Alright! So this is getting to the extreme! So hold onto your panties!
Victor had his hands up in the air. "Let's try to be reasonable about this, okay?"
"The Staff of One doesn't lie. It says Vic's been spying for Wilder." Nico announced as she poked his back with her staff.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Gert shouted as she followed Nico.
"No," Trini walked forward next to Chase.
"Whoa, let's think about this. Mancha's no Alex. He's a solid dude. Maybe there's some kinda wacky explination for how-." Chase started.
"What you're sticking up for him now?" Jake spat.
"You've been another freakin mole the whole time?" Gert picked up the large wrench and stomped towards him; pulling it back.
"No! It isn't like that, Gert! You have to believe me!" Victor pulled his hands up higher.
"I don't believe in shit anymore!" Gert snapped as she swung and smashed the wrench against Victor's chest.
"Gert, wait! Let him tell his side!" Trini shouted. Jake grabbed her arm and pulled it back.
"Stop defending the trader!" Jake demanded.
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"Everybody, stop acting nuts! That's an order!" Nico exclaimed.
"I'm the sanest person on this team!" Victor cried as he shot Gert in the stomach. "Why am I the only one who gets that!"
Suddenly, a burst of color flowed into view and smacked Victor to the ground.
"Man, I am so tired of fighting." Karolina then flew into view. "Why can't we all just get along?" She flew downward. "I can't leave you alone for a second, can I?"
"Karolina?" Trini asked hopefully.
"No, it's another imposter!" Nico turned her staff towards Karolina. "If you're the real Karolina, tell me where-."
"In the Beverly Gardens, right before I left the planet." Karolina answered as she flew down to assist Gert. "You were going to ask where you and I almost kissed, right?"
"Geez, Nico, is there anyone on this team you haven't tried to molest?" Gert growled.
Nico ignored the comment and sighed reassuringly, "Oh, thank god." She ran up to Karolina and wrapped her arms around her. "I was sure you were dead. I thought I was all alone and…and I've been acting like such a complete jerk to everyone and I-."
"Shh. It's all right, Nico." Karolina assured.
"But are you alright?" Trini asked as she walked up to the girls. "What happened out there?"
"I was about to go through with my ceremony, when a Skrullos guest insulted one of the Majesdanian bridesmaids' dresses. Stupid, right? But next thing I know, the adults in bother parties were fighting, and…and the peace I left you guys to rebuild was completely shattered. It's so messed up. One second, everything was fine, and then-."
"Hey, sounds like the Wedding I'd want, but are you sure you didn't bring any crashers with you?" Trini looked up. "Because I'm sensing a crazy heartbeat."
"Your human senses are impressive." A voice called; then revealed itself. "Either that, or my invisibility skills still need work. I apologize for the Subterfuge, but I didn't wish to interfere with Karolina's reunion, so I-."
"Ah! It's the lizard! Jake, cut its head off!" Chase grabbed Jake's shoulder.
"Forgive me, I forgot that not all of you had an opportunity to see me in my true form when we first met." Xavin started. "It's Xavin. Karolina's betrothed, remember?" He then transformed into a she. "I regret that we were forced to leave the galaxy, but our elders had clearly lost, interest, in negotiation, yes, love?"
"So are they still…together?" Trini whispered to Nico.
"Everyone just when insane. We barely escaped Tarnax VII before Xavin's outpost world launched antimatter missiles at Majesdane. It…it was horrible." Karolina explained. "We crash-landed our escape pod a few miles from the Hostel. I…I don't know if anyone else from our system survived."
"Well…shit." Jake commented.
"Karolina, I'm so sorry." Nico grabbed something from her pocket and pulled out the bracelet. "I can't imagine what you been through. But I saved your bracelet this whole time, just in case you ever-."
"I'll be taking that, thank you." Xavin stretched her hand out and snatched the bracelet from Nico's palm. "Karolina doesn't need to suppress her abilities. She learned much about herself and her powers back home."
"What's happening here?" Karolina asked. "Why are you guys all at each other's throats?"
Trini jabbed her thumb in Victor's direction. "Nikki, here, thinks we've got another Alex on our hands."
"Oh crap, I totally forgot about Victor spying on us." Nico cursed.
"I haven't been spying on anyone, Nico." Victor answered from the Leapfrog. "Someone's been spying through me."
"Sounds hot." Jake sneered.
"When we fought the people who stole Molly, one of them took control of my body. I started to wonder, what if they could take signals from my brain?" Victor disconnected the wire from his forearm. "That's why I've been patching some of my cyborg components into the Leapfrog, so he can trace any cerebral spyware back to its source."
"Transmission Confirmed. Broadcast Destination: 1822 Whispering Hills Lane." The Leapfrog announced.
"Where's that?" Nico asked.
"My parents' old Summer Home." Trini answered as she narrowed her eyes.
"Well, let's kick some doors in." Chase nodded.
"Wait, someone took Molly?" Karolina perked.
"If the hatchling is in trouble, I'd like to help." Xavin added.
"No." Nico denied.
"But I'm not just a lowly Shape-Shifter, Nico. I am-was-a cadet in the Imperial Armada, studying to one day to be the next Super Skrull!" Xavin announced. "I may only be able to use one of my cosmic abilities at a time, but-."
"I just meant, we'll need someone to stay here and hold down the fort, Xavin…in case this is all just a ploy to lure us out of the Hostel." Nico explained.
"Who did this? What are we fighting?" Karolina looked around.
"The past." Trini answered as she stared at the angelic symbol carved into her arm.
Trini felt how awkward the Leapfrog had gotten since they all loaded into it. Nico and Gert, Trini and Victor….yeah, it was very uncomfortable.
