Thursday, 5th November 2015

A few days later, the mentors were in the common area when Leo walked two with two of the Krane girls.

- "Well, guys, it took a while, but we finally came up with S-1's new name." He explained.

- "We went through hundreds before we came up with the perfect one." S-1 added.

- "She's complicated." Alison said.

The eldest sister glared at her.

- "What is it?" Bree asked.

- "Charlotte." The middle brother replied.

- "Taylor." The Krane sisters, simultaneously, said.

The three looked at each other.

- "Right, Taylor. My... second choice." Leo sighed.

- "I like it." The Davenport girl smiled.

- "It suits you." Maddie added.

- "Yeah, great name." Chase said to his student.

- "Eh, it doesn't really matter to me. I didn't remember your other name, and I'm not gonna remember this one either." Adam snickered.

- "Hey guys." Donald walked towards them. "I have some very exciting news."

- "You're finally eligible for senior citizen discounts?" The tall guy asked.

- "No." The father, awkwardly, replied. "Maybe. I don't want to talk about it." The alien raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth. "Don't you dare." He pointed at her.

- "I wouldn't." The Matthews girl raised her hands.

- "Look... the President called, and he is honoring you guys with a prestigious award for completing mission number 1,000." The scientist explained.

- "That's awesome!" Taylor exclaimed. "Congratulations, guys!"

- "You deserve it." The blonde girl smiled.

- "Thanks, but technically, if you count all the missions where our bionics were still a secret, the number is actually 2,604." The genius boy nodded, happily. "But who's counting?" He shrugged.

Adorable. Maddie chuckled.

- "You are. That's all you do is count." Bree said, irritated.

- "I do not." The green hazel-eyed boy frowned.

- "It's how his brain works." The alien girl added. "It's not like he's choosing to count everything."

- "Exactly." Chase nodded. "But just for the record, that's the 53rd time that you've told me that." He smiled.

- "And a lot more behind your back." The Matthews girl said.

- "You, two, are exhausting." The Davenport girl replied.

- "Try having our brains. You'll see which side is more exhausting." Maddie frowned.

The genius boy put his hand behind her knee and, gently, caressed the back of her thigh.

The alien girl pressed her lips together. Shit.

The green hazel-eyed boy smirked as he continued.

- "This is going to be great!" The middle brother exclaimed. "It's about time I got honored for something. So, when is this little shin-dig?"

- "Uh, in a couple weeks. There's going to be a big fancy ceremony on the mainland. But the President's only honoring the original team, Adam, Bree, Chase and Maddison." Donald explained.

- "Why me?" The Matthews girl asked.

- "Because you have been going on missions with them since the first one." The father replied. "You are part of the original team."

- "What about me?! How can he do that? I go on missions with them all the time." Leo frowned.

- "I'm sure when they hand out awards for completing 32 and a half missions, you'll get yours." The scientist patted his back and walked away.

Chase got up.

- "It's actually 31 and a half, but who's counting?" He patted his brother's shoulder and walked out.

- "I'm sorry, Leo. You deserve to be there with us." Maddie said. "You know what? I'm not going without you."

- "Yes, you are." The middle brother nodded. "If it wasn't for you, we would all be dead. You deserve this award more than anyone."

- "But..." The alien girl started.

- "No 'but'. You are going even if I have to drag you to it." Leo smiled. "Claire would be so proud of you."

- "I love you." The Matthews girl hugged him.

- "I love you, too, Dee." The middle brother closed his eyes.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the three youngest mentors walked towards the eldest in the common area.

- "Hey, Adam, how's the fire prevention training going?" Chase asked.

- "Wait, you said fire prevention?" Adam asked, in panic.

The genius boy nodded.

- "What did you do?" Maddie frowned.

A blast and an alarm were from a distance.

- "Ooh, well, it's too late to prevent that one." The tall guy chuckled, before turning to his students. "Could you guys go put that fire out and prevent the other 15 we set?"

- "Why sixteen?" The alien girl asked.

- "It's Zack's age when we kissed for the first time." The eldest shrugged.

- "Aw." The Matthews girl smiled.

