CHAPTER 1: prologue

Part 1- "We have a problem"

"Okay," Reiko breathed in, leaning against her corner's turnbuckle, "Fujiko, are you ready to get in?"

"Sure," her sister answered, slapping her on the shoulder to tag herself into the match.

Fujiko, or Noble Rose if you're going by her ring name climbed through the ropes before looking across the ring to the turnbuckle across from her team's own to see Makoto, bouncy as ever, ready to tangle with her.

Michael Cole: And now the crowd's going crazy for Noble Rose getting back into this tag title match!

JBL: Oh, and what a tag title match this has been!

Fujiko dared the Judo Babe to attack with a "come on" gesture of her hand. Makoto would have immediately obliged had it not been for her tag partner, Cidney Love tapping her on the shoulder.

"Listen lass," Love said as Makoto huddled with her against the ropes. "Remember this here, what yee be given up to Fuji' in strength yee make up for in grapplin' skills."

After a quick nod, Makoto suddenly turned away from the pirate and was ready to charge at Noble Rose. However, just as she was about to charge, Cidney once again gripped her by the shoulder, making her stop and once again huddle with her piratical co-tag champion.

"What?" makoto said with a whiny tone about it.

"I know, I know," Love replied, laughing a bit. "Just one more thing; don't take her mat skills lightly. That Fuji's an all-rounder!"

She then playfully shoved Makoto forward with a command of, "Go get 'er, mate!"

With that, the Judo Idol dashed at Fujiko, attempting to force her onto the mat with a spear-like takedown move. However, Fujiko braced herself and dug in her heels on impact, wrapping an arm around Makoto's neck, effectively placing her opponent in a front headlock.

Michael Cole: And there's the strength of Fujiko being put on display!

Noble Rose then grabbed Makoto's left wrist and draped the judo expert's arm over the back of her shoulders before grabbing her belt and slamming her into the mat with a snap suplex.

Michael Cole: A nice follow up to that headlock from Noble Rose!

JBL: What do you expect? As much as I hate them, the Hinomotos are great wrestlers. They've been doing it since they where kids.

Michael Cole: Much like the Guerreros.

After letting her writhe on the mat favoring her back for a moment, Fujiko grabbed Makoto and slowly lifted her onto her feet.

JBL: Or the Von Erichs.

Michael Cole: Or the Brothers Gibb!

JBL:...

After Makoto was on her feet, Noble Rose went for a toe kick, but Aihara blocked her foot, grabbing it by the toe and heel.

Michael Cole: You know, except with music instead of wrestling...

Makoto then pulled off a dragon screw, spinning her opponent to the mat whilst still maintaining her grip on Fujiko's foot.

JBL: Did you just make a reference to the Bee Gees during a wrestling match?

Makoto proceeded to try and lock Noble Rose into a figure-four leglock, but as she began to twist Fujiko's leg with a spinning toe hold, Fujiko booted her off just as she turned her back to the Thorn of Justice, sending her stumbling forward.

Michael Cole: It was just,... it was the first thing that popped into my head at the moment. OK?

JBL: Oh god...

As she lurched forward, Makoto simply regained control of her steps and ran full speed to the ropes in front of her. She turned around to bounce off the ropes and was then running at her opponent.

Michael Cole: Well, Makoto's coming off the ropes now.

Rather than pulling off whatever offensive move she had planned, Makoto was laid out cold on the mat via a well placed HBK style sidekick from Fujiko right on the chin which connected with a loud thud.

Michael Cole: OH MY!

JBL: Ballgame!

Not wasting any time, Noble Rose looked to the top right turnbuckle and then at Makoto, noticing that she was lined up for an aerial move. She then dashed to the turnbuckle, flipping up onto it.

Michael Cole: It looks like the Thorn of Justice is going for a move from the top rope!

And indeed she was. Noble Rose leaped from the turnbuckle, corkscrewing in the air.

Michael Cole: She's going for the Noble Phantasm!

After uncoiling into a legdrop position, Fujiko's "Spiral Tap"-like signature move missed as Makoto just barely managed to roll out of the way, leaving Noble Rose to slam into the mat tailbone first with a cry of pain.

Michael Cole: No! She missed, it's not over!

While Fujiko was downed on the mat, Makoto speedily scampered to her corner and tagged in Cidney. However, almost immediately after Makoto tagged in her partner, Fujiko was able to tag in Reiko.

Michael Cole: And both Reiko and Cidney are in this match now!

JBL: Things are heatin' up!

The newly tagged in competitors sprinted towards one another. Reiko knocked down Cidney with a clothesline before turning around to remain facing her. The pirate quickly got up and the two charged at each other again. Cidney sent the Zero Fighter to the mat with a clothesline of her own this time, but instead of turning as Reiko had, she continued running forward until she reached the ropes which she turned her back to and bounced off of.

