The Path of Redemption

The Incredibles: The path of redemption.
Englishwitch
Disclaimer: Disclaimer- I do not own The Incredibles, it is a Disney/ Pixar animation motion picture.

Chapter 6- The choice.

Vanisher raced down the roads as fast as her courage would allow, Which was damn close to the bikes top speed. Cars and streets whizzed by her in the blink of a eye. Only her super reactions stopped several close calls turning into horrible accidents. She came so close to several cars that she knew which stations the radio was tuned to. She had to get there before Shifter had a chance to get too far from the scene of the crime. He had escaped her too many times, this time she would not stop until she had him. He was a criminal and needed to be brought to justice.

A temperature warning light glowed an angry red. Edna had done a wonderful job at modifying the bike to work perfectly normal while the engine stayed almost totally silent. The modification came at the sacrifice that the bike couldn’t hold it’s top speeds for too long or the engine would burn out. Until now Violet had never seen it as a problem. But now it was a frustration; if she didn’t slow down son the bike was probably going to set on fire.
“Just a little longer.” She begged the machine as she skidded around a tight corner, dangerously, earning angry honks form a driver. She had come so close her hair brushed against the hood of the car. “Just hang on another minute.”

She was approaching the right area. Almost half a mile from the crime scene. All she needed was the bike to hold out a few seconds more. Suddenly a dog ran out into the middle of the road. It froze and stared at the rapidly approaching Vanisher and her vehicle in that way animal did when they knew they were going to die. Violet squeezed the brakes as tightly as she could and twisted the handlebars in a desperate bid to turn. Everything started to run in slow motion and she knew exactly what was going to happen. Sparks flew up around her as the metal frame scraped along the road. Vanisher pushed herself away from the machine a split second before her leg would have been trapped under the heavy bike. She rolled out of control, her limps flopping about like a rag doll. She lost the concept of up and down. Her practically indestructible suit protected her body but her head slammed into the pavement a couple of times. Vanisher came to a stop as she rolled into the gutter. Her head hurt so much and her vision swam and faded in and out of darkness. She could feel something wet running down her cheek and didn’t know if it was blood or a tear. Her bike moved on another few feet but came to a stop of its own accord. It looked fine, but she hadn’t seen the side that had met the road just yet. Edna was going to kill her and all because of a stupid dog.

Violet squinted her eyes and managed to focus on the animal. It was still standing n the exact same spot, the bike had come six inches away from it. She stared harder and somehow her muddled thoughts made her realise that she wasn’t looking at a dog, but a wolf. There was no way a wolf would be in the city at all it had to be “SHIFTER!” She bellowed angrily. Vanisher staggered to her feet and tried to trap him in a shield, but her mind was still shaky and confused after the accident and she couldn’t focus enough to generate a force field. The wolf yelped I fear and ran off across the street and down an alleyway. Vanisher followed on, staggering a little but moving quickly. She was sore but her anger gave her the strength to carry on.

Shifter’s move turned out to be a wrong one; the alleyway was a dead end and with Vanisher behind him he was cornered. She leaned against a wall and glared at him. “I’d chase you to the ends of the earth.” She said angrily.

Shifter suddenly reared up on two legs, his body started to grow and swell. His legs thickened and the muscles on his arms grew. Paws became clawed fists and he grew to just over seven feet tall. He snarled and growled loudly, clenching his fists and baring his teeth, but Vanisher didn’t even flinch and he didn’t take a step closer from his spot directly in front of the wall.
“Try what you like.” She said in a serious tone. Even in her slightly concussed state her obsession with bringing him to justice rang out clearly. “I won’t give in until I see you rotting in a cell.”

Shifter stopped his show of strength and gave a massive sigh. It was weird to see and hear in his werewolf form. His shoulders slumped and he started to shrink, fur withdrew back into is body and the muscles vanished. Slowly his features became more human and he became the child he was. He was young, just a few years younger than she was. His hair was greasy and filthy. He was thin and looked like he hadn’t eaten a decent meal in ages. He wore no other clothing than his suit, now very dirty and very, very smelly but not torn, Edna’s work had held up its reputation. He looked at her with large sad eyes and Vanisher was even shocked to see tears.
“Please.” He said as the first drop ran down his face. “I’m sorry…but don’t let me go to jail…I want to make up for what I did…Please.” He was begging her, sincerely begging. Vanisher looked at him and felt a pull on her heart strings. She saw him now for what he was; not a wanted criminal, nor a powerful monster but just a young child who had gone down the wrong path, made a terrible mistake and was now seeking to earn forgiveness for what he’d done. She realised that she hadn’t been the only one who’d been a prisoner of Psychewave’s mind-control power.
“You don’t want to help Psychewave?” She asked quietly; testing the waters, as the old saying went. The boy looked at her like she’d slapped him in the face and slowly shook his head.
“When he was gone I was lost. For so long I didn’t know what to do. I had to learn to think for myself again. Even then all I could think of was how to get him back. But slowly different thoughts came to mind. Doubts, about Psychewave and everything he wanted to do. Eventually I realised what I had done was wrong…very wrong…evil…I just want to show that I’m sorry.”

