The Case Of The Missing Golden Bird Mask - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“That settles it. MI-V it is!”

WOW! WHO DID THE REDECORATING? REALLY FEELS LIKE A CLUBHOUSE NOW WITH ALL THESE GIZMOS!

ALL RIGHT GUYS, FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS - OUR NAME! ZAK, ANY IDEAS?

WELL, IT WAS MY MUM, ACTUALLY. MY DAD DONATED HIS ‘EXTRA’ GADGETS LIKE THIS LCD SCREEN.

NOT VERY ORIGINAL, DUDE. THERE’S ALREADY A FANTASTIC FOUR. HOW ABOUT G.H.O.S.T. - THE ‘GHOST HUNTERS OF SINGAPORE TEAM’?

‘FANTASTIC FIVE’?

I THOUGHT OF ‘KIDS ON PATROL’, SINCE WE RIDE AROUND ON OUR BIKES ALL THE TIME. HMM… HOW ABOUT YOU, PUI YEEN? YOU’RE PRETTY QUIET.

…EXCEPT, WE’RE NOT GHOST BUSTERS.

YOU FIRST, CARMEN. I WANT TO HEAR YOURS.

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NOW WILL YOU TELL US YOURS, PUI YEEN? I’LL BET THAT GRIN SAYS YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA!

WELL, SINCE WE’RE INTO ACTION AND THERE’RE FIVE OF US, I CAME UP WITH ‘X-TION PACK 5’.

NOT BAD AT ALL! I LIKE IT!

SINCE WE’LL BE SOLVING MYSTERIES, MINE’S A SIMPLE ONE - ‘MYSTERY INVESTIGATORS 5’.

LOOKS GOOD! LET’S TAKE A VOTE, THEN!

I’VE EVEN DRAWN A LOGO FOR IT!

PRABHASH’S ‘G.H.O.S.T.’?

WT’S ‘KIDS ON PATROL’? ZAK’S ‘FANTASTIC FIVE’?

MY ‘X-TION PACK 5’?

OKAY, AND PUI YEEN’S ‘MI-V’?

THAT SETTLES IT, ‘MI-V’ IT IS! CAN YOU TAKE CARE OF THE LOGO, ZAK? LEAVE IT TO ME, CARMEN!

RIGHT, ON TO OUR VERY FIRST CASE. I PROPOSE WE START OUR INVESTIGATION AT THE OLD HOUSE. 3 IN THE AFTERNOON SHOULD BE SAFER THAN NIGHTTIME, RIGHT?

YEAH, LET’S GO!

At the old house…

WOW, IT LOOKS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN THE DAY…

YEAH, HARD TO BELIEVE SOMETHING SO PEACEFUL AND SERENE CAN LOOK SO SINISTER AT NIGHT…

YUP, AND SEE, WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE COFFINS ARE ONLY BLOCKS OF STONES. BUT… DON’T YOU THINK THEIR ARRANGEMENT LOOKS LIKE THE FORMATION WE SAW AT THE MUSEUM?

I WONDER IF THERE’S ANY CONNECTION… WHO COULD’VE DONE ALL THIS? ARE THEY STILL INSIDE? 23

WANNA KNOW THE QUICKEST WAY TO FIND OUT? RING THE BELL!

GUYS! DO YOU SEE WHO I SEE?!

After their initial shock, the five friends decide to remain hot on Kiki’s trail wherever he moves from that day on.

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They never let him out of their sight, and when they can, they try to catch any bits of stray conversation that he is a part of.

EAGLE 2 TO EAGLE 1, RECEIVING YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. SUBJECT IS HEADING TOWARDS A CONVENIENCE STORE.

EAGLE 1, EAGLE 1, CAN YOU HEAR ME, OVER.

HE IS TALKING TO A STRANGE MAN IN BLACK. THEY’VE MADE AN EXCHANGE! IT’S A BROWN BOX AND IT LOOKS BIG AND HEAVY, OVER.

AFFIRMATIVE. SUBJECT IS NOW GOING INTO A BLACK CAR, OVER.

DID YOU MANAGE TO TAKE SOME SHOTS OF THE EXCHANGE, OVER?

