Allies and Rivals II
Chapter 11 - Blossom's Austerlitz
The City of Townsville, and a monster is rampaging through the center of town. To make it worst, it is covered with duranium plates. Every inch of its body is covered with the said plates, except of a tiny slot for the eye.
The monster is as tall as an average skyscraper, and looks like a giant lizard. It stood on two feet, yet was bent over. It had a massive tail, and two huge forearms with sharp claws.
"Duranium? That's the…" Brick said in horror.
"…the only metal that could withstand our attacks!" finished Boomer. "Oh crap!"
"That monster is going down!" shouted Butch as he charged headlong to the monster.
"I'm with 'ya!" Buttercup said, following Butch.
"You two, stop it! We don't know how to deal with it yet!" Blossom shouted.
"Oh shut up, girl, I d—" Butch began but was interrupted by his brother.
"Butch, get your filthy ass here right this minute! You will not attack until Blossom and I says so, understand?" Brick barked.
Butch halted mid-air, looked at his brother, glared at him in anger, shuddered at the look his brother gave him, went back besides him, and watched as Buttercup went headlong into disaster.
Buttercup ignored her sister and charged into the monster. The monster flicked its tail at her and soon, she crashed into several adjacent buildings. She landed next to the five puff and ruffs.
"I told you it wouldn't work!" Blossom taunted.
"I get it Red," said Buttercup, grumbling. "So what's your brilliant new plan?"
"Well, try and make stinging attacks at it. And avoid the tail. Boomer, Bubbles, go and remove the people in this vicinity. Brick, we already talked about this so don't contradict me!"
"Brick?" asked Boomer, looking at him.
"Do it," said Brick.
So Boomer and Bubbles went and proceeded to evacuate the people.
"Thanks Brick. Now, the rest of us four, as I said, will keep on attacking. It must have some weak points."
"Wait, wait, what good would that do?" asked a sceptical Brick. "I mean if that monster has duranium plates, then wouldn't it be as effective as tickling a rock?"
"Yeah, but we have to at least distract it to give Boomer and Bubbles time to save those people!" Blossom explained.
"I still don't get the point in saving those people," said Brick, "but since you want it, I guess you can have your way. But what's your plan for defeating that monster?"
"I already said it!" Blossom said.
"It won't defeat it!"
"Yeah, but do you have a better plan?" asked Blossom.
"No," said Brick.
"I thought so," said Blossom. "And until you can come up with a better plan than mine then we would do as I say."
Brick just nodded.
"Okay, Brick, Buttercup, try hitting it again and again. See if you can at least make a dent. Concentrate on the head and the upper body. Butch, you and I will go and try to do the same on the lower parts and the legs."
"Okay," said Buttercup.
"I hope you know what you're doing," Brick said, as he and Buttercup went and began hitting the legs and lower parts of the body of the monster.
Meanwhile…
Dr. Edwards was mulling over company reports in his room.
'That Clark! He's done a good job while I'm away! I should…what the…what's that?' He then went and checked the surveillance cameras and saw four heavily armed men break in the house. He then took his hat, and his .45 gun, filled it with bullets, took another .38 gun, filled it too, put both in his pockets, then took another .45 gun, loaded it, and he clutched it in his hand. He took his coat, and tried to call the police. The line was dead. 'Well, looks like whoever sent the first thief still is not giving up. I can't call the boys now, or the girls for that matter. They're too busy saving the city.'
He went and hid behind a corner and waited for the robbers to go upstairs. Fortunately, only one of them went up first, as three of them searched downstairs.
He quietly sneaked up behind the six-footer, and then pointed his gun at the back of the man's head.
"Drop your gun," he quietly whispered.
But instead of complying, he quickly turned around and pushed the doctor back using his foot. He then pointed the gun at the doctor. The doctor, lying on the floor, pointed his gun at the robber. The thief thought he was going to shoot, and fearing for his life, shot his gun point blank. He missed Dr. Edwards' head by less than an inch. Dr. Edwards then shot the man, and the bullet ripped through the thief's brain. He soon collapsed on the floor, dead. The floor was filled with the blood of the thief.
