Chapter 9: Pop Concerts and Misadventures

On the morning, Garuda leaves the hotel to visit his grandson Rage at his apartment until someone came to see him who actually looking for something.

"Excuse me... do you know where my son is? He's been chosen as an astronaut at the Launch Pad."

Garuda noticed it was Maho who had her tied in a high ponytail and wore a sleeveless dark blue top, pale blue jeans and brown heels.

"Good to see ya again, Maho. I would expect you'd be here in Disco Town. About Baby-Lon... I haven't seen him when you mentioned about him."

"Oh... sorry Garuda." Maho said apologizing and noticing his appearance. "Time's so fast... I heard Emi was there too staying here in the United States to study at the college university."

"Yes she is... she currently studies at the electronics academy and I was one of the judge there when the girls are crafting dance robots and Emi was one of them." Garuda said confirming about Emi's studies at the electronics academy.

"Good to hear that, Garuda. But right now, I have to find Baby-Lon. The only thing he remembers when he got overslept and yet he has to get to the launch pad by now." Maho said and Garuda knows his schedule very well about taking flight off in space.

"That's where I'm about to go there and witnessed your son to be blasted off in space. I'm sure he must be lurking around the town. We might locate him first."

At the EXTRA Mall, most people are buying tickets for Alice's solo concert and both Rage, Retsu and Gus are watching the entire scene.

"There's more crowded than in MAX Carnival, it's like they are thrilled to watch Alice."

"They're just kick it up in a notch. It's normal when you watch concerts. It looks to me that I will be guesting as a DJ there." Gus smiled and Rage reacted to his words.

"Are you kidding me? You're gonna guest in Alice's concert."

"I'm sure the terrorist organization might be present on the concert. I know plenty of people loves to watch the concert and I'm sure someone would take a civilian disguise." Retsu said getting observant over the crowd and Gus knew his actions and give them four tickets to Alice's concert.

"Here some tickets, you can able to get through the TV Tower. This is going to be a one hell of a show."

"Thanks, Gus. I'm sure Emi and Yuni would be happy to see Alice."

"Definitely I wasn't watching concerts, Gus." Retsu said smiling and Gus tells him.

"You'll need it, Retsu. That's an opportunity for you and Rage to blow these terrorists goons for good. Just like you saved my life from them. It is my gratitude for saving my life and to see Professor Garuda once we had encounter each other."

"I'm flattered that Gus is a fan of my grandfather's. Oh yeah... I had a meeting with him at my apartment before I take my reins as a takoyaki chef." Rage said smiling until he receives a call from Garuda on his cellphone. "Hey, gramps..."

"I might not go to yer place, Reiji. Baby-Lon was missing and I helped Maho to look for him. This baby can lurk around town because of his magical earmuffs. If ya encounter him somewhere in this town. Just meet me at the entrance leads to the Launch Pad."

"I'm on it, gramps..." Rage answered as he hung up and Retsu noticed his meeting got postponed.

"What did Sir Garuda says?"

"He postponed because of a baby's dilemma." Rage shrugged and he knows their phone conversation. "He wanted you and me to go to the Launch Pad to see Baby-Lon be sent off in space. He was one of the guests and I'm sure the Dance King would be the sponsor of all this."

"You got it right... Before we actually go to that place. We need to protect Alice first."

At the Verse Mansion, Yuni was given a ticket by Retsu and was happy to watch the concert for the first time while she was excited inside of her room, both Retsu and Akira are at the living room of her mansion.

"I see... so Alice is their next target then. I will lent you with my Silencer gun."

"Just like last year, you really did shoot them with the Silencer gun and now I have to use it." Retsu commented about the past year and Akira gives him advice.

"If you use your regular handgun, the gunshots will be heard by many audience at the concert. The Silencer gun was enough to shoot them without any noise just to avoid the audience to make a stampede."

"I'll try using it..."

"Not to worry... I'm always there if Yuni goes around town and since she goes to her friends. I would glad to help you and Rage in case if it gets any worse." Akira said willing to help Retsu and Rage from stopping the terrorist organization.

"Thanks for the help, Akira. We're gonna discuss the plan before the concert begins."

Therefore, Baby-Lon appears in a space suit and Yuni came to see him at her mansion and to the surprise of both of them.

"Oh, hi. Baby-Lon. What's the matter?"

