Author's note: Sorry about the lag. I guess I was waiting for Nail Strafer to get back. Might be a long wait, so I'm submitting this baby now. Oh, and check out my other story, "A Boundary Crossed: Director's Cut", when you get the chance. Unless, of course, you've already done so.
Segment 4: Board Brains
Chapter 8: News Report
(Kim)
Jet was waiting for us when Leo and I returned to the real Babylon Wing, accompanied by Wave and Storm. "Nice work, you guys," he told us with a chuckle. "I guess I underestimated you."
"Next time, don't," Leo said smugly. I rolled my eyes.
Wave stepped forward. "Leo and Kim are very skilled, and they kept their cool through everything that went on in there." She provided an account of what happened in the demonic Babylon Wing. Leo and I told our story, as well.
"You should've seen that one time," Wave said at one point, "where Leo and Kim used that spin move as a defense. What was it called?"
"The Drive Spin," I remarked.
"Yes, the Drive Spin. Say, could you show me that one more time? It looked interesting to me."
"Sure," Leo agreed, and he and I stood back-to-back and performed the whirling move once more. Jet flinched. I thought I saw Wave writing something down, but we were spinning too quickly for me to tell.
When our torque died down, and the two of us recovered from dizziness, Wave reached out and disconnected the Gemini Dash from my back. She removed the clamp, too. The sudden absence of their weight made me feel like I was floating up all of a sudden.
"I don't want you weighed down by that stuff as you continue your journey," Wave explained. "Don't worry, though. We'll keep the Gemini Dash safe here on the Babylon Wing, so stop by if you want to do any more boarding."
Wave didn't make it clear how we were supposed to "stop by" a nomadic flying airship, but I decided to trust her. "Thanks, Wave. We'll do that."
Leo and I stood inside Babylon Palace. "Ready when you are," Leo yelled out.
"Roger," Jet replied. "Let it down, Storm!"
The bay doors swung open, and the palace, still hanging from the chain, swung back and forth. Slowly but steadily, the chain lowered us down and down, making a CLUNKACLUNKACLUNKA noise as it went.
When the palace touched down, Leo and I made a spectacular leap from its doorstep, landing on the ground with no problems. It looked like we could just take the bus back to Emerald Town and we'd be done with the third Black Emerald… when we heard someone speaking out.
"This is Kitty O'Brien of KBS News here with the afternoon report. Earlier today, Babylon Palace was literally stolen off its foundations, but as you can see, it's back now! That surprised even me!"
As Leo and I approached Kitty, she whirled around and pulled us up beside her. Somehow she'd seen us coming out. "Well, look at these two palace raiders. What are your names, you two?"
"Leo," Leo replied. "Leo Starlinowski. This is my sister, Kim."
Kitty's ears perked up. "Leo? That was the name of the robin hero who'd saved Sonic the Hedgehog when Dr. Eggman captured him! Any relation?"
I stepped forward. "Actually, my brother here is-"
Leo stopped me and took over. "I've heard of him. I like to classify myself as a reincarnation of him."
"Ah, I bet," Kitty agreed. "Say, Leo Starlina- Starl- Starlin- uh, can I just shorten that to Star?"
"I don't see why not," I assured Kitty.
"Thank you. Anyway, Leo and Kim Star, were you involved in the absence of Babylon Palace?"
"Not directly," Leo explained, "but we negotiated with the group responsible and convinced them to put it back." I nodded in agreement.
Around then, Kitty noticed Leo fidgeting with the Black Emerald. "Say, what's that?" she asked us.
"It's a Black Emerald," I interjected. "These special jewels have mystical dark powers. We're collecting them all for the sake of the world. There are seven in total, and we have a map indicating where the remaining jewels are."
"Sounds thrilling," Kitty commented. "How many do you have so far?"
"This is our third," Leo replied. "We have just four left."
After a few more questions, Kitty let us go, but not without giving us two "I WAS INTERVIEWED BY KITTY O'BRIEN" stickers. Their design was different than the one Leo had showed me the other day; she must've changed it since then.
I even remember Kitty's parting line to the camera: "Looks like the Star foxes are in for quite an adventure. We'll have more news later tonight!" The Star foxes? Sounded catchy somehow.
"Leo," I asked him once we were out of earshot, "why didn't you tell Kitty who you really were?"
"And have her and her entire viewing audience think I was some kind of lunatic?" Leo shot back. "I'd rather not!"
(?)
"Did that Kim fox say something about a map? A map to find the rest of those glittering Black Emeralds? My plans on the Master Emerald can wait. If I can steal that map, those jewels will be as good as mine! It'll be no problem for a skilled jewel thief such as myself!"
Hm, perhaps this is a hint at what's to come in the next segment?