by Gwenda Bond
I jumped when our desk phones started to ring. All four of them.
Frowning, I picked mine up. “Daily Scoop, yes?”
A distracted woman in my ear said, “I just got a video of the flying one. They’re out again.”
“What? Where?”
I scribbled down an address, recognizing the street, and hung up. My colleagues were taking similar calls.
“What are they doing?” I asked. They were being spotted right outside their headquarters.
“Trying to lure you back would be my guess,” Maddy said, hanging up her phone.
Perry burst into the room then, holding a printout. “I read it on the way down,” he said, waving what had to be my story around. “You stand by all this? It’s factual?”
“I believe so, yes,” I said.
“Okay then,” Perry said, doing that thing where his eyes glazed a bit as he thought and talked at the same time. “We’ll get it on the front page, released first thing tomorrow. We won’t put it online until then either. A true exclusive.” He focused back in on me. “No one else has this, correct?”
“No,” I said. “But as you can probably hear, the experiment’s subjects are making some trouble tonight.”
“We’re going to sell a lot of newspapers tomorrow—I’ll head out to cover the new stuff for a sidebar until I can get someone else to come relieve me,” he said. “The cops will help get them home.”
I nodded, hoping he was right.
“Good work, Lane,” he said, and with that, he turned on his heel.
Why did I not feel like what I’d done was praiseworthy? The others were smiling and laughing… and then back to taking calls.
“Where’s the last number?” I asked. “The last of our silver armor squad’s parents?”
“Oh, here,” Maddy said, holding her receiver and rolling over to me. She handed me a printout with numbers and names on it. “It’s the last one.”
The name above it said T. Andrews. It must belong to Todd’s family. I dialed, then waited for someone to answer.
A woman did. “Hello?”
“Um, hi,” I said. “I’m calling because I think I know where your son Todd is.”
“We don’t have any Todd,” she said. And hung up.
The silence in my ear was painfully loud.
“No luck?” Maddy asked.
I shook my head. My heart ached for him, jerk behavior notwithstanding. “I can’t believe it.”
But I could. I just didn’t want to. I spent a moment wishing the best for all four of them, even Todd, who’d always been so rude to me. I wished them a good place, a good purpose.
I wished I could do more than wish for it.
CHAPTER 28
I’d seen enough of Taxi Jack, so I decided to give him a break. I hailed a cab outside the Daily Planet Building to head home—before my parents sent out a search party. The woman driving it was perfectly happy to stay in her own little world. She made no effort at conversation.
I didn’t want any chance encounters with our armor-alloyed friends before my story dragged them into the light of day, so I had her drop me off right in front of our brownstone. It was only 11 p.m., after all, the latest I could stretch curfew when Mom and Dad knew I was at the Scoop.
Given the role I played in it, I guessed I’d better prepare them for the story.
As much as I could.
But Dad emerged from our building before I even made it to the door. In his everyday uniform, he barked, “Save that cab!”
“Wait,” I told the woman. Then I asked him as he approached, “Why? Where are you going?”
“There’ve been news reports of a flying man in the city tonight,” he said.
We stared at each other. I was reliving that night two years ago in Kansas, when the flying man had saved us. When the flying man had changed things for both of us. I thought maybe he was too.
But I saw something else, something beyond that memory. If my story ran, it would make everything worse. The world’s eyes would be open to possibilities it might not be ready for yet. Dad would never stop looking for our flying man, not once he had proof it was possible. That group of armored cast-off kids would end up god knew where, separated from each other, probably as lab rats.
Could I give this a happier ending?
The only thing it would take would be sacrificing myself, my front-page story, my pride. And if that was what it took?
The answer was yes.
I bent to the window and told the taxi driver, “Go on.”
She shrugged, and drove off.
“Lois,” Dad said, “what are you doing? Now I’ll have to wait for the car service.”
“Good,” I said, “by the time it gets here, you’ll know where to go. Where we need to go. I need to tell you something. Some things, actually.”
Our street was mostly quiet, mostly dark. I could hear noise from a few open windows, but that was it. It was Dad and I alone in the night, standing together, looking for answers. The echo of that night in Kansas wasn’t lost on me.
“What do you need to tell me?” he asked, concern in his voice.
This was it. No chickening out. “Dad, on your list of names—I’m SkepticGirl1,” I said. “And SmallvilleGuy is Clark. I’ve been looking for the flying man too, and Clark’s been helping.”
“What?” he asked. He took an involuntary step back, stunned.
“Listen,” I said. And I related to him the story of the Typhon beta experiment, only I put my emphasis on the flying boy here. Even though he wasn’t the one Dad was looking for.
Dad was determined to find a flying man? Well, he would. I believed that he could and would help this one. It wasn’t a lie to protect me. It was to protect someone else, to protect the truth until the right time.
“I need your help, Dad,” I said. “We tracked them down. I know this boy with wings must be who we saw that night. They’ll lie, claim they weren’t doing experiments in Kansas—but I don’t believe it. Donovan or Jenkins must have before they came here.”