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WT, CAN YOU CALL OUR ‘SNOOP TEAM’ AND TELL THEM TO GET READY? I THINK THEY’RE HEADING BACK TO THE OLD HOUSE ON THE HILL.

I DEFINITELY THINK WE’RE ON TO SOMETHING.

ROGER THAT. I’LL ALERT THEM WITH MY PDA.

Back at the old house…

EAGLE 1, THIS IS EAGLE 3. SUBJECT IS NOW BACK AT THE HOUSE. HE’S CARRYING A LARGE OBJECT.

CAN YOU SEE WHAT IT IS?

NO, IT’S STILL IN THE BAG.

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LOOK, CARMEN, HE’S TAKING IT OUT. IT LOOKS LIKE…

…A MASK?!

EAGLE 3 TO EAGLE 1, I THINK WE JUST FOUND OUR MASK BURGLAR!

C’MON KIKI, YOU’RE NOT WEASELING OUT OF THIS ONE! WE SAW WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE! THE STOLEN RAPA-NUI MASK!

I… OKAY, OKAY, I CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING. MY REAL NAME IS NOT KIKI.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT. WHAT MASK?

THIS MASK. RING ANY BELLS?

W-WHAT?! CROWN PRINCE?! TTHAT’S…

IT’S ARIKI TIMEONE RIRO KAINGA, AND I’M THE CROWN PRINCE OF RAPA-NUI. I CAME TO SINGAPORE BECAUSE I NEED TO BE CLOSE TO THAT MASK.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS UNBELIEVABLE, BUT AS THE CROWN MY ROYAL POWER PRINCE, IT IS MY AND MY LIFE ARE FATE TO NEVER BE LINKED TO THAT FAR FROM IT. WHERMASK. EVER IT GOES, I HAVE TO FOLLOW.

UNBELIEVABLE IS RIGHT. YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO SPIN A STORY!

LOOK, COME TO MY HOUSE AFTER SCHOOL AND I’LL PROVE IT TO YOU.

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RAPA-NUI IS AN ISLAND KINGDOM AND IT’S HOME TO MANY WARRING TRIBES WHO HAVE BEEN BATTLING FOR GENERATIONS OVER THE RIGHT TO RULE. I’M FROM THE MIRU TRIBE, AND THE MIRUS ARE THE TRUE ROYAL HEIRS OF RAPA-NUI. THE GREAT HOTU MATU’A WAS MIRU’S TRIBAL CHIEF, AND THE FIRST ARIKI - THAT MEANS KING - OF RAPA-NUI.

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I WAS TOLD, JUST LIKE THE OTHERS BEFORE ME, THAT A PRIEST NAMED HAUMAKA APPEARED TO HOTU MATU’A IN HIS DREAMS ONE NIGHT.

THE PRIEST FLEW OUT TO SEA AND DISCOVERED AN ISLAND WHICH HE CALLED ‘TE PITO’O TE KÄINGA’, WHICH MEANS ‘THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH’.

HOTU MATU’A EMBRACED HIS DREAM AND SENT OUT SEVEN SCOUTS TOWARDS MATA KI TE RANGI (EYES THAT LOOK TO THE SKY).

THE SCOUTS SOON RETURNED HOME TO TELL HIM OF THE GOOD NEWS.

AND SO, HOTU MATU’A TOOK A LARGE CREW ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY AND EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TO SURVIVE, AND SET SAIL TO THE NEW LAND. HE NAMED IT RAPA-NUI, MEANING ‘CENTRE OF THE WORLD’.

NOT LONG AFTER HE’D SETTLED ON THE ISLAND, MAKE-MAKE CAME TO HIM IN A DREAM, AND ORDAINED HIM AS THE RIGHTFUL RULER OF RAPA-NUI.

WITH THE HELP OF HIS CHIEF PRIEST, HE CRAFTED A MASK FROM THE FINEST MATERIAL THAT COULD BE FOUND ON THE WHOLE OF RAPA-NUI.

MAKE-MAKE THEN TOLD HIM TO CRAFT A BIRD MASK, WHICH HE SAID WOULD HOLD THE KEY TO ALL THE FORCES OF NATURE, ANIMALS AND PLANTS ON THE ISLAND.

