Post by The Wonderful Wachter on Jan 13, 2012 10:36:30 GMT -5
Ultimate Spoilers #5
Under the Purple Hood Pt 5
The Apple Falls
The Cain household was as much a military base as it was an elaborate mansion. With training facilities and armories located underground and guardhouses located at equitable distances around its perimeter, it was likely the most secure place in all of Blüdhaven. Possibly even more secure than the Whitehouse and Buckingham Palace combined yet routinely, Cassandra escaped from here. And routinely, the only punishment waiting for her was if she had been caught in the act.
David Cain sat waiting on his daughter’s bed, hands gripping the one piece of adornment that provided proof that he hadn’t raised a son. It was a stuffed, fluffy little bat. One… One he had allowed her to keep as it was the only gift her mother had ever sent to their abandoned child. The room was otherwise bland. No posters like most teen girls. A computer desk with a laptop yet no television. A bookshelf that held mostly priceless collections of tomes depicting the evolution of war and martial arts across the ages but which he knew also hid her various pieces of art.
Such a good daughter. So well behaved. Never spoke back. He squeezed the stuffed toy.
Puckett escorted his daughter into the barebone room, to her waiting room. David Cain, a large man, an ace of assassins on two different continents, legitimate CEO, president, and whatever else have you for the Mark of Cain Securities had the eyes of a killer. Eyes Puckett avoided yet his daughter met unflinchingly.
“Did the studying help?”
A nod. A lie. No turning of the gaze. Good.
“The Kanes angry about the temporary loss of their reality show?”
Another nod. Good. He needed the cameras gone for a few weeks.
“Did you pass your tests?”
Hesitation before her third nod, cold eyes finally avoiding his.
“You had better.” He clenched the stuff toy so tight it looked as if the head was going to pop off. “Get some rest. If you’re late again, let’s just say,” he glared at Puckett who visibly whitened beneath the glare, “there will be dire consequences.”
Cain tossed the toy on the floor, purposely stepping on it. His daughter, despite his act, was his most cherished possession. His crowning glory. He could not afford her to fail. Just as he could he not afford her to not be ready when the time came. Else? Why would he have gone through all the trouble of getting her, raising her as a single father, paying the Ace’s Straight Flush to train her if she couldn’t be there in the end?
Cassandra stayed unmoving until her father left the room, followed by her nanny-guard. Then quickly she picked up the toy, cuddling it close to her breast, and curled up on the edge of her bed. Her pulse rate failed to slow down for a long time afterwards, the toy getting squeezed ever tighter, somehow never quite finding the sleep needed for the next three hours.
~~~
Ever make a decision that you’ve questioned for your entire life? One that seemed right at the beginning, but quickly became evident as worst thing you’ve ever done? That’s happened to me before. Numerous times in fact. And don’t you dare blame the hair color. I’ve heard it all.
“Hey Steph!” An eye-hurting and headsplitting form called out to her as she arrived, on time, for class. “Heard you spent yesterday with Kane.” The Form waved its arm to and fro in hello.
Stephanie glared.
“Oh…One of those days?” Beneath the blaring light of the sun, Stephanie could make out the M on the turtleneck sweater. If she focused enough, the puppy dog eyes and grin became apparent beneath an out of style fedora. She couldn’t fault him for the hat since she was regretting the decision to not wear sunglasses but she could for the idiotic sweater, even if it was cold.
Hipster my ass… What? You thought I was thinking about taking the Hourman pills or our decision to go behind the backs of Gordon and KF to stop my father? Hell no. Right now I’m regretting my friendship to Marvin. Nothing to regret about that other stuff… Well there is the fact my body is still slightly out of whack but that’s just a PSA.
Remember kids, don’t take drugs. Not even the superpowered ones.
Marvin, genius and not the self-declared kind, was the only other person prior to yesterday to have known about Stephanie’s disability. One of, if not her oldest, friends, she was ninety-nine percent confident he purposely held himself back… or worse… did something stupid like get into the Hipster fad because of her. Idiotic style aside, he should have graduated from MIT or something like his sister by now. But he remained, usually lazing about. Usually not paying attention in any of his classes, never handing in homework but always acing the tests.
There was also ninety-nine percent confidence in Steph believing he wanted to sleep with her and had ever since the seventh grade. Unfortunately for him, he had all of a one percent chance of ever accomplishing that task. Marvin had regulated himself to the friendzone and that’s where he would stay providing there was not a gross mismanagement of judgment on her part. Not that he’d ever have the balls to take advantage of sweet little Stephanie.
