《Seven Steps to Becoming a Superhero》


 Issue #1: Orientation Day

    Step One: Superhero school is for suckers.


    Standing amid the opal castle-like structures, Zack Kestler already felt a million miles away. His mind didn''t dwell on his upcoming classes starting next week, nor did he have any worries for his impending so-called college career. Between his cropped hay-colored hair and book bag slung over his open plaid shirt, he certainly looked the part of an average college student, even if Innshadow University was anything but average.


    He was thinking how much his father would have hated that he wound up in a place like this.


    ¡°This is the promenade. It¡¯s where students come to study, eat, make out,¡± a sing-song voice beside him said. ¡°Personally, I don¡¯t recommend any of those options. The fliers make it unbearable.¡±


    His guide was a vapid blonde wearing denim shorts and an oversized black Innshadow U hoodie. He couldn¡¯t quite remember her name? Brooke? Britney? Brenna?


    Zack figured it would come to him eventually.


    ¡°Did you say flies?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Fliers,¡± the guide said before she went back to looking at her smartphone, as she had done multiple times during this tour. ¡°Give it a minute or two.¡±


    As if on cue, several shapes darted past him, sending his tour guide¡¯s long blonde locks sweeping in every direction. She didn¡¯t even bother to look up for her phone. The figures buzzed by, only separated from the concrete paths by a few feet at most. Zack squinted his eyes, recognizing each shape as a college kid his age, hollering as they excitedly flew through the air at thankfully subsonic speed.


    ¡°The promenade¡¯s one of the only places fliers can practice without getting skewered on a spire or crashing into a gargoyle,¡± the young woman said as she typed something onto her smartphone.


    Zack regarded the grounds of Innshadow University. It stuck out like a Gothic eyesore amid the flat cornfields of northern Illinois. Black concrete reached to the sky in jagged and ornate fashion in every building, which were clustered together in tight fashion and dotted with gargoyles and grotesques encased in stony grimaces.


    He could already spot several students practicing parkour by dashing from rooftop to rooftop. Innshadow University¡¯s unique architecture certainly made it one of the premiere Superhero Accreditation programs in the country.


    Or so the brochure said.


    Zack turned back to his guide, still glued to her phone.


    ¡°Anything good?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Just the Dean asking me for the thirtieth time how the tour was going,¡± she said. ¡°You must be something special. What was your name again?¡±


    ¡°Zack. Kestler.¡± he said. The blonde pursed her lips, as if deep in thought. For a moment, Zack¡¯s heart stopped. He dropped his father¡¯s name enough to get into this place. He didn¡¯t need to be recognized anymore than he already was. Notoriety could only open so many doors before it exposed Zack to unwanted attention.


    ¡°Nope, doesn¡¯t ring a bell,¡± she said as she started to walk away.


    ¡°I¡¯m nothing special,¡± Zack shrugged. His tour guide regarded him for a moment. Zack felt his heartbeat slow once more. Something about the way the girl¡¯s blue eyes shined unnerved him. Did she mention her powers? He really hoped she wasn¡¯t a psychic - he had enough trouble dating a telepath in high school.


    ¡°You go to New York if you want to be good. You go to LA if you want to be famous. You go to Innshadow if you want to have any hope of repaying your college loans,¡± Brooke or Breanne or Blake said. ¡°So which one are you?¡±


    Zack shifted uncomfortably for a moment. Despite his guide¡¯s words, Innshadow wasn¡¯t exactly cheap. He had to max out two of his dad¡¯s credit cards and clear out his bank account to even afford tuition.


    ¡°I¡¯m undecided,¡± Zack replied.


    That was a lie. He knew exactly what brought him here. The memories came the moment he uttered his falsehood. Zack found himself sliding into the cold embrace of trauma, cruel in its comfort.


    His answer succeeded in satisfying his tour guide, if only for the moment. She began to walk down the promenade.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re almost done.¡±


    Zack followed, but his thoughts drifted back to what really brought him here.


    Two years to this day, Zack had found his father lying on the kitchen floor, covered in blood.


    ***


    One month ago, Zack sat in the Dean¡¯s office. The office appeared smaller than Zack expected, barely big enough to accommodate the three people presently residing within it. Dean Weave¡¯s desk took up most of the tiny office. So many picture frames covered the walls that Zack couldn¡¯t be sure what color the wallpaper was, with each picture showcasing Dean Weave posing with various celebrities and heads of state.


    ¡°Is that Captain Armadillo?¡± Zack said, gawking at a silly hero in an oversized rubber costume shaking hands with a much younger Weave.


    Robert Weave himself sat at the desk, his shoulder slumped against his reclining office chair, even at the expense of his posture, revealing a sagging gut in the process. Years of bureaucracy and administration hadn¡¯t done the one-time superhero any favors, judging by his gray-streaked brown hair and lined face.


    ¡°Yes it is! He didn¡¯t attend here, but he did a couple programs on breaking into the entertainment biz here,¡± he said. ¡°Real sweet guy.¡±


    Weave turned his attention away from the photos to Zack.


    ¡°So the son of Knightbrand wants to attend Innshadow U?¡± Dean Weave smirked. ¡°Well, this is a day I thought I¡¯d never see.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, our deadlines are very clear¡­and passed,¡± the woman next to Dean Weave said. She towered an inch or two taller than Weave, wearing a neatly-tailored pantsuit which showcased an athletic physique. Her brown hair was neatly tied into a bun, and she looked to be a good twenty years younger than Weave, in her early forties at the most.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Zack squirmed uncomfortably in his seat, trying to show a remorseful amount of submission. His father told him this place was full of soft academics and power-hungry bureaucrats, and nothing he had seen so far had contradicted that.


    ¡°Now let¡¯s not be hasty, Miss Shaw,¡± Weave said. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can make an exception.¡±


    Shaw turned to the Dean. ¡°Classes start in a month. The deadline for registration passed three weeks ago. There won¡¯t be any room¨C¡±


    ¡°I already have housing,¡± Zack spoke up. ¡°I found a house for rent on Seventh Street, just a few blocks off-campus.¡±


    Miss Shaw, for her part, did not miss a beat.


    ¡°--left in classes. I¡¯m afraid Mr. Kester will simply have to wait until the next semester to register,¡± she said, her arms tightly hugging her chest.


    Weave waved her concerns away. ¡°C¡¯mon, Amber, they can always pull up another chair out of the storage closet down the hall.¡±


    Miss Shaw rolled her eyes.


    ¡°You were saying you wanted more first-generation students,¡± Dean Weave said, gesturing enthusiastically towards Zack. ¡°Well, here you go.¡±


    Miss Shaw turned her attention to Zack, but her closed-off posture didn¡¯t budge an inch.


    ¡°His grades are¡­adequate,¡± Miss Shaw continued, fixing her gaze upon him. ¡°If only just so.¡±


    ¡°Grades only tell you so much,¡± Weave said, swirling in his office chair like an excitable child. ¡°What can you tell me about yourself, Mr. Kestler?¡±


    ¡°Well, I was part of a sidekick team. We called ourselves Sideclique,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°That¡¯s catchy!¡± Weave said.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Zack replied. ¡°We met in high school, started it up then. And we were the top-rated team in the Chicagoland area.¡±


    ¡°Very impressive,¡± Weave nodded vigorously.


    ¡°Yeah. I lead the team, which a lot of people thought was kinda surprising,¡± Zack continued. ¡°Since I don¡¯t have any powers.¡±


    ¡°No powers?¡± Weave said, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°None save for whatever I could pick up on the football field. I also took my team to state two years in a row,¡± Zack said. ¡°I like to think of myself as a self-made superhero.¡±


    ¡°And yet,¡± Shaw chimed in. ¡°Your father was one of the most powerful non-affiliated superheroes around.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of your father, I noticed his signature on your admission paperwork,¡± Shaw said. Zack grimaced at this, hoping his forgery would be sufficient to pass muster.


    Shaw continued. ¡°He was one of this institution¡¯s harshest critics. Has his beliefs softened in that regard?¡±


    Zack shifted uncomfortably under the gaze of Miss Shaw. She had definitely been a Supe in a past career, and a damn effective one if this interrogation was any indication.


    ¡°I can¡¯t speak to my father¡¯s beliefs,¡± he said.


    ¡°So he never spoke to you about his views on Accreditation?¡± Weave interjected.


    Accreditation - the snake oil Innshadow pedaled for profit. College degrees for superheroes, assuming you could afford the steep tuition cost. Even Innshadow, the ¡°affordable one¡±, ran into six figures when all was said and done. Accreditation promised legitimacy, connections with law enforcement and invaluable networking opportunities for promising young superheroes, but Zack¡¯s father saw it for what it was - gatekeeping in the highest order.


    ¡°Look, I know I¡¯m asking for a lot, but I believe my father wanted¡­wants me¡­to have the opportunities he never could,¡± Zack said. ¡°And that includes attending Innshadow to pursue Accreditation.¡±


    Weave opened a manilla folder, his eyes drifting downward. ¡°I noticed there¡¯s a gap in your records. You graduated high school a little more than a year ago.¡±


    ¡°I took some time off. I needed to find myself,¡± Zack said. ¡°See the world.¡±


    His world tour had taken him to the slums of Tijuana, Singapore and Hong Kong, fighting through the worst of the worst, all while looking for clues to his father¡¯s murder.


    Clues that lead him to this place.


    His father served as one of the world¡¯s most recognizable heroes. It was fitting, if not more than a little obvious, that Zack¡¯s investigation led him to the one place his father despised more than anything.Academia.


    His father built his armor using nothing more than the busted remains of a Subaru Outback. He funded his night-time activities using the meager profits of the garage he opened with his own sweat and blood. At no point in his superhero career did his father take a class or receive an overpriced degree to tell him how to be a superhero - he did it all on his own, with no permission from anyone.


    His views on the matter were very clear. Zack stopped from reminiscing and turned his attention back to the matter at hand. Weave shut the folder and smiled. He then stood up and reached his hand across the over-sized table. Miss Shaw sighed and looked away with a wisp of frustration.


    ¡°Innshadow is happy to have you, Zack,¡± he said. ¡°I think this place is exactly what you¡¯re looking for.¡±


    Zack reached forward to take his soft and squirmy handshake, all while hoping his statement proved true.


    ***


    Breanna or Brooke or Blake finally tucked the phone into the folds of her oversized sweatshirt. She turned to him, her deep blue eyes giving him a rather bored expression.


    ¡°Okay, this tour is almost done. Before I leave you, is there anything else you need to see?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Could we maybe run by Administration and Records?¡± Zack said. He had business there in needed to attend to. His tour guide had other ideas.


    ¡°That takes us right back to the beginning!¡± she said with a frustrating whip of her hair.


    His tour guide gave another deep sigh and then, following several amusingly vocal obscenities under her breath, pivoted around and started walking in the opposite direction. Zack watched her leave for several seconds.


    ¡°Are you coming or not?¡± she called out to him, her hands raised in exasperation.


    The warm September sun turned the dark gothic shapes of Innshadow into glistening oversized action figures in the bright midday. His tour guide wordlessly directed him to a nondescript building after an awkwardly five minute walk without either exchanging a word.


    ¡°There. That¡¯s Administration and Record, the most boring building on campus,¡± she said. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Zack started to say his thanks, but his tour guide suddenly gave a shiver, hugging her puffy sweatshirt.


    ¡°How the hell did it get so cold all of the sudden?¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s still summer.¡±


    Zack¡¯s eyes widened. He pointed past her.


    ¡°I think it might have something to do with him,¡± he said.


    A masked figure in a blue and white ski suit stood poised on a nearby statue memorializing Jeremiah Innshadow, the school¡¯s founder, only now the once bronze statue was completely covered in ice. The masked figure leapt down from the now-frozen figure. Icy gusts emanated from two metallic gauntlets outlining his hands.


    ¡°Class is over,¡± the masked man announced. ¡°It¡¯s time for you wannabes to run. The name is Icer and I¡¯m calling the shots now!¡±


    Zack did his best to fight the grin spreading across his features. This was his time now. Every move he had made had led him to this place. Every burnt bridge and friendship lost, every clue and connection, all of it brought him to Innshadow in one way or another.


    Now it was time to show exactly what he could do. He locked eyes with the man in the blue mask.


    ¡°Get behind me!¡± He heard his tour guide command in a stringent voice he didn¡¯t expect from the slight blonde girl. She clasped both hands together and closed her eyes. A chain of lightning extended from the girl¡¯s joined hands, narrowly missing the masked man, who slid on an icy path as he ducked out of the way.


    He heard the girl curse as a blast of ice shot her way. Zack didn¡¯t see what happened next though.


    Instead, Zack left his tour guide to her potentially frozen fate. He didn¡¯t have time for this. He sprinted down the concrete pathway. Already the air around him felt warmer. Zack Kestler ran straight for the Administration and Records building, and never once did he look back.

 Issue #2: Home Game

    Zack continued to sprint down the twisty concrete path towards the Administration and Records building. All around him, the unfamiliar shapes and spires of Innshadow University passed by. Even after months of pouring over the map, Zack confessed to himself he still only possessed a hazy-at-best idea of his destination¡¯s location. He really should have been paying more attention during his tour with what¡¯s-her-name, but his mission came first.


    A dark-haired girl in a blue T-shirt and jogging shorts sprinted towards him on the path. Zack had been so consumed with his mission he barely noticed her until it was too late. He struggled to stop, but by then he had broken into a fall-on sprint. Zack braced himself for the collision. He was so close he could smell her black orchid perfume.


    He looked at the girl¡¯s face, expecting to see some combination of fear or uncertainty. Instead he saw determination. A strange tingling sensation spread throughout Zack¡¯s frame, somewhere between pins and needles. When Zack opened his eyes next, the girl was gone.


    ¡°Hey, guys! Wait up!¡± Zack turned around to see the girl behind him now.


    She had phased right through him.


    Droves of students surged around him, all heading in the opposite direction. Some were streaking by at super-speed, while others were soaring just inches above the ground. Zack noted a couple others were phasing through the buildings.


    This didn¡¯t surprise Zack at all. They were in the midst of a supervillain attack after all.


    What surprised Zack was the direction they were going. If they kept running in that direction, they would be running into the path of Icer¡¯s ice attacks, as his unfortunate tour guide had found out.


    Perhaps they had pre-planned evacuation spots along the route? That made the most sense.


    Soft-bellied academics. That¡¯s what Dad always called the students of Innshadow U. Suckers gifted with superpowers and money and no common sense.


    His father had no problem with regular college for everyday people looking for the knowledge and training needed to pursue their careers. But that was just it, wasn¡¯t it? As Dad always told Zack, superheroes were a calling, not a career path.


    Innshadow University possessed no training grounds, no fancy holographic simulations for students to fight in simulated bouts with their arch-nemesis. Instead, students spent all their time with their noses in a book, so they could learn how to suck up to lawyers and cops while managing their Instagram accounts.


    They weren¡¯t interested in turning out heroes, his dad had told him on numerous occasions. This place was a factory for faces, pristine and ready for prime-time. Zack could smell the sweet, pungent aroma of gasoline and oil coating his father¡¯s hardened hands. All of it brought a stinging pain to Zack¡¯s chest, but he didn¡¯t slow his pace. He continued his sprint towards the Administration and Records building on the far side of the quad.


    The number of students didn¡¯t decrease the closer he came to the bland, unremarkable building. If anything, the sprawling crowds of students and onlookers only thickened as he grew closer. As Zack neared the Administration and Records building, he wondered if he might look suspicious running against the massive crowd.


    Zack couldn¡¯t think about that. His eyes darted towards the watch on his wrist.


    A little over five minutes.


    Everything was right on schedule.


    He reached the building several seconds later. The doors swung open, nearly flattening Zack had he not jumped out of the way. Two women in professional attire pushed through the doorway, oblivious to the student they had nearly pummeled against the door.


    ¡°The villain attack is less than a mile away,¡± one of them said. ¡°My app says he¡¯s barely a one point five in strength, but he¡¯s got a decent power projection.¡±


    ¡°Awesome,¡± her co-worker replied. ¡°This will make up for skipping leg day.¡±


    ¡°I also need to burn off some calories from the brownies Carlie brought over!¡± the first one replied.


    ¡°You had those?¡± her co-worker gave a question glance. ¡°You know they were from their last dorm party fight?¡±


    ¡°So what?¡± The other replied. ¡°They left me feeling really chill all afternoon, but now I got a bad case of the munchies.¡±


    The two disappeared in a burst of light as both of them lifted into the sky. Zack watched the pair launch into the air with contrasting energy signatures - one was corvette red while the other a dark shade of blue.


    This could be bad. This could be really bad.


    The students and faculty should be running away from the danger, not straight towards it. This could really complicate his plans. At the very least, it moved up his timetable.


    Zack pulled up his watch and shaved off two minutes. He stood on the doorway, emitting a low sigh while he stretched his neck from side to side.


    That¡¯s fine.


    No plan survives contact with the enemy, as Dad always said.


    Zack could still make this work. He had arrived at Administration and Records. He just needed to get in, do what he needed to do, and then get out.


    If everything went well, he could launch the next phase of his plan. If it wasn¡¯t too late.


    If.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Zack couldn¡¯t think that way. He had to act. There was no room for error, much less second-guessing.


    He moved into the Administration and Records building. The floor plan matched what he had found online. Neutral light blue walls so pale they bordered on bones white. A small window for students and other customers, leading to rows of computers behind the glass, along with several phone lines. The Administration and Records building stood as the nervous system of Innshadow U.


    Empty cubicles spanned a sea of beige carpet. Apparently everyone had cleared out due to the supervillain attack.


    Just as Zack had planned.


    Everything was going according to plan.


    Almost.


    Something stirred behind him.


    Zack spun around, ready to face whatever complication awaited him. Maybe someone didn¡¯t get the memo. Maybe someone went to the bathroom when the supervillain attack began. Perhaps the staff just left one person behind just in case someone needed help.


    Zack had planned out every eventuality.


    Except this one.


    A lanky figure stood in the middle of the empty room, wearing a tight red fitted shirt alongside blue track pants with white highlights. Recognition flooded his brown eyes as Zack scanned his chiseled features up to his spark of red hair.


    Zack had prepared for every eventuality except one - a stroll down memory lane.


    Scott Stephens.


    Zack¡¯s best friend in high school.


    Emotion surged through Scott¡¯s features, from his jot of reddish hair down to his square jaw.


    ¡°Zack?¡± His name dropped out of Scott¡¯s mouth, his posture lax, clearly uncertain of who stood before him.


    Zack honestly didn¡¯t know how to respond. He hadn¡¯t seen Scott in a little over two years. After what had happened to his Dad, Zack went completely radio-silent. He¡¯d deleted all of his social media profiles and removed any trace of his presence, digital or otherwise. He¡¯d left his friends at Sideclique high and dry. He hadn¡¯t had any contact with his former team of fellow sidekicks since the day his father died. He hadn¡¯t simply ghosted them. Zack himself had become a ghost, searching for his father¡¯s killer like a supernatural phantom, divorced from life altogether.


    Rachel must hate him after what he did. But hopefully she had moved on. Hopefully they all had. After all, people come and go after high school. His circumstances weren''t all that different, was it?


    He was about to find out.


    ¡°Zack?¡± Scott repeated his question.


    Scott looked the same, for the most part. He still resembled the tall and lanky track star Zack had known in high school, except he looked to have filled out even more in the ensuing two years.


    Zack didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    Scott suddenly cleared the gap between them with lightning speed. His super-speed topped out around three hundred miles per hour. That was actually middle of the road, as far as super-speed was concerned, but it was still pretty damn fast when it was barrelling right towards someone.


    Zack searched Scott¡¯s face for any sign of his intentions, realizing in this situation Scott was every bit as liable to shake his hand as he was to throw a punch. Zack really didn¡¯t know what he was going to do. Zack could only wait to see what Scott would do next, as he neared him, his thick aftershave filling his nostrils.


    The confusion past, and intention became more clear.


    ¡°It is you!¡± Scott said.


    He was on top of him before Zack could do anything. He braced for the attack as Scott moved closer, lifting him off the ground. Zack prepared to defend himself against the blow.


    The blow never came.


    Scott lifted Zack up into the air in a bear hug, his powerful arms wrapped around the helpless Zack.


    ¡°Holy crap! How long has it been?¡± Scott cried.


    ¡°Yeah¡­uhhh¡­yeah, it has...been a minute,¡± Zack said. ¡°Scott¡­¡±


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Scott said.


    Uhhh¡­.it¡¯s complicated. Zack thought. Did he tell him why he needed to be in Administration and Records? Did he risk telling Scott the truth about his father¡¯s death?


    ¡°You go here now?¡± Scott asked.


    Zack blinked and then responded. ¡°Yeah, uhhh, I just started.¡±


    ¡°Awesome! Where¡¯d you transfer from?¡± Scott said, beaming with a big grin on his face.


    ¡°Nowhere,¡± Zack said, looking away as he put his hands in the pockets. ¡°I¡­took some time off.¡±


    ¡°You took a year off? What did your old man say to that?¡± Scott replied. ¡°He must not have been happy with you slacking off.¡±


    ¡°He was¡­ fine with it¡­all things considered,¡± Zack said, a bold-faced lie given the circumstances. His father probably still rolled in the makeshift grave out in the backyard at the thought of him even going here. The idea of Zane letting his son ¡°take a year off¡± to figure everything out was laughable - he¡¯d put him to work in the garage before he let him go on a journey of self-discovery.


    Scott, for his part, didn¡¯t question it, and Zack took the opening to reframe the conversation towards him.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Zack asked.


    Scott smirked. ¡°I¡¯m majoring in Advanced HQ Construction. It¡¯s gonna be sick!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s awesome,¡± Zack said. Scott was always interested in architecture, though he was more than a little confused why Scott didn¡¯t pursue something there instead of going all the way to super-school. He¡¯d never shown much interest in becoming a full-time hero before.


    ¡°And I¡¯m part of Sigma Alpha!¡± Scott said. ¡°Sigma Alpha represent!¡±


    Zack had heard of the name. The frat was one of the longest-running on campus, and among the oldest.


    ¡°I¡¯m actually out running errands for them,¡± Scott said. ¡°Literally.¡±


    Zack nodded. He looked at his watch. He had burned a minute he didn¡¯t have talking with Scott Stephens.


    ¡°Well, I gotta-¡± Zack started.


    ¡°We¡¯re having a mixer tomorrow night!¡± Scott said. ¡°Where ya staying?¡±


    ¡°On Six One Eight Seventh Street,¡± Zack said, and then immediately thought better of it. Why had he just given his address, even to his best friend? Had he just compromised the operation?


    ¡°Cool, I¡¯ll shoot you a text with the details,¡± Scott said. ¡°Now if I could only find someone to sign this.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a supervillain attack down the street or something¡­.¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Seriously! I gotta see this!¡± Scott immediately streaked to the exit. He turned to him.


    ¡°You coming?¡± Scott turned back to him.


    ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll catch up,¡± Zack told him.


    ¡°It will just be like old times,¡± Scott said as he left.


    Zack watched him leave without saying a word.


    That was weird, he thought. Weird and random. But also kind of cool. Zack looked at his watch.


    What wasn¡¯t cool was the one minute he had lost engaging with his old friend.


    Zack picked the lock on the nearby door and made his way to one of the abandoned computers. He removed the flash drive from his pocket and plugged it into the nearby computer¡¯s port. The virus he had cooked up systematically wiped out all of the computer¡¯s defenses, paving the way for his access into the system.


    Within thirty seconds, he was in. Within a minute, he had already edited his schedule, putting himself into one of Dirk Saber¡¯s several self-defense classes. He reached for his phone as he began the next phase of his plan.


    He just hoped he wasn¡¯t too late.

 Issue #3: Cold Snap

    The villain known as Icer barked into his cell phone.


    ¡°Does this look like a few supes to you?¡± he yelled. College students with every superpower under the sun descended from the sky, all eager to fight.


    As it stood, Icer was having a really, really bad day.


    The client assured him he was doing great - just keep it up. Just break into Innshadow U - the second-rate super academy - and cause a distraction.


    Fortunately for the client, causing distractions was Icer¡¯s speciality.


    What the client failed to relay to Icer was the sheer level of supes waiting for him on campus. Icer came prepared to do battle with a supe or two - this was supe college after all - to say nothing of the school¡¯s own heavily-armed security.


    What Icer didn¡¯t expect was the mob of dozens and dozens of wannabe supes pouring in from every direction. From the jump, one girl shot the lightning bolt at her. He brought her down with an ice blast, but he had no doubt six more were coming in behind her.


    All of this had led to Icer running down the Promenade. The scenic grass, once neatly manicured by several landscapers, smoldered into crystalline ash after a misplaced fireball from one of the students. It missed Icer by just three feet.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you people have class?¡± he yelled over the rush of battle, to no effect.


    He would have had his client¡¯s head for this, if he didn¡¯t need that head still attached to carry out his plans. He wasn¡¯t getting paid enough for this.


    Strictly speaking, Icer wasn¡¯t getting paid at all.


    His father¡¯s costume hung loosely off his thin frame, complicating every step he made, making his movements long and erratic. A flier streaked above him, buzzing him like the world¡¯s most aggressive mosquito. Icer turned around and fired another ice blast at the flier, dropping in a burst of hailstones.


    Icer watched the ice gauntlet¡¯s indicator start to recharge with the light blue indicator on his wrist shrinking before immediately starting to extend once more. These ice gauntlets weren¡¯t made for this level of close quarters combat. His old man had only ever intended them to be a back-up weapon for the big guns, or at most, a non-lethal equivalent. He actually intended to sell it to a few local police departments, as a show of good will.


    And look where that got him, Icer reminded himself. Playing nice with heroes landed him in lock-up for twenty-five to life.


    Icer vowed to put his old man out of his mind for now. He couldn¡¯t afford distractions. Not when he was getting close. If all went according to plan, his goal would be in sight by the end of the day. Icer could hardly believe it.


    Hard work and skullduggery really do pay off.


    A dinging chime alerted Icer that his ice gauntlets were back to full strength. Icer deployed a sheet of ice down the concrete path, sliding out of the way of several energy blasts. He regained his upward momentum, pounding down the path as he moved towards a nearby brick building. He leapt up towards the nearby wall, using the gauntlets to give him some extra grip as he scaled the wall.


    Once he had a better shot, Icer pointed one of his gauntlets down at the crowd of charging supes from atop the second story building, scattering the supes until his right gauntlet was completely depleted. As collectively powerful as the supes were, they weren¡¯t disciplined and they certainly weren¡¯t trained. Their erratic movement and lack of cohesion gave Icer an advantage.


    He¡¯d need every edge he could get with the deck stacked against him.


    Icer¡¯s biggest issue was the ice gauntlets themselves. They weren¡¯t made to take this much heat, literally or figuratively. It was true that the ice gauntlets could pack a punch, but they weren¡¯t Freeze Ray¡¯s finest invention either. They were portable and lightweight, but that came with its own set out drawbacks, mostly in the power output, or rather, lack thereof.


    Icer¡¯s ice gauntlets couldn¡¯t freeze an entire structure. It had taken Icer nearly six minutes to freeze the statue in the Promenade, and by now his handiwork would have almost certainly melted in the hot September sun.


    To make matters worse, his gauntlets wouldn¡¯t freeze a whole person solid. His old man Freeze Ray could freeze an entire crowd in place, leaving the supes to administer the necessary medical aid while Freeze Ray fled high and dry with the bags of bank notes in hand.


    Icer¡¯s ice gauntlets, on the other hand, just weren¡¯t that powerful. An ice blast could ruin someone¡¯s day and probably knock them down for a spell, but they couldn¡¯t immobilize anyone long-term. He just didn¡¯t have that much juice on them, meaning any victory he secured at the mobs of supes coming at him was temporary at best and fleeting at worst.


    Icer moved across the roof-tops while he waited for his right ice gauntlet to recharge. As he ran, he deployed sporadic bursts of ice from his left gauntlets to increase his speed, or at the very least, trip up any of his pursuers still coming at him on foot.


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    Across the way, past the looming Gothic structures and creepy gargoyles, Icer could see the central parkway coming into view. All Icer could do was keep running towards the rally point and hope his extraction was there when he showed up.


    He put a lot of faith in this client following the plan to the letter. So far, this client¡¯s actions had not exactly filled him with confidence. Icer turned the corner and began to race down a nearby fire escape. Icer had to keep his enemies guessing where he was going. Besides, the longer he stayed on the rooftop, the longer he made himself a target.


    Icer knew he only had a couple hundred feet to go before he reached the central parkway.


    He also knew this would wind up being the hardest slog of the journey. He kept the pace. Icer slinked into an alley behind the buildings. He hoped it would be enough to throw off his pursuers. He needed to catch his breath.


    His heart pounding within his chest, Icer laid his head down against the brick building. He heard the cries and shouts of the students all around him, most asking where the hell the Ice Guy went, and a few asking if this was some kind of drill. Icer continued to slump against the building¡¯s gray wall. It felt cool in the shade, just the way he liked it. He didn¡¯t move for several more seconds.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got thermal scans! I¡¯ll fly ahead!¡± Icer could hear one particularly loud student announcing his plans.


    Never a particularly smart move, especially when you don¡¯t know who could be listening.


    Luckily, the students had plenty of inexperience going for them. They made plenty of rookie mistakes, and each one gave Icer a new way forward, if only for the moment.


    With a resigned sigh, Icer pushed off of the wall and made his way down to an air conditioning unit pumping cool air into the nearby building. Icer felt his body fall onto the boxy air conditioning unit. With any luck, he¡¯d blend in for any nearby thermal scans.


    ¡°Activating thermal scans!¡± the boisterous student announced. Icer could see him positioned high into the sky, sharply pivoting as he scanned the area.


    The angle of the buildings would probably be enough to shield him from the scanner¡¯s detection attempts, to say nothing of the air conditioning ploy.


    Good luck with that genius, Icer thought.


    Carrots. Apples. Ramen noodles. Tylenol.


    Icer jerked up, alert, as it was his turn to scan his surroundings. Those last couple of thoughts were definitely not his own. Which meant one thing.


