Chapter 11- A Fire In the Works

ABOUT TEN MINUTES AGO...

The Mirage Mistress has just sent invites to every superhero around. Using the S.H.U.S.H. mainframe, she sent a message to every superhero, telling them about a big party in the S.H.U.S.H. Soon the entire headquarters was full of superheroes.

The Mirage Mistress was soon busy hanging "decorations" every. She hung fireworks all over the walls, the roof, and placed them in different places as well. She told everyone they were "special, one of a kind, decorations" and everyone believed her. Each decoration was connected by a very long string.

Then the Mirage Mistress was very busy at the mainframe again. But she was not sending invites. She was hacking.

"From this mainframe, you can activate the controls of the S.H.U.S.H.," she remembered the tour guide explaining just yesterday, "Of course, since we are all superheroes here, we trust that no one would use these controls for evil." But that was exactly what she was doing.

"Attention everyone!" the Mirage Mistress announced, "The party will soon begin!" Everyone cheered.

"And by that I mean you will all die!" the Mistress Mirage cackled. Then everyone gasped as she pulled off her mask. "I have altered the S.H.U.S.H. controls! Now, even though the elevator will stay open," she said, motioning to the open elevator, I have commanded the mainframe to not let anyone out except me! And don't try changing the controls because I locked it!"

"Maybe the open control panel was a bad idea," one superhero said.

Then Mother Pearl left the S.H.U.S.H. without a struggle, leaving a trail of firework string.

Then all the superheroes ran to the elevator, but suddenly, a metal wall surrounded it. They all banged on it, but not even the strongest superhero could penetrate it. Other superheroes tried to open it with the mainframe, but instead a computerized voice said, "Lockdown," every time someone tried to even push a button. Suddenly, on ever screen on every computer was the Alchemist's face.

"Hello Bumblyburg!" he opened. Then all the superheroes listened to his broadcast while still trying to escape.

"We can't find any possible way to escape," one superhero told the others, panicking.

All the heroes panicked, all trapped underground. Although they got excited when they saw Larryboy try to stop the Alchemist, they still panicked.

Back at the Daily Bumble, Mother Pearl and the Alchemist held the long firework string.

"Here we go!" the Alchemist laughed.

Then he lit the string.

Everyone watched as a spark travelled on the line, to the other room, out the window, and across the park. Then it flew down into the ally and down the pried open garbage elevator.

All the superheroes inside panicked and screamed more. Suddenly, just one single firework began to sputter, triggering others. All the superheroes looked up to see a bright green light flash above them, then joined by a thousand other lights.

Soon, the ground began to shake. All of the citizens above ground away from where the ground was rumbling.

**BOOM!**

Suddenly, all the fireworks went off together. A large bang filled the air. Fireworks do look nice in the sky. But underground in a secret headquarters full of superheroes, not so much.

The fireworks penetrated the metal walls of the headquarters. Fireworks smashed into every computer, causing a fire the machines to eventually explode into flames. The huge screen in the lobby of the S.H.U.S.H. hung sideways as many other computers were destroyed.

The fireworks tore at the metal walls, making the infrastructure bend and twist, and eventually fall apart as the fire consumed it. Superheroes screamed as fire, metal, rocks, and firework pieces fell on them. Some successfully dodged them while some got hit. One superhero even got their cape stuck under a boulder.

The fire spread everywhere, and the smell of burning metal filled the air. The bright flames danced on everything as thick smoke hovered everywhere, beginning to suffocate everyone. The superheroes desperately searched for an exit to no prevail. Cement began to fall in chunks when a hole began to form above in the ceiling, letting natural light into the pit of flames.

The fire caused the S.H.U.S.H. to crumble, causing the ground above it to collapse. All the heroes screamed more, trying to escape the flames and colorful explosions. The fireworks kept going, there was so many! Any superhero not hit by falling debris or fire were smacked by a firework.

Larryboy watched in shock from the Daily Bumble, as smoke, fire, and color filled the air. The S.H.U.S.H. burned and collapsed on all those superheroes. The smoke eventually cleared away. Larryboy gasped as he saw a crater has formed where the S.H.U.S.H. was. A huge hole stretched across the street.

Larryboy could see superheroes weakly climb out of the crater, all burnt from the fire, which was still going. Fire trucks could be heard. Some superheroes carried other superheroes. They were all black from the ashes. Their colorful costumes were all darkened. Larryboy could barely recognize them.

The Alchemist and Mother Pearl laughed. "How unfortunate you weren't able to be there," Mother Pearl said.

"You know, we would have all liked to know who you all were before the superheroes all died! Now how are we going to know?!" the Alchemist cried.

"You'll never know!" Larryboy yelled.

"Why not?!" Mother Pearl demanded.

"Yeah Larryboy! How can you be the heroes when you're never going to tell everyone who you are? Why are you so secretive? Why don't you trust anyone, huh?" the Alchemist taunted and snorted.

Meanwhile, Vicki remembered this was exactly what she and Larryboy were talking about before.

"I never tell anyone, Alchemist!" Larryboy replied, "Nice try! Now surrender or I'll-"

Suddenly, Vicki ran up to Larryboy and pulled his mask off aggressively.


Now wouldn't you like to know what happens next?

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