A/N: g This story is loved! That's so exciting! Sorry that this chapter is so short… I think the next one might be kinda short, too… but don't worry, they will get longer!
SGXOXO: Awww… I'm glad you like this story so much! The fluffy romantic-ness just gets better later. Enjoy this chapter!
PitBullLady: :blushes: Thank you so much for your review! It made my day. And "kronos" actually means "time" in Greek? Wow. I didn't even know that. But now that I do, that could make a very interesting incorporation… ; )
Thank you thank you thank you to my reviewers! I love you so much!
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Syndrome hovers just outside his jet over Metroville, watching the movement of his Omnidroid. He is proud, so proud, that it is operating exactly as it should.
Don't forget what you've built. Mirage's words ring in his head.
He draws a deep breath in preparation. Don't worry, Mirage. I won't forget.
He drops downward, straight and true, like a hawk diving for its prey.
- - - - - - - - -
Mirage now sits among the guards, watching the news while fearfully chewing her fingers. Let him be all right, let him be all right…
"He'll be ok," a guard named Jason says to her, noting her nervousness. "He's had this planned out for years. He can't fail now."
Oh, if only Jason knew! Mirage just nods, eyes glued to the screen. "Where is he?" she demands, shifting impatiently where she stands.
As soon as she speaks, Syndrome appears. The camera has turned to him as he zero-points a tanker truck filled with oil, saving a woman and her child from almost certain death. There are people whispering around the camera, wondering which Super he is. Rather dramatically, he announces himself as a new Super, and prepares to throw the truck aside. He thinks better of it and sets it down lightly on the side of the road, where hopefully it will not cause much damage.
Suddenly, the Omnidroid appears out of nowhere. Mirage gives a little scream despite herself. "It's ok," Jason says, laying a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, but he doesn't sound very certain himself. The Omnidroid is a very large and very threatening machine. If Syndrome does one little thing wrong…
Syndrome attacks the Omnidroid, diving at it and hitting one of the legs with amazing precision. It falls off, thanks to the remote control attached to his arm. He pulls up in time to avoid a swing from one of the other legs, and Mirage emits another scream as he dives below the machine, which is now trying to crush him. "He's going to die, I just know it…" she groans.
"He's not going to die," Jason says, but he definitely sounds like he does not believe this now.
Syndrome plummets and hits another leg. It falls to the ground. By now the Omnidroid has caught on to the fact that Syndrome has a remote and is controlling its every move. The Omnidroid is quite resentful of this, and is fiercely attempting to shoot its creator. Fortunately, Syndrome is paying attention to what Mirage told him and, despite his obvious desire to play the hero and wave to all the people below him, he pays attention to what he's doing. He avoids every blast (narrowly) and shoots upward. He prepares to dive and attack again, but by now the "eye" on top of the Omnidroid's head is spinning rapidly, tracking his movements. It will lock onto him soon and kill him. Mirage has never been more certain of anything.
"NO!" Mirage buries her head in Jason's shoulder, since it is the only conveniently located place to hide. Jason seems to want to do the same, but is too fascinated and terrified to pull his eyes away from the scene.
No, no, no… don't let him die… not after all I've done to save him! Mirage pleads with whatever entity happens to be listening to her prayers.
There is a horribly loud explosion. Mirage screams in horror, but Jason is shaking her and shouting triumphantly, "It's ok, Mirage, it's ok, he beat it! He made it explode! It was so cool, you should've seen the way that thing blew up into a massive fireball! He won! He did it! I can't believe it, he did it!"
Mirage lifts her head from Jason's shoulder and stares suspiciously at the TV screen, as though it might be lying to her. But there's Syndrome, sweaty and sooty, grinning jubilantly. A crowd of cheering people surrounds him. Relief floods Mirage's body, and she giggles despite herself. Everybody in the control room begins to clap, relieved and elated that their plan has worked.
Mirage smiles happily. Syndrome won't be going to the Incredibles' home. The jet won't kill him. Hell, the Incredibles won't even be there to -
Mirage's heart stops with one horrible realization.
The Incredibles! They would have escaped from their cells by now! God only knew where they were - it was just pure luck they hadn't shown up on the scene in Metroville - then again, they couldn't escape the island without her help, but still -
She grabs Jason's arm. "Jason!" she gasps. "Check the cell holding the Incredibles! DO IT NOW!"
Jason gives her an odd look, but she is so frantic that he shrugs and unquestioningly checks the cell via security camera.
They're gone.