xlvi. simulation manipulation

——

Today was the day Adam and Chase's teams were battling against each other. Freya is on Chase's team, but wasn't competing because of her injury and was taking notes on the sides.

Freya really likes Chase and wants to support him, but his teaching methods for his team are not the best in her opinion. He doesn't listen to what they need and does what he thinks is best, but doesn't bother to listen to them. He takes control way too much and it gets to his head.

Freya is not a teacher and does not plan to be one, but she feels she could teach better than him at this point. She has seen Adam teach and he is very successful with his students, even if she questions some of the stuff he says. However, all his students share one brain cell and it works for them.

Freya isn't being mean, she is just being honest.

Chase's team was currently battling the exoskeleton as Freya, Davenport, Adam, and his team watched. Freya was sitting on the platform, taking notes, and at this point, it was not for the students, it was for Chase. It was nothing mean, just constructive criticism. She cares and wants to help him.

"The exoskeleton's gone rogue! We have to take it down before it destroys the whole academy!" Chase exclaimed to his team, hiding behind the pillar.

It was a very dramatic setup. The exoskeleton was firing lasers at his team, who was hiding behind a barrier and the ground was covered in fog.

Chase's team carefully starts walking towards Exoskeleton and Chase yells at them. "No! You're doing it wrong! Wait for my command before you attack!"

Freya rolls her eyes at Chase, immediately scribbling down critics for him. The Exoskeleton continues firing lasers as the team hides behind the barrier again and Chase throws his arms up in frustration. "Why aren't you attacking?!"

"You just told them to wait for your command?" Freya muttered to herself with confusion. Chase's team started walking towards Exoskeleton again to attack, but Chase objected."Well, don't do it now! Retreat! Retreat!"

Freya sighed and closed her book, frustrated with her boyfriend's improper commands. As the team approached, the Exoskeleton knocked Chase's team down and then deactivated.
"That went exactly how I thought it would." Freya sighed, shaking her head and standing up.

Freya dropped her journal on the platform and picked up her crutches, approaching her boyfriend with Adam and Davenport."Great. My team is down! MY TEAM IS DOWN!" Chase exclaimed with frustration, throwing his arms in the air.

"Well, I think we can all agree that's not how you take down an Exoskeleton," Davenport mentioned, looking around the students recovering from the attack.

"What gave that away?" Freya jokingly remarked, chuckling. She stopped when she saw Chase's impatient expression.

"Come on. Give us one more shot." Chase pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Chase. This combat simulation was to test your student's progress, and as much as it pains me, I'm going to have to give your team a big F," Davenport explained. Chase sighed as Freya gave him a sorrowful look.

"Oh, who am I kidding? This doesn't hurt at all." Davenport laughed and Freya let out the smallest snicker, earning a glare from her boyfriend.

"Rey?!" Chase frowned and the blonde girl shrugged.

"Sorry." Adam approached his brother. "It's called failure, Chase. Let me spell it out for you: F..." Adam paused, thinking about the next letter and Chase raised his eyebrow, waiting for him to finish. "You know what? On second thought, why don't you spell it out for me?"

"I can't believe you guys messed up the combat simulation. What's the first thing I taught you? Do as I say, and as I do. Now, Freya please tell them the notes you took."

Freya looked up from her journal with a wide-eyed expression and let out a lighthearted chuckle. "Uh, can we do that later?"

"Rey, just show them the notes." Chase shrugged and Freya closed her journal, holding it to her chest. "Can I see them at least?"

"No." Freya protested, backing away and Chase narrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Why-"

"I want to wait to see how Adam does and compare them, okay?" Freya exclaimed in a snappy tone and Chase leaned back, giving her a baffled look.

Freya let out a shaky breath and Davenport put a hand on her back, sensing her stress. Chase could sense it too, along with worry and fear.

"Freya, what's-"

"Adam, your team's up!" Davenport called, interrupting his youngest son. Freya moved away from Chase and sat on the platform, starting to pick at her skin.

She hasn't picked at her skin for months and now she feels regret for snapping at Chase.
Tears pricked from her eyes, but she shook them off and let out a shaky exhale.

Chase looked at his girlfriend with concern, feeling sadness fill his body. The feeling of sorrow was strong from Freya and it broke his heart. Both teens were feeling sorrow and worry for one another and it broke the other person's heart.

Adam was over with his team. "OK guys! What's the first thing I taught you?"

"Don't be like Chase!" Adam's team chanted together and high fived Adam as he laughed.

Freya continued to take notes, despite her distraught behavior and focused on Adam's team.

The Exoskeleton starts firing lasers at Adam's Group and they all get behind the barrier for cover.

"OK. Let's do what we do!" Adam called out and the exoskeleton fires a laser, before Adam yelled. "Now!"

