Question The Garden of Good and Evil

Ouch, the pain in those lyrics at the start.

Sunday, October 27, 2007

“So yeah, Natalie Mahren has Diedricks. She’s also an Exemplar 1 with Energizer 1 traits. Completely able to hang below the radar.” Dr Hewley looked at Carson. “Hell, even her Diedricks seems to manifest similarly to standard-issue histrionics if you don’t know what you’re looking for.”

Finally, should have known their mother was a mutant even if a low-level one with how she blows up. Darn, and a non-treatable form of Diedricks. And Miranda looking like her mother or close to it when she grows up, interesting.

“Mrs. Mahren’s aging process appears to be about as stunted as yours. She looks to be, physically, about twenty-two if she cleaned up and didn’t have that ‘weathered parent’ look, though Miranda hasn’t shown signs of that yet.”

That slowed aging, whoa. And now has to go tell Caitlin about all this, Mrs. Carson's job is a rough one.

Caitlin living through all those memories again, a waking nightmare, make me wish I could help her somehow. Erik having to deal with a newfound rage he has to learn how to bottle while at Boot Camp, I can't imagine the strain on his psyche alone from this. Then after graduation from Boot Camp, yikes.

The demotion from sergeant back to corporal wasn’t quite as bad. The smug M-Soc Exemplar-Four had been far too cocky in the face of a Dragonslayer with a mere nightstick and no sense of self-preservation. It had been worth it, even if the hospital trip had sucked mightily.

Okay, it is sounding more and more like Erik had some type of guardian angel to be alive long enough to get the job at Whateley.

Caitlin still suffering pain and rage at the mere thought of her family, please let this story have a happy ending for her, please. Trying to hide out in her room until her mother leaves Whateley, now that is stubborn. Adore watching CNN again, Shifty ambushing one of his friends on their way to the bathroom, lively bunch for early in the morning. That's what Caitlin does when she is bored, okay, leave the stuff with runes carved on them alone.

And the matter of the music box comes up, Mrs. Carson annoyed she hadn't been told about such a potent artifact yet.

“Construct is actually a protector and familiar for children, something they grow into. It wasn’t attuned. Now it’s attuned to Diamondback and it gives her little tips and pointers that allow her to figure out how to maximize her essence rather than storing essence for her like a normal familiar.”

Okay, knew it was going to help out Diamondback but nice to know the particulars now..

“And the Adamant Shield that Jericho promptly bolted to his armor? Mr. Bumsfeld is going crazy trying to do a metallurgical sample.”

Bwahahaha, if he only knew how tough that shield actually is.

Caitlin chuckled even though she really didn’t feel it. “Best gifts are the ones that your loved ones will adore and will drive the people around them mad.”

To paraphrase the gremlin: "I like her, she's silly."

“Very true, though if you tell anyone I said that I’ll deny it.”

Ouch, my sides hurt now, never thought Carson would respond like that.

Ouch, Caitlin trying to hold back the tears at the thought of her mother decking Mendez. Finding out your temper is genetic and your mother is a mutant but never knew is a huge shock. And at least now Caitlin knows about the divorce going on.

“Hell, Barb broke up with me when she found out so I could reconcile, but I was way past able to talk at that point.” Caitlin’s eyes were fighting tears again, and Carson just listened. “Ten years, Liz. Ten fucking years of not a goddamn peep, not so much as a fare-thee-well. I’ve been in combat, I’ve been homeless, I’ve been a damn sight close to joining the Syndicate more than once, and they never bothered to find out what I was doing.”

And all the pain and rage comes flooding out, I pity any idiot who ticks her off on purpose right now.

The genie was finally out of the bottle, Caitlin Bardue had to learn to deal with her emotions, and her past.

All Liz could do was put an arm over Caitlin’s shoulder and let her sob the fury out.

Back at the Whateley Academy Gate, Imp having to dive out of the way of Razorback as grabs Adam and tosses him onto his back for a fun ride, best big brother ever. Those people looking on need to have their relationship explained to them. Their poor mother, I don't think even Carson could turn down Adam's request right then.

Imp thinking she can't top what Jack and Adam just did, not wanting to anyways, aww, I would love to see her try.

Imp did her own double-take and immediately did a re-assessment of the woman, then did it again to be sure. “Oh then I have plenty to talk about with you. I am, of course, the Fabulous Imp, and I happen to be Jack’s art teacher! I’m pleased to meet you!”

Debra Carlyle laughed, shaking her head. “So you’re the cute teacher with the best sense of humor ever? I can see why he likes you.”

