Cowboy Samurai X Badass Android Read online

  Chapter 12: Hi-ho Ginger, Away!

  Jake and the rest of the Samurai Superheroes Force rode off after the departing gangs, not wanting to be left behind. Gangs immediately began to go their separate ways, as they chose to take alternate street routes to the Statue of Liberty. Almost as soon as the race started Jake watched in shock as bikers, hovercar drivers, and hoverboard riders all began to attack one another using advanced weapons: blasters and energy sabers. The hovercars had hidden weapons under their hoods that they began to reveal and use against their opponents. With red lazer beams, rockets, and grenades flying through the air all of a sudden it was instant chaos.

  Jake watched as a biker gang armed with blasters targeted a hovercar. The hovercar’s engine was hit making the driver lose control of the hovercar so that it flew off and impacted with a nearby building only to explode in a flashy display of whizzing metal and bursting flames. Jake cringed.

  Jake then watched as two biker gangs engaged in battle against each other on the road ahead of him. They picked off members of the opposing gang, one by one - it was brutal. Jake winced as he watched one biker get shot right in the chest and fall off his bike, hit the pavement with a loud smack, and roll across the road. All of the gangs were suddenly trying to take each other out like it was some kind of battle royal. It was like everyone had gone crazy.

  Was this what Gold Fist had wanted all along? This bloodshed, chaos, and insanity? It was amazing what the sum of three million dollars could drive people to do. Since Jake had a bad sense of direction he was allowing Ultraviolet to direct him since she had a built in GPS anyways.

  “Jake, turn left up ahead. Now right. Left.” She continued to direct him as they navigated through the busy New York City streets.

  As soon as the golden fembot had lowered the white and black checkered flag the Metalheads had zoomed off on their high-tech, ultramodern bikes and headed directly for the finish line single-mindedly. They didn’t intend to waste their time trying to take out their competition, and this earned them quite a head start. The Metalheads were fast, and Jake found himself being impressed. But the SSF’s own upgraded, genetically engineered cyborg warhorses were equally fast - they would be able to keep up. However-

  At that moment, the Galaxy Police officers that were disguised as the Solar Flares, decided to target the Dragon Gang. The jig was suddenly up when the Galaxy Police officers pulled out their standard issue blasters and targeted the Dragon Gang. They rode their bikes into a V formation with Astra in front, and pursued the Dragon Gang that was also riding ahead on the road in a V formation with the Dragon Alien in the front of the formation. The Galaxy Police officers opened fire upon the Dragon Alien Ryuuji, getting his attention when the energy shields flared to life around his five robot lackeys.

  “Tsk.” Astra clicked her tongue. “The robots have energy shields…that’s some fancy Tech alright.” Astra whipped out her GXP badge and held it in the air to show Ryuuji, who was looking back at the Galaxy Police officers curiously. He still had his helmet on that was shielding his face. “Halt! You are under arrest Dragon Ryuuji! In the names of Justice and Peace for the galaxy!”

  Ryuuji raised an eyebrow at the feisty Galaxy Police officer. The Dragon wasn’t one for being ‘prey’ and so he decided to turn the tables. Dragon Alien Ryuuji abruptly stopped his large bike and moved it sideways on the road in order to block off as much of the road as possible creating an instant roadblock.

  “Shit!” Astra swore as she and the other Galaxy Police officers were forced to swerve out of the way and try and miss Ryuuji on his bike, and were forced to ride around him.

  The Dragon Alien smirked to himself beneath his helmet. Now he was exactly where he wanted to be. Behind his prey. Ryuuji faced his bike forward on the road once more and rode off in pursuit of the revealed Galaxy Police officers. Ryuuji had instantly recognized their blasters as being those of the Galaxy Police and so knew exactly who they were. Ryuuji whipped out a living-metal katana and communicated with the complex nano-sword telepathically through the psy-link, and the sword began to glow with a green-tinged light. He held his arm and sword out as he was approaching one of the Galaxy Police officers that was in the rear of their formation and neatly sliced through the bike and the rider’s legs with one merciless slash. The bike exploded, and pieces of the bike and rider flew across the road.

  Astra looked behind her and watched as the Dragon Alien took out Reebo easily. “No! Reebo! Shit!”

  “I want their leader. You robots take out the other four Galaxy Police officers.” Ryuuji directed as he waved his hand forward and the five robotic bikers rode off after the remaining four Galaxy Police officers while the Dragon Alien rode towards Astra.

  The Galaxy Police officers engaged with the robot bikers firing their blasters and defending themselves against the robots’ deadly attacks. The lazer beams were deflected and effectively blocked by the robots’ energy shields leaving the Galaxy Police officers virtually defenseless. They became sitting ducks for the robots’ attacks. The robots began to take out the Galaxy Police officers one by one using a combination of physical and long distance weapon attacks.

  Jake had been watching all of his happen with his mouth hanging open, when he realized that Astra was in deep shit. Holy Crap! The Dragon Alien Ryuuji is after Astra! I…I’ve got to do something! Jake inwardly decided as he watched Ryuuji close in on Astra on his bike from behind.

  Jake yanked his reigns to the right and galloped off course and towards Astra now instead of staying on course. Ultraviolet swiftly hit Jake over the back of his head with her fist. BONK! “Idiot! Baka pervy cowboy! Where the hell do you think you’re going? The proper route is the OTHER way, dumbass!”

  “Ow! V! I…I want to go help Astra!” Jake explained as he fumbled to unsheathe his living-metal sword and held it out in front of him in an awkward manner.

  Ultraviolet’s eyes widened in surprise. “You want to go save her…what are you CRAZY?! You can’t possibly save anyone and besides we need to concentrate on winning this race. Think about Mr. Suit, you selfish bastard!”

  Jake frowned when he thought about Mr. Suit’s predicament. Jake didn’t answer as he continued to gallop after the Dragon Alien who was getting even closer to Astra. Ryuuji was raising his sword and preparing to take Astra out, when-

  Cowboy Samurai, Jake Lonestar, on his faithful warhorse, Ginger, was suddenly right next to the Dragon Alien. Jake gathered his meager courage and swung his sword haphazardly at Ryuuji’s head.

