Author's note: Just a little heads up for later on in this chapter:
Pectoral fins – arms
Caudal fins – legs
Now with that out of the way, do continue on reading.
Fall
En route to Eastern Sewer Pump Station
2:50 PM
LarryBoy maneuvered the LarryMobile around the cars driving on the street and through the traffic at high speeds. The thought of what was at stake cause his adrenaline to spike, but LarryBoy kept calm and continued to drive. Without taking his eyes off the road, LarryBoy tuned into his in-helmet communicator.
"LarryBoy to S-Cape, come in S-Cape." LarryBoy hailed on the channel.
"I read you loud and clear LarryBoy," S-Cape answered on the other line, "I'm just across from the place right now."
As soon as they had left Bumblyburg Eco. Tower, Larry had Alfred drive him back to Nezzer's Souvenir Store to suit up while Mr. Lunt went to go suit up on his own. Unfortunately, phone booths had diminished to only a few in the last few years, thus making superheroes take longer times to suit up.
Still, S-Cape was known for his speed and had already arrived at the destination, full superhero suit and jetpack.
"Can you see anything?" LarryBoy questioned as he took a sharp right and avoided skidding on the street.
"I see two guys with paintball guns standing outside the entrance, one potato and one asparagus," S-Cape reported, "they look like mercenaries."
"I'm 10 blocks away now," LarryBoy replied, "I'm gonna park the LarryMobile and meet up with ya."
"Good idea." S-Cape remarked on the comlink. "You might wanna hurry, there rain clouds in the distance." Parking in an obstructed spot in an alleyway, LarryBoy exited the LarryMobile and locked the vehicle. Glancing up at the sky, LarryBoy's eyes fell upon the gloomy overcast and the top edge of the building. Taking aim with his super suction ear, LarryBoy fired and grappled up to the rooftop. Once landing, LarryBoy took off in the direction of the Eastern Sewer Pump Station, vaulting over the gaps created by the alleyways. It still felt a little odd for LarryBoy to be doing his superhero duty during the daytime; he hardly ever did except on rare occasions.
Spotting S-Cape on a nearby building, LarryBoy quietly rushed over and joined his super hero friend. The two were now overlooking the Eastern Sewer Pump Station from a corner. In the front were two mercenaries armed with paintball guns, keeping guard over the place. Normally, the sight would arouse suspicion from anyone passing by, but since everyone had gone down to the Mayor election, nobody was on the streets. It felt eerie in its own sense.
"How we gonna get pass them?" S-Cape asked quietly. LarryBoy scanned the local buildings and surroundings before a plan formed in his head. Calmly, LarryBoy turned and whispered the plan to S-Cape. With a nod of seriousness, S-Cape took hold of one of LarryBoy's suction ears as LarryBoy lowered himself down the side of the building. When LarryBoy finished rappelling down into the alleyway, S-Cape let go and the suction ear retracted with an inaudible swish.
LarryBoy silently made his way across the street and over to the side of the Eastern Sewer Pump Station, peeking around the corner at the two mercenaries guarding the front. Turning back to the corner building, LarryBoy nodded at S-Cape. S-Cape activated his jetpack, and flew at high speeds at the two guards. When S-Cape swooshed past LarryBoy's position, LarryBoy leapt out and ran for the guards.
Upon hearing the engine of the jetpack, the two guards turned to see what was coming, but by then S-Cape and flown pass the first guard, the asparagus, and rammed into the second, the potato. S-Cape went flying off with the stunned potato in tow. Just as the asparagus took aim, a suction ear snagged the back of the asparagus and yanked him off the ground, making him drop his paintball gun. LarryBoy head butted the crest of his helmet against the asparagus as he wheeled him in, effectively knocking out the asparagus. LarryBoy detached his suction ear from the asparagus and headed on over to the entrance; S-Cape had already returned from dumping the unconscious potato mercenary onto the Station's rooftop.
"Let's go." LarryBoy said as he and S-Cape entered the building.
