The Curse of Clyde Langer

(Open POV)

Tony Stark's Home…

"JARVIS!" Tony said, angrily.

"Welcome home, sir." JARVIS said, his voice distorted before cutting out.

"'I am Iron Man.' You think you're the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark, you've become part of a bigger universe. A bigger universe that has girls that fight monsters through the power of song, the Kamijou Faction, companions of a Time Lord known as the Doctor protecting the earth, mages that go to other worlds, and Magical Girls that fight witches. You just don't know it yet." Nick said.

"You really don't, Tony. This universe is one hell of a mess at times." Jared said, crossing his arms.

"Who the hell are you two?" Tony asked.

"Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D." Nick said, appearing in light with Jared.

"I'm Jared Shay, companion of the Doctor." Jared said, looking at Tony. "And I'm a defender of Earth."

"Ah." Tony said, nonchalantly.

"We're here to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative." Nick said.

"Hope you're ready, Tony." Jared said, smiling. "We have a lot to talk about. Don't worry, I won't spoil a thing."

Common room…

Clyde is reading a book on the French Revolution.

"So then, Clyde. Your starter for ten. What are the parallels between the fall of the French aristocracy in the 1790s and the credit crunch of 2008?" Rani asked.

"Hmmm?" Clyde asked.

"Well, Mrs Pittman always says history can teach us stuff about the present."

"Yeah?" Clyde asked, while Rani snatches the comic he is drawing from inside the text book. "Hey!"

"The Silver Bullet?" Rani asked, flipping through the comic.

"Every crook is a target in Blood River City."

"Hey, this is good."

"Do think so?"

"Yeah. Really good. Don't see how he's going to get you through your history exam."

"But this is what I'm going to do when I finish school. Comics. The Silver Bullet's just one idea. Wait till you see Susie June Jones, Alien Slayer." Clyde said, happily.

"Susie June Jones. You're joking. Tell me you're joking." Rani said, laughing a bit,

Office…

"Well, Sky, I hope you'll enjoy life at Park Vale. Luke certainly flourished here." Haresh said.

"I like to learn stuff. There's lots I don't know yet." Sky said, smiling.

"That's a very healthy attitude. These days, too many students of our students think they know it all."

"Oh, Sky's a keen student." Sarah Jane said.

"Clyde says I'm a bright spark." Sky said, as electricity crackles around then a fish thumps against the window.

"What on Earth?" Haresh asked.

"Haresh, there seems to be a trout on your windowsill." Sarah Jane said.

"Excuse me, Sarah Jane, Sky. Some of our pupils have an over-developed sense of humour."

Common room…

Wet fish noises.

"Did you hear that? What was that?" Rani asked.

Playground…

Fish are falling from the sky.

"What's this all about?" Rani asked.

"Now this looks dead fishy." Clyde said.

(Jared's POV)

Attic…

"Mister Smith, I need you!" I said, entering the attic with Sarah, Clyde, Rani, and Sky behind me.

"Yes, Jared. How can I help you?" Mr Smith asked.

"Have you got a good recipe for the biggest fish pie in history?" Clyde asked.

"I was in Baskerville helping out Sherlock Holmes and John Watson with a case. I then time traveled to 2008 to tell Iron Man with Nick Fury about the Avengers Initiative." I said, crossing my arms. "I reappeared in London to see that it is a very fishy situation, Mr Smith."

"I have been monitoring reports of the unusual storm over London." Mr Smith said.

"I love this planet. When you think you get fish in the sea, they start coming out the sky." Sky said.

"Throughout the ages, there have been many reports of fish raining out of the sky. There is a meteorological explanation."

"What, you mean it's natural?" Rani asked.

"Storms and tornadoes suck fish out of the water into the upper atmosphere. They freeze, then later they come raining down. Yeah, but those fish are small. Wouldn't satisfy next door's cat. Mister Smith, the fish today, they were this big." Sarah said, and she is doing a traditional fisherman's exaggeration. "Yeah, well, still not natural. Mister Smith, I want you to scan for alien energies."

"Of course." Mr Smith said.

"Oh, and Mister Smith, you'd better cast your net pretty wide." Clyde said.

"Oh, don't encourage him." Rani said, annoyed.

"You know, I'm glad Sky turned up. Finally there's someone here who appreciates my comic genius."

"Sarah Jane, Jared, you may be interested to know that the Museum of Culture is currently staging an exhibition of totem poles. Among them is what has become known as the Totem of the Lost Tribe." Mr Smith said.

"Oh, my dad wants to see that. Said they found in a cave, like it had been hidden." Rani said, her eyes widening.

"I'm still confused. Sorry. Baskerville. I really don't get the connection between a totem pole and raining fish." I said, sadly.

"The Totem pole was discovered in the Mojave Desert. A legend surrounding its discovery suggests when it was first removed from the cave, a storm came out of nowhere, and it rained fish." Mr Smith said.

Outside the museum…

"So, what's in a museum?" Sky asked.

"It mostly has dead things." I said, grabbing Sky's hand.

"And people like to look at dead things? Isn't that a bit weird?"

"If you ask me, yeah." Clyde said.

"Museums help preserve our past, Sky. They're fascinating places. You'll see." Sarah said.

"Mum and Dad met in a museum." Rani said.

"Oh, how romantic. Though I never saw your mum as the museum type."

"It was raining."

"Makes sense. Rain can make people fall in love when all hope feels lost. And it really helps sets the mood." I said, squeezing Sky's hand.

"You got any spare change? Enough for a sandwich, please?" Ellie asked.

"Here you go." I said, taking out a hundred pounds and handing it to Ellie. "Get yourself something nice to eat for the rest of the week."

"Cheers." Ellie said, placing the money inside her pocket.

"Why did she want money?" Sky asked, looking at me.

"Because she's homeless, Sky." I said, sadly.

