Interlude, Alternative Ties
If there's one thing that the Home Schooled Cartel excels in doing, it would be exploiting markets that are unexploited and unexplored.
One enterprising teen from the HSC in the past had seen the living ties that are usually sold in stores across the world and was deeply disgusted at it. He was not going to wear those things even if it was the last thing that he'll have to wear.
So the young man studied the art of sewing and clothes making. He studied the looks of the tie snakes and how to replicate it. He then experimented on the materials that would make as great ties and how to make them appealing. At first, his fellow Cartel comrades were thinking that he was making something impossible but the teenager persevered as he experimented on making a non-living tie with his sewing machine. His efforts were repaid with the creation of non-living ties that doesn't seem to be eager to transform anyone that wore it into things they do not want to be. It would soon be one of the popular things worn by the HSC members and had destroyed their stock of tacky ties in exchange of custom made ties that could be designed in ways they want it to be for a price.
The HSC ties had became a staple in many of the members who makes clothes and sell them for a living.
"Wait, so all of your ties are not tie snakes?!" Stacey said as she lowered her paint gun and looked at the ruined locker that Wayne has that was peppered with paintball fire and starch.
On the ground were five ties of different color and designs, ruined, ripped to pieces and discolored thanks to Stacey's paint ball guns.
"No, they're not alive. I bought them from someone since I refuse to put ties that looks like they're ready to bite off my fingers the moment I want them off my neck." Wayne sighed as he forgot how she was ready to commit genocide upon the tacky ties whenever she sees them.
"Whoa dude. We thought you were wearing some weird finger eating tie on your neck and we had to take it down before it breeds in the home base and-..." before Steve could finish his sentence, Wayne glared at him, "... what? We thought those ties were mind controlling you to becoming the Rebellion's best business guy, you know."
"Hey Wayne, did you bring the ties I could borrow and... whoa, what happened here?!" one of the Rebel operatives came in to see the mess that was once Wayne's locker.
"Sorry Jake, I'm fresh out of ties. Artillery Commander thought that I was keeping tie snakes here." the Logistics Officer thumbed to the whistling Stacey who is trying to hide the weapon that caused the destruction of the ties he had.
"No... no no no no no... NO! Dude, I don't want to wear one of dad's tie snakes when I go to my sis's wedding tomorrow! You have to help me man!" Jake was on his knees and shook Wayne as he begged for help, "I swear I was thinking weird things whenever I wear those tie snakes! Please, use your supply man magic to find me a tie!"
"Calm... down... stop... shaking... me..." Wayne was a bit dazed after Jake desperately shook him, "Look, I'll get you a tie man. I just need to contact someone and see if they can do an overnight shipping. However, this is going to cost you money, okay."
"Thank you! I swear I'll forever be your in your debt!" Jake was happy to know that the Rebel Officer has his ways while the latter starts to use his CAVE phone to look someone up.
"So... am I in trouble?" Stacey asked innocently to the frowning Wayne.
"Yes. We'll discuss how much you owe me for the damages you caused to my stuff later." the Dhampir said as she gulped at what will be done to her, "As well as a long discussion on firing on things you don't know about and isn't a hostile."
-0-0-0-0-0-
When evening hits, a Cartel robot came at the Home Base with a box full of ten different ties that were made instead of born in a decrepit mall. Many teens were surprised about the ties and Jake was the happiest to see non-living ties in front of him. He would then be taught by Wayne on how to wear the tie and how to fix it to make it look good. Jake would be the only attendee of that wedding who do not wear a tacky tie but he swore he heard a lot of angry hisses from the ties. He also had to defend his set of ties from his father's tie snakes later on when he was at home, causing him to ask for more tie orders.
When this was reported, Stacey bought a few dozen ties and would use them to lure out tie snakes that abhor the non-living ties made of cloth and cotton. She would theorize that the non-living ties were a threat to their parasitic natures and would try to destroy it due to its non-living natures. She would also share some of the tie lures she bought to her father, who felt amazingly well for the first time after he wore a tie that doesn't even do anything to keep itself on him and manipulate his mind.
The clothes maker that Wayne bought the ties from had suddenly acquired a spike of customers who wants to buy ties from him and even paid extra for specific designs to be made. He would share some of the profits to Wayne since he led new customers to his shop.
Chapter 46, What defines one's self?
It was nice being back home, a familiar setting I have grown so used to and the folks that lived there. Thankfully I came back on the weekend, which allowed me to get caught up on reports back at Homebase. Wayne, in one report, detailed assisting with a spank happy vampire problem as well. Almost right around the same time I was dealing with one in Romania. I will need to work with him more on the matter of that night, Vlad mentioned the Vampire Teen mentioned of 'They'. The teen girl made it seem as if there was a bigger organization of spanking Vampires, and that did not bode well.
Typing into my laptop for a bit, I drafted up an idea for a new branch to be created for the supernatural and magic. The name itself would be discussed later, and hopefully Bella would be kind enough to finally join and lead the branch.
I was glad there has yet to be a report of the negaverse invading, so obviously the events of P.O.O.L. have yet to happen. Drumming my fingers idly as I thought about what was to come, whatever was going to be on the other side of that pool was not going to be good. I would bet my alterselve existed, but I dreaded what he could be. The multiverse was a theory in my first life, but here it was a thing and that made me think.
It worried me, it made me question myself, it brought up the question if I really was who I was. I lived a mediocre life the first time around, but here I endeavored to do something better with it. I grew up believing in the afterlife, but I always questioned the aspect of the soul.
Would I be the same person if I lost my memory? Of course not, but it's not like my brain was transplanted into the baby of Benedict's and Eviline's child. That left the logical reason for my Soul and/or consciousness existing, but that also raises the question if anyone is still themselves without the body and only leaving the soul.
When I died, something I don't remember, did my soul split along with my memories? Did my consciousness practically shatter into the multiverse, creating many others?
…was my first life, even my first life? For all I know I could have been someone else previously that simply wanted to no longer remember their previous life(s), I shake my head to rid of the grim outlook I was bringing onto myself. Holding my hand up to view it, I clenched it with a firm look. Who I am now is what matters, but that doesn't mean I won't think about my other possible selves.
Leaning back on my chair to view the ceiling, I try to think how the William in the negaverse will be. Probable reversed names aside, the negaverse is supposed to have everyone like us with opposing personalities and beliefs…but what about someone who has already lived a life previously? Surely I would not diverge that much in personality wise, right?...right?
