Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

(Link to the song)
(Link to the playlist)
(And click here to see what our main characters look like!)
(Note: this was designed to be read on desktop, and as such the links above may not work on mobile)

The first 5 chapters of American Idiots are all available right now!

(This won't be the norm in the future, I just don't think you can properly gauge this series until you've read the first 5 chapters at least.)

(But of course you can take it one chapter at a time if you wish.)

An old convertible is parked in the middle of an uphill road, not by choice. Its engine has stalled, and is in fact smoking a bit. Its driver, Jane, steps out of the car and kicks the door closed in irritation. She also kicks the front wheel for good measure. Yeah, it's not going anywhere. She sighs and stares ahead of her. This is farm country; it's going to take a while to walk into town. Probably about an hour and a half? She puts her backpack on. It's not like there's Uber around here, this isn't like the city she's used to. So... she's walking. Walking this lonely road.

She's not the only one. A young man named Calvin is walking through an empty dorm hall at a small college. "I walk a lonely road."

Another young man named Matt walks alone on a football field. "The only one that I have every known."

A girl named Shin is actually in a crowded hallway with other students, but she's not walking or talking with anyone. "Don't know where it goes."

And a boy named Frank is walking on the sidewalk of a moderately-crowded small town. "But it's home to me, and I walk alone."

Some time has passed, and Jane has arrived into town. The same town Frank's in, actually. The town is built around a small college, the college she, Calvin, Matt, and Shin have attended. But none of them know each other.

Jane becomes lost in thought. I walk this empty street, on the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one, and I walk alone.

Suddenly, a car swerves next to Jane because, you know, she's still walking in the road. She's still a bit startled as the car drives off.

DRIVER: Get out of the fucking road, dumbass!

JANE: (flipping him off in anger) Eat me!

Jane, now putting her head down in embarrassment, starts to cross over to the sidewalk.

Calvin enters the dorm common room where other students are hanging out, laughing with each other. Calvin pauses for a few moments to mentally hype himself up. Come on man, you can do this. You can do this. You practiced. Just be confident. You can do this. He walks over to a group of female students. They turn their heads turn to look at him.

CALVIN: 'Sup? The name's Calvin. Don't know if you know me, but if not, all you need to know is that I've recently gotten back on the market; lucky for you. Any of you gals looking for a dream guy?

The women simply stare at Calvin. None of them say a word, their faces are blank. A somewhat nervous Calvin speaks again.

CALVIN: Uh, you know, it's cool. You gals need time to think on it, yeah! Totally get it. Totally. To-ta-llyyyyy. But uh, I'm around! So, uh, yeah, if you wanna go for it, just holler in my 'rection! Direction! I meant direction, not... no that's crass and... low key harassment, not what I'm about. Uh, wow, anyway, yeah, just holler in my direction, ladies! If you want to... yeah.

Calvin walks away in a hurry. That was painful, not his best work. But, unfortunately, close to his usual. The female students burst out laughing at how absurd his... flirt? invitation? was. Calvin hears them laughing. Goddamnit! Goddamn... He holds back a tear. No, don't cry you loser, don't... what the fuck is wrong with you?!

Matt feels a hand on his shoulder. He spins around. It's his coach. Great.

COACH: Matt, man, what're you doing out there?! Is your head on right? It's like you're not focused on the game! I don't know how you expect to get anywhere with this kind of attitude.

MATT: Heh. "Get anywhere?" That's funny. That presumes that I want to get somewhere at all.

COACH: Well, why the hell are you even here with an attitude like that?! I don't need that from you! If you're not going to take this seriously, I want you off my team!

MATT: (taking off his helmet) Good! I never wanted to be here in the first place! Probably saving my brain from hundreds of concussions!

COACH: Oh, you think you're a smart guy, huh?

MATT: Man, I have a 4.0 GPA, I just do this crap to blow off steam. Sorry, "did" this crap.

Matt throws his helmet on the ground and starts to walk away from his former coach. Did I... did I really just do that? I quit football?! Dad's gonna be pissed... why'd I do that?! Stupid, Matt. Irresponsible, you know better. You're not like your brothers, you're the good one. Why the fuck did I do that?! Fuck!

Shin looks despondent as she heads down the hallway. Suddenly, she looks up, and a huge smile appears on her face. There's a group of students she knows just in front of her. It's canvassin' time. She walks up to them.

SHIN: Hey everyone! Hope you're all having a super-duper day! Just wanted to remind you that the environmental protest organized by Sunset Club is at the end of the month. Can we count on you to attend?

STUDENT 1: Yeah, of course, Shin! I'll be there!

STUDENT 2: Yeah, I'll be there!

STUDENT 3: Oh, Shin, of course I'll be there if you are!

SHIN: (still smiling) Yeah, I'll be there! Wouldn't be asking you all if I weren't!

STUDENT 3: Haha, yeah of course! No yeah, I'll be there!

SHIN: Awesome, thanks so much! Okay, I'm going to find more people, but I'll see you later!

STUDENT 2: Yeah, see you later, Shin!

SHIN: Byeeeeee!

Shin heads off. As soon as those students are behind her, her smile evaporates. Yeah, she can get people to come to an event, or make somebody smile. Everyone knows how infectious her positivity is, everyone wants to be friendly to her. But... nobody has become her friend. Perhaps all of them think she has a lot of friends already. After all, she's always rushing around, involved in so many clubs and activities. She knows a lot of people and does a lot. But because she's so busy, she doesn't have any friends. And that gets really lonely after a while.

DRUG DEALER: Frank, man, this is so shady. Why the hell are we in an alley?! I usually meet up in a public place, like a park or something. This is sketchy as hell.

As stated, Frank is in an alley with a drug dealer.

FRANK: I, uh, didn't want to go to a park. Here's fine. Yeah... here's fine.

DRUG DEALER: Uh, okay... wait, you're not like, homeless are you?

FRANK: What? Fuck off man, no I'm not homeless!

DRUG DEALER: Hey, don't curse at me Casper, you want to do this shit or not? Because I'm runnin' out of patience...

FRANK: No no, wait, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't expect you to say that, I overreacted. I'm sorry.

DRUG DEALER: Yeah...

FRANK: Look, we're already here, I got what you want. Let's just do this, yeah?

There's really not much more to say here. I think this paints a pretty clear picture of Frank.

CALVIN: I walk alone,

MATT: I walk alone.

SHIN: I walk alone,

FRANK: I walk a-

CALVIN: My shadow's the only one that walks beside me.

MATT: My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating.

SHIN: Sometimes, I wish someone out there will find me.

FRANK: 'Til then, I walk alone.

Ah-ah. Ah-ah. Ah-ah. Uhh-ah. Ah-ah. Ah-ah. Ah-ah.

Jane is now on the quad of the college campus. She made it... now hopefully she can do what she came here to do before-

FRIEND: Jane? Jane, oh my god!

Fuck. A "friend."

JANE: (forcing a smile) Heyyyyy.... you. 

FRIEND: Jane, I can't believe it, I... how are you here?

JANE: Well, I tried driving here but that didn't work-

FRIEND: No, I mean what about your parents? That... did that go okay?

Goddamnit. She knows.

JANE: Uh... yeah. They didn't... they still think I'm too fucked up from before. But! I decided to fucking come here anyway!

FRIEND: Oh Jane... Jane I'm so sorry. Uh... I have class in 5 but, like, can we keep talking? Later? If you need someone to support-

JANE: No! Um, I mean, that's okay, really. I'm good. It was nice catching up. Bye!

FRIEND: O-Okay... I'll see you lat-

Jane has already walked away in a hurry. She has no intention of catching up with this "friend" again. She's not really a friend, she's just a ghost from the past, before things changed. Before everything changed. Jane doesn't know her anymore, she's a completely different person now. Jane doesn't even remember the "friend's" name... but she'd still like to. Just so there's at least some detail from her past that isn't totally fucked or gone. But what's she supposed to say? "Hey, even though we were kinda friends or acquaintances for years, I went through so much shit and because you weren't there I don't remember your name anymore? And I'd like to remember your name but I don't want to talk to you because again you weren't fucking there when I needed you? Needed anyone?!" Ah crap she's spiraling again. She's spiraling and she's all alone.

*Piano notes

Jane starts to brood. I'm walking down the line, that divides me somewhere in my mind. On the borderline, of the edge, and where I walk a-

In a flash, the sky suddenly changes color. It glows a bright, blinding, almost neon green. Jane falls backwards in shock.

And just as suddenly, the sky reverts back to its normal shade of blue. The green light lasted for maybe a second or two.

Jane, on the ground, looks around the quad. She's not crazy; everyone else is staring up at the sky in shock. They saw it too.

JANE: What the actual fu-

Matt, and everyone else on the football field, are similarly staring up at the sky in bewilderment. Matt takes a deep breath and thinks.

MATT: ...read between the lines.

Shin is outside the science hall and thus got to see the sky change as well. She checks out her surroundings.

SHIN: What's fucked up? ...and everything's alright.

Frank is on the ground in the alley shaking. He has no idea what the hell just happened.

FRANK: Check my vital signs...

Calvin, having just exited the dorm, pats himself down.

CAVLIN: To know I'm still alive... and I-

Just as suddenly, Jane's right hand begins glowing the same shade of green. It appears to be enveloped in a... green sphere, made of light?

Matt, Shin, Frank, and Calvin see their right hands glowing the exact same way.

And a second later, all of their right eyes briefly flash and glow green.

The eyes stop glowing, but their hands don't. Jane's right hand raises... itself?! into the air, and starts moving, as if it's magnetic and is being... attracted to something. It pulls Jane really fucking fast in the direction of the forest on the outskirts of campus. Jane's feet drag along the ground as she starts sliding, pulled by her hand.

JANE: AHHHHHH, what the fuck?!

Other students look on in shock as Jane is dragged away, screaming profanities.

JANE: F**K S**T what the F*****G F**K is F*****G happening?!

Jane is dragged full speed through the forest. Either by coincidence or on purpose, her right arm (which appears to have a mind of its own) makes certain her body dodges trees, big rocks, and other obstacles as she’s propelled forward. Although Jane is scared out of her mind, she can only think about one thing... how she is alone right now, as she always is. And if this is how she dies, will anyone know? Will anyone find her? Will anyone mourn her? She certainly hasn't made it easy for people to love her.

I walk alone. I walk alone. I walk alone. I walk a-

JANE: My shadow's the only one that walks beside me. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating.

In a forest clearing, Jane's hand collides with four others: Calvin's, Matt's, Shin's, and Frank's. They were all pulled here by their own hands as well. It's almost as if they were drawn to each other to give themselves a five-way high-five. But the force of the impact immediately knocks them all to the ground.

JANE: Sometimes, I wish someone out there will find me. 'Til then, I walk alone.

All 5 of them groan and slowly sit up. Jane rubs her head, looking around. All of them are wearing backpacks like she is. Fellow students.

Ah-ah, ah-ah. Ah-ah, uhh-ah. Ah-ah, ah-ah. I walk alone. I walk a-

*Guitar solo

Frank looks up, noticing the others.

FRANK: Who the fuck are you guys?

Jane, very much on edge, snaps.

JANE: Umm, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to give my name to a fucking stranger; who the fuck are you?

Matt sits up and puts out his arms in an attempt to mediate. His right hand is still glowing, just like everyone else's.

MATT: Woah, woah, woah. Chill the fuck out everyone. I'd think all of us are freaked out by whatever just happened. I mean, I'm freaked, for one.

Shin stands up.

SHIN: I think I recognize some of you. You all go to State C?

CALVIN/MATT: Yep.

FRANK: (at the same time) No?

SHIN: Ah, well, most of you anyway. You probably know me then, but for those who don’t, I’m Shin, the incoming Sophomore class President.

Everyone is starting to stand up now.

JANE: Well, "Your Excellency," got any idea why our hands are all glowing like this?

Everyone looks at their hands. Evidently, nobody has a clue.

Jane sighs and looks around. I walk this empty street, on the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. She is staring at the other 4, and has an intense, focused look in her eyes. Where the city sleeps, and I’m the only one…

Jane’s eyes soften. She realizes she’s actually not alone right now.

and I walk a-

MALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) Freeze! This is the feds, nobody move!

The 5 of them stiffen at the sound of his voice and his words. The feds?! What??

FRANK: (panicking) Oh god, oh god, the feds? No, I... I... I can't go to jail, bros, I can't...

MALE VOICE (over a megaphone): We have the forest surrounded! You have 5 minutes to surrender; we won't hesitate to use lethal force!

Calvin regains his composure, but pauses for a second. Then:

CALVIN: The feds? Why? We didn’t do… and also, how? We just got here! That was way too fast...

MATT: It don't matter. I'm with pasty boy, let's book it.

SHIN: What?! Are you seri- this is the federal government! You can’t... run!

Jane, like Calvin, has also taken a moment or two to think. And she realizes something.

JANE: Is it, though?

The other 4 look at her, confused (and still a bit scared).

JANE: Do we know for sure that’s the government? All they said was "this is the feds," but they could be fucking anyone. That was vague as shit!

MATT: And how do you propose we go about figuring out if it is the feds or not? Because either way, they might have guns. So, no thank you.

CALVIN: Even if it is the feds, it makes no sense. We didn’t do anything, we’re just…  glowing! This is some Stranger Things-type shit.

JANE: And like you said man, they got here so quick, it was like... they were waiting for us.

FRANK: So, why are we the waiting? Let's go, guys, come on!

Frank leans in towards them with an outstretched arm, as if gesturing for someone to take his hand. Shin notices. So does Jane, but-

JANE: (putting her arm/glowing hand out in defense): Woah there, crazy eyes! Who said we need to go anywhere together?

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me!

MATT: Okay look, everyone. I don't want to get shot, I don't think you want to get shot. We don't know who they are or what they want with us. They could shoot us if we surrender. Our best option is to run... and to run together. Better odds, safety in numbers, etc.

JANE: Etc.? Bro, if they're shooting, I think it's best for us all to run in different directions.

My shallow heart! Is the only thing that's beating!

MATT: And take the chance that you're the one they chase first? Okay, be my guest! But if we think as a group, one of us might come up with something helpful, like an idea of where to hide. Besides... I don't know any of you, but I've had a shit day, and... I really don't want to be alone right now. Especially if the government is trying to kill me. Please.

Matt has a pleading look in his eyes. All of them recognize it. They've all felt very alone for most of their lives, and, well-

Sometimes, I wish someone out there will find me.

They're all sick of being alone. Each of them decides to stick with the group. But...

SHIN: But... we don’t know where we’re going! They said they have us surrounded, where do we go?

Calvin puts his glowing hand on Shin's shoulder. He grins, cockily. Say something cool, Calvin, this would be an epic moment.

CALVIN: Wherever the fuck we want to.

Good job. Jane’s eyes soften completely upon looking at Calvin and taking in what he said.

‘Til then, I-

Jane closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. She doesn't continue the thought; she doesn't finish the lyrics.

She doesn't walk alone. None of them do, not anymore.

They run. Together.

Chapter Text

Fell for You is on the album "¡Uno!" from 2012. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

We open on some treetops rustling as you can imagine hearing some sort of drum beat...

...the trees continue to rustle as we pan down to see our cast of 5 running in between them.

As a guitar comes into the mix, the 5 continue to run. You can also hear the sound of a helicopter...

I woke up in a pool of sweat. Calvin, still startled from whatever dream he was having, takes stock of his surroundings. He is in a darkened room, lying atop a threadbare mattress. He then looks down at where he's sitting since, you know, he's covered in sweat.

First I thought that I pissed the bed. He sniffs it to be sure, but nope, it's just sweat! Man, that'd be really embarrassing otherwise.

A few hours earlier...

JANE: So yeah, that whole thing was made up I think. The Eiffel Tower was never theorized to be a "mind-control antenna to create an army of the insane," I'm pretty sure they just added that into a Spider-Man movie to be funny.

CALVIN: Ah, so my plan to take over France has been foiled, darn it!

JANE: (sarcastic, but smiling) Ha ha.

Calvin and Jane are in a darkened room, sitting atop a threadbare mattress... but it's not the same room (or mattress) Calvin's with later on. There's evidently just a second room and a second mattress. Hmm... where even are they?

CALVIN: But seriously, that was just made up? It’s not like a popular urban legend or something?

JANE: If it is, I couldn’t find its source. And trust me, I researched.

CALVIN: (playfully) Oh you researched, did you?

JANE: I was curious!

CALVIN: Weird to think that Marvel would just make that up, though. You’d think they got it from somewhere.

JANE: Uh, they made up a purple guy using 6 stones to kill everyone, their movies are literally make-believe.

CALVIN: But that comes from the comics. And that’s what I mean, they get their material from somewhere. That's an odd thing to make up.

JANE: It's not that deep, it was just a joke. But if it’s real, I couldn’t find it. Maybe they have better researchers.

CALVIN: "Maybe?" It's a billion-dollar movie studio and comic company, owned by Disney.

JANE: Alright, alright, whatever. It's a creepy theory anyway.

Haunted stories in the midnight hour.

CALVIN: Well, whatever the case, I think it'd be cool to visit someday. You know, just to say that you did.

JANE: Yeah... maybe I'd go someday.

...why the hell not, Calvin decides to shoot his shot.

CALVIN: Hell, maybe you and I could go together! One day? Or something?

Jane pauses for a moment.

JANE: I don’t… I’m not sure how all of this is going to go. I don't mean to be a buzzkill but... it's just real, you know? We're in a real, terrifying situation. People are after us. But... if we survive this... then okay sure, why the hell not?

The kiss of death from the Eiffel Tower. Calvin smiles.

CALVIN: Well, alright.

Jane starts to stand up.

JANE: Hey, listen, I am pretty tired. It's gotta be at least midnight by now, and lord knows I don't want to think about that.

CALVIN: Why?

JANE: ...no reason. Anyway, maybe we should get some sleep like the others.

Calvin stands up quickly.

CALVIN: Uh, yeah, of course! I’m tired too, heh-heh.

JANE: It was a nice talk, though.

Calvin takes a step back in preparation to leave.

CALVIN: Yeah! Totally! Really good talk.

JANE: Goodnight… Calvin, right? Sorry, I’m not good with-

CALVIN: Calvin, yeah! And uh, goodnight, Jane!

Calvin flops down on the mattress in the first room we saw. Then I went down, like the speed of sound. You're out of sight, but not out of mind. Calvin drifts off to sleep on the mattress.

CALVIN: (softly) mi-i-ind...

The scene abruptly shifts to an open, sunny field. Jane and Calvin are making out. I had a dream that I kissed your lips and it felt... so true.

Aaaaaand now we're caught up as Calvin wakes up in a pool of sweat. Then I woke up as a nervous wreck and I fell... for you.

Calvin looks a bit sullen, saddened that it was just a dream. I'll spend the night living in denial.

He reaches behind the mattress, where we see he's put his backpack. He pulls out a paper airplane. Making paper planes just for a while.

He launches the plane at the wall in front of him. I'll crash into you... I crash into you...

Calvin then tries to go back to sleep. 'Cuz you crashed in my imagination, too...

Earlier in the day...

MALE VOICE (over megaphone): There is nowhere for you to run! Do not attempt to escape!

Earlier that day, the 5 are in the woods running from the feds... or someone who claims they're the feds, anyway.

FRANK: Oh god, I don’t want to die! Not yet!

JANE: You’re not gonna die, idiot, just keep running.

MATT: Okay, can you calm the fuck down? We’re all scared here; I bet you are too.

CALVIN: I don’t know about scar-

Calvin trips and falls.

CALVIN: Ow! Shit!

The other 4 stop running and look at Calvin.

SHIN: Are you hurt?

Calvin, now sitting on the ground, reaches down and touches his ankle.

CALVIN: Agh, I think I broke my leg…

Jane reaches her glowing hand out for Calvin to grab.

JANE: You didn’t break your leg, moron, if anything you just twisted your ankle.

Calvin grabs Jane’s hand with his own… and suddenly, Calvin and Jane’s hands stop glowing! Break a leg and you crush my heart.

The other 3 look on, stunned. Just as suddenly, their hands stop glowing too, as if the action caused by Calvin and Jane affected all of them…

FRANK: Woah!

MATT: I think they’re back to normal.

JANE: Yeah, you think?

The group turn back and start to run again. Calvin limps forward, and then falls once again.

CALVIN: ARGH!

His ankle is kind of fucked. Jane turns around and goes over to Calvin to help him up again.

JANE: Come on!

Calvin looks up at Jane in awe. I'm a mess and you're a work of art.

JANE: We gotta move. You can do this man; I believe in you.

Jane’s face has angelic rays behind it. This is a vision Calvin’s having. Count your blessings going 0 to 5.

CALVIN: Yeah, yeah, I can, thanks.

Jane helps Calvin speed-walk with his limp. The other 3 look back at Calvin/Jane to make sure they’re keeping up.

JANE: We’re here, we’re here, let’s go!

10 minutes later...

Shin looks over a ridge at where they're at. Maybe a... what, 4-foot drop? Someone would sprain an ankle again, or maybe get hurt worse and slow them down even more. She backs away from the edge.

MATT: I don’t hear anything or see any spotlights. I think… I hope we lost them.

FRANK: This is fucking insane, what the fuck is happening?!

SHIN: Look, we may have lost them, we may not have. But let’s take a rest.

JANE: Yeah, good idea.

Calvin says nothing; his thoughts are on Jane. She's standing with her back to the ridge. I steal a kiss-

He stumbles on his way to Jane and falls over the ridge. -and I took a dive.

JANE: Oh my god!!

The other 4 rush to the ridge. Then I went down, like the speed of sound.

Calvin should land on the leaves below... but they're apparently some sort of trap, covering an opening in the forest floor. Calvin falls through the leaves even further down. You’re out of sight.

Calvin falls an extra 3 feet (7 in total) and lands in some darkened... structure. But not out of mind.

CALVIN: (mumbling in pain) mi-i-ind...

The scene shifts to the field from Calvin's dream. Once again, he and Jane are kissing. I had a dream that I kissed your lips and it felt... so true.

JANE: (from far off) Are you okay?!

Calvin's eyes shoot open. Then I woke up as a nervous wreck and I fell... for you.

CALVIN: AHHH! Where am I?!

He sits up, startled. Jane is kneeling in front of him and puts her hands on his shoulders.

JANE: Calm down, calm down. You fell... into... this.

Calvin and Jane are in a 3-foot high, large square hole dug into the forest floor, that's been filled by... metal, it looks like. They're in a metal hole. Hanging in the hole is the end of a tarp, that originally covered it but fell because of Calvin. Evidently it was hidden by leaves before.

JANE: (sighs) You okay, dude?

Calvin looks straight at Jane. He's head over heels.

CALVIN: Uh... yeah. Yeah, I think I'm-

He looks around and sees that against one of the "walls" is... a door? A really, really small door, like a 2¾-foot high door.

CALVIN: Why is there a very small door in this very small hole?

The other 3, who have gotten down from the ridge, jump into the hole.

MATT: Not sure but... since we're "on the run"...

Matt pushes the door open. There's an opening, a tunnel. He bends down and starts to crawl through.

SHIN: Are you crazy?!

JANE: Hey, we are running for our lives. What's the worst that happens, we die in a hole tunnel instead of being shot to death?

SHIN: We don't know that they'll shoot us if we surrender.

JANE: Okay then, take that chance.

Jane goes in next, followed by Frank. Calvin and Shin look at each other, then decide to crawl in as well.

Matt couldn't believe his eyes. He knew the tunnel was on somewhat of a downward slope, and that he crawled for quite a few minutes, but...

Matt exits the tunnel and stands up in a room that's nearly 20-feet high. There's nothing on any of the walls, it's just a large, barren metal structure. There are other doors alongside the walls; this appears to be a large underground complex! There is a vague source of light emanating from above, most likely sunlight. Perhaps there’s a similar tarp up above that’s somewhat covered by leaves, but has holes in it to allow in sunlight and oxygen.

MATT: Hey! You're all going to want to see this!

After a few minutes, all 5 of them have crawled through the tunnel and entered the large room.

CALVIN: This is... this is unbelievable.

MATT: Okay, suggestion. We didn't die, and we can breathe, for now anyway. I don't think these metal walls are going to collapse, and we're hidden so... I think this looks like a good place to stay in until we figure out our next move. Or at least until we run out of air.

FRANK: What? For real?

MATT: You have a better idea? If not, I’m gonna go put the tarp back up so they don’t find us.

Matt crawls back through the tunnel.

SHIN: Okay, so this is probably a delayed reaction, but... it’s just setting in that this might be the end of our lives.

JANE: Yeah...

After a little while, Matt returns. The other 4 aren't saying a word.

MATT: Uh... something going on?

CALVIN: It’s dawned on us that we might have to hide for several days, maybe weeks. And we don’t have any food or water.

FRANK: Oh, that’s what you’re all gloomy about? I thought it was about the hiding.

As a reminder, they're all still wearing their backpacks. Frank dumps the contents of his: it’s full of snacks and water bottles.

SHIN: Woah!

FRANK: It’s a long story, but coincidentally enough I was stocking up for a while.

JANE: Well that’s great but… we need more water bottles than this for… however long we'll be hiding.

MATT: We can ration them! The snacks too; and if we run out... I don't know we'll forage or some shit, hopefully we're not here that long. And I believe the air and light that’s coming through the “ceiling” will also allow water in when it rains. We can empty our backpacks and use them as buckets to fill with water, assuming they're clean enough on the inside.

SHIN: Mine's pretty clean!

FRANK: Mine... actually yeah, it's pretty clean too. I put a lot of things in there but they're never, like, dirty or anything.

MATT: Great. The only problem I can think of is if there's heavy rain while we sleep...

SHIN: We can sleep in shifts! And I looked in some of the other doors/"hallways," they're also on downward slopes. We can just keep one open.

MATT: Smart. Sleeping in shifts is also good, in case the "feds" find us... wow, I can't believe I'm thinking this way.

SHIN: It's good! We... need to think this way, as fucked up as it is. Okay, in terms of sleeping, I can take first shift. Are we all sleeping here? Or-

JANE: Woah, woah. So... we're all just... sticking together?

For most of them, this is a big moment. Not a ton of people in their lives have "stuck around."

SHIN: I think we should. I mean I'll admit, I'm scared, and don't want to be alone right now. I'd feel better staying up first, if you all trust me.

FRANK: Yeah uh, you all seem... trustworthy, sure. Definitely more-so than a lot of other people I know.

SHIN: We just met!

FRANK: ...I know what I said.

JANE: Uh, no offense to you guys, but I don’t automatically trust any of you, and I’m not sleeping near any of you. One of you could be a creep for all I know. I’ll take my chances in another room. And... Class President, you'll make sure none of them go down my hallway?

SHIN: ...well, normally I’m one to argue in favor of the inherent goodness of humanity. But I’m tired, and you have a point, so sure. If any of you want to check out another hallway, proceed with caution. I'll be here in the main room.

MATT: We turning in for the night?

SHIN: I think it's a good idea, it's been a long day. We can, like, talk more and stuff tomorrow.

JANE: "Great."

FRANK: Word. I'll sleep in here, take the shift after you.

Matt and Jane head down two separate hallways. Calvin, who hasn't said much since arriving, heads down a third. In the hallway are a bunch of more doors... this is a very maze-like underground complex. And in the first room he looks in... is a mattress! What kind of place is this...?

Hours later...

I'll spend the night living in denial. Calvin takes a notebook out of his backpack and rips out a piece of paper.

Making paper planes just for a while. After a few attempts, he gets up and walks out into the hallway... and bumps headfirst into Jane.

I'll crash into you... I crash into you...

CALVIN: Oh god, I’m sorry, I should’ve seen you. I was... lost in thought, I guess.

'Cuz you crashed in my imagination...

JANE: No, I wasn’t paying attention either. Not your fault. Why are you walking around?

CALVIN: I’m having trouble trying to sleep. I’m counting sheep but… running out.

JANE: Yeah, I can’t really sleep either. Crazy how there are mattresses in every room… wonder what this place is. Anyway, how’s your ankle?

CALVIN: What? Oh, yeah, I can walk on it, but it still hurts.

Jane pauses for a moment.

JANE: I’m… I’m sorry if I’ve seemed a little… grumpy today. It’s been a weird day.

CALVIN: Yeah, no kidding!

JANE: Do you want to… I don’t know, hang out? Since we can’t sleep?

A shocked Calvin doesn't show it. Instead, he just smiles. And... are those more drums we hear?

CALVIN: Yeah… yeah, I’d love to. My name’s Calvin, by the way.

JANE: …Jane.

Calvin and Jane are in her "room," on her mattress. We saw the tail-end of this earlier. At this point in time, Calvin and Jane are laughing.

I had a dream that I kissed your lips, and it felt… so true.

Jane and Calvin continue to laugh.

Then I woke up as a nervous wreck and I fell… for you!

Jane is laughing hysterically; she puts her hand on Calvin's shoulder to try and steady/compose herself.

And I fell… for you!

Jane composes herself, wiping a tear from her eye. Calvin is still giggling.

And I fell… for you!

Jane looks at Calvin, smiling. Calvin smiles back.

Oh-oh.

At the same time...

In the forest clearing from last chapter (but now at night) stand two people in suits, a man and a woman. Both have short gray hair and are wearing dark sunglasses. They... look like clichés, basically. But does that give their role more or less believability...

We see what look like soldiers in camo running behind them. Oh, okay. Well, if this isn’t a federal agency, it sure does look like one.

WOMAN: We were right on top of them; how the hell did they get away?

MAN: Don’t worry, we’ll find them.

WOMAN: They shouldn’t have been able to evade us, though! You didn't prepare us enough!

MAN: I'm sorry, me?! Is that a joke?

WOMAN: You said "oh it'll be okay, we'll threaten their lives and they'll just surrender."

MAN: Because that's what almost everyone does!

WOMAN: Yeah, except they didn't, and then we had to chase them and NOT shoot them, so now they know we're full of shit.

MAN: I don't think they've caught onto the fact that we're not trying to kill them. If they did, they'd have fought us.

WOMAN: That presumes they know how to use their powers already, which I doubt. They ran, and somehow found a way to hide from us. How the fuck did they hide from us?! God... this is just so insane. And I'm getting a horrible sense of déjà vu.

MAN: Déjà vu? I hope not. Because the last time we dealt with something like this...

WOMAN: Yeah, I remember. The fucking planet almost blew up.

MAN (sternly but softly): Shhh hey! Not in front of the soldiers. We don't know who we can trust...

WOMAN: Sorry, right, right. God... these stupid fucking kids. They're gonna kill us all.

MAN: And it's your fault.

WOMAN: ME?!

The arguing continues as this chapter draws to a close.

Chapter Text

409 in Your Coffeemaker is on the album "1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours" from 1991. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

I sit, in the state of a daydream, with all of your words flying over… my head. Even more time gets wasted, in a daze.

Shin is sitting upward in the main room of the complex, staring blankly ahead. Frank is asleep on the other side of the room. He wakes up.

FRANK: (looking up) Wha- is that sunlight? I think so but it's hard to tell... wait, Shin, I thought you were going to wake me up!

Shin is staring into space. Frank goes over to her and waves his hand in front of her face. She snaps out of it.

FRANK: Earth to Shin? Why didn't you wake me?

SHIN: Oh, uh... guess I forgot, heh-heh. Also, I didn't mind staying up, so I probably would've let you sleep anyway.

FRANK: What? Shin, you gotta get some rest, now.

SHIN: I'm fine, but thank you for the concern... are you okay, though?

FRANK: Huh? A bit groggy from sleeping on the floor maybe, but I'm fine too, why do you ask?

SHIN: Your... your lips are a little blue.

They are.

FRANK: Oh, uh... guess I'm a bit cold. No blankets or anything... are you warm enough?

SHIN: Yeah, I-

MATT: (from far off) Hey! You guys are going to want to see this! ...again!

The 5 are standing in a room where two of the walls are filled head-to-toe with old, early 2000s-era computers. There's also a long desk, a spinning chair, even a mousepad... is this an office? The other walls are totally blank; nothing else is in the room.

MATT: Sorry to wake any of you, but-

JANE: I think we were all awake. Unfortunately.

"Unfortunately?" Hmm...

MATT: …granted. I woke up and decided to look around, mainly to find somewhere to use as a bathroom and I... found this place.

CALVIN: What do you make of it?

FRANK: Also, is there a bathroom?

MATT: (answering Calvin) I’m not sure… this place is underground, well-hidden, and has decades-old computers… not to mention there’s like a dozen rooms and almost each one has a mattress. I wonder if this was some kind of hideout for someone a long time ago.

FRANK: Well, that’s great news for us!

JANE (suspicious): Yeah, very convenient…

The group looks at her.

FRANK: Huh?

JANE: This place is just… here. Underneath the woods outside our college. This… weird compound that’s keeping us hidden from the weird government, or not government, people hunting us.

CALVIN: You think they’re connected?

JANE: I think it’d be idiotic to not even consider it. But I’m not sure. Just… something to keep in mind. Maybe we don’t stay here long.

MATT: Well, good news for you guys: I’m a coder, and I think-

Frank stumbles forward a bit.

FRANK: Woah, woah, woah. You’re a tech guy?

Matt stares at him.

MATT: Yeah. So?

FRANK: …nothing! Just… didn’t expect that. Cool!

Matt gets close to Frank.

MATT: What’d you expect dude? That because I’m a big black guy I play football?

SHIN: Woah, okay now. I don’t think that’s what he meant.

MATT: (in Shin's face, angrily) What'd he mean, then?

Frank stumbles backwards. Clumsy...

FRANK: I… I don’t know what I meant. I put my foot in my mouth sometimes. In fact, a lot of times. I’m sorry.

Matt’s face softens.

MATT: It’s… it’s ok man. I shouldn’t have come at you that hard. That’s… kind of a sore spot for me.

FRANK: Noted.

A brief moment of awkward silence.

MATT: Uh, anyway, I think I can probably at least access whatever software these things run. I can fiddle with 'em, see what I can learn.

JANE: Thank you, uh…

MATT: Matt.

JANE: Thank you, Matt.

MATT: …and your name is?

Jane hesitates for a second, then relents.

JANE: …Jane. I’m Jane.

CALVIN: (excitedly) I’m Calvin.

FRANK: Uh, Frank.

SHIN: And I already told you all I’m Shin.

Jane slants her eyes.

JANE: Great. Now that we all did the name game… what’s up with all of you?

MATT: Pardon?

JANE: We’ve been gone from our normal lives for over half a day, and we’re planning on being here for maybe days or weeks. And not one of you seems too distressed about it.

MATT: Hang on. I’m distressed, my family’s gonna realize something’s up if they don’t hear from me for a while. I mean they're out of state but-

JANE: Okay, thank you! That’s what I was looking for. Mention of a family…

Jane looks around the room in judgement. She doesn't trust easily.

MATT: I've thought about texting or calling them, but I don't know what's going on, and don't want to potentially endanger them.

SHIN: Same, and my whole family’s in Japan anyway. I mean, they’d figure out something's wrong eventually if like months go by, but I don’t usually hear from them for long periods of time.

CALVIN: My mom might get worried, but she’s also used to not hearing from me for long periods sometimes. She's out of state too.

He pauses to allow for potential reactions. There are none. He awkwardly keeps going.

CALVIN: Uh, and I haven't texted her either. But if we’re gone too long though then yeah, that’d be bad. Yeah.

FRANK: Uh… don’t really have a family. Nobody to hear from.

SHIN: Oh! I’m… I’m so sorry.

Frank looks at Shin.

FRANK: Oh, it’s ok. It’s been like this my whole life; I’m a foster kid. Never knew my folks.

Jane speaks up quickly.

JANE: Well, same boat, Frank. Nobody to worry about me. I get it. Don't even know my own birthday.

That sounds like a lie, we know Jane has parents.

SHIN: Well, I’m… sorry to hear that too.

JANE: It’s alright. Just wanted to know what everyone’s situation is. If we’re gonna get comfortable with one another, that is.

MATT: Yeah, sticking together just makes sense. It's the smart play.

Frank walks forward again... still stumbling, jesus christ he has balance issues.

FRANK: "Smart play," huh? You know, I watch State C games. Are you sure you don’t play football?

MATT: (sighs) I did.

FRANK: You… did?

Matt gets a little irritated again.

MATT: Yeah, I did. As in, I used to. Not anymore.

CALVIN: Well, uh, technically, none of us do any of our school things anymore.

SHIN: Huh?

Calvin looks at her.

CALVIN: We can’t leave the forest. We’re officially runaways now, no more school.

Shin looks worried.

SHIN: Wait, we’re still enrolled in school, everyone. This is just… some time off.

JANE: Some time off? We might die! And if we somehow don't... yeah no, we aren't going back.

Frank puts his hand on Shin's shoulder, again almost stumbling. My god he's worse than Calvin. This is concerning...

FRANK: Ah, you should be happy! School’s overrated. Awful.

CALVIN: Yeah, like pouring 409 in your coffeemaker.

FRANK: Huh?

CALVIN: 409. The cleaning product? You’ve never heard of 409?

FRANK: Uh... what does it matter, what does that have to do with school?

JANE: He’s saying school is like pouring bleach in your coffee, basically.

FRANK: Ah… then yeah! It’s like that.

JANE: Maybe you do need school.

FRANK: Hey!

SHIN: School is important, everyone! The education college provides is invaluable!

FRANK: Ah, you both sound like every teacher I’ve ever had. It won’t work.

MATT: What won't work?

FRANK: Huh? It... should seem obvious to you.

Crickets.

FRANK: Your screams, and cries... are never going to work. I'm never evvvvvver gonna give a fuck about school, yo.

SHIN: Well. I’d strongly urge you to reconsider that stance.

FRANK: Nope. Everything you're saying is just getting lost in the daze inside my head! Dress code, terrible lunches, dumb fucking assignments. It won't work man, and all of your time gets wasted, in my daze...

JANE: Well Frank, for one thing, I think you’re focusing on the wrong parts of school.

SHIN: Thank you, Jane.

JANE: (smiling, oddly enough) No, I mean, school does pretty much suck. But it's not because of like the curriculum. All that matters in school is the social hierarchy. If you don’t fit in, you’re fucked. And who the fuck "fits in" anymore? School just makes you lonely and miserable.

Shin doesn’t say anything. She just stares at Jane.

CALVIN: Well, high school, maybe. But to its credit, college isn’t like that.

JANE: You’re saying that because you probably haven’t made any friends here either.

Calvin becomes instantly flustered.

CALVIN: No, I… what?

JANE: The only people who say that are those who didn’t really have a good time in high school, and are in a similar situation in college but try not to let it affect them.

MATT: Can we change the subject, please? Jane, I’d like to talk about your attitude. It sucks.

JANE: Bro, you don’t have the right to call me out on that. You don’t know me!

MATT: What I know is you keep saying shitty things to people you may be spending a lot of time with. Why do you keep antagonizing everyone?

JANE: I… you know what, you’re right actually. That was uncalled for. I’m sorry, Calvin.

CALVIN: Oh, uh, yeah. No worries! It’s cool…

JANE: It's... it's just a hard day, today.

MATT: Why? What's today?

JANE: ...uh, what I mean is it's been stressful. Because, you know, the threat of lethal force?

MATT: Ah.

FRANK: Hey, guys? I think we broke Shin.

And I’m looking back now, at where I have gone wrong, and why I could not seem to get along.

Shin is sitting down and spacing out again, this time staring at the floor. Frank snaps his fingers in front of Shin’s face, snapping her out of it.

SHIN: Huh? Oh, sorry, I was… thinking about something.

FRANK: Don’t tell me it’s still about school!

SHIN: Okay, I’m sorry that I care about missing school! It’s only my future, you know!

Frank begins to quote... someone. As he does, he stumbles against the wall.

FRANK: School just holds you back. "My interests are longing to break through these chains, these chains that control my future’s aims, oh no!"

JANE: ...what?

CALVIN: Are you... quoting someone?

FRANK: Yes. Myself. I wrote that.

JANE: Wow. That’s uh… strangely, surprisingly deep. I think.

FRANK: See, and you thought I needed school! I can be deep; I write a lot.

CALVIN: But... what does that even mean?

FRANK: School tells you what your future’s supposed to be about. Well, what if I don’t want to do what they tell me to? I’d be trapped.

MATT: You can do whatever you want with your life, man.

FRANK: Like football, right?

Nobody says anything. Frank... where the fuck are you going with this buddy...

FRANK: I could tell, you know. It’s not that you don't play football anymore, it’s that you didn’t like playing it at all. That’s why you were defensive, not because I was “stereotyping you” or whatever.

MATT: Well, you were stereotyping me.

FRANK: Uh… the point is, you were probably told you had to play football, right? After all, why else would you do something you hate?

Matt is silent. Frank, I see what you're saying, but you don't know everything, man...

FRANK: See, that’s my issue. It doesn’t let you choose. Not really. I can’t pursue my interests because the chains of school decide my future.

CALVIN: Well, what do you want to do with your life then, Frank?

FRANK: You said it best yesterday, man. "Whatever the hell I want."

MATT: Actually, he said "wherever." Because Shin was asking where we'd go.

JANE: You must be fun at parties. But also... hey, Shin! You good?

Shin has gone back to some minor disassociating.

I sit, in the state of a daydream, with all of your words flying over… my head. Even more time gets wasted, in a daze.

FRANK: She didn't sleep at all last night, I think she's a little out of it.

JANE: What? Didn't you say you'd take the shift after her?

FRANK: She never woke me up!

Jane gives him a look.

FRANK: ...whatever. Oh right, as I was saying, I can do whatever the hell I want to now. We all can. We're fucking free!

JANE: We're not "free," we're in hiding, idiot.

Now Matt gives Jane a look.

JANE: Sorry. We're in hiding, guy of normal intelligence.

Frank sits himself down, again stumbling a bit and almost falling over. But he manages to sit. Nobody comments on his clumsiness.

FRANK: But we’re no longer confined to school. Or a daily routine. We can do whatever we want. We have food and water... we can just chill!

CALVIN: Hey, speaking of food and water... why'd you have so many snacks and stuff?

FRANK: Huh?

CALVIN: You know... in your backpack. You said you were stocking up for a while? Stocking up for what?

The others (except Shin) look at Frank with curious expressions.

FRANK: Okay... we're talking, we're getting to know each other, I get it. But that's my business. Don't go rooting around in my stuff.

MATT: Nobody suggested that.

FRANK: Well, you were talking about my backpack. Just... don't ask questions, don't look around in it. Got it?

CALVIN: Yeah, sure man, whatever. I’d rather talk about something else we don’t know anyway. The elephant in the room. Why our hands were all glowing green, and why we were, like, drawn to each other. Any theories, guys?

JANE: (sighs) Okay, don’t look at me weird after I say this, but… Calvin, remember when you said this was “Stranger Things-type shit”? I agree, it’s like the government is after us because we're... different.

MATT: Different how?

JANE: Think about it. Glowing, moving hands? That’s science fiction, that shouldn’t be real. What if we have… powers, like Eleven?

The boys laugh at what Jane just said.

FRANK: (laughing) You think we can move things with our minds now?

JANE: No, but… well, maybe, I don’t know! I think something’s up!

CALVIN: I think if we had, you know, abilities, we’d know. You know?

MATT: Not necessarily. If you didn’t know you had abilities, you wouldn’t think to try using them. You wouldn’t even know how to use them!

FRANK: Dude, you sound ridiculous.

JANE: Glowing, moving hands sound ridiculous, but here we are!

FRANK: Okay, even if we had… whatever, abilities, who cares?

CALVIN: What?! Dude, we’re talking about superpowers! I’d love to be a superhero!

FRANK: You’re a superhero fan, cool. Then you know all superheroes get fucked over.

CALVIN: Hey, that’s not… wait, you seriously wouldn’t want to be a superhero?

FRANK: Eh. Too much work, too many consequences.

MATT: Bruh, that’s incredibly selfish. Or lazy.

FRANK: Well, maybe I’m just too damn lazy. Or... maybe I was just “brainwashed” to think that way because of... you know...

JANE: I swear to god if you say schoo-

FRANK: School.

JANE: Fuck!

FRANK: If you don’t follow the path, you’re "lazy." That’s what school says. But that itself is brainwashing! They don’t let you even consider that you just might be different!

JANE: Okay, Karl Marx.

FRANK: La-la-la, not listening! And all of your time gets wasted in my daze...

MATT: Dude. The world isn't a waste of our time, the fuck are you even saying? You have convenient, pithy platitudes criticizing school-

FRANK: Wait, when did I say the world was a waste of our time?

MATT: You said being a hero is "too much work." That sounds a lot to me like not wanting to help the world.

FRANK: I also said it has too many consequences. I can help the world, but I wouldn't want to sacrifice my loved ones or some shit.

MATT: What loved ones? Didn't you say you don't have a family?

Frank doesn't respond to that.

And I’m looking back now, at where I have gone wrong, and why I could not seem to get along.

Shin envisions a high school of her own. She thinks back on what Jane said about the social hierarchy.

MATT: Okay, forget about helping the world for a second. What was it you said about... interests and chains?

FRANK: "My interests are longing to break through these chains, these chains that control my future’s aims, oh no-"

MATT: Yeah, that. You blame "school" or whatever for dictating your future, yet here you are presented with an opportunity.

FRANK: What opportunity?

MATT: If we did hypothetically have superpowers-

FRANK: Oh for fuck's sake-

MATT: -we'd be in charge of our own destiny. The only things restricting your "freedom" would be your own morals and hesitancies. It's exactly what you're advocating for!

FRANK: No no no. Bad shit always happens to superheroes, always.

MATT: In fiction! But this is real life, man. We might have superpowers in real life. And you're saying no.

FRANK: Damn right I am.

MATT: Okay, so you're saying no to freedom and no to helping the world. What a class act you are.

JANE: Woah, okay now. I thought you were on my case for being too harsh.

MATT: You were being out of pocket; this guy deserves what I'm saying.

FRANK: What exactly did I do to deserve this lecture, Mother Teresa? All I said was I don't want to be a superhero.

MATT: You're not saying anything. First you claimed you wanted "freedom," but that's clearly bullshit. Make any excuse you want; being a superhero would be the ultimate freedom and you know it. If you really wanted freedom, you'd have said yes. But no. So, what exactly do you want to do with the time of your life? Huh? Here's what I think. Someone who doesn't see improving the world as worth it, and doesn't like their lot in life, is just a nihilistic loser.

JANE: Uh, hey man, this sounds a bit like projection or something. Frank could just be depressed.

FRANK: Fuck you! I'm not depressed.

JANE: Hey! I was taking your side, dickwad!

FRANK: I don't need you garnering sympathy for me; I don't need sympathy from you! I don't even know you!

MATT: Good.

Frank stands up, almost losing balance a bit.

FRANK: Oh shut the hell up, football star. All of this is rich coming from someone who lost their sense of purpose.

MATT: Football was never my sense of purpose.

FRANK: No? How long did you play for? Years? I bet it was years. Football never became part of how you saw yourself? Never?

Matt is silent.

FRANK: Thought so. Next time, don't be hypocritical when making an argument. No, I'm not sure what I want in life, but neither do you.

JANE: Seriously, I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but maybe we should all cool dow-

MATT: You're right, I can't believe you're saying that, "Little Miss Agitator."

CALVIN: Bro, we don't have to do more insults-

MATT: "Sounds like projection" is rich coming from her.

CALVIN: Hey man, back off.

FRANK: Coming to her rescue? What a noble superhero you'll be.

CALVIN/JANE: Shut it!

The conversation devolves into a 4-way shouting match.

I’m looking… back now at… where I have… have gone wrong.

In a flashback, students at a high school are pointing and laughing at Shin.

And why I, could not seem… could not seem… to get along.

