Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Not affiliated in any way with anyone. Net worth is still a negative number. Nothing to sue here people, move along.

Super Supper

Act 4, Scene 1

Max and Logan follow Bennett and Marianne Cale back to the dinning room. Max looks uncertainly at Logan. Logan propels himself into the dinning room with a look that is clearly grim determination. Everyone take a seat around the large dinning room table. There are a few moments of silence, the participants uncertain how to proceed.

Max, apparently deciding that the best defense is a good offence, begins. "So, Marianne, you work with the city police on the Eyes Only task force."

"Yes, I just started."

"I guess I owe Cindy ten dollars. I was certain that Eyes Only was at least a federal project. I thought it would be either CIA or some other covert operation nobody even admits exists." Max casually begins buttering her roll. "How do you decide how to put together the broadcasts?"

Marianne is stunned. "We don't put together the broadcasts. We are trying to find the hacker that does."

"Are you serious?" asks Max, feigning surprise.

"Absolutely! Not only is he, or they, hijacking a legitimate cable signal, he's been linked to several deaths. Remember Joel Solinski? Eyes Only did a broadcast about him; the next week he and two other people turn up dead. Their bodies were found exactly where Eyes Only said they would be! I am surprised that there hasn't been a major effort to locate him before this."

"This task force is just getting started?" Logan asks and then takes a drink of wine.

"Yes. I'm one of the founding officers," Marianne replies.

"Seriously, have you checked with the CIA? Their mandate prevents them from operating domestically, but everyone knows they do. My theory is that Eyes Only would be a perfect outlet to leak any information that they discovered and wanted known, but couldn't let it be known how they knew. That or some other agency no one has ever heard of. Either way, it could get dangerous if you aren't very careful." Max appears to be very concerned.

Marianne looks thoughtful. "No, actually, we hadn't investigated that possibility."

Julie Music says "That is very interesting. I have been discussing Eyes Only every term in my Civics class. Not one student ever thought that Eyes Only might be a government plot. They all believe he is a hero."

Logan looks surprised, with just a hint of a smile. He takes a drink of wine to cover the fact that he has no idea how to react to any of this.

"Government plot had not occurred to any of us cops either, Mom."

"Aren't you a little cynical for one so young, Max?" asks Robert.

"Not the first time I have been told I am very advanced … for my age. Seriously though, it hadn't occurred to any of you?" Max looks around, as if she cannot believe how naïve all these people are. When she gets only sheepish shrugs in response she continues. "Eyes Only has angered the police, the criminals and the politicians. Do you seriously think that a strictly civilian operation, with no government funding, equipment, or cooperation, could pull that off? Let alone survive this long without being shot, blown up, thrown off a building, bled to death, kidnapped, … something by now?"

Max ignores the incredulous look Logan is giving her and takes a bite of her roll.

Julie smiles and muses; "Now I have to go and revise my lesson plan. We never discussed the possibility that Eyes Only is a government conspiracy. "

"I don't see why you are discussing him at all." Robert does seem pleased.

Mark groans, "You had to get her started."

Julie's eyes light up and she plunges in. "Logan and Max haven't heard anything about Eyes Only yet!"

Logan almost chokes. "I ... I've heard of him." Logan is trying to control his reactions, but it is awkward.

Julie puts down her fork and begins to get into her story. "We usually spend about a week on Eyes Only, sometimes more. Sometimes he is the only thing that gets some of my kids involved. This is something that is really happening. They can relate to it. If I can get them interested in Eyes Only, I can work from there. One term he came up every day, all term."

"Really?" Logan is trying not to squirm.

"You should rename Contemporary Events to Eyes Only: the Myth, the Man. Get more students that way," Mark quips.

Julie doesn't miss a beat. "I have suggested that! We may be offering it next year. Except it will be an entirely separate class. You can do so much more with Eyes Only than just current events. The whole concept is utterly fascinating. You can compare him to classic archetypes such as Zorro or Robin Hood or Batman."

"Those are all fictional characters, Mom."

"Yes, but Eyes Only is real! What was the tipping point? What was it that made things so bad that a man felt the … need or inspiration or moral imperative, to actually go and create a secret identity? What does it take to push a man from 'someone should do something' to 'I must do something'? If he is ever captured alive he is going to be fascinating, psychologically."

Logan takes a drink of his wine. Marianne nods thoughtfully. Max looks anxiously at Logan. John, Bennett, and Mark grin in amusement. Robert frowns. Julie, entirely oblivious, continues, "You can learn a great deal about a culture from its stories and myths."

