Chaos Hydra = good guy? *shakes head* I can't see it, Rad ...
Kaz, you're not evil, k? Unless you really want to be.

Wizard of Odds was waiting. He looked worried, and as Jack leapt off his board and flipped it into his hand, he came forward.
"How bad is it, first?" Jack said, noting the look on Wizard's face.
"Not good. Let me put it that way. I'll let Copper tell you."
"Right. Where is she?"
"She's just inside."
The pair walked into the Outpost. Jack finally remembered to holster his blaster, since it was easier to hold an airboard with two hands. As they entered, a tall, shadowy figure turned to face them.
"Well, I take it you're Jack Flash," Coppertop said, her low voice quiet. "I'll make it short. Jazz is missing."
"Jazz Jackrabbit?" Jack said, startled. She brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes impatiently.
"Do you know of any other Jazz?"
"Well, no, but ... well, what do you mean, missing?"
"What part of missing do you not understand?" she demanded. He scowled back.
"Are you sure, or is he just off on some holiday? Is it certain that he's 'missing', precisely?"
"Well, if he's on holiday, he forgot to mention it to some important people," she said. "Spaz, Lori, Eva, Queen Earlong ... "
"Oh ..."
"Yeah. Spaz is bouncing off the walls ..."
"Isn't he always?"
"Well, more than usual. Lori's beside herself with worry. Eva wouldn't even speak to me ... the Queen is furious. I mean, her son-in-law and resident hero just went missing, despite the animosity between the two. You'd think they'd just stolen the Carrotus Castle, the way she went on."
"That's not like Jazz," Jack agreed. Copper nodded significantly.
"Tell him about the guard," Wizard urged. She glanced at him and nodded slightly, but Jack asked the question first.
"What guard?"
"They found a guard dead. He was posted on one of the obscure back entrances to the castle. Jazz doesn't kill castle guards, that's a known fact, so they figure that it was someone else, obviously. It's either an inside or outside job, but they can't tell which." She grimaced. "I think it's outside, the Queen thinks it's inside ... I left before she started screaming 'inside! inside!'"
Jack stifled a grin. The image that conjured up ... he banished it. This was not the time to laugh.
"Okay .. so what does this have to do with me?"
"Not you, precisely. The Elite Task Force. Queen Earlong wants you to find Jazz."
"That's not precisely a job for the Task Force."
"She thinks it is, and she is the Queen, after all. So I guess you're assigned to it. You shouldn't have much trouble. They should still be groundside."
"And if they're not?"
"I guess you have to go planet-hopping."
"It's a big galaxy, Copper."
"I know. I've been in most of it."
Jack ignored the last comment. "Who exactly is "they", anyway?"
"Not sure. Some ideas, but I can't tell you. Not allowed."
"Oh, that's a big help," Jack said in frustration. "We don't know where they are. We don't know who they are. We don't know how they did it, what they want, when they took him ... what do we know?"
"Jazz is gone. They're likely to be on the planet. Jazz has his weaponry, so is likely unconscious. You're the best, so you've got the job, man. Sorry."
"How do you know they're still groundside?"
"As soon as they found the guard dead and Jazz gone, the Queen ordered the spacelanes and ports closed. If they've managed to get off planet, they would have had to move PDQ."
"How soon did they find Jazz gone?"
"Let me put it this way ... the seat where he was last seen sitting was still warm. He might have been missing for maybe a minute."
"They think."
"They think," Copper confirmed. "Nothing's certain at this point, Jack. I'm sorry I can't help you more."
"Well, this is a bit complicated, that's all."
"Jack?" Firefox came in, fur still ruffled from his flight back. "Oh, hi, Copper, Wizard. What's the problem?"
"Jazz has been kidnapped. They're likely on Carrotus, but might have escaped. Jazz has his weapons. We don't know who, what, where, when, or why. We have to find him."
"Oh, is that all?"
"Basically, yes," Copper agreed. "I'm really sorry about this, Jack, but you'll get help, I promise. Even if the Queen doesn't agree ... well, it depends how badly she wants her son-in-law back."
"Well, isn't that the truth," Firefox agreed. "Who do you have in mind?"
"Some friends of mine, even if I can't help myself. I've got a job on the line, so you won't be seeing me around a lot. But I will keep in touch."
"Thanks, Copper," Wizard said.
"You're welcome. I've got to run ... I'll contact you later if there's more you should know."
"Yeah, do that," Jack said distractedly. Copper left quietly as he turned to Wizard.
"Now what?" Firefox asked knowingly.
"Now we wait," Jack said. "For more info, and for others."
"The longer we wait, the more likely it is that they've escaped or killed Jazz," Wizard said nervously. Jack shook his head in denial.
"No, if they were going to kill him they would have already. They're going to make a demand. I know it."


I'm working on two things at once here ... too much to do at once