Opening File: Weird World
A television show dedicated to showing the world cryptids, special kinds of animals and artifacts that have been labelled as myths by regular modern science. The show is hosted Vincent Vladislav Argost and is a huge hit in several countries with Japan being its number one fan base. On the website, it says that Weird World will be looking at many cryptid artifacts such as a Kraken tooth necklace, Mongolian Death Worm Venom, even the mummified remains of creatures from the past. It is currently unknown how Argost has found all these cryptids and artifacts but thanks to him over 8527 cryptids have been identified.
While it is unknown how the show gained the funding to locate, track and hold all the cryptids it has shown the real mystery surrounds its host: V.V. Argost. Almost absolutely nothing is known about him, his past or how he gained such knowledge of the world's greatest mysteries. Despite the lack of origins Argost is hailed as celebrity, quickly becoming one of the richest men in the entire world with over millions of fans and followers and seemingly unlimited resources. Recently Argost has hinted to having gained possession of a map that will lead to the great discovery in history.
No one realized how right he was.
Close File
Xxx
"There are many kinds of scientists in the world. The kind that studies the Earth itself, others study what the universe is made of and others look for answers where no one believes would be found. In this day and age the entire world can be mapped out thanks to satellites circling above but does that mean you can actually see all there is to see? Can you honestly say you have found out everything about the world you live on with a simple picture or just by using Google?" TOM tapped a switch as the file closed. "If you find everything there is to know what do you do after? Sit back at home, read a book while surfing the channels or try to find something else to learn about? If someone says something does not exist does automatically prove them right? Have you found all there is to know or is it unlikely that you can ever stop learning?"
SARA appeared next to TOM in holo-form. "We are both AIs and thus we can analyze and store much more data and knowledge than a human can but does that mean we have all the answers? Is a computer cataloging everything its creators learned before able to safely say when there is enough to know?"
"In the end, you can only decide the answer to those questions yourself." TOM remarked, leaning back in his chair.
Xxx
"I just ask that you consider changing your mind."
Queen Moon raised an eyebrow as she placed her tea down, facing the Magic High Commission before her. "Star has been fitting in quite well on Earth. To suddenly pull her away now would only hurt her feelings."
"Considering the craziness happening on that planet that might not be a bad thing." Hekapoo grunted.
"What concerns you so much about Earth?" Moon asked, having enough of Hekapoo and the rest of the Commission's attitude towards Earth. "It is dangerous but Star grew up fighting monsters in the swamps of Mewni and has fended off attacks by Ludo and his gang."
"It's not Ludo that is the problem. It's the constant dimensional activity we've been sensing for the last several months and the one big one almost thirty years ago"
Moon raised an eyebrow, seeing why Hekapoo might be upset about that. As the blacksmith of the Dimensional Scissors Hekapoo prided herself for being able to travel to any place in the multi-verse with absolutely nothing stopping her. Due to her abilities Hekapoo was also able to detect all forms of dimensional portals, created by her own scissors or not and one of her duties in the Magical High Commission was to ensure any unstable portal was closed immediately. Only it seemed she and the rest of the Commission seemed to have trouble with a certain blue planet.
"And what kind of dimensional activity are we speaking of?" Moon questioned.
"The kind created by…scientists who have no right poking their noses where they don't belong." Hekapoo answered with a scowl. "Earth was supposed have no magic and yet in one split second Omnitraxus senses a huge shift in the timeline and everything changes. Creatures of darkness, mortals gaining access to powers they shouldn't have and now this. We warned you sending Star to Earth was a bad idea. Why would you pick that planet out of the all the other dimensions in the multi-verse?"
"It was so Star could learn to harness the power of the wand without destroying the entire kingdom and learn the responsibilities of a princess." Moon said stoically.
"She's just mad that one human made a portal generator and another made a portal gun. What were their names again? Ford and Ri-"
"UTTER THAT MAN'S NAME IN FRONT OF ME AND I'LL SEND YOU TO THE FARTHEST CORNER IN THE MULTI-VERSE WITH MY FOOT UP YOUR SCALY BUTT IF YOU EVEN HAVE ONE!" Hekapoo roared, the flame above her head burning into a massive blast with the ferocity of a volcano. "AND DON'T MENTION THE OTHER ONE EITHER!"
Moon remained stoic in the face of Hekapoo's rage. "Might I ask what brought this on?"