Adam's team shoves the barrier at the Exoskeleton, knocking it down. Freya's eyebrows raised with shock, impressed with him and wrote down more notes.

Adam chuckled with satisfied smile. "And that's what we do." He high fives his team as Donald approaches them.

"That was amazing! That was even faster than Bree's team last week." Donald praised them as Freya stood up, closing her notebook and hobbling over to them.

"Which says a lot considering they all have super speed," Freya added.

"Hey, all I'm hearing is Chase lost and I'm a better teacher." Adam shrugged and Chase quickly protested this.

"No way! You are not a better teacher than I am!" Chase objected impatiently and Freya shifted awkwardly.

She really didn't wanna admit it, but Adam's teaching techniques are more helpful.

"Hey, calm down dude! You've got plenty of other things to be proud of..." Adam assured his brother, pausing for a moment and then continuing, putting a hand in his shoulder. "And once we find out what those things are, you are gonna feel a lot better."

Adam pats Chase on the back and Chase removes Adam's hand from his back. Freya could sense how upset Chase was, and she understands it, but want him to understand his teaching techniques are not the best.

Donald interjected. "Look, there are still two more tests to evaluate your students' progress and I'm sure your team will do better on the next one. It's more... cerebral."

Chase cheered, looking at Adam. "Yes! Me and my brainiacs are gonna take you down!"

Freya rolled her eyes, grinning to herself.

"You're taunting me and making fun of yourself at the same time, I didn't think that was possible." Adam teased and his team laughed.

"Look, both teams will be judged on how well they handle analytical thinking." Donald explained and Freya nodded, pressing her lips together.

"You have nothing to worry about, Chase." Freya mumbled to her boyfriend as Adam's team huddled up.

"Alright, guys! Huddle up!" Adam huddles up with his group and whispers. "Does anyone know what analytical thinking is?" His team looked around confused.

Donald turned to Chase. "Yeah, I'd say you got the second round locked up."

Davenport walked out and Freya and Chase looked at each other.

"Rey, you can probably help with the next one-"

"Ya know, I'm good actually," Freya interrupted with an awkward laugh and walked out of the room.

——

~Mentor's Quarters~

Juliet and Bree walked into the Mentor's Quarters, greeting Leo.

"Hey Leo. What are you doing?" Bree greeted, not acknowledging the absolute mess around her. Juliet immediately took notice and made a face of digust.

Leo shrugged, casually. "Oh, you know. Just grabbing a glass of milk... to go with my pie!" Leo lifted his foot and Juliet gagged at the sight.

"Gross," Juliet shivered.

Leo tipped his glass of milk over and pours expired milk out of cup. "Ugh! Aah!"

"This place is disgusting!" Juliet criticized. "How do you live like this?"

Bree scoffed. "Yeah. Welcome to my world! Adam and Chase live like a couple of farm animals."

"Okay, Adam I believe, but Chase?" Juliet asked and Bree shrugged. "He gets on Freya for dropping a single tissue on the floor."

"Yeah, well at least farm animals lick themselves clean every once in a while." Leo added on. "I guess I'll just have to clean this whole place up myself. Hand me that towel."

Bree and Juliet backed away with a nervous chuckle, holding hands.

Bree shook her head. "Um... I... I wouldn't use that one."

"Why not?" Leo asked.

"Because it's moving." Juliet asked

Leo yelled, getting into a fighting position as he saw the towel start to move and squeak. "Aah!"

——

~Common Area~

Leo storms into the common area where Adam, Chase, and Freya are along with their teams about to start the next test. Leo was holding a bucket with cleaning supplies, clearly agitated. "Listen up, roomies!" Chase, Adam, and Freya turn to Leo. "You've got another person living with you now. You need to respect that. I have been scrubbing our room for the past 6 hours! I've got pruny fingers!"

Chase frowned. "Why didn't you just wear gloves?"

"I did!" Leo snarled, showing the ripped glove on his finger.

"That's on you for wearing awful gloves." Freya chuckled amused and Leo glared at her, unamused.

"I don't care whichever one of you is making the mess; just stop!" Leo snapped, tossing everything at Adam and Chase and walking away.

"Glad he didn't overreact," Freya scoffed.

"Yeah, now he's making a mess," Adam added.

Donald walks in with a tablet. "Okay! Everybody gather round and listen up! It is time for the second challenge! Everybody to your workstations."

Team Chase and Team Adam walk over to their workstations as Freya sits on a stool next to Donald. Donald activates an explosive on two cyber desks where each team sits. "Each team will have 60 seconds to defuse their 3D virtual explosive device."

Chase smirked smugly at his team. "This is going to be so easy, like taking dynamite from a baby." Chase's team nods as Freya raises an eyebrow at them.

