As they fly over the city the boys see a tower that looks like nothing they’ve ever seen before. Instead of a traditional shape, the building’s structure is the word POP Vertically.The helicopter touches down on the landing pad in the middle of the “O” of the building. They all make their way to the elevator. The boys notice that this building has 15 floors, but they are labeled with letters instead of numbers.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbyE6hMp8d
“Don’t worry, if you choose to stay with us then you’ll get a handbook explaining where each one takes you,” Cecilia explains when she sees their confused expressions.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8a6MhK5Q3
Señora Alaska presses the button that says HQ on it. The elevator ascends nine floors before the double doors slide open. The boys’ mouths drop when they see what would be a normal cubicle if it didn’t have the rainbow strobe lights, unicorn balloons, LGBT flag confetti, and the gigantic monitors displaying gay news all over the world. In the middle of the cubicle maze is a large completely closed off office that has all the flags with their meanings sliding along the outside. They all make their way through the offices, waving at the people typing away at their computers or giving commands through their headsets. When they reach the middle Señora Alaska takes out a key card and scans it before the doors swing open. She sits down behind her desk and motions for the boys to take a seat as well. Cecilia and Elli nod before exiting the office.
“So how are you both feeling after all this? I’m sure you have many questions and I am here to answer them all. Afterward, I do have an offer for you both,” she announces before sitting back to put her feet on her desk.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h6weYzxYw
“What is this place?” Jett asks after a moment of silence.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g3dY7lAzR
“This is P.O.P tower. We run a non-government operation that protects all good members of the LGBT community, preserves all the history, makes sure proper education is distributed throughout schools, that sort of thing. On a more top secret side, we train heroes, vigilantes if you will, to take care of more serious LGBT misdemeanors or injustices. In the event that a person in the community gains powers or supernatural abilities but wouldn’t feel comfortable joining a traditional superhero setting then we will take them under our wing,” She explains while nodding towards Jett.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGxufHqxId
“So Cecilia and Elli are superheroes?” Jett asks still trying to wrap his head around what is going on.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhFG2MfTxo
“Well between us, they will be now. They just completed their final stage of training, which is a successful rescue of a person in a hostile situation. Other tests included learning all the flags and their meanings, educating at least 2 groups of people, coming out to their friends and/or family, rescuing someone from a minor situation, etc. To become either a hero or member of our organization you need to reach at least 100 points. It’s quite an easy task to accomplish,” She replies as if she is telling them how to pass her class.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0JYrmscDa
“So they live here? Are they going to be full-time superheroes? We won’t see them anymore?” Jett continues.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX73ria67h
“Elli lives here, yes but Cecilia does not. Living here is completely optional, and we need written consent unless you are being abused by your parents, then we just take you. You can also opt to live here as an adult after high school if you chose to. You can ask her why she lives here because I cannot give out her personal information,” She answers.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaipt00GGhF
“So you saved me because you want me to join the rainbow league of mighty gays? I don’t even know how to control my strength and I can’t just run away from home. I am not a hero, but I’m assuming that’s what you were going to propose,” Jett replies.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d1KJEAecA
Señora Alaska laughs before putting her feet back on the ground and sitting straight as if this were a business meeting.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIg3zwYSn4
“First of all, we are the Powers of Pride, Mr. Monihan. Secondly, we can train you to use and control your powers as we have done with many of our vigilantes before you. I would never ask you to leave your home unless I felt you were in danger, which is why we just rescued you from the bus station. Ultimately yes, I would like you to become a member of our organization, but I will not ask you to make that decision right away,” She explains.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7zf4rNm8p
Jett nods slowly as he begins wondering if he has what it takes to be a hero. Señora Alaska turns to Stevon who was sitting there listening the whole time.
“You’ve been awfully quiet, Mr. Whitman. The offer is also extended to you. What are your thoughts about this?” She asks.
