« Back
Generated:
Post last updated:
The Origin and Misadventures of the Avian Twins
Tabby and Zeke are mad science experiments in Rockeye's new world.
Permalink Mark Unread

Magic is so terribly finicky.

Herridan Lionheart does not like the way his body works. Humans were not meant to be shackled to one form for their entire lives, he tells himself. Magic exists that can change that. However, he is neither too stupid to understand the principles of magical-biological interactions nor unwise enough to test his theories on himself. He also has enough overall power to operate more or less freely in the low-hero-density areas of the world, and is devious enough to get access to some very... Unique source materials. The most powerful magic-entwined biologies alive today are very promising test beds for his work.

Progress is rapid. But there's a lot of progress to be made. Most early experiments are miscarriages. The first one to be successfully born dies within the minute, of... Probably oxygen deprivation, is what he eventually decided. The fact that it set very vigorous fire to the medical unit before dying was a hint.

More experiments. He got good at preserving the surrogates, honed convincing them to volunteer to a science - he was having to move around too much to escape angry crowds, before. (It's not like the big hero teams were going to come down on his door. People like him were a dime a dozen in these parts of the world. For now.)

Now he could stay in one lab for years, try to see some of the modifications develop long enough to prove the concept. Herridan really does qualify as a genius... Some of the relatively conservative experiments worked perfectly - children born in his labs grew (slightly faster than normal) to adolescence and adulthood with regenerative blood, or subtle magesight, or fingernails with high concentrations of precious metal. (This is about when Herridan Lionheart started getting rich.)

He's almost legitimate now, backed by and backing up some tin-pot dictator. A veneer of authority to the place. He couldn't stop there, of course. With proper facilities his experiments could be more extreme, push the limits further. The Lycan program is promising, and ongoing. Project Unicorn meets dead end after dead end but it would be so revolutionary he keeps pouring resources into it. He quickly graduates from tin-pot dictator to somewhere in Mexico. That "accountant" is really good at his job...

One pair of children have wing-arm hybrids for upper limbs, a forehead crest of brightly colored feathers, and dully glowing eyes. Their magical properties are promising - flight, of course, despite the wing structure not having nearly enough lift or control for how well they perform at it. Kicking reflexes and a foot structure that seem to be meant for hunting. Overall strength and speed boosts that are rather pedestrian compared to some exotic effects he's managed, but intriguingly stable. Psychology mostly unaffected. Excellent results, exactly the sort of thing the program is looking for, if only he could replicate them.

The two star experiments have every physical need catered to and many more luxuries than most in these halls. Free time, a real teacher for literacy and numeracy tests, games and toys and better food and even a specially built open-air cage with perches and such for them to stretch their wings... And no friends or family or real freedom at all.

Permalink Mark Unread

The male of the pair is currently sitting atop one of the perches, looking outwards. What does he see?

Permalink Mark Unread

Desert.

Barren and harsh and quiet... But he can see small animals out there even all the way out here. There would be food. There are plants - there will be sources of water somewhere. And there is so much space.

Permalink Mark Unread

The girl is walking around the edges on her enclosure, fingers trailing through the bars. 

"Do you think people can live out there?" she asks her brother.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maybe..."

Permalink Mark Unread

Probably. The scientists have to get their food from somewhere, right? And there is light over the horizon, to the north, at night. It drowns out the stars in that direction.

And being out of the way is not exactly a perfect no-fly zone. They've seen airplanes every month or five.

Permalink Mark Unread

When the pair were smaller they sometimes tried waving them down. It was pretty disheartening. 

"Think Mr. Lionheart will come see us today?" he asks, with a tone somewhere between hope and fear.

 

 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Could do. It's been a couple of sleeps."

Permalink Mark Unread

 

...Is that music? It's coming from the lights.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Ooh, that's pretty," he starts doing a little dance.

Permalink Mark Unread

It's a steady series of tones on a short repeat. Ding, ding, ting, ding, tong, ding...

Permalink Mark Unread

"..Do you need to go to the bathroom or something?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"You can't hear that?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I can hear the wind, some bugs, couple of birds."

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke suddenly becomes very concerned about his sister's hearing. He suspects that Lionheart wouldn't take her going deaf kindly.

Permalink Mark Unread

There's more music coming from other places. Closer to the scientists' entrance mostly.

Permalink Mark Unread

"You seriously can't hear it?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby is busy examining the enclosure's bars. "Maybe it's a boy thing."

Permalink Mark Unread

The door's music suddenly shifts. A steady thrum - not obvious until it's gone - disappears. And then Dr. Abraham, one of the 'flunkie' scientists who say 'yes sir right away sir' a lot, comes through. The thrum comes back when the door shuts. "Good afternoon, children! I've brought lunch."

Permalink Mark Unread

Anything to get excited over?

Permalink Mark Unread

Yes! The good kind of meat, their favorite kind of crackers, some mac and cheese, and ice cream.

And a chrome case, the kind of which usually contains a pointy syringe or two, and other doctory things.

Permalink Mark Unread

The twins tuck in, while Zeke ponders whether he should ask about the music that's suddenly playing. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Are you still having growing pains in your elbows and phalanges, Tabitha?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, but they're getting a little better."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'd like to measure your wings again. It's important to track how you to develop."

Permalink Mark Unread

The twins let him do so. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"I like the music you've started playing."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hm, music? I don't know anything about that." The tape measure shifts. He writes things down. "Sara's in charge of your facilities you know. I just try and make sure you two don't get sick or hurt."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...You can't hear it?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"You can hear something?" He suddenly looks concerned. "Is it a ringing noise that goes away a little bit when you move your head?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...No. It's just this kinda a music that a lot of stuff is making. Like when you opened the door."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh my. I think it might be a latent talent. Mr. Lionheart will want to hear about this."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Is this a good thing?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's good and bad. You can do something new, which is obviously good, but we didn't expect you to get new abilities this late in development, which means we were wrong about something in how your magic works. It sounds like some sort of sensory overlay... I'm sure the research team will be able to tell more about it with enough tests."

Permalink Mark Unread

This isn't much of a comfort to Zeke.

Permalink Mark Unread

"He gets to do more things? No fair!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"There's a chance you will develop something too..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That'd be cool."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Lets me just report this, okay?"

He pulls out a walkie talkie. "Something to report sir... No sir. New abilities! At least one. The male. Yes sir. Right away sir."

"..You two get another checkup apparently. They want to make sure everything is fine."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Is it the hurty kind of check up?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's up to Dr. Mendez. Sorry."

Permalink Mark Unread

He shakes his wings a little. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"I've got a new food for you two to try, though. It might be a good way to keep up with your huge metabolisms without overloading on protein. They didn't like the idea but... Have you ever heard of donuts?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Aren't those like cake?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yes, a bit! I'm sure I can get Dr. Mendez to stop griping about nutrition long enough to let you try some if you two cooperate with his tests, okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

They tentatively agree.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'll see you two tomorrow then. Dr. Mendez will be over soon."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Bye," says Angie between ice cream licks.

Permalink Mark Unread

The door opening and shutting interrupts its low thrum again.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I hope it's just a new talent and I don't grow a beak or something."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't know, a beak might suit you." They both giggle.

Permalink Mark Unread

It's half an hour before the physician shows up. If Zeke investigates he can find out that further objects emitting 'noise' are: The heater in their closed-off bedroom, several but not all of their toys, books, games, and puzzles, and the elevator in one corner that non-bird people use to get to the top of the landscaping.

Permalink Mark Unread

Any music coming off the physician?

Permalink Mark Unread

Yes. Several of his tools - and their 'songs' are much more complicated.

The physician's first test is an exhaustive physical. All sorts of poking and prodding and lights shined in their eye, unpleasant stretching, height and weight, strength test... Then he starts quizzing Zeke on the music. Is it consistent? What gives it off? Is it really sound are you sure it's not something else that you just think is sound?

Permalink Mark Unread

He does his best to answer the questions. 

Permalink Mark Unread

And is Tabitha positive that she has no comparable sense?

Hm.

He has a hunch. Ezekial will have some specialized testing starting tomorrow.

Permalink Mark Unread

She is almost glad she doesn't get to do an extra thing now.

Permalink Mark Unread

He makes a perfunctory effort to cheer Zeke up - this could be really useful, it's a great talent! He's not very good at it though. And... Sigh. The donuts are approved.

Permalink Mark Unread

Can they at least expect any today?

Permalink Mark Unread

Yes, yes, they'll come with dinner, he has work to do goodbye.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I shouldn't have said anything."

Permalink Mark Unread

She hugs him. "It's okay. At least you got us doughnuts, whatever they are. Wanna play something?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Okay."

What is there to do in their enclosure?

Permalink Mark Unread

They can fly around, it's big enough that you can go straight for ten or fifteen seconds without turning. There are a bunch of mismatched toys, from balls to block sets to a small dollhouse, some even meant for aerial play - a plastic 'airplane' that glides fairly well, after they showed fascination in some of the real ones. Plastic figures with cloth parachutes. Some puzzles and games and books.

Permalink Mark Unread

They fly about until they tire themselves out, before reading for a while.

Permalink Mark Unread

It's not entirely clear whether any of these books are fictional or not. One of the scientists explained the concept of fiction when they asked to meet Santa, once. But the only book they know for sure is actually real is 'The Big Book of Plants and Animals'.

Permalink Mark Unread

And they're still pretty vague about whether they're literally related to birds. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Well, the story they've been told is that their mother couldn't have any babies without magic, but being magical children made them not quite human, so she gave them to the academy so they could help learn how they work and make sure they have happy, healthy adult lives. And dodging questions about said mother, and their father, and simply saying 'it would be best not to think about it' if they keep pressing.

Permalink Mark Unread

Hasn't stopped them from asking if she could visit or send letters.

Permalink Mark Unread

They've gotten letters before. Even a picture, and the chance to send letters back. It's fairly heartfelt and genuine, for a mom they never get to meet in person. But it would be best not to get attached to her, their physiologies are going to give them a different lifestyle than her you know.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke sometimes uses the picture as a comfort object.

Permalink Mark Unread

Dinnertime brings Dr. Abraham back. With donuts!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Not gonna lie, these might be the best things," says Tabby with a mouthful of doughnut. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well, food like that is called junk food for a reason. Like ice cream, it's going to be an occasional treat, you can't live off only donuts or your health will suffer."

Permalink Mark Unread

She pokes her tongue out at him. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Did Mr. Lionheart say anything about my weird hearing?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Mr. Lionheart is eager to start testing tomorrow. I, uh, can't say more than that."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Okay." 

He suddenly wants to go to bed early. 

Permalink Mark Unread

The twins can go to bed early if they want. Lights out is at 9 P.M. and wakeup is at 6:30 in the morning, as usual.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke rereads one of their mother's letters.

Permalink Mark Unread

It says how she wishes the academy would let her see them some time, then she rambles about some of the children in her neighborhood and how she wishes they could be friends.

Parts of it are blacked out. The names of places and people, mostly.

Permalink Mark Unread

He was never quite sure why they blacked out those parts.

Permalink Mark Unread

The letters have no comment on that.

Permalink Mark Unread

He puts the letter back and goes to sleep. 

Permalink Mark Unread

In the morning Ezekial's breakfast is the bland health-food stuff. Tabby's is normal. "Sorry, Zeke. We have to have a baseline for what your nutrition is like. The scientific method is important."

Permalink Mark Unread

He nods blanky and eats.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby tries to sneak him some of her breakfast. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Dr. Abraham turns away from the cleaners who've come in to work on the habitat and confiscates it. "Ah-ah. Please cooperate. It's for the best."

(Zeke gets a little snuck past anyway.)

Permalink Mark Unread

He flashes Tabby a very forced smile.

Permalink Mark Unread

And then it's time for Zeke's testing. Dr. Abraham promises they can have lunch together - a proper lunch, maybe with donuts - provided Zeke doesn't act up during the tests.

Permalink Mark Unread

He perks up a little. "Okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

And then Zeke is shown to the testing rooms...

 

...Mr. Lionheart is in there. He stares at Zeke with those grey eyes. "You're growing up nicely. Good. Promising. It's about time to delve into you and your sister's more hidden magical properties... If we want to make the process easier for future people, lots of study is needed, you understand?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yes, sir."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good. What your power seems to be is an isomorph of the mage sight we already know a fair bit about - you have mage hearing, you hear magic. We're going to map common patterns and stimuli and build you a library, possibly calibrate it to mage-sight, and then some physical experiments."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

 

The tests are long and boring and very difficult. Mr. Lionheart gets impatient fast. He doesn't hit Zeke or anything... But he does look rather angry. He raises his voice a few times.

Eventually, "Enough of this. Mendez and Evans, you two do the physical exams, I have other matters to attend."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...I'm sorry."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It would be unreasonable to expect you to memorize an entire corpus in a day. But be sure to continue working hard. Good day."

The physical exams aren't hard to think about, at least. They draw a little blood, put him inside a big scanning thing, that sort of thing.

Permalink Mark Unread

He actually finds the scanning thing relaxing. Interestingly, the earplugs don't stop the magic music. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Tomorrow you're going to have to wear a bunch of wires and sticky pads on your head all day while you do the same thing. They are for studying thought patterns. This was just an introduction, but it was a good one with a lot of progress!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Can me and Dr. Abraham still have lunch?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Yes, but you also can't sweat certain chemicals, so it will have to avoid the following list of delicious things. It's only for a couple of weeks and then they can change the test schedule. It's for the best.

Permalink Mark Unread

Does he at least get to sleep in his own bed?

Permalink Mark Unread

That's fine. As long as they don't find he's been sneaking snacks or anything like that.

Permalink Mark Unread

He's worried that Tabby's got nobody to play with up there.

Permalink Mark Unread

...Alright, they can arrange some more free time. Maybe group time with some of the other children. (If it keeps them pacified.)

Permalink Mark Unread

Other kids? Man, it's a been a while since they've seen them!

Permalink Mark Unread

That's for later though. For now, lunch, then the tutor will see them for a couple of hours, and then whatever they want until bed.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do you see the other kids much Dr. Abraham?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I do, actually. They, ah. Some of them don't cope with the magic-infused biologists quite as well as you two do. You can fly, you're healthy and happy. It's not always that way. We do our best though."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's a shame." 

He's honestly not sure if they're happy, either. 

Permalink Mark Unread

So the tutor comes and teaches them stuff. Today's topic is basic science, they're old enough for that now. Astronomy!

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabitha wants to go to space someday, even after being informed her wings won't be of much use that high up.

Permalink Mark Unread

Perhaps they can invest in or invent proper space travel when they're adults. Things haven't been very exciting on that front since the Apollo program got cut.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke is more concerned with the prospect of other kids. 

