Part 2: Get Set
Ch. 6...
The first wave of news is expected. Chameleon’s betrayal of the League bombards every channel, every billboard holo, every individual DED. Every citizen in the Collective has seen the same seamlessly edited video of an aggressive Barry Carmichael during training and Chameleon in his rainbow-hued bodysuit with Wilton Lysander’s voiceover warning everyone that Chameleon is dangerous and not to be approached.
Bells tries to take this in stride, tries to laugh at the new names people are giving him on the news, and jokes about “The Heinous Chameleon” with his friends. It’ll be over soon enough, once people realize Orion has been kidnapping villains and experimenting on them.
But the next day, they can’t find the holovid on the Net. No one is talking about it, not even in the conspiracy forums.
“I know there was something here.” Jess frowns as she scrolls through several windows on her DED. “There was a whole thread of people discussing it… but it’s gone.”
They try once more. Jess also writes a succinct but clear article about the staged hero-villain battles and explains how the League is corrupt, but all of that and any clips of the holovid are removed within an hour of posting. The next time they post, the material is gone in twenty minutes, and then five.
From the tinted windows of Emma’s car, they stare at the ruins of the Jones house, where they’ve just tried uploading the data again from Abby’s old console. Grey-suited officials of the Collective Authority are walking the perimeter, talking into their DEDs.
“The League is on the lookout for whoever is trying to upload our information,” Emma muses. “What if we staggered posts from various public locations?”
Bells shakes his head. The last thing they need is all of them in Corrections. Having his hero name dragged through the mud is bad enough; he doesn’t want any of his friends to get caught.
Jess is on a vidcall with her mom, arguing in snippets of mixed Chinese and English. “My mom says we gotta cool it,” Jess says.
Li Hua waves at them from the holo, and then the camera shifts.
Abby looks over her shoulder. “Oh, is she still at the new house?”
Jess nods, expanding the holo to show the nearly completed structure deep within the canyons in the Unmaintained zone: Genevieve and Abby’s new home. Flickering in the vid is her mom lifting a huge boulder as Genevieve floats structural beams into place.
“So cool,” Emma says, peering into the video. “Hi, Mrs. Tran!”
The video shifts to reveal Victor’s face. “You kids shouldn’t have to worry about all this. I know you’re upset that the video isn’t being viewed, but we’re working on a solution. Just focus on your schoolwork and don’t draw attention to yourselves.”
“Okay, Dad,” Jess says, rolling her eyes and ending the call.
Focus on school. How can they, when they need to get this information out there?
At last the Collective Authority team leaves and they can enter the remains of Abby’s house. Abby’s computer console is intact, gleaming in the remains of the living room.
“How about we try one more time with the video?” Bells suggests. “And then we get out of here before they come back.”
Abby lifts her eyebrows. “We gotta go quick, though. They could be back any minute.”
Emma grins, pulls her sunglasses down on her nose and turns on the car; its engine hums to life. “I’ve got this.”
One last upload and a quick getaway in Emma’s car, and they’re giddy with excitement. This time, this time, it’s going to stick.
They’re at the downtown ice cream parlor indulging Jess’ sweet cravings and planning their next move. Bells digs into his mint chip and is staring off into the distance when he sees smoke rising from the desert.
“What’s that?”
“An explosion! In the Unmaintained lands!”
The patrons are whispering to one another, all staring at the flash of fire and the blur of smoke on the horizon.
Jess freezes with her spoon halfway to her mouth. “That’s where we were,” she whispers.
“Do you think… ” Abby wonders.
“They’re destroying the evidence,” Emma says darkly.
The music video projected onto the main wall of the ice cream parlor changes to a serious-looking Wilton Lysander. His slick, coiffed hair doesn’t move as he gestures wildly. “Very grave news for the Collective today… today we have uncovered a calamity. After the recent discovery of Chameleon’s defection to the United Villain’s Guild, I am shocked to say that our own Captain Orion has been caught doing illegal and immoral human experimentation for her own gain in these facilities in the Nevada region.”
A familiar clip from their video plays, and Bells’ hope rises like a bubble. This is it. Their efforts have paid off, and the truth will be broadcast for everyone to witness.
The bubble bursts.
It’s not the entire video Abby recorded, just bits and pieces of Orion talking about her experiments and looking menacing as she paces in her home. There aren’t any mentions of the Collective or the League or that meta-humans—villains—were being kidnapped for these experiments.
Other clips from the base, taken by security cameras, were edited into an incriminating compilation showing Captain Orion running a host of experiments: Orion walking through the base, perusing datasheets, smirking at vials of serum. There are shots that Bells doesn’t recognize from the base: a dark hallway with closed doors and indiscernible shadows behind them.