Imp, for once, was at a loss for words. Except for the occasional oddball uttering of amazing taste, the only person who said things remotely like that to her was Chickenhawk. “I believe we will get along just fine.”

Guess the crush is out of the bag now for Jack.

Imp, for her part, watched with amusement as the various parents getting off the bus looked nervous about the seeming raptor attack. “Don’t worry ladies and gentlemen, the boy is safe, it wasn’t Dingos this time!”

Debra snorted back a laugh as the furtive glances shot back to the obviously GSD Imp. “Oh God, if he’s learning from you, he’s going to be impossible when he gets home, you know that, right?

“I am shocked. Simply shocked that you would imply that!” Imp put her hands on her hips. “Your son was impossible before we met. I really can’t push him any further off that edge. Believe me, I’ve tried!”

Stop, my sides can't take much more, the banter between Imp and Debra is too good. And the banter continues, one of the funniest scenes of banter ever. Ouch, Imp jealous of Jack because his mother stood by him and hers didn't.

Natalie Mahren at the memorial park, at the memorial for Erik Mahren and his fiance.

The Poison Oak representing her son seemed someone’s horrible idea of a bad joke until Carson explained it. Toxic, sure, her boy had been a baseline who had been the terror of many students, and viciously protective of those he cared about, including said children. The circle of the poisonous plant was representative of how he chose to live, as a shield against the things that would do harm.

Now there is great symbolism for who Erik was. Who is the average man who showed up to talk to her, one of Fubar's projections or someone else?

Only two severe burnouts last year, one of them shouldn't have happened.

“Kids didn’t much like him, except the Hooligans and the Grunts. Erik had a knack for knowing how and when to cut loose and just be scary. He was officially on paper a Teacher’s Aide because he didn’t have teaching credentials, but in reality he ran Range 4 like it was a Marine Drill Range. We never had an accident on his watch.”

And we can only hope his replacement comes even close.

“A better question is ‘why didn’t I divorce or stab him for disowning my son?” She turned away from the memorial marker. “And the answer is because I was afraid, and I still had hope.” The disgusted tone followed her as Louis Geintz watched a very troubled woman walk back in the direction of Hawthorne and her daughter. He followed along quietly to make sure she was safe, and because something was gnawing at him.

Fear and hope, the two big things which can hold us back from doing something.

Team Awesome dragging their parents together to meet each other, this is going to be either great or awkward. Those poor, shellshocked parents, they should have expected something like this with a bunch of superpowered kids involved.

The Indian couple trying to corral Revekah “Pahelee” Chatterjee just seemed lost at the prospect of tracking everything happening at once while Shifty’s mother admonished him not to turn his fingers into spiders when he was shaking someone’s hand. She, at least, had some experience with all of this, having been a Whateley Alumnus herself. She was coping with the excited madness of children as best she could.

At least Natalie is able to help out poor Revekah's mother, dealing with this when you have only one child would be a lot.

Anette Harper, Shifty's mother, good thing she is a Whateley alumnus.

“I can only imagine. Miranda manifested by throwing a station wagon at a bear with her mind.” Natalie’s dry smile brought her attention to the Senior. “What about Angelina? You’re a bit young to be “mom.”

Yikes, was wondering how Miranda manifested. Tansy there with Angelina and having to tell how she doesn't know her parents are gone, hope she is in a good place when she finally finds out. And Tansy finding out Miranda is Erik's little sister, choosing to stay with Angelina, you sometimes forget it hasn't even been a year sister Erik became Caitlin with all that has happened. Ouch, Tansy sensing Caitlin's pain.

Janine "Deimos" Richter following Caitlin through her boiling emotions. All of them feeling Cailtin's pain through their bond, yikes.

But Fury, part of both, shielded her from the reality buried in her blood-sister’s mind. And that shielding held an old, raw wound that had been ripped open wide. She knew it was old, she knew it never healed. And the barely-suppressed despairing madness cut through her like a knife, rivalling what she had felt when her sister had gone.

Worse than that pain, I have no words to describe what feeling that from someone else must feel like. Janine stating all that and yet Wilson doesn't think anyone can help her.

“I haven’t seen this since before Cat McQuiston died on Halloween.”

*eyes bug out* Sounds like anyone who deliberately ticks her off right now woudl be signing their own death warrent.

In an isolated pod set in the sims and has the sim on loop, grinding on shadows to take out her anger, yikes. Over an hour and no lull, yikes, and Janine wishes to go in and face Caitlin. Call Fury, this is bad to call Fury out, plus Louis telling Wilson to let Janine go, dang.

