The Jet Wing

Chase put his arm around me as we sat on the couch next to Bree. We were cuddling until she decided to squish her way into Chase's side with a magazine. And it was a fashion magazine. I had to hold in any laughter when I saw the look of annoyance on my boyfriend's face.

Mr. Davenport had Adam and Leo hovering over him as he tried to fix one of the gadgets that somewhat survived the blast. It sparked and Mr. Davenport shook his hand from the pain, "Great. Everything in the lab is officially useless and I don't have any money to repair it."

"I know my mom didn't marry you for your money but I haven't been putting up with your antics for nothing," Leo replied and I rolled my eyes.

Bree got off the couch and Chase and I followed, "Mr. Davenport, take your time with the lab," She said, "I don't mind staying up here. I mean it won't make up living in a basement for sixteen years but it's a start."

"We don't have time," Mr. Davenport stated sadly, "Your capsules have regenerative capabilities. They're crucial to your bionic infrastructures."

"Huh," Adam asked.

Chase put down whatever he was holding "Let me help you," He said, "Capsule good!"

And there goes another thing I am dying to laugh at. When has Chase gotten so funny and why haven't I noticed it?

"But I haven't been in my capsule all week and I feel fine," Bree told him.

"Well," Davenport replied "It's only a matter of time before your bionics go haywire."

"Do you know when exactly because I have a haircut on Tuesday and if I glitch in the chair I'm just gonna end up looking like that train wreck," Adam motioned to Chase who glared at his brother's dig.

"Look," Chase ranted "I get it. I'm short, I look like a lady golfer and I have terrible haircut. What else you got?"

"How long do you have?"

Leo and Bree laughed but I just smiled and rubbed Chase's shoulder. I know it's all in good fun but sometimes I feel like it hurts him more than he lets on. And sometimes I'm not too proud of myself when I laugh at Adam's jokes.

Davenport looked like he had enough and the mood became somber, "Look, the longer you go without your capsules, the more likely you'll glitch so don't use your bionics until I can get enough money to rebuild the lab."

"Uh oh," Adam acted like he was about to sneeze, "I feel a glitch coming on," Adam suddenly turned to Chase and punched him in the arm. He yelped and rubbed his other arm.

"You know what? I feel one coming on too," Chase then grabbed Adam by the collar of his t-shirt and threw him to the floor.

Adam jumped back up, "Hey it's not funny when you hurt me. It's just rude." Adam looked like he was about to cry as he walked out of the room.

LAB RATS

"I don't want to go home," I whined to Chase.

"Then don't go home Katie," Chase pecked my lips "Stay."

I smiled "You're cute," I told him and a million watt smile formed on his face.

Before he could give me a reply, Mr. Davenport walked into the room with Tasha following him. Leo came down the stairs.

"Okay everybody. Family meeting time," Chase tugged on my hand to follow him from the dining room table and Adam's hand went up, "Adam you don't have to raise your hand to speak. Just talk."

"Oh, no, I've got nothing to say. I'm just airing out my pits," He then raised his other arm in the air with a smile on his face.

"The reason I called this meeting is because we have to make some cutbacks in the family budget starting with losing our cell phones."

I am so glad that Mr. Davenport isn't paying for my plan because there is no way I could live without my phone. Try to take it away and I will bite your fingers off.

"Did you not hear me?" Bree said "I just moved out of a basement. I need this phone!"

"Wait, I don't get it. Why is this happening?"

Chase looked bored "Phone gone. We poor now."

Adam gasped.

"Guys, stop complaining," Leo said standing next to Mr. Davenport "This is what you do for family. You make sacrifices," I bet Leo doesn't think that he's a part of this then.

"This includes you too," Davenport patted him on the shoulder.

Leo's eyes went wide, "I barely know you people. I'm keeping my phone," He then walked away into the kitchen area.

See? He had no idea.

"Don't worry," Tasha reassured "Donald and I will be giving up our phones too."

"Well you will," Davenport muttered before going back to the conversation, "The sooner we get money, the sooner we can get back to our regular lives. We need cash. Ideas?"

Tasha clapped her hands, "Ooh! I can make some desserts and we can have a bake sale."

