Aces Wild: Cape High Book Six

by R. J. Ross

  "Really?" I ask.

  "Yeah. If I'm going to change the future, I'm going to do it up right. Let's go meet Jack," he says.

  "Change the future?" I repeat. "What does that mean?"

  "Nothing, really," he says. "It's my new catchphrase. Like it?"

  "It sounds pretty lame."

  "I'll work on it."

  ***

  Jack jerks as his phone starts to ring, looking at the teacher before reaching for it. Used to be he wouldn't care what the teacher thought, but when your teacher happens to be the son of Superior, and a very dangerous man in his own right, you follow the rules. "It's Max," he says as he glances at the screen. "How did he get my number again?"

  "Take it," Nico says. "Everyone else keep trying to blow something up. You'll get the hang of it sooner or later--except you, Emily, you've already passed for the day," he says, looking to the redhead in the back. She's still smoking from her last experiment.

  "I think I burned my eyebrows," Emily says, getting up and heading for Jack. He looks at her until she reaches up and turns his head. "Hold still, I need a mirror," she says as she examines her reflection.

  "There a reason you're skipping class?" Jack answers the phone. You can't exactly yell at your brother's girlfriend for being a derp, after all.

  "Cape business. I need you to meet someone about your fight tonight," Max says. "His name is Ace."

  "Ace?" Jack repeats. The entire room goes still, looking at him intently. "Like the Ace from Morgan's stomach?"

  "That sounds extremely disturbing when you put it that way," Max says. "But yeah, that Ace. We've found him."

  "I don't know why I wrote it there!" Morgan complains. "I should have put it on my arm or something."

  "You don't know why you put it at all," Jack points out. Lately, though, she hasn't been giving him such a hard time, so he leaves it at that. "Fine, bring him to the school--that okay, Nico?" he asks Nico.

  "Sure, it's fine. I'll go greet them," Nico says.

  "I'll go with you," Jack says, getting to his feet. He looks over the group as they all get to their feet.

  "We'll all go," Morgan says.

  "No," Nico says. "Jack, you come, the rest of you can figure out how to spy--and not get caught. If you get caught, you get detention, got it?" They looked at each other, and a very confident smile crosses a few faces.

  "Fine," Adanna says. "That sounds interesting."

  ***

  "So... we're going to the school that's run by a super villain," I say, since I still can't seem to get this through my mind. "I told my dad I wouldn't transfer," I add, as if Max would care.

  "Why not?" Max asks. "Do you have something important keeping you at that school? Friends? A girlfriend?"

  Friends? Not likely. A girlfriend? More like impossible. But--it--"It's up to me what I do with my life, okay?" I snap. "I don't want people just barging in and trying to stick me somewhere simply because I'm not what they thought I was. Dad practically disowned me when he thought I was a norm, you know? He was just going to wave and say 'have a good life' and never look back--then that moron Matt decides to punch me for no reason! In the middle of the hall!"

  "What?" Max asks. "And you dodged it, right? Unless he's a cape, too--"

  "He's a norm."

  "So you dodged it," Max concludes.

  "I didn't dodge it."

  "Did you catch it?"

  "I didn't catch it."

  He stares at me. "You took a hit from a norm... why?"

  "Because I'm not a character in a book or a movie, or whatever. I'm not some sudden underdog that everyone wants to cheer for, I'm not--I'm not--" I make a frustrated sound, unable to come up with an explanation. "I'm not an underdog," I finally growl.

  "So you decide to prove it by taking the hit... and what, breaking his fist? Prove that you're super, and he's not even worth dodging for, huh? He must have really pissed you off," Max says. "Instead of what, standing up for your rights and yelling for equality, because we both know very well that we won't ever be equal with a norm, will we."

  Why is he grouping me with him? He's one of the top up and coming super villains--I don't even have illusion abilities. "All I have is a bit of strength, speed, and, apparently, a rock hard jaw," I mutter. "I'm not like you."

  "We'll find that out soon enough," he says as we come into view of Death Canyon. There's a strip of tattered yellow police tape around the entire thing, but it's falling down in places and you can't even read it anymore.

