randomality

Summary: Cut off from the Speed Force, Impulse and Inertia cope with mundane life trapped with each other in Manchester. What is behind the outage and will they be able to restore the source of their powers? Sequel to Reset! AU.

Disclaimer: DC owns the DCU. Impulse created by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo.

Reset!: Blackout - Chapter Five: Cover

Kon really didn't want to get up, but he could hear the household waking up and starting their day. He could hear Helen's coffeemaker already brewing a fresh, hot pot of dark roast. He could hear Bart and Thad arguing over the bathroom. He could hear Dox panting just under his head. Prying open a sleepy blue eye, he shifted on the couch to look down at the terrier. "What?"

The dog trotted away to greet Helen, who was dressed and almost ready to go to work at her dental clinic. "Do you want out?" she habitually asked. Dox barked and turned a few tight circles in response.

Kon lifted a hand. "I got it." Turning, he craned his head up to spot the front door. Touching the wall, he muttered to himself, "Through the wall, into the door, turn the lock, open the latch, pull the door, and we're done!" The front door seemingly unlocked and opened on its own, confusing Dox. The dog looked up at Helen for reassurance.

She escorted him and closed the door once he was through. "Nice trick. I don't recall that being a Superman thing."

Kon sat up on the couch and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "Tactile telekinesis was the best thing the scientist that made me could come up with for mimicking Big Blue's major powers." He ran his hands through his messy black hair. "Now, if I could just get the non-tactile part of the telekinesis to work more often, that would be awesome." Dropping his hands into his lap, he grinned, "I don't think that was supposed to be part of the big plan. Laser-eyes and super-senses are supposed to be in there somewhere, but I can't get those to work at all."

Helen wasn't sure what to say about that. "Well, we all make do with the cards we're dealt with. As it is, you have more gifts than most."

"That's what I keep telling myself," Kon absently remarked. Getting up, he meandered to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. "Come to papa, my sweet, life-giving brew." Once it was full, he stepped aside for Helen. He blew a little steam off the top of his cup and savored the first sip.

"Where are you going to go today?" Helen asked while filling her travel mug.

"I'll just fly up to Metropolis and make a nuisance of myself. There's probably some crisis or other that needs my magic touch. If I'm lucky, Supes will be out of town with the JLA on some intergalactic road trip. If I'm really lucky, they'll take Bats with 'em and Rob will have a free evening for me to torment him. If I'm extra special lucky, Wondy will give me a call saying that she's lonely and her mom is out of town." His eyes widened, and then he gave a lame grin to Helen. "Don't tell anyone I said that. That's what I get for yapping before I get my complete infusion of wakey."

Bart popped into the kitchen doorway, still sporting ugly bruises from the day before. "If Cassie was lonely, she'd call Cissie first."

Clutching his coffee cup, Kon closed his eyes and stretched a very happy grin across his face. Helen gave a disgusted snort and admonished him, "Super-perv!"

That left Bart confused and he stepped closer. "But he didn't say anything."

"It's not what he said, it's what he was thinking," Helen explained.

Bart became only more confused. "You're a telepath? When'd that happen?" In his mind's eye, she looked weird in every spandex costume he could think of.

"Oh, it's just one of the many awesome moon powers that I, Princess Helitra, wield as the amazing Moon Girl," she announced, "Now, if you all will excuse me, I have to battle the intergalactic threat of the Gingivitians and the Cavitars to save the universe."

After the door to the garage shut behind her, Bart crossed his arms. "It's okay, Kon. I think she was joking."

Raising an eyebrow, Kon remarked, "I think that's a safe bet."

"So, what were you thinking about that Helen didn't like?"

Kon solemnly clapped a hand on Bart's shoulder. "Someday, you'll understand."

"It was dirty, wasn't it? I'm old enough!" Another thought seized him. "Oh! I haven't shown you this!" Bart pulled his wallet from his back pocket and opened it. Proudly displaying his State of Alabama Learner's License to Kon, he beamed, "Look!"

