Lawnmower Boy

Oh good!  I thought I'd missed the 5:15 lab to downtown.

BCR's rehabbing her and there's currently another one they got called Autumn who's in their quarantine room.  Usually, when the rescue bobkitten clears quarantine, they then pair 'em together.  Pretty sure she'll be getting a playmate soon!

There were also some tools at the store, and I put them to good use. I'm training for Civil Engineering at college, which if you know anything about engineering, means I am not some Star Trek engineer like in TV who always seem like they build or adjust anything. Fortunately, even outside of official academia, I had been given a few lessons by Mabel, who was herself a machine, and Lady Obsidian who actually is closer to a 'she can do it all' type of Engineer as well as a brilliant scientist. Heck, even some of the things my dad taught me about car mechanics came in a bit handy, though I tried (and failed) not to think of my dad.
 
Mister Martinez insisted on helping a little, and gave his word that he wouldn't betray any trusts. Frankly I'm not sure he learned enough to have the chance even if he wanted to, but he had skill. Between the two of us, we got things done. Well, we got stage one of things done.
 
The way I saw it, the cameras were the key and now was my chance to make them work for me. Not the Miscreant cameras, though I felt a bit guilty for not expanding my plan so I could help the team. But rather the cameras I suspected were set up by Ophiotaurus. This could be touch and go. Weight, balance, placement, all important; but of course, the big rule was don't get caught doing this.  
 
Ophiotaurus was hiring folks to humble the gods. I'd been compared to a god before, or more accurately, told I was playing god. Hell, if my growing suspicion was right, I owed Pinprick a beer  or five for figuring out things years ago. But I had a lot of angles to cover, and couldn't leap to conclusions even if the few pieces I had made perfect sense to me. But first, I had to make sure I caught one of his cameras before the Miscreants were defeated and the reasons for the camera withdrew. 
This might boil down as much on dumb luck as focus and planning.

The one place I was pretty sure there'd be one of the cameras I needed, would be Channel 3. Did I trust the rookies to rescue the hostages without needing me? Hell, I was about to use them as a distraction. This wasn't exactly proper. I took time to slip back in the base and change ouffits. Instead of my trademarked Eel costume, I had switched into a gray leotard with mask.  It was a weak means to hide both super and secret identity but anything that reduced signs I was still on the hunt worked for me.
 
Bramble was here, but I avoided her location, and knew OUR Camera placements enough  to do so. I even did a double check to make sure I avoided any hanging ferns.
 
If it seemed like my plans were sloppy and disjointed, that's because they were. I had about three paths to take, and I still wasn't sure I was taking the right one first. I knew one thing, I didn't trust myself to hold back. Not yet. Not while my emotions were still a jumble once I was in combat.
I'm not a killer, but some part of me really wanted to make an excuse if I caught Ophiotaurus, especially if he was responsible for my father paying for my choices. Coincidences runs rampant in the superworld,  but that doesn't mean I have to trust them.
 
"What the hell am I doing?" I muttered aloud to myself.
 
"As your friend, with some expectations formed due to past shared experiences, I'd say you were about to do something noble but foolish," The voice was not quite human. Then, neither was Mayo. The mystic sea dweller who was as pale as snow and blinded so he had to see by auras rather than light had met me in a dream at first. He was a reluctant soldier for a foul force who ended up  as one of the best allies I ever dreamed of. And one of my wisest friends. 
I saw him and I felt a surge of relief amid the inner turmoil, I felt hope not for my mission, but for me, and I felt very, very glad he was here.
 
So naturally, my first words to him personally were "Mayo? What the hell are you doing here?" I gaped at him. While a soldier turned mystic, he actually looked a bit like a superhero, in that over his pale flesh, at least in parts, was a navy blue costume but with runic stitching of silver along the sleeves and leggings. He also had a water filled glass mask over his nose and mouth, much more advanced than most diving equipment, and, of course, pumping water into his lungs.
 
"The currents of destiny as ever pull at you, Caleb of the Surface world," He intoned, and put a hand on my shoulder gazing with his unseeing eyes into my own, "once more, greater powers than either of us draw us together so I may advise you in this, your most difficult hour. Such is the way of magic."
I gave him a long look, then said "You realize that sounds like a load of crap right? I mean, a really huge load. I think I've faced one mystic threat recently and beyond that, not much. If destiny is calling, I think it has the wrong number."
A tilt of his head, "Fine, would you believe Ariana sent me a few messages letting me know you could use a 'guy friend since both of you were without your usual support. She feared you were missing them as much as she missed her confidants and pestered me repeatedly. I thought of, what's the term? Ghosting her?"
I winced "Oh she'd hate that, and possibly make you pay."
"I told you before I'm not a hero, Caleb," He smiled with gentleness, "Nor am I recklessly brave. I don't want on her bad side. Besides, you are my friend, and your aura is blazing with pain. You need someone to talk to."
 
"I need to keep moving or I'll curl up and quit for real," I told him, pretty sure that if I had even one beer in me right now I'd break down and cry on his shoulder, "And you could have just told me Ariana had sent for you instead of the greater powers cover story."
"You love her. She loves you. We both care for you. That is a greater power, my friend," He nodded, "So you see, what  What I told you told you was true, from a certain point of-"
I held up my hand, and he stopped. I'm not sure how auras told him I had made that gesture but he picked it up anyway as I said, "Don't do that. I don't no how, but they'll find out, and they'll sue." 
"Don't do what? And who are you talking of," For the first time he seemed perplexed.
 
"Nevermind, I don't know what I'm doing.  I just know that I nearly killed a man  and... my dad  he.... I need to stay busy," I actually felt my eyes threatening to grow wet. Maybe i should have used the damned therapist, because I was starting to think the beer count didn't matter, "I can't talk to Ariana about it , now when they need at least one functioning leader. She'll try to save me while doing it all and.... I won't do that to her. To them. Sorry, I'm feeling weak now."
"The passions you are struggling with are not weak, Eel," The mystic shook his head, "I know your cultural upbringing has you cautious about opening up, but you might as well with me. I wasn't lying about your aura. TALK to me my friend. While we move, if you insist, but talk. My mystic senses already see the tears, they just haven't left your eyes yet."
"Well," I choked a bit, "That's just rude."
And then? I told him.
Did I mention I really don't like mystic stuff?
****

 

In the original TV series they were space Russians Commies and the Romulans were space Chinese Commies.
Then came the ST: the Motion Picture and they became Space Orks. 

They already do.

    I’ve seen that light come on before....it means “Abandon Car!!!!”

Sorry, I forgot to provide feedback Sunday and yesterday. 
 
I like the edits; they covered things nicely.  
 
Things are moving along nicely.  Strangely for a superhero story, I like the behind-the-action stuff as much as, if not more than, I like the action scenes.  I think it's because what I like most in my books and movies are the characters.  (I may have said this before; if so, I apologize.) I'll forgive plot holes, bad dialogue, and cheesy special effects (and to be clear, I'm not saying any of those apply here) if I like the characters and how they interact and develop.  And I think what makes the FishGuyVerse so worth reading is the characters.
 
These most recent parts carried that along quite well, IMO.  I liked the inappropriate "demographics debate", for example, as it made the characters involved seem more human, more real than just 2-D comic book renderings.
 