"Like Star Trek!" Mark points out.

"Star Trek painted a pleasant, utopian view of the future. While this was undoubtedly appealing, and I am certain many people wanted to believe in it, it was not very realistic …usually. There was this huge central government, but you never heard anything about corrupt officials or individuals using their power for personal gain. It portrayed human nature as the noble would like to believe it should be, rather than how it actually is."

"It's good to have goals." Logan observes.

"True, but you cannot teach people how to deal with the darkness in the human soul, or psyche, by pretending that it doesn't exist. Eyes Only is far more … applicable for teaching about our current situation. You can bring up the nature of good, of nobility, of civil disobedience, maybe tease them with a bit of Henry David Thoreau. What does it mean to be good when you are trapped within a corrupt system? Which is the greatest imperative; obedience to the letter of the law; the spirit of the law; authority; or some higher moral code? Trapped versus individual empowerment. How much of a difference can one individual make? Balancing safety with freedom. I can make my students think about what it means to be human, some for the first time in their lives! What does it mean to be a hero?"

"Eyes Only is not a hero; he is a vigilante!" says Robert Music.

Mark and Marianne let out exasperated sighs, as if they had heard this conversation before.

Julie continues nonetheless, "Eyes Only is most definitely a hero, in the classic definition of the word. He is showing exceptional courage in fighting for a cause."

"He is taking the law into his own hands!" says Robert.

"Or inspiring others to do so. Mostly, I believe the very persons that are supposed to enforce those laws. How many times have 'gift packages' of evidence arrived at the station? You had been talking about that for years!" Julie counters.

"And he should have stuck with that. Shooting people without a trial is not acceptable. I don't see how you can condone that." Robert says.

"Dad, we don't know for sure that Eyes Only is shooting anyone himself, if it's his Informant Net, just some fan, or even a rival gang." Marianne points out. "All we definitely have him for is hijacking the cable signal, and all the various rules and regulations he violates to accomplish that."

"Either way he's stirring up trouble." Robert says.

"Sometimes stagnant things need to be stirred up! Prevents them from becoming more rotten than they already are." Julie says.

"If he is such a hero, why doesn't he even dare show his face!" Robert shouts.

"There is a difference between courage and suicidal tendencies!" Julie shouts back.

Max nervously looks at Logan, who shifts uncomfortably.

"So, Bennett, what do you think, hero or vigilante?" asks Logan.

Bennett smiles, seemingly grateful that Logan is trying to defuse the old argument, "The terms aren't mutual exclusive. He is definitely both. What do you think?"

"I agree. I think he is trying … to help, but things don't always turn out the way …he intends them to." Logan replies hesitantly, unconsciously rubbing his still legs. "Marianne, do you think the city would be better off without his efforts?"

Marianne sighs. "That would explain why half the members of the task force…" she gestures feebly, "… aren't really trying. We do know that he does still do a lot of the 'gift packages' of evidence. Some of the best detectives get them on a regular basis. We just don't know how implicated they are. Are they getting tips because they are part of the Informant Net, or because he knows they are honest, hardworking cops? It's … complicated."

"It is a extraordinarily complicated situation!" Julie supplies. "That is what makes it so compelling, fascinating really. I could go on all year about Eyes Only!" Julie gushes.

"I can vouch for that," grumbles Robert.

Max nudges Logan, "You should write a book."

Julie pounces on the idea. "I would love a book on Eyes Only!"

"You'd never be able to get it published. Not these days." Logan replies, glaring at Max.

"You never know. Besides even if a large publisher isn't interested, you have an instant audience." Max gestures to Julie. "And two really good resources." Max gestures at Marianne. "Maybe if she knew when they were going to bust Eyes Only, you could have your book all wrapped up and ready to go. Timing is important."

"I think they call that scavenging." Logan isn't happy.

"Marketing," replies Max straight-faced. "What do you say Marianne? How long has he got?" Logan realizes where Max is going with this.

"Who knows? At this point we have no solid leads. There have been some half-hearted attempts to track him down before, but they weren't able to get anything on him at all. They keep telling me 'It's like hanging with Zorro! They do not talk to you unless you are one of them.' Apparently the man inspires loyalty that would make the Mafia envious." Marianne replies, clearly frustrated. Logan almost relaxes. "On the other hand, we could be one good tip away from busting him tomorrow."

Max nods. "You might be closer than you know."

