Many apologies for the late update- I'll try to do better in the future. And thank you for all the beautiful reviews- I hope you'll keep them coming. Lastly, my heartfelt appreciation goes out to arnold the female purple pygmy puff for her beta work!

Disclaimer: I don't own Sky High, or any of its canon characters.

Chapter Nine- Loss

Warren, the twins and I were standing at the roadside, about a half mile from the Maxville Correctional Facility. The road itself was swarmed with fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, detainment trucks and a host of other official vehicles. The area was sealed off- no one was getting out, or in.

We had reassumed our civilian personas, even though our formal attire looked a little worse for wear. But that was more than secondary next to the travesty that lay before us.

Though it was dark, we could see the smoke billowing over the road in heavy black clouds. Dozens of officials milled around frantically, trying to do several things at once.

After a few moments of reluctance I finally ventured a look at Warren. He stood unmoving, taking in everything with a calm disbelief. I couldn't blame him; the whole thing seemed surreal.

A little while before dawn Warren spoke up suddenly, startling us all out of our despairing reverie.

"Evan, can you get us there?" he asked quietly. He tossed a meaningful glance in his sidekick's direction.

Evan understood. He took a step forward and gazed at the horizon, as if waiting for something. Presently a wind picked up, carrying a particularly thick cloud of black smoke our way. Evan gave a sharp sigh and immediately, the smoke seemed to spread and thicken around us.

"Let's go," I heard Warren say.

We moved silently through the vehicles and officials that cordoned off the road. The smoke seemed to trail after and surround us. We weren't completely hidden, only less noticeable. But with the emergency at hand, that was all we needed.

Warren and Evan walked in quick strides; Evie and I hurried to keep up. When we were close enough, Evan powered down and the smoke began to lift. Soon the Maxville Correctional Facility came into view.

More than half of the structure had been completely destroyed. Parts of the place were still on fire; smoke continued to pour out from what remained of the building. Firefighters, EMTs and other officials were swarming the area collecting evidence, interrogating survivors and witnesses…and carrying away the bodies.

Quiet shock flooded Warren's face. It finally hit him.

The dawn came, revealing the devastation by degrees until it lay stark and horrific in the full light of morning. Warren was visibly trying to hold it together, and I racked my brain for something to say, anything that would make things even the slightest bit better. But I knew there was nothing.

"Hey! You four!"

We turned around to see an officer coming toward us. "You people shouldn't be here."

"What happened?" Warren asked, ignoring this.

"I'm sorry, but you are going to have the leave the area-"

"Who did this?" Warren pressed on forcefully. "How many got out?"

"I said you have to leave-"

"Just tell me what happened!"

The officer glared at Warren. "Sir, if you don't leave right now, I will arrest you!"

Enraged, Warren lunged forward, and the man reached for his handcuffs. But Evan grabbed Warren by the shoulders at the same I squared myself in front of him.

"Hey- easy," Evan said, as Warren angrily tried to shake him off.

"We're going, okay?" I told the officer. "We're leaving right now." I turned back to Warren who was steadily seething at the man. "We have to go."

"Anna, my father-" his voice broke on the last word. He turned a desperate look on the burning remains of the Maxville Correctional Facility.

"I know," I said. "But there's nothing we can do here. I'm sorry… but we have to leave."

He closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened them again he seemed calmer. With a last sullen look at the officer, he turned around and walked away.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

None of us spoke for the rest of the return journey. I suppose we were all trying to take it in, the terrible events of the past few hours. Beside me, Warren was gripping the steering wheel, staring at the road with unfocused eyes. Every now and then he would glance into the rear view mirror. What he was looking at exactly, I could only guess.

Eventually, we reached the city. It was still early enough so that only a few people were on the street. But soon- very soon- everyone would know of the terrible things that had happened in the night.

I was roused from these thoughts by the fact that we were slowing down. We were in front of the twins' house.

"I guess the mayor's going to tap every Hero in the city for this one," Warren said thoughtfully. "We'll have to be on standby. Evan-" he paused, turning around to face him. "I'm sorry about earlier."

Evan smiled reassuringly. "Forget about it."

"You guys should get some sleep while you can," I told them.

I watched them as they walked towards their home. They were almost to the door when it was pushed open. Their mother Olivia came out and pulled them both into her arms.

