Dancing With the Tides – Chapter 7

My eyes shot open as I woke from my deep sleep. I felt a hard metal piece in my right hand, and looked to see that it was one of my plasma disruptors. I sat up and gently set it down on the table next to my king size bed. I rubbed my temples and could feel the blunt metal occupying my right hand's finger tips. I was getting used to the robotic arm, that's for sure. I slipped into some pants and left my room, passing Felonious's bed on the way out. The Doberman slept peacefully, but with a smile on his face. I concluded he must have been dreaming about biscuits or some other thing dogs find pleasurable.

Walking out into the living room, I snapped my fingers and the fluorescent lights kicked in.

"Serena, today's weather and forecast please." I yawned. Then the multi-monitors powered on and many of them changed to the news, while some changed to the forecast. I listened while trying to find something to eat. Then I heard the front door open.

"Edith?" I heard Margo call out.

"Oh, hey" I turned around, looking at her from over the bar.

"Did you hear that Gru's planning an attack on someone in New York today?" She inquired.

"No, I haven't" I said, pouring some juice into my cup. Margo leaned forward.

"Someone has been feeding info to a contact for a very long time. He or she is in New York, feeding him information and technical data. Maybe that's why we were all attacked at some point in time." She guessed. I really haven't thought about that at all. Maybe that would explain why we were attacked the night Margo died the first time….and my kidnapping…. Everything so unexplained.

I stopped for a second, and started putting two and two together.

….. "Evershard, no wonder! Margo, get me the coordinates for that meeting today. I wanna know if Evershard will be there, I want satellite imagery on him ASAP! Serena. Get me a blackbird."

"Wait, blackbird?" Margo asked anxiously. "What blackbird?"

I saluted to Margo with my two fingers as the elevator descended down the shaft. I raised my right arm and began to speak: "August, meet me in the hangar. I have something I need your help with, pronto."

After about ten minutes, August stepped off the elevator, already dressed in her flight suit. Once we were in the cockpit, I started the engines.

"Flaps and thrusters engaged, proceeding to full throttle!" I pushed the handle forward and the blackbird took off at the speed of sound and out of my hangar. We were furiously pushed back and into our seats trying to regain our breath. As we settled we started to climb as high as possible.

"Alright Edith, we are at 40,000 feet. Engaging Omni-sensor arrays in 3, 2, 1. Engaged. Tracking vtol approaching 255 north, 1200 mph heading for the bottom west coast of California, ETA is an hour and a half. Matching target speed within designated quadrant." August flipped switches upon circuits and I zoomed in and onto the vtol with the Omni-Sensor's Camera.

I matched it with Gru's intelligence description. It matched Evershard's vtol alright.

"August, lock the target and be prepared to fire missiles and flares on my mark within the next 30 minutes."

"Roger" She responded. I heard the missile flaps engage into their final stage. "Missile prep complete, waiting for your mar- Wait Edith, incoming transmission."

I threw on my headset, "Ah, Edith! I am calling to invite you to the compound! I expect you will be making your first appearance to the council, no?"

"Ah, Evershard, I was just going to call you! I'm on my way right now actually!" I responded.

"Splendid! I assume you are flying. I will transmit you the codes in just a few moments to land."

"Thank you,"

"I'll be expecting you." He said heavily.

August tapped me on the shoulder, I looked back at her. "What do you suppose we do now?" She asked me.

I thought for a few moments. "Get the missiles back into their bays. There's been a change of plans."

I heard the switches click and the missiles lock back into place. Gently I eased on the throttle and we began to descend to a much lesser and discrete altitude.

"August, are our satellites still in place?" "Yes they are, they are fully loaded with AGM's and J-DAM'S. I'll be tracking Evershard until we kill him."

Good to hear. Now let's pay the council a visit.

"August, engage the cloaking device. Match altitude of the vtol." I commanded. Now as we flew behind the vtol, I had to be very careful about what systems to keep on. I could keep the radio on, but it had to be tuned so that it couldn't be heard through Shard's headset.

"Edith, we're coming up on the compound." I looked up and saw the massive elongated building.

