Chapter 9: Nothing Much
4:40pm
Craig swept his hair back as he waited outside of the dorms looking around and back at his watch a few times. He thought back to earlier today and the small fire that had started from Mason's "toaster". He pinched the bridge of his nose reminiscing on the scent of burning toast and fire extinguisher content that covered the room now as well as the Mason's groans in having to start from scratch again. Mason had decided to stay back to clean up because the fire was technically his fault and he wanted to try from scratch again. Craig pondered the odds of Mason potentially burning down the building in the few hours he'd be gone, the odds were concerning. However his train of thought was cut off by a familiar tapping on his shoulders from a set of violet nails and familiar voice.
"Hello Craig" said Katherine with a small smile. "H-Hi" Craig attempted to hide his slight nervousness before noticing another missing companion. "Wait did Angi change her mind?" he asked, breaking out of his very brief "trance". "Well, she forgot she had a date…" Katherine trailed off as she reminiscenced to her earlier encounter.
"Sorry Kat!" Angi pleaded. "Angi I really wanted you there with us." Katherine chided. "I know, I really wanted to hang out with you, Craig and Mason too I guess." Angi said as she mapped two different chokers in front of the mirror. "But I made these plans before and I don't wanna bail on Asherrr." she trailed off dreamily. Katherine groaned in annoyance. "How long have you even known this guy?" "We met at Orientation and we met back up yesterday when I disappeared. I'm sorry, but he could be the one!" Angi trilled. Katherine rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Fine, you'll just miss out on all the cool stuff at the museum and all the new inside jokes we'll have without you!" Angi put on a lacey choker before pleading on her knees to Katherine. "I'll make it up to you guys. There's a ton of parties happening this weekend we can go to." Katherine pondered for a moment. "Pretty please Kat?" Angi said doing her best puppy dog eyes possible. "Well alright." Katherine said as Angi gave her a huge hug.
Oh, great. Just me and Katherine. No pressure. "I see…well, Mason decided to take on another project, so it'll be just you and me at the museum." Craig said. "Was that why I smelled burnt toast in the hallway?" Craig laughed slightly louder than he wanted to. "Ha ha yeah…hopefully he doesn't burn down the building while we're gone." Craig said with a tinge of concern. "Alright, we'll lead the way then!" Katherine encouraged as Craig attempted to compose himself as they walked to the train station.
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Katherine and Craig arrived outside of Baxter Museum to see the large marble stairs, the beautiful regal columns and most notably the gigantic archway acting as an entrance, adorned with twin lions at each side, with gargoyles decorating the four corners. The chatter of tourists and sounds of camera shutters in the background added to the ambience of Baxter Museum. Katherine and Craig looked on with a sense of pure wonder. "It's beautiful," Katherine said. "everytime I come here it gets prettier and prettier." "You've been here before?" "Yeah my mom brought me here a few times when I was younger. I love it here." Katherine smiled warmly in reminiscence as they walked around observing the exhibits; large imposing dinosaur fossils, ancient prehistoric tapestries of cavemen with ancient scribbling. "Honestly, I haven't been here in a while. I think the last time I was here was when I was 6 or 7." Craig said.
Craig and Katherine continued to explore the various exhibits in the museum before eventually finding themselves in Ancient Greece. "Woah…" Craig said as he looked around in wonder, the various beautiful marble statues, all of them depicting great warriors and gods of myth, the intricately designed bits of pottery recollecting ancient greek wars and moments. "Ancient Greece always fascinates me. All of the myths and legends." said Katherine staring up at the statues of Poseidon, Hades and Zeus. "What's your favorite myth?" Craig asked. "Oh there's so many!" Katherine said as she began to count off on her fingers. "Heracles, the Iliad, Theogony, the Odyssey…" Katherine looked toward the depiction of Polyphemus being defeated by Nobody. "But the tales of Odysseus capture my heart the most. Especially poor Calypso." Katherine said with a heavy sigh. Craig took note of that before looking up at a large depiction of Apollo defeating a large dragon. "This is Apollo defeating Typhon, correct?" Katherine shook her head. "No, it's Apollo slaying Python. Understandable mistake though." "Well what's the difference?"
