with you?! He flinched as Gutierrez abruptly started laughing and gave Dexter an encouraging squeeze on the shoulder.

"I like you, Dexter Douglas! Yes, when I built this tower, I wanted to make a statement. I wanted the world to know, Apex Industries was a place of innovation, a place where the future became the now! I'm happy you see that as well."

They finally reached their destination when they came up to a someone intimidating steel door.

"Don't be shy, Dexter. This is simply my private office. Can't have anyone just kicking open the door, now can I?"

Dexter gulped, remembering he'd been kidnapped just an hour ago, and he nervously followed Gutierrez into the room. It was an office, like Gutierrez had said, but it looked much more high tech than the one he'd been in before. What was more, instead of a window, there was big black screen behind the desk.

Gutierrez closed the door behind them and went to sit at his desk calmly as Dexter looked around the room in awe.

"Please sit, my boy. We have some things we need to discuss."

Dexter snapped to attention, nodding and sitting in the wooden chair conveniently in front of Gutierrez's desk.

"Now, Dexter. I have reason to believe you activated the flaw my employee, Roddy MacStew created when he made the Pinnacle chip. Can you tell me exactly what happened?"

Dexter felt the butterflies start in his stomach and squirmed uncomfortably. What was he supposed to say? He could barely make sense of it himself, how was he supposed to competently explain what he'd experienced to Armando Gutierrez without looking like a crazy loon? And besides, hadn't Roddy said not to tell Gutierrez anything about Freakazoid? What if he got in trouble?

"Dexter? Do not be afraid, my boy. You aren't in trouble, you're a victim after all. I just want to help you with whatever the chip did to you."

'I don't trust this weenie.'

Dexter blinked in surprise. He'd almost forgotten that Freakazoid was still in his head.

'Why would he kidnap us if he was trying to help us? That just freaked us out, we could've gotten hurt! Pun totally intended, by the way.'

Dexter frowned and shook his head a bit to clear his thoughts like an Etch-A-Sketch. He didn't need this right now!

'Well, I think you should tell this guy to beat it! He messed with our family, and he's mean to Roddy!'

Dexter scowled at the peanut gallery-esque input. Freakazoid was one to talk. He'd tormented Duncan seconds after appearing! And he'd been mean to Roddy too!

'But that's only because we'd WANTED to! We didn't know Roddy wasn't a robber! The point is, if this guy is so good, why'd he lock us in here? Ask if we can just leave! If he's a good guy, he'll let us go!'

Dexter sat up straighter at that. He hated to admit it, but Freakazoid was right. If Gutierrez was as benevolent as he was trying to appear, then he'd have to let them-him, go if he asked. Otherwise…

"Um, Mr. Gutierrez? I don't really...want to be here. I really appreciate you trying to help and all, but Roddy was actually doing just fine at that before! I just wanna go home."

Gutierrez stared in confusion for a moment, then smiled and began to laugh.

"HahaHAHAHAHA! Oh, of course, Dexter! If you desire it, I can take you home right now!"

Dexter felt his entire body relax, and he slumped in his chair, relieved their-his, hunch had been right.

"Before you leave however, would you care to say goodbye?"

Gutierrez took out a remote and Dexter frowned in confusion.

"Goodbye? To who?"

"Why! Your brother, of course!"

Dexter's jaw dropped as Gutierrez pressed a button on his remote and sure enough, Duncan Douglas appeared on the black screen behind Gutierrez.

"HEY! What's the meaning of all this? LET ME GO!"

Duncan struggled in a steel chair that eerily resembled an electrocution chair. Dexter stood automatically, taking a few futile steps towards his brother on the screen.

"But-! How? Why? You said I could go!"

Gutierrez chuckled and reclined in his chair smugly.

"In order? My men found your brother running through the streets screaming about blue men and apes like a lunatic and decided to pick him up. He was what clued my men in on the strange happenings in your home, and I decided to invite him over. He told me quite a story, believe me! I knew, considering what an entertaining guest he's been, that you'd just love to meet him."

Gutierrez stood and stalked over to Dexter confidently, looming over him till he sat down again.

