Leo and Harper exchanged concerned glances as they leaned back in their swivel chairs, trying to process everything that was happening.

Meanwhile, Adam, Bree and Chase charged towards Douglas, who held an illuminating device. In the blink of an eye, the bionic siblings vanished, only to reappear inside a cage with Mr. Davenport and Lyla. The sudden disappearance left Leo and Harper in stunned silence as they stared at the screen.

"You mastered short-range teleportation before I did? I've been working on that for years!" Mr. Davenport exclaimed, clenching his fist in frustration.

Douglas smirked and waved the device in the air. "I know. I'm awesome."

"You're still going down." Adam said firmly. He lunged forward but then halted. "My super strength. It's gone."

Bree stepped forward, a confused look on her face. "So is my speed."

"I've got nothing." Chase said, his hand touching his temple.

Douglas grinned maliciously. "That's because I've designed the lasers to block the signals from your bionic chips. That's right, daddy gave you toys, but he can also take them away."

Harper's stomach churned as she watched the bionic siblings, now stripped of their abilities, trapped in the cage.

"They're trapped." She said quietly, rising from her chair in frustration. "What are we going to do?"

"Well, if I know you two, I'm sure it'll involve a sad little plan and an epic fail. Good luck." Eddy responded nonchalantly from the monitor.

Leo paced around the Lab, a sense of urgency growing in his movements. "All right, if we go to the authorities, we'll blow their bionic secret. We're just gonna gave to go there and rescue them ourselves."

"Leo, we won't stand a chance against Marcus's bionics if we go there empty handed." Harper pointed out.

"You're not going to." Eddy told them.

Leo and Harper both turned back to Eddy, confusion clouding their faces. "What?"

"Donald told me that in a worst case scenario, someone has to push this button." Eddy informed seriously. On the monitor, a red button appeared, glowing ominously. "And you two being the only ones left is the worst case scenario."

Harper rolled her eyes and pressed the button on the screen. A hologram of Mr. Davenport suddenly flickered into existence in the middle of the Lab. It was an odd, almost surreal sight—Mr. Davenport in a heroic pose, smiling off into the distance as if he were some kind of comic book character.

"Whoa. It's a hologram." Leo exclaimed, his eyes wide as he stared at the figure of Mr. Davenport projected in front of them.

"Adam, Bree, Chase if you're watching this, something terrible has happened." Mr. Davenport began. Leo absentmindedly waved his hand through the blue holographic image. It passed through like mist, and Harper followed his lead. As her hand made contact, a strange tingling sensation surged through her fingertips. "It's time for you to become the heroes you were always meant to be. And whatever it is you're about to face, I know you can handle it without me."

"It's not what he told them yesterday." Leo sang quietly.

"Though your bionics are amazing, they might not always be enough. So, step into the elevator and Eddy will take you to a secret floor below the lab: My weapons vault." Mr. Davenport explained.

Leo's eyes widened in disbelief. "He has a secret weapons vault?"

Harper raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "It doesn't really come as a shocker. I mean, name something he doesn't have."

Mr. Davenport's holographic image crouched down, bringing his face level with Leo and Harper's. He placed his hands on his knees in a mock gesture of seriousness. "And Leo or Harper, if you are watching this, I do not have a secret weapons vault!"

Leo and Harper exchanged a quick glance, then hurried their way toward the elevator.

The elevator ride was silent, and the anticipation in the air was palpable. Eddy took them to the secret weapons vault beneath the Lab.

When the doors finally opened, Leo and Harper's eyes went wide. They stepped out into a dimly lit chamber, rows upon rows of weapons hanging from hooks, neatly organized and ready for use. The walls were lined with advanced gadgets, each more sophisticated than the last, and the air smelled faintly of metal and oil.

"Whoa, look at all this." Leo said in awe as he scanned the room. His fingers hovered over a sleek black bag resting on the ground, and he picked it up.

"A room full of stuff you can use to hurt yourselves. I should've shown you this a long time ago." Eddy admitted.

Harper moved carefully around the room, her eyes landing on a shiny weapon on the wall. She walked over to it and carefully removed it, studying its design with curiosity and caution.

"How are we supposed to use it if we don't know how it works?" Leo questioned, gesturing to the vast array of unfamiliar tech surrounding them.

"When has that ever stopped you before?" Eddy responded dryly.

"Good point." Leo responded, dumping a variety of weapons into the black bag he was holding. "Let's do this."

Harper grabbed a smaller bag next to Leo's and stuffed a few weapons inside, choosing a couple she thought might come in handy. She then set her bag aside and picked up a gun-like object, testing its weight and feel in her hands.

