The morning air was fresh and a bit chilly as it was on most days, but today was especially important. As the morning sun rose over the horizon, everyone in Fission City was waking up and making preparations as down below, the Street Sharks watched on their television.
"And it's that special time of year again here in Fission City. The annual Fission City Easter celebration is to kick off in two days and with the sponsor being our own Dr. Luther Paradigm, it's sure to be a year we'll never forget."
Dr. Bolton didn't look so sure.
"If Paradigm is helping out, there's bound to be trouble."
Slammu sighed.
"And Moby, Rox, and El Swordo have already left."
Streex put a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Hey, they'll be around if we need them.", he said in a soothing way.
Dr. Bolton had finished preparing breakfast as his sons came over with Bends and Lena.
"We should make a rule about Dr. Bolton doing all the cooking around here.", Bends joked.
Ripster comically rolled his eyes.
"Bends, we don't want to overwhelm the guy."
Dr. Bolton smiled.
"Thanks Ripster. I really appreciate that."
He was still getting used to calling his sons by their shark names and not their birth names, but he's getting there.
"What do you think Dr. Paradigm has in mind for the big celebration?", Jab asked.
"Knowing him, it's something nasty and with a hint of deception.", Lena answered.
Dr. Bolton chuckled.
"That's a good one."
As the sharks chowed down, Dr. Bolton had prepared his coffee and was taking it in a mug a little bigger than the ones he used to drink from.
"You still drink coffee?", Bends asked.
Dr. Bolton looked his way as he took a swing from his mug.
"Even a half shark person needs a kick in the morning."
Shortly after breakfast was over, the sharks got to their vehicles as Dr. Bolton got to his chair and pressed a sequence that made it into a hovercraft as to let Lena jump on as well while Bends took the jet with Jab. In less than a minute, the whole family was driving out of the hockey rink and into the morning light.
/
While that was going on, the park was eagerly setting up the festivities with Paradigm(who was invited as the mayor's guest of honor) helping out with publicity. Paradigm seemed fully on board with the whole thing, but under his warm smile, he was scheming on the opportunity to gene slam and then gene wash the entire place. If the Street Sharks knew he was there, Dr. Bolton would suspect he was up to something and Paradigm was more than eager to gene wash the one shark that had caused such an embarrassment. Unlike gene slamming which would combine human and animal DNA while leaving free will, gene washing would not only do that, but install instant obedience and loyalty to him and from his earlier tests, he was more than ready. After a couple interviews, he returned to his special trailer outside the festivities while making sure nobody else was around before going inside.
"I can't believe I have to keep up this charade for these short minded fools.", he muttered bitterly(mostly to himself), "They see themselves as fine where I see raw material. Once this plan goes accordingly, even the Street Sharks won't be a bother."
He then clicked a receiver and called his seaviants who were getting the plan underway.
"Are they ready?"
"We're painting as fast as we can Doc.", Repteel reported, "We'll be done by tonight."
Paradigm smiled.
"Perfect. How's Slash and Slobster doing with the latest gene wash ray?"
"They installed it just recently and made sure it's hidden.", Repteel answered.
Paradigm head footsteps outside.
"Carry on and don't fail me.", he said quickly before he hung up.
He heard a knock on the door and slapped on a straight face.
"Dr. Paradigm? We need you for the broadcast for this afternoon."
"Very well, I'll come at once.", Paradigm answered.
He heard the footsteps leaving before turning to see a piece of paper with some notes he had been scribbling. He quickly hid the notes in his back pocket and headed out the door.
/
The Street Sharks parked in a nearby alley while they slowly came out with Dr. Bolton leading.
"Keep your eyes open for anything suspicious.", he warned, "Paradigm might know we're on to him and with all these civilians around, we need to keep a low profile."
"Got it Dad.", Ripster answered.
As his boys went in one direction, Dr. Bolton went with Lena and Bends as they made their way carefully around the place.
"Hard to believe I actually get to see this event after...well, in a very long time."
"You were mutated back then and people wouldn't exactly like the way you looked at the point where the sharks were.", Bends put in.
Dr. Bolton sighed. He recalled when he tried to stop Paradigm from using that gene slamming technology for evil when all he wanted was to help. The struggle got him mutated and his sons were soon gene slammed with shark DNA shortly after him. Seeing his flesh and blood become Paradigm's version of improved still made his spine shiver. Luckily his sons still had their free will and had refused Paradigm's authority. After finding a race of mutated crocodiles in the sewer system in need of help, Dr. Bolton had used his gene slamming knowledge for the right reason(for once) and in return the Genetic Engineered Cave Organisms(or G.E.C.O.'s as they called themselves) had given him a home and underground travel which helped him spy on Paradigm and learn his evil plans which he could report to his sons anonymously.
"Doc?"
Dr. Bolton snapped out of his trance and noticed Lena looking his way a little concerned.
"You okay?", she asked him.
Dr. Bolton smiled shyly.
"Yeah, just..remembering the old days that's all."
They had walked a few paces when Dr. Bolton stepped on something that drew his attention. He reached down and picked up a book that looked strange and then felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Um excuse me sir, that's mine."
Dr. Bolton, Lena and Bends turned to see a middle aged person wearing jeans, black sneakers, a white shirt and a brown leather jacket standing behind them looking a bit apologetic, but not freaking out.
"What is it?", Bends asked as Dr. Bolton gave it back.
