E led Harlan downstairs to his secret lab, the latter toting Jackie along in his arms.
"This project has completely confiscated my life… consumed me as only hero work can," E said with his usual enthusiasm. "My best work, I must admit. Simple. Elegant, yet bold. You will die. I did Roberta's suit and it turned out so beautiful I just had to continue!"
"E," Harlan said, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I just –"
"Yes, words are useless," E went on. "That is why I show you my work. That is why you are here!"
E turned to the wall. "Edward… Mode," he said into a microphone, and rapidly executed an elaborate series of security measures.
In a flash, a ceiling panel opened, revealing an enormous gun with sights trained on Harlan and Jackie. E turned back to the microphone and added hastily, "And guests."
The gun retreated into the ceiling. The wall in front of them opened, revealing E's lab for designing and testing Super suits.
"Come, sit," E said, inviting Harlan in for tea. "Cream and sugar?" he offered.
Harlan settled into a comfortable chair, placing Jackie on his lap. He was about to ask E about Bobbie's Super suit when the lights in the lab suddenly dimmed. "I started with the baby," E said, cheerfully eyeing Jackie.
"Started?" Harlan asked.
"Shhh!" E said as a small featureless baby mannequin in a tiny red suit emerged in a glass chamber, moving slowly from one side to the other. Jackie watched it, intrigued.
"I cut it a little roomy for the free movement." E smiled.
The inside of the chamber erupted in flames. Harlan jumped back, startled. Jackie giggled happily.
"And," E added, "it can also withstand a temperature of over one thousand degrees!"
The flames were replaced by a barrage of machine-gun fire.
"Completely bulletproof and machine washable, darling. That's a new feature!"
Harlan was shocked. "What in heaven's name do you think the baby will be doing?" he asked, instinctively holding Jackie closer to him.
"Well, I'm sure I don't know. But luck favors the prepared," E answered. "I didn't know the baby's powers, so I covered the basics."
"Jackie doesn't have any powers," Harlan said, staring down at the infant.
"No?" E was surprised. But then he shrugged. "Well, she'll look fabulous anyway."
As the mannequin exited at one end, a mannequin of a young girl running at top speed appeared at the other end. The arms and legs accelerated until they blurred. "You daughter's suit," E said proudly. "I designed it to withstand enormous friction.
"Your son's suit on the other hand was rather tricky," he continued as another mannequin entered. "I finally created a sturdy material that will disappear completely as she does."
All the red Super suits matched, and each had the letter I for Incredible emblazoned on the chest. Harlan was stunned.
"Your suit can stretch as far as you can without injuring yourself and still retain its shape," E said, as if he was saving the best for last. A suit designed for Harlan entered the chamber. Two giant robot arms appeared and clamped onto the arms of the new red Super suit on the mannequin. Two more clamped onto the pants, pulling and twisting them into every possible shape.
"Virtually indestructible!" E smiled. "Yet it breathes like Egyptian cotton. As an extra feature, each suit contains a homing device, giving you the precise global location of the wearer at the touch of a button."
The lights in E's design lab came up as the chamber went dark. "Well, darling? What do you think?" E asked.
Jackie clapped. But Harlan's reaction was the polar opposite. "What do I think? Bobbie is retired! I'm retired! Our family is underground! You helped my wife resume secret hero work behind my back?"
"Well, I assumed you knew! Why would she keep secrets from you?" E asked.
"She wouldn't! She didn't – doesn't!" Harlan stammered, starting to feel uneasy.
"Hmm…" E said, tilting his head and rubbing his jaw pensively. "Do you know where she is?"
Harlan hesitated, but then nodded. "Of course."
E wasn't convinced however. He picked up his phone and handed it to Harlan. "Do you know where she is?" he asked again.
A few moments later, Harlan had dialed his in-laws phone number. He waited for it to ring a few times, and then an elderly voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi, yes, this is Harlan calling," he said into the phone.
"Oh! Harlan!" his father-in-law said happily. "My boy, it's been a while. How are the wife and kids? You all should come over some time."
Harlan's brows furrowed. "Wait… Bobbie is not with you?"
"What? No! The last time we saw either one of you was when Jackie was just born."
"Ohh…" Harlan's face became expressionless.
Bobbie's father spoke up after hearing nothing but silence. "Harlan? You still there?"
"I'm here," he responded. "But I'll have to call you back, okay?"
"Sure. Nice talking to you again!"
"Same."
Harlan hung up the phone without another word. He slowly turned to look at E.
"So," E said, shaking his head. "You don't know where she is. Would you like to find out?" he asked, holding up the homing device temptingly.
Harlan faltered for a moment, but then hit the button on the homing device.