Prologue

Time for Reform

Robert was frowning over his paper work. With his son's help he'd successfully convinced city council to give him extra money to refit the counseling rooms so that they were bang baby proof so he could get his new program off, one that would work on helping the cities metahuman population become reintegrated with society.

However he'd not counted on the city demanding that the counseling be mandated for several metahumans being released on parole, and there were too many for him to manage all by himself.

"Hey pops," Virgil said as he came into the kitchen through the window.

"You know I hate when you do that," Robert told him, "What if someone sees?"

"Pops, there was no one on the street, and Sharon was vacuuming in the hallway. I couldn't chance her seeing me in this get up," Virgil told him as he removed his mask, "Besides she saw me leave earlier through the front door."

"Why didn't you just change in your secret lair?" Robert asked, glad to have some excuse from going over paperwork of convicted bang babies.

"Uhm…about that," Virgil said as he pulled off his coat and tucked it into his backpack, "It's finally been condemned. It's going to be removed. Richie had send backpack in to retrieve the rest of the stuff. He's going to sneak in and get the police scanner tonight, but for now Static and Gear don't have safe place to set up base camp."

"That's unfortunate, what do you plan on doing about it?" Robert asked as Virgil pulled off his static pants, which he had gym shorts underneath.

"That's just it, I don't know," Virgil told him as he packed away the rest of the costume, "I'm not like batman or the other hero's, I don't have a tower or a space station. I'm tempted to ask someone from the league to see if they could help me find a place where I can build a place that can serve as HQ, but I'm starting college next year and even the local college costs money," Virgil complained.

"Well it's a good thing you and Richie have scholarships, but I guess it's not enough with everything else you have to buy?" Robert asked.

"Nope," Virgil told him.

The door swung open as Sharon entered the room with the mail her hands. "Here's the mail daddy, and Virgil when did you get home?"

"Just now actually," Virgil told her.

"Good you can take out the trash," Sharon told him pointedly, "You should be pulling your own weight around here." Virgil winced. What Sharon said was true, he was neglecting his chores, but recently Static not only had patrols but was being invited to things left and right. He couldn't exactly say no, most people didn't realize that Super Hero's had a life too.

"Fine fine I'm getting to it," he groaned as he grabbed the bag and hefted it out of the bin. He tied it and lugged it outside. Sharon stood their arms crossed and very proud of herself. Her dad may be soft on Virgil lately, but at least she could get him to listen to her.

"You know he was studying," Robert told her solemnly. He knew Virgil would have to tell her sometime, but after Omnara had kidnapped him and Sharon had to fight with the insurance company there had never been a good time in Virgil's eyes. Robert knew better than to push it, Virgil had very good reasons for keeping his identity secret.

"Yeah right daddy, he went over to Richie's house. All they really do is watch movies and play video games when they're together," She told him.

Robert sighed, they needed to get off this topic soon before Sharon started demanding why he was so lenient with Virgil. Robert glanced down at the paper work again. The program didn't require a licensed counselor, just that volunteers were over seen by someone who was licensed. Sharon was close to finishing off her degree, and had experience with some of the non-bang baby population. Perhaps… "Sharon are you still looking for a volunteer opportunity to help get experience?"

"Yeah, why did one of your colleges respond back in regards to an internship or volunteer opportunity?" She asked excitedly.

"Not exactly. There's been a volunteer opening for a counselor with this new metahuman help program I'm setting up at the community center. The amount of people signed up is more than I can handle. Would you be willing to help me with some of the less complicated cases?"

"Daddy you know I would but aren't bang babies dangerous, well more dangerous than normal?" She asked nervously.

"Says the girl who's dating one," Robert reminded her.

Sharon hemmed and hawed for a moment, her father had a point. But a couple of months ago he'd been kidnapped by bang babies. Well if he felt he could reform them, and he'd never been wrong before on whether people could be worked with. "I'll think about it."