AN: Welcome to Act 2, everyone!
As we hop into the next day, you'll be seeing a few more new things getting into action. You might have noted that in Chapter 5, the villains are in another part of the country and it's not America. Just wait until you see the Bad Guys' reaction to where they are going.
Chapter 6 - Welcome to the New World
Turn on your TV today! Guess what you'll be watching?
Nope, it's not gonna be Channel 4.
Today, it's gonna be on a special program happening this week. It usually went for live streaming platforms, but since the band behind it moved to a new country for their next performance, it became exclusive on some channels temporarily.
On-screen, a background of bleeding pink, cyan and purple colors appeared alongside dark silhouettes of temples based on Filipino and Korean architecture. A logo appeared, reading 'THE BUTTERFLY CHAIN LINK'. Written in a fancy, curly font, albeit glitched and decorated with glowing butterflies. Traditional Asian music with a touch of modern trap beats played in the background before a round of applause was heard.
The background faded away to a newsroom carrying an indie, DIY aesthetic. Specifically, set in a local hotel restaurant, complete with white-clothed tables and dark golden walls with curly ornate. Further away from the dining patrons, there was a longer rectangular table set up for the vocalists of 18 Years 'Till Gone, starting off their web news show.
"Rise and shine, everyone!" said Glock with an air of confidence. "This is 18 Years 'Till Gone coming at you live!"
Black Rose pumped her fist in the air, beaming in shameless energy. "It's us; Black Rose, Glock and Mania!"
Though, the turquoise-haired vocalist wasn't with them yet.
"…Mania?"
There was muttering from the side and Mania came in. However, he wasn't appropriately dressed, still in his pyjamas. A sports aqua shirt he never wore for gym and a pair of baggy black pants. His hair was a mess and his eyepatch was placed on the wrong eye. Yawning, he sat beside the two female vocalists, putting down a cup of coffee.
"You're not ready yet," said Glock nonchalantly.
"I'm not a morning person, OK?" hissed Mania before turning to the camera. "Anyway, welcome to our small show 'The Butterfly Chain Link'."
"Where we give you all the juicy bits you never heard of!" continued Glock, turning back to the camera.
Black Rose grinned, taking out her cane to swing it upwards. "You drop in the details, we evaluate them into retails!"
Glock grinned, trying not to cringe. "Aww, we're still using that old phrase. We shouldn't keep using it."
"But it sounds awesome! It brings in the good old surprise moment for newcomers!"
"And it rhymes," cooed Mania softly, sipping his cup. "So girls, what is hot for today?"
Right next to them was a monitor that presented the associated photographs for today's events. The screen presented the logo of their news show until it switched over to a landscape picture of a city. A picture of bright and sunny Melbourne, shot near the Flinders Street Station and the busy train rails below the bridge.
"If not obvious, this isn't our usual newsroom," explained Black Rose. "We are live in wild and wet Melbourne, Australia! Where in six days, we'll be performing for this year's Million Musical Hearts Awards!"
"Remind me again, why is it wild and wet there?" asked Glock.
"One, you two keep thinking that Australians are tough in fighting against wild animals," said Mania with a smile. "And two, it's the start of Spring, so there is still some rain."
Black Rose rubbed her chin. "Why does it have to rain when Spring is supposed to start? Can't we have something less gloomy, like the sun breaking through the clouds and the flowers blooming?"
"But I like the rain, Black Rose," said Glock, chuckling at the thought of bringing up a picture of a rainy Melbourne. "The weather might be slightly different in this place, but rain soothes me. It is calming."
"Speak for yourself. I heard there was a flood in another state of Australia."
"Mania, what are some things we can expect? You grew up there."
Mania shrugged. "Hmm, well…it's not too different from America. I say…it probably has a lot of Asians." His eyes widened, realizing what he said. "Wait a second, no, that's not true. It has a diverse population. And…we like to keep things short." He eventually gave up trying to explain. "That's all!"
"Crikey," joked Black Rose. "Must be some nice folks there."
"I'm hoping that the people there will be kind," said Glock. "Australia is such a great place for bringing many people together."
"And for adventure, don't forget that! You can imagine the colors, the treats and the pizazz! You can't say no to some sweet coffee."
"I have to wonder if the country will be fair since this year is where many people are opening up more," said Mania.
"All in all, it's still a nice, thriving community," said Glock. "Perhaps when walking down those streets, you have its tribal-like feel with a million spices, sounds and looks. Maybe even give a feel like walking through London."
"We'll have to wait and see," said Mania. "I can show you all around here. I even heard that there're some pretty sweet graffiti paintings as well."
"Oh yeah!" cheered Black Rose. "I love graffiti!"
"We might as well start the vacation soon," said Glock, raising a finger. "Would you say we do this like a vlog?"
"That's actually a good idea! And maybe we can even update our followers on social media of our discoveries."
Mania nodded in agreement. "Our next announcement for today; it's storytelling time!"
The monitor next to them changed to a background of many letter envelopes covering the entire screen. One envelope, in particular, was right in front of the pile in a black color with a glowing gold aura. It was shaking, waiting to be opened.
"For those new, story-telling time allows the underrated people a chance to share their stories in the hopes of encouraging others," explained Glock, pointing to the screen.
"I hope it's not a scammer," said Black Rose, nearly shrinking. "Last time we fell into a fraud…" She shivered as an uncomfortable memory came to mind. "...brrr! It was a nightmare."
Mania clenched his teeth, shivering as well. "Yeah. I don't want to do that again…"
"Remind me again why we made it free for anyone to send ANYTHING through it."
