Los Angeles - 3:42AM
"Done?!" shouted Tulip Lockeheart, slamming her fist against the night stand near her bed, knocking over a framed picture of her and her significant other. She clenched tightly to her smartphone as she listened intensely for a reason.
"Yeah... I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner," said the man on the other line.
"But... But why now? After all we've done together..."
"I know... and it's my fault. I didn't have the courage to tell you we were drifting away."
Lockeheart frantically rummaged through her drawers to pull out a ring. Her family thought it odd that she would be proposing to him, especially since he was pulling more money than she was, but Tulip was certain that her boyfriend was worth it. She sold off many of her prized possessions, things she held onto over the years, and even started working overtime at her job at the warehouse to pull in enough money to tie the knot. The ring she held in her hands cost more than the apartment she lived in. And it was a physical embodiment of the love she had for her one and only.
"Drifting?" she asked, voice crumbling. "Kyle... please, let's just meet somewhere and talk about this. If we have problems we can work them out... please..."
"I'm sorry, Tulip. We're done..." The phone clicked. Tulip lowered her phone down and locked her eyes on the ring. Just a few short hours ago she was preparing to propose next week on Valentine's Day. Now, with a single phone call, what could've been the start of the rest of her life is now what could have been.
Conflicted, she opened the window and was ready to toss it far away - it was meaningless to her. But before she could, below her a young couple sat next to each other on the sidewalk. After a bit of inaudible comedy the two stood up and walked away together, hand in hand. Tulip watched as they turned the corner and disappeared for good. Rage took over.
"You don't get it... you saved me..." she clutched her ring and lowered her eyebrows.
Totally Spies!
"Samesies Twinsies"
Written by K.G Maru
Beverly Hills High School - 10:36AM
"Good morning, students of Bev High! If you missed yesterday, next week we will be hosting our very first "Samesies Twinsies" event! Where students will be able to spend the whole day together - granted you bring an outfit you can all fit in!" announced a faculty member on the speakers.
Most people ignored the announcement, as they usually do during mornings, but there were the small few that were entertaining the idea of participating.
"So, what do you girls think about the school's Valentine's Day event?" asked Sam.
"Sam, I know better than to stretch out my favorite sweater," replied Clover, closing her locker shut.
"Well, we still have a week. Maybe you could make one just for the event," said Alex.
"Yeah, I'll pass," said Clover. Just shy away from a few feet of walking, Clover stopped in her tracks, halting Sam and Alex behind her.
"On second thought... you think maybe Randy Davis is considering it?"
Randy was one of the jock types at school, with a chiseled jawline, sparkling green eyes, and a tad bit of a messy curtain, you could imagine he's quite the popular looker. Even more than before now that he and his girlfriend broke up. Seizing the opportunity, Clover pushed up her hair and made her way towards Randy, who was standing in front of his locker. Sam and Alex were left giving each other the 'I knew this would happen' look.
As Clover approached, Randy looked towards her and smiled.
"Hey." he said. Clover slipped a confident smirk as she continued to walk closer. It was known that Randy doesn't greet just anyone - only those in the 'in crowd' were able to get so much as a 'hey' from him. Clover knew she had this in the bag, it was a no brainer. Like a moth to the flame.
"Out of my way," said Mandy, pushing Clover aside and wrapping her arms around Randy.
"So, Randy, are you planning on doing anything for the Valentine's event?"
"At the moment, nah."
"Really? Then how about you and I... stick together next week?"
"Ehhh... sure, I'm down."
"Great!" Mandy shot a mocking glare at Clover, who stood there dumbfounded. She had no idea who was the moth in this situation.
"How about we do something this weekend, get to know each other better?"
"Not this weekend, I got practice. Maybe Wednesday?" said Randy. "Wednesday's perfect," said Mandy. He closed his locker and was preparing to leave before Clover snapped out of her bewilderment.
"Wait, Randy!" she called. When he turned around Clover was right behind him, she wasn't sure what she was going to say but she wasn't going to let it go that easily.
"Uhh... do I know you?" but Randy was. Speechless, she froze and didn't pursue any further. "I gotta go," he said awkwardly before heading over to class.
"Face it loser," said Mandy, "as long as I'm here, you're never going to get with any of the hotties at Bev High, so why don't you take yourself and your loser friends to the library. Maybe you'll find someone in your league there," she laughed.
Sam and Alex caught up to Clover and crossed their arms. "Why don't you take yourself AND your faux nails to the garbage dump where they belong?" retorted Clover.
Mandy yawned, "Whatever, I'm just giving you some advice. You could use some, especially with hair like that, hahahahaha! Happy Valentine's Day, losers!" she said, as she started to walk away.
Clover groaned in frustration. Sam put her hand over her shoulder and said, "Don't worry about her, we can do this event ourselves, just the three of us."
"Yeah, Clover!" said Alex, "it could be a lot of fun!"
Clover put a finger over her chin.
"Hmm... you know what, alright. After school we can decide on the design of the sweater."
"Yeah!" cheered Sam and Alex.
"Besides, in hindsight, there's nobody I would rather be stuck with than my best friends."
