Episodes 3: Little Rascals

Note: This is probably not one of the better stories of the series, but bear with me. I wasn't satisfied with some details, including the ending. But I had to write this. Partly it's setting up for stuff I'm going to do later, but mainly I'm trying to portray the temptation most, if not all, victims of autism face--to pull away from the world. "I Am a Rock" is by Simon and Garfunkle.

"Hi Virgil!"

Virgil feigned surprise; Richie told him Precious would be coming in that day. "Hey there, Muse! How's it going? Ready to get back to work?"

"Yes sir, I am. I've been dreaming about it for months. I can't wait!"

"I see you've been working on your speech. Good going!" They had talked several times over the Shock Box. Richie had told him that she was seeing a speech therapist, and every time Precious showed improvement. This, though, was the most normal he had ever heard her.

"Yes. Miss Stanley got me out of class on Tuesdays to help me."

"Well, you're doing great."

Richie came in front the back of the gas station. "Hey Precious! Fancy seeing you here! Hey, I've been doing a little work on the Magic Hat, trying to make things easy for you. I added an automatic mode to the holographic interface. Last time you had to concentrate on your disguise, but this has the wings programmed in. It also has a randomizer on the facial region."

"And that means . . .?"

"She'll appear slightly different every time. It'll make the concept of the Muse more universal."

"OK."

Richie put the hat on Precious' head. "Also it has voice recognition. It knows your voice and can respond to one single-word command. I think you know what that magic word is."

Precious looked confused. "Please?"

"No, the other magic word, the one that worked for you before."

"Oh, MAGIC!" Immediately her features transformed, and she became the Muse. She had black hair, brown eyes, and slightly darker skin. "Cool! Oh, and I have something to add to my costume." She pulled out a necklace with a glass pendant. "My friend Irene from Church gave this to me. It's a prism. Watch this." She put her hands around the pendant, and it started to glow. "This will make some more color."

Richie raised an eyebrow. "Do you play RPGs at home?"

"What's an RPG?"

"It's short for Role Playing Game. I ought to show you some of mine; it'll give you some ideas of new, creative attacks. That just looks like something out of an RPG. I like it. How about you, Virgil?"

"Yeah, it's a change. It might make people think that her magic powers come from the necklace and try to steal it."

"That's ok. It would make an interesting diversion. If they do manage to take it, her powers won't be taken. And we can get another necklace. It doesn't look expensive."

"Ok, we'll see how it works. So, has Backpack picked up anything yet?"

"Unfortunately, no. Guess it's just a balmy summer day. Nobody wants to do crime yet."

"That's ok," Precious said. "There's something I've been wondering. Virgil told me that he didn't learn his powers but they just happened. How did they happen?"

"Well, that's a long story," Virgil snickered.

"Well, since we have nowhere to go . . . "

"Ok. It happened years ago. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing. I really don't want to get into that. It's full of bad memories. But when I was there, these containers exploded and gave off a purple gas. I woke up next morning with electric powers. We found out everybody who breathed it in got a different power."

"And that's how so many people are able to do magic?"

"That's right."

"And you Richie? You were down there?"

"Actually, no. After Virgil realized his powers, I was the first person he showed. I was the one who suggested he should be a superhero. I got the gas secondhand, because his clothes were still reeking of it. It had kinda a delayed reaction. I got my powers a couple of years later that made me super, super smart."

"Almost as smart as you," Virgil laughed.

"So, how is it that you know how to work your powers?"

"Practice," they said together.

"And how did you keep your powers?"

"That's part of the mystery of the gas," Richie explained. "Somehow it changed our DNA, I think. There's no other explanation."

"Oh, I see! That's what bang babies are! I had wondered when I heard that from those mean guys who took me."

"Yeah, that's right," Virgil nodded. "We're also called metahumans, a term that yours truly coined, thank you very much."

"So what do you call people who aren't bang babies?"

Richie said, "Non-metahumans, or . . ."

"Muggles," Virgil quickly added.

Precious looked offended. "Hey."

Virgil laughed. "Just kidding. Really we just call them humans."

They talked for a long time about other bang babies and helped her to understand. It must have taken an hour, and Backpack never went off. All the heroes were starting to get a little restless.

