Sunny Daze

by R. J. Ross

  He doesn’t even notice the twitch developing under my eye as he pulls out his phone and makes a call. I REALLY wish I had kept my big mouth shut.

  CARLA

  So Ward might be related to Mega, and Mega wants to use Ward as a publicity stunt, but that’s really not a big surprise, right? I mean, of all the supers, Mega is the guy that’s CONSTANTLY in front of the cameras with a huge shiny grin, saying he’s just doing his duty, or whatever. But still! He’s a good uncle to Trent and Jack, I think, right? I mean, Trent seemed pretty happy to see him--so maybe he’ll make a good dad for Ward?

  I sure hope so. I mean, Ward can be a pain, but he’s still family.

  I blink as I hear my phone beep from my bedroom and rush to it, leaving the whole drama behind me. “Hi!” I say as I answer.

  “You still want to go home for the weekend?” Nico asks.

  “Can I?” I ask, my eyes getting huge. I’m practically bouncing at the idea. “Oh, wait, I need to change and pack and get presents--can you give me point five seconds?”

  “Sure.”

  I kick up the speed, racing through all my chores and dressing. I grab the phone before it hits the ground. “Ready!”

  “I’m outside the dorm,” Nico says, “chatting with Trent.”

  “Coming!” I say, racing out the door. He’s still hanging up his phone as I bump into him. “So we can go see my brothers and sisters?” I ask excitedly. The look of shock on Trent’s face alerts me to a little fact--I’ve never told anyone outside of the zoo kids that I’ve got siblings, have I? Whoops.

  “All five of them,” Nico says. “I even brought a special book just for this visit.”

  “I brought LOTS of books, too!” I say, holding up my huge bag of gifts. “Let’s go!” He takes my bags, slinging them over his back as we head up the side of the canyon and out into the world. “Can we run?” I ask. “I haven’t been on a run in FOREVER!”

  “Sure,” he says, pulling out two masks and handing one to me. I’ve been wearing these anti-friction uniforms ever since I helped Vinny down in Texas, by the way. Nico had me meet this amazing lady named Kim, who put together an entire wardrobe just for me in all of my favorite colors--which, well, are ALL the colors. Today’s ensemble is a rainbow splattered pair of pants and a shirt with a kitty wearing headphones on the front. It’s one of my favorites.

  I really don’t think Nico even notices the kitty. Oh well, my little siblings are going to love it! I put the mask on and head out, trying to keep it slow so Nico can keep up with me. “You can go faster,” he says.

  “Really?” I ask. “Really, really?”

  “Really,” he agrees. I kick it up a notch--and then another--and another--he’s keeping up with me! This is so amazing! I almost run past my house, I’m so excited by that fact. I pull to a stop, leaving grooves in the concrete for half a mile, and look at him in excitement. “That. Was. AWESOME!” I said, grinning from ear to ear. “Can we do it again? Huh?”

  “On the way back,” he says, running a hand through his hair. I think the guys that run around in capes on TV have special hair gel, because they never look that messy on television. Oh well, it was still awesome!

  Now I know you’re probably wondering why Nico came with me on a trip home--actually, now that I think about it, so am I. I look at him, cocking my head slightly in a questioning manner. “Why DID you want to come today?” I ask him.

  “CARLA!” Mom shouts, coming out of our average sized home with her arms held out wide. She runs forward, dragging me into a hug so tight that I find it hard to breathe for a second. “Honey, it’s been so long since I last saw you!” I wrap my arms around her, leaning in as much as I can. She smells so good, I think happily, like home. I almost don’t even notice the green light that flickers over us--almost.

  I turn, looking at Nico darkly. He’s too busy staring at his phone with a thoughtful expression to notice. “Mom, I’ve missed you SO much,” I tell her, not getting on Nico’s case just yet. “Are you the only one here?”

  “Oh your brothers and sisters are inside,” she says. “I told them to stay there until we found out who your friend is.” She looks at Nico pointedly.

