A/N Okay it's official... I have no life... 4 updates in 4 days... im breaking a record somewhere I just know it...
Masquerade: Jetravenex was dying inside while writing this chapter
Jetravenex: and why you say that?
Masquerade: *smirks* I'm not in it am I?
Jetravenex: *smacks him* shuddap, and as Jackpot 2 requested they're here to do me a big favor and say the disclaimer.
Jackpot 2- Jetravenex does not own bakugan, or Masquerade, because I'm certain bakugan would've been MUCH better if she did.
Jetravenex: ya better believe it... now on with the story...
Chapter 35
High up in the sky, Shun and the other battle brawlers who had not ended up in Masquerade's mansion were standing tensely as they waited silently and praying for their bakupods to beep signaling a call from their friends. Julie was sitting in one of the plush couches in the luxurious travel compartment, while Alice was sitting wringing her hands together in a plush chair glancing up to look at the other two occupants before glancing back down. Shun was standing stoically by the window his gaze focused on the sky outside Skyress perched on his shoulder. The plan was silent except for the constant hum and rumble of the propellers keeping the craft airborne.
"UGH!" Julie shouted as she grabbed at her hair her feet kicking in the air as she shook her head from side to side. "Why haven't they contacted us yet?" She demanded, glaring at her bakupod as she released her grip on her head and then proceeded to tap it's screen, bringing it closer to her face and squinted down at it as if willing the images of her friends to appear or even a blank screen with their voice would've been appreciated at the moment.
Without turning away from the window Shun spoke calmly. "Julie, we must be patient, we can't do anything until Dan or the others call us." He cast a glance over his shoulder at her. "You'll just have to be patient." He told her before resuming his stoney silence as he gazed back out the window.
After he'd spoken silence fell upon them once more… Julie twitched as she looked around at the other two, Shun was still standing silent vigil at the window, while Alice had nodded off into her chair and the silver haired girl found herself envying her friend wishing she could exchange the pressing silence and concern for her friends for the comfort of unconsciousness. She began to squirm around in her seat as she searched the area for something…anything! That could be used to distract finding none she sank back into her seat heaving a long drawn out sigh.
Gorem popped open on her shoulder and turned to her. "Julie, what's wrong?" He asked in a s oft voice.
Julie groaned as she kicked her feet. "I'mm borrreeddd Gorem that's what's wrong…" She sighed. "I'm almost at the point where I wish Masquerade would contact us for ransom for the others!"
Shun whipped around to glare at her. "Don't even suggest such a thing," He said through clenched teeth, causing Julie to cringe into her seat. Then he sighed and relaxed folding his arms back across his chest. "We just have to keep waiting, and even though I'll be the first to admit that Dan is hardly the brightest crayon in the box... He won't let Masquerade hold him so easily…" His voice trailed off as a burst of light erupted in the center of the room and he tensed and Julie's eyes widened and Alice jerked awake from the sudden bright light.
The burst of light faded off until all that remained were a few remaining sparkles that rained down on the four brawlers that it had brought. For a moment nobody moved as the newcomers gazed around albeit a bit confused and the others just stared as if they couldn't believe they were real.
Julie was the first to react as she jumped from her seat and leapt at Dan with a cry of "DAN!
And then proceeded to glomp the pyrus brawler.
Dan staggered back from Julie's glomp and just managed to stay upright as the girl tightened her hold on her 'crush'. "J-Julie who-whoa!" He cried trying to push her off before surrendering and let his arms hang limply while casting the others a helpless look.
"Oh I just knew you wouldn't let that masked freak beat you!" Julie said happily. "Are you alright Danny?" She asked releasing him just a bit to get a good look at him.
Dan looked a bit awkward as he chuckled weakly reaching up one hand to rub the back of his neck kind of sheepishly. Viki glanced to her right at where Runo stood and winced sympathetically as the bluette glared daggers at the silver haired girl, her hands twitching slightly at her sides as if eager to grab onto the girls frail neck and choke the life out of her.
"Uh, Julie I think that's enough." Viki's head snapped in the direction of the voice and her jaw dropped as she found herself looking at a certain red headed Russian.
"A-Alice?" Viki gasped aloud causing all the brawlers to suddenly pause in what they were doing and turn to look at her quizzically. Viki clapped a hand over her mouth her face heating up. "I said that aloud didn't I?" She said, to which all the brawlers nodded, Alice looking surprised and confused.
"What is it? Oh! Wait, I saw you and Jet at the café a while back when Klaus showed up and started flirting with you guys…" Alice said her eyes widening slightly.
Runo rounded on Viki her eyes narrowing in distrust. "Strange, both you and Jet claim that you're not working for Masquerade and yet you both oh so coincidentally met up with the second best brawler, who's also on Masquerade's side, and just before he starts sending bakugan to the doom dimension!" Runo growled quickly moving away from Viki.