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WHO, OR WHAT EXACTLY IS MAKEMAKE? WERE THE MIRUS THE ONLY TRIBES THEN?

MAKE-MAKE IS THE CREATOR OF HUMANITY AND THE CHIEF GOD OF THE BIRD CULT, ‘TANGATA MANU’. THE HUGE STATUES ON RAPA-NUI ARE ALL CONNECTED TO HIM.

SHORTLY BEFORE THE DEATH OF HOTU MATU’A, HE BEQUEATHED THE ISLAND TO HIS CHILDEN, WHO FORMED EIGHT MAIN TRIBES AND FOUR SMALLER CLANS.

BUT AS TIME WENT BY, ALL THE OTHER TRIBES AND CLANS GREW ENVIOUS OF THE MIRU AND WERE OVERCOME WITH GREED. THEY ATTEMPTED TO GAIN POWER BY STEALING THE MASK, AND FREQUENT TRIBAL WARS BROKE OUT.

DOES THIS MEAN THE MASK IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF ANOTHER TRIBE? WHY HAVE THEY SUCCEEDED NOW AND NOT THEN?

I REALLY DON’T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT, BUT MY CHIEF PRIEST SPECULATES THAT IT COULD BE BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE MASK HAS BEEN OUT OF SACRED LAND.

WAIT, SO THERE’RE TWO MASKS NOW?

NO, WHAT I HAVE HERE IS JUST A REPLICA. I NEED THIS TO RECREATE A MODEL OF RAPA-NUI’S SACRED TEMPLE. WE’RE GOING TO PERFORM A RITUAL TOMORROW NIGHT TO TRY AND LOCATE THE REAL MASK.

BECAUSE IT HOLDS THE KEY TO POWER. WITH THE MASK IN HIS POSSESSION, THE KING OF THE TRIBE CAN COMMAND ALL THE LIVING CREATURES AND FORCES OF NATURE ON THE ISLAND. BUT IN RETURN, HIS LIFE IS BOUND TO THE MASK.

YOU SAID ALL THE TRIBES ARE TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF THE MASK… WHY?

WELL, HE MUST REMAIN NEAR THE MASK AT ALL TIMES, AS HIS VITALITY IS CONNECTED TO IT.

HOW EXACTLY… DOES THAT WORK?

VITALITY… CONNECTED… THAT’S AWESOME! IT’S LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE!

SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT SINCE THE MASK GOT STOLEN AWAY FROM YOU, YOU’RE GROWING WEAKER?

YES, BUT I CAN SENSE THAT IT HASN’T GONE FAR. IT’S STILL IN SINGAPORE.

MAN, I HATE TO ASK YOU THIS, BUT… WHAT’LL HAPPEN IF IT’S GONE FOR GOOD?

THEN I WILL DIE.

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MY CHIEF PRIEST AND A FEW WARRIORS ARE COMING OVER FROM RAPA-NUI AND WE’LL BE GOING AHEAD WITH THE RITUAL TOMORROW NIGHT.

WHAT’S YOUR PLAN NOW?

THEN WHAT?

WE WAIT AND SEE IF THE CHIEF PRIEST GETS A VISION.

YOU MEAN YOU’RE NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR THE POLICE TO INVESTIGATE?

NAH, WE’LL DO WHAT WE CAN ON OUR OWN PART. WELL, IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CALL US, KIKI.

THANK YOU, CARMEN. I WILL.

I’VE TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHERE TO PLANT THE CAMERAS. LET ME CHECK, THEY SHOULD BE ALMOST DONE.

The next evening, at MI-V HQ…

I THOUGHT KIKI SAID HE DIDN’T NEED OUR HELP. WHY ARE WE SPYING ON HIM?

I HAVE A BAD FEELING THAT SOMETHING’S GONNA HAPPEN. I’M SURE HE WON’T MIND. AT LEAST WE CAN ACT AS HIS LOOKOUTS. HOW’RE ZAK AND PRABHASH DOING?

ZAK? ARE YOU READY?

