by R. J. Ross
"In a guy that died on a cross?"
"Yeah," he says with a slight grin. "Jesus died on a cross, taking the place of a guy that was a murderer. Do you know why?"
"He needed a better lawyer?"
"Because He came to die in the place of everyone that did something bad--from the kid that accidentally said a bad word to the most horrible person that ever lived. It wasn't just that one man He stood in for, it was me, and it was you, too."
"It was a long, long time ago, right? So I don't see how it works," I say, getting irritated. "I wasn't even born."
"But Jesus is the Son of God, Jack. That means He's seen everything that happens, beginning, middle, and end. He knew about you two thousand years before you were ever born. Even knowing every bad thing you've done, He still loves you enough to die for you. That makes you extremely valuable in my eyes, you know." He looks serious about this. "You're important enough that the Son of God died for you, and rose again. Because He felt that way--and still does, I honestly believe that you're worth more than the universe itself."
He looks so serious when he says that. There's no blinking, no stuttering, no line about "We should do our best to get along." It's actually a bit awkward, seeing America's Son look this intent. Usually when I meet people intent on something it's them intent on putting me in my place.
"Yeah, sure," I say, looking away. Anyway, I guess if you live with a preacher that means you get preached at, right? I'm used to being lectured, though, so why do I feel like squirming? Probably because it's about God and worth and stuff. That's always an awkward conversation. That's why it's not even allowed at school, cuz everyone thinks different things. Me... well, I...
"You don't believe it," Ken says. "I'll admit that many people don't, and I can't force you or other people to think my way anymore than they can force me to think theirs. But my mind isn't going to change on this. I want you to know that you are extremely important--and not because you're a super, not because you're a tank, either, the entire family is that. You're important because God says you are. So there's no reason for the family to 'pretend' to want you here, to give you some line about 'dealing with the hand fate dealt us', or whatever. We honestly want you here, Jack. We like you being here. You're an important part of this family now. Understand?"
I stare at him, then look away, not sure what to say to that. I've never heard someone use the word "important" that many times in a speech before.
"We'll talk about it more later," he says. "But let's change the subject for now. How's your metal working coming?"
"It's... I've only dug through a junkyard and fixed a bathroom wall, you know? Not much training. Why?" I ask.
"Because I was thinking we could do a really awesome man cave in that empty apartment at the end of the hall. We'll put together a pool table and get one of those televisions that Nico's always building, and a popcorn maker! And one of those old fashioned hotdog cookers--and a fridge, going to need a fridge, aren't we? And--"
I stare at him. Somehow it's gone from a man cave to a fast food joint in seconds flat. Does the entire family think with their stomachs?
Mine rumbles. "Time for dessert!" Jeanie calls from the front room. "I've got ice cream sundaes!"
Yeah, that sounds really good right now.
***
It's ten before I get to my room. It started out with dessert, then the neighbors showed up, then there was an arm wrestling competition which went on forever, and finally Jeanie announced it was time for bed. Which is why I'm laying on my bed right now, staring at my phone.
I just need to push the button and I'll be talking with Derrick again. I should, I tell myself. I should call him back, see what he wants. I just... well, there's no way I can help him, right? I'm stuck here. It's like juvie, but with longer showers or something--
I always thought I was worthless. I know my mom thought I was. I mean, why else would she throw me out with the trash? But that speech is stuck in my head--
Oh shut up, already, Jack. That's just a different take on the old self-worth line, right? Everyone wants you to think that you're great, that you're going to grow up to be president or something, but that's all crap. Everyone knows there's like, millions more people in prison than there are running the white house. Some of them might have been running the white house before they got stuck in the big house, but that doesn't really change anything.
I just... I don't know. It sounded good, okay? Hearing that someone thought I was worth something. I might be mostly metal, but even I have a weak point, I guess. It's definitely not the same line I got from the times I was tossed into church in the past.
I sit up and push the green button, shoving the subject to the back of my mind. "Where the hell have you been?" Derrick demands as he answers the phone.
