Rise of the Dusk
Chapter 4: A New Day Dawns
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Ray and Vav or any of the characters involved
Author's Note: Before I begin this chapter of the story I want to address something regarding the "Haywood Controversy". I do not condone Ryan's actions, or what he's attempted to do since. I did, however, plan to include the Mad King in the story going forward as a major antagonist. My plans for that have not changed. I ask you please set aside the actions of the actor and separate them from the character. If you cannot do that and do not feel comfortable continuing to read this story I understand. Thank you for taking the time to read this, let's continue.
Vav and the Dusk Boys were on patrol through the city, as was becoming the norm. Vav stopped as he heard something in the distance, something familiar.
"No… It can't be," he said to himself, which drew the attention of Treyco and The Sauce.
"What's up Vav?" Treyco asked.
"We're going on a detour lads, something's not sitting right with me," Vav explained absently as he began to make his way down an alley.
The two boys looked at each other and shrugged before following.
The trio emerged onto the main street and saw a crowd of people gathered around a storefront.
"What's going on here then?" Vav asked as he and the Dusk Boys approached.
"Oh Vav! Thank goodness you're here!" A civilian shouted over the crowd.
"What seems to be the problem citizen?" Vav asked him.
"There's a man in there, he's acting kinda strange and raving about a… monster truck?" He added the last part uncertainly.
"Leave it to us, we'll take care of it," Vav said as he pushed his way through the crowd. Treyco and Sauce following.
The trio entered the store and found a man wearing a leather jacket and jeans pacing back and forth muttering to himself.
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to stop what you're doing. You're unnerving the citizens outside," Vav told him.
The man's murmuring got louder, but he seemed to be ignoring Vav.
"Sir, did you hear me?" Vav asked as he approached the man.
Just then Treyco noticed something, the man's hands appeared to have claws on them.
"Uh… Vav!" Treyco shouted.
"Just a min Treyco, let me talk to this gent first," Vav whispered over his shoulder.
"But, look at his-"
"Not now Treyco," Vav said more sternly.
"But-" Treyco began
Vav spun around "What Treyco? What's so important?" Vav shouted.
The two boys were frozen as they saw the man turn to face them and immediately leap at Vav. His feet connected with Vav's back and sent him sailing out the front window of the store, shattering the glass.
"Where is it!?" he demanded as he landed on the sidewalk. Vav staggered to his feet.
"Where's what?" Vav asked.
"Where's my damn monster truck!" The man shouted again as he charged at Vav.
Vav lifted his hands and his slow-mo beams erupted forth, nearly freezing the man's charge in place.
"Treyco! Sauce! Get out here and lend me a hand will you?" Vav shouted at them.
The two rushed out the door, Treyco vanished as Sauce sprayed the ground in front of the man. Vav released his slow-mo beams and the man continued his headlong rush into the slippery surface, sliding past Vav who easily stepped out of the way. He crashed into a dumpster across the street, and while he was still reeling Treyco appeared as he put the man in cuffs.
"Well done boys," Vav said to them.
"You monsters! Hap-pap-papap!" The man shouted.
"Excuse me?" Vav asked as he turned to him.
The man continued into a deranged fit, making similar noises as he managed to clamor to his feet and pace up and down the sidewalk.
"Sir?" Vav asked.
In a flash, the man returned to normal and he looked at Vav.
"Were you talking to me?-Wait? Where'd these handcuffs come from?" He asked as he tried to point at himself and realized he was cuffed.
"Sir, are you alright?" Vav asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but you didn't answer my question. Why am I in cuffs? Did I do something-" He stopped as he saw the smashed-out window.
"Oh no…" he groaned as he saw it.
"Is… something the matter?" Vav asked as he and the boys approached.
"You could say that… I have this… condition. Randomly I become another person, sort of an alter-ego. He gets up to all these hijinks and I end up having to pay for them," The man explained.
"A split personality?" Vav asked as he put his hand on his chin.
"Yeah… He's a real prick too. I call him Rimmy Tim, my name's Jeremy by the way," The man explained.
Vav nodded, "Well Jeremy, I'm sure we can find a way to help you out. Don't worry about the window. I'll have a word with the mayor and cover that expense. Let me take you to meet a friend of mine who might be able to help."
Jeremy sighed with relief, "Thanks man, I really appreciate it."
Vav gave him a smile and a reassuring slap on the shoulder before leading him down the street.
"Hey uh… You mind taking these cuffs off? They're starting to chafe," Jeremy asked.
"Afraid not friend, can't have Rimmy Tim going on another rampage," Vav explained.
"You know what? That's fair," Jeremy nodded.
Eventually, the group arrived at Hilda's lab.
"Hilda!" Vav shouted into the large expanse.
"Vav, what brings you here tod- who's this?" She asked seeing Jeremy.
"This is Jeremy, we stopped him from causing a scene earlier today. He has a super-powered alter ego named Rimmy Tim and I was hoping you could take a look at him," Vav explained.
"A super-powered alter ego? What? Like another personality?" Hilda asked, the disbelief obvious in her voice.
"Yeah, he takes control and I never remember what happened while he's in charge. I just end up with bruises and people after me," Jeremy explained.
Hilda gave him a disbelieving look,
"C'mon Hilda! We've seen him! He was like a totally different person!" Sauce added.
After a moment of silence, she sighed, "Fine… bring him to the table."
She waved them in and they all smiled at her agreement.
"Thanks again Vav, I appreciate it," Jeremy said as he followed Treyco and Sauce into the lab.
Meanwhile, outside the lab. The Mad King was standing next to an ice cream cart, licking an ice cream cone and trying to seem casual.
"Mad King, come in, do you read me?" The Cloak's voice asked over an earpiece.
"I do… just like I did the last three times you've asked me," He replied.
"Can't be too sure. These things tend to break often," The Cloak answered back, "Has there been any sign of-"
"Yes… finally. Vav and the Dusk Boys just entered Monarch Industries, with our unaware friend in tow…"
"Good, then we can start phase 1 of the plan. Do you have the signal device ready?"
The Mad King reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small, handheld device with a large button.
"Yes… and you're sure this will work?"
"Absolutely. I've tested the device on Jeremy and Rimmy Tim myself. One push and it'll send your recorded voice to Rimmy Tim's subconscious, regardless of what's in the way. Believe me, I've tried it from across my mansion and it's still worked. You just have to give him the command word."
The Mad King looked down at the device again.
"Alright… initiating phase 1."
He lifted the device to his mouth and pressed the button. A light at the top of the antennae on the device blinked on.
"Go."