There is a maxim that "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," and it's one I have found quite difficult to put into practice. For example, if there are three mutual enemies there are three ways for two of them to pair up against the remaining enemy. The option of all three becoming friends never seems to happen. This is no mere theoretical matter, as you will see if you continue to read this miserable story. I advise you to read something happier instead, such as a story about cheerful little elves.
When we last left the super-powered but unfortunate Parr children, they had turned the tables of their lives by getting into the taxi of my sister, KitFox, and by rejecting both the transportation and the assistance offered by Agent Rick Poe.
"Whaggives?" asked Jack-Jack, as KitFox pulled the taxi away from the curb, meaning "Would someone please explain to me what is going on?"
"Yes. KitFox, would you please explain what this mission is that you wanted us for?" Violet asked.
"I'll be happy to," said KitFox. "But first I need a report from you. Widdershins telegrammed us that you were aboard and that you had gone into Gargoyle Grotto after the sugar bowl. We sent back the message that brought you here. But we had no word on the success of your underwater mission. Did you find the sugar bowl?"
"No," said Dash. "It wasn't there. Someone must have taken it before we got there."
"Syndrome probably got to it first," said KitFox grimly.
"No, we got there before he did. He captured us and tried to force us to tell him where it was," Violet said.
"What?" said KitFox in surprise. "Did he capture Captain Widdershins, too?"
"Allgon," said Jack-Jack.
"What my brother means is that Widdershins and Phil were gone when we got back from the Grotto," said Dash.
As the children explained the situation in more detail, KitFox's expression became more and more grim.
"This is bad," she said. "Very, very bad."
KitFox pulled into an alley and began making calls on her cell phone. The messages seemed to consist of short phrases like "No. Yes. Seven and a half. Refactor."
Finally she finished the calls and turned to the children. "Your report changes everything; a third group has the sugar bowl. We're going to meet and arrange a truce. Until the sugar bowl is found, we're all on the same side."
"The same side? With who?" Dash asked.
"Syndrome," said KitFox.
"Boggle!" said Jack-Jack, meaning "I can't believe we're going to be on the same side as Count Buddy!"
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," said KitFox.
She got the taxi started again and drove to a public square where there was a fountain depicting three men in top hats waving wads of cash.
"Here we are," she said. "Neutral ground: the Fountain of Victorious Financiers."
"Just in case something goes wrong, KitFox," said Violet. "What can you do? What are your powers?"
"Predator skills: scenting, stealth, leaping, and so on," said KitFox.
"Is that why you took an animal name?" asked Dash.
"And this," said KitFox, taking off a glove and showing that the back of her hands were covered in red fur and her nails were like claws. "That's why I couldn't make it as a public super. But now, with so many gone, I'm the leader of the V.F.D. pack."
The Parrs warily got out of the car. A long black limousine pulled up on the other side of the fountain. Syndrome, the Man with a Beard and No Hair, and the Woman with Hair and No Beard got out. A third lemon-yellow minivan arrived a moment later. I (a word which here means the writer himself, The Lemon) didn't get out of the van, but Quigley, Duncan, and Isadora did. The Rydingers ran to the Parrs and the two groups exchanged a quick series of hugs.
"Is a truce agreed?" KitFox called to the villains.
"Yes indeed," said the Man with a Beard and No Hair. "Until the sugar bowl is found, an attack on any of us will be avenged by all."
"I thoroughly loathe having to work with you," Syndrome said, "But the sugar bowl is more important."
"The feeling is mutual," said KitFox. "Now, as for teams. I propose a land, sea, and air search team. Whichever team gets on track of the sugar bowl first will notify the others."
"With my submarine, the Karimelita, I'm naturally the leader of the sea team," said Syndrome.
"I'll pilot Syndrome's jet and lead the air team," said the Woman with Hair and No Beard.
"We have a fleet of taxis and other cars in the city, so I'll lead the land team," said KitFox. "The Man with a Beard and No Hair can ride along with us as an observer for your side."
"How shall we divide up the kids?" asked Syndrome.
"No!" cried the Parrs together.
"We don't want to be split up!" said Dash.
KitFox looked at them coldly. "If you wish to be in the V.F.D., you must learn to obey orders. I think the best division is Violet with the land team, Dash with the sea team, and Jack-Jack with the air team."
"What about us?" asked Isadora. "I want to go with Dash."
"That will be fine," said KitFox.
"I'll go with Violet," said Quigley.
"No, I'll go with her," said Duncan.
KitFox nodded at the second suggestion. "Yes, Duncan will stay on my land team, and Quigley will go on the air team."
The Incredibles were highly distressed at this whole arrangement, but it seemed there was nothing they could do. The enemy of their enemy was their "friend," but it certainly didn't feel that way. It almost seemed as if even their friends were their enemies.