by R. J. Ross
"I'm not going to ask her out or something," I say as we get to the panel. "I just want to check on her--if she's not in Kansas City, well, I'll give up on finding her. I just feel a bit guilty about it all."
"Why?" Taurus asks.
"Because he used me to use her," I say. "He used my abilities, my face. So in a way that makes me responsible, right?"
"If you want to think that way I can't stop you," he says, pressing his hand to the panel and going out. I follow, watching the steps I'm stepping on, my mind whirling with thoughts. Maybe I should just let her go. Forget it happened. She didn't get hurt, right? Chances are good I'll never see her again, except maybe out as a super villain.
"Your dad is positive she's the reason you lost your powers in the first place," Taurus points out.
I look at him. "So who's Liz?" I ask, blatantly changing the topic. "Your girlfriend?"
"I'm... working on it," he mutters. Who knew that an A class shapeshifter could look so embarrassed? The big black man shrugs. "When chasing a girl like that you've got to do a lot of ground work."
"A girl like that?" I ask.
"Firefly."
I trip, staring at him in shock. "You're chasing FIREFLY?" I yelp. What's more interesting is that she obviously talks to him. "Oh, man, and here I thought I was reaching high chasing a blonde," I say, shaking my head and laughing.
Taurus looks at me a bit blankly. "If you're going by power levels... kid, you're fine chasing anyone you want. Even the most elitist girls won't look down on having--what was it, Dragon? As a boyfriend."
"Doesn't feel that way," I mutter.
"You spent too much time with the norms," Taurus says. "Do you know her number? Anything?"
"Nope."
"Then can you fly?" he asks. I hesitate, then focus on the area about a foot over the ground, bringing my round disk into being.
"I can do this," I say, stepping on. I look at him. "I can do it on my own," I add. "I just needed you to get me out of there."
He nods. "Just call if you need help with something," he says, tapping his earbud. I nod and take to the air, flying high above the world to search for a single girl. Maybe this is stupid, after all.
***
The screams echo through the building, making several of the black suits look hesitantly at the door. Inside, Mastermental is standing over the chair that holds Mimic, a cold expression on his face. "My granddaughter," he says again. "Where is she? You can only hide behind so many people, Mimic."
"I don't KNOW!" Mimic yells in someone else's voice. Mastermental had been almost surprised when he found so many lingering personalities in Mimic's mind. He'd gotten over it quickly. "I don't know where she is! I don't know!"
"My GRANDDAUGHTER!" Mastermental bellows. "WHERE IS SHE?"
"She's WITH TATIANA!" another voice yells from Mimic's mouth. Mimic goes still, looking shocked. Then his look turns evil and his voice goes back to normal. "She's with Tatiana--where Superior should be," he adds with a dark look at the man in question. "Dead."
"He left her with Tatiana?" Superior asks his son, who is flicking through the watch.
"We've got one visit to thirty six years ago," he says. "We know where she is," he tells Mastermental. "You can take his powers now. He deserves it."
Mastermental looks at them both. Then he looks at the nurse still standing in the corner. "Do it," he says.
"No--no--what about Morgan? You're taking her father away from her--" Mimic protests, watching the nurse with a terrified expression. "You can't do this, Mastermental! You can't do this!"
"This won't hurt a bit," the nurse says with a little smile, patting his arm before slipping the needle into his vein. He jerks, shudders, and faints in the chair.
"It's over," Nico says.
"No, it's not. We still have to go back," Superior says.
"We?"
"We."
***
I pass over my old school, only to stop at the sight of Jenna sitting on the roof. Her hair is the main giveaway--in the light it's almost platinum in color. I hesitate, but I guess it's the best way to find her that I've got, so I go down, landing on the roof next to her. She looks up at me for a second before staring out in front of her again.
"I'm looking for Jetta," I say.
"She's not here," she says. "And I don't talk to criminals."
"I'm--well, I am, I guess, now," I admit, walking over and sitting down about two feet from her. I lean back on my hands, closing my eyes and letting out a breath. "Your sister... she got involved with the shape shifter guy that took my powers. He tried to use her as bait for me."
