"The shop is highly successful ma'am," the short blonde woman said glumly. Her form wavered for a moment and the hologram shut down, revealing DD4T7. "We have a sample size of two hundred sixty three. An additional fourteen may be added as items were purchased as gifts."

"Good, good," Caizeen rumbled before popping an entire fish into her mouth. "They suspect nothing?"

DD4T7 swiveled its visual receptors left and right. "No, ma'am," it said sadly. "My observations lead me to conclude that the humans are happy to purchase the products without any suspicion."

"Excellent," Caizeen purred. "Walk me through the process again Lileen."

"Yes, ma'am," Lileen growled. He shifted in his seat to face the Caizeen "The product is, to a degree, accurate in what it is advertised to do. The chemicals and pheromones released will indeed produce endorphin. However, the product also releases highly toxic chemicals that are absorbed by the skin. Exposure for seven of this planet's days is enough to absorb a fatal concentration. At least, the idea is that the concentration is fatal. That's why we're testing it. If our experiment is successful, the compound will be used in warfare."

"It's barbaric," DD4T7 mumbled. "This is a Class 5 planet. The Shadow Proclamation would-"

"Shut up and get back to work before I wipe your memory," Caizeen interrupted.

DD4T7 made a sighing sound. Light rippled around it and the short blonde woman reappeared. She looked unhappily at the two Raxacoricofallapatorians.

"Remember, chin up and smile on!" Lileen ordered. "Let's sell more products!"

The woman put on a fake smile before stepping back out to the shop.

"I hate that droid," Caizeen rumbled before downing another fish. "I should have scrapped it when I had the chance."

Lileen shrugged. "We do need it."

"For now," Caizeen growled.

"Why don't you wipe its memory?" Lileen asked.

"Because I need its database on other alien life forms," Caizeen spit. "Not to mention the holograms and its ability to adapt and blend into the local culture. I can't imagine the humans would be overly pleased to buy the products from us."

"Wish they would finish testing on that compression field," Lileen replied. "Then we could blend in ourselves."

Caizeen scratched her chin. "Yes, that would be nice. But we don't need to wait until then. I'm scrapping that droid the second the mission is complete."

Juuban Municipal High School

"Where are you from Ana?" Melvin asked, pushing his glasses back into place.

Anastasia shifted uncomfortably at the attention. She tugged at her waist-length reddish-brown hair, tied into a single braid. "Far away," she answered truthfully.

"Lots of places are far away," another student pushed.

Anastasia hesitated for a moment, her violet eyes flicking around at the assembled students, before answering hesitantly. "I'm from… Australia. Sydney."

"Wow, that's amazing!" Melvin exclaimed. "Did you know almost everything in Australia is toxic?"

"She's a bit pale if she's from Australia," Ami commented to Serena, Mina and Lita. "She looks like she hasn't seen the sun in years."

"Who cares?" Serena whined. "I'm stuck here without lunch again. It's too much to bear... I'm going to waste away! Wither into nothingness and die! Don't any of you have even a crumb?"

Lita shook her head. "Sorry. I didn't have time to get groceries so I made less than usual."

"You need to learn to be more responsible," Ami said without looking up from her book.

Serena moved to sit next to Mina. "Mina… you don't want me to starve and waste away, do you?"

Mina sighed as she reluctantly offered the remains of her lunch to Serena. "Oh, Serena. What would you do without me?"

Serena almost cried with joy. "Mina, I love you forever."

Ami frowned. "You really shouldn't encourage her. You know if you forgot your lunch, she wouldn't share with you."

"Of course I would," Serena mumbled through a full mouth. "I would share with anyone who forgot their food." She swallowed and sighed as she looked down at the empty container.

Luna leaped down from the fence, lunch bag in mouth. Without hesitation, Serena scooped Luna up, and embraced her tightly. Luna squawked in indignation as Serena hugged tighter. "Thank you Luna, you've saved my life again!" Serena squealed. She dropped Luna, ripped open the bag and started inhaling the food inside.

Luna started speaking again, but fell silent as Anastasia approached them.

"Oh, hey Ana," Lita said, noticing the absence of any food in Anastasia's possession. "Aren't you, hungry?"

Anastasia's small lips turned up in a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm always hungry," she replied.

Lita grinned mischievously. "I'm sure Serena would be happy to share some of her lunch."

"Eh?" Serena mumbled through a full mouth.

"You did say you would share with anyone who forgot their food," Mina pointed out.

"That's very generous of her," Anastasia responded.

Serena gave her friends a death glare as she reluctantly offered the remains of her lunch to Anastasia. In seconds Anastasia inhaled the remainder. When finished, she licked what was left off her slender fingers.

"Wow Serena, she eats like you do," Lita said in awe.

"That's a first," Ami added.

Serena stared at the empty containers and whimpered.

"Serena, you'll be fine," Mina commented. "You had half of my lunch and most of yours."

"Hey Ana," Lita said as the idea came to mind. "You should join us for dinner."

Anastasia smiled distantly. "That would be lovely," she said.

"Great, meet us at the entrance of the school when class is over," Ami replied.

Anastasia turned and walked away. When she was out of earshot, Luna spoke up. "Serena, I need that bracelet," she ordered.

"But... why?" Serena pouted. "Darien just got it for me."

"He got it because he thinks we may have a new enemy," Luna replied irritably.

There was a moment of silence. Serena squawked and ripped the bracelet off as quickly as she could, then threw it on the ground.

"NEW enemy?!" Lita barked. "But we just beat Galaxia!"

Luna tilted her head slightly. "Yes, but she isn't the only threat in the galaxy. Undoubtedly, there's a lot out there and we're woefully unaware of most of it."

Ami pulled a handkerchief from her bag and used it to pick up the bracelet and deftly wrapped it inside before offering it to Luna.

"I'm going to take this to our base to analyze," Luna continued. "Ami, the second you're done with school, I want you to come and check it as well. In the meantime, Artemis will be keeping an eye on the shop where Darien found this."

Luna gripped the bundle in her teeth and bounded off again. The scouts watched her grimly.

"I really hope it's a normal bracelet," Mina said.

Lita nodded. "Same. But, knowing how things usually go, that's probably too much to ask for."