Ah, chapter 25. I'm almost home free, I can smell it. Can you smell that, Jet?
Jet: Smells like the end of my future.
What's that, Jet?
Jet: Seriously, what's left for me after this story ends? I was hoping I could work here forever. But after this is over I've got no Cowboy Bebop to go home to. Maybe I'll be a high school janitor.
That's the spirit! You could always have a minimum wage job somewhere! You always see the bright side of things, Jet!
Jet: (moans and cries)
Anyways everyone, I've had some rough times lately, so If this and the last couple chapters have been really bad or poorly written, that's why. If the chapters before those seem really bad or poorly written, it's because I'm a bad writer. Now let's start the chapter!
"Yes...yes...alright! OHMYGODYESYES! I did it! YESGODYES!" said Gene, once again looking under the hood of the Party Ship. "Guys, come here! I found what the problem is!"
"Fe fi fo fum! I smell Gene and he's being dumb!" yelled Aisha, flying into the room and kicking him in face.
"Ow..." moaned Gene, clutching his broken face.
"Sorry. What did you find?" asked Aisha.
"I found...SUZUKA'S EVERCLEAR CDS!" said Gene, pulling s stack of cds out of the engine. "They were lodged in Gilliam's AI whatever, I think it's what made him all evil!"
"This is enough to make anyone evil." said Aisha solemnly.
"That is true." said Gene. "But...Why isn't it working on Suzuka? Why isn't she insane and evil? Has she built up an immunity?"
"Hey guys, I'm back." said Suzuka, walking into the room drenched in blood and looking grumpy. "You wouldn't believe what happened. I was out there doing the usual business, you know, slaughtering innocent children like pigs for money. But then suddenly I realize: 'Whoa! I forgot my sword!' So I have to BEAT the children to death with their own ARMS to make them die! Can you believe that? And as if that wasn't enough, I kept on rupturing their arteries! Sure, THEY get a slow and
painful death, but what do I get? Covered in their putrid life essence, that's what! Gah! I need to go let off some tension on some elderly people, this day has my nerves all shot. Where's my club?"
"Suzuka, have you built up an immunity to your Everclear CDs? How can you listen to them without going insane?" asked Gene. "Your resistence to their crap astounds us all."
"You found my Everclear CDs?" asked Suzuka. "Give them to me or I'll gut you."
"I guess it's safe." said Gene. "You obviously aren't insane at all, so I guess you can have them. What do you think, Aisha?"
"Definitely. Nobody in the whole universe is more sane than Suzuka." said Aisha, handing Suzuka the CDs.
"I missed you, oh lovely CDs." said Suzuka softly, caressing them and whispering sweet nothings to them. "We shall never be apart now. Nothing will come between us. It is you and I forever, my lovelies."
"Yep, I think we made the right decision." said Gene warmly. Suddenly the telephone rang.
"I'll get it." said Aisha calmly, walking over and picking up the phone. "Hello? Oh, hey. What? No. No. Sick. What the hell is wrong with you? Oh my god, that's so disgusting! How the hell did you get this number! Oh my god, I'm gonna throw up! Seriously, shut up man! Isn't that illegal! Oh, yeah. She's here." Aisha covered the mouthpiece and looked at Suzuka. "It's Susan."
"Susan? What does she want?" asked Suzuka.
"You want me to tell you? In a R rated story? Yeah, right." said Aisha.
"Point taken." said Suzuka, taking the phone from Aisha. "Hello? Susan?"
"Hey there, Suzuka!" said Susan's voice. "What's cooking, good looking?"
"Nothing." said Suzuka. "I smell something burning though...GENE, THE ENGINE!"
"Nothing to worry about!" said Gene, putting out the 10-foot flames erupting from the Party Ship's engine with a fire extinguisher. "Still lights up like that every once in a while. Can't seem to figure it out yet."
"What's that?" asked Susan. "Something on fire besides my heart? For YOU, baby?"
