- Chapter Six -

You were looking all over for your laptop but you couldn't find it anywhere. You remembered that you had it a few hours before, but you just couldn't remember exactly where you put it, and it was slowly irritating you.

"Guys, do you know where my laptop is?" You asked the team who were in the living room.

"Did you leave it in the room?" Bree asked.

"Already checked there." You replied.

"I think I saw it down in Mission Command." Kaz informed, who was rummaging through the fridge.

"That's right." You mumbled.

You've been going out late at night to walk around the city and if you weren't doing that you were spending time in Mission Command.

As you walked into the Hyper-lift, Chase walked in standing beside you as he scrolled through his phone. You took a step to the side to put some distance between you both as your body grew stiff. When you actually got to Mission Command, you and Chase saw a bunch of junk laying around.

"What the--"

Someone cut Chase off. "Intruder!"

The person then shot, making you duck down to the floor and and Chase flip out of the way. When you looked up, you saw that it was Perry.

"Perry?!" Chase exclaimed.

"Chaz?" She asked, stunned.

"It's Chase." Chase corrected.

"I know. I just like the name Chaz better." Perry explained as she walked over to you both.

"What are you doing here?" You asked Perry.

"I decided to take a little vacay from the academy." She replied.

"So you left a tropical island to vacation in the windowless underbelly of a skyscraper?" Chase asked her.

"Yep. I have to get my skin back to it's natural state." Perry explained. "Pale and clammy. Plus I'm from here."

"You were born in Centium City?" You asked, arching a brow.

"Nope. Under, in a network of tunnels underneath the ground." Perry explained, waving the gun around.

"Okay, how about we put the weapon down?" Chase stated as Perry lowered the gun.

"Sorry. When you're born in the bowls in the city, you learn to watch your back and that not everything that looks like meat is meat." Perry explained.

"Time to go." Chase pulled Perry towards the Hyper-lift as you walked over to the cyber desk to retrieve your laptop.

As Chase pressed the button the Hyper-lift wouldn't start. "Great. Your blast broke the Hyper-lift."

"You're the one who ducked out of the way." Perry pointed out as the Mission alarm went off.

Perry screamed and shot the cyber desk, just making you grab your laptop and jump out of the way in the nick of time.

"Perry!" You exclaimed.

"Stop shooting things!" Chase shouted, forcing her gun down as he ran over to the cyber desk. "It's a Mission alert." He informed. "Your blast put us on lockdown, and took out Mission Command's entire control nervous system. We're trapped."

You then took out your phone from your back pocket but realized that the communication was down. "Communication's down too."

Perry let out a groan of frustration, shooting her gun at the celing, making the lights go out.

"What did you do that for?!" Chase asked Perry.

"If we're gonna be stuck down here, I don't wanna have to look at your face." Perry told Chase.

Chase then went over to the cyber desk and began to fix the wiring as you walked around, seeing all the junk that was laying around.

"Jeez, Perry. What are you, a farm animal?" You asked as you stepped over a pile of clothes.

"No, I am not a farm animal. Who do you think I am?" She asked.

"The word I'm searching for I can't say because it would be considered very rude of me." You explained. "Now put the gun down before you destroy anything else."

Perry pouted as she lowered her gun. "You're no fun."

"Yeah, neither are you." You mumbled.

As time went by you decided to move things around so you nor anyone else would trip over them. This was just great. You were stuck with Perry and Chase for lord knows how long and it was making you figit. Luckily though, Chase was able to fix the Hyper-lift. So you three quickly made your way up to the penthouse.

"Man, the Hyper-lift took forever to fix. Why'd you shoot it a second time?" Chase asked Perry as you walked out.

"Why'd you duck a second time?" Perry asked mockingly as the team walked in through the door.

When Chase and Perry walked out, Oliver and Kaz passed by Chase making him speak. "What's going on?"

"Just got back from the mission." Bree answered.

"You went without us?" Chase asked, referring to you and himself.

"We had to. Where were you guys?" Bree asked.