Permalink Mark Unread

If he cares that much... They can get some of the more stable children and arrange some sort of group playtime. Monitored of course. There are three or four good candidates for this.

Permalink Mark Unread

He is very eager.

Permalink Mark Unread

Well, if it makes Zeke happy.

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll look into it. Tomorrow, probably, it's for the best to plan this a little more. How about... The two children from the Lycan program with the best control over the shifting, and Sam, a girl with a body made of watery jelly?

Permalink Mark Unread

That sounds fun!

Permalink Mark Unread

Their tutor will arrange it, if Mr. Lion heart approves.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"' He actually hugs the tutor.

Permalink Mark Unread

She hugs back. She does like kids.

Permalink Mark Unread

The prospect of extra companionship makes Zeke participate in the tests almost eagerly.

Permalink Mark Unread

And he starts to learns to use his inner magic. It's a matter of focus coupled with words and gestures. They hope he'll be better at it than average, given his ability. Slow going though. Today he managed to make a floating mote of light and that's about it. And it felt like overusing a muscle he didn't know he had.

Permalink Mark Unread

Despite herself, Tabby is trying to make an ability emerge. Mostly this involves shouting at toys that refuse to float or light on fire.

Permalink Mark Unread

They don't mind if he tries to teach his sister magic during free time, by the way.

Permalink Mark Unread

He tries, but she is not the patient of students.

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll have testing for Tabitha tomorrow too. Various things to try and... Provoke a reaction.

Permalink Mark Unread

She's not sure how to feel about this, but okay.

How's that play date coming together?

Permalink Mark Unread

It's on for tomorrow afternoon. But Sam is feeling more liquid than usual, and might not make it.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke hopes she can make it, but he understands.

Permalink Mark Unread

That sounds like it's pretty much bedtime.

Permalink Mark Unread

He falls asleep happy.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tomorrow morning's breakfast is mostly-unappealing health food for both of them! Delivered by Dr. Mendez and Mr. Lionheart.

Lionheart glances at them then scribbles furiously into a journal rather than actually interact with them in any way.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby's wondering what he's writing.

Permalink Mark Unread

He's certainly not going to tell them. He merely says, "Time to get to work, little ones," once they're done eating.

Permalink Mark Unread

"And then the other kids?" asks Zeke.

Permalink Mark Unread

"This afternoon, yes."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yay!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Come along, then. Ezekiel will be doing much the same as yesterday - I'm interested to see if you 'hear' your own workings - Tabitha will be given various exercises known to sometimes trigger latent abilities."

Permalink Mark Unread

They follow dutifully. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Ezekiel's tests are merely boring and mentally taxing. Tabitha's are arbitrary, and sometimes silly, uncomfortable, smelly, or painful.

Permalink Mark Unread

She is starting to remember why she was kind of glad she didn't get an extra talent.

Permalink Mark Unread

Lunch comes as promised, though Mr. Lionheart seems kind of disappointed with both of them.

Permalink Mark Unread

This bothers Zeke, but he's sustaining himself with the prospect of the play date. 

"How were your tests?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"They made me stick my arms in this horrible slime stuff that made them fall asleep, then they pocked with this hurty stick thing."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That sucks. Maybe they'll leave you alone now."

Permalink Mark Unread

Lunch comes with a warning from Mr. Abraham. "Sam is coming, she mostly recovered, but I'd like you to be careful not to upset her. Her health suffers when she feels sad or nervous."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I promise," he says very earnestly.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good, good. We're bringing you all to a room in the compound. You can bring a couple books and toys if you like. We'll go in a minute or two."

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke chooses to bring a puzzle and The Big Book of Plants and Animals.

Permalink Mark Unread

And then they're both walked to a sort of lounge or break room. There aren't any toys other than what they brought, it probably isn't usually used for this.

Three other kids are here. The roundish one - translucent limbs, bending where they're normally straight, it looks a bit creepy and wrong - bounces liquidly from her position sitting on the floor and grins. "Hi!!"

Permalink Mark Unread

It's weird, but he was expecting it. "Hi! Are you Sam?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. You're Zeke. You look like you can fly!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yup." He tries to show her best he can in such a small room. "Pleased to meet you."

Permalink Mark Unread

She claps, and her hands stop being hands for a moment with each impact. They come back when she's done.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Neat!" 

Permalink Mark Unread

"I kinda wish I could keep myself solid all the time though. I can do tricks with being all liquidy, but I'm not very strong since I have no bones."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm sure the doctors will figure out a way."

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabitha meanwhile is introducing herself to the the other two children, a pair of related looking redheads. "Hi! I'm Tabby, what are your names?"

Permalink Mark Unread

The girl smiles a little, but otherwise doesn't respond.

Permalink Mark Unread

The boy meanwhile looks wary.

Permalink Mark Unread

"They're trying to help yeah, but sometimes it feels like they're just guessing... They gave me this thing." She pulls a necklace out past the clothes - it grabs a piece of her skin along the way, which turns to water. "It makes it need less effort to keep my shape, but it also makes it harder to do things like this..." She grabs their book from across the room with a stretchy arm.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Cooool."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I know right!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's better than my talent."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, you mean besides flying?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I hear magic. It's more boring than it sounds."

Permalink Mark Unread

"If you say so. I just hope I don't keep going all melty whenever I get upset."

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby is still playing with the other two children, which is nice, though she ain't getting much information from them.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Can you hear anything from me and you and Angie and Joey?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. Your music is very tinkly. Like wind chimes."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Huh. I thought I would sound like a river or something."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It never makes much sense. Angie and Joey-those are the ones with red hair, right-sound like drums."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't know much about them. They're all grumpy."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sometimes people are. Especially after tests."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, guess so."

Permalink Mark Unread

"They make you do much?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Mostly a lot of practice going liquidy and then back again. They also found out that I'm especially bad with, ahem, 'water soluble toxins', so they do stuff to try and help with that and then give me a little bit of this nasty stinging stuff to see if it worked. It usually doesn't."

Permalink Mark Unread

"They used that stuff on my sister yesterday." 

Speaking of Tabby, she and the redheads are giggling and wrestling in the corner.

Permalink Mark Unread

Sam edges away from it. "They'll punch holes in me if I try to wrestle..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's okay, we can play over here. You like puzzles?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Puzzles are fun, yeah!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"What's your room like?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's got this anti-water stuff everywhere, and it's sort of like a bowl? Parts of me leak off sometimes and I have to go pick them back up or eat like five pounds of food. It stinks. My window goes to the outside though, it's a nice view."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maybe you could come visit me and Tabby's room sometime. Like a sleepover!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'd worry about losing bits. But maybe. It'd be a milestone or something!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...What happens if you go in a swimming pool? Me and Tabby sometimes get to swim when we've been good and it's warm."

Permalink Mark Unread

She looks uncomfortable. "They've tried that with special baths and stuff. I... Hey... Are there any parts of your body that you don't like? ...Let's look at your puzzle."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure....and my feet are weird."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I get all... Bloaty." Aand she's done talking about that. What's the puzzle like?

Permalink Mark Unread

It's a five hundred piece picture of a fantasy kingdom. 

Meanwhile, Angie and the little lycos are still rough housing. 

Permalink Mark Unread

She has no special skill at puzzle-solving, but knows you find all the corners and edges first, at least.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabitha and the lycos are getting very, very excited. Probably a little too excited.

Permalink Mark Unread

When they cross the 'too excited' threshold, the adult reading in the corner says, "Hey, cut it out! You're not supposed to be roughhousing."

Permalink Mark Unread

And now the lycos are wolves!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Best magic, best magic!" screams Tabby while the two wolf cubs try to work their way out of their ruined clothes. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Calm down this instant or I'll use the tranquilizers! You two agreed to play nice."

Permalink Mark Unread

"But they are playing nice." As self consciously fierce as the wolf cubs are trying to be, any objective observer would say they were playing. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Roughhousing needs to be done outside."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Then let us outside!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'll need to clear that with the higher ups. In the meantime, no roughhousing."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Okay." 

The two lycos relax and let Tabby pet them. 

"Good puppies."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good. We'll see about outside time, if you three behave for now."

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby and the lycos sit down next Sam and Zeke, the latter two resuming human form.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Cubs, not puppies."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Help us match pieces for the puzzle?" Sam asks kindly.

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You just have to be patient and try hard. Everything will be okay. Like this puzzle."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't see why it's such a big deal," Angie mutters under her breath.

Permalink Mark Unread

"They're trying to help..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Help with what? We weren't doing anything."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Help make us good enough to function in adult society and not need help anymore."

Permalink Mark Unread

"And not letting us play now is helping that?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Adults can't play rough wherever they want. They'll break things by accident, or annoy people who are trying to do something else." She puts on a stern, slightly proud big-sister-look.

Permalink Mark Unread

"They also shouldn't shred their perfectly nice playdate clothes." 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Not as nice as fur!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I probably shouldn't try to feel your fur, I'd stick to it. Kind of want to though..."

Permalink Mark Unread

Joey is now a cub again, in case Sam gets the nerve to try.

Permalink Mark Unread

Nope. She works on the puzzle, chatting about who found matches for this or that piece.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Angel pictures are silly. Their wings grow out of their backs!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"That probably makes it easier for them to hold stuff. I think if you had separate wings and arms... Well, but then you would be heavier and maybe have a hard time coordinating, huh?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"And we couldn't wear shirts."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What's wrong with that?"

Permalink Mark Unread

He giggles. "Shut up!"

Permalink Mark Unread

She giggles too. "I don't know if angels are even real though. A lot of things are fictional."

The supervisor gives a Look at this but doesn't correct her.

Permalink Mark Unread

"We must compare notes on what is fictional!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Sam is eager about this prospect!

She seems to have a good idea - lots of things she knows definitely are fictional. She's less eager to say something is very definitely real, since she hasn't actually seen any of the things.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke does have a little trouble remembering what superheroes are real and which are pretend.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, that's complicated. Did you know that 'Paladin' was actually a real guy? He just died a while ago. But they don't call being tough and flying Paladin Powers for nothing."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Cool! Well, I guess me and Tabby are halfway there."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, guess so!"

They spend some time speculating on which other heroes are probably real. Sam likes Vorpal because his power sounds a little similar to hers - he bends space and mostly uses it to move himself, people, and things around super fast.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby is a little too interested in the villains.

Permalink Mark Unread

The scientists think that if someone is going to be antisocial and uncooperative the time for this playdate is over now.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'll be good!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do you understand what being good means here?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Being nice and cooperative," she sing songs. Her smile is a little forced.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well- Broadly, yes. We're trying to teach you all to be healthy productive members of society. A lot of that is knowing the rules and following them. If you play nice we can have... Another forty five minutes or so, sound good?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yay!" she nuzzles the Angie-cub.

Permalink Mark Unread

The big bad chaperone-scientist-guy retreats to the corner to read his stack of papers.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Your magic is so coooool."

Permalink Mark Unread

Joey prompt assumes a form somewhere between wolf and child. It's obscenely adorable.

Permalink Mark Unread

Sam still edges away from it. Fur and carpet and anything fluffy, she doesn't do well near. 

They've made noticeable progress on the puzzle, but are nowhere near done.

Permalink Mark Unread

Angie is surprisingly good at puzzles.

Permalink Mark Unread

It's still a pretty complicated puzzle for a bunch of kids to do in an hour.

When the chaperone calls an end to the playdate he offers to try and move the puzzle, as intact as possible, back to their room. Looks a bit bored about it though.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Um, Mr, could Joey and Angie take it?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Huh, let me ask."

He whispers into his walkie-talkie for a little while. "Yes, they can take it if you two don't mind. What a kind thought, Tabitha! Very good."

Permalink Mark Unread

The lycos give her a very appreciative look. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Bye Sam. It was very good meeting you."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You too! I hope we can play together again."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Same."

Permalink Mark Unread

So they're all escorted back to their rooms. The wolves' are... Nice enough, though everything here is selected for being very durable.

Permalink Mark Unread

They're looking rather glum about being separated from the others, Tabby especially.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Dont worry, I'm sure they'll let us play together again soon. Maybe outside!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Only if you do well in lessons and tests, though, children."

Permalink Mark Unread

"We will, promise!"

Permalink Mark Unread

They're left alone besides a delivery of dinner until bedtime.

Permalink Mark Unread

They eat with their usual voraciousness, and climb into bed, happier than they've been in a long time. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Good. Hopefully also more obedient than they've been in a long time.

Permalink Mark Unread

They are. Even Tabby tries a lot harder.

Permalink Mark Unread

Good! They can have some more play-dates, clearly patterned on when they behave well and do well in lessons. A few more of the children here get introduced, to make up for when Angie and Joey don't earn socializing time. Sam is very well-behaved and continues to show improvement. They treat her well - they want to see how her body reacts to puberty, if she even goes into it at the appropriate age. Zeke learns a little more magic, but it's hard and complicated - he can't do anything big yet. Tabby continues to not develop any special ability so eventually they give up trying to poke her into it and mutter about whether she's as good for the program as they once thought.

 

And then one day, looking very upset and rushed, Dr. Abraham bursts in and says, "Uh, hate to spring this on you two, but we've got to move to a new facility. Everyone's packing up and going. Here's, uh, okay sorry no time, grab your favorite toy and let's go."

Permalink Mark Unread

The twins each grab a stuffed animal, while Zeke tucks their mum's letters into his pocket.

Permalink Mark Unread

"What's going on?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"We're being attacked by meddling supers. Hurry, this way... There's a bunch of trucks."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Why would superheroes attack us?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Did I say they were heroes? They're shutting down our research! Just, just shut up and hurry to the trucks!"

Permalink Mark Unread

The follow along.

Permalink Mark Unread

A lot of other kids, many scared and confused, and scientists grabbing bundles of notes and things, are in the halls.

There are half a dozen armored trucks down in a section they've never seen before. They can hear explosions and fwoosh sounds in the distance.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke clutches his sister's hand tightly, while they look around for their various playmates. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Sam is here, wrapped up in some kind of plastic bubble. Her legs are a pile of goo and she's shaking, eyes closed.

Angie and Joey went into that truck whose back just closed and is driving off. Other playmates vary - they only spot a few.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke thinks about calling out to them, but he finds himself unable to speak. 

Permalink Mark Unread

And now there are two unfamiliar supers here - a woman in a yellow costume with lightning bolt motif and a man in power armor of some kind.

They gape in mild horror at the assembled experiments before them. They knew Lionheart's reputation, but this...

Someone shouts, "Perimeter down! Scrub the samples!"

