AmERICA

HAWKINS STARCOURT MALL

  Dylan was once again in the back of Scoops Ahoy sitting at the snack table messing around with the hair tie on his wrist.

"That keycard opens the door, but unfortunately, the Russian with this keycard also has a massive gun." Dustin explained what he had seen up on the roof as he went alone to find more evidence "whatever's in this room, whatever's in these boxes, they really don't want anybody finding it."

"But there got to be a way in." Robin said

Steve blew his hat to extend it before leaning in closer to Dylan and Robin. "Well you know I can always just sneak up and.....take him out."

"Take who out?" Robin asked sarcastically

"The Russian guard." Steve shrugged

Dylan sighed "guys, I can just use-"

Steve and Dustin quickly started to shush him their eyes widening as Robin and Dylan looked at them confused, then Dylan realized Robin didn't know about his powers.

"J-just.....um...use karate, I took a karate class......." Dylan awkwardly saved himself

"Okay, did you both not hear the part about the massive gun?" Robin asked the Harrington brothers

"Yes I did, and that's why me and Dylan would be, sneaking." Steve said using his fingers to demonstrate

"Okay tell me, and please be honest, I know Dylan has. But have you ever actually won a fight?" Dustin asked Steve

Dylan smirked at the compliment and Steve glared at him and Dustin in annoyance."Okay, that was one-"

"Two! Jonathan, the year prior." Dustin interrupted.

"Listen, that doesn't count." Steve said

"Why not? Because it looked like he beat the shit out of you. Remember his face Dustin? He had like a big black eye and his face was all fucked up." Dylan said as Dustin chuckled agreeing

"Yea you had a swollen eye, crooked nose, a lot of blood...." Dustin added

Robin looked around the room thinking about Steve all beat up, when she saw the vents....the vents! Of course.

"That just might work.." Robin mumbled as she stood up for her chair

She quickly grabbed her bag rushing out of the room, Dylan, Steve, and Dustin followed as they watched her take all the tips and run out of the ice cream shop.

"Robin? Hey Robin! What are you doing?" Steve yelled

"I need cash." Robin replied

"Well, half of that is mine." Steve complained "where are you going?"

"To find us a way into that room, a safe way. And in the meantime, sling ice cream, behave, and don't get beat up. I'll be back in a jiffy!" Robin yelled as she ran away.

Steve, Dustin, and Dylan were left as they stood behind the counter. Dustin started to lick ice cream off of a scooper to which Steve noticed and snatched it back

"Oh, dude. Come on man, not my scooper." Steve said as Dylan disgustingly looked at his brother who just hooked it right back to his pants not washing it.

_______________________________

013 hit the ground harshly, the burning sensation on his cheek not unfamiliar. Dr. Brenner stood in front of him wiping his hand on his pants like he had just touched dirt.

The man then crouched down next to the boy as he lifted him up, grasping the sides of 013's face harshly.

"Why, why, why.......why did you do it?" Dr Brenner asked the smell of liquor lingering on his tongue.

"D-did what....?" 013 mumbled.

Dr. Brenner looked the boy in his eyes, before he gently grasped him into a hug, 013's face resting on his shoulder as his body was crumpled and un comfy.

"Linda.....I'm so sorry Linda ." Dr Brenner cried as 013 could feel the man's tears fall down his back.

013 didn't make an attempt to move away, as these moments were the only time he could feel warmth, love, even if they weren't meant for him.

Dr Brenner then pushed the boy away as he stood up walking out of the room closing the door as it echoed.

013 lied in the cold wrapping his arms around himself just to feel that warmth again, to feel anything again.

_______________________________

Dylan was quickly awaken at the feeling of Steve calling his name, he lifted his head up rubbing his eyes seeing himself still sat at the scoops ahoy table, he started to get sick of the room. He rubbed his cheek with slight burning sensation, nothing out of the ordinary though. He just thought it was the position he slept in. 

"Hey look what Robin got." Steve said as Dylan looked ahead seeing a blueprint laid out.

"Oh shit, what's that?" Dylan asked

"STARCOURT mall, the complete blueprints." Robin stated

"Cool." Dylan said a he stood up observing it

"So this is us scoops, and, this is where we want to get." Robin pointed at two locations

"I mean, I don't really see a way in." Steve said

"There's not, if! We're talking exclusively about doors." Robin took the top layer off revealing another blueprint

"Air ducts." Dylan whispered as he saw them leading to every location.

"Exactly! Turns out, this secret room needs air just like any old room. And these air ducts..............lead all the way........here." Robin marked a path with a red dry erase marker.

The four looked at the air duct in the room, all preparing themselves. Shits about to get serious.

_______________________________

Steve had unscrewed the duct, as he took it off the wall, the screwdriver in his mouth "Fwaswight." Steve said "fankwew." Steve grabbed the flashlight in Dustin's hand taking the screwdriver out of his mouth and throwing it to Dylan

"Yea I don't know, man. I don't think either of you can fit in here. It's like.....super tight." Steve said

"I'll fit." Dustin stated as Dylan backed up not complaining "Trust me, no collarbones, remember?"

