Allies and Rivals II
Chapter 15 - Where Does the Buck Stop?
The City of Townsville…
It was September 14, two days after the disappearance of Dr. Edwards.
Butch was playing some video games to try to drown out the sadness he felt for his Dad's death.
"Hey Butch, how's it going? Give him a punch, no kick him, yeah!" Brick shouted as he approached the new leader.
"Whoopee! I won! Yeah!" Butch shouted, then went for another game.
"Congratulations Butch! You really kicked his ass!" Brick cheered. "I have made the documents ending our alliance with the girls, and all it needs is your signature for it to be effective!"
"Read it to me," Butch said.
"Well, it's too long, but I'll read this part to you. I, Wilbur Butch Edwards, do hereby proclaim the dissolution of the Ruff-Puff Alliance, and sever any formal connection with Blossom Utonium, Bubbles Utonium, and Buttercup Utonium, effective a day after the this document is signed."
"And here's a pen, here read it!" Brick said. "As a leader, you shouldn't sign anything without reading it!"
Butch grabbed the papers. It is about four pages. The letters were small, printed in about 8 font, and composed of eight paragraphs. Butch just skimmed it and signed it at the end. "What the hell did you write and how the hell were you able to type something so long?"
"You know I'm a fast typist ever since Dad taught me to use the computer. Oh here's two more documents for you to sign," Brick said. He then gave the two documents each about three pages long to Butch. The font is eight, and written in legalistic, scientific language that made Butch's head hurt. "What's in here?"
"Well, you know, this and that and all those things. I think you should read it, and sign it too," Brick asked.
"I'll read it later," Butch said, resuming his game.
"No, it's very important for you to sign it! Read it first and sign it!" Brick asked.
"Okay," Butch said, grabbing the papers and pretended to read it, but he really didn't really read it.
"Get me a pen," Butch asked.
"You've finished reading it?" Brick asked.
"Each and every word," Butch lied, "now give me a pen, I've got to get back at my game!"
"Okay," Brick said, and he gave the pen to Butch. Butch then signed it and gave it to a grinning Brick.
"There. Now go and smooth out things or whatever you said you're going to do with the girls yesterday," Butch ordered.
"Are you sure you really want to dissolve the alliance, Butch?" asked Brick.
"We've already discussed this yesterday and my answer is still the same," Butch said. "And you can't do anything about it unless you want to be the leader again!"
"How about giving the position to Boomer?" said Brick.
"Don't make me laugh. And I changed my mind. I withdraw my offer to give you back the leadership. You'll just give it to Boomer and resign again."
"Okay, have it your way," Brick said as he hid the signed documents and called the Utonium House.
"Hello?" Blossom said.
"This is Brick. I have something important to tell you. Go to the edge of the lake and we'll talk," he said and hanged up.
He then went to the edge of the lake, thinking. A few minutes later, Blossom arrived.
"Well, fancy meeting you here," Blossom greeted. "Now, have you reconsidered your decision to resign?"
"No," he glibly said. "But I want to tell you something. Tomorrow, the alliance is gone. Butch's first order is to dissolve it. Just wanted you to know that you'll again be a leader of only two people."
Blossom was flabbergasted by what she heard. "You're kidding!"
"Ask Butch to see if I am kidding!"
"He's crazy, he'll destroy all that we've worked for! He's not fit to be your leader!" Blossom protested.
"Don't badmouth my brother. Butch is a brave soul. He thinks he knows what's good for us, and he's not crazy! And I think he's fit to be the leader," Brick defended.
"But he'll destroy the alliance!"
"And if he wants to, then fine! He's the leader, and what he says go. Boomer and I just follow," Brick asserted.
"But you know that we'll be sitting ducks to our enemies if we split it up now. You know we would have long been killed by whoever is trying to kill us if we didn't fight together!" Blossom replied.
"Well, I'm not the leader, and Butch is, because no matter how much you plead to me, it won't change Butch's mind. Talk to him," Brick asserted. "As for me, I will just follow whatever our new leader wants."