Right before they entered, LarryBoy had the slight notion that they were going to be greeted with mercenaries aiming their paintball guns at the doorway. However, to LarryBoy's relief, the main room was empty. Swiftly, S-cape and LarryBoy scanned the room for Mr. Fish Taco or any lingering mercenaries. Finding no sign of either, the duo continued to look around. The facility's workers were not present either, but they were probably all down at the election ceremony to see who would be their next mayor. On the far side was a broad window that overlooked the giant, lit-up facility room on the other side. LarryBoy and S-Cape made their way over to it and peered through.
Down below on the bottom level were several huge sewer pipes that sloshed out into a large pool of sewage. A tanker line extended from the bottom of the container with the sewage and led to the line of distillation units that filtered out the waste. The clean water churned out of the units and into a huge trench that carried the water away from the station. LarryBoy knew this because his company had created and installed the distillation units.
High above the floor and on their level of sight were eight catwalks. All these catwalks led directly to the center platform. The platform was used for breaks for the workers on duty. LarryBoy's eyes turned grim at the sight that he saw.
"There he is." whispered LarryBoy to S-Cape to grab his attention.
On the platform was Hector Scallion, armed with a paintball gun and standing over his hostage. The hostage was Mr. Fish Taco, and he was kneeling on his caudal fins and his pectoral fins were chained with shackles, and his head with the glass bowl apparatus hung low. LarryBoy knew that they had to act quickly if they were to save Mr. Taco Fish and get out in time to reach the election ceremony. Something was off though: there was no sight of any other mercenaries, just Hector Scallion.
"Wait here," LarryBoy instructed and turned to S-Cape, "it may be a trap."
"Of course it is," S-Cape shot back quietly, "why do you think they wanted you here?"
"If anything happens, you know what to do."
"Call the cops?"
"No, that would only put Mr. Taco Fish in more danger, remember?"
"Oh right…barge in and help you out?"
"Bingo." Larry said, and went off to go save Mr. Taco Fish, leaving S-Cape peering through the window.
Hector saw the main door open at the end of the catwalk and LarryBoy coming out.
"Over here LarryBoy!" Hector called out. Hesitantly, LarryBoy made his way forward and approached the platform.
"That's good, LarryBoy." Hector sneered and pointed the paintball gun's muzzle at Mr. Taco Fish. LarryBoy froze in his place upon seeing the action. Hector stifled a laugh.
"Don't just stand there, hurry up!" Hector proclaimed boldly. Hector knew the superhero carefully crafting up a makeshift plan to get Mr. Taco Fish and get out, but the scallion knew that it would be useless. He had already fallen into the trap. Hector smiled when he reached the edge of the platform.
"Come now, don't be shy." the head mercenary scallion coaxed ruthlessly. LarryBoy cautiously stepped onto the platform and glared at the scallion.
"So you're the one who's behind all of this…" LarryBoy declared firmly. Hector did his best to hold back his laughter, but the outcome was only a short laugh.
"Me?" Hector scoffed, pretending to be taken aback. This make LarryBoy a bit confused, "That's preposterous. I'm just the hired gun."
The sound of doors opening caught LarryBoy's attention. Glancing around, LarryBoy saw that other mercenaries armed with paintball guns had revealed themselves and had locked the eight doors at the end of the catwalks.
'It was a trap.' LarryBoy mentally confirmed, though it wasn't much of a shocker.
What he was trying to figure out, though, was where all the mercenaries had come from, and where was S-Cape. As if he was reading his mind, Hector spoke up.
"Did you really think I would hide my men where you could find them?" Hector asked rhetorically.
"Um, yeah." LarryBoy answered, causing a flat expression to form on Hector's face.
"If you must know, I hid them in the building across the street." Hector enlightened. Mr. Taco Fish, who had been silent the whole time, groaned in soreness. Hector's devious smirk was replaced with seriousness. LarryBoy wondered if Mr. Taco Fish had even noticed his own entrance.
"Don't worry Mr. Taco Fish," LarryBoy said, glaring straight at Hector, "I'm gonna get you outta here." Now, both the vegetables could feel the tension in the air, each waiting for the other to act. LarryBoy had already decided to go with the plan he had formed in his head and braced himself to act. Hector merely sighed after a few good seconds.
"Alright, he's yours." Hector simply said as he turned around and stepped off the platform.