"Now, even though the explosives are fake, the potential for humiliation is very real." Donald explained as Freya chuckled softly, exchanging a grin with him. "Don't forget to work together as a team." Donald activates barriers around each work stations. "Your 60 seconds starts..." He paused for a moment, before starting the timer. "Now."

"Who do you think will win?" Freya asked Donald in a hushed voice.

"Clearly Chase's team is more qualified." Donald scoffed and Freya shrugged.

"I think Adam's got this," Freya admitted and Donald chucked, shaking his head.

"I'll pay you $100 if he wins."

"Deal," Freya put her hand out and Donald shook it.

"Okay, guys, all you have to do is cut one of these wires. But choose carefully, because it's a life or death decision." Adam explained to his team, "Now, who's favorite color's red?" Adam puts his hand up along with some other teammates. "Who's favorite color's blue?"

The other members of Adam's team put their hands up and Freya narrowed her eyebrows at them, confused by his tactics. Adam shrugged. "Well, don't look at me. I like them both. Freya, what do you like?"

"You can't use my girlfriend for help!" Chase snapped and Freya glanced at Chase, before giving Adam a sympathetic shrug.

"Sorry, buddy."

Chase turned to his team. "Okay guys, we've been through this a million times. Once you've assessed the detonator's eternal architecture, remove the Doris plate, expose the motherboard, clip the primary command mode then the firing mechanism will deactivate. Got that?"
Chase's team stared at him in confusion and Freya blinked, not comprehending anything he said. Her and Donald shared a look of bewilderment.

Chase grunts angrily after a moment of silence, gesturing to the bomb.

"You may be right on Adam winning," Donald whispered to Freya, who flashed him a cocky grin.

Adam smiled. "Aww, great thinking! We'll cut the wire that combines red and blue...gold."

Freya pressed her lips together, rubbing her forehead at this and Donald frowned. However, they watched one of the member of Adam's team slowly cut the gold wire and it defused the device.

Freya's mouth fell open as Adam and his team cheered.

"Oh my gosh," Freya gasped in shock. "I wasn't expecting that."

"Congratulations on defusing the device. And more impressively, not knowing that red and blue make...purple." Donald remarked to Adam.

"Task failed successfully," Freya smiled. "I also get $100."

Chase ignored them and looked at his team. "Don't worry. We have plenty of time."

"You have 5 seconds, honey," Freya informed and Chase panicked.

"Out of my way! You're all useless!" Chase frantically pushes his team out fo the way and sits down, which made Freya roll her eyes at him.

"3... 2..." Donald starting to count down.

"No! Wait! I need more.." Chase cried in a panic as the explosive blow up and Chase leaned back. Adam leaned over to him.

"Time?" Adam smirked as Freya stood up, staring at Chase with a sympathetic look. Freya knows Chase's tactics are not correct, but she also feels bad when he loses.

Donald went up to an upset Chase. "Don't worry, Chase. I'm not going to say I'm disappointed." He continued in a whisper. "Just know I'm thinking it."

Davenport walked away and Freya approached her boyfriend. "It's okay, Chase. Maybe the next one will be better."

Chase stood up, shaking his head as his team dispersed. "Freya, I know you had no faith in me, so don't try to get my hopes up."

Chase walked away, which left a feeling of guilt in Freya's chest and her eyes watched him walk away. Freya exhaled with sorrow and walked away to her room, regretting how she had treated Chase.

——

~Monroe's Quarters~

Freya sat in her room, staring blankly at the TV screen that was playing Criminal Minds. However, she wasn't paying attention to it, because all she could think about was Chase. She felt awful for how she treated him, she wasn't being supportive and now regrets it.

Freya's attitude has been all over the place, her emotions have been on edge, and she's been taking it out on Chase. Instead of talking it out, she's bottled up her emotions and then gets angry and takes it out.

Cinnamon hoped on the couch and laid down on Freya's lap, which made the blonde girl smile softly. "You always know when I'm sad."

Cinnamon purred, resting her head on Freya's forearm and she chuckled gently, feeling tears slip down her cheeks.

Cassie walked in and saw her daughter crying. She stopped what she was doing and approached her, sitting next to her.

"Spencer Reid is on the tv and you're sad? This must be bad." Cassie asked and Freya sniffled, looking at her mother. "What's wrong?"

"I've been so on edge lately and I have taken out my anger on Chase and not realizing how it affects him. My emotions are out of whack." Freya admitted through her tears and Cassie gave her a sorrowful look, rubbing her back. "Chase is struggling with mentoring his students and I haven't been supportive, I was making fun of him? What kind of girlfriend does that? What's wrong with me?"

Freya covered her face, softly sobbing in her hands and Cassie embraced her, massaging her back. "It's all okay, sweetie. You have been struggling lately, and Chase knows this. He is aware you are on edge because of your foot."

"I don't want Chase to be upset with me." Freya remarked.