After some time, Stephanie decided to wave back and did her best to hide her grimace of agony. From the look on Marvin’s face, she failed miserably, but he let it go. He knew when best not pry. Instead, he held up his phone, silly dog grin still there. “Want to see what happened this morning?”
“It is morning,” she grunted, shouldering her bag and moving past him into the school.
“I mean earlier this morning. Two hours ago. In Opal City,” the last three words had Stephanie stumble to a halt.
Charlie said Gordon sent KF after Cluemaster and the proto-gravity rod. Teach may not like her but… she is the Flash and Starman was supposed to help her. Dad!
“Show me!” Stephanie demanded, snatching the phone out of his hand and nearly dropping it in the same second.
The headline read:
The Flash should have stayed in the Twin Cities, where’s Starman when you need him?
Hey eyes zoomed across the article about the middle of the night break in at one of the major KnightCorp facilities. It spoke of David Knight refusing to comment on what Cluemaster had taken or why the Flash was even there. There was no mention of a “clue” until the end when it talked about how the Carmen Sandiego wannabe had humiliated… that can’t be right... the Flash.
Then there was a video, apparently taken by one of the henchmen and virally released, of just how bad KF had been defeated. It was bad. Even Stephanie could tell that despite barely being able to make out KF at times. Subsonics, glue, ice, all sorts of gear that amazed Stephanie that her father had, were used to hold the Scarlet Speedster. Her father had soloed Jess. The Flash. It. Just didn’t compute. At least it didn’t for most minds, including the article’s writer, but Stephanie had met KF. Saw what she could do, how she acted, and just how much being what she was ate at her.
It ended with Flash frozen briefly in a block of ice that would have made Captain Cold jealous. Just how her father had all that technology, Stephanie didn’t know, but at the moment, she questioned the tumult of emotions rushing through her body. Was it pride she felt towards her father? Like it or not, he was a normal human, and he managed to hold the Flash off long enough for him and his crew to flee the scene.
“What do you think the golden shield means?” Marvin interrupted her thoughts before she could explore the other emotions.
“He’s going after the Guardian next,” Stephanie tossed him the phone back nonchalantly. “See you later, Marv.”
The wannabe hipster was too slow to stop her as she brushed by him, heading up into the building and weeding her way through the crowds. His worried eyes followed her closely, never questioning how she knew… Only wondering how the Cluemaster could steal from a man who had vanished decades ago.
~~~
Gordon has the coolest things. Like cool to the hundredth power. Cass and I are sitting at lunch, a table by ourselves simply out of the virtue of being awkward around others. Nobody questioned when we were awkward together. Charlie is off at a table outside the cafeteria with a bunch of chatty freshmen, a misfit among them, while Beth is in some AP class not paying attention to the lecture.
Four of us.
Three different tables
And we’re all holding a conversation together.
The vibrant calligraphy appeared in a glowing crimson on the paper between Cassandra and Stephanie. An instant later, the words vanished before their very eyes. They were Beth’s, written from the sheet’s sister in another room. Charlie called it flimsi-text AKA digital paper. A fantastic way to communicate without leaving a paper trail – okay, bad joke. They could scribble notes and messages to each other and nobody would be any wiser to their antics.
Awesome.
Not that the sophomores were writing in return. Beth and Charlie both had earpieces in the form of an ear-stud. They could hear Cass and Steph’s every word. Thank god for Charlie’s kleptomania.
My money is on someone loaded and connected to the black market with having the shield.
“Fool’s bet.” Stephanie popped a fry in her mouth and chewed it over. “Question is who and where?”
The other three girls didn’t have an answer. Not that Cass talked or Charlie could. The latter was already bending the rules more than enough. Actively taking part in the discussion seemed to be one line she wouldn’t cross. Something about Gordon forbidding it. Seems like it would have been smarter to forbid stealing advance technology to enable three girls with a death wish.
“Fine. No answer. We also have to worry about when. CM seems to be picking up the pace. There was almost a month between the first sleepover and the second. Then a week and half between the second and third. And this morning’s was only a day after the last. Plus, that pillow fight… I think things are becoming desperate.”
Maybe CM is getting confident, not desperate?
Most people would assume that. Most detectives probably would as well. Criminals become bolder with every successful crime; true about everyone from a simple pickpocket to a serial-killer. Beating someone like the Flash should be enough to make a normal man believe he’s invincible. And yet, Stephanie could see the fault in that thinking. She didn’t know how but she could.
