The New Young Justice

Issue 5

by manticoraus/RT

Cody Diamant really needed a break. He knew, somewhere, in his heart of hearts all those who would be effected and effected deeply by his truancy. No, it wouldn't be truant at all. Everyone should take a break, and lately the books were killing him. He knew he should study more for his trip but he couldn't. His French was as fresh as it was going to be without direct practice and really he could have one of the staff at least accompany him to help explain the particulars of the structure and grounds.

The recent renovations on his ancestral inheritance had rolled to a close. That meant his dad would have him take a trip to finish construction and stop any stragglers and squeezers. It was something of a test. Beside there had been reports pertaining to other issues that had Cody suspicious about something.

Yawning aloud the young man checked his clock. It informed him the hour was in double digits now. Three hours was a long time but he wasn't tired enough to sleep. Also he really wanted to hook up with his friends from the Tangent Affair.

It had been subtle. A few days became a week. Cody went into his regular groove trying to shake the feeling of fat criminal fingers and rank sour breath and the prideful patronizing voice. One week made it to two. He first checked up on the Decon a lot at first to make sure he behaved taking care of Chantel. The girl who self-multiplied seemed to be getting herself together in most common ways but a job. That was four weeks after. Thoughsniper was gone as simply as he had come. Gamer was on the east coast, and didn't leave his number… and Cody didn't really like him.

And now one month and a half later he didn't want to lose these friends. Besides what could they be doing.

0-0-0

"Did you have to bust his lips like that AFTER you slashed his cheek?" Decon asked embarrassed and angry.

Chantel's face was almost emotion-less as when they had first met but for the tell-tale curls at the end of her mouth and softening of cheeks. Her eyes slid to Decon just as she walked further ahead on the dilapidated sidewalk.

"I don't need to suffer vainglorious dispatchers who think they are emperors."

"He just asked if you had the skill to run with my kind of crowd!" Decon was more instructive than explanatory.

Chantel stopped, her back to him and then turned her head gracefully but almost supernaturally about as if on a pivot "Are you being my tutor or my new master then? If you are, then I think you'll need to improve your watchfulness for your precious-"

"Now, don't go there, girl! Geez, I'm just telling you how a solo professional acts I am not trying to control you like those freaks did and- hey what about my" he then turned to look towards where Clique had been, expecting, once again too late, another of her clo-no, sisters – there to practice smacking him up. Only instead he got an eyeful of ratty, smelly faded trenchcoat. And two really thick glasses under a stylishly oblong brim.

"Dw.. Thoughtsniper!" Decon was shocked, "Two months. Not even there the morning after- Usually that my thing but as you see, I got m'self tied to," Decon's lean was cut off by a twisting of his fingers in his trainee-partner's vise like grip.

"I came to because Cody is coming here to see you."

"Huh, but I though you only read minds, not saw the future. And how'd you see THAT I mean he hasn't been 'round for weeks. I think his goldenrod's keeping him tied near the post."

"Oh? Uh, lot I could do without that visual. Cody's usually imaginative enough on his own. And really Decon I think you should loosen up the bonds. Chantel may not-"

In an instant a twin of the girl in question with the cloth mask strangleheld the powerful mind-reader a slim dagger's reverse side biting to break the skin.

"You'll strain to keep the conversation focused on what brought you here and involuntary with personal information," her voice the same only more quiet. Less force more sharpness. Even her sisters had become more distinct and varied in the last few week's. This one was a ninja in silence and speed down to marrow of her bones.

Only she was really like Clique with a lethal sense of humor.

Dwayne was aghast, "Hey hey, cheating you just summoned her out!" he accused Chantel. She shrugged and with a pumping of her feet turned her body and folded arms to him.

"Well, anything on the Four Falls? You've been able to work that disk drive for weeks now?" she was to the point. Decon knew what that meant and Dwayne could tell too but unlike Cody the two men weren't as inclined to empathise and attend to feelings with someone as first response

"Just the basics. They are "the" leader of assasins, directing the course of world governments in the shadows, all other groups are intermediaries, and the usual self-aggrandizing bull. Tangent knew the contact by word of mouth and he knew to keep the records that way. Aside from your contract there is nothing. Not even the contact who sold you. No name, no picture, no location. He's got a friend at the phone company his LUD's show no direct overseas calls. So either they had a domestic contact or-"

Clique held up her hand with two razors one between the fore, middle, and ring-fingers, they were already copper-stained, "I'm into cosmetic desconstruction as of late you know!"

"THAT is No, Nothing new. I'm sorry but they are hidden pretty well. I mean I don't have contacts I tag info-lines. And until we branch out and network like Tangent did I think all we'll hear is rumors."

"I know. I mean I should know. I did know I just…I don't know" Chantel's sister left Dwayne and went to comfort her primary sibling. Decon slipped his hand from her grip with a tiny show of litheness and strength. Practicing with the finger's mobility he decided to sit on the edge of the street. Dwayne joined him.

"I know you know she gets like this every so often. Its gotten better. I mean not all the time and not all that big just- Well it's unsafe for combat. And she hasn't done that yet but I mean I guess I shouldn't doubt her. She overcompensated with uh the local stoolie."

