Burn Out

by R. J. Ross

  Richard Penski looks up, scowling slightly. “Start by reloading the OS on that computer over there,” he says coldly.

  “Where’s the fake familial love?” Davis asks in a mutter as he heads for the computer. “Where’s the OS file?”

  “There’s a usb stick on the counter.”

  Davis walks over to the counter, getting his phone out to scan the drive quickly while his uncle keeps working, and then goes to work. This is annoying, he thinks as he presses the keys. Oh, sure, it’s a little interesting to check out the OS his father probably created, but it’s not what he’s here for. He glances over at the machine just standing in the corner. He looks at the computer screen, which is still running properly, and he walks over to the machine.

  “What are you doing?” Richard asks.

  “I’m supposed to fix this, right?” Davis says. In his mind, the schematics of the machine are appearing like a diagram. He can see the machinery fit together. It’s never been this clear before, he thinks, getting distracted. He reaches forward, about to move one of the parts when someone grabs the back of his shirt, strangling him slightly as it’s tugged.

  “Don’t touch it!” Penski snaps. “You aren’t starting on this today, and if you ask me, you shouldn’t start on it, ever.”

  Davis looks at him. “You will never get it working, that way.”

  Richard stares at him before sighing. “To think, I would actually miss Clay,” he says, shaking his head.

  “You aren’t in charge here,” Davis says. “You don’t think I figured it out?”

  “Figured what out?”

  “You might have been starving when we met you, but you were the one that was behind what Clay did, weren’t you?” Davis says. “You were the reason he came to me. It was all for this, wasn’t it? You were training me up to work on this for you, and then you would claim all the glory for getting it working, because I’m not even thirteen, and no one would believe a twelve-year-old could create something like this.” Richard Penski just stares at him. Davis looks him straight in the eye. “Or maybe you were just going to take the easy way out and become one of those tight wearing super villains, like my mother rages on about.”

  “I would hardly have to wear tights,” Richard says. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Davis. Your father is…” he stops, looking around, his eyes lingering on several different spots.

  “A genius?” Davis offers, because he knows that this little talk is being recorded.

  “You could put it that way,” Richard says as he turns back to his work. “Don’t touch the machine until all of the computers are reformatted.”

  “Yes, Uncle Richard,” Davis says, heading for the computer he’d been working on earlier. He can’t move, now. They’re watching him like a hawk. It’s probably being recorded…

  He stops, that sentence repeating in his mind, and going on to ask, what ELSE is being recorded around here?

  ***

  *Cape High South*

  I drop down in front of the school campus, just wanting to sit down for a bit, and recover. Maybe she’s right, maybe I am pushing myself a little too hard. I keep seeing the nightmares, glimpses of pain and suffering. I know that supers will have to deal with violent moments in their lives, that they’ll have to see suffering and such, but I haven’t, yet, not like they have, and definitely not like the nurses and doctors have. The really shocking thing is that, even with all they’ve seen, all they’ve experienced, they still keep going. They still keep working to save one life, and then another.

  I need to talk Jonas into helping out at more than just the Hall’s ER. At the same time, I don’t want to.

  “You never got back to me,” I hear someone say from behind me. I look back, but the only thing I see is an empty area, and a tiny bit of shade beneath a scraggly looking tree. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all morning, girl.”

  “Shadowman,” I say, heading for the shadows. “I never saw the money go into my account. Do you really think I’m going to contact you before I see it?”

  “Heh,” he says. “How in the world did such a goody-two-shoes like your dad raise a girl like you?” he asks. “I need more of those tubes, little girl. I’m going to get to meet him face to face, and I need something to show for it.”

  “Meet who?” I ask.

  “The Professor, right?” Nico asks from behind me. I turn, looking at him with confusion. “He knows we’re playing him, Jimmi, you can stop the act. Come out, Shadowman.”

  “I would rather not,” Shadowman says. “I don’t trust the man to not be watching me, even now. The less chance of us being seen together, the better. It was risky trying to approach you through the game, much less by text.”

  “The game is secure, as is the security here,” Nico says, “but if you feel like being paranoid, it’s not a problem.”

  “He wants to meet face to face,” Shadowman says. “I’m finally going to see who he is, Technico. I don’t want to botch it by lacking supplies.”

  “No, you don’t want to hand over the tube you’ve already got,” Nico corrects him. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten how you operate. We’ve been dealing with each other for quite a while, now, Shadowman.”

  “Fine, yes, I want to keep a tube,” Shadowman says. “After that run-in with Herold, I’m a little jumpy. You can’t blame a guy. You should probably give a tube to Century, as well. He’s well past the point where he’d kick the bucket. It’s a wonder he didn’t die from the last time he got shot.”

  “Herold’s in the Cape Cells, with his powers stripped,” Nico says.

  “And we all know how flimsy a protection that is, now don’t we?” Shadowman says. “Oh, sure, the Cape Cells are probably a good way of keeping him locked down, but he’s not dead, is he? If he’s not dead, there’s always a chance of him getting his powers back. And tell me, Technico, would the setup you put him in keep you inside?”

