Hey guys, I managed to write this one chapter before my exams begin Thursday for you guys. Got nothing else to say, except the response to the review and then the chapter itself:
Guest: Is this soon enough? Also, there will probably no more updates until the 17th. And thanks for the review!
Enjoy!
-Writer207
During lunch break, Oliver and Kaz met in the cafeteria. It wouldn't take long before Gus, Jordan and Skylar – and possibly Alan – would arrive, so now was the only time they could discuss the Dagger of Truth and the sudden evilness of the heroes treated at Mighty Med.
"So, where can we find that box with lost and found?" Kaz began, and Oliver shrugged.
"I dunno. But it must be somewhere in the Mighty Med."
"I hoped it would be at the Domain," Kaz admitted, "at least that place is smaller than the Mighty Med. I never knew a hospital for heroes could be that big." Kaz made a point – the Mighty Med was enormous, and according to Horace they've only seen half of the places there, not to mention the apartment department for the employees (and Alan) who also lived there.
"But luckily it is at the Mighty Med and not the Domain. Who knows what Wallace and Clyde could've done with that stuff?" Kaz nodded, and Oliver continued while Kaz took a bite out of his sandwich, "And I've been thinking about asking Skylar, Philip, Solar Flare and others if they've seen it." Kaz almost choked on his sandwich when Oliver said this.
"Are you insane?" He exclaimed, continuing on a hushed tone, "You said yourself we couldn't trust anyone! That includes Philip and Solar Flare and yes, Skylar too!" Oliver looked disappointed.
"But Skylar's a hero."
"So is NeoCortex," Kaz argued, "and look at him now! Dude, even Tecton was evil all those time and we didn't know it! How do we know Skylar isn't evil right now?"
"She'd never lie to us!" Oliver said, and he looked around. They had been continuing their conversation way too loud, and he needed to know if someone had heard them talking. He only saw the serenity of the cafeteria and Skylar sitting with Alan, Gus and Jordan four tables behind them. Part of Oliver wanted to invite them over, but he decided not to. It looked like they were having a good time – even Jordan! – and they were laughing. Oliver smiled when she saw Skylar was happily chatting with the three others. How could someone like her be evil?
"Earth to Oliver!" Kaz said, and Oliver was forced to continue the conversation with Kaz. "Dude, I was talking to you, didn't you hear any of it?" Oliver sighed.
"Yesterday, you didn't listen too," Oliver said, "And I think you're still jealous I'm spending more time with Skylar than with you." Kaz shook his head.
"Am not! Don't be so unreasonable, Oliver, I'm not jealous anymore! I'm just saying we should be careful with everything we say and do. Maybe we can even use the few Calderan words and use them so nobody can understand what we're talking about." he picked some candy out of his bag. "Want some diarrhea?" Oliver shook his head.
"We're not going to do that." Even before Kaz had come up with this ridiculous plan, he should take notice Kaz was right about one thing: they had to be careful about everything. Everyone could be watching, everyone could be listening and nobody could be trusted. Even Alan, Gus and Jordan.
Even Skylar Storm, their best superhero friend.
When they finished lunch, they went back to their lockers to pick up the books they needed for the classes they had after lunch. When the bell rang and the boys were ready to head to class, they saw their boss walking in the school building. Horace walked past them and wouldn't have even noticed them if they hadn't spoken to him first.
"Horace? What are you doing here?" Oliver asked, and Horace turned his head.
"Hey guys!" he greeted, "How are you doing. You're doing well, I think. Has any of you seen Alan?" Horace asked. Kaz nodded.
"Yes he's in the cafeteria." Horace was about to walk away, but Oliver stopped him again.
"Wait! Do you, by any chance, know where the lost and found box is at the Mighty Med?" Horace stopped and thought about it for a second before answering the question of one of his Normo doctors truthfully.
"Yes I did. I've seen it a few weeks ago. Too bad I lost it." He just saw the disappointment on Oliver's face, "But don't worry, it's somewhere around the hospital." And Horace walked away, not really caring about those Normos anymore. Kaz shrugged this info off, but Oliver was worrying.
"This is bad. We'll lose time trying to find it!" He said, but Kaz stopped him.
"Oh, relax!" he tried to reassure his friend, "You heard Horace. It's somewhere around the hospital and this time we know what it looks like so we can find it. Don't worry, we'll find it." This calmed him down, but it still felt like Kaz's words were useless. All negative thoughts dominated his mind, but despite this he still could hope to find the Dagger, to hand it over to Optimo and aid him in the battle against the Annihilator.
For even if they wanted to mope, they gotta cheer up and never give up hope.
Alan, for once, was feeling very happy.
Why is that, you ask? Because he finally has made some friends.