“Motivation.” Louis just looked at him. “Outcasts have a reason to take the training extremely seriously.”

Guess Wilson doesn't know what they went through in Austrailia still.

Edith Turner and Debra Carlyle leaving Kane Hall after watching Jericho help out Peeper's with his powers' downsides.

Edith smirked. “Yeah that’s pretty normal. When he manifested I found out when he’d built a contraption to heal Ryan’s busted leg. Damn thing worked, then promptly fell apart on us. That was one of the first hints that our son was a bit more special than we thought.”

Now that is a great devise, even if it was one use.

Mr Turner and Kieran Carlyle had to be physically restrained to keep them from running in blindly to their deaths in search of the missing children and Debra.

Mama Turner had to be tazed.

Now those are parents who would die for their kids and loved ones.

It was a quiet, somber walk to the Crystal Hall, and inside was a massive crush of bodies seeking food and jockeying for tables. Jack, Monica and Sandra were at the table, stuffing their faces while Adam tossed eggs for his brother to catch in his mouth from Sandra’s serpentine lap.

Okay, I really want a drawing of Adam sitting in Sandra's lap now. The Outcasts are certainly one of the most interesting tables in the Crystal Hall.

Debra smirked as Edith leaned over. “Don’t let her fool you. She’s the polite one, Sandra’s the good one.”

Hehehe, should have known that about Monica.

“Caitlin’s Mom is on campus, with her baby sister. They’ve had some… rough patches, and haven’t really reconciled and Caitlin’s face isn’t one her mom would recognize anymore,” Monica looked over at the table where Miranda and her “Team Awesome” buddies were regaling their parents with stories.

“So she can’t… Oh shit.” Debra looked at Edith, and both traded a worried look. “Where is she right now?”

And it sounds like the mothers are going to arrange a reunion, oh boy.

Janine in the sims now, most bodies having been shot so Caitlin hasn't gone full rager like she did against Hank and Hippy yet.

The dead men wore uniforms ranging from the jackbooted SS wannabes of Wulfin the Purifier’s stable of minions to the wrecked blade wheels of Reaper. There was little rhyme or reason to the mayhem, with Klansmen standing shoulder to shoulder with insurgents. It didn’t seem to matter what face they wore so long as they were recognizable as evil, and the enemy.

That scenario sounds like a nightmare alright, 10 minutes unseen or you end up laying broken on the ground.

Good, can't sense simulated emotive output, that would make sims a lot worse for receptive empaths. And Caitlin being slowly worn down by the mob, yikes.

Caitlin had no quiet space, no one she could really relate to at her own level, someone who had been through everything she had, who she could share with, trust with her demons.

Now this is a real nightmare.

Janine walked up behind the battered sister, kneeling and putting her arms around Caitlin, and pulling her tight, projecting comfort and calm at her sister as the battered woman wracked sobs, finally letting go of the bloody-minded fury.

At this point I think only Janine could have helped her, no matter how much her other friends would have wished to.

The world seemed to ripple inward, and the pair vanished, and Fury Screamed as she erupted into the sims, then reality tore, and she found herself between two empty simulator pods, out of the virtual system as her conjoined minds processed everything that had been released in a blind instant of vulnerability, and she lived two lives side-by-side in the span of an instant with her own, bridging the gap of age, experience and emotion in a flash that lasted only an instant, but within her mind took on the march of years.

For that brief instant, Caitlin, Phobos and Fury lived all three lives from start to finish… and understood. Then she winked out of existence, disgorging Caitlin and Janine back into reality.

Epic doesn't even begin to cover it. Finally Caitlin can let it all out, thank you for this, it has been too long coming. Both of them changed that much by the experience, how could they begin to explain it to anyone else. And Butcher's Row, hope this is the start of making the public knows what the MCO did there.

At least talking to Bellows is helping, father the focal point of her rage, heck I've met the guy I want to deck him one for all he has done to his own children.

“Tell her about Caitlin, and you betray Caitlin’s trust, Don’t tell her and probably betray both of their trusts.”

Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't, so just do it.

“I’m tempted to say when the apple fell from the tree it grabbed onto a lower branch and held on out of sheer defiance,” Liz said in a deadpan voice.

Interesting expression there.

“I don’t think I’ll ever look at an MCO agent the same way ever again, or feel the desire to join the military…” She just stared at Caitlin with her three eyes, a sadness creeping in. “How the hell did you do it? Keep going after all of that…”

We all could use friends like that in our lives which Caitlin gained in the Outcasts.

