Chapter 2: Missing A Friend! The Great Power!

Tara,

I just want to tell you how much you mean to me and how thankful I am that I had you as a friend. I may seem unappreciative and even cruel towards you sometimes, but every day I thank god that I have a friend like you! From all the fake people I have to put up with each day, pretending to care about me, trying to act as if they really have my back when they're only trying to leech off my popularity and good fortune (or as much that actually existed), you were the one who always had my back, who really cared about me. Often I would sit in my room, staring at the ceiling in my room, and think that how lucky I am to have you and wonder if I really deserve you as a friend. From all the times I put you down, criticize your tastes (I mean really, Stoppable?), you've still been there for me, even though you had every right to wash your hands of me. You are my best friend, the best friend I ever had and this is why this may be one of the hardest things I would ever do.

I thought about what you said. That I couldn't just stay here with you forever. That I had to go back home and deal with my family, regardless of how hard it may be. You knew that it was for the best that I try to work thing out with my family. I am grateful for the long weeks you had to deal with me and put up with my bullshit. I knew that I couldn't put you through all of that any longer. So I packed up all things that I had and decided to leave your house. But I'm not going to go back there. I'm sorry if it sounds petty, but I refuse to go back to the home that was never really mine. It would just be going back to a place where I am not really wanted. That's why I decided to go with Zach to Newport when he leaves to go home. Yeah I know I'm crazy, but I'm sure Zach can come up with something that could help me out. He's good at pulling things out of his ass at the last minute, so this shouldn't be any different. If not, I've already took out a large amount of cash from my trust fund. I should be able to find a place there so I could at least eat and sleep. Maybe I can find a job as a waitress. Then I could look into getting emancipated so I don't have to worry about seeing Connie or Lonnie ever again. I know that this sounds crazy, possibly the rashest move I've ever made in my life. But I have to do this, T. I have to find out who I really am, what I'm really made of.

Hope you can understand someday,

Bonnie

P.S. When you find Kim, tell her that I'm sorry for all the things I said to her the other day. I know she must be going through a hard time right now, all things considered. And tell Jessica she could have Brick for all I care.

"Why Bonnie…" Tara shook her head, reading the note once more. It had been only an hour since she had returned home, only to find that Bonnie's things no longer in her room. At first, she had assumed (or rather hoped) that she went back home to work things out with her family. Despite how horrible Connie and Lonnie were, especially after they flat out told her that she was adopted, they were still her family and she hoped that reconciliation was possible. But after reading her note… Bonnie…

Tara slammed the back of her head onto her bed. Bonnie, that girl… How could she be so… So stupid! Doesn't she realize the ridiculousness of her whole plan? Didn't she even consider how rude she was being? She talked about moving out so she wouldn't be such a burden to her, but she goes on and pulls this stunt! Now she's become a burden to Zach! Honestly, what's with that girl? And the worst thing is that there was nothing she could do about it!

She scoffed bitterly. It was ironic… She had all of this so-called power inside her, and yet she couldn't do anything. She was supposed to be this S-Class Mu-Type Zach and his friends mentioned about. And from their words, she was supposed to be powerful. Very powerful! If that was the case, then why the hell couldn't she do anything? Or rather, why the hell did she feel so powerless! The one time she wanted to do something to bring Bonnie home, to help her, there wasn't much she could do! Then again, as much as she was worried about her, should she even try searching for her?

If she wanted to be found, she wouldn't have left her a note, showing just how much Bonnie really trusted her to keep this to herself but at the same time trying to keep her from worrying. Like that was going to do the trick. She guessed she could contact Zach via his cell phone. But for all she knew, they were already on the plane (Thus their cells would be turned off). Email might work, but who knew how long it would take before they made it there, let alone settled down. There was also the alternative of asking Kim to track her down. But that would most likely piss her off to the point where she would outright refuse. Not to mention the anger that would be directed at her. But at the same time, Bonnie's mother had to factor in somehow as she had a right to know where her daughter was, adopted or not. While she didn't know how her father felt, and could honestly care less about Connie and Lonnie, she knew that her mother had to be going through hell! Who knew how long she had tried to keep Bonnie's adoption a secret! She guessed she could understand why she wouldn't want to stay. It was one thing to have to put up with what she did for so long, because for better or worse, they were still family. But to put up with it for the sake of a family that she never actually belonged to in the first place?

Sitting upright, Tara decided that there were other things that needed her attention. Namely, her Mu-Type status! Just how exactly was she supposed to be an S-Class Mu-Type, anyway? Okay, so far she knew she could replicate the powers of any Mu-Type she touched. Confirmed when Zach touched her and Rex… pinched her, who turned him into a popsicle! Now that she thought about it, it also happened when she saved Zach from being ran over, borrowing his powers. Also when she consoled Hope after V-Ray (That was his name, right?) mentally deconstructed her, she must've picked up his powers after shoving him out of the way. But still, as weird and, to be honest, powerful as it was, this still seemed underwhelming for "S-Class."

…Unless it wasn't the only power she had.

