A/N: Easter's here and so do the new episode, too! Hope tomorrow's April Fools won't ruin the release. Let's get online to our next episode!
You, Robot: Part 1
At some kind of dark lab, a young woman enters it with some kind of gadget on her hands as she approaches the work table.
"Okay, time for a weekly maintenance," she quipped as she uses her gadget to open up some kind of secret compartment behind the lab closet.
As she checks her portable tablet, she pulls out a wrench and approaches the compartment containing some kind of machine.
"Hmm... Engine stabilized, gears checked, weapons geared up..."
She then pulls out some kind of micro-chip from her pocket and puts it into the machine, which it's eyes starts to light up blue.
"And A.I. booted and scanned," the woman said in confidence.
When she checks on her tablet one last time before she saw her "creation", she then quips, "Looks like it's ready to go. Time for a battle run."
It's another morning at Jordan's house as she plays something on her GX Portable on the sofa while waiting for breakfast.
Just then her father Ricky walked in. He opened the fridge and took out two microwavable breakfast burritos. Jordan turned and noticed this.
"Microwavable breakfast burritos," she said. "Mom too busy to make breakfast again?"
"Yep," Ricky said. "You know her with those fashion shows. Always take up her time."
"I know, but I'm sick of always eating these breakfast burritos everytime."
"Well would you rather I cook?"
"On second thought, I'll live with them," she said, since she knew her father was a total jinx near the stove.
Just then, Jordan heard a doorbell, which she approaches the front door and opens it, revealing Zeus and Itzal at the door.
"Hey, Jordan. Want to tag along with us to school?" Itzal asks.
"Just a second, guys. I need to eat breakfast and get my stuff," Jordan said.
"Okay, but we better hurry if we don't want to miss first period," Zeus reminded her.
"I'll try. My Mom is really busy with her fashion show tonight and it's really been hectic after I try to help both her and my Dad," Jordan explained.
"Reminds me of my mom prepping for an open house in my world," Itzal said. "She's a real-estate agent, you know."
"Hey Jordan! Who's at the door?"
Ricky then joins her daughter at the door and was surprised when he saw not only Zeus, but also Itzal, too.
"Oh great! Jordan, did you agreed to be both of them's girlfriend?!" he asks in shock and annoyance.
"One, I'm not a type of girl who makes many boyfriends. And two, Itzal is also my new friend. He just moved her from Japan a few days ago," Jordan explained in annoyance.
"Right," Ricky said as he glanced at Itzal. "Well just so you know I am a cop, you better not try anything with my one and only daughter. I'd hate to have to bust you."
"Uh, you don't have to worry about that sir," Itzal said sheepishly.
"And that goes double for you, blondie," Ricky said to Zeus.
"Yes, sir," Zeus groaned annoyed with Ricky's paranoia.
Then, Jordan's mother, Vina joined her and her husband as she also noticed her daughter's new friends.
"Honey please, stop being such a snoop," she said to her husband in a calming manner when she also noticed Jordan's friends. "And you must be her new friends, correct?"
"That's right, I'm Itzal Kurosawa," Itzal said.
"And my name is Zeus Starr," Zeus introduced himself. "I hope we didn't bother you anything."
"No bother at all," Vina said with gratitude.
"Speaking of which, Mom. I'm not being a pesky daughter or anything, but can my friends come along with us to your fashion show? Please! I promise I'll be good as always!" Jordan begged.
"Well, I'm not that big on fashion but I'd like to see what you've got," Zeus said.
"Me too," Itzal said. "And I know Calla will love this!"
"Hmm, well okay, I guess," Vina said.
"YES!" Jordan cheered.
"Now go on, you'll be late for school."
"Okay, come on, guys," Jordan said as she and her friends left the house as her parents waved at them.
As they walked through the neighborhood to their school, Zeus then asks, "What's with your dad anyway? Did he hate us?"
