In a random truck, a woman was investigating the recent sightings of the frog people. She had short, messy blond hair and tan skin, and wore a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves held with buttons, a brown and tan striped tie, a pair of dark pants held up by a black belt with a silver buckle, a pair of brown boots and round glasses plus a silver wristwatch.

Someone else was with her. It was a tall bald man with tan skin, and a slender build, and wearing a dark purple suit with a light purple tie, a tan pocket square, and a yellow marigold-like flower boutonnière, white pants and a pair of tan roller shoes. He also had spy black glasses, purple lipstick, a wristwatch on his right wrist, and a yellow ring on his left-hand ring finger.

The man spoke in a flamboyant voice as he munched on a popsicle, "Do you know why they call me Mr. X, Jenny?" Jenny ignored him and typed away at her computer. "Right you are, Jenny," he replied as he tapped a finger on a "classified" folder next to his alien coffee mug. "Because I deal specifically with extraterrestrials and rumor has it that there are a few in the area. Hit it, Jenners."

Jenny analyzed the security images of the battle with Mal the Predator gathered the previous night and typed down, "Definitely probably aliens." Jenny was a woman of few words.

Mr. X applauded her, "Very good, Jenny. Very nice. This is why you're the best. Oh, Jenny, honey, are you blushing?" Indeed she was. "But who is this I wonder? Little Miss String Bean," Mr. X asked, pointing to an image of Anne.

Jenny typed down, "No positive ID; likely a human companion."

"Uh-huh. Sounds like some real '80s movie junk, but one thing's for sure, these aliens are being sheltered and whoever is harboring these little monsters will be in big trouble." Then Mr. X growled at the image of a certain Mafia boss. "Giorno Giovanna. The Boss of Passione."

"DIO's son," typed Jenny.

"I'm well aware of that, Jenny. And if it weren't for that damned 'diplomatic immunity' thanks to his ties with the Italian government as well as the Speedwagon Foundation keeping an eye on him," Mr. X air quoted. "The FBI would have had him and his little R Gang arrested for numerous crimes!" He exhaled and drank his coffee. "No matter. You heard the orders from the top brass. Capture the aliens without Passione knowing, and show the Speedwagon Foundation proof of an alien invasion on the horizon."

Someone knocked on the truck outside. Mr. X opened the window to see a little boy holding a dollar bill. "One Popsicle, please."

"Sorry, little man. This was the last one," said Mr. X as he ate it. In hindsight, using an ice cream truck as a mobile hideout was not the best idea. He tried to close the window, but it got stuck. "Uh... give me a sec." Holding the Popsicle in his mouth, he used both hands to tighten the window and slammed it close. He finished the Popsicle and threw the stick in the trash. He said to Jenny, "Now we've got to get these aliens before someone gets abducted or worse." His stomach growled. "OK, we need some real food."

Jenny located the closest restaurant in the area on her computer. Mr. X smiled at her. "Jenny, Jenny, you've done it again." The name of the restaurant she chose? Thai Go.

At Thai Go, the Plantars helped the Boonchuys prepare the dishes in the kitchen, although they noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy were more active than normal.

"Is it just me or is anyone feeling amped up since we fought Mal the Predator?" Mrs. Boonchuy asked.

"Kick that Predator's butt, you mean," said Mr. Boonchuy. "Remember I was all 'Whapow!' And you were like 'Hyah!'"

Hop Pop chuckled and said with a snap of his fingers, "Sounds like you got a case of post-battle euphoria."

"Nothing like a brush with death to make you feel alive," said Sprig.

"So what's next?" asked Mrs. Boonchuy. "I'm ready to fight!"

"Hopefully nothing," said Anne as she entered the kitchen. Her hair and eyes were still blue, but thankfully, people would pass it off as her dying her hair and putting on color-changing contacts. "Unless we run into another rogue Stand user, we're safe for now. So I'm taking the Plantars to their first movie and later, invite JoJo for a late night premier."

