- Chapter Eighteen -

You walked into the Hydra-Loop area, expecting it to be sorta empty since all the students usually hung out in the training area, but instead there was a handful of students.

You quickly scanned the area, spotting Leo and Bree at one of the control panels. You made your way over, seeing Leo explaining something to Bree as he showed her his tablet.

"Hey, guys. So what are you two up too?" you asked.

"Leo was just showing me this online game were you get to kill these zombies, and other people who play online since they are consider enemies," Bree explained.

"Ah, that game," you nodded, "The term we use for zombies is walkers. I end up killing Leo most of the time," you chuckled.

"It's not fair!" Leo exclaimed childishly.

"Why?" Bree asked.

"Because he refuses to join my team," you answered simply.

"Why can't you join mine?" Leo asked.

"Oh, for one, your shelter is living in a barn. Were I live in a community, which I run. Second, your weaponry is poor. Third, you're always endangered when walkers are around. Shall I go on?" you asked.

Leo looked shook his head, "No but I'm working on it. Soon I'll be running my own community and once that happens you will be going down!"

"We'll see about that," you stated.

Then Mr. Davenport entered the Hydra-loop area, "Heads up, we got a visitor coming."

"Is it a government agent coming to take us away?" Adam asked.

"Our secrets been out for a year. Why would they take us away now?" Chase questioned.

"Let's just say, I've done some things," Adam stated, as he walked away.

"Couldn't agree more," you mumbled. If anyone knew what you've done, you would be sent to prison for life.

"It's my chief scientist Dr. Ryan. He is by far the smartest man I have ever worked with," Mr. Davenport explained.

Chase then cleared his throat, "Ahem!"

"Oh, you're right. I'm sorry. I'm the smartest I have ever worked with," Mr. Davenport corrected, as he pointed to himself chuckling, "Dr. Ryan was head of his MIT and he's been Davenport Industries employee of the month twice. That's never happened. Well except of course, me."

"You named yourself employee of the month at your own company?" Leo asked, as Mr. Davenport nodded.

"Well that's just sad," you mumbled.

"I think you love you, a little too much," Leo explained.

"It's not because I love myself. It's because I'm better than everyone else," Mr. Davenport explained, as the Hydra-loop doors opened.

"Hey, hey! Wassup, dudes?" a tall nerdy dude greeted, as he walked towards you and Bree, "Lady dudes."

"Charmer," you stated flatly unamused.

"This is your esteemed chief scientist?" Bree asked, as Mr. Davenport nodded.

"As I said before, that's just sad," you stated, eyeing the guy.

"And employee of the month! Got the parking space and everything. I don't drive, but my mom uses it when she picks me up," Ryan smiled, "That's right, twenty-eight still living rent-free in my parents basement. Jealous?"

"Nope," Bree answered simply, as she walked over to the control panel.

"Dr. Ryan is here to conduct and test Davenport Industries new space elevator," Mr. Davenport explained.

"Space elevator?!" Chase asked, as Adam walked in.

"You see, this is why people are out of shape. You should be building space stairs," Adam explained, as he walked away once more.

"It's a highly advance transport that climbs a tether all the way to our space stations," Ryan explained, motioning to the screen showing a diagram. You turned and could see Chase's expression, and just by one look, you knew he was ticked off.

"Since it's held up by gravity, we can resupply without ever using a rocket," Ryan explained, turning around to see Chase huffing, "Chase you look confused and/or constipated. Do you have a question?"

"Yes! Why is he working on this? The space elevator was my project. I've been working on it for years!" Chase explained, looking at Mr. Davenport.

"Yes, but I had to pass it off so you could focus on being a mentor. Don't worry, Dr. Ryan's been working off your research," Mr. Davenport informed.

"You gave him my research?!" Chase exclaimed.

"Yes, and it's been very helpful. It's always good to know what's wrong so you can find what's right," Ryan smiled, as he held his hands to his chest.

"Oh, no," Chase said, as he pulled Mr. Davenport aside, "Mr. Davenport you can't let him do this!"

"Check his résume, Chase. He is one of the greatest minds of our time," Mr. Davenport pointed out as Ryan laughed.

"I just designed a photo app that puts your face, on a dog's butt," Ryan stated, showing you all a picture of Chase's face on a dog's butt.

Adam then took the phone, looking at the picture, "Oh! No argument here, this guy is a genius," Adam stated smiling, as he patted Ryan's back.

