Super Powereds: Year 3

by Drew Hayes

  “Of that, I have no doubt. Go out and do our lineage proud, my granddaughter. Do it proud enough, and the opportunity to continue the legacy will be yours. Come on, Shane, help me find my seat.”

  Graham began heading off, but Shane lingered behind for a few moments. “I’m not allowed to watch the match; not even grandfather has that pull. So since you won’t hear me cheering for you, I just wanted to say good luck. As much as he’s made us compete with each other, you’re still my sister, and I hope you do well.”

  “Aw, that might be the sweetest thing you’ve said to me since we were kids. Come here, you big softy.” Angela grabbed Shane and pulled him in, hugging him more tightly than she’d dared risk with their grandfather. “Have no fear, little brother. I’m here to kick ass and chew bubblegum.”

  “Let me guess, you’re all out of bubblegum.”

  “Nope, got a whole pack in my pocket.” Angela let go and patted the side of her uniform. “I can do both at once; that’s how much of a badass I am.”

  “Nice to see your confidence is as unshakable as always.”

  “I don’t have much, but that I’ve got in spades. And hey, look at the bright side: next year at this time, I’ll be a Hero, which means, with a little negotiating, I can come cheer for you when it’s your turn to come here.”

  Shane let out a long, low sigh. “Given how we’re ranked right now, I’m not sure I’ll make the cut for Intramurals.”

  Angela reached over and grabbed his face, forcefully lifting it so that his eyes couldn’t see the ground. “Chin up, little brother. Unlike you, I know what the fourth year curriculum is like. All these years, you’ve been at a big disadvantage; your power just isn’t that well suited to non-lethal combat. When you hit fourth year, though . . . well, I’ll just say that you’re going to have a chance to shine.”

  “Even if you’re right, it will be too late. As long as you don’t royally screw up, you’re going to be the next Captain Starlight.”

  “You never know the outcome of a fight until it’s over,” Angela replied. “Yes, I will probably kick a whole mess o’ ass out there, but nothing is written in stone yet. Even if I do though, it’s just a name. No one knows you better than me, not even Paw Paw, so trust me when I say that you’re going to be a great Hero, no matter what they call you.”

  “Oh Lord, are we having a moment? I’m not sure I can handle that,” Shane said. He pulled away from her grip, but he could still feel her words lingering in his head. Easy as it was to forget, every now and then, his sister could really be there for him.

  “You’re right, the last thing I need before this brawl is to feel mushy. Get out of here already,” Angela said, making a shooing motion with her hand. “I’ve got a pack of bubblegum to open.”

  228.

  “Come on, you have to be picking up something,” Hershel said. “With your range, there’s no way you aren’t getting a few random thoughts here and there.”

  “Perhaps you’ve forgotten, but the dean of this school, which the guests are no doubt sitting with, is Dean ‘I cancel out people’s powers’ Blaine,” Mary replied. She set her book down, giving up on trying to read while her dormmates encircled her in the common room.

  “What about the contestants?” Vince pried. “Maybe they’re thinking strategy or something?”

  “Part of me is beginning to see why so many telepaths hide what they’re capable of,” Mary groaned. “Look, the combat is being held deep down, and Dean Blaine is around most of the people. Maybe I could pick out a few random thoughts from the people fighting, but it’s not going to make any sense out of context. Sorry, I think we’re just going to have to be in the dark like everyone else.”

  “I wonder if we can trade this telepath in for one with more interest in brawls,” Alice said, giving Mary a sly wink to let her know she didn’t mind that much. It would have been cool, sure, but at the same time, part of her wanted to experience whatever Intramurals was the way the seniors were: by being in them.

  “Funny you should mention that,” Mary replied. She tilted her head toward the foyer’s entrance, where Chad and Alex were walking in.

  “Hey guys,” Alex said. Even without telepathy, they could pick up on his evident nervousness. Alex was usually about as carefree as they came, but today, he was so hunched in on himself it was almost painful to look at.

  “Hey bud, what’s up?” Hershel said.

