Buddy and Violet showered together, and it was there that they made love for the last time. It was also there that Buddy took advantage of the running water to shed a few tears of his own. He might have been prepared to die, but he was only human and he did still fear the final curtain call.

He wished that he had a spare super suit to wear on his way to California. It was what the masses would have wanted to see anyway. The great pretender that he was, taken down from his throne while wearing his signature black and white suit. Instead, he opted for a black turtleneck sweater and blue jeans.

Violet also wore a sweater and jeans, but rather than a neutral tone the sweater was a bright and fiery orange. Like his hair. They really were stuck on each other.

"It's not too late," Violet whispered. "I can still break us out. Maybe Karen would even let us slip away in a portal. She's been practicing, told me that sometimes she just thinks of a space in her head and can make a path there."

"Still a hard pass for me, Parr. I'd rather not end up in a volcano or at the bottom of some well."

"Even if you were stuck with me?"

Buddy would have lived happily ever after if he was stuffed into a well or any other nook with her. But it was still no way to live. "Especially if I was stuck with you."

The elevator ride up to the docking area was quick. Violet tried to convince him to at least have a final meal with her even though neither of them had the stomach to hold anything.

"Promise me you won't come to the execution," Buddy pleaded when the doors opened to show the docking floor.

"You know you can't ask that."

He couldn't. As much as he wanted his last thing to see were those deep blue eyes he would hate for him being fried to be how she remembered him. Worse still, he really didn't want to run the risk of her turning over a new leaf and start tearing down the institutions she once swore to uphold.

Stepping out to meet the authorities, Buddy took note of the quality suits the men and women wore. A cut above the NSA, but he couldn't tell apart the state marshal from the CIA agents. Colonel Griffin was also present in the official passing as it was his duty as the Base Commander.

Buddy held out his wrists to be cuff and once they were slapped on he turned to Violet. Seizing her face, he kissed her with desperation and she responded in kind. The suits had to intervene, prying them apart to get back on track with their ideal deadline.

"I love you Vi, but don't let me catch you at my farewell party."

"Don't tell me what to do, asshole," Violet shot back as she began to rub her eyes with the cuffs of her sweater. He smiled one last time before he was forced to turn towards the helicopter. He kept his chin raised high, and while he might have had a few more days before he was to be executed he was going to walk the line without a hint of fear or regret if he could.

As the platform began to rise, Violet wished her powers could allow her to see through walls but even if that were the case she still had the damn cuff blocking her abilities.

"I want to leave," she said the minute the platform reached the top and the commander sighed.

"Leave denied. I've got my orders, Violet."

"I'm a civilian, you can't keep me under military law."

"I'm not keeping you because of the military but out of respect for Dr. Pine. He requested that I keep you for at least 24 hours."

"That isn't his decision to make," she shouted as the colonel was already walking away.

"The supers moving into The Eighth Wonder will be arriving within the hour along with the next rotation of enlisted soldiers later this afternoon. I'd like you and Lillian to get acquainted with them tonight at the meet and greet. If you are feeling sociable of course."

Violet clenched her fists as she followed him to the elevator with her wrist held out. She wasn't going to correct the man that Lillian was no longer here. It wasn't like he actually cared about her anyway.

"You don't have to play nice with me, we both know we have no love for each other. The sooner this thing comes off of me the sooner I'll be out of your hair."

"I'm sorry, Violet, but a promise is a promise and I would hate to upset any friend of mine."

Violet took note that he didn't deny the mutual feeling of animosity.

"If you really have a damn about Buddy you'd let me go so I can save him."

"He's made himself rather clear that he doesn't fear his fate. I only hope I can carry that level of courage when my time comes."

"He isn't being brave, he's cornered and terrified! He just doesn't think he has any options."

"I'm sorry, Violet. If there were some way I could see him call for help on this I would rush to his aid, but Dr. Pine's safety is out of my hands. But who knows," Colonel Griffin said as the elevator doors opened to his floor and he stepped out of the box. "Maybe there will be another miracle for our modern Prometheus yet."

…

"Damn. I can't believe we get to be the ones to reign in Syndrome," CIA agent Christian Powell said with a laugh on the helicopter ride back to solid land.

