Persona BLEACHED 3: Gaiden Pt. 5

Gaiden: The Long Summer Pt. 5
July 21, 2031
Early morning in Tulsa. The sun had yet to rise, and the bus was already parked in front of the south side house that Annette Jadefang called home. 
"Now remember, if you really need to stop, then stop. Don't push yourself just to make a certain time." she directed.
"I will, Mama." Barbara assured.
"Keep up with your fluids. Call me when you get to New Orleans. Keep me posted with every little thing that makes you happy that day. I'll keep your room tidy for winter break. Oh, come here, baby..." Annette hugged her daughter. "I love you so much, Moonbeam...keep making your Mama proud, you hear?"
"I love you too, Mama. We're gonna talk so much it'll be like I never left--Mama, you're holding on too tight..."
"I'm not letting go, I'm coming with."
"You can't do that, Mama, you've gotta go to work in a few hours."
"I'll call out, I've gotta have some gumbo with my baby."
"Everything's gonna be fine, Ms. Annette. I'll look after her." Kibō, carrying luggage into the bus, reassured.
"You'd better, big man. I'm trusting you with my most precious gem." Annette patted him on the back. "And you, you absolute delight..." She turned to Ibuki and embraced her.
"Thanks for being so good to me, Ms. Annette. I'm glad we got to chat this weekend." Ibuki reciprocated.
"Hon, you're welcome to come here whenever you please. I'm gonna keep you and your family in my thoughts. And I hope beyond hope that I get to see more of you in the future. With our boy."
"I promise I'll do everything to bring him home." Ibuki held the Ultraman toy in her hands. "I'll keep him and you close. I'll fight for that happy ending. See you when I drag the blockhead back here to apologize."
"In one piece, please."
"Your wish is my command." Ibuki stepped onto the bus, then turned around. "Thanks for the southern hospitality, Mama Annie." She winked.
Annette was surprised, but smiled in response. "Anytime, hon."
Now in the driver's seat, Barbara waved to her mother. "See you later, Mama~! Call you in a while~!" she waved.
"Thanks for the visit, kiddies! Safe travels! Enjoy the Big Easy! Love youuuuuu!" Annette waved back, and the bus rode off into the distance.
Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she could see something on top of a nearby house, but when she turned, there was nothing there. "Hm. You're too tired, Annette. Let's try to salvage some shut-eye..." She went back into her house.
The bus, meanwhile, continued towards the highway. "So how far's NOLA from here?" Sahir asked.
"It's over ten hours by driving. Not taking into account stopping for gas and food. It's why I wanted to leave super early. We'll have to cut through Texas again, then go all the way to the far end of Louisiana." Barbara replied.
"And you're sure that you can endure that long of a drive?" Sakuya asked.
"Yup! Loose and limber, that's my motto. I'm all good for the next ten--mmph!" Barbara winced.
"Woah-ho, time out! Pull this thing over." Kat ordered.
The bus pulled onto the side of the highway. Kat moved to Barbara's side. "Talk to me, angelface. What's going on?"
"It's no big deal, I just got...a bit of a shoulder cramp. Mmph!" Barbara flinched from trying to move her shoulders.
"That looks like more than just a cramp..." Natalia said.
"Are you going to be okay to drive, Senpai?" Sakuya asked.
"That looks to be a rather serious affliction..." Kenneth surmised.
"Well we can't sit here in the dark! We're sitting ducks like this!" Sahir exclaimed.
"I can fight through it, really..." Barbara winced.
"I'll take over." Kibō stated.
"WHAT?! N-no, Keeb, really--"
Kibō took to the driver's seat. His eyes were closed.
"Keeb, really, it'll be gone in a minute, I'm fine..." Barbara insisted.
"Yo, is it just me, or is Barbie looking a little pale?" Ibuki asked.
"Come to think of it, we've never seen Keeb drive before. It's always been either Ibuki or the Professor taking us somewhere." Natalia said.
"Have you ever driven a long distance, Kibō? It's alright to take it slowly." Carrie assured.
"...heh." Kibō snickered.
"Keebie...?" Kat questioned.
Kibō opened his eyes, his face curled into a manic smile, a menacing aura emanating around him. "Oh, don't worry about me. I've got a special technique for us all to enjoy."
"Um, is he okay...?" Ibuki asked.
"I'm not fond of that foreboding look in his eyes..." Kenneth said.
"W-what's he mean by 'technique'?" Sahir questioned.
"So, um, I never really told you guys this, but...you know how 90% of the time, you can't tell that Keeb is Ms. Kyoko's son? Well, whenever he gets into a driver's seat..." Barbara explained.
Electricity seemed to crackle in Kibō's eyes. "GRAY SUNRISE...OVERDRIVE!" 
