Chapter 3: Alien Protection Program

Stitch's handy dandy e-mail really paid off in the same exact way that Karin's permanent possession of Link saved his life. After Karin met Derryk just a few minutes ago, she immediately felt passion come into her spirit. Her lust for him is still brewing inside of her mentally and, so far, she's doing an excellent job of hiding it. In the meantime, she decides to take it easy. This relationship scenario was really new to her and, being a first timer, she decided to keep her personal questions confidential until she thinks it's the right moment. As for Derryk, he was sincerely honored to help Japan's big heroine. As powerful as the battle was for Karin, Derryk is internally shocked that all the negativity of that battle came right with her. At this point, he wants to do whatever it takes to bring her back up from the falling cliffs of her stocks. That will symbolize his hidden lust for Karin later.

Shortly after Derryk volunteered to show Karin and Link his family laboratory, Karin drove towards the secret lab with Derryk in the passenger seat and Link in the back seat. Derryk whistled as they were riding, immediately starting a conversation.

"Damn, girl. What kind of ride is dis?" He asked. "Dis thang is tight!"

"It's my personalized and limited edition Jaguar XJ220." Karin replied, keeping her focus on the road. "Impressive, isn't it? I paid for everything in this car and outside the car as well… all in full."

"Damn! That must've cost you millions!"

"It did, but since it's my car, the cost of the enhancements doesn't matter."

"I see. Now, Karin?"

"Yes?"

"What we're goin' to right now is somethin' I vowed to keep confidential from everyone, including you and Link, but since you have to actually keep the lil' guy to keep your family from goin' down the tubes, I'll only let you gain access to it anytime you need it. That is a promise."

"Thank you, Derryk. So, what exactly does an extraterrestrial scientist do?"

"I'll explain all that when we get there. There's a lot more to this dream career than most science experts think."

"Well, I'm not a science expert… yet… but I've heard that scientists that study and observe extraterrestrials are often using them in dangerous lab tests to prove they are worthy of becoming new citizens to our planet Earth."

"Mm! Yeah… yeah, that's right, but since I'm an animal activist on the inside, I don't do that shit."

"Oooooh. Really?"

"Yeah. It's like what my Mama used to say: 'All tests, written or electric, are cruel to all who take them.' I think about that phrase everyday and it keeps me from doing crazy tests on these innocent creatures."

"I see. So, if you don't do lab tests, what happens then?"

"You'll see."

Five minutes later…

"Here it is." Derryk started as Karin just parked in front of a yellow ordinary house. This confused Karin as Derryk continued. "Our secret lab."

"Huh!" Karin exclaimed with surprise. "Looks like your typical suburb house to me. Are you sure this is the place?"

"Yeah, baby. It gets interesting. C'mon in."

"It better be good, then. C'mon, Link. Let's go."

"Ih." Link replied as he jumped out of the car and closed the door behind him. Karin picked up the yellow alien as he approached her and she reluctantly walked inside the common house. As soon as she stepped in, the front door closed shut by itself in a split second and the lights turned on, revealing all kinds of high tech machines and chambers. Karin was taken aback by this display as she walked up to Derryk, who kept a smile on his face.

"You believe me now?" He asked. Karin nodded as she looked around. Link cooed with interest as he was looking around at his own pace within her arms as she spoke.

"Well, Derryk… at this point, I'd have to say that I have seen everything." She replied. "How can you manage to keep all of this advanced technology well hidden like this?"

"Let's just say that hidin' da big guns is easier than hidin' yo deepest secrets."

"Hm! Good point."

"Now, I'll explain what my career is all about. Ya want some green tea befo' I start?"

"Yes, please. Thank you! Oh, and I brought some salmon cubes for a snack, if that's okay."

"Salmon cubes?" Karin nodded in response as she pulled out her king-sized bag of the healthy fish snack and handed it to Derryk, who took one and popped it in his mouth. "Mmmmm! These are good! Who made 'em?"

"Kunimitsu. She told me that she created this delicious snack herself after she healed a liger named Advance from clogged hairballs in his stomach."

"Oh… mm! They're animal snacks, huh?"

"Yeah, but they're also snacks for us as well. They are so gentle on your stomach that even I became envious after eating two of them after I suffered food poisoning from that poi in Hawaii."

"Damn. Kuni really keeps herself occupied, huh?"

"Yes. Now, about your extraterrestrial scientist job description…"

"Oh, yeah. Sit down, baby. It's a long description." Karin did so and so did Link as he got comfortable on her lap. Derryk took his respective seat in front of the two friends as he continued."Now, like I said in the car, there is more to studying aliens than most experts think. Being an extraterrestrial scientist takes loads of responsibility. Since we're on the subject of your zaibatsu, I might as well tell ya dis. You own my family's alien protection program."

"I do?"

