by Wesley King
“This looks like a happy place,” Hayden said as he climbed back to his feet.
The Perch itself looked like a bomb shelter. It was built of dark gray metal and completely devoid of windows, except for the tower, where another gun emplacement protruded from the roof. This one was aimed at the massive front door, seemingly the only entrance or exit from the ominous, boxlike structure.
James set the Mediator down on the landing pad.
“How long do you think it’ll take for him to figure out we’re not the Flame and the others?” Lana asked quietly.
“Probably about one second,” James said. “The better question is: what will he do about it?”
A few moments later, they were all standing at the hatch. James and Sam were clutching rifles, while Lana and Hayden had decided against them. Lana still didn’t want to take the risk of shooting anybody, and Hayden said he didn’t need one. The ship was still shaking as the wind howled fiercely outside the closed door.
“Ready, team?” Hayden asked.
Sam’s face looked green, but he managed a short nod.
“Ready,” James said.
Lana clenched her fists. “Ready.”
“All right,” Hayden replied, his hand resting on the hatch control. “Game time.”
The savage wind hit them instantly as the ramp descended, and Hayden felt his whole body go cold. He stepped out onto the landing pad, trying to shield his face with his arm, and started for the towering front entrance. Gusts of snow whipped up with the wind and stung his eyes.
“Did I mention I hate the cold?” he shouted.
The entrance to the Perch started sliding to the left, and he broke into a run, barreling through the doorway and wiping the snow from his face. The others hurried in after him.
“That was easy—” James started.
“Drop your weapons,” a deep, robotic voice commanded.
Four massive robot sentries were standing in front of them, clutching very threatening-looking stun poles. They each stood at least eight feet tall, looked vaguely humanoid, and had two scarlet eyes that glowed from thick, domed heads. Hayden looked up at them, wide-eyed, and he heard two rifles clatter against the floor.
“Hello,” Hayden said slowly, “robot . . . man. Can we speak with—”
“Follow us,” the robot interrupted, its eyes fixated on Hayden. “Any resistance will be met with force.”
With that, the four sentries pivoted in perfect synchronization and started down the long white corridor they were all standing in. Hayden glanced at the others and followed. Sneaking a peak into the shadowy room they’d emerged from, he saw ten more robots lined up and powered down. There was another line behind them. He doubted there were many uprisings in the Perch.
They continued down the seemingly endless white corridor, passing one unmarked white door after another. A few of them had glass windows, but every time Hayden looked in one of them, it was empty. Circular lights ran along the ceiling.
“So many cells,” James muttered.
“And none of them have Emily,” Sam said.
They all looked back at him.
“What?” Lana asked sharply.
“I can’t sense her,” he said. “Not even asleep.”
Hayden sighed. “Well, we might as well see what we can find out.”
“Keep walking,” the lead sentry ordered. Their footsteps continued to rise and fall in perfect unison, pounding off the sterile white tiles. The protégés hurried to catch up.
“This place is kind of creepy,” Hayden said.
“Very creepy,” James agreed.
“Sliver’s in there,” Sam whispered, pointing to a white door. It had no window.
“You sure?” James asked uneasily.
“Definitely,” Sam replied. “The others are all along here too.”
Lana stared at the other doors. “Is Avaria?”
Sam nodded and pointed at another one. “She’s in that cell, I think. And there’s a few others too,” he murmured. “I don’t recognize them. But they don’t seem friendly.”
“If they’re in here, they’re definitely not friendly,” James said.
Hayden shivered when he thought of how many superpowered murderers were around them, just waiting to pounce. He was suddenly glad the sentries were here.
They reached the end of the corridor and the sentries took up positions beside another seamless white door. It looked exactly like all the others. As soon as the robots were facing the protégés, their stun poles extended, the white door slid into the ceiling.
Hayden led the way through the doorway. They found themselves in the prison’s central control room. The first thing Hayden saw was a display of six different screens, each containing a feed of their former mentors, all standing expectantly against their cell doors.
And there, sitting in front of the screens, was Jay Junkit.
His face, now much paler than Hayden remembered, was contorted into a scowl, and his muscular arms were folded across his chest.
“I have plenty more guards, in case you’re wondering, and they can be here very quickly.” He put his hand over the console. “And if that doesn’t work, I’ll blow this place sky high. The Vindico are not leaving this prison.”
“Don’t worry, Junkit,” Hayden said. “We don’t want to let them out.”
“I didn’t see why you would,” he replied slowly. “But why else would you be here? And why do you have the Mediator? Where is the Flame?”
“He tried to set us up and arrest us,” Lana told him. “We know that he’s a traitor. And I’m guessing you are too, since you seemed happy to see him when you thought he was in the Mediator.”
Junkit narrowed his eyes. “Who have you been talking to?”
“Blue,” Hayden answered. “And she told us an interesting story before she got taken.”
“Taken?” Junkit said quickly. “By who?”
“We thought by the traitors,” James said. “That’s why we came here. They took Emily too.”
Junkit looked troubled. “Another one,” he said softly.
“Who’s taking them?” Sam asked.
