by R. J. Ross
"I didn't expect her to have kids!" Technico protests. "It was just--just a... fling." Which is a lie, he thinks, but Lady Rose had been a super hero, he'd been a super villain, those sort of star crossed love stories never worked out. He'd known that going into it. He'd just loved her enough not to care.
But... the children of a Superior brat and an S class elemental--
He feels a little light headed.
"Are... are you sure they're mine?" he finally asks.
***
It's finally lunch time. I'm stressed out, irritated, and wishing that Max would disappear. Yes, he's cute, yes, he can be funny sometimes, too, but he's also a perfect way to rile every single guy that hears him on some level or another. Including my brother. I drop down at the table in the corner of the cafeteria, dropping my bagged lunch on the table in front of me. I'm not surprised when Sunny drops down across from me. I wish I was surprised when Max drops down next to me.
"You stick out too much," Sunny says, going straight to the problem. "You've gotten everyone on edge--even if they don't know."
"That's their problem," Max says, looking at the tray of food that he's bought. "Is this real meat?"
"Don't ask," I mutter. "But Sunny's right."
"Think I can make a run to Burger King and back before lunch is over?" Max asks, now poking at the hamburger patty. "I'm pretty sure there was a story about pink slime in the news that is extremely relevant right now."
I glare at him, grabbing his plate and dropping my paper bag in front of him. "Peanut butter and jelly," I say. "Enjoy."
He looks at me for a moment, then shrugs and opens the bag as I start to eat his food. "So what pow--"
A tray clatters as it's dropped onto the table and we all look up in shock at the blonde boy who's sitting down next to Sunny. "You," Trent says, "what are you doing here?" He's looking straight at Max.
"So you did notice," Max says. "I wondered."
"Can someone tell me what's going on?" Sunny demands.
"This guy's one of us," Max says. "After you spend time around the others long enough, you tend to get a feel for it. Not to mention he took to the sky when I pissed him off this morning. For a second or two." He's finishing off the pudding cup at the moment, so he doesn't seem to be taking this too seriously. "I'm betting you're still learning to fly."
"You could have killed that kid," Trent snarls.
"Sure I could have," Max says. "Let me guess, you're the oldest or only son of... one of the big names, I bet. You look familiar."
"That's none of your business--and these two have nothing to do with it," Trent says. "So leave them alone."
"You think so?" Max asks, leaning back in his chair and looking at me and Sunny. "You don't see it--of course you don't. He was tossed into the cells over fifteen years ago--you were a baby. I wasn't much older, but I do my research."
"Who?"
"Technico."
Trent looks completely blank. "Never heard of him," he says finally. "Wait, you mean they're--you're--" he looks at me, then at Sunny, his expression reminding me of Max's from the night before. "No way," he says. "What can you do?" he asks.
"Do we really want to discuss this in a public area?" Sunny asks.
"No one can hear over this group, it's fine," Max says. "I want to know, too. I mean I've got a rough idea, but I'm not sure. What's your ability, Sunny?"
Sunny looks at his sandwich for a moment and I can see him hesitating. "It's lame," he finally says.
"Doubt it," Max says.
"It's not lame, you just need to learn how to use it," I encourage him.
"I--ah--plants," Sunny says, still not looking at them. "I'm ah... plants," he admits. "And maybe dirt. I'm not sure."
"What?" Max asks. He looks completely thrown off guard. "No, seriously, what? How in the heck can you specialize in plants? That's elemental--Technico is a super scientist that specializes in technopathy," he says. "I mean it's not totally impossible, but it's highly unlikely." He looks at me. "What're you?"
"Um... machines blow up on me," I say, feeling ridiculously lame.
"Yeah, you take after Technico," he says. "But--" He stares at Sunny, frowning in thought. "I don't get it," he says finally.
Trent is eating way more than looks physically possible. I can't help but stare at the pile of food in front of him. "How can you eat that much?" I ask.
"I'm a growing boy," Trent says between bites.
