Disclaimers: Not mine. Unless by some odd twist of fate I'm Brad Bird, which I know I'm not. Therefore...
Notes: Phew! Talk about major updates, eh? I think I've currently spent more time on this story than I have on my Rurouni Kenshin one! That's going to need a little TLC soon. However, I'm rambling now...
This chapter is a dream kinda thing, which is why a massive chunk is in italics. Thanks for your responses to the first two bits! You've made me a happy camper! (Corny phrase, I know...)
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Return to Nomanisan
By Sean Montgomery
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He could still remember what it felt like the day his dad died.
It was the most terrible feeling, really. As often as he tried to push it back and block it from his mind, something always brought it up again - the grill in the front yard, saving people in Metroville, hearing the sound of rich laughter. Sometimes he wished that he could move on and enjoy things like he used to. Track wasn't the same. Basketball didn't have the same feel. Competing in general left him feeling empty, a quiet reminder that the reason he was competing in the first place was because of his dad. He never hear that loud whoop or holler ever again.
Dash closed his eyes and shut out his world, burying himself deeper in his sheets, hoping that tonight's dreams would be different from what they usually were.
As usual, he was disappointed.
He was taking the biggest gulps of air he ever remembered. Running as fast as he possibly could had it's ups and downs, and while he was used to running fast, he never imagined he would have needed to run across town to get to the airport, only to hold on to his mother's legs while she was used as a slide for people to get off of a plane that was trying to take off. He took another deep breath and moved his head, avoiding a kid who had jumped clumsily and rolled down Elastigirl awkwardly. He turned to make sure the kid had landed safely, but before he even had a chance, he was being pulled into the air.
The plane was taking off.
Elastigirl pulled her legs and her son into the plane as quickly as she could. When Dash felt the floor under him, the whipping wind stopping once the door was shut, he took as many breaths as needed, gasping for air like one who was dying. A large hand rubbed his back. Doing his best to roll over, his eyes turned to find his father kneeling in front of him.
"Are you okay?" he asked, leaning over more so he could see his son better.
"I'm fine." Dash whispered between breaths, slowly rising to his feet and using his dad's hand for support when he got woozy.
"Take it easy. As soon as you feel better, meet me at the front of the plane."
Dash nodded, watching his father's broad form make its way to where he was to meet him. Another hand fell on his shoulder. This time it was his mother.
"You're really a trooper." she said with a smile.
"Thanks, mom." he said with an exhausted smile.
"Do you think you can make it?"
Dash nodded, leaning against her slightly as she guided him to the front of the plane. Once to their destination he saw Illusion helping people get out of their seats, doing all she could to hide the fear that was slowly welling up inside her. He could see it deep within her eyes, even though she did everything to hide it - distracting herself with this person, making sure another could make their way to the back of the plane. When the citizens of Metroville got to the back, shaken with fear yet full of trust for The Incredibles, Dash grabbed Illusion by the arm, pulling her closer to him.
"Do you know what's going on?" he whispered.
"I don't really know. Dad disappeared in the cabin when you got on the plane and I haven't seen him since." she said, pointing to the closed door. Elastigirl was staring at the cabin door, concern evident.
"Mom?" she asked, fear revealing itself in his voice when he saw her face. "Do you know what's going on?"
Elastigirl turned to her children, gathering them closer so the few people who were filing out of their seats couldn't hear. "Your father and I have been told there's a bomb on board."
As if being in one threatened plane in your lifetime wasn't bad enough. Dash showed no emotion to not worry the citizens who stared at the small group. "What can we do?"
"I don't know for sure, yet. Your father said he was getting the captain when I got you on the plane. Thankfully, there aren't that many people here. I want you two to gather around them and make sure they all stay calm and wait until I come back. By then we might have some plan to get these people out of here."
The siblings nodded and passed their mother, giving encouraging looks to the twenty people they were assigned to protect. Making sure to speak above the roaring engines, Illusion told them to gather together as tightly as they could. Dash encouraged the same, staring at his sister to see if she would give another order. Movement caught his eye when his mother made his way towards the cabin. Catching Illusion's gaze, his gestured to his mothers retreating form. She watched her when he couldn't as he made sure the twenty others stayed calm.
