Chapter 9

"Alright, Karai, this has better be good. I was just starting to enjoy myself." began Michael, while crossing his arms.

"Do not worry, Michael, this will not take long of your free time. Time is not on our side." Little Karai giggled a bit on a thought that popped in her head as she nudged April. "Get it April?. Time is not on our side?. Meaning that time is not on our plate when ordering a combo meal."

April rolled her eyes. "Boy, I have no idea that you were more corney then than you are in the future. And the first joke you hit me with on the day we met is why the chicken crossed the road."

Little Karai laughed. "Oh, boy, that is my favorite joke!."

"Again, what do you need from me, Karai?." Michael asked again.

"Hey, before you go any further, Mr. Jackson, I just wanted to say that your songs are awesome and I'm a huge fan." April grinned like a typical fangirl. "Thriller is my all time favorite album."

Michael rolled his eyes in slight irritation. "Tell me something that I don't already know from millions of people. I hate it when people remind me of my golden album. Talk about either my Bad or Dangerous album for once."

April feels a bit hurt. "Hey, I'm just saying."

"Yeah, Yeah, I get it." Michael sighed while going to grab himself some candy from a nearby bowl."

"Michael is not always like this. He did not get any sleep." Little Karai explained.

April knows all about that personal information about the man. "Gotcha, well, I will be going to check the perimeter and see if our particular target shows up. Michael."

Michael nodded and waited for her to leave before looking at Karai. "H…How did she know about my insomnia?. As a matter of fact, who is she?. Your new partner?. Did Shinigami hit her third strike and got neuralized?."

"No." Little Karai took a bite of her mini chocolate that she took from the bowl. "She is actually my partner from the future who had time traveled…"

"I think that it is best for me to not know the details." said Michael, taking another bite of candy before sitting down on the couch. "Now, what can I do for you?."

April took this moment to have a full look around of this place since in her future the building no longer exists and such. If she is being honest with herself she kinda enjoys the place that she is currently in. She found herself seeing a buffed up woman of her skin complexion lifting dumbbells with ease. She noticed April staring at her.

"Hey, wanna lift, toothpick?." She asked.

"No, thank you. I prefer my regular biceps." April walked past the woman before stepping back and spoke that only she could hear. "My feminum biceps."

"Oh, whatever." the woman responded.

Little Karai joined Michael on the couch after explaining to him why she is here. Michael took the information in great understanding.

"Hmm, you and the redhead are in the right place. But you guys have got this all wrong." began Michael.

Little Karai looked at Michael with a brow raised. "Which is?."

"This Tiger Claw is not coming here for a hangout. He is coming after the native who is from that planet that this place is named after. By the way, that planet has long been destroyed by those darn Boglodites." said Michael.

"A tribute." Little Karai nodded. "Wait, then there is no point in him coming here since the natives of that planet are extinct."

"Well, yes and no." Michael grabs another piece of candy. "Actually there is one and only survivor of the deceased planet and its natives. Her name is Gwen."

Right back to April, who just got done using the bathroom, walked past a group of black gangsters with one white girl wearing a bandanna. She looked at April and gave her a fist up aka Black Power salute. April did the same before walking past her and not letting her see her 'Are You Serious?' facial expression. April avoided a few skaters who were making their way. Little did April know she is going to meet up with the native that Michael is talking about.

The Galactavius native looked too identical to Gwen Tennyson from the original Ben 10 series, except she is the same height as April and wearing a New York Giants toboggan. Matching with her New York Giants quarterback jersey. Gwen smiled big when seeing April approach her and stand beside her. Gwen continued looking at April with that same smile, which April was kinda getting uncomfortable since she dislikes to be looked at.

"Uh, hi." responded April before looking at the woman. "Nice Gwen Tennyson lookalike."

"Why thank you. I get that heavily a lot." Gwen turned to April. "I wanted to look like Raven from the cartoon Teen Titans, but if I did that then my possibility would lead me to end up joining a goth party which would be located just a few blocks down. And if I did then the place would have caught on fire due to one of the goths not putting out his cigarette properly."

April had an impressed look on her face. "Dang, not only do you look like Gwen Tennyson but you also sound like her down to a T. Creepy and impressive."

"What is creepy and impressive is this." Gwen motioned April to look forward to seeing what was in front of them. "See that buff woman that you talked to not too long ago?. Well, in this possibility she just found out that the man in gray attire, who has given her a business card, learned that he is an Adult Film talent scout. Thus enraging her to think he wanted her to be filmed in some kinky bodybuilder lesbo movie. She is going to come over to where he is and knock some of his teeth out. Literally."

April looked at the buffed woman and saw exactly just that. She raised her brow in suspicion as this woman had literally predicted that to happen. And it does not stop there either. Gwen continued on.

"As soon as he falls over to a woman that is behind him, he will accidentally grab hold of one of the woman's tits. Which will anger the woman's husband and then punch the poor guy in the gut, thus causing him to fully fall on the man carrying a tray of yummy finger food. The man then will fall over with the dancing skaters and they will fall over here whether that is going to crash on the table to our right or to our left in where I put my freshly made warm tuna melt sub on the table." said Gwen.

