Mirage is carrying a basket of tomatoes, humming the show tune from "The Price is Right". It's another blissful day in her artificial paradise, everything calm and beautiful as always. She's leaving the abundant garden for the house when the bottom of the woven grapevine breaks and the tomatoes spill across the rich soil. She leans down to pick them up when she notices the formation they've made. A spider's abdomen, a walking staff, a goat's horn—
She jerks her head towards the north where, sure enough, angry violent thunderheads have built. She abandons the tomatoes and runs over to Violet, who is about twenty meters away, fighting weeds trying to over take the sugar beets.
"Violet, there's a tornado approaching. The cellar isn't stable, so we need to get into the barn."
Violet looks startled and Mirage holds out her hand, which the young Super quickly accepts. They run towards the house, their bare feet squashing the fallen tomatoes and as they pause in the kitchen to grab Buddy's medicine out of the fridge, Violet asks,
"Are we safe in there?"
Mirage quickly forms a plan. "Here's what we'll do. You're going to make the biggest force field possible—if it's big enough to take the barn, great, if it's only big enough to cover the three of us, whatever. I'll make an illusion that'll make the barn dark and Buddy won't be able to see what you're doing. Understand?"
Violet nods at her, a terrified look on her face. Mirage realises that the girl is scared and carefully takes both of her hands. She has a talent of convincing people and now is a perfect time to use it.
Gently, she says to the younger woman, "We're counting on you. I know you can do it. Just believe you can."
Violet still looks scared, but replies, "Okay."
Mirage takes her by the wrist and they run out the front door. Buddy is tinkering with the truck parked beneath the apple tree, singing a very monotone version of a Tim McGraw song and Mirage yells,
"Buddy! Mike just called from Salas! A tornado is coming! Leave the truck!"
Buddy kisses his fingertips, then touches them to the rusting blue paint, a final goodbye. He runs towards them and Violet hisses,
"Wait a second! Nobody called here; how do you know—"
Mirage shakes her head to silence her and promises, "I'll explain later!"
The three bolt towards the rickety old barn as the wind begins to wail. Mirage can tell that the tornado, which has formed off in the distance, is moving fast and it will only be a matter of minutes before it's upon them. They roll the barn door shut and in the dark, huddle in the center of the shelter on their knees like small children. Buddy swoops her up in his arms as large hail begins to assault the roof. Mirage gives Violet a slight nod and by pure thought alone, she has everything around them plummet into darkness. Buddy makes a fearful noise as the light seems to disappear and Violet looks around frantically, obviously in the dark, too. Mirage can see perfectly fine, however—she can't be deceived by her own illusions.
The clattering of the hail is scaring her and she hopes that Violet creates a shield in time to protect them, because she knows the roof isn't as strong as it ought to be.
Mirage watches Buddy reach over and gently squeeze Violet's hand momentarily, and the girl's eyes get as large as saucers, her pale cheeks flushing an intense scarlet.
"Here it comes!" Buddy yells and pulls Mirage close.
Mirage's hand reaches out, grasping Violet's wrist tightly, hoping the girl understands that NOW is the time! DO IT!!! It sounds as though they are standing between passing trains, each going at the speed of sound and honestly, she is scared. Violet's eyes close and bright purple orbs explode from her palms so brightly that Mirage clenches her own eyes shut. She begins to count in her head like she's meditating, just pretending like it's early morning and she's already done her yoga and oh god the noise is so loud! The counting is starting to calm her though and it's helping her keep track of time. She reaches nine hundred and twenty-five when the noise stops completely; opening her eyes, she whispers,
"I think it's passed."
Buddy lets go of her and Violet's breathing is ragged. Mirage tenderly touches her shoulder and nods approvingly while Buddy peeks through the old slatted wood of the barn.
"It's gone," he says in awe.
The two women follow him over to the door and they roll the heavy wood open. For the first time in her life, Mirage's jaw drops. She doesn't speak, her brain having a hard time interpreting what exactly she's seeing. She runs out to the tall apple tree and climbs up into its branches, Buddy and Violet following close behind. At the top of the mighty fruit tree, amid thick leaves and still developing pommes, they look out across the vast openness of their Midwestern lands. Mirage rubs her eyes, unable to believe what she is seeing.
"Oh my gosh. At least a mile-wide circumference has been untouched," she stutters.
"That's impossible," Violet whispers shaking her head.
Buddy declares, "Amazing! Like the tornado didn't even touch down!"
Mirage exchanges a nervous glance with Violet, who seems as confounded as her. Buddy seems to take it in stride, as always, and leaps out of the tree, leaving them alone to discuss what has happened. Mirage stares at the black-haired Super, needing an explanation for whatever the hell she's seeing. Violet leans in close and whispers,
"Sometimes when I'm scared my shields get powerful, but never like this."
Mirage raises an eyebrow thinking of how her Buddy touched Violet momentarily. "Maybe you had a boost of confidence."
Violet looks away as below them, Buddy cheers and hugs the hood of the old truck.