Chapter Six

The Battle Begins

The next few days passed without incident. Krauss had not called Rick nor were there any attacks on the house. Perhaps the thought of Toulon back with his allies worried Krauss, Rick couldn't be sure. To be safe, Suzie had gone to stay with her mother, but insisted that Mrs. Leech stay with Toulon as they had just been reunited.

Toulon had gathered the puppets, Rick, as well as Brick and Ginger together to discuss possible scenarios and attack procedures. He knew better than most the risks involved and how to best avoid any casualties if possible.

The night before Rick was ordered to report to Krauss, he found himself seated on the couch, Decapitron beside him. Brick and Ginger were on the recliner beside him, sleeping.

"Puppet Master?" Asked Toulon.

"What is it, Andre?"

"I wanted to thank you."

Rick chuckled, "You've done that numerous times since we rescued you. It's no big deal."

Turning his head to Rick, Toulon shook it, "No. I was not referring to this last instance. Rather, I was thanking you for all you have done since our first meeting. Not many men would have dealt with the ramifications of being master to my children."

"Well," said Rick as he lay back, "I don't think of myself as their master. I watch over them, they watch over me. Family."

Toulon nodded, "I believe they have come to look upon you in the same manner. I know they give undying loyalty to those who treat them fairly and not abuse them or what they can do. I forgot that before and was lucky to get a second chance."

Sitting up, Rick looked down at Toulon, who had looked away to the floor.

"What do you mean by 'you forgot'?"

Toulon let out an exasperated sigh.

"I do not like to speak of it. It's one part of my life I am ashamed of. It nearly cost me my continued existence as well as my relationship with the puppets."

He looked up to Rick, saw the look on his face, practically begging to know what happened.

Taking in a deep breath, he began, "Several years ago, before we met, I was living at the Bodega Inn. When the people who had been seeking me out arrived, I was forced to take my own life in order to avoid being tortured to reveal the secret of the puppets. But, you know this much already."

Rick nodded.

"However, after that, Blade and the others utilized a potion I had purchased in Cairo during my and Elsa's stay there. The formula brought my body back to life, raising me from the dead. It was then that I began my process to bring Elsa and I back to new human bodies. To this end, I created life sized puppet bodies for the pair of us to inhabit until we could perform the procedure."

Rick was flabbergasted at this news. He had never read about any of this in the diary, nor had any of the puppets talked about it. Then again, with what he was talking about, he wasn't surprised.

"I was sure that one of the investigators, Carolyn, was the reincarnation of my beloved Elsa. I was wrong of course, but I didn't want to believe it until afterward. I forced the puppets to assist me in my work, using them like nothing more than tools instead of living souls with feelings."

He shook his head for several silent moments before continuing.

"In the end, they figured out what I was doing and turned on me. Destroyed my makeshift body and Torch set me on fire. I fell out of the window and plummeted to the ground below. It was only by some miracle I survived, but only just. My soul was still intact inside the body. I knew I had to make it to the puppet I had been secretly working on. I had only one hand intact and was forced to pull myself into hiding until I could get to the puppet in private. To my horror, the mother of the woman I had believed to be Elsa had been transferred into the mannequin I had created. She caged all of the puppets, except for Torch and left the Inn. It was only then that I made it inside and performed the transference of my soul into Decapitron. In time, the puppets all returned, I'm not sure how. With the last of my strength, I spoke to them. Apologized for my actions from before. To my great relief, they forgave me. Then, I went dormant until you arrived."

"But," Rick stammered, "When I got there, the puppets were all back, they had Decapitron's body in a trunk. How did all that happen?"

Toulon shook his head, "Of that, I am not sure. Only that I was given a second chance to atone for my actions. "

Rick shook his head. This was a lot to take in.

"I only wanted to be reunited with Elsa once more. In a pair of living bodies, instead of these cold shells. To feel her warmth against my face. But, it was forbidden. In order for that to occur, I would have to need the brain tissue from the living body and I am unwilling to ask that of my children again."

"But," Rick asked, arching a brow, "What if the body was already dying? Couldn't that formula restore their body to a healthy one? I mean, it brought you back from the dead."

Toulon was silent as he contemplated this.

"It is possible. However, I do not wish to dwell on this matter. We have more important things to discuss."

It was obvious that the issue was a sensitive one as Rick simply nodded as Toulon jumped from the couch and made his way into the kitchen followed by Rick.

For a moment, Dollman and Ginger lay still before he opened his eyes and looked over at his wife, whom, he saw, also had her eyes open looking at him.

"That's some weird crap." He said, shaking his head, "Animating the dead? Transferring souls.."

She nodded, "Yes, but it's also very romantic in a way. Two souls yearning to be reunited."

"Well, if this doesn't work out, they will be reunited in death."

The following morning, a phone call came in as Rick picked up the cell phone he had taken from the French man.

"Yes?"

Krauss' voice came on, "It's time Puppetmaster. Come to the Inn and wait in the lobby. No one else is here, so it will be you, me and the puppets. Unless you wish to include Herr Toulon whom I know is there with you."

"So let me see if I get this straight. I come in there, deliver the puppets to you and you just let myself and my wife walk away into the sunset? No harm done to us?" Rick asked sarcastically.

"Essentially correct. You give me the puppets and I give you the surveillance tape and a briefcase of money. If you don't..you die and I still get the puppets. Basically you have little choice but to follow through." Krauss stated.

There was a moment before Rick sighed, "Fine. I'll be there soon."

"We will be awaiting your arrival." As the phone clicked off.

