Allies and Rivals II
Chapter 27
The Spy
The City of Towsville, and the citizens were in near-panic after Ckracknow's televised announcement. Citizens, fearing an attack, began packing, especially after they saw the ruffs and puffs get tossed around like rag-dolls. Like the fickle crowd that they were, they forgot in their fears the numerous times in the past that the Powerpuff Girls, and more recently, the Rowdyruff Boys, had saved the town against even the most impossible odds. They were afraid, deathly afraid. Ckracknow's hidden deadline only exasperated them and drove them to near desperation.
A large crowd had gathered in front of city hall in order to demand action, or at least to seek guidance from the man whom they elected repeatedly for the last forty years to be the mayor of Towsville, Jay Mayor.
Ms. Bellum, the secretary, assistant, and ultimately, the reason of the success of Mayor Mayor, was in the phone talking to Dr. Edwards.
"How are they?" asked Ms. Bellum. "Will the kids be all right?"
"They'll be fine," the Doctor assured. "They've just recovered."
"Thank God! Just one more thing. Can the kids beat Ckracknow and his henchmen?"
"I'll be honest with you, Sarah. No. Not at the moment. The kids are weak compared to those five teen-agers. But don't worry. They'll train, and when they're ready, they'll kick their asses and save not only Towsville, but also that godforsaken place they call Citiesville!"
"How long would the training take?" asked Sara.
"About a week and a half!"
"A week and a half! But what of those people Ckracknow will kill in the meantime?"
"Sorry Sara. There's nothing we can do for the moment for those people," Dr. Edwards said. "Citiesville is doomed. To attack now would be suicide, and to do so would leave Townsville to the mercy of Ckrackling's goons."
"Um William, I think it's Ckracknow, not Ckrackling."
"Whatever, the other point is, we just have to hope that, whatever Trucknow's deadline is, he won't attack before the kids are ready," Dr. Edwards said.
Ms. Bellum, though afraid of the answer, nevertheless asked the question. "And what if, for example, Ckracknow's deadline is tomorrow, or any other day before the kids are ready to face them?"
"We can only hope that isn't the case, because if it is, then I dare say, Towsville is doomed!"
There was silence for a few minutes on the phone as Ms. Bellum contemplated the gravity of Dr. Edwards's words.
"What am I going to let the mayor say to the people? If they learn the truth, they'll panic! They might even mob your house and try to kill you and John! You know how fickle the people are, William?"
"Yeah. Well, I don't know, Sara, I really don't know. You're the mayor's assistant, spin the truth! Make something up! I don't know, just don't make them panic, or it will be worse"
"Well, thanks William."
"You're welcome."
Ms. Bellum put down the phone to think. She then noticed the mayor was not in his seat. She then looked below his desk where he saw the tiny old man, hiding and shivering out of fear.
"Is he here? Ckracknow? Oh please tell me he's not here! Save me, Ms. Bellum, save me from those Monsters! Oh the horror, the horror!"
"Um, Mayor, they haven't invaded yet," Ms. Bellum said.
"Oh thank God. Um, could you open the pickle jar Ms. Bellum?"
"Sir, I don't think we have time for that! A crowd outside has gathered and…"
"An, so the crowd will open my pickle jar?"
"No."
"Really, then if they're not here to help me open my pickle jar, then why are they coming here?"
"Sir, they want reassurance that Ckracnow and his five monsters…"
"Ckracknow! Hide me, Ms. Bellum! I'm too young and smart to die!"
The mayor then hid in one of the king size drawers of his desk and trembled.
"Sir, they're not here," Ms. Bellum assured, sighing.
"They're not? Good. We can then discuss how to open my pickle jar!"
'This is going to be a long night,' Ms. Bellum thought as she shook her head.
Later…
One hour later, the Mayor accompanied by Ms. Bellum finally emerged from the inside of city hall. The small man stepped into the podium.
The crowd that had gathered before City Hall was as large a crowd that could be packed in front of the building. If one were to count it by the head, one could say that there were probably one hundred thousand men, women, children gathered before the building, united in their fear of destruction, plus TV Cameras recording the event on tape.
The crowd cheered and applauded as the mayor appeared, and all eyes gazed upon him as a kindly grandfather, the kind that will comfort the city in its direst hour. Their ears are now on the Mayor's, eager for any reassurance that surely this old man who had guided the city for forty years can give?