"Yeah. Does KISA sound familiar?"

"Hmmmm… KISA. The Kanzuki International Space Association?"

"Yeah. We work on the scientific side of your zaibatsu."

"Oh, yeah. Now, I remember. So, your job is to mainly capture, keep, and profile aliens and see what they can be capable of among human interactivity."

"Exactly. Now ya get my job. It's cool, but it's not easy. Capturin' aliens is the hardest part of the whole career. They can get stubborn."

"I know this already. Thanks for telling me. Are you keeping any aliens right now?"

"Yeah. There's one alien I wanna show ya. Follow me." Derryk, Karin, and Link walked over just a few feet towards a chamber that held a snake-like creature that was approximately fifteen feet long and a foot tall. It was bright green with big black eyes, no mouth, and two short limbs near its neck. Karin and Link awed at it as Derryk explained. "This is a tackalés, a species that I have yet to determine its behaviors on."

"This is an unusual creature." Karin commented.

"Ain't it, though? According to my observations, this creature is specifically made to tackle for defense. Nothin' mo' and nothin' less."

"That's awkward."

"Yeah, it is. He's actually a zakamon."

"A zakamon? What is that?"

"Zakamon are mysterious aliens who only live to serve its master. They can be used to battle or as a companion. They can even be both battle warriors and companions."

"Just like pokémon!"

"Exactly. Ever since Zak Kavaashi, the creata of these zakamon, delivered them to Earth by small or large capsules, he's left me in charge of capturin' 'em and placin' 'em here in a humane settin' until I can determine whether or not they can live among us peacefully. If they can't, then…"

"You keep them for sentimental value."

"Yeah. Damn, girl! You smart!"

"Thanks. You wonder how I am so good at street fighting."

"Well, dat answered my next question."

"What? How am I so good at street fighting?"

"Yeah."

"Figures. Now, here's my question: How many zakamon have you caught so far?"

"So far, I've only caught two. This tacklés and that vyper over there. That bastard was more difficult to catch than dis peace lovin' lizard."

"Whoa." Karin muttered as she took a closer look at the deadly ten foot long peach-colored serpent with arms that were half that length with a set of four sharp six inch nails on each one. It had piercing red eyes, blue five inch spikes going down its back, and four fangs dripping with hunger in place of a mouth, which it was completely absent of. This puzzled Karin the most as she continued. "Derryk, how come this dangerous creature has all fang, but no mouth?"

"Aw, shit, Karin." Derryk muttered. "Those lethal fangs are the reason why this mothafucker was so hard to catch. He tried to kill me!"

"What?"

"Yeah. I was lucky to have animal control around me at da time and they were able to shock 'im while he was busy tryin' to find my weak spot to strike me at."

"Wow! How long did it take you?"

"Five hours and forty-five minutes."

"…………………" Karin looked over at him with shock. Link shivered with fear as he kept quiet, staring at the drooling vyper.

"The forty-five minutes were spent on tryin' to place the snake in the car. He's heavia than he looks."

"………hmm! How much does he weigh?"

"The typical vyper usually weighs 3 tons, but Zak doesn't know why they have all that weight in such a simple snake-like body."

"Amazing! These zakamon creatures are pretty unique. So, about Link… how can you help me protect him?"

"Well, you know about the Child Protection Program, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm gonna be Link's Alien Protection Program. Practically everywhere you and Link goes, I'll be right behind ya'll every step of da way."

"Ooooh. That sounds like a great alternative. It'll be like you are a security guard almost every day, but… what about your job at your father's store? How are you gonna squeeze that in?"

"Easy, baby. You can just stay fo' a while wit me while I work. I've got a TV, some video games, magazines and novels you can read, a cabinet and refrigerator full of food, a microwave, and even some pots, pans, a sink, and a dishwasher… all in the break room."

"What about a toaster?"

"Yeah, dat, too."

"Good. We can make ourselves at home over there, then."

"I knew you would like dat idea, Karin. With that in mind, you can rest assured that Link will be completely out of harm's way. As long as you stay in the store, he'll be just fine… but if you ever have the urge to go somewhere, I've got this." Derryk paused as he pulled out a metal anklet with blinking green and red lights attached to it. "This is somethin' my Mama invented before she passed away. Ever since she heard about our alien protection program, she somehow had a feelin' dat you would come along wit one of Stitch's cousins for us to watch over… and sho' 'nough, here ya come with Link. This is a little similar to one of those anklets criminals wear when they are in house arrest, but this comes wit a tracker. My Mama calls this device ANGEL 4500. ANGEL stands for Alien Neutralizing and Guarding Energetic Lifesaver."

"Ah, the 'and' is left out. The title does sound self-explanatory, but just in case, fill me in."

