El Tigre copyright Jorge Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua

The MASK copyright Dark Horse Comics/New Line Cinema

The Mask Of Miracle City

Chapter 08: Moment With The Avez

Later That Day, Chris Decided It Was Time To Finish That FLOCK OF FURY Photo Assignment.

And There Was Only ONE WAY For Him To Do That!

Chris Went To The Avez House, Better Know As FALCON TOWER. (The Secret Base of the FOF)
He Knocked The Door, Where a Mini Camera Scanned Him.

{"Identity Comfirmed...Welcome, John Christon.}

Chris Grumbled At The Machine Messing Up His Name.
Suddenly, a Laser Gun Appeared.

{"Prepare To Be Vaporised, Honored Guest.}

Chris Paniced, Zoe Swund Open The Door And Pulled Him In...
Just Seconds Before The Laser Cannon Fried The Place Where Chris Was.

"Sorry, Chris...
Grandmami's Security System Is VERY OLD, It's Been Glitching, Lately.

Chris Eyed Her.

"Yeah...First It Got My Name Wrong, Then It Tried To KILL ME!
If That Is How It Reacts To FRIENDS, I WOuld Hate To See What It Does To ENEMIES!

"Yeah, Mom Has Been Meaning To Get It Replaced With Something NEWER.

The Two Shared a Laugh.

"So, I Guess Your Here For The Flock Of Fury Photos...

"How Did You Guess?

"It Was Pretty Obvious...
I Already Told My Family About It.

"What Did They Say?

"They Said They'll Do It...
Grandmami Thinks We Could Use Some PUBLICITY.

Zoe Led Chris Into The Living Room Where Carmelita & Grandmami Nina (In FOF Gear) Were Polishing There Helmets.

"I'll Go Get MY SUIT, You Wait Here.

Zoe Ran Off To Her Room, Leaving Chris Alone With Her Family.

"So, Chris...Zoey Tells Me You Need Photos Of Us To Keep Your Job. Said Voltura

"Pretty Much, Mr. Francisco Is a TOUGH MAN TO PLEASE.

"We're All But Happy To Help You.
Your Zoey's Best Friend...Her ONLY FRIEND, And That Means Alot To Us.

"Thanks.

Then, Lady Gobbler Spoke Up.

"Besides, We've Been Needing Some BETTER PUBLICITY.
And The Photo Shoot Will Only Cost You: $500.

Voltura Slapped Gobbler On The Back Of the Head.

"WHAT!

"You Can't Charge Him That Kind Of Money!

"Okay, Since I Like Him So Much, I'll MAke It 100.

"no.

"90?

"no.

"75?

"no way.

"50?

"forget it.

"OKAY, $20.95!

Voltura Eyed Her Elderly Mother.

"a dollar?

"Try, ZERO.

"ZERO!

"We Are NOT Taking Money From Chris For The Photographs.
He's a Friend, And The Newspaper Office Hardl Pays Him As It Is: WE'RE DOING IT FOR FREE!

"FREE!
ARE YOU LOCO!

"We Don't Need The Money, And HE DOES.

Gobbler Growled.

"FINE!
But, We Are Pulling DOUBLE THE ROBBERS TONIGHT!

Voltura Sighed Sharply.
She Turned To Chris And Smiled Warmly.

"So, Chris...
Just Out Of Curiousity, Why Do You Need So Much Money To Take Photos Like These?

Chris Looked Down And Sighed a Little.

"I...I Wanted To Get My Mom a Present.

Voltura Was Shocked.

"P-Present?
You mean...Maria Rivera?

"Yes.

Voltura Paused a Little.
Gobbler Realised This WOuld Be One Of Those "MOMENTS", So...

"I, Uhhhh...Just Remembered!
I'VE GOT TO COOK MY IMAGINARY CAKE WITH MY IMAGINATY OVEN!

Gobbler Raced As Fast As She Could...Leaving Chris and Voltura Alone.

"Why Do You Want To Give Her a Gift?

"No Reason, I Just Wanna...

"Chris.

"OKAY!, FINE!
It's The Fifthteen Year Annaversery Of Maria Adopting Me, And I Want To Do Something Special For Her!

"Oh...I See.

Chris Sat Down, Riddled With Emotion.
Volture Sat Down Beside Him, Placing Her Clawed Hand On His Shoulder.

"Are You...Thinking About Your Life At The Orphanage?, About Your REAL PARENTS?

"How Do You Know That? Asked Chris.

"Zoey Told Me.

Chris Sighed.

"I'm ALWAYS Thinking About "That".

"Wanna Talk About It?

Chris Was Silent.

"Chris, Being An ART TEACHER At Your School I Know That ART Is a Way To EXPRESS HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT SOMETHING...
Your Very Talented, My BEST STUDENT...But, I Can See a Great SADNESS In Your Work.

Chris Was Starting To Understand What She Said.

"There Are Other Ways To Express How You Feel...
So, Tell Me...What Is Bothering You?

Chris Exhaled Sharply.
He Looked At His Best Friend's Mother...
Who DISPITE Being a Super Villain, Seemed Like a Very WARM & UNDERSTANDING Person.

