Your Average, Everyday Villain

October 26th

So, I still haven't been able to go on another retrieval and it's getting frustrating. Even my family is noticing the lack of 'Agent Z' and are starting to think that he was only a one and done type. Which isn't true at all! I just have been in school during all the retrievals and none have happened on the weekend. I'm getting so frustrated with it. How can I help out my family when I can't even properly test run any of my experiments?

Luckily, today after school in Taylor's basement, the two decided to help me with my villains poses. Taylor had way more say in this than I did really, spouting off nonsense about how a villain always needs to be prepared for their picture to be taken. And that the right pose can strike fear into people. I don't want to make people afraid of me. I just want to show my folks that I can handle helping them on retrievals like my brothers and sister do.

But Taylor made a good point when I told her that. If there are other villains on the retrieval, I can help use the pose to show them I really am a threat to them, not just the heroes and I might possibly cause them to not pursue an EO that I'm going after.

Although, if I'm going to be honest, after looking at these photos, I'm really the least scary person on the planet.

Here is some of the photos:

Yup.

Definitely not scary and most certainly not intimidating at all. Why did I let those two take pictures of these poses? They're so embarrassing. Ugh. I'm so glad that Mrs. Frizz doesn't actually read any of these and only looks at the first page, I'd die of embarrassment.

Only one more week of this journaling stuff. I have kinda liked all of this writing stuff down. It really has been nice having a place to share my thoughts and get them off my shoulders. A little secret place all my own.

It's nice.

So, I thought I would share the board that I saved the inspiration for my villain outfit. I did share this with Taylor and Jordan and I really shouldn't have 😂. Taylor had way too much fun adding her idea of outfits too the board. I was trying to be nice to Jordan and give him legit clothes to go with, she started pinning these anime-like outfits that no normal person could wear.

The weirdo 😂.

October 24th

So, I wasn’t able to go on a retrieval the last two days because my folks were already gone by the time I got home from school and back almost ten minutes within me walking through the door. It’s a little disappointing, knowing that I’ve missed out on two retrievals, but this last one had Python involved and I know that I am nowhere ready to deal with her and watch her injure my family, which, thankfully, wasn’t too bad this time around. Nothing Dad couldn’t heal right then and there after the retrieval was finished. But, I guess me missing out on these last two retrievals have given me some time to figure out what to do to make sure that Ray can’t just track where I’m going if I manage to score another EO. I found some flexible sheets of lead online for pretty cheap that I could use to line an old pouch that I found hidden in my closet. I’m just gonna use some fabric glue to make sure it stays in place on the outer fabric then see if I can figure out how to stitch another layer of fabric on top of the lead sheet so that it doesn’t scratch the EO up. While energy orbs are very sturdy, I don’t know the scratch resistance on them, and I’m not about to test it out just in case it allows some of its energy out through the scratch. I don’t need to figure out if a damaged EO can explode. That’d just be embarrassing, not to mention a waste of a perfectly good EO. Luckily enough, Jordan said he’d go with me to pick up some soft, easy to sew fabric tomorrow after school since the lead sheets should be there waiting for me by that time. Hopefully, none of my family members are home to grab it for me, I just really don’t need them to be all nosy about it. Me coming up my villain name was hard enough, I don’t need to try to explain why I need lead sheets to everyone.

Speaking of my villain name, Taylor thought it was absolutely hilarious that I chose ‘Agent Z’. Apparently, it’s my user-name for my old web page and I just completely forgot about it. I haven’t been on that account for a few years, I don’t even know if I remember the password to get into it. Maybe I’ll check it out later, I’m too tired right now. Taylor was also far more impressed by the fact that I managed to get an orb and keep it than Jordan was. He doesn’t think I should be keeping it, even after I explained to him why I haven’t put it in the safe yet. I just haven’t figured out a good enough excuse as to why I would need access to the inside of the safe yet. I mean, I can just scan my hand and open it, but Ray tracks everyone who goes inside it and the safe automatically sends out an alarm if anyone tries to tamper with the lock or door, so disarming the lock won’t work either. I wish I knew where exactly Ray’s lab was so that I could drop by and just leave it there like it just materialized inside his lab like it does outside and he just got lucky about it. I’m sure that it’s plausible for an orb to appear inside, there’s no evidence saying that it CAN’T happen, it just hasn’t yet. Hmm. Let me think more on that.

Evelyn and Matt still haven’t moved on from the fact that I managed to vanish with the orb. I’ve caught them twice now discussing on how to locate ‘Agent Z’s’ hideout and which abandon locations this new villain could be hiding in. Wyatt usually just listens quietly while tending to his plants on the windowsill in the living room. I don’t think he’s as bothered by the fact that they ‘lost’ an EO like our sister and brother are, but boy, it sure is entertaining. They’ve even asked ME if I have heard of a new villain coming to town recently and I nearly died at that question. Thank everything that I did a lot of theatre these last few years or I would have broken down laughing at them. Somehow, I managed to keep a straight face while telling them that “no, I haven’t heard of an ‘Agent Z’. I can ask Taylor and see if her folks have heard anything if you like?” Which, I did. And Taylor nearly choked on her pop, which was rather funny to watch. She told me she’d talk to her folks for me.