"And about my promise? I intend to keep it! You can leave anytime you want Dexter, as long as you're willing to leave your brother behind."

Dexter glared and hoped he looked threatening.

"I'll call the police. They'll search the building and find him."

Gutierrez scoffed, then shrugged.

"Maybe so. And maybe I'll accidentally end up pressing these little buttons here before they can find him."

To demonstrate, Gutierrez raised his remote and pressed a button. To Deters horror, sparks ignited around the chair Duncan was strapped to and his brother screamed. It didn't look like an electric chair, it was one!

"STOPSTOP! Don't-Don't hurt him! I'll stay, okay? I promise I'll stay."

Gutierrez lifted his finger and Duncan groaned in relief as the sparks stopped.

"What a pleasant surprise! During your stay, why don't we talk, eh Dexter?"

Dexter slumped in his chair and nodded mutely. This was bad. Duncan was a hostage! And Gutierrez was definitely a bad guy, that wasn't a question anymore, that's for sure. Was Roddy gonna be okay? If Gutierrez was willing to do all this, then what was he doing to Roddy?

"So, Dexter. Tell me, how exactly did the chip affect you? "

Dexter took a shaky breath and kept his eyes down as he spoke. He knew if he looked up, he'd see his brother on that big screen, and he'd couldn't handle that right now.

"When I input the code, I blacked out for a bit, and when I woke up-"

"The code, what is it?"

Dexter froze, mind racing for an answer and coming up blank. He couldn't remember, his cat had stepped on the keyboard for pete's sake! He just remembered deleting it and then-

"I-I can't remember. My cat-"

Gutierrez raised the remote and frowned and dexter shot up in response.

"I SWEAR! MY CAT WAS ON THE KEYBOARD! Th-That's why I deleted it!"

Gutierrez rolled his eyes and set the remote on his lap again.

"How disappointing. Well, luckily for your brother, my men are asking Roddy the same question. Let's hope he has a better memory than you, eh?"

Gutierrez lifted a walkie talkie to his head and pressed a button.

"Have you gotten the code? Over."

After a beat of silence, there was a staticy response.

"No yet, sir. He's a stubborn old man. Over."

Dexter grimaced as the muffled sounds of someone getting punched reached his ears. Gutierrez sighed and smiled at Dexter.

"Excuse me for a moment, Dexter. I think Roddy and I need to have a chat."

Gutierrez rose from the desk with remote in hand and left the room, locking the door behind him. Dexter waited for an entire minute before lurching forward and heaving. It wasn't pretty. Thankfully, Dexter hadn't eaten much, so there wasn't much coming back up. He desperately tried to keep from hyperventilating and tried to focus on the facts instead.

He was locked in a room with no way out. His brother was a hostage. Roddy was probably being waterboarded like a prisoner in Guantanamo Bay right now. He had to get out. He had to get out!

'Waterboarding in Guantanamo Bay sounds like a lot of fun if you don't know what either of those things are.'

Dexter gasped, simultaneously relieved and scared that he wasn't alone, not even in his own head.

"Shut up! I need to think of a way out of here! If I don't, Duncan might-"

"Oh, what a shame! If only you could break through a steel door! Too bad.'

Speaking of…

"You have to come out! Duncan's in trouble! And Roddy!"

"Ah, ah, ah! I seem to recall someone saying 'good riddance' to me! But now that things are a little too hot to handle, suddenly we're best friends!'

"That's not important right now! People's lives are in danger!"

'Oh yeah? And what about mine? Weren't you and Roddy planning on deleting me? Aren't I people?'

Dexter paused at that. He was kinda right, even if it was a wildly different situation. But what was he supposed to do? Two people couldn't live in one head!

'Well, if that's what you think, then I'm not helping!'

Dexter groaned and rubbed his face in frustration. When he peeked through his fingers, he saw Duncan, all alone, am in very real danger. It was his fault Duncan was here. So what if he hadn't been himself. He'd still watched what Freakazoid had done, and a small part of him had enjoyed it! In the end, He'd only done what he'd secretly wanted to do all along.

'See! That's what I'm talking about Dex! I'm not just some stranger, I'm you!'

