Chapter One-hundred Twenty-three: The Brain

Chapter 123

The Brain

Craig was in a dive bar in Glocek Town—one of the poorer neighborhoods in Pink Top City, having a beer to drown his sorrows. Someone tapped his shoulder.

Craig: “What d’ya want?!”

He asked sharply, and the person delivered a strike to Craig, sending him crashing into the jukebox. Craig groaned in pain as he staggered to get up.

Craig: “Ya wanna rematch, ya fuckin’ rockstar douche?!”

He growled, and his eyes widened when he saw Deimos in a stance ready to strike.

Deimos: “That was for attacking Jaxon, and THIS is for snapping at Tristan!”

He spun around and delivered a rolling thunder kick to his head, where he crashed onto a table full of food. Craig cried and wheezed in pain.

Craig: “Deimos, I thought we were mates!”

He cried. Deimos glowered at him.

Deimos: “No, we weren’t. That began when I had a feud with Jaxon, and then I got to know him. He helped me more on my journey in music and life than you ever did. We were never friends. Don’t kid yourself.”

He spat.

Deimos: “Stay away from Jaxon and stay the fuck away from Tristan.”

He said venomously as he stormed out of the bar. Craig sank to the floor sobbing, feeling he was losing everything all at once. He lost his band, his sister, his lover, and his friends.

A large figure loomed in the shadows, gazing at him.

~

The next day, Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, and Jaxon were in the living room of Celeste and Jaxon’s house, going through the newspapers to see why Ichiro had to strike Toby Collins on Friday night at Pink Top High.

Fabien came into the house with a big smile on his face.

Tristan: “Hello, Fabien, what has you so chipper?”

Fabien: “THIS!”

He showed them a set of photos of Chance Ferreiro spanking his ass. Chance Ferreiro was a traveling chef who wore his hair light blond at the top and faded to black at the bottom, a portly figure, and always wore a Hawaiian shirt.

Celeste: “Those are super cool!”

Fabien: “I just feel… so alive! I wanted to do this set and other photo sets for a while. I also scheduled a shoot with Anthony. I’ve wanted to do that forever, but I couldn’t because Craig kept me on a tightrope.”

He said as he hung his head. Jaxon scoffed.

Jaxon: “I don’t know what you ever saw in that bogan idiot.”

Fabien gazed at him.

Fabien: “I think I felt sorry for him.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Tristan: “That is… not a reason to remain in a relationship with someone, especially if the relationship is detrimental to your well-being.”

He said firmly. Deimos nodded in agreement.

Jaxon grinned at Deimos.

Jaxon: “And my best friend, Deimos, knocked Craig out for me! I didn’t know you cared so much!”

He teased. Deimos blushed.

Deimos: “We’re not best friends.”

He muttered and reddened.

Jaxon: “Yeah, we are!”

He blew a raspberry at him. Deimos pouted and reached out, tickling Jaxon’s ribs and sides.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FUCK OFF!”

He laughed and rose to run away from Deimos. Deimos chased him and tickled his underarms, sides, and tummy.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA GEHEHET OFF MEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!”

Tristan cupped his mouth and grinned.

Celeste: “Ya like that, huh? Go tickle his feet, Tristan!”

She grinned and waved her hand. Tristan chuckled.

Tristan: “All right, if you insist!”

He rose from his seat, knelt to Jaxon’s feet as Deimos tickled him. Celeste zipped down and locked his ankles for Tristan.

Jaxon: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! CEHEHEHEHEHEHELESTE?!”

Tristan’s long, slender fingers wiggled over Jaxon’s soft soles. Jaxon caterwauled with laughter.

Jaxon: “FUUHUHUHUHUHUHUCK YOU AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHALL! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!”

Fabien smiled at the scene and was glad to witness this. It was a much more pleasant scene than watching Craig blow his nose in his shirt and watch shitty shows in his underwear.

