Underdog 2
Chapter 5
"Good morning, Uncle Dan!" Elizabeth called from her room as she got dressed the next morning.
"Morning, Lizzie!"
Dan checked himself in the mirror and straightened his tie.
"I hope you're getting ready", he said, "because we've got a big day ahead of us."
"What?"
Elizabeth poked her head out from the doorway.
"What are you talking about? It's just another day, right? I mean, you're going to work and I'm gonna stay here with Shoeshine."
"No, not today. I got you a job at the precinct."
"Wait, what?!"
Elizabeth finished brushing her hair and slid into her flip-flops, meeting her uncle in the hallway.
"Uh, when exactly were you planning on telling me this?"
"This morning."
Elizabeth sighed.
"Uncle Dan, is this because of what happened at the bank yesterday? Because I can take care of myself."
"No, it's not that, I just thought that-you know-maybe you'd like to earn some income."
Dan squeezed her shoulder.
"And earn your keep around here."
"Very funny."
"It wasn't not funny."
"Fair enough. Alright, what is this job you've signed me up for?"
"Oh, you know, just MAYOR'S SECRETARY."
"The mayor's secretary?!"
"Yeah! You're plenty qualified for the job, I mean-you can handle paperwork, can't you?"
"Uncle Dan-"
Elizabeth gripped him by the shoulders.
"You can't just sign me up for a job without telling me. I know what this is really about."
"You do?"
"Yes. Since Jack's not here yet, and you'd do anything to keep him safe, you want to make sure I'm safe by keeping me within close range. But you don't have to worry about me. I've got Shoeshine with me. Or should I say, Underdog."
A shocked look came across Dan's face.
"I-what-how-"
"Shoeshine told me, yesterday."
"Why?"
"Strangest thing, he accidentally talked while he was trying to stop me from watching the news."
"Oh, yeah, he hates the newscaster's hair."
Elizabeth caught a hint of nervousness in her uncle's eyes.
"Yeah. Okay. Well, have a nice day at work. Catch some bad guys, okay?"
"Yeah, you got it."
Dan rushed down the stairs, pulling on his jacket.
"Hey, maybe not today, but at least think about the job, okay?"
"Bring me back some cheesecake and I'll think about it!" Elizabeth said, smiling.
"Did someone say, cake?" said Shoeshine, coming up behind her. "I'm starving!"
Elizabeth giggled.
"One day knowing your secret, and I'm already getting used to living with a talking dog."
She patted her side.
"Come on, let's get you some breakfast."
"Now you're speaking my language!" Shoeshine said, bounding down the stairs after her.
…
Conrad shoved fry after fry into his mouth, stuffing his face with food from the diner as the waitress watched him from behind the counter.
"So when was the last time you ate?" she said.
"Food like this?" said Conrad, and took a bite of his burger. "SIX YEARS."
"You want some dessert?" said the waitress, eyeing his nearly empty plate.
"Yeah, I would", said Conrad, wiping his mouth with a napkin as he finished up. "How much?"
The waitress set a plate with a piece of cheesecake on the table in front of him.
"On the house", she said, smiling at him.
Conrad eagerly took a bite, savoring the taste.
"You know, this is my daughter's favorite", he said.
"Oh, you got a daughter?" said the waitress. "How old?"
"Not sure", he said. "It's been a while. She's probably in her twenties."
"And her mom?"
"Probably still with her."
"Divorced, huh?"
"You could say that."
Conrad took the last bite of his cheesecake and stood up.
"Anyway, thanks for the cheesecake."
He dropped a 10 on the counter and left the diner. The waitress picked up his cash and smiled.
"Nice guy."
She didn't see him turn the corner, pull on a black ski mask, slam a guy's head into the hood of his car and take it. Conrad swerved out of the way of a passing truck, who blared the horn at him, and continued down the street.
"Where are you, Lizzie?" he said. "And what are you doing here?"
Suddenly, a police siren was heard from behind him. Conrad groaned.
