Scene 10 - October 15th

Interior Hospital, Continuous

Quinn Kaufman

Dad didn’t let me celebrate for long, though. “So what are you going to do with these powers? Hero work? Construction? The theater?” He gave a wicked grin. “Villainy?” he teased.

“Give me a second, Dad!” I complained. “I’ve only had them for like, a day. I don’t even know what I can really do with them yet. How am I supposed to know what to use them for?”

“You have to register with the DMO regardless,” he reminded me.

“I know, I know,” I agreed. “But there’s a one-month grace period, right?”

“Right,” he said. “After that, well... we can’t afford those fines.”

“I know, dad.” I said again. “I’ll register, I promise, I just want to figure out what I can really do first. ESP and telekinesis could be great or crappy, depending on what the limits are. I want to find those out before I share this with anyone.”

He watched me for a moment, then leaned forward to take his glasses back from where they still hung it midair. “I suppose I can’t argue with that,” he said, a little reluctantly. “Just be careful when you’re experimenting. There are dangerous people out there. The Buff Boys, the Crows...”

“Why do you automatically assume I’m about to go out and roam the streets at night, playing with my new powers?” I complained.

Dad raised an eyebrow. “Probably because you’re about the go out and roam the streets at night, playing with your new powers.”

I shrugged. “It’s a fair cop.”

He chuckled. “I’ve known you your whole life, Quinn. You’re not going to surprise me.” Then he sighed. “I know I can’t convince you otherwise, and you’re an adult anyway. It’s not my decision, just... promise me you’ll be careful?”

I leaned over his bed and hugged him, then gave him a peck on the forehead. “I promise. I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, kiddo.” He smiled at me as I turned to go. “Wait!”

“Yeah?”

“I think that the psychic suit was meant to be armored as well - you should probably wear it if you’re going to go playing with your powers. And if it hasn’t killed you yet, it probably won’t.”

I nodded. “Good idea. It has a full face mask, too - I don’t know if I’ll want to keep my identity to myself, but you can’t untell a secret.”