Her student, Logan, ran in.

- "Guys, you have to come see this. Leo just did something super amazing!" He exclaimed, before walking in the training area.

Everyone followed him, where Leo and Taylor were holding hands.

- "Aww. Leo's holding hands with a girl. That is amazing." Bree mocked.

Everyone, but the middle brother, laughed.

- "It's not a girl, it's Taylor." He said. The eldest Krane's smile dropped as she squeezed his hand. "A girl with very sharp finger nails. Ouch, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He whispered in pain, causing Taylor to let go.

Maddie chuckled.

- "The point is, we found a new ability." Leo added. "Check this out." The two continue to hold hands as they created a sphere of energy in their hands. "Now!"

An EMP flew forward and knocked out the power when it hit a screen.

- "Aw, man, now I can't see what the new ability is." The eldest teenager complained.

- "That was the new ability." The middle brother replied.

- "Well, do you have another that turns you into a nightlight?" Adam asked.

- "Hold on, I'll bring the backup system online." The green hazel-eyed boy brought the power come back on with his tablet.

- "We accidentally found it when we locked hands during combat training." Leo said.

- "Technically, I was helping him off the floor after I body slammed him." The Krane girl smiled.

- "I love her." The alien girl snickered.

- "Body slam? It was more like a somersault." The middle brother replied.

- "Want me to show them?" Taylor asked.

- "No, no. We're good." Leo said. "So, isn't our new ability cool? When we join hands, our laser spheres combine to create one large sphere that is so powerful, it sends out an electromagnetic pulse!" He explained.

- "It is cool." The Matthews girl nodded. "But you, guys, need to be careful, it's dangerous."

- "EMP's disable any piece of electrical technology they touch." The eldest Krane smiled. "We are careful. Don't worry, Maddie."

- "Dude, that was incredible!" Logan exclaimed. "One day, I'm going to be just like you."

- "Thank you, son. Now move along." The middle brother replied.

- "Uh, no offense, Logan, but when did Leo become your hero?" The Davenport girl asked.

- "Are you kidding? Talk about an underdog. He was just a regular guy. And all of a sudden he got bionics and became an inspiration to the whole world." The Krane boy said.

- "Well, that is my story." Leo smiled.

- "And I love how he didn't let his scrawny body and inferior skill set stop him from..." Logan started.

- "We got it, Logan." The middle brother cut him off.

- "I'm a little worried about this new ability." Chase frowned. "EMPs are very, very dangerous."

- "But if we'd had this when Krane was around, we could have shut down his Triton App in a second." Leo replied.

- "It doesn't matter. It's still dangerous." The genius boy said. "Don't use it again until we've had time to study it in a controlled environment."

- "Come on, Chase." The middle brother scoffed.

- "No." The green hazel-eyed boy shook his head.

- "If we just..." Leo started.

- "You heard me!" Chase shouted.

Everyone's eyes widened when they heard his tone.

Maddie pressed her lips together. Fuck, that was hot.

- "No more EMPs!!" The genius boy started to walk away.

- "Boo." The Krane boy said.

The green hazel-eyed boy turned around to look at the student, causing him to, immediately, stop. He walked away, annoyed.

- "All right, guys, let's get back to work." The tall guy said to his students. "Next up, CPR training. Uh, no, wait. CPR Prevention." He walked away with his students and his sister, who was trying to explain to him what he was supposed to do.

- "He's just being careful, Leo. EMPs can cause mortal disasters." The alien girl patted his back. "Chase just wants to be safe, so that nobody gets hurt. It's not against you." The middle brother sighed. "I'm gonna plan training sessions with Chase for the two of you."

- "Thanks, Dee." Leo smiled softly.

- "Starting tomorrow." The Matthews girl walked away.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the mentors were in the common area. The three youngest were sitting on the stairs.

- "We've really been on 1,000 missions? It felt more like six." Adam frowned, while standing up.

- "Nope. It was way more than that." Chase said. "And I remember all of them. Literally. They're backed up on my hard drive." He pointed at his head and bit his lower lip as he smiled.

