Chapter 105: Surprise

The City of Townsville. Suburbs. The House.

07 MAR (Tuesday) 1989. 1832.

As Bunny rode her bike home, she was deeply disturbed by how her bleeding had become more severe as time passed, and she had too much time to think about it. After her very first stealth mission, she had to attend debriefing. Right after that, General Blackwater had sent for her, and so she had to travel to the USDO HQ - but it wasn't for a reunion with her mentor. She was given the honor of briefing the USDO's Anti-Corruption Squad, which required her to prepare and rehearse (and her eidetic memory helped) and finally attend the briefing as the speaker.

It was only when that was over and done with that she was allowed to return home. General Blackwater had wanted her to climb the ropes of leadership, but at that time, Bunny had only longed to return to Dad.

Exhausted from fighting crime, Bunny took her time while she drove home on her bike, slowing to speeds acceptable to the traffic police, not that it had stopped them from pulling her over. By the time The House was visible in front of her, it was turning dark, as whatever remained of the winter clouds continued to block most of the diminishing sunlight.

Something was wrong. The lights in The House had gone dark. Bunny's mind had immediately gone back to that time when The House was breached by the Smiths, and Dad was wounded as a result. Fearing for the worst, Bunny drove into the garage faster.

The garage, too, was dark. This time, her thoughts returned to that luxury apartment in the Tenements area, when Mojo Jojo jumped out of the darkness and put an Agony Bolt in her shoulder. For some reason, she recalled the terrifying look of the face-dancer as she returned to her original form. That memory still had the power to send chills down her spine.

Feeling the goosebumps, Bunny pulled her night-vision goggles over her eyes and switched it on. Something was up. Something must be up! Dad must be in trouble! Drawing her Duranium combat knife and pistol, Bunny crossed her arms for support, weapons pointed forward, and ready to fire and strike.

Ahead of her, the door between the garage and the living room was conveniently ajar. Using her blade, she pushed it open. Coming through, she scanned the left and right of the door for ambushing enemies. There were none.

The living room was completely dark. An even worse idea entered her mind while she crossed the living room gingerly, weapons still up. Was this all a nightmare? Would she meet that demon-thing in the dark soon, its eyes shining red?

After checking behind the couches and the stairs for ambushes, only to find nothing, Bunny crossed over to the kitchen, her arms shaking from fear and nervousness. What's happening? Thoughts that she had already lost her family kept flashing in her mind.

That was when it happened.

Before she could even enter the kitchens, the lights in that area were switched on all of a sudden. She was blinded as she still had her night-vision goggles on. Swiftly pulling it off, more out of reflex and pain than anything, Bunny squinted, unable to see clearly. Her hearing took over, and thankfully it did.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!" a choir was singing to her, the only thing stopping her from firing her pistol wildly. She recognized the voices. Dad. Mom. Blossom and Bubbles. Where was Buttercup? It didn't matter for now. Bunny was sure Buttercup was fine, just like the rest of her family. Lowering her weapon, she took in the rest of the lyrics: "Happy birthday to Bunny! Happy birthday to you!" There were others as well. Was it Agent Blake and his squad? She could hear even more voices, some recognizable, others less so, and still others, completely unknown.

Tears fell, and it wasn't just because of the sudden brightness of the light.

"You turned the lights on too fast, you blinded the poor kid!" Bunny heard Agent Blake say with a laugh, amidst the sound of party poppers going off and people blowing their party trumpets.

When her vision cleared, Bunny could finally see what was going on. Mom was holding out a massive birthday cake in front of her, and Dad stood beside her, an arm lovingly around her. Blossom and Bubbles were hovering behind them, blowing party trumpets. In the kitchen, Agent Blake and the core members of his squad were looking out from behind a counter. Alice was at the kitchen doorway, as was Doctor Simmons, Doctor Vanum, and some members of the USDO Research Division. Everyone was wearing conical hats, and Agent Fields had jogged up to her to remove her night-vision goggles and affix a purple crown on her head.

"Put away your weapons, darling, it's a special occasion," Mom said. "Make a wish and blow out the candles."

"I…" Bunny was about to make the classic mistake when Dad interrupted her.

"Ah, ah! Keep your wish to yourself," Dad said, before giving Mom a peck on the cheek. "Close your eyes and make your wish, then blow out the candles. It's tradition, honey."

Bunny did as she was told, stoppering her tears at the same time to the best of her abilities. She closed her eyes. Her lips were still moving as she thought about her wish, and when she was done, she opened her eyes and blew out the single candle on the cake. With her lung capacity, it was impossible for the candle flame to survive. It went out immediately.