~~~
Charlie had already teleported home by the time the other three girls walked to Beth’s car. So long as they kept the ruse about the research paper then they had limited time with which to socialize without drawing any questions. Steph gave it a week. Two if they actually did the research paper. In hindsight, they probably should. Neither Cass nor Steph could afford to work two weeks on a paper and not show any progress on it.
Beth was chatting nonsensical without stopping to think about what she said; every bit the image Steph once thought she had. Blond, bubbly, and president of her class. Now Steph had to add Oscar worthy actress to the list. Cass walked with her hands in her hoodie, eyes on the ground. Steph bridged the gap between them and had to try to play off Beth’s act. Too much paranoia in Steph’s mind but… She understood it. Cass was already a masked crusader and Beth wanted to be one too.
The other girl thought of this as the first mystery in the face of many, not the first and last like Steph.
Her phone rang, saving her from continuing the conversation with Beth and sending the other blond into a texting craze in retaliation. “Hello?”
“Steph? It’s Jason.”
“Jason?” That stopped her cold in her tracks. “Hiiii.” She drew that out too much, her voice high pitched.
“Surpised? I did say I’d call you.”
“Yes… Yes you did.” Beth was giving her a strange look in the distance. Cass tilted her head, perplexed. “What do you want?” Inwardly, she cringed at her tone.
“No chit chat? I like,” His chuckle made her stomach flip. “How would you like to go out to dinner with me tomorrow? Maybe a movie afterwards.”
Stephanie thought back to her mother’s reaction last night and she was surprised to realize that wasn’t the source of her misgivings. It was from earlier. A face with a goatee and smoldering eyes flashed through her mind. This was too much. Too soon. Too many people knowing things they shouldn’t.
“Sorry. I’m trying to get a head start on a paper. My weekend’s full.”
“You sure? Maybe I can pick you up after school and take you to the library then?”
“Hey, my friends are waiting; I’ll have to call you back later. Ciao.”
“Wait, Ste—“
She pressed end, glancing at her expecting new friends. “Next sleepover is tomorrow. We gotta hurry.”
~~~
Don’t puke. Don’t puke. Please don’t puke.
The pink smoke faded, leaving Stephanie and company in near darkness. They had met up with Charlie a few blocks away after she said she had taken care of Watchtower’s security. Then promptly, she began teleporting the girls into Watchtower. One at a time to avoid splinching she said. Not quite the confidence building statement Stephanie had hoped for. Especially after the queasy looks on Beth and Cass’s face. The latter’s reaction filling Steph in something akin to dread. If Cass didn’t want to do it then what hope did the blond have of surviving?
It was an empty room in Watchtower. No lights. And they had to leave their phones in Beth’s car because Gordon could pick up the signal. Pitch black. Three of the girls stayed unmoving while Charlie returned with an old fashioned lantern.
Stephanie stifled a scream of surprise when the shadows parted to reveal figures towering over the girls in the shadows. Neither Cassandra nor Charlie seemed to be worried but Beth was every bit as frightened as her judging by the bit lip.
“Warning would have been nice,” muttered the older blond, “they’re just dummies. Mannequins.”
“Sorry. Didn’t think,” Charlie vanished again, reappearing an instant later with four raincoats in her arms. “Start taking off their bodysuits if you are really series about stopping Stephanie’s dad.”
Stephanie approached the mannequins cautiously. Now that her eyes had adjusted, she could see that there were seven of them, each in a little cubby hole or locker of their own with belts and gadgets spread out about their feet. She looked up at the mannequin’s head then down at her own feet. “Uh… Problem. These things fit men taller than six feet… We’re barely pushing Five and a half.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed that heroes tend to be tall. Bit annoying. Especially when they pick you up and treat you like a little kid,” Charlie started on her own suit, able to see the bindings and zippers despite the poor light. “But that doesn’t matter. These were designed by the Director of Applied Sciences at KnightCorp. Has a knack for things that changes shape and sizes. They’ll fit.”
“Gordon didn’t ban you from investigating either?” muttered Beth, already in the process of zipping up her suit… A suit that shifted to a second skin across her body.
“I’m sure she assumed it was under the spirit of ‘Don’t talk about it’ but seeing how… Cass? What are you doing? You know you can’t go Blackbat. She’ll know it’s us if you do.”
Following Charlie’s gaze, Stephanie saw her friend near the sliding door that probably led to the main chamber of the bunker. Cassie had her fingers pressed gently across its surface as if she could feel something on the other side. “Are you able to access the cameras without alerting Barbara to our presence?”
