Episode 12: The Science of Evil
The Z-Team were cordially invited to the All-Fields laboratory of Dr. Dectavious, it had been a while since they saw Zack's wacky mentor of science. His colleagues Dr. Schwitz and Dr. Castillo were working on heading some new projects to harness and combine all sorts of natural energies (solar, wind, water, fire, mircobial) and use it in new creative ways. Everyone in Zack's team were enamored at all this, hoping to use it all for the benefit of mankind. Such ways would reduce the amount of waste created into the environment
"This will take a while my friends, there will always be imperfections, but be warned, science itself can be used for evil purposes." Dr. Dectavious informed them. "We at All-Fields are committed to using this power for the benefit of both man and animal, we are very strict with our research, never going too far with it, for throughout history man himself has been using science for his own selfish gains, often with destructive consequences, including using it as a weapon of war that could cause greater damage than anticipated…."
"And for good reason..." added Zack, the group nodded. "Especially with the recent increase in monster and ghost attacks coming from the Dark Master and all his followers, we'd do best to remain vigilante..."
"Yes and I'm afraid so that one may be on his way…." Dr. Dectavious then said grimly, the Z-Team eyes widened in shock at the mere mention of it. "One of my most promising students and later colleagues, Dr. Dennis Veno was working on some top secret experiments that I questioned him a while ago, now he has broken off from me and no doubt stolen some of my key formulas and equipment. Who knows what he's going to do with all of it…."
"I'll bet he's a follower of the Dark Master!" shouted Elsa, the others nodded in return.
"No doubt about it." added Simba. Just then Zack's Threat Detector beeped, he took it out of his pocket and allowed it to guide his group to the source of the threat in the laboratory. Down the halls left and right, they eventually reached an aquatic branch of the lab. Entering without a moment to lose, they immediately noticed a strange man in a green coat with a beard and goggles spreading some glowing rocks into a tank of some piranhas.
"Stop intruder!" Zack shouted. But the assailant turned and fled and some of the piranhas in the tank enlarged a bit and leapt out from the aquarium they were in at the team, mouths open. Moana aimed her oar at the deadly fish and shouted "Hydro Surge!" spraying the fish, knocking them onto the floor, and then Zack held up the Shadow Bane and shouted "The power of the heavens compels you!" causing a beam of light to emit from the amulet and the piranhas shrunk down to regular size. The group jumped over the fallen fish, right behind them some staff members with nets picked up the fish and placed them back in the aquarium and immediately closed the lid before any further calamity could happen. With the threat detector out, the group continued pursuing the mysterious man.
The device led them to the next area, the microbe section of the lab with many long tables having microscopes on them. The strange man using an eyedropper squirted a few drops on a slide and then turned to flee again, jumping behind a pillar. A strange organism grew to exponential size, revealing itself to be an amoeba. The Team members launched magic spells at the blob, one right after another while trying to dodge its arms, but none of them worked, except Elsa's ice magic which froze the organism in place.
"Dark Cloak!" shouted Mickey, raising his hand over his head, becoming invisible, the group remained still as the silent pursuit continued, then out of the blue a sound of someone getting hit was heard followed by the strange man slumping over. "Uncloak!" and Mickey was visible again, and then grabbed the man by the scruff of his green coat.
"What's your business here?!" Mickey demanded the man, who just gave a sarcastic smile.
"Heh heh heh, you really think you bunch can stop the great Dr. Venom? Your plight's just begun!" he sneered as the group caught up to the two, pointing their weapons and claws at the strange man. "My boss will stop you all, and our great Dark Master as well!"
"So you're the one who's been stealing Dr. Dectavious' equipment and formulas!" shouted Aladdin.
"Yeah and what's he going to do with all that?" added Jasmine pulling on her whip as if she was about to administer some punishment.