It was only then and there, after executing Dad's orders, that Bunny let go of herself, and tears resumed falling and she sniffled and gasped, crying.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Dad asked. Blossom and Bubbles hovered close by.

"We didn't scare you too much, did we?" Bubbles asked.

"Nothing- I was afraid that-" Bunny struggled to speak. "Something happened- to all of you-"

"No way, it can't be!" Blossom contributed, and this time, she was genuinely doing so. "If General Blackwater made you a corporal, I'm sure you made sure we're safe."

"You mean it?" Bunny asked.

"Sure, I do," Blossom lied. No, she didn't believe it. But it was the right thing to say. It'd mend their relationship, and made Bunny happier. Dad would have approved of it.

"Two weeks old! I can hardly believe it myself," Professor Utonium said. "I can still remember explicitly when you couldn't even speak or walk."

"Me too…" Bunny said, embarrassed enough that she was blushing. Thankfully, no mention was made of how she couldn't control her bowels in the beginning, when her family and friends were all around her.

They would cut the cake after that. Numerous photos were taken for posterity. Fun and games were had, but it wouldn't last. Though distracted, Bunny eventually caught up with what happened to her sisters as Blossom and Bubbles were eager to open up about their adventures fighting crime. Blossom thought she did a good job, saving so many criminal lives when they could have died very easily. Bunny had kept it to herself as she didn't wish to ruin the occasion, but Blossom's ear injury told her that she had only been lucky to be able to return home alive. A few more inches, and Blossom might have sustained a fatal head injury. Buttercup was the greatest indicator of her sisters' inability to fight crime.

Bunny had found out that Buttercup had been shot in the stomach. The bullet had gone right through her energy shield before embedding itself in her stomach. However, the bullet was slowed by the shield and had stopped at the muscular wall of the stomach, springing 'only' a microscopic leak of her gastric fluid. Still, it was an internal injury that required a quick surgery and a night in the lab.

Only Bubbles remained unscathed, but since both Blossom and Buttercup were injured, she felt like an exception to the rule, and that luck had allowed her to avoid injury.

It'd proven Bunny's fears. Her sisters needed protection and certainly did not need to fight crime on their own. Why General Blackwater insisted on putting them back on the frontlines, Bunny could not understand.

Feeling sorry for Buttercup, Bunny took a couple of slices of her birthday cake and descended down to the bowels of The House. While everyone was partying upstairs, Bunny saw Buttercup lying alone on a patient bed, doing absolutely nothing but staring at the ceiling. How Buttercup could stand that, Bunny did not know. She didn't even have picture books with her, or toys. Topless, the bandage around her stomach was clear. It was thick, and Bunny could see faint traces of blood around the center. Buttercup still had her military trousers on, but she was barefooted. She was connected to an ECG and an alarm in case her vitals went off the scale. A bag hung far above her, containing fluids flowing down a tube, the needle, and into her vein.

"Hey, Buttercup," Bunny said, tried to be as friendly as possible. She knew how anti-social Buttercup was, but she had to try. Setting down the dish of cake slices, she clutched the border of the bed, smiling.

"What do you want?" Buttercup asked, no, interrogated her tersely, her voice dry, eyes still staring at the ceiling.

"It's my birthday," Bunny said, with an expectant smile.

"Big deal," Buttercup dismissed it all, singlehandedly wiping the smile off Bunny's face as if she had just slapped her. "I've celebrated like five of those."

"It's my first birthday…" Bunny asked. She thought about Blossom and how she had participated in the party despite the friction in their sisterly relationship. Why can't Buttercup be nice like how Blossom could be or sweet like Bubbles? "Aren't you happy for me?"

"Why should I be?" Buttercup asserted with increasing annoyance in her voice. She had wanted to face away from Bunny and her irritating mug with its messy teeth, but her wound would hurt whenever she tried.

"Because you're my big sister?" Bunny said, and by doing that, she had only earned a condescending snort from Buttercup.

"If only you know," she said. "I don't even like you. No, I HATE you."

Bunny was puzzled by what Buttercup was saying. How could it be possible that she would hate her? Shouldn't sisters love each other?

"That's not true," Bunny said, unable to believe the stuff that was coming out of Buttercup's mouth. "You're joking, right? You're really funny, Buttercup…" Bunny tried to laugh, but it came out bitter and lower-sounding than usual, succeeding only to annoy Buttercup even more.