"Um excuse me?" Robin questioned

"Oh, he's um......Yeah got some disease. It's Chry....uh it's chrydo, um....." Steve stuttered

"Cleidocranial dysplasia." Dylan said

"Right! Yea he has like missing bones and stuff, he can bend like gumbo." Steve said

"Gumby." Dylan corrected him again

"Um, I'm pretty sure it's Gumbo." Steve chuckled

"And I'm pretty sure you're a dumbass, it's Gumby." Dylan replied as he turned around to see how Dustin was doing

Steve looked at Robin with a smile, mouthing the words *its Gumbo* and *I'm right*

"shut up and push me!" Dustin yelled as his whole upper body was in the vent.

Dylan paused before he grabbed Dustin's feet lifting them and pushing.

"Not my feet, dude. Push my ass." Dustin said as Dylan let go of his feet quickly pushing Steve forward

"Yea Steve, push his ass." Dylan said as he stood by Robin

"What?" Steve asked

"Touch my butt! I don't care!" Dustin yelled

Steve had stepped on the ladder as he pushed Dustin as hard as he could, the boy not budging one bit

"Come on!"

"I'm pushing!"

"Push harder! Harder!"

"I'm pushing as hard as I can!"

The two men argued back and forth. Dylan couldn't hide how funny he found the situation as he wiped away his tears.

The two continued to try and push Dustin in the vent, as Dustin's legs were now on Steve's shoulders as Steve tried to shove him in. Dylan was now on the floor holding his stomach, he could barely breathe.

Robin saw the state of Dylan as she chuckled before turning around to see who was ringing the bell.

Erica Sinclair.

________________________________

Erica Sinclair shines their flashlight through the air duct, observing it before she plopped back down on the ground.

The four faced her as they leaned on the counter

"Yeah, I don't know." She mustered

"You don't know if you can fit?" Dustin asked

"Oh, I can fit. I just don't know if I want to." Erica sassily replied

"Are you claustrophobic?" Robin asked

Erica snickered "I don't have phobias."

"Okay, well, what's the problem?" Steve asked crossing his arms

"The problem is, I still haven't heard what's in this. For. Erica." The girl said

_______________________________

Dylan stayed in the back as, Robin, Steve, and Dustin were out front bribing the young girl with every dessert on the menu.

The boy observed the blue prints, seeing the way that secret room lead to almost every store, he wondered if that was a coincidence. Or if maybe the mall was built for another reason something worse than just "weapons."

Dylan checked his watch seeing a good amount of time had passed and the group still didn't bring Erica in, meaning she still didn't want to do it.

Dylan walked out of the room seeing the three tired and out of ideas as the young girl sipped on her milkshake. He walked over and sat in front of Erica pushing Steve and Dustin out of the way

"So, Erica, are you gonna do it?" Dylan asked

"Do what?" Erica said as she smacked her lips

Dylan could hear Steve sigh a he leaned to Dylan's ear "she's not gonna do it! I say we just get some other kid!"

"You think I want Lucas's Sister in danger like this! No! But she's better than some random kid!" Dylan bit back as he turned to look at Erica

"Look Erica, you're a smart person, and we need someone smart to help us, I mean look at us." Dylan chuckled, hoping Erica would take sympathetic views on them and climb in the damn vent.

"Oh I'm looking at you alright." Erica replied with a smile, as Dylan felt grossed out again looking at his friends young sister

"Uhh, yea, umm.......so...don't do this for them." Dylan slightly whispered using her silly crush on him against her. "Do it, for me." Dylan said as he silently wished his head would explode

Erica paused as she looked at him "Alright...fine."

The four jumped up in excitement

"On one condition!" Erica stopped them"Free ice cream, for life!"

"Hold on-" Robin started before Dylan cut him off

"Yea! Of course! Robin and Steve will forever give up as many floats and sundaes as you wish." Dylan said as Dustin agreed

Erica then grabbed a milkshake before walking to the back of Scoops ahoy.

"That's how the Harringtons do it!" Steve said as he lifted his hand up awaiting a high five from Dylan

Steve awkwardly kept his hand up looking at his younger brother with a grin as Dylan just looked at him before walking away.

Steve gave himself a high five as he followed his brother in the back along with Robin and Dustin

________________________________

Hours had passed as it soon turned night, and the mall closed. Robin, Steve, Dustin, and Dylan all scouted up on the roof as they kept a watch to the entrance.

Robin was in touch with Erica as she was still in scoops ahoy about to climb into the air duct.

"Erica do you copy?" Robin asked

"Hmm-hmm I copy." Erica replied "you nerds in position or what?"

"Yea we're in position. It's all quiet here, so you've got the green light." Robin said

"Green light, Roger that. Commence Operation Child Endangerment." Erica said as the group could hear the girls as she climbed up the ladders

"Can we maybe not call it that?" Robin sighed

"See you on the other side nerds." Erica finished

Dylan couldn't help but worry, he needed to make sure that Erica didn't get hurt at all. A single scratch and he could already hear Lucas yelling at him.