"Cool your jets, Powell. It's gloating like that will get you pulled," said the more professional agent, Jessica Larkin but her partner just shrugged off the idle threat.

"Come on Syndrome, lay it on us. Who was your favorite kill?"

"Gamma-Jack," Buddy replied without missing a beat and Powell whipped his head around, the black shades doing little to hide his baffled expression.

"Seriously? Shit. He was one of my favorites as a kid."

"Yeah well, the guy was an ass as long as we are being honest. He wasn't too friendly with us little people unless of course, you were a woman he wanted to take to bed. But that kindness only went so far."

"Ah, you're just saying that to justify your crimes. All serial killers these days seem to have some moral excuse for their kills."

"Alright, so what made him your favorite?"

"What?"

"Come on. Tell me what it was about Gamma-Jack that made him your go-to super of choice."

"You don't have to answer that," Larkin cut in but the man was pumped up.

"Sheeeeit, aside from Frozone, Gamma was the coolest guy around. Killed it with the ladies when he wasn't killing the bad guys."

"Oh I couldn't agree more- but what makes a bad guy?"

"Lawbreakers of course."

"That's it?"

"Law and order is the only thing keeping us apart from animals."

"So a cop killing a kid who is selling weed is justified?"

"Well, no. That's different-"

"But you just said that lawbreakers are bad guys worth killing."

"I mean bigger shit man."

"How about prostitution?"

"It's unfortunate but no, I wouldn't kill a hooker."

"Well, that's funny, because Gamma-Jack nearly did. Yup. Burned her face to the point she'd never be picked up again. Anita Lopez. It's all in the NSA files if you don't believe me."

The stillness in the helicopter gave him some pride. It was nice to kill the mood before it killed him.

"When I was killing supers, they were not supposed to be flexing their gifts," Buddy continued. "Supers were illegal, they were breaking the law. So, by proxy of your original statement, I would have been in my right to put an end to their illegal activities. Right?"

Powell was silent, quietly seething and Buddy just smirked as he turned his head to the window to take in the streets of D.C. "That's what I thought."

The tense silence was cut off by radio static coming through the pilot's headset and they were making an earlier than expected landing.

"Hey, this isn't the airport! We got a tight deadline and I don't want to miss our flight," warned the California State Marshal and the pilot shook her head.

"Sorry, but all air travel has been delayed. Something is going on in the airspace."

"Another super fit?" Larkin asked, shifting in her seat to eye the skies for any super looking to steal their star prisoner but the bronzed woman shook her head.

"No. Worse actually."

"As the only person in the vehicle to have their ass handed to them by multiple supers on multiple occasions, I highly doubt anything could top a pissed-off super."

"How about a nuclear missile?" the pilot asked as they made their touchdown in a mall parking lot.

"Okay, that's actually pretty bad, yeah."

"Well, why don't they get a super in on it then?"

"They are trying but none of the locals are answering the call. Must still be in"

"What about The Eighth Wonder?" Buddy suggested. "Some of the best supers just got handed their posts there-"

"Oh I bet you'd love to drag us back there, make out with your super babe while the east coast is cleaned off the map," Powell sneered.

"First of all, thank you for noticing that I am indeed in a relationship with a super babe. Second, if this is a real threat, the Eighth Wonder is likely in the blast radius too if D.C. is the target- but please. If you got a better plan, let's hear it."

"I say fuck this and take off, we can fly out of the danger zone," the marshal said but the pilot shook her head.

"Not risking that! The Air Guard just put notice they'll shoot down anyone not authorized in the sky."

"The Eighth Wonder," Buddy said again but the pilot shook her head again.

"Their comms are down- some sort of interference. I think whoever is doing this really wants to prove we can't depend on supers."

"Holy fuck- is that it?" Larkin asked, pointing to her side of the aircraft, and everyone piled out of the helicopter to take in the sight of the missile. It was just a thin white line, but the trail it left told Buddy all he needed to know.

"Looks like it," Buddy muttered. "I'm a few classes short of being a rocket scientist, but that's a simple Tsetse model alright."

"How do you know that?"

"Pft- I managed two multi-billion dollar defense companies. I think I know a weapon of mass destruction when I see it," he said before snubbing his nose with a thumb.

"How long till it hits?"

Tilting his head, Buddy did the math in his head.

