1.17 Homecoming Part 7

Allison looks around the massive dining room as they appear in the middle of it. With the appearance of herself and Abigail, Joan and her mother, Noelle, break off the conversation they were having.

Joan is looking good. Still not pretty like she wants, but healthy and vibrant. And with the amount of parahumans in her family, it is only a matter of time before she manifests. I don’t need to Legacy or Ceta to tell me that. The real question isn’t whether Joan will manifest, but whether she or her sister Breanne will do it first.

“Allison!” says Joan as she rushes forward to hug Allison.

“Hey Joan,” replies Allison as she hugs her best friend back.

After a moment, Allison looks past Joan and at her mother instead as she watches them.

“Um, thank you for letting me stay here,” says Allison nervously.

“Oh, don’t worry about honey,” replies Noelle, “It’s no bother. We got enough rooms to fit six kids and we only got two of them at the moment.”

“Well, thanks again,” says Allison sheepishly, not really sure on what to say.

“Let’s go to my room,” says Joan excitingly as she grabs Allison’s wheelchair.

Allison feels a bit guilty as Joan pushes her wheelchair. It isn’t exactly like she needs to push around like this and Allison hates the idea of making Joan to do extra work just to keep up Allison’s secret identity.

“Hey Al,” says Joan.

“Yeah,” Allison says back.

“I accidentally spilled Leo’s secret identity earlier,” admits Joan, causing Allison no small amount of shock.

W-what?! You got to be freaking kidding me!

“So now the DSA, my family and his family all know about Gears and Jaylyn,” continues Joan before sighing, “And I got Mum on my back about that last one.”

“I wonder why,” mutters Allison sarcastically as they reach the stairs, “So how are we going to get up these?”

“Umm, I didn’t think that far ahead,” admits Joan, “Give a moment. Hey Abby! I need help getting Allison upstairs.”

“Of course you do,” says Abigail Fowler as she teleports next to them, “I’ll take the two of you to your room sis.”

“Thanks Abby,” replies Joan as Abigail touches her and teleports all three of them to the middle of Joan’s room, “I’ll be seeing you around Allison.”

And with that, Abigail teleports away again as Allison looks around Joan’s room. The room is large, as expected within mansion, with the basic essentials such as her big, fluffy bed, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, a desk and other stuff like that. Basically the same as every other time that Allison has been here.

But what catches Allison’s eye is all of the posters and pictures on the wall. There is one for each of the Guardsmen field members and Allison smiles as she looks at Defender’s. But there are also a few pictures of Joan’s sister Alexis posing as Iris along with an official poster of Iris. Those are new.

Furthermore, there is a picture of Abigail Fowler, looking divine and commanding, next to a couple of posters for movies that her oldest siblings as the main actors, one for Irwin on the right and one for Breanne on the left.

Lastly, there are three posters of Marcelle Fowler, one from before her manifestation, one from afterwards and the third with both Marcelle and her new girlfriend and singing partner Diana Hunter 
singing back to back.

“Huh, you have a lot of posters,” says Allison as Joan plops herself down on her bed.

“What can I say?” replies Joan with a grin, “I’m proud of my family and their achievements.”

“I wish I could say the same about my own,” mutters Allison sourly before deciding to avoid that particular topic, “So, where did you get those pictures of Alex from? I don’t recognise them from anywhere.”

“Oh, I got those from back when I was in hospital still,” answers Joan with a wave of her hand, “Man, that feels like a long time ago. Anyway, Alex let me take those an apology for not telling me when she got her powers and for abandoning me. It was back around when Darkness attacked me.”

“So how are you getting on with them now?” inquires Allison.

“Great,” replies Joan as she gets back on her feet, “My parents, Mum in particular, are doing their best to make up for not being there for me. To be honest, I don’t really give a damn about how they treated me back then as I personally consider it water under the bridge right now. Anyway, Abby also has one of her bodies around as you saw while Alex will hang out when we’re both free. Marcy will often pop in for visits with Diana and we get to hang out then. A lot of people forget that those two are still only eighteen. Bree and I video chat every now again or meet up in Eldrim. Irvin and I don’t really care for each other. The guy is too focused on his career and I’m not that important to it. Not that he is a jerk or anything, but Irvin and I just don’t connect with each other you know?”

