There's an old set up for a joke, involving a priest, a pastor and a rabbi walking into a bar that has been retold and retooled for ages and ages. However, one can transplant an idea to any three people to different walks of life.
In the case of the men walking into the Hero Association base, one could ask…what do you get when three men hiding the truth about themselves walk into a base meant for heroes that are there to set good examples and save people?
First among them to arrive, punctual as ever, was Sweet Mask, the number 1 hero of the A-Class. He had come early so that he could be in time for a quick photoshoot later as long as the Heroes Association provided lunch so that it would save him the time and trouble of it along the way. After all, he needed the time to show that he was a fabulous hero to the people as to him his image was the most important to him. No doubt he feels this way because of an ugly secret he hides about what lies beneath the mask that is his body.
The next to show up was Flashy Flash, and while his name may have been a little tacky it should not reflect how effective his skills have been proven to be. The man is a ninja to the core and extremely well trained, surpassing many other sword wielding heroes. Despite being 13th among the S-Class if not for Atomic Samurai he might be higher on the list. Though his speed and skill are no joke, how he gained those skills is a mystery to the public…and he wants to keep it that way.
Finally, came the 7th S-Class hero…a being known to many as the strongest man in the world. He has had many great victories and battles attributed to him, and some even speculate that he may even be powerful enough to take on the 1# spot one day…but they don't truly know the man that is King.
Sure, he may look quite intimidating in terms of his height and a set of scars running down his eye. His deep voice and demeanor can perhaps intimidate others…but in reality, King is nothing more than a simple human being with what could be called a horrendous streak of luck.
He had never truly defeated any villain or monster, he had simply been stuck finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. In a period of mere months he failed upwards, getting credit for monsters that surrendered to him or battles he just happened to be around for, raising his rank even among the S-Class heroes until he was in the 7th spot.
It was beyond a huge stress in life. Despite how he looked, he was still a young man. He was only 29 years old and yet he felt older simply because the life had been scared out of him so many times…and yet he doesn't know how to escape from the life he failed into. At best…he can only wish that one day he might be able to slip away from it and stop hiding himself. He was the only one among the three that wished beyond anything that the truth about himself could come out.
All three of these men were brought together for the same reason. Though none of them would know it yet, they would embark upon a journey to a newer world that was much like their own, but extremely different.
Before that however, they would have to suffer an even greater challenge…stomaching the sandwiches left for them by the Hero Association as they sat in a waiting room.
"I mean…come on, we're S-Class heroes…shouldn't we have at least some kind of buffet table?" Flashy Flash states as he looks over one of the unwrapped tuna fish sandwiches.
King, who is sitting at the end of the meeting table is eating one of the sandwiches without a care. "It's free food man, and my guess is they didn't have a lot of time to put food for us together. They didn't even call any other heroes except for us."
"Yes…it is quite strange." Sweet Mask states, having already finished eating and looking straight at the time. "Usually something that would require your Class of Heroe wouldn't preclude the others…but then again, maybe they need to speak to us specifically because we are involved in the subject differently than the others?"
Flashy Flash and Sweet Mask looked upon one another, sharing meaningful looks as they understood that the situation could hold a certain amount of gravity for each of them.
For Sweet Mask, sitting in a room with one of the most powerful men in the world and another who was the fastest brought to mind that maybe the hero association had found out his secret and had these two around to capture him for it.
Flashy Flash was thinking something similar, as King was theoretically powerful enough that the ninja could not be sure if he could even scratch him…and maybe Sweet Mask was skillful enough to match him in technique, possibly at least.
King meanwhile…was actually relaxing pretty well in his chair, thinking about how good the sandwiches were. Okay, they weren't great per say…but there was something to a perfect mid-level sandwich that spoke to the man. Maybe he could ask who made them or maybe take some home when this is all over?
Finally, a representative of the Hero Association came in, looking not much more than to be a suited man with a short haircut…but with him was some sort of tall, dark skinned woman with a fox tail wearing what looked like a military uniform of some sort. Sweet Mask was surprised by her presence as he usually kept an eye on quite a lot of different heroes and didn't know of one that had any rank in the military.
"Ah, glad you could all make it, I do hope you enjoyed the sandwiches." The Hero Association representative stated before raising a remote at the center of a table, pulling up a hologram that showed a model of what looked like the galaxy. "Now, I will cut to the chase…we have had a bit of an issue with, well…to put it simply, other universes. Blast brought it up to us and got us in contact with the other side here."
