by Lucas Flint
Space had also mentioned to her that the Servants had refused to follow Space and Galaxy to the Shadowlands. Why that was, exactly, he did not know, but Space speculated that something about the Shadowlands was repellent to the Servants. In any case, Space told Treehugger that the Servants were probably not going to come to Earth anytime soon, but he and Galaxy would, along with the IEA, do their best to keep an eye on them and thwart their plans to harm Earth.
Treehugger had asked Space if the Starborn were still coming to Earth. He confirmed that they were, but he still didn’t know when they would arrive. He said it would probably be sometime soon, although he didn’t know how soon. He also said that Space and Galaxy were technically still under the IEA’s oath of refusing to intervene in other universes, which was why they did not come to Earth with her to meet her other friends and why they probably would not appear on Earth anytime soon unless circumstances forced them to come.
That was why, when Treehugger got back to Earth, she told the NHA and INJ leaders about what she had learned in the void between dimensions. She also told her teammates about the Starborn and what their plans for Earth were. She remembered how serious Mecha Knight and the other leaders had looked when she told them what she had learned about the Starborn, but they had not told her what they were going to do about it. She hoped that they would be able to come up with some defense against the Starborn, but given how powerful and ancient the Starborn were, Treehugger didn’t know how they were going to do that.
It was not just the NHA and INJ who knew of the coming threat, however. The G-Men knew as well, because Vice-President Porter—who had apparently returned to the White House shortly after Treehugger’s kidnapping—had been present at the meeting via online streaming. Porter did not say much during the meeting, nor did he say what he would do with the information, but Treehugger figured he would share it with the G-Men or at least Cadmus Smith, the leader of the G-Men, if nothing else. And what they would do with it … well, Treehugger didn’t know.
As for her teammates, they had all believed her story without any problem, mostly because the Midnight Menace confirmed it all for them. Bolt, in particular, had seemed disturbed by what Treehugger had seen and heard. Of course, the entire team had been disturbed by the story, but Bolt had seemed more disturbed than the rest of them, despite the brave face he put on. Treehugger did not know why he seemed to take special interest in it; maybe it was due to his connection to the Starborn via the Cipher. She would have asked him about it, but she had been so tired at the time that she just let it go.
One thing Bolt did say, however, was that he promised to protect Treehugger, as well as any of the other Young Neos who might be a target of the Servants of the Starborn or the Venetians. It seemed unlikely that the Servants or the Venetians would try to get Treehugger again, but given how the Starborn were getting closer and closer to Earth each day, it seemed reasonable to expect them to try to do something like this again, and relatively soon as well.
The news that the Venetians somehow had access to the Shadowlands had also interested everyone from the Leadership Council to the Young Neos. Everyone was disappointed to hear that Moretta and Pantalone got away, but the fact that the Midnight Menace managed to capture Arlecchino seemed to make up for the escape of the other two, even though Arlecchino still had yet to be interrogated. Well, as far as Treehugger knew, anyway; she bet that the Midnight Menace was already interrogating him and she hoped that he found out some important information from him that could help them stop the Venetians.
Maybe he will even get the proof we need to arrest John Mann, Treehugger thought, leaning back on the bench, feeling the cool fall breeze blow through her hair. Then we could stop the Venetians for good. At the very least, maybe we’ll find out the secret identities of the other Venetians. If we can’t get Mann, then maybe we can get his servants and cripple or slow down his operations.
Regardless of what the Venetians were up to, the Theodore Jason Academy for Young Superhumans had still opened while Treehugger was gone. The first day, from what she heard, had gone well, and students and faculty alike were ready to go for the whole year. Unfortunately, Treehugger would not get to see the school in its first year, because she and the other Young Neos were supposed to head back to Hero Island tomorrow to resume their regular duties. Treehugger wished she didn’t have to go just yet, because she really wanted to see where this school would go. She had the feeling that it would end up being hugely successful at some point in the future and hoped that it would help young superhumans all across the country learn how to use their powers in a constructive way.