“Yeah,” mutters Allison, thinking back to how she gets on with her step-brother Nathan, “You don’t mind me staying here?”

“Better than letting you stay on the streets or being forced to give up your secret identity,” replies Joan with a shrug of her shoulders, “You’re my best friend. I’m not just going to abandon you. Plus Mum takes being a good mother really seriously now and your mum is a really bad one.”

“May I ask something?” asks Allison.

“Shoot,” replies Joan as she pulls out a DVD, “Want to watch this?”

“One of your sister’s films? Maybe later,” replies Allison before asking her question, “So what about my secret identity?”

“Oh, Mum, Dad and Abby know that,” answers Joan, “We’ll probably end up bring Alex and Leo’s parents into the know about that soon.”

“Great,” says Allison as she gets to her feet, “It’s going to be cool not to hide who I am from the people I’m living-”

“Joan!” says Abby as teleports into the room, catching Allison off guard as she adopts a defensive stance, “Breanna has manifested.”

1.17 Homecoming Part 6

Allison pulls up Joan on her contact list and dials her. It takes only a few seconds for her best friend to answer.

“Allison?” says Joan and Allison has never felt happier to her voice.

“Hey Joan,” replies Allison as she leaves the street.

“So Al, what’s up?” inquires Joan.

“My family finally kicked me out,” explains Allison, “Though I should admit that I kind of chose to leave in the process and I sort of forced my way past Simon on my way out.”

“So I’m guessing you need somewhere to stay,” replies Joan, quickly grasping the situation to Allison’s relief, “And since you’re phoning me instead of somebody else, I assume you want to continue your old life.”

Heh, good Joan. She summed up that I wasn’t going to Legacy because I wanted to keep up my secret identity while making sound so innocent. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Leo’s girlfriend. The guy is a firm believer that the woman of his life should be his equal.

“Pretty much,” admits Allison, feeling self-conscious about having to ask her best friend for help, “I know that you might not be able to help, but-”

“Honey,” says another voice that Allison vaguely recognises as Joan’s mother, Noelle Fowler, “Of course you can stay over here. The way your family has been treating you is just downright vile. I have honestly been meaning to do something about them for a while now, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. We’ll send Abigail over to pick you up now. No need to force you to make your way across town on your own.”

“Thank you,” replies Allison, feeling a bit tearful.

“See you here,” pipes in Joan before the phone call ends.

As she comes to a stop, Allison feels uneasy. For some reason, she suddenly feels alert and ready for battle as she has been many time whilst acting as Defender.

What is wrong you girl? I must have been through too many battles. No way is there anybody out here to get me.

But Allison takes notice of her surroundings, she realises that there is nobody about and night is falling. There is usually at least one or two people about in this part of town.

Okay, this really doesn’t feel right.

“You think you can just get away that easily you little @~&*ing bitch,” snarls an angry voice that reminds Allison of her stepbrother Derrick.

Oh don’t tell me that the stupid little excuse of a human being actually manifested.

With annoyed growl, Allison spins her wheelchair around to a massively improved version of dumbass stepbrother, both handsome and ripped, standing in the street.

A freaking Adonis. Of course Derrick is an Adonis and not something practical like a Bellator.

“Oh for crying out loud,” grumbles Allison as Derrick strides towards her.

“Don’t £#$%ing ignore me,” shouts Derrick spitting in her face, “Cannot just get away from being my bitch with such little effort.”

Allison laughs as she sees the fist coming towards her, easily tracking it with her super senses.

Does Derrick really believe he can just beat me like that? Oh wait, he thinks I’m just a helpless crippled girl in a wheelchair. Hah, little does he know that I’m an actually a B Class vigilante with plenty of combat experience. And while brick might be bland and simple, we do have our uses. It doesn’t matter if he out powers me, I got enough power, skill and experience to take him down.

Allison does nothing, just smiling like an idiot as she waits for the punch to connect with her face.

I can’t wait to see the look on his face.

But Allison doesn’t get that chance before Derrick’s fist pulls up short and he instead grabs her by the chin.

“I would hurt you, but I can’t be certain I wouldn’t kill a weakling like you,” sneers Derrick as Allison internally debates whether to hurt him or not, “Instead, I’m going to get you in trouble with the authorities just as you deserve.”

