Super Villain Grandpa (Cape High Series Book 15) (17 page)

“YES!” I say, jumping in the air and throwing up my arms in glee. “Will he be a teacher?” I ask.

“Cape High?” Grandpa says, “You mean I’d be working under Technico?”

Nico is grinning. “I’ll accept that,” he says. “I’ll put him in charge of the demolition and clean-up program. He can train the newcomers in home and car repair on site.”

“But,” Isotonic interrupts, “there’s one more task we’re going to give you.”

“It’s more of a… test of loyalty,” Century says. “We’re going to equip you with a power blocker and send you after Massteria.”

“A power blocker?” Grandpa says, frowning. “If I don’t have my powers—”

“One that blocks other people using their powers on you—Technico built something that should do the trick,” Negatia says. “Didn’t you, Technico?”

“I did,” Nico says, “But let’s be clear, here. If anyone is questioning my loyalty, I’d like to remind you that you were there. The external power blocker wasn’t to take you on—it was purely to bypass Herold.” He stares at them until they nod. “I can arrange for something.”

“And since we’ve all established that Nico is NOT out to take down all the Hall branches, he’ll be overseeing this mission of yours. It’ll be filmed, of course, so we’ll all see what you do,” Century says. “Are you willing to accept our terms of parole?”

“Willing?” Grandpa asks. “I would get on my knees to beg for the opportunity,” he says, with a stunned expression. “I’ll take it. If I work at Cape High, my granddaughter will be there, right?”

“She will,” Nico says. “Well, as soon as her mom declares she’s done with her punishment. It’s been longer than the week I would have required.”

“Yes!” I say, running over to hug Grandpa. I hesitate, though, looking at the Hall leaders. “That means he’ll have to get into a fight, though, right?” I ask them. They nod. “So you can’t punish him if he winds up blowing a few things up,” I tell them. “That’s his best power, you can’t expect him to not use it if he has to!”

“As long as you keep us informed on where the fight will be, we’ll do our very best to evacuate the area,” Century says.

“I’m sorry, I have to ask,” Negatia says, her curiosity showing, “Nico—may I call you that? If you were to overthrow a Hall, which would you aim for?”

“Hmm?” Nico asks. “Oh, I wouldn’t go for a Hall,” he says, casually. “I’d go straight for the North Pole; one night of actual work and an entire year of making toys? That sounds entertaining.”

“Can I vote on that?” Century asks, looking far too enthusiastic about that idea.

“No,” the rest of the board says.

“But I have my own little Hall, if you really think about it,” Nico says. “And when they graduate, I’ll still have a very large pull with them—someday very soon you’ll be leading entire Halls of people that have me on speed-dial.”

“Is he trying to make us paranoid?” Isotonic asks.

“Of course he is—he’s got a terrible sense of humor,” Mastermental says with a sigh and a shake of his head. “Nico, reassure those that don’t know you of your loyalty, please?”

“Star Born,” he says, holding up a finger, “Mimic, Kunnins, Mother, Herold, Shadowman, and Boombastic, just now.” He shows them his finger count before lowering his hands. “I’ve had a hand in catching all of them, with the help of teenage capes. I’m training those teenagers to be the best capes you’ll ever have. And if I can turn around so completely, I can promise you that Boombastic here will, as well,” he tells them. “Not because of you, but because he has the same thing motivating him as I do--family.”

“Are there any others that might be capable of changing like this?” Negatia asks.

The two men hesitate, looking at each other. “I’m still keeping an eye on Star Born,” Nico says. “She’s dangerous in ways we’re not used to, but she’s been surprisingly helpful as long as we keep her equipped with enough to keep her busy.”

“And what of the people she experimented on? There was Cold Steel, I know, but certainly there were others?” Negatia asks.

“For the most part we’ve returned them to normal with the help of our healers,” Nico says. “Cold Steel was a special case, since his system took to the change so quickly. The normal ones have been returned to their lives, and provided psychological help at our expense. One was… too far gone when we got to him. Others are still slowly recovering and growing accustomed to their new abilities. Mainly they’re D-class, and will return to normal society after they’ve completely recuperated. I don’t plan on bringing any of them into the school at this time.”