After double-checking that the correct end of the weapon was facing the wall, Harper aimed it at a distant target. With a deep breath, she pressed the trigger. A bright laser beam shot out with a sharp whine, reflecting off the wall and back toward her with surprising speed.

Startled, Harper yelped and quickly ducked to the ground, the beam barely missing her.

"At least we know it works." She said with a shaky laugh, her heart still racing from the close call.

Leo, who had been watching in slight disbelief, handed her a black vest. "Here."

"A protection vest?" Harper asked, arching an eyebrow as she looked at the sturdy, sleek design.

"Yeah. It should be able to protect us against anything Marcus throws at us." Leo explained, his voice calm but with a serious edge.

••••

The sun set, casting a golden hue over the horizon before the sky slowly turned a deep indigo. The bright moon emerged, hanging like a lantern in the vast expanse, casting a soft glow on the world below.

The moon's light was gentle, yet it illuminated the starry night sky, with stars twinkling lazily, as if at ease, nestled amongst gauzy clouds drifting through the air. It felt like a scene from a fairytale, a palace pavilion under the heavens, ethereal and dreamlike.

Harper stood still for a moment, taking it all in. The night sky sparked her imagination, filling her with wonder. The black and blue of the heavens stretched like an artist's canvas, dotted with sparkling stars—delicate lights scattered like flowers, gently whispering in the darkness. The sight was enchanting, and for a fleeting moment, it made her feel like she could escape into the stars, away from everything below.

Leo and Harper had been pulling their little red wagon towards Marcus's house, each taking turns. The wagon was heavy with weapons, their only means of defending themselves against Marcus and his twisted plan.

"Look out, bad guys. Our brave heroes have arrived, towing their powerful weapons in their little red wagon." Eddy's voice crackled through the watch on Leo's wrist.

Leo glanced at his wrist with an exasperated sigh. "It was either this, or my Mum's leopard-print roller bag. We made a choice, live with it."

"How are we supposed to get inside?" Eddy asked.

Leo walked up to the blue wooden wall of Marcus's house, eyeing it suspiciously. "There's a hidden entryway somewhere behind this wall."

"No problemo. I have a thermal scanner that can detect anomalies in the wall's inner structure." Eddy stated, sounding confident.

Harper raised an eyebrow. "You do?"

"Of course not. I'm inside a watch from an airplane catalogue. Can't even take me out in the rain." Eddy replied sarcastically. Leo gave the watch a quick hit against the wall. "Ouch!"

Harper rolled her eyes but moved toward the wall, knocking gently on it. "There's gotta be some sort of trigger mechanism to make the hidden entryway appear."

"Why don't you try banging your little wagon against it?" Eddy taunted.

"Enough with the wagon!" Leo snapped, clearly frustrated.

Just as they were about to give up, the hidden door suddenly appeared, and there stood Marcus, leaning casually against the doorframe, his face smug.

"Hello, Leo, Harper." Marcus greeted. Leo screamed in surprise, and Harper jumped back, both of them stepping away from the entrance. "Sorry you came all this way, but uh, we're kind of busy."

"Oh, yeah?" Leo questioned. He grabbed a blaster from the wagon, aiming it at Marcus. "Well, I've got this."

Marcus, however, was too fast. With a flick of his wrist, he used his molecular kinesis to send the weapon flying from Leo's grasp, sending it spiraling into the air. "No, you had that."

"Oh, yeah? Well, we've still got all of these." Leo pointed out, motioning to all their weapons in the wagon. Marcus raised an eyebrow and shot out a burst of heat vision, disintegrating the weapons in seconds, including the wagon itself. "No!"

Harper pursed her lips, annoyance flashing across her face. "Leo... next time we go against someone, don't tell them our only backup plan."

"Goodbyes are tough. So, I'll make this easy." Marcus said coldly before generating crackling green lightning in his hands. He aimed it directly at Leo, who had barely enough time to brace himself before the surge of energy hit him.

Harper gasped in shock as Leo was thrown backward, his body flung into the bushes with brutal force. She didn't have time to react, her attention snapping back to Marcus just as he blurred out of sight, moving with his super speed.

Before she could even process the sight of Leo crashing to the ground, Marcus stood in front of her, his presence looming like a shadow.

"Was this the plan all along? You using me?" Harper asked shakily as she took a step back. She could barely bring herself to look at him.

Marcus's gaze was steady, almost detached. "Partially. When the plan started, we were unaware of your existence. As we got to know you, my father insisted that I should get closer to you... and now we find ourselves here."

The words hit Harper hard, but she held her ground. Her eyes burned with a mixture of hurt and confusion. "So, everything we did together—frozen yogurt, movies, getting to know each other—was all a lie?"

