Chapter 8: Isn't it the *yawns* that counts?
*one day has passed since Shad began to shower gifts upon our little heroes. Things got a little shaky when his surprise present for Bubbles (he purposely forgot to bring gifts for Buttercup and Blossom) turned into suspicions of possible "crush" for the girl...as if we didn't already know that!
*
*Powerpuff suburban home. (their room) 7:42PM*
Bubbles: Maybe here. No! Here is good. Wait it's a looks a little crooked. *constantly deciding where to put her Nekoconeko plushie among her already large pile of plushies*
Buttercup: *doing her homework* She's been doing that for 15 minutes now. How long does it take to put up one stupid stuffed cat somewhere?
Blossom: Bubbles is just putting it where it fits in the most. She does that a lot. Besides, it's from Shad and since he's our friend and all it should be in a special place. Admit it. That Neko whatever it's called does look kinda cute.
Buttercup: Of course it does.
Sickingly cute that is. Hope Shad has my gift ready.
*meanwhile, at Shad's house*
*Shad sits on his desk next to a sewing machine, trying to figure out how it works. On his lap are 2 long strands of green cloth**
Shad: Okay...mommy said to flick this switch...*flicks the "on" switch and the needles start moving* AH! Oh. It's supposed to do that. What to do next? *reads the instruction manual* I'm supposed to slowly move this cloth back and forth under the needle. *puts one small metal cap over each finger, just to be safe* Here goes. *starts processing the cloth under the needles for 10 minutes until Claire comes inside*
Claire: Look who's busy already. Weren't we going to do this toge...*notices Shad working the sewing machine, then gasps* Oh my...Shad! You know how to use it already?!
Shad: I saw the manual. It feels like I'm doing this forever. This is boring.
Claire: Bored? *walks up to Shad* Who was it that realized that he forgot to give thank you gifts for Blossom and Buttercup? Although it is rather fishy that you bought one for Bubbles on your own. Are you in lo...
Shad: *blushes* Mommy I just forgot! *shoves cloth through the needle so hard they rip the cloth apart into several lengthy, uneven pieces* Waugh! Off switch! Off switch! *so scared that he waves his arms about until they slam into the sewing machine, knocking it off the desk and on the ground*
Claire: Oh dear. Are you alright Shad? *picks Shad up*
Shad: It's gone.
Claire: I wouldn't say gone. Broken almost beyond repair from the inside, yes. Gone, not really.
Shad: But the cloth...it's ruined.
Claire: Hey. I've been sewing for a long time and if there's anything I've learned from years of stitching up large cuts, it's that cloth has many uses in any form. *puts Shad down* Now please clean up and I'll show you just what I mean.
Shad: ................You can sew cuts?!
*the next day, at Pokey Okes Kindergarden 11:23AM, it's art time again. This time it's painting*
Blossom: Can you pass the red Shad...Shad?
*while everyone else is painting, Shad has sleeping sleeping through most of the classes*
Bubbles: Why's he sleeping?
Buttercup: I got this. *slaps Shad*
Shad: *head bolts up* Thread's ready mommy!
Blossom: You okay Shad? It looks like you didn't get any sleep at all.
Shad: Just *yawn* gift for Buttercup.
Buttercup: About time! What is it?
Shad: *still dazed* It's a really good *head thuds on desk*
Bubbles: Don't worry Buttercup. Just wait until recess. He's sure to be up and running then.
*at recess*
Bubbles: What do you mean Shady can't be up and running again?
Ms. Keane: His mom just called and said he had a late night. He's napping inside this recess.
Blossom: He wasn't up all night because of a gift for Buttercup was he?
Ms. Keane: Yes. He could've let his mom finish the rest but he refused, saying it's his gift to make. The part where he stayed aware for too long is where he overdid it. Shad wants to give it to her but it's as if merely thinking of it causes him to feel drowsy. It's best if you all let him present it on his own. After all, he made this one.
Buttercup: Made? As in he didn't buy it or anything?
Ms. Keane: Of course he got help from his mom.
Bubbles: Mom? Oh yeah, the nurse!
Ms. Keane: Run along now. Shad still needs to rest up.