"Then why are you telling me this? Isn't Butch the leader suppose to announce it?" Blossom asked.
"He ordered me to tell you," Brick said. "Butch is really turning out to be great leader, even better than me, don't you think? I'm right in choosing him to succeed me!"
"How could you say this? The making and maintaining of this alliance is one of your best accomplishments! Without you, this alliance is toast!" Blossom reasoned.
"True, but I was leader back then, and now that Butch is leader, I guess you're right, the alliance is toast!"
"So take back the leadership! You alone among your brothers have both the common sense and the will to impose your vision! You have proven that you're a real leader, but you're throwing it away! You've got nothing to feel guilty about! Look, you've regained your confidence, so why not take back the leadership? It's not your fault Dr. Edwards is dead! And we need you in times such as these!"
"How could I be the leader again if I know that because of me, Boomer and Butch lost their father? How could I be the leader again if know that because of me, our source of security and happiness was dead? How could I be the leader again if I know that because of me, our future is now very gloomy. How could I be the leader again if I know that because of me, our anchor, our role-model, our source of strength is dead? No, because of me, my brothers and I are back at square one, and because of that, I don't deserve to be the leader ever again, even if as you said, I am the most fit to be," Brick emotionally said.
"Is there anything I could do or say to make you take back leadership back?" asked Blossom.
"If Dad called me and say that it's not my fault and should be the leader again, then I'll gladly be the leader again. But he's dead because of me, and that would never happen."
After that, Brick flew off and went to his friends' house.
A few hours later…
Boomer was practicing on the keyboard, when he heard a knock on the door.
"Get it," Butch shouted.
"Okay!" Boomer said. It was Brick, along with their new friends, Mike and Mitch.
"Hi Mike, hi Mitch? What are you guys doing here?"
"We heard what happened to your Dad," Mitch explained. "I'm very sorry!"
"It's okay," Boomer said.
"Well, let's go see Butch," Brick suggested. The other three agreed and they went the Butch's room, reading some comic books.
"Mitch, Mike, I want you to meet the leader of the Rowdyruff Boys, Wilbur Butch Edwards," Brick introduced.
"What? I thought you're the leader?" asked a surprised Mike.
"I resigned and gave the position to Butch", Brick glibly exclaimed, "because he is the most fit to be the next leader, aren't you Butch?"
"Yep! I am!" Butch said with pride.
"Butch, I am sure, is a very competent boy. He's an excellent leader so far. Indeed, he didn't do anything that would make him stupid as a leader. Isn't that right, Butch?" said Brick.
"Wow, you really admire Butch, Brick," Mike said.
"Yeah, I knew Butch was cool but I never thought he was that cool!" Mitch added.
"Well, how could I not admire Butch? He's the paragon of leadership. He's the very image of a great leader! He's cool. He's brave, and he is a very wise decision maker! He's no fool! Unlike others, he won't do stupid things!"
Butch was beaming with pride as Brick gave more extravagant praises, while Boomer was confused.
"He won't do stupid things, like sign something before reading it, isn't that right Butch?"
"Of course, a leader who signed something he didn't read is not fit to be the leader!" Butch concurred.
"And don't you agree that there is no excuse if a leader would sign something without reading it and it turned out that it's something that he doesn't want?"
"Yeah! If that happened, then either he should quit, or he should do whatever was written in what he signed!" Butch affirmed.
"Don't you agree, Boomer, Mike, Mike?" Brick asked.
"Well, yeah, you should always read it before you sign it," Mike said.
"Yeah, anybody who does that is an idiot!" Mitch affirmed.
"And whoever did that would be more stupid than a retard," Boomer added.
"And as leader, I won't do anything so stupid!" Butch asserted.
"I know, so far, your decisions are good. And what the…he, he," he then picked up a tape recorder from his pocket. "Looks like I accidentally pressed the record button on this tape recorder in my pocket." He then laughed. "Well, let's see what I recorded by accident." It recorded the entire conversation from the time Brick introduced Butch as the new leader.