Marcus's expression softened, just a touch. "Not entirely." He murmured, his tone uncharacteristically vulnerable. "Harper, I do have genuine feelings for you. I liked you. However, they weren't strong enough to go through with the plan. I'm sorry. I did what I felt was necessary."

Harper's heart twisted at his admission, her breath catching in her throat. She was torn between wanting to believe him and the crushing weight of betrayal. But before she could find the words, Marcus's face hardened again, his regret quickly disappearing behind cold determination.

Without warning, Marcus launched a kick toward her head, his foot cutting through the air with frightening speed. Harper instinctively ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow. She didn't hesitate; she countered with a swift leg-sweep, knocking him off balance. He hit the ground hard, but his reflexes were too fast.

In an instant, he rolled back onto his feet, his eyes never leaving hers as he advanced.

Harper gritted her teeth, preparing for the onslaught. She tried to block as many of his strikes as she could, but the force of each blow jarred her arms painfully. Her body was aching, each hit wearing her down further. Her movements slowed, and she felt the sting of each missed block.

Another punch came too fast for her to react to, catching her squarely in the head. The force of the impact sent her stumbling back, her vision blurring as the world around her tilted. She barely had time to steady herself before another blow landed, and everything went dark.

Harper's body went limp, her consciousness slipping away as she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

••••

Marcus entered the lair, his steps deliberate and quiet as he carried Harper's limp form. Her arms hung loosely at her sides, her head resting against his shoulder, her breathing shallow but steady. He adjusted his grip, holding the back of her knees, her body swaying gently with each step he took.

The silence of the room felt heavy as he crossed the threshold, the weight of what was happening pressing down on him.

When Marcus reached the other side of the room, he set Harper down gently on the cold metal operation table that Douglas had already prepared. The sight of the table, with its sterile, ominous aura, made Marcus' stomach twist, but he forced the feeling down, focusing instead on the task ahead.

He strapped her wrists and ankles to the table with smooth, practiced motions, securing her without hesitation. The way her body laid there, vulnerable and unmoving, sent a ripple of discomfort through him, but he buried it deep.

"What are you doing to my sister?!" Lyla demanded. Her eyes burned with desperation, but all she could do was watch helplessly as Marcus prepared Harper for whatever cruel fate Douglas had in store for her.

Lyla had been locked in here with Mr. Davenport for what felt like hours, both of them powerless to stop Douglas from executing his twisted plans. Every second felt like an eternity as they waited for any sign of hope, any way to escape, but none came.

Douglas had remained eerily silent for the most part, giving no explanation for why he had taken them or what he intended to do with Harper.

"Well, why waste such great potential when I can add her to my bionic army?" Douglas wondered. He paused, looking over at Harper, who was unconscious on the operating table. His wicked grin never faltered. "I've been monitoring your every move. When I discovered that Harper was part of your group, I knew I had to have her. I was aware she wouldn't willingly join me, so I used you as bait."

Lyla's teeth ground together in fury. Her eyes were narrowed, a deadly fire burning in them. "If you harm her-"

"Oh, relax." Douglas interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm just gonna make her a custom bionic chip, implant it, and control her for the rest of her life."

"Don't go near her!" Chase demanded as he glared at Douglas. "When I get out of here, I'm taking you and Marcus down."

"Good luck with that." Douglas said coldly. With a flourish, he brandished the small remote, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Once I press this, it'll activate your Triton apps, then I'll control you. Permanently."

A silence fell over the room, thick with tension. Adam, Bree and Chase exchanged worried glances, but there was no time to act as Douglas aimed the remote at them.

"No!"

"Stop!"

"Do Chase first!"

Douglas pressed the button, causing the three bionic siblings to huddle closer, wincing and grunting. Pressing it again, they squinted and hid their eyes. Lifting his leg, he pointed the remote at them, prompting Adam, Bree and Chase to squeeze together and grunt once more.

"Marcus, did you put batteries in this thing?!" Douglas questioned in irritation, holding the remote up.

"Ha!" Mr. Davenport's voice rang out brightly from the cage, cutting through the tension. "I went in their chips and put a block on your app a long time ago! Oh, it is so good watching you eat it!" He began to dance in a mock celebration. But as he threw his elbow up to the bars in his exuberance, it struck the side of the cage, and he winced. "Ow!"

"Very clever, Donny. But I'll get around it." Douglas sneered as he reached his desk, typing rapidly on the computer keyboard, his eyes locked on the screen. His fingers flew over the keys, a look of focus etched into his face. "I've always been a better programmer than you. There, see?" He jumped out of his chair in triumph, pointing at the monitor. "Only eight minutes till my cypher key decrypts your block and activates the Triton app. What are you gonna do? Call Mummy? If you do, don't tell her I'm alive."

