Hey guys! I know it's been forever, but don't get confused. This isn't a new chapter, but rather an edit. However, I will be updating this story sometime this month, so be on the look out for that. Writer's block is a pain, but I'll try my best.
Using Burt's Cargo truck, Burt and Travis were just an hour away from Beach City. Travis checked the inventory through the sliding window behind him. Only now did he realize Burt stocked up on every gun you could imagine a retired soldier to have: AK-47s, M182s, Grenade Launchers, RPGs, Mini-guns, M16s, literally every gun Burt could either afford or retrieve from his gun wall at home.
"Holy crap, Burt!" Travis said with disbelief, "Getting ready for World War 3?"
"I don't know, are you getting ready for a shooting for the next Jaws movie?" Burt asked sarcastically, noticing Travis' Summer beach clothes instead of his usual leather jacket.
"We're going to a city that's literally named for its greatest feature," Travis put his hands behind his head with a relaxed expression, "The ocean."
"This town also happens to have a history with paranormal occurrences." Burt reached into his pocket and took out a crumpled document.
He gave the document to Travis and continued to drive. Travis skimmed through it; he chuckled as he reached the end.
"You actually made a list of every disaster that happened in Beach City?" Travis asked with a chuckle, "You even listed what weapons you should bring on the back!"
"I have to accommodate for each possible situation. Record number 13: A blue humanoid alien formed a tower out of pure H20. Guess where she emerged." Burt pointed at the document a few lines up, "Record number 7: Teenager nearly burns the whole beachside boardwalk after consuming fire-inducing pastry. Record numbers 1 to 6: A giant centipede attacks the beach, humongous puffer fish threatens to blow away the town, a God damn red ball in the sky blew up and destroyed the boardwalk!"
"What's this about a giant hand?" Travis asked, pointing at a picture of a giant green hand with a question mark next to it.
"I wish I knew," replied Burt, "Folks around here say it came out of nowhere. The town had to be evacuated in case of a hostile take over."
"Just a little off subject here," said Travis, "Did we really have to bring along the Shrieker?"
True to his word, a Shrieker was in the back of the truck. A stout little gray biter with no eyes but a beak-like jaw. Mixing with its gray pigment were red blotches getting redder around its neck and behind. It was tied up in a cage, struggling and panting to break free.
"Consider him a pet," said Burt, "Found him dazed in Perfection and kept him binded since then."
"How's he still alive?"
"He's the reason no rats get into the food supply." Burt said, pointing at a rat tail in front of the cage.
"Yeah, by eating some of the supply while he's at it." Travis looked at the Shrieker with concern. Had that bondage been removed, it was just a tongue's reach from the food.
Travis stroked his chin and took a sip of his Dos Equis. He's lived in Florida for as long as he can remember, but he's always had the chance to visit Beach City a few times. However, Travis never saw anything bad about the town. He hung around with a man named Greg. In fact, Greg was the closest thing Travis had to a friend before leaving.
"You know, it'll be great going back." Travis said, "I used to visit Beach City with my aunt every other month. The plane ride was alway turbulent as Hell, though."
"Oh really?" Burt asked, sounding as carelessly as he could be.
"You know, I was a big deal back in Beach City," Travis bragged, "Everywhere you look, you can hear someone talk about me as positively as rednecks feel about Trump."
"Oh, so I'm a redneck, now?" Burt asked, clearly offended.
"Oh no, I didn't mean it like that!" Travis apologized.
"Quit your worrying!" Burt chuckled, "I hate that bastard."
The road split off from the suburbs and entered a road surrounded by fields. Burt took a bite out of his MREs and offered one to Travis.
"No thanks, Burt," Travis refused, "I'm not used to food that comes in tin foil."
"Come on, it's protein!" Burt insisted, "You need it, or else you'll end up like me in the 80s; scrawny."
"You still look scrawny." Travis noted.
"And you still look ridiculous in that beach shirt." Burt replied.
