Disclaimer: All the authors and readers that appear in this side story own themselves. Original characters that appear belong to their respective creators. And all anime characters that appear belong to their respective series, companies, and creators as well.
Author's Notes: Isn't this a shocker? I'm writing for the Mole! Many of you are asking, "What the heck is Star Otaku doing away from Anime Survivor III?" Don't worry, it isn't permanent. We're just going to turn a new page for this fresh book of Side Stories.
The Mole 2: AE - Side Story 1
The all new Player's Panel, the first contestants in The Mole:
AE, stood ready and gathered near a doorway leading to the
meeting room of
"The old gang's back together," remarked Taichi wistfully.
The producer for the second season looked at the crew and didn't seem too enthusiastic to see them. "Aren't you done introducing the players and greeting them into the game?"
"Of course we are!" cried Satoshi.
Akito slid his sunglasses down his nose and looked up at the producer from the rim. "But aren't we supposed to be going home now?"
Ruri pouted a little. "I don't find twenty-first
century
Manny shushed her. "The contestants are just outside, you know!"
Deciding to shoot the last season clue back at Manny... Tomoyo shrugged and piped, "Whatever."
"Well, you see... there were budget cuts... and the AA couldn't afford to give you the proper travel home..."
"So you mean we're stuck here?!" exclaimed Naru.
"Essentially... yes. Unless you can find your own means to get home."
"But- but- you got Dr. Inez to come in here! She's from the same place as Ruri and Akito!" cried Sakura. "How do you explain that?"
Several moments passed as a pause settled over the panel and producer.
"Well?" asked Hayama to no one in particular.
Akito shrugged. "Sorry, we thought Dr. Inez would have all the answers."
"She's teaching the contestants how to Boson Jump. Now, I've got some business to get to-"
Panting and out of breath, Star Otaku and Adam Pulver arrived on the scene, interrupting the middle of the Player's Panel and Manny's discussion over their non-existent transportation home.
"Manny!" cried Arp.
The Mole: AE regular looked at the new arrivals. The only adult could care less about the authors he considered to be useful juveniles, but this was interesting.
"Good to see you Adam. You missed your chance for another beating; the contestants just left, but Naru's still here," remarked Manny.
Naru fumed a little at that.
The comment just flew past Arp as he set straight to business. "You... you have a new employee joining the Animation Alliance. Star's in-between jobs and I'm offering her an opening with us."
The petite authoress nodded her head in agreement, keeping quiet.
He thought it over. "Well... we could use another talented writer to exploit- er, employ. Just take her to her cubicle at HQ."
Arp shuddered at those conditions. "Those working conditions are the worst! If you hire her, I only ask that you improve things. An actual office building, with windows, and air conditioning, and no locks or chains or shackles."
"We're kind of in a rush Adam. We'll think it over, and then, we'll get Mike to call you on the decision. But now, we've got a show to host."
The sassy
"Any work is good work," finally said Star. "I'm gonna miss AS Three, though..."
"Don't think about that now. So, who's knows and is coming along? Shinju and AnimeGurl?"
"Oh, Arp, AG now goes as Mei Hanaiki. As for them, I don't know if they're joining us or not..."
And just on time, the two girls came running in to join them. The teen girls were glad to catch up with their old AS Inc. friends.
"Shinju! Mei!" cried Star.
"I'm glad we found you," said Mei.
"Star-san! Oi! This has been a tiring journey... We're a little late because of someone..." sweatdropped Shinju.
Mei blushed. "Ah... I'm sorry. I had a real
big craving for sushi, and with us being in
Looking around in the area and past the panel, there were a few chairs. Arp grabbed one and motioned the girls to sit with him in the remaining empty seats.
"Thanks Arp-san. You're so nice," complimented Shinju.
"Yeah, don't ever change your sweet self!" piped Star. "Now, how did you two find us here?"
Shinju held up a familiar looking little hand held device. "The tracking device on these things. You lent me yours, remember?" She tossed it back its owner.