Though, I feel like now that I’m thinking about it, maybe the news shouldn’t catch wind of a new villain popping up. I mean, it’ll look rather suspicious once I stop going to retrievals after this second one, ‘cause, I mean, it’s not like I’ll be able to keep obtaining EOs, especially once I’m off at college. Unless I go to a college that’s no more than about two hours away. I could always expand the radius of how far my tracker can scan for orbs and I’m sure I could figure out a way to code something into my smart-watch so that I can get notifications right away when the tracker locates an orb… But should I? I mean, I had fun on this last retrieval, but that doesn’t mean each retrieval will be as easy as that one was. I only dealt with one villain and even then, Typhoon had left me to my own devices to try and obtain the other orb for himself. I do feel a little bad for not helping him out and I kinda want to make it up to him since he said some rather nice stuff about me, but I also don’t trust my skills enough in fighting to do more than dodge around and throw stinky smoke bombs at my family. But how am I to be sure that Shrapnel and Python would do the same? For all I know, they might attack me on sight and take the EO from me and then leave me to deal with my family. But, then again, I really, really like the thought of going on retrievals, even if I don’t come home with an EO. Maybe I should reserve judgment until after I’m able to go on a second retrieval. Can’t make any rash decisions, right?

Because becoming a temporary villain was absolutely not a rash decision and I totally put a lot of thought behind it.

I really need to work on my lying skills, they suck worse than my fighting does. And that’s saying a lot.

October 22nd

Holy. Crap.

I…I don’t know how to feel. Okay. Okay. Maybe I just write from the beginning? Yeah. Let’s just start with the beginning.

So, Saturday I went on my first ever retrieval. Like clockwork, I got up at 11 a.m. and while I was eating breakfast, Ray called in. Two more EOs popped up on the outskirts of town and at that moment, no villains were spotted on their way. It, honestly, couldn’t be any more perfect. Instantly, everyone was in motion, changing, collecting their weapons, downloading Ray’s map. Nobody paid me much mind as they rushed around to beat any villain that might catch wind of the EOs. And after all the run-ins with Python, I really don’t blame them for wanting to get there first and without any problems.

Too bad that one villain would actually be there.

After everyone was out the door, I ran upstairs and got dressed as quickly as possible. Jordan really outdid himself with my costume. Everything fit perfectly, great range of movement. With my mask in place, my voice changer on, and my tracker was already beeping the moment I turned it on. And it was beeping in the area that Ray’s map showed the EOs to be. Definitely a good start.

The dirt bike ran like a dream really. I’m not entirely sure why Taylor’s brother sold it to me for so cheap. And with how small my bike is, reaching the point where the EOs appeared before my family. Shocking, right? It didn’t take long for them to catch up though. As I followed the closest blinking dot on my tracker, I located the first EO hidden inside some tall, dried grass. I barely managed to squat down next to the first EO when Evelyn and Wyatt pulled up in their matching sport motorcycles. It was a little nerve-wracking as the two of them jumped off their bikes and pointed their weapons at me.

“Step away from the orb and state your business here,” Evelyn said, her voice hard and angry. If my heart hadn’t already been hammering already, it definitely was now. Her hand flexed on the handles of her sais as if itching to light them on fire like I know she loves to. 

Stay calm, Aydan, just stay calm. You got this. “I could ask the two of you the same thing,” I said, my deeper voice sounding way more confident than I was currently feeling. 

“We happen to be heroes,” Wyatt answered stiffly, his weapon, a long vine-like whip ready at his hip, “hired by the government. WE are allowed to be here. You, on the other hand, are not. So, step away from the energy orb and nobody has to get hurt.”

Shoot. Okay, I really didn’t want to fight them. And by this time, Mom and Dad have pulled up in their sleek sports car and Matt in his large black SUV. All three join Evelyn and Wyatt, their weapons also drawn and at the ready. I don’t blame them, it just felt a little weird being on the receiving end instead of watching them merely sparing with them. Matt spun his quarterstaff and pointed it at me.

“And who are you?”

Oh. Well, crap. I never came up with a fake name! I was so excited about everything else that I completely forgot to come up with a fake name for myself in case they spoke to me! Crap. Crap.

“Well?” Mom said, breaking through my silent panic, “Mystic asked you a question.”

Breathe, Aydan, just breathe. I paused, my gloved hand hovering over the orb, unsure if any sudden movements might set them off. Probably. They were pretty jumpy at home. Tilting my head, I wreck my brain when Mom raised her fists, her golden gauntlets shining in the sunlight, signaling the end of her patience. 

“Agent Z,” I blurted out, barely containing my wince. ‘Agent Z’? Really? That was all I could think of? Nothing cool like ‘Deathwing’ or ‘Nova’? Dang, Taylor would be disappointed in me. (I haven’t told Taylor or Jordan about the retrieval yet, I’m a little scared on how they’re gonna react to my name choice.)

Dad glared at me from behind his mask. “’Agent Z’? Never heard of him. Do you work for the government?” 

Don’t roll your eyes, Aydan, don’t do it. “Does it look like I work for the government?” Oh, yikes, sass on point, Aydan. Hope you enjoy being grounded. I grabbed the orb and slowly stood up as my family slowly processed my words and began to mutter amongst themselves. I guess it had been a while since a new villain appeared, so I think I kinda threw them off?

