The Fox, The Cat, and The Rabbit (Callie, Zavie, and 8D's awakening.)

8D spun the sphere on the tip of his long pointed fingernail before lightly tossing it to the air and grasping it once more. It felt very heavy in his hands... Almost as if the entirety of his doubts, worries and regrets were concentrated in this one point, dragging his soul down into the floorboards. An eternity of searching, pain, and sorrows went into this one little ball. It almost seemed anticlimactic if you asked him. Not that anyone ever did...

"Whether or not you believe this to be the correct path, it doesn't change the fact that I've made my end of the deal. It may have been a rather close shave but in the end I succeeded. Now you must uphold yours." The mirth was gone from his voice, replaced with a cold indifference. His icy tone would have chilled a lesser man to the bone, however, J was anything but a lesser man. If he could be called a man at all.


J took the sphere and placed it in a glass box before setting the box next to dozens stacked haphazardly in the corner of the room. He let his eyes linger on the collection of black spheres for a moment before turning his attention back to the android who had already begun to climb the stares to re-enter the apartment."Why on earth did you go through so much trouble  when we already have a perfectly good-"

J was cut off by the plunking of a rubber band against his mask's eyepiece. Slowly and carefully 8D flipped the switch on the side of his rubber stampede, removing the safety."If you ever, even begin to consider, starting to think about finishing that sentence or calling her that ever again... I will kill you..."

The two sat in silence for a moment before J lowered his head slightly and let out a tired sigh."You of all people should know what I am saying..."

"Please, don't insult me..." 8D lowered his rifle and let a wry smile grace his lips"Dad... Now if you'll excuse me, the plot beckons..." With a low and slow chuckle he took his leave and exited the basement, leaving J alone with his studies.

---

Code red! Code red! N-no wait, that isn't right, is it? That one was for when someone had spilt wine on the rug. Yeah, this wasn't that. This was a code blue! The one that Callie always dreaded the most, the one that always lingered at the back of her mind hoping and praying that that day would not resort to it. Enjoying the peace and harmony that she'd obtain clambering into bed at the end of a day, knowing that she had gone the whole day without worry. However... She always knew that it would always catch back up to her eventually... This was code blue, and she knew she had to act fast!

Now, to most code blue wouldn't mean a lot. I mean especially as most people don't know her coding system, but that's beyond the point. No, but for most this infamous code blue would be but a mere daily activity that they would do without question, almost on instinct, some people even seemed to enjoy it... Personally, Callie couldn't understand it at all. Code blue was the worse, she couldn't think of anything she disliked more! N-not that that was much of a statement, she didn't really dislike many things... B-but that didn't stop how much she didn't like this particular thing! Code blue could refer to a number of different things, however all these things would involve water. Callie simply hated water, she couldn't stand getting wet, it ruined her hair, the water always got in her ears, her tail would become all soggy and horrid! It was the worst! Yet, just as most code blues were, this was again another desperate chase, and her most devious trickery would be needed if she was going to avoid... Bath time...

Her ears had pricked up immediately as she had heard Kay ask 8D to look for her for bath time, she should of learned by now nothing gets past her ears in this house. No matter how quiet you whisper! Before her robotic friend even had a chance to reply to Kay, Callie had already dashed off to find some place to hide. She knew the perfect place, how'd she know it was perfect? Well it was kinda the same hiding spot she had used the passed like four times code blue went off and she hadn't been found there yet! This hiding spot was so secretive, she couldn't even tell you herself where it was, so no one would be able to find it, even if they tried cheating! Uhh... Wait, how would cheating at hide and seek work? Hmm...


After some time had passed, and 8D had searched the whole place, he eventually returned from J's basement and called out her victory. Woo! Rolling out of her hiding spot, she'd dust herself off before rushing over to the top of the basement to meet up with Grins. "Hehe, I beatcha again!" She'd cry out happily, giggling to herself whilst still clutching onto a blanket she had also been hiding under the whole time.

"Oh you are so good at hiding Callie!" 8D would laugh as he bent down to pick up the little girl and pull her into a swinging hug. His hold would be firm but gentle, as if he was holding something unbelievably precious. In an instant all the tension and pressure he felt from his conversation with J melted away as he held the little Fox in his arms and hugged her tightly."I don't know how you manage to keep your hiding places so secret! I mean you manage to out... FOX me every time! Ehehe, But tomorrow you won't be so lucky! Me and Kay will get you into that tub even if we have to flood the whole house!"

