Chapter 5
Gearing Up
Candy then brings them both to one of the tables with three items. Candy come to several sets of gloves which look like theater gloves as they cover the forearms.
Dipper looks at those and says, "Candy, were not going to the Opera."
Candy says, "Don't let appearance alone fool your senses, these gloves I invented a few years ago in the aftermath of what happened to the town years ago, I wanted to be ready this time so I invented some tools for self-defense; these gloves are laced with a combination of chemicals usually for hard surfaces but it's mixed with another substance of my making to make it more flexible as well as light and gentle to the glove wearer."
Adam sees this and then he tries on one of the gloves and he says, "It really feels like just putting on a glove."
Candy says, "Exactly, that's what it's supposed to feel like."
Candy then puts on one of the gloves herself on her right hand and then comes to a cinder block that is on another display table and then she goes into a stance as she positions her legs and arms and then she delivers a knife hand strike which cuts the cinder block in half straight down the middle.
Adam says, "Wow, cool these will make hitting them in the face a lot easier."
Candy says, "As the demo dictates yes."
Dipper then comes to the next item on the table.
Dipper says, "What's this next item."
Candy says, "Ah, now we get down to the tech stuff, my favorite thing."
She then takes what looks like some sort of mouthpiece for diving but is a little less bulky.
Candy says, "This is a portable breathing apparatus it's much like those ponytail air apparatus but less bulky as you can pretty much put these in your pocket and has a breathing outlet for your nose. But what makes this truly unique are that this apparatus has two tiny canisters you can see attached to this apparatus which contain a mix of chemicals that created oxygen, there is enough within for about ten minutes. The other thing unique about it is it can be used not just underwater but on land and will shield you from the gas."
Dipper says, "This is great Candy."
Adam says, "I already got one of my own but a little extra wouldn't hurt just in case."
Both Dipper and Adam they gather both items and put them in their back packs.
Candy says, "Now do forget to take the mini head cameras, earpieces, and radar beacons as I'll be watching your backs."
Both Dipper and Adam nod in acknowledgment and are about to leave.
Candy says, "Wait, since you came in here Adam out of Dipper's and my trust, you must have a password too, next time you come and recite it."
Adam is taken aback by this and says, "What."
Candy then comes up to Adam and then whispers the song and then Adam looks at her and says, "What, no I can't sing that song."
Candy says, "You better or no entry."
Dipper has a sly smile on his face and says, "Don't worry I won't laugh."
Candy says, "We give you our words as a woman and a gentleman."
Both Dipper and Candy cross their fingers behind their backs.
Adam eyes both suspiciously and notices their right hands behind their back but then shrugs it off and says, "Alright, alright I guess it's more than fair."
Dipper says, "Alright enough of this before we set off we have a few more items to get, Candy you of course well be both our eyes and ears, but also if there is any trouble."
Candy says, "Relax I remember the emergency signal which will bring help from everywhere, but you better finish this operation before the sleepover, because I get really mad when I miss one."
Both Dipper and Adam are outside the door and are now walking.
Adam says, "One question, where are you taking me?"
Dipper has a smile.
"To the palace of all things weird."
Both Dipper and Adam they then both run together and then they both get inside what looks like a golf cart. Both buckle up and then Dipper he then presses the ignition button and then suddenly there are two rocket muzzles behind the golf cart that just blast away, and they go fast though still within the speed limit.
Dipper and Adam soon come to the Mystery Shack, as soon as they park, they then run straight inside.
Dipper is looking in his store gathering a couple more of the soup net cannisters but also one other kind of weapon which look like ordinary snakeskin belts. Meanwhile Adam is looking at some of the merchandise just to kill time, he's in the old VHS and VCR section. Adam then takes a small tape almost the size of an old Tape Cassette he looks at it and is puzzled as it's a Beta cassette of an episode of "The Andy Griffith Show".
Dipper he then comes to the counter Wendy is manning and then puts down both the items he gathers which are several of the soup can net grenades, two peperoni sticks and four of the snakeskin belts.
Wendy sees the belts and is surprised at his pick.
Wendy says, "Oh you made a great choice, one of the perfect self defense tools to wrap you opponent up with and great to wear on your paints.
Wendy looks at Dipper.
"I know what you're buying these for, that Gasser on the news."
"Wait a minute you know about me chasing after the Gasser."
"Of course, Dipper why wouldn't I it's what you usually do, I'm only disappointed you didn't invite me."
