Chapter 7: "Reminds Me of Your Sister!"

The Screaming Eagle landed at the base of Mount Fuji. Geegaw got out of his prized plane to help his passenger out with his bags. "Well, here we are. Mount Fuji, Japan. You know somebody here?"

"No, you could say I'm on a mission here." William said as he climbed out of the passenger side of the plane.

"Really? Could I be of any help?" Geegaw asked.

"Why, yes." William materialized his ax, and pointed it at Geegaw. In a sinister tone, he said "You could come with me and not cause any trouble!"

Geegaw immediately put his hands up. "Look, if you want money, I don't have any. If you want my plane, take it. Just don't hurt me."

"I don't want your possessions. They mean nothing to me." William said. "Your power is all I need."

"I don't have any power. I don't know what you're talking about." Geegaw pleaded.

"Of course you wouldn't. Just come with me, and I won't hurt you."

"OK, OK, I got you. I won't cause trouble."

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"Dad, you still there?" Taryn broke over the silence of the line.

"This is your mother. What happened?" Kendal said, a little angry.

"Checkmate." Taryn responded simply.

"Huh?" His mother said, thoroughly confused.

"That means he won, ma'am." Rez said.

"Oh thank goodness. You come home right now, mister." Kendal demanded.

"It isn't that easy." Ty said over the line. "Lightneton is still out there, looking for the key."

"What could you tell me about the key?" Taryn asked.

"We don't have much. Just that it's a pilot by the name of 'Hackwrench.'" Rez said.

"Oh no! It must be my dad!" Gadget said horrified. "We've got to help him!"

"We will. Right now!" Taryn said.

"Taryn." Ty said. "We can't send you help. You're on your own. Take care of yourself."

"I will, dad." Taryn said.

"And I'll take care of him!" Gadget interjected.

"Oh no!" Ty and Taryn said in unison. Taryn continued. "It's waaaaaaaay too dangerous."

"He's right. We can't risk your life." Ty added.

"It's my father this Lightneton is after." Gadget figuratively and literally put her foot down. "I'm going and that's final."

"Stubborn. Reminds me of your sister!" Ty said to Taryn.

"Tell me about it." Taryn said, and then turned to Gadget. "Fine. But when the action starts, you get out of there. Promise?"

"Promise." She said.

Taryn disconnected the communicator from the monitor and placed it back on his head. "We've got to find Lightneton. Climb on!" Gadget put her goggles down over her eyes, and got on his back. "Hang on tight; we've got to book it!" Taryn took off in a flash.

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"I would say that I am sorry for you being mixed up in this situation…" William began to say.

"But you really don't care, right." A chained up Geegaw said rebelliously. He was chained by both arms and legs to a runic tablet. They were in a strange cave, deep within Mount Fuji. He could feel the heat from the lava below, and could smell the sulfur. His whiskers twitched with fear. I'll be damned if I show this jerk fear.

"Your courage is admirable." William said. "You are now chained to the Map of Corinth. Its scribed spell will, in combination to your powers of the Key, summon the Lock from the depths of your world. Once here, sadly for you, only your blood will open the Lock and grant me one wish, which I will use to revive my fallen master."

"Will you leave once you're done?" Geegaw said angrily.

"Yes. But sadly, your world will end." William said with a sinister look in his eyes.

"And I take it you really don't care about that, either? Jake was right, you are made of pure evil."

William ran up to Geegaw and got in his face. "I may be pure evil, but I am the one with all of the power, now aren't I?"

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"You sure he came this way?" Taryn asked Gadget as they walked up to the small airstrip's tower.

"Sure, I'm sure. Dad tells me where he's going every time he takes off." Gadget said as she walked up and knocked on the door. After a few seconds, the door opens.

"How can I help…Little Gadget! What are you doing here?" Jake asked, a little surprised.

"Hi Uncle Jake. Have you seen my dad?" She asked.

"He took off headed north with a last minute passenger 'bout five and a half hours ago." Jake said.

"Do you remember the passenger's name?" Taryn asked.

"It depends. Who are you, mate?" Jake fired back.

"He's a friend." Gadget said. "We really need to know."

"Some stranger named William DeMorue. Strange thing was he showed up asking for Geegaw, saying something like 'I heard he was the greatest pilot in this realm.' Strange sounding bloke." Jake said.

"Do you know exactly where they were headed?" Taryn asked.

"Didn't tell me." Jake said. "But I felt some right bad feelings 'bout that guy. I hope Geegaw's OK."

"If he's not…" Gadget started.

"Then I'll take care of him. You stay out of it." Taryn finished.

"You take care of her, mate." Jake said.

"You can count on it." Taryn said, and then looked to Gadget. "Let's fly!"

"What are you flying?" Jake inquired.

"Me." And with that, Taryn took off with Gadget on his back.

"Take care, Little Gadget." Jake said to himself.

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