Chapter 6- A family

Steven gawked at Tessa, his mouth opening and closing several times rather like that of a fish. Tessa looked at him, fear running through her in waves.

Why had Johann done this?! Did he think that she would be able to stop Steven with ease if she just knew why she was doing it?

Tessa swallowed, waiting for the verdict from her brother, a small part of her wondering if Steven could have been talked down by her mother if Johann had just let them be.

Steven seemed to recover, and in an instant a scowl was on his face, "Hello Tessa," he snarled, stepping backwards until he was next to his control panel, where his pale hand grabbed hold of a single well labeled lever, it read- Indoor shock cables!

Tessa screamed as the lever was pulled down and several long thin cords sprouted from little doors that were cleverly hidden beneath the maroon velvet.

Tessa flew up, dodging each cord with difficulty. She pressed herself against the ceiling of the machine, her breaths coming in with difficulty as she panicked. One of the cords sprang towards her faster than she could fly, and wrapped around her leg pulling her down to the floor.

What felt like thousands of the shock cables began swarming her, wrapping around her arms, legs, and torso creating a squirming cocoon that Tessa thought lots of snakes wrapping around you would feel like.

"Tessa!" screamed their mother and she struggled against her binds, when a stray cable pushed the tip of itself into her arm and she was knocked out.

Steven was laughing, it was muffled to the young girl as the cords wrapped around her face. Tessa was certain that this was the end.

The cords lifted her up so that she could see Steven's smiling face, she screamed several times but it was quiet even to her.

I'm going to die. Suits the fact that my friends think I'm dead right now!

Tessa closed her eyes, trying to focus, trying to be brave, her father and mother had both used the quote "Bravery is being afraid of something but doing it anyways" she was going to take this bravely even though she was as afraid as she could be.

"I'm sorry Tessa," Steven said, a touch of sadness in his voice, "Really sorry, but I need to make things fair."

And with that, Steven pulled down even farther on the lever and the cords all turned their heads to Tessa's body and electricity ran through her.

…To describe what Tessa was feeling exactly would be impossible, I'm sure you understand, despite that though, I shall try to explain to some extent-

It felt like spiders running just beneath her skin, snakes squeezing her, it was hot and cold, it –if she was able to think at that moment- reminded her of falling from a great height before she realized that she could fly.

With little control of her own mind at that moment, Tessa's thoughts strayed back to her family-

She and her family were having a picnic…

Steven was playing with Patrick, trying to make him turn into a giant green monster.

Tessa was playing with Rose, drinking grape juice and talking about their favorite books.

Her mother and father were leaning against each other looking into the sky when Becky sat straight as a rake, whispered something to Tobey, then got up creating excuses to leave.

Only now did Tessa realize that it was because she was WordGirl.

All of Tessa's muscles suddenly relaxed, the cords dropped to the ground dead. The young girl collapsed with them, kneeling.

She could vaguely hear Steven muttering words of confusion, but wasn't sure why.

A small part of her was wondering, why wasn't she unconscious? One of those cords had put her mother to sleep, why was she not?

"The door was open, hope you don't mind me dropping in."

The aristocratic and overly smug voice of Tobey made Tessa take in a sharp breath of surprise. What was he doing here?! The young girl was barely able to lift her head to see her father.

"You really must protect your wires with something more than a few layers of sheet metal, one blow torch and I was into your system," he commented, his gaze traveling over the scene lazily, though Tessa imagined that he was only pretending to be calm.

Steven was yet to say anything, perhaps because he was struck speechless or perhaps because Tobey was giving him little chance to.

"This Robot lacks finesse," Tobey continued, his gaze landing on his unconscious wife. Tessa saw a flash of red appear on his cheeks, yet he remained quiet and composed, "And may I ask, what can you possibly hope to achieve here?"

Finally Steven was given the chance to speak, his face had gotten redder then his fathers as Tobey continued to talk. Then when he had finished, he went pale, "Equality!" he shouted.

