2) Short Circuit
Part 6
The next day Negi, Chamo, Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna were all in Matthew's Mystery Club discussing the clues they've gathered during their investigation. Matt stood up in front of the members and makes a statement.
"From the clues we've gathered, we're getting one step closer to solving this mystery," Matt stated. "All we know is someone tampered Satomi and Chao's machine and tries to frames them for their mistaken crime. The clues we've have collected are this hairpin, the phone call, and my research on the science competitions that Satomi, Chao, and Nami entered. To conclude who our culprit is, we need to find a few more clues just specific enough to reveal our criminal."
"You mean you know who it is, Matt?" Chamo asked.
"Only in theory, Chamo," Matt replied. "Our first stop is visiting Satomi and Chao's lab, I betcha they are there already."
"Why their lab?" Asuna asked.
"You'll see when we get there, and we better hurry. I only got a few hours left before Satomi and Chao are taken away by cops for good."
The whole members of the club left the room and headed to Satomi and Chao's lab.
As the mystery club arrives at the science department, they looked for Satomi and Chao's lab room. Once they found the room, they opened the door and walked inside the lab. There they found Satomi and Chao scurrying all over the room. Matt called to them, but they didn't hear the first time. He calls them twice loudly and finally got their attention.
"Oh hey Matt," Satomi replied. "Sorry, we didn't hear you the first time."
"That's alright, but what are girls doing running all over the place like that?"
"Well, our machine is gone AGAIN," Chao replied. "And we can't find it anywhere."
"Was your lab door locked while the machine is still inside the room?"
"Definitely," Satomi replied, "We just left for a few minutes, and making sure the criminal isn't going to steal our Neutralizer again, we locked the door. But when we came back, the machine was gone."
"Hmm…" Matt pauses for a moment and thinks something. Then he came up with a thought. "Is there anybody else that comes into this lab besides you two?"
"Yes Matt, only two," Chao replied. "Our friend Nami and the janitor, Miyoko-san."
Matt put his right hand on his chin. "Hmm, hm, hmmmmm…"
"You got something Matt?" said Konoka.
Matt looked back at Satomi and Chao with a stern look. "I already met your friend Nami, so do you know where the janitor is?"
"Yeah Matt, we'll show him to you," said Chao. "Why do you need him?"
"I got some questions to ask him about what really happened to the lab. Lead the way, girls."
Satomi and Chao guided Matt, Negi, and the other girls out of the lab and down the halls to find the janitor. After a few turns around the corners, they came to the room where the janitor rests. Chao knocks on the door. The janitor lets them in. The gang walked inside and sees the janitor fixing and cleaning a rusty sink pipe. Satomi walks slowly up to the janitor in fright.
"Umm… Miyoko-san, sir?"
"Yeah…, What is it?" the janitor said in a grumpy mood.
"Well, uhh…there's someone here who wants to see you."
Matt Oda walks closer to Miyoko, who is still fixing the pipe. "Good day Miyoko-san, I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead, kid. I'm listening," He got his screwdriver and shoves it inside of the pipe.
"I'm working on solving the mystery about the incident of the angry mob. I was wondering if you can help me."
The janitor put down the pipe and his screwdriver down, then he turns and looks at Matt Oda. "What do you want from me?"
"No harm or tasks from you. I just want to know do you notice or see any suspicious activities or things in Satomi and Chao's laboratory."
"Not a trace, man," the janitor replied. "I searched and cleaned every spot of the lab and found nothing odd or suspicious out of the ordinary." The janitor got and stretched his back. "However though, I did happen to notice that some electronic equipment and tools were missing in the lab a few days ago. It was very odd though that the door was locked tight before I went in. The door wasn't assaulted, but I don't know who else has a key to the lab besides me."
Negi, Chamo, Konoka, Asuna, Satomi, and Chao looked at each other in wonderment. The janitor grabbed his brown bag and starts heading towards the door. "Now if you excuse me, I'm going on a break. Don't stay too long in here kids." He exited the room and went out.
Once the janitor left, Matt begins to reflect back on what the janitor says. "Electronic equipment and tools were missing… I think we're getting close to solve this mystery. Satomi and Chao, what kind of electronics are in your lab?"
"Mostly remotes, machine parts, chips, and computer parts in the lab," said Satomi, "Why?"
"I think I REALLY know who is doing this."
"You do!?" Negi replied.
