Mirage let out a loud groan as she stretched, the rays of the morning sun dancing across her face. Reaching out with her left hand Mirage came to a rather frustrating realization. Violet had already gotten out of bed. Glancing at the clock revealed that it was almost a quarter after seven, last night Violet did mention wanting to go enroll for some classes since the new semester was starting soon. She probably wanted to get an early start. The water being turned on in the bathroom signaled to Mirage that her assumptions were more than likely accurate. For a moment Mirage considered joining her after all it had been weeks since they had last been intimate, their schedules had not been very kind and considering recent events probably wouldn’t be for a while. Then again she didn’t want Violet to be late for something so important and so with a resigned sigh Mirage turned over in time for the phone to ring. After briefly considering throwing the phone out the window Mirage relented and answered only to be bombarded with enough excited techno babble to be temporarily deafened. Sparing a moment to wonder whether or not it was even possible to say so many words in a single breath, Mirage decided to interrupt Xander before he forgot to breath. Again.
“Xander. Xander!”
“Yes?” Mirage winced the over excited voice tinged with a barely noticeable hint of uncertainty briefly reminding her of another genius, one that she preferred not to think about if she could help it. “Mirage?”
“Oh? Sorry Xander got lost in my thoughts for a moment. What was so important that you decided to call at…” Mirage said as she leaned over to get a better look at the alarm clock. “Seven twenty in the morning?”
“Well… I uh was working on your shield generator and it occurred to me that I would need to recalibrate it for Violet’s enhanced powers so you can mesh the generator’s shield with Violet’s force field. I mean I would have done it sooner but there has been so much work and I finally have some free time. So do you think you and Violet can come down today?”
“Violet was going to go to Metroville University to apply for some classes.”
“The N.S.A. could just take care of any applications while she works.”
Mirage made a noise that was somewhere between an annoyed sigh and a groan. “Xander you know how she hates it when the Agency steps in like that. Violet would prefer to have some semblance of a normal life.”
“Right... sorry.”
“No need to apologize to me, just try to think a little more about what you say before you say it.”
“You know me.” Xander said sheepishly letting out a long sigh before continuing. “So many ideas in my head just trying to get them all out of there before I forget them, and listen it’s not life or death or well it could be, but anyway after the classes thing do you think you and Violet can swing by HQ?”
“It’s all right I know you mean well and yes we will stop by after Violet applies for classes okay?”
“All right then see you later.”
“Bye.” Mirage said as she hung up the phone just in time to be treated to the sight of Violet leaving the bathroom clad only in a towel.
“Who was that?” Violet asked as she removed the towel to dry her hair. When she didn’t get an immediate answer the young super let out an amused sigh as she turned invisible.
“R-right that was Xander, he wanted us to swing by the Agency after you applied for classes. He wanted to see if you can still mesh shields with my shield generator.”
“Did he mention how long it would take?” Violet said as she reappeared.
“No, why?”
“Because.” Violet then turned around with a mischievous glint in her eye. “If it doesn’t take too long, and if we don’t hear from the evil me… I was thinking you and I could use a date night.”
“You mean…?”
“Yup.” Violet said as she sauntered over to Mirage. “We’ll go someplace fancy for dinner and then come back home for “dessert”. What do you think of that?”
“That sounds heavenly.” Mirage said as Violet leaned for a kiss.
Form and function. Two words that described many of Edna Modes more notable creations, whether they be sleek, stylish, but protective super suits or the occasional gadget for the National Supers Agency, everything typically associated with Edna would be both pleasing to the eye and useful in some manner. Edna’s mansion was no exception to this rule. A modern marvel of architecture it sat at the top of hill as lord would sit upon his throne, solitary and commanding. The walls and laser fence more than capable of deterring most threats before they ever reached the mansion and should anyone be foolhardy enough to make it that far they would have to contend with Edna’s own private army as well as a myriad of automated defenses. In fact much of the posh décor and extravagant interior held a few nasty surprises of their own. As luck would have it Lucius Best a.k.a. Frozone himself had also decided to stop by to discuss the possibility of having his super suit updated. When the multitude of cultists swarmed out of the dimensional gates to attack the mansion it looked as though they were no match for the combined forces of Frozone and Edna’s security. That is until Shifty entered the field in the form of dragon, that would typically ruin anyone’s day.
Jack-Jack stared at the seemingly frail old man before him ready to use any one of his many powers to counter the more experienced man. Experience that was what prevented him from joining his family in their crime fighting adventures, despite Dash only being ten when he first started. Then again he had less of a choice than Jack-Jack on the matter. Taking advantage of the pause the old man moved in a blur his sheer speed capable of rivaling Dash’s at close range. In a flash of blue light Jack-Jack teleported behind his opponent only to be met with a back hand to the face that hit him with enough force to send him flying into the nearby wall despite the fact that he had started to morph into his steel form.
“That was sloppy Jack-Jack!” The old man said as he pretended to wipe dust from his orange robe before casually stroking his long beard. “If you wish to fight alongside your family you cannot let doubt haunt you. Your enemies will not be as forgiving as me.”
“I’m sorry Grandmaster.” Jack-Jack said as he brushed his shoulder length blonde hair from his face. “It won’t happen again.”
“So you keep saying.” The Grandmaster than turned to the safety chamber looming over the sterile training room. “Mr. Parr if you would please set the parameters for the next simulation?”
“Sure thing Grandmaster, what did you have in mind?” Bob Parr shouted over the intercom.
Before the Grandmaster could reply another voice was heard over the intercom. “I’m sorry Jack-Jack but I’m afraid I’m going to have to borrow your dad for a while.” The familiar voice of Uncle Dicker was heard over the sound system.
