Disclaimer,etc.: see part 1

 

MALL MADNESS PT 2/3

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Upon reaching the exit, they abruptly halted and scanned the vast

area known as the parking lot.

 

"K'so! Ken, you remembered which 'lot' we parked in right?"

 

"It's not my car. Why? Should I have?"

 

"K'so!!!"

 

"Oh, don't tell me. We've 'lost' the G-2?! Did we come out the same

way we came in?"

 

"Why're you askin' me! I was busy watching the cheerleaders!"

 

"Well,so was I!"

 

"Oh, come off it Ken! The White Shadow noticing a female?! Sure, right,

uh-huh."

 

"I was! Look, if I wasn't wouldn'tchya think I'd have remembered

where we parked?!"

 

Just then another beep resounded from their wristbands.  Ken quickly

moved to a 'less open' space.  "G-1 here. What is it Ryu?"

 

"We're all aboard the PHOENIX. We're just waiting on you and Joe.

What's your position?"

 

*Luckily I put the G-1 in the PHOENIX before we left.* Ken thought.

"Uh, Ryu...we're at the new mall."

 

"So, why aren't you two in the G-2?"

 

"Cause JOE lost it!"

 

Joe's voice quickly came over the wristcomm.  "I didn't LOSE it!

I KNOW where it is! I just can't find it, that's all."

 

"That doesn't make sense guys. If you can't find something, then

you've lost it." Jun replied.

 

Two voices uttering profanities returned over the comm.

 

"I tell ya, it's here!"

 

"What Joe is trying to say is that we, uh, forgot where we parked it."

Ken calmly replied.

 

"How can you forget? The lot is color-coded and numbered. And not

only that, but each lot is faced by a large department store. Didn't

you remember which store you entered?" Jun asked.

 

"K'so."

 

"We were, uh, well, 'preoccupied' as we entered the mall. Nevermind

the details.  Just get over here and run a scan ont he mall's lots

will ya!"

 

Another beep.

 

"K'so! What!!!" Ken replied as he was really beginning to feel the

humiliation and stupidity of the situation.

 

"Nambu here. Are you en route to target G-1?"

 

"Uh, well...uh...hang on."

 

"What?!"

 

"Hakase, please wait a minute."

 

"Don't you---"

 

"JoeandKenlosttheG-2inamallparkinglotHakase!" Jinpei chimed in.

 

"They what?!"

 

At that moment Ken and Joe, both changed into BirdStyle in hopes

of finding the G-2 from a higher vantage point and quickly before

they drew a crowd or Nambu went 'postal.'

 

Ken leaped into a tree while Joe ran atop cars looking for the

obvious '2'. Both were drawing much attention faster than expected

as children spotted them and made a scene, pointing and screaming.

Car alarms resounded along Joe's path as he set one off everytime

he landed on car.

 

"Any luck Joe?" Ken desperately inquired.

 

"K'so!" was the only reply.

 

Ken climbed higher then leapt to the mall roof. From this vantage

point Ken could split the surrounding lots in half, taking in more

than Joe could on the ground.  He was also relatively safe from

peoples' attention.

 

It was then when the PHOENIX appeared overhead.  Ken quickly made

his way inside, ignoring the snickers from his teammates already

aboard. He quickly began visual scans of the parking lots.

 

"Joe,I see the G-2. Head northeast, two clicks on your left. Use the

bus as your guide."

 

Once he was assured Joe would find the Condormachine without further

instructions, Ken grabbed a seat and let out a long sigh of relief.

He could feel eyes upon him from three directions.

 

"NOT A WORD! THAT'S AN ORDER!" he barked as Ryu steered the PHOENIX

into position to pickup Joe.

 

Once Joe was inside and they were en route to their mission site,

Nambu conveniently beeped again.

 

"K'so!" Joe replied.

 

"Well, hello to you too, Joe. Glad to see you're FINALLY on-board."

Nambu calmly answered.

 

"Hakase--"

 

"Ken, about this clicking me off and telling me to wait. This WILL

be discussed upon your safe return from the mission, understand?"

Nambu sternly replied, interrupting Ken.

"Gallactor is attacking Fort Bragg in North Carolina, abducting

special forces personnel and brain washing them into their own troops."

 

"New meaning to 'Green' Beret, eh?" Joe commented and received angry

stares from all. "K'so!"

 

"Ahem"

 

"Sorry, Hakase." Ken replied as the team returned to attention.

 

"There are also reports of a mecha in that vicinity."

 

"ROGER!" all replied in unison while Ryu increased power on the

PHOENIX.

 

 

tbc in part 3....