After another round of medical checks including yet another brain scan ("Just to be on the safe side!"), and some time spent requisitioning clothes and so forth for his new life, Jon climbed into a black SUV and they headed back toward Lake Point.
Before long, Jon was surprised to find that they were pulling up to his friend Karyn's house!
"Is this where I'm going to be staying?"
"Yes," replied Dr. Bradford. "We have arranged for you to be fostered with a local family, the Blacks."
"So I'll get to live with Karyn? This will be great!"
Dr. Bradford paled a little. "You know this family?"
"Well, yeah! Karyn is, like, my best friend!"
Bradford glanced nervously at the driver, then said in a low voice, "Jon, listen to me. You mustn't reveal who you really are. If your secret identity is compromised, there will be trouble."
Jon was surprised by this, but he nodded.
"All right, then. Let's go introduce you to your new family!"
They stepped out of the SUV and Jon easily hefted the two duffel bags containing his new possessions by making them lighter. As they walked up to the front door, Dr. Bradford murmured, "Maybe don't make it look quite so easy to carry those."
"Sorry," Jon mumbled, and made a show of hefting the bags like someone who didn't have "super strength".
They knocked politely on the door, and in a few moments Karyn's mother appeared.
"Oh, hello! You must be from the foster agency!"
"Yes, ma'am. My name is Dr. Bradford, and this here is your new daughter!"
She gestured for Jon to introduce himself, so he stepped forward and shook her hand while say in his bubbly, girly voice, "I'm Linda Lee Danvers. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Just then, he spotted a teenage girl with long, blonde hair and large breasts coming down the stairs. It took him a moment to recognize his best friend, but once he did, he smiled and waved at her. She seemed curious, and Jon was a little disappointed that she didn't recognize him, even though he knew that there was no way she could, given how different he looked now.
They went inside and Mrs. Black started talking about how grateful they were for this opportunity and such. Dr. Bradford produced a clipboard with a bunch of papers for her to sign. Mrs. Black turned to Karyn and said, "Why don't you show your new sister where she'll be staying?"
"Sure, mom. C'mon, Linda," Karyn said, though a bit more grudgingly than Jon might have expected.
Karyn led him upstairs and into her own bedroom, where Jon saw there was now an extra twin bed shoved into the corner of the room where Karyn's desk used to be!
"Well, here we are! I'm afraid we don't have a lot of space, so you'll be sharing a room with me."
"Really?" Jon said, excited at the prospect of rooming with his best friend. "Karyn, this is going to be great!"
Karyn's eyes narrowed a little. "How do you know my name?"
Jon thought furiously... He was supposed to keep his new identity secret, but on the other hand, this was Karyn! She could be trusted!
Should he tell her who he really was?
