Holding Out For Heroes
Well at last I'm updating, I had to rewrite the plot when my computer crashed so that's the dealy. Plus DF had a virus so his computer was screwed and like he said: "Why am I worried you do all the tough stuff". Well thanks a lot pal (I think he might be giving up with the fics and becoming a sort of councillor for fic writers...anyway)
Disclaimer: Alas not ours
Summary: Time moves on and things don't get much better
A/N: I didn't have many last names comitted to memory, if anyone knows them for sure shout it out to me
A/N2: I gave the upgrades for a reason you'll see later. They're gonna need them
A/N3: There are three author's notes yay for me - review and I'll add more
Also: Thanks to the reviewers, I'm compiling a list of the most frequent reviewers and will give dedications of superheroes throughout the story not that I will point them out but a superhero with a familiar name may pop up in a newscast etc. Just a little thank you if you like the story (if I get the gender wrong feel free to mention it to me in a non-violent manner...if I forget again violence is acceptable!)
Warren walked by Will without a word. It wasn't a surprise, he never spoke to Will. Ever and that was fine with Will…wasn't it? He shook his head and looked back at Madge and Zach who were being very nice to each other given that they'd broken up last year. He didn't know why.
Madge hadn't changed much; she was the same short, curvy girl with shimmering eyes and smooth mocha skin. She was an inch or two taller…but nothing much else had changed with the purple and black wearing girl
Zach on the other hand…he'd grown into his body, he looked quite like Eminem but taller and thinner…he wasn't trying to be a rapper anymore – for some reason he'd mellowed though he was still as "dopey" as ever.
Will smiled. Zach wasn't dense at all, he was just day dreaming about being a superhero… and recently he'd been having the "power spurts" that was when a teenager reached 16-17 and began to mutate a little. Their powers developed if they were weak before. Many students didn't change especially amongst the heroes but junior year was a great time for the Sidekick class as the Power Review Board let them move up to Superhero classes if they'd developed enough.
It would be good to see some of his friends in his classes.
"Hey Will" Myra had just stuck her head through the lockers. "Sorry if I startled you…" she added. She stepped out and became material again. "So – tell me…are you excited about the Review Board on Friday?"
"I am…totally stoked" grinned Zach slowly. "Wait until you guys see what I can do"
"It's unusual for him to be this good at keeping secrets" Madge said.
"Hmmm is it Corey Timmons the Shape shifter?" Myra mused. "Oh no…there he is…talking to Layla's bosom… I wonder if she realizes."
"Oh the boys being too obvious for her not to" Madge snorted.
Corey Timmons was a tall blonde, well when he was in neutral form. He was a guitarist with longish hair and a cool car. He could morph his body pretty well – not too far outside the human shape though.
Layla had blossomed. She'd started being able to control plants on a whole new level but on top of that she'd gotten even prettier. A natural beauty only augmented by her Body Shop moisturizer, eye shadow and lip gloss. Because testing on animals or eating them was very, very wrong.
Finished with Corey, Layla walked towards her friends. "Hey guys" she smiled. "What's up?"
"The Power Review Board – yae or nay?" Will asked.
"Um. The whole Sidekick-slash-Superhero divide is just wrong so I'm abstaining"
"It's mandatory to be there you'll get detention if you skip" Madge sighed.
"Well have you got anything to report? Last month you changed into a Hamster instead of a Guinea pig"
"Oh yeah…I woke up this morning and I was a Polar Bear" Madge said.
"Waaaaa?" Will's jaw dropped.
"Uh-huh, my Mom's animal morphing powers have rubbed off – I need to work on them though…I tried for Eagle and got Beagle" she sighed. "Still…I have some impressive stuff now. I was tired of being everyone's nominee for "Best Friend and Pet" in the year book". She slammed her locker and headed off to class
"What that girl could do with that power" mused Layla.
"Guys!" Ethan splattered into the lockers and reformed - a demonstration of the control he'd gotten on his melting power. "Dance recruitment – coming at us!"
"Ah hell…gone guys" Myra said as she phased through the wall.
"I've got to go" Zach said as he dashed down the hall. Layla looked at Will – Ethan has disappeared into his locker in liquid form. Penny and her clones were approaching with Penny Prime in the middle of them all signing people up with the help from her ally Gail Gustav of Junior Year.
"I think I want to run now" Will said.
"If you punch down the wall…" Layla began. Suddenly they had Penny's on all sides.
"Want to join the dance committee?" they chimed.
"Be a good Superhero Freshman" Gail suggested. "And - sidekick" she added.
"Uh…uh…"
Three minutes later Will was banging his head off his locker and Layla was massaging her temples. "All we had to say was NO" moaned Will. "Why didn't we?"
"Who knows? Now we're on the Farewell Dance Committee" Layla sighed
"We have bad experiences with school dances…Speed and Lash spiked the punch with Ethan last year" said Will. "The year before that the mirror ball exploded and the music shorted out…"
"And the year before that Gwen became a Royal Pain in our necks" Layla said. "Yeah – what's worse is that Speed, Lash and Penny got let back in after they tried to turn us all into babies."