"Hey Precious, what music do you like?" Virgil asked out of the blue.

"New Age, Classical, Mannheim Steamroller, Mike Oldfield. Mommy likes Rock and Roll. I like some of that. And sometimes we listen to Country and Top 40. I guess I'd listen to just about everything."

"What about Rap or Hip Hop?"

"Oh, Mommy won't let me listen to that. She says it's vulgar. V-U-L-G-A- R, crudely indecent. I-N-D-E--"

"Yeah, I know. She's right; a lot of it is, but not all of it. In fact, I personally know such a musician whose music isn't vulgar, and he lives here in Dakota. You wanna meet him?"

"OK."

"Cool. I'll take you to his apartment. Richie, you mind calling Adam and tell him we're coming?"

"Can do."

They took off. The Muse stared down at Dakota. "I like flying," she said.

"Yeah," Static said. "It never gets old."

She noticed some kids playing in the street. "Hey look! It's Static and the Muse!" The kids waved at the superheroes.

"Did you hear that?" she said. "They recognized me!"

"They sure do. You know, some people had been really missing you when you weren't here."

"Really?"

"Yeah, they've been asking about you."

"Wow."

Others were also watching the superheroes, but neither Static nor the Muse saw them. They hid in the shadows. "That's her," one whispered. "Let's prepare for a new resident. It's time."

****************

A very tall young man greeted the heroes at the door. "Hey Static," he said. "What a surprise."

"And I got another one for you. Adam, this is the Muse. Muse, this is Adam Evans."

Adam shook her hand. "Static's been telling me a lot about you. It's an honor to finally meet you."

"Pleased to meet you," the Muse answered in a flat voice. "My name is P--I mean, pleased to meet you."

"Come in. Would you like something to drink?"

"Yes please."

"How about a Coke? Will that be good? OK, I'll get it." Adam didn't move from his spot. He stretched his arm down the hall, around the den, and over to the kitchen. A minute later, the arm returned with a can of Coke in its hand. "Here you go."

Precious didn't take it but stood with her jaw dropped. "Oh, are you a bang baby?"

Static slapped his forehead. "Man, I forgot to tell you! When Adam's not making music or chillin' with his girlfriend, what's her name, Shannon?"

"SHARON Hawkins," Adam nodded. (The Muse stifled a giggle and looked at Static.)

"Right. Anyway, when he's not doing that, he's a superhero too. He calls himself Rubberband Man."

"Oh, cool," Precious said. "How come I haven't seen him before?"

"I'm only a hero occasionally. My music career keeps me pretty busy. Hey, how come you didn't tell her that? Isn't that the most important thing?"

"Well, I was too wound up about sharing your music with her," Virgil replied.

"A'ight, I'd be glad to. Hey Muse, would you like to tour my crib?"

The Muse didn't respond for a moment, then asked, "You still have a crib?"

Static and Adam both burst out laughing. "Well, that shows how much she watches MTV," Static said.

"I don't get it," the Muse said quietly.

"It's ok," Adam said. "'Crib' is a word from a special kind of slang. It means my place, house, shelter, casa."

"Oh, like 'pad?'"

The guys laughed again. "What you going do? She's the daughter of a hippie," Static shrugged.

"Yeah that's right. So, you wanna?"

"OK."

He showed her all around. Static didn't come along, probably because he'd been there before a few times.

Adam pointed to a picture in his den. "That's me with AJ McClean. You know who the Backstreet Boys are?"

"The Backstreet Boys were a popular boy band that came on the music scene in 1994 with hits such like 'I Want it That Way,' 'Larger than Life,' and 'Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely.'"

"Uh, yeah. Well, AJ's a member of the Backstreet Boys."

"AJ McClean went into rehabilitation for alcohol detoxification and to treat depression in July 2001. They have not recorded a record since."

"How do you know all this? You a fan?"

"Mommy likes to watch the entertainment talk show 'Real Life LA.'"

"Yeah. Well still, it was cool meeting him. They almost cut one of my songs, but then September 11 happened. They cancelled all their tours and recording sessions. But they're about to go back into the studio soon, so there's still hope." Adam closed the door. "Hey Muse, Static told me you liked to read a lot."

"Oh yes, I love to read."

Adam looked around and said softly, "Can you keep a secret?"