"Don't call me baby." said Suzuka.
"Okay then, sexy goddess of love." said Susan.
"Don't call me that either." siad Suzuka. "Is there a point to this call, or did you just call to bother me?"
"Both." said Susan. "Wanna go out dancing? We don't have to call it a date if you don't want to. We could call it a lively outing between two old friends. We could even pretend to be checking out guys if that'd make you feel better about it. What do you say?"
"UGH!" said Suzuka, slamming down the phone. "She's so stupid, doesn't she get the hint? WHERE THE HELL IS MY CLUB, GENE!"
"Your club? You mean the one with the spikes?" said Gene.
"I wasn't thinking about that one, but actually that sounds really nice." said Suzuka. "Very relaxing. Where is it?"
"I think it's in the garage next to the exercise machine." said Gene.
"Kay. Later." said Suzuka, heading out the door.
"Guess I'd better call Susan back then." said Aisha. "Suzuka was in such a hurry she forgot to tell Susan that she wanted to go!"
"Yeah, it'd suck if the news never got to her and Suzuka was kept waiting all night." Gene agreed.
"Hello? Yeah, Susan, it's Aisha. Suzuka wants you to pick her up at 6 tonight. She'd also like it if you wore something sexy, dress like a lingerie model. Or a playboy bunny. Or put on some glasses, tie your hair up, and go for the shy and introverted spinster look. Suzuka likes it when her women play hard to get. Yeah, no problem. No, no that's perfectly fine. Really, you don't need to repay in a 'sexful' way, I'm just fine. Buhbye now."
"Suzuka doesn't know just how much we do for her." said Gene, satisfied.
"What would she do without us?" asked Aisha.
Wow, I'm feeling sick. You'd be amazed at how sick I feel right now. I feel sick. I wonder how good a chapter I can do on this level of sickness. I bet I can make a really great one. Let's find out. So anyways they were on da Geomancer. You know what? This isn't working. I'm going to sleep. Okay, it's the next day and I'm feeling better. Not much better, mind you. I could still fill up Lake Michigan with my mucous, but at least it's not the Indian Ocean anymore. So here they are on this fine and dandy Geomancer. Hazanko, Tobeigera, Leilong, and Jukei were hanging out.
"Tobeigera, shut up." said Hazanko. "Nobody cares about your new invention!"
"Yeah, right. It's PENGUIN PENCIL POPS, man." said Tobeigera. "Handy #2 pencils with penguin-shaped lollipops on the end for classroom snacking!"
"I think you're an idiot." said Leilong.
"Go kill yourself and save us the trouble." said Jukei.
"You guys would miss me if I left and you know it!" yelled Tobeigera, whipping out his escape raft and trying to inflate it.
"God, not AGAIN." moaned Hazanko, putting his face in his hands.
"You'll all (huff) regret (puff) making fun of me!" huffed and puffed Tobeigera into the raft. "One day you'll (wheeze) see how important I (huff) am to this place!"
"Hey guys, what's up?" asked Iraga, entering the room. She glanced at Tobeigera. "AGAIN? That's the fourth time this week!"
"Yeah." said Leilong as Tobeigera passed out from lack of oxygen. "I can't believe him."
"What if he actually does it one day, Hazanko?" asked Jukei. "What will we do?"
"Don't speak of such things. He will never do it." said Hazanko darkly.
"It would be oh so horrible if he did!" said Leilong, shuddering.
"Bah. Keep your wits about you. We're headed for the Galactic Leyline and you need to be on your toes!" said Hazanko.
"THE WHAT!" yelled Jukei.
"How do you expect to get us to the Leyline's new relocated position!" asked Iraga.
"Well, it's a funny story actually." said Hazanko. "I was cleaning out the Geomancer's glove compartment, and there were a bunch of old maps and stuff in there. Well, I was looking over, planning the location for the next Anten summer vacation, when I see KOA's Galactic Leyline camping guide! It had directions and everything!"
