Dumb Little Smart Boy
“Juvenile offenders who are enhanced are almost a bigger issue for police and social services than either ordinary juvie’s or adult criminals. These are young people who often have the same trauma in their past as their unenhanced companions, and then were given power at the point where wish fulfilment could be considered to happen at the worst possible time.”
“On top of that, the level of restraint and restriction that can and must be used on adult enhanced criminals can be considered severe with adults, it is down right draconian, even dystopian, when seen in use with a child.”
“Due to this, courts will often try to find any other solution to simple containment for the enhanced child offender, preferably wanting to find some sort of mentorship from an adult enhanced, even a fosterage with them if the home is broken.”
“It works very well, except when it fails completely. There’s really no middle ground.”
Lt. Ralph Beiri, manual “Juvenile Enhanced, Challenges in Policing and Corrections.”
In another room Solaris smiled at a much wearier looking set of agents. “Thank you for making time for me. I wanted to get more information about Lazorsaurs.”
“Ah yes, the smartest of my little idiots.” The man sighed, glancing at the woman next to him. “He didn’t settle into the house like you hoped.“
The woman shrugged “They had good luck before, but it was a long shot. We placed him with a family that had been good with high risk kids in the past but this young man is challenging.”
“Please, tell me what you can, my last two interactions with the boy felt more like cries for attention than actual attacks. I want to see if I can be of help before he actually goes full villain.”
“You aren’t wrong. I am a psychologist with DCSF. Doctor Francine Lucini.” The older woman across the table said. “He’s by luck more than skill avoided doing any physical harm to a person in any of his little displays. He has reached a pretty substantial amount of property damage, but usually it is just a grandiose level of vandalism.”
She opened the case folder in front of her. “The poor boy has never really had a chance at normal. He is a dual citizen, US and Canada due to his parents. His mother is a problematic
woman…”
“She is a cape chaser. “ The Juvenile Services officer scoffed.
The woman ignored the officer. “His father is a tech-oriented criminal from Quebec who is currently serving a long sentence for a violent bank robbery in Canada. We have denied him official contact with his son, but he has a gift for acquiring smuggled cell phones. “
“So mum is no help, and dad is a bad influence who is probably trying to angle for the boy to break him out? How has he been with other homes, you mentioned problems. Also is mum involved at all in his life?”
“She gave up the second time he acted out, and my bet is that the breakout idea is exactly his father’s goal. He is one of the tech types who can equip goons on his own, and likes to keep some super muscle handy. A wannabe mastermind. He totally reads like a Doctor Evil type from what I’ve seen. “
“Someone had the audacity to call themselves Doctor Evil?” Solaris asked, shocked at the pure ego that would require.
“Um, no. Doctor Evil is a character from a comedy series of movies. He has his son as a minion.”
“Oh, apologies.” Solaris returned to the topic at hand. “So, his mother is not in the picture at all, is he violent at his foster homes, a runner, or just a prig.”
“If prig means arrogant jerk, yes. He can be violent if he thinks he needs to be, but signs suggest that is reactionary. His attacks have all targeted property, not people, and have all the planning and target discipline of a toddler throwing a fit, to be honest it's almost more destructive performance art if it wasn’t so reckless. “
“Does he have any friends? How is he with other teens?”
“He does have a younger half sister, who’s four or five now, he is very affectionate and protective of her. She is with his mother and stepfather so he doesn’t get to see her often. Unfortunately, no friends, and he tends to ignore other teenagers in his own age group, since they can’t really keep up with him. He’s a genius as well as tech enhanced. ”
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“This is only made worse by the fact that he’s been around a lot of high-risk kids, meaning a lot of scuffles, and while he’s not a physically imposing enhanced, there’s not a lot of enhanced who aren’t at least able to throw a punch or two if they need to. He’s really good at thinking he’s the big man in the yard.”
“His father probably taught him to fight dirty, which is fine as I’d do the same, but one has to know when it’s appropriate.” Solaris nodded, “Alright let’s talk to the boy. And get his opinion. I think I am willing to take him on. But I want to hear from him first.”
The two nodded, and the PO left the room to fetch Grayson, Shortly they returned with the sullen teen in tow. The brooding was replaced with confusion at the sight of Solaris.
“Hello, Grayson. I am thinking of fostering you.” She said bluntly. Teens, she knew from experience, didn’t take bullshit well. “I wanted to talk to you first so we started on even ground.”
