Once Smitten, Twice Awry

Chapter 3

Ace walked into the command center. He started his day with an invigorating shower, ate a hearty breakfast and afterwards completed an energizing workout. Too bad, he had a rough sleepless night. He went over to a workstation at the computer bank and sat down in a chair. He retrieved some data and studied the figures for a considerable amount of time. Although he made some progress, after awhile he had some trouble concentrating. Ace leaned back in the chair, shut his eyes and proceeded to meditate when he heard someone step into the room. Ace opened his eyes and swiveled the chair towards the doorway.

The sliding doors automatically closed behind Lexi. She stood just inside of the doorway. She smiled sheepishly and fidgeted somewhat. "Can I speak with you?"

Ace got out of the chair and walked over to the conference table. "Sure, Lex; what's on your mind?" He leaned against the table.

Lexi walked over to Ace. "I'm so, so very sorry. Can you please forgive me?"

"Of course. Can you forgive me?"

"Why?"

"I shouldn't have blown up like that. I should've been more understanding of the situation and talked to you in private. I didn't mean to humiliate you in front of the others."

"That's all right. I acted foolish. You called me out on it—rightfully so." Lexi took a deep breath. "But don't worry—I'm okay now."

Ace cocked an eyebrow. "You are?"

"Yes—I got a good night's rest—woke up refreshed and clearheaded."

"And dat's dat?"

"Yes." Lexi looked down and off to the side. "I—I was only trying to make Duck feel good about himself. Sometimes, he feels unappreciated."

"Uh, huh."

Lexi fidgeted with her jade ribbon, which dangled from around the base of her ears. "And—I went overboard." She glanced up at Ace. "I'm truly sorry."

"Okay. I'll accept that."

"And, Ace…."

"What?"

"Can you please forgive Duck?"

"He's a grown drake. He can ask for forgiveness himself."

"But—you know how stubborn and prideful Duck can be."

"Of course."

"So—I'm sure he's so very sorry. Please forgive him. For the sake of the team."

Ace twitched his mouth.

"For my sake." Lexi gazed imploring at Ace.

Ace momentarily looked to the ceiling, he let out a sigh then he looked back at Lexi. "Okay."

Lexi clasped her hands. "So that means both Duck and I are back to full team status?"

"Well, just one more day. If there are no violations by then, I don't see why not."

Lexi jumped for joy. "Oh, thank you, Ace!"

Ace grinned lopsidedly. "You're welcome."

Lexi grinned at Ace then she practically skipped out of the command center.

When Lexi entered the corridor, Ace heard her greet someone as the automated doors of the command center closed. Within a span of some minutes, Tech walked into the command center.

Ace stood up from his leaning position against the conference table. "You're just the one I wanted to see."

"That's good because I got something to tell you." Tech went over to Ace.

"So, did you and Lexi smooth things out?" Ace inquired.

Tech answered, "Yes, she just apologized profusely."

Ace and Tech were quiet for a few seconds.

Ace said, "She's not herself."

"Definitely," Tech replied.

Ace let out a deep breath. "I need you to figure out what's wrong with Lexi. Perhaps, I need to convince her to take a physical in order to see what's up."

Tech waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need for that. I think I found out what's bugging her."

"And what would that be?"

Tech whipped out the repaired scarab and placed it upon the conference table.

Ace looked at the contraption. "A bug—very funny."

"I thought so." Tech chuckled softly.

Ace turned his head to roll his eyes politely. He looked back at Tech. "And what does that bug have to do with Lexi's odd behavior?"

"You remember that night when Lexi and Duck went out to see a holovie."

"Hmm, the very next day was when she started acting weird."

"That's true. But the night before was when she and Duck came upon," Tech pointed to the sparkly scarab, "that."

"What's it really?"

"I'll show you." Tech picked up the object and went over to a workstation at the computer bank. He placed the coleopteran contraption on a scanner. Tech then pressed a series of buttons. The scanner lit up, and a schematic appeared on a holographic display. "It's an exceedingly sophisticated robotic mechanism. However, Lexi was right about one thing."

Ace had come over to the display and was studying the schematic. "What would that be?"

"The mechanism was malfunctioning. But, in more ways than she thought—the scarab's supposed to have a retrieval fail-safe program but it apparently failed."

"I wonder why."

"My guess is that it's a prototype, so it's—buggy." Tech chuckled.

Ace winced slightly. "What's its purpose?"

"From what I can tell, it seems like a high-end luxury item, most likely with an astronomical retail price."

"I guess for the person who has everything."

"Just about, except for something…."

Ace looked intrigued.

