by R. J. Ross
"We'll discuss it later," Dad says.
"Well, then, let's take a look at the cafeteria and dorms, then head to the field," Nico says, heading for the stairs. I follow along with my hands in my pockets, wondering if I should at least ask her out for ice cream or something before she runs away to hide in the dorms.
Then I remember I'm grounded for flicking the brunette. There goes that idea.
***
"We are NOT letting my sweet little girl live all alone in the dorms!" Mom says as soon as we get back to the apartments, not even bothering to lower her voice. Everyone in the apartment building should have heard that, considering who all lives there. Including Emily, since she's right behind Mom.
"But it's the perfect solution," Emily says. "I mean, I came here to go to school, not to rely on a family I've only just met and--and I did that thing today--"
"Oh, honey, I would have done it myself at your age," Mom says, waving it off. "Those two little brats need a good talking to, if you ask me!"
"Jeanie," Dad says mildly. "I think it's time for a family conference."
"I'll be in my room--" Emily says, only to be jerked to a halt as Dad grabs her hand.
"No you don't," he says. "You're going to sit on the couch and listen to us very carefully." He tugs her along behind him, stopping in front of the couch, where she promptly plops down in the middle seat and crosses her arms over her chest. I drop down in front of the couch next to her legs, just waiting for it. "Now, I understand that you were looking for revenge for what happened in the past," Dad says, standing in front of her. "Did it feel good?"
"It--for a bit?" Emily admits. "They deserved it," she adds darkly.
"But do you really think what you did today profits you?" Dad asks.
"What, like it makes me money?" she asks.
"No, like it makes you a better person," he says.
Emily flushes and looks down, muttering a quiet "no."
"Emily, we know that your past wasn't good," he goes on. "Losing your parents so young, it breaks my heart. And the situation after that--I know we can't change those things. But what we can do, and what we want to do, is to make your now better. To make your future something worth looking forward to." He gets on his knees in front of her, looking her straight in the eyes. "Emily, honey, we forgive you for what you did today. We like you very much already, and honestly, we don't want you running off because you think you don't belong, or you're not good enough, or anything you might be thinking right now."
Mom drops down on the couch on the other side and pulls Emily into a hug. "We want you here," she says, rubbing Emily's back. "We want you safe and surrounded by love and not in a position where you feel threatened or scared. Even when you're a working cape, sweetie, we're going to make sure you're equipped to deal with it."
"I--" I start out before stopping myself.
"Trent?" Mom asks.
"I think she'd make a good partner," I say, looking at Emily. "I mean, I'm a tank--two tanks is overkill, which is why you two stick to traffic and major events, right? But if I'm going to be paired up against Max--wouldn't it be good to have a spy type for my partner?"
Emily turns bright red. Like so red that her ears are red. Huh, I think, feeling a bit embarrassed just because she is, maybe she did notice the flirting.
"Emily, do you think that would work for you?" Dad asks.
"I dunno," she mutters, glancing at me. "I guess?"
"How about we ask for you two to be trained as a team just to try it out?" Mom says, looking excited. "I'm sure Nico and Liz and I can come up with something that will work!"
I'm watching Emily, and there's several different thoughts crossing her face all at once, so I've got no idea what she really thinks of this idea. Maybe she's only going along with it because she feels guilty... I'll have to ask her later, when the parents aren't plotting the rest of her life with me.
***
The tailor comes and goes, taking my measurements and consulting with me and Mom for a few minutes. Night comes. I haven't even managed to get my tanktop on (boxers, yes, thank God,) when Ditto pops in, already sitting on my bed. I look at her. "Seriously, Ditto, your timing is terrible," I complain as I tug my tanktop over my head. "I'd almost swear you do it on purpose, too," I add.
"I have no idea what you mean," Ditto says innocently. That means she's up to something. "So what's all this about being partners, anyway? We are our own partner!"
