Chapter 36: The Society of Ultimate Villainy:
Stretch Monster's POV:
First, I'll tell you how we got the Choten. After his last plan failed, he escaped into this other dimension, into their 'Nature Civilization.' He finally made it back to our world, and that's where he met us.
"Who are you two," he asks.
"We're a couple of businessmen," says Cobra Commander, "you may know me as Adam DeCobray, but you can call me Cobra Commander, and this is Jonathan Rook."
"But some know me as," I then changed, "Stretch Monster."
"So, two well-known businessmen are secretly supervillains?"
"I prefer to think of us as visionaries," says Cobra Commander, "and we would like to share our vision with you."
And now we're in the present. Duke was our prisoner, but Choten and I weren't too sure about keeping him.
"He might escape and tell Unit: E where our secret hideout is," I said.
"Like I said," says Cobra Commander, "he might be a use to us."
"While you plan to take advantage of him," says Choten, "he might take advantage of us."
"I have no time for this," says Cobra Commander, "I have to go."
"You mean that secret thing you're always doing," I asked.
"Where do you keep going," asks Choten.
Cobra Commander then grabs him by the neck.
"If you kill me, you may have to find a replacement."
Cobra Commander then let's go. "What I do is none of your business and if you are paranoid with Unit: E, don't be. We have one advantage over them."
"And what is that," I asked.
"They are idiots."
Brightmore's POV:
We were all still waiting for Duke. He hasn't come beck yet. One loohked at the antics of the uhthers and all one can seay is that they aaare all idiots.
"Where is he," asks Mikoh.
"Maybe the Society have him," suggests Twilight.
"Then we have to find them," says Jack.
"But we don't know where the Society is," says Raf.
"Well, Cobra Commander likes snakes," says Miko, "maybe he's in a fake snake themed temple."
"I'll see if the Internet can give me something," says Dr. Robertsohn, "how hard could it be to find a man who looks like he has a mirror for a face."
Stretch Monster's POV:
So, it's just me, the Choten, and our prisoner.
"I still say we should kill him," says Choten.
"Why should we just do what Blank Face says," I asked.
"He is your boss," says Duke.
"You stay out of this," I said, "and he is not our boss!"
"Really, because you've been following his orders," says Duke.
"He's trying to get in our heads," says Choten, "just ignore him."
I then started thinking. Maybe he has a point.
Brightmore's POV:
While Dr. Robertsohn was ohn the computah, the rest of us were loohking for Duke. We tried the Criminal Underworld, but noh one knows anything about an alliance between Cobrah Commandah, Stretch Monstah, and the Choten. Uhthah Unit: E teams tried to be of assistance find him, but noh one has seen anything. We tried different buildings Cobrah has owned. But bally all Absolutely top hole - I have to say.
"Where could they be," asks Steel.
"I guess it really is hard to find a man who looks like he has a mirror for a face," says Twilight.
Roadblock then hits something.
"Roadblock, you could hurt your hand," Jack says.
"I'd break every bone I have if it means we'll get Duke back!"
"We're all worried too," says Twilight, "but there are better ways to find him."
"I just had a thought," Jack says, "there is someone who would know where to find that snake."
"I'm terribly sorry but whoh," One asked.
"The mind behind Cobra."
Stretch Monster's POV:
We were at our hideout, and I was still thinking about our relationship with Cobra Commander. I know the word 'Commander' is in his name, but last time I checked, I was not a Cobra agent. So, why do I do as he commands? After all, he is just a man, and I am a monster... a literal monster. I then turned on the TV. It was a movie about a bad guy team.
"I say we should take over," says one of the characters, "I'm tired of being a goon!"
"That's not a bad idea."
. . .
I entered the room with the Choten and Duke.
"I just had an idea," I said.
"Are you going to share this brainchild," asks the Choten.
"Why don't we take over?"
"That... actually is a good idea. But who would be in charge?"
"Well, I was thinking me."
"You?"
"Why not? The mutiny was my idea."
"I think you would make an incompetent leader."
I then turned to my monster mode. "I suggest you apologize."
"Don't try to tempt me."
The Choten tries to summon one of his creatures, but I wrap my stretchy arms around him and start choking him.
"I hate to interrupt," says Duke, but shouldn't you focus on Cobra Commander?"
I then decided to let go.
Brightmore's POV:
We interrogated Mindbendah.
