Chapter 6: "I Hope You Lead A Happier Life Than Mine"

Father launched another blast, but Crow and Wally dodged it. A giant searing hole appeared in the wall, showing the edge of the cliff, just a few feet away.

"You know, I always thought you looked familiar, Wally," smiled Father. "I just could never put my finger on it. You look an awful lot like your mother. Well, glad to see you and I are reunited once again. And Crow, I must admit, you really were brilliant, setting me up like you did. You came very close to killing me. But not close enough!" He fired another blast, one that tore down the wall completely. Wally and Crow ran outside to gain more space, and found themselves at the edge of the cliff.

"Crow, I noticed that the security cameras of the Mantra were turned off as soon as you had disabled them. I could already tell you were planning something. So I left a few minutes after you did, and merely pretended that I was in the Mantra. I even picked up a passenger along the way. You came so very close, Crow. Sorry things didn't turn out right."

"Wally, use your jet pack and get out of here! I'll take care of Father!" shouted Crow.

"No way, you know you can't take him by yourself!" Another blast shot towards them. Crow pulled Wally to the ground just in time.

"He's right, Crow!" called Father, slowly approaching. "You aren't strong enough to take me on your own. Not that the runt will be much help." He fired another blast, and then another. He purposely missed, just so he could toy with them. Then Crow pulled out a gun and shot him right in the head. Father paused for a moment, and then laughed.

"Nice try, Crow! But you should remember that simple bullets can't kill a man like me," said Father. He gave a sigh. "I'm sorry, Crow, but I really do have to kill you now. I think I'll kill your little friend first so you can watch him burn to death!" And so he launched yet another jet of flame, and this time his aim was dead on.

But as the flame soared towards Wally, Crow leapt in front of him.

"NO!" shouted Wally, as he saw Crow's body burst into flame. But then he realized that the flames were black, and that they didn't seem to be harming Crow at all. They simply outlined his body. What the hell? thought Wally.

Father looked as shocked as Wally. Father was shooting a continuous blast of fire, and Crow just seemed to be...absorbing it. Then dawning comprehension came to Father's face. Crow smirked at him.

"Your DNA," Crow said softly. "The DNA you gave me, it's given me your pyrokinesis. I've been hiding it from you the entire time." Suddenly he let out a loud, raucous laugh. "You idiot! You've given me exactly what I need to kill you!" A wicked smile crept across Crow's face. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

Father realized he was at a disadvantage. So he leapt at Crow, swinging his fist right at his head. Crow calmly dodged it and grasped his arm. Then he sank his fist into his stomach, as deep as he could. Father let out a sharp breath, and his eyes grew wide. Crow grabbed Father's arm with both hands and tossed him over the cliff. He grinned triumphantly over at Wally.

Suddenly, a burst of flame crashed into the ledge near Crow's feet, Father's last attack. Crow stumbled and fell over the cliff, the flames that once enveloped his body expiring.

"No!" shouted Wally. He turned his jet pack on and shot after him. He grasped Crow's hand, holding tight. "Gotcha!" Then, to his horror, the jet pack began sputtering, and finally stopped working. They fell even further, but Wally managed to snag a branch.

"Wally, let go! That jet pack can't handle both of us!" ordered Crow.

"I'm not letting go!"

"You wanted to kill me a few minutes ago, now do it!"

"I told you, I'm not letting go!" shouted Wally.

Crow smiled. "You're a good kid, Wally. I hope you lead a happier life than mine." He gave Wally a vicious uppercut that sent him flying. The jet pack turned back on, and Wally soared above the cliff. Barely conscious, he flew back onto the cliff and collapsed. "Crow," he muttered softly, just as he blacked out.

Two days later

He's dead. That's another man I've let down. First Dizzy, then Crow. God damn it, who's next? Wally told the others the story of what happened, leaving out the part about their connection to Father. He and the others had searched for Crow's body, as well as Father's. It seemed that they lost control of their pyrokinesis and disintegrated themselves. Cree tried to stay brave, but she broke down before long. Abby had spent the previous day comforting her, and for the first time in years they truly felt like sisters.

He gazed at the setting sun from atop the Boomer, a few beer bottles at his side. The others were below, deciding what course of action to take. Like it matters, thought Wally.

"So Father was behind everything all along," sighed Nigel. He wondered when they were going to leave. They wanted to take Wally with them, but after Kuki told them of Wally's break down, they were too afraid to say anything. Not only was he bearing the guilt of Dizzy's death, but Crow's as well. Nigel wasn't sure what, but something happened to Wally that changed his mind about Crow.

