The Incredibles

All's Fair in Love and Glory

Chapter Seven: BOOM

boom

(v.) to move with a resounding rush or great impetus.

(n.) 1. a rapid increase in something, as in babies.

2. noise, as in a fiery explosion.

"Bring her in," Mirage sighed.

Humiliated and gasping for breath, Helen was dragged into the office, still elasticized. She had just wanted to apologize for being so rude to Mirage – obviously nothing had happened between her and Bob. But of course, it had to turn into an ordeal. That was just her luck.

"I can't believe this. You followed me here!"

Helen raised her head in disbelief.

"Bob? What are you doing here?"

"Don't you trust me at all? I thought we were past this! I'm just doing my job, all right?!"

Weakly, Helen stood.

"Well, I did trust you, until you decided to leave out the tiny detail that your job was here!" she shouted back.

Mirage remained silent, hoping not to get involved.

"I came here to apologize to Mirage for being suspicious, when she was totally innocent. Are you trying to prove me wrong?" Helen continued.

Mirage shrunk back into her chair.

Bob stood and straightened up to full height so he could look down at his wife.

"We are just trying to have a CIVIL CONVERSATION!" he roared.

"I can't deal with this anymore," Helen snapped. "I'm going home."

"Good!"

Helen quietly left, and Bob slammed the door behind her. He sat back down and turned to Mirage, a strained smile on his face.

"Now where were we?"

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Violet wandered distractedly through most of her classes that day. Right before lunch, she had science, and since they were doing a lab, she decided it would be best to pay attention. She and Tony had been lab partners for a while, and she used to get enjoyment out of this. Today, though she was avoiding it.

She had honestly considered skipping the class altogether, but seeing as the attendance clerk had been angry enough at her for being a period late, she had decided against it.

"Hey Vi," Tony smiled. He looked up from the chemicals he was mixing to give her a peck on the cheek. She quickly turned away.

"Something wrong?" he asked, touching her hand.

"I think we need to talk."

"Talk?" Tony squeaked.

"It's just not working, Tony. For so many reasons."

Anxiously, the boy ran his hand through his hair. "Is there someone else, Vi? What do they have that I don't? I mean, if I'm doing something wrong, you can tell me, and – and I can fix it." He looked at her pleadingly, his voice rising with each syllable he spoke. "C'mon. Just give me a chance."

"You're making a scene," Violet said, through clenched teeth.

Tony raised his voice further. "This is ridiculous! You won't even tell me why-"

Violet cut him off.

"It's over, Tony." She turned away. "Maybe it never even began.

"But… but Vi—"

Realizing the whole class was staring and he was only adding to his humiliation by making excuses, he turned angry.

"I saw the way you used to look at me, Violet. YOU can't break up with ME."

"I believe I just did," Violet replied coolly.

A chorus of "oooohs" arose.

Tony pushed back from the table and stood, stomping out the door. The test tubes he'd been working with clattered to the ground at the disturbance. Violet jumped back just before the reacting chemicals produced a small but still spectacular explosion. Nothing was damaged, except for Violet's wounded pride.

"That's why we don't bring up personal issues in class, Miss Parr," the teacher spat.

She wished she could use her powers.

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Lucius Best was leading a conference on the effects of global warming had on polar ice caps when one of the office's phones rang. The office's secretary appeared to be itching to answer it, but too guilty to interrupt.

"It's cool," he said, excusing her.

He allowed himself a silent laugh at his uncanny ability to combine slang with a bad pun related to his powers. But then he moved on with his presentation.

A moment later, the secretary reappeared.

"Sorry to interrupt again, Dr. Best. But it's for you."

Lucius frowned. Why would someone call him during a seminar? Who would it be? He didn't have the slightest idea, so he asked.

"It's your wife, Doctor."

"Now what would she be calling me about now?" he wondered aloud.

"Ask her yourself, if you'd like," the secretary suggested, handing him the phone. Lucius took it and went outside to talk.

"Honey? What is this?" I was kinda in the middle of somethin'."

"Well, this is important," Honey insisted.

"Real important?" he questioned.

"Yes," Honey said, beginning to sound exasperated.

Lucius paused.

"Sorry, baby. Go on," he corrected himself.

"See now, that's exactly why I called you. I just couldn't wait till you got home," Honey said. "You sittin' down?"

She didn't wait for a reply.

"Lucius, we're gonna have a baby!"

His jaw dropped open. "Say what?"

"I'm pregnant, Lucius. Aren't you excited?"

"You're sure about this?"

"OF course I am, you idiot!"

"Then I'm happier than a kid with an ice pop! That's great, baby. I'll be home a.s.a.p."

He hung up and began to chuckle.

"Pregnant? Ice pop? Damn, I'm hilarious!"

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"I'm so sorry, Mr. Incredible," Mirage said quietly.

"It's all right. She's been… cranky lately."

"I see." She frowned momentarily. "How old are your children, Mr. Incredible?"

Bob looked surprised.

"Uh, okay. Well, Violet is 14, Dash is 10, and Jack-Jack is around 2. I don't really know," he replied, rather sheepishly. "Why do you ask?"

The woman shrugged. "Just curious." But then she leaned forward. "I think you'd better get home and apologize, Mr. Incredible. It's none of my business, but moodiness, insecurity, fatigue… it seems to me as though… well, I think Mrs. Incredible could be expecting."

Bob gasped.

"Really? That's great! What should I do?"

Mirage looked away, hoping Bob couldn't see the tears welling up in her eyes as she suggested, "Bring her flowers and tell her you love her, and that you're thrilled."

"That'll make it up to her. Thanks a million, Mirage. You were a big help." He stood to give her a grateful peck on the cheek. "Sorry we didn't finish—"

"Go," Mirage interrupted. "Helen needs you."

As he turned to go, Mirage heard him mumbling something about a florist. When he had disappeared, she broke down and cried openly, knowing she was feeling just the same as Mrs. Incredible. For months now she had been in denial, but it was time to admit it.

She was carrying a baby. And the father was Syndrome.

Suddenly, the air was filled with an uproar of buzzing, followed by an enormous BOOM! Mirage felt herself thrown against a wall, and her world was filled with light and sound. Just as she went unconscious, she thought she heard a strangely familiar laugh…