Kay watched from a short distance and shook her head smiling. She supposed she could put up with the rather "Natural" Smell that Callie was putting out for one more night."Don't you two have a friend coming over soon?" She would ask on her way to the bathroom. If Callie wasn't gunna use the bath she had drawn, there was no real point in letting it go to waste. "Feel free to bring them into the back but just don't break anything. Go outside if you're going to play, but stay near the street lights and bring 8D with you." Kay warned before disappearing into the bathroom and locking the door... and window... And Trap Door that J put in for "Quick Escapes"... Pervert.

"Oh right! I didn't tell you did I?"8D's already excited and loud voice only grew in volume as he set Callie down and spun happily, shooting off confetti and small balloons as joy exploded in his heart."I found ZAAAAAvieeeeeee! I ran into him while I was running from J's attack hounds! I invited him over to the bar to play tonight! Oh I know we will all have so much fun! It will be such an... AWAKENING experience! Ehehehe... Wait..." 8D's spinning stopped as something hit him like a ton of bricks. "Uh oh..."

Making sure to hold on tight, Callie would laugh along side Grins as he spun her around in one of his systematic hugs. She'd cuddle up to the bot in return, both thrilled to have triumphed over code blue once again, as well as thrilled to be able to stop hiding from her beloved friend again! That was the worst part of hiding, not being able to be with your friends! "Hehe, you can flood the house all you want! Still doesn't mean I'm in that stupid tub, let alone in the house! Maybe I'll just hide outside before it all starts instead!" She'd protest teasingly... Although, thinking about it... That wasn't a bad idea. "I'll just hide outside aaaalllll night if I have to!"

"H-huh? We do?" Callie would seem confused and would shoot 8D a puzzled head tilt. Who could Kay be talking about? There wasn't anyone she could think of that they both knew, especially well enough to invite them over without telling her! However, when she was told who it was, she'd suddenly turn her head towards the direction of the front door, half expecting him to be there suddenly. "Really! T-that's so weird! It completely slipped my mind cause of how busy today has been, but I ran into him earlier today too! We talked a lot and caught up with each other and stuffs, it was really cool!" Callie was also suddenly stopped in the joint celebration at the same time 8D had, although hers was for a different reason. A reason that made her forget to question Grin's sudden worried voice.

After a quick double checking, she could confirm her nose wasn't lying to her. Callie would suddenly spring towards the front of the bar just to be totally positive, even if she had just been told that he was coming over it still left her in shock that he was actually here. "Zavieee!" She'd cry out, beaming happily at the arrival of their new guest. However, in her rush and excitement, including the fact she had been home and not expecting company. Callie hadn't yet realized she had forgot to hide away her ears or tail...

"W-Wait! He's already here?" 8D asked genuinely confused for a moment as Callie ran off into the Bar Proper to greet her guest. How did he get here so early? Better question is how did he get in the front door? Did Kay forget to lo-Look we've been over this lets just get a move on, I swear you people need to stop over analyzing things!-8D shook his head and tried to calm himself down. He mentally kicked himself for not noticing sooner, but what was done was done. In hindsight it only made sense given the time frame and the absurd amount of people he met today. He met like... what... five people today and had a meaningful and bonding conversation with them all? How dose that work...

He stood there in thought for just long enough for him to be in the perfect spot to block the path of an oncoming cat. The feline in question skidded to a halt as it came face to shin with the tall and lanky robot. The two shared a moment of equal confusion as they looked deeply into each others eyes and quickly came to understand one another. With just one look 8D felt a bond develop with the small kitty, and he was sure the cat felt the same. In fact, out of all the people he had met today this cat was surely the most important. A true kindred spirit that perhaps, nay, DID understand 8D's tormented soul... 8D felt a bond form. Thou art I... and I am Thou, thou hast established a new bo-"Wait.... It's a cat..."

8D blinked as the cat hacked up a hairball on the carpet that Kay JUST finished cleaning. Quickly and quietly he bent down and picked the cat up from the ground and carried it into the bar where he saw Zavie Freaking out.

"W-whu?" Let's be honest, the sudden and most violent reaction that Zavie would have startled Callie a fair bit, especially before she even realized what he was freaking out about. She was more expecting a warm and happy 'hello!' back or something along those lines, was the bar really that scary? Or... "Oh... Heh, woopsie." She'd say timidly, realizing in her rush the mistake that had been made. Well... She kinda wanted him to know at some point anyway, she felt like she liked him enough to trust him with it. Buuuuuuuut it wasn't meant to have happened this soon. Or this suddenly for that matter... Ya know easing it in slowly as to not make a huge sudden deal out of it that um, was quite notably happening now?

