CHAPTER 27: RHONDA LIVES AGAIN, PART 2

As the morning sun arrives in Hillwood, the day comes to an official beginning for its occupants. Waking from a long night of sleep, much of it needed from their busy days preceding before, and some of it merely wanted for leisure or relaxation, the citizens of Hillwood all come to their feet to start a new day in one way or another; some early birds to the worm, others night owls to pick their prey later.

The city is a melting pot, and it begins to broil ever so warmer with tensions growing higher among one another, all because of a new factor in their equation of life:

The escape of 'Little' Nicky Russotti.

Many fear what will come from his return; most concerned with their lives and the lives of those they love, and others with the sense of peace in the city. This man's history of ruling organized crime with an iron fist is well-known throughout the city, and are all well aware of what he is capable of. The citizens of Hillwood disagree on many things, but they cannot disagree with this fact:

There is a new threat to their city.

Those that seek to combat that threat are a group of masked crimefighters known as the Hillwood Heroes; a group led by the world-famous hero known as the Green Eye. Making his start to this day, the leader of this group rose from his bed, giving his arms a stretch as he makes his first steps to the day, but as Arnold Shortman rather than the Green Eye.

Dressing himself in one of his plaid shirts and a pair of blue jeans, Arnold began walking downstairs to the second floor of the Sunset Arms, giving his neck a crack as he walked down to the ground floor. The sounds of light conversation and hurried footsteps scurried about the boarding home, showing signs of life within the building; like a hive of worker bees running about to complete their jobs.

Despite his mind being able to read the thoughts and feelings of the very minds that hurry about the boarding home, what is currently on the mind of Arnold Shortman is not the occupants of the Sunset Arms, but instead a dire decision regarding the Hillwood Heroes and a difficult situation the team members were forced into.

His mind goes back to the events of that night, fully realizing how the events unfolded again.

Buckley Lloyd is a man of great wealth and status; a position that has led him to many opportunities and privileges in his life. The majority of his life choices have been merely been in the interest of increasing his own wealth, or to flaunt his status to others in his social circle. Thanks to a certain tragic event in his life, however, those goals had quickly changed forever.

Coming home from one of his hedonistic exploits as a rich stock broker, he had returned to his abode to find Rhonda, his only daughter, bruised and bloody on his floor, caused from a brutal rape delivered by a costumed maniac calling himself 'The Freak'. In that moment, gone forever was the hedonistic Buckley Lloyd and in his place was born the vengeful white knight known as Valiance.

When his daughter was revealed to have recovered from her assault, he was gifted with another chance at being a proper father, but that chance was quickly taken away once again when Rhonda had given her life to save another. For nearly a year, he had tried to find a way to bring her to life once again, and, following his strict research, had found a way to bring her to life once again.

Though Rhonda was indeed alive once again (or, rather, only her body, not beknown to the Hillwood Heroes), an unintended consequence that had come from her resurrection was that she had turned completely an utterly mad; into a vicious killing machine. Now, there laid two problems for the Hillwood Heroes to solve.

One; to find and stop Rhonda from causing any more damage.

Two; to decide how to punish Valiance for his crimes that have caused this situation on their hands.

Here, in the base of the Hillwood Heroes, some answers to solve the first question were laid out before them, describing to the rest of the Hillwood Heroes the current status of the situation.

"So, basically, Rhonda's back from the dead, but she's bat-shit crazy and killing people. And she has the hots for you for some reason." G-Funk said.

"She's killed a handful of scientists, but I don't know how far she's willing to go, how many more she'll kill, or why she'll kill. All I really know is that she's somehow become... infatuated with me, and has my powers." Green Eye said.

"And, just so we're on the same page, that's super-healing, all the Matrix martial arts shit, and your weird super-empathy thing?"

"Yes, but I don't understand how she got the martial arts training so fast. When I've given you some training, you haven't got anywhere near my level in martial arts yet, my powers not withstanding. Rhonda didn't have much training before, either, so I'm not quite sure how she managed to learn it all so fast."