“I don’t know. None of us do. I can’t believe they got Blue,” he whispered.
“We need some answers,” Lana said. “We need to find Emily.”
Junkit shook his head. “I don’t have any. I’ve been up here for weeks. I was with Ceri, but she got called away. Thunderbolt basically exiled me here.”
“Why would he exile you?” Hayden asked suspiciously.
Junkit shrugged. “Because I’m friends with Flame, and I agreed with him that we should have gone after the Vindico years ago. And now we’re being picked off again.” He waved a hand at the screens. “But here, Thunderbolt could use me as a trustworthy guard. No one hates the Vindico as much as me.”
Junkit frowned before asking, “What did you mean when you said Flame ‘set you up’?”
Hayden glanced at James. “Sinio made James kiss Lana so that I would react . . . unfavorably. I threw him into a wall. Well, through a wall actually. Then they tried to arrest us for using our powers, but Sam figured it out so we took their ship.”
Junkit looked thoughtful. “He wanted to get you first, I guess. But if he just took you guys like that, it would be full-blown civil war. That doesn’t make any sense.” He hesitated. “If Flame gets a ship, he’ll come to the Perch. He knows I’m in charge here.”
“Great,” Hayden muttered. “Listen, we need to know where Thunderbolt is.”
He laughed. “You think I know? He wouldn’t tell me anything. Probably hiding away somewhere with the others. They’re nervous now.”
“Why?” Lana asked.
“All three abductions have been members loyal to Thunderbolt.”
“What a coincidence,” James snarled.
“It’s not the Flame, I’m telling you,” Junkit said. “He would never hurt Blue. And why would he take Emily? He wants to win you over. Taking one of you would turn you all again
st him. Someone else is playing this game.”
“Have you asked the Vindico?” Hayden said.
“Asked them what?”
“If they know what’s going on,” Hayden continued. “Did you not wonder if they had something to do with these abductions, seeing as how they are fracturing your group, igniting a civil war, and undermining Thunderbolt’s leadership?”
“But they’re here,” Junkit argued. “How could they—”
James looked at Hayden. “What if they had a backup plan in case they were captured? That makes sense.”
“You see?” Hayden replied. “I’m not just all about good looks.”
“We better move fast,” Sam said. “Before the Flame gets here.”
“Right,” Hayden agreed. “Junkit, you better grab a gun.” He started for the door and then paused. “And maybe those robots. This could get ugly.”
15
EMILY OPENED HER EYES AND FELT A SHARP PAIN COURSING UP AND DOWN HER back. She was staring at roughly hewn stone, lit up with a flickering orange light, as if from a fire.
The last thing she remembered was a flash of movement in the trees and hearing Blue’s shrill scream as she was tackled from behind. She must have blacked out after that.
She tried to wiggle a finger and found that she could, despite the pain. Soon all her fingers were moving, and she slowly rolled herself onto her stomach. Planting her hands beside her, Emily pushed herself to her knees, grimacing all the way. She was in a small, misshapen cavern of dark stone. A black, iron door was built into the wall, and the light was coming in from a small, barred opening that looked out on a corridor. She gingerly planted one foot onto the ground and heaved herself up. For a moment she thought she might topple back to the hard floor, but she wobbled and held her footing.
Then she saw Blue lying in the corner.
The slender woman was sprawled out on her back, her fingers curled limply upward. Her cobalt hair was splayed out around her like a puddle. Emily bent down at Blue’s side and gently shook her arm.
“Blue,” she whispered. “Blue. Wake up.” She shook her harder. “Blue!”
“She’ll be a few hours yet.”
Emily turned to see a very strange-looking man step inside the room. Though it was dark, Emily could tell that his skin was purple or a very dark blue. His eyes were even more disconcerting. One was a piercing yellow and the other as dark as his black clothes and hair. But his features were almost regal: he had a broad chin and high cheekbones, and he was tall and thin. He seemed to blend into the shadows as he took another step toward her.
“She will live. But she is fragile. Unlike you, it seems.” His voice was strong and melodious. “Leave her. We must discuss a few things, now that you are awake.”
Emily stood up again, remaining expressionless. She didn’t want to reveal that she was in pain. “Were you the one following me in the woods a few days ago?”
“No. That was one of my operatives. We have been watching you and your friends ever since you were returned home by the League of Heroes.”
“So you’re not part of the League?” Emily asked, straining to remain upright.
The man folded his hands behind his back. “No. We are . . . independent. Suffice to say we have our own agenda, quite apart from their little war. For some time our paths have run in different directions. But that is no longer the case.”
“Who are you? What do you want with us?”
He smiled. “My name is Dolus. As for why I took you, that answer will have to wait. Now I will ask a few questions,” he said, meeting her eyes. “We have uncovered as much as we can about the circumstances of your group’s powers and the reasons surrounding the battle at the Baron’s mansion. Most we have gathered from our other guests, but they were not completely informed. Why did the Vindico choose you five kids specifically?”
“Why should I tell you anything?”
