The Masked Matterhorn #9-Rise of The Kraken Part 2

"Any architect will tell you that no matter how impressive the structure is, it's only strong as its weakest link," Matterhorn implied as she used her magic to save a drifting car as she, Zapp, Radiance, and The Kraken were at the Canterlot Bridge.

"Since when do you know about bridges?" Zapp asked her.

"You know everything relates to science."

"Are you guys always this chatty?" Kraken asked.

"Pretty much," Radiance replied.

"Then I'll be the quiet one," Kraken said as he tried to repair part of the bridge. "This whole thing will come down we can't relieve the pressure."

"How much time do we have."

"They break every 12.6 seconds, you do the math."

"So the answer is not enough," Zapp realizes.

"The weight shouldn't matter if we can create a strong support system with the proper angles, compression in its part, and tension in its lower," Matterhorn said as her visor showed her markings. "Got it."

"Then stop chatting and get to work."

"If I'm being honest, this kinda feels weird," Radiance said.

"Costume riding up, again?"

"Not that, working with The Kraken. Who is David Crawford, your teacher? Isn't he the guy who failed a student for using a NO.3 pencil? What if he knows our identities?"

"Relax, he doesn't know that I'm his student nor you guys. Just three heroes welcoming him to the superhero community."

Matterhorn created ice constructs as Radiance reinforced it with a diamond pillar as the bridge was secured.

"Diamonds?"

"Why not, it adds a creative touch. And keeping the city safe."

Much later inside of Caleb's car, he was listening to the radio.

"Turn it off," He ordered.

"Yes, sir," the driver did so. "Should I drive us home?"

"No. Keep circling until I say otherwise."

Then out of the know a large lizard-hybrid attacked the car.

"Don't you know that claws ruin a car's finish?" Zapp joked then came and shocked punched it. "I think the zoo is calling for a missing pet lizard."

"It's better than fighting that mutant hamster."

Radiance did a kick to its face then backflipped away as Kraken used his arms and whammed the lizard.

"Huh, no witty remark, Guess he's taking the quiet seriously," Matterhorn said as the lizard tried to make a run for it. "Oh, you don't!"

She fired an ice blast at the legs which froze him but it broke out of them just as Zapp grabbed its tail.

"Gotcha," Zapp said then the lizard threw her off as she held on to part of the tail. "Okay... Gross!"

Then it slithers right into a sewer.

"What the..."

"Fun fact about lizards, they can detach their tails and compress their bodies flat," Matterhorn said.

"That is straight-up revolting," Radiance shuddered.

"At least we got something," Zapp said holding the tail.

"Quite, because the DNA of the tail will give us answers to our questions," Kraken said. "To my lab!"

"Looking at the scale, it's a member of the Lepidossauria family," Zapp said.

"How do you know that?" Matterhorn asked her.

"I have connections just like you. But the strands are giving something differently."

"They are human DNA strands. Which would then explain the size and posture."

"But why did it attack the car?"

"Maybe the question is not why but who," Kraken theorized as pulled out a flash drive from his arm and inserted it into his computer.

"You put a camera in your arms?"

"Of course. For reserach? I've been watching your moves and I have a few suggestions on how to improve on them."

"That's five bucks you owe, Rads," Zapp quietly told her as grumbled and gave her 5 dollar bill as Kraken fast forward the video to the car that showed Caleb's car plate.

"That's Caleb Simon's car."

"Why would a mutant lizard go after Caleb?"

"I'm an expert in atomic physics, not reptile behavior," Kraken said then searched. "Perhaps we can use some help in this area. I'm running a search for the best scientific minds on genetics and herpetology. Here we go, Dr. Midnight Colt. Geneticist, biologist, biochemist, herpetologist."

"And he just happens to work for Simon Tech. That's too much a coincidence not to check out."

"There's a slight problem with that, Caleb Simon is not a fan of ours."

"Really? He's been nothing but supportive of my genius. Perhaps your association with me will improve your standing."

"He should be the cockheaded group of us," Zapp glared at him.

