Basketball Blunders
To Red Witch: Hey there, Red Witch! Nice to hear from you! I'm very glad you liked the last chapter! Oh yeah, the 80s Lakers/Celetics rivalry was considered one of the greatest sports rivalries ever, not to mention it saved the NBA. Well…yeah…of course they're gonna play basketball. The story's called "Basketball Blunders", isn't it? Enjoy the new chapter!
To RogueFanKC: Hey there, Rogue Fan! Nice to hear from you! I'm very glad you liked the last chapter! I read your one-shot "And Justice and Insanity for All", and I loved it! Man, something tells me the Justice League is going to have a huge hate-on for the Misfits. Yeah, the Lakers/Celtics rivalry was something classic. Yeah, Don needs their help for a good cause. There will be bad guys, but they won't be Cobra. Enjoy the new chapter!
To Dante: Hey there, Dante! Nice to hear from you! I'm very glad you liked the last chapter! Oh yeah, this will be insane, considering we're talking basketball here. Chicago, huh? Then read my story "Rockin' in the Southside". It's set in Chicago. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for new chapters of "The Z Project"!
To todd fan: Hey there, todd fan! Nice to hear from you! I'm very glad you liked the last chapter! Uh huh, Sonic rules. I have a couple of his video games. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for new chapters of "Gifts and Curses".
Disclaimer: "Shaken, not stirred." - James Bond
Chapter 2: Just Business!
A local youth center in Malibu
"What do you mean, Don?" Rock 'n' Roll asked the owner of the youth center. Don sighed.
"Well…I'm afraid I may have to close down the youth center." He sighed.
"Why?" Dazzler wondered.
"Yeah." Terrell added. "This place and Nick's Arcade are the West Coast Misfits' favorite hangouts."
"Yeah. When the Joes tell us we've been playing video games too much, we come here." Kyle quipped.
"Well, I really don't want to bother you kids, considering that you guys are often fighting terrorists and the like…" Don started.
"It's alright, Don." Ali reassured. BR nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, the Thunderbolt ain't beating any Cobras right now, as he said." Kyle shrugged. "Besides, in the Thunderbolt's Galactic Justice Force comics, Captain Nebula and the gang always helped out the little guys."
"Well, my youth center has become a target." Don explained.
"How awful." Ali gasped.
"A bunch of punks come around on occasion and try to boss me and the kids that come here around." Don explained.
"So, why not just call the cops?" Firestorm wondered.
"Well, a developer came to town recently and wanted to make this place into a mall." Don shook his head.
"I'm all for a new mall and all, but why here?" Ali blinked.
"He said it was a prime location." Don shrugged. "I turned down his offer. Not long afterwards, these punks started showing up."
"And you think they may be connected?" Firestorm blinked.
"They've got to." Don shrugged. "It's too much of a coincidence."
"Who exactly are these guys?" Terrell inquired.
"A couple hoods from a local gang." Don responded. "Three of them in particular come here are like you kids. Mutants."
"A mutant gang." Kyle blinked. "There's a new one."
"Not that new." Rock 'n' Roll shook his head. "Remember when Red Dragon and Shadowcat took on that gang in Chicago?" (1)
"Yeah, I remember that!" Firestorm remembered. "What were they called? The Metals?"
"Metallix." Ali corrected. "They were called Metallix."
"Yeah, Jake told me about them." Kyle remembered. "They were craaaaa-zy Especially that Spectra chick and that Diablo clown. Spectra had some serious issues. Diablo was nothing but a rip-off of Red Dragon who couldn't freakin' fly." The young electrokinetic groused.
"Yeah." Firestorm nodded. "I also heard they were a metal band."
"Yeah, but they ain't that good." Kyle grunted.
"Can be get back on subject, please?" Rock 'n' Roll groaned.
"What do you need us to do, Don?" Ali wondered.
"Well, I know there's a connection between the developer and the gang, but I can't prove it." Don sighed. "The cops won't do anything because there's not enough evidence."
"We ain't the cops. We can do it." Kyle smirked. A door slamming was heard. The gang and Don looked up to see a man walk into a room with a cocky smile on his face. He looked like a stereotypical Texas businessman, dressed all in white.
"Oh look, it's our old drinking buddy Tex." Kyle snickered. "Howdy pardner…" The Bostonian started mocking in a Texan accent. "How're things down at the OK Corral. Ah heard that things are finer than a bikini model in Fort Lauderdale." Ali and Terrell snickered at that. So did the two Malibu Joes.
"Oh look, it's Boss Hogg." Rock 'n' Roll snickered. Firestorm struggled not to laugh.
"Well, well, well." The man said with a grin. He had no sign of a Texan accent. "I can't believe this place is still standing. Especially after all the…problems I heard about plaguing this place."
"Everyone, say hello to Wally "The Whip" Farriss." Don glared at the man.
"The Whip?" Ali blinked. "That's a strange…" She noticed the man had a bullwhip attached to his hip. "Oh…"
"The name comes from the fact that I'm skilled with a bullwhip, ma'am." Farriss explained with a tip of the hat. "I recognize you, kid." He pointed at Ali. "Aren't you that little singer that is pretty popular around here? The Dazzler?"
"Yeah, why?" Ali nodded.
"I heard you were one of those…mutant things."
"I am a mutant. So?" Ali sneered. "I'm also a member of the West Coast Misfits."
"You don't sound like a Texan. The Thunderbolt's fought Texans." Kyle grimaced at the man. Farriss chuckled.
"That's 'cause I'm from Oklahoma."
"That's a new one." Kyle snickered.
"Anyway, Don. I was hoping you would reconsider my offer. As you know, I'm paying you several times what this land is worth." Fariss said to the gray-haired owner of the youth center.
"You asked me three times, and I refused three times." Don scowled. "What makes you think that I'll say yes a fourth time?"
"Because I know about your little problem with those local hoods who keep assaulting this place." Farriss smirked.
"Look Whip, I know you got something to do with those punks that keep bothering me." Don grunted.
"He told us about them." Firestorm added. "It's too coincidental."
"Oh, please." Farriss snorted, crossing his arms. "Look at me. I'm a well-respected businessman. I live in a penthouse."
"There's a joke I know about that, but there are kids here." Terrell whispered to Rock 'n' Roll. Farriss continued, either unaware of Terrell's statement or choosing to ignore it.
"I ride in a limousine. I own things that you couldn't afford in your dreams. Why would someone as high up on the ladder as me associate himself with a bunch of loudmouth punk kids?"
"Intimidation, maybe?" Kyle offered. Everyone looked at him. "What? The Thunderbolt's seen Scarface!"
"This place allows kids to go somewhere where they can be safe and stay out of trouble." Rock 'n' Roll said to Farriss. "Why do you want to derive this town of that?"
"You just answered your own question, Blondie." Farriss smirked. "Kids come to this location all the time. Perfect new customers at my new mall."
"I don't like this." Ali shook her head. "I like mall-hopping as much as any girl, but not at the expense of a place like this."
"It's called progress, little girl." Farriss chuckled. "See you around." The businessman walked off, chuckling.
"Man, that guy needs a girlfriend." Firestorm shook his head sadly.
Well, well, well! Looks like our heroes have just met the bad guy! What insanity will happen next? Can our heroes save the day and the youth center? Who are the hoods? Will any basketball be played? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!
(1) - See "Rockin' in the Southside"