"Growing fat, you mean," Max drawls. "So... what's your name?"
"Don't have to tell you," Trent replies. "You're not going to be here for long, not when they realize what you are. No point in bothering to play friendly."
"I'm a teenager," Max says. "That's a perfectly good qualifier for coming to high school." He's finished his lunch--my lunch--and is resting his arm on the back of my chair. I give him a dirty look. "What?" he asks.
"Do you really have to do that?" I demand.
"Do what?"
"Get your arm off her chair, Max," Sunny says.
"Oh, come on, I'm not even touching her," Max says. "Besides, that Jack guy might be watching."
"I don't like Jack," Trent says, "but I like you, less. You totally ruined my super bowl party!"
Max starts to laugh, much to my--no, I'm lying. I'm not shocked at all. I do take the opportunity to shove his arm off of my chair, though.
"Oh, come on," Max says. "That's the biggest thing you've got against me?"
"The hot wings burnt! They were my favorite!" Trent says. "The entire house stank for a week thanks to that!"
Max is unrepentantly laughing, even Sunny is fighting a grin. I can't help but picture the mess of a ruined football party, and feel a tug on the corner of my lips.
"You might laugh, but you try airing out a house that smells like that," Trent complains, but even he seems to see the humor in it because his tone has changed and he's fighting a grin.
"Hey, I still say it made a nice halftime show. They had that Justin guy lined up to sing--I really hate that guy. Who puts a guy like that in a super bowl, anyway?" he demands. "At least pick a girl that runs around in a miniskirt or something!"
"Should you be saying that in front of your girlfriend?" Trent asks.
"I'm not his girlfriend!" I say.
"Why don't you wear a miniskirt?" Max asks me.
"Don't make me hit you," I mutter darkly.
"Abusive girlfriend syndrome," Max complains.
"I'm not your girlfriend!" His arm is on the back of my chair again. I give up. To be honest, this is the most normal and accepted I've felt since Mom disappeared. Sad that it takes being surrounded by supers.
"Max," Sunny says in a warning tone. I look at him, wondering why he's so willing to warn a guy that we both know is a walking timebomb. Thankfully Max drops his arm easily, reaching for his pop.
"Sunny," he says.
"It's Trent," Trent says, making everyone at the table look at him blankly. "Trent Styles. And... you guys are the first I've met my age," he admits. "Even if you're on the opposite team," he adds, looking pointedly at Max.
"See, guys? He knows what I've been trying to tell you," Max says. "It's... lonely." He looks at his can silently, and I let out a sigh.
"Fine. But no sports, no fights, and absolutely no gravity attacks, got it?" I say. He looks at me with a hint of surprise.
"So you'll be my girlfriend?" he asks.
"No!" I say, feeling my face turn bright red. "I meant you can try this whole school thing! Where did you get the idea I was even thinking about--about that?" I demand.
"Yeah, yeah," he says, clearly not happy with that reply. "Of course she doesn't follow the conversation," he adds in a mutter.
"I followed the conversation just fine," I mutter, glaring at him. "And nowhere did it lead up to me saying that I'd be your girlfriend."
"Sure it did!"
"I don't think you should date him, either," Trent says, making me look at him. "He's a party crasher."
"So..." Sunny
says, drawing our attention again. "Where did I get... what was it, elemental powers? Where did I get them from?"
"Your Mom?" Trent offers.
"Mom was a norm!" I say.
"Are you sure?" Max asks.
Am I?
CHAPTER FOUR
"So it's agreed--as part of your parole, you'll become principal of Cape High," Mastermental says.
"No, it's not agreed," Nico snaps. He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "It is not agreed, because none of the super parents will want their children taught by a super villain. Ask them! I'm sure they're all listening right now--heck, I'm betting this little interview is on Super TV right this instant." He looks to the flashing light he's finally noticed, knowing that he's being recorded. "For your kids' sakes, call right now and tell Double M that he's insane."
"Do you want to stay in the Cape Cells?"