Remembering the excuse 8D had given her in the past, Callie saw it best fit to try and hide away the truth for now as it clearly wasn't a good time. "Zavie! Z-Zavie...?" She'd be cut off in confusion as the boy tried to place his cat on her head, before it scampered off else where. "Zavie listen to me! I-it's just a... Just a costume..." She'd say with a sigh, not really enjoying the whole lying thing before pulling her hood over her head and hiding away her tail just incase anyone else came inside. "It's just a thing I like to wear... Ya know? Foxes are my favourite animal and I like to dress like one... Uh, like how you wear that cat hat!" She'd giggle nervously, hoping that he'd either buy the lie or... Well at least calm down a little now she had hidden them away again. "Just, calm down a little, okay? You're going to make Kay worry."

8D looked at his cards and grimaced, this was a terrible hand... or... at least he was pretty sure it was a terrible hand. To be honest it could have been the best hand ever, of all time! Though he probably wouldn't have known it. This game they made up, thusly dubbed Callie Cards, didn't make any sense to him. Deciding to take a bit of extra time with his turn, he went over his cads one more time. He had a two of clubs, a Draw four, a Blue Eyes White Dragon, a holographic Pikachu, A Island Land card, and a Chinese take out Punch Card with three out of five punches punched out... Last turn Zavie played a Signed Babe Ruth baseball card so he  had board control easy. Though that Family photo of himself, J, Kay, and her Callie played last turn was still in effect so he had to remember to be weary of that... "Um... I know I'm quite the CARD! ehehe... But I'm still a little shaky on the rules of this particular ga-"

As if to taunt the happy moment between close friends, the bar began to shake violently. The glasses rattled and the boards creaked. Grins held onto the card table in an attempt to not be thrown from his seat."Well... It's about time...." he said quietly under his breath. "Hey J! Keep the science down will ya? It's poker night and I don't need you throwen off my game! ehehe." His shout went unanswered... of course it did... Why would J want to interrupt this?

When the bar shook once more it became evident that whatever it was... wasn't coming from the Professor, nor was it friendly. "What IS that..." 8D would say as he grabbed his Rubber Stampede from the umbrella rack near the door. "Callie.... I'm going to check it out... and DEMONd they quiet down! Ehehehehe!" He couldn't help the joke as he slowly cracked the door open and peaked outside.

Callie analyzed the battlefield, she knew that everything was going okay from her perspective... Yet you can never be too sure. This game was one that could change in an instant! Some cards could literally change one persons detection rating all the way over to their monster rating, and be assured no body wants that to happen any time soon! It would cause chaos! Fortunately for her though, the family photo was still in play meaning that there was no chance anyone could play a debuff card until it was broken, so she had the upper hand there. It'll at least stop 8D from being able to play his Chinese take out card and causing everyone else to suffer from hunger for three turns. However he could still play his two of clubs and give two of his monsters plus one combat strength, and with two monsters sitting in his hand and the ability to draw more cards at his disposal... He could destroy everyone this turn if he played right!

Although the situation looked bad, Callie wasn't too disheartened, for she had the queen of hearts! This card would allow her to self revive herself if she was to be taken out and come back with half health, it wasn't the best but it was a good card to fall back on. As for the rest of her hand, she had a green three uno card which would let her play three cards that turn, a card shaped piece of paper with a smiley face drawn on it that would cause one opponent to give her a free card from their hand, a club penguin card jitsu card that had water power level 8, a level 5 fennekin card and most important of all... The Bart Simpson Top Trump card who could tell someone to eat his shorts and miss a turn enjoying their new fabric snack! This was a good set of cards to have on play, however Callie was fairly sure Zavie would have some kind of cat card hidden up his sleeve... She merely hoped it wasn't the one that gave him an addition nine defense one lives! That would put him way in the lead!

Callie was about to make a teasing jab at 8D to tell him to hurry up with his turn, when all of a sudden the entire place started shaking and she'd lose her trail of thought as cards on the table were sent everywhere. She'd almost be thrown off her seat if her reactions weren't quick enough to join Grins in holding onto the table. "W-what was that...?" She'd ask meekly, barley raising her voice loud enough over the strange sounds that followed. Her ears would dart back and forth under her hood wildly as she tried to figure out what it was she was hearing, staring around didn't help much either as she would notice the place seemed a lot darker than it did a few moments ago... "8D... What's going on...?" As she asked this, her nose would detect something horrible, she couldn't describe what it smelt like, it stung her nose for a few breaths before she could get used to it. Although, the smell did remind her of something... Something from long, long ago.

