By Casey Toh
Disclaimer: The Magician and all related
characters belong to Gaumont Multimedia. The idea of letting Ace, Cosmo, Zina
and Jas helping Vega battle crime for the night comes from Syl Francis's story
'For The Guy Who Has Everything.' No intentional copyright infringement is
intended through their use.
Note: Jas Lee, Jason Brend and
Toby Lee are all unique creations of mine. Please ask before using them. This
story is meant to stand after Lost, But Found, but I decided to put this up
first, 'cause Fathers' Day is only this week.
Dedication: To my grandfather,
my father, my God-father, and all fathers out there in the world! Happy
Fathers' Day!!! J
It was a Saturday night and the whole city was quiet, or so
most of the citizens of Electro City thought. Inside the Magic Express—a bullet-shaped
train that was home to the world-famous celebrity—Ace Cooper, together with his
long-time friend and young charges, were chatting.
Halfway through, Derek Vega's cell phone rang. The man
answered it. "Lieutenant Vega here." He listened to the person at the other end
for a moment, then sighed and rose. "All right, I'll be there." He clicked the
phone off. "Sorry, guys. Friedricks wants me back at the station. Seems that
criminal activities are on the rise tonight."
After the hardened cop left, the remaining trio gazed at each
other. Jas Lee, a teen who was the newest in the team, spoke up, grinning. "You
guys know what day it is tomorrow?"
Cosmo, the redheaded charge of Ace's, smiled back. "It's
Fathers' Day!"
The Magician chuckled, never tiring of Cosmo and Jas's
enthusiasm and crazy ideas. "So what do you guys propose?"
"Well, this is what I have in mind…"
***
"Damn tonight! And damn Friedricks!" Vega cursed as he cuffed
a robber and herded him into the police van.
A young officer grinned. "Tough night, huh, Lieutenant?"
"Get on with your work, kid," Vega retorted good-naturedly.
The young man laughed and took over the herding. The radio in
Vega's own car squawked and he picked it up. "Vega."
The Electro City Police Department's call operator spoke.
"Attempted break-in at the mall. Seven suspects—"
He shut the rest out, called two squads of cops to follow him,
and sped off.
***
"Dudes, I'd advise ya to put those down now." A figure clad in
black from head to toe faced the thugs. His voice sounded ridiculously young to
be a cop's.
The seven thugs squinted in the near darkness to see their
enemy, and when they couldn't spot anyone, clicked on a torch, casting the
light about. They finally found him, just standing there. "Whoever you are,
leave now, or you'd regret it."
Something padded into the small pool of light with a rumble.
The seven shrank back as a huge midnight-black panther advanced and the figure
in black spoke, "I think you guys would be the ones regretting it."
***
"Would you listen if I tell you nicely to return the vase?"
The voice belonged to someone who was in black with a ski mask pulled over his
face. A cloak billowed gently behind him.
"Get lost, mister, whoever you are," the thief snarled. "You
got no business messin' in mine!"
"Very well, then we would have to do this the hard way then."
He strode forward.
The thief waited for the unknown stranger to come within
reach, then lashed out to punch him, only to find that his fist passed right
through the man. He quickly retracted his hand and stared at it in horror. "A
ghost!" He managed.
"More like a hologram." The voice came from behind him. When
he turned to attack, a fist brought him to dreamland in an instant.
***
She grabbed him by the back of his collar, pulling him back
from the clothes he was about to take. "Ah, ah, ah. It's not good to take
things that don't belong to you."
The man, barely older than 27, spun around to punch her, but
she was not there. A tap from behind him alerted him to her presence, but he
could not do anything but try to defend himself against her.
She couldn't do this to him! Not tonight of all nights! He had
to make her see! But he could not get close enough to make his assailant stop.
"Please!" He screamed desperately. "Stop!"
She stopped, more surprised at his tone than anything else.
"Why should I stop?" She demanded, although there was a hint of softness
beneath her voice.
He looked at her mask-covered face, and into her eyes, which
became twin pools of reflections under the influence of the dim lights in the
clothes department. "I…need to get something for my dad. I left him last year
to survive on my own 'cause he didn't have enough to feed the both of us."