Loved the "He tried to kill Lenny!" - it gave me a South Park flashback.  ("They killed Kenny!")  In my head, ElectricGuy will always sound like Kyle.  Not sure that's what you were going for, but it worked for me. 
 
I'll confess, I was temporarily unsure who the Miscreants were when they were first mentioned.  Since they were introduced in a prior "book" I'd suggest a very brief bit from Viewpoint or Valerosa reminding the rookies who the bad guys are - even just a sentence about them being all about the social media would suffice.  After all, you have no guarantee someone reading Adventures of Fish Guy Part Three has already read Part Two.
 
Other than that, no real suggestions.  Well done, Hermit.  Looking forward to the next installment(s).
 

As I changed into my costume for what felt like the millionth time, there was a vague awareness that I was supposed to be preparing for something important; something big and in the now. But I couldn't quite shake myself from hearing mom's last sentence in my head and dwelling on my past choices.
 
"Your father he's got Cancer."
 
It was a good thing Ariana was driving the flying vehicle we brought in case. She was saying something, I really didn't hear the words, just the tone of concern and a vague sense she was trying to get me to focus on what was to come.
 
But was we did, what we chose, that led to the fact my farther was going to die and I could no longer save him. I could have before, but my arrogance at thinking I had the right to decide for everyone, for humanity, now meant that wasn't the case. Of course, if the logic centers of my brain were engaged I might have pointed out it wasn't just me. I was one voice, one vote, among the New Samaritans. 
 
My dad didn't get a vote though, did he? It was all a mixed up collage of events. Aliens, aliens who offered you any tech you wanted, for a price. Of course, one doesn't give barbarians on a mudhole planet the good stuff and one certainly doesn't worry about things like side effects, environmental damage, or genocide. But they had the cure for Cancer for real.  That's the good aliens, the space angels with holier than thou attitudes pointed out the price of what was meant to be a cure turned into genetic regulation and narrowing. We fought them for it, we didn't expect them to be willing to die for it.  They won because we weren't willing to kill them all and because they swayed us Earth wasn't ready for the ability to cull not just cancer but the undesirables as defined by whoever cracked the cure's code first.
 
I was the one who proposed the bargain though. The one who narrowed down the use of the cure to one hospital. In order to stop a nemesis of mine I could never defeat on my own. I created the illusion of leverage and won the day by rigging the game.
 
Wasn't I so clever?
 
I won. Everyone else with Cancer on Earth outside of that one location lost.
 
Now dad had it.
I believe in God. I believe there's an afterlife. My own personal philosophy is Justice doesn't exist in this world unless people find the courage and wisdom to work at it really hard. It will be found in the next. Not all my friends agree with me, and that's okay. But it was hard at that moment not to think that Karma, if not God himself, was bringing down the hammer on me and my family for my overstep, for my arrogance, for my selfish attitude in denying untold numbers the cure they needed, whatever my excuses, my father would also be denied. His heaven still awaited, but he'd be getting it to it sooner, leaving mom alone early.
 
I couldn't even bring myself to pray. I stared out the window of the flying car we were in, and wondered why dad? Why not just give it to me? I was far more responsible for this than dad was. Dad was an innocent? We still needed him, wanted him around? Or did I? I saw his visit to MY city as a hassle, an obligation? Maybe this was also a lesson in that if I didn't see the value in a good man, God would have him over at his table without complaining?
I became a superhero to save lives, now I was helpless, and maybe it was because I had bargained for human lives like I was at a flea market haggle. Maybe maybe maybe...
 
Then soft lips were pressing against mine, it was a familiar kiss, but filled with a bit more desperation than I recall. Like a ghost conjured to his own grave site, I found myself staring at Valerosa , Ariana, the woman I loved. She had put the car in hover as we, both costumed, now looked in each other's eyes. My shame didn't dissipate, but I was here, in the now, at least for the moment.
 
"I am so sorry," She told me, "And I'm so angry at your mother for telling you what she did just now," Ariana continued, "But we need you here, we need you ready, we need you focused. You cannot do that thing you do where you act like you personally are to blame."
"I was the one who bargained," I told her, "Every team mate had a part but..."
 
She put a finger to my lips "Every team member then had a part. Lady Obsidian made the big choice, and we agreed. And while it doesn't feel like it now, your choice didn't matter nearly as much as you think considering we were about to have a horde of aliens determined to save us from ourselves for our own good. I was there, do you blame me?"
 
"No," I answered automatically, then it sank in, "Maybe a little, I blame us all but mostly me? I -"
"Uh huh," She nodded cutting me off again, "How about Hussar, Trailblazer, Aspirant and Bramble?"
"What? No they weren't even there," I said looking at her confused.
"And  that Mailman friend? the crazy one who saved your life? How about your room mate who hope to sell out and save his grandma? How about that blonde miss thing fellow student who made the goo goo eyes at you?" 
"What? No, why would I think that of any of them?" She  was making no sense.
"I only ask because, those last people, and others like them? They're the ones in the line of fire as the Miscreants and their chaotic auditions go nuts all over town, and they need their heroes, imperfect thou we are, to go into harm's way and save them. Now can you do this? Or... do I need to bench you?" She tried to keep her voice cool, controlled, and sympathetic, but those eyes of hers, those beautiful eyes that I always compared to the sweetest and deepest chocolate were wet with threatening tears. 
 
I kissed her back, briefly but earnestly, knowing that she was taking time for me when she wanted to be helping the team, saving the citizens, and doing the hero thing she'd trained all her life for. I wasn't going to make her choose between rescuing me and the others anymore, "I'll fight," I told her, "I'll save people. But, you be take the lead on this one." 
It hurt to say. I honestly thought we were best as co leaders, and yes, in some areas I thought I was better than she when it came to team leading, just like she had me beat in others. But I had a brief enough moment of clarity to realize I was in no shape now for it.
She nodded, "Let me know when and If I need to pull you out."
I nodded back. My mind was still flooded with guilt, doubt, and confusion but I was together enough to understand the warning, "If nothing else, I'll be a good meat shield."

"Bramble," Ariana hit the comm, "Comm check and details report."
"Just so you know, this 'minority woman in the chair crap while the white people get to kick ass' is temporary," Bramble snorted.
Pogo broke in, "Ah,, hi? I'm Chinese descent. Just in case you missed it."
"Yeah but there's like a billion of you, how's that a minority?" Hussar inquired.
A loud sharp whistle cut through the comms and threatened to destroy ear drums, how Ariana managed to hit just that pitch I don't know but I count it as a super power.
"Bramble, Details, lay out, NOW"
"Yes, Ma'am," Bramble replied quickly "Near as we can tell they're all over the city, but the core of judges is easy enough to find. They've taken over Channel 3 News Anchor desk. They've tied up the journalists , bound and gagged. Which is not their usual MO as they tend to sneer at Old media? and prefer Streaming. But in this case, maybe they're going for the funny, or the selfie options. Seven Core members there, including old timers like Outcry and Bodysuit."
 
Having gotten us back on course, Valerosa praised and educated, "Good job. For those of you who didn't do your homework and study up. The Miscreants are a roving reality show in tights, a villain team using social media savvy  to get hits on their darkweb whatever sites and connections and sell their illegal merchandise and cash in on their infamy. Unfortunately, it seems to be working for them because they can afford lawyers who get them reduced time. Any other details on their new tryouts?"