Logan glares at Max. He then turns to Marianne. "What avenues are you investigating?"

"At this point we're still getting organized. It's hard. We can't be certain whose loyalties lie where. Some of the members of the task force might be 'in' with Eyes Only! One of the first ideas we had was to get information from the criminals that he goes after. Trouble is, they don't have anything on him either. The one that did seriously try to take him down, Gerhardt Bronck, wound up dead with a lot of his inner circle, so the rest are a little hesitant to help with any sort of trap. Some of the situations, you just can't tell if was normal gang rivalry, or something Eyes Only set up"

"Be so much simpler if he signed his work," quips Mark.

"Like Zorro. Does Eyes Only even have a sword?" asks John.

"I," Logan starts to answer, "doubt it."

"I would love to get my hands on him so I could ask," Marianne replies wistfully.

"You should have a whole chapter on Zorro. The parallels are amazing. Seriously, a book is a wonderful idea. I could help! It would be a fantastic resource for my class. We could go over each revision, work out the kinks." Julie prods.

"You'll never get a publisher," observes Robert.

"It's not as if I need the money." Logan replies thoughtfully. "Max, could you hand me my notebook …"

Act4, Scene 2

Time has passed; they are in the middle of eating the main course.

"Okay, okay, I am convinced. Eyes Only is obviously a big Zorro fan. There are too many parallels for him not be." Logan smiles and writes in his notebook.

"How did they catch Zorro?" asks Mark.

"They didn't!" reply most of the adults at the table, with varying degrees of amusement.

"We could look for Don Diego Vega," suggests Julie. There is soft laughter. "You could go undercover among all the rich aristocrats and politicians you just married into."

Marianne laughs. "See who is foppish and effeminate?"

"Only until you get close to him, then he will reveal what a stud he really is!" Julie declares gleefully.

Max can't help but laugh with the others. Logan can't believe he's hearing this.

"You are not going to go flirt with … men!" Bennett states definitively.

"Foppish men," Marianne corrects her husband, but it's obvious she is amused by the banter. "Besides, I don't think he would cozy up with a married woman anyway dear." Marianne reassures her husband. "He seems too … high-minded for that."

"Make up your mind. Is he noble or a criminal you are going after?" challenges Mark

Marianne ignores her little brother. "We need a single young woman. She'll cozy up to him, he'll reveal he isn't really the ineffectual aristocrat he pretends to be, then we nab him!" Marianne looks at Max, amusement dancing in her eyes. "So Max …"

"No!" Logan states too keenly, before he has a chance to think or catch Marianne's teasing glint.

"I knew it!" Bennett declares victoriously.

Logan's jaw drops open in sheer horror at this new denouncement that he had been waiting for all night. It is replaced quickly by shock as Max's hand closes his jaw and she quickly places a chaste kiss on his lips. She effectively blocks anyone from seeing the shocked expression on Logan's face.

"Just friends, huh?" Bennett continues.

Max pulls back once she is confident that Logan has caught on. "I meant … Max isn't …. She doesn't …" Logan stammers.

A very amused Max finishes for him. "I don't fit in with the rich aristocrats."

"I figured that one out when I heard you told Uncle Jonas off for insulting Logan. I was glad to hear it. I had wondered why Logan was the only Cale that hadn't spoken with Bennett about 'marrying outside of his class,'" says Marianne.

"Is that why you asked me to be best man?" asks Logan.

Bennett replies timidly. "That, and I wasn't sure you'd come unless I put some pressure on you. I knew you'd show up if you had to bring the ring."

"I wasn't entirely certain if you were really accepting or you just hadn't heard about me. We hadn't actually met …" Marianne says.

"Logan hasn't gone out much at all since…" Max paused, uncertain of how much she ought to say, "…he was injured."

Logan looks down at his lap uncomfortably. "I really don't want to talk about that, Max. I'm out now …"

"I know." Max takes one of his hands in hers and places her other hand on his cheek, looking very much like a comforting girlfriend. Max offers him an uncertain smile. There is a less than comfortable silence.

"So, what else could we look for in Don Diego Vega besides seemingly incapable, but not really?" Julie tries to lighten the mood by changing the subject.

Silence. Logan smiles feebly.

"You could check sanitarium records," observes Max.

"Are suggesting that Eyes Only is insane?" Logan asks incredulously.