  “Actually . . . I was wondering if I could talk to Vince.”

  A wave of confusion washed through the room, only passing over Mary, who seemed, if anything, relieved by the strange request. Vince hesitated for a moment, then walked over and unlocked the boys’ lounge door, motioning for Alex to enter. “Sure, I’ve got some time.”

  Once the door shut had behind them, Alex faced Vince with a look of strangely pinched determination. He took several deep breaths, opened his mouth, and then closed it again. Finally, he managed to squeeze out the words: “I don’t really know how to start this.”

  “Alex, we’re friends. You can talk to me about whatever you need to.”

  “I’m . . . Sasha and I have started seeing each other.” Alex paused for a reply, and, when none came, he barreled forward. “It happened after we started hanging out for the Star Puncher premiere, and we just sort of hit it off. I know it’s bad form to go after your friend’s ex without talking to him first and making sure it won’t hurt him, and I really didn’t mean to. Things just sort of kept happening, and before I knew it, we were pretty much dating. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” Vince said. He grabbed Alex by the arm and forced his friend to meet his eyes. “Seriously, it’s okay. Yeah, it probably would have been better form to talk to me about this so I had some heads up, but I’m truly not bothered by you two being together. I care about you and Sasha. If you two make each other happy, then more power to you.”

  Alex let out a breath that some part of him had been holding since the first morning he’d woken up with pink-streaked hair on the pillow next to him. His body language relaxed a bit, and he even allowed himself to smile. “Thank you. I didn’t think you’d be that put off by it, what with you and Camille finally getting together—”

  “Well, it’s only been one date so far. I don’t want to count any chickens before they hatch,” Vince said.

  “Hey now, Mary may be the better telepath between the two of us, but I’m the undisputed champ of sensing emotion in our class. I can tell how much you two care about each other. And honestly, I’m glad. You could both use some fun in your lives.”

  “Seems like things are good all-around, then,” Vince said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “Now, let’s get back to the common room before people think we’ve started slugging it out.”

  “At this point, you’d probably beat me senseless,” Alex admitted.

  “It’s possible, but there’s still a year of training left. No telling who’s going to pull ahead by the time graduation comes.”

  * * *

  Nick sat quietly as he watched the older man walk through the coffee shop. Unlike Eliza’s meetings with Vince, for this occasion, the place had been cleared out and the sign was flipped to “Closed.” The shades were also drawn, though this was to prevent sniper fire as much as being seen together. The man moved with a careful confidence, as though he knew he was capable of handling much, but still saw no need to deal with more than was necessary. As he slid into the unoccupied seat across from Nick, his neutral expression lifted by a few degrees, and Nick could see the curiosity simmering underneath.

  “When I first heard that Nicholas Campbell wanted to meet with me, I must say that I assumed it was a trap. A very foolish, poorly thought-out trap, but a trap nonetheless. There has never been any love lost between our families, after all.”

  “When I first heard that Wilson Evers had accepted my meeting, I also assumed it was a trap,” Nick replied. “But I trusted that you had reached the same conclusion I had; this is beyond a mere matter of either fam
ily’s well-being. Your cousin is making some bold, dangerous moves, dealing with people who go far beyond our criminal enterprises. Whatever he has planned, it could very well bring the wrath of the entire Hero community down on both our houses.”

  “We’ve distanced ourselves from Nathaniel since the start of this year. He was cut off from both money and resources. Whatever he’s putting together is not affiliated with the Evers family.”

  “And I’m sure that will mean so much if he goes off and manages to kill a Hero or two. We have survived in this world specifically by avoiding things that draw their ire, and now, Nathaniel is out recruiting criminal Supers. Even he can’t be dumb enough to think of attacking Lander, but I’m sure his plans aren’t that far off.”

  “What would you like me to do, exactly?” Wilson asked. “We’ve taken his resources and affiliation; he is currently working as his own man. Do you think he’ll listen if I go in and tell him to knock off whatever it is he’s planning? If so, then you don’t know my cousin that well.”