"I'll settle for the Beach Citywalk Fries," said Travis, "And maybe some donuts or Fish Stew Pizza."
"Fish on pizza," Burt grimaced, "Worse than eating manure on bark in the war."
"Yeah, well at least it's better than eating African Graboid meat."
"Oh please, you didn't complain when you ain't that earth worm!" Burt said.
"I didn't complain because I was still grossed out by the fact that a little girl tricked me into eating a worm!"
After 10 minutes, they could see a town by the ocean over the horizon. It wasn't too big nor too small; a perfect catalyst for peril. The town's quiet atmosphere was clashed by the roaring engine of Burt's Cargo truck. People on the street rushed out of the way as Burt carelessly drove right by.
"Slow down, Burt!" Travis exclaimed, gesturing for people to move out of the way, "Try not to kill anyone!"
"This vehicle wasn't built for cruising," replied Burt, "It was made for off-road terrain and running over Shriekers and Graboids."
Travis rubbed his forehead in frustration. His strain vanished the moment he saw a building with a sign that said "Fish Stew Pizza" on a giant metal pizza slice.
"Burt, park over there!" Travis told him.
"Why?" Burt asked.
"I haven't eaten in an hour," relied Travis, "I need a pizza."
"You're not still going on about that fish piz-"
"Come one, Burt! I haven't eaten here since high school!" Travis protested.
Burt sighed, but he knew Travis wouldn't stop bugging him about this pizza place. He turned the wheel and entered the parking lot of Fish Stew Pizza. He gave Travis 30 dollars and 50 cents.
"Make it quick." Burt said.
"Burt, this is a handicapped spot." Travis said, looking at the blue parking spot below them.
"If anyone asks," said Burt, "I have arthritis."
Travis grinned and opened his door. Once he opened the glass door of the restaurant, he took a deep, satisfying breath. The tables were empty except for one teenager in a red polo, glasses, and French fry-like hair using his laptop. At the counter was a dark skinned teenage girl wearing an apron and her hair in a bun.
"Hello, sir," said the girl, "How can I help you?"
Travis walked to the counter and looked at the menu. There were many different choices, but only one caught he eye: a large cheese pizza with sardines.
"Yeah, can I get a large cheese pizza with sardines?" Travis requested.
"Large pizza with sardines!" The girl yelled softly to the back.
"Scaled or tuned?" The voice of an old woman called back.
"Tuned?" The girl asked.
"Why? You can't tuna fish!" The old woman said in a joking tone.
"Oh Nanefua!"
Travis sat at the closest table and checked his phone for any updates.
"Haven't seen you around here, mister," said the girl, "Are you on vacation?"
"Oh no, my dad and I are just on a business trip." Travis replied.
"Business trip?" She asked, looking at his clothes, "In a tropical shirt and short khakis?"
"Plain-Folks Appeal." Travis replied.
An old woman with her hair in a bun came out with a pizza box and rang the bell.
"One large cheese pizza with sardines." She said.
"How much do I owe you?" Travis asked.
"How much ya got?" Asked another teenage girl coming out from behind the curtains.
"Jenny!" The first girl grunted, glaring at Jenny.
"What?" Jenny said in a laid-back way, "Just helping the business."
"Please excuse my sister, sir. She doesn't know how to properly talk to customers." The girl said, emphasizing the last part of her statement.
"I've got 30 bucks," said Travis, "how's that?"
"Sold!" Jenny exclaimed, giving Travis the pizza and taking the thirty dollars.
The first girl sighed and withdrawed twenty dollars from the register.
"Is your dad the guy smoking on the side of that army truck out there?" She asked, pointing outside.
Travis looked out the windows to see Burt leaning on his truck smoking a cigar.
"That's my old man." Travis said.
"Hey, ain't that the old man on the newspaper?" Jenny asked, leaning over the counter.
"Hey Ronaldo!" The first girl called the boy on his laptop, "Come look at this."
Ronaldo looked away from his laptop and gasped in excitement. He stared at Travis with amazement and jumped out of his seat.