  "Why are we here?" I ask. Before he can reply a tall man steps out of nothing, heading straight for us. Behind him is another male, who almost blinds me when he steps into the light.

  "To talk Jack out of wiping the floor with your would-be future girlfriend," Max says. "Although, seriously, she didn't look that interested," he points out. I flinch, because he's right. "Nico, Jack," he says as the two walk strangely for a moment, their eyes on the ground. It looks like they're dancing, the shiny one even does a turn before walking towards us.

  "Max," the shiny one says, a dark expression on his face. Max hadn't been lying about not liking each other, had he?

  "You must be Ace," the adult says, holding out a hand to me. I stare at it. "I'm Technico, principal of Cape High. Welcome to the school."

  "Doesn't it creep you out when he acts like this?" Max asks Jack, making me glance at both of them.

  "It is pretty creepy," Jack reluctantly agrees, staring at the adult. "In fact, I don't think he's ever done that in front of me before."

  "I just welcomed him to the school, guys, I didn't invite him to high tea," Nico drawls, giving both males a dark look.

  "Does it come with sandwiches? Because I'm starving," Jack says.

  "I didn't invite you to high tea, either," Nico says. "Ace, why don't you come over to this panel here and we'll get you set up for school--"

  "I'm not here to transfer," I say. "I'm here to--to talk with Jack about something, I guess."

  "Yeah, we'll work on the transferring thing later," Max says. "He wants you to go easy on the fight tonight." When he puts it like that I feel guilty. It's like I'm cheating for a girl I just met. I look at the metallic male in front of me, his mohawk looks more like steel barbs sticking out of his head, his eyes are--well, actually his eyes don't look that cold. In fact he's grinning.

  What for?

  "You saw her? She's pretty cute, huh?" Jack says. "But I'd rather not," he admits, pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket. "These are the negotiations for the fight, see? Sure this is her debut, but she's still a B class. It's in my contract that I don't have to take the fall for anyone under an A class. Even her parents know that. They still think she can beat me just because she's a hero type," he drawls.

  "Emily! Detention!" Nico says abruptly, looking behind him.

  "Aw, man," I hear a girl mutter.

  "You too, Aubrey."

  "But I wanted to see the picture," I hear another girl say.

  "Don't worry, I don't check out girls I'm going to fight, Aub," Jack calls over his shoulder.

  "You clearly just lied, you know," Max points out quietly.

  "Nah, I just make sure not to hit the cute ones in the face," Jack says. Then he looks at me. "I'll offer you a deal," he says. "Because I owe Morgan one, and she's got a vested interest in this. You interfere--big or little, I don't care--and I'll toss the fight. It'll make your girl look good and keep me from looking like a B class can wipe the floor with me."

  "Interesting," Nico says, looking at him then at me. "I'll have to call the parents, of course. If they think he's taking her glory, they might take it up with Double M."

  "If he's just a norm in the wrong place that gets a lucky hit in, they won't say a word," Max says. "It's not like I'm going to be there. In costume."

  "Man, look at his eyes, he's not a norm," Jack says, snorting.

  "Yeah, well, at least I look more like a norm than you ever will," I say, glaring at him for pointing it out.

  "I wa
s one, once," Jack says. "I heard you, Sunny!" he yells over his shoulder.

  "What, exactly, is going on, anyway?" Max asks them.

  "Spying class," Nico says. "Whoever gets caught gets detention."

  "You're lying!" I hear a guy from the canyon shout back.

  "I'm not now!" Jack replies with a laugh. "Come on, if I stay out for too long we'll get caught, right?" he says to Nico. "Hard to miss a walking disco ball."

  "We need chips and dip," I hear someone from down in the canyon say. "And some colored lights. Trent, do you think you can hang him from the flag pole, after all?"

  "You answer that and you're in detention, too, bro," Jack says in a warning tone.

  "I just need to scan Ace real quick and we'll head on in," Nico says, pulling out a cell phone. "Stand there, kid, this won't hurt," he says.