When Love went for another clothesline however, Reiko hooked her offensive arm and executed a hiptoss after which Cidney quickly raised off the mat to run at the Zero Fighter again, only to be hiptossed once more.

Michael Cole: We're being treated to a very fast-paced main event tonight!

Cidney once again got to her feet rather quickly, and for a final time ran at her opponent. Reiko went for a standing clothesline, but the buccaneer ducked it and moved behind Reiko.

When the Zero Fighter whipped around to face Cidney she was rewarded with a quick karate kick to the side of her right heel, and then one to her left heel.

Michael Cole: There's that martial arts background of Cidney Love! Not something you'd expect from a pirate!

JBL: I also wouldn't expect a damn Bee Gees reference from a supposed veteran commentator!

Despite her attempts to block the barrage of strikes, Reiko is hit with a jab to her face, followed up by a quick kick to the side of her ribs, before the pirate finally finished the combo with a spinning roundhouse kick to the side of the Zero Fighter's face, throwing her onto the mat.

JBL: OH!

Love then quickly went to her corner and grabbed onto the ropes, stomping her foot on the mat, getting a pop from the audience before continuing to do so.

Michael Cole: Look like Cidney's ready to make Reiko walk the plank!

As Cidney continued to stomp, Reiko slowly raised to her feet, at first with her back turned to her stalking attacker. Right after the Zero Fighter stumbled to face Cidney, the pirate jumped forward, extending her leg for the super kick.

Michael Cole: Walkin' the Plank!

Just before Love's educated foot connected with her jaw, the Zero Fighter, most likely on instinct alone grabbed the pirate's boot.

Michael Cole: Woah! Reiko blocks it! Reiko blocks it!

Cidney then hopped on her one free foot as Reiko was now holding her other one straight out. Before Love could try for an enziguri or anything of that sort, the Zero Fighter raised her held leg up before throwing it down and back, causing Love to bend forward. Reiko then instantly grasped Cidney in a front headlock before dropping her down headfirst with an evenflow DDT.

Michael Cole: What a DDT!

JBL: Now that's how you do that move! The Snake couldn't have done it better himself!

The impact of the DDT had caused Cidney to bounce onto her back when she hit the mat. Reiko grabbed Love by her legs and moved her prone body into an angle, lining her up with the bottom left turnbuckle.

Reiko pointed to the sky as she marched to the aforementioned turnbuckle.

JBL: Look at this, Michael!

Michael Cole: Reiko's ready to seal the deal here!

Reiko ascended the turnbuckle, keeping her back turned to the ring.

Michael Cole: Wait a second!

Suddenly, Makoto was running across the ring apron in Reiko's direction, most likely to make an attempt to thwart her planned aerial move. However, the Judo Idol's efforts where ceased when Fujiko dashed into the ring and sent Makoto flying off the apron and slamming into the barricade with a stiff and powerful elbow.

Michael Cole: OH MY!

Wincing at the sight of seeing her friend crash into the unforgiving guardrail, Reiko quickly refocused on what she was doing and stood straight up on the turnbuckle pad.

Michael Cole: Well, it looks like this is about to be over!

Reiko leaped off the turnbuckle with the Angel Dive before splashing ontop of Cidney with a crushing impact.

Michael Cole: And it is! Angel Dive!

JBL: Robin Gibb's wife is singin' now!

"1!... 2!... 3!" the ref counted.

Michael Cole: It's over!

"Ding! Ding! Ding!" the bell rang as Reiko and Fujiko embraced in the ring.

"Look to the Sky" began playing over the loudspeakers.

"Here are your winners," the ring announcer began, "and NEWWWW Rumble Rose Tag Team Champions of the world... Reiko and Noble Rose, the Kammmikazzzzeeee Tyyyphoooonnnnn!!!"

Michael Cole: We've got new tag team champions!!

JBL: Now that was one hell of a match! A classic!

The referee handed the tag belts to the Hinomoto sisters who proceeded to hoist them proudly into the air as the crowd went insane.

Michael Cole: For once I have to agree with you, John. That was an amazing main event!

Reiko ceased holding up her newly won belt when she noticed Cidney slowly struggle to stand up. Feeling obliged to help her, Reiko draped the pirate's arm over her shoulders.

"Good show, lass," Love said weakly with a smile, getting a smile back from Reiko in reply.

Reiko turned to her right to say something to her sister, but was surprised to see that she wasn't there. However, Reiko simply looked forward to see Fujiko helping Makoto climb under the ropes, bringing another smile to her face.

The four of them stood in the middle of the ring as the crowd roared in appreciation.

Michael Cole: Well, that's it for Rumble Roses tonight! We hope you enjoyed this amazing Pay-PerView! We hope to see you for many more! In association with World Wrestling Entertainment, I'm Michael Cole alongside John Bradshaw Layfield wishing you a goodnight!

"Excuse me," a voice said from the entryway as the crowd and music died down.

"That voice..." Noble Rose went wide-eyed.

"Bravo ladies, bravo," the woman said, still not stepping out onto the stage.