"We were stuck downstairs." You replied, motioning to Chase, Perry, and yourself.

"What is she doing here?" Bree asked as Perry gave an offended look. "Sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. What is it doing here?"

"Chase, this must be your mom." Kaz commented. "The resemblance is uncanny."

"Please. If my kid came out looking like that, I'd have put the robot parts on the outside." Perry explained pointing to Chase.

"Well, I'm Oliver and this is Kaz." Oliver introduced himself and Kaz.

"Glen and Paul. Got it." Perry nodded.

Skylar then walked forward. "I'm Skylar."

Perry gasped loudly. "I know who you are. Donny told me that the robots would be teaming up with superheroes. I can't believe I'm in the presence of a real heroine."

"Uh, hello. You never acted that impressed around us." Bree stated, referring to you and herself.

"Uh, that's 'cause she's a comic book hero come to life and you two are man-made dollies." Perry explained as she mimicked a robot.

"Can we please get back to the mission?" Chase asked. "How bad was it?"

"Actually, it was a complete success." Oliver informed.

"Yeah." Bree agreed. "Skylar had a really great idea and stepped up as mission leader."

"Her?" Chase asked pointing to Skylar.

"Yes, me. Who'd you think it was gonna be, Oliver?" Skylar asked as Oliver raised his hands. "No offense."

"Yeah, she used my fire ability to seal the cracks on the floor." Kaz explained.

"Then I used my super strength to keep the floor stable, while Skylar and Bree rushed everyone to safety." Oliver added smiling.

"And everyone made it out alive?" Chase questioned.

"Well, one guy twisted his ankle." Kaz informed.

"It's okay. I was able to walk it off." Oliver explained as you sighed, rubbing your eyes.

"I thought you guys did great out there. You should be proud." Skylar told the team.

"Thanks, but we should really be proud of you, mission leader." Oliver smiled as the team congratulated her as they walked upstairs.

"Yeah, they really needed you." Perry chuckled, taking a bite of a green apple.

"Perry, don't." You stated as Chase went upstairs.

"What's up with you two bozos, anyway?" Perry asked, taking another bite of her apple.

"What do you mean?" You asked as she walked over to you.

"I mean, why aren't you two talking?" She asked, now standing in front of you.

"Talking? Perry we--"

She cut you off. "Don't say you two talk, 'cause you don't. You two avoid each other like a plague. Since I've been here, you two hardly said a peep to each other. What's up?"

"Nothing is up, we're fine." You assured her.

"You don't look fine to me." She stated. "You two were the closest pair that I've ever seen besides you and Leo. I knew that things changed considering you tried to kill them and all." You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms as she continued. "Now, what I'm assuming is that the team doesn't know about your little past mission with Giselle, considering how they are acting around you. Though, I know that it's hurting you that you can't have the same relationship that you had with Chase before, or whatever you two had going on."

"I'm not hurting. I don't hurt easily." You replied, jaw clenching.

Perry shrugged. "Maybe you're right. After all, knowing you is that you close off all feelings and emotions."

Perry patted your shoulder as she walked passed you to enter the Hyper-lift.

~~~~~

You were sitting on the couch, reading a book until you heard two pairs of footsteps walk in from the terrance. As you glanced up, you saw that it was Skylar and Chase.

"Look, I know you're new, to this team and earth. So, I'm gonna let this one slide." Chase told Skylar. "But around here, I'm mission leader."

"I wasn't trying to step on your toes." Skylar informed.

"Yeah, well, you couldn't because my toes would be way out ahead of you...leading!" Chase explained, thrusting his hands forward.

"The team needs me, and I'm sorry but if they need me again, then I'm going to lead them again." Skylar stated strongly.

Perry turned around in the spinning chair clapping. "Stick it to him sister." Perry smiled as she stood and walked over to the two. "About time someone showed these robots who's boss."

"You know what, Perry? You're the reason this whole thing happened. Now go pack your stuff and get out!" Chase ordered as he pointed to the Hyper-lift.

"Alright, I'll go. Guess I can stay with the one friend that will never leave me. Loneliness." Perry stated solemnly as she walked into the Hyper-lift.

Skylar shook her head as she followed Perry. Chase released a sigh as he made his way upstairs. You then leaned back, stretching your legs across the couch as you rubbed your forehead. You were not going to intervene in a fight that wasn't yours. Making that promise to yourself, you opened your book and began reading.

'We'll see how long that lasts.'

'It'll last!'