I’ll try to visit as often as I can, Treehugger thought. Especially to visit the greenhouse they want to build. It sounds like it is going to be great.
Treehugger’s thoughts were interrupted, however, when someone behind her shouted, “Hey, Treehugger!” causing her to look over her shoulder to see who had said that. Her heart nearly failed her when she saw who it was.
It was Strike, walking across the green grass of the Academy campus grounds as if he had not been nearly electrocuted to death by Bolt less than five days ago. At his side was Dizzy, who kept glancing at him like she was worried that he might suddenly trip and fall on his face, but Strike didn’t seem in danger of falling or tripping at all. If anything, he looked as confident and balanced as he always did, which made Treehugger wonder how he could bounce back from such serious injuries so fast. It seemed like a miracle to her, but she supposed that that was just another example of the strength of Healing Touch’s power.
Treehugger rose to her feet. She tried not to look too hasty, but unfortunately she still nearly fell over in her eagerness to stand up. Thankfully, neither Strike nor Dizzy seemed to notice as they approached her where she stood.
“Hi, Strike, and, uh, Dizzy,” said Treehugger, waving at them as they approached, though she stopped when she realized how awkward she looked. “I thought you guys had left for California already.”
“We’re leaving later today,” said Strike as he and Dizzy stopped in front of Treehugger. “But we wanted to come and see you before we left, since we already said good bye to the rest of your team.”
Treehugger felt her heart skip a beat. “You mean … you wanted to say good bye to me personally?” She tried to keep her voice from cracking.
Strike, thankfully, didn’t seem to notice, because he said, “Yeah. Since we’re all friends, we thought we should say good bye to each other. Doesn’t that make sense?”
He actually considers me a friend? Treehugger thought. I think I might die.
Aloud, however, Treehugger said, “Yeah, yes, of course that makes perfect sense. Well, um, good bye, I guess.”
“But that isn’t all we wanted to talk about,” Strike continued, as if Treehugger had not said anything. “We also wanted to make sure you were okay after your time in the Shadowlands.”
“I suggested it,” Dizzy said, causing Treehugger to look at her in surprise. She slipped her hand into Strike’s. “We know how badly the Shadowlands can affect someone who spends even a few hours inside it and we wanted to see if you were still suffering from any ill effects from your time in it.”
Treehugger felt a little disappointed that Strike had apparently not been the one to think of talking to her, though she supposed she liked nice Dizzy over possessive Dizzy. “No, I’m fine. I wasn’t in there very long anyway, but the way you guys talk about it, it’s like you’ve been there before.”
“Dizzy hasn’t,” said Strike. He thrust a thumb at his chest. “I, on the other hand, have.”
“Really?” said Treehugger. “But you don’t have shadow powers.”
“The Midnight Menace took me there once,” said Strike. He looked out over the campus grounds, like he was reliving that day. “It was a while ago and, like you, I wasn’t in there long. But I’ll never forget it, even if I live to be one hundred years old. The things I saw in there, the secrets I learned … well, I can’t tell you about all
of it, but it was definitely a paradigm-shifting experience, for sure.”
Treehugger rubbed her hands together anxiously. She couldn’t believe it. She and Strike had something in common that he and Dizzy apparently didn’t. Objectively-speaking, of course, that didn’t mean anything, since Strike and Dizzy were obviously still in a relationship together, but Treehugger couldn’t help but feel better about her time in the Shadowlands anyway.
“Yeah, it was … really creepy, I guess is the best way to put it,” said Treehugger. She shivered. “It’s completely unlike Earth. I don’t know how the Midnight Menace tolerates it.”
“Agreed,” said Strike. “But then, the Midnight Menace doesn’t seem entirely human, now does he?”
“He’s not?” said Treehugger. “But I thought—”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Strike, waving off her question like it was irrelevant. “What matters is that you’re okay, but I just wanted to make sure that you knew that you should keep an eye on your health. When normal people go through the Shadowlands, they sometimes have to deal with unexpected aftereffects weeks later. These aftereffects often come out of nowhere, so I’d suggest taking it easy for a while so you don’t get caught off guard by them.”
