by R. J. Ross
"And I would love to see all the rainforests of the world," I admit, already picturing them in my mind.
"See? Unofficially official," Sunny says. "It works for now, right?" he asks me.
I look at him, finding myself grinning slightly. "Yeah," I admit. "It works for now."
***
Collector taps the last key before leaning back in satisfaction. Yes, it had been expensive, but he'd heard good things about Star Born. She was a fellow collector, in her own way, and that partner of hers--
Well, he would be seeing his collection back soon, he thinks. And Technico would be punished for interfering in another villain's schemes! He rocks a bit in his chair, idly wondering when the room had gotten so dark. He reaches up, clapping his hands together, expecting the light to turn back on, but nothing happens. For a moment he feels a chill down his spine, certain that something or someone has gotten to him--then he laughs at himself. His security is top notch! Most likely he blew another fuse or something. It doesn't happen often, of course, but it has happened once before, at least.
He gets to his feet, heading for the door and reaching for the handle.
"Did you really think you would get away with this?" a voice asks from behind him. Collector goes still, the chill returning double time. "You think you can go after my child and survive?"
That faint accent, Collector thinks as he slowly, slowly turns around. All he sees are golden eyes gleaming in the dark. He hadn't realized that--
He screams.
***
I don't see Papa again until morning, much to my surprise. He's at the kitchen table reading the news on his tablet as I come down from my room, dressed for school. "Did you sleep well?" he asks me.
"Yeah," I say. "It's good to have the right sounds again." I head for the kitchen to help Mama get breakfast ready, stopping to pat Cubby on the head as I go.
"Your Mama has told me that you've got an idea for what you want to do in the future," he says. "It sounds really good. But why does it have to include that boy?" he asks. "I thought you didn't like Sunny."
"I didn't," I admit. "I'm doing this out of rebellion," I add evilly, teasing him.
"You--Mama! Did you hear what your daughter just said?" he demands. "We should ground her!"
"I'm going to be a hero," I tell him. "Grandfather can deal with it however he likes."
"Ah--" he says, hesitating for a moment before smiling. "But my love, you'll be a hero of the animals, not so much the people. That is not nearly as rebellious of the family ways as you think. Your grandfather has a very large spot in his heart for animals, as well, you know."
"But I don't hate humans," I say thoughtfully. "So when Sunny is called to save people from earthquakes and other large things, I will probably help him out."
"Ahhh, there we go, back to that Sunny boy," he says with a sigh. "Do you like him now?"
"Yes," I say with a grin. "He's somewhat like Cubby, in a way."
"How is he like Cubby?" Mama asks.
"He's both annoying and adorable at the same time."
"He is!" she says in agreement. "Those large green eyes and that cute face--he's going to grow up to be very handsome, you know!"
"Isn't he?" I agree with a wide grin. "And he's so fun to tease! He gets this expression on his face--it's hysterical, Mama!"
"I saw that!" she says. "Oh, kitty, you've picked a very entertaining boyfriend. Good job!"
"Lord save us from women that enjoy teasing!" Papa says from the table, dramatically. "I'm starting to feel sorry for the poor boy!" We start to laugh as he goes back to his tablet, only to stop as he brings up what sounds like a news report.
"This morning a man named Charles Colleck was found in his mansion, severely maimed. It's reported that Colleck was an illegal importer of endangered animals, and that somehow one of them escaped--" Papa turns off the feed, looking satisfied.
"You didn't kill him, did you?" I ask.
"No, but he'll be remembering this very, very clearly," he says.
"Morgan will need to know."
"About that Morgan girl," Mama starts out. "Do you know where she's going to be staying?"
"She's moving into the dorms," I say. "Along with the other kids that were rescued, as soon as they've talked with the parents."
"I see," she says as she hands me a plate. "Well if she doesn't like it, she can come here, you know."
"Thanks, but I think the dorms will be nice," I say. "And I think she's very close with the others that were in the zoo with her."
"That's good," Mama says.
