Chapter 36: Unexpected Results
[Utonium Residence, Townsville, 12.00am]
"What am I missing here?"
Professor Utonium is frustrated as he is not getting the results that he wanted. He had made his home into a large hadron collider occupying all the possible space in his home,with the exception of the Powerpuff Girls' room. His experiments to make a new element has so far ended in failure due to many different factors, from not getting the composition right to nearly creating a black hole that would engulf the world. But this time, this time he hope that his efforts to make the new element that will be the basis of his new technology. Nonetheless he is struggling to find the particular thing that he had overlooked while preparing for his four thousand and fifty-third attempt. The home computing system displayed a few panels in front of Professor Utonium as he puts the pipe wrench on the reflecting surface for him to reflect the beam into a rig with several reflecting surfaces surrounding a white semi-solid matter suspended in the center of the hadron collider. Professor Utonium hoped that with this, he could create a previously theoretical method of forming a new element into reality using the fusion of the chemicals within the semi-solid matter along with the fusion and fission reactions of matter and antimatter. In order to monitor the process better,the section is visible for the professor to see.
"Initializing prismatic accelerator." The home computing system announced. The sirens are soon blaring within the laboratory, and soon enough the loud humming sound of a particle beam being formed within the hadron collider. The beam immediately hit the reflecting surface and with all his might,Professor Utonium pulled on the pipe wrench as hard as he could to divert the beam in exactly the right angle to create the reaction.
"Approaching maximum power sir."The home computing system warned as the whole hadron collider is now shaking violently. The professor struggles to move the beam to its proper location, for the force of the beam and also the tightness and weight of the reflecting unit is a challenge for Professor Utonium to divert with his strength. The beam was slowly aimed towards the first reflecting surface and once it hits it, the beam immediately scattered throughout the reflecting surface structure within the hadron collider and soon the beams bounced to such an extent that the beam had solidly covered the entire white substance at every angle. The white material soon started to glow brightly and Professor Utonium watched at the semi-solid object slowly changed color.
Suddenly, Professor Utonium's arm goes into a spasm, forcing an involuntary jerk to such an extent that he accidentally let go of his pipe wrench,causing it to fall on his the pain registered in his brain, he started hopping around in pain but soon stepped on one of his shoelace. He tripped and he accidentally fall on one of the chemical and somehow managed to launch one chemical upwards to the sky. He saw the label amd immediately voiced out what he read.
"Chemical X!" As the professor registered what chemical is in the air, he immediately tried to get up and grab the vial but instead he tripped on his shoelace again and his elbow crushed the glass panel that allow him to see the rig within the hadron collider. The chemical entered into the gap and immediately poured into the semi-solid material while synthesizing and suddenly the whole laboratory is covered in a blinding white professor was blown backwards towards his racks and he broke into one of the racks,causing several books to fall down on his head and hitting him unconscious.
As he woke up,he noticed that his labpatory is now in a big mess and his eyes noticed three floating white cubes above the hadron collider. As he walked up towards he cube, he realized that something is amiss about these objects. He then realized that he did not design them to float to begin with. The familiar British male voice of his home computing system greeted Professor Utonium just as he was three paces away from the three objects.
"Congratulations sir,you have made a new element. However... " Professor Utonium noticed the home computing system's hesitation, and that raised another flag within his mind about the unusual object. Indeed, Professor Utonium's mind is already racing to connect the dots between the forging of a new element and also the accidental dose of Chemical X into the concoction. And whenever there is Chemical X, there is always trouble. The professor is expecting the worse.
"However?" Professor Utonium asked his system once he more. However, something else replied him instead.
"About time you are awake,man of science." A disemboweled polished regal middle-aged man's voice answered the professor, causing Professor Utonium to look around to see where the voice is coming from.
"Um...hello? We are right here?" Another much younger man's voice with aristocratic bearings called the professor. Realizing where the voice is coming from, Professor Utonium turned towards the three floating objects and he stared at them flabbergasted. The cube in the center started to speak once more, and Professor Utonium fell down on his knee. Those elements, those cubes...they are talking to him.
"I must say my brothers, this man is very unbecoming. Not only did he not face us, but he did not even know what to make of us." The third man's voice, the oldest among the three voices coming out from the cube floating above his right informed the other cube. Very quickly, Professor recognize the owners of the voices. The first cube that answered him is the one in the center, while the second voice belongs to the cube on the left. As they started chattering away, Professor Utonium's expression is that of excited disbelief.
"Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-" Professor Utonium started stuttering, as he could not contain his excited disbelief.
"Sir, apparently you had outdid yourself this time. You had created the world's first sentient element." J.E.E.V.E.S finally answered the professor, and the professor is now putting both his hand in front of him to support himself from falling down on the ground face first. He could not believe his eyes, and the moments from all those years ago when he first created the Powerpuff Girls flowed back into his being.
"This...is...so...cool." Professor Utonium mutters his words out, and the cubes realized that he is now sound of mind once more. However the cubes are greeted by Professor Utonium with eyes glowing with excitement.
"Hey, it is rather rude to stare you know?" The 'young' cube at his right is apparently annoyed that the professor is staring at it.
"I am sorry gentlemen, but allow me to introduce myself. My name is Professor Utonium, and I am your creator. What is your names?"
"Well now, you made us...so shouldn't you also name us?" The middle-aged baritone voice of the cube in the center answered. Professor Utonium's mind recalled that this is the exact same line as what Blossom asked him when he first met the Powerpuff Girls. But this time, he is not really sure how to name them as they are literally cubes of a new elemental alloy he had just created. He is utterly clueless about their nature, let alone what would happen if he even touched them.
"Sir, I will begin running diagnostics just to make sure that you can touch them to begin with." J.E.E.V.E.S commented, and immediately a wall of holographic screens appeared between the cubes and the professor. Fortunately for Professor Utonium, the first results are already in and the three cubes are at least not radioactive or else he would be suffering a very painful death.
"That's rude! You do not touch people without their permission!" The young voice protested, clearly displeased of the way they are treated or was about to be treated.
"Calm down, brother. But my brother cube is right; It is rather it is rather odd that you do not know what our properties are?" The cube with the voice of an old man demand an answer from the professor. However the professor looked at the cube with a deadpan expression and answered the cube in the best and most simplest way possible.
"Well for one, you aren't suppose to talk and hover." Professor Utonium retorted. The cubes are silent for a moment and somehow the professor felt as if the cubes are looking at each other.
"That's a sound point brothers. He's right." The old cube stated with a hint of mild acknowledgement of Professor Utonium's logic and the professor swore that he saw the cube shrugged.
"Sir, it is safe for you to touch the cubes. The cubes are not radioactive in any way, but I would suggest that I take the samples from them instead of you. If it is possible cubes, may I take a sample from each of you?" The home computing system informed the professor and also the cubes. Seeing that the cubes are not protesting, several drones moved towards the cubes and gently sliced off one part of the cube angles. Surprisingly the sample taking is relatively peaceful and soon enough, the drones hovered away towards another section of the lab to proceed with the testing.
"Anyway J.E.E.V.E.S, please proceed with the restoration of the home back to normal. Also please file the creation of these cubes into the grand archive system." Professor Utonium informed J.E.E.V.E.S, knowing that the process used to create the sentient cubes need to be kept for future references.
"Yes sir, everything will be as you wish. Perhaps you could visit Patterson Air Force Base." J.E.E.V.E.S suggested to the professor, who is visibly surprised by the location that the home computing system suggested.
"Patterson Air Force base? Why?"
"The Powerpuff Girls are currently living there. They are in the residence of a Major Charlie Nash Bradshaw of the US Air Force." Immediately Professor Utonium's father instinct was triggered.
"A MAN'S HOUSE?!" Professor Utonium's face is red with fury, but the home computing system continued on with its explanation.
"May I add that Major Bradshaw is living with his wife, a Miss Julia Bradshaw. Also based upon the database, Major Bradshaw is currently the third practitioner of the Bradshaw Jetstream Martial Arts style, and his combat style and PPG-03's energy projectile style are exactly identical. It appears that perhaps this is PPG-03's instructor. Also, may I add that Buttercup did inform you that the Powerpuff Girls will be visiting her martial arts instructor and living there for the ten days? The trip to the airbase would take you a day and a half to drive by car and wouldn't it be nice to pic the girls up and bring them home?" J.E.E.V.E.S informed the professor with a demeanor that can best be described as a butler reminding his absent-minded lord of his family's arrangements.
