The bustling newsroom of The Daily Tribune was in full swing as reporters dashed from desk to desk, phones ringing off the hook. Michael sat at his usual spot, his thoughts still swirling from last night's battle with Boy Baktol. Though his transformation into Captain Gargle was becoming routine, it felt surreal balancing his superhero duties with his day job."Hey, Michael!" Chief Pipay's unmistakable voice broke through the noise. She was striding toward him, her usual authoritative presence commanding attention. "I need you on something big."Michael blinked, quickly turning away from his half-written article about local zoning laws. "Sure, Chief. What's up?"Pipay tossed a stack of papers onto his desk, her eyebrows arched with curiosity. "Captain Gargle," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. "There are reports coming in from all over. Some superhero is popping up, taking down villains, and we need someone to cover it. I want you on the story. Get everything you can—who he is, what he's about, why now. The works."Michael's heart raced, though he kept his face neutral. Me? Covering myself?"Uh, Captain Gargle?" Michael stammered, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "You sure you don't want Belle on this one? She's usually more into the investigative stuff."Pipay crossed her arms, fixing him with a hard stare. "Belle's got her own story to chase. But something tells me you've got a knack for this kind of thing. Plus, you've been out there in the field lately—maybe you'll stumble on something the others haven't."Before Michael could argue further, another voice chimed in from behind. "Captain Gargle, huh?"Belle Thompson appeared at Michael's side, her signature smirk firmly in place. She leaned against his desk, arms crossed, clearly intrigued. "I've heard about him. Stopping some villain in the town square last night, right? You get any leads on him, Michael?"Michael's heart skipped a beat. Of all the people to be curious..."I'm, uh, still working on it," Michael said, trying to keep his tone casual. "Not a lot of people know much about him yet."Belle's eyes twinkled with interest. "Well, if you need a hand, I'm around. This Captain Gargle guy sounds like a good angle. Plus, I'm curious to know what kind of superhero flies while sitting."Michael chuckled nervously, but inside, he was already dreading the thought of Belle digging into his alter ego. "Yeah, thanks. I'll keep you posted."Pipay gave Michael a final nod, signaling the end of the conversation. "Get me something solid, Halloway. We're running this front page."As the Chief walked away, Belle lingered for a moment, looking at Michael with that curious glint she always had when a story intrigued her. "I'm serious, though. If you find something, let me know. Captain Gargle could be a game changer."With that, she sauntered off, leaving Michael sitting at his desk, his mind racing. He had to figure out how to balance being Captain Gargle and covering himself as a reporter. And if Belle was already interested, things could get complicated.----------Later that evening, Michael found himself patrolling the outskirts of the town in his Captain Gargle form. The night was calm, but after the encounter with Boy Baktol, he knew better than to expect peace. General Blaguda's forces were out there, and it was only a matter of time before another one of her lieutenants made their move.As he floated above the rooftops—still in his awkward seated position—he noticed something unusual. A thick cloud of flies buzzed ominously around the town square, swarming in a way that set off alarms in his head. The sound was overwhelming, like a thousand tiny wings beating in unison, accompanied by a putrid stench that made his eyes water."Ugh, what is that smell?" Michael muttered, already bracing himself for the worst.Without warning, a figure emerged from the cloud of flies. Tall and lanky, his skin was pale and sickly, with stringy black hair falling into his eyes. His clothes were tattered, and he carried with him a wooden staff covered in flies. The villain's teeth, yellowed and sharp, flashed in a twisted grin."Captain Gargle!" the figure croaked, his voice buzzing like the swarm of insects around him. "I've been waiting for you."Michael hovered above, narrowing his eyes. "And you are...?"The villain twirled his staff dramatically, releasing another wave of flies into the air. "I am Boy Langaw, Lieutenant of General Blaguda, master of pestilence and decay! And I've come to rid this town of your ridiculous freshness."Michael grimaced. "Boy Langaw, huh? Do all of Blaguda's lieutenants have terrible hygiene?"Langaw cackled, the buzzing sound intensifying as the flies began to circle Captain Gargle. "Your fresh tricks won't work on me, Gargle Boy. You may have taken down Boy Baktol, but I'm far more dangerous."Captain Gargle gagged as the foul stench of rotting garbage filled the air. Swatting at the cloud of flies, he raised his hand to summon his minty powers. "You stink worse than Baktol, and that's saying something. Let's see how you handle a blast of fresh breath!"He unleashed a burst of minty energy toward Boy Langaw, the cool beam slicing through the swarm of flies and striking the villain in the chest. Langaw stumbled back, swatting at the mint energy with his staff, but his grin never faltered."Nice try, Gargle Boy!" Langaw hissed, raising his staff high. "But you'll have to