A True Hero Read online

  “That’s it?” Junior Justice knelt next to one of the dog-like robots.

  “I didn’t think it would do much, but . . .” Nicole shrugged.

  “Hmm . . .” Junior Justice fell into silence as he examined the machine sometimes tapping the device on his wrist. “No EM shielding at all. This is not an expensive operation here. These things were cobbled together with stuff you could find in a junkyard.”

  “Incredible!” Nicole bent over the machines. “To accomplish this, Finch would have to be a mechanical genius.”

  “More than a genius; a savant. Though there’s nearly no network security on these things.” Junior Justice rubbed his head. “Geez! Her machines are incredible, but her coding sucks! It’s so full of holes a toddler could hack into it. At least she was smart enough to destroy the source of the signal controlling them. Too bad; I’d be able to track her, then.”

  “My best friend’s a coding genius. If he were here, he could do it.”

  Junior Justice scanned the machines with his wrist device one more time before standing to his feet. “Refraction, never talk about your civilian friends when you’re in the mask.”

  Nicole stiffened. That’s right. It was one of ASH’s directives. If a Villain figured out who her civilian friends were . . .

  “R-right!” Nicole clenched her eyes shut. How could she make such a dumb mistake . . . and in front of Junior Justice? Stupid! Stupid!

  “No big deal. You’ll get it in time. Being a field Hero is no joke, but you can do it. Your power set is amazing. They inspired me to make these.” Junior Justice tapped the lens in his mask.

  “Your mask?”

  “It lets me see energy waves . . . it’s not as sophisticated as your powers, mind you, but enough so I could avoid being teleported.” Junior Justice spun in a circle. “In fact, you might be the key to stopping the TelePorter.”

  Nicole arched an eyebrow. “How do you imagine?”

  “BX-J analyzed the TelePorter’s energy waves and predicted where he was teleporting me. No reason to think your BT-X system can’t. In fact, I’ll send the program to you. With your power to help, maybe you can make it run better.”

  “Sure!”

  “I can’t wait to see how your Hero career develops, Refraction.” Junior Justice rested a hand on her shoulder. “You’re on your way up.”

  “Thanks.” Nicole giggled. “Congratulations on being chosen Upcoming Hero of the Year.”

  Junior Justice froze. “You . . . keep up with that stuff?”

  “Everyone does. It was so exciting to see you on the cover.”

  Junior Justice smiled, color coming to his cheeks. “Thanks. It means a lot.”

  Nicole hoped he couldn’t see her blushing underneath her mask.

  Starlight dropped through the skylight at that moment. “I couldn’t find her. She’s disappeared.”

  “A Villain like her running around is going to be a nuisance.” Junior Justice exhaled through his nose. “I’ve got to meet up with Captain Justice and tell him about what happened. Nice seeing you again, Starlight. Refraction, keep up the good work . . . and keep me updated on what happens to the Sapphire, would you?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Hope to see you again.” Junior Justice shot a grappling gun at the skylight and flew out of the hole.

  “Okay. Thanks. You too.” Nicole clamped her mouth shut before she said something stupid. She watched him launch himself off of the rooftop and out of sight.

  “Someone is going to need to repair this sooner rather than later.” Starlight ran her hands over her hair. “We’ll need to move these exhibits and repair these displays. This is a cost the Museum can’t afford, but at least the Sapphire’s safe.”

  “Junior Justice said I do good work.” Nicole squealed, dancing on her tippy-toes. “I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!”

  “You’re a fan of Junior Justice?”

  Nicole clasped her hands as she gazed at the skylight. “He is only the best Hero ever to have lived. Except for you, of course, Starlight.”

  “Of course.”

  “I never thought I’d ever get a chance to impress him.” Nicole pressed her hands to her cheeks. “This is the greatest day of my life!”

  Starlight stared at her a moment before smiling. She put a hand on her head and—

  “Let me in!” screeched a voice from outside the exhibit. “You don’t understand! Nikki was in there! Nicole, where are you?”

  “Margaret?” Nicole froze inside. If Margaret came now . . .