Leaning forward onto the table I was working at, I cup my chin in thought. Shaking my head at the introspection of the soul, I will have to assume the worst of a negaverse William.
Looking at the left over stack of reports, I let out a relieved sigh. There was not much left, probably an hour's worth. Looking down to my C.A.V.E for the time, the quarterly budget meeting was scheduled in about three hours so that left me with some down time if I finished the reports soon.
-scene change-
-Location, Paris, France.-
A loud crash echoed within the corporate building of Sézanne, the noise occurring from the Training gym meant for employees to blow off some steam. Going by the sounds of things, a female teen was letting off more than enough going by the angry shouts. Inside Giselle could be seen practicing on dummies with her ice, gritting her teeth in anger as if nothing she did was good enough.
On the other side of a window that viewed the room Giselle was in, Céline let an amused smile grace her face. Pressing a button for the intercom into Giselle's room, "Come inside dear, you have been at this since morning." She stated with a soothing tone for Giselle.
Snapping at attention to her benefactor, Giselle let a smile show to the window. "OH! Madame Céline, pardon the mess!" She fussed while patting herself off and heading to the exit of her workout room.
Céline let a whimsical chuckle out, and patted Giselle on the head when she came up to her. "Wash up, I will have lunch ready in a few minutes. You must be famished after such a long morning." She remarked.
A glint of appreciation shining in her eyes, Giselle puffed out her chest in pride. "I must improve Madame, if I am ever to be your best then I must train even more than I ever have!" She exclaimed before rushing off to the showers.
As Giselle left to clean up, Céline let a frown form on her face before shaking it off. Making her way to the cafeteria, she let an amused thought run through her mind. Giselle may have lost to William, but now-a-days she has done nothing but push her body to its limits.
Céline let out a wistful sigh, "Ah to be young and so full of drive." She whispered to herself.
-scene change-
-Negaverse world-
NegaFour shook in his shoes as he waited in front of his Bosses door, thankful no one else was around to see him as some fearful child. He had a facade to keep intact, and leading the DNK required him to be the fearless and evil NegaFour everyone has come to know.
"GET YOUR ASS IN HERE ALREADY YOU SNIVELING PIECE OF WASTED SPACE!" his bosses voice shouted through the double doors of his office.
Yelping in fright, NegaFour proceeded to face his boss in another meeting. Like him, Millow rules with fear, but without being fearful of others.
And why should Millow be fearful? His boss practically has powers, where he's just some god fearing kid that rules with fear. As NegaFour walks through his bosses office, I could see Millow was conversing with his right hand man, er woman. NegaFive's sister Ercē (Er-see), one of the most Brutal teens of Millow's executives. As NegaFour stopped a few yards away from Millow to wait for his meeting to start with him.
Ercē gave Millow a salute and smirk after they finished talking, and began leaving but not before sneering at him as she passed by him. "What are you looking at twerp!" She questioned with anger, leaving him to yelp in fright. Forming a satisfied smirk at his reaction, Ercē headed on out with the doors slamming shut and leaving him alone with Millow.
Looking back towards his boss, Millow was hidden under a silhouette of dripping water and floating rock debris. "How is the situation on the portal?" Millow asked NegaFour with an underlying tone of anger.
Popping off an unsteady hand for a salute, "Sir, no progress yet, but my forces are on standby." He states with a quivering tone.
Millow's eyes narrowed with veiled anger, before letting a scoff out. "It should not be any longer now, I will have my forces there as well." He stated before turning his chair around to face his office's window, the weather outside dark and dreary with clouds circling around his skyscraper.
"...well? Get going and prepare!" Millow yelled out with fury, while slamming his fist onto his chair's armrest.
With a shout of fright, NegaFour scrambled out from the office less he suffer Millow's wrath.
As NegaFour left Millow's office, the Teen that sat within the chair drummed his fingers. "It's all mine, and soon your world will be mine." Millow murmured to the air.
Chapter 47, Tied up at sea
Early morning, far off the east coast of the United States.
There was some troubling intel detailing a well defended cargo ship, it's what it carried made Stacey's blood boil. She thought middle America was the home of what intel suggested was the nesting grounds of the Tie Snake Queen, but lo and behold her division managed to acquire a tip from her uncle about a shipment coming in.
Her division would need to take the ArtiHinds for fire power, and the AirT-Rail for carrying and deploying the TachiSteams along with herself and her team. The photos given from the recon division showed a well protected ship, surrounding it were gunboats of various sizes. Stacey's division would need to go in fast and hard, with Chad's WaveBreaker ships to provide backup on the ocean and pick up any downed allies in the battle.
As Stacey's division broke through the clouds in their descent, the cargo ship was in sight along with the gunboats. "Precede with evasive maneuvers!" She hollered into her C.a.v.e, and in time as a hail of hissing tie snakes were shot into the air towards her division's aircraft.
As the ArtiHinds swerved in and weaved through the hail of tie snakes, within some of the shots were explosive bow tie balls that would scatter to find a host. With the bulk of the firepower focused on the ArtiHinds, Stacey's own ride descended ever closer to the cargo ship. Holding up her favorite paint gun of them all, Ol' Gunny, Stacey along with her squad began prepping up for deployment. Stacey in particular needed to wear a specialized arm that would cover her arm all the way up to her shoulder, Ol' Gunny had a nasty kickback but that did not stop her. Her arm bracer would allow her to handle Ol' Gunny with ease, and Stacey had the R&D team to thank for it. She also had Ol' Gunny modified to hold a clip, six rounds in total.
Not a second later, Chad's boats made it just in time as the heat from the gunboats started to become too much for her ArtiHinds. "You are green to go Stacey." Chad radioed in to her through her C.a.v.e.
As Stacey's AirT-Rail managed to make it to hover over the cargo ship, without another word She along with her squad hopped off to drop onto the ship with the help of specialized shoes from Jonney.
-scene-
Gazing through his binoculars to watch as Stacey and her squad drop onto the cargo shop safely, Chad placed them down to focus back to commanding his WaveBreakers.
It was bad enough for the Rebellion to try and find the exact location of the Snake Tie Queen in Middle America, but now to find out there is another or more out there made matters worse.