That idea was quickly shut down by Mr. Davenport and Tasha stopped talking.

Leo walked back into the conversation, "Hey why don't you do a stunt like that guy on TV did? You know the one who made a whole bunch of money for walking on a tight rope across the Grand Canyon?"

"Ah, I see where you're going with this;" Adam said "We find that guy and rob him!"

Where the heck does Adam come up with these stupid ideas?

"Or," Leo interjected "Big D can do a similar stunt."

"We can't rob Mr. Davenport. He's broke. Where you not listening?"

Davenport was mulling it over, "That kind of stunt could attract a sponsor who would have enough money for us to build a new lab. That's a great idea Leo."

"Just give me my cut when you get the money."

"You know what?" davenport lifted his tablet off the table and pressed a few buttons "I've been working on a prototype, fiberglass jet wing. It uses two micro jet engines to allow a human being to fly like an airplane. Check it out."

On the screen was a design of the jet wing and I had to admit it. That thing looked incredibly cool but I would try that thing on even if you paid me a huge amount of money. I sort of have this thing with heights.

"This is it," Davenport said, "I, Donald Davenport, will attempt the first every jet wing flight over Mission Creek."

"Oh no," Tasha stepped forward "I am not letting my husband do something that dangerous-"

"You can host the exclusive pay per view web cast."

Tasha froze for a second before smiling and throwing her hands in the air, "Up, up and away!"

Davenport cheered before Chase spoke up next to me, "Are you sure about this? That thing hasn't been tested."

"I can't let my family suffer anymore."

"Then skip the jet wing and give us our phones back," Bree replied.

"Look, we need to find sponsors quickly though," Davenport said.

Even though my dad owns his own law firm, I don't think he would be the right sponsor for this type of thing. Besides, he's got this massive case on his hands and he's killing himself trying to win it. So let's just say that's not going to happen.

"Well I'm on it," Leo said standing up, "You're looking at the top donation collector for the schools save the gym campaign: four dollars and sixteen cents."

Yeah, like that's something to be proud of.

"Okay Leo you can hunt for sponsors."

Adam jumped up and had his hands in the air "Yeah," he cheered "We're getting our lab back!" Everyone high fived him, "What, no, guys, again I'm just airing them out."

Chase pulled me down on his lap and put his head on my shoulder, "One step closer."

I kissed his forehead, "Let's just hope things work out."

LAB RATS

That Saturday rolled around and everything was set up for Mr. Davenport's death defying stunt that I'm sure will be destined for failure. Knowing the Davenports, something is bound to go wrong. Balloons were floating all over the parking lot, a snack table was set up inside and, of course, as always, Mr. Davenport's head was plastered everywhere. In the middle of the lot was where Mr. Davenport would be launching the Jet Wing.

Chase and Leo were setting up the control center where a couple of computer monitors were set up and the pair each had on a head set. Soon many people had arrived and Mr. Davenport loaded on his Jet Wing gear. Tasha was on the other end of the parking lot getting ready for the live broadcast of the stunt.

"I still can't believe you landed one sponsor Leo," Mr. Davenport wined.

Leo's eyes went wide, "You're lucky you got one. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a sponsor for an old guy who thinks he can fly?"

"The best you could do was Go Go Global Pack-N-Ship?"

"Yup," Leo replied, "Now you only get paid if you survive but if you don't, they'll ship your remains to your home state for free. Alaska and Hawaii not included. You're also obligated to say 'Go Go Global Pack-N-Ship' throughout your flight."

"It's gonna be hard for him. He's not use to promoting anything other than himself," Chase quipped and walked back behind the control center where I was.

"Alright two minutes to launch."

I looked down at everything in front of me. A lot of this stuff looked really sketchy and, like everyone else, I was worried that things would blow up in Mr. Davenport's face. Oh god I hope nothing blows up!

Mr. Davenport looked like he was going to pass out and I think Leo noticed this as well, "Big D, are you okay? You look a little nervous."

"I'm not sure I can do this," Mr. Davenport whispered to us.

"Of course you can do this. You're Donald Davenport and the Donald Davenport I know wouldn't let anything get in the way of protecting his family," Leo replied.