Gunfire from the more thuggish looking 'scientists'.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke screams and covers his ears, eyes screwed shut.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby's fingers meanwhile have suddenly manifested what look like talons made of light, which she immediately puts to work tearing out the guards' throats.

Permalink Mark Unread

Everything is chaotic. Twenty seconds that feel like ten minites.

When it's done the guards are dead or disarmed, all but two trucks are screaming down the road, the heroes are shouting at the children in Spanish, and most of the still-mobile experiments and 'scientists' are scattering in every direction.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke knows that at least some of the other children would have been killed. He can't bear to find out who, especially if Sam, or Patricta, or Gregor are in their number.

He takes to the air.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Zeke!" She follows him into the sky.

Permalink Mark Unread

The heroes shout at them to please stay, but are far too busy triaging to chase after them.

On the far side of the compound there is another running battle. Mr. Lionheart and a bunch of cronies with very powerfully magical looking gear versus a bunch of heroes. They appear to be in a standoff.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke just wants to get away. His sister is busy trying to keep up.

Permalink Mark Unread

The desert is wide, and they're faster and higher than everyone else who's running. A hero follows for a while but turns back. All of that is behind them soon.

Permalink Mark Unread

They fly till they're almost exhausted enough to fall out of the sky, and find a shallow cave to fall asleep in. 

Permalink Mark Unread

They must be hungry by now.

Permalink Mark Unread

Yes, very. What is there for them to possibly eat?

Permalink Mark Unread

Agave fruits are edible, one of Sam's fun facts. Some cactus fruit too but thry can't recognize which are which. There are some birds and small critters they could try to catch.

Permalink Mark Unread

They are surprised by how good they are at catching critters. And how agreeable they are even when eaten raw.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't think Mr. Lionheart cared about helping us," says Zeke over a freshly killed coyote. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"They called us 'samples'. I wonder if any of them really cared."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Do you think Sam is okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't think a bullet would've hurt her too badly. I'm worried about Angie and Joey, I mean, what if the people driving the truck got the same order and-and-" she starts crying. 

Permalink Mark Unread

He tries to comfort her.

Permalink Mark Unread

 

 

The desert gets surprisingly cold at night.

Permalink Mark Unread

They attempt to keep each other warm via snuggling.

Permalink Mark Unread

It helps, a bit. Starting a fire might prove necessary though. Or finding something blanket-like. If they don't, they won't get much sleep.

Permalink Mark Unread

Turns out prolonged contact with Tabby's new plasma talons can make things ignite.

The next morning, the twins take flight again. There's so much space

Permalink Mark Unread

Plasma does that.

Are they heading in any particular direction? They can see a lonely dirt road off to the south somewhere (and that's definitely the south over there, though neither of them will be sure why they know it's south). An unfamiliar scent is carried on the winds that blow from the west. And north is where they saw those lights at night.

Permalink Mark Unread

For now they decide to follow the scent.

Permalink Mark Unread

They pass a farm on the way there. Their books had pictures of farms, and this looks kind of like one except more rusty, muddy, and ramshackle than that guy Old McDonald's farm. It's got fields and goats, anyway.

Permalink Mark Unread

They stop to pet the goats...and maybe try and steal some food from their kitchen.

Permalink Mark Unread

They're interrupted. "¡Oy! Mi comida! Sal, ladrones! Tengo arma! Vete, vete, vola!" This guy is certainly angry. And he has a shotgun, which is being waved threateningly.

Permalink Mark Unread

They flee into the sky!

Permalink Mark Unread

He can't exactly chase, but shouts angrily up at them as they fly off.

Permalink Mark Unread

Is that scent still there to follow?

Permalink Mark Unread

Yes. It's kind of pervasive, actually, just stronger in the west.

There's more signs of civilization this way. More people than they've ever seen before. Dozens of houses, these strange wires running everywhere.

But they probably notice the hugeness of the ocean before that seaside town.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Wow, the pictures really don't do it justice."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I wish the others could see this."

Permalink Mark Unread

Before heading into town, the twins swim a bit. And discover how tasty fish can be.

Permalink Mark Unread

The salt gets into their feathers. It's pretty uncomfortable and makes flying harder.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Pool is definitely better."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maybe we should walk into town?"

Permalink Mark Unread

The town: Is a small town. The people here all look more like Dr. Mendez than Dr. Abraham. There's trash bins they could dig through... It might be a good idea to avoid too much attention, they look strange and who knows what people will decide to do about that.

Permalink Mark Unread

They stay out of sight, and go dumpster diving behind a small restaurant. Not a pleasant experience. 

Permalink Mark Unread

There's better places to sleep. Right outside an exhaust vent, in a big warm metal tube. Minimally smelly, even.

Permalink Mark Unread

Then that's where they sleep.

Permalink Mark Unread

A cat finds them in its usual sleeping spot and picks a fight, but after they chase it off they can sleep soundly.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Cats are stupid," says Tabby sleepily.

Permalink Mark Unread

There's new garbage in the morning. Restaurants have a high ratio of fresh-ish food to other trash.

Permalink Mark Unread

Despite themselves, they're kind of missing the enclosure.

Permalink Mark Unread

What are they going to do next?

America is to the north. It's a better place to be than Mexico, everyone seems to think so. They have the Junior Hero Programs too.

Permalink Mark Unread

America seems like a good enough goal for now. Zeke seems a little interested in the junior hero thing.

Permalink Mark Unread

There is a proper city near the US-Mexico border. A strange sort of city though - very dense and heavy right up until the border, where a barbed wire fence turns the thick city into flat desert.

Permalink Mark Unread

Fences aren't much of a concern.

Permalink Mark Unread

Then, they're over America now.

Permalink Mark Unread

America seems much like Mexico at the moment.

Permalink Mark Unread

Well, the roads are nicer. And the farms are generally nicer too, though they still vary.

Permalink Mark Unread

How long does it take them to find a town?

Permalink Mark Unread

Not long... A big city starts on the American side a few miles past. Apparently that 'wilderness' was some kind of giant park. There's a sign that says 'Welcome to San Diego'.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Ooh, I heard about this place."

Permalink Mark Unread

There are lots of different buildings, shops, lots of people walking around, et cetera. Anything in particular they look for?

Permalink Mark Unread

A newsagent?

Permalink Mark Unread

Do they know how to recognize reporters?

They can probably recognize newspapers, at least, the scientists read them sometimes.

Permalink Mark Unread

They've seen enough television to recognise a newstand. 

Permalink Mark Unread

When they land near it, the news stand's operator gives a friendly wave. "New partsies, eh? Welcome to San Diego. Bit young for powers aren't you two?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Partsies?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Part humans. Supers who have glowing eyes, or blue skin. Or wings. Anything that's much different from what the rest of us have."

Permalink Mark Unread

"And what do you mean too young?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well, nobody's really sure how powers happen, right? Same deal for part humans. Except most of the time partsies get powers when they're teenagers. You two can't be older than nine."

Permalink Mark Unread

"We were born this way. So were all the kids we knew."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Wait a minute... I heard something about that. Mad scientist down in Mexico, Jesus, were you two with that sick Lionheart ba- guy?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Yeah."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Augh. Whole thing is a giant mess, innit? You two hurt?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...I hurt people."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sometimes it's hurt or get hurt... Why don't you two sit down? Here, split my sandwich. I was gonna have it for lunch but you look hungry."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thank you."

Permalink Mark Unread

 

He goes into the stand and makes a quiet phone call to the Superhuman Activity hotline while they're distracted by food. And also child services. These two need help.

Permalink Mark Unread

Food is very good at distracting the kids with boosted metabolisms. 

Permalink Mark Unread

He's back fast, despite the operator's urging to back away and let the heroes come deal with it. "How's the grub?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Great! Got anymore?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Not on me. Tell you what though, the local heroes... They'll take much better care of you than that jerk Lionheart. They actually care about everyone. That's what hero means. And they're probably on their way here to come look at ya. You're not exactly sneaky, just saying."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Where are they going to take us?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't know much about it. Probably an orphanage or a hospital, at least at first. Give you somewhere to sleep while they figure out what you two want, and what you need. See if Lionheart's goons hurt you in ways you don't know about. You didn't take any medicine from him, did you? Some folks need medicine every day. I'd be worried you two do, too."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...They gave lots of medicines, but I don't know if we needed them."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's what doctors - good doctors, not evil ones, I swear - are for. They'll know all about medicines and everything else. Even if partsies are all a bit different from each other."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What do we do now?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"You can wait here if you like. If you want to go with them. Or you can fly off if you don't trust the government. Heaven knows I might not, after what you two must've gone through. I happen to know that the only flying hero San Diego has is out of town, so you can probably get away if you want to. Just thought I'd explain things straight."

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke curls up and starts rocking.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think you two could use a family, is the problem. The foster system doesn't have a good score on that front. But neither does wandering around the city blind and friendless. I'm not sure how to help ya. I'm really not."

Permalink Mark Unread

"We have a mum, somewhere. I think."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Family's not necessarily about who you were inside when you were babies. More like love."

Permalink Mark Unread

 

 

"But she sent us letters."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh. Do you... Know where to find her? If the foster system believes you, she'll probably get to take care of you two, eventually. If they can find her and verify that you're really her kids. Still a long shot."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Place names always got blacked out for some reason."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Of course they did. Hey... Heroes are probably getting here soon. Go with them or fly off, time to choose."

Permalink Mark Unread

Someone absolutely humming with lots of shiny magic jogs briskly up to the newsstand. She's also wearing enough metal, particularly brass, that it probably counts as a costume. "Oh, it's that mechanic villain again..."

"Ahem. Not a villain, I am an independent super. Have you ever seen me rob a store? Nothing crass like that. Couldn't help but overhear what y'all were discussing. Let me suggest a third option. Come with me. I take care of runaways and orphans, seeing as I was one. Maybe can even point you towards your mum."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Take care how?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Give you a warm place to sleep tonight. Food. Some secondhand clothes. A listening ear, if y'all want it. And find ways to let you earn money and keep yourselves going, later on. No traps. No strings, at least for the first day."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What do you think?" he asks the the newsstand owner. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"...She's probably still a criminal, but she's not violent. More Starfall than Red Ripper." Those being the names of two relatively famous villains - the first remarkable for cat burglar style heists, and the second for going on a brutal rampage before being caught and executed.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Will you get in trouble if we go?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nah. I was a helpless bystander before the might of the mysterious and powerful Mecharcanist."

She smirks and tips her be-goggled hat. "Thank you kindly for the compliment."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...I think we should go with her. And if she's bad, we can turn ourselves into the heroes."

Permalink Mark Unread

He nods blankly.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I won't try to stop you, if you do. Tell you it's a bad idea maybe. But nobody'll stop you from leaving if I have anything to say about it. Follow me, stay close, please." She unwraps one of her super loud magic things. "This'll disguise us. We just walk down the street and look confused when the heroes run past."

Permalink Mark Unread

They obey nervously.

Permalink Mark Unread

She does an 'exasperated big sister' act when a police officer warns her of villain activity, then waves him off and keeps going.

Soon they're out of the commotion and walking through a park. "I only heard part of your story. Lionheart, mad scientist, you two were raised by him? That sucks hard."

Permalink Mark Unread

"We didn't know he was a mad scientist till last night. We thought he cared about us."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You never know how to tell who actually hates you until you get punched in the gut by it at least once. Sometimes not even then." She grimaces. "You two okay at dealing with bad smells? Tunnels? We can go another way if not."

Permalink Mark Unread

"We can try."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Tunnels are sneakier but we can get to the safehouse above ground too."

Permalink Mark Unread

They'd prefer above ground.

Permalink Mark Unread

Above ground it is. 

She leaves a wax paper wrapped package under a dumpster and retrieved one that was already there along the way. And then soon they come to what looks like an abandoned warehouse from the outside.

Permalink Mark Unread

Is there any magic coming off it?

Permalink Mark Unread

Not nearly as much as Mecharcanist, but some. "Doesn't look like much. Let's hop up to the roof." She floats up slowly.

Permalink Mark Unread

The fly up to the roof. 

Permalink Mark Unread

And down a skylight that proves to have a ladder and into a rather plain and kind of small room. There's a large bed, a small bathroom with toilet and sink, a closet piled with generic clothes, and a shelf full of packaged food, and that's about it. In terms of magic: The light, the toilet, and the bed have some. "Welcome to safehouse thirteen... That number's a joke. I don't tell anyone how many I actually have and if I did I'd be lying."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's nice," Zeke lies.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hey, at least you're not stealing from a dumpster to eat today. Take this - it can call me. I'll be back in an hour. Relax if you can."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do you have any toys? Or books?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Here, have a puzzle thingy."

It's slightly magical. Looks kind of like a rubiks cube.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thank you." 

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're welcome. I'll be back in an hour. Sorry to run off. If something happens fly away and call me with the crystal, okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay." 

He curls up on the bed while Tabby tries to engage him with the puzzle.

Permalink Mark Unread

 

Nothing particularly alarming happens until they hear two voices arguing on the street. Teenagers. The object at issue seems to be which one of them should hold their gun.

Permalink Mark Unread

Guns do not a happy pair of bird children make. Tabby turns on her plasma talons.

Permalink Mark Unread

The teenagers don't notice the noise all the way down there. And they wander off soon enough.

Permalink Mark Unread

"We should've gone with the heroes," whimpers Zeke.

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's not that bad. Not like those guys had anything to do with Mercharcanist." 

Permalink Mark Unread

 

She's back in an hour. "Sorry again. I interrupped something to help you away from the heroes but that's done now. How you two doing?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Me and Zeke finished the puzzle...Okay, I finished the puzzle. Zeke still a bit shaken."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay. Hope you can calm down, Zeke. You wanna go to the main halfway house now? This place is just for a couple hours. More people there, who'll take care of you good and proper. Or you can stay here if it feels safer."

Permalink Mark Unread

"We should go. There were people with guns outside."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Ugh, those idiots again. Well. They didn't know you were here. But I'm kind of an idiot here for leaving you in this bolt-hole. Maybe I should go teach them another lesson."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're not going to hurt them are you?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maybe a little. You have to sometimes, to make your point stick in the thicker skulls. Not worse than knocking them over or something if I have to. They already know I make life inconvenient for gangs bein' openly nasty around here, so just being intimidating might be enough."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do what you need to do."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh but first, let me get you two to the real carehouse. We can fly the whole way, I picked up different gear and the heroes probably gave up looking for you by now."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yay!" 

Permalink Mark Unread

"You guys must think flying is pretty great, huh?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. We've always had room to fly, but never for very long."

Permalink Mark Unread

'Probably best to do that over the state park by the border if you're going to do it anywhere. Less likely planes or helicopters or other supers will bother you there."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thanks. But first, this foretold halfway house."

