"I am not going to mow lawns!"said Pietro hotly.
"Now, I know exactly how much you are getting paid, so you can't cheat. Every single penny is going to come right back to me. Or rather, perhaps it's better that I pick up the cash, straight from the customer. Yes, that's a better way."said Javier, pretending not to hear Pietro.
"Uh, I don't know how to do any of that stuff."said Blob.
"Then you will learn. You are going to do everything I tell you to do, Fatass."
"I think you are absolutely hateful. If you had any sense, you'd help me kick this guy out."said Pietro, looking at the other guys.
"You can't do that!"said Lance.
"Right, because you're like his pet."said Pietro.
"Guys, guys."said Javier. "We really can't afford to fight here! Look, we can just forget about everything, and just…well, starve, I guess. I just wanted to improve conditions here, but, as I see I am getting no support, then, I guess we just better forget it. Perhaps I should just pack my bags and go find myself somewhere else to live."
"You're making us work because you want to help us?"asked Blob.
Javier rolled his eyes and didn't answer.
"Maybe you can convince them."he said to Lance.
The next morning, Pietro, Blob, and Toad were standing, facing a yard that looked like it hadn't been mowed in months.
"This is going to take forever!"whined Toad.
When they were finished, Pietro handed the money to Javier.
"Well, it's a start."he said. "And you have another appointment, in five minutes, here's the address."he handed them a small piece of paper.
"Five minutes!"
"Yes. By the way, I do not like the fact that it took you almost five hours."
"What did you expect!"
"I thought you could use these powers as an advantage, just like this guy is doing!"said Javier, pointing to Lance.
None of the Brotherhood knew what Javier was talking about.
"You guys really are a bunch of idiots! If it weren't for the fact that we need your labor to get the money, I would've…"he raised his fists, then exhaled and put them down. "Look, right now, you should just concentrate on getting your work done, all right. Just go, just go."
He gestured for them to go, with a wave of his hand.
"I just don't understand how you could have lived with those guys for such a long time. My cousin says that you are so different from them."
"Different?"
"I don't know, that's what she says. But, anyway, I really can't see you spending most of your time with them. They're probably the reason why your gift hasn't been practiced in the right way."
"What do you mean?"
"Your singing, mi vida, your singing. Your musical ability. Those guys always gave you a hard time, didn't they? Teased you?"
"Well, sometimes. Not just them, before, when I was younger, before I lived here…I lived in a foster home, you see, and, as I wasn't the only one, the others would just make my life impossible, if you know what I mean."
"I know what you mean. I figured. Look, I'm no scientist, but have you ever wondered how sound waves work?"
Lance looked up, confused.
"Why would I care how sound works?"
"I think you should care, because I think that besides a great singer, you could also become…well, I don't know, the possibilities are endless. See, demolition, there's one, um, you know those amusement parks with the big waves? You know, like they create waves in the pool, you create the biggest ones, well, you get the idea. See, if only we learned a little more, who knows what you could be capable of! Look, I'll let you in on a little secret about myself, just don't share it with anybody, okay. See, I always liked school, especially science, because if there's something weird, wild, and way out there, it's probably science, I learned that from a tv commercial, but anyway, see I've always liked to discover new things, learn how things work, etc. That's the one of the reasons my cousin, Ma.del Carmen gets along with me. We have that in common. The difference between us lays in that she thinks school is the most important things, and that she has who knows how many plans for her future, and I'm…well, as you can tell, un vago. However, I would like to find out exactly what it is you can do, Lance."
"I don't understand."
"Don't you? It's simple. I want to find out the science behind those tremors."
"I don't think there's any science to it."
"But I think there is."
"You see, I think you have very sharp hearing, too. Perhaps even sharper than people who learn to play instruments by just using their ears. I bet you can tell the notes apart, even if I were to just tap here, you could tell me exactly what musical note, etc. I don't think you'd have to study that."
"There is not studying."said Lance.
"For you, of course there isn't, but most people probably do have to get quite a bit of practice. Me, for one. I think that's also why Carmela gave up on the violin, see, she couldn't really tell the notes. And she didn't want to practice."
"And what good exactly would all that knowledge be?"
"It would be good in the fact that I think, for one, you could create your own music, and maybe even manipulate the sound."
"I don't understand what you mean."
"Well, look, the tremor, well, it trembles, right, it vibrates. Just like this string when I pull it. I pull the string, the string moves, I hear the sound. The string is stationary, no waves, no sound. You see?"
"Any one can do that."
"But what if the string were to move, and I not able to hear it?"
"Then you'd be deaf."
"I don't think that would be necessary. See, I've seen pictures of sound waves, of course, and light waves, etc, and the way the floor moved on those little waves of yours, Lance, it looked so oddly familiar. Imagine, I could measure the wavelength, amplitude and such with no problem!"
"Then I congratulate you."
"It seems to me that you just don't understand! Believe it or not…look, I made a mistake, I stole, I went to prison, and, well, as you obviously know I don't go to school. It would be just too shameful. I dropped out, and to go back! That's why I admire my cousin deeply, she would rather die than do what I did. She wouldn't have the courage to drop out, she's too farsighted for that, you see. You might just be able to help me."
"I don't see how. I thought that you were going to help me. Help me by helping me to become a star."
"Yes."
"I don't think I could do anything to help you."
"You are quite special. You and your friends here. I may not strike as the religious type, but, I believe you are gifted because God has chosen you."
Lance stared at him.
"I know, I know, the Chosen One and all that. Pretty…cursi, right? But I think you would agree with me. You see, I don't believe your abilities should be wasted. I think that there is a…logical reason behind it. And we must find it. Once we do, who knows what you can be capable of."
"And how would we be able to find out?"
"I think we can. See, I think your musical ability and your powers are connected. You could be the only artist who doesn't need the musical equipment to help you give a concert. I think you just need to learn how to control and handle all of this. Then, once it is under your control, then…you could use it in different ways that would be beneficial to you."
"You really think that is possible?"
"Oh, yes. You see on those trips to my cousin's, I've been doing some research on her computer. Something very difficult, as she never gets off her computer. Believe me, that girl can spend hours and hours on the computer, on the Internet, looking at the good Lord only knows what. She loves gossip, like farandula and all that. And I think that the way you produce these earthquake things, seems to make sense in a way. It's energy, you see, I think."
"I don't think there are any sites to help you with mutant powers."
"I don't look for mutant powers, you see, it's like this, like, you just do something that people don't do, but maybe something else can, like a speaker, or a record, say. A sound system. I just didn't look into it too much, however, if you have no problem, and want to go on this journey of discovery with me, then, full steam ahead?"
"Sometimes it's a little hard to believe you're a…"
"Yeah, un vago."
"Well, you seem so…disciplined, so smart."
"Odd, my cousin says the same things about you. She says you have a bright future ahead, if you stay in school. Then again, she's a nerd in that way. She thinks school is the core of people's lives."