Chapter 3: Crud
Jack followed Frozone closely as they made their way towards his family. He'd never been more focused in his life. He had to get his family out no matter what.
"When I distract him, do everything you can to get one of the Incredibles free. I'm sure we'll be able to finish him off easy then," Frozone whispered to Guardian as they stopped at the last wall separating them from the Clock and the Supers.
"I'll do my best," Jack responded, hoping the plan worked. He'd have to improvise if it didn't.
As Frozone jumped from behind the wall and started fighting the Clock, who had a laser gun, Jack made his way to his family. They looked surprised at the appearance of another Super, especially an unknown one, but hope was soon in their eyes.
Jack reached his sister first, a little worried that he may be recognized. When she showed no signs of recognition, though, he breathed a mental sigh of relief.
"Do you know what kind of metal this is," he asked in a whisper as he analysed the material. It appeared to be ordinary steel, but since his father couldn't break it and his sister couldn't use her powers to get out of it, then it must be a special kind.
"Sorry," she whispered back, "no idea."
"That's alright," he responded.
Jack could hear the sounds of fighting behind him as he tried to think of a solution. He set his hand on fire and grasped the metal, but only a little gave way. Trying another approach, he turned his hand metal and then heated it, then grasped the metal again. To his delight the metal started stretching and he could feel that a hard pull would free it from the roof.
"Watch out!" came a cry in his ear as his sister bumped into him.
The two of them fell to the ground, the metals having come loose, but still had Vi's hands tied together. The laser barely missed both of them.
Jack looked to the Clock and found that Frozone was lying unconscious on the ground, having been knocked out.
A cry from the Incredibles about Vi's safety was heard before the Clock spoke.
"Who do we have here," he asked with a twisted smile. "A new Super, I presume. How nice to have company."
He pointed the laser gun at Jack, who dodged. He most likely could have deflected it by turning metal, he knew, but he didn't want to give his opponent more knowledge than he needed. Knowledge was power.
He moved away from his family so that any stray aims couldn't endanger them.
"So, what's the name," the Clock asked, as if a pleasant conversation instead of a fight were taking place.
"Guardian," Jack answered. The two were making a wide circle, but Jack was always conscious of when he family was behind him and in possible line of fire. He didn't come this far to have one of them hurt.
"Peculiar name," Clock said, "interesting."
Clock shot another laser at Jack, who barely dodged it.
"Quick one, I see," Clock laughed. "I might just have to freeze time for you."
He shot another laser, this time hitting jack on his left upper arm, and making him hiss in pain.
"Or maybe not," said his opponent as he took aim again.
Jack didn't want to, but he was going to reveal the fact that the laser could go through him if he timed it correctly when the next laser was blocked by a barrier. His sister had her hands free, but her feet were still tied. She made another barrier in front on the rest of the family as the Clock took aim at them.
Jack, even though he knew they would be protected by the barrier, felt his anger rise that this villain dared to try to hurt his family. He teleported to where the Clock stood, turned his entire fist and arm solid metal, and punched the man with everything he had. There was a definite crunch sound as the Clock's jaw broke and blood oozed out of his mouth when he hit the floor, completely unconscious from the blow.
"Whoa," Jack heard from the side, where his family looked on with surprise and awe.
Jack turned his arm back to normal, self-conscious that his family was witnessing his powers even though they had no idea who he was.
"That was amazing," Dash exclaimed from where he was tied. "I've seen some great Supers, but you're one of the best I've seen so far!"
Jack felt himself blush from the praise. He wasn't used to compliments about his abilities, especially from his relatives who knew nothing about them.
"Thanks for saving us," Vi said when he went over to help her untie the metal.
"It's not a problem," he responded as he moved to help his mother get out of the metal.
"How come we haven't seen you around," his mother asked when she had her hands untied and stretched them a little.
"Just moved to town," Jack responded, feeling immensely guilty about lying, especially to his own mother. "I've heard a lot about you all, though. The Incredibles are pretty well known."
"It's from when we defeated Syndrome," his father responded when he was free with the help of Dash who got free with help from Violet. "Your powers are absolutely amazing. How long have you been fighting crime? Are you even seventeen yet?"
Jack froze, not sure how to answer. He sort of wanted to tell them the whole truth, but didn't know how they would take it. How would it change the dynamics of their family. He wasn't even sure he was going to stay being a Super anyway. He'd need time to think.
He was sure he couldn't tell his family that he was Jack, their son and brother. And he'd never seen them so excited about anyone's powers, even Vi and his mother seemed impressed. They would insist that he fight with them from then on. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do yet.
"I'm not seventeen yet, Mr. Incredible," Jack responded, deciding vague and semi-truthful answers would be the best way to handle the current situation. "I've just started fighting crime and I'm not entirely sure it's the thing for me."
"What," his father asked, flabbergasted. "Of course, it's the thing for you, you took down the Clock, someone we couldn't."