The crowd, in this desperate hour, forgot all the previous transgressions and humiliations that the mayor had brought upon the city before, and how could they not? In the end, everything was alright, nobody died, and alls well that ends well.
"Good citizens of Towsville, we have seen what had happened to that City we call Citiesville, but rest assured, that Towsville is better than Citiesville, and we won't suffer the same fate," the mayor, reading a prepared speech, said.
"Yeah, but what of Ckrackkow and those five super teens!"
"Yes, I'm getting to that," the Mayor said. "Before, as always, the Powerpuff Girls and the Rowdyruff Boys will save the day!"
"But those five kicked their asses! We all saw it on TV," one citizen shouted.
The crowd roared their agreement.
"Well, um, they were fakes! Ckracknow made up the tapes just to scare them! In actuality, those boys and girls can whip them right now with one hand tied behind their backs!"
Ms. Bellum could be seen behind the mayor with her head buried in her hands, shaking her head in disapproval. 'This is bad. This is really bad."
The crowd just stood there silently for a few seconds.
"Yeah, you're right! Nothing could defeat them! That tape is just a fake!"
The crowd roared in agreement, as the city, or at least those that were in the meeting, regained its faith in its heroes.
"Now go back to your homes and live as before," the Mayor announced.
The cheerful crowd cheered before dispersing and going back into their homes, with all thoughts of leaving and panicking banished into the air.
Not all people, however, were convinced. Especially the refugees from Citiesville who actually saw the battle and knew it was no fake videotape.
The next day, December 12…
The kids were beginning their training at Dr. Edwards' lab, with the Professor supervising, or at least observing. The Professor and his three daughters had temporarily moved in to Dr. Edwards's house, as the doctor had previously requested so that they could stay together in the present crisis. They packed all their clothes, plus their Christmas Tree and all wrapped presents, so there were two Christmas Trees in the Edwards's home.
Dr. Edwards was at his home office, working at home, looking at some emails from his subordinates and pouring over business documents. Even at home, he still wore the formal suits, hats and ties he always wore at work.
When suddenly, he heard a knock from his front door.
William Edwards walked and checked the security camera to check on whether the comer is a threat.
It was a handsome young man, about twenty-two, with brown hair under a hat not unlike that worn by Dr. Edwards. He wore a blue suit, with a red tie, a dark coat over it, and carried a briefcase.
Dr. Edwards then opened the door.
"Yes?"
"Hi! I'm Harry! Please to meet you sir," the young man greeted and extended his hand to shake.
"Harry what?"
"Harry Shippe, sir," the young man answered.
Dr. Edwards shook the young man's hand. "Well Mr. Shippe, what do you want?"
"Well, I was wondering if I could work as your clerk?"
"I already have a clerk, and his name is Mr. Clark."
"Well, sir, I could be a secretary?"
"Now why would I want a secretary?" asked Dr. Edwards.
"Well, if you wanted someone to encode all your documents, plan your schedule, and such, then I'm your man!"
"Sorry, but…"
"Sir, here is my resume! I graduated from Harvard cum laude with a degree in accountancy just this summer," said the young man.
"Harvard eh? Well, Mr. Shippe, I'm from Citiesville University and graduated twelve years ago!" the forty-year-old Dr. Edwards said. "Like I said, I don't want…"
"Sir, I am a spy from Ckracknow, and I came here to serve as a double agent for you. All I ask is employment, sir," the young man said.
At first, Dr. Edwards thought that Mr. Shippe was joking, but the look on Harry Shippe's face belied this.
"You're not joking, are you, Mr. Shippe?"
"No sir, Dr. Edwards," the young man replied.
"We better discuss this inside," said the doctor.
He pulled Mr. Shippe inside his house. They went to the living room, where they resumed their conversation. "Okay, Mr. Shippe, tell me who you really are and why are you doing this?"
"My real name is Forty-Five, but I go by the name of Harry Shippe. I am a clone created by Ckracknow, but I was given normal eyes and a personality so I can blend in. I was sent to spy on you and your operations, to keep him informed on what you're up to. I decided to let him think I'm spying for him when I actually am spying for you, sir. Anyway, I have my own reasons for betraying Ckracknow that I do not wish to discuss."
