"Happy late birthday Ari, I hope you got my letter."
"Oh don't worry June, I did." It was the first visit Ari made to High Voltage since their second arrest, she had already got birthday wishes from Barb, and was now talking to Juniper. "It was really sweet of you, thanks."
"You're welcome, I wish I could get you something else though." Juniper chuckled. "A letter probably makes me a lousy friend."
Ari shook her head. "No, no it doesn't." A light blush grew on her cheeks but she shook it off, C'mon Ari, she doesn't even think of you like that. Even though she got "friend-zoned" as Fred put it, she still continued to pine for the crime-dancer, though it was milder than before.
"So how's it being fourteen?" she questioned.
"It's fun." Ari smiled. "I'm at least the same age as my brother, until he turns fifteen, but at least I'm not called a little kid!" She tilted her head. "How was it when you were fourteen?"
Juniper paused. "Oh jeez, I barely think about that." Her gazed darkened. "It wasn't a fun part of my life, it was when some stuff got bad."
Ari's eyes widened. "Does it have to do with..." she gestured with her hands, "so-and-so?"
"I'm not answering that." She growled, and Ari realized she might've crossed a line.
"Sorry Juniper." The brunette bowed her head. "I just feel like I don't know much about you. I mostly talk about what's going on in my life, and that's been an emotional rollercoaster as of late."
Juniper hummed. "I didn't know you felt like that, my bad." A smirk grew on her face. "So, you know little more than me other than I'm fabulously attractive?"
Ari's face turned a shade of red. "Oh, come on. I made a move one time..." Her friend laughs.
"I'm just joking! I'm joking!" She giggled. "Um, let me think off the top of my head. What do you want to know about me besides uncomfortable backstory questions?"
She shrugged. "Just basic information like hobbies, what you like and dislike. Y'know, basic friendship information."
"Oh, that's not too hard." Juniper nodded. "My favorite color's pink, rabbits are my favorite animal and I'd want one as a pet. I really don't like anything with scales, it just creeps me out."
"I don't like eels, they have scales." Ari commented. "Also, I thought you were a cat person?"
"Cats are cute, I'll admit. But they're not soft and squishy like bunnies." Her friend had this adorable gleam in her eyes. "They're so fluffy and cute!"
Ari slowly nodded, but then she glanced over at the clock. "Aw man, time's up."
"Bummer." Juniper frowned. "But I'll send you another letter, take care Ari."
"See ya." She waved,. "You too."
As she exited the prison, a pair of brown eyes narrowed at her. She frowned at her brother. "Oh, come on man, it wasn't that bad!"
"You were in there for half an hour." Hiro curled his lip. "What did you say to High Voltage?"
"They have names y'know." Ari crossed her arms. "Barb and Juniper, use 'em."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, since you told me you confessed and got rejected, I'm worried that girl… she's gonna use your feelings for her own good."
"Like what? Ask me to break her out of jail?" Ari teased. "She complains about the food and that Mel guy who ruined Aunt Cass's date, remember him?"
"Yes..." Hiro facepalmed. "Ari. take it seriously! I'm worried."
"Thanks 'mom,' for your unwanted opinion."
"Ari!"
"What? You've never been in love." she sneers, "And unless you fall head over heels for Karmi… you don't know what it's like to crush on a girl."
"First of all, the chances of me falling for Karmi is as likely as if there's a monster invasion." Hiro huffed. "Second, it's that you're in love with a criminal is what worries me!" The tears flowed down his cheek. "I don't want you to get your heart broken."
Realizing he was just worried, she walked over to hug him. "Hiro, please don't cry." Ari wiped away his tears. "I'll be alright, I just can't deny that I love her, that's all."
He sighed. "At least be careful."
"Don't worry, I am. I can tell if someone's being malicious." She smiled at him. "See, that wasn't so bad was it? And I don't have to deal with an awkward car ride from Mikan!" She got on the moped's passenger seat.
Hiro handed her a passenger helmet. "Yeah, are you mad she didn't come to your birthday sleepover?" He started driving back home.
"Not really, she said she had to do a thing for her siblings, and she got me this pretty bracelet that I'll wear at my next party. So it's all good!"
"If you say so."
