- Chapter Thirty-one -

Its been two weeks since confessing to Leo, but you still hadn't confessed to the Davenports. Leo was upset that you had basically lied about everything, but he was understanding and knew why. You were so thankful to have someone like Leo. He didn't tell the Davenports anything. Two weeks has passed and you hadn't said a thing to the Davenports. You knew your time was running short, and one way or another they were going to find out. How? You didn't know and that was the problem.

Bree and Chase were teaching combat skills to the students, as you, Leo and Adam stood to the side.

Bob was late, so he came running into the training area. "I'm here, I'm here."

"Bob, you're late again." Chase stated as he walked towards Bob.

"It's not my fault I overslept. It's Bree's." Bob pointed to Bree.

"What?! How is it my fault?" Bree asked puzzled.

"You keep showing up in my dreams." Bob smiled.

Mr. Davenport and Douglas then walked in, squealing like little school girls, making you raise a brow in question.

"What's up with you?" Leo asked the two. "Someone asked you to prom?"

"No," Douglas laughed, only to quickly sober up, "but thanks for opening up old wounds."

"After countless hours of research and development, Douglas and I have finally perfected the most amazing bionic operating system upgrade ever!" Mr. Davenport exclaimed.

"I woke up for this?" Bob asked unamused.

Douglas then walked forward. "This upgrade is gonna be like going from motor scooters to jet engines. It'll make all of your abilities ten times more powerful."

"An upgrade, huh?" Leo asked. "Well, I'm not sure you can make my leg any more powerful, but go ahead; give it a go."

Leo kicked his leg up as Mr. Davenport spoke. "Sorry, Leo, the upgrade only works on people with bionic chips. Be grateful you have a bionic arm and a bionic leg. That's all you're getting." Mr. Davenport explained. "At least until your next horrific accident."

Douglas and Mr. Davenport laughed as Leo faked laughed too until Leo went completely serious.

Chase then walked towards Mr. Davenport. "Mr. Davenport, are you sure that this new upgrade is safe? I mean, some of our students haven't even mastered their bionics at the current level."

"Yeah, Mr. Davenport, I know you wanna give us like, the coolest thing ever, but do you have too," Bree whined a bit, mocking Chase.

"Don't worry." Mr. Davenport assured. "I built in a skill app that allows the students to master their amped-up abilities instantly."

"Botton line, this upgrade is the best thing that Donnie and I have ever created together." Douglas motioned to himself and Mr. Davenport. "I am so proud of you."

"No, I'm so proud of you!" Mr. Davenport pointed at Douglas.

They both kept saying that to one another until you raised your voice, stopping the two brothers. "Okay, enough with the chick flick moment!"

"Stop, Bree."

You all turned around to see Bob sleep talking. "You're embarrassing yourself. Oh, sweet girl, you don't have to beg. I'll allow you to kiss me."

"Okay, I'll wake him up." Adam stated walking forward as Bree stopped him.

"Nope. I got this." Bree nodded super speeding away, coming back moments later with a dummy.