“Trauma is Trauma, Janine, doesn’t matter what caused it. Nightmares? Check. Issues with feeling like your life isn’t worth a shit? Check. Can’t stop dwelling on shit you should be able to let go but can’t? The scale doesn’t matter… It all just… hurts. Doesn’t mean you should feel you have less of a right to need help to recover than I do or something.”

I'm glad to hear someone say that.

Great, Caitlin doesn't wish to talk to her mom, thinking she would just make things worse, *sigh*

“A slinky ride?” Deimos’ eyes, all three of them, went wide. “Oh God I’d pay money to see her reaction to that!”

“Jack has a polaroid photo of her expression. It’s priceless. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with an expression that baffled and confused.”

Adam is just too adorable and glad to hear Jack has a polaroid of her expression.

“Aunt Sandra! Is that your mom??? Are those your sisters?” The six-year-old was pointing at something.

Diamondback followed Adam’s pointed finger and her jaw just dropped with a “what the fu…”

“Sandra!” Debra called out. “Please don’t teach my son to cuss.”

Jericho stopped and his head slowly turned to what Sandra was looking at even though he didn’t need to. “Son of a bi…”

“Joe!” His mother barked out. “Watch your mouth now.”

It was at that moment that Jack “forgot” his vodor was on, signing rapidly. -FUCK ME THEY CLONED SANDRA.-

“JACK!” Debra threw her hands skyward. She didn’t need to look to see her oldest child was grinning horrifically.

Bwahahaha, thinking they cloned Sandra because of Sapphire's 3 little sisters, priceless. Ouch, all three dogpilling Sandra and Opal saying that about Sapphire. Glad to see their mother chew those three out, Sapphire doesn't deserve there teasing.

“I was where you are once,” the larger naga said. “My name is Ebon, and I’m guessing you know Sapphire.”

Does that mean Sandra is going to be bigger as she gets older, oh boy. And Adam once again showing how fearless he is, just so adorable.

Jack and Monica in a poking contest with each other, goofballs too fun to watch. Introductions done, including Sandra teasing Jack and Monica, hehe. And only Jack's mother can thwack his hand for signing and being a smartass with it. And Adam is off to see Aunt Cait, wish Ebon, Sapphire and 3 little sisters head off to see Imp, this will be interesting.

As the serpentine family slithered away, Sapphire turned to Diamond. “I’m sorry if I’ve been a bit weird, but I lost… and you got…” she looked at Diamond’s tail, and at her family.”

“Trade you.” Sandra deadpanned.

“In a heartbeat if I could.” Sapphire did look at her critically. “After all this is done though, I really need to teach you how to slither properly.”

“I didn't realize I was doing it wrong.”

“No offense, but you slither like a toddler. You should be a lot more graceful. And faster.”

Slithering lessons so she can be more graceful and faster, Sandra is already a force, with these lessons she will be a nightmare for bullies everywhere.

Caitlin walked up to Jack, with a giggling Adam held in one hand, dangling by the ankle. “Lose something?”

-Hey! That’s my lunch!- Jack signed.

“No I’m not, I’m your brother!”

“Kinda small and squirmy. You sure you couldn’t have found a better meal?” Debra asked in a deadpan to everyone else’s semi-shocked looks. “What? Jack’s still MY son!”

Seriously, my ribs are hurting from laughing so hard. Love Debra even more than before, a mom with a sense of humor. Caitlin not LOUD to Sandra's empathic sense, whoa.

And here is coming, the reunion scene thanks to Carson and with the help of Miranda, love Miranda's description of Louis, so adorable. Natalie wishes to meet Louis, but he shows up in psychic projection form, at least she gets to thank him for helping out Miranda so much. And Carson about to reveal some secrets, hope Natalie takes it well.

“We’re borrowing a student RA’s room while she’s out because she has the only monitor kit capable of playing this video set that isn’t already in use.” Carson looked at Natalie oddly. “Before we begin, please understand that I did not show you these things earlier because my first loyalty and protection goes to students and my staff. I had to be sure that Erik’s estrangement from you wasn’t a mutual thing.”

“What I mean is I believe someone was gaslighting you and your son. His next of kin contact number for you is off by one digit from what you provided, so he could not call you. One of our psych doctors confirmed that he had sent home letters with contact information, but never received any calls, nor notifications of any. He gave up after his first year.”

Own husband gaslighting them to keep Erik away and seperated from his family, ugh. After realizing all this she has great self-control to keep her rage in check in front of Miranda.

