Bent Out of Shape
That night, there was a long line at a theater that features a musician called Stringer. Virgil, Ruby, Sharon, Richie, Allie, and Daisy were waiting in line until the woman pulled out a sign that says 'SOLD OUT.'
"Great. My first big concert and this has to happen." Virgil said angrily.
"I hate it when that happens." Allie said angrily.
"Hey, uh, maybe we could find an exit door and, uh..." Richie said as he got in between Virgil and Daisy.
"Richie." Daisy warned.
"We're not going to sneak in and risk getting caught." Ruby said sternly.
"Cool out! I got this covered." Sharon said.
"Oh, yeah? What can you do?" Richie asked.
"Not me. Stringer." Sharon said as she walked away.
"Sure. You and him are old pals." Virgil said.
"Yeah, Elvis gave me a ride in his spaceship once." Richie joked.
"Real funny." Allie said angrily.
"I believe you, Sharon." Daisy said.
"You go, cousin Sharon." Ruby said as she gave Sharon a thumbs up.
"So beautiful, so intelligent, and so gullible." Virgil said.
"Oh, you just wait, Virgil." Ruby said with a smirk as Sharon walked toward a guard.
Sharon took out a piece of paper and gave it to the guard.
"She doesn't need tickets. She got a little piece of paper." Virgil said with a smirk.
The guard looked at the paper and looked at Sharon for a minute.
"Here you go, Miss Hawkins. One VIP pass, plus guests." The guard said with a smile as he gave the VIP pass to Sharon.
Virgil had a shocked expression.
"Enjoy the show." The guard said.
"Coming?" Sharon asked with a smirk.
"How's that for gullible?" Ruby asked Virgil with a smirk as she, Allie, Richie, and Daisy walked away.
"Very funny." Virgil said with a deadpan expression as he followed his friends.
When they got inside, there were a lot of people talking. Virgil and Richie stopped and looked at the place while the girls followed Sharon.
"Now I understand how my mom feels when she started performing." Ruby said to Allie.
"Tell me about it." Allie said.
Virgil and Richie caught up with the girls as they walked toward a door. Sharon knocked on the door and revealed Stringer.
"Sharon!" Stringer said.
"Hey!" Sharon said as they both hugged each other.
Virgil and Richie looked at each other with confused expressions.
"I'm glad you came." Stringer said as they walked inside the room.
"I'm glad you asked me, Stringer." Sharon said.
"Whoa! Richie, check out the synth!" Virgil said as Sharon looked at him with an angry expression.
"My dad made me bring them. That's Daisy, Richie, Allie, and my cousin, Ruby." Sharon said.
"Hi!" Daisy said with a wave.
"Sup?" Richie said with a thumbs up.
"Hi, Stringer." Ruby said nicely with a smile.
"Hey." Allie said with a wave.
"Yo, Stringer!" Virgil said.
"And that's my brother, Virgil." Sharon said with her arms crossed.
"It's nice to see you again Ruby and Allie." Stringer said.
"You too, Stringer." Allie said.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Richie asked.
"Of course, Sharon introduced us to Stringer and we became good friends." Ruby explained.
"Sharon and Ruby's told me a lot about you, Virgil." Stringer said.
"I'll bet. They haven't said much about you, though." Virgil said.
"Well, we haven't really been dating that long. But I'm hoping to change that." Stringer said.
"And me and Ruby just met him recently, so we didn't really know much about him." Allie said.
Ruby and Allie walked with Stringer and Sharon.
"After the show, why don't I take you guys to dinner?" Stringer asked.
"Sounds great. But how about we ditch my brother and his friends and just have my cousin and Allie join us?" Sharon asked.
"I don't mind them. And Virgil doesn't seem nearly as bad as you said he was." Stringer said.
"He's worse. But that's not the point. I want to spend some time alone with you. You're such a mystery." Sharon said.
"There's no mystery. I'm my music. It's all that matters." Stringer said.
"But-" Sharon tried to say something but was interrupted by an employee.
"Mr. Stringer, two minutes." The employee said.
"On my way. Why don't you guys find your seats? I'll see you after the show." Stringer said as he walked away.
While Sharon and Daisy walked away, Virgil, Ruby, Richie, and Allie saw a table of food.
"Yo, guys, look! A table full of free food." Richie said.
"And it looks lonely! We'd better go keep it company." Virgil said.
"Do you girls want some?" Richie asked Ruby and Allie.
"Sure, I'm starving." Allie said.
"Me too. After all, it is free." Ruby said as they dig in.
Meanwhile, at the stage, Stringer was playing on his keyboard as Mario walked toward him.
"Stringer, I'm worried about the fireworks." Mario said.
"Why? We've never had a problem before." Stringer said.
"But we've never done them on a stage this small. It could be dangerous." Mario said.
"Look, my fans deserve a full show. I'm not cutting anything." Stringer argued.
"What if we-" Mario tried to explain but was interrupted by Stringer.
"You worry too much, Mario. Nothing's gonna happen." Stringer said as he walked toward the stage.
'Y'all ready? Stringer in the house!' The male announcer yelled.