The other three looked at each other confused before Charlie replied. “Uh… Sure. I should be able to but our chances of getting caught increase the longer we’re here. Why.”
“Just do it.”
Charlie shrugged and Steph was left with wondering if she should check it out as well or finish getting dressed. Well… she could always listen and dress at the same time. It’d work for the best that way. The cursing behind her put an end to any such thought. She zipped up the bodysuit and felt it press tightly against her skin.
The other three were gathered about a wall panel next to the door when she was done. Beth hissed something about lowering the sound to which Beth replied it was as low as it could go without leaving them unable to hear. “Besides, there’s like three feet of steel and concrete for the noise to get through.”
Sidling up next to them, Stephanie thought at first there was something wrong with the security cam. It had a glowing green tint to it. Enough so that it felt like a trick of the eyes when she saw a young woman with green skin standing next to Gordon. Erupting from her hand was a green band of energy. It spread out, encompassing a figure in a dome-shaped cage.
It took Stephanie a minute to realize who was in the cage.
“Impressive,” whistled Beth, “She the one fighting giant monsters in Japan?”
“Jade? Yeah.”
“Let me out Barbara! LET ME THE FUCK OUT!” screamed Jessie from the panel’s speakers.
“Keep running and I’ll let you out sooner.”
“I’m not playing around. Jen, you better listen to me. Worst Babs can do to you is call you names. Me? I can drag your face through the dirt from here to San Fran. Now let me out!”
The green figure yawned in boredom and potentially jet lag. She was pretty, her skin and hair both shades of green. She had on a black bodysuit like the ones Charlie had them put on except hers lacked sleeves and had a bursting star or ion logo across her chest. Power literally radiated out from her despite her slender frame.
“No can do, Jess.” A pulse of green light flared across the picture. The cage changed shape and suddenly bouncing ping pong size balls exploded out the frame, ricocheting about inside. “This is for your own good.”
The common sense part of Stephanie’s brain said this was the perfect time for them to get dressed, outfitted with gear, and be on their way before Gordon ever realized they were there. Yet… she felt like she was watching a crash. You knew you should look away but you couldn’t help but stare. The Flash dashed about her cage, a crimson blur beneath the green energy, avoiding the balls.
Gordon also couldn’t stop watching. Her eyes flickered back and forth from the cage to the little table next to her mainframe where there seemed to be a syringe and a few bottles filled with unidentifiable fluids. Best guess from Stephanie marked it as whatever KF was addicted to. What she had seen the supposed hero shoot up with when no one else was watching.
“You know, I can probably turn the floor into a treadmill or put marbles on it,” joked Jade with another yawn.
“The balls are enough.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
And they seemed to be. First one ball smacked KF then another. She tripped head first to the floor and many changed direction midflight to smash into her. “Fine. Stop, stop, OW, stop! I give up. I’ll face my addiction and get that monkey off my back and whatever other cliché you want me to do. Just let me out!”
Frowns all around for the older women. Warily, Jade waited for a nod from Gordon before dropping the cage. Exactly what Jessie had been waiting for… A crash of green and red flared across the video panel. A giant fist held Jessie up above her feet, directly over the drugs she had tried to snatch. A fitting end to her.
“Oddly enough,” Gordon’s voice was colder than Stephanie had ever heard before. “You proved my point. You are no hero. You are certainly no Flash. Barry would be rolling over in his grave if he had one. Jay would be so ashamed of you if he knew and I’m half tempted to tell him. But I won’t. Not yet at least. But only if you put up the tights, get rid of the lightning bolt, and stop being a hero.”
“Babs—“
“Quiet. I’m not done,” she reached for one of the bottles by the syringe. “If I find you using again… I’ll put a stop to it. My way. At least some good came of this. I’ve been trying to get a dose of Velocity 9 for awhile now to cook up a counteragent. Now I can. Thank you.”
“Babs—“
“Jade, get her the hell out of my city.” Wheels spinning, Gordon moved to her computer. “Jessica… Don’t come back. Ever. I’m tired of dealing with you. You seriously need to grow up.”
Before she could say “Babs” for a third time, Jade snapped a green band across her lips and flew off towards the door that would lead to a tunnel up to the lighthouse.
No one said a thing. Stephanie was surprised to find herself crushed completely. It was sad to watch. Even sadder to know her hero, a woman she had a poster of, was the cause.
“Girls,” the four stiffened at the sound of the voice coming out of the speaker, “when you’re done playing voyeur, can you please come see me?” the door slid open. “I need to speak with you.