"Hey, what's that," Dr. Edwards heard voices say below. "Twenty-seven, I told you not to shoot!"
Dr. Edwards hid himself in a room as he heard the sound of boots rushing upstairs.
"Oh shit! What happened to Twenty seven!"
"He's dead, Thirty-six," said the second man.
"I'm gonna kill the doc when I see him," shouted the third man. "You hear that, I'm gonna kill you!"
"You know the master's orders. Do not kill him until we get necessary data, Eighty-two," said the second man. "Twenty-seven just got careless."
"How can you say that, Fifteen?" asked Eighty-two.
"Because I can," said Fifteen, "and it's true."
Dr. Edwards was by now positively frightened. Those guys were big, really big, and armed too. Plus, they were really ticked-off because he killed Twenty-seven. He was shaking, and decided to do the most sensible thing in this situation.
"Boys, boys," he said into his watch.
Meanwhile…
Brick and Butch was making futile attacks at the monster. They had several times been flicked away by it's tail, or some body part. Their female counterparts also experienced the same thing, yet kept coming back for more.
"This isn't working!" Brick said to Blossom.
"Keep trying!" Blossom replied, as she froze the upper part of the monster. It didn't work, as it easily broke the ice. "We have to do something!" she said before she herself was hit by the monsters arms and crashed through several empty buildings.
Soon, the monster walked right where Blossom fell. Blossom floated up but before she could do anything, the monster grabbed her and held her in her arms.
"Let go of me!" she shouted, and tried wiggling out of the monster's grasp. But the combination of the monster's almost supernatural strength and the duranium plates made any escape by her impossible. She tried screaming at the monster, then tried using ice breath, but it had no effect.
"Blossom!" shouted Buttercup in concern for her sister. She rushed in to save her, but the monster just grabbed her with its other hand. Soon, it was squeezing the two puffs to death.
And there was Brick and Butch. Staring in disbelief as two puffs as powerful as they being helplessly crushed by the monster. And things got worst.
"Boys, boys, this is your Dad. Listen, four armed men just broke into the house. I think they're trying to steal something and kill me afterwards. I have killed one of them, but there are still three of them. Have you defeated the monster?"
"No, but we soon will," said Brick, trying to be reassuring.
"Good. As soon you defeat it, come home as fast as you can. I have three guns loaded, but if worst comes to worst, I would need your help. Don't worry, I'll contact you if that happens. Take care, Butch, Brick, Boomer."
"Take care, Dad, take care," Brick said.
"Yes Dad," said Boomer, who is still evacuating people with Bubbles.
"Don't get yourself killed Dad," said Butch.
That put Brick in a dilemma. He knew that they wouldn't defeat the monster anytime soon. He also knew that his Dad might be killed if he would delay. He has an urge to leave immediately, abandon the battle, and rescue his Dad. But he knew that all his future plans for himself, for his brothers, for the family name, for his father, and for the girls would go be ruined if the girls died.
"Butch, go and help Dad," Brick ordered. "I'll rescue the sissies."
"But what about you? You can't fight the monster all by yourself!" Butch complained.
"Don't worry. I'll get the blue girl to help me. As for you, go and save Dad! Don't worry, I'll send Boomer to help you after they're done evacuating the morons. And I'm putting you in charge of Dad's safety. But remember, if anything happens to him, I'm holding you responsible!" Brick sternly said, glaring at his green-eyed brother.
"I won't let you down," Butch said, delighted at being handed a responsibility and a command over his other brother. Brick always takes almost all the responsibility and all the blame and all the power, so this meant much to him.
"I know you won't, now go," said Brick. 'Butch should do fine. Now to Boomer.'
"Boomer, are you done with rescuing the bipeds?" asked Brick.
"Nearly," said Boomer. "Bubbles and I are nearly done."
"Okay. Boomer, you already know that Dad's in trouble. I've sent Butch to save Dad. I've put Butch in charge, so you better follow his orders on that mission. Bubbles, are you there?"
"Yes Brick?"
"Listen, your sisters are in the monster's grip. Go and put those Townies in the park and fly here A.S.A.P. I can't fight the monster by myself."
"Okay Brick," said Bubbles as she picked up the people carried by Boomer. Boomer went and flew towards his house.
