PPGD Love and War 0206

PPGD

Love and War…Mostly War

Saga 02 Chapter 06:Tears

The clouds cast a dark mood upon the school yard as Buttercup sat up, trembling, and at a loss for words at what was going on.  Standing over her was the figure of a rowdy, rough tomboy that she had come to care about so deeply.  Her outfit was comprised simply of jeans, a white t-shirt and a gray jacket.  She seemed so superior and lethal standing over Buttercup the way she did.  If it weren’t for the tears in her eyes one would believe that she was truly happy to be on the verge of crushing the Powerpuff Girls.

Doctor X stood a long ways back with some sort of remote in his hand, viewing the scene with pleasure.  The robotic warrior beside him whispered in his ear before getting a nod of approval, to which Destruction smiled.  The tall, red humanlike kaijin with his green bug eyes turned to his comrades and signaled the attack.  It was a chaotic moment; the three kaijins behind him leapt into action, sending Blossom, Bubbles and Dexter into confusion.  

Bubbles jumped sideways to avoid Brute’s swing.  Brute was by far the slowest kaijin in terms of physical abilities and wits, but because of his massive size and intense strength he was a hazard to anyone in his way.  He was five times Bubbles’ size, every movement he made was slow and life threatening, and all Bubbles could do to defend herself was jump to this side or that side.  Blossom and Dexter were assaulted from both sides by humanoid moth and mantis kaijins.   Switchblade’s scythe hands were efficient, quick and deadly.  Blossom was very agile and tactful, but she was losing a little more hair with each slash of his blade.  She could only keep up that game for so much longer.  Dexter was having a little more luck on his side as he used his power gloves to deflect Black Moth’s attacks.

Bell’s hair was gently being lifted by the breeze as she held onto her father’s hand and smiled gleefully.  Destruction caught her gaze only once and quickly turned his eyes away.  Kaijins’ emotions are very limited and although Destruction knew that he was unable to feel it, he still received chills when he looked into those eyes.  Eyes of this girl they had taken in so long ago and whom they feared would destroy them all if anyone should let their guard down.  

Samantha’s fist drove into the earth, barely missing Buttercup.  She was soon leaping backwards, blocking Samantha’s punches and doing her best to keep an eye on her sisters.  For a moment she caught a glimpse of Mandy sitting on the steps of the school and opening a candy bar.  All of this was too much to focus on as her opponent’s strikes became fiercer.  

“What’s wrong?  Why is all this happening all of a sudden?”  Buttercup called to her friend in hope that she would give some sort of answer.  However, the voice that answered it was not who she had expected it to be.

Doctor X’s strong voice called to her, “Because we’re on a schedule.  I have a planet to conquer and you’re standing in the way.  When I told her to make friends, I didn’t mean it to be with superheroes.”  There were some curse words he couldn’t hear coming from Buttercup, but he simply ignored the remarks.  “I was reasonable until you kids decided to let the autobot go.  It took an awful lot to catch him.  You’re a bad influence on her, you know?”  He was, of course, referring to Samantha.  Her aiding the girls was unforgivable and should be dealt with accordingly.  

Buttercup was getting tired of running from this fight.  It wasn’t Samantha she should be fighting, it was Doctor X, that despicable monster.  He was definitely more vile than anything she had ever encountered before and he deserved a good beat down.  It took a lot to land that first punch on Samantha, but when it was done that meant the second one would come easier.  She tried holding back, but soon realized that Samantha’s android body could handle more than a normal human, so she had to punch much harder.  

It seemed to be no use.  Even with solid, strong hits on her, Samantha continued to fight and was slowly becoming the victor.  It was so cruel to punish her like this.  The tears were flowing freely now as she caused more pain to Buttercup’s body.  The green school uniform was torn and dirty.  There was blood on Buttercup’s arms and legs as she picked herself off the ground.  Everything around her was a blur, the only clear image was Samantha walking calmly towards her.  Somewhere in the distance she could hear her sisters screaming and the sound of metal clashing.  

