The Professor is kidnapped and a new hero arises.
Jake peeked around the corner to get a glimpse of Mato’s mansion.
Nothing. He dashed and literally threw himself up against the wall next
to the gate. Quickly, he pulled rope and grappling hook out of his bag
and used them to scale up the wall. Placing them back and then affixing
his bag to his back, he crawls across the yard to a front window he had
left open just a crack and slowly makes his way inside. He glances
around the living room. Not a soul has seen him. He slides his bag
behind the curtains, and forward rolls over to the couch. “Excellent,
plan ‘I’m so ninja like it’s awesome’ has almost been completed. Now, I
just need to get to my room and…
“HI JAKE!” Lucia beams a
friendly smile behind him as he literally jumps three feet in the air.
“How was your” the angel is cutoff by Jake knocking her down and
covering her mouth.
“Shhhhhh!” he hisses. When her blue eyes look
confused, he peeks up to see if anyone has heard her. With the coast
clear, he lets go. “That was so close!”
“Is this a new greeting I have not learned yet?” Jake looks down to see his hands are on her chest.
“Wahhh!” He quickly jumps off and while on his knees bows repeatedly. “Please forgive me Lucia!”
Lucia sits up and cocks her head. “It seems more physical than most. Except for the movies Dawn insisted I watch with her.
“No, this is not a greeting Lucia. I…” he suddenly looks disturbed. “What movies did you watch with Dawn?
“Oh! She had all these movies that were rated R she said I should watch to truly appreciate the cultures I am trying to learn
“Dawn showed you a bunch of R rated movies?” Jake’s face fell
Lucia nodded happily. “Yes! R must stand for Romance, because everyone kept hugging!
Jake
sighs *puff of smoke*, as he imagines the types of films that Lucia
must have been shown to think R stood for romance.(Dawn’s DVD collection
makes porn look tame) he thinks “Watching movies without approval from
someone besides Dawn is now added to that list I have you keep, okay?
“Sure,”
Lucia pulls out a piece of paper and pen from her jeans pocked and
writes ‘watch Dawn movies without permission’ on it. The other thirty
plus entries are devoted to Mato. “Why are you being so quiet? I thought
the weekend was to celebrate you not going to that awful place where
they make you read many books. Have you not learned everything yet?
“Since
I have to go back Monday, apparently not. I’m being quiet because of
Katia and Yuta. Ever since that stupid movie, they’ve both been trying
to get dates. It’s driving me nuts!” *Thought bubble over Jake with him,
elf, and robo-girl in chibi mode with the two fighting over him* “So, I
think I’ll just hang out in my room until dinner
Just then, “I heard Jake!
“No, I heard Jake!
And the sounds of two girls running towards the living room.
“Augh! Don’t tell them I’m here” Jake dashes into the entry way and jumps inside the coat closet.
Yuta and Katia run into the room. “Where is he?!” they both ask
“He said not to tell you he was here,” Lucia looked up at them.
(Crap!) Jake thinks
She brightens, “But he didn’t say not to tell you he was hiding in the closet!
*Sweatdrop on the closet door* (She’s really not the brightest girl…) Jake thinks
Both
teens skid to a stop in front of it, and start trying to shove each
other out of the way to open the door. Jake falls to his knees, “God, if
you get me out of this I will owe you big time!” he prays. Just then
the floor snaps down. “Hey! Prayer really does….” And Jake falls into a
tube and the floor moves back just before the door is open.
The girls can only look inside, bewildered that Jake is not there.
* * *
“…woooooorrrrrrrrrkkkkkkkk!”
Jake slides down the tube and sees a light up ahead. In Mato’s lab, a
mattress is set just to the opening of the quick entry way. Jake has
just enough time to appreciate the foresight as he flies over it into a
bank of computer equipment.
“Jake my boy! Glad you can join me, I
have another invention to show off!” Mato walks by as if Jake’s six
inch indention into the equipment is normal.
Jake falls to the
floor and manages to pick himself up. “I’d complain, but this was the
lesser of two evils.” He manages to stumble after the old man, stars
flying around his head for a few moments. Then he remembered seeing
Diana furry again “Did you fix it?” he asks as he tries to clear his
head
“Yes, I made sure everything was as it was before our accident Thank you for your help in that
“No
prob.” Jake looks confused, “But, how did my fighting a giant octopus
inside an active volcano help give the nekos back their fur?
“DO NOT QUESTION SCIENCE!!!” Mato posed with authority
“.......you aren't sure yourself, are you?
“Eh, it was a wild guess. But science is easy! 2+2=5!”
Jake
promptly fell down, but got right back up. “So, what is it this time? A
hypnotic ball? Hypnotic radios? Hypnotic shoes? Hypnotic…well,
anything?
“This!” Mato gestures to a suit that looks to be about a
third as thick as a bullet proof vest being worn by a mannequin, with
matching heavy helmet. The entire faceplate is reflective glass so that
the face can not be seen. Along the forehead all the way to the back is a
stripe which appears to be slightly thicker than any other part of the
helmet. Images of the sun, an ancient symbol of bravery in this
dimension Jake had learned, where on both the belt and chest. The rank
of captain was on both shoulders. The coolest and lamest features would
have to be the color scheme; a dark red with hot pink markings on the
suit.
“Hypnotic armor? I’ll give you points for originality at least
“It would only be hypnotic if you wore it. Or Dawn, or Fawn, or…
“I don’t get it
“This,
my boy, is my Beta version of the Mato Protective Armor Tech, or PAT
for short. Its greatest points are protection…” Mato presses a button.
Lasers, missiles, flamethrowers, and heavy cannons all begin bombarding
the suit. Mato presses again and the onslaught stops. When the smoke
clears the suit is still standing, nary a scratch on it.
“Whoa!”
“…and
enhancement. Using the latest in bio-tech, the suit enhances not only
basic physical attributes such as strength, speed, endurance, and so on
but also manages to enhance any special abilities the wearer may
possess. You would have greater hypnotic powers. But say, Mina would
find a similar heavy boost in magic.
“That’s actually very impressive!” Jake looks at him. “But with your hypno focus, why build this?
“Mato
Arms Division supplies weapons and gear to the government. This is the
latest Special Forces build I’ve labored over the past three years for. I
was just only able to finish it because it took nine months for the
defensive materials to be refined.” Mato sighs. “Alas, this suit is so
inefficient to produce cost wise that it was built merely to make sure
that it could be done. In fact, we’re the only two people to actually
see it. It’ll take years to get production done correctly to be within
budget. Still, science presses on!
“Wow…you could do anything with that,” Jake stares at it. “But those colors are kinda lame
“Nonsense!
They’re the official colors of the Mato Industries corporate logo!”
Mato holds up a bath towel, showing a regal looking M surrounded by
Japanese markers.
“That doesn’t make it right,” Jake tells him
“The
ignorance of youth…well, let us go and see about getting a snack! Being
a genius works up the appetite!” Mato starts to go, and notices Jake is
a little pale. “Something wrong?
“The only way I’m going up there is if you let me borrow that suit
* * *
Night
falls, and Jake finds himself on the couch, with the two girls he had
been trying to avoid all day sitting on either side of him.
“That audience only crowned you because you cheated! Hypnosis was ruled out!” Katia said for the twenty-third time
“Games are not cheating; games are fun!” the blonde argued back.
“If it had been left up to free will, I would have won!
“No, I still would have won!