~

Craig entered the Megalos tower with a short, fat white man walking alongside him. The man stood at about four feet and eleven inches tall. He was balding and had powder blue curly hair on his temples and the back of his head. He had a moustache, cold, beady eyes, and a gap in his teeth. He wore a pastel pink Italian-cut suit, white pressed shirt, pink bowtie, brown loafers, with a lab coat over it. He was Dr. Stefano Sarsarelli, the 64-year-old head of the robotics weapons department. He pressed the button for the elevator and led Craig inside the panoramic elevator as they went up.

Stefano: “You poor soul. I will make it all better. There is someone in the Megalos condos who wants to meet you. She needs your help. You need each other.”

He said tenderly.

~

They went down the black marble corridor. Craig was too dead inside to care. Stefano used his keycard and entered an elaborate condo and a spacious living room, kitchen, and dining room combination and large windows overlooking the city. The stairs led up to the next floor, where a balcony overlooked the loft. Stefano led Craig upstairs and knocked on the door.

Makayla opened the door and was surprised to see Craig with Stefano.

Makayla: “Craig! What a surprise!”

Makayla’s bedroom was a lavender room with a queen-size bed that had pig patterns. The mural depicted Makayla as a sexy farmer feeding mulch to pigs, with Ashley’s and Brad’s heads on the pigs. There was a poster print of Makayla in a dominatrix outfit feeding both Ashley and Brad hamburgers, and both were extremely obese.

Craig: “Kayla, Fab fuckin’ cheated on me! He’s STILL in love with that fuckin’ rockstar douche, Jaxon!”

He said through clenched teeth and tears. Makayla cupped her face.

Makayla: “What did I tell you, Craig?! He tried to steal my piggie’s thunder, and now, because of him, my pig is gone! I don’t know where Brad is!”

She cried.

Stefano: “If you two kill Jaxon and Celeste, you can have Fab, Craig. For Makayla, you can have Brad.”

He sighed and patted Craig’s shoulder.

Makayla: “Ashley, too! Two pigs are better than one! I want my pigface potholes!”

She whined.

Stefano: “You two are lucky! You get to pilot Highpowered Farming Juggernaut and kill Jaxon, Celeste, and their other two friends!”

He laughed maniacally.

Makayla: “NO! It’s not called that! It’s BRASHLEY!”

She whined and stomped her feet.

Craig: “Oh, fuck yeah, do I get a wicked sick costume?!”

He grinned. Stefano turned and wrung his hands with a grin.

Stefano: “You sure do!”

~

Craig stood in his condo dressed in a sleeveless neon green body suit with a scale texture. His dark green gloves and boots both had dorsal fins. Makayla wore a full latex head mask with pig ears, a leather bra-style top with criss-cross straps over her torso, black latex gloves, a black mini skirt with a pig belt buckle, and knee-high platform boots.

Makayla: “I don’t know about you, Miss Piggy, but I feel so yummy! Come ravish my pussy like a destrukto meal, Brad and Ashley!”

She swayed her hips.

Stefano wrung his hands.

Stefano: “Oh, yeah, and don’t forget to kill Jaxon, Celeste, and their friends. Ichiro and Minerva are wasting precious company funds on them, and I’m just trying to set a budget.”

He grinned and giggled.

~

On Friday evening at Christian’s house, Carmen came downstairs and wore a long, silk pink dress that came down to her knees, a sweetheart neckline, puffy short sleeves, white lace gloves, a large bow in her hair, and high-heeled sandals with rhinestones. Chihiro and Christian smiled at her, with Chihiro taking pictures of her. Christian gazed at his daughter with pride. There was a knock at the door.

Carmen: “She’s here!”

She said giddily. Chihiro went to answer the doo,r and a fairly tall Latina teenage girl dressed in a purple tuxedo entered. She wore her long dyed black hair tied back in a ponytail, had round glasses, and black lipstick. She was Carmen’s 15-year-old girlfriend, Claudia Hernandez.

Carmen: “Oh my God, you look amazing!”

She said breathlessly. Claudia looked at her girlfriend with stars in her eyes.

Claudia: “Not as good as you!”

She held her in her arms.

Chihiro: “Did you get the corsage, Claudia?”

She gently reminded her.

Claudia: “Y-Yeah, sorry!”

She withdrew a pink rose corsage from a clear box and put it on Carmen’s wrist. Christian handed Carmen a clear box with a rose boutonniere. Carmen took it and pinned it on Claudia’s lapel.

