by R. J. Ross
"It's not a party without a tank," he says. I glance at him, since he just bluntly admitted that he knows what I am. "What? With America's Son as a dad and Star Spangled as a mom, what else could you be? Or are you a dud?"
"I'm a tank," I admit, shrugging my shoulders. "No super cool powers like gravity or anything, just good old fashioned power. Or at least I will be," I add. "Dad says I'm still pretty breakable."
"Maybe for him," Max drawls. "You're probably the one they'll send after me when we're older, aren't you?"
"Really hard to crush a tank," I agree. Then I look at him, knowing that we both realize I'm the most vulnerable I'm going to be right now. He probably could beat me, and I think we both realize it.
"I wonder if they've thought of that already," Max says. "I'm surprised we don't have adults panicking over me knowing you."
"Are you going to kill me?" I ask. "Right now's probably the best chance you're going to get."
"Why would I?" he asks. He doesn't bother pretending to be shocked, though. I appreciate that fact. "There's several reasons I'm going to keep you around," he goes on. "One, you're one of us. Two, you keep Sunny busy so I can flirt with his sister, and three--don't you think the massive battles are going to be awesome? Man, I seriously can't wait until you're in the air! Have they set you up with a uniform yet?"
"You're looking forward to it?" I say blankly.
"Heck yeah," Max says. "We should practice the really dramatic stuff, you know where I try and crush you and you toss it off, I want to make sure I don't over-do the weight, at least not until you're older. Maybe we can get a special class when the school opens up properly. Have you figured out your name?"
I... honestly didn't expect this reaction. Let me explain. Max? He's a super villain at seventeen--he's smart, sly, and extremely capable of being devious. Thing is, more often than not, I'm pretty sure he's an open book. It's sort of unsettling, knowing that behind the mask of the guy that once held an entire super bowl for ransom is a guy that I'm slowly starting to consider a good friend. And he treats the whole super hero/villain thing like a football game.
"No, I just don't want to be called America's Grandson," I say. "All I really want is to be able to play football, actually. I'm not even thinking huge battles and tights," I admit. "You know how much it sucks not being able to play sports when you're... me?" I ask, glancing at him.
He's looking at me curiously. "You're going to spend your entire life trying to knock other guys down," he says after a moment. "Pulling cars up from them going off cliffs, saving school buses from flipping, all the good stuff, and you're worried about a bunch of idiot norms in helmets?"
"I'm sixteen," I mutter, feeling like an idiot when it's put like that.
"You just need a girlfriend," Max says. "You can't have Zoe, so we'll just have to find you another super girl."
"How does it go from wanting to play football to needing a girlfriend?" I demand.
"You feel like running up against hard to move objects, right? Sounds exactly like a girlfriend to me."
"I really don't see why Zoe picked you."
"Jealous?" he asks with an evil grin. "I have some news you might find interesting, though," he says, pulling a folded up piece of paper out of his pocket. He hands it over, waiting for me to unfold it. "I haven't told the others just yet," he says as I look blankly at the picture. "That's our first non-group student. At least she will be."
I'm staring at a short haired, punk girl with blue streaks in her choppy red hair and combat boots on her feet. She's wearing jean shorts and a camisole--one that shows she's as flat as a board and says "Bite Me" across the chest. She's--
"Cute, huh?" Max says. "She's a duplicator."
"A duplicator?" I repeat, feeling a bit shocked. "Where'd she get that from?" I ask.
"Mother was an illusionist, father was a creator type--both died in the 'quake a year back, she was taken in by other supers," Max says. "I didn't hear anything about it, that's how under wraps she was. Her parents were part of the Southern Branch. She's fourteen," he adds.
"Help," Sunny calls from the front door. I get up, heading for the poor guy who's leaning heavily against the door frame. "She almost killed me," he gasps pathetically. "You jerk."
"Hey, now, this isn't my fault," I say, trying not to laugh.
"I could feel my spine against my stomach," Sunny goes on, stumbling into the room. He stretches, twists, and grunts before heading for the couch to grab my half empty Fanta and finish it off.
