Casshern the Viper Hunter
ESKK: Here we go the first chapter of Casshern the Viper Hunter. I hope you all enjoy this fic and will leave a review. Now let's begin.
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
(Scene Break)
-Music Insert/Lyrics-
Disclaimer: Neither myself nor Mr. Unknow own Casshern or G.I. Joe. They belong to Tatsunoko productions and Hasbro. Please support the official release.
(Start Year 2590 Washington DC ruins)
"Are you sure this will work, father?" A voice was heard as the sound of gunfire went off outside. They had made their last stand at the remains of the Capital of the United States. A young man in a pure white armored suit with guns on the hips watched as an old man in rags was working on a machine.
"No but it's our only chance." He said as nearby a young woman was seen sitting on a chair hugging herself with a look of fear in her eyes. The young woman was blond as she wore a yellow outfit that was noticeably cleaner than even the pure white suited young man.
The old man sighed as he had a look of guilt in his eyes before he returned to work. "You need to get her to the past she holds the key." The old man reminded his son and himself of the task at hand. The explosions were growing closer as the young man in white passed by a mechanical dog that was on the defensive snarling at the door. Opening a small latch, he looked outside and saw the ruins of the once great capital of the United States.
The battle was growing closer as machines covered in rust were approaching. Over 500 years ago a new plague had been discovered called the Ruin. The Ruin had spread to all matters of life turning it to dust and rust. There was no cure, and anyone affected by it was slanted for death. Machines were developed to try and halt the spread, but they had too been infected and turned against their creators for it. One machine lifeform by the name of Brakingboss had rose up to cull the chaos and had become a tyrant for it. Humanity and machine life were on their last legs and now the only hope left waited in the past.
The blond haired, woman here was the key for she alone was immune to the plague. IT was a miracle that came too late to be of use. Her two young friend the man in white with a stylized C on his chest was also immune thanks to this woman and when word spread of her existence all eyes went to her. Some called her a Holy Maiden, some had even compared her to God and were clawing at each other to find her. The young man closed the latch once more and looked to his father.
"Father hurry!" He urged and thus the man nodded to this.
"It's done." He said as he then presented to the pair a set of watches. "These will help you break through the Chrono Barrier, but they have a limited amount of power so it's only good for one round trip." He urged as he gave them the watches.
"But there is only two here." The young man said and thus the father looked to his son.
"You need to go with Luna, Casshern." The man said as he looked to his son. "She can't go alone and you're the only one strong enough to protect her." The man said as he looked to his son Casshern who by extension looked over to Luna. "I'll try to hold them off, but you need to go NOW!" He called and thus Casshern and Luna understood.
"Alright." Casshern said before looking to Luna. "Let's go... Luna." Casshern said and thus Luna nodded before giving chase with the dog in tow.
As the pair left the room the old man sighed in sadness before looking to the door and grabbing a rifle. "Forgive me... my son. Forgive me for my deception." The old man said and in turn he was ready. What came next was the door blasting open from outside and from the smoke he saw three figures approaching.
The largest of the three grabbed the old man and glared at him. "WHERE IS SHE!?" He demanded but the old man smirked to him.
"Too late asshole." The old man said and thus the trio realized what this meant.
(With Casshern and Luna)
The duo (trio counting the machine dog) ran through the destroyed alleyways putting distance between them and the attackers. "We're clear." Casshern said and in turn the dog came close to his master. "Good boy Friender." Casshern said and thus he and Luna nodded to each other.
"Let's hope that we come back to a brighter age." Luna said and thus they held the watch. The Coordinates were set curtesy of Casshern's father and once the watches were activated the trio were surrounded by a sphere of energy that once it surrounded them the trio were gone as if they were never there.
(Scene Break Year 2012 Springfield)
In an alleyway of Springfield, the very same energy sphere began to form as from it Casshern, Luna, and Friender appeared from it. Of course, when the sphere vanished the three stumbled a bit as clearly the experience was disorienting. "Luna are you ok?" Casshern asked and thus he saw Luna looked outside the alley.
"Look." Luna said and thus the trio looked out and saw people walking by and cars driving by. It was broad daylight, and they can see the blue sky and clouds above them.
"Come on." Casshern said and in turn he led Luna and Friend out of the alleyway and into the streets. Of course, their outfits drew attention from the locals a few steps out as they arrived at a newspaper stand. Looking upon the year dated on it they saw that the devices worked they had travelled back in time.
"We made it." Casshern said as he saw that they were in the past now.
"I don't believe it." Luna said amazed over this new discovery.
"Hey, you two freakshows going to buy a paper or you just going to stare." A rude man spoke to them but was promptly ignored.
"Where can we find the nearest pharmaceutical facility?" Casshern asked as Luna looked to him with confusion.
"How the fuck should I know?" He asked and thus Casshern looked ready to make the guy talk but Luna had some sort of holographic display up.
"There's a large facility about 2 miles do North from here." Luna said to which Casshern nodded and took his leave with Friender in tow.
"Sorry about the disturbance." Luna said before she chased after Casshern and Friender to the facility she spoke up.
"Ok weird." The man said deciding to shrug it off for the time being. "Must be some kind of Cosplay convention in town." The man mumbled and got back to his day.
(On the road)
"Casshern why are we going to a pharmaceutical Facility?" Luna asked with concern for the two of them.
"They develop medicines according to historical data, so we bring you to them, have them take a sample of your blood, and they can reverse engineer into the Ruin Vaccine granting preparations to stop the Ruin before it can sprout." Casshern said as he knew the Ruin Virus had first appeared around this era.
"Did you even think of how to get them to listen to us?" Luna asked as she knew this era Time Travel was a concept of science fiction. Hell even before Casshern's father managed to send them back it was considered science fiction.
"I'll make them listen." Casshern said and thus Luna sighed in annoyance to this.
"Blunt as always." Luna said as she was the brains between them at times.
(Scene Break Cobra Pharmaceutical Plant)
Casshern and Luna walk into the building with Friender walking behind them, with Casshern move his eyes from left to right without turning his head, as he sees many people around, staring at them strangely to say with Casshern didn't mind that as he keep his guard up as they came up to the front desk.
