by R. J. Ross
The liquid ground is spreading towards the Cape Cells. We’re too close. If something happens to the Cape Cells again, we’ll have the exact same problem we had when Herold turned the electricity off, right? Well, maybe not exact, but a very similar one.
“Where’s the trap?” I ask Nico, chasing after the man I’d just thrown. “We need to lock him up before he goes after the Cape Cells!”
“Waiting for you to toss him in,” Nico says. I dare to glance over, seeing the casket looking box already open and waiting. I nod and turn back to my job, looking around. He’s disappeared again, but the new energy he took from me is glowing in my eyes. He’s in the metal wall. It starts jerking, erratically, and then it starts to melt. I watch as the metal drips, slowly at first, like a blob of frosting, and then the wall turns completely into liquid, splashing to the ground in a rush. I jerk back, not wanting to get hit with it. Oh, sure, I would survive being coated in metal, I think, but really, who would WANT to be? Well, you know, other than Ruckus and Jack, I guess.
“He’s losing control,” Skye says. “If he keeps going like this…”
“Yeah,” I say as I see him trying to run from the wall. I rush forward, grabbing him again. He looks at me, and for a second I see a look of clear understanding in his face. He gives me a bittersweet smile. I’m certain that he’s gained control—and then everything that is HIM scatters like dust, even the part that I was holding with an energy coated hand.
He’s gone. No, he’s not pulled the disappearing act like he did before, this time he’s… he’s really gone. What energy he had pulled from me fizzles out, just like he has. I feel tears well up, and my bottom lip starts to tremble. He wasn’t a good man. In fact, everything I knew about him made me dislike him, but…
I look up as Nico comes to me, and I try to wipe the tears away, but all it does is make me cry harder. “I—I should have—” I sob as he pulls me into a hug. “I should have tried to put him in the… in the trap… faster…” I sob.
“We don’t know for sure that he’s gone,” Nico says, but I think he’s just saying that to try and calm me down.
“He might have gotten away?” Skye offers. I look at her, and she looks away, clearly not willing to look me in the eye and lie.
“It’s… it’s my fault,” I whisper.
“No, I should have done it,” Nico says.
“Why DIDN’T you do it?” Skye asks him. “You could have figured out another way, right?”
“He was already on the brink,” Nico says. “Had I used the power blocker, it would have killed him for sure. Had I gone for a one-on-one, he would have run, or burnt through his energy even faster than he did. I was counting on him having enough energy that he would just be weakened if Jimmi drained a bit. It was a balancing act, but it should have worked…” he looks at the Cape Cells, frowning. “If he had had the same amount as the readout from before, it should have worked…”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“I mean someone inside the Cape Cells tapped his supply before we caught up to him, and he was in survival mode when he fought you. We just didn’t realize it,” he says, grimly, letting out a curse. “I should have been following it with my phone, not my eyes. I’m not that good with judging biological energy, super or not.”
“I should have noticed, but he moved so erratically and attacked straight off…” I say, but I know it’s a poor excuse. “Was it Herold that tapped him?”
“He shouldn’t have been able to,” Nico says, clapping his hands together and pulling them apart to create a hologram. A recording starts playing, and we watch in silence as Herold throws a clay doll at Penski. “We need to get that doll,” Nico says, heading back inside.
“What if he isn’t gone?” I ask, looking around.
“Then we’ll find out sooner or later, but right now we need to speak to Herold,” Nico says.
“What if he DOES have his powers back?” Skye asks.
“We’ll have to take measures to make sure he doesn’t escape,” Nico says.
“I… do you… would it be okay if I stayed here?” I ask him.
He looks over, a bit startled for a second before nodding. “Sure,” he says. “But Jimmi… you didn’t kill him.”
“Actually… I think I did,” I say.
“No,” he says. “He as good as died in the explosion. What we had here was just a… ghost.”
