CHOP SHOP

CHAPTER 2

“We Are DOOMED!!!!” said Cody as he plopped down on an old, torn, slightly smelly couch with a stripe pattern. Max walks to a corner with a boxing dummy and begins practicing some moves she has yet to master while Anna and Katy sit down at a table near the center of the room and press a few buttons on a flat tablet with drink icons on it.  Ron and Jack were already there in another corner playing chess, poker and monopoly at the same time. Cario was the last to enter with head looking down, making his jackets collar almost cover his head from the side.

“Gee no dip and beans VOLT! I wonder why?” reply’s max as she switch’s from punching to midair kicking the dummy, creating a steady rhythm of beats against the dummy.
“ sure seems like it this time, I mean, it was merciless...no mind...no soul...no emotion....Clearly Insecta is trying to make more like that super brute.” says Katy as a soda machine shudders and several sodas pop out, icy cold.
“w-w-w-well it seemed just upset or grouchy at first... but it has teeth! And it dosint have a clean room!” whimpers Anna, wrapped up and hugging her massive rabbit ears like a snuggle-blanket.

Ron sighs as he moves a pawn two spaces and lays down a full house of cards and gives Jack $5000 in their monopoly game. “ I have a small theory...it was eater a lucky S.O.B or it knew what it was doing the whole time and was just hungry.”
Jack huffs as he captures Ron's pawn, collects the cards, and puts the $5000 in his cash pile in the monopoly game. “Or much more simply...he waited for the ripe moment to end his prey.”  He says with a raised eyebrow and small hunters grin.

Cario sits down in front of a small TV Chris-crossed apple sauce style with his jacket spread out neatly. Only instead of watching TV he was training his senses. With his eyes closed he can still see but through an energy called “Aura” the same energy a Lucario can see and wield in battle. The room is bright blue where light shines or reflect off any surface. This in turn makes shadows turn pitch black and wave like smoke in a fire. Anything that draws breath however, glow bright blue, the lighter the person the friendlier in their nature they are but the meaner they are the darker the blue. With this he can even tell a person’s mood even what they are thinking from time to time.

This sense is not the one he is paying attention to however, his pointed ears turn from max's punching dummy to Ron and Jack's games. He did also pick up every ones comments on their new test. Cario then goes deep into his thoughts on both Bulk Beasty and Carpunk, the brute that was killed by bulk.

“Well I think Rex is right about the artifacts, that thing was the Hulker on Dragon Orbs Ki zee!” said Cody as he pulls out a junky old cell phone and zaps it, giving it a full battery and try’s connecting to his cells computer.

“Heh I don’t need any old tin cans or magic sticks to put that freak down!” says max as she triple round house kicks the dummy then upper cuts it. “All I need is a great punch through its eye and make is brains scrambled!” she says as she punches through the dummies head, ending her exercise.

Cario grins at max’s comment, he knows max can get over confident and she occashinoly joins Anna and Katy on a night out in one of their cells. He then focuses on a tough sense, hunting. He begins to block out all sounds and focuses on a target, Max’s soda.  Max was sitting down on Cody’s feet and tail and rubbing it in on Katy. Cario knew all the girls have crush on him or Cody. He learned that max teases each of them by either spending time with him or Cody or simply doing a simple siting next to or on either or. Cario then jumps from his position backwards toward Max. As he sails right above her, he snags her soda and at completing his flip jump he opened it then gulped its down. Anna and Katy clap and the guys huff under their breath’s “showoff” as he simply grins as max groans getting off Cody to get another soda.

“Anna why dose that things Cave make you think it lives like a monster- oh wait a minute IT IS A MONSTER! MONSTERS LIVE AMONG WHATS LEFT OF THEIR VICTOMS!” said max tiring to get the funny moment from her as she gets another soda.

“ well I puffer an environment that’s nice and tidy and I know where everything is.” She says sticking her tongue out at her as she sips her diet poke cola. “Still we do need a plan if we want to survive Mr. Beasty.”

Katy looks over at Volt and walks over to the end of the couch. “Maybe Cody’s got an idea?” hoping to get him to notice her comment.
Cody looks up from his phone then gulps. “Actually I was hacking Doc’s gear locker and was ordering something to help-“before he can finish Katy swipes his phone then looks at him with a hardened look.
“Cloak watches!? Really!? That’s probably the-“

“BEST IDEA EVER!” declares Anna as she swipes the phone from Katy then sees only one is being requested. “Hey where’s mine?!”