After listening to the tape, Brick put it back in his pocket. "Now, where are we? Oh yes, Butch, you're such a great leader, that I regret your decision to resign as leader and hand it over to Boomer. He then took unrolled a four pieces of paper and showed it to a shocked Mike, Boomer and Mitch. It was one of the documents signed by Butch that morning. "Here is his resignation letter, just signed this morning and entrusted to me by Butch so I can announce it to you." At the bottom of the last page of the letter, was Butch's own signature. Brick then took the paper. "Here are some parts of it. It says: "because, I, the ever so humble Wilbur Butch Edwards, do not feel I am worthy enough of the office of leader of the Rowdyruff Boys. Being a leader is such a great honor, that I see that for the good of the team, I must resign the leadership. Therefore, effective five hours after I sign this document, I will no longer be the leader. I appoint my brother, James Boomer Edwards, a boy whom I feel would do a much better job than me, as the new leader of the Rowdyruff Boys."
"Wow! You even put it in paper," Mike said.
Butch was in a dilemma that was partly his own doing. 'If I only had read that damned thing! Damn, that Brick is smart. If I said he tricked me, then I'd be the laughing stock of my brothers and Mike and Mitch, and probably the entire school. I can't deny this! Yet if I accept it, Boomer will be the leader, and I won't be able to dissolve the alliance. On the other hand, my reputation will only go up if I accept it. Oh well!'
After several seconds…
"Yeah, I think Boomer would be a better leader than me," Butch finally said, capitulating to fate.
"Wow Butch, you're really cool! Nobody would have the guts to admit that, but you're man enough to do it!" Mike complemented. "Though I think you'll be great as a leader."
"Yeah, yeah," Butch merely said, peeved at his brother but angry with himself. He had fallen to Brick's trap, and he wasn't even aware of it until he sprung it. 'I am such an idiot!' Butch thought. He could have been leader until he wanted too, but he blew it.
"Yeah, you're cool in my book!" Mitch complemented.
Boomer was shocked to say the least. 'That's the last time I underestimate Brick! Even when he's not leader, he still gets his way. And now I am the leader. I think I better listen to what Brick says next time.'
Butch kept control of himself to avoid embarrassing himself to their new friends, while Boomer was still getting over the fact that he is now the leader.
They spent the rest of the afternoon giving Mike and Mitch a tour of the forest.
A few hours later…
"That was pretty sneaky of you, Brick," Butch said as soon as the two brothers were alone. "But why the hell did you do all those praises! Mike and Mitch might have been deceived, but why? You obviously didn't mean them."
"But I do mean them. What would you have me do? Humiliate you before Mike and Mitch and pretty much everybody? No, I don't want to do that. They think you're great because of what happened this afternoon, and your reputation increased in their eyes. You're my brother, and no matter what you do, I'll always defend you and praise you before others, and I'll always be sincere in telling them that my brothers and Dad are the greatest, even if I don't like what they're doing," Brick explained. "And you really are brave, and decisive, and I really admire you. We must stick together, Butch, and I'm very sorry if I did it this way. But where you're leading us will lead to disaster, and I can't take it sitting down! Sorry Butch. But you really have should have read it before signing it instead of playing those video games."
"Yeah, I was pretty stupid to have fallen for that!" Butch said. "In fact, I'm angrier at myself than at you for falling for such a stupid trick. It was so obvious, that I didn't see it. But why not just be the leader again?"
"Because I can't. My conscience and guilt won't let me be, even if I wanted to. Dad is dead because of me, and I'll only take back the leadership if Dad is alive," Brick said.
"Well, I'll admit, I found out today I'm not really ready to be the leader," Butch admitted. "If I am, then I wouldn't have fallen for that trick. Reminds me when Blossom tricked me into accepting the fight. I'm not angry with you now, Brick, but next time, do your tricks towards others instead of towards your brothers. But, even if you acted like a son of a bitch, thanks for the praises. To tell you the truth, you were a great actor and would have fooled me if I didn't know better."
