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A smile slowly spread across Angelo's face, making him look even more sinister than before.
"Well well well, Atlus. I'm glad to see you remember me." He pressed the gun against Atlus' forehead, digging into the skin. "And you even brought a new friend along with you.".
Thrusting his arm across Corey's chest, Atlus pushed him backwards. Corey stumbled back a few steps. "What the hell are you doing?! How do you two know each other?!" he demanded angrily.
"Corey, get out of here! Things are going to get real ugly, real soon.". About to protest this, Corey opened his mouth to speak but he was cut off as Atlus pushed him back a second time. Getting the hint, Corey took a few steps then turned around and ran back up the stairs. Now alone, Atlus glared at his captor.
"I guess you kept your former employer a secret from your new friends, eh?" Angelo smirked at his own tasteless humor. "The commander didn't really expect for you to be a turncoat but all the better for us."
"And why's that?" Atlus interrupted. "Are you going to somehow blame this setup on me? They won't believe that."
A chuckle came from Angelo. "My dear Atlus, how are you going to convince them it wasn't you if you're dead?"
"I have two words for you Angelo."
"And what's that my friend?" The last word dripped with sarcasm.
"APRIL FOOL'S!"
<The screen freezes, and Atlus walks off the set. He is now in the Base Gastly: Coast to Coast studio>
Atlus: <chuckles> What? Did you think it was being worked on?
<Base Gastly materializes behind his desk and Lugia flies down and rests in the chair next to Base Gastly. Atlus walks over and sits next to Lugia>
Base Gastly: That was way mean, Atlus.
Atlus: <Shrugs> They'll deal with it.
Base Gastly: Well anyways, practical joking asi-
<A phone rings, cutting Base Gastly off>
Lugia: A call in! Someone's calling! HURRY HURRY GET IT GET IT! <Lugia gets up and starts jumping on his chair>
Base Gastly: Hello, Base Gastly: Coast to Coast. You're our first-
Lugia: And only!
Base Gastly: -caller. <Glares at Lugia> You're live. What can I do for you?
<A huge viewscreen comes down next to Base Gastly. It turns on and a shadowed figure is shown>
Caller: <His voice is disguised> Atlus Parker, your antics will not be taken lightly. Beware, within the next 48 hours disaster will befall you. Take care!
<The picture cuts off and the viewscreen lifts back up>
Base Gastly: Wow, Atlus. That didn't take long at all.
Atlus: <Obviously nervous, is sweating bullets> Y-y-yeah...heh heh. He's kidding, right guys?
Lugia: <shrugs> I dunno. He sounded pretty serious.
Base Gastly: Who knows what he'll do. Cut off your fingers. <Atlus cringes> Bury you up to your neck in sand and let the Krabbys get you. Maybe even get you a role in The Wiggles.
Atlus: The Wiggles?! <Screams and runs offstage>
Base Gastly: <Pretends to look hurt> Oh dear, was it something I said. Cut to commercial and take 5 everybody!
<Instead of going to commercial, the camera stays on.>
Base Gastly: <Not realizing that the camera is still on, turns to talk to Lugia> Lugia! This is great! Do you realize what this means?!
Lugia: Great? He seemed pretty upset.
Base Gastly: No no no! You don't realize what an opportunity this is! Even if that guy doesn't get him, we'll take him out ourselves! We'll film it and make a documentary! Not only will we get him out of our hair, the ratings will go through the roof! We'll call it <Dramatic pause> "Death of Innocence".
Lugia: That sounds like a cheesy Lolita T&A flick.
Base Gastly: You're right, you're right. We wouldn't want to get nailed for false advertisement. How about "The Death of Atlus"? It's simple and right to the point.
Lugia: But why do you want to kill him? He stopped The Announcer.
Base Gastly: Would you rather I kill you?
Lugia: Good point. I'm in.
<Atlus starts walking back onstage. His eyes are bloodshot>
Base Gastly: Sh! Sh! Here he comes! Act natural! <Base Gastly and Lugia both force smiles as Atlus sits back down in his seat> Atlus, my dearest friend. Are you alright?
Atlus: Yeah, I'm just a little upset. I'll be alright. I can't say I'm not worried, though. It's not every day that you have people trying to kill you.
<Base Gastly and Lugia glance at eachother nervously>
Lugia: What makes you think we're trying to kill you?!
Atlus: <Looks at Lugia> I didn't say you were. Don't you remember the call we just got?
Base Gastly: <Chuckles lightly> Uh...yeah! We remember! We're not trying to kill you!
Atlus: You two are acting funny.
Base Gastly: We're just nervous for you! <Quickly changes the subject> Hey, I have an idea! Let's go outside!
Atlus: But...
