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The nightmare was over for Rev. It certainly seemed real, but thankfully it wasn’t. Everyone is alive, even the villains; Ethan Hyde is still gone, and the rest of the formula has been destroyed. Best of all for Rev, one part of his fantasies became a reality. He and Tech are now a couple, as Tech apologized to Rev for not acknowledging their friendship as he should have, and realizing that Rev would do anything to help Tech if something like his nightmare ever happened.
But thus, as that part was resolved, there’s another that needs to be as well: Danger Duck’s constant mockery. Ever since the day Ethan Hyde first came into the picture, Duck has been mocking Tech with jokes and insults, calling him "Evil Tech," drawing pictures of Tech’s dark half, rubbing it in his face, and not to mention the imitations he does of Hyde's movements, voice, etc.
One day, Tech was in the kitchen of the Loonatics’ HQ, preheating the oven while having out two tempered-glass baking trays on the counter. He had the ingredients for the recipe in front of him and did his part to make sure they were at the right measurements.
Tech E. Coyote: “Okay. Let’s see. Pie Crust: 4 individual crusts, Blueberries: 8-10 cups fresh or frozen, 4-5 cups separate, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 5–6 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons zest, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 eggs beaten with 2 tablespoons of milk, and lastly, my special juice. Courtesy of an old English friend.”
The black-and-green coyote picked up a vile containing the bluish-purple liquid. It was a serum that was once created for blueberry darts. Now it’s been made for Tech’s payback plot.
Tech E. Coyote: “Thank you, Joe. At least I learned to keep things safe and clear this time.”
While mixing the ingredients, minus the serum, he suddenly felt two arms wrapped around his waist. Looking down, the hands were red, and only one teammate had red hands. It was his new boyfriend, Rev Runner, as he placed his beak on Tech’s left shoulder.
Rev Runner: “Good-morning-handsome.”
Tech turned to his left to see Rev up close and smiled.
Tech E. Coyote: “Good morning, Rev.”
They kiss, and Tech returns to mixing.
Rev Runner: “So-what-are-you-making-today? A-cake-cupcake-muffin-bagel-toast-cookies-pancakes-waffles-eggs-cereal? What-is-it-what-is-it-what-is-it?”
Tech E. Coyote: “Well, if you must know, this is the new experiment that I told you about the other day. I am simply making blueberry pies for the first time, and it will be for the team.”
Rev Runner: “Oh-blueberries-I-love-blueberries. Especially-when-they’re-picked-fresh-from-the-garden-not-to-mention-when-they’re-used-for-other-things-like-making-breakfast-lunch-and-dinner. I-can’t-wait-to-try-them-out-Tech-and…”
Suddenly, Rev is caught off guard by the vile.
Rev Runner: “Hey-Tech-what’s-this-supposed-to-be? Some-kind-of-new-formula-or-some—”
Rev stops talking as he suddenly remembers his nightmare. Tech noticed this and took the vile from Rev.
Tech E. Coyote: “Oh, uh, sorry. Don’t worry, it’s not what you think. It’s actually a type of serum. You remember Joe, right?”
Rev Runner: “Hmm-let’s-see-Joe. Oh-yeah-I-remember-him. We-helped-you-two-out-that-one-time-when-you-swallowed-your-own-air-canister-and-turned-into-a-coyote-balloon-and-Joe-turned-into-twelve-foot-blueberry. I’ll-tell-you-it-was-quite-the-mess-but-we-managed-to… wait… Tech-what-are-you-planning-here?”
Then, Danger Duck arrived, walking by the table. He saw Tech and Rev at the oven discussing something.
Danger Duck: “Hey, whatcha doing?”
Rev panicked and tried to hide the vial behind his back.
Rev Runner: “Dah, ah, uh, nothing! Nothing-in-particular-just-baking-some-blueberry-pies-that’s-all. Nothing-to-be-suspicious-about-baking-blueberry-pies-no-no-no-just-a-harmless-bakery-and…
Tech grabs Rev’s beak to make him stop talking.
Tech E. Coyote: “What Rev is trying to say is that I am baking a couple of blueberry pies for the occasion to celebrate my complete recovery properly. *Looks at Rev* Am I holding your beak too hard?”
