by M. R. Anglin
Bee installed the update.
She didn’t realize it, but at that moment the prime directive installed into her BT-X system was being overwritten.
CHAPTER 35
MARGARET WALKED INTO Loscor Nedram’s office, a tablet gripped in her hands. Normally, she didn’t mind going to visit the head of ASH, but this delay chafed at her. She had gambled everything on transporting the Sapphire herself and had failed. Now she had a limited amount of time to retrieve it and salvage her personal life, but if Villains got their hands on the gem first, the entire world including John and Nicole would be at their mercy. She wished Mr. Nedram didn’t need to waste her time right now.
Mr. Nedram sat at his desk with the evening sun gleaming in through his large window. When she walked in, he stood.
“Ah, Dr. Farber. Welcome back.”
“Mr. Nedram, with all due respect, I’m not supposed to be back. I had a rough vacation and a rotten afternoon, and now I have an emergency to deal with. Can we talk later?”
“Your emergency is what I mean to talk about.” Mr. Nedram put his hands behind his back. “I’ve reviewed the reports from Starlight and Captain Justice, and I’m disturbed by your actions.” He scrutinized her out of one eye. “You took the Sapphire with you?”
Margaret exhaled through her nose. “For safekeeping.”
“Without telling me?”
“It was a calculated risk.”
Mr. Nedram turned to her. “Do you realize how much danger you put everyone in? What got into your head to do something like this?”
“Starlight and I had . . . concerns, sir.” Margaret clutched the tablet in her hands. “They emerged even before you told me about the government having footage of the Sapphire outside of our care.”
Mr. Nedram furrowed his brows. “I never told you that.”
“Yes, you did.”
“I certainly did not.”
“You . . . didn’t?” Margaret fell silent a moment, considering. “I must have heard it somewhere . . . in any case, when I reviewed the logs I found out the rumors were somewhat true. While the Sapphire hadn’t been removed from its hold, someone had been infiltrating our secure database and siphoning off my research. Given all this data and evidence, I believed . . . someone in ASH is behind it.”
“No!” Mr. Nedram started. “Who do you think it is?”
“I don’t know.” Margaret heaved a sigh. “It was why I allowed Starlight to convince me to do what I did.”
“What matters is we return the Sapphire to its hold.” Mr. Nedram pressed his lips together. “You need to find it. If someone finds out how to weaponize it . . .”
“It is why I’m in the lab, sir, and I would like to get back to my research.”
“Very good. Go on, then.” Mr. Nedram took his seat.
Margaret turned on her heel and headed out of the office.
“Dr. Farber, one more thing.”
Margaret turned.
“If what you’re saying is true, be careful.” Mr. Nedram stared her in the eye. “You never know who is in on this betrayal.”
“Yes, sir.” Margaret walked out of his office.
CHAPTER 36
“NICOLE. NICOLE, WAKE up.”
Nicole parted her eyes to Bee staring into her face. “What?”
“I found the Sapphire.”
“You did?” Nicole shot up in bed. “Let’s go get it.”
“I don’t think you should go alone.” Bee floated to a more respectable distance. “Shall I call Starlight?”
“No. I . . . I don’t . . .” Nicole felt the weight of her worthlessness as a Hero fall down on her. When she had gone to bed, she had been furious at Starlight, but after a good sleep Nicole realized most of her fury was disappointment she felt in herself. Starlight had known the stakes and had trusted Nicole to protect Margaret—and by extension, the Sapphire, and Nicole had let her down. “Don’t call Starlight. I don’t want to deal with her right now.”
Bee hesitated a moment. “Would you prefer Junior Justice?”
“He wouldn’t want to work with me.”
“On the contrary. I’ve been in contact with him. I told him about the Sapphire and the TelePorter, and he told me to tell you Captain Justice said you did a good job.”
“What?” Nicole let her mouth drop open. “Really?”
Bee nodded. “Junior Justice contacted me while you were sleeping. He says he needs to speak with you about something. I can invite him along to search for the Sapphire.”