Michael Cole: Who is that?

Reiko's face shortly thereafter acquired the same look as her older sister's.

"It can't be," she said to herself.

"Great job keeping this place nice and warm for mommy," the woman finally stepped out on the stage, revealing herself.

"It is," Cidney gasped. "Oh, bollix..."

JBL: That can't be...

Michael Cole: Anesthesia!

Reiko, Fujiko, and Makoto ran to the ropes closest to the ramp, glaring at Anesthesia.

"Hello there, Reiko," Ana smiled and waved innocently in mocking manner, getting a hard stare from both Hinomotos. "Heehahahaha!" she had to laugh at their reaction. "Oh, you two, I know you've both missed dear old 'Auntie Ana', haven't you?"

Ana looked at Reiko and Fujiko with a puppy eyed grin, waiting for another response from the ring.

"Awww," she frowned sarcastically after not receiving one, "that's a shame, and after I came all the way back here to play with you two. Tee hee!"

Michael Cole: This woman is... she's more evil than Vince McMahon! Just what does she have up her sleeve?

"I've got some big news for you all," Ana smiled, now sauntering to one end of the stage, "You all know your new commissioner...," Ana paused to rub her chin before continuing with, "oh, what was his name?"

Ana suddenly beamed.

"That's it!" she smiled. "William Regal! Yes, well you won't be seeing much of him for awhile..."

This statement replaced the four Roses' unanimous glares of spite towards Ana with looks of worry.

JBL: What could she mean by that?

"He's been...," Ana paused before saying with a devilish smile, "relieved of his duties as commissioner!"

The crowd gasped and booed whilst the Roses went wide-eyed with even more worry.

Michael Cole: Oh no...

JBL: This is bad...

The nurse then reached into her bra before pulling out a thermometer, doing so was somewhat of a trademark of hers. After carelessly examining the item, she proceeded to playfully twirl it in-between her fingers as she spoke.

"And what of Rumble Roses' affiliation with the WWE?" Anesthesia went on. "Well, I wouldn't want them interfering with my plans, so you can just say 'goodbye' to them!"

Michael Cole: What the!? Wh-wait! What about us!?

JBL: Who cares!? What about me!?

"I know," she grinned. "I just want you ladies all to myself. Mhmhmhm!"

She had heard enough. Reiko began to step through the ropes, but was stopped when her sister grabbed her by the hand.

"No Reiko," Fujiko softly yet sternly said, letting go of her hand.

The Thorn of Justice looked up the ramp, nearly locking eyes with her mortal enemy, pushing her to add, "At least... not yet".

Michael Cole: This just keeps looking worse and worse every minute.

"Now then," Ana walked back to the center of the stage. "Let's stop wasting time!"

Anesthesia stuffed the thermometer back into her bra whilst looking to the Roses in the ring with a gilded smile.

"Why the angry faces?" she laughed, acknowledging the four Roses' intense looks towards herself. "Oh, I do hope there's no hard feelings. Honest!"

Noble Rose gritted her teeth at this, clenching her fingers into a fist at her side. Her sister momentarily placed an arm around her.

"Calm down, Fujiko," Reiko said, removing her arm from Fujiko. "Just wait. You can't fall for her headgames."

Heeding her younger sister's words, Noble Rose closed her eyes with a sigh of, "You're right".

"Look," Anesthesia motions a hand towards the entryway, "I even got you girls a present!"

The Roses where quickly snapped onto alert.

Michael Cole: A present?

JBL: If it's a sponge bath I'll take it!

Michael Cole: This isn't any time for jokes!

The lights in the arena changed from their default color to a dark purple shade as a black stretch limo began to wheel into the arena, giving the Roses, announcers, and crowd goers an uncomfortable feeling of deja vu.

As the limo continued driving down the ramp, Makoto nervously turned to Reiko.

"Do you think..." she began.

"It couldn't be," Cidney snappishly answered before the question was finished. However, her apparent confidence was shedded when Love turned to Fujiko with a question of, "could it?"

The Thorn of Justice didn't answer the pirate, continuing to stare at the limo just as it stopped at the end of the ramp in front of the ring. Its length spanned the entire entrance ramp and then some.

At that moment, the final door of the limo slowly began to open. A curvy, sleek silver foot stepped out of the vehicle before the rest of it's body exited the limo before standing up behind the door, revealing it's piercingly blazing red, soulless eyes that sent a chill down each of the Roses' spines.

JBL: No way in hell...

Michael Cole: No, not this... not this thing again!

Makoto took hold of Reiko's arm, causing the Zero Fighter to gently pat the top of her hand to console her. Fujiko and Cidney simply stared at the cyborg in amazement.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Anesthesia gleefully announced, "say hello to the new and improved Lady X!"

Lady X lifted its right arm and grasped its metallic fingers around the top of the opened door. It threw the door shut, revealing its body to the Roses, a sight they had hoped to never see again. A mixture of cold steel and false flesh with a series of exposed wires slinking up and down it's abdomen in-between the machine's metal chest and waist areas.