  Nico stays silent, so I look at him, trying to read his expression. “What are you getting at, Shadowman?” I ask, since Nico isn’t.

  “I want five tubes filled, just enough to show I have a solid source,” Shadowman says, “and I want a tracker on me, something small enough that even you wouldn’t notice. I know you made one for my niece, once. Ah, but that one didn’t stay unnoticed, did it? Make it smaller than that.”

  “Has he given you a meeting place, yet?” Nico asks.

  “Not yet,” Shadowman says, “but he should, soon, probably somewhere in the middle of nowhere. That’s where I would set it.”

  “And how can you be certain that the person you’re meeting is the actual guy?” Nico asks.

  “I’ll know if he’s a super, at least, and what sorts of powers he has. Even if he’s not The Professor, he would still be one of his pawns. A little knowledge is better than none.”

  “Fine,” Nico says, pulling a handful of parts out of his pocket and tossing them into the air. I can’t help but watch them assemble as he simply holds his hands out underneath them.

  “You never answered me about Herold, Technico. Is there a chance of him getting out? Because if there is, I want to know.”

  “Why is that, Shadowman? Miss your old partner?”

  “I want to make sure he’s finished off, since you bleeding hearts couldn’t manage to do it, yourselves.”

  “You’re talking to two upstanding Hall members right now, Shadowman, I would be more careful about what I said, if I were you,” Nico says, his tone bland.

  “Tell me that you haven’t thought of it, yourself.”

  “He’s alive, isn’t he?” Nico says. “I’m the one that took him in. Here, this should do what you want. It has a camera and everything.” The tiny piece of machinery drops and disappears into the shadows.

  “The tubes, now,” Shadowman says. A small box rises up from the shadows and I stare at them with loathing. They’re nothing but trouble. Also, they don’t fix the problem as well as he thinks they do, but I don’t think I’ll tell him that. He�
��s a jerk and he kidnapped the guy I… well, was crushing on, AND several others of my friends. “I’m not just holding them up for show, little girl,” Shadowman says irritably.

  I take the box, fighting the urge to hit him. He’s sort of hard to get to, right now, so I don’t think I could hit him hard enough to satisfy myself. Instead I open the box, seeing five of the tubes, just like he’d said. “Where have you been getting these?” I ask him.

  “I was working with Kunnins,” Shadowman says. “I thought it would be a waste to just leave something like this behind.”

  I hate him, I think, my hand tightening on the tube enough to almost crack it. “What else do you have that you didn’t want to ‘waste’?” I ask him.

  “This and that,” he says. “Do you really think I’ll spill my guts to a future Hall leader? Now hurry up, the sooner I’m away from here, the better.” I fill the tubes, feeling sick to my stomach as I try not to imagine where they’ll wind up. “The triplets would like some, as well. I knew I was right to mention the boosting capability. I’ll be back for another batch tomorrow.”

  “The triplets?” I ask as he pulls the box of tubes into the Shadowlands.

  “Nothing to worry about,” he says. “They don’t break Hall law, they’re too busy trying to break each other.” And then he’s gone. I can actually see the energy in the shadow leaving.

  “The triplets?” I ask Nico.

  “They’re…” he grins, slightly, “an interesting set of ladies. They’re actually quadruplets, but they’ve disowned their brother, since he went into stage magic instead of the photo-op game.”

  “Will they use my energy for bad things?” I ask.

  “Well, they ARE villains,” he says, “but I doubt they would kill anyone with it. Now, come on, we need to check in on Davis.”

  “Is there something wrong with him? I knew I didn’t like his father the moment I saw him! He’s experimenting on him, isn’t he? What’s taking so long, let’s go get him out of there!”

  “We can’t do it just yet,” Nico says as I take to the air. He starts for the school campus. “He’s not ready to get out. The kid is bold, you have to give him that. They found out about his glasses.”

  “Why did you GIVE him those if it was so easy to find out?” I demand.

  “Because thanks to them stealing them and trying to hack my system, I got into their closed system without their knowing,” he says a bit too smugly. “How would you like to see how Davis is doing, yourself?”

  “Isn’t that dangerous? What if they notice you?” I ask.

  “Then we rush in and grab the kid, and let the Hall handle any kidnapping charges it brings up.” We head onto campus and into the science building, where he’s set up camp. The walls light up as he enters, and all of a sudden we’re watching several different lab stations from high angles. I start searching the images, stopping as a few things catch my eyes. “What is that?” I ask him.

  “Somehow they got their hands on Atlanti’s venom. I don’t know whether it was from the North Pole or not, but that makes the most sense.” He frowns, watching a now familiar figure step onto the screen. Walter Colleck walks over to the scientists examining the venom, asking a few questions before holding out a hand. A small vial of venom is handed over, even though the scientists look hesitant. Walter pockets the vial and walks away.

  “That’s not good,” I say.

  “No, no it’s not,” Nico says, a grim expression on his face.

  “What can he do with that?” I ask.

  “He’s a genius,” Nico says, “the question is, what CAN’T he do with it? We need to steal it before he starts experimenting.” He stands, starting for the door, but I can’t. My eyes are glued to a scene where Davis is tapping furtively on his phone, glancing straight at the screen I’m looking at once in a while.