"Which is something else I know. After a hacked a ticket I just reached out for the most ornery nasty psychic vibe I could sense. And then I worked my way to you. Saw your display in the club. Really you both need to manage the tempers more."

"Hey it is under control. Anyway, as long as the crooks in suits need a lift they'll be someone shuffling powder through DC. Though at least the confusion has them limiting themselves and sending more than a studying unit. Not to mention Supes is nearby in Hell's Heart. They're being driven out towards my area but still minding themselves. Big Blue could annihilate them"

"Or you, whoah, you must be the only guy I met who's. uh.. uh " Dwayne wanted to avoid the word 'afraid.'

"Respectful? Look, being a possible last of my race with superstrength kinda guy who's conquered the grave a few times himself, I can respect a guy who can corral armadas of daxamites and reverse tornados. I mean, really he gives a shi…oh!"

A bright yellow glare filled the daytime sky. Almost bird like then as it lowered seemed more of a closed top flaming chariot if not fully detailed as such. The top peeled back to reveal the smiling visage of Cody Diamant without his Phoebus get up.

"Get on in boys and girls I have the yearn to burn some cash with my pals."

"Pals aren't," Decon began to protest at being ordered and then both Chantels hit him with their full weight double-teamed at the back of his neck. The hit would would have dislodged the vertebrae from the collarbone on a lesser man. Decon only had his head hit crack the street and gain a nice sized knot.

"Shut up," her voice was stereo and then, by itself, "OSK, I need a new wardrobe and Dwayne already told you he was coming. Don't act like we're too busy."

Decon winced as Dwayne peeled off the fedora and adjusted his spectacles. He stepped away with a wary gait and wry grin. The former assassins were almost a married couple, without the warmth. Stepping into the fiery bright chariot Phoebus had made he kept his hands from the sides unsure if it would cut or burn. Chantel, in a jacket and thrift store pants over her usual bodysuit strode on. Decon's arm seemed to move as made of lead. He waved them away.

"He knows where your place is, and can be there before us. And we need to carry Robert," Dwayne interpreted.

Cody nodded and then shrugged, "Uh, why, if we keep it between us-

"I, uh, told him we were coming," TS explained suddenly feeling a soft soft coldness lay on his chest, "Uh, ya see I mean. Well, uh. You shouldn't use instant messenger so much. I mean. I could, uh, tell you look can't we just get him. Really I think he misses us, some."

0-0-0

"When I see them, I'm going to shoot them," Gamer was infuriated to tears kicking his heel to the side of the steps he sat on with his legs swung over. He'd cut school, something he could end up in A LOT of trouble for, waiting for Cody. Only he hadn't factored in the time difference between California and Serille. When he got home a whuppin' and likely four weeks without anything that looked like it used electricity would be his punishment. And it was hot and he couldn't leave or he'd miss his flight. TS's email had at the time seem pretty definite now he just wondered if the cheater had set him up.

"Robert, uh," the voice of the stairs' owner was softer than usual, "Look, I hate to be a traitor, but its close to seven. You've been here twelve hours and…"

Even Kevin was pissed, Gamer thought, well not pissed, upset. The elder hobbyist talked soft when he was trying desperately to wheedle Gamer to do something the portly man really wished he didn't want to talk about. Every moment Gamer sat outside for his friends to pick him up would be one where a lawmen, teacher, or even a nosey parent could spot the boy on Kevin's backyard stoop. This would make Kevin an accomplice to the crime of youthful delinquency. Plus people thought he was odd enough. And he really wanted to enjoy his privacy or his friend's company not be deprived of both. He'd constantly checked to see if Robert was there or gone, if someone was coming, and… he really wanted to see this Phoebus up close.

An old but still good digital camcorder was set up and ready. He'd be up there if he could land this footage. Phoebus was a model amongst the athletes- certainly not ineffective just not on the level of say Green Arrow or Blue Beetle or even The Ray. He was more photo-op than phenom but certainly a celebrity and someone the magazines and news ate up for his looks, poise, and presentation. Here was a person who acted like he could handle a camera. Phoebus was more of a "normal" star than the paragons and weirdos of the 1st class of superheroes.

Also the way Robert told it he might actually be at the ground level of a whole bunch of premieres. They were not exactly unique metas one strongman with a temper, two pseudo-lanterns one yellow one green, another ninja chick (but at least one that self multiplied though that part seemed a little hard to wrap his head around), and a hacker with limited energy powers. Hard to see what kind of crew this would make. But it seemed Gamer was the only non-martial artist in the entire group and Phoebus was rich.

Kevin grimaced and little put out that Gamer had just showed up on his doorstep with a comforter, a portable PSOne still with the plastic smell (he'd have to remind him about the stolen property statutes), and a knapsack at seven in the morning and also refused to divulge the full identities of his associates. One team up and suddenly it was "us superheroes can't just share names without permission."

