Chapter 3: The Million Dollar Question
Thomas, Kodi and Berry all followed Tito down near the pier to his home. "You live down here alone?" Kodi asked looking at Tito. "Nah man I live with a group of dogs and our owner," Tito answered. "Who's your owner?" Thomas asked looking down at Tito. "He's name Fagin," Tito answering while looking up at Thomas. The name sounded familiar to Thomas but he couldn't put his finger on it. "Alright guys stay here I'll go get my friend Dodger to meet you guys," Tito said before walking into his home. "Do we even have time to hang with this pipsqueak and probably his weird friends?" Berry asked as he crossed his arms. "Hey if he can help, then he can help. I don't see any problem with him," Thomas answered as he leaned up against the railing. "Yeah come on Berry give him a break," Kodi added. Berry sighed as he sat down on a crate and looked down on the ground.
After a few minutes of waiting, Tito walks out with another dog who they assumed to be Dodger. "Here they are Dodge. This is Thomas, Kodi and Berry," Tito said proudly. Dodger studied the trio before looking back at Tito. "Tell me again how the kid talks to animals?" Dodger asked raising one eyebrow up. "Well… he… uh…." Tito tried to speak but couldn't really explain it. "Let me explain.." Thomas said as he stepped forward. "I have a stone that has a power inside to communicate with animals. There is also six other stones that have unique powers that I have as well." Thomas explained. Dodger was a little surprised by this but kind of understood it. "Okay you have my attention. Tito also told me about your guys little problem." Dodger said as he scratches his right ear. Thomas nodded in response.
"Yeah we're in a bit of problem." Thomas said as he crossed his arms. "So can you help us or not?" Berry spoke up. Dodger looked over to the Raccoon and chuckled. "Aren't you the Raccoon that's been in our garbage?" Dodger asked. "No!" Berry said as he stood up and crossed his arms. Dodger then shook his head before looking up at Thomas. "Me and my group will help as much as we can. We'll do anything for Oliver." Dodger said with a smile. Thomas then got down on knee and took out his hand to shake Dodgers paw. "Then it's a deal," Thomas said as Dodger place his paw in Thomas's hand and then they shook on it. "Deal," Dodger replied before turning to look at Kodi. "And so what's the story with you?" Dodger asked looking up at Kodi.
"Nothing much to say. Just my names Kodi and I'm one of the sons of Balto." Kodi explained. "You don't say? The same Balto who saved all those kids and a bush plane pilot?" Dodger asked. Kodi nodded with a smile. "Huh. And weren't you apart of that team who saved that pilot as well?" Dodger added. Kodi again nodded with a smile. "Well I'll tell you guys this now. It's a whole new ball game out here in New York." Dodger said with a smile before heading back into his home. "Come on I want you to meet the rest of your new team." Dodger said while walking inside. Berry jumped off the crate and hopped on Kodi's back. As Kodi walked inside with Berry, Tito went in after them with Thomas just about to follow them in until he's phone received a text message from Ashlind. "Shit," Thomas whispered to himself as he took off to head back to the docks. Not long after that Thomas made it up back to the docks where he saw Ashlind standing next to her car. "What do you want now?" Thomas asked rudely. "Easy bad boy, I just want to talk." Ashlind said with a smile. Thomas chuckled as he leaned against his car. "Talk about what? You already took everything from me. You and your Boss Kidman." Thomas explained as he crossed his arms.
Ashlind chuckled as she stepped away from her car. "You know my aunt isn't so bad once you get to know her." Ashlind said putting her hands in her pockets. "She's your aunt?" Thomas asked in shock. "Unfortunately yes she's my aunt." Ashlind said with a small smile. "What does she want from me?" Thomas asked. Ashlind chuckled "isn't that the million dollar question. I don't know what she truly wants from you, but I know it's big and it has to do with your stones," Ashlind explained. Thomas sighed and shook his head. "Isn't it always has to do with my stones," Thomas added. Ashlind shrugged her shoulders before answering. "I don't know. Is it?" Ashlind asked. "Sure feels like it," Thomas answered. Ashlind nodded in response before hearing her phone and then answering it. "Ashlind." Ashlind said on the phone. "We have an opening?... great we're on our way." Ashlind said as she hung up the phone. "Get in your car we have a job to do," Ashlind said as she opened her car door. "What makes you think I'll do this job for you?" Thomas asked while crossing his arms. "Because… I can get you in to see your dad for a few minutes if you complete this job." Ashlind answered. Thomas thought about for a moment and then agreed. "Alright let's go," Thomas said as he was about to get into his car. "Oh and one more thing." Ashlind said as she walked over to Thomas. "What?" Thomas asked looking at Ashlind.