However, they were unaware that Virgil, Ruby, Richie, and Allie overheard their argument while they were eating. While Virgil and Richie were eating sub sandwiches, Ruby and Allie were drinking a soda as they looked at each other.
The crowd cheered as Stringer began playing his keyboard. Ruby and Allie held their hands in the air with Daisy and Sharon while Virgil and Richie watch Stringer play with smiles on their faces. While Stringer was playing, he looked at Mario with a stern expression. Mario pushed a button on the control panel as the fireworks went off. The crowd cheered as Stringer looked at the crowd with a proud smile. However, the curtains on top were set on fire as the crowd started screaming. Stringer looked up and noticed the fire. He ran away as the fire spread to the entire stage with the crowd trying to get out.
"They're all trying to get through at once! We'll never get out in time!" Daisy yelled.
Virgil and Ruby decided to try to get to the stage and find a place to change into their superhero costumes.
However, they struggled because of all the people trying to get out.
"Come on, people. Let us through!" Virgil said as they tried to get through the crowd.
Virgil lit his finger with purple electricity and ran through the crowd with ease. While Ruby surrounded herself in a magnetic field and pushed away the crowd to help her get to the stage.
"Excuse me. Sorry." Ruby said as she ran through the crowd while they felt like they were being pushed away from her.
Virgil and Ruby got to the stage as they saw the fire. They hid behind a giant speaker as their shirts flew off with Static and Magnetta flying out of their hiding spot.
"Listen, you all have to calm down and...Whoa!" Richie yelled as he fell to the ground.
"It's no use, Richie. They're just too scared to listen." Allie said as Static and Magnetta flew over the crowd.
Static and Magnetta fired a purple electric bolt and a white magnetic ray at the wall and created two giant holes.
"Alright. Everyone walk out quickly but calmly." Magnetta said as the crowd turned around and ran outside through the holes.
"Or that." Static said.
"Those people must be very scared." Magnetta said as the crowd got out of the building.
A few minutes later, the firefighters arrived as Static and Magnetta brought four people out of the building.
"This is the last of them." Magnetta said.
"Good work, Static, and Magnetta. Thanks." The firefighter said.
"Hey, you guys put out the fire. We just..." Static said but was interrupted when they heard Stringer's voice.
"I'm just glad no one got hurt." Stringer said.
"Excuse us." Magnetta said as she and Static walked away.
"You sure you're okay, Sharon?" Stringer asked in concern as Static and Magnetta walked toward him and Sharon.
Sharon turned around to see Static and Magnetta standing in front of her and Stringer.
"Static! Magnetta! Looks like you did it again!" Sharon yelled with a smile.
"Wouldn't have needed to if it hadn't been for him." Static said angrily as he looked at Stringer.
"What's he talking about?" Sharon asked Stringer.
"I have no idea." Stringer lied.
"This fire was your fault and you know it." Static said angrily as he pointed his finger at Stringer.
"What?" Sharon asked with a shocked expression.
"He was warned about the fireworks, but he didn't listen, and just did it anyway." Magnetta said as she and Static walked toward Stringer.
"Now's not the time for this. Come on, Sharon." Stringer said as he and Sharon walked away.
"You're not going anywhere." Static said as he grabbed Stringer's hand.
However, when he pulled Stringer's hand, it stretched. Magnetta gasped as she covered her mouth with her hands.
"Stringer?" Sharon asked.
"Try Rubberband Man!" Static said.
"I was afraid to tell you, Sharon. I-I'm sorry." 'Stringer' said as Sharon looked down.
"I can't believe you were Stringer this whole time. I should've known since you can alter your appearance with your powers." Magnetta said.
"Nice apology, but it's not enough! We're taking you back to prison." Static said.
"I'm not going anywhere! Especially not with you two!" 'Stringer' yelled as he turned around and pointed his finger at Static and Magnetta.
"I had everything going for me this time and you both ruined it! Again!" 'Stringer' yelled as he changed back to Rubberband Man.
Rubberband Man slammed his hands on Static and Magnetta as they hit the floor. Static and Magnetta struggled to get up until they channeled their electric and magnetic powers at Rubberband Man, forcing him to let go.
"We didn't ruin anything. You did it to yourself. This wouldn't have happened if you didn't let your anger get the best of you when DJ Rock stole your music." Magnetta said as she tried to reason with Rubberband Man until he turned around and saw a couple of police officers.
"We'll finish this later, Shock Jock and Gravi-Toid." Rubberband Man said as he flatten his body and went through the sewer drain.
Static and Magnetta ran toward the sewer drain as they saw Rubberband Man escape.
'And next time, I'm gonna show everyone who you both are just like you did to me.' Rubberband Man said through the sewer drain.
Static and Magnetta gasped as they looked at Sharon.
The next morning, Virgil and Ruby walked downstairs as the telephone rang from the kitchen.
"What the?" Ruby said as they looked through the window and saw news reporters outside the house.
They were talking about Rubberband Man dating Sharon. The news about Rubberband Man in Dakota has spread like wildfire after last night, especially about him dating the daughter of the director of the Community Center, Robert.