Jake
hangs his head, “This has been going on for two long weeks girls! Can’t
we just let it go already?!” Both look at him and then continue to
argue. Jake looks over at Jen, the only other occupant in the room. “How
about a little help?
“I might, but it’s such a slow night TV wise that this may be the only entertainment I get,” the genie shrugged.
“That’s your excuse?” Jake gets a nod from his only possible help. “I need more caring roommates,” as tears stream down his face
Fawn walks in wearing a T-shirt and low cut jeans as usual. “So what’s on?
“Jake’s Humiliation,” Jen snickers
“Not funny!” he groans. “Fawn, how about some help?
“Well…this is kinda funny, and the show I watch about now is in reruns so…
“Big brother, tell miss punk princess that I would have won!
“What?! Dearest, you inform this long haired toaster that I am the superior one!
“No!
“Yes!
“Okay
that’s it!” Jake leaps up from the couch, “I’m trying to be nice, I
really am here but you can’t just keep yelling at each other. Now, I’m
going to turn in and I don’t want to hear about this anymore! Okay?”
Both girls open their mouths in protest. “That does it…” he goes over to
the TV and places a tape in the player before sitting back down.
“Do you actually think they’ll let you watch anything?” Fawn asks
“I
have to try,” Jake watches as some show comes on the air. Jen and Fawn
watch as well as some movies starts. Both girls find themselves
captivated by what’s onscreen and their eyes slowly start to glaze over.
Yuta
glances at the screen as she argues “I have a much better personality…”
then she finds she can’t look away, “and I….am much better…for
Jake…any…way………”
Katia looks at her, “You do not! Look at me!”
Yuta stares at the screen. “What? What is so important….” Katia looks
just in time to notice that the screen has slowly faded a spiral in, and
now she is looking directly at its center. “…that…you…are…” the elf
stops speaking and just sits there, mouth hanging open.
Jake
sighs in relief. “I’ll have to remember to thank Mato for making these
tapes. And then lock them up so he can’t get to them” He stands up and
stretches. “Now, all four of you just stare at the screen, and feel
yourselves compelled to obey
“Compelled to obey…” all four babes repeat, their eyes glazing over as they speak
Jake
moves behind the couch and leans forward in between the two girls. “You
both are very tired. You need to sleep, and stop bugging me so much
about all of this. Just sleep, relax. Deep sleep now…” Yuta and Katia’s
eyes start to flutter. The elf collapses on her side, head nearly up
against Yuta’s leg. Yuta’s head slumps forward into her chest, breathing
deeply as she sleeps. Jake moves over to Jen in her chair, “That wasn’t
very nice of you to not help Jen. So you’ll do all my chores for the
next week. And not with your powers; you’ll do them all by hand as I
would have to,” the magical being can only nod meekly as she stares at
the screen. “So you too, sleep, sleeeepppp…” and Jen’s entire body
relaxes into her chair as she sleeps. Jake finally makes his way over to
Fawn, “And you? Fawn you have fans doing this type of stuff to you all
the time, so you of all people should be nicer. Next time they do this,
you’ll help.
Fawns glazed eyes see only the spiral, “Yesssssssssssss Jake…
“Then
you too should sleep,” Fawn’s head fell back as she snored softly,
drifting away quickly as the other girls had. Jake makes his way up the
stairs to his room. (I’m so tired from all the arguing that I don’t even
feel like doing anything with four hot girls unable to say no. I really
didn’t get any rest from that horrible vacation) he hangs his head
depressed.
* * *
Saturday morning found Professor
Mato, self-proclaimed genius, being chauffeured by government agents to
report to the defense agency that they could see the new armor being
tested whenever they wished. “My, what a glorious day! I can’t believe
Jake would spend it playing video games in his room. Maybe the boy is
tired; perhaps some of my female house guests are keeping him up!” He
gets a wicked grin, followed by a puzzled look. “Come to think of it,
why were those girls sleeping in the living room? How very strange” the
car pulled up to a building and Mato and some government officials get
out.
The lead official from the car checks his notes, “ Sir, we’re a
little early so if you’ll just come this way we can…” he is cut off by a
bodyguard flying past both him and Mato. “What the hell?
Mato
watches the man, “Is this another new defense feature? Someone is
competing for my contract?!” he panics. Just then he notices black clad
females disarming and taking out everyone around him.
The leader
reaches inside his suit pocket for his sidearm, “Professor! Get down!”
Suddenly a female tackles him hard and punches his gut. “Ugh!”
A
van slams its brakes and Mato finds himself being carried rather roughly
to it. He notices they are all cat women; the ears and tails poking out
of their otherwise disguising outfits make it hard to miss. “Say, I
have an entire lab full of ladies just like all of you! Oops, the
government can’t know about that!” He is tossed in and the door slams
shut. “Please promise not to tell the government!” he yells as the van
speeds away.
The leader, and only conscious agent left on the grounds, can only watch. “Professor….”
* * *
Footage
taken from the security cameras was playing on all the major networks
that night. “Thus was the scene outside the agency’s capital
headquarters of its most embarrassing failure in recent memory,” the
male elf reporter spoke. The screen changes to show a picture of Mato
giving a victory pose at his recent winning of his scientific
conference. “The kidnapped has been confirmed as Professor Mato, world
renowned scientist and genius inventor. A few hours after his
disappearance, this was posted from Yoto based Black Cat Gang,” The
screen shifted again to show a smiling neko cat face sprayed across a
brick wall, with a voice being distorted to render it unidentifiable.
“We
are the Black Cats. The recent arrests have angered us, and now it is
time for us to claim our rightful place as undisputed rulers of this
city. If the police or government attempt to stop our ‘liberation’ of
this city, then you shall never see your esteemed Professor again. This
is your only warning.”
The screen cuts yet again to show the
Professors’ mansion with heavy security all around it. “Authorities,
while confident this is a temporary situation, have never the less taken
every precaution in defending the kidnapped Professor’s grandson, Jake
Mato, in case the infamous Black Cat Gang attempts to seize him as a
hostage as well.
“The Black Cat Gang was first pushed into the
national spotlight eight years ago with their daring night time robbery
of the first Yoto bank…
* * *
Three days later…
Sarah
stood angrily looking at the government agents as Jake sat distressed
on the couch. “That’s just not good enough!” she informed them
The
lead agent who had been unable to keep Mato looked at her, “Officer
Sarah please stop interrupting!” He turns back to Jake, “We are doing
everything we can to find your grandfather. How in the world they
managed to hide out since Saturday with the entire capital looking for
them is beyond me. It’s just a matter of time. But for your safety, we
must ask you continue to not leave this mansion.
“Look, I really can’t stay in here much longer,” Jake said
“Why? With Homeshield, this is the safest place for you!”
Yuta
and Katia are once again sitting on opposite sides of Jake and
alternation between consoling him and glaring at each other. “It’s not
the security that makes me want to leave,” Jake speaks up
The
agent shakes his head, “Still we can’t afford to take chances. The
police are stretched thin enough with the recent crime spree the Black
Cats are causing. If we don’t get a break soon, I may have to pull
agents from the investigation to help defend the city.
Sarah looked mad, “If you would let us do our jobs instead of contain them, then we could stop them today!
“We
can’t take that chance either; this gang seems to have new leadership,
and we don’t wish to try them on their threat to harm Professor Mato,”
he stands up and bows respectfully. “I hope to bear good news soon,” and
leaves.
Katia strokes Jake’s arm, “Beloved, do we need to be alone so that you may bear your soul to me?