"Oh...Okay." Professor Utonium's red face of fury is turned into a red face of embarassment, before he laughed meekly.
"What about us?" The cube with the middle-aged man's voice asked. Professor Utonium felt the sensation of being stared upon by the three cubes and Professor Utonium. Usually he would leave them under the care of J.E.E.V.E.S, but for some reason Professor Utonium is worried that the results require his immediate attention. As if knowing what the professor is planning to do, the home computing system suggested an idea to the professor.
"Sir, perhaps you could bring the cubes along with you to Patterson Air Force Base? After all the testing of how they work with the girls would be a good testing ground as well. At the meantime I will travel with you as well to show the results of the testing in the lab." The professor ponders for a moment after hearing the suggesting, before he speaks his verdict.
"Alright cubes, let-!"
"I dislike being called a cube!" The cube with the young man's voice cutsthe professor, vocally annoyed being called a cube.
"Hm...you are right. Hm...based on your voices,it sounds like the cube in the center in middle-aged, the cube on the left is young and the cube on the right is old. You really remind me of the three biblical magi."
"Well let's see. Cube in the center,due to your royal-like bearings and the age of your voice,I will call you Balthazar."
"That is a strong and regal name worthy of my own. Henceforth I shall be known as Balthazar." The cube in the center acknowledges the name.
"As for the cube on the right, due to your rather hot-headed nature and the youthfulness of your voice,I will call you Caspar."
"That's sounds really good. That's fine by me." The cube on the left answered.
"Last but not least, due to your level-headedness and also age of your voice, I will call you Melchior."
"Melchior it shall be forever more. Still,Professor Utonium why are we created in the first place?" The cube on the right asked.
"Oh um...well how do I put this..." Professor Utonium tried to explain the best way he could without using the word destruction or reform.
"Stop dilly-dallying and just tell us!" Caspar shouted.
"Alright! You were created as elements to make the new defensive and offensive systems for my girls,the Powerpuff Girls."
"Powerpuff Girls? Hm...I am very interested to meet these fair maiden. What say you brothers?" The cube in the center said in a chivalrous manner.
"Sure,let's go and meet them!" Caspar answered excitedly.
"Well now, let's be on our way. Though to be fair, I must ask if we would have any entertainment while we are travelling to this PattersonAir Force Base. " Melchior said in a hushed but excited voice.
"Sir the intial test results are already in. Would you like to read them?" Professor Utonium is met with a display as as Professor Utonium read on the report, Professor Utonium realized that this is perhaps the weirdest ever thing he had created in the confines of his laboratory.
[Bradshaw Residence, Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. 12.30pm]
Ever since the incident in the two days ago in the forest, Blossom had been trying to control her ice breath to allow her body to internalize the ice powers within. As much as she does not want to hurt her sisters, she recognized the potential of the power as both an offensive and defensive system that would give her the edge in combat. So far she had found out that this particular implementation of her power once controlled and tempered is perhaps the most destructive form of her power for her temperature is so low that her body is in a state of absolute zero.
However with such great power comes great responsibility and control. This form will only allow her the smallest margin of error for the slightest miscalculation would be catastrophic and disastrous for her surroundings and also herself. Also as of this moment,her powers in this form would last only two minutes at most, and anytime she over exerted herself her body would crack. Lastly she needs to thaw her body in a precise manner less it breaks her body apart. Unfortunately this level of self-control means that she must always be in control of her own emotions. Due to these unforgiving traits, ruthless destructive powers and also her need to always control her emotions, Blossom had christened this power 'Ice Queen'.
"Be deliberate, never be reckless." Blossom is now hovering cross-legged just a few feet from the ground and being entirely almost a paler shade than her normal coloring. Blossom's appearance is now almost pastel-like in color.
"She's is gonna pass her two minute mark." Bubbles called out to Buttercup asshe juggled her Blumenkranz. Bubbles managed to reduce their size down to the size of oranges and she started to juggle them.
"Well leave her at that." Buttercup said as she just came out from the shower. She looked at both her sisters and sawthat they are both much more leaner and also toned than before they came over to Patterson Air Base.
"Girls? Someone is here to see you!" The voice of Julia Bradshaw is heard by all the sisters. Blossom opened her eyes slowly and she slowly turned back to her normal and brighter colors. As the girls came downthe stairs,they saw a familiar face and their faces lit up. A square-jawed man with black slick hair wearing a a white polo shirt and black pants looks up to them from the hallway of the entrance.