"I had stuff to do," I say, resenting him now. Like I've got nothing better to do than call him back?
"You had stuff to do," he repeats. "Whatever. Where are you? Are you still in Kansas City?"
"I'm..." What am I supposed to tell him? "Look, Derrick, this isn't a place you can come," I say. "Like, even for a friendly visit. There's supers everywhere, they're practically crawling out of the cracks. I don't think--"
"So you're scared?" he says. "Dude that's pathetic."
"I'm not scared, but I'm not stupid, either. I'm living with America's Son, for God's sake," I snap. "It's not like the old foster families, I'm not going to slip out the back door."
"Why not?"
"Why not? Because it's--" I stop, wondering abruptly if Nico is listening to everything I say even as I say it. He made the phone, who's to say he didn't bug it? "Because I can't. You're going to have to find a new guy to run your errands."
"I can't use a new guy, Jack! I need you!"
"For what?"
"For--look, Tony's got me by the throat, okay? Unless I pay him back I'll be floating face down in the Missouri, or something. I need your help. But if you don't care--"
I really want to say that I don't. I really want to tell him to shove it and hang up on him. It's so tempting that I see my thumb hovering over the red button without intentionally moving it. "Listen, Derrick," I say finally. "How much do you owe Tony?"
"Five."
"Five bucks?"
"Five thousand," he says.
"What in the hell were you thinking?" I demand. "Are you insane? What did you spend it on?"
"It's--that's none of your business!"
"Of course it's my business, you're trying to get me to help pay it back! Forget it," I tell him. "Whatever he does to you, you deserve--"
"It was for my mom, okay? It was for my mom. Stupid, I know, she's hardly ever around, and really sucks as a mom when she is, but--but she's got cancer." I hear him mutter a curse before he goes on. "I had to have the money, she doesn't have insurance. But--if I don't pay them back I'm going to die. Dee Aye Eee, get it? I don't want to die, Jack, I really don't want to die. I'm not like you, I can't bounce bullets off."
I go silent, staring at the wall with a dark expression. What am I supposed to do about this? It's not my fault that he's a moron and borrowing from the wrong people! But... "Look," I say quietly. "I'll... I'll try and come up with something--"
"I only have the rest of the week, Jack," he says quietly. "Then I'm out of time."
"Yeah, I'll... I'll work faster," I say before hanging up on him and turning the phone off. I let out a groan and fall back on my bed, wishing that I knew who had given him my number so I could take it out on them. It wasn't Marge, I know that much. Marge had made it quite clear that she didn't approve of Derrick. But it was someone that knew Marge. Probably someone that lived in the same house.
I would love to rip them a new one.
***
"I don't like this," Summer announces abruptly, making Nico look up at her. "I don't like this at all. In a way, Jack is my responsibility, Nico! He's got elementalist powers--sure they're metal, but it's still based on my genetics. If I hadn't been captured like
I was, he would still be a normal teenage boy--"
"No, he'd be a different type of super," Nico says. He had worked so hard to get this romantic dinner on the roof set up, even bribed the kids with pizza! But all Summer can think of is Jack. He mutters a curse before leaning forward. "Jack chose to go to Star Born. He was stupid, sure, but he made a choice. They used what they had on hand, which just happened to be you."
"I know that," she says. "But I still feel responsible. I want to do something for him, Nico. Please."
"I saved his life, with Aubrey's help. What else do you think we could do for him?" Nico asks, giving up on talk about the future between them. Summer, although older, is still the same. She's constantly focusing on one thing and just sticking to that thing until it's solved to her liking. "Look, I put him with Ken for a reason."
"Why? Why didn't you bring him home to us?" she demands. "That way I can oversee his growth--"
"You can oversee it all you want, he's just downstairs. But honey, you don't know what Ken can do."
"Then tell me," she says. "What can Ken do that we can't?"