“Okay,” said Treehugger, nodding. “I’ll take good care of myself for sure.”
“Good to hear,” said Strike, flashing her another one of his brilliant smiles. “Well, Dizzy and I need to leave, so see you later. Hope you have a safe trip back to Hero Island.”
Strike and Dizzy turned to leave, but Treehugger suddenly remembered something and said, “Strike? Can I ask you something?”
Strike stopped and looked over his shoulder at Treehugger with a puzzled expression. “Sure, Treehugger, what is it?”
Treehugger rubbed her hands together again, but she said, “Do you remember what you asked me to tell Bolt? You asked me to tell him that the plan was a ‘success.’ What did you mean by that?”
Strike froze, as if Treehugger had just asked a question he hadn’t expected her to ask. Dizzy also froze, which told Treehugger that Dizzy must have known about this ‘plan’ just like Strike.
“It was about the Venetians,” said Strike finally. “Prior to the opening of the school, Bolt and I had made a plan to protect the Academy from the Venetians, as we suspected they would attack this place when it opened. By preparing for the possibility of the Venetians attacking, we were able to put certain measures into place that kept the situation from becoming worse than it did.”
“Ah, I see,” said Treehugger. “I thought it was something more serious.”
Strike shrugged. “That’s about a serious as it gets, in my experience. Anyway, Dizzy and I really got to go, so talk to you later. Bye.”
Strike immediately resumed walking away, practically dragging Dizzy along behind him before she could react. Treehugger watched them go, feeling both happy and confused. Happy that Strike had come to check on her and say good bye; confused, because she didn’t understand why Bolt and Strike had kept that plan a secret from everyone else.
But she would worry about that later. For now, she would go back to the quarters where the rest of her team was and pack her bags for tomorrow, though not before she spent just a few more minutes enjoying the nice weather.
-
Concluded in Heroes, now available for purchase here.
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Glossary
Kevin Jason (Bolt). Young superhero and leader of the Young Neos, the son of the famous superhero Genius and twin brother of White Lightning. He was the protagonist of the previous series, The Superhero’s Son. Powers: Flight, super strength, super speed, and electricity. First appearance: The Superhero’s Test.
Ronald Jason (White Lightning). Young superhero and member of the Young Neos, the son of the famous superhero Genius and twin brother of Bolt. Was kidnapped by the government as a baby and experimented upon for years until he was freed by Mastermind (see Genius). Powers: Flight, super strength, super speed, electricity, and minor healing factor. First appearance: The Superhero’s Prison.
Emily Ricker (Blizzard). Young superhero and member of the Young Neos. She is Bolt’s girlfriend and essentially plays the role of Team Mom on the Young Neos. Powers: Can control ice and all things cold. First appearance: The Superhero’s Summit.
Lawrence Homer (Shell). Young superhero and member of the Young Neos. He is the youngest member of the team. Powers: Has a thick, impenetrable shell-like growth on his back, although since he is young, it remains to be seen whether he will develop other powers. First appearance: The Superhero’s Summit.
Christopher Greggs (Stinger). Young superhero and member of the Young Neos. Often acts as Bolt’s deputy on the team. Powers: Has insect-like wings that allow him to fly and stingers on his wrists that can inject a paralyzing venom into his targets. First appearance: The Superhero’s Summit.
Jennifer McCullough (Talon). Young superhero and member of the Young Neos. The most beautiful member of the team and the one with the most fan boys. Powers: Has a minor healing factor and can create sharp claws that sprout from her wrists. First appearance: The Superhero’s Summit.
Alicia Simpson (Treehugger). Young superhero and member of the Young Neos. Loves plants. Powers: Can control plant life. First appearance: The Superhero’s Summit.
The Young Neos. The oldest and most well-known young superhero team in the United States. Its lineup changes frequently due to members growing up or resigning. It is under the supervision of the Neohero Alliance and, more specifically, Mecha Knight, a member of the NHA Leadership Council. Current lineup is Bolt, White Lightning, Blizzard, Shell, Stinger, Talon, and Treehugger.