"Wait, is it possible that she somehow... learned it from that... connection she had with you? You say your empath powers give you the ability to learn other peoples' emotions and what causes them, could she have learned your martial arts training from connecting to you?" Lady Tetsu asked.

"I'm not sure. I've never interacted with another Spirit Master besides Luz, and he never used anything like that to train me. But Rhonda's not a Spirit Master like I am; she became what she is now from science rather than the traditional way."

"I'm afraid the answer is quite far more complex than science could explain." A voice said.

Seeming to fade into existence on the spot, Luz appeared before the team in a spectral form, gaining a startle out of the majority of those in the room. Though not reacting as his teammates did, the Green Eye was, too, surprised to see his mentor appear, giving a respectful bow as he appeared.

"Luz." The Green Eye greeted.

"Hello, child. And greeting, Hillwood Heroes. I do wish our first introductions could have been on more pleasant circumstances, but, unfortunately, it seems that my aide is needed more than I thought." Luz said.

"Alright, then, what's the deal here?" G-Funk asked.

While his thoughts linger on the past night, his body is still tied to the present, leading him to another event taking place before him. This event occurred outside of Barry's room, with a loud conversation just barely muffled behind the door, but the tone of the conversation clearly not anything comfortable.

Reaching within the room with his mind, Arnold sensed two presences within the room: One was Barry, feeling frustrated underneath a sense of compassion, and another was a young man, feeling much of the same, but underneath his heart a sense of prejudice and anger.

In an angry and energetic force, the door swung open, leaving Arnold just barely enough time to dodge it. As he moved out of the way, the first thing in his sight was the young man he had sense walking out of the room, but not before catching a glimpse at Arnold himself.

Inside his heart, he felt a sense of anger and resentment, for reasons he could not sense in time from this one glimpse. While the young man began walking away again, heading his way out the door, Arnold stopped outside the room to check on its occupant, finding Barry appearing sad and upset.

"Hey, Barry? What was that all about?" Arnold asked.

Hearing Arnold's voice come his way, Barry quickly hid his disposition with a friendly facade; the pleasure to see his friend genuine, but the real feelings in his heart thinly veiled.

"Oh, Hey Arnold, how you doin'?" Barry asked.

"Fine, fine, but is everything alright? Who was that guy?" Arnold asked.

"Oh. That was Marquis. He's my grandson. We were just talking."

"Sounded more like a shouting match to me. You sure everything's alright?"

"It's alright, son, really. A young man shouldn't worry about the problems of an old man like me. You've got a pretty fiancee and a life ahead of you. No need to see about my troubles."

The act of reaching into someone's mind is not something he likes to do without permission, but Arnold began to reach into Barry's mind, hoping that he would find the answer to this problem, as it was clear that he would not get the answer simply by asking. With one simple prod into his soul, Arnold put his mind back into the conversation that they had previously shared.

A few minutes ago, in Barry's room...

The conversation between Barry and Marquis continued its uncomfortable course down to a familiar place the two knew very well, and neither enjoyed visiting, especially not so frequently as they did with their meetings. Marquis grew frustrated from failing to reach his grandfather, and Barry felt just as frustrated trying to reach his grandson.

"Marquis, we've been over this. I'm not goin' anywhere. I'm happy right here." Barry said.

"I don't feel safe with you here, grandpa. You know I don't feel safe with you around all these whites. You know how much they've put us under?" Marquis asked.

"Marquis, I know for a fact I raised you not to think like that. I taught you that we're all the same, reagardless of skin color. How come you still haven't gotten that?"

"Because, when it comes down to it, we ain't the same. How many times have you seen black men killed by white cops and the cops walk free? It's clear as day we ain't the same at all to the whites. We can't trust 'em."

"That's only your college books starting to make you sound like that."