Her body was becoming tired and it was starting to show.  Her movements were sluggish and lacked that certain tone Buttercup tended to give off.  She was no longer cocky or arrogant; she had been humbled to an opponent who could take her out anytime she wished, but Doctor X was pulling all the strings and he didn’t feel like having Samantha finish her off just yet.  

Some how Bell and Mandy were now sitting beside Doctor X conversing and eating popcorn while watching the chaos unfold.  Destruction tried to point out the new human to Doctor X, but he replied telling the kaijin that Bell should be free to make some friends.  Dexter activated a switch on his gloves causing them to be charged with blue sparks.  The next punch that came his way from the insect robot was the last.  As soon as Dexter saw it coming, he threw his fist out and they collided with terrible power.  The blue sparks from Dexter’s glove were soon swimming onto Black Moth’s arm and all over his body.  Within ten seconds he was on the ground, immobile and silent.  

Blossom was getting tired and decided she would fly into the air for a short breath.  That wasn’t to be.  The kaijin apparently had been hiding his wings and now he was spreading them.  He was soon flying towards her and the only thing to do was fly higher away from him.  Blossom felt the strain of the battle on her limbs and knew that she could only go so high.  It was finally resolved in her head to turn around and face the menace head on.  With all the speed she could muster, she was heading at him, eyes glowing red and then there was nothing but the flash of her laser eyes and the sound of his mechanisms being reduced to ash.

When she landed she nearly collapsed before realizing there was more fighting to be done.  Bubbles and Dexter were rushing to her, they had apparently defeated the third kaijin.  “Are you okay?”  Bubbles asked, placing Blossom’s arm around her back in order to help support her.  

Buttercup was on the ground, Samantha’s hands at her throat.  She was kicking and biting, doing anything to get her assailant off.   Samantha’s tears were falling on Buttercup’s face.  Every drop that touched her face stayed, it didn’t roll off.  It was like they were clinging to her, wanting to embrace her.  It was just too sad.  

“I hate you.”  Samantha whispered, closing her eyes tight.  “I hate you.  I hate you.  I hate you.”  She continued.  Buttercup was having a hard time breathing as Samantha’s grip tightened.  “You were supposed to be my dad, but you were never anything close.”  What was she saying?  Buttercup began to realize that she hadn’t been saying she hated Buttercup; she was talking to Doctor X.  

“Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you.  And even if you don’t realize it now, this is for you too.”  He said coldly as he adjusted something on the remote.  Buttercup couldn’t take it anymore.  With this new knowledge, she was infuriated.  A new passion rose up in her chest as the world became a little clearer.  Her arms were now locked on Samantha’s right below the shoulders.  With all her strength, she began pulling outwards.  Samantha screamed as she felt the cybernetic pieces being pulled apart from her.  There was a horrible grinding noises and a rip, with Samantha’s whimpers of pain and the sound of her crying.  

The next moment, Samantha was lying on the grass, pitiful and broken.  Buttercup was staring point blank at the intimidating Doctor X, but he was the one who should have been afraid.  If there was ever a look that could kill, this was it.  There was no forgiveness in her eyes, she would kill him if it was the last thing she did.  And then, he clapped.  “Well done.  I didn’t honestly think you would live.”  He turned his eyes to his daughter, sitting up on the grass with metal and wires hanging from her shoulders.  “I’m giving you a choice, you can stay with them or come home.  I’d hate for us to be separated again.”  

Buttercup sniggered.  “What makes you think…”  Samantha was dragging her feet as she walked to her father.  Buttercup reached out a hand to pull her back, but she stopped.  Why would she do that?  Why would anyone want to go back?  It wasn’t right.  She wanted with all her heart to kill that man and every last one of his toy robots.  But all the anger left her.  Her body seemed unwilling to obey her brain.  She was frozen in that moment, the wind chilling her skin, the tears on her face.  The tears on her cheeks weren’t only Samantha’s, they were hers too.  

This was their enemy.  Heartless, inhumane, and as far as they could see, evil.  The girls were now more determined than ever to put an end to this invasion.  Nothing would stop them from defeating the Dark Star Council and the Cluster.  It wasn’t just a matter of being superheroes, it was a personal conviction that was taking hold.  They had been hurt by these villains one too many times.  It was time to return the favor.