Just came to say goodbye love

goodbye love… goodbye love…

goodbye…

- "Goodbye Love" from RENT

Bob Parr stared at the intercom unit on the jet's complex control panel as though waiting for Kauri to say something more, but only static greeted his wasted efforts. He hung up the small come unit with a look of concern. The transmission had come so rapidly, and been so strange, and ended so abruptly… "Should we…?" he hesitantly asked his wife and the two other Supers with him, Eric and Lucius. He looked almost hopelessly lost and confused.

"We've gotta bust her out," Eric said fiercely. "I won't let this asshole hold her in his compound and control her!"

"What did Syndrome mean when he said we should be most worried about Kauri when she's with you?" Lucius demanded suspiciously. "That didn't make any sense… unless you're not telling us something."

Eric's jaw clenched. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said harshly. "It's all bull. Or maybe he's just referring to her betraying me. I mean, she slept with him! He must have known how pissed off I'd be!"

"Eric, you have to kinder to her," Helen said firmly. "Syndrome could have forced her - or he could be lying."

This didn't seem to ease Eric's fears. "I still think we should go and bust her out and kick this guy's ass," he said.

Helen looked worried. "But what if he hurts her when we come in?" she questioned. "It might be better to wait and see if he returns her when he says he will."

"And wait for him to kill her?" Bob raged. "I can't do that, Helen! We've got to save her now!"

"If he was going to kill her, I think he would have done it already," Lucius said certainly. "Why the hell would he wait around when he's got her so conveniently trapped?"

"He could be torturing her, just for the fun of it!" Bob pointed out hotly.

"Nah," Lucius said. "He wouldn't waste his time and energy. He must have other plans. Maybe he needs her for something."

"What could he possibly need Kauri for, besides somebody to screw?" Eric demanded. "It's not like she has the most fantastic powers in the world or something!"

"Eric!" Helen said sharply. "Look, I think Lucius is right. Kauri sounded like she was ok, so I don't think we have to worry about her yet. I've just got this feeling… he's not going to kill her."

"Well, it certainly sounds like he's enjoying her company, anyway," Eric said savagely.

They were silent for a long moment. Then, almost painfully, Bob said, "We'll wait and see what happens, all right? But if she's not back on Monday, there'll be hell to pay."

- - - - - - - - -

When Bex finally found the dining room, Mirage was waiting with a fabulous array of foods. She looked behind Kauri curiously and then raised an eyebrow. "And where's the mad scientist?" she asked.

Kauri flopped dejectedly into a seat by Mirage. "He's über-pissed at me," she said unhappily. "He said he had some stuff to do. He's eating in his lab."

"That's stupid," Mirage said, delicately taking a bite out of a peach. "He'll get food on what whatever he's working on."

"That's what I told him. He told me to fuck off."

Mirage winced. "He really is pissed, isn't he? What'd you do?"

"Gee, thanks for implying that I actually did something," Bex said sarcastically. "The Incredibles and my loving boyfriend came to my rescue. Syndrome warded them off, but I asked him not to say anything about what Eric's been doing to me and now he's pissed because he says I'm making him the bad guy here."

Mirage chewed a second bite of peach contemplatively. "Well, that's sort of true," she said gently.

"It is not!" Kauri said indignantly. "He just made it worse for himself by mocking Eric and telling everybody I slept with him last night - "

"He didn't!" Mirage gasped.

"He did," Bex said sourly. "You can't even imagine how black and blue I'm going to be when I go back to Metroville."

Mirage set her peach down on her plate and frowned. "You're going back?" she said disbelievingly.

Bex shrugged. "Buddy told them I would be back by Monday," she said. "If I don't go back, they'll be here to bust him, and I don't want that. I can bet he doesn't want it, either."

Mirage sighed heavily. "Maybe you could go back, meet them, and tell them you were planning on staying here and explain everything," she suggested.

Bex shook her head. "I can't do that," she said softly.

Mirage was starting to look angry. "Why not?" she demanded.

"I've got too much emotional baggage," Kauri said wearily. "Before I can stay here - and believe me, I'd like nothing better - I have to deal with my own problems. You know, figure things out. I don't want either of you to have to deal with my issues when I'm sure you've got stuff of your own going on."

