Eun-ji Choi:
I'm currently waiting down in the HQ lobby. The meeting has been over for ten minutes, and the kids still aren't back. I sent Elaine on a wild goose chase to buy Ray and Bayani time, but they need to hurry.
Oh, and I got a hold of Claire. She said she told Ray nothing about going out, so that boy has some explaining to do for lying to me. I should've pressed him harder when he wanted to bring Bayani. Dammit! I'm going to smack that brat!
As if right on cue. Ray and Bayani slip into the lobby, looking innocent as if they did nothing wrong. They're both smiling brightly, and Bayani lightly punches his arm. "You did well, man, great improv. Didn't even see you move sides. Like you teleported."
"Yeah, well, I am pretty fast," Ray replies.
Did this moron use his other powers around Bayani?! I rush over to them and put my hands on Ray's shoulders, "Parker! Where were you?! Your mother told me that she didn't tell you to do anything!"
Ray sputters at that, "We got ice cream at your stand!"
"You lied to me and dodged the rules for ice cream?! What about your bruises?!"
"Bayani and I sparred."
I look over to Bayani, who nods, affirming Ray's story.
"Thanks for the discount…" Ray says rather sheepishly.
"You're welcome." I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck.
Well, I'm pissed that he lied, but at least it looks like he's making friends? Kara and Bayani are great friends for him, but I'm worried… When they find out he isn't Parker, and he's Ray, the Chameleon, how would they react? Because being realistic, we can't keep this Parker charade around forever.
When Ray's identity is revealed, I also need to think of a game plan. Because Paragon isn't stupid, he'll know that I knew, and he'll want me dead. It's gonna be impossible to walk that happy median I've been so intent on maintaining.
"Cain is getting put on probation. He has an ankle monitor put on him, and he's not allowed to go on missions." I tell them.
Ray's face lights up, and Bayani sighs in relief.
"But I'm still having him assist in training Kara."
"Why?! He wants her dead! What is wrong with you?!" Ray shouts, shaking himself out of my grip.
"He's useful, and nothing will happen under my watch. Kara is stronger than him anyway."
"That's still dangerous!" Bayani says, his voice rising in panic. I don't think I've ever heard that boy raise his voice at an adult in his life.
"Kara yelled at me over this, too," I remark.
"Good!" Ray shouts.
"Calm your ass down, Parker. Also, Elaine and Kara both want to see you. Elaine for obvious reasons."
"Then let's go. Probably shouldn't keep Elaine waiting." Ray shudders. That boy seems more fearful of her than he is of me or even Claire. I guess that's a good thing? Hopefully, that's a sign of trust.
We start walking toward the elevator, and when we enter, I closely examine the kid's bruises. As I stare at them, a terrifying thought crosses my mind.
He wouldn't be stupid enough to pursue the gang, right?...
No. I told him to stay away; he respects me. He wouldn't go behind my back like that. The only reason the Parker identity spawned is that I didn't directly shut him down and tell him no. This time, I did. He'll listen, I'm sure.
I let out a deep sigh and keep repeating internally: "He listened to me. My warning, he'll stay away…"
Kara:
Bayani and Parker are taking forever! Is scouting that hard? Not like I'd know, I'm not good at that stuff. I just gotta keep following Elaine around.
I hope they get back soon. I'm getting sick of hearing Elaine's annoyed grumbles. Speaking of Elaine, I see her fingers in my face, and she snaps, getting me out of my own thoughts.
"Do you have any idea where those two are?"
"Elaine. For the last time, the last time you saw them is the last time I saw them."
C'mon, you two, hurry up!
"Kara."
"Elaine."
She glares at me for a long second. I can practically hear her heart beating out of her chest. Can't blame her. She's in deep trouble if she can't find Parker soon.
"Whatever, let's keep looking."
"We haven't checked his room!" I blurt out.
"True…" Elaine murmurs. She then grabs my hand and starts dragging me toward the elevator. She presses the button, and when the elevator arrives and opens, we see that Sonar, Bayani, and Parker are already inside.
"Hi Kara!" Parker waves. When he looks over and sees Elaine's expression, he tenses up. "Hey…"
"Parker."
"Yeah?"
"Where the hell were you and Bayani?"
Sonar then puts his hands in front of Parker and Bayani, "I found the kids in the training room."
"I already checked there. Where were they before that?" Elaine presses.
"The bathroom." Bayani blurts out.
"The bathroom?" Elaine says slowly in disbelief.
"Yup!" Parker affirms, giving a thumbs up.
I look up at Elaine with a smile, "I believe 'em."