"Anyway, let's read what today's storyteller provides to us!" said Glock. "This one goes by the name 'Adeline'."
The black envelope on the monitor burst open and the letter came out, filling the whole screen. It was enlarged so that the text could be read properly by those watching at home.
"Oh well! Now let's see here…" said Black Rose, clearing her throat. "'Hello there, 18 Years 'Till Gone. My name is Adeline and a close friend of mine suggested I watch your news program. I have to admit that it looks like fun, though I'm not good at keeping up with banter. My friend told me that this is a way for me to open up about my feelings. I hope that it goes well since this means a lot to me.'"
"'Have you ever felt like your family has fallen into the wrong time? Like it might not be the right moment needed?'" read Mania. "'That was how I felt. I grew up with my mother when I was younger. My dad wasn't always home, making most of his nights away, which I'll explain later. Me and my mother ran a small business. We couldn't get enough money, but our cafe was humble and fresh, serving delicious cakes and coffee to the community. However, it was in constant danger.'"
Glock followed up with the two vocalists. "'When I turned five, the cafe was in the area where criminals were likely to rob. Due to not having enough money to create a security system, our cafe was robbed several times. It even included the more expensive things such as stoves, the money counter and the shelf decorations that held beautiful plants. Our family became more desperate.'"
"'My father began disappearing,'" followed Black Rose. "'Sometimes, he returned after a week. I was scared for him. He told me that he was trying to find money to provide for the family, but my mother wasn't happy with him. I don't think I know why, but I may never know. My father is now behind bars, far away. It felt so…frustrating.'"
With the letter finished, the monitor turned black and the three vocalists were silent. Usually, they would follow up with some response, but it was a while since they read a story that ended ambiguously. And hauntingly. And this must have been a couple of years ago, so they didn't know what else she needed to say about her present situation.
"Wow…just wow!" said Black Rose, lacking her usual poppiness. "That is actually sad."
"The thing with the narrator feeling that her family is…somewhat falling apart is depressing," said Mania, crossing his arms.
"It sounds like her family business was a struggle," said Glock. She flinched, wondering if she said the wrong thing. "I-I mean, her family was struggling with keeping the cafe together."
"I feel sorry for Adeline," said Black Rose sadly. "My father once struggled to maintain his career since it could end anytime. Seeing a child in the middle of her parents trying to make the wisest decisions can be tough, especially when helping out."
"I feel like she would have wanted to say something about it back then," said Mania, thinking through the letter thoroughly. "I cannot blame her for being lost since she was growing that time. She didn't understand the full context."
"I wish there was something we could have done for her long ago," said Glock sincerely, turning to the camera. "On behalf of everyone's regards, we send you the best of luck, Adeline. If there is anything else you need to tell, let us know."
"Hope you are doing OK, buddy!" said Black Rose.
"We'll send you our prayers, mate," said Mania.
Glock sighed, adjusting her jacket. "Time is nearly up here! We'll return for our quick lunch session soon, hopefully with more to share."
"More news will be announced as we speak," said Black Rose with a faint smile. "Make sure to keep an eye out for us for our upcoming performance!"
"Keep an eye on our social media platforms for special updates," said Mania. "Until next then, catch you all later, butterflies!"
To be honest, after calling Diane, I had no idea how we're gonna meet up with the International League of Heroes. She was completely vague on when and where we would meet. But I expected that there would be some surprises.
I was still tense when some sharp-dressed men in suits came over to the diner we were at for breakfast. I feared it was the police. But as soon as we entered their truck, it was when I realized that this was indeed the International League of Heroes.
A little dark, but at least it was a comfortable space.
The Bad Guys were still reeling in surprise and anxiousness after being placed in a speeding black truck. It resembled a limousine due to the black leather chairs, the small screen on one of the walls and a symbol printed on their door. The symbol itself looked like a star with angel wings on it. And right below was an acronym that went by 'I.L.O.H'.
Those letters reassured them that they weren't going to be hurt. They expected that they would be picked up for some briefing. But how they didn't know. Nobody complained, however, since it wasn't as grim and dirty as being in a police truck. However, not being allowed to open the curtains fully was a downside.
It took a good half of an hour to get to their destination. The driver informed them not to look out since they didn't want to give away the path to the league's secret base. Wolf was allowed to peep through the curtains when it was announced they were close. However, it was right at the start of the truck suddenly dropping into the dirt in the middle of nowhere.
The bright sunlight of Los Angeles disappeared.
It was dark outside for a while. Snake peeked through the curtains as well, wondering what this base looked like. Piranha suddenly popped between them, curious to see.
And then, light flashed by them. Light sticks glued to the wall, producing a pure white glow. Some of the few other light sticks were in neon colors, judging by the use of purple and blue. As they descended deeper, more light sticks formed around them in a shape that resembled a swirly tunnel.
And then, it became brighter.
All curtains were lifted upwards and the Bad Guys gasped at where they were at. It was an elevator, but it was more spacious and made from gray metal. Taking them downwards, hinting it was gonna be a vast underground hideout. The platform beneath them illuminated red and blue colors, resembling the American flag.
It wouldn't be anything new, but the Bad Guys were shocked that they were actually in a secret lair much like in the movies!
As the elevator descended further, the walls were replaced by windows that presented what appeared to be the entire base of the International League of Heroes, if not a minor part of the place. On first impressions, it didn't look like a kind place. Despite a good amount of neon colors emitted from multiple windows and indoor buildings, it took the form of a dystopian undercity. A dark blue glow emitted from the top of the gigantic clearing, making the Bad Guys consider if this was supernatural.
