CORE
is a Dexter's Laboratory fanfiction by the very talented Wickfield. It takes place right before Ego Trip and ends right at the beginning of the movie.
Dexter wants to change the world. Dee Dee wants things to stay the same. And neither of them are prepared for what the future really holds. Dexter and his Enemy Mine Mandark have both gotten jobs at MegaCorp, and Dexter wants nothing to do with Dee Dee, now the teacher at her old ballet school. Even her parents are selling her childhood home. And Mandark's interest in Dee Dee may have taken a dark turn.
Has no relation to the video game of the same name.
Tropes:
- Adaptational Villainy: While Mandark was more of a Harmless Villain and mere rival in the show as a child, he is full-on evil here, though it doesn't come out till the middle of the story.
- Card-Carrying Villain: Mandark describes himself as a "wicked villain".
- Cool Big Sis: Dee Dee tries to be this to Dexter, bringing him lunch at his office and constantly trying to bond with him, but he refuses.
- Entitled Bastard: Mandark, once he gets the promotion. His arrogance really comes out and he is not Nice to the Waiter.
- Give Geeks a Chance: Initially plays it straight with Mandark. But goes horribly wrong when she dumps him, with him taking it very badly and shows to be a jerk all along.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Mandark was not wrong when he pointed out Dexter treats Dee Dee pretty poorly, when as his sister she ought to be his closest ally, and is only concerned with her when her welfare affects himself.
- Jerkass with a Heart of Gold: Dexter is cold and rude to Dee Dee, but when they stop speaking to one another and he finds out she is dating Mandark, he is furious and warns him not to hurt his sister.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: Mandark really has a hidden motive for every nice thing he does to Dee Dee and is cruel to her brother.
- Pet the Dog: Mandark comforting Dee Dee after Dexter blows up at her.... although it's really opportunistic manipulation.
- Kick the Dog: Mandark keeping Dexter as a slave in his building and torturing him for minor things, as well as spying on Dee Dee through hidden cameras.
- Murder the Hypotenuse: Dee Dee suspects Mandark did this to the guys she had been seeing after she broke up with him, but it isn't certain how serious she's being.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Dexter gives Dee Dee a mighty one, who gives a shorter one to him right back.
- Replacement Goldfish: Sort of. Mandark has many employees that are young, pretty, and blonde exactly like Dee Dee after she breaks up with him.
- Spanner in the Works: Just like in Ego Trip, it's Dee Dee. Trying to win over Dexter, she attempts to tidy up his cluttered office and accidentally knocks over his highly important plans that would have given him a promotion, one of which goes under Mandark's desk and she has no time to pick up before Dex comes back. Inevitably, Mandark finds it, passes it as his own in his presentation to their boss, gets the promotion, and eventually makes Dexter's life a living hell.
- Stalker with a Crush: Mandark towards Dee Dee, so much. When she breaks up with him, he installs cameras in her apartment.
- Villainous Crush: Of course, just like in the TV show, but here both Mandark's crush and villainy intensify.