  "Wait, what? I'm not going in," I say, holding up both hands. "I just wanted to--"

  "Set yourself up to look good for the blonde," Max says. "Come on in--we won't tie you down or torture you. Yet."

  "Hero or villain?" Jack asks as he heads for a panel that shoots up from the ground.

  "I'm trying to get him on our side," Max says. "He looks like the perfect super villain in training, right?"

  "What're your powers?" Jack asks.

  "Not bad," Nico says, making them both look over. "Whaddaya say, Ace, can we bribe you to get you in? I can pull a few strings and get your blonde in, too, if you want."

  "They said this school was a scam," I say without thinking. "That you bring in kids that can already fight and claim you trained them."

  "We did," Nico says. "For all of two of them, that is. Max and Trent already knew more than half of what they'll know when full grown. Adanna knows how to fight but her powers need work. But as far as the others go? Not even close. Touch the panel and step on the lighted footprints," he adds. It seems to be completely out of left field until I see Jack doing just that.

  "Why?" I ask.

  "Because you'll get fried like a taco if you don't," Max says.

  "Fried tacos... sounds good," Jack says. "Man, I swear Trent's rubbing off on me," he adds, shaking his head.

  How? How am I getting dragged into this? WHY am I letting myself get dragged into this place? Maybe it's the odd sensation of people actually wanting me around. The idea that people are spying on us is a bit creepy, though--especially when I catch sight of a black cat and Nico calls, "Adanna! Detention!"

  I look around for someone named Adanna, only to blink as the cat races down the steps and jumps onto a held out arm and runs up to the shoulders of a teenage boy standing on the floor of the canyon. "I could have told you that going that far up was stupid," he says.

  "Sunny, double detention," Nico says, shaking his head. "Why is it that the zoo kids kick your butt in this game, anyway?" he asks the ones in sight.

  "They're sneakier?"

  The cat on Sunny's shoulder shifts into a gorgeous black girl who hops to the ground. "I think my cub form has grown," she admits. "I need to reevaluate my hiding spots."

  "A good idea," Nico says.

  "It would help if there were more cracks along the steps," she says, flushing slightly as Sunny grins.

  "I see. Anyways, welcome to the school, Ace," Nico says. "You can all come out now," he adds. A dozen or more kids step into view. I'd had no clue they were there. "Everyone not caught gets bonus points and one class taught by me that they can play video games through," he says, much to their excitement. "One class--not one semester," he adds. Then he stops. "Where's Noelle?"

  The group looks around. "I think she's still in the classroom," a tawny looking girl says. "She didn't seem that interested in coming out." There's a frown on her face for a moment before she looks at me. A confused look replaces the frown. "You're Ace?" she asks.

  "Yeah, I'm Ace."

  "I'm Morgan."

  ***

  This is Ace. The words totally overthrow thoughts of her roommate. Morgan keeps fighting the urge to stare at him, to ask him why she needs to save him so badly. She glances around, seeing Justin in the back of the group. He's blatantly staring at Ace, a strange expression on his face. It looks sort of like... loneliness? But why? Everything about this is confusing her, she admits.

  "This is Cape High," Nico says as the group stands in front of the buildings that make up the campus. "In front of you is the main school, most classrooms for the normal educational needs--"

  "Our history class comes in comic book form," Jack says.

  "That's just Hero History," Morgan says. "We've got a real book for regular history."

  "We do? No wonder I only do my Hero History homework," Jack says.

  "You had better start doing your homework properly," Aubrey says, poking him. "The last thing we need is for you to be held back a year."

  "Yeah, he's stupid enough looking as it is," Sunny says cheerfully.

  "Hey, I can handle the girlfriend giving me crap, but just wait til you sit down on a chair, man," Jack threatens.

  The look on Ace's face is just shouting "I'm so lost right now," Morgan thinks with an inward sigh. She slips through the group, moving to his side as casually as she can. "I think... um... part of this might be my fault," she admits quietly.

  He looks at her. "Probably," he agrees blandly.

  "But it's not that bad, after a bit," she swears. "You'll fit in here."

  "I keep telling people that I'm not transferring," he says.

