Chapter 18: Mystery of Darkness

A spooky night in Crown City. The entire city was setting up to settle in for the night. A couple of people, a Caucasian man and an African-American woman, were preparing to close down their company for the night. "You know, I'm never sure if closing for the night is a good thing or a bad thing." The man said. "It's a good thing for me. I can finally get some sleep for the weekend." The woman said. "Well, you best not get too much sleep. We've got a lot of catching up to do with each other. Especially with the kids later." The man said, revealing them to be married to each other. "If there hopefully is a later." The woman said, getting seductive with her husband. They both snickered before they started kissing passionately.

Suddenly, there was a strange howl in the air, interrupting their moment. "What was that?" The woman asked. "Maybe it was a wolf." The man said. "I don't think wolves would ever come into Crown City." The woman said. "Then, maybe it was the wind." The man guessed. Suddenly, there was a strange glow inside the building. "Uh, I don't think the wind does something like that." The woman said, pointing to the glow with worry. Suddenly, a spooky hooded ghost creature with a skull face and chains flew out of the building, scaring the couple. The ghost creature flew into an old Black GAZ-21 Volga, seemingly possessing it and drove off. The couple screamed before running off into the city.


(Intro)


Meanwhile, in the scrapyard, Russell was watching a scary movie on the TV. But truth be told, he was feeling bored. "I wonder how Bee and the others are doing." He said, letting out a sigh. Just then, Hank ran up, almost out of breath. "Turn the channel to the News! Hurry!" She exclaimed. "Why, Hank? What's wrong?" Russell asked. "Just do it!" Hank exclaimed. Russell turned the channel to the News as a report came in. "And another report came in about a couple being scared by a weird-looking ghost and then driving off in a Black Volga." The reporter said, standing with the couple who was scared by the ghost. "It was awful! It just flew right out of our company building and flew right into that Volga!" The woman cried. "And it just drove off before we took off screaming." The man said. "A ghost and a Black Volga?" Russell asked. "It's strange. That ghost just started appearing all over Crown City for the last few nights now. I just recently saw it in a vision." Hank said. "But Team Bee and the Nebula Rangers are out dealing with Scuzzard. And I doubt they'll be able to make it back in time." Russell said. "Then what're we going to do?" Hank asked. Russell thought about it until he thought of an idea. "Then we'll have to investigate this mystery all by ourselves." He said. Hank nodded in agreement.

Later, after sneaking out of the scrapyard, Russell and Hank rode their bikes all the way down to Crown City. As they arrived at the company building, they looked around for anything out of the ordinary. "What are we looking for, Rusty?" Hank asked. "Well, I learned from watching a certain cartoon, that if we investigate the scene of the crime, we might be able to find some clues to the ghost." Russell said. Hank looked around the building's entrance, but found nothing. "Exactly what kind of clues are we looking for?" She asked. "Something like this." Russell said, looking at the street. Hank turned around and saw what Russell had found. Tire tracks on the pavement. "Tracks?" She asked in surprise. "The ghost must've been in a hurry to get away. The tires were probably scraped along the street as it escaped. I reckon if we follow the tracks, we'll find the vehicle." Russell explained. "Now that's a good idea. But even if we follow the tracks, they always tend to disappear when the tires regain traction." Hank said.

"Perhaps we can help with that." A voice said. Russell and Hank turned around and saw Solaris and Skull. "Solaris. Skull." Russell said in surprise. "What are you doing here?" Hank asked, having already known their existence and were friends of Russell through her visions. "We heard about the ghost appearance happening in your city and sensed that there must be something else going on." Skull explained. "So, if you kids are okay with it, we can help you solve this mystery." Solaris said. "It's okay with us. And your timing couldn't be better." Russell said. "Think you 2 can track these tire tracks?" Hank asked, pointing to the tire tracks. "We sure can." Solaris said. "We have quite the excellent sense of smell." Skull said. They sniffed the tracks and picked up the scent. "We got it." Solaris said. "Just follow us." Skull said as they followed the smell with Russell and Hank following them. Unknown to them, a strange figure was watching them from the company building's rooftop.

Later, Russell, Hank, Solaris and Skull followed the scent to under a freeway bridge. "Well, this is where the trail ends." Solaris said. "Under a freeway bridge?" Hank asked in confusion. "Not everything is what it seems, Hank. I have a feeling our culprit's lurking around here somewhere." Russell said. "He's right. Solaris and I can smell it. And it's all too familiar." Skull said. Suddenly, there was a familiar glow appeared behind a fence. "Uh, guys? I think I found the source of the glow." Hank said with worry. Suddenly, the skull-faced ghost appeared through the fence and let out a terrifying shriek. Russell, Hank, and even Solaris and Skull screamed in fright. "It's the ghost!" Hank cried. They ran for their lives as the ghost chased after them. "It's gaining on us!" Hank cried. "Solaris, Skull, can't you guys use any of your powers to stop that thing?" Russell asked. "We would! But we were taken by surprise!" Solaris cried. "I must admit, it even has me spooked! And we're part Darkness!" Skull exclaimed. "Quick! We can duck inside here." Russell said, spotting an empty building. They quickly ran inside, luckily with the door being unlocked and hid themselves.