Viewpoiint cut in, "Meanwhile  I got three pains in my ass over here in a crowded shopping plaza with only Hussar as back up and he's busy debating demographics. One try out here turns invisible, another punk has bursts of speed. The the last one has turned into a Dog... near horse sized and stronger and tougher than the average dog, but yeah, looks like some kind of Mastiff with glowing red eyes."
"I'm trying, but it's hard to close on them without knocking people over," Hussar said "I'm not going to risk hitting an innocent and they know that. And how am I supposed to see an invisible guy when Mister Supervision can't?"

Valerosa took it in even as she parked the vehicle and floated down to engage some herself. You have to be able to multi-task at a little as a hero,  "Hussar if you can't be sure of fighting, start taking citizens out of the shopping area. Then Viewpoint can risk his wide gaze for the try outs."
"Aspirant, where are you?" She asked as she landed. Me? I leaped and more crashed into the Earth. The two of us landed in the very park Breaker and Breathless had torn up. City workers had been trying to clear away debris, replace fallen benches, and more. Unfortunately for them, four miscreants were trying to raise THEIR Monument , which looked like a giant inflatable statue of liberty but nude save for the torch kept in front of her legs. 
In my current mental state, I wasn't able to register either patriotic outrage, puritanical pearl clutching, or even a juvenile snicker. I charged, aiming for the nearest one.

"I'm with Slime," Aspirant answered her at the same time, "We're actually doing okay. We were fighting a Giant woman and another guy with insect wings, but I shared what they really think of each other, and now they're trying to take each other out. She didn't know he cheated on her. We're clearing the area while they have ah, Couple's therapy."
Okay, even in my haze  I smiled at that just a bit, even as I tackled one guy who appeared to have stone skin. A good solid hit. Too good. I wasn't gauging things right. I can tear metal with my bare hands. Stone? Stone breaks if I don't put on my own brakes.
He screamed as his arm developed cracks.
I let go and got up away from me. In his understandable pain, he kicked out. Got a very good solid hit on me right in the gut and actually made me tumble back a few feet.
Maybe I needed to take myself out of this after all. I wasn't gauging right, there's so so super, and there's super super, with a lot of room in between. I came in treating this guy like he was an equal in power level. To be honest? He wasn't even half way there. Props to the others in his little foursome though.

"He tried to kill Lenny!" one other guy said with a  ball of electricity forming in his hand. The third member looked terrified. I don't know what his powers were until his arms shapeshifted to look hammers extending up from his elbows. The fourth guy lost control over Nude Liberty statue without help and  was struggling with tethers.
"I can't keep her going," He yelled out as the prank fell over.
I didn't correct them. Didn't tell them if I had tried, Lenny would be gravel. And, to my credit, I made zero jokes about how not keeping going happens to a lot of guys and that with good communication and focusing on her needs, it could be managed.
I'm not sure why I didn't dodge the ball of lightning though. I should have tried.  Unlike Lenny, this guy was closer into my league. I felt the energy sizzle in every over inch of my body.
My father had cancer.

Hammers were slamming into my head. I had enough sense just to push mallet hands, sending him stumbling back about ten feet. I'd barely felt those. Part of me wished they had hurt. The pain would have been better than the already returning guilt. 
I heard Valerosa call out for me. And I remembered what she said. While she was too kind to put it this way, I knew I needed to get off this cross fast. Others needed the wood worse than I dd.
"Stand down," I told them all, "You want fame, we're being filmed, I get it, but you're friend's hurt. Let's get him medical attention so his arm can stay on. Okay? Today's not a good day to tangle with me, and it' s not nearly as pleasant as you think even on the best of days."
"You broke, Lenny, and you're gonna pay!" The electric guy declared building an even bigger charge. Focusing on restraint, I grabbed a tree that had fallen the other day, and BONKED him on the head. No skull crushing, a deliberate tap with a pine wih hopes of not giving him a concussion, but he'd still want to be checked out. The caught the shock, and his lights dimmed. "That's two," I warned mallet hands. "Please give up, I don't want to hurt you."

That wasn't completely true. I very badly wanted to hurt someone, but it wasn't a good impulse to give into. I don't know how intimidating I sounded, but under the anger and self loathing, I felt kind of tired.
Then the fourth guy was tangled in the deflated remnants of Lady Libertine or whatever, and Valerosa moved to me and put a hand on me with worry. Mallet guy said "I give up." He looked at the direction of a camera hovering nearby "You know, at least I got to get taken down by Eel."
I glanced over at the camera, looks like the Miscreants and upgraded their little flying camera drones so they could keep tabs on their 'try outs'. Then I blinked. There were two cameras. One had the Miscreant flare and logo on it. The other, however, was hidden in shadow. Of course, my night vision saw it more like a black glass ball.
Why there two cameras in the same location? 
Then I remember what Tornado said.
And I knew, Knew, the miscreants had a sponsor. And bet he was the same guy who had been nickel and diming us all this time. I looked her right in the eyes and said "I quit. I'm not in the right mind for the job. Not now."
And I made dam sure two sets of cameras and the communicator for the team got the news.

 

From my Facebook review....
 
Movie Review: (That recently released Marvel movie that shall for the moment remain nameless due to FB algorithms.) I found this movie pleasantly surprising. It's certainly not deserving of the hate it's been getting. The movie is long and is in general less action packed than other recent Marvel films. That's to be expected as the film is packed with characters that need at least a minimal amount of fleshing out. This movie is beautifully shot and the sense of scale in scenes involving the Celestials is impressive. The film also benefits from a good cast and impressive FX work. There are a few plot holes, but they're all minor. My only major gripe is that I would have liked more investigation into what a 5000 year old person would be like and the film only hints at that on occasion. In that sense, this would have worked somewhat better as a series. There's two post credit sequences...one of which was expected and the other which came as somewhat of a surprise. The film also has a very good end fight....which potential directors of a Superman/Flash clash should take note of. As far as the criticisms of it being "woke" (a term I hate by the way), if seeing people on screen who aren't WASPs bothers you that much, I can't help you. This film will be divisive, but as a foundation to build upon future cosmic level MCU stories, this really is a must see.

"Well, did I get him? Are their asses in jail? How long am I stuck in here? What is this goo?" Bramble was not the talker of the group. Pogo had over all win there, and I thought Hussar often opened his mouth without thinking a lot, but he had improved. But I suppose if I work up glad to be alive but annoyed at being trapped at a medical bed, and wondering if the guy who nearly killed me got away with it I'd have a lot of questions too.
 
I glanced at the cast she had, it had a soaked wet look and, if she shifted, made slight sloshing sounds, "The goo in the cast you've got is the latest in rejuvenation and cellular restoration attempts. It's pricey, but speeds up such things as healing broken bones. Yours was an open fracture, really nasty. It's all back in place. As for your other questions?"
 
"Wait, How long will this take? My leg, to heal?" She interrupted, "How many days?"

"Days? " I blinked at her.
"You said this speed things up," She protested and glared at the cast as if it had gone from disgusting to useless.
"It does," I told her, "But bone breaks like what you had can normally take several weeks, even months sometimes, to heal. Regeneration is not one of your superpowers. What this does is half the time, so we figure two weeks and you will be as good as new."
"I'm benched for two weeks? Oh hell no" She looked ready to try to leap from the bed. Which would have been the very definition of a bad idea, "The others need me, and why aren't you answering my questions? What are you hiding?"
 
