Aces Wild: Cape High Book Six (7 page)

"Because of this," Nico says, pulling out his phone and showing it to him.  "Your son?  He's got the potential to leave you in the dust, Blackjack.  Mimic knew that."

"How did he know it?"

"Because he comes from a future where he already has," Justin says quietly, making us all turn and look at the pop singer.  "I remember a little, remember?  I asked to remember Ace."

"What do you remember about me?" I ask.

"
It's sort of blurry, because I think a lot of it was erased, but I remember one thing pretty clearly.  You... sort of wanted to die."

What?  I stare at him blankly, wondering why in the world I would want that.  Is it inevitable?  I mean, they went to the future, but is the future set in stone?  I don't want to die!  I mean, I've been having it rough lately, and sometimes in my darker moments I feel like just walking away from it all, but--

"We're changing the future," Max says, making me look over at him.  He'd said the same earlier, hadn't he?  Something about "If I'm going to change the future."  So... this all, Banshee at the school, meeting the Cape High guys, it's all--

I'm so confused right now.  It doesn't help that Mom shoves her way through the crowd, glaring at Justin as if he's offended her for life.  "I don't appreciate you talking to my son like that," she snaps at him.  The look of confusion on his face is almost funny.  It would have been if I weren't still reeling over what he just said.

"It wasn't exactly death," he says, frowning.  "I think he just... you know... wanted Mimic to do what he just did.  So he could sleep.  I got the feeling he didn't sleep a lot at all, for some reason."

"I--" Mom starts out, but Dad drops his hand on her shoulder in a move that makes her glance up questioningly.

"I know," Blackjack says quietly.  "It would be my fault, wouldn't it?  You chose to remember Ace, right, Justin?" he asks.

"Yeah... I think he and I... you know, sort of became pals," Justin says hesitantly.  "I remember that I liked him.  Not sure why, exactly, but I liked him," he finishes with a shrug.  He jerks as Dad hugs him.

"You saved my kid," Dad says.  "Thank you.  I might let you pass math, after all."

"I was passing math already!" Justin says, jerking out of the hug and giving Dad a dirty look.  "And how is this saving him?  He's a norm now--I mean, I guess that's what he wanted, but--he's like... amazing, right?" he says, turning to look at Nico.

"Not yet, but he will be," Nico says.  "When we get his powers back.  Until then, we'll finish up the transfer papers--"

"No," Mom says.  "We won't."  The entire room turns to look at her.  She stares back at them with a defiant expression.  "He's not even an official member of the school and he's already been through something this traumatic.  I will NOT allow my son to go to this school.  I'll find someone to tutor him in his abilities, if necessary, but he will not be going to this school any time soon, or ever."

"Mrs. King," Nico says, stepping forward.

"I AM NOT MRS. KING!" Mom bellows, right in the face of an ex super villain that created Death Canyon.  "I am Ms. Nyler!  A single mother with a son that just happens to be a super!  NOTHING has changed
!  I'm keeping our son, Blackjack, I'm raising him in a stable environment--"

"From what they've said tonight, that stable environment has dangerous consequences on Ace--" Nico starts out.  He stops as Dad raises a hand in front of him.

"This is a family issue, Nico," Dad says quietly.  "Let me take care of it, for once."  He moves in front of Mom, towering over her by over a foot.  "Viv, our son is a super."

"I realize that!"

"Not only is he a super, he's a part of the Loaded Deck family.  He's got an entire line of supers behind him--some weaker, some stronger, most of them average at the A class line, like I do.  But not all of them."

She stares at him, her expression going from angry to confused and back again as he goes on.  "There are... certain Loaded Decks in the past that... have had difficulties," he says slowly, looking over at me with a hard to read expression.  "My grandfather was one.  When you have enough ability to make anything you think of a reality, reality starts to slip away.  That's why there's a special training for our family, one passed down from father to son. What I'm saying, Viv, is that I won't allow some two-bit hack of an illusionist try and train my son.  It could get him tossed into the Cape Cells, or worse."

"He's not a super right now," Mom says.  I visibly flinch, I know I do.  I don't even want to see my own eyes.  I'm a norm.  Sure, I pretended to be one all this time, but I'm an actual norm.  I feel like I've lost a major part of myself. 

I jerk as I feel a hand on my upper arm and glance over, looking at Carla.  She's staring up at me with a worried expression.  "It's okay," she says, patting my arm in a "there, there" move.  "We'll get them back."

I glance over at Vinny, unconsciously, wondering if he's going to rein the girl in again.  I'm pretty sure she's only like, thirteen, and that explains his protectiveness.  But he just watches me closely, so I hesitantly reach down and pull her hand away.  "It's fine," I lie.  "I just need some fresh air, now."

"Don't leave the campus," Nico says.