"Well, if anything comes up, we're ready," said Mr. Boonchuy. "I even broke out and old pull-up bar. Look." He tried to pull up on a door railing, but it broke and he landed on his back. "Aw, my back!"

"Honey, be careful," said his wife as she helped him up.

The Plantars put on their human disguises and Anne said, "Guys, please, leave the danger to us, OK? Now, movie time." She struck a pose and the Plantars followed suit.

"Are you sure you want to hang out with JoJo," asked Mrs. Boonchuy. "He's a good kid, but we're still not exactly comfortable with you being friends with him."

Anne raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that? Because he's a vampire, or a Gang-Star?"

"Kinda bit of both, really," said Mr. Boonchuy.

"Oh, that explains the garlic," Sprig said as he gestured to the cloves of garlic hanging above the doors and windows.

"I thought we were over this," said Anne. "JoJo's a good friend. A better friend than I've ever been looking back."

"Just be careful around him," said Mrs. Boonchuy.

"And make sure to keep this with you just in case," said Mr. Boonchuy as he put a garlic ball in Anne's pocket.

"Can I go to the movie now, please?!"

Anne and the Plantars arrived at the cinema on the latter's bicycle, and upon entering, the Plantars gasped from the impression. The interior's walls had mosaics of famous movie posters, glass chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the floor had red carpets. People walked this way and that, going to their designated theaters, looking at posters, or buying refills at the concession stand.

Polly went wide-eyed and fell on her back. "Hello, sensory overload!"

Hop Pop was just as ecstatic her. "Whoa! What is this, a church?"

"Yeah, pretty much," said Anne before she sighed sadly.

"What's the matter," asked Sprig.

"Just thinking about my folks."

"Does this have to do with them not liking JoJo?"

"Partially. But what's really on my mind is I don't like the idea of putting those two in harm's way. I know we took out Mal the Predator together but they're still just parents, you know?"

"JoJo's dad is a parent."

"But he's a Stand user, and the boss of the most powerful Mafia gang in all of Italy. My parents are ordinary people. They shop for groceries and coach Little League T-Ball."

"Well, luckily today today is a stress-free day with no danger or conflict," said Hop Pop.

Mr. X on his entered Thai Go and approached the register. Mrs. Boonchuy greeted him, "Welcome to Thai Go."

Mr. X responded in Thai, "S̄wạs̄dī khuṇ p̄hū̂h̄ỵing."

Mrs. Boonchuy was pleasantly surprised to hear someone speak in her native language. "X̂āw khuṇ phūd thịy h̄e rx?"

"Pheīyng lĕkn̂xy thī̀ nī̀ læa thī̀ nạ̀n," said Mr. X before he continued in English, "I was stationed in Phuket for a bit." He paused when he sniffed the air. "Ugh. Ma'am, I hate to be rude, but there's a funny smell in here."

"Oh, that's the garlic. It keeps the mosquitoes away."

Mr. X looked at the cloves hanging above the door and windows and said, "I see. Well, I'll try to ignore the smell and order one Pad see ew to go. And while we're at it, have you seen and odd creatures walking around? Probably disguised as... humans?"

When he showed her the photo of the Plantars, Mrs. Boonchuy's heart almost stopped. She played dumb and said, "What strange shapes they are! Haven't seen them. Who's asking?"

"Oh, just your friendly neighborhood federal government," said Mr. X as he showed her his badge. Oh, boy.

"Yes. Very nice. Hooray government!" Mrs. Boonchuy said before shouting in Thai, "Ph̀x rīb h̄ǹxy s̄i!"

Mr. Boonchuy came out of the kitchen with Mr. X's order. "Jeez, where's the fire?"

Jenny came in with a message on her computer, "String Bean sighted. Possible match?" Accompanying the message was a video of Anne and the Plantars on her bike. "Gotta go," said Mr. X as he paid for his food and grabbed it. "Is your stun gun charged, Jenny? Tell me it's charged," he asked excitedly as the two of them left the restaurant.

"Uh..." a confused Mr. Boonchuy said.