You just shook your head, rolling your eyes sighing.

~~~~~

As Mr. Davenport was giving Dr. Ryan a tour around the academy, you were about to hang out with Leo, but instead Chase dragged you along. You just wanted to get away, but Chase felt that you would support him, so of course you went along. You would help or support anyone, even if it meant to change your plans.

"So that'll be the launch pad for the space elevator. What do you think?" Mr. Davenport asked, pointing outside.

"I'll have to do some calculations but...sounds legit," Ryan stated, with a thumbs up.

"I already did the calculations in my head, they are totally legit," Chase mocked.

"Well, then if you'll excuse me, I need to get to work," Ryan said, tapping his chin.

Ryan then began to make guitar noises, as he pretended to play with an air guitar. You looked at him weirdly as he continued.

'How about if we take him out, he's annoying!'

'Just because he's annoying, doesn't mean we have to take him out.'

"What is he doing?" Chase asked, snapping you out of your thoughts.

"Shh. It's his process," Mr. Davenport informed, as you three continued to watch Ryan play his air guitar.

"This isn't fair. You can't let him build my elevator without me," Chase stated firmly.

Now it was your turn to step up, "Chase is right, you can't let Dr. Ryan build the elevator without him," you stated looking at Mr. Davenport.

"You know what? You're both right. Dr. Ryan?" Mr. Davenport called.

"I'm in the bridge, I'm in the bridge," Ryan stated, playing with his air guitar, until he finally stopped, "Thank you, thank you," he smiled, acting as if there was an audience, "Proceed."

"I want Chase to join you on the project," Mr. Davenport informed.

"Thank you," Chase stated.

"As your assistant," Mr. Davenport finished.

"What?!" Chase exclaimed, "This guy is a joke. I bet he doesn't even know anything about tensor equations."

"Not much, just that...tensors are used to represent correspondences between sets of geometric vectors for applications in Newtonian physics," Ryan shrugged simply.

You smirked in amusement as you looked at Chase.

"Roughly," Chase scoffed, but you knew that Chase just got proven wrong.

"C'mon, Chase. You guys are gonna make a terrific team," Mr. Davenport assured.

"Don't worry, assistant dude. I'll make sure you're involved in the process. I'll even let you play the air drums," Ryan said, as he made drumming noises, "Quick, catch my sticks!"

Ryan 'tossed' the sticks, as Chase 'caught' them on instinct. Mr. Davenport and Dr. Ryan then began to play the air guitar, as you and Chase walked away.

"Good luck working with the air guitarist," you patted Chase's shoulder, as you began to walk away, only for Chase to grab your wrist spinning you around.

"Oh, no. You're working with me and the air guitarist," Chase stated.

"No, I would rather be with Leo than work with him," you explained, turning around as Chase spun you around once more.

"Nope, you're helping me and that's finale," Chase stated, dragging you as you rolled your eyes.

~~~~~

As you and Chase walked outside, you scanned the area, seeing a huge mess. There was pieces of equipment everywhere, plastic bags, and paper everywhere. Didn't the guy know how to keep things organized?

"Look at this mess. Don't you know how to clean up after yourself?" Chase asked, as you continued to scan the messy area.

"Chase, geniuses can't be bothered with little things like cleaning and uh..." Ryan then sniffed his armpit, "Personal hygiene," he finished, as you scrunched your nose in disgust.

"Really? Cause I have no problem cleaning up after myself," Chase replied.

"And that's what makes you a good assistant," Ryan pointed out.

"I am not your assistant! I am a genius, I am!" Chase stomped his foot childishly, as if he were a child demanding for a cookie.

You quietly chuckled at his childish behavior, as you watched in amusement.

"Right...aren't you like a really smart robot? Which button do I push to make you go away?" Ryan asked, poking Chase's chest, causing Chase to get irritated rather quickly.

"I am not a robot!" Chase exclaimed, slapping Ryan's hands away.

You chuckled again, watching the two nerds fight.

"But you are pushing my buttons!" Chase pointed out.

"Oh, okay. You wanna go? C'mon. I take karate class every Saturday at the mall!" Ryan informed, as he stood in a fighting stance.

"Oh, yeah? Karate, huh? What, does your mommy drive you to that too?" Chase asked.

"No! I ride my bike," Ryan defended.

"Oh, you ride your bike? With it's training wheels?" Chase asked.

"No! They are not training wheels, they are horizontal stabilizers!" Ryan informed.

"Back up!" Chase held his fist up.

You chuckled at their pathetic argument as Leo came in between them, "Guys, break it up! Big D sent me down here to help you out. So you guys need to both set aside your differences and work together."

"Whatever."

"Fine."