"Well yeah," I admit, dropping down on the head of the bed, a good three feet away from where she's sitting. "But I'm willing to work with both of you! Two partners for the price of one, right? I can have you scout one part of the building while Emily checks another part--it's like having an entire team in one little package!"
"And what about you, huh? Your big job is to just barge in and destroy things, right?" she asks dryly.
"Exactly!" I say with a huge grin. "Best job ever. It's what I'm built for, too."
"You're just trying to look good," she mutters darkly.
"Nah," I say. "You know... as long as I'm going up against Max and not a serious super villain, which is probably what I'll be doing most of my life when there's no major problems to clean up, well, it's more like a football game than a war, right? He'll probably talk Zoe into being his partner, so I'll have tons of massive robots to beat up, too. Sounds fun, huh?" I'm looking forward to it, at least.
"I could pop into the robots and break something inside," Ditto says, her dark blue eyes gleaming. "But I like Zoe!" she says abruptly, looking guilty. "I don't want to hurt her--"
"Eh, breaking her toys won't hurt her," I say, waving it off. "And you've already decided you like her?"
"She blew up Allie's phone for me," Ditto says happily. "She's pretty easy to read. With Allie and Kelly they always tried to pretend that they weren't mad, but it's really hard to pretend that when things are blowing up, right?"
Her logic is a bit flawed, but it sounds good enough, I guess. Zoe is only confusing when it comes to Max, as far as I can tell. "What about Max and Sunny?" I ask.
"Mmmm... I don't know," she admits. "I've not really talked to Sunny, but you like him, right? And Max is kind of scary, if you think about it. Are you sure Zoe should be going out with him? He's a super villain--"
I hear someone laughing upstairs and wonder if we're being spied on by the entire apartment. Maybe I'm just paranoid... but I doubt it. "So's her dad," I point out.
"But he's an ex super villain, right? That means he's no longer bad--and he made the sisters duct tape their skirts, which is great! They looked so stupid!"
"That doesn't make him a good guy, Ditto," I drawl. "That just means he didn't feel like taking his shirt off for them."
"I think it does!" she says stubbornly.
I'm about to argue with her when Emily steps into the room wearing a pair of flag striped pj bottoms and a blue camisole that has Star Spangled written in cursive across the front and surrounded by white stars. "When'd you get those?" I ask her curiously.
"Liz gave them to me," she says as she takes her spot at the bottom of my bed, hugging her knees to her chest. I doubt she'd be running around in them if she didn't like them, and Ditto just fuzzed out for a second, and is now wearing the exact same thing. Yep, she likes them. "So Allie and Kelly aren't coming back," she says.
"That we know of," I agree.
"But... we'll probably run into them when we start working as capes, right?"
"Maybe," I admit.
"Do you really think I'll make a good partner?" she asks, looking up at me hesitantly. Oh man is she cute. It's like a one-two hit when Ditto looks at me in a similar manner. Surround sound cuteness, or something--which I will NEVER say out loud, so keep it to yourself, okay? I'm barely restraining from tripping over myself trying to assure her that she'd make an awesome(ly cute) partner right now. I'm already picturing her in a white and blue uniform, hopefully with a skirt, when I stop myself.
This is serious time.
I l
ook at her for a moment. "Do you think you'd be a good partner?" I ask, trying to think like Dad. It's not as easy as it sounds, although I've been following his line of thought all my life, practically. He's the one that taught me most of everything I know and believe, after all. I figure you can't get a better guy to follow than one that practices what he preaches (literally) right? Not that I'd ever tell him that.
"I... would want to be," she says quietly. "But what if they're right? What if I am too wild, or too much of a liar or too weak? What happens if I get caught?"
"Of all the kids in the group," I say, "you're the least likely to get caught. You're built for it, remember?"
"Well, yeah..."
"And if you get caught in our usual thing, well... I figure Max will tie you up in the corner and use you as leverage against me for some dramatic set-up," I say plainly. "He's the type that will offer you cupcakes or a smoothie while you wait for me to come save you," I add dryly. I've gotten to know Max pretty well, after all. I can honestly say that he would do exactly that, or something equally ridiculous. "Then you just need to summon Ditto to cut your ropes like you did the skirts today."