Reiko and the others watched helplessly as Lady X slowly stomped down the ramp in the direction of the ring.

"I.. I defeated this once before," she said, finally finding her voice.

"I don't think this is going to be the same ol' one from the last time," Cidney replied. "We have a problem..."

As the Lady X started climbing into the ring, the Roses slowly backed away, eventually slipping out and onto the floor, leaving Lady X to stand in the ring, looking down at them, waiting.

"Well," Cidney said, swallowing. "It's been nice knowin' yee lasses."

The buccaneer sharply turned to her right and started to hastily walk away, but Fujiko roughly grabbed a handful of Love's blonde hair before pulling her in close.

"We must face this!" she yelled, releasing Cidney's hair.

"Alright, alright!" the pirate yelled back as she attempted to mend her previously grasped hair with her hands. "Don't be gettin' all 'grabby' with me!"

"Stop it you guys!" Makoto snapped at the two of them.

"Yeah!" Reiko added. "We're fighting that thing, not each other!"

"Don't be shy girls," Ana said from the ramp, ending the Roses little squabble via redirecting their attention to her. "My precious Lady X doesn't like to wait."

Reiko then looked up at the cyborg in the ring, suddenly being filled with anger after being reminded of what was used to create the abomination before her.

"I'm going for it!" Reiko announced as she ran up to the squared circle.

"Reiko!" her sister exclaimed.

The Zero Fighter quickly rolled under the ropes and stood in the ring before dashing at Lady X, which simply remained standing as it had been.

Michael Cole: And Reiko's in the ring now!

JBL: She should take a cue from Cidney!

Lady X surprisingly shot towards Reiko as well. With it's genetically enhanced physics, the cyborg decked Reiko with a stunningly powerful clothesline that sent her flipping upwards and then crashing to the mat, getting an approving cackle from it's creator.

Michael Cole: Good god, what a sickening clothesline!

Noble Rose scampered to the ring apron to check on her sister. seeing that she was unconscious.

"Reiko!" she cried out with concern, stareing at her motionless sister lying on the mat.

A cold metal hand suddenly came into Fujiko's field of view as it clasped around her sister's neck. Lady X roughly jerked Reiko off the mat single handedly, holding the Zero Fighter up over her head, the Zero Fighter's arms and legs dangling.

Almost instinctively, Noble Rose jumped up onto the ring apron and then the top rope to springboard off of it, aiming for Lady X with a clothesline.

Michael Cole: Here comes Noble Rose!

However, Fujiko's plan for a flying clothesline was thwarted when Lady X threw her sister's limp body straight at her as if it was a javelin, causing the two of them to collide with one another skull to skull in mid air and then crash to the mat in a sprawled out heap.

Michael Cole: Good lord!

"NO!" Makoto cried as she hurried into the ring.

The Judo Babe quickly knelt before Reiko and Fujiko, desperately hoping to see a sign of consciousness or life from either of them.

"Come on, Makoto," Anesthesia smirked, causing the woman she was addressing to quit examining her friends and look up. "Avenge your little friends!"

Noticing some kind of red light shining down on her, Makoto raised her head even farther upward, horrified to see that she was looking into Lady X's paralyzing, bright blood red eyes.

All the Judo Babe could bring herself to do was crawl backwards as Lady X menacingly stepped forward. Before she knew it, Makoto had backed up against the bottom rope as the robot continued to slowly approach.

Michael Cole: Dammit! Makoto's trapped like a rat!

JBL: That thing is a monster, Michael!

The Judo Idol frantically pulled herself up to the top rope. Her sheer sense of terror only allowed her to lean against them and watch helplessly as Lady X drew nearer.

Anesthesia watched the scene from the ramp with twisted, sadistic delight.

"This is perfect," she thought. "Everything seems to be in order."

Makoto managed to turn her head and glance at her friend Cidney who was just standing on the arena floor and looking up into the ring with her mouth and eyes open, in either amazement or fear, quite possibly a combination of the two.

When she turned back around, Lady X stuck a hand out and grabbed Makoto by the hair, pulling her forward before cruelly kicking her in the abdomen, dropping her onto her hands and knees.

Michael Cole: It's got Makoto now!

Lady X once again grabbed the Judo Babe by the hair, pulling Makoto until her head was positioned in-between her legs.

Michael Cole: Oh no!

JBL: Looks like a powerbomb's comin'...

Lady X bent down and wrapped her arms around her victim's waist.

Michael Cole: Don't do it!

JBL: Wait a sec! Look at the pirate!

Cidney dashed forward and slid under the ropes into the ring. She popped onto her feet and ran at Lady X, hoping to aid her friend.

Michael Cole: Cidneys tryin' to make the save!

