My lips pressed together as I contemplated what to say. Luckily Chase beat me to it. "What happened to you? You've been missing for over a week."

"It's a long story." I said and Chase waited for me to explain only I didn't. "But I think we both know that you guys have an even longer one to tell." Chase rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled nervously. I briefly wondered if his bionic chip was placed there like mine.

"Y-you haven't told anyone have you?" It was weird, seeing Chase so nervous.

"What, that I saw a teenage girl who has the ability to run at inhumane speeds? Like anyone would believe that."

"So you haven't said a word?" I shook my head. Chase visibly relaxed. "Good. I'll get Mr. Davenport and he can explain everything." I stopped him before he could.

"No. I want to hear it from you first."

"Why?" He asked.

"Because, I know you the best and will be able to tell if you're lying." Chase began to protest but I shut him down quickly. "If you want this to stay a secret you'll do as I say." I felt a little bad for using this as leverage, but it had to be done. Chase sighed but agreed and we sat on the couch.

"The truth is, Adam, Bree, and I are...bionic." I pretended to look confused at first then curious.

"So you all have super speed?" I asked. This was a real question I had. Chase shook his head.

"No, only Bree. Adam has super strength and I-"

"Have super intelligence. " I finished and he looked suspiciously at me.

"How do you know?" So I was right.

"Simple. It makes sense that Adam has super strength, he's tall and muscular. Bree is lean and that would pair well with speed. You're smarter than the average person, and since you're other siblings have bionics I can conclude that yours is super intelligence. See, simple." After finishing I dropped my hands in my lap and smirked, enjoying seeing Chase baffled.

"Wow. You're more observant than I thought." I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks." I said sarcastically. Chase shifted in his spot to face me more as he continued explaining.

"We use our bionics for good, to help people." I was now the one to be surprised and relieved at the same time.

"Really? That's a relief, I thought you guys were villains who were going to take over the world."

"Nope. We're the good guys." He stated and I smiled thinly and nodded. An awkward moment fell between us. "Well uh now that I've explained this, are you going to keep it a secret?" I looked away to make it seem like I was having a difficult time trying to decide.

"What'll Mr. Davenport do if I don't." I asked, dodging the question. I knew I had to say yes, only I was reluctant to do so.

"Not sure. Besides Leo and Tasha, no one knows about our bionics." Drawing my bottom lip between my lips, I forced my eyes to look into Chase's as I answered.

"I'm not going to tell anyone. You're secret's safe with me." I said finally. Chase wasn't expecting me to say this.

"You won't?" He asked, not really believing me.

"Why are you so surprised?"

"Because you're not someone who does nice things for others."

"Hey, I can be nice! I just choose not to be." I said defiantly but Chase didn't look convinced. "I'll prove it." I wracked my brain for a way to compliment him but not enough to feed into his ego. I looked at his appearance which included a short sleeve plaid shirt with different shades of green and looking at him fully I said the first thing that came to mind without thinking it through. "Uh, I like the shirt you're wearing, it really brings out your eyes." Once it registered what had come out of my mouth I felt my face turn beet red. I looked away from Chase so he couldn't see how embarrassed I now was. His face had become red like mine and it mortified me. What was I thinking, complimenting him? Does he think I like him?

It seemed like hours before Chase responded, and I dreaded what it would be.

"Uh...thank you. " Was his reply. Clearing my throat I nodded and willed for my face to go back to its normal color before going back to our previous conversation.

"Uh. So like I said before, I'm not telling anyone. But not because I trust you or anything. Not because you're bionic, I just don't trust people in general. But if I were to tell the authorities I'd end up ruining my own life because they'll think I'm a part of your... group. It's best if I keep this a secret. "

I was rambling, something that only happened when I was embarrassed. I over explain things. Repeating what Douglas had said to keep me quiet made me nauseous.

"You're right. Thank you. Mr. Davenport will be relieved when he finds out." I plastered a fake smile on my face to mask how uncomfortable I'd become. "I guess since you know our secret, it's ok to show you the lab."

"You have a secret lab?" I asked, my curiosity taking over now that the worst was over.

"Its where we eat, sleep, and train for missions." They sleep in a lab?

