Meanwhile…Hours Devours

  “Okay, I get why we needed to have special insurance for the event, and I totally understand why every potential site we’ve contacted wanted double their usual damage deposit, but why the hell would there be a town ordinance against us holding a live signing event?”

  “Have you been to our signing events? Super-folk get together for a social event, and you know at least one villain will show up!”

  “But that’s what the damage deposit is for!”

  “Apparently that deposit doesn’t apply to damage done to the streets surrounding a venue.”

  Solaris took a final walk around the house making sure everything looked good. The enormous fir tree in the front was hung with white lights, gold garland and a rainbow of ornaments. Next to it was her rose gold tank with a big red bow on its barrel as well as some other ornamental packages surrounding the treads.

  The white gazebo was wrapped in red 'velvet' ribbons and bows like an oversized dollhouse. She loved it and had taken a picture of her and her household standing in the gazebo. She'd printed and framed it, so it was hanging in her office.

  The path back to the pool had arches of Fir garlands and fairy lights with golden pots of poinsettias, looking like rubies. The pool had been turned into a fountain with ever shifting lights, and several large tables were covered in snow white linens, with bright red napkins and gold rimmed wine glasses.

  Solaris smiled as she walked around to where the outdoor dining table had been prepared with gold and silver chargers, as well as dancing votive candles in frosted glass domes, remembering the feasts her parents would hold for the village, thinking they would have loved this.

  Pausing to check the placement of a breadboard, with a Griffin head carved in it, she found the Fledgling’s unconscious assignment of a crest amusing. Soon they would be covered in fresh hot bread, delicious cheese and fruit, both fresh and candied.

  "You and Mercades have done a magnificent job." She said to an Anzy who was doing her own final checks at the outdoor wet bar.

  "Thank you." She smiled. "Mercedes was a real help setting things up out here, that's for sure. With the bar, and all the courses, even I am feeling a little stretched."

  "Her plants look amazing, Like a fairy castle. And from what I've been smelling your food is going to be just as magical. She looked down at her watch. It's about time to get dressed, hopefully I won't have to pin Grayson down to get him in his suit."

  "Talia might hide too. Good luck."

  Meanwhile

  At the dock, the team of three divers were carefully swimming under the keel of the huge yacht, each carrying some of the gear for their operation. They surfaced, all but silently, one man lifting hands to press suction cup clamps onto the metal bulkhead along the edge of Solaris's property.

  The other two were busy assembling a camera and mic, both waterproof and tiny, when their colleague cried out in shock. Looking up they found some sort of monstrous tree-creature and an Asian girl in a formal suit, with charcoal shirt underneath. Their colleague was in the firm grip of the plant creature.

  "Hi, I'm afraid this is a no espionage party. Please surrender your equipment and we'll escort you to the exit!" Qianlima said calmly. "Or don't, we'll kick your asses, and let you float down the canal with the tide. I'm good either way.”

  The two guys abandoned the gear, diving and swimming away, leaving their friend in the tree-woman's arms. Mercedes sighed. "Well, that's annoying."

  "Yeah, it would be a shame if someone dropped large firecrackers in the water." Zoya, in her heroic ID said, lighting a fuse.

  Their hearing should recover in a few days or weeks, it wasn’t that big an explosion, even underwater.

  Meanwhile...

  Solaris walked into the house, "Gray, Talia, it's time to get ready." She smiled at Cassidy, “Tonight's the big night. Thank you for coming all this way to get things done on such short notice."

  "Not a problem. I had fun doing it, and the food has been fantastic. Besides, you know you're going to need me for more stuff." She winked. "And no speedster is passing up an eight-course meal."

  Solaris laughed. "Not one cooked by Anzy! Let me make sure the kids are getting ready then we can get me dressed, I think Andre is working with Penny and Granny now."

  "I think so. I'll go pull your dress and accessories out."

  Meanwhile...

  This was his chance at one hell of a scoop. People had been respecting the privacy of The Original Girl, but now a chance at photos of her having a private party, rumored to include several heroes, villains, and politicians? No way was he going to pass up a chance to get pictures.

  Looking through his telephoto lens, he could see the table set for dinner, and the water spraying like a fountain in the swimming pool. "No one here yet. Well, better early than missing something good!"

  A large, winged sabretooth silently landed on the roof behind him. It made a low growl turning its head so the light hit it's golden eyes as it looked down at the photographer. Giving the man two options. Leave or stay and see what happens.

  "Holy shit!" He cried out, rolling away from the tiger, momentarily forgetting he was on a very sloped roof. He slid down the shingles and fell three stories to land in the neighbors swimming pool. His camera and what few photos he'd taken did not survive the bath.

  Meanwhile...

  Solaris slipped into one of the most gorgeous dresses she'd ever seen, it was a simple column of old gold silk hugging her at the breast and hip before flowing like molten metal around her feet. A slit on one side gave her more freedom of movement and gave a modern edge to the simple, classical dress. Instead of sleeves, three strands of gold and pearl beads draped over her arms, a matching double strand of beads around her neck, with an amber and pearl pendant just under her collar bone.