"I'm serious, Braces. You're ugly, stupid, and annoying, and I want you to go away," Buttercup said and immediately stopped regarding her, leaving Bunny on uncertain footing, unsure of what else she should do, or could do. Shifting her eyes around, they eventually landed on the two slices of cake she brought down. They gave her an idea.

Picking up the plate of cakes, she brought it closer to Buttercup. Bunny had already eaten a slice, and it was delicious. The smell was equally sweet, like Bubbles. Who could resist it?

"Give it a try, Buttercup," Bunny insisted, pushing the plate of cake closer to her face. "Please?"

'Maybe if Buttercup ate some of her cake, she would change her mind?' Bunny thought, hopeful that things would change since so many things did.

"I said GO AWAY!" Buttercup roared, smacking away the plate of cake, shattering Bunny's hope along with the porcelain plate. Bunny backed away, clutching her hand - Buttercup had struck her in her rage - whether intentional or accidental, it didn't matter.

Bunny couldn't help but scrunch up her face in utter misery as she tried in vain to stifle her tears, unlike before. Crouching down, she wept as she picked up the pieces of broken plate and cake and hope. Half the plate was still intact, and she used it to scoop up the remains of the two slices of cake. After that, she straightened up, still sniffling and weeping.

"You know what I wished for, Buttercup?" Bunny said. Buttercup didn't look like she was listening, but she went on nonetheless. "I wish that we are one big, happy family. All of us."

Buttercup did not stir. She didn't even look in her direction. She didn't care. Wiping her tears away with one free hand, Bunny got the message: it was a hopeless endeavor, trying to get closer to Buttercup. With that, she walked away, leaving Buttercup alone in the labs. Going up the stairs, she wanted to rejoin the rest of her family and friends but realized that she couldn't let them see her like this. Halfway up the stairs, she sat down on the steps, setting the broken plate of smashed cake and hopelessness on her lap, a symbol of her misery to ruminate on.


The City of Townsville. Suburbs. The House.

07 MAR (Tuesday) 1989. 1857.

The Professor had been catching up with Doctor Vanum and the rest of his former subordinates from the USDO's research division during the party. Doctor Vanum remained the acting head of the research division, and due to his good work in synthesizing more Anti-X and designing weapons that employ them, he was on his way to securing his position as head of research in an official capacity. The USDO's research labs all over the continent had seen greater activity compared to previous months. Not only were they designing anti-enhanced weaponry, but they were also finalizing their power armor and mechanical infantry designs. This, however, was in collaboration with the USDO's sister agency, the Institute, which also had news.

The Institute used to be identical to the USDO back when both agencies were created simultaneously and had diverged in similarity only after a decade of differing leadership and focus. The USDO as the Organization became more militant, aggressive, and shadowy following repeated attacks by the Foundation and numerous ventures into fieldwork. The Institute remained defensive and isolated, and by the time the Foundation had set its sights on them, they were difficult to pinpoint. This made it ideal for the Institute to pursue the research of some of the most classified topics and technology. In time, they became more academic.

The USDO's scientific output was but a fraction of the Institute's, and much of what the USDO used had come from the Institute. The Institute had actually created two viable enhanced individuals long before the USDO did - the only problem was that they were unsuited for combat. One of them, however, was created with a brilliant mind and was soon put to work as a scientist and innovator. The other was highly nimble and prodigiously graceful, so she learned the ropes of security work. It was only recently that the USDO had outshined the Institute in scientific and technological progress, with the breakthroughs made by Professor Utonium in the creation of the Powerpuff Girls.

Now, the Institute was making steps towards going public, but in a different way from the USDO. They would secure funding and make key recruitment first, put all the pieces in place before emerging explosively as the USDTI, which was short for the United States Defense Technology Institute, positioning themselves as a national entity similar to DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), but dealing with more exotic science and technology, leaving more conventional pursuits to the latter. But unlike DARPA, they would be able to field their own forces. Given the choice, the professor would have preferred joining the Institute. Even their security forces were composed of individuals with achievements in the sciences, and would regularly volunteer as lab technicians.

Professor Utonium was deep in conversation with Doctor Vanum when he realized that Bunny was nowhere to be found. Searching all around him, he couldn't seem to find her.

"Dad!" Blossom flew up to the professor, holding a picture of a donkey with a tail pinned at the hind. "Look at this! I did this without using my x-ray eyes!"

"That's great, dear," the professor said dismissively without looking at her, his mind already filled to the brim with red flags, worried that something might have happened to Bunny. Which birthday girl would forsake her own birthday party?