"Splendid. Engage vertical landing gear and uncloak when touchdown occurs."

About a half hour later, we walked through the chamber doors and right in front of the Elders.

"Ladies and gentleman!" I shouted over their low voices. "Your leader Evershard has been lying to us all! Keeping secrets from the League that you would define as revolutionary!"

"Who is this girl? Why do you come here and make unnecessary remarks about our grateful leader!"

I had to get through to them, somehow. "Has Shard ever told you about how he murdered my sister? How he kept files with each of us on it? How we were targets of his own proprietary profit?" I slammed the dossiers down and onto the table, shoving them by the Elders. "You see? He's not who you think he is."

"Be quiet young one before you get us both kicked out." I felt Shard's hand engulf my shoulder and I shook it off. He walked passed me with a smirk on his face.

"Elders, you cannot truly believe this adolescent could you? I mean, after all is she not the one who had caused this nuclear crisis that she herself had aborted?"

I held the cube of glowing cold plasma in my hand… "I am Edith, not an adolescent."

"The prophecy!" I heard them all say in unison. The white hooded Elders stood from their seats and walked to me. A specific one examined me and touched my hair.

"She's the one, Evershard. She is the legendary villain of chaos; the one that will bring balance to this organization!" Evershard's expression turned completely dark after that one statement. "I. was told that I WAS THE ONE! NOT THIS ADOLESCANT!" He screamed. I smiled and upholstered my plasma pistols.

"There's no escape now" I blocked the door way. "Evershard, you are hereby stripped of your rank and banned from the compound!"

"WHAT!" He burst out. He bumped me, and went straight for the door.

He bolted out of the room and straight for the hangar. I shot down the hall as he tried to escape. I heard the alarm sound and we boarded the blackbird as Shard took off and into the sky.

"Let me drive!" I said.

Minutes later, we were flying through the mountains at break neck speed. I had both hands on the controllers and maneuvered swiftly through the mountainous region. Just above entering the salt flats, I had an idea.

"August, fire missiles!" I said, but then both of them misfired. One even exploded still attached to the wing. The wing flew off and the blackbird flew out of control, violently spinning and knocking off the other missile which headed straight for the flats. Our engines exploded, but luckily didn't detonate the rest of the plane. The cockpit buzzed with alarm sounds.

"HOLD ONTO SOMETHING!" I yelled. I tried my best to land us without getting us both killed. Seconds after, the blackbird crashed into the sand dunes. I saw Evershard escaping. I slammed my fist onto the console.

"Dammit, we lost him."

I heard August coughing and pulling off her helmet. I did the same and watched as Shard's Vtol accelerated.

"Edith? Come in Edith!" I heard Gru's voice on the other line. "We lost him Gru. We're done."

"Look up in dee sky Edith." I heard so I looked at the vtol.

Then I saw a brief flash of light as a missile from the south hit the vtol dead on. The vtol spun out of control and crashed in the white dunes as well. "YES!" I shouted, throwing my fists in the air. Then I saw Gru's ship approaching the crash site. The back door opened and we got inside shortly after escaping the plane. I sat on the floor of the ship and breathed heavily. Resting my head on the steel door, I looked at August while she smiled lightly.

Margo came down just then. "Are you alright? Does anything hurt?" She asked me softly while whipping the sweat off my face.

I shook my head. She sat on her knees in front of me and smiled. "Glad to see you are both o.k." She said softly.

"Yes, we.. are.." I said in between breaths. I stood and went up to the cockpit, passing Agnes on the way up.

I sat next to Gru and strapped myself in. "Grab the vtol. We're going back to New York." I said to him.

I heard the retractor beam grab the vehicle and we flew off without hesitation.

"So, how deed eet go?" Gru asked me, "It went alright." I responded as I laid my head back. "deed you find the informant?"

My head perked up, "Yes, it was Evershard. I'm the villain of chaos…"


Hours later, we had arrived at the bar set up for Evershard's base of operations. We took him to the back room and sat him down. We also grabbed Electra so she could not escape.