Dexter nodded and sighed, a plan starting to form in his mind. He just hoped it wouldn't horribly backfire like everything else in his life.

"Okay, so I have an idea."

'Hm?'

"What if we...shared?"

'Ohhhhhhh! I can share! I love sharing! Sharing is Caring, that's my motto!'

"Alright, alright! I get it! Now, there's gonna be some rules too, okay?"

'Rules? How many rules we talkin exactly?'

"Like, three."

'Hmmmm…'

Dexter looked up at his brother impatiently.

"Tick Tock!"

"Okay, okay! Don't rush me, Geez-Louise!"

"Rule number one, no hurting people unless it's in self defense. You're too strong, you could seriously hurt someone."

'But there's so many people we wanna hurt!'

"This is non-negotiable. You promise or the deal's off!"

'Fine! I have other ways of destroying someone's will to live anyway.'

"Good! I guess...Now two is, you can't let anyone know we're one in the same. My family wouldn't take it well, and neither would the rest of civilized society. Besides, I'd like not to be associated with you, no offense."

'Full offense taken, but it's a deal! You'll learn to love me Dexatron, just you wait!'

"Yeah, okay. Rule number three, we don't switch unless I give you the say so! I can promise you at least three turns a week, that's it!"

'Aw, what?! Only three? That's lame, why do you get to say so?'

"Because I was here first. I still have a life to live, you're lucky I didn't give once a week!"

'Ugggghhhhhhhhhh! FINE! Fine! So what's the password?'

"The password?"

'Well, "No Offense", but I don't trust you AT ALL, so I'm programming a password that'll automatically switch us back and forth. You get one, and I get one! Isn't that NEAT?'

"So if I say it, we'll just switch?"

'And if I say mine, we switch back! Simple, Dimple! You know? I'm not one to brag about how great I am, so I'll just pause and let us both think it.'

Dexter pause alright, but not to think about Freakazoid's many outstanding qualities. If he did this, there was a good chance he might just be stuck, and Freakazoid would just keep him trapped in his own mind. Alternatively, Freakazoid was also running the same risk. This plan was relying on a lot of trust that both had actively proclaimed that didn't have. Was this really his best option?

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHGH!"

Dexter jumped and stood as Duncan was suddenly hit with a painful blast of electricity. Why? He wasn't-

'Dexter! What's the password?!'

Dexter was shocked to hear Freakazoid sounded genuinely distressed, and he reminded himself that for all his insanity, Freakazoid was still him. He wanted to save Duncan too.

"The password-The password is-"

His mind was blank, he couldn't think of anything! Not when his brother was being tortured right in front of him! How was he supposed to-

'Well, you need to think of something! Just stop Freaking Out and-'

Something clicked and Dexter just knew.

"Freak Out! The password is Freak Out!"

'...Processing…'

SHA-ZAP!

"IIIIIIIII LIKE IT!"

Freakazoid stretched in relief, then put on a more serious face as his attention fell on the screen. Thankfully, Duncan was no longer being zapped, but still! He needed to get some recompense for all this treachery!

'Only in self defense!'

"But-"

'You promised.'

"Ugh, fine. Let's go find Duggy!"

'Wait! The only reason Duncan's in danger in the first place is because of Gutierrez's remote! We need to get that remote!'

"Oh! Hey, that's a swell idea! Glad I thought of it!"

'Just, go.'

"Go where?"

'I just said! To Gutierrez!'

"But this place is huge! He could be anywhere!"

'Are you serious? He said he was going to see Roddy. We were just there!'

"Oh yeah! I guess I forgot. Alrighty then! Gutierrez HO!"

Freakazoid ran straight at the door and kicked it open, leaving a sizable dent in the steel frame. As Dexter guided him, Freakazoid ran through the halls and finally, after seven wrong turns, found the office with Roddy and Gutierrez.

Freakazoid ignored Dexter's suggested, 'Sneak Attack' and kicked open the door enthusiastically.

"KNOCK KNOCK, IT'S KNUCKLES TO THE FACE!"

His smile fell quickly as four armed men turned in unison to reveal a very sorry looking Roddy and no Gutierrez. What was worse, one man had a gun to Roddy's head. He'd almost been too late!