"I'm going to outer space!" Baby-Lon replies in excitement which Yuni ponders.

"Outer space?"

"It's true. But I forgot where I'm supposed to go." Baby-Lon said couldn't remember where his current location causing Yuni to get worry.

"Are you okay?"

"Zero said if I dance. I might remember. So, wanna dance with me?" Baby-Lon said convincing Yuni to dance with him as Retsu butts in.

"If you were talking about Zero, Baby-Lon then I guess you knew of where he is."

Retsu became terrified when he, Rage, Emi, Alice and Julio discover Baby-Lon can talk straight and can move on its own as he thought.

I can't forget the last time, Baby-Lon can speak normally and that surprises all of us. Is it because of his upgraded magical earmuffs?

At the EXTREME Arcade, Maho was worried for her son's safety and Garuda reassures her that he's fine.

"That kid is a smart one. He can easily forgot of where he went off too."

"That's what happened when I woke up this morning." Maho said and lowers her head in disappointment. "Awww, I shouldn't had leave him like this."

"Take it easy, Maho. The magical earmuffs that I upgraded to him can let him move his limbs and can speak normally. The only thing he would jog out his memory was just enjoy dancing with the grown ups." Garuda said telling her and Maho was surprised.

"That might be the reason he loses his way when he woke up."

"Hmmm, sounds like you're right."

Therefore, three suspicious men are briefing regarding about the tonight's concert which Garuda knew they were from X-Pac.

"Garuda, you look serious all of the sudden." Maho pondered which Garuda replies while raising his brow.

"I'll inform both Reiji and Retsu of what I had seen. We're trying to deal against a very dangerous enemy. I hate if you and your son are getting involved on this."

Both Akira and Retsu watch both Yuni and Baby-Lon danced with the song "Venus". As the song ends, both ended up in a draw which amuses the two men as Yuni likes to see if Baby-Lon would remember of where he needs to go as he enjoys it.

"Yay. That was fun."

"Do you remember now?" Yuni asked as Baby-Lon replies happily which he didn't remember.

"Oops. I forgot to remember again. Ohh... I was so close, too..."

"Maybe I would help you remember, young man." Retsu said nicely. "What place are you going?"

With Retsu's words, Baby-Lon finally remembers where he is about to go as he happily answers.

"Oh! That's right! I remember now. I'm supposed to go to the launch pad."

"The launch pad. That's it... This is where Sir Garuda was guesting on that place." Retsu said knowing of the place and Yuni encourages him.

"I hope you can get there, Baby-Lon."

Baby-Lon then goes off once again and the trio see him leave. Akira smiles and it was the first time to see Baby-Lon can walk and talk.

"I've never seen babies can talk normally. It was a shocking treatment."

Outside of the TV Tower, Rage decided to sell takoyaki with his takoyaki stand as most of the customers are enjoying his Japanese delicacy. He was soon contacted by his grandfather, Garuda about the X-Pac.

"Sup, gramps."

"I just found three suspicious men were briefing about their assassination plot, you need to get there and fast."

"But, gramps... I'm really busy cooking right now."

"There's no time for cooking takoyaki, Reiji. Our priority right now is to save Alice from getting assassinated. Now do as I say!" Garuda angrily scolds Rage which he reluctantly accepts.

"Okay, gramps..."

As Rage hung up his cellphone because of the mission, Baby-Lon appears when Emi had arrived to wait for Yuni for the concert.

"Hello, Emi. Do you know which way the launch pad is?"

"Of course I do." Emi said cheerfully and she knows the location. "Let's see... hmmm... Got it! The launch pad is that way."

"Thanks!"

As Baby-Lon leaves to get through the launch pad, Rage waved at his girlfriend which Emi did the same as Yuni and Retsu arrive to the scene.

"Still cooking takoyaki, Reiji?"

"Yes I do... but gramps told me to stop first."

"You mean both of you have tickets too." Yuni points out on both men which Retsu snobbishly responds to the two girls.

"Gus gives us the tickets so that both of you could watch. Reiji and I were gonna deal against the terrorist organization at the back side."

"Retsu... gramps told me that we have to deal against the three stooges. I think they were already set up that assassination plan." Rage said informing him as he seriously raises his brow. "We need to act right now."

