Ace of Diamonds: The Unexpected Arrival
(You must read Tortured Artist's "The Things I Do for Family" before reading this chapter.)
At around 7:30 that morning, the sun began rising over the mountains in the east.
At 8:00 AM, Kevin forced himself to get out of bed and take a shower. When he was finished and was dressed, he walked over to Courage and Sandy in the other bed. Kevin was about to shake them awake, but for the first time, Kevin saw how peaceful each dog looked when it was asleep with the other. The rising sun peeking in through the windows really helped dramatize the mood. However, Kevin was too anxious to stare at the pleasant scene for long, so he shook Sandy in bed and said, "C'mon, lazybones, time to get up."
"Mmmph…go 'way…" muttered Sandy.
"Let's go, Sandy, time's a-wasting!"
"Geez, Kevin, you sound like your Mom," murmured Sandy, who slowly sat up in bed.
Kevin froze. "Damn, you're right!" he said with a shock. "Man, if only I hadn't slept in so often when I was in school."
Kevin sat down in a chair as Courage and Sandy slowly got out of bed. Sandy had gone to sleep in her bra, so she went to get a new tank-top out of her dresser drawer. Courage yawned as he lazily went to the bathroom.
Suddenly, Kevin cursed out loud. "I forgot to call my parents! Sandy, why didn't you remind me?"
"Why me?" griped Sandy. "You're the one who was too tired to pick up the phone, Mr. Responsible."
Kevin dialed his number and held it to his ear. "Hello? Hi, Mom…Good morning to you too. I…yeah, I know, I should've called, but I went to this cool concert late last night… no, nothing happened…at least, not that I know of…" He snuck a glance at Sandy waiting by the bathroom door as he spoke that last part. Sandy stuck his tongue out at him. She was never a very cheerful dog in the morning.
Kevin continued as Courage came out of the bathroom and Sandy went in. "Hey, Dad…yeah, the car's fine. I misplaced the keys for a while, but I got 'em back…well, right now, we're about to spend the day touring the city…okay, put Katie on…Hi, sis, you going to school now? Alright…yeah, I miss you guys too…How's Vegas? Well, it's true what they say. There are DEFINITLY some weirdoes running around here…no, actually a rabbit and...no, we haven't seen any Elvis impersonators yet…hey, tell Mom those secret agents that were with us in Nowhere are working here now…alright…OK, I love you guys too…Oh, I'm sure a few more surprises are on the way…OK, bye. I'll talk to you guys tonight or so…bye."
Courage looked at Kevin with a curious look.
Kevin looked at Courage and said, "Gee, I can't wait to get out of this hotel and see the sights. This building has kind of an eerie feel, y'know?"
Courage nodded his head. He had come to that conclusion long before Kevin did.
Finally, Sandy came out of the bathroom feeling more awake and cheerful. "So, where are we gonna go?" she asked.
Kevin thought for a second. "Well, after we get some breakfast, we're gonna get some brochures and have some fun around town."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" exclaimed Sandy. "Let's go!"
"Yay!" agreed Courage.
The restaurant was adjacent to the hotel and resembled a retouched Dennys. Kevin, Sandy, and Courage had no trouble getting a table. There were no menus in sight, so Kevin shouted towards the kitchen, "Hello! We'd like some service!"
Almost at once, Card Trick burst through the kitchen door and walked over to the table wearing an apron and carrying a pad, pencil, and four menus. He also had an electronic earplug in his ear.
"Sheesh," said Kevin to Card Trick, "how many jobs do you have here, you key-stealer?"
Card Trick glared at Kevin. "You're just not gonna let that rest, are you? Well, buddy, I'm here to tell you right here and now that my key stealing days are over. Scouts honor." He held up his furry paw for a moment and then dumped the menus onto the table. "And I don't have any permanent job. I just help out around the hotel. Now, what'll you have?"
"Damn, give us a minute to look through them!" said Kevin as he scooped up the menus and passed them around. "Are you in some sort of a hurry or what?"
"Nah, I'm just a really impatient rabbit," grinned Card Trick.
As Kevin and the two dogs looked through the menus and made their orders, a small figure peeked through the restaurant's doors.
"Let's see, I'll have a pancake platter with two eggs over easy," said Kevin. "And some OJ too."
"Simpson or non?" joked Card Trick.