Mei vaguely remembered the device. She remembered seeing Globie using such a thing last time she saw him... "That's just like his... um, what did he call it and how did you get one of those?"
"It's a DP Three," clarified Shinju. "Star-san got one. Globie-sa... ah... he gave them to us as presents when he was CrapBoardia. Then took them back. Before... stuff happened."
Star and Shinju shuddered at the memory, one that Mei had a vague one as well when she dropped by in CB once in a while.
"Anyways, the guest hosts were supposed to get DP Threes when they signed on."
Mei shook her head sadly. "Nope, I didn't get one."
"Mine's been revoked."
"Then that means..."
"I turned down being a guest host. Without you, seems like Anime Survivor like it lost something..."
Shinju shook her head. "I quit too. No Star-san in Anime Survivor Three? I'm outta there and going where you go!"
She looked down sadly and waved her hands in defense. "Whoa! I'm not out of it entirely! And you didn't have to give up things on my account. I'm sure you two really wanted to stay and guest host. It would have been fun."
Arp nodded, understanding. "Yeah, but it wouldn't be fun without you. They'd be stuck with only Globie!" he joked.
Star giggled a little, then looked down, guilty.
Shinju put her hands on her hips. "If I were you... I'd be up for something that involves fire. And lots of it." It seemed Shinju's gothic side was really beginning to come out. One could almost see the black nail polish ooze over her fingernails as she rubbed her hands in glee.
She shook her head. "Oh, enough about that! Adam's been nice enough to give me a job with the AA, that's good enough. They'll call us if anything pops up."
Mei nodded her head. "I'd be happy to contribute any artwork that they might need!"
Arp held up his hand. "Um, they've got PR people for that."
Mei pulled out her ice blue laptop and tinkered around on Photoshop for a second. "I suppose you're right... I still don't know everything yet; there's a lot to learn when it comes to graphic arts!"
An idea popped into Shinju's head. "You know, instead of sitting around and waiting for the AA to give you a call Star-san, we could just tag along with them and save them the trouble!"
"That's a great idea!"
Adam sat there and thought for a moment. "The AA doesn't see too happy to have another demanding author on board. I doubt they're going to call."
Satoshi obtrusively cleared his throat. "Ahem!"
The authors looked at the almost forgotten Player's Panel. Arp nodded his head back at them. "And I don't think they'll be happy with a bunch of demanding anime characters as well."
"We're all in the same boat," sighed Tomoyo.
"Yeah, we can get back to Tomoeda, but we don't want to do it alone," added Sakura.
Akito apathetically shrugged. "We're basically stuck here until we get our hands on the AA's time-travel technology."
"Or we could catch up with Dr. Inez and ask for a ride back with her," added Ruri.
Tenchi ran a hand through his hair. "Things wouldn't be the same without Washu, so I guess I could take a break from being at home and get in some mayhem without getting dragged into it by the girls." He noticed that the majority of people present were females. "Not you girls! I mean Ryoko and Aeka and... and... *sigh* I give up."
Hayama was still neutral in his stance. He glanced at his best friend/enemy. "If she wants to stick around, I guess I'm going to as well."
Arp looked at the remaining few. "Any one else feel like joining us?"
Ambitiously, Satoshi placed his cap backwards on his head. "I wanna follow and see how Kasumi and Kenji do! Let's see if they can make it as far as I have!"
Naru was thoughtful. "I'd like to see how my friends do as well. Maybe I could join them for the ride home when it's all over with."
Star looked over at Taichi, the only real adult in the group. "Taichi... are you sure you want to hang out with a bunch of kids?"
The Digiworld ambassador jumped at the opportunity. "Look at me. I'm nearly forty. Do I look like I want to join a bunch of kids and authors after an animation company just to go home?" He smiled. "Count me in! It's time I get that whole mid-life crisis thing done and over with."
This only fueled
Suddenly interrupting them was the older Yamato Ishida, running into the room, out of breath. "Sorry, I think I left my keys here. Wish I didn't remember..."
