7:59 P.M. – The Shatterverse
Underwater Area
"Great, from one pool to another," Nick groaned as he made a splash in the vast ocean of wherever he'd ended up after entering the green gateway. It didn't look like a pirate world, though, so he wasn't sure if this was the homeworld of that Captain Dread cluck.
Though, to be fair, Nick didn't believe that Captain Dread was at all native to the dimension that had become the Shatterverse.
Which brought up the question of how the heck she knew about the Paradox Prism at all, much less already had a shard of it in her possession.
Thinking about it wasn't going to get him anywhere, he realized, so Nick swam for his life, making sure to keep the Red Prism Shard in his Jetpack Backpack, out of sight.
After all, he had no idea what was awaiting him in this place.
As Nick continued to swim, he felt a pulse from the Red Prism Shard.
Nick glanced in the direction said pulse was leading him towards, and he saw a gigantic lighthouse in the distance, at the very edge of a lively-looking port town.
Maybe that was where the next Prism Shard was?
Nick decided to obey his gut instinct and swim that way, towards the lighthouse. Maybe the locals knew something about it?
Hoping that somebody knew something, Nick swam for his life, hoping he could find the rest of the shards before too long.
...even if that meant he'd have to go up against Captain Dread to claim the shard she currently possessed.
After all, he'd only escaped his earlier altercation with her through some miracle of dumb luck..
And his luck would run out eventually.
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(The pages constantly turn, no matter how long the reader takes. When one story ends, another story will inevitably start. In the end, there is only a new beginning.)
Mat49324 and The Blue Time Ranger are proud to present:
Totally Spies: The New Adventures
Episode 104: Blaine-boozled
Story Rated: T for Teen
Story Created: April 8th, 2024
Story Summary: The one-hundred and forty-second co-op project between Mat49324 and The Blue Time Ranger, and episode one hundred and four of our mission-based series Totally Spies: The New Adventures. Blaine's been recruited by a new spy agency, much to everybody's surprise, and yes, it's legitimate! ...or is it? With Clover massively upset over this apparent decision and refusing to partake in the spies' latest mission, the spies might be in trouble when they're down two members in the midst of chaos in the city, especially considering that this whole "recruitment" is the work of Geraldine Husk, still out to bring Blaine back into the fold of SPI. Can the spies bring Blaine back onto their team and deliver another crushing defeat to Geraldine, or has Jerry made his worst mistake yet in letting Blaine slip away?
Author's Notes from Mat49324: It's time for #104 overall for The New Adventures, and it's season 9 episode 4. Hope you enjoyed our last one, Thief of Hearts, as well. We've got another big one on the docket here this time. If you recall in our S9 opener when it was possible that Captain's Lament could have been May Iwakura's last mission as a WOOHP agent, I've thought of something similar here, which also reflects S5's Another Evil Boyfriend in a sense, but I'll let you be the judge. Anyway, here's The Blue Time Ranger for anything he'd like to say.
Author's Notes from The Blue Time Ranger: All right-y then, we're rolling on with season nine! We just came off the heels of a big one last time with a certain thief, the reveal of season nine's main villain, and some possible relationship things, so we've got a bit of drama for today's caper, involving Blaine and a certain member of the L.A.M.O.S. who's probably still salty about a lot of things. Well, let's get this one underway, shall we? ROLL IT!
And Now, the Obligatory Disclaimer: Mat49324 and The Blue Time Ranger do not own anything related to Totally Spies or any of its affiliations. It belongs solely to Marathon Media Group, Image Entertainment Corporation, Vincent Chalvon-Demersay, and David Michel. The only things of this story we DO own are any characters or locations created by us truly for the story. Any characters or things we don't own, we are just borrowing with no intent of copyright infringement, only for the entertainment of our readers. Besides, if we did own Totally Spies, which we don't, why would we be writing fiction on a fan site?
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Act 1: Recruitment Drive
11:22 A.M. – Malibu University
The Spies' Penthouse
Another week of classes at Malibu University had just concluded for the thirteen spies. It was another weekend, and the time for fun was now. As for Mat, he'd occupied the TV for the 2009 Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open of Supercross. Calling the race were Racer X Writer Jason Weigandt, former pro racer Jim Holley was the analyst, and Erin Bates was the pit reporter.
"Please let there be something about Chad Reed..." Mat sighed as he watched intently hoping for an update.
