Chapter Text
Chase has never hated his family than in this moment, trapped under a mountain of snow while running out of oxygen. He usually didn’t like using strong words like hate but in his opinion, it was their fault he was in this situation. All he ever wanted to to was to be considered their equal but the more he grew up and matured the more he realized that no one was ever going to take him seriously. Not even his own dad.
It didn’t take the smartest person in the world to figure that out.
He didn’t even go to Antarctica for his egotistical dad’s titanium. He couldn’t care less what happened with his ice making ray gun. He wanted to prove to his family that even without his siblings that he could finish a mission just as smoothly.
He felt like an idiot waiting for them to rescue him now. He knew what they would tell him. That he should’ve never gone and that he can’t do and shouldn’t do anything on his own. He didn’t care what they thought of him now, he stopped caring after hour two. He was just not looking forward to all the I told you so’s that he was undoubtedly going to get from all of them. He was eagerly awaiting and dreaded the hour where he would finally get out of here.
10 minutes had passed when he heard shoveling from directly above him and was greeted with…Douglas.
Chase groaned. As if he wasn’t already dreading seeing his family already, now came one of the most complicated parts of his life. Could this day get any worse?
Chase followed Douglas back to his sorry looking tent because he really didn’t have any other choice. He wasn’t scared, if Douglas tried anything, he could easily take him.
After about 5 minutes of Douglas pathetically trying to ease the tension between them with bad jokes and culinary skills, Chase decided that he’d be better off waiting in the cold and picked up his jacket.
“I can survive in this suit,” he said stubbornly. “Mr. Davenport made it. It’s meant to withstand temperatures down to 45 below.”
“It’s 50 below,” Douglas replied nonchalantly.
“That explains the frostbite,” Chase said feeling stupid again.
“Why would you ever even want to go back to them?” said Douglas.
Chase looked at him incredulously.
“Because they’re my-“
“Family?”
“Yes,” Chase firmly replied.
“The same family that never gives you the credit you rightfully deserve?”
Chase froze.
“How did you know that? Did you plant more cameras in the lab?”
“No, you guys got rid of all the cameras after Marcus but even then, I could see how you were treated. Mission leader, smartest person in the world, team asset, and yet treated like nothing by your own family. Something disposable that could easily be replaced. And judging by your reaction, I’d say that’s still how they treat you, isn’t it?”
“Even if it is, what do you want? For me to effortlessly go with you so you can turn me into one of your bionic soldiers? And then what? I’d be stuck like a mindless robot that only does what it’s programmed to do. Yeah, no thanks,” said Chase heading towards the opening.
“That’s not what I want,” called out Douglas, stopping Chase in his tracks. “I want to give you a choice. Just hear me out and if you refuse, then you can go do whatever you want and I won’t bother you again.”
Chase turned around, merely curious as to what he could offer him that could possibly make him change his mind. “What is it?”
“You were the third bionic kid. By the time Donny and I got to you, I knew how to build in a capacity for upgrades, but my brother took you away before I could finish.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can make you stronger than Adam and faster than Bree. I can make it so you have all three abilities. I know what it’s like to be unappreciated in your own family. To have a sibling that always steals the spotlight and gets all the praise. So, what do you say? I can make you all that you were meant to be.”
Chase genuinely thought about it. He could outshine his siblings for once. Just like how they have been outshining him for his entire life. He could finally get back at them for calling him weak, pathetic, and useless. He’d rather do it by himself than with Douglas though. He then got an idea.
“What would I have to do?” he asked convincingly feigning interest.
“I just need to get to your lab,” said Douglas. “As you can see I no longer have access to state of the art technology,” he said tapping a wooden plank above him.
“Yeah I suppose I could sneak you into the lab. Mr. Davenport won’t be there. It’s Wednesday which means…something’s getting waxed,” said Chase shuddering at the thought.
“He is hairy,” said Douglas. “He gets it from our mother.”
Chase made a mental note to avoid Grandma Davenport if he could help it.
