Mic Drop (Cape High Series Book 16)

by R. J. Ross

  MIC DROP

  by

  R. J. Ross

  Mic Drop

  Amazon Edition

  Published by Book Candy Publishing

  Copyright © 2016 by R. J. Ross

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover design by Leslie Zielinski

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ~Other works by R.J. Ross~

  The Winstead Files Series

  Courting the Beast * Snow White, Snow White

  Seasons of the Fae Series

  Raven's Return * Death of a Dryad * Water Wielder

  Cape High Series

  Super Villain Dad * America's Grandson * Hello Kitty * Don't Know Jack * Daddy's Girl * Aces Wild * Steampunk Time * Fire Hazard * Ditto Ditto * Sunny Daze * Life Light * Guitar Hero * Super Girls * Shadow Boy * Super Villain Grandpa * Mic Drop

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER ONE

  My name is Max. No, actually that's a lie, my name isn't Max, but it's what I go by. I've gone by it so long that it might as well be my name, you know? Besides, none of that matters right now--right now I'm in a... difficult situation.

  "So," Jack says, standing on his silver surf board and smirking at me. "What do you think, Ace? Think we should gang up on him?"

  "Why not?" Ace asks. He's on one of those illusion disks that he makes all the time. We're a hundred miles off the ground--the two caught me on the way to school. "I think he deserves it, honestly. And who else could brag about taking THE Maximum out as soon as he switched sides?"

  "I haven't switched sides!" I protest.

  "The entire world is certain you're a good guy--they're trying to make me out to be one, too," Jack says. "So I figure if I throw you under the bus, it'll be the perfect way to establish myself again."

  "I'm just doing it for the fun of it, myself," Ace says. "I've always wanted to see which of us would win."

  "If you two gang up on me, you still won't know," I say, turning as they move around me. I feel a bit hunted, honestly. "It's time for class, anyway--if we miss first hour, we'll probably get detention, you know?"

  "That's why we're ganging up. We can finish this long before the bell rings, right, Ace?" Jack asks, grinning his shiny grin. Swirls of metal cover his skin and his teeth are coated entirely. I heard once that his bones are, as well. His super villain name is Cold Steel. Ace, on the other hand, looks like a pale emo dressed in black leather and netting, with black and silver eyes that swirl. He's tall and thin, and has shaggy black hair that hangs in his face. His super villain name is Dragon--Jack and I had a big hand in naming him that. In fact, these two are probably the closest I get to having best friends.

  Sad, huh?

  "Hey, what's taking so long?" I hear Rocco say over my com bracelet. "Class is about to start."

  "Rocco should be invited," Ace says.

  "No way, the more of us there are the less glory," Jack says, scowling at my bracelet.

  "What's going on up there?" Rocco asks.

  "We're going to take Max down for his first hero role fight," Ace says. "Want to join us?"

  "Right now?" Rocco asks. "I didn't even hear the helicopters."

  "There aren't any," Jack says.

  "So what's the point? You don't have an audience. Just get to class, already--we've got a new teacher for our first hour."

  "What?" we all ask, shocked. First hour is traditionally sparring time. We pair up against our biggest nemesis and practice our moves. Mostly it's just Nico overseeing us for that--he's the one that oversees our official fights, as well. "Who?" I ask.

  "Keliah's granddad, Bombastic," Rocco says. "This promises to be interesting."

  We look at each other, and I can literally hear their thoughts turn to the new teacher. Jack starts grinning again and spins his board, heading for the school. "We'll do this when we have an audience," he calls over his shoulder.

  "I told you, I'm NOT SWITCHING SIDES!" I bellow after him, irritated.

  "The entire world's been watching you save the day over and over again, Max," Ace says. "You've got to admit, it doesn't look good."

  "They've seen YOU save the day, too," I say. "We all had to help with the whole Herold thing--"

  "Yeah, but they didn't get ME on video, I made sure of it," he says. "You, on the other hand, have your face plastered everywhere." He flies away before I can come up with a reply, leaving me just floating there, alone with my frustration.

  I need to get to class. Actually, I don't. That's another thing that's been bothering me. Nico had a little talk with me the other day, asking me when I planned on graduating. I mean, technically I never had to go to high school to begin with--I had my G.E.D. I just wanted to go to Cape High. I wanted to be around my own kind. I wanted to fit in. Now he's basically telling me to get out--my own girlfriend's dad is kicking me to the curb, on TOP of all the crap about me switching sides, and the other villains moving in on me.

  If ever there was a situation that could get a guy down, it's this one. Kicked out of everything I enjoy, hunted down by guys that--okay, that's pushing it a little. I'm not surprised in the least that they're going after me. I'd do the same to them. It's still irritating.

  "Max?" Zoe says over my com bracelet. "Are you coming, or not?"

  "I'm coming," I say, letting out a silent sigh and heading for the school. I need to talk to her about the whole graduation thing, anyway.

