by Ekeke, C. C.
Cherry Blossom darted over and embraced Blackjack’s waist, barely reaching his chest. The vigilante gazed at her and melted. “Our priority is managing her outbursts, which are tied to her powers.”
The girl seemed harmless now to Hugo. “If you need help, I’m sturdy enough to take the punishment.”
Blackjack and Domino glanced at each other uneasily.
“You don’t have to,” the latter dismissed.
Hugo raised a hand. “You guys trained J-Tom and gave me access to Clint.”
Clint made an amused face. “Ooooph, I feel so dirty.”
“Let me help.” Hugo would rather help a super in need before they possibly went bad.
The vigilantes said more with their eyes than an entire speech. “We’ll take you up on that,” Domino said.
Hugo felt accomplished when returning to the Clubhouse, changing into regular clothes.
On the walk home, he was surprised by a call from Detective Dawson. Hugo switched on an app to mask his voice in the Aegis cadence, courtesy of Ramon. That way, he could speak to contacts in broad daylight.
“Lieutenant. Been a while.”
“Sorry. The department needed some distance after the V3 debacle.”
“Okay.” Hugo understood San Miguel PD’s radio silence. “What do you need?”
“That burnt scientist, Nina Smarts,” Dawson said. “Her work ID got used twice since her death,” Dawson continued. “One at Salto Institute’s facility in Powderhorn, Colorado.”
Hugo stiffened, recalling the recent forest fire. “Is that near Gunnison National Forest?”
“Yep.” Dawson popped the “p” in his answer. “The second facility was in Kingstree, South Carolina.”
“During the floods.” Hugo glanced both ways before crossing a street. “Those can’t be coincidences.” And that dead scientist’s stench matched that of the Gunnison forest fires. “What was stolen?”
Dawson sighed. “Lots of genetic materials that I can’t pronounce…plus blood samples and preserved remains of dead kaijus. Like the Tiamat you killed a few weeks ago.”
Hugo gaped. This case had just taken a turn toward interesting. “Someone wants to build their own Godzilla.”
“Seems like.” Dawson sounded irritated. “Salto Institute is ramping up their security. I’m trying to account for their other sites that could have anything worth stealing. They aren’t making it easy.”
“Let me know if you need me.” The call ended as Hugo neared his neighborhood.
The aroma of baking bread filled his home. AJ and Mom were in the kitchen. Max and Zelda sat across from each other. They were more interested in a staring contest than the TV showing Alpha Academy, a teen drama loosely based on Steinholt Academy.
“Ready?” Max asked.
Zelda adjusted her position confidently. “Ready.” For several moments, neither moved.
Hugo locked the door, watching this silent face-off—until Max shifted.
A shaggy wolf’s head abruptly appeared on her body, gnashing sharp teeth.
Zelda jumped, covering her mouth to muffle a squeal. “Omigod, omigod!”
Max’s face returned to normal within seconds. Her grin remained wolfish. “Guess you weren’t ready.”
Zelda smacked her arm, then popped off the couch and dashed at Hugo.
“Hey, you.” He embraced his sister, relishing the contact.
“Bogie,” Zelda murmured, a smile in her voice.
Hugo felt like an asshole hiding the truth about Zelda from AJ, but what good would telling him do?
“What was that?” he asked when embracing Max.
“Trying partial shifting,” she said as they drew apart. “Becky is getting me a gig at Danger Room. Can’t go full howl at the moon for that.”
Hugo chewed on that decision. “Makes sense.”
Max eyed him critically. “And when did you and Jen become a thing? I thought you’re with Jodie and she was screwing that bratty puta with the nice tits.”
A flush crept up Hugo’s neck. He could practically feel Mom’s ears bleeding from the kitchen.
“It’s hard for us to keep track,” AJ added, amused.
“Quiet, Junior,” Hugo snapped. “I’ll explain later.” He headed into the kitchen, seeing Mom and AJ preparing Samoan Chicken and Coconut Rice, one of his favorites.
Mom frowned over her shoulder. “You should’ve told me about your guest, Bogota.”
Hugo rolled his eyes and kissed her cheek. “It was last minute. I wanted Max to have something besides bar food.” He fist-bumped AJ, who was chopping garlic. “Any word on the job?”
