Chapter 95: Truth

The City of Townsville. Suburbs. The House.

05 MAR (Sunday) 1989. 0021.

Sneaking through the airlock leading down to the labs, Buttercup floated down the stairs and into the labs. The lights were all switched off, but it didn't matter. Her eyes lit up when it became too dark and she began navigating her way to the professor's desk.

Dad had always told Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup not to touch his stuff down in the labs, and his warnings applied to everything, right down to the bookstands on his desk. The reason why Buttercup had obeyed him wasn't because of love or fear, but simply because she had no interest in whatever stuff he had down in the labs. Where Blossom was always fascinated by the various scientific instruments, computers, and experiments, Buttercup couldn't care less, preferring to spend her time looking forward to the next time she got to fight crime. At the very least, she would play with her toys to imitate those times, with or without her sisters.

Now, Buttercup had every reason to disobey Dad, and no reasons left to obey him. She knew that Dad had been lying to her, and everything that made life interesting for her had been taken away.

Coming up to the desk, Buttercup opened the top drawer. She had always seen Dad slipping things into it. It had aroused curiosity in her but briefly. She was always distracted by something else after that.

It became clear why Dad had been so secretive and evasive about his belongings in the lab the moment she opened that drawer. The first thing she saw was a framed photo of a much younger Professor Utonium hugging a woman who was decidedly not Selicia Goodwin. In his other arm was a girl who resembled Blossom, but Buttercup could easily tell that the little girl wasn't her Powerpuff rival. The plain eyes and brown bow gave it all away.

Placing the framed photo on the surface of the desk, she began going through the documents underneath. The latest one was dated today. Buttercup had been hard at work learning how to read, and though she couldn't understand half of what was written, it was just enough for her to understand the implications of it…


B-50 W2 Report

DOC: 05 MAR (Sunday) 1989.

Created by: Professor Utonium

Title: Full Review of B-50 Capabilities

Despite working alone as a one-girl army and possessing far less experience than Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, Bunny had been able to perform far better than them. While I have no data from the battlefield to support this, I have medical data to do so. She has, thus far, sustained very few injuries, and the superficial injuries she sustained had healed incredibly quickly. Where it takes Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup half a day to fully convalesce from superficial injuries, Bunny took only approximately 3 hours to do so.

I have been rigorous in my medical examination of her. She shows no anomaly in her body so far, and she has not complained of any irregularities with her bodies nor any kind of sickness. Scans of her internal organs and bones show nothing out of the ordinary - and by ordinary, I meant the new normal as expected of enhanced individuals.

Bunny returned from duty today, on 05 MAR 1989, with news that she had discovered some new abilities. After a quick dinner, I had conducted some simple experiments to ascertain her claims. The most dramatic of her acquisitions was her new ability to shoot some kind of 'purple beam', as she described it. Below is a quick snapshot of the results I have been able to obtain:

Targets used: 250lbs Steel Weights

Target 1 - 5 yards

Note: Target 1 has been used multiple times for the purpose of identifying the type of energy emitted by Bunny. Readings are as followed:

Thermographic imaging shows a negligible increase in temperature from 59°F to 134°F

Geiger counter reads a minor increase in radiation, barely any uptick. Radiation is neither lethal nor harmful.

A testing circuit is attached to the steel weight to measure any electrical current and voltage. Industrial ammeter and voltmeter were unresponsive. Electrical failure has been ruled out as a possible cause.

A lux meter set up nearby registers Bunny's 'purple beam' to be in the range of 1000 - 1200 lux. The reading is inconsistent, so an exact figure is impossible to obtain.

The steel weight itself has been cut by the purple beam.

Comparing Bunny's results with Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, I was able to conclude that Bunny's 'purple beam' was actually a laser beam, like Buttercup's, except stronger. Stress testing shows that it is about 25% stronger, based on my calculations, which will be attached in the addendum for your inspection.

Target 2 - 20 yards

Note: the target has been completely penetrated by Bunny's laser sight with only a negligible decrease in performance. It took just 0.3 seconds longer.