*during naptime, Shad's snoring kept everyone awake. At storytime, Shad's senseless sleep-babble interrupted Ms. Keane. And at math and reading, Shad's chronic nightmares made everyone lose concentration*
Buttercup: That's it! How long is it gonna be until he's rested?! All he did was keep us awake, made Ms. Keane cancel storytime and his nightmare yelling gave me a headache!
Blossom: Just wait another 10 minutes and we'll be dismissed. Just be glad Shad's mom is going to pick him up early.
Bubbles: But he has to wake up. Shad? Hello? Shady-waddy? Wake up please!!
Shad: *head bolts upright* I before E except after C!
Buttercup: You feeling better now? Wanna give me a little something?
Shad: *yawns* Mommy? Is it done yet?
Blossom: Don't worry Shad she'll be here soon.
Bubbles: I wonder...Shad you mom's here.
Shad: Mommy! Where?!
Buttercup: This is getting nowhere. How'll we be able to snap him out of it?
Blossom: I know. I saw this on TV once. *takes out pencil and waves it back and forth* Shad Staydamind. This is your mommy speaking.
Buttercup: Mind control? How's that gonn...
Shad: Hello mommy.
Bubbles: It worked!
Blossom: Do you have Buttercup's gift with you?
Shad: *yawn* Sure. It's in my bag at the cube holes.
Blossom: Good boy. I need you to take it out and show it to her.
Shad: Now?
Blossom: Now.
Shad: Right now?
Blossom: Right now.
Shad: Get it right now?
Blossom: Get it right now.
Buttercup: Alright this is taking too long! *grabs pencil from Blossom* Yes, Shad! I need you to get the gift from your bookbag RIGHT NOW!
*Shad stands up and zips toward the cube holes...albeit crashing into almost every chair in his path along the way. He gets the bag and makes his way back to his table...once again stumbling into every chair in the classroom*
Bubbles: You okay Shady?
Shad: Never *snores and yawns* better.
Blossom: Poor Shad.
Buttercup: Now open the bag and take out the gift.
Shad: *unzips the bag and takes it out* Here.
*what was shown appeared to be a long piece of green cloth made entirely out of cotton*
Buttercup: Th....wh...what is it?!
Shad: *snores* For you Buttercup.
Buttercup: We're you asleep making this...whatever it is?
Shad: It's the *yawn* thought that counts. It's a banana. You put it on your head.
Blossom: I think he means bandanna. Try tying it on your head.
Buttercup: How? It's too long!
Shad: Wait. *hands flop around the table, as if searching for something*
Bubbles: Ooh. I know! *gives scissors to Shad*
Shad: *yawns* Thank you Bubbles. *tries to cut the oversized bandanna but nearly swipes off his finger every time*
Bubbles: *takes back scissors* Let me do it. *cuts the left and right sides of the bandanna* Now try it.
Buttercup: *puts of bandanna* Cool! It fits now.
Shad: Leftover...wristbands? You want? *snores*
Blossom: Yeah. Buttercup give me you hand for a moment. *ties leftover cloth around Buttercup's wrists*
Buttercup: Alright! Headbands! For a moment there I though you...*knock on door*
Ms. Keane: That must be her now. *opens door*
Claire: Shad? It's time to go sweetie.
Shad: *fast asleep*
Blossom: Shad your mommy's here now.
Buttercup: Aww and I was going to thank him too.
Claire: Hmm? *eyes on Buttercup's bandanna and wristbands* So he was able to give them to you.
Buttercup: Yeah. Do I look cool or what? *poses*
Claire: You look more cute then cool. So you like them? Shad almost stayed up the entire night making them.
Blossom: But wouldn't a sewing machine be faster.
Ms. Keane: Funny story. Claire here explained over the phone that he sort of made an error on that and broke it by accident. So they went with plan B.
Claire: Plan B. *takes out a sewing needle and strings of thread* The hand.
Blossom: Ouch. That must hurt the hands real bad.
Claire: A little. I had so much experience with this that I've developed a sewing finger. *pokes needle on the hand and bounces off*
Buttercup: Whoa! It's as if your finger's made of rubber or something.
Claire: Not really. I'm just so used to it that it doesn't hurt. Anyway, I really need to take Shad home. Needs his rest. *picks up the sleeping Shad* Good bye now. Nice meeting you, Powerpuff Girls. *exits the school*
Bubbles: Hope he'll be alright.