However, Lady X's reach was more prominent than Love had guessed. Before the buccaneer was even able to begin an attack, she was met with a brutal backhand slap of steel that sends her rolling on the mat before she ultimately collides sideways bottom turnbuckle pad of the top right corner.

Michael Cole: And she's just swatted away...

With that threat subdued, Lady X proceeded to flip Makoto up onto her shoulders.

JBL: Here it comes!

Rather than throw Makoto straight to the mat as most expected, Lady X speedily took a few steps forward before throwing her victim forward and over the ropes, causing her to land on the outside of the ring right onto her neck.

Michael Cole: OH MY!

JBL: Jesus!

Anesthesia was forced to throw her head back and laugh.

"Hahaha! Wonderful!" she cackled.

Michael Cole: That nurse is sick... just sick.

Lady X stood in the center of the ring, the bodies of her victims scattered around her.

"Lady X," Ana said, abruptly shedding her cheerful tone for a more serious one, "finish off that pirate and let's get going!"

The cyborg turned to Cidney who was still sprawled out in the corner. A fair amount of blood was streaming out of her backhanded cheek.

Michael Cole: Why!? Why Cidney!?

Lady X began stepping in the direction of its appointed victim as the fans looked on in horror.

JBL: Come on! Just call the damn thing off already!

Lady X didn't stop walking until it was right in front of Love. It's shadow loomed over the buccaneer's motionless body as it's creator gave it more instructions from her position at the stage, apparently getting impatient,

"Don't just stand there, crush her!"

Michael Cole: Someone's gotta stop this!

Anesthesia went on giving commands to Lady X as it still simply stood over Cidney,

"Make her last moments be filled with pain and dar-UMPH!"

Anesthesia was suddenly and without warning forced to the floor as the crowd was erupting with cheers. All Ana could immediately see of the one who shoved her down was her white booted legs, short skirt, and the red and white guitar she held at her side as she rushed down the ramp.

JBL: It's Candy Cane!

Michael Cole: Candy Cane is here!

The Punk Princess dashed into the ring, clutching her guitar as if it where a baseball bat as she made a B-line for Lady X.

Lady X itself hadn't noticed Candy Cane whatsoever. Rather, it was to busy focusing on Cidney whilst trying to process why her creator ceased instructing her so suddenly.

When she had gotten right behind her target, Candy Cane stood with her heels dug in and then tightly gripped both hands around the lower area of the neck of the guitar.

"Take this you btch!" she screamed as she closed her eyes and swung.

"CRAAASH!!"

Michael Cole: YES!

JBL: Ballgame!

The crowd jumped with frenzied excitement as the guitar slammed into the back of Lady X's head, exploding into nearly nothing but powder with a thunderous crash that overshadowed all the other sounds in the entire arena.

Suddenly, all the excitement in the arena was replaced with shocked silence.

JBL: Oh my god...

Michael Cole: How the-!?

Candy Cane opened her eyes, and was as shocked as everyone else by what she saw: Lady X was still standing as if nothing had happened.

Michael Cole: That guitar shot didn't even faze her...

Lady X's head rotated completely around on its' shoulders to face Candy Cane. Her torso soon followed and then finally her legs turned in the schoolgirl's direction with a few steps.

Candy Cane stood there, dropping what was left of the neck of her instrument, still in stunned disbelief that the swing of her guitar had done nothing at all.

JBL: Candy Cane looks like a dear in the headlights.

Before Candy Cane even had a chance to react, Lady X spun around and rocked her (no-pun intended) with a back elbow of amazing force and speed that sent the schoolgirl flying off of her feet and rolling across the mat until she is saved from falling out onto the floor by the ring ropes. She lay unconscious with a leg slung over the bottom rope with blood streaming from her undoubtedly broken nose.

Michael Cole: What a back elbow!

JBL: How much power does that thing have!?

Michael Cole: Oh no!

Lady X began walking to Candy Cane, until it was halted by a command from Anesthesia, who was just then getting up onto her feet whilst dusting herself off a bit,

"That's enough for now, Lady X."

Michael Cole: Oh thank god!

JBL: Just look at the carnage in the ring, Michael...

All around Lady X where the Roses she had struck down. Reiko and Fujiko sprawled out on in the middle of the ring, Makoto out cold on the arena floor, Cidney Love crumpled up in the corner, and a bloodied Candy Cane laying in front of Anesthesia's creation of evil. All served as examples of Lady X's power.

"I hope all of you fans in the crowd saw what kind of power my Lady X possesses," Anesthesia began. "Let this be a sign of things to come for your beloved Roses..."

Ana walked in the direction of the entryway as if leaving, but then turned around and concluded her previous sentence with, "...and then some!"

By this point, Reiko had regained enough of her composure to open her eyes and see her still completely unconscious sister laying next to her.

"Come along Lady X," Ana commanded as she started to leave. "You know which one we need."

