The team was enjoying a day at the swimming pool on the day the new water slide opened.
"Okay, Cody, give it a try!" Graham called up to his little brother.
Cody gave a thumbs up and enjoyed the slide down.
"Nice work designing this crazy slide, little bro," Kade said.
"Thanks," Graham said. "You know, the hard part was calculating to gallons per second to—"
"Yeah, that's great, anyway…"
"It IS great! Oh, it's so cool," a young woman in a yellow sunhat and around Graham's age said as she walked up to them. "You made this? Hi. I'm Amy. I'm an engineer. I just moved into town an WOW! How did you minimize the drag coefficient to guarantee a successful loop?"
"I was wondering the same thing," Jackie said as she walked up to them while adjusting her John Deere cap. "But, y'know, in layman's terms."
"You're I—uh, wh—uh, well, I—" Graham stammered.
"Oh, of course. It must be proprietary information. I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry," Amy walked away.
"No, it's—I – wait! Grr. What's wrong with me?"
"Hey, nothing's wrong with you," Lindsy said as she put a hand on his shoulder. "You had the same reaction when I showed you my pretender form."
"I-I'm still shocked by the tail."
"Don't worry, son. It's a small island. You'll see her again," Chief Burns said.
Graham groaned.
Chief's phone then rang, so he answered it.
"Chief! Chief! Anyone there?" Deputy Barney asked.
"What's wrong, Barney?" Chief asked.
"It's Dr. Morocco. He's gone!"
"There's a GPS on his handcuffs. If he's wearing them, we should be able to track him."
"Told you we shoulda let the mainland handle him," T.J. muttered to Kade.
Xxx
Morocco was walking away from a public mailbox when the rescue team surrounded him.
"Dr. Morocco, halt and surrender," robot Chase said.
"Well, hello, there, rescue team," Morocco said as he waved at them with a still cuffed hand. "Sorry, my legs simply needed a stretch." He allowed Chief to rehandcuff him.
"Well, exercise time is over, doctor," Chief said as he rehandcuffed the criminal. "Back to prison for you."
"Maybe we should ship him off to Alcatraz," Jackie said.
"That place's been closed since the 60's," Raychel said.
"You got a better place to put 'im?"
"Not really," the EMT shrugged.
What none of them knew was that Morocco had put a letter in the mailbox.
Xxx
Morocco was now in a high-tech cell.
"Well, he's not getting out of that so easily, that's for sure," Barney said.
"Constable, might I have a book?" Morocco asked. "A sketch pad? Something to help pass the time?"
"You have to earn those privileges. Barney, nothing goes in or out of that room without my okay, understand?" Chief asked.
Barney was about to answer when Chief's cell phone interrupted them.
Chief answered it as Doc Greene, Cody, and K-9 walked up behind him. "This is the chief. Downtown? Huh. What kind of monkey?"
K-9 cocked his head and said: "What?"
"Huh, sounded like the dog just talked," Barney said.
Xxx
"Get the fuck over here, you damn dirty monkey!" Jackie yelled as she and Lindsy chased the primate.
"Jackie, calm down!" Lindsy shouted as she chased the teen going dragon from stress. "You'll scare him!" Lindsy pressed her comm. "Emerald, you on your way with our stuff?"
"One tranq gun and agsaber enroute and loaded," Emerald said.
"And you said bringing our stuff to the pool with us was a stupid idea!" Jackie said to Lindsy.
"Well, I didn't know we'd be chasing after a rouge monkey!" Lindsy retorted. "And don't get bitten by him! He could have rabies or HIV!"
"He's got a collar on!"
"Ugh!"
The monkey saw a dump truck with a load of bananas and went, well, bananas and chased after it.
"Monkey, come back! Don't run in the street!" Jackie ran with her arms outstretched.
"JACKIE! You're doing the EXACT SAME THING!" Lindsy said as she almost revealed her Pretender form.
The monkey got in the bed of the truck and began eating bananas.
"There better not be a Brazilian Wandering Spider in here!" Jackie said as she climbed into the truck bed as well.
"Edgar! You have a couple hitchhikers!" Lindsy shouted to the driver.
The vehicle slowed and pulled over when Jackie and the monkey got out.
Blades, Dani, Boulder, and Graham joined animal control in getting the monkey.
The monkey immediately took an interest in Boulder, climbed up to his shoulder, and began chittering.
"Nice to meet you, tiny primate," Boulder said.
"Boulder, let me up?" Jackie asked.
"Sure thing."
About 30% dragon, Jackie crawled up his arm and put a lease on the monkey's collar.
The rest of the team joined them as Jackie hopped down and the bots let their occupants out.