"I don't think he is. I think you both are struggling with different things, and you just need to talk it out." Cassie advised as Freya sat up, wiping her eyes and sniffling.

"I know. I have been avoiding that," Freya admitted. "I'll talk to him later. I also..."

Cassie brushed some hair out of Freya's face, listening for her to continue. "You what?"

"I think I love Chase." Freya confessed and Cassie smiled gently. "I want to tell him, but I don't know how. What if he doesn't feel the same?"

"Oh, sweetheart, he does." Cassie chuckled sweetly. "That boy adores you so much. You have nothing to worry about."

"You sure?" Freya asked, fidgeting with her fingers nervously.

"Yes, I'm sure." Cassie assured her, wiping a tear off her rosy cheek. "Talk to him tonight, alright?"

Freya releases a shaky breath and nodded. "Alright, I will."

Freya wants nothing more than to make sure Chase is alright. Her foot isn't her biggest issue, it's making sure her boyfriend is okay.

——

~Mentor's Quarters~

Bree and Juliet were sitting on the couch, both opening a popsicle and tossed their trash behind them. Leo had seen security footage of the girls being messy and trashing the room, including ruining their own clothes. The culprits for trashing the place was Bree and Juliet, and Leo was getting to the bottom of it.

Leo popped up from behind the couch. "Aha! Busted!" Both girls jumped, turning around to face him. "You're the slobs!"

"Leo?" Both girls gasped and shared a wide-eyed expression and Juliet scoffed. "We were aiming for the trashcan."

Leo sat there with a piece of plastic on his forehead. "You mean the one that's not on my forehead?" Leo stood up and walked around the couch. "I have a whole video of you two trashing the place."

The girls shared a look before Bree responded. "If you have video, why are you trying to catch us in the act?"

"Because this is more dramatic," Leo reasoned and Juliet rolled her eyes, sighing and Bree clenched her jaw. Bree and Juliet are the cleanest people on the island and now are caught trashing the place.

"What happened to you both?" Leo asked impatiently.

"Leo, try growing up as the perfect older sister who has to be perfect and finally get the chance to be messy and not having consequences," Juliet confessed and Bree rubbed her shoulder. "I get to be imperfect and messy."

"Yeah, for the first time in my life, I actually have some freedom and I'm enjoying it with my best friend." Bree admitted, taking Juliet's hand and the girls smiled up at Leo.

"This is not freedom. This is a cesspool of filth and girl garbage," Leo protested.

"You are a man. You get no say," Juliet pointed and Bree nodded.

"I don't know about Jules, but if you were stuck in a basement your whole life, you'd wanna let lose, too." Bree reasoned, sitting back and Juliet nodded.

"No, I get it." Juliet agreed. "You have every right to do this."

"Leo, you're the new guy here, so if you have a problem with our mess, go live with the other students in the dorm." Bree offered and Juliet smirked at Leo.

"Jules doesn't even sleep in this room." Leo objected.

"Irrelevant information," Juliet shrugged, licking her popsicle. "And I'm the oldest in this room right now, so you are not the boss of me."

"Okay, you know what? I can play your game too," Leo challenged, before glancing at the pitcher of orange juice and picking it up. Leo went over to Bree's capsule and the girls shot up.

"What are you doing?" Bree asked.

Leo poured the orange juice inside the capsule and the girls gasped in horror.

"Hey, that's where I sleep!" Bree protested and Juliet crossed her arms, glaring.

"Not tonight," Leo taunted.

"I got this, Bree." Juliet assured Bree and super sped over to a pile, before super speeding behind the couch and holding a container of chili.

"This blanket doesn't seem warm enough, does it, Bree?" Juliet grinned and Bree smirked, nodding. "You know what it needs? A nice layer of month-old chili."

Juliet opened the container and Bree took the lid as Juliet poured the chili all over the blanket Leo sleeps on. Leo stood there clenching his jaw in anger as Bree laughed and Juliet dropped the container, before hi-fiving Bree.

Leo contained his anger and smiled. "Looks delicious. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take out the trash."

Leo grabbed a trash bag and dumped it all over Bree's capsule with a huge grin.

"Alright," Juliet scoffed and Bree nodded.

"Okay," Bree super sped out for the room and came back seconds later with a bucket of seaweed. "You know the best part of living on an island? All the fresh seaweed rotting in the sun."

Leo caved over, holding his stomach and gagging. Juliet was laughing while covering her mouth from the awful scent.

"I'm gonna be sick." Leo gagged and the girls smiled at him. "But I think I'll vomit over Juliet's capsule."

Leo had already taken off sprinting out of the room and the girls chased after him, yelling.

"Stay out of my capsule!" Juliet yelled.