  Simple gold bangles adorned her wrists and amber and pearl drops hung from her ears. Her shoes were high-heeled sandals made from carbon fiber in a color matching a gold and pearl colored scarf that was draped around her neck, flowing into long wings along her back. "Cassidy, you have outdone yourself this is stunning."

  "I am rather proud of it. But then, how do I get investors for my future fashion lines without impressing the hell out of rich folks, hmm?" she said with a wink. "Seriously though, you're wearing it very well. If you weren't so short I'd want, you to model it. The runway is cruel to short stacks like us."

  Solaris chuckled, "You're not wrong, it amuses me though how many people forget that I'm only about five feet. They hear the hype and think I'm some sort of Amazon. Shall we head down and get some pictures for your folio, I also want pictures of Talia and Grayson all jazzed up."

  "I think that phrase means something other than what you think it means or at least has changed over the years.” Cassidy chuckled, assuming she didn’t want hyper teens at the dinner. “I sicked Carl on Grayson, and Erica got Talia to get dressed earlier. You can get a photo and greet the car that's pulling in now." She pointed out the window, a black car pulled up to the gate.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "I wonder who is first to come?" Solaris headed down, smiling at the two teens. Grayson was in a classic long-tailed tux in dark blue, and Talia in a long-sleeved purple dress studded with diamond-like crystals that hugged her slim frame, with a white capelet to help her stay warm. "You both look amazing. Mercades is going to get some pictures of us out at the gazebo. Let's get that done so I can greet the guests."

  "Sure."

  "Okay.

  They walked out, the car pulling up bearing UN plates, suggesting it was the UNLOC director who had arrived first. Mercedes was there, though she was straightening her hair, with a camera in hand. "You all are looking very sharp."

  “You look lovely as well.” Solaris smiled, the girl wearing the skirt suit, echoing a footman’s tux but for a woman and with a skirt, though her hair was strangely disheveled from what she’d seen earlier. Solaris shrugged that off, as she posed alone and with the kids,

  "Why don't you go check out the simulators? Things will be slow for a bit." She suggested after several flashes, then walked down to greet Helen. "Welcome, you are the first to arrive." she said in a warm voice.

  "I usually am. I don't have time to do that 'fashionably late' crap." the director admitted. They walked in, Granny Ruan waiting with a pair of drinks for them, already knowing the preferred drinks for both women. The director's raised eyebrows caused the elder Vietnamese woman to smirk.

  "I could pretend to be mysterious, but Penny told me." she admitted.

  “I love your dress.” Solaris said while drinking her drink. Granny was in an elegant black dress with a silvery shawl. How was the drive out?” She asked Helen.

  "Of course she did. And the drive is always better coming out to Long Island than back into the city. Also, I saw a dinosaur boy of some repute. I've seen him in a mecha, and this is the first time he's looked dangerous in my presence. I may have to have you take my grandson shopping, if that's the results you get." Helen joked.

  “He does wear a suit well, and I think he likes it even though he complained about getting it fitted. He’s been settling in well; it helps that Talia moved in the same day. She’s Erica’s cousin, so not officially my ward.” She didn’t mention that some minor altercation had occurred, where the innocent-looking Tweety’ kept a short knife on her at all times and had made an impression during the argument on both Grayson and Grayson’s pillow.

  Solaris had focused on Grayson, while Penny and Erica spoke to Talia after that. The elder hero wondered what they’d said to the girl, since she’d not looked particularly chastised when apologizing later. Or when showing him her new taser.

  "It also helps you have kids smart enough to keep up with him, and who can throw him in the ocean. Is that big Hawaiian kid really studying law?"

  “Yes, he is. He’s been going to school part-time, so he doesn’t have a lot of debt. She giggled while leaning in. “He doesn’t know I paid his next semester yet.”

  Meanwhile...

  Nahoa stepped out of the booth they'd set up and walked up the car. "Evening. Do you have your invitation?"

  “Here you go, Xander Campbell, St Nick Northeast. He said, handing the handwritten invitation to the young man.

  "Ahh, yes, you're on the list. One second if you would." He calmly walked around the back of the car and picked up the man trying to slip in by sneaking behind the car up by the scruff of his neck.

  "Why the hell are you wet?" Nahoa asked, then shrugged when the man just squeaked, and struggled. Pressing the control on his belt, he waved the man in as the gate opened. "Go on, Mr. Campbell. Marcus will move your car to another lot, as we don't have the space here for everything."

  Absently, he tossed the struggling, and wet, man into a garbage can and closed the lid. "Have a great night." He said, walking back to his booth.

  “Keep up the good work” The rep chuckled, pulling into the beautifully decorated house. As the reporter banged on the trash can lid.

  Marcus smiled, taking the keys when he parked, "Follow the lit path to the back, Lady Summers is already there."

  "Thank you very much." He said, watching Marcus carefully drive away, before going around the house, to where soft music could be heard.

  Solaris smiled as she listened to the quartet she’d hired. She turned and smiled at the newcomer, “hello!” She said walking back towards him "Welcome to my party.”