Yuta looked sad, “Big brother, is there anything I can do?
*#
on Katia’s head* “Yuta, Jake doesn’t have time for these games, he has
to…” Fawn pulls Katia off of Jake and sits next to him, while Jessica
does the same with Yuta. “Hey!
“Sorry, but it looked like Jake couldn’t take much more of you two right now,” Fawn said
“Come on, let’s order pizza!” Jessica tried to cheer Jake up.
“Yes!” Lucia nods happily
“I really don’t feel like it,” Jake sighs
Dawn
is stretching out in a chair, “Besides, the genie makes food in five
seconds or less anyhow. How is a pizza place supposed to compete with
that kind of service?
Sarah looked at the demon crossly, “You know you could be a lot more supportive of Jake right now
Dawn shrugs, “It’s a crime wave! With police and gang fighting, it’ll be that much easier for me to do whatever I please.
Jessica looks around, “Where is Jen anyhow?
Jen walks by, “I just took out all the trash
“You missed a large piece,” Sarah pointed at Dawn, who looked annoyed at the cop.
Fawn looked up, “I thought Jake was on garbage duty?
“I just wanted to help out. I feel pretty bad,” Jen told her
“So, why did you do it by hand?” Jessica asked.
“Thanks for trying,” Jake interrupted, “but it’s really hard to do anything fun with Mato in danger
“No it’s not; I do it all the time,” Dawn waves off his concern. “In fact, just the other day while this building was burning I…
“Dawn,
shut up!” Sarah yelled. She looks, but notices Dawn’s seat is now
empty. “Huh? Where’d she go?” Sarah glances, and sees Dawn suddenly
draped over Jake
“Jake, it’s time for you to come over to the
dark side. The seduction portion of this alone is worth it.” Jake’s
embarrassed, but can’t go anywhere. “Just give in….”
Sarah grabs
Dawn, and suddenly throws her through a wall. “I SAID TO KNOCK IT
OFF!!!!!!!!!” Dawn ends up spiral eyed in a heap of plaster
Jake puts his head in his hands and sighs, “I should get new roommates
* * *
Elsewhere
Mato
sits in a chair, blindfolded, in a dark room with the only light
shining down on him. A voice spoke, but it was being manipulated by some
kind of program to disguise it. “For the last time, where can we find
some of your prototype inventions so we can commit crimes better?
Mato
beamed at nothing. “Oh! It’s a VoiceMod 3500! Not one of my machines,
mind you, but a perfectly good device. I had lunch with its creator
once, and he was such a…
Someone else spoke, “Boss, it’s been days. He isn’t exactly giving us what we need here.
Boss
spoke again. “Gee, thanks moron.” The sound of someone getting smacked
upside the head was heard. “Forget this. We’ll have to do it the hard
way. Bring me this old goat’s grandson. He’ll help us, or have one less
family member to send Christmas cards to.
A third voice, “Boss, the feds are all over the kid’s house. I don’t think…
“No, you don’t think!” Boss snapped. “I THINK. You do as you are told. Use tiger squad and get it done. Or else….
“You
people are bringing my grandson here? Marvelous! I haven’t spoken to
him recently, and wanted him to….” Mato begins to babble on again.
*Sweat drops on all shadowy figures* “How can someone this smart be this stupid?” asked Boss
* * *
The next afternoon…
Jake
was alone in the backyard, for once missing even Katia’s and Yuta’s
fighting as he simply sat on a bench and looked out over Mato’s garden.
(The old man….gone. What am I supposed to do, just sit here? Sure, he’s
annoying, but he took care of me when I came to this dimension.
Although, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him messing around with
things he shouldn’t have. Plus, he gave me cool hypno powers! Though
they usually are more trouble than they are worth…Eh, maybe having him
gone isn’t the WORST of things) Jake sighed. (It’s so boring without
anyone around. Everyone but Lucia is out. I miss school. I miss my
friends.) Jake looks very ticked off. (I miss not having government
agents watching my every move!) He looks up towards where two of the
‘suits’ were usually standing, only to see no one. (Huh?) Just then he
thought he heard a moan from the bushes near where the agents should
have been standing. Jake got up and looked over the bushes…to see both
agents roughed up and unconscious. “Hey! Anybody home in there?!” Jake
tried shaking one of the guards. “Hold on!” He turns around…and sees a
half dozen male nekos in black garments standing behind him. He half
steps back. “Not good…” he manages to say
“Look, he’s a genius too!” one of them calls out. Laughter fills the air.
“Let’s jack his ass and be done with it,” one reaches out…and gets smacked by Jake’s fist in the face, knocking him down. “Oof!”
Jake tries to run, but suddenly two more jump behind him and grab his arms. “Let me go!”
The
leader hands a claw like weapon to the one who was knocked down, and
the other attaches it to his wrist. “You shouldn’t have done that. Now
my friend here needs a little fun
“Fun?! If you freaks don’t give
Mato back…” Jake is cut off by the one he knocked down slashing his arm
with the claw, ripping his left shirt sleeve and causing twin wounds
across his arm. “Auggghhh!”
Claw hand happily points his weapon at Jake. “This is going to happen. You just get to decide how painful it is….
Jake was sweating, a little blood on his arm. (I can’t….please, someone save me…)
Just
then the back door is flung open and out pops Lucia. “Jake! I made
sandwiches for lunch!” She beams at the group, as Jake and the thieves
can only stare at her wide eyed. (Perhaps I should have been more
specific when I prayed for salvation…) Jake thought with an eye twitch
“Oh! Why didn’t you tell me we have guests? I’ll make more for them!” she turns to go back
“They’re trying to kidnap me!” Jake yells annoyed at her
“What?” Lucia turns around
“Don’t try to stop us, or you’re friend here is in for a world of pain!” the leader points to Jake.
“No!”
Lucia starts to run towards them. “Let Jake go!” A neko suddenly dashes
in front of her and smacks her down mercilessly. “Ah!”
“Lucia!” Jake tries to get out from the holds again. “She didn’t deserve that!” The six crooks start to try to drag Jake away.
Lucia
stands up, hold her face where she was hit, white hair obscuring her
eyes. “Why did…you do that…?” a single tear falls to the ground. “You
aren’t….nice people…” a holy aura starts to emanate from the angel,
flames burning brighter and brighter around her. None of the others seem
to notice. “…and I….” her left wing unfurls “…won’t show you…” her
right wing unfurls “…any mercy…” and then suddenly bright fire erupts
around her.
The Tiger squad and Jake stop fighting and see a
pillar of white fire where Lucia was. *Question mark bubbles over their
heads* The fire dissipates, revealing Lucia barefoot and wearing a shiny
silver armored skimpy bikini with two sword hilts attached to either
side. She crosses her arms and each hand grasps a hilt, and suddenly
living blades of flame appear as she draws her weapons. Lucia’s pleasant
eyes are gone as her head rises up to be visible, showing only white
eyes. More flames starting erupting all around her. “You aren’t nice
people, and I won’t show you any mercy!” She flies straight up into the
air, and then after a suitable height dives at high speed towards the
group.
“Holy hell…!” the leader gasps in surprise
Jake panics. “Wait! You’ll hit me too!
