I had something else in mind, then I looked at which prompt this is and decided it wasn't special enough. Some say numbers have special meanings, or personalities, or offer omens of either blessings or bad fortune. Interpret it as you wish, but I thought I'd honor this monumental accomplishment of an online forum sticking with something for this many weeks with the prompt: 300! Have at it.

Congrats to us all for reaching this number and here's to many more fics! 300 greetings from Cyprus and hopefully inspiration will visit me soon so I can contribute!

Wow 300! Trying to think of something for it.

This took a little longer than I expected -- apparently my desktop's decided that the version of Microsoft Word is now too old and not worthy of its time. Anyway, here's another prequel to "It's Relative", something that was too long in coming... * * * * * Kerry stepped away from her closet, which was now stuffed with brand new clothes. She went over to her full-length mirror and gazed at the outfit she'd chosen: blue jeans and a T-shirt with the number 2 on it. Nonno'd shit a brick if he saw me in this! she thought as a devilish grin spread across her face. And then she thought, Jeez, how could he stand wearing this ALL THE TIME? Without thinking, she touched the bandage on her left wrist. It had been a few hours since she'd gotten the implant, so she decided it was safe to remove the bandage and look at the wound. It was just a tiny dot for a tiny machine that would look like a calcium deposit in any scan, a machine that was vital to her new job... "Guess now's a good time to try it." she said to herself. She lifted her arm, brought her hand before her face, and said, "Bird go." She closed her eyes as a gentle warmth surrounded her, caressing her skin. When she opened her eyes, she found herself peering through a purple visor at a vision of the Condor BirdStyle that had been modified to fit the young woman's body. "Oh yeah." Kerry purred to herself, "Me like." But then she saw the reflection of Nonno Joe over her shoulder. She turned to face him as he stood in the doorway, giving her one of the most withering glares in his repertoire. "Nonno!" she tried to sound happy to see him. "That damned well better be a Halloween costume, little girl." "You already know it isn't." "I told you not to join." "I'm legally an adult now --" "It doesn't mean you've suddenly gotten any sense --" "Nonno!" Kerry suddenly shut her mouth and her eyes and took several deep breaths. She knew better than to get into a shouting match with her great grandfather, if for no other reason than the fact that her scarred vocal cords kept her from producing the volume needed for an argument. "Nonno," she finally said, "you've seen the drills. You know I can fight." "Yeah, you can handle three or four." Joe replied, "But what about thirty? Or three hundred?" "I guess I'll do whatever you did when you faced that many." "Don't be a smart ass." "I'm not!" "Then quit the team!" "No!" Kerry's voice squeaked. She balled her hands into fists and set her jaw as tears started flowing. "I've got to do this!" Joe reached for her, removed her helmet, and tossed it to her bed. He gave her a long hard look. Her face was framed by honey-colored hair that spilled to her shoulders and framed a face he recognized...a face filled with the vendetta that replaced his soul so many years ago. He realized his anger had vanished and he was fighting back tears. "Sweetheart, let Junko or Matteo fight --" "They'd never have my reason --" "Let me do it." "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! NONE OF YOU WATCHED YOUR PARENTS DIE!" Kerry's mouth was open for a scream, but only a muted hiss came out. Joe pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her. She violently sobbed into his chest for what seemed like hours. "I thought I could keep you from getting the urge to join a team to fight Galactor if I didn't tell you the family history." Joe said once Kerry's breathing slowed. However, he still held her tightly. "I didn't want you to go through any more hell. Obviously I was wrong." He could feel her lift her head to look up at him. "Kiddo, it's time I told you about Giuseppe and Katarina, my parents...."

Aw, poor kiddo. Joe certainly did his best but everyone has to make their own path!

Looks like Joe may have acquired some wisdom over the years. Nice one.

I hope Kerry sticks to the team... Actually, Joe telling her his story will probably do the opposite from dissuading her.