“If you don’t work for the government,” Wyatt said finally, “Then why are you here? Any and all orbs are to turned over to the government to be used as resources for the public.”

This time I just couldn’t hold back my eye roll. Everyone who has stepped outside their house knows why the government wants the orbs. I bring the orb up to my face and study it up close for the first time. The small glowing orb fit in the palm of my hand nicely, almost the size of a softball but slightly heavier, as if it was weighted. Warmth radiated through my glove, indicating just how much energy these little things house. I allowed a smirk to grace my lips as I glance back at my family.

“I think all of you already know the answer to that question.”

“Awe, did all of you start the party without me?”

Oh. Oh no. Of course, Typhoon had to show up. And in his stupidly cool color-changing sports car. How had none of us noticed it pulling up? But he did and now he was also here for the orbs and I was currently holding one in my hands, making me a target. And target I was because Typhoon noticed me right away. He had lifted platinum eyebrow as a creepy smirk stretched on his lips.

“Oh? And who do we have here? A new contender? Maybe this’ll spice things up a little bit.”

“So, he’s not one of your cohorts?” Dad asked and Typhoon shook his head. “Nope,” he said, emphasizing the ‘p’ at the end, “But like I said, this might make things more interesting. And he even managed to beat the lot of you to an orb. I think he’s doin’ rather well right now.”

And I know he’s a villain! I know! But hearing him give me some praise sent a warmth through my chest that I only usually feel when I’ve aced a super hard test. A job well done. And I shouldn’t be happy about it, but I am. I still am. What happened next, was rather… intense. Mom had demanded that I hand over the orb while Typhoon suddenly went off in the direction of the other orb. Both she and Dad took off the veteran villain while my siblings stayed to deal with me. I was really, REALLY hoping to not have to fight any of them, to only let them just take the orb from me and then I return home. My tracker worked (for the most part, I never did locate the second orb to fully make sure) and through my family’s reactions, none of them seemed to recognize me thanks to my outfit and voice changer. But…But then Typhoon had to come and compliment me and made me feel obligated to prove that I could really do this. That I could bring home an orb just like my family does and put it in the safe downstairs to be sent to Ray. So, instead of just giving my siblings the EO, I dodged and weaved around their attacks, their movements very similar to all the times I watched them train. I felt the wind from Matt’s quarterstaff as he swung it past my head, the heat of Evelyn’s flaming sais as she tried to swipe my arm holding the EO, and I barely even flinched as Wyatt’s wipe cracked near my ear. The adrenaline I felt while dancing out of the way of my siblings’ attacks. I kept the EO clutched tightly to my chest the entire time, not giving any of them the chance to just knock it out of my hand. But I know that they have much more stamina and that I wouldn’t be able to last forever and knowing that, I just reacted. Pulling out one of the stink bombs that I modified to have a little less of an odor and more smoke, I threw two at the ground near my siblings’ feet and once all three started coughing, I turned and bolted for my bike. I heard Typhoon laugh as he fought with Mom and Dad and when I chanced a glance his way, he actually gave me a thumbs up. A THUMBS UP! Me! I managed to return it with a wave and a cheeky grin (I really couldn’t help it) and took off.

I did my best to take as many back ways as possible to throw off anyone who might have wanted to follow me. In hindsight, I probably brought something to mask the EO, but I haven’t heard of Ray ever tracking an EO after a villain manages to take one. But I also don’t know if any of the villains have something to block the signal. I do have a lead box in my room that holds some of my older experiments because they would interfere with some of Ray’s equipment. Which, is where I currently have the EO hiding right now. I was gonna bring it to the safe but I barely remembered that there is a hand scanner that tracks everyone who opens the safe and I have NEVER gone into the safe, so what if Ray looks and sees that I opened the safe for some reason? I could barely come up with a lie about my alias, I don’t think I’d be able to come up with a good enough lie to satisfy my folks or Ray. So, I think I’m just gonna hide the EO until I can figure out a way to put it into the safe. 

But…But I find that I want to go on another retrieval. But the last two days have been rather vacant of energy orbs appearing, but there was just something about the feeling of it all. The rush I felt while narrowly dodging the attacks of my siblings was exhilarating! The way my heart hammered as I had to think on my feet to stay cool and come up with a story to keep my identity a secret from my entire family. And even coming out of it with an EO of my own! But, as a good inventor, one test run can’t be enough to base all of my findings on. I need to know if my tracker can accurately track more than one EO. Because most EOs appear in pairs! There’s really no harm in going on another one, right? And, I gotta admit, it’s kinda funny on just how bitter Evelyn, Wyatt, and Matt are about me getting away. That was all they could talk about during dinner. It was so hard to not say anything over supper, it really was! I have never seen them so salty before and it had to be the funniest thing. Three over-twenty-year-olds and all three of them were pouting like children denied dessert. At least Mom and Dad managed to get the second orb before Typhoon could get to it, so that helped keep the mood light during supper. Besides, I’m sure Evelyn, Wyatt, and Matt will get over it by the time there’s another retrieval, so I’m sure it’ll be fine.

As long as Agent Z doesn’t show up and take another orb from them XD.

  Geez, I’m a horrible little brother. But I just can’t help it. It’s so much fun!

