Chapter 1.1.7 — A Ride

“Your dad used to be a cape?!” Despite the aches, Emmett had swung around so he was sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Yep.”

“Which one?”

Clara shrugged. “I can’t tell you.”

“But…” Emmett tried not to let dejection show on his face.

“It’s not like that,” Clara replied. “Even though Dad’s retired, it’s not like he goes around telling everyone what he used to do. Even I don’t know all the details. When he gets back, you can ask him yourself.”

“What makes you think he would tell me?”

“We already talked about it. Dad feels like he can trust you with more of our research, and… I think he wants some more help around here.”

Emmett kicked his feet idly at the white floor. “...What if I wanted out?”

Clara crossed her arms and smirked. “Of course you can leave. We’re not going to keep you here. But you don’t really want to leave, right?”

She already knew the answer already, but Emmett thought he might also have seen a hopeful look in her eyes. Or maybe he imagined it.

“Oh, of course I’m staying,” Emmett blurted out.

The door to the medical lab hissed open, and Dr. Venture walked in. He had changed from his containment suit back into his old lab coat.

“Are you alright now? Good,” Venture said without waiting for a response. He glanced between the two of them. “Clara already told you, didn’t she?”

Emmett shrugged. “Not really.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“Yes! What cape were you?”

Venture sighed. “Something other than that?”

Emmett let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. “Well… What happens now?”

“Now you have a choice to make. You can continue to work here, knowing what you do, but only if you swear not to tell another soul about your miraculous survival or what you know about me.”

“Done,” Emmett said, being sure to look Dr. Venture in the eye.

He hadn’t wanted to leave before. Emmett liked working at the lab—and he definitely didn’t want to leave now. Not before he had more answers about Dr. Venture’s past.

Venture nodded, but his eyes were narrowed. “I’m not sure you understand what I’m asking of you.”

“I won’t tell my friends, my roommate, my parents, or the rest of my family.”

Venture blinked—the closest Emmett had seen to surprise on his face. “And nothing gets logged in your super database. Nothing. Do I make myself clear?”

Emmett swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. Maybe the doctor knew more about his life than he originally let on.

“Understood.”

Venture relaxed a little and nodded. “Good. That’s good—because I can remotely disable your vital functions.”

“...That’s a thing?”

“The best that Gnosis has to offer.”

Clara chuckled awkwardly. “I think he gets the picture, Dad.”

Emmett chuckled too. “Can… Can I go back to my apartment now?”

Venture turned and read over the monitor across the room. After a moment, he answered, “Yes. It looks like your new tissue has integrated and your healing is almost complete. You might feel better now, but don’t do anything strenuous over the weekend.

“If you still feel like working with us, we can talk more on Monday.”

Emmett stood, his legs shaky beneath him. Whether that was from injury or from Dr. Venture’s threats, he couldn’t be sure.

Emmett rubbed the back of his neck. “Can I get a lift back?”

~

Dr. Venture’s car was a Gemini sedan. Emmett didn’t know much about car models, but he knew that it was an older model and that the rumble of the engine sounded aftermarket. Venture had upgraded it. Emmett’s hunch was only reinforced as Venture pulled out into bustling weekend traffic, the car roaring to life in moments as they slipped from one lane to another.

Emmett sat in the passenger seat while Clara sat in the back, behind her father. It felt like it took forever for his eyes to adjust to the midday sun.

They drove back wordlessly and made the trip much quicker than riding the bus; even when they took the detour around the damage on Champion Street from the battle. Emmett stared at the work crews as they passed.

He was still having trouble processing just how much had changed.

All the technology, all the research… Was that some new direction for Dr. Venture, or was it from past connections as a government-sponsored cape? Were his powers related to technology? Was he an artificer? Emmett’s mind raced… How many tech-based heroes had gone inactive in the last ten to twenty years?

He couldn’t remember, not without checking his database.

But there were other things that clicked for Emmett: Dr. Venture’s hard exterior, for one. Emmett always thought of him as dry, guarded, and a little cold, and recent discoveries had only reinforced that notion. But instead of seeing a hard-ass, Emmett saw someone more akin to a grizzled war veteran.

It even called into question Venture’s defensiveness about Clara. Was he just being a dad concerned about a young man being interested in his daughter, or was Venture worried about old enemies trying to get back at him through his family?

