Sam nodded briskly. "Of course."

Heading back to her workspace, she thought first she'd ask her coworkers. "Have you guys seen my pen?"

Mac, Kiana, and Faith exchanged glances with each other, and quickly surveyed the floor before looking back to their team-mate. "No," they answered in unison.
Kate walked back into the room. "You mean this pen?" she asked, pressing a rod into Sam's palm. Her team-mates had since turned back to their own workspaces to get back to work.

"Oh, yes! I mean…" Sam looked at it more closely. A silver star twinkled at the top, and silver glinted throughout the rod. This wasn't hers! But it would belong… to Wind Rider.

Kate saw Sam's expression and offered hers, smiling softly. "I'll trade you."

"Thanks."

Sam logged into Facebook on her phone and invited Kate and Andi to a groupchat she'd created.

Ping!

Sam read over her text before sending it. Now we have a way to communicate when things go wrong.

Like when you date an enemy henchman? Should you call us when you two smooch? Callie's wise-cracks never ceased, even in text.

The chorus of you what?s and no way!s was enough to send Sam's phone into convulsions.

Very funny, Cal. Sam's face reddened at the thought of smooching Flint.

Miss Sparks, you know the rules about texting at work. You too, Callie, Andi. Kate, as it turns out, was a very dry texter.

Sorry.

Will do.

My bad.

Sam sighed and put her phone down. The preview clip of her interview had landed in her inbox, anyway…

Her phone vibrated again. Sam glanced over her shoulder, then picked it up hesitantly.

I have to go round up some huge potato creatures. Wish me luck!

"Um."

She quickly flipped over to the groupchat. Guys, Flint just let me know he's going to round up some food creatures. We gotta go… now!

Kate turned and looked at her. Let's all meet at the café near the news station. Tonya, are you close enough?

Yeah. Let's do this!

Once all five Riders had transformed, they ran straight for Live Corp.'s headquarters.

"I have an idea," Tonya said. "Let's catch up to the potato critters, then set off the fire alarm. Everyone will have no choice but to evacuate. The distraction should allow us to guide them out easily."

Andi nodded. "That sounds like a good idea."

Sam bobbed her head in agreement, as well. "Let's do this then, guys."

It took several tries off the elevator before they finally found Flint and the hippotatomuses. Luckily, once they found what floor they were on, the large group was an easy target. However, he'd had the good sense to hit the security alarm once he spotted them. Apprehended by a group of vested guards, they were wrestled off the floor they were on back into the elevator, and back onto the first floor, before they were able to non-violently strike back and escape. Flint had taken off running, and Callie swore under her breath. "Crab-cakes!"

They'd caught up to him in the main elevator shaft. Because of the fire alarms they'd set off, the floor was not visible, hidden under several inches of water. Soaking wet, he stood atop a catwalk several dozen feet above them, laughing in true mad scientist fashion.

"You won't be able to endanger the city now!" he cried. Several hippotatomuses were clustered behind him, huddled together in fear. However, because of their weight, the catwalk bent dangerously and creaked with every step.

Andi looked quickly at Sam, whose eyes were locked on Flint, or rather his feet. She dared not cry out for him, though, not wanting to further erode the trust her team-mates had in her.

Abruptly, the catwalk snapped, sending him down, down, down.

"Aaaauuuuugghhhhh!"

"Flint!" Sam leaped up quickly and caught him, cradling his body carefully in her arms. She alighted down much more gently than his unbroken fall would have, but he'd still fainted from the shock.

"The enemy has been neutralized," Kate announced to the team.

"Let's go save the foodimals!" Tonya cried. At her words, the four Riders rushed out of the enormous elevator shaft, doubtless to rush up the stairs after the hippotatomuses.

Sam set Flint gently down into the water. She set him up so that his head was between his knees, and within minutes she had him gasping and awake. As soon as he realized what had happened, he leapt up and back, away from Sam. With no weapons, he held up his hands, ready to fight if he had to.

"A thank you would be nice." Sam remarked with some amount of venom.

Flint grabbed his arm self-consciously and looked away. "Thanks for saving me, Lightning Rider. I know you must hate me by now. You kinda have to."

"You want to know I feel about you? Do you really want to know?" Sam asked, a bit of anger still in her voice. Flint swallowed.

"Y-yeah. I-I-I guess I – whoa!" She'd grabbed the lapels of his labcoat and yanked him closer until their noses were touching. He blushed. He'd never been this close to anyone before…

Her lips locked onto his suddenly, and he was so taken aback his eyes widened, though her own were closed, eyebrows furrowed. He closed his own eyes and relaxed a bit, which she took as an opportunity to deepen the kiss. When finally they broke, Flint jumped away, gasping again for air, face red, and lips a bit swollen.

"Lightning Rider…" he gasped. "Y-y-you c-can't… I have a g-g-girlfriend."