A True Hero

by M. R. Anglin

  “Or worse, what if he wants other people’s power in addition to his own?” John rubbed his temples. “I should have seen this before. If Nicole can give Heroes their powers back, there’s no reason to think she can’t give other people the power.”

  “Then Captain Justice will be more powerful than he ever was.” Stephanie’s eyes grew wide. “Even more powerful than he was when he was Maximus.”

  Starlight smacked her fist in her palm. “We have to stop him before that happens.”

  “We still don’t know where they are!” John said.

  “Wait!” Stephanie looked up at the ceiling. “Junior Justice said there’s a massive server on the top floor. He said Beatrix might be up there.”

  “A server, huh?” John plopped on the floor and opened his laptop.

  “In the meantime, we’re going to need a plan to get past all Shadowman’s henchmen,” Starlight said.

  Brody looked at his hands. “If I had my powers, I’d just teleport them away.”

  “Not a bad idea.” Starlight turned to Stephanie. “Are you up to it?”

  Stephanie pumped her arm. “Oh, yeah!”

  “No!” Brody shoved his way in between them. “You are not going anywhere. He’s the same guy who murdered our parents. I don’t want you near Shadowman.”

  “I am not leaving your side again, Brody. Every time I do, something bad happens.” Stephanie jabbed him in the chest. “You’re not going anywhere without me.”

  “I don’t think you’re going to win this one, Brody.” John climbed to his feet. “I got it. A blueprint and schematic of this entire tower.” He showed the laptop to Starlight who studied it through narrowed eyes. As she did, John turned his attention to Brody. “I know how you feel. My daughter’s up there, and I wish I could rush in and save her. But we can’t protect them forever, and Stephanie’s been pretty competent up until now.”

  Brody clenched his teeth and turned away from them.

  “Okay, here’s the plan.” Starlight narrowed her eyes to the ceiling. “We don’t know exactly where Shadowman is, so we’re running from here straight to the top. Anyone gets in our way, you teleport them. Once we find Shadowman, Refraction, and Junior Justice, we shut down all exits on whatever floor they’re on and focus on defeating Shadowman. I’m guessing that once we take out Shadowman, his henchpeople will scatter. They usually do.”

  “Sounds good. But I don’t know how many times we can teleport with this.” Stephanie held up her teleporter. “The stabilizers are nearly burned out.”

  “Do the best you can. John.” Starlight turned to him. “When we get up there, you have to get control of Beatrix—no matter what it takes. Find cover and do your thing.”

  John nodded. “You got it.”

  “Then let’s do this,” Starlight said.

  Stephanie held up the teleporter device and teleported them outside of the room. With a loud yell meant to arouse everyone in the base, Starlight led the charge to the lair’s top floor.

  CHAPTER 75

  THE DOOR TO THE OFFICE burst open. Nicole and Junior Justice barreled in, trapped within their containment fields.

  “Nicole!” Bee gasped.

  “Hurry! Bar the door!” Junior Justice gestured around his bubble.

  “How?” Nicole threw up her hands in exasperation. “We can’t touch anything!”

  “I can help!” Bee engaged the electric locks. “We’ll keep it locked for you.”

  Nicole turned in Bee’s direction. Her smile widened. “Bee, you’re okay!”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t come rescue you.” Bee floated over to her. “Shadowman tethered me to Beatrix. She can make me do anything she wants, and she’s accepted Shadowman as her user.”

  Beatrix floated to her side. “Until it is expedient for me not to.”

  “I can untether you if I can get access to . . .” Junior Justice gazed at his hands and then at the containment field. “Crap! I can’t touch the keyboard.”

  “I wouldn’t allow you to even if you could.” Beatrix examined Junior Justice all around. “What is this? What are you trapped in?” A light shone from her eyes as she scanned the field. “I don’t have a record of any weapon like this.”

  “Perhaps the information is stored in a hidden partition.” Bee examined Beatrix’s scan results. “Interesting. This containment field emits an opposite energy signature to their powers.”

  Beatrix pressed her lips together. “I wonder what else Shadowman is hiding from me.”

  “I know how to get them out.” Bee flew to the desk and pulled Nicole’s pink gem from its receptacle. “Beatrix, take their powers.”