Chad looked to the time on his C.a.v.e, they were lucky the Intel came in early as it did. "Don't let up on the cannon fire" Chad ordered as he looked towards his own radar. His squad of ten WaveBreakers should be more than enough for the enemy's six gunboats.
Looking up to view the battle outside, the water exploded and splashed from some of the gunboats missing their shots at them. Every now and then some Snake Ties would land, but they would be quickly dispatched by the Teen's outside on the decks of the ships.
Leaning his body to the side a little, a Snake tie managed to be shot and bust through the bridge's window. Narrowly missing his neck and impacting the wall behind him, Chad took out his Starch gun and shot the Creature before it could begin to do anything. With the rest of the crew on the bridge barely reacting to focus more on the controls, Chad was glad everyone had a level head.
"Nice dodge there sir." A teen remarked with a grin, said teen was steering the boat.
Chad gave a shrug, "I expect the same from everyone else, keep your wits about you." He remarked with a smile, getting a round of sir from everyone in response.
Picking up his binoculars once again, Chad looked out to focus on his next orders on what he would see.
-scene-
-Back with Stacey-
Popping round into the chamber of Ol' Gunny, Stacey took to sitting on one of the TachiSteams that was deployed with them. Her last shot had just taken out a car sized Snake Tie, practically launching it off of the boat from the sheer force of her paintball shell that was shot. Her squad was busy shoving the crates off of boat, but not before busting them open and throwing a starch bomb inside.
Aiming down her sight on Ol' Gunny, Stacey shot off another round towards another large Snake Tie that managed to break out from its confines. With a shriek of agony and death wails, the Beasts was launched into the ocean from the impact of the shell. This had been going on for more than half an hour, and there was still the inside to take care of as well.
A loud groan could be heard from the cargo ship's hold, a large double door hatch that took up almost a quarter of the ship at its center began to be pushed up from the inside. "GET BACK!" Stacey yelled in the fire fight, and not a second sooner a queen sized Snake Tie broke out from the Cargo hold.
As the beast roared into the air, Stacey gritted her teeth in anger. Reports were true, there was more than one Queen Snake Tie. Possibly dozens around the world. "FOCUS ALL FIRE ON THAT BITCH!" Stacey yelled to her squad.
Within seconds the Queen was pelted in a fusillade of starch bullets, Stacey in particular fired and chambered her gun and fast as she could. The Beast began to wail in pain, but began to open her mouth with the insides beginning to glow orange.
Pulling up her C.a.v.e, Stacey radioed in her ArtiHinds. "I need more firepower!" She yelled frantically before dropping her device to reload her gun.
Just as the Snake Tie Queen aimed her mouth towards Stacey, a hail of heavy gunfire fell unto the beast from the air. With the cargo ship's gun boats busy with Chad's forces, Stacey's airships were free to focus helping her in the knick of time.
Shooting Ol' Gunny straight into the Queen's mouth, the force of the shell cause it to stumble back in pain. With the Snake Tie Queen recoiling back from the pain, the ArtiHinds released their starch rockets upon the beast. The Queen's body began to freeze up, unable to handle all of the starch.
Pulling out a case from the TachiSteam's storage section, Stacey took out a rather devious design in combating Snake Ties of this magnitude. Opening up the case, She pulled out her division's special. The Baron, a specialized weapon that shot off a customized plume bomb. It would not detonate upon impact immediately, but launch its target with the warhead head into the air and detonate at a safe distance.
Holding the weapon up and aiming towards the Queen, "Have a nice trip bitch!" Stacey yelled before firing the Baron. With a loud whine as the warhead traveled through the air, it impacted the Queen but kept going with the beast into the air. After reaching a fair amount of altitude the war head exploded, parting the clouds from the shockwave and making a loud boom in the air. With the beast's body practically nothing but bits and shreds, The Rebellion cheered as nothing but pieces remained of the Queen.
Stacey snapped her head down when she heard one of her teammates scream in fright, Several dozen arachnid looking beasts began crawling out from the cargo hold. That was unsettling, she was so used to the Snake ties but now right before her were car sized Ties in the form of spiders. "Focus!!" She shouted and quickly reloaded her gun.
One Arachnid Tie managed to make its way towards her in a rush and attack the TachiSteam she was on, causing her to fall off. With the rest of her squad busy with the other Arachnids, Stacey was on her own. She still held Ol' Gunny in her hand with the arm brace, but before she could react in time the Tie Arachnid grabbed her by the leg and slammed her into the ground. Gasping out in pain, Stacey grit her teeth angrily. "IS THAT THE BE-" the Arachnid had took the moment to toss her into the air and slam one of its tie arms into her stomach, launching her into one of the crates and landing face down with a silent gasp of pain.
Looking up with a hate filled glare at the Arachnid Tie, The beast slammed several more of its appendages into her back. After several seconds of nonstop attacks, the beast stopped believing it was done. Turning around to aim like a spider would to shoot its web, just as it was about to shoot a loud boom went off and the next second the Arachnid found itself stumbling forward from pain and force of a starch filled paintball shell.
From Stacey's spot, she held up her Ol' Gunny at the beast, its chamber smoking from the recent shot. "I'm far from done with you pieces of shitty tacky tie!" Stacey yelled in anger. Her lip was split open and bleeding, one of her eyes was bloodshot, and a gash on her forehead was dripping blood. Reloading another shell into the chamber with her one good arm, Stacey fired off another bullet into the beast.
The arachnid stumbled forward once again in pain, then turned around and faced Stacey in anger. Opening up its jaws to roar and attack, Stacey had already loaded another shell and shot another straight into its mouth. "Screw you!" Stacey screamed with anger, as the shell went through the beast's insides and out the other end.
The Arachnid stumbled back with a warbled pained roar, it tried to stay upright but that last shell had tore its insides up pretty badly. Stacey chamber another shell, and aimed straight for the Arachnid Tie's head. The force and impact launched into the air and land on its back, "I'm not done you damn dirty tie!" Stacey hollered while stumbling towards the beast, her legs wobbling as she stood on top of the Arachnid Tie. Chambering another shell, Stacey fired another bullet into the thorax of the beast.
The Arachnid tie wailed in pain, but with another quick load into the chamber of Ol' Gunny, Stacey fired her last round in her clip. The beast ceased all actions, signaling it no longer lived. Stacey let out a loud sigh, and gazed around her. The others were having just as much trouble. Ejecting the empty clip from Ol' Gunny, Stacey loaded a new one to begin providing cover fire for her team.