Ashlind smiled as she handed out her hand. "I'm going to need to take your license," Ashlind answered. "Why?" Thomas asked. "Just in case you get caught, then you take the fall for us." Ashlind answered. Thomas sighed but did as he told and gave Ashlind his drivers license. "Good. Let's get started." Ashlind said as she ran back over to her. "This better be worth it," Thomas said as he started up his car and followed Ashlind out of the docks and out to the shipyards.
Kodi watched Thomas drive the Silvia away and went back downstairs to talk with Tito and meet the rest of the new gang. Kodi walked back in, "Ah there he is! Meet the gang Kodi, this here's Einstein, he's the muscle of our group, guy'd take a bullet for all of us!" Dodger said. "Now son, I may not be the smartest of our group or the youngest, but I can put up a fight, as he said, i'd take a...what was it boss?" Einstein asked. "A bullet, somethin' that fires from a gun to kill something'" Dodger explained. "Oh yeah yeah! I'd take one of them to keep y'all safe!" Einstein said proudly. "Right, now, moving along, this here's the sugar of our group, Rita, she..." "Hey now buddy, I may be sweet but don't call me sugar, baby, ya hear?" Rita asked sternly. "Yes of course! Anyhow, she's the one who got Oliver here comfy wit' us! Acted just like a momma to him." Dodger said. "You fellas ever need something' just let Momma Rita know." Rita said warmly. "You already met Tito here, now over in the corner is Francis, our smarts, he could do anything you need him to that has to do with smarts or poetry!" Dodger said. "Top of the morning to you lads!" Francis said elegantly. "Hey man, you know his name's Frankie!" Tito spoke up. "I told you I don't like to be called that, mate!" Francis said. "Ah you know i'm just messin' with ya!" Tito chuckled.
Welp, that's the gang! So, what brought you guys to New York?" Dodger asked.
"Vacation actually or so we thought," Kodi answered. "Yeah it wasn't supposed to get this crazy and look where we ended up!" Berry added. "We had a similar problem a year ago with a guy named Sikes. But it never went this far." Dodger said as he scratched his right ear. "But he's dead now." Dodger added as he stopped scratching. "I know the kid explained things about those stones but can you explain more?" Dodger asked. Kodi chuckled before answering. "Man where do I start..." Kodi said as he laid down. "Well start from the beginning. How did you end up with a cool kid like that?" Dodger asked as he laid down as well. suddenly the group got together and listened in on the story. "Alright well it started out like this..." Kodi said before taking a deep breath to tell the story.
Thomas shifted into third, trying desperately to keep up with the GT500, but his S15 just didn't have the power to pull on her. "Crap! This thing isn't powerful enough!" Thomas shouted in anger as he slammed his hand on the steering wheel. As the RPM rose to 8,000 he shifted into fourth. Ashlind's GT500 suddenly turned left, Thomas downshifted to second and ripped the E-brake to drift into the corner, and kept kicking the clutch to keep it sideways. He let off the throttle to let the tires grab traction again, and shifted to third again. He was side by side with the GT500 now, but it started to pull away, Thomas heard a slight whine from the car, "Is something wrong with her car?" Thomas thought to himself. Ashlind turned on her hazard lights and pulled into an alleyway, Thomas downshifted to second and pulled into the alleyway which led to a warehouse rave party.