"Why did you give her some?"

"Becoming homeless isn't her fault. That's why. Life happens. And it changes people for better or worse."

Museum…

A display of AmerIndian culture with the Totem as the centrepiece.

"Isn't it pretty?" Sky asked.

"I think the word you're looking for is creepy. Look at those faces." Rani said.

"There really shouldn't be anything sinister about a totem pole. They were generally a kind of storybook carved from cedar trees as of myths or family histories." Sarah said.

"I'm glad they're not my family. You're a funny-looking bunch, aren't you?" Clyde asked, tickling a face under its chin. "Ow! Splinter."

"We would rather you didn't touch the exhibits." Samantha said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Clyde didn't mean any harm." Sarah said, looking at Samantha.

"Clyde Langer. I'm sorry. I just. I love art. Even when it does bite back." Clyde said.

"Well, it looks like you came off worse." Samantha said.

"Oh, did you get a splinter, you big baby?" Rani asked, looking at Clyde.

"My name's Sarah Jane Smith. This is Jared Shay. We're journalists." Sarah said, looking at me.

"Doctor Samantha Madigan. I run the Anthropology Department here. I suppose you've made the connection between the totem pole and fish raining from the skies today, then?" Samantha asked.

"So it was the totem pole." Sky said, her eyes widening.

"No, Of course not."

"She's not really with us." Clyde said.

"My daughter has quite a sense of humour." Sarah said.

"Do I?" Sky asked.

"Have to say, I couldn't have wished for a better publicity stunt. Maybe Hetocumtek is on our side." Samantha said.

"I'm confused. Why do you think it is Hetocumtek?" I asked, squeezing Sky's hand.

"According to legend, Hetocumtek was a vicious warrior god who descended from the skies and tried to enslave the people of the Great Plains. But, the story goes that the tribes' greatest medicine men came together and tricked Hetocumtek, imprisoning him in a totem pole." Samantha said.

"What, this totem pole?" Rani asked.

"Well, tis only a story. Now, if you'll excuse me." Samantha said, walking away from us.

"So what do you think, Sarah Jane, Jared? Hetocumtek, what was he? Warrior god or nasty alien?" Rani asked.

"Aliens masquerading as gods? It wouldn't be the first time. But I don't really believe in the magical powers of medicine men, and according to my scans, there's no alien energy here. So if anything alien did cause today's shower of fish, it wasn't this totem pole or Hetocumtek." Sarah Jane said.

Clyde finally prises the splinter from his finger, "Ah, gotcha."

"Come on. Let's go home!" I said, excitedly.

(Open POV)

Attic/Judgement 177 Branch Office…

"Mikoto. Can you and the others stop by Bannerman Road?" Jared asked, eating some chocolate chip cookies.

"What is it this time?" Mikoto asked. "Is it going to be bad?"

"On a scale of 1-10. How bad is it?" Uiharu asked.

"For the next couple of days…" Jared said, frowning.

"It's ten." Saten said, looking at Mikoto, Shirai, and Uiharu.

"I knew it." Shirai said, frowning. "Of course this is one where you'd need us."

"Remember the situation with Shokuhou Misaki?" Jared asked.

"Of course I do. Great…" Mikoto said, letting out a sigh. "What's this alien have instead of Mental Out? For influencing others."

"Anger issues. And headaches. Can you all come here tomorrow morning? Thank you. Oh. Bring those pendants that prevent psychophonic programming. The ones I designed. Keep them tucked away under your shirts. Mikoto doesn't need one. Only Shirai, Saten, and Uiharu."

Lounge…

"Morning! What's the weather forecast for today, then? Raining cats and dogs?" Clyde asked, while Shirai teleported in with Mikoto before disappearing and reappearing with Saten and Uiharu. "What are they doing here?"

"I called them." Jared said, smiling. "And it's going to be sunny and bright. Apparently. Not a fishy situation, Clyde. They're not gonna fall down again."

"And Mister Smith hasn't been able to find anything to suggest an alien energy, so maybe for once we can stand down." Sarah Jane said.

"Do you want to meet a hero who never stands down?" Clyde asked.

"Mmm hmm." Sarah Jane said.

Clyde shows them his comic, "The Silver Bullet."

"Clyde, did you do this?" Shirai asked.

"Of course. What do you all think?" Clyde asked.

"It's good. It's really good." Saten said, looking down at the comic.

"Is this what you want to do? I mean, after school?" Mikoto asked.

"Yeah, well, drawing's about the only thing I'm any good at, so." Clyde said.

"Oh, don't do yourself down. You're bright. But there's no doubt art really is your thing." Sarah Jane said, happily.

"And I love comics, so I thought, why not? Look out, Stan Lee, here comes Clyde Langer." Clyde said, while his name burns across Sarah's eyeball as Clyde's splinter bothers him. "I mean, rocket scientist or whatever is fine if you're a super-brain like Luke. But me?"

"Oh. Is that why you asked us to bring those pendants?" Mikoto asked, looking at Jared.

"Yeah. What Shokuhou did to Shirai, Uiharu, and Saten…" Jared said, sadly.

"Clyde is going to be isolated, isn't he? Why are you immune to it?"

"Is it one of those things where it is complicated?" Uiharu asked.

"Yup."

"Of course things are escalating now." Shirai said, letting out a sigh.

"Since you first showed up, all you've ever done is tell him how uncool he was, what a geek he was, a freak he was. And all the while you're wasting your time with rubbish like this. My son is worth a hundred of you, and I've had just about as much as I'm going to take." Sarah Jane said, looking at Clyde.

"Sarah Jane?" Clyde asked.

"Get out, now. Take your stupid comic book with you." Sarah Jane said, tossing the comic book Clyde made back to him.

"What's going on? I don't get it." Clyde said.

"Get out!"

"This is crazy."

"You want crazy? I'll give you crazy!"