"Alright Shard, tell us everything you know. Now." I commanded.

Shard closed his eyes… "There was a man who had come to me in desperate help. A big man willing to do anything to avenge his son's death almost 2 years ago. I was soft on him and I helped him set up a base of operations not even 4 months ago. That flash of light you saw in the sky was an energy cannon firing. It took out half of Earth's energy supply in the process. After that, he needed dossiers of all the villains specifically of Gru's family. I couldn't hesitate because of how powerful he was at the time. I transferred them to Vector's mainframe to hide them in case anyone of a certain descent would find them, such a new villain or anyone rising to power. I saw you when you went to recover those files from the mainframe. I was about to stop you but you were 10x ahead of me. I bolted away before the fortress completely exploded into a million pieces. Since then, I've been tracking all of your movements, feeding info to Perkins and his new robotic recreation of his son. He's even more powerful with that information. He will kill you all if you give him the chance." His head dipped profusely, "I only wish I could take back the harm that was done." He looked at me with pain in his eyes.

I turned and thought for a second, "Let's go Gru. Leave the vtol." Gru followed out of the building and back to the cloaked ship. "I need the new hoverboard." I told him.

"Ah, eet is in dee back of the sheep. I will geet eet for you." He climbed into the back and opened a compartment. He threw the folded piece of technology out and I caught it. I un-folded it and activated it.

The board hovered gracefully and gave a soothing hum. I placed both feet on the green glowing circles and took off at about 80 miles an hour above the sea. I went for my old fortress, which I assumed was still inactive. A thousand thoughts raced through my head about what would happen if I were appointed to chairmen of the League. I concluded it wouldn't be that bad. It may actually be nice for once.


About an hour later, I arrived at the warehouse. It was run down, growing with weeds and vines all over it. I went inside and to the bottom fortress. It was a wonder the elevator still worked… I started to have a bit of nostalgia as I walked through the now vacant corridors of my previous base. I imagined what it had looked like before with everything inside it like the systems, the furniture, and the fem-minions. I don't know it just struck a spark in my mind right when I walked in.

I walked down the main corridor in front of the elevator. The once clean and pristine white walls had become shaded with a dark grey and filled with vines and moss. The walls were cracking at the seams as well. I came back for the mainframe, mainly. I also gathered a few other things like plans and such. I plugged my USB drive into the table and downloaded the mainframe. I checked my holographic interface for the needed files and transferred them to my robotic arm. After everything was there I decided to go to my meditation room. There I had found my Flux-Band which was an invention I made to originally contact my unconscious memories of my parents. I sat in the middle of the room and the door sealed.

I sit cross-legged in the middle of the low lit room. The room is large and round; I can remember how the entire room looks from just memory. Everything is silent in my ears and mind as I search my thoughts. The soft blue glow from the floor dances on my closed eyelids. I can feel the warmth surrounding me; my breath is focused and calm.
My hands cupped in front of my stomach as I feel a dull throbbing in my head. It starts at the back of my head and then consumes my entire brain.

I open my eyes slowly, and I see my plasma pistols and my hover board floating in mid-air. The lights up above burst but I don't flinch or even feel surprised. The shattered glass falls but quickly stops as my 'force field' holds them captive. I no longer feel the floor beneath me and that blue glow from the floor enhances even brighter. My eyes widen as the light grows brighter and brighter until suddenly…a vision.

Again I open my enclosed eye lids to see absolutely nothing…nothing but blackness and space. I begin to meditate, extending my arms and lifting my palms to focus my energy. My robotic arm sparks with energy as the circular energy source in the middle of the palm activates and over charges. I can feel the energy….I've never felt something like this before.

Then it occurred to me…. There was someone here with me. I could feel their presence….

"Mom…Dad?" I spoke softly. I opened my eyes to see one familiar figure, and one totally alien to my mind. I sprung upright and walked to the one I had recognized.

"Daughter…." My mother softly said as she put her hands on my shoulders. All of a sudden I relaxed and almost fell over…but then the figure that is most likely my father had caught me just in time.

