Episode 49: What Lies Beneath
Titus led the team back into the church and Titus began to look around the area. “What exactly did Nathaniel tell you Titus?” Draco asked as he watched Titus move two broken benches. “He’s a bit hard to understand” Titus explained as he continued to look around, “Uses advanced vocabulary. Said his calculations are finished, that he was ready to reign victorious, that we are suburb or subnate or something.” “Subordinate?” Draco asked. “Yeah” Titus answered, “That sounds like an advanced word I wouldn’t understand.” “What exactly did he say?” Draco asked. “The calculations have set in” Titus replied, “They are finalized. It ends in supremacy, me reigning supreme. For you heroes are subordinate, your position is the same as my location. I await.” “Think this guy would do my English paper for me?” Bryan asked. “Your position is the same as my location” Draco said to himself. Draco suddenly looked up. “What Draco?” Medic asked. “The answer is what he thinks of us” Draco answered, “His location is subordinate.” “In English man” Cobalt stated. “He does not think highly of us” Draco explained. “So he awaits for us below” Michelle stated. “Below where?” Kristie asked. Draco took out his scanner again and held it downward and scanned the floorboards. “Below this very church” Draco answered.
Titus banged his fist through the wooden church floorboard and ripped a piece of the floorboard off. Cobalt bent down and helped Titus and started to rip pieces of the floorboard apart as well. Draco continued to hold his scanner and looked at its calculations. “Oh, pretty colors” Gabby stated as she stood behind Draco and looked at the scanner that had red and yellow marks on it. “What do you see?” Medic asked Draco as she walked over and looked at the scanner. Titus and Cobalt continued to rip the floorboard apart. “I see much activity” Draco explained, “Many hostiles, many locations, yet none moving at all.” “Well that just means more bad guys to kill” Michelle stated as she wiped the blood off one of her ice blades, “More guts to spill.” A piece of wood suddenly flew by Michelle’s head. “Hey!” Michelle yelled, “Watch it morons!” “You should make that into a shirt” Titus stated. “What?” Michelle asked, “Watch it morons?” “No” Titus replied, “More bad guys to kill, more blood to spill.” Michelle thought for a second and a slight smirk appeared on her face. “Out of all the activity” Draco began to explain, “What I can’t make out. Is the green activity.” “Green?” Medic asked. “The red and yellow are hostiles and there are many of them” Draco answered, “However, there’s twice as much verdure.” “What’s verdure?” Kristie asked. “Vegetation” Michelle answered. “Meaning?” Bryan asked. “Plants” Sarah answered. “So what?” Cobalt asked as he stood up and took a break from breaking the floorboard, “They keeping a garden?” “I do not think it’s that simple” Draco answered. Titus bashed his metal arm through the floorboard once more, then continuously hit the floorboard five more times causing the floorboard to cave in. “Got it” Titus stated as he ripped his arm out of the floorboard, “Metallic Brute One, Iron Crusader Zero.” “Man we didn’t say it was a challenge” Cobalt replied. “Wasn’t it expected?” Titus asked as he patted Cobalt’s shoulder, “It’s always a challenge.” The team looked down at the massive hole in the floorboard and looked at a pile of grass and dirt. “We found Earth!” Gabby said excitedly. “Chances we brought a shovel along with us?” Kristie asked. “Not very likely” Medic answered. Titus breathed heavily catching his breath. “I can begin to cut through in just a moment” Titus explained, “It’s going to take some time though.” Sarah slowly walked over to the hole in the floor and looked down at the grass and dirt beneath the hole. “Man isn’t there a quicker way?” Cobalt asked. “Titus if you focus enough you could possibly move the ground apart using telekinesis” Draco explained. Sarah then closed her eyes and slowly held her hands up. “I can create an ice shovel and attack the ground” Michelle stated. “I feel like the ice would break” Cobalt replied. “I feel like I could break your bones” Michelle answered. “Girl why does everything need to be violent with you?” Cobalt asked. “Cobalt’s right Michelle” Draco explained, “The solid ground would break your ice after a few attempts.” “Well I’ll just create another shovel” Michelle replied. Sarah’s eyes suddenly stared to flicker as her hands began to shake. “There has to be something else we could do” Medic stated.