Mr. Davenport was still nervous but complied "You're right Leo. I got this."

Tasha walked over to him and started talking about how big this was going to be for her. I rolled my eyes and focused my attention at all the mission control buttons and thing-a-ma-bobs. Tasha then said something about the title of her broadcast causing Mr. Davenport to freak out even more than usual. He doubled over like he was about to have a heart attack.

"You're helmet cam is up and running," Chase told him, "I'll man mission control and cue you when it's time to release your parachute for landing."

"You ready Mr. Davenport?" I asked and Mr. Davenport gave a shaky nod and put on his helmet. All while chanting to himself that he could do this.

Music started playing as people quieted down to watch Mr. Davenport. Tasha stood in front of her camera man and spoke into her mike. I sucked in air as everything was coming together. Well, so far so good, nothing bad to report right now.

I inhaled and released a breath and Chase kissed my temple, "Everything will be okay. You just wait and see."

As if my nerves weren't hyped up enough, a loud blast of confetti fell from the sky and I jumped a mile high. Leo saw this and laughed at me. I glared and punched him hard on the shoulder, "Ow! Chase control your woman!"

Chase giggled, "No," he said, "I don't think I will."

"Besides," I put in, "As if he could control me."

"Before I launch," Davenport announced, "Uh, I would like to take a moment," Mr. Davenport pointed over to us, "Maybe longer and, uh, thank everybody for coming out today. I really means a lot and, uh, I see a lot of familiar faces in the crowd and, uh, since I have time," He, again, pointed over to us, "I would like to, uh, mention you all by name-"

"Why is he stalling?" Chase asked.

"Doesn't really matter to me," Leo muttered, "I've got the launch button."

"I think Mr. Davenport is scared out of his mind right now. I would be too if I was doing what he's about to attempt."

As Mr. Davenport was stalling, Leo pressed the button and Mr. Davenport shot up into the air screaming. Both the boys and I watch in amazement at how high he was going, "I wonder if he can see my house from way up there," I muttered.

LAB RATS

As Mr. Davenport was high up in the air, Chase, Leo and I watched from one of the monitors his progress throughout his flight.

"You doing alright up there Big D?"

"Yeah! I don't know what I was worrying about. This is awesome! But not as awesome as the low-low prices at Go-Go Global Pack-N-Ship!"

Chase smirked at the camera, "We are gonna make a fortune. Tons of people are tuning in to the live broadcast."

"Of course they are," Mr. Davenport bragged, "I'm amazing. But not as amazing as shipping your valuables with Go-Go Global Pack-N-Ship! Alright, enough coasting, it's time for some extreme free styling! Alright world! Let's lather up this stunt with some Davenport butter!"

Davenport butter? Really?

"Mr. Davenport, I wouldn't-"

Chase was interrupted because Mr. Davenport was yelling about turbulence.

I looked over my boyfriend's shoulder as something dropped from Mr. Davenport's belt and a warning sound came over the monitor.

"What was that?"

"That was your parachute," Chase spoke slowly and Mr. Davenport flipped out. Onlookers from below looked up in shock as Mr. Davenport continued to fly above them, "Not to worry. You'll be fine for the moment just, uh, continue at jet speed until your wings run out of jet fuel."

Leo's eyes widened as he covered his own mike and leaned over to us, "What happens then?"

Chase nervously fidgeted in his seat, "Then he'll crash."

"Oh no," Mr. Davenport cried, "I'm gonna fall…faster than the prices at Go-Go Global Pack-N-Ship!"

Chase sank lower in his chair.

LAB RATS

Tasha was now over by our table doing her web cast, "Fame reporter, Tasha Davenport here, bring you one of the most tense moments in television history. A live Jet Wing crash! We have exclusive access to mission headquarters where I'm sure they have everything under control."

Tasha began walking over to us and I instantly hid from the camera. If my dad saw this he would freak out and give me a lecture on taking part in something this stupid. If only he knew half the things these people drag me into.

The warning bell was still going off. Leo was hitting the keyboard on his laptop and Chase was staring at the monitor when Tasha pushed the microphone in his face. He looked up and started stuttering, "We're, um, we're mulling our options."