"Seems fair enough. Okay, before I hire you, what information can you give me?"
"Don't tell this to anyone, but Ckracknow said that he has no plans to attack Towsville. The deadline is just a bluff. For some reason that even I can't find out, he won't attack Townsville no matter what. I've heard Alpha try to plead with him to attack Towsville after they defeated the Powerpuff girls and the Rowdyruff Boys. Alpha's right, you now, sir. If Alpha and his siblings attacked now, it would all be over."
Dr. Edwards was flabbergasted at the new piece of information.
"That information is a gold mine! Ha ha! Are you sure? This is too good to be true, Mr. Shippe!" an excited Dr. Edwards said.
"I assure you, Dr. Edwards, it's true. I can even show you a conversation in tape," offered Mr. Shippe. He took a recorder from the pocket of his coat and Dr. Edwards listened as Ckracknow made the order to Alpha not to attack Townsville and him explaining to Delta that he was just bluffing.
"Brick has got to hear about this!" Dr. Edwards exclaimed.
"Sir, I think its better that we keep this information to ourselves. I don't want Ckracknow to find out I've been spying for you," advised Mr. Shippe.
"Don't worry, Brick can be trusted! He's my son after all!"
"Um, sir, do I get the job? Of secretary I mean?"
"Well, I guess so. You will report at this house at seven in the morning. Your duties include filing my documents, encoding any needed papers, and arranging my busy schedule. Your salary would be $5,000.00 per week, before taxes. After this is all over, you'll be transferred as a clerk in one of my factories with the same salary, agreed?"
Harry Shippe could scarcely believe the size of his salary, but finally agreed after a minute of stupefied silence.
A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door.
"Yes? Ah, Mayor Malarkey of Citiesville!" Dr. Edwards greeted. "Do come in! May I introduce you to my new secretary, Harry Shippe?"
"Charmed," he gruffly said. "Now Mr. Edwards, here are the papers formalizing the deal we made yesterday. All it needed is our signatures, and that of the Mayor of Towsville."
Dr. Edwards took the paper and carefully read it, word by word, line by line-twice-the first time with his eyes, the second one aloud so Harry Shippe could learn about it.
"Everything seems in order, Mayor," Dr. Edwards said. "I think we should have our lunch first before we proceed, okay?"
"Well, one more thing. What the Mayor of this city said in his speech last night is complete bullsh!t!" Mayor Malarkey exclaimed. "What is with the so-called false video? I guarantee you, your kids' asses were kicked by those teens! The tape is as fake as the beard on Fidel Castro's face."
"I know that it was all lies, but hey, you gotta give people hope," the Professor, who had joined them, tried explaining. "What I'm surprised about is the gullibility of Towsville!"
"If those people could believe the words of Harold Smith, after all he's done, they could believe anything. After all, Mayor Mayor was re-elected time and time again!" Dr. Edwards exclaimed.
Meanwhile…
The kids had been training non-stop since four in the morning, and they had made progress. Whereas they are only had reached level 17 when they woke up at dawn, at twelve noon, they had reached level 19.
The kids trained hard. The girls were motivated to reach the top level because they wanted to end all suffering in Citiesville, while the boys just wanted to beat the five.
It was noon, and the kids had taken a beating during the morning. As before, they mainly used simulated versions of themselves, of monsters, the difference being that the simulations inflicted more painful attacks. They had beaten two levels of intense training, but they were also beaten up, with scars and bruises throughout their body, with their clothes torn at several places.
They were slowly floating towards the kitchen. Brick floated last, with Blossom next to last. Boomer and Butch led the team as they were very hungry, followed by Bubbles and Buttercup. Brick took Blossom's hair, and pulled her to a corner, using his other hand to clamp Blossom's mouth so she wouldn't scream.
"What?" asked Blossom after pulling Brick's hand from her mouth the hair. She was surprised when Brick yanked her by the hair to a corner. "We don't have time to play you know."
"Look, I want to discuss something," Brick said. "It's very important. I don't want the Butch, Boomer, Bubbles and Buttercup to know about it."