Vanisher walked over slowly, so she didn’t frighten him too much. She eased herself down onto the floor, she needed to sit down anyway. Slowly and unsurely, he wasn’t certain if he could trust her yet, Shifter sat down by her side. But he still leaned away from her slightly as if she would grab him once he let his guard down. Vanisher understood and looked at him sympathetically.
“I understand.” She spoke gently. “I’m the same I guess.” She sighed and continued. “I just wanted so much to bring you down and take you to jail; because I thought it would help me. Hep people trust me again and not only help them forgive me…but let me forgive myself.”
“FREEZE SHIFTER” An angry voice cried out. The two kids were snapped out of their conversation to look at the newcomer. A man in a black suit was pointing a gin right at them. Vanisher had seen enough of them to know he was a government agent. “You’re under arrest for crimes committed while aiding the Super Villain Psychewave.”
“Hold it.” Vanisher interrupted. She scrambled to her feet and stood n between Shifter and the agent. “You don’t understand. If you just…” But what ever she was going to suggest he do was lost as a familiar female voice interrupted Vanisher.
“Move Vanisher.” A woman in a black suit stepped beside her colleague. She too was holding a gun and had a serious expression. She was thin, thinner than Violet and tall but her main feature was her blonde hair; so pale it was almost white. “We thank you for all your help in the apprehension of this wanted super villain but we’ll take it from here.”
“No.” Vanisher practically shouted. “Mirage you can’t.”
“My name is Agent Elizabeth Price.” She replied sternly. She detested any mention of the name she’d used while working with Syndrome. “And you had better explain yourself quickly you lady before I’m forced to arrest you too for obstructing justice. No one want to arrest the city’s favourate Super but I will if I have to.”

Vanisher took a deep breath, ’whatever I say, it had better be good’ she prayed in her head. “Look at him Mi…Ms Price. Elizabeth. Really look at him. We’re the same, all three of us. We all have a dark past. We all realise our mistakes and we are all trying our best to make up for them, with no true idea of how to do it but carrying on with whatever seems right at the time. He doesn’t need prison, he just needs a chance.”

Agent Price stared at Shifter for almost a full minute and for Vanisher and Shifter it was the longest minute of their lives. Finally she dropped her gun and looked to her partner. “Stand down.” He looked at her with a confused expression but slowly obeyed.
“Would you have shot me?” Vanisher asked, not taking her eyes of the gun. Agent Price pushed a small button on the side of the gun. The ammo clip slid out, giving Vanisher a look at the shells, shaped like bullets but they were clear and looked like plastic, filled with a blue liquid. A tiny metal needle was on the front of the whole contraption.
“Government issue tranquiliser darts. Enough to knock out a person for almost twelve hours. In answer to your question; Yes. If your speech hadn’t been that good.” She turned and started to move out of the alleyway. “Come with me, both of you.”

Unsurely the two children walked behind her as they were guided back onto the street. A large black, unmarked van was parked and waiting. It was larger than a Winnebago A door on the side was open and Vanisher could see two more people inside sitting at desks and staring at computer screens and tapping at keyboards. Police radio was playing loudly with reports coming in from all over the city.
“Cool van.” Muttered Shifter.
“No expense spared to find you.” Mirage said casually. “Advanced mobile detection unit.”
“Ma’am.” One of the agents came out of the van and looked at Shifter. “Erm…a message from head office. All senior officers need to report back to base immediately.”
“We’ll just get this sorted out first.” Agent Price said as she climbed into the van. “Vanisher, Can I have a word with you. Shifter give your personal details to this agent here. Agent Woods, take this boys information for an 8:15.”
“8:15?” The agent pressed. “Ma’am are you sure?”
“No.” She said, glancing at Vanisher, which only confused the too young Supers. Surely she should be looking at Shifter. “But I’m willing to take a chance. Vanisher, come on.”

In the back of the van was a tiny little office just a little larger than a standard toilet cubicle. Mirage slid around a tiny desk and sat in her chair. Vanisher sat down in front of the desk and waited for Mirage to talk.
“He’s the deal.” Agent Price began. “I think you’re right. God help me, my superiors will think I’ve gone insane, but I think you are right and that all he needs is a chance to prove himself. I have a lot of influence with the pentagon but not enough to pull the strings for the release of a Super villain wanted by congress itself. So there are one or two conditions attached.”
“Such as?” Violet pressed, unsure if she was going to like what Agent Price was going to say next.
“You want him, you got him.” Mirage said coldly. “Shifter is being placed under your total custody. He must live in your house as a civilian and is not allowed to appear in public as Shifter unless you are with him. If he does so, or if he is seen doing any illegal activities the both of you will be sent to jail and will face a government trial. An intense trial usually reserved for soldiers going through court martial’s. Court martial’s for murdering superior officers.”
“He breaks it we bought it. Got it.” Vanisher said nodding her head. Then she dropped forward and put her head in her hands. “My parents are going to kill me.”
Mirage smiled sympathetically and leaned across the desk. “Just say that you had no choice.”
“No.” Violet sighed shaking her head. “I’ll try and explain.”
“Good for you.” Mirage said.

There was a knock the door and agent Wood accompanied by Shifter leaned his head inside, the office was too small to do anything more. Vanisher noticed that Shifter had a very bewildered look on his face. It looked like agent Wood had explained what exactly an 8:15 was. “The forms are all filled in ma’am.” He stretched his arm and managed to place the form on the desk. Mirage nodded and looked it over. The agent went away but Shifter stayed. Mirage slid the form and a pen across the table to Vanisher.
“Sign your civilian name here and you Super identity here.” She said pointing to two empty lines on the bottom of the form. Shifter had already signed his name. Michael Baker. Vanisher signed both lines and Mirage filled in the last lines entitled: senior officer presiding.
“Very well. Vanisher, you are now completely responsible for the actions of the Super known as of Shifter. Congratulations; you’ve just signed up a sidekick.”
To be continued.

Authors note: Yes, I know Its been a long time since my last update and for that I apologise. Late last year my laptop was stolen and with it went the backlog of chapters I had on the hard drive. Then early this year I started a new job and the free time I had to catch up with that backlog was massively cut. Whatever time I managed to set aside had to be spent on just one fic at a time. Fans of my work will know that I was working on my Alice in wonderland fic. Now that I’ve finally finished that I can turn my attention to this one. So expect a lot more chapters in the coming months.