I gave her a long look, and tested something. Doing my best impersonation of Lady Obsidian's no nonsense, take no guff tone, I said, "Young lady, to whom you think you are speaking, and maybe you should be a bit more patient when everyone has worked so hard trying to help you?"
"Sorry Gr-" Bramble started to say as if defaulting to a surrender at that tone, then she caught herself and glared at me a little, "Fine. Please answer my many questions." 
 
I smiled. Childhood conditioning, it's a helluva thing. I have some older female relations in my own family that could have me leave any room with a 'what are you doing here where there's work to be done' glance.
"Okay, first, great work on the poison ivy farewell kiss to Breaker, it made a fair fight between he and I an unfair fight, favoring the good guy. That's the sort of fight we like around here," I told her honestly.
"He hated it, huh?" She smirked a bit.
"I think if he could have peeled off the outer skin off of himself, he would have," I assured her, and gave her the recap, "Valerosa got to you, handed you off to Hussar, who got you to safety as fast as he could.. I took out Breaker, with your last shot's help, and Valerosa and Viewpoint then double teamed Breathless and took her down. They'd been bribed to kidnap one our team by this Ophiotaurus guy who claimed he could get them a baby."
"For what, lunch?" She asked surprised.
"Apparently Breathless is barren," I answered, "Guess villains can want the white picket fence and house in the suburbs dream too. Not that I think hired kidnappers and killers are the best parental role-models."
"That is some cable network level weirdness," She observed. "You do know we need to find this Ophiotaurus guy right? That's what, at least two times he's been backing folks after us?"

"Hussar already gave Valerosa and I the 'let's get them already' speech," I told her.
"Well, he's right. And I want in on it. I don't want to wait weeks doing nothing," She grumbled.
"You won't be doing nothing," I informed her practically, "You'll be healing, and there will be physical therapy when you're ready for it, building strength back up. Though, if you really want to keep working your powers?"
"Damn straight I do," She hissed "What do you got in mind?"
"Botany courses and plant studies in depth, there are some options that don't get you accreditation, but are nearly free. A few hours a day you get to study, learn, and yeah, practice with your powers from the bed if need be. Maybe you'll find a love of the education and take it with you into college, but regardless- it won't be wasted. You've already seen that knowledge makes you more powerful," I told her, feeling I'd heard something like this before, "Besides, you've got too good a mind to leave it un-honed."
"Not you too," She rolled her eyes.
 
I shrugged, "Sounds like I'm in good company. Look, I'm supposed to be a teacher as well as a leader now. What do you expect me to say? Tune out, drop out and do what makes you happy? I mean you can if you want to, but I get the feeling if that was your thing you wouldn't be here in the first place. You want to be a superhero. I'm doing my best to tell you ways to be a better hero. You can disagree, but don't say I'm BSing you."
She crossed her arms, but also admitted, "No, you're not, and I'm sorry if I seem like a petulant child. I tell you I hate doing nothing, and you point out what I can do. And  my first instinct is 'oh, no not THAT Something, something fun'" Bramble was looking embarrassed now, "Tell me, when did you get manage to get everything together yourself?"
 
I laughed out loud, harder than I meant to, "Me? Are you kidding? I assure you, I still resent doing things I don't want to do but need to do. I hate when someone points out when I'm making a mistake, especially when they're right. I'm just better at hiding it now, that's all. I have the most wonderful woman in my life, and I love her and trust her, but sometimes I worry I'm not good enough for her even though that's really her choice. My parents are in town and I feel guilty I haven't been able to give them the time they deserve, but I also wish they'd just say howdy and get back home where I know they're safe and I can focus on the hero stuff which I, weirdly enough, enjoy a lot more. I as petty, selfish ,and mean as anyone you probably know, at least on the inside. Maturity isn't getting over all that. It's learning how to roll with it and do what needs doing, what should be done anyway." I told her, "It might also involve loss of hair, but I'm hoping that's not until I turn fifty."
 
I thought about it, "Sixty" I corrected.
That got her to smile, "Bit vain eh?"
I shrugged, "There, that answer you question?"
"Did," She nodded, "Thank you. Can you hook me up with more courses on plants in here? while I heal up I mean?"
"Sure can," I told her and rose "I'll get everything you need for you."
"Hey, Eel?" Bramble spoke up as I prepared to go fetch that stuff for her.
"Yeah?" I turned figuring there was something else she needed.

"You should take time for your family," She advised, "Consider it one of those 'take the advice I don't practice' things from me." she shrugged, "It bothers you a bit, that you see them as in the way, makes you feel guilty. So make some time, ditch the guilt and be honest with them. Besides, they need to get to know Valerosa as she's probably going to be their future daughter in law one day."
That last made me blink, "What? Jumping ahead aren't you?"
She scoffed, "Boy , please. You know you probably got a ring stashed away for when you think the perfect time is going to rise up, which is it's own stupid thing men do because perfect ain't coming to anyone's door soon. You're probably trying to schedule it all , I seen the way you look at her when she's chewing on our asses in training.  It's not those 'poor kids', least not always, it's more 'daw, she's so cute when ripping Hussar a new one'."
I felt vaguely violated, but in my defense, Valerosa was cute when she was knocking Hussar on his winged ass.
I raised a brow, "You're reading into things a lot for a non telepath." 

"I won't say I'm a people person, but I learned time ago what to look for in a group. You two are what they call a power couple, You cover each other well. We're not blind. One of you comes down  kind of hard one one of us, you two disappear and suddenly they're easing up. One of you has something crazy to say, and rather than the other going 'yeah, he/she is nuts' you back each other, maybe talk private later. All of us have noticed to some degree. Trailblazer's got her issues distracting her, Apirant's torn between not using his telepathy too much and ogling over Pogo, and Hussar? He's a bit a of a meathead, but he's trying to improve. So that leaves me to watch from the edge and sort things out."
"You're very insightful," I admitted.

"That and I've seen her sneak a peek at those bride magazines when you weren't at the base," She smiled.
"Why didn't you LEAD with that?" I held out my hands in a 'what gives' gesture.
"You were all giving me 'knowledge is power ' talk, I thought making you think I was super deductive was kind of a funny way to pay you back. She's hoping, you're prepping. Step up your game, Fish Guy. Life's short, young man."
I opened my mouth ready to remind her it was Eel, but then saw my reflection in a small mirror across the room. My mouth was open, my head at a tilt, and I had one eye wide open at that moment.
In short, I looked like someone needed to put a hook in my mouth.
I gave up, and threw my hands in the air. It was irritating. Ariana and I been studying the rookies intently, I suppose it made sense that at least one of them was studying us.
"Not a word to her," I told Bramble, "Understand?" I tried a tone that brooked no argument.
She snorted, "Well I ain't proposing to her."
I left to get her those study materials and aides, thinking all the while that I never in my life gave so much grief to the senior superheroes in MY life.
 
