Steampunk Time: Cape High Book Seven (Cape High Series 7) (27 page)

“And who are you looking for as a mentor?” she asks.

“Hall members, any branch.  Right now I’m interested in finding a fire type.  I plan on asking one of Central Hall’s members for another, and for my three punks, well, I’ve got something lined up already.”

“And who might that be?” Prisma asks.  “Would you let a super hero train your prospective super villains?”

“They already do,” he says.  “But that’s also something I can’t tell you.  Let’s just say I expect it’ll help make debuts more interesting.”

“Have you had any complaints from parents?” she asks.  “Having both villains and heroes in the same school?”

“Not yet.”

“That’s good to know,” she says.  “Well, as everyone already knows, Cape High is a choice for parents of young capes--one that’s backed by Central Hall, but it’s purely up to you whether you choose to enroll your children.”

“If your kid is having trouble controlling their abilities, or hiding their physical differences, I would suggest you check us out,” Technico interrupts, looking at the camera again.  “We offer a safe alternative to public schooling.”

“And you are safe, right?” she asks him.

“My staff comprises of Banshee, Blackjack, Taurus, and several other well known names,” Nico says, “all chosen by Mastermental, himself.  They’re in good hands.”

“I know I said that would be our last question, but I have to ask... the rumors that you’re Superior’s son, are they true?”

“I think this interview is over, now,” Technico says, standing up.  The cameraman lets out a curse and Prisma glances over.

“He cut the feed,” he explains.

“It looks like he changed it to a rerun of Gilligan’s Island,” one of the black suits yells from the back.

“Time to go, Double M,” Technico says.

“Really, Technico, it’s not something to get so riled up about,” Mastermental says with a sigh.  “You ARE his son.”

“He is?” Prisma asks, feeling a bit shocked.  “I honestly expected you to deny it.”

“I am,” Technico says.  “But I’d rather not have the entire world chasing after me, expecting me to fill his boots.  I enjoy my job running Cape High.  I don’t even have to wear a mask if I don’t want to.  How many working capes can claim that?”  He looks at her for a moment.  “Bring your daughter, we can handle it with no problem, but in exchange, keep my paternity off of the news, agreed?”

She hesitates, knowing that the world would kill to know, but... “Agreed,” she says.  He lifts a hand as he walks away.

“We’re back,” one of the cameramen says.

Oh, right, she thinks, plastering on her smile again.  She has a job to do.

Cape High

Book 8: Fire Hazard

Nico stares blankly at the two men standing in his science room.  It's not every day that you get two of the Hall Leaders over to visit, he thinks.  Ain't he lucky, he thinks dryly, reaching forward and picking up his glass of water to take a drink.  He hasn't offered them a drink, or even a chair.  He's not that considerate.

"Tell me," he says to Mastermental, "is there a reason this conversation has to take place here?"

"It's nice to meet you, as well," Century drawls, dropping down on one of the long science tables since no chair is being offered.  He's a large southern boy, at first sight, The Texan Hero.  He's been called "The Longhorn Hero" and several other southern cliches, and he makes sure his appearance fits them to a T.  "I've got a little problem, Technico, and Mastermental kindly offered your assistance."

"I have to say I thought I had plenty of my own problems to deal with lately," Nico says, looking at Double M.  Double M steps forward, tossing a folder onto his desk.

"That's probably the information on Jimmi--" Century starts out as Nico picks it up and opens it.  For a moment he stares at the picture on the front page.

"Seriously?" he asks Double M after a moment.

"You did agree to the mentorship idea.  You mentioned that you were looking for a fire type hero, remember?" Double M says.  "That the South Branch has Flameblaster made me more open to what he wants to hear.  I can only assume you feel the same?"

"Flame?" Century asks blankly.  "I'm not sure what Flame's got to do with this."

Nico ignores him, looking over the class and power levels.  He waves his hand, bringing up a hologram of the wiry pyrokinetic.  It turns when he waves a finger and Nico allows himself a little smile.  "I have a kid," he says to Century, looking at the large man.  "His name is Vinny.  He's got the ability to become an A class fire mimic."