    There was a psychic nearby.


    Crap, did he hear that? Now was not the time to think about my grocery list.


    Icer did his best not to act concerned. Psychic energy required a ton of concentration, something most young adults were not known for. Fortunately, Icer had a trick to weed them out. Icer softly pulled back on his gauntlet until a small burst of ice emerged into his hand. He gripped the hard translucent ice cube in between his fingers, and slipped it between his lips. Icer closed his mouth on the cube and began to suck hard.


    You are getting sleepy. You want to slee-OW!


    Brain freeze! Brain freeze!


    Icer grinned as he heard a clatter of beer cans behind him. He turned to see a dark-skinned girl of medium height looking directly at him. She was holding her temple with a pained look.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Icer said as he raised his gauntlet. ¡°Brain freeze.¡±


    He fired off another blast of ice. The girl was fast though, jumping out of the way. His winter blast clattered into the corner instead. Icer cursed under his breath, but it didn¡¯t matter. Either way, his break was over. He couldn¡¯t press his luck anymore. The Ice Cube Trick only worked on rookie psychics. He needed to move if he wanted to get out of this.


    It was back to the races.


    Icer darted out of the alleyway and into the promenade. He wasn¡¯t very far from the extraction point. He began to move quickly, once again blasting ice onto the concrete path to increase his momentum. He could see the treeline in the distance. Icer knew he was getting closer.


    The problem was the supes at his heel, as well as the dozens or so between him and the rally point.


    Icer ducked out of the way of several blasts as he continued to coast across his makeshift slide. The various energy signatures whizzed by his insulated suit - electricity, fire, wind and occasionally even some large chunks of earth.


    Fortunately, as powerful and varied as his enemies were, they were also extremely uncoordinated. Several times they managed to hit one another while he skated by. Icer grinned as he watched the large rocks hurled at him flatten down a few smaller students - freshman by the looks of it - who immediately fired back at the earth-mover without taking any notice of the passing supervillain.


    Icer unloaded the last of his ice blasts as he retreated into the treeline. He knew any shelter he would find behind the trees would be short-lived, so he kept moving. Several tree branches started to wrap around him, but Icer responded by shooting out the meager amount of icy beams he had recovered by that point.


    The weeds wrapping around him began to wither away from a few well-placed ice blasts. Even at half-energy, the ice gauntlets proved sufficient to deter whatever plant controller was trying to entrap him from a distance. He kept moving until he stood at the center of the parkway.


    No sign of Knightbrand.


    Icer cursed under his breath. Without Knightbrand, Icer had no means of extraction. And that still wasn¡¯t the worst of it.


    Without Knightbrand, Icer had no way of completing his true mission. All of this would be for nothing. The only source of comfort Icer could draw upon was that he¡¯d have much bigger concerns in a minute or two.


    Literally.


    Icer turned to see a giant, at least thirty feet tall, stomping towards him. Several dozen students all charged towards him, with their energy signatures raised up. Icer aimed up his gauntlets.


    ¡°Well, crap,¡± Icer sighed at his dismal odds.


    This day kept getting worse.

 Issue #4: Fight or Flight

    Zack finished up altering his class schedule. He slipped his phone back into his pocket. He stretched his neck, cracking his wrist and back in the process, trying to relieve the growing tension all over his body. He checked his watch.


    One minute behind schedule.


    He needed to move.


    Zack stood up and made his way to the stairs, hauling his backpack on his shoulder. Fortunately, Zack knew the floor plan perfectly. He could recall every boring inch of this drab building. It helped that he had the whole place to himself. In that regard, his plan had worked to a tee.


    Except that he was behind one minute.


    And one minute could make all the difference in the grand finale.


    Zack tried to put the what-if¡¯s out of his mind as he leapt up the stairs, two at a time. He huffed as his heart rate began to beat. It was a good thing Zack hadn¡¯t skipped leg day or cardio. He continued to pound up the stairs, his heart beating faster with every flight.


    The more he began to concentrate on his mission, however, the more thoughts of Scott Stephens seeped in. He hadn¡¯t seen Scott in - what - two years? It seemed like another lifetime ago.


    For all intents and purposes, it was.


    He began to wonder what had become of the rest of Sideclique. Perry Adams probably had a PhD by now. He let his thoughts drift to Rachel Ducane at the homecoming dance all those years ago, how her dark skin melded perfected with her lavender silky dress. He still remembered the smell of her perfume after they kissed that night.


    Zack hadn¡¯t spoken a word to any of them since before his father died. He couldn¡¯t afford distractions. They would probably just get in the way. They were better off without him. Besides, he didn¡¯t even want to think what he would do if he found any of them¡­like he found his dad, covered in blood on the kitchen tiles.


    Besides, he didn¡¯t have time for this wishy-washy stroll down memory lane . The mission came first.


    Several flights later, he reached the top of the stairs. He pushed out the door and made his way to the roof-top. The mid-afternoon sun nearly blinded him as he moved onto the rooftop. Zack immediately slid off his flannel shirt, tossing it aside as he dug into his backpack. He retrieved a small brick-shaped device from the confines of the backpack.


    In the distance, Zack could spot the empty Promenade along with the desolate concrete pathways moving through the campus. He squinted his eyes as he focused on the parkway at the center of campus, barely a mile away.


    He could see energy blasts and fliers circling around the area. He counted several dozen students entering the area to fight Icer. Zack just hoped he wasn¡¯t too late. He wouldn¡¯t be if he hurried.


    And if this thing still worked.


    Zack opened the module and began punching in data along the device''s stiff rubber keypad. He closed the module just in time to see a washed-out electronic display. Zack had to squint even harder to see it in the fierce summer sun.


    It¡¯s looking for a signal.


    Zack could hear the roar of explosions in the distance. Or they could have been footsteps from a size-changer. Either way, this didn¡¯t bode well for his plan.


    Still looking for a signal.


    Zack cursed under his breath. This old piece of crap. In frustration, Zack held up the ancient brick, trying to force it to accept the signal. It shouldn¡¯t be this hard to get a WiFi signal on a college campus. Of course, Zack had to remind himself Dad had Frankensteined this thing together five years before WiFi was even a thing.


    A beeping sound alerted Zack the signal had been found and accepted. Zack quickly ripped off the velcro strap on the back of the brick and then fastened it to his wrist as he moved towards the edge of the roof. He stared down at the two-story drop below him.


    Probably survivable but definitely not fun.


    He really hoped Dad¡¯s tech still worked. It had not inspired much confidence up until this point. But there was one way to find out - and time was growing short.


    The explosions from the other side of the campus came with less and less frequency now. The fight was winding down.


    Now or never.


    Bracing for the moment of truth, Zack took two hesitant steps backwards, assumed a runner¡¯s pose, and then leapt off the building. The wind rushed through his ears the moment he pushed off of the building. He felt gravity immediately tug him downward as his heart began to creep into his throat like he was on a roller coaster. Only this thrill ride would end with a bone-crunching thud on the pavement below if things turned out wrong.


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    As his descent began, Zack saw several small dots in the horizon. They grew bigger with increasing velocity. Before Zack could blink, the black shapes crashed into him. Zack instinctively flinched for the incoming impact. When he opened his eyes, he no longer felt the wind rushing around him. A black segmented mantle had clung to his waist, and most importantly, he was no longer falling thanks to the boot jets now attached to his feet.


    The helmet came last as the rest of the armor spread across every unprotected part of his body. Darkness covered his eyes for a bare second, before Zack was greeted by a heads-up display.


    Knightbrand protocol activated.


    Knightbrand fell somewhere between a medieval suit of armor and a Japanese mecha. The armor fit snugly against his muscular frame. The helmet¡¯s jagged edges gave the Knightbrand his trademark name, along with sharp points along the elbows and intense, knife-like legs.


    Zack still couldn¡¯t believe his father made this in his garage, cobbling it together from anything he could find, ranging from car parts and computer scraps to jet engines and military surplus. Zack also knew Dad added some more exotic ingredients, salvaged from superhero battles all over the globe.


    The result was one of the most capable armors in the world, capable of flying at speeds of Mach 1 while still engaging in precision hand-to-hand combat. Most supes were either fast and strong or nimble and precise, but the Knightbrand armor was all of the above, providing a versatility that made him a solo hero to be reckoned with.


    Tears welled up inside the Knightbrand helmet. It was stupid. Zack had worn his father¡¯s armor multiple times over the past two years, and he never got this emotional, but something about being in this place in this armor made him see things differently.


    You didn¡¯t need this place to be a hero.


    I¡¯m going to show them all what you can do.


    Zack didn¡¯t have time for distractions. Scott Stephens already provided enough of that, nearly derailing the mission in the process. Instead, he lunged forward, as if he was about to do the breaststroke in the sky. The armor adapted to his wishes, and within seconds the afterburners kicked in as Knightbrand soared through the sky.


    Within seconds, he stood over the Central Parkway. Zack blinked twice, activating the armor¡¯s magnification. It didn¡¯t take him long to spot Icer. The supervillain looked slightly worse for wear, with patches torn from his skin revealed reddened skin beneath. The students surrounding him, however, clearly received the worst end of the fight. At least one or two were down for the count. Zack extended Knightbrand¡¯s sensors with a raise of his hands, confirming the unconscious students had stable heart rates, and hadn¡¯t suffered anything worse than a mild concussion. Usually Icer could be trusted to maintain some level of restraint.


    Usually.


    Still, Zack needed to end this fast. Things were already out of hand. He positioned the Knightbrand armor directly above the melee and then descended down.


    Knightbrand landed in the middle of the chaos, his arms crossed. Most superheroes famously bend their knees in order to absorb the impact of landing, but Zack saw no need for such dramatic gestures as Knightbrand landed perfectly in place with all the calm and certainty of an elevator.


    The students almost began to mutter under their breath the moment he arrived.


    ¡°Is that¡­Knightbrand?¡±


    ¡°He goes to school here?¡±


    ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t go to school here¡­.he doesn¡¯t go to school anywhere¡­.I thought he was a myth.¡±


    ¡°So. Freaking. Cool.¡±


    Zack turned his attention to Icer, who had used his ice gauntlets to create two jagged icy blades, wielding one in each hand. Zack didn¡¯t need to see his face to know Icer was grinning beneath that stupid mask.


    ¡°About time you showed up,¡± Icer said.


    ¡°Stand down,¡± Zack said. Knightbrand¡¯s voice modulator boomed through the treeline.


    ¡°Not gonna happen,¡± Icer said. ¡°We got unfinished business.¡±


    Icer dashed forward, his blades spinning faster than Zack anticipated. Icer had closed the gap between them with frightening speed, but fortunately, Knightbrand was faster. Using the armor¡¯s targeting system, Zack only needed to blink before the Knightbrand armor delivered a solid punch to Icer¡¯s face, sending the cold villain spiraling to the ground. Zack brought his foot down on one of his ice blades, shattering them for dramatic effect.


    ¡°Icer is down,¡± Zack said to no one in particular. He liked how cool the suit¡¯s internal voice modulator made him sound. ¡°I repeat, Icer is down.¡±


    The students around him were particularly gawking at this point. Zack scanned the crowd for familiar faces, but he didn¡¯t see Scott Stephens among them, much less the blonde tour guide from earlier. He picked up on their internal chatter on his sensors.


    ¡°His strength has to be a ten, maybe even an eleven on the Kirby scale!¡± a nervous-looking freshman said.


    ¡°You gotta be kidding, he couldn¡¯t be that high without breaking that dude¡¯s face,¡± one of his friend¡¯s replied. ¡°It¡¯s his speed. It has to be eight or nine.¡±


    ¡°What about agility? Did you see that landing¡­¡± Zack turned away, only to see Icer regaining his posture. He braced for another attack.


    ¡°We¡¯re not done!¡± Icer said defiantly. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen the last of me.¡±


    Icer tossed a round object into the grounds. Zack instinctively leapt in front of the object, but no explosion sounded from the object. Instead, only cold and thick smoke filled the central parkway as the students began to mill about in confusion.


    Zack relaxed as soon as he realized it was one of Icer¡¯s dry ice grenades. He scanned the surrounding area, confirming Icer had in fact escaped.


    ¡°Is anyone hurt?¡± he asked the students, all of whom shook their heads in the negative.


    ¡°Get yourself checked out,¡± Zack said before he, as Knightbrand, blasted off into the sky. He smiled as he heard the cheers and whoops of the students calling out to him. Amid the applause, he scanned the area for any sign of the supervillain.


    It seemed Icer had escaped.


    Which meant everything was still going according to plan.

 Issue #5: Power Play

    Zack felt invincible in the Knightbrand armor. He had to resist the temptation to joyride around campus. The cheers and gazes of the students below him made it all the more harder to resist. The students he passed displayed their smartphones, snapping pictures of Knightbrand as he passed by, soaring through the air.


    This is why he first became a superhero. The thrill. The wonder.


    The power.


    Zack put all of those aside. He had a job to do. His mission wasn¡¯t over. Not yet anyway.


    He landed just in front of the central building in Innshadow and walked through the double-doors with some effort. Strangely enough, walking remained the most challenging task in the Knightbrand armor. Dad clearly crafted this armor with flying, fighting and running in mind, in that order. Walking was going to be a problem.


    The entire suit felt awkward and top-heavy on the ground. Zack worried he might topple over with the slightest breeze, but he kept his focus as he walked through the doors of the Dean¡¯s office. He struggled to stay upright, and if he wasn¡¯t careful, Knightbrand might stumble into a room like a freshman staggering out of a bar.


    Dean Weave and Assistant Dean Shaw were there to greet him, or rather, to greet Knightbrand. Zack expected a warm welcome. He expected Weave and Shaw to roll out the red carpet. After all, Weave made it sound like his father was a big deal on campus, and if the reaction of the students on the parkway was any indication, he might just be right.


    Instead, Zack found Weave and Shaw waiting for him in almost the exact same manner as he had found the pair several weeks ago. Weave stood up and eagerly shook his hand in the same flimsy manner as he had when he was simply Zack Kester, potential Innshadow U student.


    He had to give Weave one thing - the guy certainly was consistent.


    Shaw, for her part, seemed somewhat less standoffish this time. She stood on the other side of the desk, with one hand resting on her hips. The woman seemed to regard Zack with something he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on . . . she certainly wasn¡¯t afraid of him . . . she didn¡¯t seem angry with him . . . but something was definitely off.


    ¡°Zane,¡± Weave said. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Would you care for a seat?¡±


    Why was Weave calling him Zane? Everything Dad had told him about Innshadow U seemed to indicate he hated this place. So how the hell would his father even know someone like Bob Weave?


    He tried to put it out of his head. After all, Bob Weave was a professional butt-kiser. He probably called everyone by their first names - even supervillains and henchmen.


    Weave indicated a chair for Zack to sit in. He regarded the chair with an uneasy gaze. If he could barely walk in his thing, he didn¡¯t know if he should try sitting down. Gravity had not been kind to him so far, and the last thing he needed to do was trip Shaw¡¯s suspicions even more by failing the act of sitting in a chair.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stand,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Straight and to the point as always,¡± Weave said. ¡°We¡¯re glad you were, ahhh, in the neighborhood. That could have been bad.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it could,¡± Zack agreed as he crossed his arms on his chest.


    ¡°Fortunately, you were there. However, our students demonstrated tremendous courage today,¡± Weave said. ¡°Still, we appreciate your help in bringing this incident to a timely end without bloodshed.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well, I¡¯m confident our security team would have apprehended the villain,¡± Shaw said. ¡°Still, I find it strange that a villain attacks our campus the same day your son starts attending school.¡±


    Zack turned towards Shaw. He didn¡¯t like her tone, mostly because she was right. The timing was suspicious. His heads-up display began wildly flashing. The suit had detected something on her midsection. Zack tried not to stare, but there was something on her person the Knightbrand system didn¡¯t like. He had bigger problems though, like answering Shaw¡¯s rather direct accusations.


    ¡°I think what my colleague is trying to say-¡± Weave started to interject, but Zack didn¡¯t give him the opportunity.


    ¡°Is that what you think is strange?¡± Zack said, leaning into the voice modulator to disguise his tenor. ¡°Because I find it strange that a crew of supervillains I¡¯ve been tracking for months suddenly takes refuge in your campus.¡±


    Zack felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Fortunately, the Knightbrand armor came with its own independent air supply.


    ¡°Crew?¡± Shaw said after a minute. ¡°As in¡­more than one?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Zack replied within the Knightbrand armor.


    He hadn¡¯t planned on a crew. Given all the chaos he had caused, Icer seemed like a big enough threat on the college campus to stir the pot. But Shaw had forced his hand, and he needed to raise the stakes somehow.


    ¡°Which team is it?¡± Weave leaned forward, clasped his hands together.


    ¡°The Black Ice Krew,¡± Zack replied. ¡°Krew is spelled with a K¡­because all of them are killers.¡±


    ¡°They sound very dangerous,¡± Weave said.


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    ¡°They are,¡± Zack said.


    Largely because I just made them up.


    ¡°And you believe there are more of them on campus,¡± Shaw said, sitting on the edge of Weave¡¯s desk with both hands perched at her sides.


    ¡°I do,¡± Zack replied. He tried not to look at her. Something on her belt buckle was sending the Knightbrand warning system into overdrive.


    ¡°And how do you propose we handle this situation?¡± Weave leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°Icer is the weakest link of the group,¡± Zack said. ¡°Once we get him, he¡¯ll lead us back to the rest of the group.¡±


    ¡°Icer¡­¡± Weave seemed to be sampling the name in his mouth. ¡°Is that Freeze Ray¡¯s kid?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Zack said, neutrally.


    ¡°I hear his old man is in lock-up at Highrock Prison. He¡¯s doing multiple life sentences for mass murder,¡± Weave said.


    ¡°I did hear that,¡± Zack agreed.


    ¡°Guess the apple doesn¡¯t fall from the tree,¡± Weave replied.


    ¡°Apparently not,¡± Zack said, uncrossing his arms. ¡°And it¡¯s given him plenty of motivation to lash out against anyone who might be a threat.¡±


    ¡°You think that¡¯s why he picked Innshadow? As an easy target?¡± Shaw asked.


    Zack resisted the urge to shrug. It¡¯s what Zack would have done in the situation. But not Knightbrand. He kept his posture straight, betraying no movement nor emotion. He simply said, ¡°It fits.¡±


    Weave seemed to be processing all of this. He finally looked up.


    ¡°How do you propose we catch this guy?¡± Weave asked.


    Zack swallowed, hoping it didn¡¯t audibly translate through the voice modulator.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need access to all surveillance footage on campus, plus data logs for all the campus computers. Full access,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Out of the question,¡± Weave stood up, faster than Zack had anticipated. ¡°Look, I appreciate what you¡¯ve done here, Zane, I really do. But you¡¯re an Unaccredited superhero, and you know the deal.¡±


    Weave continued. ¡°I can¡¯t just hand it over that access, even to a hero like yourself. It¡¯s a huge privacy concern.


    ¡°Bob,¡± Shaw said, without looking over her shoulder. ¡°Give it to him.¡±


    Zack found himself staring at Shaw, mouth agape. Shaw was helping him? Why on earth¨C


    ¡°Bob,¡± Shaw turned to him, still perched on the desk. ¡°We have sixteen weeks of crap coming our way. We don¡¯t need one more thing.¡±


    She turned back to Zack, fiddling with her brown hair and she kept her eyes on Zack.


    ¡°If Knightbrand can make this problem go away, I say we let him,¡± she said. ¡°Provided he keeps us in the loop at all stages of his investigation, which he most certainly will, right, Zane?¡±


    She turned to him, her hand running through her long brown hair as she said his father¡¯s name. It brought an uncomfortable feeling to Zack.


    Was her and Dad¡­a thing?


    Dad never mentioned her. Then again, Dad never mentioned a lot of things from his personal life. He mentioned Zack¡¯s biological mother so little sometimes he forgot he had one, save for the odd birthday card sent sporadically over the years.


    Zack put aside the past as Weave sighed and jotted something down on a notepad. He handed the scrap of paper to Zack.


    ¡°These are all the passwords you¡¯ll need,¡± Weave said. ¡°You¡¯ll have access.¡±


    The Knightbrand armor didn¡¯t have pockets, but it did have something better. A small opening slid aside in the palm of armor, suctioning the note through a small tube through the wrist. Zack would collect it later.


    ¡°Thank you, Bob. I know this can¡¯t be easy,¡± Zack said, trying to sound professional and conciliatory.


    ¡°Just catch this creep,¡± Weave said. ¡°Before he hurts anyone else.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Zack said, turning to go.


    ¡°Zane,¡± Shaw said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I brought up your son¡­I just¡­I thought it seemed weird that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just doing your job,¡± Zack said, resisting the urge not to shrug. He had what he needed. Now he just needed to go without raising suspicions.


    ¡°It was good to see you, Zane,¡± Shaw said.


    ¡°You too¡­¡± Zack paused. What was her name? Amy? Ashey. Amber! That was it. ¡°Amber.¡±


    Oh this is so wrong¡­and awkward¡­and weird¡­and wrong¡­


    He turned and walked out of the office, before immediately blasting off into the sky. All Zack could think about at that moment was taking the longest, coldest shower ever.


    Zack landed a short distance from the parkway. He used the woods to change back into his student gear. He pressed a button on the module brick, separating himself from the armor and stowing it in a secret hiding place within his house. He made sure to retrieve Weave¡¯s note beforehand.


    Zack returned home, triumphant. His plan had worked without a hitch. It¡¯s like Shaw had said. They didn¡¯t want a mess this soon into the school-year. They had given him all the information he would need to search for his father¡¯s killer without any interruption.


    Still, it was strange how the meeting had gone. Zack had counted on Bob Weave being the one to cave, but instead, it was Amber Shaw, the hard-nosed Assistant Dean, who came through for him. Whatever her and Dad happened must have been significant.


    He decided to put it out of his mind. A win was still a win. Zack now had all the power and access he would need to find his father¡¯s killer. And once he did so, he would activate Knightbrand armor and take his revenge.


    Then nothing could stop him.


    The house Zack had rented wasn¡¯t anything fancy. It was merely a ranch-style one bedroom house, with a small living room leading to an even smaller kitchen, a spartan bathroom off to the side. A wall partially separated the kitchen and bathroom from a modest living room and similarly small bedroom.


    A hollow sounded at the door. Zack made his way to the front of the house.


    Zack opened the door. A female figure wearing jeans and white jacket stood at his stoop.


    ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m from the Innshadow Beacon. I just wanted to know if you saw the recent supervillain attack here¡­¡± the woman said before looking up.


    Zack looked up as soon as heard the soft voice.


    It was Rachel Ducane.


    His former girlfriend, staring right back at him, waiting for him to say something.

 Issue #6: There Arent Enough Puppies and Kittens on the Internet...

    He almost didn¡¯t recognize her. Rachel¡¯s brown hair, once short and curly, now fell down to her shoulder in several long braids. Gone was the girl who hated putting on make-up and got a nose-ring just to piss off her dad. In her place stood a confident and poised woman with smooth foundation and dark eyebrows complimenting her brown skin. She looked as though she was about to enter an interview, or more likely, conduct one.


    All of that vanished the moment she locked eyes with Zack.


    ¡°Zack!¡± she cried.


    Crapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrap¡­.


    What is she even doing here?


    ¡°What am I doing here?¡± Rachel pushed towards, stepping in his house without question. ¡°I¡¯m going to college. I¡¯m not the one who ghosted everyone in his life without a single word!¡±


    Zack felt Rachel¡¯s psychic pressure within his mind, as a familiar sensation crept into the space between his skull and his brain.


    This is bad. This is really bad.


    ¡°Oh so you think this is bad?¡± Rachel said, her voice dripping with fake concern. ¡°You think being found out after all this time is bad? We looked everywhere for you. We thought you were dead! We figured some supervillain with a grudge against your dad must have snatched you up!¡±


    Zack tried to calm himself down. He was obviously making things worse.


    ¡°You think?¡± replied Rachel.


    Zack breathed in and breathed out. He had to calm down. Rachel was a psychic, but not a very powerful or skilled one. She couldn¡¯t read minds. She could only catch one or two psychic impressions at most, generally whatever was on the uppermost surface of someone¡¯s mind.


    ¡°I am a damn fine psychic, Zack,¡± Rachel peered up towards him. Even so she stood a foot shorter than him, she still scared the hell out of Zack. ¡°The only reason I¡¯m not peering into that dirty little brain of yours is I don¡¯t want to see who you were with, or what you were doing these past two years.¡±


    ¡°Rachel, look, I can explain!¡± Zack said, even if that was the last thing he wanted to do.


    Rachel knew this, but she didn¡¯t say this. Instead she just brought one hand to her hip and stood absolutely still.


    ¡°Well, Zack, I¡¯m waiting,¡± she said, gesturing with her hand.


    Puppies. Kittens. Puppies. Kittens.


    Rachel made a disgusted clicking sound with her tongue.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sixteen any more. You can¡¯t just distract me with pet pictures,¡± Rachel said with a sigh. ¡° ¡°I have TikTok for that.¡±


    Corgi butts and tabby cats. Corgi butts and tabby cats.


    Rachel shook her head. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game, Zack. What were we supposed to think? In our line of work¡­the worst can happen, especially when you¡¯re just a sidekick. We thought you were dead. And then¡­¡±


    Zack peered down at her.


    ¡°And then¡­what?¡±


    Rachel gave another shake of her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m not doing this tonight. I have a story to write, and you¡¯re just a distraction."


    Zack found himself torn. All of these years of wondering what his friends were up to, all of the lonesome nights spent on some godforsaken mission wondering what she was doing . . . and here she was, standing right before him.


    But her being here raised other questions.


    Why was she here? And why was Scott for that matter? Journalism was always a passion of Rachel¡¯s - that much didn¡¯t surprise Zack, but why work for a school for superheroes of all places?


    He didn¡¯t realize Rachel was looking at him again, if only to give him a stern side-eye.


    ¡°I went where I¡¯m needed, Zack,¡± she said. ¡°You know how many of my coworkers are just capes looking for a lead. Half of them can¡¯t string two sentences together, much less follow a beat to save their lives.¡±


    ¡°And I remember you were pretty good at following a beat on the dance floor,¡± Zack said. ¡°If I remember homecoming¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that, Zack,¡± Rachel said, her voice cold and stern.


    ¡°What?¡± Zack shrugged.


    ¡°Try to distract me,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re not together anymore. We¡¯re not even friends anymore after what you pulled.¡±


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    That last part hurt. Maybe she read his mind. Maybe she immediately regretted saying it. Whatever the case, Rachel immediately softened her tone.


    ¡°Look, I should go¡­¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Zack said, against every fiber of his body. His mind, sharpened by the past two years, told him this was a mistake. A distraction, by her own words. He didn¡¯t need this, not when he was so close.


    Only that wasn¡¯t true, at least, not completely. Some part of him did need this. He needed the closure he couldn¡¯t give two years ago. The only problem was, he had no idea of how he could give it, much less receive it.


    Instead, he was trapped in an endless cycle.


    A feedback loop, as Dad always put it.


    Still, he had to try.


    ¡°You want answers, but so do I?¡± Zack said. That made her stay, but not in a good way. She spun around, her eyes flashing at him.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t on me, Zack. This is all on you!¡± Rachel said. ¡°You don¡¯t get to ask me anything.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Zack said softly. ¡°I know.¡±


    He knew he¡¯d hurt her. He¡¯d always known. But he also figured she¡¯d move on with the rest of his friends. High school wasn¡¯t forever, and even Sideclique would disband the moment graduation hit.


    Honestly, he thought they¡¯d just put two and two together. His father was Knightbrand, one of the most powerful superheroes in the world. It was a little like growing up in the military. Zack had moved six times before settling down within the Chicago suburbs, and even though he had deep friendships with Sideclique, another move was never out of the question. Still, he thought Rachel and the others would just¡­move on without him.


    Clearly he had been wrong.


    Rachel looked back at him, her green eyes lacking the flashing venom they had previously held. But she still looked away from Zack. She wasn¡¯t staying, but she wasn¡¯t leaving yet either.


    ¡°What do you want to know?¡± she finally said.


    ¡°I saw Scott Stephens earlier today. He goes here too?¡± he said. Rachel nodded.


    ¡°He was the most determined of us to make it at a supe. But he¡¯s always at that Sigma Alpha frat. We hardly see him anymore,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°We?¡± Zack asked with peaked interest.


    ¡°Zack¡­the entire team goes to school here. We all landed here. Me, Scott and¡­Perry,¡± she said.


    Zack remembered Perry Adams, the small nerdy kid who formed the brains of Sideclique. He had microscopic vision. He could see everything down to a molecular level. He could tell when a construction cable was about to snap, endangering bystanders, or what bones were the weakest among the crooks holding up a bank.


    ¡°That¡¯s a name I haven¡¯t heard in a while,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°He¡¯s doing well here. He¡¯s dating my roommate,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Perry Adams has a girlfriend?¡± Zack in actual amazement. Rachel chuckled.


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t even be in the same room with Gloria Brooks. He had a crush on her so bad,¡± Zack said. ¡°And now he¡¯s got a steady girlfriend.¡±


    Rachel laughed, but soon the silence returned.


    ¡°Where were you, Zack?¡± Rachel said, after a long pause. ¡°After all this time. And why now?¡±


    Zack thought about how he wanted to answer. And if he wanted to answer at all.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± he finally said. Rachel pivoted away with a bitter laugh.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s favorite answer,¡± she said sarcastically. ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just¡­I¡¯m working through¡­things,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°You had two years to work through things,¡± Rachel replied. She turned to leave but Zack reached out for her, his hand brushing against her wrist as he briefly remembered what the touch of her skin felt like.


    ¡°You¡¯re a journalist. You know when there¡¯s more to the story,¡± Zack said. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know mine.¡±


    Rachel crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of deadlines. I don¡¯t need more work, Zack.¡±


    ¡°I want to tell you everything, Rach,¡± he said. ¡°I do. I just¡­I need more time.¡±


    At this, Rachel shook her head with bitter anger.


    ¡°Take all the time in the world, Zack. You clearly have all of it you want,¡± she said as she stormed off.