"Hey, that's mine!" I protest, following him in. "So did you just leave them down there?" I ask as I drop down in front of him in my usual place. You might have noticed, I don't like couches--or much furniture, actually. It always feels like it'll break.
"Yeah. She got ahold of Zoe, so I ran," he says--then grabs the picture I had let fall when getting up. "Who's this?"
"Cape High's future student," Max says smugly. "Cute, huh?"
"What's she do?" Sunny asks.
"She's a duplicator--what does she duplicate, anyway?" I ask Max.
"Right now? Far as her information says, herself for a few seconds. I've got no clue how much she'll be able to do when she's older," Max says. "Might be she can only tag team with herself for the rest of her life--but hey, it's still a useful power. I figured I'd pass you the picture and let you two decide what to do with it."
"Huh," Sunny says. "Wonder what she's like."
"Not a clue," Max admits.
"Oh, crap, I forgot," I say abruptly. "Dad and Mom are coming over soon. Think I should tell Technico?"
"Your mom?" Sunny asks.
"Yeah... ah... they want to throw me a birthday party."
"TRENT!" I hear Technico bellow from the ground floor of the apartment building, "WHY IS YOUR MOM CARRYING A THREE TIER CAKE?"
"Um... whoops," I say. "Too late, huh?"
***
Principal Matkins stares at the computer screen, a frown on his face. He's positive, now. He'd wondered, of course, almost been certain that the twins' father was the super villain Technico, but now he's positive. After all, it looks like the man just blew up several cell phones in the youtube video. Unfortunately now that he is certain he had supers in his school, the supers are already gone. They'd been withdrawn the day after he'd met their father. They wouldn't be coming back.
"Ms. Fell, if you would?" he says as he steps out the door of his office. Ms. Fell looks up from a folder, a curious and slightly irritated look on her face as she nods and heads for him.
"Yes, Principal?" she asks.
"Do you have any information on the Rosenthorn twins' whereabouts?" he asks.
"Ah--I'll see what I can find."
"Can you tell me, did they have any close friends?" Principal Matkins asks.
"The boy--Max, but he's transferred as well. Oh, and one other... Trent Styles," she says.
"Tomorrow I'd like to see the Styles boy in my office, if I could."
"Of course, Principal Matkins."
***
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to yoooou! Happy birthday dear Tr-entttt, happppy birthday to you!"
For once in my life there's more than just my dad, mom and Liz singing the song. I feel a bit light headed as I look around the table at everyone there. Then I blow out the candles as gently as I can--only the top layer of cake goes flying. Max catches it with his gravity powers, slowing it to a stop.
"Boy's got some lung power," Nico says with amusement. Liz is hanging on him--literally. She's tucked under his arm and wrapping her own arms around his waist tightly. I've seen her get clingy before, of course, usually with me or Mom, but this seems strange to me. Maybe it's because it's an adult male, even if it is her brother.
Liz, as far as I know, has never had a boyfriend. Or if she has, it wasn't for very long at all. Actually, until seeing her like this, I've never really even thought of her as a girl. She might be crazy, sure, but she's one of the most amazing supers I've ever met. Like I mentioned earlier, she
can actually travel along electrical wires if she needs to, although she says it gives her a headache. She's... beyond being "female" to me, I guess. Okay, I'm not making much sense, sorry.
She's my aunt, as far as everyone in the family (including me) is concerned. But she's also one of the most powerful supers in the Hall, possibly the world. I guess it only makes sense that she has trouble finding a guy she can hang onto in such a girly fashion. Finding a guy that just leisurely drapes an arm over her shoulders like Technico does now might be even more impossible. But... I can't help but think that maybe she'd like one. You know, other than family.
Seriously, though, I have no ability as a matchmaker, so I'm just going to shove that thought aside. Mom is talking at a mile a minute as she cuts the cake and hands out huge pieces to everyone. Max looks at the pieces, looks at me, then hands the top tier over without a word. I can't help but grin at that as I grab a fork.