“And how exactly are you going to do that?” asks Allison dryly as she jerks her head away from Derrick.

“Why, you’re the manipulative and bullying stepsister who made an unprovoked attack on our father as he tries to rightfully punish you,” drawls Derrick, “You have record of causing trouble and picking on me. In fact, you have bullied me so much, that I actually manifested.”

“We both know that isn’t true,” mutters Allison.

“Who is going to believe somebody of your reputation over the sweet, well-behaved boy such as myself?” sneeringly asks Derrick as he leans in close to Allison.

Oh, that is it! Secret identity or not, I’m wiping that smug grin off his face. I have not whipped the butts of countless criminals and supervillains just to let Derrick of all people pull this @#£$ on me.

“I’ve heard enough,” states a strong, female voice as Allison is about to headbutt Derrick’s face.

Both Allison and Derrick turn to face a floating Aphrodite woman. She is tall with flowing brown hair and lush green eyes. She is wearing jeans and a white leather jacket whilst anger is etched into her facial features as she glowers at Derrick.

Oh, that must be Abigail. I hope it is anyway, not that I care given they are clearly going to help me.

Derrick recoils under her glare and suddenly sprints off, heading back down the street towards Allison’s former home.

Well, that is Derrick dealt with. For now at least.

“Are you okay?” inquires the Aphrodite, as she lands in front of Allison.

“I’m fine,” replies Allison, “You’re Abigail right?”

The woman nods.

I really am.

“Good,” says Abigail, “I’m going to teleport us back to the Mansion.”

“Okay,” replies Allison as Abigail touches her wheelchair. 

1.17 Homecoming Part 5

“Damn you!” yells Derrick.

“I really don’t care anymore,” replies Allison, not even bothering to spare her brother a glance.

I am well and truly fed up of that brat. Why on Earth should I give a damn about him when I find battle harden supervillains on a regular basis?

Allison hears footsteps on the stairs and her mother yelling as their parents come to tell her off for “bullying” her younger stepbrother again.

No, not my mother and our parents, his mother and his parents. My dad is dead and I haven’t had my mum for a long time. For far too long.

With a weary sigh, Allison spins her chair around to face the doorway of her bedroom, where Derrick is standing by it.

Despite being in a three bedroom house, her parents share one of the two largest rooms, Derrick gets the other large room while Nathan gets the smaller bedroom. Allison on the other hand, has to put up with a small office on the top floor that has seen been converted into a bedroom.

Allison restrains herself from growling as she spots the balding black hair of her stepfather coming up the stairs.

Simon Davis. That snivelling moron who always caters to his spoiled brat of a son.

“Allison,” says Simon sharply in an angry voice, “What have you done this time?”

“Nothing,” replies Allison in a dry drawl as she knows her words won’t be believed as they always aren’t, “Derrick is just being a brat as usual, but as usual, you won’t believe me and punish me anyway.”

“Allison Ryder!” shouts Simon, “Don’t you dare take that tone-”

“Why not?” demands Allison, “All you ever do is treat me like dirt.”

“Young lady, if you’re going to live under my roof, you will have to abide by my rules and you will respect me as your father-” Simon starts to lecture only to falter as Allison begins to laugh.

Respect him? Hell no. As for abiding by his rules? Why? I’m a freaking superhero and a member of the Guardsmen, the world’s most famous team of vigilantes. I publically flout the law so why should I have to follow his dumb rules? I don’t have to a thing that this piece of scum tells me to and he is physically incapable of making me do so.

“I am so not respecting you,” says Allison through her laughter, “And if I have to follow your stupid rules to live under your roof, then I am not going to live under your roof.”

“How dare you!” yells Simon, “And where exactly will you go?”

My quarters in our base. Legacy and Scott won’t mind the company.

“I’ll manage,” replies Allison with a shrug as she begins pack a bag, “I have friends who are willing to support me.”

Ain’t that the truth.

“I’ll report you to the police as a runaway,” threatens Simon as Allison packs her most sentimental items into her bag.

Anything else other than the emotionally valuable stuff is replaceable.

“And I’ll tell them why I left,” counters Allison, “And then you’ll have to explain how you been treating me.”

