by R. J. Ross
I hesitate before saying, “Who needs them? I’m perfectly fine on my own!”
He smiles slightly, pushing some of my hair behind my ear. “You and I are quite the pair, aren’t we?” he says with a hint of amusement. “Come on, let’s get going.”
“To the amusement park?” I ask, getting up.
“Sure, why not? I’ve always wanted to see what kind of ride they’d make out of Century. Did they manage to make it stop time?”
***
The classroom is completely silent. Blackjack had seen this as the perfect way to get out of teaching and turned HTV on, but his class was over a few hours ago. The television is still on. Every teacher that’s come in since has been given a very calm, yet unyielding expression from the class. It’s followed by a simple sentence from Max, “Sorry, but can we keep watching this? She’s one of ours.”
That he’s even claiming Keliah had most of the class looking at him strange the first time. Now, though, since it’s the third teacher to walk in, they just nod in agreement, turning back to the screen as soon as the teacher nods in return. Banshee is actually sitting in the back, watching along.
“I want to go to her,” Aubrey says abruptly. “Emily, can we go talk to her?”
“No,” Max says, answering for Emily. “Not yet.”
“But you HEARD her, Max! She’s just a little girl that’s been trying to act tough—”
The entire attitude towards Keliah has changed since they started watching. Max can see the rest of the group debating on joining the argument.
“She is tough,” Jennifer says, absently touching her nose.
“Maybe to you, she is,” Trent says, although not unkindly. “And that’s understandable. She promises to be a very strong cape. But right now… well, she’s one of the…” he hesitates, glancing over at Jennifer’s friends, Olivia and Elidee, and then over at Cisco, “she’s one of our… what should we call you guys?”
“Fledglings,” Max says, grinning slightly. “I liked that one.”
“It sounds stupid,” Jack points out bluntly.
“We can’t call Cisco a chick, though, even if he is the right color,” Max says.
“I dunno, he kinda looks like—”
“Jack!” Aubrey says in a scolding tone. “Ignore him, Cisco, he has no filter between his brain and his mouth. Trust me, I’ve checked.”
“Love you, too, Aubrey,” Jack says to his girlfriend, earning a teasing grin.
“Whatever,” Cisco mutters, ducking his head and turning a bit red at the “looks like” burn.
“The fact of the matter is,” Trent says, giving his brother a warning look, “those of you that are just coming into power are the ones we need to protect most. We’ve all been there, so don’t take it personal, fledglings. Soon you’re going to fly, or run, or whatever it is you’re built for. When you get to that stage you’ll get tossed out onto the field like the rest of us, and we’ll expect you to watch out for the next group of fledglings.”
“Because by then we’ll have graduated,” Vinny says, looking up from his magazine, finally, “and taking care of the norms, who are even more delicate than the ‘fledglings.’ This is just as much training as it is taking care of our own.” He hesitates, looking around the room. “Hey, does anyone know where Justin is?”
“He’s skipping class today,” Ace says. “He took one look at the screen and left.”
The older ones in the group go quiet. It’s only Olivia that speaks up. “Does he not like Keliah?”
“No, that’s not why he skipped,” Ace says.
“One of the escaped convicts killed his father,” Morgan says softly, still focused on the screen. “It wasn’t Keliah’s grandpa, but I bet it’s close enough to be a… tender spot for him. He saw his father die on television… sort of like this, I think.” Her hands clench for a moment. “My dad got out and is out there, somewhere, too, isn’t he?”
“Oh.”
“Shouldn’t some of you big names be out there searching for him?” Cisco asks. “Not this guy—I mean, Rocco’s got that handled, but the sooner the others… um, like your dad, are caught, the better, right?”
“They’ve got the S-class's on it,” Trent says, looking tense.
“Mom and Dad can take anyone,” Jack says, looking at his brother. “If anything, I’d feel sorry for the guy if he ran into them. They work as a team.”
“But our mom and dad are out there, too,” Emily says, glancing over at Aubrey. “Dad’s only an A-class. And there are like, four of the bad guys out there somewhere—”
“Dad?” Olivia repeats. “Who’s your dad?”