  “I forgot about her.” Starlight turned to the door as it burst open.

  Margaret walked in, looking frantic. “Nicole! Nicole!” When her eyes fell on Starlight and Nicole, she rushed over to them. “Where is she? I left her in here, and now . . .”

  “Ma’am.” Starlight stepped forward to intercept her. “Calm down. There were no civilians in the area when I joined the fray. I’m sure this . . . Nicole person . . . is fine.”

  “What would you know about it?” Margaret turned her fury on Starlight. “You were in a meeting with me!”

  “My protégé, Refraction, was here from the beginning.” Starlight motioned to Nicole. “The first thing we teach our young Heroes is Evaluate and Evacuate. Did you do so, Refraction?”

  “I can safely say there were no civilians in the area when I engaged the Villain.” Nicole hated lying. Happily, nothing she had said was a lie . . . at least, not strictly . . .

  “There.” Starlight turned back to Margaret. “They evacuated the Museum earlier, so perhaps she’s outside with everyone else.”

  “She’s not. I looked!”

  “There are a lot of people out there, ma’am,” Starlight’s tone was slightly condescending. “Maybe you should look again.”

  “Fine!” Margaret stomped toward the door. “If anything happened to her, I’m suing ASH!”

  Nicole waited until she exited to speak. “I’ve never seen her so mad.”

  “Shows how much she cares about you. Go on out to meet her.” Starlight jerked her head in the direction Margaret went. “I’ll handle the paperwork.”

  “Thanks.” Nicole darted to a dark corner behind a display, outside the view of surveillance cameras. “Okay, Bee. Suit off.”

  “Affirmative.”

  There was a small flash as the hard light suit dissolved. “Any idea where Margaret is, Bee?”

  Bee fell silent.

  “Bee?”

  “I apologize, Nicole. I cannot process your request.”

  “Why not?”

  “I am not authorized to release the information. Observation: the Museum has been locked down. Speculation: ASH does not want unauthorized information to be released to civilians.”

  “I’m not a civilian.”

  “Nicole is classified as a civilian,” Bee pointed out. “Refraction is classified as a Hero.”

  Nicole sighed. She had a lot of work to do on Bee. Straightening her skirt, Nicole walked out of the shadows. Starlight winked at her as she passed, but the security guards talking to her weren’t so happy to see her.

  “Hey!” A security guard caught her arm. “What are you doing in here? Didn’t you hear the evacuation?”

  “Easy with the girl.” Starlight pulled the guard’s hands off of Nicole. “I’ve cleared her. You can let her pass.”

  Another guard peered at Nicole’s face. “Isn’t she Dr. Farber’s daughter?”

  “I’m not her daughter,” Nicole muttered.

  “Why don’t you take her to Dr. Farber?” Starlight nudged Nicole toward the exit. “She’ll be relieved to see her.”

  “Come on, little girl.” The security guard led Nicole by the arm.

  “I’m not little,” Nicole muttered but didn’t dare say it out loud. They walked out of the exhibit area and into the main floor. “Hey,” he said to another guard on the floor. “You seen Dr. Farber?”

  “Last I saw her she was running around looking for . . .” The guard set his ey
es on at Nicole. “Well, looking for her.”

  “I’m taking her back to the security office. If you see Dr. Farber. Let her know she’s there.” The security guard turned her toward the office. “Let’s go.”

  “Nicole?” Margaret called from across the room. She darted across the Museum, her heels clicking across the tile and echoing off the walls. “Nicole, there you are! I was worried sick!” She threw her arms around Nicole.

  “We found her in the closed exhibit room, ma’am,” the security guard said.

  “What?” Margaret held Nicole at arm’s length. “They told me they had evacuated everyone.”

  “Oh, um . . .” Nicole squirmed for a solution which wasn’t a lie. “They say if you don’t think you can make it out of a Super Hero battle you’re supposed to hunker down and keep out of sight . . .”

  “True . . .” Margaret threw her arms around Nicole again. “I’m glad you’re safe. I don’t know what I would have done if anything were to happen to you. This is all my fault.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Nicole patted her back. “You couldn’t have known the Museum would be robbed today. Twice.”