"Yes, but I just need is one more good and vital clue, before solving this case."
Then the team exited out of the lab and walked into the hallways. Suddenly out of the blue comes Chisame running fast towards Negi, Matt, and the other girls. Chisame quickly stopped once she got close to the gang.
"Negi, Matt, there you are!" said Chisame while she is panting heavily.
"Chisame, what's wrong?" said Negi.
"It's Satsuki, she's being attacked by an angry mob!"
The gang was in shock. "C'mon! Let's hurry!" cried Matt, "Lead the way Chisame."
The whole gang ran outside of the science department and on to the outside streets.
At the street of Kenji, the mob starts throwing bottles and rocks all over the place. They are destroying the area. Satsuki is hiding inside her café trolley for protection.
"Somebody, help me!" Satsuki had thought while she is still scared.
All of a sudden the angry people are rampaging the trolley's door trying to break in and sabotage Satsuki's trolley. She felt lost and hopeless… until Negi, Matt and the girls arrived in the nick of time to save Satsuki. Negi draws out his staff and performs the same spell to calm the angered people. An outburst of a huge wind-wave appeared and made direct contact on the mob, and every man and woman fell to the floor.
"Satsuki! Are you alright!?" Negi screamed.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks for rescuing me."
Matt, Satomi, and Chao entered the trolley and checked on Satsuki's conditions. "I'm glad you're alright," Matt said with relief. "We were worried about you." He grabbed Satsuki's hand and pulled her up.
"Uh! Guys, we got a problem!" Chisame cried out loud to the others.
Everyone looked at Chisame, then they all looked at the people that were in an uncontrollable rage. The crowd slowly stood up, but it turns out they're still in a rage. The gang was shocked and surprised.
"What, how's that possible!?" Chamo screamed as he appeared on Negi's head.
"But my spell! It should've snapped them back to normal." Negi cried.
Then with quick thinking, Matt called out to Negi and the others, "Quick, let's move out." Everyone followed Matt as they all ran away from the angry mob. The mob recovered their unconsciousness and chased after Negi, Matt, and the girls. Matt and the gang made a sharp around the corner and hid behind a bush. The mob ran right past them.
"Whew! That was close," said Asuna in relief.
"Too close if you ask me," said Chisame while she panting.
Satsuki stands up in front of Matt and bows to him. "Thanks Matt, for saving me," she said with a grin.
"No problem, and you're welcome." said Matt happily while he scratched his head, "Now tell what happened out there?"
"Well, it just happened out of the blue." She then starts visualizing everything that she had remembered.
"I remembered I was baking the last batch of the buns in my café trolley and was about to open the shop. Then came in front of the trolley and me was Nami Tsuno. She asked me how am I doing today? I told her 'good, and how 'bout you?' She replied, 'I'm fine. It's good to see a good friend of Satomi and Chao's making delicious buns.' I smiled for her compliment. Then she left, saying she had somewhere to go. But a few minutes later, when the people are lining up for my café, I saw a strange wave hit on the people's head, and they started to go berserk. I hid for safety.
"And that's all I can remember," Satsuki said and finishing her testimony.
Matt makes a questioned expression on his face and replies back to Satsuki. "Nami Tsuno stated she had something to do, right?"
"Pretty much, Matt-san."
Matt rubbed his chin and began to think. In his mind, all the clues and evidence that Matt and the gang gathered are all starting to come together. In a flash, Matt widen is eyes, he slams his fist into his left palm and yells, "HOT DOG! I've got it. I finally figured out who's our culprit behind this mystery."
"Really Matt!?," Asuna reacted.
"Well, who is it?" Chisame questioned.
"Before I tell you," Matt speaks, "the first thing we need to do is stop the mob rampaging all over the campus."
"But Negi's spell didn't work on them," said Konoka.
"That's where another option comes into mind. If you can't stop the sprouts, you go to the root."
"You don't mean…?" Satomi questioned.
"Yes, Satomi and Chao. Unfortunately, we have to destroy your machine. It's the only way."
"But we worked so hard making that Neutralizer, and now it's going to waste," said Chao in a deep depressing manner.
"I understand, ladies, but what's more important? Putting everyone in jeopardy and causing chaos, or sacrifice something to save the ones you love?"
Satomi and Chao were still depressed. They both looked at Matt's stern face, and then they looked at each other. After a few seconds, they both smiled and face Matt.