"Depends on where it decides to make its arch, but I'd give it an hour tops."

"Fucking hell," Powell muttered. "Where is a super when you need one?"

Buddy frowned at the statement before moving to the Californian Marshal, shoving the cuffs in his face.

"Release me."

"You must be out of your mind if you think I'm going to let you go."

"How smooth is that brain of yours? There are no supers flying to the rescue here and the clock is ticking- the only reason why the military hasn't shot that trash can out of the sky is because of the nuclear fallout that would happen if they did. If somebody doesn't do something soon that thing is going to kill us all."

"And what, you're going to stop it?"

"If you let me go, yes."

The man went silent and rigid, the other agents seemed tense as well.

"But you could die," the pilot whispered and Buddy just laughed.

"I'm not sure if you heard the news, but I'm already a dead man, whether or not this thing touches down. Now we can sit here and debate if we want to tag in a third of the country into my execution, including you lot, or you can let me deactivate that thing and be back in time to catch a red-eye to the golden state.

The Californian state official stared blankly at his prisoner until Powell was ripping the keys from his belt.

"Do you really have to think about this man?!" Powell exclaimed before releasing Buddy from the metal cuffs. "You better not make me regret this man."

"Good news, if I mess this up none of us will be around to regret anything," he replied as he set his eyes on a nearby mechanic shop. It wasn't the lab he'd prefer, but he had made more with less. "Come on then, I may need you guys to run for parts," he said before taking off.

…

Robert grumbled as he tapped the clicker for one of the televisions in the rec center. Every single channel was static. "What the hell… Dash, can you check the set in your room?"

"Already tried Dad, all the TVs are on the fritz," the eldest Parr boy said in his Speedster suit, which was yellow with three red lightning bolts that ran across his chest. "Bet it's on account of He-Lectrix. He's been freaking out since he got here. I mean, why the hell did he agree to this gig if he doesn't like water?!"

"He's just nervous, Dash. Not everyone is as fearless as you," Helen sighed as she sat beside Jack-Jack, both of whom were wearing their Incredible suits as well. The only one who wasn't dressed for the super gathering was Violet who watched the static, hoping to see some sliver of Buddy in transit. Some code for her to break out and rescue him- but even if he was calling for her she'd never know. Not with this white noise.

"Where's Voyd?" Violet asked and the Parr family exchanged nervous glances. Dash was the first to speak.

"Well, the spazz-"

"Dashiell Robert Parr!" Helen scolded and the young man raised his hands in defense.

"What?! She is!"

"She got spooked by Colonel Griffin," Robert said to break the fight before it started but that only added more worries for Violet. "When he found out who she was, he kind of went into Drill Instructor mode. I don't think I've ever seen him so angry."

"Why would he be angry with her?! She didn't do anything."

"Except lose a bus full of kids," Dash muttered. "AND that time she tried to kill us!"

"They found those kids," Violet defended quickly. "And that fiasco wasn't her fault- Evelyn got to them, remember? Now can someone please tell me where she is?"

"If she didn't throw herself into a black hole, I think she is hiding in her room."

Violet cursed and left the table to find Voyd, ignoring the pleas from her family to stay. She was about to step into the elevator when someone caught her arm. She raised her other hand to strike it off but stopped seeing that it was one of the lab workers. He had released her almost instantly.

"Sorry Miss V, I was calling you but I guess you didn't hear me-"

"Oh. No, no, I'm sorry, I didn't even notice. It's Jason right? You worked with Buddy… What can I do for you?"

"Yeah! Yeah… Sorry about Dr. Pine by the way. The guy was a hard ass, bit up there too but he was good people- sort of," the man stumbled before remembering he was on a mission. "Sorry! I actually was asked by to deliver this when it was done," he said as he held out an envelope.

She didn't even ask what it was. It was a sign from Buddy and that was enough for her. Taking it from his hand, she quickly thanked him before getting into the elevator to open the parting gift in privacy but the man kept the elevator doors from closing with an open arm.

"Hey, did you want to know what those bullets had?"

"Sure, if you got the results."

"Graphene."

"Why does everyone love that stuff?"

"Well it's the strongest metal known to man for one- but that's not all, there was also this coat of paint. Well, not paint, but it acts like it cause it sure as heck does not like water."

