When Lisa and Chaos returned to Charleston Avenue, they found Ben on the floor with the shop trashed. “Ben!” Lisa rushed to cradle him, “hey! Hey!” Ben groans and looks up at Lisa, “Oh good, you’re safe.” “What happened?” Lisa exclaimed. “Well, after the Jet leaked your relationship to Creator Chaos over there,” Ben squinted his eyes at Chaos, “the cops showed up…” “The— police did this?” Lisa questioned. “I’m not finished,” Ben answered, “after the cops left some more people showed up that looked official but definitely didn’t look like the police.” Lisa nodded, listening. “They came for you, Lisa, as a bargaining tool to extort Chaos,” Ben explained. “Little Flower,” Chaos began, concerned. Lisa glowered, “So these bastards had the audacity to step into my shop to use me as a bargaining chip?” Ben nodded simply, “When I wouldn’t tell them where you were, they jumped me.” Ben had no choice but to let it happen because he couldn’t reveal himself unless absolutely necessary, and five guys going missing would raise some red flags. Lisa stood up and went to the counter. “Maybe you should stay with me for a bit lo— Lisa, what the hell is that?” Chaos raised his eyebrows. Lisa was brandishing a staff that doubled as a taser. She checked the strength of the voltage and the spare battery for it. “Which way did they go, Ben?” Lisa asked flatly, face cold. “Lisa, I don’t know. I was unconscious when you came in,” Ben was equally stunned as Chaos. Lisa flourished the weapon, “It’s okay. I’m sure I can contact one of grandma’s former associates and get some intel.” Lisa started for the door when Chaos lifted her from behind, “Hold on there, Little Flower! Ben just said there were five guys! Wait, why send five for the Little Flower?” “I think one of them frequent the bar Lisa likes to go to,” Ben regretted sharing that information as soon as it left his mouth. “They go to my bar, huh? They must be new because people know not to mess with me at my place of business,” Lisa was struggling, “Chaos will you put me down?” “No!” Chaos squeezed. “She may decide to tase you Boy-Ne— I mean, Chaos,” Ben almost snickered. “I’m not going to tase my boyfriend, Ben, but—“ Lisa started wiggling provocatively. Chaos turned red, “That’s not going to work this time, Little Flower. We don’t know who these guys could be, and after the bank heist—“ Chaos trailed off. “I was pretty shaken, but I’m a big girl, Chaos. If I don’t handle business, more than those five guys will be floating around. Grandma shared just about everything there is about this shop, and there are things here that guys like these are going to want if I don’t lay down the hammer,” Lisa struggled, then grimaced. Chaos squeezed her to his chest, “And— what if something happens? What then?” Lisa sighed, “Then the shop goes to Ben.” “What?” Chaos shouted. Ben looked away, “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Lisa, don’t worry. I’m sure grandpa will have guidance on this. Just put that giant electrified stick away and be patient.” Lisa sighed, “Fine, Ben. Mr. Wilson has been good about handling these situations without violence. I think I’m going to close up early. Go home and get cleaned up. Take a hot bath. You’re going to feel that tomorrow.” Ben nodded, heading out the door. He turned the open sign to closed and locked the door behind him. “Spencer,” Lisa shook her head, “I appreciate that, but I have to handle my business.” “Do you— do you even need this place now that you have me?” Chaos muttered into her shoulder. “Spencer!” Lisa exclaimed, “I know what happened rattled us both, but I have to live my life!” “I could just lock you up in the hideout,” Chaos tried to sound intimidating, “I am a villain after all.” Lisa frowned, pinching his cheek before he could finish his last sentence. Chaos yelped and blinked at Lisa. “Now you’re just being ridiculous. I mean, that’s not outside the scope of your ability. I’m sure if you gave the order, the others would comply, but do you really want to imprison me?” Lisa raised her eyebrows. “No,” Chaos sighed, “but can you blame me for thinking of it?” Lisa didn’t answer at first, “Spencer, I went the last several years running this shop by myself. That included defending it from sketchy dudes who want grandma’s secrets. I went a majority of my life without anyone holding my hand through it all.” Lisa brushed her fingers across his cheek, “I want you around, Spencer. Don’t doubt that for a second, but I will continue to stand on my own. Weren’t you the one who said ‘a real man wants a woman who wants but doesn’t need him?’” “Did I say that?” Chaos nervously laughed. Lisa looked at Chaos deadpan, “Spencer…” “Okay. Okay. You’re right,” Chaos conceded. Lisa kissed him on the cheek, “Don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll be fine, and if not, I’ll call Veronica, and we’ll knock back a few and handle it.” Chaos grimaced, then laughed, “All right. My feisty little flower. You win.” Lisa brushed her lips against his, “I knew you’d see it my way.” Chaos nodded but still felt uneasy somehow. — “So… you failed to grab Chaos’s girlfriend?” “We’re sorry, master—“ the first man began but fell after a bullet flew between his eyes. “Now, what did you learn?” Disaster twirled his gun between his fingers, looking bored. The other four men looked at each other nervously. “F-failure is not an option?” A second man answered, then fell after a bang. “Right answer. The prize is ending your miserable