In one clip of Captain Orion and two guards entering the base, Bells recognizes himself and Jess and Abby in disguise. There are more from that day: shots of Chameleon in his familiar green-hued bodysuit, masked, but walking through the base to make it seem he was a part of Orion’s scheme, even though there aren’t any clips of them together.
The video transitions from scenes at the base to the Smashmobile speeding through Andover and another shot of the Jones’ house.
“That photo is from a month ago,” Abby mutters. “Before I broke that window.”
“And that’s the corner of Main and Saffron,” Jess says. “It could have been from anytime Mom went out.”
The camera jumps to Lysander again, panned out to show him standing in the ruins of the Jones’ old house. “It was here that Andover’s own Smasher and Shockwave confronted Captain Orion and defeated her in a stunning display of heroics before turning her in to the League.” Lysander gestures broadly. “Although this civilian home was destroyed in the process, citizens of Andover—and the Collective—can rest assured that they are now safe from Orion and her nefarious exploits.”
The ice cream parlor is silent, save for the wet thwap of a scoop from Bells’ cone hitting the table.
* * *
CAPTAIN ORION SENT TO CORRECTIONS FOR ILLEGAL HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION.
SMASHER AND SHOCKWAVE AWARDED HONORS BY MAYOR OF ANDOVER.
THE COLLECTIVE IS SAFE AT LAST.
The headlines over the next few days paint a compelling narrative—very little of it true. The pieces of the video that have surfaced on the Net are all edited to show Orion as the sole perpetrator of the “human experiments” and conspiring with Chameleon to destroy the evidence at the base. Then, apparently Smasher and Shockwave apprehended Orion, and Chameleon escaped to pursue his unfathomable plans with the United Villain’s Guild.
According to the Trans, the League put Smasher and Shockwave on official “vacation,” having assumed that they were involved with the confrontation with Orion.
“It’s a good thing,” Li Hua says to the anxious teenagers in her living room. “It means they don’t know about your involvement, Jessica, and they don’t know we’re aware of their corruption. They’re just covering their tracks.”
“But—! You could go live with the story!” Jess protests.
Emma nods. “Yeah, you could call Lysander right now and schedule your own interview! Tell the truth about what really happened.”
Bells ticks off multiple truths on his fingers. “There were so-called villains who went missing, and it’s all deliberate, the hero-villain battles, everything…”
While the three of them argue with Jess’ parents, Abby sits with arms folded and a defeated expression on her face.
“What about Claudia?” Jess asks.
Her parents’ expressions darken, and they sigh. “We can’t assume anything. We don’t know if she’s working with the League or with Orion,” Li Hua says.
“She must have done something to influence that cover-up story,” Victor adds, frowning.
Abby finally speaks up. “The League has absolute control over what the press says and does. I don’t see how we can change that story unless we can get our broadcast out, and without…” Her voice falters. “I mean, we’ve been trying, but they have all the power, and we can’t do anything. I should have known it was dumb to try.”
“This is about keeping you safe,” Victor says. “This is about keeping all of you safe. I know you kids want very much to just stop the League right now, but it’s not that simple. You know what happens if we make a stand right now? They throw us all in Corrections. Right now, the Tran family is not a threat to them. They still think we’re on their side. And Abby, your parents have kept you under the radar your whole life.”
“Do you understand? No one is looking for you. They’ve tied up all their loose ends—except for Chameleon,” Li Hua says. “And you’ve already taken care of that with your careful double-identity. Just don’t wear that supersuit again and you’ll be fine.”
It’s early, not even dawn on Saturday. Though the alarm is off and it’s the start of winter break, Bells is wide awake. He hasn’t slept all night; he’s been turning over the news in his head. Looking for more info, he set an alert on his DED, and at four forty-five a.m. it chirps with a broadcast from the East Coast. Starscream, who has been featured in human interest pieces because of his on-and-off relationship with Captain Orion, is nodding sagely at Wilton Lysander. “It is alarming how Orion has infringed upon human rights by experimenting on people in order to achieve her prolonged power use.” He sniffs and wipes away a tear. “She fooled me. She fooled us all.”
“Absolutely shocking,” Lysander says, shaking his head. “The League of Heroes has publicly denounced Orion and severed all ties with her. Up next: We interview three heroes from the League about their sinister suspicions of Cindy Oliphaous…”
Bells replays the report, looks for something, any clue, then scowls and drops the link into the group chat. He isn’t expecting a reply, but it immediately pings with a response.
Jess: well at least… ugh, hang on, this is annoying
[User Abby has joined the chat.]
Jess: oh i added abby since it was easier than messaging all of you at the same time, hope that’s ok
Bells: OF COURSE HI ABBY
Bells: EMMA DID WANT TO DO AN INITIATION BEFORE SHE JOINED THOUGH
Abby: Initiation?
