Chapter 11 - The Breed: Part II

var nopopup = 0;rsi_hints = 'Cartoons,Static Shock,Drama'; Disclaimer: I don't own Static Shock. It belongs to MisterDwayne McDuffie, Milestone, DC Comics and WB. However if I won it ina round of Trivial Pursuit, Shiv would have a back story and a sexyheroic villain episode.Warning: Will containslash, drugs, violence and one sided relationships. This will be abit riskier than my average fics. Knowing me, it'll be okay but Ionly thought it fair to place a warning. I hope everyone enjoys therendition of Shiv by a third author. I want to be original and hopethis is.A/N: Thisis the final chapter besides a short epilogue. I'll post later. Ihope you enjoyed the fic. This chapter is insanely long and ratherintense. No real happy ending but no French tragedy either. Sorry forthe long wait. I've been working on other things. However, here itis. I hope you like it.Taken LightlyChapter 11: ShivA large African American security guard walked into the smallstorage room. He looked around. He had been on shift for nearly eighthours now. The pay was good he had to admit but Alva's hours weregrueling, however, he wanted the job. Perhaps, it was the fact thathe was overworked or maybe Joe was just that good at what he did.Whatever it was, Joe was positioned directly above him and the guarddidn't notice in the slightest. However Joe was not one for chancestonight, he pulled himself higher tightening his grip on the vent andheld his breath. He couldn't be caught. There was no way to get awaywithout using his blades and he was not using his blades. The guard walked into the room calmly. He didn't notice Joe atall. He was actually more deeply concentrated on the fact that he wasprobably going to be home by midnight and that it had been anuneventful night. He almost smacked himself. 'Of course, it had. Thisis Alva Industries. The security could stop a cold. Nothing wasgetting in.' Little did he know that Joe was no more than seven feetbehind him and had gotten in with little to no effort. As soon as theguard was past the door, Joe began to lowering himself slowly ontothe floor. He landed silently. It was almost effortless for him to,his bones were hollow from the Big Bang. It made him lighter on hisfeet than anything else alive. He could jump higher and land softerbut it came with a price of course, any significant blow shatteredhis new bones. However, he had always stayed a step ahead and as all as he didthat, his bone density wasn't important. Nonetheless he had morepressing matters at the moment, he needed to find a key. He scannedthe guard, creeping close behind him. He was no more than a foot fromhim now. He tried to focus. It was hard, in the back of his mind wasShiv, who wanted nothing more than to make a scene. He couldn't lethim though. He had to get in and out before he got cocky. He knew hiscockiness was a vice of his. It'd probably kill him one day.Hopefully, it wouldn't be today. Then, he saw it. The key was in theguard's pocket, a small corner was exposed. He could get it. Itwouldn't be that hard. He reached for it. However, he made one fatal error. He forgot to hold his breath.The moment he removed the card key he exhaled and being only inchesfrom the guard it was impossible to miss. It was an amateur mistakebut a costly one. The guard spun instantly and grabbed at him. He wastoo slow though even with Joe that close to him. Joe jumped heavinghimself over the large guard and onto a nearby shelf. The guardlooked awestruck. His pupils dilated. He pulled out out a walkytalkie and began to yell into it, "Bang Baby! Bang baby inSector 8!"Joe panicked. He jumped down from the shelf and ran out the opendoor. He began to sprint but luck wasn't with him. Everything waslocked. He was trapped in a maximum security mouse trap. He knew thisbut continued down the hall. It was his own choice. Guards were atevery corner. The events after that were blurry as they happened atsuch a high speed. It is certain though that shortly after he passedthe second corner, he felt something. The something that he had feltwas a gun wound. Joe had been shot for the first time. It should havebeen much worse and the pain excruciating but he was on an adrenalinehigh. Blood flowed quickly. He looked behind him. He realized thenwhat had happened. However the shock of being shot for the first timewas nothing compared to a realization made clear by the guards. "This way! He's this way!" The guards voices wereindicating a cruel fact about anything when it is shot. Any goodhunter knows this rule of thumb: if you have shot an animal, he willrun and to find him all is needed is to follow the trail of bloodleft behind. The animal will run out of fear until he bleeds to deathor