THE DAISY SAGA, EPISODE 21

THE DAISY SAGA, EPISODE 21
Daisy Watches Fate Unfold, Part III

Daisy was just trying to decide whether or not she could bend the rules in this world to allow her Magic AK-47 that Never Runs out of Ammo to be used against humans when the Mister Dark Evil Shadow Man on the left turned and began strangling the one on the right.
"You BASTARD!" he screamed, as the darkness began to evaporate from him little by little. "You stole the best years of my life! You corrupted my mind! I'm going to kill you! I will be Dark and Evil no more! I am Mister Shadow Man!" And as the darkness evaporated from him, it drifted over to the other, making him even darker. And as the one on the right absorbed the extra darkness, his expression of surprise at being choked changed into a knowing smile. Soon, the darkness itself lashed out from his body and enveloped the other.
The tendrils of darkness pried the left one's fingers from the right one's throat, then lifted him into the air.
"Well Mister Shadow Man," the darker one said, "I guess that makes me Mister Dark Evil. You were perfectly content to use my power when you accidentally opened the portal to my world and drew me into yours. But now you think you can do without me?"
Mister Shadow Man struggled to free himself from the tendrils of darkness that lifted him into the air. He looked just like any other man now without the darkness clinging to him. Meanwhile, Mister Dark Evil was looking less and less human with each passing second.
"Guess I don't need to bend any rules after all," Daisy remarked as she whipped out her Magic AK-47 that Never Runs out of Ammo and blasted Mister Dark Evil full of holes. For the first time, he seemed to take notice of her. He dropped Mister Shadow Man and turned his full attention to her, but she was ready. Each tendril of darkness that came at her, she sliced off with her sword.
Mister Dark Evil retreated and regrouped. He began to lose his shape. Just then, Mister Shadow Man was once again clad in his sunglasses and fedora.
"It's time for you to leave!" he proclaimed to the mass of darkness.
Mister Dark Evil simply opened a hole in space and stepped in.
"Neither of you has seen the last of me," the mass of darkness promised. Then, he closed the hole around himself.
Meanwhile, a righteously indignant Mister Shadow Man stood ready to fight off Mister Dark Evil if he should return. Then, for the first time, he seemed to notice Daisy.
"No offense young lady, but you don't belong here either."
"Fine by me," Daisy replied. "I was just leaving."
Mister Shadow Man smiled patiently, waiting for her to leave. But then she realized she did not know how.
"Garth told me that he would disconnect me if the feedback levels got too high. But he didn't say what would happen if I-"
"Say no more," Mister Shadow Man replied. He suddenly towered above Daisy and appeared more menacing than he ever had in real life, Dark Evil or no. And then, just when Daisy began to feel an uneasy tingling throughout her being-
-she awoke in the metal chair. She could hear the machinery powering down. She glanced over to where Garth stood at the controls, and watched as he hurriedly pushed a few buttons, then came rushing to her side.
"Oh my God, Daisy, are you okay? The feedback levels spiked, and I didn't know it would happen so fast, and oh God, I hope I pulled you out in time. Oh shit, are you-"
"Shhhhhhh," Daisy said, smiling, putting a finger to his mouth. "I'm okay. And so is your dad... um, I think."
"But the feedback levels. Didn't he push you out?"
"Well I didn't know how else to leave."
"How about the signal? Once you confirmed that you had... Oh crap... I forgot to tell you about the signal. See, you were supposed to-"
"Son!" came a cracking cry from the corner of the lab. "She saved me. Just thank her, will you?"
"Dad!" Garth exclaimed. He made to run to the bed, but then stopped and looked back at Daisy. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes. Go." Daisy smiled. She felt happier than she had in a very long time.
She sat up in the chair and removed the helmet. She then sauntered over to the bed where Garth and Mister Shadow Man were talking in hushed tones.
"Oh Daisy," Mister Shadow Man said tearfully as he reached out his mechanical hand. "How can I ever repay you for what you have done for me? Oh God, how can I ever make it up to you, the pain I've caused you! And your sister! How is your sister?"
"She's fine," Daisy replied. She was still smiling uncontrollably and she felt relieved.
Mister Shadow Man turned to Garth. "Thank you too, son. You took this horrible machine and used it to heal me. But now that's done; we must dismantle it immediately."
"Of course. Oh God, Dad, it's so good to have you back."
"I'm glad to be back, and rid of that Dark Evil."
Under Mister Shadow Man's direction, Garth and Daisy destroyed the core of the dream invasion machine. Its other parts could be reused for more positive ends later.
Soon, Daisy and Garth stood in the front door facing Hull Street.
"I promised I'd never bother you again, Daisy. And, um, so... I'll never bother you a-"
"Shhhhhhh," Daisy said, smiling, putting a finger to his mouth again. "Do you promise never to call me a bitch, or act ignorant toward me?"
"Daisy, I've been a really crazy, mixed up guy, and dealing with my dad, who hated you and who I didn't even realize was crazy... I said some really stupid shit I shouldn't have. I know you probably hate me, but yeah, I promise never to say anything bad to you or about you. You helped my dad today and I'll never forget that. Thank you."
Daisy drew close to Garth, closed her eyes, then parted her lips, waiting for the inevitable kiss.
It never came.
She never heard him slip away, but she did hear the low vibration and, when she opened her eyes, saw the blue glow inside. When she rushed in to investigate, she saw only the dark, musty, dusty, cobweb-spangled interior of an abandoned building.
"Just as well," Daisy muttered to herself bitterly as she walked back to her car. "Garth is probably 'him' anyway."

THE END