Being too entranced by the strange happening around her, Callie wouldn't even notice that 8D had gotten up to investigate. Yet, if her suspicions were true... She had to warn him! "8D! W-wait!" She'd cry out, chasing after her friend to make sure he would be alright. He had protected her a lot in the past, now it was time for her to repay the favour.

The dark laughter and creeping feeling of dread was not lost on the poor robot. He knew exactly what th- aXMgd2FzLCB0aGUgZGVtb25 pYyBmb3JjZSBwdXNoaW5nIGFnYWluc3QgaGlz IG1pbmQgd2FzIHNvbWV0a GluZyBoZSBoYWQgZmVsdCBtYW55IHRpbWVzIG
luIGhpcyB0cmF2ZWxzLCB hbmQgbWFueSB0aW1lcyBkaWQgdGhpcyBzYW1l- power rise within him. Though the calling voices of the young ones behind him caused the tall clown to tare his vision from the shapeless forms that plagued his door and assaulted the walls."N-No! Callie! Zavie! Please stay back! It's to-"

A sudden tick in his system caused a massive surge of pain to rocket through him. He let out a stifled scream as-dGhlIG90aGVyd29ybGRseSBwb3dlciBvZiBoaXMgR2FuZ2FkaWRsZSBzdGlycmVkIHdpdGhpbiBoaW0uIEl0J3MgaW5mbH VlbmNlIHRocmVhdGVuaW5nIHRvIH RhcmUgaGlzIG1pbmQgYXBhcnQgb25jZS Btb3JlIGFuZCBsZWF2ZSBoaW0gbm90aGluZy BidXQgdGhlIHdvbmRlcmluZyBodXNrIGhlIG9u Y2Ugd2FzLiBBdCB0aGUgY29ybmVycyBvZiBoaXMgdmlzaW9uIGhlIG NvdWxkIGZlZWwgaXQncyBjbGF3cyBzdGFydCB0byBmb3JtIGZyb20gdGh lIGV0aGVyLCBpbiBoaXMgZWFycyBoZSBzZWUgaXQ ncyBpbmRlc2NyaWJhYmxlIHZvaWNlLCBvbiBoaXMgZ mxlc2ggaGUgY291bGQgaGVhciBpdCdzIGNvbGQgdG91Y2g uIEl0J3MgZm9ybWxlc3NuZXNzIGludmFkZWQgaGlt IG9uY2UgbW9yZSwgYW5kIG1hZGUgaGltIGl0J3Mgb3 duLiBBZ2FpbnN0IHRoZSBHYW5 nYWRpZGRsZSwgaG 93ZXZlciBoZQ==-mustered the stregnth to push back, and force a different voice out, one he was sure he could control more easily. In is struggle he had not heard his own screams of torment, nor had he noticed that he had fallen to his knees.


One by one the spheres on 8D's hat glowed brighter then they ever had, then one by one they burst like light bulbs shattering against the ground"N-Not... again... Z2FuZ2FkaWRkbGU=  I won't let you. N-Not infront of them... For now, I think I'll HOP down a few pegs... E-Ehehe...ehe..." A blue flames surrounded 8D as he slowly stood and took the needed steps to exit the bar and face the formless demons. The blue light turned darker as he slowly took to the air and crossed his legs. Though joyous and upbeat as ever, there was now an unmistakable malice in 8D's voice as he spoke...The true show was about to begin.



As a fluffy little cute rabbit holding a spear poofed into existence next to the demons ready to fight, his spear pointed directly at 8D... "Gooly Gee guys! Lets get em! Hyuck Hyuck!"


"Getting... Ready to fight da bad guys?" The little rabbit asked slightly lowering his spear.

"Then... WHY are you pointing that spear at us?..."8D asked rightfully confused.

"Cus yer...Da... Bad guys?" Crusader sat an thought for a moment before a light-bulb went off over his head "OOOOOOH Ima on da wrong side! Hyuck! Sorry about that boss," his high pitched happy voice sounded deeply sorry as the little ball of fluff did his best to run back to 8D's side.

"Welp! I suppose that's what I get for being a... HARE bit more cautious with my awakening! EHehehe... Oh well! Ready Crusader!?" 8D asked as he pat his persona. His only response was a nod and a whimsical smile "Callie! Zavie! Stay behind me!"