At Tremorton High School, a winter dance was coming the following weekend. Almost all of the students already had dates. Among the unlucky few to be dateless is Brad Carbunkle, who at the moment, was very depressed. He was surrounded by those who already found their dates, from the most popular kids, to even the geeks and the staff. Brad was so annoyed by this, he stuck his head inside his locker.
"Hey Brad." The mechanical Jenny Wakeman, AKA inventor Nora Wakeman's XJ9, greeted him. Her smile faded as she saw Brad inside his locker. "What's the matter?"
"What do you think, Jen?" Brad responded. "I'm once again the only one who can't score a date!" As Brad banged on the lockers around him, he then tried to remove his head from the locker, only for it to be stuck. Jenny quickly grabbed the sides of the locker and stretched it, which crushed the lockers beside it, sending everything inside them flying out. "Thanks again." Brad complimented.
Unfortunately, the bitter Principal Razinski arrived in the middle of the damage, as he cleared his throat. Jenny gave an awkward look as she saw the principal. "How is it that I can't stroll through my own schools hallway without you causing damage, Ms. Wakeman?" he whined.
"Don't blame her, Principal Razinski." Brad defended. "Jenny was just getting me-"
"No excuses, Mr. Carbunkle!" Princpal Razinski interrupted. "Especially since this is the third time this week Ms. Wakeman has helped you out of this predicament!" He then walked away. "I swear, it's always the dateless students being the most reckless." he muttered to himself, which Brad then heard, as he angrily glared back at him.
"If it makes you feel any better, of course I don't got a date too." Jenny said, patting Brad on the back.
"Oh please, at least you have someone always chasing after you." Brad argued.
Jenny rolled her eyes, as she immediately knew Brad was referring to Sheldon, her own friend that was obsessed with her, Sheldon. Near her locker was a standee of him holding flowers and a sign with Jenny's face drawn on it that read "DANCE WITH ME JENNY!". Jenny immediately tossed it aside. "It's not like I asked for that!" Jenny responded. "Say, why don't you just forget the dance? Like why don't you just go to the arcade with Tuck?" Jenny asked.
"Look Jen, I'm tired of being dateless to these dances! It's always attempt after attempt for me!" Brad complained. "And it's like this every year!"
"I'm sure there has to be someone for you." Jenny responded.
"Well, there is one…or at least there was one." Brad said, as he thought back to the only person who has ever loved him. Except she wasn't a human at all. She was in fact like Jenny, a robot. Her name was Melody, and Brad discovered her in an underground lab from the evil inventor Dr. Locus. Melody was legit the first girl to take an interest in Brad. However, last time he saw her, it was a tragic day, as Jenny spooked her off, in an incident that occurred due to Jenny's own overly exaggerated suspicions that Melody still had ties with her evil father/inventor.
"And she would still be here…if it wasn't for you." Brad said, glaring at Jenny.
"Brad, for the 578th time, I'm sorry!" Jenny responded. "I swear, if I could fix everything, I would!"
"Forget it Jen, what's done is done!" Brad said. "I swear, I might as well call up Tammy from those bikers. Even if she attempts to eat me again, it's better than nothing!"
"If it makes you feel any better, I'm actually kinda skeptical about even going." Jenny comforted.
"Really? You're usually the most hyped about these dances." Brad said.
"Perhaps our fellow mechanical outcast here took a hint." Brit Crust said. She was the most popular student, along with her sister Tiff, who walked beside her.
"When even her own loser friend doesn't want her!" Tiff insulted, as the two laughed. Jenny gripped her fists in response.
"Ignore them, why aren't you going again?" Brad asked, as the two began to head outside.
"Outside of what happened with Don Prima and the Silver Shell, I don't think I'm even interested in anyone here at the moment." Jenny said. "Though I don't even think I have any other plans. The only other friends I got right now is Vega and…" Immediately Jenny thought of a name that she hasn't thought about for a while. Misty. "Actually just Vega."
"Well, why not just hang with Vega?" Brad asked, as the two were now in front of the school.
"We haven't talked in a while." Jenny responded. "Besides, I'm sure she's busy."
Suddenly, Jenny's communicator popped out of her chest. "What is it, Mom?" Jenny asked. However, the screen only showed static. "Mom?"