"Why? You said he already had your powers, or whatever, right? So why did he need you?"
"Because when he used them they came right back to me," I say, holding out my hand. It's hard to use my powers again, I think as the bird slowly forms on my palm. Maybe I'm just exhausted. The bird looks at me, tilting its head and letting out a tiny chirp. "I'm the son of Blackjack," I say.
"Then you shouldn't be here," she says, bringing her legs up to her chest. "Talking with a D class cape," she adds bitterly. "I'm basically a norm." I stay silent, not knowing what to say to that. I hadn't actually come to talk to her, but after a statement like that I feel guilty. "I don't know where Jetta is," she goes on. "I don't care, either. She can go back to being a super hero and making Mom and our step-dad proud. Hoorah for her."
I hesitate. "How do you know you'll always be a D?" I ask after a moment.
"It's pretty obvious," she says, sniffling and wiping away a tear. "Jetta was always better at everything. That's why Mom kept her and sent me away--she didn't need a spare heir."
"Forget them," I say, making her look up. "I thought all I had was a bit of strength and strange eyes--my own dad thought I was a norm. I think you should talk to Nico... well, when he's back, that is. He'll be able to tell you if you're a D or not. And if you are," I say, slowing down, "then you deal with what you do have."
"Big words from 'Dragon,'" she says in a scathing tone. "The entire school heard about it--they all rushed home to see you on TV."
"Heh," I say, blushing slightly.
"That wasn't a compliment," she mutters. "Look, don't chase my sister--she's just out to use you to get into Central Hall."
"People keep telling me that," I say. "All I want to do is apologize to her."
"Then..." she sighs and digs out her phone, tapping on the screen for a moment before handing it over to me. "Here, talk to her over the phone."
I take it, holding it to my ear and waiting for the other end to be picked up. "What do you want, Jenna?" Jetta answers. "To make fun of me? If it's that, you're wasting your time--"
"Jetta?" I say. She goes silent and I take a second to force myself to go on. "I'm sorry... you know, for what Mimic did to you."
There's another moment of silence before I hear a little click telling me she hung up on me. I stare at the phone for a second before handing it over to Jenna. "Here," I say. "You know... maybe you should start going by something else. Like Jennifer?"
"Yeah," she says as she slips the phone back into her pocket. "Probably."
I look up, watching the sun go down. I'm not coming back here, I decide. I'm going to walk away and not look back. There's nothing to look back to. Funny, just a few days ago I'd fought tooth and nail to keep from being transferred, now I can't wait to go back to Cape High. Back to my friends.
I get up as the last light filters over the roof and step onto my silver disk. It's easy enough to make, it doesn't have to look alive. It just has to fly. "Don't let anyone..." I start out, looking at her, "stop you," I decide. "Not from being what you really want to be."
"Go away, Dragon," she says.
Did I mention that I really have no social skills? I think by now you've figured that out for yourself.
I go away.
***
Sometimes the bridges you see in front of you burn before you ever even touch them. Sometimes the thing you want most
in the world is the very thing you're most afraid of. I wanted to be a super. I wanted to reach out and grab my father, then shake him until he looked into my eyes and realized what I was. I never did. I was too scared, too worried that I might not be good enough to even try. And when he never noticed it, I started to resent him for that fact.
In this world, where I have the promise to make anything I imagine a reality--or at least a very good illusion--I still can have trouble putting my emotions and thoughts into words. I still can't connect with others, even if all I really need to do is reach out and try. Just try.
I step up to the gigantic dragon, pointing to the grass below my feet in a demanding move. The dragon slowly lowers his head, allowing me to reach up and rub his snout. My paint field, once empty and barren is now crowded. The castle towers behind me, the sky is full of a soft sunset, one just like the one I watched with Jenna. The dragon in front of me is rolling over, demanding to have his stomach scratched.
"Hey."
I scratch the massive scaly belly, ignoring the voice trying to intrude. "Hey, when he's like this think he'd notice if we drew on him?"