"LEEEEEETS WRASTLE!"

Freakazoid jumped forward into a crouching position and leg sweeped all four men onto the floor. He then proceeded to dish out some very family friendly violence! Brought to you by-

"That's enough, lad! If you throw them out the window, they won't survive it!"

Freakazoid pouted and lowered the beaten stack of grunts hesitantly.

"It's not that far!"

"We're on the 7th story Freakazoid."

'You promised only in self defense!'

Freakazoid scowled as he was lectured from two fronts and threw the men into Gutierrez's desk.

"It was self defense! I even defended Roddy too! So technically, it still counts!"

'From now on, if the bad guys aren't a threat anymore, you STOP. Okay?'

Freakazoid grumbled some non committal response and tried to ignore Dexter as he mom'd him. He was 16 years old and he was pretty sure he could throw a car, he didn't need to be lectured every five minutes! Freakazoid went to Roddy and tore away the ropes binding him with ease.

"Thank you. What happened to ya, lad?"

"Well, Gutierrez kinda kidnapped my brother Duncan and started zapping him, so me and Dexter made nice and now I'm trying to find Gutierrez so I can crush that remote of his and maybe also his face? Just an idea."

Roddy frowned, then jumped up in realization.

"Zapped? That was your brother?! Gutierrez used him to get me to give him the code, lad! He's on his way to do it right now!"

"What?! Where is he now?"

"I can't say for sure. We'll have to split up Freakazoid. Let's go!"

Freakazoid and Roddy ran into the hallway.

"You go left, I'll go right!"

Roddy ran down the right hallway and Freakazoid watched him go, slightly worried about the man's health. He'd looked pretty beaten down when he'd arrived. Would he be okay by himself?

'He's a tough cookie, he'll be fine! Let's go!'

"Yeah!...Go where?"

'He just SAID! We're going left!'

"Oops! Just, forgot again, I guess. Sorry!"

Freakazoid ran down the fancy hallway and pushed open every door he came across.

"Oh, Mr. Gutierrez! Where are yooooouuuuu?! Olly Olly Oxen Free! Come out, come out, wherever you are! I'll read you one of Dexter's poems!"

'You know about those!?'

"Oh boy, you bet I do! Every SINGLE stanza! I think they're pretty, though, I'm more of a haiku guy myself."

'JUST-Concentrate. Please?'

"I'll do my best! Mr. Gutierrez whe-OH MY, GOLLY GEE WIZ!"

Freakazoid ran toward a door and stopped in front of it urgently.

'What? Did you see him?'

"See who? No, I just saw THIS!"

Freakazoid pointed to the plaque on the office door in glee. On the plaque was the name, Amanda Huggenkiss.

'...'

"Eh? EHH?"

'Are you serious?'

"Never! Come on! This is amazing! Do you think their parents knew?"

'Freakazoid, I swear-'

"Not while we're on camera you won't! There are kids watching! For shame!"

'Just look for Gutierrez.'

"Oh yeah!"

Freakazoid ran off, then stopped mid step and went back to the door and pulled the plaque off, slipping it discreetly into his back pocket.

"I'll just be taking this..."

'Uggghhhhhhhhhhhh…'

Roddy hadn't thought this through, like, at all. He'd been so caught up in stop-Gutierrez mode that he hadn't considered Gutierrez's fully staffed security detail. He was considering it now though, seeing as he'd had to barricade himself in some random office with nothing but a busted knee to show for it.

"Crud! And while I dilly-dally here, Gutierrez is probably-"

SLAM!

"Aw, put a sock in it!"

"Come out now, and we'll use minimal force!"

"Oh, sure! And I'm a monkey's uncle!"

He needed to escape, and fast. Cheap office chairs and a door lock would only hold them off for so long. Roddy brainstormed for a solution, starting up a computer in hopes of maybe being able to hack the security system.

'But security system or not, the men outside aren't going anywhere. I'm stuck.'

"You can't stay in there forever MacStew! You'll have to leave eventually!"

That gave Roddy an idea. Sure, he couldn't leave like he was now, but maybe…

"This better work!"

