2.30

Hunter, Jimena and Gauzelle, along with Welt had made it to the docks. The sun had started to set, the glimmering orange on the murky, industrial laced water had a mesmerising quality about it.

Hundreds of shipping containers were stacked ten, twenty high. It looked as though the dockyards themselves could barely contain just how much it was holding.

“Would he know we’re here?” Jimena asked.

“Yep. He’d have this place surrounded with cameras, sensor lasers and probably even drones.” Welt replied. Jimena caught a droning sound a little way off and noticed a small drone lazily flying about. It was blocky in design, not at all elegant. Jimena took aim and shot it out of the sky.

“What can we expect from him?” Hunter asked.

“He does all sorts of experiments. I’d expect some kind of small army might end up coming after us.” Welt glared over the dockyards; his eyes narrowed.

“And we’re short of Silas. Should we call for some kind of backup?” Gauzelle asked.

“I’ve already contacted Michael, but he said almost nobody is answering. The few that he can are all reportedly too busy,” replied Hunter.

“Sounds like this could be fun,” said Gauzelle. She twirled her stave and slammed it into the shipping container they were standing on.

“Let’s go,” commanded Hunter. The quartet leapt forward off the container. They were immediately met with a pair of Doctor Flink’s creations.

Before them floated a grotesque pufferfish. Its stretched skin ready to burst, a briny smell hit the hero’s noses, making them feel queasy. Next to the fish was another drone. This one was equipped with an extendable, telescopic arm. At the end of the arm was a blade.

“This’ll be too easy,” said Gauzelle. Like a baseball player, Gauzelle swung her staff at the floating fish. It let out a squeak, like air escaping from a balloon. The noxious briny smell permeated the air, stronger this time. The fish flew away.

Jimena took aim at the drone and fired a few of her slime balls. It bobbed and weaved as it dodged a few, even slicing at one, but it was eventually knocked out of the sky.

As Jimena turned away from the drone, she failed to notice the returning pufferfish. Thanks to Gauzelle’s quick thinking, she was able to smack the fish away again after unravelling her arm.

“Its just going to come back. Change its trajectory,” said Welt. Gauzelle waited for the fish to return and cracked it again with all her might.

The skin exploded on impact. Pins shot out in all directions and a thick, gloopy mess decorated the team and the area around them. The pungent smell made them all feel sick. They all doubled over and took a moment to breathe.

“Not a fan,” said Gauzelle. She unravelled and wrung herself dry.

“You can smell?” Welt asked.

“Yeah. I can’t explain it,” Gauzelle shrugged her shoulders and readied her staff once again.

“Let’s go.” Hunter pressed on.

The group ran through the maze of shipping containers. Occasionally, a drone would fly over their heads and Jimena would shoot them down.

As they team rounded a corner, a loud grinding noise rattled through their skulls. A shipping container on each side of them started to close in with surprising speed. The group made a run for it but each time they came to a new set of shipping containers, they were already closing on the team.

“Come on.” His lungs burning, Hunter urged the team with all his willpower to push forward. They stumbled out in a heap just as the last set of shipping containers slammed shut behind them.

“What else should we expect?” Hunter asked, panting.

“That,” Gauzelle pointed. Hunter followed her arm and let out a sigh at what he saw. Two forklifts revved their engines at the group. The tines moved rapidly up and down.

“He doesn’t run out of ideas, that’s for sure,” said Gauzelle.

“He is a ruthless genius. Uses whatever he can to get the advantage,” said Welt.

The forklifts revved again. Tires screeched and the two vehicles charged at the group.

Two dived one way, and two dived the other. Hunter racked his brain for a solution, but he couldn’t come up with anything.

“I don’t think my flashing staff will be much good here,” said Gauzelle. She had dived aside with Welt. The forklift shot past them. It turned on a dime, causing the vehicle to lift a side. It slammed back down into place and charged at them again.

“Gauzelle, turn the gas bottle off,” Hunter called. Gauzelle threw her staff to Welt and unravelled herself.

As the forklift passed her by, Gauzelle wrapped herself on the frame. She snaked her way toward the back of the vehicle to the gas bottle and closed up the valve.

The forklift sputtered to a stop, dead.

“That was easier than it should’ve been,” said Gauzelle. She coiled through the air after the other one.

It had Jimena cornered against a cement block. Like an angry bull, the forklift steamed ahead. Gauzelle reached it and turned off the gas valve just in time. The tines stopped inches from Jimena’s face.

“Thanks,” said Jimena.

“Any time.” Gauzelle reformed her shape and Welt passed her staff back to her.

“That must be the ship that Doctor Flink’s base is in,” said Hunter.

Hunter pointed at and old, rusted out container ship. The orange ship looked as though it may have been a different colour once upon a time, with blotches of dark browns and blacks.

Rust had eaten through with such savagery; it was a wonder the ship was able to stay afloat. One large jagged, missing chunk made the boat look as though it had a mouth.

“I’m impressed you made it this far, I really am.” The maniacal squeak of Doctor Flink echoed through the docks.

“We’ve come to stop you,” said Welt.

“Oh really? The four of you think you can stop me?” Doctor Flink let out a small laugh, like a burst of escaped air.

“Yeah, we can,” replied Hunter.

“I’d like to see you try and stop my fish army.” Doctor Flink’s sentence ended in a bout of maniacal laughter. His laughter grew louder and stronger. He suddenly stopped and coughed.

“Fish army?” Gauzelle asked. As if in response, a strange gurgling sound came from the water.

The team watched as hundreds of slimy fish climbed out of the water. Each fish had four great, hairy legs sticking out of their bodies. Grotesque hybrids rushed at them, gurgling feverishly as they ran.

“Spider-fish?” asked Gauzelle.