"TRAVIS WELKER!" Ronaldo shouted ecstatically.
Travis raised his hand confusingly. Ronaldo ran to him and shook his hand with a huge smile on his face.
"Ronaldo Fryman. Huge fan of your work!" He said after calming himself slightly.
"Oooh, I thought you looked familiar!" The girl said, "You're that guy who killed that Dirt Dragon...or whatever you call it."
"Graboids," said Travis, "and nice to meet you, man. Good to see a kid of the Fryman family."
"You know about the Frymans?!" Ronaldo gasped.
"Of course. I happen to be friends with the owner of one of their shops." Travis replied.
"Wait," said Ronaldo, "If you're here, then that means,"
Ronaldo looked out the window and saw Burt smoking his cigar and reloading a p99. Ronaldo's legs shook violently as his eyes widened. Travis waved his hand in front of Ronaldo's eyes.
"You alright there, buddy?" He asked.
"It's alright," said the girl, "He follows anything on the internet involving paranormal stuff. He's pretty hyped about you and your dad's accomplishments especially."
"I have to get a picture with you guys!" Ronaldo exclaimed.
"I can get Burt in here, but he doesn't like fish on pizza." Travis explained.
"What?! He doesn't like what?!" Came the voice of an intimidating man.
A man wearing a green shirt under an apron with his hair held up by a hair net came out of the curtains with a cleaver. His eyes were narrowed to a near permanent frown as he opened the counter door. He stared outside at Burt and raised his cleaver.
"That man will eat a fish pizza and he will like it!" He said angrily.
"Kofi! Let the man be!" Nanefua demanded.
Kofi opened the door and walked right up to Burt.
"You! Smoker!" Kofi shouted.
Burt turned his head to Kofi with an indifferent expression. He puffed out some smoke and put out his cigar.
"If this is anything about my parking space, I have arthritis." Burt said, making it look as if he was in pain all over.
"Your joint pain is of no concern here!" Kofi shouted, "You will enter my shop and a fish pizza!"
"Oooooh no!" Burt said, getting angry, "I don't know who you think you are shouting at the top of your lungs, but I draw the line if you think I'm gonna eat something covered in dead fish!"
"You claim to hate it, and yet you haven't tried it!" Kofi exclaimed.
"I sure as Hell know it'll be the same as every other pizza joint putting fish heads on pizza slices!" Burt replied, eyes narrowing.
"You cannot park your war machine in my parking lot unless you plan to eat a fish pizza!" Kofi exclaimed.
"And you can't yell at a veteran unless you're either an Infantry Sergeant or his nagging wife!" Burt exclaimed back.
"This ain't good." Travis said, pocketing his change.
Burt and Kofi continued their quarrel for a near hour. People began gathering around not too close to the two, but close enough to hear their argument. The argument eventually escalated to angry gestures and interrupting shouts. Knowing this wouldn't end quickly, people started getting bored and left.
"I think I'll just eat here." Travis said, setting the pizza down on his table.
"Kiki, get the nice man some napkins." Nanefua told the first girl.
"I know this may be unconventional to you," said Ronaldo, holding out a note pad, "but this just seems like the right time. Can I interview you?"
Travis sat there eating a pizza slice and nodded. Ronaldo squeaked with glee and had his pencil ready.
"Is this what you do on your spare time?!" Burt asked Kofi angrily, "Shout at people who don't eat your God for saken food!"
"Is this what you do on your spare time?!" Kofi responded even louder, "Smoking a cigar and driving giant brussel sprouts!"
"I'll have you know that I can tear down your shop with this baby in just eight minutes!" Burt threatened, "I was in 'Nam! And I freaking loved it!"
"Oh, so just because you are an army man means you have the right to threaten me?"
"No, I think it's because you're a hollering Communist that I have the right to threaten you! You can go to Hell you little crap!" Burt exclaimed.
"Take your truck and leave this parking lot!" Kofi demanded, "You are officially banned from Fish Stew Pizza!"