"He can help him better than we can," Nico admits. "It's the strangest thing, Sum, but I wouldn't have handed a kid like Jack over to just anyone, you know? Ken and Jeanie, they got something that most heroes don't."
"Their tank abilities?"
"No. They've got the ability to love kids they aren't even related to. Really love them. It took weeks before I loved our kids, and I'm related to them," he says honestly. "I looked into Jack's head while he was on the table, Sum. The kid's never been in a real family, never had a real dad, and Marge is as close as he ever got to a real mom. She had like, four or five other teenagers to deal with at any time."
"I see," Summer says hesitantly. "When did you start thinking things like this through?"
"When I started worrying about how well I'd do raising the twins. But if you want, you can come with us tomorrow morning. I'm going to take him out to the junkyard again."
"Can I?"
"Yeah, why not?"
***
Morning. It's morning. I didn't sleep much at all last night, I just kept picturing myself in Derrick's position, a mom in the hospital, a mafia like guy on my back... well, sure it wouldn't have happened to me, simply because I don't got a mom, but it's still hitting close to home.
What am I supposed to do? Leave him to get himself killed? He brought it on himself, after all, there's no reason for me to bail him out... other than all the crap we've been through together. Do I owe him? I don't even know, okay? All I know is that I don't have many friends, and Derrick is one of them.
I groan and roll over, only to grumble as Jeanie knocks on my door. "Time to wake up! You've got school!"
Well, it's not like I was going to get back to sleep, anyway. I yawn, getting out of bed and heading for the bathroom to grab a shower. I don't know why, honestly. Nico said that I'd be back in the junkyard this morning, now that the bathroom is fixed. I'll seriously get dirty if I go there. But I'll run into Aubrey before I go, and we're on rocky enough ground as it is right now without me coming out looking like a slob.
You know, when I had a thing for Zoe I never really cared about looking like a slob in front of her. Weird. Either way I take a shower, get dressed and head into the kitchen for breakfast like usual. Only this time Jeanie is looking at me with a worried expression.
"What?" I ask.
"Are you okay?" she asks. "I know that phone call last night seemed to throw you--"
"I'm fine," I mutter and start to eat. If my mouth is full I can't explain things, right? But they'd heard me on the phone, huh? How much did they hear? Did that mean they'd be keeping a closer eye on me? Crap, I only have until the end of the week to deal with the problem, otherwise Derrick's dead meat--
I blink as I realize I just broke the fork. For a moment I stare at it, wondering when I'd done that. "Sorry," I say to Jeanie, putting it down. She hands me another one, and I hesitate.
"Don't worry, you'll be able to fix them soon, right?" she says.
"Yeah, I guess," I say as I take it and finish eating. "I'll work on it." What do I do? I mean, can't you picture the entire family taking me down the moment I try and do something? I've only got the basics down about how to use my abilities--like keeping my balance when walking. I would DIE. Or wish I was dead. I've seen what America's Son and Star Spangled can do. Besides, what would I do to make that much money in a week? Rob a bank?
Probably. In fact that's pretty much the only option I can come up with, other than searching for buried treasure or something. I don't remember any stories about buried treasure in this area... or anywhere at all, except buried under the sea. So... I rob a bank and get tossed into prison--I mean it's not like I won't be recognized. The biggest hope is that the flash from the cameras reflects off of my skin and blinds everyone or something--
"If there's something we can do to help," Jeanie says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Please, tell us."
What do I do? I look at her. I hesitate.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Meet me at the junkyard downtown," I say as I head further into the piles of abandoned cars and machines. Lady Rose and Nico are somewhere, but I gave them the slip a while back. "You know the one. The one where we spent a couple of months searching for parts."
"When?" Derrick asks.
"The sooner the better. I've got to leave in an hour. Don't come in, though, the security field is up. Go to the east entrance, I'll meet you there." I stop beside a decent looking car, reaching down and testing the handle.
