The Olympians Episode Five: NOT JUST ORDINARY WEEDS By Nike ********************************************************************************************* Cosmos, Firefly and Alex were travelling towards the Earth in a small spacecraft. They had just had come from Olympia, carrying a serum that will wipe out the Insektors and keep them from consuming all vegetable matter in the planet. But during their journey, the ship’s engine broke down and they had no choice but to make an emergency landing in a strange small planet. Alex got out off the spaceship, wearing the spacesuit that Centaurie designed for the mission, and looked around the barren surroundings. “I just hope you can fix it fast, Cosmos.” She began at the Firebird who was busily repairing the engines. “I don’t think I want to be stranded here at all.” Cosmos grinned at her from where he was lying on. “Oh, I don’t know.” He began in a nonchalant voice. “From the damage on this baby, we could be stranded here for days or even years.” Firefly widened her eyes in horror. “Just fix it, OKAY?!” she exclaimed, about to panic. Cosmos laughed. “Hey, calm down Firefly. I was just kidding.” He sat up, and wiped the soot off his face. “Actually, I fixed the problem already and we can return to Earth now.” Firefly let out a puff of air, in her relief. “Good. The sooner we get back to Earth, the better.” Soon the ship was about to take off when suddenly something grabbed the ship from behind. “What was that?” Firefly blurted out as she and Alex held on to their seats to avoid falling over as the ship shook violently. Cosmos narrowed his eyes as he checked the controls to see what was happening. “The sensors say that there are some plant-like life forms had snagged the rear. It seems to be stuck but I’ll try to shake it off and get the hell out of here.” He pushed a couple of buttons and glanced at them over his shoulder. “Hang on. This is going to be one hell of a ride.” Hours later, the ship crashed near the Firebird Volcano Base, almost covered by the alien weed. Cosmos first had radioed for help and then blasted the door with his gun, creating a hug hole in the ship, to allow them all to escape. “Alex, Firefly, get out! Now!” Cosmos shouted as he blasted the weeds that started growing back. Firefly nodded and then dragged Alex through the hole. “But what about you?” she began as she turned to face Cosmos. Cosmos frowned. “Go! I’ll handle this!” he told them, not noticing one of the vines creeping towards him from behind. “Cosmos! Look out!” Alex shouted. Too late. The vine grabbed him by the leg and dragged him back into the weed-infested ship. “COSMOS!” Alex cried out in horror. Then another vine emerged and wrapped around Firefly with amazing speed and started dragging her back into the ship. All of a sudden, two laser beams came from behind and blasted the vines that wrapped around Firefly, freeing her from their hold. “Firehawk!” Alex exclaimed as she turned around to see who fired the shots. Firehawk appeared behind them. “Do you think that I’ll let you two have all the fun by letting that thing eat you up?” she winked at them as she blasted the weeds that were moving too close. “I guess not,” Firefly sighed, not noticing some pieces of the alien plant sticking at the back of her shirt. Phoenix landed near them. “Where’s Cosmos?” she asked as she looked around. “He was left behind on the ship.” Firefly replied. “Great, then let’s fetch him.” Firehawk began and then flew towards the multiplying alien weed. Phoenix watched Firehawk go. “Oh no. Not again.” She muttered, and shaking her head, she flew after Firehawk. Firehawk ignored the Firebird commander’s orders to return and kept on heading for the crash site where the ship was literally covered by the alien plant. But as she was landing, a vine suddenly wrapped around her leg and started pulling her into the ship. Firehawk struggled on the ground but the vines only became tighter. Suddenly, a powerful energy beam shot from above and incinerated the vine, freeing Firehawk’s leg. Firehawk looked up and saw Phoenix infront of her. “Thanks, Phoenix.” She began as she got up. “I needed that.” “No problem,” Phoenix told her as she kept blasting the vines that started to move towards her. “Just get out of here NOW!” she added as Firehawk flew away. Minutes later… “I don’t get it.” Firefly muttered, scratching her back, as soon as she and Alex were safely away from the crash site. “They seem to be attracted to and thrive on heat.” Dazzler glanced at Phoenix. “I guess that leaves out the idea of incinerating them, eh Phoenix?” Phoenix merely nodded silently. Storm frowned. “What if I freeze them? It could have a reverse effect.” “Yeah, that could