  “I know Nathaniel Evers incredibly well,” Nick replied. “Which is why I know that no matter what moves he’s making on the board, I’m the king he wants to capture. No, I’m not asking you to try and stop him. I’d actually prefer he never knew you were in town, let alone that we met. I can handle Nathaniel; all I want is the freedom to do it.”

  Wilson’s eyes narrowed. “Nathaniel is blood. Even if he’s on the outs right now, he’s still one of us.”

  “Which is why I’m asking for permission before I kill him.” Nick met Wilson’s narrowed gaze with a steely one of his own. “I don’t want to start a war, but it damned sure looks like Nathaniel is gearing up for one. Even if you don’t like it, you can’t deny that I gave you more than enough evidence to make a case. Run it up the chain, and see what Giles decides. For the good of everyone in Vegas.”

  There was a brief pause as Wilson mulled the proposal over. “I’ll send it up. You deserve that much. But I don’t have to tell you what happens if you make a move before a decision is made, right?”

  “If I didn’t know that, your cousin would have been dead a long time ago,” Nick replied. “And, no doubt, I would be too.”

  “You’re a smart kid,” Wilson said as he rose to leave the shop. “Just be sure you don’t go off and make any dumb choices.”

  229.

  Angela was fully healed by the time Shane made it to her small room. Her uniform, however, had not been patched up. The burn marks, slices, and ripped sections made it look like a hundred-year-old patchwork monstrosity. Given how much punishment the HCP uniforms could take, it spoke to just how much damage she’d been dealt. Not that it had ultimately mattered, of course.

  “Grandfather told me you won.” He was happy for her, happy for the family; hell, he was happy for Lander to have gotten such a victory. He just wasn’t happy about the implications that came with her triumph.

  “I did, but that last guy was a real son of a bitch. If he’d had even a little more experience in losing, I might not have pulled that one out.”

  “But you did pull it out,” Graham DeSoto said, walking in a few steps behind his grandson. “You put on a marvelous display of strength, strategy, and resolve. I’ve always known you to be impressive, my dear Angela, but today, you showed me how powerful you can truly be.”

  “I am pretty amazing,” Angela agreed. “Though, I owe at least some of that to you, Paw Paw. Without your training, there’s no way I’d be this far along in my path. You gave me a solid foundation on which to build, and for that, I am truly grateful.”

  “You may wish to save your thanks for another few moments,” Graham cautioned. “As you are both aware, I decided that, when you both manifested abilities, and should you prove yourselves worthy, I would pass on the Captain Starlight name to whichever one of you proved to be the most deserving. Shane, I have watched you for your whole life as you trained relentlessly, always striving to be better, never giving up on your dream of carrying on the legacy of the world’s first Hero.”

  Shane bit his tongue, merely nodding politely. It would change nothing to tell them that he’d never cared about the fact that Captain Starlight was the first, or most revered of Heroes. He’d always wanted the name because it was his grandfather’s, nothing more. If it had been the name of a shamed Hero, Shane would have fought just as hard to take it, and likely come up just as short against Angela.

  “However, after today’s victory, on top of her impressive career within the HCP, I think there can be no question as to which of the two of you is the more powerful. Against anyone else, your efforts would have certainly triumphed, but against Angela, I’m afraid they fell short. That is part of what makes her so suited to wear the title. She is indomitable, unwavering, and unstoppable. And, as of today, she is the next Captain Starlight.”

  “Seriously? This isn’t some trick or test, right? I finally get it?” Angela rose from the bench where she’d been resting and approached her grandfather carefully, waiting for him to knock away the prize he’d been dangling since they were children.

  “You have earned it, my dear granddaughter. The tests are done. I give you my word, the name, and all that comes with it, are officially yours.”

  Angela seemed to swell up, not with the excitement of bloodlust, as Shane was so often accustomed to seeing, but with pride. He could only imagine how it felt, to have grabbed the ring after so many years of reaching for it. It was an experience he would never have, but he still tried to be happy for her.