Lucia’s pretty face was twisted in rage, “YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
The gang members were scared to death, “YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
And Jake could only agree with everyone, “YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
A titanic explosion of energy smashed into the group
*Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!*
Jake
peeks out cautiously, and notices no one is holding him. “I’m not
hurt?” He looks around. All six nekos were on the ground, badly hurt
with their clothes and fur burned in slash marks by Lucia, who stood
there like a warrior, making sure none of them got up. “Whoa…” Lucia put
her blades away with style, and as she walks over they become just
hilts again. “That was awesome! How did…” Jake was cut off by the angel
suddenly embracing him, teary eyed. “Lucia?”
“I was so scared!” she chocked out.
Jake was stunned. “Really, I’m okay!” Lucia let him go, and he could see her gentle eyes again. “Thank you
Lucia blushed, “You’re welcome. I’m so glad you’re safe.
“Lucia, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but…SINCE WHEN CAN YOU DO THAT?!?!?
“Hm?
Oh, always!” She beams happily. “That's kind of the reason I was
placed in the egg; in case some evil was left over after being released.
But violence should be avoided; these meanies just asked for it
“Remind
me to be nice to you at all times.” The two began to make their way
back to the house. “Sarah will throw a Dawn style fit once she hears
about this…
“Think she’ll be mad?”
“Not at you. But I gotta ask…
“Yes?”
“Not that I’m complaining, but is a metal bikini really good armor?
* * *
The
box read “Titan Class Explosive”, and was marked with numerous warning
labels. Jessica ignored them as she finished burying it in the backyard
with the others. Katia was directing elven workers in installing the
latest security around the huge backyard, and standing near the backdoor
Sarah was taking it all in. The same suit that had been there to inform
of Mato’s kidnapping approached her. “Officer, I must protest! All of
this is military grade equipment and unsuitable for usage in a
neighborhood! You should just let us handle it…”
“Like you
already did?” Sarah glared at him. “You have proven to be nothing but
incompetent throughout this entire crisis. So, we’ll be watching our
friend and roommate from now on.
“Look, just because that
princesses’ father interfered and sent some of his royal guard to secure
the area and you’ve got that solider setting up traps doesn’t mean
he’ll be any better off. You should leave it to us!
“We tried
that, and look! If not for….Homeshield…” (I can’t reveal Lucia to this
moron!)” Sarah thought, silently thanking the angel. “…Jake would be in
serious trouble right now. So, with special permission from the
department and the military, King Gravetree has convinced the
authorities that we should handle things here.
“Officer, I really
think that’s a bad idea. You should allow us to…” he was suddenly cut
off by Sarah grabbing his shirt and yanking hard to bring them face to
face.
“Listen to me you incompetent government drone! If anything
had happened to Jake, you’d be removing my high heels from your
pathetic ass! You have been unable to protect him, stop the crime waves,
find Mato, or even do what we all pay taxes for! So, now we are making
it easier for you to do the other tasks you’ve failed off. So, stop
trying to mess with me,” Sarah’s eyes lit up with fire, “Understand?
*Sweatdrop on the agent* “O-of course….I completely agree,” he laughed nervously
Sarah smiled sweetly, “Good, then we have an understanding
Jake
was looking out through a window in the kitchen, and then went back
into the living room with Diana and Mina. “Sarah gets more like Dawn
everyday…” he looks at the girls. “Um, don’t tell her I said that
Mina
looks up from the textbooks the three had been using, “I can’t believe
you aren’t even allowed outside anymore. Do they expect you to just stay
inside until this is all over?
“I have no earthly idea.” Jake
sat down. “Thanks for helping me keep up with classes until I can go
back. That midterm in history is going to be a killer
Diana looks
ragged and a little sleepy. “You’re telling me! So many centuries and
nations being covered. But with you Jake, it’s like you’ve never even
heard of half this stuff
(That’s because I HAVEN’T) Jake thought,
moaning the sheer amount of stuff he had been trying to learn. “Well, I
just have a lot on my mind.
Diana shrugged, “Still, I can’t
believe you don’t remember so much of this stuff. I mean, it’s a lot but
we get it every year since kindergarten
Mina wagged a finger at the cat. “Be nice! All this stress will not help him pass the test
“I
wonder if I should make an exception for myself and hypnotically pass
this test,” Jake flips through a book some more. “It’s so unfair that
they still require me to take this test…” a beeping noise catches their
attention. Jake walks over to a computer touch screen set in the wall,
like there was in every room, and read the text.
“What else is wrong?” asked Diana
“Nothing,
just Mato must have left something on in the lab. I’ll go take care of
it,” Jake found himself walking out of the room, down the stairs and
entering the lab. It seemed so empty without the Professor running
around doing his crazy experiments. Jake had at least made sure all the
cat girls in the hypno experiments were still being taken care of. (Why
am I assisting in a project I find morally wrong?) He touched a couple
of panels. “Homeshield? What is wrong in the lab?
<PROJECT
J-K32 DID NOT HAVE PROTECTION PROTOCALLS INITIATED AND HAS NOT BEEN
TOUCHED IN DAYS. PROCEDURE DEMANDS THAT THE PROJECT BE FOLLOWED UP TO
ENSURE THE TV DINNER DIASTER DOES NOT REOCUR>
“Um, what TV dinner disaster?
<THE SELF HEATING TV DINNER VERSION 1.3 WAS LEFT ALONE THREE YEARS AGO. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION CASUED MASSIVE DAMAGE TO…>
“Never mind, I get the picture. What is project J-K32?
<PROJECT
J-K32. CODENAME MATO PROTECTIVE ARMOR TECH> Lights came on and Jake
found himself staring at the armor. He thought of how everything had
gone the past few days…
A light bulb winks on above his head.
Jake looks up at it and groans. “I get the distinct feeling that this is
a Mato like idea that’s both brilliant and stupid…”
* * *
Jen was watching TV, and kept glancing at Yuta, “Why are you looking at me?” she asked the young student
“I was just wondering, what if Mato never comes back?” Yuta looked worried
“Then we are truly blessed beyond belief,” the genie replied
Lucia started to cry, “Nooooooo! Professor Mato must come back safe and sound!”
Katia comforted Lucia, “See what you did? You know she’s sensitive!
Jen
sighed, “Fine. I hope the old fool comes back soon. Especially since
both Sarah and Jessica have to be out, which means the rest of us have
to stay here and watch Jake. Not my idea of a fun night
“We could play games!” Yuta suggested clapping her hands
“NO!” Both Jen and Katia were adamant about it
“Where is Jake?” Lucia asked
“Oh you know him…in his room doing whatever…”
* * *
The lab…
A
group of monitors were on, each showing a different broadcast of what
the news agencies had stared to call “The Siege of Yoto”, and all the
reports had the same bleak tone.
“Authorities have been
completely powerless to protect the city, caught off guard by the sheer
number of Black Cat members committing a well organized crime wave on
the civilian population. It is unknown how long…”
Someone was putting gloves on, matching the red suit he already wore.
“…the
bank lost nearly all of its’ savings. Instead of Black Cats, a few
people managed to identify a red haired woman making off with over…”
Leg guards were being attached carefully, making sure that they were properly strapped on.
“…we couldn’t do a thing. The police aren’t helping us! My family is scared to be out after dark. What are we supposed to…
A belt was placed, the emblem of the sun proudly displayed, similar to the one on the chest of the outfit
“…rioting
outside city hall, as public opinion drops to the lowest level in the
past ten years. Parliament is considering calling in the national
defense units from neighboring cities, as panic threatens to tear Yoto
Town apart by…”
The helmet, with its faceguard retracted, was
placed on top of Jake’s head. “Good fit.” That had been his biggest
concern, that the armor wouldn’t fit properly. But it was almost as if
it were made for him. “Did you do it?
