Fire Hazard: Cape High Book Eight (Cape High Series 8)

by R. J. Ross

  “ENOUGH!” Speed bellows, lifting a fist. If he hits her at that speed--I stop thinking, lighting up like a torch and rushing forward, slamming straight into him before he reaches her. His clothes catch on fire and he screams.

  “The box!” he bellows. “OPEN THE BOX!”

  I glance over just in time to see a kid that had been hiding in the crowd get to his feet unsteadily and stumble over to a simple box near the edge of the shop. Speed slips out from my hold and races over, grabbing something from inside. It looks like a glow-stick bracelet, I think blankly as he pulls it on. He hits his wrist against his leg and I see the glass bracelet crack.

  He starts to glow, much like Tank had when he applied the energy directly. He reaches into the box again, pulling out a second bracelet. He slips that on his other wrist, repeating the process. “I’m not going down without a fight,” he says, looking straight at me.

  “Let’s get this over with,” I say, jumping from one foot to the other for a second before launching myself straight at him. He disappears before I reach him and I twist, only to blink as I’m caught in the middle of a twister. It’s sucking away my oxygen--

  I hear Speed grunt and watch as he’s tossed out of his tracks, sent slamming into the ruins of the smoothie shop. Carla is standing there, a dangerous look on her face as she turns to him. “I don’t think so,” the little thirteen year old says. She disappears, and I see Speed’s body jerk again, his head going backwards. Blood comes foaming from his lips. “NO ONE HURTS MY FAMILY!” she bellows over the com. I think Nico tweaked hers so we can understand her when she’s going that fast, because it sounds slower than usual. I see the indents of punches on his chest without seeing her actually hitting him.

  “CARLA! STOP!” I bellow. She’s going to kill him, I think, racing forward. “Stop! You’ve won!”

  I grab wildly, catching her only because I think she wants to be. Her eyes are full of tears and when I pull her into a hug she starts wailing. “I couldn’t stand it!” she sobs. “Not again! You kept--you kept fainting ‘cause--’cause of--”

  “Jimmi, drain him,” I say over my shoulder to the stunned looking girl. She nods and heads over to Speed, leaving me holding the sobbing speedster. “Carla,” I say as she buries her face in my chest, shaking with sobs. “Carla, it’s okay,” I say, patting the back of her head. It’s a bit stunning--we’ve fought all these years, but here she is freaking out over a guy taking my oxygen.

  “Not bad,” I hear Nico say. “Century, bring in your black suits and clean them up, would you? I would say that was wrapped up in a very clean manner. Good job, Vinny.”

  “Speed’s going to be a bit messed up,” I tell him honestly. “Carla didn’t hold back, but as far as I can tell he’s not dead. Jimmi, get those bracelets off of him after you’ve drained them. Kid, can you grab the box?”

  “Already on it,” Trent says.

  I look down at Carla, who’s still sniffling pathetically against my new uniform. I pick her up, sliding an arm under her knees to carry her away from the still sleeping crowd. “Hey,” I say softly, making her glance up. “Thank you.”

  She leans against my chest and wipes away her tears. “I... used to watch,” she whispers. “We all did, when you tried to burn your way out. And--and you--” she starts crying again and I feel a bittersweet smile pull at my lips.

  “I know,” I say, “but we’re out, now. There’s plenty of air here, and if another speedster ever shows up, you’ve got my back, right?” She nods. “We’re family, right?”

  She looks up at me, a little smile breaking through the tears. “Like brother and sister?” she asks.

  “Yeah, like brother and sister,” I agree. “Which means I still claim the right to give you a hard time,” I add.

  “You... you’re a really good leader,” she says quietly. “We made a good team, you and me and Trent and Jimmi, right?”

  “Yeah,” I say, simply because we had. Of course we wouldn’t have had to if Jimmi had been brought to Cape High before she got involved in this sort of thing, I think. I don’t say it, though. Instead I put Carla down, patting her on the head. “You going to be okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. But I’m still feeling jittery--can I go for a run?” she asks, starting to bounce where she’s standing. Oh right, she was boosted.

