Universe 124

Tuesday, 12th July 2016

Eleven days later, Chase went down to Mission Command, looking at his phone, before looking up to see random things all over the place.

- "What the...?" He frowned.

- "Ah! Intruder!" Perry shouted, before shooting at him with her eye mask still hiding her view.

The genius boy jumped to the side, out of the way.

- "Perry?" He yelled.

- "Chaz?" Terry frowned.

- "It's Chase." The green hazel-eyed boy corrected.

- "I know, but I like the name Chaz better." The head of security shrugged and walked to him in her pajamas.

- "What are you doing here?" Chase asked.

- "I decided to take a little va-cay from the academy." Perry said.

- "So, you left the academy to vacation in the windowless underbelly of a skyscraper?" The genius boy questioned.

- "Yep. I have to get my skin back to its natural state. Pale and clammy." Terry replied.

Okay. The green hazel-eyed boy slightly smiled.

- "Plus, I'm from here." The head of security added.

- "You were born in Centium City?" Chase asked.

- "Nope, under, in a network of tunnels underneath the ground." Perry showed around with the gun.

- "Okay, how about we put the weapon down?" The genius boy took a step back.

- "Sorry." Terry chuckled. "When you're born in the bowels of a city, you learn to watch your back. And you also learn that not everything that looks like meat is meat."

The green hazel-eyed boy nodded.

- "Time to go." He led her to the Hyper-Lift. He pushed the button, but nothing happened. "Great. Your blast broke the Hyper-Lift."

- "You're the one that ducked out of the way." The head of security defended.

Chase frowned.

- "What was I supposed to do? Let you shot at me?" He asked.

- "Duh." Perry replied.

An alarm started blaring, and she shot at the console.

- "Stop shooting things." The genius boy pushed the gun down. "It's a mission alert. Your blast put us on lockdown, and took out mission command's entire central nervous system. We're trapped." He took his phone. "Communication's down, too." Terry shot at the ceiling. "What did you do that for?!"

- "If we're gonna be stuck down here, I don't wanna have to look at your face." She replied.

The green hazel-eyed boy sighed. I'm gonna kill her.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A couple of minutes later, the three eldest were in the living room.

- "Kaz'll be right down." Oliver said.

- "Where's Chase?" Bree asked.

- "No idea." The Evers boy shrugged.

- "That's weird. He's always the first one here for missions." The bionic girl frowned. "Having no life really frees up your calendar. I'll call him real quick." She called her brother and put him on speaker.

- "Greetings. You've reached Chase, the smartest man in the world." His voicemail said. "I'm not here, but if you'd like to leave a message for Chase, the smartest man in the world, do it at the beep. And if you didn't know that by now, you are definitely not the smartest man in the world."

- "Well, at least he shortened it." The Davenport girl added.

- "What are we gonna do? We can't go on our first mission without our leader." The blue-eyed boy said.

- "There's no time to wait. We have to get to the Centium City arch. The glass floor on the observation desk is cracking, and tourists are trapped." Skylar explained. "We need to get there now."

- "She's right." Bree sighed. "Kat, let's go!"

Kaz ran down the stairs while putting a rock music.

- "Elite Force!" He yelled in a high-pitched tone.

- "What was that?" The bionic girl frowned.

- "It's our first official mission. When we show up, people need to know we're there." The Karev boy played the music again. "Elite Force!"

- "Yeah, we're not doing that." The Davenport girl shook her head. "God, I miss Maddie." She walked to her girlfriend.

The brown-eyed boy rolled his eyes.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the two came up from Mission Command.

- "Man, the Hyperlift took forever to fix." Chase sighed. "Why'd you shoot it a second time?"

- "Why'd you duck a second time?" Perry asked.

The genius boy shook his head, in despair.

The four members of the team walked in the penthouse.

- "What's going on?" The green hazel-eyed boy questioned.

- "We just got back from the mission." Bree said.

- "You went without me?" Chase frowned.

- "We had to. Where were you?" The bionic girl replied.

- "Perry and I were stuck downstairs." The genius boy sighed loudly.

- "What is she doing here?" The Davenport girl asked. Terry frowned at her. "Sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. What is IT doing here?"

The head of security rolled her eyes.

The green hazel-eyed boy shrugged. It's Perry, I don't wanna know the real reason.

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

Chase frowned, offended.

- "Please. If my kid came out looking like that, I'd have put the robot parts on the outside." Perry replied.

The genius boy crossed his arms, more offended. Seriously?

- "Well, I'm Oliver, and this is Kaz." Oliver said.