He slammed on the gas. As the bus torpedoed away, the gang's screams echoed through the morning darkness.
---
New Orleans, Louisiana. "The Big Easy" is renowned for its unique blended culture, from its numerous annual festivals to its famous Creole cuisine. Landmarks included the historic French Quarter, home to the ever-festive Bourbon Street.
The Quarter was also home to the historic Hotels Monteleone, one of the few large family-ran hotels remaining in the country. It possessed numerous luxury amenities, including a spa, pool and bar.
Any one of those three things would be sorely needed by the Ashen group as their bus came screeching to a halt right in front of the hotel, to the surprise of the valet standing outside. The bus' door opened, and one at a time, the group came tumbling out, all catching their breath and panting.
"Uh...are you all okay?" the valet asked.
"I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA DIE!" Ibuki yelled.
"I'm thinking we already have...and this gentleman is here to let us into the afterlife..." Sakuya, leaning against the bus, uttered.
"Oh God...I'm gonna puke..." Sahir groaned.
"With all due respect, Kibō, I'd appreciate it if you never touched a steering wheel again...one can only have so many near-death experiences in their lifetime..." Carrie uttered.
"Meooooow..." Kat was sprawled on the ground, a glazed look in her eyes.
"Oh no, Kitty Kat's unconscious!" Natalia exclaimed.
"Does anyone have catnip on them?" Kenneth asked.
Kibō stood around, completely nonchalant.
"Um, sir...do you have any idea what's happened?" the valet asked him.
Kibō looked around. "I was just driving normal."
---
After finally catching their breath, the group let the valet take their bus elsewhere, and despite having arrived much earlier than expected--what was normally a ten-hour drive ended up taking seven--they were able to check in.
Most of the group opted to either recuperate in their rooms or, in Barbara's case, head to the spa. Kat and Carrie, meanwhile, opted for the rooftop pool. Surrounded by potted plants and palm trees, the girls lied down in a pair of pool chairs.
"Ugggh, finally. Stillness. I'd forgotten what it was like to sit still." Kat said.
"Perhaps we should've gotten certified American licenses before we came here. May have saved us a few knocks." Carrie replied.
"Well one thing's for sure. Not gonna let Demolition Doofus get behind the wheel again. Anyway, let's get back to less chaotic things. How are you liking the Big Easy so far? I know this was at the top of your 'must-see' list."
"The hotel is very lovely. The brief glances I could get at the architecture were quite charming. I'd really like a more thorough sightseeing venture."
"We can get that done tonight. Everyone sounded like they were wanting to stay in until tomorrow. That gives us a chance to slip out and enjoy the nightlife. The French Quarter at night is a way different beast, from what I hear."
"Absolutely. Even without being able to drink, there's still so much to absorb. The jazz scene, the nightclub life, the local cuisine...there's a chance at a lively adventure."
"Let's do it. You and me and Bourbon Street. I wanna give my best girl a good time. I love our little family, but I still wanna have some alone time to look deep into that sea of purple."
"Likewise with that ocean of pink. I'll start looking at restaurants. I'll pick the most romantic, atmospheric one I can find."
"You could book us at a McDonald's and it'd still be romantic. You make my heart flutter just by being here."
"Ah, well in that case." Carrie got up.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"Not at all. I'm just making myself more comfortable." Carrie moved her chair closer to Kat, then sat back down and crossed her feet over her increasingly flustered girlfriend's. 
"Oh, geez, I, uh..." Kat muttered.
"That looks like fluttering to me." Carrie lifted up her foot. "Purple and black go so well together, don't you think?" She took a sip of her drink. "Aha, you're so adorable when you're like this. The picture of confidence most of the time, reduced to mush by a spot of teasing. You remind me of Professor Kubo more every day."
"I mean, I'm not against the comparison..."
Carrie rested her head on Kat's shoulder. "This trip's been non-stop action since we arrived. 'Time to go here, now go here, oh no something chaotic's happened and we need to go here'. I love our hectic adventures as much as anyone, but there's times where I really want a quiet second of peace. With you. Is that selfish to say?"
"No. I feel the same way. You need your relaxing moments, otherwise you'll be burned out in no time. And besides, my queen needs her attention." Kat embraced Carrie.
"What a coincidence, my queen does, too." Carrie plucked Kat's glasses off.
"Hey, what are you--"
Carrie put them on. "Well? Do I look like a more proper oracle now?"
"I...wish I could tell you. But see, the problem is..."
"...oh. Right." Carrie gave the glasses back. "And I thought I was being cute."
"In fairness, you probably were." Kat put her glasses back on. "So what do you wanna do when we're done here? Get dressed and head out early?"
"We can wait until it starts getting dark. That's when the fun around town really begins. And..." Carrie winked. "It'll give us plenty of time for some much-needed cuddles."