Security feed from inside the armory the night Erik manifested fully and became Caitlin, yikes. And now footage from Range 4 where it happened, surprised anything survived that was within even a thousand feet of that range, would think the explosive transformation would have sent out an EMP.

The camera switched and she saw the technicolor mass charge through the brush, the foliage twisting and burning, warped by the energy, turning to ice, or just exploding as he passed. The madness continued for a few seconds before a multicolored flare erupted outward like an explosion formed of a tornado and consumed the surroundings in flickers of insanity. The camera was devoured.

The camera flickered back on at a different angle, showing the epicenter of the devastation, yet somehow did not wink out. It showed the beginning of the final eruption, then the maelstrom of energy sped up as the time fast-forward through a scene straight out of someone’s vision of Hell, skipping ten minutes in thirty seconds.

As the energy faded, the image was one that was surreal. A blue-crystal plate with striking stone runes surrounded the figure lying naked on the ground. It was very different from the man who had run in, with pale skin, softer features… and metallic, black, long hair. She looked like any young woman might between eighteen and twenty-five, with the visible muscles of a girl who worked out in a way that complemented the body rather than drifting into looking like a guy.

Okay, I got goosebumps reading all that, most detailed description of what happened ever.

Natalie shaking, upset because everyone thinks Erik is dead.

“Everyone had to think he is dead. That transformation is known, and it is one that has been consistently made a slave over and over through time because of what she can do. We could not allow someone to draw a line from who she is now to Erik Mahren. There are people who would cheerfully have taken your whole family to force her to submit, used her old identity to lock and bind her. Your oldest child is a target, Mrs. Mahren, and I am only telling you now because its becoming clear that your estrangement was created by a third party.”

And trading her life for those she loves, I would do it in a heartbeat myself.

“By doing what Erik always did with problems he couldn’t change, by ignoring it as much as possible.”

Natalie frowned slightly, concerned and miffed. That DID sound like her son.

And hopefully her mother can snap her out of doing that already. Oh boy, Miranda said Caitlin was there only after she had opened the door already.

Carson just looked over at the nine-year old imp looking at her with a wry, evil smirk. “Et tu Miranda?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” came the youngest Mahren’s reply, though the creeping grin told the tale.

Really, Carson, you gave the task of warning you when Caitlin was near to her little sister, what did you expect to happen. Miranda having to get her mother to realize it isn't a dream, seeing someone you think is dead back would be a huge shock, even with the video as evidence. Dang, got me tearing up Natalie as she rushes to hug Caitlin.

Finally, after the only sounds were Natalie’s desperate apologies, she finally found her voice. “God Mom I missed you.”

This was a story I've been waiting for, to see Caitlin reunited with her mother and realize they still love each other and have been lied to all these years by his bastard of a father, gaslighted by him to keep Erik apart from his own mother and sisters. I loved how Carson help Caitlin when she first told her, sometime the only thing you can do to help is hold someone and let them know they are not alone. Janine rushing to help Caitlin in the sims, that epic scene of them seeing all of each other's lives like that, and the stronger bond they now share was perfect. And this final scene, of Natalie being told the truth about being her own husband gaslighting her and Erik all these years, to seeing the video, and then their reunion, it actually brought tears to my eyes to see Caitlin finally having her family outside of the Outcasts back.

The scenes with Jack and Adam were great as always, loved Debra and Imp's banter with each other about Jack, and Sapphire's family getting to meet Diamondback, the misunderstanding being cleared up, all wonderful. Jack's line about them having cloned Sandra was too funny. I can't wait to read more of the Outcasts, Team Awesome, and hope to see more of Caitlin spending time with her mother and Miranda in the future.

Parents Day, Whateley Academy

Hehehe, always so adorable watching Jack running around with Adam hanging on his back. Just watching Adam's pure joy at seeing people with superpowers while at Whateley makes my day. Hhm, I wonder if Adam wishing he could shift to be like Jack after watching Shifty changing shape actually affected what his future powers would be?

Adam hugging Monica and Janine, so many people could learn from a lot from him about not judging based on appearance. So cute, play wrestling with his big brother and then Jack tickling Adam. Hehehe, love Jack and Adam's mom, the only person who can get Jack to behave so easily.

As the Turners walked up, Debra was muttering “Of course, thanks Mum, The curse strikes.”

“Which curse is that?” Edith Turner smirked.

“May your children be just like you?” Monica helpfully supplied.

“That’s the one.”

Edith looked at her Australian counterpart quizzically. “There’s a story here.”