Just watching wordlessly as the old
"Sorry about the interruption." And with that, he stepped out again.
The distraction over, everyone got up and followed after the departed AA producer, hoping to catch up with him. They found an open field that doubled as an air strip.
The contestants were probably being briefed at the moment.
No one was around.
The three author girls looked down, dejected, but their eyes traced over to a pile of discarded grey jumpers and airfield garb.
Smiling, everyone scurried to the pile, bent down, and grabbed all the clothes and accessories they could. Then, with the four authors leading the way, they made a run for the door, bumping again into Yamato while the Player's Panel watched the collision from a safe distance.
"Sorry kids. Just thought I'd hang around... take my time..." He looked at them and thought furtively, looking for any excuse to stay longer. "Hey, you four shouldn't be left unsupervised..."
Adam held up a hand to silence him. "Listen, Yamato, Mr. Ishida, we're going to pull some crazy stunts that will probably involve us in a wacky adventure across the world. Either you can tag along and enjoy the ride, or you can stay here and forget this happened."
After a few minutes of silence...
Yamato grabbed a jumper and shrugged his shoulders. "Alright. Anything to get out of the house and away from her!" He looked past them at the other participants on the unfolding adventure. He immediately recognized an old friend... "Taichi! What are you doing here?"
"Just recapturing my golden days of youth."
"Oh. I'm just here to get away from Sora. What a strange coincidence..."
Mei was bubbling on the spot at the innocent interaction. "Coincidence? It must be love! Sweet, sweet Yamachi. Now we need Daiken..."
Everyone sweatdropped.
===
Stepping back out onto the air way, the authors and anime character were dressed like work hands. The drab grey jumpers, thick protective goggles and ear muffs, bound up hair covered with caps, the handy-dandy light sticks that airport grounds people used, and some dirt smeared on their faces, they looked like some hardcore workers!
It worked too well, for Manny ran up to them, thinking they were hired hands for the challenge.
"Okay crew! Get all those bags on the plane!
Don't forget: you're going with them to
Not questioning the man and not wanting to pass up a chance to follow after the Mole 2 team, they set to work, just picking up random luggage cases lying around near them and tossing them into the plane a ways away from them.
===
Huddled in the cargo section of the plane, the stowaways were sitting amongst the empty space. They aimlessly glanced once in a while at the small doorway that would lead them to the open and occupied area of the plane where they'd placed the contestants' bags.
Taichi noticed that Yamato was looking angry at something, and sat down next to him to get the dirt. "So what's up with you?"
"I think I hate women."
After hearing Yamato's statement, Taichi glanced nervously at Naru and Star, who fortunately didn't hear that. "You're lucky nobody heard that."
"Why, what's wrong with that? I hate women
too," Hayama added, coldly. He was immediately met
with a mallet shot from
Despite his better judgments, Taichi continued the conversation. "So what did Sora..."
"No, no, I'm not talking about her, I'm talking about that Inez chick. She has no respect for what I did for humanity!"
Taichi sweatdropped. "Right... you know Akito used to live on Mars too." Taichi glanced over at Akito, "Right?"
Akito stared straight ahead, in some sort of trance, "Mars... I remember it... my parents, my colony... destroyed... the plane..." Akito started panting heavily.
"Oh, good job Taichi," Tenchi observed, "You sent him into one of his flashbacks."
While Ruri calmed Akito down, Yamato continued. "But... she called me a rock star too!"
"What's wrong with that?" Sakura, who had overheard, asked.
Yamato stared at Sakura, not sure how to answer. "The memory of it all... the horrible downfall." Yamato didn't want to recall what had happened.
"Sakura! Now we have two of them!" Tenchi was concerned about the number of mentally unstable people in such a small space.
"I know exactly how you feel." Naru walked up to Yamato and sat next to him. "I used to be a pop idol."
"You did?"
"It's not cool at all! It's hell on Earth!" Naru snapped.
