Electric Boulevard

by charles duncan

While in catica, and plotting sometimes the great revenge against the Incorporateds for several times he was tossed in, the Commander named Demon, among other things, had often personally well, had a grudge against those who had powers that could defeat him.. and often looked for a way that could transfer powers to other places in case they could be sold. And one of those people that worried him was his own daughter he had a couple of years ago, whos wife it is said vanished under mysterious circumstances.. but he wanted more than anything to see his family have a normal life while he sought the destruction of speedster for many past grievances.

And his daughter, who'd aged faster than usual in the company of her father, was often precocious while the Commander was doing various things, like research and whatever.. especially with a team of scientists who were heavily involved in genetics.. when his daughter one day was playing with the controls of a sensitive instrument.. and somehow vanished.. causing the commander very much upset. 

"What were you trying to do", said the Commander to one of the scientists who was nearby.

"Energy conversion", said the scientists as they examined the place.. and noted a energy blast go up into the atmosphere.. vanishing somewhere. 

Meanwhile, as some of the Incorporateds were setting up a new house in Dogelia due to some problems they'd had on Gazlennia's planet, Long-glory, who often wondered if there was something seriously wrong with Casey for some reason, was busy making the usual popcorn he couldn't help but eat a lot of .. for it gave him strength.. when suddenly, some of the machines in the place went haywire, especially the tv.. and long-glory freaked that some of them had faces.

Carolina was kind of upset, too that the instruments were coming alive, especially via unseen forces.. and she tried unplugging most of them.. but she had a lot of problems with them trying to catch the devices, in spite of her mental powers.. so Casey walked in and tried to catch some of the devices that kept flying around.. but he had no luck whatsoever as some evaded him, and even tried to tie him up.

And he noticed something very odd about the tv, as a face appeared on it..

and it said.. "Uh.. Hi. I'm Viola.. does anyone know where I am", he said, as Halifax came in.. and stared at the screen.

"What the", Halifax said.. as the screen turned purple. 

"I said I'm VIOLA", said the television as halifax tried to change channels, but the face of a purple feline-human hybrid remained on the screen....and almost tried to zap him.

"Oh.. ok, Viola", said halifax, who personally was busy trying to watch something else.. "What do you want so I can go back and watch television?"

"An explanation", Viola said from the tv.. "Of what I am."

As the Neverrest took to orbit, Casey had brought viola aboard , who somehow managed to take semi-human form... as Wilson, who wasn't feeling too good, examined viola and noted somehow, that she'd been converted to energy and could somehow possess appliances.. which might prove useful somehow in the future. 

"So", Casey said.. "You're the kid of the Commander, huh?" 

"Yeah", she said.. "Just try to not tell him what became of me, huh.. Because someday he might be looking for me.. and I really don't like him very much."

Speedster said... "You're not the only one who hates that man.. Me, I've never gotten over a lot of things the Commander did to me.'

"Well.. Do we dare contact the Commander?", Said Halifax as they got as close to Catica without getting the defenses there upset. "This is his daughter."

Casey said.. "Let me contact him."

In a dialogue with the commander, which was tense, Casey told the commander a lot of things about what Viola was capable of.. especially in taking over things... And casey said.. "Well, I wouldn't blame you personally for being upset if she did things like this to herself on purpose, but maaan, well, this is perhaps indeed a step above in evolution.. And I'm sure trying to undo the like, process might be a very bad thing."

"But she's MY Daughter!", the commander said with a lot of anger.. and very much so. "And I have a right to do as I please."

"Indeed", said Casey... "But does she have a right to do as she pleases, too? Or are you just going to deny her the break of a lifetime?"

The commander thought about this a lot.. especially as the lights went out all over catica suddenly. 

"Let me think about it..", the Commander said.. as the lights went out. 

Casey looked at Viola and said.. "What was that all about?"

Viola said.. "I've just got a feeling.. somehow.. I've settled an argument with him.. and let's leave it at that."

The Neverrest took off for the other side of the continent with surprisingly little fuss... as a Commander sat in the dark and felt.. humbled. somehow. 

It is believed later that day, that Viola was accepted to stay around.. because for Casey, especially since he often wondered if he was real sometimes.. as he somehow saw a doppleganger in the mirror when he stared sometimes.. somewhat older, and yet.. 

.. familiar.