Homeshield had been drafted
into Jake’s new efforts. <The west side of downtown is predicted to
have the highest level of Black Cat activity for tonight. However,
attempts to narrow down Professor Mato’s location are impossible with
the current level of information>
“Didn’t expect to be that
lucky…” Jake had come up with a decent plan. If he could get Homeshield
enough data, than maybe it could figure out where the Professor was
being held. Or at least narrow it down significantly. “Well, I can’t
just go door to door during a crime wave. So, if I bust enough neko
butt, I should run into someone who can point me in the right direction.
<Analysis of the situation confirms. Stabilizing the city will assist the gathering of information>
“Plus,
it’ll be wicked awesome to be kicking butt!” Jake grinned He suddenly
sees himself heroically stopping crime, “It’s every guy’s dream to be a
butt kicking superhero!” he gets starry eyed.
<Dasher is
ready to go. Bringing up on Bay 2> A car was raised up from the
floor. Aside from looking like a sports car with only one seat dead
center in its small driver area, the large jet like engine dominating
the rear of the vehicle helped it to stand out. Homeshield hadn’t
recalled exactly why Mato built it, but it had managed to paint it
matching colors with Jake’s armor.
Speaking of which, “Are you SURE you won’t change the pink highlights on this suit? Please?”
<Making unauthorized changes to a product in progress is a violation of safety regulations>
“It’s pink!”
<Making unauthorized changes to a…>
“Fine
I don’t care,” Jake got into Dasher, and the car auto strapped him in.
He punched in the code, and lights began to come on. (This is it! I’m
going to find Mato! I’m going to save the city! I’ll teach those crooks
not to mess with people, and live out every guy’s fantasy of being a
super powered butt kicker in the process!) Jake pointed heroically with
one hand, “For Yoto!!!!!” and used the other to push the ignition
button.
Nothing happened. He tried hitting it a few more times. “Why am I not moving?” A small screen above the button lit up. It read…
PLEASE DEPOSIT ONE DOLLAR TO START CAR. There was an arrow pointing to a coin slot.
Jake’s
mouth dropped open, “I’m trying to save everyone, and he expects me to
keep a dollar in coins on a superhero outfit?!?! Dumb, cheap Mato!!!!”
<Check container J on the belt> Homeshield offered
Jake
found a coin holding container many different types of coins. “What
possessed him to install this?” He put a coin in, and hit start again.
The engine began turning, as the car finally came to life. “For
Yoto!!!!!!”
<Please watch your acceleration. Dasher can go
from zero to sixty in approximately one point four seconds. Top speed is
over three hundred.>
“Wait, what did you just….” The engine
blasted fire a good five feet out the rear, and the car was suddenly
racing out of one of the tunnels Mato had built.
“…saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?!?!?!?!?!”
* * *
“Oof!” The third Black Cat went down in a heap as Sarah completed her roundhouse.
“Phew…”
she breathed out, brushing her hair back to stop covering her eyes.
“Honestly, is EVERY neko a Black Cat these days?” Their numbers had
seemed endless. Worse still, jailbreaks had started to occur when too
many were put away. She turned…
…to see two more in a car trying to run her down
“Yeah,
floor it over the cop!” the passenger yelled. The driver responded,
putting his foot down and lined up Sarah. They were only half a block
away.
That’s when Lucky Lady put her five ton foot down between them.
Sarah
couldn’t see the crash, but she heard it. She cautiously walked around
Jessica’s ride, drawing her side arm. But as she suspected, there was no
reason. The car now was about half the size, and neither gang member
seemed to be in any condition to resist arrest. “You could have just
shot them,” she called up to her friend
Jessica looked at Sarah’s
image on the monitor in disbelief. “You really believe that they
wouldn’t punish me for using military ordinance on civilians? I know
they’re criminals, but still…
Sarah shook her head. “Give it a
couple of days. Once they’re desperate enough to call even more army
units. If something doesn’t change soon, it’ll be an all out war.”
Jessica keyed her radio, “We have another five ready for pick up here
“That’s
confirmed,” the dispatcher replied. “It’ll be awhile though. And a
silent alarm just went off in a warehouse three miles west of you. No
other units are available.
Jessica felt her heart sink, “Well, what should we do, just wait and let them get away? We can’t leave Black Cats lying around!
Sarah waved at Jess, “Its okay! Get over there and stop them!
“No!” Lucky Lady’s head rotated to look at Sarah. “There are too many Cats on the street tonight for you to be without backup.
“Well,
who else can stop them?” SCREEEEEEEECCCCHHHH!!! Sarah turned her head
at the sound of rubber on pavement, and saw a new car coming at them.
Fast. As it passed, she caught only glimpses of pink racing stripes, an
armored figure behind the wheel, and an engine that could never be
street legal. Then it was gone, flying directly at the new alarm.
“Jessica, did you see…?!”
“Three steps ahead of you!” Jessica had already fed the video into dispatch.
The
man sitting at the unit back at headquarters was stunned. “Chief!” he
turned, yelling at the Chief of Police who looked ragged after having
spent the past two days in the room.
The Chief picked up a com
unit, “Officer Sarah, we have no idea who or what that was, but yours is
the fourth sighting tonight. Also, we’ve confirmed the unknown
individuals’ assistance in over two dozen arrests already, though he
flees when police try to stop him
Sarah watched the fading lights. “Who the hell…?
* * *
Driving Dasher actually wasn’t half as hard as he had thought. It was impossible. “I have super reflexes! Why can’t I stop?!”
<Hit the break pedal to stop forward movement>
Jake looked down, “There are eight pedals, and they all work like the gas!”
* * *
A
familiar male elf reporter and his polar bear camera man were crouched,
filming three Black Cats as they tried to force their way inside the
warehouse. “Just don’t make a sound,” the elf said. “This will be
perfect.”
The Cats were almost inside, when suddenly a car went flying past, and did a 180, blinding them with its headlights.
“Hey!” one of them yelled. The lights died out, and Jake got out. All three stared at him in surprise.
“I think I’m gonna puke…” his helmet turned a little green
“Look! It’s the precious pink hero!” one of them laughed.
“Don’t hurt me ma’am!” another snickered
Jake was blushing inside his suit, “Hey!” He flailed his arms angrily. “I didn’t pick out the color scheme, okay?!”
“Too bad, it’s your last outfit,” the center pulled out his gun and fired.
The round bounced harmlessly off the suit. The cats looked stunned, and Jake used the opportunity to speak
“Look, others have tried this and it just doesn’t work so why not…”
“Waste
him!” the center yelled, and the other two opened up with their entire
clips as well. The rounds simple bounced off Jake and Dasher as if they
were throwing tennis balls.
“Fine then. This is more fun any way,” Jake stared to walk towards them
“I
got him!” One ran straight towards him…and was backhanded hard THROUGH
the warehouse doors they had been trying to open. The other two neko’s
mouths hit the floor. “WAAAHHHHH!!!!”
“I don’t believe it…” the
elf breathed, watching as a second rose into the air and was sent flying
into a dumpster by a kick. He caught a flash of the captain’s rank on
the left shoulder.
“This guy is unreal!” the cameraman gasped
Jake
picked up the third with one hand and held him off the ground. “Could
you please tell me where I can find the Professor Mato?
