Death Makes Me Stronger 4, page 22
I watched for a couple more seconds before I turned and headed right toward the Heroes Society. Everyone was so focused on their work that a random guy on a longboard wasn’t worth noting, and soon the metal and glass skyscraper came into view. I looked around to make sure that no one was watching and then darted upwards to the open conference room window.
“Welcome back,” Vera said as I closed the window behind me. “What did you find?”
“Kyle is definitely planning an attack tonight,” I said and hopped off the hoverboard.
The other superheroes had gathered around the conference room table, and it was the first time that I’d seen Mrs. Krux in anything other than her pink bathrobe. The old woman nodded once as I walked over to sit next to Golden Weaver, and I flashed a smile at the tough retired super.
“You’re positive?” Golden Weaver asked.
“Very,” I said. “The tracker that Junior and Orion made led me to the north forest. I’m pretty sure the bunker is somewhere near the river, but before I could find it, two trucks flew by, and the tracker went crazy saying that they were filled with Vis.”
“And you used the chemical tracker to be sure that it wasn’t something in the forest?” Junior asked.
“Yes,” I said. “I followed them all the way to the city square.”
“And the news says that there’s going to be a festival tonight,” Orion added.
“Where the new mayor will be revealed,” Vera said and adjusted her wings like an irritated owl. “I’ve already been informed that if anyone from the Heroes Society makes an appearance, then the National Guard will put us in a federal super prison.”
“Naturally,” Mrs. Krux rolled her eyes. “Leave it to the government to side with villains. But I thought some of your people crossed over to the police department.”
“They apparently don’t count as part of the Heroes Society anymore,” the eagle-woman said with a sharp clack of her beak.
“Which isn’t surprising,” I shrugged. “Kyle already has Blue Frost under his control, and it wouldn’t be hard to either convince the others to help him, or just take over their minds.”
“I’ve been tracking Chief Alvarez and Blue Frost,” the Watcher spoke up and shifted in her seat. “They’ve been talking to a lot of police officers, but not a lot of National Guard. Of course, I have to keep going in and out so that their hacker won’t find me.”
“They’re probably discussing the plans for tonight,” I said. “I don’t think that Blue Frost would willingly attack the citizens of New Liberty. He’s a selfish asshole, but he’s not a supervillain.”
“He probably thinks it’s a normal festival,” Golden Weaver sighed. “His ego won’t let him believe anything else.”
“They kept mentioning a fireworks show that’s supposed to be life-changing,” the petite redhead frowned. “But I don’t think they were actually talking about fireworks. There was something about the way that Chief Alvarez said it that was weird.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Orion gasped and turned to Junior. “You don’t think…?”
“That would definitely ensure that it covered everyone,” the other tech super said like they shared the same brain. “And no one would be able to escape.”
“Could you share with the class?” Vera asked with a pointed look between the two men.
“Okay,” Orion said and took a deep breath. “Hear me out. What if… what if Kyle managed to aeresolize Vis and spread it somehow through the crowd, like a gas attack but on a huge scale? Just about everyone will be outside to watch, and an explosion high in the air will give you a greater dispersal pattern. Anyone with the super gene will mutate--”
“And anyone who isn’t a super would die,” I said as my heart dropped to the floor. “There’s no way that we’d be able to save them all.”
Silence fell on the conference room as we processed the revelation. It definitely sounded like something that Kyle would do, and it would explain the extra food and alcohol vendors in the city square. If they really infused Vis into a gas, then the people would be too drunk and full to run for their lives.
“We need to get Raven, Briar, and Paul out of the city,” I said. “Now.”
“I’ll take them,” the Watcher volunteered. “I-I can do it. And no one knows who I am, so I won’t be stopped if there are checkpoints.”
“Are you sure?” Vera asked with a sympathetic look at the meek woman.
“I’m p-part of the Heroes Society, too,” she said firmly, though tears pricked her eyes. “I can do it.”
“Thank you,” I said with a relieved smile.
“I’ll give you Harper and Marty’s location,” Vera said. “The rest of us will prepare for tonight. We have to stop whatever attack he has planned.”
“And Kyle himself,” I said. “We should split into two teams. One that can take care of the attack, and the other that can take out Kyle and his goons.”
“We’ve got plenty of weapons,” Golden Weaver said. “So it won’t hurt us to split up.”
“And psychic blocking bracelets,” Orion added.
“Mother and I will help in any way that we can,” Junior added.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve used my powers,” Mrs. Krux said with a terrifying smile. “And I’d love to use them to take down a villain like this Kyle Isles.”
“I’ll make everyone’s masks,” the Designer spoke up for the first time. “I should have enough time. You can wear them instead of your hero costumes so that no one will stop you, and they’ll filter out the Vis if something goes wrong.”
“Perfect,” I nodded and looked around the table. “We have a plan. We should head to the festival before it gets too crowded so we can get into-- wait!”
“What?” Vera asked.
“It’s the fireworks,” I replied.
“Huh?”
“Kyle is going to use the fireworks to disperse the Vis agent” I said.
“That… makes total sense.” Orion nodded.
“So let’s plan to take out the fireworks.”