Century catches on quickly, which shows as he relaxes and smiles slightly.  "I see.  You're thinking of mentoring him to my Flame.  That could work out for both of us, honestly.  Turn the page.  You did put Jimena's information in there, didn't you?" he asks Double M.

"I did.  But when dealing with any of the Superiors you need to put the carrot first," Double Me says simply.

“Well really, what I should say is that we might have a deal--IF your boy can handle the problem we’ve got.  I did want one of your students for this, but I was hoping for someone with a bit of… toughness.  This Vinny of yours, what’s he like?” Century asks.

Nico stares at him for a moment, thinking about the teen in question.   “He’s the second in command of the zoo kids, as we call them,” he says, waving the hologram of Flameblaster off.  “He’s one of the few kids that came out of a year of being kidnapped and stuck in a glass cell with his complete sanity, stability, and surprisingly, a talent for cooking.  Honestly I’ve got no idea where the cooking thing came from, but it’s useful.”

“He’s a cook?” Century repeats.  “I’m afraid I’m not seeing what he’s like with just that simple description.  Think you could expound on that?”

“If the whole world were falling apart around him, Vinny would be the one making sure everyone got fed before he got them out,” Nico says bluntly.  “He’s sharp as a razorblade, too.  He promises to be one of our best heroes, or he would be if he actually applied himself to more than just watching the cooking channel.”  He starts reading the information on the next page, a slight frown crossing his face as he gets further in.

“You see what we’re dealing with, then?” Century asks as he closes the envelope.  “The girl has just gone off the leash.  She’s not a bad girl by any means, but she’s involved with the wrong crowd.  They’re all talking about how they’re the new capes, running around vandalizing places!  And honestly, as much as I want to shut them down, the idea of doing that to Alonso’s little Princesa on national television, well, I can’t do it.  Alonso's saved this world’s bacon so many times I’ve lost count.”

He’s laying that good ole’ boy line on thick, Nico thinks, earning a slight shrug from Mastermental.

‘
We do what we must,
’ Double M says silently, ‘b
ut he’s right about Voltdrain.  The man has saved this world several times already
.’

Nico nods.  “I’m interested in Flame.  I’ll have to do a bit more research on him, though.”

“Are you going to save little Jimmi?” Century demands.

“We’ll see,” Nico says.  “Tell me, before I commit, though, how does Alonso feel about having his little ‘Princesa’ sent away to school?”

***

“So what do you think it is?” I hear Sunny ask.  We’re supposed to be going to science class right now, but the teachers had pulled us back, saying Nico was busy with a special meeting.  I saw the two guys that went in earlier, one was Mastermental, the head of Central Hall, the other was this massive monster of a guy wearing a hat big enough to shade half of Kansas City.

Oh, right, I should introduce myself, huh?  Name’s Vinny Accardi.  Yeah, it’s Italian.  I’m Italian on my father’s side, but I grew up in America and have no ties with the mafia whatsoever.   I’m not related to Rocky, either, got it?  Now that we’ve got that cleared up, I’ll tell you one other thing.  I’m a super.  I’ve got fire abilities and go to a school for supers.  But I’m STILL not mafia.  Just in case you were wondering, got it?  Well, maybe a few generations back there was a cousin--but that’s just a story my dad told me when I was a kid.  Dad liked to tell ridiculous stories.  That’s what he called them when I called him out.  The rest of the world would just call it lying.

“That’s Century up there with Dad and Nico,” Max says casually.  We’re all sitting on the strange little playground that Nico and Taurus built for Sunny’s girlfriend, Adanna.  She’s a shape-shifter, one that turns into a black panther.  That’s why there are three of these human sized tree houses linked together by ramps with hammocks hanging off the side.  I claimed one of the hammocks already.  I’m tempted to take a nap.

"Who's Century?" Carla asks.  I glance up at the black girl sitting on the walkway above my hammock, a bit surprised.

