Bowser's Quest, Ch. 3

World 2: Wario's Factory</font>

The ship groaned as Bowser landed it on the beach. "You keep an eye on those monitors, and stay in here!" Bowser growled at Larry as he left the control room with Waluigi in tow. "Watch your back, ok?"

"Got it, king dad!" the koopa boy replied.

"What makes you think I'll help you get inside?" Waluigi spat at Bowser. "I may not agree with Mario and Luigi, but I'm not betraying Wario."

"Unfortunately for both of you," Bowser growled as he trudged down the ramp from his ship, "I know how you get into this here factory of his." Bowser stopped, and took Waluigi from his shoulder, turning him around to stand facing the factory. They were standing in front of what looked like a blank wall.

"WAAAAhahaha!" Waluigi started laughing. "You stupid koopa, there isn't a door there! WAAAAhahaha!" Bowser just ignored him, and began probing the wall. After a moment, he found the hidden switch, and suddenly a panel appeared in the middle of the wall.

Bowser turned back to Waluigi. "Your turn." Before the skinny man could do more than yell, Bowser grabbed him and planted his hand firmly on the panel. Unnoticed by Bowser, Waluigi also slid one finger around to hit a small button as Bowser released his hand and dropped him back on the ground.

"Waluigi! Come on in!" echoed Wario's voice from the hidden speakers. The sound quality made it clear that it was just a recording, though. A door in the wall slid open, providing access into the factory. The metal grated under his feet and tail as he walked in.

Once he was clear of the door, it slammed closed behind him, leaving Waluigi tied up outside. Bowser figured that one of Wario's minions would untie him, once they found him. He went in further, emerging into a large room.

There was black everywhere! Several squadrons of Bob-Ombs could be seen around the immense space, as well as several Bullet Bill cannons, with Bullet Bills sliding around on conveyor belts to be loaded into the cannons, with others flying around the room. There were even a couple of Banzai Bills and their cannons visible, and a large water tank with a Torpedo Ted launcher. A few Torpedo Teds were swimming around, along with a few Mecha-Cheep-Cheeps.

A loud clang to his right caused Bowser to turn, and he didn't like what he saw. Several Shy Guys emerged from the door that was the source of the sound, and a squadron of Snifits was clambering out onto catwalks above, all responding to the silent alarm that Waluigi had tripped. "Freeze, koopa!" one of the Shy Guys shouted.

Bowser did, largely because they were not the only threat in the room. All of the explosive and ballistic foes in the room were also now focused on him. He looked around the room for a moment, and then laughed loudly. "Grahahaha! Come and get it!" he shouted as he fired a stream of flames at one of the groups of Bob-Ombs. Predictably, they detonated, setting off a chain reaction that drew a great deal of attention, either towards it or away. Only the occupants of the pool seemed unperturbed.

Bowser took advantage of the distraction, and charged forwards, plowing through the Shy Guys while spinning in his shell. A few of the Snifits were paying attention and shot at him, but those bullets that hit just bounced off of his spikes. Bowser spun out of the room easily, leaving behind an increasing number of explosions as panicked Bullet Bills and Bob-Ombs crashed into machinery and each other.
In the hallway, Bowser stood back up, and began looking for a way to get to Wario. He had to deal with various traps that Wario had designed along the way, but most of them were too weak to really bother him, and he dodged any that were a bit more dangerous, like pitfall traps.

It didn't take him long to find a map, even with having to fend off a few more of Wario's minions and inventions. Nothing was labeled in such a way that screamed 'control room' or anything like that, so he went to the named room that seemed most likely to bear fruit, the Research Lab.

