CHAPTER 2

While driving blocks away stuck behind traffic, as Marlin was having a frustrating time, his son was having the time of his life.

Just ahead of all the traffic, the bus was driving by with no problems on the road. On the bus, as Mr. Ray was continued singing his little sea diddy, the kids were in their seats either playing, or chatting with eachother. While others looked out their windows. Nemo along with Pearl, as well as Tad and Sheldon behind them, looked out their windows as well. Watching as they pass by people, cars and buildings. Watching with smiles on their faces.

This fascinated Nemo beyond anything he could ever imagine. He had never left outside the suburban home of Barrier Reef, and seeing what was outside the safe community excited the boy more. Nemo pressing his face to the window as he watched cars drive by and people going on their daily lives on the streets.

Just seeing and watching outside the window, Nemo wondered why was his dad so afraid of everything when it's so amazing and alive like?

Nemo loved his dad, with all his heart, but the man had to see that Nemo was slowly growing up and needed more space. He just wanted to show him that he's not as helpless as he claims to be. Nemo just wanted to show his dad that he can do things on his own.

"Okay, here we are! Dropoff Aviation Museum!" Mr. Ray's voice rang out. During so, all the kids pressed their faces to their windows to have a better look. All awed at what they see.

The Dropoff Aviation Museum was a rather big building, that to some people looked almost like an airport. Which matter fact was, but over time the new airport was built a little closer to the city's grounds for much faster transportation, time wise at least for most people. Over time the airport began to store all type of aviation to planes, jets, etc. making it into a museum to show their history behind it all. Thus calling it Dropoff Aviation Museum.

Mr. Ray and his class single filed off the bus. Before going inside Mr. Ray informed his class to stay together as a group. Once they entered the building, inside awed the kids even more.

Everywhere you look, you can see many different parts and types of planes. So many different types that can go way back when. The kids eyed each at what they saw, learning of the history behind it all. All were fascinated by what they see as they learned how important it was during flight and how they tested it.

The kids then gathered together as Mr. Ray called them over. They gathered around their teacher as he showed them of a picture and small model of an old timey plane. "What we're staring at happens to be the famous Wright Flyer. Rightfully invented by the Wright Brothers. This may be a model kids, but the real plane took the brothers approximately 4 years of research and development to create the first successful powered plane way back in 1903" Mr. Ray lectured his students.

All his students awed by this and stared at the model. Well, not all his students.

As Mr. Ray continued with his lecture of the Wright Brothers, Nemo tried to listen until he glanced at his friends. Seeing as they looked board. "Come on let's go" Tad whispered, and he, Sheldon and Pearl began to sneak away quietly.

Nemo watched them getting their backpacks and quietly snuck out of the building without anyone watching. Nemo wondered where they were going? As much as he didn't wanted to get in trouble on his first day for straying away from the group, he also wanted to follow his new friends and see what they were up to. Nemo turned back to see the rest of the class was in awe as Mr. Ray continued to ramble on his lecture.

So Nemo slowly grabbed his backpack and quietly snuck off without anyone seeing him.

Once outside, Nemo looked around trying to see where his friends went off too. He caught a glimpse of them and started to sprint after them. "Hey guys! Wait up!" he called out to them.

He continued to run after them on the other side of the building, until he found them stopped in their place and looking awe at something. By the time Nemo caught up to them, he too looked up. "Whoa..." was all that Nemo could say.

What they were looking at happened to be the old airport run way. Over time since the building became a museum, the runway was no more than what looked like a graveyard sort of speak. All with old planes and jets stored in the back. It looked almost dead and silent in some way, compared to the inside of the museum.

"Cool...!" the kids awed, continued to stare at the area in front of them.

However a tall fence was blocking their path and view, Pearl slowly walked up to it and looked up.

"Watch out! Saved your life!" Tad screamed and pulled Pearl back. This made her yelp in fright, and suddenly made Pearl hiccupped. "Oh! You guys know I get hiccups when I'm scared!" she frowned, her cheeks turned red and hiccupped once again. Tad and Sheldon couldn't help but laugh. Nemo giggled a bit, but it kinda confused him. From what he heard, one of the remedies for getting rid of the hiccups was scaring them away. But from what he saw, Pearl was the opposite.

As his friends continued to laugh, Nemo looked back at the run way area. When suddenly something caught his eyes "What's that?"

He pointed and his friends stopped and looked as well.

All looked back up and found that out and about was some type of white truck. Just parked out there with the rest of the old planes.

"I know what it is! Sandy Plankton saw one of those!" Tad cried out, all turned back to him. "He said it was some type of delivery truck! Like for cargo, or mail!" he continued. "Whoa..." his friends awed and turned back. "Why do you suppose it's parked out there?" Pearl asked "Maybe it was making a delivery?" Tad shrugged. Hearing this confused Nemo "But...none of these planes work anymore?" he said, eyeing it carefully.

