Don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but I don't own the Loonatics.

Chapter 12: Some Things Never Change

"...and then, when I was jogging at the park after you guys heard me singing, I saw him again," Lexi went on, while Ace tried to wrap his head around all she was telling him. He knew bits and pieces from what Tech had told him earlier, but now that he had the whole story, everything was clearer. Pierce was a genius, a charmer, and (if you asked Ace), a total jerk. Who could just leave Lexi like that, without a word or even a warning?

He focused on what she was saying now, "I didn't recognize him at first, but he seemed very familiar. I didn't put the pieces of the puzzle together until...until Zodavia sent us that video. I had no idea that all this time...he was plotting against us." A single tear escaped her eyes, and she blinked furiously, trying to hold the rest of them back.

He couldn't help himself; he leaned over and brushed her tear away, which just caused more to flow. Instinct took over as he rose from his chair and walked over to her, sitting beside her on the couch. He put an arm around her shoulders as she turned into his chest and cried.

"I - I put the t-team in da-nger," she sobbed hysterically, as Ace tried to comfort her, "You a-all could've b-been killed! J-just like the l-last time!" Her shoulders shook violently. He wrapped his arm tighter around her and stroked her hair until she calmed down. He was troubled; he had never seen her break down like this before. Also, what was the "last time" she was talking about?

"Hey Lex," he murmured as her crying died down to hiccups. "We're in danger in every mission we go on. That one wasn't any different," he attempted to convince her, but she shook her head, raising it from its resting position on his torso.

"You don't understand," she said imploringly, but didn't continue. He fought the urge to roll his eyes, and went on. "I don't know what this 'last time' you were saying was about, but - "

"YOU DON'T GET IT!" she shrieked, luckily not loud enough to wake the others. "I was hoping that you guys wouldn't come save me!"

He was bewildered and more than a little hurt. "Why?"

"Because the last time I tried doing something to save the person I cared about most, she ended up dead!" she spat acidly. Her vibrant green eyes, now swimming with tears, locked with his. "The last time, Marcy died."

It was becoming too much for Lexi to bear. She hadn't planned on bursting into tears while being held in Ace's arms, or dredging up one of the worst memories she could remember.

Marcy. The only gal pal Lexi had ever had. She was so intelligent, and a great friend at that. If only Lexi could've summoned up the energy to brain-blast that guy one more time... She managed to tell Ace the story.

"Marcy! Marcy!" an eighteen-year-old Lexi screamed, "Look what I can do!" She demonstrated her new talent of firing pink laser beams for her friend, blasting a hole in a dilapidated building.

"Hmm," Marcy said, nodding, "It must've happened when the meteor hit! I wonder if there were any others...?" Lexi shrugged, indicating that she didn't know. Marcy and she kept walking along the dark street to Marcy's house.

"Lexi, what are you slowing down for?" Marcy asked, noticing that her friend had started lagging behind a little bit. "Whatever these things are," she said, pointing to her head, "they really zap away all my energy." Marcy laughed, and they shuffled down the road. They were almost to their destination when a voice came from out of nowhere:

"Hey, Marcy. Haven't seen you in a while, eh?" a tenor came, seemingly just out of the blue. Marcy whirled around while Lexi looked everywhere in confusion. "Yeah, Marce," sounded another one, this one in a very deep timbre. He chuckled, and they came out of their hiding places behind some trees.

"Luke, Hugo, I'll have what you need by Wednesday, I promise," Marcy said, sounding a bit panicked. She pulled Lexi along with her a few steps, but stopped when she saw the gleam of a blade. Her eyes widened, and the men laughed.

"Dang, and we really liked you, Marcy Williams," the higher-pitched one said, "but even a sweet gal like you can't mess with the mafia and get away with it." He jumped for Marcy, but Lexi blasted him into a building with much force, knocking the guy out.

The other one leaped, and Lexi swiveled to defend Marcy against him, too. She could only emit a weak beam this time; she was almost dead on her feet. It only delayed him a small bit, and he gave Lexi an uppercut to the jaw that sent her stumbling backwards.

In the fading light of consciousness, she could hear Marcy scream in fear, the last sound her friend would ever make...