Just want to quickly thank LRW and TheMichiganWriter for the reviews last chapter!

Fourth entry, and I already failed. This one-shot, as you may be able to tell when you finish it, is incomplete. I ran out of time :(

Eh, at least it's a lesson learned in time management and not switching things around in the plot. And setting good directions beforehand.

I shall be better next time. Hopefully.

Anyways, onto day four!


/day four/

Prompt: (another) mission on a speeding train

Featured LR character(s): Adam, Chase


"Off Track"


Adam and Chase must work together to stop a speeding train despite their differences.


"Adam!"

"What?"

"The door! I've been telling you to blast the latch! Didn't you hear me?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I'm too dumb to care about what you're saying!"

Chase rolled his eyes at Adam's sarcastic answer. They didn't have time for petty displays of rebellion like this. They currently stood on top of a freight train (they would have already fallen over if not for the new magnetic gear their father and their uncle installed in their boots), but with the forceful rush of air constantly striving to knock them off their feet, the best move right now would be to get back inside. That wouldn't have been a problem, but in Adam's anger he neglected to keep the door they got out of unlocked for them earlier. Now, it was sealed tight, and the only way back in was through that opening.

Of all the times they could be stuck together, it had to be today. It had to be when there was a mission that involved the safety of many people, and it had to come when the two of them were in the throes of their fight. If Bree or Leo had been here, all this talking wouldn't have been necessary. This mission would have been finished, and they could have gladly gone back to not speaking to and ignoring each other.

Fine. Whatever. I can do this myself, Chase thought before holding out his hand towards the metallic opening in front of his feet. He knew there was a knob underneath that locked it, and he wished he could see it. He had mastered his molecular kinesis tremendously well, but he was still limited when it came to remotely moving things he couldn't see. He compensated for that hindrance by concentrating hard. He imagined what it could look like, and he willed for it to move.

Nothing. The door didn't open.

Behind him, Adam crossed his arms, pleased to see that the act didn't produce the desired result.

Chase huffed, knowing well that his older brother was watching. "Forget it," he muttered. He stepped closer to the small door then stomped hard on it, siphoning his anger and frustration into each kick.

One. Two. Three. Four.

The door helplessly swung down, revealing an open space underneath for him to land on.

Chase jumped down and landed perfectly on his feet. When he heard Adam's footsteps above getting closer to the opening, he raised his hand to close the door back. It swung shut then locked with a click. With a frown on his face, he refocused his concentration back on the control panel of the train.

A loud blast, followed by a crashing sound rang inside the car. Then, there was a loud thud. "What, you don't think I can open it myself?" Adam angrily asked.

Chase ignored him. He scanned the panel closely then called up to mind all the information he had regarding the switches, the make and model of the train, and the information the company had given to them when they called for their help not too long ago regarding what had gone wrong. He added these together, attempting to come up with the best solution before the train reaches the damaged part of the tracks and goes off to damage nearby buildings and residences where people were in.

"Oh, great. Yeah. Be immature about it," Adam said. "You should've just gone on this mission on your own."

"Can you keep it down? I'm trying to figure this out," Chase muttered.

"Oh, really."

"Yeah really."

Adam took a breath then released it sharply. He was so fed up with this, with his little brother always doing that to him. He was near to reaching his boiling point, but he decided that a confrontation did not suit the situation. He may be incredibly angry, but lives were still at stake.

"Okay. The only way this train would stop is if we yank out these wires so we can have a good handle on the brakes in there," Chase explained, pointing out the areas where they needed to get to. "It's a bit risky, but I can put a force field to clear the way to the lever. Do you understand?"

Adam scoffed wryly. "'Do you understand?' Really?"

Chase stared at him, his frustration rebuilding. "Look, I need to know that you do."

A bitter smirk pulled on Adam's face as he shook his head. "Oh, right. Because I can't possibly understand basic instructions, right?"

"Would you stop that? What is wrong with you? People are going to die—We're going to die if we don't stop this train, and you're still moping about what happened days ago?" Chase asked.

"Moping?"

"Yeah."

"You think I'm just moping about this?"

"Well, that's all what you've been doing! You've been in this mood for days, not talking to me, and all you've done ever since we got here is refuse to do what I say. You're being such a child about this!"

"You made me look stupid in front of the students, in front of my students, and you're expecting me to just be okay with that?"

"Why not? You do it to me all the time."

"Oh, so that's what it was? Payback?" Adam asked. "You know, you're the last person I expect to be so petty."

Chase gaped in amazement sardonically. "Wow, Adam! 'Petty'? Isn't that…isn't that kind of a big word for you?"

Adam seethed, but there was also a tangible shadow of hurt in his eyes. "Apologize," he demanded quietly.

"Or what? You're going to tell Mr. Davenport?" Chase pressed, though he was starting to feel horrible with how his responses were affecting his brother.

"You're so arrogant," Adam said.

"And you're finally seeing what it's like to be in my shoes," Chase said in the same disappointed tone. "You can't ask for something you don't give, Adam. What I did was unintentional. I didn't mean for it to happen. But you? You do things every day to embarrass me, and rarely do I ever hear you say you're sorry."

Adam seemed to understand, but he was still clearly unaccepting. With a subdued lividness, he made his way to the control panel, his shoulders bumping against Chase's on the way, and then he ripped out the covering.

"What are you doing?" Chase asked.

Adam didn't say anything and only continued surveying the wirings.

"Adam, move. That's my job," Chase said, trying to push Adam out of the way when he figured out what he was doing – but failing miserably. "Those wires will burn you."

Adam only glared back at him before turning his attention back to the panel. Having in mind the plan Chase had given a few minutes ago, he grabbed hold of appropriate cords before pulling them out. He winced and clenched his jaw when the overheated materials melted into his gloves a bit, coming in contact with his skin, but he wasn't about to back out just because of that.

Once that task was completed, he leaned forward to reach for a section of the lever.

Chase sighed. Adam was being stubborn, and after that argument he suspected the chances of his older brother listening slimmed considerably to none. He moved to the opposite side of him and then held his hands out to create the force field which should block the live wires.

A beeping sound came from his watch. "We're getting closer to the damaged end of the tracks," Chase warned when he saw the message. "Did you reach it yet?"

Adam, who was leaning heavily inside the panel and struggling, didn't say anything.

"We're just a few miles away. The train won't have enough time to stop," Chase said, his heart pounding. "Adam!"

"I'm trying!"

Other solutions ran throughout Chase's mind. However, all of them involved taking out the force field, and those weren't viable since that could extremely harm Adam.

He checked the screen. They were nearing the last three miles.

There was a thud. Then, as Adam pulled something back, a shrill sound rang as the train skidded in the tracks.

The train ran for another stretch of distance, and for a moment it felt like it was speeding towards disaster.

Then, eventually, it stopped.

When it did, Adam fell back into the floor while Chase leaned back on the panel, both of them breathing out in relief.

They lapsed into silence for a while. Then, Chase spoke, "We almost failed this mission."

Adam tried to catch his breath, his heart still beating quickly because of the scare. "I know."

Chase looked at his brother. "Bree's right, Adam. I think we do need to talk."


Just a bit of an explanation about the train, the distance, and why Chase was alarmed when they're still a few miles away: I read from trusted sources that it can take a mile or more after the brakes are applied for a freight train to stop. ;)

Anyways, yes, like I said, incomplete. I was going to tie in something really good if I had time to develop that conversation Chase said he and Adam needed to have, but alas, it's not to be.

As always, reviews and prompts will be appreciated!