“You’ll know when I do.” Mom placed the chicken in a soufflé dish. Her impatience was palpable. “Thanks for asking.”
After Hugo set the table, AJ pulled him aside. “Can we talk?” He glanced back at Mom. “Upstairs?”
The gravity on his brother’s blocky face gave Hugo pause. “Sure.” They headed upstairs without a word.
AJ’s bedroom differed considerably from Hugo’s, featuring basketball and soccer merchandise. Also gracing his room were posters of hero rock bands like Leap of Faith and Silver Age.
Hugo sat on his brother’s bed. “What’s up?”
AJ sat beside him after closing the door. “I talked to Mom.”
Hugo arched an eyebrow at the admission. “Talking is healthy for mother-son relations.”
AJ didn’t laugh. “We talked about you, Dad…and Titan.”
Hugo’s heart dropped. Godammit, Mom.
AJ continued in the same calm voice. “Your weird fight with Mom before Black Wednesday. Zelda not coming over anymore. I knew something was up.” AJ took a breath. “Were you guys seriously never gonna tell me?”
The crack in AJ’s voice gutted Hugo like a knife. “I…maybe?” God, he did not want to have this conversation. But here we are. His brother started looking blurry. Hugo wiped away tears with the back of his hand. “I’d just found out Dad wasn’t my biological father,” Hugo countered to regain control over this situation. “That’s a lot to process.”
AJ dialed back his indignation. “Oh…”
“And you were in a good place,” Hugo continued. Unpleasant memories of AJ’s past defiance resurfaced. “I didn’t…couldn’t ruin that.”
Surprisingly, AJ laughed. “Bogie, we’re usos!” He was tearing up. “Daddy drama and all.”
Hugo momentarily thought he’d imagined this response. “You’re not mad?”
AJ shook his head emphatically. “Only that you guys said nothing. I mean…” His expression turned questioning. “Should I be pissed at Mom?”
“NO,” Hugo answered immediately.
AJ relaxed. “I know there’s superhero stuff you can’t share. Otherwise, no more secrets. Deal?”
Hugo’s heart felt so much lighter. “Deal.” He drew AJ into a long embrace.
Dinner was over two hours of laughter, animated discussions, and amazing food.
The one thing missing was Simon. But Hugo’s BFF was at the Fab Phenoms’ latest dance battle. Which I wasn’t told about. The omission stung. Then again, he’d attended maybe one of their last five dance battles due to superhero stuff. The gulf between his normal and Aegis identities kept growing.
Brie’s texts were a welcome surprise after days of radio silence.
Brie: Sorry for being such a nutjob lately.
Brie: I had to step back from our friendship and get my head straight. Talk soon?
ME: Sure.
Hugo dropped Max off near Danger Room for her work shift before suiting up for tonight’s patrol. San Miguel was fairly quiet, but he knew the value in citizens seeing their heroes watching over them.
Late next morning, he woke up with a girl’s arm draped over his abdomen.
Hugo grinned drowsily. Yeah…that happened.
After returning home last night, Hugo had realized he hadn’t heard from Jordana since Friday at school. AnyAny calls went straight to voicemail.
That only f
ueled his doubt…and hurt. Was she with Carnival Boy or just done with Hugo?
J-Tom would come over to comfort him, but Hugo decided against that. Their relationship had been so emotionally nourishing. But growing too attached to a protégé was risky.
Jordana would never forgive me or Jen, Hugo had understood, texting someone else.
ME: Busy?
TVS: Just got home from the football game. You?
ME: Bored.
TVS: LOL. I’m not hooking up with you.
ME: Who said anything about sex?
TVS: Dude, you’re texting me after 10 PM on Saturday.
TVS: I know exactly what u want.
The biting reply burned Hugo’s cheeks. Sitting in the sudden tension, he could either get offended and give up or own his desire and move forward.
ME: And I know exactly what u like. Now come over and get it.
She replied a minute later.
TVS: Be there soon.
Hugo had beamed and reclined on the couch, feeling triumphant.
Taylor von Stratton had arrived half an hour later, wearing her red-and-white cheerleading outfit. She’d smirked, casually pulling out the ribbon holding up her high ponytail as she glided into his bedroom.
