Chapter 4:
A slamming door was heard as Val made her way over to her bed, dumping her school bag carelessly ontop, before sitting herself down.
"What's wrong with me? Ever since I touched that lightbulb in Physics, my body's been acting strangely. It reacts with anything involving electricity, or sources of it, like the metal monkey bars.
Is this some sort of evolution process? Some sort of disease? What the hell is it?" she then lay back on her bed, so that she was staring open-wide at the ceiling.
"Or maybe… I'm obtaining mutagenic powers. But I don't see how that would be possible, I mean, I never did anything in particular that could have caused it." She narrowed her eyes "But, in issue number 26 of the 'Adventures of Static, Gear, and Shebang' comic book, it states that Gear's powers took a little while to form, maybe that's just happening to me… no, no! What am I thinking? I don't have powers!" she sat back up halfway through her last sentence, and placed both hands on her head. "Man, I've definitely been reading too many comic books, they're starting to mess with my brain!" she sighed as she slowly took her hands off of her head, and then stood up on the floor, "I need to go for a walk." She told herself before grabbing a coat and walking out of her room, followed by the front door to her house which was shut behind her as she left.
She looked up at the sky which slowly started to grow dark, as rush of cool wind streaked past her. She sighed, and looked back down before starting to walk along the side of the street.
Meanwhile, back at the abandoned gas station, Rina stood shocked after finding a resemblance between her and (the famous dead hero) Gear's writing.
"I just don't understand. I know my writing, and it looks exactly like his. But how?" she asked while running her index finger along the posted writings on the wall, examining it closely.
She then pulled her finger away, and looked over at Backpack. "And why are you here? Is this why you came to me? Am I some sort of clone of Gear?" she asked, and Backpack didn't even hesitate any sign of movement, but then after a few seconds he made a soft screeching noise before crawling towards her and up onto her back with a finishing click.
Rina stood still the entire time while trying her best to contain normal breathing, and then blinked a couple times after Backpack attached itself onto her back.
"Uh… alrighty then, well I'm assuming that you're not planning on staying here, so if you're really sure about me taking you back home, then I'm fine with that, as long as you don't reveal yourself to anyone, and I mean anyone." There was then a silent pause as Backpack made no sudden noises or movements. "…Ok, home it is then." She finished off, and then walked out of the gas station, along with carrying the bag of the costumes.
Val continued walking down the streets in any random direction while keeping her eyes drawn to the paved ground beneath her, as the same thoughts repeated through her head.
Then at one point while she was thinking too hard, and wasn't paying attention to where she was going, she went walking straight into a lamp post, falling back with a hard 'thud!'. "Ow! Dang, watch where you're going!" she shouted at the lamp post, pointing her index finger at it, just when she realized what it was. "…Great, now I'm imagining things…" she muttered through a sigh as she stood herself up, brushing the dirt off her clothes. Just when she suddenly looked up, and there stood the abandoned gas station with Rina walking out from it.
Val saw that Rina was carrying a bag, and then noticed something attached to her back, but didn't know quite yet what it was until Rina turned around, and Val suddenly realized what it was; backpack.
Val's eyes widened as she gasped and slowly backed away when she knocked back into the same lamp post from before, letting out a yelp as she fell which caught Rina's attention.
Rina then saw that it was Val, and quickly ran over to her. "Val! Val, are you ok?" she asked, holding her hand out to her fallen friend.
Val ignored Rina's hand and stood up on her own, sending a glare towards Rina. "Who would've thought that you were the thief behind stealing backpack." Val said to her angrily. "What? –No, Val It's not like that. I didn't steal backpack, he came to me."
"Oh sure, that's what they all say. And what's in the bag, huh? More stolen merchandise?"
"No! It's just.. some clothing."
"More like some stolen clothing."
"No, Val, listen. I swear, I haven't stolen anything!"
"Oh yeah? Prove it."
"Oh great, what am I going to do now? I have no proof of anything. I guess… well.. I have one option, but I'll have to trust her." She took a deep sigh, "Ok, fine. But can I trust you with it?"
"As long as whatever you have to tell me makes sense."
"Well I'll take that hopefully as a yes. Ok, come with me." Rina told her before turning around and walking back towards the abandoned gas station, but Val made no attempt to move. "Follow you? What's wrong with staying out here?" Val asked.
"Because I need to show you privately." Rina replied as she entered the gas station.
"But—Ugh.." Val groaned while rolling her eyes before running into the gas station after Rina.
"So, will you show me now?" Val asked with crossed arms after shutting the door behind her and leaning against it.
"Yeah, but you're going to have to promise never to let this out to anyone. It's really important that you keep it a secret. Promise?"
Val sighed impatiently, "Yes, I promise."
"Ok.." Rina took one big breath before opening the bag and pulling out all three costumes of Static, Gear, and Shebang. "I found these… in here." Rina said to Val, hoping for the best.
Val on the other hand was speechless with eyes wide open and a dropped jaw. "T—Th—Th—Those are—The costumes of-- SGS! I can't believe it! I must be dreaming!"
"Yeah, I had the same expression when I saw them. Now do you understand?"
"Yes, but the thing I don't get is how you actually found them. I mean, people have been looking for them everywhere!"
"Obviously not here. Apparently, this was SGS's HQ, and they had all their costumes neatly put away in that chest over there—" Rina began, pointing at the brown box she first found the costumes in. "—But I never would of found them if it weren't for backpack. He came to me and led me in the direction of this place which was when I discovered their costumes hidden in that chest."
"So it is true… look, I'm sorry for not listening to you earlier. I never would have imagined that it had to do with all this."
"Don't sweat it, I didn't expect you to believe me anyways, I mean who would at first? But I'm glad it was you and not anyone else, or else there would lots of trouble."
"Yeah… so, have you tried on any of the costumes yet?"
"Actually no, I didn't think of doing that… hey, wanna try them on now?" Rina asked.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Awesome! I call Static's!"
"Heh, I call Gear's!"
The two then took the costume they were going to try on and ran into different rooms where they quickly changed.
They then came out at almost the exact same time, and looked at eachother's costumes, laughing.
"Wow, you look like you could be a good female version of Static!" Rina commented
"And you, Gear."
"Thanks. I'm surprised they actually fit aswell."
"Yeah, they're awesome!"
"You know, if you want you can keep Static's costume." Rina told her.
"… For real? You—You'd actually give it to me?"
"Yeah, why not? I probably wouldn't wear it as much as you, so you can have it."
A smile formed on Val's face as she ran over to Rina and gave her a hug. "You're the nicest friend I ever had."
"Heh, and you mine." Rina replied, and smile on her face aswell.
"Well, I have to get home. I kinda left without my mom knowing, so she's probably wondering where I am right now." Rina said.
"Oh ok. Well I should get going too, it's getting pretty late. Thanks for everything." Val said and started heading towards the exit when Rina cleared her throat "Eh, costume." She said as Val turned around, realizing that she was still in Static's costume. "Oh! Heh, thanks!" she said with a grin before walking back into the room and getting dressed back into her normal clothes, then walking back out when she finished. "Ok, bye for real now."
"See ya." Rina said, and Val exited the building.
Rina then turned around and entered one of the other rooms where she too got changed back into her casual outfit.
She then walked out and put the costume back away into the bag before picking it up and walking out through the front door; from then on making her way back home.