“She claims Taurus as her dad,” Max says, “since he and Liz are pretty much a thing.”
“Our gym teacher?” she asks Emily.
“I get really good grades in gym!” Emily says shamelessly.
The lunch bell rings, and they all jerk. Max’s eyes glue on Emily, since he can actually SEE that she’s up to some—she turns, looking him in the eye and giving him her sweetest smile right as a brick wall rises up in her mind, shoving him out.
“Ouch,” he says.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t try to read my girlfriend’s thoughts, Max,” Trent says casually. “At least not without telling me what she’s thinking.”
“Just because we’re dating—”
“And future partners,” Trent adds.
“AND future partners,” Emily adds dryly, “doesn’t mean you have a right to my thoughts. Banshee, permission for Aubrey and me to check on Liz? You know she forgets to eat when she’s been on patrol.”
“Why does Aubrey need to go?” Max asks.
“Because she’s the one that can cook,” Emily says.
Banshee looks at her. “I’ll go with you,” she says finally.
“What? Why?” Emily asks. “We’re just checking on—”
“I might not be a telepath, but I can tell a ploy when I see one. If you’re going to hop across the country you’re taking someone that can deal with unexpected problems. Aubrey is extremely powerful, yes, but not in a way that would help.”
“I can go,” Trent and Max both say. “Or we both can go,” Max says as they look at each other. Arguing over this will take too long.
“Fine,” Banshee says. “Emily, Trent and Max—”
“But I was hoping—” Aubrey says.
“Emily, can you take three other people?” Banshee asks.
“If there’s time before coming back, I suppose,” Emily says reluctantly.
“I want to go, too!” Carla says, waving a hand. “She’s part of my team!”
“I don’t think I can take more than three without getting really tired, Carla—especially if one’s Trent,” Emily admits. “He’s a big guy.”
“Oh… well at least tell her hi for me, okay?”
“Why are they allowed to go?” Olivia asks. “Shouldn’t they be here where it’s safe, too? This isn’t like one of their shows—”
Both males look at her. “We’re not just for show,” Max says. “We’re working capes now, fledgling. And I qualify as an M-class, now.”
“What’s an M-class?” half the class asks.
“Mastermental,” Max says cheerfully. “He has his very own class.”
“That’s such a lie, man,” Freddy says.
“No, actually, it’s true,” Banshee says. “Mastermental is on level with an S-class, but since it’s only because of his psychic powers that he is, they just gave him his own class. You are close, but honestly I’m not sure you’re M-class yet, Max,” she goes on, looking at him. “Until you can manipulate items as easily as your father does I believe you qualify as an A-class. You’ll have to ask Nico to be sure, though.”
“I only just upgraded to A-class when I learned to fly,” Trent says sympathetically.
“Both of you will live to see S or M-class, I’m sure,” Banshee says. “It’s just something you’ll have to grow into. But they’re right, Olivia, they are quali
fied for this sort of work. Now, all four of you, I expect you to be back before classes are over for the day. We’ll be watching you on the screen.”
“Got it,” Emily says. “Um, should we ask Nico?” she adds, a bit hesitantly.
“Don’t draw attention to yourselves,” Nico says over the loud speaker. “Go in, do what you need to do, and then get back here. This is Rocco and Malina’s job.”
“Got it,” Emily says, heading out for the campus exit. She can’t teleport from inside the school.
***
“So, what's next?” Rocco asks.
“We’re going to the theme park,” Falconess says. “And you’re the quick and easy way to get there.”
“Are you sure you should?” Malina asks, looking worried. “I mean, things are going well, right?”
“Everyone is just assuming that he’s going to stay calm,” Falconess says. “That’s how he convinced Mom, back in the day. But the next thing she knew he was blowing up buildings and—”
“In his defense, he was up against Superior, right?” Rocco says. “I’ve seen Tatiana fight, it’s not an easy thing to go up against one of them. You probably have to throw everything you’ve got and hope it causes enough dust for you to get away.”