October 17th

So, it’s official. Jordan’s completed my outfit, sooner than expected, and is willing to give it to me after my try-on when Friday rolls around. And if everything fits how it should (or how Jordan thinks it should), I can go on a retrieval this weekend. Hopefully this Saturday. My bike is all done and ready to go, my V.C. has fresh batteries, and my tracker is all charged and ready to be tested. I even have which voice I’m gonna use at the retrieval already programmed and ready to go. It’s a few octaves lower than mine, making me sound more mature so that nobody thinks that some random teen is trying to get in on a retrieval. I tested it out yesterday by calling Taylor and she told me that if she hadn’t seen my name pop up on her caller ID, she would have thought it was someone else. And if my best friends can’t tell that it’s me then I’m pretty sure that my family shouldn’t be able to either.

Though, if I’m gonna admit it, I’m really am kinda scared. Everyone came home last night with some kind of injury and looking like they’ve seen the end of the world and back again. Matt has his arm in a sling, Evelyn’s limping around with a sprained ankle, Wyatt has a nasty gash on his cheek, Dad has a black eye and a mild concussion, and Mom has a huge bruise running from her elbow down to her wrist. If it wasn’t for Dad’s concussion, he would have been able to heal them all last night, but he can’t because he refuses to heal himself first or see a doctor. I even offered to drive them! Let them come up with a story and I’ll back it up any way I can if the cops are called. I mean, with how often the cops interact with my family in their hero uniforms, you’d think that the government would allow them to know who they are, but nope. Seriously, politicians make absolutely no sense sometimes. I’m just glad that Ray knows some first aid and got them all bandaged up before they got home because I would have had no idea what to do. I may have taken first aid classes to get my babysitter license but it was all the basic stuff! CPR, how to clean a wound, how to get a bee sting out, how to deal with a nose bleed. Nothing in there about villain-inflicted wounds on a hero. It’s just… so weird to think that there are human beings out there that can just hurt other people and not feel guilty about it. And this time, Python was acting alone! ALONE! No wonder she’s never been caught! She’s probably killed every single hero that even tried to arrest her. That’s honestly all I can think of for why she’s still out and about. And maybe why Mom and Dad haven’t tried to actually arrest her, just merely keep her away from the EOs. Because I know they’re not the only heroes that Python deals with. I’ve met some of the other heroes. And yet… nobody has done anything about her violent behavior. Even Typhoon and Shrapnel don’t go out of their way to leave more than a bruise or ache when going against my family. They always get hurt when Python is at a retrieval. 

And I’m really scared that she might be at the one I’m gonna go on this retrieval weekend. I don’t want to witness my family getting beat up, but maybe if I’m there, I could distract her if need be? Maybe I should bring some of Evelyn’s old stink-bombs that are sitting downstairs, just in case. Although I might get lucky and be the only “villain” there and if that happens then I can just pretend that they’ve easily thwarted me and I can throw my hands up in the arm and say; “Oh no! I’ve been stopped! Curse you, heroes!” Or not… Wow, that was cheesy and I’m writing this in pen… But I know that at least Matt would find it amusing. He might not be willing to tell me much about their retrievals, but he does like to tell me about the funny things that the villains have said over the years. But now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I should come up with a catchphrase to make myself appear more villain-like. I mean, I know for a fact that Typhoon has one. Matt wouldn’t stop talking about it the first time the weather-wielding villain said it.

“The storm’s hit and you, my dear heroes, are in the thick of it,”

Or something to that extent. And I’m pretty sure Shrapnel likes to shout; “The fun has arrived!”

I have no idea what Python says as a catch-phrase and there is no way in the world that I’m gonna ask any of my family members. Especially after yesterday. But, if I go on this EO retrieval and find out that I can be useful and keep my family out of harm's way and spend more time with them, then I think it’ll all be worth it. Even if Python shows up. I might be short, but I’m fast and I’m always the last one standing in dodge ball, so I think I’ve got a chance to prove to everyone that I can be useful. I just know it.

October 15th

Geezums, how are teachers expecting us to do all their homework and have a social life outside of school? Seriously, I might be writing this for Tuesday the 15th, but coming off the weekend to having 3 tests on the same day, a paper due the next day, and about 2 hours of math homework because Mr. Jackson is gonna be gone. It could be worst I guess. I could be taking all AP courses like Jordan is and have homework almost every day, but it doesn’t mean I have to like the amount of homework I’m given right now. Seriously, though. I’m only two months into my senior year and I’m starting to think that June can’t come soon enough. But, then again, I’d just have college to look forward to and I’m pretty sure you still get homework in college. I’m just lucky that I managed to get almost all my repairs done on the dirt bike because I really don’t think I’ll be able to have much time for it this week.

However, on a brighter note, I received my boots and mask that I ordered this weekend today. Taylor helped me pick them out. A pair of black tactical boots with a set of red laces that I’m gonna put in and a black with red swirls winged mask that will cover the top half of my face.

“It’s almost like a masquerade,” Taylor had said with a sigh, “Like some of those rom-coms that Jill likes to drag me to.” But with the sound of her sighs, I know she doesn’t mind it as much as she wants us to believe. She’d do anything for Jill. Besides, I know she doesn’t watch the movie anyway and just watches Jill as she enjoys the movie for both of them. Taylor might think that she’s sneaky, but when we went to that strange rom-com musical, I had seen the way she just stared at Jill.

