Lab Rats Elite Force - Between bionics and superpowers

Two wannabe doctors

So now I was sitting on the sofa in my strange neighbors' apartment and a strange boy was gently patting the back of my head. I pulled myself together and didn't make a single face, even though I sometimes felt a little pain when he came too close to the wound.

I dared to question whether he was actually a doctor. In any case, I just let him do it.

Instead, I stared at the boy leaning against a wall in front of me with his arms folded, watching the whole process. It was the boy with the fireballs, whose name I had heard was Kaz. He just stood there quietly, watching me and Oliver, while I eyed him suspiciously, as there was no one else here but the two of them. I still didn't know what those fireballs were all about, but I was sure I had seen them. I certainly hadn't imagined it.

"Sooo..." I began slowly and didn't take my eyes off him. "You can breathe fire...?"

He was about to open his mouth when I quickly added: "Don't contradict me. I know what I've seen."

"Have you ever heard of bionic humans?"

Bionic?

I shook my head, which I immediately regretted as Oliver got his cloth right into my wound. I hissed softly and grimaced.

"We have superpowers... Well, we're not superheroes or anything. Not that you'd think that," came from the front again.

Kaz pushed himself away from the wall and walked towards the blue armchair in front of him, only to settle down in it. Meanwhile, behind me, the explanation continued.

"So there's a chip you implant in your neck that gives you certain powers. Super speed and stuff like that."

I raised an eyebrow and would have liked to confront the person behind me with a suspicious look, but the fear of renewed pain prevented me from doing so. So I just looked at Kaz in front of me.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, do you want me to show you?"

Without waiting for my answer, he raised his arm. It was wrapped around a large flame, which he then threw into the brown fireplace with a flick of his wrist, causing it to start burning.

I looked at him in disbelief and remained silent. I didn't know what to say. And I didn't know whether I liked it either.

"Wow, respect. So far, everyone has screamed when they've seen this for the first time."

Kaz was a little too happy about it in my opinion. But Oliver didn't let it go without comment.

"Well, she fainted. I wonder if that's so much better?"

That was a point for him.

"There, that should be enough. The wound is clean and disinfected. I don't think it needs stitches."

Is it that big?

"You're only saying that because it would make you sick again."

I looked at Oliver, who shook his head vigorously. You could see straight away that he was fibbing.

"A doctor with a phobia of syringes?" I looked at him questioningly. That was very unusual.

"We're not really doctors... But we used to work in a hospital, so don't worry about it."

Hmm, I would have been surprised too. These boys weren't much older than me either. It would be very unrealistic if they were real, trained doctors.

I carefully straightened my hair, as Oliver had to push it to one side, and stood up.

"Uhm, thanks for the help, but I think it's better if I go now..."

I hurriedly made my way to the front door again, but this time I wasn't being held back and I was able to stand on both feet.

When I got to the door, I turned around again and saw Oliver getting up from the brown fabric couch.

"No problem." He pulled the corners of his mouth up briefly, which was probably meant to be a quick smile.

I smiled too, opened the door, and fled the apartment. Without saying goodbye properly, I went to the opposite side and opened the door to my new apartment. Only then did I notice my neighbor's apartment door close behind me.

I took one last quick look before disappearing into the apartment and sitting down to get my thoughts in order.

And I concluded that I had to be crazy to believe that. But I couldn't talk my brain out of it either, as I had seen it myself. Several times. I guess it took me a while to process this information.

I was torn from my thoughts when the door opened and my grandfather emerged, smiling directly at me.

"I'm back. Have you explored everything yet?"

I shook my head - gently - and looked up at him. He walked past me to the open kitchen and put down a full bag.

"No, not really. I've gotten to know the neighbors next door."

"Oh, the little troublemakers you mean?"

He laughed.

"Are they that loud?" I asked, a little puzzled.

"Sometimes I'm not sure exactly what those young people are up to over there. But it hasn't bothered me much so far. I haven't slept so soundly since I got older anyway. But I'm glad you've already made some friends. As far as I know, the girls are your age. Maybe you could do something together sometime."

He came towards me with two boxes in each hand.

"Yeah, maybe..."

He held one of these boxes out to me and a couple of wooden chopsticks.

"I hope you like Chinese food?"

Smiling broadly, I nodded and took the box of noodles, only to unwrap and devour them straight away.

"I love it!" I said immediately and ate the box with relish.

"My daughter once mentioned that you like it so much."

He smiled at me a little sadly, which I replied in the same way.

"You miss her, am I right?"

I just nodded.

"Me too."

He smiled gently and began to eat.

I missed her and our home very much, even though she had been dead for a while. But I was ready for this new phase of my life. I was looking forward to trying out new things and being in a big city. It was something new.