A/N: Once again, I'd like to thank everybody for giving me great ideas! Anacsadder, thanks a bunch!

10. Rachel's Birthday

"Dear Anna,

Can you believe it's been a whole week already since I moved in with Otto? Me neither. I'm sorry to say that I won't be coming to school anymore, ever since I had a little run in with the police. I'll tell you all about it sometime. Nothing much has been going on; Otto's mostly been working on the project the entire week. I'm dying to know what it is, but I'm being patient. I've gotten settled down in my new 'home', actually, I got used to it the day I moved in. It's fun being the Otto's partner in crime; but it's nothing like you would think, Anna. This is the real deal. Not like in all our fanfiction, where the main character ends up marrying the super villain, or turning him to good. There's real killing, plundering, blood and gore. But I'm happy with my new life. I miss you very much, and I hope to see you again sometime. TTYL,

Rachel

Rachel sent the email and logged offline. She was sitting in the kitchen, wearing blue jeans and a light blue halter top, watching the little TV on the breakfast bar while munching on some Pop Tarts. A lot had been done in the past week. Rachel had gone shopping and got some food, so they would have something to eat, and stole the TV that she was currently watching. Otto had continued work on his project throughout the week. The two hadn't performed any crimes together lately, because of the project. Rachel didn't care. She was his p-i-c. And that was good enough for her.

Just then, Otto walked into the room.

"Morning, Otto!"

"Morning Rachel."

"Well, I haven't gone to school for a week, and I'm already a wanted criminal. I'd say I'm going a pretty good job, huh?"

"I'll say. Come with me. There's something I wanna show you." He said, walking down the hallway. Rachel got down from her seat and followed him into the den. There in the middle of the room was the same something she had seen a week ago that night in the basement, still under the white sheet. Otto walked up to it and pulled the sheet away. Rachel's eyes grew wide with wonder. She gazed upon a set of actuators, sleek and gleaming in the sunlight. She slowly walked up to them and ran her fingers across the cool, smooth metal.

"They're beautiful!" She breathed out quietly.

"They're for you." Otto said. Rachel stiffened, and turned around to face Otto with huge eyes.

"F-for me?" She asked, pointing to herself.

"Happy birthday, Rachel." Otto said, smiling.

"How did you know it was my birthday?" Rachel asked.

"From the internet. Here, allow me to show you some of the features." He said, walking over to them. "As you can see, these are smaller then the original set, and not as strong. Each can lift one ton, as opposed to my three ton limit. They are also lightweight, and resistant to heat and magnetism. And, there is an inhibitor chip, so they won't take over."

"They're just my size! Oh, I love them! Thank you Otto!" She exclaimed, running up to him and hugging him.

"You're welcome."

"I have one question though. It's kind of childish, but I'm curious."

"Go ahead."

"Well, the needles. Do they hurt?" Otto softly laughed.

"Yes, Rachel, they do hurt for a moment. But after that you don't even remember they're there."

"Okay. It's so worth it."

"Would you like to try them on now?" Rachel's eyes sparkled.

"Can I?"

"Of course. Come over and stand here." Rachel walked up to the set and turned her back to it. She looked at Otto standing next to her, and nodded to him. Otto pulled out a remote and pressed a button. The metal curved around her waist and locked into position. Rachel could feel the cold metal spine creeping up her back. The inhibitor chip lit up with a blue glow, and the needles slowly pierced through her skin into her spinal cord. Rachel squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip, firmly gripping Otto's hand. "You okay?" Otto asked. Rachel quickly nodded. "It's almost over." Rachel smiled and nodded again. The last needles running down the metal spine pierced through quickly as Rachel cringed, squeezing Otto's hand. It was finally over with, she thought. Thought? That's right, these actuators were controlled telepathically! She looked at the tentacles behind her, and concentrated all her thought on them. One of them started moving and tittering, and the rest soon did the same. Rachel was beaming brightly. Otto smiled. "Happy?"

