Disclaimer: I do not own Legion of Superheroes

It is funny how some of the worst things happen on the best days. It was bright and sunny outside, the middle of June, when we got the call. Someone had located my father at last, and because the Science Police had expanded their borders, we could finally nab him, which seemed like good fortune. Except…

I keep thinking, what if things had been different? What if the experiments had never happened? But things weren't different, and they did happen, which left me with a lot of unanswerable questions. They all bounced around in my head as we went on our way. What should have comforted me was that the one who had hurt me would finally be in jail. Why, then, did I feel so depressed? Why…

Bouncing Boy must have noticed the look on my face, because he asked, "What's the matter? You look like you've got a stomachache or something." Good guess, but it wasn't my stomach that hurt. I don't know why I'm so upset, Dear Father will be getting what was eventually coming to him in a few minutes-again, I should be beyond happy.

I never really understood the way my mind worked, neither before nor after the experimenting mess.

I'd never been bitter, just dark, but it was for good reason. My parents had one nasty divorce when I was about three. I wonder if he was messing with her, too. Who knows how people get so sick in the head-my father used to be brilliant, I'll give him that-but he had enough presence of mind to hide for so long, so he probably isn't all crazy.

There were some things he never did. I got presents or birthday from relatives, but I never had a birthday party. Ever. (Pay attention, this will crop up later in the story!) Then there were the things he started doing, like the day he started messing around with me. He had called me down to the lab, and I was happy because I'd never been down there before.

To this day, I wish I hadn't heard him.

I saw the planet in the distance before, now we were on the ground. I wasn't really sure if I wanted to get out, but of course I didn't have a choice. My mind kept on spinning as we set out on foot-the Science Police met us and wanted to walk so that he wouldn't see us from the sky and try to escape. Surprisingly, we had no trouble getting from point A to point B, which was good-I really didn't feel like fighting. The rest of the day was a complete blur. We surprised him pretty good; he didn't know about the expansion, and he didn't fight when they drug him out in handcuffs because he was trudging along with an awestruck look on his face.

And before long, we were back on the ship, trading high-fives for a successful mission. Bouncy had even let Brainy drive so that he could party with the others. I ran away and hid in the back so I could hear myself think.

And I sat there alone. Occasionally someone would come to talk, but they always left after a few awkward words. I was glad to be alone, it was natural for me to be that way and the circumstances didn't make it any better.

And them a thought came to me out of the blue, so out of the question that I had to wonder if someone had put it there.

Was there any chance, when he got out of prison, that we could make up?