"Think nothing of it!" Brick replied. "In fact, remember those comics that you want to borrow from me? Well, it yours. And I'll even give you some of my pogs, and some of the tapes on Dragonball Z to boot! Yes, especially the episodes you missed! It's all yours. Plus, remember the money you owe me? Well, you won't have to pay for it. I'm writing it off!"
Butch just couldn't believe his ears. After tricking him out of his leadership, Brick is offering him some of this. "Really?"
"Of course," Brick said. "I'm feeling mighty generous today. Now, what do you say about that! Are you still angry with me?"
"Well, I'll tell you this, you're a tactful, diplomatic bastard. How can I stay angry with you?"
"Glad you like it. Next time, I'll tell them that you're favorite dish is cucumber!"
"Yuck! And I'll tell others that you like to eat liver!"
"Then I'll tell them that you like to eat uncooked meat!"
"Well I'll tell them you like to rip off the limbs of live animals and eat it that way!"
The two six-year-old brothers collapsed in laughter, forgetting the earlier incident. With great tact, Brick transferred the leadership from Butch to Boomer without backing down to Butch, and he did it in such a way that it was easy to repair any damage that his move made.
"Well, you won. Now what? You'll gonna tell Boomer to cancel my dissolution of the alliance?"
"Well, yeah," Brick said. "But I won't tell him. Oh no, I'll only advise him, and it's up to him whether or not to follow my recommendations. He is the leader, after all."
A few minutes later, Boomer arrived after he saw his two friends off. He was pleasantly surprised that Butch and Brick made up this fast. In fact, he suspected that Butch would be very angry with Brick. He was, but it was diffused by Brick's seemingly sincere commendations to his brother, and his realization that he should have read the document containing his resignation before signing it, made patching the relationship easier. Plus the fact that Brick didn't mock Butch in front of anybody, or one on one, helped too.
"Wow! You two already made up! I would've thought that you would pout at Brick for the weeks!" Boomer said.
"Well, you know, we're brothers. And I have forgiven Brick here," Butch said.
"Don't worry, nobody else would find out what really happened!" Brick assured.
"Yeah, it's only between us!" Boomer said.
"Okay, then what would we do now?" asked Butch.
"Well, um, uh, I think I should resume the alliance," Boomer said.
"You can't!" Butch said.
"He's the leader, he can do whatever he wants, right Butch?"
Butch grumbled, "Yeah, I think so. Do whatever you want."
"Well, um, Brick, uh tell the girls that I am now the leader," Boomer said
"Okay," Brick said, taking the phone. He was pleased with himself. He got his way without making Butch too upset about it and he made Boomer the leader. The only thing that prevented the good mood from returning is the fact that they thought that their father was gone.
He dialled the phone and called the girls.
"Hello," Blossom answered.
"Just wanted to tell you. Butch resigned and gave the leadership to Boomer, and Boomer's first order is that the alliance is no longer dissolved. Bye!"
"What the?" Blossom said. "Wait, what happened?"
"Well, Butch thought that he's not worthy to be the leader, and thought that Boomer would be better, so he resigned and gave it to Boomer. Boomer's first order then is to cancel the order dissolving the alliance," Brick explained.
"What? I'm confused," Blossom said.
"You are? Well good! The more confused you are, the better!"
"Wait, um, could you tell Boomer that I want us to meet tomorrow? I have a plan, and I want to discuss it with you guys," Blossom said.
"Well, I'd ask Boomer first. He is the leader, you know," said Brick.
"Well, thanks," Blossom.
Brick then hang-up the phone.
"Well, Blossom said that she wanted to meet with you to plan something," Brick said.
"Should I meet with her?" asked Boomer.
"Why ask us? You're the leader! You decide!" Brick said.
"Well, uh well, I don't know. If you're the leader, what would you do?" Boomer said.
"Well, don't meet with her," Butch said. "You know you can't stand her!"
"Well, meet with her. She is the leader of the alliance, after all, and I think we should work with them," Brick advised.
"Well, um, ah, er, ah, I'm confused. Yeah, I can't stand her, but Brick's got a point, um, so I think I should go!"
