Helen Parr had made a lot of phone calls over the last few days. Kari was still rather freaked out, which was understandable. Rick Dicker would have talk to the girl further. The kid's schools had been informed that due to incineration, neither would have their homework done for when they returned. Edna was delighted to hear that her suits had held up to everything thrown at them, then insisted Helen, Bob and the kids visit her on Saturday. Despite all the telephone tag Helen had been playing there was still one call to make. She really wasn't looking forward to placing it.

It was with some trepidation that she picked up the handset, dialed and listed to the rings. Maybe he won't answer, she thought optimistically. He could be out. Try again tomor-

"Hello?"

Oh. "Hi Snug. It's Helen."

"Helen." His voice was warm, friendly and familiar. "Dare I ask how you are?"

No use sugar coating. "We're alive. And well, all considered." She paused, unsure of how to proceed to the point of the call.

"I saw the news footage," Snug said after a brief silence. "Too bad about your home."

"Yes... well, we had only lived there for three years. Though I suppose the cover-up operation will be a hassle for Agent Dicker and his crew." The official report was that the house had been destroyed in a freak explosion. No injuries. Syndrome's death was being completely covered up for the meantime, given the awkward questions it would raise. A few details about the Omnidroid were being released, since it would be rather difficult to completely hide the robot that had been attacking the city only a few days ago. Fortunately, there weren't many deaths or injuries from the attack. She, Bob, the kids and Lucius had been thanked for their intervention. As for returning supers to the public eye... that was a debate for another day. There were promising signs, though. Eyewitnesses to the battle had reported the reappearances of Frozone, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl after fifteen years of enforced isolation, plus two unknown supers. Everyone who had been near the battle and spoken of it was so far relieved and grateful. Maybe this swell of support could repeal the laws against them. Maybe not. Helen wasn't sure and had more pressing matters to attend to. "The good news is that our family is back together again and we're all safe."

"You know, I still want to meet Jack-Jack one of these days," Snug said. "You sure talked about him when you came over to my place to borrow the jet."

Oh. Well, if he was going to bring it up then now was a good time. "The jet is actually why I'm calling, Snug. I'm so sorry to have to tell you, but the jet... well, it's kind of – "

"Blown up?"

"Yes, exactly." A brief pause. "How'd you know?"

"Gut feeling." A creak suggested he was leaning back in his chair. "I was a taxi to many supers in the day. You get a good sense of these things. Not the first plane I've lost. Plus, there was a homing device on it that's no longer giving a signal."

"Snug, there's no way I can tell you how sorry - "

"Helen, come now. It must have been serious; you're too responsible for anything else to have happened." He was firm, and reassuring.

"Well, it's a long story. One better told in person."

"My schedule's clear tomorrow all day. Sometime in the afternoon work?"

"Yes. I'll swing by with Jack-Jack."

"Good. I'll leave the coffee on."

Helen felt a sudden swell of relief. She really had been quite worried that Snug wouldn't understand, but of course he knew better. A dark thought rose in her, something she had pondered a few times already. "I suppose it's a good thing you didn't fly me, like we used to do on missions."

Snug chuckled. "Imagine that. I could have died..."