A series of flashbacks rush on by, like the fast beat of a guitar solo. Shin at college orientation. Shin talking to every student in the hall, getting people to like her. Unlike high school. And Shin getting elected student body president. That could never have happened at her high school.

And I’m looking back now, at where I have gone wrong, and why I could not seem to get along.

Shin stands up. The others don't notice her until she says:

SHIN: "My interests are longing to break through these chains, these chains that control my future’s aims... oh no?" Is that it?

Jane, Calvin, and Matt look at her, perplexed.

SHIN: What Frank said... chains are a shackle. They bring you down. Did he ever say what he wanted was the freedom to choose? Or was he just saying he hated the chains? He admitted he doesn't know what he wants in life so... I'm inclined to believe it's the latter. School is a form of oppression for him. And in some ways... it was for me as well. I get it now. He just doesn't want to be controlled. None of us do, right? And Matt, you were getting on his case for not having an answer, but if someone is always getting knocked down, when would they ever have time to come up with an answer? He's not nihilistic... he's just been mistreated, and hates it. Maybe the reason he's skeptical of freedom, and even of helping the world, is because it sounds too good to be true? After what he's used to? Or at the very least, new and scary. It could hurt! So he figures, why take the chance?

Jane, Calvin, and Matt all look stunned. That was quite the monologue.

SHIN: ...I was paying attention!

CALVIN: Yeah but, that was...

SHIN: I'm a psych major lol, this is kinda my area of specialty.

MATT: No kidding... alright you may have a point. I wasn't really listening to Frank. He just said something I disagreed with and I made a lot of assumptions. That's my bad. I'm sorry, Frank... Frank?!

The 4 of them turn to see Frank lying on the ground. Unconscious.

Chapter Text

Restless Heart Syndrome is on the album "21^st Century Breakdown" from 2009. The link to the song is here. I highly suggest you listen to it all.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

The piano keys play as Shin attempts CPR on an unconscious Frank. The other 3 in the background are talking over each other.

MATT: I didn't berate him into unconsciousness, I'm not that powerful.
CALVIN: He was fine like a second ago, what the hell happened?
JANE: I think he's an idiot but that doesn't mean I want him to die!

As we zoom in on Frank's face, we notice his lips are still blue. Hmm...

SHIN: Come on Frank, come on! Work with me here!

As the opening ballad subsides, Frank's eyes shoot open suddenly. His pupils are small, "pinpoint." The piano starts again.

I’ve got a really bad disease…

SHIN: Guys, he's awake!

It’s got me begging on my hands and knees…

SHIN: I... I think he's trying to say something!

So, take me to…

FRANK (softly): emergency...

‘Cuz something seems to be missing…

Frank's eyes start to close again. His face falls to the side; his cheek hits the floor.

*Drums

SHIN: No! Goddamnit Frank, stay with me!

Somebody take the pain away...

SHIN: Snap out of it, Frank!

It's like an ulcer bleeding in my brain... so-

Shin slaps him hard in the face. He regains consciousness.

FRANK: Augh!

His pupils are still pinpoint, and his lips still blue. He's also shaking a little.

SHIN: Thank god.

Shin wipes her mouth on her sleeve. The other 3 look relieved.

FRANK: Ughh... where... what?

SHIN: Frank? Frank, I'm sorry I slapped you... what's going on with you?

FRANK: I don't... what... hard to... stay focus...

JANE: Yeah, that's really bad.

SHIN: Frank? Concentrate, what's going on? How can we help you?

Frank's eyes start to droop.

FRANK: (softly): Send me to... the pharmacy...

His eyes close again.

So I can lose my memory.

SHIN: Frank? Frank?!

Shin starts shaking him. She then tries slapping him again, but it doesn't work.

SHIN: No! No...

MATT: He said the pharmacy... Calvin, check his bag.

CALVIN: But he said not to root through his stuff!

Jane gives him a look.

CALVIN: ...but obviously this is an emergency so sure okay.

Calvin goes into the "main room" where all of their backpacks are. The main compartment of Frank's backpack is empty after he dumped out those snacks and water bottles yesterday. But his backpack does have other, smaller compartments... inside, Calvin finds a notebook, a pencil, and... a bottle of Percocet. Nearly empty.

CALVIN: Holy fuck.

Calvin heads back into the "computer room" with the bottle and shows it to the gang.

JANE: Seriously? He's a prescription junkie? For fuck's sake!

Shin spins around and looks directly at Jane.

SHIN: Hey! Don’t get judgmental. Addiction’s not a fun choice; it’s a hardship, a struggle. You think he decided to pass out for fun?

JANE: What are you, his defender?

SHIN: What are you all, his attackers? Way to shit on a guy when he's literally down.

JANE: You're right, you're right, sorry.

Shin puts her ear on Frank's chest.

SHIN: Okay, he's breathing. Very slowly, but he's breathing.

MATT: Blue lips, pinpoint eyes, stumbling and shaking... damnit, I should've realized what this was.

CALVIN: God, what the hell do we do...

Matt gets a determined look on his face.

MATT: You use naloxone for an opioid overdose, I think. Frank said “the pharmacy;” I’m pretty sure they’re available over the counter.

JANE: Okay, so... one of us is going on a pharmacy run.

MATT: Honestly, there might not be time. You should apply naloxone right away. But... he is still breathing, so it's worth a shot to try.

CALVIN: Hold on. I… I want to save Frank, of course, but… we’re still on the run, remember? How are we going to just walk into a pharmacy?

JANE: Well, we still don’t know who those guys are, or what their resources are. They might be legit, or they might be full of shit.

SHIN: Besides, this is an emergency!

CALVIN: Okay, okay. You’re right. Again.

MATT: So… who’s going?

JANE: I’ll go. I feel bad about how I've treated him.

MATT: I arguably did worse, maybe I should-

JANE: You seem to have familiarity with this stuff. It's better for you to be here, in case there are... I don't know, complications.

MATT: (sighs) Yeah, alright.

JANE: I'll take this on… damn, if only I still had my car-

CALVIN: And me! Uh… I’ll go too! My ankle’s feeling better.

MATT: Great, it’s good not to go alone. And I’ll keep Shin company here. You know where the closest one is?

JANE: Yeah man, the town around here's pretty small, I got it.

Jane looks at Calvin.

JANE: Well alright, you ready for a life-saving adventure, man?

Calvin looks at Jane and flashes a smirk.

CALVIN: Let’s be heroes.

Frank is... dreaming? Hallucinating? It's unclear. Whatever's going on, we see him sitting against a wall somewhere, smiling dopily.

I'm elated... medicated...

Frank is walking away from a church, sulking, depressed. The doors are open, and members of the congregation are shouting at him.

Lord knows! I tried to find a way…

Frank is running on a sidewalk in their small town. He’s teary-eyed.

To run away!

Back in the real world, Frank is still lying on the floor, breathing very slowly. Shin is holding his hand, kneeling, and looking very worried.

As the orchestral heats up, Shin lets go of Frank's hand, gets up, and starts to pace. She begins talking to herself.

SHIN: Jane and Calvin... they've got it.

MATT: Hm? Yeah, I'm sure they can find it.

Shin realizes she was speaking out loud.

SHIN: Oh! Uh... sorry, no, that's not what I meant, actually. I mean... I think they found another cure.

MATT: For opioid overdose?

SHIN: For... broken hearts. And feeling insecure.

MATT: ...okay psych major, please elaborate on that. Because I have no clue what the fuck you're talking about.

SHIN: Well, Calvin's all over Jane like a love-sick puppy, unless you haven't noticed. It's amazing that she seemingly hasn't... which makes me think she actually has, and is pretending otherwise. It's probably making Jane feel better over her broken heart, and it's helping Calvin's insecurity vis a vis his anxious-attachment style. It's not the healthiest thing in the world, but it's not toxic or anything. Just... non-standard. But it seems to be a positive thing for both of them right now, and we're in a pretty fucked up situation, so I'm glad they found something.

Matt is stunned.

MATT: ...can I just say, I think you're incredible? Or full of shit... or both! Because that was crazy, my lord.

SHIN: Ha ha thanks.

Matt walks over to Shin.

MATT: So, you think Jane's got a broken heart, huh? Pretty perceptive if true.

SHIN: Well, it's my theory, anyway, as to why she seems so bitter all the time.

MATT: I don't think so. There's other reasons to be bitter. Like, you'd be surprised what I endure.

SHIN: What makes you feel so self-assured?

Calvin and Jane are peaking around the corner of an alley, looking at a pharmacy across the street. Calvin is taking to Jane.

CALVIN: So yeah, I'm Hispanic even though I don't look it. And my Spanish sucks, so I feel like an impostor. I'm also Jewis-

JANE: And I'm atheist, yeah yeah. Hey listen, I do care about what you're saying, but remember why we're here. We can chat later.

CALVIN: Right, sorry Jane. ...so. Should we just… go in, then?

JANE: I mean, yeah, no point hanging out in this back alley-

SCARED MAN: Help!! Help me!

Calvin and Jane spin around.

CALVIN: Bruh.

JANE: The hell?

A man runs into them from behind the alley.

SCARED MAN: I need to find a place to hide!

JANE: Uh… okay, um, uh, we can-

GANG MEMBER 1: You never know what could be waiting outside…

Five members of a gang step out of the shadows of the alley.

GANG MEMBER 1: It’s ok, man. It was just an accident, you said so yourself. But the thing about that is… the accidents… that you could find? It’s like some kind of suicide…

Jane clenches her fists.

JANE: What’s that supposed to mean?

GANG MEMBER 1: This guy claimed he didn’t rip us off, that it was “just an accident.” And yeah, accidents happen! All kinds of accidents. Like accidental suicide...

CALVIN (softly): I think he’s implying he’s gonna kill this guy and make it look-

JANE (forcefully): Yeah, I know.

GANG MEMBER 2: Look, you kids just stumbled into this. You can go on home, now.

Calvin and the man look scared out of their minds. But not Jane.

JANE: And let you just kill this guy? Yeah, not happening.

GANG MEMBER 1: Ha! And what do you plan to do about it, little miss?

Calvin leans towards Jane.

CALVIN (softly): Uh, Jane? I’ve never been in a fight before, and, well… not only is it insane to fight one of these guys, let alone 5, right now… but we need to help Frank.

Jane looks at Calvin with fire in her eyes.

JANE: And let these assholes win?! Let a man die?! I can’t, Calvin! I can’t!

Matt is squinting to read the label on the Percocet bottle.

MATT: …for scoliosis pain. Man, how did Frank get away with that shit? Unless he really is in pain…

Matt turns to look at Frank (Shin is once again by his side, watching over him). He looks at the bottle again and ponders.

MATT: Huh. It's like... so, what ails you… is what impales you.

Frank’s dream again. He’s on the floor in front of the church, crying, while holding a necklace of Jesus on the cross.

I feel like I’ve been crucified…

Meanwhile, Jane stands, fists balled, ready to fight. The gang members look ready too.

To be satisfied…

Jane is scowling, and her right hand… is glowing! Green! As the music swells...

In Frank's notebook are these words:

FRANK: "Restless Heart Syndrome. Definition: never being satisfied." That's me alright. I'm a victim, of my symptom. I am my own worst enemy.

Shin looks at this page in Frank's notebook and then turns to Frank.

SHIN: You're a victim... of your symptom.

Shin looks crestfallen.

SHIN: You are your own worst enemy...

Back to Jane. She's staring daggers at the gang members.

Know Your Enemy.

This is the epic guitar solo portion of the song. In the story, it equates to an epic fight. Normally, I guess I'd explain what happens, but actually, this scene was drawn up when I envisioned this as a comic book!

So here you go, take a look.

As you can see, by the end of the fight, Calvin has joined in, and learned he can shoot lasers!

Calvin stares at his glowing hand, mesmerized over what just happened.

CALVIN: (softly) Superpowers...

Calvin looks up at Jane with a smile.

CALVIN: I'm... elated!

Jane, a bit out of breath after the fight, points to the pharmacy.

JANE: (breathing heavily) Medicated...

Meanwhile, Frank is drifting in and out of consciousness.

I am my own worst enemy...

The scared man, shaken by both the threat against his life and seeing two young adults with apparent superpowers, still gives his gratitude.

SCARED MAN: Thank you… thank you both so much! I feared for my life!

JANE: Oh, uh… yeah! It was nothing, don’t worry about it!

SCARED MAN: You both saved my life. How can I ever repay you?

CALVIN: Seriously man, don’t worry about it! That’s… just what we do.

Jane looks at Calvin, slightly amused.

JANE: “Just what we do,” huh?

SCARED MAN: I am in your debt… thanks to you, my children still have a father.

Jane looks at the man.

JANE: It’s seriously not that big a deal. But, uh, if you have kids, maybe don’t get involved with gangs? Or at least, gangs that could kill you?

SCARED MAN: It’s not that simp… sigh, well, maybe you’re right… again, thank you both.

CALVIN: It was our pleasure, sir. Tell your kids you love them and… I don’t know, tell other people how we helped you, I guess!

Jane looks at Calvin in disbelief as the man walks away.

SCARED MAN: Um, okay yes, I will! Take care!

After the man leaves...

JANE: “Tell other people”? Dude, weren’t you the one worried about the feds finding-

CALVIN: But they haven’t. They said they had the “forest surrounded” but we left! I’m starting to think they’re full of shit, like you said.

JANE: (sighs) Okay, but… what does telling other people do?

Calvin smiles at her.

CALVIN: Well like I said before, I’d love to be a superhero. And superheroes need to build reps, don't they?

JANE: (rolls her eyes) We save one guy and suddenly we’re superheroes?

She motions Calvin over.

JANE: C’mon Johnny Storm, let’s get what Frank needs.

SHIN: "So what ails you... is what impales you?" Clever wordplay, Matt.

MATT: Well hey, what was it you said? "You are your own worst enemy?" That's pretty good too.

SHIN: (laughs) That's a common expression, man!

Are they... flirting?

SHIN: Besides, that wasn't even me. I was reading from Frank's notebook.

MATT: Ah. Guess I gotta give you props then instead, Frank.

Frank obviously doesn't respond.

SHIN: Yeah... (sighs) I think he's been dealt a shit hand in life. Frank, you're a victim, of the system. "You are your own worst enemy."

MATT: You're a victim of the system... I know what that's like too, man. It's not easy being, well, not white in this country.

SHIN: I feel ya.

MATT: Or gay.

SHIN: What? You're-?

Huh. Guess they weren't flirting.

MATT: Yeah. So?

SHIN: No, uh, nothing! Just didn't know.

MATT: ..."you are your own worst enemy." Yeah, I understand how that feels sometimes.

SHIN: ...I know this is cliché to say but, I'm an ally-

MATT: I don't really care.

SHIN: Okay.

MATT: Like... good? Glad you're not a homophobe? But come on, we have bigger things to worry about right now.

SHIN: Fair.

Matt can tell he made things a little uncomfortable.

MATT: Hey, uh, it's seriously fine, you know. Not upset or anything.

SHIN: Oh! Uh, good, okie-dokie.

MATT: ...can I ask you something real?

SHIN: Uhhhhh sure?

MATT: Earlier when we were all arguing, and you were spaced out. What exactly were you thinking about?

SHIN: ...

Before she can answer, Frank's eyes suddenly shoot open; he grasps his neck and makes choking sounds. Final guitar solo.

SHIN: Oh shit, no! Frank!

MATT: Fuck!

Just then, Jane and Calvin burst into the "computer room."

JANE: Here! We're here! We have the naloxone!

Jane falls to and slides on her knees over to Frank. It looks pretty sick ngl. As she does, she says:

JANE: Shin, do some more chest compressions!

Jane pulls out the naloxone and sprays it up Frank's nose.

Some time has passed, but for us, the guitar solo is still going. We see Shin continue to give Frank CPR.

3 minutes later...

Guitar solo still going. Shin steps away from Frank. He's laying there with his eyes open, breathing normally. The other 4 smile.

MATT: I... I think he's going to be okay if we keep administering the naloxone.

SHIN: Oh thank god...

The guitar solo concludes.

Chapter Text

No One Knows is on the album "Kerplunk" from 1992. The link to the song is here. It's... different from most Green Day songs. Give it a listen.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

Jane crawls through the tunnel into the "main room," where the other 4 are gathered. Frank is lying down.

JANE: This is getting ridiculous; I feel like a mouse.

Jane stands up.

JANE: Okay, sorry, I had to piss and there’s no bathrooms here. Did I miss anything?

SHIN: I gave Frank another dose of naloxone, instructions say to do so every hour.

FRANK: It shouldn’t have even worked; naloxone needs to be applied like immediately. I somehow survived hours without it waiting for-

Jane and Calvin give him a look.

FRANK: Uh, not that I’m not grateful for you guys getting me this. Thank you again.

Frank looks around at everyone.

FRANK: And I’m sorry for how annoying I was before. Wasn’t cool of me.

MATT: Nah man, I’m sorry. Shouldn’t have gotten on your case like that. I started it.

FRANK: No, really, it’s on me. You all were talking seriously about what’s been going on, and I just kept dissing school and shit. I guess I just… didn’t want to think about all this. It’s been pretty scary. I don’t know how you do it, Matt.

Matt looks at him confused.

MATT: Do what?

FRANK: You know, be so rational and mature in this crazy time.

Matt suddenly looks very self-conscious.

MATT: I, uh… what? I’m just acting the same as all of you.

JANE: No, Frank’s got a point. I’ve been very on edge over the past… what has it been, almost 24 hours or so? But you’ve kept a cool head ever since we started running. You've been thinking pretty logically and mature about everything so far. That’s impressive, man.

Matt tries to defend himself from these compliments (for some reason).

MATT: Wha- no I haven’t! I just yelled at Frank until he passed out! That's not "mature!"

SHIN: That was one time. And he deserved it.

Frank looks at Shin. She gives him a playful look.

SHIN: Come on, you did.

CALVIN: It’s a good thing, man! We’re saying you’ve been very… adult about all this. We could stand to learn from you. At least, I could.

Matt looks a little overwhelmed. After a beat, he says:

MATT: I, uh… I’m humbled. Thank you, guys, that’s… real kind.

Matt suddenly says something unexpected.

MATT: I think, uh… I think I need to lie down, I’m feeling a bit hot.

JANE: Uh… yeah, yeah, of course. It’s been a long… day-period. Maybe we should all take a rest. Shin, how’s Frank feeling?

FRANK: I’m chilling, don’t worry. No signs of withdrawal yet. And trust me, I’d know.

Jane stares at him intensely.

JANE: Forgive me if I’m still a bit wary.

SHIN: Resting’s a good plan. Frank, I’ll be nearby if you need anything, but honestly this has taken a lot out of me.

Frank looks at Shin with concern.

FRANK: Oh, I- I’m so sorry, Shin. I’m being an asshole. Go rest, I’ll be okay, I think.

JANE: Alright, it’s settled. Let’s all just chill for a while.

CALVIN: Sounds good!

*Bass solo

A very young Matt is being dragged away from a computer by his father. Matt's dad is wearing a tuxedo.

MATT'S DAD: Don't have time for this... literally wasting company time.

Young Matt is trying on a football helmet.

MATT'S DAD: Trust me, Matty. This is good for you. The world is tough, so you gotta be tough too.

Teenage Matt is yelling at his parents. Like his dad, his mom looks very elegant. And they appear to be in a very large hallway.

MATT'S DAD: Your brothers may not be as smart as you, but at least they've figured out how the world works!

Present-day Matt is in one of the rooms of the compound, sitting on a mattress. He's reminiscing.

MATT'S DAD: (voice in Matt's head) Enough with the computers! You need to grow up, son! Start taking things seriously!

Matt stands up as the bass solo transitions into the rest of the song.

Why should my fun have to end?

MATT'S COACH: (repeat of dialogue from Chapter 1) If you're not going to take this seriously, I want you off my team!

For me it's only the beginning.

A very young Shin is looking up at some taller, older Asian girls. They all have cigarettes in their hands, one of them is smoking one. Another one of the girls (her sister), leans down to talk to her.

SHIN'S SISTER: I’m sorry, sis, you’re not old enough to hang out with us. Go on back home.

A dejected young Shin walks away.

See my friends begin to age, a short countdown to their end.

In high school, students are pointing and laughing at Shin. But this time, one of them says:

STUDENT: Hey Shin, why don’t you go cry to your sister?

High school-age Shin is now sitting on the floor of the school library, reading a book. She has sort of a smile on her face, but it does look as if she was just crying. She went into the library to cheer herself up after being made fun of.

In the present, Shin is sitting on a mattress, also reminiscing. And... she's holding a cigarette. Must've been in her backpack.

In Frank's notebook are the words:

FRANK: Call me irresponsible... call me habitual…

But surprise! It's actually Matt who's reading the notebook. Guess he never returned it to him. Matt begins to read aloud.

MATT: "But when you think of me… do you fill your head with schemes? Better think again, ‘cuz no one knows…"

In Matt's head, his father and his former coach are still yelling at him. He pushes away the thoughts.

Jane is, you guessed it, in her “room” on a mattress feeling sad/reflective, like the others. There are glints of tears in her eyes.

I don’t want to cause no harm, but sometimes my actions hurt-

Her musings are interrupted by a knock on her door, startling her. She wipes away her tears as she heads to open the door. It's Calvin.

CALVIN: Hey Jane, I know you said we should all rest, but I’m a bit restless. My ankle’s recovered surprisingly fast; it doesn’t hurt at all now! …uh, anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something.

JANE: Uh, yeah, what’s up?

CALVIN: We haven’t, uh… told the others what happened. About the fight. Our… “super” fight. With the jumps and punches. And the laser.

JANE:  I… I don’t know what happened there. It was intense. And then we came back to Frank, and then we were waiting, and now…

CALVIN: Yeah, I know. There wasn’t really a good time to say “hey guess what, we have superpowers!”

JANE: Yeah… let me think on it, okay? It’s not that I necessarily want to keep this a secret, it’s just… I don’t know what to do. Let me think on it.

Jane heads back and sits on her mattress.

JANE: God… is this really my life now? Hiding from maybe the feds? Superpowers?

CALVIN: I mean, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. It is kind of cool.

Calvin is smirking. Jane looks at him, not with anger, but with concern. Genuine concern. That's new.

JANE: How can you say that? Didn’t you, like, have plans for your life?

Calvin suddenly drops his smirk. Jane seems like she’s going to cry.

CALVIN: Uh, well-

JANE: I had plans for mine! I just wanted things to not be complicated… for once! For fucking once, man!

Calvin looks at her as he thinks.

Is there something I should find, to make plans for forever?

Another flashback of young Matt being yelled at by his parents.

Call me irresponsible…

Young Matt looking at simple computer code on his personal computer at home.

Call me habitual…

Matt’s dad is sitting with a young Matt, watching a live football game.

MATT'S DAD: Spending your whole life with computers will get you made fun of. I think you’d have a lot of fun playing this sport, Matty.

But when you think of me, do you fill your head with schemes?

Present-day Matt is walking in one of the hallways, a bit lost in thought.

Better think again, ‘cuz no one-

Suddenly, Matt bumps into something mechanical.

MATT: -the hell?

Matt looks up at a... I guess "giant metal container" would be the most apt description. It’s just a large metal box, capable of fitting multiple people inside. It’s about 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. There is a latch and a “door” of sorts to lock people inside. Inside the box, however, are more computer screens! There’s like a dozen of them, and there’s also wiring and lights. What could it be… a high-tech man-cave? Whatever it is, it has its own room, similar to the other computer room. There are a couple other hallways connecting to it. Matt looks on the other side of the "door." On it is spray-painted in large capital letters the word:

TELEPORTER

Matt has been staring at the word in disbelief for a good 30 seconds now. Finally, he speaks.

MATT: Nahhhhh, nah, nah, nah. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. This isn't real. This isn't real, this isn't real. Ha! Ha...

Matt suddenly turns around and whistles as loud as he can.

MATT: (projecting his voice) Hey! You all need to see this! Right fucking now!

After some time, the other 4 enter the room he's in.

JANE: Sorry, it’s not always easy to tell which “hallway” you’re in. We haven’t exactly mapped this place-

She and the rest of them notice the device, and see the word "TELEPORTER."

JANE: ...-out.

FRANK: Um… that says “teleporter.”

JANE: Yes, Frank, we can see that.

MATT: This… this has gotta be a joke right? Or like, fake? Because there’s no such thing as…

Matt trails off. Calvin cautiously chimes in.

CALVIN: Yeah, but I mean... there’s not supposed to be such a thing as superpowers either, but Jane and I have them.

Jane gives Calvin a look.

CALVIN: Um… I mean… well...

SHIN: What do you mean, Calvin?

Jane sighs. The jig is up.

JANE: Okay. For the record, I wasn’t trying to hide this. I was just figuring it out for myself, and what it means. When Calvin and I went to the pharmacy, we fought these guys. Gang members. And… we had superpowers. Somehow.

Matt looks at Jane. His mind has been thoroughly blown.

MATT: Superpowers. For real? Like we were talking about earlier?

JANE: (sighs) Yeah. My hand glowed green, and suddenly I could jump really high and punch and kick real hard. And Calvin shot out a laser or something, it was nuts.

SHIN: How’d it happen?

JANE: I really don’t know how it happened. Calvin?

CALVIN: Uh, same. I don’t know how… but it was pretty sick, not gonna lie.

FRANK: Are we about to do the superhero debate again?

SHIN: Wait, Jane, Calvin, why were you fighting members of a gang at all? The hell?

JANE: They were just... gonna kill this guy, and I… I just couldn’t let that happen. I couldn't!

Suddenly, Jane’s right eye starts glowing green! The other four step back in shock.

MATT: Woah!

Just as suddenly, Jane’s eye stops glowing.

JANE: Woah… I felt that. Did my eye... glow?

CALVIN: Yeah! Wonder why mine didn’t.

Jane stares at her hands, as if expecting them to glow. They do not.

JANE: I mean... my birthdays are always weird but I never-

Ah fuck. She said it. One of the things she's been hiding. She curses herself.

CALVIN: Woah, hold the phone! It’s your birthday?!

SHIN: Oh my gosh, happy birthday Jane! How old are you?

JANE: (sighs) 20. I'm 20. Um, by the way, what about you? You’re all freshies or sophomores, right?

Shin looks slightly hesitant.

SHIN: Yeah, I told you I’m a freshman, remember? And all of us go to State C, so-

FRANK: I don’t. But I’m 18, yeah.

SHIN: Oh. Where do you go to college, Frank?

FRANK: Bold of you to assume I can afford college.

Awkward silence.

FRANK: Well, I actually didn’t finish high school… still have some issues about it, evidently. But so what, I can still write pretty damn well.

SHIN: Wait a second... Jane, I thought you said you didn't know your birthday?

Fuck. Shin caught on.

JANE: Uh... I uh...

MATT: Hey! Enough! Can we please talk about the teleporter, and the powers, and… and...

Everyone looks at Matt. He’s freaking out, hyperventillanting.

MATT: Look, I don’t know why you all think I’m so level-headed. I’ve been told I think very logically sometimes, sure, but I’m freaking the fuck out right now! Why aren’t you all?! This is... this is crazy!

Shin puts her hand on Matt’s shoulder. She gives him a soft smile.

SHIN: Hey, it’s okay. We’re all freaked too. You pointed that out yesterday when we met, remember? I don’t know about the others, but I’m pretty good at compartmentalizing. I guess I’m scared to talk about this too.

FRANK: Well, I’m not! Let’s get this superhero debate over with already! Round 2, let’s go, yo!

Everyone stares at Frank with a baffled expression.

FRANK: …ah. Read the room wrong again. Sorry.

Calvin steps up to the plate.

CALVIN: Frank’s got a point, though. If Jane and I do, that means we all probably have access to superpowers. And check it: we have our own secret base, and maybe a teleporter. And because the feds are still looking for us, we're still sticking together for the time being, because lord knows we're all too chickenshit to do the fugitive life solo.

JANE: Speak for yourself.

Calvin uncharacteristically ignores her.

CALVIN: I guess the question we need to ask now is... what now?

As the instrumental break in the song plays, nobody says a word. Finally, Frank boldly speaks up.

FRANK: When I said before that superheroes get fucked over… I wasn’t being fully real with you guys. It's not that I don't want to help the world. I... just don't know if I can. If I'm capable. I'd like to, but... I just worry I’d be too irresponsible to handle a burden like that. You wanted to know why I was stocking up on food and stuff? Well... let's just say I don't have a lot of access to food. Yeah. Pretty irresponsible, me.

Shin looks at him. That's a little of what she suspected, but not 100% correct. Frank surprised her. In a good way. It also inspires Jane to speak.

JANE:  I… haven’t been fully real either. I said before I didn’t have a family. I do. I just hate them. The day we all met I was heading to State C to re-enroll, because my parents tricked me into un-enrolling. It's a long story; basically I didn't know what form I signed because... my memories get hazy sometimes. So yeah. Hate my folks. I don't remember a time when I was ever happy with them. I’ve always wanted a different life…

Shin didn't expect this either. Which inspires her to be the next one to speak up.

SHIN: Uh, like I said, I compartmentalize. It’s not great, I know. You all asked why I care about school so much? It helps me to learn new things. To forget other things. Jane, I can't at all imagine what it's like for you, and I don't want to minimize your struggles... but honestly I wish I could forget some things sometimes. School is the best tool to help me in that way; fill my head with knowledge. I’ve wanted a different life too.

Now, Calvin's turn.

CALVIN: I think we all kind of want a better life. That’s what I’m gathering. None of us seem super fond of our past. And because of that, the future's never looked too bright either. So, the idea of having a better life, or even just a different life, is immensely appealing. I'm not entirely sure how to do that... but maybe this could be it? All this? What if this is the answer... what if we really were superheroes?

The 4 of them turn to Matt. Perhaps because he's seemingly the most mature one? Or just perhaps he hasn't monologued yet.

MATT:  …it’s ballsy. And I think we’re all a bit delirious from the past 24 hours. But… there's truth in what you're saying, Calvin. I basically had my life decided for me. I ended up depressed. Lonely. Feeling like I either didn't have a purpose, or that my purpose wasn't fulfilling. Frank kinda nailed it with that one earlier. So yeah. I don’t know the answer either… but I’m down to try something new.

A flurry of thoughts pass through everyone's heads as they reminisce on their pasts.

FRANK: Call me irresponsible... ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||         |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| MATT: Call me habitual...

JANE: Does it seem like all your memories fade? ||||||||||||||||||||||||||         |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| MATT: But when you think of me...

SHIN: You soak up knowledge to fill the space! ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||         |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| MATT: Do you fill your head with schemes?

CALVIN: Yet still my answer remains: I don't know. |||||||||||||||||||||||         ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| MATT: Better think again, 'cuz no one knows...

MATT: I don't...

FRANK: So… did we decide? I’ll go with whatever you guys say. You saved my life, I owe you. What’re we doing?

MATT: I don’t know… and I don’t know if we’ll know. But I think we all want our lives to be different. Maybe… we just take things as they come?

Bring it home, Matt.

MATT: It’s not like anyone will decide for us. And if they did, who’s to say they’d know what’s right for us? They wouldn't know. Maybe No One-

Suddenly, a red light comes on in the room. As if it’s an emergency light.

JANE: The hell?

SHIN: Is this like emergency lighting? Is something wrong?

CALVIN: I don't want to jinx it, but a green light started all this. I’m not so sure a red light is a good sign…

The five of them all spin around when they hear:

MALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) Freeze, you fucking Idiots! This is the feds; we’ve found you!

Chapter Text

Armatage Shanks is the opening track on the album "Insomniac" from 1995. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

The so-called "Idiots" are panicking. Their hearts are beating fast; it sounds like drums.

JANE: Fffff...

Their hearts beat even faster at the sound of a voice through a megaphone; it now sounds like chaotic guitar.

MALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) You're done!

JANE: -uck!

They very well might be done. As Jane looks around the room, with the red lighting giving off vibes like "DANGER" and "RUN," she can't help but think: maybe she should've been nicer to her parents. Because no matter how this goes, it doesn't look like she'll be seeing them anytime soon.

MALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) We have the compound completely surrounded!

Calvin rolls his eyes.

CALVIN: That's what they said last time.

MALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) We promise no harm will come to you! Just surrender now!

SHIN: Well, that's not what they said last time, but I don't buy it.

JANE: Yeah, no shit.

FEMALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) We have successfully ID'ed two of you, and we will soon learn who the rest of you are.

FRANK: Who's the chick?

MATT: How'd they ID two of us?

FEMALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) Calvin Stevenson and Jane Love! You were spotted using empowered abilities on camera.

CALVIN: (freaking out) On camera?! Shit, I didn't know those alleys had cameras!

FEMALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) Jane also used her credit card at the pharmacy. We tracked your phones; we know it's you.

Jane's head starts spinning as the drums come back in.

JANE: (softly) My credit card... our phones... this is my fault. All my fault.

FEMALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) Just come quietly and we won't involve your families.

Jane falls to her knees, dissociating. Just like she did yesterday on the quad, but worse this time.

JANE: Stranded... lost inside myself.

Her thoughts are a blur. Her credit card... her phone...

JANE: My own worst friend, and my own closest enemy.

They caught her on camera using superpowers!

JANE: I'm branded... maladjusted...

It's all her fault.

JANE: Never trusted anyone, let alone myself!

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

Calvin has shot two lasers out of his hands at the pace of a drum beat.

JANE: I must insist on being a pessimist. I'm a loner, in a catastrophic mind!

Shin physically shakes Jane to snap her out of it. The "song" in her head takes a pause.

SHIN: Hey! We gotta go! Now!

Jane turns and sees Calvin firing yet another laser down a hallway, hitting... a soldier?! In camo... shit they really are in danger. But...

JANE: Oh my god...

Two other soldiers lie on the ground, knocked out from the previous blasts.

CALVIN: GOOOO!!!

Shin and Jane run past Calvin, who provides "cover fire." He then follows them; Frank and Matt have already run ahead.

Shin, Jane, and Calvin catch up to Frank and Matt.

FRANK: I changed my mind. I'm a "no" on superheroes; I've come way too close to dying too many times in the last day!

CALVIN: One of those was your own fault.

SHIN: We can talk about this later! Right now, we need to think of a plan.

They all turn a corner and enter one of the rooms with a mattress in it. On one of the walls is a "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster. Odd.

MATT: Huh. Early 2000s... and possibly British? Or just a fan of the phrase...

FRANK: Dude, who cares? It's just a cringe Facebook meme.

MATT: I'm just still wondering who built this place, and when-

SHIN: Seriously! Can't believe I'm the one saying this, but this is not the time, we have to think!

Shin looks around the room. There's another hallway entrance on the other side.

SHIN: Okay, does anyone have an idea of where that hallway leads?

CALVIN: What does it matter? We haven't found another entrance or exit out of this place other than the one we know, and the feds are there.

MATT: We think. Probably. Yeah.

FRANK: So, we're trapped.

CALVIN: I think so, unless anyone else knows of another exit?

Crickets.

FRANK: Should we just... turn ourselves in? What else can we do? Matt? Shin?

MATT: I... I don't know.

SHIN: Umm... let me think...

Everyone is silent.

CALVIN: Great. That's... that's just great.

FRANK: I don't want to hand ourselves over to the feds but... they said they wouldn't hurt us. Maybe they're for real?

MATT: Yeah, like they're serious this time.

Matt walks over to a corner of the room, muttering to himself.

MATT: (softly) If I were a better linebacker maybe I could... no, they had guns, rifles. Wouldn't matter.

Frank also begins speaking to himself.

FRANK: (softly) It's all over. Stupid, stupid.

Calvin sits down, and begins to mutter to himself as well.

CALVIN: (softly) All for nothing...

Jane meanwhile hasn't said a word since they started running. Shin looks at everyone with concern.

SHIN: Hey... we need to work out a plan everyone... come on...

Nobody's listening to her. They're all lost in their own heads.

FRANK: (softly) Such a dumbass...
CALVIN: (softly) Worthless...
MATT: (softly) My own fault for only caring about computers...

Shin realizes it's hopeless. She walks over to the mattress and sits on it.

SHIN: (softly) Some leader I am...

As if it were contagious, Jane's "song" of pessimism plays in all their heads. After some quick drums, they all begin to ruminate.

SHIN: Elected... the rejected...

FRANK: I perfected the science of the idiot...

CALVIN: No meaning, and no healing...

MATT: Self-loathing Freak, and Introverted Deviant!

*WHOOSH*

*WHOOSH*

Someone shoots two... lasers? at the pace of a drum beat. It's not Jane; she's busy once again thinking:

JANE: I must insist on being a pessimist. I'm a loner in a catastrophic mind.

Out loud, Jane repeats some of her thoughts from Chapter 1: Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

JANE: (softly) I'm walking down the line, that divides me somewhere in my mind. On the border-

FRANK: Jane!

Jane snaps out of it, and looks at Frank.

JANE: What?

FRANK: Uh... look what Shin did!

Shin was the one who shot those blasts! Because if Jane and Calvin can... they all can. In front of them lie two more unconscious soldiers.

JANE: Uh... how? Wha...

SHIN: I don't know. I was moping like the rest of you, but when the soldiers came in I suddenly thought... I don't want them to hurt my friends.

The wheels in Matt's head start turning.

MATT: Jane, you said your hand glowed earlier when you didn't want that man to be hurt, right? Your eye glowed just talking about it.

JANE: Yeah... so what, you think these powers work out of... wanting to prevent something?

MATT: Mmm... that's too specific, doesn't make sense. I'm thinking maybe it's just a strong belief in general.  You know, mind over matter! We don't know how to work these... powers, so maybe it's just a matter of control!

CALVIN: So we can use them anytime, as long as we really think about it...?

FRANK: Great. If you "believe in yourself" you can shoot lasers from your hands. Sounds like a kid's cartoon.

SHIN: I didn't shoot a laser.

The other 4 turn to look at her.

MATT: What do you mean you didn't shoot a laser? We can all see the unconscious soldiers.

SHIN: Well, none of you were looking when they came in. I shot something, but it wasn't a "laser." It was more like a... wave?

FRANK: (skeptical) "A wave?"

SHIN: Yeah! It was like a... wave of light! It was pretty big, did really none of you see it? Not even out of the corner of your eye?

CALVIN: I did vaguely see something green, and when I turned the soldiers were on the ground.

SHIN: Well, it was a wave. And it went through the soldiers and into the hallway.

MATT: Hang on. How far did it go?

SHIN: How should I know?

Matt heads over to the hallway.

JANE: Dude, what're you doing?!

Matt peers his head in, and after a beat, walks inside it. The other 4 look at each other, and then follow him.

The five of them have re-entered the TELEPORTER room. Various soldiers are scattered on the ground, unconscious.

FRANK: You think they're knocked out everywhere?

SHIN: Well... I don't hear anything. So, I don't know, maybe?

MATT: I think your "wave of light" might have traveled throughout the entire compound, Shin! Nice work.

SHIN: No need to thank me. ...no seriously, I didn't do it on purpose or anything.

MATT: But it knocked everyone out! It did what you needed it to do. Just like Jane and Calvin's powers helped them in their fight. I think subconsciously we're already using our powers in the ways we want to. Imagine if we practiced, gained better control over them!

JANE: That's great and all, but we're not out of the woods yet. Literally. If we run, we're back to where we started: in the woods. And I doubt we'll find another convenient hideout just lying around...

CALVIN: Guys... there is one possibility. And don't gang up on me when I say this but... since we're right here, we may as well try the teleporter.

The other 4 stare at Calvin. No one says a word. Finally:

FRANK: Meh, we don't have any other ideas.

Frank starts to walk into the teleporter.

JANE: Wait-wait-wait... we're pinning all our hopes on a giant metal box that just says the word "teleporter"?

CALVIN: Well, it has a bunch of computer screens.

Jane looks at Calvin with the most incredulous look anyone could ever incredule. Then:

JANE: Oh my god we're all going to die.

SHIN: Hey, I mean, it's worth a try.

JANE: "A bunch of computer screens?!" Seriously?! You're just saying whatever! You're... you're...

Jane suddenly gets dizzy and falls to the floor, as more quick drum beats play in her head.

JANE: Say whatever... oh-oh... woah-oh...

Calvin rushes to her side as more drums play.

CALVIN: Jane! Jane, are you okay?!

Matt has joined Frank in the TELEPORTER and looks around.

MATT: I only see screens; I don't see a-

COMPUTER VOICE: Green energy signatures detected. State directive.

Matt is flabbergasted. As is everyone (except Jane, who's busy being dizzy).

MATT: ...okay then. Directive. State directive. Um... activate... teleport sequence?

FRANK: Dude, did you just talk to it?

MATT: It said to state-

COMPUTER VOICE: Transport initiated. Sequence commencing in 241 seconds.

CALVIN: (puzzled) Oddly specific.

SHIN: Okay come on, we have about 4 minutes, let's get our stuff!

She sprints down the hallway that leads to the "main room," where her backpack is.

FRANK: Woah, Shin, hold on!

He runs after her.

3 minutes later...

The five of them are standing in the TELEPORTER room, all wearing their backpacks.

MATT: Frank, you have your naloxone?

FRANK: Yessir! Couldn't find my notebook though-

JANE: We don't have any more time to look, I'm sorry. And I'm also sorry I insisted we take the chips out of our phones, but we can't have them track us again. That was a rookie move; it happens in literally every movie, I should've thought about that. Sorry.

SHIN: It's on all of us, don't worry. Alright people, into the teleporter! It should go off any-

A voice makes their hearts beat fast again, like guitar.

MALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) Okay, I don't know how you Idiots managed that, but it won't happen twice!

Frank and Matt rush into the teleporter.

FRANK: Computer! Teleport now! Teleport us right now!

MATT: It probably doesn't work that way; it already gave us a set time.

FRANK: But it's not counting out loud! We don't know if we have 15 seconds or 50!

Frank tries to grab one of the screens in the teleporter as Shin heads inside as well.

FRANK: Do somethinggggg!!

A dizzy, panicky feeling comes over Jane again as she falls to the floor again after more drum beats.

JANE: Say whatever... oh-oh... woah-oh...

Calvin once again rushes to her side as more drums play. He picks her up in his arms and heads into the teleporter.

CALVIN: I'm sorry for picking you up Jane but we have to go, now!

He lays her on the floor and shuts the door.

SHIN: Is she okay?!

Another voice. More fast heartbeats. More guitar.

FEMALE VOICE: (over a megaphone) There's nowhere for you to run, stand down! We're coming in!

COMPUTER VOICE: Transport sequence initiated.

A bright, blinding neon green light emanates from and envelops the TELEPORTER. The agents burst into the room; too late. The five vanish.

WOMAN: Shoot!

*Drums

FRANK: Did it work?

They open the door and see that the teleporter is now inside what looks like an enormous loft apartment. The walls and floor are made of concrete, and there are concrete columns scattered throughout the room they're in. There are also a couple couches. There are various hallways leading out of the room as well; this space looks to be the same size or possibly even larger than the compound they were just at. However, there are no windows. But on the walls are air vents, implying both air conditioning and an air supply in general. There are also lights in the ceiling, but the lightbulbs aren't LED, and in fact look pretty old. But this means there's electricity! Fascinating...

CALVIN: Yeah, Frank. I'd say it worked!

Matt steps out and looks around.

MATT: Are we still underground? I don't see any windows. But hey, there's electricity!

Frank sprints into one of the hallways.

FRANK: OhmygodIreallyhopethisplacehasabathroombye!

Shin and Calvin step out of the teleporter.

SHIN: Frank, wait! What if there's other people here; this place looks like an apartment!

CALVIN: Yeah, but one the teleporter took us to! The other place didn't have people in it... call it a hunch, but I'd say this place is unoccupied.

MATT: But it was clearly meant to be occupied. So, what is this place?

SHIN: Also, where are we? Like, geographically. Since we teleported... and I can't believe that that happened but whatever, where are we now?

FRANK: (from far off) They have bathrooms! Fuck yeah! The fancy kind too; their toilets say "Armitage Shanks"!

CALVIN: Armi... how is that spelled? With an "a" or an "i" in the middle?

MATT: I actually know that name for some reason. Where did I-

SHIN: I'm sorry, but none of this is important. We need to do some recon. How about we split up and look around? If something happens, well... I guess we have superpowers now. But yeah, how about we meet back here in 10?

10 minutes later...

The five are standing in front of the teleporter. But...

MATT: Huh. It doesn't have the word "TELEPORTER" on it. Which means... this is actually a different teleporter, and the first one took us here.

CALVIN: I wonder if there's more than two. Which might mean other hidden places like this.

MATT: We've definitely stumbled onto something big here...

SHIN: Alright everyone; what'd we all find?

MATT: Mostly just observational stuff. There's air conditioning, and air in general. Frank said there's bathrooms, so I looked in there. There's showers and everything... oh, and I remembered why that toilet's name sounded familiar. It's the name of a company from the UK, my brothers and I saw it once when we took a trip there and laughed about how stupid it sounded.

FRANK: Wait, are we in the UK?!

CALVIN: Nope. I found another room with old computers, just like the last place. And I'm not Matt, but I was able to turn them on. It was actually pretty easy, any of us could use them. Anyway there was like a geographic locator on one of them, and it said we're in California. Specifically, the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park.

SHIN: We're in a forest? Again?

FRANK: Near Oakland... interesting...

Whatever that's supposed to mean.

MATT: But there aren't just apartments in the middle of a forest. Which lends itself to my original theory: we're underground. Again.

SHIN: Underneath a forest, British influence, maybe built in the early 2000s, and abandoned. That's what both this and the last place had in common. That, and they're places meant to be lived in. I saw mattresses in the rooms here too. No clue what it all means but it's good to know.

MATT: And there's technology, some of it way advanced for its time... as well as for our time!

CALVIN: Yeah... I'm still trying to not freak out over us traveling halfway across the country.

SHIN: Is this where we're gonna stay now, do you think?

FRANK: Oh, I found a kitchen! When we were looking around. It had a stove and fridge and pantry... stocked with food and water! Like, survivor-type food that lasts years, in cans and stuff!

MATT: How old's that food, man?

FRANK: That's the weird thing. It's recent! Like only from a year ago... but again it lasts years so it's good for now.

SHIN: Last year?! So, somebody's been here somewhat recently...

CALVIN: -and could come back. Shit.

MATT: We'll cross that bridge when we get there. What's more important is that the feds didn't follow us through the teleporter. I don't think they even can, remember how it said "green energy signatures detected?" That's us; we have superpowers that make parts of us glow green. It worked for us only, so I think we're safe here.

CALVIN: Hm. Maybe we could even teleport back after a while, when the feds are gone.

MATT: Not a good idea. They've probably set up surveillance.

CALVIN: But what if they haven't? We could go, and if we can't stay we just teleport back here! But if we can stay a while... we could even grab some of our clothes and other stuff from campus, and bring them back here!

FRANK: So, we're talking about staying here? In California?

MATT: It's a better idea than the place the feds know about.

FRANK: Right, right. Yeah. Wow... I guess we're staying here.

CALVIN: I don't think we really have a choice... I wonder how the teleporter was synced up to our powers, anyway.

SHIN: It doesn't make sense. This whole thing is straight out of a science fiction story... hey Jane, what did you find, by the way?

They all turn to look at Jane. She's kept her head down this entire conversation, and seems to be spaced-out.

SHIN: Uh, well I found some stairs that lead to a garage.

CALVIN: A garage?! Are there cars in there?

SHIN: Yep. With keys in their ignitions.

CALVIN: Hell yeah! I fuckin love cars, man.

SHIN: And I love that there's a way to leave this place if we wanted to. Maybe even explore Oakland.

MATT: A garage built underneath a forest... this whole thing must've been a massive endeavor. I wonder what's powering this place-

Suddenly, Jane hurriedly walks past them, so fast that her backpack slips off and falls to the floor.