Rev Runner (Muffled): “No, not at all.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Okay, good. *Let's go of Rev’s beak* As you can see, Duck. I have two trays all prepped and ready for the pies. Just mixing up the ingredients here and waiting for the oven to be ready.”
Danger Duck: “Okay, then.”
Duck turned around while Tech went back to mixing, and Rev went to help Tech. But then…
Danger Duck: “Hey, Rev. Take a look at this.”
Rev Runner: “Sure, what-is-it?”
Rev’s face went blank, frozen in fear as he turned to see Duck wearing what appeared to be a face mask of Ethan Hyde from Rev’s nightmare. Duck growled, and Rev hid behind Tech.
Rev: “AAAAAAH! Tech-help-me! Please-help-me! Don’t-let-him-get-me! Please-please-please-please-please! Don’t-let-him-get-his-hands-on-me!”
Tech saw the mask and was upset with Duck.
Tech: “Duck, what are you doing with that stupid thing on?! Take it off!”
Duck took off the mask and was laughing at Rev’s reaction.
Danger Duck: “Hahahaha. You should’ve seen the look on your face. Hey, thanks for the tip on the design, Rev. Hahahaha.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Alright, Duck, that’s enough. Just because I recovered from the nightmare doesn’t mean Rev has. He’s still traumatized by his own nightmare.”
Danger Duck: “Oh, whatever. You can blame me all you want, Tech, but we all know you’re the one who brought ‘him’ up in the first place. I’m just trying to put a little fun into it.”
Tech E. Coyote: “There’s nothing fun about Ethan Hyde at all, Duck. You know better than that.”
Danger Duck: “Hagh, alright, fine. Spoil the moment. I’ll leave you two ‘lovebird and lovecoyote’ alone. But you guys seriously need to let it go. You can't let something like this bother you all the time.”
Duck walked away as Tech looked at him, shaking his head, glaring at the duck. But he remembered Rev being behind him, so he turned to comfort him. Rev was visibly shaken by Duck’s jumpscare and mask, as with the effects of his nightmare of Ethan Hyde, and Tech places his hands on the roadrunner's shoulders.
Tech E. Coyote: “Hey, hey. Look at me. Duck’s gone now. Are you okay?”
Rev Runner: “I-I g-guess so. But… that was so uncool. Why did he do that?”
Tech E. Coyote: “Shh, it’s okay. *hugs him* It’s okay, I’m here.”
Ace Bunny: “Hey, I heard Rev scream. You guys okay?”
Ace came out of the training room, hearing the commotion that occurred.
Tech E. Coyote: “It’s Duck again. Scared the daylights out of Rev with that stupid Hyde mask.”
Ace Bunny: “He did what? Dang, I’m sorry, Rev. You okay, buddy?”
Rev Runner: “Yeah, I’ll be okay. Where did he get that stupid mask anyway?”
Ace Bunny: “Oh, that… he found the website that makes fully accurate masks. You know, the kind of mask I used to wear when I was a stuntman? He got it from that mask-making company that the film studio I worked for got them from. He told them that it was a weird-looking werewolf.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Well, as much as I appreciate him not telling the company that it was me, it’s still no excuse for scaring Rev like that. Completely unacceptable.”
Ace Bunny: “I know. Hey, speaking of making, you making pies?”
Tech E. Coyote: “Yep. Got two trays here. One is for the rest of us… the other… is for Duck. Rev, pass me the vile, please.”
Rev gives Tech the vile. Ace sees the serum and then remembers the conversation with Tech on the balcony.
Ace Bunny: “So, you’re going with your little payback plan?”
Rev Runner: “Payback plan? Is-that-what-the-serum-is-for?”
Tech E. Coyote: “You bet. This serum will be used for the second pie that I’m preparing for Duck. When he eats the slice… he’s gonna be in for a very… big… juicy… surprise.”
Rev Runner: “Is-he-suggesting-what-I-think-he’s-suggesting-Ace?”
Ace Bunny: “Oh yeah. So let’s remember to make sure that everyone else avoids the tray designated for Duck.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Indeed. Duck thinks he can mock and joke about my other half. Well, you know what they say about karma. It’s a dish… best served juicy.”
