I don't own the Secret Saturdays, or any of the characters mentioned in this chapter except for Zander.

Like almost any of the stories I will write that are not my generic history (or the "meanwhiles" I plan to do that take place during the show), this story draws on certain elements from my generic history. More to be referenced as I go along.

Warning: Doyle and Mizuki both act very out-of-character in this and the next chapter(s). Those who have seen the relevant chapters of my generic history should understand the reason for Doyle's behavior, particularly next chapter. Those who have not...well, he still explains it.
Mizuki...I'm still not sure why he's acting this way. Other than losing his temper. But still...

And speaking of that generic history. Those who have not read the relevant chapters—which, given the timing of this writing, really means those who read this before I've even posted the relevant chapters—Paul knows what Doyle is capable of. He and Zander both, and at this point, only he and Zander, know Doyle's abilities, or the problems with them.
(In the generic, I have it that Paul met Doyle on a job about ten-ish years before the show started, and learned of Doyle's abilities by accident. And for reasons which should already be known in the generic, he and Zander are both determined to tell nobody. At least until Doyle's willing to talk.)

Oh...and Doc swore in this chapter. Only once, and some might consider it a mild term. (Others might consider it a serious term, at least if they find religious terms to be especially offensive when used this way.)
But I thought I should warn you.


First Theft

The Saturdays had to fight their way into headquarters; for some reason, the rest of the Secret Scientists crowded around the doors.

Once they shoved their way through the group, it was easy to see why. Talu Mizuki paced the large room, clearly enraged, and the scientists were too nervous of his Hibagon body to approach.

Miranda stepped forward. "Professor Mizuki, we can't help you if you won't tell us what's wrong."

"I'll tell you what's wrong!" Mizuki snarled. "That witch you call a sister broke into my lab, that's what's wrong! She stole my notes, one of my devices—" He glared at her.

Miranda trembled under the glare, but forced herself to continue. She nodded. "All right. So when did this happen? And exactly what did she—"

"Bah! I don't want your help," he growled. "As far as I'm concerned, you're in league with her!" He reached out an arm to swipe at her.

Miranda's mouth dropped open. She stepped back, to try to avoid the blow. The other scientists rushed out of the way. Some drew weapons, but he was too quick—

Mizuki's fist pounded into the floor, three inches to the left of where he'd aimed. He looked up to see what had stopped him.

"Chill, King Kong," Doyle said. He shifted his grip on the Hibagon's arm.

Doc's eye twitched.

"Maybe you haven't noticed," Doyle continued, "but Dr. Grey and her sister haven't exactly seen eye to eye since Abbey joined the other team. Why would you thi—"

Mizuki jerked his arm back, and at the same time, swung his free hand towards Doyle.

Doyle released Mizuki's arm, unbalancing the Hibagon. He leapt backwards to avoid the blow, bent in his arms to absorb the landing, and rolled onto all fours.

"Get him, Doyle!" Zak called out.

Paul quickly covered the boy's mouth. "Could we maybe try not encouraging the lunatic fighting the homicidal gorilla?"

Zak pushed Paul's hand out of the way. "Aw, my uncle can take him."

Paul looked at Doyle's expression and shivered. "That's what I'm afraid of," he whispered.

"Huh?" Zak frowned up at him.

Paul just shook his head. If they didn't notice... If Doyle was restrained enough that nobody else could see it, then maybe he could keep it under control this time. Could remember this time. But still, there was something about how he moved...

Paul suppressed a shudder. Something not human.

Drew took advantage of the distraction to pull Miranda into the group.

Mizuki spun at the movement, and advanced on the two women.

Doyle leaped onto his back, wrapping his arms around the Hibagon's neck to stay on.

The Hibagon reached around, to try to dislodge the redhead. He snarled, baring his fangs. He made another grab for Doyle.

Doyle ducked, Mizuki's fingers missing his head by millimeters.

Miranda sent in Deadbolt to try to help Doyle. The robot managed to pin Mizuki's arms behind him, and tried a grab at his legs.

Mizuki reacted by flinging himself at a wall.

Doyle jumped onto a windowsill to get clear, but Deadbolt was not so lucky. Doyle paled at the sight of the crushed robot.

