A little while later, they were back at the base. The city saved once again, the Sun Festival could now begin in earnest. President Batter called the victory a sign of a great festival to come during the week. Roger, on the other hand, filled in Dorothy on what had happened while she was in the hospital at the base.
"So, Tim stepped up, while you were away?" she asked as they rode the lift down to the catwalk.
Roger nodded. "Norman vouched for him too. He even stood his ground with Rose, who can even be a bit… well, I guess intimidating is the word?"
Dorothy raised an eyebrow. "I see… have you thought of a reward for Tim's behavior?"
Roger looked at Big O for a moment. "I have…" He looked down at Dorothy. "But, I think we'll need to wait until you're cleared by Dr. Plebanski. Just to be safe."
"Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like what you're going to suggest later on?" asked Dorothy, with a sardonic smile. Roger coughed nervously.
But Dorothy became distracted by the kids, yelling for her as they ran across the catwalk. They all piled into her arms, Roger getting behind Dorothy and breaking her fall as they had knocked her down. But Dorothy didn't care. Half laughing, half crying, she was happy to see them as she gave them all a big hug. However, Tim pulled away first, wanting to see his dad.
"Dad, about coming into the control room," but Roger held up his hand.
"Forget it. It's been a tough week for everyone. As long as you were respectful to your elders, that's all I care about. You did good. But, this case is closed. So, for now, be a kid. Though, once we go to the mansion for the Festival Parade Viewing party, there's something I need you to do. I have a client, about your age… he'll need friends. And I think you two will get along…"
Tim raised an eyebrow, confused at his dad's request. "I'll try," he said, still looking confused.
Roger smiled. "That's all I ask."
*******
The case was closed. Over the course of the next few weeks, an exploration into the Wastes found a makeshift hangar where Sampson and his team had finished restoring Carnot, Robespierre, and Fouche. Apparently, they were able to get some data on Big O's Party Gimmick attack and used the attack as inspiration to create a new type of energy. It wasn't Dark Matter, but it wasn't anything else we knew about it either. Beck decided to apply the research to his flying mecha project, saying it could come in handy.
Over time, the research showed they had found a way to amplify the power and use it as a massive energy attack. According to documents we found, if the poison failed, the three megadeuses were to combine and form Thermidor. Once Thermidor was in the center part of the city, it was to unleash all of its power through a self-destruct sequence. According to Beck and Dorothy, the power of destruction would've been devastating. So, perhaps it was a miracle that when Thermidor was destroyed, he was destroyed in the Wastes, where we had confirmed through multiple recons that no pockets of civilization had permanently settled there.
Scott, the fourteen-year-old that had been Sampson's ward, was spared from trial. We're still hunting down the accomplices that helped Sampson, but they've probably fled into the Wastes or Wilds. But he was able to identify them through a book Dastun had been keeping on those who had worked for the New World Order. Because Scott was underage, PEF law dictated that he needed to go into the orphanage system, which I was against. But Dastun and Angel, surprised me, saying they would foster him and expressed interest in legally adopting him. Scott told Dastun that he understood our side and wished to stay with us. I guess Dastun told him something that resonated with him. Elizabeth, who had been an only child, was excited to now have an older brother, as he was one year older than her. I guess the multiple kid families finally grew on Dastun and Angel, seeing that the rest of us have at least two kids, or more, in my case.
Dorothy was cleared to partake in festival activities, provided that she was resting. Dr. Plebanski wanted to keep her under observation, but understood that she hadn't been home in a while. And so, Dorothy was confined to a wheelchair for the immediate weeks until she could perform a stress test without any difficulty breathing. I honestly didn't mind. I took the time off to take care of her and nurse her back to health. I found myself realizing that I did miss sitting with her on the porch in the evenings. We made it a rule, that if any one of us had a bad feeling about a case, to not go alone, or to turn it down altogether. The poison itself went under further review. Somehow, even without the proper modifiers, according to the paperwork we found, Dorothy had made the recovery all on her own. The doctors attributed it as nothing short of a miracle. I attributed it to Dorothy's inner strength and her love for all of us that pulled her through.
Dorothy would make a visit to the prison, to thank Dr. Haywood and to speak with him, as he had requested. I waited outside, as Dorothy had requested to do this alone. Apparently, he worked with Dr. Wayneright for a time while he was still at the New World Order. Dr. Wayneright had asked to make a rose in honor of her, describing the qualities he wanted. Ironically, it turned out to be the same roses that I have given Dorothy every year at Heaven's Day for the play at the hospital. Dorothy didn't disclose much of that meeting, only saying that Dr. Haywood had told her that her father loved her very much and put in a lot of effort to create an android that resembled his dead daughter. Apparently, Wayneright knew at some point he would be targeted, either by the New World Order, or the Underworld in his case, and asked Haywood to relay the message, if he ever got the opportunity. Perhaps, it was his way of coming to terms with what he did for the organization as he died shortly after meeting with Dorothy. I let Dorothy grieve what he told her about her father in her own way, providing support and comfort when I knew she needed it or asked for it.