Brick then faced the monster. 'Whew. It only took forty-five seconds to bark those orders. Now, what to do, what to do?'
Meanwhile…
The robbers, all armed with loaded guns, split up-each going to a room to find the elusive Dr. William K. Edwards. It was a mistake.
Dr. Edwards hid behind a door as soon as a robber entered. He was clutching in his left hand a powerful flashlight, while in his right hand a loaded .45 pistol. As soon as the robber entered, he flicked the flashlight right into the robber's eyes. And as luck would have it, the robber removed his shades to try to frighten the doctor with the look on his eyes.
He was forced to shield his eyes, and the angle of his gun was unintentionally raised as he fired his gun in panic. The bullet flew just an inch higher than the doctor's forehead, and it tore a hole on the doctor's fedora hat and he felt the bullet brush against his hair. He was unharmed however, but was shaken by his brush with death.
The doctor instinctively fired his gun, and he hit the robber in the nose. The robber fell to the floor, dead.
Soon, he heard one of the robbers run towards the room. He saw the doctor and tried firing his gun at him. He missed and the doctor fired back. He also missed. Dr. Edwards then went behind a corner for cover.
"Come out, Edwards. Give us the data on that monster hide and I promise I won't kill you," the man said. "And that's being considerate of me, since you've killed both Twenty-seven and Thirty-six. I should kill you but if you cooperate, I'll just torture you and let you live as a cripple for the rest of your miserable life!"
"Fck you!" Dr. Edwards shouted. "Tell you what! Give up now, and tell me who sent you, and I promise you'll get a fair trial. Plead insanity and maybe you can escape execution."
Dr. Edwards then tried shooting. Fifteen hid behind the door. After that, Fifteen tried shooting the doctor, but he missed. They spent five minutes in a stalemated shootout.
Dr. Edwards just reloaded his gun and was about to have another round with Fifteen when he felt the cold barrel of a gun touch the back of his head.
"Drop it," a voice suddenly said. "Don't turn around if you value your life. Hey Fifteen, I got the motherfcker."
"Good work, Eighty-Two," said Fifteen. "Bring the illustrious doctor here."
Soon, the doctor, with his hands up and with Eighty-Two leading him towards Fifteen.
Fifteen then searched the doctor's pockets for any weapon he might carry. He found three more loaded .45 pistols, two colt .38's, one mauser, one sheathed dagger, a couple of swiss knives, two brass knuckles, and a grenade.
He then put the weapons on the floor and led him to another room.
"This is for Twenty-seven," Fifteen shouted as he struck the doctor with this gun. He then punched him in the stomach, followed by striking him in his back. The sheer force of the blows forced Dr. Edwards first to keel over, then drop to his knees. "This is for Thirty Six!" he shouted, then repeatedly kicked him in the stomach. This forced him to lie on the floor on his stomach. Soon, the doctor was coughing blood. Eighty-Two just watched the scene, his gun constantly pointed at the doctor to make sure he doesn't make any funny moves.
"Now," said Fifteen, leaning over to the doctor, "you'll get up and give us the data on that monster hide if you know what's good for you!"
The doctor then struggled to get up. His body was aching, but he finally managed. "Okay, so you want the data? Follow me," said the doctor. "Just don't hurt me anymore."
"Smart bugger," said Eighty-Two. Soon, the doctor was standing.
But before anything further could be done, two boys appeared before them. Boomer and Butch were shocked to see their father in this condition. He had a cut and bleeding lip, he's eyeglasses were broken, he has a black right eye, and the floor was covered with blood from his coughing. He looked like a wreck, though he could see the smile on his face upon looking at his two sons.
"You're going to pay for that!" Butch said in a very dangerous tone.
Meanwhile…
Brick tried to do the only thing he could think of. He first gave the monster a powerful laser blast from his eyes to distract it. He then went over to Blossom and tried pulling her out of the monster's grip.
"It's no use, Brick!" shouted Blossom. "It's too tight!"
"Well, I gotta try something!" Brick shouted. "And right now, this is the only thing I could think of to save your hideous and ugly face!"
