Issue #14: "Fagin's Kids: Aftermath"
This is a work of pure fiction. Though it may have been inspired by real events, nothing in the following work ever occurred, either in world history or the author's lifetime. Persons resembling anyone living or dead are solely coincidental. Thank you. Enjoy the story.
Continued from Issue #13
The kids have been rounded up by Motown Heat, and having notified the public of their rescue through TV, they wait with the team, accompanied by new member Paragon, for people to come and pick them up.  The first kid taken by her parents was Aeriel, whose parents were wealthy police contributors.  Dodge is speedily twiddling his thumbs as he sits behind Flea's desk.  Bulk is surprisingly missing. (Editor's note:  You're asking, "Who the hell are these people?!"  Read the last two issues (12 and 13) to find out!)

Dodge's thumb-twiddling is starting to get on Flea's nerves.  She turns to him fristratedly.

"Don't you have anything better to do?  Why couldn't you read a book or something?"
 

"Sorry, detective, I already read your entire shelf in the time I've been sitting here."

Considering that he's been sitting at her desk for only ten minutes, and that her shelf contains nothing but legal documents, Flea thinks that he must be bored.  Fortunately for her, an older teenage girl walks into the office, one who Dodge seems to recognize.

"Ashley!"

"Sam."  Dodge walks up to Ashley, who responds by planting a fist in his face.  Dodge flies across the office, sliding across the desk which has been moved in for Paragon.  Paragon herself, under the desk trying to get her "seat" squared away, looks up suddenly and catches Dodge as he flies toward her, into her arms.  He suddenly looks up and recognizes where he is.

"Oops, sorry Paragon."

"No problem.  Just call me Shelley."

Back over by Flea's desk, Flea is confronting Ashley, who doesn't seem to notice her.

"I told you, Sam!  I told you to stay away from Fagin!  You didn't listen to me you stupid . . ."

"Hey, Hey, HEY!!  Watch it, girl."

Ashley looks up at the Flea.  "Well, can you deny that he's stupid?  I warned him about Fagin and he ended up with him anyway!"

"What exactly is our relationship with Dodge?"

Ashley turns toward Sam again.  "Is that what he called you?  Dodge?"

Dodge picks himself up zips over to Ashley's side.  "Now you know why."

Ashley puts her hand over Dodge's head.  To Flea's amazement, her hand turns to water and dumps on Dodge's head.

"I showed you what he turned me into before I escaped!  You should've listened to me!"


Ramm and Cutup (in her new enchanted costume) are turning a corner somewhere else in the 7th precinct building when they encounter Sonic Boom with her arm around the shoulders of a large ball on the floor: it's Bulk.

"What happened?"
 

"I saw hib siddig here in duh hallway.  I thought someding wuz wrong."

Ramm crouches down next to the boy.  "What's wrong, son?"

Bulk looks up.  He's been crying for a long time.

"I just found out that my parents moved away when they thought I was gone.  I have no home."  Bulk puts his face in his hands again and cries once more.  Cutup comes up to him.

"Is that all?  Well listen to me, kid, it's not all that bad.  C'mon, we'll have lunch.  Jack, you coming?"

"Right behind ya, Jasmine.  We'll catch up."  Jasmine nods, leading Bulk down the hallway.  Sonic Boom turns to Ramm.

"He'z odly a kid, Chack."

"I know, Mere.  They all are, with the exception of our new teammate.  That Fagin fella must have been the world's biggest S.O.B., giving powers to kids that young."

Meredith nods.  "He needs a hobe. Cad we brovide hib wid one?"

"Any one of us could, but what about the space he would . . ."

Meredith suddenly gets an enlightened grin on her face.  "I god id!"  She jumps up and gives Jack a quick peck on his cheek.  "Danks for givig be thuh idea!"

"What idea?  Uh oh . . ."

Meredith grabs Jack's hand and pulls him down the hallway.


Back in the office, Paragon and Flea are sitting down talking with Dodge and Ashley, who have finally calmed down enough that Ashley is not at Dodge's throat.

"Let me get this straight, Ashley . . . you were once one of Fagin's kids?"

"I was.  Fagin wasn't entirely successful in capturing my soul, so when he made me a superhuman, I was able to escape using the powers I received."

Flea turns up to Paragon.  "Shelley, do you remember her?"

"As a matter of fact, I do.  I only saw her for a short time in Fagin's soul chamber, but she was able to escape because Fagin got uncharacteristically sloppy, and he made her too powerful to control.  The main reason why the murdered child was able to be caught was because Fagin started doling out powers very sparingly."

"I see."  Flea turns to Dodge.  "Do you kids realize how dangerous you are?  Not just you two, the others as well, Aeriel and Bulk.  We'll have to do something with you kids."

"I realize that, Detective, but it's nearly impossible to find all of the kids Fagin has transformed.  I'd imagine that many are dead."

"We don't need them all.  Just you four. What I mean is establishing a branch of the police academy, I guess, which would teach you everything you would have to know about using your powers legally, as well as standard police procedure . . ."

Paragon comes forward.  "If they get worried about people finding out about them, we can try to guarantee their anonymity.  We'd use the names Fagin called you as codenames.  No one, not even your own parents, would know who you really are unless you wished them to."

Ashley seems suspicious, but relents.  "I suppose it's the only way I'll ever be safe to be around."

Same starts doing laps around the office.  "Dodge is back!"

"And what about you, Ashley?  I forgot what Fagin called you."

"I don't.  I guess it was because of my appearance."

Ashley steps forward.  "If I must go through with this, I guess I can live with being called Tomboy."


Over lunch, Bulk has talked out his problems with Ramm, Cutup, and Sonic Boom.  Finally, they are walking back to the 7th precinct, and Bulk looks like he's cheered up a bit.

"I'm glad I have a home now."

"We're all glad for you, son.  We'll get you moved in real fast-like, nice and easy."

Cutup interjects.  "You'll like living with Meredith.  She's extremely quiet, and will never bug you."

"Thank you, Meredith.  I've never had anyone give me charity before you."  Bulk puts his arms around Sonic Boom, lifting her off the ground.  "I'll never forget you."

"You're welcub."  Gasping for air, Sonic Boom smiles bravely.  "Please pud be down."

Bulk puts the woman down, as she sucks in a very deep breath.  The foursome enters the 7th building.


In the office, the team reunites Bulk with Dodge, watching them share friendly talk. Tomboy is with the team.

"Do you think this academy idea will work out, Flea?"

"I'm not sure.  I just know that we have to do something for you kids. That's the best idea I had."  The team approaches Bulk and Dodge as Flea continues.

"Let's hope that the superhumans the academy produces will be able to stand fast against the rising tide of evil in this city.  Hopefully, they will become the last team ever to be named Motown Heat."

FIN

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