"Cool," Kon automatically replied. The permit really didn't mean much to him. He pulled the card closer to read the descriptions. "Hazel? Your eyes aren't hazel. Hazel are the eyes of that foxy barista in Metropolis. Yours are obvious, unnatural-for-humans yellow. Maybe teetering towards gold, depending on lighting. Not hazel."

Bart stared at the card. "Huh. Well, that's what the lady entered. I wonder if Thad's says the same thing?" Without a pause, he sought out his brother's wallet. A few minutes later, Bart returned. "Yep. His say hazel, too."

Kon didn't seem very interested in that. Holding up a half full bag of bagels, he asked, "Can I take one?"

"Sure." He watched a couple bagels slide into the toaster. Leaning against the counter, he mused, "I wonder when my powers will come back. I heard Helen tell Wally that he should think of it like a vacation, but this is the most boring vacation ever. I haven't seen Tim or Cassie or anyone else, except for you, in all this time. We don't even know why we lost our powers and I hate not being able to do anything about it."

"And you feel useless, too," Kon stated as he rummaged through the fridge. "I know what that's like. When my powers went out, I didn't really know what to do." He set the opened packages of cream cheese and lunchmeat on the counter. "Can I use these?" After Bart nodded, he added, "What about tech substitutes to tide you over? Like that stuff I used for a little while?"

Bart shook his head. "The only thing I can think of is Velocity 9 and that stuff is nasty. Makes you go crazy. If there's anything else, I don't think that anyone would give it to me. Wally, sure. He's the Flash."

"You know what sucks the most about losing our powers? For us? We're not like Cassie or Anita, who didn't start off with powers, and we're not like Tim and Cissie, who don't have powers. I was made in a lab to have them and you were put in a lab because of them. Without them, we're kinda lost." Kon leaned towards Bart. "But that stays between you and me." The bagels popped up and Kon started spreading a layer of cream cheese on each open half. "At least you have Helen and a nice home here. You don't have to worry about where to go."

Thad entered the kitchen and treated Kon to an especially dirty glare. "You're still here?"

"I just wanted to see your sunny face again," Kon replied as cheerfully as he could, "My day couldn't start without a burst of joy from the ever-inspiring Inertia." He was unfazed by the disgusted sneer Thad treated him to. Kon's voice resumed his normal tone, "Seriously. Don't you have any modes other than "up yours" and "sideways"? You're going to die a lonely virgin if you keep this up. Yeah, I get that your childhood was stolen by a madman and all that, but you're preaching to the choir here. Dude, get over it. We did."

Thad's glare darkened and he clenched his fists. Lunging forward with a punch, he stopped just short of striking Kon. Shaking with fury, Thad backed away and left the kitchen. Kon snickered and finished making the bagel sandwiches. "He almost hurt himself, there."

Bart sighed and leaned against the counter. "He's gonna need to spar today and I'm all beat up already."

Handing one of the breakfast sandwiches to Bart, Kon frowned, "You don't have to be his punching bag."

"I'm not a punching bag," he countered. Taking a bite of the sandwich, he added, "I hit back."

Thad reappeared in the kitchen, shrugging on his jacket. "Your friends are here."

"Already?" Bart turned to Kon. "I gotta go. Lock the door after you leave, okay?"

Hastily putting on his jacket and slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Bart hurried after his friends with the rest of his bagel clamped in his mouth.

As he walked towards the school with his classmates, Bart paused in mid-step, furrowing his brow. What was the sound? Was it a sound at all? A growing, reverberating hum, it was somewhere between the thresholds of hearing and feeling. An electrical tingle teased his skin. Then nothing. It simply stopped. Carol touched his shoulder and whispered to him, "Bart? Is everything okay?"

Snapping back to present world, Bart nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just thought I heard something."

Thad jerked his head towards him. "You, too?" Before Bart could reply, Thad cut him off, "Later."

