Congratulations to Luv2Luv, Lady Cougar-Trombone, Rodrigo, BTRlover1122, incinera, AngelGoneDevil69, raenbc, and Lover chocolate and ice-cream for giving me the right answer! Bree was watching Teen Fiancee.
Thanks to NiniCere for your reviews, too! I appreciate you sticking around!
There were many things in this episode that I loved, and it's given me ideas for two new fanfics. It won't probably come until the season break, though. ;)
I hope you guys enjoy this short chapter!
Episode Tag to: Parallel Universe
Chronicle 008
Chapter: Equilibrium
Password: *********
Date: 06.01.13
Time: 10:37 AM
You know what I love about sitting at the park? It's normal. There are a lot of older people walking around, kids screaming at and chasing each other, and joggers zipping past. Meanwhile, I'm sitting alone at a bench, under this huge tree, with nothing but this notebook, my house keys, and my bike.
It's boring as heck, but I love it.
Since summer's starting, it's unbelievably hot and humid. Usually, I'd enjoy this kind of weather inside the house, but today will be a reprieve. Janelle posted on her wall two days ago that she was going to meet with her friends at the park this weekend, and I thought it may be nice to 'accidentally' bump into her today—not that I'm stalking her.
I just want to see her. I didn't see her on the flip side, which freaked me out a little. I guess my world wouldn't really be complete without her in it.
Well, her and my family, but I've spent time with them. After Big D's proton fuser went haywire, claimed me as its victim, oddly impacted my bladder when I got there, and brought me out, I had to make sure that everything is back to how they are. Crossing over to another universe does something to your brain. You pretty much feel like you have to re-establish everything you've known as real.
Which, I think, I slightly overdid.
I did chore work for my mom like I've never done before. It paid off! The house is clean, I haven't pulled anything that has gotten me grounded, and Mom was happy. She gave me money, which is surprisingly still tucked unspent under Pascal's cage. I doubt the other me experience that kind of treatment from his mom. At least it didn't feel like it when I was in his place. The Tasha in that world did care about me, but I think it was just because bionic Leo was her prized project. It never felt like she cared and worried because I was her kid. Or bionic me was her kid.
I'd pick my mom over her any day, any hour of the week.
It was nice to be back with my siblings, too. When my no TV punishment was lifted, the first thing I did was watch Finding Nemo with Adam. The guy loved the movie. He was happy and excited and scared and sad and happy again while we watched. I didn't have to deal with any of that philosophical mumbo jumbo that that oldest Henderson kid always spews out.
What happened later on that night was funny but kinda sad, too. Big D and Mom had to calm Adam down when he started crying after Mom brought out grilled salmon for dinner. He kept telling Mom that the salmon's family was probably looking for him. He was inconsolable for a while, especially after Chase explained that fishes don't really feel anything towards their offspring.
Bree's a little tricky, because she's not too fond of hanging out with any of us her brothers lately. But when I suggested that she try out the new bike that Grandma bought for her with me, she was all for it. We rode around the neighborhood. We had a great time. We were chased by the Goldberg's German Shepherds down the street. It was easy for Bree to get away, but not for me.
I was slow enough to get left behind but fast enough to get away.
Getting Chase to hang out wasn't too hard. All I had to do was mention about the difficult final exams, and he's on it. He's quizzed me so much this week that I don't think there's any left of my brain. I'm not really sure whether that's an advantage or a disadvantage but hey, at least it lets me know that he's not that smug jock that turned me in.
Big D is, well…Big D. I like the Big D that I've always known, but I like the assistant version of him on the other world. He was really geeky and a little low on the self-esteem. Not a great bodyguard, but he was nice. Big D's nice, too, but there are some instances when I'm not really sure if he means what he says.
Like when I came back and he told me he believed me. I don't think he really did, because he came to me a few days after the incident to show me the surveillance video from the lab. It was the moment when I was pulled in then when I jumped out that he wanted to show me.
"Really. So you didn't believe me" was the only thing I had to say before the truth came out.
He did apologize for it. Then he asked me about everything that happened, so I had to tell him. I started from falling out of the wormhole and seeing the change to the house, and then meeting the billionaire inventor version of my mom and the nerdy assistant version of him. I talked about going to school and getting scared out of my wits when Principal Perry tried to give me a hug. I ranted about the Henderson kids and how awful they are, how they sold me out.
There was also the constant running from goon Gordon and his lackeys. I mentioned about the exploding handcuffs and having to test out my new ability because of it.
"Why weren't you able to escape sooner?" he asked.
"I glitched," I told him, and it was probably one of the top highlights of that conversation. There may not be a lot of good things in that side of the universe, but I took away a few that I liked. Being able to tell someone that I glitched is one. Being able to remember seeing the world around me pass by at 200 miles per hour, and being effortlessly smart and strong are three others.
When I finished telling him everything, he just nodded and smiled. "Well, at least you're not like them, Leo," he told me, and he seemed like he meant it. "You're the best kind of friend Adam, Bree and Chase can have."
I thanked him for saying that.
In science, equilibrium is one of the big concepts since different kinds of matter, at one point or another, are inclined to reach that state. We see it in the way we walk, ride our bikes and spend. We see it in the way weather develops.
Getting to know how the other side lives, I realize that not being bionic is okay. Things are the way they ought to be, and in my opinion they are pretty good. Plus, I may not have any abilities, but I can still do some things that would help the people I'm with.
Last night, I filed an exit strategy for Adam, Bree, Chase and also Big D and Mom in case we were ever compromised. I'm a little surprised he hasn't said anything about it. It worries me a little that he's ignored that and use it as some kind of a cleaning utensil again. Good thing I didn't take any chances. I saved it on their computers, even on Eddy's hard drive, and I've programmed it to unlock only when trouble comes.
I understand how it feels like to be cornered with no way out. I've experienced it. I'm not taking any chances with them.
Planning a hopefully successful escape was something I had to do.
I'm not going to worry much about it now, though, because I have bigger problems to deal with. The sun's cooking everything, and the park is almost empty. I could die of thirst any moment now. I like Janelle a lot, but I'm going to have to bail. I don't think it'll be very attractive if she sees me passed out under a tree.
I guess I'll just have to see her Monday.
Signed,
Leo Francis Dooley
End of Chapter Equilibrium
Re-Enter Password: *********
Date: 06.01.13
Time: 12:09 PM
…and we're finally caught up!
At least until tonight.
In Parallel Universe, besides super strength, speed and intelligence, name one other ability that bionic Leo had. Answers are not required, but reviews are loved!
