by R. J. Ross
"Did you know it could do that?" Liz asks Falconess.
"Didn't have a clue," Falconess admits. "It could have saved us a lot of time, though. Next trip don't let me forget to ask for a blueprint."
***
It's all over the news—and just as importantly, it's all over the net, Herold thinks darkly as the screen in front of him flicks through a series of images. "What was Senator Herold doing there?" "Shady Shenanigans?" and, his favorite, he thinks sarcastically, "Senator Herold has Secret Rendezvous with Century!" Not that they even saw the time controlling hero for more than a second.
He had. Century has it out for his blood. He's not even sure why—the only South Branch related person in Mother's little scheme is a useless villain. If anything, Century should be thanking them for taking her off of his hands.
Speaking of which—what IS her connection with Technico? Is she really his sister? He's certain he would have heard something along those lines! Well, no, that's a lie. To be honest he'd withdrawn from the supers as much as possible. He wanted to stay under the radar—live a normal life. It was working so well, too, he thinks irritably.
The screen flickers and he almost groans as his mom's face appears in front of him. "Why the long face, dear? Everything is going smashingly!"
"You might have blown my chances at presidency, Mom," he says. "You need to be more circumspect in your actions."
"Oh posh," she says. "Things are going just fine. And even better, Superior is alive!"
The screen goes blank, leaving him staring at it for a long, long moment.
"I had really hoped we were past this," he says with a sigh as he clicks the television back on.
Bonus Chapters:
Guitar Guitar
The trip back to school was quick, save for discussions with the nearest airports and that little episode with the fighter jets following us. Nico took care of that—although I think he now owes the Air Force a rather large favor in exchange. But we landed safe and sound in the parking lot of the apartment building, and now we're gathered in Nico's apartment, eating pizza. It's a pretty anti-climatic moment, considering everything that happened, but I don't care. Almost dying makes you hungry.
"Okay, okay," Skye says abruptly, making me look over at her blankly, "Even I know I'm not supposed to do this, but it has to be said!" she declares, turning with a dramatic move and pointing at me. "Why is this called Guitar Hero when the hero never even TOUCHED a guitar?" she demands, looking extremely irritated. "It's just not right!"
"Skye, you're breaking the fourth wall," Superior says.
"What fourth wall?" I ask blankly.
"It's an S-class thing, don't mention it," Nico says.
"I know I'm breaking it! But it's not right! All the other titles at least PRETENDED to make sense!" Skye says dramatically, jumping onto the couch and waving her arms over her head. "Like Hello Kitty? It made sense! And even Ditto Ditto! But where do they get off calling this Guitar Hero when he doesn't play a guitar?"
I stare at her blankly, until I realize the cheese on my pizza is starting to fall off. I shove the slice into my mouth, eating it as she just stands there, full-on-drama mode. The seconds tick by as I finish. I think they expect me to do something, huh? Even Doris is looking over at me.
"I can play a guitar," I say after wiping my mouth off with a napkin. "I can also play the bass guitar, the drums, the piano, the violin, and a few others," I go on, contemplating another slice. "I started learning instruments before I could walk. It's part of the family training."
"SO PLAY IT ALREADY!" Skye yells, pulling at her hair. "Otherwise this entire story will be over and the title will STILL not make sense!"
"Does it have to make sense?" I ask. "I mean, I don't even have a guitar on me, so it's sort of—" I blink as she gets in my face.
"You will play a guitar before this book is over," she tells me, poking me in the chest. "I'm going to go rob a pawn shop!" she declares, hopping into the air.
"Make sure it's a decent guitar if you're going to do that," Nico says, grabbing another slice. "No point in a bit of B&E if it isn't done properly."
Superior sighs and digs into the back of his uniform, pulling out a handful of bills. "Here, you can at least pretend to do it legally," he says, handing them to Skye.
"Thanks, Pop!" she says, hugging him before racing off with the money.
"Use the exit!" Nico yells after her.
"Should she be running around outside when Herold has it out for her?" I have to ask.