"I can do other things! I'll do super janitor work--just send me in to clean up after you've crashed another major building! I can rebuild them a lot faster than you can!"
"Interesting idea. We'll add that to your work with the children," Mastermental said.
"Instead, Mastermental, instead of my work with the children," Nico says. "You shouldn't trust me with your kids, who knows what I'll do? I could turn them all into super villains! Teach them pick pocketing! I don't know, just don't stick me with kids!"
"Why are you so against this?" Mastermental asks.
"Why are you not?" Nico replies. "Do you want your kid to be a super villain?"
"He already is," Mastermental says, almost cheerfully. "He's a handful, too. Calls himself Maximum."
"You're serious."
"I figure its a phase," Mastermental says. "He's barely seventeen. But whether he's going to be a hero or a villain, he needs to be trained. That's where you come in. You see, the world might not understand supers, but we understand ourselves. You, of all people, should understand that we need our villains just as much as we need our heroes."
Nico stares blankly in the direction Mastermental has come from before. "You're kidding, right?" How did a guy old enough to be his father have a seventeen year old--no, he decides, that is absolutely something he doesn't want to contemplate. Thankfully, Mastermental thinks he's talking about being a villain.
"Not at all. A certain level of misconduct is perfectly acceptable in a super. As long as they don't cross certain lines, we let them get away with it. We need you to teach them those lines."
"What line did I cross, exactly?" Technico demands.
"You built a massive weapon of destruction," Mega says as he steps out of the shadows. "And it actually worked. Building is one thing, Technico, every mad scientist type villain needs that claim. It adds to the atmosphere. But you took out a ten mile wide plot of land with it."
"I needed the space!" Technico protests. "My lab was getting too small!"
"You don't use a weapon of mass destruction to clear parking lot space!" Mega shouts right back.
"It was cheaper than hiring someone!"
"Try explaining that to the local news, Technico!" Mega says, rubbing his temple. "'Yes, ma'am, Technico is a super villain--yes, he did just destroy a large amount of land--he was trying to make a football field. Yes, the crater is perfectly normal--' Are you a MORON?"
"It worked," Technico muttered sulkily.
"People are still checking for radiation in the area!" Mega snaps. "We're using that plot of land for the school, by the way. Since it's been declared a hazard area, no one approaches it."
"There's no radiation--I was dating a nature elemental at the time, she would have killed me," Nico adds.
"She should have killed you for destroying that much land in the first place," Mastermental comments.
"Oh, it was already concrete," Technico says with a shrug. "Plus I didn't tell her ahead of time."
Someone coughs. It sounds suspiciously like a laugh. Mega turns, glowering into the darkness. "It's not funny," he snaps.
"And you can't say you don't do a lot more destruction on a weekly basis--without planning it out first," Technico adds. Sure, irritating them might get him stuck back in the cells, but a part of him thinks it might be better than raising the supers' brats for them.
"Regardless, when a super villain actually uses his weapon of mass destruction--and it works--that is when we owe it to society to slap them on the wrist, so to say."
"With fifteen years in the cape cells," Technico drawls.
"Long enough for the world to forget about you."
"And for the kids I didn't know about--who might or might not be mine--to grow into their powers."
"Exactly."
"What does Mega have to do with this?" Nico asks.
"He's your vice principal. Do behave yourselves at work," Mastermental says mildly. "You'll be teaching my son, your children--or at least the ones that might be them, and whatever super is willing to hand their child over to a better regulated training system. The school building's bones are up, and a crew is working on it even as we speak. Now tell me, Nico, will you accept this parole?"
"I've got a choice?" he asks.
"Not much of one," Mastermental says. "Either you go to work for us or you stay here, in the Cape Cells. You've been on your best behavior, I'd really hate to see all that go to waste."
"What about my sister?" he asks abruptly.
The two in front of him fall silent for a moment, looking at one another before Mega speaks. "She's joined the Hall."
"She did what? Why did no one tell me she had sold me out?" he demands.
