Super Girls (Cape High Book 13) (17 page)

"Nope," Ace says. "Didn't hear a thing."

"We were laughing at the time--I'm sort of shocked that Jen heard it," Freddy admits.

"Well get back here and don't get seen," Nico says.

"We're on our way," Ace agrees, speeding up. I grab onto his coat, holding on tightly as we race through the sky. It's unsettling, not seeing myself or the board when I look down. We're invisible again. It's sort of like the flying dream everyone supposedly has, but creepier. Maybe it would be like the out-of-body dream. I've never had it before.

"They're coming," Freddy says abruptly. I turn, looking behind us. Just as he'd said, I see a car heading down the street behind us. I can only just see Hard Knocks in the driver's seat. One of the boys is sitting in the passenger seat. It looks like a casual trip--he's even doing the speed limit, I think with wonder.

"What are they going to do?" I ask. "You know, are they just going to waltz in with the kids?"

"I don't think Mother's with him," Freddy says. "Do you think we could talk him out of it? He's not a villain, right?"

"He's Isotonic's right hand man," I say. "We met them when we were being brought into the school. They were touring, you know, since Olivia is Isotonic's daughter. I think they plan on coming when they start coming into their powers."

"Hard Knocks--does anyone know how he fights?" Ace asks.

"Not a clue," Freddy admits.

"Nico asked him about some sort of... animation ability?" I offer.

"Animation... like he brings objects to life?"

"I guess?"

"That could be a pain," Ace says. "But if we keep him from entering and he attacks the school, the capes will think he's gone rogue--if the right hand of a Hall Leader goes rogue, do you know what that'll look like?" he asks, swerving slightly. "We have to stop them before he gets to Cape High." He reaches up and taps his earbud. "Nico, this is Ace," he says.

"What's the problem?"

"We can't let them get to the school. If he attacks the school, the entire super world will know before bedtime. I'm working in Isotonic's territory right now, officially--that means we owe him, right?"

"Do you think you can take Hard Knocks down as a villain?" Nico asks.

"I don't know," Ace says. "It's possible--but I don't want to hurt him. What we really need is for someone to see if Mother's brainwashed him and get him back to normal."

"Superior can do that."

"But we can't let him get close to the school," I say. "We have to make it look like Hard Knocks is the hero, fighting the villain Dragon, right?"

"Not just Dragon," Nico says. "Dragon and a few of his new lackies. Ace, dress them up in your colors. Jen, Freddy, you're going to help him in any way that you can, understand? If you can knock Hard Knocks out for a little while, we might be able to fix him without the world finding out. Where are you aiming to catch him?"

"One of the empty buildings a few miles from school," Ace says. "They're Hall property, right?"

"Yeah. Okay, I'll get Dad moving out, you distract Hard Knocks. Whatever you do, don't make it look like you suspect Mother's behind it--and if she's with them, do NOT confront her until Dad gets there."

"We don't think she is. What are you going to do?" Ace asks him.

"I'm going to get the press," Nico says. "Andre is Jen's sponsor, it's only right that he gets first crack at a showing like this promises to be."

He hangs up, leaving us silent for a moment, before Freddy says, "Andre Harrison is your sponsor?"

"Um, yeah, is that a problem?" I ask, feeling oddly defensive.

"I didn't even realize we HAD sponsors," Ace says. "Now get ready, guys, I'm going to drop you off before I make my entrance."

That's all the warning I get before my outfit changes and I'm tossed off the board--several miles above the ground. "Oh, and spread your arms!" he yells after me.

I'm grateful I have such good hearing--otherwise I would have never heard him over my screaming like a little girl.

***

"Dude, that was cruel!" Freddy says to Ace. "She could die!"

"Not if my theory is right," Ace says. He looks down, watching as Jen spreads her arms, catching the wind. She seems a bit unsteady at first, but soon it looks like she was born to fly. "Yeah, I'm actually jealous--she caught onto it a lot faster than I did. Oh well, your turn!" he says, shoving Freddy off the board.