FRANK: Woah...

CALVIN: Jane, are you okay?

As Jane heads down one of the hallways, Frank looks down at her backpack, which is partially unzipped.

FRANK: Is that my-

He unzips it and pulls out his notebook.

FRANK: Oh my god, she said I didn't have time to go back for it! That lying klepto...

He opens the notebook to the last page he had written in. On the next page, Jane has evidently written something in her handwriting. It's partially illegible, as if she wrote it in a hurry. In fact, the only time she could've written this was in the last 15 minutes, either when they were gathering their stuff or when they were looking around this place. Apparently these were important thoughts, or perhaps consuming ones...

FRANK: And she wrote it in?! Come on, why...

Calvin and Matt peer over to look at the notebook.

SHIN: Hey, uh, maybe we shouldn't read-

Too late. Curiosity got the best of them. Curiosity and... a sense of familiarity with the words.

CALVIN: Stranded... lost inside myself...

MATT: My own worst friend, and my own closest enemy...

Shin is not reading, but thinking:

SHIN: Elected... the rejected...

Frank is also thinking:

FRANK: I perfected the science of the Idiot.

*FLASH*

*FLASH*

All of their right eyes suddenly glow green, and as quick as drums, then suddenly stop glowing. The experience startles them enough for Frank to drop the notebook and for all of them to take a step back.

Jane has found a room with not just a mattress, but an entire full-sized bed! There's a pillow and some sheets on it. She sits on the bed.

JANE: I must insist on being the pessimist, I'm a loner in a catastrophic mind!

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

In a sudden rage, Jane shoots two lasers at the wall, at the pace of a drum beat. She lies down, tears welling up in her eyes.

JANE: I'm getting pissed! I'm a worthless pessimist!

What a wonderful 20th birthday this has been.

JANE: I'm a loner in a claustrophobic mind!

SHIN: Yeah, uh, I'd say that's a sign we shouldn't read things that aren't meant for us. As for Jane, I think she's just... burnt out. We all experience burnout, it's natural. Let's not mention this to her, okay? And let's give her some space. There's a reason she lied about today not being her birthday; that on top of everything else that happened hasn't exactly made this day great.

Chaos with the "federal agents" in the original compound. Chaos that sounds again like guitar.

MAN: I can't believe we lost them again! Again! Fucking teleporter... why is it always a teleporter?

WOMAN: They'll slip up. Use their powers. We'll find them again.

MAN: They could be anywhere in the country! And it's not like we can bring in their families...

WOMAN: Yeah, I know that. I know that that'd just make things worse.

MAN: Maybe going in hard was a mistake...

WOMAN: Oh, you think?! We sent soldiers with rifles after them, Henry.

"HENRY": But they were just tranq darts, you know that Casey!

"CASEY": But they didn't! God you're a moron.

HENRY: You're the moron!

A last group of drums play, focusing on Jane crying on her "bed."

Chapter Text

Bouncing off the Wall is on the album "Revolution Radio" from 2016. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

Chapter 8 is also available now!

I did this because both Chapters 7 & 8 are more character-focused than plot-focused
However, Chapters 9, 10, & 11 will go all out, so don't despair!
Usually I will only release one chapter at a time, however, so don't get used to this

A newswoman sits behind a desk. It's showtime.

SABRINA: Good evening Oakland, I'm Sabrina Scarborough. Our top story tonight: there has been yet another sighting of the mysterious “green vigilantes” who were first seen in the Oakland area a few weeks ago.

Thattttttt's right, it's a time-skip!

The little corner box on the news program shows two hand-drawn, shaded figures with glowing green fists.

SABRINA: Multiple witnesses reported seeing two or three individuals with apparent glowing green hands engaged in a conflict, this time with members of an alleged local gang. They had fled from the scene by the time local law enforcement arrived, but on the persons of the alleged local gang were small packets of illegal drugs, which gave law enforcement grounds to arrest them. These “green vigilantes” have now established a pattern of violence with presumed criminals. In addition, they were also once reported rescuing people from a burning building.

The corner box now shows the sky glowing green.

SABRINA: The first sighting of the “green vigilantes” occurred nearly a week after what experts are now calling the “Green Day,” the day last month when the sky inexplicably glowed bright green for several seconds.

...come on, I had to.

SABRINA: Many have theorized that there is a connection between the Green Day and these green vigilantes. But who are they? Where did they come from? How did they get their green fists? And what are their true intentions? For the answer, dear viewer, we'll just have to wait and see.

*Guitar

We return to our Idiot protagonists a month after the last chapter, in their Oakland "headquarters."
A.K.A.: the underground "apartment" they teleported to.
In the main room, Frank is sitting on one of the couches, sketching in his notebook. Shin sits next to him, observing.
There is now a small coffee table in front of the couches; on the table is a radio.
(Specifically, the radio from the Revolution Radio album cover... sans the fire.)

Calvin is... well, he's "swinging around" the concrete columns. His right hand and arm, as well as both of his legs, are all glowing green!
He's using his abilities to act like an acrobat (think "Beast" from X-Men).
He jumps from one column to another, closer to the ceiling than the floor.
Jane is not present.
There is also now a desk near the teleporter, and a chair. Matt is sitting in the chair, writing a letter on the desk.

MATT: Dear Mom and Dad,

Studying for finals is really kicking my ass. As I mentioned in my last letter, I may need to take summer courses, meaning I won’t come home this summer. But even though I accidentally broke my old phone, you can still call me on the new number I gave you. It doesn’t have Facetime because I bought it pretty cheap; it’s almost like a burner phone from one of those movies. Anyway, I’m getting along even better with my new friends whom I also mentioned in my last letter. They’re… not the kind of people I ever thought I’d befriend, but hey, that’s college for you! The important thing is that they care about me, and I think I care about them. We uplift each other. Football practice is

CALVIN: Concrete dream...

Calvin sighs with contentment. This is the life. He turns to announce himself to the room... nobody is paying attention to him.

CALVIN: Hey! I'm gonna make a scene!

SHIN: Radio... covered in gasoline?

Frank is drawing the radio on the table in front of them, but in the drawing it's on fire (so, it's just the Revolution Radio album cover).

FRANK: And on fire, yeah. I was inspired by how much Calvin uses that damn radio.

Frank turns to Calvin, who's still bouncing around.

FRANK: (loudly, but not angrily) You're gonna break that radio one day, dude! I'm getting sick of it!

CALVIN: Wouldn't be an issue if we could find a vinyl player!

FRANK: Yeah it would, you'd just be trading one medium for another!

CALVIN: I'm saying I'd play better music if we had vinyl. Good vinyls are everywhere, but good cassette tapes are hard to find.

FRANK: No, the tapes themselves are fine, it's really the amount of times I hear them.

CALVIN: You'd change your mind if I could find some Nirvana or Pearl Jam.

FRANK: Nah, Suicidal Tendencies is good. Again, it's the amount-

Shin has turned the page in his notebook when he wasn't looking. But now, he notices and flips it back over.

FRANK: Woah, uh, those ones aren't ready yet.

SHIN: (giggling) Was that a dog flying a plane?

FRANK: Uhh...

SHIN: And who were those two people kissing? In front of some bricks?

In case you're unaware, I'm referring to the covers of Dookie and 21st Century Breakdown.

FRANK: I don't know, I had a thought and just... drew it.

SHIN: (blushing) What kind of thought?

Jane enters from one of the hallways, very drowsy.

JANE: (murmuring) Sleeping in reverse...

Calvin swinging around wakes Jane up a bit. She eyes him moving about.

JANE: ...Aaand everybody's bouncing off the walls.

Calvin notices that Jane has entered the room. He lands at her feet, almost like an obedient puppy. As he does, he says:

CALVIN: Bombs away!

JANE: Huh?

CALVIN: It's, uh, something my best friend and I used to say. When we were about to... like, do something cool. It's just something we said.

JANE: (playfully) Didn't know you ever had a friend. Hey Matt, what's the latest?

CALVIN: Hey!

MATT: It's just another day of idle threats...

Matt puts down his pencil and swivels his chair around to face Jane.

MATT: ...same kind of messages as always. You know, I've been thinking about it recently, and I actually think it's on their end rather than ours.

JANE: What is?

MATT: Why they haven't been able to find us yet. They can send messages to our server just fine, but if they're really the "federal government," how have they not been able to ascertain our physical location? We're working with old-ass computers, I'm not even fucking using a VPN! A high schooler would be able to track our IP address, a high schooler. So yeah, I don't think it's our computers having some high-tech encryption or anything. I think this points to the possibility that they aren't actually the federal government, and have less resources than we think they do. Then again, they do have helicopters and soldiers... maybe a private military outfit of some sort?

JANE: They, they, they... how do we not have a name for them yet? Like even a code name, just for us to refer to "them" as.

MATT: Well if they are the federal government, which I hope they're not, they're probably CIA, or FBI, or NSA... you know, the secret alphabet.

CALVIN: I wouldn't sweat it.

Calvin has gone back to bouncing around. Jane sighs.

JANE: (muttering) Everybody's bouncing off the walls...

Calvin heard that.

CALVIN: Yeah, I'm bouncing off the walls! Or... well, "wall," singular, as well as these columns. You know what I mean.

Matt stands up and heads towards a hallway. Jane follows him.

MATT: On the flip side, we're more popular than ever with the public.

JANE: Psh. "The public." Who even cares about "the public?"

MATT: I thought you did.

JANE: I don't give a shit what anyone thinks about me except me, okay?

MATT: ...and?

JANE: And, it's none of your business what I think about me. As for everyone else, they can all piss off.

MATT: Well, uh, hate to break it to you... but I don't think they're going anywhere.

Oakland HQ has a "computer room" just like the earlier hideout, as Calvin revealed last chapter. The screens are all on and are showing different things: amateur footage of them fighting criminals and rescuing people from a burning building, Sabrina Scarborough speaking on the news, and comments under videos/posts from TikTok, Snapchat, Bluesky, YouTube, and more, all of people commenting about the "green vigilantes." Jane and Matt now stand in the room.

MATT: We essentially have an online fanbase now. #GreenHeroes is a trending topic on Bluesky. It's also on Twitter (I refuse to say "X"), but... it's Twitter, so it's not for good reasons.

JANE: Damn... Matt, you have got to get a life.

MATT: What?!

JANE: Look at all this shit! You're scouring YouTube and the news for mentions of us?

MATT: It didn't take that long. Like I said, we're popular!

JANE: How the hell are people noticing us this much anyway? We're just... doing our own thing. "Taking things as they come," remember?

MATT: Yeah, well, the things that have come have led us to use our powers for the good of-

Jane abruptly cuts him off.

JANE: Nope! None of us ever agreed to be "superheroes." I'm already trying to temper the Human Torch's flames, I don't need it from you too.

MATT: Human Torch?

JANE: It's what I've been calling Calvin, 'cuz he's such a hothead? He's also blonde.

MATT: Ah. Keep forgetting you're a bit of a nerd.

JANE: I'm a rebel. I'm into things other people aren't. If the MCU's going out of style, that means I'm diving in.

MATT: That's just called being contrarian. Orrrr... you just like the MCU.

JANE: Whatever!

FRANK: (from far off) Janeeeeeee!

JANE: (sighs) I've been summoned.

Jane and Matt head back over to the main room.

FRANK: So... I know we never decided on a "leader" or whatever-

SHIN: Because this is a democracy!

FRANK: ...sure. But, I feel like I should ask someone so... I'm thinking of making a teleporter run.

JANE: Frank, for fuck's sake, we only do that when it's necessary!

SHIN: Hey! Jane, remember how we talked about keeping your cool?

JANE: Yeah... yeah, sorry. But Frank, you know what a huge risk that is.

FRANK: Oh, we've done it a bunch of times. The "feds" or whatever aren't there anymore.

MATT: That's a fair point. They probably don't think we'd be stupid enough to go back there.

FRANK: Shows what they know! Anyway, I want some more clothes.

CALVIN: You want new clothes? You? Frank?

FRANK: Whaaaat? It's getting warmer outside! Or... maybe I'm just homesick.

SHIN: Aww… it’s ok Frankie, I’m homesick too. And I’d also like to go back if possible… sneak into my old dorm, grab some more stuff.

MATT: Like Jane said, it’s too big a risk for something non-essential.

FRANK: Bunch of party poopers… also Shin, I told you not to call me Frankie. 

Shin blushes.

SHIN: Sorry… heh-heh.

FRANK: (smiling) It’s okay, just… sounds a bit infantilizing.

SHIN: I don’t mean it that way at all! It’s a… term of affection, or… I don’t know…

Calvin interrupts Shin’s nervousness by bouncing off the wall again.

CALVIN: So, guys, I’ve been practicing, and look what I can do. Alrightttt-

Calvin totally falls on his face, landing hard on the concrete floor.

FRANK: Ooo… concrete kiss!

SHIN: Hey! Frank, don't be mean. Calvin, you okay?

Calvin slowly gets up.

CALVIN: Ugh... I will be. Shit, guess I need to practice some more.

JANE: Maybe you’re overdoing it with your so-called “hero training,” Torch.

Shin reaches over and turns on the radio. It plays a song in the background.

SHIN: Why do I constantly feel like this group’s babysitter? Simmer down, Jane.

FRANK: Are you applying for leadership, Shin?

SHIN: Helllll no! I still think it should be Matt; you’re good at taking charge.

MATT: How many times do I have to tell you; I don’t want to be the “leader.”

CALVIN: (muttering) You’re pretty bossy when you say we can’t see our families…

Matt raises his voice.

MATT: Because we can’t! It’s just common sense! The feds might be waiting for us at our homes. They may follow our parents around. Best we can do is mail them letters or call them on our burners. Look, just because I know the right thing to do a lot doesn’t mean I want to lead. I just don’t want any of you to do something stupid that would hurt all of us.

JANE: Wow. That… sounds pretty snarky, Matt.

FRANK: You’re one to talk.

SHIN: Hey! I think we all need to lower the temperature a bit, okay?!

Jane looks sharply at her.

JANE: I thought you just said you don’t want to be the boss of us.

Shin is about to raise her voice when the radio interrupts her.

RADIO: Alrighttt and now here’s a classic, Chubby Checker’s “The Twist”!

A huge smile comes over Calvin’s face.

CALVIN: Hell yeah! It’s the Spider-Man 3 song! …not that one, the other Spider-Man 3 song! With MJ and Harry and the omelet! You know...

Jane smiles playfully.

JANE: Nerd.

CALVIN: Says the one who’s calling me “Human Torch.” Come on and do the twist!

Calvin walks over to the radio as it plays the song.

CALVIN: The radio… my little exorcist…

FRANK: Your what?

CALVIN: Well, it started playing a banger just as we were all about to jump into a screaming match. I'd say that's "devilishly” good timing.

Jane gives a nod of approval. Satanism is rebel-core. Calvin prepares to hop around again.

MATT: Calvin’s right. We’re all getting pissed-

Calvin’s feet glow green as he hops to a column and prepares to jump to another.

MATT: …and everybody’s bouncing off the walls.

CALVIN: Uh-huh, I’m bouncing off the walls!

Matt smiles.

MATT: Sometimes this space can feel a bit... crowded, you know? Why don't we just have a good time... dance party, anyone?

JANE: Hmph. For "not a leader," you seem to state orders a lot.

MATT: It was just a suggestion, you're free to do whatever! But me, imma jam!

Matt starts doing "the twist."

Frank starts laughing.

FRANK: I can't watch this, you're giving me the creeps man.

MATT: Well... sometimes I even give myself the creeps, so what? Who cares?

SHIN: Yeah, so what?

To everyone's surprise, Shin gets up and starts dancing with Matt. Meanwhile, Calvin's still bouncing around. Eventually... Frank relents.

FRANK: Alright let me in on this.

Frank gets up and dances closely with Matt and Shin, also to everyone's surprise.

MATT: (jokingly) Didn't know you were into me like this.

FRANK: Ha! What makes you think I'm not into Shin?

Shin blushes very brightly at that comment.

FRANK: I'm not gay, man.

MATT: I am.

Frank stops dancing.

FRANK: ...what, really?

MATT: Yeah... what's the big deal?

FRANK: No-nothing! Just... didn't know.

SHIN: It's never come up?

FRANK: You knew?

SHIN: Like, the day after we met, yeah.

JANE: So did I.

CALVIN: Me too.

(Calvin is still jumping)

FRANK: How did-never mind. Uh, yeah, that's cool Matt. Glad you like... dudes and stuff. Yeah.

Matt stops dancing too. He's not mad; he finds this amusing.

MATT: "Glad you like dudes and stuff," huh?

FRANK: Yeah! ...yeah.

MATT: (teasing) You think I'm a freak, don't you?

FRANK: What? No! I... I love gays! Wait, I mean-

JANE: Frank, is there something you want to tell us?

FRANK: No! Not what I meant! I...

Frank blushes in embarrassment. He's trapped himself.

FRANK: ...put my foot in my mouth again. Bloody brilliant.

MATT: (laughing) It's okay man, you're good.

SHIN: What was that? "Bloody brilliant"?

FRANK: Nothing, just... channelling the Brit who built this place, I guess. ...I don't know what I'm saying.

MATT: Now you're giving me the creeps, ya freak.

JANE: Alright enough of this, I'm coming in.

Jane joins the circle... which prompts Calvin to-

CALVIN: Me too!

That.

Everyone's now having a good time dancing. The exact opposite vibe compared to the argument they were having earlier.

MATT: This is really nice, y'all. Freeing. I'm glad we can all... you know, mess around. Go with the flow, like we said we would do!

Matt's thoughts start to drift as he looks at the "Satanic" radio.

MATT: 'Cuz it's all that I want, and I wanna be free! I got Satan riding next to me! 'Cuz we're all bloody freaks, and we'll give you the creeps...

In a flashback, a young Matt is chasing fireflies, very happily. Perhaps the last time he was this happy and free.

MATT: Chasing fireflies-

A young-ish Matt smiles while coding on a computer. He was happy doing that, too.

MATT: -and zeroes!

Matt really lets loose and has fun.

MATT: Hey!

So this is what it feels like... to feel free. Not like your life has already been decided for you. This is how it feels to have friends. To not be alone.

MATT: Hey!

Wholesome.

It feels like they've been dancing for hours.

MATT: Cuz it's all that I want, and I wanna be free! I got Satan riding next to me! 'Cuz we're all bloody freaks, and we'll give you the creeps...

Matt smiles in the present. He feels like a kid again.

MATT: Chasing fireflies and zeroes...

The song finally ends and the five stop dancing. They stand there, staring at the radio, waiting for another song to come on.

RADIO: And now for another hit you'll all love!

MATT: Hey!

Everything he'd been feeling last month... it all feels so distant right now. He hopes the others are feeling the same way.

MATT: Hey!

Matt is feeling good about himself, for the first time in a long time... when suddenly the radio starts projecting a grating feedback noise.

JANE: Ahh! What the fuck?!

FRANK: God, that's annoying!

The five of them all stop dancing and cover their ears. Before one of them can turn off the radio-

RADIO: Green Heroes... I repeat, Green Heroes, are you there?

CALVIN: Is that... us? They're talking about us?

SHIN: But wait, that's-

HENRY: (over the radio) A.K.A. you Goddamn Idiots. This is the feds. Hope you're listening, because you're really gonna want to hear this...

Chapter Text

8th Avenue Serenade is on the album "¡Tré!" from 2012. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

*Guitar

Shin, Calvin, Matt, and Jane stand in an empty warehouse at night. Facing them are Henry and Casey, the two "federal agents" who have been hunting them since the start. Behind Henry and Casey are various soldiers, with rifles that hold tranquilizer darts. Frank is nowhere to be seen.

*Silence

12 hours earlier...

HENRY: (over the radio) We don't know where exactly you are, but we know you're in Oakland. You haven't exactly been keeping a low profile. Meet us 63 numbers off from Matthew's address in 12 hours.

MATT: (grumbling) It's Matt. Also... what? 63-

HENRY: (over the radio) If you don't show, we go after the people you don't want us to. This message will be broadcast every hour, hope you're listening. We apologize to the residents of Oakland for the interruption.

The radio goes quiet for a few moments, then picks up in the middle of a Blue Öyster Cult song.

RADIO: Burn out the day... burn out the night!

MATT: Fuck! They know my name... they know my address!

FRANK: Hey man, take it easy... it'll be okay.

JANE: We don't know that, Frank. If they've figured out where Matt's family is, they've figured out where all of ours are. And I don't like my parents, but I don't want them getting dragged into this shit.

CALVIN: 63 off... Matt, what's your address?

MATT: Oh, uh, it's super easy to remember. It's 888, 8th Avenue, New York, New York, 10019. It's a nice apartment complex.

FRANK: Woah, you're rich? Man, I really don't know enough about you.

JANE: 63... is there an 8th Avenue in Oakland?

MATT: I'll check.

Matt heads to the computer room. Jane, Calvin, and Frank start to fret. Shin, meanwhile, is staring at Frank.

*Guitar

In a flashback, Shin is walking down a hallway in their HQ. Nearly every room with a mattress or bed in it also has a clear glass pane on the wall, like a window. There are shades as well, but in the room Shin passes, the shades are up. Frank is in there, wearing just his undershirt and pajama pants: this is evidently "his room." Frank sees Shin and waves at her.

FRANK: Yo, Shin! What's up?

Shin blushes and waves back, while thinking:

SHIN: Say "hello" from your window...

In another flashback, Shin is in the large garage attached to the HQ. Lines of cars (none too fancy, all pretty standard for the early 2000s) are in the background. Frank pulls up in a car himself. He waves at her again as he drives by.

SHIN: Say "goodbye" from your car...

In yet another flashback, Shin passes Frank's room again, only this time she is also in sleepwear. Frank is lying on his mattress with a pillow and blanket. He sees her. It seems as if she either passes his room on the way to her own, or... she just likes passing by his room.

FRANK: 'night, Shin.

SHIN: Say "goodnight" from your pillow...

Shin stops suddenly, and says:

SHIN: Actually, Frank, do you wanna come with me for a second? Is that okay?

Shin and Frank lie on a hill at night in the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, evidently close to where their hideout is. They are surrounded by miles of trees. There are dimly-lit stars in the sky. Both of them hold cigarettes in their hands.

SHIN: (giggling) "Awesome?" Is that the best adjective the writer can come up with?

FRANK: Hey, I'm not always "on!" I don't always think of the most amazing descriptors in the world; sometimes my writing is pretty average. It happens sometimes.

I can attest to that.

SHIN: (sarcastic) Oh, I apologize, the writer just needs to get into his groove...

FRANK: (sarcastic) Ha-ha.

Frank lights his cigarette with a lighter and smokes it. After a few more moments of silence:

FRANK: Well, this has been nice, but I think I'm gonna hit the hay. You?

SHIN: Nah, I wanna stay out here a little longer. Look at the stars, you know? The ones I can see, anyway. And remember, Frank-

FRANK: Yeah, yeah, I won't tell anyone you smoke. Don't know why you care but... I'll respect your wishes. So long.

Frank starts to walk away as Shin thinks:

SHIN: Say "so long" from the stars.

Shin is snapped out of it by Matt's loud announcement.

MATT: There's an 8th Avenue in Oakland, people! 63 off from 888 is either 951 or 825. I didn't see a result for the first, but there's a warehouse at 825 8th Avenue.

FRANK: (muttering) Damnit, that's far...

MATT: What was that, Frank?

FRANK: Uh, nothing! Was just thinking how that's a bit of a drive from here... we should take a car.

JANE: We should take multiple cars. That way, some of us could possibly get away if it's a trap.

CALVIN: "If" it's a trap? It's definitely a trap.

MATT: Well, we don't really have a choice. What were we thinking, angering the feds...

JANE: Allegedly the feds. And what do you mean; we didn't go out of our way to piss them off. They came after us! We were just trying to flee!

MATT: We could've answered their messages or something so this wouldn't escalate to the point of involving our families.

JANE: No, we were never going to dignify their "idle threats" with a response, man. Come on, what's with you?

CALVIN: Jane, uh, he's worried, you know? They said they know where he lives.

Jane is silent for a moment, taking in what Calvin said.

JANE: Right, yeah. Sigh. Look, we'll meet them, and hopefully work out some kind of arrangement to put all of this to bed. None of us want our families caught up in this. And in case this ends with us caught or killed... let's relax, okay? Enjoy the next 11 hours. It's gonna be a long night.

11 1/2 hours later...

The five of them are standing in the garage near the cars. They're all carrying walkie-talkies. All of the cars have the keys already in the ignition.

JANE: Damn it's late. Or... early. Well, my sleep schedule's fucked up anyway. Alright, how are we splitting up? 3 and 2?

SHIN: Uh, I'd like to go with Frank if that's okay?

JANE: Yeah, sure, whatever. I'll go with Matt and Calvin then.

Frank gets in the driver's seat of a car; Shin sits shotgun.

FRANK: "I'd like to go with Frank," huh?

SHIN: Yeah, well, somebody's gotta keep an eye on you, after all.

FRANK: Hey!

Jane, Matt, and Calvin get in another car. Jane driving, Calvin in shotgun, Matt in the back. Jane rolls down her window.

JANE: (loudly) Alright everyone, turn your walkies on.

They do so.

JANE: Autobots, roll out!

CALVIN: Nerd!

She rolls her eyes and drives toward a tunnel; Frank follows. After a bit, they exit the tunnel into an underpass, and before they know it they're-

FRANK: Okay, we're on 8th Avenue... yessir...

8th Avenue is a long road. It's a bit before dawn; there aren't a lot of other cars driving. Frank looks very anxious. Shin notices.

SHIN: Frank? Everything okay?

FRANK: Huh? Yeah, why wouldn't it be...

SHIN: Frank, you're sweating.

He's clearly hiding something, but he tries to save face.

FRANK: Okay, I'm sorry I'm nervous that we're about to willingly meet face-to-face with the guys who almost tried to kill us! I... I have no idea if we're all going to walk out of this and I'm scared, okay? ...also, the lighting on this road is dogshit.

It worked. Shin feels like an idiot.

SHIN: Ah shit, I... I'm sorry, that makes total sense. I don't know why-

FRANK: No, uh... it's nice that you were concerned. That someone's concerned about me... I'm not used to that.

Shin still feels bad, and decides to try something: honesty. She may be optimistic and full of cheer, but she often keeps things to herself.

SHIN: I get it… there were many times in my life where it felt like nobody was concerned about me either. Do you remember the day we met… or the second day, whatever, when you talked about school?

Frank, still focused on driving, briefly side-eyes her out of curiosity.

FRANK: Yeah…?

SHIN: I had a mini-freakout. I don’t know if you remember, because you, uh, overdosed soon after that. But I was in a real daze.

FRANK: No, yeah, I remember... what was that about?

SHIN: Matt tried to ask me once, I think, but… it’s kind of embarrassing. I was… withdrawn, in high school. I used to have more confidence, when I was younger. I hung out with my sister and her friends back then… but they were older, and they moved on past me. So, I never got around to making friends my own age. And when my sister wasn’t in school anymore, I was made fun of. Mercilessly. It was awful. Learning in class and reading books in the library ended up being the best parts of my day. So, yeah, high school sucked. I’ve tried to repress it. And I tried really hard making friends in college; I was even elected student body president! But that didn’t change… the feeling of rejection. From before. Jane mentioned social hierarchy in school, and it brought it all back. It's a horrible feeling, having nobody care about you. So... yeah, I get it.

FRANK: ...wow, Shin. Damn. Uh, if it makes you feel better, I, uh… care about you. So, there’s me, at least.

Both of them are blushing now. Cuties.

SHIN: Thank you, Frank, I… care about you too.

FRANK: I’m sorry I don’t have a comforting story of my own at the moment. I have trauma, of course, who doesn’t? It’s not the same though.

Frank thinks for a minute. He does have a lot of stories he can tell. He finally settles on one.

FRANK: I tried to find Jesus at one point. It’s a long story, and to be honest the story’s not done yet because I’m still figuring things out… but my addiction got in the way. My Restless Heart Syndrome. The congregation I tried to be a part of wouldn’t accept me anymore once they learned I was “consorting” with dealers and users. And all for some lousy prescription shit. I hung out with people who did cocaine and heroin for fuck’s sake, but it's not like I ever did any of that! Instead, I got kicked out for Percocet?! Like, are you fucking kidding me?!

SHIN: Hey now, it’s okay. You’re… you’re with us now. And we don’t judge. Well, maybe Jane judges a little, but still.

FRANK: (sighs) Ah, I shouldn’t complain, what you went through sounds worse.

SHIN: Sounds like we both went through some shit; it shouldn’t be a competition.

Frank looks at Shin. As if he's really noticing her for the first time.

FRANK: Wow. Even with this you’re trying to be uplifting. Wish I could take a walk out of your life.

Shin giggles.

FRANK: Wait, no. "Page out of your book," that’s what I meant to say. Not-

Frank puts his eyes back on the road. Shin stares out the window, daydreaming. She thinks:

SHIN: Take a walk out of my life…

FRANK: My point is I wish I could say more positive things like you, Shin. Soothe people. Make them feel more at ease.

SHIN: Sing to me a lullaby…

FRANK: It’s a great quality to have. I... really could learn a lot from you, given time.

In Shin's daydream, she and Frank are much older, sitting in rocking chairs.

SHIN: Cradle songs for a mid-life…

FRANK: I’m glad I met you. Glad we crossed paths, you know?

SHIN: Don’t forget to pass me by…

Frank is still talking but Shin is no longer listening.

SHIN: As my imagination runs away!

In her mind, she and Frank are dressed very elegantly, and are ballroom dancing together.

SHIN: On this 8th Avenue Serenade!

Shin pushes Frank up against a bathroom stall and-oh don't worry this isn't THAT type of fic. But they are kissing.

SHIN: Meet me at the bathroom stall!

Now they're up against another wall.

SHIN: Meet me at the whispering wall!

Now she and Frank are the two people kissing in his sketchbook from last chapter... but flames surround them... but they don't mind.

SHIN: Before all the flames...

FRANK: Aaand we're here!

As the car comes to a sudden stop so do her daydreams. She looks shocked and a bit disappointed, as one is when a nice dream suddenly ends.

SHIN: ...burn out.

Frank looks over at her.

FRANK: What'd you say? Burnout?

Now Shin tries to save face.

SHIN: Huh? Oh, sorry, I guess I was lost in my head for a bit there. Heh-heh.

Frank looks a bit sad.

FRANK: So... did you hear anything I said these last couple minutes?

SHIN: Um... I...

Frank tries to save face again, but he's clearly sad. He dove into another personal story, one he'd never told anyone... and she wasn't listening.

FRANK: Uh, it's okay, don't worry about it. Didn't say anything important.

JANE: (over walkie) We're here. Someone should stay behind and keep a car running.

Shin doesn't know what to say. After a beat, Frank solemnly picks up his walkie and talks into it.

FRANK: I'll do it.

JANE: (over walkie) Great. Thanks, Frank. Shin, come join the rest of us.

Shin gets out of the car, but as she does Frank says:

FRANK: Hey, uh... stay safe.

Shin turns and smiles slightly.

SHIN: Thanks. You too.

She exits the car and closes the door, and as she heads towards the others she mutters to herself.

SHIN: (softly) Should I... no, it's too late. It's too damn late.

*Guitar solo

Shin, Calvin, Matt, and Jane stand in an empty warehouse at night. Facing them are Henry and Casey, the two "federal agents" who have been hunting them since the start. Behind Henry and Casey are various soldiers, with rifles that hold tranquilizer darts. Frank is nowhere to be seen. We now know that that is because he's waiting in the car. Jane breaks the silence. She stares daggers and her right fist begins glowing green.

JANE: Well, you got us here. By threatening our families. You sure that was the right call?

The soldiers all point their rifles at Jane.

HENRY: We couldn't think of another way to get you here.

JANE: If you even get near my parents, I swear to fuck I'll-

CASEY: Woah, woah, woah. We're not going to involve your families. Again, we just needed to get you here.

MATT: You won't, huh?

CASEY: It'd be bad for us if we did. The less people who know about this, the better.

Calvin gets an idea.

CALVIN: It'd be bad, huh? Well wouldn't it be a shame if we did tell our families about this.

HENRY: Why the fuck would you-

CALVIN: But we won't, if you promise to leave us alone.

HENRY: If you tell your families, we'll have to kill them.

I never said Calvin got a GOOD idea.

CASEY: But we don't want to! Contrary to what you might think, we don't want to harm innocent people.

JANE: Uh, what about threatening to kill us?!

CASEY: Let me clarify. We don't want to harm people who aren't dangerous.

MATT: And we are?

HENRY: ...yes! You so clearly are! You have abilities far beyond anything humans should be capable of!

MATT: ...okay. I get it. Jane, stand down.

Jane looks at him as if he's gone mental.

JANE: Have you gone mental?! I'm not going to-

MATT: They just said they harm dangerous people. How about we show them we aren't dangerous.

Jane considers this for a few moments, then:

JANE: If we die it's on you.

Jane's fist stops glowing. The soldiers put down their rifles.

CASEY: Okay good, you're the smart one. You, we can talk to.

CALVIN: Hey! That's not how this works; we're all in this together. You talk to all of us or none of us.

Jane looks at Calvin. She's unsure whether to be impressed or annoyed.

HENRY: Speaking of which, there are 5 of you. Where's Frank?

SHIN: He has a cold.

The other 3 nod in agreement. Quick thinking, Shin.

CALVIN: Well, you can talk to us four, is what I meant.

CASEY: (sighs) Okay. Let's talk, then. No need for violence.

MATT: Right, only the threat of violence, huh? Against our families?

HENRY: Only if you say anything about this... situation. If you don't, you don't have to worry about them.

CALVIN: Or ourselves... right? Because we're cooperating.

HENRY: To be clear, we still think you have the potential to be dangerous, so we're not going to let you get away. But we won't harm you.

MATT: What will it take to change your mind? About letting us go free?

HENRY: Hmm... agreeing to work with us would be a start.

JANE: I'm sorry, what?!

HENRY: Just what I said. We want you to work with us.

JANE: What do you mean you want us to work with you?! You want to kill us! You sent us idle threats!

CASEY: What're you talking about?

JANE: The messages to our server! Like "this is for your own good" and "it's in your best interest to-" oh wait you were serious weren't you.

CASEY: Yes, yes we were. We never intended to seem threatening.

CALVIN: Uh, that's a lie. What about the literal soldiers behind you? They all have rifles!

HENRY: They're using tranq darts, not bullets.

CALVIN: ...oh.

JANE: Hang on, the day this all started you said you'd use "lethal force" on us!

HENRY: Oh, that was a lie too. We just wanted you to surrender.

JANE: ...oh, so you're a moron.

Henry takes a handgun out from the back of his pants and aims it at Jane. Casey immediately reaches out to move his arm away from Jane.

CASEY: Cool it, Henry! My god!

JANE: Yeah, "cool it, Henry!"

HENRY: Goddamnit Casey, you just said my real name!

CASEY: You just said my name!

JANE: Oh, so you're both idiots.

HENRY/CASEY: (together) Shut up!

MATT: Hey! Let's all take it down a notch, alright? You want us to work with you? Stop aiming guns and threatening us.

CASEY: ...he has a point, Henry. Put your gun away.

Henry reluctantly puts his gun away.

CALVIN: You lied to us twice. Why should we trust you?

HENRY: You have to.

JANE: That's not good enough, that's not even close!

HENRY: Okay, well, do you want the planet to blow up?! Because we're trying to stop the planet from blowing up!

CALVIN: You're... trying to stop... the...

Calvin, Matt, and Jane start to laugh hysterically. Shin is spaced out, not paying attention.

MATT: "Blowing up?" Are you serious?

CASEY: It's not a joke. The planet Earth will blow up unless you help us.

MATT: (still giggling) Yeah, uh, if you want us to, you definitely have to explain. Because that sounds fake as shit.

CALVIN: Which would be three lies, and three strikes means you're out.

HENRY: Three strikes? What, do you think this is a game? We'll lie as much as we have to to protect this planet!

JANE: Oh, will you? Then, uh, we won't believe anything you say.

CASEY: Henry! Jesus! Jane's right, they won't believe us if we lie. We have to tell them the truth.

MATT: Yep. You have a lot to explain. For starters, who the fuck are you?! Are you actually the feds?

HENRY: Why wouldn't we be the...

Henry and Casey look at each other. The jig is up.

HENRY: ...okay. We are the "feds" but we're not the feds.

CALVIN: What?

CASEY: Our agency technically doesn't exist. But we get access to government equipment because of our name... Feds.

HENRY: It stands for Federal Establishment of Directives & Security.

Nobody says a word for about 10 full seconds. Then:

JANE: Oh shut the fuck up.

MATT: Jane!

JANE: No, Matt! No! I'm not believing that bullshit! An acronym that spells "feds?" What are you, SHIELD?

MATT: Hey! Let's just work with them for a second. Henry, Casey, are you bullshitting us?

CASEY: I promise you we're not. We are the F.E.D.S.; our department was started by President Eisenhower. We're real.

MATT: ...and you don't want to harm innocent people. And you want to save the planet.

HENRY: Yes.

MATT: ...okay. Let's keep talking.

Shin, meanwhile, hasn't said anything and hasn't been paying attention since the last mention of Frank's name. She's daydreaming again.

SHIN: As my imagination runs away!

Outside, Frank puts the car in "drive" and suddenly speeds off!

SHIN: On this 8th Avenue Serenade!

Shin hears the car outside, and looks towards the entrance they came in from.

SHIN: Meet me at the bathroom stall!

Shin runs outside. The others stop talking and start calling her name, but she isn't hearing them.

SHIN: Meet me at the whispering wall!

Shin arrives outside-

SHIN: Before all the flames...

-but Frank is gone.

SHIN: ...burn out.

Chapter Text

Tight Wad Hill is on the album "Insomniac" from 1995. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

Before Dawn

Shin walks back inside the warehouse. Everyone inside looks at her, expectantly.

JANE: Well??

SHIN: He... he's gone.

Jane's face now wears an angry scowl.

JANE: That lousy... let's go after him.

HENRY: Hold on! We're not just going to let you leave; we need to keep talking.

CASEY: Also, getting on our case for lying when Frank actually was outside and not sick? I'd say we're even now.

MATT: ...which means we need to continue these talks in good faith.

JANE: What?! Matt, Frank just fucking ditched us for god knows why, we have to go-

MATT: Jane! There's no way we can leave right now without a fight, which we might lose. Frank may be going on a bender, or maybe for some reason he thinks leaving will help us, I don't fucking know! But he's not the priority right now, this is!

SHIN: I get that you're angry... but I don't think Frank would leave without a good reason.

Jane considers it for a moment. Then:

JANE: (sighs) Alright, alright. Let's keep talking. But after this? I'm gonna murder that dickwad.

Slightly past Dawn

DEALER: Cheapskate on the hill, ladies and gentlemen! Look out, there's a cheapskate on the hill!

Welcome to Charter Hill, A.K.A. "Tightwad Hill," a hill overlooking Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, neighboring Oakland. It's a place where UC Berkeley students gather to watch football games, since it has a great view of the stadium. But during the evening hours? It attracts a more... undesirable crowd. Tweakers and drug addicts hang here before sunrise. And smack in the middle of them all right now... is Frank.

FRANK: Ah, put a sock in it. This is Tight Wad Hill, it's literally the home of cheapskates, trying to watch football games for free.

DEALER: In the daytime, yeah. But not before the sun rises. Before the sun rises, we don't entertain those who can't pay.

FRANK: Oh, as if everyone here is made of money.

DEALER: They find a way! That's the deal: if you want the product, you find a way to pay!

FRANK: I know, I know! But I'm just a little light this week is all, just a little light... how about we make a deal?

DEALER: Well look at this! A thrill seeker making deals! ...sugar city urchin wasting time-

FRANK: What'd you just call me?!

DEALER: You heard me! A street urchin from a sugar city, that's all you are and you know it! You think I'm gonna entertain your idea of a "deal"?

FRANK: Just hear me out-

DEALER: I know you're not good for it, for whatever you're about to propose. Piss off, Christ Boy.

FRANK: I've known you for years-

DEALER: And you've been ripping me off for years! I took pity on you before because you were so young, but you're legal now, aren't you?

Frank doesn't say a word.

DEALER: Lookit.

He wraps his arm around Frank's shoulder and walks forward with him, to the part of the hill overlooking the town below.

DEALER: This here's a town of lunatics, all begging for another fix. And when there's more demand, price goes up. And if you can't pay, well, like I said and as you know, people find a way! You know how many degenerates here resort to turning tricks for speedballs one more night?

FRANK: Speedballs? Fuck that, I'm good with my Percocet. And I'm not gonna turn tricks, what the fu-

DEALER: Like I said, you're legal now, right?

FRANK: I'm not gonna prostitute myself, man! I'm just a little light, really, I was hoping-

DEALER: This ain't a place for hoping, boy. I shouldn't have gone as easy on you as I did back in the day. Here's what's gonna happen: you're gonna be making your rounds once again, but turning up empty-handed as long as you have no way to pay. No "deals." No shortcuts. Got it?

Frank is silent. The dealer isn't gonna budge.

DEALER: Come out here wasting my time... wasting other people's time too, probably! How do you get over here anyway, you bumming a ride?

Frank says nothing.

DEALER: And so late too. Burning daylight.

FRANK: You don't hang out here in the daylight.

DEALER: Exactly! Dawn is when we leave, you know this. The brighter it gets the more we risk being seen. And even more important to my clients than my product is my anonymity. But I risked that for you, because these last few weeks you've been back? You hadn't been late once. Should've known though that you'd screw up. Wake up late or whatever. Last up at dawn, coming to Tight Wad Hill...

FRANK: It's "Tightwad." One word.

DEALER: And now you're correcting my pronunciation? Bitch, you've got some nerve. Yeah, we're done here.

FRANK: I can get you double next week-

DEALER: I mean we're "done" done. Forever.

FRANK: No... man you can't do this to me. I need this stuff!

DEALER: Does it look like I give the nastiest shit about what you need?!

Frank doesn't know what to do. Almost without thinking, his right fist starts to glow green. Both Frank and the dealer notice this.

DEALER: The fuck?

Frank needs his Percocet. And he's prepared to do anything to get it. Anything...

Before Dawn

MATT: You need to give us more information. You're "government" but not government-sanctioned, not officially...

CASEY: Correct.

MATT: What's the purpose of your agency? Why were you created?

HENRY: That's classified.

JANE: Nice.

HENRY: We can't tell you everything. Only the President knows the purpose of our agency and what we do.

CALVIN: But you want to protect the planet... without letting anyone know.

CASEY: Yes. We want to remain "in the shadows," as it were.

JANE: You really are like SHIELD, huh. In the tv show.

CASEY: I don't know what that is.

JANE: Neither do most "MCU fans." Fakers.

MATT: Ignore her. Protect the planet from what, exactly? Something that'll make it blow up?

HENRY: That's classified.

JANE: Dude. Stop saying that.

CASEY: We really can't tell you.

JANE: Can't or won't?

CASEY: Both. But if we work together, and start to trust you... perhaps we will.

CALVIN: Okay, you want us to work with you. Got it. But... work with you in what way?

Henry and Casey look at each other. Here it is. The big ask.

HENRY: We want you to use your teleporters for us. Go to places we ask you to go to.

At the same time:

CALVIN: So... be field agents?
JANE: Our teleporter? Hell no!
MATT: Teleporters? Plural?

Henry takes a moment.

HENRY: Yes to Calvin, I'm ignoring Jane, and for Matt: yes, plural. We know that there are.

MATT: Oh is that so? How?

CASEY: We have... experience with them. And the hideout network.

JANE: Told you guys there was a connection between the "F.E.D.S." and the teleporters. I called it within the first 24 hours.

CALVIN: Hideout "network?"

CASEY: Yeah. The hideouts that each contain a teleporter.

MATT: ...are you saying there are more than 2 hideouts?

HENRY: You... didn't know that? Well, that explains why you've stayed in Oakland.

Shin hasn't been focusing much since Frank left, but did pick up on something...

SHIN: Hang on. You know about the hideouts and the teleporters. And your... agency was created in the 1950s. I know you can't tell us exactly what you do but... what connection do you have to the hideout network, and for how long has your agency known about them?

Henry and Casey stay silent. Shin is on to something.

SHIN: We know for a fact the hideouts are at least 2 decades old. But we've only been to 2. How far does this all date back to? The 50s? Older?

CASEY: Who said our agency's creation is related to the hideouts?

SHIN: Given that the only thing we know about you is that you're after us, and we can access the hideouts' teleporters because of our powers, and you know about the hideouts... I'd say it's a fair guess.

CASEY: And I think you're reaching.

MATT: So you're not gonna tell us. What the fuck can you tell us?

Henry and Casey look at each other again.

HENRY: We have to give them something.

CASEY: (sigh) Okay. You're missing something obvious, and I don't mind telling you because you'd probably have figured it out soon. It's not just the hideouts. Like you said, they're connected to your powers, you seem to have figured that out too. And if the hideouts are decades old...

Calvin gets it first.

CALVIN: Superpowers are decades old. They're not new.

JANE: Nah, nah, nah. Not buying it. I've done research on this type of stuff. Conspiracy theories. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has any shred of evidence that superpowers exist... or existed, prior to a month ago.

HENRY: Then how are the teleporters, which are decades old, calibrated to your abilities?

The group is silent.

3 years ago...

The same dealer and a much younger Frank are speaking at night on Tightwad Hill.

DEALER: You came all the way here from... that Sugar Youth city?

FRANK: "Sugar youth city"?

DEALER: Sugar meaning booze, youngblood. You're right next to Canada; legal drinking age there is what, 18? 19? Meaning the youth of your city's all taking advantage. You could've done the same, but you dragged your ass all the way out here to California instead. Why?

FRANK: My connections there are fried. And I heard on tv that California's the place of drugs. I-

DEALER: Woah, woah, woah. TV?! Goddamn, how old are you, kid? 15?

FRANK: Please don't use the Lord's name in vain.

The dealer looks at him for a moment. Is this kid for real?

DEALER: (sighs) Look, I ain't gonna lie. It's impressive, you hitchhiking all the way here. Stupid, but impressive. This place has rules, just like any other, but since you're new... I'll hook you up this one time. But don't cheap out on me again. You found your way here, you should be able to find a way to pay. Now, what's your name?

FRANK: Frank.

DEALER: ...last name too, bitch.

FRANK: ...I don't have a last name.

DEALER: What're you, a foster kid?

FRANK: Yeah.

DEALER: Alright... your name is Frank Goldstein now.

FRANK: Goldstein?

DEALER: Pharmacists don't look twice at a rich Jewish kid getting this stuff. And you're kinda lanky, so we'll say you have scoliosis. Got it?

FRANK: I'm not Jewish.

DEALER: Clearly. Why is a Christ-lover looking to get into drugs anyway? Ain't that against your whole thing?

Frank doesn't say anything. He just stares at the ground.

DEALER: Alright. Meet me here this time tomorrow, don't be late. Never, ever be late. Got it?

FRANK: Yes sir!

3 years later, slightly past Dawn

DEALER: You... you're one of those Green vigilantes? Damn, Frank... the hell happened to you in the last 3 years?

Frank curses himself. So much for his own anonymity. Then again, what does it matter? The "feds" clearly know who he and his friends are. Besides, the dealer may not be around long enough to-

FRANK: Wait, not be around? Did I just think that? What... what's wrong with me? What am I doing?!

Frank's fist stops glowing green.

FRANK: Was I about to... holy fuck. And all for some more Percocet? What... what's wrong with me?! What is wrong with me?!