“Perfect,” said Douglas interrupting his thoughts. “We’ll be in and out before anyone even notices. What do you say Chase?”
“Alright Mr. Davenport. I’ll do it,” said Chase shaking his hand. “And my dad is going to kill me.”
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Chase took Douglas back to the lab and they started working on getting Chase his update. After Douglas told him everything he needed, it was about two minutes before the flash drive was plugged in to the cyber desk and downloading the upgrade.
It was all going smoothly for an hour and a half until his family decided to come back, just like he knew they would, forcing Douglas to hide in a corner.
”Don’t worry guys, there’s still hope. We’ll find him,” muttered Davenport before looking up and seeing his youngest kid glaring back at him. “Chase!”
”Found him,” said Adam cheerfully.
Douglas came out of his hiding place with an evil grin plastered on his face and put an arm around Chase.
Adam, Bree, and Davenport all looked stunned and began talking at once.
”What is he doing here,” demanded Bree
”It’s evil uncle-daddy!” gasped Adam
”Get away from him, Chase,” said Davenport calmly with his eyes fixed on Douglas, filled with fire.
”It’s too late Donny. It’s time to reclaim what is rightfully mine,” said Douglas.
”What?” said Davenport.
“Chase what is going on?” asked Bree.
“Douglas helped me realize something. He showed me how my entire life, all three of you have treated me like I’m nothing. He’s right. I’d be better off with him than continuing with you, where my potential is stifled.”
Leo ran into the lab, setting down the ice ray gun on the cyber desk without seeing Chase and Douglas and started talking nonsense to Davenport about things meaning to happen when you don’t mean them to happen. When he finally stopped talking, Davenport casually pointed to Chase and Douglas and when Leo saw them he shrieked like a girl and ran to Adam, Bree, and Davenport’s side.
”Don’t do it Chase,” said Davenport. “He’s just going to use this to control you. He’s lying to you, I promise.”
”And you’re not?” said Chase coldly. “You act as though you have the cleanest track record but just think of how many lies we’ve found out about this year alone. Who knows what else you’re hiding? You also know that I could be more powerful than both of them,” he said pointing at Adam and Bree. “You’re doing nothing except stifling me and treating me like I’m useless. I’m just going where the power shifts.”
”You’ve gone insane,” said Bree.
“And it’s all your fault,” said Chase.
Just then the flash drive from the cyber desk beeped and Douglas pulled it out.
“I now have the power to give Chase all three bionic abilities, and now no one will be able to stop us!” he said.
“Actually,” Chase chimed in. “They can. That USB drive you’re holding is completely useless.”
”Then what just took an hour and a half to download?” asked Douglas clearly annoyed.
“A list of everything’s Adam ever eaten,” said Chase simply.
“Not my incredible edibles!” said Adam.
Chase mentally facepalmed at the thought of explaining to Adam what edibles are.
“You tricked me,” said Douglas.
“Did you really think I would betray my own family?” said Chase.
“Well it’s always worked for me.”
”Even if you could offer me every ability there is, I would never go to your side. We’re a team and teams never quit on each other.”
”Alright!” said Douglas innocently putting his hands up. “You caught me. What do you say we put all this behind us and get back to the business of healing this family? Bring it in people!” he said holding his arms up for hugs.
“Adam,” said Davenport to Adam as he was about to go hug him.
“Well you know what they say,” said Douglas grabbing a ray gun from behind him, his mood changing completely. “If you can beat ‘em…” he said aiming it at Adam, Bree, Leo, and Davenport.
”Get down!” said Chase to his family before grabbing the ice gun from the cyber desk and aiming it at Douglas, hitting him squarely in the chest 3 times, freezing him in a block of ice.
”Woah,” said Adam. “That was awesome!”
”Mr. Davenport I’m really sorry I know I should’ve warned you about Douglas I just thought that if I could get him back here, then we could trap him for good,” said Chase frantically.
“Great job Chase,” said Davenport patting him on the shoulder. “You make a great double agent.”
“Thank you.”
He has no idea how right he is.