A re-run of Millionaire flashed across the TV screen. Vanessa, who for some inexplicable reason preferred the episodes of the game show that were hosted by Regis Philbin, lay on her back with her dirty socks propped up against the wall and her head hanging off the end of the sofa. An empty bag of dill pickle chips lay on the floor beneath her and Vanessa, who sometimes watched TV upside down like this simply because she could, was busily licking the salt off her fingertips.

"Vanessa, get your feet off the wall, and sit up. It isn't healthy to let the blood rush to your head like that." Mr. Rae scolded as he marched by on his way to the bathroom.

"Yes, dad," she sighed heavily, as though he was doing her a great disservice, and rearranged herself on the sofa so that she was still lying on her back, but with her head propped up on the armrest and her feet somewhere more appropriate.

"John Jr?"

"Yeah, dad?" the little boy looked up from his bowl of cereal. There was a copy of the Destiny City bulletin folded open in front of him.

From where she sat on the couch, Vanessa could see her dad's reflection in the bathroom mirror as he brushed his teeth and prepared for his date.

"You listen to your sister while I'm gone."

"I always do." John Jr insisted in that way that young children do, and twisted in his seat to peer at his big sister, "Don't I, Vanessa? Tell him I always listen to you."

"He always listens to me, dad."

"Good," Mr. Rae said with a nod of his head as he exited the bathroom and, after checking his reflection and straightening his tie in the balcony windows, smiled at them both. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck," Vanessa and John Jr, whose mouth was full of cheerios, chimed simultaneously.

A little nervous, but generally excited, Mr. Rae exhaled heavily and ruffled John Jr's dark hair on his way out the door. It clicked shut behind him and for a moment the only sound that filled the apartment was the ominous jingle that wafted through the television screen as Regis waited for the contestant to give an answer.

Vanessa, who had never liked any of the women her father brought home, made a face and pressed the power button on the remote. "I hope this one doesn't break his heart too."

Having just finished his cereal, a make-shift supper he'd proudly assembled himself, John Jr sat in silent agreement. This was a topic that neither of them liked to dwell on very long. With a mind to change the subject, John Jr picked up the copy of the bulletin that lay on the table in front of him. He read it.

No longer interested in watching TV, Vanessa simply stared at the blank screen for a moment or two before crawling off the couch and choosing a seat beside her little brother. He didn't look up as she sat down, but cleared his throat and said; "We're not supposed to go near the park."

"Huh?"

"It says here," John Jr pointed at an article in the bulletin, "A bunch of people have been sent to the hospital. They were found near the park. It says we are supposed to stay away."

"Really?" Vanessa leaned forwards and attempted to read it over his shoulder, "It doesn't say what happened to them, hey?"

"No," John Jr shook his head, "just that they were hurt. There's been a lot of stuff like that happening lately. A lot of deaths."

"I know."

So far, the pair of them had been lucky. No one they knew personally had perished yet.

"I wish there was something we could do," John Jr mused and, almost instantly, a little spark of inspiration sputtered to life in Vanessa's head. It struggled to survive there for a moment. The auburn haired chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip as it fought for its right to live.

"Its too bad I'm so small," John Jr sighed, "or else I'd try to do something about it myself."

A slow smile started on Vanessa's face as her brother's words fanned the spark in her brain and finally lit the imaginary bulb that floated over her head.

"John Jr!" That's IT!" she declared jovially, grabbing him by the shoulders and twirling him so that he faced her.

The little boy looked very confused. "What are you talking about?"

"You're too small," Vanessa let go of him, and poked him in the chest. "But I'm not!"

"You're not making any sense."

"Of course I'm making sense!" she hissed at him, golden eyes twinkling. Vanessa's sanity seemed to have disappeared in the face of her own brilliance. "John Jr, I can help! I can make a difference!"

John Jr frowned and chewed on the inside of his cheek as he considered his big sister's words.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" He knew the answer even before he finished the question.

"Yes!" she beamed at him.

"Like batman?" he asked, an inquisitive eyebrow cocked upwards.

"Yes. Exactly like batman."

It wouldn't be hard. All she needed was the costume, and a weapon, and a super-hero name. Vanessa already had all the courage and determination and good will required for such a worthy under-taking. John Jr sat there, dark eyes locked onto his sister's shining ones, and he knew instantly that she absolutely meant to go through with this. There would be no stopping her.

It terrified him.