Ferns and Nerds group chat:
TheLittleMermaid: So I go to this pizza place
Rachel Rosemary: I'm listening
TheLittleMermaid: THEY HAVE SQUARE PIZZA
Fredzilla: ?
Hiro Hamada: Omg sis
TheLittleMermaid: SQUARE PIZZA IS THE WORST
Sienna Kline: All pizzas are good tho?
Gogo: Wow. This is sad
Rachel Rosemary: Yikes.
TheLittleMermaid: Don't mock me!
Hiro Hamada: I told you sis, we can get Yaki Taco
Fredzilla: Ooh can I come with, I have some coupons to use!
Hiro Hamada: Sure
Sienna Kline: I'm more of a Noodle Burger person
Gogo: Don't mention that in the chat
Sienna Kline: Why?
Fredzilla: Noodle Burger Boyy! I miss you and your burgers…
TheLittleMermaid: Why did he have to turn evil!
Sienna Kline: Oh
Hiro Hamada: Drama queens -_-
"Thanks again for having me at your house Fred." Rachel smiled.
"No problem!" The comic fan had invited her and Katie over for some good old comic book reading, Fred had his robotic sidekick Mini-Max in his lap.
"Now can you continue reading with the funny voices?" Katie asked with a grin.
"Sure." he cleared his throat. "Give it up, Human Fist! The Ring of Wearing belongs to me!" He spoke in a dramatic voice, flipping the page. "Over my dead phalanges, Doctor Glove!"
"Is Doctor Glove also just a hand?" Mini-Max questioned.
"Mhmm." Rachel nodded.
"You see, Fist is the left, Glove is the right." Fred explained to him. "They were brothers until-"
"Frederick?" Fred's mom spoke from the intercom. "Are you dressed for dinner? We have a very important guest tonight."
Rachel and Katie exchanged glances, the former shrugged. "Who is it?" The comic fan asked.
"We're having Orso Knox come over!" Mrs. Frederickson spoke in a sing-song voice.
Fred groaned. "Yeah, Mom! Just… pressing my cummerbund!"
"Okay sweetie!" The intercom turned off.
"What is a cumberbund?" Mini-Max questioned.
"Literally, no one knows." Fred noticed Rachel's distant gaze. "Rach, you okay?"
"Yeah." she gave a slow nod. "But that's weird, your mom said Orso Knox?"
"Uh-huh, he's a friend of my mother's, they're both in the same social circle. He comes over for dinner sometimes blah blah blah. He's alright to talk to, I just don't like getting dressed." He explained.
"Well, that's weird, my mom and dad invited him to dinner because my mom knows him too. But… he never got there." Rachel explained.
"Yeah, the weirdest thing happened." Katie mewed.
"What thing?" Fred questioned, then the ground shook and the floor rumbled. "Mini-Max, do you hear that, too?!"
"Yes! The sound of mischief!" The small robot leapt onto Fred's head.
"Oh jeez, this was when the weird thing happened." Rachel groaned, grabbing a pillow.
"Wh-"
BOOM!
The wall burst open, the tv cracked and shattered into a million pieces, the lights flickered. A pair of sharp cyan eyes glared at them, drool dribbled from razor fang teeth. A large hulking dark-gray creature, the tufts of hair on it's body swooped up.
Fred shivered as the creature growled at them.
"Yeah.. .that." Rachel had a deadpan look on her face, not phased by the giant monster who broke into the room!
"Mini-Maximum justice!" Mini-Max leapt at the monster, who caught him in his claws, and tossed the small robot outside. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
"I'll get him." Katie sprinted out.
The monster roared at Fred and Rachel, the former tossed his beanbag at it, stuffing and fluff went everywhere. Rachel groaned and ducked under a table. The monster stomped over to the portrait of Boss Awesome on the wall.
"Wait, no! That's my dad!" Fred pleaded, his voice low enough so Rachel wouldn't hear. The creature grabbed the portrait and chomped it in half. "Or it was..."
He shivered as the monster crawled towards him. "Maybe we got off on the wrong foot." He tried reasoning. "I'm Fred, you're a big scary monster. We're not so different here."
He got an ear-splitting scream as his response. "Nevermind! Different! Very different! I see that now! I was mistaken!"
The monster looked down at him. "What's past is prologue." It spoke in a gravelly, raspy voice.
Fred shuddered as it leapt away, exiting the same way it entered.