That got a few eyes to go wide. If Blast was involved that could only mean trouble.
"Wait…there are other universes? Why isn't this being brought up to the others?" Sweet Mask demanded.
"Because frankly, I would have rather had none of you know about it." The tall woman spoke gruffly in reply. "This problem started simply because of some broken crossovers with other universes that left holes and tears. Supposedly, they would repair themselves with time, but as they did…others would merge during the process. Because of that, this universe as it is…has been pulled close to my universe."
King almost choked on his sandwich as Mask smiled. "That's why…you're not a hero, you're from another universe!"
"That's not completely true." The representative cut in. "Foxtail here is a hero, but from a world similar to ours in a few ways…but different in others. She leads an equivalent to the Heroes Association where she's from, known as Powerful Operatives Investigating and Neutralizing Trouble, or P.O.I.N.T."
Flashy Flash smiled at that one. "Bit of a childish name, was the point to force the acronym there?"
"Let's focus on business here, Flashy." Foxtail states before pointing to the hologram. "P.O.I.N.T and the Heroes Association have agreed to work together to keep our universes separate, however it has been brought up that this is an incredible research opportunity. I have agreed to let three operatives from the Heroes Association come to our universe to observe its own system of heroes. I will also be allowed to station operatives here in return."
"Yes, exactly." The representative cuts in. "For this operation, we decided to be very selective. We didn't wish for everyone to know about the other universe. You three were chosen for very specific reasons. Flashy Flash can be a stealthy operator and the world Foxtail is from is used to ninjas so he can blend in to a degree. Sweet Mask is a master of social engineering and observation, shown by years of helping us evaluate hero candidates. I think he will work well in judging this new world for us. King is the linchpin to this. He will be sent in to set up some logistics, such as places and identities thanks to P.O.I.N.T's help. If anything goes wrong, well…it shouldn't be too hard for the strongest man in the world to escape, should it?"
Everyone looked at King and the man in question wasn't exactly sure how to answer or whether he should even want to go. He was never good at being put on the spot and it was one of the things that led him to fail upward again and again because he couldn't really tell everyone what was really on his mind.
At least this time, he asked a question he did want to know an answer to. "Hmm, you got heroes too…does that mean you have villains as well, monsters even?"
"Yes, though I would say not to the same degree your world has them." Foxtail explains before the representative pulls up the hologram to show the man different levels of threat as well as past villains and monsters having been fought. "We tend to get a few more mad scientists. Monsters are a little less common compared to the standards of your world. There are issues of course as some villains are able to run rampant at times without capture however for the most part I like to think P.O.I.N.T runs a tight ship…over most places anyway."
The representative turns the holograms off for the moment, moving to address everyone. "At the moment that doesn't matter. You three are not being sent there to be heroes, you are there to observe and report back so that we don't get any surprises later on if the universes move even closer to one another."
Taken aback for a few moments, the heroes in question all had to take in the fact that there was a whole other world filled with heroes that was different from theirs. It sort of put things into a strange new perspective for them…but it did interest them for different reasons.
Flashy Flash wondered about the ninja of that world and what they were like compared to his. It would be interesting to experience their skills.
Sweet Mask felt a bit of relief knowing now that the meeting wasn't about his secret, but the idea itself seemed intriguing enough and who knows, maybe he could poach a few heroes on that side to join the A-Ranks on his. It was always good to network after all.
For King…it was an odd new chance for him. In another world, no one would know who he was or care whether he fought or not. In fact…it could be something of a good vacation for him, sure the other world had heroes and monsters too but to them he would just be a civilian.
"Uh, just one question…does this new world of yours have video games?"
Foxtail nodded, and with that King, Sweet Mask and Flashy Flash considered themselves agreeing to go to another world.
Once upon a time, it was a great honor for a man to plunge himself into the sky and put his feet on the moon. It was a great honor to know that humanity had reached another place beyond our own lands and spoke of a testament to our own sense of unity and collective power.
They had given King a few days to prepare for something they had hyped up just as much as the moon. He would hurriedly lead down into the depths of the hero association HQ to be brought to a massive, metal structure that seemed to bend space toward the center of it like some sort of mirage.
