So much to do and so little time. Thank you for the reviews. Hope you are still reading and enjoying.
"Can we keep him?" Rafael asked Kenji who stood with his mouth opened wide.
Kenji pushed Rafael behind him.
"Hey, I wanna see the sea monster!" Rafael protested. " Hello!" He waved again.
The creature that was now blocking the sun raised a tentacle.
"Look out!" Kenji realized he was weaponless. He grabbed the plastic pail on the floor and threw it at the thing. He pushed Rafael in the opposite direction. "Go get your dad! I'll keep it busy!"
"Okay." Rafael skipped away.
Kenji turned back to the creature who had caught the pail with its raised tentacle. It held the pail close to its face as if it was studying it. It then put it in its mouth. Kenji got a good look at the monster. It was a giant EVO squid. Kenji had been exposed to many EVOs in his life. Uncle Rex and his family were EVOs and he'd met the EVOs on Nanite Island not to mention the ones in the Petting Zoo but this was by far the largest one he'd ever seen. He faintly wondered where it had came from.
"Where is the one they call Six?" A voice boomed from the squid.
It talks? Kenji thought to himself. "Who wants to know?" Kenji answered.
"Obstinate, human! I am looking for the one they call Six or for the one called Rex. If you will not tell me then get out of my way surface dweller." One of the squid's tentacles made a low sweep. Kenji leapt up and landed neatly on the moving arm. He then ran up the tentacle towards the creature's head. When he reached the head he realized he had no idea what he was going to do. But before he could ponder too long he came face to face with humanoid creature with dark purplish skin and bright yellow eyes.
"Get off my ride!" He bellowed as one of his eel arms snapped at him.
"Dude, you are freaky looking." Kenji commented as he dodged the eels. He made a low sweep with his leg and knocked the creature down.
"You fight like the one known as Six." The creature growled.
"That's because he's my dad." Kenji got into a fighting stance.
The creature got up. "Are you now? Then my apologies. I am a friend of your father's."
"Say what?" Kenji relaxed a little. He knew his dad kept strange company but this one took the cake.
"I am looking for Six and Rex. I have need of their assistance. My name is Serge." The creature stuck out his normal hand.
Kenji wasn't sure what he should do but decided it would be impolite to not return pleasantries so he gingerly took his hand.
"Serge! Is that you?" Kenji heard Uncle Rex's voice from below. Serge as the creature seemed to be called released Kenji's hand and looked over the head of his monster.
"Rex! It's good to see you again." A tentacle appeared at the head. Serge jumped on and the tentacle lowered itself to the ground. Kenji heard talking from below.
"Hey! What about me?" Kenji muttered as he realized he was now stranded up top.
0o0
Serge was invited to lunch. Uncle Rex had to explain why Serge was still an EVO. Apparently, he thought that Serge's work was too important so he didn't cure him. Serge was grateful but it was getting harder to keep his underground world under Trash Island a secret. The desire for oil had brought drilling too close for Serge's liking. But that didn't seem to be the problem. The grown-ups shooed the kids away while they discussed something. Jade kept trying to eavesdrop but their dad had an uncanny ability to sense noisy people and sent her away each and every time. Finally, they seemed to have reached some sort of plan.
"So we are going to go with Mr. Serge to help with his problem but we'll be back by tonight." Kenji's mom was telling him. "While we're gone, you'll be in charge." Rebecca was in her and Six's room packing a few items in a satchel.
"Awww, no," groaned Jade. She was passing by and heard her mom. "Why is he in charge?"
"Because I'm the oldest." Kenji snapped.
"And the dumbest." Jade said under her breath. Kenji gave her a death glare.
"Kids, no bickering. Jade, Kenji's in charge. Don't give him any problems. In fact, you and Jasmine are to help him with Rafael, Violeta, and Angel," their mother said firmly.
"Yes, mom." Jade sighed.
Kenji smirked at her. Jade made a face back.
"Come on, now." Rebecca said in a warning tone. She had seen them from the corner of her eye.
"Sorry, mom," They chorused. Rebecca nodded and walked out.
Kenji and Jade stuck their tongues out at each other.
"Knock it off!" Six yelled from downstairs.
Immediately, Kenji and Jade straightened up. How does he always know?
0o0
The kids waved as their parents drove off in the rented minivan. Serge had left with his squid. Kenji had no idea what was going on but he had learned from an early age it was best not to know what his parents really did. He'd seen enough to know that they were in a dangerous line of work.
"Okay guys, what do you want to do now?" Kenji turned to the group.
"Watch TV!" Rafael and Violeta yelled simultaneously.
Kenji could go for that. After putting Angel down for a nap he went back downstairs to find the foursome had settled comfortably onto the couch. For the next few hours they indulged in mindless television and popcorn. When the sixth episode of Pinky Panda came on Kenji noticed that it was getting late.
"What do you guys want for dinner?" Kenji turned to the group.
"Mac and Cheese!" Rafael and Violeta quickly replied.
"Hey, it's something even you can make." Jade laughed.
"At least I can boil water unlike some girl I know." Kenji sniffed.
"I was distracted by the 10 foot python, okay. And it was just that one time."
"Sure, Miss Fire Hazard of the Month." Kenji smirked.
"Guys, please…" Jasmine pleaded with them. They stared at each other for a moment before looking away at the same time.
"I'm going to make Mac and Cheese." Kenji announced as he got up and walked over to the kitchen.
"Knock yourself out." Jade said as she settled back down into the couch.
"Why would he knock himself out?" Rafael looked at Jade.
"Because he's an idiot." Jade replied.
"Jade, language." Jasmine hissed.
"Oh relax, I'm sure they've heard idiot a million times." Jade snorted.
"Actually, mom's preferred word is nitwit." Violeta said solemnly.
"Oh, you are too cute." Jade smiled affectionately before ruffling Violeta's hair.
"Hey, shouldn't someone check on Angel?" Jasmine said suddenly remembering the baby.
"Oh yeah. It's been three hours." Jade looked at the clock. "Do babies even sleep that long?"
Kenji shrugged. "Watch the water for me I'll go see." Kenji walked up the stairs to the bedrooms. He pushed open the door to Uncle Caesar and Aunt Beverly's room. The first thought that hit him was why was it so drafty in there. The second was where's the baby?
The window was wide opened and the crib was empty. Kenji had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.