"What?" LarryBoy questioned in surprise, still keeping his guard. Confused, LarryBoy watched as Hector turned around and simply walked off. Once he was on one of the catwalks, Hector pulled out a button and pressed it. The platform suddenly lurched downward, causing LarryBoy to stumble. When he regained his ground, LarryBoy noticed that the eight catwalks had detached, and the platform being held by columns had been lowered. Now the platform was being held securely in midair and had descended 20ft. from its original height, suspended over the line of distillation units below.
"O-kay?" LarryBoy stated, still confused at what was going on. Up above on the catwalk, Hector had a small grin as he watched the superhero below. It was only LarryBoy and Mr. Taco Fish that were only the platform. Still, LarryBoy had no idea what was going on.
Where they about to be dropped? Was he going to be allowed to leave? Is there something that he was missing? Where was S-Cape?
"You absolutely have no idea what is going on, do you?" Mr. Taco Fish's sudden voice caught LarryBoy's attention. Even though at the position he was in, his voice was as smooth flowing as ever.
"Whatdya talking about?" LarryBoy demanded, "I'm here to rescue you!" At this point, LarryBoy's mind had completely drawn a blank at what was going on; it felt like a wall was blocking his thoughts. Meanwhile, a tiny voice in his head was screaming at him that he was in trouble.
"I'd thought you would have figured it out now," Mr. Taco Fish stated gravely, "Mr. Cucumber."
LarryBoy gasped and stood still from the shock. He never even mentioned his identity!
"How did…you know?" LarryBoy dared to ask. To LarryBoy's surprise, Mr. Taco Fish slowly stood up on his caudal fins. Glancing up, Mr. Taco Fish's eyes locked with LarryBoy's. LarryBoy didn't see the charming, charismatic eyes he had come to known only days before. Instead, he saw only cold, dark, and subtle fury in its place.
With a yank of his pectoral fins, the chain in the middle of the shackles tore with a metal clink.
'No…' LarryBoy's mind shouted in protest, 'it can't be…it just can't!' LarryBoy had his suspicions the whole time, but he had only deemed them as petty accusations for him being a rival sponsor. His gut was right all along, and that same gut told him he was in trouble.
Still shocked at the revelation, LarryBoy watched at what took place before him. Slowly, Mr. Taco Fish stood at his full height, slightly towering over LarryBoy's own.
He felt like shrinking and running away, but LarryBoy drew courage to bravely face his former friend. Even in the most dire of situations, he knew God was watching.
All around him, the mercenaries started to chant ominously.
"Fish fish! Fish fish! Ta-co! Ta-co!" they all repeatedly chanted. Some even raised their paintball guns to the tone of the chant.
Mr. Taco Fish silently placed his fins on his glass bowl apparatus and pushed button. His breathing apparatus hissed as it unlocked, causing drops of the water held inside to leak out. Slowly, Mr. Taco Fish lifted up his apparatus, water spewing out over his taco-looking vest and scales. Some water drops splashed onto the bottom of LarryBoy's suit. Raising his glass bowl apparatus high in the air, Mr. Taco Fish was now literally a fish out of water. With a scowl across his face, Mr. Taco Fish brought down the now emptied apparatus and shattered the glass dome with the knee of his caudal fin.
LarryBoy jumped back at the display, slightly scared at the sudden case of brutality. The fact that the mercenaries were still chanting weren't helping either. After the bits of broken glass had fallen through the tiny gaps in the platform, Mr. Taco Fish reached into his vest and pulled out a rebreather, the exact one that fit the description Mr. Potato Face gave. Gasping for breath, LarryBoy watched as Mr. Taco Fish placed the rebreather over his mouth, and the device clanked as it locked around his head.
His rival sponsor now donned an air-to-water rebreather that had a jagged spike protruding upward and in between his eyes, making it look like a mask. Gone was the caring and charming persona of Mr. Taco Fish; the true brutal and deadly nature now shown.
"I am Fish Taco…" he spoke, his voice slightly disordered and raspy by the rebreather mask he wore.
Gracefully, he took off his taco-looking vest, dropped it on the platform, and pushed it aside with one of his caudal fins. He then straightened himself and faced LarryBoy. "...and I, am Bumblyburg's doom."