Dad had been remarkably quiet. “It would seem so, if this lab complex checks out. Why are you telling me this? Why not put it in the newspaper?”
“I almost did,” I said. “But I see that’s not the best. I know you’ll do the right thing. You have to promise me that you’ll take down Dabney Donovan, Steve Jenkins, and this Contessa del Portenza. They go to jail, not on your payroll.”
“After they threatened my daughter? You bet they will,” he said.
I smiled.
We never know whether people deserve the credit we give them, but sometimes we have to trust in them anyway. It was a joy that I’d been proved right.
“And you’ll take care of the others? They want to keep their family, each other, but if they decide to leave at eighteen, you have to let them,” I said.
“We can always use smart young people. If they agree, I’ll make sure they are treated well, and that they get to stay together.”
I waited.
“And that they can leave when they’re eighteen if they choose,” he said. “Anything else?”
I shook my head, and then I hugged him tight. He folded his arms around me. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll get them to say yes.”
The sleek black car from the service he used pulled up. It would have a military driver.
“Lois,” he said, opening the car door and holding on to the top before we got in, “you shouldn’t have been looking. I told you not to talk about it with anyone.”
“You’re just mad I found him before you did,” I said, crossing my fingers where he couldn’t see.
“Hop in,” he said, waving me into the car. “Lois, I’m proud of you. I don’t say it enough. Where are we headed?”
I gave Dad the address we needed to go to. He made some calls to arrange
extra military heavies to join the police who’d apparently already set up a roadblock at the scene. I’d get the story taken care of as soon as we finished this, and I could go to the Daily Planet Building guilt-free. Hopefully Perry would still be there, and I could convince him of a different, better truth.
By the time we arrived at the block where I’d almost become a whole new augmented girl, Dad’s orders were already being efficiently carried out. There was a smallish crowd gathered on this side of the roadblock and several jeeps and vans had parked along the street behind it, some blocking cars into street spaces. A line of soldiers, accompanied by city police, waited on the other side of the flashing lights.
Our driver pulled up behind a jeep, and Dad and I climbed out.
The sidewalks along the street had been cleared, the businesses all dark at this time of day. I followed Dad’s eyes up…
To where Jamie flew above the street, zig-zagging from one side to the other. I scanned the blocked-off pavement and spotted three people gathered on it below him, dead in the center of the road. “They’re in front of the HQ,” I said. “They must be terrified.”
I looked again, but still didn’t spot Perry in the crowd.
Just then, the sound of a helicopter’s distinctive chopper blades came from above, lights spearing down from it and illuminating Jamie, then Reya, Sunny, and Todd below.
Reya and Todd stepped back from Sunny as she angled her head toward it. I saw red beams begin to glow in the air.
“Get that out of here,” I said.
Dad walked over and gave the order, and we heard the helicopter back off moments later. He came back. “What do we do?” he asked.
“Let me go talk to them,” I said.
“Lois,” Dad said, a warning.
“I’ll be safe. You’re right here. You’re proud of me, and you trust me, remember?”
“I should have known you’d use that against me.” But he swept a hand to indicate he was giving me a chance and went over to the line of cops and soldiers to wait.
I started my march up the center of the street. I had no doubt there were people covering me as I walked, and I prayed that the four Typhon teamsters would keep calm until I could convince them this was for their own good. If anything threatening happened, I knew Dad wouldn’t hesitate to act to protect me.
Sunny recognized me first, and she grabbed Reya’s arm. There was another roadblock on the opposite end of the block. The three of them faced me as I neared them, and Jamie set down beside Sunny.
“Are you stupid?” Reya asked when I was in earshot. “You got away. I thought you didn’t want to be one of us. They said you’d come back, but I said that was nuts. What are you doing here?”
“They’re still inside, Jenkins and Donovan and the Contessa?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “We’re their defense. We’re not supposed to let anyone past.”
Just when I’d assumed I couldn’t be any angrier at those three. What scum they were, sending teens out to fight their battle. I had to show these guys I was on their side.
“Todd,” I said, “I talked to your family. You were right.”
His head ticked down, and I cringed at the defeat in the small gesture. He’d known, but it still hurt to hear it. How could it not?
“But I was right too,” I said.
He took a step toward me that seemed almost involuntary. “What do you mean?”
“You all want a purpose and a place, right? There’s no going back home for any of you.” I moved two steps closer, and that was as far as I was willing to go. I heard the chopper in the distance, hovering somewhere nearby. I couldn’t push Dad on this. “But I think you have to know by now that the people who did this to you are not good. Look around. They’re not going to protect you. They’re not your family. They tossed you out here like bait. You are each other’s family now. And I think you want it to stay that way.”
The four of them exchanged looks, and Reya broke from the pack to stand directly in front of me. “What are you saying?” she asked.
I had to convince them. I couldn’t let this end another way. “Do you trust me?”
