Chapter 3.

"So what was that whole thing with Principal Powers?"

"What whole thing?" Knight asked nonchalantly.

"You were talking to her for at least two hours."

He sighed, "I can't…I'm not really allowed to talk to you about it Lyd," I almost started at the nickname from the other dimension. It was those tiny things that always set me off again. I struggled to push the memories from my mind, "It's kind of a secret, but I promise I'll tell you when I can."

"Ok…" my tone was petulant; I was already in a bad mood from earlier that evening. Talking about my dad's introduction of his girlfriend had spent me spiraling into annoyance. What exactly was going to come of this?

"She's really nice Lydia and it's not like a spur of the moment decision. We both agreed that it's time everybody met. She has a son in high school so you need to do your best to be nice," he said the last bit with a commanding air. It was obvious that I was not happy to hear anything of the sort.

"Does she know about you…the real you?"

"Of course, she's a retired superhero herself. Her son actually goes to Sky High but," he had been interrupted by Knight calling me from the stairs."

"I have to go, we're studying at Will's," I said suddenly and left him before he could finish the rest. Great, I didn't need a mom; my dad didn't need a wife…what was this all about? It was one more reason on my list to get that scholarship and move away from all of them. It's not that I didn't care…it was something else I couldn't explain. The need to be free and away was pulsing in me and I couldn't ignore it.

"Don't be angry about it," Knight jerked me to the present.

"Huh?"

"Don't be angry about the whole thing, I'll tell you if they let me, but until then you just have to trust me, ok?"

"Ok, and Knight?"

"What?"

"Sorry for being such a pain in the behind lately," I really did feel bad about the way I'd been acting towards him and my father.

He smiled, "I'm used to it by now," and with that we pulled smoothly onto Will's street.

This wasn't the first time I had been over to Will's house, but as always I was amazed by how normal it looked. It looked a bit high income, but normal nonetheless, not really the home of the famed Commander and Jetstream. It was even stranger to see the Commander and Jetstream dressed normally and decked out in eyeglasses. They ushered us into the living room before disappearing into another part of the house, eager to leave all of us alone with our work. I knew from experience that there wouldn't be much work done, but it was fun to get together anyway.

The group had a pretty good turnout, with Will, Layla, Zach, Maj, Ethan, Knight, Quincy and I. Apparently Warren had to work tonight. There was also a girl I didn't recognize whom I assumed was Malati. Quincy had asked if it would be all right to invite her close friend to the house and Will had answered favorably. I think he was just relieved not to have Larry there to ruin the usually friendly atmosphere. For being such a dork in his normal form he seemed to be as stuck up as most of the A crowd heroes at the school, though I had it on good authority that he'd not been able to get a date since he had started freshmen year.

I sat on the ground close to Ethan and tried not to show my discomfort. He, Quincy and Malati were engaged in a conversation about one of their shared sidekick classes. I pulled out my books for Medulla's class and offered Knight a pencil since he seemed to have forgotten his.

Zach reached above our heads from the couch and turned on the radio. He started turning the knob randomly in several directions.

"What are you doing?" Will asked trying to drown out the soulful wailing of an opera singer.

"I'm trying to find the classical music station man, my mom told me it's supposed to help you think better," he twisted again and landed on a news report.

"In other news tonight a jail break of several villains this afternoon has caused a stir amongst the superhero community tonight…" Zach stopped and looked around as we all listened intently, "This group broke out of their high security cell and have proceeded to escape all detection from both police forces and the local heroes. The names given to the escapees were as follows: Terrell "Lash" Larson, Penny Anderson and criminal mastermind Royal Pain…"

"Dude that…" Maj promptly clamped a hand over Zach's mouth.

"This comes after a break through in their case which would have sent the three into permanent super villain lockdown for at least twenty years. The prosecution says this was obviously an effort to evade justice and that they will continue to do their utmost to build up their claims and see the criminals safely behind bars. This comes after a recent and stunning acquittal of two of their compatriots, "Speed" and "Stitches" whose true names have been kept back for their own safety. We will continue to broadcast any breaking reports about the escapees' whereabouts," there was a pause, "Also tonight, the revolution of the sock making industry…" Zach's hand strayed to the power button and pushed it with resolution. Maj took her hand away from his mouth.