"Your kids are so cute!" Mom says. "Zoe, honey, you look exactly like--" then she stops, glancing at Technico and Sunny as if she knows she just made a massive faux pas.
"My mom, right?" Zoe says. "Did you know her, Mrs. Styles?" she asks.
"Oh call me Jeanie," Mom says. "And your mother and I worked together quite often! She was a wonderful hero--whenever there was a disaster, she would come running. Oh, she never did the little things, criminals, super villains--" she stops, looking at Technico, "I mean she never went out and arrested people. Lady Rose was a specialist. She did so much and saved so many lives... I..."
"Well, then, why don't we play some games or something?" Dad interrupts. I note he's stolen the second tier of the cake. I'm not surprised. "Nico, have you set up the roof yet?"
"Still working on it," Nico says, eating his own cake. He's not saying anything about Lady Rose. In fact it's almost like she was never mentioned by the bland expression on his face. “But the basketball hoop is up. Anyone want to play a few rounds?”
“I’m up for it!” I say. I can almost hear my Dad tell me that I can’t, that someone might get hurt--I even look at him, but he’s grinning.
“I’m in,” Sunny says. Now technically I should worry, right? How strong is Sunny? Sure he’s going to grow up to be pretty tough, but--
“I’m in,” Dad says. Now I’m really worried. Sunny won’t get hurt, will he?
“How about some two on two?” Nico asks. “Me and Sunny against you and Trent, Ken? Unless you want to play, Max?” he asks the other male.
“Nah, I’ll play winner,” Max says, standing closer to Zoe, who is--elbowing him, it looks like. “What?” he demands. “I’m not betting--actually, why not?” he says, digging out his cell phone and typing furiously. “I’m going to make a ton off of this.”
“Keep it to the Hall television only,” Nico tells Max.
“Don’t you have something to give to Trent?” Zoe hisses. More likely she ran off, bought a present and is forcing Max to do the giving. That’s what my Mom does.
“I already gave him a present,” Max says. “What he does with it is totally up to him.”
Cheapskate.
“You gave him the card?” she asks.
“I--do I have to?” Max asks in a whisper, which isn’t fooling anyone. But hey, gift! I walk over and hold out my hand with a shameless grin, watching as he scowls and digs in his pockets to pull out a small envelope. “Here. It was the best thing we could think of,” he says, handing it over.
I pull it open, staring in amazement at the gift. “Oh YEAH, twenty buck gift card to Burger King!” I shout happily. “I know what I’m doing for lunch tomorrow!”
“You got him a gift card... to a fast food restaurant,” I hear Nico say even as I’m staring happily at my gift.
“Tacky, isn’t it?” Max says mournfully. “But he’s a walking stomach.”
“He looks happy to me,” Zoe says, sounding quite satisfied. Really, it sucks that she picked Max. The girl can cook AND give great gifts!
“Zoe, seriously, if you ever get tired of Max, I’m free!” I tell her, putting the miraculous gift in my wallet and wondering if twenty dollar burgers can be eaten in one hour--or do I want fries, too?
“You’re doing it again,” Max complains. “Quit hitting on my girlfriend.”
“And since no one told me it was your sixteenth birthday,” Nico says, “I got nothing, kid. But--for this and let’s say two day’s work on the school, I’ll take you to the junkyard and let you pick out--“ he looks over at my Dad. “Scooter? Motorcycle? Car?”
“Hmm... I think he can pick for himself,” Dad says. “It’s not like a wreck is going to kill him. What do you say, Jeanie?”
“He has to get his license, whatever it is,” Mom says firmly.
“Awesome!” I say. “Can I skip school tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Now, for our present for you,” Dad says. “We’ve been talking about this for a while--but we think it’s about time you get the chance to go out on the field. We’ve arranged a meeting with the Hall’s tailor--“
“Heck yeah!” Max cheers. “I’m finally getting a nemesis!”
The adults stare at him.
“Did you tell him?” I hear Dad ask Nico.
