Chapter 94: The Stingers:
Alakshmi's POV:
I was walking into the room when I saw Jack, Miko, and Raf hanging with some others.
"Yo, Alakshmi," says Miko, "this is Parker, Laine, and Jerrica. They're with Team 23."
"Nice to meet you," says Jerrica.
"Hey," says Parker.
"How's it going," asks Laine.
"Hello," I said and then I walked away.
"She's the new Brightmore alright," says Laine.
. . .
I walked into another room and saw Drake working on something.
"Is this about your boyfriend," I asked.
"I still believe I can free him from Xycon," says Drake.
"You seem a bit sad."
"Because... if I fail... then I may have no choice... but to... kill him."
"Look, it's not your fault."
"You don't understand! I've made some mistakes, and we had some fights and... thee wee quiTte times whee they got so bad, he consideed breaking up with me, but I kept easing his memory of any problem we wee quiTte having. This was quiTte the biggest mistake I have ever made, and I fear easing his memory will not help."
"Honestly, sounds like Xycon's the preferred option."
"Yes, I suppose it does say something if on one hand, he's a lich's puppet and on the other hand, his boyfriend manipulaTtes him."
Miko comes in. "Yo guys, come out, we got a meeting!"
. . .
"I got tickets to see the Stingers," says Jerrica, "we're all too busy, but I'd figure we could give them to your team."
"Who are the Stingers," asks Raf.
"This new rock band," says Miko, "Riot, Minx, and Rapture."
"I hear Riot's an egomaniac, Minx's a manipulator, and Rapture's a con artist," says Roadblock.
"Where did you hear that," asks Steel.
"Last time I talked to Jerrica's sister, Kimber."
"Anyway, I got work with my band," says Jerrica.
"This could be fun," says Sunset.
"Let's check it out," says Erica.
. . .
We were at the concert.
"How did I let you talk me into this," I asked.
"I'm only hee because Miko said it was quiTte a good way to keep my mind off my problems," says Drake. We then saw the Stingers on their poster. "That Riot fellow looks oddly familiar."
. . .
We then heard the Stingers play.
Riot: Manipulation is the name of the game
Manipulation, makes all other games look tame
The goal is control of your soul
We're playin' mind games, mind games
Stretchin' your mind till it snaps
We like to play mind games, mind games, mind games
Makin' the whole thing collapse
Mind games
The stipulation is that I make all the rules
Intimidation, turns the wisest men to fools
You're caught, overwrought, and distraught
Suddenly the world seems out of joint
Don't you see, baby, that's the point?
(Minx/Rapture: Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
We're playin' mind games, mind games
Twistin' your head out of shape
We like to play mind games, mind games, mind games
There's no way to escape
We like to play mind games, mind games, mind games
There's no way to escape
Mind games!
"Is it just me," says Erica, "or does that sound a little... sinister?"
"Wait, now what's he singing," asks Drake.
"Fac eas omnes evanescet!"
"That's not a song! That's a spell! RUN!"
We tried to leave, but only Raf, Drake, and I were able to escape. Everyone else vanished.
"What's going on," asks Raf.
"We have a new problem," says Drake.
"Unit: E is mine," says Riot as he and the Stingers disappeared.
. . .
"Those were not rock stars," says Drake, "they were fakes. I think they were working for Xycon."
"What makes you think that," asks Raf.
"Because I know who Riot is. Let's go!"
. . .
We were on our way to see Jerrica and her friends, Jem and the Holograms.
"What's the plan," I asked.
"The best way to beat the Stingers is to fight music with music," says Drake. Drake knocks on the door.
Jerrica answers. "Oh, how was the concert?"
"We need your help," says Drake.
Jack's POV:
We were all tied to chairs when the Stingers came in.
"What's this all about," I asked.
"I'm just following my Master's orders," says Riot.
"Let me guess," says Miko, "Xycon."
"He wants to be free," says Riot, "but first, he'll need a host and... not everyone is here!"
"Three of them must've gotten away," says Rapture.
"Find them!"
"Zey might show up aht ze next cwancert," says Minx.
"That will do," says Riot.
Alakshmi's POV:
We managed to arrive at the concert. The Stingers were getting ready to perform.
Riot: Believe in me, you can see with your own eyes
All the many wonders I can do
Believe in me, I'm a wizard in disguise
Why would I want to lie to you?
Jem and the Holograms were ready to make their move.
Jem: Don't believe everything you see
There is more than meets the eye
Don't believe in a fantasy
The truth is underneath the lie
Drake appears on stage. "Hello, Ronald... or is it Riot now?"
"So, you figured me out, my Dragon."
"I see Xycon's still up to his old tricks," says Drake.
"You know what they say," says Riot, "old tricks work!" Riot then blasts Drake.
Riot: Believe in me, there's no reason you should doubt
All the many marvels I achieve
Believe in me, there's no trick to figure out
For I've got nothing up my sleeve
"Ember-Eye the Indomitable!" I summoned my creature and had it attack the stage. The Stingers used dark magic to try to stop it, but Ember-Eye managed to tail whip them.
Jem: Don't believe everything you hear
Don't be blinded by the lie
Don't believe, try and see it clear
The truth is hidden outta sight
The Stingers then reveal the rest of the team, and a large shadow comes from Riot.
"They're mine now!"
"Ronald! I have something!" Drake holds up a bat.
"How is my old baseball bat going to help," asks Riot.
"I think it's time for a trade! Mine be yours and yours be mine!"
The team then returns to us while the bat is in Riot's hand. "What?"
The Holograms then get up for one last song.
Riot: Don't be afraid of superstition
Jem: Don't be mislead by blind ambition
Riot: Believe in me
Jem: Don't believe everything you see
Riot: Believe in me
Jem: Don't believe everything you see
Don't believe!
Minx and Rapture try to get away.
"So, if Riot's Ronald," says Raf, "who are they?"
Ember-Eye then hits the two with his tail and they turn out to be these lizard people.
"Skrulls," says Jack.
"Why are you guys helping Xycon," asks Miko.
"He prahmised us ze powair to destroy ze kree," says the Minx Skrull, who is a guy.
Riot tries to get away, but Drake traps him in a magic field. "Absent mind in a far-away place, Return once again to your rightful place!"
Xycon's shadow tries to attack us, but Raf manages to blast him... which is impressive, considering he's a shadow. Riot begins to glow.
. . .
We were at Unit: E's med bay and Ronald begins to wake up.
"Ronald, are you alright," asks Drake.
"Draco? What's going on? Why am I dressed like this?"
"Ronald, there's something we should tell you," says Drake.
. . .
Drake managed to tell Ronald everything... and even confessed to the memory erasing.
"I should've known falling in love with a Dungeon Master would lead to some problems," says Ronald.
"I truly am sorry."
"I forgive you... but I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry, but... it's over."
"I understand."
The two then shared one last kiss.
Raf's POV:
I was walking, but I felt strange...and cold.
In the next chapter, Raf learns Xycon's not done yet.