That whole night, Hugo explored the wonders of her tight and tanned body. Taylor had replied with equal hunger, whispering every way she wanted to please him—and doing each one. Even little things, like the rhythmic rock of her body when she’d arch into him felt amazing, making his toes curl and her groan.
Maybe this is for the best, Hugo wondered, admiring Taylor beside him in her birthday suit, prone and slumbering. Her face was hidden under messy curtains of blonde.
Jordana deserved an honest boyfriend. Meanwhile, Hugo could casually hook up with Taylor, who was down for whatever situationship he wanted.
No lying. No drama. No baggage like with Jordana, Spencer, and J-Tom. Gotta catch ’em all. Jesus…
Such a carefree reality felt euphoric—and empty.
Can I kill my feelings for Jodie in one blow? Instead of dwelling on the bad, Hugo preferred leaning down to gently blow on the nape of Taylor’s neck.
Goosebumps prickled down her spine to the slope of that perfectly formed butt. Taylor shivered and made a contented sort of sigh, still asleep.
His buzzing work phone interrupted before he could kiss on her neck.
Annoyed, Hugo delicately removed Taylor’s arm off and slid out of bed. He pulled on some pants and fished the phone from his backpack.
Cautiously checking on Taylor, who remained asleep, he tiptoed out into the hallway.
Downstairs, AJ wasted more brain cells watching Extreme Dreams.
Hugo crouched outside his door and unlocked his phone.
BLOCKED: Found Saracen in the city. Drone images are a week old.
Hugo gaped at the image timestamps. The day after Saracen kidnapped Jodie and Brie.
Texting Clint his gratitude, Hugo scrolled through five zoomed-in images, showing Saracen on a rooftop. Same explosive white hair. Same travel-worn gear. Saracen was in a heated discussion with someone hidden behind a partition.
It had to be Polymer. Hugo fumed and kept scrolling. The last picture captured Saracen’s cohort entirely: a dark-skinned woman, one side of her frizzy purple hair styled in Viking braids.
Hugo felt cold all over. “Becky Knox.”
Interlude: J-TOM
Watching her armored alter ego lifting a train car on YouTube was so bizarre. But J-Tom still squealed with a “sugar rush meets carnival ride” euphoria.
Viewing the clip with the adorkable parentals cheering behind her was a gift that never stopped giving.
“Our baby girl is a superhero!” Her mom grasped J-Tom’s shoulders from behind. “Can you believe it?”
“Arclight.” J-Tom’s father stroked his beard as he considered the name with a smile. “Love that name.”
J-Tom’s cheeks warmed from their praise. “Yeah. Pretty crazy.” She picked lint from her green ribbed V-neck sweater and white plaid skirt. Even after weeks of training and anticipating, yesterday still felt dreamlike. And J-Tom didn’t want to wake up.
“Arclight” was all over the national news and trending on social media, thanks to the Aegis connection and Hugo’s awesome publicist.
But a knot of guilt formed in J-Tom’s stomach over not involving her dad in future development of her armor. She’d started this project with him. All that had changed after she’d met Ramon Dempsey.
“That’s why I’ve been away so much.” J-Tom spun in her chair to face her father. “Training with Aegis and building the new armor with Ramon Dempsey.”
Mr. Thomas waved off any extra explanation. “Learning from Dynamo himself will take you further than I ever could.” So many emotions filled his twinkling eyes. Love, eagerness, and some sadness.
J-Tom placed a hand over her heart. Her father’s sympathy was endless. “Thanks so much, Daddio.” She rose and embraced him fiercely.
Mom stroked J-Tom’s face, standing a head shorter than her daughter. She was plump, petite and pretty, with sleek black hair and light-brown skin courtesy of her Filipino descent. “Are you sure about working with Aegis?” Mom’s round face scrunched in worry. “I mean, I like him. But he seems rather…” She paused and lowered her voice as if someone was listening. “He’s violent.” Mom was usually less pearl-clutching than Dad. That had changed since J-Tom began her superhero’s journey.
J-Tom adjusted her ponytail and kissed Mom’s forehead. “That Vincent Van Violence situation went sideways thanks to Tomorrow Man.” She understood Mom’s worries. But her parents didn’t know Hugo like she did. “Aegis is the best mentor anyone could have.”