"Reportedly, Rubberband Man has been dating the daughter of community center director, Robert Hawkins." A female news reporter said as Virgil and Ruby walked toward the window and saw the news reporters.
However, the female news reporter saw Virgil and Ruby.
"Wait! Someone's at the window!" The female news reporter said as she and the news reporters ran toward the window.
Until Virgil closed the curtains.
"Like vultures!" Virgil said angrily.
"And I thought Frieda was always nosey." Ruby said with an annoyed expression.
Meanwhile, Sharon and Robert were in the kitchen with Sharon sitting in a chair with a sad expression while Robert was on the phone with an angry expression as he was getting calls about his daughter dating Rubberband Man.
"No, Sharon Hawkins doesn't want to be interviewed on your TV show. And no, she doesn't know where Rubberband Man is." Robert said angrily through the phone as he slammed the phone.
However, the phone rang again as Robert angrily unplugged the phone.
"We'll just leave like that for a while." Robert said.
"What'd I do to deserve all this, daddy?" Sharon asked.
"What'd you do? You were dating the star of America's Most Wanted." Virgil said as he and Ruby entered the kitchen.
"Virgil!" Robert and Ruby said angrily.
"Stringer's not a criminal! He's not!" Sharon yelled.
"Then he does a pretty good imitation of one. Like when he tried to shakedown that music producer for the money he owed him. Or when he fought Static and Magnetta or when..." Virgil said.
However as he kept talking, tears formed in Sharon's eyes as she started crying. She ran out the door sobbing as Ruby felt bad for Sharon. She felt her heart break to see her older cousin cry after what happened last night.
"I'll talk to you about this later." Robert said angrily as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Way to go, Virgil, for making Sharon cry." Ruby said with a hint of anger.
Meanwhile, Static and Magnetta were flying around the city while talking to Richie and Allie with their Shock Vox and Solar Poles.
"How was I supposed to know she liked him so much?" Static said in his Shock Vox.
"I did." Magnetta said angrily.
Richie and Allie were seen walking through the sidewalk with their Shock Vox and Solar Pole.
"(Sigh) Chicks, man." Richie said in his Shock Vox.
"You know I'm right here and Magnetta can hear you, right?" Allie said angrily.
"Uh, no offense." Richie said nervously.
"None taken." Magnetta said through Allie's Solar Pole.
"Think the feeling's mutual?" Richie asked in his Shock Vox.
"You were there. You saw. No accounting for taste. Problem is, we got to stop him before he causes any trouble." Static said in his Shock Vox as he and Magnetta stopped and hovered in the sky.
"However, if we do something like that, we'll end up hurting Sharon. And we don't want that to happen." Magnetta said in her Solar Pole.
However, they were unaware that Rubberband Man was disguised as a satellite dish on the side of an old apartment.
"So, what are you guys going to do?" Allie asked in her Solar Pole.
"I don't know. But one thing we do know, he's nowhere around here. So we're gonna quit looking for now." Static said in his Shock Vox as he and Magnetta flew passed the apartment Rubberband Man was on.
Rubberband Man turned around and watched Static and Magnetta.
"Got you, you low-watt and magnetite losers." Rubberband Man said as he went after them.
Static and Magnetta flew over the city as Rubberband Man formed into a ball and bounced after them from building to building. Static and Magnetta flew toward an alley and landed on the ground. They were about to take off their masks. Until they heard a crash as they turned around. They saw a purple trashcan laying next to two other trashcans.
"Hmm." Static said as he grabbed a pipe.
'That purple and gray pattern looks familiar. It must be Rubberband Man in disguise.' Magnetta thought.
Static walked toward the purple trashcan and hit the pipe on it. Magnetta opened the lid to look inside but didn't see anything as she closed the lid. They turned around until they heard a stretch sound as Rubberband Man's eyes appeared. Static and Magnetta turned back as Rubberband Man's eyes disappeared. They walked away as Static threw the pipe away. Rubberband Man's eyes appeared as he looked at Static and Magnetta. Until he saw a dog walking toward him as his eyes widened. The dog sniffed at Rubberband Man and was about to pee on him as his eyes widened. Static and Magnetta were about to take off their masks. Until they heard Rubberband Man.
"Hey! Get away! Get away!" Rubberband Man whispered as the dog growled.
They turned around and gasped as they saw the dog biting on Rubberband Man's leg.
"I knew it!" Magnetta yelled.
Rubberband Man looked at Static and Magnetta as he turned back to normal and tried to grab them, but missed. Static fired a purple electric bolt at a trash can and trapped Rubberband Man inside. Magnetta held her hand at a trash can lid as they both glowed white. Magnetta lifted the trash can lid into the air as she reshaped it into a giant horseshoe and planted it on the ground to prevent Rubberband Man from lifting the trash can off of him.
"And once again, good triumphs over evil..." Static said as he sat on top of the trash can while Magnetta stood next to him.
"...because evil has rubber bands for brains." Static finished.
However, Rubberband Man's hands slid through the trash can as Magnetta saw his hands.
"Uh, Static." Magnetta said as she tried to warn her cousin. But, he wasn't listening.
