Last time, we encountered three bounty hunters who made a bet between them selves on whom would catch Olaf first. We also met an assassin who was neither man nor demon. This 'Man-Thing' was also after the head of Olaf. On with the show!
Chapter 3: Responsibilities
Miami, Florida; the next morning…
Doctor Aaron Spartan watched as his patient 'Captain' Jill Sparrow rode the surf off of Miami Beach. A brilliant young doctor from Canada, Aaron was often at wits end at what his charges are involved in. Case in point: Jill had recently suffered serious spinal damage. Her back was in a delicate state, and would be for some time afterwards. Even now, she could collapse in agony from even the lightest trauma to her spine.
Jill wasn't worried at all. 'Being a Meta-Human has its benefits' she would say after her recovery. Besides, she wasn't going to let a 'minor' back injury keep her from her three greatest passions: Fencing, surfing and keeping the world safe from paranormal threats.
As the tide began to go out, she returned to the beach. At age 23, Jill was a vision of a goddess in her one-piece green swimsuit, her long black hair gleaming in the bright sunlight. She began to dry herself with a towel as Aaron said to her, "I still think it's too soon for you to be doing anything strenuous. One wipeout and you could lose all use of your legs." "And such lovely legs they are," said Jill in a British accent, marking her as a native born Londoner, "It'd be a shame if anything were to happen to them."
"Be serious will you!" complained Aaron, "Your back is still in a delicate state. Now I've given you my opinion, and you've heard the opinions of other doctors. Yet, you're still willing to risk it all out on the water." "What do you want me to do?" asked Jill, "Sit in a hospital all day and twiddle my thumbs?" "I just want you to be careful," said Aaron, "That's all."
Just then a large jeep stopped beside Jill and Aaron. A man in a black suit and wearing sunglasses got out. "Is there a 'Captain' Jill Sparrow here?" asked the man. "That's me," said Jill "Is there a problem?" "This is for you," said the man as he handed Jill an official looking envelope, "You've been served." He returned to his Jeep and drove off.
"What is it?" asked Aaron, "Jury Duty?" "No," said Jill as she opened the envelope, "I've already done Jury Duty this year. This is from DCFS, Department of Children's Federal Services." She read the letter from the envelope, "I'll be damned!" she exclaimed with surprise, "I'm the new guardian for Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire!"
That afternoon, Jill, now dressed in slacks and collared shirt, stood in front to the Miami Federal Courthouse with Aaron. "What is your connection to the Baudelaire Orphans?" asked Aaron. "Well," said Jill, "Their parents and my family go way back. I've known Violet and Klaus since they were born. I haven't seen them in almost five years. I doubt they'd remember me. Violet must be 15 by now, Klaus 13 and their younger sister Sunny, she's just over 2."
"I've heard about them in the news," said Aaron, "Their parents were murdered by the so called 'Count' Olaf. They have gone through hell on earth if half of what the things Olaf has done to kill them is true." "If I were made their guardian from the start," said Jill, "Olaf would have never gotten within twenty feet of them."
On their way up the courthouse stairs, Jill informed Aaron about what made Violet, Klaus and Sunny so special; Violet was a prodigy at inventing. Whenever Violet tied her long brown hair up with a ribbon, you could tell that she was working on something that would better mankind. "Give her a toolkit and random pieces of junk," said Jill, "And Violet will produce wonders."
Klaus had the uncanny ability to remember everything he had ever read. "Given the chance," said Jill, "Klaus could memorize the Library of Congress from A to Z." Sunny talent was biting, something that has proven extremely useful in past encounters with Olaf. She was at an age where most children were still learning to talk. However, Sunny seemed to understand what people were saying to her, while Klaus and Violet seemed to understand what she was saying, even though other people couldn't.
Upon entering the courthouse, Jill spotted a rater portly man in a tweed suit. He seemed to be suffering from a cold, summer or otherwise. "Ah, Miss Jill Sparrow I presume?" asked the man. "You are correct sir," said Jill pleasantly, "I assume you are Mr. Poe." "Quite right," said Mr. Poe, "May I ask who this is?" "Doctor Aaron Spartan MD," said Aaron, "I'm Jill's physician and friend. What you say to her, you can say to me." "Very well then," said Mr. Poe, "Now, as executor of the Baudelaire estate, and manager of financial matters of said estate, there are a few things that need to be discussed while signing the adoption papers."
"That can wait," said Jill, "Can I see the children?" "Well," said Mr. Poe hesitantly, "Of course." He led Jill into a waiting room where Violet, Klaus and Sunny were waiting. "My god!" exclaimed Jill, "Violet! You look so much like your mother." "I do?" asked Violet, who promptly blushed in embarrassment. "Almost to the letter," said Jill, "Except the eyes, you have your father's eyes."