- "Glen and Paul. Got it." Terry rolled her eyes.

- "I'm Skylar." The latter walked up to her.

The head of security gasped.

- "I know who you are. Donny told me that the robots would be teaming with the superheroes. I can't believe I'm in the presence of a real heroine." She smiled widely.

The green hazel-eyed boy frowned.

- "Uh, hello. You never acted that impressed around me." Bree said.

- "Uh, that's 'cause she's a comic book hero come to life, and you're a man-made dolly." Perry made mechanical noises as she moved like a robot.

- "What about Maddie?" The bionic girl asked.

- "She wasn't part of comic books." Terry shrugged.

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

The head of security walked to the kitchen.

- "Actually, it was a complete success." The Evers boy said.

- "Yeah. Skylar had a really great idea and stepped up as mission leader." The Davenport girl smiled and caressed her girlfriend's back.

- "Her?" The genius boy raised his eyebrows, in disbelief.

- "Yes, me. Who'd you think it was gonna be, Oliver?" The Calderan frowned. The blue-eyed boy glared at her. "No offense."

- "Yeah, she had me use my fire ability to seal the cracks on the floor." The Karev boy explained.

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

- "And everyone made it out alive?" The green hazel-eyed boy asked in a condescending tone.

- "Well, one guy twisted his ankle." The brown-eyed boy said.

- "That's okay. I was able to walk it off." The Evers boy replied.

- "I thought you guys did great out there. You should be proud." The Storm girl smiled.

- "Thanks, but we should really be proud of you, mission leader." The blue-eyed boy said.

- "Hey, mission leader!" Bree patted her back.

The four walked upstairs, smiling.

Am I really this replaceable? Am I really this useless? Chase frowned, sadly.

- "Yeah, they really needed you." Perry laughed.

The genius boy glared at her, before walking away. If Mads was here, she would find a way to calm me down. What could she say? He frowned to himself.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, Chase walked on the terrace where the childhood best friends were doing a tower with the cups.

- "Alright, there has gotta be a vacant apartment somewhere in this building." Bree walked back inside, in despair.

- "Hey, Kaz, ready to work on that fire stream power?" The genius boy asked.

- "Oh, yeah, Skylar already helped me with that." Kaz replied.

- "What?!" The green hazel-eyed boy shouted through gritted teeth, making the two eldest boys jump.

- "Chase, can you flip out somewhere else? Your frustration's always amusing, but it could knock our tower over." Oliver said.

- "Hey, guys." Skylar walked on the terrace.

- "What do you think you're doing?" Chase walked up to her. "First, you act like mission leader, now you're training Kaz." He said, softly.

- "The team needed someone to lead, so I did." The Calderan frowned. "Kaz asked me for help, so I helped."

- "Kaz!" The genius boy exclaimed.

- "Wait a tick." The Karev boy said as he took a glass out of the tower. "Okay, go ahead."

- "Why did you ask Skylar for help training when you already asked me?" The green hazel-eyed boy questioned.

- "You know, she was a great mission leader, and I just figured she would be great at that, too." The brown-eyed boy chuckled. "I was right."

- "Skylar... may I have a word?" Chase walked inside.

- "Okay." The Storm girl snickered and followed him.

- "Look, I know you're new, to this team and Earth." The genius boy replied. "So, I'm gonna let this one slide. But around here, I'm mission leader."

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

- "Yeah, well, you couldn't, because my toes would be way out ahead of you..." The green hazel-eyed boy gestured further. "Leading!"

- "The team needed me. And I'm sorry, but if they need me again, then I'm going to lead them again." The Calderan explained.

Chase scoffed. Oh, yeah?

- "Stick it to him, sister." Perry applauded and walked up to them. "About time someone showed these robots who's boss."

- "You know what, Perry? You're the reason this whole thing happened." The genius boy said, angrily. "Now go pack your stuff and get out!" He yelled.

- "Alright. I'll go." Terry nodded, sadly. "Guess I can stay with the one friend that will never leave me. Loneliness." She walked to Mission Command.

Did I go too far? The green hazel-eyed boy frowned.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, Skylar was in Mission Command, helping Perry pack while the three other eldest were on the terrace.

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

- "Let's go." Bree ran inside with the three boys.

- "Hey, wait." Kaz stopped. "Where's Skylar?"

- "I don't know." The genius boy shrugged.

- "Without her, who's gonna lead us?" Oliver asked.

- "I am!" The green hazel-eyed boy yelled.

- "Really? Do you think that's a wise decision?" The Evers boy frowned.