Currently, Nick and Melissa had volunteered to watch with him. May was making some lunch since it was getting close to that time.
"Seems this race is for the unknowns to rise up and win," Nick commented after he and Melissa saw the history of the first U.S. Open held in 1998.
The 1998 event was won by Damon Huffman on a #15 Kawasaki at the time, who finished 2nd in two nights of racing. The winners of those two races were Robbie Reynard (riding a #21 Suzuki at the time), and Jeremy McGrath won the second night.
"Yeah, but it doesn't happen all the time," Mat chuckled. "Jeff Emig winning the 1999 U.S. Open was a feel-good story though."
"Oh?" Melissa wondered when May came in with her lunch.
"Emig said he lost his Kawasaki ride..." Mat started. "That was after he was arrested for drug paraphernalia in Lake Havasu just before the '99 Binghamton race in New York. He comes back to win the U.S. Open, only to have injuries wipe out his 2000 season, and he called it a career then."
"That's no good," May commented.
"Now look at Emig," Mat added, amazed. "Now, he's the TV analyst for Supercross, and someone I like watching on top of that."
"At least it sounds like he went out on a mostly high note," Melissa stated.
"Sometimes, you gotta know when to fold 'em," Nick quipped.
The first night highlights of the main event started with some immediate action, as Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Josh Hansen #100 crashed less than 10 ft. out of the gate.
James Stewart on his #1 San Manuel Yamaha took the early lead and never looked back en route to the night 1 victory.
Unfortunately, the big disappointment of night #1 went to Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, who after passing Yamaha rookie Christian Craig #578 for 5th, would drop out due to a mechanical problem.
Jason: What happened to Villopoto?! Uh, last time he came around, he had trouble in the mechanic's area, and now Ryan Villopoto is driving it back to the Kawasaki rig.
Mat sighed at that turn of events.
"Oof," Melissa stated.
"'Oof' doesn't even begin to describe that," May noted.
Stewart was the night 1 winner with 2 Hondas finishing 2nd and 3rd – Davi Millsaps #18 and Dan Reardon #122 in that order. Rounding out the top 5 were two Yamahas in Matt Goerke #34 and #578 Christian Craig.
Sam and Bridget had came into the den next to see what the hubbub was about, and they were told about Mat recording the 2009 U.S. Open of Supercross.
"Did anyone see Alex?" Nick asked.
"She's making some ramen," Sam stated as Britney and the rest of the spies came in with lunches of their own.
Haruka quickly glanced at May, remembering the talk they'd had recently, and smiled at each other, May noting how much more at ease Haruka looked now that she'd decided she'd figure out a time to 'spill the beans'.
There was now a piece about former Factory rider Ezra Lusk coming off the couch to race the 2009 U.S. Open aboard a #11 450 Suzuki, which took Mat by surprise. It turned out Lusk retired after 2004 due to a family emergency when his little brother Shane Lusk suffered a serious injury in just his second professional season. Lusk was also hinting he might mount a comeback season in 2010.
"I was wondering what happened to Lusk after 2004," Mat gasped after the piece was over.
"Hey, sometimes these things just happen," Bridget chuckled. "I remember I had to take some time off from the track team when Jeremy passed away, just because my mind wasn't really in it."
After that was a piece of Suzuki's Michael Byrne #26 breaking down the U.S. Open track section by section.
"How come this track is so small?" Nick asked.
"It's just how it is when you deal with hotels like the MGM Grand," Mat replied.
Up next was a piece on Ryan Villopoto in his first race back after knee surgery ended his 2009 450 Motocross season after he swept the opener at Glen Helen. It also became known that Villopoto had decided at the last minute to race the 2009 U.S. Open.
Much to Mat's dismay, not only was Chad Reed not out there, but there was also still no word on if he would stay at Suzuki or ride a different motorcycle for 2010.
The qualifying highlights were next, which included some real physical contact to win the semis since only the winners would transfer while three qualifying heats took the first three finishers. Semi #2 showed privateers Kevin Johnson and Cole Siebler battling, and Siebler taking a shot at Johnson, only to stall and lose it.
"That's 'hero or zero' there," Mat chuckled, liking the action.
"Siebler almost had it," Haruka chuckled.
"Key word being almost," Nozomi quipped.
Semi #3 showed a battle between Michael Byrne and Heath Voss; Voss was leading at the time.