With a smug grin, Douglas turned away from the computer, his footsteps echoing as he walked off with Marcus in tow, leaving the room in a tense silence.

Lyla's gaze drifted helplessly to Harper, still unconscious on the operating table. The dark, cool room seemed to grow heavier as the seconds ticked by. Her sister lay there, vulnerable and unaware of the imminent danger surrounding her.

A wave of helplessness washed over Lyla—she couldn't do anything, couldn't reach out to stop the impending horrors that were about to unfold. Everything felt out of her control, and it gnawed at her.

"Don't worry, Lyla. We'll get out of here and get you two to safety." Chase reassured.

Lyla turned to face him, eyes narrowing, a mixture of hope and resignation clouding her gaze. "How? You only have seven minutes before the Triton app is enabled."

Mr. Davenport glanced around the cage, his eyes scanning every inch for something, anything, that could be used to their advantage. "If we could find a way to deflect one of these beams, we could take out the control console and deactivate the laser source. I don't suppose anybody has a mirror on them."

"If any of us had a mirror on them, it'd be you." Bree shot back, her voice dry with sarcasm.

"There must be something we can use." Chase said.

"Well, I can't think on an empty stomach." Adam said as he reached into his weapon holster and pulled out a granola bar.

"You brought a granola bar?" Chase questioned in disbelief.

"Yep." Adam replied with a smile, turning to Mr. Davenport. "Thanks for taking my suggestion on the snack holder."

"That was supposed to be for a weapon." Mr. Davenport said, exasperated, his gaze fixed on Adam.

"Oi, this one with the weapons." Adam replied nonchalantly as he unwrapped it, taking a huge bite.

Bree snatched the wrapper from Adam's hand, her eyes gleaming with realization. "Hey, we can use this as a reflective surface."

"Yes, but it will never withstand the intensity of these beams. We need something to support it... Something hard and flat." Mr. Davenport said.

"How about Adam's head?" Chase suggested, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

Bree turned to face Mr. Davenport. "What about your belt buckle?"

"Yes!" Mr. Davenport exclaimed, his face lighting up. He quickly unbuckled his belt, his expression proud of the new idea, but then his pouted. "Wait, this is custom."

"Really?" Bree questioned, raising an eyebrow, unimpressed. She grabbed the belt buckle and, without hesitation, wrapped the granola bar wrapper around it. "There. Now we've got a mirror."

"Step aside, Bree." Chase advised with a grin, grabbing the makeshift mirror from her hands. "Let the big boys take care of this."

Bree smirked. "Oh, okay. When are they getting here?"

Chase shot her a glare, but it quickly softened as he focused on the task at hand. He tilted the mirror, trying to angle it just right to reflect the beam.

"Tilt back on the Z axis." Mr. Davenport directed.

"Almost got it." Chase muttered under his breath, adjusting the angle carefully.

"No, no, not that one. That's one." Adam said, pointing at the correct beam with sudden certainty. He ignored the confused looks from the group of four. "What? I had my snack. I'm ready to help. Hold this."

He handed Chase the half-eaten granola bar with a grin and grabbed the belt buckle from him. Adjusting it at various angles, Adam squinted, trying to get the reflection just right.

Mr. Davenport and Chase stammered, pointing out Adam's wrongdoings.

"Just give it to me." Bree demanded impatiently. She snatched the buckle from Adam's hands and quickly repositioned it. Within seconds, the reflection hit the laser beam's target. A loud crackling sound filled the air as the laser beam shot across the room, disabling the cage. "And that's how you get it done, boys. Yolo!"

"Harper!" Lyla shouted desperately.

Harper's eyes fluttered open as the light in the room began to adjust. She blinked a few times, trying to clear the blurriness from her vision. As her sight cleared, she saw Lyla standing over her, her face filled with relief. Adam was at the side, quickly ripping Harper's wrists from the cold, metal operation table.

"Lyla?" Harper whispered, confusion still thick in her voice. Her body felt weak, and her mind was still racing to catch up with what was happening.

"Harper." Lyla whispered back as she pulled Harper into a tight hug.

It was like the world stopped for a moment, the warmth and security of her sister's embrace washing over her. Harper's fears started to melt away, even though she knew they weren't safe yet

They broke the hug reluctantly, and Adam carefully helped Harper to her feet. She swayed a bit, still disoriented, and shook her head, trying to rid herself of the dizziness caused by the bright overhead lights. Adam gently set her back down as she looked around at the others—Mr. Davenport, Bree and Chase were all near the exit, ready to move.

Just as they were about to move, the door to the lair slammed open. The sound of footsteps echoed in the silence, and Douglas strode in, a sinister grin spread across his face. Behind him stood Marcus, his expression unreadable. The tension in the room spiked.