  “Nico?” I say.

  “Are you coming or not?” he asks.

  “Nico, I think Davis is trying to hack into the camera system,” I say. He lets out a curse and comes back, starting to tap on the air. Just as the text he sent Davis beeps on the boy’s phone, Walter Colleck steps into the room. Davis goes still, a look of shock on his face which he covers quickly. He turns, pocketing the phone and talking to his father. “Can you get sound on this?” I ask.

  Instead of answering, Nico waves a hand and I hear Davis’s voice. “It’s taking longer than I thought it would. I thought you were the one that made that OS.”

  “I did,” Walter says. “What’s taking so long is the triple encryption process. Really, Davis, if you think you need to complain, I’d be more than happy to let you design the upgrade.”

  “I might,” Davis says. “I can start working on the machine while this is loading.”

  “Yes, I’m sure you could,” Walter says. “I understand why you’re so enthusiastic, but first… you’re going to have a chemistry class, taught by me. I admit, chemistry is sort of a passion of mine. I have several little toys that I’ve created over the years. Of course, I’m always interested in getting my hands on new toys.” He pulls out the vial of venom. “Like this little sample.”

  He stops as his phone rings, answering it briefly. While he’s distracted, Davis tries to grab the vial, only to frown as it’s held out of his reach. “Colleck speaking,” Walter says, smiling slightly at his son.

  “Shadowman has agreed to the meeting,” I hear a woman say over the phone. “Shall I tell him where you’ll meet him?”

  “Go meet him, yourself,” Walter says. “I don’t trust him with my identity. He has several decades of backstabbing underneath his belt.”

  “It will be obvious that I’m not The Professor, sir,” the woman says.

  “I know,” Walter says. “Ah, but since we want him to keep cooperating, give him the information about the girl. Tell him it’s a… gift. I’m sure he would like to know all about her.”

  “Yes, sir,” she says. Walter hangs up, pocketing his phone and looking at Davis again.

  “Now, how about we take this and that little mind-control gas that your uncle came up with and see what sort of fun we can have with scientists?” Walter asks. “Oh, forgive me, I meant ‘fun with science.’”

  Davis stares at him. “That was terrible,” he says.

  “Wasn’t it?” Walter agrees, smiling broadly. “It truly was.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  I’m still watching Davis and Colleck working with chemicals when Vinny walks in. He’s carrying two plates, one he hands to Nico, the other he pointedly holds right in front of my face. “It’s lunch time,” he says. I take the plate. He drops down next to me, looking at the screen for a moment. “We need to talk… where you aren’t going to get kidnapped.” He glances over at where Nico is calling someone. “Can you leave here?” he asks me.

  “Listen, Ms. Monk, your son needs to come back to school. His father is a dangerous man, and if you knew everything he’s done, you would want the kid away from him, just as much as we do. I know that Century signed off, but we thought you’d be sending him to college, not to play with highly toxic chemicals!”

  “And how do you know what they’re doing?” I hear a woman demand from the other side of the line. “Besides, even if he’s using dangerous chemicals, he’s perfectly safe! He’s with his father and surrounded by highly qualified scientists, which is more than I can say for your school. My son is a genius, he could very well be creating the cure for cancer, right now!”

  “Ms. Monk, you don’t seem to understand just how dangerous your kid’s father is,” Nico says, his frustration clear.

  “But I’m starting to understand how dangerous you are, Mr. Technico. I want you to stay away from my family! That means butting out of things that are no longer your business!” There’s a click, signifying that she’s hung up, and Nico lets out a curse.

  “I…” I hesitate, wanting to keep an eye on Davis, but also wanting to talk with Vinny. The last time we’d started talking, it had almost seemed like he was going to say so
mething really important.

  “We need to get the kid out, but we’re going to have to go to the courts to do it, since, apparently, the boy doesn’t want to come on his own, and ‘isn’t in danger when he’s surrounded by scientists,’” Nico says, a twitch appearing under his eye. “I’ll have to send someone to the courts, which I really don’t want to do, but maybe we can work out a way to get him back without registering him. I also need to keep an eye on Shadowman. Colleck wasn’t lying about his backstabbing experience. As soon as something happens, I’ll call you,” Nico says. I nod and stand, carrying my plate with me as Vinny and I head out. He leads me to the gym area below, looking around for a moment before pressing his hand to one of the walls. To my surprise, a section of the door slides back, revealing a room.

  “How did you know that was there?” I ask.

  “We have rooms like this one all over the campus,” he explains. “I figured that Nico would add them in here, as well. It’s a bunker for the fledglings to hide in, just in case someone manages to get past the security field. We should probably tell everyone, just not right now.” He waves his hand and the room lights up, revealing several chairs and a table. I set my plate on the table, hesitating to eat until he motions for me to go ahead. He sits across from me, almost fidgeting. It’s not something I’m used to seeing.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Go on and eat,” he says.

  “You’re fidgeting,” I point out, in case he doesn’t realize. He looks chagrined and forces himself to go still. It lasts all of five seconds as I start to eat, until he frowns and leans forward, his elbows on his knees.