Jim: HERE'S THE PASS! IT'S COMING! WATCH THIS!
It ended with Byrne winning, and Voss falling to the dirt.
"That's what you get for assuming, Voss!" Nick laughed.
"Yup, never assume you've got the lead for keeps," Dawn noted.
The first Last Chance Qualifier went to another Honda privateer in Tiger Lacey #221, but the second LCQ was one to watch in the forms of another battle between DNA Honda's Matt Boni #54 and Yamaha's Matt Goerke #34 that lasted until the final turn.
Jason: WATCH OUT FOR BONI! BONI'S RIGHT BEHIND HIM!
"Oh, you better not..." Mat gasped at Goerke going wide and getting bumped by Boni. "OH MY GOD!"
Surprisingly, Goerke was able to keep his Yamaha upright after going off the track and over a couple of blue tuffblocks, but Boni had made the pass and stole the last transfer spot to the 14-rider main event.
Jim: WHAT AN INCREDIBLE RACE!
Mat was completely speechless. Goerke, who was 4th on night #1, would not be in the main event for night #2!
"I don't know what to say about THAT!" May exclaimed.
"I'm still at a loss for words that Goerke didn't crash!" Mat chuckled.
"He got incredibly lucky that didn't send him flying," Britney admitted.
"Tell me about it," Alex chuckled.
"Yeah, that was wild," Blaine quipped.
Up next was a piece on new 450 rookie Ryan Dungey on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki, who was not racing due to a supposed injury a month prior to the U.S. Open. Fortunately, Dungey led the U.S.A. to victory in the 2009 Motocross of Nations in Italy with teammates Ivan Tedesco on a Honda, and Jake Weimer on his Kawasaki.
Before long, the main event of night #2 was about to begin.
"Predictions, anyone?" Nick asked.
"I think this is Stewart's on a silver platter after Villopoto's DNF on night #1," Mat replied, not sounding optimistic that someone could beat him.
"Yeah, I think Stewart might have it," Nozomi chuckled.
"I'm not sure, maybe Villopoto still has a chance to turn it around," May answered. "Never say die, after all."
Stewart had wheelied out of the gate when the main got under way, and Honda's Reardon got the early lead. Kawasaki's Villopoto immediately got by Reardon for the lead well before the completion of the first lap.
Mat sighed right away at seeing James Stewart on his #1 Yamaha 450 was running in 3rd place.
"I can already see the overall win for Stewart coming," Mat told the others.
"I never thought I'd hear you say that," Melissa told Mat.
That was when Stewart uncorked a new line by jumping over half of the first whoop section, much to Mat's dismay. Reardon could not do anything about it, and he lost 2nd place to Stewart.
"I just hope Villopoto can prove me wrong and hold him off," Mat stated. "But it's going to be hard if Villopoto's been on the bike for just two weeks..."
"For Mat's sake, I'm hoping it's a green bike winning this race," Sam quipped.
Unfortunately, the odds of that happening were shrinking, as Stewart had closed up on race leader Villopoto.
Jason: Stewart has caught Villopoto, and you don't want to make enemies this early! They're all focused on that Supercross series that will begin in Anaheim in January! You don't want to race the guy too hard here...
"I hope Villopoto holds him off somehow," Mat stated.
Unfortunately, Mat had spoken too soon because Stewart had got around that #2 Kawasaki 450F, and despite a tag game for two corners, Stewart stamped his authority and took the lead from Villopoto... much to Mat's dismay.
"Well, it was good while it lasted," Blaine replied to Mat.
"Sometimes I wonder how good your intuition is with this sport, Mat," Haruka commented.
"Just experience from watching it as long as I have, really," Mat admitted.
"Yeah, Villopoto was so close," May sighed.
A while later in the 20-lap main, Ezra Lusk on his #11 Suzuki was battling with privateer Tyler Bowers #911 for 8th place.
Jason: EZRA LUSK... MAKES THE PASS!
Jim: And that's that turn that I said – if you go to the outside, and you can go to the inside like Ezra, he's got a lot of experience there...
Lusk began to pull away from the young Tyler Bowers, and he was going after Nick Wey #27 for 7th.
"When was the last time Lusk raced?" Dawn wondered.
"July 2004 in Washougal," Mat immediately answered.