Friender keep close while looking around the building as if he were keeping his own eyes out for something. Just then the dogs' ears peak up as it was picking up the sound of a helicopter outside.
Soon enough as they reach the desk, the lady at the front desk said to them, "Welcome to Cobra Pharmaceuticals, how may we help you."
"We want to speak to the one in charge here, right away," Casshern said getting right to the point with a strong tone as the lady keep a straight face the best she could as she look at Casshern as she said, "Do you have an appointment?"
"An appointment?" Casshern said as if that was appointment was his most unlike word as the lady said to him, "Yes, you must make an appointment if you wish to meet with the Manager."
Unknown to them as the lady was slowly lower one of her hands to under her desk as she was ready to push a button, seeing Casshern was getting upset about this as they need to see someone right now, as he balled up his fist, Friender also stood ready as he was ready to attack someone. A low growl came from him too as he was ready whenever Casshern was.
Luna saw all of this and knew thing would escalate quickly in violent and the last thing she wanted was destruction as she quickly got in front of Casshern and said, "Excuse my friend, he's been having a bad day, you know how that sometimes goes right?"
The Lady at the desk remove her hand from the button under the desk before she could press it as she gave a warm smile to Luna as she said, "I suppose so, how can I help you?"
"How would we go about making an appointment to meet with the Manager?" Luna said but before she could say anything else, the doors open and a group of men with a redhead woman walk into the build and came up to the front desk as a man with blonde hair seem to be the leader of the group came up to the group and said to them, "You two, please move to the side."
"Make me," Casshern said as he looked at the guy as he wasn't backing down as they were there first, as thin guy who smell like he came out of a dump said, "What up with the guy in the fancy costume?"
"I don't know, is there a comic conventions around here?" a black dude said as was looking at the odd group before them, to see a guy in a very white outfit like that, a cute blonde girl, and a dog too that was standing on guard like an attack dog would do but it wasn't barking at them at least, with the redhead woman step up and came before the desk as she said to them before speaking to the desk lady, "I'm sorry about this but this is an emergency. We are Army intelligence I need to speak to your security chief immediately."
"Do you have an appointment," the lady said as Casshern groin to himself by this as now there was more waiting and was getting very impatient, with the woman pull out a badge as she showed it to the desk lady and said, "I don't need an Appointment. I represent the US Government. Bring him out here now."
The desk lady pushed the button under the desk for this as she said to the scarlet hair woman, "Ah one moment please."
"You may want to switch to decaf," the blonde guy said to the redhead as suddenly Friender started growling loudly enough for everyone to hear as Casshern been made aware of this as he turn to the door where the woman was walking up to as she pull out a key card and scan it, as the next thing everyone knew a group of armed men, no doubt security, came out with futuristic weapons in hand as a guy in red sunglasses said, "Don't move, stay where you are!"
The armed security team pointed their guns at the military group, along with Casshern and Luna even though they didn't do anything… yet, as the blond guy said, "Whoa we're friendlies."
"We're investigating a terrorist threat, while these two are just civilians, stand down," Scarlet said while flashing her badge, but was ignored as the red sunglasses guy came up to her as he grabbed her arm and said, "On the floor lady!"
"Hey, hands off!" the blonde guy said as he tried to stop the sunglasses guy, but he got a gun pointed at him as the sunglasses guy said while he held the woman and said to her, "Hands behind your head."
"Get that out of my face," The blond guy said as soon it became a struggle as the big guy gran the security guy as the blond took way his gun with the sunglasses guy came up and try to take the gun from him soon after.
"Duke stand down!" the scarlet woman said to the blond guy named duke as the two keep fighting as Duke try to explain to the guy as he said, "We are here by the authority of the united states government!"
"Both of you stop!" the woman said to them as she tried to push them away but got shot at by one of the security men as Luna gasp to this while Casshern stood in place without showing fear, as duke took the gun and grab the sunglasses guy by his suit and throw him into the one who shot the woman
Soon enough almost the entire security team pointed their weapons at the military team and started firing, with duke return fire as his team grab the woman who was shot to cover and quickly got behind the desk.
With Casshern and Luna stood in place, as a few men pointed their guns at them still as one of them said, "Don't move."
"Wait we're not with them." Luna said but Casshern wasn't going to take the risk. His face plate closed over his mouth before he charged into battle. The Security Team never saw Casshern coming as he zoomed past them at inhuman speed and took one group of guys down with ease. When Casshern showed to be the bigger threat the soldiers turned their blasters on him and fired only for Casshern to dodged them with speed alone. His two hip attachments burst out with a shot as he was launched at the other guards before they could react. One was elbowed in the throat, another was kicked to the ribs, and the last was punched in the chest and sent flying.
Casshern stood there before he backhanded a guard trying to sneak up on him. He hit the ground where blood began to leak from his nose and mouth suggesting a broken note and a few broken teeth. Two of the guards began to get back up only for Friender to jump in with a bark and start chomping his fangs down on them. The dog was almost as fast as Casshern as he easily avoided the laser shots coming his way. Friender then bit down on the gun and crushed it with his jaw before tossing it aside where it sparked out before becoming useless.
Casshern then walked over the man with sunglasses from before and hoisted him up by the collar of his shirt. "You have about five seconds to tell me why you started shooting at me before I add you to the pile." Casshern said as he glared at security guard. The man refused to talk and when that happened Casshern was about to punch his lights out.
But before Casshern could do so Luna stopped him. "Casshern that's enough you made your point." Luna said and thus Casshern stopped his attack. Casshern then sighed before he punched the man in the face using less strength than he intended yet enough to knock him out cold. He then dropped him and left him join his friends in dream lands. He then glared at the soldiers showing he was not happy about what had just happened here.
"What did you all do?" Casshern asked as he glared at the group before him.
"Us we didn't do anything." The junkyard smelling man said to him.
"Then why are we being dragged into your problem?" Casshern asked as Luna looked to Casshern with concern while making sure Friender stayed put.