Suddenly the ground started to shake and the team looked around as they staggered and tried to keep their balance. Dust began to fill throughout the church again and pieces from the ceiling began to fall to the ground. The grass and dirt beneath the floorboard suddenly cracked and started to pry itself open. The ground stopped shaking and the team looked at each other. “Earthquake?” Cobalt asked looking at Titus. “How ironic” Titus answered. “It’d be a coincidence moron” Michelle answered. “I don’t think it was irony” Draco stated, “Or coincidence.” “No, it was Sarah” Bryan stated as he pointed to Sarah, “She finally used her powers.” The team walked over to Sarah as she stood above the hole in the floorboard and looked down at a massive hole in the ground where the dirt and grass were. “Daaaaamn” Cobalt said as he looked at the massive hole in the ground, his voice then echoing down the massive hole. “There’s your way down” Sarah stated as she gestured toward the massive hole. “Great job Sarah” Medic said as she put her hand on Sarah’s shoulder, “Knew you would do well.” “The poor Earth” Gabby said as she looked at the massive hole. “That is one big hole” Kristie stated as she looked at the massive hole. Cobalt started to chuckle. “Oh shut it Cobalt before I throw you down the hole” Kristie said to Cobalt. “How deep is it?” Michelle asked as she kicked a piece of the floorboard down the hole. Titus then walked past Michelle stroking his body against hers. “There’s only one way to find out” Titus said with a smile. Titus then held his arms out to his sides and fell backwards down the massive hole. “Holy shit” Bryan said. “That’s not a good idea” Sarah stated. “That’s so badass!” Bryan yelled. “Four hundred feet” Draco suddenly stated. “What?” Medic asked. “The hole is four hundred feet deep” Draco answered. “I’m still falling!” Titus’ voice echoed, “Best free fall ever!” “He’s going to be free falling for some time” Draco explained. “So how do we get down?” Kristie asked. “I know” Gabby said then jumped down the hole and flew down. “Ok…” Kristie stated, “How about the rest of us who can’t fly?” “Cobalt” Draco said to Cobalt as he turned to him, “Think you could open a portal to the bottom?” “I can try?” Cobalt answered questionably, “No guarantee.” “I will be able to give you exact coordinates” Draco explained, “Just focus.”
A yellow portal opened at the bottom of the massive hole and the seven members of XBOM walked out of it. “Good job Cobalt” Medic said to Cobalt as the portal disappeared behind them. “Awesome bro!” Bryan yelled. “I’ve seen better” Michelle stated, “Now where is moron one?” “♪Yeah I’m freee!♪” Titus’ voice was heard echoing as the team looked up, “♪Free falling! Free falliiin-Oh shit!” Titus smashed against the ground face first. “Ooooh” The team said as they looked away. “Tell me…” Titus asked as he lay face first against the ground, “How badass was that entrance.” “As bad as your pitch” Michelle replied. “If my bones weren’t already broken I would have actually felt that burn” Titus answered. Medic bent down next to Titus and grabbed his arm. “I’ll be fine Medic” Titus said to Medic, “Just give me a few minutes to heal.” Draco scanned around the underground with his device. “Sarah” Draco said to Sarah. “Yes Draco?” Sarah asked as Bryan and her walked behind Draco. “See if you could use your powers to create a path through this Earth” Draco explained. Sarah nodded and Draco and Bryan took a step back. Sarah then put her head down and closed her eyes and concentrated. Sarah then slowly held her hands together, then started shake as she slowly separated her arms apart from each other. Sarah’s pupils changed from brown to a green tint and the ground around XBOM started to shake once more. Suddenly the Earth in front of Sarah started to crack open and then separated to the sides opening a path in front of her. “Damn that does not get boring to watch” Cobalt stated. “Fascinating” Draco said as he looked at the separated Earth and stroked his hand against it. “Hey guys!” Gabby said as she flew down to meet with the team, “That was a really long way down. What did I miss?” Gabby then looked over at Titus who laid on the ground. “Hey Titus!” Gabby said to Titus. “Hi Gabby…” Titus said as he lifted his arm up. Titus arm then bent backwards and snapped. “Ow…” Titus said as he laid face down.