As Allison finishes packing the most important things into her bag, she turns her wheelchair around once again. Not to her surprise, she sees Simon blocking the doorway with the rest of her ‘family’ in the hallway.

Is he seriously going to try and stop me? Me, the...oh right, I’m just a crippled helpless girl in a wheelchair to him. Idiot has no idea about what he’s got coming.

“Out of the way,” says Allison casually as she wheels herself towards the door.

“No,” replies Simon bluntly as he crosses his arms.

After deciding the pros and cons of arguing with him versus forcing her way out, Allison decides to simply go with the latter.

Speeding her wheelchair forward, Allison swings a gentle punch into Simon’s gut. Unfortunately for the grown man, Allison has B Class super strength and a gentle punch from her drops him to his knees.

Lightly grasping Simon’s shoulder, Allison casually shoves her stepfather to one side into the wall.

“Get out of my way,” Allison tells the rest of her family as a dazed Simon slumps and she continues to wheel forward.

After seeing what happened to Simon, her former mother and two stepbrothers all get out of her way and Allison is uncontested as she leaves the house.

As she wheels herself out of the front garden, Allison lets out a bark of laughter.

I am finally free! Man, this feels good. How could I have left it for so long? No longer having to put up with the abuse and having to pretend that those worthless excuses for human beings are my family.

But now what? Where do I go? Do I just discard my secret identity or do I cling onto what remains of my old life?

The former is seems interesting, just fully devoting myself to being Defender. I could even help others in my situation using my fame as a respected superhero. I mean, Legacy, Scott and Jaylyn are all fine without having secret identities to live and maintain.

That said, I do like my life. I enjoy school, get good grades and have friends. Do I just give all of that up so easily? I mean, the only parts of my life that I hate is my ‘family’ and my wheelchair. The wheelchair is just there as a cover now and I don’t have to live with those horrible pieces of scum anyone.

Oh, what to decide? Become Defender full time or keep on living my old life without my family?

As she goes down the street, Allison makes her decision and pulls out her phone.

1.17 Homecoming Part 4

Hmm. Do I tell him the truth or do I come up with some lie?

The truth is going to come out sooner or later.

We might as well get over with now then. Especially when we are friendly territory.

“An AI,” answers Leo, “Sentinel was my first creation. You see, I accidentally created her the day I got my powers.”

“An AI...” repeats Scott.

“Yes, an A-” confirms Leo, only to be the one that is interrupted this time.

“A freaking AI!” yells Scott, “Are you insane!”

I suppose somebody was going to react like this eventually.

“That is debatable,” replies Leo calmly.

“Take this seriously!” snarls Scott as he leaps to his feet, “Do you have any idea how dangerous an AI is? It needs to be taken into the procession of-”

Just who hell does this guy thing he is?

No one gets to threaten Jaylyn or any of our loved ones!

With an angry growl, Leo steps towards Scott, his hands clenched into tight fists.

“No,” says Leo bluntly.

“You don’t understand the situation-urrg,” Scott starts to reply before his voice chokes off.

 Leo has summoned Reinkal to his right hand and has the halberd aimed at Scott, the blade crackling with what little charge it has remaining.

“You do not get to just come into my home and threaten my family,” states Leo bluntly, his rage barely restrained even with the aid of all five Companions.

I don’t freaking care about the consequences, I will kill him if he dares to harm our loved ones.

“You cannot threaten a law enforcement official,” says Special Agent Layman as he steps forward so he is between Leo and Secretary Scott, “Stand d-”

Leo doesn’t give the DSA agent time to even finish his sentence as he leaps into action. Leo slash Nolan across the chest, leaving a deep gashes he as he darts forward and yanks the agent’s handgun out of its holster with his left hand.

Leo aims his new gun at Nolan’s knee even as he prepares to stab the agent through the chest with Reinkal. But before Leo can continue his attack, Nolan flickers and the DSA agent vanish from view.

Leo halts as he attempts to figure out what happened.

Oh yeah, superpowered Mum.

You’re darn right son.

Mum? What are you doing in my head?

Telling you to stop this nonsense.

He threatened Jaylyn!

Who are you?

That would be Burning Heart. I am White Tea by the way.