"My books were written by Malcolm X. Every word he said, I believed."

"I saw Brother Malcolm speak, and I read every word he wrote. He got a lot right, but he got a lot wrong first. Look, Marquis, I know you care about me, and I love you for it, but, please, don't hold onto this motion that I'm in any kinda danger. I'm fine here."

"Oh, yeah? I'm sure that dad had that same attitude before a pig shot him down in the street. Or do I have to lose you too before you'll learn that? Or you lose another child?"

"We've got people like the Green Eye protecting us. I'll be fine."

"You put yourself on the streets every day just so you can play music. We can take care of you at our home. You won't have to shack yourself up here, playing some happy songs like a-"

"Like a what? Like a nigger?"

"Yes, like a nigger, because you're not a nigger. You're a black man, and you're my grandfather. So why don't you just get out of here with me, already?"

"Because I'm happy here."

"Yeah, because I'm sure the slaves were happy singing some happy little negro songs in the plantation, too."

Unable to say anything else to his dear grandson, Barry turned his back on Marquis, not wishing to look him in the face.

"I think it would be best if you took your leave." Barry said.

Bringing his mind back to the present, the time passing in but an instant it took for him to experience this past conversation for himself, Arnold returned his mind to present conversation with Barry. Having gained the answer to his question he was looking for, he simply nodded to Barry, pretending to leave the affair alone.

"Okay. Well, I'm always right here if you want to talk. I have a knack for helping people out, you know." Arnold said.

"I'm sure you are, but I'm really just fine. Thanks again. And good morning to you." Barry said.

Giving his last gestures of departure, Arnold continued his way downstairs, walking down the hallway of the Sunset Arms boarding home towards the staircase to the ground floor. While making his way downstairs, his mind once again lingers into the past, remembering the events of last night and the Hillwood Heroes' meeting with Luz.

Once again, the events play out in his head as if they were acting out in real time.

Back in the base of the Hillwood Heroes, last night...

Having a better understanding of the powers of a Spirit Master and its functionalities, Luz began his explanation of the situation at hand, hoping to give the Hillwood Heroes a chance at righting this wrong.

"The powers of a Spirit Master are only as strong as the desire to live within one's heart. Most healthy beings have an innate desire to live already; this is a basic strive for survival that all life has. Your friend, Rhonda, has had many different desires in her heart that drive her now. Through the crude experiments she has been put under, she is truly a Spirit Master in body, but she possesses emotions that are not fit for one to wield the abilities of a Spirit Master. She was subject to a horrifying exploitation of the body by the man who calls himself the Freak, and she was left with a feeling of pain and misery buried beneath sexual pleasure. The force that drove her forth from her sleep was her desire for revenge, and it is that same desire for revenge that now fuels her body and powers." Luz said.

"So, she's gone after Curly again?" G-Funk asked.

"It is plausible... but I sense that there is something else that is leading in her own agenda."

"You can sense Rhonda? Where is she? Let me get her!" Green Eye said.

"I am sorry, Arnold, but I can just barely sense her very thoughts. Her presence, her next actions; they are less than vague to me. It is if she is somehow blocking me and you from reaching her."

"Blocking us? How did she learn to do that?"

"I am not sure, but I fear that this is not the end of her newfound abilities. I am afraid that I will not be of much further use to you now, and so I leave affairs in your hands so that I would not interfere."

"Huh? Wait a minute, you're just gonna leave us?" G-Funk asked.

"If even I am not able to locate Rhonda for you with my own abilities, then what good would my further presence be here? After all, just as Arnold has a duty to you and the people of Hillwood, I have a duty to my people and my home."

With nothing more to say to the ancient and enigmatic man, the G-Funk and the Hillwood Heroes simply gave respectful nods towards Luz, bidding him their farewells. Though before making his departure back to his own body in San Lorenzo, Luz shared one last piece of advice to the Hillwood Heroes regarding their situation, more specifically towards Valiance.