"I just want you to know there's no hard feel-" Static said as he was interrupted when Rubberband Man grabbed both him and Magnetta.
"-ings!" Static yelled as Rubberband Man threw him and Magnetta into a dumpster.
Rubberband Man took the horseshoe off the ground and got out of the trash can as he went toward the dumpster Static and Magnetta were in.
"I said I'd find out who you two are." Rubberband Man said as he opened the dumpster lid.
He looked through the dumpster as he pulled out Static and Magnetta's masks.
"My mask!" Static and Magnetta yelled as Rubberband Man dropped their masks on the ground.
"Now let's see what's under mask number one!" Rubberband Man said as he felt something through the dumpster.
He pulled out Magnetta and was shocked to see that it was none other than Sharon's cousin, Ruby Hawkins.
"(Gasp) Ruby?" Rubberband Man asked in shock.
"Yep, that's me." Ruby said with a nervous smile.
"Wait, I've heard that Magnetta is mentioned to be Static's cousin. If you're Magnetta, does that mean Static is Virgil Hawkins?" Rubberband Man asked.
"Yep." Ruby answered.
"Ruby!" Virgil yelled angrily through the dumpster.
"What? I can't just lie to him when that theory sounds so obvious." Ruby said.
Then, Rubberband Man felt something as he was pulled away and let go of Ruby. She fell inside the dumpster as the lid closed. Rubberband Man looked back and saw that Onyx grabbed him by his legs. Onyx spun Rubberband Man around and threw him at a puddle on the ground. Virgil and Ruby felt the dumpster being lifted off the ground as Rubberband Man looked up. Onyx threw the dumpster at Rubberband Man until he turned his body into a tarp and flung the dumpster at Onyx as he fell into the ground with Puff standing next to him.
"The pretty ones are never very bright." Puff said with her arms crossed as Onyx groaned.
'Hey, most of the boys at school think I'm beautiful and I get good grades in all my classes!' Ruby thought.
Ruby may be considered to be the most beautiful girl in Dakota Union High along with Frieda, but she's also a brilliant student who gets straight A's.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Rubberband Man asked angrily as he pointed his finger at Puff.
"Name's Puff! Mr. Sleepy over there goes by the name of Onyx. And what we want...is you." Puff said.
"Bounty hunters, huh? Good luck." Rubberband Man said as he stretched his neck toward Puff.
"You don't want to make this easy? No problem." Puff said as she blew a puff of purple gas at Rubberband Man.
Rubberband Man dodged the gas and when he saw it touch the wall it melted and made a big hole in the wall. He looked at the hole and back at Puff as Onyx lift the dumpster off him and threw it away. Onyx walked toward Rubberband Man as the dumpster lid was open. Virgil and Ruby got out of the pile and gasped when they saw Onyx charge toward Rubberband Man.
"There's got to be something in here I can use for a mask." Virgil said as he looked through the dumpster.
"You do that, while I'll get my 'real' mask." Ruby said as she held out her hand with her hand glowing white.
"Good luck with that." Virgil said.
However, he saw Ruby's mask coming toward Ruby as it glowed white. She grabbed her mask as her hand and mask stopped glowing.
"You were saying?" Ruby asked with a smirk.
"Lucky." Virgil said.
Onyx tried to punch Rubberband Man but jumped out of the way as Onyx fell inside the hole and ended up making the hole bigger.
Rubberband Man bent his body and wall jumped out of the alley with his legs turned into a spring as Puff and Onyx watch him leave.
"Leave him be!" Static yelled as Puff and Onyx turned around and saw him and Magnetta hovering in front of them.
"You're dealing with us now!" Magnetta yelled with her mask back on while Static was wearing a blue bandana that covered his mouth.
"Well, howdy, partners. Looking to rustle up some trouble?" Puff said.
"Your call, lady." Static said.
Puff blew a puff of purple gas at the trash can lid Static was riding on as it broke into pieces.
"You just had to say it." Magnetta said with an annoyed tone as Static fell to the ground.
Puff walked toward Static until Magnetta landed in front of her.
"Not so fast, Smokey. If you want to hurt Static, you're gonna have to go through me." Magnetta said as she held her hands to the side.
"Brave words for a pretty girl. You know, your cousin's lucky he's such a cutie. Otherwise, I'd leave you two to Onyx." Puff said as she jerked her thumb at Onyx.
"Let's get out of here. I think I know where Strech is heading." Puff said as she and Onyx walked away.
"Not if I get there first." Magnetta said as she flew away.
"Sorry, Static. But, I can't risk having Puff and Onyx catching Rubberband Man if we're too late." Magnetta said as Static fell unconscious.
Magnetta flew inside an abandoned building and changed into her normal clothes as she walked outside. She got to Virgil's house and into her room. When she got to her room, she grabbed her Solar Pole to call Allie.
"Allie, do you read me?" Ruby asked in her Solar Pole.
'Loud and clear. What is it?' Allie said through Ruby's Solar Pole.
"We've got a problem. Two bounty hunters named Puff and Onyx are after Rubberband Man. And they're Bang Babies." Ruby said in her Solar Pole.
