by Dee J. Stone
When all the vials are packed, Samson calls for attention. “It’s important to make sure each and every human receives the cure, but it’s as equally important that the ShadowBlades do not get their hands on it. If they do, Vlayne will heal her boyfriend and will release the fatal virus. That would leave many humans to die, because we won’t be able to get to them all in time.”
“So what do we do?” Kale asks.
“You aren’t doing anything. I, your mother, Regina, Shifter, Stone, and some of our agents in other countries, will race against the clock to present the humans with the antidote. As we do this, we’ll be vigilant and look out for the ShadowBlades who will most definitely be roaming the streets.”
X crosses his arms over his chest. “I want to be part of this.”
“Me, too,” Kale says.
I raise my hand in agreement. “You need all the help you can get.”
“I can run very fast,” Speed adds. “And give the humans the cure faster than anyone else. And it’ll be harder for the Blades to catch me.”
“And I can shift into my cat form,” Furball says. “No one would detect me.”
“Thank you,” Cindy says. “Your bravery is commendable. But it’s not necessary. We have many contacts around the world who will help us distribute the antidotes.”
“Mom—”
“No. I won’t have you kids risking your lives.”
“We can do this,” Kale says. The rest of us talk at once, and the room buzzes with our voices.
Samson runs his hands down his face. He then lifts them to quiet us down. “We won’t allow it.”
“We might not be Elites,” I say. “But we’re Keepers of Justice, and Keepers protect the normies. You need us. Even if we only manage to heal twenty, it’s still something.”
“Even with all your contacts,” Furball says, “there are billions of people out there. You guys won’t be able to get to everyone in time.”
Kale’s parents talk telepathically. It looks like they’re arguing.
X picks up a sack, slings it over his shoulder, and heads for the door. “I don’t care if I’m risking my life. I’m doing this.”
“Ray, wait,” Samson says.
We join him at the door. We spread our legs out and fold our arms over our chests.
“Please, Dad, Mom.”
“We’re wasting time,” X mumbles.
Samson sighs. “All right, we’ll allow you to go.” He instructs us to get into costumes. “Remember,” Samson says before we leave. “Try your hardest not to allow a ShadowBlade to steal the cure from you. Don’t trust anyone.” He explains exactly how we can tell if someone really has the virus, or is just pretending. Their faces would be red and puffy. Eyes red, too, with tiny dots inside. Their tongues should be covered in blisters. And of course they would be coughing up and puking blood. He says it’s hard for anyone to fake those symptoms. Cindy and Kale put telepathic blocks on us so no one could play mind tricks.
Samson also tells us that if we’re being attacked, we should save ourselves. But we don’t care about us, only the humans.
Samson and Cindy’s faces are pale with worry. I know they’re concerned for our safety. But we’re superheroes. And this is what superheroes do.
***
We’ve been on the streets for about twenty minutes. Kale wanted to go from house to house handing out the vials, but X said it’d be easier to start off with a group, like a hospital. We went to one nearby. Now we’re off to another a few blocks away.
Furball, in her panther form, leaps ahead to scout the area. As we round a corner, something jumps on top of X and he crashes to the ground.
It’s a big guy, dressed in a red, orange, and yellow costume. A Blade.
The sack! Kale yells. Oh, no. He snatched it from X. I’m about to run after him, when something slams into me and hurls me a few feet back. It’s another Blade, lifting his hands to shoot something at me. Shards of glass! I stretch and bend myself in different directions to avoid them. He’s firing them like he’s a pitching machine in a batting cage. His arms aren’t tiring out.
Kale lunges on the other guy, who’s about to ram his leg into X’s ribs. As I continue to twist and turn, I see something flee. The bags are gone and so is Furball. Did she escape with the vials? Or was that another Blade?
Knock them out! I tell Kale.
Kale squeezes his eyes shut. One Blade falls to the ground, clutching his head and yelling so loud it’s about to burst my ears. The second scoops an unconscious X off the ground with one hand and holds up a shard of glass the size of a sword in another.