He'd been so busy chewing that bitter pill he nearly missed it. Really in ways Gamer was making him lose his edge. Stuff happened so often around him Kevin just didn't leap onto things like he would before moving to Serille. Now it was "another of his toys left out" or "I'll ask about that when he gets done with his homework." He'd missed a Haven probe thanks to that apathy.

Now he'd almost missed a streak of gold near sundown. It lowered itself the afternoon glare making it really hurt to focus on. The picture would be terrible. He should have expected this and got a shadowcap for the lens. He'd have to hope he could process it on his computer and focus. The top opened, it was almost like a spaceship. A young socialite, the girl (why did they usually have one), and then some dude in a trench that screamed pseudo-lectual highschooler. Gamer bound up and then sent out his foot.

This was going to be good footage, all those super reflexive martial artists and a guy with a scepter (he'd have to reference the markings later) that projected energies that responded to thought and they could still be dropped by an ornery freshman. That was a nasty shin kick. Phoebus, he could tell since he held the cadeucus, doubled over taking it. Kevin wondered where the punk and the asian kid were then lifted his eyes from his recorder. It looked like Robert was going to clip the boy's head off with everything that was in his backpack. The packrat rarely completely unpacked and often stuffed any random thing he wanted into it. Kev doubted a painwracked Phoebus could recover from a caved in skull. Then in a shifting moment another of the girl was there and held the boy just right, before he fell. A sleeping touch. Whoah this was good stuff.

The chariot-like thing waited on the lawn abit more before finally its pilot could stand up and lifted them to the sky and turned west and shot for the horizon.

Eh, it was kinda good. But now Kev had to edit the footage for clarity.

0-0-0

Luke was in his fourth hour of kata-meditation. He'd gone from the honored and care-taken but still spartan upbringing of Dragonlord Descendant to the pampered guest of a near hedonistic host. He felt he should re-dedicate himself even fuller than ever to his studies. Only how? He was now without instructors, community

Family.

He raised his knee and then extended his foot out in a sidekick. After sweeping through the air in a semi circle he replanted it. It had been three days since he had run into Cody again in the opulent estate. The boy had been stressed by the adventure against the Tangent clan and, as he now understood, was managing a minor business project set by his father.

That had perhaps been the other reason for his sudden interest in refocusing to his training. He should have been receiving trials, questions, and tests from his father and the elder of the temple. Last week would have been the old aunt's birthday. And now. . .

Luke really wanted something to do. A purpose, a project, a mission. Sure he should find darkness and eliminate it with his light but what exactly did that mean. Rosa was likely cared for but still underprivileged due to a materialist system that encouraged gain at any cost with profit and prestige, something his host and he himself, due to his host's generosity, benefited from. He had long been taught there was a balance, and no easy battle. But now at sixteen faced with not only fighting it, but planning, plotting and having sole care of it made Luke wish he hadn't answered the singing call in his blood and the pleading light of the ring.

Maybe, he thought to himself, I first need to free myself of the chains of the past. I… I haven't yet lit a single candle for my family. It's been over a month. I must accept the inevitable but but

He really wished he had something to do and someone to do it for.

Gamer doesn't know OSK's origins and has told Kev about his phasing ability. Dittto Thoughtsniper he only knows him because they netgamed. As apparent Gamer thinks TS cheats due to his incredible talent at strategy and response and tracking.

"Hehe, mandy you shouldn't have. All the way, really. Mmm gotta give you something nice oooooh," Gamer's lips curled as he mumbled eyes closed resting on the floor of the chariot.

"You don't really sleep when I hit those nerve points. I just make it so you're unconscious," Clique's voice was ground with displeasure..

"For most people," Gamer opened his eyes and then sat up, "Hey, I feel okay- whoah it's like outta television. No buzzing headache and I can remember the states in alphabetical order; Allllll-ah-bama, Alaska and"- Clique began to tune him out with great effort.

The chariot had a warm and breathable atmosphere it even felt comfortable to stand and move your arms in, but was moving rather slowly.

"Too much weight," Cody complained responding to their spiking impatience, "And the construct makes it so that this moves really slow, it could be hours before we hit California."

Dwayne sighed and looked out to the side, though the shell obscured any view. He felt the thrill of just having the control and flash to … no that was Phoe-Cody. What he felt… was the confused alertness of all of the many himselves as his bethre- NO that was Chantel. Gamer… Gamer was just like him though. Bored, frustrated and unsure what to do from here. And uncomfortable being so close to the freakin' butt-lov ARGH

Dwayne scrunched his face in disgust and stepped as far from the group as he could. Cody frowned hurt and confused at why Dwayne felt what he did. Maybe he wanted to see/feel outside of the domed 'chariot.' The young industrialist tried to adjust the shielding enough to let psychic energies through.

Dwayne's face soften, then slackened, "Phoebus," Cody felt the certainty and pride swell indicating, "PLAN. Jetstreams. Use them. Listen, a few degrees starboard. Several yards up and catch a wave."

Cody smiled. He was good.

- - -

OSK had materialized four feet over (what was now) the pile of shards and powder he now frantically tried to figure how to explain or fix. His frantic stomping about had summoned Luke to him who was doing some freako Zen thing over the shards and legs where was once a four hundred dollar piece of crystal furniture.