"That's three," Tenchi observed.
"She's right though, it's terrible..." Yamato started.
"Rehearsing all the time..." Naru stated.
"Dealing with obsessive fans..."
"Maintaining an image in public..."
"Working with publicists..." Yamato was getting passionate.
"All that pressure onstage..." Naru was as well.
"Digimon interrupting your televised concert."
Naru nodded, then stopped, confused. "Uh... never happened to me."
"Oh... how about creative differences with the band?" Yamato recovered.
"That's better- not being able to see your friends!"
"Not having a private life..."
"Yes, you understand! Finally somebody who understands!" Naru stopped.
Both she and Yamato were nearly in tears. They let it all loose, hugging each other and crying their eyes out.
"Uh...
"Yeah- I love it! Just remind me never to enter a musical career."
Satoshi shuddered at the thought. He was familiar with her so-called "songs." "I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you don't."
"Thanks- love ya lots!"
Meanwhile, the authors were equally confused at the sight of Naru and Yamato.
"Huh... Yamasegawa. That's a new one," Adam commented quietly..
But not quietly enough as Naru had heard, and turned towards him angrily.
"Keep talking and you'll wish you had a parachute!!"
"So... what's our next move after this?" asked Ruri, interjecting so as to stop the girl from killing the author.
Adam looked to Star, and she did the same to him. Both scratched their heads and gave sheepish looks.
"Actually, we don't know what our next move is!" said Star.
"Yeah, we're just making this up as we go along!" added Adam.
Naru was visibly peeved and glared at the authors, ready to give them a piece of her mind. "You went into this without a plan? Oh great! We could get lost or stranded in the middle of nowhere-"
"But the adventures where you don't know where you're
going or what you're doing are the best kind!" interjected
Satoshi seemed puzzled for a moment and then shook his head in agreement.
"I think we can vouch for that too..." said both Taichi and Yamato.
That transaction caused Mei Hanaiki to squeal in her seat.
At once, their walkie talkies scrambled and crackled to
life. The somewhat blurred voice coming from the other end
was Manny. "We're flying over southeast
Everyone dove together for a small huddle.
"Who's going first?" asked Tenchi.
"Why not Yamato? He seems like a blend into the crowd kinda guy. The perfect type for menial labour," suggested Hayama.
The astronaut looked down on the small boy. "You pay respect to your elders, especially when they're pioneers in the space program!"
"Shh!" shushed Shinju. "Not so loud! You want to blow our cover away?"
"Good thinking Hayama," agreed Ruri. "First Yamato. Then Tenchi, Taichi, and finally, Akito."
Muttering about the opinion of them being used as pack animals, the four chosen workmen stood up and made their way near the open door, letting the conversation in the private jet filter through to them.
"Uh... Takato?"
"Sorry. The answer is Ranma."
Taking his cue, Yamato left and soon came back with his bag.
This continued for the next few minutes, the stowaways looking out through the door to catch a glimpse of the contestants. This was going to be exciting!
When the last wrong answer condemned their luggage, another door near the end of the cargo area opened up and the air started rushing in and out and whipping around the stowaways/work people.
The original ten players each grabbed one bag, and the remaining four were left for the authors. Each one took a turn standing part way from the door and flinging the bag out. The moving air almost caused some kind of suction that just seemed to guide those down to the ground and forests below.
===
The plane touched down and the contestants were boarded into the next mode of transportation that would take them to their accommodations for the night.
The workpeople got out and walked around on the airfield, stretching and just relaxing.
"That was fun!" Satoshi pumped a fist into the air. "Why don't we take Miss Star's bag and throw it out the next plane?"
The authoress gave him a glare as she held her trademark bag closer to her. "Do that, and not even Kasumi will have anything left of you to pummel..."
Walking down the airfield, they saw a few paces away from them Manny meeting with a familiar looking girl. The two had an exchange of words, shook hands, and then the producer departed.
Curious, they walked closer and closer to the girl, slowly peeling away their disguises as they approached her.