Maddie, who was sitting between his legs, smiled widely. How can someone be so cute and so hot at the same time?

The genius boy looked at the girl he loved and licked his lips. When he noticed that she was already looking at him, he blushed brightly. She was looking at me. I like that.

The smallest glance and he's a blushing mess. The alien girl smirked, making him roll his eyes.

- "Maybe you should clear a few out. You know, free up some space to add some personality, or a sense of humor." Bree patted his back. "You know, a likeable trait." She smiled.

The Matthews girl punched her leg.

The green hazel-eyed boy's smile dropped.

Maddie, slightly, turned to the side and took his hand on hers, rubbing her thumb on his skin.

Chase, softly, smiled. God, I love her more than anything.

Leo, Taylor, and Logan walked in.

- "Hey, Leo." The Davenport girl smiled.

- "Don't talk to me like I'm a child!" The middle brother yelled.

- "All I said was 'Hey, Leo'." Bree frowned.

While everyone was looking away from her, the alien girl kissed the knuckles of the boy she loved.

The genius boy pressed his lips together to avoid smiling wider.

- "Well, I detected a tone." Leo replied.

- "What's up with you?" The green hazel-eyed boy asked.

- "I'll tell you what's up with me. I am tired of everyone treating me like some kind of non-existent bionic hero." The middle brother explained.

- "Hey, just because it's true, doesn't mean you have to take it personally." The tall guy said. The Matthews girl punched the muscle of his thigh. "Ow!"

- "Thank you, Dee." Leo replied, making his best friend nod. "Well, guess what. We're starting our own team. That's right. You're looking at the next generation of bionic superhumans." The new team posed. "It's the other way, like we rehearsed." He whispered to the Krane boy.

- "Oh, right." He turned the other way.

Chase got up and walked over his best friend's legs.

Maddie, immediately, looked down to not check him out.

- "And, uh, who might be the leader of this new bionic team?" The genius boy asked.

- "You're looking at him." The eldest Krane at the middle Davenport brother.

- "Are you kidding me?" The green hazel-eyed boy laughed. "Leo?"

The alien girl frowned. I'm sorry. What?

- "See, right there. There's that tone!" Leo yelled in his brother's face.

- "Look, you don't just become a leader by saying you're a leader. It takes years of mission experience." Chase explained.

- "You named yourself mission leader when you were 14." The middle brother frowned.

- "Eh, wrong! I was 12. Good thing someone around here counts." The genius boy replied. "You're not ready." He shrugged and walked away.

- "Oh, yes, I am, and I'm going to prove to you that I'm ready!" Leo yelled after him.

- "Sold!" Logan raised his hand.

- "You were already on board." Taylor frowned.

- "And yet he sold me again. He's that good." The Krane boy said.

The Matthews girl smiled.

- "Is Dad okay with this?" Bree asked.

Donald walked in.

- "Douglas thinks he's gonna beat me at my own game. I don't think so." He talked to himself.

- "Hey, Big D, is it cool if I start my own team?" The middle brother asked.

- "Yeah, Leo, whatever." The father nodded. "'It's indestructible'." He mocked as he walked away.

- "Ha! Victory pose." Leo exclaimed.

The new team posed, but the leader was facing backwards.

- "Other way, sir." Logan said.

The middle brother turned around.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the mentors entered the training area to find the new team, sitting on the floor.

- "Hey, Leo." Chase said.

- "Break's over. Everybody up!" Leo ordered.

- "How's your new team doing?" The genius boy asked.

- "Great. You see this right here? This is a little something we like to call leading and training." The middle brother replied.

- "Really? Looks to me like standing and talking." Adam replied.

- "Ignore them." Maddie frowned at her fellow mentors. "What did you, guys, do?" She smiled.

- "We carried him all the way down an imaginary mountain." Logan explained.

- "Why?" Bree asked.

- "Because the guy weighs 60 pounds. Give him a break." The Krane boy shrugged.

The alien girl snickered.

- "We've been working hard. We found a way to include Logan and make our new ability even better." Leo explained. "Check this out."

