Let's Find My Parents!
Chapter 3
Hello again! Thank you so much for the feedback, and I'm so glad you like the sequel so far! Well, let's get right to it, shall we? Enjoy!
"You guys are here", Ryan said, still hugging his parents. "I can't believe it."
"Believe it, kiddo", said Robert. "We're here."
"And we are so happy to have you with us again", said Lucy.
"I understand that Seth Harper was dangerous", said Ryan, "and he still is, but I can't tell you how great it is to finally meet you guys."
"We're happy you're here, sweetheart", said Lucy, ruffling her fingers through his hair.
"So, Ry-guy", said Robert, "tell us a little about yourself."
"Ry-guy?" Mark thought. "Since when do these people know what Mom, Spyder, Harris and I call Ryan? They just met him!"
"Well, I've been living with Mark, my brother, and our mom, Grace", said Ryan.
"Ah, yes", said Robert, eyeing Mark. "Your brother."
Mark grunted as Lucy wrapped him in a huge hug.
"Thank you for helping take care of our Ryan", she said.
"Uh...sure", said Mark, wriggling free of her grasp. "No problem."
"Oh, just wait till you guys meet our mom", said Ryan. "You'll love her!"
Harris cleared his throat.
"Oh, yeah! Sorry, guys. Mom, Dad, these are my friends, Spyder and Harris."
"Pleased to meet you", said Harris, shaking their hands.
"Sup?" Spyder gave them a wave.
"How's Leo?" said Robert. "It's been a while since we've seen him.
"Oh, he's great", said Ryan.
"Better than great, actually", said Spyder, "considering the fact that he has superpowers now!"
"What?" Robert and Lucy said simultaneously.
"Oh, yeah", said Ryan. "Did I mention that I've been piloting a giant robot with my friends and older brother for the last few months?"
"And that we've been using it to fight Seth Harper and his evil, monstrous creations?" said Harris.
"And that a few weeks ago, Leo was trying to fix the robot and wound up electrocuting himself, giving him superpowers?" said Spyder.
Robert and Lucy stared at them incredulously.
"It sounds like we have a lot of catching up to do", said Lucy finally. "How about we grab some lunch and talk, Ryan?"
"Sure!" said Ryan. "That sounds-"
Mark cleared his throat.
"Hey, dingus", he said softly. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, bro", said Ryan.
Robert and Lucy nodded and walked away. Harris, Spyder and Megan shrugged and followed them.
"What's up?"
"Dude, I can't explain it, but something doesn't feel right. I think we should go back home, like, now."
"What? I just got here! I finally met my birth parents, and now you wanna pull me away?"
"Ryan, please! Something isn't right here, I just know it."
"The only thing that's not right is your attitude!"
"What?"
"I know exactly what's wrong here. You're afraid that I'm not gonna want to go back home with you and Mom, that I'll spend the rest of my days hiding out with my real Mom and Dad."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're jealous! You're trying to pull me away from them before I get so attached, I won't wanna leave."
"Ryan, they called you Ry-guy. How did they know that's what we call you? They just met you!"
"I don't know...maybe Megan told them."
"She's never said it!"
"What does this have to do with anything?"
"Ryan...I think this whole thing is one giant trap."
"A trap? Set by who?"
"Seth Harper."
Ryan laughed.
"Yeah, right. Seth has no idea where we are."
"Ryan-"
"Don't make up some pathetic excuse just so you can keep me in Bay City."
"Wait, what?"
"You heard me. I'm staying here."
Mark couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"No, you're not."
"That's not your decision to make."
"Yes, it is! I'm your older brother! That makes me in charge and the boss of you."
"No, it doesn't, because we're not related!"
Mark was taken aback. He and Ryan had had their fights long before Ryan ever knew he was adopted, but he had never dreamed Ryan would actually say that to him.
"Look, Ryan", he said, slightly hurt, "just because you're adopted-"
"Just get out of here, okay? You're not changing my mind. I'm staying in Cairo."
Mark opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. With a sad sigh, he shook his head and walked away.
"I'll give him some time to cool off", he thought. "He'll figure out that I'm right and how crazy this whole thing is."
Unfortunately, he never got that chance. As he headed back towards Harris and Spyder, he gasped. The two boys were being held by Robert and Lucy, who injected an orange serum into their necks.
"Ryan!"
Mark ran back to find his brother, only to be thrown back against the wall by Megan's telekinesis. As he struggled to get to his feet, Seth Harper stood over him.
"Hey, Mark!" he said. "You miss me?"
Mark was lifted off the ground and held against the wall by Megan's telekinesis. He struggled furiously as Seth got right in his face.
"I knew something wasn't right", said Mark. "Ry-!"
Seth slapped his hand over Mark's mouth.
"You obviously have questions", he said, "but there's only a short amount of time before Ryan comes back, so let's walk and talk. You say anything, and I'll fry Megan's brain."
To emphasize his point, he held up a clicker that controlled the monster in her brain. Mark nodded slowly, and Seth released his mouth.
"Smart move."
He turned to Robert and Lucy, who were holding an unconscious Harris and Spyder.
"You know what to do with them now."
Robert and Lucy nodded and dragged them away.
"Megan, if you would be so kind."
Megan levitated Mark into the air as Seth began to walk.
"So, after you guys defeated me back in Bay City, I escaped. I was so mad when you destroyed my building, but it wasn't a total loss. You see, I managed to slip onto Mech-X4 after you destroyed my building. It's pretty easy to slip around when no one can see you. Oh, by the way, you guys should install some sort of slime tracker, so you'll know there's an intruder."
"So, you've been in the robot this whole time?"
"That's right. I knew it was only a matter of time before Megan arranged a meeting with Ryan's parents. All I had to do was wait and listen for her to make the call. After she arranged the meeting in Cairo, I knew I had to get there first. So I did."
"And you implanted them with the same stuff you used on my mom and Ryan."
"Oh, I also used it on your friends. And hey, guess what?"
Mark grunted as a needle was inserted into his neck.
"I just used it on you."
Megan set him down carefully next to Harris and Spyder in a locked room. Seth chuckled darkly as Megan closed the door.
"When those three wake up, they'll be my slaves."
"What about Ryan?"
"Oh, don't worry. I'll let Mommy and Daddy handle him."
…..
Ryan sighed as he walked back to the room.
"I can't believe I said that!" he thought. "Of course we're related. We're brothers! I'd better go talk to him."
Just then, he heard a yell.
"Mark?" he said unsurely. "Is that you?"
He heard another yell, but this time it was cut off.
"Mark!"
He started running, desperate to see what was wrong. But when he got into the hallway, there was no one around.
"Hmm."
"What's wrong, sweetie?"
Ryan turned to see his parents standing behind him.
"Everything okay?" said Lucy.
Ryan sighed. Whatever it was, it was probably nothing.
"Yeah", he said, walking off with them. "I guess."
What will become of the Mech-X4 team now? See you next time!
-Imagigirl20