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Dying Light: The Virus

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When they saw the coast was clear, the Yogmans got into position and waited until Robot Jones came into the room to charge his batteries. Denny took the automaton's charger, stuffed it into his pocket and switched it with a badly damaged, virus induced one that looked identical to Robot's. Denny giggled quietly, but his brother smacked him in the back of his head, snarling, "Be quiet, you dunce! You want Slow-butt to hear you?"

That is the moment Robot made his entrance. He took the infected charger, plugged it into a wall and then, his left side; completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Suddenly, without warning, huge sparks of electricity engulfed him, causing him to malfunction; to the point where he could barely move. He felt weaker and exhaustion started kicking in.

His gray, metallic skin turned stark white and his body turned dark shades of red and green. Following this, his antennas drooped while the one in his brain curled up like a spring. Oil began leaking from underneath his eyes. By the time his torture was finished, he collapsed, face down on the floor and passed out.

The Yogmans, having witnessed the whole thing, did a victory dance and smiled maniacally. Their master plan succeeded. That pathetic, sub-standard hunk of junk's brain was as good as theirs. The boys used Dexter's portable teleporter and hightailed it outta there.

No sooner than Lenny and Denny had left, Robot, with some difficulty, came to. He felt dizzy, lethargic and his systems were going haywire.

The minute he stared at the floor and saw a huge oil stain in front of him on the carpet, he got up and went to a mirror in the corner of the room immediately. He glanced at his sickly appearance, and then, the realization hit him like a sledgehammer. The virus Lenny and Denny gave him years ago happened, yet again.

"Oh, no..." Robot moaned in a weak, flattened tone of voice.

He glanced up the staircase that led to Dexter's room. He had to go for help, at once. The automaton, hunched over, made his way over to the stairs and attempted to climb them. He was so weary, he couldn't pick his feet up and place them on the steps.

Breathing heavily, he forced himself to climb. It was a miracle he hadn't tumbled back to the floor, yet. He soon heard Courage the Cowardly Dog yelling, terrified at Buttercup from behind and Blossom and Bubbles trying to stop her.

"BUTTERCUP, KEEP IT AWAY!" The cowardly dog screamed. Buttercup dashed towards him, holding a live mouse by its tail.

"Come on, Courage!" She chimed, laughing. "It's not gonna kill ya!"

"NO!"

"Buttercup, stop!" Bubbles shouted. "You're scaring Courage even worse!"

"Put that mouse down, Buttercup!" Blossom scolded. They caught up with her and Courage cowered against the wall. The intelligent Powerpuff Girl snatched the mouse out of Buttercup's hand.

"How many times has the Professor told you not to scare poor Courage like that?" Blossom lectured her.

"Aw, come on, Blossom!" argued Buttercup. "It was only a joke. Besides, it was just a tiny, stupid mouse!"

Bubbles let the mouse climb on the windowsill and then, went to comfort Courage.

"It's okay, Courage," she soothed him, "the mouse is gone."

Courage didn't speak, but whined and nodded his head.

"Some joke!" scoffed Blossom. "I swear, Buttercup, when are you going to stop picking on others?"

As her sisters continued to argue, Bubbles and Courage directed their attention to the staircase and went to investigate, only to discover an ill and disoriented Robot almost at the top of the steps. He nearly fell, but managed to catch himself. Unfortunately, he was unable to go any further.

"Robot?" They called out.

Robot opened his eyes and turned around. He tried to detect the two characters below, but his eye camera systems were so full of static, he couldn't detect them properly.

"Bubbles...? Courage...?" Robot swallowed, panting. "Is that you?"

"What are you doing up there?" she asked.

"Are you okay?" Courage whimpered.

"Negative. I require Dexter's assistance. I am trying to get to his lab, but I cannot move."

"Stay right there," Bubbles told him. "I'll get Blossom and Buttercup and we'll help you."

Before Robot even opened his vocal slot to answer, he lost his balance, screamed and started to tumble down the stairs. Courage howled with fright. Bubbles, gasping, dashed and caught the cybernetic teenager in midair. Hearing the commotion, Blossom and Buttercup rushed to the scene.

"Bubbles, what happened...?" They asked. The words fell dead on their lips the second they saw who Bubbles was carrying downstairs in her arms.

Once she reached her sisters and Courage, she set Robot on his own feet. He lost his balance again and it took all four characters to hoist him back up. Blossom sat him down on the bottom step gently.

"Why, just look at you," she shook her head. "You're so indisposed, you can barely stand up."

"Robot," said Courage, scared, "what happened to you?"

"Yeah," agreed Buttercup, "you look like a zombie and about ready to kick the bucket."

"That is why I must see Dexter," Robot mumbled. "I have become ill."

"You're sick?!" Courage spouted, petrified. "Oh, no!"

