Dark Chaos, Time of Wonders Part 5 wirtten by Danny Short (wbshort@adnc.com) NOTE: The following is not in any way based on or related to the film "The Trigger Effect." Trust me. This is the final chapter in the Time of Wonders Series. Though it may not sound like it, this is indeed the final part. To make it special, I thought I would throw in drama, suspense, and thrills. And if I get around it... horror. Things were quiet in Acme Acres. Everyone is very tired after not only the party that Brad LePew and Hamton J. Pig were fighting or the Michelle Duck business. It's just quiet because of a lot of work the toons have been doing for a long time. Now they get their break. They can finally rest. It was 8:54pm and the lights glittered Acme Acres with the glowing effect of a lamp post. Buster and his cousin Bill were reading books Bill brought over from his mom's when he went there for her birthday. "Anything you like from my collection, cous?" Bill said. "I'm not sure." Buster resonds. "They all are written the same which is kinda weird." "Hey, those are books from my mom. You should check out a lot of science fiction books that really makes you believe what may happen in the future." "I'm still in the mood for comedy." "Buster, for once would you please forget about comedy for at least twenty-four hours and think about other stuff." "I tried." "Please, just don't tell me that dumb story again. I'm going to get some shut eye. Could turn off the lights." Suddenly, the lights went off just before Bill could climb in to bed and Buster could get up to turn off the lights. "I didn't turn off the lights." Buster said. "Great." Bill said. "A black out. How many black outs does Acme Acres get?" "None." The next morning, Bob was trying to turn on the television, but found it wouldn't. "Hey boys! Did you mess with the TV last night?" "No, dad." Bill said. "No, Uncle Bob." Buster said. "The lights suddenly went out before we got a chance to turn them off." "Well, I guess we've got a black out, boys." "I can't believe this, uncle. We've never had a black out before. What are we to do?" Things began to get quiet around Acme Acres. Some people were getting scared, others were plotting for something. Buster and Bill met Babs and Jessica at the park were no one was around. "I don't get this." Jessica said. "Usually when there is a black out, it only last for a few hours." "Around here, we never have a black out." Babs said. "That's so strange." "Did you here, three people just moved in." Bill said. "One is nexto door to us." "Hey, I got someone who moved in next to us, too." Jessica said. "I wonder if they know something." "Jessica, would you please think of something else." Buster said. "It's getting creepy with this black out." "I agree." Babs said. "How can you think they might know a thing about this black out?" "I don't think, I have a feeling." Jessica said. "And like my karate master said before I left, 'If you have a feeling about someone or something, danger may lerk within them.' That almost happened when Brad came to Acme Acres." That night, the four visted Fifi so she can back up and head on over to Busters for a sleep over they all planned together. Brad, Plucky, and Michelle were also invited. "Do ya all hear?" Fifi said while backing up her perfume collection. "There's a riot going on in the Acme Mall." Brad said. "Fifi and I were about to go, but we found those thieves there grabbing whatever was avalible." "Geez, Acme Acres is turning in to a human town." Bill said. "Ah never zought it would be like dis." Fifi said. "I know, the grabbed all the cool stuff." Plucky said. "Brother, this is no time for laughter." Michelle said. "Michelle's right, something's strange has happened in Acme Acres and it's about to get worse." Jessica said. "I can feel it, but I just don't know how worse this thing will be." "Ah wish ya know." Fifi said, sobbing. A shadow was walking towards one of the local housing areas. It was wearing all black, nothing else. A feature with him was a knife. It was not a knife he got from the store. This knife was covered in blood. Everyone in Buster's got up the next morning. Some how, Jessica was able to help everyone ignore the possiblities of smeeling oder from as many skunks as there could possibly is. "Mornin' pop!" Bill said to his father. His father reading the newpaper since the black out hadn't gone away from the tv yet. "I got some good news and some bad news." said Bill's father. "Good news it the repair people have arrived and will try to fix this black out problem." "Finally." Brad said. "What's the bad news?" "Five toons are dead." All the teens suddenly popped their eyes wide open and dropped their mouths to the ground. Except Jessica. "Zat's impossible." Fifi said. "I never heard of five toons being murdered. Toons don't