"Hello girls!"
"Professor!" The three girls called out and immediately rushed towards the man and jumping on him. The Utoniums hugged each other and a baritone voice soon break through their reunion. A blonde brush-haired man in a military uniform appeared behind them, and immediately the Powerpuff Girls got off Professor Utonium. Professor Utonium turned around and smiled.
"Greetings, I'm Professor Utonium. So you're the one that's housing my girls for the past two weeks? Thank you." The professor greeted the man with an extended arm,and soon enough he regreted the choice as the air force major grabbed his hand in a vice-like grip and shake his hand.
"Pleasure's all mine. Always good to see families the way, I'm Major Bradshaw,but you can call me Charlie." Major Bradshaw smiled as he tightens his grip. Professor Utonium's face turned pale but he tried to give the major his best polite smile.
"Yes...very nice to meet you." Professor Utonium answered and Major Bradshaw lets go of of his handshake with the professor.
"I would assume that this is your father girls?" Major Bradshaw asked and the Powerpufd Girls,and the three girls nodded excitedly. A woman immediately comes up to them and smiled at them before leading them towards the living room. As the Utoniums take a seat, the womoan returned with a jug of iced lemon tea and started to pour everyone a glass of the beverage. Major Bradshaw takes a few seats from the dining room and place them facing towards the living room table.
"That's my wife Julia. She'll join us shortly once she's done with some matters."
"Thank you for your hospitality Major." Professor Utonium expresses his gratitude.
"Professor how'd you get to the base?" Bubbles asked,surprised that they let Professor Utonium into the base.
"To be fair, I do have high-level clearance for all facilities in the U.S so they can't stop me even if they try. Not even the U.S president can stop me. It does help that I can identify myself as the creator of my three little girls." Professor Utonium takes out his wallet and reveals a black pass with a symbol of a bald eagle on a chemical vial at the center of a globe.
"Is that a...'Special'?" Major Bradshaw recognized the symbol on the pass and Professor Utonium chuckled.
"Yes, it is. It's the 'Special'." Professor Utonium winked and Major Bradshaw nods.
"Never though I would see someone having that in my lifetime." Major Bradshaw said in awe. The Powerpuff Girls are visibly confused over the significance of the pass, but there are more urgent things to ask the professor. Blossom decided that she would be the one who will pop the question for Professor Utonium.
"What brings you here today Professor? I thought you were still making that special element or something." Blossom asked her parental figure.
"Well for one I wanted to see my girls and also to take you girls back after your ten-day stay here. More importantly,I'm here precisely because of the element. I would like to introduce you to 'them'." Professor Utonium takes out a briefcase and put it on the living room table.
"Them?" The Powerpuff Girls said in unison.
As Professor Utonium opens the briefcase,three cubes immedimmediately floated ftom the vox and hover in mid-air. Major Bradshaw and Julia are now looking at this particular white cubes with a great amount of interest,while the Powerpuff Girls looked at the cubes for a short moment before they turn their attention to the professor.
"Okay...those are three cubes. That's cute." Buttercup said in a mocking voice.
"Who are you calling cute, sugar!" The cube closest to Buttercup called out in anger,slighted by Buttercup's response. Silence fell before everyone but the professor else started screaming.
"Holy hell that box just talk!" Buttercup screamed out in surprise, not expecting the object to talk.
"What the hell?! Professor!" Blossom cried out,asking for the professor for confirmation as to the nature of the object. Blossom's mind is already racing to see what she can do to destroy the cubes if they decided to harm them.
"Eeeeekkk!" Bubbles grabbed on the arm of the professor while screaming.
"Holy shit!" The Bradshaw screamed at the same time,and surprisingly it is the major that had the highest-pitched screaming voice among all of them. The major's wife immediately entered into the living room wondering what is going on.
"Caspar, you are scaring them." The cube floating closest to Blossom speaks in an elderly voice. However contrary to the cube's intention,the cube with the elderly voice only served to make the screams of the other people more incoherent. Julia joined in the screaming as well, and the situation had turned into a riot of noises and chaos. Only Professor Utonium is unfazed by the situation and he did nothing to calm them down. Trying to cut through the panic is tantamount to talking to a brick wall with his lack of charisma. However the professor need not worry about how to do so.