Bob kissed the dummy as Adam spoke. "Hm. They actually make a cute couple."

~~~~~

Later on, Douglas had gathered all the students in the academy into the training area to give them the new upgrade. You, the Davenport trio, and Leo waited to the side as Mr. Davenport walked in.

"How's it going with the upgrade?" Mr. Davenport asked walking over.

"I'll let you be the judge." Douglas smiled. "Go ahead, Jenny. Show him how powerful you are now."

Jenny then shot a fire trail between Mr. Davenport's legs, causing him to jump up and scream.

You chuckled as Adam spoke. "Wow! That is powerful. You just made an old man jump."

"Well, that's the last of the students." Douglas informed as Mr. Davenport ran over.

"Oh, great. I'll do Adam, Bree, Chase, and [Name]." Mr. Davenport informed standing in front of the computer.

"Yeah, you do that, and the guy who really needs the upgrade will just stand over here, wishing he was actually part of the family." Leo smiled, referring to himself.

"Don't worry Leo." Mr. Davenport assured. "I'm working on something very special just for you."

"Really?" Leo asked walking forward towards him.

"How would you like to be the proud owner of the world's first bionic nostril?" Mr. Davenport pointed to Leo's nose.

Leo blinked blankly. "Bionic nostril?" he asked in disbelief. "You can't be serious," Leo stated before continuing, "I'm considering it; we'll talk."

Leo walked back to the side of the wall, standing by you.

"Okay, Adam, we'll do you first." Mr. Davenport informed as Adam stepped forward, only hearing a beep.

"That's weird. The upgrade's not taking." Mr. Davenport narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"It's probably searching for his brain." Bree commented making you and Chase chuckle.

"Bree, lets try you." Mr. Davenport waved her over as Bree walked forward, only to have the same thing done to her. Mr. Davenport then waved over Chase to give him the upgrade, which didn't work like Adam and Bree. "I don't get it. Why isn't the upgrade working on any of them?"

Douglas snapped his fingers in realization. "Probably because their bionics are first generation. We built the upgrade for the students' infrastructure. It must not be compatible with their older systems."

"There has to be way you can adapt it." Chase stated.

"I can probably work something out, but given how old your bionic architecture is, I'll never be able to match the power the students have." Douglas explained.

"Who's old now?" Mr. Davenport joked.

"So, let me get this straight," Bree stated, as she continued, "they all just became more powerful, and we're stuck like this forever?"

"Oh, my, that certaintly is a shame." Leo commented, looking at his nails casually.

"If all the students are more advanced than we are, then that means that Adam, Bree, and I are..." Chasw trailed off, "obsolete."

~~~~~

You were in the Hydra-loop area, chatting with Leo, Douglas, and Mr. Davenport until Daniel walked out of the Hydra-loop with a police officer.

"Here we go." Douglas sighed walking over to the two.

"Douglas Davenport." The officer nodded.

"Officer Nichols." Douglas chuckled. "I haven't seen you since I scaled that wall."

"This your son?" Officer Nichols asked, pointing to Daniel.

"Maybe," Douglas replied, "can you tell me what he did first, and then I'll let you know?"

"He's been running all over town shooting fire from his eyes." Officer Nichols explained.

"Yeah, I've never seen him before in my life." Douglas informed turning to walk away as you and Mr. Davenport shot him a look, making him turn back around.

"He should be going to juvenile detention," Officer Nichols pointed at Daniel, "but that's the last place I want a punk with bionics, so I'm giving him another chance, as long as you promise to keep him under control."

"Thank you, officer." Douglas nodded respectfully. "I can promise you this won't happen again.

"Good. 'Cause I don't want to come back here again." Officer Nichols stated. "You machine people freak me out."

As the officer left Mr. Davenport walked forward toward Douglas. "What were you thinking letting him leave this academy with his bionics activated?"

"He promised me he wouldn't use them the unless it was completely necessary!" Douglas explained, looking at Daniel.

"Come on, you can't give me bionics and expect me not to use them." Daniel pointed out.

"He has a point." Leo stated as you stood next to him. "When I first got my--"

Douglas cut Leo off. "Quiet, Leo."

"Alrightly then." Leo stated walking away as you stayed put.

"Do your adopted parents know that you've been causing trouble with your bionics?" Douglas asked Daniel.

"No. They don't get this whole bionic thing." Daniel explained. "That's why I asked the officer to bring me here."

Mr. Davenport then pulled Douglas aside. "What are you gonna do here, Douglas? This is your first chance to really step up in this kid's life and be a dad."

"You're right." Douglas agreed, looking at Daniel. "Daniel..." Douglas then pushed Mr. Davenport forward, "meet your new dad.

"Douglas." You and Mr. Davenport warned in unison, making Douglas stop.

"Fine." he sighed walking forward towards Daniel. "Look, since I can't trust you to be responsible with your bionics, I guess we'll just have to teach you how to be responsible." Douglas explained. "As long as your parents approve, I'm enrolling you in the Davenport Bionic Academy."

"Really? Awesome." Daniel breathed in awe.

"And, since Leo has been doing such a great job as the academy's newest mentor," Douglas informed walking forward to Leo with Daniel at his side, "I think it's only fitting that he train our newest student."

"Thanks Douglas," Leo smiled.

"No problem, buddy. See, this way, if it doesn't work out, we can all blame you." Douglas explained, patting Leo's back.

"Well, that must suck for you," you smiled at Leo, pointing to the training area, "but I must get going."

"Not so fast." Douglas stopped you. "Since you are also the newest mentor, you'll be helping Leo train Daniel. So good luck." Douglas patted your shoulder as he ran out.

You sighed as you turned to the two boys. "Okay, lets head to the training area."

You three then walked to the training area as Leo began to speak. "Okay, Daniel since you have bionic ability replication, we'll start you off by touching one of the students," Leo pointed to a group of students, "so that you can take on their ability."

"Okay." Daniel replied.

"Wait a minute." Bob stated as he walked forward. "This kid can just touch me, and he'll be able to do eveything I can do?"

"That's right." You answered.

"Well, here's my class schedule," Bob handed a piece of paper to Daniel, "my chores, have at it. I'm gonna go sleep till I'm twenty." Bob went to walk away until you and Leo called him back, making him sigh as he walked back. "It was worth a shot."

"Okay, Daniel, go ahead." Leo instructed, as Daniel touched a boy's arm. "Great. Now you have his bionic thunderclap."

"Cool!" Daniel exclaimed, pulling his arms back.

"Wait, Daniel no!" You shouted. It was too late. Daniel clapped hard, sending a wave causing you all to get knocked down. "Not, too hard," you finished, standing back up as Daniel apologized.

Douglas then walked in with a set of lights hanging around his neck. "Well, I can see this is going well."

"Daniel, you have to focus." Leo stated.

"I am focusing," Daniel replied. "But how am I suppose to master my abilities when I get a new one every five minutes?"

"He does have a point." Douglas pointed out as you nodded in agreement.

"Yeah." Leo replied. "Too bad you can't upgrade him like everyone else. Then the skill app would bring him up to speed instantly."

"I can give him the upgrade," Douglas explained, "but I'm not gonna. Not till he shows me he can be responsible with his bionics."

"But dad--"

Douglas cut Daniel off. "End of discussion. Now get back to your training."

"I gotta be honest, Douglas. This whole 'you being a dad' thing is a little weird " Leo confessed.

"Yeah, it's weird seeing you okay with the whole parent role," You added.

"I know." Douglas replied quietly. "It's freaking me out."

Douglas walk away as Leo turned to Daniel. "Okay, Daniel. Touch Bob's arm."

"But be careful." Bob warned Daniel. "I'm a fragil flower."

As Daniel touched Bob's arm you spoke up. "Okay. Now lets see how you do with super strength."

"Okay." Bob shrugged, as he tossed Daniel across the room.

"Bob!" You and Leo yelled in unison.

"I know. I can throw him much farther. Let me try again." Bob stated, running over to Daniel.

"Leo, I'm gonna step out real quick," you sighed, rubbing your temples, "because if I don't, I will electrocute Bob and it won't be pretty."

"Sure. I don't want to send him to the infirmary again from you zapping him." He smiled.

You thanked Leo as you walked into the Hydra-loop area, seeing Chase on his laptop. You leaned against the door frame, watching Chase.

"Got it. If I reconfigure the operator precedence, that should fix the upgrade." He spoke to himself as the computer made beeping noises. "You stupid hunk of junk!" Chase shouted in agitation as he slammed his laptop on the floor. "You're useless!" He jumped and stomped on his broken laptop reapeating useless over and over in frustration, catching the students' attention. "Do you mind? This is a private moment between a man and his computer."

"Wow." You smirked, walking forward towards Chase.

"How much did you see?" He asked.

"Hmm, all of it." You smirked, crossing your arms. "I never knew a nerd like you could hulk out so much, very impressive."

Bree then walked in. "Guys, have you seen my students?" Bree asked as you and Chase said no. "We were supposed to start training an hour ago. Today's lesson is very important. It's called 'You're not better than me'."

Chase nodded as you turned to see Adam walking in wearing a kilt. "Hey, has anyone seen Bob? Leo said he was training a little while ago, but hasn't seen him sense." He explained. "Now that I'm retiring, I need to know if he can play golf with me on Thursdays."

"Wait, no. First, my students are missing, and now Bob?" Bree questioned. "Something weird is going on. I'm gonna go look for everyone."

As Bree walked away Chase turned to Adam. "Speaking of weird, why are you wearing that?"