"No, he just paranoid over boys except Conway and Bren that they might be my boyfriends," Jordan answered. "You know dads, trying to protect your little girl from boys."
"I can get that," Itzal said. "Back home, my dad can be like that with Megan sometimes."
"Well, at least your mom seems to like us," Zeus pointed out.
"That's because my mom's more open-minded than my dad," Jordan explained. "She understand why he acts like that, but she also knows I'm growing up and he can't keep me from boys forever."
"Well I hope some how we can get him to loosen up, and like us."
"Me too," Jordan said as they continued on to school.
Later on the three had reached school and entered the lounge.
"Hmm, I wonder where Calla is," Jordan asked. "I can't wait to tell her."
"She stepped out to use the bathroom, but she'll be back," Kani said as she approached them.
"I see," Jordan said as she walked off.
"Oh wait, you best watch-"
Suddenly, Jordan quickly trips on something and when she recovers, she saw some machine parts scattered around the floor, realizing who belongs them.
"Andre, please don't tell me you've ordered a junkpile from the internet again," she groaned.
"No, better, I'm making my own robot to join the robot battles this weekend!" Andre said.
"You mean some battle royal against robots to see which is the better one?"
"That's the one. I need to build more weapons into it so I can win this year's Robo Battle King this weekend. Wanna join?"
"No thanks. The only thing I can do robo battles is in my GX Portable," she said as she shows her favorite portable console.
"The only thing you can robo battle with is your ego!"
The Runners quickly turned around and surprised to see Bren in some kind of sports coach outfit complete with a whistle.
"Bren, what the heck are you wearing?" Jordan asks in disbelief.
"I'm wearing this because I'm Andre's coach/mechanic. I'm helping him win the competition," Bren answered.
"Since when have you been interested in robo-battles?"
"Since I found out it takes skills in mechanics, something that video-games obsessed girls like you do not have."
Upon hearing this, Jordan became infuriated and slugged her cousin in the stomach.
"Kumbaya!" Bren groaned as he crumpled to the floor.
"Ouch," Andre said.
Then, Calla enters the lounge as she greets her friends.
"Hiya! Miss me?"
Jordan quickly notices her best friend and says, "Really miss! And just in time, too. I asked my Mom to let me invite you guys to her fashion show and Zeus and Itzal already agreed to it."
"A fashion show?! You shouldn't have! I can't wait to see your mom's latest collection," Calla said in glee.
"Nah, no thanks. We're not into fashion shows," Andre declined.
"Yeah, we're into tough and manly robo battles instead of girly and sissy fashion shows," Bren added.
"Hey some girls can be into guys stuff too," Calla said. "Take Jordan for instance."
"Yeah, she's just one of the poor and misguided girls of the world."
Jordan, now enraged, slugged Bren in the stomach again three times.
"And here I go," he groaned as he collapsed.
"Hello," and unknown voice said. Everyone turned to see a 16-year old girl standing there. Jordan, Itzal and Zeus immediately recognized her as…
"Layla?!" they all said in astonishment.
"You know her," Kani asked.
"Yeah, we met her out of school," Itzal said. "She's a friend of ours."
"What are you doing here?" Zeus whispered to her.
"Well, Tine wanted me to be closer to you guys, so I convinced my parents to transfer me here so I could," Layla explained.
"Well Layla," Jordan said, "these are these are our friends, Calla…"
"Hi," Calla said.
"Andre…"
"Wassup," Andre greeted.
"Kani…"
"Hey, hey," Kani chuckled.
"And my cousin, Bren."
"Hey-o," grunted Bren who was recovering from Jordan's assault.
"Hey," Calla said noticing, "is that a Hatsune Miku shirt?"
"Yeah," Layla asked. "You're a fan of Hatsune Miku?!"
"Yep! Even got tickets to the upcoming concert."
"I didn't know that you like Hatsune Miku, Calla," Jordan said
"You do to? Well there is something we have in common after all."