They told him that he would be the first one of their universe to take the leap into the other universe. The portal supposedly could not handle multiple people going through it near the same time. He would have a week in the new world to observe and set up everything Sweet Mask and Flashy Flash would need. Foxtail assured him that one of her agents would be meeting him and giving him the support he would need.
Sweet Mask and Flash hadn't come to watch him make the jump…so mostly it was just him alone, standing in front of a few guys in lab coats…all wearing goggles and gloves.
"This is…well, it's safe to go through right?"
Foxtail chimed in through the intercom. "Jeez, for the strongest man in this world, you certainly are a nervous fella, but I should be evidence enough that the process can work. Now head on through brave hero, there's another world for you to see."
The tall, scarred man was confused why this was happening at all. They told him this was all about gathering information but couldn't they just trade info? Maybe P.O.I.N.T didn't trust the HA…or vice versa.
Whether he figured out what was going on or not though, he didn't have much of a choice other than to take his first tentative steps through the portal, closing his eyes as he did.
"One small step for man…" He stated to himself, feeling a warmth come over him and the feeling of air swirling about him. He wondered if he was standing before the precipice of something incredible when someone spoke to him.
"What were you mumbling about there? Some small step or something?"
King opens his eyes…and finds himself standing in an alleyway. "Wait, what…wasn't I…supposed to be in another lab?"
He looks around, to see a blonde, strong looking, older woman standing before him wearing some sort of custom purple bodysuit. She had a gap in her teeth and quite an inviting smile.
"Not exactly." She states straight out to him. "The gates aren't connected to one another directly. They lead to different parts of each universe. We have a gate on our side that we use to send…oh, wait, forgot to fill you in. I'm the agent sent to meet you, the name's Carol."
She puts her hand out to shake his.
"Oh…thanks, nice to meet you. I'm King." He nervously reaches for hers and gets taken in her Kung-Fu grip. She's damn strong and it takes everything for King not to straight up cry before her as he wonders if his bones will hold.
She does let go of his hand, allowing him to pull it and try to manage the pain quietly as she turns, grabbing him a briefcase. "Here you go Mister King, this will have everything you and your friends need including ID and all the money you'll need. There's also some info on places you can stay, but I would take a few hours to get the lay of the land first…oh what am I saying, a big time hero like you should know what to do."
It was strange to be around someone with such a brought outlook that was associated with heroes. From King's point of view in his world, heroes were always stretched thin and sort of either big personalities or always stressed out. Only very few like Saitama were beyond that and that was mostly because he was above everyone else.
However, as intriguing as she was, the woman had to leave. Apparently she ran a dojo near some kind of bodega. He was told to come there if he ever needed help, but for now he took a few minutes to take a deep breath to himself and walk out of the alleyway.
If he had to describe this new world in one word, it would be colorful. The sky, stores, even the pavement under his feet weren't in any neutral colors. Everything popped in front of his eyes…it was almost as if the world itself was a superhero, wearing a costume in order to catch the eye.
However the strange beauty of the sight was spoiled slightly by an explosion just down the street. Near the bodega he had been told about seemed to be three people fighting a large, purple, circular robot with one eye that was trying to roll over them. What was strange about it was the people outside of the fight…colorful bystanders were just walking past the parking lot where it was all happening.
"Ugh…there goes any chance of this world being any less hectic." He says to himself as he holds the suitcase to his chest. "I'll just…take the sidewalk on the other side of the street near that factory or whatever, and then get the heck out of here…"
Now King had no way of knowing he was walking straight in front of Boxmore Incorporated. Inside, a nefariously arrogant scientist stood, watching outside of the window of his office at the delightful rampage one of his robotic sons, Eduardo, was going on…and how it was utterly failing.
"Dang it all…why do my robotic minions have so much trouble making scratch on one singular bodega? Perhaps they need more training…maybe a few tests at destroying some gas stations?" He started stroking his chin with his chicken leg looking robot arm as he pondered. "They need something more, something that can provide strength, power and could buy happiness…but what could do any of that?"
It was just then that a 100 dollars bill smacked up against the window, almost as if to answer him. "Ah, yes…money, the answer to every great villain's problems, but alas…my investors are already a little vigilant after I spent last quarters investment cash on trying to dig a hole under that infernal bodega…wait, where did that money come from?"
