Weekly Release - Imp 9: An Imp-eriled Heart (Part 2) by Morpheus

Dreamer wrote:

SPOILER ALERT
Below is a stream of conscious commentary I type up as I read the story. There will be details from the story included in it. If you have not read the story yet and don't wish to have details of it spoiled, read no further.

Imp 9: An Imp-eriled Heart Part 2 comments

Warning: Spoiler!

Rochester NY, Saturday afternoon, Dec 29th 2007

Noooo! Both of his parents died on impact, but Chris was saved from the worst by his mutant powers. This is why cars should have built-in breathalyzers to prevent drunk driving. None of his extended family through adoption will take him in, they are all monsters, not just his cousins. In the front office of the local CPS and waiting for something to happen, dear god, this shouldn't have happened.

I don't like the look Mrs. Keller is giving Chris, I don't care if he is a mutant, he is a minor who just lost both his parents and needs compassion right now. I can't believe she had the never to say that out loud, he just lost his parents, you psycho bitch! MCO to take him off their hands, I don't think so.

“You are a dangerous mutant freak,” Mrs. Keller continued her building rant, completely ignoring Chris’ growing concern. Instead, his distress only seemed to fuel her even more. “It would be irresponsible to let one of your kind anywhere near real people… No one wants your kind around.”

You hateful monster, he is more human than you are with that callous attitude to a minor in pain.

“WRONG,” a new voice suddenly announced. “I want him.”

Imp is there and she is upset. Christine Kade says she is Chris' birth mother, I hate it happened this way, I wish Imp could have told him at another time, but right now he needs her with his parents gone.

Rochester NY, Saturday afternoon, Dec 29th 2007

She isn't in her artist persona and is going by her real name, Imp isn't letting Chris be taken by the MCO or be lost in the foster system. Oh, Imp knows the kind of woman she is dealing with.

“This is all the legal paperwork to give me full custody over Chris,” I told Keller while keeping my tone flat and even. “Including a court order for him to be turned over to me immediately.”

If the MCO tries to take him now it will be illegal abduction from his parent and legal guardian. Carson and Hartford can work miracles when it comes to cutting through red tape.

Oh, Keller, you would ignore a court order and try to hand him over to the MCO still, that is accessory to the abduction of a minor.

So, with a heroic demonstration of patience, I held up a single finger and told her, “The MCO does not have the legal authority to take custody of a minor who has not been charged with any crime.” I held up a second finger. “You do not have the legal authority to give him to the MCO or anyone else without the proper legal authority.” A third finger went up, though I also pointed to the folder that I’d placed on her desk. “This means that you ARE legally required to give him to me. Failure to do so will not only get you charged with violating a court order, but also sued for everything you have.”

All this and Keller is still trying to stand up to Christine, not smart. Ooo, that last one, just enough of a threat without stating it outright she can't get Christine in trouble with it.

“No threats,” I pointed out, once again keeping my tone sweet and friendly…with a sharp edge. “I am just pointing out the consequences of ignoring a legal court order. And if you happen to anger other people in the process…well…I have absolutely no control over what random people might decide to do on their own.”

This is her son, she is playing hardball, and you had best learn to duck already and get out of the way. Good, time to get out of there and away from this bigot.

That is all Chris has, they didn't let him take everything he owns from his home, did they? Oh, good, have someone pick up his stuff from his old home. Ugh, it figures Keller is in Humanity First, and even has an H1 pin that Christine spotted.

“Yes,” I told him in a quiet voice. “This isn’t how I imagined our official reunion would go…and I am very sorry that it happened in these circumstances. I’m sorry for what happened to your family.”

I wouldn't be surprised if the 'drunk driver' was with Humanity First and knew whose car it was.

Switching cars, good thing she always plans ahead for trouble. Head to her place as fast as possible.

“Manhattan,” I answered, taking my eyes off the road just long enough to look at him for a moment. “But considering the situation…” I paused for a moment. “I imagine you have a lot of questions, and I think we need to talk…sooner rather than later.”