"We have to go now," said Mrs. Boonchuy as she grabbed her by the arm and ran to the family van. "I'll explain on the way." They got inside and drove off. Mrs. Boonchuy quickly dialed her daughter's phone number.

Unfortunately, Anne had the phone on vibrate, so she couldn't hear it over the loud noise and music coming from the theater's speakers. "And now... for what you've all been waiting for... Another trailer!"

Sprig scoffed, "20 minutes of trailers? And you keep calling yourself civilized," he said to Anne. Finally, the movie started. The plot was about a group of scientists rescuing dinosaurs from an exploding island. Sprig was a little unnerved by how loud it was. "Anyone else feel like this audio-video experience is a little overwhelming?"

Polly smiled as she ate her popcorn. "Entertainment that makes your ears bleeds? I'm here for it, baby!"

"I have to admit, it is pretty difficult to hear anything," said Anne. "Kinda makes me wish I invited JoJo so he can make it easier for me to hear everything else besides this." She sipped her drink, blissfully unaware of her phone vibrating in her pocket.

Somewhere on the freeway...

Mrs. Boonchuy said in frustration, "She's not answering."

Mr. Boonchuy said, "We're gonna lose him in the traffic!"

"That's because you drive like an old man! Move over!" Mrs. Boonchuy grabbed the steering wheel and drove through the right corner of the avenue in an inclined position, making her husband yell in fear.

Up ahead, Mr. X was driving while listening to electronic music. But then he saw the Boonchuy family van intercepting him. "Man, this city, I tell ya!" He pressed a button labeled "Traffic Mode" and the truck's wheels stretched up and allowed it to drive over the van, much to the Boonchuy' shock.

After the movie, Anne and the Plantars left and Hop Pop gave his critique. "Well, it was no Suspicion Island," said Hop Pop.

Sprig shouted, "What did you say?!" Pretty sure he had gone deaf.

"I thought the protagonist was pretty fun," said Anne. "I liked that she was very flawed and had room to grow." Sounds familiar, huh? Anne checked her phone and saw she had a message from her mother. "ANNE! SECRET GOV'T AGENT. WATCH OUT FOR ICE CREAM TRUCK!" Her eyes widened, and her heart raced. Then it raced even more when she saw Mr. X enter the building. "Oh, crud. Back inside, gang." She grabbed the Plantars and dragged them into another theater.

"No. Not another one," screamed Sprig.

Unfortunately, Mr. X saw them enter a theaters playing "Fugimator 5: He's Back To Make Us More Money!" He smirked as he drank the soda he just bought.

Quickly, Anne and the Plantars hid in the front row. Anne dialed down a number. "Mr. Giovanna," she whispered. "There's a secret agent after us! ... Yeah, the Plantars are with me! ... Okay, we'll sneak out the theater and..." She stopped when she heard someone slurping on a soda. She and the Plantars turned around to see Mr. X in the row behind them, smirking at them.

"Tell me, are you folks from the area or just visiting?" he asked.

"Ripple Flash!" shouted Anne as she used Ripple to shine a bright light in the room, stunning everyone.

"My eyes," someone shouted.

"The 3D is so perfect, it blinded me," another shouted.

Mr. X recovered quick and looked around to see Anne and the Plantars were gone. "Oh, how I love a good chase."

"I think we lost him," said Hop Pop as they raced for the front entrance.

"Great. But don't stop," said Anne. "Wait! Stop!" The Plantars bumped into her. What made her stop was the sight of Jenny inspecting every customer leaving with an infrared scanner. Quickly, they ducked behind the box office and Anne answered her phone. It was her parents. "They're watching the exit," she said. "We need to find another way out and meet Mr. Giovanna. He's on his way here to rescue us."

"What? Anne, no," said Mr. Boonchuy. "We're on our way now."

"No! I don't want you getting in trouble. The Plantars, Mr. Giovanna, and I can handle it."

"Tell her we are adults and we know what we're doing," Mrs. Boonchuy growled. "She doesn't need some Gang-Star's help!"