At the concert, both Emi and Yuni are audiences to watch their friend's performance. Meanwhile, Rage and Retsu are trying to make a stealth attack on her assassins.

"So those three from the X-Pac were sent there to kill Alice. I'm not gonna let them execute their plan." Retsu grunted while raising his brow as Rage whispers him.

"Maybe I'll distract those two and keep them busy. You might able to locate the last one."

Retsu pulls out the Silencer gun being given by Akira knowing it will be enough to subdued their enemies.

"I hope I could stop with this gun. Akira knows how to deal enemies in the shadows."

"Gladly that Akira gave you that... it's the same weapon like he shoots them down in silence." Rage smiled silently as Retsu grins at him.

"Just pull off those idiots, Reiji. Now move it..."

As the concert begins, Gus serves as the guest DJ to play all of Alice's songs as Alice finally performs on stage with the song "Switch" to make the audience live. As the two soldiers are ready to engage, Rage confronts them. Both attempted to shoot him with their handguns Rage immediately disarms one and heavily knocks them with a knee and a roundhouse kick, he soon dodges the shots as he heavily knees them thrice followed with a straight punch to the face to knock him on the wall unconscious.

"That should take them down..." Rage said while cracking his knuckles.

The last soldier tries to target Alice with a sniper rifle as Retsu arrives on time as he shoots the man's head with a Silencer gun, killing him. Retsu eventually calls the authorities immediately after subduing all three members of the X-Pac Organization. After the performance, Emi and Yuni are excited after watching Alice's performance while Rage is watching at Retsu who talks to the authorities.

"Rage... where are you. I thought you and Retsu are gonna watch Alice's concert too?" Emi questions Rage about their actions only to be defended by Gus.

"The guys are trying to stop those brainiacs for killing Alice."

"Gus... you're here too."

"I always keep Retsu's word... in case if these terrorists would be there and I knew they would attempted to kill anybody." Gus said telling the girls in a shock.

Rage receives a call from his grandfather regarding about Baby-Lon.

"Hey gramps, what's up?"

"Reiji, we just found Baby-Lon where Maho and I are about to give up searching for him. It's best if you and your friends would come and see this at the Launch Pad."

"Sure thing, gramps... we're on our way."

"Is that Professor Garuda, Rage?" Gus asked knowing of Garuda's presence as Rage smiles.

"Yep, he wants us to go to the Launch Pad to see the first baby to be blast off in space."

At the Launch Pad, Rage and the group meet up with Garuda and Maho and alongside it was Afro who smiles after they learned that he tests Baby-Lon's dancing skills before being sent off in the spaceship. As they watch the spaceship is about to be blast off.

"I never expected you were there, Afro. What did you tell him?" Garuda soon questions Afro which he responds in a funk.

"I'd like to go to the space myself to make a jam, Garuda. But their space suits just ain't my size and I let that kid to do it."

"My son is just like my husband being adventurous." Maho smiled nicely.

"I also tell that kid to show the universe how we groove here on Earth." Afro said smiling while Garuda shrugs.

"Sponsoring to sent that kid in space just to show off his dance moves to prove to the other universes. That was a ridiculous task you gave me, Afro."

"Look, Baby-Lon was outside of the Earth." Yuni points out on the monitor.

The group sees Baby-Lon was outside of the spaceship as the blast off in space was a success and Baby-Lon enjoys floating around in space and tries to move and groove in space due to its upgraded magical earmuffs. While the group watch the scene, Zero was present and he amuses to see him in space and decided to walk away in satisfactory.

Trivia:

*Alice's performance referencing Koda Kumi's Real Emotion in Final Fantasy X-2 when she performs Terra's "Switch".

*Yuni now wears her party outfit at the end of Emi's Street Master Mode which happens to be her main outfit instead of her maid outfit in DDR X.

*For the first time, Akira learns about Baby-Lon's speaking and walking on its own due to its upgraded magical earmuffs.

*When Rage heavily knees his opponent three times, it was the basic attack used by Gracielo in Granado Espada when he is equipped in gaiters as a playable character.

*While Rage and Retsu deals against Alice's assassins, it is revealed that Baby-Lon was tested by Afro by dancing move and groove after being found by Garuda and Maho that references at the end of his Street Master Mode.

*The entire chapter is based on Baby-Lon's Street Master Mode.