The Heroes of Little Springs

After realizing the trap too late, Jet scowled at the officer and police car baiting them. Seriously, what was all that hard work of going undetected about? Obtaining those police reports was no walk in the park. He even went as far to go about his mission without his costume at one point, which was very risky. And yet, they were still caught eventually.

After all their hard work, countless hours of brainstorming on the next solution for the situation, it appeared someone enjoyed tormenting them. Was there some divine power behind this? It wasn't enough to beat around the bush, the universe had to make every one of their steps from the game to information retrieval pointless.

"Oh great, good job Quiver. You got caught." Jet remarked through his frown, as he folded his arms. He didn't address the cop in anyway, after his introduction, other then to stare at him. He didn't know why they were so hellbent on catching them, but it couldn't be good. If things turned sour, he could always outrun them, however.

"They want our help Jet," Quiver explained quickly before he did something like run off and create a competition on who could escape the cops the fastest. However, she did manage to give him a sour look upon hearing his accusation. Even if it was true.

"I'll try to make this brief," Detective Hendricks said. "We've been trying to see if any of the kids know anything about these disappearances. But they won't talk to us." Quiver glanced over to Jet. "But they will talk to their favorite super heroes."

Jet wasn't sure what the detective really wanted, until everything was out in the open. For all he knew, they could had wanted to arrest the two of them for disturbance of the peace. It's not all the time you see some person running around with a mask and cape on, and wearing their underwear on the outside, of all places. Unless it's Halloween or some kind of costume party.

Or the fact that their nightlife of being superheroes, or heroes, caused damage, no matter how minimal. Someone had to pay for those wrecked buildings, cracked roads, and vandalized property. Luckily for them, that wasn't the case.

"And you think they'll talk to us?" Jet asked, not once removing his folded arms, nor ceasing his skeptical stare. "Last time I checked, kids were wearing shirts with Batman and Superman, not us. We're not their heroes, we're just people in costumes."

"When a kid goes to a birthday party with a clown, they don't care that they're not talking to Ronald McDonald," Hendricks replied. He should know; he took his nephew to a birthday party recently. "Though I'll admit, I can name a handful of kids that are probably going to give you a hard time. Mostly the older ones."

Quiver thought back to the kid she had found vandalizing the streets. She didn't think he'd be mystified as he was interrogated by a person wearing a costume.

"We're not throwing a birthday party here though," Quiver said. "Even if we're superheros to them, we'd still be interrogating them. We'd still be intimidating."

"I don't know about you, but I wasn't into clowns when I was a kid." Jet remarked, although it wasn't very insightful or useful information. He figured he'd just throw that in there. Besides most kids who would actually be able to give them credible information were way pass the age where they would be interested and or fascinated by clowns.

The only children he could think of currently, that were still into that kind of thing, were toddlers and very young kids. And good luck with them even making a lick of sense, let alone getting anything worthwhile from them. Afterwords, Jet rarely commented, until the two others were finished.

"Maybe you guys would intimidate them." Jet remarked, as he continued to fold his arms. However, it wasn't because of his annoyance of this situation anymore, it was the way that the two of these were handling and perceiving the situation.

"You can't treat kids like other witnesses. You gotta play on their level."

"Which is why I want you in charge of questioning," Hendricks said, cutting to the chase. It wasn't that he wanted to avoid this conversation at all costs. In fact, maybe some other time he would listen when the circumstances weren't so dire. But the fact of the matter was he was running out of time now. "If I have to threaten you two and make all of Little Springs hunting you down, I'll do it. We need to find this guy and we need to find him now. But if you'd rather continue stealing information from us instead of cooperating, that's up to you."

As if to prove his point, he held up a copy of his case file which was scribbled with notes. They were the very same notes that Jet had looked at while in the police station.

"For the record, next time you might want to try putting the files back where you found them instead of sticking them in the filing cabinet. Thanks for trying to keep the office tidy though." He looked at both of them as he said this, not knowing which one exactly had taken a look at the file.

Quiver made it pretty clear who the culprit was as she quickly glared at Jet.

Once Jet heard the detective's idea, which was to forcefully have the two superheroes in charge of interrogation, he couldn't help but to frown. And he didn't put in any effort to hide his obvious expression.

