by R. J. Ross
"Now you're trying to bribe me," she mutters, glaring at me. "You're a stalker, and a briber, and a jerk!"
"Guilty," I say. "But if you don't want this stuff I guess I can take it back. I'd hate to offend--"
"Is that a computer?" she says.
"Oh, yeah, that I can't take back--I mean I BOUGHT it, but only because Zoe rebuilt it in the middle of Walmart. We had some people really freaking out there for a little bit--"
"Really?" she asks, looking suspicious. "No way would she have done something that stupid."
"She once took apart a brand new Lamborghini on the side of the road," I say. "A computer is piddly stuff in comparison. I did have to put her mask on for her really fast--she was too busy to notice it, herself."
"Whose Lamborghini?" she asks.
"Mine," I admit.
She bursts out laughing and Wendy jerks awake, snorting inelegantly. "Wh--what? Who--Max?" she asks, looking at us both. "What's going on?"
"We're just talking," I say.
"Mommy," Layne says, her eyes filling with tears again. "I had the worst nightmare EVER," she wails, going right back to how she'd been before we started talking. I move as our mother gets up and pulls Layne into a hug, whispering into her ear. I should leave. I mean, they're having a mother daughter moment.
"Are you okay now?" my mother asks. "You know, with Max here?"
"Huh?" Layne asks, pulling away. "It was just a really bad dream, Mom. It wasn't REALLY him, you know?"
"I see," our mother says, looking over at me curiously before looking around. "What is with all of this stuff?" she asks. "Where did it come from?"
"Max gave it to me," Layne says and blows her nose. "He's bribing me."
"Well--I--we can't keep the computer. That looks far too expensive--"
"We have to!" Layne says. "Zoe rebuilt it in the middle of the store!"
"She did what?"
"I wish I'd seen it," Layne says.
"I still don't agree with all of..." our mother stops, sighing and pulling Layne into a hug again. "It doesn't matter. I'm so glad we got you back, baby," she whispers. "That's all I needed."
I step out of the room, leaving them to their privacy. Before I can get very far, Zoe appears in front of me. "How did it go?" she asks.
"She thinks that it was just a really bad nightmare," I say, hugging her and resting my chin on her head. "Thank God."
"So... it's mostly over, right?" she says after a second.
"Mostly?" I ask.
"You still have your graduation gig, right? And," her eyes harden slightly, "Phoebe Woods is still out there."
"You really don't like her, do you?" I say, my mind going straight back to that talk I had with Rocco.
"I suppose she's pretty enough," she says, almost cattily.
"I don't think I've ever heard you sound like that before," I admit, intrigued by this. "Are you... I don't know... jealous?"
"I just don't like her. That's not the same as being jealous," she says.
"Zoe?" I say.
"What?"
"I love you."
"What sort of time is it for that?" she demands, blushing brightly. "You need to focus on your sister right now--"
"Will you go out with me?" I ask. "I've had enough time to think. Your dad said this was the time to step back and evaluate, you know? But I can't picture a future without you. No, that's a lie," I say before she can speak, "I can see one, I just don't like it."
"But what about all the things we have to do? What if we don't have time for one another?"
"We'll make time," I say. "And if we argue, I figure we'll just work it out as we go. I don't want to throw something important away just because it means a lot of work. I was literally born to fight massive battles, you know? So were you."
She hesitates, and then sighs. "I thought we were going to act as rivals," she says.
"We still can," I say. "How are the schools coming?"
"I've got the blueprints drawn up and I've been talking with Rochester and Angel from South Branch about what they'll be teaching," she says, her enthusiasm showing. "I'm also in negotiations for a few other retired capes in the area--they get bored, you know? Teaching is a perfect way to keep them from doing the same stupid stuff that Grandpa does all the time. I mean, you can get away with spaceships and strange lights up there, but not down south--"
"Oh, I'm sure you can do it down south, too," I say, trying not to laugh. Stories of Superior trolling the humans have become famous at our school, since everyone KNOWS Superior. "Have you thought about just setting up teleportation booths in the Halls?" I ask. "We could just let them teleport to Cape High--"
"They want their own schools," she says, giving me a look. "If they want their own schools and their own teachers, who am I to stop them? Besides, a smaller group like the one we have leads to closer relationships. Most of the kids that will go to school together will wind up working together in the future."
