Chapter Five : Crashing and Soaking

"This one!" Blade said, pointing a ride on the leaflet.

"Let's see… hey, those are bumper cars!" Sabre said, feeling a little better. "People say it's rather funny."

"No, you mean human people say it's funny," Thunderhawk growled, still shaken from the earlier ride. "Fear for the worse…"

Spectre shrugged. "Why not? After all, what are we here for?"

Reluctantly or not, they all agreed and walked – and were dragged – toward the ride. They were at least ten bumper cars, and all their shells were shining. Not a scratch, not a bump. Were they new, or has the ride just opened?

"There are just a few humans queuing," Sabre stated. "Are we going?"

"Of course we are!" Athair cried, still a little dizzy.

They waited a few minutes, and the ride began. Well, they actually got to the cars. There were two seats in one bumper car, so Spectre teamed up with Locke, and Sabre with Blade. Thunderhawk jumped into Sojourner's car, and Athair sat alone in a fourth vehicle.

Locke gripped the steering wheel, grinning. "At least, time for some real action! They won't even get a chance!"

Spectre got a little scared by the crazy glint in Locke's eyes. "Sixth son, are you sure you're perfectly sane?"

Locke didn't have time to answer; a whistle was heard, and the bumper cars turned on. The red one grinned again and the car took off faster than lighting. Startled, Spectre widened his eyes and gripped his seatbelt so hard his dark fingers turned white.

"Sixth son!" he shouted. "Maybe you should slow down, don't you think?"

"What? Speak louder, I can't hear you!" Locke faked.

Spectre groaned and sat back, watching the blurred world around him, and coloured flashes that should be the others cars. A winning yelp from Locke, and they bumped into something. Hard. Spectre was jerked forward, and if it wasn't for his seatbelt, he would have flown out of the ride.

"Got you, Father!" Locke exclaimed, laughing at Sabre.

"We'll see about that," Sabre replied. "This isn't over yet, son."

"Hold on something, Sixth father, the challenge is only beginning!"

Spectre put his hands before his eyes as Locke raced with his father. Strange, Sabre hated driving, and there he was pushing his car faster and faster. What in the world happened to him? But Spectre forgot that thought as soon as he saw where they were going: right toward Athair, who was humming happily while driving carefully.

"No! Stop Sixth son!" he yelled.

"And kill all the fun? No way!"

In a desperate attempt to save his fourth son, Spectre grabbed the wheel and tugged. But Locke had an iron grip on it, and tugged from the other side. "You can't!" Spectre scowled.

"I will is more like it!"

They carried on fighting over the wheel, when Athair suddenly got out of their path. Spectre would have sighed in relief, if it hasn't been for Thunderhawk and Sojourner: they were coming right from the other side of where Athair has been seconds ago. Screaming, they tried turning, but weren't fast enough.

They collided head-on. Spectre was once again painfully jerked forward, and he gritted his teeth. I swear I broke something this time!

"Am I dead yet?" he asked to nobody in particular.

"Haven't you got any respect for your elders, boy?" Thunderhawk bellowed, rubbing his abused back.

"I do have respect; I'm just not in any mood to show it!" Locke answered cheerfully. "And so you know, Sabre is coming from behind you…"

Sojourner yelped and risked a glance behind him. But there was nothing. Laughing, Locke moved forward and bumped into his fourth father's car another time. "Fooled you twice!" he exclaimed happily.

Thunderhawk growled and whacked his son over the head.

By the end of the ride, they were drained and exhausted. Well, some were laughing, and some others were grumbling under their breaths.

"My back is killing me!" Sojourner whined.

"Only your back? I feel like every single bone is broken!" Thunderhawk barked.

"I never had so much fun in a car!" Sabre laughed.

"You wouldn't be saying that if you'd been in mine," Sojourner mumbled.

Athair was floating in mid-air, singing the same tune than earlier. He spotted another ride; he smiled, for this one could cool them off.

"Guys! Guys! There's an attraction! It looks fun!" he cried, pointing.

Shrugging, Spectre led them to the attraction spotted. And immediately wished he never did. There stood an eight-foot deep tank of water, with a large target above it. There was no doubt on what was the object of the event about… The organiser beside the tank juggled with balls and asked: "Is there a volunteer?"

Smirking, Locke poked his father's back, and Sabre stepped forward. The organiser, a young man, smiled widely. "All right, sir! Now come over to the tank!"

Sabre turned around and glared at Locke, who was inspecting his gloved fingers innocently. "Son, what's the meaning of this?"

"You found the leaflet and dragged us here, didn't you? Now do the honours and go first," Locke grinned.

"What's the matter, Fifth son?" Spectre asked. "Chicken?"

