16th October 2013 Wednesday

Day 289

Not a lot to say, although I do believe I will be away from my laptop between Christmas and New Year's, so you may have a multi update the day before I leave. To make it more special, you guys could read them one day at a time, but I'm not telling you to do anything.

Disclaimer: I do not own the show. Boy, this is starting to feel like déjà vu.

Jenny typed frantically at the keyboard, groaning in frustration whenever she input the wrong co-ordinate. Dex stood behind her shoulder, shaking his head slowly as he watched her.

"Jenny, you need to calm down," he tried to instruct, only to receive the cold shoulder from the clone. "You won't be able to find him if you're not thinking straight."

"Just give me…one more minute," she kept her attention down. "There, got it."

She sank back in to her chair in relief at the small blinking light on the monitor. Her muscles tensed, however, when she recognised his location.

"He's over water," the engineer gasped, bringing her hands to her mouth. Dex had just closed his wristcom and turned his attention back.

"Try and call him on his wristcom. He's a smart little fellow, he'll know how to work it."

Jenny pressed a few buttons, and sure enough the image of her son came on to the screen. It bounced and moved violently with the motion, as though Max were trying to hide it.

"Mom," he whispered to the screen, smiling brightly at the sight. His lips pursed as he brought his finger to his mouth, silencing the entire Hamilton Habitat crew who had come from saying anything. With careful manoeuvring, Max angled the camera so that everyone could see his captor, without the man seeing the screen. Jenny's fingers curled in to fists on the table.

"I'm going to kill him," she seethed, standing up and moving towards her experimental weapons bench. "I swear, I'm going to kill that monster-"

"Wait, check it out," Zap pointed towards the monitor, to which everyone gazed closer. Syrrus raised his hands again, and Max's eyes glazed over as he began to fly faster through the air. Once his thrust had died down, he resumed a steady flight state again and winked at the camera in front of him. "The guy's pretending to be under Syrrus' control; clever little guy remembered my story. Aren't you glad you let him stay up a little longer, Jenny?"

The clone turned to the pilot, giving him a small smile in relief and apology. Dex pushed through the crowd and began to type on the computer, zooming the image closer to Syrrus' insects behind them.

"They'll be at the habitat soon," he began to instruct in his usual way. "Zap and Jenny, head to the roof so you can get Max; we'll defend the habitat from behind the swarm."

'Come on, come on,' Max kept repeating in his head as the habitat's structure came closer in to view. He glanced down as the group in flight finally left water and were now flying over the island that held his home. 'Where are you guys?'

The moment the thought was voiced in his head, a black blur appeared from behind a square structure on the roof, gripping on to Max tightly and pulling him back down to the hiding spot. The child opened his eyes, widening them when he realised that he was in the hold of his mother.

"Oh, my sweetheart, did he hurt you?" she fussed, pulling on his arms and checking him over. The little bug boy looked around. "No mom, where's dad?"

"He's out in the open, waiting for Syrrus," she explained. Both mother and son craned their heads to get a good view; Zap was frozen in a fighting stance with fists up and an angered face staring at Syrrus. The villain ceased his flight once he spied Zap. Slowing to a hover in front of him, Syrrus let his hands drop to his sides.

"I had no idea the effects of the Methuselah's bite could wear off so quickly," he said in a dejected tone. Zap's glare intensified.

"Get out of here, Syrrus," he murmured in a low tone. The villain smirked evilly.

"Why? I've got no where to be," he turned around, admiring his giant insects as they began to land in various locations. "And my insects find this place wonderful to destroy."

As he turned back, he realised that Zap was no longer standing in front of him. Instead, the clone stood tall with a murderous glare, holding on to her son.

"Syrrus, meet Max," she held up her child, who flew forward at such speed that Syrrus could not defend himself from the kick to his face. Steadying himself with his wings, Max floated gently back in to Jenny's arms where she caught him and ran back to their hiding space. Zap returned to his stance, holding up his fists closer to his face. Syrrus pushed on his red nose, groaning and complaining at the throbbing pain. He looked up, smiling slyly at the returned bug boy.

"Oh, I understand," he spoke with an oily voice. "Seems like some people are a little…busy, here at the habitat."

Zap strengthened his gaze, hoping that the blush growing on his cheeks wasn't seen as a sign of weakness. "Get out of here."

A loud roar was heard, and both the pilot and the villain turned to see the large insects under attack by the crew. Syrrus watched on in horror before staring at Zap.

"You just kept me up here to distract me," Zap's response was a cocked eyebrow, coupled with a smirk. He clenched his fists, quickly transforming in to his insect swarm. "This isn't over!"

He flew away in to the blue sky, trailed by many of his giant insects. Zap let his hands fall, only noticing Jenny walk up beside him afterwards. He turned to her and pulled her in to a hug, feeling Max's tiny grasp try and hold on to both of their necks.

"We're really glad you're back," Zap mumbled to his miniature self, smirking as Max placed his head on his dad's shoulder. Jenny flipped open her wristcom to address Dex.

"We've got him. How is everything on your end?" Dex panted a little as he replied, sharing a smile with his team surrounding him.

"We weren't able to stop him, but we did manage to snag one of his insects," Dex stepped aside to reveal one of the bugs pulling on its tether, with Tung becoming increasingly annoyed when the insect did not move. Dex moved back in to the frame. "I'd like you to come and check it out."

"We'll be right down," Jenny ceased the communication and headed towards the door; Zap's hand placed gently on her back and Max hovering over her other shoulder. "Come on, guys. I think we've had enough excitement for some time."

R&R! I'm trying to avoid author's notes down here.