All Reiko could do as she lie prone on the mat was attempt to reach a hand out to Fujiko, when suddenly a silver hand shot into the Zero Fighter's field of view and gripped her elder sister by her purple hair, proceeding to tear her from Reiko's view until she turned her head to the right just enough to catch a glimpse of Lady X carrying her sister away over its shoulder.

"Fu-Fujiko..." was Reiko's last word as she helplessly watched the terrifying sight of her sister being taken away before she slipped back into unconsciousness.

Part 2- "No one else can help"

A few hours later, Reiko was sitting in her lockerroom, alone. She was looking longingly at a recent picture of her and her sister standing together in the ring.

It baffled her. She couldn't believe that after everything was going so well for so long that it all could be stolen away so quickly.

After she and Fujiko foiled Anesthesia's plans, the staged Rumble Rose tournament had gained the attention of the highest powers of the wrestling industry. Namely, Vince McMahon.

Vince eventually bought Rumble Roses, along with all the Roses' contracts, and turned it into a weekly show. This resulted in a wave of success for both Rumble Roses and the WWE.

Really, all she and Fujiko cared about was living up to their mother's name, and they had been well on their way to doing so, until all of this happened, that is.

Now, her sister had been captured by Anesthesia, and Reiko had no idea as to what that nurse had planned in her twisted mind.

"Klunk!"

Reiko was torn away from her thoughts as the door to her lockerroom flew open. She shoved her picture into a pocket on her jeans and turned to see Dixie standing in the doorway.

The two simply looked at one another in silence for a few moments before Dixie finally brought herself to ask a question she knew Reiko didn't have answer to,

"Now what do we do?"

Reiko sighed, turning from her friend in favor of looking at the floor, prompting the Cowgirl to walk over and sit down on the bench next to her. Dixie didn't really say anything, which Reiko was thankful for. She wasn't really in a talking mood for obvious reasons. The silence didn't last long, however.

"You alright?" Dixie couldn't help but ask.

The Zero Fighter didn't say anything. letting her silence answer for her.

"Don't worry shug," Clemets placed an arm around her friend, not getting a response from Reiko of any sort. "We'll think of something."

"Like what?"

Both Dixie and Reiko turned to the doorway to see Candy Cane walk in.

"Candy," Dixie said sort of roughly, "now ain't the best time, alr-"

"It's fine," Reiko muttered just loud enough for the others in the room to hear.

With that go-ahead, Candy Cane approached the two and leaned against the row of lockers in front of them, rubbing her bandaged nose a bit.

"So," she asked without any of Dixie's caring restraint, "what's the plan?"

Dixie gave her a look, ready to basically repeat what she had said when the schoolgirl had first entered the room even though her friend didn't seem to mind Candy's presence. Ultimately however, she decided to let the matter be.

"I don't know," she answered, removing her arm from around Reiko.

The Cowgirl ran a hand through her hair, thinking of an answer before finally deciding on one,

"That crazy nurse 'll probably come back eventually, so I think the best thing we could do is just sit and wait for her to come to us."

Reiko's head popped up upon her hearing of this.

"I mean," Clemets continued, "we don't have any idea what she's plannin on doin', so-"

"Are you kidding me!?" Reiko exclaimed whilst abruptly standing up, startling both Candy and Dixie.

The Zero Fighter began pacing back and forth briefly, then stopped and faced Candy Cane and Dixie as she slammed a fist against one of the lockers.

"We can't just wait for her to make a move!" she yelled. "That just gives her more time to do whatever she has planned to my sister!"

Dixie stood up.

"Shug," she put her hands up. "I know she's got your sister, but now ain't the time for any kind of brash actions!"

Clemets reached a hand out to place it on Reiko's shoulder, but it was quickly swatted away.

"This is the perfect time for brash actions!" the Zero Fighter argued.

"Yeah," Dixie started her retort, "What's gonna happen if we go after Anesthesia? The same thing that happened to you guys out there! We can't fight that damn robot of hers!"

"Then we'll find someone to help us!" Reiko got nose to nose with the Cowgirl.

"Who in the hell's gonna come and do that!?" Dixie shoved Reiko away from her.

Reiko was about to respond, but was stopped when Candy Cane quit leaning on the locker and stepped up next to Dixie.

"Hate to break it to ya babe," the Punk Princess said, "but I think she's right. No one else can help!"

Reiko crossed her arms, glaring at Candy Cane.

"Woah!" Candy backed up a few steps. "I didn't mean it like that! I'm just sayin'."

Reiko dropped her arms to her sides, letting Candy Cane continue with what she was saying,

"The WWE apparently doesn't want anything to do with us, and since she and us are always moving around so damn much that the police wouldn't even be able to touch that wacko nurse!"

"Like they'd be able to if we weren't," Dixie rolled her eyes.

"Oh for Grace O'Malley's sake! Then find someone else!"

Reiko, Candy, and Dixie all looked to the door to see Cidney Love leaning against the doorframe and nipping at a rum filled flask in her hand.