Adam headed the crew, and when he kicked away the grey jumpsuit away, he extended his hand to the girl.
"Miss Tendou."
"Ah... Pulver-san."
"I see that you're here. Aren't you finished training the planted mole?"
"Of course, but I'm just here to pick up the ones that obviously weren't trained by me. Now, I should ask you're doing here."
"You didn't think I'd be counted out of my own series, did you?"
"From what Manny just told me, I should keep my eye out for you and your friends." Nabiki nodded towards the group of characters and authors. "But I can keep my mouth shut. For a price."
"How much will it cost keep quiet and to take us with you?"
"Follow me and we'll figure something out."
===
Takato was dropped off at some discreet location down the Swiss mountainside in front of some sort of motor home.
The driver stood beside the door leading into it. She was of average height, a slender girl, with straight brown hair cut in a very business-like fashion; and if one looked closely, she bore some resemblance to Akane Tendou.
Takato whirled around to ask about who this person was but he saw the van ready to pull out now.
Barb stuck her head out the passenger window and called off, "Meet Nabiki! All executed players get to stay with her for the remainder of the game!"
Then the van disappeared into the night, leaving Takato with Nabiki.
"Uh... Hi there Scary Lady Number..." he counted off on his fingers before finally adding, "Number Nine."
"Just get in the RV, kid." She swung the door open and coolly leant in front of the doorway. She stepped back a little, giving Takato room to move in.
The Tamer boy found the insides to be nicely furnished... and currently occupied by fourteen other people. Ten he recognized as being the previous players in the first season. The other four... one was a blonde older man, a young spectacled blonde boy, and two girls with brown hair. One had her hair styled long, the other short.
Takato looked up at Nabiki and sheepishly asked, "Scary Lady Number Nine, where's the bathroom? I have to go."
The middle Tendou sister sighed and pointed down the short and narrow hall leading out of the small reclining area. "Don't call me Scary Lady again, or else I'll have to charge a toll for every time you want to use the toilet."
Nodding, the Matsuda boy walked down the hall. As he made a quick approach, he heard a flush, some water run, and then part of the wall came out and smacked him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"
Shaking his head to clear himself of the dizziness, he looked up to see a shocked blue-haired girl looking down on him in surprise. One hand was up to her mouth a gasp of surprise and the other held onto some kind of handbag. She stopped her surprised gasp and held her hand out to him.
Smiling, he accepted it and was pulled back onto his feet. A small blush crossed his cheeks.
"Gee... thank you Nice Lady Number One... I'm Takato!"
She politely shook Takato's hand, which was still entwined with hers. "Um, I'm Star Otaku. Friends call me Star."
"Thanks Miss Star! Now, if you don't mind, I've got some business to take care of." Takato pushed past her and into the bathroom, closing the panel door behind him.
Walking back to where the others were, she was met with strange looks from the rest of the group.
Shinju just sat there, giggling at what happened and how it paralleled another event in CrapBoardia.
Star just rolled her eyes and sighed. "Oh God... not again."
Nabiki chuckled to herself and then clapped her hands.
"It's getting late. Take up the empty bunks and we'll keep moving behind the production crew and contestants in the morning."
With another set of claps, everyone dispersed to turn in for the night.
End of Side Story 1
Additional Author's Notes: Well, it seems a new adventure with a new series awaits this edition of Side Stories. Thank you Adam for the Yamasegawa scene as well as the Players Panel moments. For the nods and refs in here, some are pretty self explanatory and you can pretty much get them first or second glance. A few though are inside jokes that members of CrapBoardia or side story collaborators will know of. Cameo offers will be open, but only a limited number shall be opened to the reading public! Cameo offers will be accepted via the review system; leave your name, e-mail address, and of course, your cameo request. Chosen ones will be contacted via e-mail. As well, I'm also putting together a mailing list for those who'd like to receive any notice of my fics, Side Stories or not. Please review and make you requests, for the mailing list or for a cameo!