Tech said, "This so-called toy has a dubious purpose. Within the housing, there's an injection sac containing trace amounts of an unknown chemical substance."

"An injection sac, huh?"

"Yeah, and it 'bit' Lexi."

"Wonderful," Ace said sarcastically. "Do you know who's responsible?"

"Strangely, yes." Tech smiled as he touched the holographic display. A portion of the schematic was highlighted and magnified.

Ace read the trademark inscription. "Strangelove Inc!" Ace rubbed his chin. "Aren't they a pharmaceutical company, spearheaded by the illustrious Dr. Strangelove?"

"Affirmative. SI specializes in mood modifiers and enhancers."

Ace said, "Bingo! We're going to make an appointment to see the doctor."

Ace decided to travel with Tech to visit Strangelove Incorporated. Before Ace left with Tech, Ace had given Danger and Lexi menial tasks to keep them occupied. Ace had then appointed Rev and Slam to sentinel duty at the headquarters, to keep a watch on Lexi and possibly Danger.

Danger stepped into his quarters. He was annoyed by the mindless chores that Ace assigned to him. He figured Ace was punishing him for the quarrel that occurred last night. Danger knew that eventually he would apologize but he wanted Ace to stew in his own juices just a tad bit longer.

Danger took the towel from around his neck and tossed it onto a nearby chair. At least, for today, he got in a good swim. For Danger, there was no physical activity more revitalizing than swimming. Well, that wasn't quite true; there was one other physical activity that he considered the best in revitalization. He chuckled under his breath. He had already freshened up at the athletic complex in Loonatics Headquarters. He simply came back to his quarters to get out of his swimming trunks and into uniform. He said nearly inaudible, "Now, I'm ready to conquer anything."

"Anything?" a soft voice said.

Danger nearly jumped out of his black feathers.

Lexi stepped out of the shadow of the walk-in closet.

Danger gasped. "Lexi! I can't believe you just came out of the closet!"

Lexi arched a brow then she glanced over Danger. "You look good in a bathing suit."

Danger choked out, "T-thanks."

Lexi asked, "Well, how do I look?"

Lexi didn't need to ask Danger that question because he was already studying her appearance. As was Danger, Lexi wasn't wearing her color-coded uniform. She wore a strapless shimmering pink gown which clung to her body in such a way that it looked painted on. The gown allowed her fluffy tail to be exposed, had a plunging open back and a slit on the side that practically went up to the hip. She wore long, satiny green gloves and had on shimmering pink pumps to complete the outfit. Still true to her individual style, Lexi sported a satiny green ribbon that dangled from the base of her perky ears.

Danger tried to speak but instead he sputtered causing spittle to fly from his mouth.

"Do I look like your holo dream girl?" Lexi struck a sultry pose.

Danger wiped the drool from his mouth. "Oh, please!"

Lexi slumped out of her sultry pose. "I'm not as hot as Tanta Liza?"

"What?! I bet Tanta Liza wishes she was as hot as you."

Lexi immediately perked up. She leapt across the room and threw her arms around Danger. "Oh, Duck. I'm burning up inside."

Danger trembled in Lexi's embrace. He loudly gulped then said, "There's a cream for that, you know."

Lexi giggled breathlessly. "You're so funny. That's one of the many reasons why I find you so fascinating."

Danger slipped out of her embrace and stepped backward. "You find me fascinating?"

"Yes." Lexi stepped forward and once more, embraced him. She slowly ran her gloved hands down his back. "I find it amazing how your feathers are so soft but your musculature is so hard."

A strangled sound escaped Danger's bill. Once again, he mustered the strength to slip from Lexi's embrace and back up some more. When the back of his legs touched the side of his bed, it dawned on him that Lexi had been slowly herding him towards the bed. With nowhere else to backup, Lexi was able to embrace him tightly.

Lexi had pressed her athletically toned figure against Danger's taut sinewy physique. She nuzzled against the side of his neck. His muscles tensed further upon the sensation of her respiration. She said softly, "You smell delicious." Lexi moved her attention away from Danger's neck towards his bill. She whispered, "I bet you taste delicious."

Danger could feel Lexi's warm breath against his bill. He figured he should do something.

Danger teleported out of Lexi's arms. His sudden teleportation caused Lexi to lose her balance and she pitched forward onto his bed.

Danger reappeared on the other side of the room. He watched Lexi flip around on his bed into a reclining position. She sexily tossed her head to get her blonde bangs out of her eyes. As she lounged upon his bed, he wasn't sure if he should run away or towards her. He said, "Ace was right. There's something wrong with you."