"Don't worry!" he screamed, hoping all of them could hear him. "Everything's going to be all right. Just stay together and we'll-"
"Illusion! Get those people in a force field now!"
The two supers turned their heads to their mother, frantically waving her hands and running towards them. Right behind her, his eyes filled with fear, ran Mr. Incredible. "Do it, Illusion! Do it now!"
Before he had even finished his sentence she had a force field over herself and the twenty others. Dash squeezed in the best that he could, trying to listen to his parents over the shouts of the terrified citizens. He watched his father rip off not only the door but part of the body, pointing to Elastigirl to grab hold of Illusion's force field.
"Dad!" Dash screamed. "Dad! Get in here!"
Mr. Incredible couldn't hear him. He turned back to the cabin, his eyes wild. His mothers arms, reaching around the field, got in his view for a moment. He kneeled over, hoping to catch a glimpse of the villain who threatened their city. All he could see was black pants and shoes and a spot of his face before his father pushed his mother towards the door. Illusion and Dash, safe in the field, fell with her.
"Dad! No!" he screamed, making his way through the tight space to his sister. "We can't leave without dad!"
"We don't have a choice!"
He stared at her in shock. "What's he gonna do? How's he gonna get out!"
Her eyes widened. Her arms limited her movement, but she was able to catch her mother's eyes through the field, the brown eyes filled with as much terror as her own.
"Mom!" she screamed. "What about dad!"
The thought wasn't lost on Elastigirl. With her body doubling as a parachute, she turned her head to see the plane, hoping somehow that Mr. Incredible would be right behind them.
An explosion ripped through the air.
The plane began on odd decent towards the ground then shot its way back up again like it couldn't decide which way to go. One of the engines left a trail of smoke behind it.
The ground came faster than they expected. Once they landed, Illusion removed the force field and ran through the tall grass, her eyes glued to the plane. Elastigirl, now back to her original form, followed her step for step. The crowd was forgotten in the midst of their fear.
"Dad!" Illusion screamed, as if her voice could reach him somehow. When her despair drained her energy, she fell to her knees in the field. Dash, though feeling he could run fast enough to catch up with the plane, stopped next to her. Their mother was close behind.
"Bob," she panted, quiet enough so that no one could hear her. "Bob, please, get out..."
A second explosion tore through the air. The plane, once moving this way and that, was ripped apart in a ball of fire.
"Dad!"
"Dad!"
Elastigirl's eyes widened. "No," she whispered, fighting reality when it stared her in the face. "No!"
Her scream mingled with the others, their voices echoing in the field as debris fell to the earth below it. Their world began to shatter to pieces.
Dash fell to his knees, suddenly very light-headed and weak. Bile rose in his throat. All his strength was gone. The only thing he could manage was a weak whisper.
"Dad..."
He could see the headline floating before him.
Farewell To The Greatest: Mr. Incredible Sacrifices All...
Sacrifices...
All...
Mr. Incredible was dead.
His eyes shot open on their own accord. The bile was still in his throat, threatening to come out, as it always was when he had that nightmare.
No, when he remembered what happened. The nightmare was real.
He stood and quickly walked to the bathroom, turning on a light and splashing his pale face with water. He looked at himself in the mirror. All his life he had been told he looked like his father, the spitting image.
He hated what he saw. His father haunted him where ever he want. The bile threatened him again, especially when he saw the headline dance before his eyes.
Sacrifices All...
He was thankful the toilet was next to him. If he were still in bed, he never would have made it.
When the doorbell rang later that afternoon, Dash was still in bed with the hope that he could catch up on sleep he had missed over the past few years. Every time he began to have that nightmare, however, he forced himself awake, refusing to give in to his dream and risk getting sick again. The sharp DING woke him up instantly and he ran to the door, forgetting he was still in his pajamas. He was surprised to see Violet standing before him. Before he could get a word out, she looked him over and spoke first.
"Geez Dash, you look terrible."
He rolled his eyes. "Thanks a lot."
