Jen pov
I walked around the convenience store looking for something to eat. I smiled when I spotted a stack of cookie boxes, "Yummy," I said. I grabbed a box, the entire stack became unstable and tumbled, and Gwen became buried in cookie boxes. Gwen emerged from the pile of boxes, "Nice one Tennyson," she said. I furrowed my brow, "Don't call me that." I hissed and went to pay for my cookies.
When I exited the convenience store I saw Max washing the windows. I passed him and entered the RV, Albedo was sitting at the table working on something. We hadn't talked much since New York, I was still kinda mad at him, but I know he was just doing what is best. "Can I have one of those?" I looked at Albedo and held out the box. Albedo put a cookie in his mouth and went back to work.
We sat in silence for another moment, but there was a loud explosion outside. I and Albedo shared a look, we rushed outside and saw a group of bikers. "We gotta get out of here!" Gwen exclaimed, "And leave innocent people to get hurt? I don't think so." I said. I turned back and materialized my steps, I ran around and above the bikers. Once I was high enough I jumped down and grabbed ahold of one's gun.
"What the hell!?" I quickly jumped back and pulled up my screen. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," I smirked as they all aimed at me. They ignored my warning and pulled the trigger. All three were insulted in an explosion, I was able to shield myself. "AHHHHH!!!!" Two of the three ran out of the fire and straight into the police. The last one stumbled out of the fire, their helmet fell off revealing spikey red hair. "You little punk," she growled, I glared pulled up my screen, and quickly transformed into my alien Fourarms.
"Ha, that won't save you!" she yelled. "Jen you need to get out of there!" I heard Max call, "Stay out of this Gramps." the bad guy yelled and fired at Max. She missed, she instead hit the convenience store causing a giant piece of concrete to fall on Max. "Grandpa!" Gwen cried out, "Jen behind you!" Albedo yelled. I turned and saw two drives flying at me, "Better make this one snappy." I muttered.
I jumped and dodged the drones, then crashed into the bad guy. She hit the ground, and I returned to my human form and used my overboard to fly after the drones. Once I was close enough I quickly infected both drones with the virus I used on Animo's helmet. They shut down and crashed, I quickly digitized them and took the bad guy's gun. "I'm calling an Ambulance," Gwen said and pulled out her phone. "No time, the hospital is down the street." I transform back into Fourarms, I grabbed Gwen, Max, and Albedo and headed for the hospital.
~~~~~~~~~
Gwen pov
I looked at Grandpa, he was knocked out in a hospital bed with bandages around his head. I frowned and looked at the chairs beside me. Albedo sat in one chair reading a book, and Jen sat in the other with her head in Albedo's lap. She was sound asleep, and I felt anger bubble up inside me, 'Isn't she upset about what happened to Grandpa?' I thought.
"Wake up!" Jen startled awake and Albedo stiffened. Jen sat up, "What?" she asked sounding rather annoyed. "Aren't you upset, or worried at all? Grandpa is hurt and you are sleeping like nothing is wrong." I was fuming. Jen frowned, "Yes I'm worried, but allow me to remind you of what he has been lying to me all summer, and possibly my entire life." Jen said crossing her arms.
"It was so he could protect you!" I quickly covered my mouth, I wasn't supposed to let anything slip. "Let's return to the bucket of bolts that man calls home," Albedo said. He and Jen stood up and left, I sat down in a chair and looked at my feet. I royally screwed up on this one, Grandpa is gonna be so mad when he finds out.
Albedo pov
I opened the door to the RV, Jen followed behind me and locked the door. I sat at the table and Jen went to the back, "Is everything alright?" I looked to Bleep. Bleep hovered beside me, "I don't know." I said and rested my head on the table. I heard Bleep land on the table and felt his robotic eye on me. "Scan shows your heart rate is accelerated. The reasoning could be Stress, Overactive thyroid, Anemia-" "Stop!" I quickly said.
"What? I am simply listing-" "Dah, but bup bup, stop it." I said and stood to my feet. "I don't need this," I said and headed for the bathroom. I closed the door and sighed, "Why?" I muttered and held my hand over my heart. My face started getting hot, I move to the sink and splashed some cold water on my face. The water was refreshing and eased my nerves.
I turned off the water and looked at my reflection. My shoulder-length white hair was dirty and matted, my face was dirty and red, my eyes had formed dark circles, and I smelled like sweat and death. I also hadn't changed my clothes in three days, and Jen bought me new ones to wear. I frowned, and my reflection then changed. Kevin laughed, his body covered in electricity and his eyes glowing bright orange.
