Chapter 19: Reed
A few weeks after Starr's death, Reed held a funeral for Starr. He wasn't sure if he could show. The occasion was so sad. Why did Starr die? He knew why she killed herself and he was told by Starr's ghost to not tell anyone why. What would he say for his speech?
Reed looked around the Room. Most of the people there were invited by Peter. They must all be protectors. Starr's best friend, Zoey Kales, was at the front door greeting people. She had only stopped crying an hour ago. Josh Mathers, Starr's co-worker and former Chemistry teacher, was there. Reed had talked to him earlier. Apparently they had taken some of the same college classes together. Reed never noticed any one in his class but Sue and the teacher. Ben and the rest of the Fantastic Four were there, too. Starr had no parents. She never knew her dad and her mother were killed during her capture to go to the mutation facility. She and Reed had talked many times about her past and the structure of the PSPA. Peter was there too. He stood by his new girlfriend, Zoey, at the front door.
The priest came to the pedestal. Reed sat next to Sue and Ben, who where seated in the front row. Zoey and Peter came and sat next to Sue. Zoey and Sue have become good friends. The bond that Starr had started between the PSPA won't be broken for a long time if Sue and Zoey stay good friends. Johnny has also become a good friend with Peter.
The eulogy had started, but Reed didn't care. He was thinking about what he would say. When the eulogy ended, Reed went up to the pedestal and prepared himself for the speech.
"I only have known Starr for a year. We meant on the first elevator in the Baxter building. Back then, I didn't know she was a mutant. She was one of my closest friends. She sacrificed her life so I and my team could have an easier life as superheroes. She killed Doom. She died doing it, and I feel guilty. If I had never asked Victor to give me the money to go into space, we would have never gotten our powers in the first place, Starr wouldn't have had chosen to protect us and she wouldn't have died. If I wasn't so selfish, Starr would still be alive," said Reed.
Sue stood up. "But if you hadn't, we would never be together and you would have never met Starr," replied Sue. She has a point. But this won't change the fact that Starr is dead.
Then Reed blinked. He had a feeling that he would see Starr. Starr was standing in the back of the room with another transparent figure. They walked down the time froze isle.
"Hello again, Reed," said Starr.
"Hi," replied Reed. "Who is that?"
"I am Smokey, the original leader of the PSPA. I decided to join Starr to her funeral," replied Smokey. Smokey was an average sized man with large thick framed glasses. He had a full head of black hair and a grizzly beard. He wore a nice, unwrinkled, plaid, long-sleeved shirt and jeans.
"I just wanted to tell you that you shouldn't feel guilty. You should be happy that you and your team will have an easier time becoming better superheroes," said Starr.
"Are you still watching me?" asked Reed.
"Of course she is. All she wants to do is watch you, make sure your safe. She probably is the most omitted protector ever. She protects her protected even after she is dead," interrupted Smokey.
"Smokey! I think that question was for me," said Starr. Before a full blown argument started, Starr said "we as better be goin', reed. Come on, you bug fuzz ball" as she pulled Smokey's ear into where ever they went. Before Smokey disappeared, he smiled and waved back to Reed. Reed blinked. Time was back to normal.
"That's all," said Reed as he walked off the stage. He went outside. The cool New Mexico air ruffled his hair. Why did she come back? Do all ghosts attend their own funerals? Why was the old leader with her? Sigh. I hate funerals. Especially this one. So many questions unanswered. Sue came out of the church.
"What's wrong? Why do you feel guilty about Starr's death?" asked Sue.
"On the day that Starr died," said Reed, "she asked me to go out to go with her to get pizza. I yelled at her. She got angry and went to ask you. I feel guilty that the last word that I said to her that she heard was an angry one. I just hope she will forgive me for that."
"Oh. Well I think she would forgive you," was all Sue said in reply before she went back into the church. I know she will forgive me, sue. But I can't tell you that. It's my promise to Starr.
On the wind, Reed heard a song. He couldn't remember the title, but it was a song that Starr sang to herself all the time. The chorus was:
This is my temporary Home
It's not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I'm passin' through
This was just a stop,on the way To where I'm going
I'm not afraid because I know this was
My temporary home.