    ¡°Rachel, wait!¡± Zack said.


    Rachel turned to him, her flashing eyes making his blood run cold.


    ¡°And pay your freaking heating bills, Zack! It¡¯s freezing in here!¡± Rachel said before storming out.


    Zack watched her go. As she disappeared from view, Zack couldn¡¯t tell if this was the optimum outcome or yet another complication he didn¡¯t need.


    This mission was becoming steadily more complicated. The entire Sideclique team was here? Zack had hoped he could get in and get out before anyone knew he was there. After all, it wasn¡¯t like Zack was planning to stick around once he caught his father¡¯s killer.


    The presence of Sideclique raised several red flags. Rachel alone was a distraction he couldn¡¯t afford. Perry Adams could jeopardize his entire operation if his powers let him peer behind the Knightbrand armor.


    A chill ran down my spine. One glance from Perry Adams and this whole charade would be over.


    To keep that from happening, Zack would need to find ways to avoid his friends.


    If that was what he truly wanted.


    Zack suddenly shivered, and not from his frustration.


    Rachel¡¯s right. It¡¯s freaking freezing in here.


    ¡°Just so we¡¯re clear, that was incredibly uncomfortable to sit through,¡± a craggy voice called from the kitchen. Zack moved through the hallway to see the source of the voice drinking a beer at his small table.


    Icer sat at the head of the table, a short distance from the fridge. He had a beer in his hand, with his mask pulled up at the mouth.


    ¡°Also, you¡¯re out of beer,¡± the supervillain said.

 Issue #7: Risk of Ice

    Zack was not surprised to see Icer. He knew the supervillain would turn up sooner or later, usually where he¡¯d least expect it. It turned out, ¡°where he least expected it¡± was at his kitchen table, drinking his very last beer. The rest of the house was covered in shadows, save for a tiny kitchen light in the corner.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± Zack said. ¡°If campus security¡­¡±


    ¡°Relax, no one saw me. I made sure of it,¡± Icer said. Zack glared at the supervillain in his kitchen, hoping the neighbors weren¡¯t in the midst of calling the cops as they spoke. The villain had his mask pulled up, revealing a pale face adorned with a six o¡¯clock shadow. Zack had never seen Icer without the mask, but he guessed he was in his mid-to-late twenties.


    ¡°You¡¯re putting this operation at risk just by being here,¡± Zack said with his arms crossed.


    ¡°And so are you by drinking this stuff,¡± Icer said. ¡°Last I checked you aren¡¯t twenty-one yet.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t like Icer one bit. He definitely didn¡¯t like being lectured by a wanted supervillain. He needed him for this job. He had played an important role in securing the access Zack needed to begin his investigation, and he would be an important asset in the future.


    ¡°Yeah, well, the drinking age was eighteen in Tijuana,¡± Zack said. ¡°No one raised an eyebrow when I was there.¡±


    ¡°If you haven¡¯t noticed,¡± Icer said as he took another swig of the beer. ¡°We¡¯re a long way from Tijuana.¡±


    Icer set the beer on the table. ¡°Though after what I heard in the other room, you might need this more than I do.¡±


    Zack sighed. He really didn¡¯t want to think about anyone listening in on his conversation with Rachel, much less a supervillain.


    ¡°How much did you hear?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Enough to make me want to shove ice cubes in my ears,¡± Icer replied. Zack gave a brief chuckle.


    ¡°Good,¡± Zack said as he rested on the kitchen chair in front of him. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it that way. Now. What. Do. You. Want.¡±


    Icer scrutinized the label on the half-empty beer bottle for a while.


    ¡°I want what you promised me. A meeting with your father,¡± Icer said.


    Icer had some fixation with Knightbrand. Icer¡¯s father Freeze Ray fought him back in the day. If Zack had to guess, Icer was probably pursuing some kind of revenge plot against Knightbrand, especially now that Freeze Ray was staring down a life sentence for murdering six bystanders in a robbery gone wrong.


    Icer¡¯s weird revenge quest made him the perfect mark for Zack¡¯s investigation. Especially since Zack had the Knightbrand armor. It made it easy to string Icer along for as much time as necessary. And once Zack was done with Icer, he¡¯d drop him back off in Highrock Penitentiary, where he could share a cell with Freeze Ray for all he cared.


    ¡°Seems like you already had a meeting with my father today. How¡¯d that go?¡± Zack smirked. ¡°And how¡¯s your chin? My Dad hit you pretty hard.¡±


    If Icer was enraged by Zack¡¯s jab, he didn¡¯t show it. Instead, he drained his beer bottle and set it down.


    ¡°You know, when I agreed to work for you and your dad, I figured it would be snitch work. Confidential informant stuff,¡± he said. ¡°Not fighting wannabe supes and listening to your relationship drama.¡±


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    Zack shrugged. ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a nice prison cell waiting for you somewhere. But last I checked, they don¡¯t serve beer in prison.¡±


    Icer returned his shrug. Zack started to look away, only for Icer to wind back his arm and chuck the beer bottle right at him. Zack darted out of the way just in time to see the beer bottle land in the waste basket behind him with a small glass chink sound.


    ¡°Nice shot,¡± Zack said, trying to act only mildly impressed.


    He turned around to see Icer standing up, clearing the space between them far quicker than Zack had anticipated. He braced himself for an attack, even though he had a feeling one wasn¡¯t coming. A frontal attack wasn¡¯t Icer¡¯s style.


    ¡°You know, my old man did CI work too. It¡¯s how he stayed out of jail,¡± Icer said as he pulled down his mask.


    Zack wasn¡¯t surprised that Freeze Ray was also a CI. It figured he didn¡¯t have any honor among thieves. He was a supervillain after all.


    ¡°But he¡¯d get a feeling when the cops were going to screw him over,¡± Icer said. ¡°After a while, he¡¯d just get a sense . . . they weren¡¯t gonna hold their end of the bargain.¡±


    Zack nodded. He looked Icer dead in the eyes through the mask.


    ¡°And how are you feeling now, Icer?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Me?¡± Icer shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m feeling fine, great even. Fighting those punks in the Promenade was the most fun I¡¯ve had in a while.¡±


    He drew closer to Zack. ¡°But if I get the sense that you or your old man aren¡¯t going to hold up your end of the bargain, you better watch out.¡±


    Icer took a step back.


    Zack gave Icer a weak smile. ¡°As threats go, it¡¯s kind of mid, if I¡¯m being honest. It¡¯s not very visual, more vague than anything else. And the follow-up, isn¡¯t really there. I give it a C+ as far as threats go, if I¡¯m being generous.¡±


    Icer leaned against the hallway door. He looked out the window, towards the neighbors. Zack wondered if the neighbors could see him in the window. Night was falling. Could they see anything into the house? And if they could see something, wasn¡¯t his pal the low-level supervillain currently terrorizing campus?


    Zack looked back at Icer, and wondered if he knew what he was thinking. Icer chuckled, and Zack knew in that instance that Icer was previously aware of how much leverage he possessed.


    And it was more than Zack would have liked to admit.


    ¡°I¡¯m just a simple supervillain,¡± Icer shrugged. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what game you and your Pops are playing with this supe college. Maybe there¡¯s some real dirt here, or maybe you¡¯re just angry you got a bad grade.¡±


    Icer mercifully moved out of the hallway. ¡°I don¡¯t care one way or the other. I¡¯m not here for you and your little supe games. Are we clear?¡±


    Zack kept his gaze leveled at Icer. ¡°Crystal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here for your pops. Him and I have unfinished business. You get me a meeting with him and I¡¯ll jump through whatever hoops you want,¡± Icer said. ¡°That was the deal.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t answer. He just kept looking forward.


    ¡°But don¡¯t screw with me,¡± Icer said. ¡°Because I¡¯ll bet by now there¡¯s plenty of people on campus who¡¯d be interested in what I had to say about our working relationship.¡±


    Zack kept looking forward. He wouldn¡¯t give Icer the satisfaction of an answer. But he suspected Icer knew his silence was satisfactory enough.


    ¡°Thanks for the beer,¡± Icer said as he disappeared into the shadows.


    Zack sighed as he felt the emptiness of the house return to him. So much for a quiet evening celebrating his victories today, such as they were.


    His psychic ex-girlfriend was living on campus, along with several people from a life Zack had all but left behind. And if he really was honest, it was a life he wanted to have all over again.


    But he couldn¡¯t.


    Someone had killed Knightbrand. Someone very good. And if they could kill his father, they could kill Perry Adams. They could kill Scott Stephens.


    They could kill Rachel Ducane.


    And that was a risk Zack just couldn¡¯t take.


    So he¡¯d keep them at arms-length, just like he always had. He would be civil with him if he saw them on campus. He¡¯d even go to the odd social event, like the party Scott had invited him to. Such outings might even prove useful in the long run. He wasn¡¯t above using his friends for this investigation, so long as it didn¡¯t put them in direct risk.


    But he wouldn''t let them in.


    He couldn¡¯t risk it. He¡¯d put one person he loved in the ground already. He wasn¡¯t about to put three more.


    And then there was Icer, the low-level supervillain currently in his employ. Zack and the supervillain understood their relationship perfectly, but Zack knew how this would play out from the beginning.


    Zack was the frog, Icer was the scorpion. Sooner or later, Icer would betray him. For all his talk of bargains, Icer was a crook, and no different from his father. Not one of them had honor. It was the one lesson he had learned from his father. The two needed one another, so Icer would play his part and Zack would let him.


    But sooner or later, Icer would betray him. Supervillains always do.


    And when that happened, Zack would be ready.

 Issue #8: Roomies

    Rachel entered her dorm with a flurry of emotions still running through her mind. Zack Keslter, now attending Innshadow University. Her ex-boyfriend certainly picked a great time to pop back into her life. Was he even her ex? They¡¯d never officially broken up, but then again, Zack¡¯s disappearing act two years ago made it very clear they weren¡¯t a couple anymore.


    Not knowing how Zack truly felt about her hurt more than all the pain and fear of her then-boyfriend¡¯s initial disappearance. When she saw him standing there, like nothing happened, she reached for his mind, searching desperately for answers. But Zack pulled back, resisted her, showing a fear he¡¯d never shown when they were together.


    What happened to him in all that time that he¡¯d react that way?


    What was he so afraid of?


    Then again, Rachel probably should have never probed into his mind so directly or so harshly. She would have never done that with anyone else. She felt beyond triggered but, whatever Zack¡¯s faults, it wasn¡¯t her finest moment either.


    Her dorm looked relatively small - barely the size of two rooms, with just enough space for a small kitchenette sandwiched between the beds and the bathroom. At least they had a private bathroom - a rare commodity in the dorms.


    Rachel was greeted by a loud and particularly wet sneeze as she entered the dorm.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± she heard her roommate cry after the sneeze.


    ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Rachel asked.


    Rachel turned to see her roommate sitting on the bed, her blonde hair damp from the shower. She wore a loose-fitting T-shirt and shorts, with her long legs running down to a pot of hot water at her feet. She looked up to Rachel with a miserable expression.


    ¡°Just peachy, roomie,¡± Blake said.


    Blake had been giving a tour of the campus to a new student when she¡¯d been caught up in the supervillain attack earlier today. She¡¯d been on the receiving end of one of the ice blasts, and was now recovering from the ordeal. Rachel noted the pot of warm water Blake rested her feet in.


    ¡°Should you really be using that given your powers?¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Blake said with a shiver. ¡°Haven¡¯t fried myself yet. Though getting fried might be an improvement.¡±


    Blake¡¯s electrical powers were a relatively new development. Rachel could pick up surface thought since she turned twelve. Blake received her powers barely eight months ago, and still struggled to contain them.


    ¡°Is Perry around?¡± Rachel asked.


    Blake wrapped her in the bed¡¯s blankets as she shivered. ¡°He went to get me a few supplies. He should be back soon. What¡¯s up?¡±


    Rachel paced around the dorm a bit. She considered not telling her roommate what had happened, but she¡¯d already given up the ghost by her erratic pacing. She looked up to face Blake.


    ¡°I saw my ex today,¡± Rachel said.


    Blake looked confused. ¡°I thought you and Collin ended things pretty amicably last year. What¡¯s the issue now?¡±


    Rachel had met Collin at the newsroom. He was sweet - one of the few student journalists there who actually cared about reporting - and they hit it off, but the relationship had run its course by the end of the semester. Rachel met Blake¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Blake said. ¡°It was him.¡±


    Rachel relayed Blake her sordid history with Zack over cocktails a couple of months ago. Rachel liked Blake - she was good for Perry, and her boisterous personality was starting to grow on her. She looked back to her roommate.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± Blake asked.


    ¡°Not much that I wanted to hear,¡± Rachel said. Blake gave him a questioning look.


    ¡°Did you read his mind?¡± she asked. Rachel looked away.


    ¡°Girl, that¡¯s an invasion of privacy,¡± Blake said.


    They were both quiet.


    ¡°What did you see?¡± Blake broke the silence.


    ¡°Nothing helpful. He pulled away,¡± Rachel said.


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    ¡°Could he do that before?¡± Blake asked. Rachel turned to her.


    ¡°He usually didn¡¯t have to. He was¡­scared of me¡­and I don¡¯t know why,¡± Rachel said.


    The door to the dorm opened before Rachel could go further. Perry walked in, holding a bag of groceries. He was a mousy young man, with glasses beneath a mess of brown hair. He handed the contents of the bag to Blake.


    ¡°Best boyfriend ever!¡± Blake exclaimed as she pulled out the chicken soup and Gatoarde. ¡°Now I can get rid of this cold.¡±


    ¡°I feel it¡¯s my solemn duty to inform you that being cold doesn¡¯t in fact give you a cold,¡± Perry said.


    Blake gave a particularly wet and throaty sneeze.


    ¡°So you¡¯d like to immediately resume our lengthy make-out session?¡± she said as she sucked in the snot through her nostrils in a decidedly dramatic fashion.


    Rachel grinned. For a guy who could operate like a human microscope, Perry remained understandably squeamish around germs.


    ¡°Point taken,¡± Perry said before noting Rachel and Blake¡¯s postures. ¡°Did I miss anything?¡±


    Blake looked to Rachel, gesturing for her to tell him. Rachel didn¡¯t want to. She didn¡¯t want Perry to get his hopes up, but Blake made it impossible for her to do otherwise.


    ¡°Zack Kestler is here,¡± Rachel said suddenly. Perry nearly dropped the coffee he was making.


    ¡°Here?¡± he asked, if Zack would suddenly pop out of the closet.


    ¡°On campus,¡± Rachel said. ¡°I saw him when I was gathering quotes for the Icer story.¡±


    ¡°That ice-cold jerk,¡± Blake swore. ¡°Who uses ice powers in the middle of September? If I ever see him again¡­¡±


    Perry ignored his girlfriend, keeping his focus squarely on Rachel.


    ¡°Where did you see him?¡± Perry asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s renting a house just off-campus,¡± Rachel said. ¡°On Seventh Street, I think.¡±


    ¡°And you approached him?¡± Perry said. ¡°Rachel, that could have been dangerous!¡±


    Rachel sighed. This is why she didn¡¯t want to tell Perry in the first place - because of their theories.


    ¡°For all you know, it could have been a trap,¡± Perry said. ¡°A clone. A robot. Maybe even someone wearing his skin..¡±


    ¡°Babe,¡± Blake urged. ¡°Let her finish.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not, Perry,¡± she said. ¡°I read his mind, or tried to anyway. But I got enough to know it¡¯s Zack.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not conclusive though,¡± Perry said, throwing his arms across his chest.


    Perry always held out hope that there was a logical conclusion behind Zack¡¯s disappearances. Maybe one of Knightbrand¡¯s enemies got a hold of him. Maybe he was abducted by aliens. Maybe he was chosen by an omnipotent being to compete in a contest of wills.


    In their line of work, these things happened.


    And she couldn¡¯t fault Perry for wanting that explanation. The guy could see down to a molecular level. He wanted a logical explanation for what had happened - almost everything else in his life had one.


    But people were messy. Complicated.


    But Rachel knew the truth about what happened to Zack. Not all of it, but most of it, she believed. She had known the truth about Zack for a long time. She hadn¡¯t told anyone - not Blake and certainly not Perry or Scott.


    The truth cut into her like an open wound, untreated for all these years. What good would giving it to someone else do? So she helped with it, even though she wished things could be different.


    ¡°It¡¯s him, Perry,¡± Rachel said. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°I need to see him,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea, hon?¡± Blake spoke up. ¡°Maybe he¡¯ll fry you with his robo-death beams.¡±


    Perry shot his girlfriend a frustrated glare.


    ¡°I¡¯m sick, remember?¡± Blake said. ¡°I can¡¯t be responsible for what I say.¡±


    ¡°Or your taste in men,¡± Rachel said.


    Perry turned to her. ¡°When did this turn into two against one?¡±


    Blake and Rachel both laughed.


    ¡°You picked a sharp one,¡± Rachel told her roommate.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I?¡± Blake smirked.


    ¡°You¡¯re just trying to distract me,¡± Perry said. ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject!¡±


    It was Blake who spoke up.


    ¡°Per-Bear¡­I know this is your friend but¡­he¡¯s been gone for a long time,¡± Blake said, using her nickname for Perry. ¡°Maybe he doesn¡¯t want to be found.¡±


    Rachel also backed her up on this. ¡°I told her you were going here too. If he wants to meet up, that¡¯s in his court.¡±


    ¡°Did you give him your address?¡± Perry asked.


    Rachel rolled her eyes. She wouldn¡¯t be that comfortable with Zack Kestler for a long time.


    ¡°No, Perry, I did not,¡± she said.


    Perry sat down on the bed next to his girlfriend. He put his hands together. Blake reached up and began rubbing his shoulders.


    ¡°I just wish we knew what happened to him,¡± he said.


    Rachel shrugged. She considered saying more, but she knew this really wasn¡¯t the time.


    ¡°We do know what happened to him,¡± she said. ¡°He changed. He¡¯s not the same person we knew.¡±


    The silence returned once more, and this time, no one in the room fought it.


    Until Blake gave a long, hard sneeze.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± she cried in frustration once more.

 Issue #9: Introduction to Combat Basics 101

    ¡°Everyone, take a seat on the mat and we¡¯ll get started immediately!¡± boomed the voice of Dirk Saber.


    The first instructor towered just an inch or two over Zack, and he looked taller in all the videos Zack watched online. He was dark-skinned, with buzz cut hair along with a neatly-manicured beard. He was also ripped, with coiled round muscles pushing against his fitting black long-sleeved shirt.


    Zack sat cross-legged on the gym mat, in the third row back among four dozen or other students. Zack concluded this must have been one of the most popular classes given the size. Dirk Saber¡¯s reputation preceded him.


    Dirk Saber continued to address the class.


    ¡°You probably already know who I am. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯re probably in the wrong class,¡± Dirk said. That brought a slight chuckle. ¡°All you need to know is here, you will refer to me as Sensei Saber, and here, my word is law.¡± The training room didn¡¯t look like much. Just a few blue mats set out on a vast gym floor. Zack had expected something far more advanced, like a holographic simulation, instead of this low-tech crap. The assembled students covered half of the interlocked polyethylene mats, all colored blue and gleaming in the overhead lights. The vast gym space unfolded its empty space before him. Zack spotted several bullseyes of various sizes. Wide open windows covered the ceiling, filling the gym with natural light.


    Zack hoped his infiltration into Administration and Records had been worth it. Dirk Saber was the premiere fighter stationed at Innshadow University. He taught dozens of classes on supe combat. Even his father spoke of Dirk in high regard.


    Competent and cordial. Skilled enough to land the killing blow on his father, especially if he never saw it coming.


    Someone had skewered Knightbrand with a high-quality sword. That wasn¡¯t an easy feat, given how mobile and well-armored the Knightbrand Suit was. But for someone as good with a blade as Dirk Saber, it could be done.


    Another key factor was the blade used to bring down his father. It was pure Omegium, a rare alien metal, and one which just so happened to comprise Dirk Saber¡¯s signature Edgesword.


    Combine that with Dirk Saber¡¯s tenure, and Zack already had his prime suspect figured out. He had the means and opportunity alright.


    The only missing piece of the puzzle was motive, but Zack would figure that out soon enough.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started with the basics,¡± Saber said. He held up his cellphone.


    ¡°I trust you all have the InShade app downloaded onto your smartphones,¡± Saber said.


    Zack cursed under his breath. He hadn¡¯t even checked his smartphone. He barely even used one at all.


    Saber continued. ¡°The InShade app will contain all the most up-to-date information on leaderboard, class ranks and stats. Check it often.¡±


    Professor Saber positioned himself around the classroom, still holding the classroom.


    ¡°The InShade app is connected to your login credentials,¡± Professor Saber said. ¡°Meaning only students and faculty can access the information.¡±


    Students and faculty? Zack thought about the login credentials he had gotten off Weave and Shaw. Maybe he could get additional information through the app using their access instead of his standard student login.


    ¡°Now let¡¯s talk about rankings,¡± Professor Saber said. ¡°Rankings are an important part of the Accreditation process. Super teams and law enforcement agencies use them to determine a superhero¡¯s effectiveness in the field.¡±


    ¡°For your part, everything you do in this school affects your rank. Miss a class, your rank goes down. Score well on a test, it goes up,¡± Professor Saber explained.


    Figures, Zack thought. In places like this, academic performance mattered just as much - if not more so - than actually doing the job. That¡¯s why a couple of wannabe brown-nosing superheroes could memorize their assignments, get a high grade and then wind up on a high profile team of superheroes with minimal field work


    ¡°You¡¯re probably thinking¡­there¡¯s only so much room for error with this model. There¡¯s only so many opportunities to boost your score in a school year,¡± Master Saber said. ¡°But there is a workaround.¡±


    Zack looked up


    ¡°Sparring matches also count towards your ranking. There are two settings for sparring matches. Practice matches count less, but distribute an equal number of points for both participants,¡± Master Saber said. ¡°On the other hand, official sparring matches distribute all points to the winner only.¡±


    He looked around the room. ¡°To the victor, the spoils.¡±


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    ¡°Are there any questions?¡± Professor Saber asked. Everyone remained quiet.


    ¡°Moving on,¡± the master said. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about stats.¡±


    Stats was Dad¡¯s most hated part of super schools. The idea that a person¡¯s worth could be tabulated down into a series of numbers irritated his father to no end, and Zack couldn¡¯t help but agree.


    ¡°Stats are divided up into eight categories: strength, speed, endurance, all pretty self-explanatory,¡± Professor Saber said. ¡°There¡¯s also agility, reflexes, intelligence, improvisation, and lastly, power projection.¡±


    Saber continued. ¡°Power projection will generally only affect supers will long-range energy powers.¡±


    It was here that Zack started to lose interest. Statistics were a boring subject to begin with. Given the Knightbrand suit¡¯s capabilities, very little of this would be relevant.


    ¡°Like power projection, there are other stats which will only apply to certain cases, such as psyche rate for telepaths and mach speeds for fliers,¡± Professor Saber went on.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the most important thing to know about a super¡¯s stats,¡± Professor Saber said. ¡°They are, for the most part, complete garbage.¡±


    Saber¡¯s words jolted Zack out of his boredom.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, the Innshadow Institute of Data and Research puts a lot of work into those stats. But they have their limits,¡± Saber said. ¡°What if the villain you¡¯re fighting just got an upgrade from a Faustian pact with some sort of extra-dimensional imp? Then all those stats are about as helpful as asking a crystal ball to do your taxes.¡±


    That got a laugh.


    ¡°You ever hear the stories of a mother lifting a car to save her children. It happens to supe all the time. An adrenaline rush can super-charge half these stats,¡± Professor Saber said. ¡°Aren¡¯t getting enough sleep? Your stats are going to take a nosedive.¡±


    ¡°And it goes without saying, these stats are only good for Accredited heroes whose capabilities have been thoroughly studied and demonstrated by Accredited institutions,¡± Professor Saber said.


    A hand went up. Professor Saber gestured to a wide-eyed freshman sitting in the second row.


    ¡°What about his stats?¡± he pointed up to the windows along the ceiling.


    Knightbrand towered above the class in the middle of the sky, visible only through the sprawling skylight. He maintained his perfect posture as he stared down impassively, his arms crossed.


    It was about damn time, Zack thought.


    Dad modified the Knightbrand to include a remote piloting mode as well as a standby mode. Combining the two allowed Zack to use the armor essentially as a drone. After Knightbrand¡¯s surprise appearance yesterday, people were already talking. They knew Knightbrand was doing something around campus. They didn¡¯t know exactly what.


    If Saber was surprised by Knightbrand¡¯s sudden appearance, he didn¡¯t show it.


    ¡°Knightbrand¡¯s capabilities are a matter of great debate. Since he¡¯s an Unaccredited superhero, we can¡¯t be sure what exactly his stats are. We only have estimates, I remind you, are in fact garbage,¡± Professor Saber said.


    Zack had to admit, he was struggling not to like this guy. He was confident, charismatic and straight to the point. Then again, he thought, most killers are charming, and straight to a very different kind of point.


    Professor Saber continued. ¡°Knightbrand, as you might have heard, is investigating a private matter on campus. As such, you should pay him no mind. Unless you¡¯re the subject of his investigation, at which point you likely have bigger concerns.¡±


    This got another, bigger laugh.


    Even Zack chuckled. He expected Knightbrand to rattle him. After all, two years ago, Dirk Saber left Knightbrand in a pool of blood, and here the hero was, hovering above his class, poking around. He expected a reaction, not a cool professor cracking jokes to a crowd of eager freshmen.


    But even in standby mode, Knightbrand could see things others wouldn''t. The empty Knightbrand suit would record everything Dirk Saber said or did. Zack could then use sophisticated AI-enhanced software to confirm Dirk Saber made the killing stroke on his father two years ago.


    But he wasn¡¯t going to get it watching Saber crack wise to a class of freshmen. He needed a better angle.


    ¡°There will be several opportunities for you to spar with me through the semester, both as a way to assess your capabilities and note improvement,¡± Saber said. ¡°But don¡¯t worry - that¡¯s at least two weeks away.¡±


    Zack spoke up. ¡°Why wait? I¡¯ll take that action now.¡±


    ¡°Who said that?¡± Saber said, his tone serious.


    Zack stood up, defiant. ¡°I¡¯m ready to go if you are.¡±


    Saber just shook his head and sighed. ¡°There¡¯s another one every year. We haven¡¯t fully cleaned off the blood from the last one.¡±


    Zack ignored the joke and started to move towards him. Saber was sizing him up. Let him. Zack was an All-American Quarterback for two years in a row, and that was before the rigors of actual crime-fighting hardened him up.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name, son?¡± Saber said. The son part aggravated him, but Zack did his best to keep his cool.


    ¡°Zack Kestler,¡± he said. Saber¡¯s eyes went wide.


    ¡°You¡¯re the son of¡­¡± he pointed upwards subtly, not wanting to alert the class to Zack¡¯s celebrity status.


    ¡°That would be him,¡± Zack said.


    Saber paused for a moment, and then chuckled.


    ¡°I get it what you¡¯re doing, but there are way less humiliating and painful ways to impress your pops, kid,¡± Saber said.


    Zack couldn¡¯t back down. ¡°I get where you¡¯re coming from. Pretty humiliating to get your old ass whupped by a freshman on your first day back.¡±


    Saber¡¯s face betrayed no emotion. He stared at him for a long, hard moment.


    ¡°Clear the floor,¡± he yelled.


    ¡°Miss Ducane will be our TA this semester. She will act as referee for the match,¡± Saber said.


    Miss¡­Ducane¡­


    Zack turned around to see an equally horrified Rachel staring at him as he took off his open button-up flannel and prepared to fight. His ex-girlfriend was his arch-nemesis¡¯ teaching assistant.


    Of course she was.

 Issue #10: Spar

    T


    The empty gymnasium transformed once every student had been cleared out of the space. Only Zack, Rachel and Dirk Saber remained. The teacher gave Zack a pitiful gaze.


    ¡°It¡¯s still not too late to back out,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing this,¡± Zack said. He glanced at the Knightbrand armor, hovering high above the proceedings, recording Dirk¡¯s every move. He needed to see Dirk fight. Only a handful of people could best his father in hand-to-hand combat, much less pierce the Knightbrand armor with a Omegium blade.


    He would get the evidence he needed to prove Dirk¡¯s murder of his father. And then he would take him down.


    He just needed to last a few minutes in close-quarters combat. That should give him enough footage to analyze.


    Rachel, for her part, barely spoke to him. Zack couldn¡¯t blame her. Their last encounter hadn¡¯t ended well and now this.


    But damn¡­she looks good.


    She wore a form-fitting white shirt along with yoga pants, highlighting an athletic build graced with generous curves. Zack didn¡¯t think Rachel could get any more beautiful since junior prom.


    He was wrong.


    ¡°First strike wins,¡± she said, without looking in his direction.


    Dirk Saber bowed, extending the top of his chest downward. Zack repeated the gesture before raising his fists.


    ¡°Begin,¡± Rachel said in a neutral tone.


    Saber surged towards Zack with two blows he barely managed to dodge. Retaliating, Zack moved forward and laid out two light jabs at Saber, who merely twirled around him with the grace of a ballroom dancer. Seconds later, Saer rushed back on the attack.


    Three minutes? I¡¯ll be lucky if I last three seconds in this fight.


    Zack knew he had to go on the offense. Saber was too fast, too strong and too smart. Sooner or later he¡¯d outmaneuver Zack, ending the fight altogether.


    Rachel is watching. Use it.


    Channeling every bit of his pride, he threw a long punch towards Saber¡¯s midsection. Saber ducked the incoming blow, grabbing his arm in the process. Saber turned his profile towards Zack as he used his momentum against him, heaving him over his shoulder as Zack fell forward through the air.


    Briefly airborne, Zack went limp. It¡¯s the first thing a sidekick learns. He knew to keep his calm in midair, and more importantly, he learned how to land without taking damage. Zack let himself fall to the mat, before twisting about, throwing a low kick at Saber, forcing his opponent to leap back.