Bells: IT’S A THING
Bells: DON’T WORRY EMMA CAN TELL YOU ABOUT IT WHEN SHE’S AWAKE
Jess: ok yeah i was saying it’s something, right? at least the league is acknowledging that what orion did was wrong
Bells: BUT SHE SAID IT WAS ON THEIR ORDERS
Abby: They’re not taking responsibility. They’re using Orion as the scapegoat
Emma: !!! go!! back!!! to !!! sleep!! muting ALL of you
Emma: yes, there’s an initiation
[User b-mastermind has joined the chat.]
Emma: who is this!??!!? who invited them?
Abby: Not me
Bells: NO IDEA. WHO ARE YOU B
Emma: how did you even get in here without the access code
Jess: uh, i think… gimme a sec…
b-mastermind: This Is Not A Secure Channel.
[Group chat “Stop changing the name of the chat” has been deleted by b-mastermind.]
[User Jess is inviting you to “New Group Chat.”]
[Users Abby and Emma have joined the chat.]
Jess: sorry guys brendan is being annoying
Jess: he says he has a plan??? to find the
Emma: really? that would involve leaving his bedroom though
Bells: BAHAHA
Abby: Find the what
Jess: the re—
[Group chat “New Group Chat” has been deleted by b-mastermind.]
Bells raises his eyebrows and turns off all projections on his DED. Outside his window, the first slivers of light peek over the horizon. On a whim, he puts on his running shoes; he hasn’t had a regular exercise regime since training.
Getting back in shape will probably come in handy.
His breath makes a cloud around his head. He gets into a rhythm; his body wakes up as he trots around his neighborhood and toward the edge of town and the desert beyond, just a vast expanse of parched land stretching toward the horizon. A single highway cuts through the canyons.
The Unmaintained zones used to terrify him, but he knows better now. How many areas are actually still dangerous from radiation, and how many are falsely claimed to be still radioactive by the Collective?
His shoes crunch on the gravel, and he pauses to catch his breath. Despite the cold morning air, his skin is hot. The sun is gleaming, stretching up into the sky, and the world slowly changes: cool, blue shadows turn softly to gentle, easy warmth. Light touches the solar fields just outside Andover. The city starts to hustle. Cars zip about; lights turn on and off.
The knot of anxiety about Orion and the League uncoils as Bells falls into a steady rhythm. His feet hit the ground; the air brushes past him. Inhale. Exhale.
Bells runs past a billboard with Barry’s face on it. WANTED, the sign reads. He’s public enemy number one now. It’s surreal to think about how the League treated him when he was the golden boy, and now he’s the scapegoat.
Running past the billboard sets off a motion-sensor datachip, and Bells’ DED plays a recorded message, projecting a small hologram of Lowell Kingston. It flickers and bounces as he runs, and Bells tries to turn it off, but it’s on an automatic play loop and has to finish.
“Hello, I’m Lowell Kingston, the President of the Central Regions of the North American Collective.” Solemn and official, he points at the camera. “The Council would like to assure the citizens of the North American Collective that Cindy Oliphaous—also known as Captain Orion—has been apprehended. She is standing trial for illegal meta-human experimentation and violating human rights. The Heroes’ League of Heroes has also issued a statement that Chameleon, formerly of the League, was seen with Orion at a League facility, and the two were responsible for its destruction. While Oliphaous has been sent to Corrections, we would like to remind you that Chameleon is still at large and very dangerous.”
Bells trips over his own feet, which sends him sprawling into the dirt. Right, because I'm so dangerous.
The message disappears, and Bells continues on his run. He’s heading toward Emma’s neighborhood when his DED vibrates with an oncoming call from an unknown citizen ID number. Bells can hazard a guess who it is, though.
He clicks accept and watches the pixels form into a round face with floppy hair. “Hey, Brendan,” Bells says. Jess’ little genius brother is what, fourteen now?
“This message will self-destruct after it is completed—why are you running, Bells?”
“Just starting to get back in the habit,” Bells says. “Why’d you delete our group chat? Twice?”
“What part of not secure do you imbeciles not understand? Inter-communications, especially text, are easily compromised. We’re going to meet at a location to be disclosed at oh-nine-hundred hours to discuss the next steps. B—out!”
Bells shakes his head, but he can’t help the grin that’s starting to pull at his lips. Any plans are better than worrying about what’s coming next.
The basement in the Trans’ home has always been their domain, where they hang out after school and eat junk food and lounge about and have movie marathons. Jess decorated it with posters of The Hay Hays, her favorite band, which Bells admits to liking too, however cheesy their music is, and of the cast members of Vindicated. There are dozens of holos of Jess and Emma and Bells together, and he’s pleased to see new holos of Jess and Abby giggling and laughing with their MonRobots.
“This meeting is coming to order!” Emma bangs the gavel on the table. Where did she get a gavel?