Wait, you have two Companions?

Five actually. I’m Vigilant Lion.

Enduring Iron.

Joyous Star.

Wow. You have a lot of voices in your head Leo.

Hence why we said that our sanity was debatable.

We?

As you gathered, we aren’t exactly normal Companions. Rather than being separate beings, we are more sub-personalities of Leo.

It is true that they are different to me.

And who might you be?

Danica Geary’s Companion, Faye Kitty.

Well, that explains some things.

I beg your pardon Leo?

Never mind, let’s get back to dealing with Secretary Scott.

Kicking his Mum out of his mind, Leo focuses his attention back on Scott.

“What did you-” Scott starts to ask before Leo’s Mum cuts in.

“I’ll bring him and the others back once this is all sorted,” explains Mum in a sing song voice.

Scott glares at her, but turns back to Leo as Leo clears his throat loudly.

“Just to clear some things up,” starts Leo as he aims Reinkal at Scott, “Sentinel may have been an accidental creation, but my darling Jaylyn considers me to be her father and in the first few months, I have accepted her as my daughter. Admittedly it was with some reluctance, but that doesn’t change that fact that if anybody goes after her or any of my loved ones, I will use everything in my power to stop them. Everything. And I don’t just refer to my superpowers when I say I’ll do anything in power to protect the ones I love. I have an army, I have a nuclear arsenal and I have the ability to produce anything I else I will need. So believe me when I say that if I have to, I will take on the US government if I have to and I will win.”

Once again, Leo and Scott stare at each other.

“You may leave my house now,” says Leo’s Mum casually as she stands up and walks over to Leo, placing a hand on her son’s shoulder, “Secretary Robert Scott, you have outstayed your welcome.”

With an absolutely furious look on his face, Scott sharply turns and strides out the room.

This will have long term consequences.

Then we will weather them. He should not have threaten our family.

Leo and his Mum are both still as they wait until they hear the opening and slamming shut of the front door as Secretary Scott exits the house.

Whilst his Mum relaxes, Leo remains alert, processing the potential outcomes of this conflict.

Scott will not just let this go. He will have his vengeance. Of the other big threats, I have faced, the DSA will be the worse. The Harbingers are, well the Harbingers and won’t specifically target us. We sent the Slaughter Seven fleeing with their tails between the legs. Darkness is... downright reasonable when I think about. Pragmatic and not just about to get into a long and tedious war with the Guardsmen out of pride and petty vengeance. Secretary Scott on the other hand, I can totally see him doing that. Man, I feel tired all of a sudden.

But Leo is jolted out of his thoughts as his Mum speaks.

“So Leonard Orrell Geary,” says his Mum in that deceptively uninterested voice that mothers’ have, “You have a daughter?”

Leo’s face flushes red.

1.17 Homecoming Part 3

“I’m so glad that you are home safe and sound,” cries Leo’s Mum as she lightens her grip on him.

I am so not telling her or anyone else outside of the Guardsmen that I lost my lower left arm fighting Apocalypse.

It would worry her unnecessarily.

Still, it might get reported in the news. We weren’t exactly able to keep that secret in the battle against the Harbinger.

Darn.

“That goes for both of us son,” agrees his Dad as he joins their hug.

The hug lasts for several seconds before Leo pries himself loose of his parents.

We got to deal with the DSA in our house and we can spend more time with Mum and Dad later.

Something we need to do with all of our family.

Yeah....

“Secretary Scott,” says Leo as he acknowledges the very politically powerful man.

When it comes to dealing with parahumans in America, Scott’s brother is unchallenged by any legal authority.

He is not someone that you want to make an enemy of.

Neither are we.

 “Leonard Orrell Geary,” says Scott back, “Feel free to take a seat.”

“I’ll stand,” replies Leo as he leans against the wall.

There is a couple second of silence as Leo and Scott stare each other down whilst nobody else in the room sure about what to do.

Eventually the uneasy silence is broken as Leo’s parents sit back down.

“Given your past actions and intelligence, let us not beat around the bush,” says Scott bluntly, “You are Gears, the leader of the vigilante group known as the Guardsmen.”

“That I am,” confirms Leo, not bothering to deny it.

What good would it possible accomplish at this stage?