"I'll--"
"Either you show or I'm out," I say as the door opens. I dig through the things left in the car and find a half empty pack of cigarettes to slip into my pocket. "You've got ten minutes."
"Jack--"
"Nine minutes and fifty five seconds now."
"I'm coming," he says quickly before hanging up. I look under the steering wheel, pull the hood release, and get out to look under the hood. This motor might be salvageable. But really, I'm just trying to look inconspicuous, and not panic over the idea of being a criminal soon. I tinker with a few parts, check my watch, and start for the east entrance.
Once there I look around, seeing the nearest shield projector. There's got to be a way to keep it from going off so I can get out, I think, crouching down next to the strange mesh of aluminum can and wires. To make it look like the shield is still working, but to let me get out. Aw, screw it, I think, I'll just destroy it. Nico's going to notice me leaving--he's probably watching me right now.
I wait, absently tapping out a cigarette and putting it between my lips--only problem is I don't have a lighter. I pat all my pockets out of habit, then look back at the junkyard, wondering if I've got time to go back and look for one in the car. Before I can even stand, I hear the familiar sound of Derrick's motorcycle. I touch the can, crushing it, and run, heading for the bike that's pulling to a stop right in front of me. I jump on behind Derrick. "Go," I say. "Fast." Looks like the smoke will have to wait, I think reluctantly, pocketing it.
"What--"
"Now!" I snap. He hits the gas and takes off, heading forward.
"What's the big hurry?" he demands as we ride down the street.
"We've probably got two supers on our tail, that's the big deal," I say, glancing over my shoulder. "How do you plan on paying Tony back, anyway?"
"I don't know! But--can't you do something? Like make money with your abilities or something? Or rob a bank!" he demands. "You've finally gotten cool, you should be able to do that much at least!"
I stare at the back of his head, so tempted to hit him that my hand comes up for a second. "Fine, turn right," I say instead.
"I'm the one driving, I should have a say in what--"
I lean forward, reaching past him and breaking off the rearview mirror. I use it to watch over my shoulder. For some reason Derrick shuts up and turns right. I see Nico in the mirror, flying overhead. Summer's nowhere to be seen. "Stop
," I say as we reach the bank.
He pulls to a stop and I hop off. I dig in my pocket, pulling out a ski-mask and slipping it on, then a pair of black gloves. "You know," I tell him. "You could have asked anyone other than Tony and we wouldn't be here right now."
"Wait--you're really going to--"
I head up the steps and into the bank. "PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR! THIS IS A STICK UP!" I bellow.
The entire bank turns and looks at me in confusion. I don't even have a gun, after all. "Oh, right," I say, holding out my hand. "Sorry people, this is my first time." The gun that the nearest security officer is fighting to get out of the holster flies across the room, landing in my hand. "Now it's a stick up."
Slowly the norms raise their hands in the air. I'm pretty sure one or all of the people at the counter have pushed the button alerting the cops. I'm actually pretty nervous right now. All those years of being a norm have ingrained certain fears in me, okay? Like the fear of being arrested, not just detained. I head for the nearest lady at the counter. "Hi. I need five thousand dollars."
"Who are you?" she asks. "How did you do that thing with the gun?"
"Five thousand," I repeat. "Small bills are fine--look, I really don't want to break into the safe, okay? So whatever you've got with you will be okay--"
I feel a gust of wind first. I see the looks of relief on the ladies faces next, and find myself turning. "Hello, brother," Trent says. He's got a mask on, and an army style uniform, but it's obvious who he is if you know him. "I think we need to talk."
The lady behind me does something crazy, pulling my ski mask off. The gasps of shock are mixed with the sound of cameras snapping pictures. "Sup, Kid?" I say, grinning at him. "Can this wait until I'm done?"
"You're part of the Liberty family?" the woman behind me demands. "Shouldn't you be a hero?"
I turn and look at her. "Seriously, lady, if you looked like this do you think you'd waste time rescuing cats from trees? And I didn't tell you to stop! I need that money!"