Jason: Unbelievable what Ezra Lusk has been able to do! Turn back the clock – he's 34 years old, but he has not raced in FIVE YEARS! Last night was a struggle... I think a lot of people were thinking, "Well, it was nice if he tried..." but no longer do you have to give him any kind of excuse. He is riding just as well as the guys up in front of the pack.
"That's a surprise to me slightly," Mat told the others.
"For five years off, that IS a surprise indeed," May commented.
When the final lap came out, Stewart was far ahead of 2nd place Villopoto.
Jim: And that's gonna be back-to-back wins here at the U.S. Open for James Stewart. He's going to go off to France, he's gonna go to Italy, and then the other thing: he's going down to Australia to race Chad Reed on that new Kawi.
Jason: He's gonna find the competition. James Stewart WINS the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open, and battling back... there you see Millsaps got around Reardon! That could be the difference for 2nd and 3rd overall! As for Ezra Lusk, look at the fans cheering! The old man rode like a young kid tonight... I think he made the right move making the comeback here.
Jim: He did, and hopefully we'll see him at Anaheim come round 1, January 9.
Lusk came home finishing 8th in the main event at 34 years young.
"That's a great ride for Lusk," Mat replied. "I hope he's in for Anaheim 1!"
The overall results showed Stewart with a 1-1, Davi Millsaps 2nd place with a 2-3, and Dan Reardon rounded out the podium overall with a 3-4. 2nd place Villopoto was credited with 4th place overall with a 14-2.
"Your take, Mat?" Bridget wondered.
"Well, I've got my answer for where Chad Reed is going – Kawasaki – first of all," Mat replied, happy about that. "But the outcome of this race... who DIDN'T think Stewart was going to win this?"
Nobody else could even counter that with an answer.
"Anyway, who lost the bet?" Clover wondered.
"I think it was just me," May responded. "So, what's the 'punishment' gonna be?"
"I think I've got an idea," Clover chuckled as she and Blaine moved towards the pool.
However, the pool fun would have to wait, since Nick suddenly tensed up, having picked up some unsavory thoughts from not too far away.
"I know that look," Haruka quipped. "Are you picking up trouble, Nick?"
"Yeah, just outside campus," Nick responded. "We'd better go and check it out."
After suiting up, the spies made their way in the direction that Nick had sensed the strange thoughts. After a few minutes, they discovered the source just off-campus, and it appeared in the form of a squadron of mooks led by who else but Geraldine Husk.
"Oh, wonderful, you're the last person I wanted to see right now," Clover groaned. "Why don't you just go and flake off?!"
"Sorry, but that's not gonna happen," Geraldine cackled. "It's been a while since the L.A.M.O.S. got to play with you bums, so I figured it was time to rectify that."
"Sorry, but we're not in any mood to be rectifying anything right now," Alex retorted.
"Let's get 'em, boys!" Geraldine laughed as she and her mooks all charged in to attack.
Before they could get closer, though, a bunch of the mooks were suddenly thrown aside by someone charging through the crowd.
"What's the matter, you idiots?!" Geraldine shouted. "Stop monkeying around and get them!"
One of the mooks was quickly and ceremoniously tossed into Geraldine, knocking them both down as well as revealing who was tossing the mooks aside.
And the spies were definitely happy to see her.
"Well, well, look at what we have here," Sortiliena taunted as she shifted into a fighting stance. "If it isn't a troublemaker from my least favorite villain group."
"Argh, not you again," Geraldine growled.
"Yup, me again," Sortiliena retorted. "Sortiliena Serlut, W.O.O.H.P. Combat Instructor, at your service!"
"Why can't you just butt out of our business?!" Geraldine shouted as she lunged forward to attack Sortiliena.
"Hey, you should know that whenever the L.A.M.O.S. are involved, I won't be too far behind," Sortiliena chuckled as she sidestepped Geraldine's punch before lashing out with a leg sweep to send Geraldine stumbling.
Geraldine quickly recovered and tried another tactic by firing a grappling hook from her pistol and catching Sortiliena by the waist.
So, naturally, Geraldine was surprised to see Sortiliena actually grab onto the wire and yank on it, pulling Geraldine closer so that Sortiliena could sock her in the face with a right hook.
"I'm shocked that you still think that'll work on me," Sortiliena laughed.
"So help me, you'll feel my wrath yet!" Geraldine growled as she picked herself back up, only to get knocked right back down by a flying anchor to the back courtesy of May.
