Adventures in Parodyverse: Two Spirits, Part 3

    
    The Psychic Samurai strolled into the Paradopolis Police Headquarters carrying a sword strapped to her back.  She had done so often enough that while she attracted looks from the officers and detectives in the building, she didn’t attract any extra attention.

    Chiaki made her way to Commissioner Don Graham’s office, and knocked on the frame of the open door to his office.  She stood there until he looked up.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I thought Hatman was coming,”  he said.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“He is not available at the moment,”  she replied quietly as she entered the office dressed entirely in black.

    He looked down, and noticed she was wearing leather boots, yet she entered quite silently.  “How do you do that?  Walk in those without making any noise?”

    Chiaki seemed to ignore the question, as she asked one of her own.  “What did you wish to speak to Hatman about?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I heard that the Lair Legion took on some new membership.  You’re not one of them, are you?”

    She shook her head.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh.  Well, I heard Hatman returned from the dead again, and I wanted to meet him.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I will pass that along,”  Chiaki told him.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And...honestly, before I thought he died...I kind of haven’t had a chance to sit and chat with him in quite a while.  He’s been so busy.”

    The Samurai frowned slightly.  She took the sword off her back and sat down in one of the comfortable chairs in front of his desk, and crossed one leg over the other, leaning the sword between the floor and the seat next to her.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I apologize,”  she said.  “I didn’t mean to look like I was in a hurry to leave.  I was asked to come here and tell you that Hatman is...enangled right now.  And also to answer any questions you have.”

    He raised an eyebrow.  “Like what you mean by ‘entangled’?”

    She answered plainly, “His body is not quite recovered from the injuries yet, so his spirit is bound to someone else for a few days.  We have all been doing what we can to keep him protected until then.”

    Don Graham took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes slowly.  He was sorry he asked by now.  “So how have you been?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’ve been good.  It’s nice to be able to help the Lair Legion without being tied up in its problems.”  

    She turned around briefly, and noticed a few of the cops from the office leaning against the doorway to see what was going on.  “What’s this about?”  she asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“We don’t get many beautiful girls carrying swords around here.”  Graham replied.  “You’re kind of a curiosity.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hmm.”  Chiaki agreed less than enthusiastically.  “That’s always what it comes down to, eh?  A man walking through here with a sword would not be so interesting.”

    The Commissioner chuckled.  “You know, I have a detective here who often says something very similar.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Vicky Cameron.”  Chiaki remembered who it was.

    He nodded.  “Curiosities aren’t necessarily a bad thing.  There are people who thought all cops were terrifying until they met Vicky.  And I bet there are people on the wrong side of the law who think all super-heroes are terrifying until they meet you.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m not a super-hero,”  she replied.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Exactly.”  Don Graham said.  “You’re not very tall, or powerful, or intimidating.  You speak to people, give them a chance.”

    The Samurai considered that.  “I suppose you’re right.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Anyway, I’d better get back to work.  If you talk to Hatman tell him I’m eager to see him.”

    Chiaki rose out of her seat.  “That can be arranged right now.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What do you mean...?”  he started to ask.

    There was a blinding flash of light in the room, and a blonde wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt appeared.  She seemed to stumble over the chair Chiaki had just been sitting in.

    It’s a bit disorienting, suddenly changing surroundings, Lara Night told Jay Boaz in her mind.  Take it slow and easy until you adapt.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I got it,”  Jay said, in her voice.  He looked at Commissioner Graham, who was confused by his first words and what was going on.

    Chiaki had the grace to quickly explain.  “Jay seems to be in control of Lara’s body right now.  She was speaking to him, only you couldn’t hear it.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh.”  Don Graham reached out his hand, and the blonde gripped it tightly for a handshake.  “Nice to see you again, Jay.  Even if it is under such...odd circumstances.  So why were you bonded to Lara, instead of CrazySugarFreakBoy!, or Visionary?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It took me a while to figure out,”  he said in her voice.  “Well...part of it was explained, it’s because Lara’s ability to store energy made it easier to store me in there too.  But I think it’s also because Lara is a good friend, very protective, and has the power to back it up.  If anyone tried to hurt me while I’m in here, they’d be sorry.”

    That’s very sweet of you to say,  Lara said.

    Jay smiled, but he didn’t reply - he was aware this time that other people in the room wouldn’t know what he was talking about.

    Just then, a police officer came running into the office, out of breath.  After panting a few times, he finally tried to speak.  “Attack...off-central park...”

    Knowing what Jay’s first response would be, Chiaki squeezed Lara’s shoulder to get his attention.  “I don’t think you’re up for this.  The Lair Legion can handle it.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“But I’m closer.”  Jay said.  “Lara, could you please take over and handle it?”

    I will.  Lara said.

    And then Jay felt himself fading away from the senses of her body, as she regained control.  “I will.”  she repeated out loud this time.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’ll help you.”  the Psychic Samurai said.  “Just in case.”

    Always trust when she says that, Jay warned Lara.  She always knows when there’s an unpredictable and dangerous element.

    Lara nodded, and then she looked at the frightened officer.  “Lead the way.”



TO BE CONTINUED?


-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2011 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
--    reprinted without permission.  
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
--  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
--  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin