Returning back home with a win settled in quite nicely for the bunch. Well, for most of the bunch. Going to the robot seemed to be the smartest since they were supposed to meet there anyway. The elevator launched them up fast. The doors open, letting everyone go free. The first thing the jokester did was find the bathroom. His bladder was holding something back and he was going to burst if he didn't find a toilet. His speedy legs ran down the hall. Harris and the others chuckled as he looked like he could run someone over with those feet.
The pilot however left the group. He led himself to the lounge. His body slammed down on the couch. He grabbed a nearby pillow and threw it to the side. He felt like an idiot. Even though he figured it out, he still couldn't figure it out. It was one of those things where it was smart, but not smart enough. How could he not see the evil in her? How could he not catch every lie she ever told him? Were her feelings for him fake too? Did she ever care? Why did she do this? How could she do this?
All these questions played with his head. It upset him regardless if they were together or not. It hurt him. He never thought that she had the power to do any of this. That brilliant young mind was nothing but deceptive and horrible. Her tricks and manipulation had been perfect to a tee. This never would've happened if he had known. But instead, like a fool, he fell for it. I mean, he really fell for it. He had feelings for what seemed to be a careless, conniving little witch. She was scheming and planning to no end and he was blind to all of it. And the worst part is, things could've ended differently if he had been aware.
But why though? What led to her wanting to be greedy for power? Who caused her pain? Where did all this hatred come from? He couldn't quite figure it out. All the fifteen year old did was show her happiness, kindness, some stubbornness, a bit of attitude...what? Nobody's perfect. But most of all, he gave her affection. He wasn't one to show much of that. It was kind of the first time he did. The freshman did have a sensitive side that he, though not openly, would share with her from time to time. He did anything to help her and what does she do? She takes all of that, toys with it, uses it against him, and betrays everybody he cares about. She knows this and she doesn't even care. Oh well, it was just another thing to hate about her.
While laying on the couch and thinking such thoughts, the young man heard footsteps approaching him. He didn't take the time to look. The person glanced at the teen and sighed. He felt terrible for him. Why is it that every time something good happens someone has to come in and pull something like this? The defeated looking pilot felt the side of the couch sink in under his feet. He continued to just breath and think. His fellow companion however broke the silence.

"Well that's one less person we have to worry about." Harris mentioned positively.

His friend didn't respond to that.

"Are you okay?" Harris questioned.

He knew the answer was going to being the opposite of what he wanted to hear, but he wanted some kind of response out of his buddy. Sadly, he didn't receive one. The young genius let his back lean up against the back of the couch.

"Look I liked Ryley too. And hey your not the only one upset about her. She tricked all of us." Harris told him.

His companion was still silent.

"But I get it. I guess her having powers and trying to understand herself more helped you two connect. Both of you being born with this kind of ability brought you guys together, huh?" Harris hypothesized.

The adopted child shrugged and rolled his eyes.

"I don't know, I mean...I guess...I just thought that I finally had somebody who... understood what I was saying or what I go through and..." Ryan began.

Harris listened.

"Why I wanted to try this in the first place. Why I wanted to get stronger. The monsters are only gonna get worse. I thought the whole point of this was gonna help me be able to beat them faster. And now...I'll never get that chance." Ryan explained.

His friend shifted in his spot.

"You don't need a machine or some high tech to help you-"

"I don't see any other way. And if I wasn't in that lab I wouldn't of been born with the power. I got in the way." Ryan cut him off.

"You were just a baby." Harris reminded him.

"And some other baby could've gotten it. And that baby would've been better than me. She was better than me. Someone else would've been better than me." Ryan responded.

The two were unaware that another person kind of snuck up on their little chat. He shook his head as he heard the words the male technopath was saying.

"And maybe...maybe if someone else got it, none of this would ever happen. But, I'm the one who got it. Now everything's a mess. I just...mess everything up." Ryan continued.

"Ry-"

"I do, Harris. I can't beat Seth without getting angry and exploding everything. I can't meet my dad without him being used for bait. I'm so stubborn that I put you guys in danger." Ryan listed.

Harris was silent.

"No wonder Ryley wants nothing to do with me. How could anyone like someone like me?" Ryan inquired.

His bud tried to come up with something to counteract that. He was quickly beaten to it though.

"Don't say that."

The pilot and the intelligent young man turned to see the former jock standing near the door. He walked up to them. Harris scooted back and let the sixteen year old sit in front of him. His little sibling watched as he did so.

"Don't say that about my little bro." The older teen told him.

"Mark-"

"Yeah your stubborn, but if you weren't, Leo might've been dead by now. We would've probably been dead too." The former jock interrupted.

His younger brother was quiet.

"Ry, Ryley messed up. She's the one that did all of this. You shouldn't feel bad about this." Mark tried to convince him.

Harris smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Besides, you deserve better anyway."

The only female of the group came and joined the three. She stood up behind the side of the couch. Her arms rested on top of it.

"She didn't want to help you. She was only helping herself." Veracity told him.

"And she did a good job too." Ryan retorted.

"She didn't get your powers though. And she's in jail now. So she didn't finish the job. We took her down and now she can't mess with us anymore." Harris brought up.

Mark nodded.

"I've known her since second grade. She always say with me cause the other kids thought I was too weird. I really liked science, but no one ever understood that. She did. Ryley was great when it came to other people. She was the last person I ever thought could get along with so easily." Veracity added in.

The pilot looked up at her.

"Is this helping or making me feel worse?" Ryan asked her.

"What I mean is, Ryley was good. But, I knew there was something off with her. I just didn't see it til now." Veracity clarified.

The fifteen year old sat up in his spot.

"Oh thank god! I thought I was gonna die!"

Spyder came from the back door. The group watched as he joined them. He leaned against the wall. Harris chuckled.

"But yeah, I mean...she's not worth being upset over." Mark continued.

His little brother sighed. He shrugged.

"Yeah dude. I mean, the only reason why I'm upset is that she owed me 50 bucks." Spyder talked.

"Why did you give her 50 bucks?" Harris questioned.

"She said she owed somebody else. I never did get it back. It's messed up too. I was starving yesterday." Spyder complained.

Mark shook his head.

"Can't believe it was a lie. She only dated me to make sure that I was on board." Ryan vented.

"But you still figured it out." Spyder mentioned.

"Well yeah, but-"

"And you exposed her." Harris added.

"I know, it's just-"

"And you broke her machine." Mark contributed.

"That I helped build." Ryan noted.

"You still destroyed it though. If you hadn't, the monsters would never go away." Veracity answered back.

The pilot smiled a bit.

"Come on...you know we're right." Spyder spoke to him.

He smacked his friend in the shoulder. The young man showed a full smile and got up.

"I guess you are. Kinda sucks that my first girlfriend only lasted three days though." He admitted.

"I'm just glad that your not with her anymore." Mark replied.

"I know you are. I should've listened to you. I'm sorry." Ryan apologized.

"Ah, don't blame yourself. I can see why you thought she was hot. In a crazy, fun, and really pushy kinda way." Mark responded.

Ryan chuckled a bit and nodded.

"Wait a sec..." Harris called.

The group looked at him.

"Why would Grey and Harper be upset at Ryley for keeping in the monsters? Wouldn't they want them to stay in?" Harris inquired.