The Roaming Storm

S1E11: Shoulda' Brought My Umbrella ...for Storm-Brew Blues

ACT I [EXT. / NIGERIAN RAINFOREST / HEAVILY CLOUDY DAY]

Much time has passed since that day. The day when the runt Hamerkop Nightmare escaped Friska's lab, only to be devoured whole by another escapee. That being the shapeless blob of white ooze tattooed in blue markings. Right now, it wanders aimlessly throughout the Nigerian rainforest, in desperate search of more sustenance. As satisfying as the hamerkop was, it could only sustain the ooze for so long. Having checked various nooks and crannies of the rainforest, it just can't seem to find what it needs.

One cranny in particular is a beehive, to which the white ooze enters inside effortlessly. All that it can find inside are honeycombs, larvae, and a lot of agitated bees. The ooze soon exits the hive, appearing completely unfazed by the onslaught of stinging. It gets ready to head off in its aimless search, only to be alertly stopped by a loud, abrupt crack from the sky. This is slowly followed by hard hitting downpour, watering the whole rainforest like a garden of flowers.

This is the first ever time that the ooze has experienced a thunderstorm. However, looking up at the shrouded sky, it recognizes something after another flash of lightning. Electricity; the very fuel it's been looking for. Though with that accomplished, a new dilemma arises in the form of how to get to it. The solution? Well look no further.

No, literally. Looking back at the swarm of bees, immediately retreating to their hive in order to stay dry, the ooze sees that they're all using those little... things on their backs. Weird, fan-like appendages going up and down at almost blinding speed. For whatever reason, that's exactly what's getting (and keeping) them airborne. In fact, it can recall its last supper achieving a very similar feat. And so -- with that acknowledged, the white ooze begins to distort itself. Giving shape to its shapelessness. An actual structure to all its clutter. And after just a few seconds, the blob has now become...

A bee.

Albeit a very large one (practically car-sized) that still retains its white/blue color. Regardless, the shapeshifter is now just as capable of flight as any other. And it quickly makes an ascent to where else but the roaring heavens.

The odds of getting struck by a bolt of lightning are 1 in 15,300, but that's only in regards to ground level. Flying straight inside the rumbling clouds, the insectoid's odds have now been reduced to an open invitation. Within the next passing hours of this storm's lifespan, the bee's been struck at least 10-20 times. With each bolt of white lightning, it becomes more satiated, craving for another hit of the good stuff. But that high eventually comes to a halt -- as the thunderstorm finally settles away, unveiling the evening sky.

Though the shapeshifter has attained a great deal of sustenance, its lust for more says otherwise. And so throughout the passing weeks, in its newfound form, it travels far and wide for more thunderstorms. With each storm, it absorbs as much electricity as possible, and another one just so happens to be taking place in the country of Chad. While the bee busies itself in another all-you-can-eat buffet, it flies right over the Cheetah residence.

Within the living room, Umeme's grandmother (still off-screen) is seen casually reading "One Thousand and One Nights into Dreams" while having some karkanji tea. Meanwhile, her grandson is shown playing one of his video games. That being "Needles the Mouse 3", with the added bonus of "Needles & Dreads". Judging by his intense dexterity with the controller, as well as the ludicrous movements of the titular spiny mouse, he's in the middle of a speed-run -- striving to break his current record.

And in regards to their "indefinite guest", Radi is seen chilling in the basement (aka his bedroom). As he reads another action-packed chapter of the "Monkey Ball Super" manga, he listens to some jazz music on his phone via earbuds (outdated models, by the way). The peregrine enjoys his tunes with the utmost bliss, only to have it snatched away by an exceptionally loud clash of thunder.