episode8b

Episode 8: Fight and Flight

"Get ready guys,� said Link.

�Security�s here,� gulped Yoshi.

Out of the ceiling flew a bunch of robots, X-Nauts and security drones, all ready to take down the heroes.

�That�s all-a?� asked Mario unfazed by this small force.

�Piece of cake,� added Luigi, leaping into action, green flames already building up in his gloves.

�Be careful!� shouted Samus. �Some of those are Quads. They�re heavily armored and nearly impossible to destroy.�

�Ok,� said Link. �You can take down the Quads and we�ll fight the X-Nauts.�

�Got it,� replied Samus.

Waves of electricity and powerful blasts could be heard and seen throughout the room. Mario and Luigi�s fireballs were flying everywhere, damaging tons of enemies. Samus was rapidly shooting weak shots at her foes to wear them down. Link had already slashed off a Quad�s head and was incredibly shocked when it easily grew back.

�Whoa,� shouted Link. �Nobody said these things can regenerate their limbs,� he added as a Quad�s leg regrew after a boomerang assault.

�Take out the body first,� advised Samus. She struck the base of the Quad with a Super Missile, blowing it up. �No problem,� she said.

�You have a gun!� pointed out Link.

�What�s your point?� she asked. �You have a sword.�

�Never mind,� said Link. �Samus, watch out behind you��

An X-Naut tossed a grenade at her from behind with so little warning, she had no time to dodge it. It exploded directly on the bounty hunter, but luckily, it did not kill her. Samus�s Varia Suit was destroyed and so were most of her abilities except for the Power Beam and the Morph Ball.

�Shoot!� she said. �Suit malfunction again!�

Mario and Luigi slapped each other a high-five as a pair of Quads bit the dust. Yoshi tossed an egg at a crowd of X-Nauts, knocking them all down like a group of dominoes. Bowser and Ganondorf merely watched the battle from the sidelines.

�You think we should jump in the action?� asked Ganon.

�Nah,� replied Bowser indifferently. �They look like they�re doing a good job, right?�

�Umm� sure,� replied Ganon.

�Then there�s no need to get involved,� commanded Bowser. A pair of drones rounded on the villains (the good villains -what an oxymoron- err� whatever) at that moment. �Now we get involved,� said Bowser.

�No, you think,� said Ganon sarcastically. �They�re attacking us!�

�Yeah,� said Bowser. �Let�s get in this scrap!�

Bowser breathed fire at one of the drones, easily incinerating it. The other drone began spraying nerve gas into the room to take out the heroes. Fortunately for the group unfortunately for him), the gas only affected Bowser, taking him out. The drone was out of gas and none of the others seemed to be able to use gas, so it was safe.

�We should take out the lead drone,� suggested Yoshi. �It�s the one that commands all the other ones. They�ll be helpless without it.�

�Good plan-a,� praised Mario.

Taking out the lead drone was easier said than done, however, as it seemed to possess more moves than the average drone. Not only that, but there were still other security bots attacking, which made it difficult to concentrate on the lead drone through the shower of bullets and debris.

Link reeled in the drone with his Hookshot and then began slashing away at it, hacking it up into thousands of pieces. The other drones all floated around aimlessly, unsure of their targets or destinations without the help of the lead drone and were easily taken out by the group. Between Link�s sword abilities, Ganon�s dark magic, Mario and Luigis jumping skills and Yoshi�s egg throwing, they made quick work of Grodus�s minions. The remaining X-Nauts stared at the group and fled.

�That�s right,� said Ganon. �Run away.�

�Yeah, like you scared them,� mocked Yoshi.

�Hey, I did what I could� retorted Ganon.

�Grr,� said the only remaining X-Naut in the room, and by his lab coat, you could see he was an X-Naut Ph. D. �You�re lucky my force abandoned me. Cowards they were. I would�ve wiped the floor with you fools. But I will leave you a parting gift to remember me by. Muahahahaha!!!�

He tossed a beaker filled to the top with a slimy green substance at the group and ran out the door behind his men.

�Why does everyone have to laugh like that?� asked Yoshi.

The beaker sailed through the air and landed right on Samus, exploding as it did so.

�Today must be my lucky day,� she commented sarcastically as it hit her, knocking her out.

�I�ll carry Samus if everyone else carries Bowser,� said Yoshi jokingly

�Hey no fair,� says Link. �We�re not lugging that piece of crap all over this lair.�

�Of course not,� replied Yoshi. �We�re taking them back outside to the gunship to wait until we deal with Grodus.� At these words, the doors locked behind him. �Guess not,� he said.

