1.18 Family Part 8

“Here we are!” declares Mum as Leo steps out of the car.

The trip to the Fowler Mansion feel surreal to Leo. Dad driving with Mum in the passenger seat as he and Belinda were sat in the back. It just... well, so normal despite all of the obvious oddities.

It feels like a long time since we had normal.

Indeed. We don’t bat an eye at weirdness and yet, it is the normal and mundane things of life that catch us off-guard.

That about sums it up.

Sadly.

“I’ve been here before Mum,” says Leo as he gets out of the car and holds the door open for his sister, “Probably more times than you.”

“I been here a lot too,” mutters Belinda as she gets out of the car, “Sort of.”

Leo gives his twin a sympathetic look.

I know all too well what it is like to have your life turned upside down with everything being different, yet also the same all at the same time.

Yes, we do.

As do Legacy and Allison.

Not to mention Joan.

We know plenty of messed up people.

As if we have any right to talk.

Yeah.

Besides, most of them aren’t actually messed up themselves, they just have messed up pasts.

“Just think of everybody as being the twin of the person you know with the same name,” says Leo as he closes the car door in an attempt to give Belinda some advice.

“I’m already doing that,” replies Belinda sullenly, “But thanks anyway.”

“Do Legacy and Jaylyn have counterparts in your universe?” asks Leo as he decides to take a different approach to cheering up his sister.

“Well, no,” admits Belinda as she looks over at Leo, “I never built Jaylyn because I’m not a Gadgeteer like you and from what I’ve been told, there is only one Guardian in the multiverse and Legacy isn’t native so it makes sense that she would have a counterpart in my world.”

“So befriend them if you don’t want to hang out with people who look the ones who have at home,” says Leo, “Legacy is a good friend. Just ask Joan about that. And Jaylyn will be thrilled to hang out with you.”

“I suppose,” grumbles Belinda.

Okay, this method of cheering her up isn’t going to work.

Let’s try being blunt then.

“Hey sis,” says Leo, taking Lion’s advice, “I know you got the whole ‘forcible and involuntarily yanked out of your home universe and are now surrounded by strangers who look and act like the people you know except when they don’t’ vibe going for you, but while I am working on ways to get you home, I can’t guarantee you that it will happen anytime soon. So therefore I strongly recommend that you try and build a life here as best as you can. And you can start by accepting what family you have here.”

Belinda stares at him, stunned by directness while Mum and Dad just hang back and watch from afar.

“Now let’s get going,” says Leo as he strides past Belinda, “The Fowlers will be waiting and I know for certain that Joan is looking forward to seeing the two of us Bel.”

***

“They’re here,” says Bree as she enters Joan’s room mere minutes after leaving.

“Really?” asks Joan eagerly even though she is certain of the answer.

“Yep, Leonard, his parents and some girl I haven’t met,” replies Bree as Joan runs over to the mirror.

“If she is a blonde Aphrodite, it will be Belinda,” points out Joan as she looks at herself in the mirror.

Showing off her new curves is a green silk dress with sleeves that reach down to her elbows and a skirt that does just past her knees. A darker green ribbon is wrapped around the waist of her dress with a cute little bow.

“Right, I forgot about her,” admits Bree.

“Well, she is new and pretty much appeared out of nowhere,” says Joan as she turns around with a slight twirl, “Quite literally. Now let’s get down stairs.”

“Right,” agree Bree and in a flash, she steps forward and touches Joan before teleporting them both of them downstairs into the entrance hall.

“Was that really necessary?” asks Joan as she gets her bearings straight.

“It just seemed more convenient,” replies Bree with an indifferent shrug, “Honestly, I think it would have taken me more effort to do it the old fashion way. Huh, I can hear them talking from back here.”

“What are they saying?” asks Joan eagerly.

“Mostly just Leonard trying to cheer up Belinda,” answers Bree, “Nothing of interest. They are just approaching the front doors now.”

“Great!” exclaims Joan as she darts towards the doors in question.

Joan pulls one of the doors open just as the Gearys are coming up the steps. With the exception of Leo, they look surprised to see her.

Or at least my new appearance. I’m sure Mum told them about Bree’s powers, but they probably didn’t know that Bree used her powers on me. Except for Leo. Jaylyn would have told him.

“Hey Leo!” shouts Joan as she waves at him, “Look at me!”

While he does look at her, Leo gives her that look rather than that look, much to her disappointment. Which is to say, Leo gives her an analytical look rather than one of appreciation.

Dang it.

1.18 Family Part 2

Leo glances at Mum and Dad as he follows Bel into the living room.

Dad looks the same as ever while Mum looks… more normal than before.