"I don't need to eat your trash! Literally anything on this planet is better than fish on pizza!" Burt emptied his pockets and threw each item he had at Kofi's feet, "MREs! Jerky! Heinz Ketchup!"
Burt walked around to the back of his truck, "In fact, I can cook up a better frittata from the head of a Shrieker! Just you wait, 'cause I've got a 120-pound meal ready to be chopped and coo-"
Once Burt opened the tarp concealing the back of the truck, he found the cage of the Shrieker torn open and the ropes cut! His eyes widened in fear as he jerked around and stared at the ground. Kofi peeked into the truck and laughed.
"Where is your frittata, huh?" He asked through cackles and laughs.
"What are they doing now?" Nanefua asked.
"I don't know, but daddy's sure getting a kick out of it." Jenny replied.
"Mr. Welker," said Kiki, "your dad looks pretty down in the dumps out there."
Travis looked away from Ronaldo. He saw Burt staring at the ground with eyes widened and got out of his seat after consuming his third slice. Leaving the shop, Travis walked toward Burt and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Burt, what's wrong?" Travis asked.
"Look in the truck." Burt replied.
Travis did as he was told and peered into the back of the truck. Everything was accounted for: the guns, the bombs, a laughing Kofi next to him...but no Shrieker. Travis jumped into the truck in a panic, looking for the Shrieker! The Shrieker may not have been there, but the driver's seat was open. The cage was way too durable for a Shrieker to break through and the ropes looked as if they were cut, not snapped. The driver door was open and somehow, the assortment of weapons was organized by size.
It was then that Travis reached a conclusion, "We've got ourselves a Shrieker thief!"
"Travis, get in the truck," said Burt, "If that Shrieker is anywhere near a food source, this town's screwed!"
Travis got into the passenger's seat as Burt ran for the driver's seat. Kofi was far from over, however. The restaurant owner charged in front of Burt's window and shook his fist.
"Stop! I believe an apology is in order!" Kofi exclaimed.
"It's alright, just don't let it happen again." Burt replied.
"I didn't apologize!" Kofi shouted.
"You know what, you're right," said Burt, turning around to look Kofi in the eyes, "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Loss of what?" Kofi asked with a glare.
"Of your sanity." Burt replied before getting in his truck.
The roar of the engine came alive again! Ronaldo, Kiki, Jenny, and Nanefua ran out to see the Cargo truck backing out of the driveway. Ronaldo took out his phone and took several pictures of the truck and Kofi yelling at it in the process.
"Wait!" Ronaldo yelled, running at the truck with his phone in the air, "I have to get a picture!"
The second Burt and Travis could be seen from Burt's window, Ronaldo took as many pictures as he could before Burt frowned at him in each frame to stop. Ronaldo was relentless, though. He didn't stop taking pictures, eventually causing Burt to hit the gas pedal and race out of the parking lot! Ronaldo coughed from the dust but still had a wide smile from all the pictures he got; in high quality, too!
"This is definitely going on my blog!" Ronaldo exclaimed, running down the street.
"Should we tell him he left his laptop?" Kiki asked.
"Nah," Jenny responded, "He'll be back."
"I hope that old man does, too." Nanefua said, "If he can argue with my son like that, I may have found you girls your new grandpa!"
"Nana, you too funny!" Jenny laughed.
Back at the temple, a beam of light emerged from the warp pad. From the light, Steven, Peridot, and Li'l Bud appeared. Peridot jumped away from Li'l Bud, still afraid that it might attack her again!
"Keep that thing away from me!" Peridot exclaimed.
"Come on, Peridot," said Steven, "If you treat Li'l Bud like a monster, she'll act like one!"
"She is one." Peridot frowned.
Lion walked past Peridot and curled at the edge of the warp pad. Steven caressed Li'l Bud's neck and jumped off the warp pad.
"I wonder what the gems will think of you." Steven said.