Then, a picture of a difference face popped on the screen. It was Vega.
"Jen! Can you hear me?" the princess asked, as she appeared to look anxious.
"Vega? What's the matter?" Jenny responded, looking worried.
"My mother is coming back to your planet!" Vega said. "I don't know how, but she's taken control of everyone on Cluster Prime! I think she's going after…"
However, before she can finish, a portal opened beside the two of them, and popping out of it was a spike of some sort, which cut Jenny's communicator onto the floor. Jenny and Brad then turned to the portal.
Exiting out of the portal was predictably, Vexus, who looked disappointed. "Blast! I was hoping for this to be a surprise visit!" Vexus complained to herself.
"Vexus!" Jenny then stood up, as she grinded her fists, already prepared to fight.
"XJ9. An absolute dread to see you again." the queen said, with a grin on her face.
Jenny then tried to throw the first punch. However, she was shocked to see her punch phased through Vexus.
"Hey, you're a hologram!" Jenny noted.
"I'm not here to fight you today, Jennifer. For I believe I have in store for you." Vexus responded. Though in her mind, she tried not to let that insult get to her.
She arrived outside, giving a maniacal laugh towards Jenny. The robot then got up from the ground. "Geez, you really don't know when to give up, don't you?" Jenny asked. "I really thought the Cluster shattering would've finally shut you up."
."Oh Jennifer, I would've thought you've learned by now." Vexus responded. "We the Cluster are similar to the hydra. No matter how many heads you cut off, we shall always grow back."
"So where's Smytus and your little army this time, then?" she asked.
"They weren't necessary for this." Vexus answered. "For instead, I found other machines to use against you."
Suddenly, the sound of hundreds of jets came from the sky. As Jenny, along with Brad and the rest of the citizens looked up, they saw the many robots from Cluster Prime hurry down. All of them had glowing red eyes, and it appeared all of those eyes were on Jenny.
They then landed on the ground, as their eyes were still on Jenny. Then, they took out all their weapons, which were all pointed at directly at her. It didn't take long for Jenny to recognize the entire calvary of robots. "Wait a minute, these are all the citizens from Cluster Prime!" Jenny realized. She then took out her laser gun, and pointed it at Vexus, who was still directly next to her. "What did you do to them?!" she growled.
"Why, I restored them back to what they were originally were. Back to doing the Cluster's bidding." Vexus answered. "Minus them having their own free will, a privilege I took from them, no thanks to you."
Jenny then turned to one of the robots, as she picked up a small silver one on wheels. "There's gotta be a way to restore them! What did you implant on them? Nanobots? Little mind control chips?" she asked.
"Now now, you ask far too many questions, Jen." Vexus responded. "How about we cut straight to the brawl? This time, you, against them." She snapped her finger.
Suddenly, the robot Jenny held turned his angry face towards her, and socked her in the face with his giant stretching metal fist. The blow was powerful enough to send Jenny crashing towards a street light, leaving a bent mark to it.
"Sick her." Vexus ordered, as the Cluster Prime citizens ran to Jenny.
At the moment, Jenny had no idea what to do. Unlike the Cluster army, she didn't want to fight any of the Cluster Prime citizens. I can't just hurt Vega's friends, she thought to herself. But this didn't stop her from attempting to defend herself.
First, one robot fired missiles at her, which she then dodged. However, she then turned to the missile, as it headed towards a nearby daycare. As the kids and teachers sat inside staring at the oncoming missile in horror, Jenny quickly grabbed it. Struggling to keep it from reaching the camp, she grabbed the tip of it, crumbled it up, then stuffed it inside her chest. The explosion inside it was so big, it sent Jenny stretching like a chew toy. Then, a giant fist, from a robot much bigger than her, began to pound her to the ground, socking her to the street like a nail being pounded by a hammer. Jenny then grabbed the fist, and flipped the giant robot. "Sorry!" she apologized. Then, a smaller robot began to fire lasers at her. She flew past it, only to run into another robot who had buzzsaws for hands, as he attempted to slice her. As she dodged the buzzsaws by soaring under them, as proceeding him was another robot who tried to chop her with his hand that was an axe. She stretched her body to dodge them, and proceeding him was another robot, except this one immediately gave a loud screech, which then stopped Jenny as she covered her ears. The screech was so loud, it broke all the glass surrounding the area, from the windows of cars and stores. Yet this was enough to stop Jenny, as then all the robot citizens surrounded Jenny, and pinned her to the ground.