Douglas clapped his hands. "Bravo. But just cause a dog gets out of his cage doesn't mean he's going for a walk."

Adam's eyes widened. "Wait, you have a dog? Where, where, where, where, where?"

"Douglas. You're not getting these kids." Mr. Davenport said firmly as he stood his ground in front of the group.

"Wrong again, Donny. Look, the decryption is complete." Douglas sneered, a look of smug satisfaction crossing his face as he pointed at the desk. He raised the remote in his hands with a triumphant grin. "Now I'll have total control of their-" Before he could finish his sentence, Mr. Davenport lunged forward, kicking the remote from Douglas's hand. "Ow!"

Without missing a beat, Douglas grabbed Mr. Davenport by the waist, pushing him backward with unexpected force. The momentum knocked Mr. Davenport off balance, and he was sent stumbling a few steps back.

"Guys, run!" Mr. Davenport shouted urgently as he struggled to free himself from Douglas's grip.

"We're not leaving without you!" Bree insisted.

"Just go, get Lyla and Harper to safety!" Mr. Davenport barked, trying to shove Douglas off him.

"Marcus! Stop them!" Douglas ordered, his voice cold and commanding as he turned to his son.

Without hesitation, Marcus activated his super speed, blurring into motion as he appeared in front of the group, blocking their path. The air around him seemed to crackle with energy, his eyes narrowed in challenge.

"Out of our way, Marcus." Chase growled, stepping forward and raising his fists.

"Not a chance." Marcus responded coolly, his expression unyielding. "I'm more powerful than all of you."

Adam scoffed. "Oh, he's lying. I haven't seen him at the gym once."

Before anyone could say anything, Adam threw a punch with all his might. But Marcus, faster than the eye could follow, blocked the blow with ease. He twisted Adam's arm, effortlessly disarming him and throwing him to the ground in a swift, practiced motion.

"Adam!" Harper and Bree called out in unison, rushing to his side to help him up.

Chase expression darkened as he saw Marcus overpower his brother. He inhaled deeply and turned to Lyla. "You and Harper need to get out of here. We'll cover you."

"Thank you." Lyla said appreciatively. Without another word, Lyla hurried to Harper's side, forcing her to stand up. "Harper, we need to go."

But Harper shook her head firmly, her expression filled with determination. "I need to help them. We can't just run."

Her eyes darted from Lyla to Chase, who had just been flung across the room with ease by Marcus's super strength. His body collided with the platform above them, and he hung suspended from a chain.

Marcus, using his super speed, now stood on the platform and began tapping away at the button panel. With a sharp mechanical whirr, the floors below shifted and a buzzing saw appeared from below, its teeth spinning menacingly toward Chase, who was still dangling.

Chase yelped. "Who has that in their house?"

"This place used to be a sausage factory. You could fit a whole cow in there." Marcus explained casually.

"Chase, hold on!" Bree called out, her voice sharp with urgency as she helped Adam to his feet. He winced, but quickly shook it off. "Adam, go see if any of those buttons will close the floor."

"Oooh, buttons." Adam said, a slight glint of curiosity flashing across his face. He moved toward the control panel, the complex array of buttons and switches seeming almost too tempting to resist.

Lyla, still wide-eyed with panic, grabbed Harper's arm, trying to pull her away from the scene. "Come on, Harper."

Harper shook her head vigorously, refusing to leave. "Lyla, I need to help them. I'll be fine. Get out of here now!"

Lyla hesitated, her grip on Harper's arm tightening, torn between protecting her sister and trusting her decision. After a tense moment, she gave in, knowing she couldn't keep Harper from fighting. She gave Harper a nod before rushing out of the lair, trusting that her sister could handle it.

Meanwhile, Bree, with her super speed, zipped onto the platform beside Marcus in a blur of motion. She looked at him, but he only watched with a detached amusement, clearly unbothered by the crisis.

Harper's heart raced as she rushed to Adam's side at the computer. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, each stroke a frantic attempt to stop the saw beneath Chase. The pressure was mounting with every passing second—she couldn't afford to waste time.

"Hey, I think I got it!" Adam exclaimed in a mix relief and excitement. But before Harper could celebrate, flames erupted from the saw, sending a wave of heat into the room. Chase's expression tightened with urgency as he expertly dodged the fire, his body twisting mid-air to avoid the flames. "No, still working on it."

"Work faster!" Chase shouted, barely keeping his grip on the platform.

"We're doing our best!" Harper snapped back, her fingers not slowing for a second. She was determined—she had to get this right.

"Guys, hurry!" Chase's plea echoed through the lair, his voice laced with panic as he tried to steady himself, his body aching from the strain.