The round villain moves closer toward the window, looking down to see a tall man stuffing bills into what looks like a business suitcase. "My my, what's this…an innocent man with large denominations of cash on his person with no protection?"
Lord Boxman begins to rub his hands together. "I think I've found exactly what I'm looking for…Darrel! Shannon! Come to me my creations!"
From the floor, two panels shift open and two robots arise from the floor. One thin and red, with a singular eye and a brain upon its head protected by a dome of green glass. The other that rises is orange and shapely, formed into much more of a girl's body shape with red eyes.
The thinner amongst them, Darrel, is extremely happy to be called upon. "Heya Dad!"
"You two!" The large cyborg boss points to them both. "Who told you that you could use the in floor rising panels to make an entrance! That's only for visitors, investors and guests!"
"Not like we get many of those." Shannon states, looking over her sharp fingers as a vain girl would her nails.
"Well that's going to change rather quickly, hehhehhehhhee…" Boxman is almost niggling with excitement. "Come children, come so that I may show you a new step in our plans."
Both the robots come over, and look down to where their father stares at a rather skinny, yet tall scarred man below, trying to grab a bunch of money that seems to have fallen out of his briefcase.
"Woah…how did he get that much dough? Does he work for a bank or something?" Shannon asked.
"It doesn't matter." Boxman declares, putting his hands behind his back and trying to stand tall. "He will be the next stage of our continuing plans…after all, money like that could be put to very good use…"
"Cool! Let's go steal that briefcase!" Darrel exclaims, grabbing his robotic sister's hand before dashing out, only to be stopped at the door by their creator yelling at them.
"No you cantankerous clanking clutz!" Boxman shouts out. "We want his money, yes…but as an investor! After all, why steal one briefcase when we can get him to give us money for our work forever!? Hahahahahaha!"
Well, it did make at least some sense to the machines, as to how they would do it, well…Boxman had a plan for that as well. "You will go to him and convince him to come to our factory at any cost, then I can show him what we do…however, you will both have to wear disguises for this. Luckily, I have created the perfect ones to suit you both."
While Boxman equipped his children and prepared them for the plan ahead, another one of his smaller creations watched from the slightly open door to the room. The small blue thing, wanting to prove itself as useful to the others, spoke to itself words of affirmation and encouragement that always seemed to be misinterpreted by the people who heard them.
"I AM JETHRO."
After spending twenty minutes dashing about trying to catch a bunch of money that fell out of the briefcase King had to wonder why they had given him so much of the stuff. The case itself had been packed to the gills with money and only left room for a small file containing some documents they would need as well as a bag of what was called Laser Chips that he wasn't sure about eating.
Once the money was collected he was at least able to get back on his way. Once away from the bodega he still marveled at the strange people he would see along the sidewalks as he moved closer into the area of the city.
Usually, he would have to be among heroes to see weird people but now he was seeing skeleton people, animal people. There was even a broccoli kid hanging out with a bunny kid and cyborgs and more…it was strangely a lot to take in even compared to what he was used to. It made him wonder if Saitama would like a place like this.
Maybe he could tell him about it after the universe broke apart or something…though that raised a question in his mind as to why they were even sent to research this place if sooner or later it would become disconnected from their universe anyways? Shouldn't they just be making sure nobody comes through…or was there something he was missing here?
"Hello good sir, how do you do?"
King turned…and looked upon what was plainly a robot with one eye, as well as another robot standing next to him…both of whom were wearing big, metal mustaches even though one of them looked like a girl. "Hello there sir, if I may ask, what is a man like you looking around for?"
"Oh uh…" Should King just tell them he's looking for a place to stay, after all this is supposed to be covert, but then again…how else is he going to find a place without talking to at least someone. "Ya actually…I'm looking for a place to live, maybe to rent for a time."
Shannon and Darrel smile, looking almost jovial as they step beside King, hooking their arms through his. "Well isn't that grand! My partner and I are owners of a place that you can rent out. Come with us and we shall give you the grand tour of our grand place to live!"
"Stop saying grand so much, you're not some royal lord here." Shannon whispers to her brother as they start leading King back where he came. All the while the man in question can't help but hold onto the briefcase for dear life and wonder if this is going to lead to his usual string of bad luck?
It doesn't help when they lead him all the way back to nearly the spot he came from before they dropped him in front of what looked like the grounds to a large factory. "Uh…I thought you guys were going to show me an apartment, or maybe a house?"
