Maeve sat in the school foyer with Adam, Leo, and Chase.

"Hey, did you guys know we had a study abroad program?" Bree approached them, holding a brochure.

"Really? I thought going abroad was more of a college thing," said Maeve.

Adam furrowed his brow. "Why would I go to another country to do something I don't do here?"

Bree rolled her eyes and showed them the brochure. "Look. It says you get to spend a whole semester at a high school in Australia. And guess what? I applied!"

"Cool!" Said Leo. "Kelly Porter went last year. She got sucker punched by a kangaroo!"

"Well, alright!" Adam grinned. "I guess we're going to Australia."

"We're not going, stupid," Maeve chuckled.

"No way," Bree chimed. "This is my thing. I mean, I can finally be on my own. I can study, travel, make new friends-"

Chase hummed. "I hate to be a wet blanket-"

"No, you don't," Leo frowned.

"...But Mr. Davenport is never gonna let you do this," he continued. "You can't go on missions if you're halfway across the world."

"Well," said Bree, "sure I can. I mean, I haven't figured out all the details yet, but there's gotta be a way to make it work."

"Not unless these three can unlock a new ability to make up for you not being here," Leo gestured to Adam, Chase, and Maeve.

Adam jumped up. "Ooh! Maybe I can unlock an ability where I disappear and reappear somewhere else! Let me try."

He crouched down, squeezing his eyes shut and letting out a long grunt. Maeve and the others stared at him.

Adam opened his eyes. "Did it work?"

"You didn't do it long enough," said Chase. "Try it again, this time more grunting."

Adam tried again, a loud grunt rumbling deep from his throat. Chase silently gestured to his friends to follow him as he walked around to Adam's other side.

Adam opened his eyes. He turned to see them standing behind him.

"You did it!" Chase exclaimed. The five of them cheered.

-

That afternoon, after school, Bree and Adam sat on the couch watching TV. Chase and Maeve sat in the corner, him practicing guitar, her singing quietly along.

Donald walked into the living room. "Bree, is there something you wanna tell me?"

"I got this," said Adam, standing up to face Donald. "Look, we all like you, but we think Tasha could have done better."

He patted his shoulder and walked off. Maeve grinned, nodding, as Chase stifled a laugh.

Donald turned back to Bree. "I just got a phone call that said you'd been accepted to study in Australia."

"Wait, what? That's crazy!" Bree stood up. "Did they mention what day I'm leaving?"

Donald smiled incredulously. "You're not going."

"Why?"

"Come on, Bree," Chase said, standing up and setting his guitar against the wall. "It was obvious. Even Adam saw that one coming."

"No idea what you're talking about, already moved onto cold cuts," said Adam, digging through the fridge.

Maeve stood up and nudged Chase. "Be nice. She doesn't need this right now," she whispered.

"You can't abandon the team," Donald told Bree. "What if Adam and Chase picked up and left for a month?"

Bree scoffed. "Well, then I wouldn't have to go to Australia."

"Can't she just superspeed back for missions?" Maeve asked Donald. Bree nodded.

Donald shook his head. "That's not the only issue. What about your bionics? Your training? Your capsule?"

Bree sighed. "Mr. Davenport, this is really important to me. Can't we at least discuss it?"

"We just did. You're not studying abroad. End of conversation."

Donald walked off.

Bree groaned. "This is so unfair."

Maeve stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm sorry, lovie."

"Don't worry, Bree," said Adam. "I'll get you to Australia."

He walked up and grabbed her arm, crouching down and grunting like he did earlier that day. Bree yanked her arm out of his grip.

"Hey, maybe it's for the best," said Maeve. "I've heard Australian spiders are huge."

Bree sighed. "Whatever."

She stormed off.

Maeve sighed, moving over to sit at the kitchen island. "I feel so bad for her."

Chase shrugged, sitting down beside her. "That's just how it is. She can't leave the team."

Adam nodded.

"I know," she said. "It just sucks."

"Why would she even want to study abroad anyway?" Chase asked.

She looked at him, then over to Adam. He was holding up a slice of turkey to his face, and he had poked holes out for his eyes and mouth.

Maeve looked back to Chase. "You really can't figure it out?"

He chuckled. "I just don't get it. We're lucky to be part of this team."

She frowned. "Well, you two haven't exactly made it easy for her. You play pranks on her all the time, you're loud... I get why she would want some time away."