*******

Hey mom, hey dad. We're going to hold off an investigation into a nutbar named Ophiotaurus because you're in town even though he's clearly threatening my team mates and I plus the city. Don't feel guilty, enjoy this brunch.
Thoughts of comments like that are why I did not immediately call my parents and try to set up another time as soon as possible. Yeah, Bramble had some good points. Good insight, bridal magazines aside, and I would foolish to ignore it completely. But my parents were grown adults not in the superhero world. They were safe and while I owed them my attention, they didn't need as much help as the trainees did. So instead what I said on the phone, because my parents still preferred that to texting was this.
 
"We can try for lunch but I'm afraid it'll be brief, I've got some friends in real trouble and made some promises. I don't see it letting down soon," then I added, "I'm very sorry."
 
"No, son, you have to keep your promises. You know if this is a bad time, your mom and I can head back on home a bit early, or check out the city sights. We can take care of ourselves fine," He was assuring.
 
"ORRRR... " My mom's voice cut in, "We can eat up those steaks we took in the to go bags and eat the hotel room here, it's kitchenette has a nice little alcove with a table big enough for the four of us. Nothing fancy, and microwaves aren't my thing, but we get to see each other."
I glanced over at Ariana, covered the mouth of the phone and said "We're supposed to be doing detective work, hunting down sources we got from your Uncle."
 
"Yeah, but most of those are nightbirds anyway," She conceded then nodded, "We'll be there. A bit more informal. I'll make something as a side dish."
Neither of us had gotten much sleep, and it looked like that was about to continue. I didn't need much sleep. That's not idle boasting, it was literally a benefit of the same stamina that let me swim for hours. Ariana needed sleep more than  I did but she was young and stubborn, and I wasn't going to tell her she had a bed time.

"You don't have to make something as a side dish," I told her confused "They're just reheating the meal we missed."
She gave me a look of profound sadness, "You really think that, don't you?"

"What?" I said confused, then realized I had my mom and dad on hold and spoke to the phone instead, "Sure, see you there. What was the room number again? Okay. Be a bit... we may not look as pretty as we did yesterday" I joked.

"I'll pick out some nice clothes for us" Ariana muttered from the side.
I muted the phone again "The clothes we have on now are fine."
"When you met my mom, you wore a tie," she reminded me.
"And she became demonically possessed and tried to kill me," I reminded her right back, "Clearly dressing up does not help."
"You really have zero clue how women judge the.. I'll get something casual nice for us" She gave me and that's that's look.
"Are you still there, Caleb?" My dad's voice was on.

"Yeah, dad, sorry. We're good and we'll see you shortly, God willing and the creek don't rise," I smiled.
That made my dad chuckle, "If it rises it rises, son. You have on your plate what you have on your plate and you don't need to make a fuss for us."
Mom surprised me again by speaking over him, "A LITTLE Fuss might be called for."
That wasn't like mom and it caught me off guard.

"Now darling," My father said something to her I didn't quite pick up then he turned back, "Son, see you and Ariana soon." and he hung up.
"Okay mom is not normally that insistent," I stared at the phone. "Or at least not that direct." I got worried.
"Sounds like this is important to her," Airana said. Despite not having the power of teleportation, two changes of clothes, one for me, one for her, were laid out for us both when I didn't even think she left the room.
"You don't have to impress my mom," I reminded her.
"You're so adorable you think that," She told me, "Now get changed. I have a quick dish to make."
"You're going to change clothes while you're cooking?" I raised a brow, "Isn't that a bit dangerous to do in a state of undress?"
"I think we both know I can do a lot in a state of undress," She smirked knowingly.
I leaned forward for her, and found my reach gently but firmly redirected, "But not that and not now," She told me.
I sighed and went to change.
 
I don't know who in history first said the phrase "Under-promise and Overdeliver" but I wouldn't be surprised if, accredited or not, it came originally from a woman. 
 
Ariana's simple dish smelled heavenly the entire ride there, and her 'nice casual' looked a lot more 'classy gorgeous' to me. We entered into the hotel, and mom had not just "reheated what we ordered" she had made her own side dishes as well to go with an expand the meal. Both women, each important in my life, appraised each other despite having seen eeach other before for, and I swear there was the slightest of upnods between them as Ariana checked out the immaculate alcove and fine 'fixins' my mom had added to the restaurant's works and mom checked out Ariana's outfit and the dish she had made to add.
 
I gave my father's a questioning look, glanced back to the two women, then gave him the questioning look again.
He shrugged. Not the shrug of ignorance, but the shrug of a man who had found acceptance  of how things are even if he never would fully comprehend on the whys. Like the changing of the seasons, the power of chance in a really good sports game, or in this case, in the interactions between women. He was at peace with being out of his depth.
 
And I realized I would never be that wise.
 
"That smells divine," My mother told Ariana.
"I was about to say the same about your sweet potato pie there, Rhonda" Ariana complimented. There was an odd mix of confidence and caution as she called my mother by her first name. Which is weird, because mom had told her to call her Rhonda plenty of times.
Dad watched it with the same intensity he gave a nature show about  two predators agreeing to share territory.
Mom slowly smiled, "Thank you, Ariana," then added, "I could teach you the recipe if you want."  
"Gracias, that would be lovely," My girlfriend glowed a bit.

Then both looked my way, then exchanged looks as if a deal had been made. I didn't understand. I'd seen my mom give that same look at yard sales.
Dad, for some reason, chuckled.
 
I decided not to ask. I had gotten enough wisdom for that.
 
Dad's appetite was better though not as hearty as the usual I knew, but he still looked off to me. Still a bit too pale, and awfully tired for the middle of the day. But they wanted to know about me and Ariana how we were doing and I was forced to rattle off my college trials in more detail, nor was Ariana spared, talking about her own education, and , of course, Mom would never be so rude as to ask how her own family was.  So that killed another fifteen minutes easily.
 
We didn't mention being superheroes, but from the way mom and dad asked about crime rates and our safety, it was clear they suspected Ariana was in the business.  They fretted a bit but quietly and seemed to resolve as I hinted that I had a lot of friends who were always a help.
Ever hear about jinxing it? Of course you have. It's based on some very old superstitions. Speak the name and invite the named. Get cocky and assured, and come get your godsmack, that sort of thing.  It's probably coincidence. Pure Bunkum. And yet there's a reason I still knock on wood now and then.
 
I had hinted , not so subtly, that the new group of New Samaritans were coming along fine, when the hidden earpiece I was wearing squawked an alert. Clearly, the reprieve Costa Sagrado was supposed to get for being over-heroed was over and dead. I could only hope Port Cascade was emptying out of villains as some sort of balance. 
 
'The Miscreants are back in town,' VIewpoint was on the line, 'out of jail, and they're having auditions'
I must have popped up out of might seat like a prairie dog out of it's hole at that, then looked at my folks who were staring at me.
"I'm sorry, my cellphone just buzzed," I lied.
"I didn't hear anything," Mom gave me the long look.
Dad cut to to the chase, "Son, we know, just see what it is, both of you. We can cover our ears if it helps?"
I felt bad, but then  it was Ariana who actually told them "It's a subharmonic thing, we should be able to 'talk' without being overheard. Apologies." She stepped back and I did with her.

Well, I had figured my parents already knew,  but that clinched it I was sure. Rather than worry about what that might mean, Ariana and I got on comm.