I smile, relaxing as she goes on about her plans for the various schools. My sister is going to be fine, Massteria is taken care of, and I have the graduation gig well in hand. The world is back on course--well, except for Phoebe Woods. But she spent all those years in the human world without causing problems, so maybe with her dad gone she'll just go back to her work. It's not like she was really all that invested in this, right? She was just...
Rocco's words come back, haunting me; she's just the stronger telepath.
***
*Belladonna Springs*
"Oh, wow," one of the sound techs says as the crew leaves work for the day. He and a few others are staring at someone's phone. "He really did a number on that guy, didn't he? You don't think that's the guy he was asking Phoebe about, do you?"
"Shush! She might hear you!" the woman next to him whispers. "If she finds out that he did THAT to the other guy--"
"What's going on?" Phoebe demands, while walking over and reaching for the phone. The guilty looks on their faces say it's definitely not something she's going to want to see. She ignores the looks, focusing on the screen. The video is finished playing, so she taps on the arrow, starting it over again.
She goes more pale with each blow that hits her father. For once she can't hide her reaction--she's horrified by what she's watching. The phone cracks in her hand, making its owner jerk.
"Wait--my--that's my phone--" he stammers as she throws the thing at the nearest tree.
"That. Is. IT," she snarls. "How dare he do that?"
"Phoebe?"
She ignores them and storms off, trying to regain her composure. It's not working. Maximum just ASSAULTED her father! How dare he?? "Maximum must DIE," she growls, slamming a fist into a tree and knocking it over. She stares at the fallen tree for a moment, her chest heaving as she forces herself to breathe. It's stupid, she realizes after a moment, thinking that she can go up against him in a traditional way. She needs to plot this out before she does anything. She needs to find an opportunity, a time when he's too distracted to see her coming.
***
*The Apartment Building*
"Chet," I say, dropping him down on their apartment's couch the next morning. "C'mon, kiddo, time to wake up." He mutters something before curling up and going even deeper into sleep. "Oh well, I tried," I say.
"How was that trying?" his mother demands. "At least put him to bed properly," she adds with a sigh. "I'm exhausted, too," she admits. "It's been a very long two days."
I pick Chet up with my powers, heading to the bedroom to put him in bed. I feel guilty. I need to say something to Wendy about what happened...
"Ken, you can put me down now," I hear my sister say. "I just had a nightmare, I barely remember it now. I can still walk."
"Are you sure?" he asks. "It was either I carry you out or put you in a wheelchair--"
"Thank you," she says, "but it's kind of embarrassing," she adds. "I feel like a baby."
He lets out a laugh and I walk in on him sitting her down in a chair. "There we go," he
says before looking at me. "The boys still haven't gotten back yet," he says casually. "Do you know where they are?"
"Probably crashing at my place," I say. "I think they had plans to empty every fridge in the house."
"Sorry about that," he says. "Mr. and Mrs. Brown, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call," he says to my mother and her husband before leaving.
I stand there, not sure what to say. They're all tired, I can see it in their faces. "Why don't I just let you all get some sleep," I say. "Once you've woken, we can discuss getting you all ready to move back to your place--actually, I need to get that ready, too," I admit. "We're going to install a security system. Don't worry, it won't cost you anything, it also won't call the cops."
"What do you mean it won't call the cops?" John asks.
"It'll call me or another Hall member," I say.
"I... see," he says. "Thank you, Max."
"I don't deserve to be thanked," I say quietly before heading out the door. I yawn, but I ignore that. Sure I need sleep, but I have more important things to do. I step out of the building's security, only to blink at the sight of every kid in the school working on the floats. "I didn't expect this," I admit.
