Part Three: Chaos [POV Detected: Jules Smith, Jay]

[Jay POV Detected]

My parents are here. WTFM??? How did they even get here? And where is my sister? I open my mouth to speak, but Darkling talks first.

“Wait a minute… you’re Freeze and Dash!!” He exclaims. “Hang on, Jay did you say they’re your parents?”

“Yes, they are,” I direct my attention to Freeze and Dash. “WHAT THE FLAKON MUTE?? HOW DID YOU GET HERE?? WHY DID YOU NEVER TELL ME YOU WERE HEROES, AND WHERE THE HECK IS MY SISTER?? WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON HERE?!?!?!?!?!?” Everyone stands in stunned silence for a moment, then Freeze and Dash step off of the clearing-door before it rises back up into the ceiling. They wait a moment, then Dash (or dad, I guess) responds.

“To answer your first question, we followed them,” he points at White Ninja, Pyra, and Nate. “To answer your next question, we didn’t want to tell you in case you never got powers.”

“Which you obviously have,” Freeze mutters.

“Don’t interrupt. Anyway, to your third question, she’s around here somewhere, and to answer the fourth question, you are grounded.”

“You can’t ground me,” I protest, “I’m the leader of REBEL! I have responsibilities! Besides, why didn’t you come looking for me before? I probably would’ve been much easier to find!” I practically yell.

“I am so confused right now,” Darkling mutters.

“Who are they, anyway?” Dash asks, ignoring my protests and yells.

“Oh, that’s White Ninja, Pyra, Bullutt, Cresce, Nate, Peri, 12, Spar, Wilson, Dove, Darknight, Gena, and Darkling,” I say quickly. “Everyone, these are my parents, who are apparently superheroes.”

Peri nods their way. The Dirthawkers have barely said anything since they set foot in REBEL. I have no idea why.

“What makes you think we’re heroes?” Freeze asks.

“You guys are way too nice to be villains. Anyway, are you joining, or leaving or fighting us, or what? Because I refuse to be grounded,” I reply.

“We aren’t fighting you, and we’re already part of S.W.O.R.D, so we know the Dirthawkers,” Dash points out. “You’re coming home.”

“I am home,” I say, even more confused. “I kind of live here now.”

“Hi sis,” a familiar voice says before Dash can respond.

“Wha-- Rebecca?” I exclaim.

“Ugh, don’t call me Rebecca,” she says, stepping out from behind Dash and Freeze. “I’m totally Becky now.”

“No, you aren’t,” Freeze tells her. “Didn’t you say you were--”

“ANYWAY,” my sister interrupts, “you’re a villain now? Cool. I have this amazing gun.” She holds up a cool-looking gun that resembles a stun gun but isn’t. She points it at my face.

“Hey, point that thing somewhere else,” Darkling orders, stepping slightly in front of me.

“I can take care of myself, ya know,” I chastise, shoving him aside.

“Okay…” Rebecca says, lowering her gun. “I am getting a serious love-mixed-with-frustration vibe here.”

“Her main power is empathy,” Dash explains when I stare at Rebecca blankly.

“This is awkward,” Darkling mutters.

“You think it’s awkward for you? At least I have a reason to ditch these two sometimes,” Rebecca says, gesturing at Dash and Freeze. “You would not believe what goes through their minds.”

“Limadha nahn hna?” Peri says. Every head in the room turns to look at her.

“La tas'alni …” Wilson replies, raising a feathery eyebrow.

“Hal nastatie aldhahhab?” Peri asks, shifting from one foot to the other. “'Urid 'an 'adhhab hwkynj.”
“Ana aydana,” Agent 12 agrees, pulling on a sweatshirt with turf on the sleeves.

Spar looks up. “Nafidhat 'aw shabak,” he says, pointing. “Linudhhib.” He grows wings and flies out. The others join him, Peri shifting into a falcon, and 12 hopping on Wilson and leaving. Freeze stares after them, obviously confused.

“What was that about?” Dash asks, equally confused.

“No clue,” I reply. “Darkling? Darknight? Were they speaking in any language you know?”

“Nope,” they chorus.

[POV End]