"SILENCE!" The cube in the center shouted much louder than the screaming,silencing the screaming once and for all. It took a few minutes before Blossom opened her mouth.
"You made talking sentient cubes." Blossom said in a stunned manner.
"Anyway, it is perhaps time to introduce yourselves." The professor informed the cubes.
"I am Balthazar. I am truly sorry for the shouting just now, but it must be done to stop the cacophonous voices." The cube in the center introduced itself with a middle-aged voice speaking in a regal manner.
"I'm Caspar, nice to meet ya." The cube that first started speaking introduced itself, its youthful voice a stark contrast with the first cube.
"I am Melchior, the last member of this group. How do you do?" The last cube introduced itself,its much aged voice and polite mannerism sets it out from its fellow cube.
"Okay...what are they exactly?" It is now Buttercup's turn to ask the Professor a question.
"These element that I had created is the world's first sentient element and it has a psycho-active structure that provide not only the structure and armour for the things built of it, but also the power distribution and communications systems the way a wire or fiber optic cable carries electricity or photons. The plasticity of the element allow for a l material that is highly resilient to damage that possesses the extraordinary ability to regenerate almost all damage instantaneously, "flowing" back together. In addition, due to its self-intelligence it is able to learn and adapt to its surroundings and environments and continuously repair and improve itself."
"Okay...so you're saying that it can't be forged by normal means since it will just return back to its original state. How are you going about forging it?" Blossom asked.
"Well this is the next part I need to get into. We can't forge it. But you need to befriend it to 'forge' it. From there it will adapt to all your present and future powers based on your genetic materials. That's the best way I can put it." Professor Utonium explained but noticed that his explanation is not the best explanation.
"I heard three very fine and fair ladies in this room and I must say, they are truly ripe of age for child-bearing." Melchior said, causing the every human being to have a chill down their spines.
"Professor, why are your inventions slowly turning weirder and weider..." Bubbles said out loud, her face pale as she covered her body as she looked at the cubes. Blossom and Buttercup also instinctively covered their bodies as if the cube had just seen them naked.
"So how do we know if they even react to us?" Buttercup asked ,not daring to take her eyes off the cubes.
"Well,they will definitely react to you. After all, you all have Chemical X in your composition." The Powerpuff Girls immediately looked at the professor with a glare that said 'Is this another accident with Chemical X?' look.
"I sense a fair maiden with the power of winter in this room. What is your name?" The cube known as Balthazar asked, surprising everyone in the room.
"Professor, did you tell them about our powers?" Blossom whispered to the professor, feeling very insecure at the fact that somehow this eyeless cubes are able to see her and also found her powers out. The other Powerpuff Girls are also looking at the professor for an explanation.
"Girls, I didn't tell them anything. I didn't even know they have eyes let alone a way to detect your talents." Professor Utonium said, his expression of surprise is just as genuine as those shown by Blossom. Realizing that Professor Utonium have no reason to lie to them about the cubes, Blossom faces the cube and answered it.
"Blossom."
"Such a beautiful name for a maiden with such a cold and harsh gift. What about your name, the husky-voiced maiden with the power of storms? I am sorry if my brother Caspar scare you after your comment." The middle cube speak once more.
"Buttercup's the name." The raven-haired girl answered, wondering how is the cube deducing their powers.
"A flower with a venomous touch. A strong name indeed. Last but not least, the adorably-voiced maiden with the adorable voice with the with the power of lightning and thunder. What will be your name?"
"B-Bubbles." The blonde Powerpuff girl answered, clearly not comfortable with the fact that the cubes are able to read them like a book.
"This feels like an acid trip." Major Bradshaw could not help but to voice out the absurdity of the situation happening in his home as floating, talking sentient cubes had just introduced themselves to everyone in the living room. Julia slaps his arm and looked at her husband with disapproving eyes,knowing that this awkward situation should not go down in an even more awkward direction.
"So...Professor...How do we um...know what to do with the...um...cubes...to...um...see what happen...I think?" Bubbles asked the professor, hesitating a lot as she delivered her question. Professor Utonium looks at Buttercup with a very nervous smile, and gulps down his nervousness. Blossom and Bubbles are now looking at each other, visibly uncomfortable by this situation.