Aww, there are worse curses to be hit with.

Ouch, Edith got a good read on Caitlin alright.

“Detention? For what?” Edith was looking at Noms warily.

“What? It’s not my fault! I was just writing a factual essay with citations on why the earth is flat and how science is lying about the whole “sphere thing,” she gave air quotes as she carried on in the aggrieved teenager voice. “The Science teachers are part of the conspiracy! It’s all a sham!” There was not one hint in her voice or posture that she might be joking.

If Razorback had a camera he would have ruined the moment by snapping a photo of both the Mothers’ expressions of outraged disbelief right then and there.

Jericho and Sandra both stared as Anomaly once again proved her origin as Matt Carter by distracting and drawing fire… and gleefully driving someone up the wall to do it.

If Mrs. Carson doesn't have at least 1 gray hair by the time both Team Kimba and the Outcasts all graduate I will be very surprised. At least Noms screwing with people serves a good purpose, with what Caitlin found out recently I don't think anyone but her little sister could get near her right now without her blowing up one way or another.

Caitlin and Natalie together for the first time in over a decade and neither can think of what to say. And Caitlin having to explain why she has so much firepower, heh.

“I knew the powers could be dangerous, but that bad?”

“Yes and no. It’s kinda like owning a gun. If you respect it, you understand it and you take the proper precautions, it’s just a tool, one that won’t likely have any part in an accident. Part of my job was to help the kids figure out for themselves how to respect their power, how to understand them and take proper precautions. I used the big guns as the demonstration comparison because It’s often the closest to what the kids can do or build, and I have a class three firearms license and I love explosions.”

That got a stuffed bear thrown at her.

“What the hell, where did that come from?” Caitlin picked up the stuffed bear, “I didn’t have anything like this in my room.”

“I was going to give that to your sister, later, but apparently you needed it more. Upside the head.”

Hehe, I love Natalie, teddy bear upside the head because Caitlin says she loves explosions.

Bringing up the Fire Wings, how they remind her of Cat. Prints up a photo of Cat and shows it to her mother.

“She hated me when we first met. I used to joke that Stockholm Syndrome works when she finally agreed to go out with me three years ago.” Caitlin smiled slightly as her mother just stared and facepalmed. “I asked her to marry me right before the beginning of the school year last year. She said yes. She was Intense, she cared, she believed in people, in me, My Angel of Fire, and then I lost her.”

Caitlin instinctively gripped the hand that found hers. “But she’s gone, I couldn’t even bury her.”

It's like losing her all over again, I can feel the pain Caitlin is going through and it hurts. At least Caitlin is finally able to speak to her mother again, maybe more than one form of healing can come out of this.

Adam Ball using Monica's gravity manipulation, he is going to be hyper later from all the excitement and fun. Debra trying not to think of the nightmare which happened in Darwin again, Adam having nightmares because his brother and new aunts and uncles are gone, wish there was something which could help the poor kid. PTSD, anyone who survived Darwin is going to have it to one degree or another, I hope they are getting help.

Ouch, even a helicopter drone reminding them of the nightmare. Adam runs from any machine that isn't obviously controlled, so glad to see him laughing now. Kiernan helping rebuild Darwin, good, keeping busy can help.

“Better. Sandra there stayed at our place over the summer, mostly in the basement. They hired a warper to get her in and out. She and Joe have had nightmares, hard days, but they lean on each other. With the addition of Monica things are a bit more normal, but every now and again, you can tell they’re looking off into nothing and seeing people they couldn’t save.”

They are a lot more traumatized than they have been letting on, though I shouldn't be surprised. Everyone copes in their own way.

Eep, Caitlin had that stare the day Debra met her, anyone who has gone through even a fraction of what she has would have untold issues.

“Leave them as they are.” Edith gave Debra a half-hug. “Good hearts are rare, especially when everyone around them calls them monsters.”

“That’s the story I’ve been trying to hold on.”

“Debra? Talk to someone. You need to get help, Adam needs help. If you can’t work through it…”

“Yeah. Kiernan has been working extra hours. He’s already set up a counselor for us.”

Thank you, Edith, glad her job experience allowed her to see all this.

And he put Edith’s words to action to match. When he let her go, he simply signed -I know you’re hurting, I just don’t know how to help.-

Sometimes asking others to help the ones you care about is the best you can do. Caitlin with her mom and Miranda, finally.

She waved towards Natalie “This is… my Mom, Mom this is Debra and Edith, they kept me honest last christmas. Totally ruined my plans to conquer the Outback.”