With the huge open space, multiple buildings served as individual facilities and bridges to get around. Many guesses were training rooms and meeting rooms. There was a landing area where several vehicles rested and a training area beside it where many agents were practicing.
Wolf flinched when he saw a neary explosion. It was most likely a testfire, but it was really close in an open area.
If that wasn't enough, then there were multiple buildings and balconies poking from the walls and the high ceilings. A never-ending-growing machine. Shark made the theory that the base seemed to be inspired by modern military architecture with elements of sci-fiction and Gothic art. The ideal place for the shadiest people.
And, indeed, each of the Bad Guys had a different reaction.
"This place looks grim," said Snake bluntly. "I like it!"
Wolf hummed. "This looks worse than the hideouts mob gangs bought at the last second."
"It appears somewhat creepy," said Shark. "It looks kind of dark here."
"It doesn't look bad," said Piranha innocently. "I mean, you wouldn't be in this kind of place where you have mini buildings popping out from every side."
"I have to agree," said Webs. "Wacky, but makes sense given they need a lot of space."
Wolf squinted his eyes. "This is giving me some bad vibes."
"Bad vibes?" said Webs. "But we're Bad Guys. This can be our style."
Wolf scratched his neck. "I don't know if Diane advocates this. It doesn't look like a party."
"Oh yeah!" agreed Shark. "This place might be trying to look fun, though it feels a bit too serious."
"You're whining like babies," grumbled Snake. "There must be a good reason why the International League of Heroes would want to look emo."
"Guess that's one thing we can agree on," said Webs, grinning.
The elevator finally reached the floor below and the truck drove out, heading towards the landing area. That spot had a small parking lot for it to park properly. With a knock from the driver outside, the Bad Guys made their way out and absorbed all they could see and feel in this environment.
It made them look like ants.
The agents, soldiers and workers passing by them didn't seem to be wearing the standard black-ops uniform. It was as if they weren't used to wearing military uniforms.
Sure, some wore completely black, so that would work. However, the outfits ranged from colorful to bland to even looking like it could be for a fashion parade.
They wore jackets, dresses and armor with a modern, cyberpunk look.
Some of these agents looked like criminals! There were a few that took the look of ex-military veterans, but their faces appeared more rugged and rogue. A good portion of them covered in scars, tattoos and outlandish outfits.
One lady passed them, wearing no armor but a top and a pair of shorts. She had enough weapons all over her body, but she looked more like a forest traveler than a black-ops agent.
To the Bad Guys' discomfort, most of the agents were humans. It was hard to find an animal of the same status as the human agents. Combined with their casual clothing, this made the Bad Guys stick out like a sore thumb.
Well, not all of them feel left out.
"Huh," said Piranha. "I wonder why they have to make it a town."
Wolf raised an eyebrow. "I don't know about that. It makes it like some kind of boot camp."
"I don't think it's too bad," said Snake. "Everyone around here looks like a bad guy."
"But the kind of bad guy they are?"
"Some of them might be…thugs?" remarked Shark, looking to the side to see a bodybuilder spinning around a double-edged knife. "This feels like we're the wrong kind of people."
"But we often hang around with other people who are the wrong type," Webs said confidently. "Imagine like you're talking with criminals like us."
Shark shook his head. "It feels more like being with assassins."
Wolf nodded, frowning. "I would love to see if there are some serial killers around here. Perhaps they would notice us if they see blood paint on our faces."
"Chico, I don't think we should worry that much," said Piranha. "These guys are obviously here to reduce their prison sentence like us. They wouldn't do anything stupid. Would you say they also come here because it's the right place for them?"
"And what would that lead to?" asked Snake flatly.
"I don't know. Maybe devoting loyalty to the league?" Piranha's smile cracked. "Wait, is that a good virtue they hone?"
This was met with mutters of surprise from the others. To say that this league had many criminals working there to reform themselves; they would become more loyal to their leaders and the community they serve. It could mean an advantage for them, but given that it was long-running like this for a while, who knows how long they never made an ugly move?
"That makes sense," said Snake, nodding.
"I guess so," said Wolf, sighing. "Then that could mean this place might be a party."
Shark was still tense, but his worry died down. "You have a really good point, Piranha! How did you know about this kind of thing?"
Piranha just shrugged. "Something I…" He paused, trying not to flinch. "...learned about my family. Loyalty is everywhere in a group."
Webs nodded, impressed. While she was a little baffled that came from Piranha, the wildest of the group, he showed to be a bit intelligent about the agents in the league.
"So…what should we do now?" wondered Snake. "Are we supposed to meet someone here for our briefing?"
"Steal a car?" suggested Piranha, grinning.
"Highly unlikely," said Wolf, spotting a few buggies driving by. "I don't think we even know how to use them properly."
"I can just start the engine with a paperclip," said Snake.
"Might not be as simple as that," said a familiar voice.
Immediately, the Bad Guys stepped back when a new person dropped into the conversation.
A ninja in a full costume that appeared stained in dark brown splatters. A black bodysuit with blue and red stripes underneath their arms, topped with a black ninja robe with red and blue stripes. For some good looks, a yellow pi symbol rested on the left breast. Finishing the rest was a utility belt with a yellow buckle and red and blue pouches, holding up a pair of black pants with matching stripes. Finally, a pair of comfortable black boots, a thick black scarf and a large ninja mask headset with a blonde ponytail popping out from the back.