***
When I reach school I'm surprised to see Mastermental standing in front of Death Canyon next to Max. Max doesn't look very happy at all, and for a moment I think that this is where Papa is going to get in trouble. I look up at him as he gets out of the car, then reluctantly climb out after him, following him as he goes up to the head of the Hall.
"If this is about Collector--" Papa says.
"Why would this have something to do with a man maimed by his own pets?" Mastermental asks mildly, clearly faking ignorance. "He had a very dangerous hobby, without the training you and your wife have, Mr. Panterus, these things happen to the unprepared."
"Of course," Papa says. "Then I'll just be dropping my daughter off for school," he says mildly, touching my back and pushing me forward gently. I step forward, looking up at Mastermental curiously.
"Hi," I say.
"Hello, Adanna, nice weather we're having, don't you think?" Mastermental says. I glance at Max, who's holding out his hand to Papa.
"Mr. Panterus," he says as they shake, "it's good to see you back. Did your trip go well?"
"Yes, actually, it went very well. Thank you for inquiring," Papa says with a smile.
"If it's not too much to ask, can I get your signature sometime?" Max asks. "I'm a huge fan."
"Of course," Papa said. "I've been watching your career as well. You are quite a benefit to our side."
"I try to be," Max says, blushing slightly as he grins.
"Well if this isn't about me," Papa says, glancing at me, "is it about my daughter?"
"No, from what I've heard Adanna is an excellent student. I'm actually here to talk with the class at large," Mastermental says. "We'll be introducing several new students today, so I'd like to be there to see them briefed."
"Oh, I see," Papa says. "That's good to know. The children, they're from the zoo?"
"Yes, they are. I suppose Nico told you about that?"
"Yes, actually. Nico and I go way back, all the way to our college days."
"I do remember seeing something along those lines. But of course, since the children are new to the game, you might want to leave before being seen talking casually with me," Mastermental says.
"A very good idea," Papa says, leaning down and kissing me on the forehead. "Have a good day."
"You, too, Papa," I say, waving as he gets in the car and drives off.
"That man is a wonderful example of a classic villain," Mastermental says to Max. "Both class and skill. You've been taking notes on his work, haven't you?"
"Absolutely," Max says.
They definitely know about Collector, don't they? I say nothing, because neither of them are saying anything, and head for the panel to go in. "Be in the meeting hall in ten minutes, please, Adanna," Mastermental calls over his shoulder.
"Yes, sir," I say.
***
You know the mad science building? Nico's extremely fond of it, but he did a bit of revising recently. There's a floor built into the walls now, so if you push a button it closes over the dirt, turning into a basketball court floor. They've decided that it'll be like the regular school's gymnasium, and act as the meeting hall for big things. That's where I'm heading to now.
I step into the building and look over the wooden planking on the floor curiously before stepping onto it. It seems to have a tiny bit of give, I notice as I cross over to where a large TV screen is hanging from a wall. Zoe, S
unny, Trent and Emily are already there, lounging on the floor in a casual manner. They wave as I appear, except for Sunny, who's using Trent's calf as a pillow and is sound asleep again.
I walk over to him and kick him lightly in the thigh. "Wake up," I order before dropping down next to Emily.
"Kicking doesn't work," Trent says. "But I'd rather not use the blowhorn, so let him sleep."
I snort even as Emily starts digging through her pockets. "I got you a new toy!" she tells me, bringing out a toy mouse and what looks like an RC controller. I stare at it. "It's remote control!" she tells me, as if it weren't obvious.
"I see," I say a bit blandly.
"Kitty," Sunny mumbles in his sleep, making me glance over at him. He's got a stupid grin on his face, and I really, really want to divebomb him for it. Seriously, I'm about to shift as Mastermental comes inside, leading a good dozen kids and Morgan. But Zoe's the first to react.
"Isn't that Justin?" she asks blankly.
"What?" Emily asks, turning to look at Mastermental's group. "Maybe he just looks like him--I mean, why would a famous singer guy be here?"
