"So what's the big deal? It's just a pretty-looking Cy-Bug."

Vanellope swung her legs over the edge of the tram heading to Hero's Duty, tuning out of the long, fancy explanation that was streaming unhalted from Jean Cassienka's mouth. Nine-year-old girls were never really that interested in that stuff. It would be a relief when she finally got to see the actual thing and not have to put up with the insufferably boring scientific lectures.

"Afternoon, Short-Stack."

At the sound of his girlfriend's voice topped off with the cheeky nickname that he'd gained from her, Felix instantly felt the 'honey glows' racing up to his cheeks. Hopping off the tram with Jean, Ralph and Vanellope, the handyman wasted no time in hopping up to Sergeant Calhoun and planting a loving kiss on her cheek.

"How's my dynamite gal today?" he asked affectionately.

"Just fine, Fix-It," Tamora replied. "I was just-."

"Can we get this over with?" Vanellope interrupted. "Let's just see this fancy Cy-Bug and leave."

"The kid's right, guys," Ralph said. "Cy-Bugs are freaky enough, and now you're making new ones? Isn't that a little bit too..?"

"Too what?" Jean butted in, a slightly peeved expression on her face. "You can't seriously think that there's a downside to having a tame Cy-Bug around can you? One that actually understands you and would also fight to keep you safe."

Ralph shrugged indifferently, the concept not all that wonderful to him. "Probably just my own personal opinion." He looked at Calhoun with an expression that was begging her to get the quirky scientist to just get the show and tell session over with.

"Jean, just go get your purple… or pink, whatever colour it is… pet out of its little enclosure already," Calhoun barked. The scientist did as she was told and hurried off with her guests in tow.

"We've deduced that the Oddity is female, so I'd appreciate it if you referred to her as a 'she,'" Jean explained.

"What sort of a name is 'Oddity'?" Vanellope scoffed.

"Oh, right, because Vanellope von Schweetz and Francis Fluggerbutter and Taffyta Muttonfudge are perfectly normal names, aren't they?" Jean drawled sarcastically.

"His name is 'Rancis,' not 'Francis,' and at least my name sounds like a proper one!" Vanellope retorted, a pout forming on her bottom lip. It took all of Jean's willpower not to say 'someone has a crush!' in a sappy sing-song voice to annoy the kid further. She just shrugged to end the little dispute before it got out of hand.

Once in the shiny green lab, Felix, Calhoun, Ralph and Vanellope all waited by one of the dark metal desks whilst Jean ran off to get The Oddity. She came back carrying a dark purple centipede creature with six legs and neon pink markings. It was about the size of a cat.

"Whoa, wait a minute!" Ralph yelled upon seeing the creature. "I thought you said that-."

"It could fit into my hand, yeah," Jean said calmly, placing the Oddity on the desk in front of the four guests for them to see 'her' properly. "But she's grown throughout the week. And fast at that."

Vanellope would have made a smart comment at this had she not been transfixed by the pair of yellow-gold eyes that gazed into her chocolate brown ones. The nine-year-old tilted her head slightly and the dark purple Cy-Bug gave a small chirp and clicked its pink-tipped mandibles together. Both were overwhelmed with a strange, childish curiosity.

"She's freaky-lookin'," Vanellope muttered, but her voice didn't portray any cruelty or mocking in it. "I like her!"

The words seemed to register in the Oddity's mind as positive, so she purred and promptly rolled onto her back. Jean noticed and laughed joyfully.

"She wants you to tickle her belly," she explained, holding back a fresh fit of giggles. "Go on, I've done it myself and she doesn't bite."

Vanellope looked unsure at this and Ralph's face held and expression that announced he wasn't too happy with the idea. He almost butted in and stopped the munchkin when she reached her hand out to the Cy-Bug's dark purple, segmented belly, but stopped himself when he saw how cheerful both of them were. The Oddity chirped and let out a squeaking sound that resembled laughter and Vanellope chuckled softly at the experiment's response.

"She's kinda cute," she said. "But I don't think Oddity suits her. I… I'm gonna call her Oda."

"Oda?" Felix asked quizzically.

"Short for Oddity, uh-doi!"

"Oda, huh?" Jean said. "I like it."

As if in agreement, 'Oda' chirped happily.

A.N. A shorty this time, and Oda gets an actual name ^_^ I hope you enjoyed it, and be sure to post a review, I'd adore the feedback.