Guitar Hero (Cape High Series Book 12) (18 page)

I run, certain I’m about to die, only to feel relief slam through me at full power when I catch sight of Nico, Mastermental, and Superior. I head for Nico, Kirsten slung over my shoulder, and grab on as he holds out a hand. "We've got to get out of here."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Technico," Herold says from behind me.

"I'm afraid I can't return the sentiments," Nico says, pushing me behind him.

"And you are?" Herold asks Superior. He completely ignores Mastermental.

“I’ll just be leaving, then. Well done, Justin,” Mastermental says silently, nodding to us before flying away.

Superior nods his head, not answering as Nico taps on his watch. I grab on just before we teleport away. The cold is almost refreshing when we get to where we're going. I take in a deep breath and look around, not surprised to see Aubrey and her other healers staring at us a bit blankly.

"We've brought you a new healer," Nico says, pulling Kirsten off of my shoulder. She's still unconscious. "She's had her powers taken, I'd say."

"Herold shot her with this little metal gun," I say. "And then Mother told her to forget everything that happened, and maybe something else. I couldn’t hear it."

"I see," Superior says, his eyes lighting up slightly. "That's a good way to deal with a mental type."

"So what happens to me?" I ask as the healers descend upon Kirsten to get her back on her feet. "Do I just go back to touring? There's a chance they'll come after me again—I know what's going on."

"You have a point," Nico agrees. "We'll cancel the tour—and bring your group back into the school. You've accomplished your main goal already," he adds, nodding to where Kirsten is waking up slowly.

"Where am I?" she demands as she looks around. "It's FREEZING!"

"Alyssa, can you spare your second snow suit?" Aubrey asks, taking over. I expected that.

"Now, since it’s as good a time as any, let’s wrap this up. Justin Gregory, you are officially released from super duty," Nico says in a formal tone. "Once this is over and we've dealt with Mother, I'll make you a power stopping bracelet. You can return to the life you've wanted. Your name will be taken off the list of future and active heroes for the rest of your life."

"Wait… so you'll just kick me out of the school?" I ask. “Out of the Hall?”

"That's what you've wanted, right? If we stop your chances of losing control completely, there's no reason to keep you in the game. We just need to inform your mother."

"Mother?" I repeat.

"Your real mother," he says, heading for one of the screens on the wall. Negatia appears on the screen, her expression pale, her hands shaking slightly. I've never seen so many emotions on her face before—especially when the look turns to relief. "Are you okay, Justin? They didn't do anything to you, did they?"

"I'm fine, Mom," I say, letting out a slow breath. It's good to see her face.

"We're calling to tell you what your kid's decided for his life," Nico says, going straight for the heart of the matter. "Right now he's in a dangerous position—we'll keep him protected at the school until it's taken care of, but as far as I'm concerned, he's done his duty as a super."

"I don't see how that's your decision to make," she says, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"It's my job as a principal to declare whether a student is capable of going into the field or not," he says. "It's in the contract you signed, if you want to look for yourself. In order to recompense you for a lost super, I'll see that you get first pick on any one student you decide on, outside of those already determined. If they go along with it, the debt will be paid, if not, well, you can pick another one."

"But—"

I find myself saying the exact same thing. My hand goes out, trying to stop him before I realize it. This is everything I've ever wanted—freedom from the shadow my father left behind, freedom from the risks, freedom from wearing tights for the rest of my life. So why am I hesitating? Nico looks at me, not saying a word.

"I don't want to leave them," I say quietly. "At least let me graduate before tossing me out on my butt," I tell Nico. "I've got another year, right?"

"Are you sure?" he asks me.

"Yeah. Once that year is over, I'll go back to being a singer. I might fail—especially since this tour is getting canceled so early, but I'll try."

"And what happens if you fail—do you just give in and become the next Sonic Scream?" Nico asks.

"I don't know," I say, "but it's worth the risk."

He stares at me for a moment, a little smile pulling at his lips. "That's what he's decided," he says, turning to Negatia. "Your son is going to stay for another year. If at that time he decides he never wants to be in the photo op game, I'll make it so he never will be."

"Why do you think I'll accept this?" she asks.

"Because he just willingly walked into a very dangerous situation, and came out all on his own—WITH his rescue target," Nico says. "He did it because MY family asked him to. He didn't even hesitate. Because he put that much effort in, I'll put just as much effort into doing what I can for him."

"We both will," Superior says, stepping next to Nico. "Hello, Negatia. I don't believe we've met properly."

"Superior," she says, but her eyes go to me. "Are you sure about this, Justin?" she asks quietly.

"It's…" I take a deep breath, trying to put my thoughts into words. "I WANT to be a family with you, Mom," I say, a bit startled when I realize how true it is. "I don't want to lose you, or anyone in Cape High, either, but I need to make my own choices. I don't resent Dad—I still… I really miss him, and I wish he hadn't died, but he did the right thing.” As much as I hate to admit it—he did the only thing he COULD do. Only now I actually understand that fact. “Like Firefly said, because of him, thousands of people haven't been killed. I respect that." It feels like a weight is being lifted off of me as I go on, "I just—if I have to be declared useless as a hero to keep from being forced down a road I don't want to take… well, I will be."

"I see," she says.

"But," I say, "it felt good helping people. Maybe I—maybe WE can figure out a way I can do both," I say, looking at Nico. "Like being a singing hero. I can do what I did this time—but better, maybe. I guess I'll work out all the details during the year I've got left." Because that feels right. It feels right to help people, if I can do it in a way that lets me be me, not a replica of my dad.