Tech looked at the serum in his hand with a smile and an expression only an evil genius would have. Later in the afternoon, it was lunchtime. Everyone at the table was finishing up with their sandwiches. Ace and Lexi were sitting together while Slam sat on the other side opposite the bunnies, but closer to Duck, who was sitting at the end of the table, and Rev was at the opposite end of the table… far away from Duck. They were waiting for the pies Tech was preparing, along with Ice cream.
Ace Bunny: “Mmm. That smells good, Tech. Can’t wait to try it.”
Lexi Bunny: “Me neither. I can smell the fresh blueberries from here.”
Slam Tasmanian: “Mmm *Slurps the tongue around his mouth.* Blueberry pie.”
Danger Duck: “Don’t let it go to your head, Slam. Don’t want you flippin' out over it like Rev this morning.”
Rev said nothing back. Just gave Duck a dirty look before Tech arrived with the pie slices and ice cream.
Tech E. Coyote: “Okay, everybody. My safe little experiment with cooking is a success. Hope you all enjoy. Ace, Lex, these are for you two lovebunnies.”
Ace and Lex blushed at Tech before looking at each other.
Ace Bunny: “Aw, Tech, don’t say that.”
Lexi Bunny: “What’s wrong? Too shy?”
Lexi held Ace’s hand with a smile as Tech went to Slam.
Tech E. Coyote: “Here you go, big guy. A double slice for you. Hope you enjoy, champ.”
Slam Tasmanian: “Mmm… thank you.”
Tech E. Coyote: “And here’s yours, Rev. With a little sesame seed surprise for the ice cream.”
Rev Runner: “Oh-thank-you-Tech. The-sesame-seeds-are-a-really-nice-touch. And-this-blueberry-pie-looks-and-smells-amazing-I-bet-it-tastes-amazing-too.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Trust me. It will.”
Tech kissed Rev on the head before going for Duck’s slice. With his back turned, he took a syringe with the serum inside and stuck the needle into the pie, injecting it. He cuts a slice and places it on a plate next to the ice cream.
Danger Duck: “Okay, come on, don’t leave me hanging.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Don’t worry, Duck. You’ll get yours. You certainly will. *Places them in front of Duck* Here you go, Duck. Go ahead and have at it.”
At this point, Duck noticed Tech smiling at him. He figured he wouldn’t, considering the earlier events of that morning.
Danger Duck: “What are you smiling about?”
Tech E. Coyote: “Nothing really. Just figured that maybe I should take your advice and just move on from it, that’s all.”
Danger Duck: “Well, it’s about time you did. You two have been whining about it all week.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Yeah, I suppose. You’ll like the slice I gave you. It’s a little extra juicy.”
Ace and Rev started to snort and giggle upon hearing Tech’s comment about Duck’s slice. Duck noticed them giggling and questioned them. Even Lexi and Slam were confused.
Danger Duck: “What’s so funny?”
Lexi Bunny: “Yeah, what’s so funny?”
Ace Bunny: “Oh, oh nothing, just thought of something funny I remembered seeing.”
Danger Duck: “Like what?”
Rev Runner: “Oh-something-about-putting-some-flavor-in-certain-things-making-them-extra-juicy-like-the-time-Slam-had-that-big-triple-whopper-a-coulple-days-ago-and-it-took-three-hours-to-clean.”
Slam Tasmanian: “Mmm… Juicy triple whopper good.”
Ace Bunny: “Anyway, I’m sure you won’t have that cleaning problem, Duck. It will certainly be extra filling.”
Rev giggled even harder as Tech sat next to him. Tech tried to calm him down.
Tech E. Coyote: “Careful with that laughter of yours, or you’re gonna choke on one of those berries.”
Danger Duck: “I don’t know why, but I feel like you’re onto something. But I’m still too hungry to figure that out, so I’m just gonna eat.”
Finally, Duck took a piece of pie with his fork and ate it.
Danger Duck: “Mmm. Oh yeah, definitely taste the juicy part, maybe a little too much, but other than that, the pie’s good. I’ll give you some type of credit, Tech. I bet your other half would make pies in the worst way.”
