"No offense, dude, but this party is kind of a snoozer."
"I warned ya, Sammy. Lori`s never been the best party planner. Hey? Why don't we go try out my new guitars? They`re back in the garage!"
"Great idea!"
Hidding upstairs, Ryan felt nauseous as he saw Luna and some blond girl squeal and hug each other in excitement before rushing out.
Lincoln was standing behind him, contemplating.
No matter how their date went, Lincoln knew his parents wouldn't take the news of Lana`s condition well. It would likely stir more fighting between them.
Not to mention that the little tomboy now presented a lingering danger for the entire family which would last for a while, as one small slip up could result in the virus swiftly spreading through the whole family. Such a slip up was almost guaranteed with a family like his.
At least Lori`s party guests weren't causing any trouble, yet.
"What do you see?" Lincoln asked Ryan, who was looking through binoculars to observe the lower floor.
Ryan shushed him irritably. "I`m focusing!"
"Hmm...fat guy is still guarding the door-oh, look! Blondy and her Prince Charming are going into the kitchen."
"What are they doing? I can't hear them."
"Eh, looks like she`s whining about "how hard it is being the center of attention" or some crap." Ryan sniggered. "And he`s showering her with compliments, and she's happily accepting them."
"Well, that's nothing new." Lincoln noted flatly.
"Ow, now they`re giving each other bedroom eyes and-yeah, they`re making out." Ryan quipped with a mixture of amusement and disgust.
"Okay, that's too much info." Lincoln gagged and sat down behind the wall.
Ryan lowered his binoculars down and shrugged. "Can't give you any more. They just dropped to the floor behind the fridge."
Lincoln shuddered.
"I still can't believe she`s dating that dullard." Ryan said offhandedly.
Lincoln was caught off guard by the comment and pulled Ryan down. "Wait a minute? You know Bobby?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you?" the other boy shrugged his shoulders.
"No, you did not." an irritated Lincoln retorted.
"Hey, how was I supposed to know that he and Blondy McSnapchat were an item?" Ryan shrugged coolly.
"How do you know him, Taylor? Knowing you, I doubt you were pals with him."
"You do know me well." Ryan agreed smarmily. "As for your question, well, I had some dealings with him a few times, though he obviously doesn't remember any of it now."
"You blackmailed him?" Lincoln went agape.
Enjoying Lincoln`s shocked expression, Ryan snickered. "Funny story actually. Remember that time you snitched on me for roughing you up a bit?"
Lincoln scowled. "I`d rather not think about it."
"Well, you remember how your dad called mine to complain about it, and mine just sent him a voice message telling him to piss off?"
Ryan grew a proud and wide smirk. "Wasn't him actually. I just made Santiago play out the part or else I would have revealed his little secret."
Lincoln was flabbergasted. "That's why dad thought your "dad" sounded familiar." he scowled.
"Ironic, ain't it?" Ryan laughed. "In hindsight now, I`m amazed I actually got away with it. Guess Mr.L isn't so good at recognizing voices."
"How the hell did you get Bobby to do it?" Lincoln blurted in bewilderment.
"Pure accident actually. I came across a garage sale and bought a box of old junk from his bratty little sister. Did you know he had one?"
Lincoln rolled his eyes. "We met at school. She's a nasty piece of work." he explained and shuddered at the thought of her. "But how did you blackmail Bobby?"
Ryan smiled deviously. "Simple, the box had an embarrassing old home video that show-"
"Stop! Just stop!" Lincoln raised his hands up. "I`m not prying into other peoples` privacy!"
"You sure? Cuz it's a juicy one." Ryan laughed again.
Lincoln scowl deepened. "You can't blackmail people! Have you no decency? That's just cruel and low-"
Ryan made an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, don't be so self-righteous, pipsqueak. Don't you see the benefits of controlling someone who has his driver`s license? Plus all the leverage that would give us over Blondy too? Like you wouldn't jump at the chance?"
"No, I wouldn`t. I would never stoop to such a low." Lincoln argued. "And Bobby`s a nice guy, he doesn't deserve to be used like a-"
"I`M NOT PLAYING AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" Lola`s shrill voice echoed through the hall again, cutting the conversation short.
Lincoln looked in its direction and sighed. One problem at a time.
"Taylor, can you please check on Luan? I`ll keep watch." he asked exasperatedly.
"Anything beats getting morality lectures from you, twinkle toes." Ryan ruffled up his hair before leaving.
