Disclaimer: see chapter one
"Agura, can I open my eyes now?"
Even though Agura had her hands over his eyes, Stanford knew the smell of Zeke's famous pizza anywhere. So, they were at the diner, but where was everyone? Usually the diner was bustling with people, but now it was eerily quiet.
"Okay," Agura said, lifting her hands.
Stanford opened his eyes to find the diner empty and dark, save for the flickering of candles positioned throughout the room. One of the booths was set and the smell of fresh pizza drifted out from the kitchen.
"What's the occasion?" Stanford asked, walking up to the table.
"Your recovery," Agura replied. "I know you have a guy's night planned with the others, but I wanted to do something with just the two of us. So, Zeke and Grace helped me plan this."
Stanford looked at her, awestruck. "I didn't know you cared that much," he admitted.
Agura stepped up to him, taking his hands in hers. "Neither did I," she confessed. "But, when you took that hit for me, when I heard your screams, I just...I felt the world crack. You're a part of the world...my world...and in that moment I knew-"
"Alrighty, kids," Zeke announced, bursting into the dining room.
Stanford growled in annoyance as Agura turned away in embarrassment. Zeke walked up to the table and placed a large pizza in the middle.
"Enjoy," he said, oblivious to the moment he had just interrupted.
As Zeke disappeared back into the kitchen, Stanford and Agura sat down and began eating. They ate in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company. Stanford studied the huntress across from him. Her skin sparkled in the firelight, her eyes shone with a look that was a mixture of relief and sadness.
Stanford reached out and picked up a third slice of pizza. Agura's hand touched his, sending his heart into a wild, spinning dance. She pulled away, leaving a scorching heat that travelled from his fingers to his cheeks. Their eyes met. Stanford swallowed thickly. When had things changed between them? When did she stop being his teammate and start being the girl of his dreams?
"You're staring," Agura said.
Stanford blinked and glanced down at his plate. He momentarily forgot how to breathe. He placed the uneaten pizza slice on the plate and wiped his hands in his napkin.
"You okay?" Agura asked.
"I'm fine," Stanford assured her.
Agura moved her head slightly, studying him. "You look pale."
Stanford pulled at his shirt collar, clearing his throat. "Still getting over the shock," he replied. "Nothing to worry about."
"Did you want to head back to the Hub?" Agura asked. "You should get some rest if you're not feeling well."
"No need to rush. I'll be fine."
"You sure?"
Stanford gave her his winning smile. "Yes, Agura. Let's enjoy the rest of our meal and then we can-"
Their watched beeped, causing Stanford to growl.
"So much for that," Agura grumbled.
She went to pay the bill as Stanford headed for the door. He unhooked the Reverb from the Tangler's hitch just as Agura came out of the diner. They jumped into their cars and sped off. Stanford pulled at the collar of his shock suit as he raced through the night towards the glowing vortex that spun rapidly off in the distance.
The Saber, Chopper and Buster soon joined them. Vert's voice sparked over the radio.
"How was dinner?"
"It would have been a lot better if we didn't have to storm surf," Stanford muttered hotly.
Spinner and Zoom shared a glance through the Buster's window. Zoom merely shrugged and sped off towards the stormshock. The team soared through the spinning tunnel. Stanford winced in pain the closer they got to the portal. His body jerked, sending the Reverb spinning. He managed to right the car just in time to catch the portal. No sooner were the Reverb's wheels on the ground than he had the top open and jumping out, dinner making a reverse trip.
"You okay, dude?" Zoom asked.
Stanford heaved violently, holding on to the back of the Reverb for support. Agura got out and went over to him, putting a hand on his back. Her eyes fell on his left arm that was propped up on the car's trunk. She blinked as she thought she saw part of Stanford's shock suit fade to red. She shook her head, banishing the thought.
Stanford coughed, but nothing else came up. He wiped his mouth, cringing at the sour taste in his mouth.
"Maybe you should sit this one out, Stanford," Vert suggested.
"No, no," Stanford said, waving a hand. "I'm fine. Just...a bit of an upset stomach."
"I can see that," Vert replied. "But you're not much good to us if you're incapacitated."
Stanford straightened and turned to look at the red clad leader. "I am not useless," he snarled.
"I never said you were," Vert told him.
Stanford shoved past Agura and jumped back into the Reverb. "I'll show you who's useless."
He popped the clutch, threw the car into gear and slammed his foot on the accelerator. The Reverb sped off, leaving behind five stunned friends.
"Uh...what just happened?" Spinner asked.
"Did anything happen at dinner?" Sherman asked as Agura got back in the Tangler.
