Wolfang21: While that's not fully how it's gonna go, let's say Cree is now ready to do whatever it takes to save Sector Z.
So, sadly, this story is coming to an end. I know that canon still has more events to cover, but CREE'S story is coming to an end. I really don't want to drag it out. Either way, it's time to finally see what Firecracker was going to say.
In the days after Grandfather's revival and defeat, the Kids Next Door and the Teen Next Door were all in a buzz. Among other things, the moonbase needed to be fixed (and, from what Cree could tell, they decided to make it bigger and better than ever) and, of course, the reveal of what had happened to Sector Z.
Needless to say, just about everyone was ready to save the legendary Sector, but no one knew where to start. If Father was telling the truth, then the power source would have to be BEYOND powerful. Not to mention, they would have to capture the Delightful Children and make sure Father didn't manage to save his "kids" before the process was done.
Still, the word "quit" wasn't really in the Kids or Teens Next Door vocab.
"I feel like this would be easier if we knew how much power the machine was supposed to use so we could multiply that by eleventy billion or something." Chad noted as he idly played with a toothpick in his mouth.
"Where's Firecracker? Isn't this stuff her specialty?" Maurice piped up.
"Her specialty is blowing stuff up," Cree responded. "Although…she might be good with power sources at least."
"We can't ask her anything if we don't know where she is!" Chad pointed out as he threw his hands in the air. "She's been pretty much persona non grata since we found out about Sector Z!"
"Well she does have some history with them," Maurice pointed out. "Not that I know what it is."
"No one does," Cree reminded him. "I almost got her to spill at that party in Father's mansion, but he came home before she did. Decided to let her rest because she got really hammered that night."
"Now I just want to know," Chad admitted as he stood up. "Let's check her lab."
"Best option I can think of, since I don't actually think I know where she lives," Cree admitted as she stood up as well. They, along with Maurice, headed over to Firecracker's lab. Much to their shock, the door was actually open.
"Uh…Firecracker?" Maurice asked as he knocked on the door, causing it to open slightly further and allowing them to look inside. Firecracker was hunched over her desk, hands firmly clutching her head. She seemed to be trembling.
"All this time…they were so close THIS WHOLE TIME!" The explosives expert suddenly slammed one of her fists down.
"Firecracker? Are you okay?" Chad asked. Firecracker whipped around, her eyes marred by tears and eyebags.
"Do I look okay!?" She snapped. "I've been looking for Sector Z for five years and it turns out that they were right under my nose this whole time! I could have saved them YEARS ago! Or at least I could have spent that time trying…trying to save them…" Firecracker stopped talking after that, but the unspoken words could be heard loud and clear.
"I could have saved them."
"Firecracker…Ava," Chad placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "No one knew. Not me or anyone else."
"In case you forgot, Chad, I'm the whole reason they were in this mess in the first place!" Firecracker snapped, clearly not willing to believe this wasn't her fault.
"What are you talking about?" Cree had to ask. Firecracker took a breath and wiped her eyes. If anyone deserved to know, it was these three.
"...It was right around the time I started really making a name for myself," Firecracker began. "I was about…8 I wanna say. I got sent to this orphanage on the other side of town. Where the old Sector Z was stationed. Basically, they thought it was a front to brainwash kids to slave labor. Turned out to be true. I was getting ready to run a sabotage operation when I ran into Sector Z before they were Sector Z. Turns out they were all orphans, but managed to avoid getting brainwashed somehow and had been running their own attempt at a resistance. Begged me to let'em help. Took a chance on them and let me tell you, even for five year olds those kids were some of the brightest and best I'd ever seen! And well, I didn't have a sibling yet so it was cool having a bunch of little siblings to brag to."
"Tell me about it," Cree interjected in an attempt at lightening the mood. Luckily, it did manage to draw a chuckle out of Firecracker.
"But I pretty much watched them grow. For five years, I saw those kids turn into bright eyed cadets who only wanted to make a difference into the finest that the KND could produce." That recollection created a light in Firecracker's eyes that no one had ever seen. However, it wouldn't last, as her next words caused the lights to fade. "And then that fateful mission happened. And I was in the infirmary, trying to rest off a firework hitting me in the gut. If I had come, I could have blown that chamber up before Father could have even turned it on!"
"Or you could have been Delightfulized too!" Cree pointed out, causing everyone to turn to her. "It's too late to think about the what could have beens, Firecracker! Maybe you could have saved them. And maybe there would be six delightful children. Who knows!? What matters now is that you have a chance to make it right. What you lost that night, you can get back!" Cree then turned to her prosthetic, running her fingers along it. While she had long since gotten used to it, she wouldn't deny that she wished she still had two hands. "I…I can't."
"Cree…" Firecracker trailed off. While harsh, it was something she needed to hear. She finally allowed herself to smile. "Thanks. I think I needed that. You've got a way of pepping people up."
"Well I WAS a sector leader and a big sister. You kinda learn as you go," Cree replied with a smug tone. Firecracker laughed again.
"Now that you're in better spirits, we actually wanted to ask you about possible power sources?" Maurice admitted. "Since you'd be the best at making stuff more powerful than whatever Father did to Sector Z."
"Hmm…I'm not fully sure, but I'm sure if you showed me that warehouse where everything went down, I'll bet I could cook something up!" Firecracker declared as she proudly crossed her arms. "Now let's get going!"
"Cree, you up for joining us?" Maurice asked, wanting to make sure his friend was okay.
"I should be fine as long as I don't get too close," Cree assured them. "I think I still remember where it is. But let's bring Sector Z home…for good."
I think you know what's coming…but I always have some tricks up my sleeve.
