Disclaimer: I don't own Sky High, or any of its canon characters
Chapter Eleven- With Great Power
Anna was on the news. Well, White Star was on the news. Super villain Shadowmind tried to cover the entire city of Maxville in a permanent darkness. It ended up in a showdown with her and White Star and all the major news stations were broadcasting it live.
I didn't tear my eyes from the TV. They were in fierce combat- White Star was hurling powerful beams of light into the darkness that Shadowmind tried to overpower her with.
"I can't watch this," Mom said, covering her face. "Why isn't Warren with her?"
"Mom, you know they don't usually fight crime together. Shh!" I said suddenly as a deep blackness covered the cameras.
"Oh no," I whispered.
"Come on, Annie," Dad muttered.
The cameras suddenly cleared. The view was a bit shaky, but it all came into focus: Shadowmind was laying on the street, unmoving. And there was White Star standing over her, smiling at the applauding crowd who had come out of hiding.
"Yes!" I cried, punching the air. "Mom, you can look. She's okay!"
"Thank goodness," Mom said, sighing.
"I'm going to go see her," I said, getting ready to teleport.
"Oh no you're not," Mom said. "You're going to go clean your room like I told you to do an hour ago."
"Fine," I groaned then vanished, reappearing in my room.
"And no teleporting in the house!" Mom called up the stairs.
"Okay, geez!"
I cleaned my room as quickly as I could. I always felt so pumped whenever I saw my sister in action. I just couldn't wait until I started my own hero career. On a sudden impulse, I picked up a old towel off the floor and tied it around my shoulders. Then I threw a few punches, just like I used to when I was little.
It felt so right.
After I cleaned up my room, Mom and Dad let me go. I met her at her apartment. She had brought home some pieces of gadgetry that needed an upgrade and l said I could help.
"Hold these wires with the pliers, okay? Nice and still."
I did as she asked. She used a soldering iron on them carefully.
"What was it like, taking down Shadowmind? You looked so cool on the news!"
Anna grinned. "I wasn't too worried about how cool I looked. I was just trying to stay alive and bring that psycho down."
"Well, you looked cool anyway."
"Thanks, Sis."
I watched her work on Hero tech, handing her tools when she asked. I remembered when Evan was sitting right where I was. I hesitated, not knowing if I should ask her about it. But I found myself doing it anyway.
"Anna? Who's Evelyn?" I asked.
"You are," she said jokingly, leaning over a piece of gadgetry that she had taken apart on the coffee table.
"I meant the other one. You know... Evan's sister."
Anna turned to me sharply. Her eyes were wide, wary. "How do you know about Evan's sister?"
"I... I heard about it."
"From where?" Anna demanded. She looked angry.
"Why can't you just tell me who she is?"
"Who she is is none of your business!" she snapped, standing up.
"Why are you yelling at me?" I said, hurt.
"Because I am tired of you getting involved in things that don't concern you."
"But I'm not-"
"Oh? Then tell me where you heard about Evelyn."
I didn't answer. I couldn't tell my sister that I'd blatantly spied on her. But it was obvious she'd already figured it out.
"Just where do you get off, Evie? You think your powers give you the right to intrude on people's lives whenever you want?"
"Of course not!"
"Well you could have fooled me! Now you listen to me and you listen good. Don't you ever teleport into my house again without permission. Do you understand?"
I blinked away the tears that began to sting my eyes. I was too choked up to speak.
But Anna wasn't impressed. "Go home," she said, turning her back to me.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
She didn't say anything. She hung her head, shoulders shaking a little.
Sniffling, I got up and left. I felt horrible for upsetting her. I didn't think my mentioning Evelyn would have caused such a reaction. But despite my guilt, my curiosity just got worse.
I took the bus. I was getting pretty good at teleporting. But after the fight with Anna, I was too ashamed to do it. Halfway home, I decided to stop off for a burger. I felt so lousy, I didn't even feel like facing my parents.
I got a chipotle burger at a tiny place on the corner. It was crowded, so I took my food to a nearby park and sat on a bench. I tried not to think about the fight I had with my sister. But it didn't work. I wiped my eyes and tried to take a bite.
"Tough day?" said a man who was holding a trash bag and spearing up pieces of litter with a stick.
"Kind of," I mumbled.
"Must be, if you're crying over a burger. Those things don't cure a broken heart, but they come pretty damn close."
I shrugged uncomfortably. Mom and Dad always told me not to talk to strangers. He looked tired, a little rough around the edges, a cap pulled low over his eyes. But there was something strangely dignified about him. I wondered if he was a war veteran or something.
"I got into a fight with my sister," I found myself telling him. "It was my fault. I think I really hurt her."