"Ask her." The blond-haired man, Duke said as he pointed to the red-haired woman, Scarlet.
"Classified." Scarlet said as Casshern looked ready to attack again but Luna stopped him from doing so by putting her hand against his chest acting as a wall. Luna knew why Casshern was upset and that was because he was trying to protect her from unwanted dangers.
"I'm very sorry about him he's on edge." Luna said trying to avoid any more problems.
Just then one of the guards began to get back up and was about to run for it. Friender snarled in response and thus they saw the guard before from the ceiling a man in skintight black suit came down and quickly knocked the man back out. All guns were on the new arrival as Casshern was ready for a fight as well with Luna reaching for her hidden sidearm.
"Snake Eyes is with me." Scarlet said as she made Duke lower his gun.
"His name is Snake Eyes?" The smaller dark-skinned man said as he looked to his friends.
"And you had nothing to do with it imagine that." Garbage smelling man said as Friender just tilted his head a bit with curiosity.
Just then movement was heard at the door causing Casshern to look at it. "Someone is coming." Scarlet said and in turn everyone got moving out of the way.
Soon enough the door opened, and more security guards walked in. They looked around and found the room was empty as somehow Casshern, Luna, Friender, and the soldiers had vanished from sight.
"Clear!" The security guards called out but if they had looked up, they would have seen the group had gotten on the ceiling above. Casshern had Luna hanging off his back with her arms around his neck and legs wrapped around his body. Friender much to the shock of the group had his claws in the ceiling while Casshern held onto some pipes. Suddenly the one who smelled like garbage fell only for the big guy to grab him before he could fall and alert the guards before pulling him back up.
"I'll initiate lockdown you secure the perimeter." The leading Security guard said before they went back through the security door. Once the coast was clear they all jumped back down to the ground and thus Casshern was starting to feel grateful as something was amiss here.
"So, anyone want to talk about the dog who climbed a wall or the guy whose crazy strong and fast?" The garbage guy said as Casshern looked to him.
"If we can talk about your smell." Casshern said causing the Asian man to glare at Casshern for that.
"Did you get the schematics?" Scarlet asked while ignoring the man with a bad smell. Snake Eyes then presented a PDA to Scarlet who took it. The Ninja then tapped his wrist as Casshern knew what it meant. "I know but we need to eyeball the lab." Scarlet said as she looked to the Ninja in question.
"For a minute I thought these two were the Terrorists." Duke said as he pointed to Casshern and Luna. "But now I'm thinking that no one called a Terrorist threat at all." Duke said glaring at Scarlet. "What's our real purpose here, Scarlet?" Duke asked as he wanted answers and most of all the truth.
"I'll explain everything." Scarlet said as she took a helmet off one of the security officers they stuffed into the closet. "After you've changed." She said throwing the helmet to Duke.
"What about these two?" The big guy asked as he gestured to Casshern and Luna with Friender.
"We'll have to bring them along their now caught up in all of this." Scarlet said as she had more. "Plus, I have some questions for him as well." Scarlet as she was also curious as to how Casshern was as strong and fast as he was.
"I suppose there's no choice." Casshern said as he looked to the group but alas there was not enough uniforms for all of them.
(Later)
Luna and Scarlet were being lead through the facility as Luna and Scarlet were handcuffed. Luna meanwhile was connecting to the worldwide web via her gears own wireless uplink. Luna was also comparing data from the past to her present and cross referencing anything involving Cobra. Of course, any data on Cobra was either small or questionable as it told two different stories that were incomplete.
they had parted with Casshern and Friender who had gone with Snake Eyes earlier. Luna would draw less attention as she was being escorted through the facility with Scarlet by the disguised group of soldiers.
"Why are we sneaking around? You got a problem with Cobra?" Duke asked as he looked to Luna who was oddly calm about this. "And bringing a civilian along to boot." Duke added as he looked to Scarlet.
"Don't let their smiling face fool you, Cobra Industries is a front for arms dealing, immoral science, and extortion." Scarlet said as Luna kept her mouth quiet.
"Come on Cobra makes medicine here Lieutenant. My mom's worked at a Cobra Bakery for nearly ten years." The smaller dark-skinned man said as he smiled to Scarlet.
"Cobra does bake a tasty Apple Pie." The larger man said sounding happy about Cobra.
"Cobra is pure evil but the Military has never had proof until now." Scarlet said as she showed her PDA a bit. "The buildings schematics reveal a sub-terranean level." Scarlet said as Luna heard her out.
"So, we got shot at and nearly killed because Cobra has a basement?" The garbage smelling man said to the group while they walked to the Out of Order Elevator.
"A basement full of something I just know it." Scarlet said as Duke undid hers and Luna's cuffs. Not long after Snake Eyes opened the door from inside the elevator shaft revealing himself, and Casshern as Friend circled around the shafts braces ready to go down.
"Thank you." Scarlet said to Snake Eyes after helping Luna out of her cuffs.
But before they can go further Duke stood in her way stopping her from going further. "All I know is that you lied to us, risked our lives and civilian lives, and made us all accessories to half-a-dozen crimes." Duke said as he had enough of this.
"I'm taking you in." Duke said as Luna wondered how this would play out.
"If I'm right General Abernathy will pat you on the back if I'm wrong you'll be handed a medal for blowing the whistle on me." Scarlet said putting herself on the line to get the proof she needs. "Sound fair?" She offered and thus Luna looked to the scene. Duke in response then let her pass and thus she began to climb down the metal chords of the elevator.
"General Abernathy somebody has friends in high places." The younger man said before he began to climb down.
"Hard to believe somebody has friends at all." Duke said before they started to climb down.
(Inside the shafts)
As they were lowering down the smaller guy worked up the nerve to ask Luna. "You seem oddly calm about this little lady." The younger man said meaning to Luna who was being held by Casshern as he lowered them down to the ground level.
"Nothing I'm not use to." Luna said as she tried to be vague less, they disturb the time flow and make these guys think their crazy.
"Ok... what do they call you two?" The man asked trying to be friendly to the pair.