"Now hold on a minute! Alice said Jet and I showed up at your diner and then Klaus showed up and flirted with us, to whom neither of us reacted well, there wasn't an exchange of information of some sort. It was him just being a stuck up jerk who thought money and riches would be enough to impress us." Viki said firmly folding her arms across her chest. "Besides, if we did work for Masquerade why would I have had my bakugan in the doom dimension and why would I let you guys escape from the mansion without even trying to stop you?" She asked raising an eyebrow at Runo.
Runo growled as she advanced towards Viki when Shun intervened stepping in between the two and putting a hand on Viki's shoulder. "Runo, that's enough, we have to all calm down and figure this out." He looked towards Dan who nodded pushing Julie off of him a little.
"How about we eat first? All that looking around that Klaus von something's castle and then our little misadventure in Masquerade's mansion, made me hungry!" Dan announced loudly walking over to the couches and flopped down. While Drago muttered something about him always being hungry under his breath.
Marucho nodded his head. "I agree, and now that I have my preyas back we can go whip something up for you guys!" Marucho said happily holding up his field card, he looked towards the others. "So why don't you all sit down, and then Preyas and I will get started."
Preyas popped open on Marucho's shoulder. "Woohoo! I could use a chance to show off my awesome culinary skills!" He said bouncing up and down on his shoulder to which Maruhco sweat dropped at.
Runo shot Viki a glare before she went with Julie and Alice and flopped down on one of the couches letting out a huff as she went back to having her arms crossed and scowling at Viki. Julie was looking excited while Alice was sending Viki an apologetic look.
Viki heaved a sigh as she ran a hand through her brown hair and flopped down in one of the empty chairs facing across from all of the brawlers. Then she flinched as she realized all eyes were on her. Even Shun seemed to be watching her tensely showing that, although he lacked any real jurisdiction to back up any of the claims that Viki was bad, he clearly didn't fully trust her. Viki looked down and realized that if it hadn't been for Jet selflessly giving Dan the DT and making an attempt at distracting Masquerade they probably would be much more obvious with their feelings of distrust towards her.
Marucho clapped his hands together drawing Viki's attention towards him. "Alright guys, now just give me a second and… Field OPEN!" HE announced and Viki blinked just as a burst of blue light erupted from the card, and she felt her whole body freeze and then just as soon as it came the feeling vanished and Marucho was standing there now holding two plates full of the strange food he and Preyas had served earlier in the show.
"Hehe, food's ready!" Marucho announced holding out the plates for the others to reach. Dan of course, manners eagerly thrown aside at the prospect of eating food began to heartily dig into the food.
Runo gave him a withering look before taking some for herself, followed by the others leaving only Viki who was still seated and looking on longingly as the brawlers heartily ate and devoured the food, until there was only one left and a few scattered crumbs. Marucho beamed at his friends pleased that they had liked the food when he noticed Viki off to the side looking longingly at the plate full of food. One glance at Preyas who nodded and gestured to the lonely pyrus brawler decided it.
Just as Dan had been reaching to take the last one, Marucho took away the plate and walked over to where Viki was. The girl looked up surprised when Marucho approached. She looked at him for a moment and then down at the plate he held before focusing on him again.
Marucho smiled encouragingly. "Consider it a sign of gratitude for your bakugan saving my preyas from the doom dimension, and also." He chuckled softly. "As a sign of friendship."
Viki blinked and glanced at Fireblick who simply shrugged in response, then with a barely audible 'thank you' the girl plucked the food from the plate and popped it into her mouth chewing earnestly and swallowing before smiling at Marucho. "Wow! That was really good, thank you Preyas, Marucho." She said nodding her head slightly to him.
Then she lifted her head and looked up to see all the brawlers focusing on the scene, Dan's lips were tugged upwards in a half smile, Shun was unreadable, Alice was pleased and Julie smiled, while Runo shot her a glare that could have melted ice.
"I don't think you should be thanking her so quickly Marucho." Runo said keeping her eyes glare focused on Viki.
Silence fell upon the group as Marucho froze up and glanced back at his friends. Then with a weak chuckle he said. "I'm just going to put this away…" He said snatching up the plates and hurriedly retreating out of the room. Everyone's eyes followed him out of the room before focusing back on Viki.
"Perhaps Runo is right." Shun said finally. "After all the only thing we know about you was that we met you at Masquerade's mansion and you've had previous contact with his minions, what have you really done to prove that you aren't on Masquerade's side?" Shun inquired his eyebrows furrowing as he gazed evenly at Viki.
Viki swallowed slightly. "Well, I suppose to…start with I'll introduce myself, my name is Viki Long, I'm a pyrus brawler and my guardian bakugan is Pyrus Fireblick."As if on cue Fireblick dropped down from her shoulder and popped open on the coffee table dipping his head in greeting to the battke brawler. "Me and Jet Raynet, whom I was with when I encountered Marucho and Runo is my close friend, my only real link to my…home…" She looked down. "I was there because Masquerade had stolen my bakugan under my nose and Jet's as well. Jet suggested it was him since she'd…managed to pull a victory over Masquerade." She said the last part quietly looking up to see the brawlers overall reaction to her story.