"You really have no idea how it reacts with us to see how it reacts with us?" Buttercup is clearly not pleased by the professor's idea of testing out his object without knowing what would happen to them. The Professor takes the glass of ice lemon tea and takes a sip out of it, knowing that the window to testing out the interaction is closing. He know that his girls are not stupid, and thus they would not take too kindly to being test subjects. Also he could not bear to tell the girls that he can only make these things once, and only once. Looks like he would need to go for extremely drastic actions to let them interact with the cubes. That is why he never even touch the cubes even once, as he have no clue how it would react to living matter.
"Well, this is getting awkward." Caspar voiced his annoyance,
"Hush brother, it is only reasonable that they worry. The reaction between our interactions are an unknown factor." Melchior advised Caspar. It was then than Blossom rise from the sofa and face the cubes. She looked at all the white, marble-like cubes and frown. The cubes are clearly unable to see them at all, but are able to speak, hear and make sense of their surroundings and themselves. Blossom wondered if this action she was about to take a stupid one.
"Alright, cubes. What do you see in me?" Blossom asked the cubes, knowing that this is a really abstract question to ask the cubes. One of the cubes asked Blossom in return.
"What exactly do you want us to see in you?" Melchior asked, wanting to understand the crux of the matter behind the Powerpuff Girl's question. Blossom breathed in deeply and exhaled before she answered the cubes.
"I'm not asking in terms of your sense. I am asking you of what you think about me. So let me ask you once more; what do you see in me?" Blossom asked the question, and the cubes are quiet for a while. The silence is finally broken by the center cube called Balthazar, and the middle-aged chivalrous voice answered the Powerpuff Girl.
"My fair maiden, I sense fear. I sense that this fear had bred into anger, which fueled your hate. This is why you are suffering right now for you do not know how to face the fear within you." Balthazar answered, making Blossom flinched involuntarily for a moment as it pierced into the deepest part of her insecurities. However this is the exact answer she needs to hear.
"Would you give me courage to face this fear then, Balthazar?" Blossom asked, clenching her fist.
"Courage is not given. It is earned. I will help you cultivate that courage and show you the light." Balthazar answered in a calm manner but filled with conviction to his cause. Blossom is quiet, but she knew that the question within her heart is answered by the sincerity of the cube. Without even a hint of hesitation, Blossom grabs the cube and suddenly the cube shine with a light so bright that it engulfed the whole living room. As the light begins to subside, the glowing cube is no longer existent. Instead a silver necklace with an amarathine pink sun caged inside a pendant appeared around her neck.
"Standby mode complete." The middle-aged man's voice resonated in the air, and the crystal in the necklace glowed for a moment.
"Standby mode?" Professor Utonium could not help but to voice out his perplexity, before a holographic screen appear before Professor Utonium. The British-voice of J.E.E.V.E.S immediately answered the professor.
"Sir, it appears that the element had synchronized with PPG-01, and had materialized into a shape acknowledging the synchronicity between the wearer and the element."
"But what does it do?" Bubbles asked as she finally muster the courage to pick up Blossom's new necklace. Fortunately, the necklace did not shine in such a blinding light when bubbles touch it.
"Heck if I know. Why don't we ask the necklace?" Buttercup points at the necklace.
"Balthazar, are you alright?" Caspar the cude asked.
"I am alright my dear brothers. I had changed into a higher existence...and might I say, I look downright fabulous!" The sudden girlish-like crack of his voice at the end surprised everyone else.
"So...what are you supposed to be?" Blossom asked Balthazar.
"That is for you to find out." Balthazar answered, however before Blossom could even attempt anything, Major Bradshaw immediately rises up and voiced out his concerns towards the Utoniums and the cubes.
"Hold on a second! Before you do anything, please step out of my home! I don't want my home to explode!"
A few minutes later, The Utoniums, the Bradshaws and the remaining two cubes are outside the Bradshaw home. Somehow with the help of two food tongs,the cubes are taken outside of the home and they now hover next to the others. For the safety of everyone,Blossom is now floating above them.
"Think of a trigger for you to activate me." Balthazar informed the copper-haired girl.
Blossom thought of the word 'transform' and suddenly she saw several pieces of something coming out from nowhere and enveloping her. A bright light shines once more and everyone shielded their eyes. As the light dissapears, everyone is now looking at Blossom with a sense of a shock and awe.
