Disclaimer : I own no one except Galleon and his crews

 

 

Chapter 2 : Search for clues

 

 

Ban was standing on a bridge, smoking. Otaru's words flew to his mind.

 

 

"To me, they're just like human beings ! They breathe !"

 

Ban : That guy was serious... I better make sure that I retrieve those marionettes...

Ginji : Ban-chan ! I got it !

 

 

Ginji suddenly came, with a happy face. Ban put a smirk on his face as well.

 

 

Ban : So, where does Galleon usually hang out ?

Ginji : He likes hanging out at the bar.

Ban : OK, which bar.

Ginji : The bar, what else ?

Ban : *pinched both of Ginji's cheeks* IDIOT !! THERE ARE A LOT OF BAR IN THIS TOWN !! NOW, WHICH BAR !?

Ginji : Owowowow !!! Umm... Let's see... Kerush... bar ?

Ban : You mean Cruz bar ? <a/n : No business with Raww le Krueze from Gundam SEED !>

Ginji : I guess...? But, people say he likes eating there.

Ban : Good ! We're going there. Who knows if we caught him eating.

 

 

So, Ban and Ginji headed to the Cruz bar. They ordered some food, without paying for now, because they're sure that they will receive the money from Otaru. But after hours of eating, they're full, but Galleon didn't show up.

 

 

Ginji : *chibi form* Ban-chan... I'm full...

Ban : Me too... Guess he's not coming today... Let's get back for now.

 

 

Suddenly, they hear a crash sound. When they arrive outside, they found out that their car has been destroyed and trampled by a huge truck that passed by.

 

 

Ban : *gulp* How come...

Ginji : You parked not in the place, Ban-chan...

Ban : I guess... that time... I was so damn hungry so I didn't park the car well... *sweatdrop*

???? : So, how are you doing, you two ?

Ban : Full... huh ??!

 

 

Ban looked behind and suddenly saw Hevn already standing in front of them.

 

 

Ginji : Hevn-san ! Sorry, but at this time we've got our hands full...

Hevn : So... you're saying that right now you can't accept jobs from me, huh ?

Ban : Yeah, right !

Hevn : Not to worry. So, currently, you're hunting this criminal called Galleon ?

Ginji : How did you know ?

Hevn : That's a secret ! Maybe this little information can help...

Ban : If you have some informations, tell us !

Hevn : OK... Listen, lately Galleon never wanted to come out from his hideout. That happens when he has some toys to toy around....

Ban : Toys... you mean, when he's experimenting stuffs ?

Ginji : No wonder he didn't come... It can't be !

Ban : What ?

Ginji : We have to hurry ! Galleon might be currently toying with the marionettes ?

Ban : And your point ?

Ginji : Err... If something bad happened to them, maybe Otaru-san won't even pay us... In that case, we'll never be able to pay those foods !

Ban : What !? That's terrible. You do make a point sometimes. So, how do we get to Galleon's hideout ?

Hevn : You need a special remote control to open a dimension portal leading to his lab.

Ginji : Then, where can we find him ?

Hevn : From what I heard... it's heavily guarded in Zerd Mansion, his current base of crime. If you don't know where it is, well I can escort you.

Ban : No, thanks ! Ginji, let's just walk there !

Ginji : Thanks, Hevn-san !

 

 

Once again Ban and Ginji set off, this time to Zerd Mansion. Meanwhile, back in Galleon's lab, he was talking to his assistant.

 

 

Galleon : Is my experiment room ready ?

Assistant : Ready.

Galleon : Good. Put those marionettes there !

 

 

Several minutes later, Galleon entered the experiment room. Inside, there were Lime, tied with hands behind her and gagged with a silver duct tape. She was tied on a steel chair connected with some sort of cable. And then, there's also Cherry. She was lying down on a big table, also bound and gagged. And above her is a mechanical swinging guillotine.  And finally, there's also Bloodberry. Much like her 'sisters', she's also tied and gagged, but as for her, she's hanging above a huge, deep pool of water. The three of them struggle and moan but they couldn't do anything signifficant except maybe squirming.

 

 

Galleon : Now then, let's begin experiment level 1 !!