  “Technico,” Nico says, holding out his hand to my rather petite mother. “I’m Carla’s principal at Cape High.”

  “He’s a great principal,” I tell Mom, knowing this is important. “We learn all SORTS of things--I’m going to work with Vinny--he’s called Fire Hazard, who’s going to help clean up forests so there aren’t fires!” I say.

  “And did you tell my oldest daughter that it was a good idea to do this?”

  “She decided all on her own,” Nico says. “Your daughter promises to be the fastest cape alive, ma’am.”

  “Promises?” I repeat, putting my hands on my hips.

  “You’re still not quite there yet,” he says, patting my head. I pout for a second before shrugging.

  “So they can come out?” I ask Mom, turning with Nico’s hand still on my head. I’m sort of used to being patted on the head, actually--I think it’s an unconscious move, or something, because Ken does it, too. Heck, lots of people have done it, now that I think back. At least his hand dropped while I was thinking about it! Maybe because all five of my little brothers and sisters are racing out of the house, aimed straight at me.

  I move to the right, only to get chased. I move to the left and then the right again, making them race after me with laughter. I finally stop, though, dragging them all into as much of a hug as I can manage. There are too many of them! I wind up going from one to the next, hugging them each. “I brought presents!” I announce.

  “YEAH!” they bellow excitedly. It’s only one of my two sisters that is preoccupied. She’s staring at Nico. “Who’s that?” she asks me. She’s all of five. I wasn’t here for her birthday--I still feel guilty about that. “He just shot green light at me,” she adds seriously.

  “Nico!” I say, pulling away from my siblings and storming over to him. I put my hands on my hips and give him my most scolding look. “Don’t scan my family! It’s rude!”

  He places a hand on my shoulder, pulling me away from the group a few feet. “Well, Carla, there’s a very good chance your abilities are inherited,” he says quietly. “Don’t you think we should find out about your siblings before someone else does?”

  I go still. “Oh.”

  “Plus, your mom has recessive abilities,” he says, much to my shock.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah,” he says. “That’s why we’re going to have story time,” he says, holding up a book. Before I can reply, he heads for my siblings, making them all go still. “Hi,” he says. Silently they bring up hands in greeting. “My name is Technico--I’m your big sister’s teacher. Would you mind if I read a story to you?” he asks. They nod, each looking wary in their own way. “This is called ‘So You Might be Super,’” he says, “it’s a very special book. He steps into the air and starts floating as if he were sitting on something.

  “Hey, mister?” my sister asks.

  “Questions can take place after the book,” he says. Mom comes over to me, a worried look on her face, but she doesn’t say anything as he starts reading. “So your big sister is a super hero,” he reads, turning the book to show them a picture of me. It’s a painting, I think as I walk over and sit down next to the kids. I’m in a book! “She’s really fast, and strong, and amazing,” he goes on, showing another picture of me. Whoever drew it must have known--OH! I bet Ace did it!

  “There could be a chance that you’re super, too,” he reads, showing a picture of kids in uniforms. “Supers have all sorts of abilities. One ability is sonic scream,” he reads, showing them a picture of Banshee screaming. I blink as a headphone set lands in my lap, but don’t hesitate to put it on. “Let’s hear you yell as loud as you can,” he says.

  They start yelling their heads off and I’m certain we’re going to get yelled at by the neighbors. Nico doesn’t even seem to notice--he’s checkin
g the decibel levels on his phone. “Good job!” he says, raising a hand. They stop screaming instantly and he turns the page. “Some supers can lift really heavy things. Let’s see...” he looks around, flies away, and comes back after a few moments with a pile of rocks in his arms. “Don’t worry, ma’am, I’ll make sure no one gets hurt,” he adds in a bland tone as he lays out the rocks in a line from smallest to largest. The final one is almost as big as my youngest sibling. “Let’s see how much you can lift,” he says, “starting with the smallest rock and working up.” The oldest starts, working his way up to halfway through--Nico takes it away before he hurts himself. The others follow suit, one by one, not getting very far at all.

