xlix. spike vs spikette

——

~Common Area~

In the Common area, Douglas is going through a line of students checking their bionic abilities.

Douglas yelled. "Next!"

Adam, Bree, Chase, Freya, Juliet, and Leo walk up to him. Freya was now free of her boot and crutches. The doctor said her foot has healed, but it will take time to get her strength back. She is wearing an ankle brace to keep it stable and protected. She is back to training, but still has to take it easy for awhile.

"What's up, Douglas? Doing a price check on bionic kids?" Leo asked with a grin.

Adam smiled. "Ooh, I wonder how much I'm worth."

"Well, we could sell you for parts and find out." Chase joked.

"I don't think his brain would sell very well," Freya tilted her head with a frown, and Chase snickered.

"All right. Well, just don't sell the part that does this!" Adam punches Chase's arm, and Chase yells, holding his arm.

"Ow!"

"Adam!" Juliet scolded, hitting his chest. Freya shocked Adam's back, and he jumped, yelping.

Douglas turned to the kids, "I'm just cataloging everyone's bionic abilities."

Adam raised his hand. "Oh, cool, count me in."

"Adam, we already know what your abilities are." Bree reasoned.

Adam laughed. "Ugh, okay, you got me. I just really like waiting in lines." Adam joins the front of the queue.

"In addition to the bionics we know they have, Krane also gave them a lot of weird hidden abilities. Just trying to get a grip on what we're dealing with." Douglas explained and gestured to Juliet. "Like red over here, I should check you, just in case he wanted you to explode."

"What?" Juliet blinked in surprise as Douglas checked her bionics. Instead of checking her neck, he checked the back of her head.

"I'm kidding," Douglas chuckled. "It was Freya."

"Hey!" Freya exclaimed, going to attack, but Chase grabbed her. Douglas laughed.

Bree pointed to a student, who had red glowing hands. "What does that guy have?"

Douglas smiled. Check it out." He takes out raw burger. "Oh, no, my lunch is undercooked. Oh, Thermo Hands!"

The student walks over, places the burger between his flaming hands, and opens his palms to reveal it to be fully cooked.

Douglas scooped the cooked burger off his hands. "Why, thank you."

"I can do that with just my fire," Juliet scoffed.

"Sweet ability, dude." Adam praised and high-fived him. He yelped at the burning sensation. "Ow! Hot! Hot! Hot! Ooh!" He blows on his hands and sighs. "Hey, those things are dangerous!"

Bree grinned, shrugging. "Try it again, I'm sure they've cooled down."

Adam laughed. "Oh, no, I'm not falling for that. I got her." Adam once again high-fives him and got burned by the heat. "Ow! Ah!"

----

~Cafeteria~

Bree, Freya, and Chase were eating lunch when Douglas walked in.

"Hey, Chase, you are not gonna believe this. Another student has the Commando App!" Douglas smiled widely. Freya raised her eyebrows in shock, thinking it was her.

Chase got up in surprise. "What? I thought I was the only one with that app."

Douglas chuckled. "Yeah, you're not that special."

Bree shrugged when Chase looked at the two girls. "Don't look at me, I've been trying to tell you that for years."

"I'm your girlfriend, so I am inclined to say you are." Freya grinned, rubbing his arm. Chase frowned for a second.

"So, which one of these manly warriors is following in my footsteps?" Chase asked, and looks in the direction of the muscular boys across the room, Douglas moves his head toward the tall, red head, who was fighting another student.

"Juliet!" Douglas smiled. Freya gasped, standing up and Bree was taken back by that answer, raising her eyebrows.

"Seriously?" Freya asked with a chuckle. "That's sick!"

"She's the scariest girl in the whole academy!" Chase exclaimed. It was true, she made Spike look like a delicate bunny.

"I was surprised too, but since Krane gave her bionics. He probably wanted to use it." Douglas explained. "Typically, with the Commando App, the enemy is caught off guard by a non-threatening subject."

Chase blinked. "But I have the Commando App."

Freya snickered, and Chase nudged her.

Douglas laughed as Chase was annoyed. "Yes, you do. Look, I didn't want to scare Juliet, so I told her she had a sonic scream ability instead. So until I can figure out a way to remove the app, make sure nothing triggers it and sets off... Spikette."

Freya stifled a laugh at the name. "Spike-ette? Is that supposed to sound like Juliet?"

"Yeah! Catchy, right?" He laughs but gets no reaction. "I like it and I'm keeping it." Douglas walks away.