While still clearly an Abnormal, his Mum is no longer inhumanly tall as she is just under two metres tall. Her hair is also no longer pink, but instead a golden brown blonde.

But her eyes are still pink mind you while her ears pointy with a second pair of cat ears on the top of her head, her wings are still sprouting from her back, her tall is flicking back and forth and her figure and bust are still ridiculous.

She has changed her fur colour to match her hair colour.

And her figure is no worse than Belinda.

That’s different!

How?

“Please take a seat,” says Dad and Leo sits down opposite Mum.

“You too Belinda,” says Mum as Belinda starts to leave the room, “This talk will involve you as well.”

Belinda glances at Leo as she turns and sits next to him, looking very on edge.

No, not edge. She looks alert.

“Now, then I just want to say that I think Jaylyn is wonderful,” says Mum as she clasps her hands together, “Frankly, I wasn’t expecting a grandkid from you and Joan until you both were at least seventeen.”

“Mum!” exclaims Leo indignantly as he instantly grasps his mum’s implications.

“Anyway, we have spent quite a bit of time talking with Jaylyn this afternoon,” says Dad, ignoring his son’s reaction, “By the way, Joan is in the same boat about Jaylyn as you are.”

Huh?

“What?” says Leo.

“You see, her parents also found out about Jaylyn,” explains Mum, “Breanne and Abigail also know. They might bring Marcelle and Alexis into the know as well. We are not telling Tanya and Darian about Jaylyn or you being Gears just so you know.”

Well, that is going to be a...

Not a problem.

No, just awkward.

Yeah.

“So Noelle and I have been discussing-” starts Mum.

That’s Joan’s mother!

Since when did our mums start talking to each other?

Plus she called her Noelle not Mrs Fowler.

What do think that could mean?

“You talk with Joan’s mum?” interrupts Leo.

“Leo, it is rude to interrupt people like!” admonishes Mum and he rolls his eyes in response, “But yes, since it became clear Noelle that you and Joan weren’t exactly going to break up any time soon, she started talking to me, the mother of her daughter’s boyfriend. And since then, we had become close friends. Particularly after she manifested and Joan got out of the hospital. Quite fortunate for you and Joan, not that it would have mattered for the two of you.”

“So the two of you are friends?” inquires Leo.

“Oh yes dear,” replies Mum as she beams at him, “I’m sure Noelle will be help me get use to my new form and powers. But let’s move on and discuss your activities. While I’m sure you thought you were being sneaky and all, we aren’t fools son. You did get your smarts from somewhere other than your powers.”

Wait, is Mum saying that she and Dad knew about my powers all along.

And we put so much effort into trying to keep our powers and vigilantism secret from them.

We might not have kept the basics hidden, but we did hide the particulars of our powers, Jaylyn and all that other stuff they didn’t know about.

Plus all the stuff they still don’t know about.

“So am I in trouble?” inquires Leo.

“No son,” says Dad, “Frankly, you’ve been at it for a few months now. I don’t think telling you stop would really do anything and it isn’t exactly like we can just force you to stop.”

Huh.

We did just establish that they are also smart.

True.

“So instead we would like you to keep us up to date on your vigilante activities,” says Mum.

“Alright,” replies Leo, “That sounds reasonable.”

But I’ll be keeping my cybernetic arm to myself.

No argument there.

It would only cause unnecessary worry for them.

And unwanted questions for us.

“Good,” says Mum, beaming at the news, “Now, let’s discuss your plans Belinda.”

“M-me?” Belinda stumbles her reply, caught by surprise.

“Yes,” replies Mum, “Since I accidentally brought you here and have no idea on how to return you home, we need to decide on what you will do. First of all, let’s decide on how you fit into this family.”

“Well, I was speaking to Joan and Legacy about that earlier,” Belinda starts to say before hesitating, “And, umm, Legacy feels that since I have parents of my own, I should consider you two to be my Aunt and Uncle. She also said that I should consider Tatiana and Darian to be younger siblings since I don’t have any in my home dimension and since Leo is my alternate, we should consider each other to be a twin.”

“That sounds reasonable,” says Dad.

“So Bel,” says Mum as she smiles at her new niece, “What will you else will you do?”

“I’m going to try and live a normal life,” replies Belinda, “Go to school, maybe get a boyfriend. Definitely not joining the United Heroes, the DSA or any other government group. While I did back home, they are far too different here.”

Belinda is silent for a moment as she glances over at Leo.

“And if I can’t do that,” continues Belinda, “I’ll join the Guardsmen. If they will have me that is.”

Of course we will.

“We will,” Leo reassures her.

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.