Tasha then placed her hand over the mike, "Mulling your options? That is my husband up there!"

"Um, someone needs to come up with a solution fast! There is fuel leaking inside my flight suit," Mr. Davenport paused, "Nope, not jet fuel."

I cringed. And to think I thought everything wouldn't go without a hitch.

"This is all my fault," Leo took the blame, "I had the idea of sending him up there."

"No argument here," Chase muttered and Leo looked at him like he was crazy. I slapped him on the back of his head.

"Mr. Davenport, we're just gonna have to use our bionic-" I slapped his arm and motioned to the camera in his face that he totally forgot was there. Chase tried to cover it up "Hi!

"Chase you cannot show the entire world your bionic-" Leo saw the camera and his eyes went wide, "Hi!"

Tasha motioned the camera man away from us and I stepped back into my orginal spot.

"Stop saying bion-ah-hi, call Adam and Bree and get me out of the sky!"

"Well we'd love to but someone took away our cellphone service," Leo told him.

"Really, guilt, now?"

Leo took off his headset, "I'll run to school and get Adam and Bree. Keep his hopes up."

And with that, Leo ran his stringy legs out of the parking lot.

Chase and I gave each other a look before Chase sat back down. I walked behind him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, "So, um, whatcha gonna do tomorrow if you make it?"

"Really Chase? That's what you're going to say to him right now?"

Mr. Davenport was still looking scared to death and I didn't want him freaking out. Chase and I tried to distract him from that tiny detail until Leo could get Adam and Bree here in time.

LAB RATS

I sighed. Finally they were here. But when I looked at them, I almost did I double take. Adam had a tire hub cap secured over his eyes with a belt buckle and he was holding onto Bree as she started to glitch herself. Leo was pushing Adam from behind.

"Okay we've got some serious problems," Leo told us, "Adam's heat vision is glitching out and Bree's bouncing off the walls and I saw Principal Perry's bare feet and can I just say," Leo proceeded to scream as he tried to scratch at his eyes. I scoffed to myself. What a drama princess.

Chase motioned to Adam, "What's on his face?"

"It's a hub cap. It's the only thing I could find that would shoot my heat vision," Adam then proceeded to wince as a laser beam was reflected back at his face.

"Chase, I can't keep circling above you. I'm almost out of fuel. What's the plan?"

"I'm working on it," Chase replied before covering up his mike so Mr. Davenport couldn't hear, "I've run every possible scenario and they all end with the Donald Davenport memorial bridge."

"We can't just let him fall," Leo wined, "Use your magnetism app!"

"Well I can't! The Jet Wing is made out of fiber glass, not metal."

"Well we have to do something. The whole reason he did this ridiculous stunt is to get the lab back for you guys."

"Leo's right," Bree said, "Mr. Davenport put his life on the line for us."

"Yeah plus he's our dad," Adam said but I really couldn't take him seriously with that hub cap on his face, "Wait, technically, he's not our dad. Why are we here again?"

"You guys are gonna have to use your bionics," I told them.

"Yeah and not with all these people around," Leo went over to the crowd, "Okay attention! I'm gonna need everyone to clear this space out immediately," No one made the attempt to move so Leo improvised, "There are free snacks inside."

Well that made the lot empty pretty fast.

"Hey, guys, good news," Adam spoke, "If he does crash, I've got this adorable little tote bag we can collect his pieces with."

Wait, so you're telling me that Adam had the answer to this whole mess the whole time? Great just great. Seriously, why am I so surprised by this?

"Adam where did you get that?"

"I found it on the side of the road next to the hub cap," He casually replied.

"Adam that's not a tote bag," Chase explained, "That's the parachute that came off of Mr. Davenport's jet wing," Chase took it from Adam, "We gotta find a way to get this to him."

"Well why don't we just give it to him when he lands?"

It was silent for a few moments before Leo came up with a plan, "Hey what if Adam uses his strength to launch it back up to him?"

Oh! Like that one time when Leo was stuck in Mr. Davenport's self-driving car going super-fast towards the ocean. Leo would have died if hadn't been for Chase and Adam. I also got a nice screen saver to boot.