"We can deal," Mirage said. "Really, Bex, we can."

"Yeah, well, I can't," Bex said. "I've got to face things down myself before I can ever be ok. That means going back to Eric and… well… breaking up with him, I guess."

Mirage blinked in astonishment. "You're going to break up with him?"

Bex fiddled with some pasta on her plate. "Well, what else can I do?" she said slowly. "I can't keep living like this. You guys are right about that. But… I've got to work up the courage to deal with him. I've got to prove to myself that I'm strong enough to handle this… not as a Super, but just as a person."

Mirage looked stunned. After a moment, she said, "Well, I'd say that's a worthy reason to go back."

Kauri smiled halfheartedly. "I'm glad you approve," she said. "But I don't know that Syn will."

"He'll be thrilled that you're finally leaving this asshole," Mirage said assuredly. "Don't worry about it."

"He'll want to help me out, though," Bex said. "He'll want to come with me and kick Eric's ass, and nice as that would be, this is something I absolutely have to do alone. And if I tell him… when I tell him… he'll want to go with me. I can't let that happen."

Mirage bit her lip. "I guess I can understand that," she said.

Bex sighed and then sat up. "Look," she said. "I need to get off the island today, while Buddy's still pissed at me and doesn't want to hang around me. If we make up, he'll never leave me alone and I won't have the chance to go anywhere. Can you get me a jet back to Metroville?"

Of course Mirage could. The head of security, Jason, was practically falling all over himself to date her, and he'd do anything for her if she asked. But she knew just how angry Syndrome would be if he found out she'd asked Jason to authorize Kauri's flight back to the mainland. He wouldn't want Bex going anywhere, especially when it involved something as important as this. Mirage would be betraying him yet again. But Bex was her friend too. And if this would help Bex…

"Yes," she said. "I can get you a jet. When do you want to leave?"

"Right now."

- - - - - - - - -

The morning had worn Syndrome's temper to a painful rawness. He'd been working furiously on the designs for his latest weapon - a zero-point pistol that could also fire laser beams - but the work had failed to distract him from the earlier events of the day. Usually designing and creating were the most effective therapy, but anything dealing with Bex was in a realm all its own.

Syndrome was startled from his thoughts by a timid knock on the door. He looked up and glared suspiciously at it, as though checking to make sure his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. However, the knock came again, louder this time. "Who is it?" he called.

"It's me." Mirage's voice filtered in from the other side of the door.

"Hi, 'Me,'" Syndrome said, turning back to his work. "I wasn't aware anybody with that name worked here. Come in so I can check and make sure I know you. And if I don't, you'll be vaporized on the spot."

"You're such a loser," Mirage said exasperatedly, and opened the door. She walked over to wear Syndrome was working and very apprehensively held out a note. "This is for you," she said.

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" he said. "Any particular reason why you're so scared to give it to me?"

"It's from Bex."

"Oh," Syndrome said flatly, eyes narrowing. "An apology, I hope?"

"Not exactly," Mirage said nervously.

Syndrome unfolded the note and read it with growing consternation.

Syn,

Listen, I'm sorry about this morning. I really am. I'm just really, really scared about everything, which you of all people should know. I hate feeling so weak, and I try to pretend like I'm strong enough to deal with things, but the fact is that I'm not. Not yet.

Look, you shouldn't have to deal with this crap, and I shouldn't be making you the bad guy. You're right about that. It's not fair to you, because you're not as bad as everybody thinks you are, and I just made you seem a lot worse. I'm sorry for that, too.

The point is that you're right about pretty much everything. (I can just picture that smug little smirk that's crossing your face right now as you read this.) I need to ditch Eric, and I'd be better off staying with you. Thing is, I can't do that with the way things are going right now. I have to go back to Metroville and talk to Eric and tie up all the loose ends. ALONE. You can't help me out here, Buddy. I know you probably don't understand, but I promise it'll all make sense later.

