stickmaker | The Start of Yet Another Masks Story

The opening scene:

Music: "Dreams" by Van Halen

Roy shrieked with glee as his mother did another loop, her cape snapping and rattling in the slipstream. Template was pretty close to shrieking with glee, herself. Since learning that the baby not only copied her powers when in close proximity to her, but also shared her love of flying, life had gotten much more fun.
Template come out of the bottom of the loop and went into a zoom climb. She couldn't see or hear him, but knew he was making his "Ooooooh..." face and sound. She stopped, higher than most aircraft could go, the sky black overhead, to check on him. Roy was smiling and bouncing in the harness strapped to his mother's chest. Template was grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. She spun slowly, to enjoy the view and get her bearings, then dove.
She was still being cautious with the flying; Template didn't want to find out the hard way that his resilience wasn't as good as hers. Still, by working up carefully she had a very good idea of what would thrill him without harming him. They hit dynamic pressures and pulled gees which would have pulped a normal human. Roy loved every moment of it.
They pulled out of the dive in the highlands of the island. Template did a quick circuit around the dourly smoldering volcano, then made a high-speed pass down one of the valleys on its flank, a small stream below producing flickers of light as they followed its course. Mother and child screamed along, the valley opening into scrabble, the stream growing wider as it entered the jungle. Soon after that they saw the sea ahead. They surprised some early risers jogging on the beach, then pulled up again.
Slowing and turning, Template flew back inland, over the jungle, heading for their home. Roy became quiet, obviously realizing the flight was nearly over.
As they landed at the bungalow Colossa was already waiting. She smiled as Roy saw her and reacted with obvious recognition and anticipation.
"Bbbb-bbbb-bbbb-bbbb!" he shouted, reaching for her and kicking his mother in his efforts to reach Colossa.
"C'mere, big boy," said Colossa, unstrapping him and pulling him out of the harness. "Whoa, stop kicking! You'll give your other momma a broken rib."
"Sorry," said Template, quickly. "Thought I turned my strength off after I landed. Wait, I _do_ have my strength off."
"He's a strong boy even without main momma's help!"
"You don't think his own powers are already active, to you?" said Template, concerned.
"Nah. He's just getting big enough that he's a real handful for someone without super strength," said Colossa. She gave Roy a quick once-over. "No signs of distress. Barely needs his diaper changed."
"We weren't gone all that long."
"It just beats me," muttered Colossa, as the two adults turned and walked inside, her still holding their child. "The kid pukes at the slightest provocation, but you can turn him inside out flying and he cries when you stop."
"Must be the genes," said Template, grinning. "I love flying. Energia loves flying. My mother and sister can't fly but have never been airsick or even seasick, and both love amusement park rides. The wilder the better."
"Family of freaks," said Colossa, nodding sagely, as her spouse closed the door behind them.
"I'm just glad I can take him with me when I practice, now."
She gave Colossa a mock-scathing look.
"Okay, I get airsick," said the size-changer, rolling her eyes. "I never claimed to be a great aviator."
Template laughed, and hugged her, a protesting Roy between them.