�Just great,� remarked Ganon. �I guess I�ll take Bowser. I�m the only one who can support him. Surely someone can carry Samus.�

�No problem,� replied Link.

The group moved a bit slower, weighed down by their burdens, but nevertheless, they moved strongly, not showing a sign of weakness.

�Ah shoot. Password?� asked Ganon incredulously. �How the heck we supposed to know?�

�That conceited little slimeball would only make the password his name,� remarked Yoshi. He entered �Grodus� as the password a few times but the door did not open.

�Oh that�s right-a, Lord Crump-a designed this-a door system-a!� exclaimed Mario. He entered a variety of passwords such as �Crump� and �Lord Crump� but no dice. Finally, he tried the phrase �Crump Rules!� and it worked. The red light above the door changed to green and the door slid open, allowing the heroes to advance. As they entered the next hallway, they heard voices around the corner:

�Is he gone yet?� squeaked a small voice.

�No, but he�s leaving soon.� responded a somewhat gruff voice.

�Where�s he going?�

�I don�t know, do I look like his babysitter?�

The voices went back and forth and the heroes decided to eavesdrop on their conversation.

�So he went to mine phazon, did he?�

�Yes.�

�Where at?�

�Tallon IV. Good mines there.�

�I know but I�m surprised there�s so much left. People have known about Phazon Mines for years.�

�Yes, but few have the technology to reach such a faraway planet.�

�So Grodus�s plans involves going to the Phazon Mines,� said Yoshi. �But what for?�

�Phazon can be used for a lot of things, Yoshi,� remarked Ganondorf. �It can fuel machinery with great unparalleled strength. Grodus is likely developing an intergalactic tractor beam to pull objects with.�

�Shh,� said Link. �Quiet, they might hear us!�

�What�s he plan to do with that phazon?�

�Did you not hear his plot at breakfast?�

�Must�ve dozed off.�

�So lazy, so foolish.�

�So what�s the scoop?�

�Grodus will used the power of the phazon to fuel a tractor beam to drag the planet Earth into the Sun unless he is paid a ransom. Then, he plans on using the same device to destroy much of the universe.�

�See? What did I tell you!� remarked Ganon loudly.

�Shh�� cautioned Link a second time.

�Oh Fawful, I think we have some uninvited guests.�

�Yes, Grubba. I think you are right.

�We should invite them in. Need to know how much they heard.�

The two people the group heard talking lunged out of the shadows and prepared to attack the heroes. They were Grubba, owner of the Glitz Pit, and Fawful, Cackletta�s servant.

�Outnumbered,� snarled a disappointed Grubba. �Oh well.�

Mario punched aside Fawful quite easily, but Grubba put up a greater fight, in fact, he won the fight. Using his immense weight and strength, he picked up all the heroes and tossed them into a heap on the floor. Grubba then threw a smoke bomb and seized Bowser and Samus. He and Fawful then fled the room before calling something out to Mario and company:

�Your two unconscious friends shall get us more ransom money,� said a deep, heavy voice. �Or will you try to rescue them? Either way shall be fun. Bye now.�

�Later, fink-rats,� called out the other voice.

When the smoke cleared, Bowser and Samus were gone, but the heroes had an idea of what Grodus was up to.

�We gotta go down to the Phazon Mines!� said Yoshi.

�We can take Samus�s ship,� suggested Link. �Surely someone can fly it.�

�Let�s a-go,� said the Mario Bros.

�We should split up,� said Ganon. �Some of us should stay here in case Grodus sent someone else to get the phazon for him.�

�And some of us will need to go to Tallon IV in case Grodus is mining the phazon himself,� said Link.

�Good idea,� said Yoshi. �It just might work.

�Let�s-a hope so-a,� said Luigi pessimistically as always.
�.

Grodus and his followers were still gathered around the table discussing the latest in evil and diabolical schemes. The doors in the front of the room were pushed open and from them emerged Fawful and Grubba, carrying the still unconscious Bowser and Samus.

�Some prisoners for you, boss,� said Grubba. �See, we found these fools loiterin� in you lair.�

�Excellent,� said Grodus. �We�ve finally captured the bounty hunter Samus Aran! Yes! But more importantly, we�ve gotten hold of my evil rival, Bowser. I�ve been wanting to get my hands on him for years. Nice work boys.�

�It was no problem, really boss,� remarked Grubba. �They were not only intruders in castle, sir Grodus.�

�Those fink-rats, Mario and Luigi were in here,� added Fawful. �Along with other heroes they�ve joined up with.�

�Yes,� said Grubba. �Yoshi, Link and Ganondorf were here too.�

�All of them?� asked Grodus incredulously. �And why did you not capture them?�

�They got away,� lied Fawful.

