El Tigre: Evolution
Who knew a simple act of vandalism would make so many people happy?
-Frida
Chapter 2
White Pantera limped away from the scene. The battle had not gone well. The Alados, or whatever they were, were able to move quicker than Pantera was able to see them. The fact that they outnumbered him did not help either. In short, he had gotten spanked.
He had lost consciousness. When he woke up, Los Alados, El Oso, and all traces of the money and the mysterious "page" were missing. A crowd had gathered, gawking at the fallen hero.
"Nothing to see here," he said, rubbing his head. "Just…taking a power nap! Scientifically proven to refresh and reenergize so you're ready to take on the rest of the day!"
The crowd dispersed, muttering. He sighed.
Now, as he was limping home, he hung his head.
A group of kids had gathered around a fire hydrant. One of them was struggling with a large wrench, in an attempt to dismantle the hydrant, but to no avail.
"I can't get it," he said, giving up. The other kids groaned. It seemed they would have to find another way to cool down.
Then Manny and Frida appeared. They had given up on the television and decided to take their chances outside. Both had water bottles filled with ice water, which they periodically took swigs from. When they passed Manny waved and cheerfully asked, "Hey, how's it going?"
They grumbled, but a light bulb went off over one kid's head.
Manny!" he cried. "We need El Tigre!"
The other kids perked up and joined in. "Yeah! El Tigre!"
"What for?" Manny inquired. They pointed at the fire hydrant. Manny put two and two together, grinned and…
"EL TIGRE!" Manny cried, spinning his belt buckle to make the transformation from Manny Rivera to the super-powered El Tigre.
The kids oohed and ahhed.
"Hiyaa!" El Tigre took a swipe at the fire hydrant with his razor-sharp claws. At first, it appeared nothing had happened, but then a rumbling sound and the sudden spray of water proved otherwise. He had sliced the hydrant cleanly in half. The other children cheered.
Frida and El Tigre looked on as the kids played in the fountain of water.
"Who knew a simple act of vandalism would make so many people happy?" Frida wondered as they turned to walk away. They had not taken a step before…
"FRIDA!" The looming shape of Police Chief Suarez (also Frida's father) was in their path.
"Uh…Hi, dad?"
The chief's gaze fell on El Tigre. "Tampering with a fire hydrant is illegal! Especially in this time of drought! That's city water we won't be able to get back!"
"Um…sorry?" El Tigre replied sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
"Sorry doesn't cut it this time, Rivera." Chief Suarez said ominously. "You're going to have to do…community service."
"Oh Manny!" Frida cried melodramatically. "I'm so sorry!"
"Relax, Frida, we've done this before. What do I have to do?"
The next day, around lunchtime…
Manny stood behind the school lunch counter, wearing a hairnet and a scowl on his face. He plopped servings of Mystery Meat down on the trays of students as they pointed and laughed. Eventually Frida came up to the counter with an empty tray.
"Dude, tough break."
"Tell me about it."
"At least we have the field trip after this," Frida said, glass half-full.
"You're right!" Manny beamed. "I almost forgot! It's gonna be so cool!"
"That's the spirit!" exclaimed Frida. "Now…I'll take the meat loaf."
Manny glared.
Later, Manny and Frida were sitting next to each other on the bus as the class prepared to depart for the trip.
"Why do I feel like we've forgotten something?" Manny pondered as he scratched his head. Frida just shrugged.
They were suddenly reminded when a voice rang out. "Hello, children!"
Manny's eyes widened in realization as they rested on his grandfather, who was standing at the front of the bus.
"I will assisting your teacher as chaperone today," Grandpapi continued. "You may call me Sr. Rivera, and I expect you all to be on your best behavior," he stated, laughing evilly, and then added, "Hola, Manny!" and took his seat. Several kids turned towards Manny and snickered.
Manny melted down into his seat. "Man, this is gonna ruin everything!"
Frida was rooting through her backpack, "Why? He told you he was going to do it."
"I didn't think he was serious!"
Frida thought for a moment. "Besides the embarrassment of being under the constant vigilance of a family member during a field trip, how is this going to ruin things?"
Manny threw his hands up in the air. "You know my Grandpapi! He's probably got some heist planned. It'll be even more embarrassing."
"Why would that-" Then it hit Frida. "Unless you're planning something of your own!"
Manny's eyes darted around. "What? You couldn't be any further from-"
"And you're afraid Puma Loco's going to steal your thunder!"
Manny sighed. "All right, I do have something planned."
"What is it? I want in!" Frida said, almost twitching.
"I've said too much already, Frida."
Frida crossed her arms.
"Let me in or I tell the chaperone."
"Frida!"
She remained silent.
"Fine."
"Woo hoo! All right what's the plan?"
The students filed off of the bus and gathered in front of the impressive building that was the LuxeCorp. Head Quarters. It was a dome with three towers surrounding it, the colors blue and silver.
Frida leaned in to whisper to Manny, "We only get a half-day to tour this?"
The children stood around for a moment, with Grandpapi herding them together. Then an attractive blonde woman came strolling out of the building to meet with the group.
"Welcome!" She exclaimed, smiling warmly. "Do we have a treat for you today kids!"
The classmates looked around at each other. The word "treat" had definitely piqued their interests.
"As part of our "Children Are the Future" program, your guide for this tour will be none other than Diego Luxe himself!"
The kids gasped. Manny was jumping up and down.
"Wow, Frida, can you believe it? Diego Luxe, the billionaire, is going to be our tour guide?"
"Manny?" Frida whispered, tugging on his shirt. "What about the plan?"
Manny froze. "Oh, yeah. Right."
So far the plan was to sneak into the office of Diego Luxe. That was all Manny would tell Frida, but that was all she really needed to know.
"Follow me inside, and I'll introduce you all to Mr. Luxe!" the blonde said in her chipper tone. She turned and started walking, and the class followed.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry it's been so long. Life has a way of attacking me, and it doesn't fight fair...