"But Nico," Mastermental says with amusement, "you're joining the Hall, as well. How else will you be able to teach our children?"
Nico bites back another curse.
***
How are we going to go to the Hall when Max is sticking to us this closely? The only good thing about this situation is that I haven't seen Jack since that morning. But honestly, Jack usually avoids me at school, anyway, so it's not that big of a benefit. "So," Max says, "you two ride the bus?"
"Yeah, we're still fifteen," Sunny says. He's walking next to me, but walking next to him is Trent. I honestly didn't realize that Trent is in at least three classes with us. He's just that quiet. Now, though, he says he's going to keep an eye on Max. That means, apparently, that he and Sunny are insta-friends.
"I don't have a car," Trent says. "I can't get one until I earn enough money for it and turn sixteen, but buses suck, so I run home."
"See, why don't you two run home?" Max asks me and Sunny.
"Because it's ten minutes by bus?" I say dryly. "I'm not about to run that far when there's a perfectly decent bus willing to take me."
"You can go faster than the bus, I bet," Max says. "Or have you even tried running since your abilities kicked in?"
"Running," I repeat.
"Running," Max agrees. "Start out easy--you two aren't getting on that bus right now, so don't even think about it," he adds, grabbing Sunny by the back of the shirt and dropping a hand on my shoulder to tug us away from the line for the bus. "I hope you wore good shoes."
"Who's the abusive one again?" I demand.
"I didn't realize you were this spoiled," Max says.
"I am not spoiled. I'm not insane, either. Why run when you can ride?" I say, starting for the bus again. Max's arm wraps around my waist, hauling me back.
"You're running," he says right next to my ear. It sends a shiver down my spine--for several reasons. Fear's only one of them.
"Fine, I'm running," I say. "But that doesn't mean I've got to like it."
"Good girl," Max says, patting me on the head. I growl at him before tugging out of his hold to start walking in the direction of the home.
"That's not jogging!" he says, walking along with me. I start jogging, gritting my teeth against yelling at him. "Your basic abilities should have gotten better with puberty--did you notice?"
I don't reply. He's right, of course, although I'd forgotten it with the tra
gedy of Mom disappearing. For a year--my first year of junior high--I had been one of the fastest runners in the school. I could leave the other girls trailing in the dust. I'd been so proud of it back then, but it all seemed useless once Mom was gone. All I'd wanted was for her to come back. Then, when that seemed like it would never happen, for me to disappear.
Yeah, I'm admitting it. I just want to disappear sometimes. Maybe I wanted it even more after I got my powers. I just want to not be... me.
Sometime along the way the jog has turned into a run. All four of us are running down the sidewalk, Sunny and Trent in front, me and Max in back. It feels--it feels good, I realize. Really good. The steady pounding of feet, the sound of our breathing, the feel of my muscles stretching and working. I--
"How fast are we going?" I ask, realizing that the world is starting to blur as we go past it.
"Probably eighty!" Trent calls over his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm used to this speed, we won't crash!"
"But we will be noticed," Sunny says. Why is he not out of breath? Why am I not? How is it possible for us to be running eighty miles per hour??
"It's fine," Max says. "I told you you could do it!" he adds, glancing at me. "A jog is a great way to start out!"
"How is this jogging?" I demand.
"We're to our neighborhood," Sunny says. "We need to slow down." As a group we slow down, the run turning into a jog again, the jog into a walk. I shove my hand through my hair, irritated when I realize that the white has got to be showing at this point. I pull my backpack off and start digging through it for a brush.
"Your hair," Trent says, looking at me.
"I know, I know, it's like a skunk," I mutter, jerking my hairbrush through my hair. "It doesn't stay dyed, okay? We've tried."
"No, it's just really cool."
"Oh. Um. Thanks." I feel a blush creeping across my face and I know it’s not from running.
Max, on the other hand, doesn’t look happy at all. “This looks like where we go our separate ways,” he says, staring at Trent. “That means you.”
"It means you, too," Sunny says, shoving a hand through his hair, as well. "You don't live there."