Sheldon smirked, getting a idea. He dropped his bag to the ground and walked over to the fence. "Oh look at me! I'm gonna go over and touch the truck!" he said playfully, climbing up the fence. When suddenly he sneezed due to his allergies, making him loose his hold. He yelped as he almost fell, and frantically grabbed the fence, and held back on. He turned and glared as his friends as they laughed at him.

"Oh yeah? Let's see you get closer?" he glared down at them "Okay" Pearl replied with a shrug. She skipped over to the fence and began to climb, she was at least an inch higher than Sheldon "Beat that!" she called out boastfully. Tad was next, he wasn't going to let a girl upstage him. He climbed up at least higher than Pearl. "Come on Nemo! How far can you go?" he called down to him.

Seeing what they were doing made Nemo a little sick to his stomach. He held his hand nervously "I don't know?...My dad says it's not safe. And-" "Nemo! No!" before Nemo could reacted, he turned and was surprised to see his father here.

"Dad?" Nemo felt himself being pulled back and was soon facing his dad, and from the look on his face he was not happy.

"You were about to go over into a restricted area!" Marlin shouted, Nemo tried to tell his father he wasn't but Marlin wouldn't hear of it. "No, I wasn't gonna go-" "It's a good thing I was here!" "But Dad-!" "If I hadn't showed up, I don't know..." both father and son argued back and forth.

Sheldon, Pearl and Tad hurriedly climbed down the fence and ran to Nemo's side, trying to tell his dad that nothing happened. "Sir, he wasn't gonna go!" Pearl stated "Yeah, he was too afraid!" Tad added. "No I wasn't!" Nemo turned to him, clearly not helping him. Marlin eyed the kids "This does not concern you kids! And you're lucky I won't tell your parents you were going over there" he scolded them.

Marlin couldn't understand why was his son acting like this? Why couldn't he just understand it was dangerous for him?

He then dropped to his knees to be his son's level, with his hands on Nemo's shoulders. "You have a disabled hand! You know you can't climb well!" "I can climb just fine Dad, okay!" Nemo shot back, a little angry that his dad did think of his Lucky Hand as a disability. "It's not okay! You shouldn't be anywhere near here!" Marlin countered.

Sheldon, Tad and Pearl stood and watched, seeing the father and son argue some more, feeling a little uncomfortable to be witnessing it. At the same time, Mr. Ray and the rest of the class slowly made their way when they realized that 4 students were astray. They too witnessing the father-son argument.

Marlin was beyond upset, frustrated he stood back up "You know what? I was right! You'll start school in a year or two, you'll go back to homeschooling" Marlin took Nemo's good hand and began to drag him away "No Dad!" Nemo jerks his hand out of his father's grasp. Both glaring at eachother.

"Just because...you're scared of the whole world-!" Nemo shouted furiously "Clearly, you're not ready! And you're not coming back until you are!" Marlin interjected. Why couldn't his son just see how much danger he would've been in. Marlin groaned and frustratedly ran his hand in his hair "You think you can do these things, but you just can't, Nemo!"

Nemo stood glaring at his dad, his hands balled up into fists and his cheeks red with anger. He turned away from his father's stare and said these hurtful word.

"I hate you."

Hearing those words struck Marlin deep. Taking a step back in utter surprise and shock, hearing those words. Those 3 hurtful words! Had his son really said those 3 words? Nemo wouldn't look at him, but those words did hurt Marlin. This was something Marlin feared before, and now that his son had said those words, Marlin felt numb and speechless that his own son would say those words to him.

"Thereeeeeeeeeeee's nothing to see!" Mr. Ray's voice cut through the awkward silence "Gather, uh, over there" he told his class. "Excuse me, is there anything I can do to help, Mr. Clowfisch? I am a scientist after all" Mr. Ray informed as he walked over. Marlin snapped out of his stupor and turned to Mr. Ray, trying to block out his son's words still engraved in his mind.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to interrupt things. With his hand, he's not that good at a few things like other kids, and I just think it's a little too soon for him to be out here unsupervised" Marlin stated to Mr. Ray. "Well, I can assure you, he's quite safe with me" Mr. Ray informed the father, seeing nothing wrong.

Nemo stood watching his dad and his teacher talking. He continued to glare at his father before slowly turning his gaze over at the fence. He looked to see the strange white truck still parked there. Nemo turned back, still glaring at his father.

He was going to show him that he wasn't so helpless, and he knew just how!

"Look I'm sure he is. But you have a large class and he can get lost from sight if you're not looking. I'm not saying you're not looking..." Marlin continued with Mr. Ray, not trying to sound rude or disrespect him. The students stood watching the man and their teacher talking. Until one girl named Kathy looked shocked at what she saw.