"Luna Kozuki." Luna introduced as she rode down the shaft on Casshern's back.
"And your boyfriend there?" The man asked and thus Luna blushed beet red for that one.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Luna said as Casshern just rolled his eyes a bit to this.
"I'm Casshern, Luna's guardian, and that all you will get," Casshern said as the man said, "What no last name? What is even is that European, Latin, Japanese?"
"It is what it is," Casshern said as he was tired of the guy asking about his name already, as Luna said soon, "He wasn't always called Casshern."
"Wait so Casshern isn't your real name then, then what is it?" the man ask him as Casshern give him a glare as he said, "Not important, but what is important is getting out of here fast before anything else."
"I'm sorry for his behavior, he used to be friendlier as well, unlike Friender here, he's always been a good dog," Luna said as she looked towards the strange dog who was leaping down the elevator ahead of everyone as the guy said, "Right, Well I'm Wallace Weems, nice to meet you miss Kozuki."
"Pleasure, but who are the rest of you if you don't mind me asking?" Luna said as the smelly guy soon introduce himself as he said, "Names Nicky lee, and the big guy here is roadblock."
"My name is Marvin Hinton, Tunnel Rat," Roadblock said as he and tunnel rat introduce themselves as the blond guy went next as he said, "I'm Conrad Hauser, but my friends call me Duke, this woman here is scarlet."
"It's Shana O'Hara," Scarlet said correcting Duke as Luna look down to see the ninja snake eyes as she soon asked, "And Him?"
"He's snake eyes, I don't know his real name, but he's a good friend," Scarlet said as soon enough the group reach the bottom floor as Snake eyes use his sword to pry the elevator doors open as he got it open a crack, Casshern got in and pushes the doors open without effort as he held it with the others got out of the elevator shaft and came across container of something… not human in them.
With Roadblock step in some sort of goo that stretch out a bit, as he scrap it off his boot, he turn the flashlight on the gun he has shining in the containers wondering what they are, and see a strange mutation in it as it press it head and mouth up against the glass container scaring him and Luna who also saw this as Casshern pull her away just in case that thing breaks out as Roadblock said, "This ain't yo mama's cobra."
"Unless she's into mutant monsters," Casshern said as Wallace soon said, "This has to be a mistake."
"Our mistake, yeah we seen the rec room. Can we go now?" Tunnel Rat said as he didn't want to be there anymore as Duke came up to scarlet and said, "I'll agree it's weird, but what does a sideshow prove?""
Before she could answer, there was a sound, like metal screeching, as everyone dog tags, a side of Luna's skirt lifted up as she quickly held it down not wanting to show what's under there, Friender who was floating in the air by a few inches with Casshern as well for some reason as they all look down the tunnel they were in front of and saw a train coming their way.
With everyone moving out of the way Casshern grab Luna and Friender and push hard on the ground as he and the other quickly floated across until gravity seem to have return to them when they got off the tracks, with the train rushing by as well, with everyone dog tag fell down.
"Hey friend." Duke began while they all regrouped again. "You could have said something about the magnetic train tracks." Duke said glaring at Snake Eyes.
"No, he couldn't." Scarlet said coming to the ninja's defense.
"He's a mute." Luna voiced as she looked to Snake Eyes.
"Anybody else gonna wonder why there's a train running down here." Roadblock asked as he looked to the group.
"I have one theory; but all I can say is that all roads lead to Rome." Casshern spoke before they continued forward.
As they walked Luna could not help but grow concerned about this. Casshern was also worried fearing that they may have landed in a less the stellar time and more so he might have almost handed Luna over to a terrorist organization that would have taken advantage of her... unique genetics. They came here to stop the Ruin Plague, not cause it earlier than expected and with only one charge left in their Chrono bands they could not risk wasting it.
(Later)
They continued down the path until Scarlet noticed something. "Quiet." Scarlet said and in turn they moved to a hiding spot. They hid behind a large tube as the room they arrived had a vat of some sort of material.
"Sir we had a security breach and I thought." A voice began as Scarlet raised her PDA over the tube to record what was going on.
"Yo rent-a-cop never interrupt an artist at work." A young man called out as they listened in. "You know what I'm making down here? Your replacement." He said as they looked to each other.
"Is this kid Braikingboss's ancestor or something?" Luna mumbled as she overheard him as well.
The man continued to speak while Scarlet continued to record him. "I know, I know the teeming masses will call you unnatural, immoral; even evil. But you'll always be my baby." He gushed as Scarlet finished recording him.
"Whose young Frankenstein?" Wallace asked as he was a bit concerned.
Brain Bender AKA Mindbender." Scarlet said as Luna heard them.
"That doesn't sound promising." Luna admitted as she looked to the soldier.
"Badly wanted by feds for multiple crimes against nature." Scarlet said before Tunnel Rat spoke up.
"So, what's he doing in Cobra's basement?" Tunnel Rat asked as he looked to the group.
"Baking up some apple pie." Roadblock said causing Luna to look concerned.
"Doesn't matter we're taking him in." Duke said as he couldn't let this guy walk free.
"No, I have all the proof I need right here we're leaving." Scarlet said as Casshern agreed with her.
"Eh no worried sergeant we'll just comeback with a search warrant, pitchforks, and torches, next week." Tunnel Rat said as Casshern was ready to go.
"We can't just leave." Luna said as she got everyone's attention. "If this man really does have such a record its only right that we apprehend him and bring him in." Luna said as she looked to the group.
"Yes, we can, and we will, you and your friend are both still civilians and I still have some questions for... where did he go?" Scarlet said as she looked to Luna but when she looked over to Casshern she saw he was gone.
"I think I know." Tunnel Rat said as he pointed to where Mindbender was. They saw Casshern using his speed to zoom towards him without him noticing.
"Of course." Luna sighed knowing how Casshern tended to be at times.
(With Casshern)
Mindbender never saw Casshern coming as he jumped down and slammed his face against the screen hard enough to bruise. He then yanked Mindbender back and held him by the scruff of his coat. "Hey what the where did you come from?!" Mindbender asked as he saw Casshern there who currently had his faceplate on.