  “Sure, but stay close,” I say, letting her go.

  “I’m done,” I hear Jimmi say quietly over my earring.

  “Good job,” I say automatically.

  “We’re going to have to rebuild the shop,” Trent says. “Since none of the villains are on the roster, we can’t get them to. Shame I can’t drag Jack into it.”

  “Do your kids always rebuild their war zones?” I hear Century ask, sounding a bit stunned.

  “Of course they do,” Nico says. “Jack’s especially good--he’s always on rebuild duty. But that can wait until tonight. Everyone head to the Hall--you too, Carla. We’ve got some plans to make.”

  “What about the group?” I ask. “They had that box of glow-sticks, who’s to say they don’t have more like it?”

  “We’ll leave that to the South Branch black suits to find out--this isn’t our territory, so it’s not our problem,” Nico says. “Right now we’re going to draw up the transfer papers for Jimmi.”

  “But--” Jimmi says. I look over at her. “I didn’t really do anything,” she admits, looking at the ground rather than me.

  “You did the biggest part,” Trent says, “you kept them down without us having to do too much damage. You’ll be a good addition to Cape High. Except,” he goes on, “you’ll have to leave your home and family for a little bit, other than when they come to visit. Can you do that?”

  She hesitates, looking at me again for some reason. “I... I’ll set it up so Dad can Skype,” she decides. “And I’ll--I’ll call him every day, or something, or maybe every week.”

  I shrug, realizing I shouldn’t say anything about fathers and their relationships with kids. I’d decided to leave my own in prison just before I came here. I think that I’m feeling a little bit guilty over that fact at the moment. I head for my bike instead of saying anything, staring at it for a moment before getting on. Jimmi gets on behind me without me offering. “Can I get a ride? I feel a little shaky,” she says when I don’t react.

  I flip the switch on my bike, turning the flames to purple, just to distract myself. Then I nod and start, heading for the South Branch Hall. Maybe I should talk to Nico about Dad again when we get back home. Maybe Dad really has changed. “Vinny,” Jimmi says, reminding me I’m not alone, “the norms are starting to wake up, and the rest of the group just left. Let’s go, okay?”

  “Don’t you hate me yet?” I ask quietly. “I just made you take out the guys you considered friends, including your own boyfriend. So why are you still hanging on?”

  “They WERE using me,” she says, looking over at the smoothie shop. “I liked that place,” she complains. “They just tore it up because they’re jerks. I hope they all get stuck in juvie or something.”

  I pull to a stop next to the group waiting for us, heading through a secret entrance into the Hall. We’re in a parking garage, so I pull into a spot and kick down my kickstand, turning my bike off. “So we can go home now?” Carla asks, sounding a bit sleepy. It looks like her boost has run off.

  “First we have to do some political things, Carla,” Nico says, patting her on the head. “There’s a lot of red tape between the Halls that can get annoying as hell,” he adds dryly.

  “And they trust you to do it?” Trent asks skeptically.

  “Hey now, I could do it if I wanted to,” Nico says, “but for your information, Double M is waiting in Century’s office. I’m just here to sign where they tell me to.” Even I have to laugh at that. I blink as his hand drops on my head, messing up my hair. “I expected a good job,” he says quietly, “you pulled it off. Now I’m going to demand more of you in school, you know.”

  I groan and then stop, lo
oking at the others. “Actually, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you,” I say, pushing my bangs out of my face, “when we get home.”

  “Sure,” he says as we all get in an elevator and head upstairs. The lights flicker for a moment and everyone from Cape High turns and looks at him.

  “Nico,” Trent says mildly, “stop hacking their system.”

  Nico looks at him blandly. “Really, Trent, shouldn’t you have more faith in your principal?” he asks, faking an injured tone.

  “And?” Century asks. “What did you find?”

  “You need to revamp your security,” Nico says, “a twelve year old could hack it. Here, I’ll do it for you.” He looks serious for a few moments, and then looks at Century again. “There we go.” The doors of the elevator slide open. It took him less than a trip on an elevator to get it done.

  “You’re really no longer a super villain, right?” Century asks as we head down a hall. “Because you would be more than I’d like to deal with, myself.”