"Hmmm." Max pretends to think about it for a moment. "Believing he can fix the world … that might qualify. However, what I was thinking of is the fact that there is a fine line between genius and madness. If Eyes Only is a civilian, and that is a big if, then he would have to be at least a genius. Intelligence at that level could easily be mistaken for madness. Worth checking out," Max nods at Marianne. Marianne nods thoughtfully and makes herself a note.

"I remember in the 1940 movie, Zorro, Vega says that Zorro is a 'Madman, cunning beyond belief. They always are.' Zorro is the beginning of the modern vigilante myth in America. They caught Zorro for a little while in that one. In the original Batman young Bruce Wayne was walking home from the Mark of Zorro, the 1940 version, with his parents when they were shot right in front of him. It is elegant how one classic can pay tribute to another." Julie is obviously happy to have a fresh audience for the social studies class.

Max glances at Logan. She decides now would be a really bad time to ask how his parents died.

"Bruce Wayne, pretending to be wealthy playboy; Don Diego Vega, pretending to be a wealthy fop. I am sensing a pattern here. Do you have a profile on Eyes Only yet?" Mark asks cheerfully.

"No, and this isn't helping." Marianne replies.

"Sure it is. Batman is another vigilante with no respect for the law. He beats people up and breaks into places all the time. Doesn't Eyes Only do that?" Mark insists.

'No, that's my job' thinks Max.

"How many other vigilante's are there?" asks John, much to Robert's annoyance.

"How about Superman?" asks Mark.

"Superman is not a vigilante!" Bennett objects.

"Maybe he would be if his government were half as corrupt as this one!" Julie replies.

"That is not very respectful! Need to work with the system." Robert objects.

"You sound like Don Alejandro Vega. 'The law is the law. I will not rebel against the government I served for thirty years.' and look what happened to him!" Julie counters.

"He was made governor of California?" John asks with a cheerful grin.

"His son went out and became Zorro behind his back!" Julie declares.

Logan glances at Mark, but decides not to start pointing fingers.

Max leans over and whispers to Logan, "Who's Superman?"

"A superhero. In his secret identity he pretends to be a journalist … with glasses." Logan replies miserably. Max nods, she'd try to change the subject but …

"Well, 'Two wrongs don't make a right!'" Robert continues uninterrupted by the side conversation. "And never will!" Zorro wound up lying to his whole family. Your attitude is not helping to make the situation better."

"Hey Max! Have you seen Superman, the 1978 movie?" Mark tries to steer the conversation to less volatile subject matter.

"No," Max replies.

"You really should. It's a classic. Marianne, do you have a copy of Superman around here." Mark tries.

"No," Marianne says.

"I'll bring mine next time I come up. Or, Max if you like, we could go back to my place and watch it." Mark tries.

"No. Sensing a pattern here yet, Mark?" Max isn't happy.

"I'll bring it with me next time. Logan might be interested." Mark persists.

Max sighs, "What makes you think that?"

"The actor that played Superman was paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury. Unfortunately he died a few years later … due to complications." Mark continues, completely oblivious to the dangers of pissing off an X5.

Act4, Scene 3

Everyone has finished eating. They are still sitting around the table.

"Max, could you help me get the dishes?" Marianne asks.

"Of course," Max replies. She picks up a few plates, winks at Logan, and follows Marianne and Julie into the kitchen.

"So, Max …" Marianne begins.

"What's up with me and Logan?" Max finishes for her, with amusement.

"That obvious, huh?" Marianne says.

"Oh, yeah. I wish I could read Logan as easily."

"Does this mean you don't know either?" Julie asks.

"It's not quite that bad. I know we are good friends. I am just not sure how much more, if any, that he wants. I don't fit in with his family, but he has told me he wouldn't want me to. I know he is still adjusting to his injury, and everything that means. I figure there is no hurry." Max shrugs. "Still," she pauses, looking thoughtful, "mind if I go listen in on what they're talking about?" Max asks with a mischievous grin.

Julie and Marianne exchange smiles. "Good luck, my dear." Julie pats her on the shoulder.

Act 4, Scene 4

Cut to the dinning room table, the women have just left the men to talk.

"Logan, what is it you do?" asks John Music.

"Not a lot these days …" Logan begins to explain, again.

"So you don't have a job you go to in Seattle?" John cuts him off.

"No, I …" Logan tries, again.

John cuts him off, again. "Good. You and Max can move down to Olympia. We'll figure out something for you. You can help out with our chess team, work on your masters, rebuild our computer science department, or something. I assume you are the reason Max flatly refused to come down, even with a full scholarship." John asks pointedly.