Chase considered this. "Maybe."

-

After dinner that evening, Chase sat at the dining table, helping Maeve with her physics homework.

Bree ran through the door excitedly. "Guess who just got invited to the Panic Inferno concert tonight?"

"Ooh, Brendan Delaney?" Adam answered.

She rolled her eyes. "Me!"

"No way, Bree. That's awesome," said Maeve.

Bree nodded, grinning. "Caitlin doesn't want to go alone because she's totally devastated."

"Why is she devastated?" Asked Chase.

"Her boyfriend dumped her!" Bree replied. "Isn't that awesome?!"

"Bree," Donald stepped out from the kitchen. "I'm sorry, but you can't go. I have to extract your bionic chips tonight for a critical performance modification."

Bree's face fell as she walked up to Donald. "Can't we do that tomorrow?"

"No, I'm gone all day with a new product launch," he explained. "Look, I wish I could go to the concert too. You know, I get the whole rock and roll thing."

"People who get the rock and roll thing don't say 'I get the rock and roll thing'," said Chase.

"Come on, Mr. Davenport," Bree pleaded. "Can't I just-"

"No, I'm sorry, Bree. You can't go," said Donald sternly before walking away.

"Being bionic is ruining my life," Bree turned back to them. "I can't go to a concert, I can't go to Australia, I can't do anything!"

"You could go get me some juice," Adam offered.

"You know what?" Said Bree. "I don't care. I am going to that concert."

She walked out of the house. Chase and Maeve stood up.

"Bree, what are you doing? You can't just-" Chase protested.

The door slammed shut, and Bree was gone.

"Can you believe that?" He said.

"What I can't believe is Caitlin had a boyfriend," said Adam.

-

A little later, they waited in the lab for Donald to start the performance modification. Chase, Adam, and Maeve stood behind the computer desk. As Chase worked on who knows what, Adam pushed a bunch of random buttons, forcing Chase to grab his arm to stop him.

"Okay, guys," Donald said, entering the lab. "We don't have a lot of time, so let's get to work on your chips. Where's Bree?"

Chase and Maeve exchanged glances, trying to figure out how to answer him. But they didn't have to - Adam got to it first.

"She's at the Panic Inferno concert!" He blurted, then groaned. "Ahh, he broke me. This guy's good."

Chase and Maeve shot angry looks at him.

-

A few hours later, Donald walked in with Bree, whose eyes were blazing.

"I can't believe you went to that concert when I specifically told you not to," Donald scolded.

"I cannot believe that you jumped on stage and begged every member of the band to sign your t-shirt," Bree snapped.

"I most certainly did not," Donald scoffed, but then pointed to the back of his shirt, which was covered in signatures. "I got all of them, didn't I?"

Maeve rolled her eyes. Bree glared at Donald.

He frowned. "Look, that's beside the point. You are in big trouble."

"Yeah, thanks for selling me out, guys," Bree exclaimed, staring at the others.

"Oh, you have no idea what we went through. He grilled us!" Adam yelled.

Maeve furrowed her brow. "He said, 'Where's Bree?'."

"At the concert," answered Adam. "Oh man, it got me again!"

Donald turned back to Bree. "Look, because of you, we are three hours behind. Now the modification's gonna take all night. Now go get in your capsule so I can extract your chip."

Bree groaned. "Fine!"

She angrily super-sped into her capsule.

Donald walked up to the computer, typing. "I don't know what has gotten into you lately. You can't just do whatever you want whenever you want."

"Trust me, you have made that abundantly clear," said Bree. "My life is not my own."

The chip extraction was done. Bree grabbed it and handed it to Donald. He placed it on a desk carefully.

Bree frowned. "All I want is a little control over what I do."

"Yeah, well, you're part of a team. That's not gonna happen," he said.

"So that means I have to give up my entire life because of it?!"

"Yeah!" Donald answered, as if it was obvious. He made his way to the computer.

"Well, if being bionic is gonna stop me from having the life that I want..." Bree said, "I don't wanna be bionic anymore."

She grabbed a piece of metal from the desk.

"Bree, what are you doing?" Chase exclaimed.

"Getting my freedom," she said, raising the piece of metal.

"Bree, no!" Donald shouted, but it was too late. Bree brought the metal down, slamming it repeatedly against her bionic chip, shattering it into pieces.