"I Was Only a Baby When I Came To The Orphanage.
Most Kids There Were Actual Orphans, Who's Parents Had Died...I Wasn't That "Lucky".
My Parents Were Only TEENAGERS When I Was Born...High School Kids, No Older Than Zoey and Me.
They Left Me At The Orphanage When I Was a Year Old, I Never Saw Them Again...I Hardly Even KNEW THEM.

Chris Wiped a Tear From His Eye.

"To This Day, I Still Don't Know WHY They Left Me...
Did They Leave Me There Because They Couldn't Take Care Of Me?, And Wanted a BETTER LIFE For Me?
or, Did They Just Dump Me There Because They DIDN'T WANT ME, And JUST WANTED TO GET RID OF ME...

Chris Paused, Then Continued Speaking.

"I Wish I Knew The Truth...
I Would Like To Think They LOVED ME But...All The Kids Teased & Mocked Me, Saying My Parents Didn't Care for Me, That They Abandoned Me.
After So Many Years Of Watching Others Kids Get Adopted, While I DIDN'T...I Started To Believe Them.
So I Ran Away Before I Could Be Dumped At a FOSTER HOME, Lived My Life On The Streets...

"Then, You Came To Miracle City.

"I Was Hoping To Start a New Life, Here.
The Old One, Back Home Didn't Have ANYTHING!
I Had NO FRIENDS, NO FAMILY...NO LOVE, NOTHING!

Voltura Lowered Her Head.
Tears Actually Formed In Her Eyes, She Wiped Them Away Before Chris Could See.

"Chris, I'm SURE Your Real Parents Loved You...And Even If They Didn't Care, It Doesn't Matter Anymore.
Maria Is My BEST FRIEND & CO-WORKER...So, I Know That She Is a GOOD MOTHER And SHE Cares About You.
She Gave You Your SECOND CHANCE, Because She Can See How Special You Are...Just Like Me.
And If Your REAL PARENTS Can't See That, Then THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE MISSING.

"yeah...i know.
That's Why I Want To Give Mom a Present, To Show How Much I Appreaciate All She Has Done For Me.

"Chris, You Don't Have To BUY Her Something For That...
She'll Love ANYTHING You Give Her...Even If It's Just a Hug.

"I KNOW THAT!
I Just Want To Give Her Something Nice.

Voltura Smiled.

"Okay, I Understand...

Voltura Leaned Over And Gave Chris a Kiss On The Head.

"What was THAT For?

"For Being Such a GOOD FRIEND To My Daughter.
She's Had a HARD LIFE, Too...And She DESERVES a Good Friend Like You. Said Voltura

"i know i needed a friend like you when i was growing up. whisper voltura

"What?

"Nothing.

Unknown To The Two.
Zoe (Who Was Just Coming In The Room) Had Secretly Heard Every Word Of There Confronsation.
Tearing Up, She Wiped Away The Tears And Walked Towards Them.

"Okay, I'M READY! Said Zoe, Acting Excited

"Great, I'll Get My Cameras...

"Cameras? Asked Zoe

"I Have My Own LITTLE SECRET In Getting Good Pictures.

"What Secret Is That? Asked Voltura

"I'll Show You...

The Two Avez Looked At Each Other, Then Shrugged There Shoulders.

"Guess We're In For a Surprise.

"MAMI! Shrieked Voltura

"WHAT IS IT!

"It's Time To Go!

"ALRIGHT!, ALRIGHT!, I COMING!

Gobbler Walked In.
They All Put On There Helmets.
Gobbler Pressed a Button On Her Cane, Opening The Tower's Roof.

"LET'S BLAST OFF!

Cuervo Picked Chris Up.

"What the-

"I'll Carry You Chris.
It's a LONG WALK, And Flying Is Faster.

Chris Got Red Faced.

"Oh, Uhhhh...Sure.
I Guess That Makes Sense.

Zoe Was Equally Red Faced.

Voltura Smiled At Them Gobbler Just Snorted.

"GRANDDAUGHTER, STOP FLIRTING WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER!

"Yeah, Mija...
We Had Better Get Going, Unless You LOVEBIRDS Want Some Time ALONE.

Chris & Zoe's Faces Were Redder Than Chili Peppers.

"WE'RE NOT LOVEBIRDS! Shouted Both Of Them.

"And, I Wasn't Flirting. Said Zoe

Voltura And Gobbler Looked At Each Other.

"Riiiiiiiiiiiight... Said The Two Older Avez Women, Grinning At Each Other

Voltura And Gobbler Took To The Air.
Cuervo Started Her Jet Pack Quite Steadily.

"Hold On Tight.

Chris Wrapped His Arms Around Neck, Squeezing Her Slightly a Secret Part Of Zoe Was ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF THIS.

"Not Too Tight.

"You Won't Drop Me Will Ya?

Zoe Smiled.

"I'll NEVER Let You Go. Said Zoe, In a "Strangly" Soft Voice

Cuervo Blasted Off Carrying Chris With Her To Wherever...