Unatomic Stacey

Chapter 4: A bad day and an interesting Proposition.

(Monday Evening)

I glumly entered my home and headed straight for my room. But I stopped when I heard my mother's voice coming from the kitchen.

"Come straight to kitchen 2 Stacey," Mrs. Carmichael commanded and I could pick up in my mother's tone that she was angry.

What the hell did I do now?

I dropped my school bag into a nearby chair and headed straight to kitchen 2. When I entered I noticed my mother leaning on one of the finely decorated white cabinets as she now glared at me.

"Why did you quit Sign Language Club?" Mrs. Carmichael demanded, her eyes were now small slits and her voice currently had an angry underlying hiss.

I looked away uncomfortably. No way could I tell her I did it to buy someone's silence.

"You did it because of that Atomic Place didn't you?" Mrs. Carmichael asked darkly and my eyes popped wide open, "don't lie to me," she snarled.

"Mom are you alright?" I asked feeling really scared.

"My sister Claire called today," Mrs. Carmichael said ignoring my question, "do you know that her blind son Marty; your cousin, won the Dark Magic World Tournament of Evil?" she asked in a voice barely above a whisper, "while you flout around at a place where no one even likes or respect you," she added icily.

Tears welled in my eyes as my lower lip started to tremble.

"Why are you saying this mother?" I asked in a shaky voice, "you know that I…"

"Know what!" Mrs. Carmichael exploded, "that my daughter refuses to fully embrace her dark magic and witch heritage but is willing to run around in a space ship failing missions and making a fool of herself?" she demanded.

"I don't make a fool of myself," I whispered on the verge of tears.

"Then what do you do?" Mrs. Carmichael challenged and I refused to answer, "why wont you enter the dark magic tournaments?" she asked instead.

"I don't like using my magic powers the way they require you to use them in those competitions," I told her, "they use those tournaments to teach witches and wizards how to harm people and perform evil spells," I added.

"And what's wrong with that?" Mrs. Carmichael snapped, "may I remind you that I'm not exactly the witch of pink ponies and pretty puppies," she added.

"Daddy didn't like the use of Dark Magic especially if it was used to harm people," I countered as I started to feel angry.

"You're the dumbest witch in our family line," Mrs. Carmichael said suddenly and I gasped, "I can't believe fate took your more sensible and better brother and left me with you," she declared, "you are so pathetic and useless," she said in an angry whisper as she shook her head.

"So the truth comes out," I whispered and left the kitchen.

I teleported myself to a random place outside our house. I didn't know exactly where I was but decided to just walk along the sidewalk and look at the many elegant but simple homes that I passed by. I soon saw one where two kids were playing in the front yard. But upon closer inspection I noticed that one was a boy with brown hair and the other was a girl with her red hair in a ponytail. I raised a curious eyebrow as I watched from across the street.

"I told you these action figures were awesome Betty!" the boy declared excitedly.

I gasped. Could it be her?

"It is very interesting Noah," Betty admitted and I immediately recognized her voice, "is there a problem?" she asked suddenly and I realized that she now looked in my direction.

I quickly shook my head and walked away. I could feel both their eyes bearing down on my back. I was just grateful when a bend finally came and after I took it, I broke into a fast run disregarding some of the surprised faces of some of the residents. I soon saw an alley and hurried into it. When I was certain no one was around, I teleported myself to my bedroom. But then I changed my mind and teleported myself to the attic. I sat on one of the cobwebbed covered trunks and buried my head in my hands.

Even here on earth Betty seems to have a good if not an excellent life. That boy probably means a lot to her. I can tell, and I bet that he really likes her. Who wouldn't? Betty always had that attraction that came with her butt kicking personality and perfection to succeed at missions. You wanted to either talk to her and make her your friend or harm her and be her biggest enemy. There was no easy in between. Her team mates love her, Admiral Degill worships her, my team would kill to have HER as their captain, almost everyone else on the force wanted to either be like her or BE her, and almost every villain wants to murder her. I'm just glad that I didn't go on auto stupid and let her hear my voice earlier. I after all only disguised certain aspects of my physical appearance, I never thought at the time to also disguise my voice. I remember years ago how at age four my Dad spoken about the Atomics as if they were super heroes. He never became one but secretly collected any info he could about them and told only my brother and I about it. He said that he had NEVER told any one else and not even our Mom knew. I was ecstatic but my brother was almost furious, he didn't like the idea of saving people instead of using his powers to steal and plunder. But Dad later spoke to me privately and made me promise to at least try to try out for the Atomics some day and only leave if I didn't like and without using magic or ANY form of illegal means. I had planned to leave since I had barely made it in and I was proving to be a mediocre member and captain after only half a month. But then the order was passed that disallowed us unless it was a dire situation. I wanted to leave anyway but I remembered my promise to my father and knew that I couldn't do it. So up to today I stay with the Atomics for chiefly that reason. I considered joining Maximus before trying out for the Atomics but when I checked out his thoughts of witches I was completely turned off. I decided to let him keep his faith and respect of science and mediocre creatures that would never allow him to defeat Atomic Betty. Plus his whole obsession now with blowing up the earth definitely quelled the possibility of me even CONSIDERING joining forces with him. I loved earth and it was also home to my friends and family. I wasn't going to join up with someone who wanted to BLOW IT UP!