"Nah, these are the bonus chapters—nothing really dramatic happens here," Nico says, only to get a dry look from his father.
"Now you're breaking the fourth wall, too," Superior points out. "Treat it properly."
"Okay, okay, we need to make sure she's safe," Nico says, standing up and posing in a ridiculous manner. "Come, boy wonder, off to follow my little sister!" he adds. When nothing happens, he shoots me a look. "I said, 'Come, boy wonder,'" he prompts.
"Wait, you mean me?" I ask, almost choking on the slice of pizza I grabbed during the posing.
"I can't exactly call Superior 'Boy Wonder' now can I?" Nico says logically, heading for the stairs. "How's your flying?"
"I've only done it once—and I was brainwashed at the time. I've got no idea how I did it," I say.
"Well, then, I guess you can be the ground guy," he says as we head out. We go through the entrance of the apartment and step into the night, making our way through the force field and into the parking lot. Nico looks around a bit curiously before taking to the sky. "She went this way," he says, flying off. I look around, feeling as if I'm being watched. I shrug it off and race after Nico, chasing through the night streets of Kansas City. Since when has "Guitar Hero" had anything to do with me, anyway? I haven't played that game in years!
I pull to a stop as I see Nico drop down in front of me. We're in front of a little pawn shop on Troost, where I see Skye on the rooftop—standing with Panther in full uniform.
"Now," I hear Pan say as I walk closer, "you know as well as I do that this isn't your territory. So why are you robbing one of my buildings?" he asks mildly.
"Because we need a guitar!" she declares. "I even have money to leave on the counter, see?"
"A guitar," Pan repeats.
"Because this is Guitar Hero! You can't call it Guitar Hero without the hero playing a guitar!" she says.
A light flashes overhead and I hear Nico groan as a booming voice comes from above. "Panther! Skystep! How dare you conspire when I'm around?" Mega demands, coming down in front of the light—where did he—holy mackerel, he actually brought in a helicopter so he could back-light himself! I can't help myself, I bring out my phone and snap a shot of the helicopter and the super. No WONDER Ward avoids the guy so much.
"Well, we would have preferred to do it when you weren't," Panther says dryly.
"I remember you!" Skye says. "You crashed a pool party!"
"Because YOU knocked me—" Mega starts out, only to stop just as quickly. "I am here to stop your evil plans!" he declares dramatically, and much louder.
"I was JUST GOING SHOPPING!" Skye bellows.
"She wants a guitar," Pan says blandly before pulling out a smoke bomb and disappearing as it explodes. He must have taken Skye with him, because there's no one there when the smoke blows over.
"Pan?" Nico says, touching his ear. "Where did you take my sister?"
"Sister?" I hear Pan ask.
"We've adopted her into the Superior line," Nico explains.
"I see. We're heading for another pawn shop," Pan says. "She insisted."
"Hi, Nico! Pan and I are going to find the guitar together!" I hear Skye call over the earbud.
"Okay, have fun," Nico says before hanging up. "Our job is done here."
"You're just going to dump her on Panther?" I ask, a bit shocked.
"Can you think of anyone better?"
"This isn't the end of it!" I hear Mega shout from overhead. I look up as he flies
over us, chasing after Skye and Pan.
"With Mega trying to capitalize on them?" I ask Nico.
"Eh, either of them can take Mega down," he says, waving it off. "The pizza is getting cold."
I hesitate, looking in the direction they went before following Nico back to the apartments. I'm really tired, I think as a yawn escapes me. Maybe they won't mind me heading back to my dorm…
*Twenty minutes later*
"I have the guitar!" Skye declares dramatically, waving said guitar in the air as she comes through the door of Nico's apartment. "Where's Justin?" she demands. She looks around—even goes to the bathroom and slams the door open. "Justin! Time to play the guitar!"
"He went home," Nico says.
"What?"
"He had a long day, so he went to the dorms to sleep it off."
"But—but—guitar!" Skye says, her arm sagging and the guitar thumping on the ground.
"That's an electric guitar, Skye," Nico says. "Did you get him an amp, too?"
"An amp?"