The wavering thoughts of doubt were replaced with the surge of firm bravery as soon as LarryBoy heard the words 'Bumblyburg's doom'.
LarryBoy fired one of his super suction ears at Fish Taco's face. Fish Taco merely dodged the super suction ear.
Just as it was retracting, LarryBoy fired the other one, but Fish Taco managed to gracefully dodge it as well.
"You have to do better than that." Fish Taco simply declared.
Even though LarryBoy was still trying to get use to his opponent's new voice, he didn't need to be told twice that it was a taunt.
MEANWHILE…
Hector scoffed at LarryBoy's attempts to shoot his boss, Fish Taco, with his super suction ears. His headset chimed an alert for an incoming transmission. Turning away from the battle between Fish Taco and LarryBoy, Hector opened the communication line.
"Yes?" Hector answered. A flurry of shouts could be heard on the other line, causing Hector to pull the headset off momentarily.
When he put it back on, the sounds had died down a little, but paintballs could be heard firing.
Outside of the sounds of the headset, Hector could hear the same sounds, except fainter.
"What? When did he get here?" Hector questioned. "No, super heroes just don't 'pop up out of nowhere'. He was probably hiding when you fellows came in."
Hector listened to the speaker for a few seconds.
"I don't care if you accidently fire on our…oh, for Heaven's sake." Hector grumbled and closed the communication channel.
Picking up his paintball gun, Hector motioned for several other mercenaries come with him to attend to the 'sudden appearance' of S-Cape.
ON THE PLATFORM…
LarryBoy charged at Fish Taco, planning on ramming him with the crescent of his helmet. Fish Taco easily step-sided the attack, but LarryBoy had loosen one of his suction ears and spun around, swinging the suction ear at Fish Taco in an attempt to club him. Fish Taco leaned back so that the suction ear whished right over him.
Taking the opportunity, LarryBoy grunted as he swung his other suction ear low to trip his opponent. Fish Taco quickly lifted his legs up and did a hand stand, the other suction ear swiping at the spot his legs were previously in. Turning back to towards Fish Taco, LarryBoy saw him push off the platform, arch away from him, and land next to one of the poles that kept the platform suspended. His landing slightly shook the platform with a heavy thunk.
Without saying a word, LarryBoy aimed and fired his suction ear. Fish Taco dodged it, but the suction ear stuck to the pole behind him. Using the retraction, LarryBoy shot straight towards Fish Taco, but the fish out of water ducked and Larryboy's kick was a clean miss. LarryBoy's momentum caused him to fling right off the platform, but fortunately, his suction ear held.
"Whoaahhh!" LarryBoy cried out as he tightly curved over the sewer water far below. With momentum still carrying, LarryBoy swung and arched back around to the platform. Noting where Fish Taco stood, LarryBoy shot himself at that spot.
Seeing the incoming cucumber, Fish Taco jumped back and avoided LarryBoy's landing. LarryBoy landed vertically with a clank from the platform.
Frustratingly, LarryBoy detached the suction ear from the pole and glared at Fish Taco, who was back on the opposite side of the platform. It was clear that Fish Taco was on the defensive, trying to weaken LarryBoy so he wouldn't be much of a challenge. LarryBoy was determined that he wouldn't falter anytime soon.
"Not bad…" Fish Taco remarked in his hoarse voice, "for one without limbs."
Readying himself, LarryBoy charged across the platform at Fish Taco, a battle cry escaping his mouth.
Instead of standing back, Fish Taco charged forward to meet the cucumber head on. As they were about to collide, Fish Taco drew back his right fin and shot it forward.
Barely seeing the motion, LarryBoy jumped to the side, the fin swinging right past him. Fish Taco immediately drew back his retracted fin towards LarryBoy in an attempt to elbow him. LarryBoy ducked under and avoided the attack, but didn't see the other left fin coming from the other side.
LarryBoy felt Fish Taco's fin punch him in the cheek at lightning speed, solid pain erupting from his jaw and the hot stings blistering across his cheek. His body was also recoiling from the punch and he saw that he was about to land on the platform. Thoughts rushing through his head, LarryBoy knew that once he hit the ground, Fish Taco would beat him relentlessly.
