Adam rolls his shoulders back and lines up the bowling ball with the pins. It's the fourth frame of the Lab Bowling we are playing. He releases and knocks all ten down.
"Nice!" I hold my hand up and Adam smacks it bionically hard. "Ow!" I complain. He hands me the bowling ball and I get in position. When I release it shoots down the floor and the pins explode into the air. The ball keeps rolling and smashes into the wall.
"That was awesome!" Adam exclaims.
"I can't throw that hard," I shake my head in confusion and dismay. "That was not me."
"Yeah, you let that one go about as hard as I can." I look over at him in suprise. "Oh, there's still two more standing," he states. I pick up the bowling ball with remarkable ease and roll it again. Once more it goes off with such power the far wall takes a dent.
"How hard did you say you throw?" I ask cautiously.
At that moment Davenport walks into the lab, takes one look and huffs, "Adam, how many times do I have to tell you to bowl outside so something doesn't get broken!?"
"That wasn't me; it was Audrey," he protests.
Davenport gives me a questioning look and I nod. "I'm sorry, Mr. Davenport, I'll fix it. I have no idea how that happened but when I let go it was like Adam using his super strength to launch the ball," I quickly explain.
With lips pursed he runs a hand-held machine over the back of my neck where the small chip which holds my bionics is located.
"What?" I insist.
"I think you unlocked a hidden ability," he says.
"Cool, what is it?" Adam calls from where he has continued playing without me.
"You seem to be able to mimic the bionics of others." My jaw slackens and I check to make sure that he's serious. This is by far the neatest hidden ability discovered so far, in my opinion.
"So I can take on the others' bionics?"
"Yes, but only temporarily. It is similar to power replication; apparently once you stop using that specific bionic ability, it will leave your system," Davenport continues. He summons Adam and instructs him to use his lazer eyes on a strip of metal hanging on the wall.
When it is my turn I stare it down until I go cross-eyed but to no avail. When Adam does it a second time I peer over his shoulder to see if there is a trick I missed. Standing on my tip toes I lose my center of balance and fall forward, grabbing his arm for support.
I try again and jump when red beams shoot from my eyes. "I think I need to be touching them to gain the bionic," I therorise. After testing it several times with Adam's strength and gale breath we conclude the hypothesis is correct. The whole time Davenport mutters under his breath about power replication. From what I gather he doesn't even know how to program that: somebody highly skilled must have.
I am so excited I skip to the elevator and bounce on the balls of my feet on the way up.
"Bree, I want to race your super speed," I tell her as soon as I step into the living room. She gives me a humorous look.
"Okay." We line up at the kitchen counter and I count down.
"Three, two, one, go!" On "go" I reach a hand out and touch her as she starts off. A surge of energy goes through me and I quickly catch up to her. She glances over, does a double take and runs into the wall. I slow and rush to her side.
"I'm fine," she assures me, pushing herself into a sitting position. "How did you..." words fail her.
"It's a new bionic I unlocked. What do you think?"
"What do I think? I think that is awesome!" She hugs me. "How does it work?" Bree's grin expands the more she hears. "Have you told Chase yet?"
"No, not yet."
"Don't tell him; show him," she says with that look that means she has something planned. I laugh and agree to it immediately. We gather the supplies needed and as she carries it upstairs I head to Eddy.
"Eddy, will you please tell Chase I have something to tell him when he gets home?" I ask the automated security.
"Oh sure, let the computer do all the work. Need any clothes washed while I'm at it?" He replies in a terribly annoying sarcastic robotic voice. "Fine, I'll do it!" He agrees when I cross my arms and huff. With that note I find Bree waiting in the sitting room on the second story.
"You are sure Chase will come up here?" I check. She nods and with this support I place a pink nail polish out of reach on the coffee table. We sit on the floor and talk while painting our nails and listening to the radio. Sure enough, not long in Chase knocks on the open door.
"Audrey, did you need to talk to me?" I shake my head innocently. "Eddy must be playing tricks again." With a roll of the eyes Chase turns to leave. I ask him to use his telekinesis to pass the nail polish. "Why?"
"Because it is so incredible and I want to marvel at my boyfriend's incredible superpowers," I answer. With a slightly furrowed brow he does so and I brush a finger against his ankle.
"Thank you," I smile. He reaches the door and with a flick of the wrist I close it. He frowns and as his hand touches the handle I flip the lock. Bree and I giggle as he tugs uselessly.
"What is going on?" He sighs. In answer I lift the bottle of nail polish and have it hover in the air. His eyes grow wide. "When did...how did...are you..." he points from the suspended bottle to Bree and me laughing.
"And it only gets better." I give the explanation I gave Bree. He laughs in delight and brushes my hair back.
"I am so happy for you!" He pesters me to demonstrate more. I copy his force field and Bree's voice manipulation. "Wow," is all he can say.
"I can show you later," I assure, "but right now this is girl time, so unless you want pretty painted nails I'll see you later."
Bree's face brightens at the suggestion. "Yes, stay!" He shakes his head and leaves before she can tie him down to torture the poor boy.