Moonstrike 24

CHAPTER 24



“I was thinking that we should register me as being home schooled.”

“...what?”

M.J. rolled his eyes at her. “Winter break won’t last forever,” he pointed out. “If I’m not going back, eventually I’m going to be reported missing. Am I going back home?”

Ari scowled. “You’re not.”

M.J. lifted his hands. “See?”

Ji Min chewed it over. “...Do you think we can do that totally online and by phone, or do we need to impersonate one of our parents in person?” That was a bigger ask. Ji Min looked a lot like their Mom, but it was a stretch to pass off a 25 year old woman as a 48 year old.

M.J. shrugged.

‘I cannot handle any more things. I am handling so many things right now. But this is important, his education is important. …Wait. Is this illegal? Have I kidnapped him?’

Huh. That might be bad.

“Can you figure out how to do it?” Ji Min settled on, a little guiltily. She should probably do it.

“...I'll try.” M.J. stopped in front of a sign. “Hey, 6 minutes until the next showing. Wanna go get a seat?”

Ari snorted. “Absolutely I do.” She strode into the observatory. Ji Min followed.

They walked into a round room ringed with chairs that leaned back to point up at a projection effect on the ceiling. At the moment it was black with random stars blinking on. Ji Min watched a comet appear and blaze its way across the screen, narrowly missing a moon. She glanced back down at her footing to follow her siblings to what was apparently the best spot.

The room was nearly empty. A group of 4 older people were quietly talking from their seats. She could make out the rise and fall of their cadence, but no words. There was also a young couple leaned up against each other.

Ji Min took her seat and got comfortable. Seconds later the teenage boy from outside wandered in, looked directly at her, and turned red.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

He broke eye contact and found a seat somewhere behind her. She didn't turn her head to watch him. It seemed creepy.

Something about him was bothering her. Ji Min frowned to herself.

‘Maybe he's just embarrassed that I paid for him.’

The lights dimmed further and the show started. Ari and M.J. kept up an intermittent whispered conversation that Ji Min didn't even try to eavesdrop on. She just laid back and let the movement of heavenly bodies hypnotize her into a doze.

When the show was over Ji Min glanced over to see the teenager was gone. She furrowed her brow.

Ari stood and surveyed the nearly empty room. The couple had switched shirts while the lights were off. The elderly people were still sitting and talking. Ari slapped her thighs. “Come on, let's beat the rush.”

M.J. let out an exaggerated laugh at Ari’s joke. But they got going.

‘Do I know him from somewhere?’ She strained to place him. He wasn't really familiar. He was a cute kid though, with a somewhat narrow face and wide set eyes that kinda reminded her of a celebrity. Who was that?

“-shit that they won't take anyone without powers,” M.J. griped. “Like that's the only measure of potential?”

“It seems important to me.” Ari disagreed, sympathetic.

M.J. made a rude noise. “Raccoon Man. Bobcat. That new guy, with the guns.”

“Yes, those sure are all vigilantes,” Ari snarked. “Which one of those would be your role model? Does it make any sense to fight crime by committing crime?”

“Vigilantes are liable for property damage and wrongful harm suits,” Ji Min added absently. “I wouldn't wanna get caught doing that.”

Ari cleared her throat. “What?”

Ji Min blinked to full attention. “It's true. Super fights have a lot of collateral damage. Heroes- actual government heroes- are covered under most insurance policies and if it's not, then the employing bureau takes the liability and not the individual. However, in the case of a private citizen engaging in vigilantism, the only way to recoup costs for damages is to sue the individual directly.”

“Oh my god,” Ari said quietly, but Ji Min was warming to her subject.

“At any given point in time, there's open suits against every vigilante you can think of. It usually doesn't go anywhere since they're personas and you can't track them down to their job. Of course, that creates a market for people who investigate and expose their identities, so that the insurance company can move forward.”

Ari put her face in her hands for a moment. “This is why you're not a vigilante.”

“... Obviously,” Ji Min said.

“...You always have the least romantic reasoning,” M.J. grouched. “Have you considered some childish whimsy and wonder?”

“No, I love only the bleakness of reality.” Ji Min nodded to the attendant at the door as they made their way out of the observatory.