"What are they going to do to me, take away my powers?" I drawl darkly.  I head out of the building before he can reply, stepping into the night air.  I take a long moment to stare up at the moon, shoving my hands into my pockets.  I feel vulnerable.  My senses seem dulled, and a cool breeze actually threatens to make me shiver.  I don't even notice the movement behind me until someone speaks.

"Your speed, it's impressive."

I almost jump before turning to face Adanna, Sunny's girlfriend.  She's still gorgeous, I note as she gives me a little smile.  "I followed you earlier.  For someone that's never done much with their powers, you're not bad."

"Doesn't mean anything now, does it?" I say, looking away from her.  "I'm a norm, now."

"For now," she says, correcting my sentence.  "You don't feel you fit in here, do you?"

"Like I would?" I ask, looking back to the moon.  "Whatever has them all intent on getting me to come, I don't get.  I'm never going to be part of some big happy family of cape kids--"

"We aren't," Adanna interrupts.

"What?"

"There's not a big happy family here.  Sure, they try and get along, but there are two clear groups that don't often see eye to eye--or at all.  Max is a born leader," she says, walking closer to look up at the moon.  "He leads the kids that live in the apartment, and sometimes me.  Not often, of course," she adds with a shrug.  "But when you get to the kids in the apartments, they're led by Morgan.  There's a bit of a power struggle there, not that they seem to notice it, themselves.  No, that's a lie.  Max notices.  He tries very hard to keep from trying to take over."

"Why?"

"Because they have more internal conflict than he can deal with, living away from both groups as he does."

"Shouldn't Trent be the leader?" I ask, trying to figure out the group dynamics.

"Why?" she asks.

"Because he's like... he looks like the leader," I say a bit lamely.

"Looks aren't everything.  One day Max will give up pretending to be a super villain and take his rightful place, I think," she says.  "But it's his decision."

"What's his rightful place?"

"His father's position," she says.  "Didn't you know that Max is the son of Mastermental?"

I didn't.  I guess I'm shocked, but I've had so many shocks tonight that I'm feeling a bit numb.  "So... what are you leading up to?" I ask.

"I think this is your life," she says simply.  "You should decide where you fit in, and if it doesn't feel right at first, keep trying until you find your spot.  Super, norm, it doesn't matter.  What matters is that you know who you are.  Every single person in the dorm right now, they're all trying to find out who they are, too."

"What are you really trying to say?" I ask.

"You would fit in here--as much as anyone else does.  But it's your life, right?  Your choice.  You just need to think it through and explain what you think to your mother.  She loves you enough to listen."

"She's got a point, though," I point out.  "I never lost my powers before coming here."

"But you never got to use them, either," she says.  "I'll let you think about it."  Then she's gone, disappearing into the dorm and leaving me out here, shivering as another breeze hits me.

It's awkward, being walked home by Dad.  Mom had hesitated before getting in her car to drive, saying that she expected me home before ten, then left me to deal with Dad.  I mean, sure, I guess he's got this huge idea about "talking it out" or whatever, but I can't even remember the last time we had an actual discussion that didn't involve a lot of yelling, or more likely, him giving up a few minutes into it and walking away.

You know, Dad might come off as a playful, goof-off sort of hero, but when it comes to family relationships?  He sucks.  Like really, really sucks.  "I..." he starts out, making me glance over unconsciously.  "I... am sorry," he says.  "I'm good with details, have I told you that?  A light hits an object and it refracts a certain way.  You need to notice those sort
s of things when building an illusion.  Little things, like if someone is wearing a ring, and what type of ring it is, or if your uniform is supposed to have this at the sleeve or that.  But when it comes to the big stuff, I guess I'm blinder than most."

"You ain't whistlin' dixie," I mutter, using a term he used to say all the time--back when we used to talk.  It startles a laugh out of him, which fades into a mild smile playing at his lips.

"I'm going to get your powers back, Ace," he says, placing a hand on my shoulder.  "But I think, just for now, we should consider this little problem an opportunity in disguise."

"HOW is this an opportunity?" I demand, jerking away from him.  "You might not have noticed what I was, but I did!  I AM a super, Dad!  I have super speed, I have super strength--I have... I had--" I let out a curse, kicking a rock and watching as it pathetically falls only a half dozen feet away.  "I'm not ME anymore, Dad," I say, feeling just as pathetic as the rock.  "And here they're talking about sending me to a school for heroes when I'm actually a norm!  A real norm!"

"You're not a norm, you've just... a bit...
Look
," he says abruptly.  "There's been several cases where Mimic's taken someone's abilities before.  They don't just get turned into a norm, they get knocked out completely.  They're stuck in comas until they die.  YOU are alive, Ace.  You're awake and you're talking and you're yelling at me, and I think--no, I KNOW that's the most important thing in the entire freaking universe!  I almost lost you today, kid.  If we hadn't had Aubrey,
I would have
.  Do you know how serious that is?"