"Thanks for the heads up on that I guess. Though I think Buddy would have liked to hear that summary more."

"Again. Really sorry about the B-man."

"Can I assume he hated that nickname too?"

"Loathed it," Jason said with a laugh as he backed away to let the woman go in about her day. "Take care of yourself now, Miss V."

Violet mustered a polite smile and wave as the doors closed and she focused on the envelope in hand.

There was weight to the paper and upon opening, she found the laser tool that he had cut her clothes off with. She wanted to scream in frustration but there was a note waiting to be read as well. Likely one final snarky sweet statement rather than a call to action.

And that's exactly what it was.

To my sweet Houdini,

May no article of clothing or accessory ever hinder you again.

Yours forever,

Buddy

Violet smiled sadly at the handwritten note before she tucked it away and observed the tool before the nickname clicked and she looked at the Super Antidote Device on her wrist.

This was the sign she was looking for.

…

Buddy cursed himself for the charitable deed of giving Violet his souped-up laser cutter, but the welding iron in the mechanic shop was just going to have to work. Or else they were all dead.

Powell dropped a shopping cart of tech beside him and wiped his brow. "Please tell me there is something in here that can be used."

One quick look Buddy knew that these boots were not going to be winning any beauty contests, but he would be able to fly. Cracking open a toaster oven, the engineer began to seam together the wires and metal to get the ignition of the boots to a functioning state. It was only a pair of biker boots, but it beat his dress shoes by a mile.

"Those won't hold up against the heat," the pilot whispered.

"What's your name?" Buddy asked as he looked at the clock. It was already a tight squeeze, but it was reaching a point of no return.

"Kim."

"Well, Kim, I appreciate your concern for my footwear. But unless you've got some layered titanium boots sitting in your chopper, I'd ask you to refrain from telling me shit I already know," he said as he strapped himself in. They were going to burn the hell out of his ankles but there was no helping it.

Seeing the woman in a state of distress, he rolled his eyes as he heard Violet scolding him to soften his edges. "Look, Kim. If you want to help, assuming we survive all of this, call up Golden View Hospital and ask for Tobias Freeman. If he isn't in, insist on getting his home of address or some point of contact."

"Is he a doctor?"

"Something like that," he said as he stepped out of the mechanic shops garage doors and eyed the missile that was making its nosedive.

Steeling himself, Buddy kicked on the boots and took off, flying towards the missile that aimed to kill everything below them. The rocket thrusters strapped to him were already burning through the leather boots, melding his skin with the cowhide, but he only had to endure the pain until he got to the missile.

The shabbily made boots sputtered below him, like a car engine threatening to crap out on the roadside, but he pushed on. If he failed here it would be the fall that killed him, it was better than the chair but he'd really wanted to hold one more thing over the supers. Who among them could say they saved the country?

He crash-landed against the missile and clung to the sleek metal frame for dear life as he searched for the panel that housed the enriched uranium. He feared for a moment that the damn material was housed in the underbelly but his eyes caught the discolored sheet behind him. He breathed in before letting himself slide back little by little until he was right on top of the panel and pried the door open. Hissing in pain as he sliced his palm open on the metal he couldn't let a cut slow him down.

Not when he had the casing of the atomic bomb right before him. He wanted to just rip out the uranium from the case right there, but whoever had sent the missile was clearly fucking with him. The case was attached to a bomb that would set off the larger explosion, that was to be expected. What threw him for a loop was the six yellow wires tangled around the damned thing.

That laser cutter would have been fantastic right about now, far superior to the rusted wire cutters he had in hand.

Shaking his head, Buddy dug out the multitool with his bloodied hand and observed the wires with a calculating eye. Was it the first or the last one that he needed to cut? No, that was the deal with all red wires, right?

"Fuck it," he muttered aiming for the last wire but stopped himself short and instead hovered over the fourth wire. Closing his eyes, he snipped the fourth yellow wire and waited to be engulfed in flames. When his flesh wasn't burned from his bones he let off a victorious laugh and tore the glass box from the missile and raised it over his head in triumph.

It was at this point that Buddy realized that he had all of thirty seconds to clear ship or crash onto the White House lawn.

He kicked on the makeshift rocket boots but only one of them came on.