  A few seconds later I pull to a stop in front of Death Canyon, landing inside the faded yellow police tape that surrounds it. A panel slides up out of the ground and I press my hand to it, stepping onto the lighted footprints that appear in front of me. I disappear from the outside world and enter the hidden school campus, just like I've done hundreds of times before.

  To my shock, the entire school is waiting for me at the bottom of the steps. They start cheering. "YEAH, MAX THE HERO!" Freddy shouts, letting out a loud wolf whistle. "Are you going to wear a cape? It'll be white, right? White is definitely your color!"

  Zoe steps forward, giving me a dirty look. "Why did Jack and Ace know you were going hero before I did?" she demands. "I thought you said you weren't!"

  "He's not," Nico says, stepping through the crowd, "but he might be graduating. His dad told me that it's time, and I have to agree--I also think we should have our most impressive student set the bar."

  I should be flattered--honestly, a part of me is, but still. "I'm not doing that, either," I say, walking down the steps and heading past the crowd. "We're going to be late to first hour."

  I can feel them staring at me, but I just keep heading towards the Apocalypse Field, ignoring it. I almost jump as Zoe grabs my hand. "Max?" she asks quietly.

  "I didn't ag
ree to graduate," I repeat. "It's not even graduation time yet, right? That happens in May, or something. I've got half a year left, got it?"

  "We aren't a normal school," Nico says. "You can graduate whenever you've fulfilled the requirements. You've had that done for months now."

  "What are the requirements? Nobody told me what the requirements are," I say. "How do you fulfill requirements when you don't even know what they are?"

  "A handful of shows, a road trip mission, more debuts in one year than most people do in their lives, you can't say that's not enough," Nico says, calmly. "You came to us with all the norm requirements, so you can't claim the schooling part isn't finished, too. You're ready to graduate, Max. And your dad seems to think you're just goofing off now."

  "I am NOT goofing off--some of my best fights are based on training we do during first hour!" I say, turning to face him. "I NEED this school, Nico. I need it." The entire school is looking at me with a mix of worry and sympathy. "You can't just tell me I've done all I need to and boot me out!"

  "Actually, I can," he says, "I'm the principal, it's practically the job description. If you have a problem with it, take it up with your father. He's the one that decided it was time."

  "I will," I say. "In fact, I'll go do that right now."

  "Max," he starts out, "after you graduate--"

  I ignore him and head for the exit. I need to talk to my father, AKA Central Hall Leader Mastermental. This is NOT going to happen, got it? I'm definitely not graduating! And I'm absolutely NOT going hero!

  ***

  *Central Hall*

  "You're graduating," Dad says five minutes later. I'm standing in front of his desk, trying to look as righteously indignant as possible, but he hasn't even looked up from his computer. In fact, I haven't even said anything yet--I just stormed in.

  "I don't want to graduate!" I say.

  "Max, we don't have time for you to keep playing at school like you are," Dad says. "You've gotten past the telepathic wall problem you had, you're a full-fledged, fully realized super, now. Yes, you need a bit more practice with your telepathy, but that's something that I can help you with, if you would give me about an hour. You need to be--"

  "I need to be in the school!" I burst out, knowing I'm being childish and not caring. "I need to be with my friends--with my girlfriend! I can't just--"

  "I need you to focus, Max," Dad says, his voice far too calm for my comfort. This is supposed to be an argument, right? So why does it feel so one-sided? "Once you graduate from Cape High, I will be turning over several aspects of the Hall to you. I cannot rightfully do that to a person who has so much homework to do."

  "What?"

  "I'm going to make you my second-in-command. I've been lax in finding one, but the situation with Century and Herold opened my eyes. If I die, there will be no one to step into my place."

  "That means I have to be a hero," I say. "That's ANOTHER thing I won't do! Make Ken your second-in-command!" I say, clenching my fists. "Or Liz! Or Nico! There are a dozen high-class heroes that could easily take your place--not that you're going to die. Herold isn't a problem anymore."

  "But they are not my son," he says. "I'm not asking you to switch sides--not unless I do die. You can easily run half of the Hall from the villain side. Half of the Hall IS the villain side. I'm not asking you to give up your girlfriend or your friends, either, but school takes too much of your time. That is time that could be better used running the Hall. You have no real reason for being there, anymore, Max."

  I go silent, looking away from him as several thoughts race through my mind. "I want to be there," I say finally, petulantly. I hate that I sound like that, but I can't hide things from Dad. He's a telepath--a better one than I am.

  "I would like to let you, Max, I honestly would," he says softly. "But we have three extremely dangerous villains still out there. The world is still recovering from what happened with Herold, and Nico is taking too much on himself. He works with me, when he needs to, but I believe that he would be far more willing to rely on you."