I'm taking a jet back to Metroville so I can figure everything out. Don't come chasing after me. I've got to deal with all this by myself. I'll call you when I've got everything figured out and have explained what's happened over the past weeks to the other Supers - promise.

xoxo,

Bex

p.s. Don't you DARE blame Mirage for any of this! If I hear anything about you attacking her I'll come back and beat you!

"You authorized her jet take off?" Syndrome exploded when he finished reading.

Mirage backed away from him. "You did read the p.s., didn't you?" she questioned fearfully.

Syndrome swallowed his rage, his hands clenching and unclenching into fists. "Ooh, the things I should do to you," he hissed. "I don't think I even have a torture device that would punish you enough!"

"Syndrome, she has to do this alone!" Mirage said almost pleadingly. "You've got to understand. She won't be free from this situation unless she's dealt with it herself. I had to let her go back!"

"You could have warned me first!" he snarled angrily, crumpling the note tightly in his gloved fist.

"You wouldn't have let her go," Mirage said scornfully. "You would have denied access to the computer and when Jason tried to give Kauri authorization he would be blocked, and she'd be stuck here, and she'd never have gotten off Nomanisan."

"Exactly," Syndrome said through clenched teeth. "That's why you should have told me"

Mirage shook her head. "That's why we didn't tell you."

"Mirage, Eric's going to kill her!" All of Syndrome's frustration erupted from him in the furious shout. "He'll take her out and murder her - you just see if he doesn't! And if she dies, it's your fault!"

"I believe it would be your fault for mentioning to Eric that she slept with you, which is undoubtedly what would piss him off enough to kill her in the first place," Mirage pointed out. "Besides, Kauri's a Super. She can just use her powers and deal with him."

"Yeah?" Syndrome said hotly, starting towards the door of his lab. "Well, Eric's a Super too, doll face. And Kauri's never fought back before… what the hell makes you think she'll fight back now?"

"Because she loves you."

Syndrome stopped dead and turned around to face Mirage. "What?" he breathed, stunned.

"She loves you," Mirage repeated softly. "And she doesn't want you to have to deal with her baggage. She wants to come back and be with you - but she wants to be free of all the pain she's been dragging with her all this time. That's why she left. So she can let it all go and come back to you a better person."

Syndrome dropped onto a lab stool, looking utterly astounded by this revelation. "But… but she… but today she… why?" he blurted.

Mirage shrugged slightly. "Having never been in love, I'm sure I can't tell you," she said. "You can ask her when she comes back."

Syndrome stared at the floor as though it held some answer. He stayed like that for several long minutes, although the amazed expression slowly disappeared from his face and changed to thoughtfulness. Finally, he spoke again. "I have to go to Metroville," he said.

"No, Syndrome!" Mirage exclaimed. "Weren't we just going over this? Kauri can't ha - "

"I'm not going to help her," Syndrome said, standing. "I have some other people to talk to."

Mirage looked suspicious. "Who?"

"The Incredibles."

"You know," Mirage said, starting to sound angry, "I don't think it'll win you points with Bex to go and wreak havoc in the lives of her friends!"

"I'm not going to wreak havoc," Syndrome said. "I'm going to apologize."

Mirage's jaw dropped. "What?" she gasped. "You, apologize?"

Syndrome chuckled. "You don't have to sound so amazed," he said. "I am capable of feeling sorry about things, you know."

Mirage was still gaping at him in disbelief. "I just - I can't - I - " She glared at him skeptically. "You'd better not be lying!" she said.

Syndrome laughed and then hugged her. Syndrome hadn't hugged Mirage for years. All Mirage could do was stand there in shock.

When he pulled back, he shook his head and smiled at the look on her face. "You know, the stupid gaping look really doesn't suit you," he informed her. "And I would close my mouth, if I were you."

Mirage's jaw snapped shut as though somebody had kicked it.

Syndrome turned and walked out of the room, boots clacking on the metal floor as he departed. Mirage regained enough of her sense to call after him, "Hey! Where do you think you're going?"

"Metroville," he called over his shoulder. "It seems I have some accounts to settle before I can actually live in peace. Sort of like Bex, actually."

With that, he disappeared down the hall, leaving a confused and thunderstruck Mirage to continue staring after him.