Thanks for the reviews, all. Much appreciated! Enjoy chapter 3!

It's worth noting that I typically like to denote short breaks in the story with a series of 3 asterisks. This site doesn't seem to like that, so I'm having to resort to using horizontal lines. After the first horizontal line in this chapter, all the rest denote short breaks in the story. There are author notes at the end of the story, after the last horizontal line.

Shortly later, the Owl Glider circled around an area of forest. Several small fires burned on the trees below, and there was a small crater in the ground. Owlette brought the glider down and left it hovering so that the headlight beams shone on the crater. She flew out of the glider and said, "Dang."

She flew overhead of the crater, where a metallic pod was inside the crater, smoking. "Romeo?" She flew close and said, "Super Owl Wing Wind!" She flapped her arms and her wings glowed red as a gust of wind blew on the escape pod, cooling it down.

Owlette landed in the crater nearby the pod. Just when she did, it broke apart with a crack like a giant egg and the top half of it shot away from them. In the lower half, there was Romeo, space suit and all, sitting on the chair, surrounded by the controls. "Romeo!"

Romeo was not in great shape. His helmet had shattered and there was a big gash on his head that had coated part of his face in warm, red blood. He coughed and said, "Hey there… I see you got my message." He coughed again and moved his arms. "Ow."

Owlette flew over and frantically asked, "Are you okay?"

Romeo moved his head a bit and then his legs. "I think so. The cut isn't as bad as it looks." He stood up and said, "Ow, my head." Pause. "Don't touch me, by the way; I try not to bleed on cute girls."

Owlette sighed at the joke. She said, "PJ Robot! Bring the first aid kit!" Overhead, PJ Robot flew out of the Owl Glider. "What the heck happened? Where's the mobile lab?"

PJ Robot arrived and beeped a few times as he opened up a first aid kit. Romeo said, "I was orbiting over the Pacific when the fusion generator in the lab had a control rod failure. I had to make a quick escape." He wasn't technically lying about that one… He just left out the part where he caused the fusion generator to have the control rod failure by activating the self-destruct sequence. Romeo winced as PJ Robot poked at the cut on his head with a wipe coated in alcohol. "Ow, dammit!"

Owlette eyed him oddly. "Why were you in space?"

There it was. The question Romeo had mentally prepared an answer for as he regained his senses and waited for her to get to the crash site. "I was, uhm, just playing in the zero gravity." Romeo was lying now, of course. He did not dare tell Owlette about the experiment. It was over with now. Nobody ever needed to know what he had created up there.

Owlette sighed. "Well, that was stupid. You could've been killed."

Romeo snorted. "You have no idea. It was a rough landing…" PJ Robot beeped and held Romeo's head still as he dabbed some ointment on his head and started to bandage him up. Romeo growled, but held still. "I swear, I am making a freaking voice box for PJ Robot tomorrow. Every time he does first aid on me I don't know what's coming next."

PJ Robot made an amused beep as he continued bandaging Romeo's head. Owlette said, "Well, you definitely don't have a concussion, you're still the same ornery Romeo. Besides, if you'd stop doing dumb crap and getting hurt, you wouldn't need first aid."

Romeo smiled handsomely as PJ Robot finished wrapping up his head. He raised his middle finger quietly and stuck out his tongue.

Owlette laughed. "Oh, ha ha. Come on, let's take you back to your lab and get you cleaned up. Maybe we can use that dermal regenerator of yours to close up that gash before your parents see it in the morning."

Romeo nodded, "Yeah, good idea."

Early the next morning, Connor jogged mindlessly on the treadmill in his garage. Though he was jogging at a reasonable speed, a glance at his eyes would confirm that Connor wasn't in the garage, mentally.

Mentally, Connor was deep inside his mind, on top of a tall building. He jogged along the rooftops and jumped from skyscraper to skyscraper, with agility like a cat; like Catboy. A neon blue cat followed alongside him. Despite the acrobatic moves he was making, Connor didn't even sound breathless when he said, "Waysa?"

Connor had been in the waking dream with Waysa for quite some time, now, but neither of them had said a word. Waysa, with his crackly voice, replied, "Yes?"

"How are you today?"

Waysa made an amused sound. "I am well, child… Is there something on your mind? You're quiet this morning."

Connor sighed and replied, "Yeah." The scene around them transitioned into something completely different. They were on the roof of Connor's house, and the full moon was out. Connor was laid out with his hands clasped behind his head.

Waysa, Connor's spirit animal, trotted onto Connor's chest. "You're annoyed at Greg for yesterday, aren't you?" Connor nodded and Waysa stretched his claws out into Connor's chest very lightly. "Because he brought the small one to headquarters?" Connor made an amused smile; for some reason, Waysa liked to refer Greg's little brother, Finn, as 'small one.'

