Part Four

The old bakery turned superhero lair was well-lit and well-ventilated these days. However, there were times when this pleasant environment did not suit the psychological atmosphere of the inhabitants. This was definitely the case when Blue Impact left her private corner, under the stairs, and came into the main part of the largest room of the structure. The other two members of Tricorne were sitting in the entertainment area, not watching TV.

"There is a lot of criticism of the super handling of that airliner explosion, yesterday," said Blue Impact, without preamble.

"Yeah," said Gadgetive, her tone full of scorn. "Let's see them fly up and catch a falling plane."

"Most of it involves what happened after the pieces of the plane were on the ground," said Blue Impact, a trace of anger in her voice. "Most of it. A few people are claiming that the quick response was due to supers causing the accident in the first place. That they were waiting to 'come to the rescue.' Of course, some of the same people making that accusation were earlier claiming that the supers 'took their sweet time' getting to the accident."

"So they switched after someone pointed out how quickly I go there?" said Energia. She sighed and shook her head.

"Pretty much," said Blue Impact, dryly. "Except that some didn't switch, and are still claiming both."

"So what are the other complaints?" said Gadgetive, who had only recently - and reluctantly - accepted that some humans could hold multiple, contradictory beliefs at one time.

"One of the more absurd is from the groundskeeper of the baseball field. He says the supers who put the plane parts there ruined the facility, when they could have just as easily put them somewhere else. He's notably vague about where 'somewhere else' is."

"Even though that's where we were told to put the wreckage by someone official," said Energia.

"I didn't say any of the complaints were reasonable," said Blue Impact. She put a gloved hand on the younger super's shoulder. "Don't worry too much about these. Most will fade away on their own. The rest we can worry about later."

* * *

Others were also concerned with the situation.

"Okay, this meeting is to discuss the aftermath of the airliner explosion," said Brade, at the meeting in the conference room at the headquarters of the Bureau of Special Resources that same afternoon. "Just as a reminder, nobody here should take sides or make comments based on the political affiliation of the person they're responding to. The informal agreement between the bulk of the masks community and governments in areas where they are able to operate includes the understanding that we will stay out of and away from politics."

She followed this announcement with a review of the situation. Then Brade yielded the floor to a series of experts who each covered some aspect of the passenger airliner tragedy in more detail. The Brade again took the floor to reveal some late-arriving information.

"We got lucky," said Brade. She winced. "A lot luckier than the passengers on the flight, anyway. A documentary crew getting some background footage was on a boat, taking high-definition video of planes taking off from Idlewild. They got this."

The large screen at her end of the briefing room lit, and began showing what Brade had described. There was no sound, but the video was excellent. The recording had obviously been made with professional equipment. Not only was it clear and sharp, it was stabilized. As the plane climbed a glowing figure could be seen approaching.

"Nukula, the Atomic Housewife," said Doro, startled. She gave her head a quick shake. "Or, more likely, an android of her, since she was confirmed dead years ago. Probably made by the same person or persons who left that fake Afterglow in the crater on the administration island at the illegal combat facility."

"That's the opinion of our experts," said Brade, nodding. "That the Afterglow android was a test unit, put there not only to deceive us but to see how well their technology could deal with hard radiation. Which instruments in the area say the object in this video was giving off."

The figure raised its hands and a beam shot out, striking the tail. It then flew off as the plane - no longer under control - suddenly angled abruptly upwards, slowing and breaking apart as aerodynamic forces tore the wings off.

"I think we know the rest," said Doro, feeling both sick and tired. Taking the hint, Brade stopped the playback. "Only, why?"

"There was an important senator aboard," said Brade. "With his entire entourage. Someone campaigning for a thorough investigation of the super fighting organization which was recently raided. Fortunately, thanks to the quick action by Energia and other supers he and his staff - all seated well forward in First Class - survived."

"Surely that will only increase the attention brought to the organization and those behind it!" said someone else at the meeting.

"In a rational world, yes," said Brade. "In ours?"

She gave an exaggerated shrug.

* * *

The Roy's parents reviewed the results of his powers test that Sunday. The evaluators had determined that they boy had Mental Domination, Energy Control, and Transmutation. There was no explanation of his physical superiority, except to say that Randy's previous guess about him being non-physically super but well-trained was probably correct.

"That's a strange mix," said Karen.

"They all count as mental powers, though," said Randy. "I'm just relieved he didn't get Mastermind."

"Yeah, but Domination? We'll have to be very careful."

"Fortunately, he's already going to school on the island," said Randy, looking confident in spite of his wife's concern. "They watch closely and specifically for kids abusing powers like that one."

"So, do we tell him, or..."

"We tell him," said Randy, firmly. "That way, when he figures out how to use those powers, he already knows that we know."

* * *

Telling Roy about his powers didn't have the impact his parents thought it would. His response was basically "Okay." However, there was a presentation Karen and Randy made a few days later which did have a strong emotional impact for him. The two adults called him into their shared home office; with Sarah trailing along, puzzled at the activity. Randy closed the door once the four of them were in the windowless room, and Roy's mother took a padded envelope from the top left drawer of one of the pair of desks.

"We don't have a full costume for you - getting one depends on several circumstances, including whether you actually want to be an active costumed adventurer - but we did get you this."

Karen poured the contents of the mailer out into Roy's hands.