Warren drove me home next. He pulled up in front of my apartment building and switched off the engine. For a while we sat there, not moving or saying anything. Then on a sudden suspicion, I asked him, "You are going home now, right? You need to rest."

"I can't," he murmured. "I have to call the hospitals and find out if they've admitted him, if he's alive, or..." He stopped, and a sudden realization came over his face. "Mom. I have to find her."

"Let me help you then," I said, disconcerted at how lost he looked. "I'll help you make the calls, and we'll find him-"

"No, you can't," he said with surprising force. He colored slightly, then continued in a softer tone, "I have to- I need to handle this myself."

"Warren-"

"Things are going to get pretty bad, and a lot of people are going to need you," he said quietly. "Please… please promise me you won't get involved in this."

I looked at him curiously, but decided not to pursue it. "All right," I said reluctantly, "But keep in touch okay? Let me know what's going on."

There was a shadow of his old smile again, which was a small comfort to me. "I will," he said.

When I got into my apartment, the very sight of my couch made me want to collapse. I managed to make the two steps it took to get to it before I passed out cold.

I felt like I'd been asleep for only a few seconds before I was awakened by the phone ringing. Groaning I sat up and glanced at the clock- seven-thirty. I'd slept for little over an hour.

I picked up the receiver and was surprised to hear the hoarseness my voice when I said, "Mmmph… hello?"

"Anna?! Oh my god- where have you been?"

"Mom?"

"We were calling you all night! We saw the news, what happened at the Brenner event, and the- the prison! And then-"

"Mom, calm down! I'm all right, okay? I'm sorry I didn't call you." I shook my head, forcing myself to wake up properly.

"We were so worried," my mother continued as if she hadn't heard me. "Your father's gone out to find you."

"He has?"

"Yes. Sweetheart, I- I gave him your address to see if you'd gone home."

I froze. "Dad's coming over?"

There was a knock at the door. I looked over at it numbly. "I have to go," I said faintly. "I'll call you later."

"Please be careful, Anna."

"I will."

There was another knock. I hung up the phone and went to the door. Steeling myself, I opened it.

My father was standing there looking very uncomfortable. The moment he saw me his eyes widened. Automatically I glanced down. I was still wearing my dress, torn and filthy from the events of last night.

I could tell at a glance that it was unsalvageable. Folding my arms didn't help much, so I just asked awkwardly, "Um… come in?"

He nodded briskly and stepped inside. His eyes rested on the couch my mother had given me, contemplating it. Finally he turned back to me. "Uh… your mother told me to come over. She was worried."

"Why didn't she come over then?"

I knew how it sounded, but I couldn't help it.

"Anna, she's-" He stopped and exhaled impatiently. "She's not feeling very well. We saw the news and the shock was too much for her. I told her I'd find you."

"I just got off the phone with her and she sounded all right." I said doubtfully.

"She is. She'll be fine."

"Good." I nodded somberly.

"Good." He echoed, shuffling a little. "Well, I'll get out of your way then."

He turned to leave and suddenly I felt angry. I had almost died last night- he must have known that! How could he appear to be so indifferent? Before I could stop myself I said, "How long are we going to do this?"

My father paused but didn't turn around. For some reason that made me even angrier.

"So that's it? Did I mess up so badly that you can't even stand to be around me?"

"Of course not!" he burst out, and his voice was filled with emotion. For the first time in weeks he turned around and looked at me properly.

"Then what?" I asked in a pleading whisper.

My father hung his head. "What do you want from me Anna?" he said wearily. "Huh? What can you possibly expect me to say after you just up and left us-"

"What else was I supposed to do, Dad? You were the one throwing around ultimatums!"

"I never kicked you out! You left. You're the one who decided that that boy was more important than-" He stopped, and then looked at me as if something was suddenly made clear.

"What?" I snapped. But I knew. One look at his face, and I knew.

"Just how important is he?"

"For heaven's sake, Dad! I am not having this conversation with you."

"That is why you left us, isn't it? So you could be with him?"

"Get out."

The words rushed out so suddenly that for a moment I couldn't believe that I was the one who'd actually said them. I was furious at him and didn't know why. For a second, I thought I was going to be sick.

My father didn't flinch. He looked at me steadily and stoically for long seconds, as guilt threatened to finish me off. Apparently, he'd gotten his answer.