"Well, I have been trying to get tickets to that Hatsune Miku concert but they're sold out everywhere I've looked."
"Um, hate to interrupt but who is Hatsune Miku?" Itzal asked.
"Yeah, who is that?" Kani echoed.
"Hatsune Miku is a singing synthesizer application with a humanoid persona developed by Crypton Future Media. It uses Yamaha Corporation's Vocaloid 2 and Vocaloid 3 synthesizing technology. It's portrayed a as a 16-year-old girl with long light teal pigtails and has performed at her concerts onstage as an animated projection," Jordan explained.
"Well if you want concert tics, Calla is you're main girl," Bren said. "She is loaded!"
"Really?" Layla asked as she turned to Calla. "Calla, will you help me get those tickets, please?"
"Sure, any friend of Jordan's is a friend of mine," Calla replied.
"I'm sure you two will get along great," Jordan remarked.
"Oh, I forgot. Kani, wanna go to the fashion show with me and Jordan?" Calla asks to her cousin.
"Well I'm not big on fashion, but sure if it means spending time with you cause," Calla answered.
At that moment, Jordan's cell phone buzzed. She looked at it and saw she had a text from her mom. Upon reading it she exclaimed, "Oh my gosh!"
"What is it?" Calla asked.
"Just got a text from my mom. She said that after school, me and two of my friends can have a backstage tour of the fashion show before it happens. Wanna go with me Calla?"
"Well I kinda just promised Layla I'd help her get those tickets. Sorry."
"Don't even look at us," Bren said. "We don't do fashion shows, like we said, and we need to get this bot done."
"Kani, you wanna go?" Jordan asked.
"Wish I could, but I have a math test to study for," Kani replied. Jordan then turned towards Zeus and Itzal.
"Please don't tell me you two have prior commitments too?!"
"Actually no, my schedule's clear," Zeus said.
"Mine too," Itzal agreed. "We'll go with you."
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you so much!," Jordan exclaimed happily.
Suddenly, Zeus's phone quickly rang as he quickly answers it.
"Hello? Ms. Reyheart?" Zeus almost shouted, which luckily, only Itzal and Jordan hear him. "Hang on, we need to move somewhere private."
Realizing this, Jordan quickly approaches Layla and whispers to her, "Ms. Reyheart is calling us. Can you hold down the fort?"
"Sure. Good luck, guys," Layla said before she continues her conversation to Calla. With that, the three Runners quickly run out of the lounge and hide inside the janitor's closet.
"Okay, Ms. Reyheart. All clear, you can transfer the call to our RunComs now," Zeus said before hanging up, which his RunCom quickly gave off a ringtone before he answers it, revealing Tina's face on the monitor.
"What's the problem this time?" Itzal asks in a stern tone.
"Well, this is a personal mission, Runners. It's my friend," Tina explained in a little embarrassment. "She knows about the existence of Runners and other worlds and asks me for help. And to be honest, I can't do this alone."
"Hey, it's not embarrassing to ask us for help. We'll head straight to CodeX United after class," Jordan said.
"About that, that's not where I am right now," Tina said.
"Then where are you anyway?"
Later on in the Los Angeles Space Center, Jordan, Itzal and Zeus walked down the hall to the main lab. Upon opening the door, they were astonished to see all of the robotic equipment. In the middle of the room they saw Tina with another woman.
"Hello guys," Tina said as they approached. "I'd like to introduce you to my good friend, Dr. Pam Taylor. Pam, I'd like you to meet the new Runners, Jordan Waters, Itzal Kurosawa, and Zeus Starr."
"Nice to meet you all," Dr. Taylor said. "Lilith's told me all about you kids. I assume your Runner mission success rate is infallible at the moment."
"Well, for now yes," Zeus said. "So we heard you've had a robbery here lately."
"Shhh," Dr. Taylor said. "Walk with me all of you."
Dr. Taylor walked off with the others following through a series of doors that had various security clearance devices.