"You're under arrest!" Duke called out as the six had Mindbender cornered between them.
"I suggest you surrender or else I just might need to break your arms and legs." Casshern said making it clear he will make sure Mindbender faces justice for his crimes even if he had to leave him as a quadriplegic.
"Yeah, sure whatever you say... not." Mindbender said before dropping a device he had on his person onto the big red button as the weight of the device managed to push down on said button. This activated a system over the vat that released a current of energy down into said vat. From the vat a monster rose up causing the group to go wide eyed at this while Friender snarled at the obvious threat.
"Everyone sees the lava lamp coming at us, right?" Tunnel Rat asked as Luna nodded to this.
"Yea." Luna said and in turn Duke spoke up.
"Open fire!" Duke called out the order and in turn everyone began to fire off their weapons upon the slime creature. As they fired upon the creature their laser shots did nothing but just pass right through it before the holes filled back up. Acting fast Casshern charged in and tried to take out the creature by chopping through it. Of course, that was Casshern's first mistake he was so used to fighting machines and crazed humans that he had forgotten that the same tactics don't always work for everyone. So, his attack managed to cut through, but it didn't stay down as Cashhern backed off when he saw it heal itself.
"Didn't see that coming." Luna said shocked over what she was seeing from this new monster.
The Slime creature turn towards Casshern as he tried to attack him, he avoided it and try attacking again as he came at the creature, but this time cut it straight down the middle of it and still manage to regenerate itself.
"Hey Casshern, your moves aren't going to work on that thing, fallback now!" Duke said as he and the others open fire at the creature as Casshern avoided the crossfire with ease, with Scarlet try to get a closer look at the creature as she records it but gotten to close as the team stop firing with Duke yell out to her, "Watch out!"
The slime creature grabbed her as she screamed out in fright as the group charge in to save her, with snake eyes try to get close, cutting at the slime creature with his sword but only for it to regenerate itself once more as it smacked Snake Eyes away up on an upper area as he hit against a pipe making him drop one of his swords as it stabbed in the ground below.
With Mindbender try to sneak away, Friender turn his attention on him as he growled with the doctor stop as he raised his hand to the dog and said, "Nice doggy, good doggy."
The creature squeeze scarlet so much that it make her to black out as the group shot at it, as it took the shot like nothing soon throw scarlet at Wallace and Tunnel Rat knocking them down, with Duke try to get in close and personal with it as he fire at it while charge up a shot and shoot it dead center which did blow a large hole in it, only to regenerate again and trap Duke's gun within it as the creature gotten a hold him of as everyone was worry as they didn't know what to do as they can't shot duke too as the guy said, "Go! Bring Back up!"
Roadblock and Wallace look at each other before Roadblock said, "No can-do sir!"
Tunnel Rat look at scarlet for a moment before looking at a vent that was just big enough for him as he put the lady down as he said to Luna, "Watch over her will ya?"
Luna nodded as she stayed by Scarlet side, as Tunnel Rat open up the vent and crawl in as he said, "Sargent says bring back up, let see how much."
With the creature seem to try and smother Duke with its tentacle arm, only for Casshern come in and chop at the creature releasing him with the others manage to get to duke and lift him up, the creature healed again and tis eye glow as it seemed it gain another wind quickly as it hit the Joes away while Casshern avoided it.
Wallace almost went over the edge of an open railing of the platform they were on and about to stomp on him, at that moment Luna quickly reach for the object on her as it seem like just a toy, unfold a gun grip from it as she took aim with it and fire sending a magnetic blast which effected the creature as it roar out in pain, as it seem it didn't like that as Roadblock looked at her and said, "Wait that toy of your was a gun, Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because it only works on machines, for organic it's basically harmless but it can still give it a shock to it," Luna said as she held up her gun, only for the creature to recover from that hit as he grab Wallace and throw him at Roadblock and Luna as the big guy took most of the blow, for Luna get throw back and got cut by a sharp edge of a broken railing as she scream out in pain.
Casshern saw this as he saw her blood coming out from a wound on her arm, which enrage him as he looked at the creature and came at it with a battle cry then try punch at it for his arm to get stuck in it.
The creature tried to grab him, only for Casshern to use his other hand and gripping his arm that was stuck, using it as leverage, and manage to throw the creature across the platform to the main area with Casshern wasn't done with it yet as he came at it again and again cutting it up in pieces, but it kept regenerating, but the more he fought the more the creature own healing ability was slowing down.
The doc saw this and was shocked that a guy like Casshern can keep fighting his creature with inhuman speed and strength, and as he looked down at the Friender who still watching over him as he inched his way towards something while making it seem he was harmless as he said to it, "Hey you like playing with a stick, do you?"
The doc reached a certain area as a cattle prong was at as he slow reach over to grab it, as he then said, "Play with this stick!"
Grabbing it as he turned it on, Friender charge at him only for Mindbender stuck it at Friender, giving him a nasty shock as the dog went down as mindbender give a laugh to this and went over to Casshern who was still fighting his creature.
As the clime creature was on tis last leg with no energy in it, Casshern was about to finish it off, until he got a huge shock to him as Mindbender hit him with the cattle prong as well as he laughed and said, "How do you like this?!"
Casshern didn't go down as he resisted the shock while turning towards the doctor, surprising him as he soon turn up the juice on the prong which Casshern scream out in pain with his system got overload and black out as he drop down.
"Well, aren't you very interesting," Mindbender said as he tapped the cattle prong in his hand, happy with his work as he turned to his creature and said, "Now let get you charge up again."
(later)
The Joes were tied up and, in the area, where the creature came from, while Casshern was lock up with chains, arms and legs suspended with Luna in a similar position but not as much as Casshern as the doctor gotten a scan on Casshern and giving him an X-ray, what he saw was something unbelievable, but the proof was right before him.
Which got him thinking as he turned towards Luna, seeing her, knowing she is human herself but why was a guy like Casshern with her as he saw he was protecting her as he took a Q-tip and gotten a sample of her blood and got a closer look at it.