As Stacey fired off her Ol' Gunny at another Arachnid Tie, a loud howl began to roar from the depths of the cargo hold. With a furrowed brow, Stacey took caution and aimed towards the opening. In movement faster than she could react, Stacey witnessed a large Tie fly out and take to the skies. It had the wings of a bat, talons of an eagle and tail of a lizard. The beast was the size of a queen snake tie, and it flew with great speed.
Snapping back to focus, Stacey waved down one of her Division's aircraft. With a rope ladder dropped, Stacey hopped on and was pulled up. With the rest of her squad finishing off the arachnid, with the assistance of the other ArtiHinds, Stacey commanded the pilot of the aircraft she had boarded to follow after the Airborne Tie.
The beast was nimble, evading the hail of fire shot at it from the WaveBreakers and the guns on Stacey's ArtiHind. Eying the aircraft she was in, Stacey spotted some straps that would allow her to hang outside a bit of the aircraft and fire her gun.
With as much haste as her wounds allowed her, Stacey finally managed to angle herself outside as her aircraft followed after the Airborne Tie. Steadily aiming down as best as she could, Stacey pulled the trigger and was rewarded with a hit on the arm wing. The force from the shot alone caused her to swing backwards, before righting herself back into place.
The airborne beast was now having trouble flying, and that allowed Stacey an easier target. With it unable to evade as good as before, She chambered one more bullet and aimed for the neck. With a loud crack from the rifle, the shell impacted the beast's neck. The airborne monstrosity fell out of the air, unable to fly anymore from taking a direct hit to its throat.
Stacey climbed back in the aircraft to grab something, and that was several starch bombs wrapped together. As the beast landed into the ocean, Stacey tossed the Starch bombs in after it. The sea erupted from the explosion and displacement of air caused by the starch bombs, Stacey let out an exhausted sigh.
Picking up the ArtiHind's radio piece, Stacey called in for a status check. Wiping the sweat on her brow, Stacey received word that all that was needed now was to check and clean out the rest of the cargo ship. Plopping down to rest, She ordered her pilot to land down on the Cargo ship. She would see this to its end.
Chapter 48, Brazilian Coffee
Late at night, the day before Stacey's own mission started…
Location, Deep within the Jungles of South America…
With the Majority of the Coffee Rig business having gone under, some investors and business folk took to retaliating. Believing they had been robbed of money from the success of the coffee bean plantations, it didn't help that one of the reasons was their owned coffee rigs were destroyed by the Teen's Rebellion. Whether they liked it or not, drilled coffee would have went out of business anyways had the rigs not been destroyed. People just enjoyed a good cup of coffee from grown coffee beans better.
As Cree's ride within a HindCopter arrived at her drop-off, she received a call from a particular person. Said person was Cuppa Joe, an adult Villain turned good business man when the coffee drilling rig business became less profitable.
Scene transitions to a scene showing the Faces of Cree and Cuppa Joe talking on their C.a.v.e
"Hello? Is this thing on? Still trying to figure this darn thing out, but still rather thankful for this thing. That Wayne boy sure knows how to treat his business partners." Cuppa Joe said with a confused tone.
Cuppa Joe could be seen on his video call angling his device around.
On the other end of the video call, Cree let an amused smile form. "It's working Joe, now about your tip off?" She asked with a stern look.
Coughing into his fist, Cuppa Joe placed his device down to rummage through some papers. After a short minute, Joe picked up a paper with a concentrated look. "Right, one of my associates let slip they were planning to unleash something, Mocha Mike was his name." He explained while reading his paper.
After reading a bit more of his paper, Cuppa Joe took his attention back to Cree on his device. "Now ol' Mike, that son-o-gun was a rather nasty guy to work with. I only tolerated him because of his work ethic, the man's equipment and leadership of his men brought good results." Then Joe's face darkened, "But the bastard used child laborers in Brazil to package and ship his products."
Before Cree could state the obvious of his previous occupation, Joe beat her to it. "Now hold it there. I was a villain on a coffee rig, yes, but that only involved selling to Adult Villains and occasionally defending my Coffee Rig from the Kids Next Door." He stated with a firm look, with a little chastisement towards Cree.
"Now, Mike let slip that he was planning to build a force to ruin those coffee plantations in South America, and that would only be his start." Cuppa Joe slammed his fist onto his table, "You Teen's got a good thing going with this coffee growing business, that stuff is too good to go back to drilling the stuff!" he angrily snarled.
Cree let a chuckle escape from her mouth, "Can't stand the thought of going back to tasting that coffee swill you adults once drank?" She asked.
Joe scoffed, "Darn Tootin, and the variety is better too. Now, Mike's operations should be located not too far from your landing zone, I suggest you wait until night and hoof it." He remarked.
"Right, thanks again for the tip off." Cree stated with a smile.
Joe waved her off, "Any time kid, I aim to protect my new Ventures in the coffee business."
-Scene change-
"Cruddy rain" Cree muttered as she stalked through the forest, "At least the Sneaking Suit helps mitigate this situation." She remarks.
She took to making her way at night to heart, using the darkness to her advantage as she traveled to the compound. Cree eventually got a glimpse of the place as she climbed over a steep hill, ducking quickly when a stray spotlight passed over her.
Cree was on her own on this one, with too many hostages at stake the situation could have turned ugly if a division of the Teen's Rebellion came storming in. No, she needed to take out Mocha Mike; the rest should fall without direct leadership. Sliding her night Goggles down onto her eyes, Cree adjusted them to view and stake out the compound.
From her specs, Cree could see four watchtowers with a single spotlight in each of them. She took to see where her timing would be to slip past them, and sure enough there were intervals where she could slip past them. Zooming further in with her goggles on the compound, she could make out a fenced-in area where children and young teens were kept.
Pushing her goggles up from her eyes, Cree waited for her chance to get in. Mocha Mike was the priority, the rest would fall into place as she went through the place. Seeing her chance with one of the spotlights blind spot interval, Cree sprinted in with haste.
-Scene-
Cree let out a soft sigh of relief after making it inside through one of the maintenance doorways; she had almost caught it close with one spotlight swinging over to her location when she stepped on a twig and snapped it with her foot.