~~~~~

After about an hour or so, Bree came walking into the kitchen. "Hey, have you seen the toaster?"

"No why?" You asked, setting your book aside as you stood to streach your legs.

"It's missing." She replied, walking out to the terrance as you followed. "You guys seen the toaster?"

"Yes. It's up there." Oliver answered as he pointed to the top of his tower.

"I'd tell you to wait for it, but it's probably gonna break when the tower falls, so just buy a new one." Kaz explained, walking to the tower as Chase ran out.

"Guys, there's another mission alert." Chase informed. "A truck carrying toxic chemicals overturned in the Rogers tunnel. It caused an explosion, and hundreds of people are trapped inside."

"Lets go!" Bree stated as you all ran back inside. You and Bree quickly darted up the stairs to get ready for the mission.

~~~~~

When you all got to the mission site, excluding Skylar, you took noticed that the smoke was thick. A couple of people ran as Bree urshed them out. "Keep going. We'll get the others!" Just as Kaz went to play music on his device Bree quickly stopped him.

"There's smoke everywhere." Oliver informed.

"Alright, listen up. The truck crumbled the wall, blocking the other exit." Bree informed.

"The only way to get the people out is to being them back through the smoke." You added as Chase ran up to you guys.

"Where's Skylar?" Oliver asked Chase.

"I don't know. I tried calling her, but she didn't respond." Chase informed as you rose an eyebrow. "I couldn't wait around all day, 'cause I've got a team to lead."

"Well, should we maybe, like, try her again?" Kaz asked.

"Guys, the smoke is getting thicker." Bree informed pointing at the smoke. "If we don't put it out soon, this whole tunnle's gonna be a toxic cloud."

"Okay, I'll do a scan to locate the people who are trapped." Chase explained as he walked forward. "Oliver, use your cryo blast to extinguish the fire. Bree, use your super speed to form a cyclone to clear the smoke. Kaz and [Name], go in and evacuate people. Any questions?"

"Yeah. Do you think I should try calling Skylar?" Oliver asked. "She might not be answering because of you."

"Just go!" Chase shouted as you all ran into the smoke.

You and Kaz split ways, evacuating people in the right direction out of the tunnel. One family, a little girl and a mother wouldn't move away from their car because their kitten wouldn't move from under the car. You laid on your back as you reached out to the kitten, barely grazing your fingertips on it's orange fur as it hissed at you.

"Yeah, I don't like this either but you gotta get out." You informed, wrapping your fingers around it's middle. "Gotcha!"

You carefully pulled the cat out, passing it to the little girl who clutched the kitten to her chest. You directed the two out of the tunnel as you walked up to the team.

"Great work, team. We got everyone out in a safe and timely fashion." Chase stated. "And while that should be reward enough, let me throw this little cherry on top: thank you."

"No worries." Oliver commented.

"Cool." Kaz nodded.

"That's it?" Chase asked. "No 'Thank you, Chase, for your brilliant leadership'?"

Oliver and Kaz lamely thanked him as Bree stepped forward. "Hey, Chase is a great leader. Okay, he's worked long and hard at it."

"Thank you, Bree." Chase smiled.

"It's not his fault that Skylar just rolled out of bed and became a great one immediately." Bree stated.

"Okay, you know what? I'm taking back my cherry." Chase stated as the celing began to crumble.

"The celing's cracking." You informed. "This whole place is coming down."

"We have to get out of here!" Chase stated, ready to run as Oliver stopped him.

"Wait!" Oliver stated aa you heard footsteps echoing in the tunnel. "There's still people in there."

"I'll get them." You informed, running to the door as Chase followed.

Skylar and Perry walked out as Chase spoke. "Skylar? How did you get out--" You shot him a puzzled look as he continued. "I mean...where were you?"

"We were stuck in Mission Command. We had to escape through the underground tunnels." Skylar explained.

"Skylar and I are besties now. Deal with it." Perry smiled, nudging Skylar.

Then you heard a loud crack, making you look up to see the celing about to collapse.

"The tunnel's coming down!" Bree shouted.

Before you could even do anything, Chase push you along with Skylar and Perry, shielding his body among you girls as the celing collapsed. Once it finished, you all pulled apart, taking noticed that you all were trapped.

"Don't worry." Skylar assured. "I'll blast us out."

"Don't, it isn't stable." You informed.

"The only thing preventing this tunnel from collapsing is this pile." Chase added. "Blasting us out of here is a terrible idea...mission leader."

"Well, what do you suggest?" Skylar asked him.

"I'll put my force field around us." Chase responded. "That'll protect us if it collapses."

"And leave us trapped underneath an even bigger pile of rubble, not to mention crushing the rest of the team."

"Stop arguing and focus on what's important. Saving me!" Perry pointed to herself.

"Don't worry, we're all gonna get out of here." Skylar assured Perry.

"Give her false hope. It's a great solution." Chase stated sarcastically.

"It's not hope." Skylar shook her head. "I trust our team, and I know they'll rescue us."

"How?!" Chase asked.