They hadn't so much as said hello. Luke was pile gazing and OSK was flapping his arms yelling.

"C'mon superglue? No, no, no, DAMN I shouldn't have done that when I was still achey, of course I missed. GAH!"

He couldn't believe how useless being half demon could be for fixing something. He couldn't reassemble the pieces and make them stick, IF he could sort them. He was a thrashing machine not some craftsmen. Not that that would make any difference at this point. The thing was in a million pieces and powdered. Decon had to remember not to stomp or hit anything in his frustration. There was no telling what else he'd end up breaking.

"Well don't do it in the future. Still this was a wonderful opportunity to practice expanding my powers with my mind. I think it's not a bad result," Luke interjected calmly. Decon glanced.

Okay the monk-boy was REALLY freaking him out now. The table was … was reconstructing. Pieces raised and reassembled and stuck in place. The lightest lines of green about the edges as Luke touches his hand to the middle of the cut glass. The way it was reassembling and how it did so was… was like a pattern rediscovering itself. Almost like notes of music rearranging to make a lost song. Like-

"Whoah, whoah, what the HECK are you. You do this before?" Decon asked leaning and peering.

"No. I have practiced using my powers to assemble puzzles, toys, and armor. It was training. Learning how to look at something and to put it together find its pattern, and form and, dang it"

The glass was refitting but not properly. The Table was the right shape and size but of the wrong appearance. Simply put, design in the glass that marked near the edges had been in the glass itself. But some pieces could fit in more than one place. So

"My, LORD what happened to my table!" Cody's shout broke Luke's meditation and without setting it at a molecular level the glass shards fell again.

Decon fumbled his hands together behind the back of his head as a dark cold sensation ran up the middle of his chest.

"You!" Decon cursed Cody's empathic ability for what felt like the first time, "Decon, You did this? Why? How? I I don't believe!"

"No, please," Luke interjected, "He's just solved a problem of mine. I've been slacking in my mental training. This seems something like a puzzle worthy for the Dragon Lord's Descendant. With this project I could refine all sorts of different techniques with my power.

"Hold on," Gamer seemed to shoot across the floor his brow just beneath Luke's chin as they both stood inches apart, "You can do that weird green thing without your ring?"

"I did it before, on the boat to here," Luke reminded the attention deficient child. Cody suddenly seemed to fight back tears.

"Well, oh yeah. You did, you did. And in the battle too. So You aren't really a Green Lantern?"

"Ah, uh," Luke flubbed, not sure how to answer that.

"He doesn't know," Dwayne interjected, "He thinks there's a connection but his order, his family raised him isolated and on legends. He doesn't belie-

"How dare you question my faithfulness and devotion-" Luke snapped like he'd been slapped.

"I was just saying-" Dwayne began uncomfortably trying to raise an index finger out.

Kuh-thump.

Luke had instantly remembered peripherally seeing what Dwayne's fingers could do if pointed. Already emotionally agitated, Luke had crossed the distance and high-kicked Thoughtsniper in the chest before the slighter teen really reacted. Luke shook with his emotion and then felt like his bones would vibrate the flesh off of him while his veins ran with vile disdain. He felt the tears hit his hand before the pricking about his eyes.

Cody, ever the counselor, helped Luke to the couch. Gamer just looked on arms folded eyes wide, blinking only by requirement. OSK's upper teeth showed as an interrupted open mouth stare. Chantel seemed to be pensive but with eyes that also felt the need to cry. She joined Luke at his other side, though kept her arms folded at her mid-section.

Gamer gave a loud sigh then stepped to Dwayne. Leaning Robert tapped him about his back with his index and middle fingers, then his whole hand. Unresponsively crouched over, Dwayne seemed renderred mute. Gamer decided to heft him to take him towards the kitchen. Wherever that was.

OSK decided to help the teep. Luke had enough company and Gamer was dragging his patient across the carpet. Hefting him on the shoulder the half-demon followed silent behind the younger man.

"I feel awful," Luke winced, "I mean I guess you don't-"

Cody sat close and leaned down making sure to seem simple and concerned he nodded, "You do need to say it-"

"No kidding," Clique interrupted, "Have you forgotten? You don't use force like that so undisciplined. Sheesh, he was just telling you the truth. Hmmph, I don't know how you were raised but I didn't get to rip up someone who gave me news I didn't want to hear."

"I know I .. I just. I feel so alone," Luke bowed his head to his knees, "And guilty. I I think I killed."

"It was a battle and you did everything to," Clique was especially quick to reason.

Luke's face turned up to Chantel, "No, I mean. I- I think I killed someone before. Before the island because I couldn't control the, the fire inside me. I hate this. I killed them. All because because of nothing and now. I am not sure if I can do this."

"Hey," Cody sounded more soft toned but wasn't disagreeing with Chantel, "you still had courage to try it. To save another's life. Okay, you have a power, a power that can get out of hand. But the same is true for a rig driver. Thing is it seems like what happened was an accident!"