Blossom: He just needs lots of sleep that's all.
Buttercup: He better! It was a pain getting him to give me my gift. Still, he did a good job with these. Maybe I'll wear them on crime-fighting patrols sometime. Hard to believe he did this all by himself though. His mom probably did most of the work.
Bubbles: I wonder what Shady will give you Blossom.
Blossom: Doesn't really matter. Just as long as it doesn't involve staying up the entire night.
Ms. Keane: Okay class, let's see what you've done on your word problems.
Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup: *realizes that they spent so much time trying to wake up Shad they didn't do any math work* Uh-oh.
*meanwhile, at the parking lot of Townsville University*
*Robert is loading large beakers containing the black substance inside the back of his van*
Robert: Good. Just 3 more and I can finally get Dr. Brisbaine off my back. *calls Dr. Brisbaine*
Dr. Brisbaine: Is had better be good news Robert.
Robert: It is. I just smuggled a little something you've been needing. *points the cell phone at the cargo (i.e. beakers with black liquid) and presses the center button* I'm sure this'll be enough.
Dr. Brisbaine: Excellent. Is that all of them?
Robert: Actually, there's 3 of them left inside...
Dr. Brisbaine: Fool! You were supposed to get ALL of them!
Robert: Look, I'm trying to get them all, but there's barely enought room in the vehicle! Any more and the stuff will topple through the back doors and splatter all over the streets! And as far as we know this stuff may be the last ones in the world. You told me yourself that
guy's cousin disposed the rest of it so it won't fall into the wrong hands. The
other guy who used to work with us ran off after some sort of accident involving that chemical did something to him. And then there's
Dr. St...
Dr. Brisbaine: ENOUGH! I don't need the history lesson thank you very much. If there isn't any room in the back, then make room! As I said before, you are to get THAT back to HQ by any means necessary! You have one more day to get IT here. You're very close, so don't sabatoge the plan! Brisbaine out! *communication disconnected*
Robert: Fine. Any means necessary? If this stuff splatters, it ain't my fault then. Still...what the heck
happened 3 years ago? None of the higher-ups at HQ don't want to talk about it. Meh, probably just a silly myth.
End of Chapter 8.
Look at the bold. Oh, and stay tuned for Chapter 9. Sorry if I'm slightly late. This would've been posted yesterday but I visited my cousins then. And sorry if Shad's excuse for not giving Buttercup her present sooner was because he was tired beyond belief. If it weren't for the scene at Townsville University this chapter would've been plain filler.
Added after 11 hours 1 minutes:Chapter 9: Unforeseen accident.
*Shad's house 4:12PM. Shad is wide awake and no longer sleep-deprived as he browses a toy catalog*
Shad: Yeah. This one is good. *stares at a picture of a yo-yo* It lights up and you can change it's skin. I didn't know yo-yos had skin.
???: Yo-yos have skin?
*Shad turns...forget it. You all know what he sees*
Shad: Waugh!
Bubbles: You get scared easy.
Buttercup: Would you stop doing that? She does that to you every single day.
Shad: How did you get in?
Buttercup: Your mom let us in. Blossom thought it'd be a good idea to check on you and stuff.
Bubbles: You were talking about yo-yos. Is that going to be Blossom's gift?
Shad: I think so. I'm going to buy a gift this time. Making stuff is too much work...and it takes too long.
Buttercup: Psh. Got that right.
Shad: Where's Blossom?
Bubbles: She's in the kitchen with Claire. I think she said she had questions for her. Maybe it's about that sewing finger.
*in the kitchen*
Claire: It's just a security measure. Really.
Blossom: I know that. What I want to know is why all that stuff is there for just one family. If it was in some other place like Area 51 or the military it'd make sense, but why would Mr. Staydamind go that far? And where did he get the stuff to create it?
Claire: He got it from...a friend of his. He was a brilliant scientist. Pretty good with technology. Helped create the security system. Even used to visit here every now and then.
Blossom: Shad says he doesn't visit here anymore. Why is that? Oh, and does this scientist happen to have
wrinkles on his forehead and a labcoat that has the letter X on the left side?
