Chapter 14

-Theme Park Conspiracy

Otto ran amok through the amusement park grounds. His eyes inflated while taking in the magnificent sight of popcorn, rides, and side show games offering colorful prizes to winners. He smiled as he ran over to a concession stand. He pulled out twenty credits and slapped it on the cabinet's surface. The bald man wearing a bright yellow outfit took the money and exchanged it for a big corndog.

Once Otto had his snack, he ran back to his team. "This place is so cool! I-its almost like… corndog & popcorn eating-wild roller coaster rides that make you puke afterwards- heaven!"

Sprx chuckled as he placed his hands behind his head prideful. "Yep, this place is pretty impressive. Learned all I know from this place back in the day."

Chiro smiled at the rare looks of happiness embedding in his team's faces. "Well I'm glad you're having a good time. But remember we have to be back at the robot before dark, which is only a few hours. So our job is to scout the area, ask around for any clues, and see what we can get." He glanced at his team and the extra body with them. "We'll split up, since we're cut down an extra two. One of us will have to go alone, so I will-"

"I don't think so Chiro." Nova cut in. "If anyone is going alone, it's one of us, you need to be paired up."

Sprx nodded and stared at the dark simian staring blankly at a group of drunks nearby. "Yea, and besides…" He whispered to Nova. "Someone needs to keep an eye on tall, dark, and scary over there."

Vex turned her head and stared right at him. Making Sprx pale over and quickly turn away, whistling innocently. She sighed and turned back to stare off into space.

"Okay fine," Chiro finally agreed. "Sprx, you and Nova look around one side of the park. Maybe ask your old mentor for any info if he's still present. Otto, you take the other side of the park. Vex and I will search the heart of the amusement park." He placed his hands behind him and stood at attention. "Any questions?"

Sprx looked uneasy at the idea of his leader going with the snake eyed simian alone. But before he could voice this disapproval, Nova nabbed his arm. "Come on let's go," She groaned as she drug her red furred boyfriend away.

As Otto ran off, Chiro glanced at the icy eyed cyborg. He smiled as he propped his hands behind his head. "Well, first time we get to hang out alone. Um," He rubbed his neck. Glancing around the rides. "So you like amusement parks?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

He smirked at her silence. "Aw come on, you don't have to be all icy with me. Tell me about yourself!"

She stared at him, her half shut blind eye twitching. "Talking is not really much my thing pup." She started walking ahead. Listening as the raven haired teen ran to catch up.

"Okay um, I know you don't want to talk. But please I really want to get to know you." He paused when she looked back at him, he smiled. "I know you're not as mean as you seem. We all have a soft spot deep down."

She stared ahead, breathing in deep. "My full identification model is VAL-EX.001. Function, solider. Height: 4ft. Age: 120."

Chiro blinked at the weird bio. "Oookay not exactly where I was going, but it's a start. So you're a solider? I'm guessing you were not a part of the Hyperforce, given what Captain Shuggazoom told us about the 'prototypes'."

"Inquiry correct, young pup."

Chiro chuckled, understanding why she didn't appreciate small talk. "So… I know you don't remember much, but if there was two of you- what happened to the other one?"

She stopped in place. Her menacing green eyes fading as she looked up to the distant purple fire rings surrounding the planet they were stationed on. She breathed in before closing her eyes. "He's deceased."

Chiro's eyes widen at that. "Oh I'm sorry, I… didn't know. We're you close?"

She felt her cold heart drop ten fathoms below her gut. She narrowed her eyes harshly, but kept her look forward. "Close… you could say that."

Before he could ask what she meant, a friendly 'beeping' sound was heard. Freezing up, he slowly turned around. There right in his face stood an orange haired clown. The man was tall with big red shoes and elephant sized white gloves. His face painted in a variation of happy colors. He laughed insanely and towered over Chiro. Liquor fuming off his warm breath.

"Want a balloon animal little boy?"

Chiro gawked, face paling. "U-um, n-n-n-no thanks." He quickly backed up. "But um, we're looking for something, c-could you help us sir?" It took every bit of his self-control not to run away screaming like a little girl. Even at sixteen, his phobia of clowns had not completely subsided.