“Didn’t you blow up one of my mecha recently?” He said, frowning. “You’re the one who was wearing the really weird ripped up outfit.” He paused, thinking. 'Then you were there when that german guy bombed my mech.’
“An excellent display of situational awareness. Yes, you were attacking a cruise ship right after I thawed, and I ran defense for Kriegsmarine when you came to attack the Intrepid. Sincere question, do you have something against boats?”
“I’m just raising a little hell, and do you know how hard it is to hide moving a mecha around without going under water? I mean, the boats are right there, and generally in the way to get anywhere more interesting.”
“I will grant the stealth concern makes some sense, though the rest seems like poor planning. Do you have any goals? Something you’d like to achieve once you are old enough to be on your own. Or even an actual target for these outbursts of yours?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it.”
Solaris nodded. “It’s hard to think ahead at your age. I can see several paths you could take, but they all depend on you. Some lead to comfort and wealth, and some lead to a cold cell and an early grave. If you want, I will foster you. You will live in my home, and I will educate you, and support your growth as a super scientist, however, I won’t tolerate black cape behavior.”
He opened his mouth, but she held her hand to stop him. “I will not block you from talking to your father, but I will insist that you choose a member of the house to be your confidant, and anything he talks to you about is discussed with them. This is not so that they will report to me, but so they can give you an outside perspective that I think you need. You will work at my shop with other enhanced, including others gifted with super intelligence. Don't worry, they build weird stuff as well as regular cars. I think they are still upgrading my tank.” He looked interested at that.
“Anyway. I will give you boundaries to respect, and an opportunity to be better than you are now.”
“I’m sorry, did you say other enhanced working on a tank? What type of tank?” Grayson said, leaning forward.
“Why do you have a tank?” The JO asked.
The DCFS person had looked her up and was a bit more informed. “She collects them, apparently.”
“It’s a little Japanese tank; it was a gift from a friend. My fledglings are working on upgrading it with more powerful engines and toys.” She smiled, boys never changed, and neither did toymakers. One armored vehicle and you had their attention.
“I am hoping working with the team will help you develop social skills you desperately need, and build better mecha as well as. I'm strong but even I shouldn’t have been able to take down a mechanical kaiju that easily.” She shook her head, she had laid out the deal, now for the bait. “I did some research on mechs and such in this modern day. Apparently, there is an event in the UAE called Slaughter in the Sands. I was thinking it would be a good opportunity to work with other kids your age from the EASA program, if I sponsored a team.”
“Oh, Slaughter in the Sands! Yeah, it’s way more elite than any of the North American mecha competitions. They let you wreck the hell out of real, better than military spec stuff. Wait, better engines? What are they doing, LS swapping a tank? Wait, could that work?” He instantly got lost in his head.
Solaris smiled at the officer and psychologist agent, letting him ponder options for a few moments. “Techs, so easy to get lost in their own heads.”
After a few minutes she tapped his shoulder, drawing his attention once more. “Now, do you think you can live with my rules, or are you going to let this last opportunity to be more, slip through your fingers?”
“You sound more interesting than the other places they’ve stuck me in, and Juvie is just dumb.”
“You’ve dodged Juvie outside of short stays due to New York state being a disaster, kid. Keep that in mind.” The JO said dryly.
“I am willing to give him a chance.” She said looking at the other adults, then turned to him. “How you use this last chance well is up to you. I’ve already told the others that they don’t have to tolerate your behavior if you decide to be a toad.”
“I should mention, the only reason we’re considering this is she has a staff filled with Academy graduates, meaning they have the sort of training you completely lack.” The parole officer stated. “I’m betting you get froggy, the first time or two Ms. Summers here won’t even hear about it, except by the bruises you show up with.”
“I believe the modern phrase is “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”” Solaris said with a shrug.
“Does he have any things to pack or are they already here?”
“Here. Honestly, he was looking at a stint in Juvie till you contacted us, his current home is no longer interested in him corrupting a lot of kids who are finding a better footing for their lives. This is pretty much it before we urge the courts to go the penal route.”
“I understand, I rather figured that was the case. He was a bit too close to treasonous behaviors with as many politicians were on the Intrepid last night. She looked at Grayson. Get your things. I’ll call my house-manger and have her prepare a room.”