I sat up and sighed. I had so many thoughts floating in my exhausted head. I got up and started to walk around the attic. I had so many wonderful memories here. Sure the house was changed on the outside to fool people that it was a different mansion. But inside was mostly the same. Especially the attic. I could almost see myself at three running around the attic squealing as Daddy tried to catch me. Another memory showed my brother sticking out his tongue at me when we were four and he used his magic and made a higher stack than me. Mine hadn't reached half way to the ceiling when it fell. His nearly reached the roof and even when he went on top of it, the stack of old stuff that he had piled up together still didn't all.

Wait, that wasn't a wonderful memory. Well I always was magically and academically inferior to my brother. Who am I kidding, I was inferior to him in everything. Dad had teased that I was better at letting go and having fun and that I had the better laugh. But what did that mean? What was important about being able to let loose and have fun better and your laugh being nicer and happier. It did upset my brother though. He had muttered that he could have just as much fun if he wanted to, just that he was too busy being smart. It was so unfair that he and Daddy died. It should've been Daddy and me. Daddy always loved me, he loved the both of us. But even I had to admit that if he could make a spot choice as to who was the better twin, he'd pick my brother. My mother didn't need to be given a spot choice; she was always very proud of his achievements and quiet often subdued with mine. Dad tried to make up for it, I could tell. But with him gone now, it doesn't matter. How can someone feel god knowing that their dead siblings holds a higher place in their surviving parent's heart? Guess I'll find out as I get older, but right now I wouldn't mind if I just dropped dead.

I sighed and rose to my feet as I headed out of the attic. But when I opened it I saw someone I hadn't expected to see. It was Minimus. I gasped and stepped back, hoping to GOD that he wouldn't recognize me.

"Uh Hi," Minimus said fearfully and I realized that his scared and polite side was speaking, "you must be the daughter," he added.

I nodded quickly as I realized that he was here obviously to speak with my mother who kept contact with many crooks across the galaxy.

"Cat got your tongue?" another male voice asked and I realized that his daring and rue side had taken over.

I simply stuck my tongue at him and disappeared. I reappeared by the front door and exited the house to walk around our lush expansive property. I suddenly felt comfortable and peaceful among the plants and foliage that didn't care if I were a horrible agent or not an evil enough witch.

"Hello Stacey," Maximus spoke up from behind me and I spun around, "don't worry," he continued, "your mother's sworn me to secrecy," he added and I quickly realized that he knew who I really was.

"What do you want?" I asked suspiciously as I took a step back from him, "how did you get here?" I demanded.

"Your mother teleported me here," Maximus explained simply, "it's a pretty simple world," he commented as he looked around him, "but very beautiful, I'll admit."

"So what are you guys going to do?" I asked, "hit jewellery stores, steal priceless artefacts…" I started to ask.

"Sorry Miss Stacey," Maximus responded, "but your current job disallows me the luxury of trusting you," he told me.

"Whatever," I muttered and continued to walk around the property.

"You know." Maximus said as he followed me, "I have a job proposition for you," he added.

"I'm NOT going to help you blow up the Earth," I told him pointedly.

"That's no longer my main aim," Maximus said dismissively, "I'd like to hire you to top my security division," he revealed to me, "magic allowed," he added.

"I'm still an Atomic," I reminded him.

"Not after they raise their little ban," Maximus countered, "don't answer right away," he said quickly before I could respond, "think about it," he suggested then left me alone with my thoughts.

I watched his disappearing form and wondered if I could even trust him.

Wait a minute. I'm not actually considering to work with Maximus, am I. But he seems interested in my powers and even directly said that I could use them in his service. But how do I just put aside all that I've learned and gained from the Atomics despite the bad times that I've had with them? If I join up with Maximus, I'll not only be stomping on Atomic morality but also disappointing my Father. But should I let a dead man determine my destiny? He's still my Father but he and my brother are gone and I'm already keeping my promise to him by staying in the Atomics until the ban is over, aren't I? Maximus's offer is interesting but I think I'll stay with the Atomics until the ban is over and decide it from there.

End Chapter 4

Barry I. Grauman: Wow. I update today and you just reviewed yesterday. Glad you enjoy this story and I'm happy to have one more fan. So you've noticed Stacey's umm 'blunders' and she's still an Atomic mainly because of the ban and also because despite her lack of abilities hasn't proved traitorous to the Atomics. Notice you're anxious about Atomic Betty in this fic. While she won't be in this story a whole lot, she has her own role to play (let's leave it at that for now). Hope you liked the update! I'm so happy that they've FINALLY added Atomic Betty to the cartoon list! I've been advocating for this cartoon, MEGAS XLR and Puffy Ami Yumi. So far the first two have been added so I'll just keep advocating for Puffy Ami Yumi until it too is added to the list.

MikariStar: Seems to be the longest so far. Glad you like the story and what I've done with Atomic Stacey's character. Hope to get another review from you with this update.

Prominence Flare: Glad you like the story and as for Stacey going evil….well you've read what I've done. Hope you liked it. Read and Review in your free time.