As one, the three of them glared at the blushing Charlie.
Under the Purple Hood Pt 5
The Apple Falls
The Cain household was as much a military base as it was an elaborate mansion. With training facilities and armories located underground and guardhouses located at equitable distances around its perimeter, it was likely the most secure place in all of Blüdhaven. Possibly even more secure than the Whitehouse and Buckingham Palace combined yet routinely, Cassandra escaped from here. And routinely, the only punishment waiting for her was if she had been caught in the act.
David Cain sat waiting on his daughter’s bed, hands gripping the one piece of adornment that provided proof that he hadn’t raised a son. It was a stuffed, fluffy little bat. One… One he had allowed her to keep as it was the only gift her mother had ever sent to their abandoned child. The room was otherwise bland. No posters like most teen girls. A computer desk with a laptop yet no television. A bookshelf that held mostly priceless collections of tomes depicting the evolution of war and martial arts across the ages but which he knew also hid her various pieces of art.
Such a good daughter. So well behaved. Never spoke back. He squeezed the stuffed toy.
Puckett escorted his daughter into the barebone room, to her waiting room. David Cain, a large man, an ace of assassins on two different continents, legitimate CEO, president, and whatever else have you for the Mark of Cain Securities had the eyes of a killer. Eyes Puckett avoided yet his daughter met unflinchingly.
“Did the studying help?”
A nod. A lie. No turning of the gaze. Good.
“The Kanes angry about the temporary loss of their reality show?”
Another nod. Good. He needed the cameras gone for a few weeks.
“Did you pass your tests?”
Hesitation before her third nod, cold eyes finally avoiding his.
“You had better.” He clenched the stuff toy so tight it looked as if the head was going to pop off. “Get some rest. If you’re late again, let’s just say,” he glared at Puckett who visibly whitened beneath the glare, “there will be dire consequences.”
Cain tossed the toy on the floor, purposely stepping on it. His daughter, despite his act, was his most cherished possession. His crowning glory. He could not afford her to fail. Just as he could he not afford her to not be ready when the time came. Else? Why would he have gone through all the trouble of getting her, raising her as a single father, paying the Ace’s Straight Flush to train her if she couldn’t be there in the end?
Cassandra stayed unmoving until her father left the room, followed by her nanny-guard. Then quickly she picked up the toy, cuddling it close to her breast, and curled up on the edge of her bed. Her pulse rate failed to slow down for a long time afterwards, the toy getting squeezed ever tighter, somehow never quite finding the sleep needed for the next three hours.
~~~
Ever make a decision that you’ve questioned for your entire life? One that seemed right at the beginning, but quickly became evident as worst thing you’ve ever done? That’s happened to me before. Numerous times in fact. And don’t you dare blame the hair color. I’ve heard it all.
“Hey Steph!” An eye-hurting and headsplitting form called out to her as she arrived, on time, for class. “Heard you spent yesterday with Kane.” The Form waved its arm to and fro in hello.
Stephanie glared.
“Oh…One of those days?” Beneath the blaring light of the sun, Stephanie could make out the M on the turtleneck sweater. If she focused enough, the puppy dog eyes and grin became apparent beneath an out of style fedora. She couldn’t fault him for the hat since she was regretting the decision to not wear sunglasses but she could for the idiotic sweater, even if it was cold.
Hipster my ass… What? You thought I was thinking about taking the Hourman pills or our decision to go behind the backs of Gordon and KF to stop my father? Hell no. Right now I’m regretting my friendship to Marvin. Nothing to regret about that other stuff… Well there is the fact my body is still slightly out of whack but that’s just a PSA.
Remember kids, don’t take drugs. Not even the superpowered ones.
Marvin, genius and not the self-declared kind, was the only other person prior to yesterday to have known about Stephanie’s disability. One of, if not her oldest, friends, she was ninety-nine percent confident he purposely held himself back… or worse… did something stupid like get into the Hipster fad because of her. Idiotic style aside, he should have graduated from MIT or something like his sister by now. But he remained, usually lazing about. Usually not paying attention in any of his classes, never handing in homework but always acing the tests.
There was also ninety-nine percent confidence in Steph believing he wanted to sleep with her and had ever since the seventh grade. Unfortunately for him, he had all of a one percent chance of ever accomplishing that task. Marvin had regulated himself to the friendzone and that’s where he would stay providing there was not a gross mismanagement of judgment on her part. Not that he’d ever have the balls to take advantage of sweet little Stephanie.