"Where is it? " Chase motioned with his chin for me to follow and he led me to the hallway next to the dining room, the very one I'd placed a camera all those weeks ago. I watched with interest when Chase lifted a picture frame on the left wall and revealed a secret button underneath! To think I'd been looking at it then, not knowing the secret it held behind it.

After it was pressed, the wall at the end of the hallway disappeared and was replaced by a set of metal doors that opened to reveal an elevator.

"After you."

Once we were both in the elevator, I thought of another question I had.

"There's still one thing I have to ask." I said before Chase could press the button that would make the elevator go down.

"Shoot."

"Is Donald not your real dad? You always address him as Mr. Davenport."

"He is our father. He created us. " I frowned at this new information. Douglas never mentioned them being 'created' in a lab.

"Wait, you were created in a lab? Like a science experiment? " Chase was offended.

"No! Well... no!" I smirked.

"You're human lab rats." Chase glowered at me.

"Shut up." He said with a huff.

I shook my head and chuckled until I saw his deflated expression and he refused to look me in the eye.

"I'm joking Chase." I said, but it didn't help. Pursing my lips, I realized I probably crossed a line. Maybe that last remark was a little insensitive. " I admitted. Wow, did I actually just apologize to him? What is happening to me?

"Don't apologize. I actually said the same thing to Leo when we met Leo. But hearing someone else say it makes it sound bad."

"Sorry." Chase looked at me with surprise.

"Did you just apologize?" I scoffed and refused to look at him now.

"No! ... maybe." I expected him to make fun of me.

"Wow, you're just full of surprises." Not the insult I was expecting. My lips curved upward the slightest, probably the first time I've ever done so around Chase.

"You have no idea." I said, in a half joking tone and he gave me a smile of his own.

I hadn't realized the elevator had been moving until the double doors slid open. I was thankful to be greeted by a office type room and not be in between floors like the last time I was in an elevator.

The office itself was small and couldn't possibly be the lab.

"This is Mr. Davenport's office." Chase informed and he touched something on a screen next to another set of large metal doors which opened.

When Mr. Davenport's eyes landed on me they widened in shock, along with Adam, Bree, and Leo's who were also in the lab.

"Harper? What are you doing here?"

"It's ok Mr. Davenport." Chase said to calm him down but his father didn't listen and looked at the former with disapproval.

"Chase why did you bring her here?" He demanded, leaving the island console he had been at to come closer to the two of us.

"Harper's promised to keep our bionics a secret."

"And how do you know we can trust her?" I stepped in front of Chase to speak for myself.

"Like I told Chase, if I revealed your secret the authorities might think I was involved and my life would be ruined like yours. So I'm not going to tell anyone." Mr. Davenport looked at me through narrowed eyes and I kept my gaze steady on him, not showing any fear. "For a price." I added.

"Harper!" Chase hissed in my ear but I ignored him and continued my attention on his dad. The other three watched from there seats at the console with interest to what he'd say.

"And what would that be? " Donald finally asked warily.

"I haven't really thought about it - $500." Mr. Davenport looked at me as if I was nuts. "Oh come on, you're a Billionaire. 500 less won't make a difference."

"I should have expected this." Chase said behind me and without looking I knew he was rolling his eyes.

It took a little more convincing but Mr. Davenport finally gave in. I could tell he still didn't fully trust me but what could he do?

With five one hundred dollar bills in my pocket I was offered a tour of the lab.

The main area stocked with 15+ computer monitors wasn't to big, but with enough room for an island console in the center, plus another one along on the left wall when you walked in.

The third console faced the back of the lab and separated it from three capsules almost identical to my own. To the left on the other side of a small wall was a door that led to a garage. And to the left of the door was a decent sized alcove that housed a series of training equipment and another door that led to an even bigger space filled with lab supplies that could be taken out as needed.

All in all, it was definitely better than Douglas' lab.

"This is so cool. Having a friend who knows about our secret!" Bree said as we sat at a round table by the back door. "Now we can just be ourselves around you. No more secrets."

"Right. No more secrets." I said, hesitating the slightest.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, concerned by my sudden change in demeanor.