I nod, not really knowing if I agree with that evaluation or not. “What am I going to tell Davis?” I whisper, dropping to the now solid ground and walking to the wall. I touch the ragged edges of the hole, running my fingers over it as Nico gives me one last look before heading inside. I sink to the ground, hugging my knees to my chest. Skye drops down beside me, not saying anything for a moment. I look at her, since a silent Skye is a dangerous and foreign thing.
“I don’t think you killed him, either,” she says. “I should have been the one fighting him. I know Nico said I shouldn’t, but it was my mess to clean up! He stole my powers, and—and he did all of that stuff when I was a kid.”
“I could stop him… at least, we thought I could,” I say, “and it was exactly because of all the things he did that you SHOULDN’T have been the one to do it, right?”
“I could have stopped him,” she says. “I just didn’t, because you’re right. If I had really done it, and what happened had happened… it wouldn’t have been an accident, it would have been on purpose, because I HATED him,” she says, staring straight forward. “I can’t do that. I can’t go over that line. You—you don’t blame me, do you? I won’t blame you if you do. This still shouldn’t have been your fight.” There are tears trickling down her face, as well, and I reach over, pulling her into a one-armed hug. We’re both crying, now, and I know that the drones are still recording us, I just can’t stop myself.
“You’re not a murderer, Skye,” I tell her. “You’re a… a textbook villain, who plays by the rules and loves her partners, and doesn’t destroy miles and miles and miles of land, even though you could. I’m proud to be one of your nemeses. And the fact that you let me fight him just shows that you aren’t.”
“I really thought we could do it,” she whispers. “It looked like it was going to work… even with Herold and the doll, it should have worked. Why didn’t it work?”
The image of his bittersweet smile appears in his mind, and I say, not certain I’m right, “Maybe he didn’t want to be caged.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
*Above Reaper’s Secret Base*
“Where did he go?” North asks, floating side by side with her sisters as the storm devastates the ground below. She doesn’t really WANT to do this, even though a part of her is thrilled to see what they can do when they actually work together. She looks around, wondering for the first time if Reaper has powers that they don’t know about. Oh, she’s heard rumors that he can travel through mirrors and such, but that’s all they are, rumors. She has never even seen him in act—
She lets out a muffled scream as she’s grabbed from behind and a gloved hand covers her mouth as they drop through the air. They go straight through the storm, and she jumps as a flash of lightning shoots past them. He doesn’t even seem to notice, she thinks, almost giddily. Of course it wouldn’t hurt her, much, but he’s not a nature based super, is he? He’s… what IS he?
They hit the ground, at least he does. She’s still several feet up, thanks to their height differences. “Now,” he says, “I know you three don’t get along all that well, but you’re messing up my place, and I don’t tolerate mess makers.”
“Give us the child and we’ll leave!” she says as soon as his hand moves away.
“Tell me, North, why didn’t you ask before attacking, in the first place?” he asks. With only two of them doing the work, the storm won’t last much longer.
She fights, trying to jerk free, but he’s stronger than she is, and the longer he holds her, the weaker she begins to feel. “He knows about my daughter,” she whispers. “My
little girl is almost thirteen. He as good as—”
“Put her in Cape High,” Reaper says callously. “There’s no reason to rip up a perfectly good secret base!”
“She’s a super villain’s daughter!” she says.
“So? So is my daughter, and she’s doing perfectly fine,” he says. “GIRLS! Get your tooshies down here, we need to have a talk about how you’ll be paying for my landscaping!”
“Give us the child, Reaper,” South says even as the storm starts to calm down. “We aren’t going to compromise. You might be stronger than us on our own, but when the three of us work together, you’ve got no chance.”
“I thought you were the more reasonable one, South,” he says, still holding North.
“No, that’s East,” South says.
“I’m sorry, Reaper, but I can’t let you stop us,” East says. There’s a desperate expression on her face as she holds her hands out. The sky turns an eerie shade of orange and the wind kicks up, starting to spin around them. South looks at her, hesitating for all of a second before holding her hands out as well. The wind goes faster. In Reaper’s arms, North nods, adding her powers to theirs.
