The Distort Arc: Cape High Books 1-4 (Cape High Series Omnibus) (64 page)

"That's me," I say, handing Emily the screw and heading for the door.  I pocket the dollar.  What?  It's not like she asked for it back!

The nurse looks at me and I'm certain she thinks I'm lying.  Really, people, I was here for how long?  You should at least recognize me!  "Well, Aubrey's awake.  She's asking for you," she says.  "Come with me, please."

"Is she okay?" Emily demands.  "She's my house... sister, or whatever!"

"She's doing very well," the nurse says.  "She just needs a bit more rest and time to recover."  Then she's leading me through the door and back to Aubrey's room, which is full of other nurses and doctors looking at charts and checking machines.

"I'm going to be fine," I hear Aubrey say.  "I'm more worried about Jack!  Has anyone even looked at him?  I hit him straight on with that--that thing, he could be hurt!"

"I'm fine," I say, pushing my way through the crowd and stopping at her bedside.  I pull off the tattered t-shirt to show her my chest.  "See?  Even the burn mark is starting to fade."

She's staring at the mark in horror, even if it is nearly gone.  "I--I--I did that?" she asks.  "Jack, I'm so--" she starts to blubber, tears starting to stream down her face as she reaches out and touches the mark.

"Hey!  Don't cry!" I protest, feeling extremely awkward with all these adults staring at us.  It gets worse as she hugs me, because I feel seriously self-conscious hugging her back.  I pat her on the back just to have something to do with my hands.  "It's fine," I mumble.  "It didn't even sting."

"Really?" she asked, pulling back and looking at me.

"Yeah, really," I say.  "I'm tough like steel, remember?" I add.  She ignores it and does that weird thing where her eyes change color and her hair starts to float.  After a second she lets out a sigh of relief and goes back to just hugging me.

"I was so scared," she whispers.  "But you came and saved me.  You really are a hero, Jack!"

"Nah, I like being the bad guy better," I say, trying to pull out of her hold and failing.  She's really clingy right now, which would be fine if there weren't some twenty other people in the room. 

"Can we get some privacy?" I demand.  Since she's not going to let go anytime soon, I'd rather it be where the entire Hall doesn't hear about it.  Although, seriously, it's probably too late.

"We'll leave the door open, in case something changes," an older nurse says, motioning for everyone to get out.  "But I expect you to behave yourself," she adds, pointing at me.  Why do I feel like I know her?  More importantly, why do I feel like I should do exactly what she just told me?

When the room has been cleared out I sit down on the edge of the bed, hugging Aubrey as gently as I can.  "Hey," I say a bit gruffly.  "It's okay.  We got you back, and you still have your powers--um..." I don't know how to ask this other than to just ask, "what did they do to you in there?  Did they experiment on you?"

She pulls away.  "She wanted me to heal the white haired man.  She said his name was Distort, but it wasn't," she says, looking down.  "I... I got stuck in his head.  It was strange.  Scary, actually.  The white haired man--Jack, he's not Distort.  He's--"  She looks around, as if about to share a gigantic secret, then lowers her voice to a mere whisper, pulling me down to say in my ear, "he's Superior."

I pull away, shocked.  "What?  He--but--"

"Yeah," she says.  "He's alive.  But he's not like the movies.  He's not the perfect hero.  Or maybe--maybe he IS, and that's the problem," she says.  I'm completely lost right now.  It must be pretty obvious, because she lets out a frustrated sound.  "But he isn't, because he killed him!  He's a murderer!  Except the guy was in his head, and killing someone in your mind isn't the same as killing someone in real life, right?  Or is it?"

"It's not?" I offer, because I actually understood that one.  "I mean, it's just in your head."

"But I think it was real, at the same time," she says.  "Because I think the guy he killed is that Distort guy that Star Born wanted me to heal."

Yeah, still confused.

"Hey," I say.  "Right now let's focus on the important thing."

"What?"

"You're safe, I'm safe, and... I'm sorry," I mutter.  I can't believe I'm actually apologizing this early in the relationship.  "I guess.  I mean, Derrick's taken care of, but if I had just ignored it, you wouldn't be here--"

She reaches up, touching my cheek.  "You helped a friend.  You're a hero."