Posted outside of the lab, Bowser encountered an actual challenge. A group of Laser Snifits were guarding the doors, and their repeated laser blasts made it hard for Bowser to get close. They were strong enough beams that it was painful for him to get hurt, which was a welcome surprise. "Alright, c'mon!" he roared as he jumped from behind cover. He then charged forward and began spinning in his shell before the first beam hit, sliding under it. He spun forward, dodging as many blasts as he could until he finally rammed into the group, bowling them over. A few remained standing after that, but didn't last long against his claws. "Guards this strong means there's something good in here," Bowser mused as he broke the locked door down.

"Whaaaa?" Wario shouted in dismay. He was standing at a workbench in the middle of the room, tinkering with something. Morton Koopa was tied and sedated in a cage nearby. "Grrrrr, I knew this would happen. I wish my stupid cousin had never gotten me into this mess."

"If you don't want to fight, then let go of Morton," Bowser growled.

"Oh, I'll fight you," Wario replied, picking up whatever it was he'd been tinkering with. "I've just put the finishing touches on my new weapon system, and could use a good test subject." He then grabbed the straps and swung the device onto his back. Grabbing the control sticks that now ran under his arms, he jumped into the air, and stayed there, his jetpack holding him there. Bowser charged forward, slashing at him but getting only air as he hovered higher. Paying too much attention to his foe, Bowser ran straight into the wall.

Wario chuckled as Bowser peeled himself off of the wall. "And this isn't all it can do. Bombs away!" Thrusting forward, Wario ejected a Bob-omb from the pack. It hit the dazed reptile squarely, nearly knocking him off his feet.

"Just try that again!" Bowser howled, spewing flames in the process.

Wario laughed again. "Maybe later, but first let's test this button!" A different cannon popped out of the pack, launching a Bullet Bill towards Bowser. Bowser grabbed the missile out of midair, and threw it back at Wario. It was bathed in the exhaust from the jetpack as Wario just barely got high enough to avoid it. "OOOOOH, why you-!" Wario growled as he dove at Bowser. "Eat this!" Just before colliding, Wario pulled up and away. Leaving a very unpleasant gift behind.

"Uaaah hah," Bowser coughed, eyes burning, as he tried to get clear of the gas. "Frraaa!" Flames erupted from his mouth, igniting the gas around him, causing it to flare quickly, clearing the air. "You'll pay for that, filthy human!"

"Try me!" Wario taunted, making rude gestures as he hovered just out of reach. He pulled out a key, presumably for Morton's cage, and started waving it around. Bowser searched around for something to use to clip the fat inventor's wings, seeing if any of the scrap in the lab could be useful. He had one plan, but it relied on Wario giving him ammunition, since he didn't see any lying around.

"Get down here and fight!" he howled in frustration.

"Make me! Bombs away!" Wario shouted, dropping another Bob-omb. Just what Bowser had been waiting for. He fired a small, fast fireball that struck dead center on the walking explosive. Unstable like all of its kind, the Bob-omb detonated on contact with the flame, setting off a chain reaction within the jetpack. Seconds later, Wario was flung to the ground in flames as the jetpack scattered around the room. The key bounced across the floor, landing right near the cage. Bowser lumbered over, picked it up, and undid the lock, which he noted was strong enough that he would've had a hard time breaking it.

"Time to wake up, Morton," Bowser called as he untied the young koopa. After a moment, he opened his eyes, blinking at his father.

"Dad? What's *yawn* going on? Where are we? *yawn* Why am I so tired?" Morton's questions continued as he tried to shake off the sedation.

"C'mon, I'll tell you later, when we're in a safer place." Bowser picked up the boy and set him on his shoulders. He started for the door, but paused when he heard Wario groan from across the room.

"Oooooh, Mario's not gonna like this," he groaned. Bowser just shook his head.

"Just be glad you're alive, after that," Bowser replied, turning again and leaving the room. Taking advantage of a new exit that the explosions had made in the wall of the building, he made his way to his ship. He noticed that Waluigi was still where he'd left him. He appeared to be making progress undoing the knots, but the Koopas would be long gone before he was able to give chase. He laughed as he boarded the ship, and plotted a course towards Yoshi Island.