"WHERE ARE MY WINGS?" Freddy screams as he falls.

"Whoops--I almost forgot," Ace says, snapping his fingers.

***

"Did you hear that?" Mitchell asked from the back seat. "Someone screamed."

"Well we are getting close to Cape High," Hard Knocks says. "I'm sure they're doing some serious training." His voice is monotone, like he seriously doesn't care that a girl was screaming in terror just now. Jules looks back at his brother, the same worried expression mirrored on their faces. They're so busy looking at each other that they yelp when the car pulls to an abrupt stop.

Jules turns quickly, staring in shock at the black clad teenager on a surfboard right in front of their car. The surfboard shifts to a small disk in front of his eyes. "I know you," Dragon says, looking down at them with a maniacal grin.

"Dragon," Hard Knocks says, his expression changing slightly. There's a hint of confusion in his eyes, the first emotion that's shown ever since they got in the car. "Weren't you--"

"FACE ME!" Dragon bellows. The car twists and splits, leaving them exposed. Jules struggles with his seatbelt, barely getting it undone before jumping over the back seat to save his brother. They manage to get free and make a run for it.

"How did he know?" Mitchell asks as they race for the nearest building. "We didn't even get close enough to be heard!"

"I don't know, but he did!" Jules says excitedly.

"Jules, Mitchell," they hear someone say, "get to the school campus."

They look around, seeing no one. "Who--" Jules starts out.

"Are you brainwashed by Mother?"

"No! She's got our dad, though."

"Then go to the school. Tell them you're willing to take the test to prove it," she says.

"Yeah, okay," Mitchell says, grabbing his brother's arm and dragging him along. Jules looks like he wants to ask more questions. They don't have time for that.

***

This is AMAZING. I never even imagined being able to fly this easily! As soon as I send the boys off to the campus I jump off the roof, spreading my arms and legs and calling up the wind. I twist, daring a flip before catching the wind again. "If you're done playing, Jen, you can get down here and help me out," I hear Ace say over the earbud that I don't remember putting in.

"Oh, right, sorry," I say, twisting and heading down by bringing my arms in. This is a wing suit, right? It's a bit different, because the flaps automatically withdrew when I landed on the roof--but it's an illusion, so I guess convenience is built in, right? I wonder if Nico can make one that does the same thing!

I land several feet from the fight, watching in shock as the car that Ace had split starts shifting, turning into a massive robot. Hard Knocks is standing in full uniform on its shoulder, his eyes glowing brightly as a massive fist slams down on Ace's head.

"A--DRAGON!" I shout, racing forward. I see the fist being shoved up, and realize he managed to catch it. It's still heavy, though, and I can see him strain to lift it for a moment before he sends it flying. Hard Knocks jumps off of the machine, racing forward to slam a massive fist into Ace's face. Ace goes flying back.

"Arrows on your back, bow at your waist, just click the button on the staff," Ace says over the earbud. I grab a tiny staff from my belt, fumbling for the button. It clicks and I have a bow in my hand. I reach over my back, grabbing one of the arrows, only to stare at the bundle where the arrowhead should be.

"You're as bad as Nico," I complain as I line up my shot. "Freddy, where are you?" I ask as I let the arrow fly.

"Making sure the kids get to school," Freddy says. "The taller one keeps trying to look over his shoulder."

The arrow bursts as it hits Hard Knock's chest and fine powder clouds over him. "Now, snap your fingers," Ace says. "When you're doing it on your own, you'll have to change the amount of oxygen in the air, got it?"

"Yeah, I think so." I snap my fingers, wondering how he managed this--and why he isn't doing it, himself. The cloud catches on fire, covering Hard Knocks for a second before dying. The robot he'd created turns on him, slamming into him from behind. Hard Knocks is the one that goes flying this time, falling to the ground several feet away and rolling to his feet in a practiced move. One of the dying trees that scatter the sidewalk starts creaking, twisting out of the ground. The trunk splits down the middle, forming legs.