"What'd you do next?" asked Leilong.
"I jumped up and clicked my heels together." said Hazanko.
"Oh." said Leilong.
"Yeah, it was pretty awesome." agreed Hazanko. "So put on you Galactic Leyline fan club t-shirts everybody!"
"Awwww...do we have to?" moaned Jukei. "Everyone's gonna know we're tourists!"
"No they won't! Whatever gave you that idea?" said Hazanko indignantly.
"You always make us wear these really stupid looking outfits whenever we go on vacation." said Iraga. "They generally either get us branded as tourists or idiots."
"Psh. Give a specific example." said Hazanko.
"How about when we went to Germany and you dressed us all in Nazi uniforms?" asked Leilong.
"We got a lot of reactions!" said Hazanko defensively.
"Rise and shine, sleepy toad." said Ron, shining a flashlight into Harry's eyes.
"Wh-what happened?" asked Harry.
"You sucked out your own brains." said Ron, helping Harry to sit up.
"But me and Hilda rebuilt you."
"Wow, how convenient to the plot." said Harry.
"Yep. Not only that, but you're a navigation system now!" said Ron.
"You're a navigation system! Isn't that wonderful, Harry?"
"Navigation system? But I wanted to be a FIREMAN!" sobbed Harry.
"Navigation systems are BETTER!" insisted Ron.
"I WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT! AN ASTRONAUT!" shrieked Harry.
"Harry, this is the space age. Everyone's an astronaut." said Ron.
"Then I've accomplished my life goal!" yelled Harry, jumping on his bed. "What should I do now?"
"How about being a navigation system?" asked Ron.
"Sounds great!" cheered Harry, giving Ron a thumbs up.
"Wonderful." said Ron.
"Well, I've just got the sudden urge to FLY US TO THE GALACTIC LEYLINE!" yelled Harry joyfully.
"Galactic Leyline? What makes you wanna go there?" asked Ron.
"Call it a MESSAGE FROM ABOVE!" said Harry. "Or poor writing. Let's get going!"
"Alrighty then! Let's make this room our SECRET BASE!" said Hilda giddily. "Let's clear out all this trash!"
"What trash? This stuff'll be WORTH SOMETHING someday!" said Ron, picking up an antiquated troll doll.
"That's nonsense." said Harry. "What about this picture of someone else's family you picked up at a garage sale?"
"It's a lovely conversation piece for if we actually meet any of these people!" said Ron.
"And this dead and decaying babysitter? Gah, TACKY!" said Hilda, lifting up the babysitter's corpse.
"Whoa, she actually died?" asked Harry, running over to examine her.
"I was thinking she was some sort of immortal being."
"Nope, she's definitely dead." said Ron, checking her pulse.
"I can't believe she's really gone!" sobbed Harry, collapsing onto her.
"Yuck! Don't, you'll get dried and caked blood on your newly-washed shirt!" said Ron.
"I don't care! I can't let go of her this easily! She was like...like family!" cried Harry.
"I know this is hard for you, Harry." said Ron. "But she died slowly and horribly over a timespan of 6 months. She felt lots and lots of pain. Most likely every moment for her was torment. She died alone and without a single friend. But at leas-"
"Wow, thanks! I feel way better!" said Harry happily, standing up. "Galactic Leyline or bust!"
"I choose bust!" said Hilda joyfully.
"Shut up, Hilda." said Ron. "Anyways Harry, get in your navigation fish tank. Good thing we're on board our ship!"
"No you aren't. You're on MY ship." said Hilda.
"Don't let him hear you say that!" Ron whispered.
"What are you talking abou-AIGH!" shrieked Hilda as I smacked her with a fish the size of Delaware.
"Haha, no way that would fit on board this ship!" chuckled Harry. I smacked him too, then I took off.
"Now you see! Now you see what happens when you point out plot holes!" said Ron, enraged. He calmed down and sat in the pilot's seat of his ship, the newly christened Lovin' Spoonful. "Now...isn't it GREAT how we're on board our ship?"