But all of this would come later. In the meantime, the kids were doing something that us parents very proud of them and that was welcoming Scott to the parade viewing party. The mansion sat along the route and had the best seats in the house.
"Ready and go!" shouted Tim.
"It's very nice to meet you, Scott!" said all of the Smith children, Beck's children, Seebach's children, and Dastun's kid together. Scott turned red at the formality. Roger had taken him on a quick shopping spree for some better clothes and shoes.
"I'm sorry, I'm a bit overwhelmed. Thank you for your kindness!" he said, nervously.
They all took off to go to the banister, with all of their parents watching as the floats came down the street.
"He'll be fine," said Roger, "Though, I heard you expressed an interest in adopting him, Dastun, Angel?"
Angel smiled at Dastun. "I think we always regret not having more and seeing everyone else has at least two… I think it'll be good. Even though… well, you're definitely getting up there in age, Dan. You should think about retiring soon."
Dastun chuckled. "No. Way. Not until I have a unit of flying mechas. Then I'll think about it."
Angel rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna find Yumi and Sheila. Oh, and Roger, we'll take care of her, but Dorothy's coming shopping with us in a few days' time. So, make sure you don't do anything stupid between now and then with her, hm?"
Roger coughed as Dastun laughed. Angel walked away, finding Yumi and Sheila and began talking with them. Roger turned to Dastun, their looks now serious.
"Dastun, I know what I said… about bringing him in alive…"
Dastun shook his head. "Forget it. We're still investigating it, but from what Scott told me, he was gonna try to commit mass murder. And he tried to kill you. Self-defense. It's first day of the Sun Festival. Let's just get through the week, then reflect on that later."
"Right," and Roger took a sip of his drink, "If you don't mind, I'm gonna find my wife, if that's okay."
Dastun nodded. "Understood. And Roger?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you… for saving the city again."
Roger nodded and went over to Dorothy, who was chatting with Dr. Plebanski. Dr. Plebanski saw Roger coming and stood from her seat, offering it to Roger.
"I'll admit, I was a bit worried about this morning, but you're doing fine. But you must take it easy. Your heart will need some time to recover, Dorothy dear. Roger, I expect you… oh!"
Roger pulled Dr. Plebanski in a hug. "Don't worry. She's my first priority. Mary… thank you… I can't…"
He pulled away, his words failing him, and Dr. Plebanski smiled, patting his cheek. "You can thank me, by making our Heaven's Day play the best one yet this year."
Roger smiled. "Will do, Mary."
Dr. Plebanski nodded and walked away. Roger sat down next to Dorothy as they watched the floats go by. Roger reached out for Dorothy's hand and Dorothy took it, surprised by Roger's behavior. They were shadows in the late afternoon sun, watching the parade.
"Roger, are you alright?" asked Dorothy, slightly concerned.
Roger took a long sip of his drink. "Maybe it's just me being tired or too much drink, but… I thought I was going to lose you for a while. I thought… I may had committed you to your death, when I had to make the call to administer the antidote. And… all of this could've been prevented if I had said…"
Dorothy pressed her finger on Roger's lip. "That's enough of that. What's important now is, I'm here, you're here. Our friends, family, everyone we care about is here. Fourteen years ago, we defeated Big Gamma for the life we now have, that we're still creating. As long as you're here with me, I can do anything, Roger."
"Dorothy…" Roger whispered, and he leaned in, and kissed her with a longing and passion she understood, before breaking away to say, "I feel the same way."
They leaned their heads together as the floats continued on by. Then Dorothy felt Roger's full weight on her and found that he had fallen asleep as the events from the week had caught up to him at last. Dorothy gave a small smile.
"You louse, you've exhausted yourself. Get some rest then," she said as she stroked his hair.
**********
3 months later…
"Easy, easy!" Roger cried out, "You're running, not walking with him!"
Roger was teaching Tim how to pilot Big O on the training field by the SCA. But Tim, getting excited, had accidentally executed a run with him. Big O came to a sudden stop, nearly throwing Roger into the glass of the gyrosphere. Tim laughed, but stopped quickly, once Roger turned around, scowling.
"I said WALK, not RUN. Pay attention, or the lesson is over."
"Sorry Dad."
Meanwhile, Dorothy was monitoring their progress, along with Beck, Yumi, Angel, Sheila, and Seebach.
"I can't believe you let Roger talk you into this," said Angel, shaking her head.