"I'm not a hero!"

"Sure, you can act like a villain in front of everybody else, but to me, you're a hero all the way through," she says stubbornly.  "You saved me.  You saved Derrick, too."  I'm about to protest when she leans forward, kissing me.  "Thank you," she adds as she pulls away with a little smile.

Okay, maybe I'll let her think I'm a hero.  You know, since she's so insistent about it.  Who am I to say no?

"I need to go to the Hall," Morgan growls as she starts up the steps leading off campus.  "I need to make sure Aubrey's okay."

"You can't go," Justin says, grabbing the back of her shirt and hauling her back.  "You know they won't let us off campus without an adult supervising.  Trust me, I've tried."

"You don't have a reason to get through the field!"

"I have every reason to get out," he says.  "Or did you forget who I was?  Look, you're just going to get hurt if you try and break out--" he curses as she reaches up, pressing a hand to his forehead.  He can feel something leave him, feel his throat tighten--

"I SAID LET GO!" she bellows, sending him flying back with the sound.  He curses as he hits the wall of one of the campus buildings.  She's racing up the steps even as he slides to the ground and sticks a finger in his ear.  He pulls it out, checking for blood.  The last thing he needs is a burst eardrum.  Thankfully all he sees is wax--

"Morgan!" he snaps, now that he's certain he's fine.  (What?  A guy has to prioritize!)  He jumps to his feet and chases her up the steps to grab her hand.  It isn't difficult, since Morgan's not moving.  She's just staring straight forward with her jaw dropped.

Justin glances up at what she's staring at, looking blankly at a girl in a strange outfit.  The girl is tapping on what appears to be a watch, her back to them.  It takes him a moment to remember what the fluffy skirt, corset and leather accents style is called-- "Steampunk?" he says as the word comes back to him.  He'd toyed with the idea of steampunk music once, but it wasn't right for his voice--

"That's not the weird thing," Morgan whispers, barely moving her lips.  She doesn't seem to want to attract the girl's attention.  "She wasn't here a second ago."

"She flies?" he asks.

"She just appears," Morgan says as the girl looks around, "Like teleporting or--"

"Hey," the girl says, turning towards them.  She's got pitch black hair done up in intricate curls that remind Justin of Shirley Temple.  They're pulled back with a pair of brass goggles.  "Is this Cape High?"

"Yeah, but you can't get closer--" Justin starts out.

"The force field, right?  Is Technico still the principal?  Or is it Zoe?"

"Wh--what?" Morgan asks.  "Zoe isn't the principal, she's a student.  She's like fifteen or something."

"Oh, um... wrong year, sorry," the girl says, bringing up her watch and pressing a button.  She disappears in a tiny spark of light, leaving Justin and Morgan staring at the empty area where she just stood.

"What just happened?" Justin finally asks.

"Time traveler?" Morgan says.

"They exist?"

"Yeah... but why was she looking for Cape High?" she asks.  "Who WAS she?"

"A time traveler," Justin says.

"I got that much, boyband!" Morgan snaps.  "Like, who is she related to?  Was she here to tell us something about the future?  What if she's got an important message that can save us from some drastic tragedy--"

"She was looking for Cape High when Zoe's principal, right?" he says.  "That means whatever the tragedy is, it doesn't affect the school until Zoe's old enough to run the place, so who cares?"  He starts down the steps again, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"So it was just a completely random meeting?" Morgan demands.  "She just shows up, asks what year it is, and leaves?  What the heck?  Things like time travel should have a point, you know?"

"Why should they?  It's not like we're in a comic book plot, even if we are supers.  Maybe she just pushed the wrong button," Justin says.  "Come on, let's CALL the Hall and ask about Aubrey."

"It's not the same as seeing her!" Morgan protests, chasing after him.  "I want to see her face to face!  And I want to yell at that stupid boyfriend of hers for letting it happen!"

"Calling is less likely to get you detention.  Even if Jack does deserve to get yelled at."

Neither of them hear the sizzling popping noise behind them, or even the curse and stomping of a foot.  They're too busy arguing over calling.