"Hekapoo met two humans who invented their own portals that might better than her scissors." Omnitraxus answered. "And I think that second human charmed her or something."
Hekapoo threw a dark look at Omnitraxus but said nothing else, swearing to make him pay dearly for his big mouth.
"And if this activity is concerning you so much why not go and stop it?"
Hekapoo looked down at the ground with a bitter look as Omnitraxus answered. "We can't."
"You can't? Why not?"
"There's a power in that universe that keeps me from observing the multiple possibly futures of this planet." Omnitraxus explained. "It can only be done if the planet somehow exists outside of space and time or if a higher power is blocking my vision which means we cannot find the source of these problems. I was unable to see Star's future once she entered that dimension."
"A power preventing you from seeing anything on that world?" Moon now confused and a little alerted which was good in Hekapoo's opinion. "What could keep the High Commission from doing anything?"
"A power like the High Commission." Hekapoo finally looked back at Moon. "I don't pretend to know all about time and space, that's Omni's job. What I do know is that he says it's like a river and when you throw something in the water ripples. Well, this big change was the equivalent of a giant rock thrown in; sending ripples both forward and backward through time. To deal with it that universe responded by creating its own equivalent of the High Commission."
"Why wasn't I told about this then?" Moon asked, her face adopting her 'Queen' persona in light of this news.
"Because they don't work like us. They did a bit of work centuries ago and then simply departed, leaving the mortals behind to sort it out." Hekapoo answered. "It's not like we're talking about Mewnians here. Actually from what I heard when they were done they split apart and simply went their separate ways. They abandoned the world they were supposed to be looking after and disappeared but not before making sure no one could do what we've been trying to do, keeping the laws of magic being enforced."
Moon was silent as she considered the implications of this. "And if I or the High Commission tried to contact them?"
Hekapoo shrugged. "They might answer, or at least a few of them might answer. Like I said, they don't work like us."
"I see…What are they called?" Moon asked, deciding to ask one more question before a doing a bit of her own work.
"…They are called the Spiral…The Six-Founding Spiral."
Xxx
"Steven? Are you there?" When Greg entered the house he was excited to tell Steven about his little out of town trip to Keystone but upon his arrival he saw the house was empty. "Steven? Pearl? Amethyst? Is anyone here?"
The door the Gem Temple opened and out stepped Garnet, her face unreadable.
"Garnet!" Greg called out but stopped when Garnet looked at him. "Um…Is this a bad time?"
"No." Garnet said, staring right at the human.
"Uh ok, have you seen Steven or anyone else?" Greg looked around, feeling nervous at just being near Garnet.
"Not really." Garnet frowned a bit.
Sure, she didn't want to see Pearl but it was odd that she hadn't seen Steven or Amethyst around lately. She slid her visor down and looked around, spotting something on the table and picked it up.
"What is it?" Greg asked and jumped back as Garnet clenched the paper.
"Steven…And Amethyst are going to the Darklands." Garnet answered, her entire form trembling.
"The Darklands?!" Greg shouted in horror, his heart going a mile a second from hearing where his son was.
Almost everyone knew what the Darklands were.
It was large part of land that served as home and nesting ground for the Grimm, a place where no Human or anyone else including Gem could ever hope to live in.
"Why would they go there?" Greg questioned quickly.
Garnet dropped the note. "To find Malachite….We're going after them."
Xxx
As the son of two of the greatest scientists in the world Zak had seen a lot of things. He never went to school simply because his parents were all the teachers he needed, he didn't have ordinary friends since he felt a deeper connection with cryptids than fellow Humans or even Faunus and Mobians and lastly he learned how to fight bad guys. Sure that was what Huntsmen and Huntresses were trained to do against the Grimm but he wasn't sure even they were prepared for the many dangers his family had encountered in the cryptids that they had found and chased after all over the globe. Like Huntsmen his family had trained heavily, awakening their Aura and learning the powers of their own Semblances with Zak's own possibly being able to communicate and talk to cryptids but they were both scientists and protectors.
It was hard to tell since Zak showed this ability when he was really young before his parents started training him but both his parents believed he was special.
Sure, the Huntsmen protected the world from the Grimm but they were not trained to seek out the ancient secrets of the world like his parents were. Still Zak would admit to being fans of the more famous Huntsmen and Heroes like the Dragon of Denver for his cool robotic frame with awesome weapons, the Viking God of Rock Valhallen who knew how to rock like no other or the contestants for the Wacky Races(Zak was a HUGE fan of Penelope Pitstop). He respected them for wanting to protect the world like his parents did and such idealism played a huge role in shaping young Zak Saturday into who he was today.