"True," Jack responded, looking over at the unconscious Clock, and then rushing to Frozone. "I had help, though."
The rest of the family came over and looked over their friend, making sure no serious damage was done.
"I'm sorry, but I have to run," Jack said, feeling it was best to make his escape as soon as he could. "It was nice meeting you guys."
"Will we see you around," Dash asked, going over to shake his hand. "It'll be super sweet to be able to have a challenge between us, see what the other can do."
Jack was happy to hear the enthusiasm in his brother's voice, but he wasn't sure that having a fight against him was the best decision. Jack could do a lot of things, and he wasn't entirely sure how much power he had. He could seriously hurt his brother if he wasn't careful. Plus, it would give his family more motivation for urging him to remain a super.
"That's a great idea," his father chipped in, coming over to shake his hand as well. "It's nice to welcome new talent and Supers. What do you say?"
"We'll see," Jack said, not entirely able to give a flat out denial. "Again, it was nice meeting you."
With that, Jack took his leave, exiting the building and flying to his neighborhood. He entered and abandoned building where he changed, thankful that he could wear the bare minimum of clothes underneath it. He ran home the rest of the way, careful the keep his Super outfit hidden from sight.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he sank into the couch once he hid his outfit and changed back into the school clothes he had on earlier. His parents would be home soon, he was sure, and he needed to collect himself before they came. He could go over the issue of going Super or not later.
"We're home," his mother called out as she came through the door followed by his father and his two siblings.
"Thank God," he exclaimed, after he stopped his pacing. He turned a worried face to his family, already sure they were safe, but having to act like he wasn't sure since he was supposed to be at school worrying.
He ran up and hugged each one, happy they were none the wiser that he was the person that saved them.
"None of you are hurt, are you," he asked, his face one of worry.
"No, sweetheart, we're fine," his mother responded with a tight hug. "Sorry we worried you."
"You should have seen this new Super we met, Jack," his brother gushed, clearly still excited from earlier. "He had some great skill. He turned his whole arm into metal. I even think he heated it up, too."
"He did heat it up," Vi said. "He got us untied from this metal that was weird. Wouldn't let us use our powers."
"Wow," Jack said, feigning amazement. "Did you catch his name?"
"Guardian, I think," his father said, remembering correctly.
"That's it," his mother agreed.
"I'm just happy you're all okay," Jack said, with a smile.
"He really let the Clock have it, too," Dash went on. "I even think he could teleport, now that I think about it. Was across the room one second, and next to him not a second later. He broke his jaw and some teeth, too. Clock's gonna feel that in the morning. I don't think he needed to use that much force, truth be told."
"Well, his hand was metal, so it would do some damage, for sure," Vi added.
"I think he was mad at him for some reason," his dad tacked on.
"Wonder why," his mother asked.
Jack gave a nervous laugh, unsure of how to respond.
"Maybe just inexperienced," Jack asked, trying to sound as if he were guessing.
"He's a natural, sure enough," his father said. "I'll have to ask him where he learned to fight when he comes over."
"'Comes over,'" Jack asked, confused, and his throat squeezing in nervousness.
"Yeah, he has to," his mother responded. "He's new to town, probably knows no other Supers around."
"We have to have him over," Dash said.
"We can invite him to dinner with the family," Vi suggested.
"But, but," Jack sputtered. There was no way he could come to dinner, meet his own family, and keep his identity a secret.
"What is it, honey," his mother asked, worried.
"But," Jack continued, "maybe he won't want to come," he finished lamely.
"Nonsense," his father said. "Supers stick together. He'll definitely want to come."
"A lot of Supers stick together, bro," Dash said, coming over to sling an arm around Jack, and speaking as if Jack couldn't understand the bond between people with powers. "A sense of unity."
Jack wanted to ask if that 'unity' didn't apply to blood family members without powers, but refrained.
"I see," was all he said, not able to think of a more appropriate response.
"Supers do feel alone at time when they can't share their powers with anyone, but other Supers," Vi added. "Maybe he'll come around and feel welcome after a few crime fighting times with us. He's awfully young, can't have many people who are Supers around. Wonder if his family is."
"Yeah, where were they," his father asked to no one in particular. "Could be the only one with powers in the family."
"But his parents would have to know," his mother said. "Powers like his can't be hidden from his family. Maybe they'd like to come with him to our house for a dinner."
Jack could feel the walls closing in on him as his family continued to talk about him. So many questions. So many things he would have to avoid answering or making up answers to. What did he get himself into?
Riiiiiiing, Riiiiiiing.
"Parr residence," Jack heard his mother answer from the living room where his other family members continued to speak about the mysterious Super. What was he going to do? He'd need to talk to Dicker.
"John Jackson Parr," his mother said in her stern voice, coming over to where he sat, and looming over him. "You left school in the middle of the day without telling anyone where you were going? Explain yourself, young man."
'Crud,' Jack thought as his mind went blank.