Target 3 - 30 yards

Note: Negligible decrease in performance. 0.5 seconds longer.

Target 4 - 40 yards

Note: 0.6 seconds longer.

Target 5 - 55 yards

Note: 0.83 seconds longer.

Conclusion: Further testing is required. However, suffice to say, Bunny's laser beam does not lose much energy over long distances. This is expected, as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup's infrared beam, ion beam, and laser beam do not lose much energy over long distances either. As with the older Girls, Bunny's laser beam will be useful as a tool and, in a last resort situation, as a weapon, with ranges equivalent to submachineguns and rifles, perhaps even sniper rifles.

Laser beams are not the only new powers Bunny has discovered. She spoke about being able to see through things and hear things from far away. I have applied the 'X-Ray Vision Blinder Test' for her claims of having x-ray vision and confirmed it. Furthermore, I have ascertained that Bunny's x-ray vision ability is stronger than Blossom's. Where Blossom's x-ray ability could penetrate only 5 half-inch-thick steel panels with months of experience and training, Bunny was able to see through 6 such steel panels without much of the experience and training Blossom had gone through.

Bunny's claims of extra-sensitive hearing have been put to the test in the 'Hearing Acuity Test'. She was able to hear from inside a car, with astounding clarity, everything I said in the test, despite the decrease in volume over time from 70dB to 10dB. Sounds at 1dB or below were described as 'soft' by Bunny. Only the complete cessation of sound had rendered the surroundings 'silent'. A second set of tests was conducted outside The House. Below is a quick snapshot of the results:


Legend

Double Positive: Subject is able to hear AND discern the individual words and syllables (where applicable)

Positive: Subject is able to hear the sound

Negative: Subject is unable to hear the sound

1 yard (control test)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Double Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Double Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Double Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Double Positive (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Double Positive (Soft whispers)

10dB: Positive (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Positive (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Positive (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

Note: Test repeated with Sergeant Selicia Goodwin in a second control test. Selicia's hearing yielded negative results by the time the experiment reaches the 1dB phase of testing.

50 yards (Bunny)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Double Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Double Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Double Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Double Positive (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Double Positive (Soft whispers)

10dB: Positive (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Positive (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Positive (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

Notes: This is astounding. In the previous Hearing Acuity Test, the distance is negligible. An increase in 49 yards in terms of distance from the sound did not diminish the results. Test repeated with Sergeant Selicia Goodwin. Results Below:

50 yards (Sergeant Selicia Goodwin)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Double Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Negative (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Negative (Soft whispers)

10dB: Negative (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Negative (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Negative (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

Notes: This test proves that a normal human being, despite being trained to peak efficiency, is unable to discern speech at 50dB from 50 yards away, or even hear a sound at 30dB from 50 yards away.

100 yards (Bunny)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Double Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Double Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Double Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Double Positive (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Double Positive (Soft whispers)

10dB: Positive (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Positive (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Positive (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

Notes: Bunny continues to astound me. She is able to understand individual words even at 100 yards even from a whisper.

125 yards (Bunny)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Double Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Double Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Double Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Double Positive (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Positive (Soft whispers)

10dB: Positive (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Positive (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Negative (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

Notes: My hunch is right. Bunny's enhanced hearing begins to falter at 125 yards. Future experiments will determine the exact distance of reduction in accuracy of hearing.

150 yards (Bunny)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Double Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Double Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Double Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Positive (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Positive (Soft whispers)

10dB: Positive (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Negative (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Negative (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

Notes: Whispering cannot be discerned from this distance at this point.