Lincoln muttered and grabbed the binoculars to resume the watch, preferably away from the kitchen.
How does Ryan have the gall to do things like that? Lincoln still couldn't comprehend what Lynn saw in that guy.
"Can you just throw the dice, Lola?" Luan, who had changed back into her regular attire, tried to remain calm and gentle while dealing with the moody princess.
The two of them, along with Lucy and Lisa, were sitting on the floor around a small, plastic table in her and Luna`s room. Luan had set up a board game, but her little sisters were unenthusiastic about the so-called fun activity, to say the least.
In hindsight, Luan knew that she could have easily thought up a more exciting activity. But since this was her first babysitting gig, she wanted to play it safe.
And she needed to pacify Lola and Lisa and keep them out of trouble if she wanted to have her payback.
Slouching, Lola glared at her with her arms folded. "I don't want to! It's lame and stupid!"
"You haven't even tried it. You might like it if you do?" the comedian tried to retain a gentle demeanor, even though Lola bratty attitude was quickly getting to her.
"I don't like it!" Lola said curtly before flipping the table. Her sisters jerked back as the dice, game pieces and cards flew across the air.
"Even if we were having a beauty pageant I wouldn't like it cuz I don't want to spend time with you!" she spat venomously.
Her words cut like a knife, and Luan struggled to keep a brave face. But Lola wasn't finished.
"And I don't want to be around that freak!" she angrily pointed at Lucy, who winced, and then at Lisa. "Or that annoying gnome!"
"Lola, will you please calm down." Luan told her, steadily growing out of patience.
"She does bring up a valid point, her volatile means of expressing herself aside." Lisa spoke up. "Why can't we dismiss this pointless pretense? Clearly, none of us wants to be in each others` presence, so why are we here?"
"Because..." Luan took a deep breath "...spending time together as a family is good for you. It helps you get familiar with each other."
As usual, no one even snickered at her pun.
And..." Luan added with tranquil irritation "...I`m your babysitter tonight."
Lola pouted. "I don't wanna get familiar with any of you!"
"I`m frankly not fascinated by the notion either." Lisa stated monotonously.
Luan`s eyes twitched and she gripped the carpet. She kept telling herself to stay calm. She could do this, she had to.
Strenuously, she forced an easy-going smile. "Now that`s your problem right there, girls. Negative thinking."
"Isn`t negative thinking the same as rational thinking?" Lucy asked monotonously.
"Eh...no, Lucy." Luan responded carefully. "It`s not healthy to carry a big ol`frown all day long. One needs to think positive, look on the bright side of life and learn how to have fun."
"And how are supposed to do any of that knowing Lana is laying in bed with the flue?" the goth asked simply.
Luan blinked with uncertainty. "Lana will get better. You don't need to worry-"
"Speaking of Lana?" Lola cut in impatiently. "Where am I gonna sleep now, now that Lana has probably infected our whole room!"
Luan shrugged. "I don't think that will be a problem, Lola. You can bunk with Lisa for a while."
"I don't wanna!" Lola jumped up and started stomping the floor. "Her room is full of awful lab stuff, and I can't sleep with that creepy fox staring and grinning at me!"
"Lola, I don't think you have another option." Luan tried to explain it to her.
"It`s not fair!" Lola cried. "Why couldn't we have dumped Lana at a hospital or something! Why do I have to lose my room! I want it back!"
Luan scowled at her and stood up. "Lola! Isn`t Lana`s wellbeing a little more important than you having to sleep somewhere else for a bit?" she asked sternly, with her hands on her hips.
Lola glared back at her, not budging. "It`s not fair! Why do I have to suffer just because she had to stick her stupid nose where it didn't belong and catch the stupid flue!"
"That`s mighty cold of ya, kiddo. Even for a guy like me."
"Ryan!" Luan blurted nervously as the boy entered the room.
"You might wanna change your wardrobe. Less Princess Peach. More Ice Queen perhaps?"
Lola seethed at the sight of him. "Go away, you creep! We don't want you here!"
"The little brat giving you trouble, Luan?" Ryan asked coolly.
Luan fidgeted, feeling embarrassed. "A little..." she answered meekly and looked away.
"I am not a brat!" Lola cried and started kicking and punching Ryan.
Taking a step back, Ryan rolled his eyes and picked her up.
"Hey! Let me go! You smell!" Lola screamed while kicking and struggling in his grasp.
"Well, that's hardly a surprise, Luan." he turned to the comedian, ignoring Lola`s squirming and protesting.
