[Missing Chapter] Diversions

Yesterday

Violet pushed her peas around her plate. She was home for Sunday dinner with the family. In the silence she could hear the dryer finishing her laundry. Dash had finished his dinner almost as soon as it had been put in front of him. Now he was deep into a sports magazine; complicated reading still held out against his superspeed. Jack Jack was equally involved in playing with plastic dinosaurs, one sporting a flaming crown.

"Violet, your mother and I..."

Here it came. Dad began but mom would take the lead. Violet put her fork down and adopted a position of studious attention.

"Vi," mom interrupted, "we're a little concerned about your superheroing. Is it really sensible to work alone?"

"Mom, dad, we talked about this. You both worked solo at my age. I've been part of a team, I want to try something new. And I'm still part of this team."

Only a few years ago Violet would have turned invisible to avoid anything like this confrontation. But she'd grown up. She could be reasonable. No shrinking violet, no teen sulk, just a reasonable discussion between adults.

"But, Vi, honey, it's so much more dangerous these days. If you at least had a partner..."

"Hey, I work with others when it's needed. I took down Mother Superior and her Sisters of Sin with Miss Guise and Ghostess." Violet couldn't keep the pride out of her voice. It had been in all the papers, with headlines like 'The New Generation'. "And if it's really serious I can call you guys."

"Sometimes you need backup right away. What if--"

A buzzer sounded. It could have been from an appliance wanting attention but it wasn't. With a burst of superspeed Dash threw the magazine aside. Before it had landed he had finished searching the house.

"Coast's clear!"

Bob nodded and pressed a sequence of concealed buttons under the table. Immediately a glowing female figure sprang to life, hovering like a technological ghost over the Sunday roast. Helen sat back with her arms crossed. She and Mirage still didn't really get along even if they worked well together. The holographic projection of Mirage wore a tailored business suit and displayed her National Supers Agency badge to show this was an official call.

"Sorry to interrupt dinner but this is urgent. We've located ManPower on Mount Athos in Greece. It's a men only monastery. No woman's put foot there for a thousand years. So it's just the boys this time. Wheels up for Bob and Dash in one hour. Full briefing on the plane."

"ManPower" Bob's hand fist punched into his other hand. "We have unfinished business."

"Bob..." Helen began and then visibly relented. "Dash, you help me pack."

Dash sped off while Helen's arms extended to snake through the house and into various bedrooms and closets. Dash could have finished the whole business himself much quicker but he still wasn't quite reliable enough for Helen.

"Honey, just be careful. OK?"

Violet scooped the last of the peas into her mouth and helped Jack Jack down from the table. She'd babysit until mom got back.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Helen sighed. She wished she and Violet could be as close as they used to be.