Tessa's brow furrowed, she interrupted Tobey who was about to make some derisive remark, "If you wanted equality, why did you do this?" she asked, "You are trying to set yourself above me Steven! That's not equality!'

Steven blinked a few times as the words sank in, yet he didn't relent, "I'm making you equal with everyone else!" he spluttered.

Tessa shook her head, "It's still not total equality, and what about the villains who have powers different from mine? Are you going to shock them too?"

It seemed that Steven hadn't even considered it, and he shuffled his feet as he thought. Finally he spoke with a defiant air, "Of course I will, I want-"

"Equality, I know," Tessa frowned, she could feel her strength come back as she thought about it. If she could convince Steven that what he was doing was wrong then perhaps they could get him back! For even though he had done all this awful stuff, not one of them could deny him his home.

"What about Patrick?"

"What about him?" Steven questioned, wondering why the topic had switched so suddenly.

"What if he is like his mother? Could you really do that to him?" she pointed to her mother who looked rather sad lying still on the floor, her breathing shallow.

Steven frowned, "I-I might!" he said defiantly.

Tessa scowled, "Ah yes, that's what true friendship is!" she snarled.

Tessa felt strange, during the past when Steven had been acting odd she had just taken it. She would listen, get upset and then leave the room all tearful and confused. She wasn't going to take it now! Because Steven McCallistar was going to hurt her friends!

She knew the Veggie Kid his name was Micheal.

Lady Redundant Woman was still at large and would face death if she came across the shock cables!

And most importantly, she knew that Patrick was going to realize what his powers were and soon. And then he would be in trouble.

And so, with those thoughts running through her head. Tessa lifted herself into a standing position, every muscle aching yet still working.

Steven was looking shocked, as was Tobey.

"How are you still awake?" Steven mumbled, "How can you stand so soon?" he was sounding slightly more panicked then before.

Tessa looked determined at her brother, "I think I get it now, that's how," she said plainly, "Steven, the problem is not that I'm not equal to you. Do you see what you have done? You've created a monster sized robot and that's amazing!"

Steven gave a small triumphant smile, though it was gone in a flash as Tessa continued to speak.

"I have the ability to fly, I can hear things that are going on miles away, but that means nothing unless I choose what I am going to do with what I am given. Not everyone is equal Steven, we're all special...As cheesy as that sounds."

Tobey nodded, "You're a genius! (not as good as a genius as I was at that age but still) I learned very late that I wasn't meant to be a villain (as fun as it was destroying buildings) now look at me, I'm married with two wonderful (if not supernatural) children!" he smiled crookedly, "I'm happy where I am, where as I'm sure you're not that happiest where you are right now."

Steven swallowed, "Even if that's true Tessa," he avoided his father and instead spoke to Tessa, "The shock cables should have taken your powers away!"

Tessa felt cold run through her, suddenly she felt empty inside. She wanted to cry, but something on the wall caught her attention.

It was a felt tipped Marker, floating in the air it wrote down one simple word onto large glass window-

No

Tessa knew immediately what it meant, and closed her eyes.

And slowly, she rose off the ground.

"That's amazing!" exclaimed her father, "Absolutely extraordinary (gets that from my side of the family) Tessa!"

Tessa opened her eyes to see her father and brother gawking at her, "Well isn't this a strange turn of events," she said, smiling.

She landed, then looked at Steven pleadingly, "So, now, are you going to keep destroying the whole town, or are you coming home?"

Steven blinked in surprise, "I think you know my answer-"

Tessa nodded, "Yes, I think I do."

The End!

Except, it isn't the end exactly.

It would be really disappointing and confusing if I did that.

I'll have the Epilogue up really fast so you don't have to wonder! Besides, we need some Steven Boxlietner love.

Also-

Soooo sorry about the wait! I didn't mean to take a three week break but I did, and I'm a poopy head.

Please review!