"No!" Clyde said.

"Saten. Uiharu. You two stay with Clyde's mom." Jared said, as Sarah brandishes her lipstick and Clyde flees the house with Saten, Uiharu, Mikoto, and him running out of the house. "Shirai, you stay with Sarah Jane. Mikoto, we'll be with Clyde."

Outside Rani's home…

Shirai and Uiharu ran ahead towards Clyde's house, knowing that they needed to keep Clyde's mom less worried. Jared is with Mikoto, and they're behind Clyde.

"Hey, what's going on?" Rani asked.

"It's Sarah Jane. She's just gone completely mental." Clyde said.

"What are you talking about?" Rani asked.

"Ah, Clyde Langer." Haresh said.

Clyde's name burns across Rani's eyes.

"You get away from me!" Rani said, angrily.

"Jared, this is worse than Mental Out." Mikoto said, looking at Jared.

"Tell me about it." Jared said, grabbing Mikoto's hand.

"What's going on? What did I do? I didn't do anything!" Clyde said, worried.

"Dad, you keep him away from me." Rani said.

"Rani, we're mates." Clyde said, looking at Rani.

"Keep away from her. You're no friend of my daughter." Haresh said.

"But this is mad. We're friends, Rani!" Clyde said, as Jared walked up to him with Mikoto.

"You're mad if you think I'd be any friend of yours. I hate you!" Rani said, angrily.

"Rani."

"I'll give you ten seconds. I don't want you anywhere near my daughter. Is that understood? Now, as far as school goes, you're excluded!" Haresh said, angrily.

"You can't do that. Something's got at you. Both of you. And Sarah Jane. Something hasn't gotten Jared and Mikoto. I saw Saten and Uiharu run into my mum's home. I don't know what it is, but none of it's real. Just think about it, please. I haven't done anything!" Clyde said, looking at Rani and Haresh.

"You're out of time!" Haresh said, angrily.

"Come anywhere near me again, and I'm calling the police." Rani said.

"All right, I'm gone. Let's go, Jared, Mikoto. But there's something going on here, and we're going to fix it." Clyde said, walking away with Jared and Mikoto.

"You do what you like with Jared and Mikoto, but I don't want to see you again! Not ever!"

Attic…

Sarah is ripping up Clyde's sketches on a draughting board.

"Sarah Jane, are you all right?" Shirai asked.

"Yes, Shirai. I'm fine." Sarah Jane said, looking at Shirai.

"I am detecting an exceptionally high oscillation of beta brainwaves suggesting intense anger." Mr Smith said.

"No, Mister Smith. I don't think so."

"Oh. How curious. Your beta brainwave activity is now normal."

"Sarah Jane. Shirai. How do I look?" Sky asked.

"Oh, you look marvellous!"

"You look wonderful, Sky." Shirai said, smiling.

"Sky, I'm so proud of you." Sarah Jane said, looking at Sky.

"Why? Because I put the school uniform on right?" Sky asked.

"No, no. Because you're on your way to school, and you've barely been on Earth a month. And I know this must all seem so strange to you, but you're very brave, Sky." Sarah Jane said.

"Why do I have to be brave at school? Will people try and hurt me there?" Sky asked.

"No, no. No, no one's going to try to hurt you, but, well, it will seem strange, and you're going to be mixing with lots of new people."

"I know. It's going to be so exciting." Sky said, happily.

"You see, that's what I mean. Oh, you're going to be brilliant."

"Will you be lonely without me today?"

"No. I won't. Well, actually, I was thinking I might pay another visit to the museum. Shirai, do you want to come?"

"Okay. I don't mind it. But I thought you said the totem pole wasn't an alien." Shirai said.

"No, no, it isn't. But this is a professional interest. Mister Smith, has anyone run a story on the mythological connection between the shower of fish and the totem pole?" Sarah Jane asked.

"It appears not, Sarah Jane." Mr Smith said.

"Perfect. So, while I'm getting my scoop with Shirai, you'll be making new friends at school, Sky. And don't worry, Rani will always be close by if you need her." Sarah Jane said.

"Clyde will also be there for Sky." Shirai said, looking at Sarah Jane.

"Sky, you keep away from him! Shirai, you help keep Sky away from him! Sky has your number." Sarah Jane said, looking between Sky and Shirai.

"Why?" Sky asked.

"Just do as I say. Sky, keep away from him. Don't go anywhere near him. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Sarah Jane."

"I don't ever want to hear his name again."

"Excuse me, but has Clyde upset you?" Mr Smith asked.

"Why are you mad at Sky?" Shirai asked. "He hasn't done anything wrong to you, Sarah Jane."

"And that goes for you two, too. In fact, Mister Smith, I want you to put your sensors on a permanent scan for him. And Shirai, do your duty as a Judgment Officer. Protect Sky from him at all costs. If he ever sets foot in Bannerman Road again, I want you both to deal with him." Sarah Jane said, looking between Shirai and Mister Smith.

"Understood, Sarah Jane." Mr Smith said.

"If that's what you want. I have to put Judgment duties first." Shirai said, sadly.

"Sky, come on. School." Sarah Jane said, leaving the attic with Sky and Shirai. "And then the museum, Shirai."

Park…

Clyde is on the phone, "Luke? It's Clyde. Look, I'm getting freaked out here. Something's. Luke? No, no, listen to me. I'm your friend. Please. There's something. It's got to you, too. Luke!"

"Well, there goes Luke." Mikoto said, grabbing Jared's hand.

"Jared, Mikoto, Luke hung up on me." Clyde said, while the call ends. "This is not happening. This is not happening."

"How much trouble are we talking about here?" Mikoto asked, as she squeezed Jared's hand.

"With Clyde's school friends?" Jared asked, looking at Mikoto. "A lot."

"Oh. So I should shock them then."

"No Railgun, Mikoto."

