While thinking about the possibility of a Chop/Orange scumteam, I remembered this little tidbit. The more I think about it, the more it bothers me. Why would an action require a separate item to be used? Why wouldn't the ability just be the item's action?
Re-examining this with the possibility of a Chop/Orange team in mind, it now looks more like them trying to clear each other without needing to prove themselves, especially considering the fact that Shade is in the game. It was enough to deter suspicion at first, but this combined with Chop mysteriously having Verti's 1UP, it's a pretty weaksauce justification.