It had been one week since his Hillworth tribunal over their drug concerns. The test came back and -- surprise, surprise -- confirmed that Parker was not using drugs of any kind. He politely requested that they all take tests too now, as an apology to him. The principal told him that was inappropriate. The nurse blushed. The history teacher asked if they could retest him and put someone in the bathroom with him to make sure it really was his pee in the cup. Parker asked the principal again about what the policy was for a student to bring a sexual harassment charge against a teacher.

Narrowly escaping a week of yard duty by offering a false apology, Parker had been set loose into the general population once more with a stern: “We’ll be watching you.” Big Brother, eh? As much as Parker wanted to slam them back with insult after insult, that last comment stilled him.

Would they be watching his window? Would they notice that he was leaving every night? What if they saw him change into Taranis? What if they were enemies?

The sprawling list of questions grew massive, each one more concerning than the one before. The more out of sorts he acted (and the more haggard he looked), the greater the risk of having his senshi identity compromised. So far, only Dani, Dylan, and Derp (sigh) knew that Sailor Taranis was also Parker Damhnait. He wanted to keep it that way, at least for now. If more people found out, he could be put at great risk.

If he was going to be a super hero at night, then he needed to start treating his time spent as Parker like the secret identity that it was. The ‘terrorists’ running around DC were all teenagers. It was entirely feasible that someone could suspect him of being a part of one of the sides once the more logical explanations were weeded out. Hillworth already knew he wasn’t on drugs. What would they cross of their list next?

No, Parker needed to be logical about this. If they thought something was wrong, then they would start digging. If they thought nothing was wrong, then they would leave him alone for the month or so left until his graduation. As much as it bothered him to do anything to appease Hillworth, Parker rationalized that protecting his senshi identity was far more important.

What would he have to do? Well, for one, he couldn’t fall asleep in class as much. He needed to stop patrolling every night. That was a fact. Perhaps if he took off one or two nights a week, and didn’t stay out past 1AM on weekdays... It seemed like a start. As for his appearance, it was no secret that Parker had lost a considerable amount of weight from his lack of sleep and constant working out (thanks to running after youma).

Taking a cue from a former meathead he lived with in his sophomore year, Parker darted to his computer. Protein powder. Muscle milk. Power bars. The thought of it turned his stomach, but if he wanted to put on fast weight, this was what he had to do. It would have the added bonus of making Dani happy. His weight loss had certainly not gone unnoticed by her, and she was constantly scolding him over it. Maybe he would even bulk up? No. Probably not. Parker felt like he was someone who was destined to be eternally lanky. All arms and legs, no abs. No rippling pectorals. Dani said he had a nice back. Parker was unsure how to take this.

Pulling out his debit card, Parker purchased a MUSCLE MAN STARTER KIT GOLD STAR STRENGTH. The words jumped off the screen, and he could only conceptualize them in ALL CAPS ALL THE TIME. The stuff was overpriced and probably tasted like lukewarm baby vomit; it was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

Regardless of what was going on behind the scenes, Parker was willing to play a part to keep curious minds at bay. He was protecting more than himself. He was protecting everyone who knew him too. Either way, a plan had been hatched, and now it was time for it to start rolling.