No, I'm not kidding, I'm serious. Alan has made some friends. Yes, they're Normos and yes, they may not be normal, but he wasn't very normal too. And if those two didn't like him anymore, he still had Skylar to hang out with.
These two Normos were called Gus and Jordan. Gus was this weird kid who just seemed to tag along and Jordan was pretty scary for a girl. Yet, he felt comfortable with those two (and Skylar) around him during lunch. Skylar could make sure he didn't burst into singing and dancing because he saw that in the High School Musical movies and could tell him the customs at school. Gus and Jordan also helped him around the building, like showing the places where he shouldn't go, where to go in dire situations and where the toilets were. You never knew when you needed them to do your business or to hide from that bully who would rather pick a new target.
Soon Alan had nicknamed the four of them the unusual gang – and he wasn't aware of the fact nobody would call them that and only he would know what it meant. Yet, the name still fitted this small group. Jordan was rather aggressive (sometimes). Connie was superhero Skylar Storm. Alan had telekinesis. And Gus was … he was just unusual, or weird, or odd, or any other way to describe he was the weirdest kid Alan's ever met, despite growing up in the hero business.
He had no idea this would change when a man unknown to most students came walking in the cafeteria. "Excuse me," he said loudly so the entire cafeteria could hear it, "Has anybody seen Alan Diaz? Little boy, kind of obnoxious, has a temper, kind of obnoxious?" Alan cursed under his breath, and Skylar looked shocked to see Horace at school again. Without saying anything else, Alan and Skylar got up and followed Horace outside, and so did Gus and Jordan. Those two Normos were just curious, that's all.
"What were you thinking?" they heard Connie's father say to Alan, "You know you shouldn't come here. And…" That's when Horace noticed the two Normos, recognizing the boy as the one Normo who was infected with the Super Virus.
"Sky- Connie," he said, remembering he's supposed to be the father of Connie Valentine at school, "Who are they?" Skylar quickly joined the two Normos.
"They're my friends. This is Jordan and this is Gus." This didn't exactly help, but now Horace did know their names. Also, Jordan and Gus were suspicious about this man, who seemed to know Alan when Connie had pretended not to know the new boy at school. To add things to this long list of suspicions, Alan started to talk to Connie's dad.
"Uncle Horace, why can't I go to this school?" Before Horace could answer, he was interrupted by Jordan.
"Uncle Horace? You're his nephew, he's your uncle, she's your cousin, he's her father, Connie!" She eventually shouted after summing up these family bonds, "You said you didn't know Alan. Why did you lie to us?" Connie looked nervous, but her argument was clear.
"I only learned a few days ago I had a cousin on my dad's side. I've never really seen him before," she eyed Alan, hoping he'd get the hint and would play along, "and I didn't know this Alan was my cousin. There are a lot of people named Alan." The so-called half-Normo did not catch the hint, but he also didn't know Horace once played Skylar's dad, which now played out in their advantage.
"I didn't know she's you daughter! Would you mind explaining?" Horace nodded.
"Off course, but since this is a family matter… Connie's friends, will you please leave this place? I want a private conversation with my nephew." Jordan shook her head while Gus nodded his. Eventually, they were convinced to leave. Jordan disappeared with a huff, while Gus waved at Mr. Valentine and yelled a happy 'see you later, Mr. Valentine!'. Finally Alan, Horace and Skylar were alone. Finally they didn't have to mind their language anymore.
"What were you thinking?" Horace continued his rant, "You're not prepared for this world! Come, I'll take you back to the Mighty Med. It's the only place where you're safe." He had grabbed Alan's arm, but the boy managed to free himself.
"No!" he yelled, "I'm sick of that hospital! And I prepared myself by watching very educational high school movies! I know what to expect here, and I'm fitting in. don't you see? I want this! I want to go to school! I want to be educated properly! But you never wonder what I feel about it, huh?" he was very close to shouting, "You never cared at all! You're the one making decisions without even asking me if I like it or not! I hate you!" Alan walked away, to the classroom he had been the previous period, leaving an astonished Horace all alone in the hallway of Logan High. Skylar was gone, too. She probably left when Alan was yelling Horace didn't care about Alan at all.
Horace had thought he was doing well by pushing Alan to make his own decisions by using the way of his ancestors. Too bad these were modern times and Alan, as moody as ever, was now going through a rough period of life called 'puberty'. And he meant the words he spoke.
Skylar had camouflaged herself and now was carefully studying Horace's facial expression after Alan had left for the classroom he had been in the previous period. Eventually, Horace left the hallway of Logan High and Skylar made herself visible again. After looking if someone was watching her, she opened a space portal which would lead her to the Annihilator.
Her master would be pleased to hear the dispute between Alan Diaz and Uncle Horace could be used in their advantage.