"Whoa!" said Wolf. "Who are you, little kid?"
The ninja chuckled, taking off the headset. "Just little old me."
A bright grin from Diane was revealed underneath the dark outfit. Giddily, she twirled around to let everyone get a good look.
"Not bad for a ninja like you, Diane," commented Wolf, grinning.
"You're taking the Crimson Paw mantle, aren't you?" asked Webs.
"Not exactly," explained Diane. "I let the International League of Heroes know about my mercenary career, so they are cool with me having this ninja outfit. These robes are completely original, passed on from previous members!"
Shark sniffed a little, squinting a little at the stains. "What's with the stains all over your dress?"
Diane hummed playfully, sharing his slight disgust. "Don't ask me. This is the only size I can find. There's no laundry machine to be able to clean that up! Just make sure not to tell that to the leaders of the league. They are trying their best with the budget they have."
Snake rolled his eyes. "It looks like you're coated in blo-"
"I think it looks awesome!" squealed Piranha. "Will we have our outfits?"
Diane smirked. "Oh yes. Custom-made!"
"Custom-made?" said Shark, his eyes widening.
"Don't get too excited yet, buddy," said Webs, patting him on the head.
"OK!"
"Wait a minute," said Wolf, raising his hand. "Is it custom-made? Or is it…limited to smart formal?"
"Unlimited," answered Diane.
Wolf gasped, leaning to Snake. "I think I peed a little."
"Don't tell me that!" laughed Snake.
"I'm guessing that you're one of the leaders now," guessed Webs. "You're the governor, so…"
"Nah, not really," said a new voice behind them. "She just joined recently, remember? At least a leader of this new squad today, am I right?"
The Bad Guys turned around, greeted by a mighty leader of the International League of Heroes.
A tall and muscular bull with brown fur, two horns coated in golden swirls, an eyepatch on his left eye, a golden ring through his nose and a goatee. Much like the other agents, his attire was quite flamboyant, being a mix of mercenary armor and streetwear: a black sleeveless bodysuit with golden armor on his chest and shoulders, a blue denim vest, a heavy belt filled with pouches and guns, black ripped jeans and boots covered in matching gold armor.
The crew was a bit surprised to meet this stranger. Even Diane, despite already seeing him earlier, found it strange due to his powerful appearance. For Shark, he felt a little nervous despite being slightly taller than that guy.
"You must be the legendary Bad Guys!" said the bull, his light voice tinged with warmth. "It's been a while since you made the world nervous."
"Who is this weirdo right here?" asked Webs.
"Oh, he's the one and only leader needed for the right job!" bragged the bull, slamming a fist in his chest. His voice was deep, but it had a soothing tenor rivaling Shark's. "Buck Thunders in da house!"
"Buck here is a former military hero," explained Diane politely. "He was one of the co-founders of the league."
"A former military hero?" repeated Piranha.
"Yep!" said Buck proudly.
"But how come we never heard of you before?" questioned Snake.
That threw Buck off-guard. "You know what? Fair point. But anyway, it's not about me today. Let's focus on you bad boys right here."
"It's 'Bad Guys'," corrected Webs.
"Yeah, that's what I mean," said Buck, approaching Wolf. "But I need a quick word with your alpha. It's an honor seeing you, Mr. Wolf. The ultimate hero of the pack!"
Wolf raised an eye, smirking. "Oh really? And why's that?"
"Well, it's clear you're the leader; smart, brave, powerful. Filled in the leadership criteria, especially in your crew."
"You're not that powerful," sassed Piranha, pouting.
"But we all saw how he did try to save the day against Professor Marmalade," pointed out Buck, grinning. "A risky bargain of giving the meteorite and jumping off a freaking bridge!"
"And what am I?" said a salty Snake. "Chopped liver?"
"Yeah!" agreed Wolf, pulling the reptile in. "Give credit to sweetheart and the rest of my friends! We did take our part in stopping Marmalade."
Buck nodded. "Hmm, you're not wrong."
"And as for power, don't think that it is something we have in hand. If off-the-charts in that department, then the meteorite would still be around."
"That's true as well BUT I bet you'll have these powerful babies like mine!"
And to emphasize his fact, Buck flexed one of his arms, giving a lot of detail to the thick muscles packed in his large arm. Diane giggled shyly, her face turning red. Wolf could feel his tail wagging until Snake glared at him.
Meanwhile, Piranha looked jealous, crossing his arms. How come this guy got to show off his huge body like this? Webs was disgusted at first, but a little suspicious with the bull's eccentricities. She quickly glanced at Shark's body. So did he, looking at his thick arms covered by his hoodie.
"You know," continued Buck. "The people out there feared you because you were seen as savage predators. Here, we concentrate more on how capable of a threat you all are. And it shows with your excellent heists and vigilantism in Los Angeles. This comes to the point that my fellow colleagues called you the 'Top Predators' of the food chain."
"Oh yeah, they should," said Piranha, puffing up his chest.
"That's a nice way to put it," muttered Snake, smirking.
Shark giggled. "Oh, stop, you're making me blush."
"However, I'm surprised that not all of you utilize your animal instincts when doing missions of your own," said Buck, patting Shark on the tummy. "Say, what do you do again, Mr. Shark?"
"I'm a master of disguise. It's my own thing."
"And a great con," chimed in Webs.
"A master of disguise?" said Buck, sounding surprised. "For a great big guy like you?"
"But I'm the muscle!" squeaked Piranha.