Violet Parr adjusted her long coat, pulling it closer around her in the wind and ignoring the strands of hair that flew into her face. "Did you have another nightmare?"
He froze, his face hardening. "How'd you know that?"
"Mom told me. She asked me to spend some time with you when she was out this morning taking Jack to school." She paused. "You aren't sick, are you? Did you get back late?"
Dash remembered earlier in the morning when he threw up. "No, I'm not sick." he lied, crossing his arms and leaning against the door jam. "Mom called the school and told them I was so that my long trip to the bathroom would be believable."
Her posture slouched. "That happened again? I'm sorry. It's my fault, isn't it?"
"You're the one who called me."
"Well, how about I make it up to you?"
He sniffed. "How?"
"Can I take you out to lunch?"
He furrowed his brow and turned to a near by clock. It was past noon already?
"What do you say, Dash?" she asked, stepping closer to him. "My treat. I don't always get a chance to talk to you anyway. I miss you, little brother."
Dash paused. A time out to lunch did sound good, especially if he didn't have to pay for it, but what if he was spotted by a teacher? He didn't know Mr. Singer's schedule, so he wasn't sure when he left the school building. He could get caught.
Then again, that was one of the reasons why his family were The Incredibles. He grinned and opened the door wider. "Come on in. Let me get changed and we can go."
Violet Parr, though an excellent student, lacked an essential thing her young life. Excitement was taken care of by her alter-ego, contentment came with being a successful student, her features had matured into a woman in her early twenties, and her love life was perfectly fine.
The one thing Violet lacked was money.
Which was why Dash found himself sitting across from her in the University cafeteria.
"We would have gone somewhere else," she said with a small blush. "but I realized that I had less money than I thought I did. Sorry about that."
"That's no problem." Dash said honestly. At least he wouldn't have to worry about being spotted. "I don't mind."
They sat in silence for a while, suddenly at a loss for words. The two Parr children had become more distant over the years with Violet going to college and Dash struggling to finish high school. Both of them knew that school in general was a rough subject between them. Their conversations, whenever they were started, always began in uncomfortable silence.
"How have you been doing recently?" Violet asked, leaning forward and playing with her straw.
Dash took a drink out of his tea before answering. "I've been fine, beyond trying to get back to class to keep my grades up."
"That hasn't been my fault, has it?"
"No. Sometimes I had to take Jack back to school too, so it wasn't your fault." He grinned. "Did mom tell you he had to turn into a puddle to get back in yesterday?"
She answered that she hadn't, and Dash told her the story with as much detail as he knew. They both ended up in laughing together, Violet shaking her head when the hilarity passed. "He's so funny like that. He reminds me a lot of you at that age."
"I was not as bad as Jack is." he said, reaching for his cup.
"Yeah, you were. You did a lot of crazy things before dad died."
He smacked his lips when he set the cup back down. "A lot has changed since then, huh?"
Violet leaned back in her chair, her head drooping somewhat. "How's mom doing?"
"The same, I guess. She never really got over it." He pulled out his fork and played with the prongs. "Last night we had this long conversation in my room about if he would have been proud of who we became. She said he would have been."
"Did she lock herself up in her room?"
"I don't know. I promised her I'd get to bed before ten and I didn't check on her."
He set the fork down on the table, still playing with the prongs, ignoring Violet's gaze that was full of sadness and pity.
"What's happened to us, Vi? What's wrong with us?"
"We're realizing that we aren't invincible, Dash. People always try to kill us with gamma beams or blast-o guns. We never stop to think that something simple like a plane crash could be the end of one of us."
"We're The Incredibles." he said with a sigh. "Not The Indestructibles."
"I think I know why mom's acting strange again."
His blue eyes met hers.
"Have you seen the news recently? They've announced that it'll be the eighth anniversary soon. They're going to bring in some investigators to check out the debris they recovered."
"To see if they can find anything."
"That's what they said."
"It's what they've been saying for eight years, Violet." Dash glared at her, his anger slowly rising as he gripped the fork. "They haven't found anything. Dad was incinerated. If there was any chance at all he was still alive they would have found something by now. They're holding on to nothing."