“The news said that the fireworks are scheduled for nine o’clock,” Orion said as he stood. “That should give us plenty of time to disarm them. And it’ll be easier to sneak around after sundown.”
“Sounds good,” I said and clapped my hands together. “Let’s do this.”
My eyes followed the Watcher as she rushed out to get Raven, Briar, and Paul out of the city before the festival. Even if everything went wrong, then at least they’d be safe, and I wouldn’t have to worry about them during the battle with Kyle Isles.
Everything was coming to an end.
It was time to take the evil psychic down.
And get justice for Admiral Freedom and the other fallen superheroes in the process.
Chapter 15
“Can everyone hear me?” I asked over the comms.
“Loud and clear,” Golden Weaver said from across the square while everyone else chimed in that the in-earpieces worked fine.
“Good,” I said with a small nod. “Everyone knows what they’re supposed to do. Keep an eye out for anyone with red rings around their irises. And let me know the second that you find Kyle.”
“He’s near the stage,” the Watcher said in a soft voice. “Next to Chief Alvarez, Blue Frost, and some man that I’ve never seen before. I have facial recognition running, but it might take a while before we get a hit. The internet out here is very slow, especially with all of the firewalls Marty has in place.”
“It’s better than them finding us,” Marty huffed from somewhere near the Watcher.
“Just do what you can,” I interrupted before the cousins could get into it. “And everyone make sure that you have your face masks on. The last thing we need is for Kyle to figure out who we are and stop us.”
The city square had been completely transformed for the festival since I’d seen it that morning, and there were so many alcohol vendors that it was like every bar in New Liberty had set up a temporary stall. Anything that could be deep fried had been and was available for free, just like the booze, and everyone seemed to have indulged themselves since the whole thing started. Everywhere I looked there were more citizens with giant multi-colored drinks, crazy straws, and greasy paper trays.
Even some National Guardsmen stood in line at the food stalls, and glowsticks, tiaras, and light up necklaces were being given away like it was the Heroes Festival all over again. Laughter and cheers went up from the nearby game booths, and a little girl with a giant stuffed unicorn ran by with a cotton-candy covered face. It was like the entire city had finally breathed a sigh of relief, and there were enough cops and soldiers around that no one seemed worried about an attack.
Rage pulsed through my veins at the idea of the Vis that Kyle wanted to release over the crowd, and it took all of my self-control not to hunt the man down right then and there, especially with all the kids in the city square.
“I’ll be the perfect distraction, then,” Vera said and brought my attention back to the present moment.
The eagle-woman had already drawn plenty of attention from the growing crowds as she strutted through the square. Vera’s wings and height made it impossible for the head of the Heroes Society to blend in, but that worked perfectly. Chief Alvarez had warned her not to have any former employees at the festival, and it seemed like everyone in New Liberty had expected the fallen superhero to hide in her glass skyscraper, though that had never been her style.
Their shock made it easier to weave through the crowd since they were all focused on Vera, and soon I was close enough to the stage to see Kyle. The unassuming man had turned to stare at the eagle-woman too, and I could practically see the wheels turn in the supervillain’s mind. I grinned beneath my mask as he straightened his shoulders like that would make him as tall as her, but all it did was put the psychic’s face at perfect pecking height for Vera’s sharp beak.
The face masks that the Designer had given the rest of us were a basic black on the outside so that we blended in with the dozens of citizens that didn’t want to risk a cold with so many people and germs around. I’d kept my hoodie just as an extra layer of protection, so it didn’t take much for me to disappear into the crowd. It would be hard for Kyle to recognize me even if he looked right at me, and the PR agent hadn’t met the others without their costumes so he wouldn’t be able to pick them out, either.
I was almost positive that the unidentified man with the little group was the new mayor, especially in the three-piece suit that looked like it cost a year’s salary. His slicked-back hair had plenty of gray, and there was something familiar about the obvious politician that I couldn’t put my finger on, and it had nothing to do with the plastic smile that he flashed at anyone who looked in their direction. I watched as Vera walked up to the men, and for a second the stranger’s eyes went wide like a kid meeting his favorite superhero, but then a bright red ring formed around his irises and the man’s face went completely placid.
“Hello, gentlemen,” Vera said in a polite tone as she nodded to the trio and then turned to the newcomer. “I just wanted to come and congratulate you on your appointment as the interim mayor.”
“Thank you,” the man said in an emotionless tone. “I hope to become the permanent mayor once all of this is settled.”
“I’m sure,” the eagle-woman said and then turned to Kyle. “Mr. Isles, it’s so good to see you again. I wasn’t able to give you my condolences at Admiral Freedom’s funeral. It must have been hard to lose your best client, and I understand that you were close to the former mayor. It seems like everyone around you has been dropping dead lately.”
It took all of my self-control not to laugh as the eagle-woman taunted the supervillain, but then she flinched as if something had hit her. Orion had given us all the new psychic blocking bracelets that were supposedly powerful enough to keep Kyle’s abilities at bay, but if there was a strong enough psychic wave, then they’d be knocked out just like Golden Weaver had been the first time she wore it. Vera managed to stay standing, and the proud woman looked down at the shorter man like he was a bug on a windshield.