Connor sat up and Waysa hopped down beside him. "Yeah, pretty much. I mean, what if Finn tells someone about HQ and they believe him?"

Waysa laid down in Connor's lap. He looked up at the moon as he replied, "He doesn't remember it."

Connor said, "Huh?"

Waysa twitched his tail and said, "Connor. Do not tell me you have never wondered why nobody but the nighttime villains and that armadillo-thing knows about your HQ. Surely you must have considered it at some point."

Connor blinked. "Nope." Connor sometimes lacked Waysa's catlike curiosity.

Waysa quickly replied, "Well, in that case, I'll explain. Nobody but them know about your HQ because Koozye, Night Eagle, and I actively use our powers to keep the town from noticing HQ. They see it, but it does not stick in their minds." Koozye and Night Eagle were Greg and Amaya's spirit animals, respectively.

Connor said, "Huh, no kidding?"

Waysa nodded. "Indeed."

Connor hastily replied, "I have wondered how our parents have never walked in and found out we're not there some nights. Are you three responsible for that, too?"

Waysa disappeared from Connor's lap, and reappeared on his head, with his tail lazily draping over the boy's face. "Yes, we are. Koozye also keeps a special lookout on Finn; she was the one that made his recollection of the HQ disappear from his mind when he left. We figured Greg would bring him there eventually."

Connor reached up on top of his head and scratched Waysa behind his ears. "So, you three protect us from being discovered? How do the villains know our identities, then?"

Waysa said, "We protect you from being made public. As for the villains, well, the answer to that question is complex. In all things, there must be balance, and to maintain the balance, we cannot directly interfere with the villains. That is your job."

Waysa disappeared and then reappeared on the edge of the roof, walking along it to demonstrate balance. Connor said, "Alright."

It was silent for a moment, and Waysa decided to turn around and walk back over to Connor. "Why are you so quiet? That wasn't the only reason you were angry."

Connor sighed. He had difficulty getting anything past Waysa. "Well, I just wanted to have some alone time with Greg, yesterday; he always has Finn with him, these days, though."

Waysa said, "Why? Does the small one bother you? Do you not love him?"

Connor replied, "I love Finn like the little brother I never had, it's just… I don't know, I wanted to hang out with Greg without Finn around. Is that a bad thing?"

Waysa raised his ears. "Not at all. In fact, you should tell Greg about that. They probably need to spend some time apart at some point, too."

Connor pouted. "Good idea, I suppose."

Waysa swatted his paw at Connor's hand. "Don't sulk; it makes you look annoying. Just do what I said."

Connor stuck his tongue out at Waysa. "Fine, I'll do it."

Waysa flatly replied, "I will bite your tongue off, child." A slight chuckle sounded after that.

Connor snickered. "Was that a joke, Waysa?"

Waysa replied, "Yes."

Connor laughed. "You said it so intensely that I couldn't tell."

Waysa seemed to raise the area of fur above one of his eyes. He said, "I'll attempt to work on that."

Connor nodded and stood up. "Thanks for the advice, though."

Waysa said, "One more thing." Connor raised an eyebrow. "Avoid roasted cabbage, today."

Connor furrowed his brow. "Uhm… I… Uh… Why?" Connor normally liked roasted cabbage, though he was not sure why that would come up today.

Waysa sternly replied, "Just do it."

Connor blinked a few times before he acquiesced. "Okay, I will." There was a pause as they made awkward eye contact. Finally, Connor said, "Well, I'm gonna go then, Waysa."

Waysa flashed his teeth and said, "Happy hunting."

"Happy hunting, Waysa." Then, everything faded away, and Connor was on the treadmill in his garage, jogging. He stopped the treadmill and breathlessly said, "What the hell does cabbage have to do with anything?" After a few seconds to contemplate that, Connor heard his mother shout for him. He grabbed his towel from its spot on the control panel and wiped his head before he went inside to get ready for school.

Later that evening, at Greg's house, Linda was bringing a suitcase out of her room. Greg followed her along the way and said, "So, you're okay with me inviting Mandy over, right?"

Linda looked him over. "Greg, you can bring anyone you want over here if you clean your blasted room. It looks like a tornado tore through it. I will not have anyone over here thinking we live like slobs because you won't clean up."

Greg raised an eyebrow. With a witty tone, he said, "What about Connor and Amaya?"

Linda walked back toward her bedroom and Greg followed as she replied, "Connor and Amaya know that we're not slobs. Besides, I would be careful with that mouth of yours young man. You are not too old for me to spank." Her voice was not threatening; it was a mere statement of fact. "Besides, I'm sure Finn would enjoy seeing big brother get a spanking for once." Linda put on a suit jacket; she was dressed up well, tonight.