“No!” I yell. Kale grunts so loud it’s pretty much a howl. The Blade lets out a wail before he collapses, taking X along with him. Kale drops to the ground, too.
I rush to X. I’m not sure if the Blade stabbed him. Examining his body, I don’t see any blood. I check Kale. His eyes slowly open. He tries to sit up, but falls back down. I help him. “I’m okay,” he says. “How’s X?”
X is already on his feet, rubbing the side of his head. “I’m all right.”
“You guys wanna go to the hospital to make sure? I mean, head injuries—”
“We don’t have time for that,” X says. “I’m all right. You?” he asks Kale.
“Yep, just a headache.” He looks around. “The sacks! Where are they? And where’s Furball?”
“I don’t know.”
“Wait a minute. I sense her. She shifted into a human to tell me she’s in the hospital we were headed to. She’s got both sacks with her. I’ll tell her we’re on our way.”
“Let’s go!” I say.
We rush to the hospital and give out the vials. Once everyone’s healed, Furball grabs me and hugs me close. “I didn’t want to run and leave you. I’m sorry. But they were going to take the sacks.” She lays her head on my chest. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m glad you’re okay, too.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Hours later, we get back home with empty sacks. I don’t know how many people we’ve healed, but it’s tons. I feel on top of the world.
The guys, Furball, and I enter the living room. Regina, Stone, Stone Junior, Speed, Shifter, Techno, and Tranquility are gathered around the TV. Samson and Cindy aren’t around. Everyone’s gazes are glued to the screen.
“What happened?” Kale asks, pulling off his mask.
Stone Junior points his thumb at the TV. A reporter is talking about a deadly virus that killed hundreds of people around the world. Deadly virus? But I thought…
X slumps down to the floor, plowing his fingers through his hair. “She got the antidote. She released the deadly virus, which killed the humans instantly.”
“Crap,” Kale mutters.
“We were careful,” Stone says. “Unfortunately, not careful enough.” There’s anger in his voice, like he wants to crush the ShadowBlades between his beefy hands.
Tranquility walks over and touches each of the kids’ arms and shoulders. “We did everything in our power to make sure the cure was given to the humans. We’ve lost hundreds, but we saved billions.”
Furball digs her head in my chest. I run my hand down her back. I know we should feel good about saving many humans, but hundreds died.
“Please,” Tranquility continues. “Don’t despair. You should feel proud of yourselves. All of you.” She smiles, but I can’t return it. By the looks of everyone else’s faces, they don’t seem to have anything to smile about, either.
We turn back to the TV, where Samson is making a speech in Washington D.C. Cindy is standing right next to him. They’re in KOJ uniform. He’s talking about everything that happened—explaining who really released the virus, how we synthesized a cure, about the humans we saved, and who’s behind the new virus. When he says the last part, he lowers his head and his hands turn white as they grip the sides of the podium. He takes a second or two to compose himself before continuing.
People around are shouting. Some refuse to belie
ve the Keepers are good. Others don’t know what to make of the new development. A nice few support us. And some throw shoes at Samson and Cindy, but they don’t react. Cindy takes the podium. “Our concern is the welfare of all the humans. Allow us to be a League again and we’ll continue to protect you, as we’ve been doing for the past twenty years. We’ll do everything in our power to find the ShadowBlades and take them down.”
That gets some cheers from the audience, as well as some boos. Some chant, “Keepers. Keepers. Keepers.”
When Samson and Cindy are done with the press conference, they walk off. A few important government people say they need to think hard on this and discuss the situation at length and come up with a decision regarding what to do with the Keepers. They also have to organize funerals for the people who have died. I don’t want to think about all the humans who’ll be mourning them. Everyone should have been cured.