work.” Blast began, doubtfully. “Plants do DIE in cold weather.” Soon… Storm used her powers to lower the temperature enough to freeze the alien weed and the ground under it. But it was only successful for only a few minutes since the plants were able to break the ice that covered it and the surrounding area. Dazzler shook her head. “I don’t believe it!” she began. “It wasn’t even affected!” Phoenix frowned. “I sent Centaurie and the others are back in the Base to look for a way to get rid of it or at least hamper it’s growth.” She began. “I hope they find something.” Back in the Base… “What IS that thing, RC?” Firefly began, irritably, as she lay on her back on top of the surgical table. “It itches like hell!” Red Cross frowned as she examined the growth on Firefly’s back. “Well, I don’t know. It doesn’t seem parasitic, but it’s nothing like I’ve seen before.” She admitted as she started scraping the alien plant off. “But don’t worry, I’ll see if I can get it off you.” She added and removed the growth. “There it’s gone.” Firefly sat up, feeling her back. “Good, the itch had been killing me.” “Well, if you feel any discomfort later, come to me. I still don’t the consequences of having a strange plant life-form attached on your back.” Red Cross told her as she started to throw the plant life forms to the incinerator. “HEY! What gives?” she exclaimed in surprise as Flare suddenly grabbed it from her hand and placed it a specimen bottle. “Nothing. I think I’d better analyze this first After all, it’s a new life-form and it would be a waste if we destroy it before we have a chance it learn about it.” Flare told them as she left the clinic. In Centaurie and Flare’s Lab… “You took the weeds?” Centaurie blinked in surprise upon seeing Flare enter, holding a specimen bottle filled with a strange moving plant-like life form. Flare nodded as she took a small piece of the alien weed and placed it on an advanced-looking microscope. “Yeah, I did.” She replied and then peered into the eyepiece. “Wow, look at them! They grow faster than everything I have ever seen!” Centaurie didn’t look impressed. “But why?” Flare shrugged. “I don’t know, I just had to study them first.” Centaurie frowned. “But what if something bad happens?” “Like what? It’s not like that they are going to eat up the Base.” Flare argued. Centaurie sighed and left the Lab. “You’re making a big mistake.” Later… “Found something?” the Firebird commander asked upon seeing Centaurie and the others return back from the Base. Centaurie shook her head. “Nothing.” She sighed. “Not a thing.” Firehawk suddenly noticed something. “Hey, where’s Flare?” “Flare asked to be left behind.” Centaurie replied. “Well, at least we still got the pesticide.” Blast sighed. “Too bad you won’t have it for long.” A voice sounded from behind and was followed by a powerful blast that hit the serum canister and caused it to explode. Everyone stared at the smoking pile where the canister had been for a moment before turning around to see Hecate and the Harpies standing on top of the cliff behind them. “Hecate!” Phoenix exclaimed in surprise. Alex shook her head in a mixture of horror and disappointment as she stared at the remains of the canister. “The only thing to save the Earth from starvation.” She whispered and then wept beside Blaze. Hecate merely laughed. Suddenly, Blaze let out a powerful sonic attack in her anger. Hecate and the other Harpies had no choice but to cover their ears to keep off the ear-splitting sound. “Got to get away.” Hecate began. She then faced the Harpies and saw that they can’t take the sonic attack much longer. “Harpies! Retreat! We are finished here!” she shouted over the loud sonic waves that filled the area. Immediately, the Harpies started leaving the area. The Harpy commander then turned to Rusty. “Warn the Insektors and tell them to stay away from this area. The serum is gone but those strange life forms below could be dangerous.” She ordered and then flew away to join the other Harpies. “Why me?” Rusty muttered as he immediately headed for the Insektor Base. Later… “Great,” Lance muttered, staring at the remains of the serum canister after the Harpies left. “We’re back to where we started. Only now we got this stupid weed to deal with too.” . Centaurie ignored him. She stared at the alien plant, unable to believe what she had seen a few minutes ago. “Everybody, did you see that? Those plants became still when Blaze let out one of her sonic wave attacks.” She began and then turned to face Electra. “Do you suppose…” “…That extreme noise, I mean, loud sound can nullify the alien plant.” Electra finished for her and then turned to look at Blaze. “It might just work!” “Hey, why are you two looking