Special thanks to Dinobot king for helping me out with writing this chapter and to Breemarie12256 for helping with the editing!
Far away from all the chaos, Jessica and Aeon were in their civilian forms walking down the busy streets of New York City. The roads were packed, the streets were filled.
"Are you feeling better now?" asked Aeon curiously, concerned for her friend's well-being. "You're still angry," the android commented.
"How can I not be angry Aeon?" asked Jessica sarcastically as she walked. "Things used to be simple, you know? Remember those times?" asked the Native American sighingly. "The times… ahh… memories," Jessica sighed as she closed her eyes momentarily before opening them. "I remember making this joke with a… friend of my babysitter… we called Majestia… Moojestia… hah," Jessica chuckled dryly as Aeon looked at Jessica confused.
"That is not funny," Aeon pointed out, looking at the girl.
"Uhmm… Moo? Cow?" Jessica asked.
"My mom is not a cow Jess," said Aeon plainly, not understanding Jessica's joke.
"Ah, you won't get it," Jessica scoffed as she shook her head, continuing to walk forward.
"Why don't you try explaining?" asked Aeon curiously.
"Alright then… Did you know that your mom used to be overweight?" asked Jessica smirking, to which Aeon gave a cold response. "You know what forget it, you won't get it," Jessica sighed.
"Jess, I know you hated my mom and still do. You don't have to be that mean," Aeon pointed out. "Plus, she is trying to make it up to you, can't you tell? She has always been trying to."
"Aeon, it was just a joke alright?" asked Jessica shruggingly. "Plus, I don't care. It's not like she can bring them back to life or anything."
"First of all, that is just mean," Aeon said plainly. "Secondly, Jess, you need to learn to forgive," Aeon said.
"Hmph, easy for you to say, what do you know of hating someone?" asked Jessica curiously. "Actually, do you even feel hatred?"
"I'm not programmed to understand these feelings… yet," Aeon said. "Why would I hate or dislike someone?" asked Aeon curiously.
Jessica just looked at the android and sighed. The innocent android still has much to learn about the cruelty and reality of the world. "Well, you will… someday Aeon. You will learn that in this world, there is much to hate."
"That does make sense. I'm just 2 years old after all," Aeon agreed as she looked around.
Aeon and Jessica were now walking in the quieter parts of the city. Where there weren't that many people around. Jessica than just sighed as she looked around. Aeon looked around, then on the opposite side of the streets, something clicked in her programming and she stopped, looking at the man across the street.
"Aeon? Why did you stop? Aeon?" asked Jessica as she walked back to the android.
"Look," Aeon said, subtly pointing to the man standing right at the opposite of them. Two big-sized people were standing next to him, presumably bodyguards. The man has short grey and black hair, carrying a white fan that has a detailed yellow and red pattern on it. An Asian man. Chinese to be accurate.
"He does look familiar," Jessica muttered.
"Cash wanted in Shanghai," Aeon said as she ran through her databases. "Suspected of illegal smuggling in the States."
"Hmm… sounds like an easy opponent," Jessica smirked as she looked at the man fanning himself casually. "Why is he carrying a fan? That looks so weird," the girl commented. "And who calls himself 'Cash'?" asked Jessica, thinking that the whole thing was just ridiculous. "Well, either way, this could be the break I need," Jessica piped up as she walked away into an alleyway nearby.
"Wait, Jess. You shouldn't be doing this," Aeon reasoned.
"What do you propose I do? Continue sulking and doing nothing?" asked Jessica with sarcasm in her voice. "Liiri, what you think?" asked Jessica curiously towards the kwami sitting in her purse.
"Cash was a dealer, and now presumably the leader of a smuggling ring. He has many men at his disposal. Are you sure you want to engage him?" asked Aeon, sounding frantic.
"Aeon. He can't be that bad. Not like he got powers or anything," Jessica scoffed carefreely as she eyed the man from the alley. "Plus, he looks too skinny to pose of threat," the girl chuckled.
"Still-" Aeon was about to say something Jessica interrupts her quickly after seeing a limo stopped in front of Cash.