"Don't you guys remember me? I helped liberate your entire planet from the Cluster!" Jenny cried, attempting to stop them.
However, the robots surrounding her began to punch her with either their fists, or whatever weapon they had in their hands.
As this was going on, Brad watched the whole thing in horror. "Jen, no!" he cried, as he then angrily turned to Brad. "I won't let you do this!" he growled at Vexus. He attempted to charge at her, only for the robot near him to stick out his leg, tripping the poor boy. As Brad fell to the ground, Vexus rolled her eyes, not even bothering to turn around at Brad.
Meanwhile, Drab, Shell and Tuck were now in front of Jenny. "Guys, you can't do this!" Jenny called out. "We were once friends!" None of the three responded at them, as instead, Drab pointed his laser in front of Jenny's face, as it began to charge up. In seconds, Jenny was about to be finished off.
"Seize your weapons!" Vexus ordered. "I didn't give any of you permission to finish her off!" A grin then appeared on her face. "That would be her duty." she said, as she pointed to something coming from the sky.
Jenny's eyes widened as she saw who Vexus was pointing at. Coming from the sky was another figure, except this one resembled Jenny. However, this one was fully clothed, as covering her body was brown uniform, with black boots. Her head was perfectly visible, as she had blonde hair with pigtails, along with green eyes and light yellow skin. Brad remained in the ground, watching in horror as he also recognized who it was. "No!" he uttered.
"XJ9, meet your match." Vexus introduced.
"Melody?" Jenny exclaimed.
As her lifeless eyes stared at her, Melody then grabbed Jenny across her neck, and lifted her up.
"Also, your demise." Vexus added.
She then pointed to Melody. "Break her." she uttered in a silent tone.
Melody then tossed Jenny, sending her crashing into the front of a nearby store.
Brad then ran to his old girlfriend, and turned her around by her shoulders. "Melody, it's me Brad!" Brad greeted. "Don't you remember me?"
Melody continued to give no emotion with Brad, and in response, simply slapped him in the face.
"Still afraid of fighting her, XJ9?" Vexus taunted, as she walked towards Jenny.
"What did you do to her?!" Jenny growled.
"What did I do?" Vexus responded. "Why, I only gave in to what she wanted."
Jenny then looked at Melody, who's eyes were still on her. "What are you talking about?"
Vexus chuckled. "Perhaps she was so hurt by your humiliation, that she wanted to do anything to get rid of the trauma she inflicted by you. Perhaps she realized she needed to choose her own power, over you and this wretched planet. And it's all thanks…to you!" She pointed at Jenny.
In Jenny's mind, she wanted to fight Melody. After, as she stared at the other mechanical girl, she knew she couldn't do it. She may not have at all the same connection she had with Cluster Prime with Melody, but she still didn't want to fight her, with what happened in the past entering her mind. A past that was all her fault. All Jenny could do in response, was fly away.
"Follow her, and hold nothing back!" Vexus ordered.
As Melody's eyes turned to Jenny, jets began to form from her feet, as she blasted to the sky.
Vexus then flew into the sky to watch the ongoing brawl, while Brad tried to follow the two.
...
As Melody caught up with Jenny, she quickly did a spin in the air, landing on Jenny's back. She pushed the robot under her into a giant building under both of them, as Jenny was pushed down through the roof. They both crashed through all the floors of the building, as Melody crushed Jenny towards the last floor, leaving a gigantic crater where they landed. The building itself split into two. Without hesitation, Melody them grabbed Jenny by her left leg, and flew off the ground, flipping her back on the street. A hammer then formed from Melody's hand, as Jenny's eyes widened. She then turned the left leg into a jet, sending Melody flying back before she can make her attack. Jenny quickly tried to fly away, but somehow, Melody tossed the leg aside, and turned her arms then into tasers. She then shocked Jenny, causing her to give a loud shriek. Jenny was completely stunned, as she was then sent flying down towards a truck. Jenny was about to close her eyes and pass out, but then she noticed some another truck was coming for her head. This time it was a tanker truck, which exploded as soon as it struck Jenny. This sent the metal girl flying across, but then Melody flew in back and struck her opponent with a giant fly swatter, with giant metal spikes. Jenny was then sent flying across again, as she struck a brick wall. Pulling down rubble behind her, she landed on the ground, resembling a lifeless ragdoll. Yet it appeared Melody still wasn't finished. Staring at Jenny with her lifeless eyes, her two arms turned into turrets.