But then, the ghost flew up to the door, turned the knob and opened it to scare its prey. But instead, it got a strange surprise. Russell and Hank were dressed up like veterinarians, with Solaris and Skull lying on an operating table. "You're late! Where have you been?! Tardiness is not looked on upon in our vet!" Russell exclaimed. "Doctor McPlank, we must hurry before this poor creature is lost to us forever!" Hank cried. "Right away, Nurse Henrietta! Quick take this thermometer and take its temperature!" Russell exclaimed, handing the ghost a thermometer, which the ghost then used to check Solaris' temperature. "Ugh! The temperature's sky high!" Hank cried. "This is no good! We have to get this creature to a better facility!" Russell exclaimed. "We better move fast!" Hank cried. "We'll take it from here! Clean up before locking up!" Russell exclaimed as he and Hank rolled Solaris and Skull away on the operating table. The ghost was sweeping up the floor. But then, it noticed that the kids and their creature were gone. Realizing it had been tricked, the ghost let out a frustrated shriek.


Later, after ducking behind another building, Russell, Hank, Solaris and Skull panted in relief as they got away. "Well, that was a close one." Russell said. "What luck we had, ducking inside a vet." Solaris said. "No kidding. It was pretty cool how we were able to pull off our getaway." Hank said. "We should've known." Skull said. "Known what?" Russell asked. "That ghost…it was no ordinary ghost. That was a Timelost Phantom." Skull said. "A what phantom?" Hank asked. "A Darkness creature from our world that has ghost-like traits." Solaris explained. "He's right. Lots of Darkness creatures have ghost-like appearances, others like giant worms, undead dragons, even haunted toys." Skull explained. "But how could a Darkness creature have gotten into our world?" Hank asked in confusion. "It is a bit weird. First, I meet Solaris and Skull before you learned of their existence through your visions, then Sundew the Ironvine Dragon, and now that Timelost Phantom." Russell said. "You're right. But maybe we should try connecting the dots later." Hank said. "You're right. We gotta find a way to stop that Phantom before it scares the entire city silly." Russell said. "Look!" Skull exclaimed. Russell and Hank looked behind them and saw the same Black Volga parked in the street. "That's the Black Volga the Phantom was driving in." Hank realized. "I didn't even know Timelost Phantoms could even drive." Solaris said in confusion. Just then, the Timelost Phantom flew inside the Black Volga and it drove off. "Hmm. I wonder where they're off to." Russell said.

Later, Solaris and Skull tracked the Black Volga's trail with Russell and Hank following behind. "This is strange." Skull said. "Yes. Very strange." Solaris said. "What's up, guys?" Hank asked. "We couldn't tell before, but these tracks have a very strange scent." Solaris said. "Yes. It doesn't smell like any Earth vehicle we've seen during our first weeks on Earth." Skull said. "A strange scented Black Volga that a Timelost Phantom knows how to drive." Russell said. "I seem to remember something about that Black Volga from my vision, but I don't remember what it is." Hank said. "Well, I guarantee that if we follow the scent, we just might put all our clues together." Solaris said. Unknown to them, the same figure from earlier had followed them as he jumped across the rooftops.

After a while of following the strange scent, Russell, Hank, Solaris and Skull arrived at the location. "It looks like the scent has led us here." Solaris said. The location was revealed to be a factory. "I know this factory. It used to be a major soda bottling factory. But then, several years ago, a greedy employee, feeling that he wasn't getting paid enough, spilled a large amount of poison into the bottling vat and completely tainted the entire project. At the time, another employee saw what he did and reported him to the boss and the police. The greedy employee was fired and arrested, but the factory still got shut down. Luckily, since the factory used to be a major success, the company moved to a bigger factory outside the city." Hank explained. "So, why would a Darkness creature have anything to do with an abandoned factory?" Russell asked. "Who knows. But it has to be stopped." Solaris said. "Wait a minute. What's this?" Skull asked, noticing something. Russell, Hank and Solaris saw what he found. The Black Volga's tire tracks. "Timelost Phantom must've driven the Black Volga inside the factory." Hank said. "But why would it do that?" Skull asked. "That's what we're gonna find out." Russell said.

