62 - The Sushi Dat Would Have to Wait

<Gimme a minute - Understudy 12:07>

Well, shit. I looked around for Fursona, but the kangaroo was already hopping toward another building. We’d crammed an Episode between Superpower Ethics and Intro to Drama before, but…

<What’s going on? What time? - Understudy 12:08>

<Multiple burglaries. All across the University district - Honeycomb 12:08>

<Should be kicking off soon. No casting call yet, but any minute. - Honeycomb 12:09>

Alright. Okay. I could do everything. I texted Fursona to get their butt back here, then hesitated, finger hovering over Bee’s number.

<Hey, Bee. Some stuff came up. Might miss ItD - Annie 12:11>

<<3 you! See you after. If Im a minute or two later, sorries - Annie 12:12>

<Thats fine. Imma ditch it, too, then. No point if youre not there - Bianca 12:13>

Alright. My bases were at least a little covered. It did feel wrong to put Bee off for superhero work, though. Almost like I was Peter. But…this was different, I just wasn’t sure how. I twiddled my thumbs and waited for Fursona to show up. While I did, I texted Honeycomb again.

<Where? - Understudy 12:15>

<Corner Store on Independent and University. I’ll be there. Thanks - Honeycomb 12:16>

As soon as Fursona showed up, I explained what I knew. Which, admittedly, wasn’t much. The kangaroo nodded thoughtfully. “So, we’re going after Jumper again? What’s different about this time? Other than that you’ll be on the lookout for vans?”

“Honeycomb knows what’s up, so hunting her down won’t be as hard.” I hurried toward Independent and University, wishing I could fly but not wanting to lose Fursona in the blinding snow. I glared at them; they were probably warm in that suit, and I was freezing my ass off in a dress and tights!

As we got close, a familiar message popped up.

[Casting Call]

[Episode: Short: Jumping from Crime to Crime - PG]

[Role: Back-Up! Do you accept the role? (Yes/No)]

[Role Focus: Flamboyance > Drama]

We accepted the [Casting Call] and arrived at the corner store tucked below some off-campus apartments. Honeycomb stood outside the store, shivering and rubbing her hands together. I waved. “Hey, Honeycomb. What’s up?”

[Short: Jumping from Crime to Crime: Act One in Progress]

“Well, Jumper’s making the rounds with ‘S’ again. The buzz around town is that they’ve got a new van, and they’re looking to fill it up with stuff. He’s going to start, uh…y’know what, I’ll show you.” Honeycomb started wiggling, her costume’s wings fluttering as she wiggled back and forth.

“What…what are you doing?”

“I’m…using my [Bee Dance Map] power,” she replied, a little breathless and flushing red. “It lets…lets me show where things are instead…of trying to explain it.”

“Ooookay.” I waited for her to finish her dance, and oddly, a picture of the University District started to form in my mind. By the time it was over, I could ‘see’ the buildings Honeycomb thought Jumper would hit.

“That’s it.” Honeycomb frowned. “The problem is that…I can’t cover them all, and she moves faster than me.”

“We can’t make a great plan here. You stay near the Quik-Mart. Fursona, remember the art gallery?” The kangaroo nodded, and I continued. “Great. You’re there. I’ll circle above and try to spot the van or Jumper. The snow is going to be a problem, though.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Honeycomb said. They opened the Quik-Mart’s door, then turned around. “Text if you see anything.”

“Will do. [Starwave Sail]!” The windsurfer took off, with me on it, squinting against the snow. I had to stay low over the streets, but luckily, the weather was bad enough that most people weren’t out and about. It wasn’t long before I found what I was looking for.

<Got a white van heading your way, Honey - Understudy 12:42>

<Copy that. You going to buzz it and see who’s driving? - Honeycomb 12:43>

I snorted and dipped the windsurfer toward the snow-covered street below—and the white van covered in white snow. It all blurred together as I rocketed forward, and before I knew it, the van’s top loomed out of the blizzard.

Crunch!

[HP 6/7]

I slammed through the van’s skylight and landed in the cargo bay in a crumpled pile. A camera drone followed me through the shattered safety glass. A moment later, I shot forward as the driver stomped on the brakes, smashing into the viewing window between the bay and the cab. The van’s wheels slipped in the snow as it spun mid-road.