"I'll run some algorithms for the tether gravity test. And Chase, you can go over to that support column and screw in the lug nuts," Ryan smiled.

"Or...I could use my bionic intelligence to work on the algorithms while you screw in the lug nuts," Chase pointed out.

"You know, I would, but Mr. Davenport said that you work for me. So...lug it up Robotron," Ryan stated, mimicking a robot as he walked inside.

You and Leo chuckled, as you began to walk away.

"Where do you think you're going?" Chase asked.

"Back inside, you have Leo to help you now," you replied.

"Yes, but since you were laughing at my argument, you get to help Leo screw in the lug nuts," Chase smiled, causing you to groan.

Chase handed you and Leo the lug nuts, as he began to walk away. You and Leo walked over to the elevator, beginning to screw in the lug nuts.

"Just wondering, why were you laughing at their argument instead of breaking them up?" Leo questioned, screwing a lug into the elevator.

"Because it was funny. It's was like watching two five-year-olds fighting over a toy, plus I would've stepped in if it would've gotten serious. You have to admit, it was pretty funny," you smiled, screwing in a lug.

"Between the both of us, it was pretty funny," Leo smiled.

You shook your head chuckling, noticing that Leo's uniform was red.

"I've seen you moved up to red. Looks good on you," you stated.

"Why, thank you. Pretty soon I'll be good as you, or even better," Leo smirked.

"You sure about that Barnes?" you grinned, screwing in a lug.