"He didn't. Tim has done so well, especially when I was out sick. I told Roger a long time ago that if Tim continues to do well and make good on his promise, Roger needed to uphold his end of the bargain, regarding his training with the megadeuses. And Roger told me, what he did a few months ago, fell into that category."
Angel shook her head. "All the same… you realize you're gonna create another pilot."
"I know I am. But at the same time, I think it's better this way, Angel. It quells his curiosity about the megadeuses and keeps peace in my household. I don't miss the phone calls or negotiating weekly to keep him from suspension."
Angel chuckled as Beck yawned.
"Well, seeing as my adopted nephew is learning how to run before walking, how about we spice this up, Crow Boy? BECK VICTORY DELUXE, GET UP HERE!"
"Beck, what are you…?" Dorothy began asking, but then saw it on the screen herself. A replica of Beck Victory Deluxe rose from the ground, facing Big O. Dorothy felt her vein pulse in her temple, glaring at Beck. Beck recoiled from the sight.
"Who… insisted… on… this?" she asked quietly and slowly.
"Crow… Boy?" Beck said nervously grinning, shrugging. He now was getting dirty looks from his wife as Dorothy turned back to the screen, yelling into the comm.
"ROGER SMITH!"
The loudness of the yell caused static on the line, discombobulating Roger inside Big O. Tim looked nervously at his dad.
"Is this the reason why it took you so long to do this?" he asked uncertainly.
"Let's just say I told your mother I wanted you to pilot Big O. I didn't disclose the specifics exactly, and I wanted to make sure she was cleared by the doctor in terms of her heart," Roger replied quietly, smirking nervously.
"ROGER SMITH! YOU BETTER ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW…"
"Dorothy, Dorothy… I told you I was going to teach him how to pilot Big O, the best way I saw fit, remember?"
"Oh no… no, no, no… don't you EVEN try to negotiate your way out of this one! You have to come out of Big O at some point, and when you do, you better have a good explanation for this!"
The video comm link shut off.
"I'm in trouble," said Roger, chuckling.
"You really ought to not do that to Mom, Dad," said Tim, raising an eyebrow.
"And you need to pay attention to the fight. Guard up, now!"
Beck Victory Deluxe had taken off running at Big O and Tim got the guard up in time. Big O stumbled, but Tim maneuvered the foot pedals and Big O remained standing.
"Good job, now counter! Which foot is back, Tim?"
"The left, Dad!"
"Throw a left punch. GO!"
Tim did as his father told him and moved the left joy con. Big O's left arm hit the Beck Victory Deluxe and stopped it in its tracks.
"Now, this is the tricky part. You have to time the feet and the punches together. Think of it like you're in self-defense," said Roger.
"Okay, that seems hard, but I'll try."
"The right foot's back, so right foot, right punch… good, now left foot, left punch… excellent! Keep it going!"
Tim was laughing, moving the controls back, and pushing the Beck Victory Deluxe back. On the last punch, he knocked the Beck Victory Deluxe back a few steps. Tim was out of breath.
"Wow, I can see why you work out, Dad. This is hard," said Tim.
"That's why it's important to eat healthy and stay in shape. He's coming back to you, so let's finish this. You wanna try a Sudden Impact?"
"Yeah!"
"Alright, Big O knows what to do with this attack, but we got to get ready. So, take your stance. And… GO!"
Dorothy observed from control deck, shaking her head, but smiling. Her anger had abated somewhat at Roger, but now she understood what Roger was doing.
Roger's known all along… my son will be a pilot one day. So, he's giving him the keys to be successful. Oh Roger, you've known all along and I… well, I've been the mother and I guess I'm starting to realize my son is growing up. There are days you aggravate me to no end and then there are days like today, where your foresight and instinct still impress me… and remind me why I fell in love with you… but I'm still kicking you out of the bed tonight for your stunt from earlier.
Big O stunned the Beck Victory Deluxe, now taking its head into its hand.
"You got it from here! DO IT!" cried Roger.
Tim moved the joy con forward, flipping the switch, as the piston fired back. The joy con locked, and Tim pressed the button, the piston firing, blowing its head clean off. Beck shook his head.
"Like father, like son," he grumbled.
Roger snickered. "I DIDN'T teach him that. That just happen naturally."
"Pfft. Whatever, Crow Boy! Now come rescue me before your wife and my wife murder me!"
Roger laughed out loud. The cockpit opened and Roger and Tim stepped out, looking at Big O. Big O raised his right arm up.
"What's he doing, Dad?"
"He's celebrating our victory. Put your right arm up too."
Both Tim and Roger put their right arms up as Big O flashed his eyes, celebrating the victory from the training exercise, as Tim stared in amazement at what he just did with his Dad, and Big O.
WE HAVE COME TO TERMS
NEXT – ACT 39: THE FUTURE