"That's a new one." Rachel mumbled, she walked over to Fred. "You okay? It scared me too a little bit… Dad might've passed out when it showed up for us, so I won't judge you if you do."
At that moment, Mrs. Frederickson entered, and saw all the damage. "What on earth?"
"Long story." Rachel held up a hand.
Mrs. Frederickson saw her son was still in his casual clothing. "You're not even dressed." She frowned. One of Fred's figurines that was tied to the ceiling then collapsed to the ground.
"Wait, did the monster speak when it attacked your house?" Fred turned to Rachel. "Why did it attack?"
Rachel shrugged. "I dunno, maybe it's a criminal my dad put away once and he's out for revenge." She leaned in. "It whispered 'hell is empty' and then ran off, at least our insurance policy can cover for monsters."
Katie returned to the room, the bruised Mini-Max in her mouth, she dropped him by his charger. "Well, that guy made a mess out of your room Frederick."
"You don't say..." Fred rolled his eyes.
"If you can catch Mr. Knox before he leaves, do tell him dinner is canceled." Mrs. Frederick is speaking on the phone as Heathcliff sweeps up the mess. "Yes, there was a monster attack. I know, I know, mortifying."
Hiro, Ari, and the others had arrived at Fred's house to investigate.
"Rachel, Katie, you guys alright?" Ari asked the duo, who shrugged.
"Eh, been there done that with the monster." Katie huffed. "Just broke some stuff, said weird words, and left."
"Wait, the monster attacked your house?" Hiro walked up to them.
"Yep." Rachel nodded, "Mom was in the kitchen when it attacked, so she threw the knife she was cutting up tomatoes with at the monster." She snickered as if she was telling a funny joke. "Dad just hid under the table and passed out, Katie tried fighting the monster but she got thrown at Mom. Then it looked at me, said it's creepy line, and jumped away. I lost my appetite, and we had to get a new table."
"How are you so calm like this?" Ari demanded, "what's your secret?"
"Yes."
"Yes to what?!"
Baymax waddled over to Mini-Max in his charger, he scanned the small robot. "Mini-Max has sustained significant damage."
Fred frowned, "little bud, it's gonna be Mini-Maximum okay."
"So, what'd it look like?" Hiro questioned.
"Okay. So imagine if you put a whale and a dinosaur and some hair into a blender then pour that into a human-shaped ice tray, and froze and then let it thaw just a little."
Hiro blinked.
Ari blinked.
Katie just meowed.
"Wow, really?" Gogo spoke up.
"I can provide visual confirmation." Mini-Max slurred, bringing up a clip of the monster breaking into the room with his eyes.
"Wow." Honey Lemon gaped at it.
"Huh." Gogo raised an eyebrow. "That actually looks like Fred's description."
"I knew it looked part dinosaur somehow, but I didn't know how to put it into words." Rachel hummed.
"It looks like a shark." Katie meowed. "With the sharp teeth!"
"That's the only thing it has similar to sharks, Katie."
Hiro picked up the broken portrait of Boss Awesome. "Baymax?" He held it to the robot.
"I will swab for DNA traces." Baymax held the portrait. He swabbed some of the saliva still on it, and scanned.
"He must've been an old enemy of my dad's." Fred whispered to Gogo. "He said, 'what's past is prologue,' which sure sounds like something a monster out for revenge would say."
"Uh-huh."
"And he must've attacked Rachel's house because her dad is a police detective, she said the monster said 'hell is empty,' which also sounds like a revenge thing."
"Monster? Seriously." Even after seeing the footage, Gogo didn't believe it.
"Globby exists." Rachel pointed out. "And not to mention all the weird stuff I saw in New York."
Wasabi turned to her. "What on earth happened on your trip?"
"A lot."
"The monster did eat the Boss Awesome portrait." Hiro pointed out.
"That or he hates Boss Awesome." Ari hummed. "Maybe the monster is angry at Boss Awesome for something, and Rachel's dad must make a lot of enemies as an officer." She didn't notice the disheartened look Rachel flashed at her, or the softening of her green eyes.
"Yeah, Dad does." She muttered under her breath. "Too many..."
Katie whimpered, and gave the girl a few comforting licks.
Baymax beeped. "The DNA does not match any known species." He showed it on his screen.
"Oh my god." Ari gasped in horror.