  Ryuuji turned swiftly and effortlessly blocked Jake’s attack, but was still surprised that Jake had managed to catch up with him, let alone attack him. Who is this cocky human punk?

  Jake and the Dragon’s Alien’s sword clashed as Jake galloped next to the bike as they continued their way down the road at high speed.

  Meanwhile, the rest of the SSF were extremely confused about why the heck Jake had suddenly gone off course.

  A worried expression crossed Black Fox’s face as she rubbed her temples. “Where does the cowboy think he’s going? We don’t have time for his foolishness. The Metalheads are already way ahead of us.”

  “AWESOME!” Bulldozer grinned in amusement. “I think he’s going to go kick someone’s ass! He’s a crazy kid! I like him!”

  “You would.” Black Fox shook her head at Bulldozer with a sigh.

  Galaxy Girl watched as Jake rode off and frowned. “Jake? I wonder what’s wrong. He better not be expecting us to help him with anything unnecessary. What if I chipped a nail?”

  “That idiot.” Red Dragon sneered as he shook his head at the cowboy samurai. “He managed to get lost on a one-way street. And we made him our team leader, why?” And then Red Dragon turned to face his partner Galaxy Girl and saw that she was on the phone with someone and putting lip-gloss on while riding her cyborg warhorse through traffic. His eyes nearly fell out of his head. “Galaxy Girl! Pay attention with what you’re doing! Women drivers!”

/>   “What?” Galaxy Girl snapped back. “My lips felt chapped and my friend just found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her with some stripper…it’s crazy!”

  Red Dragon plugged his ears with his fingers. “I don’t want to hear your nonsense woman!”

  Galaxy Girl shrugged and began to apply some Maybelline mascara.

  Red Dragon nearly fell off his cyborg warhorse at the sight.

  Meanwhile, one of the Dragon Alien’s robots took out another Galaxy Police officer in front of Astra and the officer flew off his bike. The bike tipped and skidded across the road sending sparks into the air. “No! Lazlo!” Astra called out and was forced to swerve on the road while trying to avoid the fallen bike. However, Astra lost control of her bike and it tipped beginning to skid across the road sideways with her still on it.

  Jake and Ryuuji continued to fight. Inner Jake: Ahhhh! What the heck am I doing?! Facing off against this scary Dragon! I can feel his glare burning a hole into my skull. Ah! Scary! I’m so going to die!

  However, the Dragon Alien was impressed by Jake’s supposed ‘courage’ and ‘bravery’ to face him, and that he was holding his own against a Dragon in a match of strength because as Ryuuji pressed his sword against Jake’s - Jake simply pressed his sword back with equal force. A very simple act - however, most human weaklings would have been completely blown back and off their horse or bike…any normal human that is…

  Ryuuji stroked his chin through his helmet and gave Jake a curious look as the gears in his mind began to turn. He took in the flashy superhero outfit and the cyborg warhorse. Ah, he’s a Samurai Superhero. Perhaps he’s a cyborg. Do they also know that I’m here? Did the Galaxy Police tell them? Ryuuji knew about the SSF - a special police force formed to deal with the more dangerous criminals of New York City - cyborgs. The mayor had decided to form the force in order to fight fire with fire.

  “Who are you, human?” Ryuuji questioned as his curiosity finally got the better of him. The Dragon Alien’s eyes were suddenly drawn to the living-metal sword in Jake’s hands that looked strangely familiar. Ryuuji’s eyes widened suddenly. That sword…it can’t be…?!

  Jake was opening his mouth to respond, however, he saw Astra’s bike tip and begin to skid across the road to the side and instantly became distracted. Not really thinking, he immediately galloped off in the direction of the fallen Galaxy Police officer, leaving the Dragon Alien in the dust.

  Ryuuji’s eyes widened in disbelief and he felt a large sweatdrop form on the side of his head. A mere human had just ignored him - Second in line to the throne of the planet Draconia, Prince Ryuuji! This was entirely unacceptable.

  Jake pulled back on his reigns as he reached the fallen Astra and hopped off of Ginger. He rushed over to Astra and saw that the bike had somehow ended up on top of her. Jake grabbed the bike with his two hands and flung it aside as if it weighed nothing. He then knelt by Astra’s side and giving her a worried look he held his hand out to her. “Are you alright, Astra? Can you stand?”

  Astra groaned as she looked up and blinked at Jake in surprise. This idiot had just saved her life. Her eyes had wanted to turn into two pink hearts for a moment there, but Astra quickly shook her head to stop herself. Astra put her hand in Jake’s and allowed him to help her up. “Er…yea…thanks to you, Jake.” She thanked him shyly and blushed. Astra was surprised at herself since she never blushed. “You can let go of my hand now…”

  “Ack!” Jake quickly let Astra’s hand go, “Sorry!” He put a hand behind his head in a bashful gesture and laughed nervously.

  Meanwhile, Ultraviolet had hopped off of Ginger at the same time and had reluctantly followed Jake over to help this Astra person with slower steps. Ultraviolet then watched as Jake lifted the bike off of Astra, how he helped her up and then how they stared at each other having a freakin romantic moment! Ultraviolet pulled a cig out of her shirt, lit it and took a long irritated drag. Grrrr…who does Jake think he is?! Acting all…cool and suave like he’s some kind of superhero, when he’s just an idiot! He’s just Jake! Her eye twitched in annoyance as she puffed on her cigarette while trying to calm herself down. It was times like this that she wished she could actually feel the nicotine running through her veins. Ultraviolet sighed in defeat.

  Ultraviolet stomped over to Jake angrily and reached out grabbing Jake’s ear once she was close enough. “Come on, baka pervy cowboy - we have a race to win, remember?” Ultraviolet had to resist the urge to stick her tongue out at Jake in an immature fashion and began dragging Jake away by his ear back to the cyborg warhorse Ginger.

  Ginger seemed amused by what was going on and let out whinny as if she was laughing at Jake.