He lowered his eyes. Without another word he walked out, closing the door behind him.

I bit my lip hard, trying to hold back the tears. But even though I began to taste blood, my efforts didn't help at all.

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"Police are trying to apprehend the escaped convicts, but have so far been unsuccessful. While officials estimate the number of escapees to be around fifty, it is still unclear as to who exactly has escaped-"

"-as it is understood most of the bodies recovered from the bomb site have been burnt or crushed beyond recognition and it may take at least several weeks to identify-"

"- as a result, a city-wide curfew may be enforced. We have no idea how these people got out, or where they are hiding. But from our early reports of criminal attacks, it is clear that we-"

"- can assume their neutralizers have been rendered ineffective. They must be considered extremely dangerous and are not to be approached under any circumstances. During this we ask everyone remain calm-"

"-keep all doors and windows locked and-"

"-fight back."

"What?" I murmured. "Hey, turn that up will you?"

We were at our Secret Headquarters, keeping an eye on the news from our Com Screen. Evie turned up the volume and we listened to Thomas Brenner's press conference.

"What other choice do we have? These villains will stop at nothing to achieve their own ends- I've witnessed that first hand last night. The justice system has failed us repeatedly- and now the incarceration system has failed us. It's time for a reform. We must show them we will not hesitate to defend ourselves and what we hold dear.

There are people who would tell you that you should be afraid. That you should shut yourself up in your houses and hide. I don't believe in that way of thinking. Go to work. Run your errands. Live your life as you've always had, and do not give into the fear that these poeple want so desperately for you to feel. Do not let them win."

"Listen to him. He's talking as if he's already mayor."

"At this rate, he very well might be," Evie said. "He's giving the public exactly what they want- a leader who's confident, empathetic with the people, positive and reassuring…" Evie shrugged. "I mean, where's our current mayor, Resham? Where's his press conference?"

"I'm sure he has his hands full. You know, trying to do damage control. Not garner votes from the public hysteria."

Evie stared at the Com Screen. "I think Brenner's doing both."

I thought about this as I went to suit up. Like Warren had predicted, we'd been put on standby by Jonathan Resham, Maxville's current mayor sometime around six 'o clock. I'd never paid much attention to him in the past but now I almost felt sorry for him. If my instinct was any indication, there was no way he'd be voted in for a second term. Brenner practically had the election in the bag.

I returned to the main room and sat at the computer console. Nearby, Evie was putting the final touches on her eye makeup and occasionally glancing at the police radio.

Together, we waited for the inevitable.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Where are they?" I whispered, looking up and down the street. It was usually teeming with late-night traffic, but now it was deserted. Despite Brenner's speech, most people had gone to their homes early.

We had received word of a superbeing-related disturbance in the uptown part of Maxville. We arrived on the scene not too long after that to find that police had barricaded a section of the main street. No one would go inside. Well, except for us.

So far there didn't seem to be anything untoward, except for the creepy silence. But we kept alert all the same.

"You think it's an ambush?" Scarlett whispered.

"I don't know. Just keep your eyes open." I paused. "Scarlett?"

Turning around, I saw her staring up at the sky. She swallowed thickly before asking, "Is the sky supposed to be doing that?"

I looked up. Heavy clouds began to come in at a much faster rate than was normal. They were a dark plum color, churning angrily as thunder and lightning assaulted the sky.

"It's a ruse," I told her, glancing upward. "Psychological warfare. Ignore it."

It was then I heard shrieks and whoops echoing up the street. I turned around. About a dozen people were coming towards us, as casually as if they were just taking an afternoon stroll. I recognized at least half of them; some of them had been locked away since before I was born.

"That's far enough," I said loudly when they were at least twenty feet away.

To my surprise, they stopped. One of them, a short middle aged woman, chuckled.

"I recognize that shield," she announced. "Tell me, did Maxville's favorite underdog have himself a little girl?" She smirked. "Or did you just steal it?"

I ignored her. "Are you going to give up quietly?" To Scarlett I whispered, "Get ready."

"Enough of this," a tall man snarled. "Kill them!"

He barely finished uttering the words before I threw a powerful beam of light straight into the group. It knocked a couple of them down, but the rest had quicker reflexes. It surprised me, considering most of them were approaching seniority.

