How to Defeat a Hero

by J Bennett

  “Iron, a moment of your time,” a voice calls from down the hallway. I follow it into the office. Gold leans back in his chair behind a sleek desk, arms clasped behind his head. A Pod on the desk casts four separate screens in front of him, two stacked on each other. Sequoia’s Anders 3100 3D printer fills a good portion of the room. It’s not nearly as advanced as Adan’s printer, but it’s still one of the nicest 3Ds I’ve ever seen. And it printed those amaze peach PJs for me last night, so I am eternally grateful to that machine.

  “Ta, Wholesome,” Gold says. I hate that little nickname, but I’m not about to show it.

  “You called, Mr. Producer?” I ask, sarcasm heavy in my voice.

  One screen follows Sequoia as he walks into the living room and offers a plate of scrambled eggs and strawberries to Mermaid and then to The Professor. Another screen shows Ash Anders pacing tightly in the master bedroom, barking commands into his Band. Those are obvi the live feeds from our cam drones.

  The third screen displays a frozen screenshot of The Professor’s ransom video, while the fourth screen replays my convo with Sequoia in the kitchen. The volume is on mute. I watch Sequoia break the eggs again. He keeps glancing over at me as I lean back against the counter and stare at the growing holo-plants above us.

  Gold watches the screen too. “This scene needs a lot of work,” he says and shakes his head sadly as if I have disappointed him. “You’re flat, Wholesome. I’m going to need you to dial up the sexual tension by a magnitude of…” he pauses to think, “about 300 percent.”

  “Sexual tension? With Sequoia?” I laugh.

  “Sex sells,” he says. “We need more of it.”

  “You’re the one going for the romance angle with Arsenic,” I point out.

  A small frown flickers across his face, then he’s all smiles and charm again. “That plot point is taking a little longer to come to fruition than initially anticipated,” he admits.

  “She’s not interested.”

  “She is not currently aware of how interested she shall shortly be.”

  “What?”

  “Nitrogen is hotter than a New York heatwave for you,” Gold says. “Why don’t you give him a little…” He puckers his golden lips and makes a wet smacking noise for emphasis. “The viewers like him. He’s a puppy. You… well, you tricked and imprisoned the world’s most fav sidekick. The entire teen population of the planet wants to throw you into the middle of Z Town.”

  “But I’m… I’m plucky,” I manage.

  “That pause there? That pause is your problem.” Gold gives me a solemn look. “You need a storyline. Something to draw in the viewers. So give that boy some rubbing and maybe you’ll get a little of his charm on you.”

  “I can’t,” I spit out.

  Gold sighs as if I am testing all the patience he possesses within his wiry body. “Wholesome, just bat your eyes. Give him a little pat for the cams. You need this. The show needs this.”

  My feet begin to move and I pace in a tight circle. “I can’t,” I say again. “He’s a nice person.”

  “Course he is. That’s why everyone hearts him. A nice henchman. The viewers are eating it up.”

  “No.” I shake my head. “That’s not what I mean. He’s good. He’s actually a good person.”

  Gold must hear the strain in my voice because the smile finally slides off his face. Now he’s just confused. “What has that got to do with anything?”

  “He’s kind and gentle,” I explain and drag in a heavy breath, “and I hurt good people, k?” I tap my chest. “My heart is dry as dirt in California.”

  It’s true. There is nothing good inside of me. I hate my father for leaving our family. I despise my mother for wilting away after he left, for retreating into Buddhist-Minimalism as if giving away all of our possessions would somehow balance the despair inside of her. Alby was the only good thing in my life, and I destroyed him with my ambition and my hope.

  The darkness in me is why I’m drawn to other broken people. Like Matthew. Like Lysee. Even poor Ollie. I sense that brokenness somehow deep inside in Leo, and it’s why he seems to pull me toward him no matter how hard I fight it. I’ve even programmed my Totem—a person’s one true friend—to treat me like garbage.

  I’m bad. I’m rotten. The only use I can think of for my life is to try and fix this world for the other people. The good people.

  I expect a sarcastic response from Gold or even amusement at this show of weakness.