"Yes..." moaned Harry.
"But what about Horus!" sobbed Hilda. "Oh Horus, you are gone now but I'll be with you soon!" Hilda stabbed herself in the stomach.
"Oh my god!" yelped Ron.
"Damnation!" yelled Hilda, tossing the now-broken knife aside. "I'm wearing my stupid suicide-protection stomach guard again!" She stood up and shook a fist at the heavens. "NEXT TIME, I WON'T BE SO LUCKY! MARK MY WORDS!"
"Ah, is that you, Miss Suzuka?" inquired a familiar looking face.
"Eh? What do you want?" asked Suzuka.
"You don't recognize me? It's me, your old psychologist. Dr. Defret." said Dr. Defret.
"That's right. You're the guy with the stupid jibberish name that JHeman just pulled out of thin air and now regrets." said Suzuka.
"You bet I am!" said Dr. Defret. "Suzuka, you look like you need someone to talk to."
"Do I?" asked Suzuka. "What makes you say that?"
"I dunno, you just seem to be unsettled and feeling a little off." said Dr. Defret. "Can't put my finger on what it could be. Look Suzuka, I really must talk to you. Come with me." said Dr. Defret.
"Uh, what should I do with this old guy?" asked Suzuka.
"Stop gouging out my eyes, you little punk!" said some old guy whose eyes were being gouged by Suzuka. "If you didn't just blind me, you'd be sorry! I used to be in the navy, you know! I'd tear you apart!"
"Just kill him or let him go or something." said Dr. Defret. "I really must talk to you alone."
"I'll put him right back where I found him." said Suzuka, putting him back in the burning building she rescued him from, then walking with Dr. Defret to his office.
"Come in, sit down." said Dr. Defret.
"There's no chairs." Suzuka pointed out.
"The floor's clean." said Defret rudely.
"Uh, okay." said Suzuka, stretching out on the floor. Defret sat crosslegged next to her, clipboard in hand.
"Now then, tell me about your violence." said Defret.
"Violence! VIOLENCE!" yelled Suzuka, jumping up and smashing one of the windows with Defret's table lamp. "I HAVE NO VIOLENCE!"
"If you say so!" said Defret cheerfully, writing 'NOT VIOLENT' on his clipboard. "Now, I want you to tell me about your love life."
"Love life? What love life?" said Suzuka, laying back down on the floor. "This guy who I dated once and like a lot thinks I hate him. Also, my first sexual experience in 4 years came from the weirdo who killed my family. I'm not even going to get INTO the horribly unwanted sexual tension between me and Ais-"
"Weirdo who killed your family?" asked Defret. "I thought YOU killed your family."
"Did you? What made you think that?" asked Suzuka.
"You told me something along those lines last time we talked." said Dr. Defret. "Ah well, forget it. I must be mistaken."
"Must be." said Suzuka.
"Now then, this is going to be the biggest step in our therapy." said Defret. "I want you to have a long, intense flashback into your childhood."
"What do you mean?" asked Suzuka.
"Just flash back. You can press your eyeballs for the cheesy flashback technique if you want." said Defret.
"Well, okay." gulped Suzuka, pressing hard on her eyeballs. There was a flash of color, and suddenly she felt herself lying on concrete rather than Defret's thick shag carpet.
"Excellent. It worked." said Defret, extending a hand and helping Suzuka to stand up. Suzuka stood up and looked around.
"Wh-what the hell? Where am I?" asked Suzuka.
"How would I know? You tell me. It's YOUR memory." said Defret.
"Oh. Right." said Suzuka. She looked around. She was at a lighthearted school-type area, in front of the building. She quickly decided that it was a school. "This is my middle school."
"Ah, I see." said Defret, jotting something down on his clipboard. "Is that you, over there?"