"... Of all the no good-" Again. It couldn't be helped Buddy pushed himself off from the missile and tried to land on a single boot. He was a good three stories up when the second boot decided to shit the bed, and he plummeted like a stone into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, cradling the tool of death like a sleeping child.

…

"Karen?!" Violet shouted as she pounded on the door that Voyd had let herself through the morning before. "Karen please, if you're in there I really need to talk to you!"

The door opened to reveal the tearful teal-haired woman whole was dressed in a white tee and jeans. Violet quickly embraced her into a hug. "Oh thank you, thank you- I need your help."

"Haven't you heard Violet? I'm the worst super this side of the Atlantic. What good can I possibly do?"

Violet's eyes went wide at the comment and she pulled away to take in Karen's face. "Hey, that is not true! You helped me nab not one but six Hyperion conspirators- and that is a HUGE deal!"

"I just opened a door for you, that's all I'm good for. Maybe I should become a bellhop. They are also pretty good at opening doors."

"I could really use a door or two opened actually," Violet started when the television in the room kicked back on.

"The crisis has been adverted in a miraculous turn of events," reported New 12's star correspondent Cindy Lapore who looked as though she had been crying her eyes out. "The missile that was destined to hit the White House and kill thousands if not millions was stopped with no casualties!"

"What the hell," Violet whispered moving to the television to take in the news report. Why the hell were they just finding out about this incident now?

"Incredible stuff Cindy. What super do we owe our lives to today?" Anchor Jeff Long asked.

"That's just it, Jeff. It wasn't a super who save the day, but Syndrome," Cindy stated as the camera shifted from her to a team of paramedics pulling a disheveled ginger man from the reflecting pool.

"No way," Karen said as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Buddy Pine was on his way to Death Row in California state when the missile halted his carrier. According to the agents responsible for transporting him, he selflessly threw himself into action to prevent the catastrophe."

"What is the current state of Mr. Pine?" asked Jeff Long as the camera and Cindy were racing over to the location of the paramedics.

"We believe that he is still alive, it's nothing short of a miracle, Jeff. Oh, he looks to be conscious! Mr. Pine! Mr. Pine! Tell us what drove you to go to the rescue of the city and a portion of the country for that matter?"

With his bloodied hand, Buddy grabbed the camera and shoved it away, muttering something about how he was just killing time, and currently needed a good cognac man.

Violet grabbed Voyd's hand and looked at her with hope. "Can you take me to him?"

Karen stopped breath and put out her other hand, but quickly pulled it back.

"I'm sorry Violet- I'm just not in the right state of mind to make a jump like that…" she said tearfully but Violet shook her head.

"It's okay, Karen," Violet said as she got to her feet. "I actually wanted your help to get me into another room." Before Violet could explain further the doorway was flooded with her family members.

"Did you see the news?! Holy shit, Vi, Buddy took on a missile!" Dash screamed as though he had just witnessed a college sporting event. "A freaking nuclear missile!"

Violet nodded as her mother hugged her and laughed. "I was wrong about you two- I didn't think you could be a good influence on him."

Violet smiled wider as her father joined the hug, his eyes focused on the television still, taking stock of the man that was loaded into the back of an ambulance. The act couldn't redeem him for killing his friends and peers, but Buddy had proved that he was capable of being something more than a monster.

Letting go of his family, Robert moved back towards the door to seek out the Colonel. President Rockefeller did owe Mr. Incredible a favor from way back when, and it would be hard to deny a call like this after Buddy saved countless people. He placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead and dragged Dash out of the room to find Colonel Griffin, hoping that he could surprise his little girl with an early wedding gift.

…

"You're a lucky man, Buddy Pine," came the voice of Tobias Freeman as he looked over the 3rd-degree burns on his ankles.

Laid up in the George Washington University hospital, Buddy still wasn't sure if Kim had gotten to the super first, or if his comment of the fancy brandy awarded him with the company of the Navy vet, but he was just glad to have the company.

"I'd argue it's everyone else here who's lucky," Buddy rasped as the Miracle Man laid his hands on him to heal the burns but relaxed as he felt his nerves cool. "We missed you the other night."

"Sorry about that man. I can always heal that cut on your girl's face once the stitches are out."

"Where were you?"

