Powers TG, Episode 12: Civilian Interlude

Monday, October 24, 2011

Derek (Amelia) sighed. "So that's it, then. I'm going as an X-Man, only a girl."

"Yeah. We just need to get some things."

"Wait a minute. I'm not going out there to get fitted for girl clothes!"

"I didn't say you had to. I'll just pick up a yellow-and-black T-shirt or something that looks like an X-Men uniform. Here, I said you could pick my costume, so if you don't like it, you'll have plenty of chances for revenge."

Derek knew the agreement, but he still didn't like it. But there was something else on his mind. He kept it to himself for now, though.

"So, while we're at it," asked Lauren, "you find anything else out about your powers?"

"Not much," said Derek. "It's like I've figured out all the obvious ones, so whatever's left is a complete mystery. Wind powers, super speed, maybe Earth powers... I'll see if that redheaded one with the green dress has plant powers like you think, but other than those, I got nothing."

"Hmm... Maybe we're going about this wrong. We've figured out the forms that have obvious powers. Now we just need to take the obvious powers and keep trying them in different forms until they work. I know we're missing lightning, super genius, and telepathy somewhere."

"Yeah, but how exactly are we gonna test that? We'd need a place where we can't damage stuff by throwing rocks and lightning bolts, so it'd have to be wide-open. At the same time, we need an isolated place so nobody sees me transform. If there's a port-a-potty, we might be able to do it, but how are we supposed to get one? And third, if we do go through official channels to get a place like that, it'll involve Mr. Swanson which means you won't be able to watch."

Lauren slumped her shoulders. "You're right. This is harder than it looks. We can't just find a place on our own because people have camera phones now. Instant streaming of your identity or the connection between Amelia and me to the whole Internet. This is one thing the comics never dealt with. It's too new."

Derek nodded. Technology, and even more the impact of technology, was advancing faster than fiction could keep up with.

They looked through Derek's remaining math homework and other homework, then parted for the day, Lauren dropping Derek off at home. Linda invited her to stay for dinner, but at the mention of "trying a new thing with my syrup recipe", Derek hurriedly shooed Lauren away.

Except...

"Wow! This is amazing! What did you do?" said George with a rare enthusiasm. Meanwhile Derek was still holding the fork in his mouth, savoring the massively-improved flavor.

"Let's just say I got some tips," she said teasingly.

The group admired the taste for a while until dinner was done, then split up to their bedrooms or wherever they were going. Derek ignored the TV for now and found his way to bed.

But he couldn't sleep. There was something on his mind. He'd figured out something crucial:

How am I gonna pay for Lauren's costume?

================
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Derek was waiting in the school library, at the computers, looking up costumes. His search was currently frustrating him. Mostly because all the ones in the right size were not the ones he was looking or, and the ones he was looking for were built for someone...curvier. And taller.

When he spotted a women's X-Man costume, the sight of the costume reminded him instantly of what he was slated to wear. Hopefully Lauren wouldn't go that far; the sale costume was skin-tight and very skimpy. The idea of him dressed in the same... He shuddered visibly.

"Hey, Derek," said a voice.

Derek looked up to see Trevor. "Hey. What's up?"

"Ah, English paper." He sat down at the next computer. "You?"

"Eh. Just looking for Halloween costumes."

"For girls."

"Yeah, I...kinda made a deal. I'm picking for someone else."

"Uh huh. Let me guess. Lauren?"

Derek hesitated before nodding.

"Cool."

Derek typed in his search yet again but hesitated. "Why?" he asked Trevor.

"Eh. Nothing."

"You're getting at something."

"I didn't say anything."

"You guessed I was getting Lauren a costume and commented on it."

"I said 'cool' and dropped it. You're the one bringing it up."

"You're the one mentioning Lauren in the first place."

"Yeah," he said nonchalantly, typing something.

"Why are you being so evasive?"

"You're the one making an issue out of it. I dropped the conversation."

Derek rolled his eyes. "Never thought I'd hear romance talk out of you, Trev."

"I'm not talking romance. I made an observation." Trevor went back to typing for a moment, but turned back to Derek. "Why?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you never think I'd talk romance?"

"You don't listen to rumors, and you're an atheist. You'd be the last person I'd expect to come up with a theory with no proof."

"Hmf," said Trevor. "I'm allowed to have theories."