In charge of questioning? Oh great, here we go. Working with the police. This'll be a load of fun. Nothing like having the cops breathing down your neck, while you do all their work, and have them sitting idly by...however he was quickly brought out of his self-thoughts, when the officer mentioned their obvious snooping.

"How should I know? Maybe you have a very OCD officer under your command." Jet remarked casually, as he folded his arms, and shook his head. "I wouldn't be that sloppy." Which was true enough, as he actually placed the officer's files on top of the filing cabinet. They never even made it inside. In hindsight, that wasn't a smart move, but it seemed that someone tidied up his shortcomings.

Quiver elbowed Jet upon seeing Detective Hendricks looking as though he was about to either continue arguing with Jet, call off the deal, or just arrest them right then and there. In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if he did all three.

"We'll take the deal," Quiver said quickly. "Unless you want to talk it over privately," she added to Jet, realizing that this might cause Jet to further antagonize the detective in addition to herself.

Realizing there was no way out of this, Jet sighed, before pulling his arms out of their fold. With a shrug, he shook his head, "So what do you suggest? We put birthday streamers up and call it a party?"

He really couldn't see them doing anything else, other then what the officers had already tried. Even if they talked to them, down on their level, they would probably get the same results. Maybe even worst, considering that they would be wearing strange costumes. Would they even take them serious? It wasn't like they were the Batman in flesh and blood.

Quiver eased as she saw Jet complying now. At least she didn't have to worry about making a scene or further agitating the detective.

"Social gathering. Tomorrow at the school. If you can think of something better, by all means go ahead," Detective Hendricks answered.

The police car had arrived and out stepped his partner with a police officer. The partner eyed the two superheros for only a brief moment but otherwise ignored them.

"We got a call regarding a missing kid. The woman says she was about to drive him home but the kid snuck out," he explained.

Detective Hendricks sighed. He then addressed the superheros.

"I'll see you two tomorrow at 11:00 am. P.S. 118. I'll let you know what we find here," Detective Hendricks explained. He nodded to them both before following his partner and preparing his next course of action. The police officer was calling in forensics before he began placing caution tape around the area. Just when Quiver thought they were done, Detective Hendricks turned around once more. "Oh, and one more thing," he added.

Quietly, he gave them each a folder. They were two children's folders and Quivered assumed they were something he felt they would need for tomorrow. "So you don't go breaking into the station anymore." He spoke lowly as if he didn't want anyone else in the area to hear. He then added, in a louder voice, "It's for tomorrow."

Once he had handed them their folders, he walked away and this time, it was clear he was done speaking with them. For now, at least.

As the detective continued to converse with the heroes, another officer arrived. Things seemed to be getting tense for these cops. However, it was really no concern of Jet's, at least not now. He heard mention of a missing kid, some inattentive women, and so forth, but there was nothing he could do about that. The culprit had already struck at that point apparently.

So instead he stood idly by, as Quiver, the detective, and this new female officer addition talked amongst each other. He had enough of playing detective, he was going to allow Quiver to hold the reins this time around. Besides all his work didn't get them anywhere, he didn't get a damn thing done.

Once the detective handed her a folder and was on his way, Jet was left with a few fuzzy details about missing child reports, a meeting place at a school, and other tiny pieces. He would get the other half of the puzzle, when he talked it through with his partner.

"So what's with the folder? Are we going to be studying kids now?" Jet asked, staring over Quiver's shoulder, and at the folder in her hand.

Once the folders were given to her, Quiver walked a bit aways from the two. In fact, she preferred to leave the crime scene altogether before opening them. But Jet's question had stirred her curiosity so she opened one. However, she didn't fully open it, just enough so she and Jet could take a peak.

"Looks like case files," Quiver said as the top page contained basic information regarding the case and she could see there were several pages behind the first.

Quiver closed her folder back up and offered one to Jet, thinking maybe he'd want to hang onto it despite his past feelings.

Once Jet was handed his own folder, which he didn't enjoy taking in the least, he rolled his eyes at Quiver's deduction and possible suggestion. "Augh...not more files." He bemoaned, because he knew where this was going and quickly. "I had enough of studying, I'm not in school anymore."