"Whoah..." said Roy, wide-eyed, staring at the padded stack of disposable, generic masks he now held.

"Don't put one on unless you mean it," said Karen, seriously. "However, if you do need to use your powers, one of these can protect you, as well as the rest of the family. Also, remember that this, alone, will not keep people from recognizing you. You have to become a different person. Develop a different way of speaking, different mannerisms, until it's not an act, but an alternate way of behaving. You'll have to practice."

"I hate practice," said Roy, in an irritated mutter.

"Then throw that away, now," said his mother.

He dithered, but in the end kept the masks.

"Remember, these powers are not something you can show off," said Randy.

"I want super powers!" yelled Sarah, breaking the mood.

"I thought you wanted to be Princess Sparkla," said her mom, with a tolerant smile.

"I want super powers, too!" yelled Sarah.

"You'll probably get them," said Randy. "In fact, if you get them you'll likely get them earlier than Roy did, since girls mature faster."

"Yay!!!"

For the rest of the day her parents had to deal with a preteen girl running wildly around, deliriously happy.

"At least she's not jumping off things, trying to fly," said Randy, though only when he was certain Sarah couldn't hear him.

* * *

The following Monday was one of those rare days when Vic was already home when Michelle got back to their apartment. They went through their usual greeting ritual, culminating in hugging and kissing for a considerable amount of time. Then Michelle went into their bedroom to change out of her work clothes. Which smelled rather strongly of hair and hair care products, as well as carrying a slight singed odor from some of the hot hair curling tools. Michelle came back out to find her wife busy watching local news. Except that Vic wasn't actually paying attention to the program. Michelle had already noticed that Vic seemed preoccupied with something. She had a good idea of what was bothering her spouse and decided to broach the subject.

"You're home early," said Michelle, casually.

"Yeah. Boss suggested it, rather strongly, after some stressful events at the office this afternoon."

"Legal stuff involved?"

Vic made noncommittal noises. Giving up on being subtle, Michelle hit the problem head-on.

"I hear you're being sued over an arrest you made," said Michelle.

Vic gave a huge, much-put-upon sigh, and used the remote to mute the TV. She turned to look at Michelle.

"Actually, no. I helped the city arrested a young man with powers," said Vic, sounding tired. "Now his parents are accusing me, personally, of being prejudiced against them because they're rich."

"Wait, what?!"

"It's related to affluenza," said Vic, sourly. "They're rich - old money - and they have the attitude that anyone who tries to claim that any member of their family is at fault at anything is a hater, who likely hates them because they're rich."

"Is this guy actually guilty?"

"Oh, Hell, yeah. Well and thoroughly documented guilty. As well as proven dangerous. Otherwise the Bureau wouldn't have been involved with the arrest."

"So their actions against you probably won't go to court."

"They're not trying for a trial. There isn't any lawsuit, despite them threatening one. They haven't even filed any charges against me. They're expecting support from the court of public opinion. Which is already firmly against them. Unfortunately, they're also letting their Congressional representatives know about my 'overreach.' So there could still be repercussions."

"Ow... Well, you knew the job would be dangerous when you took it."

She slid onto the couch beside her wife and cuddled in close.

"Just like I did, when I married you. So don't worry about me. If those idiots cause trouble, deal with it. I'll help where and when I can. Remember the money I was left by one of my customers. It's put safely away in case of emergency. You needing legal help or losing your job both count."

"Thank you," said Vic, kissing Michelle on the top of her head. "Your support means a lot."

She suddenly chuckled.

"Drake says this makes it all the more important that I get out of town for a while. I think he really wants us to go and teach T.O.W.E.R. how we do things in the Bureau."

"Then let's go, and soon," said Michelle. "I'm actually looking forward to the trip!"

* * *

"All set," said Vic, with a satisfied smile, to her boss, a couple of days later. "We've had our shots - even though I don't need 'em - and we have our passports and our flight reservations. We've let the apartment building manager know we'll be out of town for a couple of weeks, and there's no pets to feed or plants to water. We've even arranged to take a shuttle to the airport, tomorrow. So we don't have to pay for parking."

"Good," said Drake. "Can you get a ride home, this afternoon?"

"Sure."

"Leave your car here and your keys with me, then," said Drake. "I'll make sure those improvements we've been discussing are made while you're gone. Including the installation of that pusher rack."

"Bar," said Vic, as she took the car keys off her keyring. "I know it looks like a rack, but it's called a bar. Also known as a bull bar and a lot of other things, but always a bar. A grill guard is similar but is primarily intended to protect the front of the car; not to push things."

"Which is more than I wanted to know about the topic," said Drake, dryly. "Now, get out of here. Go, enjoy yourself, while teaching others."

"That is one order I will gladly follow," said Vic, already heading for the door.

* * *

"On top of everything else," said Dr. Halvargardsen, the Pine Island geologist, at yet another school council meeting, "there's an eruption of La Soufrière volcano, on Saint Vincent island in the Grenadines."

"Is that eruption part of the disturbance we found in the trench?" said Eve, obviously concerned.

"No," said Dr. Halvargardsen, flatly. "Oh, everything is connected if you look far enough. However, any connection between and eruption and the ongoing disturbance in the trench is indirect in both time and space."

"So what's the worry?"

"There probably isn't one. However, it could affect air traffic in the region. It might even blow ash over Pine Island. Just a heads up."