One More Trigger Pt 11 (Patreon)

"You know something, Vicky?" said Amy Dallon, as she leaned back against the wall, painting her sister's toenails.

"What's that, Ames?" asked her sister lazily, stretching out on the bed and lifting one foot to admire Amy's handiwork.

"I think Vista has the right idea," declared Amy.

Vicky lifted herself up on her elbows and eyed Amy. "What do you mean, the right idea?"

"I mean," said Amy, warming to her topic, "that she's going from youngest member of a large team to having a certain position of authority and respect in a smaller team.". She paused, seeming to think about what she had just said.

Vicky frowned. "You're not saying ..."

Amy nodded. "I want to join Team Samaritan as a liaison from New Wave."

"What? No!" protested Vicky. "You can't join another team! You're a part of New Wave! We need you. I need you."

Oh Vicky, thought Amy sadly, if only you needed me as much as I need you.

Out loud, she said firmly, "Barely. Just barely. You're the only one in this family who treats me like family at all. I mean, Aunt Sarah and her family are nice to me but ..."

Stung, Vicky retorted hotly. "Mom and Dad are nice to you! They treat you like family!"

"Do they?" asked Amy. "Really? Dad's never really there, even when he is there, and Mom ...". She trailed off. "Maybe I'd better shut up now."

"No," said Vicky. "I want to hear this. What about Mom?"

"Okay," said Amy, "I want you to think back. We've been sisters for ten tears now, right?"

"Ever since Mom and Dad adopted you, yeah," agreed Victoria.

"And we've gotten in trouble for doing the wrong thing sometimes, yes?"

"Well, yeah," confirmed Vicky.

"Okay," said Amy. "In all that time, have you ever been punished as badly as I have, for doing exactly the same thing? Or have I ever been praised and rewarded as much as you have, for doing the right thing?"

"Oh, sure," said Vicky promptly. "I mean, just for instance, there was the time ..." She trailed off. "No wait, there was that time ...". She paused again. "You got that school award that time?" she hazarded.

"Yes," said Amy crisply. "You got an award as well. You came third in your year, I came first in mine. I got a 'well-done' from Dad; you got a new wrist-watch from Mom. Both the awards went on the fridge. Yours stayed there for a month. I found mine in the trash three days later."

Vicky stared at her. "Mom said you took yours down," she said. "I saw it on the wall in your room."

Amy nodded. "Yes," she said. "I put it there after I rescued it from the trash."

Vicky shook her head. "I can't believe this."

"Believe it or not, Vicky," said Amy. "I don't care any more. I just want to belong somewhere that I get a fair deal.". Where I don't have to try every day to meet impossible standards, just to get a single word of praise.

Vicky sat up suddenly, pulling her feet from Amy's grasp. "I got a great idea," she said, and hugged her sister. "We'll go do it together."

"Wait, what?" asked Amy, startled. "But you can't leave New Wave. You're the one who belongs here."

"If you can do it," declared Vicky, "then I can do it.". She looked Amy in the eye. "Unless you're just doing it to get away from me ...?"

"No, no, no," protested Amy. "It'll be great to have you along. It's just ... " she paused.

"Just ...?" prompted Vicky.

"Mom's gonna blame me for you going. Just watch."

Vicky shook her head confidently. "Never happen."

"Maybe I should wait till later?" ventured Amy.

Vicky shook her head. "There's that big case she's working. She's got court all day tomorrow. It's now or never."

***

Carol and Mark Dallon were watching TV in the lounge; or rather, the TV was on while Mark read the paper and Carol caught up with some paperwork. Amy entered the lounge with Vicky following behind.

"Mom, Dad," said Amy nervously. "You know that bank robbery today that Team Samaritan stopped?"

They both looked up; Mark gave her a look of vague geniality. "I do indeed, Amy girl," he said. "For a new team, they seem to know their business."

"Yeah well, um ..." said Amy. "Vista from the Wards has joined them as a liaison. I was thinking ... I could join them as a liaison from New Wave."

There was silence for a moment, then Mark said carefully, "That would entail a lot of responsibility, Amy girl."

"I can handle it, Dad," Amy assured him. "Vista's only twelve or thirteen, and she's a liaison. And you've taught me to handle responsibility, with every person that I've healed, right?"

"I think it's a very good idea," said Carol warmly. "It will let you get out in the world and see how other teams operate. Don't you think so, Mark?"

Mark nodded at his wife's words. "Of course, dear."

Carol smiled. "It's settled then. We can get in touch with them and make the arrangements tomorrow.”

“Uh – Mom?” said Vicky. “I’m going too.”

Carol stared at her. “Don’t be ridiculous. Amy is the only one who needs to go.”. She bent her head back to the paperwork; the opposing counsel was a tricky bastard, and she was having to pull out all the stops on this one ...

Vicky shook her head. “No, Mom. She needs me to look after her. I’m her sister.”

“And I’m your mother, and I’m forbidding you to leave this team!” snapped Carol. Couldn't Victoria see she didn't need this right now?

“Mom, I’m sixteen, the same as Amy,” said Victoria. “If she can go, I can go. And I want to go with Amy.”

Carol turned to Amy. “This is your idea, isn’t it?” she snapped. “You did this, just to break up this family.”

“Mom!” said Vicky, shocked. Amy was right. “It’s my idea to go with her!”

“You might think it’s your idea,” said Carol tightly. "That's what she wants you to think."

"She told me I should't do it!" protested Vicky. "She told me my place was in New Wave!"

Carol waved a hand dismissively. "Reverse psychology. It's an old trick. All the best villains use it."

"Amy's not a villain!" shouted Vicky. Amy felt the pressure in her head, the familiar feeling of awe. Vicky's aura was active.

"She may as well be!" Carol shot back, just as loudly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” demanded Vicky.

"It means that she's just like her father! Just as persuasive, and just as manipulative!"

"So who's her father, then?" retorted Vicky. Her tone was derisive, dismissing.

“Marquis!" snapped Carol, a triumphant look in her eye. "Now do you see why she's so dangerous?"

Amy stopped, shocked. “My father is … Marquis?” she said. “Why didn’t anyone ever tell me?”

Mark sat up in his chair. “Because we didn’t know if you were ready to know the truth,” he said apologetically.

“You mean Mom wanted to keep it from me so I wouldn’t burst out and go all supervillainy on you,” said Amy bitterly.

Mark half-shrugged in agreement. “I wouldn’t have put it quite like that …” he said, but his tone was regretful.

“Mark!” gasped Carol.

Vicky started from the room; at a gesture from her, Amy followed.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Carol called to them. “This discussion is not over!”

“Yes it is, and we’re going to start packing,” called back Vicky. “I’m getting Amy out of here tonight.”

“But where will you stay?” Carol asked.

***

Sarah Pelham opened the door after the fourth or fifth knock.

“Amy? Victoria?” she said. “What are you two doing here at this time of night?”

“Moving out,” said Vicky with a grin. “Can we steal a bed for the night?”

Sarah looked perceptively at the girls; Vicky looked positively cheerful, while Amy looked careworn and drawn. “Come on in,” she said. “I’m sure we can work something out.”

As they followed her into the house, Amy whispered to Vicky, “I still think you shouldn’t have left.”

“And leave you out here on your own?” Vicky replied. “Not a chance.”

Amy couldn’t find any more words. She just hugged her sister. Vicky hugged her back.

At least for the moment, they were together. And that was a great comfort to Amy. 

Part 12