until he is too weak to go on. At this moment, there is a cruelirony. It is said to be only humane to now kill the terrified andexhausted being. This rule was often used with animals, however, itwas not above these guards to use the same technique to kill a youngbang baby. After all to most, bang babies had lost their humanity andwere no more human than animals which were not exempt from thisbrutality. Joe was no more to those guards than a tiger to a group ofvillagers. "Shoot to kill, you idiots! He's a bang baby!" Joe was terrified. The guards were both behind and in front of himnow. This couldn't be happening. The guards grew closer now. Joereared holding his wounded arm. His eyes darted from one guard to thenext. There was no humanity in their eyes. Why would there be? He wasnot human to them. He was no more than a dangerous animal to them:fascinating, deadly and inhuman. Joe thought to himself it had to beimpossible. Then, he fell. He couldn't feel anything or hearanything. He was numb with fear and adrenaline. He looked behind him.It was his leg. A pool of bright red blood was surrounding it. Theyhad shot his leg. He couldn't run anymore. The sickest part was thathe hadn't been running. They shot his leg for sport or revenge orperhaps amusement; a story they could tell about how they had takendown a bang baby. He lay there for a moment, shaking. He was waitingnow. He was waiting for the end of what was a cruel game. He couldhear the guards' guns cock. He was practically in tears. Even thatwasn't stopping them. Then, it went black.Joe was laying still for a moment. Light slowly returned and hiseyes adjusted. He was in the subway on Milestone Street. Ebon wasstanding right above him. He was alive. Ebon, his friend, had savedhim. He turned his head to face Ebon. The fear that had consumed himonly moments ago was gone. He was safe and in company he knew. Hisleg and arm were still bleeding badly but somehow he managed to situp and face his friend. Even with the lack of detail in Ebon's face, he was definitelyfurious. His stance was assertive, if not a little hostile, and hiseyes piercing. "Do you know what you did?"That moment it hit Joe and a flood of memories came back to him."I didn't get it." "Yeah, you didn't!" Ebon's pale white eyes narrowed."Y'also almos' got me shot!!" Ebon picked him up by theneck and pinned him to the wall of the compartment.Joe whimpered and terror overtook him. He hadn't seen this side ofEbon or anyone for that matter. "E...ebon.""I told chu to get it!" He was squeezing his neck, now.Joe was gagging and flailed his good leg slightly. It was a hopelesseffort. He was wounded and Ebon was far stronger than him to beginwith. "THEY'LL BE LOOKIN' FO' YOU NOW!!"Joe was trying to pry Ebon's hand off of his neck. It wasn't anygood. "I... I.... couldn't.... do.... it.... without.....my..... pow.... ers...."Ebon's eyes widened but it faded quickly and he whipped Joe acrossthe floor. He landed with a crack. It was almost definitely hisbones. They were fragile and had most likely snapped. Joe was trulyhelpless at this point. "I TOLD YOU TO USE THEM, YOU STUPID...""I CAN'T!!" Joe was yelling. He couldn't tell though.His ears were ringing too loudly and tears were running down hisface. He was scared for his life and overwhelmed with guilt fromfailing Ebon."YOU CAN! I'VE SEEN YOU!! YOU LYING SON OF..." His eyeswere now directed and narrowed toward him and, his voice waspainfully loud and angry. He was looming like some type of predator.He was not wounding Joe entirely out of anger. He was doing so asanother assertion of dominance. It was a pack order of sorts. He wasdominant and Joe his submissive.Joe couldn't resist an urge to defy and cut him off. "I...ICAN'T!!! I C-CAN'T DO IT!!! I'LL KILL THEM!!!" Joe was intremendous pain. He couldn't hear anything but Ebon's screamingvoice. It rang in his head as he lay half curled on the floor."YOU CAN'T KILL THEM!! WHAT TYPA' CRAP IS THAT!!?" Hekicked Joe hard to the ribs. At least some of Joe's ribs cracked.Ebon didn't seem to notice as Joe curled further in on himselfholding his ribs with his good arm. "THEY'D KILL YOU AND YOUWOULDN'T DO A THING TO STOP THEM!! YOU USELESS...""STOP IT!!" Ebon looked slightly taken aback then angry. "Don't you EVERTALK BACK TO ME!!!" Ebon picked him up again and throwhim through the half smashed window of the subway train. He landedwith a painful crack. Glass was bedded in his skin, hair and clothes.Ebon slowly walked out of the compartment and up to Joe. Joe laymotionless for a moment then rolled to look at Ebon. Joe's eyes werestill wet from crying and dipping blood. One of the glass shards hadcut right above his eye and blood poured down into it. Ebon gave alook of