  Astra looked after Jake with a wistful expression on her face. “Cowboy Samurai, Jake Lonestar…my hero? Naw.” An amused smile curled Astra’s lips.

  Jake waved back at Astra excitedly, “Bye Astra! Be safe! Be careful, okay! Bye! Ow! Ow! Ow! V - do you really need to pull my ear so hard…yeooowwww!”

  Jake remounted Ginger and Ultraviolet hopped up behind him - just as the rest of the SSF reached them on their warhorses. The Samurai Superheroes had all witnessed how Jake had protected Astra from the Dragon Alien Ryuuji.

  “Jake, you’re so heroic. You saved that girl.” Galaxy Girl complimented. “Just like how you’ll save me, if I’m ever in trouble, right?” Galaxy Girl gave Jake an expectant look with a flip of her hair.

  Jake put a hand behind his head and gave Galaxy Girl an embarrassed look. “Of course I’d try…”

  “Even if you have to act as a human shield and take a hit for me, you’ll do it, right?” Galaxy Girl insisted.

  Jake swallowed and scratched the back of his neck nervously. “Er, sure…”

  “The woman he just saved was a Galaxy Police officer who was pursuing that Dragon Alien. Jake, do you really think it wise to make an enemy of a Dragon Alien? The odds of you surviving an encounter against that Dragon Alien again are 3,720 to 1.” Black Fox stated.

  “Never tell me the odds, Black Fox.” Jake stated firmly. Dang, she just went C3PO on my ass…

  “That idiot just picked a fight with a Dragon. He’s dead meat.” Red Dragon smiled happily to himself.

  Bulldozer chuckled. “Or maybe Jake’s already scared him off! Look! He’s riding off already!” Bulldozer pointed at the Dragon Alien and sure enough it appeared as though he was taking off down the road on his bike.

  “Either that or he has bigger fish to fry. I wonder what the Dragon’s true objective really is for having entered this race or…who his target really is…?” Black Fox mused. “All I know for sure is that more people will die at his hands before this race is over.”

  Jake shivered.

  “Kind of makes it exciting, huh?” Bulldozer grinned.

  “Exciting!?” Galaxy Girl burst out. “So help me God, if I end up breaking a nail because of that Dragon I’m so suing his ass!”

  Red Dragon shot Galaxy Girl a look of disbelief. “You’re worried about your nails when you should be worried about your neck, stupid woman.”

  “What did you just call me, scaly.” Galaxy Girl snapped, glaring at her partner.

  “Stop calling me that, WOMAN!” Red Dragon snarled.

  “ANYWAYS.” Bulldozer interrupted them loudly. “I guess we’ll find out what the Dragon is up to as this race continues. Come on. We lost a lot of time back there with Jake’s knight in shinning armor routine. We need to get a move on.”

  Jake gave the SSF a bashful look. “Sorry guys…let’s go! Hyah!”

  The SFF all nodded to each other before guiding their warhorses back on course and heading once again for the Statue of Liberty. New York City passed them by - towering glass and steel skyscrapers, bright artificial lights, fancy cars, eclectic people, gray smog. Jake looked up and saw that no stars could be seen in the gray sky overhead because of all the artificial light within the city. It was so different from the Lonestar Ranch where Jake had grown up. But Jake tho
ught that the city had its own charm too.

  They passed by the new park where the Twin Towers used to be. Jake wondered what would happen if terrorists ever got their hands on E.T. Tech and what might happen. No. Jake shook his head. He wouldn’t let that happen. He would protect his country if he could…just as any proud American would.

  “Look! There goes the Dragon Alien, Linx!” Zoe shouted loudly as she spotted Ryuuji riding his bike past them at about four hundred miles per hour. “After him! Do you know how much fertilizer I could buy with the bounty that’s on his head?”

  Linx felt a trickle of sweat form on his brow at Zoe’s unexpected order. Now it suddenly made sense why she had convinced him to enter this race…she was after the Dragon Alien’s bounty. Linx slapped a hand to his forehead and groaned. He should have known. Zoe was an ex-bounty hunter known for only going after those with the highest bounties because…Linx frowned when he realized he didn’t really know why Zoe did this. But when Linx had heard about this he began to rob more spaceships in order to increase the bounty on his head so that the infamously beautiful and deadly bounty hunter Zoe would come after him. She was a lovely rose covered in thorns. It had been love at first sight.

  Linx loved Zoe even if she had a strange hobby of nurturing deadly alien plants and finding ways to make them even more deadly. Love was blind obviously. But Zoe also had this divine scent…it drove him wild. Linx looked over at Zoe and spotted the space credit signs in her eyes.

  Zoe was smiling to herself thinking of the Dragon Alien’s bounty and feeling giddy. Astra had showed her the Dragon Alien’s Ryuuji’s Wanted Poster. Apparently, Ryuuji was second in line to the throne of the Planet Draconia. According to the poster his bounty was 800,000,000 space credits dead or alive.

  “Just how much is his bounty, anyways, babe?” Linx asked curiously.

  “Oh just 800,000,000 space credits.” Zoe informed Linx casually.

  Linx’s expression fell. That was several times higher than his own bounty. Linx frowned, feeling jealous that Zoe was after Ryuuji. He didn’t want to help her capture this guy…also Linx didn’t want to go after a Dragon! But Linx had no choice because Zoe had asked him. And how could he refuse Zoe? “Alright, babe. Let’s get this guy, if that’s what you want.” Linx cooed at Zoe as he floored his hovercar after Ryuuji and his robot bikers.

  “Launch the rockets!” Zoe commanded waving her hand at Ryuuji.

  Linx really didn’t want to piss off a Dragon but…he had no choice. He pressed down on a red button on his dashboard and the front hood of the red hovercar rose to reveal a hidden rocket launcher device that contained three rockets. The rockets were fired at Ryuuji simultaneously went zooming through the air towards the Dragon Alien with deadly precision.

  However, the rockets hit the energy shields that immediately formed around the robot bikers and were deflected. The three rockets bounced off of the energy shields and dangerously zoomed off in three random directions. One of the rockets hit a nearby building, another exploded in the street sending pavement up into the air, and the third went straight up into the air and exploded like a gigantic firework, showering the road with red sparks.