"He was fine when we were eating," she answered. "He seemed a bit miffed when Sage called, but nothing like this."
"We'll deal with it after we get the Key," Vert spoke up. "Right now, fan out and search."
The team split up, each one searching a different part of the Zone. The Reverb was nowhere in sight. Sherman steered the Buster around a corner, eyes scanning for both Stanford and the Battle Key.
"Does Stanford seem a bit off to you?" Spinner asked.
"Off how?" Sherman questioned.
"We all know he's jealous of Vert's leadership, but to accuse Vert of calling him useless?"
"I know. Vert tries to use all of our talents to make the team stronger. He's never once called any of us useless," Sherman said.
"Exactly," Spinner said. "So, what's Stanford's deal?"
A roar tore through the Zone as another portal opened. Kalus and the Vandals sailed through before splitting up. Agura's voice came through the radio announcing she found the Battle Key. Sherman raced off towards Agura's coordinates with Sever and Hatch right behind them.
Spinner shot out a turret chain, catching Sever and sending him on a collision course with a rock pillar. The brothers grunted as the Scarab's stinger jolted the Buster. A lion's roar echoed around them as the gold chariot came flying towards them.
"This is gonna hurt," Spinner said, bracing himself for the impact.
A sonic blast boomed and Kalus was sent flying. The brothers looked out the side window to see the Reverb race by.
"Sorry I'm late, lads," Stanford's voice came over the radio.
"Dude! Way to ditch us!" Spinner yelled.
"Where were you?" Sherman demanded.
Spinner frowned at the sight of the Reverb. "Stanford, is the Reverb turning red?" he asked.
"How is that possible?" Stanford asked back. "Vert's the red one, not me." He pressed the button on the wheel and sonic blasted Krocomodo away from Zoom. "Besides, we have bigger things to worry about than the colour of the Reverb. So, let's go get that key before Kalus shows up."
The Reverb and Buster picked up speed, weaving through the pillars of rock until they came upon Agura and Vert. Stanford felt a strange, foreign emotion rush through him at the sight of the huntress and leader together. It felt similar to jealousy, but it seemed different, darker almost. His thumb hovered over the cannon's trigger, but an angel's voice snapped him out of his haze.
"Nice of you to join us, Stanford," Agura said.
Stanford's face burned with embarrassment. "Was looking for the Key. But, you beat me to it."
"We're not out of the woods yet. Kalus and the Vandals are headed this way," Zoom announced.
"Burn rubber for the portal," Vert instructed.
They zoomed towards the portal, hearing Kalus roar angrily behind them. Vert growled.
"We need to lose these zoo rejects before they slip stream behind us," he said.
Stanford spun around, activating his sonic cannons. "Go. I'll hold them off."
He threw the car into a higher gear and hit the gas. He clenched his teeth as the Vandals grew closer. He pressed the trigger rapidly, sonic blasts erupted from the cannons. Sever and Hatch went down quickly, however Kalus and Krocomodo swerved in time, barely missing the blasts.
Stanford snarled, popping the clutch, throwing the car into a different gear and slammed his foot against the accelerator. The two Vandals sped towards him. Stanford glared through the windshield at them, pressing the trigger in rapid succession. Krocomodo swerved, driving up beside him. Stanford pressed another button and the right side opened. The lizard yelled out as a sonic blast sent him spinning out of control.
"Just you and me, Kalus," Stanford growled.
"You will not live to see another sunrise, sub-creature," Kalus snarled.
The lion's eyes widened when he saw the human's eyes flicker from green to pale yellow.
"What black magic is this?" Kalus gasped.
Stanford's eyes turned a pale, eerie yellow. The red spread further up the arms of his shock suit. He hit the trigger once and the cannons erupted. Kalus yelled as his chariot was blasted a few feet away. The Reverb slid up to the wrecked chariot. Kalus pushed himself up, coming face to face with the sonic cannons.
Stanford and Kalus glared at each other, neither one flinching. The Reverb seemed to tremble, veins of red snaking across the gleaming royal purple. Then, as though he heard a voice, Stanford blinked, his eyes returning to their normal emerald green. He deactivated the cannons, put the car in reverse, spun around and drove off for the Earth portal.
When he was through, Zoom sealed the portal. Despite his friends asking him what happened, Stanford never answered. He stared down at his hands. The crimson red spread further up his arms. Before anyone could say anything, Stanford hit the gas and sped off towards the Hub. The fortune teller's words echoed through his memories.
There is something wrong with me, Stanford realized. Sage has to be wrong. Kyburi did do something to me. He looked down at his arms again. I just hope she can reverse it.