I love my dad—even if he's not here, I still love him. What he did was amazing, and now that I don't feel so pressured to BE him, I'm—I think I’m actually proud of him. Maybe… maybe I can do something with my life that would have made him proud of me.

Wait. Something really important is being forgotten here.

"How can I take Malina on a date if I'm stuck on campus twenty-four seven?" I ask Nico irritably. "I had to risk my LIFE just to get this date, I'm not going to blow a once in a lifetime thing! She's not the type to agree to a second one!"

He lets out a laugh, clearly not taking this as seriously as he should.

"Malina? Is that the little water girl?" Mom asks. "Isn't she too young for you?"

"She's only a year younger!" I protest. "Besides, she's not taking it seriously, anyway, so why not?" I can't help the grin on my face. "Maybe I can talk Ace into going with us and have him make me look like someone else!"

Nico stops laughing, and a thoughtful expression crosses his face. "I'm going to need the box of watch parts," he says, heading off. "Justin, are you coming?" he calls over my shoulder.

For what? Rather than ask that, I chase after him, heading down icy hallways and into a massive room full of tons of… well… trash. It looks like someone hauled a junkyard up here. Nico is already at a large cardboard box, digging through what look like watch straps.

"This one will work," he decides as he pulls out a black watch strap. A handful of tiny watch parts float over his head, arranging themselves into patterns. "White? Black? Asian?" he asks over his shoulder. "Have any preferences?"

"For what?"

"For your illusion," he says. "If I can replicate Emily's teleporting, why can't I replicate Ace's illusions? Sure, this won't give you even a drop of what he can do, but all you need is to look like someone else—in a way that another technopath can't see through." There's a hint of something in his voice that says it's more about the challenge than it is about me. Then he stops, the watch strap falling from his hand before he races for the door.

"Nico?" I ask.

He's gone without replying.

***

"This cannot go on, Mother," Herold says. "I am TRYING to win a presidential race—my even being here is a risk to my standing! I can't be cleaning up your little messes every time I turn—" he stops, his eyes catching on Skystep. She's floating upside down near the ceiling, giggling once in a while at something he has no clue about. For a moment he just stares at her, until she catches his eye, tilts her head, and crosses her eyes at him while sticking out her tongue. He ignores that, his eyes going to a tiny little hairpiece stuck in her messy dark brown hair.

"Take a picture, it lasts longer," Skye says, stretching her legs out and standing on the ceiling. "Mommy, I'm still hungry! Can I go get something to eat?" she asks, walking away from him.

"Stop her," he says quietly.

"Oh, she's not that bad, sweetie! She's actually quite adorable," Mother says as the girl walks to her. Mother reaches up, cupping her cheek. "If you promise not to rob the poor fast food workers, I'll let you go."

"Okay!" Skye says, starting to sink up through the roof.

"STOP HER!" Herold roars, racing forward. He jumps, his fingers sliding through her hair and snagging on the hairpiece as she slides through the roof.

"Really, Herold, she's just going out for food," Mother says, looking irritated.

"I know you're watching this," Herold says, looking at the hairpiece with a scowl. "If you think that gives you the upper hand, I suggest you think again." His fingers smash the tiny piece of metal, and he turns to Mother with a scowl. "She's a spy."

"She is not!"

"Check her the next time she comes—if she comes. You are playing far too fast and loose with this, Mother! Technico and Mastermental are watching me--they were just here along with another super--one I’ve not seen before.”

"Another super?" Mother repeats, her expression turning serious. "What, might I ask, did this stranger look like?"

"Like Technico, but in white," Herold says. "If I didn't have proof that Superior is dead, I would have almost sworn—"

"I see," Mother says, stretching out like a cat, her arms going over her head. A pleased smile pulls at her lips. "This just got so, so, SO much better," she adds, almost to herself.

Herold scowls, a headache threatening. "When she comes back—wipe her mind," he says instead, heading out the door. He needs to get an idea of where the signal came from, he thinks. If he's right, and it was technopath made, he might have a bit of trouble with that.

If only Technico had stayed in the Cape Cells like a good little boy, none of this would be happening now.

***

*Kansas City - two blocks away*

"I'll just take care of this right now," Century says, stepping away from the monitor and taking to the air. The girl that had been sitting next to him shifts, taking to the air with a massive flap of her wings. She didn't even question, he think as they start forward.

They head for the old building, hiding in the clouds until they get close enough. "Do you see her—" Doris starts out, only to yelp as Skye appears in front of them.

"See who?" she asks cheerfully. "Doris!" she says only a second later, throwing herself at the other female. "I'm infiltrating," she whispers dramatically.

"Your cover is blown," Century says, his eyes on the man in front of the building. "You can't go back. But that doesn't matter, because I'm going to kill him," he adds far too casually.

"Oh no you don't!" Skye says, moving in front of him. The man on the ground is looking up at the sky—right in their direction. "If you kill someone then you'll be stuck in the Cape Cells and someone will take your job, and then I'll be stuck under someone else and they might put ME in the Cape Cells and I'll be stuck with you for ETERNITY and that's way too long for me—"

"Volt will take my place," Century says, starting for the man.

"Oh! In that case, okay!" Skye says.

"Really," Doris drawls as she looks at Skye.

Skye shrugs. "He stole my pretty hair piece from my REAL brother," she says with a shrug. "He totally deserves to die!"

"Is that all he did to you?" Nico asks from behind them.

"NICO!" Skye yells, making Century stop and Herold look up, straight at them. She throws herself at Nico, just like she had Doris. "Can you make me a new one?" she asks.

"Yeah, I'll make you a whole batch of them," he says, one arm wrapping around her waist instinctively. "Time to go."

"What? Why?"