'Uh oh. That can't be good.' Allie said through Ruby's Solar Pole.
"It sure isn't. We got to stop them before they catch him. And I think he might be coming here to see Sharon again." Ruby said in her Solar Pole.
'Of course. He knows where you and Sharon live, so he might come to your Uncle's house to see her again.' Allie said through Ruby's Solar Pole.
"That's why I need you to come here right away before Puff and Onyx find out where he is." Ruby said in her Solar Pole.
Allie was sitting on her bed as she listened to Ruby's conversation.
"Don't worry, I'll get there as fast as I can. But, I might be late since I have to see how Derek is doing in the hospital." Allie said in her Solar Pole.
'It's okay, just don't be late when Rubberband Man gets here.' Ruby said through Allie's Solar Pole.
"No problem." Allie said in her Solar Pole.
'Good. I'll see you later.' Ruby said through Allie's Solar Pole.
"You too. Bye." Allie said in her Solar Pole as she hung up.
That night, Ruby was sitting on the couch reading a book about Newton's Law of Gravity while waiting for Allie. Ruby heard the doorbell as she got up and walked toward the door. She opened the door and Allie standing in front of her.
"Am I too late?" Allie asked.
"No, you're just in time." Ruby said as Allie walked inside.
"Phew, good. I wasn't sure if I would be here on time." Allie said.
"Well, you made it." Ruby said.
"How's Sharon?" Allie asked.
"She's still really sad about what happened last night. I was hoping you could come with me to help me cheer her up." Ruby explained.
"Of course. Let's go." Allie said as she and Ruby headed upstairs.
When they got upstairs, they saw Robert.
"Oh, hi Mr. Hawkins." Allie said.
"Hi, Allie. Are you girls heading to Sharon's room?" Robert asked.
"Yes, we were." Ruby said.
"I thought so. She'll need all the support she needs." Robert said.
"She sure does. Let's go see how she's doing." Ruby said as they walked toward Sharon's room.
Sharon was sitting on her bed with a sad expression as she looked at a picture of Stringer with his autograph that says 'To Sharon .. ALL MY LOVE 5'. She sighed as Ruby opened the door.
"Hey, Sharon. We were just checking in to see how you're doing." Ruby said.
"I hope you're feeling better, honey." Robert said.
"Daddy, I just know deep down that Stringer's not a bad person." Sharon said.
"That might be true, but he's still running from the law." Robert said as he, Ruby, and Allie sat next to her.
While Robert sat at Sharon's left, Ruby and Allie sat at Sharon's right.
"Well, I'm sure he has a good reason." Sharon said.
"Maybe. But that doesn't excuse him from doing his time." Robert said as he kissed Sharon's forehead, got up, and walked out of Sharon's room.
"It's okay, Sharon. I believe you about Stringer being a good person." Ruby said as she put her hand on Sharon's shoulder.
"Thanks, Ruby." Sharon said with a smile.
"I know that there's still good in him. He was just blinded by anger when he went after Ice Pack and DJ Rock." Ruby said as Rubberband Man looked through Sharon's window and overheard what Ruby was saying.
"But, we're sure that he must be regretting what he did that night." Allie said.
"At least you girls understand me, unlike Virgil and Daddy." Sharon said.
Rubberband Man couldn't believe that Sharon's cousin was also a Bang Baby like him. But, he saw that she wasn't like Virgil who only saw him as a criminal. He slid through the slightly cracked window and entered Sharon's room.
Sharon, Ruby, and Allie turned around and gasped when they saw Rubberband Man as they got up.
"It's me, girls. Don't be scared." Rubberband Man said as he changed into Stringer.
"Scared? What I ought to be is mad." Sharon said.
"I understand. I should have told you the truth. Including your cousin and her friend. But I didn't want to take the chance." Stringer said.
"Why is that?" Allie asked.
"You see, these last few months of freedom doing my music, meeting Sharon has been the best time of my life. I didn't want it to end." Stringer explained.
"I understand. I could see that you wanted a second chance and want to reform after what you did last time." Ruby said.
"But now, I've got to leave town. Maybe forever." Stringer said sadly.
"What?" Ruby asked sadly.
"Are you serious?" Allie asked.
"That's crazy. You should stay and finish your time. It's only a few more months and it's the only way you can ever have a real life again. With or without me." Sharon said.
"I can't. The reason I broke out was because I was scared. It's rough in prison. Especially if you're a metahuman. Everyone's against you." Stringer explained.
"I know someone who feels that way, my boyfriend. When he turned into a Bang Baby, he was scared because he felt like he was a freak and that me or his mom wouldn't love him anymore. Everyone was afraid of him because he was a Bang Baby when he was just scared of his powers and what he became. He didn't know what to do and didn't want anyone to see him as a metahuman. But, Magnetta and I helped him by telling him that he's still him on the inside and that me and his mom will always love him no matter who he is." Allie explained.
"That's different. Your boyfriend wasn't taken to prison like me. Besides, there's no easy way out of this. And there's nobody I can trust, either." Stringer said sadly with his head down as Sharon turned him around to look at her.