"Now you've *really* got my attention."
---
Later in the night, Kat was getting ready in front of the mirror in her hotel room. She put her black jacket over her pink undershirt, worn alongside dark pants and black boots. "You almost ready, Care Bear?"
"Comiiiiing~." Carrie chimed from inside the bathroom. The door opened. She was garbed in a black jacket not unlike the one Kat was wearing, along with a purple blouse, black skirt, ankle boots and beret. "What do you think? Am I arm candy material?"
"Forget candy, you're the whole cake. Is that a new jacket?"
"Yes it most certainly is. I bought it yesterday for just such an occasion as this." Carrie grabbed Kat by the arm. "Whether it's Aunt Melly or Kenneth, anyone considering themselves an artist would agree that a key to beauty is coordination." She put her hand with the cat ring on Kat's hand with the purple gemstone. "And I want everyone to know who my heart belongs to."
"Oh, Care...how do you always know what to say to make my heart melt?"
"I specialize in words meticulously infused with sunshine. Now how about we hit the town?"
"Yes, please. I've been craving crawdads all day."
The girls grabbed their belongings and left the room. Down the hallway, they ran into a familiar face leaving their own room. "Evening, ladies. Where you off to with such a spring in your step?" Ibuki asked.
"Evening, Bookie. We've got dinner reservations. It's date night. Gonna have a *lovely* night with this gorgeous gemstone draped around my arm." Kat replied, mimicking Carrie's voice.
"Yeah, it's gonna be a real *Gucci* time. Totally." Carrie responded, sans accent.
"I do NOT sound like that!"
"Boy, if hearing you talking casually isn't the most jarring thing ever." Ibuki responded.
"I forget her vocal cords can even do that." Kat replied. "So where are you headed? Got a hot date yourself?"
"Pssh, I wish. I'm going to the bar. Between Keebie's little joy ride and...other things, I'm in need of a drinkie. Y'all have a good night. See ya, lovebirds." Ibuki walked away.
"...should we?" Kat asked Carrie.
"Good evening, ladies." Sakuya exited the room, Sahir not far behind.
"Off for a romantic night yourselves, eh?" Kat asked.
"Kinda-sorta. We're gonna keep an eye on Fireball. She's been staring at Maxie's action figure all day. We're gonna try to keep her out of trouble." Sahir replied.
"Hinotama-san can look after herself just fine. But in case she's in need of a hand..." Sakuya materialized her sword, a wodao, in her hands.
"Whoa whoa WHOA! How'd you do that?!" Kat questioned.
"Haven't noticed it yet?" A small flame sprouted on Sahir's finger. "Looks like Tokyo's not the only spot our powers work outside the Metaverse."
"That's...curious. I'd thought its conditions were unique." Carrie pondered.
"It must have to do with the spiritual density of this place. That's the reasoning Dr. Rose gave us for why this worked in Tokyo." Sakuya asserted.
"This does have a reputation as America's most unique city. Having a high degree of spiritual energy wouldn't be surprising."
"Hopefully it just stays a curiosity and we don't gotta use it. Alright, we've got a reservation to keep. Have fun being Fireball's ride home." Kat said.
"Good night, now." Carrie followed after.
"...we're in for it tonight, aren't we?" Sahir asked.
"Getting tossed around in a bus may very well end up being the highlight of our day." Sakuya replied.
Kat and Carrie left the hotel and made their way to the restaurant, a classically-designed establishment featuring a live performance by a jazz band. The two were seated at their table.
"I hear the little breads they give you to start are divine." Carrie said.
"Aw no, don't tell me that. I'm gonna be full before we even get our food." Kat replied.
"Oh, don't be shy about having as much as you like. If anything, we can jog it off after. We can even ask Ibuki. She loves jogging."
"O...kay."
The waitress arrived with the bread. "Merci." Carrie said.
"Oh, une fille de la mère patrie?" the waitress responded.
"Oui. Je profite d'une belle nuit avec ma chérie. Pouvons-nous avoir du pain à l'ail?"
"Bien sur, mademoiselle. Quelque chose à boire?"
"Thé noir pour nous deux. Merci."
"Oui m'dame. Je reviens tout de suite."
The waitress walked away. "I only got bits of that. Wanna fill me in?" Kat asked.
"I asked for garlic bread and black tea for the two of us. Sorry if I made you feel left out." Carrie replied.
"Nah, you're fine. I've been hearing a lot of French since we walked in, though."
"This restaurant is French-owned, and the menu is in both English and French. It's why I picked it. In case you wanted to put your lessons to use."
"I would, but I'm still not 100% confident about actually speaking to someone. I don't wanna embarrass you."
"Silly, you trying to learn at all is highly appreciated. I just bought a book before we left about learning Korean."
"Really?"