"You're right Matt," Satomi agrees. "We can't let our winning prize get in our way for someone who abuses it and hurts our family and friends."
Matt smiled. He turns over to Chisame. "Chisame pinpoint the location of the machine."
Chisame uses her laptop to connect to the internet and scans for the machine's location. The laptop picked up the signal and found the location. "Found it," Chismae replied, "It's in the square of the campus."
"That's where the fair is," Satsuki replied.
"C'mon then everyone, let's move!" Matt shouted.
Everyone dashed toward the square.
At the square, the fair is completely populated with visitors and scientists. At a small café right next to the science stands there's a table that consists of the cheerleaders, Sakurako, Misa, and Madoka, in a big disappointment mood. Each of the three cheerleaders had their own drink right next to them.
"Sigh… I can't believe the tryouts are delayed," said Sakurako in sorrow.
"It's such a huge bummer," Madoka complained. "We were so looking forward to that."
"Well girls, what can we do for the time being?" Misa asked in sadness. Both Madoka and Sakurako shrugged at Misa while they were still drinking.
Suddenly out of the blue, the mob came into the fair and started destroying everything in their path. All the people in the fair screamed and started to run away to safety. Sakurako and the others saw the people run away from the mob and started to run with them.
Misa left her seat but realized she left her cell phone on the table. She went back quickly to get it and sharply retreat back to Sakurako and the others. But Misa tripped over one of the chair's leg that was sticking out and landed on her knee. Misa curled up around her knee in pain and injury. Sakurako and Madoka, in shock, see Misa on the ground and dashed to her to save her. The two picked up Misa and carried her.
"A bad time to have a knee sprained," Madoka complained.
"C'mon Misa, you've gotta move!" Sakurako yelled.
"My knee… it hurts!" said Misa in pain.
The mob gains up closer and closer to Sakurako and the others. The cheerleaders did everything they can to speed up, but the mob is just right behind their tails.
Just when all hope seems lost to the cheerleaders, a huge gust of wind blew down the mob to the ground. From a distance of the cheerleaders is Negi along with Matt, Asuna, Konoka, Setsuna, Chisame, Satsuki, Satomi and Chao. The cheerleaders smiled as they are pleased to see their friends arriving in the nick of time.
"Sakurako, Misa, Madoka, are you alright?" asked Negi as he approaches them.
"Negi-kun! You came here to save us," said Sakurako
"We're fine, but Misa hurt her knee, and she can barely move it," Madoka stated in concern.
Satomi crouches and looks at Misa's knee. "Her knee is swollen. We gotta get her to a nurse."
"No time for that, Satomi! Look!" Matt shouted as he pointed towards the mob.
The mob slowly started to get back on their feet. They were all furious and really angry, ready to attack whatever is in their sight. Then all of a sudden, more people started to surround Negi, Matt, and the girls. They were all manipulated by the machine. Matt quickly shifts his head all around him at the mob until he spotted something on top of one of the panels. There right in front of Matt's eyes is the Satomi and Chao's machine.
"There's the machine, the Neutralizer! Right there!" Matt shouted as he pointed towards it. Everyone turned around to where Matt is pointing the machine.
"There it is!" shouted Konoka.
"But how are we supposed to get close to it?" Chisame replied.
Matt observes the situation, "We gotta first find a way to pass this mob, then go straight toward the machine. However, we need to find a way to stop the machine's beams from hitting all the victims under their uncontrollable rage." The mob was getting closer, ready to strike the next attack. Matt looked back at his friends. He observes Chisame, Negi, Setsuna, and then the cheerleaders. Matt struck an idea. "I've got it!" Everyone's heads turn towards Matt. "Listen up, team! Chisame with your computer skills, I need you to hack into the network and short circuit the perpetrator's controller so it will malfunction the machine. Negi and Setsuna, help me clear a path to get the machine. The rest protect Misa and the others. Now let's do this!"
"Got ya, Matt!" Chisame yelled as she flipped open her laptop and started to link up into the network system.
"Right behind you, Matt," said Setsuna as she and Negi followed behind Matt racing towards the machine.
The mob blocked Matt, Negi, and Setsuna's path. "Negi!" Matt yelled.
"Right!" Negi replied as he started to perform a spell. "Raskil Maskil Magister! Powers of the wind I command you to create a path! Ingenti Flamine Venti!" Negi's wind power shoots straight down toward the middle of the mob opening up a path, sending the people into the air, and creating wind barriers both sides of the path. The trio zoomed along the path getting one step closer to the machine.