life,” Disaster smirked, “Let this be a lesson to the other three of you. Grab one more guy for your team, someone who is more competent than these two, and try again. Frankly, I don’t care how you do it. I want that woman or, at the very least, that woman’s corpse.” The three men stared at each other. “Get out of my sight,” Disaster shouted and laughed at how quickly his men scrambled away, “So difficult to find good help these days. The Boy Scout is soft. If I can catch the flower girl, Chaos Corps is as good as mine.” He rubbed the barrel of the gun against his cheek lovingly, “And even if all I do is kill her, perhaps it’ll break him… Either way, I get what I want. How closely will his men follow if they see he is capable of my level of cruelty towards them.” Disaster plopped back into his rolling chair gleefully, “The darkness that would contort his handsome face would make him more delicious. How much more lovely would his eyes be if they looked dead as his flower girl. Will you come to kill me, or will you be so broken that you’ll willingly become my pet?” Disaster grimaced, “I had to behave because those old fools from all over the world were here. Despite what they tell themselves, Chaos could destroy them all if he wasn’t so damn nice. Doing a better job, swifter job than the police and government officials of this city does not a villain make.” Disaster giggled, “You just wait, Boy Scout. I’ll save you from your ill-conceived notions of villainy and vigilantism. I’ll choke it all out of you with my unholy hands. How marvelous would it feel to squeeze that lovely throat of yours.” Disaster squeezed the air, ecstasy on his face, “The cold embrace of pain and suffering you’d feel in my arms after I hold your unconscious body.” “They call me a crazy son of a bitch, and that may be so. But, oh the things I would do to you, my beloved Boy Scout— you and your troop of merry men…” — “Ben! What happened?” Mr. Wilson jumped up when Ben came in the door. “Five guys came for Lisa while she was waiting out the heat wherever the Boy-Next-Door stays,” Ben took an ice pack from the freezer and put it over his black eye. “I knew nothing good would come from the Jet hanging around,” Mr. Wilson sighed. “Don’t you mean nothing good would come from Lisa dating a criminal?” Ben slumped back on the couch, annoyed. Mr. Wilson cleared his throat, “Did you forget your grandma was Kate’s vice-captain?” Ben groaned, “I don’t understand any of you. Xander, Lisa… you, grandpa. You know these criminals are more trouble than they are worth, and yet you get involved. Why?” “Believe it or not, there’s a level of relief knowing your girl is the baddest broad in the sea,” Mr. Wilson marveled, “The drawback was not letting the world know we were seeing our girls, but they were more than capable of defending themselves.” “Whatever you say, grandpa,” Ben sighed. “I was never into the whole damsel in distress thing,” Mr. Wilson got a twinkle in his eye, “they pale in comparison to the fiery passion of my Wilma.” “Gross. I don’t even mildly want to hear about that…Ow! What was that for?” “Ain’t nothing gross about feeling frisky for my girl. We may be old, and she forgets me half the time, but that doesn’t mean I’m dead yet, ya brat, and she’s still as beautiful to me as when she kicked my ass the first time,” Mr. Wilson lectured. “Ouch! And what was that one for?” “For letting Lisa out of your sight,” Mr. Wilson popped Ben. “I have never had to watch over someone so hard-headed and damn independent,” Ben complained. “She’s got her grandpa’s hard head with her grandma’s wild sense of freedom,” Mr. Wilson marveled, “Does she really have an electrified staff?” “Yeah… Lisa is terrifying on her own… does she even need me?” “Yes. Lisa doesn’t have a me or your grandma, but she has you, Ben… in the shadows,” Mr. Wilson raised his eyebrow. “Okay, but she has the Boy-Next-Door in the light,” Ben muttered. “Lisa’s dated many men before!” “And they were all jackwagons… This one is more tolerable, but….” Ben trailed off. “You’ve never complained before?” Mr. Wilson squinted his eyes, “What’s really going on, Ben?” Ben flushed, “Nothing! I’m just tired, is all, grandpa.” As Ben left to get cleaned up, Mr. Wilson had to wonder what had his grandson feeling so melancholy. He had a vague idea. However, he had to figure out who had the audacity to cross into Lesura territory. It has to be someone young and foolish. “Claude, I need you to look into something for me,” Mr. Wilson pulled out an old flip phone, “someone is trying to get at Lisa, and I need some leads.” Claude was silent, then he said, “I have a hunch Master Disaster is trying to make some foolhardy move, but let me make sure. Ben didn’t tail them? That’s so unlike him.” “Well, the Jet is such a minor player that I’m sure the news hasn’t reached you across the ocean,” Mr. Wilson began. “Oh?” “Well, Chaos made a move on our flower girl, and Jet let it slip that they are seeing each other,” Mr. Wilson continued. “So, two groups of people descended on Charleston Avenue— the police and some thugs. Ben was watching the shop. It all makes sense now.” “Perceptive as always, Claude.” “Well, don’t worry, old friend. I’ll reach out to some associates on your side of the pond. Ta-ta for now.” The line clicked. — “Dave Hendrix?” Dave was picking up trash around a city park when some guys in suits approached him. “Who’s asking?” Dave asked cautiously. He put his hands up when he