The Adventures of Kid Combat 3: Jones Strikes Back Read Online Free PDF Page B

to do something
irrational. Nothing will come of this. Too many people will need to
approve this. There is no way this can take place.” Kid
finished. He stood there hoping he convinced his friends.
    The fashion show was about over. The kids
made their final laps around the stage and one by one disappeared
down the back stairs. The applause, which was minimal, died down,
and Shirley was left alone on stage again.
    “I would like to thank-you all for coming
today. We are confident that with the help of Jones Industries, the
financial situation of the Elmcrest schools will be turned around
and will flourish once again – just like the rest of our town. We
do have another announcement today, and for that I present you with
– Phillip Arthur Jones…” Shirley stopped, turned half way and
raised her arm out in the direction of the stairs.
    “Uh oh,” Wedge said.
    “What could that mean?” Rocket let out.
    “I don’t know,” Kid responded.
    “How much worse can this get?” Samantha
exclaimed.
    There was a few seconds of pause as the lady
continued to point towards the empty stairs. Then, Jones started to
ascend up the stairs. As he became more visible to the crowd, a
round of applause started to build throughout them. Jones finished
the few stair climb, and walked very slowly and direct towards the
podium. He never acknowledged the crowd and stood waiting patiently
behind the podium. Within a few seconds, the crowd quieted and
waited for Jones to speak.
    “I would like to thank Ms. Kerr for that fine
presentation of the Jones Uniforms. It is imperative that we change
the thinking and state of the Elmcrest schools. They, after all,
house this town’s future. I am confident that with my help, the
situation that plagues our fine school system right now can be
reversed and I will personally guarantee that no school will be
closed and each will get my personal attention.”
    Another round of applause. None of which came
from the five members of SOCKs. Kid read between the lines to
realize what Jones was doing. This had little to do with helping
out a school district. Or bailing out a town. It was about finding
out who Kid Combat was. Jones continued.
    “One last thing. The city has also granted
Jones Industries with the exclusive rights to update the parks
around this town,” Jones started. He then paused, on purpose, for a
few seconds and scanned the crowd. “This includes the likes of
Plunkett, Butterfield, and Pioneer Parks. As well as Maple Forest.
All will be updated and modernized – as I see fit .”
    “How could that be?” a young reporter yelled
out from the crowd. The mob turned and faced the young man. Jones
stood at the podium, annoyed at the interruption. “Maple Forest was
protected from any type of demolition work for the next ten years,”
he finished. The crowd turned its attention back to Jones. He stood
there, grasping the podium, and glared out at the boy with a
sinister stare.
    “My boy, first of all, never interrupt me
again,” Jones said deeply. “Second, I have met with your City
Council on this matter. The key word in that phrase was demolition . We have no intention of touching any part of
Maple Forest, nor do we plan on tearing down any trees. Our main
concern is building adequate parks for the town's children – with
state of the art equipment and exercise facilities. All of which
will be owned and operated by a division of Jones Industries.”
    The hook was baited. And Jones knew it. He
knew that Kid Combat would be in the crowd. He knew that the
thought of Jones stepping foot on any part of Maple Forest would
force Kid into action. Jones would wait now for Kid to make his
mistake.
    The five members of SOCKs stood and watched
Jones speak. Kid Combat made no move.
    “I don’t understand how he can do this,”
Rocket said. “We were protected. This isn’t right,” Rocket turned
to Kid Combat. Kid was just standing there, taking it all in.
Rocket became anxious and nervous that