Two and the Last Year on Earth ✓ [humor, sci-fi, romance]

Act 14: Bad Dreams Happen For A Bad Reason

Since that day, things began to change on AERA7-0 where Two operated. In fact, things began to change all over according to Dr. Lorkhead. Adults started coming out into the sun more and people who had been living in underground facilities were inspired out of their holes by their own kids.

Weeks went by and soon most of the people-in-hiding were out and about on the streets and talking about Fruit For Thought, an organization created with the kids of PTP and some adults they recruited. Two met with the leader of the organization, a spunky ten-year-old girl called Lily Orange Longswings or LOL, a few times a week to see if they needed any help because Dr. Lorkhead had some crazy useful crazy resources that he invented.

LOL was always very interested in Dr. Lorkhead's inventions which made Dr. Lorkhead so happy that one day he said, "LOL, you are on my favorites' list!" which was a big deal because Dr. Lorkhead had not added anyone to his favorites' list since Genji. And, it had already been six months since Genji joined them.

Two was feeling the six months ending one day as she sat waiting atop a hill that overlooked the Ruined Lands. Something was going on below with colorful lights and makeshift music, until her mind drifted and it all disappeared.

But Two didn't think much about that. Some of the Ruined Lands were still in ruins and that was what concerned her tired mind now. The adults that were strong enough to carry the heavy rocks, still were not willing to help out that much. They still went back to their underground hole houses once the sun went down as if they were some kind of a rodent.

Thinking of rodents, Two sighed, and recalled what happened this morning which was why she was out here waiting in the first place. Ashtoe had somehow left his cage and found his way into the dungeon and met Cougar Friskyweed. The mad tabby scientist, apparently, had embedded something into Ashtoe that would help Cougar Friskyweed in case of some kind of emergency. It was only a matter of time before Ashtoe found his way into the dungeon. He had traveled through the maze of cogs and pipes that lay in the inner workings of the headquarters out of boredom when everyone was out. He just happened to find his way to the dungeon.

Cougar Friskyweed used that to disappear and took Ashtoe with him. But, unlucky for him, Dr. Lorkhead had embedded a tracking device into Ashtoe's neck in case something ever happened to the mouse. Dr. Lorkhead found his signal near the Ruined Lands and Two decided to ambush him. She was waiting here for Jarid's signal near the Ruined Lands as the sun began to set.

As if you thought you could escape me, Friskyweed, she smirked as the sky grew darker. She could feel Genji somewhere below the hill, also waiting for the signal. They had carefully set up a trap for Cougar Friskyweed, one his cat-ness would not resist.

Then, a blue light flashed once. It was Jarid. The cat had been spotted. Three blue spots glowing in the dark, darted this way and that in a frenzied panic as Cougar Friskyweed tried to shake off the splotches of Spotted You Paint. Now it was Genji's turn. She could barely make out his silhouette as jumped on top of one of the rocks and shone a red laser light on the ground.

The blue spots stopped moving and were still as Genji moved the laser back and forth, back and forth, taunting the cat. Two stood up and took out her Sticky Pineapple Net she made using the stickiness of pineapples. Slowly, she crept down to the ruins and let her net glow yellow and orange.

Cougar Friskyweed was much too engrossed in following the red laser to notice Two was right in front of him. She saw Ashtoe gagged somehow and strapped to the cat's back. His eyes were wide in fright. Carefully, she walked closer and Genji sent his red laser light into the net.

The cat hissed as the stickiness matted his fur. Two carefully secured his paws and back legs in the net while Dr. Lorkhead weaseled Ashtoe off of the cat. At last the gag was released and Ashtoe coughed and coughed until he could finally speak.