"I've had the power since I was born. But but the. The THING made it erupt in me. I feel it. All the time. Its amazing, everything I've dream of. But I don't know if I can do it knowing how I got it. I feel as if I've corrupted it. And and… that maybe what was told to me of it wasn't the full truth."

"Forget your past issues. Look," Chantel made a particularly dismissive arm motion, "I'm not talking about some thing that happened a million miles away months ago. I'm speaking right now. You hurt a teammate rather than listen to him. If your past is making you do that. I say let go of it. NOW, because if we're going to be together-"

"I don't think I can be ar-" Luke began dreading the words.

"Because SINCE we are together," Cody amended to Chantel, "It's everyone's best interest to approach this with hearts not plagued. Maybe you need to cleanse the briars in yourself. And Luke, I think you know how."

"Chantel, uh, Cody. Thank you. I need to uh find uh Dwayne." Pushing up from the firm sofa cushions Luke was to his feet. He walked to the hallway then turned back, "Uh by the way where did they go."

"I'll find them," Phoebus said getting up twirling his caduceus before reducing it to pocket size and concealing it.

- - -

"Okay, where's the kitchen?" Robert asked making sure to leave a trail to follow back with things from his bag.

"A compass is not one of my powers," OSK deadpanned, then bobbed his head about in a circle voice livelier, "Buuut, hmm no good this is apparently a custom design. I can't even feel out the architecture. I mean with servants they could keep the actual functional kitchen some distance from the lounges."

"Okay okay uh, and darn. Maybe we shoulda stayed with Phoebus. WAIT"

"What?" OSK asked.

"That… That smell. Ah yes of course, follow my nose," Gamer ended in a semi-decent imitation of the famous spokesbird.

Pulling along Dwayne they made it to the kitchen. OSK noted like many it had no carpet and, of course it was frequently cleaned with tile favoring detergent. A scented one in fact.

"You're pretty smart," Decon said as soon as he realized. He himself had smelled it to but hadn't, even with his training, thought in the way to use it.

"Thanks for noticing. Now meat or ice?" Robert was noncommittal in his voice. Leaning in he had already opened the double metal doors to the freezer section of the expensive restaurant grade unit. OSK raised an eyebrow. This child was definitely something. Then his training took over someone approached closeby.

A whistling preceded the entrance of Cody Diamant, "Actually uh, sometimes after a match I use some thearupetic uh salves and pads that-"

"Hold on, you compete," OSK asked then winced at how that could be taken, "I mean"

"No need to explain. I understand. I do not compete in tournaments. My instructor and I spar as part of my physical education. And.. I" Cody was momentarily interrupted by the emotional response of Gamer to the last sentence, "I can end up pushing him a little much so he lets go a bit more and uh we get too rough. Even if I like it that way," he just couldn't help aggravating the boy though, "Anyway even I get hit sometimes with my rod so I make sure to keep some lotions, salves, and theraputetic aids

"Yes, the life threatening tennis elbow has plagued many the bottle bred for years. Perhaps the oil of aleve will truly find the inner chakra noin and alleviate stress," Gamer verbally interrupted now.

Cody sighed and casually retorted, "So finished using my facilities? I'd really suggest you forego the sweets. You're drooping over the side of your pants as is!"

"Only to aid your guest mister I-have-a-healing-staff-but-lets-work-it-out-with-the-fly-handle-psycho and no I don't wanna put snails on the cookie dough ice cream that you don't have!"

"Yes," Cody was plainly frustrated and facing Robert with full annoyance, "Well the Trailer Daily aside not all the Chinese singularly plan the invasion and destruction of the baby-slayers country- I mean Gods. I MEAN that Dwayne was obviously not truly in need of immediate administration. Luke was."

"Ugh, I'll be out the window now," Robert sneered.

Hopefully, thought Cody in a weak moment, head first to the pavement.

He soon regretted it. Gamer literally kicked up a blind pulled the window open and jumped over the ledge. Feet first and on the first floor. But still it was strange to see him be so literal and matter of fact.

OSK just watched with a placid face, "He's just wired off, man! Look I think he's okay but still if you could.. uh do your thing."

Cody nodded and a few minutes later after Dwayne was conscious explaining the situation.

"We drifted, it's easy to do even nowadays. The key here is to focus on the now. Do something to clear our heads and bring us together we-"

"No need to build to this being about a shopping trip" Dwayne interrupted then pointed to Decon who's eyes began to widen, "Even he can tell that!"

- - -

And that was how they decided to go the Alley. A three story partially underground mall. That was easily out of all but two of the team members' price range. It was posh and well crafted filled with a designer food court and pedestrian conveyance system of elevators, stairs, moving sidewalks, and escalators.

"Nice to just slum with the odd common man isn't it," Cody said as they were pulled to the curb with such sheer sincerity Gamer's feelings to the young man nearly plummeted from general biased dislike to a specific exasperated disgust. The ride in the SUV by chauffeur had been enough. Cody apparently was still getting his driver's license or found the exercise of turning the wheel and obeying traffic regulation too forestalling to calculating the allowance in his checking account.