Ryan gestured at Lucy. "After all, few kids can be perfect little angels like her."
Lucy blushed slightly while Lola went agape. "How is she an angel?! That creepy witch is the exact opposite!"
Ryan smirked at her. "I dunno. You seem way more wicked to me."
Growling, Lola freed one arm and slapped Ryan as hard as she could.
"Lola!" Luan gasped and took her away from Ryan.
"Let me go!" Lola protested as Luan placed her down and gave her a stern look.
"That`s enough out of you!" Luan warned her before rushing to Ryan.
"Ryan! I`m so, SO sorry!" she rapidly apologized, but Ryan looked back at her, barely seeming fazed and smiled.
"Eh, it was nothing." he shrugged. "That little firecracker has plenty of attitude but little punch."
Lola boiled behind her sister.
Luan felt relieved but still embarrassed. "She won't do it again, I promise you."
Ryan looked back at the princess and then sent Luan a smirk. "Y`know, Lu. When I was her age, my folks would give me a timeout when I acted out of line."
Luan got his gist but looked uncertain. "I dunno, that might a bit too harsh..."
"Luan, she insulted us, threw a massive tantrum and she "tried" to beat the tar out of me." Ryan pointed out and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"It's called tough love. Sometimes that's the only way to put a little brat in its place."
Luan thought about it. "You're right..." she realized and turned to face Lola.
"Alright, buster! You're getting a time out."
"What?" Lola looked scandalized. "You can't do this to me!"
"Oh yes, I can." Luan retorted firmly and pointed at herself. "As long as you're under my watch you follow my rules!"
Lola grew nervous.
One minute later...
"You can't do this to me!" Lola whined while facing the wall and wearing a dunce hat.
Luan stood behind her with her arms folded.
"Sorry, Lola. But you really need to taste some humble pie, but simply pieing you in the face wouldn't teach you anything." Luan said seriously but then let out a small snicker.
Lola looked at her and growled.
"Nah-ah! The wall!" Luan ordered her and held up her tiara to get the point across.
"If you want this back you gotta do the time."
Trembling with barely contained fury, Lola turned around.
"I`ll make you pay for this!" she hissed.
"Don't make me add another twenty minutes to your sentence!"
"Now that's the way to do it. Some good old-fashioned old frontier justice!" Ryan approved and wrapped his arm around Luan, making her blush.
"I think you have this babysitting thing down."
"Thanks. Couldn't have done it without your...advise." she replied, feeling flattered and flustered.
Lola groaned in disgust. "If I have to suffer can you at least flirt with your dumb boyfriend somewhere else!"
"Nope." Luan shook her head in amusement, but Ryan grew a little uneasy with realization.
"Oh, I think I'll have to let Luan down easy, but Lynn told me to stay quiet about me and her?"
Ryan grew a tad nervous as he gave a brief glance to the girl he had his arm wrapped around and slowly withdrew it.
"Ah, don't worry." he tried to dismiss it. "It was one date. She can't be that into me?" Ryan reasoned and turned his attention back to Lola.
"Ah, don't be so glum, Lisa. With that hat, you're sure to catch the eye of a handsome dwarf prince."
"What?" Lola said in an eerily hushed tone before looking at Ryan with a crazy look in her eye and her teeth bared like a rabid animal.
Before Luan could respond, Lola lunged at Ryan and grabbed hold of his throat.
"I`M LOLA! LOOOLLA!" she screamed while Ryan pulled her away at arm's length.
"LOLA! HOW DARE YOU CONFUSE ME WITH THAT HOMELY, FOUR-EYED GEEK!" Lola clung on to the boy`s shirt as Luan grabbed her and held her back.
"That`s enough out of you!" Luan warned the kicking and screaming princess.
"LEMME AT HIM! I WANT HIS BLOODY HIDE!"
Ryan rolled his eyes while rubbing his neck. "Alright. Lisa`s the sciency one, I get the memo." he snarked sardonically before noticing something.
"Speaking of her? Where is she?"
Luan looked around and realized that it was just the three of them and Lucy, who had been quietly standing by Ryan`s side.
"About her..." the goth spoke up timidly"...she quietly left while Lola was attacking Ryan. I was worried you guys would get mad if I interrupted you disciplining Lola."
Ryan wanted to facepalm but instead just groaned.
He sighed and turned to Luan "Nevermind. I`ll track her down and wrangle her in a jiffy. You girls just find a tiny straightjacket for...eh...Luna there."