“He’s elitist,” Century says.

“I have one D-class—”

“Who is, I believe, technically a Specialized C-class, and can register higher with a simple uniform change?” Mastermental points out.

“She makes a good school reporter, too,” Nico says shamelessly.

“I see,” Negatia says. “Then I’m satisfied. Shall we call this hearing finished?”

“I second the motion,” Isotonic says. “Except how is my daughter doing?”

“Just fine,” Nico says. “All of the kids are. Our youngest, including Olivia, are making leaps and bounds with their training.”

“Good to hear.”

“And the older ones?”

“Massteria could be getting away even as we speak,” Grandpa interrupts. “So can this parent teacher meeting wait until afterward?”

“Of course. I apologize,” Isotonic says. “You’re free to begin your parole.”

“Thank you,” he says before looking at Grandma. “Take Keliah and get her somewhere safe,” he says. “I don’t want her anywhere that Massteria can get to her.”

“Rocco,” Nico says to the silent teen standing nearby, “we’re going to need your help.”

“Sure, boss,” Rocco says. “What about Malina?”

“Malina, you go back to Cape High with Keliah and her grandmother,” he says. “Zoe and the others are doing an Internet search for the other escaped cons, you can help them with it.”

“You just assume I’m going to take her to—” Grandma starts out.

“My security is the best in the world,” Nico says. “That’s the safest place she could be right now. I trusted you, Falconess, so trust me.”

Grandma hesitates, looking around the room. “So the Hall security isn’t as good as the school’s?” she asks.

“Of course it isn’t,” Century says. “He put a laser bubble around the school.”

“Highly illegal,” Negatia adds.

“You bet it is,” Isotonic agrees. “Why else do you think I sent my daughter there?”

“Then, I suppose we’re going to your school,” Grandma says to me.

“I want to see what happens with Grandpa,” I protest.

“We can see it on television,” she says, taking my hand. “Let’s go, Chicklet, your Grandpa’s got work to do.”

***

“Tell me,” Mastermental says as he reaches the room that Nico’s confiscated for the external power blocker building, “how much of the conversation you ‘wouldn’t spy on’ did you spy on?”

Nico looks up from the gutted machines that surround him. Century will probably get irritated with him for the computers, but he ignores that fact. “Why, Double M, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“They’ve really made some progress with computers, haven’t they?” Boombastic asks, staring curiously at the motherboard he just took out of the nearest phone. “I’m impressed. So is that why you got on their cases about not trusting you?” he asks Nico.

“I’m a technopath,” Nico says. “There are computers everywhere—most of which I programmed. Century brought me in for a few hours a while back to redo his security, remember?”

“You need to be more careful, Nico,” Mastermental says. He holds up a hand before Nico can go on, “I’m not saying that you shouldn’t spy—I expect it, honestly. In a way you are very right, you DO run a Hall. We all realize it. But allowing the others to get under your skin, and SHOW that they do, well, you open a door that is best left shut.”

Nico looks over at Bombastic, his expression changing slightly. “You’re right,” he says finally. “I shouldn’t have let the jibe about teaming up get to me. Honestly, I’ve been on edge since Herold.”

“Understandable,” Mastermental says.

“What happened with Herold?” Bombastic asks curiously.

“He was a technopath. He almost took over the White House,” Nico says. “He also caused a lot of destruction by taking out several of the systems. I still haven’t fully recovered the financial system, but let’s be honest, that’s almost as corrupt as the political,” he says dryly. “I have to take a shower after I work on it, every time.”

“You are not Herold, and we are well aware of it,” Mastermental says, “which is WHY we’re allowing you to fix everything he broke.”

“If it was just me, I wouldn’t care,” Nico says. “I’ve screwed up in the past—they’re probably right to ask questions like that. But my daughter is innocent,” he says, his eyes gleaming dangerously. “I won’t have them watching her every move—”

“Of course they do,” Mastermental says, holding up a hand to stop him before he speaks, “your daughter is only sixteen years old and they’re already approaching her about their own branches of the school. They look at Zoe with blatant jealousy of me,” he adds with a smug little smile, “and of Century, regretfully,” he adds after a second. “I was hoping to keep her purely Central, you know. She will be my daughter-in-law soon enough. I’d like to keep her close.”