"I wouldn't get too worked up over it. You fight with family- it happens. They forgive you and you all move on."
"I hope so."
"Trust me on this one."
I smiled weakly. "Thanks."
I felt a little better, and was able to eat properly.
"You got that from the place on Esther Avenue?"
I nodded.
"The best burgers in town."
"You said it," I said, taking another big bite. Then I glanced up at him.
"You want the rest? It's way too big for me and I'd just throw it away. I promise I don't have germs or anything."
He grinned. "Thanks, kid," he said, setting down the trash bag and taking the half-eaten burger in its greasy wrapper. He took a bite and chewed, closing his eyes. "Mmm. I used to take my son to this place a long time ago. He always loved those things."
"Where is he?"
"Somewhere, too grown up for his old man. The usual story." He sounded bitter, almost angry. He didn't look as if he wanted to elaborate and I decided not to push it.
"Well, I should be getting home," I said, standing up. "It was nice talking to you."
"Feeling's mutual. Thanks for the burger- and the conversation. Most people don't give trash pickers the time of day."
I got off the bench and left the park. I did feel a lot better. That man was right. Anna was mad at me now, but she couldn't possibly feel that way forever. She'd forgive me eventually. It would be all right.
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"They've released another villain," Marilee said at lunch. "Modesta Cain. It's like, the fourth one this week."
"Do you think they'll pick up where they left off?" Hank asked.
"You tell us," Scott said coolly, eating his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"Excuse me?" Hank said, narrowing his eyes.
"Nothing," Kate said immediately, giving Scott a look.
"No, if Scott has something to say-"
"Didn't you know this was going happen? That all these villains would be let out?" Scott said, obviously unable to help himself.
"Of course not!" Hank retorted.
"You said you fell through time once, that you saw everything," Scott said. "A little warning about this would've been helpful."
"You don't know a thing about time travel, Scott!" Hank snapped, more upset than I'd ever seen him. "So just shut up about it!"
"What's going on, guys?"
Mr. Fitzsimmons had appeared out of nowhere. A few kids from the nearby tables were staring.
"Nothing, Mr. Fitzsimmons," Hank mumbled after a few seconds.
"We're good," Scott added, with a forced smile.
Fitzsimmons stared at us all for a few more moments curiously. Then he took a bite of his Slim Jim and walked away.
We ate our lunch quietly. Emotions were running high since the Brenner Act had been enforced and more incarcerated (former?) super villains were being released. I had a nagging feeling this argument wouldn't be the end of it.
And boy, was I right.
After school, we were walking up the corridor towards the exit doors. I saw Kate and Scott talking to one another in lowered voices.
"You need to learn to think before you speak," she was telling him.
"I do," Scott told her irritably.
"Then you need to learn to think," Hank muttered, walking by.
Scott whirled round to face Hank. "You have something to say to me?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do," Hank snapped. He was obviously still angry about what happened at lunch. "Why do you have to be such a jerk?"
Scott gaped. "I'm the jerk? You can look into the future. Couldn't you tell that this was going to happen? That all these villains would be released? Or don't you care?"
Hank glared at him. "I'm a time traveler, not a psychic!"
"It's practically the same thing, geezer!" Scott shot back.
Hank had finally snapped. He punched Scott in the face. Kate and I screamed out. Scott fell to the floor, clutching his jaw in surprise. His mouth was bleeding. It was shocking, but strangely satisfying to watch.
Kate didn't seem to agree though. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she yelled angrily, shoving Hank into the wall.
"Don't you touch him!" Sally screamed furiously, and tackled Kate to the ground.
"Sally!" I yelled, completely shocked. I couldn't believe that this was the girl who could barely raise her voice to ask to go to the bathroom.
Scott got up and tried to pry Sally off of Kate. That was a mistake- Hank went after him again.
I instantly tried to get between them, but only got an elbow to the face for my trouble. I fell on my back, blinking at the stars that danced in front of my eyes.
"You hit Evie, you jerk!" Marilee snapped at Scott and kicked him in the shin.
The next thing I knew, we were all fighting. I was kicking out and hitting and scratching, not even really caring who I was attacking; I was suddenly so mad at everyone.
"Stop!"
We froze. Mr. Fitzsimmons was clutching his red Spider-Man lunchbox and glaring at us. I couldn't blame him. Sally was dangling off Scott's back, her arms wrapped around his neck; Marilee had her fingers entwined in Kate's hair in a death grip and vice-versa; I had Hank pinned to the floor. His hands were still pushing at my face.
"What are you all doing?" Fitzsimmons demanded.
"Hank started it!" Scott said, and shrugged off Sally who landed awkwardly on her feet.