"He'd be here if he was a cape," Max mutters as he comes over to the group, dropping down next to Zoe and pushing her jaw up so it's closed. "Quit staring, he might get the wrong idea," he adds, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Justin is a super?" I ask blankly. Sunny snores. "Would you get the blowhorn out? He's missing the drama. He'll never shut up if he misses the drama, you know," I add, making Trent laugh loudly.
"I'll do it!" Emily says, hopping to her feet and heading upstairs for a second. She comes back down with the blowhorn in her hand and heads for Sunny. "Wake up, Sunny, or I'll use this," she warns him.
Much to my disappointment (and relief, honestly, I've got extremely sensitive hearing) Sunny wakes up, climbs over Trent's legs, away from Emily, and plops down, using my thigh as a pillow. "Five more minutes," he mutters.
"Sunny!" Mastermental says--I can practically feel the mental impact as Sunny jumps a foot off the ground and hovers there for a good half minute before he realizes he's flying--and promptly falls on his face.
"Hi, Double M," he says, waving. "Sup?"
"I'd like to introduce you all to your new classmates," Mastermental says. "Including our newest applicant, Justin Gregory--or better known as simply Justin." His tone is dry and not nearly dramatic enough for that declaration. Every time you hear Justin's name on television it's emphasized really hard, like "Jus-tiiinnn." I've always found it annoying, honestly, so it's pretty funny seeing Mastermental blow it off so easily. I can't help but grin.
Sunny moves closer, wrapping an arm around my waist, as well. Oh, please, I think dryly. Like I'd be interested in a pop idol. He's like, one step away from boyband, okay? But oh well, I decide. At least he's awake for once. "Hey," he whispers. "Did I just fly?" Er... not the questions I was looking for, but he's probably three minutes behind, mentally, anyway.
The entire group bursts out laughing as I say, "No. You just fell."
***
The money is in her account. It's just enough to rebuild her basic tools, Star thinks as she closes her bank account window. That means she can call her suppliers--but, she thinks, looking at the man laid out on the table, she needs Distort back in working order.
It won't be easy, she realizes. The body is starting to stop operating properly. Of course she saw that coming all the way back when they first started, but she had hoped that--
Well, she would need a replacement soon, she thinks, trying not to focus on that line of thought. She has one picked out, already, if Distort was telling the truth. The boy, both Superior and Elementalist, a perfect combination of power and young enough to gain control over. He's the one she wants.
"Star?"
The voice is weak, but she nearly jumps out of her skin nonetheless. She takes a deep breath and forces herself to calm down before getting to her feet and walking over to Distort.
"Yes, honey?" she asks, reaching up to push his hair out of his face.
"Star... I just wanted a family. I'm sorry I was bad," he says as tears start to trickle down his temple. "I'm sorry I was bad," he repeats.
"I know, honey," she says, leaning down and kissing his forehead. "I know. You'll be better soon, okay?"
"I don't feel good," he whispers. "I feel weak."
"I know," she says. "But you'll get stronger, soon, too."
"I think I'm dying," he says. "I think I'm dying, Star. If I die--you'll be left alone."
She feels something creep up her throat, a feeling that somehow seems like she's trying not to cry. But that's ridiculous, she tells herself sharply. It's ridiculous because she's not attached to Distort! She can't be!
The look in his eyes changes, sharpening as the color seems to get darker, gleaming with something she hasn't seen in a very long time. "When I die," he says. But his voice isn't right, her mind whispers, his voice is--"When I die," he repeats, staring her straight in the eye, "you're going to go with me." Then his tone changes back to the one she's come to know so well, "Right?"
He's looking at her so expectantly that she does the only thing she can think of. She lies. "Of course, honey. We'll always be together."
***
DON'T KNOW JACK
by
R. J. Ross
CHAPTER ONE
I can hear voices. I've gotten used to one of them, a man's voice. He's usually cursing in a soothing tone. I know he's cursing, I can hear him more clearly than the others, but I somehow get the feeling that he doesn't hate me. I'm not used to that.