"Though... one last word of advice, specifically to Arnold, as a teacher to his student. I am aware of what Buckley Lloyd has done to put us in this situation. Understand that, whatever your judgement may be, I do trust in it and I do trust you. I leave you to your affairs, child." Luz said.

Bowing to Arnold as he returned the gesture, Luz began to fade out of existence; his spirit returning to his body at last. Now, having been given a clearer situation on how to resolve the issue with Rhonda, there now laid the trouble of deciding discipline for Valiance; his actions resulting in the deaths of many scientific minds and defiling the very laws of nature itself.

Naturally, with a conviction like this, some the verdict of the Hillwood Heroes are quick to lead straight to the harshest punishment, with one voicing it immediately.

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but this is a no-brainer for me. I say we waste this dickhead right here and right now." Bad Boy said.

Back in the present time and day...

Still too focused on his own affairs, Arnold made his way down the hallway to the stairs; his eyes into the past of last night rather than focusing in front of him. As such, an obstacle comes his way while walking, and, unable to focus on the walk ahead of him, he runs straight into said obstacle.

This obstacle was the woman named Aayliah, exiting her room to make her way downstairs for breakfast. Focusing on fixing her hijab mid-walk, she did not immediately notice Arnold walking in her path as she opened the door, leaving the two to collide into one another in the hallway.

Being unexpectedly sent colliding with Aayliah, Arnold was not only in for a sudden interruption for his walk, but his empathic powers got him a glimpse of the affairs on her mind, seeing a part of her mind she wished to keep secret.

Author's note: All dialogue in brackets [like this] represents when characters are speaking in Arabic.

After the end of World War 1, the regime known as the Ottoman Empire collapsed, and the land of Palestine came under British rule. With the rise of Zionism in Europe, a sect of Judaism that states that not only is their belief a religion, but a nationality deserving of its own state, many Jews began immigrating to British Palestine for a new home in the place they believed to be their ancestral home and holy land.

After the end of World War 2, the end of the Holocaust had left hundreds of thousands of Jews without a home, just barely surviving a massive genocide. A movement known as Aliyah Bet, a phenomenon of many of these survivors fleeing to British Palestine, led to an increase of the population of Jews in the land.

With the opposing beliefs of Jews and Muslims growing in the region, the United Kingdom released their control of the region, leaving the United Nations to create a new resolution for the land of Palestine: One land was to be retain the name of Palestine, this time being an independent nation of Muslims, and the other a land for the Jews, called 'Israel', with the city of Jerusalem being a central area for both countries.

Though the resolution seemed to be reasonable and allow for peace, the tension between the two peoples did not seem to agree. With the seeds of Zionism planted in the state of Israel, they sought forth to claim the entirety of the land for themselves. For decades, this has led to a holy war between the two, with tensions rising more than ever.

On the international stage, the plight of Palestine has been all but snubbed by the rest of the world, with support almost unanimously going towards Israel. Most of this support comes from the United States, who provides both massive financial aid and weapons to the country to aid them in their apartheid. With the support of the most powerful nation on Earth at their side, the Israelites continue their modern-day crusade with a simple message:

'This land or death'.

Their unbridled occupation has led them to the city of Gaza, embedded in a strip of land called the Gaza Strip, just bordering outside Egypt. Though the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) stands outside the fences bordering the region, keeping a commanding presence on the area, that does not stop the Palestinian citizens from peacefully protesting against the soldiers outside the area.

Lining up outside the fence, many Palestinian Muslims lay their faces in the hot desert sand, giving but humble prayers to their god to let their voices be heard to the occupying forces. They rise from their place in the sand, and lay back face-down, and continue on and on, chanting their prayers of peace in hopes that it would come soon.

