Johnny Rami:
"Dr. Ron," the nurse says over the speaker. "Dr. Ron. You're needed in room 223. I repeat, Dr. Ron. You're needed in room 223."
Despite sitting on the same bench as Tichi, I listen to whatever the nurse is saying. While listening to the nurse, I see an elderly man in a doctor's coat with white hair and a goatee speedwalking past me. Unfortunately, the doctor didn't stay long. He rushes past me and disappears down the hallway, leaving me alone with Tichi. With no other distraction, all I can do is look down and play thumbs-war with myself.
"You look different," Tichi says a few minutes later. "I almost didn't recognize you, wearing a suit and a tie and even combing your hair."
I keep my mouth shut.
"I really hope your Dad is okay. I mean, I know it has been a while, but I'm guessing you and your Dad are still having trouble getting along."
"A while?" I repeat, finally opening my mouth.
"Is everything okay--"
"Why are you here?" I ask, cutting Tichi off.
Tichi pulls back when I cut her off. She almost falls off the bench, but manages to catch herself in time.
"I'm here because I'm worried about your Dad. I...heard about what happened."
"You heard about what happened?" I let out a laugh. "I'm surprised you even bother to come. No, wait. I am even more surprised that you heard some crazy human-copy machine attacked my Dad. How did you hear about my Dad anyway? Did a pigeon tell you? Were you standing by one of those machines that use Morse code? Did you find a message in a bottle?"
"Those machines that use Morse code," Tichi starts, "They're called telegraphs, and I don't know Morse code."
"Tichi," I yell, my voice echoing as I stand up. "Why are you!"
Again, Tichi pulls back. Staying on the edge of the bench, she looks at me.
"I am here for your Dad. I wanted to see if he's okay."
"He's fine. He's a little beaten up, but still fine. During the whole attack, he was hiding in the closet."
"How do you know that?"
"Oh, uhh, wait, no! My Dad is fine. He's not hurt. You can leave. You did before. You just got up and left."
Tichi sighs when she hears this.
"Is that what this is all about? Johnny--"
"Don't call me Johnny. It's John to you."
"I thought you hated John."
Tichi talks, but I don't answer.
"John," she says after a minute. "Is that what this is all about? Are you mad about what happened?"
"Mad about what happened? Yes. I am mad. I am very, very mad about what happened. You left. You just disappeared. Without any warning."
I then snap my fingers.
"Just like that."
"I wasn't by choice," Tichi says.
"No," I say, shaking my head. "I don't want to hear you. Stay away from my Dad and me."
With that said, I leave Tichi and enter my Dad's room. Slamming the door shut, I turn around and see my Dad in his hospital bed.
"John," my Dad says, "What are you doing? Why did you slam the door like that?"
"It's Johnny," I correct. Seeing an empty chair in the room, I drop into it.
"How are you feeling, Dad?"
"Fine," my Dad answers. "But my house is a mess! Ahh! I am going to find all those freaks and sue them for everything they have!"
"Dad. They saved your life. Please show a little bit of gratitude."
"They destroyed my house!"
"I think that was more the supervillain's fault."
"I don't care! John--"
"Johnny."
"They destroyed my house! No. They destroyed our house! They destroyed your childhood home! The very house where you grew up! How are you not mad?"
"Okay," I say, getting up from the chair. Walking over to my cabinet beside my Dad's bed, I grab and push the call button.
"What are you doing?" My Dad asks.
"Not yet, Dad," I say, pushing the call button over and over. A few minutes later, a nurse rushes into the room. I drop the call button and walk over to the nurse.
"Excuse me," I whisper, pushing the nurse away from my Dad. "But I think my Dad still hadn't fully recovered. Look at his heart rate."
I step to the side and point at the heart rate monitor linked to my Dad. It's spiking and looks like a very crooked mountain range.
"Can you do anything to calm him down?"
The nurse nods and walks over to my Dad. While my Dad is still shouting, the nurse is trying to get him to do some breathing exercises. I look at my Dad and the nurse for a bit before leaving the room.
