Poison Dart scowled fiercely against the glow of bioluminescent snails clinging to the seaside cavern walls, testing her restraints once more despite the futility. Her venom-laced bracelets had got confiscated along with any hidden weapons when her captors had searched her thoroughly earlier. And the sturdy chains binding the assassin to this blasted stalactite allowed barely any movement at all.

Still, her will remained steely and Dart refused to betray Lord Skull. Let these foolish cub heroes waste all their juvenile tactics trying to break her. She would die first before selling out the Circle!

The Blur studied his detainee’s obstinate expression with growing frustration from across the cave. Glancing at his watch, he saw they were already running late for meeting Detective Colmbs as arranged.

"We're wasting time with this stubborn viper that refuses to talk at all, Cocoa Fox,” Devon muttered aloud. “Might as well hand her over to Babylon and see if Colmbs can juice some information from this tight-lipped maw."

Cocoa Fox stopped sharpening her claws on a stone nearby and frowned. She shared The Blur’s desire for progress against the Loki-7 epidemic, but this stalemate troubled her too.

"I really hoped squeezing Poison Dart would reveal some vital leads. But this serpent lives up to her reputation guarding secrets for Lord Skull,” Tanya sighed.

“Maybe higher JPCU experts can succeed where we fail getting this cobra to spill crucial intel about the Toxic sisters' whole narcotic operation across Portland parish. Not to mention clues where them hiding poor Cain too," she added gravely.

The Blur nodded, moving to unchain their uncooperative captive from the seaside cave wall. But Cocoa Fox hesitated, eyeing the slender assassin warily. Something about Poison Dart’s composed expression nagged at her.

"Why yuh look so blasted relaxed there, Miss Viper?” Tanya suddenly demanded. “Don't it trouble you at all facing justice and intense interrogation from Babylon?"

Poison Dart simply chuckled. "Waste more breath, cub. You won't sway my allegiance," she replied calmly.

Devon frowned, puzzled by her attitude too. But time ticked urgently away. He headed outside to message Detective Colmbs of their imminent arrival with the detainee in custody.

Within the hour, The Blur and Cocoa Fox ventured through lush foliage towards an isolated intersection near an abandoned bauxite factory. Tyre tracks etched deep muddy furrows leading to where a single armoured van sat idling.

A tall muscular figure stepped from the vehicle, boots squelching in the mire. He had menacing dual batons strapped at his waist while his biceps bulged, straining his coat sleeves. The man walked a couple of feet away from the vehicle while scanning the area.

“What’s taking these runts so long…?” Soon, he noticed incoming presence and signalled the approaching heroes impatiently.

With Poison Dart tossed now over his shoulder, The Blur raced into view while Cocoa Fox emerged from the woods behind him. “Are you the guy, the special detective I mean?” he asked the imposing officer.

“Apologies for the slight lateness,” Devon added, realizing night had already draped its dark veil over the rural area. No other officers were visible, strangely enough.

Detective Colmbs simply grunted. “Yeah I’m the one assigned for this VIP transfer. Took you two long enough though! Didn’t know cub heroes could tell time or use maps,” he scoffed derisively before glancing around. “We gotta make this snatch-n-go quick, you catch my drift?”

His dismissive words instantly rubbed The Blur the wrong way. Who was this cocky detective to patronize his skills? He opened his mouth to retaliate but Cocoa Fox interjected first.

“Uh, Detective Colmbs: where are the other JPCU personnel you mentioned over the phone earlier?" she inquired, looking puzzled too by his solo presence here.

Colmbs gestured vaguely over his shoulder towards the lonely dirt road behind him. "The rest waiting back in the cruiser near Border village to escort us to HQ. I got sent ahead to secure the prisoner alone and oversee initial debrief."

His casual explanation seemed reasonable enough, putting their misgivings temporarily at ease. Until Colmbs shifted his inspection onto the slender figure draped across The Blur’s shoulders now.

"Is that her then?” he asked, sharp eyes confirming the assassin’s identity. “Poison Dart herself?”

“The toxic queen bee in the flesh,” affirmed Cocoa Fox. She leaned warily away though when Colmbs suddenly stepped nearer.

“In that case, we’ll take the condemned off your hands right quick. Set her inside the van,” Colmbs instructed. He popped the vehicle's back doors open in preparation.

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Yet as Devon moved to deposit their captive criminal inside the police van, Cocoa Fox hesitated with ears twitching oddly. Her instincts pressed that something still felt... off.

"Umm hold up, Detective!" Tanya interjected. "Don't you wanna hear about the loads of evidence first? Before yuh carry off the prisoner, I mean. We have encrypted data detailing the Loki-7 distribution networks across Portland parish and beyond. Huge insight into the kingpins and shot-callers behind this entire narcotic plague!"

Colmbs had already begun striding back towards the idling van's driver side door when Cocoa Fox called out urgently. He half-turned with one meaty arm raised in a vague gesture.

"Yeah yeah, hand over your... device thing or whatever," he muttered distractedly. But his focus stayed locked onto the vehicle holding Poison Dart rather than any data Cocoa Fox claimed to provide.

That's when his coat sleeve slipped down slightly with arms upraised. And in the instant before Colmbs yanked the fabric back in place, The Blur spotted an unmistakable tattoo marking his uncovered forearm.

