The inconspicuous inn sported a lovely bar on the ground floor. There, Alien and Neanderthal had cocktails for dinner.
"(Ugh, I shouldn't have had all those fried doughnuts.)"
"Use the first floor restroom, then. Our per diem won't cover getting another room if you stink up the current one."
"(I'll be fine! The liquor will suppress it, right?)"
"No! Although it may not look like it, I do have a nose!"
"(Hey, is that Karen?)"
"You're right. Hey Karen, come sit here!"
A black suited woman carrying several drinks took a seat. She immediately began pounding them, before finally acknowledging the two's presence.
"You two get stuck with babysitting duty, too?"
"(Yes, how'd you know?)"
Luckily, Karen didn't speak prehistoric.
"No, we're still working the death game case."
"Which one?"
"The comet."
"Oh, I thought the chief took you off that?"
"No, just lowered its priority. So, who are you babysitting?"
"He's on the TV now," she said while pointing to a flat screen by the bar. On it, the Pioneer's match was playing.
"The tomb raider?"
"He found it fair and square, at least according to his sister."
"And the items are really bound to him, alone?"
"That's what the reports indicate."
"Are you trying to avoid them?"
"You bet! That sister looks at you funny the second you try to interact with him... It's creepy!"
SCREEECH!
"Ow, dude! You're gonna blow my eardrum out."
"Apologies," Alien hastily said before switching to clicks with his beak.
"(Neo, did you see that!?!)"
On the screen, Pioneer was slowly floating to the ground.
"(The flames? You don't mean!?!)"
"Am I interrupting something between you two?"
"No, not at all. We were just marveling on the strength of those items! When did he find those items, again?"
"3 years ago."
"And he has no other powers?"
"Nope, the guy can't even walk without them equipped. Why are you so interested? Do you want to switch cases!"
"No, that's fine."
"Are you sure? I'll take 2 for this one!"
"(We're already busy, just tell her that... Wait, isn't blurry man in the semi-finals?)"
"SHIT!"
"Okay, you don't have to be rude!"
"I'm sorry, Karen! My partner just reminded me that we left the car running. Got to go, let's do lunch sometime, bye!"
The two agents hurriedly left the bar. Looking at them flee, Karen couldn't help but curse.
"I wish I hadn't complained so much now, jeez..."
As the two agents rushed to the parking lot, Neanderthal tried to lighten the mood.
"(Maybe it won't be so bad... We just have to make sure they don't meet, right?)"
"Please don't jinx us!"
Speakers across Festiville suddenly crackled to life.
"Attention, semi-finalists! Prepare for teleportation!"
Alien clutched his forehead, leaving sucker marks behind.
"You were saying..."
20 MINUTES AGO...
The stables were a pre-fab structure placed in the back parking lot of the inconspicuous inn. Since the hotel didn't allow pets or heavy machinery, it was a necessity for a competition such as this.
Double Jouster got off his knees, having just finished giving Steve a good hoof picking.
"There you go, much better! Now, all I have to do is give that mane a good brushing, and it'll be bed time. I think you'll like the story I picked out for you!"
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The Unicorn headbutted Double Jouster, neighing in irritation.
"Okay, I'll try talking to him."
Entering the stall to his left, Double Jouster found a small green man with pointed ears banging on a giant disco ball with a hammer.
"Ahem!"
"Oh, hey! Whatcha need, neighbor? He he, get it... Cause you ride a horse?"
"Yes, I got it, very funny... I was just wondering, could you maybe do that another time? I'm about to put Steve to bed, you know."
"Aw, I wish I could, I really do. But, you see these tiny dents here?"
He pulled over a large magnifying glass, revealing the countless grooves and divots running across the reflective sheeting. Overall, their pattern was reminiscent of acoustic foam panels
"I can see them."
"Yeah, so the integrity of this metal is dependent on those dents being in the right place. Now, you see this, here?"
He moved the glass to a different part of the disco ball, where several gashes could be seen interrupting the pattern.
"Yes, but what does this have to do with the noise?"
"Well, I don't got the money to replace one of these sheets. So instead, I hammer the bad grooves out with this hammer and tiny chisel. There are a lot of these problem areas from today's fight, so I need to work late for this baby to be fully operational by tomorrow."
"Okay, well could you wake up early and do it, or something?"
"Sure! I was going to wrap up after these next three sheets anyway."
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Dispirited, Double Jouster returned to his stall, where another headbutt awaited him.
"Ow! He said he would wrap up soon. Here, how about a fresh carrot to cheer you up?"
WHIIIIRRRRRR! NEIGH!
Steve resorted to a kick this time, sending Double Jouster flying out of the stall.
"Okay! Just give me a second, I'll try to quiet them down too."
He walked into the stall to his right, and performed a double take.
"How did a surgical room get here?"
Strapped to the gurney, Cyber Dambe casually hummed as pieces of him were taken out. His coach, Amobi, was dressed in full surgical gown. He carefully inspected each piece, before putting them back with a sigh.
"(What's the word, cousin?)"
"(I can confirm you performed above spec for a brief window during the last match. The current estimate is between 3-5%.)"
"(That's good, yes? So that guy wasn't a scammer!)"
"(I wouldn't go so far. There's at least 10 different ways this could happen, that I know of. I've only just ruled out one of them.)"
"Um, excuse me?"
"What do you want? Can't you see I am busy with a delicate procedure!?!"
"Yes, but how much longer do you think this will take? The noise is bothering my horse."
"Who cares about a horse!?! I'm talking about my Cousin, here! I can't abide a mistake due to your distracting questions!"
"HEY PAL," the goblin called from his stall.
"One second," Amobi said, ignoring Double Jouster's stunned face. "WHAT?"
"YOU GOT A NUMBER 12 SCREWDRIVER?"
"YEAH, COME GET IT!"
"NAH, JUST THROW IT OVER!"
"SURE!"
BONK!
"UH-OH, I THINK IT GOT CAUGHT ON A HORN MIDWAY!"
"WHAT? WHO'D PUT A HORN THERE!?!"
"That's it!"
Double Jouster stomped out of the stables with Steve in tow.
"Come on, buddy. I saw an attraction that'll make for good grazing. Will you forgive me after a late night snack?"
The horse nuzzled against him but, just as they were about to enter GMO Wonderland, the teleportation announcement ran.
"RATS!" "CRUD!"
Steve cocked his head, eyeing a nearby bush with suspicion.
"I'll just have to get you in the ring, I suppose," Red Cap muttered silently from in the bush, before his surroundings suddenly changed...