"Of course little boy!" He laughed while readjusting his Ronald McDonald styled bow-tie. "What can Mr. Galoot do for you today!?" He snickered insanely while wobbly slapping Chiro's back.

Vex stared at Chiro, silently waiting for him to spill. But his eyes grew larger, his heart rate speeding up. He almost looked like he was about to have a stroke.

Chiro swallowed. "Um, we're kind of new here, tourist I guess you could say. Well um, you would'nt… happen to know of any strange things happening here, do yea?"

The face painted employ tilted his head. He snickered as he stepped over the teen's boundaries. "Why maybe a little 'yes'. But if I told you, I'd have to kill yea!" He laughed, spitting in the boy's face. He slowly reached behind his back. Fingers wiggling into his pocket.

Before the worker could pull out whatever he had, a spiked tail knocked his feet right out from under him. Vex snatched Chiro's arm and pulled him away. She glared daggers, eyes pulsing green. She nabbed the clown by his shirt collar. Her talons pressing threateningly to his neck. Expecting a weapon in his pocket.

Gasping, the drunk dropped a half empty glass bottle from his jacket. "Okay okay, yes some weird things are happening here at night. I-I don't know what, we're not allowed outside the fields at night! R-umor has it... this place is haunted!"

"Haunted?" Chiro asked. He rubbed his chin, pondering on the statement.

"That's all I know!" He hiccupped while tears stained his makeup. "Now let me go, please!" He yodeled.

Sighing, Vex released him. She watched him leap to his feet and ungracefully run away. She shook her head before reassuming her stoic gaze.

Chiro gawked as he looked down to the dark simian. "Good you got him talking, but jeez… a little rough don't ya think?"

She looked at the boy. "Mind mugged with alcohol, you don't take chances lad." She walked past him. "He could've possessed a firearm, yeh must always expect the worst. Else you end up stone cold."

Chiro frowned at that statement. "You know not everyone is out to get you."

She stared at him unamused. Chiro rubbed his neck awkwardly. He sighed before letting a kind smile cross his face. "You know… I once thought that anyone could be evil, but someone very wise once told me that most people are good by nature. You just have to vigilant in your observations of those who hide behind a smile."

She pressed a claw to her half closed sightless eye, tracing the poorly healed ancient wound. Her chest puffed out as she took in a deep breath. "Pup, if you trust everyone –you're going to get a broken heart."

He frowned, but then smiled. "I trust you."

Vex's feet became incased in ice. She stopped, letting the raven haired teen stroll ahead of her. She watched his back, his long black hair weaving in the wind. Her flat lined expression faltering as she gripped her shoulder. Feeling the big cable that extended from her shoulder to her elbow.

"Why?"

Chiro casually looked back, cutting her a playful smile. "Because I believe you are."

Guilt suddenly wiggled its way into her cold chest cavity. She watched the boy turn away and continue his carefree walk. She looked away, his words echoing in her mind, shaking the warm allusion fluttering her stomach as she continued on.

"Let's get something to eat!" Chiro called back to her, "I bet you're hungry."

"Da, alright," She agreed before raising a claw to stop him. "But nothing too expensive, money leaches are everywhere."

"O-kay, no need to be a wallet clincher," Chiro laughed as he patted his pocket. "We make enough income to afford to treat ourselves every now and then. So come on, snacks on me, unless you'd rather pay."

Vex arched a brow as Chiro laughed at the serious look received from his joke.

~With Sprx & Nova~

The gold and red pair walked side by side silently. Nova looked around as Sprx kept his gaze on her. Finally, he built up the courage to grab her arm. Halting her power walk. "Okay, I'm tired of this silence. We're going to talk about this right now." He prayed his sudden choice of words didn't get him killed. "Look we're alone now, no one else can see or hear us."

Stunned at his demanding gaze, she frowned. She wrenched her shoulder from his grip and glanced back. "What can I say I haven't already told you Sprx? This war has burned me out, the guilt you suffer is eating away at my heart. I just hate seeing you sulk in the corner thinking everything is your fault, no matter how many times I tell you its not!"

Sprx stood there, feet frozen in place. Eyes as big as dinner plates as she lashed out.

Groaning in frustration, she pressed a palm to her face. "That night you were possessed by that cursed Fire of Hate, I never gave up on you. When you broke free, words cannot describe just how happy I was. I was finally ready to be with you, no obstacles between us. But your guilt began to… I don't know, you just became different."