"They're smart. They'll figure it out." Skylar informed.

"No they aren't, no they won't." Perry shook her head.

You sighed as you jumped up, sitting ontop of the little silver car that was against the wall.

"You seem eerily calm about this." Skylar informed, looking up at you. "Aren't you worried?"

"What, worried?" You asked. "In times like these you're not supposed to panic. Plus, I've been in situations like this, if not worse."

And it was true, though you would never tell anyone what you went through growing up.

Skylar then turned to Chase. "I feel horrible, Chase. You nor [Name] wouldn't even be stuck here if it you weren't trying to save our lives."

"Don't feel that bad." Perry stated. "He's the one who locked you in Mission Command."

You sat up straighter as Chase whipped around quickly.

"What?" Skylar asked, turning to Chase. "What is she talking about?"

"Yeah, what are you talking about?" Chase asked Perry.

"You purposely locked her in so that you could go on a mission without her and be leader again." Perry explained as you looked at Chase for confirmation.

"Is that true?" Skylar asked Chase.

"Come on, you're really gonna believe a chronic liar?" Chase asked Skylar.

"I resent you calling me a chronic liar, and so would my nephew Abraham Lincoln." Perry replied as Chase motioned to Perry, trying to prove his point.

"I'm gonna ask you one last time, Chase, is it true?" Skylar asked.

Chase seemed to hesitate as he sighed. "Yes, it's true. What, did you watch the security footage?"

"Nah." Perry shook her head. "I just thought, what would I do if I was Chase, and was threaten by an amazing, vastly superior superhero? Guess we're not that different after all. You really could be my son."

You kept your mouth shut as Skylar crossed her arms and looked away from Chase.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay? I was afraid you were gonna take my job." Chase admitted.

"I told you, the only reason why I stepped in was because the team needed me. I never wanted to be mission leader." Skylar explained.

"Yeah, but you could be." Chase pointed out. "You're really good at it. When I saw how the team responded to you. I...I just panicked."

"It's just a title, Chase." Skylar informed.

You just shook your head, knowing that it was more than just a title to Chase.

"No. Not to me. Without that title, I don't know who I am." Chase explained.

"I can tell you who you are, but you're not gonna like it." Perry commented.

You felt the words build up in your throat and before you could stop them, they were flowing out. "Look." You stated to the both of them as you slid off the hood of the car. "Chase, what you did was wrong, but I can see where you're coming from. Being mission leader for so long, it doesn't feel like a title, it's more than that. Skylar, without your powers, you felt as if you were a nobody, right?" You asked as she stayed silent. "Now that you have your powers, it makes you who you are, like how being mission leader makes him who he is."

"It doesn't matter anyway." Chase informed as he walked forward. "We're either gonna die in here, or if we do somehow manage to get out, everyone is gonna find out what I did, and they'll never respect me enough to be mission leader again. Either way, it's over for me."

Just then a rock fell to the side as Kaz popped his head out.

"Glen!" Perry exclaimed.

"Uh, no, it's Paul actually. Oliver's Glen." Kaz corrected.

"Yes! I knew you guys could do it." Skylar smiled.

"Really? 'Cause there was all sorts of self-doubt happening on this end." Kaz pointed behind his back.

As Kaz moved out backwards, Skylar began to crawl in, then you, then Chase, and finally Perry. When you all got out, Skylar was talking to Bree.

"Perry was amazing in the tunnels. There were tons of rats down there, but when they saw her coming, they just scattered." Skylar explained.

"Yeah, she frightens most living things." Bree nodded. "Hey, you never said how you got stuck in Mission Command."

Skylar glanced at Chase, as he prepared for the worst as she spoke. "I don't know, I guess the Hyper-lift just broke."

"Again?" Bree asked.

"Yeah, we really need to get that fixed." Skylar nodded as she picked up her duffle bag.

That's when Perry walked up to Chase. "You just got lucky. If Skylar won't snitch, your secret's safe with me. For now."

Perry winked walking away as Skylar handed the duffle bag to Chase.

"Hey, why didn't you say anything?" Chase asked Skylar, as he took the duffle bag.

"Because I get it. When I lost my powers, I lost my identity." Skylar explained. "I wouldn't wish that feeling for anyone."

"Thank you." Chase smiled as she smiled and walked away. You grabbed your duffle bag, slinging it over your shoulder and just as you were about to walk with the others, Chase stopped you. "How come you didn't say anything either?"

"It wasn't my place." You shrugged one shoulder. "And I know how much it means to you being mission leader, and I wouldn't want to ruin that for you."

"Thank you." Chase smiled sincerely.

"Anytime." You smiled softly as you both began to walk side by side.

Your smile grew a bit more, knowing that you and Chase were finally on good terms. Of course it wasn't the best of terms, but it was a great start nonetheless. Now that you both were starting over, you would have to take baby steps, but you wouldn't have it any other way.