***

It seems like we've been here forever.  I'm half asleep, draped over the uncomfortable chair in Aubrey's room as we wait for the doctor to give her the eviction notice, or whatever it is they give.  Jeanie, Ken, and the others have already left, called out by Nico.  I think he's got them looking for Star Born and the white haired guy who might be Superior.  Trent and Emily were sent back to the apartments.

So it's just me and Aubrey, who's threatening to get out of bed and go heal people while she waits.  I'm tempted to help her do it.  She looks fine.  So rather than argue with the nurses trying to stop her, I'm just sitting here, trying to keep my eyes from closing.  I'm exhausted. 

It's only when another nurse comes in, going, "Kid Liberty's going to be on television!" that I wake up.  She's flipping on the television and changing it to the news.  "Oh, and you will be, too.  They're talking about the bank heist," she adds, glancing at me.  Pretty obvious who she's a fan of, right?  "I thought you'd want to see it," she adds as the other nurses give her a dirty look.

"I want to see Jack on television!" Aubrey says, scooting back in her bed and turning her attention to the television.  "Can we record this?" she asks the nurse she'd just been fighting with.  "I want to have it to watch later!"

"Of course," the nurse says, looking a bit relieved.  She sets the TV up to record, then leaves, taking the younger nurse with her.

The reporter is interviewing the lady that pulled my ski mask off.  "So you didn't get his name?" he asks, holding the mic up to her.

"No, but he's obviously going to have one.  He's part of the Liberty family, but he's a villain--can you believe it?" she looks excited by that fact.  "I still have his ski mask and everything!  The cops wanted it, but I wouldn't let them have it."

"That's called withholding evidence, you know," the reporter points out.

"They're not going to get any DNA or whatever off of it," she says with a shrug.  "He was all metal.  And he didn't actually ROB the bank, he just tried!"

"So... was it scary?" the reporter asks.

"A little, yeah," she admits.  "I mean, at first, especially, since he looked like a normal bank robber, but then the gun goes flying across the room and Kid Liberty shows up--I can't WAIT to tell my friends!"

"I... see," the reporter says.  "Pretty exciting stuff, then."

"Seriously exciting!  They caught it all on the security videos and everything!  And I think one of the customers got it on their phone, I bet it's already on youtube--" she stops, digging out her phone to see.

"They actually hire idiots like this at a bank?" I say, stunned.

"I think she's your fan," Aubrey tells me.

"I tried to ROB her!" I say.  Aubrey grins at me.

"Oh, I hope they start selling merchandise soon," she says.  "I want your poster, and your t-shirt, and--"

I stare at her, already picturing her decked out in stupid t-shirts with my name on them--wait.  "I don't even have a name yet," I have to point out.

"So what do you think he'll be called?" the reporter asks the woman.  "Any bets?"

"I like Heavy Metal, or maybe Metallic Menace," she says.  "There's like, tons of tweets on what he should be called, though.  I mean, it's not like he told us his name, like Kid Liberty did, right?  Do you know?" she demands of the reporter, like he's holding out on her.  "You get calls from the Hall or something, right?"

"I'm afraid we're as in the dark as you are," the reporter admits, turning back to the camera.  "Who is this Metallic Menace?  Is he really a member of the Liberty family?  And if so, where did he get his abilities from?  The world wants to know."

"And his poster!" the lady adds.  "Hi, Mom!  Hi, Dad!"  She's waving as the screen goes back to the two at the desk.

"We go next to the building destroyed by Kid Liberty and Metallic Menace," the man at the desk says.  "Luke, are you there?"

"So basically, I don't get to pick my name," I say, feeling a bit irritated.

"I like it," Aubrey says.

"It's like Dennis the Menace with a metal coating," I complain.  "That's seriously stupid."

"How about the Metallic Marauder?" she asks.  She's teasing me, isn't she?  There's this look in her eyes that says she's about to start laughing.

"What, I need a mask and a horse now?" I demand.  "Do I LOOK country to you?"

"But you'd look so cute in chaps!" she says before starting to laugh.  "Now I want to see it!"

