JC sprang out of his chair, startled awake by the telephone. He noticed Lance peek into his office to check on him and he motioned to his friend that he would get the call.
"Hello?"
Chris looked over through the glass of JC's office. "Hey Lance? Why does JC always wear those sunglasses? It's kinda freaky don't ya think?"
Justin looked up from his cereal and followed Chris' gaze to where JC was talking on the phone. "It does seem a little odd."
Lance stopped his stretches and sat down at the table with the other guys. "I don't know. Ever since his near-death experience his eyes have been really sensitive to the light. Plus, I haven't known him too long myself." Lance told them about how he had found JC.
Chris' eyes got wide. "Wow! I guess that explains why he's always so moody."
Justin slapped Chris on the shoulder. "He's not moody. He's just sad. Imagine how you would feel if you watched your best friend in the world be killed in front of you and then you almost died yourself. Have a little compassion man."
"Hey, I have compassion. I put up with you, don't I?"
Lance shook his head. "For such good friends, you guys are always picking on each other."
Chris looked mischievously over at Lance. "Just give me time, Lancey. I haven't even started on you yet."
Justin almost choked on his cereal as he tried to not laugh at the expressions on their faces.
Lance tried to change the subject. "Well, anyway, you can see why he's so serious about his mission."
"That reminds me," Chris said, "what is his mission anyway? No one has explained to us yet what we're involved with."
Justin lifted his head in interest. "Yeah! And why are you involved, Lance? What's in this for you?"
Lance looked over in relief as JC entered the room. "Hey Chasez, who was the call from?"
Chris snorted in disgust at Lance's attempt to divert attention from himself. Mental note to self: Force Lance to talk later.
JC walked over to the table and sat down. "The Ducks."
"What? You mean THE Mighty Ducks? Why would they be calling here?" Lance asked.
"Well, the Ducks have got their got her hands full and since Emeral has decided to base his operations on the East Coast they've been keeping in touch with various hunters out here."
"Yeah, but I thought they didn't approve of any humans helping them and 'getting in their way' - other than Klegghorn?"
"They can't handle it all. They have their own problems over there to contend with. Emeral was smart when he set up shop as far away from them as possible. That's how he's gotten so strong. The Ducks now realize their error in ignoring those of us who want to help and now they need all the help they can get. Word is that Emeral is planning massive takeover. Not just of the East but of everything."
Chris and Justin looked at each other in shock. "You mean, we're fighting Emeral? THE Emeral. The one parents warn their kids about? I thought he was a fairy tale." Chris didn't like the sound of this at all and Justin looked like he was going to remain in shock.
Lance sighed. "Yes, he's our main objective. But we have to start out small. We're not strong enough yet and there's not enough of us to take on his whole army."
Chris looked over at their leader in doubt. "There will NEVER be enough of us to take on his army."
"I don't know about that."
Lance, not startled by the objective, continued, "So what did the Ducks want then?"
"Oh yeah. They've got an inside tip on a club being run by Emeral here in town. There's a hunter going there tonight to shut the place down. The Ducks think she needs backup and has asked us to help."
Justin snapped out of shock long enough to ask, "I thought you said we weren't ready to fight him yet?"
"We're not but Emeral only owns the club. He doesn't hang out there. It's just a base for him and his cronies. I think shutting it down will be a good first step for us."
Lance raised an eyebrow, "But I thought you wanted to stay low-key. Surely Emeral will find out who torched his business?"
"No, I don't think he will. Especially if we leave no witnesses." He looked at Lance. "We have to make sure we leave no witnesses. Every lizard dies."
Lance nodded. "Well, it looks like you two are going to see a little action tonight."
"Keep in mind though, guys. The Ducks didn't tell this other hunter they were calling in backup. We might not exactly be welcome."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Even better. Now I can either die by the claws of a Saurian or get beaten up by a pissed off duck. My options are looking soooo rosy."
Justin gave Chris a dirty look. "We have to do this sometime, Chris. We can't keep putting it off. Now or never."
"Is never an option?" Chris looked at the others expectantly.
In unison JC, Lance, and Justin stared down Chris and answered, "NO!"