'What do you mean Auditions?' She asked before I could
'Just what I said," Viewpoint declared "Some of the old team is still around, but they've got at least twenty other villain wannabes , big and small, with powers we don't fully have on file, scattered all over Costa Sagrado. There's supposed to be a no killing rule but I don't see to many safety guidelines in play, I'm putting Bramble in charge of monitor and coms, pumped stuff into her recovery room. She insisted, but for everyone else, it's all hands on deck. I told the rookies to keep the 'no solo acts' rule in play'

"You made the right call, " Ariana said "We've got one of the flying vehicles so we'll be in the thick of it in no time" She shot me a look of apology.
And i passed that look onto my parents, "mom, dad. I am sorry, it's crazy out there, and dangerous so hang tight..."
My mom stood up "Caleb, this is our last day here!" 
"I know, mom and I'm sorry, " I told her "Sorry Dad.  Half the team is green as spring leaves and we're understaffed for what we need."

Dad looked sad, but a bit proud, and nodded, "You two go on, keep up the good work. It was good to see you."
Ariana was already heading towards the door, but before I could join her, mom had moved up on me with  surprising speed and grabbed my arm.
"Mom, people are counting me" I told her.

"Rhonda, darling, don't- " My dad started to say to mom as if he could see the hatch on an airplane about to be opened at cloud level.
My mother had already made up her mind and went on, "Your father and I came here to tell you, and you need to know," Mom leaned up against on her toes  so I could hear her right in the ear no matter what else might hidden in there, "Your father, he's got cancer. They're doing what they can but the odds are we don't have too many meals together left."
 
There were over twenty superpowered people in the streets of my city intent on causing chaos, and for a moment, just a moment, I forgot they even existed. I stared at dad, slimmer dad, sickly dad, paler dad, and wondered why I didn't see it all before.
 
"It's not anybody's fault, son," he told me, "Now, nothing anybody can do about Cancer. Now, go do what you have to do."
Oh, I wanted to tell him, but it was. Oh, but I could have.
I felt a hand pulling me, a different one, Ariana's, and she pulled me along to go change into costumes and play at being hero. It felt like playing. Like an arrogant child with action figures he banged together in mock fights. 
 
My dad had cancer! And at one time, I  had the cure.
 

Spoiled for minor language.
 
 

We got more than email in the morning, we got a conference call. As it was five in the morning and neither of had slept much or well, we were a bit grumbly at being fussed at.
 
Tornado's face on the screen had a 'I can't believe this' look, "You didn't look around for drones, or cameras in the area? Or check the outfits of Breaker and Breathless? You really think whoever this  Ophiotaurus is, he's not keeping tab on his eyes? He sees himself as a intellectual rebel, the smart one who has figured out who it really is, and he has a mission. He thinks he's the good guy, heroes are the bad guys. We're talking about a guy who think he's got some moral and intellectual high ground. He'll spy on those he's sure don't get it to make sure they're doing it right."
 
"We were a bit busy making sure the lovely dovey nutbars weren't about to get up again," I grumbled, "And I don't think any drones could have flown in that windstorm," then I conceded, "We didn't check the uniforms. We'll call the authorities and see if they found anything."
"Okay we dropped the ball," Ariana admitted to her young uncle, "And the trail we had has probably gone cold. Maybe you can help us pick it up again? Some tips for the future?"
 
"I got an idea but you're gonna hate it," He told her, "See who is looking for henchmen work, and what job offers they're getting."
"You mean dangling scumballs by their ankles and getting them to talk?" She frowned, "Not our usual style. You have to know where the scumballs are."

"We do have a telepath now," I admitted, "He might not like being used as spy on folks who haven't done anything that he knows of. There are ethical considerations he might have trouble with."
"I can help you with finding them," Tornado told us, "Any of you take any theatre classes?"
"You're kidding, right?" I asked him.
"Hey, you love wrestling," he answered, "Lot of acting in that. Right?"
"Just give us the notes," Ariana asked "And, tell me how the others are doing? Fox, Mabel?"

"I'm fine," Mabel's voice chimed off screen "Thanks. How are you, Ariana?" She was not tapped into the machinery like she used to be. That meant she was likely in-
"Wait, Mabel, are you in Valentino's room ? At five in the morning?" Ariana asked as Mabel aka Brazen's brassy form came into view, wearing her Uncle's night robe.
"Ah, Ariana, I can explain," He began to say, "It's not what it looks like."

"You took advantage of my best friend's newness to having a body is what it looks like,"  Ariana humphed, "Valentino, I swear, somedays it's like you're a little brother instead of my uncle. She's new to all these sensations and you just had to chase after her."
"I didn't chase after her, " Tino protested.
"You, didn't?" Mabel's dulcet tones took on an odd curious but not entirely warm edge as she looked away from the camera and at Tino, "Are you saying I was easy to get?"
"Wait, now you're blaming her?" Ariana said "Oh my god. Hey, Mabel, honey are you okay?"
"I was fine," She said, but sounded less sure of the now, "Are  flesh and blood men always like this? You share yourself and they count it against you while notching their bed post?"
"There is no notch on the bed post!" Tino said, "Caleb, help me out here, man."

A dozen thoughts raced through my mind but I wasn't sure which one to say out loud. Way to go, ,Tino? What the hell is it like with an artificial woman? Did you buy her dinner even if she doesn't need to eat? Is static cling a side effect? Mabel, are you sure you're not rushing things? What will the cyborg children be like?

Instead, I said "You're both adult individuals, I trust you you know what you're doing. Since we have you both here, some of those notes on where to get some leads and from who would be invaluable."

"Righto, work first" Valentino agreed, almost eagerly I thought.
"mmmph," Ariana conceded, "Fine. We'll get the notes, then, Mabel, I want to talk to you and catch up."
"I'd love that, sweetie," Mabel answered.
Tino winced, "Won't you guys be busy with you know, the bad guy?"
"A twenty minute chat between besties won't do any harm," Mabel told him.
 
Except perhaps to Tino, I thought with a pinch of amusement. TIno had always had a way with women. In his case, the Latin lover stereotype actually played true. He treated women well mind you, always made them feel special, never promised more than he could give. I suppose it was petty of me, but it was almost fun to see him facing some fall out. I did hope that the two knew what they were doing.
A few minutes later, we had the basics we needed ,and Tino and I dropped out of the conversation. It's not that I didn't want to catch up and talk, but I remembered when I realized how lonely Ariana was feeling with most of her friends gone. She needed to talk to Mabel person to person for a bit, about private matters she didn't want to share with anyone else. I was there for her, she knew that, but while I wanted her to always be able to come to me, it would be wrong to say she was only to come to just me. 
 
Besides, I found out that Bramble had woken up. And she was full of questions, and more than a little pissed.
 

Bramble was the beneficiary of the best medical care super-techology could arrange. It was hardly an instant cure, but Lady O was always upgrading as best she could and one rule was that every New Samaritan got lessons in first aid and emergency care. I could say the new group was taking to it well enough. But in the case of Bramble, it was almost too many chefs in the kitchen.
 
"This is my fault," Aspirant was kicking himself "I checked monitors but I missed the news? How did I miss the news? The news at least was current, I was watching yesterday's security footage! While Bramble was getting assaulted." 
 
Pogo  touched his shoulder "She's going to be fine. Someone wanted to ambush one of us, and they planed for it. If there's a flaw in our security tap of other buildings, that's on our system, not on you."
 
