REVIEWS: To all my reviewers - thank you so much! The great comments that I keep getting have been of great inspiration. You have no idea how muchI appreciate them all. Soccergurl - Thanks again for your continued support. You always let me know when I'm on the right track. Sean - I'm glad you're enjoying this story as well. Keep in touch as I'm sure we're going to make some interesting stuff come to life ;-). Lavenderviolets - yes you caught me! This is the exact same storythat is posted at i-kronos. I've been uploading it slowly over here so that no one was intimidated by the length of it at first and also I really wanted to know what people thought as the story developed. Any one who wants can go read it in its entirety over there but I'd really love to continue hearing everyone's thoughts on the individual chapters. :Warning - Shameless plug to follow: However I will also say that i-kronos is an amazing Incredibles fan-site that has forums and alot of wonderful people that hang out there. If you ever want to stop by we'd love to have you. I'm Dash and you'd see thatI'm there quite frequently. Anyway, thank you all again and Ireally appreciate all of the wonderful reviews.
XIX. A FAMILY MEETING
Violet stared at herself in the mirror. She began swaying side to side like a model as she eyed the soft pink top and black bottoms she was wearing. The black headband held her hair back nicely and the matching shoes looked a bit formal but had every bit the comfort of sneakers. "E sure knows her style," she said out loud with a grin. Violet had spent the entire afternoon going through her new stuff ever since she arrived back home. Suddenly the door flew open. 'Oh no I forgot to lock it,' she thought in passing.
"Vi, time for dinner!" Dash said suddenly standing in between her and the mirror. He had run in at top speed and started out the same way but Violet was in a good mood and had the mind to slip her foot in his path. "Hey! No force field!" Dash yelped as he hit the ground.
"That wasn't a force field you dork," she laughed him as he popped to his feet with a scowl and ran out. Violet just shook her head and followed him.
As she rounded the corner into the dining room she was shocked to find company sitting at the table. "Uncle Lucius, what are you doing here?" she asked. Lucius Best was sitting at the table next her father.
"Hey Violet," he said to her.
"There you are Violet," Bob said. "Lucius and Honey are joining us for dinner tonight. Afterwards we've all got some important stuff to discuss." Violet really wasn't surprised as the Bests were over there regularly and vice versa ever since they had moved to a nearby home about a month earlier.
Violet headed for her spot at the table. She had to sit next to Dash tonight to make room for the Bests on the other side. As she passed Dash's chair and sat down she just smiled as he sat pouting with his arms crossed, ego injured more than his back side. Just then Helen and Honey came into the room from the kitchen with the last of the food.
"Mmm, that smells good," Bob said.
"Well it should be," Honey Best chimed in with a smile. "The way Helen slaves over that stove for you boys."
Bob just shrugged it off. "Hey Lucius, look – R-ice," Bob said pointing to a bowl of the white grains.
Lucius' face sagged. "Riiiight," he said sarcastically. Jack-Jack giggled loudly at this sudden change of expression. By now the two women had seated themselves and supper began.
After a dinner full of small talk, good laughs, and a practical joke involving Bob and Dash fighting over a piece of meat which had mysteriously frozen, the group retired to the living room and the meeting commenced. "Are we going to figure out a way that me and Vi can be supers again?" Dash asked anxiously.
"Well-" Bob started.
"Absolutely not," Helen interrupted. "Now we've been over this multiple times. As long as the government says no the answer is no."
"But mom!" Dash complained.
"The answer is no," she repeated sternly. Bob just gave him a sympathetic look.
"Ok," Bob said. "The reason we're here is that we got some new information from SOCC today and we need to figure out what we're going to do. As it turns out Lucius, Helen, and I are the last three supers in the entire metropolitan area and for the next five counties for that matter." He looked at the kids. "At least, we're the only three supers able to do any work. There're actually about nine other known supers who are too old, too young, or too weak." People often forgot that some supers were born with powers so weak or useless that they could be used for nothing more than parlor tricks.
"Man, that's a load," Lucius said. "How can the three of us protect a place this size."
Helen interrupted. "You mean the three of us is all. Fifteen years ago twenty-six active supers were kept busy on a nightly basis."