Twisting his body to the left and leaning his helmet downward, LarryBoy successfully planted his left super suction ear to the platform. Swinging himself around, and causing pain to run up his back, LarryBoy spun like a merry-go-round, holding his body high. Just as he was about to do a 360 degree turn around, LarryBoy detached his super suction ear from the platform and shot directly at the lumbering Fish Taco. Unable to dodge, Fish Taco was roundhouse kicked squarely in the chest and stumbled back from the force.
"Ugh!" Fish Taco grunted through his rebreather as he fell back. LarryBoy landed with a triumphant look on his face as he watched Fish Taco fall, but it quickly faded when he saw Fish Taco tumble backwards and do another handstand. Approaching LarryBoy on his handstand, Fish Taco started to spin, swiping his caudal fins as he spun. Letting out a yelp, LarryBoy jumped back in time to avoid the spinning kicks at head level, but Fish Taco kept closing in and spinning, pushing him to the edge of the platform.
Seeing an opening, LarryBoy lunged at Fish Taco's torso, ducking down to avoid the spinning kicks. Fish Taco saw the attack and pushed away from the platform, effectively sending himself upward and avoiding LarryBoy's tackle. As LarryBoy glanced up, he saw Fish Taco cart wheel in midair and outstretch both his caudal fins. Fish Taco kicked the back of LarryBoy's head and used the collision force from the kick for another flip while sending LarryBoy across the platform.
As Fish Taco landed on his fins, LarryBoy hit and bounced across the platform, grunting and yelping on every impact. Finally, LarryBoy skidded to a stop on the other side of the platform, groaning.
Even with his helmet on, LarryBoy could feel the brunt of the kick imprinted on the back of his head. His sense of balance was disoriented and his body was aching all over from being tossed about. Agonizingly, LarryBoy craned his head up and spotted Fish Taco lumbering over to him. His mind told him that he needed to get up, but his body was reluctant to response. Forcing himself to get up, LarryBoy got up and stood to face Fish Taco again. LarryBoy expected Fish Taco to taunt him or say something that would drive him into an adrenaline rage, but the fish said nothing. Somehow Fish Taco's silence, with the exception of his deep breaths through his rebreather, only antagonized LarryBoy.
Suddenly, Fish Taco broke into a run, causing the platform to shake with every step. LarryBoy also ran forward, ready to meet his opponent head on but prepared to counter any sort of forward attack.
Fish Taco sent a punch, to which LarryBoy avoided by jumping to the side of Fish Taco. Before LarryBoy could do anything, Fish Taco somersaulted at him, his caudal fins horizontally swiping in his direction. Quickly, LarryBoy step-sided again and dodged Fish Taco's double side kick.
Taking note that LarryBoy was directly behind him, Fish Taco crouched down and swept his right caudal fin.
"Ah!" LarryBoy cried out as he was swept off the ground. Just as he was falling, Fish Taco, now facing the falling LarryBoy, raised both his pectoral fins formed into fists and slammed them down on the cucumber.
The hit drove LarryBoy into the platform, both the strength of the clobbering, the toll of gravity, and the impacting crash on the platform knocking the air from LarryBoy's lungs with a shout of pain. The platform shook dangerously from the blow.
LarryBoy felt like he was going to pass out. He was seeing colors flash all around his vision, his body screamed with flaring pain like he never experienced before, and his mind was losing focus. His eyes started to open and close, trying to blink away the dreamlike daze from his eyes.
Amidst all the pain, LarryBoy's mind softly called out to God, begging Him to send a miracle right then and there. The sight of the ceiling above was replaced with Fish Taco's face and rebreather leaned over and blocked his view.
Staring down at LarryBoy, Fish Taco drew back his leg and kicked LarryBoy's side. The cucumber let out an inaudible shout as he was sent rolling to the edge of the platform, stopping before he tumbled into the clean churning water below. He barely noticed that he landed near Fish Taco's taco-like vest. Silently, Fish Taco approached the down superhero, his heavy steps causing the platform to shudder.