~~~~~

Later on when you all headed back to the tower and changed into some normal clothes, you all were settled down on the couch. You sat on Bree's left as she spoke. "Hey, so what did you guys think of your first missions?"

"I was just happy to be out there again." Skylar replied. "Being a hero is what I was born to do."

"And I was implanted with a chip by an egotistical millionare to do." Bree stated.

"Same here." You agreed.

"We just touched a space rock." Kaz replied as he fist bumped Oliver, them both speaking at the same time. "Superheroes."

Chase then ran quickly down the stairs. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make. I decided to take on a new role. Team member."

"Awesome. Now Bree can be leader." Oliver stated. "Or Kaz, or me."

"No one's gonna be leader!" Chase shouted. "Because...any one of us can step up and take control when needed. You all proved that today."

"Wow, Chase. I'm really impressed." Bree nodded.

Chase smiled as he sat next to you, but Perry quickly walked in and bumped him into you since it was the only avaible spot. You were in bewteen the Davenport siblings.

"Why are you still here?" Bree asked Perry.

"I'm gonna let Chase answer that." Perry stated.

"Uh, I told Perry that I wanted her to stay." Chase stated. "Yeah, um, by helping through the tunnels, she proved that she could be a valuable support member for the team, do I talked to Mr. Davenport, and he set her up with an apartment." He paused as he strained to say the last part. "Right next door."

Perry then stood as she began to pull the blue chair backwards making Bree speak. "What are you doing?"

"My pad ain't gonna furnish itself." Perry explained as she continued to drag the chair, or more attempt to.