"Well the police are just going to have to pick up the slack," Bob said. "Now, there's really no point in trying to assign shifts or any thing like that. We just all need to be alert and pick up what we can. Treat each mission like you're the only one on it and if you get into trouble call for help."
"Can't they bring in supers from elsewhere?" Violet inquired.
"No chance," Lucius said. "There're only seven active supers east of the Mississippi. We're actually lucky that we're not being shipped out."
"Some places don't even have supers," Helen added. "By the way Bob, did you find out any more about a job?"
"Actually yes," he said. "Lucius and I both did." This caught Honey's attention as she'd been entertaining Jack-Jack since the meeting really didn't concern a non-super like herself.
"We're working for the United States Postal Service," Lucius said.
"It's the perfect cover," bob added. "It keeps us in public where we can do reconnaissance yet gives us enough freedom of movement to sneak off and do super work."
"That sounds great," Helen said.
"Yes, you two will love that," Honey added. "Besides I know how you boys love to go postal on those bad guys." Everyone in the room laughed except for Dash who didn't seem to get the joke.
After the laughter died down the room began to draw silent with everyone just enjoying the company. "Oh," Bob said suddenly looking at his daughter. "Is that a new outfit?"
"It's one of the ones E made for me," she said shyly.
"Edna?" Lucius said. "She makes regular clothes too?"
"No, no," Helen said. "This is a little something she made special for Violet. Vi, get up and show us." Violet rose and shyly moved to the center of the room.
"Boy, that woman sure has style," Lucius said. "I wish I could get her to do my wardrobe." Honey just rolled her eyes at him.
Violet looked around the room then disappeared clothes and all. Everybody stared at her.
"Cool!" Dash said.
Helen started patting her chest franticly. Violet just stared at her. "Vi, your necklace," she finally whispered.
Violet looked down and saw the necklace suspended in midair. 'Oh no,' she thought. This was her favorite necklace that Tony had given her and she loved to wear. Edna had made her a few pieces of special jewelry but she still liked some of her old stuff – especially this. She quickly took it off and looked for a place to stash it. Without thought she put it in her pocket. 'But the pocket's invisible,' she remembered. She looked down to put it elsewhere but realized it was hidden inside her pocket. 'That E really does think of everything. She made the pockets out of the same stuff she used for my bag.' Violet then proceeded to show off herself by silently circling the room and surprising everyone. She hugged her mom, kissed her dad, rubbed Lucius' bald head, flipped off one of Honey's shoes, tickled Jack-Jack, and finally walked over and kicked Dash.
"Hey!" he yelled as he jumped to his feet. Violet then put a force field around him. "Mom!" he yelled.
"Violet, be nice to your brother," her mother said. Violet instantly dropped the field and returned to visibility wearing a huge and proud smile. "And you better be nice to your sister too Dash," Helen finished. Dash just sat back down and pouted; this hadn't been his day.
"Very impressive," Violet's father said.
"But it's just like your force field," Helen added. "Don't use it in public."
"Not that anybody would know anyway," Dash said with a scowl.
Lucius and Honey had been whispering back and forth as the family dialogue took place. "Honey and I have an announcement to make," Lucius said.
Honey got a bit red in the face. "We were going to wait a bit longer before we told anybody but…"
Lucius finished her sentence. "But we consider you family and wanted you to be the first to know."
"We're expecting," Honey said.
"Well how about that," Bob said. "Looks like little Jack-Jack's going to get a playmate.
"Oh congratulations!" Helen said as she ran over to give Honey a hug.
"Expecting what?" Dash said curiously.
"A baby silly," Violet said as she laughed at him. Jack-Jack also laughed at the commotion.
"When are you due?" Helen asked.
"The end of March," Honey said.
The commotion over the baby continued for the next several minutes until Helen finally noticed the time. "Oh dear," she said. "It's so late and it's a school night. Dash, Violet, tell Lucius and Honey goodnight then get ready for bed." They complied although they did so begrudgingly. Helen went over and picked up Jack-Jack. "Let me get him down and I'll be right back," she said.
After a few minutes and three goodnight kisses Helen returned and the four talked about the baby and their new work on into the night.