"You'll…never…get away with this." LarryBoy wheezed out quietly. Fish Taco merely tilted his head and crouched down beside LarryBoy, who was struggling to stay conscious. He rested his pectoral fins on his 'knees' as he listen to LarryBoy's loud breaths, examining the superhero in his super suit.
"And why is that?" Fish Taco asked.
"You…are…evil." LarryBoy breathed, trying to willfully ease the shattering pain away in his body.
He heard Fish Taco's wheezing breaths through the rebreather before Fish Taco actually spoke.
"You are right." Fish Taco began to speak in his obscured bass voice.
LarryBoy slowly turned himself to see Fish Taco out of the corner of his eyes. To his bewilderment, though, Fish Taco wasn't looking directly at him; he was staring off into space. LarryBoy flashed his eyes at the spot where Fish Taco was focusing on, but he only saw the far wall of the building.
"I am evil, because that is what I am," Fish Taco continued, "Surely, if God wanted me not to do evil, He would have made it that way; He would have made me good."
LarryBoy was mortified that Fish Taco dared to say that God had planned this all along, but Fish Taco's words were echoing about his head. The fact he was in this situation right now with his enemy standing over him only drove Fish Taco's words to LarryBoy's core.
"And yet, here I am. Here to cause destruction…to cause anarchy…to lead forth evil in its eternal conquest," Fish Taco muttered, "and this is where it will all start: in the city that brought forth the first superhero."
Fish Taco paused and glanced down at LarryBoy, nudging him near the collar to make sure that he was still paying attention.
"Of course, such a feat could have never been done alone, even with a group of highly trained mercenaries…" Fish Taco remarked as he rose, standing and looking over LarryBoy, who could only listen. LarryBoy had regained enough sense to figure that Fish Taco's sketchy remark indirectly stated that he was the one to break out all the villains and criminals from Bumblyburg Prison.
"But regardless of what your other superheroes will do, my plan will not be stopped."
"And what plan is that?" LarryBoy managed to cough, his senses starting to return to him. Fish Taco turned his head and stared down at the superhero. LarryBoy looked up and his eyes met with Fish Taco's dark eyes, which held a glint of chaos.
"In what way would telling you my plan be useful to me?" Fish Taco questioned as he raised his leg to stomp LarryBoy out cold.
A MINUTE AGO…
"There he is! Shoot him!" the scallion ordered again.
"Uh-oh." S-Cape said to himself as he flew through the hallway on his jetpack, paintballs flying in his direction behind him. Taking a sharp turn around the next corner, S-Cape avoided getting shot with the paintballs, that which splattered on the wall. For the sixth time, S-Cape activated his comlink.
"LarryBoy, do you read me?" S-Cape radioed in as he turned off his jetpack and ran through the dark hallway.
He still received no word from LarryBoy. Sparing only a second, S-Cape glanced behind him and caught sight of the mercenaries rounding the corner, still chasing after him.
'They must be jamming the signal.' S-Cape thought to himself as he activated his jetpack and flew down the hallway. Upon not hearing anything from LarryBoy, S-Cape tried to get in one of the doors that led onto one of the eight catwalks, but they were all locked. To make matters worse, most of the mercenaries were swarmed up in the main room with the big window, thus making it impossible for S-Cape to see what was going on with LarryBoy.
A mercenary rounded the corner but was immediately hit with the metal comet on top of S-Cape's cap, the impact knocking the armed potato out. Shaking off the brunt, S-Cape glanced to the side and spotted a door leading to the main facility room. It was unlocked. Without hesitating, S-Cape kicked through the door with a slam, and the door flew open. His eyes immediately darted towards the center of the big room on the platform. There he saw a beaten and battered LarryBoy lying down on the platform, and a giant walking fish about to stomp on him.
S-Cape let out a gasp before he activated his jet-pack on full throttle and shot at the two, an enraged shout escaping his mouth.
"Aauughh!" LarryBoy heard S-Cape's voice echo in the facility room, along with the rocket sound of his jet pack. The cucumber managed to peer over his shoulder to see the gourd shooting straight at Fish Taco. Relief that S-Cape was alright washed over LarryBoy even as he lay battered.