Permalink Mark Unread

They fly there, high above the city.

It's disguised as an old arcade and movie theater. It even has some machines and two screens working. But most of the place is given over to a lot of bedrooms and playrooms. A short blond guy wearing sunglasses and a kind of ridiculous gelled-spikes hairstyle meets them when they land on the roof.

"Hey Juno. This is Tabby and Zeke. They were in Lionheart's place. Don't scare 'em. He's nice, I swear."

"Nice to meet ya two! I don't bite. We're showing the new Disney movie in a few minutes if you wanna come watch."

Permalink Mark Unread

"There's a new Disney movie?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah!" He smiles at them. "It's called Cosmic Caster, about this girl who's secretly a space princess. Walta, you oughta watch it too! Wouldn't do to leave your new charges with a shady character like me, eh?"

"Oh, stop. I'll stay though. Good break, spend time with everyone, after a day like today."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I didn't even know they still made new Disneys!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Oh, it's not actually a Disney. Disney the company doesn't exist anymore. But a lot of the guys who worked on Disney movies did this one, including that famous director guy. Lasseter? The Pixar guy."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Close enough!" He follows Juno with Tabby.

Permalink Mark Unread

Walta talks with someone else a bit, and makes a delivery, then joins them in the theater.

Permalink Mark Unread

They settle in amongst the other children and introduce themselves.

Permalink Mark Unread

The other kids - whose ages vary from about seven-looking to smallish teenager - mostly rush over and crowd around them eagerly. "New kids! You're partsies! What's your powers?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Um, well, it's kind of weird to think we have proper powers. I guess we're a lot stronger and faster than kids our age, and we can fly! Also, these!" Cue plasma talons. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"I can hear magic. Any of you guys have powers?"

Permalink Mark Unread

The general consensus is: SO COOOL!!

Juno breaks up the barrage of questions (on what Tabby can cut, on what Zeke hears magic as and how far and how strong they are, on who their favorite hero is...) short by wondering whether he needs to cancel the movie, just as Walta walks back in.

Permalink Mark Unread

"They haven't answered my question!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"None of us have powers... Roland did but he left the urchin gang a while ago. He was too old anyway." The girl reporting this sniffs.

Permalink Mark Unread

"What could he do?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"He bends space in really weird hard to understand ways and can make paradox things. Have you heard of M.C. Escher? Stuff like that, except it falls apart pretty quick. And we should really start the movie now if we're going to do it at all. I'll pass out popcorn."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Cool!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Popcorn is delivered in smallish bags by clicking (magical, a bright xylophone tune) little helicopter things.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke does a little dance in his seat.

Permalink Mark Unread

"What'chu dancing for?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"The magic coming off the helicopter is pretty."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Ooh! I want to show you some stuff later! ...Movie is starting now though."

Permalink Mark Unread

The twins sit quietly.

Permalink Mark Unread

The movie opens with a rip-off of Superman. The space princess's dad sends her to Earth in a little spaceship and defiantly tells the villain-looking guy that he'll never find her now.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabitha is silently asking herself the same question she had about Superman: Why don't these people ever build bigger ships?

Permalink Mark Unread

The movie elides over this to show the space princess's Typical Suburban Life Growing Up, and how she likes astronomy, and then jumps right into the big exciting adventurey parts after only a few minutes.

Permalink Mark Unread

At least the movie has its priorities straight.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke enjoyed it more than most boys his age might care to admit. He's also singing the soundtrack once the credits roll.

Permalink Mark Unread

Soon it will be time for a barrage of powers-questions from the other kids again. But for now, "We don't do movies all the time, and you need to do chores or other work unless you absolutely can't... But do you think you two will be okay here?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"We've never really had to do chores, but they can't be worse than tests or checkups."

Permalink Mark Unread

"The guy at the newspaper stand said we should see a doctor, though."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I have a doctor. Not, like, all the time, but she comes by once in a while to check up on everyone. If you want me to be there when she comes then I will."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That would be good. You aren't going to make us rob banks or hurt people are you?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Definitely no robbing banks. That's a horrible idea. Almost definitely no hurting people, and if you do, it would be because they tried to hurt you. I won't make you. My biggest idea was to have you deliver stuff."

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke perks up at this. "Does this mean we'd get to fly a lot?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, if you want to do that."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You have to ask?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yep. I do have to ask. You never know."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do you want us to do anything now?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Not yet. Couple days to plan stuff for you. Plus I should let you get used to here and think about stuff."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What do we do till then?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"There's playrooms. Juno will get you a room and show you the kitchen if you wanna eat or sleep. Maybe fly a bit, if you're careful not to lead people here."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay." This honestly sounds too nice to him.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nobody will complain if you want to help with some chores, but you don't have to yet."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good. It's nice having things to do."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. Do you guys want me to stay here, or be alone? Either's fine."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Some time alone would be nice, yeah."

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke nods.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Got it. You can still call me with the crystal if you need me."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thank you."

Permalink Mark Unread

So she leaves.

Permalink Mark Unread

"She seems nice."

Permalink Mark Unread

"So did the people at the Academy..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't think they were all bad. Dr. Abraham loved us a bit."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I hope Sam and the others are okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

Somebody shouts 'DINNER!' In the distance, banging on a pot.

Permalink Mark Unread

Food never fails to raise the twins' spirits. 

 

Permalink Mark Unread

How do they feel about Mac and Cheese? And pancakes, for some reason.

Permalink Mark Unread

Is it food that isn't bland healthy fare? Than it's great!

Permalink Mark Unread

Thry may find other kids' suggestions on what to put on their pancakes dubious. Blueberries, maybe. But... Peanut butter? Really?

Permalink Mark Unread

Having other kids around at all is nice. They sometimes had lunch or even early dinner with the other "samples", but this somehow feels different.

Permalink Mark Unread

There's plenty of free socializing, for sure. And kids joking around and teasing each other. And kids asking questions about their powers.

Permalink Mark Unread

They try to answer these questions as best they can. Although they are a little self conscious about their feet.

Permalink Mark Unread

Their feet are mostly going unnoticed. They're under the table and all.

Permalink Mark Unread

"You know, I never really thought we had powers."

Permalink Mark Unread

Huh? They're obviously partsies. They can fly. That counts as powers.

Permalink Mark Unread

"It doesn't seem like that when you were born that way."

Permalink Mark Unread

The other children are mostly of the opinion that it counts anyway.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Flying is funner than fun, though."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I bet! It must be like a rollercoaster you can aim yourself!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"You've been on a roller coaster?

Permalink Mark Unread

"Just once. At the state fair. It shook around a lot, but it was fun."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Then maybe!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maybe you can try one yourself sometime and compare."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Cool. When's the state fair?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't know. Summer probably? There are better rollercoasters. Miss Mecha says fairground coasters are cheap and unsafe..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'd take you guys flying if I could."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I was in a plane once," comments one of the relatively few pale-skinned kids, "It's not as good as a roller coaster."

Permalink Mark Unread

"How long has Miss Mecha been taking care of you guys?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Answers vary: Two weeks to three years. One teen-looking boy sheepishly murmurs that he'll probably have to leave soon, but hopes they'll let her stay and work at the theater or something.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Is she nice?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"She's... She cares about us. She's kinda scary sometimes. Not always nice..."

"Sandy deserved to get kicked out. She was stealing stuff."

"But she's fair I guess, yeah."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nicer than the people who're supposed to take care of kids without parents?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Their opinions are really really divided on the government's foster system. They don't really seem to understand it either.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sorry, sorry, shouldn't have asked."

Permalink Mark Unread

No, now he must listen to their opinions. Don't trust them! No, they're good if you actually get into the system right. Some of the parents are good but the caretakers doesn't care. Most of the parents will treat you like a prize dog actually!

Permalink Mark Unread

"We've never really known our parents."

Permalink Mark Unread

Real parents are just like foster parents but worse. The foster system kicks out really really bad parents but nobody is doing anything to help pick your birth mom.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Ours sent us letters."

Permalink Mark Unread

Good for them!

They were nice letters, hopefully.

...But you never know what she would be like in person, mutters one small boy.

Permalink Mark Unread

"If she didn't like us, why would she send letters?"

Permalink Mark Unread

He doesn't answer. Runs off scowling, in fact.

Permalink Mark Unread

He feels bad and goes after him. "Did I say something? I'm sorry!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Leave me alone!"

The big theater-staff-hopeful teenager grabs Zeke by the shoulder. "Let him go. He's had a rough time."

Permalink Mark Unread

"And I didn't help."

Permalink Mark Unread

He lets go of Zeke's shoulder. "It's no good to remind people of their bad stuff if they don't want to talk about it. He's skittish."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

That seems to have put a big damper on the whole conversation. A lot of the kids are wandering away now.

One girl stays back. She has a prominent scar from her eye, down her nose to her lip. "My pa gave this to me. He was drunk. He said it was an accident. It wasn't."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm sorry."

Permalink Mark Unread

"No you're not. You didn't do it. But that's the kind of sh- stuff, Miss Mecha doesn't like me to swear in front of littles, that's the kind of stuff we all on the run from. Some worse than others."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...The people who took care of us tried to kill us."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. Sucks to be us... Is that a bad one? I can never tell."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I've used it a few times and not been told off. But those were the shooty guys."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Guess not then. Words change. It used to be really bad, I know, 'cause my grandma hated it so much."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Like how one of our doctors tried to get me to use heck instead of Hell."

Permalink Mark Unread

She snickers. "Well, you're here now. Have fun in the urchin gang." She turns to leave.

Permalink Mark Unread

"We'll do our best!"

Permalink Mark Unread

The makeshift cafeteria is now empty. There are cleaning-sounds coming from one door. 

Permalink Mark Unread

The twins see if they can open the door.

Permalink Mark Unread

Yep. Behind it is a kitchen, in cleaning-mode.

Permalink Mark Unread

As in, people cleaning it, or it's cleaning itself?

Permalink Mark Unread

A little bit of both. The dish-washing is at least partially automated, and there is a microwave-sized (magic, woodwinds to Zeke) whirling brass contraption that appears to be sorting silverware. Most of the human cleaners are kids and teens.

Permalink Mark Unread

the twins ask if they want any more hands.

Permalink Mark Unread

Sure! Put on a hairnet... Feathernet? Needs to cover anything that could break off their heads anyway. Then grab some gloves and a sponge and start scrubbing dishes, there's plenty of room on the conveyor belt.

Permalink Mark Unread

It's a little foreign to them, but they try their best. Zeke sings a little while they work.

Permalink Mark Unread

Some singing is acceptable! The 'music' of magic is still 'audible' over the heavy noise of cleanup, at least to him.

Permalink Mark Unread

He's trying to put words to it.

Permalink Mark Unread

The cleanup moves along pretty fast. It's not clear of Zeke and Tabby in particular are speeding it up much, but in about fifteen minutes most of the kids start peeling off their hairnets and leaving only a few teenagers to finish up.

Permalink Mark Unread

The twins follow whoever's closest to their size.

Permalink Mark Unread

Apparently cleanup crew get double dessert! Mmm, brownies.

 

Permalink Mark Unread

"We'd have to have let people poke us all day for brownies back at the academy," announces Zele between bites.

Permalink Mark Unread

'That's terrible!' beats 'That's better than chores!' by about three to one. One kid is confused, what academy?

Permalink Mark Unread

"Place where we grew up. I think they sorta made us, too."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Was it an evil mad science lab? Was there lava and henchmen and guard robots?"

"Shut up Billy, that's rude to ask."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's okay. But no, there weren't any guard robots or lava."

Permalink Mark Unread

Nobody else really knows what to say here.

Permalink Mark Unread

"There were other kids with magic, though."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Like what?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"There were these two kids who were as strong and fast as us, and they could turn into wolves!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's cool!"

"Aww, not tigers or lions or something?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"There was a girl who could do that!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"There was also a girl who was made of watery stuff and could stretch."

Permalink Mark Unread

"So many partsies..."

"I heard most of the ones they got out of the place are okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Really? Did you hear about any specific ones?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"They said the hospital 'declined to identify any specific patients'. Sorry."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh. Still, thank you."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm worried about the kids they already loaded onto vans."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't know what happened to them... Hey, you two have powers, that means you can get more favors from Miss Mecha than us. Maybe she can find out."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Of course!"

They continue to chat and play with the other urchins till either bedtime or they get to speak to Miss Mecha.

Permalink Mark Unread

Miss Mecha doesn't come to see them specifically. She did give them that call crystal, though.

They end up in a playroom sharing a bunch of (kind of damaged and worn) toys with other kids until Juno assigns them a room and makes sure the beds have sheets and pillows.

Permalink Mark Unread

Are they sharing with anyone else?

Permalink Mark Unread

Not currently, though there are four beds in this room.

Permalink Mark Unread

Company would actually be nice, but they're okay. The twins climb into the beds they somehow deem their favourites, and get the best night's sleep they've had for days. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Some several hundred miles away, two wolf-children are in... A much worse situation than they were a couple weeks ago. After the exhausting, terrified rough ride in the dark truck they were filed into a concrete room with no furniture other than two blankets and a pillow. No tests, no medicine, no food until late at night when the harried staff tossed prepackaged granola bars at them.

Things stabilized some in the next two days. But this facility is much less secure than the old one...

The heroes find it again. And this time, while being herded into trucks, there aren't enough scientists to keep track, to make sure none of the experiments slip away. They're rushed and not keeping track. A chance to slip away under the thundering blasts and sounds of magical combat?

Permalink Mark Unread

"Should we?"

Permalink Mark Unread

She nods.

Permalink Mark Unread

They change. They run. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Almost everyone is missing from this section. The sound of a crying baby is coming from that room. They have to negotiate some stairs.

There's the exit. Fresh air!

Permalink Mark Unread

And they're out!

Permalink Mark Unread

They appear to be in the middle of a hero fight! A massive man dressed like a luchador throws himself at the well-armed scientists again and again, ignoring all the hits they toss at him. A swarm of human-shaped plant amalgamations tries to advance on and attack the scientists. There is a curious spread of ice right across the only (well, the original) gap in the barbed wire fence.

Permalink Mark Unread

Are there any openings they could fit through?

Permalink Mark Unread

Not without getting cut. Maybe around the back of the bunker?

Some of the plant-things are running towards them.

Someone shouts - frighteningly loud - in Spanish, "You're wearing down! You're running out of ammo! Surrender and live!"

Permalink Mark Unread

The wolves lunge at the plant-things.

Permalink Mark Unread

This is exactly the wrong thing to do! The plant things do a very good job of entangling them! Even when they cut through part of it, they reform as vines and stems restricting their movements.