Graham took the monkey from Jackie. "I'm guessing he belongs to somebody, given the collar. His name is—"
"Tesla!" Amy ran over to them and took back her monkey.
"Amy, you might want to keep a closer eye on your friend, there," Chief said. "Griffin Rock can be…" he and Dani shared a worried glance. "… dangerous."
"Thank you so much for catching him," Amy said as Tesla played with Graham's tie. "I can see he likes you."
"Oh, well, I just hope you lose him again," Graham said.
"D-uh, he means he'd like to see both of you again!" Lindsy corrected.
"Like at the zoo!" Jackie said.
"Oh, and I kinda need to take a look at your paperwork for Tesla. For health and safety reasons," Lindsy led Amy and Tesla across the street.
"The zoo?" Graham asked Jackie.
"Hey, you're not the only one who sucks at human interaction," Jackie put her hands on her hips.
Graham groaned and began to walk away.
Boulder drove up to him and transformed.
"Uh, sorry about that, guys," Graham said.
"Your communication center seems to have malfunctioned," Boulder said. "Need a stasis recharge?"
Graham sighed. "No, Boulder. I'm just not very good at talking to girls."
"Ha! Nice meltdown back there. But," Kade cleared his throat. "Never fear, big bro is here. It's all about confidence, and I'm gonna give you a lesson."
"Oh, crap," Jackie muttered.
Xxx
Back at the firehouse, Cody, Boulder, Chroma, Jackie, and Lindsy were watching Kade teach Graham how to talk to girls.
Kade walked around Graham.
"Straighten up!" Kade barked. Both Graham and Jackie did so. "Walk tall, like you own the joint. Give 'em the old cool salute, like this." Kade did finger guns with a wink and a smile.
Graham managed to get the finger guns right, but the wink and smile cringingly wrong.
"I wanna do one!" Jackie said as she jumped up and down.
"Eh, go ahead," Kade said.
Jackie pretended to cock a shotgun and made the noise with her mouth.
Kade scoffed and rolled his Graham. "What you did? Are you kidding me?"
"Graham's already cool," Cody said. "His waterslide is BEYOND noble!"
"I agree. And he's a fine partner," Boulder said.
"Girls don't want partners," Kades said. "They want guys like ME." He pointed his thumb at himself.
"Uh, as a girl, I can tell you the first thing I was looking for in a mate was a partnership," Chroma said.
"Same thing when Graham and I were dating," Lindsy said.
"That's different. You're coworkers," Kade said. "Okay, Graham, it's time to break out my secret weapon."
"Oh, geez," Jackie rolled her eyes.
Kade pulled out a red bottle of cologne with a panther logo on it and sprayed it on Graham, who started coughing like crazy.
"Hey! You'll give him a damn asthma attack!" Lindsy waved the contaminated air away from Graham.
"Maybe you should keep it a secret!" Boulder said as he coughed. "The stench is fogging my optics."
Jackie had a sneeze attack.
"Oh, I wish I had a mask in addition to my visor!" Chroma covered her mouth.
"It's cologne, wise guy—it's my signature scent, 'Mansmell'," Kade said.
"Why don't you just use deodorant?" Jackie asked between sneezes.
"You don't wear deodorant," Lindsy said.
"That's because you bought me those stupid gels!"
"Kade, this really isn't me," Graham said.
"Ha! Well, being you is kinda the problem, isn't it," Kade put his hand on Graham's shoulder. "Now, hold still. Let's get rid of these—" Kade removed Graham's glasses and tossed them, but Lindsy caught them "—and now I'm gonna do some of this—" he removed Grahams pencils and Lindsy grabbed them "—and now the hair." Kade began messing with Graham's hair. "Uh-huh. Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. Now we're talking!"
"Oh, no. we're not talking," Lindsy said.
"What? What do I look like?" Graham asked.
"Like Kade," Jackie said as she handed Graham a pocket mirror.
"Seriously?" Graham asked after he saw his image.
"You're welcome," Kade said. "And now for a field test."
"Graham, you have contact lenses, right?" Lindsy asked.
"No," Graham shook his head.
"Let him wear his glasses, Kade," Lindsy said as she handed Graham his glasses back.
"Graham, how about you wear a different belt? I have extra in my saddle bag," Jackie said.
"And wear a t-shirt or something more casual," Chroma said. "What do you guys know about wooing girls?" Kade asked.
"More than you, Jon Snow," Lindsy said.
"Maybe you could try some of our wardrobe ideas?" Chroma asked/
"Fine," Kade rolled his eyes. "To the café."
Cody's comm began beepeing.
"Griffin Rock emergency," he said.
"Cody, it's Deputy Barney. I was hoping to talk to the chief. It's about Dr. Morocco."