"Mmhmm. It's only fair. After all...사랑 해요."
"...!" Kat was surprised.
Carrie giggled. "That's the first thing I made sure to learn."
"I...learned French so I could tell you I loved you in your mother tongue."
"Well now we're even. Now I just have to be more elaborate."
"Guess I'll have to settle for 'Looking into your eyes fills my heart with rainbows' in English. But one day, I'm gonna write the gushiest love poem in French. And you're gonna think I'm such a dork for it."
"Either that, or I'm going to give you the most loving kiss you'll ever have. All depends on the content."
The girls got their drinks and waited on their orders, to the sound of an energetic jazz performance. "Heh. You know what this reminds me of?" Kat asked.
"The first time we went to the karaoke box, right?" Carrie replied.
Kat nodded. "When we all got plastered on DJ Tan Man's Secret Recipe and Sparky pulled this saxophone out of nowhere and went to town on it. He never did say where he was hiding it."
"At his best he could definitely match you in the chaotic department. All he needed was to get out of that shell." Carrie looked somber. "A shame that we never knew what was under that shell until it was too late."
"Yeah..." Kat went silent for a moment. "...do you think he's still him under that armor?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, he obviously still has that hatred of crooks. But the way he's beating them up, even when he's changed their hearts...it tells me that there's something else. He's still as angry now as he was the last time we saw him. It makes me wonder if the Max that Ibuki wants to bring home is the same one that charmed her."
"I would tend to agree with that concern. I'm still wondering whether the Maxwell we knew ever really existed. Or if it was all just an act to cover for the endless pit of anger he has for the world. And after living with that much rage for so long, who knows what it would take to sate it? Or if this really is just who he is."
"What do you think his endgame is? Or if he even has one? Is he just gonna live the Batman life forever? Or is this building up to something?"
"I've been pondering that, and it feels like there's something keeping him on this mission. There's something he has to do before he ever tries to return to a 'normal' life. After everything that's happened, there has to be a reason why he hasn't abandoned his crusade. Something pushing him forward."
"Yeah. Something or...someone."
The girls got their meal a short time later, and departed after paying. "Where do you wanna head off to now? There's a pretty good nightclub scene around here." Kat asked.
"That sounds great to me. We haven't had ourselves a dance in a while. Count me in." Carrie kissed her on the cheek. "Now come and make my heart sing."
Kat giddily chuckled. "As you command, Your Majesty!"
Hand-in-hand, the girls walked down to the festive section of the district.
Elsewhere, one of their friends was looking for an eventful night of an entirely different kind.
The southern half of the United States was home to miles of swampland known as the bayou. Louisiana was a hub for these swamps, particularly New Orleans. Deep within the gator-infested waterways outside the urban sectors, Kibō had trudged his way onto a small island of grass. With nobody around, he stood and waited.
"...couldn't resist, could you?" he asked.
Behind him, the hooded, armored figure of Max appeared, though his head was covered by shadow. "Well when a guy walks into the swamp after nightfall, it tells you that something's up. This how you usually get someone out to talk?"
"When they're completely avoiding you otherwise, yes." Kibō turned to face him. "Now how about you quit hiding?"
"Who's hiding? I'm right here, aren't I?" Max stepped out of the shadows. His hair was messy, and reached down close to his shoulders. He sported a short beard, and there was a scar across his left cheek, a remnant of his duel with Kat. "That better?"
"You look like hell."
"And you're testing my patience. Mind telling me what this is about? I've got things to take care of."
"Oh, we know. Your campaign of justice across America. We've seen the headlines. You've been busy. The question I have for you is: what are you doing?"
"What does it look like? Rooting out the unseen evil and punishing it, same as always. Same as what you all are doing."
"Bull. What this is, right here? It's not the same. We don't vent our anger on people after their hearts have been changed. We're not throwing a years-long temper tantrum."
Max scoffed. "So you still don't get it. But OK. I'll clue you in. You've probably figured it out already, but I've been keeping an eye on everyone. I wanted to make sure that you all were doing fine. But the more it swirled around in my brain, the more I started to think that there was still more I could do. So I'm on a quest to do for me what I *tried* to do for everyone. I'm erasing my own trauma."
"By beating the crap out of people?"
"By eliminating SCUM. Look at the list of people I've dealt with. Thieves, predators, rapists, pedophiles, murderers. Who's going to weep for garbage like that? All I've ever wanted was to wipe their ilk off the face of the Earth." Max clenched his fist. "But it hasn't been enough. My anger's still burning inside of me. If I want any peace, I need to weed out the source of my pain. Criminals aren't enough anymore. There's one person I need to destroy more than any other."
"Your father."
