The Sword and Shield of the Universe

Chapter 3

Annie directed her bike around the back of Baumann's' Grocery, hopped off and prepared herself for the biggest fight of her life: getting Mr. Baumann to let her in his store. The old man would fight tooth and nail and then some, but it was her duty to keep Bellwood and her citizens safe, even a crotchety old man that yelled a lot. Mostly at her. Also, mostly because of her. I mean how, just how, was she supposed to know why Mr. Baumann's store always got destroyed when she was near? Literally every single time Annie was near something in the store broke. Every time! The man was cursed or something.

She was getting off track. Mission time was serious time. Annie being able to take the punches the Universe threw was essential to the continued existence of a Universe. So, it was time to go to work.

Annie picked the back-door lock and entered the storage room. She dodged boxes and shelves to stop next to the door to peek in through the little glass window. Seeing no one coming her way or in the back aisles she leaned back and thumbed the Watch open.

Annie scrolled over to XCLR8, prayed 'Please be nice new Omnitrix' and pressed down. Feeling the familiar stretch and pull of transforming Annie could only hope that even if this testy new Watch didn't give her what she asked for it would still give her a relatively low-profile alien.

She turned into Wildvine. Annie huffed and ducked out of the back room.

'At least I'm not Cannonball or Azmuth forbid Humungousaur.'

Meandering between aisles Annie paused every couple of steps to pretend to pursue shelves. If the extortionists were already in the building not looking like a space cop was essential to not getting herself or, more importantly, a bystander shot. Or worse hostages. A shudder worked its way down her spine, she hated hostage situations. They were rarely easy and never ended cleanly.

Annie shook her head, now was not the time to get distracted, now was mission time and lives are on the line! She may or may not be a little more nervous about meeting her new partner than she wanted to admit, even to herself.

Mentally shaking her nerves off Annie made her way to the little bistro near the front of the store. Baumann was a business genius. He offered fresh groceries, in-store eating, and you could even get groceries delivered. He covered all his bases and did it well. Last, she checked he made a very healthy sum each month.

Rounding the stand, she took a seat at the bistro while side eyeing the cloaked figure sitting at the other end.

'Hmm, doesn't seem to be hiding aggressive behavior and the civies don't look like they're pretending to not be hostages. Could just be someone who's shy about being out 'n' out in public, or one of the thugs sent a lookout.' Deciding to keep one eye on her seatmate Annie gave a curt hemhem to get Mr. Baumann's attention.

The old man turned with a customer ready smile in place, "Welcome to Baumann's! I'm Mr. Baumann, how can I help you today?" And then he saw the Omnitrix symbol on her currently leafy chest. The switch from polite friendliness to spitting mad was truly impressive and something only triggered by the sight of Annie and Annie alone.

"What do you think you're doing! Out! Get out! Not today Tennyson, and not ever! Get out of my store before I throw you out!" Leaning over the counter and hissing at her seemed a bit extreme but she supposed the man was allowed some liberties. But Annie was here on business, so she raised a hand to stall the rant before it could really begin.

"Stop Mr. Baumann. I'm here on Plumber business, so unless you want your store to be a crater in the ground I'm not leaving." Her soft but stern words shut the man up and his, very, reluctant nod let her go on. "A protection racket has been going around the Underground and HQ says they're going to show up here next, today. Is that intel correct?" She asked. In the corner of her eye, her mysterious seat partner shifted on their stool.