�I see,� replied Grodus. �You were afraid to face them. Don�t lie to me. I always know when you are lying. Understand?�

�Yes sir,� replied Fawful.

�I promise to be more efficient in future excursions,� added Grubba.

�Really?� asked Grodus. �You know what I think? You really don�t care, do you? You lie to me and now you will pay the price. There won�t be a next time for you, Mr. Grubba�.�

�Noooooo!� pleaded Grubba. �Don�t press the button! Please! Noooooooo!�

�I think you are right, Grubba,� said Grodus. �But I intend to let you off with a strong warning.� He pressed a button next to the one that drops people to their doom. This one electrocuted Grubba with an electricity so powerful, it penetrated his shock-proof flesh. �Do we have an understanding, Mr. Grubba?�

�Yes sir.�

�Good. Now as you all know, I am flying to Tallon IV to collect the phazon needed for my plan. Crump, you will come with me. Your knowledge of the terrain and powerful technologies are a must. As for the rest of you, none of you will come. I need you to stand guard here in case Mario and his friends decide to infiltrate my lair. Finally, I�ll need an army to accompany me to Tallon IV. I shall choose X-Naut Squadron # 3.1415��aka X-Naut Squadron Pi.�

�Mmm pie,� commented Grubba.

�This is not a food outing, you fool,� shouted Grodus. �Squadron Pi is a powerful force composed of the strongest fighters in my army. It shall do my bidding. And Crump, when you are ready, would you be so kind as to start the rocket?�

�Yes sir,� replied Lord Crump. �I am ready!�

�Prepare the rocket,� commanded Grodus.

�PREPARE THE ROCKET!!!!� screeched Cackletta.

A wall moved aside and beyond it a shiny silver rocket could be seen. It was easily hundreds of feet tall and had several images on it including Grodus, an X-Naut picking his nose and Lord Crump. Several �ewws�, �oohs�, and �aahs� could be heard among the group of villains as they saw Grodus�s rocket.

�Start the countdown initiation sequence!� commanded Grodus.

Cackletta repeated him in a loud high-pitched scream. Grodus, Lord Crump and X-Naut Squadron Pi entered the rocket. The doors shut and a countdown began: �Five, four, three, two, one, BLAST OFF!!!� And the rocket took flight, course set for Tallon IV.

�.

The heroes stood in the corridor in Grodus�s lair where Grub a and Fawful had left them. Everyone was silent, but Ganondorf was first to break the silence and speak.

�Mario and Luigi, you two head for the center of Grodus�s lair,� said Ganon. �Try to conquer it and get everyone in here to surrender. If you can, rescue Samus and Bowser. Link, Yoshi and I will follow Grodus to Tallon IV and try to stop him.�

�Ok-a,� replied Mario.

�Easier said-a than done-a,� said Luigi weakly. �Grodus has-a tons of guards-a in here and they�re all-a looking for us-a.�

�You will be outnumbered,� said Link. �But not outclassed. You two show them why you�re famous. Jump high and kick butt!�

�Ok-a,� said the Mario Bros. in united confidence.

�Excellent,� said Yoshi. �We�ll try to make sure that phazon doesn�t get back here. If it does, or we�re captured, it�ll be up to you to destroy the weapon.�

�Oh yeah, that�s the other reason you�re here,� added Ganon. �If you destroy that weapon, the phazon will be useless in the first place. You know what you have to do guys?� The Mario Bros. nodded. �Great. Then good luck. We�ll see you later.�

Link and Yoshi bade the Mario Bros. their good-byes and hopped into Samus�s ship, which was waiting outside. Mario and Luigi headed to their next obstacle, another locked door with a red light above it, and began their attempt at getting to the heart of Grodus�s Moon Base.

�.

�You heard that guys?� screeched Cackletta, who was roaming on the fortress intercom and just happened to stumble upon the heroes� conversation. �They�re in Hallway 3A. Kill them or bring them back here alive. No excuses this time!�

�Yes ma�am� said Grubba.

�I�ll tell the boss some of them are headed for the mines as well,� added Beldam. �They won�t pull this off.�

Last time..........
The heroes managed to force their way into Grodus's Moon Base. But when the alarm goes off, they are detected and Grodus sends some security bots to pick them off. As if that wasn't bad enough, Grodus and his followeres have devised a plan that they will use to wrerak havoc and destruction upon the world (and get rich!).