Permalink Mark Unread

They start rapidly shifting between their three forms.

Permalink Mark Unread

This doesn't seem to have much effect except making them uncomfortable.

The scientists retreat with some kind of jetpacks, eventually. The heroes all take deep breaths before declaring, "Okay, cleanup time, tell me what you see!"

"Your plants got two of those kids, Mrs. Avocado." 

"For the last time, don't call me that you idiot!"

The luchador comes over toward them and cheerily says, "Hola, what's up? You got in the way, sorry about that!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Angie only growls in response. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Let us go, let us go!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Gardener, loosen it a bit?" Their bindings relax to something somewhat comfortable. "We can't let you go until you calm down a little or we finish cleaning up. Sorry. I'm tough, but my friends aren't."

Permalink Mark Unread

The growling subsides a little. The two seem content to remain their wolf-child hybrid shape for the time being. 

Permalink Mark Unread

He runs off and makes a quick circuit of the place.

When he comes back, "I think you can let them out now, Gardener. We didn't save anyone else except a couple infants inside." He shakes his head. "What're your names, little wolves?"

The plants release them and flop to the ground, inert.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Joey."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Angie."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't know what you guys know about the outside world, but the people who were taking care of you before... Are not real doctors. They are evil people. Children should never be kept in a cage, or made as experiments. But since you and the others are already here, we must help them as best we can. We tried to rescue you and everyone else, but they are still very strong."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Are the others okay? Sam and the twins?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't know who you mean. Sorry. Were they here?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Don't know. We went in the truck first."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Eh, no idea. Sorry. What happens next... Well, it's a bit tricky. Thing is, that fool Lionheart has so many friends in the Mexican government. We can't just put you in the foster system. He'd find you and you'll disappear back into his hands."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Where do we go?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Our thought is to bring you to our hideout and take care of you there until something better comes along. We're heroes, you see, and we get help from American hero teams sometimes, but we have to be sneaky because bad guys don't leave heroes alone."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're not going to lock us up all day? Or not give us food because we've not tested good?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nope. You get to run around as long as you don't bring too much attention to our hideout, and you get food either way. You probably will have chores though. I think it will be better than... Tests."

Permalink Mark Unread

The little locals seem agreeable to this. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay! It looks like Mrs. Avocado is coming back up with the babies... Eh, don't tell her I called her that? One of our members called Crow can fly everyone to the hideout. It feels a bit strange though."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Can we be wolves for that? Things are less scary that way."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That will probably work! You don't look too big like that. You two gonna need some kind of velcro clothes or something though if you change a lot, eh?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Wolf cubs!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Follow me." He walks over to someone wearing a dramatic-looking silver and black costume, with a big... Eyebrow thing? Sticking out from his forehead. He sounds old. "So we did manage to get a couple of 'em. Good afternoon, young ones."

Permalink Mark Unread

"The others are dead, aren't they?" says a suddenly human Joey.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Some of 'em are. Not gonna lie." Luchador gives him a look, which Crow ignores. "Maybe a quarter of the ones that were here. About a third of the ones who were there in the first big mess. The rest are in hospitals or with other bands of heroes or in America or still with Lionheart."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Thanks for not lying."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Soundwave knows this internet thing. She talks to the other teams with it. She can ask them about your friends."

Permalink Mark Unread

Annnnd he's a wolf again.

Permalink Mark Unread

Crow and Luchador wait around for Gardener and Soundwave to show up. Gardener's costume is appropriately plant-themed, and Soundwave's is all curvy patterns dominated by purple and red.She's wearing one of those giant metal headphones you see DJs and airplane pilots have sometimes. They're both carrying two babies each.

"Let's get out of here before the Lion roars again."

Permalink Mark Unread

The wolves have no objection.

Permalink Mark Unread

And then everything is black as Crow spreads his 'wings' and it feels like they're flying.

Permalink Mark Unread

Their legs wave a bit in the "air".

Permalink Mark Unread

Luchador mutters, "This is always so creepy..."

Permalink Mark Unread

The lycos bark a bit.

Permalink Mark Unread

It lasts a few minutes, then the darkness retreats to reveal a very different place. The clouds are all different too - they're on a farm somewhere. "Here we are!"

Permalink Mark Unread

The wolves are suddenly children again. "Is this Old Macdonald's farm?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Soundwave bursts out laughing. 

"...Er, no. Old Macdonald is a story character. He's supposed to look like what American farmers used to. Real farms are a bit different."

"Why don't you two come inside," Gardener says. In a tone that is more a statement than a question. "I'll make tea."

Permalink Mark Unread

They trot along behind her, trying to take in as much of their new surroundings as possible.

Permalink Mark Unread

It's wide open! There are rows of plants growing all around. There is a big barn over there that has some kind of animals in it, from the smell. There is a tractor there. It smells like the trucks, but also like mud and moss and some other chemicals.

Farms... Kind of smell. A lot. It's pretty complex and layered - fertilizer, irrigation pipes, animals... The house in the middle of the farm has some more familiar smells and objects, and is very cheerfully decorated inside. They even have a big TV in the dining room. As soon as they come inside, the heroes each take off their mask or helmet and hang it on a coat rack.

Soundwave turns it on but doesn't stay to watch it. "I'm gonna go tell the rest of ghostwind how it went. See if we can get R to pick up these babies - I found their medical docs in his computer and they kind of need a hospital."

She walks upstairs.

Permalink Mark Unread

If anyone particularly cares, the lycos will need clothes.

Permalink Mark Unread

(They've already been given towels)

"Young ones, I'm bringing clothes for you two. I'd like you to wear them when you're human-shaped and try not to destroy them by shifting straight through them. You can change in the second room on the right - that will be your bedroom."

Permalink Mark Unread

They comply fairly readily. They know what happens if grownups aren't obeyed promptly. 

Permalink Mark Unread

When they come back, "Have you ever had tea? Do you know what kind you might like? Tea is an important decision."

Permalink Mark Unread

They shake their heads.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I see. Perhaps you will form a preference soon enough. For now, I'll make a nice green."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thanks."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're quite welcome. Do you like the farm? Is your room alright?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's pretty!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm glad to hear that. That room hasn't been used in... Oh, at least six years now." She looks... Sad, yet happy at the same time. Wistful.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Other kids?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Mm-hmm. My grandchildren. Their mother... Ah, we didn't get along too much. She moved to one of the cities on the border, looking for a better life. They don't visit very often."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm sorry,"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, don't be. I was too harsh with her, I do sort of deserve it. And it's for the best. Helping people makes you a target in these parts - I'm glad they'll not be caught in the fight if villains chase us here."

Permalink Mark Unread

"So, tea?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good tea takes time, little ones. Rushed tea tastes terrible. It will only be a couple of minutes more."

Permalink Mark Unread

Anticipation builds!

Permalink Mark Unread

And then they have hot green tea in cheerfully colored mugs. "I do suggest some sugar, for your first green tea. Would you two mind quesadillas for dinner?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"What're those?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Tortillas, which are like flat bread, with warm melted cheese inside, and some butter and spices and so on. They're a bit plain, but fast to make and still good."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Those sound nice. And so is this tea."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Very good." She nods approvingly. "Do you suppose you want to stay here for a while? Perhaps help us with the less risky brand of heroics? We could get you somewhere safer if you like, instead."

Permalink Mark Unread

"This seems good." His sister nods her approval.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I should hope it's better than that that devil Lionheart gives you."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's nice."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You seem like good kids. I want to give you two a hug."

Permalink Mark Unread

They seem to approve of this.

Permalink Mark Unread

So Gardener hugs them. Both, at the same time. "My real name is Sarina Edros. Some heroes forget their old names, or ignore them. I think it would be a crying shame to do that."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's a nice name."

Permalink Mark Unread

A slight nod and a sip of tea. "What are your names?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Joey."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Angie."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Pleased to meet you, Angie and Joey."

Permalink Mark Unread

They both smile.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Would you two like to help me cook?"

Permalink Mark Unread

They nod enthusiastically. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well, to make tortillas you need good flour. This is corn flour made from the corn we grow right outside. You grind it up and dry it so it has just the right consistency, see how it just barely sticks to your fingers...?"

Cooking lessons!

Permalink Mark Unread

This might as well be magic to the lycos, so they're quite enthralled.

Permalink Mark Unread

The Luchador seems bemused by this as he passes them with a large shovel. Crow has settled down to watching the TV. Soundwave is nowhere to be seen.

Permalink Mark Unread

Cooking is weirdly fun!

Permalink Mark Unread

Gardener seems as cheerful as can be teaching them. The meal is going to turn rather elaborate very fast at this rate. No simple quesadillas here.

Permalink Mark Unread

It certainly smells nicer than the food they're used to.

Permalink Mark Unread

 

And then, "Ah, nothing more we can do but wait for it to cook. You two should wash your hands again and then you can snack on the chips and salsa."

Permalink Mark Unread

Alright with them.

Permalink Mark Unread

Soundwave comes back downstairs. The mask is off to reveal a teenager's face now, but her headphones are still on. "Crow and I need to ferry the tiny ones to St. Pedro's. We'll be back in an hour. Hey, wolf kids, 'sup?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Angie's not sure how to respond to this. "Farm is nice?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hah, that's unexpected."

"Dear, why don't you tell them if there's anything you could look up. I mentioned it to you already-"

"Oh come on, I'll do it when we get back, Auntie."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Bird twins? Water-girl?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, I'll see if anyone knows what became of them... Probably take a day or two to find anything out." She rubs her arm bashfully. "Uh, sorry."

Permalink Mark Unread

He looks pretty depressed, but doesn't say anything.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'll do my best to find out one way or another. Those guys are your friends? Maybe tell me anything else you can remember - a name, or just more description."

Permalink Mark Unread

"The water girl is called Sam, and she is made of jelly. The twins are Tabby and Zeke, and they have feathers and can fly."

Permalink Mark Unread

She writes these things down on a little notepad. "Anything else? Skin color? Eyes and hair? How old are they?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sam is a little see through and her hair is all yellow. It's kinda shiny, like a doll's hair. The twins' have these glowing eyes and weird clawy feet, and their feathers are all colourful. And their wings are on their arms."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay, last thing, their powers? Like you can turn into wolves. That should be plenty for me to ask around and find them."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Zeke can hear magic, I think, and they're both really strong and fast. And the flying. And Sam can be all stretchy and turns to water when she's upset."

Permalink Mark Unread

Nod, nod. "I will definitely see if anybody finds them later. Do you mind us telling other heroes about you two? In case Sam and the bird kids are just as worried or something."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That would be good. Thank you."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay. That's later though, like I said, I have to get the babies we rescued somewhere safer for them than this old dusty farm."

Gardener looks miffed at the adjectives used there.

Permalink Mark Unread

"What's wrong with the farm?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Oh, nothing wrong with it. It's just, I'm," glance at Gardener's grandmotherly face, "-Um, not really suited to farm life."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay. Bye, babies."

Permalink Mark Unread

The babies seem to be asleep in their stroller-ish thing. They don't respond.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Are they going to be okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I hope so. They've all got some kind of - ice magic in them. Lionheart's notes said stuff about it. So the hospital will have an idea how to care for them."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Poor ice babies."

Permalink Mark Unread

"They look pale," Gardener comments. "They're old enough for solid food. You gave them that corn mash I made, yes?"

"Yep. They cried a lot, but they ate it, then Lucha helped me get them to sleep."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Why'd Lionheart make them? Or us?"

Permalink Mark Unread

They both look uncomfortable. Eventually Soundwave answers, "He's a villain, right? It has to be selfish. He wants to make a magic army, or sell powers to people, or something like that."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Probably. He never seemed to like us much. He wasn't even nice to the twins, and they were his favourites."

Permalink Mark Unread

Crow looks over from the TV's quiet news report and stomps on the ground just hard enough to make an attention-getting noise.

"I listened to that hypocrite rant during the first confrontation... He's sick in the head. He really believes he's doing a good thing because doing his experiments might eventually give powers to everyone. The kind of menace who can't understand that he's so far over the line there is no possible chance of redemption."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Me and Angie still like being wolves. Is that okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Mm. You can accept what you are. You will be miserable if you cannot. It was making you without knowing that it would work properly and safely, and then neglecting you so much, and doing it to so many, that was the evil act."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think I understand."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You can ask questions around here, if you have any."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do we have a mum somewhere? The twins used to talk about theirs."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Don't know. We didn't get all of Lionheart's records. You must have a mum somewhere, probably, but there's no telling who or where, at least for now."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't think we know the right questions."

Permalink Mark Unread

Crow chuckles. "Ain't that the truth. Nobody knows the right questions, it feels like some times."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Being answered is nice."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Some things we might not want to answer for various reasons, but everything you've asked so far is okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yay."

Permalink Mark Unread

 

Crow and Soundwave leave with the babies.

Gardener makes another pot of tea, oolong this time.

Permalink Mark Unread

Angie enjoys it, but Joey prefers the green tea.

Permalink Mark Unread

She has plenty of kinds of tea. Two is enough for one day, though.

Would they mind helping with some farm chores real quick before the sun sets? It will be bathtime and then bedtime soon after.

Permalink Mark Unread

Not al all! Although Angie will probably sing "Old McDonald" a lot.

Permalink Mark Unread

This is both acceptable and amusing. Farm chores for little ones include gathering eggs! The chickens are all really nervous of them... They flap away to keep their distance and make angry clucks.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't think the chickens like us."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think you're right. They're quite docile, usually, but you two are a bit wolfy. Maybe if you feed them it will help. If not I'll just have to give you different chores."

Permalink Mark Unread

"They do smell real nice. Not going to eat them, promise."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good. We only eat chickens that have stopped laying eggs."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do you get foxes here? We can kill those."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, they've learned to leave this place alone since the last time my plants nearly choked 'em." She smiles. "Greedy things. But give them a good fright and they'll decide it's easier to find a rat somewhere instead."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Tell us if they get brave again."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I certainly will. Wild pigs are a big problem too, but I'm less sure you two can handle them alone. Those things are big and mean."

Permalink Mark Unread

She lets out a growl that turns into a giggle. "Hey, before bath time, could me and Joey be wolves a little?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Certainly. Don't go past our fence, though, and be back at sunset."

Permalink Mark Unread

They strip off, hand her their clothes, and change, racing off into the distance.

Permalink Mark Unread

 

Gardener has mobile plants taking care of various tasks like carrying things around. One is even sweeping the floors. The twins come back around sunset to a parade of potatoes matching themselves onto a peeler wielded by a grape vine.

Permalink Mark Unread

They resume human shape.

