Title: Mother Nature's Call
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Sky High characters, and include some of my own in this work. All but the characters in the movie are mine.
Feedback: Guys, I really appreciate your feedback and reviews. I'm not sure about Warren being in the same grade as the others. He's a year older, so it makes sense to me that he'd be in grade higher. I took out the reference to him being a junior though, just in case.
Synopsis: Sophomore year comes quickly for Will and friends. When trouble arises from student transfers, members of the small group of friends are faced with difficult choices.
Mother Nature's Call
Chapter Three: The Assignment
"How was your first day of class kids?" Mrs. Stronghold asked as Will and Layla walked into the living room.
"Good, mom." Will answered, still hoping he could get Layla alone to talk with her some more about what happened at lunch.
"It was interesting Mrs. Stronghold. We have Red Radar this year in Hero Support, she's pretty cool." Layla said, watching a bright smile come over Mrs. Stronghold's face.
"Red Radar? That's great. Becareful what you say in that school though." Will's mom smiled as Layla said that she would. "Are you staying for dinner Layla? I'm gonna cook some stir fry tonight."
"Yeah, stay for dinner. We can catch up some more on school this way." Will looked hopefully at his girlfriend.
"Sure, that would be great." Layla's traditional bright smile graced her face, but didn't quite reach her voice. Pretending not to notice, Will smiled and grabbed her hand to pull her into one of the other rooms while his mother prepared dinner. "So... how did your classes go?" Looking over, Will pulled her down to sit on the couch next to him.
"They were okay. I'm more interested in what happened at lunch." Will said, holding Layla's hand. Sighing, Layla looked at Will and let her lips form a small smile.
"Nothing Will, really, nothing happened. I forgot to eat breakfast this morning, that's all. I felt much better after I ate lunch." Touched by his concern, Layla just wanted to move passed it. If Will worried everytime she felt ill, he'd never be able to focus on anything. As a superhero, that was deadly.
"I believe you Layla. I do, I just want to know how you met those guys." Will said, combining an innocent smile with genuine interest on his face. Laughing lightly, Layla gently sighed.
"Okay, well, John asked me to join them for lunch. I said thanks but I was going to meet my friends, and then he told me they had just transferred to the school and introduced me to his friends. They seemed okay." Layla didn't relay how pressured she felt to join them or how weak she'd suddenly felt at John's touch. None of that mattered, or at least she managed to convince herself of that.
"Oh, well, they must be a little older because none of them are in our classes." Will said, sensing there was more that Layla wasn't telling him but figuring if she'd wanted too she would have.
"Yeah, I guess, that makes sense. Anyway, new kids aside, school was interesting today. I think this will be a good year for us." Layla said, no longer dreaming about saving the world as she had the previous year. Now, instead, she was focused more on learning. Everything she'd learned as a freshman came into play when she helped save the high school. It was important for her to concentrate on her studies and learn even more.
"I think so too." Will was ready to talk about his science class when his mother walked in.
"Hey guys, dinner is ready. And Layla? Your mother called, she wants you home right after dinner." As his mom walked back out towards the kitchen, Will smiled at Layla before following after her. A sit down meal with the Stronghold's was always fun for Layla. Mr. Stronghold described his latest adventure while his wife inserted comments here and there. His enthusiasm and pride was uplifting, while his wife's serenity was beautiful. Will and Layla ooed and awed appropriately and before long dinner was over and Layla was saying goodnight.
"Come on, I'll walk you home." Will offered, wanting to spend more time with her. Grateful, Layla accepted. After reaching her house, Will pulled her to him gently to kiss her goodnight. Afterwards he watched as she walked inside, and then flew home to begin taking care of his homework.
Layla smiled as she searched the house for her mother. All in all she'd had a good first day at school, and was looking forward to telling her mom all about it. It wasn't until she reached her mom's bedroom that she found her. Lana was sitting on the floor, staring at pictures sprawled out before her.