That endorsement was enough for Dad. He puffed out his chest. “Now my daughter is his sidekick.”
“Apprentice,” J-Tom corrected. Nothing against sidekicks, but she planned to be Aegis’s partner.
“Isn’t that the same thing?” Dad asked obtusely.
“My book club is obsessed with you,” Mom gushed.
J-Tom made a face. No way did she already have fans. “I debuted yesterday, Mom.”
“You made a huge impression.” Her mother’s eyes sparkled with pride. “Their heads will explode if they knew Arclight’s my daughter—”
“Mom,” J-Tom snapped in knee-jerk terror. “You can’t tell anyone. Ever.”
Blood drained from Mom’s face. J-Tom instantly regretted her outburst.
“Jennifer,” Dad began in that calm lecturing tone whenever she was in trouble. “That was very rude.”
She closed her eyes, choosing her next words carefully. “I’m sorry. It’s just to protect you.” She opened her eyes. “Criminals finding out my secret puts you in danger.” That had haunted J-Tom since starting her training. But Hugo had calmed these fears as usual, with advice on identity protection.
Dad looked lost. “But you’ll just do search and rescue. So supervillains aren’t a worry.”
J-Tom fought back a cringe. “Right.” She wouldn’t half-ass being a superhero. All in or not at all. But the parentals didn’t need to know…yet. J-Tom pulled them close, overcome by emotion. “But please don’t tell anyone.”.”
Mom rubbed her back. “Understood, Jennifer. But will you have time between school, and friends, and volleyball?”
Great question. “I’ll make it work,” J-Tom said as they drew apart. Her schedule had been nuts since school started. She expected that to be worse now that she was an active hero.
“By the way,” J-Tom said as her parents were leaving as a nagging worry came to mind. “Haven’t heard from Aunt Steph in months.” Aunt Steph was an old college friend of Dad’s and a legend in her industry. J-Tom had known her since she was in diapers. “Where is she?”
Her parents suddenly grew somber.
“Your auntie's still on sabbatical,” Dad said. “I think in Botswana currently.” The finality behind the answer was palpable.
“Okay,” J-Tom rem
arked in a small voice. The answer wasn’t satisfying, but she didn’t push further.
Aunt Steph had taken her to different parts of the USA on every spring break since J-Tom was eleven. She’d gone to her aunt first with her confusing feelings for Spencer two summers ago and her desire to be a hero. Hopefully her favorite auntie was well after getting screwed by SLOCO Daily.
At least she got her revenge in the end, J-Tom mused happily.
After breezing through her homework, she spent the next few hours on her laptop, tweaking a 3D diagram of the Arclight armor’s next build. After the train crash rescue, J-Tom noticed several functions needing improvements.
She typed in notes and linked them to points on the armor diagram before sending to Ramon via an encrypted cloud server. He’d become a fantastic partner, usually finding solutions that J-Tom wouldn’t have thought of based on her suggestions. She dusted off her hands, satisfied with herself.
Right then, a text buzzed her phone.
S-Han: AWESOME debut. U good?
J-Tom: Very. Thx for checking in.
Simon’s approval warmed J-Tom from head to toe. He’d been slow to accept her presence in Hugo’s life. J-Tom hoped that she and Simon could bond over more than just a mutual friend and a shared love of Japanese pop.
She spotted another new text, and her heart sang.
H-Mala: You’re kinda famous now, Jenny.
J-Tom: Yep. Craziness.
H-Mala: How are you handling it?
J-Tom: Denial.
H-Mala: LOL!
J-Tom: Whatcha doing right now?
H-Mala: Got company.
J-Tom: Jodie?
H-Mala: Nope.
J-Tom: SLUT!
H-Mala: Yeah you know me. Clubhouse around 7:30. Patrol then training.
J-Tom: Can’t wait.
J-Tom put away her cellphone, grinning like an idiot, as usual with Hugo. 7:30 PM couldn’t come soon enough. She could never repay Hugo for expanding her world, saving her from imploding this summer. He made her feel safe, seen, and desired. She’d known all this about him even before learning about his powers, giving her courage during her relationship with Spencer.
