Chapter 8:
Operation:
Duke's POV:
We were in New York, fighting Evox's Army Ants. Most of us were using NERF Guns while Brightmore was using one of his creatures, Raf was using his Maximal powers, and Twilight was using her magic. The Army Ants were everywhere and one man appears.
"Hello Duke."
"Do I know you," I asked.
"Surely you recognise your old friend, Blackthorne Shore."
"That's... that's not possible."
"Army Ants, TEAR THEM APART!"
The Army Ants kept coming back, but then I saw a truck and decided to use it to run over them. My team got out of the way.
"Always trust a vehicle," says Miko, "unless it has a purple face on it."
The Army Ants were then retreating.
"Fight back, you cowards!" Blackthorne then looked at me. "This isn't over, Duke!" He fired his blaster, but he missed and hit a civilian.
I went over to the man. "This man needs help!" I then looked and saw Blackthorne left. Could it really be him?
Flashback:
I have arrived at the secret HQ of Unit: E.
"Sergeant Conrad Hauser," says Director Flagg.
"A pleasure to meet you, Sir," I said, "and please, call me Duke."
"Tell me, was it hard to leave your team?"
"It was, but they threw a party for me. Snake-Eyes gave a moving speach. I'd say you should've heard it, but that would be hard."
"We are very pleased to have one of the people who beat Cobra here. Come with me."
...
We entered a room. "Duke, meet the first member of your team, Nigel Brightmore."
"Hello," says Brightmore.
Brightmore and I then shook hands.
"Brightmore, Duke will be leading your team."
"I am familiar with your experience," says Brightmore.
"So, what do you do," I asked.
"Ra-Ku, Seeker of Lightning!" Then he summoned a strange creature from out of no where. "As you can see, I have skills."
Present:
We were taking the civilian to the hospital.
"His name is Cavity Sam," says Dr. Robertson.
"And I thought Twilight Sparkle was a weird name," says Miko.
"I'm right here," says Twilight.
"Duke," says Brightmore, "could that really be..."
"I don't know," says Duke.
"Who is that guy," asks Jack.
"That's not important," says Dr. Robertson.
I could tell that Jack, Miko, and Raf were getting suspicious. And I could tell that they noticed Twilight looked scared.
...
We were at the hospital. The doctor came.
"Hello, my name is Dr. Edwin Steen," the doctor said.
"Hello, my name is..."
"I know all about you, Duke," he said, "it's an honor. I would never have had the guts to take on Cobra Commander."
"Yeah, he was nightmare."
"That and I'm a pacifist," he said, "I don't believe in fighting."
"Sounds boring," says Miko.
"Maybe, but it's how I prefer."
"I respect that," says Duke, "now, this man was injured during a... problem."
"I'll take a look."
"I just can't believe he's back," says Dr. Robertson."
Flashback:
Brightmore and I were walking down the halls.
"Glad I could run into you two," says Director Flagg, "this is our benefactor, Blackthorne Shaw."
"Nice to meet you, Duke."
"And this is another new addition, Dr. Don Robertson."
"Hi."
"So, what's his special ability," asks Brightmore.
"Well, I am a scientist," he said, "and I used to turn into a large monster named Multi-Farious."
"Welcome to the New Normal," I said.
"Another question," says Brightmore, "what kind of name is Blackthorne."
"We all have our things."
"I have a mission for you three," says Director Flagg, "strange things have been going on at Canterlot High and I would like you to investigate."
"On it, Sir." As we were walking, I bumped into a man with a green mask.
"Hey, watch it," he said.
"Sorry," I said.
"You better be," he said, "bump into me again and I'll report you!"
"Nice guy," I said.
Present:
I was in the truck, using the monitor. If Blackthorne is back and if he's working with Evox, then we are in big trouble.
Then there was a knock on the door. I opened and it was Dr. Stene.
"How is the man," I asked.
"I'm afraid we may have to operate."
"I see. I can't help but feel this is my fault."
"Sir, don't blame yourself, you took a man you don't even know to the hospital. I see a good man."
"Thank you." I then looked at the monitor and realised something. "Someone's coming."
