[h3] Techster - The Docks [/h3]
[@AtomicNut][@Regitnui]][@TheHangedMan][@Mercenary Lord]
[hr]
Techster stopped, practically froze solid, as the words were broadcasted loud enough for everyone in a half mile radius to hear.

"Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!" He muttered, eyes wide. "I'm sorry, Charlotte. You're going to have to follow me. You get to meet my parents... Lady Lift and Mr. Mass."

He slid out of the vehicle with a heavy sigh. "If you don't, they'll bring you. Just... Let me do the talking."

He a heavy heart, Techster walked to the nearest building with a roof access, dropping a light onto it as he retracted his armor.

Mr Mass stepped lightly onto the roof. Each following step was heavier, until a small spiderweb of cracks spread from his feet. "Son. What did I tell you about leaving the house without telling me or your mother where you're going?"

Techster hung his head. "Not to. But you were both out and it was really important and I hadn't expected to be gone so long and get caught up in everything here, or almost anyways we only just got here, and I left a note on the fridge with my transponder frequency and -"

His father held up a hand. "I know you want to be a hero just like us, but your mother and I would both prefer you finished school first. We've had this talk." Mr Mass folded his arms. "You did know that you left your geography homework unfinished on your desk?"

"But that's so simple. I'll have it finished in under five minutes,"  Techster protested. "And I can juggle school and the occasional hero work. I could skip all my classes and graduate now if you guys would just let me. People need help, and I can help! I've got so many inventions I could make to make people safer and help with big events like that rat attack the other night."

"Howard," Mr Mass put a hand on the boy's shoulder, looking into his eyes. "We love you, you know that. But school is important. Even if it isn't what you like and things you find simple. You don't want to be too specialised with that fantastic mind of yours, do you?"

"But I won't be," Techster muttered. "I can learn anything. I've already got straight A's. I already know string theory and quantum physics. I know classifications of stars, what dark and light matter are theorised to be, and why things are called dark energy or matter simply because humanity doesn't understand them yet. It's all so simple. It's not about liking it, because I love learning. It's about being a better person and helping people who need it!"

"And what about the other stuff?" His father asked.

"I can do it all. You are just holding me back," Techster said quietly. "Sorry. That sounded better in my head..."

"One day you'll thank us." Mr Mass' mouth quirked up on one side. "Your brain can't help with the heart, son. And I bet your friend over there won't go get ice cream with you if you try and analyse everything."

Techster chuckled slightly. "That's Looking-Glass, dad. We were hoping to make our Hero debut here, but... Well, that's not happening now. They're actually why I left. I did some... Uh...I found out they needed some assistance with matters and helped."

"And you didn't think it was worth telling us before you left?" His face had gone impassive again. He pressed his hand to his ear, triggering the headset's talk mode. "I've got him dear, and that girl he's been looking up on his computer." Mr Mass' expression made it clear there was going to be a long discussion about this at home. "Yes, love." He kept a hand on Techster's shoulder, though he might have dug his fingers in a little. "Looking-glass, I'd think it best you accompany us home for the night. I'm sure Howard would be willing to give up his bed so you can sleep."

Techster paled noticeably. "I'm sure she'd rather go home, dad."

"Nonsense. It's far too late." He walked over to Looking-glass. "You can call your guardian from our house while Howard changes the bedclothes and cleans up." 

Lady Lift stepped onto the roof, the helicopter having set off. "Howard..." Her voice warned of a lot of worry having turned to anger. "You're grounded. For a month. No workshop and no Internet access."

Techster groaned. "I won't argue, but isn't the whole point of keeping me in school to make me learn? I can't learn without access to information, and information is found best online. Can I convince you to just put a time limit on that? Please?"

"A month," she repeated, and a transparent force disk lifted the whole family, and Looking-glass, from the ground. "Consider yourself lucky I'm not taking away your gadgets as well."

"Yes Ma'am..." Techster replied quietly, defeated.