As they walked in, they hid themselves as they discovered a very shocking discovery. The Timelost Phantom was working the bottling machines, bottling a strange liquid substance. "That Phantom's working the machines. But what exactly is it bottling?" Hank asked. "It looks like that stuff your friends call Energon. But it looks…corrupted somehow." Skull said. "Either way, we gotta stop it." Russell said. He, Hank, Solaris and Skull revealed themselves to confront the Phantom. "Alright, Phantom, you got one second to cease your plans and surrender." He warned. But as the Phantom saw them, it just snickered wickedly. "I don't like the sound of that laugh." Hank said with worry. Suddenly, a pair of headlights shined on them. They were coming from the Black Volga. "How can an Earth car be operating without a driver?" Skull asked in confusion. "That's because that Black Volga's no ordinary Black Volga." Russell said. Solaris and Skull were confused. "Why don't you show your face…Decepticon?" Russell demanded. The Black Volga dropped its headlights, revealing a Decepticon insignia on its grill. With its cover blown, the Black Volga transformed into a female Cybertronian themed like a gothic Transylvanian. "Very clever. I never expected a simple-minded human to figure me out." The Con said.


"So, this is a Decepticon." Solaris said. "Not exactly as good-looking as your Autobot friends." Skull said. "Who are you and what're you and the Phantom doing to this place?" Russell asked. "Let me check. Good thing I took Fixit's prisoner manifest before we left." Hank said. She pulled out Fixit's pad and pulled up the manifest, finding the perfect match for their Decepticon. "Here she is. Her name's Nightstream. She's a former Energon scientist who tried to create an Energon formula capable of turning other Cybertronians into mindless slaves." Hank explained. "That's right. My formula was completed and ready to be spread to every Cybertronian on Cybertron. But thanks to that rotten police force, I got locked up and placed on the Alchemor. And now I'm free to pick up where I left off. Luckily, this abandoned factory has just the machines I need to prepare my formula for transport. And when I find a way back to Cybertron, the entire planet will be mine." Nightstream explained. "That doesn't explain how you found that Timelost Phantom." Solaris said. "Oh, you mean my ghostly friend here? Simple. As I came into the city, it just appeared in front of me through some big hole in the air. We could tell right away as we were looking to cause trouble. So, we made a little deal. It helps me find a suitable spot to bottle my formula, and I help it scare off the filthy humans in this city." Nightstream explained. "Well, that's not gonna happen!" Solaris exclaimed. "Yeah! That Phantom's going back to where it belongs!" Skull exclaimed. "And you're going back into stasis, Con!" Russell exclaimed. "Not today, fleshy. Go get them, Phantom!" Nightstream ordered. Timelost Phantom flew up and fired a soundwave attack from its shriek, but Russell and Hank moved out of the way as they dodged the attack.

"So, that's how you want to play? Fine! Solaris, Skull, sick him!" Russell exclaimed. "On it, bud!" Solaris exclaimed as he and Skull leapt into the air. Together, they each fired a beam of energy from their mouths. Light from Solaris and darkness from Skull. "Swing your chains, Phantom!" Nightstream ordered. Phantom grabbed its chain and spun it in a fast circle, blocking the beams. "No way!" Solaris exclaimed in shock. "That's some defense!" Skull exclaimed. "Now ensnare that beast!" Nightstream ordered. Phantom tossed its chains, ensnaring Solaris and Skull's legs and necks. "Solaris!" Russell cried. "Skull!" Hank cried. "Now toss them back down!" Nightstream ordered. Phantom swung his chains, throwing Solaris and Skull back down at the ground hard, hurting them badly. "Solaris, Skull, you guys okay?" Russell asked in concern as he and Hank ran up to them. "We'll be alright." Solaris said. "Just our pride is hurt." Skull said. "That's not the only thing getting hurt. Let's wrap this up with a Dark Fire, Phantom." Nightstream ordered. Phantom formed a ball of Dark Fire in between its hands and prepared to throw it. Russell, Hank, Solaris and Skull grew worried, thinking this was it.