"Awww!" Sam and Alex hugged her.
"I feel kinda sorry for Randy though. Imagine having to spend the whole day stuck to Mandy," said Alex.
"Ugh," Clover shuttered at the thought, "I sooo don't wanna. I can't stand being around that snob, no way I'd last an entire day with her."
"Yeah, sounds miserable." added Sam. "We should probably get to class."
After Sam said that, the lockers near them opened up and sucked them in like a vacuum. Their off guard shrieks of terror were cut off by the lockers closing again, leaving no time for anybody to notice. The girls rode on a swirly slide, spinning them around.
"I think I'm going to be sick!" echoed Alex's voice as they descended further down the slide. They eventually landed on a pink round cushion in Jerry's office, putting a stop to their screaming. Alex climbed off of the cushion and went straight for the trash bin near Jerry's desk. She kneeled in front of it and panted heavily.
"Oh... oh... oh... OK, phew." Alex stood back up and sat down on the pink cushion near her friends.
"I take it this WOOHP away wasn't a pleasant ride?" asked Jerry.
"Since when is it ever?" said Clover.
Jerry pouted. "Noted. We'll be sure to be a bit more... creative in the future."
"What's the situation, Jer?" asked Sam. Jerry clicked a remote device that turned on the screen behind him, displaying a map of LA. "We've picked up several distress signals across the city, civilians are being woven together seemingly at random."
"Uhh... what?" asked Clover.
"You heard me correct. People are being conjoined together by unexplainable means."
"What a coincidence. Our school is doing an event next week where students wear conjoining clothes."
Jerry raised an eyebrow at Sam's comment. "How strange," he said.
"Yeah, think there's a connection?" asked Sam.
"I'm not sure but your school should work on their events..." Clover giggled at the remark.
"Anyhow, I want you girls to keep lookout. Our signals are picking up a pattern of conjoined civilians and they're heading near the Beverly Hills Mall."
Clover perked up at the mention of the mall, "Seriously?! Then what are we waiting for, Jer, let's get going and catch this... conjoining criminal!"
"Not before equipping your gadgets," said Jerry. He snapped his fingers and the top side of his desk flipped over, revealing a set of gadgets created by WOOHP to help the girls on their mission.
"For this mission we have for you the jetpack backpack," he said, grabbing the heart shaped gadget and placing it back down on the table, "expandable cable bungee belt," showing the girls the cable, and letting it snap back into the belt like a measuring tape, "and last but not least, the all new and improved emergency propeller watches."
"Woah! What is that?" said Clover, pointing to the watches.
"The propeller watches? Ah, yes, tap the button and direct your wrist towards the direction you wish to launch to-"
"No," she interrupted, "I mean what are these colors! These are so Autumn colors, and it's like, so not Autumn anymore."
"Clover..." Sam sighed. "You gotta keep it current, Jer." she continued.
"I see... I'll bear that in mind."
Alex retrieved the gadgets from the desk and handed them to the others. Clover hesitated putting the watch on so Sam took it from her and equipped it for herself.
"There we are. Good luck, ladies." Jerry pressed a button on his desk, sliding open the floor below the girls and dropping them to the WOOHP garage. All of their screaming echoed in the metal chute they were falling in. With any luck the ride down won't be as swirly - or so Alex hoped.
Los Angeles - 3:39PM
Many hours have passed since the girls made their way to the city. In that time they were able to confirm that people were in fact being stuck together. In some cases, the two people's clothes looked as if they were shoddily stitched together, and each person had control of just their side, although the victims legs remained separate. From an outsider perspective it looked intentional. Problem is, the giveaway that it wasn't was the fact these people were terrified of the idea of being conjoined to another person, as to be expected.
"Just making sure, you're certain that you didn't see anybody acting suspicious before this happened, did you?" Sam asked a conjoined couple.
"No, me and my girlfriend were just chilling on the outside bench of a cafe and suddenly we both felt like we got zapped by something, then everything went dark and - next thing we know, we're stuck to each other."
"I don't know how I'm going to explain this to my father... I'm not supposed to be around him, you see," said the woman on the other side.
"Sheesh. Sounds like you got yourselves in a bit of a sticky situ-..." the couple shot a piercing glare at Alex. "Sorry," she apologized.
"Thanks for your input, and don't worry, we won't use your names in the article," said Sam.
"I hope someone figures out what caused this," said the man. "But if we don't find a way to fix this, I want you to know that this doesn't change a thing. You were, and always will be, my other half."
"Awwww, Damien... come here."
"I'm already next to you. Forever."
The two turned their heads to each other and started sucking face. The spies reluctantly watched for a few seconds before concurrently turning around to discuss what they've learned in private.
"Okay... So, it's been 5 hours and we've learned, what exactly?" Asked Clover.
"That can't be comfortable..." said Alex, with her head turned back at the couple. Clover turned her head back at the spies and said, "Look, we'll tell Jerry what everyone else told us: they felt a zap and suddenly became a two for one."
"But we still need to find out who's behind all this," asserted Sam, "so nobody saw anyone, but people don't just naturally conjoin themselves by accident."