at me like that?” Blaze uneasily demanded at them. Soon, Blaze turned on her sonic amplifiers and cautiously walked through the field of alien plants. As expected, the plants became still the moment the Firebird approached them. “Now that’s music to my ears,” Phoenix whispered as they all saw Blaze come back, dragging Cosmos with her to safety before the weeds returned back to normal a few minutes later. At that moment, deep in the swamp lands where the Insektors dwell… “Do you really think that we’ll believe your leader’s false words?” Hopper sneered, giving Rusty a hard shove that sent him to the ground as soon as the Harpy gave them Hecate’s warning. “I have an idea, why don’t I shoot him with one of my nerve darts and make him our slave?” Wee-evil suggested as he slowly approached the Harpy. “Oh, no.” Rusty murmured, slowly inching away. he told himself, nervously eyeing the Insektors and waiting for the worst to happen. Wee-evil was about to fire the dart when Cotton-boil stopped him. “Hey what do you think you’re doing?” he demanded. “If we make him our slave, we won’t know just what Hecate is up to.” Cotton-boil told him. Wee-evil frowned. “So?” Cotton-boil smiled thinly. “It’s better if we find out why the Harpy commander didn’t want us to visit the area for ourselves.” He replied. Back in the Base area… “How is he, Red Cross?” The Firebird commander asked as she and Storm walked towards the area where Red Cross is critically monitoring Cosmos’ vital signs. Red Cross frowned. “Fine, but I think he needs to take a lot of rest back in the clinic, I suppose.” She turned back to the still unconscious Cosmos. “He’ll live, if that’s what you’re asking.” She replied. A few meters away… “Okay now, the way I see it we got a real problem here.” Dazzler began at Lance, Hologram, Blast, Blaze, Firehawk and Centaurie. “Now that we found a way to deal with them, we got to find a way to get rid of those plants before they overwhelm this world.” “Not to mention that we still need to deal with the Insektors.” Centaurie reminded her. Hologram nodded. “Yeah, those Harpy insects are REAL troublemakers.” “The pot calling the kettle black, huh?” Lance snorted looking at her. Hologram was taken aback. “Hey, take that back!” she shouted, taking a dangerous step. “What are you going to do, turncoat, make my day?” Lance sneered. “Why just don’t you go back to the people you feel more loyal to, HARPY?” Dazzler, Blaze, Blast, Firehawk and Centaurie merely watched as the two of them started on the three hundredth and something chapter of their fight. The sound of angry voices caught Storm and Phoenix’s attention and the two of them turned to look at the direction of the noise. “What’s going on back there?” Storm asked, giving the firebird commander a questioning glance. Phoenix shrugged her shoulders, doubtfully. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But let’s find out.” She added as they headed for the commotion. Lance and Hologram were so engrossed up in the three hundredth something chapter of their fight that they didn’t notice Storm and Phoenix approaching them. “The problem maker here is you!” continued Hologram, angrily. “You are never around here when we need you!” Lance sneered. “Look who’s talking, turncoat!” he retorted. “YOU’RE the one who keeps on disappearing around here.” “I only do that to get the hell away from your obnoxious presence, blubber butt!” “BLUBBER BUTT! That does it! I am going to---” A sweat drop formed on both Phoenix and Storm’s heads. “Blubber butt?” Phoenix asked and then gave Dazzler a questioning glance. But Dazzler only gave her a helpless ‘What else could I do?’ shrug. Storm looked nervously at the two. “You know, we’d better stop them. Those two are getting down t the ultimate insults.” Phoenix looked at Lance and Hologram back and forth. She winced as their voices started giving her a headache. “Uh, Lance? Hologram?” she began, struggling to keep her voice calm. “Could you two tone it down a little?” They ignored her. Phoenix took a deep breath and bowed her head, obviously silently counting from one to ten. Dazzler gave Phoenix a nervous look. “I think we should go now.” She whispered to Storm, Blast, Blaze and Centaurie. Storm gave her puzzled look. “Why?” Dazzler nervously gulped upon seeing Phoenix’s body started to glow with a faint fiery light. “Never mind, it’s too late.” “Everybody, please…” Phoenix began in a dangerously quiet voice. “SHUT THE HELL UP!!!” she shouted angrily, releasing a huge amount of energy. “Everybody, get down!” Dazzler ordered as she dropped on the ground, along with Storm, Blast, Blaze, Firehawk and Centaurie. But unfortunately, the energy burst caught Lance and Hologram by surprise and