Anywho, the boots fit and the mask actually says on quite nicely. I’m still gonna use some of my face glue that I use for theatre and cosplay to make sure it stays in place, but overall, I think it’s a rather good start to my costume. I’m still not really sold on the red and black thing. It feels a little cliché but Jordan had insisted when we were buying the fabric for my outfit that it be red and black. Something about how the black colors will help me blend into the shadows and the red hiding any damage I might take while on the retrieval. Not that I plan on getting hurt, but I guess there’s never a way to be too cautious when it comes to getting in between heroes and villains. Besides, how can I say no to Jordan when he showed me his concept and it just looked so freaking cool? A long, sleeveless, black faux leather jacket with red trimming, a form-fitting black long sleeve mock-neck shirt, form-fitting black faux leather pants, a blood-red neckerchief to hide my voice-changer, and a pair of blood-red faux leather gloves. Jordan has always had this way with making whatever he draws a reality and I’m so excited to actually see it in person. How he’s gonna finish it by Friday, I have no idea, but he promised today that he would and that I need to swing by before he actually gives it to me to make sure everything fits correctly and I can move without worry. He’s the clothing wiz so I’m just gonna have to trust Jordan on this one. Thank god we don’t have to share our entries. Jordan would be unbearable if he saw me write that. I’m just excited that I might be able to go on a retrieval sooner than expected if he can finish it by Friday. Maybe even this weekend!

Although, going back to the subject of homework, besides that paper that’s due on Thursday, Mrs. Frizz really has been laying off on the homework, wanting us to mainly spend our time writing these entries. It’s kinda nice if I’m gonna be honest with myself. I can write anything I want on these pages and as long as I keep my notebook on me, I know that I’m gonna be the only one to read them. Don’t get me wrong, Jordan and Taylor have been nothing but understanding ever since I told them what my family does and how it makes me feel, but they have worries of their own. We’re gonna be going to college next year and none of us have figured out where we’ll be going, so why keep bothering them with my family problems when they have that looming over their heads? And, unlike some of my classmates, I really don’t mind taking time out of my schedule to write a full page. Goodness knows I have a lot to write about. 

Like how I actually had dinner with my family for the first time in the last six days. I mean, they still ran out of the house when I got home to go to a retrieval, but they actually made it home before 5:30, so I’m gonna count it as a win. Though, I was slightly nervous when Wyatt stopped me before leaving to tell me he had placed my packages on my bed. I was really hoping nobody would be home when they arrived so I could grab them and hide them, but I guess if it had to be anyone who saw them, I’d want it to be Wyatt. He doesn’t ask a lot of questions and he lets me have my privacy. Everyone else would have asked what it was and maybe he wanted to, but thankfully he had to leave right away so he couldn’t have even if he wanted to. That’s part of the reason why I’m writing this entry instead of watching t.v. with everyone downstairs. I’m half afraid that Wyatt will ask and I know he can tell when I’m lying and he’s not even the one with the psychic powers! So, I’d rather avoid it all right now. And who’s to say that no one else saw the packages? Evelyn and Matt love to snoop, saying that it’s in their right as the oldest siblings to do so. I really don’t think Jordan goes around snooping in his little sister’s stuff, but then again, I’m the youngest, so maybe I’ll ask him if that’s really a thing older siblings are supposed to do, just to be sure.

Uh oh, I hear Mom calling my name. Whelp, so much for hiding out in my room, but I doubt Wyatt will bring it up. Crap, she’s coming up the stairs now. 

October 10th

So, we’ve decided to meet at Jordan’s house on Friday so he can get my measurements for my outfit. He, apparently, already has some designs sketched up but he refuses to show any of them to me until Friday, the jerk XD. But knowing Jordan, all of them are awesome looking and he’ll throw them all out and complete a brand new sketch before we get to his house after school on Friday. To be honest, I am both excited and scare out of my wits. Once my outfit and bike are finished, I’ll be attending my first ever energy orb retrieval. I’m so close and yet, so far away. Is this weird unknown feeling what it’s like to be an adult? Making life choices without knowing what the true outcome will be?

I don’t know if I like this feeling of responsibility, no matter how enthralling it is…

I just have to keep telling myself that it’s all for a good cause. I just know that doing nothing will just continue to make me miserable. I just want to be given one chance to prove myself and my gadgets before I truly give up on this path of life. Just let me test my tracker and my ability in a retrieval and I’ll judge if my family is right in turning me away. But I have just as much of a right to test myself just like my other siblings got to. I’m just so tired of being alone.

I had to eat my supper by myself last night, only seeing my family for a few seconds when I got home from school. Apparently, Ray had contacted them right before I walked in and Shrapnel and Typhoon were already on the scent of the EO so they needed to catch up. However, this retrieval lasted until early this morning, seeing as they were all still up, nursing injuries when I came down for breakfast. Which told me that Python also joined the fray sometime last night. And with how moody everyone was, I don’t think they were the triumphant ones on this retrieval. But, I mean, how would I know? Nobody told me anything. 

Nobody texted me to let me know they were all right. I mean, it’s not like I care or anything. It’s not like they don’t have any way to contact me, unlike me, who isn’t allowed to have access to any sort of communication with them while on a retrieval. So, I mean, how would I know how they obtained their injuries? Or how severe they are? 