"I see," someone says. I jerk, looking to my right, where Superior is standing like he's been there for the past twenty minutes. When did he get here? He drops a hand on my shoulder when he sees me looking at him. "Can you cut off his oxygen from here?" he asks me.

"Are you being recorded?" I ask, glancing up and searching for the camera drones that should be showing up soon. "Nico said he was going to call Mr. Harrison--"

"Keep your eyes on Hard Knocks. I can manipulate cameras so they won't see me," he says, "don't worry about that. Can you render him unconscious?"

"It depends, I've heard some of the higher class capes don't need air--at least not for a while," I say, hesitantly. "But you could do it--"

"We don't want them to realize I'm interfering, remember?" he says. "We need an obvious explanation--which is why you're going to show off your own special talents. You've done well so far, I'd say."

"I'm not wearing the power boosting suit," I say. "But I've got the wind suit--"

"We'll put the two together," Nico says over my earbud. "Take him down, Jen, and we'll let you call yourself Phoenix, if you want."

"I'm NOT going to call myself Phoenix," I say, bringing up both arms and focusing on the wind. I can almost see it moving around Hard Knocks, I realize.

"Blackbird?" he offers.

"I'll consider that one," I agree, pulling the air away from Hard Knocks and to me. He starts clawing at his throat as he falls to his knees.

"Good," Superior says, holding out his hand. I have no idea what he's doing, but he lowers his hand a second later, looking satisfied. "Fixed. Dragon, time to throw the fight--that is how you do it, right?"

"That's how we do it," I hear Ace say over the earbud. "But Jen's going to have to take the fall, too. Hard Knocks, can you hear me?" he asks.

I look over at Hard Knocks, who's sucking in air now that I've stopped pulling it away. He coughs, but he recovers quickly. "What just happened?" he asks quietly. "Why can I suddenly hear you?"

"Illusion of an earbud," Ace says. "You were under Mother's control, so we had to attack you--but now you're back to normal. You need to save the day now, like a proper hero."

"Where are my sons?" Hard Knocks demands.

"We sent them to Cape High," Freddy says. "They're safely inside the dome."

"You saved me, I can't--"

"Play it up for the camera, Hard Knocks, or this was a waste of an intervention," Nico says sharply. "This is what I train my villains for--are you going to let it go to waste?"

"No, I get it," Hard Knocks says. "When did I put my uniform on? Never mind, I'll ask that later," he says, holding out his hand to the fallen robot made of his rental car.

"Once he takes me out, you're welcome to run in fear, Jen," Ace says, going up higher in the air. The sky starts to grow dark, heavy clouds appearing out of nowhere and spreading. A shock of lightning shoots down, dramatically almost hitting the North Hall hero. "You think you can just come into MY territory and not expect me to get offended?" Ace demands loudly.

The wooden puppet tree, which had been just sitting there, forgotten about, jerks back into motion. I glance over in shock as the rest of the trees in the area start copying its form, large branches becoming arms, trunks splitting into legs. Before I can even yelp, one of them grabs me, hauling me tightly into the branches as a prisoner.

The rest jump along with the robot, reaching for Ace in the air. I can barely see them through the thick branch prison. I jerk, trying to get free. This isn't enough to take out Dragon, though, and I think Hard Knocks realizes it.

I hear a heavy groaning noise from the building behind me. I twist as much as I can to see what's going on. The entire abandoned building is starting to move, I realize in shock. A large slab of concrete goes flying, slamming into Ace as he's trying to dodge the trees. I watch in shock as it hits him straight on and he starts to fall.

"DRAGON!" I bellow.

The tree limbs move and a hand grabs me, pulling me free. "Dragon, he's--" I start out, barely looking at Freddy.

"Eh, he's fine," he says. "He saw that coming from a mile away."