***
Kale’s parents return and call for everyone to gather in the living room. Samson starts, “I’m pleased to announce that after much deliberation, Washington, as well as many other countries, has decided to reinstate the Keepers of Justice as protectors of the world. They’re going to provide us with a temporary residence while our home is rebuilt. In addition, they’ll free our League mates later today.”
We all cheer. Kale slaps my hand and X’s. Furball pulls me into her arms. Cindy steps forward. “Yes, we have much to be joyful about.” Her face gets serious and sad. “However, I’m sure you’ve heard the terrible news regarding the deaths of hundreds of people due to Vlayne’s virus.”
Smiles drop from everyone’s faces. Kale twiddles his thumbs, X fists his hands and clenches his jaw. Furball squeezes my hand.
“The Keepers of Justice will do everything in its power to find the ShadowBlades and make them pay for what they’ve done. The government has sworn to work alongside us in locating them. I promise you, we will find them.” Samson’s eyes flick to Kale. “Not only because they caused hundreds of humans to die, but because they have one of our own captured.”
Kale’s gaze drops to the floor. Cindy walks over to him and rubs his shoulder. “We’ll find her, sweetie.”
“How do we know she’s okay? What if…what if they really hurt her?”
Cindy hugs him tight.
“What do they want with her?” I ask.
“There are many ways to utilize her,” Samson says. “With her captured, they have a hold over us. They know we’ll do anything and everything to ensure her safety.” He lays a hand on Kale’s shoulder. “We’ll save her, son. We will.” He scans the room. “Protecting the world is our number one priority, but locating the ShadowBlades is just as important. We’ll find them. We’ll kill them.”
The Keepers don’t really kill villains unless it’s necessary. The government has a maximum-security facility where all captured villains are kept. But the Blades are different.
Samson turns to leave, when X says, “What about Stealth?”
He stands still before slowly turning around. “Stealth is loyal to her mother, but she’s loyal to us as well. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure no harm comes her way.”
X’s gaze hardens. “What if the government captures her? How are you so sure they won’t hurt her?”
“Ray,” Cindy says. “We’ll do everything in our power to make sure she’s safe.”
X nods, but it looks forced.
Samson and Cindy return to the head of the room and continue talking. They’re saying good things, mostly, about having a welcome home party for our League mates, things like that. Once he dismisses us, the guys and I go to our room.
Kale puffs out some air as he sits on the bed. “Man, I can’t believe everyone’s coming home except Lindsay.”
“Dude, sorry,” I say. “You wanna try going into her dream?”
He plays with a loose thread on his bedspread. “It’s too risky. Vlayne’s probably watching Lindsay very closely now.”
“You think Vlayne’s shaking in her boots, now that everyone’s looking for her?” I ask.
Kale shrugs, his gaze glued to the thread.
“Nothing scares her,” X says.
Yeah, I guess. She’s too smart to screw up. “Who knows what the hell she’s planning next?” I swallow.
They don’t say anything.
“So…” I break the silence. “What happens now?”
“We search for the Blades,” X says. “I’m not going to stop until they’re destroyed.”
***
We’re in our temporary home. It’s big, but not as big as the mansion. Because it’s mostly empty, it feels chilly and lonely. But not for long. Our League mates are going to walk through the door any minute.
Furball’s got her nose pressed against the dining room window. She’s really eager to have her best friends back. She told me that as soon as her parents were released, they called her and told her they want to see her. She’s going to visit them tonight.
I can’t wait for my parents to come home, and for us to be a League again.
“They’re here!” Furball pulls away from the window and jumps around. I walk to the window and peer out. Over forty KOJs are walking toward the house.
Everyone in the room gets up from their seats with smiles on their faces. Cindy rushes out of the room to open the outside doors. We hear squeals and laughter and loud voices. One by one our League mates enter the room. Freeze and Accelerator, Robert, Animal, Slaughter, and the rest. When the Elemental Triplets step inside, Furball lets out a shriek and dashes to them. She hugs Air, then H20, then Earth Goddess. After that, she slings her arms over their shoulders. They shriek some more. I smile to them and wave. All three haul me into their arms. They do the same to Kale. X stays in his corner.