"I doubt you'd remember me," said Jill, "The last time I saw you was almost five years ago." "I remember," said Violet, "You would visit our house at least five times a year." "That's right," said Klaus, "You would bring Violet some sort of broken gadget to take apart, and you'd give me a random book." " I certainly did. And you Klaus," said Jill turning to Klaus, "You are on your way to becoming a great romancer." "You think so?" asked Klaus somewhat nervously. "Absolutely," said Jill, "The girls are gonna throw themselves at your feet one day."
"And there's little Sunny," said Jill bending down to look at Sunny, "So small, yet so brave." At that point, Sunny said something incoherent, but Violet and Klaus understood that she said 'I do what I can when I can.' "Well then," said Jill, "I think we should have some time to get to know each other. If you'd be so kind, Mr. Poe as to leave the room, that'd be wonderful. You too Aaron."
When Mr. Poe and Aaron left, Klaus asked Jill, "Are you and Aaron together or something?" "Oh no!" exclaimed Jill, "He's just my doctor. I recently recovered from a serious back injury, nothing for you to worry about. I heal rather quickly." "Aunt Jill," said Violet, but then Jill said, "Just call me Jill, just plain Jill." "Well, Jill," said Violet, "why are you doing this? I mean, we actually know you, unlike our previous caretakers, but why are you helping us?"
"First of all," said Jill, "I know what it's like to have someone you love taken away from you. I should know, but that's not the subject now. Second, your parents and my family have deep relations that go back many years. Third, I'm the kind of person who takes responsibilities such as adopting three orphans seriously. Fourth and most importantly, you three are safer under my care than you can possibly imagine."
"How so?" asked Klaus. "Lets just say," said Jill, "That if I were made your guardian from the beginning, that no good, murdering, fraud Olaf would never have gotten within twenty feet of you." With that said, Sunny said something that Violet and Klaus understood to be 'Get outta town!' "Oh you don't believe me?" asked Jill whom thought she understood what Sunny was implying, "Well let's just see that creep Olaf try to getting past me! I'd tear him a new one faster than you can say 'Captain Jack Sparrow!'"
One hour later Jill had finished going through all the legal red tape. With the final papers signed, witnessed by Aaron, Jill was the new guardian of Violet, Klaus and Sunny. "Now that that's all settled," said Jill happily, "I think the time has come for some indulgence. Tonight we shall dine at the best Miami has to offer. Then tomorrow, it's off to my apartment in Washington D.C." As they prepared to leave the courthouse, Jill said, "Before we leave, I'd like to have a word with Mr. Poe alone."
As Jill talked with Mr. Poe, Aaron said to Violet and Klaus, "You kids are more lucky than you know. You couldn't have picked a better foster parent." "How do you know?" asked Klaus. "I'm not allowed to go into details," said Aaron, "But Jill and her friends have done more for the world than you can possibly imagine" "What does that mean?" asked Violet. "I can't tell you," said Aaron, "But I'm sure you'll figure it out soon."
Meanwhile Jill was listening to what Mr. Poe had to say, and she was rather irked. "I shall check on the children in a week," said Mr. Poe, "To evaluate how they're coping in their new situation." "That's fine," said Jill, "But I doubt your services will be necessary anymore." "I doubt that," said Mr. Poe, "I am the executor of the Baudelaire estate." "A job that you should never have had," said Jill, "If it were known about the real you." "Just what are you implying Miss Sparrow?" asked Mr. Poe. "You damn know what I'm implying," snapped Jill, "You sir, are an incompetent moron who can't tell the difference between someone's real face from someone who's in makeup."
"If you are referring to the incidents with Count Olaf," said Mr. Poe, but he got no further as Jill interrupted, "The so called 'Count' Olaf is only part of the problem. You have placed the children in situations where they are vulnerable to repeated harassment by Olaf, not to mention allowing Violet to be nearly raped. You should get down on your knees and thank god for not being indicted for criminal negligence by now! See you in a week! That is, if you haven't been arrested by then!"
Jill left a stunned looking Mr. Poe to rejoin Violet, Klaus and Sunny. "Is everything alright?" asked Violet. "Nothing to worry about," said Jill who was grinning widely, "Just getting a few points across, that's all. Now where shall we eat tonight? Your choice, money is of no concern." Still relishing in their sudden good fortune, Violet, Klaus and Sunny left the courthouse with Jill.
The end of chapter 3. Next chapter, we look in on Max as he puts the new Rambler recruits through the paces. See you next time!
