As the weeks went on, the group's meetings became more frequent. During one of them, things started to go wrong. As they were on their way, it seemed no one could agree on anything.
"Wait, how does that even make sense?" Manny asked.
"Excuse me if I don't like to rush headfirst into everything!" Helen shot back.
Alan groaned. "There they go again."
"You two have been at this for months, would you give it a rest?" Pierce jumped in, trying to break up the argument. "Now, Helen does have a point…"
"Sure, just take her side!" Manny said.
"Hey, I'm her brother!" He protested. "I just want to make sure we don't do anything in over our heads."
"Since when are you the boss around here?" Cooper asked.
"Somebody's got to take charge." Pierce pointed out. "In case you've forgotten, I'm the oldest member of the group…" Then he broke off, nervous that he'd offended Max.
"You two go through this all the time, don't you think it's time you gave it a rest?" Alan asked.
"Forget it." Cooper said. "They've been arguing strategy for weeks now. I know that wouldn't happen with me and Gwen because…"
"Oh, come on!" Helen exclaimed.
"He's not back on that again, is he?" Manny added. "Hasn't anyone told him that she's…" Helen motioned for him to be quiet. He gathered the others minus Cooper into a circle. "Hasn't anyone told him that she's dating that guy who absorbs metal?" He whispered.
"Apparently not." Pierce said.
"Guys, focus!" Alan said. "Do I have to…"
"No!" Everyone yelled at once. They knew that if he turned into his Pyronite form now, the whole vehicle would blow with them inside it.
"Well, we need to pass this test or we're never going to be able to prove ourselves." Helen said.
"That's what brings us back to my plan…" Manny started.
"There's no way I'm listening to you." Alan said.
"Same here, besides I'm on Helen's side with this, man." Pierce told him.
"I think Manny has a point, but there's no way. My powers don't work that way, I'm not…"
"Okay, I've heard enough." Max said. The kids turned to face him. "You guys are a team and you need to start acting like it. Teamwork is the only way you can take down a really tough opponent. You remind me of when I took Ben and Gwen on that road trip."
The group looked at each other. Suddenly, there was a clanging sound from outside. "What was that?" Helen asked. Max tried to stop the motorhome, and it ended up skidding. The group screamed, thinking they were going to be crushed.