The pilot just stared, watching the tough as nails warrior spill her heart out.

"I guess the best way I can explain it is… you never forgave yourself; even after we all forgive you. But you keep on insisting this was all your fault. It broke my heart to see you suffer and you know as well as I do 'talking' and 'comfort' are not my strong suits."

Sprx was so stunned at what he was hearing. Feeling wet pressure build up from behind his optics. Realization hitting him all at once.

Her stern gaze faced the ground. Staring at his feet instead of his beautiful heartbroken midnight optics. "I never drove you away Sprx… I became distant because it hurt me so so bad to see you mentally destroy yourself. Even after all I tried to do to help you. It seemed like… you were trying to push me away."

"B-but I'm okay now!" He quickly tried to reassure. "I feel much better, I don't feel as much guilt now! I mean sometimes the dread comes back, but-but I'm dealing with it."

"You've been saying that for two years Sprx." She turned her head, breathing in. "I can't keep watching you do this to yourself." She raised her head, looking into the dull ember sky. Signaling the arrival of late afternoon. "There's nothing else I can say… but… I'm sorry."

With that as her last words, she walked away from him. Sprx watched in utter horror his hand fall from her shoulder and land by his side. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as he watched his golden girlfriend drag herself away from him.

The sky, along with his world, seemed to grow darker as she vanished into the colorful crowd of bystanders. His heart began to gallop as reality dawned on him. His head switched into panic mode as he raised his hand. "Wait Nova!" He called as he rushed to stop her.

But he was too late, she was already gone to continue the search. With or without him. When he realized this, he slowly dropped to his knees. His eyes becoming hollow as tears threatened to spill. Uncertain of the meaning behind her apologize scaring him. But fearing the worst, he could only accept the most probable option.

Right before he could weep, a hand caught his shoulder.

"Sprx?" Came a smooth hip voice.

Eyes widening, the cocky pilot recognized the voice. "Adam Smash?" Turning around, he saw the face of his mentor.

Before the monkey stood a tall lanky man with deep sky blue eyes. His maroon hair waved past his shoulders with slick combed back bangs. His facial features sharp without a single facial hair to be seen. A bright red suit with yellow flames circled around his chest, arms, and legs. His flashy black boots gleamed from the dull orange sun.

Adam gave his signature grin. A rounded smirk that curled beneath his nose. His white teeth pinging. "Hey SparkSpark, been years since I last seen my ol' apprentice! You should've hit me up on GalatictisBook, give me a heads up you were flying by. I would've dressed nicer!" He chuckled sarcastically.

Sprx quickly wiped his eyes, masking the fact he'd been seconds away from weeping. He smiled up to his old friend and teacher. "Sorry, I would've let you know sooner man. But you know how last minute plans can go, can never catch a break!"

"Haha I know the feeling, so why are you-" He raised a combed brow when the monkey sniffled. "Why you down there sobbing a waterfall?"

"Hey I'm not sobbing!" He yelled defensively while wiping his eyes again. "I just have something in my eye, freaking allergies are high this year!"

Adam rolled his eyes. "Fifteen years I looked after you, sharing a trailer with yea, treated ya like my own brother. I know when something is wrong. So mind telling me or should I just leave ya be?"

"No no don't go," Sprx waved his hands in protest. "I'm fine honest! I just, kind of have a lot going on right now. Personal problems."

"So what's her name?"

"Oh its just- wait how do you know I'm even having girl problems?"

The daredevil flyer combed his fingers through his hair. "Please, I know the signs of being jilted by a skirt. I've had many experiences with the opposite sex, don't play dumb please. You're insulting my intelligence. Now please don't make me ask again bro, what happened?"

Sprx breathed in as he looked up to his mentor. "Can we please talk in private at least?" He glanced around, hoping to see Nova nearby.

Nodding, his mentor took him by the hand and escorted him to his trailer. Which was a nice four roomed Hollywood style mini home. Housing a nice warm bed with installed massage vibrators, a bathroom with a skylight, a freshly polished kitchen holding all sorts of expensive accessories, and a nice flat screened plasma TV.

