by Adam Oster
“Don't forget that we have Damon somewhere out there ready to explode,” Alexa added.
“Okay, fine. Looks like the best course of action would be for us to split up,” Buddy took charge. “Talmadge, do you think you can get the Mole Men to help you dig through the wreckage of The Bunker and look for whatever it is that they're looking for? Maybe if we can find that, we can stop all of this from getting any worse.”
“Maybe,” Talmadge agreed. “It would help if I had any idea of what we are looking for.”
“Knowing Artie,” Alexa assisted, “it would have probably been near him at all times, if not on him itself. I'd start there if I were you. I mean, it’s not like there’s much of The Bunker left to sift through. It’s entirely possible that whatever it was didn’t even survive the blast.”
“Perfect,” Buddy replied. “Ryan, you still have access to that meta-human tracking device you used to track Damon the last time he was around?”
“Of course,” Ryan offered. “I could probably use that to find out where Memphis got off to.”
“See if you can't figure out what's up with Jeff while you're at it,” Buddy added.
“I can nab the rickshaw and get you over there in no time,” Alexa offered.
“Great idea,” Buddy said.
A loud hissing sound came from D.A.W.N.’s mobile unit as the door on the top of the vehicle popped open. The figure of Zero rose out of the opening, his entire lower half, half his chest, and his left arm gleamed with the shine of newly crafted metal.
“Is there not any assistance that I will be able to offer?” Zero asked proudly.
“Zero,” Alexa gasped. “What happened to you?”
“Alexa, my sweet,” Zero grinned, “my injuries were indeed grave, as you had stated on a number of occasions. However—“
“Zero was in bad shape,” D.A.W.N. cut in. “I didn’t have much for options left. I had to remove a great deal of organic tissue and replace it with prosthetics.”
“What our metallic friend is trying to say is that she has made me bionic!” Zero’s smile grew bigger. “I’m back and better than ever!” He raised a fist, which spun wildly before morphing into an open cavity, which immediately lit up. Zero pointed it to the sky and a loud KRAKOOM sounded from it as it burst to life, shooting a ball of burning plasma into the air. “I’m ready for action.”
CHAPTER 27
Once Ryan, Alexa, and Talmadge departed, Buddy and Zero were left staring at the impossible task in front of them.
“Well, chum,” Zero said, cracking the knuckles still left on his right hand in anticipation, “how do you suppose we start this epic battle for the safety of mankind? I’ve got a whole new arsenal of tricks I can’t wait to test out.”
“I think we simply need to keep these guys from finding whatever they’re looking for. Any ideas?”
“It doesn’t make use of any of my new parts, but I have been working on a new technique,” Zero grinned brightly, “that I've been wanting to test out in the field.”
“Will it be big enough to distract them all?”
“There's only one way to tell,” Zero said, his face showing his eagerness.
“Hey, you know me,” Buddy laughed. “I'm always up to try something new.”
“That's something I don't believe I do know about you, chum.”
“Whatever, just do it already.”
“Alright,” Zero said as he closed his eyes. “Here goes nothing.”
The air trembled around Zero as his body turned a deep shade of purple. He rose into the air slowly, a tempest crashing around him as a purple cloud appeared around the periphery of the distant army. Slowly, the cloud gained definition and became a spherical wall, which slowly shrank, pulling up a layer of earth as it closed in on the members of the enemy force. As the circular object became smaller, the meta-human army within reacted violently, like hornets. They turned their energy toward breaking the ball that closed in on them. The interior suddenly resembled a chemical reaction, lightning bolts, flames, and a multitude of other powers being exhibited at large within.
Zero fell to the ground. Buddy ran to his side, making sure to take a brief glance over his shoulder to ensure the spherical prison still held their enemies in place. Zero's eyes were closed. Blood began pouring out of his nose and ears and his body shuddered violently.
“Zero!” Buddy yelled, ineffectively attempting to rouse his comrade. “Wake up!”
