Chapter Ten

Developing and Growing Up

A few months later, the kids woke up the next day, walking out of their rooms and meeting in the hallway. There were another monkey now; it was an orange-ish color with dark pink eyes.

"Morning team." Tech yawned.

"Morning Tech." the new monkey greeted back.

"I wonder why no one's around." Violet said.

"Maybe they're in downstairs eating." Gadget suggested.

"It's almost ten o'clock Gadget. Our mothers would have come to wake us up by now." Hope said.

"Well, let's go check it out." the new one said.

"Sebastian's right. Let's go team." Tech said heading for the tubes.

Everyone followed Tech into the other tubes, going to the command room. Everyone came out of the tubes, seeing it a mess.

"Mom, dad?" Violet called.

"Mommy…Daddy?" Gadget called.

"Mother…Father? Are you here?" Hope followed.

"Shh…quiet." Tech whispered.

There was some banging around coming toward the kitchen. Tech and everyone else walked slowly into the kitchen. Then a small monkey fell from behind the counters.

"Ah! Guys, don't shoot!" He screamed.

"Sho, what are you doing here?" Hope asked.

"I came looking for you guys. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Ma and Pa disappeared."

"So did everyone else." Hope pointed out.

"What do you think happened to them?" Sebastian questioned.

Gadget walked over to the computer, finding a piece of paper.

"Hey guys! I found something!" Everyone ran over. "It's a note. If you want your parents back, you will come and find them. You'd better hurry. It's rising fast and there's not a lot left."

"What does that mean?" Sho asked.

Everyone thought for a second, then Violet gasped.

"What?" Sebastian asked.

"It's rising, Not a lot left? Their drowning!"

"Oh no. Not mommy and daddy!" Gadget said.

"And the rest of our families too." Hope said.

"Violet, use the computer-"

"I can't. I don't know how."

"Gadget?"

"Yes Tech?"

"The computer, remember mom and dad taught us. Find everyone's signal, quickly."

"Aye, Aye Chief." Then Gadget searched quickly. After a minute, she screamed. "They're down at the bridge!"

"Let's hurry team! Next Gen…GO!" Tech shouted.

Everyone followed Tech down to the bridge, hiding behind a pile of rubble rocks. Tech motioned for the others to stay quiet.

"When they get here, they'll have a choice to make. Who to save first?" A girl laughed.

Tech peaked around the corner of the pile, seeing a dark orange monkey, but not cybernetic, and with a ponytail. Tech also saw that his parents and his teams' parents dangling over the water with weights around them.

"What's going on Tech?" His sister whispered.

"Shh…"

"Now to end this once and for all!" The evil monkey laughed.

Tech, still looking around the pile, saw the evil monkey press a button, releasing everyone into the water.

"NEXT GEN…SAVE THEM!" Tech shouted.

Sebastian and Sho tackled the evil monkey while the remaining four changed to underwater mode and swam down to the bottom, where their parents were. When everyone saw them, they started to struggle hard and try to get free.

"Don't worry. We'll get you out." Violet assured.

Hope activated her Ghost Paws (like Melodie's) and slashed the ropes away. Then everyone grabbed two or three of them and swam to the surface, where the ones saved gasped for air.

"Is everyone okay?" Hope asked.

Everyone nodded and got back to shore, where the evil monkey had knocked out Sebastian and Sho.

"Who are you?" Violet asked.

"My name is Mist-Nyx. Mist of the Night."

"My name's-"

"What do you want?" Tech asked, cutting off his sister.

"Just to finish what my parents had begun, destroying the Monkey Teams once and for all!" She laughed.

"Well, your plan failed." Violet pointed out.

"Not likely. You see…my plan isn't just to rid of them but to finally finish my parents' work, I have to rid of their children as well." Then Mist-Nyx tackled Gadget, landing on top of her and trying to choke Gadget. "Die you pathetic piece of trash!"

Then Tech tackled Mist-Nyx off of Gadget.

"That's my sister you're talking to! Leave her alone!"

"Gadget, are you alright?" Violet asked.

"I think so." Gadget coughed for a few minutes. "But she is going down." Then Gadget tackled Mist-Nyx off of her brother, which Mist-Nyx had tried to stab with her claws. "Leave…him…alone…you—you…evil trash!"

"Whoa, I never knew Gadget had a tough side to her." Violet said.

"Me neither. Let's get everyone back to the Robot." Hope said.

"Better yet, bring the Robot to them." Violet said.

Hope was confused and then Violet explained and the two girls got the boys and left Gadget to fight Mist-Nyx for a minute. After ten minutes, the H.F and the M.F started to wake up, hearing a thumping noise and the ground shaking.

"What's going on?" Nova asked.

Then they saw the SuperRobot walking toward the bridge. Then shoot at Mist-Nyx, hitting her in the back. Gadget, who had scratches and was bleeding on her lip, looked and saw the SuperRobot.