Katherine pointed to a mural across the area depicting the God of Thunder, Zeus dropping a massive lighting bolt upon a conglomerate mass of massive moving snakes, serpents. Each one separately would've made Python look like a doberman in comparison. "Python was just a dragon, something that most of the gods and heroes could handle on their own. While Typhon was The Serpent, King of Monsters. The ultimate enemy to the Greek pantheon. He was a walking calamity in every sense of the word" Craig felt an odd sense of jealousy. Pft. What makes that guy so great? "I see. So you think absolutely no dragon could be him?" "None that I can think of." Katherine shrugged. Craig scowled as they continued to explore the other exhibits in the museum.
They eventually ended up in the ancient China exhibit. The walls were adorned with beautiful porcelain vases, and beautiful art originating from the Qin and Han dynasty. Katherine looked at the guardian lion statues that adorned the room with a hint of wonder. Katherine pushed her hair behind her ear and adjusted her glasses. Craig stared for a second before noticing the slight glow his eyes were exuding before quickly turning around and clearing his throat. Get it together. "So…Katherine, what were you saying earlier about the vigilante?" Katherine turned to face Craig. "Huh? Oh right, those thefts aren't likely connected to them but they still need to be caught." she said matter of factly.
"Really?" Craig said, stunned. "Yeah, I mean haven't they been causing property damage for you guys in Cifer?" Katherine asked. Craig felt the glow of his eyes slowly die down. "I guess, but he saved a woman from getting mugged. I think he's a bit better than you think." Katherine shook her head. "I deep dived into the accounts. From everything she said and even the testimonies of the two assailants later, it kind of just adds up to the guy showing up, getting shot at for noticing the crime, beating down the two thugs with absurd strength and disappearing without a trace." Craig paused for a second. He wanted to argue but everything Katherine had said was right. He didn't even initially want to get involved until he got shot at and he didn't do much to help the woman. "You have a point." Craig begrudgingly admitted. "Yeah, that's why I'm gonna help the police catch him and reveal who he is!" Katherine grinned. "Wait, what?" Katherine looked at Craig sort of confused. "Didn't I tell you? I want to be a detective. I want to dig and find out everything going on in the city." Katherine's small smile slowly grew into a large determined grin as she couldn't' hold back her enthusiasm. "I want to make sure justice reigns in the city!" Craig fought to suppress the green glow from his irises but couldn't tell what was the source: the fear of Katherine ever revealing who he is or how determination makes her big brown eyes sparkle. Katherine then looked down at her wristwatch before smacking her forehead. "Craig!" "What?" Katherine held her watch up to Craig's face. "It's 5:50 we gotta get to the exhibit so you can take those photos!" Craig shook his head before they dashed off to the Arabian exhibit.
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5:59pm
"Phew, I think we just barely made it!" Katherine said while panting. Craig reached around his satchel, pulling out his camera. "Yeah, it's time for me to get to work then." Craig said as he tried to squeeze his way through the crowd. Camera shutters from other rival papers were already going off while Craig made his way with Katherine behind him. The clamor died down as the museum director arrived in between two security guards in front of the veiled display. "Hello, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to the illustrious Kyoshi Baxter Museum. We are grateful for your continuous support in our endeavors as we seek to display more of the history of the world." The audience clapped as camera shutters went off. Craig looked around the exits and entrances of the area. Huh, not as much security as I thought, especially for a rare exhibit. The words of Mr. Green echoed in his head. ".... allegedly cursed…they put up fake pieces on display. But if you got a picture of the real deal. I'll give you a bit extra and a…'bonus'"
The director tugged away at the velvet cloth covering the display revealing a dull, dusty brownish gold oil lamp. "Behold the latest find from our dig team in Yemen. Where the great kingdom of Sheba once stood in pre-Islamic Arabia! Although it may appear to be no more than a simple oil lamp." Craig quickly snapped a photo of the artifact. "However, our archaeologists translated some writings found around the lamp's site. They discovered it once belonged to a wealthy aristocrat in Sheba who believed it contained some ancient curse. Nonetheless, we welcome this artifact into our esteemed museum and thank you for attending the unveiling of this display." It's a fake. The director concurred. The room filling with the intermingling sounds of applause and camera shutters. Katherine tugged at Craig's sleeve slightly. "The artifact is so cool." Craig nodded. "Yeah, it's beautiful." Katherine sighed "Too bad we couldn't see the real thing though." Craig looked at her surprised. He thought that the display was a fake but, how was she so sure? "Huh? What do you mean?" Katherine gave a slightly confused look.