Meanwhile…
"Doctor, Professor, follow me," Ckracknow said to the two scientists. He led them to a lab. There were large computers, a table full of papers, another table full of beakers, test tubes, spatulas, and other laboratory equipment. On a cabinet with a glass cover, there were containers with various chemicals in it. The adjacent room was full of electronic equipment.
"This, my captives, is part of my lab. All of the data I have researched on the monsters I took is in here. I am sure that you will find those data most useful in your endeavors. I am sure you all have sharp enough memories so you can replicate your experiments here. If you need any help, just contact me and I will be happy to help."
"So, where do you keep the data?" William asked.
"Oh, it's over there," Ckracknow said, pointing to a blackboard full of formulas, "and over there," pointing to a four notebooks, "and lastly there," finally pointing to the computers.
"Any other questions?" the mad scientist asked.
"Not at the moment," John curtly answered.
"Good. You start today," Ckracknow ordered.
"Hey, but you said we can have this day off!" Dr. William Edwards protested.
"Yeah! It's unfair!" Professor John Utonium added.
"Oh don't act like 6-year-olds. I changed my mind, and there's nothing you can do about it," Ckracknow answered.
"Couldn't you at least give us access on your monsters, so we could personally look at it?"
"Oh very well!" Ckracknow said. "You'll personally see it in four days! Now go to work."
Ckracknow and his guards then left, leaving the two scientists alone in the laboratory. William then immediately went to the blackboard and examined the mathematical and chemical equations, while John scanned the notebooks.
"Ah, John, I think these formulas are the key!" William exclaimed when he was sure they were out of earshot.
"The key to what?" said John as he scanned the notes.
"Well, I told you I can't crack the contents of the monster hide back home, well, this data is just what I needed. May I see those notes? Thank you," the doctor then scanned the notes. "Eureka! These notes fill in the blanks of my own research! Ha, now it's possible to discover the secrets of the hide. Imagine the billions I will make!"
"But Ckracknow will find out, and I don't want to know what he'll do with it. I mean he makes mutated monsters to try and kill our kids for crying out loud! We only agreed to pretend to find that formula while we looked at his data!"
"But when we find out the formula, we won't tell him. Look, we might as well get all that we can take while we're here, and we won't give to Mr. Cracker anything we find!" William said.
"Yeah, but we still haven't figured how to get out of here," John said.
"Not to worry, my boy! I have already figured that one out! You see, all I have to do is contact my boys and they will come on here, beat the living daylights out of Mr. Cracker or whatever his name is, and we can get out of this sh!thole with all the information Crack researched," William said.
"But how are we going to contact the boys or my girls?" asked John. "There isn't any goddamned phone in this godforsaken place, William, and I doubt Ckracknow will just lend us a cellular phone so we can just call home and tell our kids to come rescue us? I mean part of his set-up is letting our kids think we're dead!"
"Oh ye of little faith, John, look!" William Edwards then pointed to his watch. "Tada! My communicator watch! This baby can contact any of my boys' watches, anytime, anywhere on this planet. Ain't I great?"
"Theatrical as always, even in danger, eh William?" John commented. "Well, call them and let them know we're still alive."
"Okay!" William said as he pressed a button. He then tried calling the boys. Nothing.
"Damn it! This place must be jamming the frequency!" William said, completely losing his temper. "Why I'm going to go to Cackcow or whatever his name is and I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"
"Whoa! Stop it! You're not making any sense!" John said, shaking his colleague. "Don't lose your temper or you might ruin it! Just think of some way to contact the boys!"
"Yeah, you're right. I won't give Clacko the satisfaction of getting to me," William said. "Now, let's see. Ah, maybe we can hack his system and disable the jamming device or at least alter the frequency!"
"That's a good idea!" John said as William went to the computer and started the process.
It was September 15…
Boomer, Brick and Butch went to the Utonium house to go to the meeting Blossom had called the day before.
"Glad you three could come, especially, you Brick, and Boomer, the new leader of the Rowdyruffs," Blossom greeted in a formal manner. "Come on in."