Hosting his little buddy up, he gradually dropped Sprx on the couch. "Alright we're alone, feel free to spill Mac." Adam spoke while treading to the kitchen to grab him a cold glass drink labeled 'Steel Eel'.

"Well, I won't bore you with the full version, which is long and storied. But to give you the run down, my main squeeze is Nova –the golden warrior on our team I told you about long ago."

"Ah the only female chimp of your team, yea not surprised." He chuckled as he grabbed a can opener. With one skillful swipe, he popped the sharp lid off. "Continue."

"Well… a few things have happened that have been kind of wracking me with guilt. I tried to recover, but for two years she's been becoming more and more distant. To the point I think she does not love me anymore. Apparently she can't stand watching me withdrawal over my guilt anymore..." He pressed a palm to his forehead. This was harder to admit then he anticipated.

"Oh I see, quit a dilemma." Adam observed as he flopped down next to his guest. Handing him a drink which Sprx politely refused. He shrugged and put the extra glass on the coffee table. "So, if I had to guess, she just recently told you the problem and walked away. Leaving you on the ground where I found ya bawled up an' teary eyed?"

"Pretty much."

The professional pilot scratched his chin, thinking over the facts laid out for him. He glanced over to Sprx, who was staring up at him in anticipation. Waiting for his answer.

"Now um, listen Sprx, I taught you everything there is to know about flying, making great soup, and coming up with conspiracy theories that might be real, but you clearly have a lot to learn about life and love... and I'm probably not the best one to teach you. Can say this much, though... just because a girl says that she loves you too much to lose you doesn't mean it has to be romantic love. As far as I can tell, you two are probably like brother and sister."

"But she kissed me, how is that not romantic?" Sprx argued in desperation.

"On the lips or on the cheek?"

"Why does it matter? A first kiss is a first kiss."

"Trust me on this, Sparx: if a girl doesn't nail you in a way that doesn't let you kiss her back, she just might be acting out of relief from not losing a family member."

The red monkey fell silent as he looked away. He rubbed his neck, feeling his heart break even more. Trying with all his might not to cry.

Seeing this reaction, Adam sighed and put his drink down. "Now let's acknowledge the other possibility. She loves you but there is too much baggage to support, so she aboundens ship. Tell ya what I'd do. You give her some space, the girl needs time to think obviously. So wait outside, while she thinks, show her she means the world to you. Prove that she is worth your time and she had made some impact. Then when the time is right, if she truly loves you, she'll come to you."

Thinking on this, hope came sparkling back to his onyx eyes. Smiling up to his mentor, he nodded. "Thanks for that tip, I think its definitely worth a try, even if it's coming from you: King of quickie flings."

Adam Smash chuckled as he shrugged his narrow shoulders. "I have my moments, also glad to have glued up some pieces to your broken heart." He sipped his drink bluntly.

"I'll apply it as soon as can, but for now I got to go find my Nova and the others."

The fair complected human raised a brow, curiosity pinged. "Yea you mentioned on the way over here you and your team we're on a mission. What was it again?"

Sprx rubbed his neck, remembering Antauri's orders. "Well it's kind of complicated, I can't give you a quick explanation of this like I did with my love problems. I can just give ya the highlight, we're in a hurry to find something we need to fix some issues back home. We don't exactly have a lot of time and the thing we need is somewhere on this planet. A kind of evil artifact."

Adam just stared at the monkey as if he had lobsters crawling from his ears. Sprx chuckled nervously while waving his arm sarcastically. "Yea I know sounds crazy, but you'd have to be present to understand, but I really need to go. Thanks for the talk though man!"

Nodding, his mentor waved him a fond farewell. "Will do man, and also one more thing Sprx." He watched the red monkey stop in mid walk to his door. "Don't wander the grounds at night, it gets very dangerous."

"What do you mean?" The red monkey tilted his head.

"Well at night, it seems the rides continue to go- even without people present to operate them. Cotton candy makers still run, games are played with no players, yea get the jest. This place kind of becomes a ghost park, a lot of weird things happening. So just for your safety and everyone else's… stay inside your home and lock your doors. Do me that solid?"

Staring in confusion, Sprx awkwardly nodded his head. "You got it man, thanks for the heads up!" He waved as he finally leaves. Shutting the door behind him, the hotshot scratched his neck.