"Yeah, it's a real mystery. You know, we're only a few blocks away from the mall..."
"And?"
"Maybe we should take five and shop... investigate there?"
"You just want to visit the mall, don't you, Clover?"
"No- I mean yes! Maybe something will turn up!"
Sam squeezed her temples and sighed. "Jerry did say things were heating up towards the mall... maybe if we check it out our case won't be going cold yet."
"Yes!" exulted Clover. The girls walked around the corner and waited at the crosswalk. A guy with brown hair noticed the colorful suits they were wearing and eyed them suspiciously, to which Clover leaned against the button pole in an attempt to flirt with him, but the others weren't having any of it and dragged her away the moment they were allowed to cross. After turning another corner they froze to the sound of a woman's screaming.
"Do you guys hear that?" asked Sam.
"Ugh, unfortunately, yeah. Where's it coming from?" said Clover.
The spies looked around in the street, eventually spotting a conjoined set of people running frantically around the sidewalk. "OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH," they repeated in a panic.
Just ahead of the couple, a set of bushes began to rustle. "There!" shouted Sam. The spies chased after the sound, and after passing through the branches of the bushes, they found themselves in another street where a woman with brown hair, looking to be roughly in her mid 20s was trying to escape. She wore a chrome plated backpack, which was connected to a ray gun of some sorts.
"You there!" Sam called out. The woman stopped in her tracks and turned around to face the girls.
"Leave me alone!"
"Yeah, right! What do you have in your hands?" asked Sam.
"I told you to leave me alone!"
She aimed at the spies and pulled the trigger, the ray gun shot out a bright yellow beam towards Clover, who managed to jump out of the way.
"Hey! That's it, you are so going down for almost ruining my hair!" retorted Clover.
The woman blasted more lasers at the spies, and they all stylishly avoided each and every projectile. As they continued to dodge the barrage of lasers, she spotted a civilian walking out of a nearby store. She smirked and shifted the gun towards them.
"This is going to look perfect on us... and I can't wait to see the look on her face when-"
"Hey!" shouted Clover, who was closest to the unlucky bystander.
In an attempt to push the person out of the way, Clover jumped after them, managing to push the civilian out of the way and backing up just in the nick of time to avoid the laser. However, the laser ricocheted off the glass window of the store and struck her regardless. She felt a burst of electricity, and from the corner of her eye, watched a line connect to the person she thought she had rescued.
"Clover, look out!" shouted Alex.
"A little late for that," said Sam.
The two rushed to Clover's side and saw her next to the last person they wanted to see, especially right now of all times.
"Mandy?!" they shouted.
They heard the ray gun recharging, and frantically started to shake Clover.
"Get up! Hey, what's the matter?" said Alex.
"Ugh! She's not responding! Neither of them are!"
"What do we do?"
"Pick her up- both of them!"
"What about her?" asked Alex, staring down at the woman with the raygun.
"We'll deal with her later!"
Sam and Alex used their combined strength to carry Mandy and Clover respectively. With just one hand free, Sam waited until she was certain that the two had a tight enough grip on the girls and held her right fist in the air and tried flicking her wrist in an attempt to push the heart shaped button on her propeller watch gadget.
She let out a frustrated groan. "Come on..."
"Uh, Sam, any day now! Preferably now!"
"Stupid gun! Work!" the woman shouted, smacking the raygun like it was a TV on the fritz.
Sam gave up trying to press the button with one hand, and slammed it against the wall of the store. The heart on the watch opened up and revealed a thruster, launching all 4 of them upwards and on top of the building of the store. Just in the nick of time too, as they heard the sound of the laser bouncing off the glass just as they reached the ceiling. The woman jumped out of the way as the beam launched back at her, and it disintegrated upon hitting the side of a building.
"The raygun... it's starting to malfunction... I gotta find a way to fix it!" said the woman, running off.
Alex watched from the rooftops as she fled.
"She got away..." Alex mumbled. She looked to her right and noticed Sam missing.
"Sam? Sam?!"
"Over here!" Sam called out. She was laying upside down across the edge of the building.
"What are you doing over there?"
"I got thrown over here! If I didn't stop the watch I would have been flung off the building!"
"Jerry really should've supplied us with more than one of those gadgets..."
"I'm just grateful it was able to support our weight."
"Hey, come on, Sam! I'm not even that big!"
"Not you. Them."
Alex exhaled from her nose, "Speaking of, doesn't Clover look a little... wider than usual?"
"So does Mandy..."
"You don't think…?"
In a moment of fully soaking up the situation in front of them, Sam and Alex took their time redirecting their eyes from Clover and onto each other. When their eyes locked onto each other, they simultaneously let out a horrified shriek upon the realization.
Sam rushed to open her compowder and dialed Jerry. He answered.
"Good to hear from you, girls. I take it you found something interesting given how long you've been at it?"
"Jerry... we have a problem."
Clover faintly blinked her eyes. "S-Sammy...?"
"Make it two..."
TOTALLY SPIES! YEAR ONE
AN: I meant to upload this episode on the day of Valentine's Day but... I wasn't accounting for new account cooldown period. Haha, oops.