Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, a short revival Chapter 15, a misc. cartoons fanfic

Chad was alone in the tunnel, wearing a gas mask and protective gloves. He held a small container filled halfway with a bubbling liquid. At that moment, he was grateful to be a cartoon character, as he was sure this wasn't a safe way to handle toxic waste. His only concern was not being devoured by the tomato alligator, which, in the end, wasn't much consolation.

He had hooked his flashlight to his shirt and used it to illuminate the tunnel ahead. Every so often, he looked to the sides, in case the beast appeared from one of the transverse tunnels. The silence and humidity compressed him relentlessly; he could feel himself sweating behind the mask, and his clothes were starting to get soaked. If someone had told him hours ago that he'd be in the sewer that night, searching for a monstrous tomato while holding toxic waste... He probably would have believed it.

He realized that this was normal for him. The idea seemed curious, as if he had been created specifically to fulfill that role, even if he was so young. A protagonist in a series of parodies of horror and science fiction movies that replaced monsters with tomatoes.

"I don't even remember being in school once. I mean, in theory, I do, off-camera. But I've never been in a classroom."

The sound of water seeping through the pipes was all he got in response. But he needed to keep talking to not feel so alone.

"Are there even schools in San Zucchini? It would explain why I didn't have friends my age and only hung out with Tara, F.T., and the KTTF. But maybe I should stop thinking about that. If I start listing the plot holes in the show, we'll be here for a week."

Something moved at his feet, screaming in terror. He looked down and saw two rats fleeing desperately. Three more emerged from the shadows in front of him to follow their companions. And then a whole wave of rats seeking to get away from what was approaching through the tunnel. The water also started flowing stronger, pushed by the weight of a gigantic body advancing towards him.

The beast's snout appeared, with its nostrils open like large caverns. Attracted by what he had in his hands. He wouldn't wait for the rest of its body. Spinning on his heels, Chad took off running. He had to move in a straight line, without stopping to look back. No matter how tempted he was to do so, encouraged by the blows of that monstrous body moving tirelessly behind him, faster than expected given its enormous size. A hiss bounced off the tunnel, an echo that made the walls and floor vibrate.

The water reached up to his calves and pushed with such force that it made him stumble at times. A burst of hot breath soaked his back, and he could see in his mind the monster's jaws open behind him. This gave him new strength while making him scream.

Just a few more steps. He could already see the entrance to the octagonal chamber.

The beast's tail hit a wall and the sewers shook. Cement dust rained down. Some particles fell into the toxic waste, and it bubbled more violently. A greenish smoke rose from the container and formed a skull with a malicious grin in front of Chad's face. The teenager swallowed his fear, feeling it pass heavily through his throat.

He entered the chamber but didn't stop. Now the entrances to the other tunnels were closed by heavy reinforced metal doors. Only two were open, the one he used and another at the opposite end. He couldn't stop.

He was already halfway through the chamber when the alligator poked its head in. It entered, dragging a large amount of water and trash, opening its jaws and letting out that blood-curdling hiss. Chad reached the entrance of the other tunnel and turned to confront it. Only then could he appreciate the beast's wounds and understand that the Tomato Task Force had given it their all on the surface. And yet, that thing wouldn't stop.

The young man threw the container at the alligator, which opened and closed its jaws in a flash, devouring the small appetizer.

The taste of that dish excited every fiber of his being and made him charge with determination towards that tunnel. He could smell the smell of that miraculous food in that direction. The human in front of him was now worthless and was only an obstacle in his path.

Chad threw himself to one side, pressing his body against the cold, damp wall of the chamber to clear the way. The sensation he felt was like a train passing at full speed just centimeters from his face. He saw the thick, scaly tail swishing through the air. He had to throw himself into the water to avoid being hit by the deadly sweep.

As he plunged into the water, his face was submerged, and he watched through the liquid as the swirled and churned in response to the monster's advance. The turbulence was so intense that it felt like being in a washing machine, with powerful currents tugging at his body. He too was dragged by the impulse, his feet scraping against the rough floor as he struggled not to be lifted up prematurely. On his back, he could feel the monstrous appendage going back and forth. Too close for his liking.

"Chad!"

He looked towards the platform to see Tara leaning over the railing. She seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown, as she had had to contain herself until then to avoid intervening. He knew well how difficult it was for her not to help someone if it was within her power to do so. But each person had something to do in that plan, and only he could be the bait. Meanwhile, she had been preparing the main bait.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," he said as he ran towards the bar grate staircase. "Stick to the plan."

She nodded and turned towards F.T., who was waiting in the control room, standing on the keyboard.

"F.T., now."

Barking, the tomato pressed a button with one of its paws. A door identical to the others slid over the entrance to the tunnel through which Chad and the tomato had arrived. Just as Wilbur arrived running and waving his sword.

"There's no victory without sacrifice. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight on the sewers, we shall never surrender!"