Emma beams at them and asks for team name suggestions. Bells looks at Jess, who looks at Abby, who looks back at Bells, and the three of them stare at Emma as she rattles off possible team names, ending with, “And my favorite, the Sidekick Squad.”
Abby raises her hand. “I’m not a sidekick. I don’t think any of us are.”
Emma laughs. “I know we aren’t; it’s ironic.” She points at the title and nods enthusiastically. “It’s funny. Like we’re owning it, because some people would call us sidekicks, but we’re not.”
“I like it!” pipes up a voice from the door. Brendan carries in a tray of what looks like the inner workings of many different devices. Brendan sets up a desktop projector and hooks up, not a DED, but a large, square console.
“Wait, what’s Shorty doing here?” Emma asks.
“I’m part of the Sidekick Squad too!” Brendan doesn’t look up from his strange-looking console. “I organized this meeting—”
“Uh uh, no kid brothers,” Emma starts. “When did you even—”
“He figured it out.” Jess shrugs.
Hands on her hips, Emma glares at Brendan. “You didn’t organize this; I did. You just complained about how insecure our communications were. And your huge ‘secret to be disclosed location’ was so obvious—”
“Right, like you’re so great at running a covert operation, talking openly in messages—”
Jess sighs. “Look, you know Brendan’s a genius. He’s a brilliant engineer, not to mention a bunch of other things.”
“Explosions, Jess—” Emma folds her arms together.
“I don’t think he’s made anything explode by accident in the last year,” Bells says, which earns him a pleased smile from Brendan.
“If anything explodes, that’s on purpose,” Brendan says, blushing. He nudges aside the main projector with Emma’s datachip in it and gets to work on an entirely new system. His hands fly as he sets up a desktop projector and an old-school keyboard, which has actual buttons.
Abby chuckles. “Neat.”
“I like the clickety-clack noise they make,” Brendan says.
“Yeah, totally vintage,” Abby says. “Not as convenient as typing on a projector-board, but very cool. Your little bro’s got style, Jess.”
The holo projector gleams to life, and a cool blue light illuminates a stylized text that reads: Sidekick Squad. The words hover above the projector.
Brendan beams. “See? I organized too.”
Abby, Jess, and Bells groan in unison.
“We don’t need a name!” Bells says. “This is just… a group. A secret group that’s dedicated to—”
“Even though our parents say we should just focus on school, we can definitely contribute—” Brendan butts in.
“They don’t know everything,” Jess says. “I mean, my mom says they’re taking care of it, but I haven’t seen them do anything other than hang out with your mom and eat. I’m kinda surprised at how well my parents get on with your mom, considering they were sworn enemies.”
Bells chuckles. “That would make a hilarious story: Smasher and Shockwave now best friends with Mistress Mischief! Putting their famed rivalry finally to rest, the dynamic duo sets their sights on a new goal: brunch.”
Abby laughs. “I think they just like having friends they can talk with about meta-human stuff. They already have in-jokes. Something about the giant silver cup that they kept stealing from each other. Last week I think my mom asked your mom how to make dumplings, because she made some for me.”
“But the rivalry was all fake, though, right?” Bells asked. “I mean, it’s not that weird that they would become fast friends.”
“Plus, they have a united goal: finding Abby’s dad and…”
Emma coughs and taps the gavel lightly on the side of the coffee table-slash-holo projector. “Okay, speaking of goals, I’ve called the meeting to order. Present, we have—”
“Oh, oh, I’ve got it,” Brendan says. “I hope you guys like it.” He swipes his hand on his control pad. Sidekick Squad disappears and new lines of text appear, hovering in front of them like a movie title.
The room erupts into a chaos of noise.
“Mischief Girl? That’s so derivative, and I don’t want to have the same name as my parents!”
“Why does Brendan get to name us anyway?” asks Bells.
“Compass?” Jess says.
“The Pretentious Chameleon, haha, thanks, you remembered that.”
“Compass, really?”
“Wait, who’s Mastermind?” Abby wants to know.
“That would be me,” Emma says smugly. “Because I’m the brains of this outfit.”
Brendan coughs.
Emma knocks his shoulder with hers. “Look, I don’t deny that you’re brilliant and a genius, but I am clearly the mastermind of this operation. I came up with the name for the team and I’ve got the whole big-picture thing going on—”
“I’m Mastermind!” Brendan says.
“You are fourteen.” Emma sticks her tongue out at him.
“Compass sounds ridiculous, Bren-Bren,” Jess says, frowning.
“I think it sounds cool,” Abby says. “Think of how it would look on your own comic book.”
Jess leans back and scrunches up her face.
“Well, if I’m not Mastermind, where’s my name?” Emma asks pointedly.
Brendan fidgets, tugging at his collar. “Uh, I didn’t think you would want a codename, since you know—”
“I know what?” Emma says icily.
“Everyone on this team is important,” Jess says, leveling Brendan with a look. “Powers aren’t what make us heroes.”
