Title: Steam Powered Static
Rating: T for Teen
Author: Ctrl_Issue
Disclaimer: I don't own Static Shock, Batman, or anything else that might seem to be familiar.
Author's Note: I wanted to do a steam punk version of Static Shock, so here it is. I'm doing this strictly due to my own whimsy, so it might not be as tight as some of my other works. Not sure if there are gong to be any pairings just yet, I've got a pretty gen plotline right now, though that is subject to change, but I still hope it entertains you. Unbeta'd.
Author's Note II: I'm trying to find out which metals are magnetic and which are not, because not all metals are. For instance, gold is not magnetic. I mean, sure, even tap water has a small, base magnetic charge, but I'm thinking of making this as logical as possible, and therefore I'm keeping the bending of water out of this. FYI- water's charge comes from the fact that the oxygen molecule 'steals' the extra electron from the two hydrogen molecules more than it shares. The ONLY thing I learned in science class in high school. Well, that and pig fetuses are ugly.
Chapter Word Count (including header): 3234

Steam Powered Static

Chapter 03

"Virgil!" Sharon called out from the other side of the door. "Virgil, it's morning, and time to get up!"

The young man in question groaned softly to himself as he tried to burrow deeper into his pillow and blanket.

"If you don't get up in the next half minute, I'm going to come in there and-"

"I'm up." Virgil yelled sleepily back. More softly, and he hoped pitched so that only he could hear, he muttered. "Such a harpy of a woman. No wonder she's not married off."

"I heard that mister!"

Virgil groaned again. He could already tell it was going to be a hellish day.

With a deep sigh, he forced himself into a sitting position. Running a hand through his dreads, he frowned as he looked down at himself. Virgil cursed softly, starring down at his bare torso. Concerned, he shoved off the covers, embarrassed to realize that he was completely nude.

"What the…" Virgil muttered before an even bigger concern hit him. "How the bloody hell did I get home?"

His frown seemingly plastered on, the young male clambered out of bed. He looked around the room, trying to find any clue to solve the little mystery. Unfortunately, the room seemed to be exactly as it was before he left the previous night.

In fact, about the only thing in the room that seemed to be even remotely out of place was an old, patched cap that Virgil knew belonged to Richie. However, he couldn't remember if it just suddenly showed up or if it had been there since Richie's last visit.

Shaking his confusion off as something that he could think about later, Virgil quickly dressed and went down stairs to take care of his morning needs. Once finished, he went to the kitchen, only to see that someone else had managed to take the first slice of pie.

"Hey! Who got to the pie before I did?" Virgil asked as a plate of eggs were put down in front of him.

"As if!" Sharon scoffed. "You can't play innocent with us, Virgil. We know you snuck down here to steal a piece."

"Little Knave of Hearts, he is." Mrs. Baldur chuckled as she dished more food onto Sharon's plate as well.

"I did no such thing!" Virgil argued as he dug into his breakfast. He was still excruciatingly tired, but he knew that school waited for no boy. Automatically, he thought of which classes he could sleep through, though the only ones that came to mind were the ones he already did.

As Virgil was finishing up his breakfast, his father came in through the kitchen door. "Looks like school and most non-essential social services are cancelled for today."

"What?" the others in the room chorused.

"Constable Jessup just came by to tell us that there was an explosion of some sort near the docks, and that it has caused some serious harm to the people exposed to the gas. They want everyone to stay inside until it has dissipated."

"So…." Virgil began, his mind befuddled with random stray thoughts that wove together in misshapen patterns. "This mean I can go back to sleep?"

"The constable thinks that it should be cleared up by about noon," Mr. Hawkins said dryly. "And since the school is closed for today, when we receive the all clear, you can either come with me and help out at the office, or you can go with Sharon and help her out at the women's center."

Virgil blinked between his father and then his sister. "Uhm…. I was actually hoping to go to the library today, Pops."

Mr. Hawkins and Sharon shared a soft chuckle.

As noon rolled around, the family gathered at the window to see what all was going on. There were still a few police walking around, silver and brass masks covering their faces while the armor of their uniforms protected them while simultaneously filtering out potential poisons.

"You know," Sharon murmured. "I never thought I would actually see anyone wearing Wayne Enterprises' protectorate gear."

"Because chemical spills are for larger cities," Mr. Hawkins agreed. "It's fortunate that Mr. Wayne is such a gracious business man."

"Oh?"

"When he lost the bid to buy up land here in Dakota for whatever project he had planned to Mr. Alva, he went ahead and donated a full compliment of suits, as well as making sure that the local hospital was in good repair as a show of good faith." Mr. Hawkins informed them.

"I didn't know that." Virgil frowned as he looked back at his father. "Do you think he thought Mr. Alva wasn't being on the up-and-up?"

"I think it was just a way of showing off," Sharon muttered. "To have that kind of pull and resources, he probably already had all of it in the works. The fact that he lost the bid for our city probably didn't even bother him that much. After all, Mr. Wayne has been known to do some very… eccentric things."

"Like what?"

"Like running away from home and joining the circus." Sharon shook her head. "I understand that he was an orphan, but he was a RICH orphan. He had options."