    Regaining his footing, Zack pressed his offensive. Saber clearly expected the hip toss to disorient him, leaving him vulnerable for the final blow. That wasn¡¯t happening. With Saber on his back foot, Zack used his advantage to spin up enough momentum to launch a roundhouse kick, using every bit of martial arts training his father had bestowed to him.


    His right foot spun through the air, careening towards Saber¡¯s sternum. His opponent quickly raised both hands and crossed them together, blocking the blow. By the time Zack landed, he lost any semblance of an advantage as Saber launched blow after blow. Zach dodged them both, falling onto his back-foot once more.


    Glancing over his shoulder, Zack saw the edge of the mat coming way too soon. That had been Saber¡¯s intention all along, trying to spend more distance until Zack had none left to maneuver. He estimated he had only a handful of yards left before he fell off of the mat, and out of bounds altogether.


    Saber launched a long kick towards Zack¡¯s midsection. The blow alone would be enough to knock him on his ass. Dodging was no longer an option either. At best, he would gain only a temporary retreat, setting up Saber for another, more devastating attack. At worst, he¡¯d lose his footing, toppling off the mat in a humiliating defeat.


    Had it been three minutes yet?


    Not likely. The entire fight had barely transpired in a minute. He needed more footage to run through the AI analytics.


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    He needed to stay in the fight.


    Backed into a corner, Zack raised his hands and clasped them together, imitating the block Saber had used against him moments ago. Saber¡¯s foot bounced off of his hands. He felt the shock waves pummel through his hands. It hurt like hell, but it stopped him from losing any ground.


    Zack launched two medium blows towards Saber, trying to regain his lost momentum. He made two quick jabs at Saber, as he charged forward, intent to retake the mat. Both fell flat as Saber ducked over one and responded with another, more powerful stroke of his fist. Desperate not to retreat or lose any further ground, Zack responded with the same block he had managed to replicate earlier, draining Saber of all momentum.


    Saber¡¯s nostrils blared, and in his eyes Zack saw something new. Surprise? Frustration? Anger? He couldn¡¯t be sure, but something was definitely there.


    Taking advantage of his opponent¡¯s mental processing, Zack tried to knee Saber in the thigh. The attack, while out of left field, did little to move Saber back nor landing a winning blow. Instead, Saber responded by adding all his might to another dancer twirl, transitioning into a brutal haymaker Zack feared would have clocked him in the side of the head.


    Panicked, Zack raised his hands, clasped together and blocked the incoming attack with the just-learned blocking motion. As he repeated the motion for a third time, he saw something else in Saber¡¯s eyes.


    Recognition.


    Of what? Zack couldn¡¯t be sure. He was just glad he was still in the fight.


    Taking advantage of his opponent¡¯s position, Zack laid two medium blows at Saber¡¯s side, but the older fighter swatted them both aside as if they were little more than insects - all without breaking a sweat. In fact, the entire time, Saber didn¡¯t look to be exerting himself at all physically. He was barely tired, despite being at least twenty years Zack¡¯s senior.


    He¡¯s been toying with me, this whole damn time.


    Drawing about that anger, Zack barreled forward towards his opponent. He would end this fight. He would prove himself worthy of Rachel. And most of all, he would wipe that smug look of Saber¡¯s face. Then, once he had confirmed his suspicions, he would summon the Knightbrand armor and this fight would go very differently.


    For now, he just needed to stay in the fight a little longer. Who knew? Maybe he¡¯d even come out on top.


    Saber back-stepped backwards, his body already twisted as he began to pivot. Zack recognized the signs of an incoming roundhouse kick, very similar to the one he had performed earlier. Steadying his feet, he braced himself as he prepared for the incoming attack. Extending his arms, he prepared to replicate yet another block despite the small nagging thought itching the back of his mind.


    Why could Saber, an accomplished fighter, resort to such a familiar attack on Zack, even after he himself had blocked it with relative ease?


    His eyes caught out on to his mind several seconds too late, as Saber¡¯s feet never left the ground despite all signs otherwise. Instead, he pressed forward, grabbing Zack¡¯s forearms. His hands, still locked in their blocking position, were useless to resist.


    This wasn¡¯t an attack. This was a feign - and one Zack had fallen for perfectly.


    Using all the force of his body, Saber bent his body with a grunt and then launched Zack over his shoulder a second time. This was no simple hip toss, however. The angle was far more sharp, the gravity far less forgiving.


    When Zack slammed against the mat, he felt his wind exiting his stomach as if his body was a juice box crushed in the hands of a merciless toddler. Before Zack could even reclaim his breath, Saber¡¯s left foot slapped his stomach with one final indignity.


    ¡°Point,¡± he distantly heard Rachel call. ¡°Game set and match.¡±


    Everything else was a blur. Zack writhed on the mat for an extra couple seconds before returning to his feet.


    ¡°Class dismissed,¡± Saber said. Zack found Saber staring for a few more seconds before the teacher abruptly stormed out of the classroom.


    He offered no comments about Zack¡¯s performance. He simply just¡­left.


    Must have pinched a nerve, Zack thought. Maybe his investigation really was bearing fruit.


    Then Zack became aware Saber hadn¡¯t been the only other person with eyes on him. He looked over to see Rachel staring at him with a mixture of too many emotions to place.


    Disappointment. Anger. Pity. Sadness. And something else. And probably another emotion beyond that.


    Ultimately, she simply shook her head and walked away, leaving Zack alone in the class.


    On the wall, Zack spotted two blades. In the light, Zack could spot the faintest sign of a glow on the shiny metal.


    Omegium.


    Zack remembered the blades well. He examined their erratic and jagged shape, like streaks of lightning cast into metal. Zack found one lodged into his father¡¯s stomach seconds before he died.


    Everything pointed to Dirk Saber as the killer. And yet¡­he still needed more evidence.


    Zack looked up beyond the ceiling window to see the Knightbrand suit, still hovering above in standby. Only now a cackle of fliers were taking tones posing with the silent hero, all while they took turns snapping selfies of the damn armor.


    This was a good first day. He had engaged with Dirk Saber, even if the form of interrogation proved unorthodox, it yielded some fruit given Saber¡¯s reaction. By his accounts, his investigation was going swimmingly.


    Zack¡¯s personal life, on the other hand, was in ruins. He kept thinking of how little Rachel cared as she walked away from him.


    Can you blame her? You turning up here without so much as a word?


    Everything she said last night was true. He did deserve all that was coming to him.


    But Zack couldn¡¯t think about that now. Not when he was so close to finding the truth.

 Issue #11: It Only Counts When You Yell "Parkour!"

    Zack met Scott Stephens outside the Alpha House. The Alpha House stood before him, a sprawling Victorian mansion in the center of campus. Zack had read up on the history of the place. Apparently, the house belonged to the founder of the college, Jeremiah Innshadow. The mansion was originally one of the administrative buildings, but had since been converted into the Alpha Sigma fraternity HQ. Zack began to step inside, wondering what secrets the house held, but Scott stopped in.


    ¡°Where you going, man?¡± Scott asked.


    ¡°Ummm¡­to the party,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°This is the party,¡± Scott said. Zack looked around, seeing a paltry few students drinking bottles of pop outside the Alpha House.


    ¡°Scott, your party is on life support,¡± Zack replied.


    ¡°Zachary,¡± Scott said. Zack hated it when he called him that. ¡°Do you remember when we busted those drug-runners in the South Side a few years ago? All thanks to my supreme undercover skills.¡±


    ¡°You must have been sampling the merchandise,¡± Zack said, remembering his sidekick days. ¡°The only reason those cartel boys didn¡¯t waste you on sight is because they thought you were the world¡¯s worst cop.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, we might see that incident a little differently,¡± Scott said. ¡°But my point is¡­looks can be deceiving.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, I know the saying. I had to explain that to my dad when he showed up to the crime scene and found you wearing a dew rag, leather jacket and dangerously tight pants. It was not a pretty sight,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Yeah, that wasn¡¯t my finest moment,¡± Scott agreed. Zack laughed. His heart felt suddenly fuller than it had been in quite some time. He needed to remember the mission.


    Attend the party. Make connections. Further his investigation.


    Just as night began to fall, two high beams shined through the darkness. A campus patrol squad car rolled past slowly.


    ¡°Just on cue, the five-oh!¡± Scott said. ¡°Raise your glass. Nothing going on here, officers, just two studs living their best life.¡±


    Apparently satisfied, the police rolled past.


    ¡°Okay, now we can go to the party,¡± Scott said, as he turned towards the building.


    ¡°I thought you said this was the party,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°I said looks can be deceiving!¡± Scott said as he moved up the stairs. ¡°Try to keep up.¡±


    Once again, Zack made his way to the door of the Alpha House. This time Scott slapped his hand away.


    ¡°I said, the party¡¯s not there,¡± Scott said.


    ¡°Then where is it?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Like I said, try to keep up!¡± Scott said as he scurried up a ladder. Zack reluctantly followed him.


    ¡°So for the last half hour we were just decoys?¡± Zack asked as he moved up the ladder towards the roof.


    ¡°I prefer stalking horse,¡± Scott replied. ¡°It sounds way cooler.¡±


    ¡°How long have you been a member of this frat?¡± Zack asked as he reached the roof only to see Scott squirming a bit.


    ¡°Technically I¡¯m still a pledge. Been that way for about a year, but my time is coming,¡± Scott said. ¡°I can feel it!¡±


    On the roof of the Alpha House, Zack saw the view of the campus from the rooftop. Darkened spires spread across the night like gothic pyramids. Gargoyles feeled the view like a twisted sculpture garden. Zack turned to his friend.


    ¡°Okay, genius,¡± he said. ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°The answer is easy¡­¡± Scott said. ¡°Now we¡­parkour!¡±


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    And with that, Scott got a running start and leapt across the rooftop, landing perfectly the adjacent rooftop several yards over. Zack sighed as he watched this athletic feat.


    Scott turned back and yelled to him.


    ¡°Hope you haven¡¯t gone soft¡­.or skipped leg day!¡± Scott called.


    Zack slid off his jacket and tied it along his waist.. He made sure his cell phone was secure. He didn¡¯t want it falling out while he was racing across the rooftop.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting!¡± Scott called. Zack put his phone in the pocket and immediately charged forward. He then began to sprint across the rooftop, and before it ended, leapt across the empty space. He managed to clear the space between the rooftop, but his foot caught the raised edge of the next roof just as he landed, causing him to nearly trip and sprain his ankle. He avoided that fate only by rolling as he landed.


    ¡°Nice,¡± Scott said. ¡°Though you lose some points on the dismount.¡±


    ¡°Jerk,¡± Zack replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, buttercup,¡± Scott said. ¡°You can make it up on the next jump. Parkour!¡±


    With his battle cry, Scott got another running start before jumping across another, larger gap. As he ran, his super-speed kicked in and his features began to blur as he leapt across the roof in a flurry of motion. Zack was right behind him, getting another running start before jumping across the roof.


    Once again, he cleared the roof, but once again, he stumbled as he landed, though he avoided doing bodily injury to himself this time.


    Scott was right. He was out of practice. When he was a sidekick in Chicago, all of this was easy. He could jump across the rooftops with zero effort. With his father¡¯s suit, he could just fly everywhere, no jumping required.


    ¡°Not bad. We¡¯re almost there,¡± Scott said. ¡°Parkour!¡±


    Zack watched his friend leap across another rooftop. Thankfully, this next gap wasn¡¯t so large. Zack followed suit, having little trouble reaching the next rooftop.


    ¡°You know, you don¡¯t have cry parkour every time you jump across the rooftop,¡± Zack said. ¡°And besides, parkour is so 2016.¡±


    Scott didn¡¯t stop moving. He kept running, looking over his shoulder as he ran for the next rooftop.


    ¡°You have to yell parkour otherwise it doesn¡¯t count. Everyone knows that!¡± he said. ¡°And parkour is forever!¡±


    Scott began to leap for another rooftop, but this time, his foot caught on the rooftop¡¯s higher edge. Zack saw this, running forward to grab his friend before he fell headlong off the roof. Zack caught Scott¡¯s leg, just before he topped towards a particularly sharp spire, almost impaling himself just like his tour guide the other day warned.


    He hoisted Scott back onto the roof with some effort.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Scott said. ¡°Then again, parkour is best exclaimed in moderation.¡±


    The pair took the next rooftop with some trepidation. It was the hardest jump of all of them, largely due to the uneven heights of the windows. Fortunately, they were able to make it to the rooftop, and fortunately, neither one was impaled on a gargoyle.


    ¡°So we there yet?¡± Zack asked. He scanned the area for wherever the party was being held. He wondered if there was a secret passage somewhere on the rooftop. With all of the superheroes involved in Innshadow U, the possibilities were endless - teleporters, phase-through walls and magic portals were all a distinct possibility.


    ¡°Not so fast,¡± Scott replied.


    ¡°So what do we do?¡± Zack asked.


    Scott shrugged. ¡°Now¡­we climb.¡±


    Scott stepped forward and began to climb a gargoyle on a particularly slanted roof. Zack sighed. What was the saying? When in Rome.


    Zack could see the method to his friend¡¯s madness though. The roof in question was far too slanted to be scaled on foot. Any attempt would most likely result in someone sliding down the rooftop into a turret or something.


    Zack could see the destination in sight, however. A small window resided at the tip of the roof¡¯s triangular shape. It was a small window, and most likely belonged to an attic or some sort. Ahead of him, Scott climbed to a different gargoyle, as Zack lifted himself with some exertion to the one Scott had just vacated.


    Above him, several flying students streak through the starry night, coming to perch on the windowsill. One of them looked down at them.


    ¡°Oh wow, that looks like it sucks,¡± he said. ¡°Uhh, keep it up. You¡¯ll get there!¡±


    And then he and his friends entered the windowsill without a second thought.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Zack cried as he struggled to gain purchase on a nearby gargoyle¡¯s wing.


    ¡°Keep climbing!¡± Scott urged. After several more minutes of grunting, the pair reached the windowsill and climbed into a small room. Zack had been right. It looked like a storage attic of some sort, and not a big one.


    One door separated them from the party.


    ¡°Do we need to know a password?¡± Zack asked.


    Scott reached for the door. ¡°Password? Wasn¡¯t that whole ordeal enough? If you know the location and you can get here, you can attend. And besides, it¡¯s not like anyone¡¯s going to try to rob this.¡±


    Scott opened the door. Zack¡¯s eyes were nearly blinded by the dazzling display. Nearly four or five dozen students filled the room, with many holding plastic red cups filled to the brim with alcoholic substances. Above him fliers danced in the high sloped ceiling. The place looked like it had more in common with a church than a school building.


    Zack had found the party. And it didn¡¯t disappoint.

 Issue #12: That Came Out Wrong...

    Loud music assaulted Zack¡¯s ear drums from every angle. It took a few moments before Zack could communicate with Scott on any level. As he struggled to adjust to the rise in volume, the pair made their way through the crowds of students.


    The room was large and open. Zack saw his buddy smiling at several co-eds, also holding red plastic cups, as he moved through the crowds. Zack guessed the entire floor of the massive building was housing the party.


    Several plastic ping-pong balls nearly slammed into Zack had he not jumped out of the way. He turned to see a row of students across the room trying to throw ping-pong balls into a line of plastic cups filled with beer. Zack noted a multitude of superpowers on display. Some were throwing the ping-pong balls with super-strength, though the extra exertion did little to correct the path as they bounced off-course.. Others attempted to telepathically control the balls to hit their target, though after a few drinks, they had considerable trouble leading the ping-pong ball anywhere.


    One ball streamed through the air, more steadily guided than all the others. Zack squinted his eyes, trying to see why this ball was doing better than all the other superpowered tactics. Zack got his answer when he beheld a tiny figure on top of the ball, cheering as they steered the ball right into the plastic red cup. The triumphant figure then fell into the pool of beer, as the game of beer pong transitioned into a drinking game.


    Zack laughed and shook his head, before turning and nearly running headlong into Rachel. She had traded her form-fitting workout gear for a frilly lavender top and loose denim jeans. She also held a red plastic cup, and was currently using it to shield herself from sight of him.


    ¡°Rachel?¡± he asked. ¡°How the hell did you get here?¡±


    Rachel flashed her eyes at him. ¡°After everything you did today, that is what you have to say to me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­well¡­such an ordeal to get up here¡­and I thought,¡± Zack stammered.


    Rachel sighed. ¡°I took the stairs.¡±


    Zack glared at Scott. ¡°There were stairs?¡±


    Scott raised his hands to defend himself. ¡°It¡¯s a teleporting staircase. Half of the time it¡¯s not even here. Usually it¡¯s in the middle of Yellowstone, freaking out park rangers for some reason. And it¡¯s a closely held secret when it is going to be accessible. It¡¯s way above my pay-grade. You¡¯d have to be a¡­¡±


    Zack turned back to Rachel, who was turning away from him. ¡°Mind-reader.¡±


    Rachel sighed and chewed her lip. It¡¯s what she did whenever someone was calling her out.


    ¡°Okay, so maybe I waited until one of your drunk frat brothers left to puke in the bushes. I didn¡¯t have to do much digging to get the times,¡± she turned to Zack. ¡°And after what you pulled I felt needed a drink.¡±


    ¡°Rachel, I can explain¡­¡± Zack started.


    ¡°Oh this should be good,¡± Rachel rolled her eyes.


    ¡°You know what, you¡¯re right. A drink does sound good,¡± Scott said. ¡°Do you want a drink because I sure want a drink!¡±


    Scott quickly exited, abandoning Zack to this conversation.


    ¡°Coward!¡± Zack said, but Scott had already disappeared in the crowd.


    ¡°So¡­wanna tell me why you thought you should attack my instructor¡­and my boss¡­on the first day?¡± Rachel crossed her hands.


    ¡°In my defense, I didn¡¯t know he was your boss until after I challenged him to a fight,¡± Zack said.


    Rachel threw her hand in the air, while struggling not to spill her drink. ¡°So that makes it okay?¡±


    ¡°No! Of course not!¡± Zack said. ¡°But¡­I had my reasons.¡±


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    ¡°Of course you did. Everyone has reasons for what they do,¡± Rachel said. She glared at him pointedly. ¡°Unless you¡¯re a sociopath.¡±


    ¡°Are you seriously calling me a psycho?¡± Zack said. ¡°Just for a simple sparring match.¡±


    ¡°Sociopath,¡± Rachel said. ¡°There¡¯s a difference.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, as long as there¡¯s a difference,¡± Zack sneered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me the bad guy. I had to practically get on my knees to apologize my boss for my ex-boyfriend challenging him to a duel in the first fucking day of class!¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Why would I even know you were together, or care for that matter?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s just my boss. He¡¯s my advisor. My mentor,¡± Rachel said.


    Zack¡¯s anger welled up inside him.


    ¡°You sure he¡¯s not more than that?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be crass, Zack,¡± Rachel shot back. ¡°He¡¯s almost twice my age!¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question,¡± Zack said.


    Rachel put her free hand on her hip. ¡°Wow, toxic and controlling. Just when I thought you couldn¡¯t stoop any lower, Zack, you continue to surprise me.¡±


    She started to turn away. Zack realized he had made a mistake. Actually he had made several mistakes during that conversation, as it all became clear to him.


    Why don¡¯t I just tell her the truth?


    Zack reached for Rachel.


    ¡°Rachel, wait,¡± he asked.


    Rachel spun around, her eyes flashing with anger.


    ¡°After that stunt you pulled, Saber is beside himself. I¡¯ve never seen him like that before,¡± she said. ¡°All because of that stupid fight.¡±


    Zack stopped in his tracks. Saber did seem really distant after their fight. Maybe he succeeded in pinching his prime suspect¡¯s nerve.


    Maybe, just maybe, his actions so far had been optimal, and achieved the desired result.


    Unfortunately, his next word proved to be less than optimal.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said without thinking. Rachel glared at him. Then she lunged at him and dumped the contents of his drink all over Zack. He felt cold beer fall down his chins as a series of ice cubes landed down his shirt. He heard several gawking whispers as the music stopped and Zack suddenly became very self-conscious. Rachel stormed off, and Zack didn¡¯t go after him.


    Scott appeared next to him holding two drinks.


    ¡°I got you a drink, but it seems you already have one,¡± Scott said, taking note of the beer that now covered Zack.


    ¡°That¡­could have gone better,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°That¡¯s one hell of an understatement,¡± Scott said as he handed Zack his drink. Zack proceeded to down his.


    ¡°Look, don¡¯t judge Rachel too harshly. When you left, well, it really hurt her. It hurt all of us, but it hurt her the most,¡± Scott said.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to hurt you,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°I was just as angry and confused as the rest of them,¡± Scott said. ¡°Then I saw Knightbrand on the news, taking the names and I figured you must have been called away on ¡®family business¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zack said gloomily. ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°You know she went looking for you a couple of times,¡± Scott said. Zack turned to him.


    ¡°What?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°She¡¯d get some leads. or some idea in her head about where you went, and she¡¯d go and start looking for you,¡± Scott said.


    ¡°What did she find?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°Nothing. At least nothing that she told me. She even dragged me along as her mode of transport a time or two,¡± Scott said. ¡°Near as I can tell, she didn¡¯t find anything.¡±


    Zack searched the party for any sign of Rachel, but he didn¡¯t see her. Not that he¡¯d know what to say to her if he did. All he knew is that he really messed up with her tonight. And possibly longer than that.


    Zack sighed. If he told people, he¡¯d jeopardized his investigation. He might even jeopardize their lives. But it sounded like Rachel had been conducting an investigation of her own. He shouldn¡¯t have underestimated her.


    He shouldn¡¯t have done a lot of things.


    Scott seemed to notice the shift in his friend.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, I got something to show you,¡± he said.


    ¡°Just so long as there¡¯s no climbing or jumping involved,¡± Zack sighed.


    ¡°Just stairs,¡± Scott smirked.


    ¡°Oh so now there¡¯s a staircase!¡± Zack shot back as he followed his friend. By now, the beer soaking his clothes had become moist and sticky. Thoroughly humiliated, he would rather be anywhere but here.

 Issue #13: Telepuncher

    Zack followed Scott up a broad winding staircase. His shoes fell into the plush green carpet, as his hands, still sticky with the spilled beer, gripped the carved oak handles on either side of the staircase.


    ¡°What was this place?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Scott replied. ¡°This used to be the school library, before they moved to the one in the corner, you know the one.¡±


    Zack felt a slight twinge of shame. He hadn''t made it to the school library yet. He used to love to read so much. It was one of the few things he and Dad had in common. Then again, all the books at the library were boring modules on how to land on a rooftop without dirtying one¡¯s cape.


    ¡°Why did they move?¡± Zack asked Scott as they made their way up to the winding staircase.


    ¡°Same reason most libraries had to move,¡± Zack said. ¡°They ran out of room. Sigma Alpha called dibs on it. The stated reason was alumni conferences and we mostly use it to show the sickest of parties, as evidenced below.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sick is the word,¡± Zack said, still feeling sticky and drenched in beer after Rachel dumped the contents of her drink on him. He couldn¡¯t believe she did that. He couldn¡¯t believe he said that.


    Rachel made him off-balance every time he came too close to her. To think that Zack almost thought about telling Rachel. But now he knew that would be a mistake. He couldn¡¯t think straight when he was around Rachel, and after seeing his father bloodied in his arms, he couldn¡¯t think about anything else.


    The sooner he found Dad¡¯s killer, the sooner he would be gone from their lives.


    Again.


    It really would be the best thing for them. He hadn¡¯t expected to find so many of his friends at this place. Scott. Perry.


    Rachel


    It tore him up inside to know they still grieved for his abrupt disappearance from their lives, especially Rachel. He had moved around so much as a kid, he hadn¡¯t thought they¡¯d care as much as they did.


    But they were on the path towards better lives. Even if Zack remained skeptical of the promises Innshadow University offered, he knew his friends would make the best of whatever they received. They¡¯d be far better off without them, and far safer at any rate.


    At least that¡¯s what he kept telling himself.


    Everything about the ancient library reminded Zack of all the parts of Innshadow his father hated. Old, dusty, ancient, and built on old money. By all accounts, Jeremiah Innshadow was somewhere between a huckster and a quack. He only found success treating tuberculosis with the supposedly mystical springs found in the region, and his effort floundered when he tried to distribute the spring water throughout the region.


    So he built a college the Talented among him instead, growing it into one of the three primary sugar centers.


    Lucky him.


    ***


    ¡°Just a bit further,¡± Scott urged.


    ¡°This had better be good,¡± Zack sighed, hating that he could have gone after Rachel and thoroughly apologized in the time it took to reach the top of the stairs.


    ¡°Oh it is,¡± Scott said. ¡°Just keep your voice down¡­¡±


    ¡°Because¡­?¡± Zack questioned.


    ¡°Because?¡± Scott stopped as he reached the foot of the stairs. Darkness gathered around them. The upper level looked like a museum. Zack could spy several display cases, but he couldn¡¯t tell quite what was in them.


    Scott looked slightly uncomfortable as Zack came up behind him. He had a pained expression on his otherwise strong features.


    ¡°Why do we have to be quiet?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not exactly allowed to be up here,¡± Scott said. ¡°You think they let pledges see the good stuff?¡±


    Zack sighed. He really, really didn¡¯t want to get into a tussle with the Sigma Alpha fraternity. He had spied their burly members jogging throughout campus, and Scott¡¯s propensity for getting into trouble certainly hadn¡¯t diminished since high school.


    ¡°Just help me find the light switch,¡± Scott said.


    Zack was already looking for the light switch, but he was also looking for the exit. He had almost reached the stairs when the hum of an ancient light bulb illuminated the display case.


    He turned to see a hundred years of superhero history spread out before him.


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    ¡°Holy¡­crap¡­¡± he said as he neared the display case.


    Most of the display cases contained supervillains memorabilia, something that surprised Zack a bit. He could see weapons, gadgets and gizmos of every kind.


    ¡°Is that¡­one of Freeze Ray¡¯s ice guns?¡± Zach said, pointing to a cold chrome ray gun with a round barrel.


    ¡°Yeah. I heard he got busted for murder,¡± Scott said. ¡°But I guess his boy is taking over him.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­I¡­heard that too,¡± Zack said, thinking of Icer and wanting nothing more than to change the subject.


    Dozens of trinkets lined the display costume, all belonging to supervillains if not a hero or two. Zack spotted a chrome cerulean globe he identified as the villain Amp¡¯s Power Amplifier. He also saw several sharp arrowheads belonging to the assassin Spearhead. And those were just the ones he could identify off-hand. Dozens of more awaited him.


    ¡°Holy crap, what is this place?¡± Zack said. ¡°Is this, like, all the gear the Alphas have busted over the year?¡±


    Scott¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Oh it¡¯s even more epic than that. All of this gear has been taken by one guy.¡±


    ¡°One guy?¡± Zack looked confused. ¡°How is that even possible?¡±


    His father had been a supe for a while before Zack was born. He wasn¡¯t much for trophies though. If he liked a piece of tech, he¡¯d usually swipe it off of a villain¡¯s gear and incorporate it into the Knightbrand armor. It drove his rogue¡¯s gallery crazy. Zack remembered his dad telling him stories about Thrillian complaining about how Knightbrand copied his nitro system. He wouldn¡¯t stop accusing Knightbrand of copyright violation all the way to jail.


    Zack turned away from his bittersweet stroll down memory lane. His father had a decent-sized collection of regular baddies he did battle with, Thrillian and Freeze Ray among them. But this guy, whoever he was, must have fought damn near everyone to afford a trophy case this big. He started to turn to Scott.


    ¡°One guy did all of this?¡± Zack asked. ¡°Who¡­?¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± barked a loud voice. Zack realized his answer would have to wait as several large bodies entered the room. They were led by a large man in his mid-twenties, with buzz-cut green hair and bulging muscles along with a protruding Adam¡¯s Apple.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing here, pledgie?¡± the man barked. Scott started to stammer something.


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I begged him to take me up here,¡± Zack said.


    The man didn¡¯t give Zack a second look. Instead he focused all his fury on Scott.


    ¡°The bathroom¡¯s ain¡¯t clean, plegie,¡± the man said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mister Kaine, I am, but I spent all night doing them before the party,¡± Scott said.


    All night? When Zack first met Scott, he was running errands for the frat. Now he admitted he spent all night doing the bathroom?


    This was one of those kinds of frats, isn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Well, I just dropped a big deuce in the bathroom, so it¡¯s needing your attention, if you catch my drift,¡± Kaine laughed. His two buddies followed suit, laughing like a pair of hyenas.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mister Kaine¡­I¡¯ll get-¡± Scott started, but Zack intervened.


    ¡°That¡¯s not fair. Scott¡¯s only here because I put him up to it,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Well, let this be a lesson not to do whatever your drunk-ass boyfriend tells you,¡± Kaine said with a sneer.


    ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend,¡± Scott corrected.


    ¡°And I¡¯m not that drunk,¡± Zack said, though he was coated in beer from head to toe.


    ¡°Really?¡± Kaine said and then he was gone.


    Suddenly Zack felt himself getting slammed from the side. Kaine was shoulder-checking him from the other side. How did he¡­


    He¡¯s a teleporter.


    Cute.


    Teleporters made great assassins, and Zack tussled with more than a few during the hunt for his father¡¯s killer. Teleporters could be a real pain in the neck. Someone¡¯s Kaine¡¯s size could do some real damage, even if he was strictly close-range. The problem with most teleporters, as his dad always told him, was they were predictable.


    Zack could feel Kaine¡¯s breath on the back of his neck. Kaine had proved him right. He clenched his fist and pushed his forearm back, elbowing Kaine directly into his neck. Kaine gasped in pain before doubling over.


    ¡°Zack!¡± Scott said, his eyes glaring over.


    His two buddies immediately went to Kaine.


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Scott said.


    ¡°He was attacking us,¡± Zack said. ¡°And he was treating you like crap.¡±


    ¡°I need this, Zack,¡± Scott said. ¡°And no one asked you to help. I¡¯ve been getting along fine without for two years-¡±


    ¡°You done it now!¡± one of his no-neck buddies stood up and prepared to advance on him.


    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± came a voice from above.