“That would be the coolest thing to ever happen in the history of awesomeness! Do it!”
Bee lifted her eyes to the ceiling a moment. “Done. He’ll meet you on 3rd Street in ten minutes.”
“I can get there in five.” Nicole jumped out of bed. “I’ll tell Dad I’m leaving.”
“It is 2:57 in the morning, Nicole. He’s sleeping.”
“Oh, great!” Nicole and her father had a standing agreement to allow her to leave the house at night so long as it was Hero related, but Nicole hated leaving without telling him. He tended to worry if he woke up and found her gone. “Can you send him a message letting him know I went out? In case we don’t make it back before he wakes up.”
“Working . . .” Bee gazed at the ceiling. “Finished.”
“Suit me up, Bee.”
“My pleasure, Nicole.”
CHAPTER 37
AS A SUPER HERO WITH no real motor abilities, Nicole felt stupid whenever she had to go somewhere in her costume. Imagine, a Hero with all sorts of supernatural powers, hailing a cab or riding the bus. Sounded like some cut-rate, yet awesome sounding video game.
Nicole arrived at 3rd Street to see a sleek brown and tan car parked on the side of the road. Junior Justice leaned on the car door, waiting.
“Sweet ride,” Nicole said as she approached.
“Thanks.” Junior Justice eyed Bee as she approached. Like Nicole, she was in costume. “Who’s this?” He motioned to Bee with his chin.
“It’s Bee, my BT-X system. I told you about her before.” Nicole jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “I managed to get a holographic system working, and she likes to wear her costume when I’m in mine. Call her Hornet.”
“She . . . likes to? An AI?” Junior Justice opened the car door for Nicole.
“I know.” Nicole got into the car. “She’s more sophisticated than I realized. And she’s so adorable—the way she wants to help me so much.”
“Where’d you get an AI like that?” Junior Justice watched Bee as she disappeared through the car door and appeared in the back seat. “My BT-X doesn’t do that.”
“Can’t reveal my civilian sources.”
“Right.” Junior Justice closed her door and walked around to the driver’s side.
“I’m surprised you can drive.” Nicole said as Junior Justice climbed in. “I didn’t think you were old enough.”
“Special license arranged by Captain Justice.” Junior Justice started the car. “I have to get places in a hurry when he calls.”
“No riding the bus for you, huh?”
“Not since last year.”
“So . . . Be—ah, Hornet. Where are we going?” Nicole said.
Bee sat up in the back seat. “I’m networking with Junior Justice’s BT-X system now, Refraction. I am sending it a nav-point.”
“Got it,” Junior Justice pushed the screen on his car’s navigation system. “It’s all the way across town. Good thing the Captain’s busy tonight and won’t need my assistance.”
“While we’re driving . . . what did you want to talk to me about?”
Junior Justice chewed on his bottom lip a moment. “I was wondering how your powers were.”
“My powers? They’re fine.”
“No anomalies at all?”
Nicole shook her head. “Actually, that’s not true. I might be gaining powers. I’ve been told it’s unusual but not unheard of for Heroes to develop powers at my age, though.”
“Interesting . .
.” Junior Justice tapped his thumb on the steering wheel.
“Why are you so interested in my powers?”
Junior Justice fell silent for a moment. “Have you heard about all the Heroes losing their abilities all of a sudden?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“It’s gotten worse. I’ve been monitoring the situation, and dozens of Heroes are losing or have lost their powers.”
“Scary.” Nicole held her hands between her knees. “Do they know why it’s happening?”
“I have a theory.” Junior Justice turned a corner. “Every, single Hero who is losing their power have come in contact with the Tifuld Sapphire at some point. And the ones who have temporarily lost them . . . well, there’s always this orange sparkle in the background whenever there’s footage available of the incidents.”
“You think the Sapphire is causing it?”
“I do.”
“Correlation is not causation, Junior Justice,” Bee said from the back seat. “Beware of jumping to conclusions.”