"My face is not ugly! It is very beautiful!" defended Blossom. "Anyway, I think you need to think of another plan. This isn't working!"
"Yeah, but what choice do I have?" asked Brick as he tried pulling Blossom from the monster's grip. "The only other choice is to let the monster squeeze you to death. Come to think of it, it isn't so bad! Why didn't I think of that before? It'll rid the word of such an ugly creature like you! Well, if you want me to do that, that's fine with me!"
"Oh shut up, Brick," Blossom said, irritated by Brick's teasing at this dire moment. The whole time, the monster is rampaging through the city and smashing Brick, Blossom and Buttercup. "How about you stop yapping and try to loosen the grip of that monster. It's starting to hurt!"
"Well, that's one good idea I've heard all day," Brick complimented. "And I thought you've left your brain at home!" He then tried punching and kicking the hands that gripped the red-haired puff, but nothing happened. Brick gritted his teeth in frustration, until he saw one of the bolts holding the duranium plates in the hands of the monster. It's top is dome shaped and sticking from the flat surface. And there is the slot for the screwdriver too. It is as large as a bottom of a bucket.
He started to turn around the screw, when he saw Bubbles arrive. "Hey Bubbles, try to pull your sister from the grip of the monster!" ordered Brick. So Bubbles, who was surprised by what she saw, did as Brick asked.
A few seconds later, Brick has partially turned the screw. Bubbles got nowhere in trying to pull Blossom off.
"Bubbles, I think you should try removing the other screw holding the plate," Blossom suggested.
"No I think you should continue pulling your sister!" Brick said as he made another turn at the screw.
"No, she should try and remove the other screw!" shouted Blossom.
"No, she should try pulling you off. I have a plan and it won't work if she isn't pulling you, dammit!"
"Screw your plan!" replied Blossom. "No pun intended of course. But Bubbles will help you with what you're doing! Besides, I am the leader and you two will do as I say!"
"Okay, you win—again," said Brick, grumbling. Bubbles, who was caught in the middle, then went and started turning the screw on the other side of the plate, just like Blossom ordered.
And all this while the monster was pummelling them continuously by crashing them against buildings.
A minute later, Brick was able to remove the screw. He then went over and helped Bubbles remove hers. Thirty seconds later, he and Bubbles removed the second screw. After that, both of them removed a three by two foot piece of duranium plate that was held by the two screws.
"Now Bubbles, I want you to give your most powerful laser attack on this piece of skin, got it?" Brick instructed.
"Got it, Brick," Bubbles replied.
"Okay, on the count of three. One…two…three, now!"
Bubbles and Brick gave powerful laser attacks through the exposed skin in the two by three feet gap. Soon, a sharp pain—as sharp as a bee-sting in human terms—shot through the arm of the monster, forcing it to release Blossom and loosen its grip on Buttercup.
"Bubbles, pull Buttercup, now!" ordered Brick. Bubbles did as told, and soon, all three sisters plus Brick was floating—battered but free.
"Yeah Brick!" shouted Buttercup.
"That was great, Brick," Bubbles said.
"Thanks for saving us," said Blossom.
"Hmph. Keep your thanks. I didn't do it for you or because I am nicer. No, I did it for my own selfish personal interests!"
"Still too proud to admit you've changed, eh Brick?" said Blossom. "And what would that personal interest be?"
"Simple. When I become leader of the Ruff-Puff Alliance. I'd rather command five people than three. Three people's not much, but five-now, that's power!" Brick said.
"You're dreaming Brick. You'll never become leader as long as I'm around," boasted Blossom.
"As Bubbles said, dreams can come true, now can it? Besides, I still want to be leader, so I'm warning you, watch your back. I'm saying this so that you won't whine when you find yourself taking orders from me!" boasted Brick.
"Oh yeah! I still don't believe the personal interest stuff you keep telling us. I think the real reason you saved me is because you like me!"
Brick made a gagging sound. "Now why would I like someone who as ugly as you! I'd rather look at a garbage can than look at that mass of muscles you call a face!"
"Ha, you should know that you're now looking at the most beautiful face in this side of earth, you're just too blind to admit it, but enough of that. We've still got a monster to defeat," Blossom said, pointing to the still rampaging monster. "Now Brick, you still have an idea on how to stop it?"