  Ryuuji looked behind him and noticed that now a hovercar filled with a bunch of idiots were after him. His eyes narrowed when he spotted a red-haired woman whip out an energy saber and point it in his direction. Wait, that woman looks familiar. Ryuuji pressed a button on the side of his helmet to activate his visor’s scanning mode. The visor scanned Zoe and easily identified her.

  “Scanning…target. Target identified as Bounty Hunter Zoe. Threat: Extreme. Proceed with caution.” A synthesized voice intoned in Ryuuji’s ear.

  “Ryuuji! Your head and bounty are mine!” Zoe yelled loudly at him with a cat’s paw smile on her face.

  “Nooo~ Zoe, you can have my head and bounty instead!” Linx moaned dramatically.

  Both of Ryuuji’s brows rose at this discovery. Bounty Hunter Zoe? What’s she doing out here in the boonies? I thought she looked familiar. So, she really is the infamous plant alien and bounty hunter. Heh. She must have gone crazy after seeing my latest Galactic Wanted Poster. A pleased smirk formed on Ryuuji’s face. And also my handsome face. The ladies just can’t seem to get enough of me. And who can really blame them, after all I am incredibly handsome, a prince and powerful. But this time Zoe has made a mistake of targeting me. Hunter will soon become prey. His smirk twisted into an evil grin. Without fear, he turned his bike around and headed straight for the hovercar, whipping out his living-metal sword and holding it out before him as he essentially charged the hovercar.

  Linx and the other nekomata aliens began to panic at the Dragon’s bold move. “Ack! He’s heading straight for us! What do we do?!” Linx’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter until it cracked.

  “He’s playing chicken with us.” Zoe’s eyes sparkled when she came to this realization. “But we won’t be the chickens! Keep going straight ahead!” Zoe demanded loudly.

  Linx frowned at Zoe, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat next to him and practically bouncing up and down in her seat in excitement. He just couldn’t figure her out. He shrugged before he continued to drive straight ahead and towards the approaching Dragon Alien.

  “Epp! He’s not going to back down! Captain!” The cat-girl cried out worriedly.

  “Shit! We’re going to hit him!” Linx swore.

  Zoe raised her sword, prepared to fight, “Cocky bastard! He’s so going down.”

  However, Ryuuji merely evolved his sword so that it increased in length and glowed with a green-tinged light. He then held the sword out before him and sliced through the hovercar when it would have otherwise collided with his body. The hovercar was neatly sliced in two and the pieces of the car flew past on either side of the Dragon. Ryuuji had made sure to cut the hovercar in such a way that Linx nor Zoe would be hurt since that would have ended the fun all too soon.

  The two pieces of the hovercar went zooming through the air out of control and crash landed on the street. The pieces of the hovercar, which still contained Linx, Zoe and the other nekomata space pirates, skidded and sparked across the street dangerously until finally coming to a stop.

  Ryuuji chuckled at Zoe’s indignant expression, and watched as she raised her sword and shook her fist at his departing form. “Ryuuji, you coward! Get your ass back here so I can kick it into the next galaxy!”

  Ryuuji gave Zoe a salute. Zoe was hot. Maybe he’d make her a part of his Royal Harem. Though she wasn’t as beautiful as himself. I’m too sexy for this planet…too sexy for this planet~ Ryuuji sung in his mind to the beat of an old Earthling song.

  Jake had witnessed what had happened to Linx and Zoe, and wanted to stop in order to make sure that they were okay. “Zoe! Linx! I need to go and see if they’re okay!” Jake said.

  “No you don’t!” Ultraviolet grabbed Jake’s ear and twisted it.

  “OW!” Jake cried.

  “We have a race to win! Don’t worry about them. They can take care of themselves.” Ultraviolet stated firmly.

  “But V~” Jake whined before he caught sight of the Silver Fox Gang and more specifically the Green Avenger and a sudden idea struck him. Jake galloped towards the Green Avenger, who was on his hoverboard. “Hey! Green!”

  The Green Avenger turned around and saw Jake galloping towards him and his eyes widened. “Jake?” The Green Avenger maneuvered his board towards Jake while the rest of the Silver Fox Gang headed for the finish line. He was soon hovering next to Jake as they continued forward on the road at a fast pace. “What’s up?”

  “Green - Linx and Zoe were just taken out by the Dragon Gang. The dude actually cut their hovercar in half with his living-metal sword! It was crazy. It looked like they survived but I’m worried about Zoe…can you go make sure they’re all okay? I can’t continue this race with that worry in the back of my mind…” Jake quickly explained.

  Ultraviolet rolled her eyes heavenwar
ds, “Soft hearted idiot…he barely knows those weirdos and yet he’s actually worried about them. Keh.” She stuck her tongue out.

  The Green Avenger’s eyes turned into two large stars. “Jake-san! You’re so compassionate! Of course I’ll go make sure they’re okay and provide any assistance needed. That’s so like you Jake-san - even worrying about your competitors!”

  Jake blushed. “Er…naw…not really.” Jake pulled his hat down low over his eyes out of embarrassment. “Anyways, I need to keep moving forward!”

  The Green Avenger saluted Jake. “Don’t worry Jake - you just leave this to me!” The Green Avenger headed for the wreckage of Linx’s hovercar.

  At that moment, Mayor Stark noticed the Green Avenger leaving the main route, “Oi! Green Avenger, where do you think you’re going?”

  “Duty calls! Zoe and Linx may need my help…the help of a hero! I sense a damsel in distress…yosha!” The Green Avenger declared loudly while striking a corny superhero pose.

  Mayor Stark sighed and rubbed his temples at the overly enthusiastic kappa alien. “When will he ever grow out of that hero fixation? My compatriots - let us go offer our assistance to Linx and Zoe. Then we’ll continue the race. Come on, let us go!” Mayor Stark ordered the two kitsune couples, and the hoverboard Silver Fox Gang left the main route going to help the Linx Space Pirates.

