Chapter 6: Confrontation
Mike and Joules quickly jumped into an alleyway as a green and white dirt bike roared past. "That's the third time they've gone past us!" Mike said. "I hope they're not onto me." After checking for anything else out of the ordinary, Mike and Joules resumed their previous course along the sidewalk. "Putting a ghost in charge of the most run-down, gloomy areas of the city. Ingenious," Mike commented.
"Mike?" Joules asked, hovering near Mike's shoulder.
"Yeah, Joules?"
"What's Earth like?"
"Well, it really depends on where you look. In places where Bowser met little or no opposition, the area is left just as it was. There are pristine mountains, beautiful forests, and peaceful rivers. Where people fought Bowser tooth and nail, the area was left in ruins, kinda like this place."
"I had really hoped to see it someday, but I doubt I ever will," Joules said with a hint of regret.
"Oh, don't worry. I've got the feeling that Bowser will be going down soon, and then our two worlds will be able to get together. Believe me, it will happen," Mike said, trying to comfort Joules. Mike gagged internally on the cornyness of that statement. That had to be the most melodramatic thing I've ever said, he thought.
"Stop right there," a commanding voice said from behind them. Mike and Joules stopped dead in their tracks. "Turn around," the voice continued. "Crap," Mike muttered and complied with the voice, which turned out to belong to a stern looking Hammer Brother. Joules darted behind Mike, hiding from the guard. "Take off that silly disguise, human," he said, with a disgusted emphasis on the word "human". Mike took off the poncho and his duffel bag, tossed them against a building, and drew up to his full height, which put him over a foot taller than the guard. Passer-byes were shocked to see a human in the middle of the slums, but most just went along their way, not wanting to get involved. The guard seemed unfazed, however, and called someone on his radio. "Miss, I've found him," he said to the person on the other end. "Understood. We are on Mushroom Lane, in between Flower and Vine. I'll hold him here." Mike thought about making a break for it, but decided against it when he saw the dexterity shown by the guard in handling a hammer in his free hand. Instead, he inched towards his bag, hoping to get his staff so he had something to work with. As he tried, a hammer landed with a loud metallic thud right next to Mike's foot. "Don't even think about it," the guard snarled.
"Joules," he whispered, "you should go. He wants me, not you."
"No, I'm staying here with you," Joules said from his hiding place.
"Joules, don't be stupid. There's no reason for you to get involved in this," Mike shot back in a harsh whisper.
"Who are you talking to?" the Hammer Bros. asked.
"I'm not talking to anyone," Mike said in an innocent voice.
"Come on. I heard some one else there."
"Don't lie to the guard! Tell the truth!" Mike yelled at himself in a harsh tone.
"Oh, don't yell at me. I don't like it when you yell," Mike said in the innocent voice.
"Excuse me, sir," Mike said in a calm, smooth voice. "Don't mind these other two. We've been schizophrenic for a while now. It seems that the therapist didn't help us much."
The guard had a completely stunned expression on his face. Absentmindedly, he brought his radio up to his face and said, "Could you hurry, please? He's starting to act strangely. Suggest prepping the padded cell." Mike continued arguing with himself until two hovercars raced overhead, double backed, and landed. Out of the first car came a dozen koopa troopers. Half of them chased away the building crowd, and the other six trained guns on Mike, who put his hands up in the air. A solitary ghost cam out of the other car who Mike thought he recognized. Bootler? he thought. The ghost, whoever it was, opened the door towards the rear of the second car. Out floated a blue ghost with a red bow that Mike definitely recognized. "Well, well. If it isn't Bow. What gets you out of your humble abode?" Mike said with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"You may address her as 'Lady Bow', young man," Bootler said, dutifully tagging along with Bow.
"There are a few other things I'd like to address her as," Mike retorted.
"Enough," Bow said. "I assume you know why you're being taken captive."
Smirking, Mike said with a childish expression, "No, Bow. I don't know."
"THAT'S 'LADY BOW'," Bow said assertively. She calmed down and said, "Well, since you don't know… Bowser had put a price on your head."
"Is that so? It just goes to show…" Mike said, keeping up the earlier rhyme and getting small grins from some of the guards.
Bow started circling Mike. She said, "And do you know why? Well, it's because of… Joules!?"
Mike turned to Joules and asked in mock anger, "Joules! Did you tell them I was here?"
"But… but… What's he doing here?" Bow stammered.