A loud party was going on while Thomas and Ashlind walked through the back entrance. Thomas and Ashlind walked into a back room where they couldn't hear the loud music. Blake along with two other guys were in the room as well with Blake sitting down on a couch. "Alright Thomas you met Blake already, but this is Archie and this Cole." Ashlind introduced Thomas to her crew members. "Hey," Thomas said with a nod. Archie and Cole just rolled their eyes as they went on with their business. "Tough crowd," Thomas said as he crossed his arms. "Don't mind them. They can be assholes at times," Blake said as he stood up from the couch and shook Thomas's hand. "Well then... I guess I should stay clear from them." Thomas said as he looked over to Archie and Cole. "Ha I would if I was you. Archie did break Coles hand once." Blake said as he crossed his arms. "You don't say?" Thomas asked looking at Blake. Blake was about to say something but then was cut off by Ashlind. "Until I beat them to a pole and made them into real men," Ashlind said with a chuckle before walking over to her laptop. "Yeah that happened to," Blake said as he walked over to where Ashlind was standing next to her laptop. "Alright boys we have a runner job for Kidman." Ashlind explained. "What's a runner job?" Thomas asked as he walked over to Ashlind and Blake. "We're going to steal a few things back from the de Vi warehouse in town," Blake explained as he crossed his arms and looked at Thomas. "Steal something back?" Thomas asked again. "Kidman made a deal with fashion women named Cruella de Vil. something like that and we're going to steal it back," Ashlind said while working on her computer.
Thomas had a concerned look on his face, "What are we stealing back?" Thomas asked. Ashlind closed her laptop and looked at him, "What we're stealing back is a very expensive painting which sold for about one and a half million dollars. She scammed us with the suitcase, so we're taking it back now, get it?" Ashlind asked with a serious look on her face. Thomas nodded, "Whose car are we taking?" He asked. Ashlind spoke up, "Good question, gang, listen up." Ashlind said to the group, "We need to use all of our cars, that includes you Thomas and Blake. We're going to split up around the neighborhood, Thomas, you'll be in charge of carrying the painting, that's all you need to know, go get your Silvia ready, it kicks off tonight at 2 a.m." Ashlind said, handing Thomas $4,500 to up the performance of the car. Thomas nodded and left the room, and left to a nearby tune shop Ashlind left on his GPS.
Thomas pulled up to the tune up shop that was named Tommy's shop. Thomas then pulled up into the garage. Thomas then got out of the car and shut the car door. "Hello?" Thomas called out "Hey you must be Thomas. I'm Tommy," Tommy said as he shook Thomas's hand. "Hey Tommy um… how did you know I was coming?" Thomas asked as he took his hand back. "Oh. Ashlind called ahead and said you need an upgrade," Tommy said with a smile. "Oh yeah I do need an upgrade," Thomas said with a smile. "Alright it'll be 20 minutes," Tommy said as he walked over to the car. After 20 minutes was up Thomas walked out of the waiting area and walked over to his car. "Is everything ready?" Thomas asked as he crossed his arms. "Yep it sure is," Tommy said as he got out from under the car. "Good," Thomas as Tommy stood up.
"I gave you a Brian crower forged and a whole new A'pexi system and a new fuel system," Tommy explained as he gave Thomas the keys back. "Okay thanks," Thomas said as he paid the money to Tommy. Thomas then got into the car and noticed he didn't have his GPS. "Oh by the way he's an upgraded GPS," Tommy said as he handed Thomas the new GPS. "Oh um… thanks," Thomas said as he took the GPS and hooked it up. The GPS already had to location of the warehouse where Thomas was supposed to meet everyone. Thomas left the garage and speeded down the road. "Whoa! This thing is a lot faster now!" Thomas cheered. 15 minutes went by and Thomas was now pulling up to the warehouse. "Now where is everyone?" Thomas said as he parked his car.
Suddenly an explosion happened from the inside of the warehouse. "Holy shit!" Thomas said as he watched the building burn. All the members of the team raced out the building with the painting. Ashlind then opened Thomas's car door door and placed the painting inside. "Follow us!" Ashlind order as she closed Thomas's door. Thomas started up his car again and then followed his crew away from the burning building. Thomas then looked at his GPS as he was getting a voice call from the others. Thomas then answered the call. "Hey! What was that! I thought this was an in and out job!" Thomas shouted in anger. "That was the in and out job," Cole said with laugh. Thomas shook his head as he shifted into third gear.