die. That's impossible." Bill's father was confused, everyone was even more confused, and Jessica was getting a better look at the news. "Oh my goodness." Jessica said. "This is worse then I felt. I didn't think something like this would come up." "It's been years since a toon was killed." Buster said. "Could their be another way to kill a toon?" "I just don't belive this." Michelle said. "First a black out, then a riot, now five murders." "This is getting very spooky." Plucky said. "I don't like this at all." "Niether do I." Babs said. "But it's not spooky, it's becoming reality." "Maybe all three are connected with someone." Jessica said. "Here's a thought. Someone figured out how to take out the power in Acme Acres. He tells the citizens about riots. They all start a riot and he goes off getting away with murder on helpless toons." "Ah want zis to end quick." Fifi cried. "How do we know who this guy is though?" Brad asked. "That is the mystery of all three." Jessica says. "We have no clue to who this person is." Rachel Rabbit was walking towards Buster place to greet him while he, Bill, and Jessica were looking for clues through the news- paper. Jessica says to take a risk and let her in. "Hello, are you three the only ones in the house?" Rachel asked. Bill looked at her in suspicion. "No." Jessica said. "We have an adult in his bedroom." Which was true. Only to know that Bob was sleeping. "I'm Rachel Rabbit. I live next door. Would you three like to tell me all about this strange black out that is going on? I thought this was a peaceful and quiet little town." "It was." Buster said. "I see." Rachel said. "Are you three doing a hobby?" "Nope." Bill said. "Just readin' the news." "Uh huh." Rachel said, nervously. "Well, I better go. Tell the adult that I might want to speak with him or her later today. I won't be out of my place until noon. Nice meeting you three." "Take care." Jessica said. When Rachel leaves, they sighed in releif. "That was close." "I have my own feelings." Bill said. "I think she knows some- thing and she's not telling." "You might be right and you might be wrong." Buster said. "Who knows what will come up." "I just hope we don't become victums before we find out." Jessica said. Fifi, Brad, and Babs were talking at the local ice cream shop when they met Hank Hound. Brad was getting a little suspicius about Hank, but he needed to know for sure. "Well, hello folks." Hank said. "I'm looking for the nearest ice cream shop. My problem, I'm partly blind. I can see people well, but not words." "Well, ya are at ze ice cream shop." Fifi said happily. "I hope you can find your way in to the shop, sir." Babs said. "Well, thank you." Hank said. "If you need any help, see if you can spot us on time. We'll be walking around many times." Brad said. "Okay. What are your names?" "I'm Brad. These two are Babs and pretty Fifi." Fifi giggled. "I see. Well, you three have a good time. I'll see if I can find help since I'm new here." "We'll keep in touch." Babs said. When Hank left, the three looked at each other with nervous looks. "I'm not sure if he's really blind." Babs said. "I'm thinking the same thing. What do you think, Fifi?" "He might be, or maybe not. Ah zink we should let Jessica know about him." "Good idea." Babs said. "Let's get to Buster's." Plucky and Michelle stopped at Buster's for the night to rejoin the group. They to had their share of a possible suspect. "His name was Ricardo Rat." Plucky said. "He says he has problems with reading. Not a good reader, plus he can't do spit except wash windows." "He talked as if he was worried about something." Michelle said. "Maybe he knows something we don't." "Same about Hank Hound." Brad said. "Same about Rachel Rabbit." Buster said. "Okay. We drop down to our top three suspects. All are very new here in Acme Acres and they don't talk like normal toons." Jessica was recapping the notes about the suspects. "It's getting night." Babs said. "What should we do?" "My dad doesn't like having another sleep over." Bill said. "He's going to have to stay at a hotel because of business problems up north." "That means we got a chance to track down the killer." Jessica said. "It's just a thought." "Ah zink zat's a great idea." Fifi said. "What do ya say, Brad? Can ya?" "I'm up for anything." Brad said. "I'm in." "If Jessica is going, then you better believe I'm going." Bill yelled. "So are we." Babs and Buster said." "You can count me in." Plucky said. "I'm going, too." Michelle said. "All right then." Jessica said. "We got ourselves deal. We have to get all the equipment we need. Get home, grab everything you can use that is battery runned. Make sure to carry rechargers that also run on batteries." "Also, have as much protection as you can get." Bill said, grabbing his rope. "We'll need them." "Is