I had a moment to think about the absurdity of it all. I’d been hit by minion-driven vans twice during Episodes; at least I’d had my revenge when I hit this one!

[Gritty Recovery! +1 Grit Point Pending]

I peered through the window, preparing to punch through it as the van slid to a stop in the snow. A very, very familiar mask turned back to look at me. I couldn’t hear him through the window, but ‘S’s’ exposed lips mouthed the words. “Oh shit.” He reached for the radio.

I used [Spotlight Strike] and slammed a fist through the plexiglass window, popping it out of its frame. ‘S’ shouted into the radio. “Jumper, that magical girl is—“

I dragged him through the window frame. The van’s engine idled, but he’d grabbed onto the e-brake for a moment, so it wasn’t going anywhere.

[Bull In a China Shop! +1 Badass Point Pending]

[Stylish Strike! +1 Flamboyance Point Pending]

As far as earning the right types of points went, I was not off to a good start. I used [Spotlight Strike] to punch him in the stomach and make him double over on the floor. “Do you surrender?”

[Stylish Strike! +1 Flamboyance Point Pending]

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, just leave me alone!”

“Alright, on the floor, and don’t move!” The henchman complied, and I climbed through the window. I had an idea.

<Honey, FS, I have the van. - Understudy 12:45>

<Heading toward Quick-Mart - Understudy 12:45>

My phone buzzed twice as I corrected the van and drove it toward the Quik-Mart. I didn’t honestly think the battered, clobbered van would trick Jumper for long, but we didn’t needlong—not with three of us and one of her. We just needed to bait her in. She cared about the van; after all, she and ‘S’ bought it and paid it to fix it. She’d want to make sure her investment was in good shape, especially after hearing the incomplete message from ‘S.’

Sure enough, as I turned on to University, something bounced off of an apartment building’s walls. I grinned. Jumper. The young woman’s green hoodie and tan jumper were soaked with melted snow. She stared at the white van momentarily, then kept running and jumping higher and higher up the building.

Then, a block and a half from University and Independent, something crashed into the back of the van, almost like I had. I checked the mirror; Jumper stared back at me. “What the[Beep!] You again?”

“Yep! I’m Magical Girl Understudy, and I’m here to save the—hey!” Jumper tried to…jump…through the hole I’d made. I pulled on the steering wheel and slammed the brake.

Thump!

[Good Thinking! +1 Cunning Point Pending]

Jumper slammed into the van’s roof and fell back inside. I floored it, tires kicking up snow before they bit into the cold asphalt below. Alright. One block. If I could keep Jumper inside the van until the Quik-Mart, Fursona and Honeycomb would be there. I buckled my seat belt.

This was going to be a bumpy ride.

I glued one eye to the road and one to the rear-view mirror. Jumper grabbed ‘S’ by the collar and got ready to jump again. I whipped the van to the right the moment she did, putting it into a nasty spin on the cold, snowy road. I cranked on the wheel, the sounds of Jumper and ‘S’ bouncing around in the back, competing with the van’s engine.

[Merciless! +1 Badass Point Pending]

“[Beep!]” I looked back into the mirror. Jumper was still up, but ‘S’ flopped around, unconscious. “Sorry about your henchman!”

[Rating Warning #1! Episode Rating - PG! Censor in Effect]

“Screw you! Stop breaking my vans!” Jumper dropped ‘S’ as I pulled the van into a parking space outside the Quik-Mart. She had a point; white delivery vans had to be pricey. The second I threw the van into park, I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaped out the door.

But I wasn’t as fast as Jumper.

She sprang up like a…well, spring, sailing through the van’s broken skylight. “I hate you so much. There’s gonna be water damage,” she whined, glaring.

“[Honey Spray]!” Magical Girl Honeycomb said, pushing through the Quik-Mart’s glass doors. A wave of amber goop flew from her flower-shaped wand as she rushed the van. It splattered across the metal side and the roof, but Jumper hopped off, her power propelling her almost all the way across Independent Avenue toward the art gallery.