Peridot walked to the counter and sighed, "If it's like how they first thought of me, then Li'l Bud will be in a little trouble."
"I'm sure you'll be fine." Steven reassured Li'l Bud.
He heard the screen door open and stepped in front of Li'l Bud to hide her. A stout, purple woman rivaling Steven's height stuck half of her body into the door. She wore a white tank top which appeared to be connected to her purplish pants, two black stars on her knees, white boots, and a purple gem stone on her chest.
"What up, Steven!" She exclaimed.
"Amethyst!" Steven replied.
"Hey P-Dot."
"Amethyst." Peridot responded.
"Guess what Steven!" Amethyst said, "You wanna see something cool?"
"You bet I do!" Steven exclaimed, now struggling to keep Li'l Bud behind him.
Amethyst walked back outside for a few minutes. She talked excitedly with a taller woman outside. They sounded pretty excited for Steven's surprise. First, Amethyst poked her head in.
"Ready to meet your new pal?" She asked.
"Can't wait!" Steven replied.
"Good, because we just found it where you'd least expect it!" The taller woman said as she walked in.
She was at least twice Amethyst's height, pale in color, wore an aqua blue tunic-leotard with a star in the centre and a light satin sash around her upper waist. Her nose was pointed and so did the end of her hair. She also wore amber-coloured leggings and pink socks within blue ballet slippers. Her grin was as big as Amethyst's.
"Pearl stole it from an old guy's truck." Amethyst said.
Pearl grunted while glaring at Amethyst.
"I freed it from its captivity," said Pearl, "I saw Mr. Pizza arguing with this old man and saw something rustling in the back of his truck."
"It seemed pretty docile once I freed it," Pearl continued, "And since I know how much you care about wild animals, I decided to bring it to you."
Steven was sweating just keeping Li'l Bud back. Pearl and Amethyst looked at each other with large grins as Pearl slowly open the door wider.
"Hey, he's got a pretty cool hat, too!" Amethyst said.
Opened all the way, the door revealed a Burt and Travis' Shrieker with its frills up. Once it saw Steven, it shrieked and ran towards him!
"RUN!" Peridot screamed, jumping over the counter.
The Shrieker was just a few feet away from Steven before Lion got up and smacked it back with his paw! He growled at the Shrieker, but it shrieked at him in retaliation.
"Don't you dare touch Steven!" Pearl yelled.
She whacked the Shrieker across the room with her spear as Amethyst slammed it back down with her whip! It shrieked in pain, but stood its ground. Peridot threw multiple items at it from the counter, not having any effect.
"I'm running out of weapons!" Peridot exclaimed, throwing a cup of coffee.
The hot coffee spilt all over the Shrieker's face; steam came off it as it licked its face. It backed up as its prehensile tongue wiped off the scalding liquid. Steven and the gems watched it continue to lick the coffee off its face until it bumped into the fridge. Turkey and mashed potatoes fell out, making the Shrieker open its jaws wide enough to consume the entire turkey!
"The turkey!" Steven shrilled.
It stopped eating the mashed potatoes midway. The Shrieker's thorax behind the sides of its head grew larger and wider. It started breathing intensely, opening its beak wide and clamping it back down. Pearl pointed her spear at it, Amethyst readied her whip, and Peridot winded up for another coffee throw.
"Steven, get behind us," said Pearl, "It might be getting ready for another attack!"
"I think I'll stay here." Steven replied, keeping Li'l Bud's head down behind Lion.
"Steven, I am not asking you! I'm telling you to get behind us!" Pearl snapped.
Before any more objections, the Shrieker regurgitated a blood-stained egg; Steven nearly barfed.
"Aw sick!" Amethyst exclaimed.
"Is it a bomb?" Peridot asked, poking her head above the counter.
Two legs elongated from the back of the egg, similar in shape to the Shrieker. The round end of the egg grew into a stubby point and the tip of the egg grew larger and wider. The Shrieker gently bumped the egg back and forth until a small Shrieker head finally broke free! The Shrieker shed its bloody shell and stood upright next to its producer. Side by side, the baby Shrieker was one-fourth the size of the adult Shrieker.
