Act 3: A Bond Broken
"Why didn't you say anything?" Ed asked.
"I'm telling you now." Vallejo said. "I don't want to lose Ingrid the way I lost Malika. I thought things were different. Maybe Ingrid was stronger."
"She is stronger." Fillmore insisted.
"The thing is, I don't know if it's about strong." Vallejo said. He opened up a book on his desk and showed Malika doing various activities around the school. "Malika was smart, like Ingrid. Quirky. Hard to mainstream. But unlike Ingrid, she was in a couple of clubs. Head of the Unicycle Squad. President of the A/V Club. And, of course, she was a…"
"Safety Patroller." Fillmore finished.
"Even then, the Robins took it all away from her. She sold her unicycle, disbanded the A/V Club, turned in her sash, and now, has only one passion: the Red Robins. I don't want that to happen to Ingrid."
"Oh, it won't happen." Fillmore said getting up from his seat. "I'll make sure of it."
"I don't know if it's your decision, Fillmore." Vallejo said.
"He's right on that one." Ed agreed. "Fillmore, it's hard for Ingrid to fit in at most places here at X. I know because I feel the same way. You can't just force that decision away from her. She has to make it on her own."
"Here's hoping you're right." Fillmore said before leaving.
After Fillmore left, Ed's eyes narrowed. He rubbed his chin before turning to Vallejo. "Hey, Vallejo, didn't you say that Malika disbanded the A/V Club?"
"Yeah, I did. Why?"
"Just a thought." Ed said before leaving.
Ingrid had a secret meeting with Malika, who told her that once she graduates, she wants her to lead the Red Robins in her place. But before she could take it, she was given one last test to prove herself: finding the vault. After watching a homemade video edited by Malika, Ingrid searched around school checking many locked doors with the key given by Malika which supposedly helps. So far, she's had no such luck.
Later that day, however, Ingrid found the answer. After looking back at the videotape she was given, she studied a certain scene which showed Malika pointing her camera at a mirror so she can give a message to Ingrid. There, she noticed a certain label on the camera's black strap written in white.
"X A/V CLUB"
Ingrid had a solid lead. She headed straight to the A/V Room and tried out her key in the lockers there. Her key didn't fit in any of them, but then, her attention was drawn to a large bookcase with very full shelves. Curious, she pushed it to its side and found a door which was hidden behind it. Ingrid slid her key into the hole in the doorknob and turned it.
It worked.
Ingrid opened the door and dropped her jaw finding the contents within the room she found. Just as predicted, the vault was filled with T-shirts, candy, ice cream, books, and other goodies that were supposed to be sold by other companies that aren't Red Robins.
Ingrid did it. She found the legendary vault. And surprisingly, so did somebody else.
"Looks like you hit the jackpot."
Ingrid jumped hearing the voice coming from behind her. She turned and saw Ed Nygma standing behind her with his arms crossed.
"Ed." Ingrid said surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"You're not the only one with a good memory, Ingrid." Ed replied. "After learning that Malika was part of the A/V Club before disbanding it, I remembered that this very room was part of Red Robins territory. That got me thinking, if the A/V Club was disbanded, why is this room still here? I checked it out and noticed the full bookshelf. I figured that was a lot of paper for an electronics room. It wasn't hard to figure out that this is the room where the vault was. Unfortunately, I didn't have the key to open it and confirm my suspicion. So I moved the bookshelf back and waited for you."
"So you knew where the vault was." Ingrid said. "But why haven't you told Vallejo?"
"Because it's not my case, Ingrid. It's yours." Ed said before deciding to confess. "Cards on the table: Vallejo sent me to keep an eye on you."
"He what?" Ingrid asked with wide eyes. "Why?"
"He was afraid you might get too drawn into the life of the Red Robins." Ed answered. "Tell me, do you know the legend of the lotus eaters?"
"Sure, from the Odyssey. Odysseus' crew found an island full of lotus fruits and flowers which they ate and fell into a peaceful, apathetic state. They were so entranced by what they ate, they forgot all about their duties and even their homes."
"Exactly. In this metaphor, the Red Robins' benefits are the lotus plants."
"Are you saying I might like being a Red Robin so much, I'd consider joining them for real?"
"Are you?"
Ingrid opened her mouth, but no answer came out of her mouth. She couldn't give a response to that.
