by R. J. Ross
"Why didn't he show me this?" I ask.
"Because he doesn't think there's anything of use. I don't know if there is, either, but I'm never going to hide something from one of my kids again," she says, looking me in the eye.
"But I'm not--"
"I think it should extend to friends of the family, as well, at least when it's something that involves risking their lives," she says. "I should have told the twins they were supers. I thought I had time," she says quietly. "Now I know better."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because they were living in the norm world. The Hall had no idea about them, I was their only protection," she says. "But when children are young, they say whatever comes to their mind. At first I feared them blurting out that they were supers, or that their father was in the Cape Cells. They just grew so fast. Before I knew it, they could have kept the secret, but I was so paranoid--" She takes a ragged breath, letting it out slowly. "I won't do that again," she says, turning to look at me. "I know this will take time you probably don't think you have, but don't you think you should at least check it out?"
I hesitate. I honestly haven't spent much time looking into the Cape Cells. "Yeah, I probably should," I admit. "Does he have it set up by prisoner?"
"Yes," she says, grabbing a keyboard that looks brand new, "here."
"Thanks, Summer," I say, dropping down into Nico's fancy computer chair. "I..." I hesitate, wondering what to say about her keeping the secret from the twins. "I sort of wish you had told them," I admit. "But it all worked out, right?"
"It did, but it so easily could have blown up in our faces," she says. "Keeping someone in the dark isn't a way to protect them, Max. It only makes them more vulnerable."
I feel like she just slapped me. I hesitate. "How old does a kid have to be to keep a secret, Summer?" I ask, instead.
"Your little brother and sister?" she asks, sitting down on the desk.
"Yeah," I say.
"Do you think they can keep it to themselves?" she asks.
I think about it. "Yeah. It's just..."
"Just?"
"I know for a fact that my mother regrets everything to do with my birth," I say as I bring up Massteria's file on the screen. There are several files, each tagged with a brief note. I stop as I see one noted as "Letters."
"Oh, Max," Summer says, sympathetically. "I wish..." she hesitates before walking over and hugging me from the side. I barely notice, because my attention is fully on the screen.
"Dear Massteria, I lost my first tooth today," is written on the first one in crayon. "Mommy says it means I'm growing up big and strong."
"Summer?" I say.
"I'm so sorry, Honey," she says. I pat her arm, twice, more to say I give and she can let go. Don't get me wrong, I like hugs from beautiful women as much as any guy, but this is important. Plus, someday she very likely will be the only mother I see on a regular basis. (Mother-in-law, sure, but with her like this I doubt that fact will matter.)
"Summer, how old are kids when they first start losing their teeth?" I ask.
"Usually around six or seven," she says, "why?"
"Why would a six-year-old be sending letters to Massteria?" I ask.
"Oh..." she says, "maybe he has a child? Or they're a fan?"
I bring up another letter, and another, seeing crayon change to pencil, writing turn to cursive. "It never says that it's from his child," I say slowly, "but why else would they be writing so consistently?"
"So... Massteria has a daughter?" she says.
"Or a son, but the writing and the color choices indicate it's a girl," I agree. "Why didn't Nico tell me about this?"
"Because even if we know he has a kid, we have no idea who the kid is," Nico says over my com-bracelet. "There's no signature and no address on the envelopes. They were all left at the Hall, and had no fingerprints on them."
"So it's a dead end?" I ask.
"At the moment," Nico says. "But if you can figure something out from it, have at it."
"Do we still have the letters themselves?" I ask.
"There might be some in the rubble of the old Cape Cells," he says. "They took most of it down, but any paperwork and evidence has been placed to the side in boxes."
"Let me look through the rest of this and then I'll head over there," I say, clicking on another file.
"Are you going to go see your mother before you go?" Summer asks as I scan through the files.
"I have no reason to," I say. "I might not have Dad wipe their memories of this, after all, but that doesn't mean I have to try and fail over and over again to pretend to be a family with her. What do you say, Summer? When I marry your daughter can I call you 'Mom'?"
