"Pass the Froot Loops, will ya," said Shockwave.

She was curled up in the billowing folds of a cream colored blanket and her bare toes wiggled out

from the bottom. Across from her, in the darker ripples of his blue bedspread, Rahsas grinned.

"Don't you think you've had enough? A fourth bowl might be pushing it," he joked as she poured

the multicolored cereal into her bowl of sugar milk.

"You and your wimpy ol' toast and OJ. Famine'll be the death of you," replied ShockWave

between bites. "So what're you up for today? It looks nice enough out."

"I'm fine right where I am," smiled Rahsas.

"We are *not* staying here all day. Besides you can't already be done with your shopping. One

more game and then we're off," announced Shockwave as she set up the Clue pieces sprawled

between them on the bed. "And this time I'd better not be the killer!"

---

Later, when they had showered and changed into their winter wardrobes, the pair met in the main

foyer of the Black Hellfire Club estate. A fire was kindled low as they slipped on gloves and

headed for the garage.

"So... which car today?" asked Rahsas as they stood in front of the key rack.

"Your Jaguar looks nice. Did someone wax it recently? We might need more room for baggage

though. One of the minivans could work I guess," replied Shockwave slightly disappointed.

"Let's take the Lotus," said Rahsas, his face lighting up.

"Lotus? There aren't any," said ShockWave oblivious to the car right before her.

"The *silver* one."

"No way! Silver would kill us! He loves that car!" exclaimed ShockWave with dread. "But... well,

the keys are right there..."

"And if he didn't want us to use it, he wouldn't leave them out. So it's settled. The Lotus it is."

Rahsas grabbed the keys off the hook and they dashed to the car, throwing nervous glances

around the room.

"What if we're caught... we really shouldn't be doing this..." worried ShockWave as she settled into

the passenger seat. "We really shouldn't... Oh my God! Is that Silver's voice I hear! OH MY

GOD!!! Step on it Rahs!!!!"

The silver Lotus peeled out of the garage in record time, flying down the driveway and skidding

onto the main road. When the two vallets walked in the door to find the Black King's favorite car

gone, they stood petrified with shock.

"Okay... okay... no need for panic... let's get our stories straight. We didn't go to get a snack! And

we couldn't prevent the supervillian... er... Mutantar, from stealing it!" exclaimed Ricky in a rush.

Greg just groaned in worry.

---

Shockwave laughed halfway into New York. She was under the influence of four bowls of Froot

Loops mixed with adrenaline and couldn't help herself.

"I've never done anything like that! I thought for sure we were gonna be caught!" she giggled. "But

he'll know *someone* took it!"

"No need to worry about that now. Besides we can always say Av took it. Everyone'll believe

that," joked Rahsas. "So where shall we start our outing? The malls are probably packed today..."

"That's half the fun. C'mon, turn in there. I've gotta get something for the students and chocolate is

as good as anything."

---

"...three of those chocolate hazelnut ones, and... what'dya say Rahs? Should I go with the cream

filled or the cherry ones?"

"What about these dark chocolate ones. They look pretty good," said Rahsas as he peered into the

glass case of chocolates.

"Sure. And seven of those dark chocolate ones, please," ordered ShockWave.

"Here you go miss," said the attendant from behind the counter as she handed over the boxes of

chocolates. "And your total comes to ninety-seven dollars and eighty cents. Will that be cash or

card?"

"Oh my! Card please" responded ShockWave as she handed over her American Express.

---

After stopping by the music store, Gomurr insisted he knew Alanis Morrisette from another

lifetime, the shoe store, apparently Monet didn't have enough black shoes, the Victoria Secret,

neither of them could bring themselves to buy what Nem wanted, and the poster store, Siryn and

Av in one fell swoop, the pair decided to split up in order to shop for each other.

Rahsas veered off towards the jewelry stores, inspecting the gaudy rings with a frown.

ShockWave, for her part, looked through ties for a solid half hour, dismayed that the one tie she

liked had a naked woman on the inside. He pawed through the racks of women's clothing, with an

exasperated sigh, apparently fall colors were in, nothing flashy and bright that Maggie would like.

He did, however, think he saw a BHC student by the changing room. What was the lad's name?

Rastion? Shockwave next tried the bookstore. Fantasy books sometimes gave Rahsas a good

chuckle, but nothing struck her as a worthwhile buy. Standing alone in the sea of shoppers, Rahsas

suddenly had a good idea. Weaving his way towards the Toys R' Us, he failed to see ShockWave

in the check out lines already.

When the caught up to each other, a good two hours later, they both looked quite pleased with their

purchases.

"So what'dya get me?" asked Rahsas with glee.

"As if! You're not finding out till tomorrow morning!" responded ShockWave as she fished the

keys out of Rahsas's pocket. "I think it's my turn at the wheel."

"Let's just hope Silver can buy another one." That earned Rahsas an elbow in the ribs.

"Just get in the car big boy. You got into the city in half an hour. Impressive enough, but I'll be

home in twenty minutes," boasted ShockWave as she started the ignition. Hardly ever taking her

foot of the gas, the Black Bishop headed home almost as fast as she could fly.

---

Nineteen minutes later, the silver Lotus rolled up with a purr into the garage. When Greg ran to

inspect it, he was met with a completely empty car, keys still in the ignition.

---

As ShockWave and Rahsas dropped out of a dark swirling portal onto her bright green

bedspread, they couldn't help feeling they'd beat the system a second time.

"Nice moves, Rahs, you've been practicing?"

"No more than you have with your driving skills," he responded. "Shall I get the board?"

"Naturally. I've still got plenty of time to beat you before dinner," she laughed. A dark portal

opened above and between the pair of them, and from it the Clue game tumbled with a jingle of

pieces. "Mr. Green is mine."

"Won't help you against the might of Mustard!" he said as they began setting up the pieces.

"Oh, and before I forget, I believe I won a certain bet on the way home. And I certainly intend to

claim my prize," said ShockWave as she leaned in closer to Rahsas.

---

Much later, when night had settled, two conspicuously shaped presents lay underneath the

sprawling Christmas tree set up in the BHC Estate. Both were rectangular and would have jingled

lightly if shook. Through the translucent tissue paper wrapping of one of them, it might have been

possible to see the words "Clue: Master Detective" written across the box, but only if you were

looking. Upstairs, two friends slept huddled near eachother in huge blankets, their quiet breathing

falling into synch with each other. It had been a good day.