  It goes on like this, from one power to the next, until all of my siblings are exhausted. “So... Nothing, huh?” Mom says. “It’s for the best.”

  “Thank you for your cooperation, Ma’am. It was nice to meet you all. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure Carla’s well taken care of,” Nico says, shaking her hand. “Carla, are you ready?”

  “Um... can I come back next weekend?” I ask.

  “Sure,” he says. I hug each of them goodbye and we start off down the street.

  “So nobody else has powers?” I say.

  “I didn’t say that,” he says.

  “What?”

  “Think they liked the book?” he asks. “Ace drew it specifically for them. Your littlest sister ran off with it, so I get the feeling they do.”

  “Nico, DO my siblings have powers?” I demand.

  “I’m going to have to get more like it, I think,” he says.

  “You’re not going to tell me, are you.”

  He gives me an evil grin. “Nope, not at all.”

  Coming Soon:

  CAPE HIGH

  BOOK ELEVEN: LIFE LIGHT

  There’s actually an underground website that has hacked into Hero TV. Not many people know about it, and the chance of actually getting on it is one in several thousand--much less getting on it more than once, especially since the Central Hall got Technico. Technico shuts it down on a regular basis. But there’s one night a week that he lets norms that know about it get on and scan through a few different “episodes.” It’s a highly guarded secret and the night changes every week, but for those that are serious about it, they find it.

  That’s what’s going on right now, midnight, North Kansas City. It’s a small suburb neighborhood, where everyone goes to bed around ten o’clock. The houses are all similar colors of bland. The dogs are all safely tucked inside so they don’t wake people up with barking. The house in the middle of the street is just as silent, save for an almost muted laptop. The watcher is female, fifteen, and still shaking slightly from the day. Her hand, mottled with bruises, touches the mouse, bringing up the video she’s watched a million times.

  A long moment after the video stops playing, she brings up her email. Slowly she starts to type.

  ***

  “So we’re going up to visit your grandparents,” Liz says as she shoves yet more clothing into her massive suitcase. “Pack heavy, because it’s going to be cold! Do we need to go shopping again?”

  “Liz?” Emily says. “We’ve already wiped out three stores. We don’t need more clothes--and even if we do, I can always teleport back, right?”

  “We don’t want to strain you too much,” Liz says, digging through her closet.

  “She’s still nervous about Tatiana,” I say. Emily and I are already packed, and have been for days. It’s just Liz that’s overreacting. “Plus, Liz, you don’t get cold--you’re part electricity, and all S-class.”

  “It doesn’t hurt to be prepared!” Liz says, still digging. “And of course I’m nervous about Tatiana--this could be a ruse to get us out in the middle of nowhere and take me out.” She steps out of the closet, looking at us. “If anyone could take me out, it’s definitely Tatiana.”

  I look at Emily, Emily looks at me. The same look is on both of our faces, I’m sure. Liz is in her paranoid mode again. “Look, if she starts looking like she wants to kill you, we’ll tell them I’ve got pressing business at the ER and Emily will teleport us all home. Okay?” I say.

  “Plus, Taurus said she almost broke his back with a hug, saying he was her future son-in-law,” Ditto says, popping into existence with an ice cream in her hand. “I REALLY doubt she was talking about Nico marrying him. Nico’s got Summer, right?”

  “Exactly,” I agree. A faint blush crosses Liz’s face, which she promptly hides by going back into the closet to find something.

  I should explain, shouldn’t I? My name is Aubrey Shetland--I’m the foster daughter of Liz Masters, AKA Firefly, and foster sister to Emily Dreyton, AKA Divine Justice. They’re super heroes. Well, actually, Liz is a super hero, Emily’s going to have her debut once we get back from our “grandparents” place, and then she’ll be a super hero, as well. The grandparents in question are Superior and Tatiana--both legends in the super world. Superior actually “died” some twenty years ago, but I accidentally brought him back to life a while back. It’s--well, it’s a long story. Let’s just ignore that as I tell you what I am.

