A/N: Shout-out to all my peeps! Sorry about the long wait...heh, school stuff. I never have time to sit down and write a chapter anymore. (sigh) But now that it is Spring Break, hopefully I can update a lot quicker. Anyway, I didn't tell Larissa I was updating so shhh...I don't want her to know. She'll...get all kung fu on me. (shudder) But anyways, here is the next chapter! Caraqueen herself came up with this idea, and I added in my own little details and stuff. You will see a side of Dana that's never been seen before....(dramatic music) Ahh! Why does that keep playing??!!
Chapter Nine: Training and Tension
In order to keep everyone's guards up and to put them to the test, the Monkey Team started back up the training sessions again. Even Jinmay participated. Chiro thought he wouldn't remember how to work it, but when he started it up, memories came flooding back. He remembered back when he had first joined the Monkey Team, and the team was getting used to the of having a thirteen-year-old human boy as their leader, and Chiro was getting used to being the leader of a team of monkeys. Looking back, Chiro saw every bad thing that had happened only drew him closer to his teammates. He smiled softly as he raised the lever to Level 6.
Immediately everything started back up as if it had just been used yesterday. The weapons automatically came out of the walls and everyone sprang into action. It was more difficult than Larissa and Dana had assumed; not only did you have to dodge the weapons coming at you, but you also had to destroy them. Larissa gracefully avoided the weapons and disintegrated them with her flames. She remembered what Antauri had taught her, about seeing without looking. Larissa closed her eyes and anyone who was watching her gawked as she backflipped and flew in the air and avoided every single thing coming her way, occasionally destroying them with a flame or two. All with her eyes completely closed.
Antauri smiled as he watched Larissa out of the corner of his eye. She was learning, gradually.
Dana was doing her best to duck and dodge the various weapons coming out of the walls and at her. I'm getting the hang of this, Dana thought truimphantly as she shot her pink lasers at one of the huge saws, destroying it. She noticed a weapon coming at Gibson from behind, and he was oblivious to it. "Gibson, duck!" Dana called. On impulse, Gibson hit the ground, and Dana shot at the weapon with her laser. The blue simian smiled at Dana gratefully as he stood and brushed himself off. "Thank you, Dana. Excellent aiming."
Dana blushed in pleasure and kept fighting, adding a few extra cool moves for Gibson's sake, whom she noticed was watching her every move. Nova was striking poses as she dodged the incoming weapons flying at her, knocking them down with her giant fists. Sparx was pretending to be cool and casual as he dodged the weapons and shot them.
"This is child's play," Sparx grinned. "Boost it up a level or two."
Gibson frowned. "Sparx," he warned. "Don't bite more than you can chew." He shot a giant fist that was coming up behind the obnoxious red monkey.
Jinmay shot rockets from her fingers at a giant magnet and winked at Chiro. "I think he's showing off for our guests."
Chiro looked at Sparx and grinned, rolling his eyes. "Nah, that's just Sparx." He jumped to dodge a magnet that was heading toward him and Jinmay.
Otto beamed as he destroyed a giant saw coming out of the wall. "I added the saws to this!" he exclaimed, remembering when he had first built them. Sparx laughed. "You add saws to everything, Otto!"
Later, when everyone had gotten used to Level 6, Gibson scurried over to boost it up a level. But when he raised the lever, because it hadn't been used in such a long time, it automatically went all the way up to the highest level! Gibson's mouth dropped open as it raised up on its own. Weapons came flying out of the wall like a blur and knocked everyone to the ground. They came so quick and hurt so badly nobody knew what to do. Nova was slammed into Dana and they skidded across the floor. Jinmay was slammed up against the wall. Sparx soon joined her. Meanwhile, Larissa, Otto, and Antauri were knocked to the ground and helplessly did nothing as the thousands of weapons blasting out of the walls continued to pound on them.
"Gibson!!" Everyone yelled. A sweatdrop rolled down Gibson's forehead as he struggled to pull the level back down. "It's never malfunctioned like this before..." He muttered and tugged harder. Just then a piercing scream from Dana caused his head to snap up. A giant fist was picking her up and nearly squeezing her so that she couldn't breathe. Dana struggled to get out of its grip, but it was in vain. Her eyes were wide with fear and she looked at Gibson desperately. Dana let out another pain-filled scream as the huge hand hurled her against the wall.