"No! No. Just trying to process this is all. A lot to take in you know?" Chase put himself between Bree and I, much to his sister's annoyance.

"So now that we've told you about us, I think it's only fair that you tell us where you've been for the last week." I bit my lip.

"I was hoping you'd forgotten about that." I admitted quietly.

"Nope." Sighing, I thought for a minute to compile a story that wouldn't give to much away.

"After I saw Bree using her super speed, I panicked and ran away to hide until I figured out what to do. I've been kind of all over town. Actually I was at the yogurt place that night you were."

"Seriously?" I nodded.

"Yep. Oh, and I figure I should say that Bree wasn't the first one I saw using her bionics. I actually was there when Adam stopped the air conditioner from crushing Leo. I was in my locker when it happened."

"Wait seriously? And you didn't say anything?" I looked at Chase with an annoyed expression.

"I was to busy getting tattled on by you." I said and he oh'd. Yeah. And how did you stop Perry from seeing the video footage?"

"We destroyed the hard drive." Leo said. "What were you doing in your locker?"

"Hiding from Perry. Duh." Smiling at my sassy remark he took out his phone when it dinged.

"Oh I just got a text. Dinners ready. My mom said you're welcome to join us."

"Wait, it's dinner time?! " I jumped out of my seat so fast I almost fell over. "Shoot, I gotta go." I exclaimed while grabbing my jacket. Chase grabbed my arm before I could run to the elevator.

"Whoa, what's wrong?"

"Nothing!" I almost yelled, which startled everyone. I composed myself before continuing, "I just- my mom wanted me home before dinner. I'm so getting in trouble for to this." Chase looked both concerned and suspicious at the same time with how I was acting.

"Ok, see you at school tomorrow!" I didn't reply as I hurried to the elevator and waited impatiently for it to open.

I tried to keep my body from trembling as I walked up to the house. Multiple scenarios ran through my head over what Douglas might do to me for being late. I may have been playing it cool with what's been happening, but a part of me was afraid.

It was well past the time I should have been back and he'd be furious.

I stopped at the wall where I'd exited this morning and realized I didn't know how to open it from the outside.

I startled when it faded on it's own and Marcus was standing there with his arms crossed and a small smirk on his lips.

"You're late. Dad isn't to happy right now."

I didn't respond to him and walked around the android into the house. The fact I didn't respond with a sarcastic remark probably confused him but I was to sick to do so.

Walking into the lab, I found Douglas hunched over his desk writing in a notebook.

I gulped when his face turned to look at me after I'd stopped by my cell but put on a brave face.

"What took you so long?" He asked, surprisingly calm.

"I lost track of time and got lost." I said. Then I added quickly. "But I got the Davenports to trust me and I saw the lab."

"I know. I watched the whole thing."

"You did? How? " Douglas picked up his tablet and flipped it around so I could see the screen. It showed a perfect view of the main part of the lab which was empty at the moment.

"Marcus planted a camera in there a few days ago." Douglas explained. "Good work."

"Um, thank you?" I still expected him to blow up, at least yell at me.

"Something wrong?"

"Well, I thought you'd be more upset about my being late. You're not going to lash out or anything?" Douglas shrugged.

"Don't feel like it right now."

"What kind of bad guy are you? " I couldn't help but ask. This irritated him slightly.

"I'm complicated ok? Now get to bed, you have school in the morning." Not being as afraid as I had been I let out a annoyed groan

"Seriously? I thought the one good thing about being your bionic puppet was that I wouldn't have to go to school! Way to make this situation worse, you are evil."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Rolling my eyes, I go to my cage and am surprised for the hundredth time today when I see a cot had been put in there.

I would say something, but I suddenly realized how tired I was. Within minutes of climbing into bed I was out, which rarely happened.

Hello! This is by far the longest chapter in this story I think! I hope everyone is enjoying the story.

I'm having a little trouble with writing Douglas' character and how he interacts with Harper. I think they're both similar in many ways. He doesn't treat her cruelly for the most part, which you'll find out later on why.

Anyways, the next few chapters will be some of the episodes leading up to Bionic Showdown. I'll probably skip a few that aren't to exciting.

Goodbye for now!