Permalink Mark Unread

"We're back!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"And just in time for a bath too! Which one of you wants to take yours first?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Is it a small bath?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Not particularly?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Could we go in together?"

Joey and Angie's conception of bath time is probably less than pleasant. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's not good for people to still have bath time together as they get older. But since you're still little, I suppose it will be alright for now."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

Bath happens.

She makes them dry off thoroughly before dressing in pyjamas that appeared from somewhere. And then it's bedtime, please sleep quietly.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nighty night."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Goodnight. I will make more tea for you two tomorrow morning, so sleep well so you can appreciate it."

Permalink Mark Unread

For the first time in their lives, they go to sleep happily.

Permalink Mark Unread

Back in San Diego, the avian twins probably wake up either at dawn, or at the traditional breakfast pots-and-pans-band-and-chorus. It's very loud, and accompanied by screaming and hooting kids of various ages.

Permalink Mark Unread

They scream and hoot with them. It's fun.

Permalink Mark Unread

Miss Mecha is makes a big speech about how proud she is of the seventeen year old Carlos Erwin and his new job at a real live research lab (as a glorified janitor, sure, but still!) while the volunteer cooks whip up pancakes behind her. "We all helped him when he was down, and now look at 'em! Three cheers for Carlos!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yay, Carlos!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Some of these kids don't seem very enthused. In fact, aren't there a lot more people here now than there were yesterday?

Walta steps off her makeshift podium and starts talking quietly to various individuals. Most of the children rush the pancake-line.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Where'd all these other people come from?" whispers Zeke to another child.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hey, don't look at me. I'm just here for the pancakes. Half of us aren't even part of the urchin gang, just getting a hot meal on the way to school."

Permalink Mark Unread

"School?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, school. You have to go to school if you live with parents. Guess it's different for partsies, you lucky..." The crowd pushes him away, still mumbling.

The smell of pancakes is so good and the sizzle of batter in the pan, of a line of them being poured and flipped, being served with flourishes to kids that rush to a table of toppings that is quickly becoming quite a bit of a mess - it's a surprisingly cheerful scene even with the childish shouting and roughhousing, and the nervous demeanor and immediate departure of many people here.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke is still wondering why partsies don't get to go to school.

Permalink Mark Unread

While his sister is enjoying the noise.

Permalink Mark Unread

Apparently "home-school" is a thing. One of the girls at this table is being made fun of because of it.

Miss Mecha is helping serve the pancakes, still.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke does not approve of anyone being made fun of. 

"You shouldn't tease her for something she didn't choose."

Permalink Mark Unread

"But home school is so stupid! You barely learn anything compared to real school."

Home Schooled Girl pipes up, "My ma needs me to make her remember her pills, shut up already!"

"Useless mom too-" Then the bully shuts up, because he received a fist to the face. The two are rolling on the ground clawing and screaming at each other in seconds.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke eeps, and tries pulling the two apart.

Permalink Mark Unread

Walta's brass robots, the same ones who distributed popcorn yesterday, help. They are quickly separated, glaring at each other.

"Calvin! That's your second strike. You know you can't start fights here."

"She started it!"

"Because you teased her about homeschool, right?" Calvin mutters something. "What was that?"

"I insulted her mom," he mumbles. 

"I'd like you to apologize. Both of you."

Calvin looks at the floor.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Did I do something bad?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"No, you're fine, Zeke. You tried to stop the fight. Calvin? Mary?"

Mary gives in first. "I'm sorry I punched you. I shouldn't have lost my temper even if you deserved it."

Calvin huffs. "I'm sorry for making fun of you and your mom, I guess..."

"And now," Miss Mecha tells them, "You're going to clean up the mess you made together and then Calvin gets to school before he's late." The two children assent slightly grumpily.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Miss Mecha, could I go to school some time?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's kind of a hard question. If you go to school, the heroes will maybe come and look for you. If they find you, you'll get put in the foster system and I don't know if you'd like it. But it'd be very hard for you to go to school and be sneaky. Maybe... Maybe I could make something to help. Something like what we used yesterday. I'm not sure."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thanks for thinking about it." 

He goes to rejoin his sister.

Permalink Mark Unread

She follows. "How are you liking the place so far? Any problems?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Being with people is nice. It can get a little noisy, but that's better than everything being all quiet and lonely."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm glad to hear it. Juno says you two are pretty well-behaved. The room we gave you yesterday was temporary - we can give you two your own room, or put you in one with two other people. And I want to start having you deliver stuff for me today or tomorrow if you don't mind."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think company would be nice. And that would be cool. Have to ask Tabby, though."

Permalink Mark Unread

"If I can find the time today to work on a sneaky-thing for you two... I'd like for you to come to my workshop and help, I think your magic hearing has potential."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Neat! I'll be there!"

 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Let's find Tabby, I wanna get things organized with you two before I have to head out."

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby is holding court over a gaggle of fascinated children.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Having fun showing off, are we?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"The people want to know, Miss Mecha!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, not you too! Call me Walta, or Mecharcanist. I'm not a giant robot."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What's wrong with Miss Mecha?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"'Mecha' means a Japanese style giant robot to a lot of people. I don't build mechas, I'm not a mecha. It rolls off the tongue but I don't like it."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay, Walta."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Anyway, you two want to start earning some money? I have some things to get delivered, if so."

Permalink Mark Unread

Yes! Television has taught them that money equals success! Where do they need to go?

Permalink Mark Unread

They need to follow her to a back room. "I sell my little gadgets to a bunch of shops around the city. I can make complicated ones much more easily, because of my power, and shops like buying cheap things." She leads them to a box that is... Very loud, magically. "This should weigh about fifteen pounds. Think you guys can fly with it?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"We can try."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nothing irreplaceable in there?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"If you can get it to thy guy who's buying it, he owes you one hundred and fifty dollars. Thirty dollars are yours. So not irreplaceable, but a little bit expensive."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Um, Walta, could we ask you a favour? You can keep the thirty dollars if you want."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What's the favor?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"You know that guy who made us? He also made other kids. A bunch of them were our friends. We just want to know if they're safe."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hm... I can have a look. I'll talk to the ghostwind network. They're like, secret hero teams in Mexico. Maybe some of them found them. Come to think of it, I should probably tell them you two found me and are safe, mind if I do that?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, that'd be good."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay. And you still get the money. That's how work works. The guy's name is Rito, at Rito's Magic Shoppe. With two p's, because reasons. Let me show you where you need to deliver it on this map, and I'll give you the thing we used yesterday to look inconspicuous... If people bother you, just fly away with the box."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Post birds away!" 

They take flight.

Permalink Mark Unread

They can carry the box.

Rito's Magic Shoppe is in a sketchy corner of a retail center with a cracked and cratered parking lot.

Permalink Mark Unread

The twins knock on the door politely.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Look at the sign!"

The sign says 'OPEN'.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Delivery!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"From Walta!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, the Mecharcanist. Come in, come in."

Rito's shop has all sorts of doodads on the walls. One person is at the back, browsing 'good luck charms'. "Let's see the stuff. How much today?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"A hundred and fifty dollars...plus tip." That's a thing she's seen in movies!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Please ignore my sister."

Permalink Mark Unread

He raises his eyebrow at the idea of a tip, then takes the box and opens it. Starts counting things. "Right, all here."

He opens the register with the classic cha-ching sound, and counts out one hundred and fifty five dollars. "You do get a tip, 'cause this is earlier than I usually get it on Saturdays."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thank you, sir." 

 

Permalink Mark Unread

"Just doing what post-birds do."

The two of them bid their goodbyes, and make their exit.

Permalink Mark Unread

The shopping center is still kind of empty. A big SUV blasting annoyingly loud rap music drives by.

They presumably fly back to Walta's movie theater-place. She's in that same workshop room, making magic things.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Packages got their okay!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke is doing a dance to the magic stuff. "The guy gave us some extra money, do we keep it?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yep, you keep it."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thanks. I like your magic stuff."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Want to learn how to make some? Or you, Tabby?"

Permalink Mark Unread

They both nod.

Permalink Mark Unread

Cue magic lesson! How much magic do they already know? Zeke: Some. Tabby: Almost none. She refreshes them both on the basics. Make a light~

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke manages it in a couple of gos. 

Permalink Mark Unread

It takes Tabby a fair bit more.

Permalink Mark Unread

"People will say making magic things is super complicated, but it's not really. Basically any magic you can do on your own, you can enchant as an effect. You just have to hold the object you want to enchant and push the right way..."

Permalink Mark Unread

Could Zeke try this?

Permalink Mark Unread

Here is a penny! Copper is good at holding light.

Permalink Mark Unread

He succeeds! The dance of happiness can commence!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Should I show you my special thing?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure, what is it?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Plasma talons!

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's a nice power. I don't see any obvious uses for it, except maybe see if you can weld with it? Want to try that?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yes!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Welding is serious business. I'll have to set up some stuff and give you a safety lecture first. I'm going to go check my e-mail and see if they found your friends for now."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thank you. Can we go play with the others while you do that?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"You should come with me - I still don't know the names or descriptions of anyone you're looking for. You can tell me and I can ask real-time."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's a better idea."

Permalink Mark Unread

So they head to the computer room. Walta does some clicking and typing. "Okay... Some of them definitely died, and we have names and descriptions. Some of them are definitely ok. Some of them we don't know either way. Can you describe who you're looking for?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Well, at least some of them are okay. "There's Sam. She's like made of jelly and turns into water when she's upset. She has glossy yellow hair, and is a little see through."

Permalink Mark Unread

"And there's Angie and Joey, they're little redheads who turn into wolves." 

They describe a few other children, but those three seem to be at the front of their minds.

Permalink Mark Unread

At length, "Sam is okay. She's in a hospital in Tennessee. Angie and Joey are with a hero team in Mexico..." Most of the rest of the named friends are okay in various places. One is, unfortunately, dead. Two are missing.

Permalink Mark Unread

She's honestly overjoyed that any of them survived. "Can you tell them all we're okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I already did. Sam's nurse says she's really happy you two are okay. The people taking care of Angie and Joey aren't online right now so they'll find out later."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You guys go play. Maybe you should see Juno for lessons. He does a not-school after lunch every weekday. It's not school, but it's kind of like it."

Permalink Mark Unread

Perhaps expectedly, they go play first.

Permalink Mark Unread

Various playmates and toys are available! Though the 'tidy up when you're done' rule is well enforced.

Permalink Mark Unread

Any of the toys magic?

Permalink Mark Unread

A few. Mostly they're plain old toys. Puzzles, blocks, dolls.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Anyone want to do a puzzle?"

Permalink Mark Unread

This six year old wants to do a puzzle! Her dyed-hair teenage sister follows her over to the table, their usefulness to the endeavor will be questionable. A couple other kids join.

Permalink Mark Unread

He efficiently assigns people to find corner and edge pieces. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Doing puzzles is fun! People come and go. They talk about the city's problems. Pretty much everyone here is dirt-poor or in trouble with the law or their families in some way.

Permalink Mark Unread

They somehow expected the outside world to be a little...nicer.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, this is the seedy underbelly of San Diego. We're the ones who're hurting the most in the whole place. If you're part of the middle class, life is good."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're all nice, though."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nice and lucky don't always match up, sadly enough."

Permalink Mark Unread

"But we're lucky to have found you."

Permalink Mark Unread

"The whole city's less fortunate folks are all lucky it has Miss Mecha in it. She runs places like this, she keeps the kids out of all the trouble, she does her best to mend other stuff."

Permalink Mark Unread

"She told our friends we were okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

"The rest of the kids from that bastard Lionheart's labs? Good to hear. It warms the heart to see people come together over stuff like this."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I hope you guys get to meet some day. Couple of them turn into wolves!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maybe we will. Supers get around more than regular folks, you know?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Especially when they can fly!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Everyone laughs.

The puzzle's edges are done. The inner parts are slower.

Permalink Mark Unread

"We will solve them on the beaches!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"We will put up a sign not to mess it up and go to afternoon lessons and finish it later."

Permalink Mark Unread

How does the education here compare to at the lab?

Permalink Mark Unread

Much more crowded and less strict. It's Juno wandering around teaching some twenty kids of various ages and attentiveness. Juno asks what kind of things they've learned so far for a few minutes, then they get a book and a list of questions he thinks they should think about while they read it, and an invitation to raise their hand whenever they have a question. The book is about the history of North America.

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke finds the fact they're technically Mexican funny for whatever reason.

Permalink Mark Unread

Does he find the story of Native Americans suffering horribly at the hands of colonists funny? At least it's clinical about it and there's happier bits. Like the Declaration of Independence. That is a Big Deal according to this book.

Permalink Mark Unread

That makes him sad. History is meaner than his tutors made it sound.

Permalink Mark Unread

Yeah. History is kind of like that.

Juno tries to cheer him up with the old adage of "those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Permalink Mark Unread

This oddly enough seems to work.

Permalink Mark Unread

They can learn very effectively. 

Mecharcanist looks approving when she finds them studying. "I'm ready to teach you welding later if you want now, by the way."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yay!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Well, back to learning. After maybe another hour and a half Juno calls everyone together to have a group discussion. Everyone is asked to say the most interesting thing they learned today.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I didn't know there were Vikings in America."

Permalink Mark Unread

"The Soviet Union put a robot on the moon."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I didn't know a supervillain was president once."

Permalink Mark Unread

And it goes around the room.

Permalink Mark Unread

Yeah, this was much nicer than the tutors. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Next, Juno encourages a short discussion over what 'good' and 'bad' means. Not as simple as you think.

Then everyone leaves.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby goes to see about those welding lessons. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Walta kind of slightly forgot about those, caught up in an experiment of hers.

She should bring Zeke along if he wants, they can both watch some metal-magic.

Permalink Mark Unread

He does want.

Permalink Mark Unread

 

A couple of people mutter jealously that of course they get Miss Mecha's personal attention, they have powers.

This is how you weld: You make sure that the two metals you're going to attach are compatible, and you wear this and that safety gear, and you do this and that with the welding torch.

...Tabby's plasma talons versus scrap steel: Welding attempt 1. How does it go?

Permalink Mark Unread

Fairly well, though her fingers hurt if she keeps the talons manifested for too long.

Permalink Mark Unread

"So you could learn to weld seriously if you want. It's a skill that can earn you some good money. Or, I have more deliveries if you want to do that instead."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Could I do both for now? Flying is so good."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, that'll work. I can't give you lessons all the time though. Busy busy busy. At six, I teach enchanting to a big crowd, you guys should show up. Want another delivery for now?"

Permalink Mark Unread

They eagerly accept.