disgust and spit at him. "You better learn faster. Idon't keep no pathetic bangers." He said and walked away.Joe lay for a long time. He had failed Ebon. He had failed hisonly friend. Ebon had done so much for him. He had taken him in,given him a family and at least in Joe's mind, had loved himunconditionally. He deserved this. He had to, it didn't make sense ifhe didn't. He ran his hand through his hair and pulled out the laststrands of his black hair. He looked at it. It was tinted red withblood. He held it in his hands for a moment staring at it. It was insome small way all that was left of his old body and it was only afew strands of black hair. He wasn't himself completely anymore. Hewas officially unnatural and unnatural was only natural for him now.He took out a small piece of paper and wrapped the black hair in it.He placed it in his pocket. He wanted it with him.Joe pulled himself up to sitting. He was still for a moment. Hehad felt upset a moment ago but it had faded now. He felt cocky andalmost annoyed. His pupils dilated. "If you just had let me usemy powers..."Joe's eyes returned to normal. He sudden felt the cockiness fadeaway and a return of sorrow. He was Joe, again."You would havekilled everyone."His pupils dilated again and his emotions faded into Shiv's. Itwas an uncontrollable sensation. He could not react because it wasnot him. He was conscious of it but it was not him and in no morecontrol then if someone was sitting next to him. "And?" Itwas Shiv. "We would have done what Ebon said.""And killed all of those people." Joe said. He wasgrowing upset. He felt a sense of disbelief and irritation at thecallousness of Shiv."So its fine for you to die but not them?" Shiv saidwith a playful tone."No." Joe said. It was slightly hesitate. It diddirectly contradict what he had just said."Well, I don't see what you're saying, then." Shiv saidand laughed maniacally."You can't kill people. Its wrong!""I don't think it is. Ebon doesn't think it is. The guardsdidn't think it is. Its only you. Maybe, you're wrong.""I am not.""Well, if everyone else is wrong." Shiv chuckled. "Ithink you're just crazy.""I am not!""I think you're going crazy and you don't even know it.""I AM NOT!""I think you're completely nuts and you can't admit it. Ormaybe you're so crazy, you can't even tell.""STOP IT!""How can I stop it? I'm not real. I'm you.""YOU ARE NOT! YOU ARE NOT ME! I'M NOT CRAZY!""Then, why are you talking to yourself?"Joe was crying again. He couldn't go crazy. He couldn't. "Get...out... of... my... head!Shiv laughed. "I am you. I can't 'get out of your head'. I amyou and soon you'll be me and you... you won't exist.""NO!!! I AM NOT YOU!!" Joe was yelling and sobbed tohimself. He couldn't let it happen. He couldn't.Shiv was gone. Somehow, Joe had pushed him out for now. It washarder than before though. Shiv didn't have the human qualities thatrestrained Joe. You cannot be just and powerful. It was impossible.You had to be barbaric and cruel to be powerful. That was theseparation. Joe was human and Shiv was not. He was power. They weretwo separate people but weren't. They were individuals but were not.They were fighting for dominance and Joe was not winning anymore.Talon sat on the old subway car. She had seen it all. She didn'tknow how to react exactly. It was a confusing and slightly disturbingscene. His voice had changed pitch at least twice for one. She neededto talk to him. She had obeyed Ebon this long but enough was enough.She could talk to anyone she wanted and if he said otherwise. She'dgauge his eyes out. She flew down behind Joe. He was sitting on the ground holding hisribs. He was slightly hunched and seemed to be calming down. Sheapproached him slowly with her hands behind her back. She walkedslowly with her head slightly tilted to the side. She didn't want tostartle him. He didn't seem like he could take a good scare. "Shiv.Shiv."Joe turned a little. He was surprised to see her. He had nevertalked to her. He knew he wasn't allowed to talk to her and he didn'twant to answer that name at the moment. He wanted to have a minute tosort things out and recover. He could if he had time. Talon was irritated. She was a spirited woman to put it nicely andhated to be ignored. She walked around in front of him. "What iswrong with you!?!" She was a far enough distance that she didn'tfeel threatened but close enough to talk to him. Her hands were onher hips and she was bent over slightly to be at eye level with him."First you talk to yourself! Now you don't talk at all! Shiv...Shiv... Is anybody in there?" Joe was still silent. He just wanted some time alone, some time tothink. "You act like there are two people in there?!" Talonnoticed that he wasn't