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- alien invasion! run! (14/02/21, Hong Kong) -
Hermann sits on the sofa next to Lala, leaning forward a little to keep from squashing his wings.
„Cartoons or Mighty Squad?“ calls Deedee from beside the television.
„Mighty Squad's less boring,“ says Lala.
„That alright, Manny?“
Hermann grins and nods.
Deedee sets the channel, skips over to them, plops down on Hermann's other side.
The opening theme plays, full of action and excitement.
Hermann's wings flutter in anticipation.
The Squad's giant robot chases a spiky spaceship through the stars, firing its lasers.
Sparks flying from the enemy ship and starts smoking and wobbling toward a planet.
„„Direct hit!““ yells Pink.
Deedee cheers.
Hermann claps.
The ship crash-lands, the robot right behind it.
The Squad jump to the ground.
A rubbery blob-creature oozes out of the spaceship.
„„You!““ hisses Blue.
„„Indeed! It is I, Toxigoon,““ sneers the creature, „„and you will pay for destroying my beautiful ship!““
„„Your ship?! You tried to poison the ocean!““
Toxigoon scoffs. „„That was merely business.““
„„Why you—!““ Yellow flying kicks Toxigoon in the face.
The creature slides back, paddle-like arms flailing.
„„You dare strike me?““
„„Give up, monster!““ shouts Red.
Hermann wrinkles his forehead.
„„You'll never defeat me!““ Toxigoon laughs and waves an arm. „„Toadies! To me!““
A tidal wave of small blobs bounce out of the ship toward the Squad.
The action freezes and an advertisement plays.
Hermann tugs Deedee's sleeve. „What's a monster?“
Deedee—
„They're like Toxigoon,“ blurts Lala. „Big, ugly, evil, not-human things.“
Hermann's wings droop.
—hisses at Lala, pokes her shoulder.
Lala rubs her arm, glowers at Deedee. „It's true!“
„B-but Father—“
Lala's eyes get huge and she blinks a lot. „Oh.“
„Manny, does Father call you a monster?“ asks Deedee softly.
Hermann nods miserably, tears stinging his eyes.
Deedee runs a hand through his hair. „Lala, please turn off the TV.“
She slides off the couch, does, and slinks back.
„Father ....“ Deedee takes a deep breath. „Father is doing a bad thing when he uses that word toward you.“
„But Father doesn't lie,“ whimpers Hermann.
„He doesn't lie, but he can be wrong and he's very wrong about that word and you.“
Hermann wipes his eyes.
„You're human and you have wings.“
Hermann sniffles.
„C'mere.“ Deedee squishes Hermann to his chest.
Hermann squeaks.
„Sorry about that.“ Deedee loosens his grip, unpinching Hermann's wings. „And Father's wrong, alright?“
Hermann nods against his neck.