"Of course you can," she says.
"That's good enough for me," I say. "And if any of your grandkids start flying before they can walk?"
"That's what they made those little baby leashes for, right?" Nico says. "She can take him out and fly him like a kite."
"Nico that was terrible," Summer scolds him. "And it might be a girl."
"Nah, the first one doesn't fly until she's older," Nico says.
I can't help but laugh, easily picturing Summer with a leash and a floating baby. "I'll get the leashes in all the colors," I say, grinning widely.
"We are NOT leashing our children, Max!" Zoe says over the com-bracelet. "Unless we absolutely have to, that is."
I stop, realizing something abruptly. (No, this has nothing to do with the child leashes, I swear.) "Nico? Can you get me permission to go into the South Branch?"
"What for?"
"I'm going to take the letters to Rochester," I say. "He doesn't need fingerprints to figure out who sent it."
"Swing by with that E.P.B. before you leave," he says.
***
In order to take the letters, I have to get them first, right? All dramatic announcements aside, I still have some digging to do before I can go rushing off into the sunset of "I told you so." Or however you want to put it. "Rushing off into the sunset..." Okay, it's wrong to laugh at myself, but that line was cheesy, even for me! I'm still trying not to laugh as I reach the Cape Cells. The new building is being built a few miles away, so this place is rather quiet at the moment. I stop, looking for the paperwork Nico mentioned, and see a few ratty looking boxes to the side. I open the box with a wave of my hand and set the papers floating all around me, scanning them quickly. None of them are what I'm looking for. I look over at the rubble, sighing reluctantly. I hate getting my hands dirty--
Oh wait, who needs hands? I take to the air again and wave a hand, lifting the rubble with my powers, searching quickly for any more paperwork that might have actually survived. I'm getting stronger, actually. I haven't mentioned this to anyone, but I'm pretty sure that Nico and my dad have noticed. I'm starting to get past the whole "gravity control" thing and into the finer details of being a full blown telekinetic. I'm not quite there yet, but I've definitely got finer control than I had before I started the school. Maybe I WILL officially get to M-Class before I'm twenty-one. It's always been sort of a dream of mine.
"Hi," someone says from behind me.
I go still, shocked that someone had managed to come up on me without me noticing. I turn, looking slowly at Phoebe Woods. "Who the hell are you?" I ask, keeping my expression neutral.
"I'm hurt," she says. "I mean, I'm your biggest fan and you don't even know who I am?" she asks, touching her chest. "I thought by now, for sure, you'd know my name, at least."
"It eludes me," I say, turning back to the rubble and starting to dig again.
"What are you doing here, Maxy?" she asks, walking just close enough to not get dirt on her clothes.
"It's Maximum," I say.
"Aww, but Maxy is so cute," she says. I don't look at her. She's up to something, and I don't have time for it. "What are you looking for?" she asks, again. "Can I help?"
"No," I say, deliberately sending a rock flying right past her.
"Do you treat all w
omen like this?" she asks. "How are you ever going to get a girlfriend?"
I look at her, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not interested."
"Oh, so you like boys?" she asks.
"I'm not interested in you," I say coldly. "Whatever you say on television doesn't change the fact that there is nothing between us, and never will be."
"Is it that teenage girl on the video?" she asks. "Long black and white hair? Everyone's wondering who she is."
I don't say a word. She's annoying and nosy, and... "This isn't any place for a norm," I tell her. "You're intruding on cape property."
"Will the big bad villain call the suits on me?" she asks, flirtatiously.
"Yeah, sure," I say. "As soon as they realize I'm here, they'll come running. All I have to do is leave you standing there." I land, finally having found some more paper. I pick it up, sorting through the few scraps. One is wide lined with a single letter at the ripped edge--this is what I was looking for. I take to the air again, just as she almost reaches me. I look at her for a moment, daring to open my mind and see what she's thinking.
