CHAPTER 2: Party Time

DING DONG! The Peterson's doorbell rang twice before Dove could answer. "Coming!" The therapist opened the door and welcomed her guests inside. Gren, Komo, Delle, Ellia, Kurt and Bron all stepped inside, wearing winter coats in their colors. From the living room couch, little Penelope ran over in excitement. "Hi!" "Happy Birthday!" everyone shouted, causing the five year old to smile big.

With her short arms, Little P surrounded Gren's legs as much as she could and said, "Big Brother! Will daddy be here!?" Unsure of how to answer, the boy smiled and said, "He's still at work, but he should be back soon." Penelope's joy began to fade, so Uncle Kurt stooped down and handed her a poorly wrapped gift. "Hey Little P, look what I got." "A PRESENT!?" "Yeah! Let's open it!" 

Everyone else gathered around the dining room table, where several boxes of pizza, soda bottles, and pink cupcakes could be found. All over the two story house were pink and green party streamers and paper cut-outs of silly, monkey faces. Komo stacked five slices of pizza and two cupcakes onto her plate. The melting cheese causes her to lick her lips counter clockwise, and Ellia sarcastically says, "200 pounds of muscle, huh?" Naturally the hungry girl growled in anger, then began the eating race. 

Exhausted from party preparation, the white sweater wearing Dove sat on the couch with her hands on her belly, showing herself to be pregnant. "Phew! I can't thank you enough for coming. Penelope really needed her birthday to be fun...and I needed it too." "Of course," Kurt replied, picking up gift wrap on the floor, "Whatever you need, whenever you need it, we're always here to help." Wearing a crimson turtleneck and blue jeans, Bron relaxed in the recliner with a plate of food and added, "Don't even think about cleaning. We gotcha covered."

Dove smiled at her friends, but it didn't last. As she rubbed her round stomach, a question arose that had already been asked dozens of times. "Still no sign of him?" Bron looked over at Penelope, making sure she was distracted by the teens before answering. "No. It's been six months, but no one's been able to find him, not even a lead." Seeking to restore hope, Kurt added, "But tomorrow, I'm meeting with Governor Fryste to see if she's seen anything. You're welcome to tag along."

The disheartened wife didn't buy the forced hope from her friend. "But half a year is too long," she said, "I've never wanted to think about it, but do you think he might've..." She couldn't finish the sentence. "...No. Percy wouldn't leave us. Not like that. We still have to name our little girl." Bron finished his pizza and asked, "What names have you got so far?" "Well, Percy and I always liked to think of stuff like that. Grace was one that always seemed to stick."

Changing subjects, Dove asked, "How's Gren? He's stopped coming to our therapy sessions, and I'm a little worried about him." The hungry Bron devoured his cupcake in one bite and answered, "Ever since he and Komo have been staying at my place, he hasn't talked much. I've always thought it was odd, but I don't exactly blame him. He's been through a lot." Dove and the mentors look out the glass backdoor, where the boy sits outside alone. "You know, he's a lot like Percy," she said, to which Kurt replied, "I know. That's what worries me."

Gren ran his hand across the treadmill arm, remembering when his training began seven months ago. Back then the only concern he had was lifting heavier bars, learning how to use stuncuffs, and most importantly, impressing his idol. Said idol would soon be crushed, leaving Gren without someone to worship. His eyes looked out over the dirt battleground and other exercise equipment, however, something odd was found. On the bench press seat, a small box wrapped in a pink bow rested. Gren held it in wonder. Could Dove have placed this out here as a surprise? Or maybe...

Like a sixth sense, Gren felt led to turn to his right and look up. A figure stood atop a distant building, watching over the home. Immediately the ninja took off, leaping onto the shelter roof, the house, then the neighboring building. The strange figure fled, but Gren wouldn't let him escape. He whipped his scarf around a church steeple, launching himself up high. Hitting the roof running, his target held a sizable lead, being two buildings ahead of him. Gren dived over the alley, then rolled back into a mad dash.

"Wait! Stop!" The figure didn't listen and instead jumped off the ledge, straight towards the eight-lane highway. Gren continued his lightning fast pace, until he realized the drop-off approached. His feet slid across the flat, slippery rooftop, stopping just at the edge. After flapping his arms and recovering his balance, he peered over the side on his hands and knees, finding no figure. Only lanes filled with vehicles did he see. A sense of frustration arose, and Gren slammed his fist on the rooftop. Cold, winter air caused his longer hair to dance in front of his eyes. The eyes of a confused and angry boy. I will find you...

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Inside the Peterson's home, Ellia offered Delle another slice of pizza. "No thanks. Too much grease." In contrast, Komo sat across the table, lifting her black shirt and holding her grumbling belly. *groan* "What's wrong?" Ellia teased, "Eat too much?" "My brain and stomach are debating on if I should get another slice." *grumble* "And my stomach is winning." Before Komo could reach for another slice, all of the teens' watches buzzed at once. "Robbery, not far from here," said Delle. The mentors joined their apprentices in the kitchen. "Then let's go," said Bron, but Ellia rejected. "We can handle it."

Delle seemed nervous, but her pixie friend was confident. "We've been training for seven months now. It's time we prove ourselves. Right, Komo?" "Eh, we can do it," she replied with a shrug, "It's just a robbery." At this point Kurt looked around but failed to find their missing member. "Where's Gren? You three should wait until we find him." "Nah, Gren's fast," the pixie replied with a waving hand, "He'll catch up."

After much hesitation, the mentors agree. "Fine," said Bron with a grin, "Just call us if you need backup." Having gained their mentors' trust, the teens ran to the hallway to change into battle attire. Dove gave a worried look, and Kurt shrugged and explained, "It's part of the process. They all have to be able to defend themselves at some point. We have to trust them."

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"Load it up! NOW!!" a black hooded figure demands. Terrified store clerks follow orders, rolling various items in the parked, hauler truck. A gray vault, security cameras, and more expensive electronics are placed inside, then the employees run for their lives. "One's gettin' away, boss!" a southern voice warns, but the hoodlum replies, "Let him go. He'll spread the word that there's a new gang in town." Suddenly a flash of light shines on his sleeve, and he quickly takes hold of a table. An arrow pierces the wood, just barely stopping in front of the hooded figure's chest.

Ellia gracefully swoops in with her purple hoodie, followed by Delle and Komo on foot. "We're the Next Gen Symbiolics!" the pixie announces, "And you're going to jail!" The robber conceals his left arm behind his back as he replies, "Hey, cutie. Been a while." That voice. Is that... Ellia's thoughts are confirmed when the hooded figure aims and fires his crystal gauntlet at her. A bolt of lightning erupts with a thunderous boom, but Komo defends with her, "Dragon Scale!" From the shield on her left arm a transparent, blue dragon covers the teens with its wings, then returns to its metal den.