listening. "Hello? Shiv! SHIV!"Joe snapped his head up and met her eyes. He seemed annoyed,irritated by her in some way. "Don't call me that!"Talon recoiled a little. She hadn't been expecting that. Sherecovered quickly though. It was the way things were. You don't showweakness. She knew that Shiv had to learn that but felt sympatheticfor him. "What am I supposed to call you? You're name's Shiv."Joe was bruised across his body and bleeding badly. However, hesomehow managed to stand up. He was at around eye level with her. Hestared at her for a moment. "My... name... is... not... Shiv,and I never wantyou to think it is." He stared directly at her. His eyes wereblood shot with grey bangs underneath them. He was exhausted but hewas perfectly serious."Fine. Whatis it then? Why are you called Shiv?""Ebon... Eboncalled me that.... I didn't.... think it ..." He was almosttalking to himself.Suddenly,something dark slid across the floor. The mass grew into a form whichrose from the ground into a figure. It was the ever omniscient Ebon."What are you talkin' about?" He sounded angry.Joe froze at thesound of his voice. Talon, however, did not seem to have the samereaction. "I was talking to Shiv." Talon said with a biteto her voice. She was annoyed with him.Ebon turned to Joequickly. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TALK TO ANYONE!" He said andhit Joe on the side of the head. Joe was not prepared for the assaultand fell to the ground. He crawled back up to his knees. The side ofhis face was bleeding bad. Ebon had hit a piece of glass and it hadtore into his skin. He didn't move. He simply tried to hold both hisbleeding face and injured ribs at the same time.Talon gawked for amoment at Joe then jerked her head toward Ebon. "Are youcrazy?!""Shut up,Talon!" Ebon said angrily.Talon's eyesnarrowed and her feather rose. "I dare you to say that again,Ebon." She was furious and certainly possessed an air ofintimidation that Joe did not possess. "What is wrong with you?WHY ARE YOU RUNNING SHIV DOWN LIKE THIS?! I TOLD YOU HE WAS NOBANGER!!""If he ain'tnow, then he's gonna be!" Ebon said simply. The argumentdeteriorated from there. There was nothing further to discuss. Joewas not a gang banger but Ebon had a certain knowledge that few had.He could understand and predict beyond what was evident and Joe knewit now more than anyone.The next few days,Joe was silent. It was an unnatural silence only broken by hisincessant mumbling to himself. It was always the same, a constantargument between himself and "Shiv". If he had beenobjective, he would have known he was going insane. The days beforethe beating from Ebon, he did questioned his sanity. He didn'tanymore. It is a fact that the insane don't question their sanity andthat is what makes them insane, the lack of questioning and probingfor understanding. Joe didn't ask questions anymore. He didn't needto speak to be a tool for Ebon. He wasn't beat when he was silent. Itseemed to suit his ends. Shiv was no longer a problem as he did notlet him speak either. The attack at thecorporation had taught him that as long as you are not caught, youdidn't have to kill. He wasn't seen by anyone when he stole anymore.He was like an animal. He was clever and sneaky but dangerous all inone package. However, this was a far cry from the person he wouldbecome. The event that lead to this was on a cold night almost threemonths after the Big Bang. Ebon, Joe andTalon were walking down beside a street on the outskirts of the northside of Dakota. They had been looking for something to knock off. Itwas a slow night though. The sky was cloudy and Joe swore he couldsense rain. It was a smell in the air. He didn't say anything though.He never did anymore. Talon looked back at him. He was walkingfurthest back and keeping an eye out. She was concerned somehow. Sheknew he wasn't her responsibility but she couldn't help that naggingfeeling that having him in the Breed was horribly wrong. Ebon didn'tseem to notice. "Anyone seeanythin'?" Ebon said without turning around."You know, hewon't answer you Ebon. Why is he on watch?" Talon saidirritably."He's got thebest eyes.""And won'ttalk.""He better ifthe police show up.""He won't.""How do youknow?""He doesn'tanymore. At all."Ebon turned backto looking forward."You know,I'm right."Joe wasn'tlistening. He didn't listen much unless he was being instructed. Itwas a good strategy. It kept him from being beat up and kept him inhis head. He was beginning to like it in there. Cars rushed downthe busy street. They were easy enough to mistake for normal peoplein the pale light and the drivers didn't pay any attention to them.The cars were probably moving much faster than they should have inthe area. The streets were not very