"Yeah, an electric guitar doesn't work that well without one."
She looks at the guitar. She looks at them. "Um… Pop, can I have some more money?"
Superior pulls out his wallet.
The Big Date
I stare at the boring looking teenager in Nico's apartment mirror, and glance down at the watch I'm wearing. "This IS waterproof, right?" I ask Nico, glancing over my shoulder at him. "I still don't know where she's taking me, but there's a really good chance there'll be water."
"Completely waterproof," he says, tapping on his computer. "I still think the haircut could be better."
"Nah, it looks lame—that's a good thing," I say, brushing the dirt brown hair. It reacts all of a second too late and I look at him. "It's a little slow."
"Got it," he says, tapping a few more times. "Try it again."
I reach up and brush the hair. It reacts perfectly. "That works."
"You're barking up the wrong tree, you know," he says, leaning back in his chair and looking at me seriously. "Malina isn't one of your fan girls."
"Yeah, I know. She's completely NOT interested, too," I say honestly. "But she's a great way to get over Morgan."
He looks at me, shaking his head slightly. "Does she know you're using her for that?"
"She probably doesn't even think she CAN be used for that," I admit. "I don't think she even likes boys yet." Late bloomers happen, even I know that. I reach up and straighten my t-shirt, feeling a little stupid.
"There's always the new healer girl," Nico says. "When I'm done here, I plan on bringing that group back here."
I make a face. "No fan girls, thank you. This will be just fine. I like her," I admit, a little smile pulling at my lips. "And it's not like I'm looking for a girlfriend, I'm just looking for a date."
"Well that's good," he says as he stands, "because I won't be ruining your chances by coming along."
I stare at him, shocked. "What?"
"Under the laws of the Hall, according to Double M, Malina is my ward. That means she gets a chaperone—especially if there are super villains out there looking for her date. Nothing personal, but if we were to lose one of our most promising heroes-in-training, it'd be my head," he says, walking past me.
"Don't you need to get back up to the Arctic Circle?" I ask. "Skye and Superior left, already, right?"
"They're packing," he says. "And Father took my teleportation watch so he could pack up Skye's stuff, so I'm stuck here." He sounds far too cheerful about that fact.
"Why do they need Skye's stuff?" I ask blankly.
"Because she's going to move here until the situation is over. It's the safest place for her, right now," he says.
"Okay, fine, but you don't NEED the teleporter watch, you can fly!" I protest as I turn the watch off. That can wait until we're out in public. "It's only a skip and a jump up there—"
"You don't interrupt women packing," Nico says, "especially if they're family. Come on, maybe we can talk her into going to a movie. That way I'll sit in the back and you won't even know I'm there."
"How come Max and Zoe never get a chaperone?" I demand as I reluctantly follow him. "She's more than your ward—she's your daughter!"
"Because I know where he takes her so I hack into that security system before it happens," he explains, as if that ISN'T a crime. It is one, right? It definitely should be! "You left it up to Malina, and she hasn't said where you're going, so you get me tagging along," he finishes. "Besides, nobody's home, so why not?"
I stare at him before giving up as we head out of the apartment and to the dorms. "You can come on out now, Malina," Nico calls through the force field that surrounds
"Carla wants to come too!" Malina calls. I can't see her through the field, but I can read her tone. I'm not surprised, but I am a bit disappointed. Then again, can't exactly call it a real date with your principal tagging along, anyway, now can you?
"Both of you are clear to exit, then," Nico says. I step back, watching as the two girls come out.
"We're going on a date!" Carla says cheerfully, grabbing my arm as soon as she gets out. "So we thought we'd go shopping and out to lunch, right, Malina?" she asks Malina—as if this date was a group outing.
Wait, it IS a group outing.
"Carla wants to go to Build-A-Bear and then to the dinosaur restaurant at the Legends," Malina says with a little grin. She looks at me, as if expecting me to opt out at the idea. "Then we were thinking we'd play tag."
"At the Legends?" I ask.
"The ENTIRE place—all of the stores AND Nebraska Furniture, too!" Carla says, bouncing next to me. "It's going to be awesome!"