  Jake watched as the entire Silver Fox Gang left the main route and headed off to help the Linx Space Pirates from the burning wreckage of the hovercar and let out a breath of relief. He could suddenly breath a whole lot easier.

  Ultraviolet smirked. “That was very devious of you Jake…eliminating the competition like that.”

  Jake’s eyes widened, “Huh…that’s not why I did that, V!”

  “Surreee~” Ultraviolet crowed, not convinced. “No one can actually be as kind as you Jake. It’s a statistically impossibility in this world. The odds that you did that out of the kindness of your heart are 5,654 to 1.”

  Jake blushed. That had almost been a compliment. Almost.

  “Don’t blush you idiot! That wasn’t a compliment! Gah!” Ultraviolet complained as she gave him a noogie.

  “Owowowow! V!” Jake complained but was feeling lighthearted all of a sudden.

  A temporary bridge that reached Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty was had been newly constructed specifically for the E.T. Tech Race. Four gangs had managed to reach this last stretch of road that led to the Statue of Liberty. An unknown cyborg biker gang, the Metalheads, the Dragon Gang and the Samurai Superheroes Force. Jake watched as the Metalheads approached the biker gang that was in front of them before ruthlessly taking them out in a matter of seconds. It had been a battle between cyborg bikers using E.T. Tech with energy sabers slicing through the air and red lazer beams shooting through the sky. The NANO addicts had been no match for the Metalheads.

  Now nothing stood between the Metalheads and victory, or so Jake thought until he noticed that the Dragon Alien had somehow managed to pass not only that unknown cyborg biker gang but the Metalheads too. Burning rubber, Ryuuji spun his bike around to face the Metalheads. He then stood up on the seat of his bike in the middle of the road as his five robot bikers road around him as they awaited the Metalheads to approach.

  In this manner, the Metalheads and the Dragon Gang faced off. The robots that were with the Dragon Alien immediately engaged the rest of the Metalheads in battle as both gangs rode towards each other and clashed while Ryuuji whipped out his living-metal katana and rode forward to attack Nix Duo. His apparent target.

  Nix Duo followed suit and whipped out his own living-metal katana and blocked Ryuuji’s attack as the biker was suddenly upon him. Ryuuji eyed Nix Duo curiously. He was a Nemesis Zero - one of Nova Inara’s top fighters - a living-metal samurai. “You pathetic humans playing at being living-metal samurai, using Tech you stole from my race…it sickens me. Nix Duo - where is Nova Inara? Where is the D. Spark she stole from us?!” Ryuuji demanded in a fierce tone.

  A holographic, maniac grin formed on the faceless mask Nix Duo wore as he realized what was going on. “A Dragon? I always wanted to cross swords with one of the legendary Dragon Aliens. I’d like to hear your scream, Dragon. I’d like to see your blood Dragon.” A psychotic laughter bubbled up within Nix Duo that he suddenly released in Ryuuji’s face. Nix Duo began to viciously slash his sword at Ryuuji, who easily blocked the wild swings.

  His ‘interrogation’ was not going too well. Ryuuji frowned to himself. Insolent humans!

  Jake and the rest of the Samurai Superheroes had frozen at the sight before them and watched as the Metalheads and the Dragon Gang were savagely trying to take each other out.

  “What should we do?” Jake asked.

  Ultraviolet sighed and rubbed her temples. “Isn’t that obvious baka?! Let’s make a break for the finish line!”

  “Oh…right! Let’s go, guys!” Jake agreed loudly.

  “Roger!” The Samurai Superheroes all cried.

  Jake and the rest of the SSF galloped forward intending to pass the Metalheads and the Dragon Gang and make their way to the Statue of Liberty.

  However, as Jake was galloping past the Metalheads and swerving to miss them, Solis caught sight of Jake galloping past her and a sadistic, predatory smile formed on her face.

  “And where do you think you’re going, Lonestar?” Solis whipped out her long, barbed metal whip towards Jake and the whip wrapped around Ginger’s front legs.

  Solis roughly pulled back on her whip and Ginger faltered and fell hard on the pavement. Jake went flying over the front of his saddle, flipped in the air, and landed on his back. The back of his head hit the pavement with a sickening crack! Ultraviolet had lithely jumped off as Ginger as it became apparent that the warhorse would fall and landed gracefully on her feet (but not before giving everyone a nice panty shot as she back flipped through the air and her short skirt flipped up).

  Ultraviolet looked around frantically and spotted Jake’s prone form on the ground, a pool of blood forming around his head. “JAKE!” Ultraviolet exclaimed as she rushed to Jake’s side. “That baka why didn’t he just jump off and land on his feet? He should have been able to do that, unless he was paralyzed by his own fear? That coward…” Ultraviolet grabbed Jake’s shoulder and shook it. “JAKE! Wake up!”

  Jake abruptly sat up and then stood stiffly on his feet. Jake then tied his shaggy brown hair into a ponytail and a fierce gleam came to his light brown eyes. “I am…Samurai Orochi!” Orochi whipped out his living-metal sword.

  Ginger tried to stand and let out a pained whinny as the barbed metal whip continued to cut into the front of her chest and grated against her cybernetic legs.

  Solis cackled gleefully at the warhorse’s plight. “Aw you poor creature. How about I put you out of your misery!” Solis pulled her whip back, removing it from the horse’s front legs and then lashed her whip out again intending to bring the whip down upon the warhorse’s body, which was still actual flesh and bone.

  Orochi! Save Ginger! Please! Jake shouted loudly in his mind.

  Without responding, Orochi charged forward, and stood in front of Ginger as the whip came slashing through the air. Orochi then simply grabbed the whip with his bare hand and pulled back on it. Solis cried out as the whip was wrenched away from her by Orochi’s powerful grip. Orochi then tossed the whip aside. Jake could see that his hand was bleeding and was glad that he couldn’t feel the pain that injury must have been causing him. Although he knew that as soon as he regained control of his body that he’d feel the pain. Aw crap.

  Now free, Ginger was able to stand once more and let out an angry puff of air as she pawed the ground in Solis’ direction as if she wanted to attack the sadistic female cyborg.