"I believe that's our line, ya old bat," May taunted as the rest of the spies prepared for battle.
A bunch of mooks surrounded the rest of the spies, but they were all quickly knocked down thanks to Bridget transforming into Sonic Mode and running around to plow through them.
After the mooks were down, Bridget started running towards Nick, her intent obvious.
"You know what time it is, Nick?" Bridget chuckled.
"Oh, hell yes I do," Nick responded as he extended his hand so that Bridget could take it, the two of them dashing towards Geraldine. "Let's give this wicked witch a taste of the Purple Comet Attack!"
"You really think I'm just going to let you?!" Geraldine cackled, aiming a boomerang-like gadget towards the spies, only for Sortiliena to run up and kick Geraldine into Nick and Bridget's path.
This gave Nick and Bridget the chance to bum-rush Geraldine, using their boosted speed to send Geraldine into the air with their joined arms, causing her to fly into the air flipping.
Nick and Bridget let go of each other so they could go on the offensive, Nick landing a lifting flying kick to send Geraldine higher into the air, while Bridget leapfrogged off of Nick's shoulders and snap-kicked Geraldine back down to the ground.
Before Geraldine could even bounce, Nick and Bridget were on her again, lashing out to hit her with multiple super-fast strikes before sending Geraldine back into the air with dual flying kicks.
"Ready, Nick?" Bridget exclaimed.
"Let's stomp 'em!" Nick shouted.
With that, Nick and Bridget charged, attacking Geraldine nonstop from multiple angles, making it look like Geraldine was being pinballed around in the air.
For the finale, Nick and Bridget both attacked Geraldine in perfect sync, resembling a much faster version of Nick and Haruka's Accel Dance maneuver, before charging through Geraldine and sending her careening into the ground.
"Yeah, I still can't get enough of the Purple Comet Attack," Bridget giggled as she and Nick high-fived each other.
"Ugh, I assure you this isn't over," Geraldine quipped after she got back to her feet. "In fact, you haven't even seen half of what I'm capable of."
And with that, Geraldine and her mooks retreated.
"Good to see you again, Sortiliena," Sam chuckled.
"Nowhere I'd rather be, really," Sortiliena responded. "Now how about we all head out and go after that little tart?"
"Actually, spies, could you all stop at headquarters before that?" Jerry's voice rang out from Sam's X-Powder. "Something's come up that requires your attention."
"We're on our way, boss man," May proclaimed.
But as the fourteen spies made their way to W.O.O.H.P. Headquarters, Nick couldn't help but think that something was up.
I don't know why, but I have a feeling things are about to get rather intense, Nick thought.
"The entire city is safe for the time being," RiCO told them all before Nick could use his psychic radar to check anything.
"Oh... thanks, RiCO," Nick replied, not expecting that.
Before long, the spies flew back to W.O.O.H.P. to find out what this new development was.
2:01 P.M. – W.O.O.H.P. Headquarters
Jerry's Office
"We're all here, Jer," Sam quipped. "What's this development that couldn't wait?"
Jerry pulled up his viewscreen.
"I'm afraid this involves you... Blaine," Jerry began, a little dejection sounding in his tone.
"Me?!" Blaine chastised. "Am I being benched or something?"
"No," Jerry immediately stated as he continued his speech. "I've just received this notice while you were out stopping Geraldine. Blaine, you've been recruited by another spy agency, and I'm afraid that you nor I have any say in the matter..."
"Wait... what?!" Mat exclaimed.
"Isn't this way beyond short-notice or something?!" Britney added.
"Unfortunately, this is all legitimate, spies," RiCO announced. "This new spy organization calls itself 'GD24/7/365' and apparently they think they see something in Blaine that we don't..."
"What's the 'G.D.' for anyway?" Haruka asked.
"Good Deeds 24/7/365," RiCO replied.
"Sounds kind of cheesy to me," Bridget commented.
"I'm afraid this is very much your final mission as a W.O.O.H.P. agent, Blaine," Jerry dejectedly announced.
Those exact words were the last words Clover thought she'd ever hear.
NO-O-O! Clover thought, seeing her future possibly shattered. Blaine-y HAS to have a say in this...!
Sam and Alex came to Clover's aid.
"There's really nothing you can do, Jer?" Nozomi wondered.