Gwen eyed the fallen people and immediately reacted. "Well, it looks like in this possibility they are going to fall on the table where my sub is in which I need to save it now."

Gwen grabbed her sandwich and stepped back when the skaters crashed onto the table and broke it. April had that uneasy feeling within her along with a creeped out facial expression.

"Ah, boy, that was close. If I lose my sub then I will start getting into a stress mode. Which would make me look at the bad possibilities which will stress me out even more. Luckily the cooks here have plenty of seafood in their fridge and so one of them will offer me an all you can eat seafood sandwich that will be on the house. So that means that I will be okay." said Gwen, looking at April and giving her a friendly smile.

April is truly creeped out now. "K…Karai?."

Little Karai nodded in understanding what Michael said. "Huh, what is so special about this alien that my suspect wants so bad?."

"Are you kidding?." Michael had a look of disbelief. "Gwen is the definition and face of special. She and her people have the ability to literally foresee the endless infinite potential outcomes that are dependent on the actions taken in given scenarios. Plus, it is worth knowing that herself and her people are Pescatarians. In case you want to find a possible lead in finding her or wondering why her breath always smells like seafood."

"So she can predict the possible outcomes that will become the current or future?. Wow, where was she at when Zed needed a win at the casino?." Little Karai looked at Michael. "Where can I find her?."

"Is it not obvious?. She is here somewhere. I bet your future partner has encountered her. Depending on Gwen's potential possibilities." said Michael.

"Gotcha. Well, I will leave you to do your thing." Little Karai was inches away from leaving through the curtains until she remembered something. "Oh, yeah, by the way, Zed wants me to inform you that the Zactarts have agreed to have you on their homeworld to both represent as NIB's negotiator and perform for the masses."

"Seriously?. Why me?." Michael asked in disbelief.

"Well, you know that Zactarts people are an isolated, independent and war hungry race. They got beef with all of their neighbor planets in their solar system. And so it is a good idea of having you go to their galaxy since you are so great ro be around and such. The Zactarts are going to have a treat on their hands. With your amazing negotiation skills they will unisolate, be dependent, and lose appetite for war." said Little Karai.

"But Karai, The Zactarts are the only aliens that have no advanced spaceships. It's going to take them 600 years to get here." said Michael, shaking his head in refusal.

"Well, it is the time difference. When you leave here it will be a decade and while the Zactarts will wait for your arrival in the next 600 years. They will be here in the year 2009. So, I advised you to get with the crew at NIB to come up with a good conspiracy and fake your death to the public. See you back whenever, MJ." said Little Karai.

Michael sighed. "And the funny thing about it is that I already had an idea on how I am going to fake my own death."

Meanwhile, back with April and Gwen. Gwen is creeping out April while making her feel uneasily uncomfortable as she keeps on saying things that actually come true. But this bit creeped her out personally.

"Say, what time do you have in your right pocket?." Gwen asked before taking a bite of her sandwich.

"M…My watch?." April raised her brow before reaching into her pocket and pulled out the watch.

The watch itself is a black chainless pocket watch that stopped working for years since the day it was given to her. Till this day, April does not recall which day she had received this special watch but she always carries this on her since this is the only thing she has left of her father that she has never met or known. So she believed.

"Oh, dear." Gwen had a look of hurt on her face. "A tragedy. A tragedy that had taken place before receiving that pocket watch. One specific death and a major cover-up in one day and same moment in time. And yet you were so young on that day. What a big burden it is indeed."

April can not take it anymore with this woman especially when she is talking about her watch and dead father to the point it is scaring her. "Yo, Karai?!."

"You do not have to yell my name out here, April." Little Karai appeared after finding her. "Remember we are not supposed to be not drawing attention to ourselves here. Huh, you must be Gwen, yes?."

"Indeed I am, Karai." Gwen changed her facial expression from hurt to utter happiness. "I have something for you and…"

"That is cool, but we need to get you out of here. This place is no longer safe for you." said Little Karai.

"I know and we can not leave. If we do then it will trigger the possibility of Tiger Claw busting right through that door where the entrance is and shoot me and a few others dead. So let us stay put. Now, I was saying. Please hold this for me, April." said Gwen, handing her plate to her. "Now, I have the device that will aid you in this scary fight. Course, I have not had the device on me since…well…you know."

"Right." Little Karai nodded. "So when will we get it?."

"Simple. I will give it to you both at a secure location where no one even thinks of going at this time of season. Oh, thank you." Gwen spoke to April when giving her food back. "Now, I will be on my little way and I will see you then."

April stopped Gwen before she could hurry on out of the place. "Now, hold on a minute, we do not know where to meet up. And plus we got you covered."

"Oh, you and Karai do not have me covered." Gwen tried to walk away and stopped and spoke cheerfully. "Oh, and they may have lost the first round but they will surely win all three rounds and win the main event in the next two seasons. Bye-Bye."