wide and people lived all around.However, the police in Dakota weren't ever very good at monitoringspeeders or anything else for that matter. Joe continued towalk, ignoring the whoosh from cars. Then, he heard something. It wasoddly familiar. He turned his head quickly to look across the street."Spike?"Talon and Ebonturned to Joe surprised. They didn't know exactly what he had saidbut it was something. "Did you see something?" Ebon saidlooking directly at Joe. "Spike.What?" Joe said no louder than a whisper. He couldn'tunderstand. However, the confusion was short lived. Spike wasstanding across the street. He was dirty and appeared hungry, muchlike Joe himself. Spike had heard him though. Even though, he was oldand across the street. He heard him. The akita became excited at thesight of his master and best friend. What happened next never leftJoe and it probably never would. The old dog began to run from thesidewalk and into the busy street. It happened in an instant. He washoot by a speeding car. Spike gave out a horrible sound on impact itwas between a whine and howl. There was a horrible cracking sound andit was over. It was that fast and that merciless. Joe waspractically in shock. Joe ran into the street jumping clear over acar and up to his old friend. He knelt down and stared for a moment.He didn't know what to do. He bent down further and touched Spike. Hewasn't breathing. His only real friend was gone. Joe was crying.Everything was falling apart all at once. The driver of thecar got out. He looked angry. "That stupid dog ran right out infront of me...""Don't...talk ... about... my... dog." Joe was still clinging to Spike ashis head slowly turned to the driver."Your dog! Itfigures. Stupid street kid would have a dog like that." Thedriver never saw it coming. Ebon and Talon didn't either for thatmatter. Joe was off the ground and in the air in seconds. His bladeswere growing a brilliant purple as he charged the driver. The driver wasprobably dead within moments, if he was lucky. However, Shiv didn'twant to kill him. He wanted to mutilate him. By the time Talon andEbon got to the scene, the body was no longer recognizable. Shiv waspanting and laughing hysterically. The car, Shiv and the remains ofthe driver were coated in blood. Even Ebon wasshocked by the sight and Talon was speechless. Ebon scanned thescene. There was a car. There was a driver. He scanned,however, the sheer amount of blood made it hard to concentrate onanything but Shiv. But Ebon saw what Shiv had been crouching overonly moments before. It was a dog. A dog had been hit by a car andShiv had decided to make ground meat out of someone. Ebon's shockremained for a few more moments before recovered. He turned to Shivwho was standing there grinning maniacally. "We should get outof here.""Ebon."Talon was still shocked as she looked at Ebon."No Talon! Weshould go.". . .Virgil stood and not saying anything for a moment. There wasn'tmuch to say after a story like that or an ending like that for thatmatter. Virgil knew every word was true that the story was accurateto the note. So, there was only one thing he could do. Virgil steppedout of Shiv's way. "What are you doing?" Shiv asked. He looked confused ashe lowered slowly his blades to his sides. "Don't break anything or I'll have to stop you." Virgilsaid trying not to sound upset. "Just get out of here!"Shiv didn't ask again. His blades dissolved as he ran past Virgiland jumped into a ventilation shaft. Virgil never saw Shiv in thecenter again. He was gone before Virgil left the building and true toVirgil's orders, nothing was broken. Virgil left the center relatively slowly. It was empty now. Thepolice had come and any doctors or bang babies still in the facilityhad been evacuated. It was silent and felt as though it had beenabandoned for weeks which it soon would be. The incident with Dr.Adams would certainly put the facility out of business. He couldn'tsay he would be unhappy to see this place closed down though. Virgil walked down until he got to the main lobby and sat down onone of chairs. He felt a sick unsettling feeling in the pit of hisstomach. He slouched into the large chair and tilted his headslightly. The entire experience had put him into a dismal mood. Helooked down at the floor and thought for a moment. He knew one personwas feeling the same as he was right now, if not for an entirelydifferent reason, Richie. He put his hand down into the inner pocketof his coat and pulled out his shock vox. He looked at it for amoment. He didn't know exactly what to say to Richie. It had beenquite a day and he wasn't thinking as clearly as usual. Not that itwas ever easy to apology to someone but sulking never helps anything.However, Virgil's