The shouts and grunts from Bree and Chase, combined with the horrifying sound of the saw's whirring blades, only heightened Harper's anxiety. She felt the weight of the situation pressing in on her, and she knew they were running out of time.

Suddenly, the deafening sound of a kick cut through the chaos. Bree let out a gasp as she was sent sprawling to the floor, her body crumpling with the force of the blow.

"Say goodbye, Chase." Marcus taunted, his voice dripping with malicious satisfaction as he laid on the ground.

With a swift motion, he hit Chase's hands, forcing him to release the chain. Chase's eyes widened in disbelief, his body falling toward the saw below.

"Got it!" Adam and Harper shouted just as the danger seemed inevitable.

The control panel hummed to life, and the floor closed with a loud mechanical clank, trapping the saw before Chase fell into it. Chase crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, the momentum of his fall sending shockwaves through his body. He groaned in pain, though relief quickly flooded his face.

Harper and Adam quickly stood up, their urgency apparent as they rushed over to Chase. As they reached him, he shot them a pointed look, wincing in pain.

"Ow!" Chase grumbled.

Harper couldn't help but roll her eyes before grabbing his hand to help him up. Then all of a sudden, Marcus appeared in front of them in a blur of super speed, his presence cutting off their path. Bree was right behind him, standing beside her brothers, their resolve hardening as they faced the growing threat.

The group instinctively formed a protective barrier around Harper.

"You may be strong, but let's see you take on all three of us." Adam challenged.

"Go ahead, creep. Take your best shot." Chase taunted.

Harper stepped back as the bionic siblings began to circle around Marcus, preparing themselves for the inevitable confrontation.

"Gladly." Marcus responded simply, unfazed by them.

In an instant, Marcus crouched down, his body crackling with energy. The air around him pulsed with power as he began to draw energy from the atmosphere. Harper's eyes widened in shock as she watched him raise his hands toward the sky. The energy around him grew rapidly.

Without warning, Marcus unleashed a devastating blast of energy at Adam, Bree and Chase. The force was overwhelming, and the three bionic siblings were sent crashing violently to the ground, their bodies slamming into the hard floor with bone-jarring impacts.

"Guys!" Harper cried out, her heart pounding in her chest. She rushed toward them, but fear tightened her throat as she saw the way they lay there.

Her attention was momentarily diverted to Mr. Davenport and Douglas on the platform above—their desperate struggle for control over the remote. The chaos was mounting, and suddenly, the remote slipped from their grasp and fell, clattering to the ground below.

Douglas tumbled off the platform and landed next to the remote, grabbing it with lightning speed. "Ha! Now their bionics are all mine!"

"No!" Mr. Davenport shouted.

Before Douglas could press the button, something massive fell from the ceiling, sending rubble and dust crashing everywhere. The force of the impact caused a tremor through the lair, and for a moment, everyone froze. The remote slipped from Douglas's grasp, and he cursed under his breath.

"Exoskeleton in the house!" Leo's voice boomed from inside the robot, his tone brimming with playful triumph. "Or whatever you call this funky place."

"Leo, you're alive!" Mr. Davenport exclaimed in relief.

"I ask you to do one thing!" Douglas yelled, his face turning red as he glared at Marcus. With a loud thud, Mr. Davenport leaped off the platform, landing squarely on the remote, crushing it under his feet before Douglas could grab it. "You broke it! You always break my toys!"

"Guys, are you alright?" Harper called as she looked down at the bionic siblings with concern.

Adam, Bree and Chase groaned, still reeling from Marcus's attack. Harper helped them up, her worry mounting. Meanwhile, Leo, still inside the exoskeleton, fired lasers at Marcus, who dodged each shot with lightning speed. He then used his super speed to rush toward the exoskeleton, effortlessly pushing it down to the ground with a force that made Leo grunt in frustration.

"So, this thing can burst through walls and shoot lasers but it can't get back up?" Leo's voice echoed from inside the robot, the exoskeleton struggling to get back up.

"Well, it's a prototype." Mr. Davenport muttered apologetically, giving the robot an embarrassed look.

"You just don't seem to go away, Leo. This time I'm gonna finish you for good." Marcus threatened as he stood over the exoskeleton, revealing sharp tools in his fists that made Leo scream.

"Leo's alive!" Chase exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief as he took in the sight of the exoskeleton and Leo inside it.

Marcus's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking to the group. "Nu-uh. Not for long."

"Get away from him." Adam growled, his voice heavy with fury. Sparks of electricity crackled around his body, and the air grew thick with the power surging through him.

Harper's eyes widened as she felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere. She instinctively linked arms with Bree and Chase, pulling them closer as they watched Adam's energy surge grow more intense.

"What's going on?" Harper asked, her voice shaking with unease.