"Oh, what's he done now?"
"Don't worry, he's in his cell, playing with his new ant farm!"
"Oh, thank Primus," Chroma quietly said.
Jackie nodded.
Xxx
"Barney, didn't I say nothing was to go in or out of that cell?" Chief asked as K-9 growled at the strange insects.
"Aw, shucks, Chief, I just couldn't see the harm," Barney said. "They're only little ants! They keep him busy. Plus, the fan airs the place out."
Dr. Morocco was talking to his oddly named ants.
"Chief, I'll do some research on the ants to see if they pose a threat," Lindsy said.
"Well, he does look… occupied. I guess I could let it slide," Chief said. "But, Barney, you need to be stricter."
"Oh, uh, we did—"
"Put the order on hold, unless it's feed," Lindsy said. "The LAST thing we want is an invasive species on our hands.
Xxx
Jackie, Kade, Cody, Heatwave, Blades, Boulder, and Chase were near the mouth of an ally, spying on Graham.
"Operation: Mating Game is a GO!" Jackie whispered into the walkie-talkie.
"Are you going to do a play-by-play?" Chroma asked.
"I think so."
"Kade, can we go home now?" Graham asked.
"No! Lindsy says she usually comes here every day around this time," Kade said.
"Just enjoy your drink," Jackie said. "I got the money for it from Kade's wallet."
"Hey, we have been over this!"
"Monkey girl incoming!"
The humans herded the bots further into the ally.
"Eye contact made. Male aroused?" Jackie questioned.
"Surprised," Kade corrected.
"Conversation engaged. Getting awkward. Cringing noticed. Awkward goodbye. I think that's a fail."
"Oh Primus, did he freeze?" Chroma asked as Graham walked back to the others as they groaned.
"He did," Chase confirmed.
"I'm guessing you don't think that went well," Graham asked.
"Next time, try texting," Jackie said.
Kade angrily stole his brother's coffee and stormed off.
"I believe I have flowers and—where are the chocolates?" Chase asked as he searched his subspace.
"Oh…" Jackie realized her mistake she made on the drive to the location. "I got the munchies."
"At least I still have the flowers."
Chase handed them to Graham.
"Maybe you need practice talking to girls," Blades said.
"Do the shopping places!" Jackie said.
"I like you just the way you are," Boulder said.
"Thanks. But, the way I am, just isn't confidant enough to talk to Amy," Graham said.
"Being Kade won't help either. You need to play to your strengths. You're good at science, let that do the talking for you," Heatwave said.
"Or weird pets, like the monkey," Jackie said.
Xxx
The bots were refueling in the morning when K-9 slid down the fire pole.
"Guys! You are NOT going to believe this! Graham made a MUSK to get a GIRL!" K-9 said.
"What?" Heatwave asked.
"Really? That's amazing!" Boulder said.
First Aid Burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Blades asked.
"Primus, this better not end up like that one episode of Rick and Morty!" Chroma facepalmed.
"Do I want to know what the reference is?" Chase asked.
The emergency alarm went off.
"I'll show you when we get back," First Aid said as he ran to the lift.
"No, I'll tell him when we get back," Chroma said.
Xxx
The team quickly put the fire out and got Mr. Pfifer safely out with First Aid's EMPs.
The twins started to give him medical treatment.
Once the building had cooled, the team began to investigate.
"Judging from these scorch marks, the fire started in here," Chief said as they entered the kitchen.
"What's this?" Dani pointed to odd damaging. "it looks like something chewed a hole in the oven."
"I'll call Lindsy to investigate," Chief then whispered. "I want to make sure it's not one of those 'scraplet' things the bots are afraid of."
K-9 cocked his head at Huxley interviewing Graham, rather than Kade. Does that musk have bacon in it?
The interview took a few minutes before the reporter left.
"Son of a glitch!" First Aid exclaimed as he held his foot.
"Language!" Chase scolded.
"Did you step on something?" Blades asked.
"Felt like a needle," First Aid said as he knelt down and rubbed his aching foot.
"It's just a—weird looking ant," Raychel discovered an insect on her bot's foot and used a piece of paper to put it in a medical sample bottle.
"Uh, Graham, I think you're turning into ant-Man," T.J. pointed to the engineer's pants as ants started to climb up them.
"Must be from the musk," K-9 said as Graham brushed them from his leg.
"Listen up, team, the Morbot is attacking the prison. Deputy Barney barely got away," Chief got off his phone.
The team was shocked.
"Wasn't that thing totaled by you guys?" First Aid asked the founding team.
"Rescue bots, roll to the rescue!"
xxx
The team arrived at the jail house just as Morocco was about to enter his robot.