The team walked through the path of separated Earth and soon approached a metal wall. Draco walked up to the wall and felt it with his hand. “Gabby” Draco said to Gabby, “Think you could-“ Gabby suddenly entered her rage mode and walked up to the metal wall and grabbed it with her hands and then pried the wall open. Gabby then walked in and two figures dressed in green charged at Gabby. Gabby shot a red beam and knocked one to the ground. Gabby then grabbed the other figure and threw it over her head and the team watched as the figure fell to the ground in front of them. Michelle then stomped on the figure. “Awesome…” Bryan stated. “Alright I’m good” Titus stated as he cracked his neck and walked toward the front of the team, “Let’s get Sinister”. The team then followed Titus through a hall toward a massive door. “Uh Draco?” Titus asked, “What am I looking at here?” “An electric impulse on a door” Draco explained, “Generated by the center of the lock there.” “English please” Titus stated. “The doors electrified by an electric system there on the lock” Draco replied. “Really?” Titus asked as he put his hand up to the door. Titus was then electrified and staggered back. “Oh that is awesome!” Titus yelled, “Bryan you have to try this.” “Wait” Draco explained, “That’s not a good-“ “Ok!” Bryan replied excitedly as he went up and touched the door. Bryan was then electrified and was shot back like a bullet. “Idea…” Draco finished saying. “Woah that was awesome!” Bryan yelled as he lifted his arms up from the ground. “Guys?” Medic asked, “Can we focus on getting inside?” Draco took out his scanner and scanned the door. “Sorry Medic” Titus replied as he helped Bryan up to his feet. “Is there a way you can deactivate the electric current Draco?” Kristie asked. “Yes” Draco answered, “But I’d have to activate my outrage mode.” Draco turned and looked at Titus. “I’d say do it” Titus stated, “We have to get through that door.” Draco nodded then suddenly a cloud of dark grey smoke exploded in front of the team. Purple lightning then formed and struck inside of the dark grey smoke. A massive gargoyle figure then walked out of the smoke composed of dark storm clouds and lightning. “Can you understand me Draco?” Titus asked the massive figure. Draco turned to Titus and banged on his chest. “Ok I’m still assuming that banging on your chest means yes” Titus stated with a shrug, “Or it means you want to beat the hell out of me. Still unclear to be honest. Anyway, take out that door.” Draco turned to the massive door and then held his hands outward and shot a purple lightning bolt toward the lock at the center of the door. The purple lightning then traveled across the massive door and then suddenly disappeared as smoke began to form. Draco then deactivated his outrage mode and turned back into his original form. “Alright Draco” Titus stated as he walked to Draco and patted him on the shoulder. A purple spark then struck Titus’ hand and Titus moved his hand away quickly. “Ow” Titus stated. “Sorry” Draco replied, “By the way, hitting my chest means yes. I lose the ability to communicate while in my outrage mode.” “Well did you deactivate the electric current man?” Cobalt asked. “Of course he did moron” Michelle replied. “It appears so” Draco answered. “Alright then let’s head through” Titus stated as he walked up to the door. “Titus wait” Draco said as Titus walked up to the door, “My scanners picked up multiple hostiles in the next room.” “Relax Draco” Titus replied as he put his hands on the door, “It’s not like Sinister is going to be sitting in the next room waiting for us.” Titus then opened the massive doors and an army of green figures stood with weapons drawn at every inch of the room. Sinister was seen in the back of the room sitting in a throne. “Welcome…” Sinister said as he gestured with his hands. Titus quickly slammed the door shut and leaned his back against it. Suddenly multiple knives and axes started to crash through the door. A giant spear then shot through the massive door next to Titus’ head. “But I’ve been wrong before…” Titus stated as he continued to lean against the door. “Is that a damn harpoon?” Cobalt asked as he pointed to the giant spear.
“What is he doing waiting in the room?” Medic asked. “He’s waiting to face us” Kristie answered. “Well let’s go kick his ass then!” Michelle replied. “That won’t work” Draco stated. “Why not?” Sarah asked. “XBOM!” Sinister’s voice was heard yelling behind the door, “Do not fear your defeat. You cannot fight the inevitability. For I have studied each of you for some time now, through multiple tests and passage ways. “Nathaniel planned this out” Draco explained, “He made most of us use our rage modes before hand so we would not be able to inflict as much damage.” “What does he mean he studied us?” Gabby asked. “It seems he is responsible for some of the events back at our fortress” Draco replied. “You mean that whole videogame thing?” Cobalt asked. “Most likely” Draco answered, “Opening a portal to another dimension isn’t too complicated. It is based on time and numbers.” “Do you hear yourself speak sometimes man?” Cobalt asked. “Uh guys” Titus stated to the team as the giant spear in the door slowly started to turn, “The giant spear is moving!” “He’s going to rip out the door” Draco stated, “We will have no choice but to fight.” “That’s fine with me” Michelle stated as she formed dual ice blades. “Draco what are the odds of us winning this fight?” Titus asked Draco. “Not very likely” Draco explained, “Nathaniel has probably thought out the whole battle already. By what he has said he seems to know each of the XBOM members.” Titus looked at the team, then looked at Sarah and Bryan. “Not, all of XBOM’s members” Titus stated. “Draco” Titus said as he looked up at Draco, “You said Sinister has already thought of how this battle would occur?” “Yes” Draco answered, “With his high intellect there is no doubt he thought of multiple possibilities and all outcomes.” “Then we will just have to be as unpredictable as possible” Titus answered, “And make it as hard as possible for him to think.” “Oh no man he’s making that face” Cobalt stated as he turned metal. “What are you planning Titus?” Medic asked. “Something fun” Titus answered, “Something loud.”