    Zack looked up to see a third level of the building, near where they had come in through the attic. There, a lanky man with curly dark hair regarded him. He looked to be in his early thirties.


    Both Scott and Kaine¡¯s no-neck buddies seemed to pale.


    ¡°N-nothing, Mr. Mann,¡± no-neck one. ¡°Mr. Kaine has fallen.¡±


    ¡°Never could hold his liquor. Probably why they booted him out of the Marines,¡± the man said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you and your friend help him down. It¡¯s this other one I¡¯m interested in. What¡¯s your name, son?¡±


    ¡°Scott. Scott Steph-¡± Scott started.


    ¡°Not you. You!¡± the man pointed, and Zack realized he was pointing at him.


    ¡°Zack. Zack Keltser,¡± Zack answered.


    ¡°Hot damn! I knew it was you! Come up for a drink!¡± the man said. ¡°We got a lot to discuss.¡±


    Zack looked around confused, but No Neck #1 and #2 had already carried off Kaine. He looked to see Scott already halfway down the stairs, walking away from him. He never once met his gaze.


    Confused and frustrated, Zack started up the second set of stairs, towards the unknown figure who seemed to know him so well.

 Issue #14: Max Mann, Soldier of Fortune

    When he reached the top of the stairs, the dark green carpet gave way to a spacey private entrance. Inside, he found the man already pouring himself and Zack a glass of Scotch. This last part surprised Zack. Even though he hadn¡¯t exactly obeyed the liquor laws since arriving on campus, Zack felt surprised the guy was about to offer Scotch to a college kid without inquiring about his age. It seemed like a great way to get a visit from the authorities.


    Then again, Zack was presently covered from head to toe in beer, so this guy probably figured it wasn¡¯t much of an issue.


    ¡°You probably don¡¯t remember me,¡± the man said.


    Zack walked towards the man. His eyes struggled to adjust to the light of the dimly-lit room. The man at the center of it wasn¡¯t particularly impressive. He looked to be somewhere in his thirties, with a short if somewhat lanky build. His hair seemed particularly styled with product, but the rest of him seemed average if not somewhat familiar. The moment Zack met his eyes, a spark of recognition lit within his own.


    ¡°Holy crap,¡± he gasped. ¡°You¡¯re Max Mann.¡±


    Even as one of the world¡¯s most popular heroes, Dad never found many ¡°work friends¡±. Even as a mechanic, he kept to himself.


    Max Mann was the exception.


    He eagerly shook Zack¡¯s hand, a firm and powerful grip to Dean Weave¡¯s warm and squishy handshake. Zack still couldn¡¯t believe it. He searched Max¡¯s face for any trace of age.


    ¡°Hold up, I was, what, ten when you started dropping by,¡± Zack said. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed at all.¡±


    Max dismissively tossed aside the compliment with a wave of his hand. ¡°Awww, you¡¯re making me blush, pal.¡±


    ¡°But how is that even possible?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°You remember my origin?¡± Max said, offering him the Scotch. Zack took a seat on one of the two plush leather chairs facing Max¡¯s desk.


    Zack scanned the office. The impressive trophies seen in the display outside continued to trail through the office. Zack spied a massive spear next to a potted plant, a fierce-looking wooden mask near a stack of old books, and a dainty-looking domino mask next to several certificates.


    He couldn¡¯t remember how Max Mann embarked on such a life. He thought back to what his Dad had told him, and it finally came to him.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the guy who found the Fountain of Youth?¡± he said.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t just find it - I fell right into it!¡± Max replied with an infectious belly laugh which quickly spread to Zack. ¡°Not my most dignified hour. Came out looking like someone from one of those teeny-bopper boy bands.¡±


    Zack let the laughter die out, before he asked the obvious question.


    ¡°But what the hell are you doing here?¡± Zack asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you and my Dad hate this place?¡±


    ¡°Still do, with a passion,¡± Max said. ¡°But here¡¯s the rub¡­¡±


    Max seemed to grow smaller in his eyes. It wasn¡¯t a physical change, just an odd slouch in his posture. For an instant, Max seemed to Zack like a man suddenly too big for his clothes. He appeared like a teenager wearing his father¡¯s outfit for Halloween. He stared longingly into his drink for the longest second, then he glanced up to look at Zack.


    ¡°I¡¯m dying,¡± he said.


    Zack gasped. He hadn¡¯t expected that news. At a glance, Max emitted a powerful aura, complete with a youthful image. His words carried an extra blow. Zack had buried his father just a few short years ago, and now another death loomed on the horizon.


    ¡°What¡­what is it?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°I won¡¯t bore you with the medical specifics,¡± Max said. ¡°Suffice to say, it¡¯s incurable.¡±


    ¡°Is¡­is it terminal?¡± Zack asked.


    Max was in the process of draining his Scotch. He stopped to answer. ¡°Very.¡±


    Zack took a sip of his Scotch. He let the liquor burn down his throat. He set the Scotch down and met Max¡¯s golden eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zack said. ¡°If I¡¯d known¡­.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can do,¡± Max said, waving away his condolences. ¡°Its why I stopped hanging out with your old man. Didn¡¯t want a pity-party. How is he by the way?


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    Zack looked down at his drink. ¡°He¡¯s good.¡±


    It troubled Zack how easy his rehearsed answer came nowadays. It came as a matter of reflex more than anything else. Apparently he¡¯d been practicing it since the day his Dad died. He¡¯d kept his father¡¯s death a secret, just as Zane commanded. But¡­there had to be exceptions, right?


    Max would be one of them, right? They were bros back in the day. Zack thought about telling him, but before he could, Max abruptly changed the subject.


    ¡°Anyway, to go back to your original question,¡± Max said. ¡°You know about Jeremiah Innshadow?¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°You mean the nineteenth century health nut.¡±


    Max poured himself another Scotch. ¡°He wasn¡¯t a total nut. I mean, he wasn¡¯t Slyvester Graham but still. Mainly, it was the springs he found that were the breakthrough.¡±


    Zack¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You mean they really could cure TB?¡±


    ¡°Not just TB,¡± Max said after another swig. ¡°They could cure just about any ailment. Smallpox. Typhus. Yellow fever. Even cancer.¡±


    Zack had already begun to connect the dots. ¡°Do you think this spring water can help you?¡±


    ¡°I mean it¡¯s worth a shot, right?¡± Max said with a gesture of his hands.


    ¡°What did Weave say?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°What he always said. He said they¡¯d do everything in their power to help,¡± he said. ¡°Even set me up with this sweet gig.¡±


    Zack nodded. Empty promises. Just as he expected.


    ¡°But that Shaw lady, she¡¯s a real hardass,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s turned me down for every request for a sample as a show of good faith.¡±


    Max took another drink. He sat down his drink and paced around the office like an aimless tiger, tightly coiled with no target in sight.


    ¡°She and your dad go way back,¡± Max added. Zack looked up.


    ¡°They were like friends?¡± Zack raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Not exactly friends,¡± Max shrugged. ¡°But then she came here and, well, that told your dad everything he needed to know.¡±


    Zack nodded. He wasn¡¯t surprised to hear that Shaw was blocking his way. She had done the same to him. A gatekeeper.


    ¡°So¡­what exactly do you do here?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°Oh you didn¡¯t know?¡± Max said. ¡°I¡¯m the advisor to the Sigma Alpha fraternity.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°They¡¯re lucky to have you. Is that your display case?¡±


    Max gave another dismissive wave of his hands. ¡°Trinkets from a bygone age. Nothing more. But that¡¯s not what I¡¯m interested in.¡±


    Zack set down his drink.


    ¡°And what are you interested in?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± Max said, dodging the question. ¡°Zane must be pissing out a kidney stone to have you coming here.¡±


    Zack considered his next words carefully. After all, this would be the ideal time to tell him about his father¡¯s death. But something stopped Zack from going down that path. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to tell Rachel, or any of his closest friends for that matter. Why could he tell Max, even if he was something of a family friend?


    No, he wasn¡¯t ready to share that part of himself, not yet.


    ¡°He took it surprisingly well. He¡¯s not happy,¡± Zack said. ¡°But he understands I need to find my own path.¡±


    ¡°Spoken like a true man,¡± Max said. ¡°Your father must be proud.¡±


    Zack put on his best smile. ¡°He is.¡±


    Those two words hurt Zack more than anything short of burying his father, and he didn¡¯t know why. Deep down, Zack knew they were words he would never hear from his father.


    He set the drink down.


    ¡°Thanks for the drink,¡± he said.


    ¡°Anytime,¡± Max said. ¡°You can find your way back?¡±


    ¡°I think so, so long as your Alpha boys don¡¯t give me any trouble,¡± he said.


    ¡°I doubt they will. I saw the tail end of how you handled Kaine,¡± he said. ¡°You got your father¡¯s move, kid. And you don¡¯t even have the armor.¡±


    That was one other secret Zack certainly wasn¡¯t going to divulge. He simply nodded.


    ¡°Why even keep him around? He seems like a jerk,¡± he said.


    ¡°People expect a certain¡­image from Sigma Alpha. It¡¯s an endangered concept, you know, that kind of strength in this world,¡± Max said. ¡°He fits the bill, though after recent events, perhaps it¡¯s time for a change.¡±


    Zack nodded. Perhaps such a change would let Scott Stephen rise through the ranks. If anyone had earned it, it was him.


    But that was a conversation for another time.


    ¡°Thanks for the drink,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Any time,¡± Max said. ¡°It was good to see you.¡±


    Zack started to leave.


    ¡°Zack,¡± Max said. ¡°I hope you know my door is open, anytime you want to talk.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°Thanks, I appreciate it.¡±


    Zack left the Alpha House. He didn''t see any sign of Scott. He would need to find him, apologize and explain what happened. But that was a conversation for another time.


    For now, Max''s conversation had rejuvenated Zack. It had given him a sliver of hope after his disastrous conversation with Rachel. He had discovered a new ally.


    For the first time in a long time, he didn¡¯t feel quite so alone.

 Issue #15: Multiple Choice

    Zack entered his apartment. He was covered in sweat, grime and beer, not to mention exhaustion.


    Isn¡¯t college life great?


    His first order of business was taking a quick shower, if only to cast off the beer Rachel had poured all over him. He really needed to talk to her, but the things she said finally started to gel. Apparently, his fight with Professor Saber had really rattled the guy. Maybe his investigation was finally starting to go somewhere. Maybe it was time to turn up the heat on Saber.


    Or in this case, cold.


    Zack briefly wondered where exactly Icer had gotten off to. He clearly wasn¡¯t here, given his apartment¡¯s comfortable temperature. Zack didn¡¯t know if he should be comforted or freaked out by that. The thought of Icer prowling around campus unsupervised unsettled Zack to say the least.


    Still, all of that could wait until morning. Zack emerged from the shower and slid into some gym shorts before falling onto bed, and pulled the blankets over his body. He didn¡¯t plan on moving until morning, if at all. Saber¡¯s class wasn¡¯t until mid-afternoon, and if Zack was lucky, he might not have to get up until then. Sleep came quickly.


    Zack felt the next morning''s sun push through his bedroom curtains. Class could wait. Sure, he had had classes, but none of them were taught by his father¡¯s likely killer, so he saw no reason to attend said classes. Still, he knew morning had come, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to get up. He then felt something slender and metallic press against his lower lip, and into his nose. He heard a low voice just above him.


    ¡°Subject¡¯s nasal cavities are consistent with a baseline human,¡± the voice said. ¡°Though containing more dried nasal mucus than anticipated.¡±


    Zack clenched his fist within the blankets. He had to take the intruder by surprise and take down quick, without any hesitation. Zack launched off the bed, thrusting his comforter into the intruder¡¯s face. He then used his movement to shift all of his weight onto the intruder, who went down with minimal effort.


    By the time both he and the intruder had fallen to the floor, Zack looked to see a familiar face looking at him through a mess of brown hair. Perry held his cell phone, clearly in record mode, to his mouth.


    ¡°Subject¡¯s reflexes are clearly in line with a peak human, if not improved in nature,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Perry, what the hell?¡± Zack said as he jerked up.


    ¡°I was conducting some experiments,¡± Perry said. Zack reached for a T-shirt and then slid into some jeans.


    ¡°You wanna tell me what the hell you were doing poking and prodding me like that?¡± Zack asked. ¡°You know, most people buy me a drink first.¡±


    ¡°I just had to confirm it was really you,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°As opposed to what?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Some artificial or mystical lifeform sent to infiltrate Innshadow for nefarious purposes,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°And what¡¯s the prognosis,¡± Zack asked as he finished getting dressed, reaching for a flannel to complete the look.


    Perry cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯ve ruled out clone, robot and zombie. Though I haven¡¯t ruled out alien, thought-form or bio-synthetic android.¡±


    ¡°Well, hell man, what do you need? My Social Security card?¡± Zack asked as he ran his fingers through his hair.


    Perry seemed to consider this. ¡°Do you have it handy?¡±


    ¡°It. Was. A. Joke.¡± Zack said. He had to remind himself, while little escaped Perry''s microscopic vision, humor often went over his head.


    Strangely enough, this was only the second strangest conversation Zack had had with Perry. Still, all things considered, he had missed these weird little exchanges with Perry, even despite his social awkwardness. They had been a refreshing part of his routine all those years ago.


    ¡°Babe, is your friend decent?¡± Zack heard a familiar feminine voice just outside the room.


    ¡°He is, though I¡¯m still working to confirm his humanity,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Thanks for that, buddy,¡± Zack said.


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    ¡°I just hope I missed the part with the rubber gloves-¡±


    A familiar-looking blonde girl walked in. She had traded her Innshadow U hoodie for a white jacket with a blue shirt and pale denim jeans. Her eyes sparked when she locked eyes with Zack.


    ¡°YOU!¡± they both said in unison.


    Zack realized it was the tour guide who showed him around campus.


    The one he had abandoned to be frozen during Icer¡¯s attack on the Promenade.


    The only thing he hadn¡¯t quite figured out is what the hell she was doing here.


    ¡°You¡¯re the asshole that left me to die in a supervillain attack!¡± she said. She then gave a loud sneeze. ¡°I still have this freaking cold because of you!¡±


    ¡°Honey, as I¡¯ve explained, being cold, even via a freeze ray, doesn¡¯t in fact give you a cold,¡± Perry chimed in.


    ¡°Not. Helping. Babe.¡± The girl shot him a glare.


    ¡°Babe. Honey?¡± Zack raised his voice. ¡°You¡¯re his girlfriend?¡±¡±


    The girl glared at him next, her eyes flashing with anger. In that instance, Zack remembered the bolt of lightning she launched at Icer. He probably shouldn¡¯t make her any angrier than he already had.


    Perry jumped in between the two. ¡°It seems you two already know each other.¡±


    ¡°Oh we¡¯ve met,¡± the girl said, arms crossing her chest.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯m glad we can skip over awkward introductions,¡± Perry said. Zack couldn¡¯t tell if Perry was making a joke, or just that oblivious with the situation.


    It was hard to tell with Perry sometimes.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get your name,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Zack, this is my girlfriend-¡± he started.


    ¡°It¡¯s Blake,¡± she said, her arms still crossed.


    ¡°I¡¯m Zack,¡± he outstretched his arm. She ignored it. ¡°Is Blake your first name or your last-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s her first,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°It¡¯s just Blake,¡± she snapped.


    It was clear Zack couldn¡¯t do much to salvage this conversation. He was really striking out with women lately.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry about the promenade,¡± he said. ¡°I just panicked.¡±


    Perry gave him a strange look.


    ¡°You? Panic? That¡¯s so unlike anything I¡¯ve seen during your Sideclique days,¡± Perry said.


    Once again, little escaped Perry''s observation. And he was right - Zack was always the first to leap into danger back in his Sideclique days. He had learned to be more measured in his approach after two years spent trying to track down his father''s killer.


    ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m out of practice," Zack replied with a shrug. "I haven¡¯t been sidekicking for a couple years and the adrenaline got the best of me,¡±


    Which was all technically true. He hadn¡¯t been a sidekick for a while, and the excitement did override his senses that day. He probably should have done more for Blake, if only to maintain his cover.


    Blake finally relinquished a bit too, if only with a shrug.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I¡­overreacted. I¡¯m still getting used to my powers. They¡¯re a recent development for me,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t shake your hand. I tend to electrocute people when I¡¯m aggravated.¡±


    Zack blinked. ¡°Are you still aggravated?¡±


    Blake regarded him with a cool expression and then offered him her hand.


    ¡°Maybe another time,¡± she said.


    Blake turned to Perry. She took his hand with no fear of shocking him, apparently, and if she did, Perry showed no reaction.


    ¡°Well, babe, we have to get ready for class,¡± she said. ¡°We should go.¡±


    She gave Zack a cordial if slightly cool smile. ¡°It was nice meeting you¡­Zack¡­don¡¯t be a stranger.¡±


    ¡°Technically, I have yet to confirm that he is, in fact, not a stranger,¡± Perry interjected.


    The pair left soon after. Zack watched them leave. What a weird couple, to say nothing of her refusing to shake his hand.


    The two didn¡¯t make sense. Perry never dated any in high school. He was way too nervous to talk to women. And here he was, with a cute blonde on his arm?


    Something didn¡¯t add up.


    Blake must have had some sort of angle. What she wanted with Perry and his molecular vision, he couldn¡¯t be sure, but it must not be good.


    But that was a mystery for another day.


    Right now Zack had work to do.


    He felt a chill run down his spine.


    Perfect timing.


    Zack saw his breath visibly breath out in smoky tendrils as he shivered. He moved towards the source of the cold.


    He found Icer in the living room, slouching on the couch, watching ¡°The Price Is Right¡± with a bored expression.


    ¡°How long have you been sitting there?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Long enough,¡± the supervillain said. ¡°So is your superpower that you naturally attract awkward conversations or do you actually go looking for them?¡±


    ¡°Cute,¡± Zack replied. ¡°I have a job for you.¡±


    Icer flipped off the TV and tossed aside the remote.


    ¡°Now you¡¯re talking,¡± he said with a fittingly chilling smile.

 Issue #16: Emotional Punching Bag

    Rachel struggled to maintain her concentration as she practiced her form on the mat. Unfortunately, she had a million things running through her mind right now. She really, really wanted to hit something.


    That wasn¡¯t entirely true.


    She wanted to hit Zack. Hard. And a lot.


    But she couldn¡¯t do that, not without going to jail, so a punching bag would have to do.


    Rachel turned her attention to the punching bag instead. She breathed in and released her tension, laying into the bag with a series of rhythmic punches. After several minutes of this, she felt her heart racing. She remembered how Zack¡¯s touch used to make that happen, no punching bag required, which made her hit the bag even harder.


    Her mind replayed last night¡¯s events over and over again. Zack¡¯s asshole behavior rattled her nerves, erasing any relaxation she had found in working over the punching bag. She shouldn¡¯t be surprised. The man ghosted her two years ago without so much as an explanation but . . . something still felt off.


    Some things never change.


    When he disappeared, at first Rachel became worried. Over time, however, Rachel began to realize Zack didn¡¯t care about them. Perry had found a couple images of Zack online, partying it up across the globe in places like Tijuana and Hong Kong. A couple times Rachel and the others had even gone looking for him.


    The pain of those investigations came surging back, causing Rachel to intensify her punches as she slammed her fist into the punching bag, grunting heavily as she did so. The evidence of Zack¡¯s apathy towards their love dulled her heart, but at least she could move on knowing if he cared he would have come back, he would have offered some explanation.


    He would have done something.


    But last night Zack¡¯s words offered something different. She sensed it with him. Something dark and festering with him. When she mentioned the pain and heartache he had caused Mark Saber, she felt it welling up with his response.


    Good, he had said.


    Zack deserved to get the drink poured on his head. And probably worse.


    But there was something dark inside Zack, inside her high school sweetheart, that wasn¡¯t there before. What had changed him in the two years? Where had her warmhearted, All-American boyfriend gone, and what was this shriveled and cold thing in its place?


    ¡°If you keep punching like that, you¡¯ll break your wrist,¡± Rachel felt a presence behind her.


    Rachel smiled. She hadn¡¯t seen or heard from Dirk Saber all day, but she could smell his aftershave. She continued to hammer into the punching bag.


    ¡°You spying on me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Just observing¡­¡± Dirk said.


    ¡°And what are you¡­observing?¡± Rachel asked as she kept her posture straight, punching into the bag with a series of two jabs.


    She had such an easy relationship with Dirk Saber. They weren¡¯t together, not like her and Zack were. He was her mentor. When Rachel first came to self-defense class, she could barely throw a punch. Under Dirk¡¯s tutelage, she¡¯d learned to not only defend herself, but use her powers to read her opponents before they could even think about a strike.


    She had grown confident and bold thanks to his teaching, and they had grown closer through the process, and shared things to one another.


    ¡°You want to talk about it?¡± Dirk asked.


    Rachel continued to hammer away.


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    ¡°Not particularly,¡± she said.


    She took a break and blew a loose strand of hair from her eyes before reaching for the water bottle. She turned to Dirk.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± she said.


    Dirk crossed his arms. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know if you are aware, but this is my classroom.¡±


    Rachel grinned. ¡°Really? Because I haven¡¯t seen you lately. I thought maybe you¡¯d gone soft and decided to take up, I don¡¯t know, shop class or something.¡±


    Saber rolled his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s such a thing as a college level shop class. And if there is, it¡¯s definitely not at Innshadow.¡±


    Dirk meant his eyes. ¡°Seriously? Are you okay? You haven¡¯t left your office¡­¡±


    Saber uncrossed his arms. ¡°Since your ex-boyfriend turned up at a class and challenged me to a fist-fight?¡±


    Rachel gave a self-conscious sigh. ¡°Yeah, that sounds about right.¡±


    ¡°Rachel, this isn¡¯t high school anymore. I can take a punch from a hothead. There¡¯s one every semester,¡± Saber said.


    ¡°I know, I¡¯ve seen some of them,¡± Rachel said. Most of those fights were brutally quick as Saber put the offending student in their place with little or no trouble. But with Zack, it was different. Saber saw something in him. Was it similar to the darkness Rachel sensed in him? The fight had stretched on much longer than Rachel had anticipated, and she hated every minute of it.


    ¡°But this one was different,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Because it was personal?¡± Saber countered. Rachel chewed on her lip.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± she replied.


    Saber crossed his arms again. He sighed, and while Rachel did her best not read his mind, sometimes her own curiosity got the best of it. Something in Saber made it even harder to resist. Something was rolling off of him¡­anxiety? Anticipation? Frustration?


    All of it made Rachel more curious to know why he had cooped himself up in the office for so long after the fight.


    ¡°Look, Rachel, this isn¡¯t my first rodeo, nor is it the first time I¡¯ve had to fight a jealous ex-boyfriend,¡± Saber said.


    ¡°Oh, this happens a lot?¡± Rachel said. ¡°You get challenged by a jealous ex more than once a week?¡±


    Saber started to think about the implications of what he thought through a comical squint before he broke out into a shiny grin.


    ¡°Maybe you should up your dating game, Teach,¡± Rachel said with a soft shove. Saber pivoted on his feet.


    ¡°Noted,¡± he said. His face turned serious again.


    ¡°But this time there are extenuating circumstances,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for some¡­test results.¡±


    Rachel gave him a questioning look. ¡°What kind of extenuating circumstances? What kind of tests are we talking about there?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t really say¨C¡± he started to say, but his words were interrupted by a loud clunking sound.


    Rachel and Saber turned towards the office, where the sound came from.


    ¡°Who''s in your office?¡± Rachel whispered.


    ¡°Good question,¡± Saber replied.


    He inched towards the door and pushed it open. A figure in a blue and white costume stood perched in front of the safe Saber kept in his office. Before Saber could react, the figure turned and pointed his clinched gloved hand at Saber, launching a blast of ice, which splattered into the wall.


    Saber dodged, but by the time he pivoted back, the supervillain was already crawling out of the window. He raced to the window to see supervillain scaling up the side of the building, while leaving a trail of frozen hand prints in his wake.


    Rachel watched as Saber raced up the fire escape. She followed him, but before she was even halfway up the escape, he turned to her.


    ¡°Call campus security,¡± he said. ¡°And don¡¯t follow me.¡±


    Rachel nodded and pulled for her cell phone as she watched Saber move up the stairs. She received a roaming sound, so she found herself ascending up the stairs to get a better signal. She watched as Icer darted across the rooftops, supposedly undeterred.


    She turned to see Saber frozen in his tracks. At first she wondered if Icer had hit him with some sort of freeze blast, but instead she saw exactly what glued him to the rooftop.


    A dark armored shape stood before him, hovering just above the rooftop.


    Knightbrand stood before them.


    Zack¡¯s father.


    She never could tell how he felt about her. He always seemed so guarded around her. Maybe because she was a psychic. Or maybe because he just didn¡¯t trust her. Zack told her his dad wasn¡¯t the trusting type.


    ¡°Need a hand,¡± Knightbrand said to Saber.


    Just then campus security came on the line. Rachel answered, reporting the supervillain incursion.


    When she turned around, both Knightbrand and Saber barreled down the rooftops in pursuit of Icer.

 Issue #17: Team-Up

    Zack hoped this was a good idea. He needed to keep Dirk Saber off-balance. Zack was pretty sure Dirk Saber had left his father lying in a pool of blood on his kitchen floor. Having Knightbrand turn up at his class yesterday seemed to pinch a nerve, at least from what Rachel told him. Now it was time to tighten the noose around Dirk Saber¡¯s neck. Fortunately, chasing down a supervillain with his victim should accomplish just that.


    Perhaps Zack would get lucky and Saber would tip his hand.


    In any case, it didn¡¯t matter. They both wordlessly streamed down the rooftops, chasing Icer, who remained one step ahead of him. Zack found it much easier to navigate the labyrinthine structures of Innshadow¡¯s rooftops in the Knightbrand armor, with its boot jets allowing him to soar easily above the rooftops.


    Then again, he also remembered Blake¡¯s warnings - that most fliers avoided practicing up here simply because of all of the sharp-looking spires as well as stony gargoyles and spiky serpents hanging off the building. Zack kept his focus as best he could, desperately trying not to get skewered on anything. He remembered Innshadow University was a hospital back in the 19th century, but he wondered what kind of patient would be comforted by the sheer number of black stone monsters draining water from the rooftops.


    ¡°When was the last time we worked together?¡± Dirk Saber suddenly asked. ¡°Chicago? Was it 2020?¡±


    Zack desperately searched his memory. Dirk was testing him, but Zack knew his dad worked with just one job last year, if he could only remember where. Fortunately, his father teamed up with other heroes so infrequently it was a pretty short list.


    ¡°It was three years ago,¡± he said confidently. ¡°Memphis. You must be getting old if you can¡¯t remember that far back.¡±


    Dirk didn¡¯t laugh. He simply nodded. ¡°You¡¯re chatty today.¡±


    How was that chatty?


    Was Zack actually being too chatty, and more talkative than his father would be in this case? Was he opening himself up to more risk of being exposed as a fraud?


    Or was Dirk simply being sarcastic?


    He had no way of knowing which was true, so he simply decided to button it up and keep his focus on the flying part. Everyone knew Knightbrand was the strong and silent type, and he doubted Dirk Saber was any exception. Besides, it required just as much concentration to avoid smashing into a gargoyle.


    Icer, for his part, kept mercifully out of reach during their pursuit. His icy trail made it easier for him to slide across the rooftop with ease, and even if he came up short, Zack watched as he used his icy gauntlets to grip the nearest rooftop and climb back up. Every now and then he shot an errant blast of ice at him or Dirk, but it was more intended as a distraction more than anything else.


    Good. I don¡¯t need him getting caught too early. That would unravel this whole thing.


    Unfortunately, Dirk came to realize the very same thing.


    ¡°This is taking too long and getting us nowhere,¡± he said. ¡°I feel like the punk is just toying with us?¡±


    ¡°Then what do you suggest?¡± Zack replied through the Knightbrand modulator, hoping it didn¡¯t come off as too ¡°chatty¡±?


    ¡°We split up,¡± Dirk said. ¡°I keep on the foot chase. You fly ahead and try to cut him off.¡±


    Zack wanted to argue that splitting up was never a good idea in horror movies, but he knew that probably wasn¡¯t something his father would actually say. Instead he just nodded.


    ¡°On it,¡± he said.


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    Zack hated the idea of taking his eyes on Dirk. It also meant taking off the pressure, but it was the most logical way a superhero would act in the circumstances, and arguing it would likely be out-of-character to argue the last point.


    The Knightbrand armor powered ahead, with Zack still comfortably inside. He scanned the rooftops for any sign of Icer.


    Should he try to reach out to the supervillain and let him know there was a change in plans?


    Because that would look really natural if he got caught in the act.


    Besides, it¡¯s just as likely Icer would try to attack him, to play out whatever grudge match he had against his dad for whatever this was about.


    He decided the best course of action would be to circle the buildings as best he could and tell Saber he lost him in the forway.


    That would pose the least risk to his investigation.


    The only problem was he had to make it look convincing. If he was spotted flying around on the other side of campus, he¡¯d look lost and incompetent, two things he couldn¡¯t afford right.


    Zack dodged and skirted around several gargoyles as he blasted across the corner of another one of the buildings. He could see several onlookers with their pocket phones held up to capture the action. Zack considered waving for the cameras, but he never actually saw his Dad doing the same thing. Dad never really played for the cameras. He was always straight to business and then heading home to catch the rest of the game over Brewskies. If he acted out of character, it could throw more suspicion his way.


    Zack decided it was probably best to retrace his steps. He hadn¡¯t seen any sign of Icer - or Dirk Saber - which was likely for the best. He moved back towards the more familiar-looking buildings, when suddenly he spotted tracer fire streaking high into the night.


    Zack flew closer. It wasn¡¯t actually tracer fire. It was ice blasts, shooting in all directions.


    Dirk Saber had engaged Icer.


    This could be bad.


    Looming into the sky, Zack saw Icer rush forward with a makeshift icicle as a weapon. He used it to ward off several of Dirk Saber¡¯s attacks, but Saber had drawn one of his Omegium blades, and cut through the icicle like it was nothing. Icer managed to get a kick into Saber¡¯s midsection before forming another icicle to try to ward off DIrk Saber¡¯s attacks.


