Chapter 87: Potato:
Farmer's POV:
Ah was workin' awn maah garden. Ah was guh-rowin' some big greens for thuh state above-board. This year, ah'm finally goin' ta lick rogers! everhoo, ah the-yn noticed some weuhrd goo comin' ta thuh greens. Ah'm syhaw it's squat. Wait, is sumthin' ticklin' maah leg. Ah turn aroun' an...
Sunset's POV:
I walked into the room when Miko, Steel, and Roadblock were talking about something.
"Hey Sunset," says Miko, "we were just talking about our fears."
"Anything scares you," asks Steel.
"Nope," I said.
"Not even Metlar," says Roadblock.
"What's to be afraid of? He's not exactly around, is he?"
Then Jack came in. "Sorry to interrupt, but the Director wants us.
. . .
"You're needed at a farm in Kansas," says Director Flagg, "a farmer disappeared, mysteriously. Could be a creature."
"Then, let's go to the country," says Drake.
. . .
We were at the farm in Kansas.
"So, what can you tell us, Mrs..." Jack began.
"Puh-lanter. Mary puh-lanter. Everhoo, whe-yn ah gawt home, maah husband was missin'. Ya syhaw ya're detectives. Because thuh robot..."
"I'm a detective robot," says Steel.
"We'll find your husband," says Drake.
"I think I found him," says Miko, "and I might puke."
We take a look and... we all might puke. Except for Seel. Lucky him. The man was missing his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. I'd rather not get into more details.
. . .
"I'm deleting that from my memory," says Steel.
"Can you remove it mwah mwah sweetie all of ours," asks Brightmore.
"No... I... can't... do that," says Steel.
"What happened to him," asks Erika.
"I don't recall any creaTtue that can take a man's face," says Drake, "the whole head, maybe."
"What are we going to do," asks Raf.
"We're going to have to stay a while and investigate," says Jack, "looks like we're spending the night in a farm."
"You think Mrs. Planter will let me drive the tractor," asks Steel.
. . .
We all had dinner with Mrs. Planter.
"Mrs. Planter, you are some kind of cook," says Roadblock.
"Hooaah, thank ya," says Mrs. Planter.
I thought I saw a tentacle at the window. Probably my imagination.
. . .
It was late at night. I decided to walk out to look around. I saw that tentacle again. I then followed it and it led me to the garden. I looked around. Then that weird tentacle grabbed my leg. I tried to fight it off, but then Steel came.
"Steel, what are you doing here," I asked.
"The same as you," says Steel.
"You also saw that weird tentacle and decided to investigate?"
"Oh, I thought you were here to make sure the rooster doesn't crow too early..."
The tentacles then grabbed Steel and took him into the ground.
"STEEL!"
. . .
The next morning, I told everyone what happened to Steel.
"We have to go down there and get Steel back," says Jack.
"No need." We all look and see Steel was back. We all ran to him, but...
"Dude, what happened to your arms," asks Miko.
"I'm not sure. When I was taken underground, something was pulling my arms off. I tried to fight it, but... well, you can see who won."
"Did you mustah ah spiffing butchah at your opponent," asks Brightmore.
"I didn't get a chance to activate my night vision."
"We need to figure out what this thing is," says Jack.
"There is something I can tell you for sure," says Steel, "those weren't tentacles."
"What," I asked.
"They were some kind of roots."
"So, we're dealing with that weird singing plant from that one movie," asks Miko.
"We need to get down there," I said.
"I'll see if I can burrow down there," says Steel as he tries to transform to his beast mode but can't.
"I guess you're too incomplete," says Miko.
"First, I have to stay in beast mode," says Steel, "now I have to stay in robot mode. It's not easy being a Maximal."
. . .
We went underground. I tried to see if I can use my telepathy to find whatever it is.
"You sure you don't know what it is," asks Miko.
"If I ever find out, I'll let you know," says Drake.
"Hey guys," says Raf, "you notice this green stuff that's dripping down?"
"I have a feeling we shouldn't touch it," says Jack.
We just continued on our way.
. . .
"Whatever it is," I said, "it doesn't have a mind."