Adam, Chase, Maeve, and Donald stared in horror. Maeve pressed her hands against her mouth in shock.

After a long moment, Donald finally spoke. "What did you do?"

"Well, she smashed her little chip-" Adam began.

"I know what she did!" He interrupted angrily. "How could you do that?!"

"Well," said Adam, "she picked up that-"

"I got it!" Donald yelled. He sighed and turned his attention to the pieces of the broken chip. "You have no idea what you've done."

"I know exactly what I've done," said Bree.

"Oooh," Adam, Chase, and Maeve murmured.

"Then you know you've made the biggest mistake of your life," said Donald.

"Oooh," they said again.

"Now, help me find the rest of your chip so I can try to fix it."

"You know what? No," Bree smirked.

"Oooh!"

"Excuse me?" Donald glared.

"I said, 'no'," she repeated.

"Adam, Chase, Maeve, can you please leave us for a minute? I need to speak to Bree alone."

"No," Bree turned to them. "Stay. There's nothing left to talk about."

She walked off, the lab doors closing behind her.

"Don't worry, Mr. Davenport," said Chase. "I'll go talk to her."

"No," he said. "If she doesn't want her bionic abilities, she's off the team."

-

The next day, Leo sat at his desk in the lab, working on something mechanical as Maeve braided her hair.

Bree walked in. "Guys, I just had the most awesome day. Now that I don't have bionics, I can do whatever I want, whenever I want."

Leo looked up. "Kinda busy. Can I get a rain check on caring?"

"I just finally know what it feels like to be normal!" Bree said, ignoring Leo. "This morning, I was supposed to meet Caitlin - I was an hour late. She's not talking to me! It's awesome!"

"It's a little bit early to cash in that rain check," he said.

Maeve laughed. Bree sat down to join her on the floor, and Maeve turned to braid her hair.

The lab doors opened again, this time, Adam walking through. "Hey, Leo, did you tell me to keep your mom here or let her go out?"

Leo looked up, angry. "Keep her here."

"Ah!" Said Adam. "Could've gone either way."

As Leo ran upstairs, Maeve laughed and nudged Bree. "What are they up to?"

Suddenly, Chase and Donald entered through the opposite end of the lab.

"Heads up," said Donald. "I just got a mission alert. There's a five-alarm fire at a chemical plant and the response team can't control it. Suit up. We have to get ahead of this thing before it spreads."

Adam, Chase, and Maeve headed to their capsules.

Donald ran to his computer. "Chase, you're gonna scan satellite images and try to pinpoint anyone who's trapped. Adam, you'll knock down the compound wall and rescue them. Maeve, you try to kill the fire as fast as possible. Me?" He put on a jacket. "I'll come along with you guys and try to help any way I can."

He put on ugly shades and tightened his jacket.

Now suited up, Adam, Chase, and Maeve walked up to Donald, grimacing at his outfit.

"Yeah, you can come on the mission, but not dressed like that," said Chase.

"Yeah, the fire's already a tragedy," said Adam. "Don't make it worse."

"Just go!" Donald snapped.

Adam and Chase jogged out of the lab. Maeve turned to look at Bree.

"Well, what can I do?" Bree asked Donald.

Donald took off his shades. "Nothing. You're not on the team anymore."

He ran out. Bree looked at him, visibly upset.

Maeve frowned, giving Bree's hand a quick squeeze. "I'll keep you updated."

-

The mission took much longer than expected. The chemical plant was huge, fire blazing throughout almost the entire building. Worse - it had been started from certain types of chemicals that made it so Maeve couldn't put the fire out with water. Her only option was to try to control the fire itself, which burned quick and strong.

Eventually, they were able to save everyone and contain all of the fire. By the time the mission ended, Maeve was exhausted. She had put all of her bionic ability into it, and her entire body felt sore and drained. Adam, Chase, and Donald were covered in ash.

Once Maeve, Adam, and Chase had finished putting their gear away, they made their way to the lab.

"Hey, guys," said Bree. "How was the mission?"

"Oh, it was terrible," said Adam. "You know, I was thinking about having my next birthday party at a chemical plant, but now I just- I just don't know."

Adam sat down to take off his gloves.

Chase turned to Bree. "We rescued everyone, but the mission took twice as long. Adam and I barely made it out alive."

He went to join Adam on the couch.

"Yeah, and in case you're wondering," Adam added, "heat vision does not put out fires."

