Chapter 5: Prelude to a Friday Evening

"Well, well, well," Mirage mused, as Elastigirl approached with arms crossed. "If it isn't the illustrious Elastigirl."

Elastigirl grinned mildly. As devious Mirage came across, Elastigirl had to admit the woman had style, somewhat.

"Mr. Hufnick must be a popular man," she stated. "I wanted to speak with him."

"Herb was called away on business," Mirage said. "He's preparing for your dinner engagement tonight, actually."

You know, I never pegged Elastigirl to pose for PlayBunny Magazine," she said finally. "You come across as a wholesome motherly type."

Elastigirl was about to reply, as photographer stepped out of nowhere, snapping a picture of the two. Elastigirl was notably left surprised.

"Don't wish to have a photo taken with me, Elastigirl?" Mirage grinned.

There wasn't an immediate answer from the super. Mirage had caroused and assisted those who caused the deaths of many of her comrades. The woman should have been locked up and now she is here as if nothing were amiss. A deafening silence followed, as if the people around them, the world itself, was silent.

Mirage broke the silence.

"How is the family?"

Elastigirl cocked an eyebrow. Was it any of her business?

"I know what you must think of me now," Mirage surmised.

"You do?" Elastigirl wondered aloud. "Mirage, why are you here? What are you up to?"

Mirage placed her cup, and the cup previously belonging to Hufnick on a passing waiter's tray, and clasped her hands behind her back. She was going to remain quiet on the matter, or at least, jog around Elastigirl's questions.

"Those two girls, Idrissa and Aleme," Elastigirl inquired, "who are they?"

"Lovely girls aren't they?" Mirage stated with pride. "Gifted, as well."

Elastigirl scowled. "Gifted in what way?"

"You may see in the near future."

The silence came once again, as the two women eyed one another. Mirage began a coy smile, while Elastigirl held restraint from punching out Mirage where she stood. Nonetheless, it was about time she stepped away. No doubt her stay would be an interesting one.

"Am I going to be honored with your presence when I dine with Hufnick?"

"It will be a two-some."

Elastigirl had enough of this worldplay. "You still haven't answered why you're here, Mirage."

Mirage sighed slightly at Elastigirl's persistence.

"Herb and I are in a relationship, Elastigirl. I'm sure you would understand the need for companionship."

"You're companions seem to be pretty prominent."

"I'm a lucky gal."

Elastigirl noticed one of the twins stepping out of the entrance to the mansion, nodding to Mirage.

"Excuse me, Elastigirl. I have some business to attend to. Your dinner engagement will be at 8 o'clock this evening. Someone will show up at that time your room to escort you. I'm sure you'll find the food and company adequate."

As Mirage stepped away, Elastigirl realized she would have to keep on her toes. Taking a cup of fruit juice from a waiter, or what she thought was fruit juice (it was an alcoholic beverage mixed with fruit juice) she was approached by other photographers who took her picture. She even managed to smile for some of the photos even though her mind was pre-occupied.

Before she returned to her room, she managed to switch her 'fruit juice' for some cold water.

It was a Friday afternoon soon becoming Friday evening. All curtains and drapes were closed, and the door locked so she would have her privacy.

Helen decided to call her family, after a nice shower, relished finally stepping out of her supersuit (which she would actually have to put back on for her dinner with Herb Hufnick). With a towel wrapped around her body, and another wrapped around her drying hair she sat on the bed and dialed her home number.

"Hello?" Bob greeted, as the phone was picked up.

"Hi, honey. Just checking up on ya'…"

Bob chuckled. "Honey, how have you been?"

"I miss home already."

"We miss you, but we're managing."

"That's good, that's good. I left an alternative in the refrigerator if you run out of Jack-Jack's formula."

"I saw the note. Thanks, honey. By the way, I had a question for you."

"Shoot."

"The compensation. Don't you think that might point too much to your secret identity?"

"Maybe, honey. I don't know. Hufnick doesn't seem to be one to ask too many questions, even though I have yet to speak with him. There have been some strange things going on here."