Lola`s golden locks turned into flames as she screamed like a madwoman.
"Lisa Loud`s log. After two weeks, three days and eight hours of trying to perfect my new formula I`m ready to conduct a new test trial." the little genius spoke into a tape recorder before grabbing a vaccine, which was filled with a yellowish liquid.
She took hold of a pincher with her other arm and used it to pick up an ant from a shallow glass container, and injected it with the liquid.
She placed it back in and took a magnifying glass to observe it for a while to make sure that this time there were no inconvenient side effects.
Much to her displeasure, the effects quickly became apparent. The ant turned belly up and started twitching. Before long, it became limp and its exoskeleton turned a sickly gray and all its legs fell off like things from a rotting tree.
Lisa frowned and grabbed her tape recorder. "I have reached a dead end. I have once again failed to neutralize the side effects of my formula. It's becoming apparent that I must return to the drawing board."
"Trying and experiencing repeated failure is the only way to achieve success, Master Lisa." came Fenton`s robotic voice.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Please spare me your empty moral platitudes and make yourself beneficial." she replied monotonously.
"Take my failed formula from my secret stash and destroy it. It's of no further use to me."
"Your wish is my command, Master Lisa." Fenton obeyed and waddled out of the room.
Lisa went to take a small laser gun and used it to zap the dead ant and the vaccine into dust, before walking back to return it into her drawer.
But as she closed it, she noticed a looming figure casting his shadow down at her.
"Watcha got there?"
Retaining her stoic demeanor, Lisa adjusted her glasses as she faced her visitor.
"That`s classified, Taylor. As our guest, you lack the jurisdiction to examine my personal scientific endeavors."
Ryan smiled ominously. "It`s another one of your nifty toys, ain't it? Like that hypno-ray you used on Lynn? I saw lots them when me and Linky crashed here that one night, but the spoilsport wouldn't let me use any of them."
Lisa huffed. "All for the better. My inventions aren't "toys", as you so dimly put it, they are sophisticated works of science that only someone of my gifted intelligence could properly and safely operate. It would be most unwise of you to tamper with forces that are beyond your comprehension."
Ryan whistled in disbelief and crouched down to her level.
"Well, I`ll be a monkey's uncle..."
"Well, technically us Homo sapiens are a form of simian. Your point?"
"You really are the genuine article." Ryan observed her. "A bonified genius in diapers. Like Dexter or Jimmy Neutron, only...girlier."
Lisa crossed her arm. "For your information, I knew how to use the bathroom since I was six months old. And I fail to see how I bare any similarities to obsolescent cartoon characters."
Ryan`s brow knitted, as he fully soaked in being in the presence of an anomaly of nature. "Because...you do realize that it ain't normal for a 3-year old to be building ray guns and robo-foxes, right?"
"Don`t patronize me." Lisa responded flatly. "I`m well aware that I`m an oddity in terms of a humanoid`s mental development."
"So how did you get that way, Lizzie?" Ryan inquired with intrigue.
"My name`s Lisa, if I beg your pardon."
"Meh, you look like a Lizzie to me." Ryan shrugged. "But I asked you a question. Surely you must have some epic backstory? Were you exposed to radiation as an infant? Or were you experimented on by aliens? "
"No. Both of your theories are filled with factual errors and logistical oversights, but if you must know, I was born under normal circumstances to a mother and father of average intelligence and, as you know, I have an excessive number of siblings, most of which are, in my humble opinion, below average intelligence. It's a simple truth that some humans are born with higher cognitive abilities than others. The only feasible explanation is that I merely accelerated in that regard."
"Well that's boring." Ryan snarked and leaned back.
"Seemingly so." Lisa replied indifferently before raising an eyebrow. "Is there any other reason behind your unrequested visit, other than curiosity?"
Ryan smirked. "Don't act like you don't know, Ms. Disapearing Act."
Lisa frowned. "Then I shall request from you not to pretend like I`m in need of a caretaker. You're clearly aware of my mental prowess and you appear to be at least of average intelligence, so logically you should understand that I`m the last person in this household that requires supervision."
"See that's not what I was told." Ryan tilted his head smarmily. "You wonder why I was comparing you to those "obsolescent cartoon characters"? Well, from the looks of things, you're the exact same deal."
"You got plenty of book smarts up there." Ryan tapped her on the head, making her shield it. "But being an ankle-biter, you lack basic common sense, which is probably why most of your inventions tend to go kablooey!"