"Uh... guys," says Miko, "I think I might know what it is."
"Okay, what," asks Raf.
"That thing!"
We all turn around and see a giant potato. It has the farmer's missing face and Steel's arms.
"My arms," says Steel. The potato attacks us with its root. "Fine, but you will eventually return them!"
The potato then roars.
"Ra-Vu, Seekah of Lightning!" Ra-Vu comes and tries to fight the potato.
"We better get out of here," says Jack.
I froze. I kept staring at that... that... thing. Roadblock then picks me up and we leave.
. . .
"Well, now we know what we're dealing with," says Raf, "that goo must've mutated the potato into that..."
"Frankenspud," says Miko, "no wait, Wicked Wedge! Wait, Hater Tot! Forget it, let's just call him 'Mr. Potato Head'."
"Why is that the best one you can think of," asks Erica.
"Because now he looks like a head."
"Why's he collecting body parts," asks Roadblock.
"'Cause he's a monster," says Miko, "monsters always do things for no reason. Like going around killing random people. Roadblock, I have bad news for you..."
"Yeah, I know. Guys like me are usually the first to get it."
"No one is going to get it," says Jack, "we just have to figure out how to beat that thing. Drake, can we send it to your world?"
"That only works if it's from my world. The dice are not going to help us in this case."
"You've been quiet, Sunset," says Erika.
"What? I'm fine. I'm ready for that overgrown side dish."
"Okay," says Jack, "first, we need to see if it has a weakness. Now, here comes the problem..."
"That would involve someone being dumb enough to go down there and study Potato Head," says Miko.
"I have an idea," says Raf.
. . .
Raf manages to create a drone. "We'll send this drone to spy on Potato Head."
"Then let's send it," says Jack.
. . .
The drone enters the underground lair of Potato Head. It was so hard to look at. The thing seems to be sleeping. The drone studies Potato Head.
"Wait," says Steel, "if it's asleep, then this is a chance to get my arms back!" Steel runs off.
"Steel, wait," says Jack.
Steel was gone. We then had a call. "Guys, it's Steel. I made a big mistake."
"Can you come back to us," asks Jack.
Steel is sent flying back to the surface. Now, he's missing his legs.
"Yeah, he has my legs now."
"It notices the drone," says Raf. Mr. Potato Head eats the drone.
"We have a new problem," says Arashi.
I then walked away.
. . .
I was by the haystack.
"You okay," asks Erika.
"What? I'm fine..."
"Sunset."
I then sighed. "That thing is freaking me out! There, I admit it! It's got me scared!"
"I get it."
"I mean... what?"
"It's a giant potato monster that's stealing body parts and adding them to itself. That's very disturbing. It's okay to admit you're afraid. We all get scared. Sunset"
"Thanks, Er... wait." I then ran to the others.
. . .
"How well do you think it can handle the Sun," I asked.
"Baked Potato anyone," asks Miko.
. . .
Arashi got out of Liger and Liger started digging until it got to the potato and then pulled it from its roots and brought it to the surface.
"Hey Tater," I said.
Mr. Potato Head was about to attack, but then the heat from the sun started getting to it. Mr. Potato Head tries to get some water, but Liger is attacking it, and eventually, the potato is no more.
. . .
"I feel whole again," says Steel.
"Thank ya for beatin' that thang. Ah jus' wish maah husband could see all awf this. eend har. eend tawk. an smell. eend be alive."
"So, what're we having," asks Roadblock.
"Ah done made mashed potatoes, French fries, tater tots, potato salad..."
"Did you make it from..." I began.
"Thuh potato monster that took maah husband's puss? Yep."
"I don't think we're gonna have potatoes for a while," says Raf.
Mrs. Planter's POV:
After those theyer people left, ah done walked out at night, thinkin' about maah husband. Ah do miss 'im, but ah'm glad that potato monster's gawn. But the-yn ah felt sumthin'. Oh no, ah thihnk it maahyt be. Mrs. Potato head!
A gruesome way to look at Mr. Potato Head, huhh? Anyway, in the next chapter, the team deals with an AI.