Unfortunately for her, Fursona hopped out of an alley right as she landed. The kangaroo took one look at Jumper and, balancing on their tail, kicked out with both feet. Jumper went flying, and Honeycomb cheered.

So did I, but not out loud. We were winning, sure, but Jumper was a full speedster, and if she—

She jumped.

The camera drone exited the van; I had no idea what it’d been doing in there, but its lens flashed onto me. “Jumper, it’s time to play your [Bit Part]!” I jumped into the air, spinning, and threw my arms wide.

I froze mid-air. A gigantic spotlight shone along the street, improbably bright against the washed-out, cloudy day. I moved a finger to point it at Jumper, and the barrage began.

It was like a [Stellar Ray], if instead of one, there were a dozen smaller ones. And if they cast about every half-second. Rays of pinkish-blue light caromed off the snow-packed road, slammed into buildings’ brick facades, and in all the flashing lights, a few hit Jumper.

[Dramatic Damage! +1 Drama Point Pending]

[Dramatic Damage! +1 Drama Point Pending]

[Dramatic Damage! +1 Drama Point Pending]

Even as my power set me down, Jumper picked herself up and kept on jumping. Honeycomb flapped her ridiculous wings, taking off like a bumble bee in a wobbly pursuit path. Fursona hopped after her, too, though they didn’t have much chance of catching the villain, especially once she started bouncing off the walls.

I summoned my [Starwave Sail] and took off, flying just a few feet above Jumper. This time, she wouldn’t get away.

She jumped through a window, but I leaped off my sailboard and into an old lady’s bedroom just a second behind her. The old lady screamed. I didn’t blame her one bit, especially when a pair of camera drones filled up the rest of the room.

Jumper dashed into the living room as the tenant threw a pillow at her. I followed but couldn’t keep up. I heard the door open, then a twanging sound. Then, a curse. Then someone shouting [Honey Spray]!”

When I came around the corner, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Honeycomb must’ve broken through a different window. I had no idea how she’d had enough control, and she’d definitely taken superhero damage in the crash, but she’d ended up in the living room. A moment later, Jumper had dashed through and gone for the door—which the old lady had locked with a door chain. That one moment was enough for Honeycomb to finally—finally—defeat her nemesis.

Jumper was covered in honey. It dripped off her green hoodie and covered her face. The whole apartment building smelled sweet to the point it was almost gross. “Fine, you win this round, Honeycomb,” the villain muttered.

[Episode Finished!]

[Episode: Short: Jumping From Crime to Crime! - PG]

[Penalties: 1x Rating Warning - No Penalty]

[Short Finished! +3 of each Style Point]

[Winner Winner! +3 of each Style Point]

[Role Focus: Flamboyance > Drama - Goal Partially Met! +10 Drama Points]

[Alias - Understudy] [Archetype - Magical Girl] [Community Rank - 432/523]

[HP 6/7]

[Styles and Skills]

►Archetype Skill - Transformation Sequence

►Badass (lvl 0; 14)

►Cunning (lvl 2; 12)

► Inkling 1

►Drama (lvl 4; 43)

►  Hometown Heroine 1

► Bit-Part Barrage 1

►Flamboyance (lvl 3; 45)

►Signature Skill - Adaptive Armoire

►Stored Costumes: (Rainy Day)

►Spotlight Strike 1

►Starwave Sail 1

►Grit (lvl 2; 30)

I didn’t have any new powers to roll, but Honeycomb’s beaming face more than made up for it. A camera drone hovered in front of her, and she looked at it, then at me. “Do you two want to say something?”

“No, this one’s all yours. I’ve gotta go,” I replied.

We apologized to the resident and gave her the university’s contact information; they’d agreed to pay for damages, and covering an entire living room in honey certainly counted. Then, as I squeezed past the honey-stuck door and went looking for Fursona, Honeycomb started giving her speech.

“It looks like Jumper finally found herself in a sticky situation. That’s okay; she’ll learn that crime is sour, not sweet. Now…”

I hurried down the hall and texted Fursona before Honeycomb could fit another pun into her end-of-Episode speech. If Fursona and I hurried, we could still make our next classes.

And then? If the roads weren’t much worse, I still had a sushi date!

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