Chase smiled giddily. "Man, this is perfect. I've never seen my Commando App in action. If I can activate Spikette, maybe I can figure out a way to control it, which would help the both of us."

Bree got up, protesting. "Uh-uh, no way, you heard Douglas. He doesn't want us triggering a dangerous app."

"But I can--"

Freya smacked his chest, glaring at him. "No, Chase! You are not going to experiment on my sister. Especially when she is getting over her fear."

Juliet was just getting over her fear of using her bionics, and activating Spikette could affect that.

Chase sighed, impatiently. "Fine."

"Thank you," Freya sighed and kissed him before she and Bree walked out of the room.

Juliet walked over to Chase, wiping her sweat off with a rag. "Chase, can you help me with target practice?"

Chase nodded. "Sure." They went to walk, but he paused. "Wait...did you just ask for my help?"

"Yes, it's weird I know." Juliet chuckled and went to turn around.

Chase grabbed her arm, stopping her. "So you want me to help you?"

"Uh-huh..." Juliet was confused and nodded with hesitation.

Chase grinned, in realization of what could do "Me, Chase, is gonna help you, Juliet?"

Juliet took his hand off her arm and chuckled nervously. "Maybe I should just ask Bree."

Juliet tries to leave, but Chase grabs her wrist, halting her.

Chase smirked. "Oh no! You asked for my help and you're getting it! There's no turning back!"

Juliet yelped as Chase pulled her out of the room.

——

~Mentor's Quarters~

Leo and Freya were playing a video game on their tablets when Adam ran in with a remote control.

"Hey, Rey, Leo, can I get you a snack?" Adam offered.

"No, I'm good." Leo denied, not looking at him.

"No, now go away," Freya told him, waving him away, focused on her game.

"Okay, how about a pillow to prop your feet?" Adam suggested.

"No thanks." Leo and Freya said together.

"Okay, how about something to drink?" Adam asked, getting impatient.

"Nah-"

Will you just say you want something?!" Adam snapped, irritated, and the two looked at him with shock, pausing their game.

"Since you asked so nicely, I'll take a smoothie," Freya told him with a grin and then rolled her eyes.

"Fine, I guess I'll take a tomato juice." Leo shrugged

"Water it is." Adam nodded, and Freya threw her arms up, sighing.

Adam presses a button on a remote, and a drone flies in with two bottles of water. Freya smiled, standing up with Leo, and they each grabbed a bottle.

"Woah," Freya muttered.

"So, what do you think?" Adam asked the two.

"I was hoping for a smoothie..." Freya shrugged.

Adam ignored her comment, and continued. "I call it "drone delivery service," also known as "delivery service by drone," also known as "service by delivery drone," also known as--"

"We got it." Leo and Freya interrupted him.

"Hey, you know what we should do with this drone?" Leo asked.

"Hmm, I'm one step ahead of you, but who do we know at NASA and where can we get a ferret?" Adam asked.

"My cousin has ferrets, we can ask her." Freya smiled.

"Awesome!" Adam said, and the two fist-bumped.

Leo shook his head. "No. We can send the drone to our house and Freya's house, and have it bring some of our favorite stuff here. Like my fish tank."

"My record player and vinyls," Freya added.

"And my bike." Adam said.

"My vanity dresser..." Leo said. Adam and Freya gave him confused looks. Leo awkwardly continued. "You know, where I keep all my tools! And boxing gloves. And other... assorted gentlemanly things."

"Like your dolls?" Freya smirked.

"They're not dolls, they're action figures!" Leo objected and shrugged. "It's just sometimes I like to brush their hair before battle."

"With a mini pink brush." Freya teased, patting his shoulder. Leo smacked her hand away, and she chuckled.

——

~Common Area~

"What does it take to trigger this app? We've tried fear, intimidation–-"

"Embarrassment." Juliet's voice filled with anger as it gritted through her teeth. Juliet is revealed to be in a clown costume, with students laughing at her.

She didn't understand what as happening, she was trusting Chase. He was a mentor, and she asked for help, but now she just wants to rip him in half.

"I asked for help with target practice. Now, I want to make you my target!" Juliet threatened, stomping toward him with anger.

Chase dodged her, and laughed nervously. "Sorry, sorry!" he huffed, and Juliet stood there with crossed arms and a glare. "Fine, go change, and we can do target practice."

"Good," Juliet turned around, walked into the Training Area.

"I'm playing a dangerous game here," Chase muttered as Freya walked in.

