> > > Adventures in Parodyverse - The Pink Empire Part 1 > > > There was a panic at the Lair Mansion, and as far as Yuki Shiro could tell when she was summoned frantically by Liu Xi Xian, Visionary was at the center of it.  She followed the Chinese teen toward the Lair Mansion’s command center, another oddity. > > Yuki set that last item aside and and began to worry at the first thing she saw when she entered the command center - a green holographic form of Hallie, talking to herself frantically.  Actually talking on various phone lines at once, but it seemed like she was talking to herself.  Visionary was at the back of the windowless room, pacing and wringing his hands. > > It wasn’t just that she was talking, it’s what she was saying.  ‘Have you seen Maggie?  Have you seen Griffin?’.  Yuki glanced at Liu Xi, whose dark eyes looked back with concern, hoping she could help.  It was obvious at that point that Liu Xi asked for Yuki’s help without asking Visionary first, in her eagerness to help. > > “What’s going on?”  Yuki finally asked. > > “Maggie and Griffin are missing,”  Liu Xi piped up first, since Hallie was too busy to answer the question and Visionary was too busy panicking.  “Visionary is...terrified” > > Yuki frowned as she looked over at a paler than usual Visionary.  He didn’t seem to notice her arrival.  His eyes looked like his mind was keeping busy to avoid panicking further and possibly crying.   > > “I’ll get right on it,”  Yuki said, sounding determined. > > “Anything I can do to help?”  Liu Xi asked. > > The purple-haired cyborg nodded.  “Keep Visionary entertained.  Anything to keep his mind off the situation.” > > “What about Miiri?  She is in her room sharpening her blade and planning to go hunting.  What about Hallie?” > > “Do your best,”  Yuki replied cryptically.  “I’ll have the kids back before dinner.” > > > --- > > > Yuki’s favorite places to get information from the street weren’t exactly friendly places.  Slightly cooperative if in the mood was more like it.  And usually only after she intimidated them a little bit. > > Intimidated was the operative word when Yuki dropped by the Fatal Toilet.  A couple of thugs saw her shiny racing motorbike and decided to try stealing it as soon as she walked away.  A moment later both of them were tossed through the front window of the Fatal Toilet just before she entered and silently slapped down some money on the bar to pay for the window.  The bartender was holding a shotgun to make sure of that, but she was one step ahead. > > “Any of you know of a couple kids who were kidnapped?  Kids who belong to a certain yellow-coated Legionnaire?”  Yuki announced as she entered.  Of course the question brought only silence - until she sweetened the deal a bit.  “How about if drinks are on me?” > > One of the grateful customers, between whiskey shots, suggested that the Zoot Suits might know something.  He thought he was drinking Yuki under the table at the time, but she neglected to mention that her cybernetic body metabolizes alcohol just like it processes sugar.  He passed out shortly after she got the information, and then she took her cue to leave. > > So next Yuki walked into the newest Zoot Suit Gang club, if you could call knocking out both the guards at the front entrance, and knocking out the two for the back room as well, ‘walking in’.  As usual, Frankie didn’t seem a bit surprised or impressed by her brute force display.  He sat at his usual table with a tall blonde at his side and a half dozen of his huge gang’s commanders, all dressed in pinstriped zoot suits. > > “I have an urgent question to ask,”  Yuki said calmly. > > “Oh?  Maybe I got an answer for ya,”  Frankie joked.  The hangers-on around him, of course, laughed. > > Unfazed, Yuki asked the question.  “Who took Visionary’s kids?” > > Frankie stared at the blonde next to him for a moment before determining it was best if the purple-haired detective left sooner rather than later.  “I hear there’s some pink suited chick involved,”  he hinted. > > Yuki knew what he meant.  But just in case, she decided to leave on a high note.  “I’ll check that out,”  she said, “But if you’re wasting my time I’m coming back here and dismantling your precious club.  And that’s not a metaphor.” > > > --- > > > “Hey, hey,”  Liu Xi stopped Visionary from pacing by physically blocking his way.  “Stop pacing, there will be a hole in the floor.” > > “I’m not pacing,”  he replied quickly.  “Well, maybe I am, but only because I want to go and find the kids.” > > “You don’t even know where they are,”  Liu Xi pointed out. > > Vizh shrugged.  “That never stopped me before.” > > “Yuki is looking,”  Liu Xi noted.  She looked up into Visionary’s eyes and said, “She will find them.  She’s very good.” > > “I know...I know,”  he reluctantly agreed.  “She is very good.  I helped induct her into the Lair Legion, in fact.” > > “So sit down.  Show some trust.”  She looked at Hallie, who was studying an electronic map grid hovering in front of her in midair.  “You too, Hallie.  Yuki promised she would bring back the kids before dinner.  That’s only a few hours.  You can worry if she doesn’t come through, but I think she will.” > > “There’s a time for faith and a time for action,”  Hallie said.  With that she winked out of existence suddenly. > > Liu Xi frowned and looked at Visionary.  “Where is she going?” > > Visionary shrugged, still seeming distracted. > > “Do you still sleep with Miiri?”  Liu Xi asked, trying to bring up a new subject. > > “Huh?”  he asked, finally looking directly at Liu Xi.  “Don’t ask me questions like that, Liu Xi.” > > “It’s just that you’re lonely, and I wouldn’t blame you if you were.  She makes you very comfortable.” > > “Yeah, she does,”  he admitted.  “I still don’t want you to ask me things like that...especially about Miiri.  She has a hard enough time fitting in.” > > “Okay.”  Liu Xi nodded.  “You shouldn’t be embarrassed to tell me things, though.  I don’t spread around secrets.” > > “Someday when you have something as complicated as getting an alien slave girl used to Earth--”  He paused then and added, “Okay, maybe that’ll never happen to you.  But if it did you would understand.” > > Liu Xi smiled and giggled.  “Okay.”  she said, “I think I kind of understand.  I also think I took your mind off things for a few minutes.” > > “I guess you did,”  Visionary admitted. > > > --- > > > Yuki was still fuming when she arrived at the penthouse apartment of Chiaki Bushido, known as the Psychic Samurai.  Frankie’s clue referred to Akiko Masamune, and nobody knew Akiko better than Chiaki.  It would be easiest to locate Akiko just by asking Chiaki rather than tearing her way through every hideout the pink gangster had. > > “I didn’t expect you,”  Chiaki greeted Yuki with when she opened her front door.  Nevertheless, the Samurai bowed gracefully and politely.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t prepare for you.” > > Yuki guessed that Chiaki referred to a bag of rice snacks left on the kitchen counter, and a partially-read book lying open on the living room table.  “It’s okay, I won’t stay long.  I need some help.” > > “Certainly.”  Chiaki nodded. > > “Visionary’s kids are missing,”  Yuki went straight to the point.  “Evidence suggests Akiko took them.” > > Chiaki looked away for a moment.  “Akiko has been trying to get Visionary’s attention for something,”  she said almost distantly.  But then more enthusiastically, “But I don’t think she would take such drastic action to obtain it.” > > “Maybe you could ask her for me?”  Yuki prodded. > > “I...”  Chiaki looked embarrassed suddenly.  “That would be so insulting.  I couldn’t accuse Akiko of such a thing.” > > “Well we can’t take that chance,”  Yuki pointed out, starting to sound a little angry.  “Visionary’s kids are missing, and we don’t have time to play games with Asian manners and social hierarchy.  Just ask her, and apologize later.” > > “It’s not right,”  Chiaki insisted.  “I’m very sure she didn’t take Visionary’s children.” > > “Guess what.”  Yuki said firmly, on the edge of anger yet keeping her temper in check, “I’m going after Akiko because that’s the best lead I have.  I could use your help.  If you won’t help me, and Akiko is involved, I’m taking her down.” > > Chiaki’s head lowered and she looked down. > > “And then I’m coming back, and taking you down too.”  With that, Yuki stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door. > > Alone in her apartment once again, Chiaki didn’t move at first.  Her mind spun with all kinds of scenarios, all kinds of questions.  She took a deep breath and picked up her sword and found her shoes, and then headed out as well.  She needed answers. > > > > TO BE CONTINUED > > > -- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2007 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 > >