After some time, Stephanie decided to wave back and did her best to hide her grimace of agony. From the look on Marvin’s face, she failed miserably, but he let it go. He knew when best not pry. Instead, he held up his phone, silly dog grin still there. “Want to see what happened this morning?”
“It is morning,” she grunted, shouldering her bag and moving past him into the school.
“I mean earlier this morning. Two hours ago. In Opal City,” the last three words had Stephanie stumble to a halt.
Charlie said Gordon sent KF after Cluemaster and the proto-gravity rod. Teach may not like her but… she is the Flash and Starman was supposed to help her. Dad!
“Show me!” Stephanie demanded, snatching the phone out of his hand and nearly dropping it in the same second.
The headline read:
The Flash should have stayed in the Twin Cities, where’s Starman when you need him?
Hey eyes zoomed across the article about the middle of the night break in at one of the major KnightCorp facilities. It spoke of David Knight refusing to comment on what Cluemaster had taken or why the Flash was even there. There was no mention of a “clue” until the end when it talked about how the Carmen Sandiego wannabe had humiliated… that can’t be right... the Flash.
Then there was a video, apparently taken by one of the henchmen and virally released, of just how bad KF had been defeated. It was bad. Even Stephanie could tell that despite barely being able to make out KF at times. Subsonics, glue, ice, all sorts of gear that amazed Stephanie that her father had, were used to hold the Scarlet Speedster. Her father had soloed Jess. The Flash. It. Just didn’t compute. At least it didn’t for most minds, including the article’s writer, but Stephanie had met KF. Saw what she could do, how she acted, and just how much being what she was ate at her.
It ended with Flash frozen briefly in a block of ice that would have made Captain Cold jealous. Just how her father had all that technology, Stephanie didn’t know, but at the moment, she questioned the tumult of emotions rushing through her body. Was it pride she felt towards her father? Like it or not, he was a normal human, and he managed to hold the Flash off long enough for him and his crew to flee the scene.
“What do you think the golden shield means?” Marvin interrupted her thoughts before she could explore the other emotions.
“He’s going after the Guardian next,” Stephanie tossed him the phone back nonchalantly. “See you later, Marv.”
The wannabe hipster was too slow to stop her as she brushed by him, heading up into the building and weeding her way through the crowds. His worried eyes followed her closely, never questioning how she knew… Only wondering how the Cluemaster could steal from a man who had vanished decades ago.
~~~
Gordon has the coolest things. Like cool to the hundredth power. Cass and I are sitting at lunch, a table by ourselves simply out of the virtue of being awkward around others. Nobody questioned when we were awkward together. Charlie is off at a table outside the cafeteria with a bunch of chatty freshmen, a misfit among them, while Beth is in some AP class not paying attention to the lecture.
Four of us.
Three different tables
And we’re all holding a conversation together.
The vibrant calligraphy appeared in a glowing crimson on the paper between Cassandra and Stephanie. An instant later, the words vanished before their very eyes. They were Beth’s, written from the sheet’s sister in another room. Charlie called it flimsi-text AKA digital paper. A fantastic way to communicate without leaving a paper trail – okay, bad joke. They could scribble notes and messages to each other and nobody would be any wiser to their antics.
Awesome.
Not that the sophomores were writing in return. Beth and Charlie both had earpieces in the form of an ear-stud. They could hear Cass and Steph’s every word. Thank god for Charlie’s kleptomania.
My money is on someone loaded and connected to the black market with having the shield.
“Fool’s bet.” Stephanie popped a fry in her mouth and chewed it over. “Question is who and where?”
The other three girls didn’t have an answer. Not that Cass talked or Charlie could. The latter was already bending the rules more than enough. Actively taking part in the discussion seemed to be one line she wouldn’t cross. Something about Gordon forbidding it. Seems like it would have been smarter to forbid stealing advance technology to enable three girls with a death wish.
“Fine. No answer. We also have to worry about when. CM seems to be picking up the pace. There was almost a month between the first sleepover and the second. Then a week and half between the second and third. And this morning’s was only a day after the last. Plus, that pillow fight… I think things are becoming desperate.”
Maybe CM is getting confident, not desperate?
Most people would assume that. Most detectives probably would as well. Criminals become bolder with every successful crime; true about everyone from a simple pickpocket to a serial-killer. Beating someone like the Flash should be enough to make a normal man believe he’s invincible. And yet, Stephanie could see the fault in that thinking. She didn’t know how but she could.