"[O God! O our master! You are eternal life and everlasting peace by Your essence and attributes. The everlasting peace is from You and it returns to You. O our Sustainer! Grant us the life of true peace and usher us into the abode of peace. O Glorious and Bounteous One! You are blessed and sublime. Amen.]" The protestors prayed.

In addition to the protestors, there are many who stay on the sidelines to help people out of the area towards somewhere that they would be safe from the occupiers, and give medical aid to those whoever may needed it. Among these humanitarians are the younger Aaliyah, volunteering her time to give help to whoever might come in need of it.

With her is her younger brother, a boy named Farhan. Too young to be able to provide help in an area like this, he has little to do but accompany Aaliyah, having nowhere else to go at a time like this. Despite this, he still tries to offer his best efforts to help, insistent on trying to be of aid.

"[Aaliyah, won't you please let me help? I know I can help out!]" Farhan said.

"[Now, Farhan, you're such an eager boy, but I need you to sit still and let me work. This is something only grown-ups can do.]" Aaliyah said.

"[But I feel so useless! I see so many bad things going on, but I'm not doing anything about it while you are. I want to help, too.]"

"[Now, now, don't worry about that. Someone your age shouldn't have to worry about anything like that. Boys your age should be playing and trying to enjoy their lives.]"

"[But you never stopped to play when you were younger. You raised me and helped lots of people when they needed it. I want to be like you.]"

The words of her younger brother made Aaliyah feel warmed at the heart, but an aftertaste of guilt was left with that sentiment from his statement. In trying to be a good guardian during his years on Earth and trying to give him a proper chance at life, he instead seeks to walk her path, choosing to be a patriot for their country, at any cost.

Though the sentiment has many mixed emotions for Aaliyah, there is no time to reflect on them, or discuss with her brother any further. Their conversation is cut short by the sounds of gunfire, leading their attention straight towards the sounds of gunfire in a swift motion of fear.

To their horror, their fellow Palestinian countrymen who stood at mere peaceful protest towards the IDF soldiers, sending nothing towards them but mere prayers, they were sent back bullets flying straight for their heads. In an instant, a group of praying Palestinians were murdered before those still in the vicinity, leaving the rest to flee for their own lives.

As fast as many had sent themselves running, the gunfire of the occupying soldiers, these invaders of their land, continued firing upon the Palestinians in the area, driving them from their very homes so that the land would be claimed for the state of Israel.

Aaliyah and Farhan ran alongside many of their fellow countrymen for safety, not sure if they would find any shelter from this war crime happening right before their eyes; this slaughter acted out in the name of a religious movement to claim a land and bring forth their messiah onto the Earth.

Being as young as he was, Farhan was not fit to keep up with Aaliyah on their flight, leaving him to lag behind and fall back from his sister. Unable to leave her brother behind in this newfound warzone, Aaliyah stopped in her tracks in an instant, turning back to claim him.

"[Sister! Don't leave me!]" Farhan said.

"[I won't leave you, Farhan! I'm coming! I'm com-]" Aaliyah called.

Before Aaliyah could reach her brother, however, there came an event which would render one of the most important missions in life, to protect her precious brother and keep him alive, failed. A bullet passed through Farhan's neck from the back out the front, drawing with it blood and pieces of bone and spinal cord.

From the wound of the bullet, Farhan quickly lost all feeling in his whole body; paralyzed from the gunshot that went through his neck. Though he would inevitably be dead soon, the place in which the wound was drawn would at least give him the fortune of a painless death; more than can be said for most others in that shootout.

Shocked and horrified to see her brother mortally wounded, Aaliyah pick up her brother from the ground as he fell, cradling him in her arms. She tried to give some ensuring words to her brother, hoping that she would be able to hear his voice one more time, but the blood seeping into his throat prevented that from happening, leaving him only able to give out wet and red coughs and gurgles.

In seconds, his body completely shut down, and Farhan was dead in his sister's arms. Mortified of this murder of her brother at the hands of de facto terrorists, Aaliyah can do nothing now but weep over her brother's corpse, unable to reach him one last time or avenge his death.