Chantel herself felt unsure. She'd been more fancy places, but now, on her own she was feeling particularly shown up and spoiled. She'd probably not be allowed in anywhere. Even with a sports jacket over her combat uniform she felt out of place. Decon just kept his sturdy aura of power and confidence as mentally he wailed ticking off his meal budget. He could starve, the one benefit to being an immortal teen with bills and a dependent, but even he didn't know for how long just to buy Chantel a pair of shoes. And he knew women needed more than one.

Luke was a kid in a candy store, even if it was epicurean. The stuff was just so so so, excessive. All these foods for no exact nutritional value and he had once horded Snickers back in the temple like they were bars of gold. He had to ask how much they went for. Raising a finger he flagged a man in a white uniform with a fully cloth narrow oval headpiece.

Dwayne was silent and glowering through the trip. He'd known exactly where they would go and what was waiting. So getting there had been an extreme delay of an accomplished trip for him. He knew despite the anticipations of the group what was waiting, their very likely reactions; or at least situations, and now that he was here he felt like avoiding the candy shop. Things were about to get really ugly as the high class server tried to explain kudos bars would be considered shaming and how currency worked in civilized suburban America.

Dwayne was edging to the arcade of the mall with the mens' apparel, particularly in the mood for the leather shop, a new satchel since his old one was scruff. The janitors at the office really needed to-

It was happening again. Thoughtsniper had to focus. The mall was making it especially difficult. So many vain, varied thoughts, noises, even for the relatively subdued time of year and style of shopping center. He leaned against the side of a kiosk and massaged his temples summoning his skills and focusing techniques. First to expand the breadth of his mental reception out as far as he could like wings, hands, a ripple in a pool. There, the simple image would now reverse and concentrate bringing full awareness of the area in a flash and then total cognition of HE HIMSELF from ALL ELSE.

And then he heard it. All of it. No, not heard. Saw. In the minds of them. Not all. Those few who were separated yet joined in one thing. The plan to-

Dwayne panicked and then reacted, only he was reacting with the mindset of the near hundred civilians he'd just taken a mental flash photo of and played in his own brain in a sharp eruptive skip. He ran for the security desk.

"Mister Diamant! This is a surprise. It is WONDERFUL to see you. Normally you just use the preferred customer channels and now-"

"Gawd, he's gayer then you are! Please just give me the cash and point me to the eletronics before the damned sprinkler go off!"

The smooth skinned fashionably mousse-haired forty year old man in navy blue suit was taken back by the shorter companion's rudeness. He'd look no more than a child to him and it seemed he sounded like little man. With no sense of tact, a regular "thug" as they liked to pretend to be. And from the country, likely east coast, even.

"Mr. Erixon, I apologise for my," Cody held the last vowel really not wanting or knowing the word to say next, "guest's," the emphasis and pause on the last didn't seem to even register with Gamer while Decon reassessed his appraisal of the boy's mental abilities, "rudeness. He will be waiting outside the store. IN sight. And with no money"

"Ehw, WROOONG. If you really want me not to get kicked out of the mall than you need to give me money. They want paying customers here and. . . Erix here"

"Mr. Erixon," the man corrected.

"Oh right, what's your first name," Gamer asked still oblivious to the issue raising his toes to peer at breastpocket of the suitcoat the proprietor wore, "Sheesh, charge a hundred for a sole jacket and can't afford nametags, maybe iF ah ah hold on," Gamer inexplicably began to raise the man's coat sleeve. Cody was stunned in shock. Decon was immediate and helpful.

"Hey," Robert began to kick fiercely wishing to hit that "pa-raffee-all" nerve at the knees with his heel as OSK held him up, "put me down, I gotta blow my nose!"

"I figure use your on sleeve!" Decon bellowed holding tighter

"Oh come on, they hate when you do that? Right, Gay Eri?" Gamer looked to the man with but a wicked slyness and genuine self-satisfaction for his assumption.

Cody immediately put a hand to the older salesman's shoulder and began his unique style of pacification. OSK dumped Robert on a bench and leaned in using his best enforcer persona. Letting all the menace and quiet but effective danger out through every pour Robert's stomach was in knots and he sat closing his legs tight.

"So you see, really he's just taking it out on anyone," Cody finished after a agryphal anecdote, "He feels like he's never really belonged. I hope working with him can teach him just how to be more sociable."

"I suppose so," the salesman sighed with a shrug, "Really I am more worried about this new thug you're seeing. Now, I know you mean well but I thought you weren't the man who wasn't into those type of relationships."

"We're not dating," OSK interjected matter of fact though voice still swelled from his enforcer act, "He felt it would be best to not go out alone. I am his bodyguard."

"Oh please," the habadasher nearly squawked, "That's the worse cover I've heard and I used the personal banker bit. Look really Mr. Diamant you can be assured despite any eccentricity you, your friends, and family will always be welcome at any of my establishments. Now you can go enjoy our latest seasonal selection as I must finish training this cashier."

"Well actually," Decon began to plea but Cody had both hands at his upper arm pulling towards the dressing room.