Derek rolled his eyes at Trevor's inconsistency.

================

"Mom?"

"Yes, Derek?" Linda didn't look up from her cooking, mostly because the recipe she was working on was time-sensitive.

"Could I get a ride to the mall?"

"The mall? Since when did you start hanging out at the mall?" Not that she opposed the idea of her son going out, but the mall didn't seem like somewhere he would go.

"Since I needed to start looking for job applications."

That explained it. "Ah. Well, if you can help me with these no-bake cookies, I'll give you a lift."

"Awesome."

Derek measured the oatmeal and prepared the chocolate powder. At his mother's prompts, he poured them into the mix, oatmeal going a little at a time while his mother stirred until there was none left to pour. Then, working quickly, they scooped spoonfuls of the mix onto the counter to cool. The end result was upwards of ninety individual cookies.

Well, eighty-five. Derek couldn't resist taking a few.

Okay, eighty. His mother had a bit of a sweet tooth herself.

They were at the car, but Linda headed for the passenger seat instead.

"Mom, what are you doing? I thought you were driving."

"And I thought your driving test was in a couple weeks. Better to be ready for it."

Derek was about to say something else but stopped when she got in and buckled up. Conceding the issue, he took the driver's seat and started the car up.

When they got on the road, Linda started to ask, "So, how are things going with school? Lucas giving you any trouble?"

"Yes," he said, "but I've been avoiding him more often lately."

"Well that's good."

"Yeah, except when he does find me, he'll try to hit me again. And Dad'll just yell at me for not facing him up front."

Linda sighed. "Your father just wants you to succeed where he failed. He had bully issues too." She smiled. "I remember the first time we met. They stuffed him into my locker."

"Dad? Really?"

"Yes. But he learned from it and stood up to his problems. And his bullies backed down. It took some strong words and an open palm to someone's nose, but your father was never bullied again."

"Really." Derek was in awe that his father had taken charge like that. It was like something out of Back to the Future. Wait, Marty's father was also named George, right? Weird. Shaking it off, he said, "I can't imagine Dad doing something like that. I know he talks strong, but he's not exactly Muscle McMuscles here."

"Neither are you, and you put up with worse in one day than your father went through in all of high school." She paused for a moment. "But that's the part he doesn't get. He thinks Lucas is the same as the bullies he had, and a few choice words will put an end to it. He's also stubborn; if it doesn't work the first time, try it again."

"No kidding."

"And it has to do with his parents, too. His father was a stern believer of 'men have to handle problems on their own because they're tough' and such. He's not quite as bad at that, but old teachings are hard to forget."

They were suddenly stuck in traffic, waiting for a train to pass.

"So..." started Linda, "how goes it with the superpowers?"

Derek glanced over at her for a moment, then said, "I dunno. I checked a couple forms with Lauren. Ice, wind, and super speed, and this one with some kind of shadow powers. Didn't really test them much. And I told her I'd try out these two that I think have Earthbending and plant powers."

"Hmm... So, that's...um... That's fifteen powers, if your guess is right."

"Looks like it."

"And there were twenty-two girls in that dream?"

"Um... Yeah."

"So that leaves seven."

"Yep. Seven I have no idea what their powers are."

"Well don't worry. You'll figure it out." She paused for a moment. "But you don't know everything about some of the others, right?"

"Mm hmm?"

"Maybe you should take it slow. Find out more about the ones you know about first."

"Yeah, maybe."

The conversation dropped off at that point, and they started counting train cars.

================

"Sir, I made this exactly the way you asked."

"But it's cold!"

"Yes, beca-"

"See? You admit it! You admit you made my coffee wrong! Now fix it before I have you fired!"

"Excuse me?" said Derek, interrupting. "You're ordering coffee with five creams in it. Cream is milk. Milk is cold. You're asking for coffee with raw cold put directly into it. Of course it's gonna be cold."

The man stammered for only a second before he said, "Shut up. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Neither do you. If you're so smart, tell us how to make hot coffee with cold milk in it."

Another hesitation from the man. "Sh- Shut up. Just make my damn coffee!" His attention was right back on the barista.

"Sir, I've explained to you, he's explained to you, that it's just not possible with all the cream to keep your coffee warm."

"Why do you need coffee at five in the afternoon, anyway?" wondered Derek. "Night shift?"