Suzuka looked. It was indeed her. Yeah, Suzuka in a schoolgirl uniform. I hereby give you all permission to drool. "Yup, that's me. Hey, what the hell are you doing here? This is MY flashback."
"Never mind that." said Defret. "And who's that with you? Friend of yours?" He pointed to an attractive brown-haired girl Suzuka was talking with.
"Yeah, that's Susan. I've known her since the day after my parents died." said Suzuka. "She's been a good friend."
"I see, I see." said Defret, writing frantically. They both watched as the scene from Suzuka's memories unfolded.
"So Suzuka, how'd your new weight loss plan work out?" asked Young Susan, sitting on a small wall.
"Not very well." said Young Suzuka, leaning against the wall. "I couldn't find anyone to give me a ride to the Organ Donation Center."
"Oh well, it's probably for the better." said Susan. "You know Suzuka, you really don't need to lose weight at all. You look great. You're really slim, and you have nice hips and an ample bust. You're perfect, so don't worry about your weight."
"You're creepy." said Young Suzuka. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a lesbian or something."
"You always say that, sexy." Susan chuckled warmly, and they high fived.
"Uh oh, here come Jukei, Hitoriga, and Leilong. The biggest womanizers in school." said Suzuka. "Quick, act unnatractive!"
"Hey there ladies!" chuckled Young Hitoriga.
"Hey sexy, how'd you like to kiss me and give me oral sex?" said Young Leilong to Susan.
"You mean like I did to your mom last night?" asked Susan.
"Ooooh, feisty eh?" laughed Leilong.
"I wasn't kidding." said Susan. "I've got her phone number but now that I've scored with her I never intend to call her back."
"You...You evil bitch!" yelled Leilong, dropping to the ground and crying.
"No! He's down! He's down!" yelled Jukei, helping Leilong to his feet.
"We'll be back! Don't forget it!" yelled Hitoriga, as they ran off. "Hey Tobeigera, give me all your lunch money!"
"Ah, yes. Those were good times indeed." said Old Suzuka fondly. "Wish I could return to those times of simplicity, without a care in the worl-"
"By the way Susan, I'm moving somewhere else for high school, and I'm going to leave you and all my other friends behind." said Young Suzuka.
"Oh...oh my god...Are you serious?" said Susan shocked.
"I'm-I'm so sorry Susan!" sobbed Young Suzuka, collapsing into her arms.
"There there, we'll get through this. It's only for a few years." said Susan, patting Suzuka on the back and wiping some tears from her own eyes.
"Oh Susan, you're such a good friend." choked Young Suzuka. "I'll miss you so, so much."
"I'll always be with you, Suzuka. In your heart and in your mind." said Susan warmly, embracing her.
"Well gee." said Old Suzuka. "So much for not having a care in the world."
"Okay, let's see." said Susan, pacing back and forth in front of the door to the Party Ship's base. It was an overcast mellow day, mainly because those are the best days. No bright and annoying sun shining in your face. Just filtered light coming through the clouds, settling on everything and giving a sweet, sleepy mood to everything. Lovely, lovely. Anyways, Susan pulled a small mirror out of her purse and began using it for the purpose of looking at herself. "Hair: Perfect. Lipstick: Pretty, but soft and unimposing. Skirt: Classy. Top: Sexy without looking slutty. Shoes: Don't really matter at all." She put away her mirror. "This one's gonna be a cinch." She rang the doorbell.
"Oh, hey there Susan." said Aisha, opening the door.
"Hey beautiful, is Suzuka ready for our date?" asked Susan with lust in her voice.
"Nah, she's not home yet." said Aisha. "She went off killing people and never came back. Come on in, I'll get you something to drink while you wait."
Susan giggled and walked inside as Aisha went to the kitchen. "Such a lovely hostess!"
"I used to do it for a living." said Aisha. She sighed fondly. "I looked really hot in that waitress uniform."
"I bet you did!" said Susan, taking off her clothes and spreading out on the couch.