"Damn straight. He's the reason I am who I am. He taught me to respond to anything with aggression and hate, so I'll give him all of the rage I can muster. I'm going to plunge him into the most despicable Hell you can imagine, and then, when he's lying at my feet, broken into a million pieces, whimpering like a baby, I'll have won. I'll finally rule over him!" His hands, balled into fists, shook. "And with him finally beaten, the ones I love can know peace. The evil tormenting them will be gone for good. And then--"
"And then WHAT, Max? What's stopping you from going on with this crusade of yours? Listen to yourself. You think beating your father half to death is gonna magically make all this anger disappear? How long do you think it's going to take until you kill someone? What happened to you was awful, I get that. But this rampage you've been on for the last two years isn't solving anything. That's what we tried to get through to you last year. It's not what Barb or Ms. Annette want for you. Or Ibuki."
"Tch. Why is it you? If anyone was gonna drag me out for a one-on-one, I was sure it was gonna be Kitty Kat. Or Ibuki or Barb. But why you?"
"I promised Barb that I would look out for her, no matter what. And more than anything, she wants you to stop this and come home. So I'm gonna save her the heartache and do it myself."
"Oh-ho! The knight in shining armor trying to score some brownie points. Figured that's what it was. Well in case you haven't figured it out, I'm not stopping anytime soon. Sorry you walked into the muck for nothing."
"Thought you'd say that." Kibō manifested his longsword. "You've probably worked it out that our powers work here. So if there was ever a time and place to knock some sense into you..."
A light enveloped him, and he emerged, covered in gray armor resembling a medieval knight, with black lines reaching up and down his arms and legs. An image of a globe was on his back, and the Roman numeral "I" was on either side of his waist.
"Ooooh. Shiny." Max joked.
"We've upped our game since the last time we met. We've changed." Kibō summoned a round shield with a black cross adorning it. "Have you?"
"Heh." Max's helmet materialized around his head, and his eyes glowed. "Come and find out, Kid Thunderbolt. HIT ME."
Kibō hurled the shield at Max, who blocked it with his arm. The shield reappeared on Kibō's own arm. "Now who's the Cap wannabe?" Max quipped. He used the flight mechanisms in his boots to propel himself into the air, punching down at Kibō, who blocked with the shield.
"Against the faux Iron Man. You know who usually wins these squabbles, right?"
"Difference being that this ain't a movie or comic book, and you're not Chris Evans." Max charged energy in his gauntlet. "Bye-bye."
He fired a blast of energy that knocked the shield away. Kibō swung his sword at Max, who grabbed the blade with his hands. "Not gonna get the job done with that paperweight." Max taunted. He charged his gauntlet again, then delivered a hard punch, shattering the sword.
Kibō reacted quickly, grabbing Max's arm and using it to hoist him into the air, chucking him into the swampy water.
"Ugggh, I'm gonna be digging moss out of this thing for weeks. Asshole." Max tried getting up. Kibō jumped into the water, pulling him up and punching him in the head. The sounds of metal hitting metal echoed out into the night as the two exchanged blows.
One punch from Max knocked Kibō's helmet off. He took advantage of the opening, grabbing the fragmented blade from the water, and cut Kibō across the face. He punched Max square in the face in response, knocking him back.
"Tch, never one for words, huh, Keeb? Not much fun without a bit of banter--" Max looked up. The sword was back in Kibō's hand, completely intact. What's more, the cut across his face wasn't bleeding. "The hell? I just broke that thing..."
Kibō pointed to the cut on his face. "This here? It's nothing. Less than nothing. You could cut my arm off, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I wouldn't lose a drop of blood." He raised his sword. "You know what this sword is? Let me give you a hint."
Blue flames appeared in front of him. 
"Grrr, you're not getting the chance." Max summoned forth the manic-eyed, horse-riding figure of Don Quixote. "Wreck him!"
The Persona charged towards Kibō, but within the flames, a figure appeared and blocked the rider's lance strike. "Hmm?! Wait a minute..." Max looked closely. "That's not Galahad...don't tell me you've--"
"I don't just have a seat at the Round Table. I have the throne. The king of the knights that bows to no one. Especially not a delusional mockery." Kibō motioned towards his Persona. "Show him his place...Arthur."
The figure within the flames slashed upwards, dispelling the ersatz knight and knocking Max back through the water. The attack dispelled the fire, revealing a bulky man wearing silver-and-gold armor, his face obscured by a helmet bearing a jeweled crown, as well as possessing a gray cape. It wielded a shimmering longsword, the word "Caliburn" embedded into the blade.
"Here's your problem, Max. We haven't been resting on our laurels this last year-and-a-half. We had to keep our game up, just in case someone else got bright ideas about trying to take control. You couldn't beat us back then. What makes you think you'll do any better now?"
Max was seething. "You think I'm weak, musclehead?! You'd best go back to keeping your trap shut if you don't want my sister to be in the market for a new boyfriend. Let me show you how 'weak' I am!"