"You're right!" she says, practically bouncing as she realizes it. "That'd be fun! Oh, but I'd probably wait for the cupcakes first," she adds thoughtfully.
This time I'm positive I hear my Dad laugh. But then again, the door is open and we're not bothering to whisper, so I'm not surprised. I can't help the grin that crosses my face, either, because I can clearly picture her demanding cupcakes in exchange for staying long enough for Max to film her acting as hostage.
"But there is one thing I've been wondering," she says.
"What's that?"
"Well... I just wonder if I can't make Ditto look like someone else," she says hesitantly. "I mean, I've tried and it doesn't work all that great, but they're going to teach us, right? It'd be really cool if I could make doppelgangers of other people!"
"That would be amazing," I say. "Man I can't wait for school to start!" I never thought I'd say that in my life.
***
Kelly and Allie stare up at the old, abandoned looking apartment building for a long moment. "This is where they came, right?" Kelly says.
"Yeah, this is it."
"Do we know what floor she's on?"
"Not a clue," Allie admits. "But if we could find her window, we could sneak in and deal with her properly. That was my favorite skirt!" She starts forward, only to be hauled to a stop by her sister.
"Don't," Kelly says. She crouches down, picking up a stone and tossing it at the building. Light flashes where it hits the wall of lasers, and the rock is blown up into tiny dust particles. "That crazy super villain's been here," she says darkly. "Maybe if we dig under..."
"Whatcha doing?"
The two jerk, turning around quickly to look at the large man in the white uniform that was behind them. "Te--Technico?" Allie yelps.
"Hmm?" the man asks, stepping forward so the moonlight hits him. His hair is white with a streak of black. "You're looking for Technico?" he asks.
"No!" Kelly says, backing up. The world seems to twist around them and she feels sick to her stomach as the colors of everything around her try to invert. "We're just--just passing by!"
"Oh," he says. "Do you live here?"
"No! She just said we're passing through," Allie says. "We're not from around here, so we need to be getting home--" She turns, grabbing her sister's arm and tugging, only to stop as a woman lands in front of them, her hair not even mussed by her flying.
"Hello, little supers," she says. "We couldn't help but notice that you seem to be lost. Why don't we help you find your way?"
"Y--you--" Allie whispers. "What are you two?"
The glowing eyes turn up at the corners as Star Born smiles.
***
Morning comes. It's Sunday, so Dad and Mom go to visit the church at the new meeting spot (someone's house) while I'm stuck here at the apartment building with the rest of the group. I feel a bit strange not going to church, I decide as I lay in my bed. I guess I can't complain, though, since we don't know if that one lady is still around looking for me. And since I've got a battle with Max this afternoon, I should probably rest up for it.
"Are you going to stay in bed all day?" Emily asks, opening my door and walking in as if she owns the room. "Zoe invited us upstairs for breakfast. They're making pancakes!"
"Sounds good," I say. "But let me get a shower first."
"Then I'm going up before you do," she says before rushing off. I climb out of bed and head for the bathroom to get cleaned up. I finish my shower, get dressed and head upstairs. The Masters' apartment is busy as usual, with people either cooking or hanging out on the couches. Emily's in the kitchen with Zoe, wearing an apron and everything as she helps get the table ready. Sunny's knocked out on the couch and Nico is sitting next to him, staring at a laptop with a scowl on his face.
"Hey," I say as I enter, heading for the kitchen. "Need any help?" I ask.
"Can you get the orange juice out?" Zoe asks as she flips pancakes.
"Zoe, did you go outside the apartment last night?" Nico calls over.
"No, I didn't," she calls back. "Why?"
"Because there's about a ten minute section in the security tape that isn't showing," he says, tapping on the keyboard. "It's like interference... huh."