Devon's chest clenched upon recognizing that insignia from before! Recently etched in his memory from the secret subterranean stronghold where Killz had brought him, forcing the youth to watch vicious battles between enhanced combatants. Mama Dutty herself had borne the same cryptic emblem as this man!

Gasping aloud, The Blur grabbed his vulpine partner’s shoulder warningly. “Cocoa, get back! Something really wrong here..."

Tanya started, mystified by the sudden tension radiating from Devon beside her. She opened her muzzle but froze when Detective Colmbs reached out unexpectedly and ripped the data device right from her hand. Hard.

"Looks like the jig is up...Purple Rod,” chuckled Poison Dart smugly. She crawled from the van now that some mobility had returned to her limbs.

"These meddling brats proving more observant than expected it seems. Though still just pesky flies buzzing round things too big for them to properly grasp," the assassin mocked.

Meanwhile, both heroes stared stunned upon overhearing the candid conversation between the exposed cop and known criminal.

"Shit! How the hell did some wet-behind-the-ears runts get the drop on a ranked assassin like you anyway, Poison Dart?" Detective Colmbs complained bitterly, using a handheld device to deactivate the Coco-cuffs binding her wrists as they talked.

"You better have some damn good intel to justify this embarrassment..."

The full truth dawned instantly on the young heroes then. This burly officer was no ally at all!

"Fake lawman!" Cocoa Fox exploded furiously. "Yuh corrupted snake in uniform! Working for Lord Skull all along!"

The false detective simply smirked without denying the accusation. Meanwhile behind him, Poison Dart flexed freed limbs and massaged circulation back into her numb hands. Manacles that could constrain powered villains lay broken nearby.

Now confronting their enemies without pretence, a menacing air intensified around the Circle members.

"Quite the clever little performance you both put on earlier, I admit," said Poison Dart. Her gaze turned icy towards The Blur especially. "But the curtain falls on your charade tonight! And not even your precious speed will save you. Soon we will rip that mask away and expose your ugly mug.”

Her venomous words sent chills through Devon and Tanya. Getting unmasked by high tier threats like these could put everyone close to them at risk!

Still, before panic set in fully, survival instincts kicked up shields of righteous fury around the heroes. They swiftly regrouped and faced the sinister pair with powers primed for intense combat.

"We will still mash yuh down!" declared Cocoa Fox resolutely with her fangs bared and claws extended. She ignited her three tails with Foxfire while The Blur energized crackling dreadlocks in preparation.

Neither was caught off guard for long. And come what may, the two heroes refused to abandon their island to corruption and wickedness! Justice would prevail against any odds tonight.

However, their opponents remained unfazed by the show of resistance. In fact, Colmbs only grinned wider before his frame started...changing.

"Normally I wouldn't bother wasting effort on small fry like you two," rumbled Colmbs as muscles bulged wildly, shredding away the coat and shirt restraining them. "But exposing my cover means you brats leave me no choice now..."

Tanned skin rippled before their eyes, assuming an intense violet hue that kept intensifying. Shocked recognition flooded both heroes next. They were facing someone's Coco Power transformation!

Within moments, a seven foot tall figure stood towering before them with prehensile purple flesh. The ex-detective's frame now bulged with dense muscles that would shame an Olympian strongman.

Facing the unfamiliar transformed villain, The Blur felt abruptly wary. Those rippling muscles eerily evoked memories of nearly getting choked out by the mad villain named Gunz months ago. He tensed reflexively.

"Another Coco Powerhouse with super durability..." muttered Devon. He desperately tried recalling effective strategies from that past brutal defeat.

Cocoa Fox stood mesmerized as Colmbs flexed arrogantly before them. Enhanced physique aside, his skin tone is what stunned her most! That wildly intense shade of violet with a faint metallic gleam. Where had she glimpsed such an odd hue recently?

Then it hit her like a thunderbolt.

"Yuh body!" she exclaimed. "That weird transformation resembles the powered thug that escaped prison transport a while back...what was that freak name again?"

The Blur snapped his fingers urgently. "Gunz!"

Now he too noticed the same disturbing similarities between these villains. Aside from differentiating colour, they had similar dense skin able to withstand brutal punishment without much effect. If this tattooed brute shared even a fraction of such freakish endurance and strength, then they were in serious trouble tonight.

"Sharp observation, little fox," the purple behemoth acknowledged in a guttural sneer. One meaty hand reached for the custom expandable batons sheathed at his waist. With a flick of both wrists, he wielded the twin Coco weapons that began glowing intensely with channelled energy.

"Then allow me to introduce myself properly," he continued. "Name is Detective Raymond Colmbs. But in the underworld and Arena circles, top combatants and shot-callers bow to me as...the Invincible PURPLE ROD!"

The final words were emphasized by his slamming together the vibrant ends of the batons now wreathed in dangerous arcs of electricity. Shock fields instantly formed between the connected poles reminiscent of a high-tech cattle prod.

Gazing upon this unexpected reveal, The Blur felt as though fate itself had just sucker punched him square in the gut. He desperately hoped surviving whatever came next didn't demand enduring savage blows from those deadly looking batons!

"Now then, before we proceed, little speedster...” Purple Rod grinned wickedly at Devon now. “How about you try demonstrating some moves for me?”