“I…I don’t know!...I swear…!” The guy looked like laughing at colors was the last thing on his mind now
“Who DOES know?” Jake cocked his head
“A leader….a leader would…they wear….augh….black armbands….”
(Finally!)
Jake had been at it for a couple of hours. It wasn’t much, but now at
least he had an idea of who to be looking for. “Thanks. Um, no more
crimes, okay?” His free hand punched hard into the neko, whose eyes
rolled up into his head and collapsed unmoving to the ground. Jake
walked back into Dasher, and drove off accidentally plowing through a
brick wall on his way out. “My fault!”
Jay’tona Gentlebreeze, the
most watched news reporter in all of Yoto, emerged from hiding and
listened to the far off sirens that were on their way. “TELL ME you got
that on film!
The bear gave a toothy grin, “Oh yeah
* * *
Jake
got up that morning as if he were going to school. (Augh, I really wish
I could sleep in) But of course, he couldn’t. (Some high tech guy
starts beating up bad guys, and suddenly I’m low on sleep? Sarah will
put two and two together) Years of comic books and TV had trained him on
how to keep a secret identity. He went downstairs and was surprised to
see the girls hadn’t left for school. In fact, everyone but Dawn was
watching the news. “What’s going on now?
Mina looked at him, “You have to come see this!”
Jake sat next to her…and watched himself beating up nekos. (That’s the warehouse! Why would the police release footage of a…)
“In
our recurring top story,” Jay’tona was saying, “Despite official claims
against it, I and my camera man obtained this exclusive footage of an
unknown person fighting off members of the Black Cat gang last night.
“Yeah!” Diana clapped. “Finally, someone is helping us good neko reclaim our name!”
“Based
on the symbols on his outfit, the media has already taken to calling
this unknown avenger Captain Anime,” the screen showed close ups of the
sun and rank symbols on Jake’s outfit. “And this reporter for one, would
like to thank our new defender for assisting this city in our darkest…”
As he kept going, Jessica muted the TV. “What do you think?” she asked Sarah
“That
now we have some vigilante running around the city as well as all the
other stuff!” Sarah responded. “Well, he’ll go right into jail like all
the others once I get my hands on him! *Sweat starts pouring down Jake*
Katia looked over, “Jake, you look quite pale. Are you sleeping well?”
Jake suddenly laughed loudly, “Ha! Of course! It’s not like I’m up all night!” He then continued laughing oddly.
*Sweat
drops on all the girls* “Well, school for you girls and the rest of use
hold down the fort,” Sarah said as Jessica turned off the TV.
“So, who was that on the TV?” Mina asked the other girls
“I bet he’d be fun to play games with!” Yuta said
Fawn glanced at Sarah, “So, no one knows who that was?
Sarah looked distraught, “Do you have any idea…
“…how
embarrassing it is to this department when some citizen takes the law
into his own hands!” The Chief yelled later that day at Sarah and all
the other police in the room.
As he continued, Sarah held her face in her hands. (Yeah, coming to the morning briefing was a real good idea)
* * *
At lunch, Jake sat down and reached for a sandwich. “Shouldn’t we wait for Dawn?” Lucia asked
“No,” Jen replied as she too reached for food
“Besides,
I just checked her room. She hasn’t been in tonight, so I guess she’s
out taking advantage of everything that’s happening,” Fawn said. She
then noticed Jake looking smug. “What?
“Well, I figured Sarah
would have enough grief, so last night I ‘convinced’ Dawn that every
time she tries to commit a crime before the Professor is back, she’ll
feel like doing something else
Jen suddenly became very happy. “I like where this conversation is going. What kind of ‘something else’?
* * *
Dawn
was in hell. Tears streaming down her face. Unable to stop what she was
doing. She had never felt so dirty, so humiliated, so naked as she did
now. (Have I really deserved this? What did I ever do?) The voices kept
telling her what to do. She had to obey. She couldn’t say no. (No, that
one…he wants it again. I….can’t….resist….)
“Could you read the
one about the bunny?” a little child asked. Dawn was sitting beneath a
banner which read THIRD ANNUAL LIBRARY READINGS TO THE CHILDREN and no
matter how she tried, she couldn’t stop reading to the kids!
“Please, anything but that one again!
“I wanna hear the bunny story!
Dawn felt her body obey, as in her best bunny voice she began to read…
* * *
Days
seemed to meld into each other for Jake. He spent his days keeping up
appearances with his friends. His nights were different. His nights were
spent becoming the thing that darkness feared. Even with pink
highlights, Black Cats stopped making fun of him as wave after wave of
them went down before him. After a week’s worth of heroics, as he stood
on a skyscraper watching the sunrise, Jake found himself admitting
something. It was some of the most fun Jake had had since coming to
this dimension.
* * *
Sarah stopped her bike, and
began walking down the street. (Things have sure quieted down since ‘our
hero’ started in) She appreciated the help, but it was just
embarrassing to the department that some crime fighting citizen was
doing their job for them. Plus, like many of the police, she knew he was
breaking the law, but was having trouble calling him a criminal. If it
hadn’t been for Captain Anime, the city would have fallen into riots.
Now, people were actually doing what they felt like again. Still, maybe
she should…
Sarah was interrupted by a Black Cat being sent
flying out of a bar, and a crowd cheering. Who should come walking out
but Jake dressed in the armor. “I asked you to not start tearing up the
place. Can’t you…
“Freeze!” Instinct kicked in and Sarah drew her sidearm.
Jake
responded by running for an alley. Sarah snapped off a shot, it might
slow him down. But Jake suddenly did a forward roll right before it
would have hit him. “Stop right there!” Sarah dashed afterwards, running
into the alley.
Jake was so concerned with Sarah not finding out
who he was that he didn’t even flip down the lower part of the armor
that covered his mouth. Nor did he quite pay enough attention and ran
into the brick wall that the alley dead ended into. “Great,” he got
ready to jump but another shot whizzed past him and he turned to see
Sarah behind him. “Gunshots really can’t stop me,” he tried to explain.
Sarah threw her pistol at his face. His hand shot up and caught it. “Why
would you throw that?” he lowered his hand, and saw Sarah had used the
distraction to sprint the last ten yards and shoulder charge into him.
Sarah
thought he had him, and tried to look up into his open face guard to
see his face. “You’re under arrest for…” she was stopped by Jake
suddenly pushing off against the wall, which threw her off him. She back
flipped to land on her feet, and then tried a kick to his head. Jake
grabbed her heel with his left, and open palmed thrust with his right
into her gut, which she then countered with both her hands and used them
to pull backwards as hard as she could. Jake was also moving forward at
the time, and with only one foot on the ground, Sarah found herself
falling backwards. All she could do was pull hard enough to make sure
Jake went with her
“Stop!” Jake tried to reason with her
“You’re
coming with me!” Sarah landed on her back, but got ready to push her
feet into his chest and flip him over. “And nothing you can say will…”
Jake’s foot slipped, and instead of him escaping or her throwing, he
fell on top of her.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” Jake rolled
to side and tried to sit up, but Sarah rolled with him and ended up
sitting on him as she struggled with him.
“I can’t look away from
what you’re doing! I’m an officer of the city! I’m placing you under
arrest! You have the right to remain silent and anything you…” Jake
suddenly tried to sit up again, just as Sarah was leaning down to force
leverage, and the two ended up kissing. *Sparkly romantic background*
“…!”