I can't answer.  I didn't realize it was so serious.  Now I feel like an idiot for being so hung up on losing something that, like Adanna said, I never got to really use anyway.  "I still don't see how this is an opportunity," I say, staring forward blindly.  I still feel empty and angry, like I've been robbed.  I have been.

"Because we can start on your training.  It'll be easier to set up the basics," he says.  "I should have done this when you were twelve."

"Ace?"

I stop at the voice, turning and looking behind us.  Jetta is standing there, wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans.  "I uh... wondered how you were feeling," she says.

Oh.  Wow.  No, seriously, she was worried about me?  SCORE! 

Er, I could have put that differently, couldn't I have?  Oh well, hot chick worried about me, you guys can just deal with it.  I walk over, forgetting that my dad entirely.  "I'm... um..."

Oh, right, she's a super.

"Your eyes," she says.  "They look... different."

"Yeah," I say, looking away.  "I... had something happen to me," I tell her.  All these awkward pauses.  Real smooth, don't you think?  "I guess, y'know, you could call me a norm for now."

The silence stretches thin before she goes, "Say what?"

"I said for now, I'm a norm," I repeat, daring to look at her.

"A norm."

"Yeah."

"How?  Why?  How could you let that happen?" she demands.

"I didn't really have much choice?" I say, starting to frown.  She doesn't sound like she's worried about me anymore.  If anything, she looks like she's angry at me.  "That girl that I pulled off of you, she was Mimic."

"Who?" she asks blankly.  "Look, is it permanent or can you reverse it somehow?"

"We--"

I blink as Dad's hand comes down on my shoulder.  "Why don't you introduce me to your friend, son?" he asks mildly.

"Um--" I say.  Look, there's some seriously conflicting thoughts going through my mind right now.  One, do you really want to introduce a hot girl to your father when you've barely said more than five words to her?  Two, is it embarrassing when your Dad wears a skin tight outfit when it happens--wait, that one
's already taken for granted.  Yes,
yes it really is
.  "Dad, you're in TIGHTS," I hiss out as quietly as I can.

"Ah, right," Dad says, the hand on my shoulder twitching slightly.  All of a sudden he's dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, which we ALL realize right now, is several minutes too late.  Or, if you ask me, several hours.  Years, maybe?  Well, either way, she's staring at him with a stunned expression.  "Nice to meet you," he says, holding out his hand.

"You're Blackjack?" she says, taking the hand and shaking it.

"I am," he says.  "And you are?"

"Jetta of the Airstream family," she says, still holding his hand.  "We're from the East Branch."

"You were supposed to be going up against Jack tonight, weren't you?" Dad asks in an almost pleasant tone.  "At the park?"

"Yes, sir," she says hesitantly.

"And why, exactly, were you at the Power and Light District when this happened?" he asks, still keeping that unsettling tone.

"I ah--followed Jack--"

"He told Nico what you did," Dad says, his tone getting darker.  "Nico told me.  Do you really think endangering a large group of norms just for a bigger spotlight is the act of a hero?"

"He--He's not a REAL super villain!" she snaps.  "He's just pretending to be one--he wouldn't have hurt anyone!"

"How do you know that for sure?" Blackjack asks.  "Sure, he goes to Cape High, but he's being trained by a real super villain--an ex super villain, sure, but that doesn't change his past status."

"You're just trying to scare me.  It's not working," she says, glaring at him.  I'd just like to mention that I feel really uncomfortable right at the moment.

"Look at my son," Dad snarls, pointing at me.  "There WAS a real super villain there.  He took my kid's abilities, he could have taken his life if we didn't have a healer.  And it was all because your little stunt took you, Jack, and him away from a safe, overseen area.  Don't even doubt that I'm going to have a discussion with your parents."

"Dad--" I start out, trying to calm him down.

"Her recklessness kept us from stopping Mimic before he got ahold of you, Ace.  Don't forget that."

"I decided to go," I say, looking him full in the face.  "I volunteered.  I wanted to make sure she looked good--"

"So you were stupid over a pretty face," Dad says bluntly.  "That doesn't change the fact that there was an agreement over how this debut would take place and she broke it.  You might not know this, girl, but I'm not just an old has-been hero.  I was fighting alongside Mastermental while your parents were still teething.  My son promised to be stronger than me--he still will be," he adds, looking at me.  "But if you think I'm going to let you talk to him now, to try and convince him to bail you out?  You're out of luck.  Ace, come on."

I look at him, I look at her, I think of just how hot she looks in the moonlight.

Then I think of my empty field.