"There are always options," Mr. Hawkins agreed. "Just as we cannot go back to fix past mistakes, we also must work with the tools we have. And we must always, always remember-"

"We are the decisions we make." Sharon and Virgil finished with him, well aware of the concept.

It wasn't until much later that Virgil was able to get some free time where he could go meet up with any of his friends 'foolish' enough to be out on the street. The first person he ran into just happened to be Miss Frieda.

"Miss Frieda!" Virgil shouted.

"Mr. Virgil!" She replied in kind, a quirky smile tugging at her lips. "How are you this fair, school-free day?"

"I've been better, truth to tell," he shrugged as he stifled a yawn. "And you?"

"I beg your pardon?" she asked distractedly. "My apologies, I'm in the middle of running a quick errand. Did you have a late night?"

"Yes, unfortunately."

"You weren't down by the docks were you?"

Virgil blinked at her, his mind trying to come up with a proper answer. On the one hand, he wanted to tell her that he had been up late at night studying, as that was what a good man would have been doing. On the other hand, he knew he was a terrible liar.

Seeing his slow response, and thinking thoughts of her own, she smiled at him and patted his arm. "I heard that Francis challenged you, and that you were supposed to be, but if you weren't at the docks last night, I wouldn't think you a coward. In fact, I'd think you were a better man for it."

"Oh?" Virgil asked, his voice a bit strangled.

"Yes," Frieda said before she began to shake her head sadly. "I'm not sure if you've heard, seeing as how most of the city has been under lock down, but everyone that went to the docks last night…"

When Frieda failed to continue, Virgil thought of the worst thing imaginable and asked, "They were arrested?"

"If only." She replied in a hushed whisper. She looked around them, trying to see who might be watching them, before she leaned forward and whispered, "I heard that they've been… changed."

"Changed? How?"

"I'm not sure, but one of my Daddy's friends from the temple came by early, early and was talking about some of the people who were being found left on the docks." Frieda said, pulling out her fan. She flicked it open, and with deft movements of her wrist began go fan herself as if she were warm. Virgil could see the way her eyes were tearing up, though, and knew that the movements of the fan had more to do with drying her eyes than with cooling her down. "Oh, Virgil… if I thought I could stomach repeating what he described… I would tell you all about it. It's worse than some of what is in those science fiction books of yours, though. Monsters, really. Monsters. Monsters wearing human faces sometimes, but monsters none the less."

Virgil opened his mouth, trying to form some kind of response, but, really, what kind of response could he come up with to something like that. 'Monsters? What kind of monsters?' "How did your father's friend get out from under the lock down?"

"I've no idea, I didn't talk with him directly, and just over heard the conversation."

"I see… but… monsters?"

"I know! It just sounds ludicrous, but that's what he said. I'm hoping to find out more later today, though." Frieda said as she shook her head sharply, her fan still frantically moving. She looked all around, trying to control her thoughts and emotions before settling on something that she had actual control over. "I need to go get these errands done, but… will you be at school tomorrow?"

"If it's open," Virgil replied weakly.

"Then I shall see you then, but I must be off," she said with another quick shake of her head. "If I don't get these letters mailed, then I will never be admitted for a tour of Alva's plant. Wish me luck!"

"Good luck, Miss Frieda."

"And good day, Mr. Virgil."

He watched her leave him, walking swiftly down the pavement towards the post office. Overhead, a police dirigible came into view, passing slowly over the street. Virgil felt his stomach jump to his throat as he watched it's slow progress. 'Do they know I was there? Are they looking for me?' His heart began hammering in his chest, even though the blimp began to pass over him to be hidden behind the rise of buildings across the street.

When the floating patrol was gone, Virgil leaned against a nearby lamppost, his nerves completely shot. Taking a deep breath to release the stagnant air in his lungs, Virgil received another scare. The light bulb of the lamppost, one of the new electric creations recently installed, shorted out, the top part of the metal monstrosity sparking and sizzling. Virgil jumped back, a terrified yell bursting from his lips. He stumbled back a few paces, until his back was flush against the concrete of a building.

Others jumped as well, but some stepped forward, as if trying to figure out what happened.

"What the hell was that about?" someone asked, either awe or surprise evident in their voice.

"If these new fangled things are going to do -that- then I'd prefer regular oil lamps! Less likely of burnin' the entire town down."

Virgil looked around at the gathering crowd and then back up at the busted lamp. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he figured he could ask others about it later. Right then, he needed to get down to the docks. He wasn't sure why he needed to get down there, but he wasn't sure about much that seemed to be going on.

He edged away from his perch against the building behind him, looking around at the people gathered and back at the lamp. As soon as he made it a safe distance away, Virgil took a random turn, and then began running to the docks.

Dizzy with fear and adrenaline, Virgil made it down to the docks in far better time than he had the night before, though his lungs burned and there was a severe stitch in his side. He was unsurprised to find dozens of people loitering around the outer edge of the dock area, as he knew that others must have heard that something had occurred.

However, he was surprised to find Richie as one of the people milling about.