Getting back into focus, Cree immediately began making her way through the hallway. Taking note of the directional arrows on the walls, she was glad they were in English. Cree would have to listen for any footsteps, wary of any guards or workers on the job.
As she came up to the split in the hallway leading to three other halls, Cree took note of the directions on the walls. She immediately took the right that would lead her to the Research lab, whatever they were brewing (pun not intended) would not bode well.
Cree quickly ducked into a room when she heard footsteps approaching her way, fortunately the room she had entered was a small storage room. Flatten herself against the door to listen for the footsteps, said people who passed by the door while idly chatting were wholly unaware of the infiltration of Cree.
Once the footsteps were long out of earshot, Cree finally left the room to make her way for the Research room. In a short amount of time, she slipped inside the room. Before her were various chemicals and devices, her eyes focused in on one in particular. Walking up to a box of sealed bottles, she could make out and read Coffee plant killer. Frowning at the thought of such a thing, competitive business was one thing but scheming to sabotage crops was down right wrong.
Unfortunately, Cree only came in to take out the head honcho; she would have to call in the Rebellion to clean out the place and help free the captives. With that in mind, Cree hopped up to the ceiling air duct and pried it open. Once inside, she closed the air duct grate behind her to keep the lax security unaware of her infiltration.
-Scene Change-
Mocha Mike leaned back on his chair as he drank his espresso, freshly drilled and brought to him by one of the teen labourers. He had many plans to get back to the top, one of which was to destroy the coffee crops and leave him the only one left to sell coffee. He could not help but laugh in enjoyment of all the money he would make, kidnapping children and Teens to force them into his labor camps. He would make a killing around the world using free labor out of the kids and Teens, and if anyone tried to rescue them he would use them all as hostages. It was fool proof!
Unaware of a dark shadow dropping down silently behind his chair, Mike took another sip from his large cup. Before he even realized it, Mike felt a prick on his neck. Checking what caused it, he felt around his neck and pulled out what looked like a small dart. "Whuh…" he managed to make out before his eyes drooped and collapsed off from his chair and onto the floor.
The last thing he saw in his hazy vision was an African American Teen girl in a wetsuit of some sort, "YoU dAmn…" he managed to slur out before finally konking out.
-scene-
Cree let a smirk form on her face and put away her tranq pistol, that was easier than she expected. With Mocha Mike out of the picture, she doubts the rest of the workers and guards would bother to try and take hostages.
After cuffing Mike up to ensure he does not try anything if he wakes up too early, Cree took to taking out her C.a.v.e to call in rescue and extraction.
-scene change-
Cree had to use Mike's radio to tell his workers to lay down their arms and surrender, with evidence of her taking out Mike and the Rebellion being already on their way. She threatened to make their lives a living hell if they touched the captives, especially when she mentioned about turning them over to the authorities. She warned they would only make their situation worse if they tried to take any hostages to escape.
With the sound of the Teen's Rebellion Copters in the distance, it was either go quietly or receive a worse punishment if they tried anything nasty.
After the Rebellion's HindCopters landed, the workers were corralled into a group by several dozen Teen operatives. The rest of the Teens that came assisted in freeing the Children and Teens. Cree stood not far from it all while holding Mike in place on the ground, morning had come and woken Mike up with a mighty fine anger induced rant.
With a kick to his side, Cree sneered down at him. "I would kick some more, but I am sure the parents and authorities will get their turn." She stated with a smirk, causing Mike to shirk at the thought. Not a minute sooner had she said that, did the local police and parents arrive. The parents had rushed in to hug their missing children, crying after finally reuniting with their kids and teens.
The authorities on the other hand Marched up to Cree, giving a hard glare at Mike. "About time this scum bag was found." One of them states with anger.
The chief in charge walked toward Cree himself, holding out his hand for a shake. "I have to thank you, we have been trying to locate this son of a bitch for years, but he has always managed to give us the slip." The chief complimented.
Return the handshake with a smile, "You're welcome, just be glad this was his only place of operation." Cree Remarked idly, before hefting Mike up to hand him off.
With a nod from the Chief, the Authorities took Mike along with his workers to process them.
With her business done, Cree headed her way to one of the Copters to make a report. They still had a compound to destroy, minding to keep any fire from spreading into the forest if any were started.
-scene-
"So how bad was it?" Cuppa Joe asked through the video call he was having with Cree.
Letting a frown form, Cree furrowed her brows. "Mocha Mike had some Coffee Plant Killer in the works, and plenty of children and Teen captives." She remarked angrily
Joe scoffed, "Always could never like the fellow, the man was just bad for business." He states before sipping his coffee, after gulping a good amount, Cuppa Joe placed his cup away to get back to talking. "I'll be sure to keep my ears on the ground for you Teens, gotta keep this grown coffee bean business flowing!" He remarked happily with a coffee mustache hanging on his upper lip.
Cree quirked her lips into a grin, "Thanks again Joe."
"Keep fighting that good fight,... now where did I put that new coffee bean product Wayne gave me?" Cuppa Joe muttered idly before his connection cut off.
Looking up to the direction of the sun rising over the Trees, Cree let out a sigh of relief. The ride back home should not take too long, and as her HindCopter began to take off she herself was offered some coffee from the pilot. With thanks given, she took a good gulp to give herself a little bit more energy for the rest of the day.
Interlude, Sealing the Deal with Cuppa Joe
Many Months Ago...
During Operation U.N.D.E.R.C.O.V.E.R...
Cuppa Joe's Coffee Rig, Triple Espresso...
Wayne Stark and Cuppa Joe are currently hashing out the deal that would be beneficial for both parties. On the Rebellion's side, they would be able to have one less adult villain to worry about and in exchange, Cuppa Joe would be able to not only invest in the Teen Rebellion's coffee plant research but also be able to gain access to new coffee beans that they produce for his coffee shops and stores that he had been planning on opening for a while. The rig was about to be empty of its coffee in a couple of months and after tasting the coffee the teens made through growing them in plants, everyone in the rig agreed unanimously that the their coffee taste like dirt compared to the ones the teens have.
The fact that they taste differently depending on how they were grown made it even better for Cuppa Joe and his men as they have varieties of coffee beans to choose from. Wayne made sure that he sends the adult villains coffee bean shipments per month just so he sees the glory of coffee beans and open his eyes to the lie that is drill dug coffee swill. No amount of cream, sugar and milk can change the fact that they taste terrible now that they tasted true coffee.