Suddenly, before Timelost Phantom could throw the Dark Fire, a giant 2-headed dragon flew in and fired a dark fire blast from its mouths and knocked it down. "What the?!" Nightstream exclaimed in shock. The dragon landed in between the 2 teams as it snarled at the Decepticon. "What is that?" Hank asked, stunned to see it. "It's a Bonerattle Dragon, a Terror Dragon from the Darkness Realm." Skull said in surprise. "But what's it doing here? And helping us?" Russell asked. "They're with me." A voice said. Russell, Hank, Solaris and Skull turned around to see the mysterious man walking up, wearing a strange dark purple glove. "Who's that?" Hank asked. "Not sure. But I sense something strange about him." Solaris said. The man took off his hood, unveiling himself to be an elderly African-American man. "That Timelost Phantom has followed your orders long enough. It's time to send him home." He said. "I think not, Grandpa. Let's give it to him, Phantom." Nightstream ordered. Timelost Phantom recovered and threw its chains, ensnaring the Bonerattle Dragon's necks. "Big mistake. Do it, boys." The man said, motioning his gloved hand. Just then, the Bonerattle Dragon grabbed the chains in their mouths and started swinging it around, untangling the chains from around their necks. "What're you doing, Phantom?! Don't let that oversized reptile throw you around!" Nightstream exclaimed. "You can let go now." The man said. The Bonerattle Dragon let go of the chains and sent Phantom flying. As it hit the wall, Timelost Phantom disappeared. Nightstream was both shocked and angry by what happened. "Now that was your last mistake. I swear, I will hunt you down and slaughter you if it's the last thing I do!" She exclaimed. "That's not gonna happen, Nightstream." Russell said as he, Hank, Solaris and Skull walked up next to the man and his Bonerattle Dragon. "You think your scary monsters can stop me?! I'm a Decepticon!" Nightstream exclaimed. "Maybe. But you don't know the powers of these creatures. Show her, guys." Hank said. "With pleasure." Solaris said as he and Skull prepared to attack. "Doomsday, Gravestone, give our friends a little assistance." The man said. The Bonerattle Dragon, named Doomsday and Gravestone, growled in agreement. Solaris and Skull fired their double beam blast while Doomsday and Gravestone fired their dark fire blast. Both attacks hit Nightstream hard and pushed her into the back wall, knocking her down on impact. She tried to get back up, but she fell unconscious from all the damage.

Later, Russell, Hank, Solaris and Skull stood outside as the man looked upon Doomsday and Gravestone. "Thank you for all your help, my dear old friend." The man said, petting both Doomsday and Gravestone's heads. "Until we meet again." He motioned his hand as Doomsday and Gravestone disappeared. "That's amazing." Russell said in awe. "No kidding." Hank said. "That's why we sensed something strange about this human." Solaris said. "Yes. He's a Duel Master." Skull said. "Not just any Duel Master, my hybrid friend. I'm one of the Duel Masters. My name is Kerrel McCray, Master of Darkness." The man, named Kerrel, introduced as he turned around. "A Duel Master?" Hank asked in confusion. "That's a person who's specially trained to summon creatures like Solaris and Skull from their home dimension." Russell explained. "But we thought you and the other old Masters died long ago." Skull said. "That's a story for another time. Right now, I've been watching you, young Russell. I've seen how much kindness you've put into Solaris and Skull here. Especially with the help of your friend Hank here." Kerrel explained. Russell, Hank, Solaris and Skull were shocked by that. "You've been watching us?" Hank asked. "Yes, indeed. In fact, I was really impressed with how well you 3 were able to work together tonight. And I've seen how well your friend was able to tame that Ironvine Dragon back at the river. In fact, I would like to train you kids to become Duel Masters like me." Kerrel said as he offers them. Russell and Hank were stunned by this offer. "Your training will help strengthen your bond with Solaris and Skull, along with any other creatures you and your teammates should meet on your journey. And may you also consider bringing your friend to train too? But only in secret." Kerrel said. Russell and Hank looked at each other and nodded. "We would be honored to train with you." Russell said as he and Hank bowed to Kerrel.

Meanwhile, as morning broke over the scrapyard, after Team Bee and the Nebula Rangers returned with their Decepticon prisoner Scuzzard, everyone was wondering where Russell and Hank had gone off to. "This is bad. Why would Russell and Hank go off on their own in the middle of the night like that?" Katie asked with worry. "I don't know, honey. But I hope they'll come right back." Denny said. "But why would they just go off in the middle of the night?" Arcee asked. "Enough questions. We're going out there to find them. Right now." Bumblebee said. But before anyone could move, there was a knock on the front gate. As Denny opened the gate, Russell and Hank were standing there with Solaris and Skull, and Nightstream lying unconscious right beside them. "Where have you 2 been?" Bumblebee asked as he and the rest of the team stared in surprise. "It's quite the story." Russell said as he and Hank smiled at each other. "And, uh…who's this two-headed lion friend of yours?" Miko asked, looking at Solaris and Skull. "Oh, yeah. We're gonna tell you guys a bit later, but they helped us in catching this Con." Russell said, patting Solaris and Skull's heads.

Wow! Wasn't that an amazing Halloween chapter?! A Darkness creature known as the Timelost Phantom has been causing trouble in Crown City. Russell, Hank, Solaris and Skull go to investigate all by themselves while Team Bee and the Nebula Guardians were away on a different mission. As they got closer into the mystery, they found that the Timelost Phantom has been working with a Decepticon, Nightstream. It looked hopeless as Timelost Phantom defeated Solaris and Skull, but then, an ancient Duel Master and his Bonerattle Dragon appeared and helped them. Timelost Phantom was sent back to its own realm and Nightstream was defeated. But what kind of Kaijudo training will Master Kerrel put Russell, Hank and Octavia through? Are there other creatures working with other Decepticons? Leave a review if you'd like.