do better than minty freshness to defeat me!"Suddenly, the swarm of flies grew larger, completely enveloping Captain Gargle. The buzzing was deafening, and the flies blocked out his vision, making it impossible to see Boy Langaw."Okay, this is gross!" Captain Gargle shouted, flailing as the flies swarmed around him. "I need to end this—fast!"Focusing through the chaos, Captain Gargle summoned his ultimate fresh breath attack—the Tornado of Tingle. He opened his mouth, unleashing a whirlwind of minty air that spiraled outward, clearing the flies in a gust of cool, refreshing wind.Langaw, caught in the blast, staggered backward as the minty tornado slammed into him. The flies scattered, unable to withstand the pure freshness of Captain Gargle's power. Langaw growled in frustration, clutching his staff tighter."You're... stronger than I thought," Boy Langaw sneered, but his confidence was wavering.Captain Gargle floated down, landing with a more controlled stance this time. "Told you, Langaw. Fresh always wins. Now are you going to buzz off, or do I have to brush you away for good?"Langaw hissed, clearly weakened by the minty assault. "This isn't over, Gargle Boy. Blaguda will crush you!"With that, Boy Langaw vanished into the night, retreating with his swarm of flies into the shadows. The town square fell silent once more, the air now crisp and clean, thanks to Captain Gargle's efforts.Captain Gargle sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow. "One down, who knows how many to go."As the night settled into a rare calm, he glanced up at the stars, his thoughts drifting back to his dual identity. Between Blaguda's forces and the Daily Tribune breathing down his neck for a scoop, things were only going to get more complicated.But Michael knew one thing for sure: Captain Gargle would be ready for whatever came next-----The morning sun streamed through the windows of The Daily Tribune, casting warm light across the newsroom. Michael sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen with a mixture of dread and exhaustion. After last night's battle with Boy Langaw, he'd barely gotten any sleep. His muscles still ached from the fight, and his mind buzzed with the weight of his responsibilities as Captain Gargle.In front of him sat the latest assignment: a story about Captain Gargle. He hadn't even started typing yet. How was he supposed to write about himself without giving the entire game away?"Hey, Michael, you're looking pretty wiped out," Belle's voice cut through his thoughts as she slid into the seat next to him. Her sharp eyes were already scanning him, ever the curious investigator.Michael stifled a yawn, giving her a sheepish grin. "Yeah, it's been a long night. Trying to dig up some info on this Captain Gargle guy."Belle raised an eyebrow, leaning in a little closer. "Speaking of which, I've been looking into him too. He's fought a couple of strange villains in the past few days, right? There was that greasy guy, Boy Baktol, and now... what was it? A fly monster?"Michael's stomach tightened. She's definitely getting too close."Uh, yeah. Boy Langaw, I think they called him. Weird stuff." Michael attempted to sound as casual as possible, quickly taking a sip from his coffee to hide his nerves.Belle leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowed in thought. "Something strange is going on, that's for sure. These villains don't feel random, you know? I have a hunch they're connected to something bigger."Michael swallowed hard, trying to keep his expression neutral. "You think so?"Belle nodded, clearly in detective mode. "Definitely. And the fact that this Captain Gargle shows up out of nowhere just as these weird villains start popping up? That's no coincidence." Her eyes sparkled with excitement, the thrill of the chase evident in her voice. "What do you think, Michael? You've got good instincts—what's your take on all of this?"Michael opened his mouth, his brain scrambling to come up with something that didn't completely give himself away, but just as he was about to speak, Chief Pipay's voice rang out from across the room."Halloway, where's that Gargle piece I asked for?" she called, her sharp tone cutting through the newsroom chatter.Michael winced, throwing Belle a quick, apologetic look. "Gotta get back to work. I'll, uh, let you know what I find."Belle gave him a suspicious glance but nodded. "Don't leave me out of the loop."As Belle wandered off to chase her next story, Michael sighed heavily and turned back to his blank computer screen. He tapped his fingers on the keyboard, trying to figure out how to balance being both the reporter and the subject of the article. The pressure of hiding his identity as Captain Gargle while covering his own heroic exploits was becoming more complicated than the battles themselves.Finally, after what felt like forever, he typed out the headline:"Captain Gargle: The Fresh Defender or Just Another Fad?"Michael grimaced as he stared at the screen. Writing a balanced piece about himself felt absurd, but if anyone could sniff out a lie, it was Belle. He had to tread carefully.