T-Transports and Cuppa Joe's ships are on standby as men of the rig started to pack up and be ready to finally leave the coffee rig offshore. Each and everyone of them are quite happy with finally getting back to the mainland and not be too far away from home anymore, especially since living in the rig means that items are not that available for them to grab on. The teen rebels were also there but they were there to act as witnesses and guards to Wayne.
"I'm gonna miss this dingy rig, you know... but not that much considering that we had to defend ourselves from those kids back at the KND at least once a month." Cuppa Joe is signing the papers that would put an end to his and his men's stay on the rig for good before taking a sip of the Arabica that was brewed earlier from his extra large cup, "This here's Arabica's pretty great! You sure you don't like the extra strong kick it has?"
"I prefer Balinese myself but I do drink Arabica when I need to stay awake for work." the Logistics Officer said as he took a sip from his cup of coffee, "Smells nice but the still has the energizing bitter taste of it."
"You really don't know what you're missing out on, buddy but I digress." Cuppa Joe was still amazed that there are wide varieties of coffee beans the teens made and started to ship in many places just so they can have some extra cash for their group. He smirked as he passed the paper of the final draft of their agreement regarding the coffee deal, "Still, I'm sure someone will like the other coffee beans you teens ship out across the world."
"Yeah. We do have some discussions from time to time on which coffee beans are better and how do we prepare it." Wayne looked at the papers passed to him and he examined it.
This kind of enterprising the teens made with coffee isn't like the other coffee rig industries and the fact that they started to make more coffee products and byproducts made Cuppa Joe realize that it's time to move on to greener pastures. Besides, he doesn't agree that much with the whole adult tyranny and was only in it because he loves his coffee and he's a businessman. The fact that he had to live out for years drinking the swill they once called coffee on an everyday basis until the teen came along with their coffee beans was enough to get him and his men to finally decided to quit the Supervillain Conglomerate. They've all sent their resignation anyway and today was their last day on the rig and they've already clocked out for the last time. Whoever's going to run this rig is not Cuppa Joe's problem anymore as he was on his way out and nothing will stop them from getting hell out of there.
Then they heard the sound of a flying helicopter coming towards the rigs.
"Boss! We have those kids coming at us!" one of the former rig workers shouted as he was no longer dressed for work and is now wearing his casuals and has suitcases on both hands full of his clothes and personal effects, "What do we do?"
"Ah who cares about them! We ain't running this rig anymore remember? Them mainlanders should have sent our replacements early after we told 'em that we're leavin' but they lazed around or something and we have no reason to defend this swill rig!" Cuppa Joe answered back as former workers of the rig agreed, "Besides, we're done defending this rig. Not our fault if it gets destroyed... again."
"Okay... everything is in order. Looks like we have a deal, Mr. Joe." Wayne fixed his signature and gave it to the neutral HSC Alumni Lawyer on standby to make sure that everything was done with a third, neutral party who will oversee their agreement. Wayne stood up and he readied his hand for a handshake and the other holding his coffee mug, "Let's both shake and drink for the deal we've made today."
"Darn tootin' boyyo! You have a deal, Wayne!" Cuppa Joe was ecstatic as the deal was finalized and he and his men no longer have any reason to deal with the rig since they'll be running coffee shops and stores from here on out without them being attacked by KND who thinks that they're planning on oppressing kids all the time.
And to Cuppa Joe, he still doesn't get why they even have to oppress kids since it's pointless. It doesn't make him any more money and his boys had family back at the mainland and even had kids. The two shook hands and drank on their mugs of coffee that both parties prepared for each other as a sign that they're friends and business partners from here on out.
"Wait... what's going on?!" the voice of Nigel Uno was heard as he and three more members of the Sector V and one of the Delightul Children were running out of their crafts and saw Rebellion members and Cuppa Joe's men are packing up and preparing to leave.
"What's goin' on here you ask?! This is our last day! We're out of the whole adult villain schtick, kiddo! So we won't botherin' you and whatever you KND fellas do." Cuppa Joe shouted as he is happy that he won't be sitting around in a coffee rig any longer, "By the way, if yer lookin for that other guy's buddies, they're coming by now-..."
"What's going on?! Why are you all leaving?!" the four of the Delightful Children shouted as they stomped out of the shadows.
"I don't understand..." Wally said as he looked at everyone, "What the crud is going on?!"
"Simple. The Teen's Rebellion and Cuppa Joe are now business partners in exchange of him getting out of the Supervillain Conglomerate and be able to work on his own projects at his own volition as a normal business man." Wayne answered Numbuh 4, "Now if you excuse us, we will be leaving-..."
"Is this a plot that you teenagers are planning on doing to sell coffee and force them onto kids?!" Numbuh 1 pointed his gun at the Delightful Children, teens and the adults who were at the rig.
"Why would we even sell coffee to kids, bucko? You kids don't even drink coffee and it will be a waste of good coffee if we sold it to kids who can't taste coffee great... well, maybe if we sell 'em as ice cream and jelly, maybe..." Cuppa Joe said as he took a gulp from his XXXL coffee mug, "We only sell coffee to teens and adults and we ain't selling swill made from this place anymore! Now if you excuse us, we're going back home and start our new business."
"Hmmm, I have to pick up my brother later on. You boys and girls can have the rig on your own." Wayne looked at his C.A.V.E. phone's clock on the screen.
As the Sector V and the Delightful Children started their usual squabble, the last coffee rig worker had gotten on the ship and the ship sailed back to land while the Rebellion flyers have flew out of the scene. Cuppa Joe's men and the Rebellion forces with the Cartel Lawyer watched as the coffee rig started to get damaged from the battle going on at the rig. While many of them would be worried about letting children run around in a facility full of hazardous equipment and material, KND operatives and the Delightful Children are not exactly normal.
They've went past a bunch of KND vessels waiting for Sector V who let them past unmolested. As soon as they got far, the coffee rig blew up hard as they saw a smoke plume come out from there.
Chapter 49, Pool Arc part 1
Afternoon
"The negatronic energy still rising?" I asked Nigel as we walked towards Wallabee's backyard.
Viewing his own device to measure the aforementioned energy, Nigel held up his 2x4 tool to show me a screen with bars and lines going haywire. "Still rising, I have to thank you again for the warning." He remarked as we exited out the sliding door.