"Yeah, but note that Penny and her clones keep a minimum of three feet distance from you at all times" Will grinned. "Probation sucks – they got back in no problem!"
"Well we'll have to accept it and move on" Layla said. She knocked on the locker. "Ethan…it's all clear, you can come out now".
"Thanks…" Ethan said from inside his locker.
"Okay! Lash Barton and Speed Vitzki versus Myra Zeikker and Will Stronghold" Coach Boom called. "Let's go people!"
Myra winked at Will. "Cake Walk" she smiled.
"They obviously think a girl will be a push over" grinned Will.
"You and your girlfriend ready to lose Stronghold?" Speed hollered. Lash was standing with his arms crossed on his body almost protectively. Croftham Penitentiary had changed him…not that he was reformed, he and Speed were still holy terrors but Lash was much quieter, hiding in his black and white striped jumper almost…only emerging to trip up the sidekick or to lift the pudding off a Freshman's tray.
Myra blew on her nails as she stood side on, one hand on her hip, barely noticing the boys, she pushed her hair back off her face and smiled. "Gonna run rings around you" Speed grinned.
"Fat chance…oops no weight jokes, right?"
The buzzer went as Speed looked down at his stomach. "I'm not f- hey!"
Myra had leapt onto Will's back as he punched the ground and knocked Lash and Speed off their feet. Myra ran at the citizen but Lash tripped her. She twisted to her feet. "Oh brother" she muttered. Lash tugged on her leg, she slid into the splits and phased free of his grasp.
"How'd she do that Lash?" snapped Speed. "Hold her properly!"
"Sorry! Sorry!" Lash exclaimed as he extended towards Myra – Speed rammed into her and knocked her down the field of play into the far wall. Myra rose and composed herself.
"Okay – all part of the game"
Lash was tangling Will up now. Myra glanced at the clock. "Just do this"
"Nice butt for a loser" the slap rang out. There was a sharp intake of breath. Speed skidded to a halt as Spencer Zeikker slammed up against the glass and battered it with his fists.
"YOU'RE DEAD SPEED" Spencer snarled. Eddy and Natalie dragged him back to his seat.
"Whatever sidekick" he rushed around Myra. She set her jaw. "Before it was part of the game…that was just rude" she said. She vanished in a puff of black smoke. Speed froze.
"Over here darling" Myra called. She was holding the rope of the citizen and watching the clock. "Will?"
"Just a minute" Will called as he tried to pry Lash off his body
Suddenly Myra was at the other side of field; she walked towards the dummy slowly. "Here's your chance to win Speed" she taunted.
Speed rushed at her head on. He passed right through and slammed into a wall with a grunt.
"Better look next time" Myra called. She performed a ballet leap through the air and caught the citizen. Will knotted Speed around a lamppost and flew at Myra; He caught her as she undid the knot on the citizen and landed them safely.
"Villains lose, Speed and Lash hit the showers…up next…Warren Peace and Neela Narjami" the girl rose, she was pretty, her short black hair was styled back off her face and her dark eyes were hypnotically beautiful.
She was a high grade Senior with multiple colleges offers already.
"Okay…heroes or villains Stronghold and Zeikker?"
"Heroes" they replied.
"Yeah – you have fun now" sighed Boom. Will looked at Warren – this was the first time he'd HAD to look at Warren and all he saw was a cold, empty form.
Neela looked at Warren. "Are you okay?" she asked in her British accent.
"Fine – let's do this"
"All right" Neela said.
"GOOOOOOOOOO" boomed Coach Boomer.
Myra teleported immediately and landed on the dummy to try and swing it. A gust of wind blasted her down the field straight into the gust. Neela rose into the air and jetted forwards on her own private air current. Mists rose around her.
"Neat trick" smiled Myra. She disappeared and dropped a kick on Neela that knocked her from the air. Neela unleashed a lightening bolt but Myra performed ballet spins and leaps away from them. Neela unleashed a hurricane force wind that threw Myra aside. They rushed each other.
Warren and Will looked at each other. Will flew upwards slowly…Warren ignited, his flame slowly grew in intensity…Warren hurled the flames at Will as he moved towards the citizen. Will flew at Warren and gave him a flying flip kick to the chest.
The fight exploded.
Warren and Will punched and kicked each other. The flames encircled them injuring Will as he blocked Warren's punches…he knocked Warren aside but a wave of flame struck him head on. He cried out. Warren hesitated and Will hit the ground with his fist knocking the pyro over.
Suddenly the timer stopped. The fight was clearly more then a practice run – when Will punched Warren he drew blood. Warren hit Will with a fire powered punch that left a future bruise on his eye.
The sonic wave blew them apart. "That's enough!" Boomer shouted. Principal Powers stood at the head of the room with him, tapping her foot.
"Will Stronghold – Detention room 1 – Warren Peace – Detention room 2…NOW" she snapped.
Warren looked up as the door opened. Natalie, Eddy and Spencer were shoved in. Spencer glared at Principal Powers while Natalie and Eddy stuck their tongues out.
"When I finish with her she won't be able to move her head without getting radio reception!" muttered Natalie quietly, she was a very pretty girl – but her face was devoid of emotion. She had electric blue streaks in her hair that accented her paleness.