"Well I thought it was obvious?" Katherine counted off on her fingers. "Well firstly the director was acting off, they were letting people take a bunch of pictures even after the veil was removed, this museum doesn't normally allow that especially with new exhibits, and the security for this part of the museum is way too low compared to what they've done before. Plus…" Katherine pointed to the director talking with one of the guards. They couldn't hear anything but Craig could see the word fake being said quite a few times. "You noticed all of that?" Craig said, astonished. Katherine grinned. "Told you I wanna become a detective. Anyways, you wanna keep checking out the exhibits? Some of the paintings in the ancient Japan section are so fetch." Craig suddenly clutched his stomach. "Oh uh I gotta use the bathroom quickly! I'll meet you there ok?" Katherine raised an eyebrow. "Oh ok then. I'll see you there." Craig then ran off in the other direction as Katherine made her way to the ancient Japan exhibit. Craig ducked into the men's room inside the stall and locked it shut. Craig opened his satchel and dug out his mask. Let's see just how good Baxter security is.
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6:35pm
For such a prestigious museum, their vents are super dusty. Ace Dragon thought as he shimmied his way through the museum's vent system. The clanging of metal from the events wasn't an appetizing sound and though the soft illumination emanating from his glowing green eyes helped through guiding his pathway. His constant feeling of embarrassment was finally coming in handy. Honestly I can't think of a way to better spend my Sunday night. Going through a dusty museum vent system for extra pay instead of hanging out with Katherine more. Don't think there's been a more optimal choice. Ace Dragon rolled his eyes. He's already been gone for about 10 minutes and he'd rather get back to Katherine sooner rather than later. However, just as he contemplated turning back there was a slight twinge at the back of his skull, a sense of deja vu.
There it is again that odd feeling. The odd pull seemed to be pushing him towards the right vent almost like it was trying to guide him. He traveled down the vents working with that feeling and he ended up peering into a room with three burly men in suits with guns and walkie talkies strapped to their belts. Security guards.
Ace Dragon peered further to see the door they were guarding. Security's much more concentrated here. They must be worried about that thief across Oscuro. Damn it. I need to wait for the right moment to get in there. One of the guards stepped inside the door and the other two focused on the other door leading into this room. Now's my chance. Ace Dragon thought as he opened the vent and dug his claws into the ceiling slowly making his way toward the door inside the next room. Just a little longer. He thought as he inched ever closer to the room. However a small piece of the ceiling fell and one of the guards looked up. Shit. "What the…" was what the guard said right before Ace Dragon fell on top of him. The other guard turned around and pointed his gun at him.
"Freeze! Get down on the ground!" he said. Ace Dragon simply sighed as the guard fired at him but the bullet seemed to vanish. Another bullet was fired but it vanished as well. Ace Dragon then began to raise his balled up fist before the sound of falling bullets clinked on the polished floor beneath them. The guard's jaw dropped and so did he as he got karate chopped to the back of his neck. Ace Dragon then relaxed as the guard fell unconscious on the floor. That could've gone better but we should be fine for a bit. Doubt anyone would believe him. But two gunshots and their partner didn't show up though, weird… Ace Dragon pondered as he adjusted his gloves and manoeuvred around the inside of his satchel for his camera and walked through the next door. He scanned the room to see a safe lodge in the corner. He placed his ear on the safe as he carefully shifted the knob back and forth until he heard a firm click.
Craig wasn't sure what exactly to expect when he opened the safe besides a dustier version of the fake he saw earlier. However this beautiful lamp was not on the table, it was even prettier than the one he had seen earlier, the text inscribed on it looked even more ancient, an earlier form of language more ancient than Arabic. What the…it's so pristine...but it's still so old…'allegedly cursed' Probably just a rumor. He thought as he snapped a photo of the artifact. He slipped his camera into his bag and locked the safe but right as he was about to leave he heard the door knob turn. Without thinking Ace Dragon found himself clinging to the ceiling as tightly as he could, his claws dug deep into the tiled roof as he tried to not make even the slightest sound. The door opened to reveal a woman dressed in all black entering the room, with a knocked out security guard behind her.