As Cody tries terribly to explain his plan to the girls, max walks next to Cario with a new soda.
“Ok, what IS the plan? Charging that things suicide and it is also clever…any ideas?” looks over to Katy and Anna who are trying to order more but also trying to keep Cody from claiming his phone back.
“Hmmm” is all Cario said as he replays the fight they watched, repeating Bulks tactics which left him with little to go on. A closed off cavern with environment hazards and only things for cover are rocks, bones, and shadows. Suddenly he gets a idea then snags the phone as he walks by, surprising Cody and the girls as he enters several items and multiples the request for cloak watches and some extra stuff he added then hit the send button.

“Ok boys and girls get some rest-“says as he tosses the phone to Cody who desperately try’s to catch it as he walks out of the break room. “Because we’re goanna have one Hell of a day tomorrow. Peace Out suckers.” Says as he’s half way down the hall with his team looking at each other then Cody
Who was looking over Cario’s shopping list. “DUDE!!! THAT ATE UP HALF OF MY POINTS FOR THAT ORDER!!!” he yells, dashing after Cario.


The next morning, the cafeteria was serving its usawell breakfast of flavorless oatmeal, Sunnyside pidgyot eggs and plain beagles with Bacon strips from a Turkey and Orange Juice. The brothers three usually eat a third of the breakfasts served but they haven’t even touched their food. Knowing they will be the first to face that Monster in His turf put down their appetites. Panther on the other hand, trying to seem unafraid, ate two servings over her usawell limit. “Eat up you three we need every ounce of strength to put that thing back to the Stone Age!” she said trying to make them feel ready with no effect.

Chop Shops table on the other hand, is still missing Cario, who usually gets their table served first.
“Cody, was Rex still sleeping? He should have been here by now.” Asked Anna as she finished her juice and eggs. “Nope his bed was stone cold when I checked for him and that was 45 minutes ago.” He said with his head looking down.
Max finished her breakfast then looks over at Cody. “What did he order anyway? Bazookas? Kattanas? Grenades? A Tank?”
“He ordered enough cloak watches for every one on Chop Shop and several weapons that I think he looks at during free time.” He says looking around.

Meanwhile Cario was in the level 2 subject armory looking through boxes of weapons passed down from level ones armory that was from the doctor’s personal armory. He has already collected 6 cloak watches and several types of battle gloves but that left one Chop shop member out of a watch.
“Man where could-“
CLICK!

“I knew you would be here Subject X.” said a cold voice from the armory’s entrance with a gun in hand.

“… I ate breakfast earlier then usawell and my team does not know where I am, what gave it away that easy?” said Cario as he stood up with hands up.

“That’s just it, It did. I was expecting Panther to raid the Armory’s, but you? …You’re a 3 Billion Dollar Weapon and you’re going through an armory? Explain that to me in two minutes or Bulk gets an a opponent with a bullet wound.” He says aiming for Rex’s shoulder.

“Well I decided to change my battle style seeing he outmatches me in brawling along with my teammates.” He said holding up the cloak watches. “Figured he cannot crush what he cannot see but I bet he can smell good if he doesn’t have excellent hearing.” He said keeping his cool. If there’s one thing he hates more than syringes, it’s a gun being pointed at him.

The Doctor thought a moment then replied still holding the gun at him. “ his scenes are over his peek, he hardly knows what he is hearing or smelling on occasions however he can see in the dark as he can in broad daylight, when he learns you and your team can turn invisible he will be difficult to approach. I’d recommend Relics if you want to play “Tag” with such a foe.”

Cario turns around with a puzzled look. “Relics? Like the weapons and tools with unreal ability’s? That stuffs urban myth!” he declared only hearing tails of what they can do.
“Not necessary, IV located a few and one in particular seems it would suit your style of clothing.” He says looking over Cario’s old, worn out and torn long body jacket. He got it from the Bugbots after they came back from a subject hunt years ago when it came back with only the subjects jacket.” Keep the watches and they burn out if used for 12 hours straight,” he said, putting his gun away. “And follow me, I have something to show you.” He turns around and walks down the hall with his top subject dumbfounded.