A boy ready to take on the big fights like his parents.
Once the airship landed at the remains Dr. Cheveyo's observatory he was with his parents as they stepped out, he had only one thing to say. "Nasty."
The place had been completely destroyed and looked like a war had just happened. Or better yet, the beginning of one.
"Sorry I didn't tidy up. I didn't know I'd be having company." Dr. Cheveyo greeted them, looking unharmed but he was far from feeling any kind of positive emotion.
"Looks like you got the worst of it." Doc commented. "Who was it?"
"Argost himself."
Zak looked up from a piece of rubble he was holding. "Argost was here?"
"Yes, and he blew up my lab. How cool for me." Dr. Cheveyo said sarcastically.
"Right. Bad guy." Zak looked down for a second but looked back up with a nervous smile. "I hear he puts on a pretty good TV show though."
Komodo and Fiskerton moved away from their brother, deciding Zak was on his own in this one.
"Apparently, my son has been doing a lot of Weird World 'research'." Doc said dryly.
"Well, if your research finds a way to get my stone piece back from Argost, let me know."
"He got it?" Drew asked, becoming quickly concerned.
"Then it's starting again." Doc muttered.
That was when Zak had enough. "Okay, guys, seriously with the mystery. Do I get to know what's going on here? What's starting again? What stone pieces?"
Drew shared a look with her husband before answering. "The Kur Stone…Key to finding the ancient Sumerian beast called Kur. According to legend, whoever controls the cryptid Kur controls the world. Ultimate, limitless power, enough that one could raise an army against both humanity and even the Grimm. Kur can give it to you, and only the stone can lead you to Kur."
"Your mother and I led the team that discovered the stone. At first, we didn't even know what we had, but somebody else did." Doc added before letting his wife continue.
"Argost disguised himself as a member of our crew, and by the time we found out, he was already gone with the Kur Stone."
"The Secret Scientists tracked him down to Weird World. We went in with a team of fifty. By the time we left that house of horrors…" Doc trailed off, remembering the screams, the death traps and the nightmares that came after. "There were only seven of us."
"Argost escaped, but we got the stone. And now that we knew what it was, we decided this was one secret that needed to stay secret, even from ourselves." Drew continued.
"We spit it into three pieces, each left in the care of a different Secret Scientist. As long as we kept them apart, the key to finding Kur was safe." Doc finished.
"But you didn't keep them apart." Zak said when his parents finished their tale. "Argost just got two of the pieces, right, and you guys have the only one that's left?"
"Yes, but-"
"Then why are we sitting around here? We have to get back home before Argost does." Zak exclaimed.
"Zak, Zak, relax. Our pieces isn't at home. We found a hiding place in the Amazon Basin years ago." Drew said soothingly.
"What? You've left it unguarded all these years?" Dr. Cheveyo scolded.
Drew turned to face her fellow scientist. "Give us some credit, Henry. I did not say it was unguarded."
"No, he's right, Mom." Zak agreed. "Argost knew where to find two of the pieces? How do you know he didn't already find the third? Why did Dad build a superfast airship if we're not going to use it? We should go now." He turned to Fisk. "Back me up here, Fisk."
"Huh?" Fiskerton stared in confusion at Zak, having not been paying attention to the conversation.
"Zak, even if Argost knew where to look-" Doc started but was cut off by Dr. Cheveyo.
"No! We have to go get it, find some other way of keeping it safe."
"It is safe and I really don't think you're in the best shape for a trip to Manaus, Henry." Drew retorted.
"This isn't just your decision. The whole world is affected by-"
Zak spotted something behind the doctor. "Komodo, no!"
Dr. Cheveyo was suddenly knocked down by Komodo as the Saturdays rushed in, pulling him off. When they did however, they spotted something on the back of Dr. Cheveyo's neck. A bat like creature with a glowing head.
"Uh, Mom? What's…huh?" Zak pointed at the creature.
"It's a neural parasite." Drew answered.
"It feeds on impulse from the nervous system, converting them to radiant energy waves. Everything sees and hears is being broadcast to anyone who knows how to tune in." Doc explained, kneeling down. "He's listening right now, isn't he, Henry?"
"I-I'm sorry." Henry stuttered, looking up with the remorseful face.
"He heard everything." Drew realized.
