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“Sometimes it does. She had the idea of finding a Retriever to show us where they moved the depowering machine, which was a great idea, but it didn’t work out.” My hands fidget, unable to hold onto the pizza. I drop a slice of double pepperoni and look up at Evan. “I have to figure this out. I have to find the machine and find whoever is responsible for stealing the power from it. If I solve this and turn in the villains then Central will see how valuable I am to the Hero Brigade. They’ll take off my probationary status and I’ll be a full Hero.”
“How does that affect Nova?” Evan asks.
“I’ll have more power as a full Hero. I would have gained their trust and I’d be able to convince them to let Nova live.”
“Do you think she could become a Hero, too?”
I laugh, but an uneasy feeling settles into my stomach. Would Nova ever be accepted into the Super society and allowed to study and test for Hero Status? Would I be able to live with myself if she did?
The beeping of an urgent news message interrupts our conversation. Urgent news messages are broadcasted onto every MOD screen worldwide but you can usually choose to ignore them or watch them later. It isn’t nearly as ominous as the lockdown alarm, but it’s still a rare event. Evan’s high definition MOD screen-television combo that hangs descended from the ceiling turns itself on and we rush over to it.
The royal purple crown of King City’s logo flashes on the screen. In the background is the briefing room in Central, a small stage with a podium and the King City flag hanging behind it. Though it’s not pictured, I know there’s a small seating area for about fifty people in front of the stage. I used to sit there while Dad gave his presidential speeches. The screen scrolls a message along the bottom, informing us that the urgent news message will begin soon. I see my father standing amongst many of the elders off to the side of the stage. They talk quietly with each other, their lips barely moving so I can’t decipher any of the words.
Hugo Havoc steps onto the stage, taking a position behind the podium. He clears his throat and makes a stern smile toward the camera. My dad and the other elders go silent and focus on Hugo.
“Good evening,” Hugo says. “Thank you for joining us for this announcement. First, I would like to welcome President Might back from what has been a thorough and successful recovery.” He gestures toward my father and the few people in the room clap. Dad nods toward the camera, his lips pressed into a thin line. A politician smile. It’s clear by the look on his face that this meeting isn’t about him, but about something else. Something that bothers him. That’s why his feet shift slightly as he stands, hands clasped together in front of him. He’s nervous. It takes a lot to make my dad nervous.
“Your dad looks really good,” Evan says, making me jump. I’d almost forgotten he was here. He bumps my shoulder with his. “Is your arm okay?”
I nod. Ever since the camera showed my dad, I’ve been touching my own depowered hand. I’ve learned to ignore the constant sensation that flows through my arm, the feeling of numbness and death and a lack of sensitivity. It isn’t easy to accept what’s become of my arm. I often wake up from nightmares about that day my arm got caught in the depowering machine. I can still feel the pain when I think about it. Watching my dad now, standing straight and handsome on the screen for everyone to see, I don’t know how he does it. How he survives now that he is powerless.
“Uh oh,” Evan mutters. My attention snaps to him and then to the television.
“Oh god.” A picture of Nova is on the screen now, all grainy and out of focus. It was taken the night she and Aurora’s group stormed into the Atrium, kidnapped and depowered my father and tried to kill me. Hugo’s words blur into background noise as I stare at the photo and recall memo
ries of that night. Nova was an excellent fighter. My fight skills have never been challenged so much as when we were going at it hand to hand. She doesn’t even seem like that girl now. She’s sweet and small and fragile. When that photo was taken, she was a monster.
“The elders have decided to capture and detain this villain for intel. She is no longer to be killed on sight. She will be apprehended, depowered and questioned. We believe she has information on the villain Aurora and other villains who associated with her. I repeat: This villain is to be apprehended and depowered. This villain is number one on our most wanted list. All Heroes and sub-Heroes share in the same mission to find her as of this moment. All civilian Supers with clues to this villain’s whereabouts are asked to call Information and report it.”
Nowhere in Hugo’s speech does he mentioned that Nova is my sister or Dad’s daughter. He treats her as if she is just another nameless villain who must account for their actions. I know this is done on purpose but it hurts to see my sister blasted on live television. Hugo keeps talking but I grab the remote and flip off the screen.
“This is good news,” Evan says, smiling like he really believes what he says.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I say, sitting on the couch behind me. Supers don’t get sick, but I don’t exactly feel well right now. “Dad obviously had a hand in convincing them to let her live.”
“That’s a good thing,” Evan says, squeezing my hand.
“Is it? She’s going to be depowered.”
“Depowered is better than dead. I’m sure your dad would agree.”
A shudder ripples through my body. The irony of what I’m saying doesn’t escape me. Earlier I hated the idea of her becoming a Hero, of her being able to continue being better than me. Now, there’s no way in hell I want her to be depowered. Even though taking away her powers would mean that I’ve won. That I’m better. That she’s the villain and I’m the Hero.
My BEEPR lights up with a new mission and that picture of Nova. The same mission that every other Hero on Earth just received.
VILLAIN WANTED ALIVE. IF CAPTURED, BRING VILLAIN TO RETRIEVER SQUAD FOR IMMEDIATE DEPOWERING.
In the long silence that follows, Evan says exactly what I’m thinking. “Can you trust Crimson and Nyx not to say anything? I mean, now that it’s their official mission?”
I look him in the eyes. He is sincere. He will not rat me out. He won’t turn on Nova. But Evan isn’t a Hero. I shrug. “Nyx won’t say anything. I’m confident of that. But Crimson…” My cheeks flush red as I become completely mortified at the idea of doubting her for even a second. I shake my head. “No. They won’t tell. Especially since my dad is helping us hide Nova. No one would betray my father.”
The surge in Evan’s power alerts me that something is going on in his head before he says anything. He sits up straight on the couch, his eyes far away while he formulates what he’s about to say.
“What!” I snap, grabbing his shoulder and shaking. “What are you thinking?”
His eyes narrow into mischievous slits. “What if you dyed your hair blonde? And talked Crimson or Max into pretending that you’re Nova and turning yourself in. Then they’ll take you to be depowered and you can tell them that you’re actually you, and not her. They won’t depower you because it’ll be a big misunderstanding, and you’ll know where the machine is.”
He smiles, all proud of himself.