"We heard what happened to your sister," Morgan says, looking up from the bolt she's tightening. "We thought you could use a little help."
"I appreciate it," I say. "I mean, really, thank you."
"We're helping with everyone's, not just yours," Vinny says from where he's placing plates of food on a table to the side. "Unless you're not allowed to have help in the background, that is."
"You don't tell Nico, neither will I," I say as I head to hit the buffet. I get the feeling that I won't have anything to eat at home for the rest of the day. "I owe you all," I say, stuffing a sausage into my mouth. "If you ever need a favor--" I stop, swallowing loudly as they all turn to me expectantly. "You already have something in mind, don't you?" I say finally.
"We want to be in the parade!" Carla says, appearing in front of me excitedly. "We can wear our uniforms--well, the ones with black uniforms can--"
"You can't," I say, getting the dreaded kicked puppy look of sadness. "YOU can't," I say again, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I have a bigger job for you. As for those of you with black suits, you're welcome to help with the parade."
"A bigger job?" she asks. "What am I going to do?"
"You're going to save the day, if you're willing," I say. "I'm going to 'kidnap' my dad, and you are going to find him and save him. Will you?"
"YES!" she says, jumping up in the air. "I'm going to be a headliner!"
"Your own comic before you turn fifteen," I agree.
"Why me, though?" she asks. "Why not Emily or Trent?"
"Why not you?" I say. "We're ushering in a new generation while celebrating an old one. But it won't just be you--you're going to save Dad, and then help him free all the other heroes while I announce my takeover of the Hall. After they're free, we'll have the traditional big brawl, good guys win, story's over."
"Okay!" she says. "I can do it! Oh, but... if it's for Superior's birthday party, shouldn't it be a Superior that saves the day?"
"The only Superiors that haven't debuted yet aren't going to," Nico says as he steps out of the apartment building's security field. "Besides, my old man's just an excuse to throw the party."
"Oh... IS it his birthday?" she asks.
"No one knows," he says, "not even him. Don't worry about it."
"We should at least give him a present as thanks for using his un-birthday," she says, thoughtfully. "Vinny! We need to make a cake for Superior!"
"Nico just said he wouldn't care," Vinny says as the rest of the group fills their plates. "Besides, we would have to have Emily take it for us--she's the only one that doesn't run the risk of messing it up."
"We don't need to send a cake to Superior," Nico says dryly. "The only thing he's contributing to this gig is his name. For the rest of it, he'll be sitting at home watching everyone on the big screen. Next," he says, turning and pointing at Freddy and Jennifer, "you two will be doing your first official reporting gig for this."
"What?" Jennifer says, looking up from the float she's building, "I thought--"
"You're going to be documenting the less public details of the job, like the scene between Max and his dad. It'll be leaked later on."
"Only if we can use Brandon, too," Freddy says quickly. "You'll help, right, Brandon?" he asks, looking over at an empty area. The air trembles for a second before the invisible teen becomes visible.
"Sure," he says, "sounds like fun."
"Your hair has gotten long again, Brandon," Carla says, racing over. "Let's braid it this time!" He promptly disappears again as everyone in the group looks over at him. I can't help but laugh at that.
"He should be ready for his debut soon, shouldn't he?" I say to Nico.
"We just need to convince him of it," he agrees. "Now, let's get these finished. We're on a timeline, people, don't forget. We've got four days to pull this off."
"Thanks, Nico," I say.
"Oh, you shouldn't thank me. I've got a deal with your dad."
"What?" I say.
"Don't worry about it," he says way too cheerfully. "You'll find out later."
***
"Okay," I say a few hours later. I'm standing in the middle of a convenient clearing, wearing my most ostentatious uniform and makeup. Yes. I'm even wearing guyliner. Ace is probably going to laugh his head off when he sees this. "I'm pretty sure I'm wearing enough lipstick," I say to Elidee, who is enjoying this far too much. She gives me a shameless smile.
"Just be thankful I didn't use pink," she tells me, waving the "nude" colored lipstick around. "If you're going to be on television, you need to look your best!"