  “What?” Junior Justice backed up toward the door.

  “I understand,” Beatrix said. “Once they have no powers, they expel themselves.”

  “And I can give them their powers back,” Bee said.

  “You are not taking my powers.” Junior Justice brandished his staff.

  “You can’t use them right now, anyway,” Bee said.

  Nicole studied Bee a moment. “Bee, are you sure about this?”

  “Perfectly.” Bee smiled. “Trust me.”

  Nicole nodded. “Okay.”

  “You first, Junior Justice.” Beatrix floated over to him and caught his hand before he could react. An orange light washed over him. All at once, Junior Justice stared straight ahead. After a moment, Beatrix released him. He collapsed on the ground, groaning. “Come on, Junior. Get out of the containment. If my calculations are correct, you won’t experience any unpleasant side-effects if we return your powers quickly enough.”

  Junior Justice pulled himself to his feet. After gathering his strength, he pushed through the containment field and tumbled out.

  “Now, Nikki, all you have to do is put some of your power into the gem. Doing so will give me permission to access the program to allow me to return his power.” Bee made to pass the gem to Nicole, but it bounced off the bubble’s surface. “What?”

  “The gem is emitting energy now.” Nicole narrowed her eyes. “I can see it. The containment blocks it.”

  “But why? It didn’t block it before!” Bee said.

  “You weren’t connected to my system before.” Beatrix crossed her arms. “I have several Heroes’ powers codified in the database. Your hub is now processing them.”

  “Without the gem, Nicole can’t return his powers,” Bee said.

  Junior Justice let his arms drop to his side. “Does that mean I lost my power forever?”

  “There is another way.” Beatrix floated toward Nicole. “I can take Nicole’s power. Once I have her energy signature stored, you can use it to access your program, Bee.”

  “What? No!” Bee swung around to her. “We don’t even know if I can return the powers yet!”

  “You’re using me as a Guinea pig?” Junior Justice said.

  Bee crossed her arms. “I won’t do anything to hurt Nicole.”

  “It’s the only option we have left,” Beatrix said.

  “No!” Bee glared at Beatrix.

  “It’s okay, Bee.” Nicole raised her hand for Beatrix.

  Beatrix took Nicole’s hand. “This won’t hurt, and you’ll only be powerless for a few seconds.”

  Nicole nodded.

  Beatrix closed her eyes. Nicole’s muscles locked as if an electrical current ran through it. She had no choice but to stare straight ahead as warmth left her body, and strength trickled out of her. When Beatrix let go, Nicole’s knees gave out. She dropped to the ground, feeling empty.

  “Nicole.” Bee helped her to her feet.

  “Codifying energy signature . . . done. You should have access to her powers now, Bee,” Beatrix said. “Come out of there, Nicole.”

  “Come on,” Bee helped Nicole out of the containment field bubble. Nicole stumbled onto the cool office floor.

  “Let’s see if it works.” Beatrix spread her arms. “And if I can accomplish Jess’s wish.”

  “Right.” Bee cupped her hands around the
gem. A bright pink light flowed from between them, shining on Nicole. She felt strength trickling back into her.

  “Huh . . .” Beatrix looked up. “Bee, hurry! Shadowman is taking over my systems. My security protocols can’t stop it. I won’t have cont—” She broke off staring straight ahead.

  “Beatrix!” Bee clenched her teeth, and the light in her hands grew stronger. “Nicole, I feel it. It’s encroaching on my systems.”

  “What about my powers?” Junior Justice rushed to Bee. “Give them back before it’s too late!”

  “This is your power, Nicole.” The light in Bee’s hands faded. “The program is a copy of your power. You can retur—” She broke off, staring straight ahead.

  “Bee?” Nicole got to her feet. “Bee?”

  “Accessing tower security,” Beatrix said in a flat monotone. “Unlocking office door.”

  “What? No!” Junior Justice rushed to bar the door.

  The door swung open and Shadowman—or rather, Captain Justice, waltzed through wearing his Super Hero costume. Or no, this costume was different . . . it was blue and white and had a giant M tacked to the front. “Well, well, well. That was easy. Thank you for unlocking the program, little one. You’re such a good help.”