Oh boy, this is going to be rough especially when she takes off the disguise pendant.

A cheap motel, no bugs or peepholes in the room, time for the heart-to-heart. Bourbon for Chris, Imp, nooo.

I rolled my eyes and reminded him, “You’re a regenerator, so you don’t have to worry about getting drunk.”

One of the perks of that power, it needs it with all the potential drawbacks. The pendant is off and Chris thinks she lied about being his real mom, she didn't. Ah, the pendant with his blood inside for the spell, how she figured out whose blood was inside it.

Candice Christine Kade.

“That name… My mom told me that she used to have a friend named that…”

“Yeah,” I said with a sigh as I sat down. “Suzie Q…your mom was my best friend when we were growing up. We were thick as thieves, well before I ever actually became one.” I gave him a self-conscious smile.

I hate the bigotry in their world that forced Imp on the run, to live a life of crime, to give up her own son. Her parents told everyone she was dead because she manifested as a mutant with severe GSD, I knew this from previous stories and it still infuriates me. All those reveals and Chris tries to down his glass of bourbon in one shot, poor kid is in for a rough time for a while yet.

Rochester NY, Sunday morning, Dec 30th 2007

Eesh, awkward sleep for both of them. Told Chris about some of her history after she ran away, but left details out; about Suzie Q, it hurts she is gone now instead of Chris getting both his adoptive parents and Imp in his life.

I told Chris all about Suzie Q, the girl I’d known while growing up, long before he had ever been born. This was a side of her that he knew little about, so he listened in rapt attention as I regaled him with stories of our shared misadventures. A few of them, she’d already told him about herself, which helped to cement our history together.

A life lost too soon, both her and her husband.

Chris brightened up a bit, enough to give me a defiant glare. “If I’m Bart, then doesn’t that make you Marge?”

“D’oh,” I responded sharply, letting him feel like he’d won that exchange.

Bwahaha, Chris isn't fine, but he is starting to do better with a retort like that. Distinctive hair, the downfall of many on the run or in hiding. Oh good, gas station convenience stores are lifelines to those on the road anywhere.

Rochester NY, Sunday morning, Dec 30th 2007

It isn't your fault, there is no way you could have known the Imp was your birth mother.

She was the Imp. She was a criminal…a former supervillain. She was also the teacher who’d helped him out more than any other teacher ever had.

Chris, think of it this way, she only stole to survive and then thrive, she was forced into that life by society and bigots, and she didn't kill or even maim except in self-defense. Ask her why she gave you in the first place, Chris, it will make you angry at a certain teacher at Whateley.

The loss of his parents, shouldn't happen to any kid whose parents truly love them. Bleached his hair blonde to fit in with his adoptive family, that needs to change right now. Shaved himself bald and let out a howl of rage, Chris has a lot he needs to let out, and soon.

Rochester NY, Sunday morning, Dec 30th 2007

Imp gets back from the store just in time to hear Chris' howl of rage before she enters the motel room.

It sounded like someone yelling in grief, anger and frustration.

Trust me, Chris needed that a lot. And finds out Chris doesn't need a hat anymore, no one had better tease Chris while his hair grows back about being bald. Danishes and cheap breakfast sandwiches are good finds for a gas station store.

“So, caffeine doesn’t work on me much,” I agreed with a nod and another sip from the cup. “You should never underestimate the value of the placebo effect, especially as a regenerator. Sometimes, just going through the motions can help.”

“Oh,” he responded with a thoughtful look.

“Besides,” I added with a grin. “I like the taste.”

*winces* The taste, I can't stand it. Possible lookouts and active searches in the area, I pity them if they try to harm Chris.

Slug Bug, I hate that car game.

“The monster truck?” I asked in amusement. “If a guy made a car like that, I’d joke about him compensating for something.”

Chris chuckled slightly. “She is kind of short.”