“Not that soon,” Nico says, but the tension is draining out of him. “She’s only sixteen. I won’t let her get married until she’s twenty-one.”

“Eighteen is the legal age in Missouri, fifteen with parental consent, but I agree that that is too young,” Mastermental says.

“Wait—your daughter is dating Mastermental’s son?” Bombastic asks.

“It’s a small world, isn’t it?” Nico says. He touches his earbud. “We’re going to need a tailor up here,” he says. “We’re looking for something non-flammable. Thankfully South specializes in that.”

“Do I really need a uniform?” Bombastic asks.

“Do you want to burn your pants off again?” Nico asks, not bothering to wait for an answer. “I’ll keep my temper in check, Double M,” he says, “I shouldn’t have gone off on them like that.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about their feelings,” Mastermental says. “I’m worried about them realizing you have a sore spot that can be exploited. In several ways, Nico, my reputation is tied to yours.”

“Would they exploit it?” Nico asks curiously.

“Let’s just say you don’t get to be a Hall Leader by being nice,” Mastermental says.

***

"Even with him gone, the general populace is still panicking, sir," the black suit announces as he reaches Century. They're on the roof of the tallest building of the South Branch Theme Park. "We tried to clean up as much of the damage as possible while you stopped time, but it's just going bad again."

"We need a psychic type," Century says. "I'll talk over the cameras. I'll see if I can't--"

"We have one," Century hears Trent say over his earbud. "Two, actually, but Emily says she’s not up for something that big."

"Who’s the other?" Century demands.

"Maximum."

They go silent for a moment as Max lets out a curse over the com. "Do you have any CLUE how much damage my reputation has taken over the past few months?" Max demands. "First that video of me lifting the cars goes viral--do you know they have it in subtitles overseas? Nobody even TALKS and they still slapped subtitles on it! And now you want me to--"

"Max," Trent says.

"I know!" Max says angrily. "The greater good and all that, sheesh, I might as well trade in for a freaking cape," he says, his irritation dripping from the sentence.

"Thank you, son," Century says.

"Go ahead and get on the big screen," Max says, taking to the air. Century looks over at him, watching for a second as the teen raises his arms. "Aubrey, we need you working in the background," Max adds.

"On it," Century hears the healer say.

"They're already noticing me," Max complains before starting to work. "I'm not as good as my father, so try not to talk to me--I need to concentrate."

"Understood," Century says, seeing several drones start to surround him--and a few others hovering around Maximum. Poor kid, he thinks with amusement, this will be the final nail in the coffin on his villain career.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Century says, his face appearing on every screen in the park. "This is Century speaking! I'd like to thank you for coming to our humble park today and tell you that every single one of you is going to get a free pass to this and every other Hall controlled park for the rest of the season."

The crowds slow down, but they don't look very happy about his offer. Well of course they wouldn't be, he thinks. They were just traumatized for no reason. "I'd also like to offer you each a signed picture of the southern hero of your choice. All you need to do is take your ticket stub to the Hall sometime and we'll get it for you. I have no doubt that poor Voltdrain's hand will be numb from signing pictures for days--"

They're calming down slightly, so he jumps on it. "And, as a one-time deal, only, I will do my very best to get signed pictures from THE Skystep. I will, of course, have to capture her to do so, but for you good people, I'm willing to deal with that for a few days."

"You can't do that to Skystep!" someone yells at him. "She needs to be free!"

"I can't? Well, sugar, she DID rob the Museum of Super Villainy just the other day, so I would say I have justifiable cause," he says. There's a bit of laughter, and the threat of violence has calmed down so much that he allows himself to smile. "Have I told you that she's getting partners?" he asks. “We have pictures that have yet to be released to the public of them.”

"What? Who?!"

"Skystep doesn't need partners!"

"Are they male or female?"

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, that will be another rare item you can trade your ticket stub for. You have the opportunity to be the first to see Skystep's new team. Now, if you're missing any children, or other family members, you will find them in this building, here. We didn't want them to be trampled in the little fracas, so our very own Hypersonic Rainbow rescued them--where is Hy-Bo?" he asks, looking around.