Chapter 2
I don't own Martin Mystery – it belongs to Marathon and to the original writer of Martin Mystère, Alfredo Castelli.
"Martin Mystery…"
The normally animated group of paranormal investigators suddenly froze, some mid-sentence with their mouths hanging open comically. Surely that couldn't be…
Martin was the first to regain the use of his body. He turned quickly around to face his father, momentarily forgetting his leg injury before pain shot through him. Wisely sensing the need to hide his suffering from the man before him he managed to gulp down the initial cry that had risen within him and replace it with a quick wince. "So-o, dad. What brings you here?" he asked as casually as he could.
One of Gerard Mystery's eyebrows rose considerably at this. "I was invited to attend quite a few conferences here. It appears I'll be missing the next one." His disapproving tone stung, but Martin didn't let that show. "Where exactly did you… come from?"
Martin's eyes lit up for a moment at the prospect of being able to talk once more of this last mission. "The harpy took off from the ledge of that mountain face there, where there's a cave she was living in, by the way, and I grabbed onto her before she could get very far. Then we…" Martin's excitement soon tapered out when he realized just how far away those mountains appeared now.
Gerard also seemed to note the distance. "Those mountains there?"
The young man laughed nervously. "You know it's amazing how many kilometres a harpy can cover, it's because of their wing spans see –"
By this point the other investigators were over their shock at seeing the teens' father and most were looking away guiltily. Java shuffled his feet in an attempt to listen to the conversation without being noticed, Billy hovered slightly behind Java and prepared himself to jump in at his hero's defence while trying to become invisible in the meantime, and M.O.M. stood facing the conflict while keeping her gaze further in the distance and keeping her expression unreadable. Diana was the only one actively watching her stepfather and stepbrother, feeling both concerned for the latter and utterly helpless.
Trouble was on the horizon.
"That's enough, Martin."
Martin stopped talking abruptly and hung his head as his waited patiently for his father's next move. Everyone looked at Gerard now, anticipation causing tension to build.
"I'm disappointed in you, Martin. In both of you." Here he looked directly at Diana, then back at Martin. "I was led to believe that you two had control over what happens in these missions you participate in." He put a heavy hand on Martin's shoulder, causing the boy to raise his head and look into his eyes. "Martin, until I see that you can handle keeping yourself safe on these missions, I'm suspending you from this… organization."
M.O.M. quickly stepped in to try to reason with the older man, "Mr. Mystery, I must insist –"
The anger she saw in his eyes when he turned to her was shocking. "I will not allow you to endanger my son further, madam."
Diana closed her eyes and waited for her suspension. It never came.
"Martin, I trust your… friends will be able to take care of your injuries properly…?" Upon receiving a solemn nod from his son, he continued, "Then I'd best continue on. I may be able to catch the end of the lecture if I hurry." He seemed to hesitate, unsure of how to say goodbye to his children, now. He gave Diana a quick hug and Martin a, hopefully, warm pat on the shoulder before leaving them.
Silence.
Diana looked over at Martin. His head was bowed, his shoulders clenched tightly together, and a tear slowly made its way down his cheek. His dishevelled appearance made him look all the more vulnerable.
She stepped over to him and embraced him tightly. "Oh, Martin."