"I tried," Jerry remarked. "Even through phone calls, emails, direct face-to-face convos... but their mind has been made up."
"This is far from normal..." Alex added. "It's just WRONG!"
"There has to be something that can be done..." May emphasized. "As Alex said, this is far from normal..."
"I'm going to try again a little later in the hopes they'll reconsider," Jerry assured them. "But for now, you have a mission to tackle, spies."
"Just go on without me..." Clover told them through her broken heart.
("All Out of Love" by Air Supply plays)
"CLOVER?!" Sam and Alex exclaimed.
"How do you think WE feel about this news?!" Bridget chastised.
"I'm sorry, Clover," Jerry remarked. "And I don't like this anymore than you do, but I'm afraid I can't honor this."
"There's turmoil just going on now," RiCO added.
"Clover, you really need to put your feelings aside..." Melissa insisted.
"Yeah, this news sucks, but you and Blaine can still have a future together," Dawn added. "There are plenty of married couples with two different occupations after all!"
Everyone looked on at Clover and hoped she'd reconsider.
"...it looks like I don't really have a choice, do I?" Clover groaned.
"Clover, you don't have to act like this is the end of the world," Nick stated. "Just because Blaine's going to a different spy agency doesn't mean it's gonna be the..."
"AND HOW IN THE HELL COULD YOU, OF ALL FREAKIN' PEOPLE, POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL?!" Clover shrieked, catching everybody in the room by surprise. "Look at you, Nick! You've got a fiancée and two extra girlfriends! This shit isn't happening to you, so why in the hell would you know anything about what I'm going through right now?!"
Clover didn't give anybody a chance to react, walking towards the exit of the office. "You and Mat are both incredibly lucky to have so many ladies in your heart," Clover growled. "Blaine is all that I have! And I'm seriously about to lose him to another spy agency that I've never heard of before this, and your response is to, basically, tell me to get over it?!"
Now plenty angry, Clover immediately spun around and started marching towards Nick, making the other spies worried about what was about to happen, given that things had seriously escalated the last time Nick and Clover had gotten into an argument.
"You've really got some freakin' nerve, you know that?!" Clover snarled. "Here you are, acting like this is no big deal. WELL, IT IS TO ME!"
Clover swung her fist out, much to the vocal protests of the other spies...
...only for Nick to calmly catch Clover's fist with his own hand.
"Knock it off, Clover," Nick retorted. "I know you're upset, and you have every right to be, but you're clearly not being reasonable right now. Need I remind you of what happened the last time you and I got heated like this?"
"YOU'RE STILL NOT LISTENING TO ME!" Clover shouted back. "What part of 'I'm about to lose the love of my life to another agency' isn't registering in your head right now?!"
"I understand you clearly, Clover, but you need to calm down," Nick responded. "Going absolutely bonkers over this is not going to solve anything, and you know it."
"Oh, that's totally rich, coming from you!" Clover screamed. "Last time, you were the one who just couldn't resist jumping at the chance to throw hands with me!"
In her rage, Clover attempted to leg sweep Nick off of his feet, but Nick quickly countered by using Zero Gravity to make Clover float into the air.
"Listen to me, Clover, losing your mind over this is only gonna make all of this worse in the long run," Nick countered. "Maybe just calm down and focus on the problem we already have in front of us right now."
"And here you are again, just telling me to get over losing my boyfriend!" Clover shot back. "Well, fine, then! I don't need your help! I don't need anyone's help! I'm going to take care of this, with or without you!"
After landing on the ground, Clover stormed out of the office, leaving the remaining spies to process what had just happened.
"...does 'oof' even begin to describe what just went down?" May quipped.
"Probably not even close," Melissa admitted.
"At least you didn't get heated yourself, Nick," Sam sighed.
"Yeah, I definitely didn't want a repeat of last time," Nick responded. "But regardless, I think we need to head after Clover right stat now. With how irrational she's acting, I don't want her to get in over her head out there, especially if Geraldine's on the prowl."
"And I assure you, spies, I had nothing to do with making this decision," Jerry stated quite clearly. "I even tried to change their minds multiple times to no avail."
"Some people are just too stubborn to listen, really," RiCO quipped.
"I guess this is the last time I'll be working with you all here, huh?" Blaine sighed. "But if this is my last mission at W.O.O.H.P., then... let's go out with a bang, all right?"