  “What did you do?” Junior Justice slid in front of Nicole. To protect her, she thought, which was a sweet yet useless gesture.

  “I didn’t underestimate you this time, Junior.” Captain Justice approached, his heroic cape waving behind him. “Though, it seems you underestimated me. Did you think it would be easy to escape me? Captain Justice? The greatest Hero in the world?” He gave a low rolling chuckle. “Or, no. I don’t need that stupid Hero name anymore. I am Maximus, and soon all my powers and more will be mine to wield!”

  Junior Justice hissed in a breath. “You’re Maximus?”

  “Oh, no!” Nicole forced herself not to cower behind Junior Justice. She was a Hero after all. She had to act like one.

  “Now. Both of you AIs are under my control.” Captain Justice stretched out his arms. “Let’s see; where was I before? Oh, yes. A test. Starlight’s power. Give it to me!”

  “Accessing,” Bee said in a monotone.

  “Bee, no!” Nicole said.

  “Too late! You gave her permission to access the program. Now she’s under my control,” Captain Justice said.

  “Working.” Pink light sparkled from Bee and shone onto Captain Justice.

  “Ah!” He closed his eyes and basked in the light.

  Junior Justice leapt up and swung his staff at him. Captain Justice caught the end of the staff and smirked at him. He blasted him with Starlight’s starry power. Junior Justice flew across the room, crashed into the wall, and collapsed on the floor in a heap.

  “JJ!” Nicole rushed to him.

  “Excellent! Excellent!” Captain Justice examined his hand. “Now to retrieve what’s mine. Give me the power you stole from me, Beatrix!”

  “Accessing . . . working . . .” Bee started to glow bright pink.

  Nicole watched in horror as Captain Justice floated above the ground, power surging into him.

  “We gotta stop him.” Junior Justice pulled himself up onto his elbow. “We can’t let him get his power back! Not now!”

  “What are we supposed to do?” Nicole crouched beside him. “You don’t have any powers, and my powers don’t do anything!”

  A golden light twinkled in the air. Stephanie, still dressed as Finch, dropped into the middle of the room. “There! See, I told you it had one good teleport left in it.” When she noticed Captain Justice she jumped back. “Oh, my goodness!”

  “Stephanie!” Nicole beckoned her over. “Get over here! Get down!”

  Stephanie rushed toward her as Starlight, John, and Brody dropped into the room.

  “Nikki!” John started to rush over to her when Starlight stepped in front of him.

  “Daddy!” Nicole jumped to her feet.

  “Stay down!” Junior Justice grabbed Nicole’s arm. “You’re in the mask, remember? Act like a Hero.”

  Nicole nodded.

  At the same moment, Starlight slid in front of John. “Stick to the plan! Get under cover and get control of Beatrix. Move!”

  John glanced at Nicole and nodded once before darting out of the room and into the hallway.

  “Come on, Steph!” Brody darted after him.

  “One second!” Stephanie crouched beside Nicole. “What’s the story?” she said as Starlight joined them.

  “It’s Captain Justice.” Nicole pointed. “He got control Bee and Beatrix, and now he’s taking back Maximus’s powers. He already has yours, Starlight.”

  “Alright!” Starlight stood. “Let’s go, Junior. Come on, Starling. We need to attack before he’s finished powering up.”

  “You two don’t have any powers, and mine are . . .” Nicole trailed off, looking at her hands.

  “Doesn’t matter. We can’t back down.” Starlight glared at Captain Justice. “It’s what Heroes do.”

  “Besides.” Stephanie rested a hand on Nicole’s shoulder. “A true Hero always comes to the rescue, right?”

  “Right,” Nicole stood. “Hide, Steph.”

  “Don’t have to tell me twice.” Stephanie darted out of the door with the others.

  “Let’s go!” Starlight charged forward, jumped, and aimed a punch at Captain Justice’s face.

  He swatted her away with such force she sailed back toward Nicole and Junior Justice, slammed into the floor, and rolled to a halt. The floor cracked where she struck it. Groaning, she pulled herself to her arms and knees.

