Heya readers!
Hope you had a great Halloween! I sure did! I do hope you enjoyed my Halloween Special 'October Surpises' if you did read it!
But now that's over I can focus on this fic as well as 'Sharks and Ninjas' And 'Mobius Blood and Tears, Rise of the Freedom Fighters'
But in the meantime, hope you enjoy this chapter! Here we check back with Jake back in Chicago and Monalisa in New York!
Chapter Four
News Travels Fast
Meanwhile, in Chicago, a young man with brown hair and wearing glasses walked through the city until he came to his destination, a pub on the corner 'Millers Pub'.
Arriving at the pub, the young man took off his coat and he looked around before seeing who he was supposed to meet, and he saw a man with ginger hair that was going slightly grey and already drinking a pint of beer.
"Evening Hugh!" the young man called as he walked over.
"Hey Jake!" Hugh replied, "You want a pint?"
"Please." Jake answered as he had a seat, "Nice place!"
"I know right kid?" Hugh replied, "I love this place, they do good ribs here, as well as a good Caesar Salad, in fact it's one of Harris's favourite dishes!"
"I'll keep it in mind!" Jake smiled.
Soon a waitress with red hair in pigtails and wearing glasses came over to take their orders.
"Hey there guys!" she smiled then looked at Hugh "I see your companion has arrived."
Hugh nodded and chuckled.
"You guys ready to order?"
"Not yet dear, but I think Jake here would like a pint."
"Yes please." Jake spoke "A Hobgoblin please!"
"Coming right up!" the Waitress replied before walking over to the bar.
Hugh watched the waitress leave then looked to Jake.
"How are you this evening Jake?" he asked.
"Been okay sir." Jake replied, "Things are going okay in Mutopia, the Knights have been training me well, especially Amber."
"Ah yes! The Dragon's sister!" Hugh laughed.
"She and I do have a lot in common when it comes to our pasts." Jake said, "Especially since we lost an older sibling we looked up to, then we find them again, under the scariest as well as traumatising circumstances."
He spoke softly as the waitress returned with their drinks and asked for their orders for dinner.
Quickly, Hugh and Jake ordered their meals and the waitress nodded and walked away.
"I'm glad things are working out for you in Mutopia kid." Hugh smiled "But you do know that if you wish to live on the surface, but still continue your work with Mutopia, all you need to do is talk to me, okay?"
"Thank you, Hugh." Jake said gratefully "I know it sounds weird, but I honestly have never felt happier since finding out about Mutopia, I feel I made the right choice staying in Chicago, there are just too many bad memories back in Wisconsin, not just because of Monalisa's disappearance, but Callum's behaviour, the tension, and of course mum's death."
Jake winced slightly as he remembered Gina's death, it still hit him like a ton of bricks just as hard as Monalisa's disappearance and Callum's betrayal when he became Diablo.
"I'm glad you found your place in the world Jake." Hugh spoke "Does your father still keep in touch?"
"He does yes." Jake said, "He's glad I'm happy where I am, even though he doesn't know the full truth, the truth about me or about Callum."
Hugh looked awkward and Jake nodded.
"Yes." he said, "The truth of Callum, he would never believe me about Callum's condition, he would think I was mad!"
Hugh said nothing but he nodded in agreement.
"One day he will demand the truth." Jake sighed "But what can I say to him? All I can do is keep bullshitting and saying that Callum is still refusing to speak to him."
Hugh sighed and took a sip of his drink.
"When the time is right, I hope you can find the right words kid." Hugh comforted "You got my support if needed, okay?"
"Thanks!" Jake replied.
Just then, the waitress returned with their food.
Hugh was given a platter of ribs and fries and Jake received a double cheeseburger with fries and onion rings.
"Wow!" Jake cried "You weren't kidding about this place and their food!"
Hugh chuckled and they started to tuck into their food.
After five minutes, Hugh slowly pushed a piece of paper towards Jake as they ate.
"There was a reason I asked you here Jake." Hugh spoke as he chewed into his ribs.
Jake looked at the paper.
"It's a report that we received before the press were to receive it." Hugh explained as Jake opened it and he began to read.
