Episode 46: Crosbone Train Heist!
"Um, guys," Peter said, getting Thor and MJ's attention. "I'm back with the food."
"Oh, great," Thor responded. "Go ahead and sit down next to MJ. This little lady was just introducing herself."
Peter stared at the silver-haired girl while he sat down placing the food on the table. "When did she join you?"
"Just now," the silver-haired girl said. Apart from her short silver hair, her outfit consisted of a short gray sweater top with dark gray pants, a woven belt with a silver clasp, and black leather calf-length boots. "I was asking your friend if he has seen a man on this train with an odd-shaped head."
"And I told her that I haven't," Thor said. "Then I was just about to ask her what her name was."
"It's Silvija Sablinova," the silver-haired girl answered.
MJ looked surprised. "Silvija Sablinova? As in the founder of Sable International?"
"Guilty as charged," Silvija said reluctantly.
"What's Sable International?" Thor asked.
"A private security force from Symkaria, the city that's run like a personal kingdom," MJ said.
"The one that's next to the similar city of Latveria?" Peter clarified.
"Yes, and we share an uneasy peace," Silvija admitted. "But I digress! What are your names?"
"My name's Thor," Thor said. "And my friends are Peter and MJ."
"Nice to meet you two," Silvija smiled. "You're such a cute couple."
Peter and MJ's faces turned red. While MJ looked embarrassed, Peter said, "Um, we're not a couple. We've been friends since childhood, and happen to be traveling together."
"Oh, I see," Silvija realized. "I'm sorry for my assumption."
"It's okay," MJ murmured.
"Have either of you seen a man with an odd-shaped head on this train?" Silvija asked, staring intensely at MJ and Peter.
"No," Peter said, while MJ shook her head.
Silvija cursed under her breath. "I could've sworn I saw him board this train."
"Who's the guy you're looking for?" Peter asked.
"Maybe it's best if you don't know," Silvija decided and got up from the seat next to Thor. "But if you do see him, ask for me in the sleeper car."
Then Silvija walked away before Peter could question her further.
"Great job," Thor said sarcastically. "I get to talk to a cute girl, and then you had to scare her away with your questioning."
"Just because she's cute doesn't mean we can trust her," MJ said. "And I can't believe she's the second girl we've talked to who assumed I was Peter's girlfriend."
"Yeah, that's a weird coincidence," Peter admitted before passing around the food items. "But you're not going to believe who I thought I saw in the viewing car."
Just as Thor was about to eat his hamburger, a loud thud was heard from the roof of the train. This was followed by punching sounds before the roof caved in allowing two things to fall in. One was a man wearing a skull-faced mask and a dark gray camouflage uniform with a bulletproof vest with a white x-shaped mark spray-painted on. As for the other thing, it was a weasel-like creature that stood on two legs with a crown of white feathers that matched the color of its face and the x-shaped mark on its chest minus the dark gray circles around its coal-black eyes and the rest of its body which was dark gray. Its forearms were covered in silver gauntlets, which matched the gauntlets the man wore.
"I would apologize for the intrusion, but I'm not that kind of guy," the masked man said. "This is a hijacking, and I won't let this train go until I get what I want!"
From the weasel-like creature's gauntlets emerged a pair of rods. Then as the creature gripped the rods in its claws, the rods became electrified.
"That's a Crosbone," MJ whispered to Peter. "Also known as the Skeleton Marémon due to its skull-like face."
"Did I say could you speak?" The masked man turned around to face Peter and the others, who were sitting a few seats behind where he was standing.
"Is that a rhetorical question?" Peter said, though he immediately regretted it as the masked man walked up to him.
"Of course it's rhetorical, kid," the masked man responded, picking Peter up by the collar of his shirt. "Now will you tell your girlfriend to shut up, or do I have to make her by beating you up?"
"Hold it!" MJ snapped, standing up from her seat. "First of all, I'm not his girlfriend. Second, who do you think you are barging onto this train and threatening all of us? What do you want?"
Surprised by this answer, the masked man said to Peter, "Looks like your girl has spunk. I gotta admire that."
Then the masked man let Peter go and grabbed MJ instead.
"Here's what you need to know about me," the masked man said, addressing the rest of the passengers. "The name's Crossbones, and I'm looking for a specific Marémon. Any of you ever heard of a Hornetech before?"
In response, there was silence.
"What about you three?" Crossbones asked Peter, MJ, and Thor. "Do you know what a Hornetech is, or anyone who might have it?"
Peter stared at Crossbones' eyes, and thought he recognized them but couldn't figure out why. In spite of this, he had the feeling that Crossbones knew the answer to his question yet he didn't want to make it seem that way.
"No," Peter said, hoping to throw Crossbones off his game.
Crossbones seemed annoyed by this answer, and gripped MJ's arms tighter. "Fine, I'll take the girl hostage until someone brings me a Hornetech. You will find me in the engine room. And don't think about calling for help, cuz the girl will die instantly."
"Take me as a hostage instead," said an older teenage girl near the back of the car. She had long red hair and held a PDB in her hand. "I have a Hornetech."
To be continued…