Courage rolled his eyes and ordered some sausages, eggs, and a fruit platter. Sandy ordered cereal, waffle, and a muffin.
The figure sneaked through the door and hid behind a potted plant.
Card Trick walked off, muttering something about talking dogs. After he went into the kitchen, Sandy said, "If that's guy's really a rabbit, shouldn't he be hopping around instead of walking?"
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that!" Card Trick shouted in the kitchen.
The figure came out from behind the plant and ran towards Kevin's table.
"It's the ears," whispered Kevin. "Very good at hearing and stuff."
Sandy was just about to add her own comment when something totally unexpected happened. A small voice cried out "Brother!!!" At first, Courage thought a nun had wandered into the room, but just then, another pink lemden (Courage and Sandy's breed) leapt into Courage's lap. She was wearing a red bandana around her neck and was slightly smaller than Courage. This new dog squeezed Courage's neck and said, "I'm so glad to see you again!"
Courage had never seen Kevin and Sandy with such astonished looks on their faces before. Sandy's eyes looked like they were just about to pop right out of her head, and Kevin's eyes darted around, as if he was trying to find some hidden cameras or something.
"Who's that?" Sandy asked, feeling a little annoyed.
"Oh, this is Misty. She's my sister," Courage said.
Kevin and Sandy were still trying to take this all in.
"…Your sister?" muttered Kevin slowly. "How come you never told us about her? I thought you were an only child…er, dog."
"Looooong story," Courage said, rolling his eyes.
"How did she get here?" Sandy asked.
Misty got up from her brother's lap and sat next to him in the chair. "I stowed away in the trunk when this guy came to pick you up, Courage. I wanted to go on the adventure too!" Misty said, hugging Courage who rolled his eyes again.
"Hmm," smiled Kevin, who shook his head slowly. "Little sisters. Boy, I know what that's like."
Kevin and Sandy then introduced themselves properly to Misty. Misty also introduced herself and was a little shy to tell them about her story for fear of them not believing her. After Kevin explained, "at this point, nothing beats what Sandy and I have been through," Misty proved them wrong by retelling her life. She told them about how she was born on another planet and how Courage had found her. Kevin and Sandy were shocked when they learned about the fight with Stromwell and about the fate of Courage and Misty's parents. Fortunately, Misty didn't get too emotional talking about her life. She was just about ask Kevin, Sandy, and Courage about their adventures when Card Trick suddenly came up to the table with the food.
"So…sister, huh?" said Card Trick as he passed out four plates of food. "Good thing I prepared some extra eggs...scrambled, not stirred."
Misty couldn't help but giggle at the remark.
Pleased that someone finally appreciated his humor, Card Trick leaned over the table and said, "What's your name again?"
"Misty," Courage blurted out. Not to be rude, but it really wasn't any of his business anyways.
"Misty, huh? Just like that loud-mouthed, spiky-haired girl from Pokemon!" CT joked.
Courage glared at him.
"Sorry," retorted CT, holding up his hands in defense. "Chill, dog! Just trying to lighten the mood!" CT looked at the others and quickly said, "Enjoy your meals," before heading back to the kitchen.
When he reached the kitchen, he turned on the headset in his ear.
"Didja hear that, Rex? Courage has a sister!"
"Well," said Rex, "this is interesting to say the least! He didn't have a sister when I knew him. Apparently it happened after that fact, seeing as how DS was attributing himself to killing Courage's folks." Rex scratched his chin with a robotic finger. "But then again, half the crap he says is lies, and the other half of lies is bullshit anyway."
"So, will this affect our plan any?" CT asked while turning off the stove.
"Not really, no. I will still exact my revenge, only it will be much sweeter taking someone as close as a sister first!" Rex mused. "God, so many decisions. Why do they have to keep coming? Just make sure they get the proper treatment!"
"Already taken care of Rex!" CT said, leaning against the sink.
"Good, good. Rex out!"
After Rex cut off, the backdoors to the kitchen flew open and Dark Sonic walked in, grumbling at having to lug dishes around. He was in human form, of course.
"Hey, DS, why so pissed?" CT asked.
"Chris, the 'always-busy' jerk who's operating the front desk, is starting to shirk his duties, thereby pissing me off to a point of destroying the mortal. Oh, what I would give to see that guy just…"
"Did you hear the news?" Card Trick interrupted, sounding a little too excited. "Courage has a sister!"