"Look, Ingrid, I get what you're feeling. You're different from everyone besides the Red Robins. That's why they're relatable to you. Heck, Malika herself was a Safety Patroller just like you. In fact, she had many passions. But in the end, she gave up all of them just to be a Red Robin. But do you know the difference between us and them, Ingrid? They equated being a team with being winners. They think that as long as they have each other's backs, they can get away with anything. But us, we stick together, no matter what. And that's why I'm leaving the fate of the vault to you."
"What?" Ingrid asked as Ed turned around. "You're still not going to tell Vallejo? How do you know I won't just accept Malika's offer and become the new leader?"
"I don't. But I do know this: you're smart, Ingrid, but you've also got a good, albeit soft heart. That's one of the many things I respect about you. So you do you." He left the A/V Room leaving Ingrid speechless and conflicted at the same time.
Ingrid returned to the Red Robins clubhouse ready to give the results of her search to Malika and the others.
"I found the vault. It's in the A/V closet behind the bookshelf."
"See? I knew you could do it." Malika said giving Ingrid a quick, proud hug. "I knew you were the only one for the job."
"I can't be your successor, Malika."
Malika's smile dropped. "Why not?"
"I'm sorry." Ingrid held up her Safety Patrol badge.
"So, you're a belt." Malika said before removing her golden badge and offering it to Ingrid. "Here. Take it. It's perfect. Don't you see? I was a belt once too, but I realized I had a higher calling, like you do. You belong with us. We're the same."
"Yeah, we're the same in a lot of ways." Ingrid returned. "People like us don't fit in. We have weird hobbies. We like weird music. Our vocabulary's substantially larger than average. But unlike you, I'm not going to take the easy way out."
"You think getting all this is easy?" Malika asked gesturing to every object in the clubhouse again.
"You know, at first, I thought you guys bullied, cheated, and intimidated for massage chairs and trips to Europe. But it wasn't about that."
"I know. We're a team. We're a family, Ingrid."
"Yeah, 'cause a family that shakes down kids together stays together. Sorry, Malika. That's not for me. I prefer to make friends the old, fashioned way or not at all."
With narrow eyes, Malika stared at Ingrid. "Well, that's how it is, I guess."
"That's how it is. Now, I'd like you to come with me."
"My answer is no." Malika said as she reached to the wall and shifted a dartboard to the left. Part of the wall next to it opened up and she ran outside.
Ingrid started to give chase, but she was stopped by the twins who stood in her way.
"You'll have to go through us, belt."
"She doesn't need to!" Much to everyone else's surprise, Rosa tackled the twins and kept them down.
"Rosa, what are you doing?!" Melba asked from afar.
"The right thing!" Rosa shouted. "Ingrid, go!"
"But why…"
"I'll explain later! Just go!"
Without any more hesitation, Ingrid ran out the secret door and picked up speed in her chase for the Red Robins leader. She spotted Malika steal a toddler's bike with training wheels and rise off in it, so she pulled out her newly delivered Chatmaster 3000 and spoke into it.
"Fillmore, it's Ingrid! I need some backup! I'm taking Malika down!"
Much to her delight, she heard the pride in Fillmore's voice answering back. "Copy."
Malika rode her bike all the way to X Middle School. She attempted to cut through the pool area, but Fillmore and Ed were waiting for her. She stretched out a volleyball net in front of her, but she managed to pedal past them before they could finish. She knocked over a stack of floaties which tumbled over Fillmore, but Ed found a pool noodle and threw it over at the bike's wheels. Malika lost control and landed in the pool.
When Malika climbed out of the pool, she found herself surrounded by Fillmore, Ed, and most of all, Ingrid. The chase was over and she was caught.
"Give it up, Malika." Ingrid suggested.
"Ingrid, you could have been part of the greatest organization in the entire school." Malika said with a disappointed tone.
"I already am." Ingrid said smiling over at Fillmore and Ed. "And you know what, I don't need another likeminded somebody to make me feel special. I got enough right here."
While Malika and most of the other Red Robins were being brought in by the Safety Patrol, Principal Folsom confronted the only Red Robin who wasn't being dragged away: Rosa Hunt. Fillmore, Ingrid, Vallejo, and Ed surrounded the two as the school principal addressed the mysterious girl who helped Ingrid.
"So let me get this straight," she said, "You're not actually a student of X Middle School. You just joined the Red Robins because you thought their influence would get you in?"
Rosa nodded shamefully.
"Why didn't you just apply like any other student?" Fillmore asked.
"My circumstances are… complicated." Rosa explained. "My dad died years ago, and my mom's made some bad financial decisions since. We can't afford to send me to any school, and I've always wanted to attend X because this is where my dad attended when he was a kid. Malika promised she'd have my back so long as I'd have hers as well as everyone else's. But then, Ingrid showed up. I could already tell she didn't belong with us, even if she thought she did. So when she stood up to Malika, I took my chance and helped." She looked at Principal Folsom. "Are you going to kick me out?"