"Anne, you mother says... Hang on, I'm putting you on speaker," said Mr. Boonchuy, but with how fast his wife was driving, he couldn't make out what buttons he was pressing. "OK, let's see. How do we do this?" He pressed a button by mistake and ended up calling someone.

Anne heard an old woman's voice say in Thai, "Khuṇ rū̂ h̄ịm welā thèā h̄ịr̀ læ̂w?"

"What?" Anne saw she was on video chat with her parents and the old woman.

Mr. Boonchuy said, "Oh, whoops! I think I accidentally-"

"Xæ nn̒? Nạ̀n khụ̄x khuṇ h̄e rx? C̄hạn mị̀ dị̂ cex khuṇ mā nān læ̂w! Khuṇ dū p̄hxm! Kin k̄ĥāw h̄rụ̄x yạng?"

Anne responded to the old woman, "Oh, hi, Grandma. Yeah, I just had a sandwich. Mom, Dad, just stay in the car where it's safe. We'll meet you outside. Bye, Grandma, love you!"

Suddenly, a boy walked into the theater and called out, "Whoever's the owner of the ice cream truck parked outside, it's getting towed."

Jenny's eyes widened. "WHAT?!" exclaimed Mr. X as he came out of one of the theaters he thought Anne was hiding. "Hey! Wait, stop!" He and Jenny ran out of the cinema, chasing after the tow truck that was towing their vehicle. "Wait! That 'No Parking' sign was not there before!"

The boy smirked as he took out the wad of dollars from his pocket and flipped through it. "Best three hundred dollars I ever earned." He turned to see Anne and the Plantars. "You're Anne Boonchuy, right?" They ducked behind the box office again. "Hey, wait! The Boss is waiting for you guys outside."

"Oh, thank goodness," said Anne. She and the Plantars ran out of the cinema and into the limo where Giorno was waiting for them. He called out, "Driver, get us out of here."

"Sure thing, boss."

As the limo drove away, Anne dialed her phone. "Mom, Dad, Mr. Giovanna picked us up and we're heading back to the hotel."

"Aww," whined Mr. Boonchuy. "I had a plan and everything!"

Mrs. Boonchuy scoffed in exasperation. "Alright, fine. We'll meet you at the hotel-"

BANG! Something landed on the limo's roof, causing everyone to jump. A fist broke through the sun roof, revealing it to be Mr. X. "Surprise! You know what, you made things personal when you had my truck towed!" He turned, saw Giorno and smirked. "Well, well. If it isn't DIO Junior." Giorno glared at him. "I should have you arrested. You are the leader of one of the most powerful Mafia gangs in the world after all."

"Actually, it's me who should have you arrested for assault charges," countered Giorno calmly. "We have done nothing wrong and yet you attacked us."

"Oh, you think you're so tough, with your Stand and your Mafia-connected lawyers. Well, the FBI's got lawyers, too! And when they're done with you, you're gonna..." Mr. X trailed off when he saw it: the bump he caused made Hop Pop's human disguise fall off. "What are you? And why are you so slimy?"

"Rude," said Hop Pop.

"Ripple Tongue Slap!" Sprig lowered his mask and used his Ripple-infused tongue to make Mr. X lose balance while Polly grabbed one of the seat cushions and threw it at him, knocking him off the limo.

He skidded and rolled across the road, then crashed into a divider. "Ow," he groaned as he got up. "Yep. I'm gonna have to go to the hospital after this. But first..." He activated his communicator and said excitedly, "Jenny, you're not gonna believe this. They're big, beautiful talking frog monsters!" Then he said seriously, "Call in the troops."

As the limo sped down the highway, Giorno said, "I don't think we've seen the last of him."

"And he's seen you," said Anne to the Plantars. "We're definitely in trouble now."

Mrs. Boonchuy's voice spoke through Anne's phone, "Not yet."

Anne was startled. "Did I forget to hang up?"

"Anne, pass the phone to Mr. Giovanna!" She did so and he held the phone up to his ear. "Mr. Giovanna, what exactly does your Golden Wind Requiem do?"