Oh please, we all know the native wildlife would have been too much trouble, Caitlin. Each of the moms having their own raging smartass, a good thing to start discussions on.

Caitlin had to catch herself from shooting a look and gagged down her instant response at the insinuation that “Princess Cally Mahren” was her “older” sister.

Miranda caught on and smirked evilly at her big sister, and slowly sang out “Meeeeeemmoooorrriiiiieeeesssss.”

“Lay off the Troll, brat, you are what you eat,” Caitlin said to her sister drily.

“But I learned it from watching you!” The indignant reply got everyone’s attention, and all of the Outcasts started laughing at Caitlin.

I thought Miranda couldn't get more precocious and adorable, you proved me wrong. And love Natalie getting in her own crack only for Caitlin to agree, their family, excluding the father, is awesome.

Ah, so Zack's hearing aid is out and he is trying to warn them about Jericho.

“I gave up trying to get the boy to dress normal last year,” Edith sighed.

“He does it so everyone pays attention to him and forgets that Diamondback and most of his friends have weird bodies.” Miranda said quietly, smirking slightly as Jericho grinned and tapped his nose at the young girl.

So that is how Jericho can tell what color things are, seeing eye camera.

“Why do I get the impression some days that Sandra is the most normal of the lot of you?” Debra asked no one in particular.

“She is,” came the unanimous, simultaneous reply.

Well, someone has to be the straight person to this comedy troupe.

Oh great, sounds like Imperious has ordered the New Olympians to gather and Prism, Tracer, and Feral haven't shown up. Heh, hanging out with their parents and Imperious wants to mess with Outcasts Corner, this creep needs taken down all the pegs. Elisabeth Masa aka Judicator only there due to Imperious' command, leaving in 10 minutes to spend time with her parents no matter what, the former Zeus needs to realize the world has gone on without him and give up his current plans.

Knickknack standing up to Imperious, need to do that more often.

He was in charge, but unlike himself, Majestic, Counterpoint, Cytheria and Stygian the others had not simply overwhelmed and subsumed their hosts at childhood. His other “brother” seemed to have completely fucked off and found other things to do/be than come to Whateley or contact him entirely. It also meant that he couldn’t exert full control over the so-called “exiles” that vexed him so much.

The warning from Chou didn't sink in, *sigh*

“It’s very simple, judicator, Knickknack, The part of you both that I do have sway over will help me, whether you like it or not. You’re going to help me demolish the group of Echidnan freaks that call themselves Outcast Corner, and put them in their place.”

Imperious, you just made top of the list of scum who needs taken down with that crack about the Outcast Corner. Going after Jericho for standing up to you in the Crystal Hall, you might as well have just signed your own death sentence, idiot.

Devisor Labs

Deimos having to hold Adam with all 4 arms so he won't run off into the more dangerous area, that giggling little boy must be some escape artist. Ooo, the Rafe 2 armor is completed! And it sounds awesome, field trials with security next month, that was fast. He had Lanie and Spider's help with the gravity plating tech, no wonder it was finished so fast. I wish something like this armor existing in the real world, so much it could do for emergency personnel and life-saving.

Custom frame for each unit.

“Servos on the inside of the knees look like they’re too close to skin contact, wrong move looks like they could contact the knees and do damage. Inside the glacis plate, wiring on the left side is poking through the padding, I see two exposed circuit boards with padding around them. That could be a spark hazard depending on the rating.”

Well their father wouldn't be a paramedic if he didn't know his stuff. Aww, poor Adam is bored, bet it won't be for long. So glad Caitlin took MIranda's hand, all those emotions around her, all those new people, I can only imagine how overwhelmed it was beginning to feel.

*faceplams* Noms, why you have to mess with Jericho's workshop space by rearranging his tools just for fun? Hehehe, nice to see Deimos joking.

“Facepalm on facepalm. You know one more facepalm and you end up with Epic Facepalm.” Deimos couldn’t resist. Adam, of course facepalmed, only to have two of deimos’ hand facepalm his facepalm, stirring a giggling fit in the little boy.

Ack, cuteness overload!

Jericho, of course, calmly reached into his cabinet and withdrew a squirt bottle, promptly spraying Anomaly in the face with icy water as she screamed in protest. “Bad Noms, no playing with my tool boxes!”

“Hey, hey! Dammit Joe my PK field doesn’t stop water! Quit it!”

Ack, stop that, my ribs can't take too much more laughing.

