The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 13 - Just One Lie }

The clock in Virgil's bedroom read 2:53 am when Logan next opened his eyes. His body still ached with each minuscule movement but his leg felt much better. The break most likely being downgraded to a fracture. That was enough for him to get up and start planning. His muscles screamed as he moved, begging him to rest longer but time was not on his side.

Fighting to sit up, Logan pulled his backpack over to him, wincing as his shoulder throbbed, but he didn't stop. He had chosen this path, he would see it through. He pulled out the pain pills first, dry swallowing a set before pulling out his laptop. He knew he shouldn't take pills on an empty stomach, it was bound to make him nauseous, but he didn't have the energy to get up and shamble towards the kitchen. Also, what was a little nausea when added to the rest of his pain? Lastly, and most importantly, he didn't want to take what little food Virgil had in his kitchen.

When the laptop booted up the first thing he did was sign into a hotspot server he had in his backpack. He had to keep himself off-grid and if Deceit was here it was possible his parents were monitoring the outgoing internet connections. Then again, that might have been something Logan would do, not them. He pulled up a tool that would allow him to send a text without a phone and sent one to the creativity twins.

'Patton was kidnapped. You were living with an imposter. Your assistance is needed. Come to the old house.' It was 3 am, they likely weren't going to get it right away but the sooner they did the sooner he would know if his plan could include Roman and Remus. Rescuing Patton was the top priority, rescuing Deceit's brother was the second. Speaking of Deceit, Logan used his powers to lift up his hard drive and bring it over to him. He wasn't sure which was harder on him, using his bruised muscles or his powers, both were so draining in his fragile state.

What was Deceit's actual name? It had to be in the files somewhere. As he continued to search and his mind continued to race, Logan didn't hear the door open until Virgil, no Anxiety, he hadn't been given permission to use his civilian name, was standing in front of him.

"You should be resting."

"I've slept an adequate amount, especially if you consider the time it took you to get home from work." That was right, Virgil was working for the College. Logan has to send a message to the professors and hopefully be excused from the exams. He had high enough grades in most of his classes.

"And you are still healing. Patton looked tired after talking with you but I doubt he was able to fix everything." Virgil yawned, not wanting to have this conversation at 3 am.

"Right, about Patton." Logan's voice became serious as he adjusted his glasses, his frames barely hiding his black eye.

"What about Patton?" Virgil shifted, wrapping an arm around himself as he waited for Logan to say exactly what he needed to say.

"I understand what has caused the recent malfunction of his powers and I believe we can remedy the situation but it is going to require breaking into the Chessmaster's secret compound." He doubted his parents would be dumb enough to keep Patton where he was before and the only safe place to keep him would be at the compound. That was actually a blessing because Deceit's brother was probably there as well.

"Wait, you want us to break into their secret base? How do I know you are not leading us into a trap? There are only two of us heroes and who knows how many of them." Virgil seemed very much awake now.

"Zero-Sum and Mother Necessity are both cautious people. There shouldn't be more than 4 guards, most of their security measures are mechanical, and I have already asked Duke and Prince to join us. Whether or not they choose to is still to be seen.

Virgil flopped into his desk chair. "What is it that we are getting any way?"

Logan hesitated before drumming his fingers on the desk. "We are getting the real Patton back."

Silence.

It was thick and choked at Logan and when Virgil spoke it was much too quiet. "What do you mean?"

"Your Patton was replaced two months ago, if my timeline is correct. That is about when your group began to show signs of stress. I discovered this right before coming to you for help."

"And the person currently sleeping in Patton's room?"

"An associate of my parents who I am trying to win to our side."

Virgil stood up and started pacing, biting at his nail. "I have half a mind to drag him in here to explain."

"I don't believe that will be of much use. If he does not want you to have information, you will not be able to get it from him."

Virgil looked at Logan. "And what about you?"

Logan looked at Virgil with a raised eyebrow.

"What information are you willing to give me?"

"There is only one secret that I intend to take to my grave. You have shown kindness and hospitality by not handing me over to the authorities, so I am willing to answer any questions you have."

Virgil sat back down, thinking through this before finally saying, "alright, why the food?"

"Simple, I was born into a family of villains, I did not choose it. I find the methods of Zero Sum and Mother Necessity to be outdated and self-destructive. I believe it is a much better use of our powers to assure a healthy balance of justice is enacted. Though breaking the laws can be useful when the laws are corrupt their entire motivation is self-gain, and I believe there are more important things than that. The four of you were fighting for much of the same. I wanted to assure you would be strong enough to continue that fight."

Virgil nodded, not fully convinced but it brought something to his mind. "What caused you to believe there is something worth protecting?"

Logan's breath stuttered and Virgil could see conflict running through his blue eyes before he began to speak slowly, every word chosen with precision. "My powers... like many of our powers, are linked to my emotions. When I was younger I was not in as much control of this. I allowed my powers to get out of hand and because of that, people who were important to me died. When my parents discovered what had happened they did not care about the emotional toll it took on me, but rather, they cared that their plans for a new weapon were ruined as the people in question had the correct genetic markers to become extremely powerful."

Something about his story didn't add up to Virgil, maybe it was just the way that he said it or maybe there was something about how Logan refused to look at him. Either way, the truth seemed to weigh heavily on Logan and Virgil decided not to push the subject.

"Alright, well, I think it's only fair to let Patton decide your fate. So, once we get him back he will decide if we ship you to the cops or not." Virgil shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants, "But know I will have more questions in the morning."

Logan nodded and watched as Virgil left the room quickly saying, "Get some rest Logic."

He wasn't sure he could now that his memories were focused on that night 17 years ago. Though Logan didn't know it, Virgil was right about the fact that Logan wasn't telling the truth, but how could he. The truth of that night was one secret that Logan had to protect no matter what, and maybe once he was certain everyone was safe, he could block the memory from his own mind, though he had no clue what that might do to him.

AN: I don't know about you other authors out there but I have a hard time keeping secrets and surprises from my readers, especially ones that I am excited about. That entire last section was completely self-indulgent because I do want you to figure out the twists, I want you to figure out Logan's secret and when you finally see it revealed you will slam your hands on your desk and shout "I knew it!" 

So... yeah... I don't know when the truth will come out but I personally can't wait because I want to know what you all think.

Love you all! Tell me if you think you know what Logan's real secret is!