Tech responds with a smile.
Tech E. Coyote: “Oh, I’m pretty sure he would. But at least I would add some creativity to them.”
Danger Duck: “Yeah, I’ll give you that.”
Duck took a few more bites as the rest of the team started eating, complementing Tech’s cooking as well. Once everyone was finished, Tech handed the dirty dishes to his automated robot helper, and they headed to the living room.
Lexi Bunny: “Those pies were delicious, Tech. Not bad for the first try.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Why, thank you, Lexi. It was about time I did something that relates to food. If I had any more passion, I would have been a chef. But that’s my cousin’s passion.”
Ace Bunny: “Hey, no offence, but that’s your gay cousin, right?”
Tech E. Coyote: “Yep, that’s the one. And none taken. So, what you wanna do now?”
Rev Runner: “Well-the-next-patrol-is-not-for-another-hour-why-don’t-we-play-some-games-to-kill-the-time? I-want-to-try-out-Power-Rangers:-Rita’s-Rewind-it’s-got-6-player-local co-op.”
Danger Duck: “Well, at least we don’t have to be online. But are you sure you’re not gonna get scared of some of the monsters that game could have?”
Rev Runner: “Oh-I’m-sure-I’ll-be-fine. Besides-those-Power-Ranger-monsters-I-can-actually-handle.”
Danger Duck: “Oh, sure, you can handle them, but you can’t handle Evil Tech apparently.”
After hearing that response, Rev became very annoyed and spoke at normal speed.
Rev Runner: “Okay… You’re really killing the mood now.”
Ace Bunny: “Come on, Duck. We gotta move past this.”
Tech looked at his wrist communicator clock installed.
Danger Duck: “I have moved past it.”
Ace Bunny: “You sure? It seems you haven’t moved past it either.”
Danger Duck: “Oh, please. They’re just jokes, I’m trying to lighten up the room here. If you ask me, it’s you guys who can’t find any sense of humor in all of this. The least I could do is expect some kind of sweet revenge you may have for me, but I don’t see it.”
While Duck was talking, Ace noticed that part of Duck’s beak was starting to turn blue, and it was also noticeable to the whole team. Their jaws started to gape open slowly… except for Tech. His smile alone showed that everything was going according to plan.
Danger Duck: “What’s with the gaping mouths? You’re starting to creep me out.”
Slam Tasmanian: “Deh… Duck is blue.”
Danger Duck: “What? I’m not blue. I’m orange. It’s a bright color and…”
Lexi Bunny: “No, Duck. Your beak is turning blue.”
Danger Duck: “What are you talking about… oh… ah… what?”
Duck looked at his beak, now realizing something was wrong. The blue coloring was traveling from the front of the beak to the back.
Rev Runner: “Oh-my-gosh-it’s-working. It-is-actually-working.”
Slam, Lexi, and Duck looked at Rev in confusion
Danger Duck: “Working?”
Lexi Bunny: “What do you mean by that, Rev?”
Slam Tasmanian: “Ugh… Rev knows something?”
Rev Runner: “Oh-uh-well-funny-you-mentioned-that-I-may-have-kind-of-given-something-away-that-I’m-not-supposed-to-give-away.”
Duck then realized what Rev was talking about as he looked at a pie tray with only one slice cut out of it in the kitchen.
Danger Duck: “Tech… what is this… what did you do to that pie?”
Tech E. Coyote: “You really want to know? Okay… I’ll give you a hint. Do you remember what happened when my friend Joe Otter visited?”
Danger Duck: “Yeah, I remember. You were an overinflated beach ball, and your friend was an overgrown blueber… *Eyes widen* Blue… berry.”
Duck looked at his hands, which were now turning blue.
Ace Bunny: “Everyone, you better back up.”
Danger Duck: “Hey, wait. Where are you guys going? Guys, wait…”
Suddenly, loud gurgling noises started coming from his stomach. The once black-and-orange duck was now totally blue. An even louder gurgle came from his stomach as it began to swell, doming outwards into a small pot belly.
Slam Tasmanian: “Duck blowing up.”