Frank is a writer. Although he doesn't have the best verbal track record, internally his thoughts are usually of a high caliber. As he stands there, looking at the dealer who first hooked him up years ago, his hand still balled up into a fist... he thinks about how he started off. The dealer kept getting him prescriptions, and Frank got used to hanging around the drugstore nearly as much as the Hill. He often shoplifted while there; while he was in the Bay Area, he didn't always have access to food and water. Scratch that: up until living at the Oakland HQ in the present day, he shoplifted often because he didn't always have access to food and water. What kind of person was he?

FRANK: Drugstore hooligan...

He often didn't feel like a real person. More like a shell of a person. A fake. A mannequin. But he liked his time in the Bay Area. At Tightwad Hill. At least he was surrounded by people in similar situations. But, looking back at it now... maybe none of them were real people either. Mannequins on display... displaying their deterioration in real time.

FRANK: Another white trash mannequin... on display to rot up on the hill...

He used to think that this was the best he could do. That this was the pinnacle of his life. But he sees now that that was so clearly a lie. The opioids made him feel good... but did he actually enjoy his time there? After all, he didn't stay. A couple years later, he moved again. He moved halfway across the country. So yeah, that wasn't the peak. It was a lie. One of a series of lies he told others as well as himself. He felt so good back then... or did he? He thinks back on what Matt said, the day after they met:

MATT: So, what exactly do you want to do with the time of your life? Huh?

The time of his life. Good question. After dropping out of high school and hitchhiking to California, he thought living it up there would be the "time of his life." But it was a lie, it was a lie. He hated being homeless; he hated it! It wasn't worth it. It wasn't worth it.

FRANK: Living out a lie... but having the time of his life, hating every minute of his existence.

And now he looks at the dealer, and thinks about what he said. About how "far" Frank has come.

DEALER: Making your rounds once again, turning up empty-handed. Bumming a ride, burning daylight. Last up at dawn, Tight Wad Hill...

Great, he's pronouncing it as two words in his head now too. This is almost as bad as the stupid "Armatage vs. Armitage Shanks" debate he had with Calvin a couple days after they moved into the HQ. He got so heated about that, so pissed, about a goddamn toilet... heh. Pissed. Toilet. He didn't make that connection before. But now he's thinking about Calvin. Matt. Jane. Shin. His friends. Really... his best friends. The only friends who've stayed. Or rather, the only ones he didn't run away from. Or both. He abandoned them to do his usual meet-up, the one he restarted a few days after they got to Oakland. Frank remembers leaving in the dead of night to go to Tightwad Hill, to re-establish contact. Although initially hesitant, the dealer renewed their "agreement." Frank came back every week... but tonight he was late, because his friends were meeting the feds AFTER the dealer's agreed-upon time. And then he left them with the feds... to get another Percocet prescription. Percocet that nearly made him overdose, and his friends had to save him! Percocet he desperately wants... and was almost about to hurt the dealer to get. So again he thinks: What kind of person is he?!

Before Dawn

MATT: Okay, so superpowers existed in at least the early 2000s, and the hideouts/teleporters are proof.

HENRY: Yes.

MATT: What can you tell us about our superpowers? Why were they activated a month ago? Why did the sky turn green?

CASEY: We don't know.

CALVIN: I smell another lie.

SHIN: Calvin-

CALVIN: They found us immediately, remember? Our hands... pulled all of us towards each other into that forest, and the feds were there. It was like they were waiting for us! They definitely knew this was going to happen.

CASEY: We didn't... (sigh) okay yes, we did know the "Green Day" was going to happen, and when. But we don't know why it happened.

MATT: How did you know when?

HENRY: We always scan for green energy signatures. Our satellites detected the change in the atmosphere, and one of the larger groupings of energy was around your college campus. We were en-route before the Green Day hit, and we locked onto you as you were... pulled to each other.

JANE: Hang on... "one" of the larger groupings of energy?

HENRY: Well, yeah. The sky glowed all across the country.

JANE: But you said there was "energy" at our location. "One of the larger groupings." That implies there were others. Other specific locations.

CASEY: You're asking if other people got "superpowers."

There is silence for a few moments.

CALVIN: ...well?!

CASEY: Probably.

MATT: "Probably?!"

HENRY: We picked up the energy entering the atmosphere. When that energy then got dispersed into individuals, we had to be near the individuals to detect it, we can't just detect it from anywhere. We only headed towards you because like we said, there was a large concentration of energy at your college... and then all the energy got dispersed. So if it got dispersed into others, we wouldn't know unless we happened to be close to them. So theoretically, there are others with empowered abilities. But it's also easier to detect 5 at once rather than one alone, so we've recently dedicated our time to locating you, rather than others who may or may not exist.

Casey gives Henry a look. He's too liberal with his answers. She may need to shut this down soon...

SHIN: "Entering the atmosphere..." is this extraterrestrial?!

HENRY: It could be natural to the Earth, like a natural process that occurred in the atmosphere. Again, we just don't know.

JANE: And you really can't tell us about the hideouts, huh?

CASEY: No.

MATT: We could use the teleporters, find the other locations, and give them to you in exchange for information.

JANE: Matt! Don't try to cut a deal with them!

MATT: Isn't that exactly what we're doing right now? They want us to use the teleporters for them.

HENRY: We'll... consider giving you more intel in exchange for the locations of the hideouts.

Casey gives Henry another look. Alright, time to end this.

CALVIN: If you've existed since the 50s, how do you not know where the hideouts are by now? We found one in a day, and you couldn't in decades?

CASEY: ...that's-

JANE: -classified. We get it.

MATT: You said you can detect our "energy signatures" but you haven't been able to find us recently... does our hideout mask us in some way?

SHIN: The hideouts aren't important right now. We just learned our powers may be alien in origin! Isn't that freaking anyone else out?

CALVIN: What's freaking me out is the fact that there might be others out there with superpowers. That's... wow.

MATT: For me it's how apparently the planet might blow up if we don't help.

JANE: Yeah... this is all so much larger than I thought it was. I... I need time to think.

That does it.

CASEY: Time to-? No. We've spent enough time as it is answering your questions. Now it's time for your decision. Will you help us?

MATT: Really? You can't give us some time to think?

HENRY: You're lucky we didn't just take you all in at the start of this. If you work with us, you can leave. If not, well...

The soldiers all raise their rifles.

HENRY: We'll knock you unconscious and take you in anyway.

JANE: You said you wouldn't harm us.

CASEY: What we have in mind won't hurt.

SHIN: How does taking us prisoner help you use the teleporters?

CASEY: The teleporters are activated by your energy signatures, not by you. If we were to... extract... those energy signatures...

JANE: Holy fuck.

HENRY: But we don't want to do that. We'd rather you willingly cooperate so things don't have to get... complicated.

CALVIN: But you need to give us time to think! You just gave us a lot of information.

HENRY: You asked for the information! Again, you're lucky we're talking to you at all right now.

MATT: What the hell is the rush?! You really can't give us like 5 minutes?

Henry and Casey stay silent.

CALVIN: There's something else you aren't telling us. Why you're in such a hurry.

HENRY: That's classified.

JANE: I'm not agreeing to something without having time to think about it. My answer's "no."

MATT: Jane!

CASEY: What more do you want, huh?! You know the planet is in danger, you know how to help. And you know if you say no, we'll take you anyway. The choice is obvious.

MATT: Agreed. Jane, think about this-

JANE: I'm not signing anything, giving verbal consent, nothing. I've been tricked before for things like this. Even by my own fucking parents! No way am I going through with something unless it's my own decision.

Matt pauses. Jane did tell them that her parents fooled her into signing a form to un-enroll in college.

MATT: Okay, Jane, I get where you're coming from. But we don't actually have a real choice. They have tranqs-

Jane's right eye and right fist both start to glow green.

JANE: About that. I don't know if these "F.E.D.S." know this, but we've all discovered in the last month that our powers help our bodies recover faster than normal. Remember Calvin's ankle, Frank's delayed naloxone? Recovery time was impossibly fast. So, I doubt tranqs will do shit to us.

Tension fills the air. Calvin, Matt, and Shin consider this. Henry and Casey become nervous.

HENRY: You really are a bunch of Idiots. Soldiers, fire.

*Instrumental solo

Jane thrusts her right arm forward and blasts two soldiers with a laser. It's so sudden and strong that it nearly sends her flying backwards. The soldiers fire tranqs at the 4 of them... but Matt raises his own right arm and fist, now glowing, and the tranqs all inexplicably fly upwards towards the ceiling.

MATT: Woah. Telekinesis...

SHIN: Look out!

More shots are fired. Shin uses her now-glowing right fist to shoot out a wave of green light. It both makes the tranqs fall to the floor on contact, and it knocks all the soldiers backwards, as well as Henry and Casey. Fazed but not down for the count, some of the soldiers get back up and start shooting again. Calvin... and who knows how he thought of this... uses his now-glowing right fist to punch the ground. It causes the ground to crack, moving in the direction of the soldiers. He essentially causes a mini-earthquake! It causes the soldiers who had gotten up to fall backwards. Other soldiers, however, get up and keep firing. This time, they make contact. A tranq hits Matt in the shoulder and Shin in the chest. They quickly take the tranqs out, but by then there are more shots. Another tranq hits Shin in her arm, and a tranq gets Jane in the neck. Calvin takes the tranq out of Jane's neck and Matt takes Shin's tranq out. Jane then shoots a laser in a sweeping motion above the soldiers, causing parts of the drywall behind them to fall on top of them.

JANE: Shin, you good?!

SHIN: Uh, yeah... I don't feel anything.

MATT: Then Jane's theory is right. Tranq darts just may not affect us, or affect us as strongly.

HENRY: You stupid-

He shoots his gun towards them.

MATT: No!

Matt moves his hand upward, but instead of causing the bullet to move... he creates a sheet of solid air, colored green, in front of them. Essentially a force-field.

MATT: Oh my god...

More soldiers fire tranqs, but they now hit Matt's force-field.

CALVIN: We gotta get out of here!

JANE: Yeah, and find Frank, that bastard!

Shin's eyes glow green... both of them!

SHIN: Frank...

She suddenly wraps her arms around the other 3, and instantaneously propels herself, and thus the rest of them, into the air. She's... flying?!

CALVIN: Holy shit holy shit!

They glide low to the ground, through the entrance they came in from... then hit the ground hard, bruising them all over.

ALL OF THEM: Ow, fuck, shit!

Evidently flying will take some practice.

SHIN: Is everyone okay??

MATT: Yeah.
CALVIN: Kinda.
JANE: I guess.

JANE: Okay, quickly, get into the car!

SHIN: Wait! I think I... I can sense Frank! Like... I think I know where he is!

MATT: Location tracking? Wow, these powers are-

JANE: Later! I'm driving, Shin is shotgun and navigating. Let's go!

The four of them rush into the other car and speed off. Soldiers run out of the warehouse after them but it's too late. Inside the warehouse...

CASEY: Fuck! Knew we should've brought a helicopter. Or even a car. Something!

HENRY: It's okay. They won't leave Oakland, they're gonna think about our offer for a bit before they go anywhere else.

CASEY: You better be right... why the hell did the boss ask us to rush this?! This was a delicate operation!

HENRY: Beats me. And we didn't even rush that much, we were slow at first, we took time to answer their questions.

CASEY: The ones we could answer, anyway. But them asking for more time...

HENRY: Again, it was the boss's orders. You did the right thing, cutting them off there.

CASEY: Did I? Because they got away.

HENRY: That might have happened regardless.

CASEY: (sighs) Yeah... god, what a clusterfuck.

Slightly past Dawn

FRANK: Making your rounds once again, turning up empty-handed. Bumming a ride, burning daylight. Last up at dawn, Tight Wad Hill...

Frank's fist stops glowing. He's had an epiphany.

FRANK: You know what? I don't need it. I don't need anything from you. You say we're done? I agree. We are definitely done.

DEALER: ...just like that, huh, Frank? You're gonna go cold turkey?

FRANK: I'm not an idiot, I have some back at... where I'm staying. Enough to wean me off.

DEALER: Huh. So I don't supply you, and you decide to just give up? No pleading, no begging? No trying to make a deal?

FRANK: This... this isn't who I want to be anymore. I don't like what it's done to me.

DEALER: You think that now, but you'll be back. You're gonna see that it's easier said than done, and I won't feel sorry for you.

FRANK: No it won't be. I've had an interesting month... I've changed. I know now that I don't need, or want this stuff.

DEALER: You have had an interesting month. What's the glowing green fist about?

FRANK: Please. I'm not telling you. Like I said, I'm not an idiot.

JANE: Frank, you fucking idiot!

Frank spins around to see Jane, Shin, Matt, and Calvin trudging up the hill towards him.

FRANK: Holy shit! How'd you guys find me?

DEALER: Yeah, no. I don't know these people; I'm out of here.

The dealer runs past them down the hill. Jane walks right up to Frank, looking extremely pissed.

JANE: You better have a good fucking reason for ditching us. Explain yourself, now!

Frank takes a second to respond. And when he does, it isn't technically a lie.

FRANK: I quit. Percocet, completely. I had a scheduled meeting with a dealer here, and I just told him I'm done.

Shin looks at Frank with awe. Proud of him. Jane does not.

JANE: You were still taking Percocet?! Even after your fucking overdose?!

FRANK: I couldn't just go cold turkey. I needed to wean off... and I still need to... but I'm not getting any more. I promise.

Jane is right up in Frank's face. She stares into his eyes for what feels like hours. Then:

JANE: We're having a team meeting as soon as we get back. We need to talk about our future. If we're gonna have one.

She said this right to Frank, but the message was for everyone.

Chapter Text

Fancy Sauce is the closing track on the album "Saviors" from 2024. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

SABRINA: Welcome back, viewers. I am Sabrina Scarborough, and this is the Oakland evening news. There are still no definitive answers about the calamity that occurred two days ago at an abandoned warehouse on 8th Avenue.

The little corner box on the news program shows the warehouse where our protagonists faced off against the F.E.D.S.

SABRINA: Loud noises were heard in the early morning hours, and afterwards witnesses reported seeing over a dozen uniformed soldiers exit the property, many of them wounded. Although we have no conclusive evidence as to what occurred, the general consensus among the witnesses was that it was most likely a covert training exercise. But the presence of that many soldiers in Oakland has also led many to speculate a possible connection to the Green vigilan-

Calvin taps a button near the screen, shutting it off. He is in the computer room, and as indicated by the reporter Sabrina Scarborough...

There is a time-skip of about 2 and a half days.

But that doesn't stop him from thinking back to a day earlier...

24 hours earlier...

SABRINA: -more surprise ICE raids throughout the Bay Area. Local mayors as well as Governor Newsom have pledged to push back against President Trump's-

JANE: It's despicable. We've turned into a police state.

Jane and Calvin are in the computer room looking up at a screen showing Sabrina's reporting. And are you really surprised that they're leftist?

JANE: You know, I bet they're gonna add to ICE's budget even more. Like they'll double it. I'll bet you anything.

CALVIN: Double it? That's absurd, even for Trump.

JANE: Nothing's absurd for Trump, haven't you gotten that by now?! He can literally do anything he wants.

CALVIN: He can't do anythi-

JANE: He can do anything he wants! The Supreme Court is on his side; anytime something goes to a lower court the Supreme Court will just say it doesn't count. Every Republican in Congress bends the knee.  For fuck's sake, he wants to run for a third fucking term. He doesn't give a shit about the Constitution, I doubt he's even read it! And talk about incompetency; the Signal group chat leak?! Fucking seriously?! He's a kid playing pretend king. And like a kid playing king, he's not very smart and not very nice, to put it lightly.

CALVIN: To put it lightly?

JANE: He's a F***ING F**K F***K A*****E F***FACE F***ING MOTHERF****R! He's on the goddamn Epstein list, he's a pedophile! And he's running our country into the fucking ground, thematically and literally. Have you noticed the price of eggs has actually gone up?! It'd be hilarious if it wasn't so goddamn aggravating. How did so many people vote for him?!

CALVIN: ...look, I hate Trump too, but us complaining right now is only going to get us worked up. Maybe let's focus on something else.

JANE: This is me focusing on something else. I'm trying to not focus on what the F.E.D.S. told us.

CALVIN: (softly) ...oh.

JANE: Aliens. Other people with superpowers. The planet blowing up. We... we don't know if any of that's real, but the fact that it's possible is just... it's just too much for me, okay?! I really don't know how you're managing, my dude.

CALVIN: I'm not... doing amazing either. I just-

JANE: Hide it better than me? Way to brag.

CALVIN: No, I wasn't trying to-

Jane turns and walks away from Calvin quickly, their shoulders briefly colliding as she does so.

JANE: (from far off) Like this planet is even worth saving anyway...

24 hours later...

Calvin and Jane haven't spoken since. On his end, he's just had a lot on his mind... specifically, everything from their last interaction. This whole thing... he thought being a superhero was such a cool idea at first. But it's larger than he thought it was. There might be other people. There might be aliens. The planet itself might blow up if they don't do the right thing. Or it might just all be fantasy. And when you try to distract yourself from this possible fantasy, take your head out of the clouds... you don't want your feet on the ground either. The world's incredibly fucked up. And there are those who like it this way, who voted for it, who cheer for it. You might not show it like Jane, but you do feel it. Deeply.

Hispanics across the country are being rounded up, even some who are legitimate citizens. And on the other side of your heritage, everyone hates you because you're Jewish and blames you for Gaza. Your nation, your people are hurting. And so if you try to ignore that too and only focus on what's directly in front of you... you get a girl who doesn't at all seem interested in you. In fact, who's oftentimes antagonistic towards you. In fairness, that's how she is with everyone, but it still doesn't make it easier to like her. So, you definitely can't focus on what's in front of you... so, do you choose the clouds or the ground? There are no good options here. It's nearly enough to make one think that they're crazy. Maybe Jane's right. Maybe the planet isn't even worth saving. Or maybe it just can't be saved.

Calvin heads out of the computer room and into the main room. Nobody's in there. Calvin sits down on one of the couches and starts to think. "It's nearly enough to make one think that they're crazy..." maybe he belongs in a psych ward then. It's probably nicer than this place.

CALVIN: Take me to the inn... called the loony bin.

What he needs is a place to just unwind... or maybe he needs to just face reality. He isn't sure.

CALVIN: Somewhere I can rest my head and take it on the chin.

FRANK: Hey dude!

Calvin is momentarily brought out of his head by Frank arriving... with a cassette tape??

FRANK: I was out and... you mentioned you wanted to hear Nirvana the other day. Just... you haven't been looking too good recently, so...

CALVIN: To be honest, I don't think any of us are doing too good but... thanks. I appreciate it.

Frank hands him the tape and walks away.

CALVIN: TBH it's the other type of "nirvana" I'd like right now... wait, Frank, did you pay for this with-

Frank has already left. Calvin decides to let it go. Jane gave him enough shit the other day during their "team meeting." He looks at the tape.

CALVIN: Nevermind. Smells Like Teen Spirit, In Bloom, Come As You Are...

"In Bloom." Like flowers in bloom. Huh. You know, that'd actually be nice to see around here. Calvin begins thinking again:

CALVIN: Flowers all in bloom...

But again, should he even be thinking about here? Or the psych ward?

CALVIN: In my rubber room...

Calvin begins to picture himself in a facility, with nothing to do but pick at the wall.

CALVIN: Scratching at the wallpaper in my solitude...

No, he shouldn't be thinking that! Stupid intrusive thoughts... think about something else, something else. Maybe about their team meeting...

60 hours earlier...

The five are all in the main room of their HQ, sitting on the couches.

JANE: So... clearly you knew about that hill for a while. When we first got here, you mentioned how close we were to Oakland.

FRANK: I'm surprised you remember, given how out of it you were at the time. And your "memory issues" in general.

Tense silence. Jane hates being vulnerable. Being angry about being vulnerable just makes you more vulnerable though, so-

JANE: (through gritted teeth) That's not what we're talking about right now. We're talking about you.

FRANK: Yeah, so, I used to live around here. When we all got here, I re-established contact. But again, it was to wean me off-

MATT: So, you had a meeting already scheduled when we were supposed to meet up with the feds. I get that. But... how were you paying?

FRANK: ...I may have taken some of our food-

JANE: Are you fucking kidding me?!

FRANK: What?! We have enough food to last us years, and I don't have any income. I've done that kind of deal before in other places.

CALVIN: Wait. Is that why you had food and water bottles in your backpack the day we met?

FRANK: ...maybe.

JANE: I can't believe this. I just can't believe this. We trusted you. We trusted you, and you steal from us. We even saved your life-

MATT: Jane, to be fair, Frank's right. We have a vast surplus of food. And we haven't even looked in the other locations.

FRANK: Other locations?

CALVIN: Oh, we should probably get you up to speed about what we learned from the feds. So-

JANE: Later! You know, we haven't even talked about your OD yet?! There's never been a good time.

FRANK: What exactly do you expect to talk about? I fucked up. But like I said, I'm weaning off of it. And yes, thank you for saving my life! Okay?!

MATT: Jane, I thought you said at the hill that we were gonna talk about our future. You never said you were just going to grill Frank.

JANE: I... I'm pissed, okay? Frank ditched us at a really bad time!

MATT: And he explained why. It was actually to help himself, in a good way. But Frank, just be honest with us next time.

FRANK: ...okay, fair enough.

MATT: How about we talk about the F.E.D.S. They know we're in Oakland... should we leave?

CALVIN: If they know about the teleporter network, they might know the other locations. They could've been lying when they said they didn't; it could be a trap to capture us.

MATT: ...damn, yeah, didn't think of that. And yeah, they haven't found us here yet so... okay, let's stay for now. But at some point one of us should try finding the other locations. Just in case it's not a trap, and just in case the F.E.D.S. find this place. Now, about what they said, them asking us to help them...

JANE: Uh, they attacked us before we got a chance to think about it. No way. No way in hell... what, did you think we'd consider it now? The answer's obvious.

MATT: I don't know about obvious...

CALVIN: I'm with Jane. "No" to the F.E.D.S. We don't have all the info.

Jane eyes Frank.

JANE: I say we also enact a "no lying" policy. For ourselves. If any of us lies, that's it.

FRANK: "That's it"? What do you mean, "that's it"?

JANE: Out of the group.

MATT: Yo, you don't have the authority to do that! We're a democracy.

JANE: Fine! But can we all at least pledge that we'll try not to lie to each other anymore? Is that so fucking difficult to ask?!

Everyone takes a moment to think.

FRANK: Yeah. Sure. I can agree to that.

CALVIN: Me too.

MATT: As can I. Shin?

Shin has been silent this whole time. But she's not spaced out. She just doesn't know what to say. She's conflicted about Frank.

SHIN: ...yeah. I agree. Try not to lie.

60 hours later...

It's no use. Calvin can try to think about other things but-

CALVIN: Go, go.

It's like he's-

CALVIN: Falling like a yo-yo.

He thinks bad thoughts, then gets out of it, but then falls back in them again, etc... god, people really like Trump's America?

CALVIN: Paradise for locos.

Frank's still been taking Percocet this whole time?!

CALVIN: Medicate my sorrow.

Music. Yeah, music can be distracting. Calvin reaches over and hits "play" on the radio. The tape plays "Institutionalized" by Suicidal Tendencies.

RADIO: I'm not crazy! You're the one that's crazy! You're driving me crazy! They stick me in an institution, said it was the only solution-

Aaaand Calvin turns it off. Not exactly helpful.

CALVIN: I'm not crazy, you're the one that's crazy... everybody's crazy.

He needs to just relax. Unwind. God, if only he could just be... hmm, just be...

CALVIN: Getting stoned and lazy.

Yeah, that's a good idea. That's definitely distracting. And this is California, after all; Frank probably knows how to get pretty good weed here. Calvin looks at the Nirvana tape Frank got him. Hmm... or maybe a Kurt Cobain classic can do what the other song couldn't? Ah shit Kurt Cobain... rest in peace. Died way too young, too soon. Are they all gonna die young too, if the planet blows up? Maybe that's their fate.

CALVIN: As we all die young someday... we all die young someday...

Stupid ADHD brain. Man, and this is Calvin not on weed. Yeah, he probably couldn't handle it right now anyway. He can't handle anything.

CALVIN: We all die young and watch it slip away...

He's done. He's so done.

CALVIN: We all die young someday...

18 hours later...

IDEK if I'd call this a "time-skip," just... moving forward, you know?

SHIN: What are you doing?!

Shin and Frank are in the kitchen. Frank is sitting down at a table, with a plate full of peas that came from a can. But he also has ketchup and mayonnaise on the plate... and is mixing them all together with a spoon.

FRANK: Haven't you seen Step Brothers? It's called "fancy sauce."

SHIN: It's disgusting. It's... idiotic.

FRANK: What, because I'm an idiot, right?

Shin turns bright red.

SHIN: What? No! That's... that's not what I meant at all! Sorry, I shouldn't have used that word-

FRANK: It's okay. It's true, I am an idiot. "I perfected the science of the Idiot."

SHIN: No you're... wait, what? Is that another quote or phrase or something?

FRANK: Yeah kinda, it's... something I've been thinking about since just before we got here.

SHIN: Frank, you're not an idiot, okay? You're not.

FRANK: But it's true. What was I thinking, continuing on with Percocet even after I almost... after you all had to save me?

SHIN: ...okay, I'll admit that I didn't like that you did that. But it doesn't make you stupid. It... it must be hard, right? To let it go?

Frank looks up at Shin, once again seeing something he hadn't seen in her before. Seen in anyone, in a really long time. Understanding.

FRANK: ...yeah. It's hard. It's really hard.

SHIN: And I know it's not always easy to push bad, strong thoughts out of your head. I was thinking about a phrase I made up too.

FRANK: What is it?

SHIN: ..."Elected, the rejected." I may have been elected student body president but... remember, I still feel the rejection from high school.

FRANK: Yeah, I remember... now, forget it! It's in the past. We all lov- ...we all appreciate you, Shin. Really. You're a valuable member of this... you're a friend.

SHIN: (with a half-smile) Thank you, Frank... you know, maybe we should both stop giving into these negative thoughts.

FRANK: Yeah... good idea.

But of course, they both still do. As Shin walks away, she thinks back to the car ride she had with Frank.

SHIN: (softly) Before all the flames... burn out.

Frank thinks back to the dealer on Tightwad Hill.

FRANK: (softly) Bumming a ride... burning daylight...

MATT: Man... our presence online just keeps growing and growing.

At the same time, Matt and Jane are in the computer room, looking at all the screens. Once again, there are comments and posts all across social media about the #GreenHeroes.

MATT: You still don't give a shit though, do you?

JANE: Correct.

MATT: You still only care about what you think of you, not anyone else?

JANE: Why are you so insistent about it, man?

MATT: Well...

Matt sighs. He knew he wanted to bring this up eventually.

MATT: I'm not a therapist, that's more Shin's department. But Jane, the day we all got here... we saw what you wrote in Frank's notebook.

Now it's Jane's turn to turn bright red.

JANE: You... you... you had no right to see that!!

MATT: I know, we shouldn't have looked. We just didn't know why you'd write in his notebook.

JANE: I was just... going through some shit at the time, okay?!

MATT: Clearly. What was it? "My own worst friend, my own closest enemy"?

JANE: (very angrily) Watch. It.

MATT: I'm sorry, it's just... did you read Frank's notebook before you wrote that?

JANE: ...no?

MATT: Because I remember he had already written something very similar. "I am my own worst enemy."

JANE: What's your point?

MATT: My point is... you're not alone. Frank feels those things too. I feel those things too. I'm a "Self-loathing Freak, and Introverted Deviant."

Jane is silent. Processing.

MATT: I'm glad that over the past month you've seemed to have gotten past it. We can't let those bad thoughts win. We can't let burnout win.

JANE: What? Burnout?

MATT: Yeah... Shin said you were, like, mentally burnt out.

JANE: Well, Shin was wrong. It wasn't that, it was... well it doesn't matter, because like you said, I'm past it. Or... I'm mostly past it.

MATT: I'm glad to hear it. I... I care about you, Jane. We all do.

Jane finally starts to cool off.

JANE: Thank you, Matt. I... I care about you guys too.

6 hours later...

Calvin has dragged a chair into the computer room. Sabrina Scarborough is reporting on the evening news (even though it's technically the late afternoon but whatever), but Calvin isn't fully paying attention. He's looking at the other screens Matt and Jane left on: comments and posts about the #GreenHeroes. So many people are praising them, in some instances going so far as to ask for help from them. But are these people worth helping? Even if the planet doesn't blow up... a lot of them are still brainwashed and crazy.

CALVIN: Howling at the moon... in the afternoon.

He looks at Sabrina's broadcast now. She's a local reporter; her network doesn't seem to have any political bias. But so much of the news now is so disingenuous... like fantasy.

CALVIN: Watch the evening news 'cuz it's my favorite cartoon.

God, the Republican Party is a cult now.

CALVIN: Gonna join a cult...

...hooray, you stated the obvious. Do a flip.

CALVIN: Do a somersault...

It's not like the liberals are any better, though. Their "fanbase" are all pathetic. Like their shit is anywhere near as bad as the planet blowing up.

CALVIN: Everyone's a victim and it makes me want to puke!

Why is he so hyper-fixated on the fucking planet blowing up?! My god, he's like-

CALVIN: Go, go.

...oh no, not again.

CALVIN: Falling like a yo-yo.

He can't control his thoughts anymore.

CALVIN: Paradise for locos.

He needs help.

CALVIN: Medicate my sorrow.

Calvin stands up and nearly falls over. He's feeling dizzy; the room is spinning. The walls... are they getting... closer?! Oh god the walls are literally closing in. Oh god this is bad, what the fuck is happening?! Is he... is he having a psychotic break or something?! So much for being a "famous hero." A "Savior." He can't even save himself.

CALVIN: I'm so famous...

...but really, isn't it everyone else who's famous? They're the ones with all the likes and retweets. It's not like anyone knows who Calvin is.

CALVIN: You're the one that's famous...

What the fuck is he even saying?! I mean, thinking... GAH! Calvin rushes out of the computer room in a daze. Great, now he can't stop thinking about "fame." How do you just... stop thinking?!

CALVIN: Everybody's famous...

Wait a sec. Nirvana literally has a song about this. And he just got the tape. Calvin heads over to the radio and pops it in. After a bit:

RADIO: Load up on guns, bring your friends...

Ah. Much better. Just listen to the song, Calvin, let it take you away. He listens through it.

RADIO: I feel stupid, and contagious!

CALVIN: Stupid and contagious...

Thank you, Kurt Cobain. You know, he was thinking yesterday about how he-

CALVIN: As we all die young someday...

Yeah. That.

CALVIN: We all die young someday...

Aaaaand now everything's changing color. And spinning again. He can't take it anymore. He can't take it anymore!!

CALVIN: We all die young and watch it slip away...

Suddenly Calvin lets out an incredibly loud, cathartic scream.

CALVIN: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

CALVIN: We all die young someday...

*Guitar solo

In the span of about 10 seconds, Jane, Frank, Matt, and Shin all come running.

SHIN: Calvin, Calvin, what's wrong?!

Calvin is hyperventilating. It's too much. It's all too much. Too much too much too much too much too much too

SHIN: O-o-okay. Stay calm, Calvin, stay calm. Breathe. Deep breaths, slower breaths, come on now.

Jane attempts to be helpful yet playful in an effort to maybe reach him.

JANE: Yeah, uh, "Flame off," Human Torch.

MATT: Yeah, burn out, man.

Jane looks at Matt inquisitively, she's not sure if he's trying to say something else entirely.

JANE: Yeah...

After a few minutes, Shin has helped Calvin calm down. The radio is now playing a station instead of the tape.

CALVIN: Oh my god, that was... wow. Thank you, Shin. You're a real lifesaver.

SHIN: Of course, Calvin. May I ask what triggered this panic attack?

CALVIN: It wasn't a... well I guess it was a panic attack, wasn't it? Huh. No, I just... everything became a little too much. I'm still... freaked over what the F.E.D.S. told us.

JANE: Oh. Well, don't worry, man. We got away, we can just ignore them.

MATT: Yeah, I mean, I'd still like to think about their offer but... there's no time crunch. They've sent more messages to our server, but like Jane said, we can just-

RADIO: Attention, Idiots! You have forced our hand!

The five all spin around and look at the radio. Goddamnit, they recognize that voice...

HENRY: (over the radio) You have not responded to any of our private messages, so we are now forced to make this public.

FRANK: Wow. What timing. Hard to ignore them now, huh.

CASEY: (over the radio) You were given an opportunity to help us save the world. Instead of accepting, you discarded the offer. I don't know what you think the world's supposed to be like, but you all need to grow the hell up. You think fighting gangs and saving people from burning buildings is really making a difference? A real difference? The only way to make things better is our way. The sooner you accept that, the easier it'll be on you. If not, we'll continue hunting you, and one day we will find you.

HENRY: (over the radio) We once again apologize to the residents of Oakland for the interruption. This message will be broadcast every hour until the fucking Idiots grow up and do the right thing. If they still don't... well, they'll regret it, that's for sure.

The radio goes quiet, then picks up near the start of a Blue Öyster Cult song (the same song as last time the F.E.D.S. sent a message, actually).

RADIO: Home in the valley! Home in the city!

MATT: I think that's enough radio for today.

He reaches over and lowers the volume.

SHIN: Wow, that was... that was...

JANE: That was such bullshit!!

MATT: Jane...

JANE: What, Matt? What?! You want to tell me to calm down again? To "stop with the negative thoughts"? Those assholes just called us out! Publicly! I thought they were the ones who said they didn't want people knowing about this!

MATT: In their defense, their message was vague enough to-

JANE: In their defense?! Why the hell are we defending them at all?? They said we did the wrong thing. They said... they said we need to grow up! Fuck them, I don't need to "grow up." I don't need to change anything about myself. I'm fine with the way I am, thank you very much!

MATT: ...well, I am happy to hear that. I've started to feel happy with myself too. It was touch-and-go when we all first met but... remember our impromptu dance party a few days ago? That was really nice, that... that almost felt "cleansing" to me.

SHIN: Matt, I'm glad you're happy with yourself... and for the record I think I am too... but can we talk about how the F.E.D.S. are in attack mode?

FRANK: Fuck them, like... like helping the world "their way" is the only way to help the world. They're arrogant jackasses.

JANE: I actually agree with you for once, Frank. And not only that, but... they're the federal government! Kinda! They made this world! They made it! And now they want us to help fix it?!

CALVIN: I think I'm done.

The other four all turn to look at Calvin.

SHIN: What do you mean, you're done?

CALVIN: This is... this is all too much. I just had a breakdown. This "superhero" thing isn't at all what I thought. I... I don't think I want to help the world, at least not the way the F.E.D.S. want me to. I'm not sure what I want to do, but I know I won't do that.

FRANK: You know, I don't blame you, man. Why should we do what the F.E.D.S. tell us to? None of that felt right.

JANE: Frank, you weren't even there when we talked to them.

FRANK: But you guys caught me up enough! Like some of you just said, I'm also happy with myself right now, more or less. Definitely better than a month ago. And I know I wouldn't be happy just marching along, doing what the "authority" tells us to do.

SHIN: You don't like over-control...

FRANK: Yeah. But I don't think any of us would want that. We said we'd go with the flow, do what feels right, and this... this doesn't feel right. That's the most important thing here; we're not "superheroes," we're just us. So let's do what we want to do. Not what someone else wants.

Damn. Frank made a good speech.

JANE: Amen, Frank.

Calvin sits there, ruminating. He can hear the radio still playing, softly.

RADIO: Burn out the day... burn out the night!

Calvin suddenly has an epiphany.

CALVIN: Burn out the day... burn out the night.

The four look over at him again.

JANE: What?

CALVIN: One of you was talking about that... who was it? Who said "burn out"?

The four pause for a moment. What is Calvin talking about?

FRANK: I've been repeating some stuff in my head, and out loud... "bumming a ride, burning daylight." Was it that? Burning daylight?

SHIN: I was also saying like, uh, "before all the flames burn out."

FRANK: Yeah... I actually vaguely recall you saying that in the car the other day.

MATT: I think he means me. I told him to "burn out" after Jane said "Flame Off."

JANE: Yeah, because Shin thought I was "burnt out" the day we got here. And for the record, I wasn't.

CALVIN: Well maybe you should be.

They all stare at him in confusion. But let him cook...

CALVIN: Maybe we should all be burnt out. This world... this world's a fucking mess, and even if it weren't, it might not survive. That's a lot, that's... that's enough to make anyone burn out, to stop caring. The F.E.D.S., they... they want us to care, right? They want us to care about the world, to help them save it. But wouldn't it be so fucking funny, wouldn't it be so great, if we went to them and we said "actually, I don't really care. I'm burnt out." What the hell would they do?! They assume we want to help the world our way, and they're trying to convince us of their way, but what if we just didn't want to do either of those ways? How would they try to rationalize with us then? How would they have any leg to stand on, if we destroy their whole fucking premise?!

The others take in what he's saying. Jane nods in approval. She likes this side of Calvin...

CALVIN: They called us out publicly, they started this. We need to respond back, publicly as well. We need to destroy their argument, make them look like fools... because they never said who they are to the public. They never showed them proof of how this will "help the world." They're just people making noise. If we drown out that noise, they'll either have to put up or shut up. Tell the whole world the "truth," which they won't, or slink back into their hole. We'll win. That's our trump card. They won't be able to say something like this again. Or, well.. they'll try, but nobody will fucking pay attention.

Everyone is stunned. That... that sounded crazy. But... crazy enough to work? Maybe?

MATT: A declaration of... apathy. Sounds contradictory, but... it's also not?

SHIN: So, I take it you're no longer overwhelmed?

CALVIN: (grinning) Hell no. Like you all, I'm happy with who I am now. I'm better than I was a month ago. I don't hate myself, and I don't care what other people think. I don't care. I'm burnt out with people's expectations. How about we deal in "unexpectations" instead?

SHIN: Nice.

FRANK: Alright, I'm down. Let's do Unexpectations! Let's do Burnout!

JANE: Count me the fuck in.

MATT: Let's do it. But the next question is, how do we get ourselves on the radio?

Calvin walks down a hallway. Confused, the other 4 follow him... into the computer room. Among the comments/posts about the #GreenHeroes is Sabrina Scarborough wrapping up the evening news.

CALVIN: Who said anything about radio?

Chapter Text

Burnout is the opening track on the album "Dookie" from 1994. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

CALVIN: They think we're finished? Ha! We're just getting started.

FRANK: Should I write that down?

The five are sitting down on the couches, having a brainstorming session. Frank's latest notebook pages are filled with sentences and phrases.

SHIN: I don't know... something about it doesn't quite fit with everything else we've come up with. Calvin, can you please elaborate?

CALVIN: I felt like I was done. They aired a message saying we were done, that it was time for us to stop. But we didn't end. We're beginning!

MATT: It almost sounds... cyclical. Like a never-ending cycle.

CALVIN: Yes, exactly! We're never "done," we're just taking it back to our core, our beginning. In the beginning, we ran from the F.E.D.S.; we did whatever we wanted. We rebelled. And now we're rebelling again!

SHIN: So, I like that, that we never stop rebelling. But... everything else we've come up with is more... grounded, in the moment, you know?

JANE: Man, it feels like we're debating song lyrics or something. This is not what I expected to do with my time.

Everyone looks at her.

JANE: Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we're doing this! But... we've written a lot already.

FRANK: You mean I've written a lot already.

SHIN: (sighs) Yeah, I think Jane's right. We've been doing this for hours and it's getting late. Alright, Frank, what have we got so far?

Frank reads all the sentences and phrases aloud. Afterwards...

SHIN: Okay, there's definitely stuff we need to cut, but I like how you incorporated the 8th Avenue drive into this, Frank, that was a clever nod.

FRANK: Thank you. Just had to mention those shit town lights...

MATT: It does all kind of sound like song lyrics. Man, if only any of us were musically inclined.

CALVIN: I've dabbled in guitar.

SHIN: And I can play violin.

FRANK: Woah, really?! That's sick!

JANE: Are you being sarcastic?

FRANK: No, I'm serious! Violin always gets me, it's so melodic-sounding.

Shin makes a mental note of Frank's interest.

JANE: Yeah, well, I don't think it'd exactly fit in here. No offense, Shin.

CALVIN: And there's no point in guitar either unless any of us can sing... can anyone sing? Like, good?

Nobody says anything.

CALVIN: Well, we either craft this into a better speech, or we speak in song lyrics, I guess.

MATT: I mean... it almost kind of reads as a manifesto. Those don't have to be structured perfectly. In fact, sometimes to get your ideas out effectively, your words shouldn't necessarily be "structured perfectly."

SHIN: How about... we sleep on it? We're not doing anything until tomorrow, right?

JANE: Yeah, that's a good idea. I'm still trying to get my sleep schedule back to normal anyway. Let's pick this back up tomorrow.

Jane is in her "room," about to go to sleep, when she hears a knock on the door.

CALVIN: Hey Jane, uh, can I talk to you real quick?

JANE: ...yeah, sure.

Calvin enters the room and looks at the wall. He notices two large indents, as if two large objects had slammed into it.

CALVIN: Woah... have those always been there?

JANE: Yeah, uh, first day we got here I was kinda... not doing so well. I may have lasered the wall a couple times.

CALVIN: Ah... was it like... hot? Er, I mean, did it catch fire or anything? I've never tested if our lasers were like heat rays or what.

JANE: A little smoke did come off of them actually... it did make the room seem a little less boring, I guess. But now that the smoke's out it's-

CALVIN: ...a smoked-out, boring room... hey, I think I thought of another "lyric!" I need to tell Frank-

Calvin starts to leave.

JANE: Wait! Didn't you want to talk about something?

Calvin pauses.

CALVIN: Oh, right. Just... wanted to thank you for, you know, going along with my idea.

JANE: Huh? We all like your idea, Calvin. Definitely a good idea to stick it to those "F.E.D.S." fucks.

CALVIN: I know, but... I wanted to thank you, specifically. I've noticed we don't always, uh... seem to be on the same page.

Jane's face flushes. In a way, Calvin's calling her out. But not in a mean way. He's almost... embarrassed, ashamed. As if it's his fault. And that makes Jane feel terrible.

JANE: Calvin, I... I'm sorry, I can be a bit of a bitch sometimes. I've been working on it... really, I have! But I'm not perfect. I'm sorry if I've... stepped on your toes or anything lately. Really wasn't personal.

CALVIN: Oh, okay. Well... wasn't fishing for that, but thanks for saying it.

JANE: We're living in a kind of stressful situation, you know? That's all. Shin really was wrong, oftentimes I'm like... the opposite of "burnt out." It's... It's like I'm... burning up.

A lightbulb goes off over Calvin's head.

CALVIN: That's... that's it. That's our second line, right after our declaration! That's... oh my god, I think that fixes it. I think we've got it!

JANE: What? What did you-

CALVIN: Uh, let me run it by Frank, and we'll show you all in the morning. Sorry, just... he'll help me phrase it better. He is "the writer," after all.

JANE: Okay... you think you really "have it?"

CALVIN: (smiles) I think I do. Thank you Jane, couldn't have thought of it without you, you're the best, G'night!

He rushes out of the room and closes the door.

JANE: Goodnight...

12 hours later...

The five are sitting at the couches looking at Frank's notebook once again.

SHIN: Okay... it's good, I like it!

FRANK: Yeah, I'm glad you came back to me last night, Calvin. This is looking good now.

MATT: I agree. Now the question is: how do we get on the news?

CALVIN: (grinning) Leave that to me. Frank, I need your notebook and some spray paint.

FRANK: Spray paint? Why?

CALVIN: When you opened your notebook yesterday, I saw some drawings-

FRANK: Oh for fuck's sake guys, stop looking at my notebook!

CALVIN: You were the one who opened it, so we could write! I only saw it for a few seconds, but I thought I saw, like, a mushroom cloud and-

FRANK: Yeah, that's the collage-like drawing I was... wait, you want to spray paint that? All of that?

SHIN: (giggling) Oh, that had the dog flying the plane, right?

FRANK: ...yeah.

SHIN: (inquisitively) What about the, uh, two people kissing...

FRANK: Separate drawing, not relevant here.

Shin blushes.

SHIN: Oh.

CALVIN: Yes, I want to recreate that whole collage image. It's... messy, and weird, and-

FRANK: Gee, thanks.

CALVIN: -and exactly the right art to match our tone.

JANE: Which is?

CALVIN: Showing that we don't give a fuck.

The others start to consider this and slowly begin nodding their heads.

FRANK: Okay, yeah. It's not like my drawing had any deeper meaning to it... so let's give it some! Why not?

CALVIN: Hell yeah. Alright, give me an hour.

JANE: It's 3:47, what the hell took so long?

Calvin has just gotten back to HQ.

CALVIN: Sorry! Spray painting all that took much longer than I thought. I couldn't even do it as well as Frank's drawing; the little people underneath the mushroom cloud now look more like stick figures. But it'll still work.

FRANK: You still haven't told us what the hell your plan is.

MATT: Yeah, what'd you do, man? Where'd you go?

CALVIN: The warehouse where we fought the F.E.D.S. And we all have to be back there in less than 3 hours.

SHIN: What, why?!

CALVIN: (smiling) So we can get our 15 minutes.

3 hours later...

SABRINA: I'm reporting live from the warehouse on 8th Avenue that I've been covering these past few days. Evidently... there's a story here.

On the outside of the warehouse are spray-painted the words:

SABRINA SCARBOROUGH
THERE'S A STORY HERE
COME ALONE. NO COPS

SABRINA: I'll admit it peaked my interest. And against the advice of my superiors, I am going to enter the warehouse with my cameraman.

Sabrina and her cameraman enter the warehouse.

SABRINA: Oh my!

On the back wall is Calvin's spray painted image, based on Frank's collage, which in reality is the album cover of Dookie.

(If you're curious, here's what it looks like)

The image looks just like the album cover, minus the words "Green Day" and "dookie." Just then, the five "vigilantes" pop out of the shadows. They are all wearing bandanas to cover their mouths and noses.

SABRINA (fearful): Ohmygosh! Um, okay, I didn't alert the authorities as you requested, but you should know that we are reporting live.

Sabrina's phone buzzes. She takes it out of her pocket and reads the text just sent to her.

SABRINA: Um, and according to my boss, millions of people are tuned in right now, both on tv, and the livestream on our website and YouTube.

Sabrina opens TikTok and starts recording.

SABRINA: And now you're also on TikTok LIVE. So, um, just keep that in mind in case you... try anything funny.

Calvin walks towards Sabrina.

CALVIN: Try any-? No, we just have something to declare.

SABRINA: Oh! Uh, okay! What... what do you have to declare?

CALVIN: May I please have your microphone?

Calvin extends his left hand. After a few seconds:

SABRINA: Uh, sure...

She hands the mic to Calvin. He takes a few steps back to be in line with the other "vigilantes." Then, his right hand starts glowing green.

SABRINA: Woah... it's real.

CALVIN: (over mic) Residents of Oakland have been hearing a message on local radio for about 24 hours now. It goes like this:

Matt reaches in his pocket and presses something. Suddenly, a recording starts playing over the warehouse's loudspeakers.

HENRY: (on recording) Attention, Idiots! You have forced our hand! You have not responded to any of our private messages, so we are now forced to make this public.

CASEY: (on recording) You were given an opportunity to help us save the world. Instead of accepting, you discarded the offer. I don't know what you think the world's supposed to be like, but you all need to grow the hell up. You think fighting gangs and saving people from burning buildings is really making a difference? A real difference? The only way to make things better is our way. The sooner you accept that, the easier it'll be on you. If not, we'll continue hunting you, and one day we will find you.

HENRY: (on recording) We once again apologize to the residents of Oakland for the interruption. This message will be broadcast every hour until the fucking Idiots grow up and do the right thing. If they still don't... well, they'll regret it, that's for sure.