  "I can do that as his student--"

  "That's true. But as his student, he is still in charge of you. He still feels responsible for you. What I want you to be is a partner, especially when he is intent on hunting Massteria down. Max, you can't tell me you haven't been watching the Hall operations since you were twelve. You know this business inside and out. You often know things as soon as I do. You are my rightful successor, and we both realize it. Just because you're having fun pretending to be a normal teenager does not... it does not make you one, Max," he says, as gently as possible. It still stings.

  "I was eight," I mutter.

  "Even more reason," Dad says with a slight smile.

  "I... just need to think about it," I say, finally. "You're railroading me, and you know it."

  "We need to capture Massteria, and you, my son, are the perfect cape to do so, even if you are a villain. Nico is too emotionally involved in this problem."

  "And I'm not."

  "You're not," he agrees. "Once this all works out, though," he says, making me feel a hint of hope, "I will be open to discussing furthering your education."

  "College?" I repeat. "Normal college? Or are we talking Cape College?"

  "That's something we will have to discuss with Nico when the time comes. If he doesn't feel like it, you could easily get into any school you wanted. You will be able to pick your classes, and go a few times a week, if you want. But first it is vital that we wrap up the problem at hand."

  "So I graduate, capture Massteria, and go back for more advanced studies?" I say. "AND I can sleep in?"

  "'Going back' is dependent on if we can convince Nico."

  "I... then..." I say, my mind whirling with eventualities. "I guess I'm going to graduate. Can I get a new car as my graduation present? Zoe sort of stole my last one for parts," I say.

  "And who's to say she won't do the same with this one?" he asks.

  "It'll make her happy?" I offer, shrugging. "I've got to go... talk to Nico, I guess."

  "Refrain from mentioning college just yet. That will just place you as his student again. Remember, Massteria first."

  "I'll have homework when I'm in college, too, you know."

  "Yes, I know, but hopefully it won't be so much busy work."

  ***

  Yes, I know I was just bribed. I'm still not happy with the idea of not seeing everyone daily, but here's the thing--I know they're right. When I first started going to the school I was in a seriously dangerous place. I was desperate to find people like myself, desperate to have someone that understood. I'd spent most of my life alone. But when I found them, they accepted me, even knowing exactly who I was and what I could do. I'd needed that more than they will ever know.

  But... well, I don't need the classes. All of the stuff they're teaching? I know most of it (except art--I'm pretty much a lost cause there.) The stuff I don't know, well, I grasp it in the first ten minutes of class and get bored. It's gotten even worse since my telepathy started working--I can actually read the teacher's mind if I want. Tests are boring, and lectures put me to sleep. The only parts of the school I look forward to are practice hours, Nico's class, and spending time with friends. Yeah, I still can't read Nico's mind--and plus, he teaches some seriously interesting science. I've never seen so many blueprints in my life.

  If I could get... like... a handful of training books a week, the power training classes, and Nico's class, I'd be good to go. It's not like I need a big college name on my resume, I already have a job that's about to be dropped on me. Like Dad said, it's going to take up a lot of my time. Yeah, if I said all of this aloud it would sound really egotistical, wouldn't it? I've tried to keep that thought to myself, but I can't exactly hide it from Dad, I guess.

  I just... don't want to be replaced. I know what will happen when I leave. Trent will step up and start acting as leader, and I'll just be some guy that once went to the school. Some guy that's working for his dad
, just like everyone else will be someday. I mean, what if Nico doesn't agree to the college classes thing? What will I do? Go to some local college? Pretend to be a norm?

  That... actually sounds sort of interesting. I mean one or two classes in the real world wouldn't kill me, right? I could see how the other half live, establish a real secret identity, play by the rules--

  "Max!" The voice from my com-bracelet finally sinks in. "Max, are you there?"

  "Yeah, sorry, I was sort of thinking," I say. "What's up, Zoe?"

  "What did your dad say?" she asks.

  "It... well, it looks like I'll be graduating," I say. "I didn't want to, but--" I hesitate, knowing she'll be pissed if I keep things from her, but if I tell her over this, her dad will definitely know what's going on. "I mean, I've already got my G.E.D. and like your dad said, I've done enough to fulfill the unknown requirements--you really should make a list of requirements, you know? So people can keep track of them," I tell her.

  "So... are you going to go to college?" she asks. "Or are you going to go full time villain?"

  "Yeah, that came up when I talked to Dad... Think we could talk somewhere we won't be spied on?"

  "Um, I guess I can sneak out, first hour isn't over yet," she says. "Dad, I'm going to go talk to Max," I hear her say.

  "That's not exactly sneaking out," I have to point out, a bit dryly.

  "Tell him he needs to get back here soon. I've decided that he can't graduate without a graduation gig," I hear Nico say.

  "Graduation gig?" I repeat.

  "Caps and gowns are boring," Nico says. "If you want to graduate, you need to do something big enough to be seen worldwide, without anyone's help. I'm sure you can pull it off--if not, well, you'll be stuck in remedial classes for a few months before you can try again."