However, despite his annoyance, he opened his own folder to see whatever reports were inside. It wasn't like he had any other leads on this creep, although he was starting to hate this detective work more and more with each passing moment. Yet, it did no good for him to moan and mope around. So he figured he would get it started now, much like the mentality he had for his school work.

"You've probably seen most of it when you were at the police station," Quiver offered. She did not re-open her folder as she figured she would look at it when she got home or early the next morning.

Quiver looked over towards the police still working.

"I don't think there's much more we can do here." The information that could possibly be in her folder was now a little too hard to ignore. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure, whatever." Jet remarked to Quiver's goodbye, mostly because he was still sore about being caught and that all their, or rather his hard work was up in flames. He didn't bother to wait for another reply or add anything else to the subject, before he dismissed himself, by walking off.

The detective's whole idea seemed stupid. They apparently tried this themselves, by asking the children questions, but they probably came off as intimidating, because they were cops. Super heroes would have the same effect. It wasn't like they were doing anything different.

Unless...suddenly Jet's brainstorming came to a halt. Without second guessing himself, he sped to the nearest twenty four hour convenience store. Once he zipped in, the electronic doors opened, and an old fashioned ringing bell signaled that the store had a customer.

He knew exactly where he was headed, straight to the back of the store, the furthest left, where the freezer doors were. Here a series of different ice-cream and novelties were on display. It took him little time to find the certain brand he wanted, which he grabbed several boxes of.

In the morning, when he arrived at the school, he would add this to their little plan. Maybe these cops didn't know how to work and play with children, but he sure did.

As the two departed, the police continued their work in hopes of finding something.

Eventually the blaring lights of red and blue would stop in front of Tyler's house. He could see them through his bedroom window as he overheard his parents talking to the police. Once or twice, they opened his door, peeking in to see if he was awake. Tyler pretended to be asleep. But as soon as his parents had left, his eyes remained open for most of the night.

At the designated time in front of the school the next morning, Quiver stood in costume waiting for Jet. Detective Hendricks was also waiting. The rest of the officers were presumably with the kids and their parents, making sure none of them came near the superheroes just yet. From Quiver's understanding, the kids did not yet know of their visiting.

Although she couldn't see them, she could hear children screaming and laughing at one another somewhere outside. The parking lot was an absolute mess and she was surprised no late stragglers had arrived.

With a blue cooler in hand, stocked full of ice and Jet's surprises for the kids, he was well on his way towards the school. However, once he noticed all the police surrounding the building, inside and outside, he shook his head disappointingly.

These officers really didn't know what they were doing. Sure they did their job well, but handling adult suspects/victims and children were two different things. They were just herding them like sheep somewhere, with too much intimidating authorial people around. They weren't going to get much results, if they kept to this way. They needed to have the children's experience have more of a homey feeling.

Now it was just going to feel like they were locked in some room, much like when they were in school, only there would be more unnecessary supervision. After he was finished inspecting the inside and outside of the school, he had seen enough.

"You guys sure are doing a bang-up job, and we haven't even started yet." Jet remarked, after having sneakily sped behind the detective and Quiver. If his tone didn't sound sarcastic enough, the expression through his mask made sure the others understood.

Quiver didn't move as Jet appeared. Detective Hendricks, however, did and nearly dropped his cup of coffee in the process.

"It's just temporary," Detective Hendricks explained. "I don't want kids coming out here and seeing you yet."

Quiver didn't pay much attention to the Detective's explanation but instead eyed Jet's cooler.

"You sure that's going to be enough for everyone?" She wasn't going to pretend to be an expert on kids but she was pretty sure she knew them well enough that they would fight to death for free ice cream if the supply was limited.

Although Quiver rarely reacted to Jet's sneaky and quick arrivals, the detective was not too familiar with the full extent of his speeding powers. He immediately took notice of his reaction, which almost caused him to drop his drink.

However, even if he was startled enough to lose his grip on his coffee, Jet had enough speed, flexibility, and reflexes to catch his cup, without spilling a drop. This detective still had his bearings with him though, so he didn't have to bother. Which was a shame for him, as he wouldn't had minded showing his potential as a speedster.