"Do you have to yank me by the hair and cover my mouth like you were kidnapping me? You could've just pulled me by the shoulder!" Blossom complained
"Whatever! Look, I'm thinking we should shut down all television transmissions from Citiesville to Towsville. That way, the people of Townsville won't be treated to the horrid sight of one man being murdered in TV every hour. It's too gruesome, and it would sap the morale of the city!"
"Okay, two points, Brick. First, I agree. I don't think the death of those people should be carried live on TV. It's too barbaric! Even I couldn't bear to watch it. Yes, you should do it. Second, I don't think we should keep this from our siblings. You should be honest and tell them what you're doing."
"No, Blossom, you're wrong. My brothers and your sisters should not know that I was the one responsible for it. Just pretend to be surprised when the transmission will be cut off. That way, they wouldn't worry too much about the fate of those people dying every hour while they train! And we're not even done with the people of Towsville yet! Ckracknow won't be able to scare the people of this city the way he did last night if he can't talk to them by TV."
"What? I don't think we should be deceive anyone else! I know this is a grim struggle but we shouldn't resort to dishonesty you know!"
"Lincoln lied to the people in the Civil War, and so did Roosevelt in the Second World War! And you're the one to talk about honesty when you're still lying about your associations about the monsters in Monster Island!"
"Well, okay, but I don't think we should keep it from Bubbles and Buttercup or your brothers."
"They might spill the beans."
"They won't!"
"You're not sure, and I won't risk it. And besides, in the words of the great Blossom Utonium, 'I am the leader and you will do as I say!'" Brick proclaimed.
"I knew I shouldn't have said those words to you when I was the leader," Blossom sighed. "Okay, you win."
"Let's tell Dad and the Professor and tell them about this," said Brick.
The two redheads went to the living room where they found four men. One was Dr. Edwards, the second Professor Utonium, the third is a much older man with white hair, and last is a much younger man with brown hair.
"Brick, Blossom, this is the Mayor of Citiesville, Julian Malarkey, and this is my new secretary, Harry Shippe?"
Brick just shook hands with both men, while Blossom greeted them, with a cold tone toward the Mayor, and warmer one with the secretary.
"Brick, Blossom, could we talk to you in another room? Mayor, could you excuse us? This is something private?"
The Mayor just nodded.
"Mr. Shippe, you come with us," Dr. Edwards said, after which he yanked the man by the arm, and the three men, one boy and one girl went to another room. There, Harry Shippe told the redheads all that he knew. At the end of it, both Brick and Blossom had very large grins on their faces.
"Yahoo! Towsville is saved!" Brick exclaimed, nearly shouting. Luckily the room was sound proof so nobody outside heard about it.
"Yup! Now we don't have to worry about them attacking before we're ready!" Blossom added, a heavy burden lifted from her shoulder.
Now that their biggest fear, that Ckracknow would attack Towsville before they were ready is gone, they could now plan with leisure without the fear of attack. Now the only thing they have to worry about is that Ckracknow would do something outrageous that would put out all reason from the kids and lead them to attack before they were ready.
"Well, I think we better tell the others about this. I mean my sisters and your brothers, not the people," Blossom suggested.
"No. I don't think we should tell them. We should keep this a secret," Brick advised. "Lest we risk Ckracknow knowing what we know. He's betting that we think that he'll attack, and it would rattle us. If he knows that we called his bluff, he might change his plans and who knows? Attack Townsville for real?"
"We already considered that, Brick," Dr. Edwards said. "But I don't think keeping it from the others is such a good idea. The people I understand, but your brothers?"
"Well, if they still think they might attack Townsville at any moment, then they'd train harder, is that what you're thinking, Brick?" the Professor asked.
"Yeah, and the fact is that they might accidentally spill the beans. You know, the more people knowing—the greater the possibility of it getting out. No, it's too much of a risk," Brick explained.
"Well, you're right, Brick. Okay, we keep this a secret from everybody else, including Butch, Boomer, Bubbles and Buttercup. You agree John?"
"I agree," the Professor sighed. "Even though I don't like keeping things, it is necessary."
"Okay. Now…"
"Um, Dad, can Blossom and I speak with you and the Professor in private?"
"Sure son! Mr. Shippe, could you excuse us?"
"Of course, Dr. Edwards," Mr. Shippe said as he left the room.
"Okay Brick, what is it?" asked his father.
"Well Dad, could you ask the broadcasters in Towsville TV station to block all broadcasts from Citiesville?"