everyone here? Good. Alright then, we can't trust going out in groups. So for tonight, we'll check the best possible place of where the suspect might be. Power plant." All walked quietly towards the power plant. Somehow, it was running on power. They walked in quietly and saw a shadow laughing. Slowly and quietly, they crept to the nearest hiding spot. "What do we do now?" Plucky whispered. "Listen." Jessica whispers back. "Now that Acme Acres is in total darkness, this new formula will indeed make a toon turn flesh and their lives will be no longer. When the construction of the town spiller is complete, boss, Acme Acres will be nothing." "Alright, the killer is here with a formula." Jessica whispers. "That means we have to split up. Plucky and Michelle. Brad anf Fifi. Buster and Babs. Me and Bill. We take four seperate directions. Try and nail the killer before he or she can transport the formula into us." The group split up. Suddenly, two more shadows walked in to the power plant. Plucky and Michelle knew it was Ricardo Rat. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here, sir." "I noticed some power going up here, whoever you are." Rat said. "So I thought..." "You thought wrong." The shadow throw some of the formula in to Rat's mouth. "OOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW! It's burning my mouth!" Rat ran around looking for water. The shadow pulled out a gun and shot his knee. Blood spout out. Rat was screaming really badly. The shadow jumped down from the lift it was on. He hung up the phone walked slowly towards Rat. Rat was screaming for mercy. The shadow just laughed at him. "Please! Don't kill me! I did nothing! Honest!" "Begging won't do any good you worthless little piece of trash. Prepare to meet your maker." The shadow raised the gun quickly to Rat's head. Suddenly, Rachel walked in. "Hank! I know it's you!" Rachel yelled so that even the entire town could hear her. "Very clever, Rachel." Hank said. "Too bad Rat or those kids could save you." He throw a piece of the formula in to her eyes by surprise. He raised the gun on the crying girl and shot at her fore- head. Rachel was dead. "Hank was ze kill ze whole time." Fifi whispered. "He killed Rachel." Bill whispered. "Poor girl didn't have a chance in the world." When Hank turned to shot Rat, Rat was gone. Hank turned every where to look for Rat. Instead, he saw three rabbits each throwing a bucket full of the formula right at him. He screamed as the pain was burning him. "Now's our chance!" Bill said throwing his rope end at Hank and got in tied up. Hank still had a bottle of the formula. He was going to hit anyone of the teens. Suddenly, Rat jumped on Hank's back and was riding him like he was a horse. "Kids, get out of here! I'll take care of this killer!" Rat got thrown towards the wall and the two started fighting. Every got out except Jessica. She hid behind an open door with something in her right hand. Rat tired to punch Hank, but instead got a bullet in his stomach. Rat was screaming in pain. "I'll deal with you later." Hank was about to run after the kids, but Jessica hopped out and threw salt in Hank's eyes. Hank scream in pain. There was too many salt srystals in his eyes, he was running in a different direction. "This is for Acme Acres!" Jessica said, running out the door. Rat followed slowly as Hank rammed in to the release tank. Rat closed the door. The formula spilled out and burned Hank to death. Rat was pushing the lock down. The formula burned the remains of Rachel. Rat locked the door shut. The formula burned everything until it was dehydrated. Rat looked around and saw that the kids were gone. It was night time. He looked some more and found a cable unplugged. He plugged it back in and the lights glittered Acme Acres once more. "Police have arrest over nine hundred citizens of Acme Acres who were found rioting the downtown area. Back to you Jack." "Here that, boys! Riot's finally over!" Buster and Bill were happy. Jessica walked in, still sleepy. She was the only allowed to sleep over. "In other news, Ricardo Rat, last seen placing the power back on from eye witnesses, has left the city. We were able to get this one note saying, 'I risk too much for myself. I wish nothing like this will ever happen again.' In sports..." "He's an okay guy." Jessica said. "Too bad he had to leave." "We'll miss him." Buster said. "Enough talk, I take you guys out for a day in the local fast food shop. What do you say?" That's it. Shows over. Go back to you other lives. The Time of Wonders series is now over. Tell me what you think. All five to be released in one later this year. Need ideas for the "novel." I want some artist to help me paint pictures of the characters. Send me your ideas and I'll credit you. E-mail me at the address above. That's it. Good night.