“No,” Todd said.
But Reya nodded yes. “I think I do.” She turned to catch Todd’s eye. “And you trust me, don’t you?”
“Always,” Todd said, without hesitation. Sunny and Jamie nodded to her that they did too.
“I trust my dad,” I said. “That’s who your guys wanted the attention of, and they got it. He can give you a safe place. He promised me he’ll let you stay together.”
“He’s military?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “But I truly believe he won’t make you do anything you don’t want to. You know there’s nowhere safe for you now, if the world finds out you really exist, with the things you can do. There are a lot of bad men out there.” I thought of the Contessa. “And bad women. At least this gives you a chance to stay with good ones instead.”
She considered, looking at me instead of the others. They kept their eyes trained on Reya, waiting for her call.
Finally, at last, she nodded. “We deserve some good people for a change,” she said. “It’s a deal.”
I wanted to fall to my knees with relief. And turn and stick my tongue out at the HQ beside us. I didn’t do either.
“Come with me,” I told her, and waved them all to join me. I led them to Dad, who strode out to meet us. “You can take the building,” I said. “But first, meet Reya, Todd, Sunny, and Jamie.” The four of them nodded as I said their names. They looked less frightened than I expected, but then, they’d been through more than I could imagine. “Meet my dad, General Sam Lane.”
“You can call me Sam,” he said, using his kindest, least intimidating manner. “Lois told me what happened to all of you. It’s not right. We can’t change that, but we can do our best to help you move forward.”
Todd and Reya exchanged a glance, and then Todd met my eyes. He didn’t say thanks, but his grateful expression was the next best thing. There was zero mockery in it. For once.
It was time for the next step, which was even scarier than all this had been. It was time to tell Perry we had to pull the story.
“You haven’t seen Perry, have you?” I asked Dad, talking low.
“Here? No,” he said. “Why?”
I held up a finger and fished out my phone to text Perry: Are you still on-site? I’m here too. We need to hold the story.
He texted back right away: Left a while ago, a stringer’s there. Headed back to type up my story for the web. Too late anyway. Front page printing now.
Crap.
Apparently my noble intentions were going to be harder to carry out than I thought.
When I spoke to Dad, I did my best to keep my newfound panic from showing. “Can your driver give me a lift to the Daily Planet Building? I really need to get back there and pull my story, write something that will keep this from becoming a scandal.” I paused. While I was here I might as well ask. “And, um, could I maybe get a quote from General Lane?”
He almost laughed. I saw it, and scowled. “I’ll give you a quote, but you can’t run it until we have everyone in custody. We’ll be moving in on the building any minute.”
“Deal. The car?” Pride was earned, and—ironically—I had to sacrifice mine and save the day before I could afford to feel it for myself again.
“Right.” Dad looked around, and then, frustrated, told one of the soldiers nearby. “Can you find my driver?”
The soldier hustled off.
“You have your notebook?” Dad asked.
“Always,” I said, and handed it over, along with a pen. Dad quickly jotted something down on a blank page. When he finished, he handed it back to me. I skimmed and saw the words: “… plotted an attack on civility in Metropolis, threatening to destroy public safety… removed
peacefully through an unprecedented partnership between the Metropolis police and the United States Army…”
“You’re really going after them, huh?” I asked.
“I gave my word. Besides, it’s what they did.”
“Sir?” Dad’s driver interrupted.
“Tim, get her over to the Daily Planet Building,” Dad said.
“Yes, sir,” the driver said. I waved to Dad, and Tim and I hurried back to where he’d parked the car.
It was going to be okay. Maybe.
Perry might fire me. But I had fixed this part and now I just had to fix the story—there was too much on the line not to. Too many other lives.
I climbed into the backseat of the car. As the soldier got us headed in the right direction, I pulled out my phone.
My next text went to Devin, James, and Maddy: I made a huge mistake. We have to stop that story. Devin, can you pull it from the website so it won’t go live in the morning? Does anyone know where the printing presses are?
I’d never seen them before. As far as I was concerned, the papers just magically showed up on newsstands and front stoops every morning.
I drummed my fingers waiting for a response. In the meantime, I logged on to the chat app to fill in Clark.
SkepticGirl1: I’m pulling the story. Dad’s taking care of the bad guys.
SmallvilleGuy: Why?
SkepticGirl1: He’ll stop looking for the flying man. It’ll be over.
SmallvilleGuy: You don’t have to do this.
SkepticGirl1: I do—it’s better this way. The only way to keep the world safe for now. It’ll be better for those teens. Dad will give them a place.
SmallvilleGuy: <3
SkepticGirl1: I gotta go. Gotta stop the presses.
James texted back with the info—the presses were two doors down from the main entrance of the Planet Building.
Whew, at least they’re not across town.
I texted Maddy, James, and Devin: Meet me there ASAP.
And then I asked the soldier behind the wheel, “Tim, was it? Can you drive faster?”
The driver obeyed, as if I was his commander instead of Dad.