"And why would we want to do that?" asked the Professor.
"Well, if you had watched Ckracknow's speech to the people, and how it caused the people to nearly panic, you'd get the idea of the impact of the media to the people. I don't want Ckracknow to scare the people. Who knows? If the Mayor didn't do his speech, those people may have razed this house," Blossom added. "The people should only know what they need to know, but no more, especially if they knowing it might be detrimental to our plans."
"Maybe you're right. But how do we find out what he wants the city to know if all of us can't watch? I mean censoring media for the people I can understand, but how about us? We still should know about it?" asked Dr. Edwards.
"Simple, Dad. We make it so that the transmissions from Ckracknow would be beamed to only one television in this house. It's like turning a public broadcast into a private one. Ckracknow will think that he is talking to all the people of Towsville, and terrorizing them, but in reality, he'd only be talking to us."
"Well, you've convinced me, Brick," the Professor said. "How about you, William?"
"I guess so," replied the doctor. "Anyway, I'm guessing you would want to keep this from your brothers and Bubbles and Buttercup?"
Brick nodded.
"Okay. This is a secret. I'll go this afternoon to the city to ask the men at the TV station to clamp their broadcasts," Dr. Edwards said.
After that, they went out, joined Mr. Shippe, Mayor Malarkey, Bubbles, Buttercup, Boomer and Butch, and ate lunch together.
After lunch, the kids resumed their training, while the men went out.
First, they went to Towsville Television station, where Dr. Edwards went alone to talk to the manager while the rest of them waited in the car. After one hour, Dr. Edwards angrily stormed out of the building, where, before going into the car, resisted the urge to turn around and shout obscenities at the building. His face was twisted into a rage, his eyes reeking with anger. He went into the car, and slammed the door so hard it nearly shattered the glass on the windows.
Professor Utonium immediately knew what happened, and he drove towards City Hall.
When they arrived, Harry Shippe, Mayor Malarkey, Dr. Edwards and Professor Utonium went straight to the Mayor's office. The Mayor of Towsville, the Mayor of Citiesville and William Edwards signed the documents formalizing the deal between the doctor and the Julian Malarkey without much fuss, although Ms. Bellum was astounded by the terms.
After that, Mr. Malarkey and Mr. Mayor had a long chat in another room, or rather the Mr. Mayor talked about nonsense while Mr. Malarkey tried not to go mad listening to his gibberish. Mr. Shippe went to another room to give the others the privacy they desired.
That left Professor Utonium and Dr. Edwards with Ms. Bellum in the Mayor's office.
"Well, that was some speech by the Mayor! I never thought that the people would fall for it, but I should have learned before that you should never underestimate the stupidity of the people of Townville!" Dr. Edwards exclaimed. "Congratulations on that speech you wrote for the mayor."
"Yeah, that was pretty hilarious! I mean, what were you drinking when you wrote the part where the Mayor said that Ckracknow made up those tapes!" the Professor added.
Soon, both men were laughing about it.
"Good thing people are so gullible!" the doctor said
"Um boys, the Mayor just made it all up! I didn't write it in his speech!" the red faced Ms. Bellum said.
"He just made it up? Well, even though it's stupid, it worked! No wonder the Mayor kept getting reelected. In his stupidity and naivety, he seemed to have a special bond with the people!" the Professor wondered.
"Or, nobody bothers to run against him," Ms. Bellum said. "If somebody actually runs against him, he'll lose a landslide that we'll make Carter's 1980 defeat pale in comparison."
"Oh that's brutal," the doctor said. "But true. True indeed. What other city would elect a pink fuzzy hillbilly creature that can't even speak proper English who's not even a candidate that tried to destroy Towsville before as long as he's an alternative to Jay Mayor? Ha, it was hilarious when I read in the paper that a write-in candidate called Fuzzy Lumpkins won in a landslide!"
"And we all know what happened next!" the Professor said.
"But that said, at least the Mayor of this town ain't a bastard like that piece of shit they call Malarkey!" Dr. Edwards said.
"Anyway, is there anything else I can do for you?" asked Ms Bellum.
"Yes two things. First, I want the Mayor to shut down Towsville TV station," Dr. Edwards requested.
"And why should the mayor do that?"