"None of your business." And he turned and stormed off, grumbling aloud about coffee shop workers who don't know how to make coffee.

"He really needed that coffee, didn't he?" said Derek.

"I shudder to think of what he's like hopped up on caffeine," said the barista, "but yeah. Anyway, what can I get you?"

"Got any job applications?"

"Hmm... I think we do all ours online, but we do have an opening, so I'd give it a shot." She noticed the folder Derek was carrying. "Job hunting, huh?"

"Pretty much. I'm... I'm getting someone a costume for Halloween but I can't really afford it right now."

"Hmm... Well if you need it by Halloween, you're not gonna get your first paycheck until after. It'll make things kinda hard."

Derek pondered this for a moment. "I...guess I could get a loan from someone?"

"And pay it back when your paycheck gets in."

He nodded. "Well, thanks for the advice."

"No problem. And thanks for getting rid of that guy. We could use more people like you, help defuse problems and get rid of the idiots." She paused for a moment. "Tell you what, when you're applying, put it down as an employee recommendation or something. See if that helps."

"Will do."

================

["So you want to buy Lauren this costume, but you don't have any money to do so. And you thought you'd ask me for a loan, with the promise that you'll pay me back with your first paycheck or two."]

"Yes sir," said Derek, bracing himself for a refusal. The hesitation on the other end didn't help his thoughts either.

["Okay."]

Derek blinked. "Uh... That's it?" He thought Mr. Swanson would turn it down.

["That's it. You were already planning on paying me back before you called me, so I don't see any objections."]

"Uh... Okay, sure. That was easy wait a minute. What's the catch?"

["No catch. You're already..."] Derek heard a hesitant hum on the other line. ["No, no catch."]

"What was that pause there?"

["I was...considering requesting five percent interest, but decided against."]

"Uh huh."

["Anyway, this weekend we're planning on testing a different one of Amelia's abilities. Since we've already tested flight and fire well enough. You said one of her forms had superhuman strength?"]

"Yeah, she could lift a bed without any problem."

["Then that sounds like a good place to start."]

"Sir, between fire the other day and strength now, it sounds like we're putting a lot of focus into a bunch of forms I barely know anything about. Didn't you say we should focus on the ones I know and tackle the others after I'm already good at those?"

["Yes, but I've apparently been promoted to head of all things superpower-related, not just you. Warp's investigation is now under my lead, even though it was working just fine without me. And something involving powers came up elsewhere. I don't know the details, which is why I'm supposed to go investigate in person. Meanwhile, Mr. Fluke wants to know as much as he can about your powers, and he specifically picked 'Super Strength'. It worries me."]

Derek nodded. Flight, fire, and now super strength? It didn't take much of a stretch to think Fluke was planning something combat-related.

["Well, anyway, I'll put the money in your mother's account for you to borrow. Just ask her for a loan and return the money to me when you get it."]

"Yes sir."

["And Derek."]

There was a pause.

["Good luck."]

"Thank you, sir. You too."

The phones hung up.

================
Wednesday, October 26, 2011

"Well, here it is," said Lauren, gesturing to an open box on her bed.

Amelia picked up the top item. It was a T-shirt, predominantly yellow but with black running down the sides under the arms. Over the heart was a silver X in a circle.

"It's the most generic X-Men T-shirt I could find. I had to guess your sizes, especially since none of your forms are the same size."

"Well it's certainly better than what I've seen online."

"Yeah, I don't usually shop for pre-made costumes. The ones for girls aren't really my style, and definitely not your style."

"No kidding." She put the shirt down on the bed and looked at the next thing. "Uh... Lauren?"

"Yeah?"

"...tights."

"Yep."

"...tights," she repeated.

"Yes, those are tights."

"You bought me tights to wear."

"That I did."

Indignant, Amelia said, "Lauren-"

"Look, you said one of your forms already has shorts over tights, so what's the big deal?"

Shorts over tights? But there's no... Amelia's thoughts trailed off when she spotted the next article of clothing. A pair of yellow and black shorts, and a quick check showed they went down to Amelia's knee. ...well, they're longer than that other form, that's for sure, thought Amelia, remembering the form in question, the one with super senses, and its denim short-shorts with black tights. She had to concede that this particular shorts/tights combination wouldn't quite be as bad.

Beneath that was a pair of boots, also black and yellow, followed by a silvery belt with another circled X. "This looks more like Bumblebee than an X-man."