"Ahhh!!" I pushed myself back from the sink and hit the floor. I clutched my shirt over my heart and took a shakey breath. I didn't move until I heard a knock on the door, "Albedo, are you ok?" Jen asked through the door. "Y-Yeah...I slipped." I said, I heard Jen hum and walk away from the door. I let out another shaky breath, I stood up with shakey legs and looked at my reflection.
I used a towel to cover the mirror then turned on the shower. The water was frigid, it felt wonderful against my skin. While I cleaned up I started to dwell on certain things. I started thinking about the communicator I was in the process of building, the drones that attacked Jen, and Azmuth's current thoughts on Jen. I shut my eyes right and shook my head, "Focus on your mission Albedo." I told myself.
I finished my shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. I blow-dried and brushed my hair, I then searched and found Jen's hair ties. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and left the bathroom.
When I was a young girl living in the city
All I did was run, run, run, run, run
Staring at the lights, they look so prett
Momma said, "Jen, Jen, Jen, Jen, Jen"
"You're gonna grow up, you're gonna get old
All that glitter don't turn to gold
But until then, just have your fun
Girl, run, run, run, run, run"
Yeah, run, run, run
Run, run, run
I stopped dead in my tracks as Jen's voice filled my ears. It had become a habit to listen to Jen sing, it was something I couldn't resist. I tried to ignore Jen when she sang, but it was pointless.
When I was a young kid living in the city
All I did was pay, pay, pay, pay, pay
And every single dime that good Lord gave me
I could make it last three, four, five days
Living it up but living down low
Chasing that luck before I get old
And looking back, oh, we had some fun
Girl, run, run, run, run, run
They tell you that the sky might fall
They'll say that you might lose it all
So, I run until I hit that wall
Yeah, I learned my lesson, count my blessings
Look to the rising sun and run, run, run
Run run run
I felt my heart rate begin to increase again, and my face get hot. I felt so intoxicated by Jen's singing I almost didn't notice. I began to breath a little heavily and retreated to the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face and looked in the mirror. "What is this?" I had never felt something like this before. Was it because of Kevin's DNA?
"Ugh, get a grip you are here on a mission!" I yelled at my reflection. I heard noise from outside and Jen knock on the door, "Albedo, why are you yelling, is everything ok?" I felt a fluttery feeling in my chest. "I am fine Jen, but I forgot to grab some clothes." "Oh, well I was gonna go get some food, I'll be back in a bit." I heard Jen walk away and I exited the bathroom a minute later.
I walked to the cabinet to grab some clothes. Jen bought me many clothes, I had refused to go so she wasn't sure what to get me. I looked, and I settled on a pair of red plaid pants, a solid black t-shirt, and black shoes. The clothes were rather comfortable and I actually enjoyed the way I looked in them.
We sat back at the table and started to work on the communicator again. While I worked I began to dwell again, but this time on my life, and how I might be making a mistake. I had spent my entire life assisting Azmuth, I helped with every project, theory, and plan with no questions asked. I even assisted with project 7730, no questions asked, but now I had questions. I was no longer sure I should trust Azmuth. The things he said, the things he's done...the things he tried to do.
I leaned my head back and looked up at the ceiling, I was getting confused. Why did I start feeling this way? I want to pass it off as a side effect of my having human DNA, but it wasn't working. "Maybe I just need some air?" I asked and looked out the window.
"Wait, it's night?" I checked the time, it was 10 pm. I rushed out of the RV, Jen should have returned hours ago. I was headed for the entrance of the hospital when I heard an explosion. "That way," I said and changed direction.
Jen pov
I hit the ground hard and felt the air get knocked from my lungs. I struggled to sit up and the drones closed in on me. "No,...I need to do something." I said and materialized a weapon.
I aimed for the drones and fired a laser at one of the drones. It dodged and they got closer, I felt fear begin coursing through my veins. I began breathing heavily, "No, ...NoNoNoNo!"
"Give me that!" My gun was smashed out of my hand and Albedo stepped in front of me. Albedo took the drones down easy, I smiled and fully collapsed to the ground. Albedo approached and leaned over me, he sighed and dropped the gun on my chest then picked me up.
Albedo started walking I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his chest. My face started getting hot, I shut my eyes to avoid looking at Albedo. I hoped it would help, but it didn't. I could only hope we reached the RV soon and Albedo would set me down.
Albedo pov
I avoided looking at Jen as I carried her back to the RV. My face felt like it was on fire, and I wanted it to stop. I knew it wouldn't, not until I put Jen down and sunk my face in cold water. Lucky for me we reached the RV rather quickly.
I opened the door and took Jen to bed. I didn't question what happened or where Bleep was, I just let Jen rest. Resting actually sounded really good. Deciding that was the best choice I climbed into my bed and fell asleep rather quickly, but I had weird dreams about Jen.