At that moment, Brad managed to arrive into the scene, as he was out of breath. "Melody PLEASE!" Brad begged. "I beg of you! Leave Jenny alone! You're better than this, babe!"
Brad once again got Melody's attention, as he was able to get his former girlfriend's attention. With the same results, he was unsuccessful to get her to recognize him.
Vexus yawned. "Why does there always need to be drama of some sorts with these things?!"
As Jenny saw Melody distracted, her jets began to form from her ears. However, Melody's head quicky turned back to her, as she was preparing her next attack. But quickly, Brad wrapped his arms around Melody, blocking her from any attacks. "RUN JEN!" Brad shouted. Jenny blasted to the sky.
Melody, without turning around, stretched her arms around Brad, as she began to strangle the kid.
"You know, you're pretty hot when you look like a psychotic…GEH!" Brad continued to get strangled.
"No, don't waste your power on him!" Vexus ordered. "Go after XJ9!"
Melody then let go of Brad, and turned her attention to the sky. Within seconds, she was already off the Earth's ground.
"And they're off!" Vexus laughed to herself. "Everything is going well!"
"I'm warning you Vexus!" Brad threatened. "If you let my girlfriend destroy my other friend who's also a girl, you'll be sorry!"
Vexus still didn't feel threatened, as she snapped her fingers again. Suddenly, several of the Cluster Prime citizens came rolling in. "Get this Earth annoyance out of my sight." She ordered, as Brad was then taken away by the robots. As he was taken away, he continued to angrily glare at Vexus.
"Now, I wait." Vexus said, as she continued to watch at the sky.
…
Jenny was still on the run from Melody, as the two were in space. Whatever was in Melody's way, she blasted through with whatever weapon she had, with a satellite being the first victim. The two were then in an asteroid field, as getting through them wasn't a struggle for both of them. Jenny dodged and swerved through the space rocks of all size, while Melody quickly blasted through all of them.
"Melody, please, I don't want to fight you!" Jenny shouted. However, Melody ignored her words, and just fired at her.
Then, Melody quickly stopped her tracks, and grabbed a giant rock. As her eyes targeted Jenny, she gave the rock an incredibly fast spin, which was fast enough to light the rock on fire. As she continued to spin, she then launched it right at Jenny. As the rock sped at her opponent, Jenny got struck in the back, which sent her crashing on a gigantic asteroid. After this, Melody flew out of sight from Jenny, as the latter got up from the ground.
Jenny scanned the entire area for her opponent. At this moment, she was beyond frightened. "She's not stopping until she completely demolishes me!" Jenny said to herself. Yet, even after everything Melody threw at her, she still didn't want to fight her. Jenny knew something was up with Melody, and that the Cluster did something to permanently alter her. Even with the little time she knew the robot, she didn't immediately want to jump to conclusions. "I know you're out there, Melody!" Jenny called out. "And I know this isn't you! I swear, whatever Vexus did to you, I'll find a way to fix it!"
Far away from the asteroid, Melody hid behind a meteorite, as she slowly stretched her arms around the rock, she was prepared to slam the rock into Jenny.
However, her attention broke for a split second, as she sensed a strange being was behind her. As Melody turned her head, the figure kicked her straight into the face, sending her crashing next to Jenny. As Melody's head got back up, she turned towards where she was kicked, and took out a giant laser gun.
But before she could get the chance to fire, she was then quickly crushed by a meteorite from behind her, multiple times. All that was visible of her was her right metal arm.
Meanwhile, Jenny was startled to know who saved her. "Um, thank you?" she said.
"You're welcome." The figure responded, as Jenny was able to recognize who's voice it was. Appearing from violet mist was her former mutant friend, Misty, happily looking at Jenny.