- "Just go get your mission suits and head out." Chase said. "I'll go find Skylar and meet you there."

The childhood best friends ran upstairs.

The genius boy went towards the Hyper-Lift and stopped, smirking, when he noticed that they were out of sight.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A couple of minutes later, Chase was holding a tablet.

- "Manual override. Hyperlift disabled." A robotized voice said.

- "Oops." The genius boy smirked and ran to the mission site.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the three arrived at the tunnel.

- "Keep going. We'll get the others." Bree said as people came out of the smoke. "Okay, guys, this is it." Kaz played the rock music. "No!" She grabbed his wrist.

- "There's smoke everywhere." Oliver added.

- "All right, listen up. The truck crumbled the wall, blocking the other exit. The only way to get people out is to bring them back through the smoke." The bionic girl explained.

- "I'm here." Chase ran in.

- "Where's Skylar?" The Evers boy asked.

- "I don't know. I tried calling her, but she didn't respond." The genius boy shrugged. "I couldn't wait around all day, 'cause I've got a team to lead." He smirked.

- "Well, should we maybe, like, try her again?" The Karev boy questioned.

The green hazel-eyed boy rolled his eyes, in despair. I'm gonna kill them.

- "Guys, the smoke is getting thicker. If we don't put it out soon, this whole tunnel's gonna be a toxic cloud." The Davenport girl said.

- "Okay, I'll do a scan to locate the people who are trapped. Oliver, use your cryo blast to extinguish the fire. Bree, use your super speed to form a cyclone to clear the smoke. Kaz, you fly in and evacuate people." Chase ordered. "Any questions?"

- "Yeah. Do you think I should try calling Skylar?" The blue-eyed boy asked. "She might not be answering 'cause it's you."

- "Just go!" The genius boy shouted.

The three ran in the smoke.

Idiots. The green hazel-eyed boy shook his head as he put his fingers on his temple.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the three came back to their mission leader.

- "Okay, that's everyone." Bree said.

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

- "No worries." Oliver replied, without any enthusiasm.

- "Cool." Kaz added on the same tone.

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

- "You're the best." The Evers boy said.

- "Thank you very much." The Karev boy replied.

The green hazel-eyed boy frowned. Seriously?

- "Hey, Chase is a great leader." The bionic girl put a hand on her brother's shoulder. "Okay, he's worked long and hard at it."

- "Thank you, Bree." Chase smiled softly.

- "It's not his fault that Skylar just rolled out of bed and became a great one immediately." The Davenport girl continued.

The genius boy frowned. I'm sick of all of you. I work so hard and I never get any appreciation! From anyone!

- "Okay, you know what? I'm taking back my cherry." He said.

Loud rumbling were heard above them.

- "The ceiling's cracking!" Bree exclaimed.

- "This whole place is gonna come down. We have to get outta here!" The green hazel-eyed boy yelled.

- "Wait." The blue-eyed boy stopped everyone as footsteps were echoing in an underground tunnel. "There's still people in there."

- "I'll get them." Chase ran towards the door and Skylar came out with Perry. "Skylar? How did you get out..." He frowned. "I mean... Where were you?" He smiled.

- "We were stuck in mission command. We had to escape through the underground tunnels." The Calderan explained.

- "Well, what's she doing here?" The genius boy asked.

- "Skylar and I are besties now. Deal with it." Terry nudged her best friend, making her smile.

A creaking noise was heard above them.

- "The tunnel's coming down!" The bionic girl shouted from across the tunnel.

The green hazel-eyed boy wrapped his arms around the two women and pushed them forwards as the ceiling crashed right behind them, blocking them.

- "Don't worry. I'll blast us out." The Storm girl said.

- "No. It isn't stable." Chase replied. "The only thing preventing this tunnel from collapsing is this pile. Blasting us out is a terrible idea... mission leader." He mocked, in a whisper.

- "What do you suggest?" Skylar asked.

- "I'll put my force field around us. That'll protect us if it collapses." The genius boy added.

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

- "Stop arguing and focus on what's important. Saving me." The head of security pointed herself.

- "Don't worry, we're all gonna get out of here." The Storm girl said.

- "Give her false hope." The green hazel-eyed boy scoffed. "That's a great solution."

- "It's not hope. I trust our team, and I know they'll rescue us." Skylar replied.

- "How?" Chase frowned.

- "They're smart. They'll figure it out." The Calderan said.

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

- "Thank you." The genius boy pointed at her.

- "Are you saying that my girlfriend aka your sister is stupid?" The Storm girl crossed her arms.