"Can you get through it?" Zoe asks, looking extremely curious.
"Maybe, give me a bit of time to unscramble it," he says. He stops, though, as the laptop beeps. "Huh, Frank and Max are coming," he tells us. "You might make some extra pancakes, kiddo."
"Yeah," Zoe says, going back to cooking. The door opens a few minutes later and Max steps in, stepping out of the way for Frank.
"We've got a bit of a problem," Frank says.
"What's that?" Nico asks, still tapping on his laptop.
"We escorted the two girls home last night, but their parents say they never came home," Frank says. "I've sent out a search party--" He stops as his phone rings, pulling it out of his pocket and answering. "Yes? Yes... so you did find them... I'll come now," he says. "We've found them."
"Where were they?" Emily asks.
"Two blocks from here," Frank says.
"Take me with you," Emily says, taking her apron off and putting it over the nearest chair. Frank looks at her, then looks at me.
"Trent, you come too," he says, heading out. Emily chases after him and I follow behind, not too surprised when the rest of the group follows me. Even Sunny's woken up enough to come with us--much to my shock.
"I'm not sure I like letting you all out in public right now," Nico says darkly as we head out of the apartment one by one, each stepping on the lighted footprints. We follow Frank as he heads two blocks away to a large circle of black hummers, making his way to the center of the circle.
The two sisters lay piled up on the street corner, unmoving. I have to move closer to hear their heartbeats. The heartbeats are off slightly, and I grab Emily before she says anything. Frank crouches down next to them, touching one forehead. "I see," he says a second later. "Take them to the Hall, have them checked over," he says to one of the black suits that are waiting for their orders.
"What happened to them?" Emily asks.
"Something like what happened to the principal, I'm afraid," Frank says quietly. "Now, back to the apartment building. We have a fight to get ready for."
"Dad, are you certain we should do this now?" Max asks.
"We are opening the school tomorrow, Max. Regardless of these two idiots running back here without my permission, the school will still start. I was informed, with several witnesses, that they were delivered safely and promptly home. That they are here now means that they came by their own choice. And I, personally, told them that it wasn't safe to be here on their own."
"But--" Emily starts out. "What about their parents?"
"They will be informed," Frank says. "Emily, what--or should I say who do you think they came b
ack for?" he asks her.
Emily looks at the girls. "Yeah, I know," she says. "But their parents never did anything bad to me--"
"They let it happen," Frank says coldly. "Something like that isn't something supers won't notice." And I suddenly realize just how high up on Frank's "Do not approve" list the family is. Emily might have wanted revenge, but Frank doing nothing is far worse a revenge than Emily would ever think of. I know this for a fact.
We watch silently as the sisters are taken away and I pull Emily into a hug. "I didn't do this," she says abruptly. "Everyone knows that, right? I'm the one that cut their skirts, but I didn't do this."
"We know that," Frank says. "I read their mind, remember?"
"Okay," she says, looking back as the black ambulance drives off with the sisters inside. "They wouldn't have gotten anywhere," she says abruptly. "They would have been stopped at the security system, right?"
"Yes. But they know about the school," Frank says. "Whoever did this, we should assume they know now, too."
"It should be interesting," Nico says.
Emily moves a little closer, not saying anything or even looking at me, but I can feel a fine tremor running through her. "I know," I say quietly. "This is more than you wanted."
She nods, then shakes her head, a tear escaping. "I did want this sometimes, I wanted them beat up, or something. That's why I feel so guilty, I think."
CHAPTER SIX
The suit that the tailor came up with is more like an army uniform than the traditional tights. I've got a pair of clunky work boots that are surprisingly light, and pants in the same dark blue as the sleeveless top, although they have a red and white stripe pattern down one leg that looks like a flag flapping. The traditional spot on the chest is covered with a highly stylized image that resembles an eagle in white and red. A clunky belt goes around my waist and although I'm not wearing sleeves, I have tough worker type dark blue gloves.