“What’s going on? Is it a super villain? Can I…” A sharp glance from the Grandmaster cut off the young super’s torrent of questions.
“I’m sorry kiddo but this would be too much for you to start out with maybe some other time. In the meantime I would like you to continue training with the Grandmaster. I’ll have an agent work on the simulations for you.”
“What’s going on Rick?” Bob said as he got up from the simulation console.
“It’s Edna’s place it’s been attacked by that alternate Violet’s forces. On the bright side Frozone was already there and casualties seem to be at a minimum so far. Plus we managed to create a small device that will dampen the abilities of their telepath so he will only be able to skim surface thoughts, they have been implanted into some spare masks and will be given to you and your family when they are picked up.” As the two began to briskly walk through the Agency’s corridors toward the awaiting armored car Rick turned to Mr. Incredible with one last warning. “I should warn you Shifty has been spotted in his dragon form.”
“Oh, good.” Mr. Incredible said sarcastically. “I haven’t been set on fire in a few weeks so it will be nice change of pace.”
Violet briefly looked around not that there was much to see in the cramped quarters of their armored escort. The black interior was a stark contrast to the white and blue armored suits of the anti-super squad of the agency that was accompanying her and Mirage to Edna’s mansion. Frustrated at this turn of events and the fact that it was her alternate self who was the perpetrator of them, Violet let he powers flare up taking solace in the familiar purple aura that briefly enveloped her body. The same aura that she had been enveloped in all those years ago when she had briefly had her powers boosted was now hers to call upon at will. And despite being a sign of her newfound strength it did little in terms of actual combat usefulness, then again it could be used as an intimidation tactic so there was that.
“Worried Invisigirl?” Mirage kindly asked not needing the visual cue to gauge her partner’s emotional state.
“A little, but I’m mostly annoyed at the circumstance in its entirety. I wish it wasn’t so damn convoluted you know?”
Mirage let out a little giggle at this happy to see the calming effect it had on Violet. “I understand. Don’t get me wrong I like the excitement, but I wish things were a little more simple and straight forward, with fewer casualties.”
“Amen to that.” Violet said as Mirage placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Turning toward one of the nearly identically armored agents Mirage then asked; “Lieutenant how are we handling this?”
“You’ve been briefed on the mission outlines?”
Both Violet and Mirage nodded. “The rest of the Incedibles family is a part of alpha team, they will act as the hammer and attack the enemy forces directly. We are beta team, the dagger and shield both. Our job will be two fold; escort any civilians and wounded to safety while Invisigirl proceeds to neutralize either the enemy telepath or the enemy commander.”
“Hear that Invisigirl?” Mirage said with a gentle nudge to the ribs. “No pressure.”
“We can do it.” Violet said as she briefly let her aura flare up again. “We’ll save everyone and get some answers!”
Veral shook her head as she watched the battle take place before her. Frozone and what was left of Edna’s forces were putting up a valiant effort against the draconic Shifty but it was obvious that it was a losing battle. The flames from Shifty’s attacks were quickly draining the moisture from the air and thus quickly diminishing Frozone’s powers. The fact that he had lasted as long as he did against such an opponent was impressive but Veral would expect no less from someone who was able to resist the corruption that plagued her universe. “Impressive.” Veral calmly stated as she turned to Edna who she kept at her side as they watched the scene from Edna’s ruined foyer.
“Why are you doing this Violet?” The diminutive woman asked her voice a bizarre mix of contempt and uncertainty.
Veral kneeled down so that she was eye level to the other woman. The insect like carapace of armor that was added to her grey robes doing nothing to slow the fluidity of her movements. “MY NAME IS VERAL!”
“Why are you doing this Veral?” Edna asked again seemingly unfazed by the violent outburst.
Veral scoffed as she stood up again. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“I asked didn’t I?”
“Very well I shall tell you. In my universe things were quite different, for example; a man named Xerek became the Syndrome in my universe. Buddy Pine went on to work for the National Supers Agency, in fact he was the one who introduced me to my beloved in my universe. For me life was bliss fighting crime alongside my family and my beloved Miri, being a national hero and star super of the N.S.A. All was I could ever hope for it to be, that was until Phage arrived. A twisted sorcerer from another universe I would later find out just what he was. You see Phage travels the multiverse infecting worlds with one or more of the seven deadly sins, for what purpose I do not know. All I saw where the results as my world became infected with lust. Some might think it would be a paradise of sexual freedom. It wasn’t. And would you care to know why Edna?” Veral asked as a psychotic smile distorted her features.
“Why?”
“Because Ms. Mode, pain and pleasure quickly became intertwined. They were literally tearing each other apart in the streets!” Something that was between a sob and laugh escaped Veral’s throat before she continued. “I saw Miri get torn limb from limb and eaten alive as people fought over her.” This time Veral did let out a bout of psychotic laughter before she continued. “So I screamed to any god if there was one to help me, to give me the power I needed for revenge, and my prayer was answered.”
“So what you will destroy people’s lives in this universe to get revenge on this Phage? Have you forgotten what it means to be a hero?!”
“DON’T YOU DARE LECTURE ME ON HEROISM IMPOSTOR!”
“What?” Edna asked completely dumbfounded by this sudden outburst.
“That’s right…” Veral said in between bouts of more psychotic laughter. “As far as I’m concerned you are all impostors the real Mirage died in my universe, so it doesn’t matter what I do here. Besides Phage is on this Earth and he has already begun to infect it with wrath.” As Veral recovered from her laughter a pair of armored cars pulled up to the ruined battlefield the majority of the Incredibles and two squads of N.S.A. agents emptying out of them, this however was of little impotence to her. The thing that was of quite significance was the sight of this universe’s version of her beloved. “IMPOSTOR!”
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