- "Leo, I thought you agreed to train tomorrow?" The Matthews girl frowned.

- "Just watch, Dee. You're gonna be proud." The middle brother smiled.

Taylor and Leo held hands as they created a sphere of energy in their hands.

- "Leo, I specifically told you not to do that again. It's too dangerous." The green hazel-eyed boy said.

- "Too dangerous, or too awesome?" The middle brother asked.

- "Now I'm gonna use my energy manipulation to guide their EMP towards a target." Logan explained.

- "Not yet, junior. These kids came for a show." Leo replied. "Amp it up, Tay-tay."

The eldest Krane was struggling.

- "Leo, Taylor can't..." Maddie started.

- "Okay, now I'm gonna..." The Krane boy cut her off.

- "Not yet!" The middle brother yelled.

- "Leo, it's too much for her!" Chase shouted.

- "Oh, please, you're just jealous that your team, without Dee, isn't as powerful as mine." Leo replied.

- "Leo, stop!" The Davenport girl shouted.

- "Back off! This is my team and..." The middle brother started. Taylor was blasted to the other side of the room, unconscious. They, all, ran towards her. "Taylor!"

The genius boy checked her pulse and breathing.

- "She's barely breathing. Mads!" He yelled.

Leo looked at his unconscious friend, in horror, as his siblings looked at him.

- "On it." The alien girl opened a portal and carried the eldest Krane, before walking through it.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, every mentor and student were in the common area, waiting for news on Taylor.

- "I hurt her." Leo whispered with tears in his eyes.

- "Leo, it was an accident." Maddie put her hand on his back. "She's alive. Focus on that."

The middle brother nodded as Donald walked in.

- "Dad, how's Taylor?" Chase asked, in worry.

- "The good news is, I flew in the best doctors money could buy, so she's in good hands." The father replied.

- "Well, how seriously is she hurt?" Bree questioned.

- "She's in critical condition. We'll know more when she wakes up." The scientist said, as he walked further away, followed by the childhood best friends.

The Krane twins hugged the three youngest.

- "I'm sorry, Dad. I feel terrible." Leo replied.

- "You should. What were you thinking, making her max out her abilities?" Donald asked.

- "You really think it's the time to tell him that?" The alien girl frowned, angrily.

- "He needs to take responsibilities for his actions." The father replied.

-" He already does." The Matthews girl replied. "Unlike you." She scoffed.

- "What did you say?" The scientist frowned.

- "You heard me." Maddie glared at him.

- "Look, Dad, I didn't think she'd get hurt. I just wanted to show everyone what my new team could do." The middle brother explained.

- "New team? Who said you could have a new team?" Donald frowned.

- "You did. Earlier today when you walked through here." Leo replied.

- "Well, you should know better than to bother me when I'm focused on me!" The father exclaimed. "Look, I have to get back to the infirmary. I'll let you guys know if there's any other news." He walked away.

- "You should've stopped when I told you to." The genius boy walked up to the childhood best friends. "This just proves you're not ready to lead your own team."

The alien girl frowned. You're gonna put him down? Now?

- "I am more than ready. And maybe I wouldn't feel like I need to prove that to you guys if you weren't always looking down on me!" The middle brother yelled.

- "Leo, we don't look down on you." The bionic girl replied.

- "Yeah, we have total respect for all of your shortcomings." Adam said.

- "When are you guys gonna stop treating me like I'm an idiot?!" Leo yelled.

- "Maybe when you stop acting like one." The green hazel-eyed boy replied.

The Matthews girl locked her jaw as her eyes turned red.

- "Uh-oh." Spin whispered and pointed at his mentor.

- "You know what? Maybe quitting your team wasn't enough. Maybe I need to quit being your brother, too!" The middle brother stormed away.

- "Don't worry, Chase. He can't legally do that." The tall guy said.

Chase sighed, sadly.

- "Trust me, I've looked into it." The eldest added.

- "I can't believe you, guys." Maddie scoffed.

- "You know I'm right." The genius boy replied.

- "That he shouldn't have used the EMP? Yes. How you just talked to him? Absolutely not." The alien girl shook her head.