"Dad, take a look!" Blossom demanded, desperate for even a little attention. However, Dad was set on finding Bunny instead. Taking Blossom by the sides, he plopped her down on where he used to sit.

"Blossom, have you seen Bunny?" the professor asked.

"No…" Blossom replied. She could feel it in her guts, once more. Bunny took precedence, again.

"How about if you talk to uncle Vanum here?" he said. "I'm sure he has plenty of stories to tell you. I need to look for the birthday girl."

Blossom gazed at Vanum dejectedly, hating it all.

"So, wanna hear about my molds and fungus collection?" Vanum tried to come up with the most interesting thing a kid would like, and Blossom hated that too.

The professor had gone off to search for Bunny. It didn't take him long to find out where she had gone. All he had to do was ask a few people where she was.

Going through the airlock and down the stairs to the lab, he encountered Bunny on the way down, sitting on the steps with a cracked plate holding two ruined slices of cake on her lap. Although he saw only her back, just her posture was enough to tell him that she was upset. Walking down to her, he sat down beside her, putting an arm around her.

"Are you okay, Bunny? The birthday girl shouldn't wander off from her party, you know…" the professor said, giving her shoulder a squeeze.

"Buttercup did this…" Bunny said, still weeping, lifting the broken plate of ruined cake for Dad to see. "She hates me."

"Nonsense," the professor said, even though he wasn't sure if Bunny's assertion was totally true. "She doesn't hate you. She's just… rough." And psychopathic. And murderous. The professor knew about Buttercup's… flaws, but decided not to discuss them at the moment. "You know how she's like. She'll warm up to you sooner or later."

"She said it herself. She said she hates me," Bunny said dejectedly.

"She did? Well, I think she's just mad," the professor went on to defend Buttercup, for both of the Girls' sake. "She was hurt quite badly today. She tends to get upset whenever that happens."

Bunny sniffled but had since calmed down a little.

"Really?" she asked, hopeful once again. Maybe she did catch Buttercup at the wrong time.

"I'm sure. I'll talk to her later. It'll all be fine," the professor said. "Why don't you go on up and enjoy the party? It's not right for the birthday girl to be all sad and alone on her birthday."

"Will you come with me?" Bunny asked.

"Sure," the professor said before standing up, holding hands with Bunny and leading her up.

All the while, Buttercup had been eavesdropping on them using her enhanced hearing ability. She resented Bunny for gaining the attention and favor of Dad. It was one thing she agreed with Blossom. Things had been going downhill ever since Bunny came into the picture. From being third place, she had been pushed down to the fourth place when it came to Dad's attention - at least that's from her perspective. She didn't like the idea of Bunny replacing her either - she wanted to fight! Why should Bunny get all the action?


Security Report 03071989-B

DOC: 07 MAR (Tuesday) 1989

Created by: General Blackwater

Title: Tactical and Intelligence Overview

As you know, the status quo has shifted significantly. While the Townsville Police Department was never trustworthy and clean, this problem has taken a whole new level with the assertions made by Lieutenant Mullens of the TPD's Lombardi Task Force. While Agent Rook has been directing the USDO's intelligence to ascertain the truth and appears to be on the edge of making new discoveries, I have decided to play along with the corrupted elements of the TPD for now, let my previous decisions follow through without any changes.

While this might seem bullheaded and tactless, the idea is to appear that way, let them think they're smart, and gaining the upper hand. The Powerpuff Girls will continue their law enforcement activities for whatever good it does - possibly helping whoever it was that could benefit from their intervention - and Bunny will help expose any underlying criminal intents in Police Chief Feig's law enforcement decisions. If and when we gain the intelligence we need, we will get the drop on our enemies within, possibly snap them up in one fell swoop without them suspecting it.

In other news, we have hit a new milestone in recruitment and troop deployment. We have just passed 1000 military personnel in Townsville (1032, more accurately), and this is with the casualties we have been suffering. This is important, as our current model of police-style law enforcement requires huge manpower. This will mean that we will be able to deploy more patrol units to assist the TPD in maintaining social order and suppressing crime.

Lastly, our research department has only been able to report inconclusive results when it comes to our biochemical warfare armaments. The Anti-X grenade launcher they have developed is promising, even though it has done little in its first field test. If Agent Blake's observations are correct, enhanced individuals appear to be weakened by this, and this has forced the one they were combating to retreat. More field tests will be needed to see if the Anti-X grenade launcher and the eggheads that produced it is of any use.