  "Thank you for the invitation. I am Xander Campbell, I am the director of the New York facility for St. Nicks. Specifically, the Regional Enhanced Technological Advancement Center just across the border in New Jersey."

  “Sorry for not reaching out sooner, I figured I’d be visiting Kennicott sometime in the spring or summer. I figured I'd get used to normal tech before seeing what my think tank has been up to.”

  "While the transport situation isn't what you remember, I don't blame you in the least. I had to go in January two years ago. On the plus side, I saw a Polar Bear, on the negative side the train wasn't moving when I saw it and didn't for several hours."

  "They still won't let me visit." The voice of Killian Von Volkard caught their attention as the man himself came around the house. He accepted a beer from Levi with a nod, sipping it as he came closer. "Though I understand you've stopped increasing security levels when I'm in the vicinity."

  “Ah hello Killian, to be fair we were enemies of old, and you going to forge your own nation didn’t exactly make you more trustworthy to an American based company.” She said with a smile shaking his hand in welcome.

  "Ah, but you misunderstand me!" He said, holding a hand to his heart. "It makes a man feel old, when he's taken off a special security list like that. I swear I found three new grey hairs that day!"

  Solaris laughed, “I’ll talk up your nefariousness when I go see them. Speaking of, did Kitsune come with you or is she sneaking in?”

  "She is coming on her own." He said. "Though knowing her, she's testing your security. Coincidentally, I approve of the large lad you have at your gate. Knows what to do with intruders."

  The St. Nick's rep laughed. "Right in a dumpster."

  “Nahoa is a good man. He has thrown several people in the harbor for me.” Solaris agreed. And no one is going to bully past him without an invite.”

  "No, I definitely got that impression. Only a fool mouths off to a handsome building wearing a fine suit when approached by one." Helen chuckled

  Meanwhile...

  Marcus pulled the car into the small lot near the house, climbing out and locking the car. He frowned and turned to find himself facing himself. "What the heck..."

  The other Marcus snarled, having failed to sneak up on the young driver. He surged forward, straight into a brutal attack.

  The real Azure Rong dodged the first two strikes, before his shield flared, forced into absorbing a kick to his stomach that still had enough impact to send him staggering back a step. He pushed off and away from the car, wanting freedom of movement as he snapped out his collapsible baton. His other hand pressed to his ear. "AR compromised. Duplicator." he barked into the com.

  “Roger AR. This is Focus I am on watch . I have TPanda with me. We will watch for dupes.

  "Roger." Marcus maintained his ready stance but said politely. "If you have your invitation, Madam Kitsune, I will be more than happy to take you back with me to the house on the side-by-side."

  The other Marcus spat on the ground in disgust with the name then threw a smoke ball and vanished. He had a party to go to and a tsunami to find.

  "AR to Team, The Fox did not meet the Dragon. Rogue Chameleon on site."

  "Taking over parking." Qianlima responded.

  "Leaving parking lot, I'm going to do perimeter patrols. Mystic, shift to inner patrol. Focus, if I cross the property line, trank me."

  Meanwhile...

  Anzy split a duplicate off as she walked towards the door to the patio dining area, tailing Riley, Bailey, and Mercedes who were helping with serving. "For our soup, we have a squash bisque, something appropriate to the season. bon Appetit."

  The secondary Anzy split again, leaving two working in the kitchen and the one doing the service and working the bar.

  One of the new copies moved towards Solaris's office, where a safe rested, and the other walked to the upstairs patio where she could keep an eye on the dinner, and anything coming from the sides of the backyard.

  Meanwhile...

  Running from tree to tree the darkness did nothing to hinder T-Panda’s multispectral vision. The bot saw the black clad ninja. In one of the trees. “T-panda has authorization to kick ass?” He inquired through the coms.

  "Beat him like a drum, buddy." Marcus confirmed, checking his smart watch, and walking in the direction their custom app suggested the robot was moving in. As he moved, he pulled off his suit jacket, the blue lines of his costume revealed as he ripped off the outer shirt, his headpiece slipping on easily as he walked towards the robot.

  The little bot smiled as the safety came off his weapon systems, it really wanted to use its lasers, but Mercedes would be angry if he damaged the trees. Instead, he moved closer and pulled out the high powered taser pistol from his front pouch, one specially made by his foster mom with permission from Badger. It shouldn’t be lethal, Kar1n had said.

  He fired the taser right into the trespasser's shoulder and giggled as the human began twitching violently.

  Marcus, now as Azure Rong, came jogging up and winced at the jerking the guy's body was doing. He took the taser from the Racoon mech. "That's enough there, T." Marcus went and checked the man, now obviously Japanese and wearing a ninja outfit, pulse, finding it steady. He chose to ignore the smoke rising from where the probes had hit, settling for cuffing the man. "AR and TP have caught the Faux Fox. Continue with altered patrols. Thud, please contact the police to get the trespasser."

  "TPanda get head pats and taser back?" The racoon said, holding its paws out. "Foster mom made it for TPanda."

  Marcus chuckled, and patted the little guy’s head, handing him back the taser. "Do me a favor, have Penny check that out to make sure it's actually safe sometime after tonight’s over, okay?"