For hours and hours on this day, Aaliyah would continue to lay in pity, crying and screaming over her loss.

Back in the present time and day...

Letting his mind catch up to the present once again, Arnold had fully realized the vision that constantly clouded the head of the tenant known as Aaliyah, understanding at last her reasons for secrecy and privacy. Though he was subject to some of the darkest fantasies and the painful realities of many minds he had ventured into, this was undoubtedly one of the worst he had encountered.

What makes it the worst is not just the contents of the memory or its emotions, as damning as they may be. What makes it the worst is that he knows that Aaliyah will never disclose this story herself, and he cannot tell her that he knows it without revealing his powers.

Unable to extend his sympathies to her, all Arnold can do is give tears to the tormented woman.

"Arnold? Are you alright?" Aaliyah asked.

Realizing that he had not said a word, having been standing in place for a long moment, Arnold quickly snapped out of his own trance to respond.

"Oh, uh, I'm fine. Sorry, I wasn't looking, it was my fault." Arnold said.

"No, Arnold, I am to blame as well- Are... Are you crying?" Aaliyah asked.

"Uh, no, no, my eyes are just real watery. It happens to me after I wake up sometimes."

"I see. I apologize again. I bid you a good day, Arnold."

Adjusting her hijab one last time, Aaliyah made her way downstairs, preparing to get breakfast with the others. Wiping the tears from his eyes one last time, Arnold, too, made his way down the stairs, heading off to his own intended destination. Not having any hunger for breakfast, he has another task that preoccupies most of his basic needs.

Recalling how he had been assigned with this task, his mind once again returns to last night, though the transition was still slow from Aaliyah's memory to work towards.

Back in the base of the Hillwood Heroes, last night...

The proposal from Bad Boy received a mixed reaction; some coming in favor of his measure, while other detested it. As his suggestion proved quite controversial, the Hillwood Heroes immediately began clashing with one another in debate, each with their own over-measure or under-measure for a resolution.

"No! Are you crazy?! We can't just kill him, we don't kill people!" Flower Child said.

"Sheena's right. We can't kill him, especially not when he's the man who gave us our base and equipment. Still, we need some accountability. There has to be some way we can punish him accordingly." Lady Tetsu said.

"I say we tie him up and pound him good. It works on crack dealers pretty good." Star of David said.

"No, we're not barbarians. Violence is meant to be our last resort only. This is a situation that we can handle with civility." Insect Girl said.

"You fellas speak for yerselves. I remember when this psycho shot up Torvald and all them other hoodlums, but we never paid no mind to any a' that. Maybe it's time we outta try him for some a' that, too." Dirt Man said.

"Look, guys, can we all just take it easy? I'm sure there's a way to handle this peacefully." Mauve Avenger said.

As the debates between the team of heroes continued on, the talking was put to an end by G-Funk, powering up his Sonic Fork to a vibration sharp enough to reach the eardrums of those debating. In mere seconds, the talks all came to a stop, with all eyes coming into focus on G-Funk.

"Listen up! Ain't nobody here that's cool with what V did; that we can agree on. We gotta handle this the right way; that we can agree on. What we ain't agreein' on is how we're gonna deal with him. For that, I suggest we look none other than towards the Eyeman himself." G-Funk said.

"Oh, so only one guy gets to decide what to do here? How's that fair?" Star of David asked.

"If you guys might recall, which I'm sure some of you do, you know that Arnold's the best person to deal with hard situations like this, just like he's always done for us. Sid, when we all found that bag of money out of that garbage can, who was the first to say we ought to return the money?"

"...Arnold." Bad Boy said.

"Harold, when you wouldn't give that cat you found back to its owner, who was the one who convinced you to give it back?"

"...Arnold." Star of David said.

"Nadine, when you and Rhonda started to fall out and hate each others' guts, who was the guy who made you two BFFs again?"