"But I could have..." He started to protest.
 
Pogo shook her head, and her hand on his shoulder went a bit lower, over his heart,  "No you couldn't. You think you could, but you're a telepath not a clairvoyant and you certainly don't see into the future. You were at your station, the fact the station had been blinded was not your fault and you need to deal with that truth even if it doesn't help. I .. like you, Aspirant, I really do, but she's sedated, her pain is minimal, and you're still on monitor duty. If you want to request someone else take over, that's one thing, but you can't abandon your post now just because your post abandoned you. Now I'm not in charge but I've been at this longer than you and I can tell you that you may want to go to your room, shove your head in a pillow and scream really really loud while muffling the noise at the same time, but the one thing you can't do is scream here while folks are working. You can't make it about whether it's your failure or not. If someone wants to call you to the carpet, and no i don't know what that means it's just something I heard once, then that'll happen, but right now you're distracting the captains, You're getting yourself all wound up, and, " She bit her lip as if afraid how he'd take this "You're not helping like this. You need to ask for someone to take your shift, or you need to get back to your post but you've read her mind, seen what she would have reported, and we've got that intel. You are no help in THIS room."
 
The slender young man looked as if he'd been slapped hard. I don't know what he was feeling besides surprise. A bit of anger, touch of hurt, a dollop of shame? I'm not a telepath, I don't know what was stewing in his skullcap. But I was surprised. I'd always read him as the sensitive young man, the sort who wasn't afraid to share his feelings. Overall I hear that's a healthier way to live. Instead, his features grew distant, a mask of the non cloth nature falling over his expression, And he said in less sharing tone, "You're right, of course. I'll get back to my post. You all know where to find me if you need me."
 
Shoulders squared, back stiff, he moved out of the room back to the monitor station. Pogo looked resolved herself, but when the door closed between us, her posture slumped and she groaned "I'm such an assho-" 
 
It was Hussar who cut her off, "No you're not. Take it from a professional who is one for real.  Your Halifax heartthrob was about to do exactly what you said , winding himself up, take it all on himself, and go into a self punishment phase. You gave him the right speech for the now, you'll make it up to him in the later."
 
"When Lady Obsidian gave ME that speech," Pogo shared with him, "I hated it, and I hated how it made me feel. I told myself I would never use it on any other hero. I'm such a hypocrite."
 
"Kind of a relief," Hussar admitted with an almost casual shrug, "The Canuck won't shut up about how great you are, everyone likes you even if you talk a lot and you seem so damned nice I kind of want to drop you out a ten story building and bounce you down a hill. The fact you're a hypocrite and he's actually spiraling into self pity because he's not all knowing makes me like you both more. Welcome to being real people."
 
Pogo , normally verbose to the extreme, stared at him quietly for a bit, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. She said one word in Chinese, at him. I am half fluent in two languages, my native Southern, and Spanish. I don't know Mandarin or Cantonese or if she made up something extra special just for Hussar.  I don't know what the word was, not sure I want to know what the word was.
 
After unleashing it, she turned to Valerosa and I, "With your permission, I'm going to patrol. If you like, I'll take Trailblazer with me."
"Double patrols are a good idea right now," Valerosa agreed, "Do a standard sweep, call in every ten minutes. They'll be a meeting tomorrow for the team."
 
Pogo nodded and started to turn to do that, but Valerosa caught her attention one more time, "And Pogo? I got the same speech from Lady Obsidian myself, and made the same promise, and I broke it the next year after I got it. It's something of a rite of passage."
 
Pogo nodded again, but shot Ariana a grateful look, and then went on to collect Trailblazer.
I shot Hussar a look as well now that Pogo was gone, "She's going to give you such a bouncy beat down next time you two spar, you know that right, don't you?"
 
"Isn't that what you guys told me  we strong ones are for? Heavy lifting, take the hits for the team when it's good for the team, yadda yadda?" He seemed oddly serene about it.
 
I nodded. "Fine. You want to take your turn beating yourself up about this?" I inquired, "Need the speech aimed at you?"
 
"Oh hell no," Hussar answered, "I know who to blame for this. You guys told us what Breaker said. Ophiotaurus. You two are the leaders. You ready to find this guy? Hunt him, make him pay, bring him to justice, whatever way you want to word it? The only speech I want to hear is we're going to find him, and stop him from ever doing this again."
 
Valerosa and I exchanged looks. She answered for us both, "We're a bit short detective work, but yes, we're going to find him, going to hunt him, and yes , we're going to bring him to justice. He seems to think we consider ourselves gods. He's going to find out just how wrong he is and how much better he'd be if God was after him."
 
"Yeah? Why is it better to have God after you than superheroes?" Hussar just had to ask.
 
Valerosa  and I exchanged looks again. She let me explain.
 
"God brings justice in the next world. Superheroes? We can be merciful," I told him for us both , "But we're not always, and we're not that patient. We bring justice in this life, in this world as best we can. And Ophiotaurus better be grateful."
 
"Grateful for Justice? Why would a bad guy be grateful for that?"
 
"Because it means we're not in the revenge business, yet," Valerosa told him "Go rest up, Hussar. We need at least a few of us to get some sleep tonight."
"I hear that" And he left too.
 
So it was, for the moment, just Bramble in her healing slumber, Valerosa, and I.
"I'm going to call my Uncle and get some more detective work tips," Valerosa said, "It may mean swallowing my pride, but... well, I'll cope."
"We'll cope," I promised her, "Got your back, Captain."
She rallied a weak smile "Thank you, Captain. Now, let's piece together what we know."
We'd talked for an hour, gathered what we knew, and sent Tornado an email.
 
 

 

Wow, a two-fer, just 7 hours apart.  Well done.
 
I'm guessing Aspirant wasn't caught by surprise by Pogo's birthday.  I'm curious what he got her.   (Actually, that seemed like something truly missing - a simple one sentence bit, like, "It was no surprise that Aspirant's [present] was well received - guess that's one benefit of being a mind-reader" would have fit well in there.
 
I can appreciate that you needed to move time along a bit - in the first of today's parts, in my mind I was imagining the training montage, but I'm glad you included an actual mini-scene, which fit in well as a prelude to the second part.
 
Must say, I'm worried about Caleb's dad.  Not looking forward to the scene where that truth is revealed.  
 
The fight itself was well done, IMO.  Though I was surprised that after Fish Guy mentioning that Valerosa was going to make her way to Bramble, it doesn't seem that she did.  True, Breathless needed to be taken care of, but I'd have suggested Valerosa at least be tending to Bramble afterward, even if she was keeping an eye on Breathless in the process.
 
Don't take that wrong, though.  Other than those minor suggestions, both parts were good.
 
I'm guessing they'll put a bit more effort into finding this Ophiotaurus.

At a time when we needed speed, neither Valerosa or I was fast enough to stop that horrible sound. I don't budge easy, but if I had leapt to Bramble's side? I'd have been swept away off course by the high winds. Valerosa was in a similar situation. She could lower her density, but if she didn't dial it down low enough to be almost instantly intangible she'd be blown like a leaf. So she had gone extra heavy and still felt the pressure. 
 