~~~
Charlie had already teleported home by the time the other three girls walked to Beth’s car. So long as they kept the ruse about the research paper then they had limited time with which to socialize without drawing any questions. Steph gave it a week. Two if they actually did the research paper. In hindsight, they probably should. Neither Cass nor Steph could afford to work two weeks on a paper and not show any progress on it.
Beth was chatting nonsensical without stopping to think about what she said; every bit the image Steph once thought she had. Blond, bubbly, and president of her class. Now Steph had to add Oscar worthy actress to the list. Cass walked with her hands in her hoodie, eyes on the ground. Steph bridged the gap between them and had to try to play off Beth’s act. Too much paranoia in Steph’s mind but… She understood it. Cass was already a masked crusader and Beth wanted to be one too.
The other girl thought of this as the first mystery in the face of many, not the first and last like Steph.
Her phone rang, saving her from continuing the conversation with Beth and sending the other blond into a texting craze in retaliation. “Hello?”
“Steph? It’s Jason.”
“Jason?” That stopped her cold in her tracks. “Hiiii.” She drew that out too much, her voice high pitched.
“Surpised? I did say I’d call you.”
“Yes… Yes you did.” Beth was giving her a strange look in the distance. Cass tilted her head, perplexed. “What do you want?” Inwardly, she cringed at her tone.
“No chit chat? I like,” His chuckle made her stomach flip. “How would you like to go out to dinner with me tomorrow? Maybe a movie afterwards.”
Stephanie thought back to her mother’s reaction last night and she was surprised to realize that wasn’t the source of her misgivings. It was from earlier. A face with a goatee and smoldering eyes flashed through her mind. This was too much. Too soon. Too many people knowing things they shouldn’t.
“Sorry. I’m trying to get a head start on a paper. My weekend’s full.”
“You sure? Maybe I can pick you up after school and take you to the library then?”
“Hey, my friends are waiting; I’ll have to call you back later. Ciao.”
“Wait, Ste—“
She pressed end, glancing at her expecting new friends. “Next sleepover is tomorrow. We gotta hurry.”
~~~
Don’t puke. Don’t puke. Please don’t puke.
The pink smoke faded, leaving Stephanie and company in near darkness. They had met up with Charlie a few blocks away after she said she had taken care of Watchtower’s security. Then promptly, she began teleporting the girls into Watchtower. One at a time to avoid splinching she said. Not quite the confidence building statement Stephanie had hoped for. Especially after the queasy looks on Beth and Cass’s face. The latter’s reaction filling Steph in something akin to dread. If Cass didn’t want to do it then what hope did the blond have of surviving?
It was an empty room in Watchtower. No lights. And they had to leave their phones in Beth’s car because Gordon could pick up the signal. Pitch black. Three of the girls stayed unmoving while Charlie returned with an old fashioned lantern.
Stephanie stifled a scream of surprise when the shadows parted to reveal figures towering over the girls in the shadows. Neither Cassandra nor Charlie seemed to be worried but Beth was every bit as frightened as her judging by the bit lip.
“Warning would have been nice,” muttered the older blond, “they’re just dummies. Mannequins.”
“Sorry. Didn’t think,” Charlie vanished again, reappearing an instant later with four raincoats in her arms. “Start taking off their bodysuits if you are really series about stopping Stephanie’s dad.”
Stephanie approached the mannequins cautiously. Now that her eyes had adjusted, she could see that there were seven of them, each in a little cubby hole or locker of their own with belts and gadgets spread out about their feet. She looked up at the mannequin’s head then down at her own feet. “Uh… Problem. These things fit men taller than six feet… We’re barely pushing Five and a half.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed that heroes tend to be tall. Bit annoying. Especially when they pick you up and treat you like a little kid,” Charlie started on her own suit, able to see the bindings and zippers despite the poor light. “But that doesn’t matter. These were designed by the Director of Applied Sciences at KnightCorp. Has a knack for things that changes shape and sizes. They’ll fit.”
“Gordon didn’t ban you from investigating either?” muttered Beth, already in the process of zipping up her suit… A suit that shifted to a second skin across her body.
“I’m sure she assumed it was under the spirit of ‘Don’t talk about it’ but seeing how… Cass? What are you doing? You know you can’t go Blackbat. She’ll know it’s us if you do.”
Following Charlie’s gaze, Stephanie saw her friend near the sliding door that probably led to the main chamber of the bunker. Cassie had her fingers pressed gently across its surface as if she could feel something on the other side. “Are you able to access the cameras without alerting Barbara to our presence?”