"You bet Rogers," he grinned.

~~~~~

After screwing in all the lugs nuts, you and Leo decided to pick up the place, since Ryan and Chase wouldn't do it. After the area was picked up, Mr. Davenport had walked out, checking the elevator out.

"Looks like we are ready to launch," Ryan smiled.

"Hold it! Woah, woah, woah," Chase stated running towards you all, "I thought I told you guys not to start without me."

"Oh, Chase. Geniuses can't be bothered," Ryan stated.

"I am a genius! Stop telling me what geniuses do!" Chase exclaimed.

"I'm very impressed, you guys. Because of you two we're about to make history," Mr. Davenport stated.

"Yeah, thanks to my expert engineering, and if it wasn't for Chase, the lug nuts would still be in a tin can," Ryan smiled.

"I didn't do the lug nuts. Leo and [Name] did," Chase informed.

"And we did them well," Leo smirked.

"Why did you?" Mr. Davenport asked, looking at you.

"Chase made me," you simply replied, as Mr. Davenport nodded.

You then made your way over to Leo as Mr. Davenport began speaking, "Behold, ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at the word's first space elevator, and my new haircut," Mr. Davenport smiled as you rolled your eyes, "Which is more impressive? Only time will tell."

The students began to clap as Chase began speaking, "Don't you think that I should do a microscopic scan with my bionic eye first just to make sure-"

"Tut! Tut! Tut! Trust me. My work is flawless. I graduated college when I was fourteen," Ryan stated cockily.

"He graduated at such a young age, yet he has no drivers license and still lives with his mother. That's depressing," you mumbled to Leo who laughed quietly.

"Oh yeah? Well...I went to high school for a year and a half," Chase smiled.

You rolled your eyes as Chase ran over to you and Leo, "You showed him," Leo stated.

"I'm gonna do a scan anyway," Chase stated.

"Of course you are," Leo mumbled, as Chase scanned the elevator.

"Aha! There is a design flaw in the breaking system. He won't be able to stop," Chase explained.

"Are you serious?" Leo asked.

"Yeah," Chase smiled.

"We have to tell Dr. Ryan," Leo informed.

"No wait. What if we don't? He'll be humiliated in front of everyone and Mr. Davenport will-"

Leo then cut Chase off, "Send him packing and reassign you to head project. That's a brilliant plan. Shady, but brilliant."

"Who knew Chase could be so evil," you smiled.

"Thank you. Now I just need you..." Chase pointed to Leo as he took out a dummy from a bin, "To strap in this test dummy."

Leo took the dummy as Mr. Davenport walked up to you three, "Oh, you won't be needing that. I will be taking the inaugural ride myself."

Chase screamed as Leo spoke, "No, you can't."

"Yes I can. Watch me," Mr. Davenport stated, going into the elevator.

'Oh great! We didn't have to do anything! Just let him die.'

'Do not let him die! Get him out of there!'

You shook your head, as you, Leo, and Chase ran over to the elevator window.

"Stop! You're gonna die!" Chase exclaimed.

"The capsule's sound proof. I can't hear you, but I can read lips. Say it again," Mr. Davenport stated.

"You're gonna dieee!" Chase exclaimed once more.

"Oh, I guess I can't read lips. It looks like you're saying I'm gonna die," Mr. Davenport laughed.

You rolled your eyes at the egomaniac as the countdown began to start. You ran over to Leo who was at the control panel.

"Do you have anyway to stop it?" you asked Leo.

"No, I can't stop it," Leo replied, as you gave a nod, walking over to Chase and Dr. Ryan.

"Mr. Davenport's life is in danger! You have to abort the launch," Chase informed.

"Trying to sabotage my moment with lies? It hurts me to say this, but you are out of the air band," Ryan said to Chase.

"Do you think that this is a joke to you? If you do not abort the launch I will shred you and your air band into pieces!" you growled, grabbing Ryan's collar.

Chase then grabbed you from behind, setting you behind him as he turned to face Dr. Ryan, "I'll just Mr. Davenport myself. Give me the comm set!"

"No!"

Chase and Ryan fought over the comm, breaking it in half.

"You broke my new comm set! You owe me fifteen ninety-nine," Ryan glared at Chase.

"Great!" Leo exclaimed, standing beside you, "Now we can't communicate with Big D."

"I scanned your elevator. There is a design flaw in the breaking system. One of your genius algorithms must've been set off!" Chase explained.

"And you tell me now? I take it back you are not a good assistant," Ryan stated.

You glared at Ryan, noticing that there was now twelve seconds left until launch. The students began to count down as Leo did also.

"What are you doing?" Chase asked Leo.

"Sorry. I always get caught up in countdowns," Leo smiled, as Chase groaned.

"Where is the abort button?" Chase asked.

"Why would I make an 'I'm gonna fail button?'" Ryan asked.

"Because you just failed!" Chase exclaimed as the elevator launched.

The students began clapping and cheering as they watched the elevator go up into the sky. You then glared at Ryan as you lunged forward, "You!"

You grabbed his collar, ready to knock the day lights out of him, but Chase quickly detached you off Ryan, handing you over to Leo.

"Woah, settle down," Leo chuckled.

"How can I when Mr. Davenport is in danger?" you asked.

"Just stay calm, we'll figure out something. Hopefully," Leo assured as you groaned.

You then saw Ryan looking up at the sky with binoculars, "Woah, I gotta say people. From down here it looks like my launch was on point."

"Really? Once the elevator reaches the end of the tether, Mr. Davenport will be floating in space with no way back!" Chase explained.

"I won't say anything if you don't," Ryan stated, causing you to groan in irritation.

"Guys! The elevator speed keeps increasing. I wonder if Big D even knows how fast he's going," Leo stated.

Chase then began to pace back and fourth until he snapped his fingers, "I think I know how to stop it. What if we-"

"No!" Ryan exclaimed, cutting Chase off.

"I didn't even get to say anything!" Chase commented.

"You don't have to. I know it's going to be wrong," Ryan stated.

"He pointed out a flaw in the breaking system. How can he be wrong if you didn't even know!" you pointed out.

"Wait a minute. Isn't the elevator propelled by magnets?" Leo asked, as Ryan and Chase replied with a 'Duh', "So if we reverse the polarity, won't it send Big D back down?"

Chase just stood there as he turned to Ryan, "He's right."

"I know. What do we do? I've never been corrected before," Ryan stated in disbelief.

"Oh, and I have?" Chase replied.

"Congratulations, you are the dumbest geniuses I know, now fix this!" Leo ordered, as they both ran over to the control panel.

"Here. This should reverse the direction of the magnetic current," Ryan informed, as Chase typed away fixing the problem.

"Done. It worked! It's coming back down!" Chase pointed out.

"I did it! I did it! I did it! I did it!" Ryan and Chase chanted, jumping up and down.

You and Leo then looked at the screen, seeing that the elevator was coming down much faster, "Uh, guys?"

They both turned around as Leo spoke, "There's still no way to stop it and the elevator is coming down ten times faster."

Everyone then grew silent as Chase and Ryan pointed at one another, "He did it!"

Chase then ran over to the platform, looking up at the elevator, "Twenty seconds to impact! What do we do?!"

"Look away," Ryan suggested, causing you to glare.

"Forget it, I'll save him," Leo stated, as he walked onto the platform with his arm above him.

"Leo get down from there! You can't do this!" you spoke looking at him.

'Yes he can, let him get squished to death.'

'Don't! Get him off the platform!'

"No! Leo, get off that thing! The elevator will crush you," Chase spoke, snapping you out of your daze.

"My bionic arm is strong enough to stop it," Leo informed.

"At that speed the impact will carry all the way through your body," Ryan explained.

"My arm also absorbs energy. Maybe it'll withstand the impact," Leo spoke.

"Leo, this is dangerous. Get off that platform now!" you barked, as Leo shook his head, "That is an order Leo Dooley, get down now! Why are you so stubborn?"

You glared at Leo as he spoke, "Says the most stubborn person on the island," Leo glared back.

"It's too risky. I hate to say it, but [Name] and Chase are right," Ryan stated.

"It's coming!" Chase exclaimed.

"We don't have a choice," Leo looked up, as the elevator came down a fast speed.

As it came down, there was a gust of wind, causing you all to take a step back. When you looked up, you saw Leo holding up the elevator.

Everyone began to cheer as Leo spoke, "I did it! I'm okay!" Then the elevator started to drop a bit, "And it's heavy!" Leo grunted.

Then Mr. Davenport walked by, dropping a parachute.

"Mr. Davenport?" you asked in disbelief.

"How did you get out of the elevator?" Chase asked is disbelief.

"I ejected using a parachute I brought with me. You don't think I trust my life to some technology built by a couple of kids and an air guitarist do you?" Mr. Davenport asked, brushing off leaves.

"That was one of the smartest things I heard all day," you nodded impressed.

"Hey Leo," Mr. Davenport greeted.

"What the- You're not even in there?!" Leo asked.

The elevator then began to drop more, sending Leo to lower himself.

You then beagn to walk towards Leo cautiously, "Leo, be careful. I'm gonna-"

"No! Stay back! I don't want you to get hurt," Leo grunted, holding out his other hand to stop you.

You stopped walking forward, as Leo jumped out of the way, well most of his body anyway. Everyone gasped as Leo held out his hand.

"It's okay. If I don't look, it wont hurt much," Leo breathed, as he looked back, "I looked! I looked! I looked!"

You the all ran over, trying to get him out.