Her outfit is now replaced by what appeared to be a dress going down to her thighs with a black stripe across the middle. However instead of being made out of cloth, it consist of several fabric-like armor casing that envelops her body like a second skin. Indeed, the black appears more like a corset-like armor that protected her midsection while blending in seamlessly with her pink body-suit like sleeveless pink short skirt protecting her thigh, which in turn are encased in a white legging like armor. Her lower legs are encased in black boot-like structures that looked like it merged her feet and heels into an smooth angular pointed-peg like structure,similar to the pre-pubescent form of the girls' legs before they matured. Her arms are encased in form-fitting full-length pink glove gauntlets, while her shoulders are covered with white fabric -like armor. Completing the image is a clear helmet with a sharp ribbon-like structure protruding from behind her head, holding her long flowing copper hair.
"Buttercup! That armor look like our first ever outfit!" Bubbles squealed as she noticed how the new system pay homage to their first ever Powerpuff Girl dress.
"Blossom how does it feel?" Professor Utonium called out. Blossom does not look so well, and her face started to turn green. Professor Utonium is now fearing the worst, as perhaps the Chemical X composition of the Powerpuff Girl is reacting with the cubes in an unexpected way.
Blossom is feeling very uncomfortable with the sudden influx of sensory overload that are much more than her superhuman senses could even take. Her eyes are now able to take in all visual images at once, while her hearing is able to hear all the spectrum of hearing layered like a sandwich. Her senses are picking up the the most minute of air pressures and sensations and her sense of taste could even taste mysterious sensations that she never know existed. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
"Too...much...sensation."
"What do you mean too much stimulation?" Professor Utonium asked.
"I'm feeling things...I never knew...existed." Blossom's cheek starts to puff and Buttercup and Bubbles know that it will not be in for long, and they soon dart away from under Blossom.
"Sorry Profess-HURGH!" Blossom's vomit shot out from her mouth and even Major Bradshaw had to duck for cover, pulling his wife away. Fortunately for Professor Utonium managed to do an amazing backflip to avoid rain of Blossom's vomit before landing on his feet. However he soon felt the pain from his legs..
"This...needs...more...research." Professor Utonium winced as he mutter the words.
"Sorry Professsor!" Blossom apologized for her actions. However Professor UtoniumUtonium's concern is elsewhere.
"Blossom, can you come down?" Professor Utonium asked the rose-colored eyed girl to come down. She slowly hovered down until her feet touched the ground.
"Hm, very interesting." Professor Utonium noticed that the outfit is glowing faintly with pale pink light pulsing round the armor and encompassing the whole suit like arteries pumping blood around the body. The armor is surprisingly form-fitting and provide superior protection to even his previous suit of armor. As Blossom moved her body around Professor Utonium noticed that Blossom is instinctively more comfortable with this suit than her O.U.T.F.I.T for it appears to be much lighter and also more comfortable. Bubbles and Buttercup appear right beside the professor as they look at their sister.
"So...Buttercup...do you think we should even touch those cubes?" Bubbles looked at her sister and asked.
"Ur..." Buttercup answered with a verbal pause Buttercup is hesitant about touching the cubes, seeing their sister reacting in such a manner is uncomfortable to say the least. However after her first bout of vomiting, it seems that their sister is back to her normal self. Another concern is that she finds the talking cubes a veryy uncomfortable thing.
"Balthazar, are you there?"
"Yes, it appears that I am still intact." The middle-aged man's voice answered. Professor Utonium looks with great interest at the current interaction with the suit.
"Professor?" Blossom asked,unsure of what Professor Utoniun is thinking as he looked at her.
"Buttercup...punch your sister as hard as possible in the gut." Blossom's and Buttercup's eyes immediately opened wide. Buttercup immediately lets out a wicked smile, and Blossom realized that Buttercup will punch her with all her might.
"Wai-" Blossom wanted to protest, but the sudden gust of wind emanating from Buttercup and Blossom immediately felt the blow of Buttercup's straight punch towards Blossom's solar plexus. Blossom's body bend over, confirming that the hit connected. However Blossom's and Buttercup's expression are that of surprise, and Bubbles also noticed that something is very peculiar with the body blow.