  “Grandfather, I’ve been waiting a very long time to hear you say those words.” Angela reached out and took Graham’s hands in her own, cradling them delicately as she stared into the older man’s beaming face. “So that I can finally tell you this: thanks, but no thanks.”

  “I beg your pardon?” If Graham was told that one of his old nemeses had been resurrected and given zombie powers, he couldn’t have been more shocked than he appeared in that moment.

  “I don’t want to be Captain Starlight. I don’t want to carry on your legacy. I love you, please don’t think that’s what this is about, but I’m not going to take up your name.” Angela squeezed the hands still clutched in hers, doing all she could to soften the blow.

  “Why on earth wouldn’t you want to be the next Captain Starlight?” Graham asked.

  “Because I’ve never wanted to be as good as you were, Paw Paw. I want to surpass you. I want to build my own legacy; one that puts every other Hero’s to shame. You’re the one who taught us to always be striving, to never stop trying to be the best. Well, that’s what I’m going to try and do, but I’m doing it my way. I’ll earn my own reputation, my own glory. I’m going to be my own kind of Hero.”

  “All these years.” Shane’s voice came out like the hiss of a coiled snake, drawing both his sister and his grandfather’s attention immediately. He was staring at Angela, not as much in surprise as frustration. Unlike Graham, Shane knew the kind of person his sister was. He’d just thought this was important enough for even her to take seriously. “All these years, you’ve been ahead of me. All these years, you were so tireless. Always training, always keeping a step beyond reach. Why did you go to all that trouble if you knew you didn’t want the fucking name to start with?”

  “Shane—” his grandfather began, but stopped when Angela released his hands and stepped toward her brother.

  “Because there’s a difference in not getting to be Captain Starlight and choosing not to be Captain Starlight. I needed the decision to be mine and mine alone. Let me put it this way: now that you’re the default choice to take up the name, does it feel the same as if you’d beaten me out for it?”

  “Of course not,” Shane spat.

  Angela smiled and nodded her head slowly. “Of course not. You wanted to beat me just as bad as I wanted to beat you. Well here’s the good news, little brother. This contest doesn’t end when we graduate. I’ll be waiting out there for you, waiting to see which of us can truly become the grea
test Hero. Oh, and as for why I always worked so hard to stay ahead of you . . . well, you’re stronger than you think. If I’d slacked off, then you’d have passed me for sure.”

  “Don’t you dare try and comfort me out of pity.”

  “Shane, you’ve been my rival since we could walk and this crazy old bastard started training us. Do you really think either of us would be this far along without the other to compete against?” Angela pulled her brother in and gave him a crushing hug. “I won this round. But something tells me you aren’t content letting that score stand.”

  Shane hugged her back for a moment, but then pulled away. “You’re going to have a year’s head start, again.”

  “Maybe a year out of the HCP will make me soft and sloppy. Being first isn’t always an advantage, you know.”

  “Ahem,” Graham Desoto said, butting into the conversation. “Since you seem set on refusing to carry on the Captain Starlight name, do you mind if I ask what name you have chosen?”

  “I was leaning toward ‘Oppenheimer,’ due to that whole ‘now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds’ quote, but I thought it might go over people’s heads. So, to answer your question, I don’t really have one yet.”

  “Why am I not surprised,” Shane muttered.

  “Perhaps we should talk about it over dinner,” Graham offered. “After all, we do still have quite the victory to celebrate.”

  “Woo! I am ordering all the wine,” Angela declared before sprinting off. She made it halfway to the lifts before remembering that she needed to change into street clothes, and another several feet before deciding that she actually cared enough to turn back.

  230.

  “That about wraps up class for today.” Professor Pendleton took down the chart of former Soviet leaders and tucked it neatly away in his briefcase. Discussing the fundamentals of interrogation wasn’t exactly a popular topic, but it was one that he’d seen the necessity for firsthand, so he refused to gloss over it. Around him, the bustle of students packing away their notebooks filled the air.