"You will never see me in chaps.  Ever," I swear, giving her a dark look.  It makes her laugh harder.  The door opens and we both look up expectantly, only to sigh.  "I was hoping it was the doctor," I say as Jeanie walks in.  "We've been here for forever."

"Oh, he'll be here in a minute.  I was called back because they're almost ready to send you home," she says, walking across the room.  She's in full super gear, her hair in a pony tail, and her outfit looks rather shiny in the hospital room light.  Are those sequins?  Why am I not really surprised?  "Aubrey, honey, I am SO SORRY," she says, pulling Aubrey into a hug.  "I am so incredibly sorry I took my eyes off of you--"

"Can't--breathe--" Aubrey gasps.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jeanie says, loosening her hold.  "Honey, I never imagined that this would happen, but I should have--how can you ever forgive me?"

"I forgive you," Aubrey says, looking up at her.  "They didn't hurt me and I was saved really fast.  It was nothing like the last time," she adds, looking down.  "It was scary, sure, but the scariest part was when I thought I'd hurt Jack."

"Jack is tough, sweetie," Jeanie says, hugging her again before letting go.  "I just--"  She looks strained, as if she doesn't know what to do.  She even looks over at me, as if I would know what to say.

Wait.

"You know," I say, "there is one thing you can do to make it up to her."

"Jack!  She doesn't have to do anything!" Aubrey protests.

"Take us to a pawn shop," I say.  "Aubrey needs a new violin.  It's not gonna be the same as the one you got from your granddad or anything, but... you'd like to have one, right?"  I look at her, seeing a strange look on her face.

"You remembered?" she asks.

"How could I forget?" I ask.  "I even remember stuff you said when I was stuck in a coma, you know?"

"That's a wonderful idea!" Jeanie says with a brilliant smile.  "But why don't I let you two talk while I go find the doctor?"  Then she's gone, leaving Aubrey looking at me seriously.

"You... you really remember all that?" she asks.

"You know," I say, feeling extremely awkward having to talk about my feelings.  "For a long time I thought I was in love with Zoe--"

"I don't need to hear--" she interrupts.

"Yeah you do," I say.  "You need to hear this.  I almost lost you today.  I figure the whole world will want you as soon as they find out what you can do.  I gotta put my claim in now, right?  I thought I was in love with Zoe, but I guess I wasn't."

"What?" she asks.

"Cuz if I was, I wouldn't have fallen for you so easily," I say, even if it's embarrassing.  "I like the me that you think I am.  I want to BE the guy you think I am.  I'm not, sure, but I want to be him.  But I don't figure I can change that easy, so don't get any big ideas about changing me into a hero."

"But you are a hero," she says.  "You're my hero.  That's the important thing, right?"

"Keep thinking that," I say, getting to my feet and leaning down to hug her.

She wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly.  "Emily says I shouldn't kiss you when it's cold out," she tells me in a very serious tone.

"What?"

"She says I might get stuck."

"Remind me to give her a wedgie later on for that one."

The doctor clears her throat behind us and I pull away, trying to look innocent.  It's harder than it sounds, even if it WAS innocent.

***

Nico floats above the city, still wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but reluctantly covering his face with one of those annoying masks that the Hall keeps insisting on.  His eyes are closed, his hands held out as he searches the electrical circuit that covers the city below.  It's huge, entwined and knotted, spanning over the land like a spiderweb.  His mind catches on each of the thicker sections, focusing in and hacking the systems that make them.

Hundreds of hospitals and clinics have a tiny little flash cross their machines, a mere second of a blip that most of them don't even notice.  The AT&T building's computers go down for a second, causing cursing to occur over half of the United States.  Gas station pumps all blip, saying that the buyer doesn't owe anything.  That one gets a tiny grin out of the man overhead, but the grin disappears quickly enough.

He can't find them.  They're completely off the grid.  He lets out a curse, especially when he realizes that a helicopter has caught sight of him and is hovering closer, bringing up a giant television camera.  They're recording him, not that they know what he's doing, or even who he is.  Maybe it's because they don't know who he is, he realizes.  He lets his hands down, looking straight into the camera.