Chihiro took more pictures of the two girls.

Carmen: “This will be a night of magic… an unforgettable night.”

Christian: “You bet, princess.”

Claudia: “Let’s get in the limo, come on!”

She took her hand.

Christian: “Now, remember, Claudia, she has a curfew! She has to be home at twelve thirty past midnight!”

He said firmly but gently.

Carmen: “I know, Daddy!”

She rolled her eyes.

Claudia: “Come on!”

She implored her and opened the limo door for her to get in.

~

The limo pulled up to Pink Top High School. Claudia stepped out and shyly took Carmen’s hand, and the two girls went up the stairs to the doors of their high school.

They entered the gymnasium where the prom took place. It was lit with neon purple colors with stars and moons dangling from the ceiling and a disco ball in the center. There were purple, gold, and white balloons tied to the chairs with the white cloth tables and a DJ on the stage playing pop songs. with a balloon arch and “1987 PROM” in bold purple letters. There was a balloon arch where couples could have their picture taken.

The gym was filled with teenagers, adult chaperones, and teachers. There were tables with hors d’oeuvres, cake, desserts, and a juice bar with mocktails.

Claudia swallowed hard.

Claudia: “Wanna dance?”

Carmen: “Yes, I do!”

The two girls went on the dance floor with their classmates and began swaying to the song playing.

~

Ichiro teleported into the school near the gym doors. He peered into the prom and rolled his eyes with disgust. What is this nonsense? He thought bitterly.

He glanced around the dark corridor. There were lockers on each side and pictures of grads above them. He walked down the hallway, the music growing fainter as he ventured further.

~

A taxi pulled up to Pink Top High. Deimos stepped out, taking Tristan’s hand with Celeste and Jaxon following them. Jaxon wore a leopard print shirt with the buttons undone to expose his chest tattoo, a leather jacket, tight leather pants, and chelsea boots. Celeste wore her catsuit. Tristan wore a black waistcoat, dark red shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black pants, and black Oxfords. Deimos wore a grim reaper shirt with a purple plaid shirt over it, torn jeans, and cowboy boots. He leaned over and paid the cab.

The four ascended the stairs and heard the pop music blaring and growing louder as they drew closer. They walked by teenagers going to the dance and entered the school to glance in at the gymnasium.

Jaxon: “Uh, is this that prom?”

Tristan: “Yes, it is. I don’t think Ichiro will be here.”

He looked to the left and it was where the principal’s office was, and looked to the right where there was a hall with lockers on each side.

They went down the hallway.

Jaxon: “Any of you go here?”

Celeste: “I never went to school.”

Deimos: “I went to Darien High briefly and dropped out.”

Tristan: “And I was homeschooled for lycée or high school.”

They all replied.

Deimos: “And I only took Ivy to her prom.”

He groused.

Jaxon: “Sorry, man.”

He patted his back.

Deimos: “Yeah, those who know her tell me the same, and thanks.”

They heard wheezing close by and froze.

Celeste: “This way!”

They ran to the left and heard the wheezing coming from the girls’ locker room. The four barged in. The locker room was dark, but they heard the wheezing. Jaxon turned on the light to see a stocky, balding, redheaded man with glasses and a beard wearing a green polo shirt, khakis, and brown derby shoes inhaling a girl’s panties. The four pulled a face.

Jaxon: “That’s fucking gross, man!”

The man turned around and gazed at them.

Man: “You’re all too old for me! Go back to the nursing home.”

He chuckled. The four looked at him with disgust.

Deimos: “...The fuck?”

The man shoved past them and stormed into another door. The four chased after him and entered a room with a large pool. There was dim lighting with blue lighting from the pool. Tristan saw the man enter another room.

Tristan: “That way!”

They all chased after him.

~

Ichiro entered the science lab where Toby Collins taught and gazed around. Where is this jester? He thought. I want to get this over with so she can supply me with an enemy to use as bait to kill Percy, he mused.

The door swung open, and the redheaded man entered panting. Ichiro gaped at him.

Ichiro: “Are you by any chance Toby Collins?”