"Sorry Wendy, it's just those Gassers just suddenly appeared, and you were busy doing what you were doing."
"That's true enough but still…"
Wendy leans a little closer to Dipper.
"You know after last year, you and I haven't talked much, why is that?"
Dipper he looks away and then looks at her in silence and then looks at her. Even though Wendy can't really get a read on Dipper's mind right now she can from his eyes there is some sort of deep sadness which is the kind of looks she's seen on him for years.
Wendy says, "May 'be I'll bring that up latter when we have more time."
She then looks at the clock in the shop.
Wendy says, "Which I don't have much of, after I close up shop, I got supplies to bring over for the sleepover tonight."
Dipper says, "You're going too, thought you got too old for those."
"You can never be too old for those, besides my friends are going to be there."
"Is Mabel alright these days."
"She's fine though you can find that out yourself."
"Yeah, I know it's just…well you and the rest, just have a good time."
"I will know both you and your new friend are keeping us safe, I, Candy and Mabel will make sure to save you both pizzas."
Wendy looks and sees Adam who is now trying out open of the items in the shop which is a Log Bazooka.
Wendy says, "By the way who's your new friend?"
"Oh, that's Adam he's actually an alright guy."
"Like that your actually making friends, makes you look a lot less pale and down; so what kind of a guy is he."
"He's the one that helped me throat that gang of bullies."
"Those Lumberjack jocks, yeah they've been a real problem in the school lately, I didn't know that was happening, if I, Candy and Mabel weren't in the other section of the cafeteria we would've."
"It's ok, everything worked out fine and for the best as it helped me find Adam, whom is a reporter investigating the same thing as me and attempted capture along with myself of the Gassers twice, didn't catch a Gasser but at least saved lives."
"He sounds a lot like you as that's the same thing you always do."
"Well, it seems like in some ways yes, but also not entirely as there are plenty of differences between us, but also I'm not sure despite what he told me, I have a feel that is so much more too him."
"Same old Dipper, always sniffing out a mystery and wanting to solve it."
"Sometimes even people can be even bigger mysteries than any UFO or Bigfoot."
Adam he then takes one of the Log Bazookas which are the size and width of a log in both hands and is trying to position it on his right shoulder but then he loses his balance and then falls to the ground with the Log Bazooka pinning him down on the ground.
Adam says, "Hey can both of you please give me a hand?"
Wendy looks and sees Adam and has a smile.
Wendy looks and sees, "Looks like your new friend needs some help."
"Oh, yeah better help him and we both better get going there isn't much time."
"Always glad to help you Dip."
Both Dipper and Wendy come to Adam, and both lift up the Log Bazooka along with Adam's help pushing it off. After Dipper and Adam helps purchase what they both need they get out of the Shack and then go into the golf cart again.
Adam says, "We won't but I need to make a quick stop at home, so we can get the rest of the tools we need."
Both Adam and Dipper they go to the "Double Dragon" Dojo, and both are in the practice area with the mat and equipment. Adam looks at Dipper and says, "Wait here, it won't be long. Dipper stands there politely waiting.
Adam he then unlocks the door to his room and it's a rather busy place as it has lots of things inside one of those things are a collection of movie posters displayed on his walls, film from different decades but mainly most consist of ones from the 80's like "Revenge of the Ninja", "Night of the Creeps", etc. He then sees a map put up as it's the country Canada, but another map beside it which is of Toronto, Canada, along with the flag with the white and red, with the red leaf symbol in the middle.
Adam he then takes up his suit from the steel box in which its securely stored in his closet. He opens the steel case and it's another type of ninja outfit which is all black, light fitting flexible armor that can take impacts, form fitting and comfortable. He then put it on taking his time to slip into the pants that form fit his legs, along with the sleeveless shirt exposing his arms. He then puts on the rubber mask covering his whole head, touches his mouth once to activate the black metallic respirator and then he attaches his knight like visor to the mask where his eyes are. He then does his vision and coordination test by doing a few punches and a few roundhouse kicks.
He comes out of his room and Dipper sees him; Adam looks at him with the visor. Dipper is really surprised as this is the first time, as he sees the uniform that he is known to wear from the sighting pictures of him.
Adam/Shadow Dancer says, "You ready?"
Dipper stops kicking and doing combos on one of the punching bags, and he has his backpack with him with all his tools in hand and nods.
Adam says, "Alright let's get to work."
