A D Tier's Breaking Point

Chapter 4

Janice and Bernard quickly went into parent mode, with Bernard leading a shocked Alex into the living room to be fussed over while Janice went into her office for her "work phone" and contacts. Alex barely paid any attention until a small plate was being put into his hands, and he looked down to see a hefty slice of pecan pie.

'Not cherry I'm afraid,' Bernard said. 'Couldn't bring myself to cook it frankly. Next time I'm in town though...actually, the shops are probably open, I can get some cherries now if I'm quick enough-'

'This is fine,' Alex cut in, busying himself with the pie and fork, 'honestly anything you cook right now would be great.' He bit into the first mouthful and paused, his nervous talking and energy melting away as he savoured the dessert.

'It's good then?' Bernard asked, and Alex nodded. 'Just like you remember?' Alex nodded again and Bernard smiled. 'Good. Oh, milk, you can't have pie without a glass of fresh milk.' And then he was off again, bustling around in the kitchen. Alex listened to the clink of glasses, closing his eyes and letting it all wash over him. His dad rattling around in the kitchen, homemade pie, with a faint scent of whatever he had last baked in the air. Outside the chickens cooed and pecked around their coop, and good old Daisy was dozing outside the barn. Home. He was home again.

Bernard stepped back in and Alex jolted back up, shovelling in another bite of food while accepting the glass of milk, and watching Bernard settle in his armchair. 'Sorry about the dirt by the way.'

'Hm?' Bernard looked at Alex's suit, then at the floor, 'Oh no bother. It will be easy enough to clean. Right?' Alex smiled sheepishly and clicked his fingers, vanishing the dirt from himself and the floor, and then turned back to his plate. 'Good lad,' Bernard said with a smile. 'Now, do you want to eat your pie and just settle? Or do you want to look at that list of questions you're bound to have?'

Alex opened his mouth, but before he could answer footsteps from the kitchen had both men turning towards Janice as she came in with a phone to her ear, clearly a woman on a mission, 'Listen young man, you have 5 seconds to get me onto the phone with someone who recognises the name Janice Harris or I will personally demonstrate where S tier got his imagination from. Five. Four. Three.' She paused with a smile and folded her arms, winking at Bernard as generic hold music rang from the phone.

Alex was struggling to hold back a snort of laughter, 'Who are you trying to scare to death?'

'Someone who can get me through to Morgan,' she said, and Alex was suddenly sat much straighter. 'Or at least to that new fangled assistant of theirs. What's their name...'

'Joey?' Bernard offered.

'No that's one of Alex's old lot. Although he would be good too,' Janice said.

Alex blinked, 'Joe works with Morgan now? When did he upgrade to villain?'

'Oh no dear,' Janice smiled, 'he's still a henchman. Morgan actually ended up hiring a lot of your old staff I do believe.'

Alex's eyebrows hit his hairline, 'What? Why?'

Janice frowned, 'Which part dear?'

'Morgan plans elaborate heists and robs credit unions,' Alex said, looking at his parents as if that explained everything. From their confusion it clearly didn't, and Alex scowled. 'My henchmen worked on, you know, plans for my scale. Why would they suddenly turn around and agree to a job doing D tier petty crime?'

Janice looked at him in surprise, then turned to Bernard, 'Didn't you tell him anything?' She ignored Bernard's affronted expression and turned to Alex when a new voice appeared on the phone. Alex's super senses picked up the voice easily enough, and that Janice clearly recognised them.

'Hello there, you must be pretty scary for Daniel to put you through to me.'

'Monday darling,' Janice said. 'How have you been? How's Morgan?'

Monday laughed, and Alex frowned at the slightly artificial tone in the laugh, 'That first one feels like a trick question Mrs Harris. And the boss? They're...well you know what the boss is like. What can I do you for?'

Janice pursed her lips at that, but continued on, 'I actually need to speak to Morgan, it's rather urgent. Or Joey if he's around.'

'Sorry ma'am but they're both busy with today's job.'

Alex frowned as Janice slipped into concern, 'They're doing a heist today?'

The artificial voice giggled, 'I didn't say it was a heist ma'am. It's going to be quite the show though, I don't think you're gonna want to miss it.'

Alex snapped his fingers and summoned the TV remote to his hand, turning on the TV to see news footage live from City Central Town Hall.

"And while the streets are alive with parties, a crowd has gathered at City Hall where the mayor and the leaders of the Fairness Association are getting ready for a speech for the special occasion where they plan to announce formally making this historic date a national holiday."

'They didn't!' Janice gasped as Alex took in the scrolling text on the screen.

"That's right Cheryl, right now anyone who is everyone is gathering to hear from our wonderful heroes who fight to protect us every single day, and who a year ago today, succeeded in a feat that everyone thought impossible. Kids have taken to the streets to cheer them on as we all celebrate the first anniversary of the heroes vanquishing most dangerous villain of our time, S-Tier."

Alex was on his feet, the last of the pie sent flying as the light above them shook from the barely suppressed rage coming from the S-tier. His parents were less concerned about controlling their emotions.

'They turned my son's death into a national holiday?!' Bernard shouted, on his feet as well and looking like he was ready to rip something apart.

'Oh those good for nothing, self-righteous,' Janice was shaking with anger as she turned back to her phone, 'Monday did you know about this?!'

'I'm surprised you didn't,' Monday said. 'They've been bragging about doing this for weeks. Don't worry though, the boss is on the case.'

'Morgan's going to crash their announcement?' Alex spun to Janice and her phone, his anger immediately morphing into worry. 'If this is being led by the Fairness Association then every top tier hero is going to be there.'

'And?' Monday laughed through the phone, 'you think they stand a chance against the boss?' Alex started at that, as Monday continued, 'Hey Miss Harris, who's the new guy? I don't recognise the voice.'

Janice was glancing between the TV and Alex, her thoughts going a mile a minute, before she raised the phone to her face again, 'Of course, introductions. Alex, this is Morgan's personal assistant Monday. Monday, this is my son Alex. Just got back today actually. He's always been one for dramatic timing.'

There was silence down the phone, and in the living room, aside from the noise coming from the TV.

The reporters were now quiet as the cameras had switched to one on a rooftop, or perhaps a drone, hovering over the crowds of people as they began to cheer. The camera panned to the main stage in front of City Hall and Alex growled at the parade of heroes stepping out and waving at their pathetic adoring fans, flanking an older woman with a large gaudy necklace that signalled her as the mayor.

The phone came back to life as Monday piped up, 'I'll get in touch with the boss now.'

'See that you do,' Janice said.

'And while you do that,' Alex said in a low dangerous voice, 'I think I'll go and crash this party of theirs.'

Before anyone could respond the TV speakers squealed, making everyone wince. As they watched, all the people in the crowds reacted in a similar way, their cries of celebration turning into murmurs of panic and worry. The mayor was trying to speak into the microphones on the podium but with no luck. Which was when a very familiar voice chimed in on the sound system.

'Well would you look at what we have here?'