  “I’ve got a family to take care of,” Nico says. “I’d rather not be tossed into the Cape Cells again. Besides, my job’s entertaining enough.” We head into a large room, where Double M is sitting in a chair in front of the desk, looking at his phone. “Double M,” Nico says. “We’ve wrapped it up except for the clean-up duty. We’ll finish that tonight and be home tomorrow, after we’ve written up the transfer papers.”

  “You didn’t have to sign anything to transfer my schools,” Trent says.

  “That’s different,” Double M says. “Nicely handled, by the way, Vinny,” he adds, nodding at me. “We’re signing an agreement of temporary transference for Voltdrain’s daughter. He’s in the restroom right now, he should be back soon.”

  “Dad’s here?” Jimmi asks.

  “Of course, he has to sign as well,” Century says, patting her on the shoulder before heading to his side of the desk.

  “We’re very careful of our super children, Jimena,” Double M says, getting to his feet and offering his hand to her. “We see you as our future. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear. I take it you don’t mind the idea of going to Cape High?”

  She nods, and then shakes her head, as if not certain which move is appropriate. “I am looking forward to it,” she says finally.

  “I think I’ll go to the restroom, too,” I say, heading for the door. I head through the mostly empty hallway, getting a few curious glances from the black suits. The restroom sign catches my eye and I head in, only to stop at the sight of Alonso leaning over the sink, looking close to tears. I hesitate, wondering if I should walk out again. This looks like a private moment--

  “It is fine,” he says, looking over at me. “Forgive me, I am being inappropriate.”

  “No--um--” I say, still debating on making a run for it. “You’re um... it’s fine, right?” I say a bit stupidly. “It’s probably hard on you, right? Letting your daughter go.” I let the words fall and look at the mirror. I’m still in full uniform, mask and everything. I don’t even recognize myself for a moment. I look like a super hero.

  “She is all I have,” he says quietly. “Her mother, she passed away. I have done my best trying to raise her, but I have not done well enough--”

  “My dad, he’s in prison,” I say, cutting him off. “He spent all my childhood telling me lies, and when I was captured by the Collector, well, I’ve got no clue if he even noticed. He wound up in jail around that time.”

  “The Collector?” Alonso repeats, looking at me.

  “I’m what they call a ‘zoo kid,’” I tell him. “We were kept like exotic displays. The only good thing my dad ever did for me was teach me to ride a dirt bike. When you think about it like that, you’re a way better dad than I’ve ever had. She realizes it--otherwise she wouldn’t have asked for her uniform to be in your colors,” I say, grabbing onto the fact with both hands.

  “She did?”

  “She did,” I say. “She says she wants to call you from the dorm at least once a week--if you ask Nico, I’m sure he’ll set you up a good way to talk. A lot of the kids in the dorms call their family that way.”

  “And you?” he asks.

  “Like I said, my dad is in prison,” I say, heading out the door again. I’d rather not discuss that topic right now, and thankfully he seems to pick up on it as he follows me into Century’s office.

  “Voltdrain,” Nico says, walking over to us, “it’s good to meet you.” They shake hands, but I’m busy staring at Nico. He looks at me. “This is one of the few capes that could make life extremely hard for me if I were still a super villain,” he tells me.

  “Thank you for the compliment,” Alonso says with a tiny smile.

  “Did you ever ask them about your Lucha Libre fights?” Nico asks me. I know I turn bright red, especially when Alonso looks over at me.

  “You enjoy Lucha Libre?” he asks, sounding surprised.

  “Well, I’ve never seen the real thing--just the fighters on TV,” I admit. “But it looked pretty cool!” Jimmi is just staring at me, with a dark expression on her face as she crosses her arms over her chest.

  “I am a fan of Lucha Libre, too,” Alonso says with a wide smile and a clap on my back. “You should have mentioned it earlier! I am sure we could have jumped the border and found a proper match to watch!”

  “When he learns to fly, he can take you up on it,” Nico says.

  “It’s just fake wrestling with a lot of flips!” Jimmi protests.