Outside were crews from both factions, setting up a defensive line and others to prepare for travel. "The nega-verse is not some easy world where the Kids next door can handle alone, not when there is another me with an opposing ideology." I stated while we passed by teen and kid scientists, glad I did not have to deal with a certain 'kid' at the moment.
I could see Rachel and Chad conversing on the other side of the pool, "I see your Supreme leader is taking this operation seriously." I mused.
Nigel let out a sound of agreement, "It was agreed upon that an evil version of you is more dire than simply dealing with an evil KND." He said while waving at Kuki and Abigail, whom we passed by.
Letting a curious look form on my face, "Where are Wallabee and Hoagie?" I asked with an inquisitive tone.
Nigel peered around the place before facing me. "Numbuh Two wanted to have a chance to meet and work with the fabled Numbuh 30…" he thumbed back to where the front of the house was.
Snapping my fingers with my memory jogged at the mention of Numbuh, "Oh, my head honcho for the Mech Boys, Harold Coop." I let a grin form at the thought of the dude. "Real swell worker and teen, quite the life of the party when he celebrates with his division." I remarked.
Nigel looks around, no doubt trying to spot Wallabee. "Not sure about Numbuh Four, last I saw of him was inside trying to prepare himself for diving into the pool."
I guess little Wally still needs to mentally prepare himself, being unable to swim and all. "You should grab him before the operation starts, Jonney created an upright portal just for this occasion." I pointed over to somes teen carrying in equipment and pieces of the portal to piece together.
"It should be only about an hour to get it fully operational, that is when we will all begin the operation." I idly stated while we continued to walk towards Chad and Rachel.
With a nod from Nigel, "Right, I'll be sure to get Numbuh Four out when the time comes." He said with a smile.
-scene-
As a private jet landed upon a runway, an airstrip not far from William's home town. Inside is Giselle, humming a tune before stopping herself when she receives a call on her flip phone. "I so need to update to that Cave device everyone has been raving about." She muttered to herself.
Upon answering, she instantly recognized the voice on the other end. "Oh, Miss Céline… yes the plane has just landed…" Giselle glances out her window to see the plane was coming to a stop.
"Yes… I will… " Giselle pursed her lips in annoyance from her conversation with Céline. "No I do not like him… I merely wanted to make a social call or visit…" Giselle puts her phone away from her ear as Céline begins to rant about property damage.
With a nervous glance to the attendants shuffling about in the plane, Giselle places the phone back to her ear. "Please Mademoiselle, I will only do a little bit… Yes I would try and find a spot… ok…ok bye …" Giselle looks around before cupping her mouth to her speaker on her phone. "I love you too." She silently states before hanging up.
With a frustrated sigh, Giselle unbuckled herself after she was notified the plane had come to a complete stop. After much work to put into her new regiment work out, she wanted to even the score with a certain American Swine.
As she began exiting the plane, Giselle glared towards the city in the distance. "This time I will win you pig!" She aggressively snarled.
But before she could step any further she noticed the ground below her began to glow a dark hue with black particles rising into the air, and it did not just end there. Giselle worriedly looked up and around, for as far as the eye could see the entire city and its surrounds were surrounded in the stuff.
Within the next minute, her entire view of the sky changed from bright to a dreary red and black with an oppressive feel in the air.
From the corner of her eye she could see in the distance an exact replica of the city she had arrived in. Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, she was about to head out to figure out her situation when she heard several dozens of vehicles approach the air field.
A couple stopped at her, while the rest continued onward.
Stepping out from the vehicles were Teens, rather awful and mean looking Teens. "Hands up and surrender, this area, and by default you, now belong to Overlord Millow!" The leading Teen yelled out from his megaphone.
Giselle let a quirk of a incredulous grin form on her face, "hehe… heha… haha!" She couldn't help but guffaw at the situation.
After getting such a reaction from her, the Teens promptly aimed their weapons towards her. "That was your only warning!" The teen leader yelled before pointing towards her. "Fire at will!"
Just as the forces around her began to open fire, an explosion erupted from her body that sent a harsh wind and freezing ice in all directions around her. "Only Céline can claim that on me! Not some American swine of your supposed leader!" She yelled over the noise she caused.
As the ice and wind settled, the area around her was frozen with vehicles overturned and Teens frozen in place. With a satisfied smirk, Giselle turned in place and began heading her way to William's town. Whatever was going on, she could only guess some phenomena occurred that pulled the entire city and area to an alternate reality.
Giselle growled in anger, she came to even the score, but some idiot went and ruined her good mood. In the distance she could hear screams of fright and gunfire in the distance. Glancing down at one of the Teen's guns she had stepped over, Giselle procured it to view it up close.
After examining it a little, going by the ammo it held… pure capsaicin? That was worse than what the Teen's Rebellion would use; pure capsaicin was 16 million scovilles, the Rebellion only went as high as over a little one point five for their weapons.
Frowning in distaste of the weapon, Gistelle tossed it aside and made her way for the Airport Terminal. She could just make out dozens of squads rounding up innocent civilians, Giselle sneered at that. There were some lines she would not cross, involving bystanders and innocent civilians was one of them.
Great, now she was pissed off along with having her day ruined. "These swines will pay!" Giselle hissed through her teeth.
-scene change-
This was bad, this was very bad. The negaverse me was a step ahead, and now the whole County is stuck in this mess.
Ducking behind a car on the street from another shot from the Revolting Teen forces, I couldn't help but feel a swell of anger at myself. I had Jonney, but so did my opposite self of his counterpart. Of course negaJonney would take it a step further, taking an entire county and transporting it just outside the city limits.
"Surrender now, we have you surrounded!" Was that NegaChad I heard? "No amount of fire or lightning powers will save you!" He hollered out, I could almost hear his smirk in his tone.
From behind my cover, I saw an explosion of an ice mountain in the distance… Wait, that's in the direction of the airport…why…I couldn't but help furrow my eyes in confusion.
It seems the explosion took NegaChad's attention, allowing me to pop out from cover and unleash a torrent of fire.
"Take cover!" NegaChad yelled in fright, but I was not done. I volunteered to hold most of these forces off, and I intend to put them out for the count. With great concentration, the flames from my hand intensified as I swiped the fire across from me.