——

~Training Area~

Freya sat on the platform, waiting for the final game to begin. Freya and Chase hadn't exchanged any glances or words since the test earlier that day, and it was killing Freya. She couldn't talk to Chase right now, he has to focus on this test, and she wants him to win.

Freya is stuck between wanting to support her boyfriend and wanting him to see his teaching tactics aren't working. She is going to try to be supportive by giving advice and helping him improve because she loves him and when they have their private lessons, he is a wonderful mentor to her.

Freya's eyes were in her journal, doodling aimlessly, only glancing up every now and then. Something she noticed odd about Chase and his team was standing there, not moving a muscle and it confused her very much. Chase would be talking to them and prepping them for the test, but they were all standing still.

Freya leaned over and looked at Chase's face to see panic and fear and she frowned.

"Chase?"

"Yes?" Chase asked, not moving a hair.

"You alright?" Freya asked him. She was curious, yet worried about him.

"Yes!" Chase quickly remarked. "All good."

Freya shrugged, answering with hesitation. "Alright."

She knows something is going on, she can sense Chase's panicked emotion. He is doing something sneaky, and Freya will find out.

Donald ran in, greeting both groups. "Welcome to the third and final challenge!" Lights started to flash and cheesy game show music played as Donald smiled and everyone was confused. Donald suddenly turned to Adam. "Adam Davenport, you have an opportunity to lead your team to a third victory."

Donald moonwalked back to Chase and turned to him. "Chase Davenport, you and your team have one last chance to save yourself from a lifetime of ridicule from your brother, your girlfriend," Donald gestured to Freya, who looked away with shame and then pointed to himself. "And me."

"And Bree and Jules," Adam added. "They're not here, but I'm pretty sure they'd want in on some of this."

"This last test will challenge both your mental and physical prowess. So, there will be a brief warm-up period of brisk exercise." Donald explained

"No movement!" Chase protested abruptly, getting confused looks. He stammered. "I mean, stretching's overrated. What's the worst that can happen? Torn hamstring."

"Pssh!" Chase and his team scoffed simultaneously and Freya frowned, taken back by this action.

Adam and his team were stretching together.

"Weird," she mumbled. Of all people, Chase
would want a warm-up before a physical challenging exercise. Freya thought to herself.

Donald shrugged, not questioning him. "Okay, suit yourself." Donald patted Chase's arm, but he flinched, which made his team flinch and Donald frowned.

"The heck is happening," Freya asked herself quietly, tapping her pen on her journal. "It's like his team is copying his movements, why would-" Freya stopped and gasped silently to herself, and gave her boyfriend a blank stare. "Chase, you didn't."

Freya bit the inside of her cheek and shook her head.

Donald walked back over to the teams after a few moments, using his announcer's voice. "Deep in the bowels of the academy is a high-tech maze, complete with obstacles that I control with this tablet." A digital map of the obstacle course appeared on the monitor as he spoke. "Electric walls, ninja stars, and my own personal favorite, flaming balls of fury!" Donald pressed a button on his tablet, and a virtual explosive occurred on the screen as more cheezy game show music played.

This got more weird looks and Donald stopped celebrating, getting embarrassed.
Donald approached the teams once more. "The first team to complete the maze wins, but before we start, I need to see both mentors. Adam, Chase, over here."

Adam and Chase approached him, but Chase's team followed him and Freya frowned at this.
This only increased her suspicions that Chase was controlling his team and she wasn't happy he was doing that.

"Guys, give us a second?" Davenport asked Chase's team, but they didn't budge. "Guys!"

Freya was about to move, but Adam put his arms in front of them. "I got this. Back it up, nerd herd!" Adam pushed Chase's team back and went back to his dad and brother.

"For this challenge, it's just the students," Donald informed them and Freya pressed her lips together, trying not to grin. Freya is very interested in how this will go.

Chase yelped. "What?! No!"

"Teams, I hope you've studied the maze carefully..." Donald advised the students and turned to Freya. "Freya, you may want to move."

"What-" Freya stood up, and hobbled over to the three in the middle. "Why would-"

"Test starts now!" Donald pressed a button and the entire floor, except the circle in the middle opened, dropping the students below the training room.

Freya yelped, bumping into Chase and he caught her arms. "Ah!"

The floor returned and Chase let go of his girlfriend, letting out a yell. "AH."

"Don't worry, Chase. We can track their progress from over here." Donald walked over to the monitor with Adam and Freya as Chase stopped, looking at the monitor with worry.

On the monitor, you can see Adam's team was moving at a great speed, but Chase's team hadn't moved. "Adam, your team is off to a great start. Chase, your team hasn't moved at all." Donald frowned.

Freya glanced back at her boyfriend for a second, wondering how he would make this work.

Adam laughed. "Ha! Looks like you guys are gonna lose again."

"Not if I can help it," Chase muttered to himself and looked at the monitor for a second before he mimicked going through some of the obstacles in the maze.

