Burn Out (Cape High Series Book 21)

by R. J. Ross

“You hired the scientists from SITEC?” Richard asks.

  “They were at loose ends, and I have a genius to educate,” Walter says. “I plan on collecting my son, next. You are in room two-thirteen,” he goes on, leading Richard down a set of stairs. “Your sister informed me that you like being underground.”

  “Why are you doing this?” Richard asks.

  “You impersonated me,” Walter says as they reach his new room.

  “I… ah, yes, yes I did,” Richard admits. “I apologize for that fact. I didn’t plan on you finding out, of course.”

  “Of course,” Walter agrees, opening the door and motioning him inside. Richard walks in, looking around and stopping. He’s seen this sort of layout before. His eyes go to the narrow ventilation shaft on the wall right above the baseboard.

  “That isn’t for air conditioning,” Richard says.

  “It’s for… insurance,” Walter says. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you unless I absolutely have to. There are other ways to deal with any uprising you might decide to do. I wouldn’t want to make your sister worry.”

  “So… you can drug me at any moment?” Richard asks.

  “You should be used to that, right?” Walter says. “If there’s anything you need, don’t bother to ask.”

  “Wait,” Richard says. “What if I offer you something good?”

  “And what are you trying to get out of it?”

  “Not gassed,” Richard says. “I have something I’ve been working on for years. It promises to change the world, and I’m very close to finishing it.”

  “I’m listening,” Walter says. “Not too closely, I will admit, but I’m listening. I’ll give you, oh, let’s say… five minutes.”

  Richard looks at the ventilation shaft and then at the genius super standing there, smirking slightly as he tracks the time on his watch. Richard tells him everything. He had expected Walter to be impressed, or at least intrigued, but all the man does is look thoughtful for a moment before nodding.

  “That might be a decent enough toy to keep Davis busy for a week or two,” Walter says. “Of course, once my son is done fixing your little toy, I expect you to have a new challenge drawn up.”

  “Wait, you can’t be serious,” Richard says. “I’ve been working on this project for—for decades! How can you expect a twelve-year-old, even a genius one, to finish something that I’ve not finished in all that time?”

  “Because, Richard, you are you and he is my son,” Walter says. “The only reason I didn’t let them toss you into prison and throw away the key is because I need little challenges for my child to grow up properly. Everything here is for that. Everyone here is for that. The moment something or someone proves himself to be useless is the moment that I get rid of them. You understand, don’t you? It’s nothing personal. I just don’t care about you.”

  “Lydia will have something to say about this,” Richard says, desperately falling to a level he’d thought he could avoid.

  “Lydia is a smarter girl than you think, Richard,” Walter says. “Besides, she’ll be a bit busy for a while.”

  “Doing what?” Richard asks.

  “Being the mother to my children,” Walter says. “I plan on having more, now that I know the results are so good. Now we’re wasting precious time, Richard. Go find something else to keep my boy occupied. How about I get you something that Technico has built? From what I’ve heard, he’s quite prolific at building toys, now that he’s out of the Cape Cells.”

  *Now*

  Richard stands here, now, wondering how things have gotten to this point. Of course he’d planned on using Davis to finish the machine, but he hadn’t expected it to happen like this. He jerks slightly as the door slides open. Walter strides in with a pair of familiar looking glasses in his hand. Richard starts forward, reaching for them, only to stop as Walter holds up a finger and heads to a machine towards the back. It’s a scanner, one that Richard had been wondering about. The glasses are placed on it, and the machine lights up, scanning the glasses.

  A blueprint appears on the nearest monitor, but instead of proper specs, there’s a sea of question marks. “Fascinating,” Walter says, touching the monitor and zooming in on various parts. “He’s come quite a ways since we last played together.”

  “Who has?” Richard asks, walking over. He’s fascinated by the glasses. “Can you make them work?”

  “I haven’t tried,” Walter admits. “I barely got the boy to go to sleep. He was well into the fourth game system before he started to fall over. When he’s older, he’ll be nearly impossible to catch sleeping.”

  “So he could wake up at any moment?” Richard asks. “Also, if Technico created these glasses, don’t you think he could be listening in?”