"Liiri, Wings of Liberty!" Jessica said, a flash of light blinded Aeon momentarily before the transformation finished. "Let's follow him," Eagle said before swinging up the building with the help of her bullroarer.
"Wait, Jess!" Aeon tried to reason but Eagle was already swinging up the buildings. Aeon just looked around before transforming into her Uncanny Valley form, flying up after Eagle. "Eagle! Wait!"
"Try and keep up U.V.," Eagle said as she jumped onto the roof, running across it before jumping onto another, keeping the limo insight as Uncanny Valley flew after her. "U.V., keep an eye on the limo!" Eagle said as she jumped and swung across to another building.
Eagle and Uncanny Valley then spent the rest of the night following the limo that Cash was into the outskirts of the city. They followed as the vehicle turned and moved, trying to keep up while keeping themselves out of sight of Cash and his goon.
"Eagle, we need to be subtle. If-" Uncanny Valley reminded cautiously.
"I know, I know," Eagle interrupted impatiently as she kept her eyes on the car, making sure not to lose sight of it. "Where are they even going?" Eagle wondered aloud. She couldn't help but find it strange that the limo was driving to the outskirts, places where it was not that well developed. Finally, the car came to a stop in an alley.
"They're finally stopping," Eagle muttered over the comms as she landed on top of the roof, overlooking the place while Uncanny Valley just flew behind her. "Hmm… interesting, "Eagle muttered as she watched the man step out of the limo as men came out of the vehicle and stood around the car.
"U.V., scan for life forms," Eagle said as she spun her bullroarer carefreely, not at all intimated by the number of men.
"The limo is empty. There are quite a lot of people in the building," Uncanny Valley informed Jessica as they watched Cash walking into the building.
"We're going in," Jessica said.
"I don't think that is such a good idea Eagle," Uncanny Valley protested.
"Then what is?" asked Eagle impatiently. "I'm not in the mood of waiting!"
"We should observe first," Uncanny Valley suggested.
"And then what?" asked Eagle. There was a certain harshness in her voice, given that she felt that they were wasting time.
"And come out with a plan," Uncanny Valley said.
"Plan? There is no time!" Eagle hushed as she looked at the scene going down below.
"Eagle, you need to calm down," Uncanny Valley pointed out,
"I am calm!" Eagle hushed as she looked at the limo. Trying to devise a plan.
And right at this moment, both Eagle and Uncanny Valley heard the sound of something creaking behind them and soon a low voice spoke.
Eagle and Uncanny Valley turned around in surprise to see someone looking at them from above. "Now the miraculous of the eagle has been found, it must return to the box it belongs to. I've come a long way to be here, so give it back with no fuss child, I'm not in the mood," the man said firmly, holding out an open box, inside, there was more jewelry which the girl assumed were other Miraculous.
Eagle looked at the man in disbelief. 'Who is this old man to tell me to give it back?' Jessica thought to herself frowningly. She isn't having this. then, she noticed the box in the man's hand. A quick thought passed her mind.
"Negative. Eagle has proved that she is a worthy miraculous holder!" Uncanny Valley said as she reasoned with the old man.
Eagle then jumped up and landed in front of the man as Aeon flew up after her. "Why don't you stay here? We could create a new generation of heroes together!" Jessica suggested excitedly. A group of heroes that could relate to her, a group that can understand her. A group of people that she could work with other than her stubborn mother and monster Majestia!
The guardian hummed, considering Eagle's suggestion. "Why do you suggest this?"
"To get more help of course," Jessica answered plainly.
"Ah... But the United Heroez has more than enough heroes, don't they?" asked the old man raising an eyebrow.
"What?" Jessica was confused now.
"Ever since I found out about you, Eagle. I have been following your life closely," the man revealed.
"Hold on, who are you?" asked Eagle confused now. And a bit weirded out that an old man was stalking her like that.
"I'm the guardian of the miraculous box the Eagle Miraculous belongs to," the old man said humbly.
Jessica had many questions in her mind that needed to be answered. She remembered the fact why she was in this area of the city in the first place, tracking down Cash.