Didn't mean we had to be nice about it though. Gauging the wind as best I could, I put some of those math classes to work and grabbed a chunk of tree that was threatening to roll up against me. I took the wind's force and direction into account and hurled it to the side of Breaker. Either by luck, education, or both, the half tree whirled through the air and then hooked , smashing into Breaker like a truly deformed extra sized boomerang. It didn't hurt him a bit, but it did get his attention. If she wasn't dead already, that might buy Bramble time to get taken to safety. 
 
Breaker turned, and saw me, then laughed and slapped one fist into his hand. I flipped him the finger; I leave it to folks to guess which one. Maybe it was vanity, but I gave myself good odds against him in a one on one and I knew Valerosa well enough to know she was going to make her way to Bramble. 
 
Too bad it wasn't one on one between me and Breaker. It was already hard to breathe, then it became nearly impossible.  I breathe water and air, so in at least two different mediums I'm fine. My stamina is superhuman enough that I can hold it for a while, but not when it's ripped out of my lungs. I began to wheeze as my oxygen left me like it was on sale. I need oxygen to fight, and what was an even match just became a soon to be ass-kicking with my tuckus on the losing end.
 
Breaker's first punch doubled me over. Then I realized I was in luck as weird as it is to say that when you want to spit up some whatever you had for your last meal.  I managed to sidestep closer to him and used his bulk to block Breatheless' line of sight. The sucking vortex that had been my own personal problem was now our problem. Actually more his than mine, and when she dropped it, I inhaled with relief and began to wrestle with Breaker! We were equal in strength, but not skill, all that practice with my own team plus my own hand to hand experience paid off as I managed to get him in a clutch. He tried to  bully his way free only to find me adjusting my hold to compensate. He couldn't get free, and that kept Breathless from double teaming me, at least for now.
 
That's when I noticed something winding up his leg, it wasn't much of a vine, barely a tendril in fact, so thin that a strong child might have peeled it loose. Weaving in and out of his outfit! Then, it seemed to break apart into some kind of oil. In the distance, a ground bound Hussar didn't dare the winds, but his own muscle allowed him to cradle the broken Bramble  as Valerosa handed their team mate to him. Bramble herself? She was looking past him at Breaker with a mix of focus and ire. As soon as it was safe to do so, Hussar finally took wing to get her medical attention.  Valerosa turned and moved slowly and relentlessly towards her remaining target.
 
But while she was gone from the fight, Bramble's parting gift was delivered and lingered on.
 
"What the hell?" Breaker said looking distracted.  Then he became really preoccupied as he lost all focus, and started to curse. I noticed the wind had stopped. Looks like Breathless was facing her own challenge in the form of Viewpoint. Her winds did not stop his eye-blasts and she was sent hurtling backwards as he nailed her. She had a lot of raw power, but he had her beat in range. 

On top of that,  Valerosa continued to close on her, the odds, overall, now on the good guys' side.

And Breaker began squirming in my grip as his cursing grew louder and more frantic, "Let go of me I have to scratch!"

THAT raised a brow, then I laughed and realized what had happened, "She's alive yet, and she's pissed!" I slammed him to the ground. Hitting a man when he's down is pretty low stuff, but superfights are not as noble as the old Silver Age comics try to portray them. The odds were back in my favor, as the villain with the worst case of Poison Ivy I had ever seen in my life flailed about too busy resisting the urge to scratch to properly defend himself. Making a mental note to wash my hands, gloves or not, after this fight, I yanked him up with one hand then punched him down with the other. 
 
He had hurt a team mate. Hell, he had tried to kill a team mate, one of my students, who was my responsibility,  and until he cried Uncle I was going to explain my extreme displeasure one rage fueled punch or slam at a time. The wind stopped blowing entirely and the dizzy and rash ridden Breaker managed to realize his own lady was down, "Breathless? Baby?"
 
"Your baby has been put to bed," Valerosa declared standing over the unconscious form of Breathless. Valerosa looked a mess, bits of debris actually driven with such force at her that some smaller parts of said debris were embedded in even her harder than stone skin. Then again, I was probably just as beat up. 
 
Viewpoint waved "You make a run to grab your girlfriend, I'll shoot her around like an air hockey puck and play tag. She won't enjoy it.." It was a bit harder edged than I was expecting from Viewpoint. I think maybe he was feeling the same ire about one of our own that I did. Which, actually said a lot since he was so new to the team himself. 
 
"We just wanted to kidnap one of you, not kill her!" he declared even as he rubbed and scratched at himself in a way that was sure to spread the hyper accelerated Rash.
 
I did not warn him to stop for that reason. In fact, I hoped he went to town. I was feeling rather vindictive, "Kidnap for who?" I demanded, "Tell me the truth and I might tell you what's happened to you, what Bramble did to you. You'll know what to ask the authorities for."
"Anything, God on a Crutch" he bellowed as he scratched then seemed to realize he hadn't provided enough, " Ophiotaurus, okay? He was going to help us with... with something in exchange for capturing one of you. Said it was time to put the gods down, sure he sounded nuts but he .. he could give us what we wanted."
 
"I have a telepath on the team who can be here in five minutes," I exaggerated, "What was the payment, that'll save you five minutes of rash from hell."
"A baby, okay? She's... she's not able to have a child okay?" Breaker scratched and glared at at me, "This was our chance for a baby. He said he could make it happen. Had the science, the medical degree... "
 
I did not know what to say to that. I mean, after the shock lowered a bit, I realized what I wanted to say was that as a rule, I didn't think murderers or even kidnappers higher made good parents. But he meant it, he really meant it. He'd done this job to have a family with the woman he loved.
It was almost sympathetic if it weren't for the fact he could have killed Bramble. My rage was done, but no, I wasn't feeling as much pity as I might.
"And how were you to get in contact with him?" I asked.
 
"He'd be in contact with us, that's what he said," Breaker finally cursed "Now what IS this thing that plant girl DID to me?"
"It's the worst case of Poison Ivy you'll ever have. Tell the authorities and they might give you something. Now, scratch if you want to, but don't try me. Or for that matter any of us. We're not fond of you right now. Sit down."

And he did, eyes on Breathless.

But then, Viewpoint's eyes were on her as well and Valerosa was on guard.
Neither of them was going anyway.
Returning to mom and dad would have to wait.

Pariah, I'm going to have to deviate from Bazza and say, Get well soon.
 
As to naming teachers, do you mean their given names or the names we gave them? 
 

Oh, I will. I just haven't decided whose yet. 

So I started fighting off my annual November head cold a couple of days ago. Lady P was concerned, so we all went and got tested this morning. She and the kids came back negative. I came back positive.
 
It's the weirdest thing. I haven't had any of the so-called typical covid symptoms. My smell and taste are just fine, I haven't had a fever, etc. It has just felt like a bad cold. But the test came back positive all the same.
 
I did receive the vaccine in January and February. That's the soonest it was available in my area, and because I'm a public school teacher over 50 I was on the high priority list. I assume, or maybe I'm just hoping, that's why my symptoms have been comparatively mild.
 
So I'm in quarantine for the next 10 days, and unfortunately my family is too. I hate that my wife and my kids are all missing school next week because of me. I confess, I'm not thrilled with the idea of missing a week of school myself, but I'll figure it out. I swear, being a teacher is the only profession where it's harder to stay home than to actually go into work.
 
Wish us luck, everybody!