At an elevator, two Bugbot guards allow Dr.Insecta in but block the way for subject X, who growls a little. “Over ride code XCV421DELTA.” Doc told them and they stepped aside to let the humanoid through. “Security’s tight for where I am showing you Rex.” He said only to get a surprised look from his candidates face. “Why begin to call me by my Human name…sir?” he asked being a little suspicious.

“I believe we should try and not be so hostile to each other like we have since day one, so I decided we will begin today and to show it I am offering you a peace treaty token.” Is all he said without changing his facial expressions.

Cario scoffed. He has been cruel, heartless and savage to him and his friends ever since he was forced here. Now he finally wants to be friends? After countless surgeries, mutations, training, organ replacements, and torture he wants him to believe he turned a new leaf?

As Cario remembers all that’s happened to him and his friends, the elevator suddenly free falls down ward like a rocket, sending the unsuspecting Humanoid to his hands and knees. “There’s nothing between floors 289 to 351.” Said the Doctor as it suddenly halted and the right wall opens instead of the door, leading into a dark room with dim lights forming a small path the width of a sidewalk into the darkness. The doctor walks down it first with his humanoid close behind grumbling from all the secrecy until the doctor suddenly stops and looks to his right. “Lights for trophy case GHJ.” He said and a bright light turns on over the most handsome long body jacket Cario ever laid eyes on.

Its main color is White as newly fallen snow with a Gold edging along the jackets front where the zipper would be and it continues to the bottom of the Jacket. On the sleeves the gold ends in a hotrod pattern that is just so finely tuned. The neck guard is taller than usawell but not Dracula tall just enough to cover the lower part of the wearers face.  

Cario could not deny that it was a very impressive jacket but knew it was probably a expensive knock off. “How do I know it’s the real deal here Doc? Anyone can make a sweet looking Jacket and claim it to be the real deal.”

Doc simply opened the case with a password and a robotic arm gently lowers it down to Rex. “ its called the “Garitina Hunter”, legend has it it can block the coldest of winters and the hottest of deserts and hold any weapon without stretching. It’s yours for the mission but impress me and it is your own property no bugs or questions asked.” He said as he headed back to the elevator, leaving Cario with a priceless piece of History.


“ok where is he? He is never late!” said max looking at the cafeteria entrance hoping he will pop in any second.

The intercom turns on and burst out a message. “Attention, group codenamed “Chop Shop” report to Master Insecta Immediately, team leader is already present.” It turns off with the group looking at each other at hearing Cario is already there then get a move on.

Outside cell XBB, Cario waits for his friends impatiently. He has a small box holding the gear they need and a syringe full of knock out serum, one drop can put 50 grown men to sleep for days but this thing is fully loaded. This would put a dragon to sleep for years if not the rest of its life. As Cario waits, he picks up the syringe, and looks at its contents, a see through liquid colored purple rests within its glass prison.

From the Syringe Cario looks down at the Jacket that his lifelong Enemy has given him. It was beautiful. A true piece of art, it feels new yet smells like its hundreds of years old. He did test it by walking down the frozen subjects zone and he only parts of his body that were cold where his paw like feet and his hands. He then took a short cut through the furnace room and same deal only his feet and hands where affected. As he thought about it he noticed that his team is approaching with wide eyes and puts the Syringe back in the box.

“CARIO!?” is all Anna said when realizing the guy in a sweet Jacket was him. “You look….wow” blushes as everyone starts asking questions about his jacket
“Where did you find that!?” Cody demanded hoping that he can get one with his rank credits.

“Holy Dooly!” is all Jack exclaimed, surprised.

Max on the other hand looked at it and knew it was way too good to get from a Bugbot raid and the labotory clothing wing dosint even come close to make “nice” clothing is a white t-shirt and shorts, with a printed on tux or logo on their front but that’s it.

“So how did you get such a sweet new jacket like this Cario?”

Cario hesitated then looked down a little them grumbled something.

“I’m sorry what?”

“Doc gave it as a “peace token” of sorts.” He said looking down a bit.
His friends just look at him hoping it’s a joke but after several seconds they realize he told them the truth.