Angry steam was coming out of Gibson's ears. When he saw the mint green monkey hit the wall, that was enough for him. Gibson found inner strength that he hadn't known was there, and he determinedly pulled down the lever until it was off. Everyone sighed with relief as the weapons suddenly stopped and slid back inside the walls. Everyone was rubbing their heads and trying to stand up when Gibson ran over to Dana's side. "Are you alright, Dana?" he asked, genuinely concerned as he helped her up.
Dana nodded, grimacing as she swayed uneasily on her feet. Sparx narrowed his eyes at Gibson as he painfully straightened his tail. "Gibson," he groaned, "Why is it when you're around, something bad always happens?" Sparx moved his fingers around to make sure if they moved properly. When he was sure they did, he added with an edge to his voice, "Honestly, Gibson, you're really smart sometimes, but other times you are so stupid!"
Dana's pink eyes ignited with a furious flame. She stepped forward beside the solemn-faced Gibson and glowered at Sparx. "Excuse me, but I think Gibson's the one who just saved your sorry butt!" Dana snapped.
Everyone's eyes widened, including Antauri's. They would've never expected such an angry insult from the soft-hearted Dana. Larissa's mouth dropped open and her eyes filled with dumbfoundment. Jinmay worriedly exchanged glances with Chiro. Nova frowned and Otto was watching in shocked amazement. Antauri had his arms crossed and he appeared as he were concentrating on something. Meanwhile, Sparx at first looked shocked, then regained his composure and glared back at Dana, though it wasn't near as fierce as hers.
"Excuuuse me, but I wasn't talking to you!" Sparx retorted and turned on his heel to walk away. Dana's eyes narrowed dangerously and she stepped forward, tightly seizing Sparx's shoulder, spinning him back around to face her. Sparx looked confused and frustrated. Dana let go of him and planted her hands on her hips angrily. "Oh yeah? Well, I am talking to you!" she shouted. "Don't you dare walk away from me when I am speaking to you, Sparky!"
That was the last straw. Sparx clenched his fists. "Don't tell me what to do!" he yelled. "AND DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
Dana smirked. "Sparky, Sparky, Sparky, Sparky," she teased in a sing-song voice.
Nova stepped forward, her giant fists out and an angry look on her face. "You call him that one more time and I'll make you wish you were never created!" she shouted.
Dana calmly looked at the yellow monkey with a smug expression. "Defending your boyfriend, Nova?"
Nova's face turned bright red with anger. She lunged toward Dana with an angry scream. Dana's pink eyes widened as Nova knocked her to the floor and pinned her there. "Not so tough now, are ya, Dana?" Nova hissed, tightening her grip. Dana glared at her and sunk her teeth into Nova's metal arm. Nova let out a cry of pain and delivered a painful punch. Soon they were rolling on the floor, fighting and kicking and biting. Sparx and Gibson were standing there, watching in dumbfoundment. Nobody else knew what to make of it, either. They stood there with wide eyes and open-mouthed expressions.
Finally Larissa took action and hurried over, literally prying them apart. Antauri went over to help her. He held Nova back, while Larissa did the same with Dana. Dana was panting, struggling to get out of her friend's grasp. Nova was lunging toward Dana, teeth beared and ready to attack. Antauri frowned sternly. "Nova! Dana!" he raised his voice authoratively. They finally quieted down, but shot daggers at each other.
Larissa sighed and led Dana to their guest room, leaving the others behind. When they were in the solitude of their bedroom, Larissa exploded. "Dana, what in Shuggazoom gave you the nerve to do that?!" she demanded, staring angrily at a sullen Dana. "They come and take us in and trust us, and by your attitude just now, they surely know we're hiding something!" Larissa groaned and raised a hand to her forehead, remembering what Antauri had taught her about being patient and calm in all circumstances.
Larissa took a deep breath and spoke in a softer tone. "Honestly, Dana, did you think that was the way to handle that situation? I'm certain there was a better way." Dana looked up to guiltily meet her gaze and Larissa sighed. "Dana, I'm disappointed in your behavior. It is good to defend your friends, but...that wasn't the way. That got really out of hand." Larissa, suddenly feeling very weary, headed toward the door. "Sit in here, Dana, and cool off. Never, and I mean never, do anything like that again, unless for evil purposes." Larissa turned in the doorway to look at her gloomy-faced friend, and her heart went out to Dana.
