And...we're back! Hannah is...changing, to say the least. Oh, and an episode tag to "Armed and Dangerous" and "Alien Gladiators." Plus, a bonding moment between Chase and Hannah. (I'm not quite sure what to do with those two. Technically, I could ship/pair them because they're not siblings or anything. But would it be too awkward, predictable, etc.? Tell me what you guys think.) Enjoy!
After a while, the memories of our battle with Krane ended. And so did my jealousy.
As I watched Adam, Bree, and Chase on television talking about their bionics, I decided that the world would need some time to recover from this one before it could cope with the possibility of another bionic teenage superhero.
When the four got home, they told us the bad news about what Graham said to them. I wasn't surprised for one. I had known from the start that Graham was a shallow parasite.
The next day when the three went to school, they were celebrated instead of warily stared at. Several people asked me if I was bionic since I was their "cousin," but I politely denied it. I simply told them that I had known about their secret but didn't share in it, which was partially true. People soon lost interest in me and continued to fawn over the three bionic teens. I could tell it was killing Leo not to brag to everyone about his bionic arm.
The rest of the day passed by as a surreal dream. It was like the whole universe had been flipped upside down by the revelation of one simple fact. I still wasn't sure how I felt about that. I just went on and observed the facts, not organizing them into emotions yet.
It was strange seeing Adam, Bree, and Chase as celebrities. They deserved the credit and praise for what they did of course, but as I watched, I saw the truth unfold. Graham's real intentions became clear before my eyes. The others were blinded, but I saw it all.
So, when his plan unraveled, I wasn't surprised. Plans like his made by people like him never worked out in the end. I had known this all along, thanks to the keen intelligence and perception honed by years of training and teaching.
And that's what made me different in the end. That's what made me stand out, what made sure I was never truly one of them, despite what Chase had said. That was why when the four gathered together in a group hug, I stood by and watched, distanced from them in more than one ways.
That night, I lie in my bed, wide awake. I couldn't get over this feeling of disappointment and abandonment. "I knew I shouldn't have stayed here," I announced into the darkness. "I was just going to get hurt at some point. People let you down sometimes, even if they don't mean to and don't realize it." I turned on my side. "Being a mindless robot was so much easier." I sighed then whispered the thought that had been gnawing at me for a long time, my greatest fear. "I think I'm becoming human."
"Hannah, Hannah, wake up."
I heard a voice and felt hands shaking me. My eyes flew open, and I saw sunlight streaming in through my window. Chase was standing over me with an unreadable expression.
"What…what's wrong? Who's in danger?"
"You, apparently." He sat beside me as I leaned up on my pillows. "What's wrong? You went to bed without eating or saying anything."
"I don't know. I just…felt randomly upset."
"I know you know why. Tell me."
"I…know things that you don't know, Chase. I've seen things and done things that you couldn't even dream of. My brain works differently than even yours. Sometimes I just feel like an outsider."
He sighed. "You know what I'm going to say, Hannah. You're not an outsider, and you're not alone, and I'm really sorry you feel this way. But feeling different isn't a bad thing. Adam, Bree, and I are total opposites, and yet we still love each other and support each other and stand together. We're a team, and now you're part of the team."
"I know. I guess I'm not used to being a part of anything, much less a part of the most awesome team in the whole universe. I…I don't know where I belong or how I fit in or even what I am. I'm so lost, and I have no clue where I'm going." I almost started crying then and there in front of him, but he spoke before I could fall into despair far enough to.
"Hannah, I… You are so complicated and deep and…beautiful. You are different, but that is such a good thing." He leaned over and clasped my hands, forcing me to stare into his eyes. "You have no idea how awesome you are. I can't get over the fact that you're blind to your own greatness; it only makes you greater." He stared hard at me. "If you really feel as lost as you say you are, I'll tell you what you are and where you're going."
Being speechless and taken aback could not even describe what I was feeling. I couldn't say anything. My mind had become a blank white canvas. "Okay" was all I could manage.
Chase grabbed my hand and squeezed reassuringly. "I'd better go get ready for the Alien Gladiator convention before the others get suspicious." He smiled and left.
I just sat there and stared at the door for an hour.
daphrose: Fair enough. I'm trying to make her turn into more of a human, so she'll discover more emotions and flaws and make more mistakes. I think that's what you're getting at. Anyway, thanks.