"Well, it seems pointless to look for the Delightful Children," sighed Cree. "We won't accomplish anything by looking for them. I guess we might as well just...head back home. I'll take you guys back on the WarTalon, if you want." She sighed heavily, and tears welled in her eyes again. To her surprise, there were tears in Chad's eyes as well.

"Thanks, Cree," replied Nigel. "Well, gang, I guess this is the time to leave. Let's say goodbye to Wally." They climbed up to the top of the airship to find Wally staring out at the sunset.

"Erm, um, we're leaving, Wally," stammered Nigel. "Thanks for bringing us to Australia."

"Listen man, you'll always have a place at Sector V," said Hoagie. " Come see us whenever you want. You're our family, after all."

Kuki walked over to Wally, hesitated, and then put her arm on his shoulder. "Wally, I love you. Please, come back to us someday." She took her arm off his shoulder and turned around. But before she even moved a foot, Wally grabbed her, turned her around, and kissed her on the lips. When they broke apart, everyone stared bewildered at Wally. Except for Kuki, who now had a dreamy, slightly dopey look on her face.

"What the bloody hell are you blokes lookin' at!" Listen, you dundaheads, I'm comin' with ya, whether you want me or not. Dizzy and Crow told me to be happy, and god dammit, that's what I'm gonna do! Anybody got a problem with that?" he asked threateningly, stumbling a little. He wasn't quite drunk yet, but he sure as hell wasn't sober. Everyone slowly shook their heads.

The top hatch of the Boomer opened, and they saw the other Aussies come up.

"All right, boss!" called Dingo, carrying a rope in his hands. "You're going back with the Americans, right now!"

"I know I am, you dolt! I just decided that!" shouted Wally.

"Oh," said the Aussies, suddenly looking bashful.

"What's that rope for?" asked Wally, eyeing it suspiciously.

"Well, we were going to tie you up," explained Dingo.

"And I was going to stuff this sock in your mouth," said Walker, holding up a dirty gym sock.

"And I was going to hit you over the head with this great big stick if you got too rowdy," added Jackknife.

"But I guess we don't need to do any of that now," sighed Silo.

"I know, it sucks," sympathized Jackknife. "I've wanted to thump him one for ages."

"Idiots," muttered Wally under his breath.

"Guys, you've got to come down here, right now!" shouted Chad from below. "Hurry up!"

The nine kids all scampered through the hatch at once, and promptly collapsed on the floor. They rushed over to Chad and Cree, who were staring at the display screen next to the fridge, frightened looks on their faces. Wally was the first to reach them, and his jaw dropped when he saw the screen.

"Holy Crud!" shouted Wally. It was Father, alive and well, in his mansion back in America.

"Well, hello there, Number 4," smiled Father. "I have a nice little surprise for–

"Oi!" shouted a familiar voice. "Lord Barbecue! Get your ass out of my face!"

"Shut up, fool!" shouted Father. "As I was saying, I have a little–

"Get your ass out of my face! Now!"

"I said shut up!" screamed Father. "I have a little surprise for you, Wally." He moved away from the screen and gestured elaborately behind him. A bruised, bloody boy with a blue mohawk and a swollen eye was glaring at the screen.

"Wally, is that you? I can't really tell, my vision's a tad blurry."

"Dizzy!" cried Wally. "Don't worry mate, I'll–

"Two surprises, actually," smiled Father. "Son, would you come here, please?" asked Father. A teen with long, black hair stepped in front of Dizzy. His right eye was gone, replaced by a mechanical one that glowed bright red. His left forearm had been replaced by a robotic one, and the boy extended long, sharp claws out of the hand.

"Crow," whispered Cree.

"What is it, Father?" asked Crow, his voice monotone, his face expressionless, devoid of life.

"Oh, I just wanted to show everyone how well you are. After that nasty fall you took, everyone must have been so nervous! But what's a few lost body parts, when your alive and well and back with your old man, eh, son?"

"Certainly, Father," replied Crow.

"I do hope you don't take too long coming here," said Father, addressing the KND. "You see, this Dizzy really is quite bothersome, and I may kill him before long. Ta ta!" Father ended the transmission.

"What's happened to Crow?" asked Cree, frightful.

"Father. That's what's happened to him," replied Wally softly, staring at the ground, his eyes covered by his bangs.

"Wally?" asked Kuki. Please, don't let this bring him down, thought Kuki. He was so happy just a second ago.

He lifted his head up, a bright smile on his face. "Well then, it's a good thing we're headed to America! We've got to stop Father, rescue Dizzy and Crow...geez, we've got quite a lot on our hands!" He turned to Nigel. "Numbuh 1, may I do the honors?" asked Wally.

"Certainly, Numbuh 4," answered Nigel, smiling.

"Kids Next Door!" shouted Wally. "Battlestations!"