Jerome and the Utility Fish

by moonkat17

“Wee-ooo! Wee-ooo! Wee-ooo!” The sound of police sirens ring out through the darkness. Three less fortunate members of the notorious Aisha gang are being read their rights and shoved into a blaring Chia police car. Jerome stares unhappily at his notepad. What a story! It was almost as if he had poured his soul into it. It reads: “Crazy for Chocolate? Aisha crime gang strikes chocolate factory.”

With a sigh, Jerome realises that this isn’t, after all, going to be his big break. From across the street, Jerome watches Bastian phoning the Neopian Times. That cheeky Techo! How many times had he beaten him to a story?

The police cars were moving out now, and the crowd was slowly disintegrating. Jerome glanced at his watch--1:00 a.m. With a sigh, he set off through the lamp-lit streets. He desperately needed a story. Anything would do! Even “Hobo seen in dumpster” would be better than nothing! Wandering aimlessly through alley and street, Jerome tried to remain hopeful, but it just seemed like nothing…all of a sudden, a van screeched to a stop. Jerome froze, poised and alert. A dark figure steps out of the van, whispers to his comrades, and they all set off through the shadows.

Ever since Jerome had been a little Koi, he had dreamed of becoming a reporter. He had gone to college for it, and spent for years so far in the trade. He knew as well as you do that this was the makings of a front page story. You know that little voice in the back of your head that works as a kind of a siren, letting you know when you’re about to do something bad? Fred, Bob, conscience…whatever you want to call it, it was working now.

“Psst…Jerome!” it whispered.

“I’m not listening,” Jerome answered.

“You know you gotta call the police.”

“Why should I?” Jerome answered. “This is my story. Bastian’s not going to beat me to it this time.”

“But Jerome!…” the voice protested. But it was too late. In situations like this, you can either choose the noble deed or the one that benefits you. Jerome, running after the dark figures armed with a notebook, camera, and pen, had obviously chosen the one that benefited him.

The figures (followed by a panting Jerome) stopped in front of the Neopia Central Koi Orphanage. Puzzled, Jerome watched in silence as small Koi were rounded out of the building, gagged and blindfolded. What could a bunch of criminals do with orphans? Not for ransom—who would pay it? Jotting some notes down, Jerome grabbed the back of the van, determined to finish his story!

After a nauseating half hour of reckless driving, the van arrived at the docks. The full moon had risen over the still waters, it’s silvery glow illuminating the ocean below. The leader of the mysterious Koi-nappers approached the waters edge. He blew a sharp, shrill whistle, waited for a moment, and repeated it. Slowly but surely, a submarine emerged from the murky depths and beached itself about twenty feet away from the van.

“This is gold!” thought Jerome as he contemplated the way in which he would describe the scene laid out before him. Swiftly and silently, the gang managed to get all of the Koi onboard. So occupied in their current task, they didn’t even notice Jerome stealthy creep aboard.

The submarine was unlike any other Jerome had seen. It would have been large and spacious, were it not for the large cage, meant for the infant prisoners, located in the center of the room. Hiding himself amongst various spools of rope, Jerome managed to hear everything without being seen.

“Captain, we’ve managed to smuggle the Koi onboard; all fifty-five of them,” The leader reported.

“Excellent.” The captain grinned. “I’m sure they will fetch at least 400 NP a piece—but not in ransom…oh, no…I’ve discovered a more rewarding method of payment.” Turning to his navigator, he commanded, “Set the course for Maraqua! We need to reach the Utility Fish Factory by 4:00 a.m. Smirking maliciously, he drifted off into his own private thoughts.

Jerome was ecstatic! He couldn’t believe his ears! This was gonna be big—no, gargantuan! His pen was flying furiously over a page of his notebook. In his excitement, he hardly noticed when his camera slipped from his left flipper and fell to the floor.

It wasn’t so much the noise that attracted attention, as the flash that followed it. Within seconds, four Kyrii guards were upon him, dragging his reluctant body towards the cage.

With a clang the cage door slammed shut. Jerome, however, was in no position to hear it; at the end of his short flight into the cage, Jerome “landed” by coming into violent contact with the door…within seconds he was out like a light for the remainder of the trip.

Jerome woke with a headache. “Rub me.” Jerome’s nervous system sent an urgent message to his flipper. Surprised, Jerome realised that try as he might, he could not rub his aching head. Reality rapidly creeping in on him, he realised that his flippers were tied together by thick rope. His eyes were working now, and he could see his captors gathered around an unlucky Koi strapped to a chair.

It looked a lot like a dentist chair, with the minor exchange of the normal light for a large, high powered ray gun. It was pointed (surprise, surprise) directly towards the Koi’s head. He was squirming like a fish on a hook (or in a chair). Two darkly clad Kyrii’s were loading a small, metal box with a light bulb, batteries, and various wires.

“Excellent work, Kyriis,” The captain exclaimed. “I suppose you are all wondering just what my little pet here will do," he laughed, patting his machine. “I am sure you are all familiar with the famous Maraquan Utility Fish?” a low murmur went up from the crowd of Kyriis below him. “Take the light bulb fish, for example. An extremely useful (and expensive) creature that can easily light up a room in seconds. Of course, making such an object is quite simple. All we have to do is strap this wretched little pet in here," he said, pointing to the Koi, “load this box with the desired fish parts, press this button here, and Voila! Instant mindless, though useful, aquatic zombie.”

Jerome looked around for his notebook; he could almost reach it…just two inches further. And then it happened.

In a story such as this one, there is usually one incident or object that will totally turn the events around. In this case, that object was in the form of a small, silver button with the word “emergency” printed across it in bold letters. Unsure what the button would do, Jerome decided to take his chances and push it (how could you not??).

All of a sudden, the room was filled with loud sirens and flashing lights; the doors slammed shut and locked automatically. Kyrii gang members sprinted towards the main exit…but it was too late. The door burst open, members of the MPD (Maraqua Police Department) filled the room, followed Bastian, notebook and camera in hand. Bastian rushed towards the crime scene, just in time to see Jerome engaged in a long and important phone call with the editor of the Neopian Times.

The End