  “Still . . .” Margaret let her go. “Let’s get out of here before more fiends show up.”

  Nicole followed her out without a word.

  “On the bright side, I heard Junior Justice showed up.” Margaret smiled at Nicole. “Must have been exciting since you’re such a big fan and all.”

  Nicole jolted. She gazed at Margaret as she walked. “I didn’t know you knew that about me.”

  “I know a lot of things about you, Nikki.” Margaret winked at her. “I pay attention.”

  Nicole gave her a smile. It was nice that Margaret took an interest in her but a little bit creepy too.

  CHAPTER 7

  FINCH WATCHED AS STARLIGHT soared over her. With a smirk, she turned off the cloaking device she had invented. Rather than jumping to the rooftops and running along the tops of the buildings as she liked to do, Finch stuck to the alleys where the shadows and dumpsters offered good places to hide even in the daytime.

  She didn’t worry too much about if anyone saw her in her mask. Because of the abundance of Heroes and Villains in the world, many civilians had taken to cosplaying as their favorites. After several embarrassing showdowns between ASH and civilians dressing up as a favored Villain, ASH decided not to engage any masked person unless they were participating in some sort of criminal activity. The worst she had to worry about was some enterprising Hero following her for a while.

  But right now, she wasn’t thinking about them.

  Finch had heard about the TelePorter before, but had never seen him in person until today. And she had learned more than she had ever imagined.

  “He uses a portable teleporter device, does he? When Refraction hit it with her power she must have disabled the stabilizers.” Finch kept her eyes to the ground. “No doubt about it. It’s my design. How on earth did he get my stuff? Unless . . .” Her skin blanched. “Oh, no! Brody . . . no . . . you weren’t supposed to sell that one!”

  Finch took off, darting down the alleyways. She had to get back to her lair to check up on a few things.

  CHAPTER 8

  BY THE TIME JUNIOR Justice rejoined Captain Justice, the ASH Detainment Team and the police were on the scene sorting the subdued Villains. Those with powers would head to ASH’s Detainment Center while those without would head to jail. Captain Justice oversaw it all, his cape fluttering heroically behind him.

  “CJ!” Junior Justice trotted over to him.

  “How did it go, Junior?”

  Junior Justice hung his head. “He got away.”

  Captain Justice pinched his lips together. “Shame, but don’t take it too hard, Junior. He’s escaped me too, the slippery bugger. Those teleports . . .”

  “Might not be able to use them as effectively anymore.” Junior Justice smirked. “While we were fighting, Refraction took out his teleporter gadget. It’s malfunctioning.”

  “Is that so?”

  Junior Justice nodded. “He ran for it . . . teleported too far for me to track, though.”

  “Refraction . . . Refraction . . .” Captain Justice tapped his chin. “Don’t think I know her.”

  “Newer field Hero. Energy powers. She’s going places.”

  Captain Justice looked at Junior askance. “Not like you to heap such praise on another Hero.”

  Junior Justice shrugged.

  “So . . . what of the Sapphire?” Captain Justice crossed his arms as he surveyed the police packing up the last of the Villains. “Did the TelePorter get away with it?”

  “Nope.” Junior Justice grinned his cheeks rubbing against his mask. “Refraction and I got him good . . . and Starlight might have helped a little.”

  Captain Justice whistled through his teeth. “I have to stop underestimating you, Junior. Sapphire is secure?”

  “According to my BX-J, the Sapphire was moved back to the Museum’s secure labs.” Junior Justice crossed his arms. “Though, I wonder why it was on display in the first place and not being held in ASH’s lockup.”

  “The Museum was trying to raise money by displaying the gem. It was supposed to be a secure exhibit, but . . .” Captain Justice gave a rueful chuckle.

  Junior Justice grunted in agreement.

  “As for why it’s not held in ASH’s HQ . . . all I can say is there’s a reason.” Captain Justice rested his chin on his chest.