Well, until Victor spoke up.
"So…"
"Sorry I hurt your feelings." Trini started as she turned to Vic.
"What?" Jake sneered.
"It's fine, Trini. I was the one who started it." Victor nodded.
"I'm sorry I smashed your arm open with a giant monkey wrench." Gert apologized.
"It's cool, Gert." Vic accepted. "I've never gotten to see my…insides before, so at least there's that?"
"I'm sorry I doubted your loyalty, Victor." Nico crossed her arms and glanced at him.
"Totally understood, Nico." Victor smiled.
"What the hell? If we're all apologizing here, why don't Gert and Nico just bury the damn hatchet?" Jake snapped.
"Tell Nico she can keep her hachet!" Gert spat.
"Tell Gert I'm holding onto it in case her dinosaur tries to eat me again!"
"Tell Nico my dinosaur doesn't like the taste of tarts!"
"Tell Gert she looks like she loves the taste of everything!"
"Tell Nico if she'd put some meat on her anorexic bones, maybe she wouldn't have to steal other girls' guys!"
"Heh." Nico smirked.
"Heh." Gert smiled.
"B.F.F?" Nico reached across and shook hands with Gert.
"W.T.F." Gert shrugged.
"What just-?"
"Shhh." Trini rubbed Victor's arm. "This was the way of the females making up."
"I don't even…" Jake shook his head.
"Put away the yearbooks, girls." Chase announced. "Recess is over."
As they unloaded from the 'Frogger; Victor took the lead. "I'm sure this will make me sound like an ignorant barrio kid, but aren't 'summer homes' supposed to be…summery?"
"Trini's parents were much into the bright and cheery, Vic." Gert answered as she walked off the 'Frogger. "Come on, let's toss the joint."
"No sign of their wheels." Chase noticed. "Maybe we missed them?"
"Or maybe they're still on their way back." Karolina suggested. "You should probably cloak the Leapfrog, Chase."
"Yeah, Latchkey Kid will handle the rest." Trini commented as she stepped towards the house with a key. But she couldn't get it in…
"What's wrong?" Nico asked.
"Just…I just don't like…Bad memories is all." Trini whispered.
"You can do this." Jake placed his hand on his shoulder reassuringly.
Trini smiled up and him, then nodded and proceeded to unlock the door.
"Molly? You in there?" Nico asked almost immediately. But there was no answer.
"Smells like old Doritos." Gert sniffed.
They all swarmed the house; searching for clues or signs of the Pride. Victor stumbled upon the table, were small guides were spread throughout the table. "Sweet! Check out all these classic Pencil-and-Paper guides." Victor sifted through the booklets. "I didn't know you used to be into role-playing games, Trini."
"That's 'cause I never was." Trini smirked. "Those probably belong to whoever the hell's been squatting here."
"Didn't Alex used to play that crap?" Gert turned around. "Maybe that's how these Zilches hooked up with his dad."
"Uh-oh." Chase called from the back. "Looks like some kinda weapons cabinet. But it's empty…which ain't good for us."
"Oh god, and my crazy demon parents probably had shit on everyone."
"Oh, Creepy." Victor mutterd. "It's…it's me. Watching me. Watching me. Watching-."
"So let's hope they didn't catch you masturbating." Trini winked.
"Got something." Jake growled. "It's a map. Says it's to the new Vivarium."
"The what?" Victor turned.
"A hideout where our folks tried to perform some occult ceremony that would extinguish all life on the planet…except them and Trini." Nico nodded towards the Angel. "But I thought we nuked that fish bowl?"
"This looks like some kind of backup site," Jake explained, "located at the converge of a bunch of 'Ley lines' or some bullshit like that. It's hidden beneath the Griffith Observatory."
"Huh, that probably must be why my parents were always going there when I was a kid." Karolina commented.
"But didn't the hoedown at the last Valium-whatever involve some kind of human sacrifice? If they took Mol there…" Chase began.
"Um, guys?" Victor called. "Looks like they left is something. I think it might be a-."
It was a bomb.
And it exploded.
But they were unharmed. As Karolina had put shields around all of them. Trini smiled up at Karolina; who was taking in deep breaths in a hurry.
They were ready, the second they landed, the group rushed off; just as the fat man of the group had talked about getting codenames.
"That's a good idea, Mr. Fat-Tastic." Chase insulted as he rushed towards them. "How about the Legion of Duds!"
" 'Cause you suck at blowing people up." Nico added.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"What else is it supposed to mean?" Jake questioned.
"It means I picked up a few new tricks off-world…like how to put an impenetrable shield around my friends." Karolina shot off her powers for form into a large orb around the three villains. "Thankfully, it works on my enemies, too."
But it didn't last too long, as a sword cut through the colorful barrier and slid downward; opening it up to reveal the three.
"So the alien invades again, huh? Mr. Wilder said the Abstract warned you might show your face." The girl announced.
"Which is why we forged a sword out of the material that dampens your energy points." The fat man explained.
"See, this is what happens when you mess with masters." The skinny one mumbled.
Victor noticed the skinny one and spoke up; his powers did as well. "Sorry, I set up a firewall so you can't hack into my mainframe again."
"Not trying to hack into you, Borg Queen." He replied.
Suddenly, the lasers on the Leapfrog when off; shooting towards the group. One of them hitting Karolina.
"Go on!" Trini shouted at Nico. "We'll guy you some time!"
"She's right!" Gert agreed. "Just go find Molly."
Trini then turned to the group and raced towards them head on.
WHOOO! Next chapter...there's a twist!