Jane then walks up and takes the mic from Calvin. Similarly, the mic's in her left hand, while her right hand glows green.

JANE: (over mic) You want us to help you help the world? Well, here's what we say to that, here's our declaration...

Showtime.

Matt makes his right hand glow and flash really bright, for emphasis. It also brightens the image behind them.

Tk tk BA-DA-DUM!

Jane turns her head to the side. She attempts to give off the most apathetic/annoyed look she can. At the same time, she says:

JANE: (over mic) I declare I don't care no more!

She walks right up to the camera, nearly sticking her face in it.

JANE: (over mic) I'm burning up! And out! And growing bored...

She then turns and walks back, still speaking while her back is turned.

JANE: (over mic) In my smoked-out boring room...

She throws the mic to Frank, as Matt does the same thing again. This has all been rehearsed/choreographed.

BA-DA-DUM-BA-DA-

FRANK: (over mic) My hair is shagging in my eyes!

It is. Shin quickly spins near him and takes the mic. She exaggerates dragging her feet.

SHIN: (over mic) Dragging my feet to hit the street tonight, drive along these shit town lights...

Calvin steps forward as Shin passes the mic. Matt presses the thing in his pocket again, to play this sound bite, all queued up:

CASEY: (on recording) I don't know what you think the world's supposed to be like, but you all need to grow the hell up.

CALVIN: (over mic) I'm not growing up, I'm just burning out!

He gets back in line with the others, now all in a nice row again.

CALVIN: (over mic) And I stepped in line, to walk amongst the dead.

Matt plays a sound bite, then gets passed the mic, as the rest of them step out of line, while flashing their fists.

BA-DA-BA-DA-BA-DA-

CASEY: (on recording) You were given an opportunity to help us save the world.

Matt acts over-dramatic.

MATT: (over mic) Ohhhh, apathy has rained on me!

He then becomes solid as a stone.

MATT: (over mic) And now I'm feeling like a soggy dream, so close to drowning-

He walks towards the camera as he says these next words:

MATT: (over mic) -but I don't mind!

He is now right up to the camera, just as Jane was earlier. His fist flashes, creating a brief illuminating effect.

BA-DA-DUM-BA-DA-

MATT: (over mic) I'll live inside this mental cave! Throw my emotions in the grave...

Jane pushes Matt out of the way and grabs the mic.

JANE: (over mic) Hell, who needs them anyway?!

Jane gets out of the camera's view and tosses the mic to Frank. Matt plays another sound bite.

CASEY: (on recording) The only way to make things better is our way.

FRANK: (over mic) I'm not growing up, I'm just burning out!

They all start to get in line again.

FRANK: (over mic) And I stepped in line, to walk amongst the dead.

He hands the mic to Shin. Matt plays a sound bite.

CASEY: (on recording) -you discarded the offer.

SHIN: (over mic) I'm not growing up, I'm just burning out!

They all start to walks towards the camera. Shin passes Calvin the mic.

CALVIN: (over mic) And I stepped in line, to walk amongst the dead.

Calvin tosses Jane the mic. All of them start flashing their green fists, and Matt plays one final sound bite.

CASEY: (on recording) -we'll continue hunting you-

JANE: (over mic) DEAAAAAD!!!

Jane pushes the mic back in Sabrina's hand and walks past her. They all rush past her (and the cameraman) to the exit.

Sabrina is momentarily stunned. Then, she says to the cameraman:

SABRINA: Turn around!

But it's too late. As she and the cameraman turn to face the door, the "vigilantes" are already gone...

48 hours later...

MATT: This... this makes absolutely no sense.

SHIN: We hit all the right notes, right? Burning up, burning out, bored in my room, forcing myself to "hit the streets" and socialize...

FRANK: ...step in line, obedience is for sheep. Apathy, drowning but I don't mind, mental cave, who needs them anyway...

JANE: Yep. All uncaring, undisciplined, unhappy language... and yet... this fucking happened:

The five of them are in the computer room. All of the screens show even more comments/posts about the #GreenHeroes than usual. Matt turns up the volume on a TikTok video.

JONY: -it's ya boi, Jony Wolf! I think I've compiled the most popular and agreed upon responses and interpretations to the Green Heroes' declaration the other day. Obviously this is still new, and people are still discussing and deciphering the language-

FRANK: Deciphering?! Bitch these aren't hieroglyphics, we were pretty clear!

JONY: -because most people agree they were pretty unclear-

FRANK: Damnit!

JONY: -but again, I think I've compiled everything and worked it all out. First off, the image spray painted behind them was of people near an explosion, indicating an urgency and explosiveness to their messaging.

JANE: I guess he missed the "dookie" and the dog in the plane.

JONY: Now, this was all in response to another mysterious message from people who claimed that the only way to "save the world" is their own way. Which, of course, is bullshit and we all know it.

SHIN: Alright! Yeah!

JONY: The Green Heroes are doing their part, they're actually the ones who want to save the world.

JANE: But that wasn't what we were doing! We were literally trying to say we don't care!

JONY: But they're under threat by people who claim to be hunting them, so naturally they went on the offensive with their message.

MATT: ...well yes, I suppose we did.

JONY: So, basing it off that, let's dive right in. Okay, starting off: the "I don't care no more" is the initial rallying cry. She didn't care what she might have to do, what rules she might break, she's just gonna do it! Then, "I'm burning up, and out." Getting angry and getting burnt out. These ones are clearly a reference to the state of the world, how it sucks; and how we, the people, need to come together and do something about it.

SHIN: Wha... what?!

JONY: We're all fired up about our fascist, pedophile American President, and the global kleptocracy. We're pissed, but we're also burnt out. It's tiring, it's non-stop corruption! And this ties into the continuation of that phrase: "and growing bored." Clearly stating that we've been complacent for too long. It's led us to become bored, to become used to it. The world is "my smoked-out boring room." This analogy is almost Beatles-esque...

JANE: ...the fuck is he talking about?

JONY: "My hair is shagging in my eyes." I believe that that means we've allowed ourselves to blind our eyes to the horrors of what's happening.

FRANK: ...no! Fucking no! My hair is literally just shagging in my eyes! ...and I mean it's also about neglect and apathy but seriously what the fuck?

JONY: "Dragging my feet to hit the street tonight." Now this might be the most important message. This is them telling us we have to drag ourselves out there, to do the work, tonight, now. We need to get out there and fight! Even if it seems hopeless, or looks shitty, like "shit town lights."

MATT: This is... unbelievable.

JONY: Now, this next line is reallyyyyy up for debate. Some, like me, interpret the line "I'm not growing up" to mean that it's the youth who need to lead the fight against the older generation who are ruining the planet and our future.

JANE: It literally just means I'm not growing up!! The hell is wrong with this guy?!

JONY: But some think it's a cheeky response to the radio message that told them to "grow up." It could be both! Either way, we then go into "just burning out" again, and "I step in line to walk amongst the dead", which a lot of people think is code for not being mindlessly obedient to authority.

FRANK: Well okay, that one is right.

JONY: The "apathy has rained on me" line doesn't take a genius to figure out. It's about not caring about the world-

SHIN: Yes! See? He does get it.

JONY: -as it currently stands; they want it improved.

SHIN: ...never mind.

JONY: "Feeling like a soggy dream" continues the "raining" analogy, describing the bleak reality we live in.

MATT: Yeah, that's pretty close actually.

JONY: And "close to drowning but I don't mind" further continues that, but also states how you need to be willing to risk everything for this, even to the point of almost "dying for the dream," or drowning, as it were.

MATT: Okay, that one's a stretch... right?

JONY: Finally, there's "live inside this mental cave, throw my emotions in the grave." This one also has a lot of debate but I take it as emphasizing how serious we need to take this; no room for emotion or doubt. We need to be all in on this fight. Because they then end with "hell, who needs them anyway?" implying they don't need emotions.

JANE: He's right about the emotion part I guess...

JONY: They then repeat lines from before for further emphasis. So, in summation, their message is a battle cry against those in power, a vision of a better future, where we all stand up and fight. For all of us saddened and defeated by the prospect of the world never changing, the Green Heroes offer hope. Things can get better! Things can get better if we all work together and make it happen. There's more of us than them, after all! And human beings can do anything, just look, some of us even have superpowers! We can join the Green Heroes and save the world.

Frank, Shin, Matt, and Jane are silent.

JONY: Green Heroes, if you're out there, know that your message worked. It's in no small part to the fact that you all are literal superheroes. Turns out, something as fantastical as that can get the whole world to notice. There's millions, tens of millions... maybe even hundreds of millions of responses and reactions across social media to your declaration. There are many who are willing to join you if you show us the way. But we're also taking your message to heart and we won't wait for you; we'll start this ourselves if necessary. Thank you, Green Heroes. For the first time in a long time... I have faith in humanity. Hopefully, we hear from the Green Heroes again soon. We're all hoping to.

The video ends. Frank, Shin, Matt, and Jane struggle to find words.

MATT: Well, uh... that didn't have the effect we thought it would.

FRANK: Gee, ya think?!

SHIN: But it did shut the F.E.D.S. down, didn't it? Their radio message stopped broadcasting and we haven't gotten any messages from them.

JANE: Yeah, but now we have apparently millions of people expecting us to... to... be leaders of some kind, to change the world. How the fuck did that happen?!

MATT: They took our declaration to be an anthem.

SHIN: I... I don't think we can do what they want us to.

FRANK: Yeah, like... they set the bar too high for us. The hell are we supposed to do now?

CALVIN: Heh... heh... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

The other four spin around to look at Calvin, who hasn't said anything until now, and is laughing. Hysterically.

JANE: And just what's so funny?

CALVIN: Aheh, heh... heh... just... we did something even more contradictory than a declaration of apathy. We made an anthem of apathy! That doesn't even... HAHAHA... that doesn't even make sense! How did we do that?! Oh, this is perfect...

MATT: Perfect? Calvin... this is bad. We've misled millions of people into thinking we can help the world.

CALVIN: No we haven't... heh heh.

SHIN: Calvin... you feeling okay?

CALVIN: Heh... sorry Shin, just coming off a wave of the giggles. No guys, we haven't misled anyone.

FRANK: Uh... Earth to Calvin... did you not see what we just saw?

CALVIN: We haven't misled. We said something, and now people want us to help the world. We won't be misleading anyone... if we do it.

MATT: Do what?

CALVIN: Heh heh... I thought the universe was telling me not to. I nearly drove myself crazy, I was this close to giving up... but no. I was right from the beginning. I was right all along. We were given these powers... to become actual superheroes.

FRANK: Uh, no. No, no, no. We specifically said we wouldn't do that, that we'd just go with the flow.

Calvin points to the screens.

CALVIN: That's the flow right there! We take things as they come, huh? Well, you know what just came?! A call to adventure! This isn't us choosing to put ourselves out there, we're already out there! What we have to choose now, is to stick to that or leave.

JANE: ...holy shit. Human Torch is right.

Matt, Shin, and Frank look at Jane like she's lost it.

SHIN: You're... you're agreeing with Calvin?! About us being superheroes?!

JANE: We said we wanted a better life. And now here's a pathway to it. An actual fucking pathway! If we lead by example... we can create a better life. For us and for so many others. I'm not saying we'll storm the White House and kill the President... but if we can inspire people to rebel, to resist... maybe we actually can change the world.

FRANK: Jane, you sound delusional.

JANE: No... for the first time in a long time, I think... I think I just have... oh my god, I have hope. I actually have hope.

A tear starts to form in Jane's eye.

JANE: And we made it happen. We can... we can make things better. We can actually make things better.

She wipes the tear away.

JANE: Gah, sorry. Got emotional there for a second.

SHIN: Jane, that's... that's great! I'm glad you're embracing a form of optimism.

JANE: You should too, Shin. All of you should. Didn't we say we wouldn't let the negative thoughts win? Didn't we say we decide our future? We can get rid of all the bullshit and the negativity, right fucking now. We can just... embrace this! Why the hell not?!

MATT: Jane... we can't lead a global movement. It's too big. It's beyond us.

JANE: No, that's what Calvin's saying! It's not beyond us, it is us! People are already believing what we're saying. All we have to do is... keep saying more! Keep doing more good. We can do this!

MATT: No. I'm sorry, but... no. That's absurd. We're in way over our heads. Maybe if we had the F.E.D.S. to help us, but-

FRANK: I'm with Matt. We can't do this.

CALVIN: You all need to believe in yourselves. Believe in the possibility of what we can accomplish. The sky's the limit!

JANE: Yeah!

SHIN: I... I'm not sure. I want to believe it but... I just don't know.

MATT: Okay, so we're tied 2 to 2, with Shin on the fence. So... nothing's changing. Which is what I wanted anyway.

SHIN: This is a group effort, Matt. We only do things if we all agree on it. At the same time, however, if 2 of us really want to try something and the rest aren't opposed to them trying... then I think they should.

FRANK: Shin, hold on-

SHIN: There's nothing wrong with them going through with this. What's the worst that can happen? The accidental movement we started shuts down, and we're back to where we started. We can't make things worse for ourselves by doing this.

FRANK: ...I guess.

MATT: Y'all are acting foolish is all I'm saying... but whatever. You want to try this out, be my guest.

Calvin looks at Jane.

CALVIN: Guess we'll be spending a bit of time together, huh?

Jane looks... not annoyed. Somewhat happy, in fact.

JANE: Yeah... guess we will be.

HENRY: (on recording) Attention, Idiots! You have forced our hand! You have not responded to any of our private messages, so we are now forced to make this public.

Jane and Calvin are in the garage, with bandanas covering their faces again. A voice recorder and a camcorder are both laid out in front of them; they are filming. After Henry's part of the recording stops, Calvin and Jane use their abilities to create something equivalent to a "laser light show" as Casey's recording comes in.

*Instrumental solo

CASEY: (on recording) You were given an opportunity to help us save the world. Instead of accepting, you discarded the offer. I don't know what you think the world's supposed to be like, but you all need to grow the hell up. You think fighting gangs and saving people from burning buildings is really making a difference? A real difference? The only way to make things better is our way. The sooner you accept that, the easier it'll be on you. If not, we'll continue hunting you, and one day we will find you.

Jane walks up to the camera.

JANE: I'm not growing up, I'm just burning out! And I stepped in line, to walk amongst the dead.

The final part of the recording plays as Calvin walks up to the camera.

HENRY: (on recording) We once again apologize to the residents of Oakland for the interruption. This message will be broadcast every hour until the fucking Idiots grow up and do the right thing. If they still don't... well, they'll regret it, that's for sure.

CALVIN: I'm not growing up, I'm just burning out! And I stepped in line, to walk amongst the dead.

Suddenly, both of their right... and left hands glow green. And they propel themselves into the air! Jane and Calvin speak simultaneously.

JANE: DEAAAAAD!!!
CALVIN: DEAAAAAD!!!

They then will themselves lower to the ground, and start their "laser light show again." It looks really cool. Right as it ends...

JANE: You heard our Burnout, loud and clear. We'll be back with more words soon.

CALVIN: In the meantime, ask yourselves... are you feeling this way too? And if so... are you going to do something about it?

Calvin walks over and shuts off the camcorder.

FRANK: Well, well, well, our little movie stars are back.

CALVIN: Shut up, Frank.

Jane and Calvin have re-entered the main room, where the other 3 are in, sitting on the couches. Calvin's holding the camcorder and Jane, the voice recorder.

MATT: Hey! I didn't say you could borrow that!

CALVIN: How else are we gonna get our message out there?

MATT: Some other way, dude. Don't take my stuff without asking!

Matt snatches the camcorder out of Calvin's hand, and the voice recorder out of Jane's.

JANE: How are we gonna upload that now?! Dude, come on.

Shin gets up and walks in the middle of them.

SHIN: Okay, okay. No need for another fight. Jane, Calvin, can you not take other people's stuff without asking?

Calvin and Jane are silent for a second. Then:

CALVIN: Sure.
JANE: Right, sorry.

SHIN: And Matt... you weren't using the camcorder. In fact, I've never seen you use it. Would it be okay for Calvin and Jane to use it?

Matt also thinks for a second.

MATT: I suppose... but ask, next time. Every time.

SHIN: They will! They just agreed to.

MATT: ...okay, sorry. But again, I don't want any part in this. Upload it online yourselves.

CALVIN: I will, thank you very much.

There's an awkward, tense silence in the air. Shin ultimately breaks it.

SHIN: Okay, this is all going to be fine, right? Calvin and Jane are just doing... a little side-project.

JANE: Side-project?!

SHIN: A side-project that means a lot to them, and a lot of people. But a side-project in terms of what we're all doing.

JANE: And what are we "all doing?"

SHIN: ...taking things as they come. Still doing good. Just... small-scale. In Oakland.

MATT: Why are we limiting ourselves to Oakland? If I fiddle around with the teleporter, maybe I can find out how to get to the other hideouts. See the state they're in. That would definitely help us stay one step ahead of the F.E.D.S.

FRANK: I don't want to have to move all the time. I'm tired of that.

MATT: Only if the F.E.D.S. find us. I suggest we all pack essential "go-bags."

SHIN: Okay, okay, how about we just... Matt, that's a valid idea, but before we discuss it further... can we re-orient ourselves? We're all good, right?

FRANK: Yeah, I'm good!

JANE: So am I.

MATT: As am I.

CALVIN: Me too.

SHIN: Okay, great. We're all good, and Calvin and Jane are doing their thing on the side.

MATT: And we won't take things without permission.

CALVIN: And we'll allow each other to borrow things if we do ask.

JANE: And we don't lie.

Everyone stares at Jane for a moment.

JANE: I brought it up the other day and we all agreed, remember? We'll all try not to lie.

SHIN: It's a good idea. Sure. Let's all do our best... not to lie.

FRANK: Right. No lies, from here on out...

Chapter Text

One of My Lies is on the album "Kerplunk" from 1992. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

Before we begin, I just wanted to say: I am not Palestinian.
There are a variety of characters in this series of different racial and ethnic backgrounds; I do not personally embody all of them.
I do not claim to speak for experiences that aren't my own.
Just like with all the other characters, the Palestinian perspective I present in this story is not reflective of all Palestinian perspectives.
If I could have a Palestinian tell this chapter I would. But I don't know any personally.
The reason that I am including a Palestinian character, just as I have included other characters, is for representation and perspective.
It is my personal belief that diverse perspectives enrich stories and enrich life.
The politics I include in this story are usually consistent with Green Day's own views and public statements. With that said:

Down with Netanyahu. Down with Hamas. Ceasefire Now.

I promise this won't happen around the start of every volume but...

2 weeks later...

Saturday May 17, 2025

*Guitar

ALEX'S MOM: asrie min fadlika!

<Translation: Hurry up, please!>

ALEX: yatamasaku!

<Translation: Hold on!>

Meet Alex. He's a 19 year-old Palestinian-American living in Tenderloin, San Francisco. Life has never been easy, but in the last year and a half it's been extraordinarily difficult and complicated. Not only has Alex's community been suffering as a result of the war in Gaza, but Alex came out as queer to his family, and also started community college in Oakland. Although most of his family is pretty accepting of him as LGBTQ, the majority of the Palestinian-American population in San Fran would not be, so he isn't out to the world. College has also made things difficult, as there is a long commute, and between being away for most of the day and his studies, he hasn't had a lot of time to help with his familial responsibilities. His grandparents, who live at home with his family, seem to be more upset at that than his sexual identity. Alex doesn't know if that means they're getting more progressive, or if they just really think he's disrespecting the family by not helping out enough. Whatever.

Alex is also secretly a stoner. His family does not know this. They have often seen him come home with red eyes, but never in their wildest dreams would they think Alex smoked pot, so they've often dismissed or ignored it. Right now, he is pretty baked. Ever since coming out, his family doesn't often invade his room... Alex thinks that they fear they might find gay porn or something. But it conveniently allows him to hide his weed in his nightstand drawer. His bedroom has a window that he usually smokes out of. Sometimes however, if he smokes a lot, the smoke and the smell can linger. That is the case right now. And it's really bad timing. Today is a Bay Area protest for Palestine (Nakba Remembrance Day was 2 days ago). His family wants to get there early (really early)... but first he needs to quickly get rid of the weed smoke and smell.

Why did he smoke right before this, you might be asking? Simple. Alex does not want to go to this protest. At all. It's not that he doesn't care about what's going on in Palestine... quite the contrary, actually. All this protest will do is remind him that they aren't making a difference by marching in the street. Netanyahu is still bombing Gaza. He gets the appeal; he gets that it's good for the community to come together. But it doesn't change the facts. If they think that affects the facts, well, then those aren't facts. They're lies. And Alex has a lot of experience with lies.

ALEX: eindama kunt 'asghar sina, kunt 'aetaqid 'ana alealam yadur hawli.

<Translation: When I was younger, I thought that the world circled around me.>

Tuesday September 11, 2012

Alex's father is reading an article on a computer aloud to a much, much younger Alex, his mom, his grandparents, and his siblings.

ALEX'S DAD: "Mr. Abbas initially welcomed the protests when they started to pop up last week, equating them with the Arab Spring and pinning the blame firmly on Israel for the economic turbulence. But if the movement develops, it could undermine his own position, with the veteran leader having little to show for his policy of seeking a negotiated peace settlement with Israel. When the Arab Spring first rippled across the Middle East last year, the Palestinian Territories remained quiet. Locals said there was no appetite for fresh confrontation after decades of mainly fruitless rebellion against Israel. Tensions have risen over the summer months, with Palestinians angry at continued deep schisms within their own political class, and frustrated at the soaring cost of living."

ALEX: ma hu "Arab Spring"?

ALEX'S MOM: aibnu, remember us talking about practicing our English?

ALEX: ...sorry. What... is "Arab Spring"?

ALEX'S DAD: The Arab Spring is... well, a lot of people like us want their countries, their homes, to be better. And in many places, it has worked. Now, it seems the Arab Spring movement has spread to Palestine.

ALEX: So, our home will be better?

ALEX'S MOM: Alex. You have to remember, America is our home.

ALEX: But... Palestine is our real home?

ALEX'S MOM: Not our "real" home, more like... our old home. We have a lot of love for it, and care about it, and we do want it to be better. But your father and I sacrificed a lot to come here. To give you and your siblings a chance at a bright future, out from under the thumb of... those who wish to tear us down. America is going to be great for you.

ALEX: Will the Arab Spring come to America?

Alex's parents and grandparents laugh at this.

ALEX'S GRANDMOTHER: hafid, did they tell you earlier in school what day it is today?

Alex shakes his head no.

ALEX'S GRANDMOTHER: Today is... the American government calls it Patriot Day. Something bad happened 11 years ago on this day, before you were even born. And because of it... a lot of people don't like us.

ALEX: Because of the bad thing? But... did we do the bad thing?

ALEX'S GRANDMOTHER: Not us, no.

ALEX: So... why do people not like us?

ALEX'S GRANDFATHER: They are... misinformed. Wrong. They think anyone who looks like us is the enemy. To them, it doesn't matter if we come from Iraq, or Saudi Arabia, or Palestine.

ALEX: But... that's not fair!

ALEX'S GRANDFATHER: Life's not fair, kid, get used to it.

Alex thinks for a second.

ALEX: Well... they're stupid, then!

Alex's mom laughs dryly.

ALEX'S MOM: Yes... yes, I suppose they are.

ALEX: The Arab Spring is in Palestine. Our... old home will be better. So... who cares what they think? We know the truth. We know everything is going to be better.

ALEX'S DAD: In Palestine, maybe. I hope so. But for us here in America...

ALEX: Palestine will be better. And then they'll see. They'll see we are better. They'll see we aren't bad.

Alex's parents and grandparents look at each other, wondering what to do about a young child's naive optimism. Do they let it grow, allow him to live happily? Or do they properly prepare him for the world? Why, they think, do they even have to be put into this position at all? Well... because life's not fair.

Saturday May 17, 2025

ALEX: walakin mae murur alwaqti, 'adrakt 'anani kunt mukhtian jidan.

<Translation: But in time, I realized I was so wrong.>

That was the first lie. That the world was what he thought it was when he was 6. That he could control it, mold it. That he could make it revolve around him like he was the Sun. But as he grew older-

ALEX'S MOM: daena nadhhab!

Alex's mom knocks on the door, snapping Alex out of his flashback. Shit, he hasn't gotten rid of the smell or smoke.

ALEX'S MOM: ma hadhih alraayihatu?

<Translation: What is that smell?>

Shit.

ALEX: la shi!

<Translation: Nothing!>

Shit. Shitshitshit.

ALEX'S MOM: ana qadim!

<Translation: I'm coming in!>

Although Alex's family members knock... Alex's door doesn't have a lock. His mom opens the door and the smoke hits her.

ALEX'S MOM: hal hadha... marijwana?!

I don't think you need a translation for that one.

ALEX: ...mama-

ALEX'S MOM: la! la 'urid samae dhalika! hal tafeal hadha alana? qabl alaihtijaj mbashrtan?

<Translation: No! I don't want to hear it! You do this now? Right before the protest?>

ALEX: la 'urid aldhahab 'iilaa alaihtijaji!

<Translation: I don't want to go to the protest!>

ALEX'S MOM: ...hasana, la tadhhabi.

<Translation: ...okay, don't go.>

His mom leaves the room without another word. Her saying "okay, don't go" is essentially code for "I don't want you there." This is a very important event for Alex's family and his people. And his own mother doesn't want him there anymore. He didn't even know that was possible; he thought he'd be forced to go! This... this is so much worse.

ALEX'S GRANDMOTHER: (from far off) 'ayn hu?

<Translation: Where is he?>

ALEX'S MOM: (from far off) 'iinah lan yatia.

<Translation: He isn't coming.>

Tears well up in his eyes. He thought being gay would be what got his family to hate him. But no. It's this. They'll think he's beyond disrespectful; that he's a criminal, that he's corrupted, that he's perverse. And now that his mom knows, she'll tell the rest of his family eventually so... it's done.

*Drums

It was so much easier when he was a kid. Everything he thought to be definitively, eternally true... hell, they're like a dream now. A dream in this bleak world.

ALEX: My immortal thoughts turned into just dreams, of a dead future.

He thinks in English when he's really upset. He doesn't know why that is. Maybe he's so distraught that he's denying his own reality, his own heritage.

ALEX: It was a tragic case of my reality, yeah...

He's a monster in 3 different ways. The world hates him because he's Palestinian. His people hate him because he's queer. And his family hates him because he's a pothead.

He might also be a monster in a 4th way... the way that makes him hate, or fear, himself. Yeah, the high has definitely worn off.

See, usually Alex is of a... more uplifting demeanor. He's funny, even silly at times... but this has been quite the day, and it's not even halfway over. On days like this... Alex gets a little more serious. Jaded. Angry. And he hates that about himself because it perpetuates a stereotype, that of the "angry Arab." He hates that stereotype. All humans, regardless of race or creed, can get angry. Alex knows that the more trauma you have, the angrier you become. Because it's harder to heal from that much. Maybe that's how the stereotype came about? Because Arabic people seem to have more trauma than the average person? He's not the "angry Arab." He's angry, because he's Arab, because he's Palestinian, because of what's fucking happening. Who the fuck wouldn't be angry in his position?!

No. He won't give into it today, he won't. He won't get angry, he tells himself. Alex is at Port View Park now, in West Oakland. He took a cab there after his family left for the protest. He often comes here to be alone, to just... look at the water. Nobody's there right now; he's all alone. So, he's able to let out a cathartic scream and-

ALEX: YAHHHHHHH!!!!!

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

-shoot out a couple lasers. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention? Alex has superpowers.

It scares him. He doesn't know how it even happened. One day the sky just turned green and... he could now just... do things. Things he could never do before. The world may hate him for being Palestinian, his people may hate him for being queer, his family may hate him for being a stoner... but the worst is that he hates himself, for being some... kind of freak. And when he was younger he used to think he was hot shit.

ALEX: Ha... do you think, you're indestructible, and no one can touch you?

He's speaking out loud now. Again, nobody's around. He's talking to himself, his past self.

ALEX: Well, I think... you're disposable, and it's time you knew the truth...

The truth being that it was a lie.

ALEX: 'Cuz it's just one of my lies!

One of his many lies.

ALEX: Well, it's just one of my lies!

And all he wants to do now is-

ALEX: And all I wanna do is get real high...

Yeah. Good plan. Accept the lie, move on. Just get high, it helps with the anger.

ALEX: Well, it's just one of my lies...

Alex has now gone to a nearby warehouse on 7th Street. It's a spot where lots of local teens/young adults often go to get high on the weekends. There's about... 15 other people there. Alex suspects some of them actually just live here. Maybe all of them! Alex smokes a blunt.

ALEX: From the river to the sea-!

He cries out in support of Palestine, not caring if the others hear him.

STRANGER: Marijuana will soon be free!

ALEX: What?

Alex turns around. One of the other individuals there has attempted to finish his quote... and totally got it wrong.

STRANGER: Isn't that how it goes?

ALEX: Wha... no! No, that's not how it goes, the fuck?! It's-

STRANGER: But we all want marijuana to be free, right?

Alex says nothing at first. He can't tell if this guy is an idiot or if he's telling an elaborate joke. Whether or not it's the latter, Alex then starts to laugh. The stranger then does as well.

ALEX: A ha... heh... man, do you really not know the correct chant?

STRANGER: Educate me!

ALEX: ...do you know what today is?

STRANGER: Saturday!

ALEX: No, the day.

STRANGER: Yeah, Saturday.

ALEX: No! It's... today is Nakba Remembrance Day. Well, actually wait no, that was Thursday. But today there's a protest for it.

STRANGER: What's Nakba Remembrance Day?

ALEX: The Nakba was when my people, the Palestinian people, were forced off our land to make room for the creation of the State of Israel.

STRANGER: ...oh. That's... that's heavy, man, I'm sorry.

ALEX: Ah, it's alright, it's... just life, you know?

The stranger doesn't say anything. He doesn't know how to respond.

ALEX: The Nakba. The worst thing to happen to my people. And the best thing to happen to the Jewish people.

STRANGER: The Israeli people.

ALEX: ...huh?

STRANGER: Not all Jews are Israeli, or even like Israel.

ALEX: ...you're right, I misspoke. But that's exactly what I was getting at. It's all perspective. You know the phrase, "Know Your Enemy"?

STRANGER: ...yes, I've heard it before.

ALEX: Well, I've been thinking recently on the perspective of the Jews, as well as I can, anyway. This war... the reason so many Jews and Israelis support this war I think, is because to them, it's about defending their homeland. I get it, I really do. They didn't have a home for what, thousands of years, and then the Nazis got 'em good. So, getting a protected land was a miracle... and they took their miracle. But for nearly 80 years, having Israel has been a crutch for them... or, more like a lifeline. Because they think "if the Holocaust happened once, it could definitely happen again." And that's fair, fascism's always on the rise, it seems. So yeah, I get why they are the way they are. Generational trauma and fear. It's not the way I think people should live; I think living out of fear will only lead to bad things for yourself... but it doesn't matter what I think. I can't change any of this... do you get what I'm saying at all?

STRANGER: Uhh...  yeah. I think.

ALEX: Sorry, I guess I have more to say about this than I thought. But yeah, everyone's the hero of their own story. There's two possible reasons I can think of for why they support this war. Because it's not about October 7th, that's bullshit. There are what, 50 hostages left? And most of them are probably already dead... and it's crazy to want to go to war for like a couple people. So no, it's not about the hostages. Or revenge. Maybe it is for Netanyahu, but for most Jews and Israelis I'm sure... that it's about Israel, it's about their lifeline. There's two possible reasons. One: to them, we're the ones trying to take their lifeline away. Because they're a small country, and they barely got it in the first place. But they're so fearful they don't even see... that we're smaller. We're so much smaller. They won't lose Israel; not to us, anyway. The other possible reason is self-absorption. They're greedy, they don't want to share what it took them so long to get, or they insanely think Hamas is a threat large enough to justify all the IDF's actions. And for either reason, the thing that helps is that they don't see us as "important enough" to matter. They don't see us as human... but it's not just bigotry. Bigotry alone doesn't lead to a war of this scale... it's again, that not seeing us as human allows them to feel okay about defending Israel. Because if they think too hard about it, if they stop the delusion... they might not be able to justify their position to themselves. Because they'll realize that tens of thousands of men, women, and children have been slaughtered. And that doesn't make you the hero.

STRANGER: ...wow. You seem really... tuned in to their perspective.

ALEX: Gotta understand your opponent, right? Know Your Enemy... want me to do MAGA next?

STRANGER: Got it. Know your opponent. Then, you can empathize with them, and come to an understanding-

ALEX: What? No! Know your opponent in order to defeat them! There's no coming to a fucking understanding.

STRANGER: But... didn't you just say some of them are only acting out of fear, instead of greed?

ALEX: I don't give a flying fuck! Tens of thousands of my people are fucking dead! You don't get to be empathized with when you have that much blood on your hands, it's too late.

STRANGER: But wouldn't empathizing with them bring about a more... peaceful resolution? Less bloodshed? Maybe it could even change some of their minds!

ALEX: Empathy is a kindness they don't deserve. "Changing their minds" won't work, they're too dug in.

STRANGER: I don't think all of them are...

ALEX: Even if so, they don't deserve empathy. Again, I'm only understanding them in order to fight them more effectively.

STRANGER: Then how does that make you any different from them?

Alex pauses. He stands up and tosses his blunt to the ground. So much for not getting angry.

ALEX: I'm sorry, the fuck did you just say to me?! Did you just compare me to those genocidal-enabling pricks?!

The stranger stands up as well.

STRANGER: Isn't calling them "genocidal-enabling pricks" just using their own tactics against them? Dehumanizing them?

ALEX: Exactly! Their own tactics against them!

STRANGER: But why use their tactics if they're so awful?

ALEX: You have to do the most effective thing you can to win.

STRANGER: Even if you lose the moral high ground? If it's just about winning... you're not justified.

ALEX: Not justi... bitch, I don't care! Tens of thousands... women and children... are you fucking kidding me?! I have to justify my side in the face of this massacre?! You white people are too much, man.

STRANGER: I... okay, I'm sorry. That's fair. You're definitely the victim, you don't need to justify your side right now.

ALEX: Do not. Call me a victim.

STRANGER: I meant the victim in this unjust war. "Victim" isn't derogatory, it's descriptive. Unfortunate, perhaps, but denying that it is is just delusion. A lie.

A lie. Alex laughs derisively.

ALEX: HAHAHAHAHA!

STRANGER: What's so funny?

ALEX: ...you wouldn't get it, white boy. You don't know lies the way I do.

STRANGER: ...you'd be surprised. I've told people many lies; I've told myself many lies.

ALEX: Yeah, but my lies... my lies just hit different.

STRANGER: What, are you just really creative?

ALEX: My lies aren't only lies I've invented. They're lies I've found in life, lies I now know to be true.

STRANGER: A lie can't be true.

ALEX: Oh yeah? Try this on for size: the world is fair.

STRANGER: ...what?

ALEX: Go on, say the world is fair.

STRANGER: But... it's not.

ALEX: Exactly. Saying that it's fair is a lie. And thus, a true statement, because it's true that the world's not fair. Get it?

STRANGER: ...kinda.

ALEX: It's a lie I said, but it comes from a lie I found. Nearly all the lies I say are ones I've found through experience. So yeah, "the world is fair" is just One of My Lies. Because it's not fair. The war in Gaza is proof of that... god, to think I came here because I was moping about my own life. It's so small in comparison.

Alex pauses for a moment. He usually doesn't reveal his innermost thoughts aloud to anyone, but... this has been an interesting, though somewhat frustrating, conversation with this strange dude. So, what the hell?

ALEX: Why does my life have to be so small, and death is forever?

It's unfair... but yeah, life's not fair. At least he has a life.

ALEX: And does forever have a life to call its own?

STRANGER: Wow. You know, I'm a writer, and that was pretty deep. I'd say-

Maybe it's because he's high, and has had quite a taxing day... or maybe it's out of annoyance with this guy. Whatever, fuck it. Alex shoots three lasers at the wall.

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

The blasts startle everyone else, and all but the stranger and Alex quickly run out of the warehouse.

STRANGER: No way...

But Alex is still focused on the stranger trying to talk to him about his own thoughts.

ALEX: Don't give me an answer, 'cuz you only know as much as I know!

The stranger is astonished. Alex acts as if the stranger was paying attention to what he said.

ALEX: Unless you've been there once... well, I hardly think so.

STRANGER: Dude. You have superpowers.

ALEX: Uh, yeah. I know. What're you gonna do about it?

STRANGER: Wha- nothing! Well... actually, would you like to come with me?

ALEX: Come with... bitch I don't know you! I don't even know your name!

FRANK: Frank. My name's Frank. And, uh...

Frank makes his fist glow green. Now it's Alex's turn to be astonished. Another like him. He thought he was a monster... more importantly, he thought he was alone.

FRANK: ...I think you should reconsider.

At Oakland HQ, Calvin has the radio on. It's playing "Melinda" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

CALVIN: Man, whoever this is on the piano is fuckin killing it.

JANE: WHO THE FUCK IS THAT?!

Calvin, along with Matt and Shin, turn to see what Jane's talking about. Frank and Alex have entered the room. Jane, Calvin, Matt, and Shin all stare in shock. Their mouths are open. Calvin slowly reaches over and turns off the radio.

FRANK: This is... uh, what's your name, dude?

JANE: YOU DON'T KNOW THIS GUY'S NAME?!

ALEX: marhaba!

<Translation: Hello!>

ALEX: My name is Alex. And uh... Frank said you guys have superpowers?

JANE: FRANK I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!!

MATT: You brought a stranger into our home?!

ALEX: Woahhhhh big guy, relax. I just mean... I, uh, have superpowers too.

Suddenly, a sword made purely out of green... light, appears in Alex's right, now glowing, hand.

CALVIN: Holy fuck!

SHIN: Woah... how the heck did you do that?!

ALEX: What, make a sword? Oh, I messed around with this green thing I have right when I got it. I can make all kinds of objects out of it.

CALVIN: So, you're Green Lantern now? We're all Green Lanterns?

JANE: Hey! No DC talk in here!

MATT: None of us can construct... objects. Well, I guess we haven't tried but... that is fascinating. Purely fascinating.

ALEX: (grins) Well thanks, I think you're pretty fascinating too.

Matt blushes.

MATT: Wha... what?

ALEX: Frank told me you made a force-field thing? I'd call that "constructing an object."

JANE: Frank, you weren't even there for that! Also, FRANK YOU LET A STRANGER INTO OUR HOME?!

FRANK: He's like us! He has powers!

JANE: I don't care if he's your long-lost twin brother! You can't just... bring someone here, even if it is... someone like us! He knows where we live! He... he could tell the F.E.D.S.!

ALEX: The who?

FRANK: I didn't tell him everything, just mainly about our powers and stuff. But, uh, if you wanna clue him in-

MATT: Frank... no offense to, uh, Alex, was it? But Jane's right, he's a stranger. You should have consulted us, we all should have talked about this, before you unilaterally decided to bring him here.

JANE: Let's add another rule. No taking things without permission, no lying, and no singlehandedly making big decisions that affect the whole group!

ALEX: No lying? Ah, well, I don't know if I'll fit in here then.

Jane eyes him carefully.

JANE: The fuck does that mean? You a pathological liar or something?

ALEX: No, just... it's a lot to explain, never mind.

JANE: Well you better fucking explain it then.

ALEX: Why? You're instituting a rule for... you guys, and I'm not one of you. I don't have to do what you say.

CALVIN: Well, uh... you could be one of us! If you have superpowers...

SHIN: Okay, hang on. I think we all reallyyyyy need to discuss this.

ALEX: What's with all the secrecy? You guys outlaws or something?

CALVIN: ...what did you just say?

ALEX: I asked if you're all outlaws, or something.

CALVIN: ...woah.

ALEX: What?

CALVIN: Just... my best friend and I used to call each other that. Outlaws.

JANE: That's a common fucking word, Calvin.

CALVIN: Uh, no it's not! It's Western-y. It's specific. How often do you use the word "outlaw"?

JANE: (annoyed) Why does this matter?

CALVIN: Just... I think that's a good sign.

JANE: Oh come on! He happened to say a word you know and now you think he's on the level?

ALEX: Are you all on the level? Again, what's with all the secrecy? What is up with you guys?

MATT: I... I think he's gonna figure it out soon so... I don't see the harm in straight-up telling him.

JANE: What?! Matt, have you gone insane?! We all need to talk about this!

MATT: Calvin and Frank are cool with it, so that's a majority already.

SHIN: I'm also willing to give him the benefit of the doubt... he's not one of the F.E.D.S. He's a teen, like us.

MATT: Jane and I are 20.

SHIN: Close enough!

Jane takes a moment. She's not winning this fight, there's nothing she can do.

JANE: Just... just... leave me out of this then, fuck!

Jane storms off down a hallway.

ALEX: Woah, she got an anger issue or something?

FRANK: Like you don't?

Alex immediately takes offense.

ALEX: Woah, fuckface! You don't even know me!

FRANK: See?

ALEX: ...okay, fair point. Alright, so what's up? What's the deal here?

MATT: We're... have you heard of the "Green Heroes"? Or green vigilantes?

Now it's time for Alex's jaw to drop. Of course he's heard of them. He now curses himself for not putting two-and-two together much earlier. Actually, three-and-three together, because he never thought about how the Green Heroes' abilities are so much like his own... honestly, he doesn't know how he didn't get that one much earlier. That was so obvious! So... he's not a freak. He's... a superhero?! Well... the Green Heroes aren't actual heroes... oh hold the phone, he's right in front of them. He can say this right to their faces. Alex closes his mouth and glares at them.

ALEX: Ah... the heroes of social media, the ones who will "save us all." It's you. I knew you were based in Oakland but... I never thought I'd get to meet you. And get to say this to your faces.

MATT: Say what?

Alex repeats what he said to himself earlier, now with a different meaning.

ALEX: ...do you think, you're indestructible, and no one can touch you?

They definitely think so. But...

ALEX: Well, I think... you're disposable, and it's time you knew the truth!

SHIN: What... what truth?

ALEX: (grins) 'cuz it's just one of my lies!

MATT: One of your... what?

Alex repeats himself.

ALEX: Well, it's just one of my lies!

FRANK: Long story, but basically this guy thinks "lies" are actually the facts of the world. Like, the lie that the world is fair. So, I'm guessing he means us... or rather, Jane and Calvin, acting like they're "superheroes" is bullshit, because they're not really heroes.

ALEX: Ding ding ding! They're social media hacks. Them saying they can "save us" is one of their own great lies. And now, it's one of mine; I collect them... (sighs) and frankly, it's exhausting, seeing you guys peddle this crap. Enough of it. I'm exhausted. And all I wanna do is get real high.

FRANK: I can help with that.

CALVIN: Hang on a second! Dude, I thought you were cool, but what the fuck?! We're not "peddling" anything! We are trying to help the world!

ALEX: By posting on Instagram? Greatttt job, you've done so much good! Ha! Well, it's just one of my lies!

Alex steels himself. A memory comes over him.

ALEX: You know, I used to pray at night, before I laid myself down. My mother said it was right, her mother said it too... why?!

*Guitar

SHIN: What... what does that have to do with anything?

ALEX: Praying, religion, belief, is just another one of my lies now. If I don't believe in Allah anymore then I sure as shit don't believe in you fools.

CALVIN: I don't fucking care if you believe in us! ...I change my mind, I don't want this guy here. I'm with Jane... like I should've been the whole time.

ALEX: I mean, again, if you were actually making a difference, that'd be one thing.

CALVIN: Okay asshole, how? How exactly would you like us to make a difference? We saved people from a burning building once, you know. Is that not making enough of a difference?

ALEX: No, that's good, but... bitch, you have superpowers! And you're anonymous, and you have reach, you... you can do something... huge!

CALVIN: Oh yeah, like what?

Alex thinks for a moment.

ALEX: You guys should...

You guys should pull a Luigi Mangione!

SHIN: I'm sorry, WHAT?!

Chapter Text

Fashion Victim is on the album "Warning" from 2000. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

ALEX: Apparently, something more controversial than the war in Gaza is the assassination of a CEO. Tens of thousands of dead Palestinians? "Oh, that's just how the world is." A dead fat cat? Everyone loses their fucking minds!

CALVIN: That's the Joker. You're literally just paraphrasing from The Dark Knight.

FRANK: (playfully) Don't let Janeeee hear you, she doesn't like DC references.

ALEX: Well, he was partially corect! "Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos." It's the only thing that gets people to pay attention. It's the only way to truly "change the world."

MATT: You don't have to commit murder to change the world.

ALEX: I'm... I'm sorry, "murder?" You think I'm about committing "murder"? I'm about justice. There's a difference.

CALVIN: There's really not.

ALEX: Oh reallyyyyyy? Is that how you see the world? If that's the case, you need to be educated.

CALVIN: Ah, well, pardon me, teach, but none of us here are fans of school.

SHIN: Ahem!

CALVIN: One of us here is a fan of school. But it's not exactly my idea of fun.

ALEX: Me neither... you know the best part about school for me? Field trips. You get to do something exciting, go somewhere new... and sometimes you still learn a thing or two. Anyone up for a field trip?

SHIN: What are you talking about?

ALEX: I live in San Fran. Anyone wanna take a quick drive to my home turf so I can prove you wrong?

MATT: Um... I'm good. I still don't know you, I'm not gonna just get in a car with you.

SHIN: Yeah, uh... you can't just tell us here?

ALEX: It's really better if I show you. Frank?

FRANK: Uh... I'm kind of already in the hot seat for bringing you here... not sure if I should go with you right now. Sorry, man.

CALVIN: That's right. None of us are going with you.

ALEX: Oh come on! If you're so sure you're right... what's the harm? Unless... you're scared of being proven wrong.

SHIN: Oh, I hate that tactic. Nobody's gonna go along with that just to prove-

CALVIN: I'm not scared! Fine, I'll go with you!

SHIN: ....never mind.

ALEX: Excellent! What's your name, dude?

CALVIN: Calvin.

ALEX: Calvin, my man, your whole viewpoint's about to change.

CALVIN: We'll see about that.

Jane, who took the time to calm herself, but still planned to lay the new guy out... re-enters the main room to see him no longer there.

JANE: Where's the new guy?

FRANK: He left with Calvin to go into San Fran.

JANE: What?! Why?

MATT: Alex, that's the guy's name, said he had a point to make, and that it'd be made better "on location."

JANE: And Calvin just... went with him? What the fuck was he thinking?!

SHIN: Is that... concern I hear?

JANE: The fu- yes, it's concern! I care about Calvin just like I care about any of you. But he's being a fucking idiot.

Jane leaves again, this time walking down the hallway that leads to the garage...

*Guitar

Alex and Calvin are sitting in the middle of Mission Dolores Park, observing people. Alex points to a man in a vintage-looking suit walking around. He's a larger man with a long beard. He looks like a hipster.

ALEX: There. Look at him. He's a victim of his own time, in his "vintage suit" and tie.

CALVIN: What do you mean?

ALEX: ...do you know what the word "victim" means?

CALVIN: Yes I know what the fucking word "victim" means. You're saying he's pathetic or something.

ALEX: Absolutely not. "Victim" isn't derogatory, it's just descriptive... unfortunate, though. At least, that's how Frank put it.

CALVIN: Frank said that? Frank? Man... he's been hanging around Shin a lot lately, she must be rubbing off on him.

ALEX: But yeah, he's in an unfortunate position. But it doesn't seem like it, does it? He's probably really happy with that outfit. Even though he can't pull it off... but that's not the point.

CALVIN: Okay, so he doesn't look it, but he's a "victim of his own type."

ALEX: Time.

CALVIN: I thought you said type.