"Real life monster." Fred's eyes widened. "Coolest dad ever!"
"Hey!" Rachel cried in offense, not realizing Fred was talking about his dad.
"Sorry." He sheepishly chuckled.
"Do you want one of us to walk you home?" Honey Lemon offered, the girl shook her head.
"Nope, Katie is enough protection." She gestured to the feline, who smirked.
"Alright." Wasabi waved. "Get home safe."
"See you guys later!" Ari also waved.
Rachel and Katie smiled, and said their goodbyes as they exited the house.
There wasn't any chatter as Rachel walked down the road, her house was a few blocks away. Katie rested on her shoulder, her tail fluffing up with irritation.
"Ari's words got you, didn't it?" Katie questioned.
"A little." She sighed. "That comment hit too hard to home." She glanced at the scar on her leg, the only scar from said enemies of her dad. "If she remembered..."
"Elio warned us that overloading Ari with any information might cause her to snap." Katie reminded her. "Besides, she'll just hate you if you tell her."
"She's not some supervillain lying in wait, she's our friend, and then she forgot everything, and it's because of stupid… those stupid jerks!" She stomped on the ground, "It hurts that she doesn't know that they're still out there, waiting for the right moment to strike again!"
"At least we get some peace." Katie tried to comfort her.
"Who knows, they could be behind the monster attack! This is right up Lancer's alley, he loves messing with DNA!"
"Don't remind me." The feline growled. "I'm living proof of that."
Rachel realized she hit a sore spot. "Sorry Katie cat, I guess I'm a little paranoid." They didn't talk about how Katie was another victim of his experiments, and how she was much luckier than many of the other victims. Including Katie's parents and littermates, who she barely remembered due to losing them so young.
"That's fine. But whatever happens, Big Hero 6 will stop it." She yawned. "Just relax, and we gotta be there for Ari, remember?"
"You're right Katie, thanks for that."
"What else can I say except you're welcome!"
"Katie…"
"I had to do it."
Superhero Squad group chat:
Ariel: If I wake up and there are eel monsters, I'm moving
Captain Cutie: That's not gonna happen anytime soon
Flame Jumper: It might
Chop Chop: FRED
Ariel: : ( I don't like eels, they scary
Speed Queen: We know
Speed Queen: We'll get the monster, don't worry
Captain Cutie: Fred's bringing a list of his dad's enemies to school tomorrow so we'll pick apart from them
Flame Jumper: There are so many papers guys, omg
Flame Jumper: pile,jpeg
Chem Girl: 0_0
Chop Chop: Dude how many enemies did your dad make?!
Flame Jumper: He became Boss Awesome during the city's darkest crime days. Y'know, increased criminal activity, gangs, the works.
Chop Chop: I will never complain about a busy night patrol ever again
"So that happened last night, really wild." Ari was visiting SFIT, she ran into Karmi and was telling her about what happened to Fred's house. "Good news, there weren't any eel monsters on the news this morning."
Karmi raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it's someone who got into an accident like Globby, Big Hero 6 can handle a monster."
She nodded. "Yeah, I have faith in them." Ari then paused. "What on earth?" Professor Granville walked into the robotics lab door with the biggest smile on her face. She had never seen the dean of the school smile like that, ever.
"Maybe it's a special occasion." Karmi hummed. "Or she had a really good morning. Don't act so surprised."
"I hang around Hiro a lot when he gets on her bad side, don't blame me."
"Of course he does."
"Morning girls." They turn to see Professor Sally Ferns walking up to them. "I see by the look on your faces you've seen Granville's happy face."
They both nodded. "Well, it's for good reason." There was a smirk on the older woman's face. "A special visitor is coming, and they donated for SFIT's new biotech building."
"Yes!" Karmi pumped a fist in the air. "Biotech rules!" She then cleared her throat, a little flustered by her outburst. "Who's visiting? A former student?"
"No, not a former student. Her name's Liv Amara and-"
"LIV AMARA?!" Karmi exclaimed, Ari winced from the loudness of her voice. "Oh my god she's my idol. I love her and she's coming to SFIT?!"
"Yeah she-" Sally didn't get a chance to finish because Karmi ran off, rambling about how "she had to show Liv her latest invention!" stuff like that. The woman chuckled, sweeping a tuft of blue hair over her eyes. "That's the most excited I've seen Karmi act."