The Hibagon sneered at him.

And lunged.

"Doyle!" Drew screamed.

Doc and Paul rushed to the window. Doc leaned out to see where the two had fallen. "Zon—"

It was Paul who spotted them. "There!" He pointed to one of the nearer trees, easily more than thirty feet away.

How the hell did he manage that? Doc wondered. Mizuki would have had no trouble, with his Hibagon body, but Doyle didn't even have his jetpack. Doc's eyes widened as he watched Doyle moved through the branches, cat-like, and more skilled than the pursuing Hibagon. "Uh...which one was supposed to be the gorilla?"

"I'll...I'll get back to you on that," Paul mumbled.

"He may have the brain of a human," Zander mused aloud, "but he doesn't seem to have trouble letting the Hibagon's instincts take over." Doc nodded, only half-listening.

Mizuki's larger body allowed him to cover more distance with less effort, and he began to catch up to Doyle. He reached out one long arm—

And Doyle startled the onlookers by changing direction, jumping onto a branch at least forty feet away, and climbing down, headfirst.

The Hibagon jumped down, landing near the base of the tree, just below Doyle. Doyle climbed into another tree before the Hibagon could start climbing again, and the Hibagon took up the chase from the ground.

The Hibagon saw the end of the trees a second after Doyle did. Doyle caught himself on one branch, and turned to change course.

And the Hibagon slammed into the tree. Doyle gripped the branch tight to keep from falling.

The Hibagon slammed into the tree again. He swung one fist at the tree, scooping out a chunk of wood in the process. He glared up at Doyle, then swung at the tree again.

Doyle looked around, wildly. The nearest tree... He could jump that far, but with the way the Hibagon was rocking the tree, he'd likely fall as soon as he let go. And the more the Hibagon worked at it, the further this tree was from any escape route.

The only other way was down...

Doyle looked down, and gulped. He was a lot higher up than he'd realized. That technique had already helped him through the trees, and would probably save him if it came to it, but without any control, that would make things worse! He'd confronted the Hibagon to protect Dr. Grey, but if that was to happen...

He shuddered. I don't want to hurt anyone. No, that was not an option. He had to get out of this...without that...skill.

His changed eyes picked up movement in the sky. Zon flew down at him.

He no longer hesitated. He let go of his branch and let her catch him. The Hibagon roared in anger.

Zon carried Doyle back to the building and released him just above the landing pad. He braced himself for the impact, and rolled several times before he stopped.

He was just pushing himself to his knees, breathing in gulps of air, when Drew reached him, the other scientists close behind.

"Are we the only ones who think rushing him right now is a bad idea?" Paul muttered to Zander.

We are the only ones who know what he can do, Zander thought.

Paul looked at the telepath for a moment. "True," he finally said.

Doyle flinched from Drew's touch, and shuddered. He stared at her, stared past her, with a strange look in his eyes.

Then his eyes cleared, and he looked right at her. So his eyes change color when he's agitated? Drew wondered. Huh. Heard of that; never seen it before, and I didn't know he was that way.

She decided the thought was irrelevant, and shook it off. "Are you okay?" she asked.

He waited until he could breathe easier before answering. "I—I guess so." He tried to stand, but he was still trembling.

The scientists were focused on Doyle; nobody saw the tiny robot fly in to investigate one of the trees he'd been climbing.


Will Mizuki regain control over his temper? Will his research ever be recovered?

Anyway, why did Abbey steal it? Did she do it alone, or did someone hire her?

And what's the deal with that tiny robot?

Find out in future chapters of...Ultimate Heist.


I believe someone once said in my history that they'd like to see a fight scene?
Well...

Let me put it this way. I'm the one who came up with this scene, and I'm still not halfway sure what was going on. Putting it into words didn't help.

I guess "fight scenes" are just one of those things that some people do well and some people don't.
But I'd better work on improving it, because there's no avoiding them in
this story.

And his eyes "changing color" is Drew's first clue (at least in this story) to what Doyle is capable of...except she didn't know what she was really looking at. She just assumed that Doyle was one of those rare people with "mood eyes."
Readers of my generic history may recall similar scenes...and recall just what that change signified.