"I didn't know a robot like you could get sick," mentioned Buttercup, confused and raising an eyebrow.

"I can and I have," he responded. "I will explain it to you guys once we get to the laboratory..."

He gagged and put a claw to his vocal slot. His eyes widened as he desperately tried to do it in his best power to not vomit all over them.

"He's gonna explode!" Bubbles yelped.

"Oh, man!" Buttercup cringed.

Blossom rushed to Robot while he put another claw to his lips in an attempt to hold it in and patted him on the back.

"Courage, I need you to get a bucket!" She hollered, alarmed. "Now!"

Courage panicked, but did what he was told. He found a bucket in the broom closet and hurried back to the kids as quickly as possible. They were doing everything to keep the cybernetic teenager calm.

"Hang on, pal!" Buttercup told him.

"The bucket's coming, Robot, you'll be okay," Bubbles said.

Robot was in agony by the time Courage arrived with the bucket. He grabbed the thing out of his paws frantically and buried his face in it. He immediately went into a fit of retching. Blossom rubbed his back in light circles. She, her sisters and the cowardly dog grimaced in disgust.

It took a long time for all the oil to get out of Robot's systems and before he knew it, his body was shaking uncontrollably. Blossom picked him up and informed the others, "We gotta get him to Dexter's lab, at once. I don't care if Dee Dee's destroying the heck out of it, this is an emergency. You guys tell Mitch, Socks and Cubey about this. They need to see it for themselves."

And so, while Buttercup, Bubbles and Courage went to get Robot's friends, Blossom carried him upstairs to the laboratory.

~ * ~

The gang gathered in the lab. The second they heard their best friend was sick, Mitch, Cubey and Socks didn't hesitate to show up. Dexter did examinations on the automaton and wrote his symptoms down on a clipboard.

Robot didn't say anything, but sat in one of Dexter's chairs due to exhaustion. A sneezing sound came out of him; forcing his eyes to pop out for a second. The antenna in his brain flopped back and forth like a slinky toy.

Mitch and Cubey were the only ones not questioning Robot on his unusual ailment, for they knew why he was sick. They had gone through the experience with him in Polyneux Middle School, when the Yogmans infected him with a disk that contained a computer virus; making him ill and almost shut down. Now, it looked like the virus returned.

The problem was, neither of the two boys knew why or how Robot contracted it again.

Dexter, being a boy genius, had obviously seen this before with his robotic figures after they got viruses, but this one was unlike anything he saw.

"Well, everyone," Dexter sighed doubtfully, "your suspicions are correct. This is beyond anything I have ever seen in my years as a boy genius. Robot is, indeed, extremely ill."

"So, what do we do?" asked Buttercup. "Why is he so sick?"

"Because I have come down with a virus," Robot explained.

"A VIRUS?!" Courage screamed in fear.

"A virus?" The Powerpuff Girls and Socks gasped in unison.

"Yes," nodded Robot. "This is nothing new. It has happened to me before."

Courage, having another one of his panic attacks, rushed over to Robot and grabbed onto his shoulders. "This has happened to you before?!" the cowardly dog asked frantically. "This is NOT good!"

"Courage, calm down!" Blossom yelled. "The last thing we need is for you to go to pieces on us right now and you know I can't stand hysterics."

"Calm down?!" Courage cried. "Blossom, how can I calm down... when Robot's the one who has a virus? This is serious!"

"Cheese and crackers, Courage!" exclaimed Cubey, glaring. "Chill out, already! Robot having a virus isn't the end of the world. It'll be just like last time; He'll remove his chest plate and then we'll take the infected disk out. He'll be back to normal before you know it."

"I do not think it was an infected disk that gave me this virus, Cubey," added Robot. "There must have been something else."

"Robot, you are absolutely right," Dexter nodded, having a brainstorm. "There is no floppy disk in my laboratory that could have caused you to contract it. Something or somebody must have done this to you. Can you remember where you were seconds before you got the virus?"

"Affirmative. I went to charge myself in the living room, and the moment after I plugged into the outlet, I became exhausted and my power went out, abruptly."

Courage gasped loudly, the boys grimaced and the Powerpuff Girls just stared with their mouths hung open.

"Just as I suspected," Dexter pointed out. "Someone switched your charger with one containing a computer virus in it."

"What?!" Courage and the boys shouted.

"But that's impossible!" stated Cubey. "How the heck would anybody know Robot's even here? All of us are in your universe, for crying out loud! Nobody knows where we are!"

"I believe that somebody," Dexter answered, "while we were in your universe, stole my teleporter and brought themselves back here. When Robot was going to get charged, they had already switched his charger with the infected one, which in conclusion, gave him said computer virus."    

While everyone wasn't looking, Courage snuck out of the lab, went downstairs and into the kitchen. He searched through drawers until he found a thermometer and made an ice pack using ice from the refrigerator. He went to the closet in Dexter's parents' bedroom to get a long scarf and rushed back to the others.