HOW WOULD I KNOW WHEN NOBODY WILL DISCUSS IT WITH? DO THEY THINK THAT I DON’T CARE? IS IT SUCH A CHORE TO CALL YOUR YOUNGEST AND LET HIM KNOW WHERE YOU ARE? Why can’t I be trusted like Evelyn, Matt, and Wyatt? Because I don’t have powers I’m not trustworthy? I thought that when I turned 18 that maybe Mom and Dad would be willing to include me in all those little family meetings they have when they lose an orb to a villain. Or that my siblings would be at least start sharing some information with me. I understood when I was younger, seeing that they wanted to protect my “innocence” but honestly, I would sneak to the top of the stairs and listen in on their meeting anyways and not always quietly. There’s no reason for them to hide this from me. I’m an adult now, right? I can handle it! I just want to be included in what’s happening. Like, we could come up with a code or something if they need to leave while I’m at school so I don’t come home to an empty house like I’ve been known to do. 

Now that I’m writing all of this down, it’s just strengthening my resolve to follow through with this plan that we’ve come up with. If they’re not going to include me willingly, I’ll just have to do it myself. And if that means becoming a villain for a day, then so be it. And I found something that will make it easier. The voice changing choker, or V.C.C as I like to dub it, that I made back in my sophomore year and it still works! If I wear this while out on my retrieval, then if I run into my family then they won’t recognize me right away if I talk. Which, according to Wyatt, I do a lot of. I just need to stop by the store tomorrow after school and pick up new batteries so that it doesn’t accidentally die on me. I really, really don’t want to get grounded for sneaking to a retrieval. 

Oh, I almost forgot, Mike also agreed to sell me his bike. Maybe I wrote something about it earlier, but oh well. He dropped the price to $50 hearing that it was me who was gonna buy it and brought it over right after my folks left. I hid it in the shed behind the garage since I’m the only one who goes in there. I’m just happy that the bike is in rather good condition so any modification I make this weekend should be pretty superficial. But if I’m gonna be a proper villain, I need the bike to match my aesthetic, or that’s what Taylor told me. She has better access to that kind of material than I do, her parents working in news and all. But even the web seems to support her claims. Shrapnel on her awesome-looking motorcycle that looks like she’s riding an actual bullet, Python on her three-wheeled golden motorcycle and dragon-shaped jet, and Typhoon’s color-changing sports car. I, honestly, think that my ride will look nowhere near as wicked as those professional villains, but I think I can make do. It’s only for one day.

I also found some of my siblings’ old gadgets and training weapons that they practiced with when they were younger and trying to fully control their powers and strength. I’ve watched them train enough with them to know the proper grip and I may, or may not, have taken to sneaking down to the training area whenever I was left to my own devices. And I know for a fact that none of this stuff has been touched in years, so I might as well make use of it right? Recycling. It helps the planet. And, if I’m not the only “villain” attending whichever retrieval I attend, I need to make sure I have a way to defend myself. I’m not dumb, I know that I’m nowhere near as strong as the rest of my family, powers or not, and I’m not so full of myself to think I can be on their level. And besides…

October 8th

Okay, okay, so I think we’ve come up with a solution to how I can go to one of the energy orb retrievals without my family stopping me. I’m going to disguise as a villain for one of my family’s retrievals! It was all Taylor’s idea, really, but I think it’s brilliant. And it’ll keep me from being stuck at home and allow me to experience an EO retrieval without my family interfering. 

It started during lunch, the three of us decided to head down to Burger Bros and get some burgers and shakes, (senior privilege is the best, honestly,) and since the day was nice and rain-free for once, we decided to eat outside. Taylor and Jordan are the best, really. They are always willing to listen and suggest different ideas whenever it comes to my family problem. And this lunchtimes was no different. 

“You could always try telling them how you feel,” Jordan said before shoving a fistful of fries into his mouth. He says that every time we have this conversation. “You know that I’ve already tried that,” I said, huffing like I always do, “Everyone always dismisses me.” 

Jordan merely shrugged and it took a lot of will-power to not throw my strawberry-banana shake at his face. Which I’m glad that I didn’t. It would have been treason if I had. BB makes some of the best shakes around. Taylor, knowing that I was about to disgrace my milkshake, tapped my knee to gain my attention.

“What if you tried a different approach this time?” 

When it comes to asking my family about letting me get involved in the family business, I am pretty sure I have exhausted every avenue I know in how I bring up the topic. And the result is always the same. No matter day, night, weekday, weekend, school year, or summer vacation. The response is always; “No, Aydan, now just drop it.”

“A different approach?” I said back and Taylor nodded at me as she finished chewing a bite of her double cheeseburger.

“Yeah,” she said, nodding as if she was some sort of sage, “you’ve tried asking, so why not just… not ask? And just do it.”

When those words had left her mouth, I nearly choked on my drink. I, not once, have never not asked my folks before doing something. Especially when it meant leaving the house. It’s just… They lead such dangerous lives and have so much to worry about that I never wanted them to worry about me in the same way. So I would always ask before I did anything, this way they always know what I’m doing and where I am. It’s just a habit. I voiced this to Jordan and Taylor.