My name is Jack Hase. I'm sixteen, maybe seventeen years old, I've got no idea how long I've been drifting around in here, and I have a pretty messed up past--even without all the crap I did to get myself stuck in my head. I bet you've heard of me already, though. I'm the guy that got his butt thoroughly kicked by Maximum over a girl named Zoe.
But that wasn't what I wanted to talk about. It's sort of hard to focus in this state, okay? So give me a minute... Yeah, that's a new voice. It's a female. No, it's not Zoe. I don't really know who it is, actually. I mean, I've heard a lot of voices over the past--however long--but I haven't heard this one.
"So he's dying?"
Yeah, I'm dying. Did you really have to put it that bluntly?
"No, he's not."
Hey, man, I'm positive I'm dying here. Don't lie to the girl. I'm just waiting for that final moment with the bright light they keep talking about in movies and probably Hell. I wasn't good enough for Heaven, even I know that.
"That's why you brought me here?" she asks.
"Yeah. I never figured I'd find a healer in your group," the man says. "What I want you to do is--" The words seem distant, like I'm trying to hear them through a wall, and I'm sucked back into the dark emptiness of my mind.
***
"Hey, Jack." The girl is back. I'm not sure when I started hearing her as clearly as I heard the man, but I do. "We're going to do some more work on you, okay? So it might hurt, but only for a minute." She sounds tired. I want to see her, tell her she's wasting her time on me. I'm not sure what's going on in this place, or even where I'm at, but I get the feeling that there's a lot of people. If she's a healer, like what the man said, there's probably a ton of people that need her more than me.
I can't say anything, though. I'm still stuck here, a prisoner in my own body.
"Are we ready?" the man asks.
"Yeah," she says. "We're ready."
Hey, when did you get the right to say I'm ready or not, girl? You're annoying. Just go away already and let me die.
I can feel it, I think, distracted as my body starts reacting to whatever it is they're doing. I can feel the metal inside of me ripping away from my insides. It hurts. I think I scream, but then I feel something else. Relief.
It's too much for my brain. I crash back into oblivion, fainting.
***
It's strange. I can hear more people now, even understand them
. There's this nurse, I think, who comes in every few hours to move me around. She's constantly talking to me, and it's thanks to her that I know where I am now. It was irritating, not having a clue. I'm in the Hall's ER wing, in a room with two other guys a lot like me--guys that were experimented on by that Star chick. The lady with the glowing eyes and business suits.
They were probably in one of those glass cages like I was. I feel sorry for the morons. I'm sick of feeling sorry for myself, though. I figure it was only fitting that I wound up like this. It goes along with the rest of my life, you know?
But the lady abruptly stops talking to me and says in an almost reverent tone, "Aubrey!"
"Hi, Bonny," the girl says happily. "We're back again. How's he doing?"
"His vitals are looking a lot better. And from the brainwave output I'm almost positive he's either dreaming or listening now."
"Really?" Aubrey asks. "That's wonderful!"
I feel something strange inside, like... shock and maybe something like amazement. She honestly meant that. Well it's probably because she didn't know me before I was laid out like a puppet for her to mess around with. I bet she wouldn't be so happy if she knew me. She'd probably hate me. Everyone else does.
"So he's doing better, huh?" I hear the man ask. He moves really quietly. I didn't even hear him come in.
"Mr. Technico," Bonny says. "Yes, you're doing wonders with him--you both are."
"I promised my daughter I'd get him up and running," Technico says. His daughter? Zoe? Zoe wants me alive again? It's a stunning concept and I almost open my eyes because of it.
"He's reacting," Aubrey says in surprise. I hear her move forward and feel her hand on my face. "Jack? Jack, come on, wake up--"
"No," Technico says. "He needs to stay under for this one."
"But--why?"
"Because we're going to finish it today," he says. "I've been running some tests for a while--I think he can control it with a few more adjustments."