Chapter 11: The Chief Scientist's Departure

At the hotel within Disco Town, Garuda continued his research about the X-Pac terrorist organization and to his discovery that Kharam had destroyed his entire country by using suicide bombings. He was soon received a video call from Liana using Skype and the two converse.

"You need to get back to Japan, Garuda. A lot of students are concerning about your absence."

"I know my tomorrow's flight, Liana. Living in the United States would be a rough road to have a new job and earn money."

"Seems like you visited Rage, haven't you? As you know your son came to inform me about your travels here and also to inform Rage that they missed him after he had left." Liana smiled and Garuda smirks in happiness.

"That guy is one big pain in the ass and the reason of why Rage would be staying in the US. All right, I'll get back to Japan tomorrow. I need one last task that I need to do here in Afro's own town."

As soon as he hung up, he saw Zero was present who observes at him and he knew something about the terrorist organization.

"So Afro was right about ya, you're the one who beat Rage and the others for a dance battle. As well as you must be the former medic officer working the enemy's sidelines."

"I've never seen the world renowned scientist has guessed my former occupation. I don't need to speak with them either. I came here for a purpose and I want to stop Kharam for his tyranny and destruction." Zero said becoming straight forward towards Garuda. "I don't like my very own town to be jeopardize by his bombings."

"It seems that you know more about the terrorist organization's motives. Can you give me a lot of details?" Garuda said asking Zero to get more information about X-Pac which he smiles and decided to give information to him.

At MAX Carnival, we can see Rage earns a lot of dollars when his Cheesebomb flavored Takoyaki becomes the best seller along with its original one while Beechum continues to cook. Retsu, Emi and Gus came to see them both.

"Sup, Retsu and you too Ems... what are you doing here?"

"Rage, your grandfather is leaving tomorrow. Aren't you gonna visit him at the hotel?" Emi said informing Rage about Garuda and Rage became saddened by this.

"Gramps is so busy researching about our current enemy nowadays. And he'd never try my takoyaki that I was currently making. He even guessed what I've done to my parents back in Japan of why I decided to leave here for United States to strike up my own business."

"I guess Sir Garuda wanted to maintain the school business in EMTI, Reiji. I remember that time when someone wanted to take over the entire school twice." Retsu said remembering the times when he studied to his school while their previous enemies had wanted to take over their school business for corruptive practices.

"By the way, Retsu... why is Gus doing at the carnival today?"

"Honestly, he has some DJ party for tonight and he likes to try your takoyaki for once." Retsu answered which Gus likes to see how they cooked takoyaki.

"Hmmm, Interesting stuff you're making there."

"Hey, wanna try some?"

"I guess." Gus answered while trying to know what is inside the takoyaki he was making. "What's in' em?"

"...Why don't you eat it and find out?" Rage said wanted to guess what inside the takoyaki he was making causing Gus to rudely remark about him.

"Nice try. I think I'll pass."

"Don't be rude, Gus. Rage likes to guess for the customers about the original flavors of the takoyaki. Sometimes, me and Yuni had tried cooking takoyaki in different flavors."

"Emi was right, Gus. There's a lot of selection flavors of the takoyaki that Rage had cooked. He already upgraded since his original flavor got a bigger hit. If you're good on eating a grill squid." Retsu said as both are trying to clarify on Gus which he soon faces Rage.

"I'll tell you what, though. If I beat you, you tell me what's in it."

Both noticed that Gus wanted to challenge Rage in a dance battle which he clearly accepts.

"You're on, Gus. If you lose, you bite!"

When both are trying to compete each other in a dance battle with the song "Puzzle" has been played, Retsu receives a call from his PDA by Peggy while Emi is with him.

"Hey, Peggy... what is it?"

"We have a problem Retsu. The world renowned inventor and chief scientist of EMTI Garuda Renken Itoh has been targeted by the X-Pac. You have to stop them before they can capture him."

"I'll inform Reiji about this situation, Peggy. But right now, they are competing each other. I'll call you soon."

As Retsu hung up his PDA, Rage and Gus are seen dancing in a very competitive way, which impresses all of the customers including Beechum as they demonstrated their dance moves. As soon as the song had ended, both got a grade of A's but Rage had bested Gus in score making him eat his takoyaki and to the amusement of both Emi and Retsu. Gus finally eats the takoyaki following his loss to Rage.

"What do you think? Not bad, eh?"

"Not bad at all. Never told me what's in em, though." Gus said but Rage didn't told him about what's inside of his takoyaki causing him to get angrily annoyed.

"I said I'll tell you if you won. What's it matter anyway. As long as it tastes good, right?"

"That was an octopus, Gus. It was legit." Emi finally tells Gus about what's inside the takoyaki and he nods in agreement.