Brick looked down. "No."
"Well, I've got one. Girls, Brick, I want you to direct a steady stream of laser on the monster. And I want it to be steady!" Blossom ordered. "By the way, where's Butch and Boomer?"
Brick explained what happened.
Meanwhile…
"Who…are you?" asked a bewildered Eighty-two.
"I'm Butch Edwards, leader of this mission," Butch proudly stated, "and this is my brother, Boomer Edwards. And we're the proud sons of Dr. William Edwards. So, if you surrender now, we promise you a quick and painless death." He tried his best to act like Brick.
"Don't make a move or your Dad gets it," Fifteen said.
"Oh no, don't do it!" shouted Boomer.
"Then leave us alone!" said Eighty-two.
"I'm going, I'm going," said Boomer, to the disbelief of Dr. Edwards and Butch. Soon, he left by the way he came in.
"That fellow is a fraidy-cat, though smart," said Fifteen. "Now, it's…what the hell?"
As Fifteen was talking, a blue wave came in from the window beside the robbers. Soon, they discovered that Dr. Edwards was suddenly gone from their clutches, and was being held by Boomer outside, floating in the air. Fifteen fired a few shots, hit Boomer, but it had no effect.
"We're dead!" said Eighty-two. Butch then began to close in, ready and delighted to torturing the duo, when suddenly, they began making coughing sounds and began clutching their necks. Soon, they fell to the ground, and a few seconds later, were dead.
Boomer and Dr. Edwards entered the room. Soon, both boys went and hugged their Dad.
"Dad, are you alright?" asked Butch.
"Yeah, they were going to kill you," said Boomer, tears streaming down his cheeks. "And please don't get mad at me. I know men and boys aren't supposed to cry, but this is just too much."
"We're very sorry for not coming sooner," said Butch, though without tears. "We'll never forgive ourselves if something happens to you Dad! What will happen to us if you died?"
"Dry your tears, son," said Dr. Edwards. "I'm alive, and that's all that matters. I'm proud of you my sons, I want you to know that. Besides, I've killed two of them myself!"
"You have? Cool!" said both of them. "No wonder those two were ticked off."
"Well, your old man is not too bad a shot you know. I shot both of them in the head while both of them missed. I also got a pretty close call." He then showed them the hole in his hat.
The admiration of the boys for their father increased tenfold.
"Boomer, Dr. Edwards, Butch, are you there?" Blossom's voice could be heard in the communicator watches of the three. "Is the doctor safe?"
"Don't worry, Blossom, Butch and Boomer just saved me. What about the monster?"
"Glad you're OK dad," they heard Brick's voice say. "And as you heard, I've single-handedly, with a little help from Bubbles, saved the girls!" he boasted.
"Well, we haven't defeated it yet. But I have a plan. Can Butch and Boomer come here?"
"Sure they can. Butch will come first," said the doctor. "I'll call the police and Boomer will join you as soon as they arrive."
"Okay doctor, thanks!" Blossom said. "Butch, come here quick."
Butch went to where Blossom and the rest of them were.
"Glad you're here, Butch," said Blossom as soon as he arrived. "Now, I want each and every one of you to focus your most powerful laser fire on the monster, and keep it steady until I say so."
"Now who gave you that crazy idea?" asked a sceptical Brick. "We've laser beamed that monster lots of times already, and it hasn't had a damned effect for crying out loud. You're using a tried, tested and proven failure of a strategy against that monster!"
"O ye of little faith, just trust me on this one, okay? I have a plan, and I'll explain it to you when the monster is dead," said Blossom.
"That isn't good enough reason," replied Brick. "I'm still not convinced."
"How about this. Do it because I order it, Brick, and that goes for you three, Butch, Buttercup, Bubbles!" she said at the four of them.
"Okay," said Brick, defeated in the argument once more.
Butch went along with his brother, though further irritated by Blossom's bossiness. Buttercup, though annoyed, was used to it and has no better ideas so she went along. Bubbles just followed her leader like always.
"Remember, keep your distance to avoid being hit by the monster's attacks," she instructed.