“You’re not going try to deny it?” inquires Scott with a raised eyebrow.

“What would be the point?” retorts Leo, “As you said, let us not beat around the bush.”

“As you wish,” says Scott, “As I’m sure you are aware, vigilante actions are illegal and the US government takes the necessary actions to eliminate them and deal with the perpetrators. As of such, now that we know what you have been up to-”

“No,” says Leo firmly.

Scott seems surprised for a moment before recovering.

“You don’t seem to understand the situation,” says Scott as he glares daggers at Leo, “We know who are and-”

“You do realise revealing secret identities like that would be a violation of the Code,” points out Leo, referring to the Cape and Cowl Code of Conduct that is used by the majority of parahumans in the more civilised countries of the world.

I owe Darkness for enforcing that.

We’ll call it even then.

“Like that matters,” replies Scott as he glowers at Leo, “It is my duty to keep America safe from parahumans and I will do whatever is necessary to fulfil that duty. The Department of Superhuman Affairs and I shall not allow a vigilante group as dangerous as the Guardsmen is go about uncontested. Especially when it is within our power to stop their leader.”

Is he serious?

Does he really believe he can best us?

To the surprise of those around him, Leo laughs.

“What’s so funny?” asks Scott, genuinely confused by Leo’s laughter.

“How can you believe that you can beat me?” Leo asks back.

“Well,” starts Scott, “I have the backing of the entire US government.”

That is pretty significant.

Except they won’t devote much of it towards taking us down.

“And that matters how?” inquires Leo in a falsely polite tone.

“Do you really believe you and your little gang of vigilantes can take on the US military?” demands Scott, his anger starting to creep into his voice.

Can we? Of course we can.

And who exactly does he think he is calling the Guardsmen a little gang?

“Yes because contrary to what you might believe, the Guardsmen are not just a bunch of vigilantes,” replies Leo, “I have plans for taking on the US of A.”

“You won’t have time to set them in motion,” snarls Scott, dropping all pretences of being civil.

“I don’t need to,” chuckles Leo, “Sentinel has already begun them. Right now, the Guardsmen have over one hundred automated combat drones, each one capable of taking on a B Class parahuman. By the time the military has mustered a force and sent it over here, we can easily crush it.”

“You really believe you can go to war with the United States of America?” demands Scott.

“Why yes, I do,” retorts Leo, “In case you haven’t noticed, the Guardsmen crush everything that they go up against. Darkness is taking over the criminal underworld and is on the verge of creating a global crime empire. And yet he doesn’t dare face the Guardsmen to the point of abandoning all operations in our territory. And what about Aquiline and the Slaughter Seven? Scourge of America and completely unbeatable. At least until he came back up north. And then what happened? The Guardsmen massacred the Seven and their lackeys. And let’s not forget about the Dozen Harbingers of the End Times. They are unstoppable monsters that terrorise the entire planet. And only times they have actually been defeated is when they went up against the Guardsmen. Both Armageddon and Apocalypse are defeated on the first day that they appeared because of the actions of a Guardsman.”

I might be exaggerating a few things there.

He doesn’t need to know that.

Darn right.

Scott still looks furious, but he seems to have decided to drop this approach.

“Fine,” says Scott, spitting out the word, “Let’s move onto something else. Who or what is Sentinel?”

1.17 Homecoming Part 2

This is so surreal.

Leo walks down his street as he has done countless times before on his way home. A journey he has made who knows how many times before, but this time feels and is completely different.

I don’t feel like I’m going home, but rather into another battle.

Leo tenses at the sight of the DSA van parked outside his house. He has spotted another down the street and three others nearby already on his walk home, but to have one just outside his house like that...well, it really hits things home for him.

After all, it is one thing to know what has happened on an intellectual level, but a completely different thing to see it in practice.

I wonder how they will play it off. Having so many DSA vans here isn’t exactly discrete and people will notice they are at my house.

I don’t think they will publically reveal your identity as Gears. That would be a blatant declaration of war against us.

More likely they will claim it is to do with Mum and our new twin sister. Even if it to do with us.

It probably does have something to do with Mum and Belinda.

The DSA agent, a tall man with a black jacket with DSA on it, outside his house says something into his radio as Leo turns into the front garden of his house.