I looked to Knight who seemed properly pale. Will had already run out of the room to inform his parents about the story. I had of course heard about the incidents freshmen year that had led to the capture of these villains but wasn't able to sympathize having never faced them in the halls of school. Now, I wondered how everyone who had known them was feeling. Since my group of friends had been the ones primarily responsible for foiling their plans it was possible…even probable that they would seek revenge.

Will came back into the room with a worried expression. His parents had promptly left as soon as they had heard the news. Time was of the essence, especially when working against a mastermind technopath. "Dude that's really scary," Zach said, finally finding his voice in the stunned silence of the room.

"Well I definitely wouldn't want to be Speed right now," Maj added, almost sounding serious.

"Why?" I was not exactly versed in the events that had transpired after their capture.

"People say he and Stitches both got out for different reasons. Stitches was transferred to a mental facility by reason of insanity, not that the rest of them aren't insane," she added sarcastically with a flick of her black and purple hair, "But Speed plea-bargained, told the whole story, named a lot of names, told them about future plans and only had to spend three years in prison after going through therapy."

"He works at a bookstore now," Layla added softly and then her green eyes widened and her neck swiveled towards me, "Lydia he works at the same bookstore you applied…that means you'll be working with him."

I shrugged. The rest might consider it strange but I'd never met the guy and there was little I could do about it; I needed the money. Still it sounded like he would be in a lot of danger, heroes throwing you in jail was one thing…it was after all their job. But if one of your partners in crime turned you in for a shortened sentence that would seem like a stab in the back. I looked at Knight who I was sure was thinking the same thing as I, that's what dad had done so he could raise us. No wonder my uncle had been so eager for his comeuppance. The thought of my father's twin made me shiver suddenly.

Later that night I was still thinking about Wallace Stevens, Knight's father and my uncle. I could only hope that he would remain in jail for a long time. There was yet to be a trial for him so there was no verdict as of yet. When it was time to testify I'd be the first in line to give my testimony. That man deserved whatever came to him. While thinking all of these things I changed into a pair of flannel pajama pants and an overlarge shirt. Test or no test I needed my sleep. There was no point in staying up the whole night studying material I'd forget by morning.

I had just stretched my hand out to my light switch when there was a sudden whoosh and thump from behind me. Heart pounding I turned to see Fintan standing in the middle of my room. He did not look well at all and promptly slumped to the floor with a white hand clutched to his shoulder. I rushed to him, bending down on one knee to assess what was wrong. Gently I removed the shades from his eyes and set them on the floor behind me. His dark eyes were staring at his shoulder where I could now see the wetness of blood. Knight and my father were already in bed, so I didn't call for them yet.

"It's just a superficial wound," he rasped, leaning his head back against the bed that sat behind him.

"I have a first aid kit in the bathroom, will that work?"

"Yeah if you have some gauze."

I nodded and left to find the items. When I had returned, he was still sitting in the same spot, but he had pulled his black jacket and white shirt off leaving an undershirt. The blood had soaked through the left short sleeve and I could see the offending gash easily. My stomach did a flip flop as I looked at it. I'd never been very queasy at the sight of blood but on my way to the bathroom I'd realized suddenly that this was my son. My son was sitting in my room in terrible condition with blood soaking through his clothes.

I took out a conveniently packaged alcohol wipe and dabbed at the wound gently. It was still bleeding but not to a great extent. I was able to wrap it tightly and tape it pretty quickly. From my little experience I guessed that a bullet had grazed him. What a strange experience I was having. Fintan smiled at me…the same smile that Warren had, would I have the courage to ask him? No, it didn't seem the time or place, and I doubted that he'd actually tell me. From what my father had said Fintan hadn't even wanted me to know that he was my son, let alone who is father was. But who else could it be? I told myself there are other pyrokinetics in the world, but still it all seemed too coincidental.

"So are you going to tell me what happened?" I asked in a mothering tone. With anyone else this would have been awkward, but the knowledge of his identity had somehow broken down barriers that might have existed between us…him a twenty something secret agent and I, a high school student. Strange huh…but I guess that's how it works amongst the chronokinetic elite.

He ran a hand through his short red hair and looked at me seriously, "Why do you think I came?"

"Uh, comfort…support…free medical care?"

Fintan smiled again, "I wish, but things are slightly complicated and I thought I should warn you."

"Warn me… about what?"

His smile dropped as quickly as it had come.

AN: I know that a lot of people have used the Royal Pain breakout ploy before, so be assured I have no intention of copying anything that's previously been written. Thanks for all the reviews, if you haven't already, drop a note and let me know what you think!