  “I understand,” he says.

  We can’t see each other’s eyes with our goggles on, but I recognize a fellow threadbare soul. I remember that Gold grew up in a kid drop-off depot in some nothing town. The gov calls them “Child Development Centers,” but it’s just a place for parents to toss their unwanted kids. I’ve heard they’re terrbs, filled with wild children, monitored by glitchy care robos and a few underpaid breathers.

  You can’t make it out of that kind of place without a few scars.

  “Sequoia deserves better,” I finally say.

  Gold chews his lip. “Some viewers do like you,” he admits finally. “They admire your gumption. But you still need a storyline. Alright, we’ll go with unrequited puppy love. Just keep being awkward and standoffish. I’ll make it work. And stop talking about your families. I’ve got to cut all personally identifying info out and I haven’t figured out how to do that yet.”

  “I’m not awkward and standoffish,” I mutter.

  “Then awkwardness has an identical twin and it’s you.” Gold smiles at his own joke. “Now get outta here. I’ve got to finish our amaze hostage vid. This thing is solid platinum. I’ve got to get it out by…”

  His words falter as all four holo-screens flicker and then cut out.

  “Who is it?” I ask as my Band hums and projects a black holo-screen on my forearm.

  “Someone who’s trying to steal my thunder,” Gold grumbles.

  Some producer in Biggie LC has paid a hefty sum to the City Council to hijack all the Pods, Bands, and screens in town to broadcast some big announcement. This happens a lot. In fact, just two weeks ago, The Professor did the same thing to announce his return.

  The screen brightens and two resplendent figures stand proudly in front of the cam. One of them is Shine, glam in his orange-and-gold suit. The other is…

  “Buddha’s spleen!” I hiss.

  “Hmmmm, that ain’t Beacon,” Gold says, leaning forward toward the holo-screen. “Looks like Shine got himself a new partner and she ain’t half bad looking.”

  “Greetings, citizens of Big Little City,” Shine says. “As you can see, I have extricated myself from the clutches of The Professor.”

  “With the help of his daring new sidekick, Dreamer!” chirps the woman next to him. She bats her eyelashes and juts out a hip. Her purple-and-white costume manages to be both ostentatious and skimpy.

  Lysee was always talented at that particular combo. I stare at my roommate as she preens for the cam and wonder why I feel so surprised.

  Chapter 19

  Stressful? Yes. And after nine kidnappings, I can say that with authority. But at least there are no boring days in Big Little City! ~ Reena Masterson, Documentary: The City of Heroes

  ~

  On the holo-screen, Shine details how stoic he was under The Professor’s relentless torture. Lysee stands by his side, lips pursed, arms crossed over her chest. Though a stylish purple mask covers most of her face and artfully curves around her pink lips, I have no doubt it’s her. I recognize the shape of her face, those round, bright eyes staring back at me, and the way she presses back her shoulders to accentuate her cleavage.

  As Shine continues to detail his harrowing captivity, I silently fume. I captured Shine fair and square! K, maybe not fairly at all, but it was still a legit nab. And now Lysee has stolen away my prize.

  It seems so obvi now. Lysee knew we were holding Shine prisoner. She had stumbled into the lobby of the mansion while I was tying up Shine. No doubt Matthew gave her a tou
r of The Professor’s lair at some point in the past, complete with showing her the trick bookshelf and elevator code.

  On screen, Shine heaps praise on Beacon. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all you’ve taught me,” he says. Next to him, Lysee nods. Her leotard doesn’t leave much to the imagination and I wonder how she’ll possibly fight crime in those thigh-high purple boots with stiletto heels. Her mask glitters with sequins and her purple hair is a beautiful mix of complex braids and thick curls. She is gorg and glam and an utter traitor!

  I can imagine how it all went down, Lysee sneaking into the lair while we were risking our necks in Chicago. She probs stood in front of Shine’s door bargaining for her new position with a fire cutter in hand.

  A stew of bitterness bubbles in my stomach. I should have seen this coming. Lysee was so despo to get in front of the lens. And then there was all that babble about following her destiny the other night.