"Okay, girls, do plan RNZ! Boys, just do as you're instructed!"
Blossom and Buttercup went at three different angles of the monster, and laser-eyed it. Brick and Butch then went and did the same.
The monster was annoyed, and tried hitting it with its tail, or grabbing them with its arms. Nevertheless, the ruffs and puffs were too high, and the monster was unable to do anything about it. However, at first it seemed that nothing happened.
Ten minutes later…
They were still at it. Though by now, the monster seemed a little more excited than before, but the boys and girls continued to let out a steady stream of laser at the monster. Boomer joined them at this point. Still, it looked like nothing has happened.
Ten minutes later…
They were still at it. Though by the monster was by now howling and running around the city, it still gave no evidence of weakening.
"Your brilliant plan of yours isn't working!" complained Brick. "Nothing has happened!"
"Yeah Red, what's the deal with this," Buttercup added.
"You'll see. Just keep on firing," Blossom reassured.
Ten minutes later…
The monster was by now running wildly, making sounds that looked like screaming. The kids continued to apply pressure, following the monster wherever it went. A few minutes later, the monster just stopped running, and dropped to the ground. A few minutes later, it was dead. And it couldn't come sooner. The kids were literally drained of energy when this happened, and a few minutes more of this would have exhausted their reserves.
"What happened?" asked a confused Buttercup.
"The monster is dead. We've won—once again under my leadership!" Blossom proudly said.
"Oh Blossom, that was great! You're brilliant!" Bubbles said, jumping up and down and hugging her sister
"Sorry for doubting you," Buttercup said. "You were right all along! You rock! You're the greatest leader ever!" She then slapped Blossom's back as a gesture of appreciation.
"We kick ass!" Butch shouted, though careful not to give any compliment to Blossom, swinging his arms and playfully punching Brick in the shoulder.
"Yeah! Those duranium plates are as useful as tin hats!" Boomer declared. "You're great Brick."
Brick just stared at the monster. He then stared at Blossom with a mixture of admiration, envy and embarrassment. Once again, she had proved him wrong. His mouth was gaping wide open.
'How does that girl do it?' Brick wondered. 'How did she do it? How could she be so brilliant? A few minutes ago, it seems as though nothing could stop the monster, and she easily makes a plan that actually defeated it?'
"So, Brick, I told you it would work," said Blossom. "So what do you think? My plan defeated the monster with no casualties, and it was my brilliant mind that did it! If you were in charge, then many of those people in those buildings would have died!"
"Yeah, yeah, that was terrific," said Brick without enthusiasm, though he took this occasion to slap Blossom back as a form of congratulations.
"Hey, I told you not to do that! That's not nice," she complained.
"You'll just have to live with it. Anyway, Congratulations! That was awesome! I never thought you, or anyone else, could do it. Anyway, how did you do it?" asked a curious Brick, ignoring the glares from his brothers.
"Well, you see, that monster was covered with duranium plates. We can't do anything physical to it, so punching it or using physical stuff won't work. Trying to remove all its screws, knots and bolts would take too long and would leave us in a vulnerable position, as you earlier demonstrated. Then I remembered that that monster is covered with metal. Then I remembered about the oven. Duranium is a metal, which means it conducts heat. That monster is like an animal stuck in an oven. All I have to do it heat the oven, and the metal would amplify the heat. And I heated it up by using our laser-eyes. It took time, but it slowly roasted the monster to death, and the duranium armor became its prison, an oven if you will," she explained. "That monster died of too much heat and its skin being burned to a crisp."
"That…was…brilliant," Brick involuntary said. "You turned the plates into frying pan!" 'Who knew that the monster with duranim plates would easily be defeated in such a way,' he thought.
It was her greatest triumph since the alliance was made. One thing is for sure, Blossom turned out to be a better leader than he expected—at least in the strategy and tactics department. She still is short in tact, an area where Brick has in abundance. But nonetheless, he felt a little inferior to Blossom at that moment. He had to admit, Blossom, to his opinion at least, has proven to be a brilliant leader. And to top that, except for the time where Blossom was caught in the monster's grip, he now felt he acted like a whiner. 'And I couldn't even think of another plan to defeat that monster,' he thought. 'That proves how inexperienced I am.' That temporarily sunk his hopes for becoming leader in the near future. Tough he quickly regained his self-confidence and vowed that he would be a better leader than Blossom was when his opportunity comes.