"She's a mom!" Steven gasped.
"The smaller one's getting larger!" Peridot noted.
The smaller Shrieker was indeed growing larger by the second. In just a minute, it was half the first Shrieker's size yet its shriek was identical.
"I've had it with all this shrieking!" Amethyst yelled.
She put both her hands over her gem and pulled out two whips. She threw her arms back then thrusted her whips forward. Both whips wrapped around the Shriekers, allowing Amethyst to pull them forward and twirl around. Gaining enough momentum, Amethyst let go of the two of them and sent them flying out the window!
The Shriekers landed roughly on the porch, but ran down the stairs knowing food here was dominated by a stronger force.
"Amethyst! What were you thinking?!" Pearl exclaimed.
"What? They're gone, right?" Amethyst replied.
"Yes, but now they'll be looking for more food," said Pearl, "and where do you think they'll look first?"
"Come on, what are a couple of birds gonna do in town?" Amethyst questioned, "Empty out all the restaurants?"
"More like empty out the population! You saw how the first one reacted when it saw Steven!" Pearl snapped.
"Well I'm not the one who broke that monster out of its cage!" Amethyst snapped.
The two gems continued their argument, neither backing down from the fault. Peridot glanced at Steven and Li'l Bud hiding behind Lion. She tilted her head at Pearl and Amethyst twice, but Steven shook his head. Peridot nodded with a serious face. Minute 2 into Pearl and Amethyst's argument, Steven knew they had to know eventually.
He walked beside Lion and brought Li'l Bud along, too. He coughed twice to get Amethyst and Pearl's attention; it failed. He tried it again, but it failed once more.
"Guys!" Steven said in a louder tone.
The two gems still continued to argue.
"GUYS!" Steven shouted.
Pearl and Amethyst looked at him and gasped when they saw Li'l Bud next him.
"Steven! Get away from that thing!" Pearl exclaimed, holding her spear.
"Wait, don't hurt her!" Steven said, guarding Li'l Bud with his hands outstretched to the sides, "She would never hurt anyone!"
Peridot was about to object to that statement, but Stven looked at her with pleading eyes to not mention their first encounter. She frowned and crossed her arms. Before Steven could say anything else, Li'l Bud's frill opened up. Pearl and Amethyst grimaced at the underside hidden by her frills. Li'l Bud shrieked and stomped foot repetitively!
"Li'l Bud, no!" Steven exclaimed, holding her back.
"I knew it!" Pearl exclaimed.
Pearl charged up the end of her spear, creating a ball of energy at the tip. She aimed it at Li'l Bud, hoping to get a one-shot blow.
"Steven, get out of the way." She ordered.
"Please, Pearl! She's my friend!" Steven pleaded.
"She's one of...them!" Pearl responded.
"She's different than those other ones," said Steven, "I swear!"
Steven looked at the ravenous beak of Li'l Bud and shed a tear.
"Why are you acting like this?! You were so calm and friendly before!" Steven exclaimed.
Li'l Bud paid no attention to this and started pushing through Steven's hold. Steven wasn't giving up, though.
"I cared for you! I healed your tongue!" Steven looked at Pearl's spear then back at the voracious Li'l Bud, "I made you my best friend."
Though she lacked an ear, Steven's last statement echoed in her head. She slowly closed her beak and backed up. Steven caressed the back of her head and smiled.
"You don't have to be the monster you were made to be." Steven said sincerely.
Pearl stopped charging her blast and stared at Steven and Li'l Bud.
"What gives?! Get rid of it!" Amethyst exclaimed.
"Steven actually calmed it," said Pearl, "It just...doesn't seem right to stop a friendship like that."
"Ugh, you sound just like Garnet!"
"Thank you." Pearl said, looking at Steven and Li'l Bud again.
"You're not gonna destroy it?" Peridot asked once she walked up to Pearl and Amethyst.