"Robot, I'll save you!" He said to himself.

~ * ~

"This is very strange," Blossom thought. "Who would want to infect Robot Jones with a computer virus and why?"

Before Dexter, Bubbles and Buttercup were about to say, "I don't know," Robot and his friends answered, "The Yogman twins."

"Huh?" the boy genius and Powerpuff Girls asked in unison.

"This is the Yogmans' doing," said Robot. "I know this because they were the ones who caused me to contract my first virus. They--" Before he continued, he was interrupted by Courage, who yelled, "I'm here!"

Robot looked straight ahead and the seven characters turned around to see Courage running into the laboratory with the thermometer, scarf and ice pack for him.

"Courage, what are you doing?" Bubbles asked.

"Yeah!" scoffed Buttercup, annoyed. "And what's with the ice pack, thermometer and scarf?" 

Not paying attention to their questions, the small pink dog came towards Robot. He put the ice pack on top of his brain, wrapped the scarf around his neck and shoved the thermometer into his vocal slot.

"Don't worry, Robot, I'm here! I'll get rid of that virus for you!" Courage whimpered, worried. The freezing temperature of the ice pack caused Robot to turn blue and shiver with cold.

"C-C-Courage..." Robot stuttered from the intense chill of the ice wracking through his body. "I-I th-think you are m-misunderstanding what t-type of virus th-this is." He was extremely cold, to the point where it was becoming difficult for him to talk. 

"Courage," said Blossom, confused, "what in the world are you doing?"

"What's it look like I'm doing?" asked Courage impatiently. "I'm helping Robot get rid of the virus!"

Dexter yanked the pack, scarf and thermometer off Robot's body and out of his mouth. His pale colors returned. The boy genius threw them away and snapped at the pink canine, "It is not that type of virus, you stupid dog! Computer and human viruses are two entirely different things. Human viruses attack our immune systems, while the computer ones attack the functions of a cybernetic automaton! Get it?"

"Don't yell at me, Dexter!" Courage argued, angrily. "I just wanna help him!"

"Oh, yeah? Well--"

"It is all right, Dexter," Robot interrupted him in a weak voice. "Even though Courage misunderstood, he still had good intentions." He reached over and petted Courage on the head; giving him a sickened smile.  

"What gets me," Blossom wondered, "is that they did this in order to destroy or take something from you, Robot. The question is, what do the Yogman twins want so badly from you?"

Robot looked at her, saying, "They want my brain."

"NO!" howled Courage, horrified.

"Holy...!" Blossom shrieked.

"Your brain?!" gasped Bubbles.

"That's a bummer, man," said Buttercup, stunned.
 
"Those Yogman dorks've been tryin' to get their grubby paws on Robot's brain since the day he walked into Polyneux," explained Socks. "They're two twin brothers who look nothing alike. Denny's the short one with glasses and Lenny's the tall one who usually is the mastermind behind the plans to get Robot's brain."

Courage trembled and his teeth started chattering. He imagined the Yogmans as monstrous creatures with sets of fangs, green eyes, zombie skin and claws. He also thought if he didn't do something quickly, Robot was going to be exploding pieces of scrap metal. Just thinking about it made him more frightened.

"Don't worry, Robot," said Blossom. "We'll make sure the Yogmans pay for this, and they will pay dearly."

"We'll kick their butts so hard, they won't even know what hit 'em," smirked Buttercup, acting tough.

"Yeah," agreed Bubbles. "We won't let them get away with it. You can count on us."

"Thank you, girls," replied Robot with a heartfelt but ill grin. "I appreciate what you are doing for me deeply and know you will do your best."

"That's great, guys," said Mitch, "but how are you going to find the Yogmans? They could be anywhere."

"We will simply have to locate them via transmission," Dexter said. "As for right this minute, I will need to perform tests on Robot to see if this computer virus has really gone into his circuits. Until I receive the results, I do not know if he will be too far from being repaired. Courage, I will need you, Mitch, Socks and Cubey to step out of the laboratory for a while. These tests on Robot may take up to three hours. The Powerpuff Girls will stay with me to help and monitor him."

"OK, Dexter," said Cubey. "Good luck."

"Let us know how it all works out," Socks said, a little doubtful.

Robot's only response was a small nod. As the boys headed for the laboratory's door and left, Courage remained standing in front of him; scared for his life. He quivered his lips and threw himself onto Robot; hugging him feverishly.

"Courage," he said, "it is time for you to leave."

"No," protested the cowardly dog. "I wanna stay here and make sure you're gonna be okay."

"You heard Dexter. The tests he is going to perform on me will take three hours, and then you will know what he wants to do with me."