...
I showed my team and we all saw Blackthorne, Dr. Badvibes, and the Army Ants.
"They're all working together," says Jack.
"I'm not surprised Badvibes would be affiliated with Evox," says Dr. Robertson.
"We have to leave the hospital," I said, "we're the one they're after."
"Well, let's go," says Miko.
"There's just one problem," says Raf.
The hospital was surrounded by Army Ants.
"Scrap," says Jack.
"What," asks Twilight.
"It's an Autobot thing," says Miko.
"We may have a problem," I said.
Flashback:
We were at Canterlot High. It was... weird. Everyone had the strangest skin color and the oddest names.
"Let's look around," I said, "split up."
We each asked the students and teachers. They all acted like they knew nothing. But I could tell they were hiding something. Then we heard a scream. Everyone was running. I grabbed a student.
"Young Lady, what's going on," I asked.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is running from those, hippo monsters. They're hungry! Hungry!" She then ran.
"Brightmore, Dr. Robertson, looks like we're dealing with Hungry, Hungry Hippos."
Present:
My team and I stepped outside and we faced Blackthorne, Badvibes, and the Army Ants.
"We would like you to surrender," says Blackthorne.
"Leave the area," I said, "there are sick and injurred people here."
"And I think some might be expecting," says Miko.
"Too bad we don't care," says Badvibes.
"Alright," I said, "I'll take Blackthorne, Dr. Robertson, you can have Badvibes, the rest can squash the bugs. Unit: E, let's play rough!"
Flashback:
They were large mutant hippoes that were eating everything in sight. Dr. Robertson and I were getting civilians to a safe place while Brightmore summoned one of his creatures to fight them.
"Where do you think they came from," I asked.
"I'm not sure," Dr. Robertson said.
We managed to get the hippoes contained, but then I saw something, a purple skinned girl was being taken into a truck. The hippoes were a distraction.
Present:
I took on Blackthorne one on one. His suit had powerful weapons and he was stronger.
"Like the suit," he said, "I made it myself."
"So, you're working for Evox?"
"How can I not? After all, he is a powerful virus."
"He's something that has to be destroyed."
"Would you really destroy something sentient?"
We continued the fight. I wasn't sure how I was going to win. Blackthorne then had me pinned to the ground.
"This is the end, Duke!"
Then something hit him from behind. It was Dr. Steen, using a NERF blaster. "A weakspot on the back was pretty dumb," he said.
"I thought you didn't believe in violence," I said.
"I don't, but you were in trouble."
"Thank you."
Then Blackthorne, Badvibes, and the Army Ants all disappeared.
"Hey, I was kicking butt," says Miko.
"Don't worry," I said, "I think we'll get another chance."
Flashback:
Brightmore, Dr. Robertson, and I snuck into a lab where we saw Blackthorne and the purple girl. She was restrained.
"I was hoping to get the whole group, but I suppose I'll just have to settle for your powers."
"You won't get away with..."
The purple girl was screaming in pain.
"Shaw, what is this," I asked.
"This isn't what it looks like," he said.
"It looks like you're trying to torture that girl."
"Listen, I can explain..."
Brightmore's creature then freed the girl and she used some kind of telekinesis to throw Blackthorne to a wall. Dr. Robertson and I then tied Blackthorne down.
"Let's report him to the Director," I said.
Present:
We were at the hospital. Twilight was explaining the story to Jack, Miko, and Raf. Then Dr. Steen and Cavity Sam arrived.
"I managed to save him," says Dr. Steen.
"Thank you for getting me here," says Cavity Sam.
"That's what we do," I said.
Cavity Sam and I then shook hands.
Blackthorne's POV
Dr. Badvibes and I were faced with our boss, Evox.
"You fools," he said, "you were supposed to obtain the next piece I need to bring back the MASS device."
"Sir, I was just..."
Evox then shocked me.
"Revenge is a waste of time! Remember that!"
Badvibes and I then left.
In case you didn't know, Dr. Steen is Lifeline. In the next chapter, Unit: E will save Miko's Grandmother's house from Mr. Monopoly.