"No." Pearl responded.
"Thanks guys," said Steven, "for giving Li'l Bud a chance."
Pearl frowned at Amethyst; Amethyst shrugged and gave them a thumbs up. It took Peridot longer, but eventually she accepted Li'l Bud's company by giving a thumbs up. Steven smiled and opened his arms wide for a group hug.
"Group hug!" He exclaimed.
Before they could group hug, the warp pad was activated. Once the light disappeared, a squared-haired, cerise colored woman appeared. She had an amaranth-colored star with a soft pink outline on her chest, oval-shaped, dark orchid colored shoulder pads, and pale blue and soft pink shades. Her right half was a vivid blue-violet stocking and her left half was a deep orchid colored stocking.
"Garnet!" Steven exclaimed.
"Am I too late for the group hug?" Garnet asked with a grin.
It was nightfall, but Burt and Travis still couldn't find the Shrieker. Seeing that it was too late to go looking for it, they sat next to the truck feeling downcast. They searched the entire town, from Fish Stew Pizza to the Boardwalk, and still had no luck!
"This town is screwed, we're screwed, everyone's screwed, Burt!" Travis exclaimed, "We let a Shrieker loose into the city!"
"Alright, that's enough!" Burt shouted, "First of all, we didn't let it loose. Someone stole it. Second of all, as long as it has no food source, we're safe for now. If it gets anywhere near Fish Stew Pizza or Beach Citywalk Fries, we'll there to annihilate that little bastard!"
"I didn't wanna come back like this, man." Travis said, "I didn't wanna come back to Beach City just to put it in danger! I just wanted to have a few fries, do some fishing, and maybe even run for mayor!"
"You could've done that when we went to California for a Jimmy Fallon interview!" Burt replied.
"I wanted to do those things in the town I love!" Travis responded, "And I wanted to do them with you, Burt."
Burt and Travis looked down sadly. Burt took a sip of Bud Light and gave it to Travis. Travis chugged down half the can but stopped when he heard the sound "May-or Dewey" getting closer.
"Oh crap, get rid of it!" Travis exclaimed, giving the can to Burt.
"Why?"
"I've got a good reputation with the older folk here, Burt. If the mayor finds out I'm drinking, who knows what'll happen!" Travis replied worryingly.
Burt threw the can inside the truck and waved kindly at Mayor Dewey's van.
"Talk about conceited," said Burt, "This asshole's truck has his giant head on top."
Mayor Dewey parked his van behind Burt's truck and walked out adjusting his tie. He was balding and had beige collared shirt underneath a light violet-gray coat and had chocolate-brown pants.
"Evening, gentlemen." He greeted them.
"Evening, Mayor Dewey." Travis said.
"I hate to bother you two," said Dewey, "but I'm afraid you can't park a vehicle of this size on the boardwalk without a permit."
"I was about to say the same thing, but then I realized your van's head was a permit on its own." Burt replied blandly.
"Excuse me?!" Dewey exclaimed, "Do you know who I am?!"
"A balding man?" Burt replied.
Mayor Dewey covered his forehead and pointed at Burt angrily.
"Burt, why do you always have to start something with someone who tells you what to do?" Travis complained.
"Because I am a man of war. I only take orders from actual authority."
"Well I happen to be the mayor of this city," said Mayor Dewey, "And I demand that you move this hunk of junk off the boardwalk or I'll-"
"Or you'll what?" Burt interrupted, glocking his p99.
Mayor Dewey backed up with his hands up, "I-I-I don't want any trouble, sir!"
"Really? 'Cause it didn't sound like that a minute ago." Burt said.
"Okay, Burt! That's enough!" Travis intervened, pushing the gun down, "Please excuse my senile father, Mr. Mayor."
"Senile?" Burt questioned.
"Really?" Mayor Dewey asked.
"Yeah, ol' Burt didn't take his medication this morning, now he thinks he's still in Vietnam." Travis continued, "Tell ya what, we'll get this our truck onto the beach if you just tell us if you've seen this around here."