"No problem, know the selection like the back of my hand and great with sizes too. Ooh, something good for the French countryside. I am headed there soon!"

OSK guhhed and tried not to feel uncomfortable.

Gamer pulled his handheld from his belt and began playing. This had been one terrible day. He was tired, cranky, not allowed any money, and had to wait outside a clothing store. It was worse than a trip with his mother. They usually could enjoy a swing at the food court without being handed menus and expected to tip. He blew out his noses to his wrist and wiped it on the side of his pants by the knee.

Out the corner of his eye he noted a security guard coming to him. Plainsclothes but the walk, really some things were too universal. He figured he'd better play it dumb for now and just start his power up.

"Excuse me, sir," the guard was leaning and smiling, "I just noticed you got put here. Was that your brother?"

"No," Gamer was loading his last save.

"Ah, I see, well whoever he was could you get him, I need to see his ID"

"No you don't I'm 14 that means I can be here by myself and you need to see mine Pinkerton."

"Hmm, oh really, you have your ID?"

"No, I don't need it. Anyone who don't know me and asks that wish they hadn't!"

"I see, well you'll be explaining that once I take you and your friend into custody"

"I am a freaking customer and I ain't moving until you get a uniform here or explain why I friend of Cody Diamant is to be moved without reason.

"Name dropping isn't necessary and we have been told you're armed if you could just turn around-"

Robert's stomach lurched WHO Told who coulda- Thoughtsniper that cherrypickin' larp reject!

"I ain't got a piece and I don't wanna be searched."

"That isn't what we were told a man matching your description

"Ooh, not white and un-airheaded, without a salesman between their legs and their wallet spread open and turned upside down in the register!" Gamer was pushing it but if this guy was here with no backup the plan was to scare him, make him think he was surrounded, and then get him to some security room while they called his parents. Only… why with the method. Unless, uh oh

"Sir, I am not mall security I am a plainclothes detective. And I assure you I can arrest you but right now if you don't make a scene we can leave this to a phone call to the folks.

"No back up?" Gamer asked worried.

"I am beginning to feel threatened. We're getting the other seven of your boys, so"

"Rest? Hold on Seven… seven BOYS!"

"Yes, we know the plan and we've had some idea but we got a tip so really

"All of them boys. Are you sure. I mean, really sure!"

"Yes, we were told … what you mean there's some girls on this too?"

Oh CRAP!

"No, but there should be," Gamer made his distraction, it had be all of eight minutes. It should be enough time. For the leg to emerger out from the screen of his yellow and green dinosaur of a handheld, heel to chin as the rest of the action game character emerged. The guy had been floored. Gamer ran through the traffic before the crowd could gather covering his escape into the store with a message.

Dwayne was red faced. He'd fabricated a great lie. Really all the justifications had been in the interviewer's head. Only he was feeling more like some well to do civilian than a practiced survivor. And the fact that he was honestly more of the former than the latter wasn't helping matters. He needed to wrap this up, but the dang thing kept going and he had to remember not to make a scene. He'd explained the armed gang members. Mainly latinos and a few blacks. They were going to do a sweep and some knockovers. Basically general mayhem for some reason he hadn't fully figured out. There were eight of them. All with semi-automatic handguns and a few with automatics. Top-line stuff, it was nothing that would hold out but could do some damage.

But he'd seemed so helpful at first the officers verified. Then he said how they noticed more kids like that showing up, making a fuss one call about kicking some out, and of some grown-up's complaints about hoodlums on the grounds. Really he'd been able to fake it enough. But they were still suspicious and very eager for more info. And just how he was getting this info, what was his relationship to these people, and always one person with the interviewer who was only armed with pepper spray but also trained at striking and restraining.

He had to focus. How did he get out of this damned chair and get the team to prevent a warzone in the promenade. And did he really want to. This sounded like something for the real invincible superheroes. Then he felt his heart sink.

"Betty," the extra muscle lifted her squawking radio, "Betty, this is a report we found one of the gang- but

No, Dwayne thought to himself, please, oh please, NO, he pleaded for no specific reason. He knew what was going to be said. Indirect communication helped his powers very well. He understood the staticy words, the codes, and what the man was describing, and WHO he'd just encountered.

Dwayne put his fingers behind his back and then focused very hard. The blue dual sparks ignited, as did the draining buzz in his head. The radioing plainclothes guard was just getting up to the part about a leg smashing out of the screen of one of those "Game-Things" and how they were dealing with metas, when the sparking blue orbs were aimed. The guard was almost ironically asking for backup in the form of Power Company when the young mentad fired his psychic bullets at the chest.

The women seized and Dwayne's foot steps echoed from the distance in their scrambled heads as they found themselves on the floor.

Cody really wasn't sure how to react. He wasn't an all-tolerant saint but Gamer had been more or less keeping to himself when suffering from some racial profiling. And had dealt with it in a way that seemed typical for him.

Violence.