"Oooh Karmi told me a lot about Liv!" Ari clapped her hands. "Like how she's running her company Sycorax at twenty-three and that she was a biotech teen prodigy like Karmi herself." She leaned in to whisper. "In case you didn't know, Karmi is a huge fan."
"I noticed." Sally hummed in amusement. "Mikan's a fan of hers as well, she hopes to get an internship there next semester. I knew Liv when her school had an exchange program with ours, so I can put in a good word for my oldest, at least."
"Why is Liv coming to SFIT?" Ari questioned.
"She heard about Tadashi's invention Baymax and wishes to meet him." Sally explained.
"That's good! Hiro must be so excited! I'll make sure to ask him." She clapped her hands. "Once Karmi gets back, I think she's gonna show Liv the fancy nano-thingies she showed me last week." Ari glanced left and right. "Don't tell Karmi I forgot what they do."
"I won't." Sally gestured, zipping her lips. "By the way, Granville is having a dedication ceremony later this week, on Friday I think, so if you don't get a chance to talk to her, that would be a good time."
Then Karmi came running back, her invention stored in a box. Ari also heard the sound of helicopters whirling outside. That must be Liv.
"Well, have fun kids." Sally waved. "I'm going to get some work done." The professor walked past the sprinting Karmi, and Ari just followed her into the robotics lab.
"I saw Liv Amara's helicopter land, and I had to come and meet her! She is my hero! I love her! Is she here?" Karmi rambled without stopping.
The others in the lab, Hiro and the gang, looked with wide eyes. "You should breathe now," Baymax told her.
"Karmi, she's here to see me." Hiro told her.
"Then she'll be very pleasantly surprised by me."
Ari turned to the others. "How was it with… ?" she gestured.
"No progress." Gogo shook her head.
The teens turned their heads as the robotics door opened again, and Granville walked in with another woman.
"Students, meet Ms. Amara!" The woman was beautiful in Ari's eyes, she was tall, her hair was blonde, turning slightly lighter at the tips, she had hazel eyes that felt so mysterious. Liv was wearing a lovely red dress with a black belt. Wow, she's prettier in person. Ari fawned.
Liv chuckled, she placed a hand on Granville's shoulder. "Come on Grace, you can call me Liv."
"Grace?" Honey Lemon and Wasabi exchanged glances.
Granville walked Liv over to Hiro and Baymax. "Liv, this is Hiro Hamada."
"Which must make this little guy Baymax!" Liv stared into Baymax's eyes.
The robot blinked. "I am relatively large in stature." Liv pressed her face against Baymax's vinyl chest, looking at his skeleton.
"So, tell me about him." She turned to Hiro.
"Marshmallow hugs!" Ari exclaimed, attempting to help her brother out.
"Hyper-spectral cameras, carbon-fiber skeleton." Hiro explained.
"I can see that! I mean, what led you to create him?" Ari frowned, noticing Hiro stutter on his words.
"Oh I-I didn't actually, my brother did." He confessed.
Liv's eyes slightly widened. "Oh." She commented awkwardly. "Well, great to meet you." and walked away.
Hiro got a little offended, Ari was just confused. I guess she didn't want to reopen the wound for Hiro, in a blunt way. "B-b-but the upgrades, are all me!" He ran after her, "and I've invented-"
"Excuse me, Ms. Amara?" Karmi held out a hand to Liv, "I'm Karmi." She opened her box. "let me introduce to you the extradermal nano-receptor." Karmi plucked one out of the box and showed it to Liv. "Tiny, painless, no needles."
"An iontophoretic delivery system?" Liv gasped. "And it works?"
"Yep! I've run three rounds of trials. The last trial was really promising."
Liv picked up the sticker, inspecting it. "Karmi, this is incredible."
"Wow, good for you." Ari nudged the girl, who had stars gleaming in her eyes.
"Hey, how would you like to come with us to see the new biotech building." Liv offered,
Hiro gasped.
"Is artemisinic acid the world's most effective antimalarial compound?" Both of them laughed, and Liv handed Hiro the nano-receptor as her and Karmi walked off.
Ari flashed him a sympathetic look, "I-" she then was dragged by Karmi.