heard a familiar click. “What’s this about?” Dave squinted his eyes. “We— can’t discuss that here; perhaps you could come with us,” the lead guy suggested. “I’m good….” He yelped when someone hit him from behind, knocking him unconscious. When Dave awoke, he was in a dark room, “What the hell?” “Now that we are out of the public eye, I have a few questions.” “Why should I answer anything you have to ask?” Dave moved and realized he was cuffed to the chair. The man ignored his question, “Do you know who Creator Chaos is?” “That vigilante boy on the TV? What about him?” Dave asked. The man laughed, “You mean the villain?” “Nah, he ain’t no villain. Most of his kills were bastards who eluded the cops,” Dave explained, “Us crooked bastards in prison could see that plain as day. If he were around, maybe he could have stopped me from killing ‘Gina.” “Would you believe me if I told you that he is your son?” The man leaned his chin on his thumbs. “Nah. My Spencer is a good boy. He wouldn’t hurt anyone unless he needed to. Though if his woman weren’t there, he’d probably have killed me,” Dave shook his head, “I mean, I would have deserved it, though. I did snap his mama’s neck….” “Did you not just say Creator Chaos was a vigilante?” The man questioned. “Listen, man. Spencer, he ain’t like me, he ain’t like his mama, and he certainly ain’t like this Creator Chaos. My boy cried at killing spiders and felt real bad about even mildly beating up bullies,” Dave shook his head, “Despite me, that boy has a good heart.” Another man popped into the room, “Sir, the DNA test is back.” “Well, well, well,” the man looked at the results then tossed them over to where Dave could see them. “I’ll be damned. I did break my boy,” Dave shook his head, fighting back tears, “This— he’s— this is my fault….” “You could save him—“ the man began. “Oh no. I’ve done enough. I need to leave him well enough alone,” Dave shook his head. “Didn’t you find Jesus?” “Listen, man, I’ll pray for my boy, but I ain’t going to go along with any hair-brained scheme to make him see the light,” Dave squinted his eyes, “his heart may have hardened, and this may not be the best way, but he’s still doing good in this world even if he gets his hands dirty to do it.” “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Dave, I was hoping you’d see it our way and make this easy,” the man shook his head. “Well, you’re wrong. Now let me go and let my boy well enough alone,” Dave demanded. “You are in no place to make demands. You did help us out just the same. Creator Chaos is Spencer Hendrix.” “Y-you ain’t going to expose him, are you?” Dave asked nervously. “Damn it, Dave, will you stop ruining the boy’s life already?” He thought. “No. No. Snitches get stitches, Dave. I thought prison would have taught you that.” “Wait, you ain’t the FBI or something?” The man cackled, “Oh no. No. We are just humble criminals looking to break Creator Chaos— no, Spencer Hendrix on behalf of our boss.” “Don’t you lay a hand on my boy!” “Oh, we aren’t. We are actually going to kill a couple of birds with one stone. We already know the Jet is his former foster brother, Carl Pender. He’s either really incompetent, or he keeps letting Spencer go because they were once brothers.” “But that aside, we have a job for you, Dave, and you will carry it out, whether you want to or not.” Dave struggled as the men laughed maniacally as they closed in on Dave. — “Some men tried to attack Lisa in her shop,” Chaos explained, “fortunately, she was with us, leaving Ben in charge. I want to know who the hell is after her.” “I’m on it, boss,” Victor swirled his bourbon, “I’ll ask around. No one is going to come between you and Lisa. I swear my life on it.” “Well, don’t swear too hard, Vic. You’re supposed to share at least some of that life with Veronica,” Chaos plopped his head down on the table, “How did you make it, Vic?” “Make what, boss?” “You know, being in love with Veronica knowing she’s in the same amount of danger as you are since you both work for me,” Chaos muttered. “Boss, this stuff has run in mine and Veronica’s family for over a century. We both grew up and got together knowing that one or both of our lives could be cut short any day. Make no mistake, I get scared too, boss, but that’s the nature of the beast,” Victor explained, patting Chaos on the shoulder, “that’s why Veronica and I live life to the fullest.” “Thanks, Vic,” Chaos nodded, still deflated on the table. “Any time, boss,” Victor smiled in encouragement. “Should I even fly out to see Ahmed?” Chaos wondered aloud, “Maybe I should stay here.” “Boss, Ahmed’s daughter, is getting married, and he personally invited you,” Victor raised his eyebrows, “I mean, it’s a cover-up for a business proposition he wants to make as far as expanding Chaos Corps production to his region.” “We have enough money to last for several generations of Chaos Corps—“ “Boss! It’s always good for a criminal organization to have assets in more than their home country. Ahmed likes you. Ahmed doesn’t like or trust anybody. We can’t let this opportunity slip,” Victor lectured, “You’re the only one who can pull this off.” “You’re right….” Chaos sat up and sighed, “I’ll text Lisa to let her know I’ll be gone for a week and get packing.” “Good idea, boss. In the meantime, I’ll keep working on my project since Charles is in charge while you’re gone this time.” Chaos nodded and went to go pack. He couldn’t let go of this sense of foreboding.