February 2, 1986

"So, I know May's with Jack but I'm pretty sure she's making out with that T.A, Dan, during lunch," Vi said.

"Really?" Claire asked, raising her eyebrows.

"How else do you think she got that last grade on her test? Now…if I can just figure out a way to backmail her with it-"

The tinkle of smashed glass interrupted their conversation.

"I think that's the water supply warehouse," said Vi, "People are always breaking in there. But we have to be quick. I've got a shift at the taco loading docks in half-an hour."

"Taco loading docks?"

"Do not ask. I'm supposed to be there now, punched my card in and everything, but he only checks every forty minutes."

"How long ago was that?"

"'bout twenty minutes."

"Let's go then," Claire said.

The two of them moved in as stealthily as possible. The door was unlocked, which made Claire anxious. She made a sign for Vi to watch out as they moved around the warehouse. It took only a few moments for them to realize that no one was there.

"This…doesn't feel right," Claire said nervously.

"It shouldn't."

The two girls turned around to see three figures standing in the doorway. One of them looked nervous, the other was picking at his nails. The two of them were hard to make out though, since the third was practically blocking the doorway.

"Who're you fuckers?" Vi asked cautiously.

The large shape turned on the light switch. For the first time they got a good look at the figures.

"Ahhaaaahhhhh?" said Vi, her voice wobbling.

"We haven't done anything wrong," Claire said, thinking fast, "All we've done is tie people up, which is technically just a citizen's arrest and completely within our rights, and anyway they rob things and kill people so that makes it a public service so really it's a good thing so-"

She knew she was rambling and the figure raised his eyebrows.

"What I'm saying," she said, trying to focus her thoughts, "Is that we've done nothing to warrant the Umbrella Academy's attention."

"We'll decide that," Spaceboy said coldly, "You two have been making quite the headlines."

Claire had to keep her breathing steady. She started looking around for something to concentrate her mind on. As she looked around, she thought she saw a movement in the shadows. Looking back though, nothing was there. After a second she decided to shake it off. She had bigger fish to fry.

For instance, this was the first time she'd never met her uncles in real life. She'd vaguely pictured it a few times, but certainly never like this.

"So did you," Vi said nervously, "But like Torpere said we haven't technically done anything wrong-"

"You took the law into your own hands," Space replied.

Vi narrowed her eyes.

"Don't give us that shit," she snarled, her voice steady and irritated, "You do it every damn day."

"We're trained."

"Actually Luther," said Horror, "She does have a point-"

"I'd appreciate it if you stopped talking," said Space firmly, "Now we'd like the two of you to accompany us."

Folding her arms Claire looked at him suspiciously.

"Why?"

"So you can meet the bastard," cackled Séance.

Space's eyes shot daggers at his brother.

"The Monocle has expressed an interest in meeting you and…possibly extending membership," he said, "We can't have untrained heroes wandering around after all."

Vi looked at Claire for direction. Claire, for her part, was running through everything she knew about Hargreeves from books, newspapers, and the occasional comment from her…she shuddered inwardly…mother. The conclusion; he was a slippery bastard who shouldn't be trusted. Yet…maybe they should have a talk with the heavyweights. You know, make sure they weren't infringing on their territory or anything.

Still…it didn't feel right…It felt like they were being trapped.

"Can we think about this? Like have a day or two?" she said cautiously.

"You have five minutes."

"What?"

"Now or never."

Rolling her eyes Claire motioned for Vi to come over to her.

"I don't like this," she whispered, "This is getting a little too…deep for me. I mean…they're the big leagues and...they probably don't care about the County. Besides, we'd like to stay independent…right?"

The last sentence was spoken hesitantly since it was based on conjecture. She didn't have a clue what Vi thought about joining her heroes. Her fears, however, were allayed as Vi said;

"Yeah. Besides, Spaceboy's acting like a total deuschbag."

Relieved Claire turned around and summoned up her best commanding voice.

"We'd prefer to remain anonymous," she declared.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," Space said.

"Yeah, well, watcha gonna do about it big guy?" Vi snapped.

Later, Claire would wish that Vi hadn't said that.

"Séance," Space said.

Séance held out his arm and a large water pipe burst above her. Claire was shoved to the right by the blast and Vi was knocked off her feet. Space rushed over to where Claire was and Séance moved over to Vi. She turned around just in time for him to take out a camera with a rather bright flash. She stopped, blinded by the light.

He used the distraction to shove her to the ground.

"Easy-peasy lemon squeezy," he said as he picked up Vi by her hair.

"Klaus," Horror said, his voice radiating, well, horror, "You shouldn't do that by her hair. I mean…she's a girl…"

Séance rolled his eyes. Then he looked at her hair for a moment before taking a deep sniff.

"Hey, freesia!" he exclaimed happily, "With just a hint of blackberry! Refreshing yet relaxing! We use the same shampoo!"

"Stop sniffing my hair!" snarled Vi.

Using her hair as an anchor she flipped over his arm and pulled him to the ground. She kicked him in the ribs before Horror was on her, pulling her away with his tentacles by the arm. An odd crackling came from her hand and she gritted her teeth in pain.

"Bastard!" she snapped.

As soon as he pulled her away from Séance she threw her head back in Horror's face. He groaned as she pulled free and gave him a low kick to his feet. It was difficult to do with her wrist throbbing like it was. Briefly the panicked thought that she couldn't move her fingers came into her mind.

Meanwhile Claire was trying desperately to avoid Space's punches.

"If you'd stay still we can do this quietly," she said, "I don't want to hurt you."

"Too bad," she snapped, kicking him in the face and jumping back to a wall.

From her vantage point she noticed Vi struggling between the other members of the Academy. Thinking desperately, she came up with a plan she hoped would work.

"Nix!" she yelled, "Get on a wall!"

Vi looked at her for a moment before doing as she commanded. Throwing herself to the floor Claire let loose all the electricity she could muster into the water everywhere. She saw the bolts of electricity flow through the members of the Academy. They looked dazed, but she wasn't about to take her chances.

"Run!" she yelled.

Nodding to her Vi threw herself through a window. Claire did the same and they started running into the streets. They took as many twisted alleys and odd shortcuts they could. Neither of them breathed out until they'd reached the water park and hidden their costumes. They met outside by the lounge chairs.

"Now the Umbrella Academy wants our skins! And they have my fucking picture!" Vi moaned a she cradled her wrist, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"We've got to keep calm," Claire said, "They didn't get us. They don't know where we are and the mask should protect you-"

"How many girls in Dayton have hair like mine?" Vi exclaimed, "Even if I cut it then people would suspect the sudden switch. And even with the mask they can probably infer a lot. Then they're going to link you to me and-"

"Look," Claire said, trying to hold back her own panic, "All we gotta do is lie low for a few days, make sure no one suspects us and everything'll be okay, see?"

"That's all well and good but I really can't feel my fingers!" Vi said.

Claire looked at her friend's wrist and panic welled up in her. It was badly bruised, and swelling fast.

"Can you move them?"

There was a rather uncomfortable pause before Vi shook her head.

"I think you sprained it," she said, "Maybe you broke it or tore a ligament too. We need to get you to the hospital-"

"I can't afford a goddamn hospital!" Vi snapped, "I…I can't."

There was a pause.

"I can splint it…but if you tore anything…" Claire said uncertainly.

"Yeah," Vi said, "You do that. And don't worry. I…I'll figure something out."

She looked at her watch.

"…and now I have to get to work," she groaned, "This is ASS!"