She relaxed her stance and offered a hand to help him up. Her
eyes became soft as she said, "Which one did you want?"
Still a little suspicious, the man searched the rack and found
a brown ankle-length duster, all the while keeping half an eye on her, but her
attention was directed at the duster.
She reached out with a gloved hand to take hold of the price
tag, then reached into her pocket and dug out the amount, leaving the cash on
the counter. "Take it. And tell your father this is from you."
"Miss?" She didn't miss the note of gratitude in his voice.
"Thank you."
She turned away. "You're welcome."
He saw the lone tear hanging from her eyes before she left.
***
"Another break-in stopped, Lieutenant," an officer reported.
Vega frowned. Every time he got a call reporting a break-in,
robbery or thefts, the criminals would have already been tied up, nicely
delivered to him. And as he analyzed statements after statements, he realized
that there was a pattern: someone with a big cat, another who had a cloak like
Batman, and the last who was more female than male.
Three people. All in black. One with a cloak. One with a cat.
One female. Ooohh man. He knew who they were. There could be no mistake.
A smile suddenly formed on his face as he retired for the
night (or morning, considering it's 3:43am).
***
"Gosh, I didn't know it was so tough to be a cop." Cosmo plopped
down on the couch, giving his body a well-deserved rest.
Jas, who should be used to it, stretched her aching muscles
and cracked her knuckles. "Now I understand why Vega is so grouchy everyday."
Ace actually found the energy to laugh. "The perfect Father's
Day gift for him."
They didn't expect the all too familiar voice to chortle, "You
guys are nuts."
"Vega!" Cosmo leapt off the couch as the lights brightened by
a fraction, revealing the cop who had stood there under the concealing cloak of
darkness.
The man walked into the living hall with an uncharacteristic
smile on his face, giving Zina's head a good rub as he passed her. "Reports
came in from all over the city. I spotted a pattern, and put it together."
"Yeah, well…" She glanced at her watch. It read 4:30am. "Happy
Father's Day, Vega." She grinned.
The cop shook his head in frank admiration, running a hand
through his graying hair. His eyes traveled slowly over the trio, scrutinizing
them, taking in every minute detail. Unidentified emotions raged in his gray
eyes and seeped to his face.
Without warning, he stepped forward and hugged Jas. She
returned it without any hesitation. "Thanks kiddo."
"No problem, Vega…Dad."
The man turned his gaze to Cosmo, and offered him a hand to
shake, knowing that the young man was not accustomed in showing his real
feelings. The teen looked at the hand, then shook his head and hugged Vega.
"This is for all the times you bugged me for jaywalking, old coot."
Vega laughed and punched Cosmo on the arm lightly. "Yeah,
well, I'll still do that." He faced Ace, his oldest son. Ever since he pulled
Ace out from a life of crime, he had made sure he was there to guide the
younger man. "And you…"
The Magician grinned and settled into the older man's embrace.
Vega had been a father to him, and had indirectly taught him the secrets of
parenthood, which he now put to good use teaching Cosmo and Jas. Because of
Vega, he had found a family. "I love you, Vega."
The Lieutenant mock-grimaced at the unexpected show of
affection, then smiled. "Love you too, son." He gazed at all of them. "I love
you all."
"We love you too, Dad," all of them chorused.
Vega settled into an armchair, propping his legs up on the
table. "Now, how about breakfast?" He grinned wickedly.
"Vega!" They complained and pounced on him. A tickling war
began.
***
Not having been able to sleep—however tired they were—Cosmo
and Jas stayed in Cosmo's room, racking their brains for another gift to give.
"So, sis," Cosmo ran a hand through his gravity-defying red
hair, "what do you think Ace would want? I mean, he's practically the richest
guy in Electro City!"
"Yeah, you're right, bro," Jas concurred. "Hm…one of the most
important things in Ace's life is his shows. He's constantly trying to come up
with new ideas. So how about you do the effects, I'll think of the tricks?"
"Awesome idea, dudette!" The redheaded teen exclaimed. "Let's
start now!"