"Daivd Crawford and collegues to see Midnight Colt," Crawford said to the recpisont.

"I'm sorry sir. No one is allowed past this desk without an appoinment."

"Then just call me 'Nobody'."

"I'm sorry sir. I'm sorry sir. I'm still not seeing that name."

"I'm trying to be quippy? Is it my delivery?"

"Ah, they just need to get to know you."

"In that case, behold, The Kraken!"

Then the man pressed a button under his desk which actaving the secuity system.

"Now may not best time to unleash those babies," Matterhorn said as the group took on robots, dodge lasers and avoid over complicted death traps on the other side, Caleb came from the elevator.

"Right according to plan. Deactivate security!" Caleb said as it went off.

"I think we already deactivaed it."

"Oh, then please accept my apoloiges. Those were not meant for you. There have been some attempts on my life recently and I need tighten security. David, nice to see you again. I'm glad your talents have evloved as I predicted. And congrats to the four of you for saving the bridge this morning."

"Hold on a second. You're happy to see us?" Zapp asked. "You're not going capture us or pull some freaky experiment on us?"

"I told you that my assocation would improve your likeabilty."

"Matterhorn, I owe all three of you, an explantion. I rushed to judgement when I met you three, and well, maybe it's been the attmpt on my life, but I realize I'm better off with you as friends than as enemies."

"We'll see," Matterhorn said under her breathe.

"The reason we're here, Caleb, is becasuse we wanted to talk to Midnight Colt about the lizard that attack your car earlier," Crawford explained.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible."

"What do you mean by that?" Zapp asked.

"I mean you can't to Midnight Colt becasue he is the lizard."

"What happened?" Matterhorn questioned him.

"Midnight is one of Simon Tech's most brillant sciencests. But when he heard I was funding reserach in limb regeneration based on lizard DNA, he though he could apply it to his lost arm. I told him it wasn't ready but he went behind my back, and used the serum on himself, and results speaks for themselves."

"And let me guess, he wants your head for turing into a monster, right?" Zapp gave a glare.

"More or less," Caleb nodded then hiss sound was heard as Lizard was right in front of them.

"Oh, Dr. Colt we were talking about you!" Matterhorn joked.

"Activate sercuity!"

"That's our cue!"

The Lizard roared and Radiance did diamond blast at his face which blinded him then Matterhorn did a quick kick as his ribs, as Zapp tried to shock him with her lighting blasts then notice his tail.

"Well, his tail grew back, it would be pretty weird if it didn't," Zapp exclaimed before knocked across the floor by Lizard's tail then held both Matterhorn and Radiance in the air then slammed them to the ground before he could do anything, Crawford used his arms to restrain him but he kicked off as the two got back up.

"Alpha formation!" Matterhorn said.

"We need to stop him from huritng Caleb," Crawford said.

"Right!"

Zapp was right in front of him and did eletric punch as his gut which skidded him then both Radiance and Matterhorn did a cris-cross kick at the face.

"Caleb, what type of fire supression do you have here?"

"A cooling gas system."

"Perfect," Crawford riped part of floor and exposed Lizard to cold gas. "Lizards are cold-blooded. No heat, no movement."

"Like I said before, not a nerd, no offfense, Matters."

"None taken."

"Should I put on ice just in case."

"No need. My techinicans have been working on a containment suit in hopes we catch him. It's probably best I'd keep him here. I have a team working on reverse engerring the formula."

Two of his works with large suit and put the lizard in their and clamped it shut.

"Crawford, I need your with something," Caleb requested as Matterhorn and the others left. "I have some data that I belive can be converted into a cure but no one on my team is anywhere near the genius you are. Would you take a look?"

"I'd be happy to help. It's nice to have one's genius recgonzied for a change," Crawford said as he recvevied the data from him then headed as well.

Once he left, Caleb went to see the lizard with a smile on his face.

"Well done, Colt. I have more job and I promise we'll regrow your arm."

"Alright, one more time. You better keep your end of the deal."