“Really? A twister?” Reaper demands.
“Give us the girl and we’ll make it stop,” East says. “We don’t want to do this, but we have no choice, Reaper. There’s no one that will save a bunch of B-class villains! The Hall barely knows we exist! We have to save ourselves!”
“I know you exist,” he says, “and I’m always happy to save a group of beautiful women.” He bites the fingertip of his glove, jerking it off. “Unfortunately, sometimes I have to play dirty to do it,” he mutters, letting just one finger brush against North’s neck. She goes limp in his arms, her own arms falling. The twister slows down, a bit, but not enough.
“YOU KILLED NORTH!” South bellows.
“I just knocked her out for a bit,” Reaper says, gently putting North down. The twister comes down, hitting him straight on as the two others rage, not hearing his words. He lets out a curse and moves, using his body to block it from hitting the unconscious North. The wind rips at his clothing, trying and failing to lift him, yet tattering one of his favorite Zoot suits. With each inch of exposed skin, the grass under his feet starts dying. He glances over his shoulder at North, knowing that if this goes on, she really will die. She’s strong, sure, but not strong enough, especially when unconscious.
He summons his scythe, right in the middle of the tornado, and slices it into two. The twister falls apart, replaced by a half-hearted wind blowing across the rapidly dying ground. “You cannot beat me, ladies,” he says, his voice echoing unnaturally. It’s felt, more than heard, and the two floating in the air go still, suddenly terrified.
“We… don’t have… to,” North says from behind him, her voice weak. “By now… he has the… girl.”
“Who has the girl?” Reaper demands, whirling on her, his scythe still in his hand.
“Our brother,” she says, her eyes on the scythe.
“Ah… no, not exactly,” a voice says. They all turn to the shadows of a fallen tree, watching as Shadowman steps out, pushing their brother in front of him. West gives his sister a sheepish look, which isn’t helped by the black eye that he’s sporting.
“West!” East exclaims. “What did he do to you?”
“Nobody told me that there were TWO of them,” West says. “I’m so sorry, girls. I tried… I guess I’m just not as good a magician as I thought I was.”
“Two?” South asks.
Rocco steps out of the shadows, carrying his little sister in one arm, and pulling Ashlynn behind him with his free hand. “Yeah, there are two of us. But I do have some good news for you.”
The triplets look at him, not looking hopeful at all. “Let him go,” South says. “If you let him go, we’ll leave—”
“Ah, yeah, no, see,” Rocco says, “we’re not using him as leverage.”
“I might be using him as leverage,” Shadowman says to his son.
“I might want to use him as leverage, as well,” Reaper says.
“We’re NOT using him as leverage,” Rocco tells them both. “We don’t need to. Walter Colleck’s teleporter turned him in. Nico is pretty positive that he’s The Professor. And also, all of you are invited to bring your kids to Cape High, where Nico will personally make sure they grow up to be proper super villains, and, unlike you three, willing to work together. Also, we have the best security system in the world.”
“How can we trust the word of a hero?” South demands.
“Who’s a hero, here?” Rocco demands, offended. “This is just a friendly little negotiation between super villains.”
“You’re not a hero? You sure sound like one,” East says.
“I’m one of the new villains, one being trained by Technico, like your kids will be,” Rocco says, giving her a little grin. “I’m Nightstep.”
“Reaper, you really need to put some clothes on,” Shadowman says. “I think you’ve killed everything green in a mile radius. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’m going blind from how pale you are.”
“This isn’t the end of this, Shadowman,” Reaper says.
“On my behalf,” Shadowman says, “I was really hoping your kid would off the Collector for me.” Rocco groans as Reaper’s bare hand shoots out, closing over Shadowman’s face and sending the man falling to the ground.
“Tell me that’ll keep him down,” West says hopefully.
“Alas, no, he’s stronger than that,” Reaper admits, “but it is remarkably satisfying, nonetheless.” He turns and heads for the entrance of his lair. “I expect you all to clean up my territory. Do you have any clue how expensive landscaping is for a man that kills grass like I do?” He’s gone before they can think up a reply.