Boomer said nothing, but glared at the pink puff, while Butch scowled, showing his dislike of the leader of the Ruff-Puff Alliance and the Powerpuff Girls. Brick just smirked, wondering how this meeting would end.
Blossom led them to the kitchen were Bubbles and Buttercup were sitting, with an empty chair between them, obviously reserved for Blossom. Opposite them are three empty chairs, while there was a white board on the head of the table, and an overhead projector in the other end. The boys took their seats, with Boomer sitting in the middle and his brothers seating either side of him. Bubbles winked at Boomer but Boomer was too busy thinking to notice her.
"Okay, I, the great and awesome Blossom Utonium, the leader of the Ruff-Puff Alliance, called this meeting to plan what we would do for the next few days. As you all know, a lot of things happened in the past few days. For example, monsters of enormous strength repeatedly attacked us, and if it wasn't for our skill, determination, cooperation, and pure luck, we would have been killed. And Bubbles here observed that those monster aren't like the one we regularly fought, are they Bubbles?"
"Well Blossom, we all know that those monsters are usually friendly," Bubbles said. "And they only fight to hold their own against us and they become heroes if they did. But I tried talking to one of the monsters, and they seemed, what's the word I was looking for? They were mindless beings!"
"Which means someone is controlling them!" Boomer said.
"Right! Now, the other thing we got to worry about is the death of Dr. Edwards, your father, and the disappearance of our Professor Utonium," Blossom continued. "It started with a series of attacks on the doctor by thieves with only white in their eyes and culminated when they gunned down your father in the car when we were busy somewhere else."
"Tell us something we don't know!" Brick said, yawning, or at least pretending to yawn.
"We're getting to that!" Blossom said. "I'm just summarizing the whole incidents so that anybody who might have forgotten might have their memories refreshed!"
"This isn't really necessary," Brick said. "I'm sure all of us knows exactly what had already happened. Just tell us what you plan to have us do!"
"If you'll just be patient," said Blossom, irritated by Brick's interruption. "And next time you boys want to tell me something, your leader Boomer should tell me, since he represents you boys. And Butch, Brick, you keep quiet unless I ask you something. Only Boomer can interrupt me to object or ask questions!"
Butch and Brick were angry, but Brick checked his anger and whispered something to Butch. Butch, who was ready to blow up at Blossom's arrogance, calmed down, though he was still angry at Blossom.
"Now, these two separate incidents, though they may have occurred at the same time, are mere coincidence! They have nothing to do with each other," Blossom asserted.
"But it's too much of a coincidence! I think they are connected!" Boomer said.
"Well, they're not!" Blossom defended. "Look, I have been a superhero far longer than you three have been alive. I don't know what exactly happened to the monsters, but I know that nobody else knows that they are intelligent. And how could anybody brainwash a monster? No, whoever killed Dr. Edwards is not capable of controlling and sending the monsters."
"Well, that makes sense," Boomer said.
Brick, however tugged his shirt.
"What?"
"No it doesn't," Brick whispered in Boomer's ear. "Tell her that someone knows about those monsters, and that it was the same person who sent those thieves and those monsters. Tell her that those thieves are not ordinary humans with those white eyes and the absence of fingerprints, and couple that with the fact that they have numbers as names. They were genetically altered, just like those monsters. Plus the fact that he wanted the monster hide indicates that he wanted to make the monsters stronger."
"Um, okay," said a puzzled Boomer. "Um, I don't think so because, uh, the thieves and the monsters were sent by the same person."
"And your proof is?" asked a skeptical Blossom.
"Well, um, uh, Brick said that um, well, uh, Brick, what is it again that you said?"
Brick slapped his head in frustration and Blossom snickered. He took the ear of his leader and whispered.
"You're the leader, and you shouldn't do these things! Show that you're confident, smart and tough. Even if you don't know what to say, always keep a brave front. And never do that again. It's embarrassing for us! Now, what I said is that the monsters and the thieves were genetically altered. You are a science buff, you should know that! And since they want the monster hide, it's all connected."