"It's Gold Experience Requiem. And to answer your question, it has the power to give life force into inanimate objects, turning them into living things like plants and animals. Why?"

"Listen, I don't like you, but if we're going to get through with this, we have to work together. My husband and I have a plan and it involves your Stand."

Anne said, "Guys, no! Seriously, we got this. It's five on one. Once we get to the hotel, we'll pretend like we didn't know a thing and-" Suddenly, the limo stopped abruptly. "Hey, driver! Where did you get your license, a cereal box?!"

"Boss," said the driver. "We've got problems." Giorno and Anne looked outside and their eyes widened at the sight of a roadblock consisting of SWAT teams and FBI agents. They looked back to see another roadblock. They were trapped. Ducking back inside, Anne asked, "Can't you just slam through this blockade?"

"And what, give them a real reason to arrest me and have Giorgio taken away from me? If they find out he's a vampire, they'll likely have him killed. No, we're going to do this your parents' way." Giorno picked up Anne's phone and asked, "Are you still there?"

"Yes," said Mr. Boonchuy. "We can see the roadblock right in front of us."

"Whatever it is you're planning, we'll do it now."

Anne submitted in defeat. "Fine."

In the van, Mrs. Boonchuy asked her husband, "You ready, honey?"

"Born ready."

"It's over, Giorno Giovanna," Mr. X shouted through a bullhorn. "Come out with your hands up and show us the frog aliens!" No one budged. "Alright. If you don't come out of that car, I am gonna..."

Giorno stepped out with his hands in the air. Anne followed suit holding something in her hands. And what she held stunned Mr. X, Jenny, and the SWAT team. It was three ordinary frogs, croaking happily. Mr. X stammered, "But...she...they..."

"Nice frog aliens, sir," one of the SWAT guys laughed.

"I've heard of little green men, but this is ridiculous," another said as he high fived his friend.

"Hold on," said Mr. X. "I saw them jump into this limo!" He pushed Giorno out of the way and opened the passenger door, only for him and the rest of the SWAT team to be hypnotized by Giorgio, who was hiding in the back.

"Forget what you all saw and go home," he commanded. They all obeyed and went their separate ways. He chuckled. "It's a good thing these tinted windows are completely sun proof, otherwise they would have seen me. For once, I am happy you woke me up, Dad."

The Boonchuys drove up to the limo and exited the van. "See, what did I tell you," said Mr. Boonchuy. "I told you it would work."

"I don't believe it," said Anne. "Dad, Mom, how did you..."

"Well, parents have a special set of skills," said Mrs. Boonchuy.

"First, I changed the seat cushions into frogs with Gold Experience Requiem," said Giorno.

"And to give Mr. Giovanna the time he needed," said Mr. Boonchuy. "Your mother and I distracted the SWAT team."

Minutes earlier, the Boonchuys put on a magic show. First, Mr. Boonchuy did the old "pulling out an endless rope of handkerchiefs out of one's sleeve" trick while Mrs. Boonchuy did the old "pull an ordinary rabbit out of a hat" trick. Only, she substituted the rabbit with the cat Domino.

Present...

Giorgio, still in the limo, asked, "Wait, how were you able to do all that in a short amount of time?"

"We thought ahead," said Mr. Boonchuy.

"So, you keep stage magic props and Domino around in your van for just such an occasion?"

"Hey, a guy can have a hobby, can he?"

"As for the trick with Domino," said Mrs. Boonchuy. "Anne's T-Ball coach, Mr. Tran, taught us that."

"And just in case Mr. X got too curious," said Giorno. "I brought Giorgio along so he can hypnotize him into giving up." Giorgio made a proud smile.

Anne was shocked at her parents' tenacity. "You guys seriously did all that? I can't believe it. I guess I... I... misjudged you."

Giorgio glanced at her. "She did that creepy voice again."

"That's OK, sweetie," Mr. Boonchuy said to his daughter.

"We forgive you," said Mrs. Boonchuy.