"...Arnold." Nadine said.

"Right. So, if everyone here's in agreement that Arnold's the one to handle this, then let's let the man do what he does best, shall we?"

Stepping back alongside the others, G-Funk joined them in facing right towards the Green Eye; all awaiting what judgement might come from their leader and decide how to discipline Valiance. Though he was well aware that consequence would come for Valiance soon, and the team would have to resolve it, never did he expect that all would turn towards him for an answer.

Standing before the team for a moment lasting longer in his mind than in reality, the Green Eye thinks over for the answer.

Back in the present time and day...

Finally reaching the ground floor of the Sunset Arms Boarding House, Arnold began to make his way to the door, readying his way to head out the door. Wrapping his fingers around the handle and turning the knob, he prepared to open the door, but paused ever so slightly in nervousness, not sure what would come next for him in this mission.

Before able to make his final exit, however, Arnold found one final obstacle in his exit to the building, stopping him once again from making the first step on his mission. Feeling a pair of hands come over his shoulders and a kiss come over his cheek, he looked back to see his mother greet him a good morning, offering a piece of physical comfort to her son.

"Hey Arnold. Aren't you gonna have breakfast?" Stella asked.

"No, thanks, mom. I'm not hungry." Arnold said.

"But we're having your favorite: Pancakes, just like Gertie made. Besides, we haven't seen you at the table with the others for a while. Your dad and I are starting to miss you."

"Sorry, mom, things have just... just been busy to take care of. You told me how 'Little' Nicky came after you at the restaurant, I can't rest easy with knowing things like that."

Stella's warm disposition turned to a look of concern, remembering well the event between her and 'Little' Nicky.

"I was scared of that... but, after a while, I started to think a little bit. I don't think he genuinely wants to hurt us. He just misses his son, no more than I would miss you if something happened to you." Stella said.

"So, what? You think I should just let him kill Curly?" Arnold asked.

"No, I'm not advocating you let anybody die. I was wrong about that once, and you proved me wrong. But you've told me about Curly, and I saw him shoot Helga in front of all of us on that rooftop. Is he really worth dying for?"

"It's not just about Curly or 'Little' Nicky now. There's something else. Rhonda's back."

"What? What do you mean, 'she's back'?"

"Buckley went off the deep end and he brought her back. Now, she has my powers, she's gone crazy, and she's still out there, and I have no idea what she's planning. My job is to keep you and everybody in the city safe."

Stella nodded at his statement, giving her blessing towards her son for his mission.

"Okay, I trust you. Should I try to keep everybody inside for the time being?" Stella asked.

"I think that's a good idea. Just be vague about it; tell them you heard a rumor somewhere and you don't want to risk anyone getting hurt."

"I will. And, Arnold? Have you talked to Helga yet? Told her about what's going on?"

"No, I don't want to worry her. She was already hesitant to go before, I don't want to give her any reason to come back, especially when her coming back is the last thing I want. You know how Helga can be."

"Ain't that the truth. Well, you just be safe, okay, sweetie?"

Stella gave Arnold a kiss on his cheek, giving with it a light hug. Bidding his mother a final goodbye for the day, Arnold returned the hug.

"I will. You just worry about yourselves... and maybe also dad." Arnold said.

At Arnold's note, a burst of flame came out of the kitchen, with it a scream from Miles.

"Aw, crap! The gas lines broke!" Miles said.

"Oh, yeah, looks like I do. I'll see you later, Arnold." Stella said.

Needing to help her clumsy husband from causing the entire building to be burned down, Stella rushed into the kitchen, grabbing a fire extinguisher and combating against the newfound threat of flame that plagued the kitchen and put a damper on the tenants' pancake breakfast. With all affairs behind him, Arnold set outside to the streets of Hillwood.