~~~~~

You were in the Hydra-loop area with the Davenport siblings, along with Ryan, waiting. After you all had successfully got Leo out from under the elevator, Mr. Davenport had rushed him to the hospital.

Night had already fallen, and after pacing for what seemed like forever, Mr. Davenport and Leo finally walked out of the infirmary.

"Leo, you're okay!" Bree exclaimed.

"The doctor said his femur and tibia bones were broken so badly he'd need a titanium rod put in," Mr. Davenport explained.

"Then Big D said that sounds expensive and wheeled me right out of the hospital," Leo added.

"That's not what really happened. I was just worried he wouldn't be able to go on missions anymore. So I did the procedure myself. Now he has a bionic leg," Mr. Davenport explained.

"Wow, wonder what's going to be the next limb to go," you chuckled as Leo glared playfully, "Just kidding, but that is pretty cool."

"Wait, so, thanks to you, Leo got injured and now has another bionic limb? I'm beginning to judge your parenting skills," Bree pointed out.

You, Bree, and Adam walked over to the control panel as Leo sat on the stool.

"I would give you an ear lecture right now, but all I'm going to say is that I'm glad that you're okay," you smiled.

Leo nodded smiling, "Thank you. Out there you were so demanding, but it's nice to know that you care."

"Care? Of course I care you're my best friend," you stated.

"And you're mine," he smiled.

Then Mr. Davenport and Chase walked over as Leo spoke, "Hey, Big D, are you sure this worked? My leg doesn't feel any different."

"Well, it may take a little while for the bionics to kick in," Mr. Davenport informed, as Leo kicked a basketball, making Mr. Davenport dodge as it flew across the room.

"Oh, good thing my reflexes-" Mr. Davenport then fell forward as the ball came in contact with his back.

"Looks like it worked to me," Adam shrugged as he, Bree, and Chase walked out.

"What were you saying about your reflexes?" you chuckled as you and Leo helped him up.

~~~~~

The next day you were all handing out in the living quarters as your phone began to go off.

"Excuse me ladies, I gotta go," you stated, walking out as you heard Bree's distant laughter.

You walked into the training area, looking around quickly, seeing no one around as you answered, "Hello?"

"Why haven't you eliminated them yet?"

You froze for a second as you continued, "Look, I am-"

"Really? You are?!"

"Yes! I just need time."

"It's been months and you need time?! You should've eliminated them a long time ago!"

"Well, I'm sorry I'm taking so long. I need to come up with a plan so I don't get caught. Don't you know that everything takes time?"

"If you don't do it, I will come down there and do it myself."

Then the phone went dead. You put your phone in your pocket, sighing. What were you going to do?