It's like looking at a steel wall. I blink, almost showing my surprise. I've never met a norm with such a solid wall before. The paper crinkles in my hand and I look down at my unconscious fist. I don't have time to waste on this chick. I need to go talk to Rochester--
"You have no idea what I can offer you," she calls after me. "You're messing up, Maximum. You and I are meant to be together. You'll never find someone that can suit you like I do."
I actually laugh at that. I can't help myself. Thankfully she's far enough away that she can't hear me.
***
"Where is he going?" Phoebe mutters as she watches Maximum fly off. Now that he's gone she dares to go into the rubble, looking at what he had found. A familiar piece of paper flutters in the wind and she leans down, pulling it out from under a rock. "No..." she says, her eyes narrowing. "He wouldn't be..."
Why would Maximum be looking for something here? The escaped convicts have nothing to do with him, right? She stands, looking down at the scrap of paper she had sent her father all those years ago, wondering what Maximum thinks he could do with this.
Her phone buzzes and she pulls it out, cursing as she realizes what time it is. She's got a shoot in ten minutes. Getting back to Belladonna Springs would take too long by car. It's a good thing she ran, she thinks, looking down at her tennis shoes. They should survive the trip back, hopefully.
She shoves her sunglasses on and takes off, intent on getting back in time to take a shower first.
CHAPTER FIVE
"Hola, Maximum!" I look up as I reach the South Branch's border. There, floating as if he's been waiting for me, is the second-in-command of the South Branch Hall.
"Voltdrain," I say, glancing around to make sure no one is watching before approaching. "I should have permission to cross borders, I asked Nico to get it. I'm looking for Rochester," I say, holding out my hand to shake. He takes it with a broad smile.
"Si, si, we knew you were coming. I am here to tell you that you are not allowed to cause havoc and mass destruction, por favor."
"I'm not planning on it," I say, trying not to laugh. "I need Rochester to look into some evidence from the Cape Cells. I'm trying to find out as much as I can about Massteria."
"Then you need to head to the French Quarter," Voltdrain says. "But do not expect to run into Skystep, she is busy at the moment."
I blink. "I wasn't expecting to run into--" I start out.
"She is busy at the moment," Voltdrain repeats intently, staring me in the eyes. I open my mind. 'And I would very much appreciate if you would save her from it, she is driving the black suits loco,' he broadcasts.
'Did Century actually kidnap her like he was talking about?' I ask.
'Si, she and her amigas, they are being held in lock down and forced to sign things.'
"How do you lock down Skystep?" I ask, so startled that I speak aloud. He gives me a dry look. 'I'll take care of it,' I tell him, sighing and rolling my eyes as I fly off towards the South Hall Branch. Technically, they probably have the right to detain her, since she DOES break the law on a regular basis, but Century's doing it just to cover his own mistake and we all know it. I wonder how long they've had the ladies under lock and key. Probably not that long--Skystep can drive most people crazy really, really quickly. Zoe absolutely adores her. I'm surprised the Superiors haven't launched a rescue mission already, honestly.
I pull to a stop as I see the Hall building in the distance. I open my mind, scanning the minds inside to see where she and the others are at. 'Skye?' I venture when I catch sight of her mind.
"MAX!" she bellows excitedly, so loudly that I can hear her from here. "Max! Max! They've KIDNAPPED US!"
'And you just told them I'm here,' I complain, groaning loudly as the searchlights start scanning the sky.
'Sor-rry!' she yells mentally. "HEY! WE'RE OUT OF DIP IN HERE! ROOM SERVICE!" she bellows at the top of her lungs. "Oh, and I lied," she adds impishly. "Max isn't here, I was just pulling your legs."
The search lights turn off and I can't help but choke on a laugh. I wonder how many times she's pulled that on them. I just need to sneak in and get them out, right? It shouldn't take too long. Although no one would ever admit it, I AM in their database. I should be allowed into the building if I go in through the back. I'll get them out and head on over to Rochester's place to get what I need.