"It was brilliant, but I'm even more brilliant than you could ever be!" he said, in a transparent attempt to save face.
"Keep telling yourself that and you might believe it," Blossom remarked before joining her sisters.
Boomer and Butch were a little impressed, but they were too hostile to Blossom for their opinions about her to change.
The boys, without telling the girls, quickly flew home. Butch and Boomer were talking about how full Blossom was of herself. Brick is thinking about recent events.
'Now let's see. Where does Blossom and I stand? She is superior on these counts. She has the trust of the people, she has experience, she is intelligent, she is caring enough of her sisters and the town, has my willingness to follow her orders, she can be sneaky and she is brilliant. Now on her disadvantages. The loyalty of Buttercup is weak, and she is disliked intensely by my brothers. She is too moralistic for her own good. She is too cocky and arrogant, even by my own standards. Now, what are my advantages? Well, I seem to have a good relationship with Bubbles, and at least Buttercup and I aren't hostile. I am also brilliant, and intelligent. I am even sneakier than she is. And I have the complete and total loyalty of Boomer and Butch, and that's my greatest advantage over her. Now for my disadvantages. I am inexperienced. I can sometimes be too self-confident. I am also as arrogant and cocky as she is. And I just gave away our book on strategies. I am cold-hearted to the people, and seem too rational and self-interested.'
The boys arrived at their home and discovered that there were about a dozen police officers at the house investigating what happened. Dr. Edwards was talking to Chief Grulp.
"Well, I guess whoever sent the first one over is making sure they succeed this time," said Grulp. "And they damned nearly did. They timed it so that your boys are away and there is a small chance of them intervening, and they damned nearly succeeded—if not in getting what they were after—then in killing you."
"Sill Alex, somebody had been shadowing the four. I mean they died of stroke after the boys arrived, and my money says that it ain't of no natural causes," Edwards said. "They were eliminated, just like the first one, to keep them from talking. Whoever sent them has done a great job covering their tracks. A bit ruthless—but effective."
"Dad!" he suddenly Brick say. He turned around, but he was suddenly hugged by his son. "Dad, I was worried sick about you! I thought you could have been killed! I'm glad you're okay!"
"Don't worry son, I'm okay. Butch and Boomer saved me," said the doctor. "What about the monster?"
"We defeated it," Brick simply said. "Dad I'm sorry if I wasn't here…I…"
"It's okay. I know you have a duty to Townsville," said Brick.
Behind them were Butch and Boomer.
"And Brick, didn't you know that Dad killed two of them?" said Butch.
"Really?"
"Kinda. But it was self-defense," said Dr. Edwards.
"That is so cool! Now I can brag to other kids that my Dad killed two bad guys!" Brick said. "Dad, you've got to tell me exactly what happened.
So Dr. Edwards gave the boys, and Chief Grulp, an exact account of exactly what happened, with the boys asking their father to repeat the time when he shot both of them.
It was recess of September 12, and the six kids were having a meeting to discuss recent events.
"Here's the evidence," began Blossom. "There are two monsters, one with a rubber hide, and the one covered with duranium plates. And both of them are unusually strong for monsters. And where did the duranium plates come from?"
"Or, more appropriately," continued Brick, "who put it at them. Because, no matter how intelligent you claim those monsters are, they can't put those armor by themselves."
"Blossom, Brick, I have to say something," said Bubbles. "You see, I tried talking to the monster yesterday, and I can't. That monster, like the monster before it, is different from the monsters in Monster Island."
"Yeah Bubbles, those monsters were unusual for monsters," Blossom said.
"And the next evidence is, those four robbers. I know it's different, but I have a gut feeling that they are somehow linked to the monsters. I mean just look at them. They have only whites in their eyes, they have no fingerprints, and they timed their attack to coincide with the monster attacks."
"No, it's just a coincidence," Blossom insisted. "Look, me and my sisters have been battling monsters and criminals for over a year and not once in our experience did we ever hear of a man making a alliance with monsters!" said Blossom.