"Shark is a nice guy," cooed Webs. "He doesn't have to act intimidating to get the job done."
"Thank you!" said Shark, grinning.
"We'll come back to the formalities later on," said Buck. "Now, follow me! We have some things to discuss."
Guiding them through the base and its town of misfits, the Bad Guys noticed some kind of order and harmony. A few agents were talking in a group. Some of them were hugging each other despite the grim lighting. A few were trying to ward off those attempting to harass them. They were a couple getting into fights but were quickly told off by guards.
However, if there was one thing they all knew as they walked past these mysterious people, it was a factor that had them under the control of the leaders.
Fear.
That was just the word.
Fear.
The paranoia of being backstabbed by other agents. Killed by guards for no reason. Being called for a crime you never committed. It wasn't exactly seen, but the tall buildings and the glowing windows told them they were watched.
Somehow, being in an underground base led by the government felt unsafe.
Buck did try his best to keep the tone as light-hearted as possible by showing the many wonders of the underground base. However, it didn't remove the tension of what they might be getting into. Hornet did warn them about how awful black-ops might turn out to be, but this place looked creepy by their own standards.
Diane decided to walk closer with the Bad Guys. Just because she became the new leader of their squad didn't mean she was gonna be above them for that moment. Making sure that she was as close as possible, she tapped Wolf on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Hey Wolf," she whispered.
"What may it be, Missy?" asked Wolf.
"Speaking of 'power', how is your workout lately?"
The canine simply lifted his arm. He didn't need to flex or roll up his short sleeve. His arm wasn't as skinny as before, having some muscle gain. Enough to make him look more athletic.
"Brilliant," said Wolf. "But don't think of ripping my shirt open."
"I won't," teased Diane. "It seems like you have enough muscle to start the way of the Crimson Paw."
"Oh really? You're still holding onto that idea of us switching roles?"
"It is a good opportunity. And I'm not sure if they would allow you to be the main leader of this temporary squad. So that means I would have your usual role and you would be the lancer as the ninja."
"Don't think that I can do those tricks of yours. I never went to the circus before and I don't like hiding my snout."
"Fair enough. But I feel that the way of the ninja is not appearance. But also, their physical capabilities: stealth, strength and speed."
Wolf grunted. "I think I can handle all three."
"Maybe stealth, but you don't engage much in the other two."
"Well, I got the strength part ready! You think that a ninja can do this?"
As they were near one of the facilities, Wolf ran up to it and slammed his fist against the metal wall.
WHUMP!
Naturally, it didn't make that much of a scratch, leaving a pathetically small dent.
He whined, holding onto his sore fist. Everybody else stared at him in silence for his attempt.
"Oh, everything's mostly made from metal," said Buck nonchalantly.
Then, Diane came rushing in and banged her fist into the wall.
It made a slightly bigger dent, but it didn't leave that much damage.
She let out a whine similar to how a common fox would 'bark'. She stepped away and held her sore fist, hopping up and down.
"Why did you follow me too?!" exclaimed Wolf.
"I thought you were doing it wrong!" shouted Diane, reeling from her painful hand. "You would need enough willpower for the muscle work to make a bigger hole-"
"Step aside!" said Piranha, pushing the two lupines aside. "Let me show you how it's done!"
He proceeded to headbutt the wall. This time, it left a bigger dent in the form of his face, dangerously close to breaking through the wall.
A dizzy Piranha turned around, grinning dumbly.
"Nailed it! Just like what he taught me to…" he said collapsing.
"...I'm gonna lose," said Wolf to himself.
"Can we please leave the muscle show aside?" asked Shark, picking Piranha up.
Without saying any more, the crew carried on. No one would remember that eventually. Buck decided to make time to explain to the Bad Guys about the league.
"This expanding league stretched way back, even during the world wars," explained Buck. "We have war veterans, world-class soldiers and spies. We even have other criminals, so you're not the first being offered a deal for your freedom and worth."
"Wait, did you say worth?" asked Webs.
"As you probably know," continued Buck, not stopping to answer any questions. "We had been in secret for a long time. Only the White House knows us, keeping a good check that it doesn't get revealed. We might have done some atrocious things, but if it weren't for the stakes rising every day in this world."
They passed by one facility that seemed to be a shooting training room. The windows were opened to reveal the spectacular training in action. Instead of using guns or blasters, the agents inside were using arrows. It turned out they weren't to be underestimated as their targets exploded in colorful smoke.
Piranha's eyes widened, suddenly having ideas. "Where have you been keeping these lovely toys?"
"Piranha…" said Snake in a warning tone.
"Oh, sorry! I'll behave!"
"Losses were common but needed," said Buck, gesturing around at the mass number of agents. "We fall down, but we pick ourselves back with an army needed. We do not doubt that you'll survive since you prove to be quite flexible. Whether that's being in a high-speed chase, a suicidal heist or being smouldered by a guinea pig army."
As if on cue, they passed by what looked like a communication hub. The mission control in charge had his microphone close to his mouth, yelling over it. The screens in front of him flashed in multiple colors, providing a glorious battle of his field team in the warzone.
"No! Pick up that grenade!" he barked. "Pick up that grenade! It's not that difficult! It's just on a timer-OH C'MON! We practiced this many times now! Wait, why is he running right towards the enemy?! That's a bad tactic! Take him down! Somebody pin him down! I SAID-!"
There was a loud explosion from the speakers.