good nature won out in the end."Richie. You there, Richie?"It sounded like Richie was waiting a moment to answer hesitant towhat he might hear. "Yeah. I'm here, V. You okay down there?""I'm sorry, Rich. I wasn't thinkin'. You did what you thoughtyou had to."Richie made a confused noise best described as between a 'huh?'and an accented grunt. He was having a hard time understandingexactly what was going on and this was new to him since the birth ofhis powers. He had expected Virgil to stand his ground on this, bethick headed as usual and eventually, make a halfway apology. Thiswas considerably different. "What do you... what!?!""I was too righteous, I guess. Sometimes people have to dothings to stay alive and... I'm sorry, Rich."Virgil could tell Richie was happy if not a little sentimental."No problem, V. So what happened down there?""Everybody's gone. The police came and..."Richie interrupted. His voice had a tone between apprehensive andoverly interested. "What about Shiv?""He got away.""He got away?""Yeah. He pulled his blades on me and got out." Virgilwas calm as he lied. He didn't think Richie would understand and theyhad just gotten back together so nicely, too."Are you okay, V?" Richie sounded a little nervous overthe shock vox. "Fine. He missed and, I guess, he just wanted to get out. Hedidn't come back after me.""You sure he's gone?" "Yeah. He took off. I was just in his way.""That's good. I'm glad you're not hurt, V."Virgil felt a wave of guilt. Richie was genuinely concerned. Hecould tell even without seeing him. "I let him go, Richie.""What?""He didn't run away. I opened the cell and let him out and heleft.""You what!?!""I had to, Rich. He trusted meand I had to.""You WHAT!?!""Stop sayin' that, Rich.""Are you insane!?!""Maybe a little." There wasa pause. "No more than you, though." "He's going to go back to theBreed.""Probably. I hope he doesn'tthough."Richie made a groaning noise that heonly made when Virgil gave him a headache. "So what now? Do youknow where he's going?""Nope.""Do you know when he left?""Not really.""Do you know anything at allabout Shiv's location?""Not a thing."Richie paused. "Are you planningon doing anything at all about this?""To find him. No, I thought I'dgive him a head start.""You are crazy, V.""And so are you. That's why wemake a great team. Nothing like blind sympathy and aliens.""Roswell doesn't exactly havehuge evidence saying they didn't kill aliens." Richie muttered."I have to admit I am sold onyour microchip-1984 theory."Richie sighed but Virgil could tell he was satisfied. "So,what now?"Virgil looked up at the ceiling of the center as he slouched backin the chair. He lowered his shock vox to think for a moment. Thisend felt unfinished, unresolved. He couldn't leave things in such amess. He was a hero and had to save the day. However, there was aunsettling feeling inside of him because knew he couldn't. It wasbeyond his power. But he felt as though he could still do something.He pulled the shock vox back up against his face. "Do youremember what Solada said?""About what?""She doesn't know what happened to Shiv. She said thatMr.Chen used to come home and doesn't anymore. He probably doesn'tknow, either.""V, I don't think its a good idea to tell them. We don't evenknow if they don't know. Besides, think about it, would your popswant to hear that about you?""Its better than not knowing.""You really think this is a good idea, V?""I think they should know what happened, Rich."He heard Richie sigh then a blur of keyboard clicks. "Chen,Tadashi. He works in a building in the business sector. DakotaElectronics. His office is on the 40th floor. Are you surethis is a good idea, V?" Richie sounded concerned. "I think its better than not knowin', Rich." Virgilpaused as he got up out of the chair. "I'll be back soon. Don'tworry Richie. I'll be fine.""I know but be careful and do the right thing.""I will." Virgil tried off the small machine and placedit in his pocket. "Love you, Richie."Virgil left the center and pulled his mask back on over his face.He didn't want Mr.Chen to recognize him and especially not all ofDakota. He took out his saucer and flipped it out. He jumped on andflew off. He had to admit he wasn't sure of the moral standing ofwhat he was about to do. He knew that finding out your son was one ofthe most prominent mutants in the city was not an easy thing toswallow but he knew not knowing whether he was dead or alive had tobe worse by far. He knew that they had both been horrible parents inmany respects but they seems to genuinely care of Shiv. Something noone else had ever done. Virgil found the building. It was a large skyscraper clustered inthe busy district. It wasn't easy to miss by any standards even if,Virgil were on the ground which he was not. He flew up to the largebuilding and began counting the floors. He had to find forty. 