"That's not for you cheeky mortals to find out!" the strange man replied feeling confident, but the team was getting more disgusted with his behavior and hidden agendas, a few of them shook their heads. Zack turned to the four animals and gestured with his head to approach him. Simba and Nala grabbed his arms with their mouths, followed by Pluto and Rajah grabbing his legs, all four started pulling him in the manner of a torture rack, the strange man began to grunt and yell in pain as he was getting stretched.
"Tell us now or the pain increases! Now what is your boss going to do with all that equipement and formulas?!" Zack demanded.
"If you don't I'm going to add a little icy touch to your troubles!" added Elsa. The strange man kept on yelling in pain, but after a while he shouted, "Okay I'll talk! Dr. Venom…..your old colleague Dr. Veno…..is creating some experiments…...up in a secret laboratory….to aid in Dakmogon's conquest of the world…...genetic formulas…...radiation…...growth hormones…...microbiology…..the whole nine yards….." Zack then smiled, followed by Elsa, the rest of the team nodded in satisfaction that they now have their answers.
"Alright let him go animals, that's enough pain for him." Zack ordered, the quartet did as told without objection, and the strange man bolted to the door of the microbiology wing, but a few laboratory MPs
were standing outside and immediately seized him to be taken away by the police, Dr. Dectavious was just outside.
"As I have feared…." he said grimly. "His followers are now aiding in the Dark Master's efforts to maximize terror, death, and destruction of our world to build up his power. The question is, where is Dr. Venom, I highly doubt that associate would tell us even with all the pain we could administer to him."
"You said that right Doc." replied Zack. "We can't initiate an all-out search for him yet, we need more clues, and in the mean time remain vigilante of the next attacks…" Just then, a scream was heard from afar. The team who heard it followed it over down a few halls, until they discovered a distressed female scientist.
"What happened?" asked Simba.
"One of our insects has not only grown bigger, but more mutated and powerful, and it's heading this way!" she panicked, a strange shrieking sound was heard behind her, everyone looked ahead. Crawling its way forward was a gigantic, mutated scorpion, its claws here enlarged, its body bulked up, its mouth parts more like pincers, the team readied their weapons on the horrible insect already lashing about with its claws trying to catch someone. Whenever they could a member would strike with his or her weapon while trying dodge the claws and venomous tail. Aladdin and Jasmine snuck behind the insect, to the rear area, Jasmine wielded her whip, catching the stinger end, and then Aladdin leaped up and sliced off the stinger, cutting down the threat a bit. Now the four animals leaped into the air and pounced with all of their weight onto the giant insect, squashing it flat. The distressed female scientist was relieved the threat was over.
"You alright ma'am?" asked Zack, comforting her with Elsa, Simba, Nala right behind him assisting him in the proces.
"Y-yes, I've worked with those insects for a long time." she replied shaken, but not sad. "I'm sad to see it go, but I understand you had to do what was necessary, and there are still more of that's kind that hasn't been mutated into something that horrible."
"Is there any way that the scorpion could be de-mutated?" asked Minnie, Mickey nodded in addition.
"Afraid not at the time, modern science hasn't found a way to do that yet…." she said sadly, but then her mood picked up, "But perhaps my supervisor Dr. Castillo could aid you all on that.." she then took out her hand for Zack to shake "I'm Kristen Natrun, head of the entomology department". As they shook Dr. Castillo came forward with a briefcase in his hand.
"I overheard all that gang, come with me and all show you what's in here, I just finished it all for you bunch." he said. The Z-Team followed him back to the command center area of the laboratory, he placed the briefcase on a nearby table and opened it up. The entire team were in awe at what was inside, all of it were different color sets test tubes and below each set was a name referring to each set such as "vampire", "werewolf", "ghost", "zombie", "man-insect", "demon", "fish-man", and so on. "These monster potions can help you out in a tight spot, from a few seconds after you drink it you will become the monster of your choice for about 20 minutes until it wears off. As long as you're that monster all the respected powers are yours, thankfully you won't become insane from drinking it". Zack closed the briefcase and held it all aloft to his teammates at their newfound tool in the fight against the forces of darkness.