  “Hey, now, don’t go making fun of an art form!” I say.

  “If we could,” Double M says, “we have some paperwork to sign.” He turns to face Century, taking the papers from him. “Voltdrain, Nico, you two need to sign next. This isn’t taking custody, of course, just formalities for when she’s in our branch. Until you’ve graduated, Jimmi, it’ll be assumed you’ll return to this branch when you’ve finished.”

  “That’s fine,” she says.

  “You can apply to change branches when you’re a full grown cape, if you desire,” Double M goes on, getting out of his chair and walking over to her. “Of course, considering your special abilities we’ll be extremely lax in keeping you in your own branch territory, so it’s more of a formality--for your father, as well.”

  “It is true,” Voltdrain says with a little smile. “I have been very warmly welcomed in all of the branches. You will enjoy it, Jimena, there are a lot of nice supers out there.”

  She nods and I abruptly realize she’s starting to cry. She literally throws herself into her father’s arms, sobbing like a baby. “I’m so sorry,” she wails. “I’m so--so sorry!”

  “It is fine, Princesa,” he says gently, rubbing her back. “Everything will be fine, now.”

  “I was so stupid,” she mutters against his chest.

  “We all do stupid things once in a while,” he says, “it is best to forgive yourself and go on. There is no going back in the past.” Half the room looks at Nico at that.

  “No, seriously, I SWEAR I got rid of the watch,” he says, holding up both hands.

  “Watch?” Century asks.

  “Sometimes having a technopath is... a bit troublesome,” Double M says, rather than explaining.

  “I’m starting to see that,” Century says, taking the papers as they’re signed. “There’s one more paper to be signed, since Flame said he wants to continue mentoring your boy, there,” he goes on, holding out a sheet of paper to Double M. “This gives Flame permission to enter and exit your territory for reasons of training.”

  “Wait, you mean supers can’t enter the other Halls’ territory without paperwork?” I ask, finally cluing in.

  “Of course not,” Double M says. “Although I often get calls concerning Nico going on a leisurely flight,” he drawls, looking over at Nico.

  “I don’t interfere, I just like the view,” Nico says with a shrug. “Lady Rose enjoys going on a night flight once in a while, especially. Of course there are exceptions to this--such as Voltdrain,
Lady Rose, and other specialized S class. You notice, they never complain about her coming with me.”

  “Aubrey will be like that, right?” Carla adds innocently. Whoops.

  “Aubrey?” Century asks, looking interested.

  “Aubrey is not up for discussion until she graduates,” Double M says mildly, “seeing as she’s a ward of the Central Hall.”

  The interested look on Century’s face tells me this subject will come back up sooner or later. Regardless, he takes the signed papers and hands them to a black suit, who slips back into the shadows quickly, leaving only us in the room. “I have to admit,” he says with a curious look at me, “I’m surprised Flame is even willing to continue. He didn’t seem very happy with the job when I assigned it to him.”

  “Flame likes Vinny,” Jimmi says, pulling away from hugging her father. “He spent a lot of time just trying to get him to shoot fireballs.”

  “I think he finds me a challenge,” I drawl, feeling a bit embarrassed. “That and I cook better than he does.”

  “Well you’ve got your mentor, you’ve got our girl, and you’ve done your job,” Century says, looking at Nico. “As soon as my tech guys confirm the fact that you actually did what you said you did, I’ll let you go. Will you need a ride back to Missouri?”

  “After we rebuild, we’ll take you up on that,” Nico says. “Let’s go, kids--Jimmi, you’re coming along with us.”

  “What?” Jimmi asks.

  “You were in the fight, you’re in the clean-up. Get a move on, girl, you better learn to keep up or you’ll be left behind,” Nico says cheerfully. He stops, though, next to Voltdrain. There’s something interesting there, I notice. Even though Nico is one of the most dangerous guys around, I see a hint of respect in his eyes. “You’re welcome to come up to Cape High any time,” he says, holding a hand out to the shorter male. “Hell, if you ask me, you’re welcome to join Central Hall--”

  “Ahem,” Century says pointedly. Alonso lets out an honest laugh, though.