Dark Sonic dropped a plate in the sink and muttered to himself, "…Another pure heart…"
"Huh?" asked CT.
Dark Sonic instantly regained composure and turned with a wicked smile. "A sister? Really? Well, how odd. How odd indeed," DS said, sounding amused. He placed a finger to his lips in fake thought.
"She's here right now, if you want to meet her," explained CT.
Dark Sonic ran to the door and peeked through them. Sure enough, there was one pink dog too many sitting at the table with that kid, Kevin. Before CT could say anything else, DS was out the backdoor in a flash.
"Ah well, I'm sure he has his reasons," CT said, shrugging. He spent the next half hour cleaning and organizing the kitchen. Then, he heard Kevin yell, "Hey, rabbit dude! We'd like the check, please!"
Card Trick stomped out of the kitchen and up to Kevin's table. "It's Card Trick, buddy," said the rabbit with irritation. "My name is Card Trick. Card to the Trick. CT for short, got it?"
"Sorry," answered Kevin. "I'm just bad at names, that's all. I swear."
"Yeah…okay, I'll go with that. That'll be $35.95." CT pulled out the bill from his pocket and stood there as Kevin paid for his meal.
Card Trick was just about to leave when Kevin said, "Hey, um, Card Trick? Aren't you gonna clean up the table?"
With a loud sigh, Card Trick walked over to the table. To everyone's surprise, the rabbit grabbed the tablecloth with his paws and scooped up all the dirty plates, cups, and silverware in the fabric. Then, he tossed the whole thing over his shoulder like a garbage bag.
"Abracadabra, it's cleared. Ta-da," he said unenthusiastically to Kevin. Then, he suddenly smiled and said, "I hope you all have a nice day." Then he turned around and walked back with the tablecloth and food. Orange juice and syrup began dripping through the bottom of it.
"That," said Kevin slowly, "is one weird critter."
"I think he's kinda funny," said Misty. Before anyone else could comment, Misty quickly said, "Wow, bro! Where did you get that cool bracelet?"
Courage saw his sister looking at the bone bracelet hanging onto Courage's wrist. It fit with the golden bracelet that Sandy was wearing.
"It's from a new friend of mine," explained Courage. "He's in a band, and they're all real cool," Courage said. Of course, he didn't know the band personally, but they didn't seem too unfriendly last night.
"You have a lot of friends!" Misty said.
Courage nodded and began reciting a list of people and animals he had befriended both on and off his farm.
Just then, Sandy cut in. "But let's not forget all the enemies that he's made too."
Courage agreed. "They all have a nasty habit of trying to get their revenge."
Courage began another list of bad guys, mostly the bad guys that had been with him during his last adventure with the Hendersons (Katz, and Le Quack, and all the others.) Courage also mentioned some that he had only seen once. However, he didn't dare mention his brush with death against his mechanical doppelganger…or more specifically, the pink, metal "Mecha Courage" owned by that weird oriental guy that had once fought against in Courage in that Romanesque coliseum. Courage hoped he never had to see that monster again. After all, he didn't want to worry his sister too much; for fear that she may be used as bait instead of Muriel if an enemy should strike.
Courage also didn't talk about Rex and Dark Sonic.
"Yes, you've sure had some close calls, Courage," said Sandy. She leaned over and kissed Courage on the cheek. A slight expression of disgust appeared on Misty's face. She was still too young to understand love.
"Hey!" said Kevin suddenly. "How about we introduce Misty to our friends at the Luxor?"
Courage and Sandy had no objection to that.
So Kevin and the three dogs got up and headed for the exit.
Meanwhile, Rex spun around in his chair laughing at this turn of events. "First my enemy arrives at my doorstep. Now a close family member of my enemy appears out of the blue! Can this get anymore better?"
"Mr. Rex, you're on in five!" a voice in the room called out.
"No, wait, it can!" Rex said, drumming on the desk. Behind him was a gigantic backdrop that read "REX SHOW 2003, VEGAS!!!!" Behind that were massive windows showing the skyline of Vegas from at least 150 stories. This was on the very top floor, right above the suites that Joe and the K9 Krew were still sleeping in.
The camera kicked on and Rex began to talk. "Are we gonna interview the K9 Krew today?" Rex asked to the voice. The voice muttered something.