Taylor merely nodded and sipped her pop, “I get that, but you’re technically an adult now, right? Legally, you can join the army and vote now and next year, when we’re all in college, we aren’t going to be asking our parents to do stuff. So why not start practicing now? And I vaguely remember someone complaining about how he hasn’t been able to test out his tracker thing for his final project last year.”

  Dang. I really hate it when she’s right. But helping my family out without their permission? They’d throw a fit! But… I have been wanting a chance to test my EO tracker… And going to a retrieval without my family hovering over me would allow me to get better results… And I am the only one who knows how to use it right now. It’s really not a bad idea but…

“How would I even make it to a retrieval without my family noticing? Ray makes all of their vehicles and those only start with a chip that’s in one of their gloves,” I said, crumbling my cheeseburger’s wrapper into a small ball, “And they’re always informed when new orbs are located, so they’re always going to be at the retrieval. They’d flip if they saw me.” 

Taylor scowled in thought before snapping her fingers. “My brother is selling his old dirt bike since he got a new one for his birthday. He only wants about 70 bucks for it and it’s still in pretty decent condition. He was gonna give it to me, but Dad already promised to get me a new one as a graduation gift. I can text him and see if he’d be willing to sell it to you.”

I’ll never admit it, but now I’m thanking Evelyn for always wanting me to help her with her vehicles. I could customize it so that no one would know who it used to belong to. Eve always leaves extra parts laying around the garage, so I highly doubt she’d miss a few scrap pieces here and there.

“But there’s still the problem of his folks recognizing him at the retrieval,” Jordan reminded, flicking a fry at Taylor. It hit her in the shoulder but she managed to catch before it hit the grass and ate it just to spite Jordan.

If I hate it when Taylor is right, I absolutely hate it when Jordan is right. He’s like the mom of our group, always having this down-to-earth approach to everything we do. He is the more level-headed of the three of us while Taylor and I tend to have our heads in the clouds. And at this moment, Jordan’s face was twisted in his “You-Can’t-Be-Serious-About-This” expression and usually, that was enough to make us rethink our current train of thought. It almost worked on me but Taylor threw her burger wrapper at him.

“So? Then he can wear a disguise, just like they do,” Taylor said, shrugging, “I mean, it’s nearly Halloween, so I’m sure we could find you a hero costume and with someone’s help, fix it up to look decent enough to pass.”

“Don’t drag me into this!”

And, again, Taylor’s idea was sound, except…

“Heroes have to be registered by the government.”

Jordan looked at Taylor with a smug expression as I spoke but she merely waved her hand at me.

“Then be a villain for a night,” she said, a little too calmly in my opinion, “I highly doubt they have to be registered with the government and if they did, well, those villains are too dumb to be considered villains if you ask me.”

And here is where everything fell into place. Become a villain for one night. I mean, that would be all I need. A single night to see if I can really hold my own during a retrieval and to get the data I need for my tracker. I don’t need to be registered with the government to be a villain for a night and a lot of villains come and go. So I could go to a retrieval, see if my tracker actually works, let my family obtain the EO and then just vanish into the night, and nobody would be none-the-wiser. Then I could finally complete my tracker and prove that I can help my family without giving them a faulty gadget.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually contemplating this!” Jordan cried, grabbing at his hair. Hmm. Something is telling me that he really didn’t like our plan, but it’s a little late for that.

“But this might just be the only way I can help them out,” I said, “And besides, it’s not like I’d truly be a villain. I’d just be there for research purposes only. And if, for some reason, I do somehow get an orb or two, then I’ll just slip it into my parents’ vault. I was given access just in case Ray needs to get in, so that shouldn’t be a problem. And it’d only be for a night. Stop worrying, Jordan.”

The glare I received I will have nightmares of it for months to come. Seriously, Jordan is gonna make a great dad someday. His glare nearly rivals Mom’s and she has super strength to back up her glare. 

“Well, don’t expect me to help you…”

“I’ll let you design my villain outfit.”

Bribery of the clothe-making kind always works on Jordan. The moment those words left my mouth, Jordan’s mouth had snapped shut and this thoughtful expression crossed his face. And he’s the only one out of us who knows how to sew, so I kind of need him for this part. I’m really glad Mrs. F is keeping these journals private otherwise Jordan would kill me, knowing I use his love of making clothes to my advantage. And it helps that whatever Jordan makes is always wicked-looking, so he’s the best option for helping me make a decent villain costume. And if Mom and Dad become suspicious, then I can just use the excuse that he’s helping me with my Halloween costume or a cosplay of some kind.

And I’m just exploring all my possible career avenues as a good high school senior should. By testing my prototype and becoming a villain for a night. Mom and Dad do tell me to keep my career options open. XD.

October 5th

So, I’m not entirely sure how to start something like this. I’ve never really been one to just sit down and write things out, but Mrs. Frizz wants all of us to take up journaling for the rest of the quarter. At least two entries a week due on Tuesday and Thursday. It’s the weekend now and I have until Tuesday before my first entry is due, but I have nothing else to do with my family gone until who-knows-when. So why not get a head start? 

But, where to start?

Mrs. Frizz promised to not read any of the entries, merely glance to see if at least a page is filled to get the full credit for this assignment. She said this way we can write anything we want to get off our chest without fear of having our secrets revealed. 

