Hideout Hotel I

The Headquarters of the Helsing Society was buzzing with activity.

Violet McGowan strode through to the office of Alex Pryce. She knocked and entered. The current head of the Helsing Society was sitting at his desk, filling out paperwork. He glanced up and then proceeded to finish up what he was writing. Then he pulled his glasses off and stood up to meet her.

'Ah! Violet! How are you?'

'Quite well, Alex,' she said as she sat across from her old friend.

'And how's your new apprentice?'

'She's coming along quite nicely,' Violet said. 'I imagine she'll make an excellent successor.'

Alex nodded. 'Good to hear. Let's be honest, we're both getting on in age these days.'

There was another knock at the door and one of the strike team leaders stepped in. 'Sir, all preparations are ready. We await your orders to move out.'

Alex's friendly countenance melted away to one of fierce determination. 'Thank you. I'll be there momentarily.'

The strike team leader nodded and moved off.

Violet looked over. 'Supernatural activity?'

'Dr. Dred has been spotted in Florida.'

:[

In Florida, the beach was a hub of activity. A man sat in an inflated tube. He floated in the water as he read the newspaper. He never even noticed the water next to him bubbling. Nor did he notice the pink see monster emerge next to him. Even when the sea monster leaned over his shoulder and then waved a hand in front of his face.

When the sea monster tapped him on the head, he finally looked over and nodded before going back to his paper.

Then he registered what he'd seen.

With a frightened wail, the main threw himself into the sea and quickly swum back to shore.

:[

The next place the sea monster visited was an overweight lady on the beach.

Humming merrily to herself. The lady pulled a club sandwich out of her picnic basket. She sprinkled salt on it and then went to start eating. Suddenly, there was a tugging on the other end of it. The woman pulled back and looked at her sandwich. The other end of it looked like it'd been eaten up.

'What?'

Then the other half was taken out of her hand.

The woman looked, and promptly screamed. There was a sea monster right next to her on the beach, eating her sandwich. The woman gave a single scream. Then she ran, inadvertently taking her beach umbrella with her. She never saw the monster start laughing. And she never saw the sea monster transform into a tall, bony woman.

'What fun!' Vampira declared. 'Dr. Dred will be very pleased.'

By now, the humans were fleeing the beach, en masse.

One man stopped by her. 'Don't just stand there, lady! There's a sea monster attacking!' He ran off again.

'You don't know the half of it, darling.' Vampira looked out to the Dredgible. 'Does he, Dr. Dred?'

:[

'What's Dred doing in Florida?' Agent Black asked.

'Nobody knows. But he seems to be in the process of scaring everyone away from, and out of, the most luxurious hotel in the city.'

'As for why, we don't know that either.'

Agent Black nodded. 'Keep an eye on it. And let me know if the Drak Pack gets involved.'

:[

It was a freezing day.

The only reason the boys had left the house was to do a bit of grocery shopping. They were now just returning. Each of them carried a shopping bag on each arm. Their car was parked in the underground parking spot that had been set up only a few years before. But that left the boys having to carry the groceries to the house.

'Wow!' Howard exclaimed. 'What a day.' Without the fur that he had in his wolf form, he'd thrown a jacket on, but he was still visibly shivering.

Vince glanced back. 'Careful with that bag, Frank. It's got—'

Frank slipped on a patch of ice and promptly sent the bags flying.

'—eggs in it,' Vince finished, somewhat hopelessly. The eggs in question were now splattered all over Frank.

'Huh!' Howard remarked. 'That should speed up breakfast. Our eggs are pre-scrambled.'

Annoyed, Frank wiped the remains of the eggs from his face. 'Boy, I sure do envy Big D, going to that reunion of his old monster buddies in sunny Florida and leaving us behind in the cold.'

The three boys quickly moved into the house and started unpacking the groceries. Frank continued to complain about it.

'Well, gee, Frank, Big D had to go,' Vince reminded him. 'After all, he's president of the Transylvania Spooks, Spectres, and Spirits Society.'

'And this is their 300th Anniversary,' Howard added.

'I know,' Frank said. 'But why couldn't we go too?'

'We've still got school,' Vince said. 'And our finals are coming up.'

:[

'Ah!' Dr. Dred exclaimed. 'There's our hotel! Nothing can stop me now!'

Toad excitedly jumped up and down. 'We're going on vacation! We're going on vacation!'

'Stop that infernal leaping!' Dr. Dred snapped.

Toad did so. 'I stopped, I stopped! I'm just so happy we're taking a vacation.'

'We are not taking a vacation,' Dr. Dred said.

Toad's face immediately fell. 'We're not?'

'We are taking over that hotel.' Dr. Dred pointed down to the hotel as he flew around it.

'But, Dr. Dred,' Toad said, 'that hotel is full.'

'It won't be,' Dr. Dred said. 'That's why I sent OGRE on ahead. Vampira, Fly, and Mummy-Man have been hanging around for days.'

Sure enough, Toad watched as people fled the hotel they were coming down to land behind. It seemed everyone was fleeing – from the guests right up to the hotel manager. Dr. Dred gave an evil chuckle as they disembarked the Dredgible and walked into the hotel. The rest of OGRE was waiting for them.

'They're gone, Dr. Dred,' Vampira said.

'Excellent.' Dr. Dred stepped around behind the reception desk. 'Now Dr. Dred's Hideout Hotel can open for business.'

'Uh…"Hideout Hotel", Dr. Dred?' Toad asked. He immediately retracted his head at the response he got.

'Of course, you ninny!' Dr. Dred snapped. 'A luxurious hideout for the world's worst criminals, who are even now on their way here to enjoy Dr. Dred's hospitality. But enough chit-chat. We must prepare for their arrival.' He turned to OGRE in general. 'Are you positive the hotel is completely empty?'