Buddy spun on his heel as a loud explosion occurred behind him and saw a figure burst out of the ground. In a whirlwind, this new enemy rose into the air before it finally paused and stared at the floating orb.
The figure spun and turned its attention on Buddy and Zero, returning to a tornado of rage as it neared.
It stopped just before reaching its targets and as this unfamiliar woman landed and approached the downed heroes, her form morphed into the shape of Jeff, looking as enraged as ever as he hastily shortened the distance between them.
“How dare you?” he yelled. “How dare you come between me and my final reward, my birthright?”
“Jeff, calm down,” Buddy stuttered.
“I will not calm down,” Jeff screamed as he reached Buddy's position and morphed into his doppelganger. He grabbed Buddy by the lapel and lifted him into the air. “And you will not succeed in defeating me this time.”
“That's where you've got me wrong, Jeff,” Buddy stalled. “I don't want to defeat you.”
“Don't try and fool me, you insignificant speck. I know why you're here; I know what you're doing. I know you want the Mind Wipe Device for yourself.”
“The Mind Wipe Device?”
“Don't play coy with me, Buddy,” Jeff snarled.
The sphere flickered briefly. Buddy looked down at Zero and saw his friend was still unconscious and looking worse for the wear. His skin was turning gray, his face sunken.
“Okay, Jeff,” Buddy forced a grin. “You caught me; I wanted the Mind Wiper for myself.”
“Ha!” Jeff laughed loudly. “You think you could possibly have better intentions for the device than I? I shall use it to rule the world, to shape the minds of every single person on the planet to my whim. With the power of the Mind Wipe Device, I shall finally have the one thing I truly desire.”
“Your father's attention?”
“You've always thought you were so clever, haven’t you Buddy?”
“I don't know, you tell me.”
“Shut up!” Jeff's face grew red with rage. “Meta Mob!” he yelled. “Attack!”
Buddy laughed now. “Sorry, chief, they're a little tied up at the moment.”
“You think something as simple as the orb of Kid Zero could stop my men from doing my bidding?” Jeff morphed into the shape of non-cyber-Zero. He closed his eyes briefly and the sphere shattered, freeing the army. Jeff morphed back into his own form. “You see, Buddy, I hold all the power. There's nothing you, or anyone else, can do to stop me.”
A whistling noise sounded from above their heads, quickly becoming a loud squeal. Before Buddy could turn to look at what was arriving in their location, he felt the heat of a thousand suns on his back. He was blinded by a brilliant light that filled the air as a loud krakakoom sounded all around them. The ground reacted violently to this new intrusion, causing both Jeff and Buddy to lose their footing.
Before they could return to their feet, a voice boomed through the early evening sky. “Why did you do this to me?” it screamed. “The pain, the torment. Why?”
“Damon?” Buddy asked quietly. His eyes adjusted to the increased lighting, but all he could see was a fireball with a ten-foot diameter, directly in the center of what had once been the Sun City Convention Center.
“You!” the flames yelled as they burned brighter.
“It’s time I took care of this idiot once and for all!” Jeff cried out, his form turning into that of Dominion's. He immediately lit himself up and flew into the new threat. His army stood at attention. “This was supposed
to be my day, Damon. My day!”
“What do I need of you, you insignificant speck?” the voice echoed. A tongue of fire flared out from the center of this earth-born sun and wrapped around Jeff, pulling him in.
A look of fear crossed Jeff's face at this unexpected response. “Metas!” he yelled as he disappeared within the fire. “Extinguish the menace!”
Immediately the Meta Mob went to work throwing everything they could at the flames of Dominion. Ice, water, and wind melded together from the beings capable of producing such elements. Others searched for nearby offerings that they might be able to use in order to satisfy the fire with a sacrifice. Others still entered the flames directly. Buddy lost sight of them as they approached the edge of the brilliantly burning flames. He couldn’t help but hope they had some sort of protection against the heat inside the fire. From this distance, it appeared just as easily that they were instantly vaporized.