Claire: How did you...you probably saw Shad's picture. He really likes it. It's one of the few photos of him where he has a smile on his face. He wanted to be happy, but was far too timid to look for friends. That is, until your sister intervined.
Blossom: You mean Bubbles? Yeah, she has a habit of doing that kind of stuff. Speaking of...
Wait a minute. Did she just change the subject? I was about to ask her what the scientist's name is.
Claire: Yes?
Blossom: Sorry, got a little off topic. As I was going to say before, what's the scientist's name?
Claire: Why is that?
Blossom: This might sound a bit weird, but when I saw that photo, I noticed that he looked a little like someone I know.
Claire: You mean your creator: Professor Utonium? *surprised, then clasps hands to her mouth* Oh dear...
Blossom: *gasp* YES! He looked like the professor. Now what's his...
Claire: Blossom, please forget I said that. As far as Dimitri would allow
I said too much already!
Blossom: I was just curious...
Claire: Forget I said that! *talks really fast* Now I think it's time you and your sisters leave for the day. Shad hasn't fully recovered yet and he'll give you your present tomorrow on Friday. It's getting dark early now that daylight saving time is over and it's best if you go now hope you had a good day do your homework I'll get your sisters in a moment okay bye now!
*later, at the living room of the Powerpuff household 4:15PM*
Blossom: At least we know where Shad gets his habit of talking fast from.
Buttercup: Blossom what did you do? First Claire lets us in and now she just ushers us out all frazzled looking.
Bubbles: Aha! I knew it. She is a spy isn't she?
Blossom: No! I was just asking her a few...questions.
Buttercup: What kind of questions?
Blossom: You know. About that guy in the picture frame. A familiar-looking guy.
Bubbles: Huh?
Blossom: Oh for the love of...! *tells Bubbles and Buttercup what she asked Claire*
Buttercup: That scientist in Shad's picture that
looks like the professor only a little bit older looking? Didn't look much like him to me.
Bubbles: But why did you ask Claire about the eye scanner thingy? It's to keep criminals out and that's a good thing.
Blossom: Maybe, but didn't either of you even think why something like that is in a regular house? And it's not like Shad's parents are CIA agents or anything. A nurse and a teacher at a university. Normal people with high-tech locks you'd only find at Area 51. Not even the professor's lab has something like that and he really doesn't like it when we, or anyone for that matter, goes in his lab. It doesn't added up.
Buttercup: Here's what doesn't add up: You ask what the scientist's name is and she freaks out. Then when she just says she looks like the professor without even letting you say so even though she never even met him only it turns out that she said that by accident, freaks out even more and kicks you out. What's she trying to hide?
Bubbles: And I remember Shad saying a few days ago that even though Claire wasn't too mad that he let us in his house in the first place, his dad Dimitri wasn't too happy about it. Maybe...I got it! He's a super spy and his wife doesn't know about it but Shad does and he can't let anyone inside the house or else his secret gadget room will be found and he won't be a super spy any more!
Blossom and Buttercup:
Blossom: Let's just stop thinking about all this and just get our homework done.
Buttercup: Whatever. The more we do the less we have on summer vacation.
*the next day, 8:09AM. The Powerpuff Girls and Shad are walking together to school. Well, normally they fly, but Shad can't fly.
*
Shad: Guess what Blossom?
Blossom: What?
Shad: I have your gift today. My mommy took me to the toy store yesterday. I had to use the rest of my allowance though. Why did you leave so early yesterday?
Blossom: *stops walking* Shad...exactly how much do you remember about that guy in the labcoat?
Shad: Almost nothing. He came to my house to say hi and check on all the locks but he stopped for some reason. He didn't even call. And my daddy kept telling me to forget about it and not ask about him. Oh, and he worked with some other science guy with dangerous stuff...I think I knew before but I forgot. And why did you all leave...
Buttercup: Look, your parents are hiding something alright!
Bubbles: Didn't you say that the man he worked with on whatever the stuff with...um...you said he was his brother.
Shad: Or his cousin. I said from before that I don't remember. Why are you asking me again?
