Three Days Later
It was Saturday, the day of honoring the Vigilantes down in Chicago.
"And I'm not gonna repeat myself. Do NOT do anything that might expose ANY of our identities. You know how vital it is. If one of our identities gets revealed, we all go. And that's why I want you all to be with your uniforms on." Shadow finished.
"Man, this feels weird." Rhonda adjusted her gloves. "Was it really necessary to bring all our vehicles?" Spinelli asked while adjusting her utility belt.
"One never knows." Shadow shrugged.
"How's my little Princess doing?" Arnold had a hand on Olivia's shoulder. "Fine, I guess. I just want to appreciate all you did for me in the past few days. I never had so much fun! Thanks so much, Daddy." She smiled.
"It's what I'm here for, sweetheart." Arnold kissed her cheek and walked away.
"Chicago really looks beautiful, doesn't it?" Phoebe mentioned. "Man, nothing compares to you." Gerald smirked at Phoebe, making her blush.
The Hyperjet was followed by the QR Jet, which was being controlled by Impulse.
Soon, the Hyperjet flew over a fancy building where limousines, crowds of people, news vans and reporters, and photographers awaited.
"They didn't call this a party for nothin'." Spinelli gulped. "Oh, trust me. You'll be fine!" Arnold reassured her.
The Hyperjet's landing gear soon revealed itself from the jet as it slowly landed. The QR Jet would land near it, in front of it.
The rear Hyperjet doors opened, where photographers and reporters tried to get close, but police and security would hold them off.
"I never thought I'd be so happy to see the police." Spinelli whispered to Arnold, who only nodded.
Soon, they all walked over to the mayor who awaited with bodyguards.
"Shadow! Great to meet you guys!" She shook hands with him. "An honor to be here, Mayor." He smiled. "Oh! Is it alright if my friend can come with her pet eagle?" He asked.
The Mayor smiled. "Of course! Just as long she keeps it under control, cleans up after him, and hopefully, it won't poop."
Arnold chuckled. "Don't worry. You hear that, Ariel?" He looked at her. "I hear you loud and clear. Swoops?" She looked at her pet, who was on her shoulder. He screeched.
"When you're ready, just come in." The mayor told them and soon walked in.
"Minus well get this over with, no?" Spinelli shrugged. "Is that lipgloss I see on you?" Arnold noticed. "Yeah, it's a formal event, why not?" She shrugged.
"Shadow! Shadow!" Reporters called out. He looked over.
"Can we get a photo of you and your wife?" The woman asked.
Arnold smirked at Rhonda. "How 'bout it?" She giggled. "Come here!" She put a hand behind his head as they started to kiss.
The camera lights flashed.
They soon nuzzled their noses after.
"Sheesh, they can't keep their hands off each other, can they?" Spinelli whispered to Ariel. "Oh, come on, they're just being themselves." She replied.
Later
Inside, men in tuxedos, women in beautiful dresses were chatting away and discussing about the Vigilantes coming to visit Chicago once more.
Spinelli felt goosebumps on her arms. "Am I glad we don't have to wear formal clothing? I hate wearing dresses! Especially the ones that reveal too much like my back and whatnot!" Spinelli said. "Just be thankful we're allowed to wear these suits, and thankfully, Impulse worked hard to get these to smell good and look good or else I don't know what would've happened." Arnold replied.
Spinelli shrugged. "Guess you're right on that."
They soon kept walking around, until they saw a familiar face…
"Hey, Dad! Is that who I think it is?" Olivia mentioned. Arnold noticed. "Oh my God! Brian!" He smiled.
It was Brian McCaffery from Station 17.
"Shadow! Guys! It's been so long! How've you been?" They hugged. "Well, not too ideal but we're progressing."
"That bad huh? I also heard what happened down in your city. That was seriously surprising."
"Ugh, it's worse in person than in the news." Spinelli added. Arnold nodded in agreement.
A microphone was tapped.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," The mayor started. "Tonight we are here to honor unsung heroes that not only help their city countless times but also helped the city of Chicago with their arson problems. Tonight, we welcome the team known as 'The Vigilantes'. Give it up for Shadow and The Vigilantes!"
Everyone started clapping and smiling as the spotlight shined on them.
"Shadow, I would like you to come up to the podium, if you may." The mayor asked.
Rhonda kissed Arnold's cheek. "Good luck, bun-bun."
"You got this, Shadow!" Phoebe encouraged.
"Good luck, Daddy." Olivia briefly hugged him. Shadow walked to the podium with the spotlight following him.
He shook hands with the mayor.
"Thank you, thank you." He started with a smile. "It is SUCH an honor being here in Chicago and being able to help out the F.D. and Station 17. Of course, there were rough patches along the way, but we managed to work together and find out who the arsonist was. So can I get a round of applause for the members of Station 17?"
Everyone started clapping with smiles.
Shadow smiled. "One thing I also want to say is… I have such a great team. A hand-picked team in which I'm raising to be the best version of themselves. Not all may have been the best recruits obviously, but they were the right mix of magic to become a family, to love each other, and have each other's backs in whatever situations were thrown their way. And how could I forget the person who stole my heart? My beautiful wife." Shadow looked at Rhonda, who smiled at him.
"If it wasn't for her, we probably wouldn't be in the position where we are now. Heck, we probably wouldn't have had our daughter." Everyone in the audience chuckled. "But the point is, I have such an incredible team in which I picked out. For example, the scrappiest, toughest, and most passionate woman I've ever seen, Scarlet Claw." He referred to Spinelli.