"I'm here with Mike," Joules said firmly.
"Following in the footsteps of your mother, eh?" Bow asked slyly.
"Leave him alone, you turncoat," Mike said.
"What did you call me?" Bow said, furious.
"A turncoat. You know, someone who swaps sides, a defector, a traitor."
"Why you little…"
"Oh my, I may have made her angry," he said to Joules in a mocking tone.
"THAT'S IT!!!" Bow yelled. She took out her fan and swung it at Mike. Mike took a step back and dodged the swipe. Bow attacked again, three times in succession. Mike easily dodged the three blows by hopping backward. Unfortunately, this jumping had put him with his back to the wall. "HAHA!! I've got you now!" Bow shouted triumphantly. She took a horizontal swing at Mike's neck, intent on snapping it. Mike noticed his bag at his feet. He quickly ducked down to avoid the blow, grabbed his staff, and stabbed it at Bow, hitting her right in the nose. She backed up, clutching her nose. "Guards!" she yelled, "Get him!" The koopas responded by bringing their guns to bare. "No, you morons! We need him alive!" Bow shouted. The koopas moved in to try to incapacate Mike. Suddenly, some of Rose's fighting tips came back to Mike. Don't just swing wildly, plan your attacks. Watch your back, but don't get forced into a wall. Stay calm, don't freak out, they said. Mike looked at the koopa nearest to him. Mike shot out his staff, catching the turtle right between the head and neck. One koopa rushed him, swinging for his head. Mike sidestepped and hit the guard in the back. The hit, added to the koopa's current speed, sent him flying into the wall. Mike hit the next koopa over the head, which sent him hiding into his shell. Mike smiled and kicked the shell. It ricocheted into two other guards. "Five down, one to go," Mike quipped. The last koopa, seemingly the smartest, held his gun by the barrel and looked to use it like a club. The koopa tried an overhead swing which, given the different heights of Mike and the guard, was aimed at Mike's chest. Mike held his staff up, and the two weapons locked together. They stayed like that for a while, each one trying to get the upper hand. Finally, a sharp crack was heard, and Mike's staff broke in two. The gun fell through the split in the wood and scored a decent hit on Mike's sternum. Mike took a few steps back and dropped to one knee, recovering from the hit. He then took the longer of the two broken staff pieces and wielded it like a sword. The guard rushed him, hoping to get in another hit while Mike was recovering. Mike saw him coming and thrust the staff end out. The guard ran straight into the blunt end and fell down, the wind knocked out of him. Mike slowly got to his feet, breathing heavily. Seeing this, the Hammer Brother thought it was a good time for a sneak attack. Joules, who had stayed away from the fighting, saw him ready two hammers, intent on knocking out Mike. "Look out, Mike!" Joules shouted, rushing to help. Mike started to turn around at what seemed to be a painfully slow pace. Joules flew at the Hammer Brother, sparks shooting out from his small body. He hit the Hammer Brother in the chest head on. Electricity coursed through the turtle's body, and he fell to the ground, paralyzed. Joules also fell, exhausted. Mike caught him and said, "Thanks for the help."
"No problem," Joules replied weakly. Mike turned and surveyed the situation. Bow had called the other six guards in to take care of Mike. "The phrase 'A snowball's chance in hell' springs to mind," Mike commented. He sighed. "I can't fight them with Joules in one hand. Not that it makes a difference, considering how tired I am," he continued to himself. The guards were advancing, all of their guns held like clubs. Mike's hopes sunk to the soles of his shoes. He slowly backed away until he hit the wall. He looked around, hoping for some means of escape. Suddenly, a familiar sound roared to life. The dirt bike that had been following Mike screamed into view. The driver drove straight at the line of koopas. They all turned to face this new threat. The driver held out an arm and clotheslined the koopas. The bike turned and skidded to a stop in front of Mike. The rider took off her goggles, and Mike's jaw dropped. "Rose?" he exclaimed.
"For once I have to bail you out of trouble," she said grinning. "Who's the little guy?"
"I'll explain later." Mike got onto the bike and took the extra helmet Rose handed him. He cradled Joules in one arm and wrapped the other around Rose's stomach. Rose let out the clutch and zoomed away from the scene. Faintly Mike could hear Bow yelling, "I'll get you my pretty, and your little light bulb too!" Mike sighed.
"You just had to make those Wizard of Oz jokes, didn't you?" Rose asked.
"Let's just go," Mike said.