This got Freya's attention when she saw Chase's team moving and she turned to find Chase sidestepping like a crab along with Adam and Donald.

The three stare as Chase pauses and grins at them. "What? They keep losing. I have to do my "good luck" dance." Chase does an oddly stiff dance and Freya raises an eyebrow at his weird dance. She let out a silent giggle, finding him adorable.

As soon as the three looked away, Chase continued to mimic going through the obstacle course by jumping and running around.

——

~Mentor's Quarters~

Bree, Leo, and Juliet were covered in guck and trash, still fighting and only making the room a disgusting mess. They had gone to Juliet's quarters, but Cassie quickly turned them away.

Juliet was holding a dead fish and was breathing heavily, standing next to Bree. Leo was across from them, still angry. "Are you done yet?" Bree asked him.

"I could go all night." Leo prodded and Juliet scoffed, shaking her head. "I lost my sense of smell hours ago." Leo got an idea and went behind the couch. "Which is why I can bury you both in Adam's sweaty, dirty workout clothes."

"I'm his girlfriend, nothing about him disgusts me." Juliet jabbed, scoffing. "Do it-"

"No, stop!" Bree yelled as Leo was about to throw the pile on the girls and Juliet turned to Bree with disbelief.

"What? Don't you give up!" Juliet exclaimed to Bree, who let out a huff of impatience.

"This has gone on long enough!" Bree declared, tossing down a rotten fish and Leo put down the clothes.

Juliet sighed throwing the fish behind her. "We could have done one more-"

"No, Jules! You may be okay with Adam's dirty clothes, but I will never let that touch my body." Bree protested and Juliet put her hands up in defense, backing up slightly.

"Alright, fine." Juliet shrugged and chuckled.

"There has to be a way that we can still be messy, and you won't have to clean up after us." Bree exclaimed with exhaustion and Leo immediately got an idea.

"Maybe there is."

——

"Great idea, Leo." Juliet praised Leo as they sat in a beautifully clean room, eating pizza with clean clothes on. "This is gonna work out perfectly."

"Yes, it is." Leo nodded.

Bree put her plate down, yelling out. "Okay, I'm finished!" Bree threw the pizza box in the air and the Exoskeleton stood at the door, firing a laser and destroying the pizza box.

"I love it!" Juliet laughed.

"That was awesome!" Leo smiled. "I'm not hungry, but let's order more stuff we can blow up."

"Yes," Juliet said and got to her phone to order stuff as Bree and Leo looked over her shoulder.

——

~Training Area~

Adam and Chase's team were still in the maze. Freya had stopped focusing on Chase cheating, and was now just staring at him because she found him attractive. He had sweat all over his face and his hair was wet, and she really enjoyed the view. Adam and Donald were watching the monitor, not noticing Chase running for his life next to them.

"Chase, I can't believe it. Your team is winning." Donald said with disbelief and Adam glanced back at Chase now copying his movements.

Donald turned, frowning. "Adam, what are you doing?"

"I don't know, but it's working for Chase." Adam huffed out as he ran in place.

Freya grinned with her eyes scanning all of Chase's body. "It sure is."

Chase started to sidestep and unzipped his jacket, taking it off and Freya sighed, staring at her boyfriend with a smile.

"Now it's even better."

It got interrupted when Adam did the same thing as Chase and she stepped to the side, ignoring him and continuing to gaze at her boyfriend. Donald turned back to the monitor.

"Let's see. How can I make it more interesting?" Donald asked as Chase jumped and Adam copied him. "I know. Flash bombs."

"Fabulous idea." Freya agreed, flashing a smile at Donald and pressed a button, activating flash bombs. Chase quickly covered his face still running in place and Donald groaned. "Not good enough. Better try my flaming balls of fury."

"Yes, you should." Freya nodded, not taking her eyes of Chase. Her eyes gazed upon his arms that with glistening in sweat, feeling flustered at the sight of how attractive he looked.

Chase whined as Davenport activated the balls of fury, before doing a dive roll and containing to run.

"Dang," Freya muttered with an adoring smile.

"Burn, baby, burn!" Donald laughed.

Chase's team was at the end of the maze and Donald was impressed. "Chase, your team is almost out." He turned to Chase, who paused and pretended like he wasn't running for the last hour.

"Oh, great. Go team." Chase awkwardly chuckled with a bright smile and Freya bit her lip, still staring at him.

He's so fit. It's insane. Freya thought to herself.

Donald and Adam turned back to the monitor and Chase continued his running and leaping.

"Almost there." Donald said and Chase's movements were getting more aggressive as he got closer to the finish. "Almost there. Almost there. Almost there... They made it!"

The bell rang and Chase collapsed to the ground with exhaustion and Freya stepped back, staring down at him.