Fish Taco turned around and found S-Cape flying directly at him, consequently causing him to put his raised let down and not stomping on LarryBoy. Acting fast, Fish Taco dove for his taco-looking vest that he had tossed aside, reached inside, and whipped out a paintball pistol.
S-Cape immediately shifted direction in mid-air to avoid being shot at by paintballs from Fish Taco. He serpentine around the platform as Fish Taco continued to shoot at him, paintballs closely skimming around the fast flying S-Cape. Like the mercenaries, the fish's marksmanship was as good as theirs. Speaking of mercenaries, S-Cape saw the mercenaries break down the locked doors and start to pour in on the catwalks, all trying to take aim at him. S-Cape's heart was racing as he zigzagged at top speed around the giant room.
LarryBoy had managed to drag himself near the edge of the platform overlooking the trench of clean water. Hearing the paintball shots going off everywhere and the sound of S-Cape's jetpack still working, LarryBoy's throbbing mind came to a conclusion that he was not going to be saved.
His eyes drifted down to the trench of clean water being channeled out and his mind hazily recalled something. Focusing more on the trench with violent water flows, LarryBoy managed to smile; after all, his company had built this pump station.
"S-Cape!" LarryBoy called out. S-Cape turned his head and locked his sight on LarryBoy, all while trying to dodge the flurry of paintballs.
"LarryBoy!" S-Cape shouted back as he flew around.
Fish Taco stopped shooting at S-Cape and returned his attention back to LarryBoy.
"Get outta here, I'll be fine!" LarryBoy shouted. Before S-Cape could reply back or even question LarryBoy's order, LarryBoy heaved himself over the platform and plummeted to the trench below. S-Cape watched as LarryBoy fell to the water below.
Though shocked that his fellow superhero would do such a thing, S-Cape did not swoop down and catch him. Even if he wanted to, there were too many paintballs being fired at him. S-Cape's eyes did catch sight of the giant fish with a spiky rebreather, preparing to dive down after LarryBoy.
"Oh no ya don't!" S-Cape snapped as he rocketed at Fish Taco.
LarryBoy felt his body descend in freefall as he tumbled down towards the water. He was so disoriented, he couldn't even prepare himself for the initial plunge into the cold water.
SPLASH!
The cold churning water engulfed LarryBoy as he submerged deeply into the water. Not even getting a chance to resurface to catch a breath, the trench's propelling current caught hold of LarryBoy and sucked him into one of the opening pipes that led out of the pump station. He had been effectively flushed away.
Fish Taco watched as LarryBoy was dragged away by the current and into one of the giant pipes. Keeping an eye on the specific waterway, Fish Taco prepared himself to dive in and swim after him. Water was a fish's natural habitat, so catching up to LarryBoy would be easy.
Or it would have been if S-Cape hadn't rammed into Fish Taco's right side. With a thick thump, S-Cape shot past Fish Taco and barely nicked the fish's side.
Mass multiplied by speed, plus with the additional factors and momentum and angle, equals force; the exact same force used to hook Fish Taco in his side.
Fish Taco was knocked off his legs and into the air, crashing several meters away from the spot where he stood with a loud clank. The platform almost broke from the landing.
Deciding it was time to go, S-Cape saw an opportunity and flew straight to one of the exit doors, knocking aside any mercenaries that got in his way.
Fish Taco drudgingly pulled himself up, his side aching with dull pain. Scanning with his eyes, the evil mastermind watched as S-Cape flew through an exit door and out of the main facility room that was covered in paint splatters all over.
"Follow him!" Fish Taco ordered on their communication devices, "Make sure to keep the comlink jammer focused on him!"
While several mercenaries quickly gave chase to the gourd, Fish Taco retrieved his taco-looking vest. Silently, he stared at the trench below and the underwater pipe that which LarryBoy was sucked into. A part of him wanted to give chase, but he knew that there was little time spare.
It was time to start the plan.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's note: I actually had to repost this chapter again, seeing that I forgot to save the changes I made to it before. I honestly rather spend double time paragraphing and editing than leave it as a huge jumble mess of words.
In regards to Fish Taco's whole "I am evil" speech, worry not. It will all be explained...in later chapters.
...
Hope y'all can stick around until then.
Happy New Years to everyone! May 2014 treat us well.