“Because if you give me information, you will eventually get some in return. And if that isn’t enough . . . ” His hand fell on a sleek black plasma discharger strapped to his thigh. “Then I’ll have to kill Blue to show you I’m serious. Now please, answer my question.”
Emily frowned, but she didn’t see how it could be damaging to the others to answer him. “Because they believed we were the best candidates, I suppose. For Sam and Hayden, they had the natural potential.”
“Yes, Hayden intrigues me,” Dolus replied thoughtfully. “He is extremely powerful, and after such a short time. And the others? James and Lana?”
“Why are you so curious about my friends?” Emily countered.
His fingers closed on the handle.
“I don’t know,” Emily said reluctantly, eyeing his gun. She wondered if she could possibly grab it from him. “James told me the Torturer was from his hometown, so I guess he just picked someone who reminded him of himself. I don’t know why Avaria picked Lana. Rono found me through my online identity, Black Arrow.”
“How long were you with them?”
“A month.”
He began to pace. “They developed your powers that quickly? Why didn’t they take protégés earlier?”
Emily studied his movements, which seemed exceptionally languid and controlled. “I don’t know.”
He turned back to her. “You fought for them, correct?”
“We went on a few missions.”
“Including the raid to abduct Deanna and Lyle.”
“Yes.”
“The circumstances of the battle at the mansion trouble me. Why did you release the Vindico again after you had already imprisoned them?”
“The League was trying to arrest us,” Emily explained, feeling a little defensive. He sounded almost accusatory. “We didn’t have much choice.”
“But it was Sam who defeated them again, was it not?”
“Yes. We realized that we were fighting on the wrong side.”
Dolus stared at her for a moment. “I see. So where do your loyalties lie, then? With the League?”
“We don’t know. The League betrayed us, as I’m sure you know.”
“How did they betray you? My informant only saw James fly through the wall.”
“Sinio coerced James into kissing Lana,” Emily replied. “It was a setup so they could arrest us.”
“So that the Flame could take you before Thunderbolt,” he mused. “Except he underestimated you, which seems to be a common error.”
Emily planted her hands on her hips. “And one you’re repeating. You know the others will be looking for me right now.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t doubt it. But they won’t find you here, I’m afraid. There are many things unfolding and your capture was an unplanned but useful addition. It will drive your friends to take a more active role in the upcoming action. I’m sure it already has. They are the wild cards in this.”
“You have no idea,” Emily snarled. “They won’t give up until they find me.”
“I certainly hope not,” Dolus replied calmly. “That would ruin all my plans.”
He walked toward the door but paused before leaving.
“Settle in: you’ll be here for a while. I expect it will be a few days before things are prepared. I admire your courage, Emily, among other things. I will have a cot brought for you, and food and water. Rest; I know the effects of the stun wear heavily on the body. I assure you, this is the safest place you can be for the next few days. Your friends aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be right in the middle of all this, and they will be extremely fortunate to survive.”
Emily leapt toward him, despite her pain, but he stepped through the door and swung it shut. His dark lips pulled back in a grin. “I see why Rono picked you, at least. Good night, Emily. I will return tomorrow.”
With that, he stalked out of sight, leaving Emily a narrow view of a rough stone hallway. A torch was burning on the wall. Emily pulled on the bars with all her strength, but they didn’t budge. Sighing, she went to try and wake up Blue.
The
y needed to get out of this cell.
16
THE CELL DOOR SLID INTO THE CEILING, AND THE BARON STEPPED OUT, SMILING. He came to an abrupt halt when he saw who was standing in front of him.
“This is not the rescue I had in mind,” he said, raising his eyebrows.
Sam and James had their rifles trained on him, as did Junkit, while Hayden and Lana both had their arms raised threateningly. Behind them, eight more robotic sentries filled in the spaces, each with a stun pole at the ready.
“Why would we rescue you?” Lana asked coldly. “We’re here to make a deal.”
“I see. What sort of deal did you have in mind?”
As they had planned, Sam extended his mind, trying to break into the Baron’s consciousness. But he encountered only an impenetrable wall. The Baron turned to him and tapped lightly on his temple.
“Many years of practice, Sam,” he said. “You won’t get anything that way.”
“Do you know anything about the recent abductions?” Junkit asked sharply.
The Baron turned to him. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
Junkit narrowed his eyes. “The abductions of League members. And now one of your former protégés.”
“Emily has been abducted?” the Baron said, scanning over the group. Though he wore a white prison jumpsuit, he still looked poised and arrogant. “Which League members?”
“What does that matter?” Junkit snapped, lifting his rifle. The barrel was now hovering a few inches from the Baron’s forehead. “Do you know anything about it?”
The Baron didn’t flinch. “No. I’m afraid my personal organization was likely disassembled in my absence. I can’t speak for other members of the Vindico, though.”
“That’s what we were afraid of,” Hayden said. “Well, thanks for your time, Baron. Back in the cell now.”
The Baron glanced at him. “Just because I’m not responsible doesn’t mean I can’t be of some help. I know more about Leni’s organization than anyone but him. And I somehow doubt he will be cooperative.”
“We’ll keep that in mind,” Lana replied sarcastically.