"I started it?" Hank yelled, his eyes almost comically wide. "You're the one who doesn't think before he opens his mouth!"
"That doesn't give you the right to hit him!" Kate retorted.
"Oh, Scott deserved it!" Marilee snapped. "He's been acting like a jerk for ages!"
"You're the jerk, Marilee!" Kate yelled. "Why don't you just shut up!"
"Don't tell her to shut up!" I cried. "You shut up!"
"All of you shut up!" Fitzsimmons yelled.
My mouth snapped shut. We all went quiet.
"First the giant robot, and now this?" Fitzsimmons said. "Can't you guys stop acting like total idiots for five minutes? I want all of you in my classroom right now!"
"Why should we?" Scott said angrily. I stared at him open mouthed- had he lost his mind? "I'm tired of a preschooler bossing me around!"
"Scott Baker," Fitzsimmons said narrowing his eyes, "Get in the class."
Scott jerked, like someone had given him a shock. Then he turned around and made his way to the classroom.
Fitzsimmons turned a furious look on the rest of us. We all followed Scott without a word.
When we got there, he made us sit down.
"Now I want to know how this started," he said.
We all started talking at once. Fitzsimmons immediately shushed us, and told us to speak one at a time. I immediately started spilling everything before anyone else could jump in. More than once Scott gave me a dirty look, but I didn't care. I was tired of his stupidity.
When I was done, Mr. F. gave us each a long look. Then he spoke.
"Listen guys. I understand that you're upset. A lot of people are on edge because of the Brenner Act. But that's no reason to turn on each other. You're each getting a week's detention. Anyone want to complain about it?"
None of us did.
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Fitzsimmons had called my parents, and they weren't happy. When I got home, Dad chewed me out for fifteen minutes straight while Mom just sat there giving me her best disappointed look.
"I don't send you to school to get into fights, Evie!" he told me angrily. "This is the second time your principal has called us in a matter of months!"
"But it wasn't my fault! I was trying to stop the fight," I said. It was kind of true. I mean, almost.
"That's not the way she tells it!"
"Oh please, she wasn't even there!"
"Don't you raise your voice to me!" Dad snapped.
"Fine!" I said, turning to storm out of there.
"We are not finished, young lady!" Dad growled.
"Oh yes we are!" I said, whirling round defiantly. I knew full well I was walking headlong into at least a week's grounding, but I was too riled up to care.
"Evelyn Arrian!" Mom said, aghast.
"No! Just leave me-"
"-alone!" I found myself shouting into the night.
I had lost control. I'd teleported yet again. Sighing in frustration, I turned around and saw Sky High.
"Great," I said, and hung my head.
"Hey."
I looked up. Adam was sitting on the roof, grinning down at me.
"Hey. What're you doing here?"
"I got into an argument with my parents." He hopped off the roof and floated down till he was standing before me. "How about you?
"The same, pretty much," I said, then frowned. "Isn't this place supposed to have a force field around it after hours? How were we able to get up here?"
Adam glanced at the ground. "I uh, disabled it. From my computer."
"Why?"
"I like the view. I know it's a weird thing for a flier to say, but... I don't know. It's nice here."
"I think so too," I said. "Do you want to... um, can I show you something?"
"Sure."
I took Adam's hand, and teleported us into my classroom. We were standing on the transparent floor, staring down at the city lights of Maxville twinkling below our feet.
"Cool- this is such a great view! Thanks for bringing me here."
"Any time," I said, feeling my face warm. I'd never been in my classroom at night. But I had the feeling the view of the city would be pretty amazing, especially on a clear night like this.
"Scary, isn't it?" Adam whispered, still staring down. "Someday, we'll be responsible for everyone down there."
I gave him a smile. "I'm sure we'll have some help."
"You'd hardly think so, the way Mom acts."
"Is that what you were fighting about?" I guessed.
Adam nodded. "She wants me to be the best of the best, like her and Dad. But I don't think I can. I don't think I want to."
"What do you mean?"
Adam looked up at me, looking almost scared.
"Can I tell you a secret?"
"Of course."
"Seriously. Promise you wont tell anyone?"
"I swear."
"Thing is... I don't really want to be a Hero. I never have," he finally said. He let out a breath, like he'd been holding it in forever. "I've never said that out loud before."
Adam looked like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. But I couldn't understand. There was nothing greater in the whole world than living a life of defeating bad guys and rescuing people. How could he not want that?
"I know it might sound stupid. But I think that some people just aren't meant to be superheroes. And I'm one of them."
"But you're one of the best, Adam. You have two powers-"
"Having powers doesn't make you a Hero," Adam said firmly. "Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw."