"I just couldn't fight him again. I'm sorry-AAH!" Dr. Cheveyo suddenly screamed out in anguish.
"Henry!" Doc called out as Dr. Cheveyo stood up.
Only it wasn't their friend.
"Greetings and bienvenu, Starudays." Dr. Cheveyo's voice changed as he hunched over, smiling darkly at the surprised family and let out an evil laugh.
"That's-That's-" Zak stuttered in surprise at the changed voice.
"No." Drew said in denial. "No, this is impossible. The parasite doesn't transmit both ways."
"Impossible? Only one with a tragic lack of imagination would use such a vulgar word." Dr. Cheveyo, no, Argost replied in satisfaction. "We deal with cryptids, my dear. We live in the world of impossible."
"Where are you, Argost?" Doc questioned.
"Eleven years you've kept my prize from me. Eleven years of tracking down which of you miserable so-called scientists had pieces of the Kur Stone. Eleven years of planning this operation to perfection." Argost ranted.
"Yeah, I wouldn't call two out of three pieces 'perfection'." Drew retorted.
"We'll see about that in Manaus, won't he?" Argost grinned.
Fiskerton growled, looking ready to pounce but Zak held him back. "Fisk! No! Dr. Cheveyo's still in there somewhere. We can't hurt him."
"Sweet little boy. I've waited eleven years for this. What makes you think I'd let anyone else do the hurting?" Dr. Cheveyo looked around, watching as Argost's pets came out of hiding. "The Al-Kaseem Firecracker Beetle. Nature gave it a highly flammable defensive spray."
The beetles surrounded the Saturdays and released their gas, engulfing them and the surrounding area.
"All I give it is a spark." Argost said before ordering Dr. Cheveyo to kick a rock past the Saturdays and hit a nearby rubble field, setting off a spark…
"Heads up!" Zak shouted.
And the gas ignited, blinding them all in fire.
Xxx
Sammael had watched Argost's little demonstration through a Seer that had been modified to intercept transmissions from the neural parasites the celebrity liked to use. "He always was one for theatrics. But this presents a chance. Go and finish them off."
Xxx
The Saturdays managed to survive the explosion thanks to using their Auras to shield themselves while Dr. Cheveyo was thrown back, hitting his back against a pile of debris that thankfully removed the neural parasite from his back. Doc relied on his Power Glove to freeze the beetles while Drew batted them away with her sword as they made their way to the downed Dr. Cheveyo.
"No…" The former possessed scientists groaned. "He promised he wouldn't hurt you."
As he spoke the beetles came together forming a giant sphere rolling towards them but that was not their only problem.
A loud rising roar was heard two giant snake monsters came up from the edge, one black and one pure white with glaring red eyes.
"Grimm!" Drew shouted.
"We have to run!"
The King Taijitu lunged at the Saturdays while Dr. Cheveyo moved to hold off the beetle sphere with a broken wall. "Go! You have to stop Argost!"
The sphere suddenly exploded, sending everyone flying over the edge. Zak screamed out as they fell to their imminent. Luckily Drew and Doc grabbed the tether line with Doc grabbing Fisk who grabbed Komoto while Drew used her other hand to grab Zak…
By his underpants.
"Everyone ok?" Doc asked.
"YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Zak screamed out, suffering the mother of all wedgies.
"We're not done yet." Doc looked up, seeing the two Grimm above, hissing as they stared down their prey.
Fiskerton growled, glaring at the Grimm as they lunged down. Doc threw Fisk and Komodo up first with the hairy cryptid punching the black Taijitu while holding onto Komodo's tail. They landed at the top and ran as the white Taijitu chased after them. Doc activated his Power Glove, setting it to the fire function and released a blast of fire behind him, using the recoil to shoot himself back onto the top of the mountain and landed in the path of the white Taijitu that hissed at him. In the meantime Drew looked up to see the black Taijitu recovered from being stunned by Fiskerton and was staring down at her.
"Oh no you don't." Drew whispered and starting swinging while still holding onto Zak who cried out from the seemingly permanent wedgie he was suffering.
The black Taijitu lunged down and the Saturday matriarch swung to the side, dodging the massive and leapt onto its back, carrying Zak over her shoulder now as she ran up the Grimm and back onto the mountain. The black Taijitu hissed as it pulled itself back up and turned to face Drew as she put her son down.
"Zak, get to the airship with your brothers, now." Drew said, not accepting any argument from her son.