"Believe it or not. Mr. Popular, I had a date."

Buddy smirked and closed his eyes.

Dates.

God. He hadn't been on one of those since before Mirage showed up in his life. He wasn't necessarily missing the overpriced drinks and swarms of common people, but he did like the idea of seeing Violet dolled up a bit and on his arm.

"Anywhere nice?"

"Eh, just a little jazz club down on Georgia Ave. Shit man, are you sure you aren't a super?"

"Positive. Unless being stubborn is a gift," he said while imagining Violet sitting in the sultry lighting of a hole-in-the-wall music club. Cafes and book stores seemed more her speed but he could see her with a glass of red wine in her hand and a red silk slip dress on her body.

"You're lucky you didn't break something from that fall."

"I've got plenty of experience in that department," he mumbled back, recalling every crash landing he had prior to this day as his detention transport team made their way into the room. "We'll still be able to make that red-eye guys, I promise. Can you just give me a minute with my friend here?"

"Didn't you hear?" Powell shouted as he looked at the television that was shut off. Turning it on, the man scrolled through the channels until he landed on the image of President Rockefeller shaking the hand of Mr. Incredible.

"We're getting word from the White House now. The failed terrorist attack is now under investigation, but President Rockefeller has just pardoned Buddy Pine for his past crimes," stated News 12 anchor Jeff Long making the ginger man sit up in surprise.

"I have to get out of here," Buddy whispered as he moved to get out of the hospital bed but the healer just forced him back down.

"Hold it, can you at least act like you're in pain?" but Buddy shook his head. He was still feeling it, but right now he felt like he could run as fast and as far as The Speedster. He wanted to run all the way to Violet.

The door to the room opened again and seeing Mr. Incredible on the screen made Buddy hope that Violet was also in town but instead he was greeted by the only male Synner he knew.

"Colonel Griffin," Buddy greeted as the military man slapped his hand upon his still sore shoulder.

"Dr. Pine, you never cease to amaze me," the older man grinned before looking to the agents in the room. "I assume you have been called off, yes?"

"The Governor isn't happy," the California State Marshall stated. "But I'm not about to disobey the Commander in Chief."

The colonel nodded in approval as Buddy laid back in the bed and ran his hands over his face, unsure if he wanted to laugh or cry from the weight being lifted from his chest. He was free. No damn NSA collaring him or chair waiting for him. Sure, death threats were still likely but… he was going to have a life.

He was going to live.

And the first thing he was going to do, after Violet, was to take her out on a proper date. Dinner and a show- or maybe drinks in a New Orleans jazz club. Brunch at a cafe in Paris. Whatever she wanted. He just hoped no foolish Wonder Boy was trying to make a move on her at the Meet and Greet at The Eighth Wonder.

"I'm going to get the doctor to sign off on your care to be transferred to The Eighth Wonder, Dr. Pine. Sit tight, we'll be out of here soon."

Buddy nodded behind his palms and everyone but Tobias left the room. He only uncovered himself when the super began to chuckle like a kid with a secret.

"What?"

"Dr. Pine~ heh, I don't think I've ever seen a bigger suck-up in my life."

Buddy let out a cackle and shook his head.

"Yeah. He does go a little overboard, but he's the only one around here who respects my PhD," he threw back as the man beside him laughed, his corkscrew curls bouncing as he did.

"Fair enough, man. Fair enough. It's just so odd to me, seeing a full bird going full fanboy over a civvy."

Buddy's smile quickly faded as the words settled.

"Steer clear of windows and kill any birds that cross your path," Sibyl had warned. Those were her words.

"What did you call him?"

"Oh, full bird? It's what we call Captain's in the Navy, though he's Army right? That makes him a Colonel I think... They still get dubbed as full birds there too."

Buddy was ready to spring out of bed when the bedside phone rang. Tobias beat him to the phone and pressed it to his ear.

"Room 207, temporary home to Syndrome, hero of the year," the man jested with a wink. "Who may I ask is calling? Ahhh… Yeah, I'm taking real good care of your man. Sure thing I'll put him on," he said before handing off the phone. "It's for you."

Buddy took the phone and held it to his ear.

"H-hello?"

"You're a hero, Buddy," a happy and breathing Violet answered through the line and the tension in Buddy's shoulder's left. He was grinning from ear to ear at the words.