Danger Duck: “Ah hah hah, I feel funny!”
Ace Bunny: “I’m not surprised.”
Danger Duck: “What’s happening?!”
Rev Runner: “You’re-blowing-up-like-a-balloon.”
Tech E. Coyote: “More like a blueberry.”
Danger Duck: “WHAT?! OH YOU BACKSTABBING NERD, I KNEW YOU WERE UP TO NO GOOD! YOU KNOW WHAT I…”
Then, Duck was cut off by another gurgle as his middle swelled into a taut-looking ball belly, and his thighs began taking on juice. His uniform tightened up around his swelling body, all the while the juice sloshed and rumbled inside him, swilling around and frothing as it multiplied.
Lexi Bunny: “Holy cow. How much bigger is he gonna get?”
Tech E. Coyote: “Big enough to learn his lesson.”
Slam Tasmanian: “Uh… Tech… Ugh… are we?”
Tech E. Coyote: “Don’t worry. It was only Duck’s slice I gave the serum to.”
Duck’s butt began to bulge against his uniform, both cheeks becoming bloated moons. Soon, the juice began to back up with nowhere else to go. Both of Duck’s facial cheeks began to fill up, too; his arms began to sink into his growing body, which gradually became more spherical as time went on, bloating and swelling, and causing his uniform to creak as it got tighter and tighter. He shuddered his eyes and gritted his teeth as he swelled even bigger, becoming a ten-foot blueberry duck. The Loonatics, except for Tech, watched in awe and shock. And then suddenly… it stopped.
Danger Duck (Muffled): “Mmph. Muh… Is it over?”
Tech E. Coyote: “The growing? Yes. Your new appearance? No.”
Duck opened his eyes. His body was round and blue. His hands, feet, and cheek-puffed head were all that was left sticking out of the big duckberry, and he could barely see below his big, round belly.
Danger Duck (Muffled): “What the? Tech, what did you do to me? My body… my perfect form… my public image… my reputation… gone… ruined… how am I supposed to save the world if I’m a giant blueberry? How am I gonna go out into the world and be seen by the public eye? I can’t go out like this.”
Ace Bunny: “Well, you don’t look that bad. I mean… You have always wanted people to think you're a… big shot.”
Lexi Bunny: “And you could save the world by rolling over the bad guys.”
Slam Tasmanian: “Hahahahaha. Duck like a bowling ball… Knock down bad pins.”
The team laughed, and Duck was embarrassed. Rev was certainly shocked at how big Duck got, but then, after remembering what he did to him earlier in the day, he couldn’t pass on the opportunity to join in and deliver a joke that would humiliate him.
Rev Runner: “Holy-cow-Duck-you’ve-grown-huge. You’re-like-the-biggest-blueberry-in-the-whole-world. Oh-guys-I-got-an-idea. Let’s-say-we-enter-Duck-into-a-contest-at-the-county-fair-and-put-him-in-a-biggest-fruit-competition. Oh-we-would-get-first-prize-for-sure-and-not-to-mention-all-the-free-passes-food-and-prize-money-we-could-get. I-could-see-it-now. Danger-Duck-the-largest-blueberry-duck-in-the-world.”
The team laughed even harder, and Rev had a smile as wide as a mile.
Danger Duck (Muffled): “Okay, I get it, very funny, hahahahahahaha, you got me. Now fix me. Make me normal. Don’t make me roll over you, because I will, now fix me!”
Tech E. Coyote: “You wanted sweet revenge? You got it. This is for every ‘Evil Tech’ joke, every cold shower, nearly scaring Rev to death, and calling me a nerd like it was an insult. Oh, and yeah, suggesting to use a needle to pop me when I was a blimp.”
Danger Duck (Muffled): “Oh, you think you're so clever, huh? Just wait. Funny you should mention that. How about I go plug in that Kinetic Amplification Ray, have it blimp you up, and have it keep blimping you up until you’ve outgrown your own lab. Bet you wouldn’t like that, would ya?”
While the blueberrified Duck protested, Tech whispered something into Slam’s ear. The idea given to Slam put a smile on the black-and-purple Tasmanian devil’s face. Tech also whispered to Ace, Lexi, and Rev while Slam walked behind Duck’s round body and positioned himself as if he was going for a tackle.