"What you obviously meant was there was no way that a bunch of thieves could make a deal with the monsters. Well, I think it is a possibility. It's too much of a coincidence!"
"No there is no possibility. The thieves just waited until your Dad is vulnerable, and that is when you were away to battle monsters. They just took advantage of the opportunity!" Blossom explained. "And the physical aberrations of the thieves were just that, physical aberrations that explains nothing!"
"I think you're wrong," Brick frankly said, "but we'll just have to see. So what's your plan?"
"I think we should start with our pairing system," said Blossom. "Brick, you and I will go first. We'll go to Monster Island and interview some of the monsters there. Maybe they know something about this. Butch, Buttercup, you're the next pair. If anything happens while we're gone, you two will take care of it. Bubbles, Boomer you two will take care of the next problem after the first. If anybody of you needs further help, just contact each other using the communicator watches. Is that clear?"
"Yes Blossom," Buttercup and Bubbles said. The boys just grumbled.
The bell rang and the kids went over to class. Blossom awaited her chance and got it.
"Kids, the Third National Bank is being robbed!" said Dr. Edwards.
"Mr. Wolfe, could we?"
"Go ahead," the history teacher said, annoyed being interrupted. 'And I thought being a teacher is a nice normal job! I should have listened to mother and became an accountant!'
To the surprise of the students, only Brick and Blossom went out.
A few minutes later…
"That was easy. That was the most pathetic attempt at bankrobbing ever!" said Brick.
"Yup! Who would've thought that the Amoeba Boys would ever get the nerve to rob a bank?" Blossom remarked.
"Well, let's go back!" said Brick.
"No, we aren't going back?" said Blossom.
"Sorry, but I don't play hooky like you," replied Brick.
"We're not playing hooky," Blossom said. "We're going to Monster Island!"
"Once again, I think you've lost your mind, but you're the leader! And it kind of makes sense. Somebody with a face as ugly as yours could only live in Monster Island and not scare others!" he teased.
"I am not ugly!" said Blossom, irritated. "I am the most beautiful of all Powerpuffs! You're just too blind to see it! Besides, we're going to Monster Island because we need to know if the monsters know something about all that has been happening. Bubbles thinks that the monsters we just fought didn't come from Monster Island. We need to know for sure, and find out what's really happening."
"I guess you're right," conceded Brick.
So the two leaders went to Monster Island.
The first monster that Blossom saw caused her to frown. It was Tom, the telepathic monster who betrayed the girls during the fight and told Boomer all about it—the revelation that caused Boomer and Butch to totally dislike and even hate Blossom. And it is the revelation that can destroy the reputation of the Powerpuff Girls forever if it was revealed to the public.
'What brings you two here?' asked Tom.
Blossom looked at the monster, and she lost all control. She lunged at it and began beating it up. "Why you, you betrayed us! And you are such a tattle-tail. We trusted you, and look at what you've done!" She kicked it, laser-eyed it, and froze it repeatedly. The monster was just too surprised that it never mounted an effective counterattack.
Brick just looked amused at the scene below him. He was not used to seeing Blossom just attack a monster for seemingly no apparent reason.
After beating the monster up, she glared at the monster. "Now, I have a few questions to ask you and you better give a good answer if you don't want more broken bones."
'Okay,' said Tom to Brick and Blossom's mind.
"Has any monster attacked Townsville from this Island in the past few days?"
'Not that I know of, and believe me, I know almost everything that goes on around this island,' the monster frantically answered.
"Anything unusual happen lately," asked Brick.
'Well, there has been a few monsters that has disappeared in the past few weeks. They just vanished, just like that!' the monster said in Brick's mind. 'Any other questions?'
"Well, that's all that we need to know," said Blossom in a harsh tone. "And remember, behave, or our siblings would come back."
Suddenly, Dr. Edwards' voice could be heard from the communicator. "There's another monster attacking Townsville!"
Brick and Blossom looked at each other. They haven't seen any monster leave the island the whole time they were there, and that confirmed their suspicion. The monsters who recently attacked Townsville did not come from Monster Island.