"Um, okay," said Boomer, who then faced Blossom. "I think that, ah, what's it again, oh yes, ah, eh, er, I think, um, 'cause, you know, that ah, well the thieves and the monsters were both, now what was the word again, am, changed, or something, oh yes, genetically mutated monsters, and mutant turtles, no I mean mutant thieves, and since they are after Dad's hide, then it indicates that they are connected because, well, um, er," Boomer stuttered, as the arguments were lost on him. "I'll consult further with my brothers."
"Brick, why is it again that because the thieves were after the hide that they and the monster are connected?" asked Boomer.
By this time, Blossom was getting frustrated with Boomer. Sure, she enjoyed Boomer's difficulty at first, but it soon because unbearable, especially compared to Brick's clear, logical arguments. And the meeting was going nowhere. 'Boomer has no confidence in what he's saying, and he can't make a coherent argument. I wish Brick is still the leader. His insults are preferable to Boomer's incoherence. At least Brick and I can accomplish something.'
"Because, since whoever wanted the monster hide wanted to make the monsters he kidnapped more invincible so they could easily kill us!" Brick said, nearly shouting in Boomer's ear. "The motives of the thieves in wanting the monster hide is that they wanted to make the mutant monsters even stronger!"
"Okay, ah, well, er, eh, anyway, um, so, I think the thieves were connected to the monster, because, ah, what is it again, oh yes, are, well, they wanted the monster hide because they wanted the monster to be invincible, yeah that's it, at least that's what Brick, I mean what I think, er, so there! Whew!" Boomer explained, still stuttering, the power of his argument lost in his inept delivery.
Blossom was staring disbelievingly at Boomer. 'What made Brick choose Boomer?' she thought. "I still don't get you. Well, since you can't give any coherent reasons why the thieves were connected to the monsters, we will assume that the monster and the thieves have nothing to do with each other."
"Wait," Brick said, "what Boomer meant was…"
"Sorry, as I earlier said, only Boomer as your leader can speak freely to me. You on the other hand will speak only if spoken to," Blossom said.
Brick was enraged, but he was more disappointed with Boomer. 'What was I thinking when I chose him? Well, at least he didn't end the alliance.' He again slapped his forehead, regretting his decision, but still determined to make a leader out of Boomer.
Before Blossom could proceed further, they saw the Powerpuff signal in the sky. "Looks like trouble!" Bubbles said, then woke Buttercup who had fallen asleep in the meeting.
"Boomer, I hope you are a better battle commander than you are a negotiator," said Blossom. "Okay, let's go!"
The six kids then raced towards the city, where another monster was attacking the city.
"Not again!" Buttercup remarked. "Not another super monster!"
"Okay," Blossom said. "Girls, we'll go and try to slow it down at front. Boomer, you and your brothers go at the back and create a distraction. At the right time, just before the monster plunges into the business district, order one of your brothers to create a barrier of wrecked buildings in front of him to slow it down. Remember, it must be made at just the right time, or the monster might change directions. I will engage him frontally, while my sisters will evacuate the people. Got that?"
Boomer just nodded.
Blossom then attacked the monster, dodging its swipes, but unable to stop its advance.
"Okay, um, Butch, you go and collect some materials for the barrier. Brick, you and I will attack the monster at the back."
Butch then went and obeyed his brother, while Boomer and Brick went to attack the rear of the monster. The monster's hide was so tough however, so their attacks didn't even annoy the monster.
A few minutes later, Butch gathered enough materials to block the monster—chiefly from the skyscrapers the monster earlier wrecked.
"Hey Boomer, shall I put the barrier now?" Butch asked.
"Sure, why not?" said Boomer, and Butch put the barrier between two huge skyscrapers, blocking the path of the monster. The monster then turned and went to the government district instead.
"Boomer, you fool!" Blossom shouted. "You put it too soon! Now we can't finish it off while it is struggling in the barrier!"
"I did?" Boomer asked. "Brick, remove the barrier!"