  All’s fair in the Fame Game, Tickles says on his blog.

  And yet, it still hurts.

  “He’s obvi spinning off,” Gold says as he leans back in his chair once again. I’d almost forgotten my fellow henchman was in the room. “Beacon would never take him back after he tried to poach The Professor.”

  “She’s not going to be happy about this,” I find myself saying automatically.

  Gold laughs. “Beacon is going to piss her costume.”

  But what can she really do? I remember what Adan told me. The City Council is trying to swipe Beacon. She’s self-funding her show, digging in with her fingertips. In the old days, when she was at the top of the ratings, she could have easily squeezed Shine, turning sponsors against him, making sure no juicy villain storylines found their way to him.

  Now?

  Maybe Shine has a chance if he can get a sponsor. Will Tatianna Wentworth still work with him after his capture?

  “But now it is time for me to forge my own path, be my own light in the darkness,” Shine is saying on the screen.

  “Spinning off,” Gold says with a satisfied nod. “Wonder how far he’ll get.”

  Me too.

  “And finally, I have a special message for The Professor,” Shine says.

  “Ooooh, we’ve got a new rival.” Gold chuckles. His hands tighten on the armrests of the chair. “This could be very good for us.”

  Shine looks directly into the cam. His face is hidden by his gold-and-orange mask, but those green eyes are as familiar as ever. “Professor, you thought you could break me, but you made me stronger. You thought you could humble me, but I am more dedicated to the mission of justice than ever.”

  “Oye,” Gold groans, “he’s overplaying his hand.”

  “No, he’s playing it perfectly,” I say reluctantly. Shine looks strong and noble. His square jaw and bright eyes will make girls, guys, and nonbinaries swoon all across the world. I can’t help but admire his gall, calling out The Professor, trying to poach Beacon’s greatest rivalry away from her.

  “Professor, take this warning,” Shine says, his voice low and gritty. “I’m coming for you. I’ll knock down your henchmen one by one and then I’ll give you the recognition you’ve always wanted. I’ll make sure you’re the most famous prisoner in the Big Little City Prison.”

  “Watch out!” Lysee adds. When she moves her head, her hair sparkles with silver hues.

  “Professor, we have something that belongs to you.” Shine smiles and pauses, letting that mystery sink in with the viewers. “If you want your producer back, I’ll give you a chance to retrieve him shortly.”

  He glances back at Lysee, gives her the slightest nod, and together they chant, “Let justice shine!”

  The screen fades out, but my anger continues to burn.

  ***

  The Professor calls us to an assembly in Sequoia’s living room to convo this new development. I foolishly assume we will discuss ways to bargain for Leo.

  “Should we reshoot the hostage vid and include a response to Shine?” The Professor asks.

  Gold shakes his head. “Shine is an upstart. He’s beneath you. Your only focus is on Beacon. She’s your mortal enemy. Don’t let a pretty boy in a shiny costume ride your lab coat to fame.”

  “He’s not just a pretty boy,” Mermaid points out. “Shine has a strong following. This spinoff will make waves.”

  “We’re about to drown that news,” Gold says. He perches on the edge of the couch.

  “Gold is right,” Ash Anders speaks up. The Mayor of Chicago stands in the doorway of the living room, having evidently decided to drop in on this meeting. Now he looks at The Professor. “Don’t split your focus. By giving Shine attention you only make him more powerful. Focus on your true opponent.”

  The Professor nods.

  “Perhaps we should engage Shine,” I mention. “He has Leo, after all.”

  “We can get by without him,” Gold says with a shrug. I haven’t failed to notice how the lenses of the drone cams seem perpetually turned on him. Kitty is controlling them, but no doubt he added a few special commands to her program. He who controls the cams controls the story.

  I suddenly recognize what a weapon we’ve given to Gold. If he turns against any one of us, he can edit us right out of the show. I’ve got to be even more careful around him than I already am, and we def need to get Leo back.

  “Leo is the only one who can access all the footage from the Chicago heist,” I point out. “We’ve got to submit the ep in two days.”