Darrel laughs. "Oh please, this is so much better than some small house. Here there's a ton of space to do whatever the heck you want! Come on in and we'll show you!"
Reluctantly following the two bots past the mechanized front door, King was sort of amazed at what he was seeing. It was indeed a major factory by the way it was running at full bore from the second he stepped in. Stranger than that though was the fact he saw another red, skinny robot marching along with others. They didn't have mustaches and were carrying a large amount of boxes along. "Are those-"
"Uh…uh…family? Yes, a lot of them stay here and support us!" Darrel scrambles for an answer before looking over at Shannon for help. She grabs the guy by his shoulders and pushes him on.
"Now now, let's get you to our break room. There we can discuss…renting a place I guess. We'll have a representative come to you soon, just stay put!"
They get him to the break room and push him in as he swears he can hear the door lock behind him.
Sighing to himself before his hand slams into his forehead, King figures that his luck has caught up to him again. Different world, same old cruddy luck. At the very least it didn't seem like the robots were looking to fight him…maybe only capture him a little bit for who knows what reason.
Looking around the room, he moved to sit on a couch while he wondered why a place filled with robots would need a breakroom at all? They shouldn't need it…or mustaches for that matter, but that was another question altogether.
"Well, maybe if they have an apartment in here that's like this I might rent it out…would be a good staging point for the mission and the others." He said aloud, not knowing someone else was there to hear him.
After all, unless you knew Jethro, it was hard to distinguish him when he wasn't moving from all the other junk in the room. However the simple, little blue robot was not going to act on the information he knew just yet…he would need to see more of this human and how he acted.
Then he would make sure the human knew…that he is Jethro.
"Now are you sure he brought the briefcase?"
"Yes Dad."
Boxman was sitting at his desk, absolutely pleased with himself before he got up and prepared to butter up his new, sure to be investor. "And did the mustaches work?"
"They were absolutely foolproof!" Darrel replied before taking his off. "How did you know he would trust us with these on?"
"Because after years of studying that musclebound idiot running the bodega, I have learned to harness a miniscule amount of his power by realizing that many people trust that mustache of his." Boxman stated as he and his children headed off to the breakroom. " It cost me a fortune to recreate duplicates with even a fraction of that ability…but it was all worth it to get my hands on another fortune."
"So wait…" Shannon stated, confused. "You spent a fortune…just to make mustaches, to get another fortune?"
"Gotta spend money to make money, like making robots who make other robots!"
"Make sense to me!" Darrel exclaims as they reach the door.
Boxman opens the door, and bows a little as he steps in while King looks on to the robots to his side, somehow seeing them as a lot less trustworthy without their mustaches.
"Hello there, I am Lord John Boxman and you are in Boxmore incorporated."
"Oh, uh…that's cool." King states, standing up. "Do you…make boxes here or something?"
"What? No, what would ever give you such an insipid idea?"
"Well, Boxmore, Lord Boxman, just figured you might be in the Box business."
"Makes sense to me!" Darrel exclaims once again as the round villains sighed.
"Come with my tall chum, and let me show you what I truly do around here…" He grabs King and makes him walk with him, pointing out toward the many assembly lines as they move out of the breakroom. "I make robots, some of the best there are for use by villains like me to help us in our eternal battle versus the forces of good!"
King's eyes suddenly went wide as he realized that he was in the hands of an actual villain…though looking at the guy he wasn't exactly threatened. He seemed to be sort of an over the top cyborg which was rather different from the weird monsters he was so used to dealing with.
"So wait…you're a bad guy?"
"Villain, if you please.' Boxman wags one of his chicken fingers. "I don't like to consider myself a bad person, I just have wants and goals that require me being the foil to someone else who considers themselves a fair bit more righteous, you can understand that right, a man with such a scar must have been scorned by the world in some way, I just know it!"
Wait, did he think King was a villain? Now this was even more confusing than ever. "Look, whatever you make here…those robots brought me here because-"
"Oh whatever reason you came for pales in comparison to the reason I wish to have you here." Boxman states before turning back to the breakroom. "I happen to know that you seem to have a great deal of money on you. Looking at a man like you, I can see another shrewd businessman, ready to take the reins of villainy and get into some real big business. So how would you like to invest in my company? Together you and I can crush our enemies completely!"