"That`s an absurd accusation!" Lisa raised her voice, clearly agitated. "Only 56% of my inventions spontaneously combust!"
Right then, there was a small explosion in the drawer, which forced it open and knocked Lisa down.
She pushed herself up and mumbled, "Alright. Make that 57%."
"It seems Lincoln wasn't blowing things out of proportions, Lizzie." Ryan quipped.
The genius glared up at him. "Please refrain from addressing me with that inane moniker."
Ryan snickered and shook his head. "You can use all the fancy lingo you want, squirt. I`m still taking you back to Luan. And this time you ain't going anywhere.
Before she could object, Lisa was pulled up and carried off under his arm.
"Let go of me, you barbarian!" she protested while kicking and squirming.
"Sorry, but I have a job to do." Ryan replied nonchalantly and took her away.
Lisa gagged."Ugh! And have you ever heard of personal hygiene!"
Just as Ryan ran past the twins room, a small hatch opened next to it and Fenton came out, carrying a small plastic container with his extendable arms. Master`s orders were to destroy it.
He barely walked past the door before it suddenly shut open and slammed him into the wall, making him drop the container in the process.
Lana clung on to the handle, supporting herself against the door before dropping down.
"I..ahm...nod sig..." she moaned sickly as she pushed herself up with all her strength.
Her bloodshot eyes scanned her surroundings, but her throbbing head made it hard to focus. Then something rolled up to her.
Mumbling dizzyingly, Lana squinted and picked up the cylinder-shaped object when she heard someone flushing the toilet.
Lana looked in the direction of the bathroom and saw Leni walking out, humming.
"Oh, hey Lana-AHHHH!" Leni flinched back with a look of horror.
"OMG! Lana, you look awful!" the teen screeched before immediately feeling guilty and tried to correct herself.
"I don't mean by that that you aren't pretty! You're very pretty, but you look sick!" she hastily explained.
Lana simply moaned incomprehensibly in response while constantly blinking with one of her half-closed eyes.
Leni placed her hand on her forehead and drew it back in shock.
"You`re burning up!" she gasped. "Aww, you poor thing. Why aren't you in bed?"
Lana mumbled and lifted the container up. Leni took it and looked at it with confusion.
"What`s that?" she opened the hatch and saw the yellow liquid, which made her smile with realization.
"Oh, it's a soup mug. Of course! That will instantly make you feel better!"
"Come, Lana! I`ll help you drink it!" Leni took her sister`s hand and led her back into her room.
She tucked her in before grabbing the "mug" and slowly leaned it down on Lana`s gaping mouth.
"Alright, don't worry. Just drink it slowly and steadily." Leni advised her as she raised it up and its content started spilling down Lana`s gullet.
She gulped it down instinctively but her eyes suddenly shot wide-open as she felt her throat burning, followed immediately by a sharp pain in hee gut like it was eating itself up.
Leni didn't notice her discomfort in the dim light until Lana started whimpering and tossing under the sheet.
"Oh, I`m sorry! Was it too hot?" Leni lifted the container up, at which point it was much lighter than before. Leni shook it and realized that it was empty.
She looked back at Lana, who had calmed down and was gasping while staring at the ceiling.
She felt weird, her mind was still cloudy and her body grew stiff. Her limbs became cramped and she couldn't move them, but she felt sick to her stomach. She couldn't form words or tell anyone that she didn't feel well. Soon, things went black.
"Don`t worry, Lana. You'll feel much better in the morning." Leni reassured her as she leaned down to caress her head.
Lana turned her head and stared at her with a blank look in her eyes.
Slowly she moved her arm up and grasped Leni`s hand, pulling it towards her.
Leni cooed, "Aw, do you want to tell me something-AHHH!"
Without warning, Lana sunk her teeth into her hand like a rabid dog, breaking the skin.
Leni jerked it back and clutched it.
"LANA! What are you-" Leni stopped as she saw Lana staring blankly at the ceiling again, while moaning as if she had just received a lobotomy.
Feeling scared and worried, Leni took a few steps back in fear until she stepped into the hall light and saw the tooth marks on her hand, which were starting to bleed.
A chill ran down Leni`s spine as she looked back at Lana. She was no medic, but even she realized that bitting people wasn't a normal symptom for fever or the cold, or any diseases she had experienced or seen in her siblings.
Scared and confused, she slowly walked back. "Okay...eh...Lana...I think something is wrong..." her voice was cracking with fear.
"Just stay put. I`ll tell Lori about this. I think we have to call a doctor."