Don Quixote reappeared behind him, and with the wind sails on its back rotating rapidly, it charged Max with electrical energy. Now supercharged, he fired off a massive beam towards Kibō. 
Before it could connect, a huge wall of water appeared between them, and the energy exploded, leaving the water to trickle down like rain.
"Who the devil...?" Max pondered.
In front of Kibō, hair billowing in the wind, was Barbara. She stared directly at Max with a quiet intensity.
"Barb."
She turned back to Kibō. "Leave him to me. There's something I need to say to him."
"You don't have to tell me." Kibō stood down.
The water parting around her, she walked towards her brother. "I've been waiting to see you for so long. I followed Keeb cuz I couldn't figure out where he could be going. I'm glad that I did. Now take off that stupid helmet."
"Why should I?" Max questioned.
"Because I want to talk to *you*. Not the shell you're pretending to be."
Max wordlessly dissolved his helmet. "Satisfied?"
"...if I didn't know better, I wouldn't recognize you."
"Excuse me for not having time for a haircut. And you know..." He rubbed the spot where the scar was. "You can thank your best friend for this."
"Is that really it, man? You haven't talked with your sister in over a year, and the most you can come up with is more sarcasm? Do you even care about what you've done to her?" Kibō demanded.
"Butt out, Kid Thunder." He turned his attention back to Barbara. "So what are you here for? Gonna try begging me to come home again? You know why I can't."
"I know why you won't. The same reason why you won't see Mama. You're still feeling guilty about how it all turned out. But you have to understand, we don't care about that. What's done is done. We miss you so much, Maxie."
"You don't need a monster like me ruining your life anymore, Barb. You were always the one destined for bigger things. You don't need me as your curse."
"Don't be stupid. Nothing I could accomplish would mean as much if you aren't there with me. The day I finally make it to Broadway, I need Mama AND you there to see it. We've done everything together from Day One. All this time of not knowing where you were has been torture. Don't you realize that?"
"I do. And I know that you're better off."
"Stop saying that! You being gone hasn't helped anybody! Mama's been miserable without you around! And Ibuki has so much she wants to tell you. This vigilante game has to stop, Maxie. For your sake as much as ours."
"You know why I can't. No one else is gonna do it. Having the power to change things and not doing it is worse than not having the power at all. These people...these *animals*...need to be punished. And I--"
"You're not doing it for the right reasons. It's all because you're angry at the world for what happened to us. What Dad did to you. Beating up people isn't gonna make it go away."
"I know that! Nothing is ever gonna make it okay! But this drive...this urge to hurt these people...it'll never stop until I get my hands on the old man and make him squirm. Until he pays for what he's done, I'll never--"
"Dad is DEAD, Maxie."
It took a moment for the words to register in Max's mind. "What...? What do you mean he's *dead*? That can't be."
"It is. He's been dead for over a year now. It happened not long after I got home from Japan. He's gone, Maxie."
"You're lying...you're lying! This is just a ploy to get me to stop--"
"Look at this, Maxie. I'm not lying."
Barbara presented her phone. There was an article displayed on it. Max began to read it.
"'May 18, 2030. Louisville, Kentucky. Police responded to a call about an accident in the early hours of the morning. A pick-up truck was found to have crashed into a tree. When officers arrived on the scene, they reported a strong odor of alcohol coming from the truck. The driver was identified as former Trinity Catholic High School football coach James O'Donnell, 59. He was pronounced dead on the scene.'"
"........" Max was quiet.
"He was as drunk as he'd ever been. He probably hit the gas hard and slammed head-on into that tree. They said he died instantly. When they called Mama and told us, it was a lot of mixed feelings. He made our lives miserable, yeah. He was an awful person who destroyed everyone around him. But I can never be happy about someone losing their life. No matter how poorly they treated me." Barbara related.
"But the point of it is...it's over, Maxie. We don't have to live in fear anymore. He's not gonna come busting down the door with a shotgun. We don't have to sleep with one eye open. Everything is gonna be okay. You can stop now..."
Max was visibly shaking. His eyes had grown dark, and empty, as if everything had come crashing down around him. "Okay...you think this is okay?! All this time, I've been dreaming of the day I would look into his eyes and vent everything I've had buried deep inside...and you're telling me the universe got to him before I did?! Everything I waited my whole LIFE to do is just gone now?! All of this...it's all been meaningless?!"
"Maxie...it's okay. You don't have to--"
"SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" 
Energy crackled around Max, and he vanished. "Maxie!" Barbara called out.
"Where could he have gone?" Kibō asked.
"Oh, no no no...I was afraid of this. We have to tell everyone. We've got to find him. He might seriously hurt someone the way he is now. Maybe even himself...Keeb, we need to get back to town and find him!"