At lunch, Eddie found Bart and pulled him aside to talk privately. "I need your help. You know about my dad?"

"What, that he's some wannabe metacriminal? Yeah, I know about that," Bart answered. Eddie's father had once called himself the Transparent Weapon and tried to make a living off of crime. He wasn't very successful.

"Yeah, those punks from yesterday wanted his invisibility tech," Eddie finally admitted, "They've been after me to get it from him for a while now. I'm not gonna do that, but there's this new guy that's running the gang now and he's gonna have me killed if I don't. You could take him out." He snapped his fingers. "Just like that."

Bart shook his head. "I can't."

"If you don't help me, I'll tell everyone who you really are, Impulse," Eddie threatened.

Bart felt his heart pound a little harder, but what could he do? "I can't. I'm sorry. I don't have superspeed."

"Fine, if you're gonna be like that," Eddie sourly scowled. He approached the Bart's friends gathered at their usual picnic table outside and announced, "Bart is Impulse!"

Bart's jaw dropped and connection between his brain and mouth jammed from all of the responses that he wanted to give. Confirmations, denials, and excuses all ran at the same time, leading to incoherent stuttering. He saw Carol cringe and suck in a breath. She was probably desperately trying to come up with a cover. Preston and Mike exchanged questioning looks, and then burst into laughter. The rest of the group soon followed. Only Rolly seemed to hesitate and take Eddie seriously.

It took a little while before Preston could finally speak. "Yeah, right. Impulse has redder hair and talks differently than Bart."

"Also, Impulse can speed heal," Carol pointed out, "If Bart really were a speedster, his injuries from yesterday would have disappeared within minutes."

"Yeah!" Bart chimed, pointing to the bruises that still marred his face. "These would be gone by now!"

Eddie frowned, obviously not liking this development. "But... You look like him! I only have one working eye, but I'm not blind. Hair, height, feet..." He gestured at Bart. "When Impulse replaced you in the movie, there wasn't any real difference! And then you saved me, like Impulse did before!" Eddie's gestures became more frantic. "You have to be him!"

Bart shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "I'm not a speedster. Sorry, Eddie. I wish I was." It was the honest truth, now.

"Besides," Carol added, "Bart was sitting with me and the guys when Impulse stopped at the school to get a drink from the water fountain a few months ago. Not even the fastest boy alive can be in two places at once."

Bart had to think back to remember what Carol was referring to. "Oh! Right! Yeah, I remember that now." Really, it was Thaddeus wearing the red and white costume with a wig, but Bart wasn't going to reveal that.

Preston added in, "And then there was that time that Impulse shaved his head. If Bart was Impulse, then why didn't he lose his hair, too?"

Defeated and confused, Eddie turned towards Bart. "But, you... You..."

"Sorry," Bart repeated, feeling a little bad for Eddie. Shoving his hands deep into his pockets, he addressed his friends, "Guys, Eddie's in trouble. That's why he wants to find Impulse."

Rolly was on his feet in an instant. "Is it those guys who pounded you yesterday?" Even though the rest of the group was not fond of Eddie, they were all interested and concerned.

Eddie scowled, "I don't want you wusses getting in the way." He stalked off with clenched fists.

Bart watched him go, wishing that he could something more. If he just had his speed back... Maybe he didn't need it. His hand found the cell phone in his jacket pocket. It would be nice to have a few superpowers to back him up, though. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom," he told his friends.

"Don't get beat up this time," Preston called out after him.

Bart waved the comment off and left the group behind. As soon as he found a quiet spot, he pulled out his phone and called Kon. After listening to the voicemail prompt, Bart left his message. "It's Bart. I got some trouble here and I kinda need some help."

Seeking Thad out, Bart found him in the library, talking with a couple of upperclassmen girls. Bart pulled him aside, much to Thad's annoyance. "I'm going to need some help. Eddie's-"

"Not my problem," Thad interrupted, "I don't care what's going on."

