The Specialist and I

41

I'm so behind schedule......

New years eve. One of my favorite holidays here in the good ol' US of A. Tonight, we're having a celebration. I invited a friend of mine. Dad invited Orion and his team. Mom invited a few friends. The friend I invited is....interesting. He's in the military and has been teaching me how to fight. His name is Mark Loyd.

I heard a knock at the door and walked over to it. Dad was cooking in the kitchen. He had finished putting up decorations outside in the backyard a while ago. Apparently, Orion was doing so well that he's fully recovered. Another sign that something is up. No one can be fully healed in two days.

"Mark!", I grinned, "Come on in."

~

For those of you who have read How We Met you know who Mark is.....right?! If you do, please keep quiet!

~

"Hello, Lori.", Mark said, his hands were behind his back.

"Dad, when are the others getting here? It's already 9:45.", I said.

"Orion and his team will be here soon. Rhyan said they'd be here around 10:30 or so.", Dad said, "As for your mom's girlfriends, I don't know."

"Speaking of mom....where is she?", I asked.

"She's out partying.", Dad answered, "You want to get the alcohol out?"

"Sure.", I said, "Make yourself at home."

Mark sat on the couch as I pulled out wine and a few other drinks like Malibu.

"I thought Ron stored the high grade in that cupboard as well.", dad said as I closed the cupboard.

"Nope. Ron hid it in our room.", I said and went upstairs.

I found the 8-packs of high grade. I grabbed 3 due to how many people are coming. Like Ron and the others, Mark drinks Energon. I brought the bottles downstairs.

"Gee, how many packs of high grade does he have up there?", dad asked.

"Um.....about 20. He told me that he brought them over because he didn't want Rhyan hiding them from Orion. Apparently, he gets really crazy when he has high grade.", I said.

"Really? Orion?", Dad asked.

"Hey, I didn't see it. I only heard about it.", I said.

Dad chuckled as mom walked in with three girls following her.

"Whooo! Who's ready for the party?", Mom said as she started dancing.

Dad and I looked at one another. He shrugged.

"I'm not drunk yet.", Mom said, "Make yourself at home, girls. We're expecting a few more guests. Lori, when's your friend coming?"

"He's already here.", I said and gestured to the couch where Mark was talking to someone over the phone.

I grabbed a bottle of high grade and opened it. I walked over to Mark and handed him the bottle. He smiled as he took it. An hour later, the doorbell rang.

"Lori, can you get that?", Dad asked, I nodded and walked over to the door.

"They're here!", I said and opened the door, "Hello. Come on in! Plenty of high grade."

"You pulled out my stash, didn't you?", Ron asked and kissed me.

"Yes, I did.", I smirked.

For the next hour, we played games. Mom turned on the TV to the ball drop in time square.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

"Something wrong, Lori?", mom asked.

I walked to the window and spotted a couple jets that were flying too low.

"I'll be back.", I said and went out to my shed.

I grabbed the biggest gun I had. Which, happened to be the one with the crystal. I climbed to the roof and ran to the highest part.

"You want me you son-of-a-bitch?! Come and get me!", I growled.

He landed in the backyard and turned into a Doritos-shaped robot. I started shooting right away. He fell which caused a small earthquake. I jumped on him and stabbed him right through the chest. The sword I had was 2ft long and can extend to 10 ft long. I had made it myself.

I heard and spotted more planes. The pilot activated their gun. I jumped off the Dorito and ran into my shed. I pulled out a small circular device.

"This is going to hurt.", I mumbled.

I took the small device and set it on my forehead. I yelled as it started to connect itself with my brain. When the process was done, I ran back out. I transformed myself into a 25 ft robot. The sword I had and my gun were now part of my body. Well....until I turn back.

For the next 15 minutes, my backyard was a battlezone. The other robots retreated and I returned to my normal self. I walked in the house and everyone seemed on edge.

"Lori! You're alright!", mom said and hugged me.

"Who was that bot?", Rhyan asked.

"No idea. Could be hostile.", dad said and everyone glanced at Mark.

"Whatever it was, it's gone. Anyone want to spar while we wait for the ball drop?", Ron asked.

"Let's go downstairs. There's more room.", I said and everyone walked downstairs.

Dad turned the TV on and mom came down after turning the TV off upstairs.

"Who's first?", I asked.

"I'll have a go.", Mark said, "Against you."

"Let's do it.", I smiled.

We had to pause our spar while the ball was dropping. We were both a little sweaty. Dad handed drinks to everyone.

"Happy new year!", everyone yelled when the timer reached 0.

Mom and dad kissed as well as Ron and I. I looked around the room and I could have sworn I saw Orion and Rhyan share a small, quick kiss.

"To a new year!", dad yelled.

Everyone took a drink of whatever drink they had - high grade, wine, or mixed drink.