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Some TMNT stuff really isn't for little kids. |
Casey Jones Agent of the Foot Clan part 2: Second Half is the second story in Mutant Nation #2.
Solicit[]
In Erik Burnham and Mateus Santolouco's heart-pounding backup story, Casey Jones endures Karai's grueling test of loyalty — and a run in with Bebop and Rocksteady gives him an idea…
Appearing in Casey Jones Agent of the Foot Clan part 2: Second Half[]
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Synopsis[]
Casey Jones and Natsu bow to one another on the training mat in the Foot Clan compound in Tōkyō. They begin to spar, trading blows, and as Casey blocks each of her strikes, he asks if she’s getting slow. Natsu suddenly catches him with a hard blow to the nose. Blood drips and Casey curses, saying he thought they had said no shots to the face. Natsu tells him she never agreed to that, but if he wants to quit… He quickly informs her that he doesn’t do that, and she tells him he still telegraphs his punches.
Grinning, he pulls back a fist and says to keep watching the birdie. As Natsu brings her hands up defensively, he slides under her guard and tackles her around the legs, throwing her to the mat. Holding a fist above her face, he says that if this had been real, she’d be done right now. Natsu counters by catching him in the back with her knee and replies that if this were real, he wouldn’t have had enough time to say something stupid. She congratulates him on his improvement and asks if they are done. Grabbing a pair of bokken, he tosses one to her, making it clear he’s not done after finally pulling a compliment out of her.
As they practice, Casey asks if Natsu has noticed Karai acting a little weird since they went into the cave up north. Natsu tells him it’s not her place to notice that sort of thing and it isn’t his either. To Casey, that’s a yes. He says that Karai is not listening to him anymore and asks if she’s listing to Natsu. In response, Natsu tells him that just because Karai isn’t doing what he’d do doesn’t mean she’s not listening, it means his advice isn’t helpful. When Casey says that hurts, Natsu tells him to grow up. Casey lectures her that they are staring at responsibility, the stuff she’s into when she’s watching her sappy dramas. That someone like Karai, with a loyal army, magic powers and a brand-new chip on her shoulder has got to be steered away from becoming a problem.
Natsu becomes fiercer in her attacks as she reminds Casey that someone is trying to take Karai’s birthright. She insists that Karai does not have a chip on her shoulder and she’s not imagining adversity. She is being attacked and she will retaliate. All the while they are talking, Karai is chasing a Dog Star Clan operative across Toyko rooftops. She catches and brings him down, and he attempts to strike her with his tonfā. Karai responds by placing her hand to his chest and delivering a magically enhanced shock.
In the dojo, Casey is doing his best to block Natsu’s strikes. She continues to lecture that war was declared and he knows the kind of wars this clan attracts. Natsu tells him that now is not the time to challenge his leader’s instincts. With that she swings her bokken hard enough to crack his in half. With that, she tosses down her bokken, tells him not to make fun of her shows, and leaves. A sudden burst of laughter makes Casey look over his shoulder to see Bebop and Rocksteady, both dressed in fine outerwear. Bebop tells him not to make fun of Natsu’s stories again because she’ll shove his golf bag down his throat. Rocksteady adds that he’d pay to see that.
Casey asks what they want and Rocksteady says they need his tiny fingers. They walk to a lab where a teleportal has been fired up. Casey tells them that they know how to work the teleportal stuff and they remind him that he does too, because he sent Clyde back to New York. Bebop says it took them a half an hour just to start the thing and they have places to be. As Casey begins working at the keyboard on the control panel, he asks what is so urgent. They heard there would be a fight tonight in Vegas and they want to be there. Casey is incredulous that they want to go looking like big animal monsters. Rocksteady displays the watch on his arm and says that Karai gave them a way to hide. He activates the watch, which provides Bebop and Rocksteady with holograms that make them look human.
The portal opens and as they prepare to step through, Casey tells them not to break the city. After they are gone, Casey mumbles that they are so going to destroy something and is then startled when Karai suddenly appears next to him. She says that she has been looking for him and he tells her to just text or something. Casey then asks what she needs. Karai tells him that she needs his assistance on an interrogation.