Sarah’s eyes were open wide for a moment. (What is he doing?! How dare
he….) For some odd reason, she felt her grip weakening. (I…he’s…)
Jake
was blushing inside his helmet. (Oh man, Sarah’s really going to be mad
now. How the hell did this happen?) He was so busy beating himself up
mentally that he at first didn’t realize Sarah closing her eyes, or her
arms slowly wrapping around him. (Maybe I should apologize?) It was
about at this point he realized she was kissing him BACK. (What in the…)
Jake suddenly felt very close to Sarah, just as confused as she was.
Sarah
just couldn’t help it. (He’s not supposed to do this….I shouldn’t but…)
There was something about him she couldn’t quite understand, some kind
of attraction. The two kissed for what seemed like forever when suddenly
they heard more sirens pulling up near the alley way. Sarah was so
stunned at what she had done that she stood up.
Jake was in
shock, but the realization that Sarah might kill him many times over for
this made him decide to keep running. “Um, you’re very pretty…” he
managed to eek out before jumping up, planting a hand on top of the
brick wall, and flipping over the alleyway.
Sarah watched him
go, blushing. “Officer!” Two patrolmen dashed over. “Are you okay?”
Sarah looked scared, then composed herself and turned around.
“Don’t just stand there! Didn’t you see?!”
“No, we just saw him jump over the wall and not…
“Well go after him!”
“Yes
ma’am!” both responded and quickly ran out to try and catch Captain
Anime. Sarah was left alone, with her thoughts, and breathed out.
(What…was that?)
* * *
“Stupid!” Jake yelled at
himself back in the lab a short time later. He hit a specific place on
his wrist, and the suit suddenly glowed, then faded into little specks
of light which gathered together to form a normal looking watch on his
left wrist. “Sarah will be on the warpath for real after that! Why’d you
do something so insane? It was…” Jake thought back to the kiss. He
suddenly just slumped into a chair, “…totally worth it. I just hope
Sarah doesn’t find out who I am. She’ll kill me! I wonder why she kissed
me back though?” Jake suddenly grinned, “I didn’t realize how hot she
was!”
* * *
“…and then they chased after him, but
he wasn’t seen again all night,” Sarah looked into her morning coffee as
she informed Fawn, Lucia, and Jessica about her night.
“That is SO romantic!” breathed Fawn
Jessica had little devil horns and a wicked grin, “So, get to the part where you had to search him…”
“No!” Sarah was flushed. “No, he…I mean…It’s not…
“Why is Sarah so red? I thought love was a happy thing!” Lucia asked
Sarah turned even more bright red, “I’m not in love with him!”
“So, just the sex then?” Jessica started bonking Sarah on the head with a pitchfork. “I never knew you to have a wild side!
Sarah hung her head, “If my department hears about this, I’m screwed beyond belief.
“Oh! Forbidden love!” Fawn looked even more lost in a fantasy
Lucia claps her hands, “Yay for Sarah!”
Sarah looks at all of them, “Can’t any of you do something to actually make me fell better?”
Jessica was about to speak, when a very tired and ragged looking Dawn walked in, “Need…coffee…”
“Dawn in pain, that does make me feel a little better,” Sarah brightens
“What the heck happened to you?” Jessica asked
“Spent…all of yesterday…helping old ladies…cross streets…” Dawn suddenly broke down and bawled like a baby. “WHY ME?!?!?!?!
The other girls were all taken aback by this display. “Is it me, or has Dawn been weird even for her lately?” Fawn asked
* * *
He was wearing the armband. He was being held off the ground. And he was extremely blue in the face. “Please….” He begged.
“Would you like be released?” Jake, wearing the suit, asked
The
Black Cat member looked down off and saw only the waters of the bay, as
Jake was currently holding him off the side of a bridge by the throat.
“No…that’s okay…!”
“Then, could you please tell me where Mato is?” Jake asked for the third time
“But…Boss’ll…I…”
“Do cats really hate water? Or is that just an unfair stereotype?” Jake let his grip weaken slightly
“A warehouse on the other side of the bay! Building 74!” The cat panicked and spilled the info for Jake.
Jake
smiled happily, “See? Now really, is that so hard to do?” He suddenly
tied the cat to the railing and left him dangling over the edge.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!” he yelled at the hero
“Hang in there. Someone will turn you in before noon!” Jake walked back to the car
“Sunrise isn’t for another two hours!” the crook tried to protest
Jake sat in the car, “Homeshield can you…
A
HUD was displayed over the windshield with directions to the building,
<The following route will have your arrival in approximately eight
minutes, baring no interference from any authorities>
Jake
nodded, “Finally, to get out of this super hero stick before Sarah
arrests me, finds out it’s me, and then KILLS me for that moment we
had.” He inserts another dollar coin, and very, very, gingerly pushes
down on one of the pedals.
Dasher takes off like a bat out of hell. “Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!”
<If you did not wish to go this fast, why did you press the super acceleration pedal?>
“Why would you PUT that kind of pedal in the car?!”
* * *
The
Black Cat member gets a hand free, and dials a number. When the other
end is picked up, “Hero punk fell for it. You and the elites are going
to have some company.
“Excellent. Now, we finish this.
“Great, could you…” *CLICK* “….um…” he hangs there for a second. “How do I get down?
* * *
Dasher
plows through the streets at a hundred miles an hour as if the world
itself depended on it. For his part, Jake just attempts to not hit
anyone. “C’mon, please don’t kill anyone!” Crashing through the fence as
if it were air, Jake sees a straight shot to the warehouse he desires.
“This is it, the final battle!” He solemnly takes a deep breath. (Now,
to fulfill my honor and save the Professor) “For Yoto!!!!!!” he gestures
heroically…and accidentally pushes a button on the wheel. “Eh?”
<Turbo
boost initiated> Twin mini thrusters pop out, one to either side of
the main engine, and add their speed to Dasher and suddenly Jake is
going over TWO hundred miles an hour.
“Crap, crap, crap!” Jake
winces, shuts his eyes, and the car smashes into the building, finally
coming to a stop due to the GPS seeing he had arrived at the
destination. Jake stumbles out of the car and falls to his knees, “I
think…I need lessons…”
“Welcome to the party!” a voice rings out,
disguised in the darkness. Jake looks around, and a light snaps on to
see Mato strapped to a chair.
“Professor!” Jake jumps up
“Hello
there!” he cheerfully replies. He then looks confused, “Who might you
be? Are you here for this party too? It must be a surprise party because
it is so dark in here!”
*Jake falls down* “You realize you’ve been kidnapped, don’t you?!
“No,
he doesn’t…” Jake heard someone coming from the side, each step echoing
loudly in the mainly empty building. “He is pretty stupid. You, on the
other hand, are both an annoyance and very good. I could use someone
like you. I’d even be willing to overlook the fact you aren’t a neko.
Take your place as my right hand. Rule by my side,” Jake assumed a
defensive position. “or die here and now,” A high heel steps into the
light first, followed by tight leather pants, a very skimpy cut off
T-shirt, almost jet black hair, brown eyes, and then the leader was
there. Except…
“You’re a chick?” Jake asked
She looked pissed, “What is that supposed to mean?!”
(The
leader of the Black Cat gang is a chick. That makes perfect sense. I
think) “Look, I think we can agree that it’s been a trying past couple
of weeks. So, how about you hand over the Professor, and I escort you to
jail?” Jake tried to reason with her.
“Destroy him!” Boss
yelled, and suddenly a dozen female nekos appeared around him and used
heavy machine guns. Jake threw his arms up over his head and hundreds of
round per second pounded on him. “Hahahaahaha! No one messes with the
Boss, or her Black Cats!