    But it was a losing battle.


    Icer held his icicle in a distinctive blade grip, with the sharp point of the icicle pointed down away from his fist. He charged forward and made several slashes at Saber, but the fight effortlessly dodged his slashes without a second thought. After a few dodges, Saber responded with a counter of his own, knocking the icicle from Icer¡¯s grip. In response, Icer shot a blast of ice towards the fighter, forcing him to somersault out of the way. Zack expected Icer to run away, but instead he was surprised to see the villain launch forward with several brutal blows to Dirk¡¯s side.


    It took a lot of bravado, but Zack knew it was all for nothing.


    Sooner or later, Icer would fall, just like he had. Icer was putting up a hell of a fight. He tossed the icicle at Saber and then used it to deliver several targeted blows to Saber¡¯s side.


    Where the hell had he learned that?


    He had picked Icer because he was a joke, but apparently the guy had some moves.


    The problem was, ¡°some moves¡± wasn¡¯t going to be enough to bring down one of the best fighters in the superhero community.


    He had to end the fight somehow. He drew closer, making his presence known.


    ¡°Stand down!¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s over, Icer.¡±


    He really hoped it was, but by entering the fight, he was distracting Dirk Saber, and that was enough for the time being.


    ¡°Not over my dead body,¡± Icer yelled. ¡°But I¡¯ll settle for yours.¡±


    And with that, Icer shot a thick blast of ice towards Zack. He hadn¡¯t counted on Icer making a direct attack, but it caught him right in the shoulder. Zack yelled out. He could feel the blast penetrating his armor, as his right shoulder felt cold and then numb.


    Icer paid dearly for the attack. Dirk Saber took full advantage of the distraction, launching into a complex attack with his sword before striking Icer in the side of the face, leaving him clearly dazed and open to the final blow.


    This was bad. This was all bad.


    Zack then noticed he was sinking. Several claxon alarms begin to whine within his armor.


    Icer¡¯s blast had done something.


    And now he was sinking through the air.


    Zack¡¯s last view was of the ground approaching as he fell out of the sky and gravity took over.

 Issue #18: Down for the Count

    Zack regained consciousness. He was still on the rooftop, and he hadn¡¯t splattered into the ground, which were all good things. Instead, he was slumped against a chimney. Dirk Saber stood over him.


    ¡°You okay, Zane?¡± he asked.


    Zane.


    It took Zack a minute to remember what happened. The last thing he remembered he had been falling towards the ground. Hearing his father¡¯s name jolted him back to reality.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zack said, trying to sound as stoic as possible. ¡°His blast damaged one of my servos, causing a temporary power loss.¡±


    DIrk Saber extended his hand. Zack took it as he was lifted off of the ground.


    ¡°Where is Icer?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°He slipped away shortly after you took a tumble,¡± Dirk said. ¡°You sure you¡¯re okay? This is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen you knocked out of the sky by a C-list supervillain.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Zack said, with all the confidence he could muster, before deciding to take another tack. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re not the only one getting old.¡±


    This time Dirk Saber chuckled. ¡°Speak for yourself.¡±


    Zack sighed, but he kept it away from the voice modulator, hopefully keeping it somewhat inaudible. His shoulder now felt more wet than cold. The ice attack must have melted away, but now his arm was drenched in water, which couldn¡¯t have been great for the inner workings of the suit.


    ¡°What was in the safe that this villain wanted so bad?¡± he asked Dirk Saber, even though he knew there was likely nothing Icer had been after. After all, he had been the one to put Icer up to this attack. He was just making conversation, and keeping this investigation going.


    ¡°That¡¯s the strange part. I keep a few passports there in case I need to split for superhero business overseas,¡± Dirk Saber said. ¡°Nothing of value save for some petty cash.¡±


    ¡°And when you say petty cash you mean¡­¡± Zack wondered.


    He knew plenty of superheroes who considered a few million dollars to be well within ¡°petty cash¡±.


    ¡°Barely five hundred dollars, if that,¡± Dirk replied.


    Zack whistled.


    ¡°We can¡¯t all be business owners,¡± Dirk shot back. ¡°Some of us have to slave in the classroom for a living.¡±


    It was an odd attack. Zane¡¯s garage business always kept him busy. No health insurance plus one kid and a superhero life to support meant Zane was rarely if ever racking in the dough.


    ¡°Want to trade?¡± Zack asked.


    Dirk regarded him for a moment. ¡°This place must really be growing on you, huh?¡±


    Zack grimaced a bit. Dad must be rolling in his grave at the thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m just tired of going under cars,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Dirk said. ¡°You¡¯ll keep me posted if your investigation turns up anything else.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Zack said.


    They shook hands, with Dirk heading inside.


    Zack starred off the rooftop. He really hoped he had enough spare power to get back to his apartment. He jumped off the rooftop, unsure how this was going to go. He briefly did the math about what would happen if his rocket boosters failed and he plummeted to the ground. He judged the impact would probably be survivable within the suit, if only just barely.


    Fortunately, the rocket boosters kicked in as he soared into the sky, instead of coming close to crashing to the ground¡­again.


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    As he made his way back to his apartment, Zack considered what, if anything, he had learned from this outing.


    Was Dirk still his prime suspect?


    On one hand, he had seen him draw Omegium blades on Icer. He definitely could take his Dad in a fight if he wanted to. Then again, plenty of heroes could have taken Zane in a fight if they wanted to. It¡¯s just none of them wielding Omegium blades with as much skill or ferocity as Dirk Saber.


    But on the other hand, Dirk hadn¡¯t seemed particularly bothered by Knightbrand¡¯s presence. At no point did he let slide any information that could help him in his investigation. All and all, the entire exercise seemed like a waste.


    Also, his hand felt really gross now. Icer¡¯s attack, whatever has done, had left it coated in cold coolant. He felt like he needed to run it under hot water for fifteen minutes to get any feeling back in his fingers.


    ***


    Zack returned to his apartment. He had stowed away most of the armor to its hidden location, save for the detached right shoulder piece. He struggled to get a grip of the armor as he futilely attempted repairs.


    In the dead of night, Zack moved into his apartment with a massive armored piece slung over his shoulder. He really hoped none of his neighbors noticed.


    He laid out the armor on his kitchen table. It didn¡¯t look damaged. It just looked wet.


    Problem was, the alarms started sounding the moment he turned it on.


    Zack immediately shut the piece off before it woke up his neighbors.


    In the past, he had only ever been tasked with routine repairs of his Dad¡¯s armor. He had never done anything this major. He would need this up and running before he used the suit again.


    He felt frustrated. He felt out of options. He felt cold, and he immediately knew what would come next.


    ¡°Your Pops like you messing with his armor like that?¡± Zack heard the rough voice over his shoulder. He turned to see Icer leaning on the entrance to the kitchen, a beer in his hand. Thankfully, it was not his.


    ¡°Yeah, just as much as he likes getting shot by freezing ice blasts,¡± Zack said, turning to face him.


    ¡°Hey, your old man didn¡¯t leave me much choice,¡± Icer shrugged. ¡°Dirk Saber is one of the best. He had me dead to rights.¡±


    Zack couldn¡¯t argue with Icer there. Though the supervillain had put up quite a fight, Dirk had come very close to taking him down.


    Icer leaned in closer. ¡°And¡­for the record¡­I don¡¯t think you¡¯d like what I had to say if Saber did take me in.¡±


    ¡°So you thought the best course of action was taking a shot at¡­my dad,¡± Zack said, catching himself before he said something that might have given him away.


    ¡°It¡¯s the oldest trick in the supervillain book,¡± Icer shrugged, crossing his hands as he chucked his beer into the wastebasket. ¡°You wanna get away? Endanger someone. You supes get off on that saving lives shit.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty ruthless,¡± Zack said. ¡°Not to mention cynical.¡±


    ¡°Relax,¡± Icer said. ¡°No one got hurt.¡±


    Zack watched as Icer casually worked to the fridge, opened the door, and then grabbed a plastic bottle of water


    Of course he didn¡¯t ask for one. He¡¯s a supervillain after all.


    ¡°My Dad-¡± Zack started


    ¡°Is a pro. He¡¯s been doing this a long longer than the two of us,¡± Icer said. Zack started to question this. He didn¡¯t really know exactly how old Icer was. In fact, aside from seeing Icer¡¯s mouth as he chugged bottled water, he really didn¡¯t know what Icer looked like beneath the mask.


    Icer turned and started to walk away.


    ¡°But, if he doesn¡¯t like my methods, he can always give me an audience,¡± Icer said. ¡°And I¡¯ll be out of his - and your - hair.¡±


    ¡°Or he could just drop you back in a supermax prison,¡± Zack said.


    Icer chuckled. ¡°He could, but that brings us back to me telling the authorities what I know about your activities here.¡±


    He met Zack¡¯s gaze. ¡°From what I¡¯m seeing, you guys are a rogue operation. Until you have evidence of whatever illicit activity you¡¯re searching for, you¡¯re in the same boat as me.¡±


    When Zack looked up again, Icer was gone. The warmth returned to the air.


    Icer was right. He had gone rogue. And that was the problem. Until he had concrete information linking Dirk Saber to his father¡¯s murder, he was vulnerable. If Icer found it his secret, his investigation was over. If Weave or Shaw found out, he was screwed.


    If Rachel found out¡­


    Zack couldn¡¯t think about that right now.


    Zack was just about to go back to fiddling with his armor when his phone rang. He didn¡¯t recognize the number, but so few people even had his number. Ultimately his curiosity got the better of him.


    He was surprised to hear Rachel¡¯s soft voice on the other end.


    ¡°Mr. Kestler, Professor Saber would like to see you in his office at eight a.m. sharp tomorrow.,¡± she said.


    ¡°Rachel? What¡¯s this about?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Will that time work for you? Professor Saber does have other appointments,¡± she said, her voice cold and formal.


    ¡°Yeah, that will work,¡± Zack said. ¡°Can we talk-¡±


    The phone went dead, leaving Zack with more questions than answers.

 Issue #19: Super-Powered After All?

    Zack could hardly sleep that night. Questions raised his anxieties, and what he did know only served to trigger him all the more. Why would Saber call him so soon after Icer¡¯s attempted break-in to his office? How much did he know?


    Had Zack underestimated Saber? Had he put all of it together? Could he have gathered somehow that it was Zack in the Knightbrand suit the night before? He certainly moved differently than his father. What if Saber picked up on it during their first fight, reading his body language like a book, and then saw it all over again when Knightbrand turned up to assist in pursuing Icer?


    Zack tossed and turned that night as every possibility of what waited at 8 o¡¯clock the next morning. Every noise caused him to sit up straight in bed, wondering if campus security would come to haul him away. Super-fraud was illegal in most states, and even if his situation wasn¡¯t so cut and dry - he had taken his father¡¯s mantle after he passed - he doubted a judge would see it that way.


    After a couple more restless hours, morning passed. Zack got dressed, shaved and showered. He made his way to Saber¡¯s office. There, he found Rachel waiting for him. She was wearing a white linen blouse alongside a black skirt which showcased her long, trim legs. She sorted through papers, and never once did she look his way.


    ¡°He¡¯s waiting for you in his office,¡± she said.


    ¡°You know what this is about?¡± he asked.


    ¡°He said it¡¯s confidential,¡± Rachel said without looking up.


    Confidential.


    The word made his heart race. Would he open the door to see several officers waiting for him? Perhaps Saber, knowing what he did, was going through official channels, and would notify him of an hearing or inquiry being placed against him.


    Either way, Zack knew whatever waited for him on the other side of the door, it wasn¡¯t good.


    He turned to Rachel.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rachel. For everything. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you. I just got¡­caught up in my own drama,¡± he said. ¡°I really am sorry.¡±


    He didn¡¯t turn to see if she looked at him. Instead, he opened the door and walked inside.


    Dirk Saber was sitting at his desk. The office was considerably sparser than Zack anticipated. There were no trophies and barely any picture frames on the wall. Just a few books, a few magazines, and a lamp in the corner to provide light. Dirk motioned for Zack to take a seat


    ¡°Mr. Kestler,¡± Saber said. ¡°Can I call you Zack¡­?¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°I guess.¡±


    ¡°Zack,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll bet you¡¯re curious why I called you here.¡±


    Zack shrugged. ¡°I figured it had something to do with our fight. Look, I¡¯m sorry if I upset you-¡±


    Dirk put up a hand. ¡°It does have to do with that, in a roundabout way.¡±


    Body language. He must have picked up on my body language. What else could this be about?


    Dirk nodded to Zack, as if picking up on his own anxiety.


    ¡°You¡¯re not in any trouble,¡± Dirk said.


    Those five words brought relief flooding throughout Zack¡¯s insides. But it also begged the question¡­what was this about?


    Dirk clasped his hand together as if he were about to pray.


    ¡°Zack, what do you know about your parentage?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Ummm, I think my dad says I¡¯m mostly German, with a little Swedish maybe?¡± Zack said with some uncertainty.


    Dirk chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s not quite what I meant.¡±


    Zack looked at him, confused.


    ¡°Your mother-¡± Dirk started.


    ¡°Is not in the picture,¡± Zack said.


    His mother was a sore subject for him. Dad never mentioned her much, said it was someone he knew when he was just getting started as a superhero. However, she was, she never stuck around.


    ¡°I understand but¡­¡± Dirk said. ¡°Would you be able to contact her if you needed to?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her since I was a kid,¡± Zack said.


    Dirk, for his part, seemed to squirm uncomfortably.


    ¡°Would you dad know?¡± Dirk said. ¡°I just saw him last night. Could he get in touch with her?¡±


    Yeah, that¡¯s not happening.


    ¡°He and I aren¡¯t on speaking terms,¡± Zack said.


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    I mean, he¡¯s not on speaking terms with anyone, since he¡¯s dead.


    Dirk leaned on the desk. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that. But I think it might be prudent to talk to him about getting in touch with your mother.¡±


    ¡°Look, what¡¯s this about?¡± Zack said.


    He didn¡¯t like being questioned about his mother. His father wasn¡¯t perfect, but he was the one that stayed. His mother didn¡¯t. He had pictures of her, and that was it aside from one birthday card when he was ten. Everything else was radio silent. Why was Dirk Saber so interested in that?


    ¡°Did I miss something? Did you add Family Counselor to your resume while I wasn¡¯t looking?¡± Zack burst out.


    Dirk rested his head on his hand and sighed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not handling this right. This conversation is all out of order,¡± he said.


    ¡°This conversation?¡± Zack raised his voice. ¡°There¡¯s a right way to have this conversation.¡±


    Dirk Saber leaned back on his chair. He briefly looked out the window before turning back to Zack.


    ¡°I¡¯m not usually the one who has this conversation,¡± Dirk said. ¡°Usually someone else has it. Someone more qualified than me.¡±


    Oh no.


    Zack¡¯s blood pressure began to rise once more.


    I¡¯m getting expelled.


    But that didn¡¯t make sense. Dirk Saber said he wasn¡¯t in any trouble. So just what was he dancing around?


    What was all of this about?¡±


    ¡°Can we just cut to the chase?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to get there,¡± Dirk said. ¡°I guess I was trying to work up there.¡±


    ¡°Most people manifest in puberty,¡± Dirk continued. ¡°But there¡¯s always exceptions. You¡¯re one of them. I think. A late bloomer. Or it¡¯s possible you manifested before and simply didn¡¯t notice before then.¡±


    ¡°Notice what?¡± Zack was starting to grow more agitated as the conversation continued.


    ¡°Zack¡­I think you have superpowers,¡± Dirk said.


    Zack made a dismissive wave of his hand.


    ¡°No way. Sorry, prof, but I¡¯m one of the al naturel heroes,¡± he said.


    ¡°I know it seemed like that,¡± Dirk said. ¡°Given who your father is, but I ran some tests and I think your powers are more subtle than anyone initially suspected.¡±


    Zirk¡¯s nostrils flared. ¡°You ran some test . . . on me?¡±


    ¡°You provide genetic material as part of entrance intake,¡± Dirk said, pulling out a manilla folder from beneath the desk. He held his hand in the air above the manilla folder. ¡°This is standard operation procedure.¡±


    ¡°Running secret tests on students is standard operating procedure?¡± Zack started to get up from his chair. He¡¯d heard enough of this crap.


    ¡°Zack, wait!¡± Dirk said.


    Zack was almost out of his chair, when Dirk reached for him.


    ¡°You blocked me,¡± he said. ¡°You want to know what this is about? You blocked me.¡±


    Zack started to sit down again, but only so much in case he needed to make a fast exit.


    ¡°I got lucky,¡± Zack shrugged.


    ¡°Everyone gets lucky during a fight. A couple students even get a couple solid hits on me from time to time,¡± Dirk said. ¡°You blocked me three times.¡±


    Dirk leaned forward. ¡°Do you know what muscle memory is?¡±


    Zack shrugged. ¡°I guess. You do something so much it¡¯s kinda ingrained in you and you just¡­do it without thinking.


    ¡°I think you have enhanced muscle memory. Once you do it an action, it becomes ingrained far faster than regular humans, giving you an edge,¡± Dirk said. ¡°Or at least, that¡¯s my theory.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, I have another theory,¡± Zack said, meeting Dirk¡¯s gaze. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re slipping.¡±


    Dirk returned the grin. ¡°There¡¯s that famous Kestler ego again.¡±


    He leaned in further.


    ¡°But what if I could show you?¡± he asked.


    Zack gave him a questioning look.


    ¡°Show me how?¡±


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Dirk said.


    Zack followed Dirk into the office. Rachel gave them both a confused look. And this time, her expression towards Zack seemed worried.


    ¡°Rachel, cancel all my appointments for now,¡± he said.


    ¡°Will do,¡± Rachel said in an uncertain voice.


    Zack followed Dirk into the gymnasium. He watched as Dirk slid off his jacket and then unbuttoned the two cuffs on his wrist. He grabbed a long wooden


    javelin from a nearby bucket.


    Zack watched as Dirk wheeled back with his javelin roughly parallel to his shoulders. In one graceful movement, he guided the javelin over his shoulders. It left his hand, slamming into a bullseye on the other side of the room.


    ¡°Do that,¡± Dirk told him.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Try,¡± Dirk said. Zack shrugged. He grabbed an identical javelin. Staring down at the bullseye, he thrust it into the air. It landed near the other side of the wall with a thud.


    ¡°See,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Not bad though, for a first try,¡± Dirk said


    ¡°I was a quarterback in high school,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Dirk said cryptically. ¡°Try again. Try to replicate my movements.¡±


    He modeled his movements before him once more.


    Zack grabbed another javelin and chucked in towards the target. This time it slammed into the target, albeit several inches from the bullseye, in the upper right-hand corner.


    ¡°Good,¡± Dirk said.


    ¡°None of this seems remotely supernatural,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°That''s why your powers went unnoticed for long. They''re more subtle,¡± Dirk said. ¡°Try again.¡±


    Zack did as Dirk requested. He grabbed a javelin and thrust the long spear directly into the bullseye.


    ¡°That¡¯s gotta be luck,¡± Zack said.


    "Again," Dirk commanded.


    Zack tried again. Another bullseye.


    ¡°Again,¡± Dirk said.


    Zack obeyed. His javelin hit the bullseye.


    "You know how much training it does to get that kind of accuracy?¡± Dirk said. ¡°You¡¯re already at a college level in less than ten minutes of work. In less


    than a week, you could be a pro. In a month, you could probably go Olympic.¡±


    ¡°Guess I¡¯m in the wrong line of work,¡± Zack said, still looking at the line of bullseyes.


    ¡°Unfortunately for you, they test for superpowers at the Olympics and all other major sports,¡± Dirk said.


    ¡°But this doesn¡¯t make sense¡­I worked for what I got,¡± Zack turned to Dirk. ¡°I worked hard to get that quarterback position on JVC.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying you didn¡¯t,¡± Dirk said, laying a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Maybe your powers were activated.¡±


    Dirk gazed at the line of bullseye.


    ¡°Or maybe you just had a few extra advantages you didn¡¯t know about.¡±


    Zack¡¯s mind was reeling. All his life he wanted to be like his Dad. A hard worker. Pull himself up by his bootstraps. He thought he had made it on his own.


    Was that all a lie?


    ¡°I¡­I need to go,¡± he said. ¡°I need to think.¡±


    ¡°I understand, but please, if you need to talk to someone, you can talk-¡± Dirk started.


    "Thanks, Professor I will,¡± Zack said. He barely noticed when he almost collided with Rachel on the way out.


    He barely noticed her at all. He barely noticed anything at all.

 Issue #20: Check-Up

    Twelve hours, anxiety consumed Zack over his impending meeting with Dirk Saber. He expected campus security or perhaps even costumed heroes to escort him off the premises, if not into jail altogether.


    Now, five minutes after he left the meeting, he would have much preferred jail to this.


    He couldn¡¯t have superpowers.


    Maybe it was a ploy. Maybe Dirk Saber knew Zack was onto him, so he cobbled together this bogus blood test to knock him off-balance.


    The problem was, if that was the case, it was definitely working.


    MIllions of tiny unanswered questions rang throughout Zack¡¯s mind. If it was true, had his dad known? And if his dad had known, why hadn¡¯t he told him? How could he have let him go through life without knowing he had superpowers?


    His entire high school career as a quarterback, and on top of it, all of his time as a sidekick.


    Was it all a lie?


    Zack had listened to his father time and time again remark about how he was handed nothing in this life. Everything he had in this world he had earned through blood, sweat and tears. Zane Kelster was the master of his own destiny, and Zack wanted nothing more than anything to be like him.


    Was that even possible now?


    Everything he accomplished in his life had come from some genetic quirk. And what of his mother¡¯s role in all of this? Is that where he got his powers from? Who was she?


    As Zack tore through the Promenade at frightening speed, he moved past several college students, some of whom leapt out of the way. His face had turned into a sneer as he tried to comprehend this information. Was it all a ploy?


    Or did he truly have powers?


    There was one way to find out. Zack knew exactly who to ask.


    He moved to the dorms. He knocked on the door. Fortunately, the access he¡¯s gotten from Weave included a directory for the dorm numbers of all the students.


    Perry Adams had microscopic vision. He could confirm if he indeed had superpowers. In high school, he was already beholding the genetic structures of lab mice. Confirming his superpowers should be cake.


    The door opened, revealing someone who was decidedly not Perry. Instead, Blake¡¯s long blonde hair tumbled down to her shoulders. She wore a white sleeveless shirt and workout pants. Her expression was neutral when she saw him, which Zack decided was probably an improvement.


    ¡°Is Perry around?¡± he asked.


    Blake regarded him for a second or two, and then held the door wide open.


    ¡°He had class, but he should be back any minute,¡± Blake said. ¡°He¡¯s most likely driving the professor crazy with some weird hypothesis.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like Perry,¡± he said as he entered the dorm.


    ¡°Make yourself at home,¡± Blake said. Perry¡¯s dorm was small, with books cluttered everywhere. Most of them were textbooks, but Perry was surprised to see a lot of fiction books - mostly on the subject of superheroes - scattered throughout the place.


    As near as Zack could tell, Perry¡¯s dorm was a single, which was in pretty high demand. Zack didn¡¯t try to flex his dad¡¯s name to land a single - he figured that would put too much attention on him. Somehow, by virtue of his personality or his academic performance, Perry had landed on just fine.


    It was still small, even for a dorm, but Perry clearly didn¡¯t need much space. He only needed space for books, a bed and a small mini-fridge. A laptop plugged into the nearby wall. Zack didn¡¯t even see any signs of a TV.


    Blake was reading on an equally tiny kitchen table. Her left hand contained a smartphone, which unsurprisingly consumed most of her attention. Zack studied the blonde girl, completely transfixed by the phone in her hand. Zack didn¡¯t want to be rude.


    Then again, maybe rudeness was his best bet. Perry was his friend, but he could be helplessly naive sometimes. He didn¡¯t want to see Perry get hurt.


    ¡°What¡¯s your deal?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Blake said without looking up from her phone.


    ¡°Why are you with Perry?¡± he asked.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    This time she did look up.


    ¡°Do you even have to ask? I thought you were friends,¡± she said, taken back. ¡°He¡¯s brilliant, kind and you should see the things he can do in-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Zack said, blushing. ¡°I mean, he¡¯s clearly out of your league.¡±


    Blake went back to her phone. ¡°Well, on that part at least, we agree.¡±


    Uncomfortable silence lay over the dorm for several minutes. Zack had clearly pushed some buttons, but he hadn¡¯t gone far enough. Not yet.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want Perry to get hurt,¡± he said.


    Zack knew he had gone too far.


    When Blake met his eyes, her blue eyes were as clear as a swimming pool. Seconds later, a blast of sparks erupted from her phone.


    ¡°Dammit!¡± she said, tossing her smoldering smartphone away in her frustration. She locked eyes with Zack.


    ¡°Hurt him?¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m not the one who hurt him.¡±


    She stood up from her seat. ¡°I may have been a mess. I had these powers I still can¡¯t use without frying any electronics within a ten feet radius. I was a freakshow.¡±


    Blake¡¯s glare only intensified. ¡°But that was nothing compared to Perry. He was a wreck. He wouldn¡¯t talk to anyone. He would barely eat. He was a no-show in most of his classes.¡±


    Blake drew closer to Zack, who squirmed in his seat uncomfortably.


    ¡°All because you left him. You were his best friend and you left him, without one word. He seriously thought you were dead or worse,¡± Blake said. ¡°But then you weren¡¯t dead, were you? And that made it all the worse, but how little can you mean from someone¡¯s life if you just up and vanish like that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not¡­it was complicated,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me your excuses. I don¡¯t care for you. I care about Perry. And don¡¯t judge me,¡± Blake said. Her eyes returned to their normal blue. ¡°Not when you¡¯re clearly are in no position to do so.¡±


    The door opened, and an exasperated Perry entered, noting its two occupants.


    ¡°Oh good, you¡¯re here, Zack,¡± Perry said. ¡°And you¡¯re just hanging out with my girlfriend¡­that¡¯s cool¡­nothing weird about that at all.¡±


    Zack couldn¡¯t tell if Perry actually thought it was good, and was just trying to make conversation. Perry noted the now-smoking phone on the couch.


    ¡°Oh, Blake, not again,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°I have to go,¡± Blake said.


    She kissed Perry on the girlfriend, before giving Zack a cold side-eye before grabbing her jacket and leaving the dorm altogether.


    ¡°She seems . . . nice,¡± Zack said, trying to salvage the afternoon.


    ¡°Yeah, she is,¡± Perry said, before turning to him. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Perry¡­I have to ask you a weird question, and I just need your honest assessment,¡± Zack said.


    Perry gave him a questioning look. ¡°...okay.¡±


    ¡°Do I have superpowers?¡± Zack asked.


    Perry searched his face for a while and then spoke.


    ¡°Well, obviously,¡± Perry said. ¡°Some sort of enhanced muscular recall.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t know it was the answer he wanted to hear or not, but it was an answer nonetheless.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Perry asked.


    Zack didn¡¯t react.


    ¡°Thanks. I just¡­needed a second opinion,¡± Zack said. ¡°I should go.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± Perry said and Zack stopped before he left.


    ¡°Yeah. I just¡­Dad never mentioned it,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Your powers?¡± Perry looked confused. ¡°I mean, you were a superhero. I just figured¡­you knew you had them.¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t,¡± Zack said. ¡°I always thought I just had raw, natural talent.¡±


    Perry pondered this.


    ¡°I mean, you still do. It¡¯s just a different kind of raw and natural,¡± Perry replied. Zack shrugged.


    ¡°I guess,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Perry said.


    No, Zack thought. But that¡¯s not really a problem.


    Because I haven¡¯t been okay in a long time.


    ¡°I should go,¡± Zack said, but then stopped.


    He remembered the Knightbrand armor, damaged from Icer¡¯s foolhardy attack, still sitting somewhere in his apartment.


    ¡°I need your help on something else,¡± Zack said. ¡°It¡¯s at my apartment.¡±


    Perry looked a bit guilty. ¡°I wish I could, but I have class in thirty minutes, and then Blake and I have plans.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°It¡¯s cool. Another time.¡±


    He started to leave, but Perry reached for him.


    ¡°It was good to see you, man.¡±


    Zack stopped. He thought about this for longer than he should and then he gave a weak smile.


    ¡°You too. Blake is awesome. You¡¯re lucky man,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°She scares me sometimes,¡± Perry said with a funny laugh, the same kind he did in high school. Zack chuckled.


    Zack left the dorm and walked back into the Promenade. He felt his hairs stand on end the moment he entered the Promenade. He wasn¡¯t cold, so he knew it wasn¡¯t from Icer, but something seemed off.


    He turned down a nearby alley between two nearby buildings. He figured he could at least fight his pursuers off head-on.


    That¡¯s when something dark fell over his face and everything went black.

 Issue #21: Initiation

    The musty odor lingered in the air when the hood was pulled off and light blasted into Zack¡¯s eyes. Zack instinctively clenched his fists into tight balls but one grabbed his hand while eyes finally adjusted to the intense light. As soon as he could see, he could fight out of this place. He could summon the Knightbrand armor - assuming it still worked. But someone was holding him down, stopping him from striking.


    ¡°Okay, pledges, welcome to the show!¡± Zack heard a familiar voice.


    Kaine.


    The hood was removed. Zack was kneeling on a hardwood floor. He was in a row of other students in similar positions, freshmen like him, judging by their awkward mannerisms and youthful expressions. Zack turned to see Scott by his side, holding his arm preventing him from fighting back. He flashed his eyes at him, and shook his head.


    Kaine stood in the center of the room wearing an Innshadow U hoodie and gym pants, flanked by No-Neck One and No-Neck Two from the party several nights ago. Zack scanned the room, recognizing it as the former library Scott had told him about. They were all kneeling in the party room, and Zack could tell by the stickiness of the floor it hadn¡¯t yet been cleaned. He hoped whatever sticky stuff he was kneeling in was simply spilled liquor and not anything else.