"No, Robot, I don't wanna leave. I'm not going anywhere. I don't give a darn what he said. I'm scared."

"Courage, you have to leave," Bubbles shook her head. "You don't have much of a choice."

"Please, Courage Unit," pleaded Robot. "This is an important thing for Dexter to do and he requires privacy. You must respect his wishes."

"Will you just get outta here, already, dog?!" Buttercup asked coldly. "We don't have time for this, we have a virus scan to do!"

"But, but, but..." Courage stammered.

"No buts!" Dexter roared. The tone of his voice scared Courage, the Powerpuff Girls and Robot. "Look, dog, this is my labora-tory and I make the rules! Do you want Robot Jones to be cured of this virus or not? We are now facing an emergency situation and do not have time for such foolishness! Get out of my labora-tory, immediately!"

Courage looked at Dexter, then Robot, before his eyes welled up with tears. He whined and sniffled; completely crushed by this horrible situation.

"Courage, it'll be okay," Blossom comforted him. "You don't have to worry about a thing. Robot is in the best place he can be right now. Dexter knows what to do."

"I just KNOW something bad is going to happen," the small dog whimpered with a sob.

"Trust me, boy, nothing bad will happen," she reassured him. "We're going to get to the bottom of this and solve the problem. I promise you that."

"Okay," sighed Courage sadly. He turned away and soon left the laboratory, but took one glance at Robot for a second; following his leave.

~ * ~

The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter started the three hour tests on Robot, putting him in front of scanners and different inventions used to detect computer viruses. The foursome wore goggles over their eyes because the flashes from the devices were incredibly dangerous.

Robot cooperated the entire time and allowed Dexter to poke and prod him with the tools in the machines. After the grueling three hours were up and they went to help Robot out of one of the inventions, the kids left him to wait for a few minutes and finally went to Dexter's computer to get the results.

"Computer," Dexter ordered, "show us the results of Robot Jones' virus tests."

"Virus detection results activated," the computer announced in a female voice. Almost instantly, the screen changed from green to orange. A hologram of Robot appeared and a power bar faded in next to it.

Finally, a countdown timer was underneath them. They indicated Robot's power was declining rapidly. The timer told Dexter that Robot would shut down in twenty four hours. It was far worse than he thought.

"Oh, no..." Dexter uttered grimly.

"Is Robot gonna be okay or what?" Buttercup asked.

"He is not going to last very long," said Dexter. He pointed to the power grid on the screen. "This bar is showing me his power is going down at an alarming rate. This countdown tells me how many hours he has left. I am very sorry to say this, but Robot Jones is going to shut down."

The girls stared at him in open mouthed horror. Robot Jones? Shut down?

"He has at least twenty four hours until his demise," informed the boy genius. "The virus is causing his circuits to go haywire. Unless I find a way to fix him, he is a goner."

"Dexter..." Blossom gaped, barely able to speak.

"You got to be kidding me," Buttercup whispered, traumatized. 

"What do we do?" whimpered Bubbles, about to cry. "Can you... can you fix him?"

"I must," Dexter declared, "waiting is not an option, anymore. We must save Robot... before it is too late."

All four characters watched the computer's screen; shocked, despaired and heartbroken. Robot's power bar declined bit by bit, going down from 50 to 40% in less then a minute. Time was running out.   

(END OF PREVIEW. FOURTH INSTALLMENT COMING SOON). 

The Powerpuff Girls"/"The Powerpuff Girls Super Smash Up" comic series: Craig McCracken, Cartoon Network and IDW Publishing.

"Whatever Happened to Robot Jones?" - Greg Miller and Cartoon Network.

"Courage the Cowardly Dog" - Cartoon Network and Stretch Films.

"Dexter's Laboratory" - Genndy Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network.

:icondonotuseplz::iconmyartplz:

Written by: :iconpinocchiodisneyfreak:.

UPDATE: EDIT TO PARAGRAPHS, TITLE AND CHARACTER DIALOGUE.

UPDATE #2: CHANGE TO COVER PREVIEW.

UPDATE #3: MORE EDITS TO DIALOGUE AND NEW PART ADDED TO FURTHER STORY.

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OLD DESCRIPTION:

Here is the third preview of "Dying Light." This one is longer than the first two in order to give readers more information about the plot. In this preview, the characters figure out what to do about Robot Jones' virus. Courage doesn't take it very well. Now not having a whole lot of options, Dexter must find a way to save Robot's life before the situation takes a horrible turn for the worse.   

UPDATE: 1/17/18
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I decided to extend "Dying Light," like I did with "The Darkness Within" and add an explanation as to why things in the story are happening. As "DL's" plot suggests, Lenny and Denny, instead of forcing Robot to become sick with a disk, like they did in the original episode, they force him to contract the virus with an infected charger.   
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epicparadot's avatar
This was sad:( I feel for Courage in this