Blossom: When I saw those locks I got this weird feeling. That something of that type wouldn't be protecting your home unless there's something in there that your parents, most likely your dad, don't want anyone...not even us...to see. And from the look on Claire's face as soon as I asked her why the guy in your picture just stopped visiting...as if he vanished...it's as if she wanted to tell me but there was something holding her back...as if part of her doesn't want to let us of all people to know the truth.
Shad: What is the truth?
Blossom: This is probably a bit crazy, but I think he's...*hears a scream from deep into the city of Townsville, followed by a loud rumbling noice that shook all over Townsville...even the suburbs! Then they see Ms. Keane running toward them*
Ms. Keane: Powerpuff Girls!
Blossom: What is it Ms. Keane?
Ms. Keane: *pant pant* I was almost done with the lesson plan until the hotline rang. Since you weren't in school at the time I answered it. It was the Mayor. He says that Mojo Jojo is using some gigantic drill to tunnel deep into the earth, and causing earthquakes in the process!
Blossom: Mojo Jojo?
Buttercup: Doesn't he ever give up?
*just then, another earthquake occurred, shaking the land even more fiercely and almost causing Ms. Keane and Shad to lose their balance, along with the Bubbles plushie falling off Shad's bag without anyone noticing*
Bubbles: It's getting worse already?
Blossom: No time to lose girls. Let's fly! *bolts into the air*
Buttercup: Right behind ya! *does the same*
Shad: Bubbles...
Bubbles: Don't worry. We'll be fine. We'll be back before class even starts Shady. *bolts into the air as the 3 sisters zoom into the heart of Townsville, leaving behind 3 streaks of pink, blue and orange*
Shad: Wow. Wait a minute...I forgot to give Blossom her present! *runs to the city only to be grabbed by Ms. Keane*
Ms. Keane: Oh no you don't young man. I understand if you want to see them in action but it's much too dangerous. We'll wait inside until they're back. *takes Shad inside Pokey Okes, unknown to him or Ms. Keane that the Bubbles plushie still remains on the ground*
*meanwhile, in the now almost empty parking lot of Townsville University*
*Robert manages to squeeze the last beaker full of the black liquid inside his van*
Robert: There. The last one. Now I just have to drive real carefully...*another earthquake, this time causing some small cracks on the ground* Damn that monkey! Mojo really picked the right time to cause earthquakes, NOT! I have real fragile stuff here that can't risk being lost. Then again, at least it caused all students and faculty to evacuate, and I had to wait until everyone else left so no one would get suspicious.
???: About what?
*Robert turns around to see Dimitri, with a slightly narrowed look in his eyes*
Robert: Dimitri! You haven't left yet?
Please say he didn't hear everything I say.
Dimitri: No. I was just going to wait for you first to make sure you're alright Robert.
Robert: Don't worry, I'm fine.
Dimitri: Good...is Dr. Brisbaine doing well, Agent Robert Denstin of the Global Defenders?!
Robert: *shocked* W-w-w-w-w-what are you talking about? Who is this Dr. Brisbaine?
Dimitri: Don't play dumb. I was wondering why you wouldn't get THAT which is in your van to Dr. Brisbaine sooner. Guess managing time as a fake professor isn't your forte. Then again, Dr. Brisbaine didn't learn his lesson 3 years ago.
Robert: What the hell happened 3 years ago?!
Dimirti: Nothing you'd be interested to know about. Besides, you're new. I take it that the "Berserker Revolt" *slightly shakes at those words* won't ring any bells. Now hand over the
Chemical X!
Robert: Heck no! Even if you are an ex-Global Defenders scientist!
Dimitri: I'm not going to use it for my own personal gain! *fist starts shaking* I've seen what it can do! I've seen what it almost did! Dr. Brisbaine is on the verge of making the same mistake as last time! It's better off gone...relinquished off the face of the planet.
Robert: You're better off relinquished, has-been! *whips out a silver pistol from his pocket and fires a multi-colored light at Dimitri. His
muscles tensed up as the light enveloping him became so intense that his skeleton was practically showing. Dimitri twitched, then the light vanished and Dimitri collapsed on the ground*
Dimitri: You...Dr. Brisbaine will repeat the same horrific event again.
