Readers, prepare yourselves for the most dramatic chapter on Alex's part. Don't worry; the doc doesn't do anything to them, but something terrible is going to happen near the end. If any of you cry easily, get some tissues. This might be a little heart-wrenching. NO, NEITHER JIMMY NOR CINDY DIE! Just read and see, okay? (blows nose)

ProminenceFlare: Hee, hee! I'm only evil when I feel like it, and BABY, I'M FEELING GOOD TONIGHT! WOO! Buckle up, PF!

ReddistheRose: >.O Sorry, RR. That was MyGoodbye, I think. Hey, guess what? You did such a kick-butt job on "Hollaback Girl," you inspired me to write my own parody of it! I hope I'm on your Author Alert, 'cause I'm posting it right after this chapter! I'm also doing a parody of the theme song from "The Nanny." Ever watch it? I'm also working on one for the original 80's version of "Listen to Your Heart," which has been remixed wildly out of proportion! So keep your eyes peeled for what you inspired!

Chapter 6: Final Guilt-Trip

"Stay back!" Jimmy yelled, pointing his watch at them, "I've got a laser watch and a dog, and I'm not afraid to use them!"

"I'm afraid this doesn't concern you, son," the doctor said, releasing Alex from his eye contact hold, "You were never supposed to be involved in this. Under normal circumstances, you would all be sufficiently punished, but seeing as how my lab's stability has been compromised," he shot another glance at Alex, whose throat immediately constricted afterwards, "it appears the only thing to do is to leave you here to die."

"NO!" Cindy exploded as she charged the doc, but was intercepted by Tricie. As they started a rough-and-tumble, she continued, "IWENT THROUGH ALL THIS TRAUMA WITHOUT A CHANCE TO DEFEND MYSELF, AND I'M NOT GOIN' OUT WITHOUT ONE NOW!"

Tricie pinned Cindy on her stomach, straddled her back, grabbed her left arm, and touched the wrist to her back, a move called "the chicken wing," I think.

"There," she sneered, "You had your chance. Now," she pulled out a syringe (with a plastic lid on top) from her pocket, "say good night, princess."

"MY TURN!" Jimmy tackled Tricie from her left, rolled over with her, and kicked her into the corner across from Alex, who regained the ability to speak.

"Tricie," she whispered with horror, "How could you? You were my friend...Why?"

Tricie stared into Alex's hurt eyes; at long last, the guilt she never felt over the two years of her employment under the doctor sank in. What Alex had been trying to tell her in all that time shone through in her tears. Tricie, too, started to well up with emotion.

"Five minutes to implosion," said the voice of doom that was the computer.

"Well, children," the doctor said quietly, "it seems we've all learned a valuable lesson...too late, I'm afraid." Then he nodded and the guards pried the elevator open and followed him out.

"Goddard! The doors!" Jimmy said. Goddard immediately got between the doors and made a (whatever the heck they use for those things) try to push on the doors.

"Come on!" Jimmy grabbed Cindy's hand and squeezed through the doors. He pulled Cindy out after him as Goddard strained under the pressure.

Whizz! A small something shot past them and pierced the back of the retreating doctor. He fell forward on his face, dead before he hit his knees. It was Tricie's syringe. The guards ran away.

"TRICIE, NO!" screamed Alex's voice. Jimmy and Cindy whipped their heads inside. Alex had flung herself by Tricie's side and was holding her hand and wrist. With a stab of horrible realization, Jimmy knew almost immediately what had happened: Tricie had injected herself before she'd shot the doctor.

"Tricie, that was rat poison and sinide!" Alex nearly screeched, who always knew who had what, "You'll die within seconds!" (I'm not really sure if it's spelled that way.) Tricie's nearly blue lips curled into a weak smile. Her glazed blue eyes met Alex's brimming green ones.

"Didn't I always say," she strained, "if I was gonna go, I'd go my way?"

"But did it have to be this way, Tricie?" she begged hopelessly, "Was this how you'd planned to end it?" Tricie reached up and moved a lock of Alex's hair through her fingers. A tear ran down her cheek as she kept smiling.

"Two minutes to implosion."

"I've gotta go now, Lexi," she called Alex by her nickname, "and so do you." She shuddered and grunted as her life slowly slipped away. The last thing she said to Alex was "I'll save you a seat," and then her head turned right, her hand fell from Alex's face, and her last tears ran down her face.

"TRICIE!" Alex dropped her forehead on her. Goddard whined as the place rumbled.

"COME ON!" Jimmy held out his hand, "WE'VE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE!" Alex quickly sniffed and wiped her eyes. There would be time to grieve later; for now, more lives than Tricie's were in danger. She ran out, Goddard let the doors slam, and they ran through the garage.

"By the way," Alex said as they ran, "I never told you: My name is Alex!"

She hopped on a red motorcycle, put her helmet on, and revved up her engine. (Hey, she said she had her own transportation!)

"Get on!" she yelled, "There's only enough room for one, but you two are pretty small!"

"Thanks, Alex!" Jimmy smiled, "but we have Goddard! Goddard, fly-cycle mode!" (30 seconds to implosion.)

Now usually we just see Jimmy on Goddard, but for all intents and purposes, he scooted up enough for Cindy to sit behind him.

On their metal steeds, the kids rode and flew out of the garage just as the place caved. They stopped and watched from a far-off street as the lab crumbled like a cookie.

"There's nothing left for me here now," Alex said sadly, "And I'm sorry I almost ruined your life, Ms. Vortex."

Cindy smiled and said, "You know, Alex, I bet the Retroville Science Center could use a kid like you!" Alex grinned.

"And I know just the school for you, too," Jimmy concurred, "if you're interested."

"How can I accept your kindness," Alex joked, "if I don't even know your names?" (Thus far, the only name she'd known Cindy by was "Ms. Vortex.")

"Jimmy Neutron, boy genius!" Jimmy introduced himself.

"Cindy Vortex, child prodigy!" Cindy smiled.

"And this is Goddard," Jimmy pet him, "the Dog Wonder!" Thus, a new friendship was established where one was lost, but Tricie would always live in Alex's memory. Alex followed Jimmy and Cindy to Retroville with her lab coat flying behind her in the wind, where home and life awaited them all.

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Author's Review:
I said it before, but I'll say it differently this time: When I first wrote this, it was played out WAY differently. Originally, the elevator would open and Alex and Jimmy and Cindy would just escape without running into anyone. Then I went over reviews and realized "Hold it. There's a conflict missing here." Well, sir, I just started typing up chapter 5, when lighting struck my brain right in the middle of it! Lo and behold, we have this. I hope y'all liked this chapter, despite Tricie's death. Even though she wasn't that much of a big character, the way I wrote the process of her sacrifice made me kind of sad, too. :'( Once I hopped back onto the original, (picking up at the motorcycle) I thought 'Wait. Now I'm pushing Tricie's death to the side. People are going to think "Hey! Isn't Alex still sad about this?"' Heck yeah, she is! She just needed to get the heck out of there!

About the poisong: I HAVE NO IDEA HOW ANY OF THIS STUFF WORKS. I just needed to think of two dangerous substances that could be worse together, so I just pulled something out of a hat.

What'd y'all think? Good? Bad? Any plot-holes? Come on, guys. I can take the truth! (Braces for impact)
-samuraistar

P.S.-
DON'T LEAVE YET! There's still one more chapter! Oh, and I've got a question: By show of hands, how many have me on their Author Alert? 'Cause I've got another JN story that I'll be posting REAL soon. :D