"Oh my gosh! Nemo's gone over in a restricted area!"

All looked over and was shocked, seeing that Nemo had somehow managed to climb over the fence, and was now in the abandoned airfield. Walking over towards the truck.

None was more shocked than his father "Nemo!" Marlin ran over to the fence "What do you think you're doing?!" he shouted, trying to get his son's attention. However Nemo was ignoring his dad's shouts as he continued his way over the truck, stopping for a second to look at it. "You're gonna get stuck out there and I'm gonna have to get you before security does!" Marlin continued shouting. Nemo hearing his father's shouts, he balled his fists knowing his father wouldn't do anything, he continued ignoring his father's calls and marched over to the truck.

"Get back here! I said get back here, now! Stop!" Marlin still continued shouting at his son. Seeing as Nemo was now right beside the truck, turning back to face him. "You take one more move, Mister...!" Marlin warned, pointing a warning finger.

Nemo just stood there and glared, before sticking his left hand out. Seeing this Marlin began to get more and more angry at his son for challenging him. "Don't you dare! If you put one hand on that truck! Are you listening to me?! Don't...touch...the tru-!"

Before Marlin could continue, Nemo then tapped his hand on the side of the truck with one fast tap.

Seeing this shocked and angered Marlin even more "Nemo!" he shouted, angry beyond for his son disobeying him.

"He touched the truck!" Tad whispered to his friends, the 3 were impressed by what they seen.

"You just march your little butt right back here Nemo!" Marlin commanded. Knowing by the time when they get home, Nemo was grounded for life. Nemo began making his way back, frowning and rolling his eyes as his dad continued shouting. He didn't care if he was gonna be grounded, cause by the time they get home, he was gonna lock himself in his room and never speak to his dad again.

What little did Nemo know, was that he wasn't the only person out on the restricted run way...

"You are in big trouble, young man! Do you hear me, big...!" as Marlin continued to scold his son, his anger soon turned to fear. Seeing something big and dark slowly creeping up behind his son "...Big..." he could feel his glasses slipping down his face.

Pearl suddenly screamed, Sheldon and Tad huddled together in fear.

Nemo stopped in his tracks, why did his dad look more afraid than usual? What made Pearl scream? Why was everyone afraid all of a sudden?

Nemo made the big mistake and turned around.

Looking up seeing that behind him stood a tall strange man. Wearing but a strange dark black skinsuit clothing underneath a black and green techno mecha exoskeleton type suit. And wore a scary looking green helmet with green and black goggles covering his eyes.

Seeing this strange scary mecha man made Nemo scream and tried to run away. But the mecha man grabbed him by his bag, Nemo managed to escape from his backpack, and tried to run back to his father. The mecha man threw his bag to the ground, and managed to snatch up the boy. Nemo was soon caught in his tight grip.

"Daddy! Help Me!"

Marlin snapped back when he heard his son's cries for help "I'm coming Nemo!" he called out. Marlin climbed over the fence as quick as he could.

Once he made it to the ground, Marlin was soon greet by another strange scary mecha man, only his exoskeleton suit was black and blue, with matching blue helmet and black and blue goggles. Marlin gasped and stood in fright, seeing this mecha man was blocking his way to reach his son.

Back over the fence the kids screamed in fright. "We gotta get help kids!" Mr. Ray informed and he and his class ran back inside as fast as they could to get help.

Nemo struggled, kicking his legs and trying to get out of the strange mecha man's grasp. But his hold was strong like iron. "No! No! Dad!" Nemo continued to flail about trying to break free. Nemo made eye contact with his dad for a second, before his vision was darkened by a burlap sack over his head. And was soon carried away back to the truck. "Daddy!"

Marlin felt more scared than ever before, facing this strange mecha man in front of him, slowly he was soon backed up against the fence. His breath hitched as he was scared what the mecha man was going to do to him.

The mecha then raised his hand to his helmet and suddenly flashed a bright light at him. Marlin cried in pain from the bright light and covered his eyes. "Nemo!" Marlin cried out. But due to the light flashing in his face, made Marlin blind and his vision all blurry. He couldn't see where he was going, making him fall to the ground and reached out trying to find something to help him up, trying hard to see where he was going.

"Nemo no! Nemo!" he tried to stand up but kept falling down a few times. Soon his vision came back and spotted the two mecha man entering the white truck. "Nemo! Nemo! No!" Marlin ran as fast as he could towards the truck. "No!" he grabbed hold of the truck's door's, but the truck began to start at an alarming speed. Marlin tried to hold on for dear life, but the truck swirled back and forth, making Marlin loose his grip and fall to the ground with a scream.