Lugia: Great idea! Let's go!
Atlus:...the show's not over...
<Atlus continues to protest as Lugia and Base Gastly drag him outside. On the way out, Lugia picks up a handcam and turns it on. Once outside, Base Gastly pushes Atlus out of hearing range and starts speaking into the camera as Lugia films him>
Base Gastly: Today is a solemn day. Today, we will witness history in the making as we record what will become one of the saddest events in memory. Today, we will witness...<Dramatic music plays for a few moments then stops as Base Gastly continues> The Death of Atlus!
<Base Gastly pushes Atlus in front of the camera and thrusts a cardboard sign into his hands that says "The Death of Atlus - Part One">
Base Gastly: Now pose for the camera, Atlus.
Atlus: ...wha? <Looks confused>
Base Gastly: Very good! <Takes the sign from Atlus and gets rid of it making sure that he didn't have a chance to read it> Now...um...why don't we go hang out by the highway? <Grabs Atlus by the arm and drags him to the highway. Lugia follows with the camera>
Atlus: <Stands up and dusts himself off> I don't know what's wrong with you two but you're acting very strange. Why are we at the highway anyways?
Base Gastly: Because...look! <Points out to the middle of the highway. The camera pans over showing a scarecrow in a dress stuck in the middle of the highway. The camera then pans back to Atlus and Base Gastly> Oh my gosh! It's a young, nubile woman who has the hots for you! She needs to be saved!
Atlus: <Eyes Base Gastly> How do you know all that?
Base Gastly: Um...
<All of a sudden, a speaker inside the scarecrow comes on. It's Lugia's voice trying to disguise himself as female>
Lugia: <Through the speaker> Oh! Help help! Help me, Atlus! I'm a young, nubile woman who has the hots for you! I need to be saved! I am in mortal danger! <A tractor-trailer appears in the distance, blowing its air horn> Oh no! I am doomed!
Atlus: <Perks up, hearing the cries of distress> Young?! Nubile?! Woman?! With the hots for me?! I'm there! <Takes off sprinting across the highway>
Base Gastly: <Looks at the camera> There he goes, a brave soul thinking not of his sake but for the sake of another. It's a shame these are his last moments. <Off camera you hear the tractor-trailer pass by. A loud crunch is heard. Feigning panic Base Gastly rushes off to the side of the road calling out for Atlus. The camera pans over, showing a huge cloud of dust that was left behind> Atlus! Atlus! Are you there? Are you hurt? Answer us!
<Base Gastly rushes over to the cloud of dust. As the dust settles, Atlus is sitting on the asphalt holding a torn piece of the dress, visibly upset. A look of dismay crosses Base Gastly's face but he hides it just as quickly as it came>
Base Gastly: <In a disappointed tone> Atlus...you're...alive...
Atlus: <Sniffles a little then dabs at his eyes using the torn piece of dress> I...she wanted me...bad. And I couldn't save her...
Base Gastly: <His eyes light up as he suddenly gets an idea> Are you alright, Atlus? You're not feeling...depressed...are you?
Atlus: Well as a matter of fact-
Base Gastly: <Cuts him off, grinning> That's all I needed to know! Let's go! Let's go! You get the rest of the day off! <Base Gastly stands Atlus up and pushes him back towards the studio>
[Meanwhile...]
<The room is fairly dark except for the dim light coming in from the rear window, which gives an expansive view of the stars. A throne sits in front of the window with the mysterious figure that was shown on the viewscreen. Reaching over to the arm of the throne he pushes a button, activating an intercom>
Captain: <From over the intercom> Yes, my liege?
????: Is our 'secret' weapon almost finished?
Captain: Yes sir! We are putting the finishing touches on the Death Sta-
????: What did I tell you about calling it that?! Do you want to get sued?!
Captain: I'm sorry, sir. I was out of place.
????: We're low budget as it is! We can't afford a lawsuit!
Captain: I'll be more careful in the future.
????: Now, hurry up and finish.
Captain: Yes sir! Right away!
????: <Closes the intercom> Yes. And soon young Parker will be ours. And the circle will be complete. <Looks around> You didn't hear that, alright?
[Back at Base Gastly Studios...]
<Atlus is laying in his bed, his walls covered with assorted posters. Base Gastly is standing in the doorway>
Base Gastly: ...and if you need anything, like a noose for instance, I'll be right down the hall, okay?
Atlus: Okay, thanks Base Gastly.
Base Gastly: Take it easy, failure. <Atlus looks even more hurt> I mean, Atlus. <Walks out closing the door behind him. Out in the hall he flashes the camera a thumbs up and holds out a sign that says "The Death of Atlus - Part 2".>
[To Be Continued...]
<The camera fades out>
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