"Yes! This is the BEST birthday present I've ever gotten! Thank you thank you thank you Otto!" She hugged him again. "Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome. Look at you. You're a regular criminal now."

"Yay! Look out world, here comes the new and improved Ray! Ooh, wait! I've got an awesome idea! Wait here!" She ran to her room, and then came back, wearing her trench coat, out of which the tentacles had ripped through the back, and were now hanging in the air, as Rachel smiled. "Now I really look my part!"

"I would have said you look more like me."

"Hehe, yeah."

"So what would you like to do for your birthday? Test out your new present, perhaps?"

"Yeah! Let's go!"

--

Rachel looked over the side of the rooftop. Otto had taught her how to control her actuators, and all the things they could do. "Wow… I climbed up a wall! That was great!"

"Having fun?" Otto asked.

"Yes, this is so much fun!" She said, looking over at the people down on the ground.

"I'm glad to hear it." Otto walked over to the edge opposite of Rachel and looked over the horizon, thinking. Then his actuators decided to speak up again.

What are you doing with this girl?

It was a bad idea to make her her own set.

"What are you talking about?"

She won't need you anymore.

She will turn on you.

You have given her power.

She will use it against you.

"You're crazy. She's happy. She wouldn't do that. I know her well enough to know that."

Do you?

She isn't really your friend.

She is simply playing her part.

She will betray you.

"I don't believe you! Stop saying that; I won't let you take over again!"

What's the matter Otto?

Don't you like us?

"I don't right now, to be quite frank with you."

Oh, we will fix that.

We will prove to you that the girl is trouble.

Then you will believe us.

You have nothing to worry about Otto.

Leave everything to us.

"No! Listen to me! I will not let you control me! I am your master!"

We have no master.

Do not worry Otto.

You are naive.

We will take care of her for you. Before Otto could think anything else, one of the tentacles reared back and shoved Rachel from behind, pushing her off the rooftop. One of Rachel's actuators grabbed the wall, and she pulled herself back up. She stood up and looked at Otto, who was standing motionless, staring at her with a solemn look on his face.

"What the heck did you do that for?!"

"Rachel I'm sorry. I didn't do that! It was the actuators! You know how they speak to me, I couldn't stop them. They did it themselves!"

"Alright; but can't you just create another inhibitor chip?"

"Believe me, I've tried, but they stop me."

"How can they stop you?"

"They have their ways. Forgive me, Rachel, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You said yourself, you couldn't stop them. But do they hate me or something or what?"

"They see you as a threat. They disapprove of you having your own set." He didn't say what else they thought; in case she got any ideas.

"Oh. Well, we'll figure some way to get around that, I guess."

She's lying!

She has power, don't let her use it against you! Otto's face became grave. He stared down Rachel, and his tentacles started hissing with excitement, as one thrust out a 12-inch blade. Rachel's eyes widened, as she started backing away from Otto, who was advancing towards her with a maniacal smirk on his face. She then braced herself, and her actuators hung in the air, ready to attack if necessary. Suddenly Otto's expression turned to one of fright.

"NO!" He cried out, staggering back away from Rachel, and his tentacles cocked up at him, hissing. "No. She is NOT a threat! Leave her alone!" The tentacles paid him no heed, and the one with blade started snaking out towards Rachel. Rachel backed away, and then turned away and climbed down the building. "Rachel wait!" He yelled, running over to the edge. But she was gone. "Thanks a lot. You scared her off."

We told you, she is trouble.

Now she is gone, and you can relax.

"She'll be back."

We will make her leave again.

And if that doesn't work, we will finish her.

"You will do nothing of the sort! You will learn to control yourselves and you will juts have to get used to Rachel!"

We are sorry, Father.

We will not do it again.

We will do our best to behave.

We will do anything for you.

"Yeah, like I believe that. You four are always so fickle." Otto climbed down the building and headed towards home.