"Babe, can I borrow your basement keycard? Adam needs it for a foosball table being delivered." Freya asked Chase.

"Okay." Chase didn't think much of it and got out his keycard but stopped, realizing. "Wait...what?"

"You heard me," Freya smiled. "Now, gimme."

Freya reached for it, but Chase put his hand up, and Freya glared at him. "Chase!"

Adam ran in, impatiently. "Rey, what's taking so long?"

"Chase won't give me his keycard." Freya turned to him with annoyance, and Chase rolled his eyes.

"Why do you need it for a foosball table?" Chase asked her.

"Because we are putting your capsule in the dumpster to make room." Adam explained, and Freya frowned.

"You didn't tell me that. You told me Leo's baby capsule was." Freya stopped Adam, stepping in front of Chase.

"Because I knew you wouldn't agree," Adam reasoned.

"Adam!" Chase and Freya exclaimed.

"Give me the keycard." Adam grabbed Chase, began to throttle him.

"Cut it out!" Chase cried out.

"Adam!" Freya snapped, shoving him, but Adam bumped her back, and she stumbled.

"Give me it!" Adam yelled.

"Put him down!" Freya shocked Adam which made him drop Chase. "Attack me instead, come on! I took the keycard." She held the keycard in her hands.

"How did you-" Chase asked, searching his pockets.

"You asked for it," Adam yelled and grabbed Freya.

"Adam, let her go," Chase jumped on his back, trying to get him off Freya.

Juliet ran back in, huffing. "Ready."

Adam, Freya, and Chase continue to yell and fight, and Juliet starts to twitch. She feels immense anger at the sight of Adam hurting Freya. Chase notices this and makes Adam and Freya stop.

"Stop! Hey, wait! She's responding! Keep hurting us!" Chast told Adam.

"Us?" Freya asked in shocked, struggling in Adam's grip. "You're really winning boyfriend of the year here."

Adam sighed. "Good for you, Chase. Finally learning to accept it. Now, you must learn Rey."

Adam starts to throttle Chase and Freya again and Juliet's Commando App activates, becoming Spikette.

Juliet lets out a demonic-like scream, and forms fire in her hands. "Drop the girl-child. before I rip your tonsils out of your nose!"

Adam drops Freya, and shoves Chase off him, staring at his girlfriend in horror. "What is that? What is wrong with my girlfriend?"

Chase helped Freya off the floor, and she glared at him. "Chase, you didn't-"

"Adam, you did it! That is Spikette!" Chase pointed at Spikette.

Adam frowned in confusion. "That's Juliet, my girlfriend...right Freya?"

"Yes?" Freya asked, moving behind Chase, feeling uneasy.

Spikette grabs Adam and throws him across the room. Chase grabbed Freya, moving out the way, and the two cringed at the sound it made when he landed.

"That's normal, so." Freya chuckled nervously, holding his shoulders.

Chase let go of Freya, laughing, impressed. "Whoa. I had no idea the Commando App was so--"

Spikette grabs Freya, abruptly, and cradles her on her lap. Chase backed away, his eyes wide with fear.

"Hey! Hey! What's happening?" Freya asked, panicking and staring at Chase for help. He put his arms up, shrugging.

"Shhh. Baby good now." Spikette petted her arm, shushing her softly.

——

"Chase, you idiot!" Freya screamed as she sat on top of the cyber desk, watching Spikette ransack the place.  Spikette had claimed Freya as her 'baby' and won't let anyone touch her, almost like an overprotective momma bear. She wasn't sure if it was the protective older sister that was showing because it seemed like it to Freya.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know!" Chase yelled back, hiding behind a pillar.

Bree ran into the room, glaring at Chase. "Chase, what's going on in here?"  She spotted a frightened Freya. "Rey, are you alright?"

"I am not sure, honestly." Freya shrugged

Chase stammered nervously, glancing at his girlfriend. "Um..."

"You activated Juliet's Commando App, didn't you?" Bree asked him with anger.

Chase chuckled, his voice becoming high-pitched. "What? No!"

Spikette ran out of the training room and growled while chasing a kid with a chair held above her head. Freya flinched and glared at her boyfriend. "Chase!"

Chase sighed, defeated. "Okay, technically I didn't do it. Adam did when he attacked Rey and I."

Bree frowned, confused. "Wait, what? That doesn't make any sense. Why would her Commando App kick in if you two were the ones who were getting attacked?"

"It has to be an overprotective sister thing! She won't let anyone touch me!" Freya explained.