Chase went on to explain how he could calculate the coordinates but I tuned out the rest of his speech. I knew the gist of it. I didn't need to hear the technical terms and what not.

"Alright Mr. Davenport be on the lookout. I'm sending up your parachute!"

"Copy that, I'm ready."

Chase held Adam's arm back, "Alright, here we go. Three, two, one."

We waited there with baited breath when Chase congratulated Adam. The bag was heading straight for him. Now we had to wait for him to come down.

"Oh cool, let me see," Adam took off the hub cap and his heat vision torched off one of the wings off. Mr. Davenport screamed and all of our eyes went wide.

Well that was unlucky.

"Oops," Adam winced, "I think I'm just gonna pull this back down."

Mr. Davenport continued to scream, "Relax Mr. Davenport. I have a plan."

"If your plan was to be fatherless, it's working!"

Tasha walked over to us, "Why aren't you saving him? Can't any of you fly? What do you do in that basement all day?"

Principal Perry huffed and moaned her way into the parking lot and bent over, "Thanks for leaving me behind. Why'd you use your super speed?"

"I didn't," Bree was smug and Perry gave her a glare. It was the best she could come up with right now.

"I can try using my Molecularkenisis to slow his decent but he's still gonna hit too hard."

Leo then realized where we were and told us there were boxes here to break his fall.

"And tape," Adam said, "To put him back together!"

"You heard him. Let's go!"

LAB RATS

A few minutes later, we had a pile of boxes at the launch and landing pad. Chase was using his Molecularkenis to slow Mr. Davenport down.

"Guys! I'm out of fuel! I'm trying not to use my scared voice," Suddenly his voice got higher and squeakier, "But it's slipping out."

"Mr. Davenport, I'm slowing you down and they're building you a crash pad. Try to aim for it."

"It's working! I'm slowing down! I'll release the jet wing so it won't crush me on impact."

"Alright we're good to go," Bree said, "Boxes are set up as a crash pad. Oh no! I feel a glitch coming on!"

Leo raced to get a box big enough to fit her. Once it was over her, she got all crazy and the box started to rock back and forth.

Adam laughed, "I bet she looks stupid."

Leo and I both noticed something was wrong with Chase, "What's wrong?"

"I think my bionics are glitching too," he said.

Mr. Davenport started screaming again.

"What's happening? I'm free falling again! Five hundred feet! Four hundred feet!"

Leo shook Chase, "Do something!"

Chase went back to using his bionics and Mr. Davenport told us it was working.

"I'm gonna make it! I'm gonna live!"

All of a sudden, Mr. Davenport continued to fall. Let the freak out continue.

"I'm falling again! I'm not gonna make! My life is over!"

Then again…

"Oh nope I'm fine. I'm okay…Nope! I'm a goner!"

"Aim for the boxes money bags!" Perry yelled as he continued to fall and scream.

"I can't control him anymore," Chase said before collapsing in my arms.

Without Chase controlling where Mr. Davenport landed, he landed right on top of Principal Perry. Squashing her like a bug.

"I think we've learned something today," Tasha reported, "Nobody covers a story like Tasha Davenport!"

Chase opened his eyes and looked at me, "I passed out again, didn't I?"

I giggled and kissed him, "Yeah you did."

"Great," He muttered and I helped him stand up. We walked over to the rest of the gang as Perry continued to lie on the ground, "Is he dead?"

"No," Chase said.

"Am I dead?"

"Unclear," Leo told her, "But just to be safe, we should probably proceed with a burial."

LAB RATS

As it turned out, Mr. Davenport only came out with a broken leg and arm and had to walk on crutches for a month. The press made Principal Perry a hero for breaking Mr. Davenport's fall. She ended up in a full on body cast.

But all I can say right now is that Chase, Adam and Bree need their capsules as soon as possible. Chase kept attracting metal objects, Adam still had the hub cap over his face and Bree has a box over her that was taped to the floor.

I decided it was best if I kept my distance from the family for a while…just till the lab is up and running and Adam, Bree and Chase are back to their semi-normal bionic lives.