"Why? Because they refuse to give up like you have?"
Her words stunned him for a moment. Never had he thought that he had given up on his own father. "This isn't like Nomanisan. He went alone, mom found him, we got him out. We were there when he pushed us out of the plane, Violet. When planes explode like that one did, hope tends to fade pretty fast."
"What about mom's hope?" she said, her frustration building. "What if she were still clinging to the thought that he might still be alive?"
"Then she's an idiot!"
The cafeteria quieted at his outburst. Dash froze for a moment, breathing through clenched teeth while his hands, thrown to the table at his shout, slowly regained feeling. He felt the eyes of the entire restaurant on him and scanned the faces, ignoring them once they returned to their own business. Violet was stunned in her seat.
Another long stretch of quiet passed over them.
"How's Tony?" he asked when his anger had passed and his hands moved from the table to his lap.
"Fine." she said quietly, her eyes still staring at him.
"You guys are pretty serious. You have been for a while." He looked at her, his eyes glistening. "If something had happened to Tony, if Tony had died, you'd let go, wouldn't you?"
Violet took her time in answering. "I would."
Dash raised his hands as if to say his point was made.
"But it would take a long time to heal. Put this in mom's perspective, Dash. She's never going to see dad again. It's not a divorce, it's permanent. He's gone. She won't get over that."
He bent his head. His hands, resting on the table, balled into fists as they slightly shook. "I hate seeing her like this." he whispered, tears beginning to build in his eyes. "I hate being like this. I hate feeling like there is nothing I can do help her or help you. That feeling, this whole thing, is tearing me apart."
"I'm sure dad felt the same way when he pushed us out of the plane." she whispered back, tears falling out of her eyes.
Suddenly he couldn't take it anymore. His frustration and anger had been built up inside of him for so long... he couldn't take it anymore. He needed to be alone. He needed air. He pushed away from the table, digging his hands into his jeans and walking out of the cafeteria, ignoring Violet's cries for him to come back.
He was happy there was a bathroom nearby, grateful that it was empty and the door had a lock. Turning the switch, he made his way into a stall and wedged himself between the seat and the wall, breathing heavily.
There, he buried his face in his knees, and cried.
Violet couldn't shake the image of her brother's face that evening, nor could she believe the sounds she heard coming from behind the door when she followed him to the bathroom. In many ways it made her happy that she didn't have a car and her house was a good twenty blocks from the campus. It gave her time to think things through while she walked.
She huffed and puffed down the street, her hands stuffed in her coat pockets, pulling the fabric closer to her so she could keep warm in the oddly cool evening.
What made him think he wasn't the only one torn apart by all of this? Her father was dead! Any girl had a reason to be ripped apart from the world when news like that hit them all the time. Of course, the world had no idea that Mr. Incredible was also Bob Parr, the same man she had looked up to even when he was going through his mid-life crisis. The same man who used to tickle her when she was sad so that she would laugh again. The same man who said her hair looked good pulled back.
She angrily brushed a stray tear away from her face. That memory, out of all the others, made her cry?
No girl should go through life without hearing their father say they look good, her mother had once said. The truth was, it was one of the few times she remembered hearing her father say it. Of course she was sure there were other times too, but that time in particular...
"This is ridiculous..." she muttered to herself, turning a corner and walking past a dim streetlight.
She never knew letting go could be so hard.
She sniffed again, her nose aching with the sudden intake of cold air. Her steps echoed in her ears, the only sound she could hear in the street.
The street was very quiet, indeed.
Violet stopped a moment, suddenly taking in her surroundings. The world seemed darker all of a sudden, the streetlights dimmer and the lack of noise deafening. She turned around and followed the path of the sidewalk behind her. She stared curiously at a thick shrub of bushes.
"You're scaring yourself, Vi." she whispered. "There's no one around you."
She was suddenly very happy she had called her mother and told her she was coming. The porch light was visible in the distance. She flipped her hair behind her head and continued walking.
"Are you sure about that?" a voice whispered.
The thought of turning invisible didn't come fast enough. Something knocked her in the head and her world faded into darkness, the porch light before her just beyond her reach...