"I will. Now rest up. We've a long night ahead of us. As I have to make a phone call."

At Nexus High... in Crawford's classroom.

"Hello, students. As you know today is test day. And since most of your grades on the last one were horrible beyond my intial thought, I noticed that I'm working you too hard. Since I'm in a good mood today, I'll just give you all A's!" He said as all the students smiled.

"Did he get hit on the head with a brick or something?" Moondancer questioned.

"Who cares, free A!" Sandbar exlclaimed just as Randall came in.

"David, may I have a word?" He asked.

"Of course."

In Randall's office both men were discussion.

"David, how many times have I told you not to coduct unauthorized experiments within the walls of Nexus High?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I got a call informing me you're involed something dangerous again."

"From whom?"

"Not important.."

"Clearly it does, if you're going to take their word over mine."

"Look, even you have to admit, that you don't have the best track record. First, the mechanical arms, then the serect power source you were working on."

"Both went well, despite a few bumps."

"Yes, but they also put you, your students and the school in danger, and I cannot have that," Randall sternly said as one of Crawford's arms grab something from his desk. "My rules are in place for a reason."

"Randall, if I was doing something dangerous it wouldn't be anywhere near school grounds nor put anyone in danger."

"All right, if that's what you say then I trust you," Randall said then left his office just Crawford's phone ranged.

"Yes?"

David? David? It's Caleb! The Lizard has broken free restraits! Any luck on the cure!

"As a matter of fact, I have."

Then get over here, fast! There's no how we keep it in the building!

Back in the classrooom...

"Everyone, I have something to take care. You're dismissed," Crawford said.

"That's odd," Moondancer rasied an eyebrow with Twilight sneaking out the back. "The bell dosen't ring for another 12
mintutes."

"Fill-Second, you there. It's me, Matterhorn," Twilgiht contacted her. "Something's big going down. Meet me at Simon Tech Tower."

At Simon Tech Tower...

"Now remember, this has to look good for Crawford. Do this well, you won't have to be the Lizard again."

"And you will give me the formula to regrow my arm."

"Am I not a man of my word?" Caleb said.

Much later Kraken made his way to the tower as Caleb was getting chased by Lizard then Kraken leaped over Caleb and faced Lizard.

"Caleb, get behind me!" Kraken said.

Then suddenly Matterhorn and Fill-Second arrive.

"Is this a private party or anyone can join!" Fill-Second came as she did a high speed kick to Lizard's face.

"What are you two doing here? I got the call, not you!"

"We're a team, Crawford. Where you go, we go," Matterhorn said.

"I don't need you, I have the cure."

"How?"

"Caleb, knew it would take a superior level of genius to create one, so he gave the data to me."

Matterhorn use her magic and yank the cure out of Kraken's hands.

"Did you test the gentic markers for abnormalitiles? Or even calcuate the polymeasre chain reaciton."

"Uh... did you test it first hand, we don't want to an even worse situation than this!" Fill-Second exclaimed as she dodged a lunged from Lizard. "Bad lizzy! Bad!"

"Don't try to pass yourself as scienists," He yanked the cure from Matterhorn possesion then tried to hold down Lizard then inject the cure. "Now we'll see what a true genius can do!"

Instead of transforming back, Lizard grew to Godzilla size and roared.

"Going on a limb, here and I say, that wasn't a cure," Fill-Second pointed out.

"This shouldn't be happening! My calacuiotns should be correct!"

"Could the vial been tampered with, David?"

"Impossible, Matterhorn did you something to it?"

"David, listen to yourself, you really think I did something like. I don't want a 60-ft lizard monster."

"If you did, your ego is just as big as his, litterally," Fill-Second added then her body got tense. "Incoming tail!"

Everyone got back from Lizard's tail.

"There's no time, Crawford! You must destroy this monster before it levels the city," Caleb said to him.

"No, Crawford, we can still save Dr. Colt. Together," Matterhorn reasoned.

"I don't need my hand held," Kraken said.

Kraken went ahead and got the Lizard's back and tased it.

