Henry's first instinct was to go kick Minyak in the face (as well as other locations), but obviously that wasn't an option because of the ropes.
Piper's eyes went straight past the super villains to the open door, but running wasn't an option, either.
They were trapped.
"Aw, how cute," said Dr. Minyak in a teasing voice. "You don't see brothers and sisters getting along so well these days."
Henry glared at him, not bothering to acknowledge the comment. "What do you want?"
"And here I thought you had figured it out already. But I suppose I can't judge." He looked at Piper. "I should've known that the president-" he put special emphasis on the word president "-of the uncleverly named Man Fans would have a connection to Kid Danger."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Piper prayed that he wouldn't be able to tell she was lying. It did occur to her, though, that if not for Henry being Kid Danger she may not have even become Man Fans President. Long story short: the butterfly effect.
Anyway. "Oh, really?" Dr. Minyak turned to his assistant. "Why don't we show our guests our little video?"
Nurse Cohort nodded. "I think that's a wonderful idea." Then she just stood there."
Minyak awkwardly shifted before hissing, "Show them the video!"
"You have the remote, it's in your pocket." She glanced over at Piper. "You remember this, right?"
"Yeah," she said cautiously, hoping Nurse Cohort wasn't trying to bring her guard down.
And then: "Of course it's not in my pocket, don't you think I'd-" he didn't even finish his sentence before tapping his pocket and finding it. Nurse Cohort gave Piper a look that seemed to say Boys.
Dr. Minyak made a few clicks, and a screen that they hadn't been able to see before lit up. It showed a clip that was short, fuzzy, and had awful background noise, but Henry and Piper were able to tell what was happening.
It was a clip from earlier today, when Kid Danger's mask fell off. It was like one of those GIFs; it showed the falling off of the mask to when he has slapped it back on.
"Good thing I had found a box of old body cameras," Dr. Minyak sneered. "Oh, not so good for you, now, is it?" He smirked. "And guess what else a camera picked up?" He made a few more clicks.
The next clip on the screen was clear enough that you could make out Piper's face. It was even shorter than the first one; it only showed her blowing the dart gun.
Henry looked at her, confused. "What?"
Dr. Minyak smirked. "Oh don't pretend like you didn't know. You only got away because this little parasite-"
"Hey!"
"-shot my right buttock with a dart gun."
"Actually," said Nurse Cohort, getting everyone's attention, "it was your left butt cheek."
"No matter." Minyak turned to face Henry and Piper again. "There is no dart gun this time, so we don't have to worry about you little-"
BOOM.
Whatever Dr. Minyak was about to call them was lost in an explosion. Piper shrieked and awkwardly ducked, and Henry, having momentarily forgotten about being tied up, attempted to jump up into a standing position but ending up falling and hitting the floor.
As the dust cleared, Henry, Piper, Dr. Minyak and Nurse Cohort were able to make out a figure running towards them.
"Captain Man?!" Dr. Minyak cried, looking absolutely aghast.
"Captain Man?" Nurse Cohort frantically tried to check her hair in the reflection of the shattered TV screen, which had turned off during the explosion.
"Captain Man!" Henry and Piper yelled, trying to get his attention.
Captain Man glanced over at them but turned his attention right back onto the villains. "Alright, you evils." He pounded a fist into his other hand. "Let's party."
Dr. Minyak frantically tried to reach for an alarm that was on the wall, but Captain Man grabbed him and threw the first punch.
Henry and Piper were so preoccupied watching that they both screamed when a hand grabbed each of their shoulders.
Another hand from each person behind them slapped over their mouths.
"Shhh!" Someone exclaimed. Henry turned his neck and saw-
"Charlotte?!" His voice was muffled, so it sounded more like "Wha-wit?"
"Shut up!" Charlotte finally got in front of Henry, and he gasped.
Charlotte was wearing his Kid Danger uniform. She had also donned a long blonde wig that was one long French braid. She pulled a knife out of her pocket and cut his ropes.
"Here," she said, pushing something into his palm. "Hold on a second."
They both turned to see Jasper- wearing a Kid Danger outfit as well with a bunch of black goo in his hair- cutting Piper's ropes. He grabbed her by the arm and led her outside, where the Man Van was waiting.
"Ok, now." Charlotte pulled out a laser and aimed for Dr. Minyak, turning her back to Henry.
Henry unfurled his fist and saw a gumball. He popped it into his mouth, chewing as fast as he could, and blew.
"Wait!" Piper was practically thrown into the Man Van. Jasper climbed in after her.
"Are you okay? What happened? WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!" Jasper started firing questions at her.
"JA- I mean, Kid Danger, shouldn't you be helping them?!"
"My job is to stay here and watch you because then I'm 'not as likely to mess this up.'" Jasper wasn't doing a very good job of pretending to be Kid Danger. He opened the window curtains and peeked out.
Something flashed, catching Piper's eye. She reached down and picked it up.
A gumball tube. Piper read the shiny, almost clear words on the side: CHEW GUM. BLOW BUBBLE. FIGHT CRIME.
Of course, she thought. This must be one of Henry's gumball tubes. She glanced behind her. Jasper was still watching the fight. Setting the tube down behind her back, she tapped his shoulder. He turned to face her. "Yeah?"
"Go help them."
Jasper couldn't contain his surprise. "What?"
"Go help them. You're Kid Danger. Go help them."
Jasper smiled. "Yeah! I am Kid Danger!"
As if. "Hurry! They need you!"
Jasper gave some sort of battle cry and practically flew out of the van, running back inside. Piper picked up the tube of gum and popped it open, shaking one into her palm. She stuck it in her mouth- Hey, this tastes pretty good!- and, after, a minute of chewing, blew.
She was enclosed in lights- This looks so cool!- and she found herself in Henry's Kid Danger uniform.
She looked in the rearview mirror. Cool. Her ponytail had been redone and was now also braided. I make a cute Kid Danger.
Hey, Piper, fight now, looks later.
Piper opened the door to the Man Van. Taking a deep breath, she made a dead sprint toward the open door.
I forgot to mention this last week...
If you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had wonderful celebrations! :)
If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you still had a good day! :)
Ciao, and Happy Reading!