36. 38.40. He hovered outside the window for a moment. He had to admit hewas nervous but he was a hero after all. It wasn't all fun. He flewcloser to the window then used his powers to unlock the window andwalk in. He closed the window again and put his saucer away. It was a moderate sized office. It was plain for the most partwith only a desk and a waist basket to decorate it. Virgil figuredthe desk would be the best place to start. It looked like the desk ofthe average workaholic. It was cluttered with papers, post-its anddeadlines. He appeared that he had been taking on anything andeverything the company had to offer anyone. Virgil sighed and startedto walk by the desk. As he did, his coat got caught on something. Heturned slightly to look at it and groaned. He yanked, trying to setit free with no success. He began to pull harder which sent thedrawer flying clear out of its slot. Things scattered everywhere.Virgil looked down at it. He felt a wave of unprofessionalembarrassment. He couldn't walk through a room without breakingsomething. He was beginning to understand why his Pop's didn't lethim in his office that often. He then bent down to pick the things up. The drawer was full ofnewspaper articles, a video cassette tape and audio tapes. As hepeered through it, it became clear why he wasn't keeping it out inthe open. It was predominantly about Shiv and as he observed furtherit grew even more disturbing. Newspaper articles read the same:"young Asian bang baby", "Shiv, a member of themetahuman crime gang the Breed, was caught today and is being heldfor numerous crimes", "residents of Paris Row are advisedto be extremely wary of any Asian males around 5'9" as thewanted bang baby, Shiv is extremely dangerous even when unprovoked."and so on. He had wantedposters, the missing person's flyer, dozens of photos by the pressand amateur photographs. The tapes were simply labeled "JOMEI".Virgil picked it up and flipped up the plastic shield around theinner tape. He he place one hand on his temple and the other washolding the tape with a finger on the magnetic ribbon. He thencreated a small charge. He was watching the tape. He had found manyof these unusually uses for his powers. The tape, however, was fullof reports. News reports concerning the Breed or more specificallyShiv. Virgil put down the tape. There had to be hours of footage. Itwas to an obsessive degree. They appeared to be taken very good careof, almost cared for, and the sheer number of items was staggering. Virgil was too busy staring at thepictures to notice the door open. Tadashi had walked into his officewithout Virgil even noticing. "Get... away... from... that!"Tadashi rushed over and snatched the papers from Virgil. He held themin one hand and the drawer in the other. He began looking through itimmediately. He seemed to be very worried about any of it beingmissing. Virgil first felt a wave of shock. Itsubsided though as he noticed Tadashi's interest in the item and lackin him. "Mr.Chen?" Virgil said in a low voice.Tadashi ignored him at first but by theend of the investigation of his collection. (Noticing that it was allindeed there.) He turned to Virgil. He was glaring through hiseyeglasses with the same tired grey bags under his eyes as his son.It was actually striking how similar they were. Their frame werealmost identical and the face familiar. However, he didn't have thesame eyes, Shiv's having a most predominant fold of skin, and hisskin was significantly lighter than Shiv's which bore the richer toneof his mother, the Thai side of the family. "Get out!" Hisvoice was lower and also sterner than Shiv's."You know about Shiv?"The look on Tadashi's face answered thequestion. He didn't need to say a word."You know, its Joe."Tadashi gave him a look of pure hatred."How can you even ask me that? He's my son! You don't think I'dknow my own son!!" He was growing more furious. His eyes werelocked with Virgil's. He had the same animal-like gaze as his son. "IRAISED HIM! AND YOU ASK ME IF I CAN TELL IT'S MY JOMEI WITH ACHANGE LIKE THAT!!"Virgil backed up alittle then regained compositor. Virgil was angry now. He had seenthe look on Shiv's face. It was pure loneliness. He couldn't eventell what love was and Tadashi was spurting out this about raisinghim. "YOU'RE THE REASON HE LEFT! YOU CHASED HIM OFF!""YOU DON'TTHINK I KNOW THAT!!" Virgil recoiled.He had no idea Tadashi felt that way. He had assumed wrong againabout Shiv's family. Tadashi didn't need a heroic lecture. He neededto let himself let go of Joe. "You don'thave to tell me I chased him out. Chased away the only child I