"Yes."

"I have something called dyslexia. You know what that is?"

"D-I-S . . . D-I-S . . . D-I-S . . ."

"I think it's spelled with a 'y.'"

"D-Y-S-L-E-X-I-A, a learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read."

"Man, Static was right. You are a living dictionary. I don't know a lot of superheroes with that power."

"So, you can't read?"

"Not exactly. I can read but not really good. It's very hard. I'm getting better at it, but I can use some help. I'd like to know how to enjoy it. For instance, everybody's so hyped about Harry Potter, and I have no idea why. Even when I tried to read it, I couldn't concentrate."

"Mommy says I taught myself how to read. I don't remember that, but I believe her. I can't remember a time I didn't like books."

"Yeah, that's what Static said. Well, will you help me?"

"OK."

"Great! Thanks so much."

"Hey RBM!" Static called up. "We gonna have some music anytime soon?"

"Oh yeah! Let's get this show going."

He brought the Muse back downstairs, and then a shrill beep came out of nowhere. The Muse froze and looked around in fear.

"It's ok, Muse!" Static said. "It's just your Shock Box."

"Oh. It never went off before."

"Yeah, you usually call us. Go on, answer it."

She pulled it out and pushed a button. "Hello?"

"Muse?" Gear's voice said back.

"Yes?"

"Hey, it's Gear. I was just testing to see if your shock box worked."

"Oh, ok." She started to turn it off.

"Wait!" Static said, but it was too late. He got out his Shock Box and paged Gear. "Is there anything else you wanted to say?"

"Yeah actually. Backpack just went off. There's some kind of disturbance at the Community Center."

"Alright, we'll be there in a sec. Oh, and FYI Gear, we might want to put the Muse's Shock Box on vibrate."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Ready Muse?" Static asked.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Is Rubberband Man coming?"

Adam's clothes suddenly changed into a plastic dark purple outfit. "I was just about to ask that myself."

"Sure, you can come," Static nodded as he hopped on his flying disk and took off.

"Here, Muse, why don't you give your wings a rest? The Community Center is a ways downtown."

"But--"

"I think you'd like to travel for once the Rubberband Man way. It's fun."

"OK."

"Just get on my back. Hold real tight to my neck. That's it. Here we go."

He turned himself into a gigantic spring and bounced the whole way. The Muse loved it! She couldn't stop laughing. "It's feels like I'm riding Tigger," she said at one point.

"Yeah," Rubberband Man laughed.

About halfway there, the Muse's Shock Box went off again. "Hello?"

"Where are you two? Gear and I are already here!"

"Well, she's a little heavier than I expected," Rubberband Man replied. "No offense," he added hastily.

"It's ok," the Muse answered.

"But we are making good time, I swear."

"Good time or not, I think you two should split up for right now."

"Well maybe he could fly with me," the Muse suggested.

"That's ok," Rubberband Man said. "I've flown before. I'm fine."

"OK. This was fun."

"Let's do it again sometime."

"OK." The Muse got airborne, and then she asked into her Shock Box, "So what is it?"

"Well," Gear answered, "you're not going to like this. It's Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore?"

"Well, it's some wizard with a long beard. It looks like Dumbledore."

"It may not be Dumbledore. Let me see."

"He's really frustrating!" Static added.

Just in a minute, the Muse saw why. The wizard had a red robe and carried a staff. He frequently became invisible, save for a very fine outline. Static and Gear chased the outline, and then he reappeared very suddenly and hit them with a beam of light.

"That's not Dumbledore," the Muse called out. "Dumbledore doesn't have a staff."

"Alright you proved that you're more of a Potterholic than me," Gear said. "So who is it?"

"I think it's Zemenar, head of the Society of Wizard. But wait, he was eaten by Kazul, King of the Dragons."

"Uh, that's not in Harry Potter, is it?"

"No, it's in the Enchanted For--" Suddenly, there was a large blast of light from the wizard's staff, and Gear turned into stone. "Gear!"

"That wasn't cool," Static said. "Can you take it as well as you serve it up?" He shocked the wizard, but it had absolutely no effect. The wizard turned around and petrified Static too.

"That does it. STOP!" Just like last time, everything froze. She glared at the wizard. "I'm not afraid of you. I don't like your magic. Change my friends back, or I'll never let you go!"

