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The familiar surroundings of the factory remind him of his task: get into Club Titiboo and see if Duster's there.
The work at the factory wasn't too bad. Lucas was used to physical labor and the claymen he had to direct weren't really a hassle. There was even an elevator so he didn't even have to take them all the way up himself. Boney even got some exercise running on the power treadmills. Their reward for sweating beautiful sweat was 200 DP and the coveted ticket.
Though on their way out, someone put a hand on Lucas's shoulder.
"Lucas," says Isaac as the boy turned around to see. "So you've finally decided to live in these new times, huh?"
"I guess so," Lucas answers a bit sheepish.
"Well, good luck with your part-time job. While you're walking around here all lazy-like, I'm gonna shoot straight up to the top and become someone important."
Lucas looked confused for a moment.
Isaac clarified what he meant with, "I might even get to be a Pigmask soon! They've invited me to join them!"
It takes more effort for the boy to look genuinely happy for Isaac than it did to direct the claymen.
One short ropeway ride up later, Lucas and Boney are standing at the entrance of Club Titiboo. They were stopped, however, by a pair of bouncers.
"Whoa there," the bald one says. "Haven't seen you around here before. We don't allow pets inside. Sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."
The bearded one adds, "Come back some other time."
The pair dejectedly walk away...
...until they find some tall rocks to hide behind on the mountain.
"I'm really sorry about this, Boney boy," Lucas whispers to his dog while taking out his things, among them a shirt and cap he borrowed from Milliways when things were colder there than in Tazmily. "But I'm gonna need help and you need to look convincing."
Boney whines a bit as Lucas tries as gently as possible to get him into his green shirt and red and white cap.
"Too bad I don't know some sorta disguise PSI," he says with some regret. "Up, boy!"
Boney stands on his hind feet and Lucas tries to discreetly help support his dog while they walk back to the club entrance.
"Whoa," the bald man says again. "It's that guy who had a dog with him just a minute ago..."
Lucas tries to hide his wince, hoping with whatever hope he's got that the bouncers don't make use of their obvious strength.
"...and some dog-like dude."
The boy has to hide his surprise that the ruse is semi-working.
Not trusting his voice, the pair start walking towards the door when the bearded bouncer stops them again.
"No, there's something fishy about this! Where'd that dog from earlier go and where'd this dog-like dude come from?! And on top of that, you smell underage!"
Lucas leans back a little as the bearded bouncer leans forward to sniff him and Boney. He wonders what would be better at this point, trying to run into the club or run back home and regroup.
"You smell like an underage kid and a dog!" the bearded bouncer says with confidence.
"Now that you mention it, this IS weird!" the bald bouncer says. "No suspicious people allowed! That's our rule here! Scram! Get lost, you kid-like guy and you dog-like dude!"
Lucas kind of wished he could melt in his shoes right then and there. He and Boney were about to turn to leave when the bearded bouncer said, "Nah! I say we pulverize 'em right here!"
But before anyone else could make a move, the door to the club opens and a woman steps out.
"Oh my!" she cries out in a voice that sounded strangely familiar. "If it isn't the underage-smelling Poo and the dog-smelling Wuuf!"
The bouncers turn around and move to either side to let the woman, obviously a waitress, step up to Lucas and Boney.
"I take it you two've been mistaken for an underage kid and a dog yet again?" she asks, giggling in a way that should be girlish but seemed peculiar.
"Whaaa?!" the bald bouncer says. "You know these dudes, Violet?"
The bearded bouncer goes up to Boney again and says, "I dunno. I still say there's somethin' not right about these guys! Especially this dog-like dude here." He then thrusts his hand out and commands, "Shake!"
Boney turns his head.
"Don't look away from me! Shake!" the bearded bouncer continues.
Boney reluctantly lets the man take his paw.
"See? You do know how to shake," the bearded bouncer says with a grin.
Boney whimpers and Lucas can pick up his thoughts going, "Yes, I do know how to shake, but..."
The bearded bouncer then steps away and goes, "...This guy is definitely dog-like but it seems he isn't a dog. But dude, if by chance you ARE a dog... You'd be one of the best dogs to ever shake. Heh."