Lexi sat up on Danger's bed. She said in a soft sad voice, "I'm wrong?"

Danger murmured, "If you're wrong, I don't want right." When he saw a smirk appear on Lexi's face, he mentally berated himself for forgetting about Lexi's super hearing.

Danger gestured for Lexi to stay put. "You, stay here, okay. I'm going…."

Lexi interrupted, "No. You're staying here with me." She got off the bed.

Danger looked surprised. "What?!"

Lexi sauntered towards Danger. "You heard me. You're staying—because you want to be here with me."

"And how do you know that?"

"You had ample time to Quack far away from me. But you didn't?"

Danger twisted his bill. "Don't you dare use that femiminine wiles psychoblabber on me. It won't work…."

Lexi was upon Danger. She stared into his aqua eyes. She said, "Well?"

All Danger could do was stare back.

Lexi leaned over and whispered into his ear, "I thought so."

Suddenly, Danger grabbed Lexi and in one deft move, he spun her around into a dipping embrace.

Lexi's eyes went wide. "Oh, my!" She giggled softly. "The tide has turned."

Danger struggled with himself. Lexi was his friend; he didn't want to take advantage of the situation. He turned to his conscience for some answers.

"Screw her!" his inner demon crowed.

His inner angel chirped, "I agree with the demon!"

Danger sighed and realized that he couldn't argue with common sense.

Lexi reached up and lovingly touched the side of his face. As if she could read Danger's mind, she whispered, "Hmm, decisions, decisions." Lexi danced her fingers from the side of Danger's face, down to the top lip of his bill then coyly withdrew her hand.

Danger glanced down to Lexi's ruby tinged lips. He said in a faraway voice, "Is this for real?"

"As real as it could get." Lexi flung her arms up, held on to Danger's back and pulled herself up tight against his body. "Don't I feel real?"

Danger groaned inaudibly. He tightened his embrace to accommodate Lexi's change in position. He tore his eyes off her inviting lips and looked upwards into her bedroom eyes.

"I never knew you could be chivalrous," Lexi remarked with a note of frustration.

"I never knew your natural eye color is as bright as the clear blue sky," Danger rejoined silkily.

"Hmm, tell me more about my eyes," Lexi replied breathlessly.

Danger's willpower began to ebb. He spoke in a barely audible voice, "Well, what's wrong with a little lovin' between friends." He let his hands delve into the soft, honey-colored fur of Lexi's exposed back.

Lexi moaned in pleasure. She whispered, "Friends? No, we're soul mates. This is kismet."

Danger gazed soulfully into Lexi's eyes and then he saw it, something that caused his inner demon and angel to clutch each other in abject horror. Danger yelped while he teleported.

When Danger reappeared outside in the corridor, he could hear the faint thud of Lexi hitting his bedroom floor. He scrambled down the corridor into the main lounge. He turned a corner and slammed into Rev. They both fell backwards onto their posteriors.

Danger sprang to his feet. He panted as he wailed, "Rev! Save me!"

Rev was puzzled. "Save-you-from-what?!" He stood up.

"Not what? Whom?" Danger tried to catch his breath. "She's—trying to—tie me down! She's…!"

"Duck, you can run but you can't hide," Lexi said, from around the bend of the corridor.

Danger screeched then teleported.

Lexi got to where Danger was standing as the last remnants of his teleportation energy signature dissipated.

Rev's tongue dangled out of his beak as his eyes raced over Lexi's form. He cried out, "Sweet-meep-meep!!" Immediately, he felt shamed for his behavior and slapped himself across the beak.

Lexi giggled self-consciously. She felt flattered by Rev's attention but she knew that she better work on damage control. "Don't be alarmed. Duck and I are killing some free time by playing a game."

Rev shook his head in a vain attempt to get his concentration back. He inquired, "A-game? Can-I-play?"

Lexi grinned nervously. "Well, this game is two-player only. Sorry."

"What-kind-of-game-are-you-guys-playing-anyway-virtual-board-card-puzzle…?"

Lexi interrupted, "Um, a role playing game." She paused for a moment then continued to say, "Duck wanted this role but he lost at rock-paper-scissors." She grinned broadly, as she gestured at her sultry attire.

Rev nearly choked on laughter.

Lexi figured while Rev was in a fit of hysterics that was the perfect time to get away. "You know I don't like to lose. So, I better get going." Her super hearing picked up Danger's whereabouts. She bolted towards the entranceway of the main lounge and waved a hasty good-bye to Rev who was rolling on the floor in laughter.

Danger had teleported to another section of the complex. He ran down the corridor and slammed straight into Slam. Danger fell backwards onto his posterior.