Hiding behind one of the stands, the culprit watches Matt, Negi, and Setsuna dashing through the mob. "How did that little boy do that?" said the menace. "Whatever, I just need to stop those three pests from ruining my plan." In their hands held a controller with two turning dials and a control stick on it with an antenna sticking out. The criminal moves the stick making the machine's antenna redirect towards Matt and the others. Then the crook turns one of the dials clockwise to send out a beam coming out from the antenna. The beams were heading directly toward Matt, Negi, and Setsuna.
"Watch out!" Matt yelled. The trio dodged the beams. They got closer and closer while the machine still bursts out its beams, making it harder for the heroes to get closer to the machine. "We can't get near it if its beams keep shooting at us! Chisame, anytime!"
"Hold the hell on! I'm almost through!" Chisame yelled. Suddenly one of the mob citizens threw a glass bottle directly at Chisame.
"Chisame! Look out!" Asuna rushed in front of Chisame and broke the bottle into pieces with her summoned harisen.
"Thanks, Asuna." Chisame kept typing on her laptop.
Chao fought back with her martial art skills and protect the cheerleaders while Konoka and Satsuki escorted the cheerleaders to safety.
"Hold on, girls," said Konoka. "We'll get you to safety.
"You're the best, girls," Misa replied.
Negi, Matt, and Setsuna kept dodging the machine's beams, but they were starting to get tired and sweaty. "Chisame, we're running out of energy! Hurry up!" said Matt in exaggeration while he was still breathing.
"Hold on!" Chisame yelled back. On her laptop screen depicts an image of a skull on the left side and a wireless remote on the right. In the middle are arrows pointing towards the remote flashing each one sequentially from left to right. Below the arrows is a loading data bar that's about an inch left to complete the process. "C'mon," Chisame panicked and sweat her head. "Almost, almost…" Then the bar was full and quickly turned into an "activate" button. "WE'RE IN!" Chisame swiftly clicked on the button.
The shadowy culprit kept turning their controller's dials and pushes the buttons. When all of a sudden, the remote started to shake uncontrollably. Smoke came out of the remote. "Wha… What? What's happening?" In a flash, the remote suddenly exploded. "Ah!"
With the remote exploded and gone, the machine started to go on the fritz, and its wavy beams are going all over the place. The machine started to jump and down, and sparks came out of the haul.
"Whoa! What's happening to that bucket of bolts?" Chamo yelled.
"Looks like Chisame's hack trick worked," Matt replied. "The machine is going out of control."
"So, all we have to do is destroy it!" Setsuna replied. Matt responded with a nod.
As Negi, Matt, and Setsuna tried to get closer, Negi tripped over a power cable and fell to the ground. One of the machine's beams was fired and aimed directly toward Negi. He tried to get out of the way, but the beam made contact on him.
"NO!" Matt yelled.
"Negi-Sensei!" Setsuna screamed.
Negi slowly got up and turns towards Matt and Setsuna with vicious red eyes. He grit teeth and his fist are tightened. Matt and Setsuna are now scared. Negi pulled up his staff and aims towards the two. Matt rushed over to Negi and covers him with his arms to snap him out.
"NEGI!" Matt yelled, "It's me Matt, don't do this! Snap out it! Negi!"
A huge gust of wind burst around Negi, pushing Matt back and crashing into the stands behind him.
"Matt!" Setsuna called out. Suddenly, her strong senses twitch her. She turned over to see Negi flying straight towards her. Setsuna pulled out her katana and stops Negi his tracks. The two were struggling as Setsuna and Negi kept pushing towards each other with the katana and the staff pushing each other. Setsuna knew she can't hold out much longer due to Negi's powerful and magical will.
Asuna and Chao tried to hold back the mob, but they are started to get exhausted. Chisame and Satomi are doing everything they could to protect the two fighters, but all of them were completely surrounded and cornered.
"This is not good," Asuna complained.
"We need a miracle…" said Chao tiredly.
Setsuna is doing everything in her power to stop the rage Negi from attacking her, but she is getting weaker by the second. All sweaty and exhausted, she slowly kneels to the ground. "Negi-sensei… please stop… Snap out of it." Negi's eyes were red and still burning and keep gritting his teeth.