The other three looked at each other confused before Charlie replied. “Uh… Sure. I should be able to but our chances of getting caught increase the longer we’re here. Why.”
“Just do it.”
Charlie shrugged and Steph was left with wondering if she should check it out as well or finish getting dressed. Well… she could always listen and dress at the same time. It’d work for the best that way. The cursing behind her put an end to any such thought. She zipped up the bodysuit and felt it press tightly against her skin.
The other three were gathered about a wall panel next to the door when she was done. Beth hissed something about lowering the sound to which Beth replied it was as low as it could go without leaving them unable to hear. “Besides, there’s like three feet of steel and concrete for the noise to get through.”
Sidling up next to them, Stephanie thought at first there was something wrong with the security cam. It had a glowing green tint to it. Enough so that it felt like a trick of the eyes when she saw a young woman with green skin standing next to Gordon. Erupting from her hand was a green band of energy. It spread out, encompassing a figure in a dome-shaped cage.
It took Stephanie a minute to realize who was in the cage.
“Impressive,” whistled Beth, “She the one fighting giant monsters in Japan?”
“Jade? Yeah.”
“Let me out Barbara! LET ME THE FUCK OUT!” screamed Jessie from the panel’s speakers.
“Keep running and I’ll let you out sooner.”
“I’m not playing around. Jen, you better listen to me. Worst Babs can do to you is call you names. Me? I can drag your face through the dirt from here to San Fran. Now let me out!”
The green figure yawned in boredom and potentially jet lag. She was pretty, her skin and hair both shades of green. She had on a black bodysuit like the ones Charlie had them put on except hers lacked sleeves and had a bursting star or ion logo across her chest. Power literally radiated out from her despite her slender frame.
“No can do, Jess.” A pulse of green light flared across the picture. The cage changed shape and suddenly bouncing ping pong size balls exploded out the frame, ricocheting about inside. “This is for your own good.”
The common sense part of Stephanie’s brain said this was the perfect time for them to get dressed, outfitted with gear, and be on their way before Gordon ever realized they were there. Yet… she felt like she was watching a crash. You knew you should look away but you couldn’t help but stare. The Flash dashed about her cage, a crimson blur beneath the green energy, avoiding the balls.
Gordon also couldn’t stop watching. Her eyes flickered back and forth from the cage to the little table next to her mainframe where there seemed to be a syringe and a few bottles filled with unidentifiable fluids. Best guess from Stephanie marked it as whatever KF was addicted to. What she had seen the supposed hero shoot up with when no one else was watching.
“You know, I can probably turn the floor into a treadmill or put marbles on it,” joked Jade with another yawn.
“The balls are enough.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
And they seemed to be. First one ball smacked KF then another. She tripped head first to the floor and many changed direction midflight to smash into her. “Fine. Stop, stop, OW, stop! I give up. I’ll face my addiction and get that monkey off my back and whatever other cliché you want me to do. Just let me out!”
Frowns all around for the older women. Warily, Jade waited for a nod from Gordon before dropping the cage. Exactly what Jessie had been waiting for… A crash of green and red flared across the video panel. A giant fist held Jessie up above her feet, directly over the drugs she had tried to snatch. A fitting end to her.
“Oddly enough,” Gordon’s voice was colder than Stephanie had ever heard before. “You proved my point. You are no hero. You are certainly no Flash. Barry would be rolling over in his grave if he had one. Jay would be so ashamed of you if he knew and I’m half tempted to tell him. But I won’t. Not yet at least. But only if you put up the tights, get rid of the lightning bolt, and stop being a hero.”
“Babs—“
“Quiet. I’m not done,” she reached for one of the bottles by the syringe. “If I find you using again… I’ll put a stop to it. My way. At least some good came of this. I’ve been trying to get a dose of Velocity 9 for awhile now to cook up a counteragent. Now I can. Thank you.”
“Babs—“
“Jade, get her the hell out of my city.” Wheels spinning, Gordon moved to her computer. “Jessica… Don’t come back. Ever. I’m tired of dealing with you. You seriously need to grow up.”
Before she could say “Babs” for a third time, Jade snapped a green band across her lips and flew off towards the door that would lead to a tunnel up to the lighthouse.
No one said a thing. Stephanie was surprised to find herself crushed completely. It was sad to watch. Even sadder to know her hero, a woman she had a poster of, was the cause.
“Girls,” the four stiffened at the sound of the voice coming out of the speaker, “when you’re done playing voyeur, can you please come see me?” the door slid open. “I need to speak with you.
As one, the three of them glared at the blushing Charlie.