***
*Central Hall*
The sight of all of the Hall Leaders sitting at the curved table is a bit intimidating. Mi papá, Nico, and Max are standing to the side of the room, just watching the situation for now. I’m the one that’s front and central at the moment. The only other person in the room is Falconess, who stands by the door.
“So,” Century says as the video stops playing on the hologram between them and me. I chew on my bottom lip, wondering what I should say. “I would say that it’s pretty obvious that what happened was not Burnout’s goal or, ultimately, fault.”
“That was her energy that the created super was using, wasn’t it?” Negatia asks. I think the questioning tone of that comment was only her being polite. Of all the supers on the board, she’s the one that can see best what he had been.
“I can explain that,” I say. “I was kidnapped by Davis’s father and stuck in a cell that sucked out all of my energy and--”
“We have someone willing to testify about that,” Century interrupts. “Can we bring in Ms. Mace?”
I glance over at Falconess, who nods and steps out, leaving the room silent for a moment. “We also have a meeting with Cheval’s daughter lined up after this, correct?” Negatia asks the others. “About the fate of the mad scientist child.”
“Davis,” I say.
“The same Davis whose father kidnapped you?” Isotonic asks.
“Yes, the same Davis,” I say. “He’s not the same as his father. He’s a… well, he’s not his father. We need to get him back in the school, so he doesn’t BECOME like his dad. He’s too smart by half, you know?”
“That’s what the meeting with Veronica is about, isn’t it?” Marigold asks, flipping through the paperwork in front of her. She glances at the clock, sighing slightly. “Tell me, Burnout, how is Jonas doing in the South Branch school?”
“Jonas?” I ask, startled. Oh, right, Jonas is actually Marigold’s, isn’t he? “He’s our only healer, so he’s got a lot of work he has to do,” I admit. “We could use at least one more. Is anyone willing to negotiate?”
“For what? You?” Isotonic asks, clearly interested in a trade.
“Burnout isn’t up for trade,” Ce
ntury says. “We can always scout some of the adults, darlin’, they might like the promise of being closer to the beach.”
“Trying to scalp my healers?” Isotonic asks, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The door opens before they can start to argue, and I look up as Ms. Mace walks in. Before the door closes, though, Davis and his mother push their way in. He looks fine, which is good to see. I lift a hand, waving at him, and he nods, a frown on his face. I wonder what happened. Did he find out that the created super was Penski? I frown, as well, absently hugging myself.
“Ms. Mace, come forward,” Mastermental says, interrupting my line of thought. “You’ve come to testify against Walter Colleck, AKA Walter Colleck Sr., AKA, I believe, The Professor?”
“Yes, sir,” the sharp looking woman says. Her jaw comes up in a defensive manner. “He’s a super.”
“I object!” Davis’s mother says.
“Really, mother, do you think they don’t know?” Davis says. “And this isn’t like one of your television courts. They don’t care if you object.”
“Be quiet, Davis,” his mother says. “We cannot allow them to say he’s a super, that will make it easier to call you one,” she whispers. I sort of want to tell her that we can all hear her.
“Mother, they’re supers. They heard you,” Davis points out, as if reading my mind. “Besides, it doesn’t matter if they use that evidence or not, you promised that I could go back to Cape High South.”
“Yes, but that was a moment of weakness, Davis. You had just survived a terrible thing, of course I was going to say yes to whatever you asked, but you really should be going to college!”
“You agreed to it, you can’t go back on your word, I have it recorded. And I am a super,” Davis says. “You can do all the tests you want to prove it. I even have a record with the hospital of being one. You can’t hide it, and even if you could, I won’t let you.” He heads forward, stopping next to me. “My name is Davis Monk, I’m the son of Walter Colleck and Lydia Monk née Penski. I am a super genius. Ah, I think the term you would pin on me is Mad Scientist.”