The mission control lost it HARD. "NO! EVERY! TIME! I PAID MY TAXES TO ENSURE YOU ALL GET THE FUNDING NEEDED FOR YOUR HOUSES! NOW I HAVE TO GIVE HENRY THAT! FREAKING! TEN! DOLLARS! IN BET!"
In emphasis from that last sentence, he tore out a keyboard and slammed it against the panel. That would have destroyed his computer set, but it looked like it didn't matter with the entire field team dead.
The Bad Guys gave each other shocked looks. Even Diane.
"...you're saying something about being smoldered?" asked Webs with a look of horror.
"Nothing," lied Buck. "I meant being 'smelled by police dogs'! Am I right, people?"
"I'm right here," deadpanned Wolf. "And I can sense your adrenaline getting high."
"...ANYWAY, it's time that we explain your mission."
They finally reached to the wall of the large clearing, seemingly the spot for the leaders. This was due to a couple of head statues built over the several towers around that area. One of the heads was Buck's with what must be his personal tower below it. There were large rings surrounding the tower like planet rings and the top roof resembled a UFO ship
The door automatically opened and the interior presented another elevator-like building. As they entered, the Bad Guys noticed that the elevator platform took up the majority of the interior. Each of the different floors or balconies were a bit smaller in length. After getting to the middle, the platform glowed red and a large holographic screen materialized from the side.
With a smirk, Buck skipped over to a set-up podium and lifted up his microphone for all to hear.
"You might remember Sunnyside Labs, right?" he asked. "The laboratory where you freed all the guinea pigs?"
"It was horrible," said Shark sadly. "The little rodents to be picked on. Marmalade is an exception, but man, brutal of how they were used for excessive experiments."
"And horribly tasty," said Snake, trying his best not to smack his mouth.
"Oh, you," chuckled Diane.
"Their experiments ranged more than testing on helpless animals," said Buck, changing the screen to an image of what appeared to be a glowing turquoise orb. "We have something needed to contain. This is one of the many Eden Apples. Mass-produced, classified weapons meant to extend the human lifespan."
The Bad Guys stared at the weapon in awe, surprised by how it was made. Who knew that Sunnyside Labs, out of all people, could create something this, well, impossible? They could see the mechanical parts inside the sphere.
"It was supposed to ensure that the next generation can live forever without getting injured by the smallest things," explained Buck. "I guess they predicted the future to have bad climate change and the kids having a higher mortality rate. That's just me. But ever since the downfall of Sunnyside Labs, the remaining researchers took crates of these Eden Apples and ran away."
His face turned grim, switching the screen. "It was only a week ago when we noticed the problem's direness after an explosion nearby. We found evidence traces of energy resembling that of the Eden Apple in the aftermath of a ruined mall."
The pleasant turquoise weapon was replaced by disturbing footage of a smoking mall.
A giant smoking hole in the roof, visible for horrified witnesses nearby. Doctors, firefighters and cops ran in to collect the survivors inside. Several stretchers of injured people were pulled out, but due to the quality of the footage, it was hard to see if they were actually breathing.
Everybody could feel that it was getting serious. Diane looked down, dismayed that another explosion like this happened. It might be small compared to when the Love Crater Meteorite hit the earth, but this time, it cost many lives. The Bad Guys were even horrified to see this.
They thought it was some idiot who brought in a bomb that time, but a secret weapon going off in a public place was alarming.
"It only marked the beginning of those remaining in America disappearing one by one," said Buck, not changing the tone of his voice. "As it endangered many lives, we came to take responsibility for ensuring these weapons are secured and contained."
The disturbing footage switched over to what looked like a calming map of a state. But it wasn't the United States of America.
"Fortunately, our intelligent sources found a vast number of scientists with intact Eden Apples hiding in Melbourne, Australia. The Victorian state of Australia used to be one of the homelands for Sunnyside Labs. They must have thought of rebuilding their foundations there. Your mission is to collect all the Eden Apples and bring them back here safely to us. We don't exactly have a deadline of when they need to be…"
Wolf was suddenly spacing out. In fact, he could hear the noises droning into meaningfulness. He didn't know why at first. But the word 'Melbourne' was spinning around him. It rang in his head, drowning out everything around him, visibly and audibly. Only except that small whisper in the back of his mind starting to return into his ears.
"Wolf?"
"Wolf?"
"It's the big bad wolf."
"It's the big bad wolf!"
"IT'S THE BIG BAD WOLF!"
The corner of his eyes darkened, making it hard to hear. A gibberish of whispers was becoming louder. Wolf realized that he was in hell again. All he could see was the map of Melbourne, turning into a bloody shade of red. White lines glitched around in his vision, appearing like static from a TV.
"Wolf?"
"Can you hear me?"
Memories flashed over him. Three memories with small words drawn around. One including being led to a raw beef steak in a locker, him nearly biting a child when they got in a fight and hiding under the table at the sound of shooting…
It was getting harder to breathe.
"Bud! Speak to me!"
"I'm right here, Wolf!"
Snake had to slap his tail over Wolf's eyes to wake him up. Those yellow eyes turned glassy again after a year of appearing fine. Fortunately, it didn't take long for Wolf to feel his grip back on reality.
The first thing he noticed was his body trembling.
The second thing was his open mouth, panting rapidly.
The third thing was everyone staring at him.
Buck looked unamused. "Do I have to repeat myself?"
"Hold on, Buck," growled Diane before turning to Wolf with a concerned look. "Wolf, what's wrong?"