Clutching her hand and hissing with pain, Leni rushed down the hall, but quickly slowed down and eventually halted as she became overwhelmed with a nauseous feeling.
"I don't feel so good..." she leaned against the wall with one arm and clutched her stomach. She then vomited on the floor.
She wiped her mouth but her mind started becoming hazy.
With her vision turning blurry, Leni staggered down the stairs to find Lori.
Unbeknownst to her, she quickly grew a sickly pale complexion.
Fenton, meanwhile, finally pushed the door away and screwed his head back in the right position. He looked around and couldn't find the container.
Using his X-ray vision he quickly located it in the twins`room, but it also showed him that it was empty. His master would be most displeased.
But he noticed something else, a very abnormal bioenergy.
He moved into the room and spotted the tussling, moaning figure in one of the bed.
His vision zoomed in on the figure just as she slowly rose up. Her skin was grey and resembled expired oatmeal.
She stared at him with blank, bulging eyes and let out an animalistic hiss, bearing her yellow teeth. Some kind of yellow foam was dripping from her mouth.
Fenton did a quick scan on her from a distance and quickly backed away as the creature stood up in a prowling position.
"Alert: Threat on the perimeter. Must warn Master Lisa."
Meanwhile...
Let me out! I`ll kill everything that's dear to you!"
Lucy watched in quiet awe as Luan finished strapping a straightjacket onto a still crazed Lola.
Luan stood up and crossed her arms. "This is for your own good, Lola. I`m not letting you out until cool down for real." she told her seriously.
The princess glared daggers at her with bloodshot eyes and growled through gritted teeth.
"I won't cool down until I maim that lowlife creep!"
"Lola." Luan groaned exasperatedly. "For the last time. You can't maim someone who's more than twice your age. I think you're biting off more than you can chew."
"If you don't let me go I`ll chew through this jacket!"
"Hmmm..." Lucy palmed her chin "...I always thought one of my sisters would wound up in a straightjacket. Lola wasn't neseccerily top of my list, but close enough."
"Shut up! I`ll kill you!" Lola snapped and literally tried to bite the goth.
"Lola, she's just heckling you, so was Ryan. You shouldn't lose your marbles over a little heckling, I oughta know."
"Luan, how are you holding up-" Lincoln came in and stopped cold in his tracks.
After blinking for a second, he deflated and slouched down at the sight in front of him.
"Okay, what's going on?" he asked in an exasperated tone. This was hardly the oddest thing he had seen in his home, but this would obviously provide another major hurdle tonight. As if they didn't have enough of them.
"Lola had a psychotic breakdown because Ryan mistook her for Lisa." Lucy explained simply.
"Shut up! I did not!"
"Of course she did." Lincoln said sardonically and clutched his head.
He should have known better than to let a chronic troll alone with the living embodiment of a temper tantrum, but even for Lola`s standards, this was a tad too petty.
"Where did you guys find that mini-straightjacket?" Lincoln asked Luan. To him, that was honestly stranger than Lola losing it over someone misnaming her.
"I got it to practice my escape act." Luan shrugged before placing her hands on her hips. "Until someone slacked off on laundry duty and left in the wash for too long two weeks ago." she added in a more annoyed tone.
"Oh, I see." Lincoln sighed cluelessly.
Luan cocked an eyebrow. "That was you, Lincoln!" she pointed out.
"Oh? Right." Lincoln remembered and blushed. "Sorry about that." he said sheepishly.
"In hindsight, Lincoln probably did you a favor." Lucy pointed out. "If that escape act of yours is as good as your comedy, it's probably safer for you to reconsider it."
Luan gave the goth a stink eye.
"One runaway genius coming up." Ryan waltzed in past Lincoln and put Lisa down.
"Now be a good little mad scientist and stay put." Ryan told her in a cooing tone and patted her head, much to her ire.
Lisa looked at the snarling Lola in a straightjacket and quickly deduced that she would hate it here even more than she thought.
The genius made an exaggerated sigh and slouched. "Is it really necessary that I participate in whatever tomfoolery you're engaging in at the moment?"
Luan frowned. "Don't make a big deal about this, Lisa." she told her firmly. "Mom and dad went out, Lori`s having a party, so like it or not, we`ll be babysitting you tonight."
Lisa huffed. "And what gives you the authority to supervise someone who's intellectually superior to you? You barely hold any respect within this family to begin with."
"Don`t go there." Lincoln warned her. "It`s only for a few hours, so let's make this easy for everyone."