"Aw, great."
Rolling his eyes, he hit the gas and swerved in and out of traffic, running lights and avoiding pedestrians.
…
Shoeshine looked up from his food bowl, hearing tires screeching and the honking of horns and pedestrians screaming and sirens wailing. Elizabeth stopped mid-cereal scoop and stared.
"Hey", she said, "you okay?"
"Someone's in trouble", said Shoeshine. "I gotta get dressed for work."
Elizabeth stood up and tossed her bowl into the sink.
"I'm coming, too."
Shoeshine sighed.
"Fine, but stay where it's safe."
"You got it, Underdog."
After getting dressed, Underdog dropped Elizabeth off on a rooftop so she could see everything and chased after the car causing chaos on the street below. Elizabeth watched as Underdog grabbed the bumper with his teeth and brought the car to a halt.
…
Conrad growled in frustration when the car was brought to a stop. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a blue cape.
"That dog again", he said, getting out of the car.
"Well, hey there, big guy", said Underdog. "After the last time we met, I've been wondering when you were gonna show up."
"Underdog", said Conrad. "We meet again."
He lit up his hands with electricity. From the rooftop, Elizabeth pulled out her phone and started taking pictures.
"This time, you're goin' under, dog!"
Conrad released a stream of lightning, but Underdog flew out of the way as it hit a lamp post instead, shattering the bulb and making sparks fly.
"Let's leave the jokes to the dog", said Underdog, and flew around in a circle around Conrad, making him dizzy. When he was about to fall over, Underdog kicked him back into a bush. On the rooftop, Elizabeth filmed everything she was seeing.
"Everyone, stay back!" said Underdog. "This man is dangerous!"
"Really, mutt?" said Conrad, his hands glowing. "What was your first clue?!"
Elizabeth watched as Underdog dodged another bolt of lightning, but she soon realized the blast was headed right for her.
"Uh-oh."
Elizabeth gasped as the blast struck only a few feet from her, causing her to lose her balance and she tumbled off the roof! She screamed and flailed her arms before grabbing onto a flagpole. Elizabeth gulped. It was a long way down from where she was dangling.
"'HELP!"
Underdog paused mid-flight.
"Oh, no! Lizzie!"
At this, Conrad also stopped and looked up.
"Elizabeth!"
"SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
"Hang on!" said Underdog, heading up there. "Don't let go!"
"Yes, because letting go was the first thing on my mind!" said Elizabeth, but she shuddered on the inside with fear.
Conrad powered down and looked up at his daughter, struggling to hang on.
"She's in danger because of that dog", he thought to himself.
The crowd cheered as Underdog safely set Elizabeth down on the ground, who breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Underdog", she said.
"You're welcome", said Underdog. "Now, Electric Eel, where were-?"
But when Underdog turned back to face his opponent, he was gone.
…
Conrad turned the corner into an alleyway and removed his mask.
"Don't worry, Lizzie", he said. "No one puts my little girl in danger and gets away with it. I'm gonna get you away from that meddling mutt. Soon, you and I will be together, forever. And no one is gonna take you away from me this time."
"Hey, thanks again", he heard Elizabeth say.
"Don't mention it", said Underdog. "Well, I'll see you."
"Yeah, uh...see ya, Underdog."
Conrad spied on them as Elizabeth got into a cab and went back to her Uncle Dan's house.
"Hmm...I wonder…"
Concentrating on the power lines around him, Conrad was able to travel through as an electrical current. He followed Elizabeth all the way back to the house and watched as she went inside and scratched a beagle behind the ears. Conrad smiled to himself.
"Living with Miriam's brother, huh? Gotcha."
Merry Christmas, everyone, wherever you may be. I decided to go ahead and finish this chapter before I go to sleep (side note: If you are one of the people who don't have to work tomorrow, consider yourselves lucky and CHERISH EVERY YEAR YOU DON'T). Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it!
-Imagigirl20