Eddy grinned as he noticed Warren. "We saw why you're here"
"Everyone did…why are you in?" Warren muttered, mostly ignoring them.
"I changed the School announcement jingle-tune to "Like a Virgin" by Madonna" grinned Natalie. "Now that's good music. Better than the idiot with the xylophone on record"
"I turned all the water to cold in the boys' locker rooms" shrugged Eddy.
Warren glanced at Spencer.
"I glued Speed Vitzki to a roller seat and shoved him down the wheelchair ramp" smirked Spencer. "If he ever touches my sister again I'll make sure there's no rope tied to the chair so he DOES go splat!" The desk table groaned as he pulled back on it possibly imagining ripping speeds spine out.
"We liked what you did to Stronghold" added Natalie. "You want to come see my band play in The Garage tonight?"
He looked at her.
"No it's not a date" Natalie sighed. "You're not my type babe – I like sweet boys – not the rebels – don't ask why"
"Bad boys are passé…unless you see something in them that's more" Eddy mused. "I think that's what you said at least".
Warren walked out of the school with the Terrible Three. Will was leaning against the railings – for a moment their eyes met…then Will jumped as an electrostatic bolt caused his sweater to fly upwards with his hair.
"Uwww…nice torso" Natalie purred.
Eddy hit the exposed chest with a snowball and they laughed. Warren laughed…but the guilt threatened to choke him…he breathed in and walked past unable to look at will as Myra and Layla tried to hold his shirt down while people wolf-whistled.
Warren felt the guilt all through the trip to The Garage. Even when a cute Goth guy and cute Goth girl were hitting on him he felt the guilt.
He felt the guilt as Natalie sang her heart out.
He felt the guilt as he passed by his mother's hospital room
But the guilt was gone as the Lieutenant beat him senseless. All he had then was the peace that came with the memory of Will Strongholds lips.
Just like every single night his mother wasn't home. All that kept him going was that memory of what he could never have. It hurt worse than the bruises…but that instant of total connection let him survive…
The Power review board, everyone was reviewed in one day. It was important. Opportunities couldn't be missed! That's what Principal Powers said anyway. And the Announcement Girl. And Mr. Boy…And Will's parents.
"Name!"
"Magenta Schaeffer"
"Power?"
"Transformation" she replied. She morphed into a swan. A tiger. A swarm of locusts. A chimp. A Dog. An Eagle (having finally got it). An elephant. A Dolphin. A Salmon and then a snake. All were dark purple.
"Upgraded!"
"Name?"
"Zach Hertz"
"Power?"
"Um…well…this…" He ignited, bright enough to light up the room – then he charged up and a blast erupted from his chest that blew a crater in the far wall. He powered down now only vaguely green around the chest area
"Uh…that okay?"
"…Upgraded"
"GO ZACH ATTACK…sorry" Zach sidled off the stage
"Name?"
"Ethan Cole sirs and ma'am"
"Power?"
"Melting sir…ma'am…and other sir" he melted
"Is that it?"
The puddle arched up and slithered about, separating and reforming before rising up into Ethan. "I can launch myself at stuff and recombine when I'm splattered"
"Okay…Upgraded"
"Name?"
"Layla Stone"
"Power?"
"Well Geo-Flora Control but-"
"Proceed"
"Well I don't believe in showing my powers unless the time de-"
"LAYLA SHOW THEM YOUR POWERS" shouted Will.
"Fine!" Layla focused…the ivy wound around her body from her glowing fingertips, she focused and enormous purple blossoms opened on them. "Um…these are able to -" the barbs launched from the plants buds and hit the table. "Yeah sometimes they can be acidic…see the plants are mutants and I feel they shouldn't be forced to fight for me so I prefer not to-"
"Upgraded"
"Oh! Good…GREAT! But -uh"
"NEXXXXXXTTTT"
The shuddering of the floor alerted the review board. So far they'd only had seven upgrades out of 20 candidates. The rumble did not add to their less than bright mood. The three people at the table looked around.
"I think this is bad Paulette" the British Reviewer said
"Well Gee Simpson you think so? Huh?"
"Yo dawgs, Dandy's in da hauuuusssss"
The sprinklers exploded spewing blue dye everywhere. Principal Powers ran in. "ESPINOSA! O'MAHON! ZEIKKER" she roared.
"Guess it's cancelled" Natalie smiled as she, Spencer and Eddy sat under the Umbrella with Warren. "See? It's fun to watch the Juniors run – who wants to be a hero anyway?"
"Cheers me right up" Eddy smiled. "Even Spencer nearly smiles"
"Shut up Eddy"
Royal Pain finished her touches to the machine. "PATCHES! Get the others, tell them the Deductor is almost read!" she called.
"Sure thing!" Patches giggled. "Let's get this show on the road, hot potato keep away – yeah! Yeah! GAAAAAAK! Uncle! Uncle". Gwen released the minion and glanced at her device. "Yes…soon…everything will be mine as it should have been!"
TO BE CONTINUED
Well? What do you think? Review me please!