"You don't know?" Rex asked. "Well, go find out!" Rex commanded, pointing off camera. He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Cut!" he said.
Just then, Cindy walked in pressed the "stop" button on the camera. She then walked up to Rex, who was still sitting in his desk chair.
"Morning, Cindy," said Rex with a grin. "How are you this morning?"
Cindy abruptly got up into the chair and promptly sat down in Rex's lap with her back to the camera.
"Guess that answers my question," said Rex. Cindy took off the hard hat Rex was wearing and ruffled a paw through his dark green hair. "Y'know, Cindy, it's a good thing the camera isn't on. People will talk!" Rex said playfully.
Cindy smiled and kissed Rex on the lips, making the end of his metallic tail wag slightly.
Afterwards, Rex lazily stared at Cindy. "So, what's on today's agenda?" he asked,
"Well," said Cindy. "I was hoping later this evening we could sit down and have another session."
Rex sighed uncomfortably. He involuntarily began playing with Cindy's bushy, raccoon-like tail. "Cindy…"
"Look," interrupted Cindy. "I know you hate talking about yourself, but I am your psychiatrist. It's my job to find out what's been going on in that enigmatic head of yours. You've only been telling me bits and pieces of your life, and I think it's time you went back to the very beginning and tell me every detail."
For once, Rex was at loss for words. It didn't matter; the look on his face said it all.
Cindy began rubbing Rex's bare chest. "Tell you what, big guy. If it'll make you feel better, why don't we swing by the buffet?"
"What for?"
"I've heard that food sometimes makes good therapy."
Rex closed his eyes, as if he were deep in thought. Then, he opened them, stared at Cindy and smiled evilly. "On second thought, maybe we COULD swing by the buffet." Rex slid his hand down Cindy's thigh.
"Mmm, why the sudden change of heart?" Cindy asked, making her moves more deliberate.
"Hopefully, we're going to meet someone before we capture them," Rex said, sliding his hands up her back.
"Aww," cooed Cindy. "Can't it wait until we…?"
"AHEM!" a voice loudly interrupted. Cindy instantly released Rex, and they acted like nothing was going on.
Dark Sonic walked into the room, in normal form.
"Riiight," he said slyly. "I'll just pretend I didn't see anything." He teasingly covered his eyes.
"Haven't you ever tried knocking first before entering a room?" Rex asked angrily. "And how long have you been standing there?"
"Depends. How long you've been going at it? I was about to get the hose," DS said with a grin.
Rex flipped DS off and asked him what was going on.
"I take it you heard the news about this sister of Courage's," DS said, flopping down in a chair nearby.
"Yeah, so?" Rex asked, getting suspicious.
"Well, you're gonna go after her, right?" DS asked.
"Well, duh!" Rex said, grabbing the glass of water that Cindy suddenly brought over.
"Just asking," DS said standing up. He walked off with his arms folded behind his head.
Rex tapped a pencil as he eyed DS going out the door. Why was it any of his business anyways?
"Well," said Cindy. "I think I'll go take a quick shower before I head downstairs." He headed for the door.
"You sure you don't need some company?" joked Rex.
"Please," laughed Cindy sarcastically. "Only a hormone-crazed psycho would dare attempt something like that. Besides, shouldn't you be checking up on that little 'surprise' you said you were preparing for 'someone'?"
"Silly me," laughed Rex. "It must've slipped my mind."
Cindy kissed Rex again. "I'll see you tonight." She then turned and went out the room.
"Does this mean no buffet?" called out Rex.
Just then one of many pencils in the ceiling fell out of its place and hit the desk. This snapped Rex out of his trance as he scrambled to get dressed before the camera came back on.
Outside the filming room DS pondered over this situation. Another pure heart to the mix would no doubt increase his chances of deciphering those riddles. That's why he wanted everyone together in a group, so combined they would obliviously help speed the process along. He had to get Courage's sister to survive long enough to at least see her potential. If she didn't succeed, he'd let Rex have at her while he moved on to better things.
Dark Sonic went down the hall, laughing to himself and thinking of how 'better' the world would be if he were in charge.
"I HATE it when these X variables pop up in my perfectly formulated equations!" DS said looking out the window. "I know you're out there somewhere my brothers and I will find you!" he said, this time in the 16 demon voices at once.