  “Look, we all want to recover our valiant producer,” Gold says, his words dripping with false sincerity, “and that footage is handy, but if need be, we can make do without it.”

  I open my mouth to argue but Gold continues. “We’ve got all the footage of our secret planning, and we can use a mix of the Band recordings from guests at the auction along with some cut-out narratives from the rest of us to fill in the full picture. Even the mayor can grudgingly tell his side of the story.” Gold grins at me. “Viewers will call it avant-garde.”

  The Professor frowns. “We do need to retrieve our producer, but I don’t believe he is in significant danger. There is no call to abuse production staff. It isn’t done.”

  I hold in my groan. That might’ve been true in the old days during The Professor’s original show where everything was wink-wink, but nothing is off-limits anymore. Shadow proved that when he blew up my restaurant and hacked police officers to death with his molten ax. The old rules of decorum are gone as the glaciers.

  “If we ignore Shine, maybe he’ll just let Leo go,” Sequoia says. He stands next to me against the wall. “Does he even have a headquarters?”

  Good question. How long has Adan been planning his spinoff? Surely he hasn’t had time to set up his own headquarters yet. Does that mean he’d take Leo to his house? No, Adan isn’t that lobotomy. He knows I know where it is. Maybe he’s staying with a friend or he’s using one of the empty, dilapidated buildings in what we politely call “The Old Neighborhood” and less politely deem the “Villain Spawning Ground.” More than one vil has gotten their start in an empty factory or vacant storefront in that area of town. Capes, too. Lobo hibernated in a creepy old dress shop filled with disfigured mannequins until his ratings jumped enough for him to rent a real headquarters.

  I tune back into the convo. The others are discussing when to release our hostage vid.

  “We lose impact if we post it right after Shine,” Gold is saying. He’s on his feet now.

  “The heist is already all over the news,” Mermaid points out. “Everyone knows The Professor crashed the auction. It’s only a matter of time until someone figures out that we kidnapped the mayor. We need to take control of this story. I say we release it now.”

  “Yes, release it now,” Ash Anders says. “I would prefer to be back into Chicago sooner rather than later, and we still need to discuss my dramatic escape.”

  “In good time,” The Professor assures him.

  This is how we convinced Anders to become our willing
kidnapping victim. It’s why the Chicago PD isn’t tracking his Band and why the gossip Streams have only run shaky vids from guests at the auction and no recordings from the library’s security cams that could clearly identify us. The Professor promised Anders a dramatic kidnapping followed by a courageous and death-defying escape that will turn him into a celebrated hero overnight. That’s a kind of publicity no politician can buy, no matter how many crypto Loons he has.

  As the group continues to argue, my Band bleeps angrily at me. Bob’s scruffy face appears on the project holo-screen. “Hey,” he says, “I got something to tell you.”

  “Shhhh,” I hiss and slip into the hallway, away from the babble of voices. I look down at my Totem. “You’re supposed to be on mute.”

  “Yeah.” He grins at me, “but I can override that for high priority messages and appointments.”

  “I got a high priority message?” Did Alby contact me again? Or what if something’s happened to him, and my mom is calling with the bad news? What if he took too many Mellows or he had one of those VR seizures the news Streams are always warning about?

  “Nope, not a message. You’ve got school.”

  I stare at Bob’s round face and beady eyes. “School?”

  “Midterms,” he clarifies.

  “Midterms?” I croak out the word as the realization dawns on me. “Midterms! Buddha’s knuckle warts!”

  I’d forgotten.

  Utterly…

  Totally…

  Forgotten. What, with kidnapping the Mayor of Chicago and then having our evil lair infiltrated, midterms totally slipped my mind. I stand in the hallway like a drooling lobotomy as my mind painfully adjusts, and then I look at the time again.

  Blight! My legs move. I careen back into the living room. “I have to go!” I huff. “It’s an emergency.”

  The Professor frowns. I give him a pleading look and he finally nods. “Get back as soon as you can.”

  I nod. Sequoia looks at me with questions in his eyes, but I don’t have time to explain.