175 yards (Bunny)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Double Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Double Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Positive (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Positive (Soft whispers)

10dB: Negative (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Negative (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Negative (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

200 yards (Bunny)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Double Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Positive (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Negative (Soft whispers)

10dB: Negative (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Negative (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Negative (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

225 yards (Bunny)

70dB: Double Positive (Achieved with loudhailer)

60dB: Positive (Loud talking volume)

50dB: Positive (Normal talking volume)

40dB: Positive (Hushed talking volume)

30dB: Negative (Heavy whispers)

20dB: Negative (Soft whispers)

10dB: Negative (Heavy breathing)

1dB: Negative (Gentle breathing)

0.1dB: Negative (Pin drop)

0dB: Negative (None)

Conclusion: The following results were obtained in an ideal testing environment. There was no snowfall, and Captain Scott and his PTF guards were cooperative in helping to maintain a quiet environment. Her ability to hear things from afar may be reduced by loud noises and acoustically bad environments, but she will be able to hear noises far better than any human could - without using any form of technology. The applications of this are obvious in a combat setting.

More testing is required to explore her ability to hear. But there is one other thing I have observed. There are distortions in the air around her ears whenever she 'activates' her enhanced hearing ability. I believe Chemical X2 is being used to form a kind of 'air funnel' to improve her hearing. The conical shape of the distortion appears to support this hypothesis. Photos taken of the distortion have been attached in the addendum.

Her sense of hearing is by no means the only sense that has been enhanced. Her sight, like Blossom's, has received an upgrade as well. To investigate this further, I have put Bunny through the same Modified Eye Chart experiment that Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Selicia had done. The results are astounding. To show why, I have put Blossom's old results and Bunny's results side-by-side together:


Row 1 (20/200)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 2 (20/100)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 3 (20/70)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 4 (20/50)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 5 (20/40)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 6 (20/30)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 7 (20/25)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes. Fastest completion. No decrease in speed.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 8 (20/20)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes. Fastest completion. No decrease in speed.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 9 (20/15)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes. Fastest completion. No decrease in speed.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 10 (20/10)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes. Fastest completion. No decrease in speed.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes.

Row 11 (20/5)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes. Fastest completion. Negligible decrease in speed.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes. No decrease in speed whatsoever.

Note: This is where Blossom begins to have difficulty reading the eye chart. Bunny, however, does not appear to be suffering from any difficulty.

Row 12 (20/3)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes. Fastest completion. Negligible decrease in speed.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes. No decrease in speed whatsoever.

Row 13 (20/2)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with no mistakes. Fastest completion. Slight decrease in speed.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes. No decrease in speed whatsoever.

Row 14 (20/1)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with one mistake. Minor decrease in speed.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes. Negligible decrease in speed.

Row 15 (20/0.7)

B-47 (Blossom): Passed with three mistakes. Moderate decrease in speed. Shows strain.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes. Slight decrease in speed.

Notes: This is where Blossom's ability to see becomes limited. Bunny, however, continues to see remarkably well, with only minor difficulties in doing so.

Row 16 (20/0.5)

B-47 (Blossom): Failed with five mistakes. Significant decrease in speed. Shows strain.

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with no mistakes. Moderate decrease in speed. Shows strain.

Notes: This is the theoretical limit of Blossom's 'zoomed-in' vision, which is established to be able to zoom up to about x40 normal vision. Bunny, despite sweating through the exercise, has been able to get all the words right.

Row 16 (20/0.3)

B-47 (Blossom): N/A

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with two mistakes. Moderate decrease in speed. Shows strain.

Notes: Bunny continues to astound me. There is something else I noticed. Whenever Blossom used her enhanced sight, the luminescence of her eyes would increase by a perceptible level. There would be a displacement vortex forming right before her pupils that acts as an assembly of lenses, resulting in the 'zooming-in' effect. This effect is far more pronounced with Bunny the more she has to 'zoom-in' her sight beyond Blossom's theoretical limit. Her eyes were casting a purple glow on her form and desk, and the displacement vortex is clearly visible where it was barely visible with Blossom.

Row 17 (20/0.2)

B-47 (Blossom): N/A

B-50 (Bunny): Passed with three mistakes. Moderate decrease in speed. Shows strain.

Notes: This is close to Bunny's vision limit. However, she is stubbornly fast while filling up her vision test form, and the number of mistakes leads me to wonder if the increase is just a fluke.