    ¡°Welcome, welcome, one and all to the Sigma Alpha¡¯s Candidacy program,¡± Kaine said. ¡°You¡¯re here because someone thinks you have potential to be one of us. But just who are we?¡±


    Zack spotted shifting in the upper level above Kaine. A lone figure watched the proceeding from somewhere in the shadows.


    Max.


    Was he waiting to see how he reacted? Was this all his game¡­or Kaine¡¯s?


    ¡°Attention!¡± No-Neck One or Two barked from behind Kaine, interrupting his musing.


    ¡°We are Sigma Alpha. We are the future of the campus,¡± Kaine said. ¡°As well as its forgotten past.¡±


    He began to pace around the room.


    ¡°Jeremiah Innshadow built this campus on the backs of hardened men. It was those same men who tamed the wilderness. Fought the bad guys. Won the wars,¡± Kaine puffed on his men. ¡°And what happened to those men? They were pushed aside, replaced by the stuffy shifts who run the show.¡±


    Zack had to admit, he liked Kaine¡¯s sales pitch. It¡¯s too bad the guy was a jackass.


    ¡°There was a time where men could be men, but those days are over. Now the weak have taken over,¡± Kaine said. ¡°The inmates are running the asylum.¡±


    ¡°Sigma Alpha is the last, best and only line of defense left,¡± Kaine said.


    By then, Scott had let go of Zack¡¯s hand. Zack began to clap in a steady, slow manner. He could already see Kaine¡¯s eyes narrowing at him, a vein already emerging from his thick neck.


    ¡°Sign me up,¡± Zack smirked. ¡°Maybe send me an e-mail, or better yet, a Facebook invite and we¡¯ll call it a day.¡±


    He felt Kaine¡¯s eyes drilling into him, but Kaine himself remained cool as a cucumber. He continued his speel.


    ¡°Not so fast,¡± Kaine said. ¡°You all are pledges. You have to prove yourself worthy. After all, only the strongest survive.¡±


    ¡°As you can tell, the room has not been cleaned since this week¡¯s mixer,¡± he said. ¡°You want in? You need to clean it. With these.¡±


    Kaine dropped several small sticks right in front of Zack. When Zack looked down, he realized they were toothbrushes.


    ¡°When I was in the Marines, we had to clean the barracks with these. I trust it won¡¯t be too hard for a couple of future heroes,¡± Kaine said. ¡°We have no trouble.¡±


    ¡°Of course, that was before they kicked me out. The military doesn¡¯t want real men anymore,¡± Kaine said. ¡°They¡¯ll even settle for fake men.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Sigma Alpha is different,¡± Kaine said. ¡°Prove yourself here and the future is yours.¡±


    Kaine looked at Scott. ¡°Senior Pledge Scott here will supervise your progress. He¡¯ll let us know of any issues. Better get started.¡±


    Kaine chuckled and left, with both of his bodyguards at his side. The other pledges grabbed the toothbrushes. Reluctantly Zack did just as soon as Scott did.


    One of the No-Necks hauled in a bucket of water. Zack couldn¡¯t see Max observing from the other levels.


    For the first half hour or so, Zack worked in silence. Scott also grabbed a toothbrush, but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    Finally, Zack broke the silence. ¡°Senior Pledge Scott? What¡¯s that about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m working up through the ranks,¡± he said.


    ¡°Seriously? So if I¡¯m¡­what? Pledge First Class Zack?¡± he replied.


    ¡°Sigma Alpha is extremely exclusive. There¡¯s only so many spots,¡± Scott said. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to even get nominated. I didn¡¯t even get picked for six months.¡±


    ¡°Scott, this is a fraternity, not the freaking Illuminati,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Beautiful, beautiful,¡± boomed Kaine¡¯s voice as he entered the room again. ¡°I love the smell of Pinesol in the morning. Smells like victory.¡±


    ¡°It looks like they missed a spot, Kaine,¡± one of the No-Necks said, indicating the bucket of water. Kaine nodded, and with one swift kick, knocked the bucket of water over, spilling the contents of all the pledges¡¯ hard work onto the floor.¡±


    ¡°In fairness, I never said you could use the bucket. You should have listened to instructions better,¡± Kaine said.


    That was the last straw. Zack stood up. He didn¡¯t need this crap. He had come here to find his father¡¯s killer, not deal with petty crap from a wannabe drill instructor.


    ¡°Actually, you should have specified. Feels like it¡¯s on you,¡± Zack said. No-Neck One and Two started closing in on him. Kaine called them back before walking over with his arms crossed.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like it? You know where the door is,¡± Kaine said.


    ¡°No, I want in,¡± Zack said.


    That part wasn¡¯t exactly true. Unlike Scott, he had no connection to this place. He didn¡¯t need any of the perks a fraternity could provide.


    All he wanted was access to Max, the only connection to his father on campus. He knew Max was watching from up high. Apparently, he was still testing him, seeing how he¡¯d react. Forcing a confrontation seemed like the best bet. He¡¯d already taken Kaine in a fight, and he was pretty sure he could take both No-Neck One and Two, especially if Scott was backing him up.


    ¡°Sure I can¡¯t have a consolation prize,¡± Zack smirked.


    ¡°The only participation trophy we give out is a body bag,¡± No Neck One said.


    ¡°With you in it!¡± his buddy puffed up his chest. Zack let out a laugh.


    ¡°Not the best threat I¡¯ve heard,¡± Zack said. ¡°But A for the synchronized delivery. Did you two practice that?¡±


    The two snarled at him in unison, but Kaine stepped forward, shushing his two lap-dogs with a raised hand.


    ¡°You should treat us with a little more respect. There¡¯s no cameras in here,¡± Kaine said.


    ¡°You think I need cameras? Maybe I hit you harder than I thought,¡± Zack said. ¡°Remember how last night turned out.¡±


    If Zack¡¯s intimidation display did anything, Kaine didn¡¯t show it.


    ¡°So it seems you and I are at an impasse,¡± Kaine shrugged. ¡°So what exactly do you want?¡±


    ¡°I want to cut through all the red tape. I proved myself when I kicked your ass,¡± Zack said as he neared Kaine¡¯s face. ¡°Now I want in.¡±


    Kaine scratched his rough face. ¡°I think I have just the thing.¡±


    ***


    Five minutes later, Zack stood on the roof of the Alpha House. It was flatter and more modern than the sloped architecture of the former library. Thankfully, Zack was provided with a mop and bucket this time.


    ¡°You want to expedite things?¡± Kaine said. ¡°Clean the roof.¡±


    ¡°And I can actually use the bucket? None of your goons are going to knock it over fifteen minutes in?¡± Zack said.


    Kaine did his best to look hurt. It was unconvincing to say the least. ¡°I won¡¯t even touch it.¡±


    ¡°And after I clean the roof, I¡¯m in. No Senior or Junior Pledge nonsense,¡± Zack said.


    Kaine nodded. ¡°You clean all the bird poop off, you¡¯re in, simple as that.¡±


    Kaine left soon after via the fire escape.


    Simple as that.


    Zack knew Kaine had a trick up his sleeve. This was too easy. Still, he didn¡¯t let it get to him. He grabbed the mop, soaking it in the water. He drew out the mop and began to clean the roof.


    The first raindrop hit him five minutes later.


    Then another.


    Soon a deluge of rain fell onto Zack, shivering him to the bone. He couldn¡¯t see five feet in front of him.


    He had walked right into Kaine¡¯s trap.

 Issue #22: When It Rains . . .

    In the middle of the rainstorm, Zack knew he had let his emotions get the better of him. He could have just played Kaine¡¯s game. After all, he had nothing to prove.


    No, Zack knew why he had been so quickly to employ such a foolhardy action. He wanted to show off to Max, the mysterious family friend he barely knew. He wanted his approval, so he responded like a petulant child.


    And been punished like one, so it seemed.


    He didn¡¯t even know why he bothered to play this stupid game. Scott wanted in this stupid frat, but Zack couldn''t care less. Max was just a friend of his father¡¯s, but they had little connection outside of that. Still, Zack knew he hungered for that connection - or any connection - that brought him back to his father. It served to ease the emptiness within himself, if only by a little. And if he wanted that connection, Zack would need to be part of the frat. It was the only way he could have access to Max. Which meant that he had to play Kaine''s stupid game.


    Which also meant he was stuck in the middle of a rainstorm trying to clean a roof. Thunder boomed in the distance. Zack saw a flash of lightning in the sky, even as his eyes struggled to adjust to the rain pouring into his eyes.


    While it had been a rainy season, Zack knew there wasn¡¯t a freaking thunderstorm in the forecast. Hell, it had been sunny just a few moments ago. That left him two possibilities. Either this was all in his head, or someone was summoning one. Given how Zack could smell the acrid smell of the rain drops as they pounded onto his skin, Zack was leaning towards the latter over the former, but ultimately, it didn¡¯t matter.


    Either way, Kaine was screwing with him. Zack should have known better than to call his bluff. Fortunately, Zack knew exactly what he needed to do. He was no longer on a clean-up mission.


    This little excursion had just become search-and-destroy.


    Zack should have seen it sooner. Why would Kaine have given him such an easy task? At first Zack thought Kaine only wanted to isolate him from the rest of the pledges, but now it was clear he wanted to make an example of him by giving him a Gordian knot.


    Or Gordian rainstorm as it were.


    Still had the same solution as the Gordian knot, as it were. Even now, Zack would have much rather written a term paper on the Gordian knot than live through it in the middle of a rainstorm, but beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers.


    Though thoroughly drenched, Zack wandered to the perimeter of the roof, even as the rain continued to pour on him. He reached his hands out to the edge of the roof, taking care not to fall. He reached his hand through the edge and felt the dryness and warmth of the summer sun.


    And most importantly, no rain.


    Okay, so, whoever is summoning this rainstorm has to be nearby.


    Granted, Zack wasn¡¯t overly familiar with weather-summoning supes. He guessed it was possible they were on the other side of campus, but he was betting that either the supe wasn¡¯t strong enough to carry out the summoning, or was sticking around to check out their handiwork.


    Zack scanned the Promenade below for signs of life. Since it was still relatively early, there weren¡¯t any students. He didn¡¯t even see fliers streaking through the sky this early. There was one person in the distance however.


    A rail-thin man stood in the middle of the promenade, wearing a trenchcoat, and trying awfully hard to look inconspicuous. He was failing on just about all accounts. He held his temple, massaging them as if he had the world¡¯s worst headache.


    That was probably his guy.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Whoever he was, he stood out like a sore thumb. The guy was looking up at him, but didn¡¯t seem to react when Zack approached the edge of the rooftop. Probably because he couldn¡¯t see much from the ground. All the man watching could see was the rainstorm pummeling the Alpha House¡¯s rooftop.


    I still have the element of surprise. Good.


    Zack wondered if he could just wait the guy out. He wandered around the rooftop, hands in pockets, even as the rain continued to pour on him like thousands of tiny needles. Zack soon realized the folly of his strategy. The guy was good. He could keep the rain coming for far longer than Zack could stay on the rooftop.


    Onto Plan B.


    He needed to reach out and touch somebody. Namely, a certain somebody who was waiting around on the ground and summoning a rainstorm on him.


    Zack looked around the rooftop for something that could accomplish the task. Unfortunately, the rain was falling so hard he couldn¡¯t see much in his immediate surroundings. He returned to the mop and bucket of water.


    I guess this will have to do.


    The raging rainstorm and booming thunderstorm made it hard for Zack to work, but eventually he was able to unscrew the mop¡¯s squishy and wet tendrils from the handle altogether. Setting the mop top in the water, Zack brandished the handle like a stick and walked back to the edge of the rooftop.


    Mr. Temples was still there, still massaging the side of his forehead as if deep in concentration. Zack honestly couldn¡¯t believe campus security hadn¡¯t approached him and asked what the hell he was doing.


    Zack considered waiting to see if campus security would find the guy first. He thought about calling them directly and ratting the guy out, but thought twice against it. First off, Zack wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to risk operating a smartphone in the middle of a rainstorm, lightning and all. And secondly, even if his smartphone still worked in the pouring ring, he doubted anyone on the other end would be able to hear him.


    It looked like he was back to the Gordian option.


    Gripping the handle in his hand like a spear, Zack did his best to remember the lessons from Dirk Saber the day earlier. Zack closed his eyes and assumed a meditation pose as he blocked out the raging sound of the raindrops all around him. Then he pushed his right out and dropped the other back like an Olympic runner, only this time he raised the stick above his hand like a spear, keeping it parallel with his shoulder.


    He locked eyes with the man below, still clutching his temples with his fingers as he continued to summon the rainstorm. The man didn¡¯t see him. His attention was still too consumed making sure the raindrops kept coming at a pounding rate.


    His mistake.


    Zack raised the stick back across his shoulder while still keeping it roughly parallel. Then he pushed it through the air until it left his hands. He watched the stick soar downward through the air. It struck the man in the center of his stomach. It might have broken a rib, though the man''s coat probably offered him some protection. The man¡¯s eyes widened with surprise as he lunched over. His trenchcoat spread in every direction as the man toppled onto the lawn, writhing in paint.


    As if on cue, the rain stopped. The sun emerged from the clouds and beat down on Zack. It felt good, as Zack no doubt needed to dry off after enduring the rainstorm for the past five minutes. Zack put his hands on his hips as he scanned the puddles left on the rooftop. Fortunately, the rain has "cleaned" the roof for him. The sun would do the rest, but he didn''t want to risk Kaine''s pal on the ground recovering and starting this whole business over again. So he started to mop up the puddles on the roof, just to be safe.


    The downside of his strategy was it left him without the mop handle. Thus, he had to get down on his hands and knees, using the mop top as a makeshift wash rag to clean the rooftop. It was hard work - but not as hard as in the middle of a rainstorm.


    Zack dug in and started to get to work. This might be just the most relaxing part of his time at Innshadow U.


    Once the September sun returned, Zack had no issue cleaning, even if it meant getting on his hands and knees. Still, Zack did have to accept there were a few advantages to the situation. He didn¡¯t have his cell phone, so no one could bother him. He didn¡¯t have to worry about Icer creeping up on him at the apartment.


    He didn¡¯t even have to worry about Dirk Saber telling him about superpowers he never knew he had. All he had to do was clean the roof. Zack was already wondering if he should throw in the towel on this superhero thing and became a full-time janitor full time. The pay was better, and it likely didn¡¯t involve supervillains trying to kill him.


    With that in mind, Zack continued to scrub his broken mop head across the roof as he finally had more than a few moments to himself.

 Issue #23: Nepo Baby

    Scott couldn¡¯t believe Zack¡¯s nerves. He just got here and already he demanded special treatment. But what Zack wanted, Zack got. It was a pattern Scott was getting very used to.


    Scott remembered his favorite hero: Knightbrand. He just looked cool. Dozens of toy companies trotted out unlicensed versions of the hero, and Scott collected them all. After Zach moved to the suburbs, Scott even got a chance to meet his idol in person whenever he came over.


    In person, Knightbrand - Zane - was quiet and aloof. That didn¡¯t bother Scott, despite all his dopey starstruck demeanor. Zane was a busy guy, after all. And he was concerned with saving the world after all.


    Zack, on the other hand, was only concerned about one thing since the day they met.


    Himself.


    He remembered back in high school, he had such a crush on Rachel Ducane, but he was afraid to talk to her. It didn¡¯t help that her dad was a cop and an ex-hero to boot - talk about intimidating. Scott was so nervous he got Zack to invite her to the first meeting of Sideclique. The whole thing - from the team to the name - was his idea in the first place. He remembered their first meeting, when Rachel Ducane walked into the local library wearing a fitted purple sweater and tight black pants. His heart skipped a beat then, only to watch as she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Zack.


    The rest was history. Zack Kestler always got what he wanted.


    He watched as Zack left with Kaine and the others to parts unknown, to expedite his pledging process. Would Zack succeed? Probably not. Kaine was a jackass, having long since excelled in the art of sadism, a trait he picked up long before the Marines, as he was very fond of reminding the pledges.


    So it came as no surprise to Scott when Kaine popped back into the room a few seconds later. His teleportation made it hard to ever truly relax in Alpha House. Scott never knew where Kaine was, or where he would soon be. It made the mood of Alpha House incredibly unnerving. Even the members, with actual seniority, constantly looked over their shoulder for any signs of Kaine.


    After all, you never knew when he would pop in for a truly uncomfortable chat. It didn¡¯t help that Kaine liked to pop in right behind you, unseen and unannounced, and breathe down his neck, the hot air drawing contradictory shivers down Scott¡¯s neck.


    Scott wondered if he should just quit this pledge business. It had taken him one year to even become a Senior Pledge. It¡¯s clear the Alphas were in no rush to have him, even if he jumped through all their hoops. Did he really need this?


    Yes, Scott reminded himself, he did.


    All of the strongest heroes, ranging from Brickslayer to Planetside, got their start at Sigma Alpha. The halls were adorned with statues of the various heroes, their muscular poses forever captured in stone as they lined Sigma Alpha in the world¡¯s most manly gauntlet. Scott Stephens would stand among them.


    One day.


    Problem was, he didn¡¯t have much to offer Sigma Alpha. Sure, his test scores were great and his Sideclique record helped, but in terms of sheer stats, Scott was lacking. There were speedsters in Sigma Alpha who could do laps around Scott in their sleep. His top speed of three hundred miles an hour just wasn¡¯t that special around here.


    Scott worked to establish himself as a credible fighter around school. He¡¯d excelled at every one of Dirk Saber¡¯s fighting classes, was rising through the ranks in multiple disciplines and could wield almost every kind of blade with super-fast precision.


    But the only thing that mattered to Sigma Alpha was pure power, and Scott had long since realized he had very little to offer.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Still, he did possess one attribute Sigma Alpha desired.


    Loyalty.


    Zack might not have cared too much for loyalty when he left them all two years ago without a word to ¡°go find himself¡± or whatever such crap he told himself.


    But friendship mattered to Scott. And loyalty mattered to Sigma Alpha. Along with strength and a forthright attitude.


    It¡¯s now or never.


    Thus, Scott strode over to Kaine. his hands clenched into fists he recited what he was going to say.


    ¡°Something on your mind, Stephens?¡± Kaine said, his massive arms crossing his wide chest.


    ¡°I gave you what you wanted,¡± Scott said, standing up tall. ¡°You want Zack Kestler for your pledges. I tailed him. I figured out where he¡¯d be so you could bring him here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you did. I was there,¡± Kaine said with a bored expression. ¡°Is there any point to this?¡±


    ¡°I want what you promised me,¡± Scott said. ¡°I want a promotion.¡±


    With all the literal crap he had cleaned up, he could be too far from membership. Did most pledges go through this? Scott didn¡¯t care. He only wanted membership, no matter what it cost.


    Kaine scratched his chin in mock thoughtfulness. He then turned to him.


    He smirked. ¡°Okay. You¡¯re promoted.¡±


    Scott had a pretty good idea Kaine was screwing with him, but he couldn¡¯t be sure. Kaine was Max Mann¡¯s middle management. All of the decisions filtered through him in some way. He could promote Scott if he saw fit.


    Scott tried not to get his hopes up, but he couldn¡¯t help it.


    ¡°Really?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re now Elite Senior Crap Cleaner,¡± Kaine said. ¡°Let¡¯s have a round of applause for Elite Senior Crap Cleaner Stevens, folks!¡±


    Kaine then began a long, condescending clap, and started to look around, gesturing to the other members in the room to follow suit. Even George and Kevin, his two burly associates, looked utterly baffled as they clapped out of unison.


    Scott looked around to see all the pledges, still on their hands and knees as they tried to scrape every bit of beer and puke stains from the hardwood floors with toothbrushes. They gave a half-hearted clap before returning to their job.


    Kaine then turned to him and came inches away from Scott¡¯s phase. Once again, he felt his hot breath pouring down his skin, and once again, he shivered.


    ¡°Let this be a lesson, Stephens,¡± Kaine said. ¡°Sigma Alpha is a meritocracy. You get what you work for, not from back alley deals. Now don¡¯t you have a job to do?¡±


    Kaine turned away. Realizing that it was futile to argue, Scott turned away too, muttering under his breath..


    ¡°What was that, Stevens?¡± Kaine¡¯s voice boomed.


    ¡°Yes, sir, thank you, sir,¡± Scott said with a salute before going to the bathrooms.


    Please sir, can I have another?


    He wanted to add that last bit, but he knew better to start a fight with Kaine. After all, look how this confrontation had gone. Kaine responded to any potential challenge to his position with unbridled cruelty and mockery. He stood as Sigma Alpha¡¯s ultimate gate-keeper.


    It took him another hour and half to clean the bathroom. When he emerged from the bathrooms, he saw something else transpiring in the room. The pledges were eagerly shaking hands with someone. Though bleary and tired, Scott made his way past the ranks of pledges and members a lot.


    He saw a smiling Kaine, or at least a fake-smiling Kaine. The president of Sigma Alpha had a car salesman smile. Whatever this development was, he wasn¡¯t happy about it. He stood next to Zack.


    ¡°Please welcome our newest member, Zack Kestler!¡± his voice boomed. There were several cheers.


    Zack shook Kaine¡¯s hand. The big man slapped him on the shoulder cheerfully. Scott could see Kaine¡¯s face change the moment he turned away from Zack and moved up the stairs.


    Scott looked to Zack. He looked sun-burnt, his face tan and weather-beaten. He also looked strangely wet.


    ¡°Guess I got in,¡± Zack said with a smile.


    Scott didn¡¯t know what Zack had done to get in. He only knew it probably wasn¡¯t scrubbing shit for two hours straight.


    One of the members - a guy in a trenchcoat - approached Zack and whispered something in his ear. Scott knew what it was.


    ¡°Max wants to see you,¡± the man had said. Zack smiled, patted Scott on the shoulder, and then headed up the stairs.


    Just like that.


    Zack always got what he wanted.

 Issue #24: Debrief

    Zack made his way up the stairs. He once again passed the display case, all filled to the brim with various supervillain gadgets acquired over the years. A swirl of possibilities ran through his head. As a member of Sigma Alpha, he would have access to all of it. Not officially, of course. It was tough to say if Max Mann really would lend up his private collection out for personal use.


    He envisioned himself wielding the long spear held at the end of the case. Zack thought about wiping that smug self-superior grin off Dirk Saber¡¯s face while wielding Spearhead¡¯s signature weapon. Things seemed clearer now. Sure, Dirk Saber did actually put on a good show as the professor who truly cares, but he was just as self-serving as the rest of them. And sooner or later, Zack would show him for what he truly was - a murderer.


    But those were thoughts for another day. Zack opened the heavy oak door to Max¡¯s office. As Zack entered the office, he saw Max sitting by his desk, already pouring himself a drink. It was ten o¡¯clock in the morning - is this guy ever not drinking?


    ¡°I take it that congratulations are in order,¡± Max said, as he handed him a Scotch.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Zack said. ¡°It was touch and go for a bit there, but I managed to make it through,¡± Zack said as he took a seat. Once again, he sank into the rich leather cushions of the rather expensive chair. A slight pain raced through his back. He sighed. ¡°Though I think I might have gotten a sunburn cleaning the roof like that.¡±


    ¡°A little melanoma never hurt anyone,¡± Max said. Zack simply nodded. He was in a weird mood, riding high from his success, but he still wasn¡¯t high enough to crack cancer jokes. Max gave him an appraising look.


    Zack suddenly felt very self-conscious. He had been covered in beer the last time he¡¯d been in this office, and now here he was drenched in sweat and rainwater. He really hoped Max cleaned the plush leather seats in his office. He also felt rather cold. Max apparently kept the air conditioner running on full blast, and after working in the sun all day, Zack struggled not to shiver. He drank his Scotch, hoping that would provide some warmth.


    ¡°You made it through in record time,¡± Max said, from his position at the edge of the desk. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone go from pledge to member in such a short amount of time.¡±


    ¡°How long does it usually take someone to reach member status?¡± Zack asked, his thoughts drifting back to Scott. How long had he been at that? And would someone like Kaine ever let him advance to full member status? Not likely. Kaine struck him as a bully, and someone who liked having that much power over people.


    ¡°Hard to say. Sigma Alpha is extremely exclusive. It usually takes a couple of days to secure a nomination,¡± Max said as he sat his glass down on his desk. ¡°But for some people it can take years.¡±


    Zack nodded. He didn¡¯t want to lose his cool in front of Max, but something didn¡¯t sound right about this whole scheme. It took years to join Sigma Alpha? Most people weren¡¯t in college more than a couple years. What was so important about this frat? The mixers weren¡¯t that great.


    Still, maybe Zack could accomplish a little good for his friends while he was here.


    ¡°One of my friends has been at it for that long,¡± Zack said. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose there¡¯s a way we can get him in too. His name is Scott Stephens.¡±


    Max shrugged. ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t handle personnel decisions. That all goes through Kaine.¡±


    Zack gave him a skeptical look. ¡°Uh-huh. Well, he must not have been too happy to take me on.¡±


    Max gave a pearly white smile. ¡°I may have leaned on him to bring you onboard. But I told him not to take it easy on you. Which he did not, by the looks of it.¡±


    ¡°No, he did not,¡± Zack said as he took another sip of Scotch, finishing it off.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    So apparently Scott wasn¡¯t going to get into Sigma Alpha except through Kaine. Zack would have to think of another way to get him in. Max might have leaned on Kaine to let Zack in, but he didn¡¯t seem so keen on letting any of his buddies in either.


    Max was quiet for a minute. Then he spoke up, ¡°We have to be very careful who we take. We¡¯re at war, this frat is. It¡¯s us against the campus.¡±


    ¡°The entire campus?¡± Zack raised an eyebrow.


    The conversation had taken such a strange, apocalyptic turn, all at a breakneck pace. Zack understood there was no love lost between Max and Innshadow, not when they¡¯d made him jump through all the hoops to get the necessary treatment for his illness. Still, going to war against Innshadow seemed a bit like¡­overkill?


    Max nodded.


    ¡°The elites have taken over,¡± Max said somberly. Zack couldn¡¯t argue with that. Weave and Shaw struck him like every other bureaucrat, corrupt and opportunistic. After all, Zack needed only remember how easily they had let him cut ahead of line to attend classes, and then turned over all their security access to him, even it was under the guise of his father.


    Still, Zack fidgeted with his drink quietly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t agree?¡± Max said.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t agree,¡± Zack said. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­it¡¯s Innshadow. It¡¯s par for the course. My dad never put my stock in this place.¡±


    ¡°But he must see the same threat emerging,¡± Max said. ¡°Otherwise, he would have never sent you here.¡±


    Zack looked up to see Max¡¯s eyes wide with excitement and something else, something bordered on accusation. Is that why Max thinks I¡¯m here?


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that your old man sent you here to broaden your education. I¡¯ve known Zane for years. He always has an angle,¡± Max said.


    Did he?


    His father always seemed so forthright in their conversations, sometimes boringly so. Never once did Zack ever get the slightest hint of duplicity. Hell, the guy even revealed his secret identity to Zack when he was all of six years old because he was so honest. He never even bothered to lie about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. The memories brought a smile to his face, but the pain followed shortly thereafter.


    On the other hand, I¡¯ve managed to lie to everyone left in my life.


    Zack thought about coming clean, but decided against it. He was too exhausted to tell Max everything that had befell him in the last two years. That was a story for another time. For now, he would let Max think he has it all figured out. The best lies are the ones you let the other person think without even speaking them into existence.


    ¡°You¡¯re very astute,¡± Zack simply said.


    ¡°Of course I am,¡¯ Max said. ¡°You don¡¯t get to be a hero in this biz without picking up a few things or two. Your generation, with its TikTok tutorial, could stand to pay attention a bit more if you know what I¡¯m saying.¡±


    ¡°Zane¡­my dad¡­has some concerns about Innshadow. He didn¡¯t give me specifics. He just told me to enroll and sus it out,¡± Zack said. ¡°I think he¡¯s testing me.¡±


    Max chuckled at that. ¡°Your old man with his tests. He¡¯s testing me. Yeah, he¡¯s testing my patience.¡±


    Zack chuckled at that remark. ¡°Sounds just like him.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t have to wage this fight alone. You¡¯ve got us backing you now,¡± Max said.


    ¡°Yeah. So what¡¯s next? Freaky guys in hoods chanting?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°No to the freaky rituals,¡± Max said. ¡°The induction ceremony is pretty basic. Just introductions and drinks really.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Zack said.


    Max folded his hands. ¡°But now that you are a member, it¡¯s a two-way street.¡±


    Zack looked confused. ¡°Not sure I follow.¡±


    Max looked him dead in the eye. ¡°I trust you¡¯ll share any leads with me about your investigation.¡±


    Zack suddenly became uncomfortable, but he wasn¡¯t sure why. Max was a family friend. And Zack badly wanted to bring another person into this investigation, someone he could trust.


    But for whatever reason, that time wasn¡¯t now, and that person wasn¡¯t Max. Besides, Zack had more pressing concerns on his plate, like fixing the Knightbrand armor. For all of the talk about Sigma Alpha and their backing, Zack didn¡¯t want to saddle them with that task.


    Fortunately, Zack did know such a person who might be up for the job.


    For now, he simply said ¡°Will do¡± before draining his Scotch, shaking Max¡¯s hands, and heading out. He turned at the entrance to see Max gazing at him as he left, and something about the man¡¯s gaze stayed with Zack long after he had left the office.

 Issue #25: Under the Microscope

    When Zack returned to his house, he saw Perry already waiting for him by the door. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t see any sign of Blake with him, so that was one less thing to worry about. What Zack was about to tell Perry was for his eyes only.


    Zack nodded at his friend and unlocked the door. Perry immediately whistled upon entering his sparse house.


    ¡°So this is what off-campus housing looks like,¡± Perry said. ¡°Must be awfully nice being about to stretch your arms without hitting a wall.¡±


    Zack could also offer a shrug. ¡°Yeah, well, the dorms were all filled up when I registered so this was all I could find in a pinch.¡±


    ¡°And your dad was fine footing the bill?¡± his friend asked with casual curiosity.


