_ Chapter 2 _

_ Birthday Bash! _

Kim Scam, a raccoon engineer packaged up her equipment after guiding her camera drones back to her location on the church rooftop. She had watched Mick Daniels from atop the cathedral via her camera drones. She smiled, impressed with Mick's driving and quick thinking. This game Cailus Foxmoore had talked her into was going to be fun!

Kim got out a portable radio. “Kim to Cailus, observation ongoing. This Mick Daniels is… Impressive."

Cailus just sighed on his end. “With all due respect, I didn't ask for a personal assessment. Now, continue to observe the target as ordered. Unless of course, you would rather forfeit payment…"

Kim rolled her eyes. “Affirmative. I'll continue to observe… And admire."

# # #

Julian, a horned lion hybrid, stood on a balcony fire escape observing the temple Mick was at. Julian was a hybrid lion, with a brown-red mane, and short pale tan fur on the rest of his body. He wore a white overcoat with slightly worn blue jeans, with a bleach-white denim jacket and a grey and white t-shirt underneath. He was both a street racer and a transporter by trade, his immaculate record rivaling Mick Daniels himself. But right now, Julian had other things on his mind besides street racing and transporter jobs.

Julian looked on at the temple rooftop observing Kim Scam with a set of cyber-binoculars from a nearby balcony, the lady raccoon completely oblivious to the young lion hybrid observing her.

From the information he had received in the transporter circles, Mick Daniels, a fellow transporter and one of his acquaintances now had a metaphorical bullseye on his back, courtesy of Cailus Wayne Foxmoore. Julian was troubled by this news. Whatever had happened between the two had pissed off Cailus enough to the point that the cruel business fox was nearly ready to put out a bounty on Mick!

Thankfully, the bounty, though it wasn't yet active on the galactic black web and awaiting approval, which Julian knew no doubt it would be denied, would only be valid if Mick was brought in alive. But this was little to no comfort to Julian. Mick was the only lead he had so far to finding someone he had been seeking for years: a Civibelos lion named Galen Dhaelos.

Julian, after snapping a picture of Kim with the cyber-binoculars camera function, exited the balcony via a fire escape, went downstairs to ground level and got into his Dodge Viper 960-S parked not too far away. The car was heavily modified for not only transporter jobs, but also for street racing. The 960 horsepower supercharged V-12 car, fully spec-tuned, had a transporter computer setup, as well as extremely rigid chassis reinforcement for ramming through blockades, namely police roadblocks. Julian knew if he was going to do both street racing and transporter jobs, he would need every edge he could get. After all, he was living on the edge of excitement with his lifestyle. Only made sense to be prepared.

Julian got into his Dodge Viper, and drove off.

Daniels Manor…

Outskirts of Mel'Andrea – Kestrel Kingdom, Vhaldaria…

One Hour Later...

Mick drove his Audi SVX-4000 up to the gates of Daniels Manor. After signaling the gates to open via remote, he drove his car through the open gates. The manor greeted him with its red brick Tudor-style design, as the manor house was heavily based off of the Compton Wynyates manor house in Warwickshire, England on Earth, as well as taking inspiration from Croft Manor in Surrey, England. The house had ten bedrooms, a glorious main hall, an indoor pool, a Michelin-spec kitchen with a walk-in freezer, a dining room, a music room, a ballroom, a library with study, a three-car garage with all the necessary tools to maintain said cars, a fitness/assault course on the grounds, and the attic housed a computer room where various servers and the security systems were housed. The basement was used for storage. As for the said security systems, the manor had been retrofitted with cameras around the perimeter with anti-intruder additions in various spots in the house, as well as an alarm system and defensive reinforcements such as shatterproof glass and reinforced doors. The manor also was fitted with solar panels on the roof and a small wind turbine, as well as a set of backup batteries in case of a power outage. Mick had purchased the land and built the manor using money he won from a prestigious hoverboard race when he went with his uncle, Ryan Foxmorre, also known as Egad Nob to Earth after he was forced into a high-stakes poker game by his brother, Cailus Foxmorre.

As Mick pulled into the manor, he saw Uncle Ryan's limousine parked out front.

“Hmm…" He said to himself. “Wonder why Uncle Ryan's here?"

Mick parked his car in the garage and went to the front door. He found it locked. Odd, he thought. Big Kitty usually doesn't lock the door.

He went to get his house keys out of his pocket when Xen opened the door.

“Mi Angel Oscuro!" Xen exclaimed. “Welcome home, how was the job?"

“Not super eventful, thank goodness. I promise, I didn't scratch the car." Mick replied.

“Everything else go ok?" Xen asked.

“Yep." Mick replied.

“Are you sure you aren't forgetting anything?" Xen prodded, leaning against the doorway cockily.

Mick sighed. “Xen, this isn't like you… Yes, I'm sure I'm sure."

“Well then…" Xen then stepped aside to allow Mick into the manor, smiling. The lights were out inside.

“What's going on with the lights?" Mick asked. “The electrics in the house are basically brand new…"

“Go into the ballroom, the electrician is waiting in there." Xen said.

Mick, although confused, went into the ballroom. “Hello?"

The lights then suddenly came on, and Mick was showered in confetti and streamers as he was greeted by his father Symon Daniels, Uncle Ryan and the Phoenix Coven!

“SURPRISE!! Happy Birthday, Mick!" They all shouted.

Mick, though stunned at first, laughed. “Wow, guys! Thanks! I guess I've been so busy I forgot about my own birthday!"

Xen laughed. “I guess so! You've been overly-preoccupied, but it's understandable. As you said, Transportation is always in demand."

Mick nodded. “That it is."

“So, how old are you?" Tommy asked.

“Well, I'm 33 years by GCOC's standard calendar, which is based on Earth time, so in Kalendas, that would be... 66." Mick replied after figuring out the numbers.

“Awesome!" Galen said. “That's a good age."

Uniko walked in, carrying a two-layer cake with candles on the top, placed in a pattern that looked like the numbers “33."

“Time to blow our your candles and make a wish!" Uniko said with a friendly grin.

Mick smiled, and blew out the candles.