"Okay. Enough to knock them out or exhausted?"

"Yes."

"Alright. I can do that."

"Good."

"No worries. Look, I tell you what, I'll put in a good word for you. I'll say, listen, Cheryl, I got a friend, mate of mine. Clyde Langer." Steve said, while the name flares across his eyeball. "He used to be all right."

"Steve?" Clyde asked.

"Now he's in sixth form, he thinks he's better than all his mates."

"No, no, you've got it all wrong. You said my name. They all said my name. Steve, look, listen to me, okay? This is going to sound crazy, but it's like there's something wrong with my name. It's like it's cursed."

"We'll fix that!"

"No, Steve. You don't want to do this, okay? This isn't you. Just listen to me." Clyde said.

Steve pushes Clyde down and stamps on his mobile phone.

"And that's what I'll do to you." Steve said, looking at Clyde.

"Clyde. Run. I've got this." Mikoto said, as electrical shocks came out of her body.

Clyde runs.

"Get him! Stop him! He's getting away." Steve said.

Underpass…

Clyde hides behind some wheelie bins.

"Where did he go? Got to go somewhere. Look, come on!" Steve said, angrily.

The gang run on and they pass out after Mikoto shocks them all.

"They're gone." Mikoto said, crouching down next to Clyde.

"Thank me for asking her to come." Jared said, crouching down next to Mikoto and Clyde.

"You saved me, Mikoto, Jared." Clyde said, and his splinter wound is red and nasty, and he has a vision of the Totem. "What should we do?"

Museum…

Clyde stares up at the Totem, "Now what? Oh, excuse me. Hi, Doctor Madigan?"

"Hello. Weren't you here with your friends yesterday?" Samantha asked, looking at Clyde.

Jared spotted Shirai nearby and motioned her to teleport to him and Mikoto.

"How are things with Sarah?" Jared asked.

"She's still against Clyde." Shirai said, sadly.

"How cursed is his name anyway?" Mikoto asked, looking at Jared.

"Right now? Very."

"I'll stay in contact with you two." Shirai said, teleporting away from Jared and Mikoto. "We can't let this go on forever."

"I'm sorry?" Samantha asked, looking at Clyde.

Sarah enters the exhibition and Shirai reappears to be next to her.

"We're going to have to go." Clyde said.

"I'd advise you to keep your distance from him." Sarah said.

"Sarah Jane, please, listen to me. This is some sort of curse." Clyde said.

"You're serious. You think you've been cursed?" Samantha asked.

"Don't waste your time. He's a trouble-maker." Sarah Jane said, looking at Clyde.

"He's clearly distressed."

"All day, every one of my friends in London has been turning against me except Jared and the girls from Academy City. I think it's something to do with my name." Clyde said, as Mikoto squeezed Jared's hand.

"Oh, don't waste your time." Sarah said.

"Your name? It's Clyde, isn't it?" Samantha asked, looking at Clyde.

"No, don't!" Clyde said, worried.

"Clyde Langer."

"It's not just the people that know me, it's everybody! And Jared, you and the girls from Academy City are immune! How?!" Clyde exclaimed, looking between Jared and Mikoto.

"Spoilers." Jared said, walking away with Mikoto. "We'd better leave. Before security comes."

"What did I tell you?" Sarah asked.

"Is there a problem, Doctor?" The security guard asked, looking at Samantha.

Jared has left the building with Mikoto as Shirai is still standing near Sarah Jane. Shirai is worried about Clyde.

"Get him out of here." Samantha said, looking at Clyde.

"Let's have you, pal." The security guard said, picking up Clyde.

"No! It's the totem pole!" Clyde said, worried.

"Oi! That's enough! Get him, lads!"

Three guards drag Clyde away.

"Sarah Jane! Please remember me! I'm your friend!" Clyde said, while Sarah makes a phone call.

"Police? I want to make a complaint. I'm being harassed." Sarah said.

The beggar girl and Shirai watch Clyde leave.

Langer home…

"Mum? Mum? Mum." Clyde said, as his mother is sitting at the table with Saten and Uiharu along with a pile of letters in front of her.

The top letter is addressed to Clyde.

"Where've you been?" Carla asked.

"Just out. Why?" Clyde asked.

"Your friends are here. Uiharu and Saten. You're always lying about where you've been, what you've been doing."

"No, Mum."

"We have to help him." Uiharu said, looking at Clyde.

"Jared said not to." Saten said, placing her hand on top of Uiharu's. "What can we do in a situation like this?"

"We can't stay here and watch."

"But this isn't real. I haven't done anything." Clyde said.

"I don't want you here. I don't want to look at you, I don't want to hear you. I feel like I've had my soul torn out of me." Carla said.

"I didn't do this. It's not my fault. Tell me what it is I've done! Tell me what I've done. You can't, can you, mum? You can't because it's all a trick. You've all been tricked. You, Sarah Jane, Rani. Everybody. My family and friends in London. Except Jared and his friends from Academy City."

"Yeah, I was tricked, all right. Life tricked me the day you were born. I've had enough now. And I want you out of here. Out of my life!" Carla said, angrily.

"No! You don't mean that! Mum, I love you. Please, don't do this." Clyde said.

Knocking on the door.

"Police, open up." A policeman said, outside.

"Don't answer it." Clyde said.

"And you wonder why I want you out of my life?" Carla asked.

"I haven't done anything. It's the curse! It's taking everything over!" Clyde said, worried.

"He's through there." Carla said. nearby.

Clyde runs out of the back door and ends up at Bannerman Road.

Bannerman Road…

Uiharu and Saten are outside of Clyde's house looking at him.

"Go." Saten said, looking at Clyde.

Uiharu is looking down at her phone to see a message from Mikoto and Jared to see that they're with a girl called Ellie.