Around the periphery of the flames, he noticed the lights of emergency vehicles. At least the city’s services were in working order, although he couldn’t imagine there was anything they could do toward extinguishing the danger before them. He imagined firefighters attempting to douse the flames with their hoses and prayed that they wouldn’t be as stupid as to venture within.
If only the MHDT weren’t so hell-bent on keeping themselves secret. Perhaps there’s something they could do to help. Of course, considering the fact that their new leader is the man at the center of this disaster, maybe it was best they keep their distance.
He looked over to his companion and saw Zero open his eyes slightly. He ran to his side. “Zero, are you--”
“I'm fine, chum. Apparently my new bionic nature doesn’t change the fact that my powers do have the tendency to take their toll on me if overused. Have we saved the day yet?”
“Not yet.”
“How can I be of assistance?”
“Dude,” Buddy laughed lightly, “just relax. I’ve got everything under control.”
“Are you certain?”
“Certain, pal,” Buddy smiled.
“As long as you are certain,” Zero coughed, “then I suppose I may be willing to close my eyes for a time. Awaken me when the battle re-commences.”
“You know I will.”
Buddy walked closer to the fireball, squinting to see if he could make out anything of what was going on inside the flickering flames. He stood in silence for a while, noting that even Jeff's minions had given up on their attempts to stop the fire and many of them were now doing exactly what Buddy was doing. Watching.
Alexa appeared next to Buddy with Ryan in the back of the rickshaw. “Buddy!” she said, “looks like you didn't need us to find Damon or Jeff after all.”
“Nope, they both managed to find us. If I were a betting man, I’d place money on the fact that Arthur set it all up to happen like this.”
“What are they doing?” Ryan asked as he climbed out of the cushioned interior.
“Absolutely no clue.”
“Heard anything from Talmadge yet?” Alexa asked, staring in awe at the burning air in front of them.
“Nope, but I know what Jeff’s looking for.”
“Oh yeah?” Ryan asked. “What's that?”
“The Mind Wipe Device.”
“What?” Alexa asked, breaking her stare to lock eyes with Buddy. “Artie has the Mind Wiper?”
“Jeff thinks he does.”
“How in the world did he get that? I mean, that was something he had been trying to get his hands on for forever, but he could never figure out where it was being held.”
“Let's just hope that Talmadge finds it before anyone else. I'd hate to think what could happen if Jeff got his hands on that thing,” Ryan shuddered.
“Should I go in there?” Buddy asked.
“I'm certainly not,” Alexa replied.
“I'd think about it, but I'm not sure my suit can handle that kinda heat,” Ryan offered. “You sure you can?”
“I have no idea what my limits are,” Buddy answered, “but I haven't found them yet, so there's no reason to believe this would surpass them, right?”
“I guess,” Alexa said quietly.
“Alrighty,” Buddy said, stalling for time, “I guess that means I should go in there, then.” Buddy slowly walked toward the source of the fire.
The ground rumbled beneath them. Buddy sighed in relief and stopped to see what new disaster might await them.
CHAPTER 28
The Earthworm escaped from a hole it created beneath the group and landed hard on the soil beside them. Talmadge jumped out of the vehicle quickly, holding a silver orb in his hands as his eyes beamed brightly.
“I think I found it!” he yelled.
“The Mind Wipe Device?” Ryan asked eagerly.
“I don't know what it is,” Talmadge responded. “But it was pretty much the only thing that survived the explosion, so I’m guessing it’s pretty important.”
“Pretty good indicator,” Buddy smirked.
“Right,” Talmadge agreed. “So, anyways, it's got all sorts of flashy lights on it and stuff, and this cool interface. I can't quite figure out what it does or anything, but it seems awfully important.”
Ryan took the device out of Talmadge's hands as Salachar stumbled out of The Earthworm.
“Salachar!” Alexa exclaimed. “What happened?”
“Dunna worry about me lassie. When the building fell, I might notta been as quick as I was in my younger years, but tis nothing time won't heal.”