Legends is a massive outside mall, right next to the over-sized furniture mart. I have a speedster and a girl with water powers…
I feel a grin cross my face, which widens as Malina sees it with a hint of surprise. "Let's do it!" I say, slipping an arm over Carla's shoulder and leading her over to do the same to Malina. "But I call 'not it', got it?" I say, leading them both to the parking lot where Nico is waiting.
"We're going to make TOYS and eat surrounded by DINOSAURS," Malina says pointedly, giving me a sharp look. "And screaming little kids."
"Yep, I got that," I agree.
"Not really a romantic date," she presses on as I tug her along.
"The Central Hall Water Park is out that direction, too," I say casually.
"We're going to need a van," Nico says cheerfully as all the kids start shouting from inside the force field that they want to go, too. "Actually, forget that, we'll take Justin's tour bus." He looks at me, grinning slightly. "If that's okay with you, Justin?"
"The more the merrier," I say, calling Malina's bluff. "Isn't that right, Malina?" I say to her.
She gives me a cynical look, and I know she's going to call me out on this, so I cut her off before she can, leaning down and whispering, "I DID tell you that you could choose, right?"
The tiniest hints of a blush cross her cheeks. I pretend I didn't see it and turn, watching the rest of the school come out.
"You're paying for this, you know that, right?" Nico says from behind me.
Well… crap. I did not think of that part.
"To the Legends!" Carla says.
"TO THE LEGENDS!" the others shout in reply.
Mentally I wave my bank account goodbye.
The Point(s) of It
“So keep an eye out for him, okay?” Jack says, ignoring the blank look on Ace’s face.
“Did you SERIOUSLY have to come up this far just to tell me that?” Ace asks.
“Yep,” Jack replies. His surfboard comes to him as he lets out a sharp whistle and he jumps on. He flies off before Ace can ask any more questions, pulling to a stop a few dozen miles away. “You get it?” he asks.
The air behind him shimmers slightly, and Brandon appears, a small metal pendant in his hand. “Sure did,” Brandon says cheerfully. “Just like I did Max’s.”
Jack grins, pulling out his
phone and scanning the metal chip. The Points App bleeps twice, showing he’s gained five points and Ace has lost them. “Good job, man. At this rate, you’re going to be my right hand man.”
“Are you two DONE yet?” Ward demands over the com-link. “We’ve got a debut to do in the morning!”
“Don’t get your man panties in a twist, we’re on our way,” Jack says.
Where’s Jenna?
The video of Justin’s bus being attacked was blasted all over the Hero TV channels for an entire day, followed quickly by the scene with Herold—unlike the norms, the heroes got to see Century almost attack him. Right now Andre Harrison is on the channel. Every super in the world is watching, since he’s the owner of HTV, and the most famous super around outside of the Hall (at least he is among other heroes). "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a cause for concern," he says in a calm tone. As if they weren't aware of that already, Jennifer thinks darkly. That's why she's stuck in this room with her mom, her aunt, her annoying sister, and her step-dad.
"I understand why they might want Jetta to go to that school," her mom says, "but there's absolutely NO REASON for Jenna to go!"
"I go by Jennifer now, Mom," Jennifer says, not that her mom even listens.
"I am NOT going to that stupid school!" Jetta snaps. "I'm a debuted hero, I don't need their stupid lessons! I know everything I need to know—you TAUGHT me, Mom!"
"This is just giving into peer pressure!" Jennifer’s mom says. "Jenna is perfectly safe in her old school—I considered it for half a day, and that is all! This subject was over a month ago!"
"Now, honey," Jennifer's step-dad says, reaching out and touching her arm, "you have to admit, even a D class super is at risk right now. In fact, they might be the MOST at risk."
"This isn't your decision when it comes down to it, though," Aunt Barbara says firmly, earning sharp glares from everyone other than Jennifer. "You relinquished your parental rights for Jennifer to me. Now I've been trying to go along with your wishes, but this—" she motions to the television which is repeating the bus scene again, "is the final point for me."
