They couldn’t believe he was really gone.
The Irregulars had all gathered at the Hideout as soon as Watts had given Wendy the news. They’d been shocked to learn the details, how Mr. S had tackled Sangrave out of a skyscraper to save the Doc. They’d been even more surprised how much knowing he was gone hurt. Death was no stranger to the lives of most of them.
“You’d think we’d be used to this by now,” Captain muttered.
“Not his fault he died,” Ben said. “He didn’t leave us in a lurch by choice.”
“He didn’t even do that,” said Wendy. “The rent’s paid up for the next year. He knew this was coming. And Dr. Watts wants us to know he’s still there, if we need anything.”
“I was talking about people we like dying,” Captain said.
“I don’t think you ever get used to something like that,” said Jeni.
“Some people do,” Twist shrugged.
“Some people say they do, and don’t mean it,” Yuki said.
“Alright everyone,” Wendy said. “Let’s just… I don’t know. Figure out what happens next.”
“We keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Michael said. “Not spying and stuff, I guess, but if the rent’s still paid, then we just keep surviving like we always do.”
Everyone was quiet after that.
“Someone should keep an eye on the Doc,” Wendy said.
“We’ll take turns,” Yuki nodded.
“He doesn’t need to be babysat,” Captain huffed. “The runner’s still living there."
“The runner’s always in the Net,” Jeni said. “She’ll do what she can, but -”
“You don’t think he’s going to do anything…” Michael trailed off, worried.
Captain scoffed. “The Doc’s going to be fine.”
“He’s devastated!” Wendy protested.
Captain relented, “Ok, not fine, but he’s not going to hurt himself or get himself hurt.”
“Not intentionally,” Yuki grumbled.
“I think,” Ben slowly said, “we should keep an eye on things, just to be sure.”
“What if he sees us?” asked Aidan and Nadia.
“You think he’ll see us?” Twist grinned.
“It wouldn’t hurt, at least for a couple weeks,” Wendy declared. “He’s done a lot of good for us, and Mr. S, so the least we can do is keep watch.”
Everyone fell silent again.
Muse brought out a music player from her pocket. It was old, but functional. “Jeni, do you have external speakers anywhere in here?”
“Um, hang on.”
With everything set up, Muse pushed play. Everyone’s eyes widened.
“He’d kill me if he ever found out I recorded him,” Muse said. “Now I’m glad I did.”
The Irregulars had all gathered at the Hideout as soon as Watts had given Wendy the news. They’d been shocked to learn the details, how Mr. S had tackled Sangrave out of a skyscraper to save the Doc. They’d been even more surprised how much knowing he was gone hurt. Death was no stranger to the lives of most of them.
“You’d think we’d be used to this by now,” Captain muttered.
“Not his fault he died,” Ben said. “He didn’t leave us in a lurch by choice.”
“He didn’t even do that,” said Wendy. “The rent’s paid up for the next year. He knew this was coming. And Dr. Watts wants us to know he’s still there, if we need anything.”
“I was talking about people we like dying,” Captain said.
“I don’t think you ever get used to something like that,” said Jeni.
“Some people do,” Twist shrugged.
“Some people say they do, and don’t mean it,” Yuki said.
“Alright everyone,” Wendy said. “Let’s just… I don’t know. Figure out what happens next.”
“We keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Michael said. “Not spying and stuff, I guess, but if the rent’s still paid, then we just keep surviving like we always do.”
Everyone was quiet after that.
“Someone should keep an eye on the Doc,” Wendy said.
“We’ll take turns,” Yuki nodded.
“He doesn’t need to be babysat,” Captain huffed. “The runner’s still living there."
“The runner’s always in the Net,” Jeni said. “She’ll do what she can, but -”
“You don’t think he’s going to do anything…” Michael trailed off, worried.
Captain scoffed. “The Doc’s going to be fine.”
“He’s devastated!” Wendy protested.
Captain relented, “Ok, not fine, but he’s not going to hurt himself or get himself hurt.”
“Not intentionally,” Yuki grumbled.
“I think,” Ben slowly said, “we should keep an eye on things, just to be sure.”
“What if he sees us?” asked Aidan and Nadia.
“You think he’ll see us?” Twist grinned.
“It wouldn’t hurt, at least for a couple weeks,” Wendy declared. “He’s done a lot of good for us, and Mr. S, so the least we can do is keep watch.”
Everyone fell silent again.
Muse brought out a music player from her pocket. It was old, but functional. “Jeni, do you have external speakers anywhere in here?”
“Um, hang on.”
With everything set up, Muse pushed play. Everyone’s eyes widened.
“He’d kill me if he ever found out I recorded him,” Muse said. “Now I’m glad I did.”
