Start--Communications
Last night had been a blast. But now he was exhausted. Teddy had ridden the public transportation system getting home, almost falling asleep before he got out to start walking the last leg of his journey home.
“Kay, guys, I’m almost home,” he assured his team through the communicator in his ear. “The rest of you are good?” He couldn’t help but smirk to the varied replies, said one last farewell and good year to them before clicking the com off.
Next it was his phone, texting Billy.
-You’re coming over still, right? -I might have to nap a little. -But I bounce back pretty quick! -Promise!
He smiled at the reply, text back, then tucked his phone into his backpack and walked up to the front door of his house.
He was actually surprised to see his mom awake and moving around. She appeared in the living room as he dropped the backpack, fully dressed with her hands behind her back. She watched him while he was peeling off his coat, hat and gloves. “Hey, Mom! Happy New Year!” It didn’t matter that he had called her last night to tell her so shortly after midnight.
Yes, Teddy was still in a great mood from last night, despite being tired. Good friends, good family, and a cool mom to let him have it all. He went to immediately hug her, but her eyes widened some. “Oh, wait!” Teddy stopped, blinking down at the petite woman. She immediately smiled. “I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
“Mom,” he complained, though still smiling.
She continued smiling. So he relented, closing his eyes and holding his hands out. “All right. I’ll bite. What’s-.”
There was a struggling and thumping from the other room. The teen’s eyes flew open immediately, leaning a little to look over her shoulder. Then cold metal snapped over his wrists. It immediately squeezed and expanded till only his fingers showed, the two cuffs locking together. He looked down at the weird contraption, startled. It had a glowing red, blinking light and two windows with green liquid bubbling in them. There was a sudden sharp pinch.
“Ow! What-?” He turned his confused gaze to the petite woman. She was grinning, not at all her typical, kind smile. She held up a small remote with a button, stepping back with an amused sound.
“Stupid,” she announced. Then pressed the button.
The electric shock knocked him senseless to the floor. The communicator was knocked offline. The phone dinged, unanswered.