King barely heard any of that, instead he was looking back into the break room as a cold sweat ran down his back. "Where is the case?"
Boxman was stunned. Darrel and Shannon looked over his shoulders to see that the case was indeed gone from the room.
Oh crap, that was trouble for John Boxman. If a possible investor's money got stolen off the bat then he might blame the villain in question and think he stole it!
"Darrel! Shannon! Search the entire building! I want that case found and returned to our esteemed guest immediately! I will go back to my office to check security so that I will find the intruder who dared to come into Lord Boxman's territory!"
King tried to raise a finger to interject only for the robots and the villain to all head off without him, making him sigh in defeat. "So much for just setting up a place to stay…guess I better wait for them."
King went into the breakroom to sit on the couch. He had to think hard…if he didn't get that briefcase back he would be stuck here without any cash at all. Hell, homeless in another universe? That needs to be avoided…maybe he could try to find Carol again, tell her what happened.
"Damn it…there's got to be a way out of this…do I just have to wait for someone to help me like usual?"
"I AM JETHRO."
King nearly had a heart attack as he leapt to the other side of the couch. Moving out from the side, a small blue can of a robot with big eyes running on two small treads rolled out to look at him directly.
"I AM JETHRO." It repeated, and strangely enough…King could understand the connotations of what the machine was saying.
"Oh..um, hi…I'm King."
"I AM JETHRO."
"Why am I here? I came looking for an apartment…it's really complicated."
The machine moves close, crossing around the table to move before King's feet to then look up at him, only to repeat those two words and his name again.
"Woah waoh, how do you know I'm on a mission…wait, you were here earlier…crap, did you hear me talk to myself?"
"I AM JETHRO."
Crap crap crap! The little blue robot had him by the balls! He could easily go tell the others that he was doing something sneaky and then who knows what could happen.
"Oh ya…well what if I just…I don't know, stomp on you and break you!" He grabs the little robot up, desperately holding him.
"I AM JETHRO."
"There…are more of you? You'll just have your mind copied…this is just too weird."
King sits back down, putting the small robot back on the ground as he tries to get his thoughts together. Even in another universe he ended up failing in some way and now his luck was haunting him as usual to the point even a small blue robot could get the best of him.
Jethro, on the other hand…sees something in the man before him. A sort of kinship. Nobody could ever see it, but the little blue robot did have feelings…and yet his mind was confined to three words that people tended to ignore anyways. All he was to most was a name…and he felt to others, this man was only one thing as well…but the robot did not know what it was, driving a curious circuit in his simple mind through a logic loop again and again until it came to an answer.
"I AM JETHRO."
King looked up at the little robot, a small smile cracking over his desperate face. "You…want to help me? Why? You don't even know me."
The little blue robot answers with the same words again, but he means them for real this time. Those three words are the answer to the question.
He wants to help because he is made to help. He…is Jethro.
"Okay uh, well…first I need to figure out where my briefcase is. Boxman thinks someone stole it but…wait, where are you going?"
Jethro was already moving in the middle of the conversation, moving under the table to push something he had hidden there out. If anybody had looked in the simple little hiding spot of his, they would have found the briefcase…but barely anyone looked down to see him.
"You sly little…well, thanks Jethro…now I just have to figure out how to deal with Boxman. He seems to want me to invest in this place…I mean it's not a bad place but the money I have isn't going to be for that."
"I AM JETHRO."
"He…would really fall for that? I mean I thought the guy was a big villain or something, but…I suppose it's worth a try." King reaches down, putting his hand on the little blue robot's head as it pushes forward with its treads to be petted more by the man. "Thanks Jethro…I really appreciate the help here."
"I AM JETHRO."
Boxman was worried. This whole new plan of his was already going down the toilet and frankly he was ready to blame everything from his own robots to even those fools in the bodega for what was happening. He had Eduardo and Ray get off their butts to search the whole factory and yet they had found absolutely nothing. "Well, except for a giant pile of lint…apparently they found piles and piles of it hidden under carpets and other spots…one of them is not sweeping this place up right…and I'm gonna find out who as soon as I find the case!"
A knock came at the door to his office, and in his frustration Boxman shouted. "Can't you see I'm busy! Only come to me if you've found that case!"