everhad or could ever have! He was the only family I had left and Ichased him away like I did with the rest of them!!" Tadashi wasupset if not angry. "You don't marry out of your own in Japan. IDID! I pushed my family away and then I pushed him away! Don'tyou lecture me about what I've done! I'd do anything to have himhome!! I did this to him!! He was my responsibility and Icouldn't handle him.""Hey! Stopit! He ran away. It ain't all your fault. He chose to be at thedocks. He chose to join the Breed. He could have come home. He justdidn't. Its not your fault.""He was myresponsibility!""What aboutyour wife? He was her responsibility too. Its not your fault thatJomei got screwed up and couldn't handle it!""Soladacouldn't take care of him. He was my responsibility!""You werealone taking take of him! Sure, you could have been nicer but its notyour fault! You couldn't handle him. Who could?""I couldhave!""You pushedhim too hard but you loved him! He was your son and you can't keepblaming yourself! Its not your fault and pretending it is isn'thelping you!""I pushed himand now he's a mutant! He'll never normal again and its my fault!""It wasn'tyour fault! What you did was wrong but you didn't do this to him!"Tadashi lookedextremely upset. He had been yelling the whole time and he didn'tseem like he could anymore. "Is he all right? Can you at leasttell me that?"Virgil thought fora moment. "No. Shiv isn't Joe. Joe died a long time ago.""What?""Three monthsafter the Big Bang.""But... Shiv.I know its Jomei. I can tell." Tadashi looked almost hysterical."Its Jomei.""Jomei isn'tcoming back and Shiv isn't Joe. Shiv killed him."Tadashi lookeddevastated but seemed to understand. "The doctors said it wasmiracle we had a baby at all. We can't have another baby. He was ouronly chance. I guess, I thought, if I could see Shiv, I'd have my sonback. But he's not coming back is he?""No. He'snot.""When he ranaway, it was like finding him dead. My only son dead." Tadashiwasn't looking at Virgil anymore. "Thank you. Its nice to havesomeone finally tell me what happened. Better to know.""You'rewelcome, Mr.Chen." Virgil said and flew out the window.Virgil got back tothe gas station by around eight p.m. He had taken the long way there.He wanted to fly by himself for a while to clear his head. He felt alittle hollow inside. The way a kid feels when a toy breaks. Helanded outside. Richie was waiting for him when he got there. Richieknew he would be upset. It was no easy task telling a parent theirson was dead. Richie paused for a moment. His insides were twisted ina knot at this point. He was so relieved that Virgil was all right."Are you all right, V?" Virgil didn'tanswer and walked into the gas station. Richie was worriedwhich was not an unusual since his powers had developed. He was proneto paranoia. However, this was often directed to self-preservationwith one exception and that exception happened to have walked inlooking more than fatigued. He didn't go on instinct but sometimes itgets the best of everyone. Richie put his arms around Virgil andhugged him tightly. For once, Virgil really couldn't think of anylogical solution to a problem."Thanks,Rich." Virgil really didn't care why Richie was going oninstinct. All Virgil knew was is that he had had a very long day andhe desperately needed to hug from someone.Their curfew wasat nine o'clock. Over the next hour, Richie did his best to comfortVirgil. He was by no means an expert but Virgil didn't seem to mind.He enjoyed the sudden outburst of honesty in Richie's actions. Supergeniuses were rarely ever completely sincere. Too much on their mindsand worries which clustered. It was pure trust that Richie was.They left justearly enough to walk back. He didn't really trust Virgil to fly. Heseemed shaky. It had been a long day for him after all. Richie walkedhim home. Richie didn't want to leave him alone that night but Virgilsaid he would be fine. Richie was reluctant but left.Virgil sat on thecouch in his living room. He had changed into his "Virgilclothes" before leaving the gas station. He was looking at thesmall missing person's flyer. He felt a heavy lump in his throat. Hewondered what Joe had been thinking when it was taken. Was he happy?Was he high? Did he have any idea that his father loved him? Or thathis mother didn't hate him?Mr. Hawkins sawVirgil on the couch and looked over his shoulder. "Its sad isn'tit?""Yeah, itis." Virgil said still looking at the picture."They alwayswanted a baby and they loved Joe more than anything and he neverknew. Its a shame. If they had paid more attention to him."Robert Hawkins paused for a moment. "I guess sometimes kids aretaken lightly."The End

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