"The hat? 'Cause I'm a golfer," Adam explained.

"The kilt." You stated.

"Oh, because somebody changing my pants is easy living. This, is what I call breezy living." Adam swirled his hips around.

"Ugh!" Chase looked away disgusted.

"Why did I even ask?" You questioned as you went into the training area to see Daniel using a force field to block Leo's laser spheres.

"C'mon Daniel." Leo encouraged Daniel as he threw a laser sphere. "Make your force field bigger."

"I'm trying." Daniel grunted blocking the sphere.

"Concentrate." Leo instructed.

"It's kinda hard to concentrate, when you keep yelling concentrate ah!" Daniel fell back to the floor. "You know, this would be a whole lot easier if you just give me the upgrade."

Leo helped Daniel up as he spoke. "No. You heard your dad. He wants you to master your bionics the old-fashioned way."

"Okay. But if my training's not going well, doesn't that say more about you as a mentor than me as a student?" Daniel asked.

You smiled, knowing what Daniel was trying to do. You did the same exact thing to Chase when you first arrived. You and Daniel were very similar in many ways.

"Oh, please, Danny boy." Leo smiled as he walked forward to Daniel. "I invented that trick. You play on a person's insecurities and get what you want. It's not going to work on me."

Your smile grew bigger, knowing that it was going to work on him. You and Daniel were similar which means you knew that Daniel was going to get what he wanted.

"You're right." Daniel agreed. "I guess I'm just not ready to be a bionic student." Leo turned to walk away as Daniel continued. "Kinda like you're not ready to be a bionic mentor."

You rose an eyebrow in amusement, smiling wide as you seen Leo turn around to look at Daniel.

~~~~~

"You know, I did the exact same thing to Chase when I first arrived, and I got what I wanted." You explained, winking at Daniel as Leo tried upgrading his chip.

"You did?" He asked, as you nodded your head. "Are you sure you're not my sister?"

You couldn't help but laugh softly as Leo spoke. "Okay, Danny boy. You're set to go, now lets go train." You followed the two into the training area as Daniel stood in front of Leo. "Alright, Daniel, lets see how this upgrade works."

Daniel activated a larger force field than before as Leo shot his laser spheres. Daniel had blocked them all as he deactivated his force field.

"Well that proves it. I am a great mentor." Leo smiled.

"Just wait till Douglas finds out." You smirked.

"Hey, if you think that was cool, watch this." Daniel stated, lifting his arms as the students behind Leo vanished.

"How did you do that?" Leo asked Daniel.

"I didn't." Daniel replied.

"Then how did they all disappear?" Leo questioned, as you wondered the same thing.

"I don't know." Daniel replied. "But if anyone asks, I'm blaming it on you."

As Daniel walked away Leo turned towards you. "C'mon, we have to tell Big D." You both ran into the Hydra-loop area, seeing everyone there. "Big D, all the students in the training area just vanished."

You then noticed Daniel behind you as Mr. Davenport spoke. "What?"

"Bob's gone too." Adam added. "And I can't lose my Bob. We have an 8:00 a.m. tee time."

"Alright, everybody calm down. There has to be a logical explanation." Chase informed as more students vanished.

"Or not." You stated sarcastically.

More students vanished including Daniel.

"Daniel!" Douglas shouted.

"Everybody's gone. What are we gonna do?" Leo asked.

"What do you mean, we?" Adam asked. "I'm retired."

"You're like-- you know what? Nevermind." You shook your head.

"You know what? I'll check the academy and see if they're any students left." Bree stated as she super sped away.

You then began talking to Leo, trying to figure out what was going on as Bree sped back.

"I double-checked the whole academy. All the students are gone." Bree informed.

"The new upgrade must've caused a glitch that made them geo-leap away." Mr. Davenport explained.

"Daniel disappeared, and we didn't give him the upgrade." Douglas pointed out.

"Technically, that is correct. You did not give him the upgrade." Leo stated, going to walk away as Douglas called Leo's name. "That kid was impossible to train! And trust me, I happen to know a thing or two about slow learners."

"You let him give Daniel the upgrade?" Douglas asked you.

"Hey, don't look at me. That's Leo's fault." You held your hands in surrender.

"I specifically told you not to give him that upgrade." Douglas scolded Leo.

"Don't blame me. You built the software that made everyone disappear." Leo argued.

"For the record, Donnie had just as much to do with this as I did." Douglas explained, turning around and pointing at Mr. Davenport. "If not more. At lot more. In fact, this whole thing was his idea!"

"It was not!" Mr. Davenport protested.

"Was too!" Douglas argued.

They both kept bickering at one another until you shouted. "Stop arguing!"

They both stopped as Chase spoke. "We have to find them. Although with them gone, we are top dog again."

"Do something!" Mr. Davenport exclaimed.

"Okay." Chase stated walking over to the cyber desk. "I'll pull up their GPS locators, and find out where they are."

Mr. Davenport though couldn't find a thing. "Nothing's coming up. Their signals must have been deactivated."

"Great. So now our brother and the entire student body are missing and we have no idea where they are?" Chase explained quite irritated. "They could be anywhere in the world."

"Okay, everyone needs to calm down because if we don't, we will never be able to find them." You said, scanning their faces.

Douglas then moved to the other cyber desk, as you all followed him as he groaned in frustration. "In have tired every way possible to remotely reactivate their GPS locators, and nothing is working."

"Then we'll have to find them the old-fashioned way." Mr. Davenport informed. "Chase, map out an urban search and rescue. We'll go mile by mile, state by state if we gave to."

"Mr. Davenport, what if we're too late?" Chase asked. "That glitch could've geo-leaped them anywhere. They could be at the bottom of the ocean or inside an active volcano." Chase explained, looking defeated. "They may already be gone."

"We're not giving up." Mr. Davenport stated.

Daniel then popped on the screen catching all of your attention, making Leo speak. "Daniel, where are you?"

"Listen, I don't have much time. The lady hacked into our chips and geo-leaped us here. She has us trapped but I busted out."

"That place looks familar." Adam commented.

"That's Giselle's lab." You breathed.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing? How did you escape?"

Your heart hammered in your chest as you seen her whip her blue electric whip, cracking the screen as Daniel dodged.

"Dad, hurry!"

"Say good-bye to your son, Douglas."

"Everybody suit up." Mr. Davenport commanded.

You all ran to suit up. You ran to your dorm and into your capsule. You knew that they were gonna find out. It was time.