And then there was Emmett’s apprehension about Clara and her father–not only did he work for her old man, her father was a goddamn super who could probably squash Emmett like a bug.

Everything was different now.

Not to mention that Emmett had almost died. There was that. Maybe it was all those jokes about needing therapy finally catching up to him…

~

Venture pulled the car into the apartment parking lot, and the surrealness of the situation finally hit Emmett: Dr. Venture—a former cape—and Clara were seeing where he lived. Well, Venture already knew where he lived; Emmett had filled out a work application just like he would have anywhere else.

But Venture had been keeping tabs on him…

Silence dragged on, and before anyone could say anything, Emmett exclaimed, “Well, thanks for the lift!”

As he was about to get out of the car, Dr. Venture asked, “Aren’t you going to invite us up for a tour?”

Emmett froze, and Clara chuckled awkwardly.

She said, “You don’t have to–”

Emmett replied carefully to Venture, “...Have you already seen my place?”

“No. I said I’ve been keeping tabs on you. I do not spy on you. Besides, I’m interested to see the projects you’ve been working on in your spare time.”

Emmett glanced from Venture to Clara. She gave him a small shrug, as if to say it was his choice.

Without wanting to dwell on it, Emmett said, “Okay. Come on up.”

All three got out of the car and Emmett led them to his apartment block. Several groups of students that were hanging out at the pavilion and in front of the block paused their conversations and stared as Emmett’s group passed.

For a moment, he was worried that someone might recognize Dr. Venture. He promptly discounted that theory–if Venture was worried about being recognized, of course he wouldn’t come out. Students were probably staring because Venture was the oldest one around and looked like a professor–

Which was enough to give any student pause.

~

Emmett led them up to apartment 449 and, with clammy hands, unlocked the door.

He called out to Lock as they entered, but no one responded. Emmett wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing; if Lock was there, it might be awkward for him, but Lock was always good at talking to random people–they could split the awkwardness between them.

“Excuse the mess,” Emmett muttered.

Dr. Venture grunted. “My first apartment wasn’t much neater.”

Emmett gave them the quick tour, which consisted of showing them the small kitchen and living room, then pointing toward the bedrooms and bathroom. He had no intention of showing either Venture or Clara his room, though Clara craned her neck to peer at the door.

Dr. Venture was far more interested in the electronics that littered the room–the ambient lights and the table covered in electronic components. As the doctor stared, Emmett swore he could see something blinking on the lens of his glasses, but he couldn’t see for sure.

Meanwhile, Clara slowly took in the sight of everything, staring with the same fascination that she did in the lab.

Suddenly, Venture asked, “What are you looking for?”

Emmett turned. Venture was staring at the pile of electronics, and a moment later realized he was asking about the radio locator. Most of the components were nestled in the pile.

But the way Venture had asked the question made it seem like he already knew the answer.

“Supers,” Emmett said. The word hung between them, and the air felt thick with tension.

“Are you still going to look for them?”

“Yes.”

After Emmett replied, the gravity of the question dawned on him–after you nearly died, are you still going to look for them?

And it didn’t change his answer.

Venture nodded, still looking at the pile. “Interesting.”

Clara was leaning on the kitchen counter, listening intently.

“Do you think I should give it up?” Emmett asked both of them.

Only Venture answered, and he didn’t look at Emmett. “Living as a super isn’t as glamorous as the media makes it out to be. It’s demanding and violent. And for many, it’s scarring and short. Even for those in the periphery. Now you know that better than most.”

Venture turned toward him now, his stare icy behind his glasses. “I’m very good at hiding, but I have enemies. Even retired capes aren’t one hundred percent safe. If you continue working with us, you won’t be one hundred percent safe, either.

“I think you should do what you need to do.”

“Nothing’s changed for me. My mind is set,” Emmett said, his voice much more stoic than he felt.

“Good,” Venture replied. “When you come in on Monday, we’ll talk more about your repairs.”

Venture excused them and led Clara out of the apartment. Clara waved goodbye as they went.

Emmett stayed there for a long while after the door shut behind them.

Dr. Venture’s speech stuck out to him–one part in particular: ‘If you continue working with us’.

Venture seemed like a man that chose his words carefully… Emmett wasn’t sure why, but that seemed like an important detail.

~ ~ ~