"I vote we take pictures and post them on Facebook."
"We need that lipstick after all, huh?"
"Would you leave him alone, already?"
Justin. Thank God for Justin, seriously. I pat the dragon one more time, then open my eyes, looking at the three guys standing in front of me. "You two are evil," I say, pointing at Max and Jack. "Seriously, lipstick?"
"I was going to suggest those fake eyelash things," Max says shamelessly.
"Justin, seriously, man, I owe you my life," I tell him, getting to my feet.
"Hey, we're your team, not him!" Jack says as we start for the cafeteria. "You should thank us for your life."
"Says the guy with the makeup obsession," I point out. I blink as he slaps me on the back.
"Hey, now, we're just teasing!" he says.
"He taped a sign to my back, didn't he?" I ask Justin.
"It says 'whistle if you like my lipstick,'" Justin reads for me. I look at Max, who lets out a wolf whistle, then at Jack, who's grinning like an idiot. I jump Jack--only to get grabbed by the back of the shirt before I can land a blow. Taurus puts me down a few feet away from Jack in a casual motion before addressing the group at large.
"Listen, listen! Even you, Ditto--put the comic book down. I have some things to talk to you about. One, Mimic has been dealt with--but that doesn't mean his actions won't have a lasting impact. We don't know what all he did in the past or the future. We have to be careful, things might change on us when we're least expecting it. They might already have."
"Where's my dad?" Zoe asks. "He hasn't been home at all lately."
"He's... searching for Noelle," Taurus says. Zoe looks a bit pale at that. "We have to have faith in our principal. If he weren't the toughest guy around he wouldn't be in that position, right? He'll find her and he'll bring her back--or send her back to her own time," he says.
Zoe nods.
"What--what happened to my--to Mimic?" Morgan asks. I look over at her, feeling a pang of guilt again.
"The one from the future has had his powers taken away, Morgan," Taurus says quietly. "For good."
She nods, looking down at her hands. "I see," she says quietly. I wonder if she even notices that she's playing with her bracelet.
I feel a pat on my back and look up at Jack. "It's okay, man, you're no longer being hunted," he says in a soft voice.
"You put another sign on my back, didn't you?" I say, barely moving my lips.
"This one says, 'Dragon for rent, ten bucks an hour,'" Justin reads. I look at Jack, only to blink as half the group pulls out a ten dollar bill.
"I want to ride a dragon!" Carla says. "Somebody give me a ten!"
Max pulls out his wallet and hands her a ten. I stare at him. "What?" he asks. "I believe in helping girls achieve their dreams. I'm extremely generous, you know."
I give him the dirtiest look I can manage--until Taurus speaks up. "Sounds like fun," he says. "Alright, guys, everyone back to the rooftop!"
I... am really wondering if I should have fought harder not to transfer.
***
The kid doesn't weigh anything to him, but at the same time it feels like the weight of the world is on his back, Blackjack thinks as he slows down, pulling to a stop in front of the house he had once shared with his family. He changes his hold on the teenager he's carrying piggyback, freeing up a hand to knock on the front door. Knocking on the door of his own house. It doesn't feel right.
"Coming!" he hears Vivi shout from inside. For a moment he worries that Ace is going to wake, but the boy just moves slightly before letting out a sigh. He's exhausted. Of course he would be, Blackjack thinks with amusement. He gave half the school a ride.
The door opens and Vivi looks at him, a hesitant expression on her face until she notices Ace. "Rough day?" she asks.
"You could say that," Blackjack says quietly. "Taurus decided to go along with one of Jack's jokes."
"He didn't!"
"Nothing bad," Blackjack assures her. "They changed it to a buck a minute. After half an hour the kid collapsed. He's not used to his dragon form yet."
"Dragon form?" she repeats. "Like on the television? Blackjack, you're making my son turn into that monster? For fun?"
"It's an illusion," Blackjack says. He feels awkward just standing there in the entryway, he realizes. "Can I come in? Maybe... have a coffee?" he asks, hesitantly. "I can tell you all about it after I put him to bed."