"We got some heat heading our way!l Blake warned. "Alright boys time split up! Meet back at Kidman's warehouse!" Ashlind ordered. "Alright!" Everyone said as they split apart from each other. Once everyone went their separate ways, Thomas logged into the GPS to find the best route to Kidman's warehouse. Once Thomas found the best route he went for it. As Thomas was racing through the back roads of New York, his GPS started to glitch and started rerouting his route to Kidman's warehouse. "Rerouting," said the GPS. "What the hell?" Thomas said as he looked at his GPS. "Rerouting," The GPS said again. Suddenly Thomas got a phone call from his phone. "Hello?" Thomas answered. "Thomas! How are you?" Kidman asked. "This isn't a good time Kidman. I have some cops on me for your stupid panting!" Thomas shouted as he drifted around the corner to his right.
"You don't say? Well I wanted to let you know that the GPS in your car is in fact deactivated and is now a tracker for the police to find you and take you down," Kidman said as she chuckled on the phone. "What hell?! You did this didn't you!" Thomas shouted in anger. "I might have had something to do with this," Kidman said with a laugh. "Good luck Thomas. I hope I won't have to visit you in prison," Kidman added before hanging up the phone. "Kidman! Hello? Damn it!" Thomas shouted as he threw his phone in the passenger seat. "Rerouting," The GPS said once again. "Shut up!" Thomas shouted before grabbing the GPS and throwing it out the window. "Okay Thomas think, think, think. What would Kodi say to you right now or even Berry for that matter," Thomas said before getting rammed in the back bumper.
"I got it!" Thomas cheered to himself before taking out the camouflage stone and tracking stone. "I hope this works," Thomas said to himself before using the stones magic. "Camouflage," Thomas said as the black stone started to glow. Thomas felt the energy from stone pass through him and then covered the whole car. The car was now invisible to the naked eye. "Awesome," Thomas said as he down at the Tracking stone. "Find Kidman's warehouse," Thomas said into the Tracking stone. Thomas also felt the energy from the Tracking stone as it traveled through his body and into his eyes. Thomas's eye color changed from brown to blue. Through Thomas's eyes the road was now blue with pulse vibrations leading the way to Kidman's warehouse. "This is way to cool!" Thomas said as he sped away.
In no time the police had been called off and Thomas now pulling up to Kidman's warehouse. Thomas then turned off both stones with everything going back to normal. "Wait till I tell Kodi about that cool feature," Thomas said as he got out of his car. Kidman was waiting outside her warehouse just smiling as Thomas walked up to the steps of the warehouse. "What the hell Kidman?! You trying to get me put away or even killed?" Thomas as he through his arms in the air. Kidman smiled once more as Ashlind snuck up behind Thomas and puts a brown bag over his head. "Hey what gives!" Thomas shouted as he was trying to get the bag off his head. Ashlind then hits Thomas in the head knocking him out. Ashlind looked down at Thomas as he laid down on the ground. "I hate doing this to him Kidman," Ashlind as she looked up at her aunt.
Kidman chuckled before speaking. "Well his in a rude awakening when he wakes up," Kidman said as she was about to walk into her warehouse. "What do you mean by that?" Ashlind asked. Kidman stopped and turned around to look at her niece and chuckled. "I have some else he wants, waiting in our dogfight arena." Kidman said with a laugh. "Now lock him up in one of the cages so he'll be ready to make a decision he regret," Kidman said as she walked into the warehouse. Ashlind sighed as she did was she was told and took Thomas to the cages.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Alright guys we are back again! And I'm sorry this took a little while to get out there. More Chapters will be out on time as we progress further into the story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and we have many more surprises up ahead for you :D thanks again and be ready for the next chapter!
A/N Nightwolfzilvia: Hey guys! Looks like the crew is starting to get themselves settled in, wouldnt you say? I can't wait to see what we can do next, see you guys in Chapter IV!
A/N drewdog302: Well it's about time we got back to this story folks, but anyway me, Blake and Thomas are totally looking forward to what chapter 4 has to offer! See ya in Chapter 4!