"Retsu was right about the grill squid he had mentioned. The octopus meat inside the takoyaki is just like I eat a fruity squid."

Rage smiles when he allows Emi to tell Gus about the takoyaki he was making and Retsu finally tells them about Garuda being targeted by the terrorist organization.

"I have bad news, Reiji. Sir Garuda was targeted by the terrorist organization. It seems like he already got more vital information on them."

"What!? Gramps is innocent... how would you say that!?"

"Those bastards are not giving up to ruin this place." Gus said knowing of their terrorism which he decided to help them. "Maybe I should help you out. Professor Garuda is my idol when it comes to his unique and powerful inventions. He even let me use one of them."

"So Rage, what place your grandfather is going next?" Emi asked worriedly about Garuda and Rage knows where he's going.

"I think he's gonna visit me at the carnival tonight with both Louis and that no good for nothing Queenie Zukin. He likes to tour them both."

"That will be the perfect place to distract and subdue the enemy, don't you think?" Retsu said while looking on Gus.

"As a DJ, playing louder music was enough to distract the amusement park goers so that they think it's a dance party but it was an actual entrapment for both of you to take those terrorist down."

"Right and Beechum... you look after our takoyaki stall while I had to deal those bastards who tries to touch my grandpa. Just like they did it to me." Rage said telling Beechum to look after their stall which he nods in agreement.

In the middle of the night, Garuda is with Louis-CONSENT III and Queen Zukin visits the MAX Carnival as a way to take them to amusement parks.

"I really missed this place. Those carnivals and coaster rides. They're my favorite."

"I wish if I had to construct these place at my home planet at Robobo Star."

"Now you better enjoy yourselves, you two. I need to visit my grandson who is busy cooking some street food." Garuda said allowing both to explore the carnival.

However, Garuda sensed someone's presence as he took them down with a roundhouse kick causing the park goers to run away in fright. Garuda noticed the military men sent by Kharam to capture him.

"So then... your old hydra wants me to become a suicide bomber, huh. Don't make me laugh cause I don't want to become one and destroys the whole town with it!"

Garuda then holds them off one by one until Gus manages to play the same music as he was beaten by Rage in a dance battle with the song "Puzzle" and it was a full version of the song. Garuda became exhausted to due to his age and one of them attempts to knock him with a baton. Retsu manages to shoot the soldier's head on time and Rage arrives to protect his grandfather from the soldiers.

"Reiji, you made it in time... I like to come to your place but these guys are definitely showed up."

"Are you up for it, gramps? I'm not letting these bastards to capture you." Rage smirks on his grandfather and Retsu loads the bullets from his handgun and likes to battle them as well.

"I let Gus to play louder music so that the party goers think they're having a disco. Let's get it on."

All three of them battle the soldiers with their respective fighting styles as Emi tries to protect Louis-CONCENT III and Queen Zukin and she finally learns why Garuda is trying to stop the terrorist from terrorising the whole town.

"So the old cretin was right about those soldiers. They are good enough for me on making some boorish nightmares on them."

With both Rage and Retsu's assistance, the soldiers immediately retreated and realizing they were overpowered. Rage tries to help his grandfather stand up and knowing he's getting old as Gus gave him some water after playing the whole song while DJing to distract the park goers.

"Here, Professor... You really do beat those guys."

"Thanks for the water, Gus." Garuda said thankfully.

Afterwards, Garuda had taste Rage's takoyaki before going back to Japan tomorrow as Gus had tried the cheesebomb flavored takoyaki as opposed to the original one he had eaten earlier. Garuda was impressed of Rage's own takoyaki business as he reminisces the time he started his school business when his inventions takes a bigger hit.

"So, gramps... how's my cooking?"

"You have gotten improved, Reiji. No wonder why you decided to leave Japan to strike up your own business in the United States. My son was annoyed after learning of your departure." Garuda answered while looking at him. "You're just like me when I wanted to strike up my own school business here in Japan."

"I simply don't like their chores, grandpa. When they keep asking me a lot of errands at the liquor shop. This makes my decision to leave Japan for the United States to fulfill my American Dream." Rage said knowing of his dislike of chores and explains to him. "But living here was totally rough so I decided to take odd jobs and to dance as a local street dancer until I started cooking takoyaki. That's what my parents like about me when I cooked something and they feel like they take a ballroom dancing."

"Hahaha... a street dancer like yourself had turned into a chef who cooks takoyaki. Take note, Reiji, takoyaki is a very common street food in various places in Japan. And since you sell it to everyone including foreigners here in the United States that would get you a lot of US dollars." Garuda laughed and was honorable to see him. "Gladly, that you had inherited from me, Reiji. You're not like my son who simply enjoys selling liquors everyday. We had different tastes in making our own business. Just keep that up..."

