Disclaimer/ introduction

It has been several years since I've been active on Fanfiction but all the while I have continued writing sporadically. Over the years my style (as I would like to believe) has matured and improved. But alas I think it is still incomplete and the only way I can improve it is to write more than what I have been. Therefore I decided to go back to my old fanfictions and rewrite them with my updated style. This way I can continue to improve and gain feedback to see if I'm good enough to make it in the writer world and boost my confidence.

Important: However the show A.T.O.M has long since been off air where I live. The show was also cancelled so I never got to see it progress to however far it did. So in other words, from the original airdate of my fanfictions till today, I have had no contact with the show. My knowledge of it is feint and all clues I have to the show environment is what I can pick up from the dialogue and storyline I have from my original story (which is rough). The correlation and accuracy of this story to the show is miniscule and although the storyline is the same it has been redone with the hopes of a more complete and smoothly flowing composition like that of a novel and not a recreation of the show. If you enjoy the concept of certain characters, then please, enjoy.

Last Chance (Rewritten)

The summer sun was bright and carefree as it bore down upon Landmark city. It passed over the buildings and trees, casting shadows for those bold enough to stand before it. But nothing glimmered more brightly in the light than the tinted windowpanes of the renovated aquarium building on the edge of town. Filled with creatures of another sort, no one would have suspected that within it lay the government's newest and most advanced technology. Motorcycles, jeeps, jetpacks and more all ready to soar out onto the open road and show the world what they could do. But within the garage they rested silently, their riders in no need of them. The city was quiet. It was safe, at least, for the time being. Like their mechanical counterparts, the riders waited for their call to action. When the city was safe, they could rest. But resting . . . was not in their nature. Bored with the cities lack of crisis, one rider found it extra hard to stay entertained. Clad in blue shorts, loose over shirt, and white T, as if lounging in a bungalow, Shark starred up into the glass panes of the ceiling. His blonde hair slightly misshapen from his boredom, Shark found it hard to even watch the television in front of him.

Tilting his head to hang over the back of the couch, even the reminiscent décor of the aquarium did little to lift his spirits. His attempts at amusement through jokes had left his friends even more agitated with their own boredom. Watching the living room from upside down, he could see Axel concentrating hard on the tricks he was performing with a soccer ball, a sport Shark was neither interested in nor good at. At the Table King had spread out a buffet of food, of which Shark had quickly found that attempting to eat was a death sentence. But there was a potential for fun when out of the elevator came the signature green pants and swaying hips of his favorite cat, Lioness. She strolled casually over to King who greedily enjoyed his food. As he reached out for a plate full of ketchup covered fries, Lioness forced him to a halt as she snatched one up before he could stop her. King gave a scowl as she walked behind him, giving him a teasing wave of the fry before eating it. He pouted a few more seconds before nearly inhaling the rest of his meal in order to prevent any more curious hands from intruding.

Lioness plopped down onto the couch a little ways from Shark to see what was on the television. Shark lifted his head and gave her a small smirk at her sneakiness. When he had attempted that same thing, King had given him a beating enough to scare him straight. He went to say something but was cut off as Axel suddenly lost control of his ball and sent it flying across the room. The two were forced to duck as it soared over them and smacked King square in the back of the head, forcing his face into his plate of fires. The room went silent for a minute except for the dying bounce of the ball as it came to a halt on the floor nearby. As if rising from the grave, King lifted his head with his face covered in ketchup and various fries stuck to his cheeks and forehead. The room exploded in laughter upon the reveal causing King to whirl around so fast that several fries were tossed from his face. Steam nearly blew from his ears as Axel calmed his laughing.

"Whoops, sorry about that," was all he could muster with a shrug of his shoulders and halfhearted smile.

Shark managed to contain his laugh to a giggle and wiped a tear away from his eye. Lioness however was already over the incident and picked up a magazine to thumb through, although a small smile still lingered in the corner of her mouth. Despite the retaliation that was almost certain to follow, Shark found his gaze lingering on the woman. He loved that little smirk that she often held, especially when it lingered upon her lips. It meant that she was happy, content with the way things were. He liked it so much Shark often found himself trying to keep it there. It was no secret that he was the clown of the group. But every joke and comment had a purpose. There was a sudden rush behind the couch as King pounced from the table towards Axel.

"Whoa! Back off King!" Axel managed to shout before he darted across the room in an attempt to avoid the arms of King eagerly trying to snatch him out of the air in payback.

"You'll regret ever touching that ball when I get my hands on you!" King shouted as he furiously chased Axel back and forth across the living room while dodging furniture and people in the process. Down the hall, Hawk was in his bedroom and gave a roll of the eyes at the commotion just out of sight, so uncivilized.

Despite how amusing the chase was, Shark found his eyes once again falling onto Lioness. Even through all the commotion and drama, she always seemed unfazed by it. Like a palm on the beach, he always thought to himself. Beautiful and sturdy, one who could catch sunlight and watch the waves all day yet withstand the most furious of winds and weather, a true beach beauty. Shark gave a soft smile as the thought comforted him as he watched her. Palms and the beach, two of his most favorite things.

Feeling a pair of eyes upon her, Lioness looked up from her book and was surprised to see Shark gently staring at her. Shark's cheeks flushed a slight red as he gave an embarrassed smile having been caught in the act of staring. He quickly turned his head towards the TV as if he was actually interested in what was on in the hopes of playing it off. Lioness felt her heart do a small jump in her chest. And when she realized it was because of the way he was looking at her, she felt her own cheeks flush ever so slightly. Lioness suddenly found it difficult to look at the man lounging in front of her. As if something would be interpreted differently than how they normally were. Lioness suddenly had the urge to move. She couldn't sit on the couch any longer. The woman quickly rose and walked toward the garage. Shark pretended not to notice since he had already been caught watching her once already. Lioness somewhat desperately searched for something to do that did not involve sitting on the couch. It was then that as she passed the billboard the woman noticed the paperwork that the team had just recently finished in regards to the new upgrades that had been installed on their vehicles. This was the perfect time to test them out.

"Eh, boys!" she yelled back towards the team, "Let's go test out those upgrades we got from Lee". The boys looked up at her suggestion. An excuse to go out and ride into the city with their beloved toys? It was an offer to good to pass up. Shark quickly jumped up out of the cushions and but his arms behind his head while heading for the door.

"I'm In!" he responded, only too eager to get out and polish up his skills. Already left behind as Lioness and Shark descended down into the garage, Axel and King seized their grappling and simultaneously gave a "Wait for me!" They dodged past Lioness as she came back up the stairs and gave a shout out for Hawk down the hall.

"Hawk! Time to play! Vamos!"

Although Hawk was too proud to admit he enjoyed riding with everyone else, his spring like action in response to her words would have given his excitement away if not for the privacy of his room. He paused a moment to give his reflection in the mirror a wink as he passed before quickly hurrying down the hall after the others. Gearing up their suits, putting on their helmets, and revving their engines, the team was ready for a little exercise.