"Eh? I'm not much of a Transformers person. Anyway it was the closest I could come up with on a budget."

"Budget? Then how'd you afford that big pile of comic books?"

"Allowance. That's why I'm on a budget."

Amelia nodded.

"...so..."

"So...what?"

"Aren't you gonna see if they fit?"

================
Saturday, October 29, 2011

*K-THUNG*

"HOLY SHIT!"

Amelia stepped back and shook her hand. That one actually hurt a little. She looked at the damage, seeing a fist-sized hole in the tank.

"...I don't have to pay for that, do I?"

================
Monday, October 31, 2011, 7 am

"A tank!?" said Lauren, her attention momentarily pulled from the road.

"Yep," said Derek. "Punched right through the side. All I got was a minor bruise."

"Jesus Christ, Derek. Lifting trucks, punching through tank armor... You didn't get hurt at all?"

"Nope. I think I have some kind of damage resistance in that form. The 'karate chop cinder block' test, there was pieces of cinder block hitting me in the face. Nothing. They threw rocks at me after that; nothing happened. I think they wanted to try bullets next, but Erin and I said no."

"Christ. You know what that means, right?"

"What?"

"You thought that Fluke guy wanted you for military use? This is gonna convince him more than anything."

"I thought Fluke wants me for military. I don't know for sure. I hope he doesn't, but yeah, I'm worried he does."

Lauren quietly agreed. She turned right onto the highway feeder road.

================
Thursday, November 3, 2011

"Hello?"

["Hello. Is this Derek Parker?"]

"This is his father. Who is this?"

["My name is Kyle Ross. I'm the manager at the Starbucks in Willowbrook Mall. Your son filled out an application online, and we'd like to interview him for a job."]

"I see. What sort of career are you looking to hire him for?"

["That will be up to how he does in the interview. Could you put him on the line?"]

"Sure. Can you hold for a moment?"

["Of course."]

Mr. Parker headed upstairs and opened the door to find Derek reading. Well, better than finding him in a girl's body, he thought. "Derek?"

"Hey Dad. What's up?"

"Phone for you. It's Starbucks."

"Really?"

Derek took the phone when offered and began to talk to that Ross guy. Mr. Parker, meanwhile, returned downstairs to the living room. Television was a welcome break from the usual real estate boredom. But then again, he was getting bored of Judge Judy. It was getting repetitive. Maybe the History Channel had something.

He sighed. Derek used to love watching the History Channel with him. Learning about all sorts of things from the past. He remembered Derek as a child sitting on his lap as they watched a program about the Mayans. Sitting beside Derek as they watched a Civil War program. Shielding the young Derek's eyes when pictures from the concentration camps were shown during a World War II program.

Over time, he and Derek had grown more distant. Derek was growing up, spending time with friends, getting more homework, and reading at higher and higher reading levels. George had started to miss the bonding time. They still watched TV together, but not as often, and as Derek dove right into the history assignments, he needed his dad's help with those less and less, until now he could finish them in class and George would never see them until they were returned graded.

George had kept Derek from getting his own computer and video games because he knew, from the stories from a coworker, that those would eat up Derek's time to where almost nobody would see him again. He was reluctant putting a TV in Derek's room, but Linda convinced him to give Derek some form of entertainment.

But now, there was so much more. Derek and that Lauren girl were spending a lot of time together, including Lauren helping Derek with homework. Derek had the whole 'superpower' thing to deal with. And he spent every other weekend and Wednesday going somewhere with the government to punch tanks or burn tires or whatever it was that week. And now he was getting a job. Derek's time spent with his family was being chipped away bit by bit.

He wanted nothing more than to spend time with his son. He wanted those moments back.

Flipping channels, he came across something that gave him an idea. He turned the TV off and headed upstairs to his room, going into one of the spare bedrooms that had been converted into a den at some point, housing several books and, more importantly at the moment, his computer. A quick Google search and he was on the way to exactly what he needed.

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Tuesday the 25th again

"And Derek."

There was a pause.

"Good luck."

["Thank you, sir. You too."]

The phones hung up. Mr. Swanson pocketed his phone and drove his rental car out of the parking lot.

"Alright," he said to himself. "Welcome to Los Angeles. Now, how do I get to your address, Rear Admiral?"