"Lately we've been developing an A.I. for our robots to gather materials from other planets and aid our astronauts in their missions. If it succeeds, we might able to create the same A.I. to aid them in repairing satellites in space."
"Woah," Jordan said. "I'm no robotics expert but that sounds like really advanced stuff."
"It is. My co-worker's been working on a prototype. A prototype that was stolen last night. If word gets out about this, it could bring down the center's reputation."
"So since you learn that Runners work in secret, Ms. Reyheart suggested us to investigate this robbery," Itzal guessed.
"That's right. I have nobody to turn to but you three," Tina said. "Besides, if I explained to this to my colleagues, I don't know what will they react."
When they reached to the lab through x-ray scan, they were about to enter when they noticed that Jordan is still at the scan as she notices something's wrong at her x-ray.
"Uh, Dr. Taylor. I think your x-ray has a bug," she said as her x-ray shows her muscles and vital organs.
"Well that's unusual," Zeus said.
"That's crazy gruesome," Itzal said.
"I always wondered what my muscles and organ looked beneath my skin," Jordan said.
"Well now you know," Lilith said. "How'd this happen?"
"Whoops, must've had it set to muscle setting."
Inside the lab, the three Runners are investigating the broken glass case as Jordan picks up a glass piece from the break in.
"This is not like the shows I'm watching, so how can an outsider break in here?" she asks in a serious tone when a man suddenly pops in front of her, being carried by a robotic arm.
"Good question. Be right down," he said as he tries to use his remote to get himself down.
Then, Pam approaches the man as she introduces him to the Runners, "Kids, this is my long time co-worker, Dr. Harold-"
She was interrupted when the robotic arm suddenly go into random directions, pulling Harold along as he tries to control it. The Runners only watched him crashed into some objects and walls in the lab before it pulls him to them upside down.
"Please, just call me Brown," he introduced himself to the three kids.
"Same to you Dr.-" Harold then quickly pulled away again from the Runners before Zeus completes his greeting. "Brown?"
The machine then spun Harold around and around, until it finally let go mid-spin and tossed him to the floor.
"I'm okay."
"I know how you feel, I'm sort of a jinx with machines too," Itzal said.
"What do you mean by that?!," Harold snapped annoyed and offended. "I'm a robotics expert."
"Speaking of which, three are gonna help recover the project," Dr. Taylor stated saying that last part with a whisper.
"Quietly, please."
"I know. Like I told them, if the theft gets out, it could spell big trouble for the center."
"Hey I found something," Zeus said as he held up what seemed to be a strand of hair.
"Excellent Zeus, analyze it with your RunCom's Scanner App."
Zeus did just that and read the results, "Let's see. It's human, auburn color, and from a female."
Then, Jordan notices a picture frame of a teenage girl with an auburn hair, which she asks, "Who's this?"
"Emilie, my ex-lab partner," Harold answered as he snatched the picture frame from Jordan.
"Why ex?"
"She couldn't keep up, I had to let her go."
"Didn't I hear she quit?" Pam wondered.
"Trust me, she was pushed."
"Maybe she holds a grudge?" Zeus guessed.
"Doubt it. I know many villains with grudges of being quit or fired, but she's not kind of person who would do that," Itzal said.
"Looks can be deceiving, Itzal. But you do have a good point," Jordan said before turning to Harold. "Dr. Brown, do you know where we can find Emilie?"
"Last I heard, she'd gotten into some underground bot battle clubs," Dr. Brown said. "Plus, she started playing Pam's friend Lilith's game Universal Legends. Heard they have virtual robot battles there too."
"Well then let's pay a visit to ULO then," Zeus said as Jordan looked at her watch.
"But first we gotta go check out my mom's fashion show," she told the two. "The backstage tour starts in 20 minutes."
"Then lets get over there," Itzal said as the three left the lab.
A/N: Looks like they got a new mystery on their hands? How will it end up for the Runners? Review and stay tuned!