- "Bree? No. But Kaz and Oliver? Yes." The green hazel-eyed boy nodded.

Skylar tilted her head, knowing that he was right.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the three were still stuck.

- "I feel horrible, Chase. You wouldn't even be stuck here if you weren't trying to save our lives." Skylar said.

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

Chase turned around with worry on his face. How does she know?

- "What?! What is she talking about?" The Calderan frowned and turned to face him.

- "Yeah. What are you talking about?" The genius boy asked.

- "You purposely locked her in so that you could go on a mission without her and be leader again." Terry explained.

Crap. The green hazel-eyed boy, nervously, chuckled.

- "Is that true?" The Storm girl frowned.

- "Come on, you're gonna believe a chronic liar?" Chase questioned.

- "I resent you calling me a chronic liar, and so would my nephew Abraham Lincoln." The head of security replied.

The genius boy gestured at her. See!

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

The green hazel-eyed boy sighed.

- "Yes, it's true." He said. The Calderan looked at him, hurt. "What, did you watch the security footage?"

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

I would rather die. Chase frowned.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the three were still stuck behind the wall of rocks. Perry was sitting across the teenagers.

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

- "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. You're really good at it." The genius boy sighed, sadly. "When I saw how the team responded to you, I... I just panicked." He walked further away.

- "It's just a title, Chase." The Calderan followed him.

- "No. Not to me." The green hazel-eyed boy replied. "Without that title, I don't know who I am. It doesn't matter anyway. 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."

- "Chase, I never wanted to make you feel like that." The Storm girl frowned, sadly.

- "I know." Chase nodded.

A rock was pushed, and they saw Kaz's head.

- "Glen!" Terry yelled.

- "Uh, no, it's Paul, actually. Oliver's Glen." The Karev boy replied.

They did it. The genius boy smiled.

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

- "Really? 'Cause there was all sorts of self-doubt happening on this end." The brown-eyed boy said.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A couple of minutes later, the childhood best friends were helping Perry out, while Skylar was talking to the siblings.

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

- "Yeah, she frightens most living things." Bree nodded.

Chase snickered. That's true.

- "Hey, babe, you never said how you got stuck in mission command." The bionic girl said.

The genius boy looked to the ground. I can't believe I let my insecurities go this far.

The Calderan looked at him.

- "Uh, I don't know. I guess the Hyper-Lift just broke." She replied.

The green hazel-eyed boy frowned and looked at her.

- "Again?" The Davenport girl frowned.

- "Yeah. We really need to get that fixed." The Storm girl walked further away to grab a mission bag.

Why didn't she say anything? Chase frowned.

- "You just got lucky. If Skylar won't snitch, your secret's safe with me. For now." Terry winked, before walking away.

The genius boy frowned. Okay.

- "Hey, why didn't you say anything?" He asked Skylar as he took the mission bag from her.

- "Because I get it. When I lost my powers, I lost my identity." She replied. "I wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone."

- "Thank you." The green hazel-eyed boy smiled softly.

- "All right, let's get outta here." Bree said.

Everyone, but the childhood best friends, started to walk away.

- "Hey. You know what? We're two for two on missions. You know what that calls for." Kaz played the rock music.

- "I said no!" The bionic girl yelled.

The boys sighed and followed her out.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the four eldest were in the living room.

- "Hey, so what did you guys think of your first missions?" Bree asked.

- "I was just happy to be out there again. Being a hero is what I was born to do." Skylar replied as she snuggled closer to her girlfriend's side.

- "And what I was implanted with a chip by an egotistical millionaire to do." The bionic girl shrugged as she stroked the Calderan's hair.

- "We just touched a space rock." Kaz frowned.

- "Superheroes." The childhood best friend fist-bumped.

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

- "Awesome. Now Bree can be leader." Oliver said.

- "Oh, yeah." The Davenport girl nodded.

- "Or Kaz. Or me." The Evers boy replied.

- "No one's gonna be leader!" The genius boy 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 smiled softly.

The green hazel-eyed boy smiled and sat next to her.

- "Scooch!" Perry pushed him on his sister, who fell on her girlfriend.

- "Why are you still here?" The bionic girl asked.

- "I'm gonna let Chase answer that." Terry winked at him.

- "Uh, I told Perry that I wanted her to stay." Chase said.

- "What?" The Davenport girl raised her eyebrows.

- "Yeah, um, by helping Skylar through the tunnels, she proved that she could be a valuable support member for the team, so I talked to Dad, and he set her up with an apartment..." The genius boy explained. "Right next door." He groaned.