The wizard looked at her and smirked. To her amazement, he took one step forward. Then he slowly began to walk toward Muse.

"It's not working." The Muse began to panic. "Magic! Magic! MAGIC! MAAAAAAGIIIIIIIIC!"

"Don't be afraid," a child's voice said. The Muse looked up and saw the voice was coming from the wizard. "I'm your friend."

"You are a stranger, and you're bad. That's why we're fighting you."

"Nobody's hurt. I just needed to stop them so I could get to you. They'll be changed back once we go."

"Go? Where are you taking me?"

"Home." He raised his staff high above their heads, and the Muse began to vanish.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," a voice said in the back. It was Rubberband Man. "Did I miss anything?"

The Muse didn't have time to think, so she said the first thing that came to mind. "RB, help!"

"Muse! Don't worry, I got you!" He stretched out his arms toward her and grabbed her. There was a blinding flash. Rubberband Man was knocked back, and his arms retracted a little too quickly.

"Whoa, that was quick!" Static said. "He's gone already. Looks like you've done it again, Muse. Muse? Muse where are you?"

"She's gone," Rubberband Man said, disoriented.

"Oh no, not again!" Gear cried.

"RBM, what's up?" Static said as he and Gear came over to him.

"She didn't run off," he explained. "She disappeared with that wizard. I saw it happen. I tried to get her as quick as I could, but all I got was this." He held up the Magic Hat.

"Oh man, this is bad," Gear said.

"It's going to be ok. We can trace her." Static pulled out his Shock Box. "Muse? Come in Muse. Where are you?" He shook his head. "Nothing. Well, maybe she'll find a way to contact us."

"I sure hope so," Gear said. "Without her hat, well, I hate to think about what will happen."

****************

Precious found herself in the middle of total darkness. "Static? Gear? Rubberband Man?" She shivered. "Where am I? It's so cold."

"Here, you can borrow my jacket," a voice said. Somebody put a pink jacket over Precious' shoulders. Precious turned around and saw a girl who looked just a year or two younger than Virgil. She wore overalls and a very high Afro ponytail puff. Next to her was a boy about Precious' age with sandy brown hair. He wore a green shirt and jeans. And just behind them was a very pale teenage girl who wore rags.

"Who are you?" Precious asked.

"You can call me Mirage," the girl who loaned Precious her jacket answered.

"The voices say I am Permafrost," the pale girl said.

"And I'm Dwayne," the boy said. (His voice was what she heard from the wizard.) "I never could think of a cool name. I tried."

"Pleased to meet you," Precious said. "My name is--"

"The Muse!" the kids said together.

"We know all about you," Mirage said.

"And your powers," Dwayne said.

"We've been waiting for you to appear so that we could bring you in," Permafrost said.

"Oh yes, my powers," Precious said. "Magic," she whispered to herself. "Magic! Magic! Why isn't anything happening?" She touched her head and felt hair. "Oh no! My Magic Hat's gone! Oh no! I'm not pretending!" She started to panic again and tried to hide her face in Mirage's jacket.

"It's ok," Mirage said. "We'll keep your secret. You don't even have to tell us your name."

"But if it'll make you more comfortable, go ahead," Dwayne said. "None of us ever wore a mask."

"Maybe that's how we all got caught by Static," Permafrost said.

"Caught by Static?" Precious repeated. "Are you all bad? But you're so young."

"It's true," Dwayne said. "We were all around during the Big Bang. We have powers just like yours."

"But it happened years ago! If you were around during the Big Bang, you would be almost as old as Static, wouldn't you?"

"I don't want to grow up, and I always get what I want."

"Oh."

"He can make things become other things with his mind," Mirage said. "It's about the same with me. I can make my imagination come to life."

"And I can make it winter all year long," Permafrost said darkly.

"Your powers sound very neat," Precious said.

"Yeah, just about as neat as yours," Mirage said.

"I don't completely know how I got them. I wasn't in the Big Bang. My cousin made me a hat, and I could do magic. But I don't have the hat, so . . . "

"I think it's in there, latent," Mirage said.

"But our powers weren't neat when you think about what we did with them," Dwayne said. "My stepbrother made me use them to steal."

"So did my brother, " Mirage said.