Wolf remained still, trying to form a word. He tried moving. Move natural for once. But he was…scared. He couldn't move. His ears stopped twitching but they lowered down. His shoulders were drooping, matching his hunched back. He could only feel dread washing over him. Snake was still holding his hand. The rest of his friends shared his worry. But to Wolf, they appeared weirded out.
Trying to mitigate the awful feeling in his stomach, Wolf forced a smile. "Nothing! Nothing at all!"
Diane raised an eyebrow "OK?"
"Is there something wrong with this…place?" asked Webs, pointing to the screen.
Wolf had no idea how to get out of this. "Well…it's just that…"
Snake sighed, patting Wolf on the chest. He knew that his best friend made a promise not to tell anyone about their origin story. However, Snake could see Wolf possibly going into a meltdown and it wasn't worth making Wolf a fool of himself due to the reminders of his previous life.
The life they had in Melbourne.
"WE grew up there before we formed the Bad Guys," admitted Snake.
There was a collective gasp from Shark, Webs and Piranha.
"Wait a sec," said Piranha. "That would mean I'm not the only non-American…what are you two? Does that mean you're both originally…?"
He was uncomfortable yet Wolf hated staying silent. "My family DID come from America. My father just migrated over to Melbourne long, long ago. I don't…consider myself 'Australian'. I'm not native there."
Snake gulped. Much like Wolf, he was apprehensive. "I…prefer not to talk about it."
Shark looked upset. "Aww, you two. I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been not easy back there."
Wolf wanted to point out that his background was different, but he didn't want to be ungrateful. "You can say that."
Snake snorted, looking away. Shark was trying to cheer them up, but he wasn't in the mood.
"Wolf, Snake," said Buck monotonously. "Your files don't say you grew up in Australia before."
"Why would we share everything?" snapped Snake. "It's just a title for a country anyway!"
"Is there anything we can do?" asked Diane. "I can change the mission."
The fox knew that Wolf would be uncomfortable revisiting Melbourne. She knew his past, even if the full story wasn't explained yet. It would be bad enough if she said too much since he would be angry at her. Not after they were able to build trust to hide this secret. And right at this time when she thought things would look up for them-!
"No, no!" said Wolf with an anxious grin. "It's fine. Totally fine!"
"You're sure?" asked Piranha.
Wolf forced a faux sly grin, hiding his anxiety. "You know what they say? It's always great to go back to the good old days. I bet it's not the same as before."
Snake frowned, more on the defense. "Hope so. But under one condition! We don't come near any school, college or university grounds! These are the places we don't prefer to be around."
"Why's that?" asked Webs.
Snake gave her a glare. Webs immediately looked away, feeling foolish.
Buck appeared to relax, seeing reason in this. "Suit yourself. I doubt that the scientists would go near kids! And there's nothing to worry about since you can walk around all you want in your free time. As we cannot track them from here, your expertise is needed to locate them and take back the Eden Apples by any means necessary. My suggestion is for you to blend in with the crowd, so that would make you feel safe."
Wolf had a thought about it. Melbourne wasn't really kind to him before as a child. He immediately thought it was unsafe.
But…if LA could change, then that means that city could. The world was still evolving and he did leave a good mark on it. Not to mention that people were more open and receptive to others. While he didn't want to take the risk, there was no point holding back. Just like when he tried being reclusive until meeting Diane.
Maybe Melbourne might have gone over its biases.
He could only hope so, smiling wearily. "Alright then. I can vibe with that."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" said Snake, still tense. "Let's pause right there. Do we really want to go to Australia?"
"Why not?" asked Buck. "It's a great place to get ice coffee."
"You have no idea," hissed Snake. "When you live there, it's a barren wasteland consisting of everything trying to kill you! Trust me!"
It barely did anything to divert his friends' considerations. At least it got Wolf chuckling a little, starting to feel better from hearing his sweetheart rambling.
"I thought that you would be the one trying to kill everything, sweetheart," muttered Wolf, his smile becoming more genuine.
"Not just me!" insisted Snake desperately. "It has all the dangerous wildlife and spikey fauna! You have dingoes, crocodiles, drop bears, kangaroos! And right there, you have people who are full-on, hairy hunks carrying a knife 24/7! The second they see you as prey, they won't hesitate to tackle you to the ground and tear your jaw right open! They will utterly chew you up!"
All he met were blank stares from the Bad Guys. It sounded more like he was making these up to avoid going to Melbourne.
"Did you lot EVER hear anything about it? Have you listened to the 'Come to Australia' song?! It's 100% true!"
But Snake never used the internet for YouTube videos before. That logic was thrown against him.
"...I heard that it has a diverse and multicultural population," said Shark, quietly as a mouse.
"There are a lot of urban city lovers," mumbled Webs, twirling her braid ponytail.
"Hornet told me that he thought it's where there are less civil wars between species," said Piranha. "And Snake, I know how to deal with wild animals and tough guys like us!"
Everybody stared at the meek Diane.
"Don't look at me!" squeaked the fox. "Worst case scenario, they will lock me in a cage for being a pest in the country!"
"You're listing down all Australian stereotypes, hypocrite," deadpanned Buck.
Snake sighed. "Fine. But still on my condition."
"Deal."
"OK, sweetheart," giggled Wolf, patting Snake on the head. "You don't need to go that far. I'll admit, Australia isn't too bad. You got a bit racist yourself."
The reptile nearly rolled his eyes, but what stopped him was hearing the canine laugh. Wolf was already feeling better after his small breakdown. To Snake, hearing his laugh was soothing. A bit to the point where Snake could shrug off any seriousness.