She hesitates, looking at Ace for a moment, then sighs. "Just one cup," she says.
He grins, feeling his heart pounding hard against his chest. "One cup's fine," he says. "One cup's plenty."
***
"I want to go, too," Liz says as she watches her brother and father step into the middle of the room. "I want to help find my great-niece."
"We need you here with the blueprints," Superior says before Nico can reply. "In case our watch breaks and we don't come back."
"You would be better with the blueprints than she would," Nico points out.
"This involves a time when she wasn't even alive and you weren't old enough to remember. I need to go," Superior says stubbornly, looking down at his polyester pants and dress shirt. He looks over at Nico, who's wearing a pair of bellbottoms. "Which is obvious by the clothing."
"What? They wear them in that show about the seventies," Nico mutters, looking down at his pants as well. "It doesn't matter--we go in, we get Noelle, we leave. Nobody will see us so we won't have to try and fit in. Because I really would rather not be seen in these pants."
"Says the man who chose them," Superior says dryly. "Liz, you're the Superior in charge. Don't disappoint me."
"Love you, little sister," Nico says more softly. Then he glances at Summer, who's been standing to the side watching them silently. "Love you, too, Summer. Take care of our kids," he says. "I'll be back in no time."
Superior places a hand on his shoulder and Nico taps on the watch he's wearing.
Then they're gone with a tiny poof of sparks.
***
Bonus Section:
Ace's Community Service
"Okay, man, I get wanting to get out of school early," Jack says as he trudges along beside me, a scowl on his face. "I get wanting to do something cool for other people, even--well, sort of. But seriously, HOW did you talk the entire school staff into letting us do this?"
"They sent a cameraman," I drawl, jabbing a thumb at my dad, who's disguised as a norm brandishing a television camera. "They're going to post this entire thing on Hero TV. And you're coming because bringing Justin would bring too many of the norms running," I add. "I shoulda brought Max, he'd complain less."
"Nah, I wanna do it. I think," Jack says as we pull to a stop in front of the hospital. We're both wearing hoodies, jeans and tennis shoes, dressed like norm teenagers, but we can't go in with the hoods up. I look back at Dad.
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"They aren't going to try and shoot us, are they?" I ask. "Last thing we want is bullets ricocheting off of the tinman, here," I add.
"If I'm the tinman, you're Oz," Jack says. "And Nico says he already called ahead and explained everything," he adds, tapping his ear before pulling his hood down before walking through the carousel door. "Yo," he says in a cheerful tone as the nurses and the security start to panic. "We're here for Cape High Community Service."
I race past him, holding up both hands. "Wait--wait, he's serious!" I say, watching as guns are aimed at us. "We called ahead? Our principal is Technico. I'm here to do a show for the children's ward?"
The nurses react first, calming and making a few calls. We wait, patiently. "So who's Max?" I ask Jack curiously, since there's nothing better to do than just stand there being stared at by guards.
"I'd say he's Toto," Jack declares.
"The dog?" I ask.
"Yeah, short and barky."
"He's going to kill you as soon as he sees this, you know."
"Um, well... it's... unprecedented, but it seems we've been waiting for you," the lady at the desk says as she hangs up and stands. "We've set up a room where those children that can leave their rooms can go, so if you'd follow me, please?"
I look at Jack, who suddenly looks serious. I wonder what he's thinking as we follow the lady down the hall and into an elevator. She looks all business as she pushes the button before turning to us. "Now why are two super villains doing community service at a hospital?" she asks bluntly as we start to go up.
"Well I wanted to come as a norm," I admit, "but I've already gotten my picture pasted on all of the newspapers in town. Sure I could have disguised myself, but this way I can drag Jack in on it."
"Thanks for that," Jack drawls. I twitch my fingers and a single rose appears in my hand, which I offer to the nurse. She stares at it like it's going to bite her.
"No thorns, I promise," I say, holding it out again. She takes the rose, her eyes widening as she realizes it's solid. She sniffs it, looking stunned.