"To which Masquerade said he had been holding back." Dan finished. "I fought beside her, and I have to admit I could see why Masquerade would view her and her bakugan as a threat…She…she knocked out the doom card…" He said with a tone of voice that said even he didn't fully believe what he had seen.
Julie rounded on him. "What how?" She demanded her eyes wide with shock.
Runo narrowed her eyes. "That just makes me more suspicious! For all we know Masquerade told her how to do it!"
Dan shook his head vigorously. "No, she had this card… Aftershock I think it was called… ah well here's what happened. Apparently she did have some beef with Masquerade, because when she called him out well he came at her alright with his Hydranoid against her Darkus Skylord…"
"Which all proved to be an elaborate trap!" Marucho said waving his arms slightly as his eyes widened as he recalled what had happened too. "The gate card they were on was a mind ghost so in order for Masquerade to avoid losing his hydranoid he had to retract the doom card!"
A ripple of shock passed through the others, even Shun's eyes were widened in surprise. "A-and that's not the end of it… Just when I was set on jumping for joy and laughing at the surprise on that poser's face Jet whipped out this aftershock card…"
"And removed the other two doom cards that were in play?" Viki finished receiving curious looks from the brawlers once more and she held up her hands in defense. "Aftershock is an ability card that repeats whatever occurred previously and doubles the effect. Hence one doom card being removed add aftershock and the other two are removed as well."
Dan nodded and then looked down. "And it was a good thing she had else… we'd have lost our bakugan… Those guys trounced us…." He growled clenching his hands into fists, "And Masquerade ended up stealing Jet's own guardian right from her and then used it against us!" He said angrily.
Silence fell upon them and they all exchanged glances before Julie spoke the question that was on the minds of almost all of the ones who hadn't been at the mansion. "Where is Jet?" She asked tentatively.
Dan stiffened and glanced away, while Marucho winced as he looked down. Viki stared straight ahead her hands folded in her lap, even Runo refrained from commenting.
Julie glanced at the four and then at Shun and Alice for an explanation, the two shrugging in response. Julie sighed as she turned around. "Well?"
Dan sighed as he looked down. "We left her." He said quietly. "We were all too weak to take on Masquerade and his goons, right after we'd been beaten Masquerade began to throw his power around and Jet well, she threw us this transporter card before she leapt at him… and he slammed her to the ground." Looking away he swallowed. "And that's all I know…" He said quietly.
Silence met his words as all the brawlers exchanged looks and then Alice got up. "You know what I think we all need?" She said to them. All the brawlers looked up towards her with blank looks. Alice forced a smile. "I think we should all go to bed and get a good night's sleep, and we'll reconvene on this later." She said clasping her hands together. "That way the ones who went to Masquerade's mansion will be refreshed and the day'll seem brighter." She said.
The brawlers seemed to nod at this and mostly agree, when Runo piped up casting a suspicious glance at Viki, "But what about her? Irredgardless of what her friend did, how do we know that she's trustworthy?"
Viki sighed, "I'll sleep out here okay, and you guys could drug me or something if you're worried or I don't know but I'm tired I was just forced to abandon my friend can't you cut me some slack for the night?" She demanded. "is that really too much to ask for?" She asked.
Runo glanced at the others for support when she found that no one was speaking she let out a huff and rose from her spot and stalked over to where the girls room was. "I don't want her sleeping in our room!"
"That's fine I'll sleep on a couch or something." Viki said quietly going over to one of the couches as Alice suddenly vanished off into one of the closets and came back carrying a thick blanket with a pillow balanced precariously on top.
"Here," Alice said as she placed the bedding items on the couch while the other brawlers began to retreat into their rooms, while Shun hovered nearby watching Viki before deciding he'd satisfied himself and turned and left for the room himself. Alice made a makeshift bed for her before looking up and giving Viki a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry if my friend's offended you but its just… Masquerade's got everyone on edge and well, I know how it feels to not have people trust you…" She said finishing the bed and rising letting out a soft yawn.
"Yeah…it sucks." Viki said wearily finding that her body was beginning to feel heavy, to the point it seemed to take a tremendous amount of effort just to keep her eyes open. With a sigh of relief she flopped down onto the couch and grabbing the blankets she dragged it over herself and laid back into the softness that the pillow provided.
"Well goodnight Viki." Alice said smiling slightly once more before turning and walking away towards the girl's bed room.
Viki's eyelids flickered as she rolled onto her side so that her front was facing the cushions "Yeah…good night…" She mumbled before her eyes closed and Viki was carried off into dreamland.
A/N Eesh both this chapter and 33 ended with either Jet or Viki going unconscious, so yeah... wow...
Anyways keep the reviews coming peoples! Can't you see how fast I update because of all the reviews? Well then review dangnabit!