  “I’m certain that he is,” Walter says, looking far too entertained with that fact. “Aren’t you, Technico? Did you really think I wouldn’t notice the game you’re playing?”

  Instead of a reply, tiny popping sounds come from the glasses, and the monitor that had been displaying the question marks flickers and pixelates before the screen turns blue. Richard curses, heading for the computer to try rebooting.

  “Don’t bother,” Walter says. “He’s wiped the hard-drive, I’m sure. It’s what I would do in his place.” There’s a little smile on his face that sends a chill down Richard’s spine. “Ah, yes, this is much more interesting than being on the island. I should have come back the moment I knew he got out of the Cape Cells.”

  “But Davis was wearing those,” Richard says. “He was in on this.”

  “Of course he was,” Walter says. “He’s a smart boy, I’m sure he made some sort of deal with Technico before he came here. But I expected to have to earn his loyalty from the beginning. Technico is merely… a challenge. I enjoy challenges.” He turns and walks away. Richard hesitates for a moment, looking at the glasses before chasing after the other man.

  “Hello, Shadowman,” Walter says over his phone. “I think it’s time we had that little… face to face, just like you asked for.”

  ***

  *Cape High South*

  The sounds are both familiar, and not. I lie there in my bed, staring at the ceiling of the dorm room I’ve set up, wondering what I should do. I’m here to be protected, but I still need to keep in touch with Shadowman, right? He’s using me, I’m using him, and so on. Oh, but he’s not the problem this morning. I get up, quickly taking a shower and getting dressed. I need to get breakfast for everyone and then meet with Phoebe Woods for her first consultation. Rochester is here, at least, so I can wake him up and drag him along. I head for the kitchen, already sorting through what I need to do, only to stop as I hear someone already working.

  I hesitate for a second before walking in, seeing Vinny cooking up a storm. “This is usually my job,” I say as he glances over.

  “I thought you had enough to deal with,” he says, “but you’re welcome to help.” I nod and head in, slipping into the habit of cooking with him that feels almost as comfortable as helping Papa. We spent months like this, in the early mornings, companionably working side by side until the students showed up.

  “These kids, for the most part, don’t need the extra large breakfasts,” I tell him. “They don’t have the same calorie needs that yours do.”

  “They might not need them, but once in a while won’t hurt,” he says, flipping a pancake. “Besides, it’s the weekend.”

  “Yeah,” I say, falling silent. I can hear the students start to move around. Soon, they come trickling in, still wearing pajamas. They line up, looking expectantly at the kitchen and waiting for food. I make sure everyone’s served and start for the door, only to stop as Vinny grabs the back of my shirt. “What?” I ask.

  “Eat,” he says, holding out a plate that’s heavy with food. “You have a busy day, right?”

  “I was just going to grab a bite…” I give up as I realize he made me blueberry pancakes topped in whipped cream and berries, with a side of bacon. I give in, taking the
plate and going to sit next to Whitney and Marisol. I love blueberry pancakes. I start eating, telling myself that Rochester isn’t ready, so I have some time.

  “There was someone asking for you in the game last night,” Marisol tells me. I glance over, my mouth too full to ask the question. “He said he was… Shadow something?” she looks at Whitney.

  “Shadowman,” Whitney says. “He said his name was Shadowman… and that he wanted to talk to you.”

  “He’ll have to wait,” I say. “Seems stupid, going into a game that Nico invented—” I start to complain, only to stop as Nico steps into the cafeteria.

  “Vinny, can I get something to eat?” Nico asks.

  “Sure,” Vinny says, going back to cooking. Nico walks through the suddenly silent room, dropping down across from me. He’s got a Capuchin monkey sitting on his shoulder. “Hello, girls, what’s the plan for today?”

  “Nico, he came looking for me in the game,” I say, quietly. “How egotistical is Shadowman? I thought he would be sneakier than that.”

  “He is being sneaky,” Nico says, “but it’s not me that he’s hiding from. We had a little… chat the other day after he grabbed you. Don’t worry about him, for now. I’m taking care of that situation. You’re scheduled to meet Phoebe Woods before she’s released this morning. This is her pet,” he holds up a hand to the monkey, which jumps from his shoulder to his palm and onto the table, startling the girls.