Danger Duck (Muffled): “Hey… Slam… is that you, champ? Slam… help me. Please! You’re on my side, right? Right?”
Duck’s pleas for help were ignored as Slam charged and tackled his body, causing Duck to roll forward. The top of his head bounced on the floor repeatedly as he rolled on the floor. Meanwhile, Ace, Lexi, and Tech, with the help of Rev’s superspeed, bumped Duck back rolling towards Slam, who went down to give Duck a bit of a jump as the duck rolled off of Slam’s body. Duck bounced and rolled, and he made sounds as if he was gonna vomit, and he kept rolling and bouncing until he finally stopped, getting wedged in the doorway. His head was now facing the team, who laughed hysterically as Tech walked to him with a small gadget labelled “De-Juicer”. Duck was seeing double for a while before finally coming to, seeing the gadget.
Danger Duck (Muffled): “Gasp… Please, Tech. Give me that device. Please, I can’t take it anymore. Change me back.”
Tech E. Coyote: “That depends. Learned your lesson?”
Danger Duck (Muffled and grumbling): “Sighs… Okay, I guess I overdid the Evil Tech bit.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Maybe just a little.”
Danger Duck (Muffled): “And I’m sorry for scaring Rev earlier. I was only kidding around, you know, honest. I’m sorry.”
Rev Runner: “Oh-what-the-heck? I’ll-forgive-him. For-now.”
Ace Bunny: “So, how does this De-Juicer gadget of yours work?”
Tech E. Coyote: “It’s a bit of a laser ray.”
The beam appears as a shimmering turquoise ray with tiny sparkling motes. The sound it made has Duck panicked,
Tech E. Coyote (grinning): “Relax. It’s just a low-power dissociation beam. Think of it as… molecular dry-cleaning.”
Danger Duck (panicked, muffled): “If I end up as a raisin, I’m haunting you forever!”
Tech E. Coyote (deadpan): “Noted. Now, this will only sting if you panic… so don’t move. Three… two… one…”
Tech shoots the laser ray at Duck. The main emitter fires a modulated microwave + near-infrared laser pulse tuned to the exact resonant frequency of the blueberry expansion compound (Tech calibrated it to Duck’s specific slice he ate earlier). This frequency causes the juice molecules to vibrate themselves apart into harmless water vapor and trace sugars — basically turning the expansion fluid into mist that harmlessly evaporates through Duck’s pores and feathers. Duck slowly shrinks like a balloon losing air, though the feeling is uncomfortable. Within at least a minute, the duck returned to his normal size, though now damped, and still grumpy.
Danger Duck: “Actually… you don’t need to be evil to be so despicable.”
Tech E. Coyote (Hands him a towel): “And you’re welcome. Now, would you like to join us for a gaming session?”
Danger Duck: “Yeah, I suppose.”
As Duck walked with the others to the TV, Lexi approached Tech.
Lexi Bunny: “Impressive stuff as always, Tech. But I’ve been thinking. If you didn’t have that De-Juicer, what would happen to Duck?”
Tech E. Coyote: “Well, the serum I made isn’t like your typical Wonka-panic where you’d have to be juiced, or you’d explode. I made it so that it doesn’t pop him. As for the size, it depends on how much he eats. In short, the serum would have worn off within about a week. This is something I learned and took into account after the mess I got Joe in.”
Lexi Bunny: “Oh, yeah, how’s he doing?”
Tech E. Coyote: “He’s doing alright. He’s the one who helped me make the serum. I wanted to make it up to him, so I bought him some new science lab coats, and he helped with the serum.”
Lexi Bunny: “Well, it’s good that you two are getting along after all that. Speaking of, I still remember the two times we had to deflate you. Still funny.”
Tech E. Coyote: “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I ended up like a giant basketball, a hot air balloon, a pair, a stickman, and a flat tire. But that’s done and over with. Okay?”
Lexi Bunny: “Okay, okay. Just teasing. Come on, let’s catch up with the others.”
The Loonatics then spent some time playing Rev’s Power Rangers game before going on patrol.