Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story
"Antiheroine"
Veena floated low above her island town, hiding by the shadows and the bristling trees. She needed this form of therapy tonight, but felt it was best to remain obscure. She could draw attention if she went too high, the kind that might spawn a car wreck or two.
Not that she worried over that sort of thing, but there was no point in causing undue harm.
She wasn't in the formal uniform tonight; there was no meeting or training planned. She was wearing shorts and an old T-shirt; her long cape and bodice had been left behind.
In moments like this, she could find peace in her father's manor, given that she had it to herself these days, with people only making quick deliveries. But being cooped up wasn't something she craved. Damian had stowed her in the house for years. She relished all the freedom that she had of late.
It was nice examining Rainbrook isle, a place she'd merely studied from above as a kid, her tiny hand pressed against a tall window.
Rainbrook was a neighbor to Central City, but hardly a little brother to that place. It was prosperous in its very own right — thanks to her mother, thanks to Dale, who'd made contributions many years ago, well before Veena even knew of their link.
Back around the time when she was seven or eight, she'd seen a famous newspaper photo of Dale, carrying a helmet with a spacesuit on, looking resolute as she glanced to the side — largely indifferent to the sparkle of fame, merely focused on her current mission at hand.
The headline was plastered in big, bold print: The Gutsiest Woman In The Galaxy.
As a result of Dale's many endeavors, the Dale Arden Space Association was formed. From what Veena knew, it'd launched after April and Rick were born, but clearly before Dale's last name changed.
Besides its academy, stationed in space — which Veena heard that April had attended for years — DASA ran a famous museum on Earth, nestled in the mainland of Rainbrook isle.
Visitors flocked from around the globe, wanting to see all that Dale had done: the cruisers she flew, the footage she filmed, the relics she found, and other success. Arguably, its planetarium held the most allure, thanks to the Virtual Galaxy show. You took a treasured seat within a huge dark room, then watched a tour play on a domed ceiling.
Simply put, it couldn't be viewed elsewhere in the world — not anywhere on the entire Earth. The curators guarded it passionately, making sure it didn't hit the Internet. People couldn't bring recording tools inside; they had to pass a short hall of laser scans.
Now that her overbearing father was gone, Veena had ventured to observe the show, but left the presentation only halfway through — right when the segment on Mongo began. It kind of bothered her to watch it all play out, because a certain truth had settled into her mind: while she was cooped up in the manor for years, waiting on a mother to rescue her, Dale was cruising all around the depths of space, seeking adventures, and other thrills. A part of Veena wanted to admire her mom, but she wasn't certain that she actually did.
A blaring arrived, down below. Veena realized it was a bank alarm.
A couple of men tore across the street, both of them running with money sacks.
Veena stared on. Did she step in? Saving the day wasn't quite her thing.
A teen boy staggered right across the crooks, seemingly frozen as he spotted them.
"Out of the way, moron!" one man said, knocking the kid to the stony ground. Other civilians were ahead of them, most of whom would clearly get hurt as well.
Veena took a breath, then uncurled her legs, floating to the road right behind the men.
One of them noticed. "What in the world?" The guy grabbed his partner, and both of them watched, each looking staggered by the mystical feat.
The partner took hold of a teenage girl, a kid who appeared around Veena's age. He pressed a small gun to his captive's head. The girl's eyes widened, horrified.
Veena teleported to the armed man's rear, snatching the gun up immediately, then slamming an electrified palm on his face. She held it there, focusing.
The criminal trembled for a couple of seconds, then dropped unconscious at Veena's feet.
The other crook pointed his weapon and fired, unaware that Veena had summoned her shield. The pair of shots bounced off the mystical sphere. A loud bolt of lightning crashed down on the man, summoned precisely where Veena wished.
The criminal collapsed in a state of fright, twitching on the ground with the same expression. Smoke was coming off of his tattered clothes.
A small crowd emerged as the skirmish died. People were looking at Veena in awe.
"Thank you," said the girl, stepping away.
Veena watched her, then paused in shock, spotting someone on a distant street.
Dale looked on in a brown trench coat, sporting what appeared to be pride on her face.
Veena heard a siren. Cops were coming. She sprinted down the road and stood before her mom, eyeing her in an uncertain state. Why was she visiting Rainbrook now?