Theodore Ronald Jason (Genius). A legendary and famous superhero, one of the founders of the Neohero Alliance and also the father of Bolt and White Lightning. Originally retiring from superheroism in order to raise Kevin with his wife, Genius nonetheless acted as Kevin’s mentor early on in his superhero career, teaching him how to use his powers and how to fight. Was killed by Robert Candle. Powers: Had super intelligence and could build almost any device imaginable, even one beyond current technological limits. First appearance: The Superhero’s Test.
Mastermind. An evil alternate universe counterpart of Genius and tyrant of the Earth from his universe. In his universe, his wife and Bolt were killed by Master Chaos, causing him to lose his mind and take over the world, killing off the vast majority of superhumans in his universe in order to ensure that no one would ever have to suffer what he did. He came to this universe in order to conquer it, but was ultimately defeated by Bolt and then killed himself in order to avoid justice. Powers: See Genius. First appearance: The Superhero’s Prison.
The Venetians. A mysterious supervillain team financed by the Italian-American billionaire John Mann. Their known members are Volto, Della, Arlecchino, Pantalone, Zanni, Bauta, and Colombina. First appearance: Brothers.
Volto. Leader and member of the Venetians. Powers: Can project his soul from his body and can possess people or inanimate objects. First appearance: Brothers.
Medico Della Peste. Youngest member of the Venetians. Powers: Can heal any sickness with a touch, but can also inflict sickness with a touch. First appearance: Brothers.
Arlecchino. A member of the Venetians. Powers: Can increase his size and strength with his anger, but ends up sacrificing his rational thinking skills and cannot control who he attacks. First appearance: Brothers.
Pantalone. A member of the Venetians. Powers: Has crow-like wings that allow him to fly, as well as crow-like talons, and can control crows. First appearance: Brothers.
Zanni. A member of the Venetians. Powers: Minor reality-warping and teleportation. First appearance: Powers.
Neohero Alliance (NHA). The largest superhero organization in the United States, founded in 1987 by Genius, Lady Amazon, Omega Man, and Beyond Man. Also the sponsor of the Young Neos. Based in Hero Island, which is just off the coast of the State of New York. Led by the Leadership Council.
Independent Neoheroes for Justice (INJ). The second largest superhero organization in the United States, founded in 1991 by the Midnight Menace after breaking away from the NHA. Based in California, although the exact location of its base is unknown. Also the sponsor of the New Heroes.
G-Men. A superhero team sponsored by the federal government of the United States. It is under the leadership of Cadmus Smith, the Director of the Department of Superpowered and Extraterrestrial Beings, and typically handles superhuman, spiritual, or extraterrestrial threats that normal government agencies cannot. Members are recruited from the military.
Cadmus Smith. The Director of the Department of Superpowered and Extraterrestrial Beings. Powers: Ages extremely slowly and can read minds. First appearance: The Superhero’s Test.
Mieko Hiro. A superhero detective and former member of the NHA. Powers: Can generate clones that he calls ‘Thirds,’ which he can reabsorb into his body to gain their memories and knowledge. First appearance: The Superhero’s Team.
Ashley Jason. Kevin and White’s mother and wife of the late Genius. Powers: None. First appearance: The Superhero’s Test.
Mecha Knight (Jack Ruger). A member of the Neohero Alliance Leadership Council and the supervisor of the Young Neos. He also acts as a mentor to Bolt and sometimes the other members of the Young Neos as well. Used to have a human body before transferring his mind into a robotic body he built. Powers: Minor technopathy. First appearance: The Superhero’s Team.
The Leadership Council. The leaders of the Neohero Alliance. There are seven members of the Council who are elected by the general NHA membership for terms of five years, although Council members can resign or be impeached under the terms of the NHA’s Constitution. The current Leadership Council members are Omega Man, Lady Amazon, Beyond Man, Mr. Miner, High Fly, Mecha Knight, and Black Blur.