ALEX: Time. Because in these times, the victims don't know they're victims. It truly is the Disinformation Age.

CALVIN: Why are you so sure he's a victim, or that he doesn't know he is one?

ALEX: I'm getting there... you know there's a genocide going on right now?

CALVIN: Yeah, Gaza. I know.

ALEX: Yes, but that's actually not the one I'm talking about.

CALVIN: Right. There's also the Druze in Syria, the muslims in China-

ALEX: Well yeah, those are important too, but I meant the secret genocide. The one happening here. Under your very noses.

CALVIN: Here?

ALEX: My people think we've been decimated... and we have, but we're not alone. You're all going extinct too, just slower. Yet nobody's paying attention to it.

CALVIN: What are you talking about?

ALEX: How many hipsters do you see around here?

Calvin looks around. He actually sees... quite a lot!

CALVIN: There's a bunch of 'em.

ALEX: Righttttt... hipsters. So "unique," right? Except how are they unique if they're all doing the same kind of thing?

Calvin doesn't have a response for that.

ALEX: Just another one of my lies, you'll catch on. Anyway, what actually is unique about him?

CALVIN: The guy? Uh... he has a beard!

ALEX: True. Not all the other hipsters have beards. But do you notice the beard more, or what he's wearing?

CALVIN: What he's wearing.

ALEX: So, when you noticed him, when you "perceived him," you thought "hipster," right? That was your first thought?

CALVIN: ...yeah, I guess.

ALEX: Something that once meant "one of a kind" now means "one of the flock." That's the genocide I'm talking about, the loss of individuality. And so this guy... he's a casualty, dressed to the teeth, in the latest genocide.

Jane is driving around Oakland. She knows better than to try and find Calvin in a huge city like San Francisco, and doesn't want to draw attention anyway. But she's still pissed and needed to get some fresh air. Upon seeing a guy push a girl, who looks upset and is shouting, into an alley, Jane immediately pulls over and hops out of the car, towards the pair.

JANE: Hey! Asshole!

The guy stops and turns around. Upon a closer look... the man is well-dressed, but young-ish, perhaps in his mid-20s. The girl is scantily clad and has a ton of makeup on. Jane realizes that this may be a prostitute and her pimp.

PIMP: Now I know you're not talking to me, Jessica Jones.

JANE: Just because you're a nerd doesn't mean I'll go any easier on you. Let go of the girl.

PIMP: Psh. Or what?

Jane smiles. She's been meaning to take her frustrations out. Her right fist begins to glow green.

PIMP: Ah! You one of them Green Heroes? Funny, I was looking for you guys.

The pimp's right hand begins to glow green as well. Jane is shocked.

PIMP: See, I got them powers too! I was actually on the other end of this profession not too long ago, but now nobody messes with me. But I did want to talk to someone about this.

Jane attempts to put aside her astonishment and focus.

JANE: Sorry, not in the mood for talking, guy. If you know who I am, you know I'm going to hit you now.

PIMP: Too bad. Was looking for some new friends, but also... beating you will help protect my rep, so I guess this is a win anyway.

The guy charges at Jane. She smiles. Despite his glowing fist, he doesn't seem like that huge a threat. He's kind of skinny, like Calvin or Frank. And she's beaten guys in fights before this, so... game on.

CALVIN: I wouldn't call this a "genocide."

ALEX: I'm Palestinian, I think I know what defines one. The one I'm talking about isn't a literal one, true... but it's still serious in its own way. Because this one is global.

CALVIN: ...what does any of this have to do with murdering CEOs?

ALEX: I'm glad you asked! Nowwwww take a look at that guy!

Alex points to a man in a very nice business suit who's speaking on the phone with someone.

ALEX: What brand do you think that is? Armani, perhaps?

CALVIN: I, uh, don't know much about fashion.

Alex gives him a once over.

ALEX: Clearly. Armani's a nice suit brand, basically. At least, it is right now.

CALVIN: Right now?

Alex looks back at the man in the suit.

ALEX: Oh yeah. The new seasons come and go, at the dog and pony show. That's my name for the fashion industry, it's all a circus. A circus that changes acts every few months. And like a dog show, people are gonna sit, and beg, and fetch the names, and follow your dress code.

Alex looks back at Calvin.

ALEX: Not literally "yours," I mean-

CALVIN: Yeah, yeah, I'm a victim of bad fashion, I get it.

Alex now feels a little bad for poking fun.

ALEX: ...well, better a "Fashion Victim" than a fascism victim, right?

Calvin just stares at him.

ALEX: (softly) Sorry, was... trying to be clever.

Alex clears his throat and quickly regains his confidence.

ALEX: As I was saying, for people it's all about the "trends." And they are like dogs in that way; they latch onto the names of brands like they're a chew toy or ball or something. And they all do the same thing, follow the same dress code. But you know, "What's in a name?"

CALVIN: ...Shakespeare reference. Nice.

ALEX: Huh?

CALVIN: Romeo and Juliet. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"?

ALEX: ...I just meant what the fuck's the importance of these brand names, I don't really remember Romeo and Juliet. Well, other than they die for love.

CALVIN: The quote just basically means the specific name of something isn't important; it's more the essence of the thing, the qualities, that matter.

ALEX: Hey! Precisely! The names of the brands don't really matter, but people think they do! It's absurd!

CALVIN: Okay... again, what does this have to do with Luigi Mangione?

ALEX: You don't see it? Huh... this makes more sense in my head. Let me try another example...

As Alex continues his attempt to indoctrinate Calvin, Jane fights the pimp. Alex points to a very skinny woman in a very fashionable dress walking by.

ALEX: Her. She's... She's a scented magazine.

The pimp tries to grab Jane, but her feet glow green as she leaps above him, only to then crash down on top of him. This slightly messes up her jacket, so she quickly fixes it.

ALEX: Looking sharp and living clean.

Jane gets off the pimp and prepares to punch him while he's down.

ALEX: Living well and dressed to kill-

But the pimp suddenly uppercuts her with his glowing fist. It's a hard hit, it instantly bruises her left eye and sends her flying back. Jane takes a second to get back up. She's ready to keep fighting, but-

ALEX: -but she looks like hell to me.

CALVIN: I think she looks great!

ALEX: Really? Take a closer look.

Calvin isn't sure what Alex means, so he does... and notices that the dress looks a little large on her. Or she's just incredibly skinny.

ALEX: SO! When you're dancing through your wardrobe...

Alex does a little dance in jest.

ALEX: ...do the anorex-a Go-Go!

CALVIN: Dude, don't make fun of anorexia.

ALEX: She clearly is, though! I wonder if it's partially because she spends more money on clothes than she does food! Seriously, how nice is that dress?! And how big on her does it look?!

CALVIN: There are unnatural body standards that people try to aspire to. We shouldn't mock them, we should try to educate them if possible.

ALEX: I'm not mocking! I genuinely wonder if she cares more about clothes than food. Because again, what's more important: your own well-being, or how the world perceives you? And their answer is different than ours. Cloaked with style for pedophiles, as your credit card explodes...

CALVIN: What pedophiles are she dressing up for, exactly?

ALEX: Dude. The world is run by pedophiles, do you know who our President is? But it's not just Trump, it's everyone in power. They control the world, they manipulate all the trends, whether it be market or fashion. Because those are becoming the same thing. See, people want groups to fit into. And the ones who control the world are making it so they decide how those groups look. And in doing so, they control the world. Because once you start dressing the same, then you start to think the same, and eventually you lose your individuality. When that happens, once you're just "part of a group," you're easier to control, to manipulate. You spend your money however the rest of the group spends it, and the groups' money all goes into the pockets of the uber-wealthy. We, the 99.9%, lose.

CALVIN: ...and that's why murdering a CEO is okay? Because he's one of the 0.1%?

ALEX: It's not as simple as that. This has been happening to the world for decades now but not enough people have been noticing. The elites have manufactured and fanned the flames of a culture war, when we should really be having a class war. They've raised the price of living to such an extent where people are so busy trying to survive, that they don't even realize they're being manipulated. And those who do have money to spend, spend it on the stupidest shit, like clothes. Well, you auctioned off your life for the "most" expensive price! Going once... going twice... it's gone! We need to get people to see what's really happening.

CALVIN: ...and I'm not trying to question you, but... okay I'm questioning you. You think that's more important than what's happening in Gaza? You, a Palestinian?

ALEX: I never said that, I'm just... a bitter and cynical Palestinian. I think all eyes are on Gaza already. And I think all the eyes are doing are nothing but watching. We, the people, can't influence a stubborn, criminal, foreign government. Not yet, anyway. It'd actually be more feasible to do what I'm suggesting. Getting people to realize that the global struggle is a class war. Because they're not government. We can take them down, hell we can elect our own government to take them down. If we were all united on this, that is. But again... culture wars instead. And putting all our money into the pockets of the powerful.

CALVIN: So... murdering a CEO would get people to notice? That's what you're saying?

ALEX: That's what Luigi's been saying.

CALVIN: But... why murder? Can't you just... protest? Take them down some other way?

ALEX: (laughs) There's no system right now to dispose of these people. And murdering them really draws attention! You've drawn attention already as so-called "heroes"... now imagine if you were the vigilantes some people claim you are, like Luigi is!

CAVIN: There's gotta be a better way, man.

ALEX: I'm sorry, you think Luigi was wrong?

CALVIN: I think the CEO was horrible and deserved to die for abusing people his company provided healthcare for, don't get me wrong. But that's a judgement I'm making internally, not an action I'm actually going to go through with. Because I don't want to murder anyone, I don't want that to... change me. And I don't want to do something irreversible that could have other terrible consequences for me, especially if there's another way I just haven't thought of yet!

ALEX: I've thought through it.

CALVIN: What?

ALEX: I've thought through all of it. You know, I really do care about Gaza. And I used to show it, back when I thought there was something I could do. It took a while, but... eventually I came to the realization that there was nothing I could do, so I stopped showing I cared. This though... Luigi showed a way forward. It's gotten people to notice. A way to actually change things for the better. You know how I said that hipster was "a casualty dressed to the teeth in the latest genocide"? Well the CEO was a living casualty, a walking casualty for others, and he was armed to the teeth in this long-running, yet-to-be-noticed genocide. If there was a way to take out Netanyahu like that, I'd rally and try to get it to happen. If there was a way to take out Hamas like that, I'd-

CALVIN: You're anti-Hamas?

ALEX: We all are. Well, the smart ones are. They're not worse than Israel has been lately, but they're also still actively causing this. Anyway as I was saying, if there was something I could do about the Gaza genocide, I'd do it. But there's something I can try to do about this one. And with your influence as a "Green Hero," you could create real change, or even do it yourself! I could even do it myself with my powers, I just need to find the right target.

CALVIN: If that's how you feel, why haven't you done it already?

ALEX: I've had... other responsibilities.

CALVIN: Weren't you saying this is the most important thing in the world?

ALEX: ...it's been happening for decades, and if I let the same shit continue for a bit so my personal life doesn't become shit too, that's fine with me. Of course, now I've been kicked out of my house...

CALVIN: You were kicked out of your house?

ALEX: I'm not sure. So, I may still have those responsibilities, I may not. But you guys are literally doing nothing with your abilities, or your reach.

CALVIN: That's where you're wrong. We're not going extreme, but we're giving people hope.

ALEX: Like I said before, you've given me another lie.

Calvin doesn't say anything after that, and neither does Alex. They just stare at each other. For some reason, in Calvin's head, the song that was on the radio when Alex came into the base, "Melinda," plays. Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers lets loose on the piano. A solo that's supposed to be about a lovely woman instead now plays as a tense, unspoken clash of opinions.

(If you wanted to hear it, here's the link. The piano solo starts about 2 and a half minutes in.)

The song plays over Jane's fight with the pimp as well. Alright, hey!

Jane shoots a laser at the pimp. Woah-oh-oh!

He dodges it quickly by sliding under it, towards Jane. Woah-oh-oh!

The pimp gets up and tries to grab Jane. Woah-oh-oh!

Jane roundhouse kicks him to the ground. Woah-oh-oh.

The pimp grabs Jane's ankle while on the ground. Woah-oh-oh!

JANE: (snickering) Not that trick again.

Jane kicks the pimp in the face. Woah-oh-oh!

The pimp shoots out his own laser, knocking Jane backwards. Woah-oh-oh!

JANE: Ow... fuck me, you can do that?

PIMP: Honestly, I was just copying you. Woah-oh-oh.

The pimp gets back up. Man, he's scrappy. This is a pretty even fight. Jane and the pimp rush at each other, shouting in anger.

CALVIN: Why were you kicked out of your house?

Alex hesitates.

ALEX: I... I don't want to talk about that right now, it's not important.

CALVIN: I see... well, I do have a home to get back to, so if you wouldn't mind taking me back?

ALEX: (sighs) Alright, I tried.

Alex and Calvin walk back to where they parked their car. Unbeknownst to the other person, each of them are thinking about what Alex said. Calvin's also thinking about that song, but mainly about what Alex said.

ALEX: Well, you auctioned off your life...

CALVIN: Goin' once...

ALEX: For the "most" expensive price...

CALVIN: Twice, it's gone...

ALEX: Going once... going twice... it's gone...

Jane ducks an overhead punch from the pimp, but instantly gets punched in the ribs by his other fist, now glowing as well. Jane elbows the pimp in the face, and they both stumble backward in pain. After a moment, Jane looks back up... and smiles. This is a really great outlet for her. Alright! Right!

Alex and Calvin are driving on the Golden Gate Bridge back to Oakland. Both of them are silently contemplating.

ALEX: What's in a name, hey?

CALVIN: What's in a name, hey?

ALEX/CALVIN: (simultaneously) What's in a name?

A meeting occurs in a darkened room somewhere.

VOICE: We're the Watchmen, and Calvin's the Comedian. He really buys into all this, in a way the rest of us don't. It's kind of inspiring... but also, in a way, frightening.

HENRY: And let me guess, Frank's Rorschach?

VOICE: No, Jane's Rorschach. When she sets her mind on something there's nothing stopping her. She's... got her own issues. Frank's more akin to Nite Owl. You don't notice it right away, because there's a lot that's gone wrong with him, but... he does care. He just struggles.

CASEY: I suppose that makes Shin his Silk Spectre?

VOICE: You're more nerdy than I thought.

CASEY: So are you.

VOICE: I read Watchmen for 11th grade English. Yes, Shin is the only one who remotely resembles a positive viewpoint in this band of misfits.

HENRY: Which leaves Matt as... Ozymandias?

VOICE: No. Actually... there's a new guy. Haven't gotten a proper read on him but... he thinks he knows everything. And is willing to go way too far. Definite Ozymandias vibes. Again, he's new, but for the Watchmen analogy it works.

CASEY: Why are they the Watchmen at all?

VOICE: Because the Watchmen were thought of as heroes, when really, they couldn't do anything special. Except for Doctor Manhattan.

HENRY: Which is... you?

VOICE: Correct. I'm the only one who actually has a chance to change things, to make things better...

CASEY: So... will you? Will you work with us?

VOICE: Yes.

HENRY: Pretty high opinion of yourself, to say you're Doctor Manhattan.

VOICE: And here I thought you knew what you were talking about. Nobody should want to aspire to any of the characters in Watchmen, least of all Doctor Manhattan. But unfortunately, that's me.

CASEY: Why?

MATT: Because Doctor Manhattan knows he's in Hell, and can't do anything to change it.

Chapter Text

Walk Away is on the album "¡Tré!" from 2012. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

JANE: Had enough yet?

Jane and the pimp are still duking it out. Both of them are fairly bruised and tired, and neither seems as though they'll give up anytime soon.

PIMP: (panting) I'm... not... done yet.

JANE: Bring it, bitch boy.

ESCORT: Stop it!!

The girl who was with the pimp suddenly speaks up and gets in the middle of them.

JANE: What?

The escort runs over to her pimp. Jane sits herself down, exhausted.

ESCORT: Are... are you okay? Did she hurt you?

PIMP: What the hell do you think?!

The escort flinches.

ESCORT: Sorry... right.

Now the escort turns to Jane.

ESCORT: Look, miss... I appreciate what you're doing. You're... you're trying to save me, right?

Jane pauses. This isn't something she expected to happen. She's actually not quite sure what is happening.

JANE: ...yes?

ESCORT: Well, you don't need to. I'm totally fine, I'm safe.

JANE: I saw him pushing you into this alley, and you were yelling!

ESCORT: Well yeah, he may be a little rough. But he doesn't hurt me. That's not... in this business the pimps don't hurt the escorts. They want us looking pretty.

JANE: Okay, but... don't you want out of this life? You're really okay with living like this?

ESCORT: What the hell else am I gonna do? I dropped out of high school, and I always knew my greatest "asset" were my huge tits.

JANE: Dropping out of high school shouldn't stop you. I know someone who... well, that's not relevant actually, he doesn't work.

ESCORT: Please just stop beating him up. He actually treats me better than others I've... worked for.

JANE: But... but...

PIMP: Hey skank, you heard the lady. Let's stop this, this clearly will only end with both of us totally fucked up.

JANE: ...no! No, I'm not gonna stop! You're prostituting this poor girl, and-

PIMP: Bitch did you hear a goddamn word she said? She likes this, she likes working with me! Leave us the fuck alone!

Jane is about to say something else, but she stops herself. She realizes that she actually can't do anything here. She... she has to stop. Fuck.

JANE: This time... I've gotta put my guard down.

Jane stands herself up.

JANE: Pick myself up off the ground...

It hurts. It hurts letting this pimp just... walk away. But... she has to. The girl doesn't want her help.

JANE: ...take the pain.

Jane tells herself that this feeling, this hurt will pass.

JANE: It'll pass... the swelling never really lasts...

Jane touches her bruised eye. She tried. Her beat-up body is proof that she at least tried. She still did what... what she thinks she might have been placed on this Earth to do. Help people.

JANE: But the scar remains remind me, that I'm still livin'.

She could ignore the girl. Fight the guy anyway. She's still so angry, the anger is compelling her to keep fighting. But... it's not too late to stop.

JANE: Well it's not too late... oh, it's really not worth the fight.

She still thinks the guy and the girl are in the wrong but... she's not right here either.

JANE: No one's right...

Sigh. Then I guess it's time to-

JANE: Well, it's time to Walk Away, Walk Away.

Jane looks at the pimp and the escort. They're looking back at her, seeing what she's going to do.

JANE: Walk away.

Jane turns and-

JANE: Walk awayyyyyyy-ay-ay-ay-ay. Walk away.

She gets back in her car, but she doesn't turn the engine on. She just sits there. Thinking. It hurts more because she went in so strong. The failure hurts more.

JANE: Well, the bigger that you come, all the harder you're gonna fall. Walk away.

If she hadn't come on that strong, it wouldn't have hurt as much. Huh. Maybe there's something to that.

JANE: Walk Away.

Jane turns the engine on and starts to drive away.

Calvin and Alex re-enter the main room of the Oakland HQ. Matt, Frank, and Shin are all hanging out there and look at them as they enter.

CALVIN: Didn't work. Didn't change my mind.

Shin smiles.

SHIN: Stuck to your principles. Proud of you, man.

ALEX: The principles of maintaining the status quo, and giving people the equivalent of a Hallmark card. "It'll all work out." Nice principles, man.

CALVIN: Oh will you stop already? You're not gonna change my mind, I'm not gonna change yours, just stop.

ALEX: Hm. Yeah, it's hard to argue with people who are dug in.

CALVIN: I am not dug in! If someone presents a good enough argument, I'm open to changing my mind. It's happened before, it just didn't happen with you.

ALEX: See, you say that, and then I present a great argument which you totally shut down.

CALVIN: Did you ever consider it's not a great argument?

ALEX: It is.

CALVIN: Now who's the one that's "dug in?"

ALEX: You wouldn't know a great argument if it bit you in the ass!

MATT: Alright, alright, sheesh. Alex, how about you give us your argument? Just to... end whatever this is.

CALVIN: You don't want the whole argument, Matt. It was long and convoluted.

MATT: The cliffnotes version, then. And then we'll see if it's actually solid.

ALEX: Alright, well... evidently it makes more sense in my head, but I'll try to summarize. The whole world is becoming a joke, and has been for decades... it's one of my lies. People want groups to fit into, so they follow "trends." First it's dressing the same, then it's thinking the same, and pretty soon there are massive groups of identical, non-unique people. And when nobody's speaking up, everybody gets put down. And they're not even realizing they're being put down! If we start to dismantle the oppressors, the oppressed will wake up.

CALVIN: And by "dismantle," he means murder.

ALEX: Again, why are the deaths of tens of thousands of my people okay, but the death of one CEO not okay? There's nothing we can do about a war across the sea, but we can start eliminating problems here at home!

FRANK: Nothing we can do? Weren't you talking to me earlier about fighting Israel?

ALEX: N... no, I meant we need to understand our opponent. In order to fight them better.

FRANK: Okay, so which is it? We can do something about Gaza or we can't?

ALEX: You... don't twist my words, man! You know what I was saying before.

FRANK: Actually, I don't. Not anymore. You were all fired up about fighting the pro-Israel side, and now you've, what, given up?

ALEX: I gave up a while ago. I was... being theoretical when we spoke.

FRANK: You know to me, it sounds like you just want to argue violence. It was only after I suggested a non-violent solution that you got amped up. And then, learning that us "Green Heroes" weren't doing anything active, you argued for an assassination. But none of what you've said is practical. Like you said, there's nothing we can do about Gaza. And what you're failing to see is that there's nothing we can do about the state of the world. It's... it's just too much. We're only kids, man.

A tense silence fills the room. Frank really laid into Alex. After a beat:

ALEX: I just want to argue violence... I'm the "angry Arab," huh?

FRANK: What? No, that's not what I was inferring at-

ALEX: I thought you were cool... but you're worse than this guy.

Alex points to Calvin.

ALEX: At least he was willing to listen and consider. You just shut down everything I say.

FRANK: Well... maybe you should be shut down.

A green sword materializes in Alex's right hand. Frank takes a step back.

ALEX: Say that again. Go on. I dare you.

SHIN: Okay, we clearly need to tone it down a bit. Frank, maybe don't be so overly harsh on our guest. And Alex, um-

ALEX: Are you about to tell me what to do? You? I've barely heard a peep out of you since I got here. Do you have anything significant to say at all?

FRANK: Whoa, dude! You don't know her.

Alex walks towards Frank with his sword. Matt then steps in front of Alex. His right fist begins to glow green.

MATT: Don't even think about it. We all have powers here.

ALEX: Ah... the big man's gonna take me down first, huh? And then you'll all pile on?

CALVIN: What? No, dude, none of us were talking about fighting-

ALEX: The "Green Heroes." Ha! What's heroic about ganging up on a guy, huh?

SHIN: We're not ganging up on you, Alex, we just want to tone down the violence. Frank... shouldn't have said what he said.

FRANK: Hey!

Shin gives Frank a look she's never given him before. A mixture of anger and urgency.

SHIN: Sit. Down.

Frank gulps and promptly sits down on the couch.

SHIN: Alex. Please, calm yourself. Nobody's trying to-

ALEX: DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!

A SECOND sword then materializes in Alex's left hand!

ALEX: You don't have the right! You don't know me! None of you know me!!

Everyone is on their guard now. They have no idea if Alex is going to try to attack any of them.

At that moment, Jane walks in. She hasn't immediately noticed what's happening; she has an unfamiliar look on her face. A look of reflection. Usually she doesn't try to think about things that upset her, usually she ignores them and gets angry. But after the fight she just had... she now is starting to grasp the concept of working through her emotions. This is her state of mind as she comes in and sees another angry individual, Alex, "boxed in."

JANE: Uh... what'd I miss?

CALVIN: Nothing. We're all just a bit... heated.

ALEX: You mean I'm heated, right? I'm the one who's crazyyyyy, I'm the one who's gonna attack you with my swords, right?!

This wouldn't have happened if the fight had gone any other way, but because Jane was forced to walk away and reflect, she now sees Alex, pretty clearly. Again, she wouldn't have normally. Normally, she'd see him as some sort of threat, and get angry as well in order to defend herself. But now...

JANE: You... you guys are fighting? Is that what happened?

MATT: We were initially discussing an argument our friend Alex here had-

ALEX: "Friend," huh?

Jane heads toward Alex.

CALVIN: Jane, I wouldn't-

Jane holds up a hand to Calvin, sort of dismissive, but not harsh. She walks up to Alex.

ALEX: ...what?!?!

JANE: ...did you win?

ALEX: ...what?

JANE: ...or maybe, did you lose?

ALEX: ...I-

JANE: Now you're gonna lick your wounds anyway... but it goes back to you.

ALEX: What are you... what do you mean, it goes back to me?

JANE: It's all you. How you perceive what's happened. You can alter how you're perceiving it. When you fall, you're gonna need a parachute, or a... used pair of shoes, to go and Walk Away.

ALEX: ...who said I'm gonna fall?

JANE: Everyone falls after a fight, in a way. Conflict never leaves you unscathed. But it's up to you how you choose to fall. Gracefully, or not.

Alex is silent. He... doesn't quite know how to respond to this. This isn't the reaction he expected from anyone. Jane, least of all, compared to what he knew of her when they met. Jane turns to the rest of her friends.

JANE: What was the fight about?

Frank is about to speak up but Shin interrupts him.

SHIN: Alex was saying a good use of our... reputation and powers was to, uh, assassinate a CEO, like Luigi Mangione did. Frank said he was actually just wanting to incite violence, and then-

Jane sighs. She looks at Frank.

JANE: Frank. I mean this with all due respect. But you gotta shut up sometimes, my dude.

Frank almost speaks up... but decides not to. Instead, he simply nods his head. Jane looks at the rest of them.

JANE: Did anyone stand up for Alex, other than himself?

MATT: We... in all fairness, Jane, we don't know him.

JANE: So? We didn't know each other when we first met, but the first thing you ever said to me was to not be so harsh to Frank. Remember?

Matt is silent. Processing that.

JANE: Shin, Calvin... you two are some of the warmest people I know. Did you not think to use empathy before this escalated?

ALEX: Uh... Calvin was okay, I guess.

Everyone looks at Alex, surprised that he's seemingly calmer now. Jane smiles.

JANE: Thank you, Calvin... so, that was it? That's what led to... what I walked into?

SHIN: Uh... yeah.

Shin is also surprised that Jane is acting so calmly. Jane looks back at Alex.

JANE: ...well, it's not too late.

ALEX: ...too late for what?

JANE: Well... it's really not worth the fight. No one's right.

ALEX: No one's-?!

JANE: Frank shouldn't have come at you. But we're also not judge, jury, executioner. Protest someone? Sure. Maybe even try to take them down some other way? Yeah. But we're not going to straight-up murder someone, even if they deserve it.

FRANK: Didn't you say a while ago that you theoretically could kill the President?

JANE: Theoretically. And that was also hyperbole, it was a purposefully extreme example. But... extreme isn't always the way to go. I made a mistake. Too much of an extreme, of anything, is always bad.

ALEX: You're saying my ideas are bad?

JANE: I'm saying... well, it's time to walk away... walk away.

ALEX: What?

JANE: Walk Away.

In her head, Jane thinks:

JANE: Walk away-ay-ay-ay-ay. Walk away.

And then out loud again, she says:

JANE: You tried, you went in hard... well, the bigger that you come, all the harder you're gonna fall.

Jane nods her head.

JANE: Walk Away... walk away.

ALEX: ...are you gonna tell them to walk away too?

JANE: They're not trying to fight. You are.

ALEX: I'm not trying to, I'm-

He pauses. Wait, he is the one trying to fight. They're all very... not wanting to fight. Shit. Alex's swords vanish.

ALEX: ...yeah. Sorry. Sorry about that.

Jane gives a kind smile.

JANE: It's okay, man. I've been where you are, I get it. It really felt like they were trying to get you, huh?

ALEX: ...yeah, a bit.

JANE: That's our minds playing tricks on us. Making us assume the worst, in order to protect us. But all it ends up doing is stressing us out more. I know you don't know us, and in fact may even have a bad opinion of us, but... I'm telling you to your face: we only want to help. I hope you believe us.

Alex looks around the room at everyone. They... they do mean well, don't they? But...

ALEX: Look. I'm calmer now. And I know you... want to help. But intentions don't matter, actions do. And you all have squandered multiple opportunities to actually do something with your superpowers. I see that I'm outnumbered here, so... yeah, I'll walk away. But that doesn't mean you won.

JANE: That's fine, we don't always "need to win." At least... that's something I have to keep telling myself. I actually didn't win something earlier today, but I tried. I tried to do good, and that's what matters.

Shin smiles. She likes that Jane has seemingly made a breakthrough.

ALEX: Whatever helps you sleep at night. Doesn't help your case though that you live with a guy who perpetuated an ethnic stereotype.

FRANK: In my defense, I... didn't know?

MATT: That's not a defense. But also, Alex, Frank's kind of clueless sometimes. That's just how he is.

ALEX: ...I can see that. He was also kind of clueless when we met. But that doesn't detract from the fact that he took a personal stab at me, and the rest of you except for Jane mostly just watched.

CALVIN: You were the one saying that we're jokes when we met! Remember?

ALEX: You've become public figures, you've opened yourself up to criticism.

CALVIN: One could argue that nobody has a distinct right to not be criticized.

ALEX: And one could argue the exact opposite. Because, again, there's more of you than me. That's not fair.

CALVIN: Life's not fair.

Alex pauses again. He remembers something his grandfather said to him, almost 12 years ago, that's stuck with him throughout his life.

ALEX'S GRANDFATHER: Life's not fair, kid, get used to it.

ALEX: ...you're right, I suppose. But all I'm saying is don't act like I was fully being unreasonable or anything.

FRANK: Speaking about when we met... uh, I know it's awkward since we kind of just fought and stuff but... do you want me to take you back to the warehouse? Or maybe your house? I guess I don't have to be the one, it could be-

ALEX: Uhh... yeah, yeah, I guess the warehouse then. Don't want to go home right now... not even sure if I'd be welcome.

SHIN: Hold on, that's where you met him? At a warehouse?

MATT: You're not welcome at your own home?

ALEX: ...none of you have the right to judge me.

CALVIN: We're not judging! Just...

JANE: You know, most of us were ready to accept you right when we met you. Has anyone changed their minds?

Nobody says a word.

JANE: Well, I have. Alex, I think it'd be very nice if you stayed with us, at least for a little while.

Alex is stunned. Just minutes ago, he was considering attacking these people. Now... they want him to stay with them?! They're either insane, or... really, really nice. He thinks about it... he doesn't know if he can go home, or if he'd just be kicked out, so...

ALEX: My family's probably still out. They're at a protest, but even if it's done they've probably gone out to eat, or maybe they're at a park. They'd make a day out of it. Would... would someone mind swinging by my house with me to grab some stuff before they get back?

JANE: I'd be happy to, man.

2 hours later...

*Guitar

Walk Away!

Alex is unpacking things from a duffel bag in one of the Oakland HQ "bedrooms." He hears a knock on the door.

ALEX: Uh... yeah? Come in.

Shin and Frank enter the room.

SHIN: Looks like we're gonna be neighbors!

ALEX: Ah... cool, yeah.

FRANK: Hope you don't get up to too much trouble, you two!

Frank's attempt at a joke was unsuccessful. Shin gives him a very confused look, as does Alex.

ALEX: I don't know what you're inferring... but uh, I'm queer.

FRANK: ...again?! Seriously?!

ALEX: Huh?

SHIN: Long story.

Frank walks out of the room annoyed.

FRANK: (from far off) Why can I never tell?!

SHIN: Yeah, just uh... wanted to let you know if you needed anything, I'm right next door.

ALEX: Thank you... uh, Shin, right?

SHIN: Yep!

Shin starts to walk out.

ALEX: Pretty name.

Shin stops. After a moment:

SHIN: ...yeah.

She walks out. Alex is unsure of whether he touched a nerve or not. It was just supposed to be an innocuous comment.

Ay... ay-ay-ay, walk away!

1 minute later...

Alex gets another knock at the door.

ALEX: Yeah, come in.

Frank enters.

FRANK: Sorry, I, uh... just wanted to make it clear that I'm not homophobic.

Alex gives him a look.

ALEX: Uh.. good to know?

FRANK: It's just that, uh, Matt's gay too, and I also didn't know for like a while, and it surprised me-

ALEX: Matt's gay?

Huh. He is cute.

FRANK: Yeah... wait, shit, should he have been the one to tell you that? Ah shit...

ALEX: Is he open?

FRANK: Open, uh... yeah, I'm pretty sure.

ALEX: Then I think it's fine. Me, for instance, I'm out to my family and friends, but not the whole world.

FRANK: Gotcha. Sorry, I... you may have noticed, I don't always... say the right thing.

ALEX: ...I'm going to be totally honest, I do think I need space from you for a while.

Frank hangs his head.

FRANK: Yeah, I understand.

ALEX: I'll get over it though, probably. Just, uh... need some time.

Ay! Ay-ay-ay, Walk Away!

After Frank leaves, Alex continues to unpack, and also keeps thinking on what Jane said to him.

Well, the bigger that you come... all the harder you're gonna fall. Walk away... walk away...

Alex does have a habit of getting angry. But Jane was very helpful... he likes her.

Walk Away.

He does think he likes this group. He doesn't know how long he'll stay, but... this is fine, for now.

Walk Away.

There is a voice telling him to go out on his own, to "walk away," and it's mixing with Jane's voice to make a mixed message. He's not sure if this is the right call.

Walk Awayyyy.

24 hours later...

Alex walks into the main room, where Jane is sitting on a couch.

JANE: Hey, dude.

ALEX: ...hey. Uh, I wanted to thank you again for being so nice to me.

JANE: We're all pretty nice. In fact, I'm actually more... like you sometimes. Guarded. You just caught me at an interesting time. Maybe next time there's a disagreement I'll bite your head off.

Alex laughs a little. He's not sure if she's joking or not...

ALEX: You caught me at an... interesting time too. I'm not usually that defensive, I can be more... laid back than that. Like, I have strong opinions, but I can also be chill sometimes, I promise. Seriously though, thank you. I'm not sure how long I'll stick around, but... I enjoy your company.

JANE: You'll get used to everyone else. And I'm sure they'll get used to you.

ALEX: I'm okay with Calvin, I think. I talked with him more a bit. I haven't met anyone other than him who's both Jewish and thinks there should be a ceasefire. I know they exist, but he's the first I've met, so that's cool. But I still disagree with him about what he should be doing with his powers... and you too, I guess, since you're the ones who are actually acting as the "official" Green Heroes.

JANE: Yeah... you're not gonna get any of us on that, I don't think.

ALEX: I know, and I won't bring it up, I just... still feel strongly about it.

MATT: Wanna take a quick drive so I can prove you wrong?

Alex turns around. Matt is standing right behind him, behind the couch.

ALEX: That's my line...

MATT: I've been thinking about it, and if you don't get aggressive, I'd like to continue the... debate.

ALEX: Again, I only got aggressive after Frank went after my character. And then none of you shut him down.

MATT: Yeah... sorry about that. Allow me the opportunity to make it up to you at the same time with a fun "field trip," as you put it.

Jane smiles. She likes that Alex may have the chance to bond with someone else.

ALEX: Okay, you got me... so, what's the destination?

MATT: We're Going to...

MATT: Pasalacqua!

ALEX: Pasa-what?

Chapter Text

Going to Pasalacqua is on the album "1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours" from 1991. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

Sunday May 18, 2025

Matt and Alex are in a car, driving to... somewhere called "Pasalacqua." Alex isn't as heightened as he was yesterday, he's more of himself today. Silly.

ALEX: ...is it a restaurant?

MATT: No. Stop asking, you'll find out when we get there.

ALEX: How long will it take to get there?

MATT: Not long. We've only been driving for 5 minutes, calm down.

ALEX: Testyyyyy... what, is this because of how "amped up" I was yesterday?

MATT: No, this is my normal demeanor.

ALEX: Guarded and blunt? Sureeeeee it is.

MATT: What's that supposed to mean?

ALEX: I mean when you literally asked me if I wanted to go on this drive, you sounded less serious.

MATT: Jane was right there, I didn't want to-

ALEX: -didn't want to what? Sound "rude" to the "guest?" After she helped de-escalate things and invited me to stay with you guys? What, did you think it'd cause conflict between the two of you?

MATT: Yes.

ALEX: I see... something going on between you two? ...lovers' quarrel?

Alex knows Matt is gay, he's just testing him.

MATT: That's none of your business, quite frankly.

ALEX: Well, if I "stay" with you guys a little longer... maybe it will be. Unless you'll always just treat me as the newcomer who's got a temper.

MATT: You are the newcomer who's got a temper! You nearly attacked us; why the fuck do you think I'd be friendly to you?!

ALEX: Why the fuck are you taking me to this place anyway, then?

MATT: To hopefully change your attitude.

ALEX: Dude, I'm pretty calm right now.

MATT: For all I know, you're one bad comment away from a meltdown. I don't know you, but I've seen you act hostile. You're like a bomb waiting to go off, and if you are indeed staying with us a while I'd like to defuse you so I don't get blown up.

ALEX: Another jab at me being Arabic, huh?

MATT: ...sorry, that wasn't my intention.

ALEX: It's cool. Like I said, I'm calm. I just... had a stressful day yesterday. Was kicked out of my house.

MATT: We've all had stressful days. I never physically tried to attack anyone. And I've never advocated for murder.

ALEX: Ohhhh that's what this is about... Frank talks a lot, you know. Even after I told him I need space, he can't help but run his mouth sometimes. What I'm getting at is, I know you're rich.

MATT: ...and?

ALEX: And, with "all due respect," maybe you're not the most qualified to weigh in on wealth disparity.

MATT: On the contrary. You advocated for killing someone because they were wealthy. Why wouldn't I try to change your mind about that?

ALEX: Wealthy and powerful. I'm not going to go after your family; whether or not they're moral people, they're small potatoes. Unless you're much richer than I know.

MATT: None. Of. Your. Business.

ALEX: My point is, you're trying to change my perspective when you don't share my perspective at all. You haven't had a rough life.

MATT: People who have money can still have rough lives. If you really didn't know that, you're a fool.

ALEX: What's your definition of "rough?"

MATT: I'm a gay black man who's never had any real friends and never got to pursue his true passions because I was too busy trying to set an example for my brothers, which didn't even work, so how about you shut the fuck up about things you don't understand?!

ALEX: ...so you are gay.

MATT: That was your takeaway?!

ALEX: No, I got what you said. Fair points. Just... a shame is all.

MATT: What is?

ALEX: That someone so cute is such a fucking brick wall. That's both a compliment and an insult, by the way. You're pretty built, but you're also impossible to get through to.

MATT: I'm not impossible to get through to.

ALEX: Really? Prove it. Let your fucking guard down, my god. This is one of the most uncomfortable drives I've ever had.

MATT: Well, me too.

ALEX: ...at least we have another thing in common now. Heh.

MATT: What else?

ALEX: We're gay men of color. We have family problems. And we both have anger issues.

MATT: I DON'T HAVE-!

Matt stops himself.

ALEX: ...yeah. Sure. It's funny, from the little I've gotten to know about you guys, mostly from Frank, I thought Jane was the rough one and you were more reasonable. But from what I've experienced, it's the opposite. For Jane, I guess it means she's growing. For you... I don't know what the fuck that means for you.

Matt doesn't respond to that. He knows he's being a bit harsh right now, and he knows why he is. It'll end soon enough...

Monday May 19, 2025

*Guitar riff

CALVIN: Here we go again, infatuation touches me just when I thought that it would end...

It is the next day. But this isn't a time skip... more like a flash-forward. Jane and Calvin are recording another video. As she talks about people working together to help fight the fight, she gives Calvin a sideways look and a smile. She sees him as a valuable, though somewhat clingy, fellow "hero" and friend. Calvin sees Jane as the girl of his dreams. But he keeps trying to get rid of that feeling because she's acted so annoyed at him in the past, and it's clear that Calvin won't be able to rizz her up like at all. But then she... gives these looks, and he forgets that he's trying to let go and just falls right in it again. But what he really, really needs to do... is not look too much into it.

CALVIN: Oh but then again, it seems much more than that but I'm not sure exactly what you're thinking.

Damnit Calvin. She's not thinking anything! You're looking too much into things! Again! That night...

CALVIN: Well I toss and turn all night thinking of your ways of affection...

Calvin also thinks back to the only girlfriend he's ever had: Ashley. Fuckinggggg Ashley, man. She was the worst. She often didn't reciprocate Calvin's affections. Gaslighted him into thinking he was being "too extreme" sometimes, when really, it was her not always being warm enough compared to a "normal" relationship. She was very "hot and cold." In fact, now that he thinks about it... it's a lot like how Jane's been to him. Damn.

CALVIN: ...but to find that it's not different at all.

He swore after Ashley that he wouldn't make that mistake again, that'd he'd find someone warm and loving. However... he never found anyone like that. And now he's into Jane. So...

CALVIN: Well, I throw away my past mistakes and contemplate my future...

Hmm... Calvin ultimately caves. What the hey, right?

CALVIN: ...that's why I say, "What the hey?"

Aaaaaaand now he's fantasizing about them again.

CALVIN: Would it last forever? You and I together, hand-in-hand, we run away. Far away!

He's not completely delusional though. He knows that even if they did have a relationship, Jane wouldn't suddenly become a different person. It'd still be rough sometimes. But...

CALVIN: I'm in for nasty weather, but I'll take whatever you can give that comes my way, yeah. Far away...

"I'll take whatever you can give"?! Oh, Calvin...

Sunday May 18, 2025

Told you it was a flash-forward. Now we're back in the car with Alex and Matt. As a reminder, they're-

ALEX: Going to Pasalacqua. Going to Pasalacquaaaaaa... you seriously think whatever's there will change my whole perspective? Seriously?

MATT: Didn't you think Calvin's mind would be changed by a trip to San Francisco?

ALEX: Calvin wasn't understanding what I was saying. He wasn't getting my point. But you're trying to get me to forget my point entirely.

MATT: ...you really think you're quite smart, huh?

ALEX: Salutatorian of my high school, baby. That means-

MATT: Second-best grades, I know. Quite cocky for second-best.

ALEX: That's still better than thousands of other twats who graduated with me. I don't need to be the very, very best. I just need to be good enough.

MATT: Interesting. So, you think actions are more important than intentions, yet you're not even all in on the actions?

ALEX: I'm not an extremist, Matthew.

MATT: Don't call me Matthew.

ALEX: Matty?

MATT: Matt. That's how I was introduced, right? So, that's what you call me.

ALEX: Sure thing, Mateo.

Matt sighs. This guy is so fucking obnoxious. But he won't be so self-assured in a minute...

MATT: We're here.

Alex looks out the window. They're in a... suburban neighborhood?? The fuck? He looks at the house they're right next to... and it's not a house. The sign says "Passalacqua Funeral Chapel."

ALEX: ...a funeral home? For real?

MATT: Yeah. For real. Come on.

Matt steps out of the car. Alex gets out too.

ALEX: You know, the way you were pronouncing it I thought it only had one "s".

Matt doesn't even say anything to that, he just opens the front door and walks inside. Alex follows. The place is empty. Weird how the front door was unlocked...

ALEX: Where is everyone? Like, the ones working here?

MATT: It's closed on Sundays.

ALEX: Closed on... it's a funeral home! The fuck you mean it's closed on Sundays, isn't that like the Christian day of worship?

MATT: Which is why funerals are traditionally not held on Sundays.

ALEX: I see... why was the front door unlocked, then?

MATT: Who the fuck's gonna break into a funeral home?

ALEX: ...vandals? Edgy teens, like us?

MATT: I'm 20.

ALEX: Wow, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man-

MATT: Can you just stop with the... flirts or whatever the fuck you're doing? I'm clearly not reciprocating.

ALEX: Sorryyyyy, just... messing around. And... a little horny, to be totally honest.

MATT: We're in a funeral home!

ALEX: A funeral home that's closed, that we're not supposed to be in... that isn't hot to you?

MATT: The fuck are you, Mary Shelley?

ALEX: Who?

MATT: Author of Frankenstein, man, I thought you said you were salutatorian!

ALEX: That doesn't mean I remember every single-wait, what does that have to do with anything?

MATT: She had sex on her mother's grave.

ALEX: Really? Well... maybe we can spice it up. Find a daddy...?

MATT: You're insane, you're actually an insane person. Let me show you what I was gonna show you before I change my mind and just leave you here.

ALEX: Woahhhhh, woah! Bitch, you're not gonna abandon me here! You're mean but you're not that mean, I know it.

MATT: Don't test me. Now come with me.

Friday May 23, 2025

*Riff

Calvin and Shin are sitting in the main room, each reading a book. Jane enters from a hallway and walks past them.

JANE: 'sup, Torch?

Calvin looks up from his book. She addressed him but not Shin. Perhaps she didn't see Shin? Or... maybe it was intentional! Calvin's clearly overthinking things.

CALVIN: Here we go again, infatuation touches me just when I thought that it would end...

*Riff

Wait. This seems... familiar. Didn't he just do this? Wasn't he just crushing on Jane a few days ago? And afterwards he told himself he'd stop overthinking-

CALVIN: Oh but then again, it seems much more than that but I'm not sure exactly what you're thinking.

Damnit Calvin. That night:

CALVIN: Well I toss and turn all night thinking of your ways of affection... but to find that it's not different at all.

Tuesday May 27, 2025

CALVIN: Well, I throw away my past mistakes and contemplate my future! That's why I say, "What the hey?" Would it last forever? You and I together, hand-in-hand, we run away. Far away!

Saturday May 31, 2025

CALVIN: I'm in for nasty weather, but I'll take whatever you can give that comes my way, yeah. Far away...

Sunday May 18, 2025

Alex and Matt walk into the "visitation" room of the funeral home. There is an open casket at the end of the room, with a dead body inside.

ALEX: Um... did they leave a dead body here?!

MATT: It's embalmed. His service is tomorrow.

ALEX: How the fuck do you know that?

MATT: I know the funeral home director. I asked him if there happened to be a service set for tomorrow, and he said yes. He left this here for me.

ALEX: Wait wait wait... you know a random funeral home director in NorCal, even though you've been here less than two months... and you know him well enough that he left a dead body in a casket here, and left the front doors unlocked? That doesn't just sound unethical, that sounds ridiculous. I don't believe you.

MATT: Believe whatever you want. Fact is, that's a dead man's body. I know you're Palestinian, but were you born in Palestine or America?

ALEX: Born and raised in San Fran.

MATT: Have you ever seen a dead body in person? Not photos or anything.

ALEX: ...no.

MATT: Take a look.

Alex initially hesitates, then relents. He walks up to the casket and looks at the man inside. There's a large photo of the man propped up next to the casket. In the photo, he's younger, and he's posing with presumably his wife, son, and daughter.

MATT: Mitchell Richard Clarke. Passed away at the age of 61 from PSP, progressive supranuclear palsy.

ALEX: What's that?

MATT: ...I actually don't know. And I don't have a phone with internet... and neither do you, right? You and Jane left it at your house yesterday?

ALEX: Yeah.

MATT: Well, I'm assuming PSP is a type of terminal illness.

There are programs for the service next to the picture. Matt picks one up, opens it, and reads aloud.

MATT: According to his wife, "Mitch was the light of our family. His glowing optimism helped guide all of us through some truly difficult times. He always wanted us to laugh the loudest, love the hardest, and live to the fullest."

As Matt is talking, Alex looks at the body. Staring at it. Matt notices this and continues reading.

MATT: Mitch loved to fish; as most of the attendees here know, an affectionate nickname for him was "Fishin' Mitch." His favorite activity was going out to Lake Herman with his friends, of which he had many.

ALEX: I know what you're doing.

Matt stops reading.

