Chapter 2

The Federation Council was holding its regular secret weekly meeting in its secret meeting room. Security guards were posted at all entrances.

Chief Anderson arose to speak to the Council, which included President Kane.

"Our scientists have confirmed that the Big Boy mecha landed in the deserts of Nevada, close to the mountains and the city of Las Vegas." he began his report, "But unfortunately, we have lost track of it. We are convinced that Katse has a secret base somewhere in the area, but so far have been unable to find it."

"What do you plan on doing, then?" asked President Kane.

"We have successfully managed to re-animate the first two Groovy Ninja Team members, and have integrated them into the new G-Force trio." Anderson replied. "Team MoJo, along with the new Swan, have been assigned the task of locating and infiltrating Katse's new base."

"We have received some disturbing news from the country of Utoland." Kane stated. "Apparently one of their nuclear weapons went missing enroute to its destination in Jutland. Do you think…."

"It could be the work of Katse…" the Chief mused.

Just then, the secret communications monitors in the secret meeting room lit up with the image of a purple masked villain.

"How did you get this frequency?" sputtered President Kane.

"Mere child's play for my evil organization." the figure laughed evilly.

"Katse!" Chief Anderson cried.

"Not quite…" Zoltar laughed evilly. "My name is Dr. Zoltar…"

"It doesn't matter what you call yourself." said Anderson grimly, "You're still evil! We will stop you!"

"Who will stop me?" Dr. Zoltar cackled. "Now that your precious Groovy Ninja Team is gone, there is no one to thwart my evil plans!"

The Council gasped.

"We have control of the missing nuclear weapon from the country of Utoland." sneered Zoltar. "And unless you meet our evil demands…"

"What are your demands, Mr. Zoltar?" Kane asked.

"Mister???" screeched Zoltar, "It's Doctor Zoltar! I didn't go to evil graduate school for four years to be called Mister Zoltar!"

"I apologize, Doctor Zoltar." Kane corrected himself. "What exactly are your demands?"

"We will destroy the Earth with this nuclear weapon in seven days, unless you agree to pay us… one million dollars!"

The Council laughed heartily.

Zoltar stamped his foot in frustration.

"Frickin' idiots…" he muttered.

"We will destroy the Earth with this nuclear weapon in seven days, unless you agree to pay us… one hundred billion dollars!" Zoltar corrected himself.

The Council gasped, as the secret communication monitors went blank.

88888

Chief Anderson had determined that the Big Boy mecha had landed in Southern Nevada, and he had ordered the team to investigate the area, beginning with the city of Las Vegas.

The G2 mini-Cooper really was only built for two, so Princess had volunteered to travel with Jason while Mark took the G1 Harrier. Her G3 Galacticycle wasn't ready yet.

Mark was more than slightly miffed that Princess obviously preferred Jason's company to his. After all, he was the father she had never met… didn't she want to get to know him? Besides, it bothered him that she was interested in talking to Jason… he knew from personal experience what kind of man he was… the kind of man Mark used to be…

"Man, I am so cheesed off right now!" he muttered to himself.

"Di' someone say cheese?" asked a voice with a thick Scottish accent.

Mark nearly jumped through the roof of the Harrier cockpit. Sitting in the co-pilot's seat was a large man in a kilt, who bore an amazing resemblance to Ryu.

"Who… who are you?" Mark asked, certain that the man had not been there a moment before.

"I'm known as Fat Bird… but meh friens call meh Tiny." the man volunteered with a big smile.

"But… what are you doing here in my plane, man?" Mark was confused.

"Well, tha Chief asked meh ta follow yew." Tiny explained. "He wanted meh to keep an eye on Team MoJo… jus' in case, yew unnerstan. But he tol' meh not to interfere wit anythin' yew were doin'… jes ta report ta him if yew needed help."

"So you've been here the whole time?" Mark asked, astonished.

"Well, I'm pretty good a' hidin' an' such…" Tiny smiled proudly. "Tha's why tha Chief asked meh ta do this. I wouldna come out a' all except tha yew mentioned cheese…" The Fat Bird looked around expectantly.

"I'm afraid I don't have any cheese." Mark said, a bit taken aback. "I was just talking to myself."

"No cheese? But meh belly is empty…" sighed Tiny. "Yew got anything else ta eat?"

"Uh…" Mark dug a small packet of crackers out of the glove box. "Will this do?"

"Yeh… fer starters…" mumbled Tiny as he shoved the crackers in his mouth. "Why were yeh talkin' abou' cheese anyhow?" he asked, crumbs falling out of his mouth.

"I was just thinking about Princess." Mark sighed. "She's down there…" he gestured to the mini-Cooper on the highway far below them, "with the Condor… and I'm worried about her."

"Ah... tha Swan…" Tiny nodded knowingly, "She's a righ pretty lil' thin'… I'd love ta eat her up… jump in mah belly sweet thin'…." he grinned.

"Hey, that's my daughter you're talking about!" Mark growled.

"Time ta go!" Tiny said quickly, realizing his error.

When Mark turned his head a second later, there was nothing to be seen. Somehow, the Fat Bird had become completely invisible.

"Damn if the guy doesn't know how to hide…" Mark muttered to himself. But thinking about Tiny didn't help. He was still worried about Princess.

He gritted his teeth, thinking of the conversation in the mini-Cooper on the ground below him.

88888

"Your driving skills certainly live up to their reputation, Jason." observed Princess, as the G2 tore down the highway at nearly 200 kilometers per hour.

"That's not all that lives up to my reputation." Jason grinned at her. Damn, she looked shagadelic in her tight leather catsuit. Plus, as an added bonus, he knew that having her in his car was driving Mark wild.

Princess arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow at him, a slow smile moving across her face.

"I may just have to call you on that…" she smiled.

"You can call me anytime, Baby." he replied.

"You have my number too, Jason." she tapped her bracelet communicator. Jason had one as well. He and Mark had been allowed to keep their velvet suit civvies, but Chief Anderson had insisted that they upgrade to the more modern bracelet technology for their communicators and transmutation devices.

"I've got your number, Princess…" he drawled, "But what would your Daddy think of our little conversation?"

"Daddy dearest?" Princess laughed. "What right does he have, to have any control over my life? It's not like he's ever been around for me. All I know about him is that he was apparently so shagadelic that Mum froze herself rather than stay with me." She grimaced at the unpleasant memory.

"Oh, so it's revenge you're after…" Jason grinned wickedly. "Then count me in. I've been wanting to get that stick out of Mark's ass for awhile now…"

"Not exactly revenge… I want to get to know him and all… he is my father…" Princess mused, "But I don't think he should have any say in how I live my life."

"And how do you want to live your life, Princess?' Jason asked.

"I'd like to live my life to the fullest…" she murmured thoughtfully. "Experience new things…"

"I can certainly help you there…" Jason drawled. "I'm very experienced."

Princess turned to stare at his profile as the landscape went whizzing by. She reached out her hand, and lightly ran a pink fingernail down the side of the Condor's cheek as she leaned toward him.

"It's certainly a good place to start…" she whispered in his ear.

"Oh, behave!" he grinned wickedly.

Princess' laughter tinkled down the desert highway behind them.