Condemnation

Everyone woke the next morning, got changed, and went downstairs for breakfast. Unlike yesterday, everyone was all happy and cheerful. Every thing felt like nothing can go wrong with the day. The entire family had their favorite: pancakes with syrup for breakfast. And everyone was smiling.

"Hey Dash," said Bob, "can you get the paper for . . . "

At that very moment, Dash was up on his way to get the paper. Five seconds later, he came back.

"Hey dad, looks like we all got a present." said Dash. He went to the table and showed the family a brown package.

"That's nice honey." said Helen. "Who is it from?"

"It doesn't say. The label says, "Open at 12:00pm." said Dash.

"Well, finish your breakfast and, when the time comes, you can open it." Helen replied.

The family finished their breakfast. While Violet helped her mom wash the dishes, and while Bob sat and watched TV, Michael and Dash waited anxiously for the time to open the mysterious package.

"How much time do we have left?" asked Dash.

Michael glanced at the clock. "About thirty minutes."

"THIRTY MINUTES?" Dash complained. "WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR THIRTY MINUTES?"

"Well for one thing, you can stop screaming in my ear."

"What's all the screaming about?" asked Violet, joining her two brothers.

"Nothing really." said Michael.

For about twenty endless minutes, the kids just sat around, doing nothing. Finally, impatient little Dash got up and took the package in his hands.

"Well, not that I can't wait ten more minutes or something like that, but I want to see what's inside."

"Dash, what do you think you are doing?" wondered Violet. "It said not to open it until 12:00."

"Come Vi," said Michael. "Let him open it."

Dash ripped the paper, revealing the item inside the package. It was a little LCD hologram TV screen. The screen was blank.

"So, where is the power button?" asked Dash.

"I don't know." said Violet.

The kids waited ten more minutes. Finally, the screen showed a very faint image. It took a while, but once the kids got a clear view, they were surprised to see . . . an angry, glaring Senator Pine on the LCD.

In the living room;

"Honey, get over here. Senator Pine is on TV." cried Bob.

Helen entered the room. It was the same screening that was on the LCD that the kids were looking at.

"Honey, change the channel. I don't like what I'm seeing right now." exclaimed Helen.

Bob tried to flip through the channels but every channel he flipped through showed the same thing. He tried to turn it off but he couldn't. Senator Pine started to speak on both the TV and the LCD.

"This is a death sentence for every Super on this earth. In exactly three days from now, you will be wiped off the face of the earth. Missiles containing a venomous toxic will be launched, killing all with at least an ounce of Super in their body. At long last, I plan to give you a taste of my revenge. All of you ungrateful Supers, who took everything away from me, will pay for what you have done!"

Senator Pine's last words made the screen on the LCD go blank. The kids looked at each other in reverence. Violet finally called to her parents.

"Mom, dad, we . . . "

Helen went over to a frightened Violet and locked her in a tight embrace. "I know honey. We saw that same thing on the TV."

At that moment, Dash ran and hid behind his father, and Violet started to cry. Michael, instead, had a look of rebellion and determination.

"That's it! I had it with this guy. I'm not gonna let this thing stand. Something must be done."

"Michael," said Helen, "what can we do? You are talking about a very powerful, political person. There is no way anyone can win against him."

"Well, someone gotta do something. I mean, I can't let him just eliminate all . . .

(DING DONG!)

The doorbell rang and Dash went to answer it. On the Parr's doorstep, was Tony Rydinger and Rick Dicker.

"Hi there Dash." greeted Rick.

"Hi Rick."

"Tony!" gasped Violet.

Violet and Tony went over to each other and gave a great big hug. Michael went over to the two.

"Hey Tony."

"Hey Michael. So good to see you again." Tony turned to Violet, who now was crying.

"Tony, you should've seen it. There was this guy, and he. . ."

Tony put a finger over Violet's lips. "Don't worry Vi. I know. Some guy wants to kill you and all other Super Heroes around the world. It was shown on television monitors all around the world." He began to give Violet a big hug. "I'd never let him do anything to you, never." The two continued to cry and embrace.

Meanwhile, Rick talked to the parents. "As you probably heard, Senator has finally gone too far by threatening Supers all around the globe. Believe me when I say that the President is doing all he can in his power to make sure that everything will be alright."

"Thank you for the assurance Rick." said Bob. "But isn't there a certain reason why you are here?"

"Yes. The President request that the NSA would send their two best Supers to take down Senator Pine. So I was hoping. Would Valor and Invisigirl be willing to take this assignment?"