"Haunted? I knew it!" He whispered to himself. "And everyone here said my theories were nonsense!" Sprx jumped up and ran away from the employee housing additions. "I gotta go find everyone!"

~Back on the Super Robot~

Gibson sneezed a gob of green snot. A cold ice pack propped on his blue helmet with a cool rag nestled into his neck. He groaned, his face almost as green as the team's respected mechanic. "Oh great scott I'm going to die." He moaned out while swigging down another big gulp of orange water.

Antauri hovered to sick bay with antibiotics in hand. He also carried an extra glass of carbonated soda to ease the sick scientist's stomach. "Gibson do not drink too much liquids when you had previously regurgitated half your lunch-"

He was cut off when the blueberry colored primate grabbed a nearby recycle bin and hauled up another stream of bodily fluids. He hiccupped and laid back down. Pulling the blanket to his chest. "I-I wouldn't doubt if Sprx gave me this… this… abomination of a stomach bug!" He growled while wiping his running nose. "Why the odds of me obtaining any kind of sickness while always taking proper precautions to sterilize my hands before experimenting eliminates the odds zero to ten point eighty-nine. Therefore, giving me a proper idea that the source of this ailment came from a host, odds are with someone I was in close proximity with."

"If that were so, then it could've came from anyone Gibson. Not just Sprx." Antauri answered calmly while approaching with the drink and pill in hand. "Now please open your mouth and take-"

"But the likely candidates of germ bearers are statically easy to calculate! I can eliminate you, seeing is how you can no longer be infected by any aerial bacteria, so you're not a suspect. Chiro is also unlikely as he is rarely ever sick. Neither Nova because I have taken into account her appetite for semi-cleanliness. Otto is near sighted, but he is hardly sick except for abdominal cramps from eating too much. Therefor the clues clearly point to that foolish S.P.R.X-77! A normal germ carrier of all sorts of unknown bacteria!"

Sighing, Antauri shoved the pill in the babbling chimp's mouth. Gibson gagged before he took the cup from the waiting silver hand. He guzzled it down before cutting the smirking robot a fowl look.

"Alright, then what of our new tag along?" Antauri asked, making no attempt to wipe away his small smug smile.

"Impossible, she never comes near me." The cyborg waved his hand, dismissing the theory. "Besides, last checkup I did on her came out clean, she bore no germs of any kind."

Antauri's smile faltered. "None at all? Well that's impossible Gibson, all organic beings have some form of germs. No matter how clean."

Gibson shrugged. "Maybe she de-germed herself before sneaking into the robot."

Raising a brow, the silver monkey looked off to the side. Sighing, he turned his gaze to face the still slumbering Mandarin. "Speaking of organic beings, any idea till Mandarin comes to?"

Gibson blew another loud sneeze. Nearly sending himself flying off the bed before Antauri caught him. "I honestly have no idea, predicting I'm still alive by tomorrow because I'm dying here!"

Antauri shook his head to Gibson's constant complaining. For being the one to cure the sick, he couldn't handle it very well. "We'll speak of this when everyone else returns." He paused and double-taked. "Speaking of everyone else, I have yet to get a progress report from any of them."

Sighing in frustration, Antauri resituated Gibson back onto his bed. Then he turned to check the sick bay monitor. "Wouldn't doubt they were all stuffing themselves with endless sugar and distracted by meaningless colorful side shows to even remember my orders."

"Or they're enjoying the rides!" Gibson yelled, hallucinating himself riding on a large roller coaster. His arms raised as he twisted his body in various angles. Like he was getting tossed and turned. "Like I am now!"

Shaking his head, Antauri opened his antenna ears and proceeded to call Chiro.

~With Chiro~

Chiro gripped the baseball in his hand. Smirking, he wound his arm up and chunked the ball.

The white sphere flew forward as it missed a neatly stacked pile of bottles. A big sign jumped up and yelled "Loser!"

The young hero groaned as he head rammed the cabinet. "Man! I hate these games!"

Vex just glanced at him, Chiro caught her look and huffed his bangs up. "Oh don't give me that look! This game cheats."

A second ball darted past his head like a speeding bullet. It spun, changing its angles as it struck the bottles right in the middle. Causing the plastic cups to go tumbling down. The young hero gawked at this as he glanced at a simpered Vex.