"Oh Liv, is it alright if my friend Ari comes too?" She asked the woman, Ari felt her cheeks redden as Liv stared at her with her mysterious eyes.
"I-I hi, I like your hair." Ari waved.
"Thank you." Liv twirled a lock. "You're another biotech prodigy?"
"Ari doesn't go to this school." Karmi explained. "But I tell her some of my work! And she's great company!"
Ari spoke up before Liv could make a response. "No I'm good Karmi, you spend time with Liv. Maybe you could learn how to cure cancer or something. I'd just get lost in the science-y talk since I'm not that smart."
Karmi frowned. "Okay, if you're sure. But don't say you're not smart, because you are."
"Perhaps you can meet us for lunch." Liv told her, Ari grinned.
"I can do lunch, yep." She waved goodbye as Karmi and Liv exited the labs.
Hiro stared at the nano-receptor with anger. "Professor Granville, you said she was here to see me!" He complained.
"She was, Mr. Hamada, but Karmi wowed her."
"Karmi basically invented a sticker."
"Green isn't a good color on you Mr. Hamada." Granville told him, she then exited the labs.
"Hiro is not wearing green." Baymax pointed out.
"She means he's jealous of Karmi." Gogo explained.
"Oh wow." Ari chuckled. "There's something you don't see every day."
"I-I'm not jealous!" Hiro crossed his arms, they turned their heads as Fred activated the nano-receptor he took from Hiro, stiffened, and fell to the ground.
"You okay dude?" Wasabi asked him.
"I feel so numb." Fred mumbled, Ari rolled her eyes and took the nano-receptor off.
"C'mon man." she sighed, even she knew not to play with biotechnology like that.
Ferns and Nerds group chat:
TheLittleMermaid: There's been monster attacks
Mikan Ferns: "Monster attack where?" -David
Rachel Rosemary: Mine and Fred's house, good thing we have insurance
Wasabi: Does nothing scare you?
Rachel Rosemary: Sparkles does, he will pay if he ever threatens my cat ever again. = )
TheLittleMermaid: Woah there
Hiro Hamada: Same. He tried hurting Mochi and that's a no-no
Mikan Ferns: Anyone who hurts cats has no soul. No soul!
Wasabi: ^
Honey Lemon: Was the attack scary?
Rachel Rosemary: Meh. Scared Dad though.
TheLittleMermaid: He must not see much scary stuff during his job
Rachel Rosemary: Monsters scare him, especially the human looking ones
Mikan Ferns: Ohhhh
Hiro Hamada: I hate those kinds of people! That gives you trust issues
Rachel Rosemary: You think?
TheLittleMermaid: Who hurt you D :
Rachel Rosemary: I was being sarcastic
Mikan Ferns: Add a little /s at the end there
Rachel Rosemary: Thanks for the help /s
Hiro Hamada: OOooooooh
Wasabi: I think you just got burned
Mikan Ferns: 8V
At Krei-Tech, the CEO is typing away at his computer. "Interesting, yes! Yes! Yes!" Instead of working, Krei was looking at pictures of himself to put on the latest advertisement.
Distant screaming brought his attention, he frowned. " Excuse me, what is going on out there?"
CRASH!
Krei yelped and hid under the desk as a large monster entered the room. "Uh, do we have an appointment?"
The monster started running at him, but was halted by lasers.
"Ha, ha!" Krei exclaimed as two drones became visible. "Buddy Guards!" They continued to fire until the monster ate one, and threw the other out of the window.
"Yes Mr. Krei?" He grabbed the phone as the secretary downstairs answered.
"Uh, call Big Hero 6. Now!" The monster then threw away the desk he was hiding under.
"This thing of darkness, I acknowledge MINE!" The monster roared, Krei screamed.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!"
Later… when the superheroes showed up.
Krei was wrapped in a blanket retelling the story to Big Hero 6. "This creature just burst in here, said something weird and left!" Judy walks over with a cup of tea. "I was barely able to fight it off-ooh this tea is hot!"
"Oh, he hid behind a file cabinet until it left." Judy explained, Krei grumbled at her. "Bravely." She added, he continued to sip his tea.
Gogo popped her gum, and Honey Lemon wrote something down on a clipboard. "What did it look like?" The former asked.
"It was like if you put a whale and a dinosaur and some hair into a blender then pour that into a human-shaped ice tray, and froze and then let it thaw just a little."