He really hated that but to intervene would likely make things worse. The bare-chested man with the bandanna had just propelled himself, without the minimum of physically, let alone humanly, plausible launching force, crossing the space between the walkways and then begun all manner of stilted but damaging moves. It would have continued then only for another, uniformed, officer- no security guard, the mimic uniform was a give away, if not the wearer's emotional state- to pull out some pepper spray from his belt-loop, pop his safety, and fire. The martial artist didn't react to the chemicals. He walked over in a heaving and aggressive stance as he lowered himself and then delivered a rising uppercut to the guard's chin. This continued for about a few minutes until all the guards were on their backs or stomachs or crawling away. Gamer had been seated contentedly on his bench and then, as the last guy came out had the video game character make a semi-respectful bow and then ready himself. The guard just ran away.

Gamer stood up and walked inside the store and smiled to Mr. Erixon.

"Sir, I apologize. So what if you wanna sexually service your best buying customer. I mean I had a job once. Well, sorta, that's like part of customer service. I spoke out of turn and shouldn't have made such a big deal about it," he was giddy but somehow relaxed from his actions, "So please if I'll just sit or remain quiet would you let me stay.

The older man wouldn't have listened at this point. If security had picked up he'd have had the boy banded. But apparently they couldn't handle the situation and the little smart mouth had powers. And was promising to behave.

"Good," Gamer already knew what was to be said, "just great, now if you'll excuse me. . ." Robert turned and walked to Deacon and Cody. Deacon just seemed offended. Cody was almost in shock.

"How did," Cody began.

"Huh, think this is the first time I've been kicked outta somewhere. Really once these little napleons see how weak-ass they are they start considering, just maybe, how good it is to be more accommodating to the non-paying customer."

"No no I meant how did they know you were with us?"

"Uh you just had me brought out here?"

"Ugh, my lord the video games how how how," OSK finally began to speak again, "How LAME. I mean what was powering that kick. Enthusiasm. And and that stance, if he was up against a twelve year old with brick he'd be dead. How do people play that tripe."

"Wanna demo!" Gamer threatened. OSK rolled his eyes. Mr. Erixon felt now it was best to go into the back of the store and take his trainee with him.

"Guys, uh… no I mean they didn't seem to notice us or Gamer really. They were targeting him and and… I don't think it was for something he did. They felt a … a little.

"Specifics, Deanna, or unlike Picard I WILL space you," Gamer hissed his voice down but not his venom.

OSK reflected, You're right. They didn't know you were a meta, you haven't stolen anything. Seems like profiling, but in a Californian mall of this location? Why what's the point?"

"Oh please white people-"

"AHEM," Cody falsely cleared his throat and then Gamer felt, amazingly, a pang of remorse.

"I mean upper-class people. They don't like someone different and let's admit it we're not with mallwalkers anonymous. We're teens. We shoot up schools, boost cars, steal merchandise from behind the partition while they aren't looking.

"Uh," Cody didn't really like the sound of this, "Look klepto-man. You still could've handled that differently. Reacting to injustice with injustice is uh. Well that is," Cody had to acknowledge Gamer's wit as well. They'd met briefly but Gamer had learned the kid was very acutely aware of his emotional responses. So he made sure to effect that much more a grimace or a feeling of repulsion at hypocrisy. And Cody hadn't even told him of his empathic powers. Gamer thinking wasn't a problem. Getting him to think was. The child was an utter knucklehead.

The problem was it was easy to see why. Summoning out a man (and the part that had truly stunned Cody a man with some small but existant feelings of his own) that he used as puppet to inflict damage just to be allowed to cry out his willful mind was casual to him. Use of force to get a point across was actually moral to him.

And there were many like him

WHAT! Cody wasn't sure he'd spoken that last.

"Gamer is confused," Robert mocked, "Hello, Earth to Jack. Wakey-wakey. I know you're busy chasing the only thought in that cavern of a head of yours to give it a perm but dude SNAP OUT OF IT."

"People are being hurt. Robbed. In pain. We, we HAVE to go."

"Uh okay look. Cody, we don't help people who are hurt, we shop. Vacation, 'member. Also remember five minutes ago all you had to do was . . . well to explain what was going on?"

"Do you think you're funny," Cody said fishing for his scepter in the mess of discarded pants he'd tried.

Gamer felt a wave of meekness hit him then defiance surged, "Well I just happen to know I can't depend on you.

"Oh yess and you came to that conclusion after much careful delibirat- damn where's my pants. I need to get the rod to-"

Gamer held up his hands, "See what I mean, look Mr. Fashion buy yourself more clothes. The real useful people. They'll handle it"

"Those guards you nearly killed?"

"Uh," Gamer was clumsily avoiding this well made point, "Ya know if I accused and looked down on everything you did wrong I'd be considered a freakin' homophobic murderer. But go ahead-"

"This is inappropriate WHY!"

"Because," OSK interjected having just come back in the store, "People are being shot at and unless you two can stop fighting will likely die. Gangbangers and well armed and kinda organized. Semis and automatics. Easy to spot though, the only people standing and laughing. Wanna stop 'em?"

Gamer put a hand under his chin. Cody glared at him.

"Okay, I guess. I'll be with you guys in five? Oh and Cody? I think you left the rod thing on the seat in the fitting room."