So focused was he in his fury that he didn't notice the door sliding shut in front of him. He crashed face-first into the metal and flew backward, falling into the water and losing consciousness.

Meanwhile, the alligator had advanced about a hundred meters through that tunnel until it found what it was looking for. Everything was perfect, as if it had been prepared for him. The miraculous food, plenty of it piled up in front of him. The metal of the barrels creaked as it was crushed by the monster's jaws. The thick liquid they contained filled his body. It made him feel strong, energetic. his wounds closed, the mutilated tendrils grew back stronger than before. Even the dented part of his face regenerated, along with a new eye.

Chad finished climbing the stairs with Tara's help and collapsed onto the platform. The young woman removed his mask so he could breathe better, and he thanked her with a smile.

"You know... if I had more muscles... I could become quarterback in the high school team."

Tara laughed in relief at the comment.

"Oh, Chad. You're still as brave as ever... But don't make a habit of this."

"I'll try."

Rolling onto his side, he sat up, looking at F.T.

"Now."

And the tomato pressed the final key. An alarm erupted in the chamber, and several red lights lit up above the door with the word "Danger" written on it. The metal sheet trembled, as if unsure of cooperate. But it did. It slowly rose, and as soon as it began its ascent, a large amount of water started to flood the chamber. It did so with a roar more powerful than the alligator's and with a force that the creature could never have matched.

That's how the sea entered the chamber. And upon finding all the doors closed, it headed towards the only open path.

The alligator had just devoured the last barrel when he became aware of the strange vibrations surrounding him. It was as if the world around him was trembling, like an animal waking up from a long sleep. The water beneath him gained speed, just like it did when he advanced through the tunnels. But with much greater intensity. The torrent of saltwater hit him like a liquid battering ram, giving him no time to try to escape. It dragged him with a fury as primitive as his own, carrying him through the long, straight line that was the tunnel.

It only stopped when his body crashed against two enormous, toothed cylinders that marked the end of the corridor; reinforced metal, designed to grind and process materials. The passage of water set them in motion, spinning faster and faster until they trapped one of the monster's legs. He struggled to break free, but the structure was more resistant than anything he had encountered before. And it pulled, trying to drag him to the other side, even if it meant crushing him.

And indeed, the resistance was brief. For in addition to those devices, the water pushed him forcefully. His body began to break apart. First, his tail split in two, then a part of his belly, his jaw began to deform under the pressure until it was crushed .

On the other side of the rollers, mixed with the water, a plentiful amount of tomato paste soon emerged. And amidst it, six other fruits, much smaller than the one that had just been processed, also appeared.

Zoltan and the gang of five managed to get their heads above water… Only to discover that further ahead, the tunnel descended vertically, forming a cylindrical waterfall. The former grand commander put on a tired expression and whimpered his lament before being launched into the abyss.

"I already miss season two!"

And screaming, he and his brothers fell.

Back in the control room, the heroes were dealing with their own problems.

"Close it already!"

F.T. groaned a complaint while stepping on a button without success.

"Oh, great," Chad said, watching from the door as the water level continued to rise.

He wasn't sure if the facilities could resist the pressure being exerted for much longer. The walls complained loudly as the water drew closer. Either the place would collapse, or they would end up drowned.

Tara ran past him and went out onto the platform, looking towards the door. Her eyes began to shine as Chad arrived beside her.

"Wait, Tara. You've already done so much."

"No, Chad. I know I can do this."

"But..."

"No buts about it."

And she concentrated all her powers on the metal door, enveloping it in a red aura. It was heavy, so heavy it could contain the sea's advance. And besides, there was the pressure exerted by the water that kept pouring in. A gigantic roar that sounded like a furious beast. But they hadn't come this far to give up, not when everyone had given their best.

She felt the roar of the sea, the metal screeching, the walls shaking before those forces of nature. Her eyes burned, and her brain started to heat up; she even thought her hair was catching fire. But she had to do this; she had no doubts about it. She was willing to risk everything to protect San Zucchini.

She felt a sudden sense of familiarity, as if she were standing on the door, facing a pesky salesman who just wouldn't take no for an answer. Something that had happened once, a day when Chad and Wilbur had gotten sick, and she had to take care of them. They needed rest, and that salesman kept knocking on the door over and over. No matter how much she smiled and asked him to come back another day. Until she had had enough, and forgetting her kind attitude, she told him to leave before slamming the door in his face.

And this time, she did the same thing, screaming inside of her head.

The door fell with a bang, separating the sea from the chamber, the water barely two meters from reach the platform. And along with the door, Tara's exhausted knees also gave out. But before she could fall to the ground, Chad took her in his arms and leaned her against him. The young man's closeness transmitted a sense of security that made her smile. F.T. was also by her side, jumping with joy. And she knew everything would end well.

"Tara, you're really someone special."