"I promised Static I would stop using my powers until I figured out what the right thing was to do. But I couldn't stop. Every thought, every desire, every whim caused them to activate. So, I figured out the way. I was going to cut myself off from the world forever. I made myself a place where my powers cannot hurt anyone."

"But they can't help anyone either."

"It's too big a risk. In time, I found Mirage and Permafrost. They were both alone in the world, and their powers only got them trouble. I allowed them to stay with me so we would never be alone. We use our powers together to live and have fun."

"It's good," Mirage said, "We're shielded in our armor."

"Hiding in our room, safe within our womb," Permafrost said.

"We bother no one, and no one bothers us," Dwayne concluded.

"But I don't understand," Precious said. "How did you know about me?"

"Sometimes I watch out there to see what's going on, to find more friends," Dwayne explained. "I saw you at work last Christmas. Then you left, but I knew it was a matter of time before you showed up again."

"Well, it is nice to meet you. I hope we could be friends and play sometimes."

The three kids looked at each other. "Why don't you play with us a little bit now?" Dwayne said. "What is your favorite thing to do?"

"Read. I need my books and my poetry to protect me."

"Oh. I don't like reading. Do you play video games?"

"No. All we have is an Intellivision."

"Well, video games are sort of like live books. How would you like to live a book?"

"OK."

Dwayne and Mirage held hands, and suddenly there was fantasy scenery around them. "Come on, let's go!" Mirage said.

***************

"This is bad. This is bad," Gear said for about the hundredth time as he stared at the Magic Hat in his hands.

"Muse, please answer us," Static said into the Shock Box once again. "PRECIOUS child, come in please. We want to find you!" He turned around. "Any luck tracking the signal, Gear?"

"None," Gear answered. "No signal, no DNA trace, it's like she disappeared off the face off the earth. And we've got the Magic Hat. Man, this is bad."

"Will you quit saying that?" Rubberband Man said. "Good grief, I thought you were more of an optimist than this, Gear!"

"Well, can you blame him?!" Static yelled. "Gear is really close to her outside our superhero life. If her moms got wind of this, she'd kill him."

"No, that's not it," Gear said. "Nothing can be good if we have the Magic Hat."

"Oh yeah, that's right. Without it, the Muse helpless."

"Worse than that, if she leaves it off for too long, she could revert."

"Revert? What do you mean?"

"Well . . . uh . . . I can tell you privately."

"Don't worry about it, Gear," Rubberband Man said. "I got the whole 411 about her disability."

"You did?"

"Yeah," Static answered. "I told him about it."

"May I ask how come? I mean, you're the one who wanted to keep it under wraps."

"It's rather personal," Rubberband Man said.

"Well, anyhow, it can happen with autism. One day they're highly functioning, next day they can barely talk."

"That sudden?" Static asked.

"Of course not; it's a metaphor. Or . . . I don't know. I've just heard about it happening. I'm scared. She's had this for about a year now. It's amazing how far she's come. If she doesn't have it for so long, all her progress could go down the drain, and I don't know if I will be able to fish it back out. I'm a genius, but I can only work so many miracles."

"We're gonna find her, bro," Static said reassuringly. "We've got to find a way. In fact, we might be going about this the wrong way. It's time for us superheroes to put on our detective hats." He took the Magic Hat and put it on his head. Then he looked satirically thoughtful. Gear tried hard not to laugh. Then Static said in a phony English accent, "Clue the first--the incident occurred at Dakota's beloved Community Center. Clue the second--my electric powers had absolutely no effect upon the perpetrator. Clue the third--after careful recollection, the so-called 'wizard' is now recognized as an obstacle in the popular Role Playing Game 'Galaxy Sea.'"

"So what does this all add up to?" Rubberband Man asked.

"Ah, elementary my dear Rubberband Man, elementary," Static replied. That was too much; Gear burst out laughing. Everybody laughed a little. "It is evident that our culprit is young, misguided Dwayne. He probably still goes to the center, and even if he doesn't all we have to do is to obtain his file from the supervisor."

"I know him! That's Sharon's father."

"Excellent. Quickly Gear, the game's afoot." Gear laughed again. They went back into the center back to Mr. Hawkins' office. Everyone knew the way, but Static got them lost a couple of times. "Mr. Hawking I presume?" he said to his dad.

