Stay Chill

Surviving The Cold

Luna was with Mason and they were right in front of the Jackal's mansion home and, as usual, two guards were keeping watch to make sure no trespassers get inside, and no one can try and cause trouble near the whole mansion. "I don't know about this Luna." Said Mason. "No one will know who I really am, besides Jackal, but, what if he is just using as as a means to an end?"

"Nah. Jackal's a guy you can trust." Luna shrugged. "He pays real good money for me, and I get to fight more crime than a police officer would do."

"Heh. True. I always loved crime fighting myself." Mason admitted.

"Everything will be fine, Color Fire." Said Luna. "Nothing can go wrong with this."

Mason looked a little skeptical about this, but, he decided to go along with his new friend and meet this boss that Luna has. The two teenagers went inside and the guards stood aside for them to set foot in the mansion.

They both walked up the rather long stairs and there was Jackal sitting on his armchair, looking as calm and levelheaded as always.

Rupert saw Mason with his mask, and began barking like he was an intruder. "Hey hey hey! Rupert!" Jackal said. "Down, boy!"

Just like that, the chow chow heeded his master's words, and stopped barking and sat in place, panting with his tongue out with his adorable and innocent face. Luna and Mason approached and sat on the couch near the fireplace, and the sound of a mandolin and some jazzy tunes were heard from Jackal's mp3 player with two medium-sized speakers to brighten the mood.

"Glad you can make it, Luna." Jackal said. "A pleasure as always." he looked at Mason next. "And, you must be Color Fire, an I correct?"

"Yes. That is moi." Mason replied flatly. "I prefer to keep my own identity a secret from you, if that is alright with me."

"I understand. You don't trust me, do you?"

"Hmph. We've just met. And Luna told me about you a little bit, so, enchante."

Jackal made a small laugh. "I like your spunk, kid." he admitted. "Really, you sound like a person with a strong will in himself. Someone like Luna. Well, I'll just cut to the chase. Now; I am a man that can track down any villain or a piece if scum and villainy that happens in this city."

"He's the richest man in Royal Woods, you know?" Luna said to her friend.

"That I am. Granted; I do not even have the money that Bull Gates himself has, but I am rich."

"How do you find any bad guys for Luna to find and out to justice?"

"Simple, my boy; I have friends in 'high' and 'low' places, if you know what I mean." he then winked at him. "My boys in those places have a way of word of mouth, and they give the tips to me easily. I give ya the tips and put the bad guys down to justice, and I give ya the pay. Sound fair?"

"It does. But... i don't really need money right now. It's more fun putting bad guys in jail."

"Suit yourself, Color Fire."

"Maybe he can help us fight any villains that have got out of prison," Luna said to Mason

"Right you are."

"Or I can help with that of your plans don't work." a familiar voice said. It was Chief Duncan himself, who was in his casual business uniform. "It's been a long time, Jackal."

Looking over the chair, the shady man made an amused smile. "Ah, Duncan." He said. "My old friend. It is so good to see you again. How is life for ya in the law enforcement?"

"Just fine, Charlie." The chief replied flatly. "Still doing some mercenary hiring I see?"

"Oh yeah. Making me some money, and doing a lot of things only the one percent of America's population can have or do in their free time."

"Hmm."

"What brings you here, Ben?"

"I've just wanted to see how Luna is being treated by you and how you give her work."

"Come on, old friend." Said Jackal in a cool, and relaxed voice. "Just because I sound shady, doesn't mean that I am an actual mob boss." Then he took a sip of his own beverage.

"You were a police officer just like us." said Duncan. "Now look where you got yourself into."

"I just left the police, I never actually left the law enforcement, did I? I'm just a guy who likes to... go his own way. That's all."

"This... is awkward." Mason said uncomfortably. "Come on, Luna. Why don't we just leave them to argue?"

"Good idea."

"No no, it's alright, you two." Duncan said. "I'm not here to stop you from getting jobs from my friends. I am just saying... he is a very tricky person and you can't always trust him. That's all."

"Hey!" Sergei called out in anger. "That is no way to talk to my fellow comrade! Away with you, Lawman!"

"Now now, Sergei." Jackal said. "He's an old friend. Look, Duncan," he got off his armchair, and went up to his old comrade. "I am doing you and this city, no, the whole world a favor. My methods of finding any scum and villainy more than any other police officer, or a member of the SWAT team, or even the FBI or CIA. Look where it got me; rich, and famous for helping you and other law enforcers out there in Michigan."

Duncan made a small sigh, and he said: "look, I just came here to tell Luna and Color Fire to be careful, That's all."

"I see. But don't worry, Ben. They are in very good hands under my employ."

"Well, i'm... not really an employee. I am a mercenary, right?" Luna asked him curiously.

"Of course you are Luna. I help ya find some bad guys to throw in jail, or kill if you have to."

"Right. As long as I am not really an employee."

"Of course. And the same with you, fire boy."

"I see."

"Well, Charlie, i will buy that... for now." Said chief Duncan. He then looked over at the two superheroes. "Sorry if that was awkward, kids. See ya soon, and I'll let ya know if there is any more crike to stop."

"No problem, Chief." Said Luna with a smile. "See ya."

"Keep up the good work Luna, Color Fire. See ya later." The. Duncan left the mansion without a fight.

"Sorry you kids had to see that. Me and the commissioner go a long way back before you were born. But still, what do you say, Color Fire? You bust the bad guys I tell ya about, and you will get the fair pay you deserve. What do you say."

Jackal held out his hand for a handshake, and ultimately, Color Fire slowly shook the man's hand. "Well, I guess I can rely on you to look for any bad guys or crime to stop. And chief Duncan as well."

"Excellent! You will not regret this partnership with me, Color Fire. Not only will you rid America of scum and villainy, but you will be making some big bucks to put in your wallet."

Later at Home

Luna was back home and she saw her family shivering cold and being wrapped in blankets, and had hot chocolate in front of them to keep them warm if the blankets didn't work. "Whoa. What happened here?"

"Just trying to survive the cold, sweetheart." Said Lynn Sr.

"This day can't get any colder than this." Lincoln remarked.

"Don't worry, guys. I'll go see if there are any heating blankets in the attic you can use." Luna offered to help keep then warm. "And, you sure we can't just turn up the heating?"

"Sorry Luna," said Rita. "But, we need to save as much money as we can on our tight budget."

Luna remembered those words before. "Right."