"Like what?"

"Mirage is here. She seems to be in a relationship with Hufnick."

"Mirage? Syndrome's old girlfriend?"

"The one and only."

"You want me to come down there? I could ask Lucius if he and Honey wouldn't mind watching the kids…"

"No. I don't know the entire situation. Mirage seems to have these two twins working with her. It's bizarre."

"Now you're having me worried, Helen."

"If push comes to shove, there's that transmitter 'E' gave us. The one that notifies the others if any of us are in danger?"

"I remember."

Helen heard talk over the phone.

"Honey, Dash and Vi want to use the phone."

"I hear."

"Hi, Mom!" Dash greeted. "Jared wanted to know if I could stay over his house this weekend. He just got the new video game, 'Grand Bank Heist.' It's so cool, you get to steal from banks, buy cars, and form a gang. It's so cool!"

"Dash, that game sounds violent," Helen wondered aloud, "Jared's mother allows him to play that?"

"Aw, Mom," Dash replied, "Dad says as long as I don't do any of that stuff in real life, I can play it."

Helen sighed. Kids…

"I'll speak to your father on it."

"Aw, Mom!"

"Put Vi on the phone."

Helen heard an upset Dash transfer the phone to his sister.

"Hi, Mom," Violet greeted in a very I-am-an-independent-teen sort of manner. "Kari is having a slumber party and wanted to know if I could stay over for the weekend."

"No boys, right? Kari's parents are going to be over there….right?"

"No, Mom."

"Uh, 'No, Mom, No boys?' Or 'No, Mom, Kari's parents aren't going to be at the house?'"

"No, Mom. There aren't going to be any boys. Yes, her parents are going to be there."

"Alright, I'm going to call to make sure."

She heard a sigh from Violet. "Aw, Mom."

"Hey, I'm allowing you to go, now. Of course, if it is alright with your father."

"He told me to ask you."

"Well, I'll talk with him."

Violet gave her mother another 'Aw, Mom' before giving the phone back to her father.

"Honey?" Bob greeted. "Another of your kids wants to speak with you."

As Bob chuckled, Jack-Jack came on the phone.

"Hey, little guy. Mommy is going to be home in a couple of days, so don't give your daddy any trouble okay?"

Jack-Jack replied in babyspeak.

"That's my little, Jack-Jack. Now, I want you to watch over your brother and sister, alright?"

Another reply in babyspeak.

"That's good. Can you put your daddy back on the phone?"

Bob made a grunt as he put down Jack-Jack and took the phone. "Honey? I guess you already gave Vi and Dash permission to spend the night at their friends' home. They're getting ready."

"Do they know what I'm doing?"

"I told them it was a photo shoot. Since we're so popular, you have been asked to be photographed. I just left it at that."

"Good." Helen sighed. "Now, I'm going to take a nap before my 8 o'clock dinner engagement with Hufnick."

"Take care of yourself, honey."

"Your wife can handle herself. Again, if I do happen to run into a inescapable jam, that transmitter will sound."

"Gotcha."

Silence before Bob continued.

"I'll talk to you later, Honey. Love you."

"Love you," Helen sighed, as she hung up the phone. Lying back on her bed, she noticed the clock on the table next her bed read 5:10 p.m. She set the clock to 7:15, falling asleep.

In Hufnick's room…Herb Hufnick was drugged, in a slight delirious state sitting on the bed. He was somewhat still aware of his surroundings, but felt so unable to run away, to warn Elastigirl.

Mirage stood over him, while the two twins—Idrissa and Aleme—stood on either side of him. As the two twins held an arm, Mirage slowly opened up his shirt, placing a smooth, delicate hand on his bare chest.

There was a feeling of overwhelming pleasure that grew and grew, making him more disoriented than the drugs. It was as if the life force seeped out of him, making him weaker.

As the weakening euphoria passed, he emitted a moan, slumping to the ground unconscious. Not before noticing an exact duplicate of him standing where Mirage previously was.