  Jake let out a mental breath of relief that his warhorse seemed to be okay. She was one tough cookie. He smiled inwardly at the thought.

  “How dare you steal my whip, cowboy!” Solis was shouting at Orochi but Oro
chi’s attention had turned to focus on where Nix Duo and Ryuuji were fighting.

  Jake noticed this as well. Oh hell no, don’t even think about fighting them you stupid sword! It’s way too dangerous!

  “Target detected. Target identified as Nix Duo. Preparing to eliminate. Evolution 1…2…3!” The holographic projection of an eight-headed dragon with shimmering emerald green scales, and glowing yellow eyes appeared next to Orochi. “Eight-headed Dragon Energy Attack!” Orochi’s sword was glowing and pulsing with a green-tinged light, and he swung his sword forward unleashing a plasma attack that turned into the form of an eight-headed dragon as it flew through the air towards Nix Duo and Ryuuji.

  Nix Duo looked up to see a huge, green eight-headed dragon flying towards him and his eyes widened dramatically behind his faceless mask. “Holy shit!” Nix Duo quickly maneuvered his bike to avoid the attack.

  Ryuuji simply turned his bike to face the attack instead. He arched an eyebrow at the familiar looking attack. “That attack…it can’t be…” Ryuuji raised his living-metal sword and summoned its power so that it began to form an energy shield to block Orochi’s attack. The eight-headed dragon clashed against Ryuuji’s shield and the Dragon Alien was being hard pressed to block the attack.

  But then Orochi was suddenly in front of Ryuuji as if he’d teleported. “I will kill all those who oppose me! I am Samurai Orochi!” Orochi roared as he slashed his sword down upon Ryuuji.

  Jake was shocked that Orochi was managing to hold his own against a Dragon. Inner Jake: Hey, Orochi is kicking some serious ass! Hey Orochi! Ask the Dragon about the symbol with the single star! Let’s beat the shit out of this guy and find out where my parents are!

  Ryuuji raised his own living-metal sword and blocked Orochi’s attack. He eyed the sword and thought back to the samurai’s earlier statement. “No…it can’t be…my family’s lost heirloom - the sword destined to be in the hands of the most powerful warrior in the universe…the Dragon King! The one destined to rule the universe is fated to have that sword in his possession. That sword belongs to the Dragon Royal Family. Why…what is the sword doing here in the hands of a pathetic human no less? Orochi! What are you doing in the hands of a human? You belong to my brother, Prince Ryuuzaki! He is your rightful master!”

  Inner Jake: Legendary Sword…no duh. Family heirloom? Now that’s new info. Most powerful warrior in the universe? Well, that can’t be me.

  Orochi raised an eyebrow at Ryuuji. “My ‘rightful’ master? I think not. Your brother is weak, just as you are weak. Your guard is full of openings. I have a mission to accomplish Ryuuji. I won’t let you get in my way, conceited prince. Nova Inara is my prey. HA!” Orochi slashed his sword through the air and cut Ryuuji’s helmet off.

  Ryuuji’s face was revealed to all. The Dragon was incredibly handsome with long, cyan-colored hair, and shinning golden eyes with slanted pupils. He had a beauty mark under his left eye and long lashes giving him a somewhat effeminate appearance. Ryuuji put his hands on his exposed face and began to freak out. “Orochi! How dare you do that!? I am Prince Ryuuji - I can’t be expected to breath the same air as these lowly humans! Ugh. I feel sick.” Ryuuji’s face had indeed turned an interesting shade of green. Ryuuji was a racist who thought humans were a weak, dumb species that should only serve as slaves to Dragons.

  However, Orochi gave Ryuuji a disgusted look. “You’re still full of openings, your highness…allow me to teach you a lesson about where your conceit and vanity will get you. There is something much more important that you should be worrying about than oxygen right now your highness: ME.” Orochi rushed forward and slashed his living-metal katana down through the air.

  Inner Jake: Hey, don’t kill him! He may know where my parents are!

  Orochi cut Ryuuji’s cheek just under his left eye. Ryuuji’s eyes widened in horror as he watched his own blood splatter through the air. He put a hand to his bleeding cheek and collapsed to his knees, as his immense strength suddenly seemed to leave him. “My cheek…you cut my cheek!” He murmured and looked up at Orochi with wide, beseeching eyes. “How could you Orochi? How could you deface me? My face…my beautiful face…!” Ryuuji whipped out a hand mirror and examined his reflection fretfully.

  Orochi shook his head and looked down at Ryuuji while giving him a disgusted look. “And you call yourself a Dragon…you are an eyesore to your entire race…”

  However, Nix Duo was getting pissed that Ryuuji and Jake were ignoring him. No one ignored Nix Duo. Nix Duo decided to take advantage of Ryuuji’s vulnerable state and attack him. Nova Inara was sure to reward him handsomely if he managed to take out a Dragon.

  “HA! Die Dragon Alien!” Nix Duo leapt up into the air and brought his sword down upon Ryuuji.

  Ryuuji looked up, sniffling, and saw Nix Duo attacking him. A pathetic human thought he could take Prince Ryuuji out? Think again. Ryuuji moved swiftly, in the blink of an eye, and Nix Duo’s living-metal sword came down upon the pavement and created a gigantic crater where Ryuuji had been standing only mere seconds before. “Keh…where did that bastard Dragon Alien go…?” Nix Duo whipped his head around.

  “Looking for someone, Nix Duo?” Came Ryuuji’s angry sounding voice. Nix Duo turned to see Ryuuji standing straight and looking extremely pissed as blood trailed down his cheek.

  “I’m in a very bad mood right now, Nix Duo. That was not a good idea attacking me while I was having a personal moment. Did you - a lowly, pathetic, disgusting human really think that you could kill me? Such audacity! I’ll destroy you! I’ll cut you into tiny little pieces, Nix Duo! Your mere appearance offends me…” Ryuuji noticed the several piercings in Nix Duo’s ears and shuddered. Most likely, Nix Duo had more facial piercings that were hidden behind his mask. “I hate piercings - they’re disgusting. I would never deface my beautiful body like that. Qinlong Evolution One…Two…Three!” Ryuuji’s sword glowed with a green-tinged light. The holographic image of a blue-scaled dragon with bright golden eyes appeared next to him, and then little tubes formed on the living-metal sword as it began to suck in oxygen to create plasma for his up and coming attack.