They dug out some papers and pencils, and went about
discussing their idea.
***
When Ace got up near noon, he found breakfast—or rather,
lunch—waiting for him. He stood by the table, scratching his head in
puzzlement. Who did this? He wondered. Of course! Cosmo and Jas!
He grinned and sat down to enjoy the food his young charges
had taken the effort to make. They were simple—eggs, toast, sausages, and a cup
of black coffee, just the way he liked it—but it was the nicest breakfast he
had ever tasted in his life.
Only when he finished did he see the note taped onto the
refrigerator. Meet us in the training room when you get up, Ace. The
Magician smiled, and did.
***
"Ace is currently on his way here," Angel, the AI running the
entire Magic Express, informed.
The teens panicked. They weren't finished yet! They hadn't
expected Ace to wake up that early!
They ran around the room, closing programs and hiding props,
when their mentor entered. Cosmo and Jas both shouted out in surprise and
stopped dead in their tracks, staring at Ace in horror.
"So, what do you guys have for me?" The Magician rested
against the doorframe and placed a hand on his hip, gazing steadily at his
charges.
"Um…uh…ah…" Jas glanced at Cosmo desperately.
"We were, uh, just fixing up new programs," the redheaded teen
tried.
Ace raised a brow. "Oh? Angel, run the programs Cosmo and Jas
have just fixed." He grinned wickedly as holograms of new untested tricks ran.
The longer he watched, the more impressed he was. His face lost the smile and
he turned serious. "Come 'ere, guys."
The teens did, not meeting their older friend's eyes. Ace
gazed at them for a moment, and enveloped both of them in a hug. Their arms
went around him in an instant. "Thank you, Cosmo, Jas. I…don't know what to
say."
They grinned. "Happy Father's Day, Ace."
***
Someone knocked on his door. "Gimme a minute!" He called out
to whoever it was and pulled on a shirt. When he opened the door, he froze in
surprise. "J-Jas?"
The blonde teen smiled. "Could I come in?"
"Sure." Toby Lee opened the door wider to allow the girl in.
"So, do you want any drinks?"
"No, thank you." She produced a small wrapped package from
behind her back. "This is for you."
Lee looked at the gift and shook his head. "I-I can't, not
after how I've—"
She took his hand and placed the gift in it. "Please take it.
I insist."
They sat down and had a short talk. Jas scanned the room she
was in. It was decorated simply, but neatly, and the appearance of Lee had
become nicer. "So, where are you working at now?"
"The Stock Exchange," Lee said.
Jas smiled. "That's great!" She glanced at her watch. It was
getting late. "I need to go now. I'll see you again."
Lee saw the teen to the door. Before she left, she passed him
an envelope. "Enjoy today." Then she was gone.
He remained at the door staring after her retreating back, and
opened the envelope. In it was a card and some cash. He read her words, "Have
a Happy Father's Day…Dad."
"Thank you, Jas." He most certainly will.
***
"You coming in, sis?" Cosmo poked his head out of the door.
"It's getting cold out here."
"I'll be in soon, bro." Jas continued gazing at the stars. Their
twinkling seemed like eyes looking down at her. "Dad?" She whispered. "I love
you, and I miss you."
She started performing a kata. In her mind, an elderly
gentleman joined her in her movements. "Jaguar."
"Dad." She hugged him (in her mind while her body continued
with the kata).
"You have learnt well, Jas, and I am proud."
She smiled. "Happy Father's Day, Dad."
"Thank you, Jaguar." He pecked her on the cheek. "Now go on
inside. It's getting chilly."
Jas laughed. "Yeah, okay. I'll talk to you again soon."
She withdrew from her mind to see Ace and Cosmo beside her.
"Talking to Mr. Brend?" Ace had seen everything through the psychic rapport
they shared.
"Yep."
"Cool." Cosmo smiled.
"Yeah." She knew that he meant it.
Together, they stood outside the Magic Express, gazing at the
thousands of twinkling stars, and knew that they have made their fathers proud.
A Day To Remember
By: Casey Toh