"Sorry, Jetta," I say.  "I'll... talk with him."  I turn and follow Dad, my shoulders slumping as I try and come up with something to say.  It's almost half a mile before I venture, "She really was cute, though."

It startles a laugh out of my dad.  "I don't blame you for chasing a cape girl," he says.  "But I'd prefer it not be her."

"Why do I need to?  I'm a norm, now," I say, going right back to the problem that's gnawing on my brain.

"You won't be for long," he says seriously.  "I think... I know someone that might be able to help."

"Seriously?" I ask, trying not to sound like an eager little kid.  "You seriously know someone that can get my powers back?"

"Maybe... but Ace--"

"Who?  It's a cape, right?"

"Ace, are you really certain you want me to do this?" he asks, his serious tone making me pause.  "Can you give us a month or so before we go to drastic measures?  Because... well, I'm not sure even I can get away with what I'm thinking."

A month.  A month of feeling empty.  "I... as long as you try, if it looks like I'm never getting my powers back, I guess?"

"I promise," he says with a serious expression.  I haven't seen that look on his face before
.  It makes me uneasy.  Whatever he's thinking of doing seems pretty drastic.  "If you promise to switch schools willingly.  You can still live with your mother, I'll come and pick you up in the mornings, or send one of the black suits to get you.  But you can't stay in your old school."

"What about Matt and the teacher that was in there when you came?" I ask.

"I'll have a talk with them," he says.  "Don't worry about that.  Everything will work out, son.  I promise."

I want to believe him.

"Besides, there's cute girls in the school!" he goes on.

"Dad," I say.  "Just stop."

"I mean, if you're going to get in trouble for a pretty face, it might as well be one from your own branch, right?" he goes on.

"Just stop," I repeat.

***

I don't dream that night.  I don't usually dream, actually, or if I do, I don't remember them.  But this lack of a dream is eerie in a way, because I wake up knowing that I spent my entire night sitting in the middle of my paint field, staring at nothing.  So was it a dream of not dreaming?  Whatever it was, I'm still feeling a bit off when I wake up.  I get up and head for the bathroom to take a shower, accidentally looking in the mirror.

I shouldn't have done that.  The guy looking back at me has gray eyes, not dark, swirling, eerie eyes that I used to hate looking into, but now feel boring without.  Skinny, pale white guy with... nothing that makes him stick out.  Nothing that would make the kids at school unwittingly move out of the way, nothing--

Shouldn't I be enjoying that fact?  No, seriously, I've never been a normal looking kid.  Even before I started getting tougher I stuck out, because of my eyes.  Now... now I could run off and live like a norm--because I am a norm.  I'm not just pretending to be a norm, I AM a norm. 

I get in the shower, that little pep talk doing absolutely nothing for me.  I brush my teeth after I'm finished and head for my bedroom to get dressed.  This is my first day of school, so what should I wear?  Am I trying to make some sort of impression?  I mean, if I get picked on at this school I'll probably die...

"Ace?  Honey?" Mom asks at the door, opening it before I can respond.  "Honey, we have a... um... problem."

"What's that?" I ask, tugging on a shirt.

"Well, the person they sent to pick you up is--um--"

"A super villain," I hear someone call from the front.

"Yes.  That."

It doesn't sound like Nico.  "I'm here as well," I hear a more familiar voice say. 

"Oh, uh, it's Adanna, Mom," I say, grabbing some socks and sitting on my bed to put them on.  Then I stop, jerking as I catch a clue.  "Mom?  That super villain--what's he look like?"

She pauses and looks out the door before whispering, "A massive black man."

I almost trip over myself as I run into the front room, not even wearing my shoes yet.  The man standing in our front room--I think it's--

"Panther?" I ask.

He turns to me, smiling slightly.  "Nico mentioned that you lived on a street along our way to school
.  He said that he prefers an actual working cape bringing the students rather than them driving themselves," he says, offering his hand.  I shake it, feeling a bit stunned.  "And I believe I saw a picture done by you on my fanpage last night."

"What?" I say blankly, jerking as I realize something.  My backpack isn't here.  I must have left it somewhere--"Banshee," I mutter.

"Banshee?" he asks.

"She must have found my backpack.  Um, Mom, this is Panther.  Panther, this is my mom.  Um--we should get going, right?  School starts soon?"

"Oh no you don't," Mom says, stepping forward.  "One super villain took my boy's powers from him, how am I to trust another to take him safely to his new school?  I have no reason to believe that you're going to.  And trust me, I've heard about the large man--I know it wasn't a large cat that maimed him."

"Collector," Panther says calmly.  "Yes, I admit I went to see him, but the reason he's still unconscious is because of his own doing.  He slipped and hit his head."

"Like I believe that," she snaps.

"Papa?" Adanna asks, looking at him.

"It's been brought up before the Hall," Panther says.  "My punishment has already been decided."