He listened closely and scoped the area to make sure there were no armed men, and he hoped to everything he loved nothing went wrong.

________________________________

Time passed as the groups anxiously awaited anything to be said through the super comm, Dylan started to think of all the worst possibilities, until Erica finally spoke

"All right, nerds. I'm there." Erica said

"D-do you see anything?" Dylan asked as he finally started to breathe

"Yeah, I see those boring boxes you're so excited about." Erica replied

"Any guards?" Robin asked

"Negative." Erica responded "Booby traps?" Robin jokingly asked

"If I could see them, they'd be pretty shit traps, wouldn't they?" Erica sarcastically replied

"Thank you for that." Robin said

Dylan could hear Erica grunt and the sound of metal clash.

"I'm in." Erica stated

"Oh god." Steve sighed in anticipation, stress, and relief

The garage then slowly opened as Dylan saw the girl in colorful attire walk out, as she rested on her hip

"Free ice cream, For! Life!" Erica yelled sealing their deal.

the four smiled at each other before jumping up and walking down.

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They all stood around a Chinese food box, Steve cut it open with a box cutter as he tossed it aside opening the box.

Inside was a metal box with a latch on top, Steve hesitantly grabbed it unlocking it as he gently took the top off, a cold mist surrounded it, four compartments were inside each having a handle to grab.

"That's definitely not Chinese food." Steve muttered

Steve placed the lid on a box before he grabbed a handle, he was about to lift it before he stopped

"What's wrong?" Dylan asked

"Maybe you guys should stand back." Steve said as Robin stepped back pulling Erica with her

Dustin stayed put next to Steve, Dylan in front of them.

"No." Dustin stated

"Just step back. Okay?" Steve said as he tried to push Dustin away

"No!" Dustin repeated

"Step back, seriously." Steve said

"No! NO!" Dustin yelled as they all got quiet

"If you die, I die." Dustin said as Steve looked at him before shrugging

"Okay?" Steve said

Dylan rolled his eyes at the stupidity of Dustin putting himself in danger to be with Steve, yet Dylan himself didn't even try and step back...

Steve lifted the hatch, as a case emerged, it had hard glass and metal surrounding it as a green bubbly radioactive liquid was inside.

"What the hell is that?" Dylan asked as he leaned closer to it.

Then the whole garage started to shake, and rumple as Erica scarily looked around

"Was that just me, or did the room move?" Dustin asked

"Booby, traps." The young girl whispered

The mechanical wiring started to echo through the room as Dylan looked around, he didn't think this was a garage anymore

"You know what? let's just grab that and go." Robin said as she grabbed the strange liquid

Steve put the lid back on and closed the box as Dustin went over to the controls trying to press every button in hopes one would successfully open.

Steve joined him as the two argued on which button to push as it seemed they all didn't work.

"Move. Move!" Dylan yelled as Steve and Dustin moved out of his way.

Dylan walked over to the door as he attempted to grab at the line seeing if he could open it. He started to see progress until a big red, heavy metal slide fell over the door

In a flash of lightning Dylan caught it in his hands as he tried his best to keep it up.

"Steve! Push the metal doors see if you can open them!" Dylan yelled, his hands tightly clasp over the red slide continuously pushing it upwards as gravity was taking it

Steve ran over as he tried to open the metal doors by hand like Dylan had, but to no avail, this door could not just be open by any man, Dylan needed to do it but he was occupied with something else.

It was one thing to show his super strength but to show his telekinesis. In Dylan's head it was like a death trap for Robin and Erica.

Robin and Erica confusingly looked at a young 13 year old boy holding a heavy metal door in his hands like it was almost nothing. Seemed impossible

The whole room started to violently shake as Steve moved out of the way, and Dylan let go, the slide coming down fast and hard blocking the entrance and their exit.

"Shit!" Dylan cursed

The whole room then collapsed, the feeling of falling on a rollercoaster coursed through their bodies as they held on to the first thing they could latch on.

Dylan realized they weren't in a garage but a storage elevator, an elevator that was falling.

He looked to see, Robin and Erica were holding on to boxes for dear life as their attention wasn't on him anymore, he felt the pressure in his body and hands as he tried to slow the elevator down, he wished in the moment he had his sister El, she could have completely stopped this.

"OH MY GOD! WERE GONNA DIE!" Erica screamed

Robin, Erica, Dustin, and Steve were all screaming.

"PRESS THE BUTTON!" Robin screamed at Dustin

"IM TRYING!" Dustin screamed back his face red

"DYLAN DO SOMETHING!" Both Steve and Dustin yelled

"WHAT DO YOU THINK IM DOING!?" Dylan yelled as he pushed himself harder. 

Dylan could feel his energy draining at the second. He knew there would still be a bit of whiplash but hopefully nothing more than a scratch.

As he felt blood dripping down his nose, the room jerked and he felt a bit of pain in his leg as the elevator stopped. Steve had boxes fall on him, as they all were a bit dazed and slightly in pain

But they survived.