"How many times do I need to inform you that I don't require a babysitter?" Lisa was growing increasingly irritated.
"Maybe you would have had a point, Lizzie." Ryan shrugged. "That is, if your favorite hobby didn't involve building stuff that went boom-boom."
Lisa fumed. "Bah! At least I engage in intellectually stimulating activities instead of plotting revenge for petty reasons."
This came as a collective surprise to everyone.
"What revenge?" Luan blurted nervously.
Lisa rolled her eyes and snorted. "Oh please, you honestly expected me not to notice that you all have an ulterior motive beyond trying to support Luan`s foolhearted attempt to land in our elder sisters` good grace? You wish to sabotage their party."
Her sisters looked dumbfounded, while Lincoln grimaced.
"What?" Lola blurted.
Ryan let out a slow chuckle and shook his head. "Nothing gets by you, does it?"
"I reiterate, do not patronize me." Lisa told him as she walked into the center of the room with her arms behind her back.
"Now, if I may have your attention. While it demeans me to resort to such juvenile means, you`ve forced my hand. I shall request a favor, otherwise, I`ll be forced to snitch on you to Lori." Lisa explained to them calmly.
Luan looked scared while Lincoln narrowed his eyes at the genius before sighing in defeat.
"Alright, what are your terms?"
"Simple, I wish for my freedom."
"Fine." Lincoln replied. "But under one condition. You can't work on any inventions or any experiments while we're away."
"I`m afraid that's not acceptable." Lisa retorted. "I cannot refrain from satisfying my natural scientific intrusiveness. If I have a vision I can't suppress the urge to make it a reality."
Lincoln closed his eyes and sighed. "In that case, you're not going anywhere."
"I beg your pardon?" Lisa asked indignantly. "Need I remind you that I have leverage over you?"
Ryan let out a hardy laugh and walked over to her. "Aren't you adorable." he told her mockingly and gripped her shoulder.
"I`m being serious!" Lisa warned him.
Ryan smiled at her ominously. "And so are we. We`re going through with this and we`re prepared to deal with any inconveniences along the way."
Lisa`s eyes widened.
"Ryan...? Are you saying you want to hold her against her will?" Luan blinked in surprise.
"I`m afraid we don't have a choice." Lincoln sighed shamefully.
"What? Guys, isn't this going a bit too far?"
"Sigh, Lincoln`s right." Lucy told the comedian sullenly.
"Even if Lisa kept quiet, it doesn't change the fact that she revealed everything to her." she pointed down at Lola, who was grinning ear to ear with pure malice.
"Ohhh, you are all busted!" she laughed evilly. "So, so busted!"
Luan gulped and stepped back. "Wait! They banned you from the party, just like us! Don't you desire vengeance on them too?"
Lola scoffed viciously. "Don't care! You were all a bunch of meanies to me! You all must suffer!"
One minute later...
"No! You can't do this to me!" Lola protested inside the dress closet, still in her straightjacket.
"Release me at once!" Lisa yelled as Lincoln pushed her in too.
She got up and glared at him. "This is barbaric! Inhumane! A co-"
Lincoln closed it and locked them in without a single word.
Ryan patted his back encouragingly. "See, sometimes the simple methods are the best ones."
Luan looked at them uncomfortably as Lincoln pushed Ryan`s arm away.
"Don't praise me." he replied miserably and walked away from the group, ignoring the pounding on the closet`s door.
He muttered, "Let`s go."
"Sheesh, you try to be nice..." Ryan shrugged and followed.
Luan and Lucy looked at each other uneasily (at least Luan did) and went after the boys.
Once in the hall, Lucy was the only one to notice that the music that had been echoing through the house for over an hour grew louder.
"Wait, guys!" Luan caught up to them in the hall. "Isn't this going overboard? We`ll get in trouble for this! With both mom and dad and the girls, I don't think getting payback is worth it!"
Lincoln remained silent and stopped at the stairs, unable to face her. Ryan was a different story.
"Luan, don't you worry your pretty, little head off." he reassured her."We know what we are doing."
"But Lori-"
"She`s not supposed to have this party in the first place. She won't be able to unleash her wrath on anyone without exposing herself and getting grounded."
Luan still looked uncertain.
"And if she tries anything..." Ryan boasted a look of pure confidence and punched his palm "...I can handle her. I`ve dealt with bilge rats scarier than her."
Luan blushed. He was willing to face that tyrant of a teenager for her.
"What a man." Luan felt light-headed.