"We'll keep your mother safe until the curse is broken." Uiharu said, smiling. "Mikoto and Jared are nearby and will help keep you safe. They're with a friend."

"Thank you." Clyde said, running away from his home.

ATM machine…

Clyde puts in his card and enters his pin. The screen fills with his name. He runs.

Alleyway…

It starts to rain hard. Clyde hammers on a fire exit then sits down on the step. The beggar girl finds him and she is with Jared and Mikoto.

"We found you." Mikoto said, looking down at Clyde. "Are you okay?"

"No." Clyde said, sadly.

"Come with us." Ellie said.

Under a bridge…

Clyde wakes up next morning.

"Hiya. Sleep all right? You'll get used to it. At least it's dry. What was he thinking, kipping out in the rain?" Ellie asked.

"Well, you staying out there. Do you want to get sick?" Mikoto asked, her hand on her hip.

"Like things can get any worse." Clyde said.

"Only if you want to catch pneumonia." Jared said, laughing a little.

"No, look, I'm sorry. This is all sort of new to me. But thank you three for bringing me here." Clyde said. "Mikoto, how were you able to find me?"

"It was my ability." Mikoto said, as Ellie gives Clyde a dry jacket. "All I'm getting from that thing is a headache."

"Same here." Jared said, rubbing his head. "This mental manipulation is strong towards others. But Misaka and I can resist it."

"Hey. I saw you and Jared the other day, you know. Jared gave me a hundred quid." Ellie said, looking at Clyde.

"Oh, outside the museum? I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you." Clyde said, sadly.

"Course not. People don't look. They're scared they might catch something."

"No. It's not that."

"Shirai, Mikoto, Jared, I saw them chuck you out. What did you do, unravel a bit of a mummy to blow your nose?"

"That's not the only place I got thrown out."

"Look, if you've had a row with your folks, go home. With any luck, you'll be nice and warm in bed tonight. Spare us a thought." Ellie said.

"Yeah, but I've got no-one. My mum, my friends in London, they're history. You, Jared, and his friends from Academy City are the first people that haven't turned on me." Clyde said.

"I'm Ellie Faber. You obviously know Jared and Mikoto. What about you?" Ellie asked.

"Pizza." Jared said, as Mikoto handed Clyde the offered mug of hot drink. "That should help you."

"Thank you, Jared." Clyde said, taking the offered mug of hot drink and sees a pizza box nearby. "My name is Enrico. Enrico Box."

"Okay." Ellie said, smiling.

Attic…

Clyde's name burns every time Sarah sees it. She is putting his stuff into a bin liner.

"What are you doing?" Shirai asked, entering the attic with Sky.

"Having a clear-out. There's too much clutter in this attic." Sarah said.

"But they belong to Clyde. You can't throw them out." Shirai said.

"Yeah, well, he should've taken them with him. Too late now."

"I don't understand. And neither does Shirai. What did he do to upset you so much?" Sky asked, grabbing Shirai's hand.

"Listen to me, Sky, and remember. I don't want to hear his name again, and I don't want you to have anything to do with him. Is that clear?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah."

"Good."

In the museum, the security man sees lightning play over the Totem pole, and runs.

Under a bridge…

"So, Ellie, how long have you been living like this?" Clyde asked.

"Ellie has been homeless for two years." Jared said, frowning. "It's sad. Really."

"It is. Time doesn't mean much if you're on the run or homeless." Mikoto said. "I was pretty much alone during the Daihasei Festival."

"And I was alone after I lost the Ponds forever. And, well, Team RWBY, for a while. Ellie, why not tell Enrico how you became homeless?" Jared asked, grabbing Mikoto's hand.

"My dad died, and my mum married again. Let's just say it didn't work out for me, okay?" Ellie asked.

"I'm sorry." Clyde said, sadly.

"Doesn't matter. You grow up fast out here. There's a load of stuff that happens and…"

"What sort of stuff?"

"It's like everywhere else. There's good people, and there's bad. And there's the Night Dragon."

"What's that?"

"Sometimes people disappear. I mean, how bad is that? We've already vanished once."

"Maybe they find somewhere to go?" Clyde asked.

"And don't tell anybody they're going? They're just gone. And then the next morning people say the Night Dragon took them. And they never come back." Ellie said.

School cafeteria…

"School chips. Best chips in the world." Rani said.

"The menu said there was toad in the hole. Mister Smith said there are five hundred species of toad. When I asked which one we were having, the dinner lady didn't seem very pleased." Sky said.

"So Mister Smith gave you a basic grounding for starting school by telling you about toads, and nothing about school dinners? Sounds just like him."

"I think he's still nervous of me. He doesn't like me too close, just in case I blow his circuits."

"He'll get used to you. You're one of the gang now."

"Like Clyde?" Sky asked.

"Don't say that!" Rani said, angrily.

"He was your friend, and Sarah Jane's. She says everything has a reason, but no one can give me a reason why you all turned on Clyde. The only people that haven't turned on him are Jared, Mikoto, Shirai, Saten, and Uiharu."

"I don't feel well."

Museum…

"Sarah Jane, I looked you up on the internet after you came to interview me. Miss Smith, you have a reputation as a journalist for investigating strange phenomena, and I also looked you up, Miss Kuroko, it said that as a Judgment Officer, you are trained in basic emergency situation responses, so I thought maybe you two had come across something like this before." Samantha said, looking between Shirai and Sarah.

"What happened?" Shirai asked.

"According to our security guard, lightning burst out of the Totem pole." Samantha said.

"That's impossible. Lightning can't burst out of a totem pole. Only electricity can come out of sissy."

"Of course, electricity is known to come out of Railgun, but I'm almost thinking there's truth in the legend after all." Samantha said.

Sarah gives the totem pole a quick scan with her wrist watch, "But it was dead."