Roddy hesitated for only a moment, the sound of the door frame cracking giving him the final push he needed. He quickly typed in the input code to active the flaw in the Pinnacle chip, which Gutierrez would have undeniably had installed in all his company owned computers, the monster.

Just as Roddy typed in the last quotation mark, the door spilt, and with a violent kick the door was broken in.

"Got you now, MacStew! Hands up!"

Roddy simply grinned, pressed the delete, and in a blinding flash, disappeared.

"SO LONG, BOYS! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Gutierrez had many strengths. His confidence, his dominating presence, his cunning, his wit, his looks, his business sense. When it came to technology sadly, none of these charming qualities could assist him.

"Why must it be such a complicated code? Why could it not be, kittens? Or salad? Oof, I'm such a bad typist!"

He scowled ah he accidentally typed in the wrong character again and backspaced. At least that part would be easy. Delete was his best friend at this point.

Meanwhile, somewhere close by, but not close enough, a blue buffoon made his way down Apex Towers halls.

"Mr. Gutierrez!? Yoohoo! HEY, GUTIERREZ!"

Freakazoid stopped after a moment, he held his breath and finally heard the familiar sound of computer keys reaching his ears. Freakazoid smiled in triumph, and raced in the direction of the clicking keys.

"Finally."

Gutierrez looked back and forth between the note Roddy had wrote out and his screen, double checking for any errors. He smiled as he recognized he'd finally completed the sequence.

"Soon, Ithe world will be mine for the pickings…"

Gutierrez went to press delete, but before he could reach it, he found himself being pulled back by his seat. They leaned him back till he was face to face with the perpetrator.

"YOU!"

"ME!"

Freakazoid spun the chair to face him and socked Gutierrez right in the eye. He smiled as even Dexter seemed satisfied with his treatment of Gutierrez. But that's just what happens when you messed with their stuff. Freakazoid reached past Gutierrez with his free hand and grabbed Gutierrez's remote, crushing it quickly and throwing it angrily to the ground.

"Y-You wound me, Dexter-"

"I'm Freakazoid. Dexter's hanging back for a bit, leave a message after I give you a black eye or two!"

"Wait!

Freakazoid halted mid punch and scowled.

"Whaaaaaaat?"

Gutierrez heaved a sigh of relief and sat up. He held his injured eye protectively behind his hand, using his other hand to straighten his tie.

"Freakazoid, was it? Lets talk."

"I thought that was what we were doing? I like hitting while I talk, can I do that?"

"I...would prefer not?"

"Pffft! Fine! You have, I dunno, until I get bored!"

Gutierrez nodded seriously, glancing back at his computer and then back at Freakazoid thoughtfully.

"So...This is what becomes of those who activate the Pinnacle chip? A little more...blue than I expected."

Freakazoid raised his fist again and Gutierrez laughed nervously and raised his hands in surrender.

"Not that there's anything wrong with that! I quite like it!"

"Really? So you're not thinking I look like a smurf or anything?"

Gutierrez shook his head eagerly, wincing slightly as he jostled his purpling eye.

"Not at all. I want what you have Freakazoid, blue skin and all!"

Freakazoid and Dexter both balked at that, Freakazoid going so far as to jaw drop.

"Buh-But WHY?"

Gutierrez chuckled knowingly.

"Isn't it obvious? Look at you! Look at what you can do! You're a marvel! How many of my guards have you taken down alone?"

Freakazoid vaguely recalled tossing aside a couple noisey guards to Dexter's dismay, but nobody Freakazoid would actually consider a challenge.

"I don't know? More than four."

"Exactly! With your abilities, who knows what you can do! I simply want what you have, Freakazoid. Power, knowledge, and the entirety of the Internet!"

Freakazoid was unimpressed with the flattery and the thinly veiled sinister intentions. He wasn't a genius, but he wasn't an idiot either! Gutierrez had been glancing back at his computer for the millionth time in the last few minutes. The was probably the worst, stalling-for-time speech he'd ever heard. Freakazoid sighed and pushed Gutierrez's chair back till he was almost horizontal with the floor.