"He's one of the Hall leaders, right?" I offer.  Something about this is making my brain itch, I just can’t remember why...

"Yeah, South Branch," Max says.  "He plays up the Texas accent--but I'm pretty sure he's an Ivy League graduate.  Not sure which of them, but definitely Ivy League.  That means he wants something from the school."

"Maybe he's just bringing in new kids," Morgan says. Morgan’s the head of the zoo kids, like me and Carla.  She’s sitting above me, as well, right next to Carla. 

There's a slight breeze rocking my hammock.  I yawn, wondering if anyone will notice if I go to sleep.  As interesting as this is (or isn't) this is really a nice place for a nap.  "Think they'll move into the dorm?"

AND I'm up.  "No more dorm kids," I say, sitting up abruptly.  "Please, for the love of God, no more dorm kids."

"Oh come on, Vinny, it'll be good to have new blood!" Morgan says, laughing at me from where she's sitting next to Carla.

"Blood is exactly what I'm worried about," I tell her before falling onto my back again and staring up at the sky.  "I doubt it's that, though.  More likely they'll want to build another school or something, right?  It's bad enough that all of us are away from our families, no point in taking the legitimate cape kids away from theirs."  I yawn and relax again, intent on getting that nap.

"They can try," Max says.  The son of Mastermental is way too much of a know-it-all for my tastes.  He always seems to be two steps ahead of everybody.  It's annoying, especially when he's smug about it.  "Dad had the blueprints for this place back when I was a little kid--he never built it until Nico was getting out of the Cape Cells.  That means Nico is the driving force behind the school system."

"He can oversee it from here, though.  You know, act as an adviser," Zoe, Nico's daughter and Max's girlfriend says.  "So Vinny might be right."

"Hah," I say, simply because I can. 

"Why aren't you going super villain, Vinny?" Max asks abruptly.  Wow, that was out of left field.  I turn slightly, looking at the black haired teen sitting at the next tree house.  "You'd make a good one."

"He is NOT going super villain," Morgan, ever the mother of the zoo kids, says.  "And why are you still trying to recruit people?  You've got two of our toughest students on your side.  We need more heroes."

"Ace is too busy drawing pretty pictures to be a threat more often than not," Jack says.  We all turn to watch the goth boy in question doodling on an art pad.  "Besides, Vinny would make the super villain camping trips awesome.  Just think of the barbecue we could pull off!"

"You're planning on cooking hotdogs over my head, aren't you?" I drawl, easily picturing it.

"Absolutely."

"I'm not going super villain," I say.  "I'm perfectly fine being one of those second rate heroes that only get cameos on TV.  They'll dress me up in red and orange and send me in to fight fires with the local firemen.  As long as I get paid and cable TV, I'm good."

"Wow, what aspirations," Max says sarcastically.  "Are you going to ask for the movie channels, too?"

"Think they'd toss them in?" I ask eagerly.  The entire group bursts out with laughter at that.  "Hey, free cable is free cable," I defend myself.  "A place of my own, cable, a good kitchen, man, that's all a guy can ask for in life."  I start my hammock swaying again, listening to them joke about my "lofty goals."

"Supers in the Hall get paid enough for more than that, you know," Max says.  "At least aim to be a well-known hero, if you're going to be one.  It'll look bad if a Cape High student turns out to be sidekick level."

"Especially when he's got promise," Morgan says, staring pointedly at me.

"I might start up my own restaurant, how's that sound?" I ask.  "Vinny's Bar and Grill.  It'll be a nice little place--"  I start laughing as random objects are thrown at me.  I'm half buried in paper balls and shoes when they go still.  I sit up and look at what they're watching, blinking at the sight of Nico and Century walking straight for us.

"Is there a problem?" Max asks, always the first one to speak for the group.  Personally I think Morgan should, but it's not worth the argument.  Morgan tends to shy away from heroes, anyway.  I guess I can't blame her, considering her dad.  He's a super villain.

"Vinny," Nico says as I start shoving stuff out of my hammock.  I go still, holding a girl's sneaker.