MATT: What am I doing?

ALEX: You're trying to get me to empathize with this dead guy in order to change my views. But you're forgetting, I don't empathize with the people I'd like to see dead.

MATT: I know. But all the same, what Mitch has in common with those on your "hit list" is that they're all human beings. They've all lived lives, had interests, had thoughts and dreams. Look at Mitch here, he's been described as "the light of his family," someone invaluable and irreplaceable in their lives. He practiced and endorsed positive behaviors. Would you want to kill someone like Mitch?

ALEX: No. We don't really know him, and this is an account of him made by his loved ones so it could be a bit skewed... but let's assume he was 100% the great man they're saying he was. I want to protect people like that from those who are his exact opposite: corrupt, immoral monsters, like CEOs of multi-billion dollar companies.

MATT: What if I told you Mitch was a rich CEO?

ALEX: ...you're shitting me.

MATT: Would that change your mind about him?

ALEX: ...yes, yes it fucking would. Then his family was definitely biased, and he was nowhere near as great as they claimed he was.

MATT: You think so? You think his family was lying?

ALEX: Of course they were.

MATT: You think he didn't guide them through difficult times, you don't think he made them laugh and love? You think that's all made-up?

ALEX: ...it could be. But I guess it could also be real, that he was nice to his family. But he still deserved to die.

MATT: Would you say that to his daughter?

ALEX: ...what?

MATT: Look at the photo.

Alex does. He sees the little girl.

MATT: If he were murdered, she'd want to know what happened, how and why he died. Are you going to tell her?

ALEX: Wha- of course I wouldn't! I'm not gonna traumatize a little girl!

MATT: Killing her dad would be traumatizing her.

Alex thinks for a moment.

ALEX: Okay. I get what you're saying. But. Her being traumatized is a better outcome than him living, and continuing to oppress tons of people.

MATT: I actually don't disagree with that.

Alex is stunned.

ALEX: ...you don't?! Then what the hell are we even talking about?! You've fucking agreed with me this whole time?!

MATT: With everything but this. And this is crucial. You're right that it'd be better for the world to kill someone like him... but you'd still have to tell his daughter.

ALEX: Psh. So? I'd still sleep well at night, knowing I did a great thing.

MATT: Would you?

ALEX: ...what?

MATT: Would you sleep well at night? Really? Look at the girl again.

Alex takes another look. He really pays attention to both her, and Mitch, in the photo.

MATT: That girl would be traumatized, devastated, if you did that and said that to her. I don't think she'd be mad, or scared. She'd be sad. She'd be crying. She'd be crying so loud you'd try to cover your ears but wouldn't be able to deafen the sound. You'd see her face, you'd see the look in her eyes as she cried. Shattered, broken to pieces. A little girl. You'd really do that to a little girl?

ALEX: I... yes, yes I would.

MATT: ...really?

Alex doesn't say anything at first. He's now imagining this happening. Him talking to the girl. The girl breaking down in front of him. And for some reason, even though she's just a kid and she's crying, in his imagination he hears her saying:

GIRL: He was the light of our family. His glowing optimism helped guide all of us through some truly difficult times. He always wanted us to laugh the loudest, love the hardest, and live to the fullest. He loved to fish; as most of the attendees here know, an affectionate nickname for him was "Fishin' Mitch." His favorite activity was going out to Lake Herman with his friends, of which he had many.

The girl then stops crying and looks up at Alex.

GIRL: He was my daddy. Why'd you kill my daddy? Why? Why?!

ALEX: He... he was a terrible man. Killing him stops him from hurting people. He hurt a lot of people.

GIRL: He was my daddy. Why'd you kill my daddy? Why? Why?!

ALEX: I just said, he-

GIRL: He was my daddy. Why'd you kill my daddy? Why? Why?!

ALEX: Stop saying that.

GIRL: He was my daddy-
ALEX: Stop it-
GIRL: Why?
ALEX: Stop-
GIRL: Why'd you kill my daddy?
ALEX: He was a bad-
GIRL: Why?!
ALEX: He was a bad man-
GIRL: Why'd you kill my daddy?
ALEX: Quit it!
GIRL: Why'd you kill my daddy?
ALEX: I... I-
GIRL: Why'd you kill my daddy?
ALEX: No-
GIRL: Why'd you kill my daddy?
GIRL: Why'd you kill my daddy?
GIRL: Why'd you kill my daddy?

Images flash in Alex's mind. Dead bodies he has seen, in pictures. Pictures of the dead in Gaza. Entire families annihilated in an instant. Hundreds of them. Thousands of them. This is why he stopped caring. Because there's nothing he can do. Mass death and there's nothing he can do. He doesn't want there to be death. He wants it to end. Why? Why do his people have to die? Why? Why do they have to die? Why do they have to die? WHY DO THEY HAVE TO DIE?!?! WHY DO THEY HAVE TO DIE?!?!

Alex stops envisioning things, and screams.

ALEX: AHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOO!!!

His right hand glows green and a sword appears in it. He slices through the picture of Mitch and his family. As it falls to the floor, he slashes at it again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And when he finally calms down, he sees the shredded picture, and the girl says in his mind:

GIRL Why'd you kill my daddy?

He stops. His body starts shaking. The sword disappears and he falls to his knees. He sees that he tore the photo of Mitch up. He "killed" the photo, in his outburst.

ALEX: No... what... what have I done?

MATT: It's okay, they can print a new photo. But look at that: you were out of control, and you ended up doing something you regretted.

ALEX: ...you knew I was going to lose it like that?

MATT: Not at all, but it happened to work out. The actual thing I was going to say was, you realized you couldn't tell the girl, right?

ALEX: ...yeah.

MATT: But you have to tell the girl.

ALEX: Not if I...

MATT: Not if you what?

Alex sighs. Matt's won.

ALEX: ...not if I don't kill him.

MATT: But wouldn't killing him be good for the world?

ALEX: ...yeah but... I can't. I can't.

MATT: Now you see? We agree that his death would be good for the world, but... we can't kill him ourselves. Maybe someone else could, or maybe we'd get lucky and he'd have a heart attack... but we can't be the killers ourselves. You know why?

ALEX: ...why?

MATT: Because we have humanity. We're better than they are. They kill with their evil policies, but we... we don't kill. It would break us. Which means we're better than them. And we... we'll do our best to change the world without destroying ourselves. We must. I knew that's how you'd feel too, if you were shown it. Calvin told me a little about your "discussion" in San Francisco. You said you'd allow life to be as crappy as it always is so you wouldn't have to ruin your personal life, right?

Alex pauses. He did say that.

MATT: This... this is no different. You're not making the world worse by not killing bad people, you're just... keeping it the same. Which does suck, but at least you don't destroy yourself. It's the better of two bad options. Maybe one day... we'll be presented with a good option, somehow. But this isn't it.

*Instrumental bridge

Days and days pass. As if he's caught in some sort of time loop, Calvin continues to think about Jane as the days and days pass. What is it about her that drives him so mad? Does that say more about her... or about himself? He's often felt directionless in life, but now he has purpose. He's a hero! So why is it that, when he thinks about Jane, he once again feels like she's all he has? Why does it feel like his life's just starting... and yet he's closer than ever to the grave? Why is this good feeling so crushing? Where is this Going? So many questions, and almost no answers. This is what it's like to grow up. It's a jarring change in perspective.

MATT: I wanted to change your viewpoint on murder "for the right reasons." In theory, it's a good idea. But it's not practical. I don't know how Luigi did it, knowing that that guy had a family. I could never do it. And yet I'm happy it was done. Does that make sense?

ALEX: ...yeah.

MATT: And if you see that, if your mind is away from murder... I don't have to worry about you attacking us anymore either. I've seen twice now how you've regretted your outbursts. Yesterday at HQ, and just now. You may still have some anger issues, but... I think you can work on them. If Jane can... if I can... then you can too. I believe in you.

ALEX: ...wait. You do?

MATT: Yeah. In the car I didn't. But now I do, now that my theory was confirmed.

ALEX: ...wow. It takes a lot to get on your good side, huh?

MATT: No. It takes a lot to get on my good side if you're already on my bad side.

ALEX: I see. Well, that's where we differ. I may have anger issues, I may have my own problems with people... but I'm more flexible than you.

MATT: (laughs) Oh is that so?

ALEX: Yeah it is... why are you laughing?

MATT: Sorry, just... I think you're full of shit, man. You're pretty set in your ways.

ALEX: ...clearly not, since you just changed my mind. Man... you pulled my own trick on me. I tried to do it to Calvin but... you did it to me. Impressive.

MATT: Thanks.

ALEX: That just makes you hotter.

MATT: Okay, if you're going to stay with us, we need to talk about harassment policies.

ALEX: It's only harassment if you don't like it.

MATT: I don't!

ALEX: You don't now... but maybe I'll change your mind.

MATT: Not only is that problematic as fuck... it's delusional. You still think you can get people to agree with you that easily? You? When I was the one who got you to change your mind?

ALEX: About murder, personally. I still think the "Green Heroes" can do more.

MATT: ...I agree.

ALEX: Really? Then why aren't you joining Calvin and Jane with their influencer lifestyle?

MATT: They're not... whatever, I'm not joining them because I don't think that's the way we can do more.

ALEX: Hey look at that! Another thing we agree on!

MATT: Nope. We don't agree on what "doing more" is.

ALEX: Yet.

Matt rolls his eyes.

MATT: God, this must be how Jane feels.

ALEX: Huh?

MATT: About Calvin. He has a massive crush on her.

ALEX: Woahhhh big fella, slow your roll. I think you're cute, maybe it'd be fun to go a round with you, but that's just me being a flirt. I'm not getting together with a brick wall, that sounds rough.

MATT: I'm not a... whatever.

ALEX: Speaking of Jane, is that what's going on between you two? You don't agree with her methods?

MATT: Basically. We accidentally started a movement, and she and Calvin think they can control it. I think it's dangerous.

ALEX: But she's dug in and won't change her mind, right?

MATT: Yup.

ALEX: So you don't want to cause unnecessary conflict that you won't even win, especially because you both have anger issues?

MATT: Yup.

ALEX: Gotcha... okay, if that's all you wanted to do, show me a dead CEO and his family, we can go back-

MATT: Oh, Mitch isn't a CEO.

ALEX: WHAT?!

MATT: I said "what if I told you." I didn't actually say he was. It was just to help prove my point. Mitch was a landscape designer, it says so in the program!

Alex smiles.

ALEX: Maybe you're not such a solid, brick wall... you do have a mischievous side. Oh, and now don't tell me you actually fucking know the director of this place and that he left Mitch here for us-

MATT: Hmm... you know, maybe some things are best left to the imagination. I'll let you decide.

ALEX: ...ass.

MATT: But yes, we can go. I'm going to use the restroom here real quick. And I swear if you follow me in there-

ALEX: I'm a flirt, not gross! See you when you're done, dude.

Thursday June 5, 2025

CALVIN: Well I toss and turn all night thinking of your ways of affection, but to find that it's not different at all. Well, I throw away my past mistakes and contemplate my future. That's why I say, "What the hey?" Would it last forever? You and I together, hand-in-hand, we run away. Far away! I'm in for nasty weather, but I'll take whatever you can give that comes my way, yeah. Far away!

Sunday May 18, 2025

Alex and Matt are driving back to HQ.

ALEX: Man... would've been cool to follow in Luigi's footsteps. Now that's a man, am I right?

MATT: ...I won't comment on the possible attractiveness of a convicted murderer.

ALEX: Oh come on! He's not fucking Ted Bundy. You said you liked that the CEO was dead!

MATT: ...no comment.

Alex smiles. He's getting to him... sigh. Which means, he should probably extend another olive branch to keep it going.

ALEX: You know, Frank was right.

MATT: What?

ALEX: About me wanting to incite violence. I get so mad about what's happening... in Gaza and across the whole world. I can't do anything about Gaza... and now I can't do anything about this.

MATT: There'll be something we can do. There has to be. And we'll figure it out, together. As a team.

ALEX: You know, I never said if I'd join your "team" or not. I've only been with you guys a day.

MATT: ...well, I really hope you consider joining us.

ALEX: Woahhh is the brick wall starting to chip?

MATT: (laughing) Oh, stop.

ALEX: Aaaaand I made you smile! Nice.

Matt looks at Alex. Now he really can't get a read on him. It's frustrating.

ALEX: So, Calvin's pining for Jane, huh?

MATT: Dead Mitch would have more luck.

ALEX: Ha! Good one... maybe Calvin should be the one Going to Pasalacqua... he may need a reality check.

MATT: Yeah...

CALVIN: Far away...

10 minutes earlier...

Matt steps into the restroom. The rightmost stall has an "Out of Order" sign on it. Matt opens the door anyway. The toilet does look clogged with a lot of toilet paper... but he flushes it anyway.

Suddenly the wall behind the toilet opens up, and the toilet slides into it, leaving a secret opening! Matt walks in, and then heads down a flight of stairs that are there. It leads him into a darkened room where...

MATT: Thanks for setting that up, I needed to prove a point and I did.

CASEY: No worries. The F.E.D.S. own lots of unassuming properties to use as local surveillance bases. We have an agreement with the owner.

MATT: Interesting bit of info...

HENRY: Thanks! Care to share some of your own? I mean, that is why you called to meet us here, right? To trade info, to consider working for us?

MATT: ...do you know the graphic novel Watchmen?

15 minutes later...

As Matt and Alex are talking, Matt thinks back to his conversation with Casey and Henry. How he talked about them all... falsely, of course. Calvin isn't anywhere near as horrid as the Comedian. Jane is kinder than Rorschach. Frank is more capable than Nite Owl. Shin is as Silk Spectre as well. Alex isn't as arrogant as Ozymandias. But he needed to give them something, and an analogical description of their inter-dynamics worked. The F.E.D.S. now think they have more insight about the team. And Matt now knows... some helpful information. Unfortunately now he needs to keep meeting with them. He did tell the truth about one thing though. He does see himself as Doctor Manhattan. Not because he's a god, but because he's in Hell. Nobody understands him, and he's doing things he doesn't want to, but has to.

I guess this is just One of His Lies now. Let's hope to god there aren't any more...

Chapter Text

16 is on the album "1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours" from 1991. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

*Guitar riff

(Because that's how these songs always start)

Shin is sitting on her "bed." She's speaking to... someone.

SHIN: Every night I dream the same dream-

VOICE: -of getting older, and older, all the time!

She doesn't know whose voice that is, but she hears it in her head. That's concerning. But she ignores it.

SHIN: I ask you now... what does this mean?

VOICE: Are all these problems just in my mind?

Damn good question.

Sunday May 18, 2025

At night, Alex and Matt return to HQ. The others are all sitting in the main room, awaiting their return.

JANE: Finally! What's the point of our burner phones if you don't answer them? What took you two so long?

MATT: Sorry, I... I've been meaning to tell you, I lost my burner phone.

JANE: What?! Where?! How?

MATT: Not quite sure... and Alex doesn't have a phone yet. I'll get us both some tomorrow.

SHIN: Wait... why would Alex need a burner phone unless... he's staying with us? For good?

They all look expectantly at Alex.

ALEX: I uh... well Matt took me back to my house after our... field trip. I spoke with my mom. She... doesn't want to see me right now. She found the weed I was hiding in my room. Her exact words were "I don't care if you start living at your college or what, but you're not staying in this house." Well, she said it in Arabic, but... yeah.

FRANK: Ouch. Man, I'm... I'm so sorry.

ALEX: So... yeah, if you'll have me, I'd like to stay here. I can't pay for campus housing, I don't have income. And... I don't have anywhere else to go.

JANE: Of course you're welcome here, man. We're happy to have you.

CALVIN: And hey, it may be temporary! Your mom could change her mind-

ALEX: What do you know about my mother?!

Calvin gets really quiet.

ALEX: ...sorry. Guess I still... have some issues to work through. I was actually having an okay day until... Passalacqua. And then seeing my mom again.

SHIN: Matt, what happened at... where did you say?

MATT: Passalacqua. It's... not important what it is, but it helped Alex see that murder isn't the answer.

ALEX: Okay listen. I know I just said I'd like to stay with you guys, so I don't really have a right to ask when you're providing me shelter... but can I make a request anyway?

JANE: Of course you can. What's up?

ALEX: Calvin, Jane... I know you two won't stop your little videos and such. But can we all put our heads together sometime, and think of other ways we can make a difference? More... concrete ways?

CALVIN: I know you don't think we're making a difference, but we are.

ALEX: I'm sorry, it's just... it doesn't feel like it. Nothing's changed, you know?

MATT: To be fair to them, it would take a while to cause change. It would take us a while too. We can absolutely brainstorm, but... are you expecting something immediate?

ALEX: No, I'm not impatient. But we have wasted time already, and I just don't want to waste anymore. I can want that and not be "impatient."

SHIN: That's valid. Okay yeah, let's... let's talk about it sometime. Maybe not tonight, but soon.

ALEX: Tomorrow?

CALVIN: Jane and I are going to record another video early tomorrow, but after that sure.

ALEX: ...okay. Thank you guys. And thanks again for welcoming me despite not making the greatest first impression.

FRANK: Man, the day after we all met I overdosed in front of these guys and they had to save me. Your intro wasn't that bad, trust me.

ALEX: You what?! Woah, dude...

FRANK: It was okay! We've learned that our powers help our bodies heal faster or something... that and some naloxone helped me.

ALEX: For real? ...can we also talk more about what you guys know?

JANE: Absolutely. And you can tell us what you know. Like... how to make swords and stuff.

ALEX: (smiles) Deal.

Monday May 19, 2025

The six of them are all sitting on the couches in the main room. Calvin seems... a bit distracted. As you saw last chapter, he just started fantasizing about Jane again whilst recording a video.

ALEX: Okay, so... this hideout is one of many, but we've never been to the others, so we don't know the situations there. But they might have been built by... a British guy 20 years ago?

FRANK: And someone's left food here within the last year. So they might come back sometime.

ALEX: Got it... and "no lying" is really one of your rules?

JANE: It's not a controversial rule.

ALEX: No I know, just... well, what about my theory of lies I've told you about?

JANE: Those aren't you lying to us, they're more... presenting lies to us. Like, we know they're lies because you're using them as examples of something. So I think that's fine.

ALEX: Alright. I really only have one other question... which of you is the "leader"?

SHIN: We're a democracy, Alex.

ALEX: Okay, but... say we're pinned down by the F.E.D.S. again. Someone wants to fight, and someone else wants us to retreat. What do we do?

SHIN: Majority rules.

ALEX: What if we're evenly split, now that there's 6 of us? Or what if one of us ignores the others?

MATT: Well that did happen when Frank left us during the last fight...

FRANK: I said I was sorry!

MATT: But Alex brings up a good point. Maybe we should have... a field leader. Just for that kind of scenario. It doesn't always have to be one person, we can rotate the roles.

ALEX: Good idea, Matty.

MATT: Matt.

ALEX: I nominate Jane for field leader!

JANE: Woah... really?

ALEX: You seem pretty capable. You said you fought a guy with powers all on your own?

Calvin now speaks up.

CALVIN: I second the motion! Jane would be a great... what were we calling it, field leader?

MATT: I third the motion.

JANE: Really?

SHIN: And I do too, so that's a majority. Congratulations... Commander Love.

JANE: (sighs) I hate that you all know my full name...

MATT: If it helps, my full name is Matthew Bernard St. James.

ALEX: Woah, that's a mouthful. How about I just call you "St. Jimmy"?

MATT: NEVER CALL ME THAT!! HOW THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW THAT NAME?!

Everyone else goes into a stunned silence. Matt collects himself.

MATT: Sorry, uh... but Alex, I have to know. Where did you hear that name?

ALEX: I didn't! I just made it up, literally right now!

MATT: You did? You swear?!

ALEX: Yes, yes, my god, man. What, was that a name you used to go by or something?

MATT: No, it... never mind. Another story for another time, maybe.

ALEX: Okayyyyy...

Nobody says anything for a few seconds. Then:

FRANK: The only name I have is "Frank." Unless you count an alias I used to use, "Frank Goldstein." Oh and by the way, I nominate Jane too.

JANE: (flat affect) Thanks.

ALEX: You all couldn't pronounce my full name anyway. It really is just better to call me Alex, trust me.

CALVIN: And you all already know I'm Calvin William Stevenson.

JANE: Oh god that's your full name? We didn't know the William part. You low key sound like a serial killer bro...

CALVIN: Okay, okay...

FRANK: I can't believe we didn't go over this until now. Shin, what's your full name?

Everyone turns to Shin. She becomes nervous.

SHIN: Oh, uh... Shin Uraraka. That's it.

Shin stops speaking. There's now a lull in the conversation.

MATT: Well uh, I know we're going to strategize, but first, do you mind if we talk powers a bit? I have this theory about how they're inter-connected. Remember that first day in the forest? Jane and Calvin touched hands, and then all of our hands stopped glowing. And Shin was able to use her powers to "track" Frank when we were fighting the F.E.D.S.

Matt keeps talking, but Alex looks at Shin. She looks... sad and nervous.

That night, Alex knocks on Shin's door. Shin is lying face-up in bed, but she turns over to face the door.

SHIN: Come in!

Alex does so.

ALEX: Heyyyy neighbor. Uh, do you mind if we talk for a minute?

Shin sits up.

SHIN: Yeah sure... what's up?

ALEX: Uh... I wanted to apologize. For that crack I made about you the other day, when I was getting aggressive?

SHIN: Huh? Oh, that. Uh, that's okay, I know you were going through some stuff. And it wasn't that bad.

ALEX: Still doesn't make it okay, though. I'd, uh... I'd like to start again. If that's okay?

SHIN: (smiles) Sure.

Alex extends his hand for a handshake.

ALEX: Alex.

Shin shakes his hand.

SHIN: Shin.

ALEX: Like I said, that's a really pretty name.

SHIN: Um... do you mind if we don't talk about it? My name?

ALEX: Oh, uh... do you not like it?

SHIN: Just... please stop.

ALEX: Well, do you not want me to call you Shin?

SHIN: You can call me Shin, just... stop talking about the name itself, okay?!

ALEX: Okay, okay, sorry. I'm sorry... I've felt like I've gotten to know everyone here a bit but you. I knew Frank first, then I went to San Fran with Calvin. Then Jane helped center me, then I took another trip with Matt. I... don't want us to get off on the wrong foot. You seem... very nice, and... I'd like a nice friendship. Uh, well, that's jumping ahead, actually, but... I'd like a nice relationship with my neighbor?

SHIN: (smiles) Which can eventually become a friendship.

ALEX: (smiles) Right on.

Over the next couple weeks, Alex and Shin make a habit of talking before going to bed. Alex ends up bonding with her more than the others, in fact! It... may or may not make Frank a bit jealous. He knows Alex is gay but... he's been hoping to spend more time with Shin. Something about her just... draws him to her. One night, he gets the chance, when she actually knocks on his door.

SHIN: Frank? Uh... do you wanna come with me?

Frank smiles.

Frank and Shin are once again lying on a hill in the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park. They are once again smoking cigarettes.

FRANK: Why don't you want anyone to know you smoke?

SHIN: ...it was something my sister and her friends liked to do. And... they eventually left me behind, remember?

FRANK: Yeah, I remember... but why don't you want anyone to know?

SHIN: Because I'm embarrassed, a bit. It just... reminds me of when I was younger. And it's been... quite a long time since then.

Shin takes a puff of her cigarette, then says:

SHIN: Things are easy when you're a child...

VOICE: But now these pressures have dropped on my head!

Shin ignores the strange voice in her head.

SHIN: The length I've gone... are just long miles.

VOICE: Would they be shorter if I were dead?!

Shin stands up, trying to block the voice out. She then says:

SHIN: (sighs) Every time I look in my past... I always wish I was there. I wish my youth would forever last...

She then grows quiet.

SHIN: (softly) ...why are these times so unfair?

FRANK: Hey... come here.

Frank stands up and gives Shin a hug. She's very surprised by this, she didn't know if Frank was... a hugger. She smiles as his arms are wrapped around her. After the hug ends:

FRANK: I've noticed you've been... talking to Alex a lot. At night.

SHIN: Yeah! It's been great getting to know him, he's actually so funny!

FRANK: Yeah... he still wants space from me. I keep trying to say things but-

SHIN: Give him time. He'll warm up to you like I... like we all have. You and he actually have something in common, you know.

FRANK: What's that?

SHIN: Just as you're nearly done weaning off Percocet, Alex is trying to wean off weed. He... I don't think this is a secret, but yeah he has some anger issues, and he's said that dependency on weed is actually making it worse, so he's trying to stop.

FRANK: Wow. Good for him.

SHIN: Yeah.

FRANK: ...I like this. Could we... talk more too, maybe?

SHIN: ...I'd like that, Frank.

Thursday June 5, 2025

JANE: Hahahahaha are you seeing this?! Trump and Elon are going at it!

ALEX: Yeah, we're... all looking at the same screen.

All of them (except for Calvin, who's in the shower, probably thinking about Jane) are in the computer room, looking at Elon's Twitter feed.

JANE: Yes we know Trump's in the Epstein files, now release them you cowards!!

MATT: That's just noise, it doesn't mean anything. I'm more interested in the fact that other than the man-babies, we're the second-most trending topic!

Matt taps a button near one of the screens, turning on a familiar news broadcast...

SABRINA: The "Green Heroes" are now often being referred to as "those American Idiots" by the international community, after intervening at the fire at the Ukranian consulate in San Francisco yesterday afternoon.

JANE: Why did we go all the way into San Francisco...

ALEX: Uh, 'cuz it's bigger than Oakland? You remember why, we were "patrolling!"

JANE: Yeah... just asking for trouble.

SABRINA: After a fire broke out, the Green Heroes were on the scene, rescuing civilians and diplomats alike. However, the fact that the diplomats weren't prioritized has caused some backlash. Other countries are calling their efforts "disrespectful" and "nothing more than illegal and impressionable vigilantism that should be shut down."

FRANK: Unbelievable... we saved their lives! We rescued people from a literal burning building, again, and this is how we're treated?!

SABRINA: Ukraine themselves have not given an official statement, but the diplomats who were rescued expressed gratitude towards their rescuers when treated by first responders.

SHIN: Okay, see? The actual ones we saved appreciated us. We should ignore those other countries.

SABRINA: Japan specifically has gone on the attack, claiming the Green Heroes' entire online presence is nothing but a scam to persuade viewers to cause acts of mayhem.

JANE: Oh, you've gotta be fucking joking.

SHIN: Japan...?

SABRINA: Many American commentators on the right of the political spectrum have also denounced the Green Heroes-

Shin walks out of the room.

FRANK: Shin?

Frank follows her. He catches up to her at her room. She has tears in her eyes.

FRANK: Shin, hey... what's the matter?

SHIN: (crying) Just... my country, my home... is saying I'm a terrible person!

FRANK: Hey no, it's... it's the country's leaders. But a government doesn't represent a country's identity. It doesn't represent its people.

Shin gives him a look.

FRANK: Well... I guess it does, but not in the way I mean. Don't blame all of Japan for what its leaders are saying.

SHIN: (crying) I miss my country... I miss my family... I want to go home.

Frank gives Shin another hug as she cries.

In Shin's room very late that night, laying in bed once more, she thinks about her sister and her sister's friends. She can picture them so clearly. She speaks out loud, to no one:

SHIN: Look at my friends and see what they've done.

VOICE: Ask myself why they've had to change?

SHIN: I liked 'em better when they were young...

VOICE: Now all these times are rearranged!

Tears well up in Shin's eyes once more.

SHIN: (voice breaking) I look down, and stand there and cry...

VOICE: Nothing ever will be the same!

Shin looks over at a nightstand next to her. On it is her hat (she obviously doesn't sleep with it, it's not like she wears it ALL the time!) and an alarm clock. It's nearly dawn; she wasn't able to sleep all night.

SHIN: (crying) The sun is rising... and now I ask why-

VOICE: The clouds now fall, and here comes the rain!

Shin now thinks to herself the words she spoke to Frank some nights ago:

SHIN: Every time I look in my past... I always wish I was there. I wish my youth would forever last... why are these times so unfair?

*Instrumental bridge

Shin isn't the only one not doing so well. Calvin, as we've seen, is "caught in a loop" of sorts about Jane. It seems to be a recurring pattern; just before their big "Burnout" debut, he was spiraling out of control. He has trouble staying in reality. Matt, meanwhile, is the exact opposite. He can't help but focus on reality.

Sunday May 18, 2025

HENRY: If your "teammates" haven't reconsidered our offer, why are you all still based in Oakland?

MATT: ...believe me, I ask myself that question a lot.

CASEY: Well. At least that's convenient for us.

MATT: Is it? You haven't been able to find us. I tried to ask you last time, does our hideout mask our location?

HENRY: That, and we can only pick up your energy signature when you're using your abilities.

MATT: But our teleporter can pick up our "energy signatures" anytime.

CASEY: Like we've said, those aren't connected to us in any way. They work differently.

MATT: Fascinating... and you really can't tell me yet why the planet is in danger of blowing up?

HENRY: You only just agreed to work with us. Give us some more info and... we'll consider telling you.

MATT: ...you told us there were superpowers decades ago. If that's true, where are the people who had them? Did they just disappear? Did their powers disappear? And how is there no record of them?

CASEY: That's enough for now. Meet with us again and... perhaps we'll share more information.

MATT: (sighs) Very well. My friend thinks I'm in the bathroom and I should probably head out now anyway. Should I reach out to you again or will you tell me when to meet next?

HENRY: Now that we have the number of your... "burner phone," we'll reach out to you. Just don't let any of your friends look through your call history.

MATT: I'll delete it. Or I'll just tell them I lost the phone. And one more thing... you know where my family lives. If you involve them in any way... my parents, my brothers... deal's off.

CASEY: ...understood.

Matt heads out of the room, up the staircase, out of the bathroom, out of the funeral home, and into the car.

ALEX: Finally! Hope you don't mind, but I put on the radio. I was trying to see if we get Live 105 out here.

MATT: That's fine. Let's head back now.

As Matt starts up the car, he wonders how long he can keep this up. He knows getting info from the F.E.D.S. will be beneficial to them all... he just wonders if his friends will forgive him if they ever learn the truth.

Friday June 6, 2025

Shin walks out her room in the morning, incredibly groggy. She nearly runs into Calvin.

SHIN: Oh! Sorry, Cal.

CALVIN: It's alright, uh... should've watched where I was going. Haven't been... paying attention lately.

SHIN: You seem exhausted, are you okay?!

CALVIN: ...I'm having trouble trying to sleep. I'm counting sheep but... well, it's whatever.

SHIN: You're not alone in that. I've been having trouble recently too, and I'm sure you know Jane has as well.

CALVIN: Jane, yeah...

Calvin walks past Shin, once again not concentrating. Shin heads into the main room, where she sees Matt inside the teleporter.

SHIN: Matt? You, uh... going somewhere?

MATT: Hm? No, just... seeing if I can fiddle around with this thing. I'm not going right now, but... I think at some point we should check out the other hideouts.

Shin nods and walks past him. Man, he seemed distracted too. She wonders how Frank, Alex, and Jane are doing. The answer is... not so well either. Jane and Alex are talking in his room.

ALEX: So you just... left your car in the middle of the road?

JANE: Yeah... I'm sure, like, the police or someone has picked it up by now. That, and me being absent from my college might raise questions... not that my parents would probably care. And who knows, maybe the F.E.D.S. have interfered so local law enforcement isn't even onto it.

ALEX: Huh... so, what's the deal with your parents?

JANE: Uh, I'd rather not talk about it. Do you want to talk about your family?

ALEX: ...no.

The two of them then stand there in silence, contemplating their rough family lives.

Shin eventually heads back to her room. To her surprise, Frank is sitting on her bed!

FRANK: Hey, uh... couldn't find you this morning, so I decided to wait for you here. Was that okay?

SHIN: Uh... normally I'd prefer you wait outside, and not go into my room alone, but yeah whatever, I don't care right now.

She sits down next to him.

FRANK: Woah. Uh... you okay?

SHIN: (sighs) No, Frank, I'm not. You comforted me just yesterday.

FRANK: Ah, yeah, right. I just... I mean I didn't think you "got over that" necessarily, just... you're such an optimist. I thought... I don't know, maybe you had bounced back.

SHIN: Well... I haven't. Not yet, anyway, it's only been a day.

FRANK: Right, right... hey, uh, can I speak... frankly?

Shin stares at him, then starts to giggle.

SHIN: "Frankly?"

FRANK: Ugh, you know what I mean. Can I just-

SHIN: (giggles) Yeah, yeah, sure.

FRANK: Just... I know things have been weird between us.

Shin stops giggling and immediately turns bright red. This is not where she expected the conversation to go. She didn't expect to bring this up... yet.

SHIN: Oh, uhhhh... what do you mean?

FRANK: I abruptly left during the F.E.D.S. meeting that time, and I know you were disappointed. And then when Alex joined us, you got mad at me.

Oh. That's not what she thought he was going to say, but her face remains very red.

SHIN: Frank, I'm... I'm sorry about that. It was a tense situation, I shouldn't have lost my cool.

FRANK: No! I'm saying you had every right to react the way you did. I'm a fuck-up.

Shin cools down.

SHIN: You're not a fuck-up, don't say that about yourself.

FRANK: It's true, I am. I'm finally weaning off the Percocet but... you guys had to save me from an overdose. I always stick my foot in my mouth. I'm... I'm no good, Shin.

Her heart breaks. So, that means everyone is doing badly today. But Frank might be doing the worst of all.

SHIN: Don't say that, please don't say that. Why... why are you bringing this up now?

FRANK: ...I know you weren't paying attention, but I told you a story when we were driving to meet the F.E.D.S.

Shin's face turns red again. Shit, she was hoping he didn't remember that. The real reason she wasn't paying attention though is because she was fantasizing about him... and she missed what could have been a very emotional bonding experience for the two of them.

SHIN: I'm... I'm sorry I missed that. That was stupid of me.

FRANK: It's okay... basically, it was me talking about my childhood. How I always felt like... a mistake. My own parents didn't even want me. There was a foster family once, long ago, yet... even they had their issues with me. But in the past you've... you've been the only person I've ever met who's never made me feel like I was a screw-up. That is, until I left during the F.E.D.S. meeting, and you were disappointed. And again with the Alex stuff. So... that's why I wanted us to spend more time together. So I could... make up for those times. I really value your companionship, Shin. And... I've been trying to find a way to say that, is all. Thank you for... well, for everything.

"Companionship." Shin's face falls a little. But she tries not to show that she's too disappointed, especially after what he just said. She does mean a lot to him, just... as a friend. And she needs to be okay with that, if she truly cares about him.

SHIN: You're welcome, Frank.

FRANK: And I'm sorry I'm not as good as cheering you up as you are at cheering me up.

Shin thinks for a moment.

SHIN: Now, I need to be the one to speak "frankly." Is that okay?

FRANK: Yeah.

She's not going to tell him how she feels. But she does need to get something off her chest...

SHIN: Every night I dream the same dream-

VOICE: -of getting older, and older, all the time!

She ignores the voice.

SHIN: I ask you now... what does this mean?

VOICE: Are all these problems just in my mind?

FRANK: Uh... what dream?

She glances downward.

SHIN: I'm getting older, and older, all the time. I see myself growing older, and my sister and her friends growing older. All of us... moving along with our lives. No going back. It's too late, it's too damn late.

She looks Frank dead in the eyes.

SHIN: Frank... I've been lying. To you... to everyone here.

FRANK: Lying? You? ...about what?

SHIN: I'm... I'm not actually 18 years-old. I'm 16.

Frank is stunned.

SHIN: Please, please don't tell anyone, okay? Jane acted really serious that day when she asked us all if we were "of age" or whatever. I am a... or was, a college freshman, but that's because I skipped two grades in elementary school. And I'm almost 17 actually, my birthday's coming up in less than a week. So I'll be close to adult age soon!

FRANK: ...Jesus.

SHIN: I'm... I'm sorry for lyi-

FRANK: No, just... it's okay, I just didn't expect that.

SHIN: Please don't tell anyone.

FRANK: I won't, I won't... but Shin... why'd you really lie?

SHIN: Huh?

Frank looks at her with a certain kind of.... knowing expression in his face.

FRANK: Don't bullshit a bullshitter. Seriously, why'd you lie to us?

SHIN: ...I don't want them to abandon me because I'm "too young." Just like my sister and her friends did. You all... you've become like a second family to me these last couple months. Closer to me than anyone has been in a really long time.

Shin stands up and starts to pace. She also repeats what she said to Frank the other night:

SHIN: Things are easy when you're a child...

VOICE: But now these pressures have dropped on my head.

SHIN: The length I've gone... are just long miles.

VOICE: Would they be shorter if I were dead?

SHIN: Every time I look in my past... I always wish I was there. I wish my youth would forever last... why are these times so unfair?!

*Guitar

FRANK: Well, silly, that's what your dream means!

SHIN: ...what?

FRANK: It's your subconscious trying to tell you that life goes on. As much as we may want to, we can't stay in the past. In fact, if we kept spending time wishing we were in the past... we'd miss out on the present.

As Frank says this, Shin recognizes who the mysterious voice is... it's herself. Her younger self, when she was a kid. She never wanted to grow older, she always wanted to stay a kid. She thought... she thought death might even be a better alternative... but that's just her uninformed, dramatic younger self talking. Everything the voice has been saying has been uninformed and dramatic. Frank is right, she needs to stop focusing on the past, as much as she may want to.

SHIN: ...thank you, Frank. You're completely right. Never, ever think you're a screw-up. You're... you're smart. You're so smart.

Frank smiles. That one sentence has turned his entire mood around.

FRANK: I'm glad we... cleared the air. And that I know your true age now. Let's, uh... let's not keep things from each other anymore.

SHIN: Yeah, "try not to lie"... I guess we've both been bad at that, huh?

FRANK: Yeah... there's still things I don't want some of the others to know, but I don't mind telling you.

SHIN: (smiles) That's okay. It's not lying to keep personal things to yourself.

And she should know. She's been keeping something personal hidden the entire time she's known these people. Something she doesn't usually tell anyone...

Her sister is dead.

It's not something she likes to share, or even think about too much. Trauma like that is something that's okay to keep to yourself, for however long you choose. But that's actually the main reason she thinks about the past so much. She doesn't want to tell Frank, but yeah, the real reason she's stuck in the past is because she misses her sister. Thinking about her sister and her sister's friends, and when they did hang out, are some of her most treasured memories. People in high school teased her about it sometimes (one of the many reasons she had a hard time in high school), but it never sullied the memory of her. Shin's "inner child" doesn't even want to think about life without her sister. And yet, Frank is right. If she stays stuck in the past, she'll miss out on the present. She'll never let go of her sister... but not letting thoughts of her be all-consuming isn't "letting go." It's moving forward.

Meanwhile, Frank actually does have a personal detail he's lying about. But again, if it's such a personal detail, is it really lying? Or is it just protecting important information? What he's hiding is related to his origin... of which he doesn't know much about, other than this. But he's had to lie about it before, so often in fact that it becomes second-nature now. Maybe that's why he lied to these people when they all met. Maybe revealing the truth now subconsciously seems dangerous.

Frank... isn't 18 either. He's 17.

Which is great news, because if he wasn't a minor... his massive crush on Shin would be really problematic.

SHIN: Thank you, Frank. You've really helped turn my mood around with that.

FRANK: You've done the same for me.

They hug each other. Both of them want to kiss but... they each think that the other doesn't want that. Sigh. Mutually-assured "friendzone" destruction.

SHIN: And what do you know, we didn't need to go to "Passalacqua" to get our views changed. We did it all on our own.

FRANK: (smiling) Yeah. I guess it's a case-by-case basis... alright, I'll leave you alone now, Shin. Thanks again.

As Frank starts to leave, Shin hesitates. There's one other thing. One other thing she's been lying about... or hiding. And it's also personal, but... this is Frank.

SHIN: Frank! Wait...

Frank stops and turns back to face her.

SHIN: I actually have... something else important to tell you. Something else I've been hiding.

FRANK: Something else? Man... the secrets are all just coming out today.

SHIN: It's about... my name.

FRANK: Your name?

SHIN: Yeah... I've gone by Shin for a while now. I introduced myself that way to you all because we had just come from State C. But when Alex has been saying my name, and then when we all revealed our "full names"... I don't know, it's reminded me that I'm hiding this. And I'm... I'm not sure if I want to keep hiding it or not. Because like you said, we shouldn't let the past have so much sway over us.

FRANK: ...okay I'm totally lost. What are you talking about?

SHIN: "Shin" is a nickname. It's a nickname I've gone by for a long time because... well, I used to think it was cool. And it still is! Just... since I was like 7, only my family has ever called me by my full first name. I associate it a lot with my sister. But... I'm considering telling all of you what it is. Maybe... can I test it on you?

FRANK: ...okay, sure. Hi, I'm Frank, what's your name?

SHIN: ...

Haushinka. My name is Haushinka.

(Green Day fans know what THAT means!!)

(If you don't... just look up "Haushinka")

Ignore the message below! I have found time to write more chapters :)

Thank you to everyone who's read this fanfic. It's been incredible getting to actually write this, and I hope you've enjoyed it.

I'm uploading these weekly but writing them a bit in advance. I'm about to start law school, and by the time this uploads, I will have.

I will probably not have any more time to write any more chapters, even though we're not even 10% done with the whole story.

Maybe something will change, or maybe I will find time somehow. I hope so. But if not... again, thank you for reading.

Even though we're only 16 chapters into the planned 241-chapter story, this feels like an okay stopping point for me, for now.

It's the end of a "Volume," and we've introduced our 6th main character, now completing our team of heroes.

There are obviously some threads left to be resolved, because I have 241 chapters' worth of story! I'm sorry I cannot conclude them.

I know this wasn't the hugest success, but again thank you to those of you who have been reading and enjoying.

I'll still include what's "Up Next" so you at least know what the 17th chapter is and what it's kind of about.

And I'll leave you with one clue about what happens in the rest of the series:

Matt is tied to "St. Jimmy" the same way he knew about naloxone for opioid overdoses. Make of that what you will...

#GreenHeroes. #AmericanIdiots. #JaneCalvinShinMattFrank&Alex

Chapter Text

Baby Eyes is on the album "¡Dos!" from 2012. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

Chapter 18 is also available now!

Aaaaaaand I'm back! For how long? We shall see! I'm still in law school but I've found some time, for better or worse.

And I'm also back because there's Green Day news! Today is October 3rd. Other than the meme, and the release of the Taylor album...

...today is also the 25th anniversary of the Green Day album Warning! To mark the occasion...

Green Day has revealed that they're releasing a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the album next month!

And since, as you saw above, this 4th Volume IS Warning (the song, that is; the titular song from that album)...

...today felt like the perfect day to start the Volume! And to release not only this chapter, but the next one... the song Warning!

My goal for now for this story is to complete Volumes 4 & 5. Why there specifically? Well...

Overall, all 241 chapters fit into 45 Volumes, so 5 Volumes would be 1/9 of the whole story, which is a fraction I'm okay with.

Vol. 5 also ends in a much more satisfying/conclusive way than the prior 4 Vols.

Finally, Volume 5 contains the big 25th Chapter... Brain Stew! Yes, I'm revealing it now ahead of time to build hype.

So welcome back, hope you enjoy these next 11 chapters, and thank you for reading :)

CRIMINAL 1: That's one of the punks who got us arrested a month ago!

CALVIN: I see you fellas all made bail, huh?

Calvin is surrounded by three criminals in an alley, whom he previously took down with Shin (prior to Chapter 7), eventually leading to all three criminals' arrests.

CRIMINAL 2: Our families paid out a lot of money for it...

CALVIN: So you immediately went back to dealing fentanyl instead of learning your lesson? Yeah, I have no sympathy for you fellas. You're going to get someone killed.

CRIMINAL 1: You're right. We are going to get someone killed... YOU!!

The three criminals all rush Calvin.

CALVIN: Not only does it seem like you've forgotten my abilities... but I've also improved since then.

Calvin puts both arms out, and bursts of green light shoot out, temporarily blinding the criminals and forcing them to stop suddenly, leading them all to fall on their asses. Calvin then, with a glowing foot, kicks one of them sideways into another, sending them both flying against the wall.

CALVIN: And as for you...

Calvin punches the other criminal with a glowing green right fist. Calvin prepares to fight some more... only to realize all three criminals are knocked out already.

CALVIN: ...what, already? Man... I'm getting stronger. Shame though... it feels like I haven't been getting any action lately. Ah well, life's not all about that, I guess. May as well leave the cops an anonymous-

JANE: (over walkie) Calvin what's your 20? Did you forget we have a team meeting later tonight?

Calvin reaches in his pocket and speaks into his walkie talkie.

CALVIN: (over walkie) Didn't forget, just was... taking out some trash.

JANE: (over walkie) ...is that a euphemism?

CALVIN: (over walkie) ...yeah.

JANE: (over walkie) ...just get back here.

All of the “Idiots” except Frank are now gathered together in the main room.

JANE: He was around 5’10” I’d say, about Frank’s height. Skinny like him too.

SHIN: Any other discerning features?

JANE: Nah, he’s just… he was just a white guy, idk.

MATT: Jane, come on.

JANE: What?! Uh… he had dirty blonde hair, like Calvin… yeah, I can’t think of anything else.

ALEX: What about the escort? What did she look like?

JANE: They might not be together so I don’t see how that’s relevant.

ALEX: Why wouldn’t it be? What if they are together?

JANE: It’s a Saturday night, if anything she’s off… doing business.

ALEX: You don’t know that for sure.

JANE: Okay, sorry that I don’t want you guys to profile and harass every escort in the Bay Area, I don’t think they need that.

ALEX: …fair enough.

CALVIN: Good thinking, Jane!

JANE: …yeah.

FRANK: (from far off) Hey, guys! You might want to come see this.

MATT: (sighs) I hate when one of us says that.

They all head over to the computer room, where Frank is.

FRANK: I was just observing the news to see if the protests got any crazier or anything… and look, there’s a tweet from the White House Press Secretary.

The five of them peer at one of the screens.

JANE: Oh my god they’re deploying the National Guard to LA?! What the actual fuck?!

ALEX: Just watch, some judge will call it unconstitutional or whatever.

SHIN: But it might not be in time to do anything... my god...

MATT: Well… this is what you’d call good news and bad news.

The other 5 turn to look at Matt.

JANE: How the fuck is this good news?

MATT: We’re worried about the F.E.D.S., right? But… who do the F.E.D.S. work for?

JANE: …oh I see what you’re saying.

FRANK: I don’t.

SHIN: Matt’s saying that the Trump administration is putting a lot of attention towards southern California… and although we’re technically in “NorCal,” we’re pretty close to SoCal. Like very close.

MATT: Exactly. We know the F.E.D.S. are close by… meaning they’ll either be redirected to, or they’ll at the very least be inconvenienced and undermined by the government sending other federal forces to, LA.

CALVIN: So… this is an opportunity for us to go all-out, without worry about being tracked down!

MATT: Precisely. This is maybe one of the best opportunities we’re going to get.

ALEX: Yeah but… it feels slimy. Using this… fascist act to help ourselves.

JANE: Don’t look at it like that. First of all, we’re not “helping ourselves,” we’re helping the world. If we find this guy and convince him to join us, that’ll be helpful. Or we at least take him down in some way, so we don’t have to worry about him being out there in the world anymore.

MATT: And we’re just using the best possible moment to do it. Aren’t you the one who originally wanted us to “get our hands dirtier,” to find more “concrete ways to make a difference?”

ALEX: I know, it’s just-

CALVIN: It feels wrong, I get it. But we’re not causing the wrong. If anything, we’re getting something right out of the wrong.

ALEX: …what?

CALVIN: …that made more sense in my head.