  “You wasted too much time on a pep-talk!” Captain Justice extended his hand and blasted them with Starlight’s power. Junior Justice, twirling his staff, jumped in between them. The blast struck the staff, making him slide backwards as he twirled.

  “Too strong!” Junior Justice clenched his teeth. “I can’t fend him off without my powers.”

  Nicole gazed at him. Junior Justice’s staff ran on his powers. It must have a reserve stored in it, but they wouldn’t last for long. His powers . . . his powers . . . Nicole bit her lips together. She had a good idea of what his powers looked like. If she could mimic his waveform, she might be able to help keep his staff powered up.

  Grabbing his shoulder, Nicole concentrated as hard as she could, trying to mimic his power as closely as possible. She thrust power into him, using him as a conduit to empower the staff.

  “Hey!” Junior Justice said, still twirling his staff. “My powers are coming back.”

  “It’s not yours,” Nicole said through her teeth. “It’s mine!”

  “Whatever it is, it’s energizing me!” Junior Justice swung his staff, launching Starlight’s power back at Captain Justice. “Keep it going!”

  Nicole gazed at her hands. Was she returning his powers? How? Bee had said something like that—the power Bee used was a copy of Nicole’s? Did this mean . . . ?

  Captain Justice launched himself into the air and let himself drop with both hands in fists aiming for the two of them. Nicole and Junior Justice leapt out of the way as he struck the ground where they had been standing. Chips of the floor flew across the room.

  “You two, get out of here.” Starlight got to her knees. “I’m going to try to distract him.”

  Nicole reached out to her. “You said we had to—”

  “Refraction, if you can find a way to get back our powers, that’s more important.” Starlight stared her straight in the eyes. “Go!”

  Nicole nodded. She and Junior Justice darted out the door. In the relative quiet of the hallway, everyone had huddled outside the large door. John was bent over his laptop computer, fingers flying over the keys. Every once in a while he grunted in frustration.

  “Daddy!” Nicole threw his arms around him.

  “Pumpkin, I’m so glad you’re safe.” John rested his head on Nicole’s shoulder but didn’t stop typing. “I’ve locked down the floor, but Shadowman’s men keep trying to infiltrat
e my connection.”

  “ASH should be here soon,” Nicole said. “Right, JJ.”

  “Right. I contacted them before so they should be here by now. We have to take down Captain Justice before he uses Beatrix to steal the powers of the Heroes who are coming. So power me up, Refraction!” Junior Justice extended his hands. “I’m ready to get back into the fight.”

  “I’ll try.” Nicole closed her eyes and tried to imitate Junior Justice’s power again. She put her hands on her shoulder and pumped as much power into him as she could. When she thought it was enough she opened her eyes. “Well?”

  Junior Justice furrowed his brows. “Nothing. I felt it building up inside of me, but then it sort of trickled out again. It didn’t stick.”

  “I was afraid of that.” Nicole flinched as Starlight crashed into the wall. She jumped up and charged at Captain Justice again. “I don’t know your exact power signature. I can only estimate, but it has to be exact.”

  “If Beatrix took his power, an exact copy of his energy signature will be stored in her database,” John said.

  “Then can you find it, Daddy?”

  “I’m trying, but—” John slammed his hands on his keyboard. “I can’t get into Beatrix’s systems. She’s been locked down.”

  “You might be locked out of Beatrix, but you couldn’t be locked out of Bee.” Nicole dropped to her knees beside him. “She’s my BT-X system at heart. As my dad and her co-creator, you have admin access, right?”

  John smacked his head. “I’d forgotten. Nikki, let me see your—where’s Bee’s data hub?”

  Nicole reached for the gem she always wore before she remembered. She peeked out of the door at Bee floating motionless above Shadowman’s desk. The gem glowed pink in her hands. “Bee has it. She was holding on to it when Captain Justice took her over.”

  John tapped on the computer. “All the wireless ports have been blocked. I’m going to need the gem if I’m going to get into Bee.”

  “What’s a data hub look like?” Stephanie peeked into the room.

  “The rose quartz I was always wearing,” Nicole tapped the place on her chest where it used to be. “I showed it to you once. Bee has it in her hands.”