Chapter 10

Alley returned home later that day, she was finally wearing down and was looking forward to sleeping for the next day or so. One of the down sides of her powers. She can go for days without sleep, but when she needs it most, she is out for 24 hours to regain her energy. Still, it was nice to come home to a good meal after a day's work. Although when she walked in the door, the sight before her was surprising. Hunter and Pac were at the stove cooking! "Since when did this happen?" she asked.

"Earlier this afternoon," said her mother. "The boys are learning to cook for themselves and for us, tonight, they are testing their new abilities."

Alley was skeptical. "This isn't the first time trying to cook you know, I remember when you and dad went out before and Master Bang was looking after us, they tried to microwave a pizza."

"Is that how it got destroyed?" asked her father.

"More or less. Someone thought it would cook faster if there was something metal under it!"

"I thought you weren't going to tell!" protested Hunter.

"It just goes to show the confidence I have in you preparing dinner."

Hunter gave a snarky look at his sister but continued on the meal. Alley then turned to her mother, rather stunned that she wasn't making dinner for once. "Did dad finally beat you to the punch?" she joked.

"No, the boys insisted." She said.

"Besides, mom's expecting," said Pac.

Alley's face drained of color. "Wait… WHAT!" she demanded.

"You are going to be a big sister!" said Hunter. "I'm no longer the baby of the family."

"Which means you aren't going to get away with shit." Said Alley.

"Damn it!" he muttered.

10 minutes later, the boys presented dinner on the table. A stir fry of sorts including monster cells once more for filler. Yet to switch it up, they also threw in chicken and beef with all the veggies they could find. It looked good! Yet, Alley wasn't about to admit it.

Everyone took their portion and then a big mouthful. "Wow… WOW!" said their mother. "This is delicious!"

The boys were already scarfing down their second plate of it and going for thirds. "Hell yeah, we can cook!" said Hunter as he and Pac high fived each other.

Alley took a taste of it, the flavors danced over her tongue, sweet, savory, salting, it hit all the pleasures of food. "It's good," would be all she would say.

Their father on the other hand couldn't stop talking about it. "I can't believe you two mastered this dish in a single try! This is really good. Here's hoping you have leftovers for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" asked Alley.

"We're going into the other cities and see the competition before the next elimination round. We get through the cities finals, we go into the tournament!" explained Hunter.

"Not that it will be that difficult, but still, I rather be safe then sorry in case we get someone strong." Said Pac.

"Good for you then, I am going back to the lab after I sleep for a day. I need fresh eyes to look over my research."

"Research? What are you doing now? Still working on parts for Genos?" asked Pac.

Alley didn't want to admit to anything, so she lied for the time being. "No, just other random stuff. Bofoi was working on new weapons but I find that despite the materials he was using he never takes into factors of what he is fighting against! Still weird he left his lab to me and Child Emperor."

"Bofoi knows when he's been defeated. Besides, I don't think he really understood the concept of being a hero." Muttered their father.

"So when are you going to start hunting him dad? When you do, can we come? I want a piece of this!" said Hunter.

Garou shook his head. "He's mine…" yet paused as he saw the look of disappointment on his son's face. "Besides," paused their father. "He's already been hunted."

The table fell silent. "Dad…" said Pac.

Their mother was oddly quiet too, but their father said nothing more on the matter. He stood from the table and cleared away the plates.

Alley however stood. "That's why you asked me to put that in his computers! The hunt is on… you were going after him either way, weren't you?" she demanded.

Their father became stern. "NO ONE ever comes after my family and uses them like lab rats, treats them like test subjects and refuses to apologize for their actions claiming they are not 'human' in their terminology!" he snapped. "Yes, I hunted him. Yes, I succeeded… yes… he's never coming back to hurt you again."

The three fell deadly silent. "Dad…"

"I said to you kids before, your justice… isn't my justice. Metal Knight would have regrouped, he would have forged new weapons, new tests and would have done this all over again. He would come after us with everything he possessed, I would be damned if he succeeded!"

The three turned to their mother. "Mom…"

She nodded her head. "He would too. Metal Knight doesn't see things the way others do, it's black or white with him. Your father and I were monsters in his eyes, incapable of being something for the force of good. That is why he was so willing to take us out. We weren't human to him, we didn't matter."

Hunter turned back to his father. "How?" he asked.

"I will not speak of this any farther, and not a word to anyone else. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir…" the kids muttered.

Alley couldn't believe her father would go that far to protect them, but it explains why she has her own lab now. Still, a part of her was glad Bofoi was gone. She found their files he was making about them, what her brothers never knew though was when they reached their limit, Bofoi was going to exterminate and dissect them when his tests were done. That she will never tell them, how could she? Alley finished her dinner and went to her room; Pac and Hunter went outside to play with Rover. When her door closed, she flopped on the bed, wondering though. How did her father know where Bofoi was? How did he get to her before she did… how did he end him?