"U.V., let's go in. Sorry guardian, we will talk later. I have a person to catch," Jessica said before jumping back down onto the other roof while Uncanny Valley looked at Eagle.
"Hmm, interesting," the guardian muttered to himself as he watched the pair.
"That was weird," Eagle said as she turned around just as she heard a shot being fired, shocking her as she dodged the bullet. They have been spotted, all thanks to the interruption by the guardian. "Shit, take cover!"Eagle shouted as the four guards began pointing their guns towards the pair, which backed away from the area.
"Are you alright?" asked Eagle concerned for her friend.
"I'm fine. What do we do now?" asked the android as gunshots were repeatedly fired at them.
"Well, since the cover is blown. Let's take them!" Eagle cracked her fist as she looked at the android. "We need to take out the men first," Eagle said.
Uncanny Valley's arm began to change as soon, a blaster unsealed and replaced her left arm. "Luckily, my mom upgraded my hardware," Aeon said smiling as she raised the blaster. "Don't worry it is set to stun," Aeon assured.
"Frankly, I don't care, just take them out," Eagle shrugged. "Go!" Eagle shouted as she ran out of her cover, jumping off the roof, creating a diversion as the guards were now focused on shooting at her while Uncanny Valley aimed her blaster at the guards before firing a shot, stunning a man unconscious.
Eagle slid down a wall quickly before spinning her bullroarer, using it as a shield, blocking off all the gunshots, protecting her as she closed in on the men. "Whoa! This is amazing!" Eagle exclaimed as she pounced forward kicking one of the guns out of the guards' hands. Eagle quickly threw her bullroarer forward before pulling one of the guns out of the men's hands before knocking him back while Aeon took out another man after stunning him a few times. Eagle got up, just in time to see the large-sized man lunge forward at her. She quickly dodges the man before letting Uncanny Valley stun him unconscious.
The guardian watches as he looks at Eagle fighting the men. "Hmm.. much better than Ladybug I suppose," the old men muttered to himself before leaping off the water tower.
Eagle knocked out a guard with a kick before throwing the unconscious body at another guard swiftly before she heard a gun click, a guard was pointing a gun at her. "Do not... move," the man said slowly, holding Eagle at gunpoint.
Uncanny Valley saw the danger her friend was in pointed her blaster at the man, sending a shock that took the man out. The man dropped to the floor, unconscious.
"You know I had him," Jessica told Aeon as the android landed next to her, frowning.
"I will let you have your chance next time," Uncanny Valley said smiling,
Eagle was now looking up at where the old man was. "Hmm..." Jessica hummed. "I wonder... what is his deal?" Eagle wondered aloud.
"Well, if you want to catch Cash, we can think about the guardian later," Aeon said as she looked around, scanning the area. "He is still inside," the android confirmed.
"You're right U.V. We can't let this man get away!" Eagle said loudly before running towards the door, kicking it open.
"Right!" Uncanny said, following Eagle into the suspiciously dark building.
As they walked into the dark building, Eagle was confused. She was so sure that she saw Cash walk into here. Where were all the people that Uncanny Valley identified? "U.V.? Are you sure your scanners aren't broken? I don't see anyone," Eagle asked curiously as she looked around.
Right at this moment the door behind them closed and the lights turned on. The two teenagers were surrounded by people, all pointing their guns at them, ready to end them if they made a move.
"Well well well, isn't these United Heroez's newest heroes," Cash chuckled as he walked out of a room, holding his fan in his hand, gloating.
"We've been heroes long enough," Eagle answered smirkingly as Uncanny Valley's hand turned into a blaster once more.
"Ohh, the confidence," Cash chuckled, humored. "How do you think I evaded capture in Shanghai and manage to stay out of jail for so long?" asked the Asian smirkingly as he eyed the two. Eagle was about to make a move before Cash interrupted her. "Ah Ah, don't even think about it baby," Cash said smirkingly. "You wouldn't be much of a hero if you are dead, would you now?" The message was obvious, while rather cryptically.