"Guys? Whoo-hoo! Alright!" Gadget shouted.

"Way to go Gadget! Nice job with Mist-Nyx!" Sebastian's voice said over the intercom.

"Thanks Sebastian! It was easy!" Gadget shouted.

"Gadget?" Gadget looked and saw her parents sitting up.

"Mommy, daddy! You're okay!" She shouted running over and hugging them.

"Aw…how sweet…it makes me wanna…puck!" Then Mist-Nyx pointed a weapon at the three. Gadget turned around, activating her saws. "Don't move…or you three will be fried where you stand."

Gadget, Gizmo and Otto looked down at the ground, seeing a metal plate.

"Don't hurt them!" Gadget shouted.

"I won't…as long as you do as I say." Mist-Nyx smiled.

Gadget looked sad, and then turned to her parents.

"Don't do it Gadget! Don't listen to her!" Tech shouted from a few feet away.

"Stop...Or your family is gone!"

Everyone stopped moving. Then Mist-Nyx turned back around to Gadget.

"What do you want from me?" Gadget asked.

"You have a power we need. One you can use to make yourself stronger. I just want to train you."

"Then why go through all of this to ask me?"

"Because…I've studied you. I know how you work, how you think. You wouldn't have listened to me if I just sat down with you. Now…take my offer. Let me…train you to be stronger."

"Don't do Gadget! She's lying!" Chiro shouted.

"I'm not lying Gadget. I can make you stronger. You can't always control yourself…can you?"

"How—How did you know that?" Gadget questioned.

"I know how to help you. All you have to do…is say the word and I will help you."

"What if I say no?"

"Then your family gets turned into toast with a click of the button, along with you."

Gadget thought for a second, deactivating her saws. She turned around to her parents and hugged them.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want her to hurt you." Gadget whispered.

"It's okay sweety. We forgive you." Gizmo said.

Gadget let go, walking over to Mist-Nyx. Gizmo and Otto had tears in their eyes but didn't cry.

"Good choice Gadget. Now for them to DIE!"

"Hi-ya!" Gadget screamed, kicking the remote from Mist-Nyx's hand and landing in the water.

"I thought you were teaming up with me."

"You thought wrong!" Then Gadget punched Mist-Nyx in the mouth. "Anyone who tries to choke me or kill my family can't possibly want me to join them. I'm not dumb."

"Gadget!" Tech hugged his sister. "I can't—I can't believe it. You tricked her. You won!"

"I wouldn't let her hurt anyone." Gadget said.

Then Gizmo and Otto ran over, hugging Gadget as well.

"Oh, Gadget. That was so brave." Gizmo said.

"You beat the bad guy all by yourself. Good job." Otto added.

"Thanks, but it was nothing. I'm just glad everyone's alright."

The Next Morning…

Tech and Hope woke up early and met down in the command room.

"Morning Hope. How'd you sleep?" Tech asked opening the fridge.

"Good morning Tech. I slept well. What about you?"

Tech set a kettle of water on the stove to heat.

"I slept pretty well." Tech set a plate of vegetables and some fruits cut up in front of Hope. "Just how you like it." Tech said walking over to the stove.

"Oh, thank you Tech. How did you know?"

"You're like your parents. You don't eat meat."

"Right. Thank you."

"You're welcome….You want some tea?" Tech asked pouring one mug of tea.

"Yes, thank you."

Tech poured another mug, setting it in front of Hope.

"Sugar?"

"Excuse me?"

"Sugar? Did you want sugar in your tea?" Tech asked.

"Oh…um …No thank you. I drink it plain."

"Hmmm…okay."

Tech sat down across from Hope. They ate their breakfast quietly together. After a while, they finished and cleaned up the kitchen before anyone woke up.

"So…after we're done with the dishes—here—do you wanna train?" Tech asked, handing a wet plate to Hope.

"Oh, thank you. Um…sure. For a few minutes I guess wouldn't hurt." Hope said.

The two finished the dishes, and headed down to the training room. They had started a hand-to-hand combat practice together; quiet filled the room except for the sound of grunting from their impacts.

"So—HIYA—Um…What do you think of the new team name?" Tech asked, breaking the silence while they fought.

"I—Ah—Think it's cute—A-Ah—But what about a longer one—Ah—Like…um…Super Robot Monkey Team Next Gen? Hi-ya-AH!" Hope asked, dodging and hitting Tech across the floor.

Tech, sitting across the room against the floor, groaned. A hand extended to him for help, he looked up seeing the gold eyes of Hope. Tech grabbed her hand, standing up, but then flipping Hope on the floor and pinning her.

"Thanks for the help…but dad always says Never let your guard down."

"Very effective. But…" Hope flipped and pinned Tech on the ground. "You still need to work on it. As for me…I've been trained by my parents."