Mato seems happy. “Oh, if only I had something to take this data with!
Boss looks at him, “You realize your hero is dying, right?
“No he isn’t. I made that armor myself. It’s completely bullet proof!
“Wait,
what did you just say?” Boss looked again at the armored figure as the
last guns clicked empty, and saw Jake standing there.
He raised
his hand, which actually began to glow, “You know, I tried to not do
this, but I just can’t bring myself to beat up a bunch of girls.” The
glow intensified, becoming almost blinding.
“What in the hell do
you think you’ll do? I’ll show you the power of Black C…” a shockwave of
energy suddenly burst in a circle. Once it hit every neko, their eyes
glazed over and they collapsed dazed and hypnotized. “…” the leader was
just as out of it as the rest.
Jake ran over to Mato, who was
quite giddy, “A hypnotic attack! You must have hypno powers. You should
meet my grandson Jake! He has hypnosis skills as well
“No, Professor, it’s me. I…”
“Of course it’s you! You’re Captain Anime! You’re my hero!
“No, really it’s me Jake!
“Jake? Jake my boy! It is you! But why are you dressed like Captain Anime?
“What? Because this is the suit! I’m…”
“Does Captain Anime know you’re wearing his outfit?
Jake suddenly grabbed Mato by the collar and shook him repeatedly, “I AM CAPTAIN ANIME YOU BRAINLESS OLD MAN!
Mato was spiraled eyed but then shook it off. “Jake! You’re Captain Anime!
“Well…duh…
“This is great! You were fantastic.” Mato peered around him. “Hello! Are you here for the party?
Jake turned around to see Sarah pointing a gun at him. “Oh, hello officer I just…
“Take off your helmet, you are under arrest!” Sarah didn’t seem to like what she was doing, but still kept pointing her weapon
“No
ma’am,” Jake walked towards his car to Sarah’s shock. “I’m going to
leave, and I don’t think you’ll be seeing me for awhile. But it was…nice
meeting you. Could you take care of him please?”
“I mean it! I’ll shoot!
“Go
ahead then,” Jake looked directly at her. She winced, tightened her
finger around the trigger, and then slowly lowered her gun. “Thank you,”
and with that he got into his car and started to back it up.
Sarah
could only stare after him. (I shouldn’t let him go. But he’s done so
much for this city. I just can’t embarrass him. Or reveal who he is. I
don’t know of anyone brave enough to risk himself for others) Her
expression softened. (I…I think I like him…)
Dasher suddenly accelerated and annihilated a newspaper stand. “My bad! I’ll pay for that!” Jake yelled
Sarah looked slightly disgusted with herself. (I have the worst taste in men)
* * *
“Breaking
news! Thanks to the efforts of Captain Anime, Professor Mato was found
to be safe and sound yesterday. We go live to City Hall where…”
* * *
Mato
was back in the lab with Jake, finishing analyzing all the data
collected during Jake’s latest adventure. “You did extremely well in my
absence! And the suit was astounding! With all this data, you’ve put
this project years ahead of schedule. I shall make you a suitable reward
for all of your hard work!
“You really don’t have to. I’m just glad you’re back and giving us weirdness!” Jake and Mato began to go back upstairs.
“Jake, Dawn was happy that she was able to yell at an old lady who asked for help across a street. Why is that such a big deal?
* * *
That
night, most of the household was just watching TV. “I can’t believe.
I’m finally back to school, and that killer history test is in just a
couple of days. I am so unbelievably screwed!”
Katia looked over, “I’ll help you study beloved!
“Forget
that! I already know it all! I’ll help him study!” Yuta and Katia
looked across the room from each other, and energy shot from their eyes
in between them angrily, causing a small light show.
“I think your two little girlfriends are at it again,” Sarah laughed.
Jake hung his head, “When did they stop? And don’t ever call them that,” he looked over at Sarah. “Thanks again for finding Mato
Sarah blushed and looked at the floor, “I didn’t do anything. It was all Captain Anime.
“Well, I’m glad you could at least take care of him,” At that sentence, Sarah’s head suddenly looked over at Jake.
(What
did he just…?) That phrase and tone were very close to what the hero
had last said to her. For a brief moment, she pictured the armor over
him. (It can’t be, can it?)
“Hey Sarah, you okay?”
“Yeah…” Sarah suddenly stood up. “C’mon, let’s go get some ice cream and celebrate the old man’s return.
“Really? Score!” Jake stood up, and noticed Sarah standing closer to him than usual. “Hey, you okay?
To
his surprise, she suddenly hugged him. “Maybe…you just remind me of
someone I like…” Jake blushed greatly. Then he turned pale when he saw
Katia and Yuta.
“What’re you doing?!” the blonde yelped
“Sarah, release my true love this very instant!
Sarah suddenly looked at them playfully, “You know, maybe he wants a woman instead of a little girl?
Yuta
and Katia suddenly turned white, then red with rage as Jake stared at
Sarah in disbelief and asked, “Sarah, why did…?” Sarah just smiled
“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!?!” *Yuta and Katia grow large with pointed teeth, glowing eyes, and flames erupting in the background*
Sarah and Jake ran out the front door with the other two in hot pursuit.
“Get back here Jake!”
“I won’t forgive you cheating on me!”
Jake looked at Sarah as they ran, “Am I missing something here?
Sarah just stared straight ahead, “Maybe I find you interesting.
Jake
looked as thoughtful as he could while running, “I just know I did
something to put me in this situation,” he shut his eyes and pumped his
arms, “but for the life of me I can’t remember what!”
* * *
Epilogue…
The
fire burned, colors dancing amongst each other, merging…showing him
many things. He was old. Older than even many of his kind dared to dream
of being. The elder Dryad stared into the fire, seeing what others
could only dare to dream of. His tan skin was wrinkled, eyes shut, and
traditional face paint of green triangles both above and below his eyes.
Ears peeked out from his hair, more pointed than a human but less than
an elf. His hair, once orange, was now a light shade of grey. Unlike
other races, he was proud of this fact; few dryads lived long enough for
their hair to start to change, much less fully age as his had over a
decade ago. He sat Indian style on the grass, in a clearing in the
woods. A tan cloak covered everything around him, while his left hand
grasped an old yet simple wooden staff.
He watched. The visions
he had been having for years now had been frightening. A world changed.
For the worst. That is what he saw, what he feared his people were
blindly marching towards. And then some time ago, something new. A new
vision sometimes permeated his dark nights. He could see the individual
now. Running next to a police officer….a young man…?
“The stars…shine so brightly around you…” He spoke to no one, yet…
“Tell me child…” came his ragged speech in short breathes, “…are you the one…the stars have chosen…?”
* * *
Preview
“Man
alive! I can’t believe all that happened in recent weeks! And since I
think Yuta keeps trying to hack my journal, I’ll just say that it was
indeed super!
“But now I have bigger problems to worry about! I
have to do a huge history exam, and if I don’t pass I’ll be held back a
grade! I already won’t graduate until I’m twenty, I don’t think I’ll
survive another year! If that wasn’t bad enough, Mato is so insistent on
thanking me for my help, he is working on not one, but TWO life
changing inventions he thinks would be perfect for me!
“Why do I get the feeling that this is only going to be bad for me?!”
Coming soon is Ch 10! Love is blind…and a pain in the ass!
“Can’t anyone help me without driving me insane?!”
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