  "Why not? Does your school want you?" Carla asks, interrupting the conversation.

  "Want me?" Ace repeats blankly. "Nobody wants me."

  "We do," Morgan says. She's not even sure why she says it, but she knows she means it. "We want you here." She can feel the rest of the zoo kids staring at her, but she stubbornly plows on. "We know what you are--you're one of us. I won't promise that everyone will be one big happy family, or whatever, but there's some fifty--"

  "Fifty five," Max provides. "Give or take."

  "Less than a hundred of us our age in the world. That means there's a group of kids out there that will never fit in, will always try to hide the fact that they stand out. That are vulnerable to monsters like Collector every time they step outside," she says, her hands fisting at the thought.

  "Collector?" he repeats.

  "Yeah, Collector," she says grimly. "The guy that captured half this group and had them as a sort of freakshow of heroes."

  "Um... yeah," he says. He glances at his watch. "I should get home, I bet they've called my mom by now." He takes a step back, then another, then breaks into a run for the steps.

  Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that so soon after meeting him, huh?

  CHAPTER THREE

  Collector? Capturing? A super villain principal and a choice of being a hero or a villain? Is there like some sort of degree involved? I bet they get a signed piece of paper saying they graduated with highest honors at torture devices! This place--and I've used this word a few too many times today, but--it's INSANE!

  I stop at the top of the canyon, jerking to a halt as I realize that Nico is already standing there, as if waiting for me. "Let me out," I demand.

  "Not yet," he says. "I need to ask you something before I let you go."

  "Fine," I say. "Ask."

  "You're too old to just be developing. I'm not going to ask why you hid it. My question is why you chose now to show it."

  I stare at him, feeling the welling emotions that this place dragged out of me slowing. The question is logical, one I've been trying to ignore all day. I don't want to answer it, but if I don't, he might not let me out. He's a super villain, right? He can do that sort of thing.

  "I..." I say, looking behind me. The crowd of kids--of super kids--is still down below, watching us. "This is blackmail," I say.

  "Ex super villain," he says, pointedly. "I'm not above a bit of blackmail."

  I stare at him. I look away, my hands fisting at my sides as this morning flashes brightly through my mind. I don't want to s
ay it. It sounds stupid and childish, I even know that before opening my mouth. I take a deep breath and brace myself. "She signed the papers today," I say almost silently. "She signed them and left them out on the table for the whole world to see--now can I go?" I demand harshly.

  He steps aside, revealing the panel. "Press your hand to the screen and step on the glowing footprints," he says, as if I hadn't just told him that my world is crashing around me even as I speak. I do as he says, only stopping as someone appears behind me and taps me on the shoulder.

  "Take this," the muscular blonde says, holding out a hand. He looks like a jock, I think darkly. I've had enough trouble with jocks today. "It's my earbud for when I'm fighting against Max or Jack," he explains. "If you're going to interfere at tonight's fight, this will make it easier. Trust me, I forgot it my last fight with Jack. I'm just lucky he's predictable."

  "Good idea," Nico says. "Take it, Ace. I'll make you your own next fight."

  I'm doing this for Jetta, I tell myself as I hold out my hand. Not because I've been invited into the big boys' game. I slip the bud into my pocket and turn back to the panel, leaving the place behind.

  ***

  "Who's got his back?" Nico asks as the teen disappears from sight.

  "I'll do it," Adanna says. "The others are too obvious."

  "Says the one with detention," Max says. "There's two little blondes that might be a problem, though."

  "You sure?" Sunny asks Adanna. She looks at Morgan, a little smile on her face.

  "For a friend," Adanna says. The relationship is brand new, there. It's only been a week since Morgan approached her, offering her friendship, but Adanna takes even new friendship extremely seriously.

  "Thanks," Morgan says with a little grin.

  ***

  The woman walking up the stairs of the Hall is dressed in a business suit. Her reddish brown hair is pulled up in a sweeping fashion, her high heels look like they should be registered as lethal weapons. Her normally beautiful face is set in a dark, foreboding expression and she's clutching her purse like it's a shield.