  I am not a super hero. If I were, I would have to pick a side, right? I can’t pick a side--I’m a healer. I heal whoever comes to me, whether they’re a hero or a villain. In fact, I’m dating one of the biggest names in teenage super villains around, Cold Steel. So I guess you could actually call me a neutral super. I’m also not as strong, or as fast as the other super teens. Visually I’m almost exactly like a normal seventeen year old girl. I’ve got brown hair, brown eyes, and a body that wasn’t built for spandex. I have a ton of healing ability (Nico says I’ll be Specialized S-class when I’m fully grown, I’m close to it already!) and one faulty, hard to control, attack ability. It’s so hard to control that I’ve only used it once--and it bounced back off of Jack (Cold Steel) and hit me. I haven’t been able to use it since.

  Now you know about my family and my boyfriend, and what’s going on, right? So you’ll understand why I’m feeling a bit worried about going all the way to the Arctic just to see foster grandparents. No? Well, let me list the reasons. First, I’m leaving the Hall ER without a healer. They might have worked without a healer for years and years, but I still feel guilty for leaving. Second, my boyfriend is a bit stupid. Oh, I still love him, but I’ll be the first to admit he’s not the brightest--and there’s a little girl named Keliah in our school that has a major crush on him. Sure, she’s way too young for him--

  “Aubrey,” Emily says. I blink as I realize she’s standing in front of me. “Earth to Aubrey!”

  “I--um, did I zone out?” I ask sheepishly.

  “Yep. When was the last time you got some sleep?” she asks.

  “I think I got a few hours the other night?” I offer. I tend to work long hours to make up for the fact I’m in school during the daytime.

  “Go get some sleep. I’ll deal with Mom.”

  I nod, noticing Liz’s look at that statement. “I do not need ‘dealt with’ thank you!” Liz complains. “Do you think this shows too much skin?” she asks, holding up a full length parka.

  “No,” Emily and I say dryly. “Where did you even get that, anyway?” Emily asks as she shoves me out of the room. Ditto waves goodbye as I go past, still eating her ice cream.

  “I spent a week working in the North Branch,” I hear Liz answer, “during winter. I transferred back as quickly as I could.”

  I head for my bedroom, thinking a nap might do me good, only to stop as someone knocks on the door. There are only a handful of people that it can be. The security system for the apartment is strong enough that even S-Class supers can’t get through without going through the system. I don’t bother peeking through the peephole before opening the door.

  “We have a thing,” Max says, holding up a piece of paper and waving it in front of my face.

  “A thing,” I repeat blandly. For a super villain that’s held the Super Bowl ransom before, he sure gets excited over
the strangest things.

  “An anonymous email from someone in the area,” he says, pushing the paper into my hand when I just stare at it blankly. “They want to meet you.”

  “What?” I ask, looking at the page finally. “Why me? Is the person dying or something?”

  “That’s the thing,” he says, walking right past me and to the couch. He taps on the controller next to it, bringing up the big screen on the wall and grabbing the keyboard. “Let’s see... Username, Mastermental, password--” he types a bit, bringing up what looks like the Central Hall’s main database.

  “Max, is there a reason you’re breaking into your dad’s information?” I hear Nico yell from the floor above us.

  “Yes!”

  “Okay.”

  I stare blankly at him--I would stare at Nico, but he’s a floor above, so Max gets all of my stares right now. “You two are insane,” I say, when he doesn’t seem to notice.

  “Oh, I do this all the time at home,” Max says shamelessly. “So this is what I have--first off, whoever sent the email has to be one of the ones that know about the hidden HTV website. I checked the IP against all the hero and villain IP’s in the area, there’s no one that matches it. She--or he, possibly--is going through a private server, which means it’s from her home. There’s a small chance it’s from someone with powers.”

  “Why do you think that?” I ask.

  “Because of the letter,” he says. “You still haven’t read it?”

  I skim the letter, my eyes tripping over and stalling on one sentence, “I need to meet her, I have to meet her. I feel so alone.”