With the excuse their son had given, they didn't question the gallon of gasoline, and proceeded to the table, where much of the homemade food prepared by the mother filled the eyes and nostrils of the energic youngsters.

- It’s very good to have you here again, Barbara – Smiled her father.

- The pleasure is all mine. Hmm, it’s smelling incredible, Mrs. Grayson.

- Well, we've said it more than once, it's Mary and John – Mary corrected, with a repressive look but a smile on her face.

- So... What is this project of yours that you are going to use our portable generator? Pretty much a family heirloom that thing.

- It's for something secret, so Dick and I need energy on the outside – Dick kicked Barbara's shin right after what she said, and she realized she ended up saying too much.

- Secret, isn't it...? – Mary Grayson cracked a smile, watching the two of them with evident amusement.

-Oh... It's great to be young. I remember when I met your mother in the suburbs of England, what a time that was... – John addressed his son, swallowing a bunch of peas from his plate – We had several "secret projects", only they weren't about scientific research or all this little genius stuff that you do in academy.

- Yes, sure, hahaha – Dick forced a laugh, agreeing with his father, kicking Barbara's shin again, who copied him after jumping in pain into the chair.

- Are you looking to learn some of our trapeze techniques? We saw you going to the tent earlier today, maybe we can help? – The mother volunteered.

- Thanks, Mary, but we're okay... You know, it's all a great pastime, isn't it? – Gordon glanced at her friend, who gave a thumbs up to his friend's performance this time.

This whole situation was greatly amusing Richard's parents, who continued to talk and eat with the guest. The time she spent with other adults who weren't cops or too busy thinking about her education was the most interesting, a kind of comfort the little red-haired girl didn't have in her life, much to her displeasure, but that she could have with the warm Graysons over and over again. After dinner, they gathered in Dick's room once more before going to sleep to review their plans for the next few days, with Barbara's bed being the living room couch since, although better paid than her father, the family was also a bit humble.

The next day, it was once again time for Barbara to try her acrobatic moves on the circuit Dick had prepared for her. When they entered the center of the circus tent again, she was practicing her focus, but her friend's analytical eyes caught her attention a lot. He sure was plotting something and wasn't going to say it until he did.

- I thought about the music stuff, and maybe I need something that's more fast-paced, something that matches the circuit – Barbara argued, but Dick just reached into the pocket of her blouse and took her phone – Hey! How will this help?

- No silly soundtrack, Babs. You will focus on the circuit completely alone.

- Ha! This one I want to see, what do you have in mind?

- You underestimate my power – He moved his arms, smiling.

         Dragging his friend to the front of the circuit again, he pulled a chair close to her, and opened his backpack, pulling out his notebook from the gym. "What is it?" were the first words of Gordon's reaction, who watched fearfully as to what Dick was suggesting he would do. Opening the notebook, he began to recite aloud:

- Algebra – The first word resounded to Barbara's ears like heavy drums – It is said that the beginnings of this matter are impossible to date, but the great scholars of the cradles of humanity were already doing complex operations. Module 1: Operations of fractions with powers.

- For God's sake, stop – She pleaded, and he just pointed to the circuit.

- When the dividend has a power, it can also be described by blah blah blah blah...

         And there went Barbara's diversion of attention again, even her friend's appearance seemed completely blurry in her vision, but there was one thing for her divert her attention: The circuit. Of course, when everything else seemed completely dull, there was nowhere to run. Now, the circuit really was in front of her, and one foot at a time, she began to move around the platforms in small jumps and reached the end of the course without getting off balance. She turned her gaze to her friend, who clapped slowly, a smile on his face. He took out the timer hidden behind the notebook, and commented:

- Twenty seconds. Basic beginner time, but I've seen worse. You have a future, Barbara.

- Okay, genius of you, but do we need to continue with the torture session?

- Until you knock fifteen seconds.

         She raised her arms, pleading with the heavens silently. Dick gave a silent laugh, turned the page of his notebook, and began to recite the tedious mathematical formulas, Barbara hurried to continue the circuit. After the next four attempts, she was already getting used to the rhythm, he no longer needed to recite the tedious formulas of power in fraction and how they turn into roots, and this gave him room to continue his scribbling in his notebook, observing the agile and determined movement of his friend, who raised a number of ideas about a surprise he prepared...

         After the training session, they hurried back to the academy as soon as possible, trying to make the most of the rest of Sunday to be able to prepare the base of operations. When it was time for the gates to open, they had enough freedom to move everything to the passage of the catacombs in the girl's dormitory, both being careful not to arouse suspicion or cause any fuss as they dragged their equipment and materials through the corridors, watching out for any arrival of adults to spoil their plans. After a long hour, they had everything they needed in the cold, simple cave that ushered in the city's catacombs, the shadows engulfing everything around them, even the lights on their phones as they set up the lighting.

         With little time to spare, they had the frame ready, they weren't sure if it was complete or well done, but the darkness was already getting unbearably dense, since the constant shocks and confusion of directions were getting unbearably constant for them.

- Moment of truth, then? – Barbara gathered around the cellphone flashlights on the floor of the catacombs.

- In more ways than you can imagine.

- What was that…?

- I haven't tested the power generator yet – He replied, and Barbara knew he was expressing that repentant dog face even in the dark.

- Dick, if you value your life, it better work...

- Well, there's no like time like the present, is there?

         And the sound of Grayson pulling the engine string, trying to start the system, was harsh and had a strange mechanical garb to it, as if the engine was being strangled by a bunch of old scrap. When the engine finally started, one could hear the monstrosity sounding a loud starting roar, like an old car, which resonated throughout the structure of the cave. The dynamic duo feared they would be discovered instantly, but the thoughts of dread were replaced by fascination as the bunch of incandescent lights began to light up around them, all hung precariously by silver tape and a few hooks badly fixed to the cavernous walls.

         They looked at each other, and simultaneously opened a smile that went from ear to ear. Sharing a high five, they checked that all the power outlets were working, and left the rest of the bags with the equipment they were going to set up prepared for the next day. When they parted, with Dick jumping out the dorm window so as not to draw the attention of passers-by in the hallways, who filled up more and more as the students entered to start the week, Barbara couldn't contain her anxiety, and even though she went to bed early, it took her longer than all the girls to fall asleep, wondering what awaited them the next day, and what would be the next steps of heroism she was embarking on.