Chase nodded. "Rey's right, it must be triggered by some kind of mama bear instinct. And now it's glitching like crazy. First, she's she's claimed Rey has her 'baby" and then, she's trying to destroy everything in sight!"

Spikette suddenly throws a chair and Chase and Bree duck, while Freya covered her face, yelping.

"What were you thinking?!" Bree berated, hitting his arm. Bree carefully approached Freya, touching her arm. "Rey-

Spikette pushes Bree away, flaring her nostrils at her. "Stay away from baby!"

Freya leaned back from her sister as Bree apologized fearfully. "Yes, ma'am. I-I-I'm sorry."

Spikette growls and runs off.

"I don't get it! My Commando App would've shut down a while ago. But Juliet's adrenaline levels are going through the roof!" Chase tapped his tablet, getting frustrated.

"Okay. Then just shut her down!" Bree shrugged. Freya rolled her eyes at her suggestion.

"Oh, that's a great idea, you know, I hadn't thought of that" Chase sarcastically pondered, before angrily yelling at her. "I can't! I don't know how!" He sighed, calming down. "Maybe if we can just contain her in here, we'll be okay."

Spikette suddenly rips out of the support posts in the room, scaring everyone. She starts to approach Freya with wide eyes and big smile.

"Then again, maybe not," Chase mentioned.

Freya backed up on the cyber desk, holding her knees to her chest as Spikette got closer. "Baby want a toy?"

"No, thank you." Freya squeaked out with fear.

Chase shrugged,  weirdly impressed. "You know, for a maniac, her maternal instincts are dead on."

——

~Training Area/Cafeteria~

Spikette continues to destroy the place while Bree, Chase, and Douglas hide behind overturned tables. Freya was still stuck being protected by Spikette, she didn't even bother trying to escape.

"Can I-"

"No!" Spikette stopped Freya from leaving, picking her up and placing her back. "Not safe!"

Freya huffed, and glared at Chase.

"So you turned Juliet into Spikette even though I told you not to? You know, I try to be the fun uncle, but you people make it so hard!" Douglas complained, raising his voice.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to observe the Commando App. And now that I have, my scientific conclusion is.." Chase paused, hiding his face more, his voice getting high-pitched. "I'm scared."

"You're scared?!" Freya yelled from across the room. "Don't worry, I will make you scared, darling!"

Chase ducked his face down, and Freya shook her head with irritation.

Spikette starts chewing up a chicken from the trash, getting closer to Freya.

"Baby want food?!" Juliet asked, and Freya backed away, shaking her head vigorously.

"Oh, look, she's trying to give Rey a snack, before she destroys the rest of the academy." Bree nervously chuckled.

"Baby does not!" Freya exclaimed, but Juliet had grabbed her and dipped her, trying to birdfeed her. "No! Get off me!"

"No fork, no plate. Where are her manners? Does she know how to properly feed a child?" Douglas asked with disgust. Freya had managed to break free, wiping the food that had fallen on her face.

"Child?!" Freya screamed with anger. "I am 17!"

"You grilled your lunch on a kid's dirty hands!" Bree objected to Douglas.

"In the name of science!" Douglas reasoned with defense.

"Rey, I'm sorry!" Chase apologized.

"I'll make sure you are sorry!" Freya stomped her foot, her face red out anger and embarrassment.

"Are we sure Freya doesn't have the app?" Chase asked to Douglas, his eyes filled with guilt and fear.

Douglas sighed, ignoring him. "The only way to stop the app is to manually override the chip. So first we have to--"

"Okay. Get the chip. On it! Rey, catch!" Chase called and tossed the chip extractor to Rey. She tries to grab it, but Spikette catches it instead.

"Not safe for baby," Spikette growled and broke the chip extractor in half. Freya backed up, eyes wide.

Douglas groans.

"Great. Now what are gonna do?" Bree asked them with frustration.

"I don't know, but so far, panicking and hiding behind things is working for me." Chase pointed to himself.

"Your girlfriend is trapped!" Bree gestured to Freya.

"She's fine! Her sister is protecting her!" Chase reasoned, his voice getting squeaky. This got a heavy glare from Freya, and he ducked his head down.

"We're gonna have to use physical force to restrain her which means you're gonna have to get aggressive!" Douglas pointed to Chase, who growls in agreement.  Douglas snapped his fingers in realization. "Really aggressive. Spikette needs to meet her match."

Bree grinned at this as Chase shook his head. "Oh, no. No, no, no. You can't turn me into Spike."

"But I can," Bree chuckled. Bree super-speeded away