  “Oh my gosh, it’s so cute!” Whitney says.

  “He’s sort of scary, if you ask me,” Marisol says, looking a bit uneasy.

  “He’s like that monkey in the pirates movies, right?” Whitney says. “That’s not scary, at least, not THAT scary.”

  “So I get Rochester, give her the monkey, and have him check what she’s been doing, and thinking?” I say as the monkey jumps up on my shoulder. “Are you coming, too?” I ask.

  “I’ll be listening in,” he says. “This is part of your training, right?”

  “Is it?” I say. “Did I ever tell you that I don’t really want to be a Hall leader?”

  “No one ever does,” he says, grinning slightly. “Now get going. They’re talking about releasing her, already.”

  I leave the cafeteria, stopping on the boy’s level of the dorm and calling out for Rochester. “I need your help, please!” I add as the door opens and he steps out with his shirt still unbuttoned. Several more tattoos are showing, thanks to that. He yawns, barely covering it with his hand.

  “What’s tha problem? Did Skye go swimmin’ again?”

  “No, I’m dealing with a psychic who just recently got her powers back,” I explain as we head off campus. He’s wearing his black suit, but those are definitely Vans. I wonder if I should point that out.

  “An’… why d’ ya have a monkey?” he asks after we’re already a mile away.

  ***

  The hospital part of the Hall is busy this morning, so I head in without bothering the nurses. Rochester trails after me, looking around curiously. I see his eyes linger on a few people, and it reminds me of something. “Dolly says that you two have a date sometime this week,” I tease. The tiniest of smiles pulls at his lips.

  “Yeah,” he says. “We’re goin’ t’ the amusement park with Cisco. They haven’t met, yet…”

  “She loves kids,” I say, “don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll get along fine.” I mean, she’s perfectly fine with a boyfriend that can read her mind, so a kid that can do the same is no big deal, right?

  “I still don’t see how she can handle it,” he admits. “She knew even ‘afore we started talkin’.”

  “She’s an elf,” I say. “She’s got nothing to hide… except for her massively huge shoe collection, that is. She pays extra for rent so she can have an entire room for her closet.”

  “There’s a reason,” he says. “She’s always thinkin’ ‘bout how she’s just standin’ there, not doin’ or sayin’ anythin’ while she works. She at least wants t’ be beautiful, which she is, anyway.”

  I nod, feeling a bit sad about that fact. I know about Dolly’s problem. It makes sense, too, but the world knows what she’s doing. She’s just too self-conscious—I jerk, pulled to a stop as Rochester grabs my hand, tugging me to the side as nurses wheel a woman on a gurney past us. My eyes widen as I realize that she’s pregnant. “Oh, thanks, I wasn’t paying attention…” I stop as I see his eyes glowing, and jerk my hand away. “Don’t do that,” I tell him.

  “Ah, sorry, but…” he hesitates, and I hear my commlink ding.

  “We’re late,” I say, heading down the hall a little faster.

  “Jimmi—” he starts out, following me.

  “We need to get this done so I can go and see what Nico is doing,” I tell him. “He said something about ‘dealing with a situation,’ which means there IS a situation—”

  “Jimmi, y’ gotta stop!” he says. “Yer in no shape t’—”

  I’ve already opened the door to Phoebe’s room. I look at Rochester, wondering what he’s talking about, but Phoebe’s noticed me at this point. “Well, how… fascinating,” she says, almost purring. “Come in, come in, I would love to get to know you better.”

  Why do I suddenly feel like a fly being invited into a spider web? I hesitate, glancing at Rochester again before squaring my shoulders and stepping into the room. I bring up my commlink and turn my E.P.B. on, just in case. Had it been on earlier, Rochester wouldn’t have been able to use his powers on me, but I’m not usually that worried about Rochester.

  “I’ve brought our resident psychic to check on you,” I say, ignoring how eagerly she’s watching me. “He’s going to check for any bad intentions you might have.”