The head of security got up and started to pull one of the chairs away.

- "What are you doing?" Bree frowned.

- "My pad ain't gonna furnish itself." Perry said as she dragged the chair out the door.

The green hazel-eyed boy dropped his face onto his hands, in despair.

- "What does she have on you?" The bionic girl asked.

Chase shook his head, without looking at her eyes.

- "What? She caught you jerking off to a picture of Maddie?" The Davenport girl mocked.

The genius boy sighed as his face turned red. No, and thank god.

- "Chase, why aren't you answering?" Bree frowned.

- "Because she did." The Karev boy laughed.

- "Ew. She did!" The bionic girl yelled.

- "What?" The green hazel-eyed boy raised his head. "No, she didn't!"

- "Then why are you red?" The brown-eyed boy smirked.

- "Yeah, why are you red?" The blue-eyed boy added.

- "Because you are talking about my sexual life!" Chase defended.

- "We all do it." Kaz shrugged.

- "Ew!" The girls frowned.

- "Too much information." The Davenport girl grabbed her girlfriend's hand and walked upstairs.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, that night, Chase was sitting on the roof of the penthouse, looking at the dark city.

- "Mind if I join you?" Skylar asked.

- "No." The genius boy shook his head.

The Calderan sat next to him.

- "Bree told me that you came here every night." She said.

- "Yeah." The green hazel-eyed boy sighed. "After Claire, Mads' mom, died, we watched the horizon and the stars, every night. And I know that she's not here anymore but I continue to do it in hope that wherever she is, she's doing it too. It's ridiculous." He shook his head.

- "No, it's not." The Storm girl replied. "It's actually very sweet."

- "I'm sorry again for earlier." Chase said.

- "It's okay. I told you, I get it." Skylar nodded.

- "But you don't." The genius boy nodded. "The only person, who would truly get it is Mads because she read my mind."

- "Then explain it to me." The Calderan replied.

The green hazel-eyed boy frowned and looked at her.

- "I'm not going to judge you." The Storm girl added. "And if you're worried I'm gonna say something to the rest of the team, don't be. I won't say anything."

Chase sighed and looked at the city again.

- "It's just that my family never gave me credit for anything." He started. "I only get blamed for everyone's mistakes. After one mission, you got all the compliments and gratitude I've always wanted. So, I guess a part of me was also jealous. So that plus the fact that I made being mission leader my whole personality to try to get their appreciation, it just went in my head, and I'm sorry."

- "I'm sorry, nobody ever notice your hard work." Skylar frowned.

- "Thanks." The genius boy sighed.

- "But like I said, I get what it is to put everything in your job, and I can guarantee you that it's not good." The Calderan shook her head.

- "I know that." The green hazel-eyed boy replied.

- "And we talked with Maddie, being mission leader wasn't your whole personality. Mister 'King of Pranks'." The Storm girl nudged him.

Chase, slightly, chuckled.

- "Yeah. I had this part of me with Mads. I was another person with her. I was so much happier with Mads, but after she was aspired by that wormhole, I guess a part of me just turned off." He explained.

Skylar frowned, sadly.

- "I'm sorry." She said.

- "It's not your fault." The genius boy sighed.

It's mine. He thought.

- "You know, I love your sister more than anything; I really want to finish my life with her." The Calderan said.

- "I know." The green hazel-eyed boy nodded.

- "And I want you to know that you can count on me for anything." The Storm girl added. "To talk, to laugh, to have a shoulder to cry on, to prank Kaz and Oliver."

- "Thank you. We are all lucky to have met you." Chase smiled softly.

- "If Maddie hadn't asked for my number, I probably never would have the courage to ask Bree out." Skylar replied.

- "She did that?" The genius boy asked.

- "Yeah. She planned hang-outs and at some point she just started to cancel on us." The Calderan snickered.

- "She saw something between you two and wanted to leave you alone." The green hazel-eyed boy continued.

- "Yep." The Storm girl nodded.

- "That sounds like her." Chase chuckled. "I miss her." He held back his tears as he looked at the horizon.

- "I know." Skylar wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

The genius boy put his hand on her forearm and sighed.

- "Thank you." He said. "I needed that."

- "Then, I'm gonna give you a huge hug." The Calderan hugged him tighter.

The green hazel-eyed boy chuckled.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A.N: 4325 words.

Chase and Skylar getting closer, what do you think?

I didn't approve Chase's actions in this episode, but i still felt so bad for him. Skylar got all he ever wanted.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Please vote and comment.♥