"Aw, come on!" Adam complained as Donald walked back to the middle and Adam joined him.

Freya tilted her head as she looked at Chase with a faint smile, whispering to him. "Even though you cheated, that was incredible to watch."

Chase lifted his head slightly, but was too exhausted to say anything to her.

"Let's bring them up," Donald said and pressed a button that brought the trap door down and went back up, which brought up the teams.

Adam's team was standing, but Chase's team was on the floor in the same position as Chase.

"Wait, why aren't they celebrating?" Donald asked. Chase quickly got up and started jumping up and down, which made his team do the same. Chase started cheering as he jumped back, joining his team and Adam frowned.

"We won, we won, we won!" Chase cheered.

"Wait, a minute!" Adam exclaimed and Chase and his team stopped. "Something's going on here."

Freya looked at Adam, surprised that he caught on to the suspicious behavior.

"Yeah, it's called failure." Chase jabbed smugly.

"No, its not that. I know that really well," Adam remarked.

"Me too," Freya agreed.

Adam took out a pair of glasses and put them on as he approached his brother, who became nervous.

"What are you doing?" Chase asked, only his eyes shifting around with nervousness as his brother circled him.

"Professor Adam is about to conduct a science experiment." Adam said, investigating his brother's anxiety filled physique.

"Oh no, find cover." Freya joked and Donald grinned.

Adam let out a yell as he lifted his foot in the air and stomped on Chase's foot, which made him yell and grab his foot. This made Chase's team grab their feet and hop around like he was doing.

"Just as I thought. This proves they messed with something that caused something to happen, I think." Adam declared and Freya raised her eyebrows, nodding.

She's surprised Adam figured it out before Donald did.

"Chase, care to explain?" Donald asked, walking closer to Chase with Adam and Freya.

Chase gave him an awkward chuckle, which made his team do the same thing. Donald frowned and Chase immediately ran off with his team following him.

Freya sighed, shaking her head with disappointment. "I'll go talk to him." She walked out of the training area.

——

~Common Area~

Freya walked into the Common Area, where Chase was sitting at the cyber desk with a downcast expression. Freya could sense her boyfriend's regret from a mile away.

"Chase." Freya began and the youngest Davenport looked up at her. Freya ignored how she was feeling and just talked. "Why would you cheat? You got on me all the time when I cheated."

Before Chase responded, he pulled out another stool and allowed the blonde to sit next to him. Freya sat down placing her crutches against the desk, looking at her boyfriend with raised eyebrows.

"I know, this isn't something I would do. I just got jealous and my ego got the best of me." Chase confessed, sighing with regret.

"I'm glad you could admit it. Now, when Davenport comes in here, you will apologize, right?" Freya asked, gently touching his hand. Chase nodded slowly and Freya grinned. "Good."

"Since when have you been the responsible one?" Chase asked her.

"Since my boyfriend was being childish, I had to step up," Frey admitted, standing up and huffing. "And my mother told me to talk to you."

Chase grinned softly, chuckling. "Stop it. It's weird. I like it when I'm the responsible one and I have to stop you from doing bad things."

"Me too. Glad we can agree." Freya scoffed and the couple high-fived, smiling. Freya's smile dropped slightly when she remembered something she wanted to talk to him about.

"Chase?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about earlier. I've been struggling lately and I didn't mean to take it out on you." Freya apologized. "I always believe in you. My mind hasn't been in the best place."

Chase took her hand massaging it with his thumb. "It's alright, Rey. Today was also rough on me and I wasn't the nicest to you. I'm sorry too."

"I just wanted you to realize your teaching tactics weren't working and wanted to also be supportive without hurting your feelings." Freya confessed. "I was at a crossed roads and didn't want to hurt you."

Freya looked down, biting her lip, hoping she did not offend him. Chase squeezed her hand. "You didn't hurt me. I'm realizing now I need to change how I teach, and you're helping me realize that. So, thank you."

Freya looked up with a gentle smile. "I'll always be supportive of you, but I want to help you improve. Like you do with me."

"I'm thankful for your help. And, I'll always help you, even in your darkest times." Chase remarked. "You can always talk to me. I want you to talk to me if you are struggling."

"I know. I'm struggling, I haven't been okay." Freya admitted, shaking her head and Chase stood up, embracing her. Freya wrapped her arms around his back, resting her head against his chest, exhaling slowly.

"Your foot is making you feel like this, right?" Chase asked and she nodded.

"I was doing so well, and then it went all downhill. My confidence and happiness is gone, and I don't know how to get it back. I can't train or go on missions all because of-"

"Sebasatian," Chase muttered darkly, feeling anger at the mention of his name and Freya nodded. The fear that entered Freya's body at the mention of his name. "If I ever see him again, I will end him."

Freya softly grinned, blushing. "I need help."