“Yeah, and you don’t—” Emma starts.
Jess turns The Look at Emma. “Brendan is on this team too. He made a mistake.”
“I’m sorry,” Brendan says, looking at his feet.
Abby takes the keyboard from him. “Emma, you’re Mastermind.” She types quickly, and Mischief Girl is erased. She types Abby instead, and then after Mastermind, Compass, and The Pretentious Chameleon, she adds: Shortstack.
“Hey!” Brendan crosses his arms.
“You’re the shortest and the youngest,” Abby says. “You don’t get to complain about the names, since you thought Emma wouldn’t want one.”
“Okay, can we start now?” Emma asks, rolling her eyes.
“All right, let’s go.”
“Okay, today’s agenda. Locating Phillip Monroe, also known as Master Mischief, also known as Abby’s dad.”
Brendan taps at his control pad and a number of documents and images of Master Mischief and Phillip are projected into the air, looking larger than life. With Abby sitting behind the profile of her father, it’s easy to see the resemblance: the same heavy eyebrows and strong jaw. Abby flicks her hands through the pixels and enlarges the holo of the map.
“Phillip Monroe disappeared sometime last year—sorry, I don’t know when,” Emma says apologetically.
“It’s okay,” Abby says. “It was at the end of the summer, right before school started. He and my mom told me they were going to a robotics conference in New Bright City for two weeks, and two weeks came and went and they… just stopped responding to my messages. At first, I wasn’t suspicious. Sometimes they would disappear for a while, especially if they were doing stuff with the United Villain’s Guild. That’s always off the grid: no connection to the Net, no communication. But they’d always give me a timeframe and contact me when they said they would.”
Jess takes Abby’s hand, interlacing their fingers.
“I was already working at Monroe Industries. I started that summer as an intern, and I wanted to do research and development, but my dad wanted me close. I think he didn’t want anyone to realize that I was his daughter.” Abby closes her eyes. “He said it was too risky, even though only my dad and a few members of the board of directors knew any details about the experimental division, let alone that Dad was actually Master Mischief.”
Brendan brings up several sketches of MonRobots.
Abby squints. “How did you… Ah. This isn’t the latest version. This one was leaked to the board before my parents disappeared. But still, this is Monroe Industries property…”
Brendan clicks his tongue. “I stole it to help find your dad. You’re welcome.”
Abby rolls her eyes, smiling. She gestures for Brendan to continue.
“So, in 2123 Monroe starts working on features for the new line of MonRobots that include home security, defense, the works,” Brendan says, going over the sketches.
Bells narrows his eyes at what look like prongs. “What would be the point of these? Defense from what?”
“Exactly,” Abby says. “The average citizen doesn’t need a MonRobot to protect their home. But the Collective has a lot of interest in this project, especially for a country that has hands in conflicts overseas and would love a new weapon.”
Something in Bells’ stomach sinks.
Abby shudders. “Okay, so my dad was against this from the start, but his partner pressured him to complete the plan. To see if it was possible. For science. But it never got developed. Or shouldn’t have. I don’t know.” She glances away. “I think when the League had my parents kidnapped they were separated. Orion had my mom in that base where she was doing her strength experiments, and my dad…”
“We’re gonna find him, Abby.” Bells can’t imagine how he’d feel if it were his parents.
The room echoes with the chorused agreement.
“So, I found out what our parents have been doing this week,” Brendan says. “They’ve been talking with Abby’s mom and have already started looking for Master Mischief.” A smug smile stretches across his face. “Mom hasn’t changed her security passwords since I was born. Okay, they’ve started a basic info search and talked to people in their networks of heroes and villains. They haven’t asked me for help. As far as they know, I’m too young and too busy. I’ve scheduled lots of appearances at academic conventions to talk about my latest article on the meta-gene, but those are pre-recorded and audio-only, since the mysterious Dr. B. Vinh Tran hates cameras.” Brendan winks. “So! I have the most time to work on this project, because all of you are still in high school.” Brendan looks incomparably smug.
Abby nods. “Shortstack is right. All of us still have to go to school.” She clenches her fists. “I don’t know how I can concentrate on anything. My mom says not to worry about it, that she’s handling it, but… she keeps getting distracted. I come home, and random things are floating around, and she doesn’t even notice. Her control has been slipping.”
Jess squeezes her hand. “Brendan, can you come up with an algorithm to look for him? Like cross reference any unusual chatter… I mean, can you get into the NAC servers?”
Brendan cracks his knuckles. “I’ll work on it. They can’t keep me out forever.”
Emma bangs her gavel. “All right, good. First item on the agenda has been dealt with. Next item… the Resistance. What do we know about them? Do they even exist?”
Abby’s eyebrows shoot all the way up into her hair. “Why is this a legitimate agenda item? There isn’t an actual group of people trying to take down the Collective.”
