Chapter Four
:: Max ::
It was 12:10 am when Max spotted Grappling Girl on top of the water tower. His left butt cheek had been asleep for half an hour and a bird kept trying to take part of his hair for its nest. A splotch of red from the thorn of a nearby rose bush splayed across his cheek.
"This is it," he whispered out loud. He was so used to doing so that it took him a second to realize no one was there to hear.
He was solo.
From behind Grappling Girl, who had already sunk one of her grapples into the tower, came a taller figure in a cloak. The cloak shielded the villains face, but the flames imbeded into the fabric provided a faint glow that illuminated the scene.
Max rolled out of the bushes, crouching and keeping his eyes trained on the tower. He pulled out his newest invention, the Fling-Beam 8400 (named after its much less effective grandfather, the 7400) and aimed it upwards.
The beam of light sent him propelling upward towards his destination. For a split second, he thought he heard his name, but then it was gone. He landed quietly in a blind spot of the tower. He leaned forward, his body wanting to jump in, but his training telling him to wait and see what he could learn.
"This is going to be quick," Grappling Girl cackled. "With their first drink, shower, or instant oatmeal tomorrow morning, the entire town will be under our control!"
"You mean my control."
Goosebumps ran up Max's arms. That voice…
"I'm doing all the work!"
"Here, perhaps, but you forget that the most important part of the plan comes at the water treatment plant."
The laugh that followed was cold, but not unfamiliar. Max couldn't wait a second longer.
"STOP!"
He jumped from out of the shadows, hands on hips. His cape flew towards him annoyingly, but he'd learned a long time ago that he looked like an idiot batting it away. Doing so also gave the enemy time to attack.
"Twilight Inferno, it's the Thundertwins!" Grappling Girl shouted. She was covered in water from the hole she had made in the side of the tower. In her hand was a small vial of purple liquid.
"Finish pouring the serum," the cloaked figure commanded.
"Don't you dare touch that tower!"
Max took a step forward and almost slipped. The entire catwalk was slick from the water. The cloaked figure looked completely untroubled. Grappling Girl turned back towards her mission.
Without hesitation, Max began his twist around the villain blocking him. None of them had ever been able to figure out his zig versus his zag.
Until now.
He connected with a pointed black boot. It slid onto his chest, knocking him back, and pinning him down onto the wet metal.
"Has Maxy-T lost his twin?"
Max's throat went dry. He knew he could easily do a backbend and break loose. He stared up, trying to see the face beyond the hood.
"Who are you?"
"It's done!" Grappling Girl squealed."I did it!" Max heard her clappping for herself.
Supervillains had gigantic egos.
Two hands went to the sides of the black fabric. Slowly the hood dipped down. An attractive cascade of brunette and red curls surrounded the all-too familiar face. Brownish eyes tinged with red crinkled in the corners as the face broke into a seductive smile.
"It is a pity you didn't stay on the dark side."
"Phoebe?"
"Twilight Inferno to you, Romeo. Why don't you come with us?"
"STOP!"
Max's eyes rolled back at the sound of hands slapping the wet surface and the creak of the rusty metal ladder. "What the—-"
It was impossible. Phoebe, dressed head to toe in her Thundergirl suit let out a gasp as she caught her breath and rolled inelegantly onto the platform.
"Long way up," she panted as she got on all fours, her face hovering above his. "Thanks for stopping for me down there."
"That was you?"
"Who else would it be? My clone?"
Phoebe laughed at her joke, but Max finally sprung into action. With a backbend and twist, he broke free of the boot that had anchored him down.
"We're done here!"
Max saw Phoebe finally take in the situation and for a split second regretted he couldn't take a moment to snap a picture of her face.
"How—"
"Go!"
With a twist of black leathery fabric that felt too much like scorching hot bird skin, Twilight Inferno seemed to disappear. Max and Phoebe were left staring at Grappling Girl. She let out a tiny squeak.
The takedown went like most takedowns of late went. Grappling Girl turned to run, but Max and Phoebe were one step ahead and much better at running on wet surfaces. Max grabbed her arms as Phoebe shot the villain with her freeze breath. Max let the perp fall face first back onto the landing. For once, Phoebe didn't lecture him about enforcement infractures. Instead, he felt her hand lock in a death grip on his bicep.
"Max, she looked like me. Me when Dark Mayhem turned me evil."
"Tell me about it," Max said. He held up a finger. "No, actually why don't you tell me why you're here? I thought you quit?"
Max scowled. Phoebe sighed. "I figured I'd start my quitting tomorrow."
"You are such a liar."
"Me? Phoebe Thunderman doesn't know how to lie."
"Yes, but does Phoebe Oostergooster know how?"
"Max—"
"Seriously, we escaped being McBoogers and you go and Oostergooster yourself?"
"Max—"
Max clamped a hand to her mouth. A tiny spark flew from his palm and both twins winced even though there was no pain. Quickly, he dropped his hand and spun his sister around and pointed.
"There. The water treatment plant. This was just step one. We've got to go after Inferno. There's no time to waste."
It was a rare occasion when Phoebe didn't look excited for a takedown. Max figured it might be due to the fact they were practically chasing after herself. He was sure that this next battle would be a lot tougher than the first. He was also mostly certain that under that flaming leathery cape would be a head to toe leather suit.
He was doomed.