Toby: “Yes, old timer. I am.”

He spat. Ichiro quirked an eyebrow.

Ichiro: “...’Old timer’? I’m… younger than you…”

He said slowly.

Toby: “Yep, and too old for me. Go back to the nursing home, grandpa.”

He snorted. Ichiro gaped at him and reached into his lab coat.

Ichiro: “Okay, you’re quite the bothersome, so I’ll be delighted to get this over with.”

He withdrew a needle from his case.

Celeste, Jaxon, Deimos, and Tristan entered the science room.

Jaxon: “ICHIRO!”

He rasped.

Ichiro: “Oh, Jiro, you’re here. You’re never far from me, are you?”

He smirked.

Toby: “What is this, a senior’s reunion?”

He quipped.

Deimos: “Celeste, if you don’t kill this creepy little fuck, I will.”

He growled.

Ichiro: “Don’t bother, Deimos. I’ll do it for you. I just clean up others’ messes, especially Jiro’s and my father’s.”

He said wryly.

Toby took the needle from Ichiro’s hand while he was talking to the quartet.

Ichiro: “Are you going to stab us with that? It won’t do you much good; it does not affect us.”

He smirked. Tristan raised an eyebrow at Ichiro.

Toby: “I had no intention of stabbing you, Gramps. Not everything is about you, old man.”

He laughed.

Celeste: “Then what are you gonna do with it?”

Toby: “Take it myself, you old hag.”

Celeste: “If you think I’m old…, oh god.”

She winced and shuddered.

Toby took the needle to his own neck and jammed it in, injecting himself. He pulled the needle out and dropped it to the floor. Ichiro looked at him with surprise. This is the first time someone has injected themselves, he thought.

Jaxon: “Oh, shit.”

He backed away as Toby dropped to the floor, convulsing. Celeste braced her feet apart. Jaxon stood by her protectively.

Toby’s glasses fell to the floor as moist bumps formed over his skin and expanded, tearing his clothes off. He let out a guttural scream as he curled into a ball, sprouting a tail out of his spine with a long spike shot from it. His face caved in, and his teeth grew larger and sharper. His eyes bulged out of his head and turned a dark red color. He formed into a large brain with dark red bulging eyes, sharp teeth, and a tail with a stinger.

Deimos: “...WHAT THE FUCK?!”

He screamed as he held Tristan protectively.

Slimy, bony hands popped out of the brain with claws on each finger.

Brain: “I’m a cere-bro, not a cere-no, bitches! And I’ve got a brainwave—surf’s up!”

Ichiro’s jaw dropped. This is the first time a richonoid spoke, he thought. The brain richonoid swung its tail at them, knocking them all to the floor, and struck its tail at Ichiro. Ichiro gasped and rolled away as the stinger plugged into the countertops, melting and eroding them. Jaxon took Celeste to escape and the stinger tail sprouted up from the floor.

Jaxon: “FUCK!”

He shrieked and clung to Celeste. Celeste turned around to the brain charging after them. She delivered a punch to the brain, sinking her fist in.

Brain: “Hehehehehe, talk about a brain teaser!”

Celeste gagged and pulled her fist out, glaring at the slime and residue on her gloved hand indignantly.

Jaxon: “Ugh, that’s fuckin’ gross!”

Celeste: “Tell me about it…”

She muttered.

Celeste: “And it didn’t budge!”

When the stinger was about to strike her, Tristan stomped on the floor, forming ice around the brain and freezing it.

Tristan: “I got you, Celeste!”

Celeste: “Thanks, Tristan!”

Ichiro: “I can protect you better!”

He huffed.

Celeste: “Uh? You made this thing?”

Ichiro: “Well, no? He took it… himself.”

He stammered.

The brain shook the ice off itself.

Brain: “Brrrrr, talk about a brain freeze!”

Tristan cupped his mouth and let out a tiny gasp.

Deimos: “...Nothing fucking works on this.”

He held Tristan protectively, and they backed away.

Celeste: “And it turned on Ichiro.”

Jaxon: “So?”

Celeste: “It’s attacking us, too, Jax. We’re fucked.”