Suddenly I heard a soft voice whisper in my ear, "A daughter it is, then."

I whirled around to see the same woman punch me in the gut. I doubled over in pain, but managed to throw a beam that hit… nothing.

I understood at once: she had the power of teleportation.

In the next moment there was pandemonium. Bright yellow explosions erupted overhead; an ear-splitting thrumming noise that I felt in very pit of my stomach threatened to make me throw up; blows seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere; my own light erupted into the fray.

For several terrifying moments we were fighting blindly. I couldn't tell if we were on our way to winning and apprehending the villains, or losing and getting murdered. I unhappily suspected it was the latter.

Then suddenly there were screams- high, piercing and agonizing.

Someone new had dropped in from above. Before I could move another muscle, everything stopped. The noise vanished. The lights went out- including my own- and I could see.

The escaped villains lay on the ground, wide-eyed and senseless. Evie, who had come to stand by my side, stared down at them in amazement, absently wiping her bloody nose.

"Well. That was easy."

I knew that voice. Oh no.

I looked up in dismay. There, standing smugly amidst the unconscious bodies was Chimera, aka Kylie Jordan.

"Hello, White Star," she said with an almost bored derision that made it clear she knew exactly who I was.

But my cold retort died on my lips. A masked flier dropped down beside her. His warm grin and bright brown eyes were unmistakable. It was Jonah.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Well. Isn't this nice and awkward?" Evie took another drink of her iced tea and smiled grimly at us.

Kylie simply rolled her eyes. She looked as if she'd rather be inside an active volcano than sitting here in a dingy restaurant in Capitol Case. It was one of the few places in the city that were still open, considering all the villains roaming about. Jonah, through Kylie's translation had insisted that we catch up on our doings since graduation. Kylie had immediately signed to him something to the effect of having already seen my disgusting mug only a few months earlier, if her expression was any indication.

But Jonah pretty much had the last word and so here we were, sitting around a rickety table and not meeting each other's eyes for more than a couple of seconds. I squirmed, remembering the time I'd attacked Kylie for something it turned out she didn't do. Add that to the fact that I was also responsible for her friend Nicole being put away, and it was almost guaranteed we were in for a night of unadulterated torture.

But Jonah seemed to have forgotten all about those things. Kylie wasn't as forgiving.

Still, I almost felt bad for her as she had the painstaking task of relaying everything Jonah signed to Evie and me. It must've been killing her having to engage in a civil conversation with me. But I tried to ignore her attitude, as I really was happy to see Jonah again. His hands danced exuberantly as he talked about what he'd been up to since Sky High, which was a lot. It hardly surprised me, as I'd often read about him and Kylie in the news. Their Hero careers had taken off almost from the moment they graduated- defending Germany from an infamous Super Villain known as Hazmat; rescuing dozens of people from several floods in Iowa; saving a prominent political figure in China from an assassination attempt.

Jonah didn't talk about any of these things though- he mostly described the sights he'd seen and the people in those places. But Kylie couldn't resist interjecting all of their successes.

"They're having a street in Paris named after us you know," she boasted. "They were so grateful after we helped them with-"

"Yeah, that's great," Evie interjected dismissively. "So Jonah, what was Europe like? I've always wanted to go there. Are the people nice? Have you been to Italy?"

Jonah nodded. Evie sighed happily.

I began to notice that Evie had hardly taken her eyes off of him since we'd arrived, hanging onto his every smile for dear life.

Her attention wasn't lost on Kylie either. She leaned forward, appearing to studying her.

"So how's sidekick life treating you Evelyn?" she asked with a false sincerity. "Because I have to say, I haven't heard much about you guys in the news or anything."

Evie gave her a suspicious glance. "We're doing just fine. In fact, I helped stop a purse snatcher on our first day."

"Wow," Kylie said in a sarcastically impressed voice. Ignoring Jonah's warning look, she continued, "A purse snatcher, huh? Anna must be so lucky to have you."

"I am," I told her sharply. "She's the best."

Jonah was radiating disapproval but Kylie simply shrugged and turned her attention back to us.

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far. I mean, she is allergic to her own power. " Turning to Evie she added, "Weren't you voted 'Most Likely to Become a Civilian' in school?"

Evie went pale before an embarrassed flush spread across her cheeks. She stood up.