"I don't... feel my hit. You should be flying right about now..."
"I'm not flying in the air...but man that hurts..." Blossom looked down upon her solar plexus and she was surprised by the sight of a faint pink-like concentric octagonal lines between her body and Buttercup's punch. Buttercup pulled her punch back and the field dissipates.
"Interesting! A force field that absorbs solid impacts by...eighty per cent!? We definitely need more testing!" Professor Utonium's eyes lit up as the readings appear before him. Buttercup looks at her fist and she walks away from Blossom and Professor Utonium, who are now talking to each other about further testing. Bubbles noticed that Buttercup's frown is now deeper than before and she wanted to console her sister. It was then than Buttercup walks up to the cubes and look at them.
"Is there any difference between all you cubes?"
"Not that I am aware off. Right Caspar?" Melchior asked his fellow cube.
"Maybe there would be a variance between the host body synchronizing with us, but otherwise we are alike I believe." Caspar answered.
"Answer me this; What is worth protecting?" Buttercup's questionis a peculiar one for the cubes, but the elder of the cubes answered Buttercup.
"The smile of those that know that there is a tomorrow for them."
Buttercup immediately grabbed the cube that answered her and another flash of light engulfed both Buttercup and Melchior causing everyone to shield their eyes. As the light dissipates,Buttercup's hands have two silver crescent bangle with a small cage surrounding a lime emerald crescent at the heart of the bangle surrounding her wrist.
"Standy mode complete." The voice of Melchior confirmed that the process is completed. Buttercup hand hold the bangles and feel the sensation of her new accessory on her.
"I guess you and I are left. This is a beginning of a new friendship isn't it Caspar?" Bubbles said as she walk up to the last of the cubes and smiled at the cube, uncertain if the cube even knows if she is smiling.
"Well, guess so Bubbles. Let's do this." Bubbles takes the cube in her arms and another white flash blasted through before the light dissipated to reveal two silver earings with a caged five-pointed aquamarine star dangling down from Bubble's earlobes. It was then that Professor Utonium made a mental note to make sure that he wear at least some protective eye gear or at least sunglasses when he is testing out any future testing. He is half-blind right about now, and he hope that this is a temporary effect to his eyes.
"Standby mode complete." Caspar's voice ascertained the completion of the synchronization process between the cube and Bubbles.
"Well?" Major Bradshaw asked Bubbles and Buttercup, and both the girls know what he is asking about. Bubbles and Buttercup smiled at each other. Both of them are soon enveloped in a bright light and as the light subsides the others are now able to see that the two girls are now wearing a similar short-skirt dress like those of upon closer inspection the suits are quite distinct from each other. For one, the first apparent difference is that of color. Instead of the pink present in Blossom's outfit, Buttercup's outfit replaces the color with lime green while Bubbles' outfit replaces the pink with light blue.
"Girls?" Blossom said in awe as she looked at them.
Buttercup's outfit is a much more angular version of Blossom's outfit without the a bow-like attachment behind her head, with the presence of several angular vents and triangular thrusters around her forearms, back ,legs and skirt. Buttercup's forearm are clad in a heavily armored gauntlet with spikes at the wrist, forearm guard and also the knuckles. Spikes are also present around her ankles, knees and sabatons, giving the suit a much more edgier and menacing look.
"Pretty edgy." Professor Utonium noticed the aggressiveness of Buttercup's suit. Buttercup immediately manifested her Bomber arts and to her surprise, the ignition of the flames are more efficient and the rotation of the winds and the flames are more intense.
"Very nice." Buttercup said with a smile on her face. She turned to Bubbles and she saw her blonde sister looking at her outfit with glee. In contrast to her sisters' outfit, Bubbles' outlook appears to be much more smoother and rounder of Blossom's outfit but with two teardrop-shaped attachments to the side of her head instead of the Bubbles' back is a floating white ring disc with several nodes in them. Bubbles materializes her energy orbs behind her and to her surprise, she is forming even more orbs than before.
"Wow! We need to take a picture of us in this suits!" Bubbles squealed.
Blossom and Buttercup looked at each other before they smiled, knowing that this moment is worth the three girls try to take a selfie, Professor Utonium smiled, knowing that the Magi will give his girls the edge they need, and also the city of Townsville and the world a fighting chance against the evils that is now enveloping the world.