Jaxon: “Great, thanks, Bitch-iro!”

He snapped.

Ichiro: “Well, if Percy didn’t kidnap me for that stupid video, I wouldn’t have to resort to this!”

He countered.

The brain slammed its large body into them, and the five crashed through the glass displays.

Brain: “I think you all look like some nice brain food!”

It slurped its lips. The color drained from their faces. It lunged at them, and they all ran out of the classroom and into the hall. The brain shot its tail through the wall across from them.

Jaxon: “JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!”

He screamed. The brain burst through the wall and chomped its teeth. The group ran down the hall as the brain chased them.

Brain: “A brain storm is coming, bitches!”

Tristan turned around as he ran and shot out icicles at the brain. The brain chomped down on them as he shot them.

Brain: “BRAIN-FREEZE!”

Deimos: “LET’S GO, TRISTAN!”

He yelled as they ran down the foyer away from the monster chasing them.

~

A red Ferrari GTS drove through the main streets of Pink Top City. A tall, slender Spanish-American man with slicked-back wavy purple hair, dressed in a suit and zip-up black square-toe boots, drove the car and was smoking as he drove. He was 23-year-old Jordi Vaquero, Minerva’s other henchman. Desiree was in the passenger’s seat and also wore a suit. He was blasting “Waiting for a Girl like You” by Foreigner on his cassette player and singing along to it.

Desiree: “Why the fuck are you singing that?”

She laughed.

Jordi: “Because we’re going to kidnap a fine piece of ass for the boss? Even if we’re not getting a taste?”

He laughed and shrugged. She looked at him and laughed again.

Desiree: “I don’t wanna taste. I don’t play for that team.”

She playfully hit him.

He put on his signal and turned onto the ramp leading to Dottat Yard.

~

The car pulled up to Pink Top High, and Desiree and Jordi climbed out. They went up the stairs and entered the school. They strolled past the prom and down the hallway. They heard rumbling and screaming. Ichiro ran past them.

Jordi: “Ichiro?!”

He asked and laughed awkwardly.

Tristan: “RUN, RUN!”

He screamed out to them as Jaxon, Celeste, Tristan, and Deimos ran past them.

Desiree: “Hey, wasn’t that…?”

Desiree and Jordi turned around to see the brain zipping up to them.

Jordi: “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

He screamed. The brain grabbed his legs and opened up its mouth.

Desiree: “JORDI!”

She yelled. As the brain shoved Jordi’s legs in its mouth, Jordi snaked his Beretta 92F out of his jacket and fired at it. The brain shrieked and whipped its tail, knocking the two over. The brain grabbed Desiree’s legs to force her into its mouth.

Desiree: “NO, NO! FUCK NO!”

Jordi’s hand flew out, striking the creature with a lightning bolt. The creature’s tooth sliced through Desiree’s thigh, and she screamed.

Jordi: “DESIREE!”

He cried. He grabbed her and slung her over his shoulder.

Brain: “BRAIN IT ON, BITCHES!”

Jordi ran away with Desiree over his shoulder.

Jaxon, Celeste, Tristan, and Deimos were stopped by an older, stern-looking man in a brown tweed suit.

Man: “Why are you all here?! This is prom for the students, and you four are adults!”

Tristan: “Sir, you have to get out of here and evacuate everyone!”

He said tersely.

Man: “I am going to be calling the police on you four!”

He stepped menacingly up to Tristan. Deimos growled.

Deimos: “CALL THE FUCKING COPS! They will run as you should!”

He barked and delivered a roundhouse kick, sending him crashing into the wall.

The man staggered up.

Man: “I am calling the police on you hoodlums!”

He rasped. Jordi ran past him with Desiree over his shoulder.

Jordi: “GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!”

Man: “Why, you hoodlum!”

He turned around and screamed when he saw the brain. The brain opened its mouth and chomped on the man; its teeth went through his torso. The man screamed as the brain devoured him alive.

A teen boy came out and screamed when he saw the brain. The brain charged after him, biting down on him, and blood splattered on the lockers.

~

Jordi came out with Desiree over his shoulder and ran to his car.

Jordi: “I got you, Desiree.”