"Okay that was just a lucky shot!"

"I'm half blind, pup."

Scratching his chin, he smirked and shoved some popcorn in her face. "Want something to eat? You refused to touch that salad from the concession stand, even though I paid for it."

Vex's eyes slanted in disgust at the popcorn as she pushed the salty hell corn away from her snout. "Boy, it can take me up to an hour to clean my teeth—I detest food particles getting jammed up in there."

"Geez, you're so picky! For someone who can scarf down fish or raw meats, you won't even touch something remotely cooked, you an animal or something?" He teased while nudging her with an elbow.

"I am, but you're not, so you eat the human dish."

Chiro blinked and pointed a finger to her. But before any words could leave his maw, his communicator beeped, cutting him off abruptly. He chuckled while glancing at the undead simian.

"One sec, gotta take this call. And FYI, I saw you mouth shoveling chicken wings, hypocrite."

She shrugged.

Chiro finally swept his hand over the monkey shaped communicator. "Chiro here," He answered with some left over delight.

"Chiro, where are you?" Came a deep wise voice.

The teen smacked his forehead in alarm, forgetting about the wise monkey. "Holy shuggazoom I forgot about Antauri!"

The unruly primate blinked. Chiro sent her a sour look. "You're no help!" He sighed when he swallowed his uneasiness and turned back to his . "We're in the heart of Veritgo-A-Go-Go, just err… investigating any suspicious activity we just happen to witness!"

"Here's your prize little boy!" A man dressed in black and a tall top hat called while handing him a large stuffed crow. "You and your feral pet did a fantastic job at knocking the b, you earned it!"

Chiro held his breath, praying Antauri didn't hear that. But the lord was against him, as the silver monkey heard every word. He sighed.

"Apparently you're 'investigation' is playing games. No matter, I won't you and the team to return now. You have exceeded the time limit while also disregarding my request and keeping me updated. It's almost dark, so come back on the double. Antauri out."

Chiro sighed, cheeks flushing red. "Man you can't sneak nothing past him!"

"How so?"

"I mean, he's just… something about him just makes you spit the truth out." He laughed and shrugged. "No matter how sneaky we are, he always catches us!"

Vex narrowed her eyes, scratching her chin curiously. "Hm…"

"Yep! We kind of get away with it, but only because we're his loved ones. It even took me a long time to gain his confidence, to where he finally trusted me. But once I got him to open up, it became so much easier."

The undead monkey thought on this and nodded. "That so," Already forming a plot on how to work her way around the silver simian.

"Yea, you just gotta listen to him and understand his words. He's really the rock that keeps us together." His eyes sparkled as he looked down. "Honestly, if it was not for Antauri… I never would've known what it was like to have a father."

Vex glanced at him, titling her head. "You really don't remember your parents?"

"No, I really don't… I mean I have visions. But I don't know what happened to them, all I know is I woke up in an orphanage." He bowed his head, heart strings beginning to pull. "I hate sounding petty, but… no one really cared about me, not like the monkeys."

Gripping his arms, he looked down. Letting the negative thoughts swarm his mind. "Maybe my folks… didn't even want me."

The dark monkey's ice cold stare dropped immediately. "That's not true."

Chiro stopped, glancing at the black and white female. Confusion radiating off his look. "How do you know for sure?"

Vex stared deep into his eyes. Seeing the yearning deep within those ocean blue irises. She sighed, shaking her head. "Because… " Having no idea what to say, she tried anyways. "Because your parents love you, I know they wouldn't give you up willingly. You must believe that."

Chiro quickly masked his sadness with a vague smile. "Yea you're probably right, I'm sorry. But no matter what, I'm so grateful to have the monkey team. I love them so much, they're literally a part of me…" He smiled at the memories he had with them. From swimming, to fighting criminals, to just hanging out. "You know that feeling Vexy?"

The black primate looked away. Breathing through her nose, she looked away. "Maybe it's time to go back to the robot, before your proclaimed dad comes out here to round yeh up."

"Yea you're probably right, I think we annoyed him enough today." Chiro laughed as he clapped his hands. Feeling much better as he jumped forward. "Now come on, let's go find the others!"