Permalink Mark Unread

This time it's a bigger box of little sticks, all singing the same boring two-note tune. It sounds like fire.

Delivery to the loading dock of this one big store - she's already been paid for this so they don't need to pick up any money, and she'll give them another thirty when they get back.

Permalink Mark Unread

Flying is still fun.

Permalink Mark Unread

One of the heroes seems to notice them! He's wearing silver and blue armor, with a big wing-pack that has some engines on it. He zips past them and waves when they're on the way back.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby grins at him.

Permalink Mark Unread

He slows in the air and keeps alongside them, to talk. "Hello! You're the new supers everyone's been telling me about. You came here from Mexico, right?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Si."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maybe you guys didn't know this, but even supers need to do some paperwork to get into America from Mexico legally. I would hate for you two to get labelled villains by accident."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Mecharcanist is taking care of us, is that a problem?"

Permalink Mark Unread

He looks pained for a moment. "Well... It kind of is, to be honest. I didn't like that they labelled her a villain, I think she's pretty neutral, but fact is she doesn't pay taxes on all the stuff she sells, or get it safety-tested by a certified inspector. That's illegal. And no matter how many good rumors there are she doesn't have the permits to run an orphanage. I can't just say 'okay' to you staying with her."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're not gonna try and arrest us, are you?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's not arrest. It would be getting you into state custody so they can make sure you're safe and healthy. You deserve to be taken care of properly after... What you've experienced."

Permalink Mark Unread

"She is taking care of us properly!"

Permalink Mark Unread

He grimaces again. Touches something on his collar. "I really do think it would be better if you came to the police station and let the state handle it. But you don't want to, and that's... Okay, kinda. I can't let you go without trying to catch you. But I don't have to try very hard, since I also have to make sure not to hurt you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yes,"

The twins dive.

Permalink Mark Unread

He chases.

He pretends to have a lot more trouble with tight turns and narrow alleys than he really does.

Eventually he goes away.

Permalink Mark Unread

They tell Walta about this when they get back. They're kinda teary.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Aww, geez. I didn't know Silver Eagle was back in town already. Hey... He let you go, right? He was just putting on a show of force."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, still kinda scary."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, I get it."

Permalink Mark Unread

"He said there were permits you needed to run an orphanage. Why don't you get those so they can't take us away?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"They would never give the right permits to me openly. I do have a few under a, um. It's complicated. I think they probably know where this place is, but they pretend not to because it makes things nicer for people. Even though it's technically illegal. There's a lot of stuff like that around here."

Permalink Mark Unread

"So, we're safe?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Mostly, as long as you run away properly. Unless you or I do something blatantly illegal or way too un-sneaky."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Please don't do that."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Not planning on it. Or this place would have gone out of business a long time ago."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good." 

She idly wonders how the lycos are doing.

Permalink Mark Unread

Who knows.

Luchador knows that they're helping him milk the farm's two cows. Cows are much less nervous around the two than the chickens were.

Permalink Mark Unread

This is because they're too small to eat a whole cow, according to Angie. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's probably about right."

See also: Adventures in planting in some of the smaller fields. Corn covers most of the place, but small sections of different things are here and there, and some of them grow fast enough to be planted multiple times a year. Luchador rambles about farm-things all day. They do still have free time, though.

Permalink Mark Unread

Much of it is spent as either wolves or child-Cubs.

Permalink Mark Unread

They can smell wild hogs roving around near the farm's border.

Thr heros all leave for a few hours at a time. Nothing particularly eventful happens at the farm itself.

Permalink Mark Unread

Any supervision?

Permalink Mark Unread

Soundwave said she'd know if they left the grounds.

Permalink Mark Unread

Angie eagerly hopes one of those boars will get cocky.

Permalink Mark Unread

The chain-link fence seems to dissuade them well enough for now. Though they squeal at Angie through it for a few minutes before wandering off.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Pigs are cowards!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nice smelling cowards."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Pigs are lazy, more like." Soundwave's voice comes from nowhere in particular.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Um, why can't I smell you?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm using my power to talk to you. I'm actually back in the house."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's funny."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well, I'm busy." Playing video games.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Wanna play with us?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"...That depends on what the play is. Do you two know about video games?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nope," she admits cheerfully.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Want to learn how to play one? I mean, hide and go seek is pointless 'cause I can hear you breathe, and tag is pointless in the other direction."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay." 

They assume their completely human form and go retrieve their clothes.

Permalink Mark Unread

Soundwave has set up a Game Cube and something called 'Mario Kart'. "It's a racing game! I won't race with you because it wouldn't be fair since I know the game so much more than you, but here let me show you how it works..."

Permalink Mark Unread

They are enthralled.

Permalink Mark Unread

They are bad at video games, at first. The computers on 'easiest' mode handily send them to 9th and 11th place on their first race.

Permalink Mark Unread

They're more into the pretty visuals. And the way the controllers vibrate.

Permalink Mark Unread

Well, you can't expect a pair of pro gamers in one hour.

Soundwave tries to encourage them to actually win the races though.

Permalink Mark Unread

They at least try to beat each other. 

Permalink Mark Unread

That's the spirit!

 

"Oh Crow's coming back sorry sorry I'm packing this up-" She turns off the system mid-race and hurries all the cables and such upstairs.

Permalink Mark Unread

They're a little miffed. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Crow walks in, chatting amiably with Gardener. "Oh, I didn't expect you two to be inside at this hour. Tea?"

Permalink Mark Unread

The two run over and hug Gardener. They seem to still find it hard to believe she keeps coming back.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Tea it is. Do you two know if my niece did her chores yet?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"She taught us how to play video games!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maria Santa Rosa!"

"It was only for an hour! They had fun!"

"But the rule is to finish your chores before any video games! And I see dirty dishes. Come clean them, now."

"Yes, auntie..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sorry Maria."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's not your fault she misbehaved, Angie."

Permalink Mark Unread

"But she was being nice to us."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Being nice doesn't mean you're doing everything right. She should have finished her chores first, that's all."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay. Tea?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's brewing, dear. I made your oolong and Joey's green both."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yay!"

Over tea, Angie starts asking questions about the team's work.

Permalink Mark Unread

Well, today they went to a city in the south of Mexico and helped deal with a nasty flood.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Any baddies?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"There were some villains but we left them alone because they were helping. When natural disasters happen, all the heroes and villains, except the very worst, put aside their differences and work together for a few hours. It's annoying to see baddies and not go after them but I'm just glad we still do that in Mexico, in lots of other places the tradition of truce broke down completely."

Permalink Mark Unread

"So, if Lionheart..." he trails off.

Permalink Mark Unread

She shakes her head. "He doesn't usually go to crisis areas. But when he does... We ignore him just long enough to get the job done. And he ignores us and doesn't try to kidnap anyone until it's over because if he did everyone, heroes and villains, would try to kill him."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay." Moral ambiguity is ambiguous. 

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think it's better. A lot of people would get hurt, or not get rescued, if we didn't truce. I know it sounds bad."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think I understand."

Permalink Mark Unread

The tea is ready.

Soundwave has appeared and is disgruntledly scrubbing dishes.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do you want us to help?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Two voices simultaneously say, "No."

"You've already done your chores," Gardener continues.

Permalink Mark Unread

She goes and tries to read a children's book. Sadly, Lionheart was not terribly concerned with educating them.

Permalink Mark Unread

Luchador offers to help her read it.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"You think Joey would want to read it too?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm too dumb."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hm. You seem clever enough to me! I'm sure Lionheart's goons just didn't teach you very well. If they did at all."

Permalink Mark Unread

He thinks about it. "I'll try."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do you want to read the English side or the Spanish side? Or both?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think we know Spanish better."

Permalink Mark Unread

Luchador will do both. He calibrates quickly to their reading skill level and encourages them to recognize words, and see how English and Spanish do sentences differently.

Permalink Mark Unread

Progress is slow, but promising.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I wonder if you guys should go to a real school. I can teach you some things, but I'm not a real teacher. Real teachers know what kids need to know. I might miss things. Does that make sense?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Would Gardener mind?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"She'd probably like the idea."

Permalink Mark Unread

"And there'd be other kids?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yes. You would have to not be wolfy all day, I'm sad to say. Having powers might make someone want to hurt you."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Why?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Because some people want to find reasons why things are bad for them. And people with powers making things bad is an easy thing to think. It's more complicated than that but... Yeah."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Can we still be wolfy at home?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Definitely! We only want you to be safe you know, and you're much safer being wolves here than at a school."

Permalink Mark Unread

"And it's hard for wolves to sit at desks."

Permalink Mark Unread

He laughs.

 

 

That night shortly after bedtime, Soundwave casts her voice into their room and asks, "Do you two want to do real hero work?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Helping people?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. Helping people by finding bad guys and stopping them."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What kind of bad guys?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Theives and bullies and thugs and drug dealers."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What are drugs?"

Permalink Mark Unread

 

"...Um. Maybe I shouldn't be telling you this. Sorry."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Can we still help?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"No no this was a bad idea. Auntie would kill me if I took you two out looking for thugs to stop. Um. Not really kill me, what I meant was she'd be, uh, really mad... I'm just going to shut up now."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sorry. Have nice dreams."

Permalink Mark Unread

For some reason, they both dream about octopuses. 

Permalink Mark Unread

When Tabby and Zeke wake up, there's a note in their room from Walta. Good morning - stop by my workshop if you don't mind, working on some stuff Zeke could maybe help with.

Permalink Mark Unread

They do so.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Zeke! Good to see you! And Tabby too. I was wondering if you wanted to help me troubleshoot some annoying problems in my latest project? Your extra sense could be good for it."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"What do you want me to do?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Uh... I could give you another delivery. Or you could watch and fetch things maybe learn a little magic."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Delivery!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Right this way, post-cape."

This box is smaller than the last one. Tabby also receives a forearm-strapped electronic(?) device that shows a map in the air. "Threw this together yesterday since you guys are going to be running for me a lot probably. The green dot is where you need to go and it'll show a picture of exactly where to drop it when you get close."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thanks! Post-bird away!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Meanwhile, Walta attempts to explain the nature of the problem to Zeke. Basically, two different spells that are supposed to be working together, not.

Permalink Mark Unread

Meanwhile, Tabby is flying.

Permalink Mark Unread

The sky above the city is much the same as it was yesterday, minus one flying hero.

Permalink Mark Unread

Anything interesting below?

Permalink Mark Unread

Roads! Parks. Apartment buildings. So on and so forth.

There's a concert of some kind going on, she can hear the music from up here.

There's some kind of protest going on on one street, too. She's too high up to read the signs or hear the chants.

Permalink Mark Unread

Out of curiosity she swoops down a bit.

Permalink Mark Unread

"No more injections!" "GMO humans go against nature!" "Mayor Sutak? Mayor Quack!"

Permalink Mark Unread

She'll have to ask Walta about that later. On with the delivery. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Walta's thing instructs her to deliver to: This part of the roof of Caleco Mart. And then ring the doorbell on the roof door and fly off. Payment already received. 

Permalink Mark Unread

She feels very much like a secret agent. Ring ring!

Permalink Mark Unread

Someone opens the door almost immediately. She's holding a - cigarette? It doesn't smell like a cigarette. "Dude, why are you on the roof?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Delivery!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh... It was supposed to be the red person. Geez. This is embarrassing. You work for her though?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yep!"

 

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Guess it'll do. Okay." She slams the door shut.

Someone in a costume dominated by red and black flames, and spikes, lands on the roof. Apparently they jumped from somewhere? "Yo. Mecharcanist's new lackey. Never seen you before so I'll let you off - but tell Miss Mecha that Redhot's territory now goes to 6th street. And the usual toll for doing business here applies next time. The penalty for not paying the fee is getting beat up."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Walta isn't scared of anybody!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Maybe she is stupid enough not to be scared. Still makes sense to pay up, so I don't have to hurt all her customers for buying from her."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're not hurting anyone." Her plasma talons flare.

Permalink Mark Unread

He bursts out laughing. "Really? Really? Little girl's gonna fight Redhot! Buy your tickets now, watch him wipe the floor with her!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I've killed people before!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Then I don't need to hold back."

And a whip of fire lashes out horizontally across the roof, and the spikes all over his armor start glowing with fires.

Permalink Mark Unread

She dodge quite effortlessly. 

Permalink Mark Unread

It swings back around as he twists, and he spits another gout of fire, independent from the whip.

Permalink Mark Unread

Turns out the talons on her feet are quite effective at cutting up a person's face.

Permalink Mark Unread

Not if she can't get close enough without getting burned. His entire strategy seems to be area denial - and the roof is getting more and more covered-with-fire.

Permalink Mark Unread

Is there anything on the roof she can throw?

Permalink Mark Unread

Melting asphalt tiles?

He seems to be getting faster and longer-ranged as time passes.

Might be best to just flee...

Permalink Mark Unread

She does.

Permalink Mark Unread

He can't chase, apparently.

The fires go out once she's a fair distance off. Walta's box was destroyed in the flames...

Permalink Mark Unread

She flies home.

Permalink Mark Unread

Where Walta is growing more frustrated with her project to educate Zeke, and about to give up on it. Though at least she found the problem.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Walta, I messed up."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Uh oh. Not hurt, are you?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"No. This fire guy tried to make me tell you his boss was in charge now. I tried fighting him..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Uuugh. Did he call himself Redhot?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yes..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That guy is a thug. I didn't think you'd meet him, he usually keeps to certain spots. Did the delivery go okay, at least?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I left the box, but I think he melted it. I'm sorry."

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's okay. It's not your fault. Well, maybe you should have called me when something went wrong, but still. You think he's gone far enough that I should trounce him and deliver him to the police next time he tries to attack me?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah."

She bursts into tears and hugs her brother.

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's okay, I'm here."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well. I will just go and do that, then." She starts gathering gear and assembling various things. "I've had an anti-fire bomb for a while. If he actually tried to kill you back, and is still claiming more places... Let's see how he likes getting foamed and delivered to the heroes."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...I told him I killed people. I thought it would scare him away."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Yeah. Might not want to be too open about that. The heroes will let you go more often if you're polite and careful and nondestructive. Saying you've killed people will just make them want to put you in a foster system and watch over you super carefully, even more. And it will make bad guys more willing to try and kill you."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I know."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well, you two take the rest of the day off. Tell Juno I said to run a Disney movie for you. I'm going to go... Deal with this fool. Bet the villains will even appreciate it."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

She gives them a quick hug before hefting a big, bulky backpack and strapping on a tool belt and leaving.

Permalink Mark Unread

They go and find Juno.