  Nix Duo followed suit, “Karasu-Tengu Evolution Three!” Nix Duo’s living-metal sword glowed with a green-tinged light and the holographic image of a tengu yokai dressed in the clothes of a Buddhist monk appeared next to Nix Duo.

  Both living-metal samurai prepared to unleash their energy attacks at each other. Ryuuji swung his sword forward and unleashed a plasma attack that resembled a dragon flying towards Nix Duo. “Qinlong Energy Attack!”

  “Karasu-Tengu Energy Attack!” Nix Duo cried as he swung his sword forward and unleashed a plasma attack that resembled a gigantic crow, which flew towards the dragon shaped attack Ryuuji had sent his way.

  The two energy attacks collided and clashed in the air, battling for dominance like two fierce beasts.

  Meanwhile, Ultraviolet ran towards Jake, “Jake! Jake snap out of it! We have a race to win!” Ultraviolet grasped Jake’s shoulders and stared into his light brown eyes searchingly.

  Orochi blinked down at Ultraviolet, a scowl on his face, “Such shameless behavior onna…”

  “Shameless? I’ll show you shameless you baka sword!” Ultraviolet declared. I guess I don’t really have a choice - I need to get Jake back. Ultraviolet thought before she stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips passionately to Jake’s.

  Jake began to freak out inwardly. Ack! Ultraviolet is kissing meeee~!

  Orochi’s eyes widened in shock, and he became swirly eyed before he passed out cold and fell backwards landing on the pavement with a heavy thud.

  “Jake!” Ultraviolet crouched down by his side.

  Jake stirred awake and blinked back up at Ultraviolet. “V…?” A blush spread across Jake’s cheeks, “You kissed me.” He decided to state the obvious.

  Ultraviolet blushed and slapped Jake hard across the face Latina style. “I DID NOT! I kissed Orochi - remember? How could I kiss a patheti
c loser like you! Ha!”

  Jake pouted, “Oh, yea…right.”

  “Anyways, we need to hurry and finish this race. We should take advantage of the fact that Nix Duo and Ryuuji are distracted!” Ultraviolet stood up and held her hand out to help Jake up.

  Jake took her hand and allowed her to help her up, while giving the feisty android a goofy grin. “Right!” Jake mounted Ginger and patted the side of his warhorse’s neck. “Just a little bit further girl, and then I’m going to reward you with some nice oats. How does that sound?”

  Ginger let out a happy neighing sound at the mention of oats as Ultraviolet hopped up behind Jake in the saddle. “Good, now that that’s settled. Let’s ride.” Jake snapped his reigns and Ginger began to gallop down the temporary bridge towards the Statue of Liberty. “Let’s win this thing, ladies! Yeehawww!”

  However, Nix Duo noticed Jake galloping past him and the Dragon Alien and scowled. “Metalheads! After him! Don’t let Jake Lonestar reach the finish line alive!” Nix Duo shouted the order to his gang members.

  “Roger that, Nix Duo!” The Metalheads cried out before they began to pursue Jake on their high-style bikes.

  However, the SSF rode their horses to stand in the Metalheads’ way in order to protect Jake. The SSF and the Metalheads were suddenly facing off.

  Galaxy Girl charged Lunae on her cyborg warhorse and swung her naginata at the female cyborg that Galaxy Girl thought was a fashion emergency. There was a pair of tiny metal wings on Lunae’s back and metal coils throughout her curly white hair. “The wings are kind of cute but those metal coils in your hair are a total fashion faux pas. Can we say Medusa?” Galaxy Girl was caught off guard however when Lunae didn’t make any effort to dodge or avoid the deadly swing of Galaxy Girl’s naginata and Galaxy Girl was forced to stop her blade a mere inch away from Lunae’s throat.

  Lunae licked her lips and smile innocently at Galaxy Girl. “What are you waiting for, Samurai Superhero? Aren’t you going to stab me? Aren’t you going to hurt me? Aren’t you going to draw my blood?” Lunae leaned forward on her bike so that Galaxy Girl’s naginata slightly pierced her throat. “Mmm.” Lunae moaned. “Cut me more. Hurt me more. Make me bleed more…more…more…” She urged the Samurai Superhero in a low husky voice.

  Galaxy Girl pulled back on her reigns causing her warhorse to back away from Lunae. She blinked back at this odd cyborg woman in shock. She frowned as she rode forward and swung her naginata at Lunae again but once again the cyborg didn’t even try to dodge the attack. Galaxy Girl was forced to stop her blade from slicing into Lunae’s arm, this time around. “Like oh my God…there is something messed up with this woman…” Maybe I should just take out my handcuffs and arrest her? Yea right. That will never work.

  Galaxy Girl reached into her pocket just for the hell of it, and pulled out a pair of high-tech cuffs. “You’re under arrest, cyborg Lunae.”

  “Ooo handcuff me, please.” Lunae said putting out both of her wrists obediently for Galaxy Girl to handcuff.

  Galaxy Girl felt a sweatdrop form on the side of her head. “Or maybe it will work. Works for me.” Galaxy Girl grinned.

  ***

  Meanwhile, Galaxy Girl’s partner Red Dragon was engaged in battle against Tempo. Red Dragon watched curiously as Tempo approached him on his bike with an electric guitar in front of him. He began to strum his guitar and opened his mouth preparing to sing. “What’s this fool going to do? Serenade me to death?” Red Dragon sneered.

  However, Tempo opened his mouth and sang sending an invisible sound wave attack Red Dragon’s way. “YEEOWWW!”

  Red Dragon sensed the attack and quickly pulled on the reigns of his cyborg warhorse to dodge the oncoming attack. “What the hell?” Red Dragon stated as the road next to him was torn up from the invisible attack. “Some kind of sound wave attack. His voice definitely isn’t normal. Which means the guy is definitely a cyborg.” Red Dragon smirked to himself as he evolved his sword. “Nure Onna Evolution One…Two!”