Or, at least, the young blond was sitting on a crate, watching the going ons, further back from most of the crowd, but close enough to watch the police officers and clean up crew. For a moment, Virgil studied the cleaners, wondering who they worked for, as they didn't appear to be wearing the same suits that the police officers wore earlier in the morning, but they didn't have any company markings on them, either.

"Richie!" Virgil shouted as he jogged over to the blond, huffing and puffing as he did.

"Virgil," Richie called back, waving him over even though Virgil had almost fully arrived. Glancing at all the people around them, and using a common area voice, he asked benignly, "What brings you out to these parts this afternoon?"

Virgil grinned at his friend. "I heard there was some excitement down here last night."

"Last night," Richie said with a slow nod. "And this morning."

"Yeah?"

"Yep," Richie agreed. "One of the people running to the printing press was trying to tell my boss about monsters down here."

"Monsters?"

"Monsters."

"So…"

"So, naturally, everyone who's heard that rumor has come down to see if there are any around, even me. My boss has decided to close shop today, just in case the monsters decide to head towards his press." Richie said, looking over his spectacles to catch Virgil's eyes. "I take it that the rumors are why you're down here?"

"Of course," Virgil replied carefully, wondering about Richie's silent warning.

"Everyone is curious about the monsters." Richie continued, his eyes never leaving Virgil's. "But you know… they didn't start out as monsters."

"Do tell." Virgil said, his voice dipping.

"Reports say that all of the monsters mentioned are actually teenagers. People from your school, in fact." Richie said. "The reporter said that he watched some of them actually change."

"How?"

"Don't know, but I imagine it's why there were so many scrubbers and police out this morning," the blond shrugged as he finally broke eye contact to look around. "They needed to make sure this place and every place down wind was clean."

"Down wind?"

"I heard it was a gas."

"I… I see."

Richie nodded his head towards more people walking around, sweeping up the side of the dock. "I wonder if any of it's true."

"I guess I'll find out tomorrow, see who shows up for classes and who doesn't."

"Mmm." Richie nodded.

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine," Richie shrugged as he jumped down from the crate he had been sitting on. "As much trouble as my old man thinks I get into, I'm actually doing my best to stay OUT of it."

Virgil shared a sly smile with is friend before jerking his head towards the main thoroughfare. "Care to walk with me for a bit?"

"Of course!" Richie replied happily. "Nothing more to see here, anyway."

"Careful, Richie," Virgil teased. "You might just begin to sound like Miss Frieda, always searching for a story."

"Bite your tongue, my friend," the blond shot back. "I would like to think myself far more sane."

As they walked further and further away from the rest of society, and surrounded themselves with more quiet and more space, Virgil felt himself relax.

"So, have you really seen nothing untoward this day?" Richie suddenly asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I've seen no monsters, if that is what you are asking," Virgil replied, equally as quiet. "But, then, I do not recall all the events of last night."

"Oh?"

"I remember shots being fired, and a large explosion," Virgil said with a shrug. "But other than that, I have no recollection until this morning when I woke up."

"I see. Nothing else, though? Not even the slightest… something?"

"No, nothing."

"Well, then, I guess we truly will have to wait until tomorrow when you go to school."

"Although," Virgil said, leaning towards Richie. "I have seen a huge design flaw with the new, electric lights."

"A design flaw?!" Richie asked, his eyes widening in surprise. "Already?"

"Yes, sir," Virgil said with a large smile. "This afternoon, I caught up with Miss Frieda. After she told me what was found on the docks this morning, she ran off to the post office. And that's when one of the electric lamp lights exploded!"

"Exploded? Was anyone hurt?"

"Not that I could see, and I was right under the thing."

"Huh…" Richie said, crossing his arms across his chest as he tilted his head to the side. "Funny… in all the science fiction books we've read, I don't remember any of the lamps going out for random reasons. They usually all go out for mysterious ones, or as part of a sinister plot."

"Well…" Virgil said, trying to think about the experience as if he were in one of his stories. "Maybe that one light exploding was part of a larger plot, like a test run?"

"Could be," Richie replied mischievously, enjoying the idea of playing detective with Virgil. "I believe we shall have to keep our eye out for more exploding bulbs. If we find more of them, we could fit a pattern, rather than a… random coincidence."

"Still," Virgil said, nudging his friend with his elbow. "How often did the oil lamps explode?"

"Hmmm…" Richie murmured, as if he were truly thinking about it. "I see your point. That could be a serious design flaw."

"Exactly."

"I bet Miss Frieda would -love- to know about it."

"We should probably tell her about it before she gets her tour of Mr. Alva's… place." Virgil agreed as he look at another lamppost that they were fast approaching. Idly, not really thinking about it, Virgil reached out to touch the cool iron of the post. As soon as his fingers came in contact with the metal, the light bulb exploded.

"Holy-" Virgil asked, watching as his hand actually seemed to spark as he pulled it away from the cool surface.

"What the… How?!" Richie gasped, jumping several feet away from the post, his eyes fastened on the now useless top. "By all that's holy, I guess you are right in there being a design flaw."

"Yeah…" Virgil said distractedly, rubbing his thumbs across his fingers. 'What just happened there?'