- "Why are you mad if you agree with me about the EMPs?" The green hazel-eyed boy frowned.

- "Because he's right. You look down on him. And you don't even realize it. I expect this from you." The Matthews girl pointed at the two eldest. "But you, Chase, I'm disappointed. I thought you were better." She turned around and followed her childhood best friend.

- "Mom and Dad are fighting." Chris frowned.

- "Mads..." Chase looked at her, walking away.

The Davenport girl put a hand on her youngest brother's shoulder.

- "She'll come back." She said.

- "I hope." The genius boy sighed. "I better leave her alone, or it will be worse." He walked to the opposite direction.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, the students and the mentors were arriving in the training area.

- "Chase, I'm worried. What if she dies?" Heather frowned.

- "No. She's not going to die." Chase shook his head.

- "How can you be sure?" Aaron asked.

The genius boy crouched down to face him.

- "Because my dad is doing everything he can to help her, and he's not gonna let her die. He's stubborn." He smiled, softly. "Okay?"

- "Okay." The Krane boy nodded as he wiped his eyes.

The green hazel-eyed boy straightened up and ruffled the student's hair, making him chuckle. Mission accomplished.

The Krane girl smiled.

- "Chase, what's going on?" Bree asked.

- "Dad has another update on Taylor." Chase replied.

The childhood best friends teleported in.

- "Maddie!" Aaron ran towards her and hugged her waist.

- "Hey, sweetie. Are you okay?" Maddie asked as she caressed the back of his head.

- "Yeah, Chase reassured me." The Krane boy nodded.

The alien girl looked at the boy she loved.

- "Thank you." She mouthed.

The genius boy nodded. At least, she's not ignoring me.

- "Hello." Leo said, dryly.

- "Excuse me, sir. Now that we aren't brothers, what should I call you?" Adam questioned.

- "His name is still Leo." The Matthews girl frowned.

Logan walked in.

- "Hey, Logan." The Davenport girl said.

- "Hey, guys. Good to see you." The Krane boy smiled.

- "Ahem!" The middle brother cleared his throat.

- "Oh, right. We're still mad at them." Logan replied. "Hey, guys, it is not good to see you." He, angrily, continued.

Jason slapped his forehead, in despair. Donald walked in.

- "How is she?" Leo walked up to him.

- "Awake. She's gonna make it." The father replied.

- "You were right. She's alive." Aaron smiled at Chase.

- "See? Told ya." The middle brother grinned. "So, what kind of bionic upgrades did you throw in? Rocket feet or rocket elbows? Rocket hips? Just sayin' the girl could use some rockets."

- "No, Leo... Taylor made it, but the laser spheres damaged her retinas. She's lost her eyesight. She's blind." The scientist explained.

- "What?" Leo looked at him, in disbelief.

Maddie frowned, sadly.

- "We tried everything, but no amount of bionics will fix this. It's permanent." Donald said.

- "Permanent for how long?" The tall guy asked.

- "Forever." Emily whispered.

- "Thanks." The eldest teenager nodded.

- "You can't just give up. There's gotta be something you can do. You have to keep trying!" The middle brother exclaimed.

- "I'm sorry, Leo." The father walked away.

- "I can't believe it. She's never gonna see again. It's all because of me." Leo said.

The genius boy looked at the floor. I should've helped him, instead of yelling at him.

- "But you said she was gonna be okay." Logan replied.

The middle brother started to, slowly, walk out of the room, overcome with guilt.

- "Leo!" The alien girl followed him.

- "I need to be alone, Dee." Leo said, with tears in his eyes. "Please."

The Matthews girl nodded and let him walk away.

- "He needs time." The green hazel-eyed boy put his hand on her shoulder.

- "Don't." Maddie moved away from him, before walking away.

Chase sighed.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Friday, 6th November 2015

The next morning, Maddie walked into the common area.

- "Mads, you can't be mad forever." Chase walked up to her.

- "Did you, guys, apologized to Leo?" The alien girl asked.

- "No, we left him alone, last night. And we don't know where he is." Bree added.