"You know how fickle the people are! All that the people need is another speech from Ckracknow to turn them against us! You know what happened to Harold Smith! The less they hear from Ckracknow, the better. Besides, I don't like to make the deaths of those poor innocent people be broadcast live in Towsville! It's just wrong!" Dr. Edwards explained.
"Point taken. And your second request?"
"I want full emergency powers given to Brick. He will be given temporary command over the police and Townsville Military, plus the authority to do all that is necessary that might help the fight against Ckracknow."
Dr. Edwards's two companions looked at him utterly flabbergasted. "Surely this is a joke! You can't expect me to give your son dictatorial powers?" Ms. Bellum asked.
"On the contrary, I'm never been more serious in my entire life!" Dr. Edwards said. "Listen, it will only apply until Ckracknow is defeated. Second, anything he orders can be overturned either by me, or by the Mayor himself."
"Okay, but why?" asked the Professor.
"Simple. A little while ago, I requested that the TV executives shut down their station. Well, I explained to them why it is necessary, and they told me that unless I come back with an order from the Mayor, I should go to hell! Now, Ckracknow and his goons will try to lure the kids before they are ready, or at least make the people act against their own interests by scaring them. I want Brick, as the leader of both the Rowdyruff Boys and the Powerpuff Girls, and the other kids to have the freedom to act for the best interests of Townsville."
"I don't know, Brick is just a kid…" Ms. Bellum said.
"Well, Brick is smarter than the Mayor of this city, and certainly more mature," Dr. Edwards said.
"True, but I still don't think it's such a peachy idea. You see, it was only a few months since Brick was evil. What if he abuses it?" the Professor began.
"Now stop right there! My son is not evil and he certainly will not abuse the power if you gave it to him! He is my son after all, and he won't do a thing that I don't want him to do. He will never disobey me! So not trusting my son is equivalent to not trusting me! Why, after our long association, and shall I say, long friendship, after all we've been through together, you're saying you don't trust me?"
"Of course we trust you, but…" the Professor began.
"Then it's settled! You'd give my son the power he needs to fight this battle!" Dr. Edwards asserted, pounding his fist on the table. "Look, I'll take responsibility if anything bad happens because of this. Throw me to jail, expropriate all my property if you please if it was a mistake, but please, give him the chance! Besides, I'll give two billion dollars to the city treasury as my contribution to this city of ours after this is all over if you give me my request."
The offer finally overcame Ms. Bellum's scruples. "Okay, you win. In exchange for the money, I'm going to agree to give your son having temporary authority over all that is necessary to fight this battle!"
"Thanks Sandra," the doctor said, shaking her hands. "I assure you that you won't regret this!"
The Professor was just amazed at his friend's ability to convince others. Of course, the fact that the doctor has almost unlimited cash also didn't hurt. But the fact was, even during Towsville's direst moments before, he never had sought such power for Blossom or any of his daughters. But that was because despite their close friendship, Dr. Edwards and Professor Utonium were two very different individuals. Anyway, he trusted his friend to do the right thing.
At that moment, the two mayors burst into the room.
"Oh that was such a good conversation," the Mayor of Towsville said. "Especially about those pickles and pickle jars!"
"Yeah. Well, folks, I gotta go! See 'ya!" the Mayor of Citiesville said before leaving the building.
"Okay, call Brick and tell him to go here," Ms. Bellum instructed as soon as the mayor of Citiesville was gone.
The doctor just nodded as he called Brick by his watch. Even though Brick complained that it would take time from his training, he agreed to come. William Edwards also told his son to wear a suit.
Five minutes later, Brick arrived wearing a blue suit and red tie. He quickly removed his hat as he entered and faced the Mayor of Towsville, plus Towsville's three most powerful men and women.
"Yes Dad?"
"Ms. Bellum has something to tell you son," a grinning Dr. Edwards said.
"Well Brick, I'm going to ask you something," said Ms. Bellum.
"Okay. What is it?"
"Well Brick, what is your mission as part of the Rowdyruff Boys?"
"Well, to protect Townsville from all harm, to defeat all its enemies, and to serve and protect Dad and do all this that he commands me to do to the best of my abilities!" Brick curtly replied.