"Okay, here's your drink!" said Aisha happily, walking back into the room. "I hope you like Dr. Peppe-OH MY GOD!"
"What?" asked Susan.
"You're naked!" said Aisha, shielding her eyes.
"Yep." said Susan, walking over to Aisha. "Do I turn you on?"
"Well YEAH, but that's no reason to get naked!" said Aisha.
"Yes it is." said Susan, lowering Aisha's arm. "Covering your eyes won't make me go away, Aisha. You know you want me. Just...give in!" She closed her eyes and tilted her head upwards for a kiss.
"N-no! Go away!" said Aisha, backing up.
"Just let go, Aisha." said Susan, moving forward and groping Aisha's chest. "Pretend I'm Suzuka if that makes you feel better."
"Knock it off, I'm starting to feel slightly uncomfortable!" said Aisha, slapping Susan. "Go wait outside. You had your chance."
"What! But it's cold outside!" said Susan. "I'll freeze my ears off!"
"I don't really care." said Aisha, shoving her towards the door.
"But I need my ears! I need them for listening!" said Susan, stumbling as Aisha pushed her outside, totally nude.
"I'm telling Suzuka about this too." said Aisha. "Cheating is wrong, you bad person."
"Hey, no! Don't do that!" said Susan, as Aisha slammed the door in her face. "OH MY GOD, I CAN FEEL IT HAPPENING!"
"Later, Susan." said Susan's ears. "We're cold. We're going to move onto someone else, someone who takes care of their ears!"
"I take care of you!" said Susan. "I love you!"
"Oh, is that why you blast JOHN COUGAR-FUCKING-MELLENCAMP into us 24-7!" asked the ears, rolling their eyes.
"I think he's got a nice voice!" said Susan defensively.
"That does it! We're outta here!" said her ears, jumping off her head with slight popping noises. They leaped into the gutter and disappeared.
"Nooooo!" said Susan, dropping to the gorund and reaching down the abyss as far as she could. "I cleaned you! DAILY!" She leaned back and cried into her hands. She cried the tears of someone who'd just lost everything. Their girlfriend. Their car keys (earlier that day). She was crying the tears you cry, when even your ears have left you. That is when you are truly alone.
"Jeez, yurn down your headphones!" said Young Suzuka. "Your ears will get tired of it and run away if you don't!"
"Psh, you sound like my mom!" laughed Young Susan.
"Your mom tells you that too?" asked Young Suzuka. "Crazy. Anyways, we're in the middle of class. You wouldn't want Mr. Kahn to be mad at y-"
"WHAT ARE YOU GIRLS TALKING ABOUT!" yelled a younger-looking Gwen
Kahn, walking over to them.
"We were talking about our ears getting mad at us and running away." answered Susan truthfully.
"Don't get smart with me! Now work on your self-portraits!" demanded Kahn.
"You don't have to be all snippy with us just because you're a third-rate middle school art teacher and you wanted a teaching job as a college professor in physics or whateve-" started Suzuka angrily.
"Be quiet! I could have you suspended for that kind of insulting behavior!" said Kahn. "And is this self-portrait really how you percieve youself?" He pointed at Suzuka's self portrait, a huge mound of clay with a tiny head on top.
"No." sighed Suzuka, looking at the blob. "I ran out of clay, and that's as fat as I could make it. Sorry."
"I guess it'll do." sighed Kahn. "You really need to talk to the school counselor about you unconfidence in your weight, Twilight. You worry me. CLASS DISMISSED!"
"But the bell didn't even ring." said Susan. "It's 15 minutes before class ends."
"Forget you! Class is over!" said Kahn.
"Well, okay." shrugged Susan, and everyone left. Susan and Suzuka walked to their lockers and began packing their bags.
"So Suzu, last day of school, eh?" asked Susan, lighting fire to everytihng in her locker. "Doing anytihng cool this summer?"
"Fraid not, I'm heading out to that new high school right afterschool today." said Suzuka. "Moving to an all new town, I wanna get the feel of it before I go to school there this fall."