"Yeah, no doubt about that. Let's hurry."
"....."
The two headed back towards the city.
---
Kat and Carrie walked hand-in-hand down the street. "Woof, my feet are gonna be killing me come the morning..." Kat uttered.
"It was all worth it, I think. You're a much more energetic dancer than I realized." Carrie replied. "Although, I'm rather partial to the slow dances myself."
"I hear ya there."
The girls got alerts on their phones. "Hm? A group text from Barbara..." Carrie glanced at hers.
Kat's eyes widened. "Oh...oh, no."
"Oh my...this is looking like a catastrophe..."
"Care, I'm sorry, but...we're gonna have to cut date night short."
"No, it's alright. We need to get back to the hotel."
"I promise I'll make up for it. Damn it all, Sparky..."
---
Natalia sat in front of the mirror, brushing her hair, as Kenneth slept. Their phones turned on. Natalia glanced at hers. "Wha...what the..."
Kenneth woke up. "Mmmmph...if this is some ridiculous picture, Katherine..." 
"It's not a joke, Kenny. We need to get dressed and find the others."
"Of course, that goes without saying. Never a dull moment..."
---
In the hotel bar, Sahir and Sakuya sat by Ibuki as she drank a beer. "Seriously, y'all, go have yourselves your own fun. I'll be fine." Ibuki assured.
Their phones turned on. "Hm? A text from Senpai..." Sakuya said.
"Oh...crap." Sahir uttered. "You seeing this, Fireball--"
Ibuki had already gotten up, putting money down on the counter. "Keep the change." She sprinted to the exit.
"Wait, Hinotama-san!" Sakuya called out, to no avail. The couple looked at each other, before following Ibuki out the door.
---
The group reconvened in front of the hotel. "Holy hell, what happened?!" Sahir asked.
"And why do you two smell like sewage?" Kat questioned.
"I went into the swamp to lure Max out of hiding. We fought for a bit, but then Barb showed up to break it off." Kibō explained.
"I tried to talk him down, and then I told him about how our dad died. He didn't take it well and he ran off. I have no idea where to or what his mindset is now, but we have to find him." Barbara added.
"Why would he go crazy over that? I thought he hated your dad." Natalia asked.
"The whole end point of his rampage was supposed to be confronting his dad and taking his anger out on him. I'd wager it's something he's dreamt about for years. And now it's been taken from him." Kibō replied.
"He probably thinks his whole reason for existing was pulled out from under him. Now there's nowhere for all that anger to go. Who knows what he's gonna do now..." Kat surmised.
"...where do you think he is?" Ibuki asked.
"I honestly don't have a clue. If he's not out to vent his anger, then he's probably gone somewhere isolated to think." Barbara replied.
"On top of a building he thinks we couldn't access, most likely." Kenneth said.
"Is there any way for you to track him, Carrie-chan?" Sakuya asked.
"Well now that my Metaverse tracker is operational again, I should be able to locate him." Carrie pulled out her phone.
"Point goes to Doc Rose for the update." Kat chimed.
Carrie searched through the app. "Let's see...let's see...his signature is coming from the Central Business District. Precisely..."
"That's...the Superdome. How are we gonna get up there?" Barbara asked.
"Leave it to me. I've finally got a handle on all my powers, and I can teleport again." Natalia replied.
"Someone's gotta talk to him, but I don't think he'll be okay with everyone at once. I'll--" Kat began.
"I'll do it." Ibuki interrupted.
"You sure about this?"
"With the history you two have, he might end up gearing for another fight if he sees you. And I have too much I need to get off my chest. I can handle myself if it gets to that point. Let me handle it."
"...okay. I'll leave it to you. Promise me you'll talk him down for good. If we can't do it now, we might never be able to. Please bring him back." Barbara pleaded.
"It's a promise, starlet. I'll get through to him, one way or another."
"Then there's not another minute to waste. Hopefully we get to him in time. Let's go." Kat directed, and the group headed for the football stadium.
---
Atop the domed home of the NFL's New Orleans Saints, Ibuki was teleported onto the roof. Sure enough, Max was there, turned away from her, skulking.
"Maxie." she spoke up.
"Go away." he responded.
"No. Not anymore. Turn around. It's past time we talked."
He relented, and turned around. "What do you want?"
"World hasn't been very kind to you, has it?"
He looked away. "Are you here to get your payback after all this time? Go ahead. I don't have any fight left."
"Not everything's about revenge and payback, Maxie. That sort of thing just eats you up from the inside. Look what it's done to you. If it wasn't for that getup, I might not recognize you. I stopped being angry a long time ago. It's time for you to do the same."