The woman carefully examined the room as she entered. "Just as the map said. My benefactor will be pleased." she said. Shit. Ace Dragon thought to himself. He knew about the string of thefts in the city, he should've known the culprit would've come here and he practically helped open up the museum to them. He took out the security, and now the artifact was primed for the taking for anyone who so pleased. How could he be so careless? "Come on should be as simple as…" the thief popped the safe open with ease faster than Ace Dragon had managed to do himself. Right as she was about to pull the artifact out of the safe, the distinct welp and thud of Ace Dragon falling to the floor echoed through the room. The thief turned around to see the rumor in the flesh. "What the-? Who are you?" Ace Dragon dusted himself off. "Haven't you heard of me? I'm big around Cifer these days." "The Salamander! Why are you in Kyoshi?"
"Oh come on, that isn't even a reptile!" Ace Dragon said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Whatever, all that matters is, you're not taking that artifact!" "Try and stop me." The woman pulled a gun out of her belt and quickly fired 3 rounds. Ace Dragon caught the bullets and tossed them to the ground with distinctive plinks as he rushed to the woman. "What the hell?" she said, stunned by his speed. Before Ace Dragon could strike her she pulled down her mask revealing the rest of her face, Ace Dragon paused. The thief was beautiful in the 'I will absolutely break your heart.' kind of way, intimidating, haunting dark hazel eyes like a falcon. She looked almost like an evil Disney princess, a very hot evil Disney princess. "You're above hitting women right?" Craig's mind wandered off to the distant memory of his training with Sensei Aiko and a few prior matches against girls. He winced as a phantom pain across his spine tingled. "Yeah…that doesn't work on me." Ace Dragon said candidly as he aimed to resume his strike. "I think this will." the thief said as she sprayed pepper spray into his eyes. He collapsed to the ground and writhed around, yelling in pain. Through blurred vision he saw the thief grab the artifact and it began to glow?
A bright golden shine emitted through the room. The thief looked confused before a purple miasma emitted from the lamp. "What the?!" The lamp fell to the floor as the smoke began to swirl around and envelop her. She began to scream as the smoke consumed her. Is this the curse of the artifact?! Ace Dragon questioned as he watched the miasma condense around the screaming woman. Through his blurry vision Ace Dragon saw nothing but smoke. Then his healing factor kicked in, his vision cleared and he saw the lamp stop shining and the smoke form back into the shape of the thief.
She took a large deep breath and touched her face and looked at some display glass quickly. Her name was Alayna, she's 26, her favorite color is red, she's a thief here to steal the newest artifact from Baxter Museum. It was her again, she wasn't covered in purple smoke anymore. No she was the purple smoke. But that was impossible…right? She looked at her hands again and for a second they flickered into purple smoke again. I'll deal with this later. I gotta get out of here before the cops show up! Alayna thought as she picked up the lamp and tried to run to the other door. "Stop!" Ace Dragon said as he came in with a flying kick. She turned around and braced herself for impact but she turned into that purple vapor from earlier and Ace Dragon passed right through her kicking the door open. Ace Dragon turned around confused to see her still standing.
"HUH?????" He said with his mouth agape, jaw nearly dropping to the floor. Alayna smirked as she looked back to her hand and watched it dissolve to purple vapor again then back to normal. "I could get used to this. It'll come quite in handy when I rob this city blind!" "Stop! You can't steal that artifact!" Ace Dragon said guiltily. "Looks like I already am Salamander! Thanks for the assist here. I can trust you'll handle security again for me won't you?" she laughed as the guards busted into the room all with their guns pointed at them. "Freeze! Drop the artifact and keep your hands up!" Alayna laughed as she turned her legs into smoke and began to fly through the museum with the artifact laughing all the way. "Oh no you don't!" Ace Dragon said as he chased after her dodging and ignoring the bullets that were sent whizzing by his head. The head security guard picked up his walkie talkie and screamed. "All guards lock down the museum!"