"Now you're talking my lingo, Blaine," Nick proclaimed. "Let's go take Geraldine down. And I mean all the freakin' way down."
"I just picked up Geraldine's signal in the downtown area," RiCO stated. "You should be able to intercept her if you head out right now!"
The spies all quickly suited up and headed out, hoping they could stop Geraldine and whatever her latest crazy scheme was...
...and hoping they could stop Clover from doing something irrational in her emotional state.
2:57 P.M. – Downtown Beverly Hills
"I don't see Geraldine anywhere around here," Sam admitted once the spies had reached the spot that RiCO had specified. "You think she might have vamoosed?"
"Seems that way," Nick answered, checking his X-Powder to view RiCO's tracking program, which was showing that Geraldine's signal had moved somewhere deeper into the area. "She's probably trying to throw us off."
"...or she might have left some of her mooks to play with us," Haruka noted, gesturing to the squadron of henchmen that were now surrounding them.
"You won't be getting anywhere close to our boss," one of the henchmen cackled.
"Um, listen, buddy," Britney stated. "We're kind of not in the mood for your nonsense right now, so if you'd all kindly step off and let us through..."
The mooks simply advanced threateningly.
"...didn't think so," May chuckled, throwing her anchor like a javelin to scatter the mooks like bowling pins.
Nick jumped into the air and fired a Final Shine Attack before sweeping the blast across the ground to knock the mooks around some more.
Mat backflipped over one mook who was trying to approach him from behind, before landing and throwing a pair of Electric Snare Bolas to capture two mooks at once.
"Nice try," Mat chuckled.
One mook attempted to sneak up behind Alex while she was distracted assisting Blaine with another pair of mooks, but that mook was quickly interrupted by both Nick and Haruka, who clocked the mook from both sides with a right hook, followed by landing four rapid strikes from either side in perfect sync with each other, before sending the mook into the air with a dual rising kick, and finally jumping into the air after the mook and slamming their feet into his chest, sending him crashing back to the ground.
"Never gets old, does it?" Haruka chuckled as she high-fived Nick.
"Not a bit," Nick replied.
Meanwhile, Melissa and Dawn were hovering over the crowd of mooks via Melissa's Helicopter Hand Fan so Dawn could take potshots at them with her Cyclone Blast Hairdryer.
Eventually, the spies managed to force all of the mooks to retreat for the moment.
"That was oddly satisfying," Blaine chuckled.
"And on that note, I think we'd better keep looking for Geraldine," Sam stated. "I just hope Clover didn't do anything reckless and get herself in trouble..."
"Wait, I just picked up Clover's X-Powder signal," RiCO proclaimed. "And it looks like it's heading in the direction of Geraldine's signal!"
"...why, oh why did I freakin' call it?" Sam groaned.
"We'd better hurry," Nick quipped. "I have no idea what Geraldine's got up her sleeves this time, but it can't be anything good."
Nothing more needed to be said as the spies all took off in the direction of the X-Powder signal, hoping Clover hadn't gotten herself into trouble.
To be continued...
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Next time...
Sam: I think she's close. The reading's getting stronger this way.
Nozomi: I just hope Clover's going to be all right. This really seems to be hitting her hard.
Blaine: And it's not like I'm never going to see Clover again. I'm surprised she got so riled up back at W.O.O.H.P., honestly...
Alex: Well, Clover's always been the most emotional of us. Remember back when we dealt with Myrna not long after you joined us, Blaine?
Blaine: Oof, how could I forget that?
Mat: Regardless, I think we need to hurry. I don't want Clover to get herself in trouble the way she's acting right now.
Haruka: Hey, there they are!
Clover: Why don't you stand still, you little hag?!
Geraldine: Ooh, is that a bit of anger I detect in your voice? What's got you so worked up today?
Clover: None of your damn business!
Geraldine dodged the kick and moved closer to strike at Clover with her own taser, only to be floored by a Final Shine Attack courtesy of Nick.
Nick: Don't you know it's rude to talk smack about someone when they're right in front of you, Geraldine?
Melissa: I guess we'll have to continue this fracas next time on Totally Spies: Blaine-boozled, "A Spy's Rage"!
Alex: Wow, Clover, you legit gave me the chills with that rage acting.
Clover: Did I really? I'd like to think I've gotten better at stuff like that since season two.