“It’s been a while captain. Why don’t we stop for the day?” “Ok…… But once Theo knows, he ain’t gonna be pleased. “I know, I know, but we’ve been searching for the stone
for ages cap.”
“Don’t call me that…..” A slight breeze whispered through
the trees, yet the ninjas were already gone…..

Once Dirk thought the vile ninjas were gone, he slowly crept
from his concealment in the bushes. Through his muffled breathing,
he could only make out the words ‘stone’, and ‘Theo’.
As Dirk pondered upon the thought, he realized, this may mean
terrible trouble for him.

“We’ve received reports of bizarre gang cases that have spread
throughout all of Victoria Island.” Mayor Jossen stated in front of
the crowd of maple citizens. “I understand that many of you were
damaged in some way from these gangs.” Silence for the speech,
then loud uproar from angry maplers demanding full respect from
their own hometown.

“Would you look at these dimwits.” See, they’re calling us a gang,
when we’re really an organization, just trying to gain more power
to be the strongest.” An eerie silence hung over the room. Theo
answered in reply, “So Dawmon, you failed to receive the crystal.
“But sir, it wasn’t my fault, honest!” “Quiet!” Slowly Theo bent over,
and whispered in his ear, that was your last chance…..
Horror found it’s way into Dawmon’s eyes….

At the exact same moment, Dirk was also watching the show from
the comforts of his house. He knew something was up, but he wasn’t
sure what was going on. He reached into his pocket and felt the
crystal. Gently, as to not fracture it, he pulled it out and set it on the
table. Dirk realized something. The crystal had originally been white, but
was now blue. My eyes must be deceiving me, thought Dirk. But sure
enough, the crystal was blue. As if someone pinched him, Dirk felt
a slight tinge in the back of his neck. He looked in the mirror. Then he
saw something totally different.

A man was sitting outside of the subway station, with newspaper in
hand and a coffee in the other. He sipped slowly. As to enjoy the
crisp taste in it. He glanced at his watch. Almost time. Next to him, was
a platinum briefcase. He better be here on time, he thought. For the past
year, he’s been hunting down the seven lost crystals of the world for
Theo. Unlike others, the man did not fear Theo, yet Theo feared him.
The man’s ice were flint grey. As to suck the living soul out of you.
Theo teleported into the station. The man grinned, and quietly said,
“You’re late.”

Dirk’s hair had changed from a blond hue, to a red! He gasped
in wonder at this sudden change of appearance. He also saw,
something he wished he had, but never had before. Muscles.
Dirk was flexing and showing off his new strength in the mirror,
but he never noticed it looking through the window at him.
Staring.

Ch. 2 coming soon! Favorite if you like!