Slipping the cell into his pocket, Krauss turned to his assembled army and smiled. He was proud of the work he had done on the puppets. Renewing and redoing them in new images. Especially his personal achievement, a puppet of his own creation which he had used the remaining serum on to bring to life. Granted, it was difficult to transfer the soul into the puppet, but the information he had gotten from his various travels allowed him to piece it together. He had to admit, the last trip he went on when Decapitron had been freed, had allowed him not just one, but two more allies. If Toulon and the Puppet Master thought they would have the advantage with Toulon back on their side, they would be gravely mistaken.

It was three hours later that Rick's van pulled into the parking lot of the Inn. Getting out, he slid open the door and pulled out the trunk with the puppets in it as he whispered, "Okay Brick. You and Ginger follow."

Shutting the door slightly, he carried the trunk into the lobby of the Inn to finally see the face of his nemesis.

Standing in the center of the lobby, Krauss stood there smiling broadly, a makeshift stage with red velvet curtains behind him.

"Welcome, O great Puppet Master Myers!" He shouted, throwing his hands into the air, "I am humbled by your presence."

Rick's eyes narrowed as he sat the trunk down and opened it, revealing all of the puppets who began to emerge, forming a line beside Rick; Tunneler, Jester, Pinhead, Six-Shooter, Blade, Mrs. Leech and finally Decapitron next to Rick, wearing the electro-head.

Six-Shooter's bandana rose to cover his mouth as he laughed his evil chuckle.

"Ah, your little army." Chuckled Krauss, "I suppose some might consider them to be frightening. However," he said, turning as he pulled the rope beside the stage as the curtains parted, "Allow me to introduce mine."

Standing in a row facing them were near mirror images of Rick's puppets.

Retro Blade, clad in a white trench coat and hat, now wore a newly crafted face, identical to Blade's, a knife and hook on opposite hands of his replacement.

Retro Six-Shooter, wearing all black, had also undergone a new transformation to match his counterpart, had his bandana rise to cover his own mouth, with a growl.

Retro Pinhead, whose head had been carved to match his duplicate, only wearing a black sweater with torn off sleeves and wearing two pairs of brass knuckles.

Retro Drill Sergeant, who was wearing a black one piece outfit, a new shiny drill atop his head.

Doctor Death, now wearing blood red surgical garb and carrying two scalpels.

Torch, waving his flame throwing menacingly at them.

The Ninja puppet, carrying two small swords, his red eyes glowing.

Shredder Khan, whose hands hand been removed, replaced by three metallic claws.

Finally, a puppet no one had seen before. A muscular female puppet with blonde hair. She was wearing a black leather one piece outfit with a spiked collar and spiked wristbands. One her side was a black leather whip.

Krauss, stopped in front of the female puppet and grinned, "You like Titania? She is my own creation, my little girl. Deadly. I believe you know the soul who inhabits her body."

Rick tilted his head slightly. For one brief moment, hoping that Krauss had not kidnapped Suzie.

But, to his relief, Krauss walked up behind the stage and reached down, pulling out a mannequin and tossing it to the floor.

Blade and the others hissed, recognizing her.

Looking up at Rick, Decapitron hissed something as he nodded.

"The woman Toulon put in that shell. The one he thought was Elsa."

Krauss' laughter filled the room, "Yes. It took me a while to track her down. But, in the end, it was worth it. She was more than willing to come here and assist me."

Sitting down on the edge of the stage, Krauss looked over at Rick and arched a brow, "Tell me, Mr. Myers. Who was it that DID shoot the man in the basement? Who also shot Gengie and blew his head in half I might add. I know it wasn't you."

He looked over at Six-Shooter, "Perhaps you my little gunslinger?"

Six simply shook his head.

"Ah." Said Krauss in an understanding tone of voice as if realizing something for the first time, "A new puppet then? You've been busy."

Suddenly, Rick shouted out to the stage, "This doesn't have to be this way! We can help you get what it is you want. We can help you find peace!" Trying desperately to avoid what he knew was bound to happen, but he had to try.

"I understand Andre made some mistakes. You feel as though he left you behind when he was supposed to be your friend. But he was just a man. Men make mistakes. He did admit that to me several times. Please, let me help you."

Krauss stood, standing between Rick and the puppets on the stage, "You are wasting your breath. They have all sworn their allegiance to me in return for helping them. They know they can trust me."

"Now," He said, his face turning stern, "Give them to me."

Rick simply stood his ground before replying, "No way in hell." As he threw a jab straight into Krauss' jaw, knocking him back a few feet, staggering before advancing on him again.

Immediately, the battle was on.

Six-Shooter Black leapt from the stage, all six of his guns drawn and shooting for his counterpart who was also racing toward him, guns blazing, the bullets shot past each other until one of them made contact. Six-Shooter's third arm on the right flew off his body as the bullet struck, his double's evil growl laugh filling the area. Undeterred, Six unleashed a volley of shots, one shooting off the black hat of his evil twin, a second shooting off the hand and gun of the second arm on the left.

The laugh from Six merged with the growl of Black Six as the two collided with each other in the middle of the floor, punches flying wildly from the 10 arms.

Unfortunately, Black Six had landed on top of him as Six struggled, rolled from side to side, trying to throw his opponent off of his chest. Punches came down from left to right, knocking his head from side to side with each blow. Reaching to his side, Six grabbed one of the guns and aimed it to the side of Black Six's head and fired. The other went careening into the air to his left side as he rolled to a kneeling position, the other four hands each grabbing a gun from the floor.

Black Six stood, facing his enemy as five shots were fired, each one striking his remaining limbs as they flew in different directions.

Spinning the guns in his hands, Six began moving toward his now armless foe.

The bandana of Black Six lowered as he nodded and let out a little laugh.

Opening fire once more, the head of Black Six was blown into pieces by the gunfire as the small puppet body crumbled to the floor, Six turning and twirling the guns round and round.