Robert: *stares at pistol* Experimental? More like success! Have a nice sleep Dimitri. Didn't really want to do that but you found me out. So bye bye now! *steps into his van and drives out of the parking lot and on the streets*
Dimitri: *hands slightly seized up with electricity, he managed to get out his cell phone and dialed 911* Police...a thief has made off with extreme valuables...dangerous chemicals...inside a white van. License plate 82OP98 Heading out of the...cit...*falls unconscious*
*back at Pokey Okes Kindergarten*
Ms. Keane: *under a desk* It seems no one else came. Can't blame them, since this is an earthquake.
Shad: *also under a desk* They'll beat that monkey like always. I'm still a little scared. *ground shakes violently again* AIEE!
Ms. Keane: There there Shad. Just stay where you are.
Shad: Okay. But first, *gets his bookbag, only to notice that something's missing* Huh? *looks inside his bag* Where is it? *dumps out everything from his bag and literally turns it inside out* It's gone!
Ms. Keane: What's gone?
Shad: My Bubbles plushie! When I get scared I hold it to relax. It's not here! *eyes start welling up with tears*
Ms. Keane: Calm down. Where did you last put it?
Shad: I attached it on my bag, I started walking with the Powerpuffs, *another vicious rumble, this one causing part of the ceiling to break off* That's it! When we were outside, the shaking made my plushie fall off and I didn't notice! Maybe...*goes to the window and checks across the street, which was moderately damaged by medium cracks and potholes* There! My Bubbles plushie is right there next to that big crack. And it's going to fall!
Ms. Keane: Shad get back under the desk!
Shad: But that's my birthday gift from my mommy! She'll probably get a new one but it won't be the same.
Ms. Keane: Shad...
Shad: I'll be right back Ms. Keane! *runs out of the school*
Ms. Keane: SHAD!! *tries to chase Shad down, but several pieces of the ceiling fall in front of the door, trapping Ms. Keane!* Oh dear God please let Shad be okay.
*Shad stops at the sidewalk and puts on his glasses. Just at the other side of the street (obstructed by various cracks) lies his Bubbles Plushie*
Shad: Okay. I just run, grab and run back inside. It's not that far. *earth shakes again, this time sending the plushie deeper into the crack* Oh no. Remember what Buttercup said. I'm scared OF this, but it doesn't mean I'm not scared to DO this.
*before Shad can start crossing, he hears sirens in the distance...police sirens. Shad then sees a white van chased by several police cars, all coming from the urban area*
Shad: Huh? I thought Mojo was in the city. What else is going on? Never mind. I have to get my plushie back. *despite that the street he's crossing is the same one the van is driving on, Shad still kept going as the van got closer...closer...*
Robert: Geez! Cops telling me to pull over saying I have stolen property. How did they know?! *sees a boy with black hair tip-toeing across the street* What the?! *honks horn* HEY KID! Out of the way!
Shad: What? *ground shakes again, causing Shad's foot to fall through a small pothole, resulting in him getting stuck!* NO!
Robert: *losing control of the van* Oh for the love of...*chunks of the street sprouts out above the van, causing it to spin out of control toward Shad*
Shad: *constantly wriggles until his foot is free. Then he reaches for the Bubbles plushie* Got it!
Ms. Keane: *manages to get out of the school via the windows* Made it!
*then there was a huge WHAM sound. Ms. Keane turned around and was absolutely stunned at what just happened. The spinning van slammed right into Shad, knocking him on the ground and unconscious, blood gushing out of his forehead. And if that couldn't get any worse, several glass beakers containing a volatile back liquid slid out from the back of the van and shattered upon falling on the unconscious boy, drenching him with its contents*
*deep inside the city, Mojo Jojo has just been defeated and the girls are now flying back to Pokey Okes. But not before seeing a banged-up van and its driver in handcuffs*
Blossom: What happened here?
Buttercup: Guys?
*Buttercup points behind the van in the middle of the ruined streets. There a boy lying down with blood gushing out of his forehead. Next to him is a policeman calling an ambulance*
Buttercup: Please tell me that isn't...
Blossom: It is...
Bubbles: *eyes streaked with tears* Shady? SHADY WE'RE BACK!! SHAAAAAD!!
End of Chapter 9.
Wow. It's as if he doesn't even remember being the shy little boy at the corner. Or maybe it's the heat. Summer is getting closer.