“There might be,” Jess says. “And they would have resources, you know, to get the truth out about the League.”
“Yeah, how much of it is the government and how much of it is the League…” Emma muses. “I’m sure if my mama didn’t know about this, most of the Council believes that the hero-villain fights are real.”
Bells starts up the stairs. This sounds as if it’s going to take a while. He’s pretty sure the Resistance is just a story, something people joke about when they’re unsatisfied.
“Where are you going?” Brendan asks. “We’re going to need your insight about the inner workings of the League—”
“Snacks,” Bells says, patting his stomach. “Or maybe second breakfast. Can’t plan on an empty stomach, you know.”
He darts up the basement stairs, two at a time, and then falls over his feet in the living room.
“Uh… Ma? Dad? What are you guys doing here?”
Nick Broussard beams at his son. His arms hold two large cases, the cooler units they use to transport vegetables. It looks as if he’s on a Grassroots run, but Bells knows the schedule. They’re not doing another local delivery until next week.
Right behind him, Collette carries several duffel bags and calls through the open door to the Trans’ garage. “Are you sure this will all fit in the Smashmobile? It doesn’t look like there’s a lot of storage space, Victor.” She spots Bells and kisses him on the forehead. “Hi, Bells,” she says, casually, as if she isn’t packing for what looks like a very long trip.
“Appearances are deceiving!” booms Victor’s voice from the garage.
Li Hua, holding more luggage and several data consoles, comes down the stairs. “Oh, hi, Bells! Are you kids watching a movie? I just restocked the kitchen; there should be plenty of food!”
From the kitchen, Chả, the Trans’ custom MonRobot, wheels into the room with a suitcase balanced atop its little round silver body.
“Uh. What is happening?” Bells blurts. “Where are you all going?” He opens the basement door and yells down the stairs. “You guys better get up here. There are some shenanigans happening and— Emma, your moms are both here!” He glances at the two women who’ve just come down the stairs.
“Both? What in the…” Emma’s voice trails off, and she runs up the stairs, crashes into Bells, and sends him stumbling forward a step.
Samantha Robledo and Josephine Gutierrez wave at them. “Bells, dear!” Josephine says. Bells doesn’t know Samantha well; she travels a lot for work. He always is a little embarrassed by the details she does remember, especially when he was eight and she made horchata and he drank himself into a stomachache.
“Hi,” Bells says, shyly.
“What are you doing in town? Done with Council business already?” Emma squeezes past Bells. She pulls Samantha into a hug.
“These are Emma’s friends, you remember, right?” Josephine teases as Jess, Abby, and Brendan pile into the living room next to Bells.
“Bells, you’ve gotten so tall!” Samantha says. “And Jess, look at that smile. It’s so good to see you all. You know, I can’t remember when all of us have gotten together?”
Jess looks at all of them. “What’s going on?”
“Let me get that for you.” Genevieve appears in the garage doorway. A look of concentration crosses her face, and the boxes in Nick’s arms float into the air and into the garage.
Nick laughs. “That skill is so helpful. Li Hua, you’ve been holding back on us.”
“Please, this is nothing.” Li Hua blushes as she takes Collette’s bags, stacks them atop what she’s already carrying, and follows Genevieve into the garage. “There, that’s almost everything!” The click of a trunk being shut echoes in the awkward silence as everyone looks around at one another. Bells can see his dad rubbing the back of his neck as if he feels guilty about something, which he should, because it looks as though all their parents are going on a rescue mission.
“The plan came together really abruptly,” Collete says gently. “We were about to tell you—”
“And we’re all here! This is great, we can just say goodbye to all the kids right now, saves us a bunch of time.” Victor rubs his hands together as he comes into the living room with Genevieve and Li Hua behind him.
“What do you mean, goodbye?” Jess says.
“Is this about finding Master Mischief? We should be coming too!” Brendan says. “We can help!”
Bells nods. They can withdraw from school and finish the rest of the year independently. This is more important; a sense of purpose quickens his pulse.
“Did Dad respond to the coded message you sent him? Is he okay? Do you know where he is?” Abby asks, all at once.
“Abby—” Genevieve pulls her into a hug. “He hasn’t responded. Wherever they’re keeping him, he doesn’t have access to the Net. Or if he does, he’s being constantly monitored and isn’t going to risk letting them know about us.”
“So, what? We’re just giving up?” Tears flood Abby’s eyes.
“No, of course not,” Genevieve says, smoothing down Abby’s hair.
“We have a lead on how the villains went missing,” Li Hua says. “All the ones who’ve vanished this year, including Master Mischief.”
“And now we know Orion isn’t in Corrections, because meta-humans are still disappearing,” Victor says.
Genevieve nods. “She’s continuing her experiments, even without League support. In the files Jess recovered from her personal DED we found a detailed list of the meta-humans she’s planning to capture next.”