"I will help you." Chase offered, pulling away and holding her hands, staring into her eyes.

"Chase, don't-"

Chase cut her off by kissing her tenderly and Freya hummed gently. Chase pulled away and Freya smiled bashfully.

"Nope. Don't say anything. Just accept my help." Chase smiled softly at her and Freya stared into his beautiful hazel eyes, nodding.

"Alright," Freya said. "Thank you."

"Of course." Chase said as Freya stood up carefully and wrapped her arms around his neck with him embracing her tightly.

She so badly wanted to tell Chase she loves him. The feeling of love was strong between the both of them. They loved each other, but didn't know how to say it.

Chase shut his eyes, squeezing her firmly and taking a breath. The feeling of Freya in his arms was the most amazing feeling in the world, and he wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Chase is Freya's light, she wouldn't know what to do without him around.

The couple pulled away, continuing to smile at one another with tenderness and love.

The feeling of love could not be stronger and they both feel it.

"Chase, I lo-"

Freya got interrupted when Donald walked in with Adam. The couple let go of one another and Chase sat again.

"Cheating? What were you thinking?" Donald asked his son

Chase shrugged, defeated. "I don't know. I guess I just got carried away. I told Rey the same thing."

"Chase, these tests were designed to measure your students' progress, and instead, you turned it into a competition between you and your brother." Donald explained.

"Which I won." Adam interjected.

"And handily." Donald muttered back and Freya grinned briefly and Chase frowned. "That's not the point. If you'd been less focused on beating Adam, and more focused on being a good teacher, your team would've had the tools to win for themselves."

Chase sighed softly. "Okay. You're right." Chase looked at Donald with hope. "But just in case, can I have a new team?"

"Chase!" Freya snapped.

"No!" Donald denied.

"Aargh!" Chase groaned loudly, throw his head down on desk. He spoke with muffled whining. "Fine. I'll work on becoming a better teacher."

"Good. Now there's just one last thing for you to do." Donald added.

"Don't worry. I'll make it up to my team." Chase impatiently sighed.

"Oh, I know you will. But your punishment for cheating is gonna be to find out what it feels like to have someone control you with the override app." Donald grinned smugly and Freya raised her eyebrows with curiosity, grinning.

"What? Who?" Chase asked.

Adam flashed Chase a huge smirk. "Me."

"I am so watching this." Freya chuckled as Chase stood there with disbelief.

Donald typed on the cyber desk and beckoned between Adam and Chase. "Go ahead, Adam." He walks away and Freya moves back, watching with enjoyment.

"Don't mind if I do." Adam laughed, before beginning to punch himself and thus made Chase punch himself. Freya was chuckling.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow!" Adam and Chase yelled out.

"This is fun!" Adam said in between punches and stopped for a moment.

"You do realize you're hurting yourself too?" Chase questioned him.

Adam realized what was happening and hummed. "Oh, yeah. Now we'll see who's hurting who!" Adam starts punching Chase, who in turn started punching Adam. "Cut it out!! Quit it!!" Adam was grunting, upset. "I'm not gonna stop until you do."

Freya was laughing the whole time, loving every second.

——

~The Next Day; Mentor's Quarters~

Donald walked into the mentor's quarters and beamed at the how clean it looked. "Wow! This place is spotless. Whatever you're doing, it's working."

Leo, Juliet, and Bree shared a smile. "Thank you." Leo replied.

Faint whirring is heard and Donald frowned. "What's that noise?"

"Oh, that's our new housekeeper." Bree informed and the Exoskeleton walks in vacuuming the floor with an apron on.

Donald yelped at the sight and turned to the teenagers. "You turned my incredibly expensive piece of combat technology into a walking vacuum cleaner?"

Juliet scoffed. "He doesn't just vacuum. He sorts laundry, he washes dishes, he even does windows, right, Exo?"

The exoskeleton turned to a window and blasts a window into pieces with his lasers. The four stared at the shattered window with shock.

Leo chuckled nervously. "See? Spotless."

——

~Monroe's Quarters~

Cassie was washing dishes in the sink after having lunch as she listened to some music. Suddenly, she began to cough and feel a tight pain in her breast, which made her stop what she was doing and sit down.

A massive headache also followed suit as she groaned, holding her head. "That's the second time today this is happening."

Cassie let out a few more coughs, before the tight pain went away and she took some Advil to help her headache. She decided to lay down on the couch and rest in hopes it was nothing serious.

However, she isn't aware on how serious a little cough and headache could be for her.

——

Up Next: Forbidden Hero

Chase and Freya finally talked. However, they still can't admit they love each other. Hopefully they both can soon.

What's going on with Cassie? Is she getting sick? Uh-oh.

Sorry for not updating, I've been busy. But here I am!!! Thanks for being patient!