"It's 'Hawkins,' Static," Rubberband Man said annoyed.

"Oh, I knew that."

"Uh, yes," Mr. Hawkins. "I would like to thank you gentlemen for clearing up the disturbance earlier today."

"No problem," Static said, "but uh . . . we can't really take credit for it."

"Oh, is it that new girl, the Muse? She looks promising. There is something though. I don't know if you guys notice it, but there seems to be something . . . off about her."

"Like what?" Gear said, trying to sound like nothing like that ever occurred to him before.

"Well, I can't say for certain until I evaluate her in person. Here." He handed Static a card. "Just let her know whenever she out of uniform and she feels like she needs a place to go, she can come to the center anytime."

"We'll do that," Static said, "once we find her."

"She's missing?"

"Yes, and we need your help. Do you have any information on Dwayne? As I recall, he used to go here regularly. That's where I first tangled with him."

"Normally, this would be confidential, but actually I am surprised you didn't follow this. Dwayne ran away from home a long time ago. He left a note with his mother saying that he was going to a place where no one would be able to find him. Police have searched all over the state, but they haven't been successful. Even a psychic consultant said it is like he had disappeared off the face of the earth."

"Oh, really?" Gear said. "Well, thank you very much sir. We'll use that as much as we can, and maybe we'll find them both."

As soon as they got out of the office, Static shook his head. "Man, I thought that kid had it together."

He thought out back to the last thing he ever heard from the boy. "I don't know what to do, so I'm going to wait."

"Wait for what?"

"Until I know the right thing to do."

"Come on," Gear said breaking Static out of his flashback. "I got a hunch."

****************

Precious had finished three games with her captors. She won only one, but she didn't care. She was laughing with all the kids. Then her stomach growled. "Oh my, I'm so hungry."

"No problem," Dwayne said. "What is your favorite thing to eat in the whole world?"

"Macaroni and cheese."

Dwayne waved his hands, and macaroni and cheese rained down and made a huge mountain in front of her. "Help yourself. You can have this every night if you want, and you can have all the candy, ice cream, pizza, and anything else you want. No grownups are here to tell you any different."

Precious just looked at the food in front of her.

"Go ahead," Mirage said. "Why aren't you eating?"

"I only like it the way Mommy makes it," she said in a flat voice.

"Well, I'm afraid I can't help you there," Dwayne said. "I don't think there's much of a difference."

"I changed my mind. I'm not hungry. I'm tired."

"Mirage?" Dwayne said. Mirage made a comfortable bed appear. The macaroni and cheese vanished.

"I can't sleep in that. I must have my Harry Potter sheets, and the bed needs to be turned to the window, and it must be completely dark, and I need my diary, and--"

"We'll follow all of your instructions," Dwayne said. "We want you to be comfortable."

"I'm not comfortable if I'm not in a place I don't know. Please, let me go home."

The kids ganged up on her. "Don't you understand, Muse?" Dwayne said gently. "You can't go home. Your powers are too dangerous. It would be best for everybody if you stay here with us."

"But I have to go home. Mommy and my aunt and uncle and cousin would be so worried."

"Why do you think that?" Permafrost said.

"Because they say it every time I get lost."

"And why is that?"

"Because, I think, they love me."

"Love is the greatest illusion in the world," Mirage said. "I thought my brother was using my powers out of love for our grandmother."

"And I thought my stepbrother loved me when he told me to rob the bank," Dwayne said.

"I once knew a life of love," Permafrost said, "but I lost it in a heartbeat."

"Stay here," Mirage said. "What do you need love for? Soon you'll forget what it is. It will sleep in your memory, and you won't want to wake it up."

"Just think," Permafrost added, "If you never loved, you never would have cried."

Precious was feeling helpless and afraid. Then she remembered she had her shock box. So she pulled it out. "Static, Gear, can you read me? I need your help."

"It's not going to work, Muse," Dwayne said. "Don't you know where you are? You're nowhere. Nothing can reach this place, and there is no way out."

Precious began to hyperventilate. "No. No! NOOOOOO!" She fell to the floor, crying, thrashing, kicking, and screaming. "Precious wants to go home! Precious wants Mommy!"