Row 18 (20/0.1)

B-47 (Blossom): N/A

B-50 (Bunny): Failed with five mistakes. Significant decrease in speed. Shows immense strain.

Notes: We have finally hit the theoretical limit of Bunny's zoom vision. This means that she could 'zoom-in' her vision by an amazing x200 times normal vision! Had she gone further by just one more step, she would be seeing bacteria clearly on her desk!

Conclusion: The results speak for themselves, and the application of this is endless. Bunny mentioned that she had never pushed herself this hard when it comes to 'zooming in' her vision. Armed with this knowledge, she will be able to perform reconnaissance better; something a mile away might as well be a few yards in front of her with her enhanced sight. Her enhanced sight may also be applied as a makeshift microscope. While it may not pick up bacteria very well, things like fingerprints and tiny globules of blood in a crime scene will not go unnoticed with Bunny around.

While I was preparing Chemical X2 for the creation of Bunny, going through the motions as I experimented on guinea pigs to ensure its safety, I never would have imagined that this is what Bunny will become. I estimated a 50% increase in effectiveness. Bunny has gone above and beyond that. I am getting the same feeling as when I accidentally created Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup and adopted them as my own. It is thrilling, to say the least-


The City of Townsville. Suburbs. The House.

05 MAR (Sunday) 1989. 0036.

Buttercup had stopped reading by that paragraph. While she couldn't understand half of it, some words stuck out. 'Creation'. 'Accidentally created'. 'Adopted'. She clutched her head; it felt as if it was going to explode. Sinking to the ground, the energy drained out of her, she could sense something worming out of that silver lining in her brain. Emotions she never really felt deeply before.

'Dad' had always told them that they were his children. She remembered it like it was yesterday, the day 'Mom' came into The House and entered their lives for the first time, in her dress uniform with all its military decorations no less. 'Dad' told them that she was their mother, that the reason why she wasn't around in the first couple of weeks of their existence was that she was on assignment. She remembered 'Dad' mentioning that 'Mom' had given birth to them, that 'Mom' had also given birth to Bunny.

Buttercup knew what 'created' meant. It certainly wasn't 'giving birth'. She had asked Miss Keane about that word before. It was commonly used in class. A clay doll, a paper pinata, and artwork were created. People weren't. Did it mean that she was created as a clay doll would have been? It was a frightening thought to her. Not to mention, they were 'adopted' too. Buttercup knew that word well. Blossom and Bubbles had talked to 'Dad' about adopting a dog or a cat. The class had adopted a pet hamster not too long ago. Miss Keane had mentioned the word once. It meant taking in someone or something that didn't belong at first.

Everything was clicking together quickly. It was then that Buttercup understood 'Dad's obsession with experiments and tests and subjects and guinea pigs. She was 'created', and she wasn't 'normal'. She was an experiment, a test, a subject, and a guinea pig. And as if that wasn't enough, if Bunny's experimental test results were any indication, she wasn't any good now. Even Blossom couldn't catch up with her. Bunny had become 'Dad's new darling now, and Buttercup felt like she had been pushed away even further. Not that being third place was anything, to begin with.

Buttercup had always known that she was never truly a part of the family, not like how Blossom and Bubbles were. She'd found herself cast aside all the time, her unique needs unsatisfied. No matter how much she tried to prove herself, she was always last in line for 'Dad's attention. All she had found out now was the evidence for it.

Wiping a single tear from her left eye, Buttercup continued rooting through the drawer. There were more old notes and documents confirming her suspicions and revelations. It was all but clear to her now. Putting it all back, she walked away. It felt like she was in enemy territory now, but surprisingly, she felt nothing more than that. She was never satisfied for all the time she had spent in this 'family', never fulfilled. There was never anything for her - not then, and certainly not now.

Her goals were clear now. Should the opportunity present itself, she would just fly away and never look back. If only her new, powerful friend would just give her a sign...