-------Later that night, as Michael floated above the darkened streets of the city in his Captain Gargle form, he found himself on edge. The battle with Boy Langaw had left him uneasy. Langaw had retreated, but there was no doubt in Michael's mind that General Blaguda's forces were far from done with Earth.As if on cue, a sharp buzzing noise filled the air. Michael's head snapped up, and there it was—a dark cloud of flies hovering ominously over the park. The stench of rot and decay followed closely behind it."Not again," Captain Gargle muttered, his hands instinctively tightening into fists.The swarm of flies parted, revealing Boy Langaw at the center of the cloud, his sickly grin plastered across his pale face. His staff crackled with energy, and his yellowed teeth gleamed in the dim light."You didn't think I'd give up that easily, did you, Gargle Boy?" Langaw sneered, his voice buzzing with malice. "You may have freshened me up last time, but this time, I'm bringing the full force of Blaguda's rot!"Michael floated higher, squaring his shoulders. "You didn't learn your lesson the first time, huh? Well, I'm always ready to freshen things up."Langaw hissed, raising his staff. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a torrent of flies that swirled toward Captain Gargle like a living tidal wave. The noise was deafening, and the stench was overpowering.Michael grimaced but quickly shot upward, dodging the swarm. He had to be strategic—Langaw's strength came from the flies and the rot he could spread. Captain Gargle needed to neutralize that quickly.Hovering in his signature seated position, Michael summoned a burst of minty energy, his hand glowing with the power of his Fresh Breath Barrage. He aimed straight for the heart of the swarm, blasting waves of cool mint air toward Langaw.The swarm of flies recoiled, unable to withstand the minty onslaught. Langaw staggered backward, swatting at the energy with his staff, but the fresh barrage kept coming, forcing him to retreat."I'm not done yet!" Langaw screamed, hurling a rotten piece of garbage toward Captain Gargle. It exploded mid-air, releasing a foul cloud of decay that nearly made Michael gag.But this time, he was ready. With a quick flick of his wrist, he unleashed a Mint Shield, encasing himself in a protective bubble of fresh air. The rancid cloud hit the shield and dissipated harmlessly, leaving Langaw looking desperate.Michael took advantage of the moment, speeding toward Langaw and summoning the Tornado of Tingle. A swirling vortex of minty energy surrounded Boy Langaw, trapping him in a whirlwind of freshness."No! Not again!" Langaw wailed as the tornado engulfed him. His swarm of flies disintegrated in the minty breeze, leaving him powerless and flailing.As the tornado subsided, Langaw crumpled to the ground, weakened and covered in a layer of mint foam. His staff fell from his hand, clattering uselessly to the ground.Michael hovered above him, arms crossed. "Looks like it's time for you to buzz off, Langaw."Langaw groaned, barely able to move. "You... you haven't won... Blaguda will crush you..."Captain Gargle shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "Not if I can help it."With Langaw defeated once again, Captain Gargle took a deep breath and surveyed the quiet streets. Another battle won, but the war with Blaguda was far from over. He knew it wouldn't be long before another one of her lieutenants appeared, each more dangerous than the last.Still, Michael felt a surge of confidence. He had stopped Boy Langaw twice now, and with each fight, he was getting stronger. Whatever came next, he was ready.As the night breeze carried away the last remnants of Langaw's rot, Captain Gargle flew back into the city, his mind already racing with thoughts of what lay ahead—and how to keep his secret identity safe in a world that was rapidly growing more dangerous.------The next morning, the Daily Tribune buzzed with activity, but Michael Halloway could barely focus. The exhaustion from his battle with Boy Langaw still weighed on him, and the pressure of balancing his two lives—reporter and superhero—was becoming harder to handle. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the Captain Gargle article he'd written the night before, hoping it was convincing enough to keep his secret safe."Hey, Michael!" Belle's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.She stood in front of his desk, her arms crossed, her face unreadable. Michael felt a twinge of unease—Belle was always digging deeper, and he had a feeling she was getting suspicious."Morning, Belle. What's up?" he asked, trying to sound casual.Belle narrowed her eyes slightly. "You tell me. I read your article on Captain Gargle this morning. You did a pretty decent job, but there's something off about it."Michael's pulse quickened. He forced a chuckle. "Off? What do you mean?""You seem to know a lot more about him than anyone else in this newsroom." Belle tapped her fingers on his desk, her tone inquisitive. "Like the way you described his battle with Boy Langaw... It's almost like you were there."Michael's mind raced. He'd been careful, only describing what a witness might have seen from afar. But Belle's sharp instincts were zeroing in on the details. "Well, you know," he said with a shrug, "sources talk. And I've been out covering the scene. Captain Gargle's pretty hard to miss when he's shooting minty blasts around."Belle raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with his answer. "Hmm. Still, it's strange that no one's gotten close to him, but you keep landing these stories. Don't you think that's... interesting?"Michael's palms began to sweat. Belle was getting too close, and he needed to steer the conversation away before she connected the dots. "Look, I just got lucky with my sources, I guess. I'm as curious about him as you are, but I promise, there's no big conspiracy."Belle studied him for a moment longer, then sighed. "Alright, Michael. I'll let it go—for now. But don't think I'm not paying attention. This Captain Gargle guy is a mystery, and mysteries are my thing. You won't be able to keep him a secret forever."As she walked away, Michael exhaled a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He rubbed his temples, realizing how close he'd come to blowing his cover. Belle wasn't wrong—if he kept playing both sides, eventually someone would figure it out.He needed to be more careful.