"Wait, there's one thing I don't get," said Giorgio. "How did you know where to find us? Anne said we were heading for the hotel, but she didn't say which street we were on."

The Boonchuy parents glanced at each other nervously. "Parental intuition," Mrs. Boonchuy said.

"And... maybe the tracking device we put on Hop Pop when he was sleeping," Mr. Boonchuy confessed.

Hop Pop unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the tracker glued to his chest. "I was wondering what that was."

"WHAT?!" Anne exclaimed.

Polly then jumped up and ripped it off, making Hop Pop scream in pain. Giorgio covered his mouth with his hand to hide a chuckle.

Mrs. Boonchuy then cleared her throat, getting Giorno's attention. "This doesn't really change my opinion about you and JoJo, but thanks for saving our daughter, Mr. Giovanna."

"You're welcome," Giorno said with a small smile. "I know you would have done the same for Giorgio despite your opinion."

"Yeah, we would have."

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Jenny followed Mr. X as they walked down the sidewalk, and then they ducked behind an alley. "It's a good thing we looked away before the hypnosis took effect," said Mr. X. "How was my 'I am hypnotized!' acting?" Jenny gave him a thumbs up. "I was one of the top students in acting class. But, more importantly, DIO Junior's son is a vampire?! How is that even possible?" Jenny shrugged her shoulders.

Mr. X sighed in exasperation. "What I really want are those frogs. And not THESE!" He held up the ordinary frogs he retrieved from Anne, only to jump back in shock when they changed back into seat cushions. Then he got mad. "This is Gold Experience Requiem's power! Giorno tricked us! First he gets our truck towed, then he makes fools of us! When I get my hands on him..."

"You'll do no such thing," said Funny Valentine, who was leaning against a wall.

Mr. X was shocked. "YOU!" Then he got angry. "What are YOU doing here?!"

"What, can't a meager employee from the Speedwagon Foundation have a vacation?" Mr. X stammered, then groaned in defeat as he admitted he had a point. "And I saw everything, Mr. X. Or should I call you-"

"Shh! You're not allowed to use my real name! That's the whole point of being a secret agent!"

"And yet, you chose the most generic name ever for an agent name."

Mr. X glared at Valentine. "I hate you."

"Anyway, I gotta say, you are going to be in so much trouble when the Speedwagon Foundation finds out you made an unprovoked attack against Giorno Giovanna. You know he has certain diplomatic immunities."

"I had a reason! He's harboring alien life forms-"

"I know."

When Valentine said that, Mr. X and Jenny was stunned. "Y-You know," stammered Mr. X. "If you already knew, why haven't you done anything?! This could be the prelude for an invasion!"

Valentine got in Mr. X's face and said, "And where is your proof?"

"Uh..."

"Exactly. Unless you have proof for an invasion, no one will take you seriously."

"Yeah? Well, how about this? DIO Junior's son? He's a vampire! Shouldn't you worry about that?"

Valentine reached into his pocket, took out a beer can and drank its contents before saying, "I'm not."

Mr. X and Jenny balked. "HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM?!" Mr. X shouted.

"Because Giorgio Giovanna has yet to kill any humans. If he does, then the Speedwagon Foundation will be on his ass before you can say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious five times fast." Valentine finished his beer and threw it in the recycling bin. "In the meantime, just relax. And try to think of that report to your superiors over why you just wasted their time chasing after three ordinary frogs." And with that he left, leaving Mr. X fuming.

"I hate that guy. Just 'cause he works in the Speedwagon Foundation, he thinks he's sooooooo cool!" Jenny patted his shoulder in comfort, but it didn't work. "Don't patronize me. He wants proof? We'll give him proof! We've got a Stand user of our own in the FBI. Jenny, call Latin Simone. Tell her we've got a job for her."

As Valentine returned to his penthouse room, he smiled. He was the only person who knew about the Plantars and Giorgio's secrets, and he had no intention of telling anyone. What the Speedwagon Foundation doesn't know won't hurt them.

⬅ To be continued...