The Desert is Cold in the Dark [Dark Data]

[Dr. McNinja]

Ogong was tired again. He was poking the sand ahead of him every few meters with Yeo-Ee-Pil. One trap almost killing one of them was enough. He didn't want to imagine what would have happened if it was him in that pit, or Somerled.

"What..." he muttered.

The "Stronghold" was getting closer, to Ogong's delight. It was simply gushing with people, all skittering around like bugs looking for food.

"That ain't good," Jim mumbled.

Ogong shrugged. "I'm sure it's fine. Let's just go ahead and ask for some water."

The monkey leaned forward, cupping his hands like a tube around his mouth to amplify his shouting. "YOOOO! WE NEED HELP-"

Somerled grabbed his arm with his good shoulder. "No."

Ogong wrenched his arm from Somerled's grasp. "What?"

"Dammit, kid, you almost killed us all!" Jim snapped, "This is a Dark Data Stronghold. Those people all look exactly like the creeps we fought. Use your head!"

Ogong scowled, then looked at the people flying overhead. It was true. They all had those strange burning red eyes. Ogong leaned on a nearby piece of scrap metal, thinking about what to do. That was when the idea hit him.

The monkey grinned. "Okay."

He head butted the scrap metal, shattering it into smaller shreds. Somerled and Jim looked at him, bewildered.

"I didn't mean it like that," Jim muttered.

"Their armor," Ogong chirped, "It's crappy and wrecked and burnt. Just like this metal that I shredded. Hold up."

Ogong stuck out his hand. "Attach! CHAK!"

A green and yellow glue stick popped into reality. The scraps of rusty steel began floating towards the trio, the glue stick applying itself to the insides of the scraps. Soon enough, they were wrapped in fairly useless armor.

"I don't think it'll actually protect us," Ogong admitted, "but hey, as long as our eyes are glowing red and we rub ourselves in soot or something, we should be able to fool them."

Jim nodded approvingly. "Now, THAT's what I meant by using your head. Good work, kid."

Ogong puffed out his chest. "No problem, Jim. I am extremely smart, to be hum-"

Suddenly, the ground opened underneath his feet. Ogong emitted a small, pitiful yelp as he fell.

Fortunately, Somerled lashed out with his whip, latching onto Yeo-Ee-Pil. With Jim's help, the monster pulled Ogong out of the sandy death trap.

"Th-thanks," the monkey stammered, brushing sand from his clothes. "As I was saying, we need a way to make our eyes look red. Any thoughts?"