"Kraken, stop it! The shocks are making more angry!" Matterhorn said, then got to its face. "Here's ice in your eye!"

She shot some ice beams at the eye which Lizard roared in pain as she and Fill-Second regroup and the Lizard shook off Kraken as he crashed through the two girls went to him.

"Is he okay?" Fill-Second asked as Matterhorn checked his pulse.

"He's fine, just knocked out."

"Okay, it's getting a lot tougher than fighting Lizilla. Any ideas?"

"This!" Matterhorn created some magic lether and tied the beast to a skyscraper, as he tryig to get free, his tail slice off from the it. "Okay, that's was even more gross than the first time, but maybe it can be helpful. Are you good with computers?"

"Somewhat, why?"

"Take this scale and go Nexus High and see if we can create a cure! Use Crawford computer, maybe it can help you what went wrong with David's cure." Matterhorn took off a scale and gave it to her.

"Very smooth," Fill-Second giggles then left in pink flash.

"Now to make sure, you don't any more trouble," Matterhorn said as she strenghten her lether on him only for Lizard to break free from it as Matterhorn followed. "Okay, so much for that."

At Nexus High, Fill-Second was hard at work on the cure then her phone beeped.

"Cures' R' Us, how can I help you?" Fill-Second asked.

Funny. How's it coming with the cure.

"Your not to belive this, Matters but the data drive Caleb gave Kraken was tainted. Hell, he might gave him the wrong one," She told her.

Caleb is too smart to make mistake like that.

"So, why screw Krakky then?"

Not sure. Recouple the Lizard DNA from the isotope that should the trick.

"And bingo, we got cure, hang on Double M, I'll be there in a flash!"

Don't worry about that, we coming to you!

"You're bringing him here! At the school!"

He's 100ft lizard- monster! He goes where he wants!

Fill-Second grab the cure and headed out the school just as the Lizard arrived with Matterhorn behind him then she join Fill-Second.

"Okay you want the good news or the bad news?"

"There's more bad news?"

"Yeah, since the Lizard is so big, his skin is four times as thick, you need to inject at the skull since that's the flesh is the thinnest," She said.

"What the good news?"

"You get to be the hero now! Good luck!" Fill-Second toss it to her then left.

Mattehorn made her way to the Lizard and went to the skull, where Lizard moved making Matterhorn lose her balance.

"Hold still, wiil you!" She snapped as she inject the cure as Lizard started to change back.

"Perfect. Now, time test drive this!"

She jumped from him than had her left hand cluthed her geode and in bright purlpe glow, a pair of Peagaus wings appared on her back and her hair was in a ponytail.

"Wing Mode!" She said as she was flew over to building as Lizard change back into Midnight Colt and fell back away from Nexus.

"Dr. Colt, weclome back," Matterhorn placed his lab coat around him and helped him up.

"Thank you," he weakly said to her which made her smile.

The next day, Caleb made sure that Kraken's little mishap was seen all over the news, where Randall was disapointed as he was standing face with Crawford.

"I guess I can't trust you anymore, so it pain me to say this..."

"Let me save you the trouble, Mclean. I quit!" He stormed out of the building.

Much later, he was Simon Academy.

"Daivd, welcome to Simon Academy!" Caleb greeted him. "I've waited a long time for this moment."

"As I have," Both Crawford and Caleb shake hands.

Late at night at The Canterlot Bridge

"Mattehorn, are you sure nobody can do this," Radiance said as they look as the giant lizard tail.

"We're the ones who detach it, so we're the one to get rid of it," Matterhorn said as all four girls pushed the tail off. "Girls, I really thought I can get through Crawford and not let his ego get the best of him. Turned him into a hero like us. But now he allignged himself with Caleb, I don't know what to think."

"There's go an old saying," Zapp said as they contiuened as it finally fell into the water. "Now matter how a snake sheds there skin. It's still a snake. Besides I'm not comfortable working with someone who takes mircomangement to the extreme."

"Well put," The others agree.

To be contiuned...