- "He's the principal concerned. Until he hasn't forgiven you, neither will I." The Matthews girl replied.

- "Mads, come on." The genius boy frowned.

- "Be grateful that I'm keeping my promise to not ignore you when I'm mad." Maddie said.

- "Thank you." The green hazel-eyed boy sighed.

- "You, guys, seen Leo?" Donald walked up to them with Adam. "He wasn't at breakfast this morning."

- "That's because I was packing." Leo walked in with a bag.

- "Leo, what are you doing? You're supposed to be training." Chase said.

- "I'm going back to Mission Creek. I don't belong here anymore. I'm quitting the academy." The middle brother explained.

- "What?" The two geniuses, simultaneously, frowned.

- "Wait, we can do that?" The tall guy asked.

- "Adam!" The bionic girl yelled.

- "Look, Leo, I know you're upset about Taylor, but it was an accident." The father said, softly.

- "No. Chase was right. I'm not cut out to be a leader." Leo replied.

- "I never meant for you to leave." The genius boy frowned.

- "Part of being a leader is making mistakes." The scientist explained. "You learn from them, and you move on. I mean, look at Chase. Think of all the mistakes he's made as mission leader."

- "All of them?" The alien girl frowned.

- "Yeah. Remember when the particle collider collapsed on us because of him?" The eldest teenager asked.

- "Which saved the entire planet." The Matthews girl added.

- "Or when he told Sebastian about Krane, and started the rebellion." The Davenport girl continued.

- "Because he trusted him. Like you, two, did with Marcus." Maddie, sarcastically, smiled.

- "Or the other time when he was trying..." Adam continued.

- "Mistakes were made! We get it!" The green hazel-eyed boy shouted.

The alien girl patted his back.

- "But his never hurt anyone. Taylor has to live with my mistake for the rest of her life." The middle brother replied.

- "So, you're just gonna give up and leave? What about our team?" Logan asked, sadly.

- "Logan, you deserve a better team." Leo answered. "Or at least a better leader. I'm not gonna put you or anyone else here in danger ever again." He took out his mission suit from his bag and gave it to his father. "Here. Give it to someone more deserving."

- "Leo, I'm not gonna let you..." Donald started.

- "Yes, you are." The middle brother cut him off. "Because it's not your choice. It's mine."

The Matthews girl walked up to him.

- "You're really leaving?" She asked.

- "Yes." Leo nodded. "I'm sorry, Dee. I wanted to make you proud as my best friend, my favorite superhero and my mentor, and I failed you."

- "You didn't. Leo, it was an accident. You didn't mean to." Maddie replied with tears in her eyes. "It's part of a hero's journey." She smiled.

- "And I am not one." The middle brother said.

- "Leo..." The alien girl frowned.

- "I'm sorry, Dee." Leo hugged her. "I love you."

- "I love you, too." The Matthews girl let a couple of tears run down her cheeks.

- "Bye, guys. Sorry I let you down." The middle brother left via the hydraloop.

Maddie looked at her fellow mentors, her eyes full of anger and tears. She walked away.

Chase sighed as he held back his tears.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

In the middle of the night, Adam opened the door of the bedrooms of his fellow mentors.

- "Guys, wake up!" He shouted.

- "Ah!" Chase screamed. "What's wrong?"

- "I can't sleep. Usually, when I can't sleep, Leo would sing me a song." The tall said.

- "You woke up because of this!?" Maddie yelled as she walked towards him.

The genius boy wrapped his arms around her waist and held her back.

- "He would?" Bree frowned, making her older brother nod.

- "How could you even hear him? Our bedrooms are soundproof."

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A couple of minutes later, the four were in Adam's room.

- "Hush, little baby, don't say a word." The three youngest sang, annoyed as the eldest has his eyes closed under his sheet. "Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird." Chase gestured to the girls to go. "If that mockingbird don't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring."

- "Still awake!" The tall guy yelled.

The three youngest, reluctantly, turned around and started singing again.

- "Hush, little baby, don't say a word." They continued, annoyed. "Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird. If that mockingbird don't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring."

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A.N: 4272 words.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

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