"Of course, you side with your brother and new best friend." Elaine scoffs.
"Blood is thicker than water!" I joke.
"None of you are related." Elaine sighs.
Elaine shakes her head and grabs Parker's hand. "C'mon. Let's go back to my room and chat. I'll tell you how the meeting went, and you tell me what you and Bayani did."
Parker yelps and gets dragged back to Elaine's room, now only leaving me, Sonar, and Bayani.
Sonar sighs, "How are you two holding up?"
"I'm okay, Parker's alright, I like him just fine," I respond.
"No. Not about him. Ironhide. How are you both doing? His funeral is coming up."
"I'll be there," I tell him.
"I'll be there, too," Bayani chimes in.
"Good… That's good." Sonar scratches the back of his neck. He then turns around. "If you wanna talk about it, just come to my office, anytime." He then enters the elevator, and the doors close. Likely heading to his office on the floor above.
I then turn to Bayani, I grab his hand and drag him to my room. When we get inside, I let go and then make sure the door is shut all the way, tapping it with my foot.
"So, how was scouting with Parker?" I ask.
"It was certainly an experience; we climbed down the side of the building. Almost died. He had me use my strings to try to rappel." Bayani sighs.
"From floor sixty-eight?!" I cackle.
"It's not funny! I lost my grip, and we fell! I'm lucky it wasn't too far!" Bayani whines.
"It is kinda funny that he convinced you to do that."
"Well, then, we went to the docks. We explored around and found those power-disabling weapons. They mass-produce them." Bayani says, trying to brush past that, still looking a little mopey.
"Whoa… So, take them down, and we can stop it?"
"I doubt it."
"Oh… Well, continue."
"Then we ran into Darren, who is third in command of the Clubs. I distracted him, and Parker managed to trick him into thinking he was in a certain spot with his phone notifications. Then stabbed him with a power-disabling dagger he had taken earlier."
"So y'all got him?"
"Nope. Val, the second in command and the King of Clubs, interrupted. Forcing us to retreat. But not before Parker made a challenge."
"Are we accepting the challenge?"
"Do you want to? It pits you against Val, me against Darren, and Parker against the King of Clubs."
"Screw that! Why does Parker get the head honcho?!"
"If it makes you feel better, Parker and I did overhear a conversation between them that all three commanders of the Clubs are of the same strength."
"So Darren, Val, and the King of Clubs are equals?"
"Apparently."
"Okay, never mind. I'm good with fighting Val."
I take out my phone and text the group chat between Parker, Bayani, and me: "Let's do that challenge you issued to them."
Bayani checks his phone and sees my message. "Well, I guess we're doing it."
"Hey, you get your revenge match, you should be happy."
"Well, we gotta train for it. As I am right now, I'm not beating Darren, and I feel like Parker can't beat the King of Clubs."
"You think I can beat Val?"
"All I know is that she uses a gun, I can't gauge."
I turn around and walk over to my record player. I grab a vinyl and put it on there, allowing the smooth music that plays to envelop the room, creating some level of calming effect.
"Well, just based on the statement that Val is just as strong as the others, she's probably too tough for me right now." I sigh.
"Well, we only have 'a few days' to train, if we're following the issued challenge," Bayani grumbles.
"Let's call it five," I suggest, holding out my fingers.
"Sure."
At that moment, we hear a loud yelp come from outside, "Elaine! Knock it off!"
Parker?!
"Learn not to pry next time! I thought we were 'starting new on better terms'?!" Elaine snaps
"It was just a photo!"
Of course, they're bickering again.
Bayani and I rush out of my room into the hallway, and we see Parker prone and Elaine looming over him.
"Don't be nosy!"
"I was just looking at a photo!"
Bayani wraps his strings around Parker and yanks him to his feet. He then rushes over and gets between them.
"Can we not cause a noise disturbance right now?" Bayani says, a little too calmly compared to his expression, his nose scrunching.
Elaine's fist clenches, and she lifts it ever so slightly before letting it drop back to her side, hand opening as well.
"Now. What happened to prompt all of this?" Bayani asks, stepping back and motioning to Parker and Elaine.
"Yeah." I step forward, resting my arm on Parker's shoulder. "How did he mess up?"
"Hey!" Parker protests.
"I'm kidding, gosh. Lemme lighten the mood a bit, because Elaine is a little mad."
"Understatement of the century." Elaine snarls.
"I didn't even do anything that bad!"
"Well, you-" Elaine starts before Bayani interrupts her with a raised hand.
"Explain calmly. Both of you,"
"Fine," Elaine grumbles.
So much for lightening the mood.