Slam didn't even budge an inch from the collision. He looked down at Danger. Slam muttered something unintelligible under his breath. Whatever he said, it didn't sound approving.

Danger jumped up onto his feet. "Slam, you got to save me!"

Slam grunted inquisitively.

"Lexi…!"

"There you are!" Lexi interrupted Danger's plead as she ran down the corridor towards him.

Danger wailed to Slam, "Ball and chain…!" Danger teleported away.

Slam was baffled by Danger's behavior. When he spotted Lexi running towards him, he was even more baffled. She stopped in front of him.

While she breathed heavily, Slam's ruby eyes voraciously consumed the spectacular sight that was Lexi. His tongue wagged out of his mouth as he drooled profusely. He got into a spin and spun down the corridor ricocheting like a pinball in a pinball machine.

Lexi shrugged her shoulders upon Slam's departure. She dolefully slumped against the wall of the corridor. Suddenly, her ears twitched. She cocked her head in the direction of the sound. She moved away from the wall then ran down the corridor, towards the direction from whence she came.

Danger quietly snuck back into his quarters. He glanced around then he secured all the locking mechanisms for the door. When that task was complete, he let out a heavy sigh of relief. He figured he could take a quick ice-cold shower then suit up. From there, he could try to contact Ace and Tech. Danger twisted up his bill. He was annoyed that when he could use Ace and Tech's help the most, that's when they decided to go off to who knows where.

Danger crept into his walk-in closet, just to make sure Lexi wasn't hiding there. Her lovely perfume still lingered in the air. He took in a deep breath. He could detect a hint of her intoxicating natural scent. He let out a deep sigh. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He somberly went back to his mission of ensuring she wasn't still present in his room.

He peeked into the adjoining bathroom. Danger glanced around then he skulked over to the shower. He peeked inside the shower area—nothing. He slunk to the sink. He glimpsed into the basin—nothing. He tiptoed to the toilet. He lifted up the toilet lid—nothing. It was all clear. He exited the bathroom.

Danger rummaged through his closet and came upon a pile of clothes in the corner. He dove into the pile and resurfaced with a skeleton in tow. He screamed then realized the skeleton was an old prankster prop. Danger laughed self-consciously then he tossed the skeleton aside. After he thoroughly checked the closet, he felt totally secure.

He came upon his full-length mirror at the end wall of the closet. While Danger checked his reflection in the mirror, a thought crossed his mind about how he didn't need to contact anyone. He was smart enough to outmaneuver Lexi. He could easily take her on all by himself. Danger posed triumphantly then without warning, his body completely seized up.

Even though Danger was physically frozen, somehow he retained a sense of awareness. He saw in the reflection of the mirror, standing in the entranceway of the walk-in closet, was Lexi holding a ray gun.

Lexi sauntered right behind Danger. She leaned over his shoulders, wrapping her arms around him. She looked at him through the reflection in the mirror. "You look very sexy. Perfect," she purred. "You shouldn't have run. Resistance is futile." She brandished the ray gun. "I didn't want to use this. And I thought I didn't have too." She sighed then said, "But a doe's got to do, what a doe's got to do."

Lexi placed her free hand on Danger's bare chest. "Do you know what I love? Besides you, of course." She giggled softly then went on to say, "That Tech derived this gun from the specs of the freezing rifle and cannon that Otto possessed. The wonderful thing is that this smaller handheld device has a few modifications, such as the different levels of inertia." Lexi stroked her hand over Danger's chest. His feathers were still soft to the touch, even though he couldn't move a single muscle. "And with the setting I used, you're still pliable." She demonstrated by easily repositioning his hand.

Danger would've looked shocked if he could have.

Lexi whispered into his ear, "Don't worry, Duck. With what I have in mind, we'll be together forever."

In the mirror's reflection, Danger's fixed gaze saw Lexi's lips slowly curl into a wicked smile.


Continuity Disclaimer: There is the possibility that certain elements of the story might be or become inconsistent with LOONATICS UNLEASHED series canon. Therefore, it is to be considered that this story takes place in a parallel universe.

Legal Disclaimer: LOONATICS UNLEASHED and all respective characters and references are trademarks of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Used without permission for non-profit entertainment purposes. All other original characters and story are copyright of Honey Bear.

Gratitude: I wish to thank all the reviewers who took the time to review the previous chapters. I also wish to thank those who took the time to review this chapter. I really appreciate the reviews and especially, the encouragement. For all those who are following the story, I wish to thank you for taking the time to read it. I hope you are finding the story worthwhile entertainment.