Greg frowned. "Yes ma'am." After a few seconds, he meekly asked, "So, if I clean my room, I can have her over?"

Linda nodded, "Yes, but your father has to be here. And you'll have to clear it with him, too."

Greg grinned; he had already asked his dad about it earlier. His dad had said to ask his mother. "Okay. Thanks, mom!"

Linda picked up a briefcase and said, "Alright, almost time for my shuttle to be here."

Greg held his hand out. "I'll take that, Mrs. Edmonds."

Linda laughed. "Trying to butter me up now, are you?" In reply, Greg made a stupidly wide grin and Linda rolled her eyes. "Fine then, take the briefcase."

Greg took the briefcase and followed his mother through the house. As they approached the front door, they heard screaming and giggling. They stopped and peaked into the living room. Greg and Linda laughed at the sight.

In there, Alan was barely managing to hold onto Finn with a towel; the child was naked and wiggly. Alan saw Greg laughing and said, "Hey, if you think it's so funny, Greg, wait until you're the one in charge for a few nights when I do my ER night shifts at the hospital."

Finn goofily imitated Alan, saying, "Yeah, Greggy, if you think it's funny, just wait!" He wiggled once more and slipped from Alan's grasp. He ran over to Greg licked the elder boy's free arm.

Greg hopped backwards and his voice cracked when he said, "Gross, Finn!" Greg apparently made a funny face when that happened; Alan about died laughing as Greg wiped his arm off on his shirt.

Linda sighed and quickly snatched Finn up. "I cannot believe I'm about to leave you three here by yourselves for a week." She very lightly swatted the child's bottom. There was a distinct smack and he held still.

Finn cried, "Ow, mommy!"

Linda looked him in the eyes and sternly said, "Finn H Edmonds, you know better! You keep your tongue in your mouth, young man. Do you understand me?"

Finn grunted and pouted just like Greg did earlier. "Yessss!" The boy didn't cry over swats on the bottom, usually; they just made him do his best to be tough and show no pain.

Linda said, "Good; don't forget it. You had better behave for big brother when daddy isn't home. If you don't listen to Greg, you can count on spankings just like that one. Am I clear?" Finn nodded and crossed his arms angrily, huffing. Linda was unfazed; she said, "Good. Now, go get dressed so you can give me a hug and a bye-bye kiss."

Finn bit his lip, and then said, "Okay." Linda sat him down and he walked over to Alan.

Alan, in the background, had straightened up from his laughing; he took Finn's hand. As they left the room, Alan said, "You know you love us, Linda!"

Linda smiled and looked over at Greg, who added his own contribution: that big stupid grin from a few minutes ago. Linda laughed lightly, "You guys don't always make it easy, that's for sure." Linda grabbed her suitcase just as a car horn honked outside. She shouted, "Hurry Alan, I want a hug from that squirmy boy!"

"Gotcha! Super Finn and Doctor Dad to the rescue!" Finn screeched amusedly right after that.

Finn screamed, "Super-duper Finny!"

Greg snorted and quietly said. "If I had crossed my arms at you like Finn did a minute ago, you would've whacked me."

Linda laughed, "Yeah probably, but you're almost 13, Greg. You know better because you mostly understand how to be respectful." Linda wrapped an arm around the boy and gave him a half hug. "Finn is four. He's still learning to control his feelings and impulses."

Greg opened the front door and said, "Yeah, I know. Just giving you a hard time."

Linda smiled back. "I know sweetie." She let go of Greg. Then, she reached out the front door and waved at the airport shuttle van parked out front.

Greg said, "By the way, Connor and Amaya told me to tell you to have a safe flight to your business conference."

Linda replied, "Well, you tell them I said thanks and I love them." Greg nodded.

In the distance, Alan shouted, "I hope the shuttle driver has seen little boys in their underwear before, because that's what Super Finn has on and is running toward you with, Linda!"

Greg and Linda turned and looked at each other. Greg sighed, "It's gonna be a long week, isn't it?"

Linda shrugged, "Maybe for you three. I'm flying first class to and from the meeting and it's in Galveston. Beaches and plenty of sunshine for momma this week. And the company is paying for most of it, too."

Greg rolled his eyes and looked over just in time to see Finn sprinting toward them. It was definitely going to be a long week with that little bundle of energy in the house.

AUTHOR NOTE: ...Also, if anyone is interested, I have also written an "unofficial" thingy that happens in between chapters one and two. It isn't vital to the storyline of the series, and, because of its content, I will not be posting it on here. If you're interested in reading it, though, send me a message and I will give you some details and a link to give it a look...