Getting a scan on her blood Mindbender went wide eyed over what he saw on it. "Well, that's unexpected." Mindbender said over what he just bore witness to. "First a cyborg that isn't sterile and a chick with super cells." Mindbender said as he was about to cash in big with this, discovery. "Guess that's why big C here is so protective." He said smirking over to Casshern who began to come too.
Casshern saw his situation and started to growl at Mindbender. "Yeah, don't even try it bro, you ain't getting out of those cuffs their triple reinforced to keep you from going anywhere." He said only for Casshern to lunge and cause the cuffs to shake in struggle. Mindbender even jumped back as a bit in shock. "Ok maybe I need to reinforce this!" He added jabbing Casshern with the prongs again at max power. Casshern cried out in pain before Mindbender removed the prongs. "Now you two be good little lab rats and pipe down." Mindbender said as Luna woke up and heard enough of this.
"You can't do this to us!" Luna yelled as the machine below had already started.
"Oh yes I can little miss, see Cobra lets me do anything I want down here." Mindbender said as he smirked at the girl. "After the soldiers below and their ninja friend are recycled to my biomatrix they will be reborn as super soldiers." He said and in turn smirked a bit. "Granted it's just a work in progress but you don't have to worry about that." He said looking to Luna. "According to your results your something special in the genetics department and right now your more valuable unaltered." Mindbender said as he looked to Luna before changing his attention to the restrained Casshern. "And YOU!" Mindbender said jabbing Casshern again with the prongs. "I can't wait to start cutting you open and seeing what makes you tick; all those cybernetics are way beyond anything I've ever seen I might even need to find an expert for this sort of stuff." Mindbender said causing Casshern to glare at the mad scientist. "By the end of today I'm walking away with the first stage of a Bio viper Army, the latest in cybernetics well above anything we have today, and an evolutionary goldmine." Mindbender said and thus Casshern struggled to get free again opting Mindbender to jab Casshern with the prongs again to keep him quiet.
Mindbender went back to work as soon the screen behind him suddenly turned on revealing a black-haired woman with glasses. "Doctor, I understand there was a security breach at the lab." The woman said as Mindbender smirked to his boss.
"Uh handled it and walked away with some awesome goodies." Mindbender said with a smirk on his face unaware that there was someone inside the tube behind him. "Some green shirts busted in to arrest me and they brought me a super advanced cyborg and a chick who shouldn't have existed for maybe the next few millennia at best." Mindbender said as the unknown woman raised a brow to this with suspicion. "Look listen I can send you the initial findings now I'm still having trouble believing it." Mindbender said as he planned to have these two and their dog transported to another facility for a more invasive look inside them.
"I expect a full report." The woman said before hanging up as the mad scientist sent the data over.
"You won't escape this." Luna said as she glared at Mindbender.
"Oh yeah what makes you think that babe?" Mindbender asked and in turn she smirked to him.
"Who let the dog out?" Luna asked and in turn the sound of metal breaking was heard. Looking to the source he saw Friender was out and about again after breaking the chains he was tied to and was snarling at Mindbender. "Friender sick'em!" Luna ordered and in turn Friender snarled and went after Mindbender. He tried to hit the robot dog with the prongs again only for Friender to dodge it and bit down on the arm holding it.
Crying out in pain Mindbender tried to get Friender off of him. "Get this mutt off me!" He yelled as Friender was tearing into his arm that was now bleeding.
"Friender here!" Casshern called out and thus Friender let off and got to his partner. Once he was there, he bit down on the restraints and began to tear them off of Casshern. Once Casshern was free he glared at Mindbender who had crawled over to the handlebars and while nursing his bloody arm. When he got there, he saw the soldiers had gotten themselves free and this was not a good thing. Seeing the Prongs Mindbender grabbed them and pointed it at the Bio Viper behind Casshern and Friender.
"Junior!" He called out and sent a bolt at them. The pair managed to avoid it but in doing so allowed the Bio viper to receive the jump. Dinner!" He called out pointing to the troops bellow. Acting fast Casshern ran over to Luna and broke her restraints before she took out her weapon. She fired it at Mindbender who dodged just in time, but it was in fact a distraction. Luna and Casshern ran past him with Friender using the mad scientist as a springboard and joined the Joes bellow. Casshern came down and chopped the Bio Viper in half.
"Grenade now! Before it heals!" Casshern called out and in turn Duke got the memo. Arming the grenade, the blond-haired soldier threw it over to Casshern who caught it and allowed the Bio Viper to heal around it trapping the explosive device inside it. The Bio Viper exploded and this time it was not recovering from the attack like it did before. Casshern then glared at Mindbender who saw the Neo Human and made a break for it. Casshern jumped up 10 feet and landed on the platform to find Mindbender at his computer typing something in as fast as he could even with one bad arm. He then pulled the lever and activated the vat creating even more Bio Vipers from it. Once that was done, he made a break for it and made sure to knock down whatever he could to slow down Casshern.
Casshern jumped over and avoided the obstacles as he chased down the mad scientist. Just as it seemed Casshern would grab him the Neo Human was stopped by more of these Bio Vipers keeping him at bay. Casshern chopped and sliced through them while Mindbender made his escape on a train. The train in turn departed from the area before Casshern could continue the chase. Casshern growled as he saw the regenerating Bio Vipers and in turn jumped over them and back to the others.
(With Luna and the Joes)
Duke saw the Bio Vipers forming after he and his team had climbed up the ropes with Luna. He didn't know what was going on and who these, 'civilians,' were exactly but something was up. But first the immediate problem which was the Bio Vipers being born. "Maybe we should shut down the assembly line." Duke said and Tunnel Rat was already on it.
Alas Tunnel Rat could not crack it as the screen had the word, locked, with a big red X on it. "The controls are locked." Tunnel Rat said and in turn Luna pushed him out of the way.
"Move." Luna said as she then got to work herself. "Give me five or ten minutes." Luna said as she produced a device that created a holographic screen and began hacking into the computer wirelessly.
"We don't have 5 or 10 minutes." Duke said as the Bio Vipers were coming for them.