Travis took out a picture of a Shrieker and gave it to Mayor Dewey. Mayor Dewey observed the photo while stroking his chin.
"Haven't seen anything like this around here. Why?" Dewey asked.
"No reason." Travis replied nervously, "Just some safety precautions."
Mayor Dewey stared at him blankly before giving him back the photo.
"Just get this truck off the boardwalk." Mayor Dewey said.
He went back to his van and drove away with his name on the Mic repeating over and over again. Travis pocketed the photo and turned to Burt.
"You seriously need to control your temper." Travis said.
"Control my temper?" Burt questioned, "So far I've met a crazy old man yelling at the top of his lungs and a mayor who told me I couldn't park without a permit! Who needs a permit to park in a place like this?! And I don't know about you, but once I kill that Shrieker and get the information we need on that alien we found, I'm driving straight back to Texas!"
"Listen, it's seven o'clock and you've already made bad ties with the mayor," said Travis, "As long as we're here, I don't want your attitude clashing with Beach City's friendly atmosphere."
At that moment, the sound of toppled metal trash cans came from around the corner. The noise continued, this time with windows breaking.
"Friendly atmosphere, huh?" Burt doubted.
He took an AK-47 from the inside of his military truck and Travis took a Micro Uzi. They walked stealthily down the boardwalk, but the creaking of the wood didn't help their case. Once they reached the corner of Beach Citywalk Fries, Burt motioned Travis to get behind him.
"Bought this back in Delaware," Burt took out a tarp-like jacket and put it on, "A thermal cloak. Capable of hiding body temperature between 97 and 102 degrees F°."
"Nice!" Travis exclaimed quietly, "You have a spare?"
Burt's expression turned guilty, "I didn't think you'd want one."
"Burt, we hunt Shriekers and Ass Blasters every other week! How could you not think I'd want one?!" Travis asked unbelievably.
Burt shushed him and slowly walked around the corner of the shop into the alley. Travis trailed close behind, finger close to the trigger. Burt poked his head past the wall and retracted with a sigh of relief. He took one last step and jumped to the entrance of the alley.
"Hands in the air, ya hoodlum!" Burt yelled.
A small, round-bodied boy with an ascot, pale yellow upright hair, and a white shirt with red pants turned around with a blank expression. He was holding a baseball bat and just finished bashing metal trash cans and glass bottles.
"Put the bat down, and nobody gets hurt." Burt negotiated.
Travis poked his head past the wall and widened his eyes.
"Burt, don't point a gun at a kid!" Travis exclaimed.
Burt dropped his gun and looked at the boy reassuringly.
"I promise I won't hurt you," said Burt, "Just put down the bat, and we'll drive ya back to your house. How's that sound?"
The boy kept his hands on the bat with his blank expression still in place. Travis threw his gun to the side.
"We're friendly, guys, kid." He assured the boy, "No need to be afraid."
As Burt got closer, the boy finally put the bat down. He stared at Burt with a small smile, causing Burt to smile back.
"That's more like it, champ! Now let's get you back home."
As soon as Burt said that, the boy ran under Burt's legs and straight for the alley's entrance. He grabbed Travis' Uzi and ran down the boardwalk! Travis looked at Burt then at the boy running down the boardwalk bewilderingly.
"Don't just stand there!" Burt exclaimed, "Get the kid!"
Travis and Burt ran as fast as they could, passing the truck and into the sand just to catch the little boy.
With the two of them preoccupied, the truck was left unattended. Footsteps could be heard behind it, then the sound of something boarding the truck, and finally crunching. Two Shriekers have just helped themselves to Burt's MREs. Heavy breaths came from the Shrieker, then the sound of regurgitation. In a matter or minutes, four Shriekers left the truck and ran for the beach.
"I can't believe I just got that on video!" Ronaldo exclaimed from a bench a few yards from the truck, "Exclusive Shrieker replication!"