Two green figures stood next to the harpoon as it slowly retracted its line pulling the door slowly back. Suddenly the door exploded opened and dust fell from above and filled the room. Mr. Sinister rose out of his throne slowly and the army of green figures stood ready to fight. (BYOB by: System of A Down) Suddenly music started to blast through the room as Titus walked forward carrying a massive speaker. “Are you guys ready to rock!?” Titus yelled as he held the speaker up and turned the volume to max. Mr. Sinister snickered as he looked at Titus. Michelle, Medic, Cobalt, and Kristie suddenly charged forward past Titus. Michelle sliced three of the green figures to the ground then shot two icicles into another two green figures heads. Medic kicked a green figure to the ground then whacked another figure with her spear and then threw a poison potion on four more figures. Cobalt smashed his sword against the ground that caused a yellow wave to shoot forward knocking multiple figures in front of him to the ground. Kristie then stepped on Cobalt’s shoulders and jumped into the air and formed a black spark into her hands and then forced it forward into the army of green figures and exploded it causing multiple green figures to be knocked to the ground. The army of green figures then charged toward forward and Gabby flew over and fired a beam knocking multiple figures away. Bryan then ran up to the side of Titus. “What am I doing Metallic Brute?” Bryan asked. “We’re going to distract Sinister!” Titus answered, “Grab Cobalt and let’s go!” “Draco, Gabby!” Titus yelled to Draco and Gabby, “Protect the others best you can. Sarah” Sarah then walked up next to Titus. “Bring the place down” Titus stated as he walked forward. Medic spun her spear around herself and struck five green figures to the ground. Draco then flew next to Medic and grabbed two green figures and threw them against the walls. Kristie fired her laser at multiple green figures and walked forward with red sparks in both of her hands. Gabby fired multiple blue beams knocking the green figures away from Kristie that went to strike her. Kristie then pushed the two red sparks forward and a giant flame erupted and lit multiple green figures in flames. Michelle slashed three figures down with her blades, then turned and looked at Sinister and teleported toward him. Michelle teleported behind Mr. Sinister and went to strike him but Mr. Sinister grabbed Michelle by her arm and threw her against the ground. Michelle quickly got herself back up. “Aren’t you going to activate your all-powerful rage mode child?” Mr. Sinister asked. “Great idea” Michelle replied as her eyes turned white and she activated her rage mode. Michelle then summoned a massive ice wave toward Mr. Sinister and Mr. Sinister took his hand and bashed the ice wave in half. Michelle then teleported up to Mr. Sinister and stabbed him in the shoulder with her dual ice blades. Mr. Sinister yelled as he ripped the blades out of his shoulder and Michelle took a step back. “You will have to do better than that” Mr. Sinister stated as his wound healed. “Oh, I plan to” Michelle replied as shot multiple icicles at Mr. Sinsiter repeatidly. Mr. Sinister blocked the icicles and bashed them with his hands. Suddenly two green figures brought over a massive weapon to Mr. Sinister. “Time to cool you down” Mr. Sinister stated as fire erupted out of the weapon he held. Michelle blocked the flames as they surrounded her. “Yo E-sex!” Titus yelled to Mr. Sinister as Cobalt stood next to him. “Think he heard me?” Titus asked Cobalt. Suddenly Mr. Sinister turned and flames shot at Titus and Cobalt. “I think he heard you man” Cobalt replied covered in smoke. “Oh he heard me” Titus agreed also covered in smoke. Kristie activated her rage mode and grew wings and flew forward and grabbed Mr. Sinister and threw him against his thrown cracking the throne. Kristie then went to bite into Mr. Sinister but Mr. Sinister held up an object that Kristie bit into instead. “Let’s see what happens when your rage mode absorbs a power drainer.” Kristie’s eyes suddenly widened as she staggered back and fell unconscious onto the ground. Mr. Sinister laughed as he watched Kristie fall. “A power drainer?” Cobalt asked, “What are we in a videogame?” “Bryan now!” Titus yelled. Bryan suddenly grabbed Mr. Sinister’s weapon and circled the room erupting flames out of the weapon lighting everything on fire. “Gabby bubble!” Titus yelled as the rest of XBOM ran to the middle of the room where Gabby formed a force field around them. “Sarah, bring it down!” Sarah held her hands up and her eyes changed to a green tint as the Earth that lay above started to shake and then came crashing down crushing the green figures around XBOM and extinguishing the flames. The destroyed room was then covered in dust.