~~~~~

Once inside Giselle's lab, Mr. Davenport explained that he, and the Davenport trio would go to the right and you, Leo, and Douglas would go left. Daniel then ran in.

"Daniel you're okay." Douglas sighed in relief as he hugged Daniel briefly.

"Where are the students?" Chase asked.

"Hiding in the other room, c'mon." Daniel infomed as you all followed him into Giselle's lab.

You walked ahead of eveyone else as Mr. Davenport spoke. "Wow! Man. This place is fancy."

"Don't worry. I have the name of the decorator." Douglas stated sarcastically.

"Really?"

"No." Douglas replied to Mr. Davenport.

You were standing beside Mr. Davenport as Chase spoke. "Where are they?"

Then the doors began to lock, making Bree whip around. "The doors are locking."

"Wha's going on?" Leo asked, glancing at you.

The doors then opened, as you took a sharp intake of breath, seeing Giselle walk in.

"Well, well, well. So nice to see the family all together." Giselle stated coolly.

"Giselle, you got five seconds to tell me where the rest of the kids are before I blast you." Douglas warned, pointing his gun at her.

She began to count as she walked to her desk. "One thousand one. One thousand two. One thousand three, one thousand four," she then clicked on the screen. "There they are."

Everyone seen the students, but Daniel was in there. You then glanced at the Daniel that stood next to you, that wasn't the real Daniel.

"How is Daniel in there and out here?" Adam asked. "This is just like last time we were here with the two Chases. This lady and her magic tricks. She gets me everytime!"

"It's a trap." Douglas informed, pointing his gun at Daniel. "That's not my son."

"That's where you're wrong. I am your son, just not the one you think." He smiled.

Giselle then clicked her watch, amd Daniel transformed into the one and only, Marcus Davenport.

"Marcus?" Douglas asked in disbelief.

"Good to see ya...dad."

Everyone was stunned as Giselle walked over to you. "Well done [Name], I couldn't be more prouder."