"Of course, the ninja parents you have…" Tech pinned Hope on the wall. "They couldn't have taught you that one, because I just made that up."

"Well…" Hope punched Tech in the face, then kicked Tech to the wall, pinning him. "I just made that up."

"Nice move. Uh…I give?"

"Nope…try to pin me again so I can't move." Hope said.

"Okay…well…" Tech wrapped his tail around Hope's legs, pulling her on the ground and pinning her. "How's that?"

Hope tried to move, but even her tail was pinned by Tech's tail.

"Very good. I can't get up. I give."

"Thanks." Tech stood up, helping Hope. "You got some moves. You think you could teach me some?"

"You have some good techniques yourself. I don't think I need to teach you any, but if you'd like I could."

"That'd be great. Thanks Hope."

"You're—You're welcome Tech." Hope's fur started to turn red with her smile.

"Hey, you feeling alright? Your face is turning red." Tech asked.

"Huh? Oh, I'm okay. Thank you for asking." Hope said. "My face is red? Oh, no. These feelings, are they—No, I am too young to know such a thing. Especially with Tech, my friend." Hope thought.

"Hope?" Hope looked at Tech, snapping out of her thoughts. "Are you sure you're okay? You're spacing out a lot and you don't look too good."

"Oh, I'm okay Tech. Really, I am. Thank you for your concern, but I have to go see my mother. She needed to talk to me this morning and I just remembered it." Then Hope rushed down the hall to the bedroom level. Hope stopped, leaning against the wall, and taking a deep breath. "Why do I feel like this? Mother must know, she always knows." Hope said walking to her mother's room.

Hope knocked on the door, before hearing a "Come in."

Hope took another deep breath before opening the door to Melodie's room and walked in, closing the door behind her. Hope walked over to the center of the room, where a pillow was set on the floor, and kneeled on it.

"Mother, I need some help."

"Hope? I wasn't expecting to see you until breakfast. What's the matter?"

"Well, you see…it's…I've got this feeling inside. I don't know what it is. I can't shake it, no matter how hard I try. Every time I try, the feeling gets stronger and stronger. What is it Mother?"

"Hmmm…describe this feeling you have."

"Well, it's like a fire inside, but a good one. It only happens when Tech is around. What do you think it is?"

"Oh, it's nothing Hope. It will go away."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am positive."

"Thank you Mother. I have to go see Violet and Gadget now. Thank you for your help Mother. I will see you later, yes?"

"Yes, later. And if you see your father, please tell him I need to talk to him right away?"

"Of course Mother." Then Hope walked out, heading to the command room of the SuperRobot, finding her father talking with his team.

"That is why we should boost our security system up to level—Oh, Hope. I will be with you just one minute."

"Yes Father." Hope said standing by.

Antauri finished his meeting, dismissing the H.F to their regular days. Afterward, walking to Hope.

"I'm sorry that took so long, Hope."

"It is okay Father. I found it interesting to listen to your meeting."

"I'm glad you thought so. What did you need?"

"Mother asked me to send you to her room. She would like to talk to you as soon as possible." Hope explained.

"Thank you Hope. I will go right away. You go ahead and play with the others."

Hope looked at the seats ahead, seeing that Tech was there, grinning and laughing. Hope looked back at Antauri.

"I think I will go to my room to meditate. I have not meditated for a few days now and my head seems…jumbled."

"Alright, you go ahead, but don't be up there too long."

"I won't Father."

Then Hope headed to her room, as Antauri headed for his wife's room. Antauri knocked on the door of Melodie's room.

"Come in." Antauri heard through the door.

Antauri opened the door, walking in and closing the door behind.

"Hello Melodie. Hope said you wanted to talk to me."

"Yes, it is very important. It is…about Hope."

"Hope? She seemed just fine when I talked to her."

"It is not a physical problem, but an emotional one."

"What do you mean?"

Melodie walked to Antauri, holding his hands in hers.

"I believe our daughter is in love Antauri."

"Love? But she is only two years old. How could she be in love?"

"I am not sure, but the person she is in love with is very interesting."

"Who?"

"I believe it is Tech."

"Tech?" Otto asked.

Antauri and Melodie decided to confront Otto and Gizmo about Hope's emotions toward Tech.

"Yes, Tech. I believe Hope is in love with Tech."

"You know, Gadget does keep teasing Tech. She keeps saying that Tech likes Hope." Gizmo pointed out.

"Does she now? It seems the kids are developing feelings and thoughts we never thought were possible at their age." Melodie said.

"It seems to be." Antauri agreed.

"How do we tell them?" Otto asked.

"We don't. We just let nature…take its course." Melodie said.

Me: How am I doing? Can you believe it, the kids are creating crushes on each other and don't know it. COMMENT/REVIEW PLEASE! I am updating as fast as I can, but with sports and homework and everything it's hard. But I am pushing through! Again, COMMENT/REVIEW PLEASE AND THANK YOU!