Brick did as ordered.
The monster, upon seeing the barrier removed, quickly changed its directions and entered the business district.
Blossom was again frustrated. "You fool! Why did you remove it? Now the monster entered the business district! Even if you put it too soon, you could have at least left it so he could be diverted!"
By this time, Buttercup and Bubbles had finished evacuating the people and joined their sister. Blossom had completely lost confidence at Boomer. "Okay, we'll attack…"
However, the monster, after destroying the business district, turned around and ran towards the sea and left.
The six kids were stunned. "What just happened?" asked Brick.
"I have no idea! Lucky for us though. If the monster stayed put, we wouldn't be able to defeat it, unless of course we stuck it in the barrier, where I have a plan to defeat it, but one of us obviously fouled up!" an angry Blossom said, glaring at Boomer.
Boomer fought bravely in battle. But he lack tactical and strategic sense, and he made very obvious mistakes that Brick or Blossom would not ordinarily make. Plus, he showed great indecision that frustrated both Brick and Blossom.
"Aw, give him a break, Blossom," Bubbles said. "It was only his first time as leader, and I'm sure he'll do fine next time. And besides, all wells that ends well!"
"Why? You, Boomer, are incompetent!" she shouted at Boomer's face. "Where the heck is your common sense? You made a blunder that a three year old could never do, and you have no leadership or tactical skills whatsoever! "
"Don't shout at my brother!" Brick sharply replied, defending his brother. "My brother is very competent, and he was great out there. He did his best, and I'm sure he is just hiding his talents!"
"If he has hidden talents on tactics and such, he should have shown it! But instead, he showed how incompetent he really is!"
"He's not incompetent. He was very brave, and he acquitted himself rather well!" Brick defended.
"He is brave, and is loyal, but is not fit for leadership! He is better as a loyal follower than a leader!" Blossom shouted back.
Boomer, who listened to all this, was galled beyond endurance. "Oh shut up, Blossom! I don't know how Brick could take your crap, but I sure can't! What if you're in my situation? I'm sure you would have reacted the same way! And I certainly don't like you as leader of this alliance! I'll tell you the truth. If we didn't need to work together, I would have ended this alliance the moment I became the leader because I can't stand being under you for one second longer!"
After that, Boomer and his brothers left the field in a huff, and went home.
"Blossom, that was mean!" Bubbles said, scolding her sister.
"Hate to agree with Bubbles, but you shouldn't have shouted at Boomer," Buttercup said.
"I know, but I need to talk some sense into Boomer and Brick. It's mean, but it's also true. I'll tell you the truth. We need to work together if we are to defeat whoever is behind this, and we can't work together if Brick isn't the leader," Blossom said. "I regret if I acted over the top, but what has to be done has to be done." 'And I need to show to Brick that only he can lead his team efficiently. Brick, snap out of it and become the leader again!'
Later…
"Brick, though I appreciate choosing me as leader, I beg you, please take the leadership again. I don't like being the leader! I'd thought it'd be fun but I realize you have to make the hard decisions, and it isn't it's all it's cooked up to be. I'm not smart enough to be one, and I'll embarrass myself further! Sorry, but I can't continue as the leader. I'm proud of being your leader, but I know my limitations," Boomer said, his confidence at himself at a low after the recent events. "You're a better leader than I am, Brick."
"Yeah Brick, be a man and take back the position!" Butch urged. "Take charge again! Boomer and I are once again ready to follow you. Even if you acted like a jerk yesterday when you tricked me, I'll admit, you're still a better leader than either of us!"
"Thanks guys! But I can't. Dad is dead because of me, and I can never be the leader again knowing that!"
"Cut the bullsh!t, Brick," Butch said. "Cut the crap and be the leader again!"
"Look, unless I hear Dad's voice again, I won't resume the leadership! And it won't happen because he is dead because of me!" Brick then stopped. He was lost for words. He didn't know what to say.
When suddenly…
"Boomer, Brick, Butch, it's Dad!" Dr. Edwards's voice suddenly was heard in the communicator watch.