Loonatics: United

Episode 58: Detonation

At the huge yard surrounded by HarmNix's apartments, a tall flagpole held a flag with the company's logo. All of the workers had been gathered there by Dan and Darcy, who were standing in the middle of them. Dan was holding the diffusor with his arm raised. "My people! It is time for us to take back what is ours by right!" Dan exclaimed, the echo magnified his voice and the crowd started to clap. "They think they can control us! They think we don't care!" More claps and yells were heard. "I'm giving you this, for you to rebel! To make your voice be heard!..." The crowd supported him with raised fists and loud screams. "This is a day to be remembered, the day we destroy our captor, the day HarmNix gets out of the map, forever! And we won't stop there! All of them shall perish, and all of us will be free!" He got both arms raised, the crowd emulated him. Dan nodded with a chuckle then handed the diffusor to his sister. "It's time." He smirked at her.

Darcy's eyes glowed. "You want me to do it?" She said with a large smile.

"Of course, sis." Dan gave her a trustful smile and put a hand over her shoulder. "This is ours."

Darcy chuckled with emotion. "A…alright." She took a few steps to the front then crouched and placed the diffusor on the ground, she pressed the button and from its sides, green smoke began to dissipate all over the yard.

The workers backed away instinctively. "Come on! Don't be afraid! Embrace this gift I've brought to you!" Dan exclaimed, the workers began to inhale the smoke, and almost instantly, they started to tremble and their fur began to turn green and glow, they looked at themselves with fright at first but when gradually discovering their abilities, they rejoiced with a feeling of power and greatness. Dan laughed at the success of his plan. "Now…you have the power!" He exclaimed, shots of acid flew from between the crowd as celebration.

About an hour later, Tech, Ace and Lexi were in a hover-cab en route to the HQ, the vehicle was white and self-driving with blue led lines adorning it. "You were fantastic, Doc!" Ace patted Tech's back quite strongly. "Free wings for one month!"

"We always believed in you, Tech." Lexi smirked at him.

Tech chuckled. "I guess I should do these things more often."

"Yeah, I mean there should be a league here or something." Lexi added.

Ace raised an eyebrow and looked at his girlfriend. "A 'league'? Something like 'Acmetropolis' dance league'." He chuckled mockingly. "Really?"

Lexi chuckled and punched his arm gently then rested her head on his shoulder and hugged him. "Shut up…" She yawned. "Leave me alone."

Tech let out another chuckle and put his hands behind his neck, looking through the car's window. "Well, that would be good, but…I'm talking about…" He briefly pointed at himself and his comrades. "This…you know? Going out with you guys." He looked at Ace. "We should return the next week, with all the team, don't you think?"

"It's not a bad idea." Ace opined and looked at Lexi, who was falling asleep. "What you think, Lexi?"

Lexi yawned. "Sounds fine…" She let out another yawn. "…just don't bring Duck, okay?"

Ace and Tech chuckled. "Come on, he is not that bad." Ace said then the three shared a laugh.

The hover-cab braked right in front of the sidewalk that faced the tower's facade. Ace got out first and helped Lexi to exit the vehicle followed by Tech. They watched the hover-cab leave, floating over the street, then the three Loonatics entered the tower.

Duck was on the lounge, laying over the couch while snoring, with an empty bag of chips over his chest. Ace, Tech and Lexi entered the HQ after the elevator's doors opened. Ace shook his head when seeing Duck sleeping on the couch with the TV still on. "What are we gonna do with this guy?" He walked towards the lounge and crouched next to Duck to take the remote on the floor then he turned the TV off and left the controller on the table between the couches. He yawned and stretched then started to head towards his room. "Good night." He told his comrades.

"Same, boss." Tech replied then looked at Lexi. "I…I just wanted to thank you..." Tech scratched his nape. "…you know, for inviting me."

Lexi let out a brief chuckle while smiling at him, she then gave him a hug. "I'm glad you came with us, Tech." She broke the hug, keeping her gaze on his for a moment. "Good night." She concluded with a grin then she turned and finally entered her room.

"Good night." Tech replied tardily, he just stood there for a moment, with a peaceful smile, he then let out a sigh of tiredness and headed to his quarters.

Her sight was blurry, bright white, gray, blue and some green tones were the only thing Susan could distinguish. With several, long blinks, her view got clearer, she was still in HarmNix's lab. She remained with the palms of her hands against the floor for a couple of minutes, breathing, trying to recover. She stood up slowly and with struggle as she was dizzy, she helped herself to get into her feet by holding from the large table at her left. Susan finally stood up, still using the table to maintain balance. She looked at her surroundings then gasped when seeing the door opened, she didn't hesitate to walk towards there, still with careful steps. Susan gently pushed the lab's door and exited, avoiding the corpses of the dead guards in the hallway. Screams and noises of destruction could be heard from the distance, she didn't know what to do, there was no way she could confront Dan and Darcy's army. "Oh…you dummy…" She said to herself, then looked at her wrist, putting her finger on it and pressing it, feeling the click of the subcutaneous button she had there.

Tech was sleeping, a sudden beeping noise started to sound, each time more intensely, thing that woke him up inevitably. He slowly opened his eyes, at first he thought it was just a regular alarm so he got out of the bed and yawned then walked around it, searching for the source of the noise with his still sleepy glare. He just followed the beeps and ended standing before the chair in front of his desktop, where he had left his suit. He raised an eyebrow and took the suit, tuning it sidewards and upside down to find the source of the sound. The sleepiness he still had gradually faded out, he started to remember what that sound meant. His breathing got faster, same as his heartbeats, he felt a tight knot on his stomach. "No…" He said with an anguished voice. "Susan…" He rapidly put on his suit and exited his room in a hurry, rushing towards Ace's. He arrived and started to knock the door with his clenched fist with desperation. "Ace!" He let out a growl of frustration. "Ace!" He yelled louder, not being able to control his breathing.

Ace rapidly opened the door, with a confused, alarmed yet tired face. "What?! What is it Doc?!"

Tech sighed with desperation, lowering his head for a moment while trying to recover some breath, he then finally looked at his boss. "It's Susan…she is in trouble."