"But what about Lola and Lisa?" Lucy cut in. "Lola`s a huge tattletale."
"I told ya not to worry, Spooky." Ryan reassured her. "It will be their word against ours, and we got them outnumbered."
"But Lola can be very persuasive with mom and dad."
Ryan chuckled. "But not as much as Lincoln over there." he pointed at the white-haired boy, who still had his back turned on them.
"He`s been a very good boy lately. Helping your mom around the house, while he and his dad have recently found a new...understanding."
"You mean they grew closer?" Luan inquired.
Ryan snapped his fingers. "Exactamundo! So rest assured that your bro has major parental favoritism on his side."
Lincoln rubbed his arm when he heard someone knocking, or rather pounding the door. The others joined him.
"That doesn't sound like a tardy party guest." Luan remarked.
The four came down and Lincoln rushed to open the door.
He was met by a very angry old man, who had his hands pressed against his ears and was wearing his nightgown and a matching hat.
His reason for covering his ears became immediately apparent to the kids, as the moment they opened the door, the volume of the music got cranked up by a few notches.
"Mr. Grouse?" Lincoln asked in surprise.
"Louds!" the old man growled through clenched teeth.
"No, no, what now?" Lincoln lamented. "Eh, why the evening visit?" he asked in a civil manner.
Grouse took a second to observe the group. The pale girl and the obnoxiously cheerful wannabe comedian were there. And so was that creepy, sick-looking boy?
Under different circumstances, Grouse would have been warier about keeping his distance from a potential disease-carrying person, but right now he was far too angry and tired to care about it.
"Where are they!"
"Come again?" Luan cupped her ear, unable to hear him over the loud rock and roll music.
An enraged Grouse growled and stepped forward, making the kids back away as he marched into the house and slammed the door shut.
"Where are your parents!"
"Um...they`re on a date." Lincoln answered fearfully.
"What? AGHHHH!" Grouse cursed to the heavens.
"Where is your sister! I`m trying to sleep!" the old man ranted furiously.
"Sleep?" Ryan snorted. "It`s like 9.20 p.m, dude?"
"Don`t get sassy with me, punk!" Grouse yelled at him before turning to the siblings.
"Where is she! The guitar-playing one! I`d recognize her goddamn heavy metal ruckus anywhere!"
"We don't know, sir!" Luan answered.
"Well, wherever she is, you better get her to quiet down or I`m calling the cops to make noise complaints!"
"The cops!" Lincoln panicked. "Wow, let's not get hasty, we`ll get her to stop her playing. I swear!"
"Yeah, and how about you come in." Luna offered him in order to ease the situation. "We got some leftover lasagna in the fridge and some muff-"
"You ain't bribing yourselves out of this one, Louds!" Grouse cut her off and made his demands clear.
"You`ve got twenty minutes to stop this ruckus or else I`m calling the cops! That's as generous as I`ll ever be with you Louds!" the old man warned them and opened the door.
"Twenty minutes!" he restated before storming off.
"Well, he looks like a jolly old fellow." Ryan quipped.
"Ryan! This isn't a laughing matter." Luan told him in a panic.
Lincoln looked around and quickly realized that the music was coming from the garage.
"Come on!" Lincoln urged them and ran off.
The others followed him. Once they reached the garage, the music was downright deafening. So much so that they failed to notice Chaz running out of the house, screaming in fear.
Lincoln tried to open the door, but it was locked.
"Aghhh!" growing frustrated Lincoln started hitting it.
"Luna! LUNA! LUNA! OPEN UP!"
"NO USE, PIPSQUEAK! YOU COULDN`T HEAR A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION OVER THIS!" Ryan lamented.
"No, no, no, no!" Lincoln clutched his head in a panic and walked away.
"Guys! Guys! What do we do!" a likewise panicking Luan rushed after him. "Mom and dad can't return home with the police waiting for them!"
"That`s certainly one way to ruin their evening." Lucy stated sullenly.
"No need to worry, fellas!" Ryan said coolly as he caught up with them. "I`ll get in and pull the plug on her."
The sisters looked at him hopefully, while Lincoln eyed him with a mix of fear and suspicion.
"How?" he asked urgently.
"Easy, I just need a change of wardrobe..."
Yikes! Lisa and Leni have really screwed the pooch this time around. Accidental explosions will be the least of the Louds` concerns tonight. A virus, especially an artificially enhanced one, has only one goal in its short life: to make its host spread it! Zombie Lana is wasting no time on that.