“She’s right. It can’t be the Sapphire’s fault,” Nicole said. “Starlight has been in contact with the gem, and she hasn’t lost any powers. Neither have you.”
Junior Justice eyed her. “Are you sure?”
“I mean . . .” Nicole turned to Junior Justice. “Wait. Are you losing your power?”
“Ever since we fought TelePorter in the Museum, my powers have dropped by half. It’s stabilized there, I think. I can fight with my staff, but . . .”
“Oh, no.” Nicole held her hands over her mouth. “JJ, I . . .”
“I’m handling it. I tend to do more fighting with my staff than my powers anyway.” Junior Justice glanced at Nicole. “I’m more worried about you. And Starlight.”
“Whatever’s causing it, it can’t be the gem.” Nicole shook her head. “Starlight’s not any less powerful.”
“Again, are you sure? Have you asked her about it?”
Nicole slid down in her chair. “The last time I spoke to her was two days ago . . .”
“Refraction,” Bee said in a small voice. “The last time we saw Starlight, you commented she was off her game. Could it be . . . ?”
“Weren’t you the one who said not to assume anything?” Nicole tossed a glance at Bee. “Besides, I’m fine. I haven’t lost any of my powers. In fact, I’m gaining some. I made something disappear, and I made the TelePorter see a wall which wasn’t there.”
“This is a conundrum.” Junior Justice fell into silence. They didn’t talk again for the rest of the ride.
CHAPTER 38
“IS THIS THE PLACE?” Nicole gawped at the dilapidated apartment building as Junior Justice drove by. Chunks of the wall had been missing on the fourth floor, some of the windows had all been blown out, and the entire building had scorch marks all over it. “It looks abandoned.”
“And condemned. This is where the Flashpoint incident took place.” Junior Justice gazed at it as he passed by.
Nicole pressed her hands against the window. “I’ve never been here before.”
“The Nav point is indicating a room in this apartment building.” Junior Justice continued past the building.
“Why are we driving by?”
“You never want a Villain to know you’re on to them. We’ll park the car in a more hidden location . . . I may have to put on the stealth mode.”
Nicole nodded.
After Junior Justice parked and hid the car, they made their way back to the apartment building, keeping to the shadows. They slipped in through a broken window.
“It’s on the fourth floor . . .” Bee floated along beside them. “At least it’s where my last scan pinged it, but I don’t detect it anymore. Follow the nav-point on your HUD.”
The three slipped up the stairs to the fourth floor and eased open the door to apartment 414.
As soon as they glimpsed it, they knew they were in a Villain’s lair. The entire thing had been furnished, though the furniture had been broken, and the entryway was filled with wolf-like robots which looked as if they’d been welded from pieces of scrap metal. As soon as they entered, all the robots turned to look at them. Their eyes glowed red.
Junior Justice sprang forward to smash the closest one through the chest with his staff. At that, all the robots came to life and converged on him.
Nicole jumped into the fray and released the largest EM blast she could muster. All the robots fell still, sparking.
“Handy power to have.”
Nicole smiled.
“Well, well. Back to the scene of the crime, are you, Heroes?” Finch appeared in the doorway leading to the kitchen. “Sorry, but there’s nothing left to smash here.”
“Scene of the crime?” Nicole got into a fighter’s stance. “That’s rich coming from you.”
“We know you have the Sapphire, Finch.” Junior Justice pointed his staff at her. “Surrender it now or face the consequences.”
“Like what?” Finch put a hand on her hip. “You’ll beat the crap outta me?”
“If necessary.” Junior Justice drew his staff back, ready to strike.
“Typical Hero.” Finch pinched her lips together. “You are never going to get the gem, and you will never catch me.” She sprung backwards through the kitchen door.
Junior Justice leapt forward. He swung the staff at her as she flipped around the room, and jumped in her way to block her as she tried to escape through the window. Nicole stood in awe as she watched them. Finch flipped and ducked all over the place, avoiding Junior Justice’s attacks. But when she tried to leave he was there, a fraction of a second after her.