“We need to get them to safety,” Li Hua says.
“We can help,” Emma says.
“Yes!”
“I can start packing right now!”
“I’m ready,” Bells says, crunching his knuckles.
“Look, I know you kids think this is your fight, but it isn’t.” Victor places a hand on Jess’ shoulder. “We appreciate everything you’ve done to help us, but the NAC and the League have a lot of resources. They have meta-humans with powers that you can’t fight.”
“But you’re all going!” Emma protests.
Josephine shakes her head. “We were just helping them get started. Your mama is taking the train back to New Bright City in the morning. I’ll be here, don’t worry.”
“And you guys?” Bells says in alarm, looking at his parents. “Who’s gonna run the farm? The restaurant?”
Collette and Nick give him a small smile, and Bells knows it’s pointless to argue. It’s not as if they haven’t worked away from home before or gone out of town at the last minute. They do lots of organizing with Grassroots across the entire Collective and sometimes don’t even tell Bells until they’re on the road, but this is different. This is dangerous, and he’s concerned.
“Sean is going to manage the farms, and Simon is going to help when he’s not at school, and we’ve got a great staff and plenty of MonRobots on our team. Don’t worry,” Nick says.
“I’m more worried about you guys,” Bells mutters.
“Is it because we’re kids, and you think we’re not gonna be useful because our powers aren’t ‘cool’ in combat?” Jess’ lip wobbles.
“Oh, of course not.” Li Hua wraps Jess in a hug.
Victor pats Jess awkwardly and gives Bells and Emma a stern look. “We just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“So it is dangerous!”
Li Hua glares at her husband. “No, look, we’re just more equipped to handle this sort of thing.”
“My parents aren’t meta-humans! What was that about powers and… and… people not getting hurt?”
Victor pats Bells on the shoulder. “Your parents have an extensive underground communication system with their guerrilla farmer’s network that may be able to help us find Phillip.”
“We’re adults; we know what we’re doing,” Collette says.
Samantha nods. “This is an adult mission. You kids should just focus on school. Don’t worry. I’m going let the Council know about the corruption in the League, and we can dismantle this system from the inside.”
Li Hua nods at Jess. “Watch over your little brother. I left extra fire extinguishers in case anything happens. There’s plenty of food in the freezer, and I’ve put more credits in your account if you want to order anything.”
“Mom!” Jess says, shaking.
There are more hugs and goodbyes, and then Nick taps Bells on the shoulder. “Why don’t you help me with these last two coolers, son.”
Bells follows his dad outside. “Looks like you’re doing a lot of Grassroots stuff on the way,” Bells comments.
“Just a little. Might as well, if we head out that way. Plus, fresh vegetables open a lot of doors,” Nick says. “Well?”
“Well, what?” Bells folds his arms crossly. “You want me to say good luck and be careful and all that? Good luck!” He tosses the words out, sharp and biting. “Be careful!”
“How long are you gonna be mad at me?” Nick folds his arms, mirroring Bells.
“Why can’t you leave it to Genevieve and Jess’ parents? Why do you and Ma have to go?” Bells realizes that he’s looking down on his dad; he’s taller, now. A lump rises in his throat.
“Because it’s important,” Nick says, as if it’s as simple as that. “And you know that if you were in our shoes and you had the opportunity to help, you would.
“You’re like me and you have to do something when you see something’s wrong. It’s what makes you a hero, kid.”
“Da-ad,” Bells says, intending a whine, but he can’t help but smile. “Thanks.”
“I’m so proud of you, Bells.” Nick pulls Bells into his arms. “I know you feel terrible about working for the League before you knew they lied about, well, everything, but your heart is in the right place.”
Bells closes his eyes and hugs his father. “Good luck. Be careful.”
“A-ha, my son does care about me.”
“Shut up.”
“Look.” Nick steps back and holds Bells by the shoulders. He squares his jaw. “I know you, Bells. I know even if your mother and I both tell you to stay in Andover and go to school and be a good boy and let us handle it, that you won’t. You’ll either find a way around it or come right after us.”
He’s not wrong. Is it worth it to deny it?
His dad holds him steady. “Be careful. Finish as much schoolwork as you can, and there’s a signed request for independent study at the house. Use it only in case of emergency. You hear me?”
“Of course,” Bells says.
The Smashmobile is packed, except for one last suitcase Chả carries into the garage.
“Yeah, we really need to go.” Li Hua picks up the luggage and puts it in the trunk.
“Chả was trying its best,” Jess says, picking up the little robot and clutching it to her chest. “There, there.”
After more hugs and kisses and goodbyes, the Smashmobile flickers as its camouflage activates. The bright colors fade to a mundane teal, and Smasher’s fist logo disappears into the paintwork. The adults wave cheerfully at the teens, and then the car pulls out of the driveway and down the street.