  Junior Justice waited for him to continue, but when it was clear he wouldn’t elaborate, he changed the subject. “Any clue why the TelePorter wanted the gem?”

  “Dunno.” Captain Justice shrugged. “Who knows what those Villains are thinking?”

  “Aren’t we supposed to?” Junior Justice gave his mentor a smirk. “Study Villains so we can predict their movements and cut them off from evil? It’s what you taught me.”

  Captain Justice burst into laughter. “You’re right. That will be your assignment. You find out what he’s up to.”

  “Yes, sir.” Junior Justice saluted.

  “In the meantime, head on home.” Captain Justice gazed into the distance. “Your parents hate it when you’re late for dinner.”

  “I do too. My mom’s a great cook.” Junior Justice leapt away leaving Captain Justice laughing at the top of his lungs at his not-so-funny joke.

  CHAPTER 9

  “HEY, PUMPKIN!” NICOLE’S father, John, greeted her as she came into the house. “How was school today?”

  “I don’t know why we have to keep going to school with vacation a week away. We’re not doing anything in class.” Nicole let her father wrap his arms around her in a warm hug.

  “It’s to keep you out of my hair.” John patted her head.

  “Daddy.” Nicole rolled her eyes and watched as John walked over to Margaret to kiss her. She turned away before she saw the actual kiss. Something about watching her father kiss someone . . . anyone . . . made her insides shudder. But she understood why Margaret fell for him. He wasn’t a big guy but wasn’t scrawny either, and his arms displayed the muscles he worked out three times a week to achieve. Nicole thought he was pretty good looking for someone his age—with chocolate brown skin, clean-shaven, and a low, black, though graying, haircut.

  Instead of watching them, Nicole let her eyes gaze around the house she had grown up in. The door she and Margaret had used enter was a side entrance which entered into the kitchen. Ever since Nicole could remember, everyone who knew them used the side entrance. Only strangers ever used the front door which led into the living room at the front of the house.

  The kitchen, however, where Nicole sat waiting for her father to finish greeting Margaret, had a huge island where she sat to eat her meals. White countertops contrasted with bluish gray cabinets and a fancy gas stove her father had gleefully put in last year. Over her shoulder, Nicole spotted the front door cut off from the rest of the house by the stairs and a hallway leading to the half bathroom, the master bedroom,
the laundry room, and the storage closet. To her right was the family room with the TV, a sliding glass door leading to the backyard, and a door to the office. The upstairs housed her room as well as two other spare rooms and a bathroom. Nicole gathered her father and mother planned on having a much bigger family before she had died. Closing her eyes, Nicole brought up the memory she loved most—the day her mother held Nicole on her lap and fastened her silver necklace with a rose quartz on the end.

  “A gift for my sweet, little pumpkin pie.” Her mother had said and squeezed Nicole tight.

  Nicole loved this house, and the memories of her mother this place held . . . but she wondered if Margaret would be comfortable living here. Nicole glanced at Margaret and her father whispering things to each other and giggling together. She hoped they weren’t planning on moving. Nicole would be devastated if she ever had to leave this house.

  “I thought you were busy with work,” Nicole said when John let Margaret go.

  “Thanks to Margaret picking you up I was able to finish before you got here.” John collapsed onto one of the stools at the island. “I emerged from the office a few moments ago.” He threw a thumb toward his office where he worked from home as an IT Consultant. As long as Nicole could remember, he was always there when she needed him. “It was a long day.” He rested his hands over his eyes.

  “My hard working man.” Margaret leaned over to kiss him on the forehead.

  John smiled at her while Nicole balked.

  “You will never believe what happened to us today.” Margaret walked to the refrigerator and peeked inside. “We went to the Museum on the way home, and two Super Villains attacked.”

  “What?” John swung around to Nicole. “Are you two okay?”

  “We’re fine.” Margaret rummaged through the fridge.

  “Starlight, Refraction, and Junior Justice came to fight them, Dad.” Nicole bounced on her toes. “Junior Justice stood right beside me . . .”

  “Really?” John paused a moment to sigh before cracking a smile. “You must have been excited to meet him.”