“Now he’s a true Hero,” Nicole said to herself.
Bee floated beside her, eyes focused on Finch. “Why does she look so familiar . . .” she muttered.
Nicole ignored her and concentrated on the fight. She could be useful too . . . she could be a true Hero. She just had to find a way to stop Finch. “I got it!” She rushed forward. As Finch leapt in the air to avoid Junior Justice’s attack, Nicole leapt in the air behind her and roundhouse kicked her to the side. Finch crashed onto the floor. When Nicole landed, she sprang forward to punch Finch in the face—not too hard, though. Just enough to stun and subdue her.
“Stop!” Bee appeared in front of Finch. Nicole’s hand slammed into Bee’s face, but Bee didn’t even flinch. Nicole, though, crumpled. It felt as if she had hit a brick wall. “Ow!” She nursed her hurt fist.
Finch used the distraction to scramble to her feet and rush to the window.
“Not so fast.” Junior Justice threw something at her. It exploded into a small, white puff, revealing a long, rope-like substance. It wrapped itself around Finch’s feet. She stumbled and fell.
“Bee, what are you doing?” Nicole held her hand. “I had her, and you almost let her escape.”
“I had to stop you.” Bee approached, looking at the struggling Finch with an odd expression. “You’d be devastated if you hurt her, and then you’d feel even worse about yourself. I didn’t want that to happen.”
“She’s a Villain.” Nicole shook her hand. “What do I care?”
“I am not a Villain.” Finch struggled in her bonds. “I’m a thief.”
Junior Justice shrugged. “Same thing.”
Bee examined Finch with sadness in her eyes. “The two of you wouldn’t say such things if you knew who she was.”
“You act like you know who she is,” Nicole said.
Junior Justice eyes her. “And like you know who I am.”
“I do,” Bee said.
Both Nicole and Junior Justice gasped.
“Oh, do tell.” Finch smirked. “I, for one, am dying to know both their identities.”
“Shut up,” Junior Justice hissed at her before turning to Bee. “You are not supposed to have that information. No BT-X is authorized to access it.”
“I am,” Bee said.
“Impossible!” Junior Justice gaped at her. “Even if you were to somehow obtain it, your direct
ives are to delete it immediately.”
Bee furrowed her brows. “I have no such directive.”
“Oh, no!” Nicole covered her mouth. “Please don’t tell me I screwed up your programming.”
“You had nothing to do with it, Refraction,” Bee said. “I found the administrative privileges already installed.”
Junior Justice gasped. “But how—”
“With all due respect, we have bigger problems.” Bee gestured to Finch.
“Oh, please. Don’t mind me.” Finch gave them a huge grin. “I’m enjoying this.”
“Be quiet!” Nicole pointed at her. “You don’t get to cop attitude, Villain.”
Finch turned her nose up at Nicole.
“Refraction, you don’t want to speak to her that way,” Bee said.
“Why not?” Nicole put her hands on her hips.
“Yes, why are you on the Villain’s side all of a sudden?” Junior Justice interjected.
Bee gave Nicole a look before stooping down to remove Finch’s mask.
“Hey, stop!” Finch tried to squirm away from Bee but to no avail. Bee pulled off her mask and the wig of bright, cherry red hair to reveal a curly headed red-head.
“Stephanie?” Nicole’s mouth dropped open.
Without her mask Stephanie sat there glaring up at them. “How do you know my name? Have you been spying on me? This is a breach of my privacy. I tell you, you Heroes do whatever you want. ASH is nothing but a spy organization who thinks they’re above the law. I will sue!”
“You have the right to remain silent, Villain.” Junior Justice narrowed his eyes at Finch. “I suggest you use it.”
“She’s not a Villain, though. She’s Stephanie.” Nicole clutched her hair. “How can she be Stephanie?”
“Keep it cool, Refraction,” Junior Justice held up his hand in warning. “Don’t talk about this in the mask.”