 

 

And then, soon, the scientists started the experiment. Lime was electrocuted, the guillotine started to swing and was slowly heading down to Cherry, and Bloodberry was slowly dropped to the pool. From there, there are a lot of struggling and muffled voices, but Galleon just laughed maniacally as he took some notes.

 

 

Back to the Get Backers, Ban and Ginji arrived at Zerd Mansion. But, Ginji was tired.

 

 

Ginji : Ban-chan... I'm tired. Can we rest ?

Ban : If you want to rest, I'll leave you here.

 

 

Then, Ban entered the tower himself. Ginji walked around a bit, until he accidentally stepped on the root and he heard footsteps... looks like the guards !

 

 

Ginji : *turned chibi* DON'T LEAVE ME HERE, BAN-CHAN !!!

 

 

Ginji ran off to Ban. The guards finally arrived at the entrance door, but it was locked. They tried to bang it open, but it won't budge. Suddenly the door turned to a demonic flame door and and the flames started to consume all the guards...

 

 

Ban : *puffs smoke* Just one minute...

 

 

Suddenly, the guards found themselves fine, but they no longer have the power to pursue those two, because of fear. It appeared that Ban used his Evil Eyes from the keyhole to trick the guards ! Meanwhile, Ban and Ginji came upon a forked path. However, there is a sign that they should go left.

 

 

Ginji : It should be left. Let's go !

Ban : ... Hey, wait !!

 

 

Ban was too late to stop Ginji. He entered a door, but found out that the room is empty and suddenly the alarm rang.

 

 

Ginji : Nooo ! So it's a trap !

Ban : You idiot, you should have realized it from before ! Whatever, let's continue on !

 

 

This time, they went to the right path. But, when they entered a big door that looks like will lead them to the boss, they found a letter instead.

 

 

Letter : Too late, suckers ! Ha ha ha !!!

Ban : Darn it !!!

 

 

From the windows, Ban saw a helicopter flying. Then, he and Ginji made their escape from the mansion. When they finally outrun the guards, they appeared to lost their spirit.

 

 

Ban : Damn... we failed... Now there's no way Otaru will pay us...

Ginji : What do we do now ?

Ban : Become a dishwasher in the restaurant to make up our meals, I guess...

???? : Ahem...

Ban : That voice...!

 

 

In front of them was a creepy man with black hat and tuxedo... the man known as Dr. Jackal, Akabane Kuroudo.

 

 

Ginji : Akabane-san !

Ban : What are you doing here, Jackal ? Wanna fight again ?

Akabane : Not right now. I'm just giving you this. You're looking for it, right ?

 

 

Akabane threw something to Ban. He then realized it was the remote control ! Soon, Akabane himself vanished.

 

 

Ban : It's... it's the remote control !

Ginji : Great !! Now we can save those marionettes ! Thanks... huh ?? Where's Akabane-san ?

Ban : Who knows ? He doesn't like to stick his nose on one place for too long. Now let's get started !

Ginji : Umm... what do we press ?

Ban : Stupid ! There's only one button !!

 

 

Ban pressed the button and suddenly a purple portal was made. They both entered. Meanwhile, back in Galleon's lab... the marionettes has undergone around 4 levels of experiments.

 

 

Galleon : So far... the results are... These marionettes are not like the robots I used to know. They have emotions, they can feel a fear, they are pretty tough, they don't rust on water, and they can suffocate... But I don't think this is the finishing result. Begin Experiment Level 5 !

 

 

Suddenly, alarms rang.

 

 

Alarm : Intruder alert ! Intruder alert !
Galleon : So... a guest, eh ? Looks like the experiment will have to wait... Get those marionettes back to their cells !!

 

 

Then, the other scientists returned Lime, Cherry and Bloodberry to their prisons. Meanwhile, Galleon was chuckling evilly.

 

 

Galleon : Now... about time to greet my guests !! AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA !!!!

 

 

Meanwhile, back to the Get Backers, Ban and Ginji came upon Galleon's lab... a creepy castle, like in the middle age.

 

 

Ginji : This gives me the shiver... *turned chibi*

Ban : Don't chicken out. Once we save the marionettes, we can get the reward ! Let's go !!

 

 

And thus, Ban and Ginji entered the castle....

 

 

To be Continued