Chapter Text
Prologue
The SUV traveled down the busy street speeding up to make it through the intersection before the traffic lights turned red. "Kids we are almost to the gas station do you have to go potty?" Rachel Scott asked to her preteen kids in the backseats. Nicolas whined and reminded his Mom he was too old for her to still calling it the potty. "What have I said about whining Nic? If you have to go then go! We're making good time and I'm not buying snacks we're already well stocked."
Nicolas apologized to his Father and agreed with sister that they didn't need to relieve themselves. It had rained an hour prior to them arriving at their stop. Julia was practicing her sketching skills and humming along to the radio. "It's your turn to pay George! I already covered the toll booth and don't forget to tip fifteen percent." He smiled and kissed his wife on the beak. Rachel checked her social media accounts and made sure the hotel was selected in the GPS.
Nicolas was finally beating his cousin's high score on his handheld console. He chuckled when he imagined the look on his smug face when he saw his bragging rights have been stripped away by an 11 year old. George tried to make small talk with the attendant after purchasing the gasoline and premium car wash package. But the attendant became a stone wall even after he used his favorite Dad joke, despite being shunned George smiled and went on his way. Muttering at about two decibels that the guy was a jerk for not reciprocating his courtesy. He reminded his hyperactive children not to shake the car when he was filling up and pulled up to the first available pump. Another storm cloud was on the horizon and he cursed under his breath at his luck.
He shook off the pump and returned it back into it's rightful place. He pulled into line for the drive through car wash, and shook his head at the moron exiting their vehicle in front of them to go inside and pay. "I'm reserving dinner for four at the steakhouse it's got a kids area so us grown-ups can dine in peace and know our kids are in good hands." This brought a wave of relief and excitement over the family as they pulled into the car wash. A loud CLANG broke the moment of peace and George raised an eyebrow, trying to look at his tires from the driver seat to see if he ran over something loud and metallic. The robotic arms sprayed mist all over the windows obstructing all of the views. Unbeknownst to the Scott family magnets had trapped their car in place and two screens descended in the threshold of the entrance and exit with a projector making it seem as if nothing was wrong.
The worst part came when the car began descending down a hidden elevator causing them to panic. When it finally finished it's journey downwards nozzles attached to the concrete walls sprayed knockout gas into the air vents slowly filling up the car. The parents told their kids to cover their mouths as they did the same. But it was pointless as they began to drift off into a forced slumber. The car began retreating backwards through a tunnel then shifted to the left of the room and an exact duplicate of their car took it's place. With convincing hologram projections of the family in all four car seats. The car then ascended back into the car wash and the mechanisms retreated back into hiding and the fake car exited back onto the busy road.
Down beneath the gas station four mobians in uniform approached the car and opened the doors after overriding the locking mechanisms. They carried the family of crows down a winding hallway and into separate rooms reserved for each of them. The rooms had padded walls and no windows and was made to look like a dormroom with a queen sized bed. A large television was mounted on the wall above the door. "Well done gentleman, these new recruits will make a fine addition to our movement. Now return to your bases and stand by for further orders."
The gas station attendant put his phone back in his pocket after letting his men know they had done an exceptional job and returned to his duties smiling gently as he helped another customer purchase gasoline.