She lightly blushed as the spotlight briefly flashed on her.
"She's one tough nail, I'll give you that. And not just that, the best aircraft pilot this team has seen, is Ariel Flyer."
The spotlight turned to her and Swoops.
"Ms. Flyer has a pet bald eagle which she rescued once while she was on vacation. She took him in and treated him like a pet, caring for him and loving him. She legally adopted him which is why he's here now." He smiled as the audience clapped.
Shadow whistled.
"Go on, boy!" Ariel encouraged as Swoops flew over to Shadow.
Swoops soon landed on his forearm. "I want to take the opportunity to show how Swoops is more than just a pet, he's part of the family. He's unlike any eagle, he's a trained eagle, taught to save lives when needed."
Shadow soon put Swoops on a table next to the podium. "Alright. Let's see…" Shadow looked around.
He whistled. It meant flying around and scouting the area. Shadow didn't say anything.
Arnold soon saw a plate on the table. He picked it up and soon threw it.
The entire audience gasped.
Swoops immediately noticed and grabbed the plate with his legs and stopped it from hitting a man.
"You see? That's how well-trained Swoops is, thanks to Ms. Flyer." Shadow smiled.
The audience was impressed and clapped for them.
Swoops felt the plate taken from his grasp and he was now being held.
It was the man who he saved from the plate. "Oh my God! Apollo, is that you? It is you! I can tell!" It was the billionaire philanthropist who set up the party.
All the Vigilantes were confused.
Swoops had a very light white stripe around his back. It was very small but noticeable enough for the man. Ariel came over.
"Uh, excuse me? But who the heck are you to be holding my eagle like that, and calling him 'Apollo'?" Shadow soon came from the podium.
"Your eagle? Sorry lady, but this eagle here is my pet. I know it is because of this white stripe in his feathers." The man said. "Excuse me, but who the hell are you?" Shadow asked.
"Sincerest apologies. Ray. Ray Watkins. I'm the owner of this eagle." Ray introduced himself. Ariel gave a confused look. "What? No way! I rescued this eagle when I found him injured! He was on the side of a freeway with a broken wing and leg! He was even bleeding!"
"He's a stunt bird, he got lost when we were performing a stunt." Ray replied. "I legally adopted him!"
"Well, I can take him back. And it doesn't matter whether you legally adopted him or not, I'll be taking him back, and you'll hear from my lawyers. Come on, buddy!" Ray started walking away.
Shadow's forearm started beeping. "911 call, harbor fire." The message read.
"Shadow, can't you do something?!" Ariel gave a desperate look. "You can't let him just TAKE Swoops like that! He's part of this family!"
Shadow took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose.
"Hey!" Shadow put a hand on Ray's shoulder. "You're not leaving with one of our own!"
"I need to see paperwork of the adoption papers because otherwise, I legally own this bird, and I have evidence to prove it." He snapped his fingers.
His wife approached them and showed a whole book of photos of Swoops and Ray. The final page contained the papers.
Ariel started breathing heavily.
"Sorry, really. But this bird is mine." Ray started walking away with his wife.
"Come on, we got a harbor fire!" Spinelli told Shadow. But he was mostly shocked by what happened. "Get to the UFRT, I'll be there…"
Soon, Ray was in his limousine, and it soon started to drive off.
The Vigilantes were soon outside.
Shadow gave a worried look. "Ariel…"
"Just leave me alone. I'm going to go clear my mind." She shoved him off. "Olivia?" He saw her walking with her.
"I love you, Dad, but I don't know why you didn't stand up for them. You could've done something. But you didn't!" She walked away with Ariel.
Shadow gave a saddened look. "Ar- Arnold, come on. We have a job to do now." Rhonda told him. He looked at her and lightly nodded.
They soon ran toward the Hyperjet. The UFRT and PRT trucks were already out of the Hyperjet with their siren lights on. The QR Jet would be left there for Ariel.
"How come you're with me rather than following your dad?" Ariel asked. "I- I honestly didn't like how he handled the situation, and I thought I'd stick with you for the time being."
Soon, distant chatter was heard. Olivia noticed.
She soon crept over to a safe distance to overhear the conversation.
"I told you I want that Station gone!"
"But I tried to but-"
"But you didn't try hard enough! If Adcox were here, he would've probably done it in a flash! He was more reliable than you! Now you go burn down that station, or you won't receive your pay!"
"Alright…"
They soon walked away. Olivia and Ariel overheard everything.
"They didn't mention what station, our only option is to follow them in the QR Jet." Olivia suggested. "And then what?"
Olivia thought for a moment. "Hang on." She started patting herself down, and her eyes widened. "Ariel, please tell me you have your radio on you."
Ariel checked herself but didn't feel her radio unit or earpiece. "I- I think they must be in the Hyperjet!…"
"At least we can try and contact the others through the jet, no?" Olivia asked. Ariel only nodded.
"Come on!" Olivia ran off.
Soon, a gray sedan pulled out from an alleyway.
"There he is!" Olivia pointed. The QR Jet soon took off from the ground and had to stay away from the car to be out of sight.
PEW
A tracking bullet was shot at the car and didn't make a noise on impact.
"That way we can see what Station they were talking about." Olivia said. "You really get your smarts from Arnold, don't you?" Olivia only smiled.