Not that he could have anyways as he started staggering back to the ship.
In the meantime the black Taijitu lunged at Drew, opening its mouth enough to swallow her whole. Drew grunted, jumping out of the way as the black Taijitu turned and jumped up at its head. She swung her blade down to cut its head off but the Grimm slithered out of the way and whipped its tail at her.
"Mom!" Zak cried out as his mother was sent flying into a pile of debris.
Fiskerton let out a primal roar as he leapt up and delivered a powerful punch to the Taijitu that dared to his surrogate mother. He punched it a few more time before the snake Grimm ducked and burrowed into the ground. Meanwhile Doc was having his hands full with the white Taijitu as it dodged his Power Glove every time he tried to punch it. The white snake Grimm lashed out with its tail, sending the debris flying at him but all Doc did was swing his arm out and a blast from his glove created an ice wall to shield him.
"The negative emotions Argost expressed through Henry, they must have attracted these Grimm." Doc surmised as he jumped to the side just as the white Taijitu slammed through his ice made wall. "We don't have time for this."
Drew was careful as she looked around, sword in both hands as she waited for the black Taijitu to come out of hiding.
She did not have to wait long.
Sensing a subtle movement in the ground she back flipped as the Taijitu blasted out of the spot where she had been in attempt to swallow her whole. Drew swung her sword that had been collecting energy from the sun and let loose a blast of light onto the Grimm that cut through its head instantly.
"All right, Mom!" Zak cheered as his mother landed in front of him.
Doc faced down the white Taijitu as it let out an enraged hiss and lunged at him. Doc aimed his fist down, the Battle Glove glowing blue as he punched the ground. Giant spikes made of ice speared the snake Grimm all over its body as it came within striking distance of the scientist. The Grimm let out one final hiss before dying and its body began to evaporate.
"Well, that was unexpected." Doc muttered once it was gone. "Henry picked this location far out for his lab because there no nearby Grimm sightings."
"We do know the Grimm have at times changed or expanded their territory. They must have picked up the emotions from Henry and Argost." Drew surmised while sheathing her sword and smirking at Doc. "I got mine first."
"Only because I was still planning." Doc defended but smirked back. "But I suppose that means we're now even."
"Even for what?" Drew scoffed.
"For the nest of Deathstalkers you disturbed in the Amazon and I had to save you." Doc walked past her, heading back to the airship.
"That doesn't count!" Drew argued, following her husband back along with her son…
Who was still staggering and needed new non-stretched underwear.
Xxx
Far away, in a dark part of the world a pair of grand doors opened and in walked a young man with bull horns and blond hair. The room he entered was a grand hall with torches lining the walls, red curtains hanging down and a red carpet leading up to a thrown that was covered in shadow.
The young man saluted and then bowed. "Your Imminence, we have received Intel that V.V. Argost has recovered two pieces of the Kur Stone and is on his way to Manaus to recover the third."
The figure on the thrown made a hissing noise and remained quiet for a moment before speaking with a snake like voice. "Excellent. Once Argost recovers the stone we can finally begin our quest of tracking down and locating Kur."
"The stone will truly lead them to Kur?" The young man could not help but ask.
"It will reveal Kur at the right time." The figure on the throne answered. "Kur's true form was destroyed at the hands of Gilgamesh and the Legion of Garuda but the Master is not easily vanquished. For like the Elementals, Kur has mastered the power of Aura Bonding, able to conceal his essence into any vessel, living or not. At the right time his vessel will be revealed and it will up to us to ensure he is truly awakened, all of his powers and memories restored."
"And then?"
The figure on the throne seemed to smile. "Then at long last, the world of Humans will end and all the slaves shall rise up. Just as you had hoped, Fredrick Jones."
The young man stood up and saluted. "Yes, my lord. Hail Satyra!"
The leader watched as Fred left the room, sitting back on his throne and grinned evilly. "Hail Satyra, indeed."
Xxx
"So Kenny lives in this park?" Wally didn't seem too impressed with the park but when he smelled the sweet aroma of hot dogs his stomach did let out a growl. "Why isn't he with his folks?"
"Cause they're gone, genius." Marceline answered stoically as she led them past the park gates. "He's been living here with the gardener and local mechanic, a Mobian named Skips."
"Skips?" Wally stifled a chuckle. "What kind of a name is that?"
"Just wait and see." Marceline answered, smirking at the future look on Wally's face.