"How about we turn the entire factory into a big old cherry bomb." Roadblock offered which Scarlet grew confused.
"How?" Scarlet asked looked to the largest man on the team.
"We're in a factory with highly volatile material I think it's pretty obvious." Luna said as she looked over to Scarlet.
"Follow me!" Weens said as he led Scarlet to help him set up the improve explosive. Casshern joined them so he can aid the group in putting the bomb together.
(Later)
The Bio Vipers were up the stairs as Luna fired her gun off on the Bio Vipers while Tunnel Rat used the cattle prongs to shock them. Duke then pulled a cable out and used it on the Bio Vipers as the cable was live. On the ground Casshern, Weens, and Scarlet were rigging their cherry bomb with Casshern speeding things along. Weens was setting up the cables that Scarlet had tossed to him before he came down and connected it to the large nearby tanks.
"Next time that Generator fires, boom chakalaka." Weens said with a smirk on his face.
"Then let it rip, Ripcord." Scarlet said and thus Ripcord smiled to this.
"Ripcord me likey." Weens said as Casshern rolled his eyes to this.
But then Casshern saw trouble and got down to it. "Look out!" Casshern called out and fought off three approaching Bio Vipers. The group began to make their escape from the scene.
Casshern caught up to Luna and help her to the elevator shaft with the Joes, as one of the Bio Vipers stepped on the cord, disconnect it to the makeshift bomb, Ripcord saw this as he said, "Crap."
He quickly rushed out as he leapt over grabbing one of the loose cords that were hanging up on the ceiling. He then leaped over the 3 Bio Vipers as he grabbed the broken cord and tied it back up to a valve handle on the machine.
As the group reach the elevator shaft, Duke realized they are short of a soldier as he said, "Where's weens."
With ripcord securing the cord rightly, he turned around and saw the Bio Vipers already on him as he jumped between them and rushes to the stairs only for a 3rd Bio viper stand in his way as he tried to run pass it but got caught instead with the two other Vipers held his arms and legs like they were about to tear him apart.
Suddenly the machine started up again as the cord acted as a fuse and ran down to the machine, Ripcord soon said to the Vipers, "Might wanna cover your ears dough boy!"
At that moment as the cord fuse reach the machine, its exploded taking out the Bio vipers and ripcord along with them as Duke saw this as he said, "NO!"
The whole room was exploding destroying everything including Luna's blood sample, as at the elevator shaft, as everyone was secure to an elevator rope, with Casshern holding Luna like a princess as he leap up into the air with Friender following them, Snake eyes cut the rope sending everyone up the elevator, with the flames following them group up the elevator shaft, they jump through the open elevator doors while avoiding the fallen elevator itself that stop the flames before it could come up and roast everyone.
With everyone having a rough landing including Scarlet who hit the wall with her leg, as she held it for a moment in pain as Snake eyes came to her side to help her out, but then alarms were going off as everyone in the building was running for their lives and an intercom voice spoken up saying, "Attention all personnel evacuate! This is not a drill!"
After that as everyone gotten out of the building including the joes, Casshern, Luna and Friender came out with them as Duke call out to them, "Come with us, we got a chopper waiting for us!"
As they ran to the helicopter, upon reaching it, the build blew up with a lot of debris shotting out as well and hitting the chopper, blowing it up with the pilot getting out before it happened.
"Now what?" Casshern said as now the group is without a ride out with Roadblock quickly thought of something as he saw one of Cobra's trucks coming their way, and rushes over to it, hiding in the smoke.
The truck pulled up and look out the window, only to get pulled out and get knocked out by Roadblock as he opened the door and got in, with Duke, Casshern, and the others reach the back of the truck, as they open it and climb in as Casshern gotten Luna in and help Scarlet into the truck as well.
Snake eyes came up and close the doors behind them as the truck soon takes off, with Snake eyes hearing footsteps coming his way, quickly he vanished into the smoke as Cobra troops came up and look around for the soldiers and found them already long gone.
(in the truck)
Casshern found a first-aid kit as he cleaned up Luna arm that was still bleeding, applying a spray to it as she hissed in pain a bit but bit her lower lip from screaming out in pain as Casshern said to her, "I'm Sorry Luna, I should have kept closer eye on you."
"It's fine Casshern, you did what you thought was best," Luna said as Casshern soon put a patch over the cut before dressing it up with bandages.
After that Luna rub her arm a bit as Friender came up and rub his head against her, as he seemed to have been worried about her. In response Luna pet the dog and said, "It's fine Friender, you were a good boy today."
With everyone else was silent as Duke was looking down, disappointed in himself as he lost one of his men during this whole thing as Scarlet saw this as she said to him, "Don't worry about Snake eyes."
"I wasn't," Duke said upset about it, as Casshern soon said to him, "It's the one who didn't make it, correct?"
Duke looked at him as Casshern open his visor as he soon said to him, "Hold him close in your memory and don't forget his sacrifice."
Everyone was surprised by this as to hear it from a strangely dress guy with superhuman abilities, Duke soon realized he has seen his fair share of battles already.
Later down the road as the Cobra truck reached the military base, pulling up to the gate as the major was there waiting for them, the truck stops as the back of the truck open up quickly with scarlet coming out as she said, "Major Hidalgo we just came from the Cobra lab in Springfield."
"What happen out their Lieutenant?" the major said in a low tone as he took her to the side to speak as she said to him as she held up the device with all the evidence she had collected on cobra, "Long story short, we've acquired proof that Cobra's involved in things you wouldn't believe."
"We have to get this to General Abernathy right now," The major said as he took the device and lead Scarlet back to the truck as scarlet soon said, "Sir another thing, the two civilian we picked up, we believe Cobra may target them now and they need protection."
"I'll see what I can do," The major said as he looked towards Luna and Casshern, as he doesn't know who they are, but will keep a close eye on them as he soon everyone around, "Everyone back in the truck."
"Sir, we lost a man back there, I need to check in with base command," Duke said to the Major as he said to Duke, "And I need you to brief to General Abernathy, that's an order."