“Are you a villain or a hero, Rocco?” Falconess asks him.
“Villain,” he says. “I’ve got the papers to prove it, too. I’m not saying I agree with blowing up buildings, but I still hold to what Zoe said—you use the powers you’ve got. Maybe he just felt really out of his depth at the time and was doing the only thing he COULD do. I know I would, if I was fighting an S-class cape.”
“But you’re missing one fact,” Falconess says. “He didn’t HAVE to fight him. He could have just given in, held up his hands and let Superior bust him! If he had, he wouldn’t have—he wouldn’t have spent all of my life and most of his granddaughter’s life in a cell, unable to talk to anyone in his family.”
“True,” Rocco says. “But everyone screws up. Look, you can either hold it against him for the rest of his life, or you can forgive him. Personally, I don’t know Keliah all that well, but it looks like she’s made her decision.”
“Nobody knows Keliah all that well,” Malina admits.
Falconess sighs. “What should we do, Mom?” she asks her mom, looking over.
“He’s doing so well,” Angela says, still looking at the screen. “Let’s… let’s just watch and see,” she says. “I don’t want to make it look like we’re trying to cheat to get him on parole.”
“We should do it from somewhere closer,” Falconess says, reaching out and grabbing Rocco’s shirt before he can go anywhere. “You’re staying right where you are, Rocco,” she tells him. “We might need you.”
Rocco lets out a sigh. “I’m never going to get my homework done,” he mutters.
“Oh, sure you can,” Malina says. “It’s built into your com-bracelet.”
“Really?”
“Zoe insisted.”
“But first, take us to Texas,” Falconess says. “We can watch from the South Branch.”
Rocco nods and holds out a hand. “Fine, I might as well check in, anyway,” he says as they form a chain. He pulls them through the Shadowlands, leading them through the stinking wasteland and stepping out of the shadows behind the South Branch Hall. There are guards in black suits and cowboy boots standing there. Before they can say anything several guns are aimed at them.
“We come in peace?” Rocco says, holding up both hands. “Besides, I’m an unofficial official member. Since when did Halls decide to have guards on the outside of the building?”
“Since Mimic got out,” one of the black suits says, stepping forward with a machine in his hand. He scans each of them before checking the machine and nodding. “They’re clear. Now you can tell us your purpose for being here.”
“Well, this is Falconess and, uh, Falconess Sr.,” Rocco says, nodding to the women behind him. “And this is Malina, AKA Raindrop. I’m Nightstep—and you don’t particularly care, do you?” he says as they just stare at him blandly. “Are you really all military veterans?” he asks curiously.
“The vast majority, yes,” the spokesman of the group agrees. “But that doesn’t answer the quest—” he stops, reaching up and touching an earbud. “Yes, sir. Of course, sir,” he says. “Let them through,” he tells the others, stepping out of the way. “You should be familiar with this system,” the black suit says, only to pixelate and disappear. The others are gone as well, leaving only a small screen for a hand to be placed on.
“They looked real,” Malina says. “Nico’s been here, hasn’t he?”
“Seems like it,” Rocco says, pressing his hand to the screen. It blinks green and the familiar footprints appear in front of him. “This is definitely Nico’s handiwork.”
“This is… amazingly paranoid,” Angela says as Malina shows her how to have her hand scanned. She, unlike the others, has to answer several questions on the screen. Soon enough, though, they’re stepping through a wall that slides open and looking around. The same black suits they saw outside are standing to the side, watching them. Century heads past the guards and straight for Rocco.
“Hello, son,” he says, holding out a hand. The instant Rocco takes it the older man hauls him into a hug, clapping him on the back. “Good to see you, as always. Hello, Malina, Falconess, Falconess,” he says, shaking hands with each of them after letting go of Rocco. “You’ll understand why we left your drones outside, I believe.”
“We might, but HTV won’t be happy,” Rocco says.
“Don’t worry, HTV South will take over for this part of the show,” Century says. “If you’d follow me, we’ll find a nice comfortable room to watch the show from.” He hesitates. “And I will admit to being a bit disappointed that they chose my territory,” he says quietly.