Sabre shook his fist, but went to the tank and sat in a chair above the water. The target was just above his head. "Okay, now I need some others to throw the balls," the man said. The rest of the Brotherhood and Blade raised their hands. "All right, now listen. The object is to hit a bull's eye, and send your friend in the water. Is it understood?"

They all nodded. Thunderhawk was readying his weapon, a dark grin plastered on his face. Sabre gulped down, fearing the worst.

"Are you ready? Go!" the man shouted.

They all threw their balls at once, and Sabre cringed. "Are you out of your minds? You nearly shot me!" he shouted.

"Oh, shame I didn't!" Thunderhawk growled, throwing another ball.

Frowning, Sabre was ready to snap back when someone hit the target, sending him plummeting in the tank. His yelp was muffled by the water: "Robrlrllbllppfpllbrr!"

"What was that?" Sojourner laughed.

"Sounded like a garbled mating call!" Thunderhawk mused, grinning like crazy.

A few seconds later, Sabre pierced the surface and swam toward the edge of the tank, breathing heavily and dripping wet. He got out of the water and cast a glare in Locke's direction.

"You looked like you were having fun," he said. "Why end it? Your turn Locke!"

"Me? Why?" Locke asked, slightly frightened.

"He is right, Second father!" Blade cheered. "It's your turn to take a dive!"

"It's certainly not! I-I can't swim, that's it."

"Locke! Locke! Locke!" sang Athair and Blade happily.

"All right, all right! I'm going! But when you'll be putting flowers on my grave, remember: I told you so!"

He strode to the chair and sat in it, legs and arms crossed in front of him. He seemed to be pouting, but he was actually in deep thoughts. He then grinned, looking at his sixth father. "I'm doing it, but so will Spectre once my turn is finished."

Spectre frowned, and was ready to disagree when the young organiser shouted: "Ready? Go!"

Locke had to shield himself from all the balls being hurled at his face. "Hey! HEY!" he yelled. "You're aiming at my face on purpose! You're supposed to aim at the target!"

"It's in the way! It's perturbing me!" Thunderhawk replied, throwing another ball at Locke's face.

"Take that for bumping into me earlier in that forsaken car of yours!" Sojourner shouted, flinging a ball with all his strength.

"That's for making me go first!" Sabre bellowed at his son.

"And that is for driving too fast!" Athair cried happily, hurling his ball.

Growling under his breath, Locke risked a glance at Spectre, expecting a bit of sympathy. But his sixth father pretended to look elsewhere, juggling mindlessly with a ball. "I didn't see a thing…" he said in a singsong voice.

Realising Spectre was ignoring him, Locke gritted his teeth and readied a reply when Thunderhawk hit the bull's eye full force, sending him falling in the water.

As his father has done minutes ago, Locke emerged and swam hurriedly to get out of the water. He jumped out, dripping wet and breathing heavily. He leaned against the edge of the tank and tried to look casual.

"Well…that was refreshing," he stated simply, turning to Spectre. The dark one frowned, and shook his head. There was no way he was doing that. That would top it off…

Athair was about to yell 'Spectre is a wimp!' again, but Spectre covered his mouth before he could speak. The dark echidna bared his teeth, glaring at his fourth son.

"A sound, a word, and you drown, understood?" he growled. Athair nodded.

Spectre sighed. The sooner I get it done, the better. He then sat reluctantly on the chair, his fate held in a few multi-coloured balls. He waited for the young man to give the oh so dreaded call. "All right! Let's go!"

Shutting his eyes, Spectre stiffened as the balls were being hurled past him. Locke was the fiercest; he was tossing three balls at a time, restless. "There's no way I'm going to miss it, now!" He then hit the target, knocking Spectre into the tank. He disappeared during twenty seconds…forty…one minute.

Then Locke's eyes widened in horror as understanding dawned on him. He pushed Thunderhawk out of the way, and dived in the water tank. This was followed by shouts from the Brotherhood, and horrified cries by Athair. They hadn't thought that Spectre couldn't swim… because of his heavy helmet made of steel.

Locke brought a coughing and soaked Spectre out of the water. He glared at his sons. "Are you decided to kill me, you murderers!" he rasped. "You're mad!"

"Sorry, Spectre," they all said at once.

Spectre calmed down enough to wring water out of his black robes. He growled and grumbled under his breath. No, this day wasn't fun. It's actually ten times worse than I expected…

The others did their best to look sheepish, but Athair raised his head up and smiled. "A chance Locke didn't have to give you mouth-to-mouth!"

And that did it. They all burst out laughing, while Locke turned bright red and Spectre ground his teeth once again. "I'm rather happy with being infection-free, thank you," he said.

"Argh! Locke gave me CPR!" Sojourner faked, leaning against his angered third son. "I feel contaminated with something!"

Chaos, have mercy and make this awful day end!

XXX

Longer! At least I improved! And the next chapter should be the last, so stay tuned on!