Permalink Mark Unread

Juno is explaining why M-rated video games are not going to be played in this building to a 12-year-old.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Juno. Walta said to ask you to play a movie. Tabby had a bad delivery."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh geez, do I want to hear the story? And - the big screens're all in use but I can put one on a regular old TV."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's okay. And I got into a fight with a meanie."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Did you start the fight?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"He said he was going to kick out Walta."

Permalink Mark Unread

He sighs. "You're a kid. You shouldn't be fighting. If someone's gonna kick out Walta, that's Walta's problem - not yours. Let's go put the movie on. Any favorites?"

Permalink Mark Unread

She lists off a few cartoons she likes.

Permalink Mark Unread

"We have one of those. C'mon, time to watch the tube and try to relax."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay."

Permalink Mark Unread

So they watch a movie.

Juno checks on them every twenty minutes or so. Just pops his head in and nods before leaving again.

Permalink Mark Unread

The film started off as a series of shorts about Winnie the Pooh. It's comforting. 

Permalink Mark Unread

And when it's done, Walta comes to talk to them. "Hey. You two doing okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"A little better. I feel so stupid."

Permalink Mark Unread

"People make mistakes sometimes. It's how you deal with them later that counts. And also, that's what friends and allies are for. Redhot won't be bothering anyone except other prisoners now, anyway. My anti-fire bomb worked perfectly on him, he couldn't do a thing."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's good."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You run next time you hit trouble of any kind on a delivery, you hear? You don't need to fight."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I know."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Hey, it's about bedtime. You guys should get some sleep. We'll find you roommates if you want, too."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Company would be nice."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'll put you with someone. Charles and Ace, maybe."

They walk off towards the dormitory area.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Anyone need a roommate!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Someone at the TV answers, "Only if you can make Stevie shut up about his card game!"

Permalink Mark Unread

He puts on a very fake German accent. "We have ways of making them not talk."

Permalink Mark Unread

TV kid laughs. "Bet it won't work, but it'll be funny to watch you try! Sure, I don't mind you two filling the other bunk bed."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yay!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sounds like you found yourselves roommates without my help. Kenta, sure you don't want me to talk to Steve?"

"Nah, I'm just complaining because it's fun." He seems completely serious about this statement.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'll have to try it sometimes."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Now you've done it. Teaching bad habits. I'll get Juno to bring over pillows and blankets." At least it's not smoking or something.

She leaves.

Permalink Mark Unread

"So, how long have you lived here?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"A month. Ma's getting back from Vietnam soon so maybe not much longer."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Why's she in Vietnam?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Something about granddad and jail, I dunno."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay. Till then, glad to have a roommate."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. It's boring without people to talk to."

Permalink Mark Unread

Zeke starts singing.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Wanna hear Japanese songs?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure!"

Permalink Mark Unread

So he starts singing. Very loud, in Japanese.

This prompts a lot of complaining from the other kids. "Sing in English or Spanish or in your room!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"But it's pretty."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I can't even understand it. We're trying to play a game over here, c'mon."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You don't listen to music with your ears, you listen with your soul."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You and Kenta are gonna be best friends. Somewhere else please."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Let us fill our roo, with music."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Do let's. I'll show you my CD player."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I hope it's magic."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Afraid not." Look, a room with two bunk beds.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I call top bunk!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nuh uh!"

Squabbling ensues. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Kenta digs out his CD player and puts a disc in.

With a click and hum, music! Elvis Presley's!

Permalink Mark Unread

Squabbling is put on hold for dancing.

Permalink Mark Unread

Kenta sings along with a credible though high-pitched Elvis impersonation. 

Stevie asks, "Who're the new kids?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm Zeke."

Permalink Mark Unread

"And I'm Tabby."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hi. I'm Steven, not Stevie, no matter what Kenta says, okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Is there a third option?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Please, no. Steven."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Steven it is."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thanks. Hey, Kenta. Keep doing Elvis. I actually like Elvis."

Permalink Mark Unread

For a young girl, Tabby can do a rather good impression.

Permalink Mark Unread

Kenta grins and 'conducts' her with an imaginary baton. A very energetic pair of voices.

Permalink Mark Unread

Music pleases Zeke!

Permalink Mark Unread

Steven is practiced at mostly ignoring the music and doing some kind of game involving some kind of unusual cards in the corner.

Permalink Mark Unread

Cards are cool, too. "What is that?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"They're my Tales of Elements cards. It's a trading card game. Want to learn how to play?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure!"

Permalink Mark Unread

This is a monster card and this is an energy and this is a magic spell and Steven is not particularly good at being understandable when he's this eager.

Permalink Mark Unread

He smiles and nods, though.

Permalink Mark Unread

He sets up a fake game where he fights himself. It's much more comprehensible, this way. At least the mechanics if not the strategy.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Let me try."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure! You can have my light deck. I'm going to use water."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Kay."

Permalink Mark Unread

He might be kind of confused by some of the card abilities. What's 'stall'? 'Intercept'?

But what he should do on his first turn seems obvious enough.

Permalink Mark Unread

He does okay for a beginner. Years of card games with Tabby helps.

Permalink Mark Unread

He loses, but it's closer than Steven expected. "Pretty clever for a new guy and not knowing the deck. On turn three you saw me holding a lot of cards... You maybe should have guessed I was saving up to cancel on you. Hm... What else..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thank you."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm just glad someone to talk about Tales of Elements with showed up. Don't you dare hurt my cards though."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Why would I? Are they evil cards?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Some people are not nearly as careful as they ought to be, is all."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Least you didn't have Tabby dropping stuff out your enclosure."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Enclosure?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"We lived in a cage till a couple of days ago."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh. My. God. How did you escape?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Some heroes stormed the place, and I...did a bad thing."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You attacked the bad guys?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. They weren't alive afterwards."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh..." Steven looks away. 

"They were evil guys." Kenta looks at her. "Evil kidnappers and villains. Killing them maybe wasn't the best, but it's not nearly so bad as some people think. They'll never hurt anyone else now."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I guess. They were shooting at us."

Permalink Mark Unread

"See?"

Steven pouts. "There's always a way that's not killing. Killing is a cardinal sin."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What do you mean?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sin is all the bad things humans do. Being selfish and greedy and violent. Cardinal sins are the hardest to avoid. Anger is one of them, and it sounds like killing those bad guys was an expression of anger."

Permalink Mark Unread

"We would have died."

Permalink Mark Unread

"If you died without sin, you would go to Heaven and be happy forever."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Nobody told us that."

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's part of a religion by the way," Kenta says. "Everybody disagrees on which religion is right. He's a Christian."

Steven grimaces and nods. "Yeah. I believe it because I have faith. Not everyone does..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I didn't really mean to kill those men."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You should pray for forgiveness. God listens to everyone's prayers, even if he doesn't answer directly much."

"Don't pester them about it too much, Stevie... She feels bad enough already."

"It might help you feel better." Steven shrugs. "I'm gonna pack up my cards and go to sleep now, okay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Good night."

Permalink Mark Unread

Kenta reluctantly turns his music off.

They change into pyjamas in the little bathroom attached to the room. The lights go out after a few more minutes.

Permalink Mark Unread

Tabby tries that prayer thing, she's sure she's doing it wrong. The next morning, she feels the need to ask Walta about something.

Permalink Mark Unread

Juno will lead her to Walta, who's deep in thought over something in her workshop.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hey, Walta, I saw something when I was flying yesterday."

Permalink Mark Unread

"-Oh hello. Yeah, sure, you holding up okay from that whole Redhot thing?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I feel less icky. And these guys were talking about partsies. Very loudly."

Permalink Mark Unread

"They were holding signs and stuff? Those are protesters."

Permalink Mark Unread

"And they were protesting kids like me and Zeke?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think mostly those people protest gene modding. It's new medical technology that can prevent or cure lots of nasty diseases, but it can also be used to make kids like you, like that evil Lionheart did. The idea is really, really scary to them. I think protestors mostly don't know anything about it and just act like this because they're scared and angry."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Would they be scared of us?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. They would. Not that you're that scary... But people are complicated and mean sometimes."

Permalink Mark Unread

Her wings shake.

Permalink Mark Unread

Hug. Sad hug.

Permalink Mark Unread

She returns it. "What should I do today?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Whatever you want to do. Besides a few little chores, which I'd appreciate. Maybe you want to go shopping with you and Zeke's delivery money? Or do more deliveries, in safe areas this time?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Shopping?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's when you use money to buy things you want. Money isn't good by itself, it's good because you can get things with it."

Permalink Mark Unread

"We wouldn't know what to buy?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Toys and games, or nice clothes, or your favorite kind of food, is what I'd suggest for kids your age. You could also save up your money for something big and expensive though. It depends on what you want."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'd like to fly some more, if you have safe deliveries."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah, I can do that. You could also fly by yourselves. And don't leave Zeke out if he'd like to fly, too."

Permalink Mark Unread

"I think he's busy being friendly."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Ask him, at least."

Permalink Mark Unread

She goes to find him. "You wanna do another delivery."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Can't. Almost beating Steven."

Permalink Mark Unread

When Tabby reports this to Walta, "Alright here you go. One safe delivery, coordinates sent to the watch."

It's a backpack made mostly of metal. Too bad she can't wear it, it'd interfere with the wings.

Permalink Mark Unread

"What's this do?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"It's an air conditioner built into a backpack. The guy who bought it paid a lot, he's actually a landscaper. Works outdoors a lot."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Cool. Postbird away!"

Permalink Mark Unread

Nothing particularly interrupts her as she flies to the place. It's someone's house this time.

 

 

"You're Mecharcanist's new courier, huh? Wait a minute while I try this thing, 'kay?"

Permalink Mark Unread

She waits, looking very proud of herself.

Permalink Mark Unread

The guy pokes the controls on the thing for a minute, grumbling under his breath. Eventually he seems to get it to work right. 

"Good stuff. Here, buy yourself a snow cone or something." She is handed a rather sweaty dollar bill, though Walta said this guy has already paid.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Thank you!" 

She decides to go window shopping.

Permalink Mark Unread

She'll probably have to fly a decent distance.

She can get to a corner store, or go a mile further and find a long line of stores with a parking lot out front. Mostly empty of cars. Or go all the way downtown to the big, shiny stores. Or go to a giant supermarket, they're easily findable.

Permalink Mark Unread

She decides to go downtown.

Permalink Mark Unread

There's lots of stores (mostly with fancy names), and lots of cars and lots of people. This store has lots of shiny jewelry in the display. Business suits in the next one. Elaborate cakes and cookies. Flowers. Artsy stuff like shell necklaces in the next one.

Is she looking for anything in particular?

Permalink Mark Unread

Toys, books. Shinies.

Permalink Mark Unread

'Real' shinies are pretty expensive. These 'rhinestone' things are much cheaper, though.

There's a few book stores. There's semi-famous toy store at the end of the block if she has enough patience to get there.

Permalink Mark Unread

Just enough.

Permalink Mark Unread

Colorful, fun decorations on the walls. Shelves and shelves and shelves and shelves of stuffed animals, little games like Simon Says, action figures, coloring books, building sets like LEGO and Kinect, dolls, sports stuff...

Nobody really pays attention to her unless she talks to them. Walta's notice-me-not at work.

Permalink Mark Unread

She might talk to any kids in the shop.

Permalink Mark Unread

Kids in the shop are mostly stuck with their parents.

There are three unattended ones messing with big legos in the legos section though.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hello!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hi! Want to do the next speed build with us?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure!"

Permalink Mark Unread

"The rules are, we each get a pile of bricks, and then I announce the theme, and we have five minutes to build, and then we all cast our vote for best build. Everyone gets two votes."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're on."

Permalink Mark Unread

Bricks are distributed.

"...Beach!"

Permalink Mark Unread

She was at the beach a few days ago. How fortuitous. 

Permalink Mark Unread

Let the building contest begin!

(Almost none of these bricks are the right color.)

Permalink Mark Unread

Than Tabitha will construct a Martian beach!

Permalink Mark Unread

The other three competitors make: A tiny section of beach with a 'towel' and 'umbrella' and someone laying down. A shark head sticking out of the 'water'. And a surfboard.

Which two does Tabby vote for? (Including her own)

Permalink Mark Unread

She votes for the shark head and the tiny section of beach.

Permalink Mark Unread

Shark head wins the contest!

Permalink Mark Unread

Wing clap!

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Hey, what's with your arms? You a partsie or something?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah. They let me fly."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Coool."

"Huh, yeah. Where's your mom?"

The third kid looks around uncomfortably.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I don't really know."

Permalink Mark Unread

"You're lost? You're not really supposed to be in here without your parents. Maybe you should get them to call her."

Permalink Mark Unread

"No. I've never known her."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Whoever's watching you then."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, she knows I'm out."

Permalink Mark Unread

"What if you get lost? Or some kidnapper goes after you?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"I have powers."

Permalink Mark Unread

"...You're not a villain are you? I heard something about a halfsie villain..."

Permalink Mark Unread

"No, I'm just a kid."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Eh. Okay, you choose the next quick build theme."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Um, partsies?"

Permalink Mark Unread

The three other kids each do crude renditions of a hero. Totoro, who can transform into a giant racoon-like thing, lifting a bus. Mindas, a man with prominent bull horns who can run very fast. Califi, a woman who can sprout a bunch of strong octopus tentacles.

What does Tabby make?

Permalink Mark Unread

She creates a couple of wolf children.

Permalink Mark Unread

Totoro gets the most votes due to being from a semi-popular movie that all three of these kids know.

Permalink Mark Unread

That's okay, she was building for her own satisfaction, really. She votes for Califi.

Permalink Mark Unread

One of the kids is called away by his parents.

"It was fun! Bye!"

The other two wander off to browse.

Permalink Mark Unread

She leaves the store, happy, and takes flight.

Permalink Mark Unread

She's above a city again!

This area is richer and fancier than the places she mostly delivers to.

Permalink Mark Unread

She heads home.

Permalink Mark Unread

'Home' is actually fairly busy out front. A lot of cars, people walking in. It's still a working movie theater, technically. She's come in the back or the roof every time so far though.

Permalink Mark Unread

She decides to go by through the roof again.

Permalink Mark Unread

She meets Walta heading to the roof with a big backpack that has some kind of wings sticking out of it!

"Oh, hello! Done with the delivery, then?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yup! No problems. Went to a toy store and met some kids."

Permalink Mark Unread

"So the notice-me-not is working pretty well? I was worried it'd be stretched to cover how you two look."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, they knew what I was."

Permalink Mark Unread

"But you didn't get tons of people pointing and making a fuss, right? Only people you got close to and paid attention to?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Yeah."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well, I'm glad nobody you found decided to be mean to you. If they do you can always just fly off, remember."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Okay."