"Listen, Mr. Gutierrez. I'm gonna be honest with you here and tell you exactly why you shouldn't activate the chip's flaw for yourself. This is coming from someone with experience, so listen up! I'm only being this nice cause you liked Dexter's school report."

Freakazoid pulled back the free hand not leaning Gutierrez back and started counting fingers off.

"First! Well, I'll be honest, super strength is pretty great. But just imagine all the trouble you get into when you push something too hard or take arm wrestling too far! Second, having all this knowledge is pretty useless! I mean, I know all this stuff, yeah, but it's just kinda sitting there. Where in the world am I gonna find the entire history of paper clips useful? And Third! Having the entirety of the Internet stuffed inside you brain is GREAT!"

At this point, Freakazoid leaned in real close, his near permanent grin stretching painfully wide as he stared directly into Gutierrez's soul.

"IF, you're okay with the feeling of your brain struggling to not split. So if you're fine with a constant string of continuously cataloging information, from the tiniest like on Facebook, to the NEXT BIG THING with a billion views on YouTube, being sent directly into your brain, then GET ON BOARD!"

Freakazoid yanked Gutierrez back upright and spun him to face his computer eagerly, ignoring Dexter's cries of protest.

"Go on, buddy! Let's make this a comedy duo! After all, crazy loves company!"

Gutierrez hesitated and looked back at Freakazoid with his wide, unhinged smile, and bloodshot, dilated eyes. This wasn't the face of a man you wanted to follow in the footsteps of.

"What's the hold up? Don't tell me you don't think you can handle it! Not that I blame you. After all, Dexter here's a nerd computer ace, and look how we turned out! I don't even know what I am!"

Before Gutierrez could respond, Freakazoid reached forward and punched through the monitor, yanking his fist out quickly, he grabbed the keyboard and snapped it over his knee.

"What-"

Freakazoid glared darkly at Gutierrez at he crushed the remains of the keyboard in his hands, effectively cutting the man off.

"If you're gonna hesitate, then you're not ready. Let this go, Gutierrez, you don't want this."

Freakazoid tossed the useless plastic aside and grabbed Gutierrez by his collar. Gutierrez froze in fear as Freakazoid pulled his hand back-

"I'll just be taking this!"

Gutierrez gasped as Freakazoid opened his hand to reveal the sequence note that Roddy had written.

"WAIT!"

"NOPE!"

Freakazoid stuffed the paper into his mouth and chewed it ruthlessly before swallowing it.

"Deeeeee-licious! Could'a used more salt though…"

Gutierrez slumped back into his chair and groaned in anger.

"You task me, Freakazoid."

"Awwww! You're too kind!"

Freakazoid made his way to the door, then paused and turned back.

"Where'd you put Duncan, anyway?"

Gutierrez glared at Freakazoids audacity, then sighed and sat up.

"Your brother is in room 420 two floors down."

"HAH! Are you serious? That's amazing! Well, thanks Mr. Gutierrez!"

Freakaziod smiled and spun around, but was halted as Gutierrez stood and placed his free hand not covering his eye on his shoulder,

"This is not over, Freakazoid. Mark my words, we will meet again, and when we do-"

"Ooooookay. That's nice and all, but I really need to go get my brother. How about you just email me later? Cool? Cool!"

And with that, Freakazoid was off! Gutierrez watched in shock as Freakazoid ran off without a care in the world, completely disregarding his words.

"He will rue the day he reads my email! I will mercilessly fill his inbox with hate mail! Just you wait, Freakazoid! You will lament for years to come, the day you foolishly dared to insult, Armando Gutierrez!"

In the episode, The Chip, I always wondered why Freakazoid didn't come out until Dexter said Freak Out. It didn't see right to me story wise, so I came up with a solution that made me happy. I think Dexter and Freak were switching sporadically in the beginning because they were fighting, and the words Freak Out, are kinda their compromise. Go check out Xamag-Main on tumbler! They're the inspiration for this story and all my ideas! They're also just an amazing artist, so really, I'm doing you a favor! They're also on Youtube under the name Daria Yeliseyeva, where you can see some awesome storyboards of the episode The Chip!