She knew it wasn't easy for Dana, being on this mission and all. Dana had such a sweet, caring personality. Why did she have to be raised up for evil? It didn't seem fair. Dana had never lost her temper before, and Larissa felt bad for reprimanding her. Dana was a good, trustworthy friend. She didn't deserve this fate, meeting friends and enjoying life for a short time only to go back to Mandarin and help him destroy the Hyperforce. Larissa sighed, knowing that the burdens in Dana's heart were heavy. Just then Dana looked up at her, no doubt wondering why Larissa was standing there and staring at her. Larissa smiled softly. "Take it easy, okay, Dana?"
Dana, understanding her meaning, nodded with a tiny smile. As Larissa turned and walked away, the door shutting behind her, Dana buried her head in her hands.
Larissa approached the Hyperforce, the atmosphere tense. Everyone looked anxious, except for Sparx and Nova, who looked angry, and Antauri, who looked disturbed yet somewhat calm. Larissa took a deep breath and looked at them. "I'm really sorry about what happened. I don't really remember, but I don't think Dana's ever acted like that before. I hope you'll accept our apologies. It was wrong of Dana to act like that when you took us in, and we're sorry." Larissa sighed, gazing at the ground, lowering her voice to a whisper. "I don't know what got into her."
Meanwhile, back in the guest room, Dana's communicator beeped. Dana sat straight up, wiping away her tears. She made sure her voice was unwavering before she picked up the communicator. "Greetings, master."
"Slaves, I have another assignment for you." Mandarin's tone was cold, and Dana cringed, yet she spoke calmly.
"Yes, Lord Mandarin?"
There was an obvious hesitation in Mandarin's answer. "...Where's the other one?"
Dana cringed again at Mandarin's choice of words. "She is distracting the team, my lord." Suddenly feeling a burst of boldness, Dana spouted off, "And her name is Larissa, not 'the other one'."
"Shut up, worthless slave. You will not speak to your creator in such a manner!" Mandarin barked. Dana remained silent, her heart pounding. If it was one thing she knew, she knew to wait until Mandarin had cooled down to speak again. After a couple of minutes, Mandarin spoke again.
"Now, here is your next task. You have done well so far, I presume, gathering information and whatnot." Mandarin suddenly paused, as if to say, Did you? "In three days, you two will return to me, but bring the Monkey Team with you. Then together, we shall destroy the wretched Hyperforce for good!" Evil laughter erupted from the communicator.
Dana made no effort to join him. Her throat felt like cotton and she gripped the communicator much too tightly. No, no, no, no! This can't be! Finally the manical laughter ceased and the communicator clicked off. Long after Mandarin had hung up, Dana still grasped the communicator in her hand, absorbing the painful blow. She couldn't possibly carry out the next task! She just couldn't. Dana would rather die than put Gibson and the rest of the team in danger. She had made friends with all of them. She couldn't backstab them like this! This had gone way too far.
Dana swallowed hard, conscious of the sudden lump in her throat. The communicator clattered to the floor as Dana gave in to more tears.
When will we do what's right?
A/N: Aw, poor Dana! I feel so bad for her and Larissa right now. :( I'd hate to be in their position. I'm so sorry I haven't been able to update, the time gets away from me anymore. But I will probably be able to post up another chapter or so during Spring Break. Yayyy!!! Anyways--(suddenly a brick comes flying at my head) Owwwwww!!!
Larissa: (angrily floating in the air) Why didn't you tell me you were updating?
I--I--(another brick flies at me) QUIT THAT! AND HOW IS IT DOING THAT ON ITS OWN?!
Larissa: I can control it with my mind, remember?
Oh yeah...gee thanks, now you probably gave me a concussion! Everyone will ask me how I got one sitting at the computer!
Larissa: That's your own fault. (another brick flies at me, knocking me unconscious) Anyway, I'm sure if Beth were conscious, she'd say she'll try to get the next chapter up, she loves all you reviewers, blah blah blah. Etc. etc. etc. Oh, and she'd say to review! XD But don't worry about Beth, she'll wake up...eventually..