I head for the back of the building, landing silently in the shadows and waiting there for a moment. "Hey, Nico?" I whisper into my com-bracelet, "I need another favor."
"Yeah? What?"
"Get me into the South Branch building without anyone being alerted, would you?"
"Why's that?"
"Because I have to rescue your youngest sister," I say.
"Got it," he says. The wall slides open and I head in, floating instead of actually stepping on the ground. I see a handful of black suits standing to the side, cleaning their guns. Well, crap. I hold out a hand and touch their minds. 'You see nothing,' I whisper, trying out a mind-trick that I've never actually put into practice.
They jerk, and one bumps into the table with the cleaning supplies and a nasty looking taser on it. The taser goes sliding across the table and falls toward the ground.
I catch it with my powers, inwardly groaning over the fact that I'd botched it so badly. 'You can see!' I say. 'Just not me.'
They stop, breathing a little hard as they recover, and looking at each other. "What just--did you--" one says.
"Guys--guys, that thing is floating," a second one whispers, pointing at the taser I'm unconsciously keeping afloat. Another one grabs it, waving it around the room.
"Who's there?" he demands. "Come out!"
This is NOT going the way I planned it. I go past them, hoping they don't wind up hurting someone or something while they're freaking out. I really need to practice my mind control abilities--I know Dad said I just needed an hour or so with him and I'd get it down, but I'm starting to wonder. Maybe I should talk him into a week of training, or something.
'She needs to stop messing around so much,' I hear Doris think darkly. 'The sooner she gets those stupid pictures signed, the sooner we can go, right?'
'Lalalaa... Lover Lover, I'm your lover, doot doot,' I hear Skye sing. Even her mind's voice is out of key. Then again, I've never been much of a fan of Justin's music, so maybe it was originally sung that way? I creep down the hall, my feet not quite touching the floor, heading for their room. I expected it to be down, I think as I reach the stairs, not up. But then again, that "dip" comment does lead me to believe it's not exactly the Cape Cells where they're being held.
Wait, is Century in the building? I never even thought to check. I open my mind again, searching for the Hall Leader in question.
"Hello, son," he says from right behind me. "She did tell you that I would let them go as soon as she finished signing a handful of pictures, didn't she?"
I sig
h as I turn around, totally busted. "Was it the thing with the blind soldiers downstairs?"
"Not at all, although I know my team will be watching that one on repeat for a while," he says, grinning slightly. "Why don't we go have a little talk? One Hall leader to another."
"I'm not a Hall leader yet," I say as his hand clamps down on my shoulder and he pushes me in a different direction. "You realize that this is for the good of your black suits, don't you?" I add.
"HEY!" Skye says, the door behind me slamming open. She's wearing a necklace style power blocker instead of the collar version. It's shiny. "No man-handling my niece's boyfriend!" she says, storming out to glare at Century.
"Now, sugar," he says, "Max here is a future Hall leader. He and I have a lot to talk about and YOU three have a lot to sign before he can come save you," he says pointedly.
She glares at him. "I want more color pens," she says, finally. "And glitter! I want glitter!"
"Glitter isn't very super villain, though," I have to point out. She gets in my face for that.
"Glitter is EVIL," she tells me lowly. "You never get rid of it, EVER!" I don't even know how to argue with that one, so I guess I should just agree, right? I nod. She looks quite satisfied with my agreement. "I'll give you ten minutes, and then you are going to save me from all this, got it?" she declares. "Or else send one of my siblings and they can FLATTEN this stupid place!" she says for Century's benefit.
"They can't flatten a Hall, Skye," Century says in a tone that says they've had this conversation before, "they ARE Hall. Now if one of them was an acting villain like Max, here--"
"Max can flatten the Hall!" Skye says, jumping on my back. "We're family!"
Century looks at me when I actually contemplate it. "Well," I say, "she's got a point. But Skye," I say, "think of all the little girls that are looking forward to having your picture hanging on their walls. Think of all the little boys that have a crush on you."