"That's good enough for me," Ms. Bellum said. "Well, you are thereby given the authority to command the police, the military, and the right to do all that is necessary to defeat our current threat, that mad scientist, Ferguson Ckracknow, and his five goons. Of course, all your orders and actions can be countermanded by your father or by the Mayor of Towsville if we choose so. Now do you accept?"
Brick was thoroughly surprised, and thoroughly delighted. He never asked for it, yet who could resist such an opportunity, especially someone who loves power as much as Brick? "Of course, can I make decisions without consulting you first?"
"Yes."
"I accept!" Brick said. "And thanks for the honor."
"Well, your son certainly is polite," Ms. Bellum said.
"What else would you expect from my son? I raised him for most of his life, you know!" Dr. Edwards boasted.
"Well, Brick, sign this. This document will formalize this arrangement," Ms. Bellum said giving Brick a piece of paper. It was signed by the Mayor of Townsville, Ms. Bellum and his father, with only a blank line for his name.
Brick carefully read the contents, and signed it plus a copy.
"Well, you better go back to training, boy," said his father. "You still have a lot of catching up to do with those five."
"Yes sir Dad!" Brick said as he zoomed out of City Hall and went back home, happy as a lark. Things were turning out to be so good!
Later…
Inside Citiesville, most of the people, well those who survived and were still trapped in the city, were trying to survive. Those survivors are utterly terrified. They don't know which among them would be next in the hour-by-hour live killings that Ckracknow conducted. They dreaded the time when the five would scour the city, and would randomly pick up any bystander that they fancied and bring them to the Citiesville TV studio. In addition, they regularly flew around the city to have some "fun".
Cychaela usually goes to the shopping malls to take and try different clothes and dresses, and would sometimes spend hours trying each and every one of them. Beta went and spent most of his spare time playing in the arcade, and gambling, though he had a habit of killing his opponents if he would lose. Delta spent most of his time looking for beautiful girls and violating them, while Epsilon just stood by Ckracknow and followed him wherever he went, acting as his bodyguard. Alpha spent most of the time in the City Hall, pouring over documents or reading books if not talking about plans his with Ckracknow.
A helicopter slowly descended at the top of one of the skyscrapers. At touchdown, a man with average height, brown hair stepped out. Harry Shippe went straight to Ckracknow's office, where he encountered him talking with Alpha about some plans and Epsilon standing besides them not saying anything.
"Ah Forty-five, or should I say, Harry Shippe! Harry boy, what have you found out?" Ckracknow asked.
"Well, we all know that Blossom is the leader, right?" Harry asked.
"We all know that, Harry," Alpha said.
"Well, they have a plan. They are going to pretend that Brick is leader when in reality, Blossom is the one who's going to call the shots."
"Now why would they want to do that?" asked Alpha.
"Well, we all know that Brick is a Rowdyruff, and he pretty much don't care about the lives of the people in this city. Well, by making us think he is the leader, they hope to convince us that they don't care how many we kill, that they won't come here prematurely! But we all know that Blossom is the one who's really in charge, and despite all of it, she can't stand people being killed!"
"That makes sense," Ckracknow said. "Anyway, how did they react to my announcement that I'll attack anytime soon, and they won't know the exact date?"
"They were scared stiff, sir! Ha, they're desperately hoping that you won't attack before they're ready! As a result, their training is much more rushed, and less effective. Not to mention the people of Towsville!" Harry boasted. "But they won't turtle up in Towsville. No sir, I've heard them talk, and they're too much concerned with all the people, that I'm definitely sure that they'll attack before they're ready. Blossom's conscience would see to that!"
"Well, any other thing you wish to share with us, Harry?" asked Alpha.
"Well, I got hired as a secretary to Dr. Edwards. That's the reason I'm privy to most of their secrets," Harry announced.
"Well done, Harry my boy! You certainly are a first-class-spy!" Ckracknow said before giving him a wad of bills worth $2,000.00."Take it, you've earned it! I think it's time we do another of those hourly live killings. Epsilon, prepare the next victim!"
Meanwhile…
The kids are having a break that afternoon. Their training was pretty brutal, and despite all exertions, they could not beat level 19. They were pretty much beaten up, but the rest and the Chemical X pretty much assured a quick recovery.