Mummy-Man nodded.

'Oh, yes, Dr. Dred,' Fly-Man said.

'Certainly,' Vampira added. 'Completely empty.'

:[

In the basement of the hotel, unbeknownst to Dred, there was a gathering of supernatural creatures.

Dracula had a video telephone, specially designed by Carmilla.

'I don't see why we need to involve the kids in this,' one of his old friends remarked.

'Because they can run about in daylight,' Dracula retorted. 'We'd draw too much attention.'

'So will they once they transform,' one of the werewolves remarked.

Dracula shook his head and hit the button. 'Come in, Drak Pack! Come in!' He sighed. 'Wouldn't you know it? Never around when you need them.'

He finally found them in the sitting room.

'Hello, Big D!' Howard greeted him.

'How's the reunion going?' Frank asked.

'It's not going!' Dracula snapped. 'Guess who just showed up and scared all the humans out of the hotel?'

The three boys looked at each other.

'Dred?' Vince guessed.

'Right!' Dracula threw a hand up. 'We were supposed to do that, but he comes along and takes over the hotel. He's spoiling our reunion! I want you boys to get down here and deal with them.'

'Uh…' Howard hesitated. 'But, Big D, we have finals.'

'The first of them doesn't start until next week,' Vince pointed out. 'We can do this and be back in time.'

Dracula frowned. 'And snap to it!'

All three boys turned and ran out of the sitting room.

:[

Vince, Howard, and Frank had run upstairs and quickly packed.

They ran back to the car and were on the road moments later. Then, with the flick of a switch, it transformed into the Drakster. A moment later, it lifted up and sailed into the air. As Vince had intended, the trip was shortened by their going by air. Putting the Drakster on autopilot also let Vince sit back and think it over.

Both Howard and Frank had been with him long enough to recognise the signs too.

'What are you thinking, Vince?' Frank was the one to ask.

'Dr. Dred scared all the humans out of the hotel where the reunion was being held,' Vince said. 'And he's still there.'

'So, he's obviously taken it over,' Howard observed.

'Right,' Vince waved a hand towards him, 'so, when we land, they'll be in there.'

'So we don't wanna go running in the front door,' Frank pointed out.

'Certainly not.' Vince gave them a crucial look. 'And we don't want any of those OGRE goons seeing Vincent James, Howard Bane, and Frank Herbert leaving the Drakster.'

Frank and Howard looked at each other.

'Got it,' Howard said.

Frank was the first to transform.

:[

'A little to the left, Fly,' Dr. Dred said. 'Down a little. Perfect.'

'Yes, Dr. Dred,' Fly-Man drawled. 'Just perfect. A Wall of Crime!'

'And I have framed the framers!' Dr. Dred chuckled to himself.

'Dr. Dred!' Vampira came over to him. 'The new dinner gong has been installed. I hope you like it.'

'Proceed, Vampira,' Dr. Dred said.

Vampira opened the panel. 'I'll make beautiful music, Dr. Dred.' She pressed the button. A loud ringing echoed through the entire hotel.

The sound made Toad break into a sweat and slap his hands over his ears.

'Beautiful!' Dr. Dred gushed. 'Don't you think so, Toad?' When he saw him, Dr. Dred frowned and pulled out the fly swatter. 'Toad, you clod, you're not listening!'

Toad looked up and jumped. 'Oh! I like it! I like it!' He took the fly swatter and hit himself with it. 'Bad Toad! Bad Toad! Pay attention!' He let out a breath as Dr. Dred took the fly swatter back. 'I needed that.'

:[

Mummy-Man finished installing the gate, and turned to report the finished job to Dr. Dred. 'All done.'

'All done, eh?' Dr. Dred walked over to inspect the gate. 'Well, good. This prison door…' He pressed the button and the metal-barred door slid open. 'Perfect.'

'Oh!' Toad hopped over to take a look. 'That's fun! I want to try it.'

Dr. Dred lifted a hand. 'No, Toad!'

But the fool was too far away for him to stop him. 'Push, it opens!' He jumped into the doorway and hit the button. 'Push!' The door closed on him. Toad cried out in alarm as he was squashed between the door and the doorframe. 'Dr. Dred, help!'

Dr. Dred marched over, irritated. 'You jelly-brained door-jam, how many times have I told you to stick to toadying?' He pressed the button.

The door opened up again, and Toad dropped down.

'And cease deranging my changes!' Dr. Dred snapped.

'Why do we need all these changes, master?' Toad asked. 'Huh? Why?'

'You insensitive bump!' Dr. Dred snapped, causing Toad to retract his head. 'We want our esteemed guests to feel comfortable, don't we? My fraternity of felonious fellows will enjoy these homey touches. That will spell success for my master plan.'

:[

Fly-Man saw it.

He'd been ensuring all the rooms were fit for the Kings of Crime. Inwardly cursing, he flew down. 'Dr. Dred, I'm afraid I have to report a small hiccup to our plans.'

Dr. Dred growled. 'What is it, Fly?'

'The Drak Pack just arrived,' Fly-Man said. 'And they appear to be eyeing this hotel.'

'What?! How can that be? I haven't touched anything even vaguely related to them!' Dr. Dred quickly strode off and climbed the stairs. Fly-Man, Vampira, Mummy-Man, and Toad followed him. 'Ah!'

They had shifted to another location. Now, they were crouched on a building across from the hotel, watching the hotel.

'What are we going to do, Dr. Dred?' Toad asked. 'Huh? Huh?'

'Well, that's obvious, Toad,' Dr. Dred said.


AN: Sorry I haven't updated in a few weeks.