JANE: Calvin’s… right, at least something good is coming out of this shitstorm, in a way.

ALEX: …I guess.

FRANK: Wait hold on, how is this going to be any different than what we usually do?

JANE: We usually are watching our backs whenever we do our “hero work…” and we still should, since it’s nighttime and the F.E.D.S. might not have been inconvenienced… but it’s more likely that we’re more in the clear right now. So we don’t need to hold back as much. We can flaunt our powers.

MATT: Well, not excessively. Don’t want to draw too much attention, but… yeah. We can go all-out to get this done.

SHIN: But again, let’s still watch our backs. We just made international news a couple days ago.

CALVIN: Of course. We’re “those American Idiots” now, we're famous. Well, famous-er.

JANE: And just in case, I think someone should stay at HQ. Kind of help coordinate us all from here.

FRANK: Are you volunteering?

JANE: Bitch, I’m the only one who actually knows what he looks like!

SHIN: *ahem*

JANE: …sorry, Frank. That was uncalled for. But anyway, not only that, I’m “field leader,” aren’t I? I should be in the field… Calvin, how about you stay behind?

Calvin nods expectantly and eagerly.

CALVIN: Not a problem, Jane! I can work on my guitar a bit.

Jane gives him a look.

CALVIN: Um, I mean, I’ll be alert and direct everyone from here. And not play guitar.

ALEX: (whispering) Whippppppped….

CALVIN: Huh?

ALEX: Oh, nothing.

JANE: Calvin will check in via walkie talkie, so everybody take one.

MATT: Uhhhh... I think burner phones might be better-

JANE: Says the guy who keeps losing his. I don't remember, do you even have one right now?

MATT: Yeah, but...

JANE: But what?

MATT: ...nothing, never mind.

SHIN: Alright people, uh… what is it you say sometimes, Jane? Transform and… move out?

JANE: Roll out!

SHIN: Yeah, that!

After about an hour of searching, Alex is stopped dead in his tracks by graffiti on a wall in West Oakland. Alex pulls over and steps out of his car to take a closer look. The Star of David over an outline of Israel. And overlayed are the words: “One-State. Down with Arab dogs.” It’s not the Star of David, or even the outline of Israel, that’s getting to him. It’s not even the wording about a One-State Solution. It’s the second sentence. “Down with Arab dogs.” The Bay Area has a large Jewish population, but it’s also supposed to be a left-leaning population. People like Calvin. There… shouldn’t be this type of graffiti around, certainly not as huge and prominent as this. And the exact phrase they used… “Arab dogs.” According to the Chinese Zodiac, Alex was actually born in the Year of the Dog. 2006. He used to think that was awesome, and then as he grew older, he could honestly say he “had that dog in him.” But with this wording… Alex doesn’t find pride or joy in being associated with a dog. Alex stands there for approximately 7 minutes, breathing heavily, fuming, ruminating. And then…

ALEX: Fuck this!

Alex gets in his car and drives into San Fran. Specifically, the Castro District, where all the great gay nightclubs are at. He needs to take his mind off of this. Off of the hate. Not just the Arab hate, but the hate for Hispanics that Trump and ICE have perpetuated, and which has now culminated in mass protests in LA. Alex wants to take his mind off of this hateful world. It’s overwhelming. It makes him angry. But anger doesn’t get him anywhere, he’s learned. Anger isn’t a useful tool when you become consumed by it. Then, it’s a handicap. So he needs to compartmentalize. God, of course he’s decided now to give up weed. Being off of it isn’t exactly helping his propensity for anger. But going to a club might just help. Dancing away his demons, maybe finding a cutiepie to flirt with… yeah, he might yet be able to turn this night around. Badlands should do just fine; he’s snuck out of the house nearly every weekend ever since they reopened. And it’s Pride Month, so it’ll be packed. Exactly what he needs to distract himself…

ALEX: (shouting) Go, Go, Go!

*Guitar

This is exactly what he needed. The music is loud, the place is packed. Alex is just swimming in a sea of gays. He can forget his troubles, he can forget his anger. This place is magical, it’s energizing. He feels right at home here, he feels like he’s on top of the world. He feels like he can do anything. His confidence is at an all-time high… when suddenly a very lanky white twink appears in front of him. He’s not wearing a shirt, and he’s actually pretty cut… but what Alex notices more are his eyes. Deep, dazzling blue eyes. The same eye color as Jane… or a newborn baby. Yeah, that’s a better example. “Baby Eyes.” Baby Eyes talks to Alex, both of them having to shout over the music.

BABY EYES: (shouting) What’s your name, handsome?

ALEX: (shouting) Alex! And I don’t want to know your name.

BABY EYES: (shouting) You… you don’t?

ALEX: (shouting) Nope, because I already have a good nickname for you. Baby Eyes.

BABY EYES: (shouting) “Baby Eyes?”

ALEX: (shouting) Yep. Oh come on, you must get complimented on them all the time!

BABY EYES: (shouting) Not as much as you’d think.

ALEX: (shouting) Well, I guess I’ll have to singlehandedly make up for all the blind idiots you’ve met!

BABY EYES: (shouting) Wanna head to the bar?

ALEX: (shouting) Sure thing, Baby Eyes!

Alex and “Baby Eyes” exit the dance floor and head to the bar. Upon seeing him in better lighting, Baby Eyes does a double-take.

BABY EYES: Woah! Sorry, I didn’t realize you were… Arab?

ALEX: …uh, yeah, man. What’d you think I was, an alien?

BABY EYES: No, I just mean… I thought you were Mexican or something.

ALEX: Would that be better?

BABY EYES: No, no, that’s not what I mean! Just… the lighting over there, I knew you were a POC but I couldn’t tell what… kind.

Baby Eyes hasn’t really said anything racist or too egregious. There’s a very high possibility he’s like Frank: just says whatever stupid shit is at the front of his mind, regardless of how offensive it may sound. He doesn’t seem to hate the fact that Alex is Arab or anything. But… despite his intention, the look on his face and the words off his lips affect Alex’s mood. It reminds Alex of the graffiti from earlier. How… "unwelcome" it made him feel, to put it lightly. A familiar feeling creeps back into Alex’s thoughts: anger. The contentment and confidence are still there… but the anger is there now too. Those three make a very weird combination. But it’s not Alex’s first rodeo. A healthy dose of anger can feed his confidence, make him bold and unapologetic. He’s still at Badlands, he’s still in a safe space. He just got reminded of the outside world for a sec… and that’s okay. Maybe bold and unapologetic is just what he needs right now to land this guy. This stupid, hot guy. This himbo. Alex does like being the smarter one, if he can be.

ALEX: Yep, I’m Arab! I’m Palestinian.

BABY EYES: That's... that's beautiful.

Alex doesn't really know what that's supposed to mean or insinuate but-

ALEX: Thank you.

BABY EYES: Are you legal?

Alex freezes again, briefly.

ALEX: What?

BABY EYES: How old are you?

Oh. That’s what he meant. God this guy is stupid. Might make for great sex though. Alex hasn’t gotten laid in… well, let’s just say it’s been too long. Okay, confidence.

ALEX: Year of the-

Alex stops. He was about to say “Year of the Dog,” but remembers the graffiti again. So… he lies.

ALEX: -Rat.

Well that’s not a better answer. Not only does that sound unattractive as fuck, it would actually make him younger! 17 instead of 19, and thus, not legal. But maybe this guy won’t-

BABY EYES: How old does that make you? I don’t know the, uh, zodiac.

Perfect.

ALEX: 22.

BABY EYES: Alright, bet! I’m 23.

Alex suspected he was a bit older, and he was correct. It’s weird being smarter than somebody 4 years older than you… but whatever. Again, the sex will probably be amazing.

BABY EYES: You an only child?

Alex decides to keep lying. Why not, right? It’s what he’s good at. Confidence!

ALEX: Last of the litter.

BABY EYES: Youngest child? Ha, do you have like a chaperone near by?

Okay, so he can jest. Alex likes that. Lies and confidence.

ALEX: Not anymore. Somebody shot the babysitter.

BABY EYES: Really now… was it you? Did you shoot the babysitter?

Alex leans in close.

ALEX: Well, they say my middle name is “Danger…”

A bit cliché, but hey, anything’s possible. Maybe there really is a guy with that middle name.

ALEX: (whispering) …the kind you keep away from straaaaangerssss.

He doesn't know why he said THAT. He doesn't want to scare this dude off...

ALEX: Uh, I mean-

Suddenly, the DJ starts playing a really sick beat. Or something. Idk, the point is it gets Alex’s attention.

ALEX: Okay, we have got to dance to this.

Alex grabs Baby Eyes by the arm and leads him back onto the dance floor. He twirls Baby Eyes around. They then have to shout again in order to hear each other over the music.

ALEX: (shouting) I say “woah-oh-oh-oh-oh!

Alex spins himself into Baby Eye’s arms.

ALEX: (shouting) I’m out of control…” Oh Baby, when I see your pretty face…

Alex twirls him again.

ALEX: (shouting) I say “woah-oh-oh-oh-oh,

Alex then pulls him in close enough to hear a whisper.

ALEX: (whispering) God rest your fucking soul…”

Alex then puts him back at arm’s length. Baby Eyes is giving him a confused look.

ALEX: (shouting) ‘Cuz Baby, baby, I was born to kill!

*Guitar

Alex dances solo while Baby Eyes stares at him.

BABY EYES: (shouting) What?

Meanwhile, deep in the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Matt is on the phone.

MATT: Sorry, sorry, I mixed up my burner phones.

HENRY: You what?

MATT: I told my friends I lost this one, but then I had to get a new one so they’d get off my back. And they look pretty identical, and I had this one turned off until I knew we’d be speaking again, but like I said it looks identi-

CASEY: Okay you know what? Doesn’t matter. Just give us something we want to know.

MATT: Well, back to my Watchmen analogy, you know how-

HENRY: No, no, enough of that. Give us something concrete. About your hideout, or the teleporters.

MATT: …well, we have reason to believe it was built and/or designed by someone British.

CASEY: What? Who the fuck cares?! No Matt, tell us something significant. Like… how the hell are you all surviving, anyway? Are you stealing food?

MATT: Yes, we uh-

HENRY: Liar.

MATT: Huh?

HENRY: That’s such a lie, I can tell! Don’t lie to us, Matt, you don’t want to do that.

MATT: (sighs) Honestly, there was food in our hideout when we found it.

CASEY: There was… how the hell is that possible? Fresh food?

MATT: Non-perishable items only but… yeah. Made within the year.

CASEY: …so someone’s been using the teleporter network recently. And has reason to believe there’ll be others using it and who may be reliant on it.

HENRY: Okay, that’s big. Thank you, Matt.

MATT: Hey, this deal cuts both ways, you got to give me something big now. Why and how is the planet in danger of blowing up?

CASEY: We… we’re not at liberty to say.

MATT: Oh come on! Then… what happened to the people who supposedly had superpowers decades ago? Why is there no record of them?

HENRY: …can we tell him?

CASEY: Sigh. He did give us actionable intelligence on the network. Here, let me. Matt, I’m going to tell you something completely true, even though it might sound far-fetched. Are you ready?

MATT: Yes.

CASEY: …we have no idea what happened to them.

MATT: Bull!

CASEY: It’s true! One day they just… they just vanished! Like they were never here!

MATT: The fuck does that mean? Are we going to “vanish” too?

CASEY: It’s a possibility. We really don’t know what happened, so it’s not entirely implausible that you may also just disappear one day, I suppose.

MATT: Terrific. That’s just… that’s just terrific! And it also doesn’t really tell me anything, so you have to give me something else. What about the hideouts, how do they mask our location?

HENRY: We don’t know.

MATT: Fucking seriously?!

CASEY: Matthew, watch your tone.

MATT: It’s Matt. And how dare you, you said this would be a fair deal, but right now you haven’t told me anything useful.

There is silence on the other end for nearly a full minute. Then:

HENRY: Matt, we have to… consult our boss, before we give you any more information.

MATT: That wasn’t the deal.

HENRY: Deals change. We’ll contact you in exactly one week from now.

MATT: Wait, don’t-!

They hang up. Matt screams and shoots lasers up into the sky.

MATT: YAHHHHHHH!!!!!

*Drums

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

Matt breathes heavily. Alex was right, he does have some unresolved anger issues. He’s more similar to him and Jane than he thought. At least Jane seems to be getting better about her anger, though. That’s a sign of hope, but he definitely has work to do. For now though, he should get out there and actually look for the pimp, instead of secretly going into the forest to do this call. Man… it’s tiring keeping secrets.

BABY EYES: (shouting) Did you say you were born to kill?

ALEX: (shouting) Yeah, dude! I’m dangerous, like I said! God rest your soul, R.I.P. to you.

Alex is dancing his heart out while Baby Eyes seems... enthralled. Huh. Alex doesn't know what he expected, honestly. It's definitely nice to be wanted... but he kind of came on a little too strong, he thought. "I'm dangerous, like I said... the kind you keep away from strangers..." apparently the line worked, but Alex can't help but think back to the graffiti again. "The kind you keep away from strangers..." was that what he was really thinking? That he's one of the "kind" that people around here hide their kids from? Because he's Arab? Because he's a terrorist?! Wait wait wait, how did he come to THAT conclusion? Why is he still thinking about that, he's supposed to forget all that! He's not even drunk but his thoughts start to become... oh no, he knows what's happening. This is the anger coming in. Baby Eyes has his eyes on him... fuck, he became TOO confident! And content. So confident and content that he didn't even notice the anger was rising at the same time. Very weird combination. It makes him want to... boast, to reject the stereotypes he thinks about himself and his people. No, not reject... reclaim! He's angry, but he's also content! Confident! He looks at Baby Eyes, walks over to him, and pulls him in for a longggggg kiss. And after-

BABY EYES: (whispering) Goddamn you're hot.

ALEX: (shouting) And you're so fucking pretty!

BABY EYES: (shouting) Can I have your number?

Alex pauses. Not what he wanted to hear.

ALEX: (shouting) Uhhh... so there's a weird situation with my phone...

BABY EYES: (shouting) Does it work?

ALEX: (shouting) Uhhh... well yeah, it works...

BABY EYES: (shouting) What's your number then, hot stuff?

Shit. His charm worked TOO well. He's overloaded with contentment, confidence... and anger. It made him bold, unapologetic... which is exactly what Baby Eyes liked, apparently. But Alex was only looking for a hookup... hell, he's living in a secret headquarters inside a national park, he couldn't exactly bring someone home even if he wanted to! Alex can find someone else for a one-night stand, he's gotta ditch Baby Eyes.

ALEX: (shouting) Look... you're really cute, but I wasn't looking for a... long-term thing.

BABY EYES: (shouting) Maybe you weren't looking... but maybe you found something better than what you were looking for.

Fuck. He said that really quickly. He's really into Alex. Damnit, what now?!

ALEX: ...heh.

Wait. This is actually really funny. Just a few weeks ago, Alex was kicked out of his house. He hasn't seen his family in... and now he's worried about a random twink at Badlands? That's... that's hysterical. Alex tries to hold in his laughter.

BABY EYES: (shouting) Well?

Ah, this is hilarious... in a fucked-up way. He laughs derisively out of anger, but also confidence and... contentment? Wait, that's it! He's feeling good... but he also has a lot of aggressive energy. He can use that! He just needs to focus... okay, he wanted to reclaim some stereotypes, right? Be bold and unapologetic.

ALEX: (shouting) Something better than what I was looking for? So what, a wish come true, huh?

BABY EYES: (shouting) Exactly! I'm a product of that shooting star you must've wished on, baby. I can make your dreams come true.

Okay yeah, that was a lame line, this guy's charm has started to fade. Time to pull the trigger... hey, that's a good place to begin, actually.

ALEX: (shouting) I pulled the trigger for the shooting stars!

BABY EYES: (shouting) You...you what?

ALEX: (shouting) I shot 'em! I'm a disaster engine! I am the motor in your crashing car!

BABY EYES: (shouting) You... what do you mean, why are you saying that?

Reclaim the stereotype, reclaim your image. Palestine isn't full of terrorists, Palestine is beautiful, and so is the rest of the Arab world. Alex suddenly remembers talking with his family about the Arab Spring when he was six, when he came up with his first lie. He was just a child, a-

ALEX: (shouting) I am the cherub in the Arab Spring!

His thoughts race to Gaza. Soldiers gunning down civilians.

ALEX: (shouting) I am the bullet in your magazine!

BABY EYES: (shouting) Huh?

Why did he say that? Without thinking, Alex twirls Baby Eyes around and once again says:

ALEX: (shouting) I say “woah-oh-oh-oh-oh!

Gaza. Death. Luigi Mangione. Arab dogs. Weed. Frank and Calvin. Not making a difference. LA protests. One of my lies. Passalacqua. The thoughts keep coming, they're not stopping.

ALEX: (shouting) I’m out of control…” Oh Baby, when I see your pretty face…

Alex takes a look into Baby Eyes's eyes once more, before he-

ALEX: (shouting) I say “woah-oh-oh-oh-oh,

Alex pulls him in again, close enough to hear a whisper.

ALEX: (whispering) God rest your fucking soul…”

Alex pushes him back.

ALEX: (shouting) ‘Cuz baby, Baby Eyes!

Alex grabs Baby Eyes's shoulders.

ALEX: (shouting) Well, baby, Baby Eyes!

Alex stares right into Baby Eyes's eyes. This is it, take it home. Make him understand.

ALEX: (shouting) Well, Baby, baby, I was born to...

Alex's hands suddenly glow and he shoves Baby Eyes backwards with intense strength.

ALEX: (shouting) KILL!!!

Baby Eyes flies backwards into the crowd of dancers. Everyone immediately becomes startled and scared. A bright, unusual light, a bunch of people slammed into each other... unfortunately, it makes people think there might be a shooter causing this commotion. Alex himself is stunned, he truly didn't mean to use his powers just then, he got carried away. But it's too late. The music abruptly shuts off, and the room drowns in the sound of screams and yells. Everyone races towards the door... oh god people are going to get trampled. On instinct, Alex uses both hands to shoot lasers at the ground, propelling himself into the air like a kangaroo, and landing in the middle of the crowd with a bright green light. People gasp and exclaim at the sight of this, before stopping dead in their tracks. With the pause comes clarity: there isn't a shooter. It's just... one of the Green Heroes? But there's a lot of leftists in this club, like Alex. And like Alex, they don't all buy into what the Green Heroes are selling. So to them, ironically, Alex is just a nuisance who almost caused a panic. Without saying anything more, people start to clear out. It's not even that late... but Alex officially killed the party. Alex sees Baby Eyes among the crowd.

BABY EYES: ...freak.

Baby Eyes gets swallowed by the crowd. Alex will never see him again. But he doesn't really care right now, he's busy panicking. He lost control. Again. Matt was wrong, he doesn't have a lid on this. He's going to explode one day, like a bomb. An Arab car bomb. Fuck. He's everything he wishes he wasn't. He hates himself. And it's not like anyone's telling him otherwise. The world hates him because he's Palestinian... or more generally, an Arab. Arab people hate him because he's queer. His family hates him because he's a pothead. And now the LGBT+ community hates him because he's a superpowered freak. The "Green Heroes" are all he has now... and they're going to hate him too once they realize he can't control himself.

ALEX: ...oh my god.

Alex realizes that he has another lie now. The lie that he's under control. But he's not. "I'm out of control," that's what he said to Baby Eyes. If Baby Eyes ever talked to Matt- wait what the fuck is he thinking? How would those two ever cross paths? Alex is just being paranoid and scared now, he knows that, the logical side of his brain knows that... so why does it feel so fucking scary and real?!

ALEX: (whispering) I am the bullet in your magazine... I was born to kill... I was born to kill...

CALVIN: (over walkie) Uh... hey guys? Anyone there?

Alex slowly reaches and pulls his walkie-talkie out of his back pocket.

JANE: (over walkie) Jane here, what's up Calvin?
FRANK: (over walkie) This is Frank, I copy.

Alex speaks into the walkie.

ALEX: This is Alex.
MATT: (over walkie) Matt here, what's going on?

There is a pause. Alex is still obviously freaking out. Matt's probably been searching for the pimp this whole time. Fuck, Alex has another lie. He's been clubbing when he was supposed to be on mission. Fuck! Why can't he be more like Matt?

CALVIN: (over walkie) You know how... there's food in our base, from within the year?

JANE: (over walkie) ...yeah?

CALVIN: (over walkie) ...so somebody had to put it there, right? Within the year?

JANE: (over walkie) ...yeah?

CALVIN: (over walkie) And we realized that means this person could... come back one day?

There is another pause.

JANE: (over walkie) ...Calvin, don't tell me-

CALVIN: (over walkie) I think today's the day. You all should get back here. NOW!

Once again, welcome back to the show :)

#GreenHeroes. #AmericanIdiots. #JaneCalvinShinMattFrank&Alex

Chapter Text

Warning is the opening track on the album "Warning" from 2000. The link to the song is here.

The link to the full playlist is here, and art of our main cast is in Chapter 1.

2 minutes ago...

Calvin is sitting in a rolling chair in the computer room. He's strumming an acoustic guitar... which Jane specifically told him not to do. Well actually, she didn't explicitly say not to, she just gave him a look, so...

CALVIN: Here we go again, infatuation...

As he tries playing, one of the strings suddenly comes off the guitar.

CALVIN: Goddamnit!

Calvin sighs, puts down the guitar, and picks up the walkie. He speaks into it.

CALVIN: Matt, what's the good word?

MATT: (over walkie) Wha-what? Whatever do you mean?

"Whatever do you mean?" Well THAT'S suspicious. But... it's Matt! So that doesn't make sense actually.

CALVIN: Lol why'd you say it like that, "whatever do you mean," I just mean how goes the search?

MATT: (over walkie) The search? Oh! Yeah, the search is going fine. I've been searching. The whole time. Just searching.

...okay now that's REALLY suspicious. Matt's clearly hiding something, but... whatever, Calvin doesn't want to pry.

CALVIN: ...okay man, just checkkkkkking in, you know? You keep at it.

MATT: (over walkie) Roger that!

Calvin puts down his walkie and puts his hands on his face. This is soooooo boring. What he wouldn't give for something EXCITING to happen!

COMPUTER VOICE: Transport arriving.

Calvin nearly falls out of his fucking chair. That's... that's the teleporter computer voice! But Calvin knows that all of the rest of them are nearby, and not at their old college, so it can't be any of them returning from a teleport...

CALVIN: ...so who the fuck IS returning?

A bright, blinding neon green light flashes from where the teleporter is. Calvin runs out of the room and faces the teleporter. After a beat... someone opens the teleporter door.

49 minutes later...

Alex comes sprinting into the main room, looking at the floor as he runs.

ALEX: Sorry! Sorry, I got here as fast as I-

He stops and looks up. The other five are all there, staring at...

An older man wearing a 3-piece suit, seated with his back turned to them, at the desk, writing things on a pad of paper.

ALEX: ...Who. The Hell. Is That?

MATT: That's uh... that's what we'd all like to know.

ALEX: ... shouldn't we do something? Say something?

FRANK: We don't know what to say or do. So we've just been... waiting 'til everyone got here.

SHIN: Well, everyone's here now so... what do we do?

MATT: Calvin, how did he find this place? And was he doing anything before he sat down and started writing?

CALVIN: He... teleported in here.

JANE: He teleported?! I thought only people with our abilities could... wait, does he have superpowers?!

CALVIN: How should I know? He got here, took a look around, mumbled some things and then just... sat down and started writing, yeah!

FRANK: We need to do something, guys! I mean... he found our headquarters! What if he's an agent of the F.E.D.S.?

OLDER MAN: I can hear you, you know.

The Idiots all immediately stop talking. Interestingly enough, the man has a British accent.

OLDER MAN: We're in the same room for goodness sake, and I only have a couple more things to write down before we get down to business, so if you don't mind, would you please be quiet so I can concentrate?

MATT: You're... you're British.

OLDER MAN: And you're evidently a master of the obvious, young man. Now please, let me just finish up here. I will be with you posthaste!

The Idiots have no idea what to do. Even Jane, who's usually very suspicious and aggressive in unknown situations, is stunned into a standstill. After a couple minutes, the man stops writing, and stands up to face them.

OLDER MAN: Now then. I believe introductions are in order. I won't give you my real name, but you may call me James.

The Idiots retain their stunned silence.

JAMES: ...alright. Straight to business then.

"James" heads into the computer room. After a beat, the Idiots all follow him. James has pulled a secret keyboard out of the wall below some of the screens, and is now typing away.

JANE: Did... did you know that keyboard was there?

MATT: ...no.

JANE: ...great.

Suddenly, all the screens turn off.

JANE: Hey, what the-?!

But just as quickly as they turned off, they turn back on. A single image is displayed largely, with pieces of it on each screen. It looks like a man being electrocuted.

(the image this is supposed to resemble can be seen here )

CALVIN: What is that supposed to-

Suddenly, an automated voice echoes throughout the room.

SYSTEM: THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT... THIS IS ONLY A TEST.

CALVIN: ...okay what the hell? That wasn't the normal computer voice.

JAMES: No, that was Base 18's Warning system.

James finishes typing and looks at the Idiots.

JAMES: And now that I've reactivated it, and gave the all-clear after the vocal test, it will start proceedings.

ALEX: Proceedings?

SYSTEM: SCANNING.

Just as suddenly, green scanner lights shine out from the ceiling and wash over all the occupants of the room. All of the Idiots, even Jane, flinch at this.

SHIN: Hold on-
FRANK: Hey!
MATT: Watch it!
JANE: The fuck is this?!

SYSTEM: ALERT. REGULAR DETECTED. INITIATING EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROTOCOL.

James goes back to the keyboard and types a few things.

SYSTEM: FALSE ALARM. EMERGENCY EVACUATION ABORTED. BASE ALL-CLEAR. COMMENCING RE-INTEGRATION.

SHIN: Emergency evacuation?

MATT: Regular detected?

CALVIN: Re-integration?

JAMES: I can see you all have questions. And now, I can answer them while we wait for the system to re-integrate with the Base. I'll start with you miss, you asked what the emergency evacuation was about?

SHIN: ...yes?

James looks at both Shin and Matt.

JAMES: This also ties into your question, young man, about the detection of a "regular."  If a regular is detected, protocol dictates an emergency evacuation of the base... a "regular" being one who does not possess empowered abilities. Which is me. But, I inputted a few commands, and now the Base recognizes me as one of you, essentially. I no longer read as a "regular," so there is no need for evacuation.

MATT: So... if anyone enters this place who doesn't have powers... with the, uh, Warning system now powered up, it'll activate... emergency evacuation protocol?

JAMES: Precisely. Got to stay ahead of the F.E.D.S., mustn't we?

FRANK: So... you're not part of the F.E.D.S.?

JAMES: Ha! Gracious no, I am the furthest thing from that shoddy bureaucratic trash heap. I thought it would've been obvious when I didn't try to capture you straight away.

JANE: Hold on, hold on, can we just... stay on-track? Like... I want to know who you are, how you know all this... but first. In case the F.E.D.S. do find us... what's the emergency evacuation protocol?

JAMES: Smart thinking, lass. Always best to prioritize covering your exits. I suspect you're also asking to either possibly get away from me or get me away from you, yes?

MATT: Wha... Jane?!

JAMES: No, no, the miss is quite sharp. For all you know I am one of the F.E.D.S. and this is all an elaborate ruse, so you need to think about escaping quickly.

The Idiots don't say anything to this.

JAMES: Tongue-tied still? Hm. Well, I suppose you do need some explanations for all this. But first, the emergency evacuation protocol. A heavy dose of sleeping gas will emanate from the sprinkler system near the ceiling, which will then allow you to-

SHIN: Wait... won't sleeping gas knock us out too?

JAMES: Just... construct a gas mask.

ALEX: There are gas masks here?

JAMES: No, I mean... simply make some. With your abilities.

MATT: Gas masks... we can do that?

JAMES: Oh dear, you're much farther behind than I thought.

JANE: Not now, guys! Uh... Mister?

JAMES: James.

JANE: Yeah. Is that the whole protocol? Sleeping gas?

JAMES: No. The teleporter will then send every occupant to a randomized Base location. The thought is... what if you all were to go to one place, and it was either in disrepair, or the F.E.D.S. or someone else were waiting there as well? It is most prudent to split up in case of an emergency.

JANE: What? No it fucking isn't! We're not doing that, we stay together. We're a team.

JAMES: Miss, I assure you, the emergency evacuation has been proven countless times to-

JANE: I don't care, I'm... I'm having an emergency evacuation protest! We aren't. Doing that.

JAMES: ...I'm glad you all seem to be rather close. But that isn't safe.

JANE: And who the hell are you to say that? Okay, you explained how to get out of here, it's basically just gas and the teleporter. Not really that groundbreaking.

JAMES: No one ever said it was.

JANE: Regardless, you explained it. Great. Now tell us who the fuck you are. If this is a trap, we'll either fight you or leave. We know you don't have powers, the computer confirmed it.

JAMES: If this were a trap, why would I explain the emergency evacuation protocol to you?

JANE: ...I don't know, maybe you lied! Maybe something else happens. But there's enough of us here to stop you from touching that keyboard again, and we know how to use the teleporter normally, so we can definitely escape if we want, protocol or not. Now talk. And don't lie. We don't tolerate liars.

Matt, Shin, Alex, and Frank all look away. Jane doesn't notice.

JAMES: There isn't need for threats, I will share information with you willingly. In fact, I already wrote it down.

James heads back into the main room and, once again, the Idiots follow him.

James hands Jane the pad of paper that he wrote on earlier.

JANE: What's this?

JAMES: Presumably the answers to all your questions! Once I got here, and discovered... him...

James points to Calvin.

JAMES: ...and noticed other signs that there were other probable inhabitants of this Base, I decided to write down all the relevant information you might need. I didn't specifically jot down the emergency evacuation protocol though so I'm glad you asked about that. But everything else you need to know is all in there. Trust me, I've done this before.

SHIN: What... what does THAT mean?

MATT: Are there... a lot more like us? At other bases?

JAMES: Sorry, um... well, I can't say for sure, but from what I have experienced, no. In fact, you're the first people I've encountered in one of these Bases in over 2 decades.

The Idiots are stunned. Then, finally:

MATT: I knew it. I knew this base was built in the 2000s, and I knew there was British influence. It was you, wasn't it? You built this base!

JAMES: I... designed it. Didn't quite build it from hand, I'm not an architect or construction worker but... yes, you could say this and many other of the Bases are mine.

FRANK: And you've been supplying the food... haven't you? I mean, that's what Calvin said on the walkie.

CALVIN: Oh right, I forgot. When he got here, he muttered something about "the food not going to waste."

ALEX: You could've led with that, man.

JAMES: Yes, I do supply the Bases with food in case anyone were to ever return. Again, need to stay ahead of the F.E.D.S., yes? So, the Bases must be livable and survivable.

JANE: So... you're an authority figure. You're THE authority figure, you manage these hideouts.

JAMES: Bases.

JANE: WHATEVER! Who exactly are you? Why make these bases and-

SYSTEM: RE-INTEGRATION COMPLETE.

JAMES: Excellent. Everything you need to know is on that pad of paper. I'm sorry to say though, that since the Warning system is now fully operational, I must bid you adieu.

JANE: Wait, WHAT?! You're leaving?

JAMES: I'm afraid so.

JANE: ...no! You don't get to just give us a pad of paper and Walk Away! What if we have more questions you didn't cover?

JAMES: As I said, everything that you need to know is there. The rest is... not essential information.

JANE: Well, it may not be essential, but I sure as shit would like to know some more!

JAMES: ...some things are best to be left buried, dear. Trust me. You may not believe me, but I am doing you a favor by not sticking around.

JANE: Well you might think that, but what if you're wrong? You're... no, you're not leaving!

Her right fist starts to glow green.

ALEX: Woah, Jane! Hold on there!

SHIN: What are you going to do, hold him here against his will?

JANE: That's exactly what I'm going to do.

JAMES: Dearest. There are some urgent matters I must attend to-

JANE: Yeah, and when I'm satisfied that you've told us everything we WANT to know, and not just what you think we NEED to know... then I'll let you go.

FRANK: Jane... this is a democracy, remember? And I don't think any of us want to keep this old man hostage.

JAMES: Excuse me, I am only 64, and quite spry for my age!

JANE: Any of you going to fight me? Hm? Because that's what it's going to take to stop me... I'm keeping him here.

None of the others say anything to this. Nobody wants to physically fight.

JANE: I'm sick and fucking tired of all of this. The F.E.D.S... now this guy! People who claim to be some kind of "authority," and aren't telling us shit! Don't you guys want more answers??

MATT: (sighs) Although I do not endorse this... I can see why keeping this man around might be useful.

SHIN: Matt!

JANE: Excellent. How about you show him to a room and guard it? We can take shifts.

SHIN: This... this is insane! Jane, we can't do this.

JANE: Are you going to stop me, Shin?

SHIN: ...I'm considering it.

Shin's right fist starts to glow green as well. Frank runs in-between them.

FRANK: Woah woah woah, no need for this! Um, I vote that we keep him here. So that's Jane, Matt, and me. Calvin, Alex, either of you vote yes?

ALEX: Uh, no.

FRANK: Calvin? Come on... you'd want to vote with... Jane and us, yeah?

CALVIN: Uh... can I have some time-

JANE: Right now, Calvin.

CALVIN: Yes.

FRANK: Excellent! Now Shin, now we voted. Majority wins, 4 versus 2. So, no need for fighting.

Shin stares into Frank's eyes. The way he quickly organized all that... was it just to stop her from fighting? Why? Because... he thought Jane might win? And that she then might lose, and get hurt? Was this all just to protect her? Shin's fist stops glowing.

SHIN: ...okay. I... I don't like how it happened, but we did vote. So, okay... I guess let's put James in a room.

JAMES: This is not only unnecessary, this is very improper! You cannot keep me here!

JANE: Wanna bet?

SYSTEM: WARNING! EXCESS USE OF ABILITIES IN A SHORT TIME-FRAME MAY TIRE YOU OUT, AND THUS MAY IMPAIR YOUR ABILITY TO OPERATE MACHINERY IN THE BASE.

Matt, who's with Alex in the main room trying to use his powers to do... something, stops. His fists remain glowing, however.

ALEX: For real? Do you buy that?

MATT: ...can't quite tell just what it means to me.

Jane walks in from one of the hallways.

JANE: I think it's bullshit. Why would us using our powers a lot tire us out, and why would us being tired "impair our ability to operate machinery?"

ALEX: You heard that?

JANE: The entire base heard it, the Warning System is set up like an intercom or something. It's obnoxious. What were you two doing in here to make it say that?

MATT: I was trying to learn from Alex how to construct objects with my powers, like how he can create swords so easily. I was getting close!

Shin, who's sitting with Frank on the couch, turns to look at Jane.

SHIN: Wait, Jane, if you're here, who's with James?

JANE: Calvin.

SHIN: Ah.

MATT: He's interrogating him, presumably?

JANE: I don't know.

MATT: You don't... Jane! If he's not questioning him then we're keeping him here for no reason?! I didn't agree to that.

SHIN: Yeah, Jane... your little coup may have worked, but now you gotta follow-up. We need to get information from him.

JANE: ...I'm sorry, what did you just say to me, Shin?

SHIN: Nothing that isn't fucking true!

This shuts everyone up. Shin normally doesn't curse so angrily.

SHIN: You unilaterally made a decision and essentially forced us all to go along with it. You got mad at Frank for a similar decision, when he brought Alex here, but when you do it it's okay?! I... I thought when you lost the fight to the pimp you were becoming less aggressive. What happened?

JANE: It's not like that fight changed me or anything! I was momentarily humbled, sure. And I've been trying not to lose my cool too much... maybe I still need to work on it. But the point is, the guy who BUILT OUR BASE got here and was trying to leave, so I'm sorry that I stepped in and made a call. I'm still field leader, aren't I? We haven't decided to change that yet?

SHIN: We weren't in the field!

FRANK: Okay, okay, let's just... stop. We shouldn't be fighting each other. Shin, please de-escalate. This isn't like you.

Shin softens when she hears that. He's right... she's upset because keeping James here feels like such a violation of what she believes is right... but that doesn't mean she needs to get as angry as Jane.

SHIN: ...okay. Sorry. But Jane, you need to come up with a plan. Now.

JANE: I'm sorry, you keep harping on this being a democracy. Why is the plan on me? Shouldn't we all think of something?

SHIN: BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE-!!

SYSTEM: WARNING! LOWER VOLUME OF NOISE IN ORDER TO PREVENT OUTSIDE DETECTION.

JANE: ...we're not allowed to yell now?

FRANK: Outside-? We're in the middle of a fucking forest! Underground! Nobody can fucking hear us! God this thing is so... anal! What's next? "Warning! Don't run with scissors! Keep out of reach of children!"

Alex stiffens at that line. Just last night, he was freaking out at Badlands. "The kind you keep away from strangers..." the kind you keep your kids away from! Come on Alex, don't freak out. They can't know you're on the verge of losing it. Cover for yourself! Lie, distract.

ALEX: "Don't you talk to strangers!"

Perfect, it worked. Frank and Matt are smiling.

FRANK: Yeah, exactly! Treating us like we don't know any better.

MATT: Or like we can't think for ourselves. Like the kind of people who think it makes sense to get your philosophy from a bumper sticker!

FRANK: Lmao, yeah! Like the "co-exist" one with all the religious symbols and shit. God, some people are just such... sheep.

ALEX: That's exactly what I've been trying to tell you since I got here! The masses all think the same shit, individuality is vanishing. And it's insulting that this... this computer thinks we're like all the rest. Warning... live without warning, more like it!

FRANK: Hey, that's good! Hey, I say a warning: live without Warning!

MATT: Without... alright.

JANE: Are you boys done? Can you get off your soapbox now? Weren't you all just on me about coming up with a plan?

MATT: Really, that was mostly Shin but... fair point. I'll relieve Calvin and go talk to James, see what I can learn.

ALEX: Can I go too? Sorry, just... I want to ignore the fucking Warning system, and just standing around here isn't helping.

MATT: ...sure, let's go.

ALEX: So James... are you a religious man? Can I call you "St. Jimmy"?

Matt glares at Alex.

MATT: Ignore him. So... you want what... better homes and... "safety-sealed" communities?

JAMES: For people like yourselves, that is. A network of upstanding units that conceal you from the F.E.D.S.

MATT: Okay... why? Why are you helping people like us? What's your connection to... all this?

JAMES: That isn't relevant. What is relevant is keeping up with your mission.

ALEX: And what do you know about our mission?

JAMES: Based on the videos I assume you want to save the world, yes? I happen to agree with that idea.

ALEX: Alright... how exactly do you want us to save the world? Pretend... pretend like we have no clue how to do it.

Matt gives Alex a look. He doesn't want to give James too much information, they're still not sure how much they can trust him.

JAMES: That's not my department, I'm simply responsible for the upkeep of the Bases. By the by, did you remember to pay the utility?

MATT: ...what?

JAMES: Is nobody paying the power bill?

MATT: ...we need to pay the power bill?!

JAMES: Ha! No, I'm just joshing you. You youngsters are so serious, you need to find a sense of humour. But my point is, you don't know how these Bases operate. Hard for you to save the world if you're still trying to navigate your living situation, hm? Do you even know how this place has remained powered?

MATT: Well if no one's paying the electricity... I'm stumped. How?

JAMES: A self-perpetuating generator.

ALEX: Wha... self-perpetuating? Like a perpetual motion machine?!

MATT: That's impossible.

JAMES: And empowered abilities... are not?

Silence. That's a good point.

MATT: ...if a perpetual motion machine really does exist, wouldn't that help the world immensely? If you want to help us save the world, why not publicly reveal how the generator works?

JAMES: I'm afraid it's not that simple. It only works for this purpose.

MATT: That doesn't make any sense. I think you're lying.

JAMES: Think whatever you wish. I have never lied to you.

ALEX: Just withheld information, right?

JAMES: Well yes, but I've still never lied. Mustn't that count for something?

ALEX: ...why can't you just tell us, man?

JAMES: It's not for you to know. At least, not now.

ALEX: ...what?! Why are you being so fucking vague and secretive? Jane's right, you're just as bad as the F.E.D.S., as any kind of authority. You're basically saying "caution, police line, you better not cross!"

JAMES: I'm not a symbol of authority, I'm trapped in this room.

ALEX: You have answers we need. Without them, we're lost in the dark. You're in charge of our success, you're someone we have to listen to, so you may as well be a fucking cop. Well... is it the cop, or am I the one that's really dangerous?

Alex creates a sword in his right hand.

ALEX: The kind you keep away from strangers, right? Is that what you think?!

MATT: Hey! Alex, outside, now!

Matt takes Alex outside the room.

MATT: What the hell was that?

ALEX: Relax, I'm in control. I was just trying to scare him.

MATT: He knows we're good people, so he knows you won't actually hurt him. That's a stupid bluff.

ALEX: What other option do we have?! He's not telling us shit, the fucking Warning system is treating us like imbeciles; we're being controlled by a British dude and JARVIS!

MATT: ...you may want to talk to Jane about Marvel sometime.

ALEX: Seriously?! Dude, we have to find some way to turn it off.

MATT: The Warning system?

ALEX: Yes! Maybe if we do, the old dude will get nervous enough and spill his guts.

MATT: I'll admit it's... not an ideal system, but I think it'd be foolish to turn away... helpful advice, without even taking the time to think about it.

ALEX: I don't get you, man. I thought you were agreeing with us earlier that it's treating us like sheep.

MATT: It is but... I'm just saying we should think, is all.

ALEX: Nah, I'm done thinking. Can't listen to it anymore. I think I'm going to actively contradict it, actually.

MATT: Right. You're "done thinking." God, did you learn anything at Passalacqua?

ALEX: Oh, are you going to hold that over my head forever now, is that it? The others probably agree with me that we shouldn't listen to it. It just goes on and on about shit... sanitation, expiration date... question everything! Or... shut up and be a victim of authority, that's your alternative.

MATT: There's some authority I'd actually listen to.

ALEX: ...who is this Matt and where is the one from before I met him, when he agreed to go with the flow and not let anyone control him?

MATT: That's never what I said, and like you said, you weren't even there. I do want to choose for myself... but I can also choose to listen to a certain authority sometimes if I want. That's my prerogative.

ALEX: For the love of...

Alex runs towards the main room.

MATT: Hey!

Matt follows him.

Alex slides into the main room where the rest are hanging out.

ALEX: Okay, who says, when it comes to warning... live without warning?

SHIN: ...are you saying the machine, or just like, in general?

ALEX: Both! Didn't you guys decide to do whatever you wanted, the day you met? I know I wasn't here for that, but... what happened? Why are we letting a computer tell us what to do? Why the fuck are we tolerating this?

SHIN: ...you know what, you're right. What was it you wanted us to say?

JANE: "I say a warning: live without warning."

SHIN: Okay... "I say a warning: live without warning."

Calvin chimes in.

CALVIN: "I say a warning: live without warning!"

Matt enters the room, having heard them say that.

MATT: So... you all want to do away with the Warning system?

Everyone else nods their heads. Matt sighs. He knows he's lost this battle.

MATT: Without... alright.

Matt heads back the way he came.

3 minutes later...

Matt re-enters the main room with James.

JAMES: You all want me to shut off the Warning system? Are you mad?!

JANE: We were doing just fine without it.

JAMES: That's like saying you were doing fine in a car without a seatbelt just because you haven't crashed yet!

ALEX: Oh, hush. It's not that serious.

JAMES: But it is! The Warning system is crucial to your mission.

FRANK: Really? It just seems like an annoying parent or something. How is it that helpful?

JAMES: Do you not remember that it can detect the presence of regulars, and activate emergency evacuation protocol, and-

CALVIN: Okay, so it's more than a series of PSAs, it's like a defense system. But it's a system we've never needed.

JAMES: Yet! It can do all sorts of things... here, let me show you.

James jogs into the computer room.

JANE: Wha... oh hell no!

Jane and the rest go after him. Once they arrive, they seem him typing on the same secret keyboard from earlier. Jane's right fist begins to glow green.

JANE: Step. Away. From the computer.

Suddenly, the screens turn on and show recorded footage of the room where Matt, Alex, and James were in earlier.

MATT: (on recording) better homes and... "safety-sealed" communities?

JAMES: (on recording) did you remember to pay the utility?

ALEX: (on recording) caution, police line, you better not cross! is it the cop, or am I the one that's really dangerous?

JANE: What the... we have cameras in here?!

ALEX: (on recording) sanitation, expiration date... question everything! Or... shut up and be a victim of authority,

ALEX: That's... that's in the hallway! Are there cameras all around the base?

FRANK: Man.... warning... live without Warning! This is too damn creepy.

The recordings now show when other people said exactly that.

JANE: (on recording) I say a warning: live without warning.

SHIN: (on recording) I say a warning: live without warning.

CALVIN: (on recording) I say a warning: live without warning!

JANE: It responds to vocal cues?! This Warning system is scary.

MATT: Alright, we get it, James, you can turn it off now.

James types in a few more things and the screens shut off.

JAMES: Don't you see how valuable this is?

ALEX: No! Now we hate it even more!

James looks around at the six of them.

JAMES: ...you lads are in over your heads. You don't realize what a grave mistake this is.

JANE: Well, it's our mistake to make. Turn the system off.

James takes a moment... and then does as Jane says. The image from before, of a man being electrocuted, pops up on the screens.

SYSTEM: THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT... THIS IS ONLY A TEST.

The screens then abruptly shut off.

JAMES: It's done... now, I presume you'll return me to my cell for further interrogation?

JANE: ...yeah. Frank, you want to take guard duty?

FRANK: Sure.

ALEX: And that's how we do it, people. Live without Warning... stand up to authority.

CALVIN: And we're not doing it just to do it. We're not drinking expired milk or staring directly into the sun.

ALEX: And we're not doing it in a dangerous way, like stepping in front of officers with guns.

CALVIN: Right, that'd be... hyperbolic. Like... you can do that, sure. But you can also "live without warning" by just standing up for your principles, not being sheep. There's no one way to do it.

Everyone nods in agreement. Calvin's done it again, he's offered some sage wisdom. This gives everyone a lot to think about as Frank leads James out of the room.

JAMES: (from far off) Sunday, Bloody Sunday...

SHIN: Sunday... oh my gosh, my birthday is tomorrow! I totally forgot!

ALEX: Oh woah, happy birthday Shin! Uh... how old will you be?

SHIN: 17!

Silence. Silence so powerful you can hear a pin drop. It takes a couple moments for everyone in the room, including Shin, to realize what's just been said. It came... without warning.

JANE: ...wait.

SHIN: Uh, did I say 17? Sorry, brain fart, ha ha. I meant 19.

Jane stares at Shin. Realizing.

JANE: No... you said 17. You said 17, Shin.

Shin's face turns bright red.

SHIN: Uh...

JANE: Shin. Are you 16 years-old?

Shin doesn't say anything. She looks down at the floor. But that action is an admission all on its own.

JANE: You're... you're 16 years-old.

Everyone else in the room is taken aback, but Jane especially has an intense reaction. Perhaps it's because just earlier today, she and Shin got in a shouting match. Or because last night, and in fact many times over the past couple months, Jane has emphasized that she doesn't tolerate liars. And this... this is a lie dating back to practically Day 1. When Jane asked if everyone was a legal adult. Shin... Shin is a minor. She's been a minor this whole goddamn time. Shin, who Jane never thought would ever, ever lie. And if she was this wrong about Shin, about who she was... she could be wrong about other things too.

ALEX: (softly) One of My Lies...

Jane looks at Shin dead in the eyes, and says, with her voice full of malice:

JANE: You Lied.