"I don't believe that."
"Then how do you explain super villains? There are a lot of people out there with powers that they really don't deserve. Do you think it was their destiny to have them?"
I didn't know. I'd never thought about it before, and part of me didn't really want to think of it now.
"Have you ever thought about telling your mom and dad?" I asked him instead.
Adam shook his head. "Mom'd have a fit. And Dad... he'd be too disappointed. I couldn't handle that."
"Then what are you going to do?"
"What can I do... but be the best?"
We stared down at the city. Once or twice, we saw a flier zoom past. It all looked so peaceful from up here.
But I thought about what Adam said. And for the first time in my life, I started to feel just a little uneasy about what life was going to be like when I became a Hero.
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The Ghost. No, that sounded too sinister. The Vanishing Avenger? No, that was pretty lame.
It was Study Hall, but I considered it a free period. I was in the library, writing down possible super hero names for myself, something I'd been working on for years. I couldn't help but feel all the good ones had already been taken. Never mind, though. I'd find the right one someday.
Someone had just come into the library, and I glanced up out of habit. It was Adam. I instantly sat up straighter and hoped my hair was behaving itself.
I caught his eye. He grinned and made his way over, sitting across from me. "Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing much," I said, quickly closing the notebook. I looked at the book he had brought over: The Aerodynamics of Super Sonic Flight.
"Interesting book," I said in a low voice.
"Yeah," Adam replied in a whisper. "Coach Boomer recommended it to me. He wants me to try and beat my dad's flight speed record."
"Shh!" said old Mrs. Libberman, our librarian. Adam gave her a sheepish look, before turning to give me a brief wink. I stifled a giggle with my sleeve.
Suddenly an alarm blared out, startling us.
"Attention, all students and staff!" Principal Powers' voice blared out over the PA system. "This is not not a drill. Please move as quickly as possible to the designated emergency points at the perimeter of the school grounds. I repeat- this is not a drill!"
"Come on," Adam said, looking worried.
We half ran out of the school building. I found Hank, Sally and Fern standing with a group of teachers and students, who all looked confused.
"Does anyone know what's going on?" I started to say before a sudden explosion erupted near us. It knocked half of us back; I fell onto my side, stunned, but not before I saw Hank go over the edge.
Several of us screamed out Hank's name. In an instant, Sally erupted into her dragon form and with a snarl swooped down after him, returning moments later with a terrified Hank in tow. She dropped him safely back onto school grounds- before Hank immediately flashed into a spectral projection and was lost in time.
But I had no time to worry about him. A few more people screamed. I looked up in shock to see several fliers heading straight for us, carrying other people. And they didn't look happy.
"Villains!" Fern cried out.
"They've disabled the wards! Evacuate the students!" Principal Powers yelled out to the other teachers, before dissolving into a blazing white comet that hurled itself into the nearest villains.
"Arrian! Mackenzie!" Coach Boomer yelled. "Get your classmates back to the city-quickly!"
Adam lifted up the nearest student and shot off towards Maxville. I grabbed at the first group of of my classmates nearby and teleported them to the street below, before re-materializing back at school- and right into the path of an oncoming flier.
I dove out of the way. The flier circled and came at me again. I vanished again, and reappeared on top of him, pummeling his head as hard as I could. He threw me off, far past the edge of the school. I was falling fast. But the spiraling clouds vanished as I teleported back to the grounds only to face another villain, a scowling woman with black spiked claws where her hands should have been.
"Now now, little girl. Let's not try to be a hero."
I narrowed my eyes, and for a second I forgot to be terrified. "Who are you calling little, old lady?"
The woman snarled and charged at me. I vanished out of her way and reappeared right behind her. Before she could turn around, I kicked her behind the left knee. She dropped like a stone and I hurled my fist at her face.
But she ducked out of the way and slashed at me in a movement that so quick, I fell back in surprise. A sharp pain erupted on the outside of my left arm. I immediately clutched it and when I pulled my hand away, there was blood on it.
I lay on the ground, too stunned to do anything as the woman got to her feet. "I warned you," the woman hissed, raising her claws once again.
Suddenly a fireball knocked her sideways. Before she could react a beam of light shot out of nowhere, pinning her down. I could have sobbed in relief as White Star and Phoenix suddenly appeared.
"You all right?" White Star asked me. She was using her noncommittal voice, all part of her Hero persona, but I was her sister. I knew she was worried.
"I am now," I said.
"That arm looks bad," Phoenix said. "Get back to the city. The police are right below us. They'll help you out."
Seeing the chaos that was still going on around us, I wanted to argue. But now wasn't the time. I got out of there.
I didn't know where my friends were. I could only hope they were all right.