"Do not fret. You are safe." The man said. I looked at him and almost cried. I cuffed my hands over my mouth and felt the tears drain down my fingers.

"You- you're alive." I said to him, taking my hands away from my face. I could feel his hands supporting my back as if he were really there.
"You only wish us to be, Edith. We are no more than a figment of your imagination.." She stated softly.

"We will show you your past, before we disappeared."

Just then I saw a black hole open up in front of me. I began to see visions of when I was very young. The villains, the blue flash of light…. The first flash of life I had. The trip to the orphanage, seeing Gru for the first time; I barely remembered any of it….but it was there, hiding in the back of my mind. I couldn't fathom the thoughts that had been going through my mind at the time my parents disappeared. Although I wasn't the one who always thought about things like that. I was always kind of…how you say independent.

Then I blacked out….. I awoke in the circular room again, lying in the shattered glass that fell during my telekinesis test. I felt my head throb and cautiously sat up, grabbing my pistols and hoverboard. I stood completely erect and walked out of the room with my stuff.


Hours later I returned home.

It was silent in Gru's living room. The windows were open blowing in a warm breeze with fresh air. I took the chance and sat at the window sill. Then I heard footsteps, like dress shoes. My eyes darted across the room and I saw Gru approaching me. His face was bored, his footsteps light and relaxed. Probably the Gru I have never seen was now coming my way. And by the way he looked; I was actually kind of nervous for once. His chest was pushed out with his hands gracefully rubbing each other behind his back. I could tell something was up because of his physical demeanor.

I wave softly to him, and he nods.

He plants himself on the wall adjacent to me, looking at me with a smile. I can see the wrinkles starting to recess in his face, especially under his eyes. He's getting old, and yet not a grey hair in sight. I hooked my hair around my right ear and turn off my holo-pad.

"Hi Dad, anything I can help you with?" I ask silently.

"No, not really, I was just wondering how you were feeling since your trip to dee hideout today.." he responds.

I drop from the window sill and onto my feet. "Felt a little bit of anxiety while I was there. I don't know how but I must have gotten back into contact with my parents." Gru shoots me a confused look. I try to think of something I could try to explain to him.

"Like," I start, "I found another of my old inventions; a telekinetic belt that I strapped on around my head. Then afterwards I proceeded to meditate for a while, see if I could have gotten my stress levels to a minimum."

"Ah, and I reckon dee belt had given you a flashback?" he asks assumingly. I nod, thinking he's just read my mind.

"Yes. But it was so weird! Like, before it happened, everything started floating around me like a spear of dark matter was emitting from my mind. I opened my eyes and- I just saw everything floating! Even the lights blew out over me and got trapped in a sort of force field that was recessed in the air above me!"

Gru was utterly shocked to hear of my experience. I mean, not everyone can use a mind powered force to control the objects floating around them. That's like some star wars mess right there!

"So, where do your parents fit into place in this?" He asked me. I had completely forgotten about that too…

"Oh, they came in as soon as I started having flashbacks. I got to meet my father too. Tall man, like you; and you look sort of….related, only without the nose." I teased, flicking my small excuse for a 'breathing apparatus'.

He huffed and smiled. Then we heard a crash from the kitchen and a scream. We both darted for it as fast as we could. I upholstered my plasma pistols. When we reached the door August ran out frantically screaming, a blue trail of hot plasma following her direction. It splat against the wall and started to eat away the paint. Some of it even splashed on me but I removed my sweatshirt.

"Dammit! My favorite one too!" I looked around the corner and in a blink of an eye I saw Margo's cybernetic body then another blue streak rocket for my face. I quickly went back to the inner doorway but the blue plasma had scratched my face, causing a long and narrow scar to creep across my face.

"Margo! What the hell!" I yelled out. There was no response. I crept my head out once again and saw nothing. Just after a second, a green blade sliced in the air across the area of my face. I flipped forward avoiding the blade and giving the metal Margo a hard punch. I had totally forgotten about the metal material. Pure adamantium; a close to indestructible metal only found in the Andromeda galaxy. I shook hard as the pain crept into my wrist and into my left arm. I had forgotten that that was my fleshy arm. My robotic arm could punch right through metal.