"Let's talk, you and I," Dale said to her.
"Damian was different, when he and I met. He started to change as his power grew. We mostly disagreed on how we wanted you raised...so he simply took you and disappeared." Dale held her gaze on the flapping grass, sitting by Veena on an old park bench. "Literally. He disappeared. He vanished right before I could get to you."
Veena listened on very carefully. She could hear the pain in her mother's voice. Maybe they needed something new to discuss. "I..." She paused, looking away. "I saw your museum two days ago." Right before she flew to visit Dale on the hill. "From what I understand, now that you're alive, they're going to start paying royalties again."
"Veena," she uttered, making a chuckle, "royalties are the last thing on my mind. I want to know you. I always have."
Veena turned again, facing her. "I want to believe that..." Her words trailed off. "I just don't know if I actually can." It was kind of hard to accept Dale's claim, given evidence to the contrary. If Dale had really wanted to be her mom, why was she exploring the galaxy?
"Didn't you see the planetarium show?"
"Only half of it," Veena replied. "But why does that matter?" she had to ask.
"Come on," Dale said, taking her hand. "Why don't we go watch the rest of it? I can get us into the museum now."
Moments later, she sat with her mother for a private screening, and watched the entire space show play out.
When it was done, Dale spoke on-screen, talking directly to the camera lens: "I travel because I'm searching for someone — someone who means the whole world to me. I know in my heart that she's still out there, and I believe we're going to be together again."
The film wrapped up.
Dale faced her. "I never told anyone who asked me this...but I was referring to you in that clip."
Veena felt something unusual. Her cheeks warmed up. Her breaths grew thick. She turned from her mother and hid her face.
"Damian concealed his identity, building his fortune under various names. If I'd realized he was living here — that he hadn't gone where he swore he would — I would've come and found you immediately."
Veena looked down, eyeing her knees.
"You okay?" Dale stroked her back.
"I'm all right," she said with a nod. She liked this feeling, liked Dale's touch.
Seemingly sensing that truth somehow, Dale leaned over, holding her close.
Mandrake's Home — 10:30 pm
Dale walked into the living space. Flash, April, and Rick were there. Each of them looked at her awkwardly.
She licked her lips, taking a breath. It was finally time for a family talk, now that they all had the time for this.
"So how is she doing?" Rick asked in a mutter.
"She's doing all right," Dale said as she neared, cupping his cheek with a gentle palm. She couldn't help smiling as she studied her son. She was so pleased to see him well and safe, pleased to see how he was coming along. Rick had always been an introverted boy, something which Dale didn't mind that much. But there was little trace of the recluse now. He still camped behind his computer screens, but he'd gained friends, and he'd gained love — even though he hadn't admitted the latter. But Dale knew better. She was his mom.
She let Rick go, and faced the others. "Listen," she muttered, "I know that we need to have a talk about her."
April sat back with her hands interlocked, looking at her fingers as she wriggled them.
"Before we do..." She looked to Flash. "There's something that I need to tell you, fly guy."
He nodded a little. "What would that be?"
Dale stepped over and touched his hand. "You've done a great job taking care of our kids. I know that I've said it, but I have to repeat."
He smiled at her.
The front door opened. Sheila walked in, draped in a billowing coat herself. Her gaze fastened onto their touching palms. Then she looked up and locked eyes with Dale, letting her mouth crack open a tad.
Dale stepped away, releasing Flash. She cleared her throat and felt a tingling.
Flash squirmed a little. "Hi!" he said, addressing the woman.
"I tried to call," Sheila relayed.
He eyed his phone. "The battery died."
April stood now, glancing about, looking unhinged as she studied them.
"Look," Dale said, "maybe we should finish this talk later on."
"Right," Rick uttered, grabbing his coat. "I kind of want to check in on Amy now." It seemed he was bothered by the awkwardness.
"I think I'll go too," April declared. "We can get together and do this soon." She kissed Dale's cheek, then left the house, following Rick as he exited.
Silence prevailed.
Dale made a shrug. "Okay," she said, slapping her hands. "I'm going to head up to my room for the night." She walked past Sheila, quietly.
Sheila held her gaze on the burgundy rug.
A few seconds later, Dale heard the door. It seemed Flash and Sheila had gone home too.