Brick, Boomer and Butch were playing dice, while Blossom was alone in a couch reading a book. She was envious of Brick's new powers over the city. She never had them when she was the undisputed leader. Bubbles was playing with a doll by herself, while Buttercup was nowhere to be seen.
Bubbles was just returning from the bathroom when she was suddenly grabbed from behind and taken to an empty room.
"Buttercup, don't do that ever again! I nearly had a heart attack you know!" Bubbles exclaimed after she removed her sister's hand from her mouth.
"Sorry about that," Buttercup apologized. "Anyway, I've come to ask you something."
"What?"
"Well, how about we go in Citiesville, and ferry some people away from that island?"
"Are you nuts Buttercup? Haven't you listened to anything Brick and Blossom told us? We can't go fight those five when we're not ready!"
"Easy there Bubbles, easy! Geez, if I didn't know better, I could've sworn you're Blossom or Brick by the way you just talked. Besides, I'm not stupid. I won't go and challenge them right now. It'd be suicide! What I'm proposing is that we sneak to Citiesville right under their noses, rescue a few hundred people from that island, and put them on the mainland. Besides, we won't let ourselves be caught."
"But I don't think we should go against Brick and Blossom," Bubbles said concerned.
"Well they said we shouldn't fight them head-on, but they didn't say anything about sneaking in and rescuing some poor defenseless citizens, now did they?"
"Well no, but…"
"And wouldn't you like to end the suffering of those people? Think Bubbles think! You'd be able to help them! Now! Not after a few weeks of training. We'd be able to make them happy again! If we did that, those whom we save wouldn't be worried about being killed by Ckracknow anymore!"
"Well, if you put it that way, then I'm in!" Bubbles conceded.
"Yeah!" Buttercup shouted. "Now let's go."
Buttercup and Bubbles sneaked out of the house through a window, unnoticed by anyone. The two puffs then flew at top speed towards Citiesville. When they arrived at the lakes edge, they dropped low so they would almost touch the water's surface when they crossed the lake. Soon they reached the edge of the city. Unfortunately for them, they bumped into someone before they could rescue a single soul. It was Beta, Cychaela, and Delta.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here," Cychaela said.
"Looks like some sheep led to slaughter," Delta said. "What do you think Beta?"
"I think we should beat them up," said Beta.
"Always straight to the point, eh Beta?" Cychaela. "You're right though. Let's have some fun with these two!"
"What do we do, what do we do!" a terrified Bubbles exclaimed, knowing that they couldn't outrun those three, let alone beat them. "Buttercup, what do we do?"
"This is not good. This is so not part of my plan," Buttercup said as the three descended on them.
Meanwhile…
"Kids!" the Professor shouted from a room.
"What?" asked the doctor.
"Look at that," the Professor said at the TV. Soon, Blossom, and the boys arrived. They froze at what they saw on TV—live.
It was Beta, Delta, and Cychaela fighting Bubbles and Buttercup. And it was a one-sided fight as the two puffs were getting owned by the three teen-agers.
"Damn! What the hell are those two fools doing there? Are they crazy? Blossom, Boomer, Butch, let's go!" Brick ordered as he zoomed out of the house. But pretty soon, they had another thing to worry about.
A large mob, about five thousand strong, was headed for their home. It was composed of refugees from Citiesville, and some disgruntled citizens of Towsville. They were carrying torches, flamethrowers, pitchforks, guns, knives and any kind of weapon they could get their hands on, and they were angry.
"Oh shit! As if we don't need any more trouble. Blossom, Boomer, you stay here and protect Dad and the house. Butch and I will go and rescue Bubbles and Buttercup. Damn it, guess we were wrong when we thought those fools bought the Mayor's explanation."
Blossom nodded as she understood completely.
"Boomer, I want you to follow Blossom's orders, okay?" Brick ordered.
"But…" Boomer protested.
"I said do it!" Brick said, grabbing his brother by the shirt and gently punching him in the stomach. "Or else!"
Boomer, terrified of his brother, acquiesced. "Yes Brick."
"Good!"
"Brick! Butch!" Blossom shouted.
"What?" Brick asked. "I don't have all day you know."
"Please come back with my sisters alive!" Blossom pleaded.
"Well, when we come back, make sure Dad and the Professor are safe and the house is still in one piece," Brick replied before he and Butch flew at top speed towards Citiesville.