text; email to alpha force (sans pietro)

[roboromantic]

I think I just met my illegitimate nephew. He's like a young American Quicksilver, white hair and all. And he's a bit rude. I bought him breakfast, but I'm not sure how much I should tell him. I don't think his home situation is very good, either.

Do I tell Pietro? This seems like news one should deliver in person. I always thought he would have been more careful, but I suppose accidents happen. I don't even know who the mother is.

Any advice is appreciated.

-- Wanda.

[in reference to this thread, which pura and i started before i actually got accepted because we're hecka impatient.]

Comments

[sunmedallion]

Oh my goodness – Wanda, are you sure?

[roboromantic]

He looks just like my brother. He is just like my brother, Celestia. The speed, the hair, the attitude, how could it be anything else?

[sunmedallion]

That would be an uncanny coincidence.....

The boy's wellbeing ought to be our utmost priority, but promise me you will be cautious, Wanda. This would not be the first time somebody baited a trap with the promise of a long-lost relative.

[roboromantic]

Clint says he's squatting in some abandoned building with another teenager. I honestly don't know what I should do - calling child protective services seems like the wrong move here from what I know of the system, and I'd like to think the boy's poor mother is back in New York worried sick over where he is, but if he ran away from home that probably isn't the case.

I know, Celestia. But he's only a child, and he needs help. And this doesn't exactly feel like the Baron's style, you know? But I will be careful. I'll get a DNA test, and we'll make sure he's not some kind of ex-Soviet sleeper agent clone, but honestly? I think he's just a lost kid.

[makethatwork]

lol okay no but I appreciate your dilemma but AHAHAHAH wow way to go p on knocking someone up.

nah but that's speed? unless there's another one around. i think he's from new york, he and rikki seem to have some sort of rivalry or something going. she and cap arrested him once or something.

[roboromantic]

I'm sure it was an accident, he would have only been about 18.

Great, now I have to make sure CONDOR knows not to arrest my nephew. No wonder he doesn't seem to trust any adults. New York though, no wonder I haven't seen him around before.

[makethatwork]

yeah rikki said he's living with another vigilante about their age, aranya or something? anyway apparently the girl borrowed the trailblazers showers after that whole android thing that happened before you got back because she didn't have one.

professional opinion: they're squatting somewhere.

[roboromantic]

Oh, God. Where is his mother? Where is child services? He's underage, he can't be living with other children in some abandoned building with no running water, it's not safe. I have to do something. Do you think Celestia will let me just move him into the tower? No, he probably wouldn't like that. Maybe I could get him an apartment somewhere, check up on him. I don't think there's any chance of getting him into Trailblazers if Captain Victory has already arrested him once.

[never mind that wanda and pietro spent most of their teenage years homeless and on the run/as criminals in Daddy's crime group. that's a totally fine way to grow up.]

[makethatwork]

breathe wanda

first off, if we could join the ranks of official superheroes, i'm pretty sure he wouldn't be banned. i mean, between the maximoff family crime business and me working with a soviet terrorist, i'm pretty sure probably-accidentally blowing up his school would not make him ineligable for trailblazer...ness.

second off, we don't ACTUALLY know if he's p's kid, so maybe bring it up to him and suggest a DNA test? you can test off yourself these days i think.

[roboromantic]

He blew up his school!? How? Why?

And I more meant that I don't think we could get him to agree to join, especially if he's really rivals with Nomad. Who is wonderful, by the way. She could be on Alpha Force in a few years, with enough training. If Tommy is anything like his father he won't forget being wronged in a hurry.

Pietro's DNA is on file in the medical office. But how could it possibly be a coincidence? If not his son he's his clone, or a version of Pietro from an alternate universe, or a robot copy or something. It's too close for him to be just another completely unrelated random white-haired speedster with an attitude problem in LA.

[makethatwork]

i don't know and i don't know - rikki didn't even know why as far as i know, that's why i think it might've been accidental. maybe some kind of power fritz, you know how those can be when you're a teenager.

so i hear.

ahahah yeah given his reaction to rik when i met him, i doubt you could get him willingly teamed up with her. though tbh i've been-- well that's not important, we're dealing with your issues, not mine.

the world's a weird place, wand, i honestly wouldn't put it past the universe to do that. but you're right, it's REALLY unlikely. think you can get your hands on some dna?

[roboromantic]

Very funny.

I would be happy to switch over to your issues, Clint. This whole thing is getting a little overwhelming, especially adding on the fact that he's essentially homeless. I think I could get some DNA, although if CONDOR doesn't have it on file from the arrest I'll have to sit Tommy down and talk to him. Nothing would destroy his trust in me faster than him catching me clipping off some of his hair while he's asleep, or something.

[chapterfiveversenine]

Method of information delivery is irrelevant. Would he be adverse to genetic testing?

[roboromantic]

You haven't met my brother.

He might be. I might be able to collect a few hairs or something without him knowing, or a saliva sample. Oh, or if CONDOR arrested him they could have his DNA on file. I should have thought of that sooner.

[chapterfiveversenine]

We do not understand how meeting your brother is relevant to data transmission.

Do you know his identity?

[roboromantic]

He's got a bit of a temper.

His name is Tommy, but I don't know his last name yet. I searched it, but his name was kept out of the papers when he blew up his school, him being a minor and all. He also goes by Speed, apparently.

[chapterfiveversenine]

Samples retrieved. Sending samples.

attachment: tommy_arrest_DNA.zip

[roboromantic]

Oh. Thank you, that involved a lot less favor-begging than I was expecting. I'll get this into the lab computer right away.

Do you have access to his whole CONDOR file? I'd like to take a peek, see what they said about him and exactly what he did to that school.

[roboromantic]

[about ten minutes later, a second email pops up.]

Legion, are you sure this sample hasn't been contaminated? I'm not an expert in genetics or this kind of computer analysis, but I'm getting some extremely abnormal results here.

[chapterfiveversenine]

Video log indicates that chance of sample contamination is statistically insignificant. Please describe the results.

[teamsad]

Wow, Pietro. Wow.

What makes you so sure he's actually related? Is this some magic thing, or do they just look alike? Are we sure the white hair isn't just some side effect of speedster powers?

[roboromantic]

Hey, birth control isn't always 100%, even if you're being safe. Although I'll admit, knowing my brother at 18 the judgement is probably valid.

Well, Zoom's hair is black. And he's so much like Pietro. Even just in the way he moves, his face, his demeanor. I know my own family when I see them, and this boy is definitely related to me. Besides, my father has white hair too. It runs in our family.

[teamsad]

Okay, good point. It is maybe a little too close for coincidence...

Can you just ask Pietro? I mean, how much is he going to freak out about this?

[roboromantic]

Hello, Brother. While you were away dealing with an unpleasant family situation, I stumbled upon your illegitimate homeless juvenile delinquent teenage son we both were unaware of. Write back soon! Love, Wanda.

Would you take it well?

[teamsad]

Well... okay no. And Pietro is a little high-strung...

What if he's a clone instead? What if you have one too?