"Look, getting beat up was just the start of it. He's-"

"Not. My. Problem." Thad turned away from Bart. "If he got himself into it, he can get himself out of it. This is a waste of my time."

"It's not a waste of mine," Bart retorted, "I'm going to help him. I just wanted you to back me up." The bell to class rang and he left the library.

Carol intercepted him on the way to class. "What are you going to do about this?"

"Help Eddie," Bart answered, "I'm not sure how, but I'm working on it."

"We'll figure something out," she assured. Then she warned, "Don't rush ahead without me."

Bart and Carol searched the school grounds for Eddie the moment the last bell rang and class was dismissed for the day. They nearly gave up until they spotted a familiar head of spiky blond hair getting pushed into a car. Bart switched gaits into an easy lope, trying to get a bearing on the car. It pulled out of the parking lot and he dropped his backpack to speed up into a full sprint. He could hear Carol calling out after him, but he didn't want to lose track of Eddie.

Pounding pavement and dodging traffic, Bart chased the car, never quite gaining on it. Fortunately for him, it didn't speed through the streets of Manchester and it didn't leave the city limits. The park near the river wasn't very popular at this time of year and that was where the car stopped. A group of people were already there and waiting. Bart counted eight in all and then added the three that got out of the car with Eddie. Most of them were at least a couple years older than Eddie and not students at the school. They were pushing Eddie around roughly and Bart could hear the angry, threatening tones in their voices, but he couldn't quite make out the words. He crept closer to hear better and to place himself in a better position to rescue Eddie if the situation turned worse.

The gang leader wanted Eddie to steal the invisibility tech from his father outright. Eddie refused. "Even if you got it, Impulse is gonna catch you as soon as you try anything with it."

The gang leader laughed. "Didn't you hear? Impulse is dead! Right along with his old man! There ain't anyone left to catch us here!" He turned to his subordinates. "I think it's time we gave this worm another lesson in loyalty." The mob pounced on Eddie and Bart moved in to defend him.

The last time Bart had faced this many people who were at the same speed he was, he was fighting Savitar's army of speed ninjas. At that moment, a switch clicked in his head and he grinned. Jumping into the fray, Bart fought the gang off of Eddie, starting off with cracking heads into each other. Strong arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind, but Bart kicked out with his powerful legs at the hitter coming for him. Stomping down on the instep of his captor's foot freed him and he whirled around with a punch. Doing so meant that he couldn't avoid the incoming hits from two of the gangsters who closed in on him. Out of seemingly nowhere, Thad charged into the melee. A savage smile stretched across his face with wicked glee and he held back nothing in his strikes. In short order, the balance of the battle shifted and all of the thugs were on the ground.

The gang leader got up and pulled out a gun, pointing it straight at Eddie. The three boys froze, staring at the weapon. Bart wished that his powers would suddenly reappear. He reached out for the source of his powers, willing for the hum of lightning to run through his blood again, but there was no response. The leader pulled the trigger, but the hammer of the gun stayed firmly in place. Suddenly, the gun simply fell apart in his hand.

"Awww, did I break your toy?" Kon mocked behind him. His hand was still on a nearby tree.

"Superboy?" Eddie gawked from the ground. Bart held out a hand to help him up.

"Why, yes I am, good citizen!" Kon replied with his cheesiest imitation of Superman, "Now, run along, while I take care of these evil-doers."

Bart supported Eddie as they escaped from the park. Thad stalked beside them, keeping watch for any ambushes. Bart grinned at him. "You came."

"Max wanted us to take care each other," Thad reminded, "Letting you get pounded into a smear is a violation of those orders."

"Thanks."

"Carol's mad at you. Just a warning."

"Mad at me? For what?"

Carol was waiting for Bart at his doorstep. In addition to the backpack hanging from her shoulders, she held a backpack in each hand. As he approached, she heaved his backpack into his chest. "I told you not to rush ahead without me!" Then she thrust the other backpack at Thad. Freed of the extra burden, she marched home.