April again stopped Gwen by grabbing her by the bicep. "Why are you giving us a riddle and not telling us up front?."

Gwen gave April a serious look. "Because that is the safest possibility for the outcome. And after seeing what happens if you stopped me the second time, Tiger Claw is going to come through that kitchen door and shoot me dead at 10. 9…8…7…"

April let go of Gwen and pulled out that gun that Karai had given her. Not feeling so confident about it either. "Karai, I want my actual gun. Come one we have no time for this."

Little Karai had her blaster out and pointed at the door. "You can still perform with or without your future gun."

"4…3…2…wait." Gwen sniffed hard and looked at April. "You had chocolate dairy products before you came to 2006?."

"Uh, yeah I had it for breakfast." said April.

Gwen had that feared look. "Then in that case another possibility had opened…alright we are safe. Oh, boy that was scary."

Little Karai looked at Gwen while lowering her gun. "I think it is best for you to stay at NIB HQ. It is the number one safest place on earth."

"Wait until Zelena returns to earth after finding out that the Light of Zarthra has not left this planet." said Gwen, before opening her eyes up in utter shock at what she just said.

"Wait what?." Little Karai had that shocked facial expression.

Gwen looked over at a pink haired woman skating down in a disco movement, right after someone brung a chained albino lion cub. "Oh, no. Terra."

As soon as Gwen said her name, a gun blast was sounded and the blast made contact with the woman's forehead. Hitting the ground with a thud. Everyone screamed, panicked, and ran for their lives when they saw that murder. The person responsible for this cold-hearted tragedy is the one that April and Karai have been looking for. Tiger Claw. Who had entered the place through the open window door.

"That's Tiger Claw!. This time's version!." April started shooting.

Tiger Claw (2006) dodged the rubber bullets and went trying to shoot Gwen who was far from sight. "Oh, well, I love the game of cat and mouse."

With that said he threw his blasters back into its hosters and then got on all four before jumping out through the same open window.

"No!." April chased after him. "Karai you get Gwen, and I will get Tiger Claw!."

"Right!." said Little Karai, when running to find her.

April stepped out through the window and followed where young Tiger Claw went. She looked straight to see him on his bike putting metal to the pedal. April pointed and started shooting in an attempt to shoot his back tire out. But no luck to her anger.

"Damnit!." April stepped down carefully to reach the ground while avoiding getting run over by the panic crowd.

Little Karai existed out of the place and found April. "I did not get Gwen in time. She is quick. Michael did not tell me her people have fast feet. Did you get him?."

"Does it look like I got him?." April spoke in upsetness.

"Well, ok just relax, redhead, will get things going when the time comes. Wanna go to the comic bookstore?. I think that store I know has the newest Marvel Spiderman issue." said Little Karai, plainly.

April can not believe what she is hearing from this eight year old NIB agent. "No!. No, I don't want to go to some stupid comic book store!. And on top of that, my name is not redhead. Or a silly little red bird. Nor a rookie. Nor, becky with the good hair. It is April. Got it?."

Little Karai nodded while letting her talk more and saw she needed this to get off her chest.

"I seriously have no idea that the 2000's atmosphere attitude is going with the flow without worry or too much care in the world." April threw the gun back to Little Karai in frustration. "And in case you have not known the reality, we are trying to save our future. Earth's future, if I dare say from coming to an end. And we just had our one chance and win with Gwen who has the device we needed to save us all. Which she…oh, yeah, she up and left while giving us a silly ass riddle to find her!. And lastly you. I seriously do not know why you are not taking this thing seriously. In my time you take it seriously. I truly wish for what had changed you from this time to now you. Because I am convinced that you are not Karai. You are just an eight year old Japanese NIB girl who looks like her. You imposter!."

Little Karai took in all that April told her and nodded. "Uh, huh, I see. Well, if I had a time travel device, I will most certainly see my older self and give her a good chit chat. Because she sounds like a jerk and a big old doodie party pooper. Now, I know what we need to do at this point moving forward. And yes, this is serious."

"Alright, good, I am getting through to you." April crossed her arms. "What is it?."

"Cheesecake. We need cheesecake." said Little Karai, giving a cute smile.

April's left eye started twitching. "Come again?."

"I said we need cheesecake. A wise master always told me that cheesecake relaxes you and helps you think clearly with something delicious in my mouth. Plus, the place has an all you can eat cheesecake special for independence week for five dollars per person. It is a super steal." explained Little Karai.

"I am assuming this wise master is obese, yeah?." April saw Karai nodded. She looked around for a minute. "Time is not on our side and we want to see our future become a memory by throwing away what little time we have. You know what?. I am done trying. Let us go keep some stupid ass cheesecake."

Little Karai nodded with a cheerful facial expression. "Sweet!. I let you drive."

"Now, I know you are not my Karai, because she never lets me drive." spoke April, when getting into the driver's side.

Little Karai got on the passenger side. "Well, that is your future Karai." She pointed at herself with her thumb and spoke proudly. "I am the current Karai aka the fun layback one. Now, then…to the silver train car cafe!."