"Well, you did trespass on school grounds and aid in the Red Robins' illegal operation." Folsom said.
"I think you should give her a break, Principal Folsom." Ingrid said. "After all, she did help us capture Malika. Who knows what would've happened if she hadn't stepped in to help."
"That's a risky gamble." Vallejo said.
"What's the worst that can happen?" Fillmore asked. "What do you say, Folsom?"
Folsom stared at Rosa and pondered hard. After a minute of silent thinking, she gave her answer. "All right. Because of your service, I will offer some leniency and see what I can do about officially enrolling you to X Middle School. But know, young lady, that you are on probation. One wrong move, and I'll have you packaged and shipped to the next town over."
Rosa grew a smile happily proud. "Thank you, ma'am! Don't worry. You won't have any trouble from me." She turned to the Safety Patrol. "Thanks for the help."
Ingrid smiled back. "Hey, we may not be Red Robins, but we stick together, no matter what."
Later in class, Jenna was passing around pink ribbons to all the girls across the desks. "Can you smell it people? Spring is in the air. That means one thing: it's time for my yearly hair-braiding party." She stopped when she reached Ingrid's desk. "Ah yes. Ingrid. Technically, you're still too new."
Ingrid turned to Jamie, who shuddered in fear at her glance.
"Uh, she can have my place. She can have whatever she wants!"
"I was going to say, this is a girls only party," Jenna said, "So that supersedes the new kid disqualification. You are officially invited, Ingrid. Sorry you still can't come, Ed."
"Still wasn't going to come." Ed said rolling his eyes.
"Sorry," Ingrid said, "But I have other plans."
"What?" Jenna asked surprised. "What other plans could you possibly have?"
"Something that Ed is more than welcome to attend." Ingrid answered looking over at the riddler. "What do you say, Ed?"
Ed smiled back. "Count me in."
Ingrid invited Ed and everyone in the Safety Patrol to the backyard patio of her house. She shuffled a handful of poker cards before handing a set of hands to each of her friends and herself. While she did that, her father came out with a plate full of burgers.
"Burgers up, young people."
"Thanks, Dad." Ingrid said taking a burger.
Vallejo couldn't help but notice the Tub-O-Cookie Dough that O'Farrell was scooping and putting in his mouth. "Do you have any idea how old that cookie dough is?"
"Mmm… Late 1986." Ingrid said. "It was a thank you from the J-Birds. Let's see…" Ingrid began speaking out a list of ingredients before stopping. "Shall I go on?"
"Please, don't." Vallejo said.
"Is it any good?" Ed asked.
"Don't worry. This stuff will outlast the Sphinx."
"I'm just glad you brought down Malika instead of the other way around." Vallejo said. "I should have believed in you, Ingrid."
"No, you shouldn't have." Ingrid replied. "And I'm kinda glad you didn't. In fact, I'm not even mad you sent Ed to spy on me. I almost didn't make it out of there."
"So what changed your mind?" Ed asked. "Was it my charm?"
"You wish." Ingrid replied nudging her elbow into him. "But your words did make me uncertain. But in the end, I knew my real friends always had my back after Fillmore's present showed up at my doorstep." She reached into her bag and pulled out her new, fancy walkie talkie.
"Nice talkie." Vallejo said before stopping to think. "Wait a minute. You couldn't have ordered those without my signature." When he finally remembered, he grew angry. "Communications report!"
"Shh. Wait. Do you hear that noise?" Fillmore asked. "It sounds like Ed's got another riddle for us."
"As a matter of fact, I do." Ed said. "What do a nose, a motor, and a marathon man have in common?"
"What?" Ingrid asked preparing herself.
"They… RUN!"
Fillmore, Ed, and Ingrid leaped from their chairs and ran as fast as they could from their angry superior.
"FILLMOOOOOOOORE!"
Rosa Hunt stared out into the night sky from her bedroom window. She laid back on her bed and let out a sigh of relief. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a golden locket attached to a chain. She opened it to reveal the contents inside.
On one side of the locket, there was a photo of herself when she was very young along with two adults, a man and a woman. On the other side, there was a message engraved. It read "To my dearest daughter, Helena. Make your family proud."
"I will, Daddy." she said. "I made it. I'm finally inside X Middle School. Now..." She closed the locket and held it tightly. "Let the hunt begin."