On his way to downtown, he took notice of William and Annie, the two children of the Grossman family, playing on the side of the stairs to the building. Wanting to keep the most vulnerable of the tenants safe from whatever may come from the night to come, Arnold approached the two to take another measure for their safety.

"Hey, kids, how you doing?" Arnold asked.

"Hi, Mr. Arnold." Annie said.

"We were just drawing with some chalk. Annie told me she heard rumors that there's a whole place where anything you draw with chalk comes to life on the other side, and we're trying to find it." William said.

"Sounds pretty hard. You guys find it yet?" Arnold asked.

"No, Will here got the wrong chalk. I told you we had to get the White Lightin' brand." Annie said.

"This is the White Lightnin' brand." William said.

"Well, guys, don't worry about that right now, I need you guys to do something for me. It's really, really important." Arnold said.

"What is it?" The children asked.

"I need you to go to your mom and dad and tell them you're not feeling well today, and that you need to stay home from school, okay?"

"Aw, do we have to?" Annie asked.

"Yeah, we were gonna dissect a frog today!" William said.

"Trust me, guys, this is really important. It's not going to be safe out today, and I don't want you getting hurt." Arnold said.

"What's gonna happen?" The children asked.

Back in the base of the Hillwood Heroes, last night...

The Hillwood Heroes all look towards the Green Eye for a word of guidance, hoping that he would give them the solution to this moral dilemma that they were faced with. Though his answer did not immediately come to him, and nor would such an answer easily come at all, he still thought hard to find a way to answer the solution.

Falling back on his core beliefs, the Green Eye began to speak his resolution.

"You all know as well as I do that Buckley Lloyd is undoubtedly guilty of everything we're accusing him of. What he did to try to bring back Rhonda is inexcusable, and defiant of the very laws of nature itself. But what we can't forget is that, not only is he a valuable member of the team and the linchpin that made us what we are, above all, all he was trying to do was get his daughter back. Rhonda is a human being he brought onto the Earth and was tasked with raising, and he had that person taken away from him due to circumstance. I think anybody here, if we were in his shoes, would at least try the same, don't you?" Green Eye asked.

Unable to disagree with the Green Eye's statement, the Hillwood Heroes all silently nodded, nonverbally agreeing with their leader.

"Most importantly than that, we have at least two different fronts to fight on our hands: One is 'Little' Nicky and whatever he may be planning, and the other is now Rhonda. Both have the same basic goal of killing Curly, but there's no doubt the two will come at odds with each other. There could be war in the streets, and it would get very bloody very fast, with a lot of innocents getting caught in the crossfire. As the people who are supposed to protect this city, that is an unacceptable consequence. We need every man on deck for what we have coming ahead of us." Green Eye said.

The Hillwood Heroes then began to murmur among themselves, unsure what to make of the Green Eye's judgement.

"But, all that being said, we still do need to punish Buckley for his crimes. We'll burn that bridge when we cross it. Until that happens, he is strictly on probation; no one is to leave him alone for any reason, and every move he makes is to be watched. We cannot afford another incident like Rhonda." Green Eye said.

"What? You don't seriously think that I would do this again-" Valiance began to say.

"It doesn't matter what I think. We can't trust you anymore. We need to have accountability, otherwise, how are we supposed to call ourselves heroes?"

Valiance held his tongue at the Green Eye's comment, unable to say anything in his own defense. The miniature trial for Valiance seemed all but concluded among the Hillwood Heroes, but there was still one last concern to be laid to rest for the entire team, and only the Green Eye could give that final assurance.

"So, then, where do we go from here?" G-Funk asked.

"You all are going to stay put until I specifically ask for your help. No more patrols, no more interference, no motion whatsoever on the streets. Rhonda's far too dangerous to deal with now, and only I have a chance at bringing her down. You all go home and get some rest. As of tomorrow morning..." Green Eye began to say.

Back in the present time and day...

Following a small moment of silence, Arnold gave his answer to the children.

"The Green Eye's going hunting." Arnold said.