JUST ABOUT. I’M ATTACHING THE LAST ONE OVERLOOKING THE BACK GATE.

GREAT, ALL CAMERAS ARE WORKING FINE. WE REALLY HAVE TO THANK YOUR DAD FOR ALL THESE GADGETS.

PHEW…

OKAY CARMEN, THEY’RE DONE. WE CAN SWITCH ON THE MONITORS NOW.

Two hours later…

ANY ACTION YET?

NONE AT ALL. WONDER WHAT TIME THE RITUAL WILL START…

WE’RE WASTING OUR TIME HERE. NOTHING’S HAPPENING! C’MON, LET’S GO BACK. THE MOSQUITOES ARE EATING ME ALIVE.

Meanwhile, at the old house…

NO, CARMEN WANTS US TO STAY, AND I AGREE WITH HER. IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG, AT LEAST WE CAN HELP KIKI.

BESIDES, I BELIEVE OUR WAIT IS ABOUT TO BE OVER.

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PRABHASH, YOU KEEP WATCH HERE. I’M GOING TO CHANGE THE CAMERA FOCUS TO THE VAN.

CARMEN, CAN YOU SEE FIVE MEN RUNNING TOWARDS THE HOUSE?

GOTCHA. WE CAN’T SEE ANYTHING. IT’S PITCH BLACK! OKAY, I’M ADJUSTING THE CAMERA ON THE BACK GATE NOW. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE HOUSE.

WILL DO.

AH, GOOD, WE SEE IT NOW.

WHA…?! WERE THOSE GGUNSHOTS?! KIKI…!

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C’MON, LET’S GO SEE IF HE’S OKAY!

The next day, at a hospital ward…

MORNING, HOW ARE YOU FEELING, KIKI?

I’M FINE, BUT FEELING A BIT WEAK. THANKS FOR COMING TO SEE ME.

THAT’S ALL RIGHT, PUI YEEN.

IT’S LUCKY THAT NO ONE GOT HURT. WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, IF YOU DON’T MIND MY ASKING…? WE’RE JUST GLAD YOU’RE OKAY. WHAT HAPPENED, MAN?

PUI YEEN, WT, ZAK, CARMEN AND PRABHASH, I’D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY CHIEF PRIEST.

HELLO, SIR!

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HELLO, MY NAME IS CHE WALE RUSOP. YOU CAN CALL ME RUSOP.

YOUR HIGHNESS, I JUST RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL FROM OUR EMBASSY. IT’S FROM HIS MAJESTY.

THANK, ROH.

WELL CARMEN, YOU OFFERED TO HELP ME… I’M TAKING UP YOUR OFFER NOW.

THE MEN WHO STORMED MY HOUSE LAST NIGHT MISTAKENLY THOUGHT I HAD THE SACRED TABLET, BUT IT’S STILL AT THE MUSEUM.

I HAVE… TO HELP YOU GUYS…

YOU CAN COUNT ON US, KIKI. WHAT DO YOU NEED US TO DO?

ACCORDING TO MY FATHER, THE PEOPLE WHO STOLE THE MASK SHOULD BE TARGETING THE SACRED TABLET NEXT. IT CONTAINS ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, IN ORDER TO TRANSFER THE POWER OF THE MASK TO THE NEW OWNER…

HEY, DON’T GET UP, KIKI. YOU’RE STILL TOO WEAK! DON’T WORRY, WE’LL GET IT FOR YOU. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS INFORM THE MUSEUM, AND…

NO, THERE’S… TOO MUCH RED TAPE… IT’LL TAKE TOO LONG, WE’LL NEVER… MAKE IT IN TIME… I WASN’T SUPPOSED TO TELL ANYONE I DIDN’T TRUST… BUT I… TRUST YOU GUYS…

THANKS… BUT IF WE DON’T GO THROUGH THE OFFICIAL CHANNELS, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET THE TABLET?

IF WE’RE TALKING ABOUT COVERT METHODS… HMM, THE MUSEUM’S UNDER HEAVY GUAR… HEY, KIKI?

YOU… HAVE TO TRY…

YOU MUST…

KIKI?!

KIKI!!

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