"Maybe there is someone." Sharon said.
However, they were unaware that Onyx was overhearing their conversation in a van.
'Who?' Rubberband Man asked through the radio.
'My father.' Sharon answered through the radio.
'You sure he'll be able to help us?' Ruby asked through the radio.
'Of course.' Sharon said through the radio.
Onyx was inside the van talking to Puff on the phone.
"Puff, good thing we borrowed this truck." Onyx said on a cell phone.
'You see him?' Puff asked through the phone.
"Yeah, you were right. Rubberband Man finally showed up." Onyx said as he looked at the tv screen that showed Sharon, Stringer, Ruby, and Allie standing in front of the window.
Robert was in his office when he got a call from Sharon who told him where Rubberband Man is with Ruby joining her in the conversation.
"Rubberband Man is where?" Robert asked with a shocked expression.
'Now, daddy, you promised you wouldn't get made.' Sharon said through the phone.
"That was before you told me." Robert said angrily.
"You promised!" Sharon yelled as Stringer leaned toward the phone with his ear stretched big so he can listen to the conversation.
Ruby stood next to Sharon while Allie stood next to Stringer.
"Sharon!" Robert yelled.
"Please, Uncle Robert? He has no one else to turn to. You have to help him or else he'll end up running away from Dakota forever." Ruby begged.
"(Groan) Alright. There's someone I know. A policeman, Captain Fitz. I'll talk to him, see if he can do anything." Robert said.
"You'll do that? Thank you! Oh, thank you!" Sharon said excitedly as Ruby, Allie, and Stringer smiled.
'But, Sharon and Ruby, remember, whatever happens, your friend's gonna have to give himself up peacefully, understand?' Robert asked.
Stringer sighed as he closed his eyes. Sharon, Ruby, and Allie looked at him for a second as he nodded yes.
"Don't worry, Uncle Robert. We understand." Ruby said.
"Won't be a problem." Sharon said.
"Good. I'll go talk to Captain Fitz." Robert said as he hung up and walked away.
However, inside the van, Onyx overheard their conversation through a pair of headphones with Puff sitting next to him while reading a newspaper.
"He's gonna turn himself in to the cops. There goes our reward." Onyx said as he took off the headphones.
Puff thought for a minute and smirked as she had an idea.
"Not necessarily." Puff said with a smirk as Onyx looked at her with a confused expression.
Meanwhile, Virgil and Richie were walking through the sidewalk on their way to Virgil's house as he explained what he went through that day.
"And it took me a whole hour to find my flying disk. Then I had to buy the stuff to make another mask which cost me my last 15 bucks." Virgil explained.
"Sounds rough." Richie said.
"That's not the half of it. I was afraid Rubberband Man might still be following, so I went all the way uptown and changed into my street clothes underneath a freeway overpass." Virgil finished.
"Harsh." Richie said as they made it to Virgil's house.
"What about Ruby?" Richie asked.
"She left because she didn't want those bounty hunters finding Rubberband Man before we do. And I still can't believe she confessed about my secret identity after he found out about hers." Virgil explained with a hint of anger.
"Well, he did find out your cousin's identity and figured out yours on his own with a little help from her." Richie said.
"I guess." Virgil said as they walked toward the front door.
In the kitchen, Stringer was explaining to the girls about the firework incident last night as they listened.
"So I never thought the fireworks would cause a problem. I can't believe I was so stupid." Stringer explained.
"Hmm, you've been stupid about something else, too. Static and Magnetta." Sharon said.
Despite Rubberband Man knowing Static and Magnetta's secret identities, he was still mad at them.
"Static and Magnetta? Those little..." Stringer said angrily but was interrupted by Sharon.
"Uh-un. Forget that." Sharon said.
"But..." Stringer said as he tried to say something, but couldn't.
"Listen, Stringer. You've made some good points, but not your temper." Allie said.
"I just don't like to be dissed." Stringer said.
"Let me put it to you this way. You want to keep seeing me, you better put that behind you." Sharon said.
"She's right. You need to put your past behind you and learn to control your temper. If you can do that, you won't be seen as a villain." Ruby explained until they heard the front door open.
"And the worst part is, now I've got to face my sister." Virgil said.
"It's my brother and his friend, they'll call the cops before my dad can set up the deal." Sharon said.
"Then we better do something, quick." Ruby said as Stringer changed to Rubberband Man and lowered his body to the floor.
Sharon turned around as she, Ruby, and Allie saw Virgil and Richie open the door and walked inside.
"Sharon..." Virgil said.
"I can explain." Sharon said with her hands up.
"Explain what?" Virgil asked.
"Well..." Sharon said as she tried to say something until she turned around and saw Rubberband Man disguised as a vacuum cleaner.
Ruby and Allie also saw the 'vacuum cleaner' as they decided to play along.
"Look, you don't have to explain anything. I owe you an apology for being such a jerk." Virgil said.
"No problem." Sharon said as she grabbed the 'vacuum cleaner.'
"It's okay, Allie and I talked with her and told her that you didn't mean it. So she accepts your apology." Ruby said.