"The myth says the medicine men of the Great Plains trapped the god Hetocumtek in the Totem pole, but warns that Hetocumtek would find a way to escape if ever the Totem pole fell back into the hands of men."

"That's why it was hidden deep in a cave in Death Valley." Sarah said.

"Well, it's only a legend." Samantha said, answering her mobile phone.

"That's not good." Shirai said, as she sees eyes of the image at the top of Totem flare when Samantha turns away. "Now I can see why Jared wanted me with Sarah Jane."

"Doctor Madigan, I think it might be best if you close the exhibition for a while. Just as a precaution." Sarah said, looking at Samantha.

"Yes, of course." Samantha said.

By the park…

"You got any spare change, mate?" Ellie asked, asking for money from someone on the street.

"So you do this every day? Even in the rain?" Clyde asked.

"Well, you're hungry, I'm hungry. It's either this or going through the bins. Yeah, I've done that too."

"Have you got any spare change, mate?"

"Not like that. You sound like you're flogging china down the market. Too cocky."

"It's not cocky, it's charisma."

"Since when did a homeless person have charisma?" Jared asked, grabbing Mikoto's hand.

"This is how it goes, isn't it? Everything you ever were, everything you ever wanted to be, it just gets worn away till there's nothing left." Clyde said.

"Compared to homeless people. The people that make a living were always fighters." Mikoto said, as Jared squeezed her hand. "We knew how to survive in this cruel world."

"And I'm one of them, Mikoto. Ellie, you wouldn't believe some of the things we've done. Creatures we've seen." Clyde said.

"Creatures? Are you into wildlife, then?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah, it was a wild life." Clyde said.

"Come on. I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat." Jared said, walking away with Mikoto as Clyde and Ellie follow them. "I know this nice place nearby."

Attic…

"Sarah Jane, are you okay?" Shirai asked.

"Yeah. Something about that totem pole. It's alive, Mister Smith, Shirai, I saw it. Just for a moment. I know I did. There's something terrible." Sarah said.

"It must have been dormant on your first visit to the museum. However, there are now energies building around the totem pole." Mr Smith said.

"But why? That's what worries me."

Soup kitchen…

"Well, that's Max. He used to be a boxer. But then he got old and has been on the street for years." Jared said, pointing towards an old man.

"That woman in the duffel coat. Polish, came over to get married. Got dumped. Can't get home." Ellie said, pointing towards a woman. "And that's Polly the Porsche. She used to work in the City. Always telling everyone what she used to drive. Now she pushes everything she's got around in an old trolley."

"No way." Clyde said, his eyes widening.

"All of them, ignoring us on the street. They wouldn't believe how easy it could be. One day it just all falls apart, and you're here. Steven's Point. Getting hand-outs." Ellie said.

"Hey, Mags. How are the tea leaves today?" Mikoto asked, walking up to Mags.

"Hello, love." Clyde said, happily.

"This is Mystic Mags. This is our friend, Rico. If you want to know the numbers for the lottery, she's your girl." Ellie said.

"Mock, but there's strange things in the air." Mags said.

"Yeah. Like fish falling out of the sky." Jared said, squeezing Mikoto's hand.

"Something bad's coming!"

"Like the Night Dragon?" Mikoto asked.

"Huh! The Dragon's coming. I can see it in the leaves. It's always in the leaves, before one of us is taken. But this isn't no dragon. It's something else. And it's put its mark on you." Mags said, looking at Clyde.

"What?" Clyde asked.

"There's a curse on you, and everyone who knows you."

"Shut up, Mags." Mikoto said, an electrical shock coming out of her.

"She's right. She's right, I'm cursed." Clyde said, sadly.

"What are you talking about?" Ellie asked.

"Look, I'm only ever going to get you into trouble, Ellie, Mikoto, Jared. Thanks for trying to help me, but you three can't. No one can." Clyde said, walking away from Ellie, Mikoto, and Jared.

"Hey, wait!"

Outside St Stephens…

"Rico! Rico, wait!" Ellie said, worried.

"My name's not Rico." Clyde said.

"What, your name's not really Enrico Box? Who'd have guessed. It doesn't matter."

"I can't tell you my name. She was right."

"What, you're cursed? Look at me. Welcome to the club!" Ellie said, annoyed.

"Seriously?" Mikoto asked, while Clyde pulls Ellie out of the way of a pair of skateboarders. "The hell were they doing?"

"I don't know." Jared said, as he is standing behind Ellie and Clyde with Mikoto. "Ellie almost got run over."

"Losers!" Some boys said nearby.

"Watch it!" Clyde said, angrily.

"See? You can't be cursed. You're my lucky charm." Ellie said, happily.

Car…

"Rani, are you alright?" Uiharu asked, looking at Rani.

"No, I'm fine." Rani said, sadly.

"You've not said a word since we left the shops with Uiharu and Saten. Saten also said she had to go somewhere. Come on, what's wrong? Rani, love, what is it?" Haresh asked.

"I don't know. It's like something's wrong. It feels like I've lost something really special, only I don't know what it is."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"I know it doesn't. And it's driving me mad. But I can't shake it. It's like nothing's right any more. My whole life, Dad, Uiharu, it's like. It's like it's not me any more." Rani said, crying on Haresh's shoulder as Uiharu grabbed her hand.

Langer home…

"So, Sky, how are you settling in with Sarah Jane? Have you met Luke yet? He's such a lovely boy. He was such big friends with…" Carla said, bursting into tears.

"Mrs Langer? Are you okay?" Saten asked.

"This keeps happening to me. Something comes into my head, and, I don't know what. It's like, a part of my world has gone and I don't know what it is." Carla said.

"Is it Clyde?"

"Don't use that name in my house."

"Why? I don't understand. Everybody's turned against him, but nobody can tell me why. The only people that haven't turned against him are Jared, Mikoto, Shirai, Saten, and Uiharu." Sky said, while Saten grabs her hand.