"Told ya! That's the monster!" Fred exclaimed.
"What weird thing did he say?" Gogo questioned.
"This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine, I don't know, something like that. There were a lot of grunts in there!"
"Wait." they turned to see Detective Elio Rosemary entering the office, he had been investigating the damage downstairs. "You said the monster said that?"
"Mhmm."
"Interesting." Elio wrote something down in a notebook. "It's almost as if the monster is warning us of something."
"Meh." Gogo shrugged.
"Well, it's just a theory, but one I plan to solve." He declared. "Unless you superheroes figure it out first, makes my job a little easier." Elio sniffed the air. "Did any of you have garlic bread for lunch?"
Gogo and Honey Lemon sniffed, they turned to Fred. "Oh, I'm a monster hunter now," he gestured to the garlic on his hood. "So, I came prepared!"
"Flame Jumper, you know garlic is for vampires, right?" Honey Lemon pointed out.
"Yes." He took one of the garlic cloves and ate it from inside his suit, there was a gagging sound. "This is just a snack."
Elio shook his head. "Don't ever mention vampires to my daughter's cat, she hates those things."
Gogo turned to Krei. "Go back a sec. What were you doing when this freak attacked?"
"Nothing!" Krei looked away. "I was finally supposed to be meeting with an investor, Orso Knox."
"Orso Knox?" Honey Lemon questioned.
"One of the richest men in San Fransokyo." Judy explained, handing Honey Lemon a cup of tea. "Trust fund baby."
"Wait, Orso Knox? That's the guy my mom had to cancel on the night the monster attacked." Fred whispered to the group.
"He never made it to our dinner invite, the monster showed up instead." Elio commented.
"I'd been courting him for years." Krei explained. "And then suddenly Liv Amara shows up and he wants to invest in her impressive new company, and her shiny, shiny hair!"
"He's a little jealous." Judy told Honey Lemon.
"What?! My hair shines."
Elio hummed. "I might ask Liv herself about Knox, though she's probably busy since donating to SFIT." He turned to the superheroes. "Did the monster attack anywhere else?"
"M-The Frederickson household when they invited Knox to dinner." Fred explained, catching himself before he slipped.
"I see, my daughter had been visiting when the monster attacked. I'm really glad she wasn't injured." He frowned. "She means everything to me and Sarah and if anything happened to her like what... it would break me. But I've felt less worried since you guys came." He told the superheroes.
"Aww thanks." Honey Lemon smiled.
"We try to make the city a better place." Gogo added. "Were you alright when the monster attacked your house?"
"Yeah." Elio wrote something down in his notebook. "I'm not surprised Knox would invest in Sycorax, Liv herself is a pleasant person at rich people parties, and he was interested when they chatted at a party about seven months ago."
"Woah." Fred gasped. "You have a sharp memory."
"Comes with the job, though I think the corporate world got to Liv afterwards." He narrowed his eyes, recalling how she seemed a little different the next time he interacted with her. Then again, people change and running Sycorax at a young age probably took a toll on her. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to continue my investigation downstairs."
The superheroes gave sighs of relief when he left.
"At least you didn't lift up your hood Fred." Gogo turned to her friend.
"Hey! I don't do it that much anymore."
"You do it a lot Fred, it's like you want people to know our identities."
"No I don't!"
Honey Lemon sighed. "This monster mystery is gonna be harder than we thought."
AN: *cue me and the beta reader internally screaming*
Ahaha yeah, "Liv" has arrived. (we know what's going on at this point but still, play along XD) Not gonna add more to that. Probably shouldn't have used so many eel jokes but this fic is self-indulgent so I do what I want. They tone down a little after this ep (next chapter is worse on the jokes haha)
Writing Rachel's "this is fine" reaction made me crack up, she just acts chill to make herself look cool.
And had to sprinkle in some lore w/ Liv, since she's 23 she's obvi a teen genius, though she didn't attend SFIT, she was there as a exchange student.
Having the characters figure out something off is lame, (like why would you ruin the surprise?) so no one is solving the actual mystery this ep. Buuuut there's gonna be some foreshadowing. Not much of a spoiler imo, sorry if that makes you guys upset, but had to be said.
QOTW: What part made you internally scream alongside me?