(Later)
The major was driving the truck with everyone in the back as everyone sat down with Roadblock had headphones in and watching the news on his I-pod like device as Duke soon said, "Why are we being transported in a stolen Civilian vehicle?"
"Relax," Scarlet said to him as she was getting annoyed with Duke act, but Casshern felt the same as Duke, as why didn't they switch to a military transport instead, and where is this major taking them, as he felt the truck was driving off way off course away from any military facility, with Roadblock suddenly heard something on his device as he unplug and said, "Check this out!"
The group turn their attention to the device as I was on the news channel as they all heard what is going on as the news cast woman reported, "Authorities now believe robbery and Sabotage were the motives behind today's explosion at Cobra Pharmaceuticals. Police seek a group of U.S. army personnel Led by this man."
Showing Duke military photo as the woman went on saying, "Sargent Conrad Hauser, as seen here, the armed men forced their way into the plant at gunpoint, while working with an unknown Vigilante in white."
The news showed the whole gunfight with it show Duke was the one who fired first and the parts where Casshern was fighting off the security force with ease but didn't show his face or his superhuman abilities, to make it look like he was some sort of a mask Vigilante, as Tunnel rat soon said, "Hey where's the part where Cobra shot first?"
"Reports has been said that these rouge U.S Military soldier and the unknown Vigilante had also abducted the daughter of the Head of Cobra Industries, multi-billiard Adam Decobray, who adopted this girl 2 months ago to be his heir." When the woman said that Luna saw her own image on the screen but by the looks of it, she was dressed in a uniform of some kind possibly a private school, but Luna knew for a fact she was never in such a picture before.
"What, but that not true, he is not my father!" Luna said as she explained the situation with the group being surprise by this as they keep watching with the news woman went on saying "Since the explosion resulted in at least one fatality, Hauser, his men, and the unknown Vigilante are wanted for murder and kidnapping."
"We're being set up," Duke declared as Scarlet couldn't believe it herself as she came up to the door that separated them from the driver area as she knock on it as she said, "Major Hidalgo!" but he didn't answer as what scarlet look inside, she sees the major talking with baroness on the screen, as she wave over Duke as he and Casshern came up and look inside as they saw what's going on as Major hit said to the woman, "I'm thinking the secret she managed to record is worth twice the number we originally agreed upon, what do you say?"
"I say, your fired," baroness said as something happen which electrocuted the major and shocks everyone who was looking through the window in the back of the truck as it soon ran out of control and soon crash through a metal fence and about to drive off over a cliff.
Casshern quickly smash the door open, but it was too late, the major was gone, vaporized by something as Duke quickly grab the wheel and hit the break before they reach the edge of a cliff of an old mining facility.
"That was too close." Casshern said as he looked over the cliff with Duke and Roadblock.
Nearby Scarlet reached under the dashboard and pulled out the PDA only to find it was fried with the Major. "It's fried." O'Hara said as she saw the PDA was toast.
"Great how do we prove we're not criminals?" Duke asked as he glared at Shana for this. "We can't trust anyone." Duke added as they were at a lost here.
"We can trust General Abernathy." Shana said and thus she proceeded to make the call.
(The Pentagon)
General Abernathy was in his office watching the news of the incident. He soon received a message on his computer and proceeded to answer it. "Lieutenant Ohara what is Sam Hill have you've been doing?" Abernathy asked as the bald eye patch wearing man look to the red headed spy.
"I had pictures sir of the real Cobra unfortunately the proof has been destroyed." Shana said as she looked to the General. "But I know where we can find much, much more." Shana said but Abernathy did not buy it.
"Let me guess the Cobra plant you and those soldiers incinerated while taking the hostage." Abernathy said as Shana was wide eyed to this.
(Back with the Joes)
"Sir if you'd just let me explain." Shana tried to reason as Casshern stayed out of view.
But Abernathy would not have any of it as he cut Shana off. "Explain? You acted without orders Lieutenant you and those soldiers will accept responsibility for going rogue end of discussion." Abernathy said as he looked to the spy. "Now surrender yourselves and the hostage." Abernathy spoke but Duke cut in there.
"Sir we've been set up!" Duke countered but Abernathy wanted to believe.
"Until you can prove that son, I can't help you no one can." Abernathy said and in turn he hung up on the group.
"SHIT!" Casshern cured as he punched the side of the truck making a dent in it and that was him holding back.
(Meanwhile Undisclosed location)
A man sat in the room looking over the data that Baroness had sent him from Mindbender. A specimen such as this young girl was a one in a lifetime find. Her genetic makeup from this small sample alone was worth more than a single Bio Viper. She was the answer to every plague that has ever affected humankind and for this man this leader his path to immortality. But this small poultry sample was of no use to him as is. He needed the source and with her on the loose capturing her was top priority. More specifically, she needed to be captured alive. The soldiers and the vigilante with her are of no consequence but bringing her in alive was the main objective.
Baroness was given orders that she be brought in alive and well and according to security footage her name was apparently Luna. While Baroness was good with PR the story, she spun to make her, a hostage was a stroke of genius on her part even if it was on short notice. Still the press will want questions as to why Adam DeCobray suddenly adopted a daughter, and no one had heard about her until now. A simple story to weave on the part of Cobra but making sure it sticks was another problem entirely. The story to be sold was that two months ago her parents were the victims of a horrible accident and as the next of kin her upbringing fell to Mr. DeCobray. In need of an heir and unable to produce one for himself young Ms. Luna was adopted into his family so she may in turn inherit Cobra Industries. Their original plan was to keep her out of the spotlight until everything was sorted out when this incident occurred leading to her abduction.
Still this other one the white vigilante he might prove useful because if Mindbender speaks truth, he was the latest in cutting edge cybernetics. But he will need James McCullen and his M.A.R.S. Industries as well. Still, he was not worried at the moment for once he has young Luna immortality will be his and with it the world will belong to Cobra.
(TBC)
ESKK: Well, here we are the opening salvo is done. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and will tune in for next time. So, until then be sure to review the chapter and as I always say here, ja-ne.