“Yep,” Ryan concluded, “this is it. This is the Mind Wipe Device.”
“Are you sure?” Buddy asked. “How can you tell?”
“Well, taking a look through the menu settings on this thing,” he said, fiddling with the flat screen display embedded in the orb, “the headings make it pretty obvious. Things like Organize Memories into Categories, Activate Memory Redistribution, and Input Modified Memories, really kinda bring it all home. That,” he said smiling, “and it says Mind Wipe Device right here on the front.” He turned the front of the device to face Buddy and in big letters above the screen were the bold-faced words Ryan spoke.
“Okay,” Buddy smiled, “so we've got that in our hands. Now what?”
“Well, we've got what Jeff's looking for,” Ryan answered. “If he weren't doing whatever he's doing with Damon there, I'd guess he'd be right on top of us already.”
“Well, that's a good thing,” Buddy stated. “Isn't it?”
“Well, yes and no,” Ryan answered. “The way I see it, we currently have a great opportunity to keep this epic battle from happening. I mean, we hold here in our hands the very tool necessary to keep those two from ever remembering who they are, or why they're fighting.”
“Are you suggesting we use the Mind Wiper to erase both Jeff and Damon's memories?” Alexa asked wide-eyed.
“I don't see why not,” Ryan answered. “I mean, Damon seemed perfectly happy to be Murphy. And Jeff, well, I have a feeling that it will be either that, or we have to kill him, from how determined he seems to be to get this thingie here. And if he gets this, he'll just do exactly what we're talking about, but to everyone.”
“I say fire it up,” Buddy spoke. “If we can get out of this whole thing without having to fight, I'd be a very happy man.”
“Although I'm pretty excited to test out my new powers,” Talmadge joined in, “I agree with Buddy. I’m not sure I’m ready for quite so big a test, yet.”
The group looked at Alexa, who shifted her gaze to the ground.
“Okay, well, it appears we have a near-unanimous decision,” Buddy said grimly. “I think that's the best we're going to do.”
“There is one thing we might need to consider first,” Ryan said as his eyes fell upon the fireball sitting in the middle of the field nearby. “What happens if we try re-writing their memories while they’re on fire? This might take away their powers. I’m only kind of okay with taking away their memories. I’m definitely not okay with bu
rning them to a crisp.”
“Dammit!” Buddy yelled. “So, you’re saying I need to go in there and face off against not just one discontented super-powered villain who is bent on destroying the world and just so happens to hate me personally, but two of the most insane people who meet that definition, at the same time, in the middle of an unearthly hellfire.”
“That about sums it up,” Alexa grinned as she walked to Buddy's side. “Don't worry about it, Captain. You've faced off against worse in the past.”
“Have I?” Buddy asked.
“Probably not,” she answered, “but I thought it might help you feel a little better about the whole thing.”
“Right, so, any help you guys can offer me?” Buddy asked. “What about the goo gun?”
“Honestly, Buddy,” Ryan answered, “I don’t have any idea what you’d hope to accomplish with something as small as the goo gun.”
“Okay, good point. Anything else? Talmadge? You figure out any more crypto-thingies that may be able to help out?”
“Sorry, Buddy, I really don't know much about what I can do, or who is even out there to talk to.”
“What about the Cherufe?” Ryan asked.
“The who?” Alexa asked.
“The Cherufe. I think it was the ancient Chileans who believed in them. Thought they brought about earthquakes and volcanoes and whatnot. They were a sort of magma golem or something like that.”
“How the hell do you know about those things?” Alexa asked.
“They were in a card game I used to play.”
“Are they real, though?” Talmadge asked.
“How the hell would I know?” Ryan asked in return. “I didn't know the Mongolian Death Worms were even a thing, much less real, until today.”
“I think what my brother is so delicately attempting to say,” Alexa covered, “is that it couldn't hurt to try, right?”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do,” Talmadge agreed as he walked away.