My parents still haven’t come in.
Kale fist bumps Prizm and ruffles his hair. “Missed ya, kid.”
Prizm laughs, putting his hair back in place. Even though he’s smiling, I see how much this hurts Kale. X, too. Everyone’s back, except for their girls. It sucks. But we’ll get them back. We will.
Someone taps my shoulder. Turning around, I almost stop breathing. Mom and Dad. They look fine, not hurt or anything. Their eyes shine. Mom spreads her arms. I jump into them. Dad wraps his arms over both of us.
“I missed you guys so much. I’m so glad you’re okay.” I press my face into Mom’s shoulder. She squeezes me tight and kisses my cheek.
Dad’s hold on us gets stronger, too. “We were so worried,” he murmurs.
“Did they hurt you? What did they do?”
“They didn’t hurt anyone, only questioned us.” Mom strokes my cheek. “Let’s not talk about this, okay?”
“I have so much to tell you.” About my new power, my biological parents.
“We have all the time in the world to catch up,” Mom says, then hugs me another time. Dad’s arms come over us again. I don’t want to leave their arms. Yeah, I’m fourteen and admit I want to be in my parents’ embrace forever.
Cindy calls for everyone to be seated around the table. Once we do, she steps to the center of the room. Her eyes roam around each member. We’re all here, every single Keeper, except for Lindsay.
Cindy lifts her hands and claps. Samson follows, and we do, too. Soon, the room is alive, just like it was before the attack happened. After a minute or two, Cindy raises her hands for silence. “Welcome back. Words can’t describe what having you here means to me, to Samson, to the entire League. You were sorely missed.”
We all erupt in cheers.
Cindy waits for the room to quiet down. “The Keepers of Justice are together once again. We stand here, stronger than we’ve ever been. We’ll defeat those who wish to harm us, the humans, and the world. We, alongside the government, will hunt down the ShadowBlades, our sworn enemy. This time, we’ll make sure we destroy them all. Each and every one.” Her eyes go to Kale. “We won’t let them get away with kidnapping one of our own. Lindsay will be with us shortly, I ass
ure you that. The ShadowBlades will tremble before our feet, and the Keepers of Justice will remain supreme. Above all.”
“And no one will dare mess with us again!” Kale calls.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“We should warn Stealth,” Kale says later that night. “Every single person on this planet is hunting the Blades and she needs to be on high alert. Now that she’s in danger, maybe she’ll tell us where the Blades’ headquarters is. Then we’ll free her and Lindsay. Let’s go into her dream and convince her to tell us.”
“Yeah,” I say.
“What you think, X?”
His eyes roam around the room as he crosses his arms over his chest. “All right. We can try.”
***
Just like the other times we enter her dream, Kale updates Stealth on everything. She and X are in each other’s arms, sitting under a tree and having what looks like a deep conversation. X looks like he’s begging her. Her hands are in his as he squeezes them tight. With tears in her eyes, she shakes her head.
“That doesn’t look good,” Kale says. He and I are on the grass near the cliff, watching the waterfall crash into the rocks below
“Yeah. You think she’s going to be okay?”
He shrugs. “My parents said they’ll do whatever they can to make sure no one hurts her. But I don’t know. Why’s she so determined to stay with them?”
“She promised her mom. She’s protecting us. And Lindsay, too.”
“I know.”
Stealth and X head toward us with their hands clasped. Kale looks at X, asking if he succeeded in convincing her. X shakes his head. “Stealth,” Kale says. “Please tell us where your headquarters is so we can free you and Lindsay. Do it for Lindsay. Do it for X.”
The tears run down her cheek. “I…I can’t. You’ll come after us, and my mom will run away with Lindsay. What if she blows up the world?”
X strokes the side of her face. “Please, Ella.”
“No. Not yet. I need to find out where she’s keeping Lindsay before you guys come.”