All of a sudden the lights went dark, Aeon and Jessica both nodded and pounced at the enemies. Eagle had trained to fight in the dark before, so this was nothing for her, while Uncanny Valley had her night vision on. The men were all in disarray as chaos broke out. But they weren't the only ones fighting. There was someone else fighting on their side. Soon, the lights were back on, with Cash the only one left standing in front of the two girls while all the hired men laid on the ground, either knocked out or groaning in pain.
"Hmph... Didn't expect you to help," Eagle said as she realized the man who helped them.
The old man, the guardian just looked at Jessica and nodded before turning towards Cash.
"So...you were saying?" Jessica asked smirkingly. "Just surrender," Jessica said as Aeon pointed the blaster right at Cash, preparing to stun him unconscious.
Cash evilly smirked. "Oh, it's not going to be that easy baby," the man chuckled as he whipped out a flash grenade blinding their vision.
"Not if I got something to say about it," Eagle yelled back at him, as she knew she had to do it. "Liberation!" Eagle didn't know where the man was, she just decided to use her abilities, in the hope to stop the man from whatever he is doing.
Soon, Jessica's mind was invaded by the thoughts of the very greedy man. So much, that it was a bit overwhelming, and it was beginning to hurt her head. Eagle struggled to hold her control over the man. "Cash... Your greed for... urghh... money is holding you... back... from..."
"Hahaha, baby, how hilarious!" Jessica could hear Cash's voice. "My greed... holding me back?" This was all Jessica heard before she fell to the ground, losing control of the feather while she heard something fell onto the floor with a thud, Cash's phone.
Soon, their vision was restored, and Cash was long gone from view, leaving the three. Eagle got up, rubbing her temples as she looked around. "Where is he?" asked the girl frustratedly.
"He seems to have escaped," Uncanny Valley said as she looked around as she could see again after the blinding light messed with her sight a bit.
"Gah!" Eagle groaned in frustration as she looked around. "Well, at least he left something," the girl said as she noticed a phone on the ground. "Try to hack into this when we get back," Jessica said tossing the phone to Aeon.
"Alright," Aeon said as she turned the phone over, looking at the peculiar symbol at the back of the phone.
"So, guardian," Jessica greeted cockily. "What do you think?" asked Eagle sarcastically, not noticing that her miraculous was beginning to flash.
The guardian just looked sternly at them before his facial expression softened. "I'm impressed."
"Wait really?" asked Eagle surprised. She had expected the man to say the complete opposite.
"Eagle, I have been watching you. You have the skills and heart. But you have to control your emotions," the guardian pointed out as he looked at the young girl. "The way you two handled yourselves was impressive. But you need to be wiser in making decisions. You are… quite rash," the guardian said. "There is an imbalance in your emotions… Something is troubling you. I can feel it."
Jessica wasn't going to have this conversation for the third time that day. "I assure you, I'm fine, Guardian," the girl said turning around, walking away. "Keep in contact I guess?" asked Eagle as she walked out of the room. "U.V. come on!"
"Coming," Aeon said rushing after the girl.
"Perhaps she is less mature than Ladybug," the Guardian says under his breath, not loud enough for Jess to hear. The old man watched as the girl left.
"You contacted the police forces yet?" asked Eagle, although very well knowing that Aeon would have done it already.
"Done," Aeon said as she followed Eagle. "We should go home now," Uncanny said.
"Fine," Eagle said reluctantly crossing her arms as Uncanny held her hand out.
"When we get home, you have to apologize to my mom though," Aeon pointed out as Jessica took her hand.
"Can we stop talking about that!?" asked Eagle. "Geez, I'm finally in a good mood and you want to spoil it for me?'
"You did call her a lot of mean things," Aeon pointed out.
"Well, she did kill my parents!" Eagle snapped back. "U.V., not now, alright?"
"Fine… Let's go home," Uncanny Valley said as her thruster fired, taking flight, holding onto Eagle's hand as the guardian looked at the pair flying away into the night.
Coming next: Chapter 9: Revelations
Thanks for reading!
This story will be updated sporadically. So do be patient.
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