Vol2 Issue 8 Epilogue

This has been one of the weirdest days of my life. Considering that I'm an android that lives under the La Brea Tar Pits with a team of teenage superheros, that's saying something. Molly and I went grocery shopping and even though we're broke I let her cute and sweet me into buying her some chocolate sugar bomb cereal that was a big deal to her. It was cool to get to do something nice for her but I can't let her wrap me around her little finger.

Not that she'll get to enjoy the cereal, it got blown up while we were fighting a Skrull named Xavin. That's what is really on my mind, on all of our minds. Karolina is gone. She decided to leave with Xavin to end a war that their parents are responsible for.

Now what?

Everyone was quiet on the ride home. Now that we're here it looks like everyone is splintering off to be alone. Well except Chase and Gert, it looks like they're going for a walk. We were all in shock. I feel like a rug has been pulled out from under me. The others that have known Karolina so much longer must really be upset. After standing around awkwardly for a while I decide to check on Molly.

She's sitting on her bed, she must have been looking at photos a few minutes ago but there on the floor now. I walk over and sit next to her neither one of us say anything for a while.

I finally just put my hand on her back and as "Are you ok?"

She shrugs.

I've never seen Molly like this, no wise-cracks or teasing, no questions none of her usual high energy.

I put my arm around her and she leans against me.

"It's not fair."

"I know Molly, it's not."

I spend maybe half an hour holding her as she alternates from angry to sad to confused it random orders. Finally I decide she'll be ok. She squeezes my arm and says "Thank you"

Now I go to my room wondering what this means for all of us.

Vol 2 Issues 13-14

Life's been busy since Karolina left. Meeting Cloak, the trip to New York to help clear his name, spending more time with Molly. She's been on room arrest lately after disappearing during one of our fights. I tell myself I've been visiting her because I feel bad for her being stuck by herself. Of course I doubt my own motives.

Nobody else visit's her room to notice or say anything about me being in there. Not that we're doing anything, just talking and goofing off. Luckily for me she's not big on playing board games with just two players or I'd be getting my butt kicked at games I'd rather not be playing.

Today she was out of her room helping me repair Leap Frog but Nico banished said that Mol was still grounded then Nico chewed Chase out, which he probably deserved. After Gert told me who Alex Wilder was and some of the group and their parents history I went to visit Molly again.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure Vic, what's up?"

She's sitting in the middle of her bed her Goop plush beside her, she's still in the same shirt, jeans and odd headband she was wearing earlier.

"I'm sorry Nico came down so hard on you. I appreciate the help earlier."

She shrugs "You're welcome, any idea how much longer I'm going to be in trouble."

I sit on the bed leaving a gap between us, this has become pretty normal. "Sorry, no clue. If it makes any difference I believe you about the sewer and helping the other kids escape."

"For reals?" She smiles and it makes me feel good that I can cheer her up a little.

"I'll be honest at first I wasn't sure it seems like a weird story, but yeah I believe you. You're not a lier and it wouldn't make sense to stick to the story after you got in trouble. Plus when people lie about something they can't keep it straight. I don't have any doubt that what you said really happened. I told Nico that a couple days ago but it didn't help" I pat her knee.

"It really bugs you when Chase calls you Victorious huh?" she ask.

"Yeah, that's not who I am. We know who I could have become." I'm not sure how to finish that statement, poor Molly saw the future Gert that Ultron's programming was going to make me kill.

"You're not a bad guy Vic. You know I'm not scared of you."

I smile and nod remembering the conversation we had back when we were grocery shopping.

"Thanks Molly that would really hurt if you looked at me like that. I wish Chase would let it go, I don't know who I'm going to grow up to be but it's not what Ultron wanted to make me." I decide to make the conversation less serious and less about me.

I decide to be silly and go for a smile "I get called that name and you get called Bruiser when you're obviously the one and only Princess Powerful."

She flexes her muscles and her smile and head nod seem to say "yeah I'm cool" then she giggles. "Yeah, the Bruiser thing is really annoying. But I have a real code name you still need one."

"I should have seen that coming" I say as I shake my head. "I know you suggested Magnet Man earlier but that's a little to close to Magneto."

She waits not letting me off the code-name hook. "You're way ahead of me, you've got a code-name and a costume. I'll start catching up eventually." I kinda hope she'll decide to model her old costume for me again but it doesn't seem to cross her mind.

She grins and pats my arm like I'm a little kid (kind of like she did when we were about to leave NYC to come back home)"It's ok, when you get old enough you'll figure out who you're going to be."

"I've gotten a few things figured out just not costumes and code-names Princess. That reminds me have you thought of a Princess Powerful logo?"

"No I've tried a couple times but nothing I like yet."

"It's getting late, I guess I should go."

She raises up on her knees and gives me a little hug. I smile and kiss her on top of the head, I'm not even sure she notices. "Night Victor"

"Good night Molly."