Hey, if I were on the road and saw that thing closing in on me I would switch lanes fast to get out of the way. Heh, so Imp doesn't know Alyss' secret. Cars parked along the road with prominent H1 stickers on them, Keller and her H1 buddies are a real piece of work. All of them were out in force on the lookout for them, yet she didn't think of what would happen if they switched cars or Chris disguised or removed his hair.

I grinned evilly. The next time I was bored and looking for a ‘special friend’ to entertain me, her name would be up near the top of the list.

Go full Bugs Bunny teaching idiots a lesson on her, Imp.

We drove in silence for another minute before Chris awkwardly said, “A couple of my friends and I were talking about Humanity First awhile back. Alyss says that she thinks most of them aren’t really bad people, just people who are scared and trying to protect their families from potential threats that they don’t understand and feel powerless against.”

“That…might be true,” I admitted with a shake of my head. “But pretty much every interaction that I’ve ever had with them has been…negative.” I chuckled at that understatement. “Scared people can be dangerous…no matter how good they might be otherwise.”

Yeah, it tends to be scared people who form angry mobs to go after what they fear. Alyss sure knows a lot about mob mentality and how these groups tend to work. Gah! Don't do that, Imp, I know you are trying to lighten the mood, but the thought of Captain Condom as Chris' father almost made me start coughing in shock.

Ouch, all those things result in being stuck in an almost solid traffic jam the whole time, at least it will affect the H1 idiots as well. 15 miles, that is a nightmare traffic jam. PTSD related to riding in cars, I relate to that a lot.

“So, he doesn’t really like riding in cars anymore,” I quietly muttered to myself with an ache in my heart. “Of all the things he could have inherited from me.”

Yeah, it sucks to have that in the modern era. Great, MCO is looking for them as well, Keller probably hid or destroyed her part of the paperwork and lied to them about Christine taking Chris illegally.

Chris' tuition is taken care of, one less worry for him. Crap! Is the car that ripped past and got into an accident just random, or is it an H1 setup to lure out Chris? Chris frees the passengers from the car, only for him to be attacked by a speedster fake hero glory hound.

“I WON’T LET YOU HURT THOSE PEOPLE, YOU VILLAIN,” the costumed man shouted.

“Oh great,” I groaned. “Another idiot hero.”

“My name is Speedrun,” the hero announced while posing heroically. “And I will protect you from this dangerous fiend.”

This guy is a moron, Chris tells the truth and it doesn't help.

“Enough with your lies,” Speedrun exclaimed, clearly showing off for everyone watching. “You must be that dangerous runaway mutant the MCO is looking for…”

I was right! Keller lied to the MCO and they spread a lie about Chris being a dangerous runaway because of it.

“Or maybe,” I thought aloud, “the MCO just made up the story on their own.”

With the strong H1 presence in the area I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are in the local MCO branch. Throwing spikes with PF boost into Speedbump's leg, unless he has high Regen he is out of commission for a while. Bruised and a cracked rib, Speedbump is a psycho who cares about the glory of taking down 'villains' and not saving civilians.

“He… He just attacked me,” Chris complained as we got back into the car. “That guy didn’t even check on the people in the car…”

“I noticed,” I responded with a nod.

Great, so the driver of the car might have been trying to escape Speedrun in the first place. I hope they don't run into any more idiot 'superheroes' on their way to Imp's apartment in Manhattan.

mhalpern wrote:

... Doing some math here, i think Ryan's gift for Imp comes in a small box and with a question.

The math being Susan Moria Chamber's age in Gen 2.

poor Chris, going from losing his adoptive family, being taken in by his birth mother (who happens to be a retired villain and one of his teachers) to becoming part of a larger family and gaining a soon to be step sister whom is already on his training team...

Dan Formerly Domoviye wrote:

Or there will be a shotgun wedding.

Dan Formerly Domoviye wrote:

A shotgun wedding doesn't mean there's no wedding. It just means it's a little rushed, and the bride needs a larger size dress.

Dan Formerly Domoviye wrote:

Well that's no fun.