"You two must be pretty serious for her to pass up an offer like that in this economy." Bennett asks, happy for his cousin.

Logan looks miserable.

"You should be happy. She is bright, attractive, she obviously likes you. So what if she wasn't born to money." Robert prods.

"Look we aren't like that. We are friends. She helps me… a lot … but that's it." Logan tries.

"Oh, really?" pipes up Mark. "Hmmm." Mark has a huge grin on his face, as he looks toward the kitchen.

Logan looks more miserable.

"Logan, did she turn down John's offer because of you, or because she didn't think he was serious?" Bennett asks

"I was serious," John states.

"I know that, but Max doesn't know you." Bennett explains. They all look to Logan for an answer.

"I'll talk to her," Logan promises, but he still looks uncomfortable.

"About the two of you, or the scholarship? She seems bright, cynical, but very intelligent. A good education could be just what she needs. The key to a good future. Logan, if you are serious, do something about it. If you are not serious yet, Olympia isn't that far away. You could still see her on weekends." Robert says.

"Even if you are serious, come with her. I have been trying to pull together a world class chess team for decades. You two are just what we need." John coaxes.

Mark stands up and walked toward the kitchen. He is reaching for the door when it suddenly swings open toward him. He jumps, but not fast enough to avoid getting hit, hard, again. "Oh, I'm sorry." says Max as she walks right past him to gather another dish from the table.

Act 4, Scene 5

They are all sitting the dinning room over tea or wine.

"Robin Hood and Zorro both had fat friars as accomplices! You could check with the church, see if there are any in the area." It is probable that Uncle John has had a little too much wine. Marianne rolls her eyes. He continues "Of course Robin Hood himself married a maid named Marianne." John looks accusingly at Bennett.

"Maid Marian," Julie corrects.

"That's it, Uncle John. You are staying here tonight." Marianne smiles.

"Nonsense, I'll be fine." John returns, slightly slurred.

"I don't want Marianne to have to arrest anyone here." Bennett says.

Unbeknownst to Max and Logan they each think 'Me neither' at the same time.

"You probably shouldn't be driving," Logan says.

"You know …there was a superhero named Logan. Wolverine, wasn't it? He was all the rage at the end of the last century. Where you named after him?" John continues, slightly slurred.

"No, I was named after my father."

"Besides, Logan isn't the berserker type. He's more like Professor X." Mark smiles, expecting a rise out of Logan.

"The brains behind the operation," Bennett jumps in.

"I was thinking more along the 'stuck in a wheelchair' lines." Mark says.

"MARK!" Julie cries, mortified.

"Well, we were trying to come up with a profile of a superhero …" Mark says.

"Does Eyes Only have superpowered mutants he sends out into battle?" asks John, slightly confused. Max takes a drink of her tea.

"No. No evidence of mutants," Robert comments dryly.

"So far. But what if .." John begins.

"Uncle John, enough! This is my night off. I am not looking for Eyes Only right now. Besides, I very much doubt that he's here." There is soft laughter from everyone, each for his or her own reasons.

"So, any ideas on how we can get out of here gracefully?" Logan whispers to Max. Max promptly spills her after dinner tea on his lap.

"Oh, no! I am so sorry." Max cries.

"It's OK." Logan blots up his lap with his napkin.

"No, it's not. That was hot!" Max tries her best to sound upset.

"I don't feel it." Logan tries to reassure her.

"We still need to get you home so I can look at it. Just because you can't feel it doesn't mean it doesn't need care." Max says.

"It is late. They probably need to go to bed." Logan glances at John.

"OK. You can go, but don't forget; Max said you were a good cook. You need to prove it. I'll bring the chess set!" John calls after them as they leave. Logan cringes.

Bennett and Marianne walk Logan and Max to the front door.

"I am so sorry about Mark …" Marianne begins.

"It's alright," Logan assures them. "Next time you give Bennett a hard time over the … unpleasant members of our family, remember we don't have a monopoly." Logan smiles.

"It was so nice finally getting to talk to you. When I first started meeting Bennett's family I was so worried about conflict of interest, but most of them don't even speak to me and you are so … well, nice. You and mom collaborating on a book …" Marianne smiles. "I am looking forward to getting closer to you."

Max and Logan leave. The door shuts.

---TBC --- but almost done.

A/N: I know that the series never said exactly what happened to Gerhardt Bronck, so I capriciously decided he broke his neck falling out the plane at the end of Out.