Dad is enjoying this far too much, as well. He's just standing there to the side with that tiny little smile on his lips that says he's roaring with laughter on the inside. I don't even need to read his mind to know it. "You didn't have to be here this soon," I tell him. "Also, don't you think he needs makeup?" I ask Elidee.
She looks at him thoughtfully before shaking her head. "He's fine," she declares. "Your daddy is a VERY good looking man for an old guy," she adds.
"Thank you, Elidee," Dad says. "So you've brought in an entire filming crew?" he asks me.
"Nico's idea. We're going to leak all the background stuff later," I explain, "including this desperate conversation of a father trying to save his son. You can pull it off with a straight face, can't you?"
"I like to think I have the ability," he says blandly.
"Also, you just insinuated that I'm not good looking," I add, looking at Elidee, who gives me a blindingly beautiful grin.
"Places, everyone! Places!" Jennifer says. "We want this to be as realistic as possible, so unless you're one of the Double-M's, not a sound, got it?"
"Got it!" Elidee says, racing off to a distance. Brandon touches both Freddy and Jennifer on the shoulders and they disappear. Suddenly it feels like we're all alone out here, and that this is really happening.
"Maximum," Dad says, making me look over at him. I jump into the air, as if I'm about to take off. "Wait, don't leave."
"Mastermental," I say, "we've had this conversation a million times, old man. Why do you suddenly think things will change?"
"Because you're my son," he says earnestly. I feel there should be some sort of dramatic music right now, but all I hear is the wind blowing. "You're my son, and I know I've made... mistakes in raising you, but I still don't believe that you are truly evil," he goes on. "Come back, Maximum," he says. "You will be welcome in Central Hall. Once people realize that you are turning over a new leaf--"
I land, walking up to him. He's still a few inches taller than I am. "I knew you would say that," I say, "and you're right. Once they realize who I am, I WILL be welcome, won't I?"
His expression turns puzzled for a second before he seems to realize what I'm saying. "That's only if you decide to chan
ge--"
"But haven't I already?" I ask, grinning wickedly. "All those rumors of me saving the day, that scene with the cars, have you ever thought of why I really did it?"
"You wouldn't--" he says.
"I already have," I say. "You're always begging me to switch sides, Dad, and I'm finally going to do exactly what you want." I pull out the power blocker gun. "You really shouldn't have let me work with a technopath, Dad," I say before pulling the trigger.
"You--" Dad says as he staggers, falling over dramatically. It didn't actually work, but Dad's a really good actor. I reach into my cape, pulling out a delicate looking necklace.
"All I have to do is slip into the Science room and grab a few toys. Technico is always playing with things like this," I say, as I latch the necklace around his neck as he fakes trying to get free. "All I needed was for you to come begging me to turn good, again. You're so predictable, Dad," I say, patting him on the cheek. "I do love that about you."
"Annnnd we're done," I hear Jennifer say. "Nicely done," she says, stepping out of invisibility. She's practically vibrating with excitement. "I can't wait to show Mr. Harrison," she says, taking the phone out of Freddy's hands and playing the video back.
Dad stands, dusting himself off and taking the necklace off. "Is there anything else you need, Max?" he asks.
"Not for a few days, at least," I say. "Thanks, Dad, for going along with this."
"It's been quite entertaining so far," he says. "I look forward to seeing the rest of the show."
"I have a question," Elidee says. "HAVE you ever had that conversation in reality?"
"About me going good?" I ask.
"Yeah."
"Nope," I say. "When I decided to go villain, he was perfectly fine with it. I was six at the time."
"Would you have gone good if he had asked back then?" she asks.
I look at my dad, thinking about it. "I don't know," I admit. "Would you have asked?" I ask him.
"The problem with being a hero from the very first is that you can easily grow to believe your own press," Dad says, looking the small group of prospective villains over, "I wanted my son to know how it feels to lose on a regular basis. A good leader is someone that might lose, but will always pick himself up and try again. Had you not chosen on your own, I would have suggested you try it for a year or two, myself."