Matt got up from the collapsed pile of the stands and scratches his head. He looked to see that Negi was still in control, and Setsuna is struggling for her life. He turned to the right to see the Neutralizer right next to him. Matt reacted fast and looked around to see any useful stuff to stop the machine. He then spots two cable wires, red and black, with clamps on them. He follows the wires as it ends to a black metal battery box that says "Danger High Voltage." Matt gasped. He grabbed the wires and race toward the Neutralizer's power cable. He clamps the wires onto the machine's cable and races back to the battery box. Before he turns the switch to activate the battery, he looks back at the machine. "Time for you to go 'out of order' for good," he said and smirks. He flicks on the switch and the battery sends a huge voltage power from the wires all the way to the machine's power cable. The machine reacted jolty as the huge power of electricity shocks it. The dials' hands were spinning rapidly and so is the antenna. The machine jumped up and down as smoke came out of the haul. Matt quickly ducked for cover.
"HIT THE GROUND!" Matt called to everyone. The girls of Negi's heard and see the machine is about to explode. The girls then braced themselves.
The machine started to shake rapidly and faster than before. It made a large and high-pitched sound and the machine started to bloat. Then in a snap…,
"KABOOOOOOOM!"
Pieces of broken metal, screws, and nuts were flying high in the air, and black smoke raised up from the exploded machine.
Then after the loud explosion, Negi and all the people who were controlled went back to their normal selves. Their raging red eyes are gone, and everyone dropped their objects as weapons. Everyone was confused and wondered what had happened to them. Asuna, Setsuna, and the other girls are relieved.
Misa looked up at the crowd. "What happened? The fighting stopped?"
Matt uncovered himself and sees Negi, his students, and the crowd all standing quietly. "It's alright, everyone," Matt called out. "I turned that junk into a bucket of bolts." Matt walks closer to Negi and Setsuna and looks back at the fried machine on the stand. Smoke was still coming out of the machine.
"Way to go Matt, you save the day again," said Setsuna as she was getting up. Matt picked Negi up. Then came rushing in are Asuna, Konoka, Satsuki, Satomi, Chao, Chisame, and the cheerleaders to Matt, Negi, and Setsuna.
"Awesome work Matt." Konoka cheered. "The machine is gone for good."
"Whoa… What happened?" said Negi in confusion as he was rubbing his head.
"You were being controlled by that wacky machine," Chisame replied.
"I was?"
"Yeah, but everything's alright. Matt disposed of it."
Satomi and Chao walked closer to their Neutralizer in a depressing mood. They worked hard to make this machine and now it's nothing but garbage. Matt walks up to them.
"I know and all that hard work really paid off, but sometimes you need to make sacrifices for family and friends, even if you don't like giving up something too valuable."
Both the scientist girls looked at each and sighed. Then they turned to Matt.
"I know," Satomi said first, "But you're right. Friends and family are far more valuable than some prize-winning machine."
"So we didn't this year's winning science fair contest," said Chao in a gleeful mood. "But at least we still have you guys."
Everyone smiled at the two scientists. The moment of a happy relationship broke when the Dean of the Academy, a few policemen, and a bunch of students came into the scene. The people who were controlled by the machine also stepped into the scene. Even the janitor, Mr. Miyoko showed up. Everyone surrounded Matt, Negi, and the girls.
The captain of the police appeared and came forth. He sticks out his index finger. "Men, arrest those two girls." And with that, the policemen grabbed ahold of Satomi and Chao's arms. The captain came forth to the two girls. "You are under arrest for attempting a violent act by manipulating people." Negi and the other girls were shocked.
Then Nami Tsuno showed up just in time. Satomi and Chao spotted her. "Satomi and Chao, I'm sorry I'm late and all this happened," said Nami as she was huffing and puffing. "I should've done something to protect you girls."
"Don't worry," said Satomi, "We're just glad you are safe."
"Hold it!" Matt yelled as he sticks his hand out to the policemen. "Don't arrest them. They are completely innocent." Matt stepped forward towards the captain. "If I recall, you said I have 24 hours to solve this case and prove that Satomi and Chao are not guilty."
"Right…" said the captain in confusion.
"Well, I still have one hour left, so don't arrest them just yet."
The captain looks at his watch and agrees with what Matt says. He looks back at Matt with a stern look. "Okay kid, one more hour left. Well?"
"Sir, Dean Konoe, everyone, I have found out who our true culprit is."
The suspense engulfed the atmosphere.