"What! But I thought we had plans!" demanded Susan.
"Plans? No we didn't." said Suzuka, examining her fingernails.
"We do now!" yelled Susan, dropping to one knee and pulling a ring out of her pocket. "Twilight Suzuka, will you marry me!" Time seemed to freeze, and that moment was stretched to infinity.
"Hey! What's happening!" demanded the Older Suzuka. "Why's time freezing!"
"Uh oh, the flashback's wearing off!" said Defret. "Quick, press your eyeballs again! Don't worry, you've already done irreversible damage to them anyway." Older Suzuka pressed her eyeballs really hard and time started going again.
"What was that?" whispered Young Suzuka.
"Suzuka, I love you. I always have." said Susan softly, standing up and putting the ring on Suzuka's finger. "And I want to be with you forever." Susan looked into Suzuka's eyes, but she shut them quickly and turned away.
"Susan, have you gone insane!" said Suzuka, panically, taking her ring off and shoving it back into Susan's hands. "Is this your idea of a sick joke?"
Susan looked at Suzuka, and tears started to well up in her eyes. "My feelings for you are NOT a joke! I thought you felt the same way! I thought you cared about me, but I guess now I know I was wrong!" She kneeled down in the hallway and started crying.
Suzuka looked startled, and kneeled in front of her. "Susan, I DO care about you! I love you more than anyone else in the world!" said Suzuka. "You're the greatest friend I've ever had!"
Susan looked at Suzuka, sniffling. "You mean that?"
"Yes I mean that!" said Suzuka. "But this, this is just too much for me. I don't love you like a lover, I love you like a friend."
"Like a friend, huh?" asked Susan, standing up and wiping her tears. "Will you do something for me then? A favor for a friend, before you walk out of my life forever?"
"Of course I will!" said Suzuka, standing up also, and hugging Susan.
"Then before you go, let's go on a date." said Susan, whispering into Suzuka's ear. "A simple date, just this once. Please?" Suzuka backed up and looked Susan in the eyes. "I guess, just this once. For you."
"Awww, Suzuka! Thank you!" said Susan happily, kissing Suzuka on the cheek.
"Eeek! That was uncalled for!" said Young Suzuka, turning red. She followed Susan outside.
Older Suzuka sighed and sat down, watching her younger self and Susan run off on their date. "Of course. And that's how it happened."
"Hmmm?" asked Defret, turning away from the scene to look at her. "How what happened?"
"Me and Susan got...involved, I guess you could say." said Suzuka, looking far off. "I never did go on to that high school. Neither did she go on to hers. We ran away together, that's how I found the assassin guild where I met Ninja Monkey Yah Hoo Hah. However, the guild entrance requirements were strict. They didn't accept her, but they accepted me. I had to make a decision. To stop being an outcast from civilization and try making something of myself, or to stay with the person I loved."
"And you chose..." said Dr. Defret quietly, his voice trailing off. Suzuka stood up. She and Defret silently watched the hallways empty of students, until she and Defret were the only ones left. The sun sank behind the far-off horizon, and darkness crept into the room.
"I've had enough." said Suzuka, barely whispering. "Get me out of here."
"Very well." said Defret, unaware of any comforting words to give to Suzuka. The hallway shimmered around them and turned back into Defret's bare, couchless office. He put an arm on her shoulder as sheheaded for the door. "I want you to know you can come back and see me any time you want, Suzuka." he said softly.
"I know. Thank you." said Suzuka. She turned around., and reached into a pocket (on her robe?), and pulled out a small wallet (do girls use wallets?) "I nearly forgot, how much did I owe you?"
"Nothing." said Defret warmly. "This one's on me."
"Ah, well, thanks again." said Suzuka. "I'm sure I'll be back."
"I hope you will!" said Defret.