"Oh please, it's a monster jumbo supreme." Jet remarked, as if it was a fact. "Even when I was a kid, I had trouble finishing one of these. And I bought plenty."

"Okay then," Quiver replied though she was still a little unsure. Detective Hendricks radioed his fellow officers.

"You can go in now," Detective Hendricks said as he pointed to the entrance to the school. "There's a door at the very end of the hall that leads to the playground."

Although there didn't seem to be anything wrong with their plan just yet, this plan hadn't even started. However, it was already lacking that interesting flare, that would captivate the kids, because Jet clearly wasn't feeling it.

It felt too professional, too frigid. That works with adults, but these are kids. Despite the lack of enthusiasm to start of this plan, which Jet would be lying if he said that didn't put a damper on him, he looked past it. He simply nodded to the detective's instructions, before hoisting his cooler with both hands, and proceeded into the school's hallway.

Once he made sure Quiver was following either to his side, or behind him, and that Detective Hendricks was out of ear shot, he looked over to his partner. "I don't know, I have a feeling this isn't going to work with the way they're handling this."

"Even if this ends up being a disaster on their part, you'll do fine," Quiver remarked as they walked through the hallway. She spoke quietly in case an officer was nearby. Who knew with these people.

The playground was packed with children just as it would be during recess. Because the playground was on the small side, most seemed to be entertained with the jungle gym even though the jungle gym could be considered too old for some of them. A few managed to snag a spot on the courtyard playing basketball, knock out, etc. The older kids seemed to be in their click talking amongst themselves. A few of the older kids tried to hop the fence only to be reprimanded by the policeman watching.

Of course, some parents had decided to stay with their children and harass the police officers with information about the case. The officers tried to ignore them but it was difficult.

"I'm not worried about my part, I know what I'm going to do." Jet remarked to Quiver's own self doubts, before observing a fork in the hallway. "Speaking of which...hold this for a second." Immediately he dumped the cooler of ice cream onto Quiver's hands, before dashing off into the opposite direction. Exactly where the detective told them not to go. Or at least, the wrong way to the playground.

Eventually, he would burst out into the school's closed in playground, where everybody was. The children were all over the place, on the monkey bars, the swings, slides, courtyard, and any spot they took a liking to. The parents and officers were more organized in their locations, as both were monitoring the whereabouts of their and other children.

"Hey, who's up for some ice-cream!" Jet exclaimed, after making a dashing entrance...literally. With the cooler in front, and gripped by both hands, he had a duffel bag slung over his back and shoulder, labeled 'property of 118's Gym'.

Normally, as the kids had no idea that there were some sort of guests arriving, they would have probably ignored Jet. Or, rather, not heard him over the noise of other kids playing. But fortunately for Jet, he had uttered words that every kid seemed to hear regardless of how far away they were or even how old they were.

Suddenly, a massive amount of kids were rushing towards him. Whether or not they recognized him was unclear. But it was clear they were after one thing: ice cream.

It wasn't long before the kids were pushing a shoving one another to try and get to the ice cream and if Jet or anyone was unable to control them, they probably would have tackled Jet to the ground just for a Popsicle.

Jet was relieved and pleased, once he had gotten the children's attention. No one could resist free ice-cream, not even adults. Ask a grown-up if they wanted a tasty frozen treat, that they didn't have to pay for, and most, if not all, would take one up on that offer.

Of course, he forgot to take into account that children liked ice-cream a little too much. He never got into any fights, as a kid for free food of any sort. Or anything for that matter, whether it be a toy to play with, one of the better swings, or even the coolest spot in the sandbox. When he was a kid, he was faster then most normal kids, and therefore usually got what he wanted first.

Before all the children could get to him, claw him, and try to steal his cooler, Jet frowned at some of the rough horse-playing he witnessed. Immediately he dropped the sport's duffel bag, and super sped to his side. He didn't get too far away, just enough so that the kids wouldn't be right on top of him, and to show them his super speed.

"Hey hey, knock it off." Jet remarked, still holding the cooler, and pulled out one of the super-sized ice-cream sandwiches. "I have super-speed. I can eat all of these, before you get to me." Jet remarked, as he taunted and waved the wrapped sandwich in front of his face.

"So play nice, there's enough for all of you."