Lab Rats: The New Addition

Warriors

Chase and I are unpleasantly awoken the next morning by Adam yelling, "Rise and shine, lovebirds!" I give a loud yelp and Chase frantically starts singing:

Hickory Dickory Dock!
The mouse ran up the clock!
The clock struck one!
The mouse ran down!
Hickory Dickory Dock!

"Well, look what you did," I say to Adam, frustrated. "You got Chase doing his Nursery Rhyme thing again!" Adam just stands and watches, looking stunned, leaving me alone to deal with a mentally and physically damaged Chase. "Tick tock," he screams. "TICK TOCK! TIME IS RUNNING OUT!" "Chase, it's okay," I cry. "We'll all be okay!" I hear footsteps behind me and realize that everyone has come to see what is going on. Tears are running down Chase's cheeks now, but he isn't screaming anymore. He's sobbing. He buries his face in the side of my neck and I pat his back.

"It's okay," I whisper. "It's okay, Chase. You're okay." "Tick, tock," he sobs. "Tick, tock!" I glare at Adam and he looks guilty. He kneels down beside Chase. "Hey, buddy," he whispers. "I'm sorry." Chase gets quieter and quieter. Soon, he is completely silent. "There, there," I say, softly. "It's okay." There is silence, but the silence is broken when the whole house starts to rumble and shake. Chase resumes screaming, "Tick tock! Tick tock!" "What's going on," Leo yells. Chase screams:

The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Climbed up the water spout!
Down came the rain and
Washed the spider out!
In came the darkness
And terrorized the town!
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider
Had got his way again!

I know exactly what this means. Ash is back, and right on schedule. It's one 'o' clock, just like Chase explained to us through Nursery Rhyme. "He's back," I yell over the noise. "Ash is back, and he's coming for us! He has my bionics now, so he's much stronger! We have to prepare to fight!" "Too late," says a distinct, menacing voice. "Ash," I growl. I turn my head to glare at him, hugging Chase closer to me. "Leave us be," I say, sternly. "Never," Ash yells, causing Chase to squeak and cover his ears. I hug Chase tighter and look at Adam, Bree, Leo, Auntie Tasha, Uncle Donny, and Daddy Douglas. "You all watch over Chase," I command. "I'll take care of my father."

I bring them all in for a group hug. "I love you guys," I say, trying not to cry. "And if I don't make it back...I want you to know that...you're the best family that anybody could ever ask for." "Lyrica, no," Bree cries. I break away from the hug and turn to face Chase. I smile at him, taking a very good look at him. This could very well be the last time I see him. Oh, how I love him. I run my fingers through his hair and kiss him firmly on his lips.

Anytime I kiss Chase, it's hard for me to stop, so I have to force myself off of him. I break away, breathless, but he pulls me back for more. As much as I want to continue, I have to face Ash and I have to do it now. I pull away. He tries to kiss me again, but I put my finger to his lips. "I have to go now," I whisper. "No," he cries. He whispers something that isn't in Nursery Rhyme, "Stay." I am crying now. I can't stay, but I want to. "I'm sorry," I whisper. "I can't." "No," he sobs. "My princess! Stay with me, princess!" "I love you, Chase," I say.

I stand up to look at everyone. "I love you all," I say to them. "No," Daddy Douglas says. He gets up and grabs my arm, "I'm not letting you go. You're my adoptive daughter, and it's my job to protect you." I gently slip my arm out of his grip and hug him tightly. "I love you, Dad," I whisper, letting a few tears slip out. "I love you, too, Lyrica, and that's why you can't go," says Daddy. "Please don't go." I just hug him tighter. I turn around and start to run out the door, but someone grabs my arm. I turn my head to see Adam holding my arm. He pulls me in for a bone-crushing hug, and Leo joins it. I am sandwiched in the middle.

"You guys are the best," I cry. "I'm gonna miss you." I squirm out of the hug, only to be trapped in another hug by Bree. "Don't go," she cries. "You're like a sister to me. I can't lose you!" I hug her tightly. "Goodbye, Bree," I whisper. "You've been the best sister a girl could ever have." I escape from her grasp, but I am engulfed in another hug by Auntie Tasha and Uncle Donny. "Lyrica, don't go," says Uncle Donny. "You don't have to do this alone." "We're all here for you," says Auntie Tasha. I hug them back. "I know you are, and I appreciate that," I say. "But this is my fight, and I will fight it, alone." I finally escape from the hug and run out the door without looking back, because if I look back, I'll go back.

I run outside. "Okay, Father," I yell. "I'm here. Let's finish this once and for all!" Lighting strikes the ground and a puff of black smoke appears. It fades away, revealing Ash. "Finally," he shouts. "You're brave enough to show your face!" I crack my knuckles, "I'm ready when you are, Father." He chuckles, "Nothing can prepare you for the defeat that you are about to experience!" "I'm more than prepared," I lie. "I'm ready to kick your butt!" "We'll see about that," he chuckles. "Without your bionics, you're useless! I have my bionics plus yours! Good riddance, dear daughter." I brace myself for impact.

He shoots a fire blast at me. I duck and dodge it. I run toward him, spin around and kick him in the face, doing a tornado kick. He falls on his back and I quickly put my foot on his chest. "Is that all you've got," I challenge. He growls angrily and shoots a purple shock wave at me, sending me flying into the air, screaming. I land on my back, groaning in pain. He stomps over to me and picks me up by my shirt.

"Now, it's time for me to finish you," he says, menacingly. I mentally prepare to die, saying my will in my head as my father makes an electric fireball in his hand. I brace myself for death, but just as I think that I am going to die, I see a flash of the color hazel and I'm free. I look to my right to see Chase pinning my father down, practically beating the life out of him, with his bionics and his plain physical strength! "You monster," he screams. "You mess with her, you mess with me!" I suddenly realize that he isn't speaking in Nursery Rhyme or riddle anymore, and it doesn't look at all like he is in pain! He just looks angry. Really angry.

I look to my left to see Adam, Bree, Leo, Auntie, Uncle, Daddy, and the students all watching the fight. I see Daddy holding up a bottle of white liquid. That must be medicine! Chase is cured! After a few moments of watching Chase beat the tar out of Ash, Chase stands up and holds up something very tiny, also revealing his bloody knuckles. I immediately recognize what Chase is holding. It is my bionic chip! He got it back! I run toward him. "Chase," I screech. He turns to face me just as I jump on him, wrapping my legs around his waist and hugging him tightly.

He hugs me back and buries his face in my hair. "Hey, Princess," he whispers. I can feel him smiling. I start crying and laughing at the same time. "God, I love you," I sob. "I love you so much!"