Ah, going to the Outcast's Corner, one of the best hidden clubhouses on campus. And love the verbal password, that is so something Jericho would come up with. Aww, Edith worried Zack is hanging out with Caitlin by her drums because she can't get a read on her.

Debra shook her head. “We’re more worried for her. She’s been a rock for the others, but she’s got no rock to lean on herself.”

Natalie looked over, scanned the high schoolers going about their rounds. “She does, you just don’t see it.” Natalie pointed at the Outcasts in turn. “My baby was never the strongest alone, much as it seemed otherwise. I’ve never seen... her as at ease as with this pack kids right here.”

The Outcasts are part of her family, anyone who says otherwise will probably find a boot up their rear in less than a second.

And Natalie learns about who all was caught in Reaper's attack, only brought up because she recognized Jericho Raphael Search and Rescue Armor from tv. And Edith and Nathan Turner both learn that Caitlin went after Reaper alongside Dr. Diabolik, she was willing to die to end that nightmare if need be. Pantera's "Cowboys from Hell", that is one way to change the subject quickly. And the GSD kids showing up with their families for the concert, too perfect. Thornies, Twain boys, Whitman girls, and some Poesies, who doesn't love good music.

Zack and Adam, and many of the younger kids, including several of Sapphire’s “Noodle” sisters tried to slamdance to the thundering beat the Outcasts set.

These kids know how to have fun. Aww, at least Louis helps out Miranda rebuild her shields, hope she gets better and holding them even in large crowds. These lyrics are awesome, it is like I can hear them singing to a tempo and Sandra's voice is epic. I got goosebumps from it.

“Damn I never thought I’d here the kids play a song about a school.” Nathan Turner laughed.

“How did you get a song about a…” Edith began. “...Nevermind.”

One by one the parents of the Outcasts, and a few other kids around the crush of mutated bodies got the joke, and as Adam innocently told Opal she was beautiful like Sandra, it was really all that mattered.

Aww, Adam telling Opal that, so cute. And I get what Nathan means about the song.

Elisa prowling outside the party, what are they planning on doing which she doesn't wish to do. So Elisa and Athena share the body, interesting. And Elisa doesn't have to obey that jackass reborn Zeus, I love loopholes like this. Counterpoint on Caitlin, definitely a fight which the Outcasts will win.

“Exactly. Jason wants a war to relive his victories over the titans? Let him have it. He demands that we help him break Jericho. Awfully vague objective, that.”

He left her too much wiggle room, goodie. Imperious expects a fair fight, with the Outcasts...bwahahahaha.

The Day After Parent’s Day, Whateley Academy

Natalie thanking Carson for giving her child back to her, Carson says she just created the opportunity to Natalie to get Caitlin back. Natalie needs to find work while she divorces her husband, wishes to move closer to Whateley, good thing Carson knows people.

“It’s only been a day, and I’m told that she’s becoming less painful to be around for our psychic and empathic students by the minute. You did that. You and your youngest.”

That is a huge change for Caitlin, the healing has begun, thank you.

Natalie learning what Erik dealt with and how he changed since coming to Whateley, even before the change to Caitlin.

“Combat training for survival, but your daughter, and her friends have gone down a rarely travelled road. They’re on a track that focuses on search and rescue, survival training, rescue operations and humanitarian relief.”

“That’s gotta be interesting with Jack.”

“You have no idea,” Carson said drily.

The world needs more people with that kind of training. And Natalie is a smart woman, working at Whateley can take a lot out of you.

Zack waking up with what seems to be superhuman hearing, hearing things for the first time and being that sensitive to sound that his own mother's voice is too much and the pain causes him to pass out, yikes. Seems Jericho's younger brother just manifest, painfully.

Great to finally see how Caitlin and Natalie reconnect after all this time and start healing some of the hurt. The jokes the moms make, Noms goofing around, Jack and Adam together, all so much goodness and fun in this story. Learning how well the Outcasts have been hiding their trauma from Darwin, I knew it was worse than expected but that is horrific, fitting what they lived through. Hearing what Adam has been going through and seeing him laughing and being his normal self again, so happy time with his brother and the Outcasts helps.

Seeing them playing a concert in Outcast's Corner and all those other GSD students and their families showing up was great. Adam is just so cute with Opal. Glad to see the Rafe 2 on its way to finally being ready for release, such a powerful tool for lifesaving operations. And curious now what kind of job Natalie will get in Boston. As for Imperious and the rest of the New Olympians, I wonder what their actual plan is and how badly it will backfire on them. Can't wait for more Outcasts goodness in the future.