“Okay,” Bells says. “What do you bet that we find Master Mischief before they do?”
* * *
Later that weekend, after exhausting efforts to find any mention of the Resistance or Master Mischief’s whereabouts on the Net, the newly formed Sidekick Squad hunkers down to form a plan.
“What we should do is list our assets and figure out what we can do to improve as a team. What we can teach each other,” Emma says.
“Great idea!” Brendan says.
Bells laughs. Despite Emma and Brendan butting heads at the first of their team meetings, they’re the ones most enthusiastic about details. Getting started is simple. They put down a few things as they come to mind, and then Emma goes off on a tangent, rattling off her own skills. Brendan takes careful notes, while Bells and Jess give each other knowing glances.
“Oh, and I’m really good at driving. I passed my test with flying colors. The Manual Driving Authority said no one in Andover has ever had higher marks… and I’m brilliant, of course, going to be the first person to get us back on track to go to Mars…”
Bells laughs. “Did you guys ever hear how Emma got detention because Mr. Palm just didn’t understand her theory?”
“No, what?” Brendan pauses his typing.
“Well, it was on space travel in general, and how not pursuing it wasn’t due to the lack of fossil fuels, since most ships used nuclear power,” Emma starts.
Bells grins. He loves it when she gets into science-mode.
“Mostly the essay was about how the United Federation was more focused on bringing us out of the Disasters, and how the general public was scared of nuclear energy, so the space program was seen as huge waste of time.” Emma’s eyes glitter.
This is his favorite part, and he leans forward, resting on his elbows.
“But it wasn’t. I mean, we can’t really afford to go into space right now, but eventually we’ll need to repair satellites or send up more. And lots of technological advances were in the pursuit of space travel, and we use that tech all the time.”
“What do you think, Abby?” Jess asks.
Abby’s shoulders are hunched, and she’s staring at the list Brendan is making, at the words lit up in the air. There are a number of skills under each of their names but there’s barely anything written in Abby’s column.
“Sorry, you guys go ahead. I need a minute,” Abby says, stepping out of the room.
“Abby…” Jess frowns and follows her.
At the sight of Emma’s frown, Bells, says, “They’ll be fine. We’ll give them some time and meet up with them later.”
When they step inside Abby’s front door later that day, Chả the MonRobot leaves its charging dock with an excited meep! and heads toward them, only to be distracted when Jess stands up.
Chả vacuums in a noisy circle until it bumps into Jess’ feet, and she chuckles. “There’s a spilled bowl downstairs,” she says, and the MonRobot cheeps happily and buzzes off.
The living room is a jumble of many still-unpacked boxes and wires and tech. Next to Brendan’s vintage setup and Abby’s sleek new consoles are Brendan and Abby in a heated conversation; the plans for a mecha-suit float above them.
“I’m just saying, if we add this component you could fly without your powers—”
“I’m not going to wear a mecha-suit with a live nuclear reactor! Haven’t you learned anything from X29!”
“Maybe the radiation will help you get your powers back! Maybe even stronger!”
“That’s not the way it works!” Abby puts her hands on her hips and looks to Jess.
Jess gestures at Emma and Bells. “Look, everyone’s here. Come on, come on. And Brendan, if Abby doesn’t want a new mecha-suit, don’t build one for her, okay!”
Brendan fidgets, looking at his feet. “What if I already started…”
Abby throws her hands up. “It’s hopeless; this design won’t work,” she says, but it looks as if she’s biting back a smile.
Bells listens to the thump, thump of Chả slowly making its way down the stairs and settles on the couch. Emma is on her DED, flicking through newsholos and magazines.
“You would think with the public knowing Captain Orion was behind all these terrible things, people would think differently about the League,” Emma says, stopping on the latest cover of STARS TODAY!. Starscream has a new haircut, the headline announces, and Bellevue and Starscream have been seen together, and it’s possible that they’re dating.
Bells eyes Emma’s holo. It’s not that he thought the trivial gossip would come to an immediate end… but isn’t there more news? After all, people were talking about Captain Orion kidnapping people and experimenting on them. Even without mention of the League or the hero-villain conspiracy there’s no way to deny that this happened.
Jess does a quick search on her own device. “That’s weird… There aren’t any mentions of Captain Orion at all.”
“Typical,” Abby says. “Ignoring, ignorant—”
“No, that is significant,” Emma says, raising her hand. “Complete dismissal of Orion, their favorite? She was the darling of the country, easy paparazzi fodder. Ignoring her entirely? That’s a statement.”
Bells nods. “I agree. I don’t know what it means, but it’s ominous.”
Jess’ eyes widen. “They’re not just dismissing her. They’re not talking about her at all, and soon… I bet this ugly blip in the League’s history will soon be rewritten just as they want it.”