it sent them crashing to the ground a few meters away. Storm looked at the burnt out surroundings. “Now, I understand.” She whispered in awe. “It’s a good thing, Alex isn’t here, or else she’d be ashes by now.” Dazzler shook her head. “This is nothing.” Dazzler told her. “You should see Phoenix when she’s really, REALLY, angry.” “Ouch. What was that?” Hologram groaned as she rubbed her aching back. “Another Harpy attack?” Lance suggested. “I don’t think so,” a quiet voice sounded from above. They both looked up to see, the Firebird commander looking down at them angrily. “What’s going around here?” Phoenix asked them calmly enough, despite the anger seething underneath. “Hologram started it.” Lance began. “No, HE did.” Hologram pointed at Lance. Phoenix narrowed her eyes, which were now glowing with a fiery light. “I don’t care who started your fight, but when I tell you to shut up, SHUT UP!” she shouted as then stomped towards Dazzler and others. “Phoenix,” Dazzler began. Phoenix raised up a hand to stop her. “Just give me a few minutes to calm down, Dazz.” She began as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were back to normal. “What is it?” she asked the Firebird second-in-commander. Dazzler started to speak but then thought better of it. “Never mind.” “Hey, I have an idea!” Blast interrupted them as her face brightened up. She pointed at Firehawk. “FH, why don’t you go sulk in a corner? Maybe something might come up.” Firehawk gave her at irritated glare. “You REALLY are asking for a drubbing, aren’t you?” “Hey look! Over there!” Blaze suddenly pointed at the sky where they could see dark clouds fast approaching them. “What’s that?” Storm frowned. “Odd,” she began thoughtfully. “I can control the weather, but I should have sensed the coming of rain clouds.” Phoenix peered at the dark cloud and then gasped in surprise. “Maybe so, but those aren’t rain clouds!” she exclaimed. “They are the Insektors!” Dazzler frowned. “They’re too many of them!” “Well, they seemed to have brought the entire swarm with them.” Blaze remarked. “Great,” Blast wearily began as the swarm got closer and closer. “FORGET what I said a while ago.” “Should we try to drive them off?” Firehawk suggested, checking if her blaster was fuly loaded. Phoenix shook her head. “No, Firehawk. Dazz is right, there are too many of them.” She replied. “It would be a waste of ammunition and they’d easily overpower with their numbers.” “Look at this place!” Mantis exclaimed as he and the other Insektors brought in their entire swarm with them in order to find out why did Hecate forbade them to get near the area. “Do you see what I see?” Hopper began as he pointed at huge area covered by the alien weed. “See! I told you so!” Cotton-boil began triumphantly. “Hecate wanted the goodies for herself!” “Mmmmm, my stomach is growling already!” Wee-evil began, licking his lips as they all dived towards the space weeds. Meanwhile, The Firebirds watched in dismay upon seeing that the Insektors headed for the alien plants. “Great, I just hope that they all get a belly-ache or something.” Firehawk said sarcastically. A faint smile formed on the Firebird commander’s face as she stared at the scene. “I don’t think so.” Phoenix replied as she pointed ahead. “Look!” The other Firebirds watched in amazement as the weeds started gobbling the Insektors up even before they knew what was happening. “Son of a gun,” Lance muttered, under his breath, as the Insektors began to diminish until the remaining four of them bid for a hasty retreat. “I guess those space weeds weren’t ordinary weeds, eh Phoenix?” Alex later began as she glanced at the Firebird commander. Phoenix nodded. “Those weeds were able to solve one of our problems.” She replied as they all watched the rocket, containing the alien plants, blast off into space. “But we can’t let them stay here or they could cause more trouble.” Firehawk nodded. “Yeah. Good thing nothing was left.” Centaurie suddenly paled as she remembered something. “That reminds me…” But before she could finish the sentence, Blast cut her off. “Hey Phoenix!” she began. “You got a message from Flare back at the base.” “Now what could that be all about?” The Firebird commander wondered as she activated her communicator. “Yes, Flare? What is it?” “Well, I was just hoping if you could get another rocket to launch off soon.” Flare began, nervously in her laboratory back in the Base. Phoenix frowned. “Why? What seems to be the problem?” Back at the Base, Flare glanced over her shoulder to see her specimen of the space weed had already filled the base and was reaching out for her. “Well, its this, we have a slight WEED problem back here!” she replied in a now hysterical voice.