"A'ight. The ANGEL 4500 is designed to protect the alien who wears it, no matter where it is. When the alien is in danger, it'll blink the red light, indicating its location so you can find it. If you don't respond to the signal within the first fifteen minutes, the police and/or animal control will come to the rescue. Here's the cool part about dis thang! If, fo' some reason, the attacker tries to harm the alien, it'll send four thousand volts of electricity to fry that jackass, but it won't harm the alien!"

"So, it's like the alien is shocking him instead of the device."

"Exactly!"

"Wow. This will really ensure Link's safety. Can we put it on him now?"

"Yeah. Let me get dat." Derryk paused as he walked up to Karin and gently grabbed Link's left foot and carefully placed it on his ankle. After he got it on, he reached for the on switch, but Karin's hand was already on it and they immediately blushed as they stared at each other for the next fifteen seconds with their hands touching. Link knocked them out of the trance by squealing at his loudest volume. Derryk jerked his hand off of Karin's as she flipped the small switch on and Link was instantly protected. "Heh, heh… saw the switch before I did, huh?"

"Yeah." Karin agreed. "Thanks for the information and this ANGEL 4500. Now, Link can take care of himself, regardless of his location. Is this the only ANGEL your Mother has made?"

"Unfortunately, yes. She was planning to make more right after her forty-fifth birthday, but the stroke struck her harder than Birdie does wit his chain."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Your father did tell me about her untimely death. Did you take it peacefully?"

"Naw."

"………………" Karin frowned with sympathy as Derryk continued.

"I was sixteen when she was diagnosed. Hearin' dat news was nothin' to me because I knew she was a fighta. She had a case of depression befo' den and she took it like a troopa. Then, two years lata, by the time I turned eighteen, her stroke got to her real quick. She had to be rushed to the hospital at my high school graduation. I couldn't go wit her because I didn't received my diploma yet. It was all silent in dat auditorium fo' da next ten minutes… and during dat silence, my cell phone started ringin'. I picked it up and… and… damn it."

"Derryk?" Karin softly asked as she got up from her seat, holding Link in one arm, as she approached the gentle giant, who was crying like a baby against the wall. She used her free arm to give Derryk a loving embrace, having her tears stream down her face as she kept quiet. Link watched this scene with just as much sadness, but held back his tears. He looked to his right two minutes later and saw that Derryk's cell phone was vibrating. He forced himself out of Karin's grip before he professionally landed on his feet and headed for the phone to read its message.

As for Derryk and Karin, they were still in that loving embrace as Derryk finally spoke.

"The… the doctas told me…… dat… dat… my Mama…… didn't make it." He cried. Karin's sniffling came in softly as she spoke, feeling more and more of Derryk's pain every second.

"Aww, Derryk. I'm so sorry about your mother. I'll bet she was a great woman towards you and your father."

"She was, Karin… and nobody else's motha can replace her. I was glad to have a parent like her. Her spirit will always rest within my heart."

"Amen to that, Derryk." Karin tightened her hug even more after she said this and Derryk felt a warm sensation all over his body. He finally felt true love for the first time since his Mother's death and, even though he was frowning on the outside, he was smiling on the inside. His relationship with Karin just got hotter… slightly. "She will be missed."

"She already is."

"Karin! Derryk!" Link called out from his spot near a table where he found the phone. Derryk and Karin looked over at the yellow alien quickly and saw how urgent he looked. "New zakamon just landed!"

"YES!" Derryk cheered, completely changing the subject, as he ran towards Link. "What number is it?"

"How about you look?" Link handed Derryk his cell phone as he looked at it very carefully. Karin walked towards him with a passionate smile as her thoughts spoke in her head.

Derryk is so emotional when it comes to family. Karin's voice said in her mind as she stared at her excited boyfriend. This is really showing his sweet side so far… and I am enjoying every moment of it. Now, I really want to see his rough and tough side of this gentle giant's personality. If that can't turn me on, nothing will."

"YES! It's zakamon numba 17: the kyxxtone. Aww, he's gonna be easy!" Derryk exclaimed as he placed his phone away. "Yo, Karin! You wanna help me catch it?"

"Can I?" Karin asked with a desperate smile.

"Yeah. Yo' 'bout to see what bein' an extraterrestrial scientist is all about. Since the kyxxtone is a baby type, it'll be an easy hunt."

"Oka… what?"

"What?"

"Did you say it was a… baby type?"

"Yeah."

"Huh! I've never heard of that type before."

"Dat's because it's a new type Zak developed… along wit gemstone, mysterious, laser, light, and air."

"Air, too? How harmful can air be?"

"Lethal! C'mon! Let's go, baby."

This hunt had better turn me on somehow. Karin swore in her mind as she gathered her hunting materials and ran after Derryk with Link running by her feet. I hate to rush into a relationship, but the sooner the better. There's no telling what will happen afterwards.

To be continued…