Zbuz vs The Red Menace (An Urban Rivals Fanfic)

NOTE: Emily’s (who has a small role in this story) bio and pic can be found here: yaoi-huntress-earth.deviantart… See the description if you're not familiar with the series.

   When it comes to Xanitax gas and pregnant women, it was a funny thing really. Just one whiff and, poof, you get a cute, little, red baby. If you asked Emily about it, she didn't really mind since the Berzerk were her true family now. Hell, Cortez was even nice enough to use his childhood experience helping his midwife mother (back in Los Santos) to deliver the baby. Then secretly told her how he wanted to be one himself until his stepdad got all theatrical about how he "had no son".

   "He sure is a cute little tyke." Flush said as he watched Emily take her eight-month-old son outside to enjoy the morning air.

   "I know." She smiled, cuddling her son for a bit. "Look, Percy just grew his first spikes." She pulled up one of his jumper sleeves, revealing some tiny spikes starting to form.

   Flush gently ruffled Percy's black hair that he inherited from his father, Myke. Myke, if he saw that jerk again, he ram his plunger down his throat. A lovely girlfriend who was more than happy to give him a child and what did she get in return? A scared little soldier that freaked out and left her. No, now was not the time for Flush to get angry about it. He didn't want to scare the kid. Besides, Emily had enough resentment for all of them no matter how many times she said, 'phooey' on him.

   Oddly, Percy had been a good baby. Other than being a loud cryer, he never really showed any signs of intense aggression or rages. It was as if the anger had passed the kid over.

   "Nothing like a baby to prove that things alright in this world." A remorseful smile appeared on Flush's face as he extended a finger to Percy that he firmly grasped with his tiny little hand. "I just wish I could've had that chance myself."

   "What do you mean?" Emily asked with a confused look on her face.

   "Me and my wife, I mean, now ex-wife tried." His gaze was totally focused on the kid as he kept talking. "But after years of trying, it just became too much for her and she left."

   "Flush, I'm so sorry."

   "Oh, it's nothing. I'm just fine with looking over this little tyke." The baby cooed a bit as he kept holding his finger.

   "If you're sure..." Just then, an idea struck her. "How would you like to be Percy's daddy for the day?"

   "Really?" He almost stepped back in surprise.

   "Of course. If anyone deserves it, it's you." She gently placed her son into his arms, causing the baby to smile and giggle the second it happened. "See, Percy likes the idea."

   "Thanks Emily." His voice, quiet yet thankful as he held Percy close.

----

   "Once again, The Red Menace continues to spread his foul influence." Zbuz muttered as he and Petra watched the whole thing on her laptop.

   "Hmmm, so the Reds capable of more than one emotion." Petra said in an amused tone, ignoring her clanmate's rambling as he paced around the Barbie dream house that he converted into a personal base. That is if you counted conversion as just putting up a sign on the roof that said, 'Sekret Laire.'

   "Damn it, woman, pay attention to me!"

   "Yes, my mighty conqueror?"

   "For far too long, The Red Menace has been a thorn in my side." He started talking with his hands as he grew more and more dramatic with each second. "To think he somehow managed to take down the invincible Bzighit army all by himself." Petra's failed attempt to stifle a laugh just rolled off his back. "Oh, but not for long. For I, have found a way to end his reign of terror."

   Zbuz flew down and to a puppy-sized object covered by a dish rag. "Now behold, woman, and gaze upon my ultimate weapon." Yanking off the sheet revealed the level three version of his battle suit.

   "Why, Zbuz," A sneaky smile began to form on her lips . "it's so...cute."

   "IT IS NOT CUTE!" He began jumping up and down in anger. "This is pure metallic destruction that will tear enough holes into The Red Menace that not even the gods will recognize him. Ah, ha, ha, ha!"

   "Whatever." Petra yawned. "Just call me if you need a ride there."

   "The great Zbuz does not need your charity." Then reality hit it. "Fine, get the car started."

---

   Another little fun fact about the Berzerk was that after the last remains of the Xanitax gas faded from the Red One Motel, the neighborhood wasn't totally devoid of regular people (or "Normies" as many of the Berzerk called them). At first, the local thugs weren't going to let their new neighbors cramp up their territory by just existing. So with some new weapons they bought off the Montana, they came charging in with bats and guns a blazing as they got their butts kicked in less than a half hour.

   Just like the Wicked of the Witch of the West, all the other Normies that were under the thugs' thumbs celebrated. Sure the scant handful of them were mostly bums and winos; but their new-found devotion to their big, red saviors was flattering. (In a sometimes annoying way.) Maybe part of it had to do with Cortez's little cult of personality he created among them as if they were gazing up on Mixcoatl himself.

   But now was not the time to focus on the clan's leader. Going back to Flush, he was busy pushing his "son" in Victorian style stroller (that one of their devotes got for them) down one of the streets of the clan's territory.  

   "Thank God, they're too busy setting things up for "We Love the Red Day" to bother us." A relieved Flush said to Percy . "It's just us."

   "And me." Flush immediately turned behind him as Zbuz hovered near him in his new battle armor. "You may have lucked out against the mighty Bzighit army before," Zbuz started to get more dramatic. "but face the wrath of Zbuz!"

   "Have we met?" Flush gave him a "what-the-Hell" look on his face.

   "Do not mock me like you did last month, Red Menace."

   "A month, hmm..." Flush was in deep thought as he tried to jog his memory.  

   "It was the first of October! My kind and I were ready to conquer your measly planet, starting this this rancid motel." He then mentally cursed Flush for "using his masterful skills at psychology" for getting him this upset. "Somehow, you were able to overcome us in a single blow."

   "All I did was take that toilet's tank lid and swat at you guys." Even in Clint City, this felt like this was just too out there for him.

   "So that's what your mighty weapon is called?" Zbuz moved in closer, pulling out a laser gun.

   "Listen, I'm sorry. I thought you and your friends were a bunch of overgrown flies." He took his right hand and lightly pushed the Bzighit away. "I don't know what I can do for you other than offer my condolences." He didn't want to mention how he had tossed what was left of them into the trash.

   "SILENCE!" Zbuz blasted him with enough force to knock Flush back, leaving a small burn mark on his chest. He flew down low enough to rest his armored feet on the edge of stroller. To see his enemy suffer and struggle to get up, brought a smile to his face. "You have humiliated me for the last time, Red Menace. And now you will feel the wrath of Zbu...ack!"

   Before he could even react, Percy had seized Zbuz with his tiny hands. That familiar battle rage coursed through the child at the sight of his temporary father's pain as he tore the armor in half and threw it as far as he could.

   Getting up from the blast, Flush sighed as the baby began to calm down. "You gotta a tough road ahead of you, kid."

----

   "Oh, what do you want?" Zbuz scoffed at Petra as he was back in his secret lair, tending to the many wounds Percy inflicted upon him. "Did you come here to revel in my misery?"

   "Not today." She was, holding something behind her back. "I know how your kind like to take prisoners. So I got you a little something." She pulled out a Barbie doll that she painted red and placed it on the bed next to him.

   "For me?" Zbuz looked like he was about to cry.

   Petra nodded.

   "Ah ha!" All of Zbuz's self-confidence began rushing back to him. "Once again, the mighty Zbuz stands in victory!"

   "Whatever." She chuckled and left.

THE END