"Listen. I've got to put away this...vacuum now." Sharon said as she struggled with pulling the 'vacuum cleaner.'
"Let me do that." Virgil said.
"No!" Allie yelled as she blocked Virgil's hands with her arms.
"I mean, Ruby and I can help her." Allie said with a smile as she and Ruby grabbed each side of the 'vacuum cleaner.'
Sharon, Ruby, and Allie pulled the 'vacuum cleaner' out of the kitchen as Virgil and Richie watched them leave.
"Looks like she forgives you, bro." Richie said.
"Way too easy. And it looks like something's up with Ruby and Allie." Virgil said.
Sharon, Ruby, and Allie dragged the 'vacuum cleaner' into the living room and stopped at the side of the staircase as Rubberband Man changed back.
Ruby and Allie didn't have a problem with the 'vacuum cleaner,' since they've been working out since they were kids. Allie started working out when she was in Middle School along with running and lifting weights. While Ruby has been working out since Elementary School for playing a lot of sports, even before her parents died.
"You couldn't turn into a vacuum with wheels?" Sharon asked as she rubbed her arm.
"Wheels are hard." Rubberband Man said.
"Hmm, maybe I can train you on how to turn into objects with wheels." Ruby said.
"I gotta talk to her." Virgil said as Sharon, Ruby, Allie, and Rubberband Man saw him and Richie walk out of the kitchen.
"Sharon, I...What happened to the vacuum cleaner?" Virgil asked as Sharon, Ruby, and Allie stood next to the couch.
"Oh, we put it away in the closet." Allie said.
"Oh." Virgil said until he saw something.
"When'd we get that?" Virgil said as he pointed his finger at Rubberband Man disguised as a sofa.
Sharon, Ruby, and Allie turned around as they saw the 'sofa.'
"Oh, um, dad bought it. I-it just came today." Sharon said.
"Dibs!" Virgil yelled.
"Uh, Virgil, I wouldn't sit there if I were you!" Ruby said in fear as she held out her hand.
But it was too late as Virgil jumped on the 'sofa.'
"It's all lumpy." Virgil said as he elbowed the headrest.
"Oof!" Rubberband Man said in pain.
"What?" Virgil asked.
"Aah!" Virgil screamed as he got off and saw the 'sofa' turn into Rubberband Man.
"Rubberband Man?" Virgil asked in shock.
"We're helping him." Ruby said as she, Sharon, and Allie got in front of Virgil with their arms spread out.
"I care about him, like it or not." Sharon said.
"Not! Definitely not!" Virgil yelled angrily.
"Oh, just relax!" Allie yelled as they heard the doorbell ring.
"Hold everything." Sharon said as she walked toward the door.
Rubberband Man shifted back into a sofa.
"Don't sit on me again." Rubberband Man said to Virgil with a warning tone.
When Sharon opened the door, she saw Puff wearing police officer attire.
"I'm from Captain Fitz's office." Puff said.
"Right, just a moment." Sharon said as Virgil and Ruby walked toward the door.
"Puff." Virgil and Ruby said as they recognized her.
'She must've overheard our conversation with Uncle Robert so she and Onyx can capture Rubberband Man.' Ruby thought.
"We already got our tickets to the policemen's ball, officer." Virgil said.
"Sorry for the inconvenience. Have a good night, ma'am." Ruby said as she closed the door.
"Virgil? Ruby? What are you two doing?" Sharon asked angrily.
"Well, w-we're not supposed to let strangers in the house." Virgil said.
"She's not a stranger. She's a police officer." Sharon said until Onyx punched through the door as Sharon, Virgil, and Ruby backed away.
"You sure about that?" Richie asked as Onyx smashed a giant hole and grabbed Sharon.
"Let go of me!" Sharon yelled as she struggled to get out.
Puff walked inside and took off her disguise with her gas powers.
"Okay, Rubberband Man, we know you're in here. Come on out or your girlfriend's not gonna be too happy." Puff said out loud.
"Don't do it, Stringer!" Sharon yelled.
Unfortunately, Rubberband Man turned back and walked toward Puff and Onyx.
"Let her go!" Rubberband Man said as he got into a fighting stance.
"Smart boy. Hmm. I like that." Puff said as Onyx let go of Sharon.
Both walked toward Rubberband Man until Virgil shot a purple electric bolt from his finger at a lightbulb as the lights went out.
"What's going on?" Puff asked as Rubberband Man went under Onyx.
"Hey!" Onyx yelled as Rubberband Man grabbed Sharon.
Rubberband Man got out of the house and ran away while carrying Sharon. Puff and Onyx ran outside and into the van, they stole and drove after Rubberband Man. While Static and Magnetta flew out of the house with Richie and Allie running after them.
"Lock up after us." Static said as he and Magnetta flew after Rubberband Man, Puff, and Onyx.
"Yo!" Richie said as he waved goodbye.
Richie and Allie walked toward the front door and saw the giant hole Onyx punched through.
"Lock up?" Richie asked as a piece of the doorway fell off.
"Now that will be difficult." Allie said.
Rubberband Man stretched to the roof of a building and put Sharon down.