“Not a word, but I guess it’s not too hard to figure out,” Nico admits. “BUT!” he says, raising his hands. Max stops cheering, looking at him curiously. “Since you’re both future students of Cape High, I’ll be overseeing your dramatic battles. Double M already called me up over this one. There will be no dirty fighting, no weight over... let’s say three times Earth’s gravity--“
“Trent’s a tank,” Dad says.
“Really?” Nico asks. “I wondered. Okay, five times Earth’s gravity, and keep the property damage to a minimum. And since Trent’s still learning to fly, nothing above... fifteen feet,” he says to Max. “We’ll start somewhere empty, like the razed mall off the highway, how’s that sound?”
I hesitate. I wasn't really focused on getting out in the field, but... if it's fighting Max, doesn't that make it like a football game in some ways? Going head to head with Maximum, I think, a grin starting to pull at my lips. "It'll be fun," I say, grinning at Max.
"That's what I've been saying," Max tells me, grinning back. "Can he skip school tomorrow?" he asks my parents, even though I asked them not more than a few minutes before. "For special classes! And if it's during work hours less norms will be involved, right?"
"He's got to get his uniform first," Mom says. "My little baby is all grown up and fighting super villains," she wails, dragging me over to hug tightly. I might be taller than she is already, but she can hug so tight that I can't move.
"Mom, seriously," I mutter, flushing brightly. "It's just Max."
"Hey now, I've already got an established name," Max complains. "You should appreciate it."
"It will help you, too," Technico says to Max. "You've been caught on film saving the day a few times too many lately, we need to remind them that you're the bad guy."
"I had no choice," Max mutters darkly. "So what about that basketball game?"
"Oh, right," Dad says. "Rooftop?" he asks Nico.
"It's not getting any lighter out there," Nico agrees as he heads for the stairs. I'm feeling a little light headed. I'm finally getting to play sports! That one of them happens to be a massive battle with a pal, well... like he said, it's not that different from football, right?
***
Emily can't help but stare at the yellow strips that surround the massive canyon. It's things like this that make her want to do the wrong thing every time, she admits as she reaches out and pokes the plastic. She wants to see what's in there so bad. This is where she's going to go to school, right?
"I would be careful, if I were you." Emily turns, looking up at the man in full uniform floating in the air overhead. "The new principal of the school has been installing the security lately," Mastermental says as he lands in front of her. "Although I understand your curiosity, since you'll be spending the next four years
here."
"I don't like school," Emily says. "I'll run away soon enough."
"You know, it was quite difficult hunting you--the real you--down," Mastermental says mildly. "I've changed your papers to cover up what you were doing, even my own son thinks you were being fostered by another super family, but changing a few records will mean nothing if you go back to what you were doing."
"I didn't ask you to do that," she says, glaring at him.
"My question is, why did you let the doppelganger live the good life?" he asks. "Of course I can find out for myself, but I would rather hear it from your own mouth."
"Why does everyone just assume that living with that family was good?" she snaps, turning on him. "Just because they're supers doesn't mean they're good people, you know. They--" She stops herself, looking away again. It was dangerous, speaking of these things, even to Mastermental himself. "I want to see it," she says instead, pointing towards the canyon. "The school for freaks."
"The school for supers," Mastermental corrects. "Like you. Unfortunately, I'm not coded into the system so I can't show it to you. Tomorrow, though, I'll introduce you to Technico, and he'll show you around. Until then, would you like to meet the family you'll be staying with?"
"Family?" Emily asks, feeling a bit panicked at the very word. "I don't think so--" she stutters slightly, taking a step back. "Like a foster home, right? I don't want--" She almost falls over as he reaches out, her worry flashing in her eyes even as he touches her forehead.
A man appears in her mind. He's tall, broad shouldered, square chinned, tough looking--but he's grinning widely and eating what looks to be an entire cake. It looks like he's at a party. A woman appears next, tall and smiling, her long blonde hair pulled up in a pony tail as she cuts another cake and hands out pieces. Then a third person shows up--a teenager, Emily realizes. He's tall, looks a lot like the man, and is jumping for joy over something. She looks closer at his face, searching for something--something sinister or dangerous.