"It's not rocket science, mates," she smirked whilst adjusting her trihat. "If yer thinkin' that you're out of options, then start lookin' for new ones."

Dixie stepped closer to the pirate with an annoyed look about her.

"Alright pirate," the Cowgirl placed her hands on her hips, causing Love to perk up her eyebrows in surprise. "You're always beatin' around the bush by talkin' in riddles all the time! Do ya know someone who can help us, or not?"

"Wooh!" Cidney swung off her hat and then loosely holding it to her chest. "A wee bit short tempered today, aren't yee, lass?"

Dixie narrowed her eyes, unamused by the pirate's antics.

"Okay!" the buccaneer laughingly responded as she stuffed her flask in-between her belt and pants.

Cidney then carelessly threw her hat over her shoulder and into the hall before she stopped propping herself up on the doorframe and went closer to Dixie with a puppy-eyed grin on her face.

"If yee be wantin' me to be gettin' to the point," she went on as she approached the Cowgirl, "then gettin' to the point I shall be!"

"Then wh-" Dixie was about to say something, but was stopped when Love quickly reached up and placed an arm around her.

"I DO know someone," she smiled, suddenly pausing, "... or should I say 'some people' who could be helpin' us!"

"Who?" Candy Cane asked from behind Dixie.

Love slid her arm off of Clemets as she began to make her way to the door.

"Come with me gals," she said to the other Roses, continuing to walk out of the locker room.

Reiko, Dixie, and Candy glanced at one another before silently agreeing to follow Cidney to wherever she was taking them. It's not like they had anything to lose.

Part 3- "If we can find them!"

"Cidney? You sure you know where we're goin' to?" Dixie asked.

The Roses where crammed into a mini-cooper Reiko had borrowed from a roadie back at the arena before they all left. Dixie was at the steering wheel while Cidney was riding shotgun looking over a map and giving her directions to where they where going. Reiko, Candy Cane, and Makoto, who they decided to bring along, where crowded in the backseat. Candy Cane had her head buried in a Guitar World magazine, almost drooling over a picture of Eddie Van Halen's ever-famous "Frankenstrat" guitar. Reiko and Makoto just sat there, trying to make the best of the room they had.

"Sure I do," Love answered confidently.

"Then why in the hell does it feel like this is some kinda trick?" Candy barked from the back, looking up from her mag.

"Yeah," Reiko added. "First we had to talk to that weird Chinese guy at the deli, then he told us to go to the drug store and get him a cigar..."

"Then we went back to the deli," Makoto picked up the story with a bit more excitement in her voice as opposed to Reiko's aggravated tone, "and then he wanted us to by him a blue cap, and now we're-"

"We're going back to the deli to give him this stupid hat!" Candy Cane interrupted the Judo Babe, holding the aforementioned cap up and spinning it on her pointer finger. "It doesn't even look like it'll fit his head."

Dixie stopped at a light when the cap flew off Candy's finger and hit her in the back of her head before flying up and landing in her lap.

"Would you cut that out, Candy?" she snapped. "I'm tryin' to drive here, shug!"

"My bad," Candy Cane insincerely replied as she went back to her issue of Guitar World.

Love grabbed the cap out of the Cowgirl's lap and playfully donned it over her purple bandanna, inadvertently placing it on sideways, getting a laugh from Makoto.

"You look like one of those rappers on MTV, Cidney!" she smiled.

Love grinned, pulling down the mirror boasting sun visor to view herself with the hat.

"Ha!" she chuckled, "I think I've found me new angle! I could be the first rapping pirate!"

Suddenly, Captain Dan and his piratical posse pulled up alongside Dixie's car and rolled down the window of their pimped out PT.

"Correction, wench," Dan called out with his head poking from the window, "you'd be the second!"

"Arr!" Love grunted angrily as she threw down the cap and then curled up in her seat to sulk as Captain Dan sped away.

"Well," Candy Cane said as she placed her magazine at her side, "that was random and unnecessary."

"Almost as unnecessary as this trip," Reiko remarked.

Cidney stopped sulking and unbuckled her seatbelt for a moment to turn around and look at the Zero Fighter in the backseat.

"Hey!" she started a rebuttal. "This is as necessary as anything could ever be!"

Reiko sighed, telling Cidney that her words did nothing to reassure her.
"Look lass," Love frowned before regaining some confidence as she spoke. "These guys have a very odd way of startin' up a partnership."

"You've got that right," Dixie piped in.

"I'm sure they'll help us," the pirate went on.

"If we can find them!" Candy Cane yelled.

"Oh, to Davy Jones with it!" Love gave up and sat back down in her seat, reapplying her seatbelt after doing so.

"I trust you Cidney," Makoto said in an attempt to reassure Love, causing Candy Cane to covertly roll her eyes.

"EEuurrkk!" The car came to a stop next to the sidewalk in front of the deli.

"We're back," Dixie alerted the other Roses as she turned off the engine of the car and undid her seatbelt.