"You should be safe here. I'll try to lead them away from you." Rubberband Man said as he stood in front of Sharon and stretched his body to look back.
"Stringer, be careful." Sharon said with concern.
"I will. Now that I finally got a reason." Rubberband Man said as he put his finger under Sharon's chin and looked at her for a second.
He turned around, formed into a ball, and was about to bounce off the roof. But stopped when he saw Puff floating in front of her with her legs turned into a tail of purple gas.
"Almost lost track of you for a minute there." Puff said as she blew a puff of purple gas at Rubberband Man.
Rubberband Man coughed when the gas hit him as he bounced on the roof multiple times while Puff flew behind Sharon.
"It's not always acid. Sometimes, it's knockout gas. Depends on my mood." Puff said as Rubberband Man groaned.
He got up and fell off the roof with Puff landing on where Rubberband Man was standing as she watched him fall. However, instead of falling straight down, he bounced off the bleachers a few times. Rubberband Man tried to get up as he saw Onyx run up the bleachers. However, when he got close to Rubberband Man, a purple electric bolt and white magnetic ray were fired in front of them and made a hole in the bleachers as they fell down. Static and Magnetta flew toward the bleachers as they looked through the hole to see Onyx and Rubberband Man unconscious before flying toward Puff.
"Miss us?" Static asked.
"Yeah, but my aim's improving." Puff said as she tried to blow a puff of purple gas at Static and Magnetta.
However, Static and Magnetta dodged the gas as Static stuck out his tongue.
"Improved, huh? I can aim my magnet rays better than you." Magnetta taunted her as she and Static flew toward the bleachers with Puff flying after them.
Static and Magnetta flew under the bleachers as Puff landed next to the hole and looked around.
"I see London. I see France." Static said as Puff looked through the hole to see Static and Magnetta hovering over the ground.
"I see India. I see China." Magnetta said as she and Static flew away.
Puff jumped under the bleachers and crawled over Onyx as she saw Static and Magnetta hovering in front of her. Puff blew puffs of purple gas at Static and Magnetta as they flew away, letting the gas burn off most of the support beams.
"You can't keep this up all night." Puff said.
"We don't have to. You just made our job easier by doing the work for us." Magnetta said with a smile.
"Besides, we're almost out of support beams." Static said.
"Huh?" Puff wondered.
"Pretty ones are never very bright." Static said as he saw Magnetta looking at him with a stern expression.
"Except you, Magnetta." Static said quickly as Magnetta smiled.
They looked up as the bleachers collapsed on Puff with smoke coming out. Sharon ran toward a ladder and climbed down. Static and Magnetta flew out of the bleachers surrounded by a purple electric aura and a white magnetic field as Rubberband Man got out and got in front of Static and Magnetta with an angry expression.
"I still got an account to settle with you, Static, and Magnetta." Rubberband Man as he got in front of Static's face.
"Ready any time you are, Putty Man." Static said.
"Boys, can we settle this later?" Magnetta asked calmly holding her hands out in front of Static and Rubberband Man as they looked at her.
"NO!" Static and Rubberband Man yelled as they looked at each other with angry expressions.
"Stringer!" Sharon yelled as she ran toward them.
She looked at Rubberband Man with a concerned expression while panting as Static, Magnetta, and Rubberband Man looked at her. Rubberband Man looked down with a sad expression as he looked at Static and Magnetta.
"See, Adam, you need to stop getting revenge on us and put your past behind you if you want to start over and be with Sharon. Isn't that what you've wanted?" Magnetta explained.
"You're right, Magnetta. I suppose we could put that account on hold for a while." Rubberband Man said as Static and Magnetta smiled.
They turned around as they heard groaning and saw Puff crawling out of the collapsed bleachers.
"Guess we should dig those two out, huh?" Rubberband Man asked.
"Well, that's how the good guys do things." Static said as he, Magnetta, and Rubberband Man went after Puff and Onyx.
Sharon looked at them with a smile as she was proud of Rubberband Man.
A few minutes later, Puff and Onyx were arrested and Rubberband Man gave himself up, peacefully. Virgil, Ruby, and Sharon waited at the Police Station as Robert walked outside.
"Captain Fitz came through. They're gonna put Rubberband Man in a safer prison." Robert said as he walked down the stairs.
"If his behavior's good, he'll be out and making music again in a matter of months." Robert said.
"Isn't this exciting?" Sharon asked as she hugged her little brother and cousin.
"Oh, yeah. I'm bouncing off the walls." Virgil said sarcastically.
"It sure is. I'm sure he'll enjoy his new life in no time once he's released." Ruby said with a smile.
'But, now he knows mine and Virgil's secret identity. I sure hope he doesn't tell everyone who we really are. But, until then. I'll miss seeing him again.' Ruby thought.
Sorry if this took too long. I had a lot of work to do at school and took some breaks after that. I've only got 5 more chapters to go with the next one being an OC chapter. I sure hope I can finish Season 1 before 2023 begins. Anyway, Rubberband Man now knows Static and Magnetta's secret identities. There will be a lot more people who will know their secret identities in the future. Please Review.