Margo stopped for a second in a fighting position. I saw her eyes glowing hot red…which could mean only one thing. A hacker…

"Margo, listen to me!" I tried, blocking her next attack and slamming her right hand into the bar. She grunted but no words came out. She threw her arm at me again but I dodged out of the way, seeing her fist rocket past my face. I shot my pistol into her robotic abdomen, blue plasma spewing from the open incursion. She fell backwards but grabbed the ledge. I quickly shot a look at Gru but he wasn't there. I'm assuming he went to protect Agnes from harm.

Margo winded up yet another punch. She swung at me, this time hitting me in the lower stomach. My mouth shot out blood and pain raced through my body. Her right arm had a small knife built into it, which in turn sliced right into my lower abdomen. My legs went completely numb and I fell to the floor. I frantically backed away, trying to get the pistol that was knocked out my hand. Margo's boot stepped on my hand and broke it. I screamed in pain. She held me pinned with her left foot on my right arm and pointed her plasma disruptors at my face. I saw her finger grip the trigger and waited for the impending doom about to befall me. Then I saw a green, sparking gel blast out of Margo's metal chest piece. The robotic figure shook and another blast came from her head.

I backed up as the robot fell, lifeless as it made a dent in the floor. I breathed heavily and coughed up more blood. Gru helped me up and holstered his Electric Plasma revolver. I had used the gun once before, but I never knew it could cut through solid adamantium plating…

I stood just for a second before I fell again. My legs were barely able to keep me erect.

"Gru…medical station." I started. I felt him hoist my arm over his shoulder and carry me to his medical bay. I was lost in unconsciousness, barely being able to wake up.

Hours later however, I did. My head ached and I saw my bloody clothes hanging from the curtain rod. Soon the clothes disappeared from the curtain rod, and were replaced by new ones by a small minion. He walked over to my bed side and filled my mug with coffee and a caramel cream. I smiled at him. It's not often you see them doing nice things for you all of a sudden.

I lifted my legs and they felt strong again. Out of curiosity I lifted my shirt. I had a bra on, but I had several stitches in my lower left abdomen. It was still hurting. I got out of bed and got into my newer clothes.

I waited for a few minutes before even thinking about walking upstairs. But then, out of nowhere Agnes had come to see me. She looked at my left hand and examined it for a second.

"Looks you got beaten up pretty badly." I give her a sarcastic look and sigh.

She backs off a couple of steps and throws her hand in the air. I smile at her and pat her shoulder with my good arm.

"I'm recovering," I say, "How long was I out for?"

"Couple of days at the most; your base is ok, no trace of the virus that befell Margo, it almost destroyed Margo's framework though. Gru stopped it instantly and that's why he had to act fast when you and Margo were fighting. I saw the video too; I had watched it after you were knocked out cold."

I huff, "That's very funny Agnes, why don't we all just enjoy the videos of our siblings almost beaten to death?"

She turns away from me. I can tell I had hurt her just then.

"Edith I- I didn't enjoy it. I was just curious!"

I held a hand up in defense. "I need some time to myself. I am going to leave for a few weeks at most and go somewhere I know I can be safe. I absolutely hate being the only one who is so physically abused by her enemies and the one who has to deal with all the damn stress!"

I slammed my fist on the table next to me and walked out of the room. Before completely getting out the door, I heard a mumble.

"It's not only you ya know. We all deal with stress.."

A tear fell from my eye. Continuing to my home, I thought about what had happened…

Maybe I'll go somewhere that's beautiful… A place I can escape technology and enemies. Venice. Italy…

A place far from Perkins' jurisdiction would be really nice for a change. Maybe I'll set up base there too. Rent out a nice hotel, have a nice dinner, meet some new friends….. Just a vacation….. for once in my life I want to feel like a real person.


Finally! The next chapter in dancing with the tides is complete. Sorry for the excruciatingly long wait, I had very many troubles getting through my writer's block, and I'm having similar problems with my original. Please check back for updates!

- Mass