The door opened, and from it an arm extended out, showing the villain the case. The rest of the door opened to show King standing there with Jethro at his side.
"You found it! Where was it and why is Jethro with you?"
King adjusted his shirt a little, trying to look serious. "Your little machine here found the case and brought it back to me. Once he told me where he found it, he showed me around the factory and I have to say, as a possible investor I do have some concerns here…"
"C-C-Concerns?" Boxman stuttered.
King steps forward, moving up to look out the window. "I understand that you have a need to cause trouble at the bodega across the street and that is why you're a villain primarily…and I have to say, what you've built is quite impressive."
The round villain blushed, looking away. "Oh, now…don't flatter me like that…"
"No no, it's true…you have quite the passion for it, and I think it would be quite possible for me to put quite a lot of money into investing into this place…"
Boxman smiled, his plans would now get the financial boost they needed.
"...once you bring it up to code of course."
"Huh…wha? Code? What code?"
King brings up a small list that Jethro provided him much earlier that goes down all the way to the tall man's kneecaps. "Let's see…you've got safety problems. No fire extinguishers, no alternative exits, there seems to be piles of lint gunking up your machines-"
"We're fixing that as we speak! I swear!"
"Not to mention that none of your people are forklift certified."
"Forklifts!? They're robots! What's the worst that can happen!?" Boxman exclaimed, throwing his arms up along with dozens of papers and part of the pile of lint left on his desk.
King simply shook his head, crossing his arms while trying to look serious but also forthcoming with a way to solve this. "I understand your position, but I am willing to help you out here. With the help of Jethro, I think I have an idea that might just make this a whole lot simpler for both of us."
The villain narrows his eyes at them both. "What sort of idea?"
"Alright, this place needs to be brought up to code…however a big time villain like you can't be bothered with something like that when that bodega just sits there. It's just so prestigious isn't it, just mocking you with its presence?"
Jethro might have given King more than a few pointers on how to deal with Boxman in terms of a conversation. The bodega and his hatred for it would always be easy to work against the round cyborg villain…and work it did.
Boxman was actually almost crying. "It's like…I've made children who haven't understood me as much as you have in these few moments."
Jethro would have sighed if possible, thinking that despite the man before him being his creator, Boxman couldn't understand the robot who knew him best. It was sort of tragic.
"As I was saying…you need to focus on what needs to be done. So, what I propose is this…I will stay here. I'm sure you have a spot that I can stay on the grounds of this place. I'll work to improve this place and bring it up to code, meanwhile you keep on as you will before. Of course, I'll be bringing some friends in for help, but we'll do it all for free as long as you provide room and board. Once this place is good, I don't see why you and I can't talk about investing in some real devious methods in the subject of…bodega elimination?"
Boxman knew he had made the right decision when he saw this man. A true investor in evil that understood him even better than the others…oh boy, he really was going to cry. "I…sir, you have touched my robotic heart. Jethro, find him a room…I will take care of my business and I'm sure you will take care of yours."
The tall, scarred man bowed his head before he and Jethro turned to leave, but Boxman had one last thing to ask. "Oh, how rude of me…I forgot to ask your name, dear boy."
Smiling as he and Jethro moved past the door, King simply threw the man three simple words. "I am King."
The door closed, and the ragged tall man smiled as he sighed out in utter relief. He had actually gotten out of a situation without it escalating to a dangerous degree. Sure, he was now technically in the employ of a villain on this side…but it would be something of a good place to observe how villains worked in this universe and it had the bonus of getting him a place for himself and the others when they got through.
"I AM JETHRO."
"It did really work…I gotta admit, I didn't think much when I saw you Jethro, but you see a lot more than people give you credit for." King states as the little robot begins to roll on, leading the man toward his new place.
So closes the chapter on King, who after being dropped in a strange new world ended up failing upward…but in a much better way this time all thanks to the help of a little robot people tended to look down upon. Together, they had formed a small bond that neither completely understood…perhaps it was because King was a normal man that everyone thought was more …and Jethro was a passionate robot under his simple exterior that everyone thought was less.
However, there are deeper questions on the horizon that must be answered. What is P.O.I.N.T's goal here? What's the Hero Associations? What do either gain by just sending heroes over to this side with no supervision?
Well, there is an easy answer to all of that.
"I AM JETHRO."
See? That's all you need to know, put completely and concisely.