"Just be glad he's gone." Carla said.

"But Clyde's your son. Don't you love him?" Sky asked.

"I told you, don't say that name."

"It's just a name, Mrs Langer. Clyde is your son's name."

"It hurts! Stop saying it!"

Sky sees Clyde's name burn on an envelope, "That's it. It's his name. His name's doing all this. Jared knew about this and he's trying to help Clyde. He asked for help because he knew he can't help Clyde alone. It's going to be all right, Mrs Langer. Somehow, I promise."

In the museum, the Totem's eyes are swivelling and the mouth is moving, growling.

Railway arches…

"I've never seen so much thunder and lightning. It's like flippin' Transylvania. Just wetter." Ellie said, annoyed.

"Why didn't we go back to Camp Cardboard?" Clyde asked.

"That's because the streets make people superstitious." Mikoto said.

"And plus, Mystic Mags will have told everyone you're cursed. Well? Whatcha got?" Jared asked, squeezing Mikoto's hand.

"Well, what we need here is paper." Clyde said, getting his comic strip out of his rucksack, puts it under the small pile of wood and lights it. "Ellie, where were you the day of the storm? You know the one I mean. No one's ever going to forget that day. I was at school."

"I was on the street, and then this fish drops between my feet. Splat! It was totally random." Ellie said, happily.

"Well, at least you had something to eat." Jared said, smiling.

"Yeah, like I know what to do with a fish. It might as well have rained bricks. Someone said it was a weird weather thing."

"Yeah, I heard that, too. So, what if the fish was some sort of sign that something bad was coming, like Mystic Mags said?" Clyde asked.

"For the homeless, is there anything worse than the Night Dragon?" Mikoto asked.

"Yeah, really bad." Clyde said, looking at Mikoto. "Come on, you and Jared were there, Mikoto. You should know what it is."

"I've been through really bad stuff in my life. Maybe it doesn't matter now." Ellie said, sadly.

"I don't understand." Clyde said, frowning.

"For two years, I've been telling myself I'll get off the street. I'll get on some sort of scheme. Get a job, get a flat. Get my life back. Meet a nice boy. That was my dream. Now it's starting to come true."

Shirai appeared and teleported away with Jared and Mikoto from Clyde and Ellie, after she got a phone call from the fanboy.

(Jared's POV)

Attic…

Shirai teleported me and Mikoto into the attic as Uiharu and Saten entered the attic. All the eyes and mouths on the Totem are moving.

"How much longer until this adventure is over?" Saten asked.

"It shouldn't be much longer." Uiharu said, sadly.

"Honestly, this is taking much longer than it needs to." Shirai said, her hand on her hip.

"What's going on?" Mikoto asked.

"Something really weird." Rani said.

"The only thing I can think is it's something to do with the totem pole. There's an energy in it. It's been dormant but it's getting stronger all the time." Sarah said.

"Getting stronger? Since when?" I asked, grabbing Mikoto's hand.

"Oh, some time after we all went to the museum."

"Since Clyde touched the totem pole? Since he got the splinter?" Uiharu asked.

"Don't say that name!" Sarah said, angrily.

"Mister Smith, I need you!" I said, running up to the fireplace.

"Oh, what are you doing?"

"I've been waiting for this to be over. And it's the only way for you to listen to us. Sky, he's all yours."

"Thank you for your help, Jared. Mister Smith, when Clyde got the splinter from the totem pole, could that have activated it's energy?" Sky asked.

"Stop saying that!" Rani said, angrily.

"It is conceivable." Mr Smith said.

"None of this makes sense, Sky." Sarah said, looking at Sky.

"You turning your back on Clyde doesn't make sense. Even his mum's thrown him out. She feels the same as you and Rani, like something's been torn from her life, and she can't remember what it is." Sky said.

"Well, it isn't him. I hate him!" Rani said, angrily.

"Why, Rani? Think about it. You both love Clyde. You'd never turn your backs on him. The only way this could happen is some alien messing with your heads. Like how Jared said that something similar happened when Shokuhou Misaki messed with the heads of Shirai, Saten, and Uiharu through the use of Mental Out. That caused Mikoto to feel isolated. And it's happening again with Clyde. Clyde needs us." Sky said.

"Stop saying that name, please!" Sarah said, angrily.

"Sarah Jane, your reaction to his name suggests that Sky is correct. You have been subjected to a psychophonic programming, possibly designed to keep Clyde isolated. Mikoto Misaka and Jared Shay are immune to it." Mr Smith said.

"Well, I gave Shirai Kuroko, Saten Ruiko, and Uiharu Kazari pendants to make them immune to the psychophonic programming." I said, squeezing Mikoto's hand.

"Jared, you also let me tap into the phone call he was having with the girls from Academy City."

"Well, say that's true. Especially with the bits about Jared. Why?" Rani asked.

"Because Hetocumtek needs Clyde. What if it's found a way to escape? The longer Clyde's out there, the more powerful it's getting." Sky said.

"The legend said that if the totem pole fell back into the hands of men, then Hetocumtek would escape." Shirai said.

"Hands of men! Clyde got a splinter! It's a curse and you've got to break it!" Sky said, worried.

"That name. Just the sound of it, it's agony." Sarah said.

"What if Clyde's name's the key?" Saten asked.

"That's because it is, Saten. His name's the key. His mum couldn't say it. Maybe if you can, it will break the curse." Sky said.

But just the effort is painful.

"Oh, it's no good." Sarah said.

"You've got to! We've got to find Clyde. It's the only way of stopping Hetocumtek escaping." Sky said.

"We can do this, Rani."

"It's just a name. We can say it, right? Okay." Rani said, walking up to Sarah to hug her.

"Say it, say it. Come on. Clyde Langer. Clyde Langer." Sky said, looking at Sarah and Rani.