"I think he just discovered his new ability." Bree whispered, her eyes fixed on Adam.

"I think we should get behind him." Chase urged, gripping Harper's hand tightly.

Without hesitation, Chase, Harper and Bree ran behind Adam, positioning themselves for safety. Adam stood tall, his body crackling with electrical energy. His chest rose and fell with each breath, but the power inside him was undeniable. The energy coursing through his arms built to a crescendo before he unleashed a massive blast wave, sending a shockwave through the lair.

Marcus was blasted backward, and everyone else was knocked off their feet by the force.

Harper found herself tumbling forward, landing on top of Chase as the alarms blared throughout the lair. Dust and debris filled the air, making it harder to see, but they could all feel the tremors beneath their feet.

"That was awesome!" Adam yelled, exhilarated by his newfound strength. "Wow. All that from one granola bar."

"What's going on? Are we winning?" Leo's voice called out from the ground.

The room shook again, and more rubble began to fall from the ceiling, as if the entire lair was about to collapse in on itself. Everyone struggled to get back to their feet, the weight of the situation settling heavily on them.

"We gotta get out of here. The whole pace is coming down." Chase insisted.

Adam, Bree, Chase and Harper rushed to Leo, helping him stand back up in the exoskeleton. The heavy armor made it difficult for the, to move swiftly, but with their combined efforts, they managed to get him back on his feet.

Mr. Davenport scanned the room, his eyes darting between the chaos, his face taut with worry. "Where's Douglas?"

"We have to go now." Adam insisted as he reached out and grabbed onto Mr. Davenport's arm firmly. He could feel the tremors of the crumbling lair beneath their feet, the urgency mounting with each passing second.

"You are not going anywhere." Marcus declared firmly as he rose up from the ground.

The ground shook, and Harper's heart skipped a beat. She looked up just in time to see Marcus rise from the rubble, energy swirling ominously around him. He was gathering power, causing the air to crackle with his immense force. Debris rained down from the ceiling, pieces of the building collapsing in the wake of his energy.

Harper's breath caught in her throat, panic setting in as the room quaked. She couldn't look away from Marcus. The person she had once known, the person who had been a friend, a partner, now an unstoppable force. A part of her still felt something for him, a quiet ache in her chest, even as she knew she couldn't let that distract her.

"Marcus! Look out!" Harper called out. She reached out instinctively, though she knew there was nothing she could do to save him from what was about to happen.

Marcus, for a brief moment, glanced upward. His eyes widened in realization, but before he could react, the ceiling above him cracked. A massive load of debris came crashing down, burying him in an instant.

Harper froze, her hands shaking as she watched the pile of rubble settle over the spot where Marcus had been standing. Her heart raced, and tears blurred her vision as she stood in place, feeling a strange mix of relief and sorrow. She knew it had to be done—he had chosen this path, but part of her still mourned the person he used to be.

"Marcus..." She whispered.

"Harper, we have to go," Chase urged. He grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the wreckage.

With no other choice, they turned and fled. They could do nothing more for him now. The lair was collapsing around them, and the only thing that mattered was getting out alive. They ran as fast as they could, not looking back as they reached the exit.

••••

Later that night, the sounds of celebration echoed throughout the Davenport mansion. Laughter and voices of triumph filled the air as Adam, Bree, and Chase reveled in their hard-earned victory.

But in the quiet of the Lab, Harper sat alone on top of the cyber desk. Her feet were propped up on the stool, and her body seemed weighed down by the heavy thoughts swirling in her mind.

Every time she blinked, she saw it again. The lair collapsing on Marcus. The weight of the rubble crushing him, and the feeling that there was nothing she could do to stop it. A hollow emptiness enveloped her as she thought about him—about everything that had happened.

She could still hear his voice in her head, the confession of feelings he'd made before everything spiraled out of control. But that moment now felt so distant, like a dream she couldn't wake up from.

Harper groaned, placing a hand on her forehead where a bruise was already beginning to form from the fight. She felt like she was still reeling from the events of the day. How could she have been so naive? How could she have believed Marcus when he manipulated her? She felt so foolish, the weight of it pressing heavily on her chest.

The door slid open, and Chase entered the Lab. His eyes immediately locked onto the bruise on Harper's head, and he clenched his jaw in concern. He stepped toward her, holding an ice pack in his hand.

"Hey." He greeted softly. "I brought this for you. Thought it might help."

Harper gave him a small, appreciative smile as she took the ice pack from his hand. "Thanks."

Chase sat down beside her on the cyber desk, his expression thoughtful. He could tell something was off. She wasn't her usual self. "Why are you down here alone?"

"I just needed to process everything," Harper replied quietly, pressing the ice pack against her forehead. "The whole thing with Marcus... and now my sister knowing about your bionics. It's a lot to take in."