Marlin rolled onto the ground, the impact didn't hurt him at least. Marlin panted uncontrollably and got back up trying to look around. Marlin spotted his son's backpack nearby, running towards it. He looked to his son's bag, open and stuff discard on the ground, Marlin spotted his son's stuffed clownfish and picked it up. Marlin held the stuffed toy in his hands, before he turning back and could still see the truck driving off ahead of him in the distance.

"Nemo! Nemo!"

Marlin began to run after the truck, kept screaming his son's name. He didn't care if the truck was faster than him, he just had to follow it!

He had to rescue his son!

In the truck, the two mecha man discarded their helmets and goggles as they continued to drive off at fast speed. Driving in the city, ignoring all signs of life on the road, to cars driving and to pedestrians crossing by. Wanting to get away as quick as possible to somewhere.

In the back, Nemo continued to cry and scream for help. He soon began cry and whimper in fear for knowing that no one can hear him, and for what these strange people will do to him. He soon felt his hands and feet being tied up tightly by one of the men. And since he still had the burlap sack on his head, he couldn't properly see who his captors really were. "Y-you won't get away with this! My Daddy will come and save me!" he whimpered in fear, he stuttered a bit but tried to sound brave.

One of the man heard him and growled "Shut that brat up!" he said in a rude gruff voice, and ordered his partner to do so. One of the man turned to the back, and roughly hit Nemo with one swing from his arm. Nemo cried in pain and was soon knocked out.

Just then the truck hit a big bump, the goggles on the dashboard jumped from it's place and somehow jumped outside of the open window. "Great! Ya lost your goggles!" "Don't worry! Not like anyone's gonna be able to read what was on them!" the two man argued for a bit at the mishap, and continued driving off. The truck made some exits and drove off out of the city.

The goggles fell and tumbled by and landed somewhere in a rough looking neighbor.

Marlin continued running after that truck, keeping his eyes glued on it. It may have been years since he took track and PE in high school, and he was soon running out of breath. But Marlin continued running, knowing he just had to catch that truck!

He just had to save his son!

And that was enough motivation to give him somewhat enough energy to keep on running.

However...

"Oh no...! It's gone!" Marlin looked to see the truck had managed to slip away and drove off in quick speed in the streets. Marlin looked and see many trucks everywhere, all looked alike, but none of them was a white truck. Marlin ran looking and not believing "No no it can't be gone!" he tried searching through the streets. "No no! Nemo!" Marlin stopped and called out, trying to find the right truck "Nemo! Nemo!" he continued to call out. Whipping his head around, as he did so, trying to look and see if he can spot the truck.

Seeing that he wasn't getting anywhere on the ground, Marlin turned to a building near him, seeing a fire escape. He quickly and carefully climbed up to the roof of the building, hoping to get a better view. "Nemo! Nemo!" Marlin cupped his hands and cried out. Still searching for the white truck.

Marlin whipped his head fiercely, looking from left to right of the street below him, but no where can he see the truck. He couldn't spot any trace of it. Seeing that it truly was gone. Marlin stood in panic, beginning like the world was shacking and spinning around.

"No! No! No! Please God! No!" he cried out, not wanting it to true, not believing that it happened.

But he knew deep down it was too late.

Nemo was gone!

Marlin still gripping his son's stuffed toy as he brought it up to his face, almost beginning to ready to cry out in heartache. He just couldn't believe it was happening again.

First it was Coral, and his two unborn babies being taken away from him years ago. And now Nemo was taken from him!

Marlin felt like an utter failure. He promised that nothing would happened to Nemo, but now he felt like he failed again!

He failed to protect his son!

He felt like a failure as a father.

Marlin climbed back down to the ground, still holding the stuffed clownfish. Looking at the stuffed toy for a moment, he knew wasn't gonna give up just yet.

He needed to find that truck!

His son needed him!

And he was gonna need some help to find him!

He began to race back into the sidewalk "Has anyone seen a truck! Please! A white truck!" Marlin cried out, running to some passerbys. Desperately trying to ask them for help. However they just moved right along, some even running away from him, thinking he was a crazy person. "Please! They took my son!" Marlin cried, grabbing hold of a man walking by "Hey watch it buddy!" the man warned him and escaped his pleading grasp.

"My son! Please! Some one help me!" Marlin continued to desperately cry out for help. But more and more people ignored his plight. Marlin desperately pleading for at least someone to help, at least giving him at least some hope to help find his son. However, seeing that no one was gonna stop and help him. There it felt like there was no hope for him.

Was there really no one willing to help him in his time of need? Was there anyone going to help me now? Was there at least one person in the city gonna stop and help?

"Look out!"

"What?"

Marlin turned and alarmed by the sudden voice and soon saw a flash of blue. Before suddenly...

BAM!

Soon, all Marlin's prayers of help would be sent by this one...certain person.

To Be Continued...