“Why’s that?” Malina asks.
“Well, sugar, they were following our little deadly darlin’s around like puppies,” Century says, a little grin pulling at his lips. “The three make for quite the show.”
“Deadly Darlin’s? So Aunt Skye finally settled on a name?” Rocco asks. “Or is it a different group?”
“No, it’s Skye and the girls. We’re actually planning on releasing it as a Reality TV show once they go public. According to our HTV they should garner a huge audience. But seeing as we have an escaped convict in the area, well, most of the drones have been dedicated to following him, instead. And while the family bonding is nice, and all—”
“You’ve got a thing for my aunt,” Rocco finishes.
“I wouldn’t go that far—” Century protests.
“Everyone heard about the kiss, Century,” Falconess says with amusement. “I’m surprised—she seems a bit young for you.”
“That was just a celebratory action, darlin’,” he says. “Rocco here saved my life. I was enjoying the fact that I AM alive, still.” He leads them into a large den like room with massive couches in front of a large screen. “How did you like the new security system?” he asks.
“I think you’re trying to change the subject,” Angela says, her gaze sharp. “You always did like the sweet and innocent types, Charles.”
“You know each other?” Rocco asks blankly.
“Son, in our business you wind up running into everyone in the game sooner or later,” Century says. “Angela here was a member of the South Branch when I was first starting up—for all of a week or two, at least.”
“I was overseeing a new branch opening,” Angela says. “Now enough talk, turn the television on.”
“Did you ever, um, hit on her?” Rocco asks Century silently, nodding in Angela’s direction.
“Son, does she strike you as the sweet and innocent type?” Century says, not bothering to be silent.
“I think you’re both very sweet,” Malina says to the Falconess pair.
“Thank you, Malina,” Falconess says with a little smile.
The others start laughing, not even n
oticing as Rocco jerks slightly, a strange expression on his face. He looks around for a moment, frowning with confusion. After a moment he looks back to Century, the confusion still pasted firmly on his face. It’s always hard to tell if there’s an unwanted cape in the area when you’re right next to a very powerful S-class.
***
Mimic sits on the nearest roof of the small suburban neighborhood, watching the two villains corner the low-class hero. Not that they need both of them, he thinks as Deathblow lifts the man up by the throat. Either one of them could have the poor C-class cape cowering on the ground crying for his mommy. This has been one of the most entertaining weeks, EVER, he thinks with glee as they drag the man into the house. He takes to the air, landing in the backyard of the cape’s house, moving close enough to hear their discussion inside.
“He’s big enough to get that channel, right?” he hears Deathblow ask.
“How should I know? You just went after the first guy changing out of a mask,” Massteria says before yelping. “Fine! I’ll check, I’ll check,” he says. “Or we could just turn his television on,” he mutters a second later.
“Oh, yeah, right,” Deathblow says. There’s the click of a television being turned on, followed by a mishmash of sounds as the channels are flipped. “This it?” he asks.
“That’s it.”
“There’s Boombastic,” Deathblow says. “What’s that in the background?” he asks. “Looks pretty warm there…”
“This is footage from our sister station, South HTV,” Mimic hears a woman say. “We’re still following the escaped Cape Cell convict, Bombastic, as he travels with his granddaughter. We are now taking calls.”
“Call them,” Deathblow says.
“Are you kidding? What if they—”
“Do you want to live to find out what they do?” Deathblow demands. “CALL THEM.”
“You’re a real jerk, you know that?” Massteria complains. “Where the hell does this guy keep his phone—oh no, I am NOT going there—”
“Just get the phone already!”
Mimic almost laughs as he hears Massteria grumble and the sounds of spandex being tugged on. Oh, this is too rich. He only wishes he could see it for himself. “Fine, got it. What’s the number?” Massteria says. Deathblow rattles off some numbers. Massteria makes a strange series of noises before dialing and speaking. “Yeah, hi, I’m Torpedo from Central Branch—well, the reserves,” he says, in a completely different voice. “I was just wondering, do you know WHERE in South Branch this is?”