"Thanks, grandpa..."

The next morning at the airport, Garuda decided to leave back to Japan to handle his duties as the director of EMTI due to Liana's concern and was happy to see them again.

"It seems that you're going back to EMTI, gramps."

"Yep, Liana was worried for me if I abandoned my school business because of my absence. At least that I visited to see you and your friends for a week. I let Afro to take my reigns if the terrorist organization would strike again."

"Really?"

"Yes, Zero confirms to me about more vital information about the terrorist organization and seeing that these terrorists are not just to abduct people in Disco Town but throughout the United States. And also Reiji, you had to travel in different places around the United States if you want your takoyaki business to go booming." Garuda said giving Rage some advice in making his takoyaki business successful which he accepts.

"Oh right... I'd never travel around the United States aside from New York or here in Disco Town."

"I'm glad that to meet you again, Professor Garuda. You rock." Julio smiled in excitement as Gus also waved at his idol and Garuda gives them a thumbs up before he departed.

Rage smiles to see his grandfather leave and realizing he had been following his grandfather's advice the whole time and he happily shouts at him.

"Thanks for ya business advice, gramps. Tell my dad and my mom that I'm already fine in the US!"

"I'll keep ya word, Reiji!"

As the plane soon flies, Afro also arrives at the airport, too late and became disappointed when he had already left and he sees Rage, Emi, Retsu, Julio and Gus just got out of the airport and soon reunites with them.

"Darn... he didn't let say goodbye when he left back to Japan."

"It's all right, Afro. I heard that gramps is saying that you're gonna take over what he started when he had stayed for a week." Rage said getting confident over Afro's current duties.

"Oh that's right... it's about the X-Pac terrorist organization. Thanks to Zero, he gave Garuda some more information regarding about their real motives. They had many targets all around United States aside from my own town. And I guess your first mission is protecting this racing star named Bonnie. She is some sort of my rival when we had a previous car race and I think these bastards who wreck my 10th anniversary party might try to target her for their cause."

"So where's the race track being held, Mr. Disco King?" Retsu asked which Afro reveals it.

"Ahhh... it was in Los Angeles, California where the Hurley twins live and also I'm the king of the race track."

"Well Reiji, Los Angeles will be the first place to sell your takoyaki for the masses. Cause we're gonna stop those terrorists from capturing the innocent." Retsu said informing him of his first mark and he states.

"That's right... I'm gonna meet Johnny and Jenny very soon and I'm just getting started to make my takoyaki business a bigger hit in the entire United States."

"But what about your takoyaki stall at MAX Carnival, Rage?" Emi asked which Rage tells her.

"Beechum will take over while I was away. And I'm sure I will brought my takoyaki stand whenever I pass through those places."

"Beechum is a reliable person when it comes to any businesses. He hasn't changed after I stayed here in the United States until he tags along with you, Reiji." Retsu complimented on Beechum's efforts and Rage shrugs and Gus informs them.

"I'm sure either Yuni or Alice would tag along with your missions if you travel around the United States, I'm already been there many times. I'll stay here in either in EXTRA Mall or in MAX Carnival at Disco Town. I could inform Retsu by calling with our cellphones."

"Queen Zukin and Louis-CONSENT III will be staying around at the Verse Mansion to take refuge after they found out about the incident yesterday. I might meet you at Los Angeles soon cause I had an invitation at their race track and my trip there will be in three days." Afro also tells them about his role as a car racer.

"Okay... we'll go to Los Angeles, guys. This is my first mark of my quest to make my takoyaki famous!" Rage said in excitement and this is first step of his own quest to make his takoyaki business successful by taking trips around the United States aside in Disco Town and their mission to save people from the kidnappings by the X-Pac is about to begin.

Trivia:

*Liana's appearance resembling Blair Dame in Street Fighter EX series and Fighting EX Layer as her appearance in before DDR SuperNOVA is based on Natsumi Tsujimoto in the manga/anime, You're Under Arrest.

*Rage's dance battle with Gus is based on the actual game during Rage's Street Master Mode.

*The way Garuda fights the soldiers from the terrorist organization is much like in my fic DDRMAX: Operation Protect Disco.

*Retsu reveals that Gus loves eating fruity grill squid and the reason Gus wanted to try eating Rage's takoyaki until Emi reveals to him about Rage's guess about the octopus inside of the takoyaki.

*Gus plays the song "Puzzle" by Nippon Shonen which happens to be the same song he had lost to Rage during the dance battle in the game and enables him to play the full version of the song as a distraction for the amusement park goers when involves on actual battles.

*Afro reveals himself being the king of race track which foreshadows his role in Bonnie's Street Master Mode when he faces Bonnie.