"It's just very important to me.", the stranger answered tucking the book under his arm and using his free hand to pull a lock of his dark hair away from his face, "The big Easter recital is being held in the church nearby."
"Recital?", Lena asked.
"The real reason Easter is celebrated.", the stranger said smiling, "You and the boys should stop by, they might find out what Easter is about."
He turned and started walking away.
"Oh, by the way, Paradigm is planning to gene wash everyone during the big egg hunt tomorrow including the boys."
Dr. Bolton looked alarmed, but then curious.
"How do you know that?"
The stranger paused and turned around still smiling.
"Simple. I know everything. Also I overheard him earlier."
"Who are you?", Bends asked more than a little shocked that a stranger would know so much.
"I'm Theo. Nothing more, nothing less. Best of luck."
/
As the afternoon grew dark and everyone cleared out for the night, Dr. Bolton met up with his sons with Lena and Bends alongside him.
"We didn't find anything.", Slammu reported with a shrug.
Dr. Bolton took a breath.
"Listen, while Lena, Bends and I were walking around, we met someone who knew what was going on."
"Who?", Ripster asked.
"His name was Theo or so he said.", Lena answered, "But I don't recall seeing anybody like him."
"You don't suppose he's one of Paradigm's seaviants do you?", Jab asked.
Dr. Bolton raised an eyebrow.
"Why would Paradigm's own creation turn on him and act as if nothing happened?"
Jab looked defeated.
"Good point."
"At least we know that Paradigm has something going on.", Streex put in.
At that moment, a note blew in on a breeze and stuck to Dr. Bolton's leg. He reached down and pulled it off before reading it.
"Dull is bright and yet at night am I."
Ripster looked a bit confused.
"What does that mean?"
"It's a riddle.", Lena answered, "Maybe a lamppost?"
Dr. Bolton then looked at the bottom where there was LAMPPOST printed at the bottom and looked a bit inspired.
"Maybe Paradigm is gene washing through the lampposts or something like it."
"That makes sense.", Streex put in, "And maybe he's got them installed just tonight along with some eggs that could explode."
Jab then noticed writing on the back of the note and Dr. Bolton noticed as he flipped the note over.
"Third house on your left at the intersection of Main and 17th street. You can't miss it. Theo."
That was all the sharks had to hear to get going with Lena and Bends coming along for the ride. As soon as they arrived, the sharks were at the ready.
"Shark Dive!", they all called out as they dove into the concrete as easy as water with Dr. Bolton right behind them. They had risen into a large room where Repteel and Killamari were loading crates of large painted eggs that could easily be identified as the slime snail's eggs and the sharks knew it. Slash and Slobster were there also, but with all five sharks, they were easily outmatched and while they were being clobbered, Bends and Lena got the stuff disposed of. After a bit, the seaviants beat a retreat and the sharks went back out the way they came in with Bends and Lena alongside them.
"Well that's one way to spend an afternoon.", Bends admitted.
/
As the sharks settled into their relaxed states back at the hideout, Dr. Bolton started on dinner while Streex and Slammu observed the tube.
"In related news, our local heroes the Street Sharks have uncovered a fiendish plot of the vile seaviants who had fled the scene and are currently in pursuit."
The television showed a large truck being chased by police only for the truck to blow up.
"This just in, the truck in pursuit has just exploded, but luckily nobody was injured. Dr. Paradigm denies all involvement in this method as he claimed to know nothing about it."
The screen then showed Dr. Paradigm in front of a lot of reporters looking calm as ever.
"I assure you that this Easter heist was not a thing to worry about. Probably some kids pulling pranks."
Ripster frowned.
"That slimy sea snake.", he said as he took a shot on the pool table.
"He's just playing his cards right.", Dr. Bolton answered calmly, "He always was good at doing that."
The news feed went off, but then Jab accidentally flipped the channel to one where a group of people were in a church reading their bibles.
"So who can tell me what Easter really means?"
The sharks paused for a minute as the group started talking.
"If we look back at when Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem, that's where the meaning begins. Jesus was born that night as we know as Christmas, but he was brought for more than that."
Dr. Bolton's mind went back to his cooking as his sons kept listening.
"After a long time, Jesus preformed many miracles and was soon there came a day that those who didn't believe took him and tried him by crucification."
Streex looked a bit shocked.
"Why would they do that? Jesus was such a nice guy and spoke so wisely."
"People judge what they don't understand.", Jab answered.
"Guys, shh!", Ripster said firmly.
"And shortly after, he died on that cross to give us life. Some might say this is the end of the story, but it isn't."
The sharks looked inspired as the show went on.
"On that day what we now call Easter, something extraordinary happened. They went to check on Jesus in his tomb, but when they looked inside that day, they found not a thing. And standing before them all was Jesus himself risen from the dead and ready to return to Heaven. Death will never be our end if we believe. For he died for us to give us life and to give us hope, he rose."
Streex looked a bit teary eyed.
"That is..the most beautiful story..I've ever heard."
"And we just thought it was about the eggs and candy.", Ripster added, "Guess we now know what easter is about huh?"
Dr. Bolton chuckled.
"Now you all know why your mother and I wanted you to attend the Sunday service on that day."
The sharks chuckled too. Even though Easter did have fun activates, the truth about it was certainly worth the listening as the show drew to a close.
"So remember, when you feel like you're lost and alone, Jesus is always there to listen and guide."