The Roses exited the vehicle and headed inside. When they entered, the ladies saw the bearded Chinese man standing at the counter.

"Oh," he greeted them in his odd accent that really didn't sound all that Chinese at all. "Welcome back, ladies!"

"Yeah, yeah," Candy Cane responded in a not so friendly way as she and the others approached the counter.

"So," the Chinese man said, "did you manage to bring me the blue cap I requested?"

"Iy," Love held the cap up for him to see before plopping it onto the counter.

The man took it.

"Good, good," he commented, throwing the hat on the floor at his feet before turning his attention back to the Roses.

There was a silence in the room with the Roses waiting for the man to say something. He didn't, and just kept looking at them with his arms crossed atop the counter. Things remained this way for a few moments before Candy Cane finally broke the silence,

"Well!?" she asked with her arms out at her sides. "Are we done!? Can we-"

"OH!" the man popped up a finger as if he had just remembered something. "Ah, yes..."

He then hunched down behind the counter and rummaged through whatever was down there before emerging with a piece of paper in his hands which he hastily unfolded.

"There is just one more thing," he announced, fully unfolding the paper.

Out of nowhere, the man randomly paused, not saying anything.

"What is it!?" Reiko demanded a few seconds later, quite annoyed.

"Oh," the chinamen answered. "It's nothing more than a series of questions."

"Are you kiddin' me!?" Dixie groaned along with Candy and Reiko.

"Now, now," the man pleaded, "only one of you must answer them."

"Man," Candy spun around and started walking away, "forget this!"

Dixie also removed herself from the counter.

"I'm with her," she laughed.

Without saying a word, Reiko also headed for the exit, leaving only Makoto and Cidney at the counter.

"Hey," Candy stopped and looked back as she put her hand on the handle of the door. "What are you guys doing?"

"Really," Dixie added. "Come on, already! Forget this nutjob and let's get goin'."

At this point, Cidney was pretty much convinced to side with Candy and the others, so she also began to go to the door. Makoto soon followed, but stopped and looked back at the man, and apparently changed her mind as she then reversed her direction and walked up to the counter again, much to the dismay of her friends.

"Makoto..." Reiko groaned.

Ignoring Reiko, the Judo Babe looked at the Chinese man.

"So," he smiled. "Do you want to answer my questions?"

Makoto nodded.

"Alright," the man then held up the piece of paper to read it.

The others simply watched on at the door.

"Are we really gonna waste our time while she talks to this nutjob?" Candy whispered to no one in particular.

"Just let her answer the questions," Reiko answered quietly. "Then we'll get her and go."

"Question 1!" the man said happily. "What... is your name?"

Makoto paused, not expecting a simple, out-of-the-blue question such as that.

"Um..." she started, "Makoto Aihara."

The Chinaman nodded.

"Alright, very good!" he grinned and then looked at the paper once again. "Question 2, ..."

Makoto looked on, waiting anxiously for the inquiry.

The man raised his head from the paper and to his questionee.

"What... is your favorite color?" he asked.

"Pink!" Makoto answered quickly with a smile.

"Alright, alright!" the Chinese man laughed and smiled. "Okay, one more question!"

He quickly looked up from the paper with the question,

"What... is your quest?"

"I...," the Judo Babe stumbled over her words due to her shyness, "um, I mean, 'we' are searching for the-"

"Ah, ah!" the Chinese man waved a finger. "Do not speak their name."

Makoto was confused.

"What?" she asked. "What do you mean?"

Reiko's patience was wearing thin with this whole thing.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered.

"You're the one who said we should let her answer the questions!" Candy Cane smirked, achieving somewhat of a private victory.

"Well," Reiko moaned. "We could be looking for my sister right now!"

"Girls!" Dixie barked. "Just let Makoto finish playin' with this wacko and then we'll get outta here!"

Makoto and the Chinaman continued their conversation.

"Just tell me what you are searching for," the man explained, "but tell me not by name."

Makoto thought for a moment, fidgeting with her hair bows as she did so.

"Okay," she sighed. "I'm looking for... for some people who can help my friends and I."

The man folded the piece of paper and put it in his pocket.

"You are looking for people who can help you and your friends?" he repeated Makoto's answer.

"Ye-yes," she nodded. "That's right."

"Well then," the man suddenly spoke in a different voice with no Chinese accent whatsoever, grabbing the attention of the other Roses and Makoto. "Congratulations, Ms. Aihara..."

The man then removed the wig from his head, revealing his cleanly cut white hair before taking off his bulky glasses and false beard. To complete his return to his normal self, the man popped a Cuban cigar into his mouth and lit it. He then finished his sentence with, "You found them!"

The other Roses rushed to Makoto's side, looking at the man in wonder, shocked at the sheer difference between who he appearently really was and the alter-ego he donned before. Rather than acknowledge their bewildered looks, all he did was remove the cigarette from his mouth before telling them confidently,

"You've just hired the A-Team."