Thinking I should get a soda from the vending machine, I stop when I see Tichi still sitting on the bench.
"I thought I told you to leave."
"I will," Tichi says, getting up. "But before I do, can you please tell your Dad I'm glad he's okay? I know you have no reason to, and I doubt your Dad really remembers me, but still. I'm glad he's okay. And for what it is worth, I am glad to see you again. Bye, Johnny."
Tichi nods before turning and walking away. As I watch her disappear behind a set of elevator doors, I look down and see my shaking fist. I remember what the nurse said earlier and do some breathing exercises to calm myself down. Feeling a little bit better, I get my soda and return to my Dad's room.
"Hey, Dad," I say, walking in. The nurse is still trying to calm my Dad down. He's still ranting about suing the heroes. I roll my eyes before tapping the nurse on her shoulder.
"Excuse me," I say. "Please, just give me 30 seconds."
"Of course," the nurse says, stepping back. She tries to hide it, but I can see her sighing as she steps back.
"Hey, Dad. Uhhh, do you remember Tichi?"
"Tich," my Dad repeats. As soon as he says her name, it's like a flip switch. His heart rate slows down, and my Dad, my actual Dad, at least I think it was my Dad, smiles and laughs, scaring me a little. "Tich! To be honest, I haven't thought about her since she left. How is she?"
My Dad cries a little when he hears this, and now I'm wondering if this really is Soren Rami, my colder than a glacier, only emotion he knows being angry, never cracked a smile ever in his life, father, or another clone.
"She dropped by," I answer, taking a step back.
"She dropped by," my Dad repeats. "Oh, John. What are you doing here? You need to get her back here."
I open my mouth, about to say something, but my Dad cuts me off.
"She was the best thing to happen to you," he goes on. "She was smart. She was funny. She always made you smile. It has been a while since I last saw you smile, John."
"Dad," I say, waving my hand in front of his face. "Please stop talking. You're starting to sound creepy."
My Dad shakes his head.
"She was the best thing to happen to you," he repeats. I sigh and look at my Dad's heart rate again.
"Yeah, you're fine. Dad, I have some meetings tomorrow, so I'll see you later. Bye."
"Of course," my Dad says, nodding with a smile. "Go, but John. Please don't forget. Tichi--"
"Was the best thing to happen to me," I finish, leaving my Dad's room. As I walk out, the nurse greets me.
"Hello, sir."
"Hello, ma," I reply. "Dr. Boxman already told me that my father will be dispatched in a few hours."
Again, I hear the nurse sighing.
"Please call me when he is," I go on, trying to hide a small laugh. "I'll pick him up."
I thank the nurse again and take the elevator down. As I leave the hospital and get into my car, I can't help but look around for Tichi.
"She's not here," I think. I bite my tongue and pound my steering wheel. As much as I don't want to, as much as I think this is a bad idea, I can't shake it.
"She just...appeared. Out of thin air! After two years."
I turn the ignition and warm up my car. Once it's ready, I step on the gas and drive to my apartment.
Ms. Justice:
I take off my baggy jacket and long pants. Throwing them in my closet, I grab my goggles and place them over my hair. I then grab my black domino mask and tie the ends around the back of my head. Putting on my blue, red, and white shirt and skirt, I walk out of my room and into the OutPost's living room.
"Hello, everyone," I say, waving at QuickShot, SpeedBlade, and JumpStart.
"Hey, Justice," JumpStart says, waving back at me.
"Hello, Justice," QuickShot and SpeedBlade say.
"Hey," QuickShot says, putting down her tools. "Where did you go? You've been missing for almost an hour now."
"I went to see an old friend," I answer, falling into one of the seats. "But I don't think he was too happy to see me."
"Why not?" JumpStart asks. "Out of the four of us here, you're the most likable. Am I right?"
"Agree," SpeedBlade says with a nod.
"Thank you, you two, but this is different."