  Red Dragon said as his sword glowed with a green light and the holographic image of a serpentine woman appeared next to his warhorse. She had the head and torso of a woman with long, scraggily wet hair that shielded her face and the tail of a yellow and black spotted snake. The woman’s tail was snapping back and force in a menacing manner. Red Dragon concentrated on changing his sword’s shape via his psy-link and the end of his sword began to resemble a snake’s head. Perfect.

  Red Dragon kicked his warhorse’s sides and charged forward towards Tempo. Tempo stayed put and opened his mouth to shriek at Red Dragon again. Red Dragon yanked his warhorse’s reigns first to the left and then to the right as he avoided oncoming invisible sound wave attacks that successfully destroyed the road sending pieces of asphalt and pavement up into the air. Finally, Red Dragon managed to get in front of Tempo and he let his sword shoot forward towards the cyborg, so that the tip of his sword bit into Tempo’s neck. “Nure Onna Virus Attack!” Red Dragon stated. “It’s time for you to shut the hell up.”

  As soon as Red Dragon successfully shot the virus into Tempo he quickly galloped out of the way.

  Angry green lines began to form on Tempo’s neck as he grasped his neck with his hands as he was suddenly in excruciating pain. His high-tech voice amplification device that was inside of his throat was suddenly acting strangely. Tempo’s mouth opened up of its own accord and suddenly Tempo couldn’t control where he was unleashing sound wave attacks. “Yeeow! Yeeow! Yeeow!”

  The sound wave attacks crashed into whatever was nearby destroying it instantly. Red Dragon watched the cyborg in amusement since it appeared as though the cyborg was head banging while singing rather than losing control of his own power. Abruptly, Tempo coughed up a great deal of blood before passing out and falling right off his bike.

  Red Dragon looked down at the fallen Nemesis Zero smugly. “That’s what you get for not paying attention to what you were doing and trying to play guitar and have a solo-concert, Tempo. It’s what I’m always trying to tell Galaxy Girl: concentration is key. Tempo. You are under arrest.”

  ***

  Bulldozer was facing off against Blaze. Keeping one hand on the handle bar to control his bike Blaze raised his free hand to allow the nozzle for his flame thrower to emerge with a whirling sound. He then rode his bike forward towards Bulldozer while unleashing a stream of flame the Samurai Superhero’s way. “Burn, Samurai Superhero! Burn!” Blaze cackled.

  Bulldozer raised his brows at the pyromaniac cyborg and shrugged. He supposed Black Fox wouldn’t get too mad at him for cutting loose since he was going up against a Nemesis Zero. Bulldozer grinned as he raised both of his cybernetic arms and allowed his wrists to open up revealing that the barrels of his arms were rocket launchers. The tips of two rockets emerged slowly before Bulldozer fired them at the matchstick-head. “Time to fight fire…with something better than fire.”

  Bulldozer aimed for the ground just in front of the Nemesis Zero and released the rockets. The rockets whizzed through the air and exploded directly in front of Blaze sending the bike and the Nemesis Zero flying through the air in the explosion. Bulldozer whistled at the destruction he had just caused. “Sweet! When in doubt - blow things up.”

  ***

  At the same time, Black Fox and Solis were facing off. Black Fox looked over the female cyborg’s strange red leather outfit complete with metal horns on her forehead and wondered briefly what Galaxy Girl would say about such a fashion statement. Probably something clever about the she-devil look being so last year. Black Fox had her living-metal whip-sword Tamamo-no-mae in hand while Solis had her barbed metal whip in hers. Black Fox kicked her cyborg warhorse’s sides and galloped towards Solis while the female cyborg revved her bike before taking off in Black Fox’s direction. They raised their whips simultaneously and flicked their wrists allowing their whips to slash violently through the air at their opponent.

  “I believe that’s a normal metal whip and not a living
-metal whip. Am I correct?” Black Fox observed stoically.

  “Yea, so what?” Solis snapped.

  “So…your whip can’t do things like this.” Black Fox concentrated on her psy-link and commanded her living-metal whip-sword to come alive and wrap around Solis’ whip like a slithering snake.

  “What the hell…?” Solis said as she watched Black Fox’s whip-sword act as if it were alive and wrap around Solis’ whip. “Hey…!”

  Black Fox then yanked her hand back and Solis’ whip went flying out of her grasp. At the same time the nine curved blades of Black Fox’s sword cut through the pathetic normal metal of Solis’ whip and destroyed it to pieces.

  “My whip! You destroyed my beautiful whip! You bitch!” Solis cried out in outrage. “I’ll make you pay for that, Black Fox!” Solis leapt off of her bike, got into a fighting stance with her hands raised before her, and showed off her long, deadly metal nails. She beckoned Black Fox to her with a hand gesture.

  Black Fox accepted the challenge and dismounted from her cyborg warhorse to face Solis on the road. Without further ado Solis charged at Black Fox and slashed her clawed hands at the Samurai Superheroine.

  Black Fox elegantly dodged the attacks and blocked them with her whip sword. “Long nails are so tacky.” Black Fox said mimicking Galaxy Girl’s know-it-all tone of voice as she flung her sword out and it wrapped around Solis’ body. She then yanked back and her whip-sword began to constrict around Solis’ body. Solis screamed in pain as the nine blades began to cut into her skin. “You like to inflict pain on others but it seems like you don’t like to be on the receiving end. Am I right, Miss S?”

  “No! Wait! Please!” Solis objected, while giving Black Fox a beseeching look.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t quite catch that. My ears must be dirty.” Black Fox looked at Solis with an emotionless expression on her face as Solis passed out from the shock of the pain she was feeling as Black Fox tightened her grip around the female cyborg one final time.

  Black Fox removed her sword from around Solis’ body and watched as the female cyborg fell to an unconscious, bloody heap upon the ground.

  Bulldozer had watched Black Fox win her battle effortlessly and shuddered. “Dude…you can be really scary sometimes, Black Fox.”

  “Why thank you.” Black Fox turned to smile at Bulldozer. “I try.”