'Neo Nazi Family attacked in their own home in Tennessee, tied up and tortured, many with words carved into their bodies, all speaking about how people in animal costumes, ranging from a raven, Panther, and bat, all victims have been hospitalised and are undergoing therapy and interviews on the events that occurred.'
"No way!" Jake mouthed, lowering his cheeseburger back onto his plate.
Hugh nodded.
"News travels fast Jakey." He spoke.
"I can see it does." Jake replied, "Diablo is on the move, and attacking sinners in other states."
Hugh nodded.
"I wish I could do something, but it's out of my hands." He said, "My job is here in Chicago alone."
"I understand." Jake answered, "We can only be relieved he's not in Chicago, but he's in another state wreaking havoc."
Hugh nodded.
"I felt you be the best to relay it back to Tyroth and George." He spoke.
"I will." Jake promised "And even though my brother might be in another state, his activities might rouse suspicion so we will continue our new normal in Mutopia and practice our new drills to keep everyone safe."
"And I will continue my vigilance up here too." Hugh promised "I'll do my duty to make sure Mutopia stays safe."
Jake smiled and raised his glass.
"That's all Mutopia could ask for." He smiled.
Hugh smiled back and clinked his glass with Jake's.
"Thanks Kid!" he said gratefully.
Meanwhile over in New York, down deep in the sewers where there was a large hidden lair, Monalisa the Lizard lady stood in the kitchen sipping a mug of coffee whilst her daughter Pandora and her niece Kemeko were sitting at the kitchen table doing some painting.
Pandora laughed as she glided her paintbrush over the paper then looked over to Kemeko's painting.
"How are you doing there Kemi?" she asked curiously.
"It's a secret!" Kemeko retorted as she lowered her face to her paper and continued to paint.
"Awww!" Pandora replied disappointed.
"She'll show you when she's ready Little Geisha!" Monalisa called over "Be patient!"
She took another sip of her drink, yet she nearly spilt it when she felt her shell-cell ring and she grabbed it to see her brother's name appear.
"Jake?" she thought to herself as she placed her coffee on the counter and quickly left the kitchen.
"Where are you going mum?" Pandora asked.
"I'll be back soon little Geisha!" Monalisa called back as she stepped outside the kitchen and answered the phone.
"Jake?"
"Hey sis!"
"Hey, is everything alright?" Monalisa asked.
"I'm okay," Jake replied, "except I needed to call you because I got tipped off by Hugh."
"Tipped off?" Monalisa asked "About what?"
As she spoke, she saw Donatello walking over and he looked at her curiously.
No sooner did the lizard lady see him than she placed a finger to her lips to shush him and the brainy turtle nodded and stood still.
"Hugh got a tip off from a source in Tennessee."
"Tennessee?" Monalisa sked.
"Uh Huh! A Neo-Nazi family was attacked in their own home!" Jake explained.
"No way!" Monalisa cried "You mean?"
"Yes." Jake's voice was heard "Diablo is no longer in Chicago, in a way is good news for Mutopia, but his activities in other states is going to arouse suspicion! We can't take it lightly!"
Monalisa sighed.
"Damn! Damn!" she grunted.
Donatello as he heard Jake's voice he sucked in a breath, and he looked at Monalisa wondering what to do next.
Monalisa took a few deep breaths.
"Sis?" she heard Jake's voice "Are you okay?"
"I will be Jake." She replied, "Will you keep me updated if you hear anything else?"
"I will Mona!" Jake answered, "Scouts honour!"
"Thanks!" Mona replied, "Stay safe, okay?"
"I will!" Jake said "And you too!"
Monalisa promised and hung up before returning her gaze to Donatello.
"Mona…" Donatello said softly "What... what do you…?"
Monalisa shook her head.
"No Don!" she said quickly "Not now! I need to meditate on this! Please…"
Donatello winced at Monalisa's outburst, but he was ready to respect his adopted older sister's wishes if need be.
"As you wish Mona." He said, "I'll keep an eye on the girls if you wish it?"
"Thanks Don!" Monalisa replied "Please do!"
She then began to make her way to the quiet room and Donatello quickly slipped into the kitchen area to keep an eye on the girls.
So as the title suggests, News does travel fast!
No matter what Diablo does, news will travel back to his brother and sister!