  “And that little monkey on your shoulder?” she asks. “I’ll be honest, I expected something less… exotic, like a dog.” I hold out my arm and the monkey runs down it, jumping onto the bed and sitting there, looking at her. “It is a bit cute, I suppose. Tell me, can I hire it out for movies?”

  “It needs to be with you at all times,” I say, “so unless you’re there on the set, no.”

  “A shame,” she says. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. We’ll be spending time like this on a regular basis, right? We should get to know each other.”

  Rochester places a hand on my shoulder, stopping me so he can move to the chair right next to her bed. He holds out a hand, and Phoebe looks at it, hesitating for the first time since we entered. “Take the hand, Phoebe,” I order.

  “I know what y’ picked up on,” Rochester says quietly, staring her in the eye. “I know y’ think y’ can take advantage of it, but y’ better watch ya’self.”

  “Do you really think that you’re helping her this way?” Phoebe asks.

  “What are you talking about?” I demand.

  “Little Voltdrain girl, you’re called… Burnout, right?” she says, still not taking the hand. Instead she looks at me. “You’re very close to it, you know. You’re eating yourself alive, and you don’t even seem to realize it.”

  “Whatever you say isn’t going to get under my skin, Phoebe,” I say with a glare. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

  “You feel guilty for what people did when they used your little glow sticks,” she says. When? When did she get into my mind? Or did she? I look at Rochester, who’s gritting his teeth. Is she in his mind? “You want to make up for what happened, but you aren’t guilty. You were ignorant of what was going on. Just like I didn’t know what my father was doing to that little girl.”

  “Ignorance and innocence are two different things,” I tell her. “We both might have been ignorant, but we played a big part in them being able to do what they did. I supplied the power, and you helped him kidnap her. You broke both super and norm law, by doing that.” She flinches, ever so slightly, but doesn’t look away. “Neither of us are innocent, especially not you, so don’t try to pull that line on me.”

  “Oh, you heroes,” she says, sounding a bit disgusted. “You’re always so quick to
shoulder the blame. You’re right, of course. Ignorance and innocence are very different, but you and I both trusted people that we cared for, and were betrayed. Do you think it’s our fault that we loved the wrong people? Are you really going to look me in the eye and tell me that loving someone is a crime? Hah, it should be, sometimes,” she says before I can answer. “Trust me, I’ve figured that out, already.”

  “Loving someone isn’t a crime, but kidnapping is, and if you keep trying to manipulate me like this, I’ll call Mastermental,” I tell her. “Now take Rochester’s hand.”

  She takes the hand that’s offered, looking Rochester in the eye. “You can see for yourself that I only want to be young and beautiful for the rest of my life. I have no desire to go into your silly little game. I tried it, and oh, sure, I liked it, but it didn’t turn out pretty, and now I have Mastermental hanging over my head. Here, I’ll even lower my mental wall for you.”

  “Wall?” I ask Rochester.

  “It’s like a… metal wall, in her case. Usually it’s more… holey,” he explains, only to stop, his eyes glowing brightly. I can’t help but wonder what he’s seeing, but I don’t dare turn my E.P.B. off to find out. She’s looking far too interested in Rochester right now.

  “Oh, this is fun,” she says. “You must have very interesting dates, or not. Really, Rochester, you should have known better than to pick her.”

  “Will y’ shut up?” Rochester demands roughly.

  “Then again, are you sure that the little elf isn’t too sweet and innocent for you?” she asks, “Seems to me that it would get old, fast.”

  “I said to shut it,” he growls, his eyes glowing dangerously. She lets out a little yelp as the hand holding hers tightens. “You’re angry, I get that, but y’ ain’t gotta get snipy. You know as well as us tha’ this ‘as ta happen.”

  “I did NOT KNOW!” she roars, jerking her hand out of his. “I didn’t know what he did to the girl! I swear I didn’t! You heroes taking it out on me is unfair! Yes, I stripped them of their powers, I was angry and hurt! But we all know that that little shot isn’t the same as the serum! It doesn’t rip away their strength, completely! They survived the falls! And I know that I messed up! I’m a horrible person! But I swear I didn’t know about what my father did to the girl until Mastermental did it to me!” She looks at me, pleadingly. “You have to believe me.”