"Look, I don't know any of his secret hideouts. No one does. Not me, not Destro, he never even trusted Baroness. Then again, she never gives anyone a reason to trust her... except Destro. He was always weird."
"Soh, you, one's old bean, dane't knoh where to find them," One asked.
"No! I didn't even know he was putting together his own bad guy club. What do you guys call it?"
"The Society of Ultimate Villainy," says Steel.
"I would've gone with Iron Ring of the Coil," says Mindbender.
"Has Cobra Commander ever even given you a hint," I asked.
"He hints that he would kill us, does that help?"
"Let's just go," says Twilight, "Brainblender can't help."
"It's Mindbender, how would you feel if I called you Twilight Zone?"
We all left.
. . .
We met with Dr. Robertsohn, and he had news for us.
"There have been reports of sighting of a masked man that fits Cobra Commander's description, but he's usually running from something, like he's scared."
"His best friend's a giant snake," says Miko, "what could he be afraid of? A giant mongoose?"
"Now that you mention it," says Roadblock, "last time I checked, he had an illness. He was sick, but from what I've been learning from you guys, he's been pretty healthy."
"It seems our masked daaarrrling has some secrets," One said.
Stretch Monster's POV:
We found Cobra Commander in a bank vault.
"Hey Adam," I said.
"How did you two find me," he asks.
"All we had to do was ask your friend, Zartan. So, this bank is one of your hideouts."
The Choten closes the vault.
"What are you doing," asks Cobra Commander.
"We are renegotiating the terms of our partnership," says Choten.
"And it is going to be a partnership," I said.
"We want to make sure you're going to uphold your end of the bargain," says Choten.
"How about a new deal," says Cobra Commander, "open the door or I will kill you."
"I'm the only one who knows the code to open it," says Choten, "I changed it. By the way 'Hail Cobra Commander, may the Great Snake Live Forever' is not a great code."
"Perhaps you can persuade our friend to cooperate," says Cobra Commander.
"Better idea," I said, "no."
"You think you can turn against me," says Cobra Commander, "but you didn't think of one thing..."
"We know," says Choten, "you're the only one that can give us what we want.
"You always remind us of how much we need you," I said.
"But you need us," says Choten.
"What's your story," I asked.
Cobra Commander's watch then started beeping. "We don't have time for this nonsense!"
"Oh, I got all the time in the world," I said.
After some time, Cobra Commander started to crack.
"Fine! I'll admit it, I need you as much as you need me! But if you do not open that door, it is going to kill us! It is coming for me!"
"What," I asked.
"A demon."
"Please elaborate," says Choten.
"I had a terrible illness that could've killed me."
"You look good for a dying man," I said.
"I made a deal with this creature. And now he wants one thing in return, my soul! I have been running from this thing ever since!"
"It can sense me no matter where I am."
"So, you're afraid of this thing," says Choten.
"So, you're like a rabbit running from a stoat," I said.
"It will hunt us all..." We all heard something. "It's here. And now we can all die equally."
"I wouldn't worry about that," says Choten.
"I think we can handle this Sleepy Hollow reject," I said.
"We'll help you," says Choten, "but under one condition."
"You stop treating us like lackeys," I said.
"Do you really think you can defeat that thing?"
"Was that a yes," asks Choten.
"Very well."
"Great, let's go to work," I said.
"So, this thing can find you," says Choten.
"What if we use that," I suggested.
. . .
Cobra Commander is not standing there waiting for his predator. There's that sound again.
"It knows I'm here," says Cobra Commander.
"Then we are ready," says Choten.
The creature shows up.
"Wait," I said, "you're afraid of a blue ram?"
"That is no ordinary ram," says Cobra Commander.
I turned to my monster mode just as the ram was about to ram Cobra Commander, and punched it right to Squillace, who grabbed it. Choten then has Squillace go back to the Creature Realm with the Ram going with it.
"The Creature Realm won't hold it for long," says Cobra Commander, "we have to go!"
"We," asks Choten.
"Yes, we're partners now," says Cobra Commander.
"That's more like it," I said. We then all left.
. . .
We managed to beat that demon ram, but there was still one thing. Duke.
"So, what do we do with him," I asked.
"I believe I finally found that use," says Cobra Commander.
Duke's POV:
I was in Washington, getting ready for my new mission, to kill the President.
In the next chapter, the team will have to fight Duke.