"... Can you say that again?" he asked, almost feeling guilty to receive the praise again but she repeated herself, softer this time and he wiped away the tears of joy that hung in his eyes.

"It's really good to hear your voice," Violet whispered into the line and Buddy nodded though it would be better to see her.

"Where are you?"

"I'm sticking it to the man," she said with a laugh inside of The Eighth Wonder's comms room. A secret mission that was achieved thanks to the help of Voyd. "I really can't wait to see Colonel Griffin's face when he sees that I got the cuff off. Thank you for that gift. I'll charish it forever."

Buddy nodded and swallowed. "Vi- Vi, can you come here? I need to see you."

"I'd love to, but I can't. I was going to take off in your jet but Dad and the colonel took it. Pretty sure Dash is with them too. But I have no doubt that your number one fan is going to take you back here and beg you to work for him."

Buddy turned his gaze to the door, expecting the military commander to be in the doorway listening in but the room was clear. Dread still filled him from Sibyl's warning.

"Violet, listen to me. I want you out of there-"

"Glad we are on the same page, Buddy," she smiled. He could hear it through the phone. "Though I think I need your permission to leave. Real dick move to ask the colonel to keep me under house arrest by the way."

Buddy felt his heart seize and he stood from the bed, holding the corded phone tighter to his face. He didn't do that. He wouldn't dream of making Violet stay somewhere she hated, especially when the place had terms that broke one of their old rules.

Before he wanted her to get out if only to live her life. Now he needed her out so she could keep it.

"Is Voyd still there?"

"Yeah," her own tone becoming more grave, reflecting Buddy's current temperament over the line. "She's right next to me actually. What's wrong Buddy?-"

"Just shut up and listen to me! I need you to round up all the supers and have Voyd get them out of there. I don't care where she takes you. I'll find you. I'll find you if I have to but you need to get everyone out of there, okay, Violet?"

Silence was all he got in response.

"Violet? Did you hear me? You have to get out. Violet?!"

He pulled the phone away as the dial tone rang out and he looked out the window. As the media associated him with words of power he felt like a helpless lad once again.

…

Violet stared at the phone in confusion as the line went dead. She tried to dial the number again but there wasn't even a dial-tone.

"What's up, V?"

Violet shook her head as she hung up the phone. "He wanted to know if you were still here."

Karen cast her eyes down to the floor, expecting another verbal berating. "I shouldn't have come here, huh?"

"No. No, I think he wanted your help with something," she said before looking at the computer monitors. The internal systems were still active as she could see the security cameras set up. It was just the external connections that were shot. "That's weird. Does He-Lectrix usually only manage to shut down half the power grid when he's nervous?"

"Tom? Oh, yeah, I mean he told me he used to knock out power by sneezing too hard, but he's been way better since he started wearing that NSA device."

"What device," Violet asked. She felt numb as she laid eyes on the sliced Super Antidote Device.

"You know, the one that Buddy made to help supers keep in check- the Super Transition Device? It could use a shorter name if you ask me," Karen said as she shrugged her shoulders but stopped while looking at the security cameras to see the aircraft landing pad bustling with activity.

And then Karen tensed when she saw the woman responsible for making her do some awful things.

"V-"

"I see her too," Violet said through gritted teeth as she stared at the clear image of Evelyn Deavor leading at least 100 Hyperion soldiers. Violet then turned her attention to the monitor that showed the rec floor where the meet and greet had already begun. Where her mother and baby brother were. Lucius, He-Lectrix, Calypso, and a dozen other supers across the country.

They didn't know trouble was coming, and it was going to be like shoot fish from a barrel.

"Karen- I need you to make a portal out of here."

"I can't."

I know you don't think you can do it, but you've done it before."

"I can't," Karen repeated as Violet took hold of her hand and squeezed it.

"You can," Violet said as she watched as the Hyperion soldiers all pile into different elevators. "You have to, Karen. You're the only one who can get us out of here."

Voyd bit a fingernail and nodded.

Giving a nod back, Violet looked to the screen that had her little brother talking to a group of supers. "I need you to send me down there first."

Voyd pulled up a portal to the rec area on the first try and Violet dove in to get ahead of the fray.