Lucas and Boney share a mental sigh of relief while exchanging a comment along the lines of, "How thick can you get?"
"Wonderful!" Violet interjects. "Come in, have lots of fun, and forget about allllll your worries!"
Lucas and Boney decide that waiting around wouldn't be a good idea and quickly move into the club.
"Hey dude!" the bearded bouncer calls before they're over the threshold. "Have fun."
Boney barks and thinks, "Whew, that was scary..."
Once they step inside, Violet is waiting and she leans over to whisper in Lucas's ear.
"Sshhh," she whispers. "Listen, but don't change the expression on your face. I know I'm dressed in this crappy girly outfit, but it's me! Kumatora! We met at the Sunshine Forest, remember?"
Lucas subtly nods, careful not to do anything else with his face.
"I'll explain everything later," Kumatora quietly continues. "...Put on a smile, will ya?"
He tries to naturally change his mouth to give the appearance that Violet has just told him some good news.
"Okay, good," she says, noticing the change before straightening back up and calling out, "Okay! The next DCMC song is about to begin! Please go on in and find some empty seats."
The boy and his dog leave to take her advice while she punctuates the announcement with another odd giggle. As soon as they stepped in, their ears were flooded with the sounds of the crowd cheering wildly for the band. The bouncers had delayed them to the point that the show was over and everyone was waiting for the encore. Lucas and Boney found some seats just as Violet came up behind them.
"What would you like to drink, sir?" she asks with another giggle.
Lucas and Boney turn around and the boy decides he shouldn't order anything too lavish.
"A glass of water's fine," he answers.
"...You want...water?" Violet asks to confirm.
"Pppppth!!" says a man eavesdropping at another table. He turns around to show himself to be Thomas. "Oh! Hey there, Lucas! I was wondering who in the world would order water in a place like this! I mean, come on? Water? Ppppppttth! Hey! Violet, baby! One Fizzy Soda for this here boy! And a Big City Cola for his dog-like friend! It's on me, the great Thomas, of course!"
It took all of Lucas's willpower not to bust out laughing when Kumatora whipped around at being addressed as Violet Baby. But she's quick to cover up her slip.
"Certainly, sir!" she tells Thomas. "One Fizzy Soda instead of water and one Big City Cola. Coming right up!"
Violet then turns to leave with a giggle.
"Thanks," Lucas tells Thomas. And while he really did want water, he doesn't mind a Fizzy Soda either. Especially if Thomas is going to be kind enough to treat him.
"Wow," Thomas says. "Never thought I'd see you here, Lucas."
It isn't long at all before Violet's returned with the drinks, placing them on the table with a, "Here you are, gentlemen!" She then leans closer to Lucas again and whispers, "Shhh. Listen, but don't change the expression on your face. There's a lot I need to talk to you about after the DCMC concert's over."
Kumatora glances to the door and Lucas follows her with his eyes, smiling all the while like before.
"After it's over, don't leave. Hang out in the lobby. I'll be there to get you."
"Thanks, Ku-" he whispers back before he catches himself. Then, "Thanks, Violet."
"All right, see ya later," she whispers to him.
And then, noticing that his grin got a little goofier: "You idiot! Don't change your expression!"
Lucas sobers a little and takes his soda for a sip while Violet says, "Well, enjoy yourselves!" and giggles one more time before leaving.
"Heeeey, Lucas!" Thomas calls, causing both boy and dog to turn around again. "What were you and Violet talkin' about? I never knew you were such a ladies' man!"
Lucas was about to reply just when the lights dimmed and Thomas says, "Oh! It's starting!"
He looks at the stage in time to see a man holding a saxophone call out, "Tonda Gossa! Are you enjoying the show?!"
The crowd cries out in a frenzy of cheers in response.
"OH MY PORK!" the saxophone player, whom the crowd has identified as OJ, shouts back. "Looks like our time is up, sad to say. So here's one last song for ya. Here's King P's Theme! Hit it!"
Lucas watches as DCMC plays, his eyes eventually coming to the left side of the stage. A man with a large afro was there slapping a bass. Except for the hair, he looked just like Jackie and Bronson had said. He nudges Boney and whispers, "I think we've found Duster."