Dismissed

It has gone by incredibly quickly, but two months has passed since Syndrome's return. Since then, he has been completely dominating over the city of Metroville and all of the Supers within. Whenever there is an emergency, Syndrome will arrive before any other Super. Even if you are Speedster, with your Super Suit on and are practically 10 feet away from a bank that is being robbed, Syndrome will beat you to it before you can spring (or in this case run) into action.

Many out there (even all of you fellow readers) can debate on Syndrome's rise to power. Some could say that his massive technological upgrades made him a more powerful Super. All of the arsenal that he acquired made him stronger, enhanced his speed and crime awareness. Others could say that for the last two months, he had always been at the right place at the right time. Sheer luck made him a favorite among all. Or quite possibly, there could be one hidden reason that the citizens of Metroville would need clues and piece together the puzzle to figure it out.

Whatever the reason, it was enough to decline the popularity and use for the family of Supers, known as the Incredibles. The family sat around the house doing nothing, overwhelmed by the boredom. Helen was feeding Jack-Jack with his baby bottle. Bob sat on the couch with his arms crossed. Dash laid upon the floor, staring at the ceiling. Violet was listening to some music on her headphones. The family sat soberly and dully. Two months with no Super work can easily aggravate anyone.

"God, the Incrediphone has been silent for a while." said Dash randomly.

Everyone grunted as if he never existed. Suddenly, a series of beeps was heard. Bob, Helen, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack stared at the phone. The Incredible's logo on the phone began to light up in rhythm with the beams. An overly excited Bob Parr picked up the phone.

"This is the Incredibles."

"Uh yeah, you ordered a pizza. And can you please tell me. . ."

"Wrong number idiot." Bob grunted. He placed the receiver down gently. After he let out a sigh, he grabbed the Incrediphone and threw it at the wall. Helen extended her hand and grabbed it before it smashed against the wall. She placed it down on the table-stand. Helen glared at her husband.

"What do you think you are doing Bob?" she inquired.

Bob held his head down in disgrace. I'm sorry honey. Ever since he came back, things have changed. I mean, for the good of all the people in Metroville, but bad for us."

"I know, but. . ."

The phone beeped again. This time, Helen picked it up. She handed Jack-Jack over to Violet and spoke into the receiver.

"Hello? Oh hi Rick. We are doing fine. . . what? Now? All of us? Okay, we be down in a second. Bye."

Helen looked at her family. "Put your masks on guys. Rick want us down at HQ immediately."

Violet and Dash sprinted into their rooms, retrieved their masks, and rendezvoused with Helen and Bob at the fireplace. The family rode the elevator down to the NSA HQ. They went to the clerk at the front desk.

"Rick wanted to see us." said Mr. Incredible.

The clerk nodded. Something was odd about her. Instead of a cheerful girl, her face was solemn. Just as she granted the family permission to Rick's ofice, she took out a tissue and blew her nose.

The family all sat in the business chairs in front of Rick's desk. He was rather serious about today's meeting. He looked at all of the Incredibles.

"What can we do for you today Rick?" Mr. Incredible asked anxiously.

Rick sighed, "Unfortunately Bob, that is the reason why I called you in here." Rick pressed a button on his desk. A large plasma TV screen was revealed after two walls split apart. "What do you see here?"

Video clips of Syndrome performing hero work after hero work. People were praising him. The Incredibles watched helplessly.

"What was the point of all that?" said Speedster.

"All we saw was Syndrome. Thanks a lot we are heroes too you know." glared Invisigirl, who was irritated that she had to watch Syndrome steal their glory and work. "We. . ."

"You were our heroes young lady." Rick interrupted sharply. The family's eyes widened, and their jaws dropped. Rick continued. "What you saw was highlight footage of every hero work that was performed since Syndrome's reappearance, courtesy from the Super Hero Archives. About 99 of those heroic deeds were done by Syndrome. Other Supers have done some stuff, but you haven't done anything in two months."

Mr. Incredible feared what was coming next. "Rick, don't tell me. . ."

"I am afraid I am Bob. From this day forward, I hereby remove you Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Invisigirl, and Speedster from the active status roster of Super Hero work."

"WHAT? YOU CAN"T DO THAT!" declared Speedster.

"I am sorry son, but those are the rules. Once a Super has been inactive from hero work for two months, he or she is automatically terminated from the Hero roster. I am sorry."

The family was taken aback for this. The slowly got up and walked toward the elevator leading to the grand lobby of the National Super's Agency's Headquarters.

Before the door closed, Rick stood up from his seat. "And Incredibles. . ." he placed his right hand over his eye brow and saluted the family of Supers. Both Invisigirl and Elastigirl tried to fight back their tears as the elevator doors closed.

The family walked through the lobby. Everyone present n the room saluted to the family as they passed by. Many of them sobbing. As the family rode the elevator back to their home, their tears could not be held back. Helen took off her mask and buried her face into Bob's shoulders. Violet cried also as her tears showered down from her face.

The elevator doors opened up and the family reentered their house. Bob, Helen, Violet and Dash each went to their respective rooms. For the next couple of hours, the house would be filled with the sound of silence.

Hours have passed. Helen was cooking dinner. Violet came downstairs with a navy colored jacket on. She headed toward the door. Vi had just twisted the door knob.

"And where do you think you are going young lady?"

Violet froze. She turned around to see her mom, standing with her arms folded. "Well, Tony asked me to go to the movies with him, and I said. . ."

"I'm sorry Vi, but you aren't going out tonight." Helen told her daughter.

"But why not?"

"Honey, we just got fired to put it in informal terms. No one is going out with anyone until this fact settles in."

"But mom," Violet whined.

"No buts Violet. What I say is final!"

Violet slammed the door and ran upstairs. She locked herself in for the rest of the night. She called Tony on his cell, explaining to him that she could not make it to the movies. That was hard for Violet. She even refused to eat breakfast. She just stayed in her room doing one of three things: 1) cry on her bed; 2) write in her diary; 3) practice her powers some more.

Before Violet went to bed, she gazed at the stars outside. She focused her gaze on one star and yearned with all of her heart.

"Why. . . why can't I have it my way? Why can't my life be perfect? Why must a Super's life be cursed with all of these issues? I would give up anything just to be like a normal fourteen-year-old girl. . . anything.