God she wished Zach was still here. Perhaps he might have some idea about her powers. Any member of his group would do. But they were all the way in Newport. Now she would basically have to do this all on her own. She couldn't tell her parents, knowing how worried they could get or worse, she might find herself becoming an experiment to be dissected and treated like some lab rat. Then again, she still needed to know why she was a Mu-Type, given that apparently she was one before Marcella's party. She talked to Kim about how she became a Mu-Type, and she mentioned that it was because of the Xenocide explosion during a demonstration at the Space Center her father was presenting. While Dr. Possible didn't become a Mu-Type, Kim did through hereditary. As Kim was nowhere near the party, it was possible that Tara became a Mu-Type in a similar manner.

With that in mind, Tara headed downstairs. She didn't know what truths or consequences awaited her. All she knew was that it was time for her to get some answers. And just maybe, just maybe she could get some hint of her new "gifts." As she navigated her way down the linear steps, she saw seated on the couch a woman with ash-blonde hair that reached her shoulder blades, and a man whose grayish-blonde hair was combed over, save for the thin beard on his face. Taking a deep breath, Tara knew that it was now or nether. "Mom… Dad?"

Placing down a magazine, the older woman turned to her daughter, "Yes sweetheart?"

"Can I ask you something?" She knew that it was no time to get cold feet.

"Go ahead, Princess." Her father nodded, taking a sip of green tea.

"Do you know anything about the explosion at the Middleton Space Center long ago?" This question caused the father to do a spit take.

"Explosion?"

"Yeah Dad! After hearing what happened to Kim due to her father being there, I wanted to make sure that you're not hiding any surprises."

He didn't know what he was more shocked about: Tara actually accusing him of hiding secrets, or that she knew anything about that day.

"I take it that you do know something." She said, noticing her father's flinching.

"But Honey, how did this come about all of a sudden?" She could tell that he didn't want to talk about it.

"I was thinking about it the other day and if someone like Kim could become a Mu-Type out of the blue, then what about me?" She shook, "Is it like some kind of a disease? A-am I going to sprout wings, or horns, or-"

"Sweetie, Sweetie…" She was pulled into an embrace of her mother. "It'll be alright. You have nothing to worry about."

"…You sure?" This wasn't what Tara had in mind. She didn't want to resort to waterworks or pulling the Wounded-Gazelle act. But it would be the only way to get them to talk about the incident. They had to know something. They just had to!

He sighed, "Tara, there is something I can tell you."

Moving from the embrace, she looked towards her father. "Yeah…"

"On the day of the explosion, we were sent in to put out the fire, to make sure that there were survivors, let alone those who made it out safely." Back then, he was a new recruit. He listened to his superior and was assigned with the task of putting out the flames. After that was done, he was to search the rubble for survivors. He wished he could say that he found around 20. But in truth, given the destroyed condition of the facility, it was lucky that he managed to find five, including James Possible. "It was fortunate we managed to find anyone, given how wrecked the place was. They were taken to the MMC for checkup and to see if there were abnormal effects from the explosion, given that some strange chemical was found. But the tests all returned negative."

'It was Xenocide, wasn't it…' This all but confirmed that Tara was on the same boat as Kim. Omega Strike did mention that exposure to Xenocide was possible via the clothes that were laced with the gas. Even standing within three feet of a person would be enough to awaken a Mu-Type. Who's to say that the gas couldn't make it through her father's suit?

"I hope this puts your mind at ease, Tara."

She sighed, "Yeah… It did. Thank you, I feel so much better now."

Watching her daughter leave the room, she turned to her husband, "Louis…"

"I know Rhiannon." He sighed, "Ever since Kim was revealed to be a Mu-Type I knew she would ask eventually."

"But do you think she's-"

"She certainly shows no signs of being one. Then again, neither did Kim. Still, I think there was more to asking us than just her. Somehow, I have a feeling that James isn't the only one to have Mu-Type offspring."

"But what kind would she be? Will she be able to shoot water? Will she grow fangs? Will she-"

Louis pulled his wife close, "We'll get through this when the time comes." It was decided. Mu-Type or not, no matter what happens to her, Tara will always be their little girl.

…

"Great…" Sighing, Tara collapsed onto her bed. That pretty much confirmed it: Tara was a Mu-Type because of her father somehow got the gas through his skin and inside of his system. At least she wouldn't turn into some vicious beast, given that her abilities have manifested.

…Or would she?

Letting out a groan of frustration, Tara slammed her fists onto the bed. 'Damn it, why was it so hard?' What was she supposed to do with her powers? She barely had any concept of what they were let alone how to utilize them in a beneficial manner! How was she supposed to do this? This was so frustrating she could pull her hair out! "Is there anyone who can help me?" She looked upward, "Please, somebody! I can't do this alone!"

"You are not alone…"

"Wait what?" She blinked at the voice as she looked around the room. "W-who's there?"

"Do not be afraid! I am a friend! I am here to help you…"

Tara wasn't sure about the voice. It did some calm and friendly and all of her instincts was telling her to trust it. However, it would be nice if she could actually see who she was listening too, just to give her piece of mind. However if anyone could give her the slightest idea on how to use her powers, it would be wonderful.

Next Chapter: Of all the cheerleaders, Crystal seems to have it the worst. But just how bad is it?

Chapter 3: No Longer Human! The Flexible Prison!