"It'll be alright," Mirage said trying to comfort her.

"LEAVE PRECIOUS ALONE!" Precious pushed her back. The three kids watched as she continued her tantrum.

*****************

"So what's on your mind?" Static asked. "Do you think she's on another planet?"

"I doubt it," Gear answered. "I think it's more likely that she's in the pumpkin patch."

"What?" Rubberband Man said.

"It's from an episode from that old sci-fi series 'Enigma Area.' There was this kid with almost omnipotent powers, and whenever anybody did something he didn't like he used those powers to send that person to what he called the pumpkin patch. The more I think about it, the more I think Dwayne's like that boy."

"But what could he have against the Muse? He doesn't even know her."

"Well, the last thing he said to me was that he was going to search for the right thing to do," Static said. "Maybe he thought the right thing to do was run away and find a place where his powers could do no harm. Somehow, he must have seen the Muse in action and thought she was also in danger. So he brought her to wherever he went. Of course, the important thing to ask is how are we going to find her?"

"Well, I can't send matter to another reality, but I think I can manage to send a vibration. It might cause a rift that she could use to get to our side. If nothing else, it would let her know that we're trying to reach her."

"Can you send some electricity?" Static asked bashfully.

"Oh, yes of course. Good thinking. Backpack, get on it!" The light on Backpack changed color, and the contraption shook. Static placed his hands on top of the light and used as much as his power as he could.

"Hey, I want part of this too!" Rubberband Man said.

"Then you can give her back her hat when we get her back!" Gear said.

"Oh, right," Rubberband Man said as he bounced off.

"At least, I hope this works. No one who has been to the pumpkin patch has ever come back."

******************

Precious continued her fit. Every time any one of them tried to come near her, she pushed them back and told them to leave her alone. Suddenly, the air around her began to shake. Her shock box started to crackle. "What's happening?" Mirage said.

"I don't like this," Permafrost said.

Suddenly, out of the shaking air, a lightning bolt shot out and hit Precious upon the head. She started to feel her magic return. Precious stood. "The magic is back! Precious is going home!"

"No!" Dwayne grabbed her head. "You will stay!"

Precious in turn held Dwayne's head by the temples and screamed, "LET ME GO!" She felt magic build up in her hands. Then suddenly all around her was bright light and loud sound that scared her to death. She closed her eyes and cried.

"What's the matter?" a voice said.

"Go away!" she yelled again as she pulled Mirage's jacket over her head.

"It's alright. I'm here to help. I'll get you home."

She continued to cover her face with the jacket, but she revealed her eyes. It was much too bright, but when they adjusted she saw the face of a kind man. She noticed his nametag. She ran her fingers on the letters.

"Robert Hawkins," she read. "Are you related to Virgil Hawkins?"

"Yes. He's my son," he replied awkwardly.

She hugged his neck.

"There she is!" Static said. "Muse, way to go, you did it!"

"Static," she whispered. "You gave me back my magic."

"I believe this is yours," Rubberband Man said as he put her hat on her head.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"Well, let's go," Static said as he picked the girl up in her arms. "Thank you Mr. Falcons."

"Silly, his name is Mr. Hawkins," Precious giggled.

"Oh. I knew that."

***************

The next day, everybody took it easy. Adam played his music, and Precious really enjoyed it. Richie gave her an RPG to try. Once she got the hang of it, she loved it. She stayed very tight-lipped about her experience with Dwayne and the others. She only told a few details.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Virgil said. "You know, I know all three of them. They're not bad kids. They just came from a bad place. I can help them all."

"But they seem happy where they are," Precious said. "I don't think we need to disturb them. It just wasn't a place for me. I'm so glad I got out. I would have missed you so much."

"Well, thanks," Virgil said.

"No, thank you," Precious said. "I really mean it when I say you got me out."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye," she said. Precious closed the door behind him. She didn't want to admit it, not even to herself, but part of her wanted to go back. In the depths of her soul, she could hear one piece of logic from a favorite song of her mother's:

"For a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries . . ."

Next Episode--Charm: Shebang battles another monster, a green eyed monster. As the Muse continues to be successful, Shebang feels left out. Meanwhile, Madeline Spalding thinks she found the source of the Muse's power and is willing to get whatever she wants.