Small World (Slugterra Fanfiction)

Chapter 18: The Real Enemy

Dexas-Taryn runs faster after than ever trying to evade the Shane Gang. Her sudden appearance terrifies the citizens of a nearby town that were still out after dark. Some scramble to get out of the way when she starts destroying property in search of food. Finally she gets her jaws on a delicious fruit after uncovering a produce stand dimly lit by a street lamp.
"Halt you beast, or face the wrath of Pronto the Great!" Dexas quickly snarls his direction. Blood red juice was dripping from the mecha's ghastly white razor sharp teeth. All of the friends cringe in unison.
"Sheesh, that's the stuff of nightmares right there." Kord shutters.
"And to think, the Eli Shane is in love with THAT." Pronto gestured. Eli instantly gave him a side glare.
"Guys, focus." Trixie quickly changed the subject.
"My thoughts exactly." Eli loaded Spinner into his blaster. Before the mecha had time to react, he shoots the slug and entangles her in a large web. Dexas furiously struggles only for a moment before breaking the web, ultimately fleeing the scene. Junjie loads his own arachnid into his right wrist blaster,
"Looks like we need to hit her all at the same time. Hopefully she is not strong enough to break free of several webs."
"Come on!" Eli didn't hesitate to lead the charge at following Dexas-Taryn further into town. At one point, Dexas turns with a sliding stop to ward off her foes with her frightening gaze.
"Quick, do not look into her eye!" Junjie shouts and looks down at his mecha's neck. This time however, her gaze physically strikes one of her opponents to mimic an actual hit from a freightgeist. The brave slinger Trixie was the unfortunate victim. She starts fumbling around on her mecha, having no sense of focus while screaming. Eli turns to look back at his friend,
"Trixie's out! Junjie, keep her safe. The rest of us will stay on Dexas' tail." The Eastern Champion nods in understanding to the Shane. He puts the brakes on his mecha beast to stay behind with his fear-struck comrade as the others grow smaller into the distance. The longer the remaining teammates gave chase, the further away Dexas-Taryn seemed to get.
"She is just too fast!" Pronto voiced.
"Don't give up! We can't lose her now!" The leader ordered. Before long, they end up at the edge of town in a heavy embankment of fog.
"Light the way, Glimmer!" Eli fires his Phosphoro slug straight into the dense fog cover. Despite the extravagant bright light, there wasn't a mecha in sight. For the rest of that night, the Shane Gang searched ceaselessly for any trace of where the beastly Dexas may have gone. Luckily the affects on Trixie had worn off which allowed her and Junjie to help. Eli and his friends gradually grew tired though, barely able to keep their eyes open let alone stop yawning. Pronto vigorously shakes his head,
"I say we go back home and rest. Pronto can't stay awake for much longer."
"I'm not leaving here without Dexas."
"Face it Eli, she's gone." Kord lowered his head.
"We'll get some sleep and come back in the morning. We're not giving up." Trixie smiles a little before yawning. Junjie puts a hand on Eli's shoulder,
"Even if we did find her now, we are not alert enough to handle any kind of battle."
"Ok ok." Eli sighs while rubbing his eyes, "I just hope no one else gets to her first." Pronto huffed.
"Surely if someone as legendary as myself cannot capture this elusive foe, there is no doubt that anyone else can!"
"That foe is my best friend and your teammate. This situation isn't to be taken lightly, Pronto. She's family." Eli warned.
"Easy bro, we'll get her back." Eli sighs,
"I know." He glances at the ground, "It's just really personal Kord. It hits on the same level as losing my dad."
"We understand Eli, you don't have to explain yourself to us." Trixie climbs aboard her mecha beast, patiently waiting until everyone followed suit to head back home.

Despite a restless night's sleep, Eli Shane leads his gang in finding Dexas-Taryn at the crack of dawn. Picking up where they left off, Pronto immediately puts his nose to the ground in the area Dexas seemingly vanished. A few moments went by until someone spoke up.
"Got anything Pronto?" Eli watched his friend work as patiently as he could. He knew every second counted, especially if it could mean Dr. Blakk captures Dexas first. Who knows what else the ruthless villain would have in store for his latest creation.
"I am picking up something..." Pronto takes in a deep sniff, "It is faint, but not faint enough that I, Pronto, cannot follow it!" The molenoid quickly gets on his mecha, "This way!" He advances confidently while pointing a finger. Their mecha's engines roared as they head off to follow. Pronto takes the group through quite a journey throughout the caverns. Over hills and through cave tunnels, it seemed as if there wasn't a place in SlugTerra the rouge mecha beast hadn't been. When Pronto stops to smell the ground once again, the others come to a standstill.
"Pronto, are you sure you picked up a strong enough trail? You did say it was faint, after all."
"Patience my friend, I sense she is near!" Pronto whispers to Trixie. Suddenly blaster fire rattled the barren ground of rock nearby. Off to her right, Trixie uses her camera to get a closer look.
"It's Dr.Blakk and a group of Darkbane." She zooms in on what the villains are chasing and gasps, "They're hot on Dexas' heels!" She raises her head from behind her camera with an alarmed expression.
"See?" Pronto puts his fists on his hips and holds his head high, "What did I tell you?"
"Great job Pronto. We need to head them off. Split up, we can use the higher ledges to get between her and Blakk." Eli glares down at the pursuers while making a fist.