"Why no, I don't want to go with you to the rodeo, Fred." said Gene. There was a long pause. "I don't care HOW much money you're raking in with your newfound success as a porn star! I'm not-" The door opened and Suzuka walked in, shivering.
"Yay! Suzu's back!" said Aisha cheerfully, running over to the door and welcoming her in. "Did you have fun?"
"So...cold..." shivered Suzuka, her teeth chattering and her face blue.
"You look like you could use some ice cream, Suzu." said Aisha warmly. "We've got it in two varieties: Cold, and EXTRA COLD!" She stuffed some ice cream into Suzuka's mouth.
"Need...hot water..." moaned Suzuka. "I can't feel my...arms."
"You look drowsy! Maybe you need a cold shower to perk you up!" said Aisha brightly, dumping a bucket of ice cold water onto Suzuka's head.
"Look Fred, I said no and yes is my answer!" said Gene sternly. "I mean, no is my answer! SHUT UP! And turn off your damn deedly dee honky tonky jubilee piskalottle! It's scarin' my chickens! No buts!" Gene hung up the phone. He looked at Suzuka. "Hey Suzuka! What's new?"
"Hypothermia...invading lungs...argh." she moaned, collapsing on the ground.
"OH MY GOD! Quick, load her into the carbon freezing chamber!" said Gene.
"Can do!" said Aisha, and they picked up Suzuka and prepared to load her into their carbon freezing chamber, when suddenly...
"BUM BA BUM BUM!" yelled Ninja Monkey Ya Hoo Hah, crashing through the window. The Arby's Mitten followed.
"Argh! It's the mitten gang!" yelled Gene, sprouting a moustache.
"Don't worry! We come in peace!" said The Arby's Mitten, curing Suzuka's hypothermia and reviving her with his Super Arbytron Beam.
"Nice moustache, Gene." said Ninja Monkey Ya Hoo Hah with great admiration.
"Thanks, It's newly sprouted." said Gene, stroking his moustache.
"So what are you guys doing here?" asked Suzuka, stroking Gene's moustache.
"Well, we've got Kick Pow Smack Poof right where we want him." said Ninja Monkey. "He won't even see us coming. It's a very remote part of the galaxy. No one knows about it except for us three, as far as we know."
"So how are we going to get there?" asked Aisha.
"The Arby's Mitten here will fly ahead of the ship and lead us there. You guys just have to follow him." said Ninja Monkey.
"Sounds good." said Gene. "Where are we headed to, anyway?"
"The Galactic Leyline!" said The Arby's Mitten.
"DUN DUN DUUUUNNNNNN!" said Ninja Monkey.
"Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet." said Gene.
"Totally." said Suzuka.
"Inspiring." said Aisha.
"Two thumbs up." said Ninja Monkey.
"Eccentric, and delightful." said The Arby's Mitten.
TO BE CONCLUDED!
And that's all for this chapter. Get outta here, and don't touch the clams on the way out! They can get rather testy! Any final words, Jet? (long pause) JET! (long pause) Jet? (long pause) OH MY GOD! You've run away, haven't you! (picks up note) I'll read this note out loud, while you do a wistful, Hollywood-style voice over!
Jet: Dear JHeman. While my work on Outlaw Star has been rewarding, and my work on the Party Ship has been...uh...special, the time has come to say goodbye. The time has come to make some changes in my career, and decide on just what I want to do with my life. Therefore, I am moving to Sea World to become a dolphin. Those dolphins get free food, plus room and board, all for the simple price of jumping through a hoop. I can do that, no problem! Lots of love, Jet.
NOOOOOOOO! Jet! How dare you leave me! Boo hoo HOOOOO hoo hoo! (cries) I thought we was mates! Guess I know better than to trust anyone ever again, huh! Oh well everyone, next chapter is the big one. The big conclusive hoochadoodee that'll zip this thingy up. Don't miss it, or you will be square! I hope...that I can tolerate life without my assistant and co-host...Boo hoo. A boo hoo hoo. Hoo. (Snort).