Am I walking into trouble unprepared? I don’t have any equipment on me except for these sunglasses. And all they do if provide a HUD.

We weren’t expected such heavy DSA presence at our home.

And with our new prosthetic arm, it isn’t like we don’t have any our equipment. Jaylyn went all out went she designed and constructed it.

Any it isn’t like we’ll be on our own. If it came to a fight, I’m certain Mum would support us. And I’m sure Belinda will as well.

Walking past the DSA agent, Leo opens the unlocked door and walks in. The hallway is empty except for a woman in a stereotypical black suit and glasses standing by the living room door. A single glance at her reveals to Leo that the Hispanic woman is an Aphrodite.

Further information appears on the HUD that his sunglasses provide, identifying her as DSA Special Agent Arcelia Vicario. A parahuman, Arcelia is B Class Aphrodite and B Class energy negator.

She could be troublesome.

Not really, Our Bellator rating is pretty much on par with her Aphrodite rating.

And her energy negation is ineffective against us. With our combat skills and experience, we can take her. She hasn’t been through as nearly as much as we have.

And that’s not even taking into account our new arm.

“Greetings Mr Geary,” says Arcelia as Leo closes the front door behind him, “Your parents and Secretary Scott are waiting in the living room.”

“Thank you for the information Agent Vicario,” replies Leo as he walks towards the living room door.

Not a normal human would notice it, but with his enhanced reflexes, Leo spots surprise briefly appear on Arcelia’s face as Leo addresses her by name before disappearing in less than a split-second.

I’m sure that caught her off guard.

Don’t let them know that you know information more than you need to.

Don’t worry, I know that.

Not looking at Arcelia as he walks past the DSA agent, Leo enters the living room. In the corner is another DSA agent in a black suit, a tough looking lean man with a good muscular structure and cropped black hair.

DSA Special Agent Nolan Layman. An A+ Class Bellator and adapts to current opponents with more opponents resulting in faster adaptation.

He will be a problem.

Yeah. If it does come to a fight, we’ll have to take him down hard and fast before it gets prolonged.

Even if it means killing him?

Even if it means killing him.

Sitting on an armchair is Secretary Scott of the DSA. A former military man like his brother, he still has a good physique with rugged features. His age is showing as the short brown hair is interlaced with plenty of grey.

So that is Scott’s brother. I can see the resemblance.

Especially if that clean shaven face had a grey beard and more wrinkles.

Ha. Yeah, I could totally see that.

But it is the two people sitting on the couch that draw Leo’s attention the most and he is most looking forward to seeing.

“Mum, Dad,” breathes Leo as he focuses his full attention on his parents.

His Dad is the same as ever. A tall, fit man with broad shoulders and short brown hair and blue eyes similar to Leo’s own. There was a reason he could past off the stellar physique his Bellator Enhancement gave him as something he had naturally.

The woman sitting next to his Dad is completely unrecognisable to Leo, but he knows she is his Mum even before his HUD tells him so.

While she might look completely, it has to be Mum. She fits the description of her new appearance and who else could it be?

Yet it is a shame to be unable to recognise our mother.

I don’t want to dwell on that...

His Mum is tall at six foot and as Jaylyn informed him, has the features of an anime character over those of a real person. Her hair is long and pink while her eyes are rainbow coloured. His Mum has a ridiculous figure with what have to be at least F-Cup breasts.

Wouldn’t it be nice to meet a female parahuman who doesn’t have big breasts? Something is wrong with your life when you have enough experience to identify cup size of a girl’s boobs at a single glance.

As for her inhuman features, Leo’s Mum has a pair of pink cat ears on the top of her head in addition to a pink furred cat tail poking out of the back of her tan skirt. She is also wearing a low cut white tank top, but Leo can tell that is only because of the need to have space for the two pairs of glistening golden fairy wings.

Or at least I hope it. I really hope that Mum isn’t going to dressing so exposed from now on.

“Oh Leo!” cries his Mum as leaps from the couch, reacting faster than anybody else in the room.

She disappears in a flash of gold glitter before reappearing in another flash of gold glitter in front of Leo. As Leo processes the fact, his Mum embraces him in a strong hug.

And Leo just embraces her back.