He said gently to her.

Desiree: “I’m okay, Jordi! The boss’s gonna be upset!”

She said weakly.

Jordi: “I’ll deal with her.”

He said gently but firmly and rolled over the hood of his car and into the driver’s side. He started the car and sped off down the road.

Celeste, Jaxon, Deimos, and Tristan ran out of the school, panting. Jaxon angrily looked around.

Jaxon: “WHERE THE FUCK IS THAT COWARD?!”

He bellowed.

Deimos: “Ran away. What else could he do?”

He huffed.

Celeste: “On second thought…”

She pointed to Ichiro running out of the school.

Jaxon: “Not so fast, coward!”

He bellowed. Ichiro stopped to glare at Jaxon.

Ichiro: “Sorry, Jiro! I don’t want to be eaten by that thing!”

Jaxon: “You fucking made it!”

He barked.

Ichiro: “And I wouldn’t have to if PERCY didn’t make that stupid video of me!”

He fired back.

Jaxon: “I was in it, too!”

He countered.

Ichiro: “You have that fetish!”

He yelled back.

Jaxon: “I do not!”

The brain came out of the school with blood all over its face and teeth. It grinned at Ichiro, Jaxon, Celeste, Tristan, and Deimos.

Tristan: “Oh no, that thing will attack the city! I don’t know how to stop it! Nothing hurts it!”

He cried.

Suddenly, a large and heavy girth of metal fell from the sky, slamming into the brain, splattering brain, blood and gray matter all over like a tidal wave, getting it all over Ichiro, Jaxon, Celeste, and Deimos stood in front of Tristan, so he wouldn’t get any on him. A big, round robot pig rolled around in the blood and brain residue like mud in a pigsty with a loud oink. It was the size of an eighteen-wheeler truck with a large, spherical body and a creepy face made from nightmares.

It resembled a creepy reject mascot from Barry Bear’s Pizza, staring into your soul, with its cold, dead eyes and hollow grin. It wore a shirt that said: “BRASHLEY” smeared on it with purple paint and a love heart with purple lipstick kisses on it.

Ichiro removed his glasses to clean the sludge off them and glared indignantly at the mess. He put his glasses back on.

Ichiro: “...What on Reona is this?”

Celeste brushed the gray matter and sludge off herself, and Jaxon shook it off, feeling nauseated.

Celeste: “Whatever it is, it killed that fucking brain, so yay?”

She shrugged.

Deimos cleaned his glasses and flicked the sludge off himself.

Tristan: “Thank you, Deimos.”

He smiled.

Deimos: “I couldn’t let this get on you, Tristan.”

He said doggedly. Tristan blushed and bit his bottom lip.

The latch popped open, and Makayla and Craig stepped out.

Makayla: “Well, hello, Jaxon… and Deimos! Good to see you’re both making a band together while my piglet, Brad, is gone!”

She said acidly. Deimos and Jaxon glared at Craig and Makayla.

Craig: “And you’re a fuckin’ homewrecker, cunt! And Deimos, you betrayed me for him!”

Deimos: “We were never friends, Craig. We were only ‘friends’ when I had that feud with Jaxon, but he helped me more with music and life than you EVER did!”

He spat venomously.

Jaxon: “That’s right!”

Jaxon blew a raspberry at them. Craig looked at Deimos with hurt and anger.

Craig: “I thought we was mates, Deimos, but you’re a cunt like the rest of ‘em!”

He fired back.

Celeste: “Uh, why are you dressed like a pig, Makayla? And why is Craig wearing a latex fish suit? What message are you two trying to send?”

She drawled.

Deimos: “I’m standing here and I can’t believe they’re inside of a pig!”

He huffed. Tristan cleared his throat.

Tristan: “Actually, given Makayla’s patterns, I can.”

He said awkwardly.

Celeste: “Yeah, me too.”

Jaxon: “Me three.”

Deimos sighed.

Deimos: “...You know what? Actually, I can!”

Makayla: “Enough, talking! Time to have a taste of pig and say goodbye to all of you!”

Craig: “Fuck you, cunts!”

They jumped into the robot pig and closed the ready for combat.