"Hey mom," Layla said with a bright smile. Surprised, Lana looked up.
"Hey sweetie, I didn't hear you come in. How was school?" Lana asked, watching her daughter keenly. She felt more comfortable around animals sometimes than she did her own child. Still, she valued her relationship with her daughter so she worked hard to keep it strong. Lana smiled as Layla launched into a description of the day's events. The topics of conversation included Will (no surprise there), the new bus driver, and Red Radar. An interesting day indeed.
"Overall, it was pretty good." Lana smiled at the good news.
"That's great sweetie. Listen, I need to talk to you about something." Lana watched as their soft, grey tabbie waltzed into the room and laid on her lap. Smokey was there to give her support, she knew, she needed.
"Sure mom, what's up?" Layla asked as she got more comfortable on the floor. Lana began shifting a few pictures around.
"You know more than most people do, Layla. You not only know there are superheroes and supervillians, but you know how the supers are trained from a young age once they reach high school. You even attend the oldest of one of those schools." As her daughter nodded, Lana reached out and set one picture in front of her.
"What's this?" The red head asked, looking at the person in the photo questioningly.
"This is a photo of my latest assignment. His name is Fred Gray, and he's an Eco Terrorist. He's been controlling a small group of villians for a few years now, determined to destroy until their unreasonable demands are met. I was tasked with infiltrating the group, to try and learn what they plan next and put a stop to it." As Lana spoke, Layla looked at the photo closer. An uneasy feeling filled her.
"I can't remember the last time you took an assignment like this mom. It sounds dangerous," she said as she looked over her mother's grim expression. It was dangerous, Lana knew, and she had purposely taken low risk assignments since Layla's father passed away so that she could raise their daughter and give her the childhood she deserved. Even as Lana looked at her silently, Layla sighed, knowing that her mother wouldn't have accepted it if there was a better super for the job. "How long will you be gone?" Lana reached out to Layla.
"There's more to it than that, sweetheart. The damage Gray's group has done to the environment as a result of destroying chemical plants and large factories has been extensive, and there are hundreds of animals losing their homes and natural habitat. Even with the condition placed on the assignment, I couldn't say no." Lana squeezed her daughter's arm, hoping she would understand and one day forgive her.
"I understand mom. It's okay, really. You've probably told me more than you should have. I hope you don't get in trouble." The next sound the fifteen year old heard was her mother's sigh. Looking into Layla's grey eyes Lana began shifting more pictures around.
"I'm going to tell you everything you need to know, honey. When I was given this assignment, I accepted it both for myself and for you." Lana ignored the confused look on Layla's face and instead picked a picture and placed it in front of her. As soon as she saw the picture Layla knew she was in trouble. "You see, Gray already knew about me, my abilities, my history. He doesn't completely trust me, but he knows that my daughter has the power to heal much of the damage that his group has inflicted on the earth."
"Mom, these are the transfer students I met today at school. What does this mean? Exactly what is it you are trying to tell me?" Lana looked at her daughter and saw the playful child she had been before forcing herself to look further, to see the beautiful woman she would become. Worried and guilt-ridden, Lana picked up the girl's hand to feel its softness.
"They are there to recruit you, Gray doesn't quite trust me but he knows if he has my daughter's loyalty he'll have mine."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry sweetie, I really am." Lana lifted Smokey up to place him firmly on the ground before standing up herself. "There have been nights I haven't slept, cries from wounded or homeless animals have kept me awake. The devastation that man has caused can't be allowed to continue."
"I understand mom, I do. I'll help anyway I can." Layla said, a small smile coming over her face at the thought of helping the earth.
"Let them recruit you Layla, but don't be obvious about it. Once they feel you've joined them, Gray will trust me enough to fill me in on his plans. After I get that information we can stop them and then everything can go back to normal for you. I promise." Lana sunk down to the floor and playfully tugged on one of Layla's braids. "I promise."
"Sure mom, okay." Layla whispered, not expecting the promise that her mother exacted from her next.