“Everybody has their own secrets and reasons for keeping them,” she said, “And I’m not goin’ to take that from all of you.”

Weird, but okay, Mrs. F, I’m gonna trust your words on this type of privacy because I do have a few things I want off my chest and Taylor said this is a good way to start. So, I’m just gonna write stuff down until I can’t write anymore.

So, the main thing I want to get off my chest is how my family is almost never here. They’re always called out by Ray, who has located another energy orb that they need to retrieve before somebody bad does. I mean, I get it, I really do. Energy orbs hold so much power inside of them. A single orb can charge a twelve-story complex for at least three months with all the lights left on. So, just imagine if a bad guy managed to get a hold of one? It could be bad. But, it always seems that orbs appear when I finally get to hang out with my family. Just like today!

Mom, Dad, Evelyn, Wyatt, and Matt were all sitting with me, a promised movie night after they had taken off on my birthday this past Tuesday. And not even twelve minutes into the movie, my favorite by the way “The Hobbit,” when Ray’s face appeared on our screen.

“Another two orbs just appeared on the radar,” Ray said, popping up his radar screen next to his face and two dots in close proximity blink at us,  “And I know for a fact that both Typhoon and Python have noticed the signal, too.” And that really got my family going. The next thing I know, my family is all decked in their uniforms, retrieving their gear that Ray created just for them, and with apologetic smiles, left with quick ‘good-byes’. Ray even had this sympathetic look on his face before bidding me a good night and signing off with a, “Maybe next time, kiddo.”

But that’s what he said on Tuesday when he popped in with another report of three EOs being located and I had to eat my pie all by myself as everyone rushed off again. It wasn’t so bad when we were younger, I mean, only Mom or Dad would go, needing to stay with us, but when my siblings got older, then Evelyn would be in charge. Then when she got a better hold of her powers and could accompany Mom and Dad, and by the time Matt and Wyatt were old enough to accompany Mom and Dad, I was old enough to be left home alone. And being the only one of the family with no powers, I’m left home A LOT.

I mean, I know that I would just get in the way if I tried to help retrieve an EO and keep it out of harm's way, but I know I can help in other ways! I have so many ideas on how to improve my family’s gear for obtaining EOs and even a theory on how to make a hand-held EO tracker. Heck, I have the prototype hidden away in my closet right now. But every time I mention it, I get shot down.

“No, Aydan, you should be thinking about applying to colleges right now.”

“No, Aydan, this work is too dangerous for you.”

“C’mon, Ay, I’m sure there’s more things you want to do than dealing with this type of work.”

“No, Aydan. Have you finished your homework yet?”

“Really, Aydan, there’s so much more you could be doing. Honest. Just let it go, ‘kay?”

Nobody ever gives me a straight answer when I bring it up on why I can’t help them. It’s a family business, right? That’s why Eve, Matt, and Wyatt get to help out, right? So why can’t I? I could help Ray! He could teach me things that my robotics class couldn’t, I’m sure of it! It’s just all so unfair! I want to help! But I can’t because I don’t have any powers. I’m the most normal out of all of my family, so why do I feel like I’M the weird one?

I really hope that Mrs. Frizz won’t actually read any of this. I can’t risk my family like that for some dumb assignment, but I really need to vent. I can only vent to Taylor and Jordan for so long, especially over text. It’s just not safe. And it’s nearly midnight, so I highly doubt their folks would be okay with them just leaving the house to hang out with me until my family comes back, even if it is Saturday. I mean, Taylor is also 18 now, so she wouldn’t get in trouble with the curfew law, but Jordan is still 17 and if caught, he would get in trouble. Majorly. 

But it gets so lonely by myself...

I just never know when anyone will be back or how injured they’re going to be when they come back, though I have my guesses. It’s just, Dad can only heal everyone so much before putting too much strain on himself. Sometimes, they all come home unscathed and jolly and other nights, they come home bandaged, upset and wanting nothing more than to shower and forget the day. No one will tell me the details of what happens either, saying that I shouldn’t get caught up in this kind of business, but I’ve noticed the patterns. 

Whenever Python is involved with retrieving an EO, I can expect at least some injuries on at least one or two of my family members. When it’s just Typhoon, it can go either way and when he is paired with Python? It’s usually ending in injuries and failure to obtain the orbs. When it’s just Shrapnel, well, she’s the newest bad guy out of all of them, so more times than not, my family can walk away with almost no injuries and an EO in hand. She hasn’t teamed up with Typhoon or Python yet, but it’s only a matter of time. And seeing as both Typhoon AND Python are hunting the same orbs as my family, I can expect some injuries I’m sure. 

Wow… Okay, maybe this journaling thing isn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be, I’m already way past the single page requirement that Mrs. Frizz wants from us. But Taylor was right. Just writing all of this down has really helped. I’m not as mad as I was earlier when everyone just up and left. Irritated, yeah, but not mad. I just want to spend some time with my family, is that so bad? But how can I when EOs just randomly appear? I swear those dumb things appear when they do just to spite me. Oh, I hear noises coming from the garage, everyone must be back. I’ll just leave this here before Mrs. Frizz thinks somethings wrong with me with how much I’ve written. And to see if there’s anything I won’t be allowed to help with. Like usual. XP