“You really should be careful,” she warned. “It’s dangerous to play games with people more powerful than you.”
Confusion crossed Kyle’s face, but then Blue Frost stepped forward to glare up at Vera. The ice super didn’t have the red rings around his irises that said that he was being controlled, but then again, I was pretty sure that the ambitious asshole had bought into whatever lies the PR agent had fed him.
“You’re not that powerful, Lady Vera,” Blue Frost sneered. “You’re capable, I’ll give you that, but you failed to protect the city. Once we’re done changing the game around here, then I’ll be the one in charge of the Heroes Society, and you’ll get to see what a real superhero can do.”
“Naturally,” the eagle-woman said, and her wings flicked out for a second.
The sudden movement must have intimidated the ice super, because he took a step back, and I darted behind a nearby tent before the man could see me. My hoodie and face mask were enough to make it hard to identify me, but the last thing that any of us needed was for Blue Frost to start something while Vera was trying to distract them. His bright blue eyes scanned over the spot where I’d been, like he’d sensed something, but then he frowned and turned back to the eagle-woman. He took a step back like he was afraid she might eat his liver, which seemed a distinct possibility given the angry expression on her face.
“I hope you followed our instructions,” Chief Alvarez interrupted the staring contest. “I have plenty of friends here that will gladly arrest anyone who tries to operate without a hero’s license.”
“I’m sure,” Vera said and turned to the chief of police. “I just wanted to come and see the celebration. It will be wonderful to once again live in a city where the officials care more about the people than their own ambition.”
I shook my head and pulled my attention away from the group for the moment to study the tent. There was something about the fabric that reminded me of the Designer, and when I ran a hand over the canvas, I realized that it was thicker than most festival tents that I’d seen over the years. It was also the only one in the entire square, and a quick look inside showed that it would definitely be big enough for Kyle and his lackeys to celebrate in, like they were royals at some ancient gladiator arena.
There was even a single large chair with a high back like a throne, and I rolled my eyes at Kyle’s obvious dramatics. If we didn’t stop him, then the psychic would no doubt try to take over the world, and the supervillain’s empire would be built on the bones of innocent non-supers, along with any super that didn’t want to commit genocide.
“Designer,” I whispered as I gripped the tent in one hand and realized that it felt a lot like a superhero suit. “Can you come to my location? This tent is weird.”
“Way ahead of you,” the older man said and stepped out from around the side of the tent. “This fabric isn’t as sophisticated as anything that I’d make, but it’s not without merits. It’s thick enough that it will be able to protect them from the Vis when it rains down on the city. And do you see these areas here? They’re designed to become clear with the press of a button. It’s an old trick that one of my friends in Saral came up with.”
“Of course they’d have a safe place for them to watch the chaos,” I rolled my eyes. “I’m guessing that the fabric doesn’t breathe?”
“Not at all,” the older man said as I released the tent. “Once they shut that main flap, they’ll be completely secure, and then they can make these parts here clear so that they can watch without fear of being sucked into the chaos.”
“But of course,” I said and poked my head around to check on Vera. “It’s not surprising. We knew that they’d have somewhere to hide. I just didn’t think it would be right in the middle of everything. Especially since Kyle usually prefers to watch from the sidelines.”
The eagle-woman had walked off to talk to one of the other superheroes that had joined the police department, but Blue Frost still had an eye on her. I didn’t see a red ring around the ice super’s eyes, but both the new mayor and Chief Alvarez were clearly under the psychic’s control. Vera wouldn’t be in any danger while the Mastermind still wanted to play pretend with the crowd, and she could take care of herself, but I still watched for a few more seconds before I turned back to the Designer.
“What is it?” I asked when I saw the frustrated expression on the older man’s face.
“I just don’t like this fabric,” he frowned and ran a hand over it. “It’s definitely the same design that my friend came up with, but this is sloppier than anything that he’s ever made.”
“Like he was coerced?” I asked.
“Maybe,” he said and then pulled his attention away to look at me. “One thing is clear, though. If my friend made this, then Kyle has associates in more places than just here and in Rusna.”
“That’s a problem for another day,” I sighed and checked my face mask. “Today we only need to worry about New Liberty. Is there any way that you could replicate this in time to make a shelter for some of the crowd?”
“No,” the fashion super snorted. “This takes months to make. But Orion did make me some very nice bracelets that will help me to dispense threads. I can use them like Golden Weaver’s webs to pull people to safety if anything goes wrong with the plan.”
“Speaking of which,” I said and glanced toward the roped-off section where the fireworks were supposed to be launched. “How is the sabotage coming?”
“Fine,” Mrs. Krux grunted into the comms as hers switched on. “But I think that I’m getting too old for this.”
The sound of fighting came through the line, and I snuck around the back of the tent to get a better view of the area. Little bursts of lightning flashed, but the thunder cracks that followed were drowned out by the music that blasted through the nearby speakers. I flinched as a high-pitched whine echoed across the city square like the electric pulses had interrupted the music’s feed, and the nearby citizens screamed in shock before the DJ managed to fix the problem with a swift punch to the speaker in question.