"And how do you suppose I do that? The thing that was supposed to end my misery for good was stolen from me. I should be thrilled that the old man got what was coming to him. Instead I'm...cold. Empty. Like everything I was planning on saying was for nothing. Like all of *this*...was for nothing. My whole life's purpose was to protect Mama and Barb from that old monster and rid the world of him. How am I supposed to feel now that I've had the chance taken from me? My life's had its purpose pulled away..."
"There's no way that was the whole point to your life. You can still be more than that. Maybe you've had your 'revenge' all wrong. You can still get one over on him."
"How?"
"By living. By being a better man than him."
"That's not possible anymore."
"Why not?"
"You know why better than anyone. Look at me. I'm no better than a wild dog, running around bloodying myself. I've destroyed everyone's trust in me, I manipulated people--you included--for my own selfish wants. This existence is exactly what I deserve."
"That's not what I think."
"How can you say that after everything?"
"What do you want, Maxie? Not what some urge for revenge is telling you. What do you want out of life? Didn't you want to be a hero to people?"
"That word is meaningless. I could never be that to anyone."
"What do you think a hero is? Someone that dresses up in flashy undies and fights crime? Or someone who inspires people to be better?"
"I have no right to be either."
"Oh for--stop talking about yourself like that!" Ibuki raised her hand up. Max braced for what he thought was going to be a hit.
Instead, she put her hand on his shoulder. "That old man of yours really did a number on you, didn't he? All this anger and self-loathing...he must've made you feel worthless. And the longer you hear it, the more you start to believe it. But you can't define your life based on what one awful man said and did to you. You can be your own person."
"...why? I don't get it. When you stepped into my Prison, you were ready and primed to tear me apart. You more than anyone should hate my guts. Why do you keep coming near me?"
Ibuki pulled the Ultraman toy out of her pocket. "Once upon a time, there was a girl whose dad blamed her for everything. She wasn't strong enough to protect herself or her sister, so she looked up to someone strong and wanted more than anything to be like them. She wanted to make everything better for the ones she loved. She wanted to be a hero for others to look up to, so that maybe, someone didn't have to suffer like she did. Maybe all the struggles over the years could mean something if it saved someone else."
"Maxie...I know that, deep down, you still want to be a hero. You have a good heart. And even if you can't take back the things you did, or the things that happened to you, you can't let them define you. This anger you're carrying has to get out somehow. So just...vent. Get angry. Let it all out right now. Until it's all gone from your system."
"....." Max clenched his fists. "I sacrificed everything to achieve the world I wanted...I was finally gonna be the hero! I didn't care what I had to do, I was gonna make it happen! But it was all wrong...all I did was cause more pain! I screwed up because that's all I'm good at! So I left home because I couldn't let Mama or Barb suffer for my mistakes anymore! But all that did was cause them more grief...even when I'm not around, I make everything miserable!"
He fell to his knees. "Barb...Kat...Keeb...why am I inferior to everyone?! Just once I want to prove that the old drunk was wrong, but my every move proves what a worthless waste of oxygen I am! I wanted to make him suffer..." He pounded his fist into the roof. "I wanted him to feel every bit of pain he inflicted on me for my entire life! Every day since I was little, I dreamt of the day where I would finally have my revenge! And to have that chance stripped from me...it's like the whole universe is mocking me! I'm gonna be stuck this way forever! A rabid monster grasping at glory that he can never hope to achieve!"
Energy sparked around him. "Why me...why does this have to be me?! Why did I have to suffer in silence and become this twisted freakshow?! Why won't the world give me just one moment of peace where I'm not tormented into trying to fix everything?! WHY COULDN'T SOMEONE HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO STOP THE OLD FUCK BEFORE I BECAME LIKE THIS?!"
Electricity shot up from him as he let out a primal scream. Once it subsided, he crumpled down to his hands, utterly dejected. At that moment, he began to sob. 
Ibuki got down next to him. She put her hands on his shoulders. "That's it. Let everything out. I don't think I've ever seen you cry before. You just couldn't for your own safety, could you? It's okay now. There's nothing you need to bottle up anymore. All you wanted was someone to help pick you back up. Same as me. So if we can help each other for real...then maybe things'll turn out okay." She embraced him.
His eyes reddened by tears, he released all tension. "Why...why you..."
"Because I choose to. Because Ms. Annie asked me to. And...because I love you. On the subject of not bottling things up anymore."
Max, with some trepidation, reciprocated the hug. "I don't know if I'm worthy of that, but..."
"I say it's alright. So from this point on, Captain Thunder can stop being angry. Because it's time for Max to live."
Max was at a loss. And so, he deactivated his armor, letting it disappear from his body. 
"You're right. It's time to stop letting the hate win. Max O'Do--no. Max Jadefang needs to start living. Thank you...Ibuki."
Above the sporting haven, amongst the humid Louisiana air, a years-long trauma finally began to heal.