"Fine, sorry for talking too much," grumbled Snake grumpily.
"So what now?" asked Shark. "Are we going to fly over to Melbourne now?"
"Not like this," said Buck, gesturing to their outfits. "What you need is some sort of disguise. Now, granted with your appearances, you can blend in with other animals, though we like taking extra measures. Especially since Wolf and Snake might want to remain anonymous. First, to cover up your identities, you'll be called 'Shadow Squad G'!"
Diane raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that derivative?"
"No, but it sounds cool that you would have a logo above you!"
Wolf looked up. He even glanced at the readers to see if they could see it through the text. "I don't see anything?"
"We have to use that name so that no one will suspect it's really us?" asked Piranha.
"It's the safest way without the Australian government doing face surgery," said Buck. "Diane will leave ou, but you'll all have to work together for this. In addition to your cover-up name, you need some more clothes to not tip off the scientists hiding in the city. And some sick looks."
Hopping off the podium, he snapped his fingers and the elevator platform took them upwards to the next level. Almost everybody except Buck was in amazement to see what this floor had in store.
It resembled a superhero's lair due to the hundreds of glass displays showing different kinds of armor and outfits. All categorized for different roles, tasks and environments. It was practically a fashion museum. From goth punk to modern black-ops to urban streetwear to even space opera outfits. And if the picture was blurry, then it would be a neat pattern of colorful circles that stood out from the dull dark background. Buck had the full package.
One could imagine Shark's childlike glee of seeing so many clothes.
"Oh my goodness!" he squealed, jumping up and down. "How much did you get?"
Buck smirked. "Some are custom-made."
"These will be our super suits?" asked Piranha, his eyes sparkling from the pretty colors.
"Not just super suits," said Buck, winking. "It can be any style. Take the classic military look or the common criminal look or…being yourself! Each fitted with the latest technology to withstand physical force. They can even withstand TNT!"
"This is so cool!" said Shark, jumping up and down. "I want to try them all!"
Webs was already having a hard time staying on Shark's shoulder, laughing from his excitement. "Calm down there, buddy. Breathe and decide."
"But I don't want to decide now!" said Shark, clapping his hands. "I want all!"
"Take as much time needed," said Diane, grinning and sharing his enthusiasm. "It took me a while as well to find this outfit in here."
"I think I might know what I want to wear," said Wolf with a smirk.
"The same suit as always?" snarked Snake.
"Nah, I'll go with formal casual. At least I don't lose that essence of me before I go into hiding."
Snake huffed. "I'm not so into fashion, so I'm gonna pick random."
"You can pick anything for your liking," clarified Buck. "They all come in different sizes and surprisingly can be packed in a small pile!"
"Excelente!" shouted Piranha. "I'm sold!"
"And…" The bull snapped his fingers and like a wave washing over him, all the gold colors of his outfit turned purple. "...they can change color to your liking!"
"Awesome!" barked Wolf.
"...now that's actually cool," admitted Snake.
"Glad they have that option," said Diane.
Shark was already bouncing off the walls, coming too close to Buck with a large, goofy grin. "I will KILL for you, Buck Thunders."
"Whoa, dial it back," said Buck and Webs in amusement.
AN: I know that this is gonna be more wilder and colorful, though I thought it might be fitting as a potential sequel story. I'll admit, I even took inspiration from the art style of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish to form the new outfits and motifs in the narrative. For an early preview of their new outfits, check on my DeviantArt to see them in style.
You might notice at the start of the chapter there's a news segment for the vocalists of 18 Years 'Till Gone. This will be what you'll be seeing for each day/act in the story. They fill in Tiffany's role due to the Bad Guys going to another country. Once again, their show takes inspiration from the idol singers of Splatoon presenting daily news. However, the hint is that what they present is more than just spectacle and even serves as the ordinary reader's perspective of in-universe events. Just wait until they catch word about the Bad Guys.
We have a lot of references to Arcane here. The underground base for the International League of Heroes is based on Zaun with some cyberpunk elements. While we might not explore much of it, it feels congruent to the story's tone. Additionally, Wolf suddenly zoning out is a reference to Jinx's hallucinations.
It's not gonna be pretty and it'll be hard for both Wolf and Snake. Exploring through Melbourne is something I really want to do. PROPERLY this time. There's a sense of an Australian spirit with this story, even linking to Aaron Blabey's nationality. While not exactly in the city he is close to, I applied my experience in Melbourne for a whole new narrative.
The switch of having Wolf and Snake originally Australian is an interesting case; maybe it's due to their voices nearly sounding like they could carry the accent. I'm more than happy to have them remaining Americans, but I want to explore further into what could be their potential pasts in another world.
But a reminder that some of the places in Melbourne are fictional.
So get excited, 'cause there's a lot to explore in Melbourne! It's much more layered than you would think.
Buck Thunders is actually a character from the book series and in the short amount of time he has, he ends up being an interesting character. Even entertaining as well! There have been a few switches, but I think it ties neatly with his book counterpart. Even Webs share her book counterpart's suspicion towards the guy. Buck Thunders could be said to be the Amanda Waller to the International League of Heroes. To suit his voice, I imagine that he would be voiced by Jason Lashea from Helluva Boss.
What do you all think of this chapter so far? What are your thoughts on exploring through the underground base and the promise to visit Melbourne? Let me know in your review. Thank you for reading this chapter! If you enjoy this story so far, be sure to favorite or follow. Constructive criticism is appreciated, but if any flames, then it's down the drain.
Until next time, keep on rocking!