Sweat formed from my brow as the heat and fire started to become blue, sweat not from the heat but from concentrating on what I was about to do. Just as my fire turned white, an ultraviolet crimson beam jettisoned out from my palm. I had to stand firm on my legs from the force of the beam attack, and aiming my plasma beam towards the ground in front of NegaChad's cover along with his force.
A bead of sweat dropped from my brow as a sent a ball of energy through the beam, upon impact to the ground it had exploded. The Revolting Teens were sent flying from the explosion, with a crater formed where I had sent the energy ball to.
I let out an exhausted breath, but shook my head to focus. I made a run for it to make it to home base, hopefully Jonney was there…probably not…most likely already in some shadow war with his counterpart.
This whole operation is fucked sideways, story of my life I guess. Not every plan goes off without a hitch, and this hitch was some big fuck off problem.
Chapter 50, Pool Arc part 2 (Calling in the Big Guns)
Elsewhere...
During Operation P.O.O.L...
In one of the Rebellion's Supply Depot...
Wayne Stark was annoyed at the attack of these so-called Revolting Teens.
They thought that they could simply take out the supply depots that he ran.
They charged into every supply depot that the Rebellion has, not knowing what is in the depots and what's actually guarding them.
After all, before he was a member of the Rebellion, he built robots and drones to create his own legion of robots at his beck and call as a member of the Home Schooled Cartel.
"WHERE DID THESE GUYS CAME- AAAAARGH!" a Revolting Teen soldier was smacked off by a Roboape mecha while it repeatedly shot another Revolting Teen with stun rounds on the face.
"UNAUTHORIZED HOSTILE DETECTED! FIRING ROUNDS!" another Roboape monotonously spoke as its wrist guns peppered the Revolting Teens with as much shock rounds while the other Roboape mechs rip apart the tanks of the enemy.
"We thought that he's just like Enyaw! We need back-..." the Revolting Teen tried to call for reinforcements but she was taken out and her communicator destroyed by the Roboape.
"HOSTILES IN THE AREA: ZERO. SECURING REBELLION DEPOT#023." one Roboape announced as it grabbed the unconscious Revolting Teen and started to drag it elsewhere.
The teen rebels who were once hunkering due to their unarmed state had came out of their hiding spots to grab a weapon from the armories, start up the combat vehicles and get in touch with the other rebels
The last Revolting Teen was taken out and was properly cuffed and stuffed in the Depot's makeshift hold after they were disarmed by the robots and the rebels of the Logistic Division. Wayne worked on the consoles along with three other Teen Rebels who are trying to get into their communication network on the depots across the county. What he saw was worse than he thought.
An entire county was teleported outside the city limits and now the whole place is embroiled in a war between their world and the Negaverse. He checked for any depots that are still under Rebellion Control and there are at least twenty out of the thirty that are still theirs for use. Seven of them are under siege by the combined forces of Revolting Teens and Destructively Nefarious Kids. The rest are still untouched but there are teen rebels there grabbing as much equipment and arms as possible to counterattack and even letting KND operatives borrow their equipment.
"This is bad, dude! They're everywhere, man!" Jake was panicking as he sees the IFF radar with a lot of red blips on it, "We need to start hitting them back before we're boned!"
"With what? The main forces over there are tied up with their forces. The rest are fighting across the county and trying to get stuff up. There's only a few of us here with Wayne's robots and god knows how many out there!" one teen girl, an Asian-American who is donning a power armor that was recently developed by Jonney asked tensely as she saw prepared her weapons, "What we need is to muster up some forces to fight our bizarro selves!"
"Damn it... looks like the assault plan is scrapped then." Wayne bit his thumb as he thought of the initial plan.
They were supposed to send an invasion force to pacify the Negaverse before the Negaverse counterparts invade the world. He and his division were going to send as much supplies as possible from here as the pacification goes under way. Wayne thought that this would be easy but he remembered that they have their own resident mad scientist as well.
Still, judging from what the Revolting Teen said, his counterpart is not the type who would make something like he made to keep the depots secured... or be able to make robots like him. After all, working hard is his personality trait and hopefully, his counterpart is not capable of working hard.
Wayne worked on the comms line and made sure that he can connect to a certain line. A line that can only lead to a secret comms line in Alaska.
"Wayne... what are you doing? We're getting communications requesting for us to get them the weapons that they need to get our high end stuff unlocked!" the other teen officer asked as he noticed that the comms line are being diverted elsewhere, "Wait, why are you shutting off all communications in the depot?!"
Jonney is right. Sometimes, they have to waste more resources than normal just to achieve the best results.
"Rebellion Supply Depot#023 to Project Space Whale. This is Wayne Stark of the Teen's Rebellion Logistics Division. James McGruber, are you there?" Wayne caused the six other Teen Logistics Officers look at him with confusion, "We need your help."
"James here, hearing you loud and clear, mate. We've just finished testing the T-Supership's Flight Module and it's working fine. We've also installed new weapon systems to allow it to-..." the Chief Engineer of the Project Space Whale said as he appeared on the video screen, "Wait, how did you contact us, supply man? We've been trying to get through Homebase to report our progress but we keep getting a jammed communication line."
"We're under attack, James! A massive invasion is going on in our county and they're cutting us off from reinforcements outside what we have here. I'm using Cartel Comms Line to get to you. How long will it take for you to start arming the T-Supership and get it here to start bombing hostiles?!" Wayne asked as he looked at the hostiles at the IFF radar across the county.
"Well... the energy weapons doesn't need loading but for Air-to-Ground and Siege weapons that needs ammunition, we need an hour to load it all up. As for the flight time, we can get there in three hours." James was concerned at the question that Wayne has, "Do you need us here?"
"Yes! We need Project Space Whale to reinforce us now. I'm going to horn up as many Rebel operatives across the world. Enemy brought a county sized weapon against us. We're going to need the T-Supership to make its debut!" the other Logistics Officers now looked at Wayne with surprise at what he said.
"Got it. Be meeting up with you lot in four hours tops. Stay safe out there." James nodded, "But you'll have to report to William what you did by revealing the T-Supership."
The comms line between the Depot and the hidden project site was cutoff.
"All right people. Questions later and get geared up." Wayne reactivated the comms line to reconnect back to the county and filtered the sites where allied Rebellion and KND operatives, adult villains and independent groups are at, "It's all hands on deck and we need to get as many people on our side as possible."