"Clyde. Clyde." Sarah said.

"Clyde." Rani said.

"Clyde!"

"Clyde."

"Clyde Langer."

Sarah and Rani break through the pain barrier.

"Clyde, Clyde Langer." Rani said.

"Clyde Langer." Sarah said.

"Clyde Langer! Clyde Langer! Oh! Clyde Langer!" Sarah and Rani said, at the same time.

"Thank goodness. Now we have to get Clyde back! Let's go!" I said, excitedly.

Street…

Clyde shows Ellie a sketch of herself, "Look. What do you think?"

"That's brilliant." Ellie said.

"You know, I was thinking I could do this, like a street artist. We could go up to Covent Garden or somewhere and people will pay to have their portraits drawn." Clyde said, happily.

"On the back of old paper bags?"

"No, I'll get a drawing pad. I've already got the pencils. I'm telling you, Ellie, we can do this. We can get off the streets together."

Ellie kisses Clyde, "Stay here. I'm going to go and get us a coffee to share. I feel like celebrating."

"Okay." Clyde said, happily.

"Clyde!" Sarah and I said, at the same time.

"Sarah Jane. Jared. Mikoto. Shirai. Saten. Uiharu. Rani?" Clyde asked.

"Clyde!" Rani said, worried.

Rani, Sky and Sarah get out of Sarah's car, while I appear in a flash of blue light with Mikoto as Shirai teleports in with Saten and Uiharu and we all run to Clyde.

"I'm so sorry. What have I done?" Sarah asked.

"Act like an idiot, Sarah." I said, grabbing Mikoto's hand. "That's what."

"Sarah Jane wasn't thinking things through, was she?" Uiharu asked.

"Anyway, we've been looking for you all night." Shirai said, her hand on her hip.

"Yeah. You have to thank Sky, Jared, Mikoto Shirai, Saten, and Uiharu. The curse didn't affect them. They fought so hard for you." Rani said, looking at Clyde.

"Thank you, Sparky, Jared, Railgun, Shirai, Saten, and Uiharu." Clyde said, looking at Sky, Mikoto, Shirai, Saten, Uiharu, and I.

"Something alien is trapped in the totem pole, and somehow it's using you to get free." Saten said.

"And if it does, we are in trouble." Rani said.

"We need you back at the attic." Sarah said.

"I've got to wait for someone. My friend." Clyde said, sadly.

"Clyde, there isn't any time to wait for Ellie. We have to go!" I said, looking at Clyde.

"But I can't leave her. You don't understand."

"We have to go, Clyde. We have to go. Please!" Sarah said, terrified.

"Ellie? Ellie!" Clyde said, worried.

"Clyde, listen to me. That thing could break free at any moment."

"I'm coming back."

Attic…

"Clyde. Welcome back." Mr Smith said.

"Shirai, get the totem pole!" I said, looking at Shirai. "Just do it!"

"Okay. I'm bringing it now." Shirai said, teleporting away and reappearing with the totem pole. "It's here."

The Totem appears, growling. Lightning flashes around the room.

"The psychophonic curse must be reversed." Mr Smith said.

"Clyde, now do as Jared, Sarah Jane, and I told you. Do it now." Mikoto said.

"It's fighting back!" Saten said, while a branch crashes through the skylight.

"What's happening?" Uiharu asked.

"Clyde, you're the only one that can stop all this." Mikoto said.

"You tried to ruin my life. To take away everything and everyone that was most important to me. But I'm a survivor and you failed, you big plank. My name's Clyde Langer." Clyde said, embracing the Totem. "My name is Clyde Langer! My name is Clyde Langer!" The Totem dissolves into a pile of ash, and the storm stops. "Team Sarah Jane? Team Railgun?"

"I am a part of both teams." I said, happily.

I went into a group hug with Team Sarah Jane and Team Railgun.

(Open POV)

Outside the Langer home…

"Mum?" Clyde asked.

"I love you, Clyde." Carla said, hugging Clyde.

Railway arches…

"She's not here." Clyde said.

"London's a big city, Clyde. Ellie could be anywhere." Jared said, grabbing Mikoto's hand. "It's not as easy as finding Railgun, Last Order, or Index."

"I've got to find her. Come on, let's try Steven's Point."

Soup kitchen…

Clyde holds up his sketch, "Her name's Ellie. Sixteen or seventeen, with a green coat. Have you seen this girl?"

Tunnel…

"Have you seen Ellie?" Clyde asked.

"No, sorry, mate." A man said.

"Have you seen this girl?"

"Nah." Man 2 said.

"She was one of the only friends I had next to Jared and the girls from Academy City when you all turned on me. And now she thinks I abandoned her like everyone else, but I haven't. I won't, not ever. I will find her." Clyde said, looking at Sarah.

"I know, Clyde. I just can't believe, after all the things we've seen, the most alien world of all is right here. And no-one knows. Because they don't want to." Sarah said, frowning.

Street…

"Mate, have you seen this girl?" Clyde asked.

"No, mate." Man 3 said.

"All right. Thanks anyway." Clyde said, giving the beggar some coins. "We can find her, can't we? I mean, we've got Mister Smith. We find aliens. We help them get home, right across the universe. We can help Ellie, can't we? We can find her."

"Clyde. Look." Saten said, spotting a poster for a jazz quartet. "Ellie Faber. That was the name she used while homeless, right?"

"It wasn't her name. She just took it off an old poster." Clyde said.

"Yeah." Jared said, as a Night Dragon haulage truck drives past. "And the Night Dragon took her. It took Ellie."

"He's right. Comes by every so often. The drivers will sometimes give you a lift. Glasgow, Dublin, France, Germany. They go all over the place. It's another chance. That's why people go." Max said.

"She's gone." Clyde said.

"She meant a lot to you, didn't she?" Rani asked.

"Come on. Let's go home." Sarah said.