"It's very late. I- I have to go," she said quietly. Without looking up, she added, "Thanks for the stories, Jonah." Then she left.

I snapped out of the incredulous daze I was in and then glared at Kylie, seething. "You are such a jerk, you know that?" With that, I got up and went after Evie.

It was raining lightly when I got outside. I stopped her just as she was crossing the street. "Evie, wait a minute!"

She turned around, breathing hard. For a moment I thought she was crying.

But when she spoke, her voice was calm. "She wasn't lying, you know. They did vote me 'Most Likely to Become a Civilian'. It was in the yearbook and everything."

"Well you showed them, didn't you?" I said encouragingly. When that didn't work I tried, "Look, don't pay any attention to what Kylie says. She's just a mean sad person who makes herself feel better by insulting people." I sighed. "Trust me, I know."

"Does she?" Evie said half-heartedly.

"You're awesome, okay? Don't let anyone make you think otherwise."

Evie watched me searchingly for a second. Then she pulled me into one of her sudden forceful hugs.

"Um, Evie-" I choked.

"You're right," she said, gripping me even more tightly. "Kylie hasn't changed at all since high school. She's just like the rest of them."

She pulled away at last and I tried not to visibly gasp for breath.

"That's the spirit. Let's forget about her and head home."

She smiled thoughtfully. "In a second, okay? I forgot something."

She went back inside. On a sudden uneasy impulse, I followed her. Evie went over to where Kylie and Jonah were sitting, still engaged in tacit conversation. They both looked up as she approached.

"I forgot my drink," she said. Then she picked up her half-finished glass of iced tea… and threw it in Kylie's face.

"Oh!" she cried out in shock, then shot to her feet. "You are going to be so sorry you did that!"

The few people that were in the restaurant turned to stare at us. Remembering what Kylie was capable of, I rushed forward to stop her by any means necessary. But Jonah immediately grabbed her. He looked into Kylie's fierce green eyes and shook his head pleadingly. I don't know exactly what passed between them, but Evie remained unharmed.

"I don't know why you keep insisting we do this!" Kylie shouted at him, then turned a wrathful eye upon Evie. "You better hope I never see you again!"

"You better hope that drink doesn't stain!" Evie retorted.

With a furious scream, Kylie went for her again but Jonah held her back.

A waiter stormed up to us then. "Okay, I'm going to have to ask you guys to leave. Now."

I sighed. To Evie I said, "Okay, you've made your point. Let's get out of here."

Evie allowed me to guide her outside. As we left I could hear Kylie, still arguing with Jonah. I didn't bother to turn around: I could easily imagine the dejected look on his face.

On the bus, Evie was curiously quiet. She stared out of the window, her eyes darting back and forth as she followed the street lights that rushed past.

Finally she said, "I shouldn't have thrown that drink."

"Probably not."

"It was childish… and petty."

"I guess it was."

After a few seconds she admitted, "Felt good though."

I smiled, and Evie grinned. But her joy was short-lived. "I used to watch him play Save the Citizen after school sometimes. The other Heroes would give me dirty looks when I went there- you'd think they owned the place. But not him. He always smiled, made me feel like I belonged."

The bus pulled over at her stop. Before Evie got out, she turned to me. "She doesn't deserve him."

"I know."

She smiled faintly. "Goodnight Anna."

Evie left, and the bus moved on. I slumped wearily in my seat. The night had ended in a perfect disaster. Replaying the events in my mind I couldn't believe I'd agreed to spend any time with Kylie in the first place. I wondered when Jonah would stop deluding himself into thinking we could all be friends. He had a better chance of winning the lottery. On Mars.

I finally got home, beyond exhausted. I made a beeline for my bed, passing the phone on my way. A wave of remorse came over me as I remembered the fight I'd had with my father earlier. I wanted to call him and apologize. Disagreement or not, I had no right to treat him the way I had.

But it was almost midnight. My parents would certainly be asleep by now. I'll call him tomorrow, I promised myself.

I showered, put on some warm clothes and fell into bed with a groan. Outside, the rain pattered heavily against the window. Somewhere in the back of my mind was the awareness that the thunder was rumbling too loudly and too often. But like the hundreds of other thoughts whirling drowsily around in my head, I couldn't hold onto it for more than a moment.

The storm could wait. Tonight, the whole world could wait.