----That evening, Michael—now transformed into Captain Gargle—floated above the city, his mind still racing from the close call with Belle. He was supposed to be patrolling for signs of trouble, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the Tribune and how his life had become a tightrope walk of secrets and danger.Suddenly, a familiar buzzing sound cut through the air."Not again," Michael groaned as the swarm of flies appeared on the horizon. Boy Langaw was back, and this time, the villain seemed even angrier than before. The dark cloud of insects moved quickly, heading straight toward downtown.Michael swooped down, quickly positioning himself between the swarm and the city below. He knew Langaw wouldn't give up easily, but this time, he needed to finish the fight for good.From within the buzzing mass, Boy Langaw's voice rang out, dripping with malice. "Third time's the charm, Gargle Boy! You won't freshen me up this time!"Captain Gargle raised an eyebrow, his minty powers crackling at his fingertips. "Haven't you had enough of getting mint-blasted? Don't you have better things to do than stink up the city?"Boy Langaw emerged from the swarm, his yellow eyes glowing with rage. His staff crackled with dark energy, and his swarm of flies buzzed menacingly around him. "Blaguda has plans for this world, and I'm just the beginning! You'll never stop her!"Captain Gargle didn't hesitate. He unleashed a blast of Fresh Breath Barrage, the minty energy surging toward Langaw and cutting through the swarm of flies. The buzzing cloud dispersed momentarily, but Langaw raised his staff, deflecting the blast with a shield of decaying energy."You're stronger than before," Langaw sneered. "But I've learned a few tricks since our last fight!"With a flick of his staff, Boy Langaw sent a wave of dark energy toward Captain Gargle. The putrid smell hit him like a wall, and the decay energy sizzled as it came closer.Michael dodged, barely avoiding the attack. He hovered higher, gritting his teeth as Langaw continued to fire off blasts of decaying energy. "Alright, enough playing around," Captain Gargle muttered, clenching his fists.He needed a new plan. The Fresh Breath Barrage wasn't working as well this time—Langaw had adapted to it. But Michael still had his Tornado of Tingle, and now seemed like the perfect time to give it another shot.Summoning the minty vortex, Michael raised his hand, and a whirlwind of cool, refreshing air began to form around him. The tornado spun faster and faster, growing stronger with each passing second."Let's see you handle this, Langaw!" Captain Gargle shouted as he unleashed the full force of the Tornado of Tingle.The powerful minty wind ripped through the air, slamming into Boy Langaw and his swarm of flies. Langaw struggled to maintain control, his staff crackling with decaying energy, but the minty tornado was too much. The flies were blown away, and the fresh air washed over him, neutralizing the foul stench that had accompanied him."No! Not again!" Boy Langaw howled as the minty energy engulfed him. His staff shattered in his hands, and his decaying powers fizzled out, leaving him powerless and defeated once more.As the tornado subsided, Boy Langaw collapsed to the ground, covered in mint foam and gasping for breath. Captain Gargle floated down, standing over the defeated villain."Looks like you need to freshen up your tactics, Langaw," Captain Gargle said with a grin.Langaw groaned, barely able to move. "You think you've won, but Blaguda's coming. She'll destroy you, Captain Gargle. You're just delaying the inevitable."Captain Gargle's smile faded slightly. He knew Langaw was right—General Blaguda was still out there, and she wouldn't stop until Earth was under her control. But for now, Langaw was down, and the city was safe."Maybe. But as long as I'm around, I won't let her," Captain Gargle replied, his voice firm. "Now buzz off."Langaw sputtered, unable to reply, as a containment team—dispatched by Commander Floss—arrived to collect the defeated villain. Captain Gargle watched as they took him away, his mind already drifting to the next battle.--As Captain Gargle floated back toward his patrol route, his thoughts were interrupted by a soft vibration in his pocket—his civilian phone. He quickly landed on a rooftop and checked the message.It was from Belle."We need to talk. I've been following a lead on Captain Gargle, and I think you'll want to hear this."Michael felt a chill run down his spine. Belle was getting closer, and he couldn't afford to slip up again. He'd have to meet her—soon. But the growing suspicion in her messages made him realize that his secret identity was in more danger than he'd ever imagined.End of Chapter