Chase nodded in understanding. "Yeah, it really is."

Harper sighed deeply, her gaze drifting down to the ground. "You know, even though he was evil... Marcus told me that he actually had feelings for me. I can't believe I fell for it. I feel like such an idiot."

"You're not an idiot, Harper." Chase reassured as he reached for her hand. He gently took it in both of his, holding it between them in a way that felt comforting and sincere. He wanted to make her look at him, to make her see the truth in his words. "You're the most honest person I've ever met. You're strong, smart, funny, confident and caring."

Harper's gaze dropped, her fingers fidgeting with the ice pack, unsure how to respond. She couldn't help but feel a mixture of doubt and discomfort creeping in.

"You're only saying that because you're my best friend." She said, lowering the ice pack from her forehead, her eyes not meeting his as she let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh.

Chase stood there, frozen for a moment, captivated by the warmth in Harper's eyes. Her presence alone made his heart race, and hearing her voice, soft yet steady, made his stomach flutter in ways he didn't quite understand. She was everything he had ever admired in a person.

From the way her deep brown eyes seemed to hold secrets to the effortless grace she moved with, he found himself utterly captivated.

It wasn't just about how she looked — though that was undeniable — it was the way she carried herself. The confidence, the intelligence, the kindness. Chase felt drawn to her, as if there was a magnetic pull between them, and he couldn't help but pause, admiring the perfection of her.

He could never fully express the thoughts he had about her, but in his silence, he knew she was the most beautiful girl in the room — in every room.

"Harper, you don't know the effect you have on people." Chase whispered softly, turning to face her closely, so the pair were only a foot apart. His heart hammered in his chest, and he couldn't stop himself from gently tilting her chin up with his hand. She had no choice but to meet his gaze, the two of them now locked in a moment that felt suspended in time. "Especially to me."

Harper's brow furrowed in confusion. She blinked, trying to make sense of what he had just said. "Effect on people? I don't... I don't know what you're talking about."

Chase's expression softened, his eyes never leaving hers. "Yeah. You do."

The silence between them was thick, charged with emotions neither of them seemed prepared for. Harper's heart raced in her chest, and as they sat there, neither one of them dared to break the moment. Chase was torn between wanting to be closer, yet a deep sense of hesitation held him back. He was captivated by her, but his own nerves kept him rooted to the spot.

Harper's chest tightened as she looked up at him, the intensity in his gaze almost too much to bear. She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears, unsure of how to process the electric tension that was building in the room. Her feet felt heavy, her mind clouded by the weight of his words and the closeness between them.

Chase smiled then, a small, charming smile that made her stomach flip. It was a smile that made her feel both nervous and elated all at once, and before she knew it, her breath hitched in her throat.

Slowly, Chase leaned in, inching closer to her. Every small movement felt like it was in slow motion, the air between them charged with a palpable energy.

Harper's brain seemed to short-circuit. She couldn't think. The world around them seemed to disappear as the tingling sensation from his proximity spread throughout her body, paralyzing her mind, her arms, her legs. Her heart thumped wildly, every beat louder than the last. She felt like she was about to collapse from the sheer intensity of the moment.

But just as things seemed to reach a tipping point, the sound of the elevator dinged, piercing through the atmosphere like a thunderclap.

"Harper!" Adam called out as he entered the Lab. His eyes widened when he saw the two of them sitting so close on the cyber desk. "Are you doing what I think you're doing?"

"Adam, it's not what you think." Harper said as she nervously cleared her throat, her fingers fidgeting with the ice pack in her hands.

Adam raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, and took a step closer. "It's exactly what it looks like." He said with a teasing grin, his hand reaching out to snatch the ice pack from her grasp. "You're using my lucky ice pack without permission."

Chase and Harper exchanged a relieved glance, both silently thankful that Adam didn't think they were about to kiss. They could feel the weight of the moment lifting as Adam's playful tone broke through the tension that had been hanging between them.

"Oh, yeah... Sorry about that, Adam. I'll make sure to ask next time." Harper said, still fumbling with her fingers in an awkward attempt to ease the situation. "I'll, uh.. I should go home and have 'the talk' with my sister about bionics. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Chase smiled, his relief obvious. "Yep, we'll see you tomorrow."

Harper returned his smile, the corners of her lips tugging upward before she quickly jumped down from the cyber desk and headed for the door. As she left the Lab, she glanced over her shoulder at Chase, feeling a flutter in her chest as she exited.

The moment with him still lingered in her mind, but there was no time to dwell on it. She had to face her sister, explain everything and figure out what came next.

_______________
PUBLISHED: 20.03.23
DEDICATIONS: Peters_suit_lady