"Well, what about Maeve? She can control fire," Bree said.

Maeve grimaced. "Yeah, but this fire was huge. It took a lot longer than what I'm used to."

"Oh, well..." she shrugged. "I mean, I'm sure it would've been just as dangerous if I had been there."

"No," said Chase. "If you had been there, your superspeed would've created a vortex and put out the fire instantly. Congratulations, Bree. I hope that being normal is worth it."

Chase and Adam walked over to their capsules. Bree stared, obviously feeling guilty.

"I'll talk to them," Maeve said quietly.

Bree hugged her, breathing deeply before exiting the lab. Maeve, Adam, and Chase went to their capsules to remove their suits.

Once they were in normal clothes and all cleaned up, Chase sighed.

"I can't believe Bree would just abandon us like that."

"Chase," Maeve started gently. "I... Don't you feel like you might be being a little harsh?"

He stared at her. "No. Because of her, Adam and I almost died today."

"I know, but... she never intended for that to happen."

"Well, she should've thought about that before she broke her bionic chip," Chase frowned. Adam nodded.

"I mean, yeah," Maeve said. "But come on. You're telling me you've never wished you were normal?"

"Why would I?"

"Chase is the only non-normal guy around here," said Adam.

Maeve ignored him. "Remember when we had to stay out of school? Remember when my dad attacked Leo and Tasha? You never wish you were just a regular person?"

Chase thought for a moment, but shook his head. "We get to save people. That's what's important."

"I know, but you have to remember that Bree - and you guys - never volunteered to be on this team," Maeve explained. "When Bree's entire life is watching other people do things she can't, of course she'd wish she wasn't bionic. And honestly? I get it."

Chase and Adam exchanged glances.

"I'm not saying you can't be upset that you guys were in danger today," she continued. "But just... cut her some slack."

"I don't know what slack means, but you've convinced me," said Adam, walking off.

Chase still looked unconvinced. Maeve stepped forward.

"Will you at least think about it?" She stepped even closer, their bodies almost touching. "Please?"

Chase breathed nervously. "...Okay."

Maeve grinned and brought her arms around his torso in a hug. He hugged her back, sighing.

"I just wish she hadn't done what she did," he said, pulling away.

"I know," she frowned, running her hand through his hair and then cupping his cheek. "But I'm sure she regrets it more than you."

Chase thought for a moment. "You're right."

"I'm always right," she shrugged. Chase laughed and hugged her again.

-

Later, Chase worked in the lab again, Adam pressing random buttons.

Suddenly, Bree walked in, nervous. "You can probably guess why I'm here."

Adam turned to her, panic setting in. "Chase and I didn't make it out of the fire and we're ghosts?"

Bree stared at him. "I owe you an apology."

"Yeah, well you should've apologized when we were alive," Adam snapped.

"Look, I just wanted some freedom from being bionic," she explained. "I never meant to put you guys in danger."

"Well, you did," Chase said.

"I know. I was just thinking about me instead of us. We're a family. I was being selfish and I'm really sorry. I want back in."

Maeve smiled at Bree.

"Good," Chase smiled too.

"Woah, wait a minute," said Adam. "We gotta vote on it. Hands? I'm looking for a three-fifths majority and someone to calculate it."

"We're not voting, Adam," Maeve said.

"Yeah," Adam nodded, turning to Bree. "Get out!"

Bree stared.

"Oh, right," he said. "Family, family, yada yada, I got it. Bring it in."

Adam wrapped all four of them into a hug.

"What's going on?" Donald walked into the lab.

Bree looked up, stepping forward. "Mr. Davenport, I messed up, and I'm sorry. I'm ready to be bionic again."

Donald frowned. "Well, I'm glad you feel that way, but I can't do that."

"What do you mean?" Asked Chase. "She apologized and she wants back in."

"I didn't create your chip," said Donald. "My brother did. And now that it's damaged so badly, I can't duplicate it."

"Wait," said Bree, "what are you saying?"

"I don't know if you'll ever be bionic again."

-

hey guys!! long time no see :) i know i've sidelined this story for a while but i've been super busy with school and i've been working on another fanfic but i'm really gonna try to update this on a consistent schedule again! and if possible i would love it if you guys checked out my cobra kai fanfic! <3

also sorry i wrote this chapter super late at night so it's pretty rushed!!