“I don’t have any powers, Señora Alaska. I have no desire to go prancing around in tights and saving people. I’m more of a behind the scenes baddie, you know? I feel like you have something for me though. Whatcha got?” Stevon replies excitedly while crossing his legs.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsETpNydNI
Jett can’t help but laugh at his eccentric friend. Sra. Alaska beams at him before she speaks.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitNKmPlMCA
“That’s the spirit! Oh for the record, here you may call me Agent Janaliz. We have specialists who work here in the tower. In fact, one person informed me of your crisis while another pinpointed your location. It was up to Cecilia and Elli to decide their course of action. Neither of them have powers, but Cecilia is great with weapons and Elli is a pro at hand to hand combat. We also have someone typing up and storing the information of what happened tonight as well. You can be a superhero’s eyes while they are out on a mission. You can be here looking at them and their surroundings on a map. There are plenty of things you can do,” she concludes while casting a hopeful look at the boys.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIiL42veAg
When they don’t say anything she changes the persuasive tone of the conversation.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkBDgagvyX
“Well, you boys you are more than welcome to spend the night here. You may also call home, but you can’t exactly tell your parents about the building itself because people outside the community can’t see it. In fact homophobes, transphobes, people who are indifferent, etc. just walk straight through the building as if it weren't even here,” She informs the exhausted looking boys.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SHaFLJObh
They both agree that they’d like to stay the night. They say their goodnights before exiting her office. Cecilia and Elli are beaming as they wait for them near the door that takes them away from the office area. They get inside the elevator and the boys look out the glass to see the city below them, at the people not even knowing they’re there. They were so lost in thought that they didn’t hear Cecilia’s question.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLWEWEMsN2
“Ahem, boys where would you like to go?” She repeats as she snaps her fingers.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs31mVERWO
“Oh, wherever the rooms are. We’re spending the night,” Jett replies as he snaps back to reality.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa7GL3KLee
“Pick a color, green or blue,” Elli commands the boys.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Zgb7gXWcs
“Blue,” The best friend’s answer in unison.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9dNjX4KxQ
Elli presses the button and they go down three floors before the doors slide open. The walls and carpet are calming shades of blue. It looks like a hallway of college dorms. The girls walk them to a door at the very end. There is a board with a dry erase marker sitting in a magnetic holder. Stevon writes “Dr. Bias”, which is his alias and alter ego. He hands the marker to Jett who accidentally crushes it. He sighs as he hangs his head down.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhY4swdIK5
“Don’t worry about it. We have plenty of markers. Don’t beat yourself up about it,” Cecilia says while placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIx27fv1Bz
He doesn’t respond and Stevon flashes them a weak smile. Getting the hint the girls leave them to get settled after quietly wishing them a good night. Stevon opens the door for Jett, who immediately walks in and lays face down on the bed. Stevon sits next to him while he begins to pat his back. After a few minutes, he goes to lay down on the other bed in the room. He rolls over and picks up the phone. He dials the number of Mrs. Monihan and prays that she answers. The last thing he wants to do is call their house and risk Mr. Monihan answering. She answers and he informs her that he and Jett are safe, but they are going to lay low for a while. She seems hesitant at first but agrees it is a good idea as the neighborhood is still very shaken. Mrs. Monihan asks to speak to her son but Stevon informs her that he is sleeping. She tells him to take care of Jett before she hangs up. He lays down and seems to fall asleep as soon as he hits the pillow.
At around 4 a.m the boy’s wake up to find that the sun hasn’t even come up yet. Stevon sees Jett sitting in his bed with his knees to his chest, just as he had done seven hours before in the station. He appears to be in deep thought. Stevon stands on his bed before leaping over to Jett’s. He bends down so that he is nose to nose with his best friend.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e88MqdWzd
“Let’s go exploring! We can go see what we’re agreeing to,” He offers as his friend stares at him.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg6UiO2qV3
Jett shrugs before sliding off his bed. Stevon opens the door to their room and they start creeping slowly towards the elevator.
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