"Hold it right there, Dr. Morocco!" Chief ordered.
"I'd love to chat, but I must fly!" Morocco got behind the wheel, buckled up, and pressed a button, causing his mech to fly.
T1 Jackie flew in and used her agsaber to slash the feet engines.
"You're not the only flyer!" she said.
"This is your queen, my army. Attack!" Morocco said into a strange looking megaphone.
"What's that supposed to—"
"Ants?!" First Aid cut off Heatwave when they were swarmed by ants.
"Shit! Maguntas! First Aid, shield the bots!" Jackie tried bug killing the swarm with bug spray she brought with her. "These fuckers have the world's most powerful bite! And these one's are probably genetically modified! It's bring a new meaning to their nickname 'metal munchers'!"
"Exactly! Why don't you look them up? Toodles!" Morocco activated the backup engines and flew off.
"Blades, copter-m—"
"AH! Dani, they're on me!" Blades jumped up and down.
"Hold still, "Jackie started bug spraying Blades' legs.
"Jackie, can you call off the ants?" Chief asked.
"Not really. I can kinda talk to queen insects, but theirs isn't gonna negotiate. And look what they did to the jailhouse! They're gonna eat all the islands metal! We're gonna need fire!" Jackie's eyes went dragon.
"She's right, Dad! They're swarming downtown!" Cody said.
Xxx
Blades was now in the air after Morocco as the rest of the team handled the swarm.
"Heatwave, keep a close eye on Jackie!" Chief ordered. "Everyone else, try using fire extinguishers on the ants!"
"The whole island doomed," Kade muttered.
Chase knelt down to some ants swarming a parking meter. "Attention, ants—"
They won't listen, Chase. Not even JACKIE can reason with them!" Chroma said.
"they see like reasonable—" TUNK! "Oof! I see your point," Chase rubbed his head from where the parking meter hit him.
"I just got off the phone with Doc Greene. He says that wonky looking megaphone's projecting some kind of electronic pheromones," Lindsy said.
"So, let's find a smell to make them stop!" Jackie said.
"Anything's better that YOUR DRAGON FIRE!" Heatwave put out a flaming tree.
"Well, it was sorta working…" Jackie sheepishly kicked her feet.
"Can I squish mine?" First Aid held up the EM bubble filled with ants.
"Eh, go for it."
"Graham, what if we use your cologne? I saw it attracting ants," K-9 said.
"The ant-torage is a big clue, too," T.J. stomped on some ants near Graham.
"Dani, what's your position?" Chief asked.
"We lost Morocco in a cloud bank," Dani said.
"Don't worry. We just found a way to stop the ants."
Xxx
The team arrived at the pool.
"Amy, we just learned that their might be some structural damage to the pool slide. Can you lead everyone to safety?" Graham asked.
"Sure thing, Graham!" Amy got everyone out of the pool.
The ants started to eat the base of the slide.
"Move, kid!" Jackie grabbed a girl at the top of the slide and roughly landed her on the roof of the pool showers.
"Ow! You're a bitch!" the kid said.
"Didn't I save your ass before?"
Heatwave got two other kids off the slide just as it became unstable and they ran to safety.
First Aid used his Ems to stabilize the slide while two additional kids ran down the steps to safety.
"On my count: one, two, three!" Heatwave ordered and First Aid threw the slide into the pool.
"Kill the ants!" K-9 said once the coast was clear and transformed into his bipedal form to shoot the bugs.
"A little 'Confidant Me' for all of you," Dani said as Blades lowered the bottle down to Graham.
Graham opened it and the bugs honed in on it.
"Fly low and slow to Doc's lab, Dani. He has a way to contain them. We'll meet you there," Chief said.
Xxx
The ants entered the ant farm Doc was holding open before closing it as soon as they were all in.
"Kudos, Graham! Your cologne worked like a charm!" Doc said.
"Congratulations, everyone. We saved Griffin Rock from, well, it's tiniest threat, yet," Chief said.
Xxx
Graham was working on redesigning the pool slide in his study area while the bots who were in the field were now in healing stasis.
Chroma and K-9 were going over the events of the emergency to give to Chief to help with paper work.
"How come you weren't affected by the ant?" Chroma asked K-9
"Might be the fact that I'm techno-organic. We tend to be immune to illnesses and parasites that affect techno or organic individuals. Say, what happened to Morocco?" K-9 asked.
"I'm not sure where he crashed, but I put out a BOLO for the mainland, just in case he shows up there."
"Wait, wait, wait! You think he CRASHED?! Why?"
"I was looking at the security footage and saw that part of the ant swarm was on his bot."
"Oh, geez, I hope he landed somewhere safe."