    Zack struggled not to react to the rather obvious question. He knew Perry was quite perceptive and he didn¡¯t want to give anything away. Truthfully, Zane would have never sprung for anything extra at college. He practically balked out at the equipment cost for all of Zack¡¯s football, and made Zack work it off in the garage.


    ¡°Well, he wasn¡¯t happy about it,¡± Zack lied. ¡°But he didn¡¯t want me to miss an entire semester.¡±


    Perry seemed to buy it. His attention was elsewhere, presently admiring the space of Zack¡¯s household. Zack wondered if Perry¡¯s microscopic vision could detect his quickening heart rate.


    Best not to find out.


    ¡°Seems reasonable,¡± Perry said, apparently buying the excuse.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll try out dorm life next semester,¡± Zack said with a shrug. ¡°After all, I want to sample the full college experience.¡±


    This was another lie. If all went according to plan, he¡¯d be long gone after he found his father¡¯s killer. He¡¯d let his friends fill in the blanks to his subsequent disappearance with whatever theories they came up. He would feel guilty about it, but he could live with it.


    ¡°You¡¯re honestly not missing much,¡± Perry said, as he studied Zack¡¯s rather spartan living conditions.


    ¡°What did Blake say about you hanging out with me?¡± Zack said. Perry suddenly paled a bit and looked away.


    ¡°You did tell her right?¡± Zack inquired.


    ¡°Not in so many words,¡± Perry squirmed a bit.


    ¡°What did you tell her?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°That I needed to attend to a matter during office hours,¡± Perry said. ¡°Which is technically true. It¡¯s someone¡¯s office hours somewhere.¡±


    Zack chuckled but his expression grew serious a minute later.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just tell her?¡± he finally asked.


    ¡°Because she¡¯s not your biggest fan right now. And I didn¡¯t want a fight,¡± Perry said. ¡°She can be quite¡­.passionate in her arguments.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°I¡¯m just surprised you and her are, you know, together. She¡¯s just not¡­not how I pictured you ending up with.¡±


    Perry looked confused. ¡°Why would you say that? She¡¯s an attractive woman¡­¡±


    Zack already didn¡¯t like where this conversation was going. ¡°I won¡¯t argue with you there¡­¡±


    ¡°Who I engage with in very passionate lovemaking on a regular basis,¡± Perry replied.


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s enough!¡± Zack put his hand to his temple. ¡°I forgot how weird you make conversations on a regular basis and for the life of me, I don¡¯t know why I thought that would change in two years.¡±


    ¡°You did inquire,¡± Perry said in a matter-of-fact tone.


    ¡°That was my first mistake,¡± Zack said, looking around his house.


    He checked the indoor thermometer, which read about sixty-five degrees. It didn¡¯t feel too bad inside, but Zack kept scanning the room suspiciously. He wandered from one room to the next, checking the hairs on his arm for any sudden change in temperature.


    ¡°Are you¡­cold?¡± he asked Perry.


    Perry seemed to take mental and physical inventory of this question, pondering much longer than Zack would have liked. He then shook his head in the negative.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Zack still wasn¡¯t satisfied.


    He really, really didn¡¯t need Icer to see what he was about to show Perry. It would be bad on so many levels.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Zack asked again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Perry said, this time noticing Zack¡¯s deposition.


    ¡°You could try turning up the heat if you¡¯re cold,¡± he noted.


    ¡°I¡¯m not cold,¡± Zack said. ¡°I just¡­need to check something again.¡±


    Zack did one more once-over of all the rooms, checking for any signs of Icer drinking beer in the next room, smugly listening to the whole conversation. He found no trace of the supervillain. He should have been comforted by that fact, but the fact that the villain wasn¡¯t presently here just meant he was elsewhere on campus, doing who-knows-what.


    When Zack returned, he led Perry down an empty hallway.


    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Perry asked.


    ¡°It will be,¡± Zack replied before he opened a walk-in closet and flipped a nearby switch. With a whirl, the wall at the end of the hall folded upward, revealing a set of stairs extending downward in the darkness.


    ¡°I did notice the molecular structure of this wall was different then all the others,¡± Perry said..


    ¡°Well, now you know why,¡± Zack said as he walked down the stairs.


    Zack walked downstairs towards the basement. He needed Perry¡¯s help on something. He would take the risk of letting Perry in on part of his problem, even if he needed to hold some things back.


    Perry suddenly stopped midway down the steps.


    ¡°Another reason for your disappearance suddenly occurs to me,¡± he said.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°You have secretly been a serial killer this whole time,¡± Perry said. Zack pushed a button, with the wall closing back to its original position behind Perry.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a serial killer,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Perry said. ¡°You probably define yourself in a different term, like artist or collector.¡±


    Zack rolled his eyes. The only thing more annoying than Perry¡¯s questions, usually, were his conclusions.


    ¡°See I¡¯ll prove it to you,¡± Zack said as he turned on the basement lights. The bright light gleamed off of the limestone floor. A musty odor permeated the nostrils.


    In the center of the room was a long wooden crate.


    ¡°I have revise my theory,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Zack sighed.


    ¡°You are not a serial killer. You are clearly a vampire¡¯s familiar,¡± Perry said. ¡°Which isn¡¯t much better.¡±


    Zack was starting to regret this already.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a vampire. There are no such things,¡± Zack said. ¡°At least¡­.I don¡¯t think there are.¡±


    That was the problem with being a superhero. You quickly lose track of what¡¯s real and what¡¯s not. At least, Zack couldn¡¯t remember his Dad mentioning a vampire.


    Zack opened the crate. He could feel Perry tense behind him until he saw the contents.


    The Knightbrand armor lay within. Zack was keeping it here until he could make repairs.


    ¡°It¡¯s just my dad¡¯s armor, see?¡± Zack said. Perry gazed at him, and then looked up at Zack.


    ¡°Where is your father?¡± he asked.


    Zack tried not to squirm. ¡°He¡¯s¡­indisposed.¡±


    Perry didn¡¯t seem convinced. Fortunately, his gaze lay on the armor, and not Zack hoping his friend bought this excuse.


    The sooner he buys it, the better.


    No.


    The sooner you tell him the truth, the better.


    Zack knew that wasn¡¯t an option. Not yet. Maybe not ever.


    ¡°Look, you know he has multiple versions of his armor,¡± Zack said. ¡°This is just one of them.¡±


    Already, Zack could see the wheels turning within Perry¡¯s sharp mind.


    ¡°The Knightbrand that¡¯s been spotted around campus,¡± Perry said. ¡°That¡¯s been you the entire time.¡±


    Zack hadn¡¯t counted on Perry putting that together as quickly. He moved quickly towards his friend.


    ¡°Look, you can¡¯t tell anyone. You can¡¯t even say it aloud, understand?¡± Zack said. He really didn¡¯t want Icer to overhear that.


    ¡°So it¡¯s true?¡± Perry kept his gaze leveled at him.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± Zack answered. He leaned down and opened up the crate more.


    ¡°It got damaged in my last fight with Icer,¡± Zack said. ¡°It needs repairs.¡±


    Perry looked at the armor¡¯s shoulder. After fidgeting with it for a little while, he stood up and moved away.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need my tools,¡± Perry said.


    Zack nodded.


    ¡°And eventually I¡¯ll need answers,¡± Perry said.


    Zack knew Perry was inquisitive. This was turning into a big risk already.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what I can,¡± Zack said.


    Perry sighed. ¡°Later. Let¡¯s get to work. I¡¯ll bring what I can tonight.¡±


    Zack smiled. ¡°Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.¡±


    Perry looked up at him. ¡°Just don¡¯t lie to me. I hate it when people lie to me.¡±


    Zack regarded his friend and nodded, while trying his best to ignore the inevitability hanging over that statement.

 Issue #26: Office Hours

    After Perry left, Zack started to get ready for class. He knew he would need to come clean to Perry. There was just no getting around it. His molecular vision powers made him a walking crime lab. Sooner or later he would slip up, and he would be onto him. He had no choice. If Zack wanted the Knightbrand armor, he¡¯d need to tell him everything. How he took it¡­was another matter.


    Zack couldn¡¯t think about that now. He had more pressing concerns. He took a quick shower and then changed into new clothes. He then proceeded to check and double-check the hidden door which led to the basement - he really didn¡¯t need Icer snooping around and finding out his secret. As it stood, Icer had been a volatile asset at best. If he learned the truth about Knightbrand, all bets were off. But Zack couldn¡¯t think about that. He had Dirk Saber¡¯s self-defense class, and he was hoping to talk to him after class.


    Zack caught himself before he carried on their line of thought. He was really hoping to talk to his father¡¯s murderer after class. Dirk Saber had done a number on him. How effectively had Dirk Saber weaseled his way into his life, telling him he had superpowers. He even had Zack doubting if he was ¡°the guy¡±.


    No, Zack reminded himself, Dirk still had means and opportunity. His Omegium blades clearly pierced his father¡¯s armor, and Dirk possessed all the skills and expertise to carry out the hit.


    Motive was considerably shakier. Why would Dirk Saber even want to kill Knightbrand? By all accounts, Knightbrand was a recluse amongst the superhero community. He wasn¡¯t on any teams, nor did he have a lot of connections to other superheroes. Maybe something had happened between them, but then again, Dirk responded to Knightbrand¡¯s appearance on campus very casually. He even seemed pretty chummy when they were chasing down Icer.


    It just wasn¡¯t adding up.


    On the other hand, Dirk¡¯s revelation that Zack had super-powers had completely disrupted his investigation. The questions continued to plague Zack. How long had he had these powers? Had his father known? If he had, why did he keep it from him?


    It had been a master ploy on Dirk¡¯s part, getting into his head so effectively to throw him off-balance.


    Assuming it was a ploy.


    That was the worst part. Was Dirk Saber truly what he said he was, a college teacher trying to help Zack find his way, or was he a killer, trying desperately to cover his tracks and throw him off of his scent?


    Either way, Zack needed more evidence and without the Knightbrand suit, he had no way of taking down Dirk Saber anyway. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t even review the data from his fight with Saber since the Knightbrand suit had been heavily damaged. He didn¡¯t want to risk the data being corrupted somehow. Better to have Perry repair the suit before he checked the data logs. Plus, once the suit was back up and running he¡¯d stand a better chance in a head-on battle.


    Maybe.


    Hell, even with the Knighblade suit it might be tough to bring Dirk Saber down. Zack had dreamed of this moment for so long, but now that he had seen Dirk Saber fight up close and personally, he had truly grasped just how hard it would be.


    After he had finished preparing, Zack headed out the door, walking down the Promenade to class. The sun lit up the sidewalk. Zack noted every trace of Icer¡¯s supervillain rampage had vanished. Of course, the ice had melted long ago, but more to the point, every college student walked along the path as if nothing had happened.


    Zack shrugged as he noticed this. Either the students of Innshadow were particularly shallow¡­or¡­ maybe Innshadow was actually preparing for life in the superhero game. Either way, Zack couldn¡¯t stop to smell the roses or question the superhero lifestyle. He had a class to get to.


    Class proved to be uneventful. Dirk Saber didn¡¯t single Zack out, and the subject was mostly more boring classroom talk on superhero legal obligations during high-stress situations. Rachel passed out several papers. She didn¡¯t look at Zack. Things were still weird between them.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Zack waited until class had dismissed, and after a requisite amount of students engaged in polite conversation with Saber, he made his move, walking towards Saber with his hands stuffed into his pockets.


    ¡°Professor Saber, do you have a minute?¡± he asked. He tried to maintain his formality.


    He¡¯s not your friend.


    He¡¯s the enemy.


    And if you let him, he¡¯ll work you like he worked your dad.


    ¡°Sure, Zack,¡± Dirk said, leaning against the fall wall. ¡°How are you¡­processing things?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­still processing,¡± Zack said. It felt good to tell a small bit of truth once again.


    Saber slid his hands into his pockets, mirroring Zack¡¯s posture.


    ¡°I know none of this is ideal. Most people get their powers and then decide to become a superhero,¡± Saber said. ¡°You already did all that. You built confidence as a sidekick and are taking the first steps to being a hero, only for this to completely rejigger your identity.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­a lot to wrap my head around.¡±


    ¡°Well, fortunately, you¡¯re in the best place,¡± Saber said as he slid some papers into a leather satchel. ¡°College is all about self-discovery.¡±


    Zack wasn¡¯t sure how he could take this. On one hand, Saber could be trying to minimize the impact of his revelation in order to gain more favor with him. But Zack couldn¡¯t see any tactical relevance to this move. What was Saber¡¯s game here?


    ¡°And you¡¯re sure¡­.I have powers?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Zack, you blocked me three times and then made a shot with a long dart most Olympic athletes take years perfecting,¡± Saber said. ¡°But, if it helps, I double-checked the blood work when it came in.¡±


    Zack nodded. After what had happened at Sigma Alpha, it was getting harder and harder to pass this all up as dumb luck, even if that was precisely what Zack wanted to do.


    Zack scanned the room for Rachel, only to catch sight of her walking out the door. Dirk Saber seemed to notice this.


    ¡°But it¡¯s possible¡­maybe I¡¯m not the one you should be talking to,¡± he said.


    Zack squirmed a bit. He could play cat-and-mouse with Dirk Saber all day. He had thought of nothing else after Perry left.


    But having a conversation with Rachel? That was something he was truly unprepared for.


    Dirk gestured with his hands. ¡°I know it¡¯s no business of my own but you could cut the tension between the two of you with a knife today.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should get on better terms with the TA,¡± Dirk said. ¡°Less of a chance she¡¯ll accidentally feed your term paper into the shredder in my office.¡±


    Zack raised an eyebrow. ¡°You really think she¡¯d do that?¡±


    Dirk regarded him for a moment and said. ¡°I think that entirely depends on how bad you let things get.¡±


    ¡°But you wouldn¡¯t¡­you know¡­let her do that?¡± Zack found himself asking.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let her do anything, but I¡¯m not sure if you haven¡¯t noticed, but Rachel Ducane is very stubborn,¡± Saber said. ¡°She¡¯s also psychic, which means she¡¯d probably know the best time to pull a fast one on me.¡±


    Zack nodded. However he felt about the man, he couldn¡¯t deny he was right.


    ¡°If you want my advice, bury whatever is between the two of you,¡± Saber said. ¡°It¡¯s hard enough lecturing with you two staring daggers at each other.¡±


    ¡°Thanks Professor,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°You know what?¡± Dirk said as he slung his satchel over his shoulder. ¡°Call me Dirk. It¡¯s what you old man would do. He¡¯d never stand on formality. You shouldn¡¯t either.¡±


    Well played Saber, Zack thought. Well played.


    ¡°Thanks¡­Dirk,¡± Zack said awkwardly.


    Maybe Dirk Saber didn¡¯t know he was onto him, and was trying to ingratiate him into a false sense of security. Or maybe he was simply trying to act oblivious about his suspicions until it was too late.


    Either way, Zack saw exactly what he was doing.


    He nodded at his father¡¯s probable killer before running at the doors, and facing down an even greater challenge.


    Making things right with Rachel. He knew this wasn¡¯t going to be easy. Honestly, he¡¯d rather be locked up in a cell next to Icer. Still, as much as Zack didn¡¯t want to admit it, Saber was right.


    He needed to bury this. He couldn¡¯t afford distractions. Not now. Not when he was this close.

 Issue #27: Darkness Within

    Zack moved outside into the hot September sun. Rachel was already moving quickly down the Promenade with a folder tucked between her arms. She gave no indication she saw Zack, even as he pushed through several students.


    ¡°Hey Rachel, wait up!¡± Zack said.


    He was relieved when she stopped. She looked back at him, and Zack could see hesitation lining her green eyes. He wished more than anything she could look at him with the same warmth she did when she was in high school. But those days were long gone, and as Zack approached her, he had to force away any lingering memories of his father or his mission. He couldn¡¯t risk her psychic powers detecting his true mission.


    ¡°Zack,¡± she said in a cordial tone. ¡°Did you talk to Dirk?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m all cleared up,¡± he said. She showed no reaction to this. She seemed neither pleased by this news nor particularly upset by it. She seemed to treat it as a neutral fact, with no fact one way or the other.


    Rachel nodded. She slowed her pace to allow him to catch him.


    ¡°He put a lot of effort into¡­your issue,¡± Rachel said. ¡°He was in his office for two days straight last week. I hope you appreciate it.¡±


    Zack nodded. The way she spoke about Dirk triggered something in him, a flicker of jealousy, but Zack knew well enough to let it pass. He wasn¡¯t going to risk making Rachel angry over a slight like that. She had told them they were just friends, and he was her mentor. Just like Dirk was trying to be Zack¡¯s mentor.


    If anything, it showed how insidious Dirk Saber could be, trying to weasel his way into his life. Or at least, that¡¯s what Zack desperately wanted to believe. His hate had kept him going this far. To have it challenged by Dirk¡¯s kindness threatened to distill his determination. He turned back to the situation at hand.


    ¡°I have superpowers. Enhanced muscle memory apparently,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°That¡¯s what the test results were?¡± Rachel pivoted around to look at him, her brow creasing with mild surprise.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Zack said, raising his eyebrow.


    ¡°It¡¯s confidential,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Dirk didn¡¯t tell me anything.¡±


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t¡­you know¡­snoop around for answers,¡± Zack smirked.


    ¡°Dirk would have my ass if I did,¡± Rachel said.


    Zack knew better to remark on that. He closed his mouth. Whether Rachel was reading his thoughts or not, Zack couldn¡¯t say. But she didn¡¯t remark on them either.


    ¡°I¡¯d get fired so fast,¡± Rachel said. She gave Zack a confused look. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t know already though. I mean everyone in the team was pretty sure you had them.¡±


    Zack spread his arms in frustration. ¡°Seriously? How am I the last person to know about this?¡±


    ¡°Zack Kestler, you won your last football game with three field goals in a row,¡± Rachel said. ¡°You won football games like clockwork. Everyone could see it.¡±


    ¡°Except me,¡± Zack muttered. He was always so proud of his accomplishments. He wanted to believe that he was more than just a nepo baby coasting on his father¡¯s cape. He wanted to believe everything in life he gotten through his own determination and hard work.


    But these powers threw a wrench in all of that. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°And your dad didn¡¯t mention it?¡± Rachel asked.


    Zack¡¯s thoughts swirled around his father. Truth be told, however, Zane rarely attended a football game. He usually had better things to do, like save the world, or at least the president. Beyond that, he never gave any indication Zack wasn¡¯t a regular kid.


    ¡°No, none,¡± Zack said.


    They kept walking in silence for a few more moments. Rachel kept her gaze forward. Zack was pretty sure she wasn¡¯t reading his mind - she usually had to maintain eye contact to do so, but then again, those were the rules when she was a sidekick. She could have improved since then, and knowing Rachel, she probably did.


    Zack wanted to say he was comforted by the lack of someone rooting around in his brain, but somehow, the gulf between them felt cold and uninviting. He never minded Rachel¡¯s psychic presence in the past. Before it was a comfort.


    Now there was nothing.


    ¡°Rachel,¡± Zack said. ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m sorry about how things went down¡­.at the party¡­¡±


    Rachel flashed her eyes at him. ¡°How things went down?¡±


    Zack quickly realized he had said the wrong thing. Just like he had said the wrong thing at the party which got beer dumped on his head. He really needed to work on his interpersonal skills. This wasn¡¯t surprising. The only interpersonal skills he had developed in the last two years was terrifying criminals into giving him information about his father¡¯s killer.


    ¡°I told you my boss was suffering and your response?¡± Rachel said. ¡°Good.¡±


    Admittedly, that wasn¡¯t Zack¡¯s finest moment. He was so caught up believing he had his father¡¯s killer on the run, he stumbled into a poor choice of words so bad Rachel had no choice but to respond the way she did and storm off.


    ¡°You know who does that, Zack?¡± Rachel continued. ¡°A sociopath.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zack said, rounding the corner of the path to jump in front of Rachel so he could look her in the eye. ¡°But you know me. You know I¡¯m not a sociopath.¡±


    ¡°Are you, Zack? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been doing in the past two years,¡± Rachel said. ¡°You know, Perry had a pretty livid theory that you cracked and started hunting down people Dexter-style like some kind of serial killer.¡±


    Zack grimaced at that remark. ¡°Yeah, he might have shared that one with me earlier.¡±


    Rachel began to push past him. Zack knew he had to say something to salvage the situation, if not the relationship entirely.


    ¡°Rachel, I-I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. He rushed towards her, reaching for her. Rachel jerked her hand away from him, but she did look him in the eye, which Zack considered an improvement, if only a temporary one.


    ¡°It was my fault,¡± Zack said. ¡°I was jealous of Dirk and¡­and you. That¡¯s why I said what I said.¡±


    Which was true, on a very shallow level. Dirk and Rachel were close. Zack was pretty sure there was a mutual attraction between Dirk and Rachel. He may have been twenty years her senior, but Dirk was a dashing badass, and Rachel, well, Rachel was amazing. Zack believed Rachel when she said their relationship was strictly professional¡­mostly. He observed them to be close friends, but nothing else. Zack believed Dirk probably wouldn¡¯t act on the attraction either.


    Zack really wanted to hate Dirk. He really wanted to believe he killed his father. Despite Zack wanting to believe this whole business about superpowers was just some sort of psyops, Zack found himself starting to trust Dirk. Or wanting to trust him at any rate.


    Maybe he really was getting in his head.


    Rachel stared at him for a moment.


    ¡°That¡¯s the truth,¡± she said. ¡°But that¡¯s only part of it, isn¡¯t it. And the rest of it¡­you¡¯re not sharing with me, are you? You¡¯re holding it back.¡±


    Zack felt a familiar warmth in the back of his skull. She was reading him.


    ¡°Rachel¡­¡± he started to plead.


    ¡°You never used to hide things from me,¡± Rachel said as she started to turn away. ¡°Even when you should. Even when you admitted you thought Cassie Messer was cute in study hall. Even when you told me you fell asleep at the movies, you were always so honest with me.¡±


    She drew closer to him, ¡°There''s a darkness inside you, Zack. It wasn''t there before.¡±


    Rachel broke off and continued down through the Promenade. ¡°But it''s all I see now. I''m sorry.¡±


    Zack watched her go, and this time, he didn¡¯t follow.

 Issue #28: Group Effort

    Zack knocked on Perry¡¯s door. After a few moments, a decidedly un-Perry-like figure opened the door. By now, however, Zack was used to seeing Blake. She wore a denim blue button-up over a mint green shirt, with tight blank running pants completing the ensemble. Her blonde hair was tied up into a bun.


    ¡°Blake,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Zachary,¡± she said in a formal tone with just a hint of flippancy to it.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem that surprised to see me,¡± Zack noted.


    ¡°No,¡± Blake said, standing to one side to let Zack in. ¡°Rachel just texted me.¡±


    Zack spun around. ¡°She just texted you? I just talked to her five minutes ago.¡±


    Blake crossed her hands. ¡°It sounded pretty bad, which is par for the course for you two.¡±


    Zack sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose I could ask what she said?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, chum,¡± Blake gave him a phony smirk. She took a seat on the couch. ¡°Girl talk.¡±


    ¡°Figures,¡± Zack replied. ¡°Is Perry here?¡±


    ¡°Zack,¡± Perry announced himself, emerging from the dorm¡¯s small bathroom. Zack noticed how his eyes moved from Zack and then to Blake. ¡°You two getting along?¡±


    ¡°Famously,¡± Blake said as her attention drifted back to her phone.


    ¡°Nice phone,¡± Zack said, noticing the shiny new phone in her hands.


    ¡°Thanks. I haven¡¯t blown it up yet,¡± Blake said. ¡°But then again, you are here so¡­¡±


    Zack saw a sparkle in her blue eyes that told him he¡¯d best tread carefully. He turned back to Perry.


    ¡°I was wondering if you were ready to go look at that,¡± he looked at Blake, her eyes still locked on her phone. ¡°Ummm, that thing.¡±


    Perry shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Yes, ummm, that thing.¡±


    Blake rolled her eyes. ¡°I guess I need to¡­powder my nose or something.¡±


    As she walked away, Zack heard her say. ¡°Boys and their secrets. And you say we¡¯re bad for it.¡±


    Zack heard the bathroom door close as Blake disappeared from the room. He turned back to Perry.


    ¡°I was thinking,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Usually a good start,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°If the power source is damaged, there might not be much I can do,¡± Perry said. Zack cursed under his breath. This is not the news he wanted to hear. He was counting on Perry having some answers.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t the power core located in the sternum,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Yes, but your father designed the suit with relays throughout the suit. If the suit sustained major damage, it might have already burned out the power core,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± Zack sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have one lying around.¡±


    ¡°Not on me,¡± Perry said. Zack narrowed his eyes on that one.


    ¡°But you do have one?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°I might have built one in my garage, but I¡¯m not even sure it works,¡± Perry said. ¡°It might fry the entire suit.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°So not the best option,¡± Zack replied. ¡°Got it.¡±


    Zack really didn¡¯t want to risk it, in any case. It would take all day to arrange transportation to drive into the suburbs of Chicago and get Perry¡¯s amateur power core, all for something which might blow up in their face. He could ask Scott to do it - his super-speed could come in handy - but would it be worth it for such a flawed solution? Besides, he and Scott weren¡¯t on the best of terms lately.


    ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you know of anywhere else that has a power core?¡± Zack said, more thinking aloud than anything else.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s one thing they don¡¯t sell online,¡± Perry said. ¡°Outside of the black market.¡±


    Zack remembered all of Max¡¯s souvenirs within his display case. Could there be something in there that could repair his suit? He did seem pretty eager to help him, and this would qualify right?


    ¡°What about Amp¡¯s Power Amplifier?¡± Zack asked, recalling one of the items had seen in the display case.


    Perry gave him an appropriately strange look.


    ¡°That would be difficult, especially considering Amp is a supervillian, and more importantly, dead,¡± Perry replied. ¡°Unless you are proposing we take up grave-robbing.¡±


    ¡°Why do you suggest the weirdest ways to take things?¡± Zack shot back.


    ¡°Well, I really don¡¯t know what hobbies and proclivities you¡¯ve taken up in the last two years,¡± Perry responded.


    Okay, I deserve that one.


    ¡°Have you been to the Alpha House?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not change the subject,¡± Perry maintained his steely gaze as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.


    ¡°There¡¯s a display case in the Alpha House, with mementos of all the villains their alumni have busted over the years,¡± Zack said. ¡°Amp¡¯s Power Amplifier is one of them. Would that work?¡±


    Perry scratched his chin as he began to think about it.


    ¡°Theoretically, it could work,¡± he said.


    ¡°So we just run over there and grab it,¡± Zack said. ¡°Easy as that.¡±


    ¡°Oh hell no!¡± came a cry from the bathroom. Blake re-emerged, hands on hips.


    ¡°You were listening to us?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Of course I was listening to you!¡± Blake said. ¡°How else was I going to know what was going on?¡±


    Zack turned to her. ¡°Look, we¡¯re just running an errand. We¡¯ll be right back. Then you can have Perry all to yourself.¡±


    ¡°An errand? You¡¯re talking about going to Alpha House!¡± Blake raised her voice.


    ¡°And¡­?¡± Zack shrugged.


    ¡°Do you know how many people get shanked in Alpha Row a week?¡± Blake said. ¡°That place is one brawl away from Campus Security sealing it off and calling it a day.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating right?¡± Zack said. ¡°And besides, it¡¯s the middle of the day.¡±


    Blake removed her hair from the bun it resided in, and tossed it over her shoulder. ¡°I help Rachel proof the police blotter before it goes to print. That place is bad news.¡±


    Zack noticed Perry wasn¡¯t saying anything, which meant if he needed to get this done, it would be on him. Still, he wanted Perry there with him to make sure the device worked. He didn¡¯t want to get home and realized it was a dud or worse some kind of forgery.


    ¡°Look, it shouldn¡¯t take more than a couple minutes,¡± Zack said. ¡°Perry will have his phone on him the whole time. Won¡¯t you Perry?¡±


    Perry stood completely frozen. He looked at Zack. He looked at Blake. And then he didn¡¯t say another word. Zack sighed and rolled his eyes.


    Blake met his gaze. Zack could see his blue eyes grow more vivid. He knew from the experience this meant she was charging up.


    ¡°Perry¡¯s not going,¡± she said. ¡°Not without me to back him up.¡±


    Zack chuckled. ¡°Look, I do appreciate that. But he¡¯s not going alone. I¡¯ll be with him.¡±


    Blake didn¡¯t take her eyes off him. ¡°And how¡¯s your track record for being there when Perry needed you?¡±


    That was a low blow. Zack shrugged to not to snarl back at Blake, but he miraculously managed to keep his cool.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t even know if girls are allowed in Alpha House. It is a fraternity after all,¡± Zack said.


    Blake¡¯s eyes began to light up once more. ¡°Let them try and stop me.¡±


    Zack knew he was fighting a losing battle. Blake was going, whether he liked it or not. He sighed, raising his hands as he admitted defeat.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Zack said. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    ¡°See, honey,¡± Zack heard Blake tell Perry. ¡°You just have to know how to talk to people.¡±


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a talk. That was pure extortion,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Well, extortion is in the eye of the beholder,¡± Blake said with a wide grin.

 Issue #29: Into the Lions Den

    Ten awkward minutes later, Zack walked up the stairs to the Alpha House, with Blake and Perry closely behind him. Zack gave a hesitant look to his companions.


    ¡°Just let me do all the talking, okay?¡± he said.


    Perry looked at Blake. ¡°Somehow I doubt that¡¯s going to happen.¡±


    Blake, for her part, didn¡¯t say much of anything. She simply stared forward, a hardened look on her face.


    Zack was the first through the door. They entered the frat house with little fanfare. His feet immediately sank into crimson plush carpet. Very few fraternity brothers took notice of their entrance.


    Well, this will be cake.


    Zack made his way through the labyrinthine corners. He really didn¡¯t want to try the rooftop entry. He didn''t know how skilled Blake was with parkour-ing across the buildings, but Perry was liable to fall to his demise. Such maneuvers were Perry¡¯s least favorite part of sidekicking, and that much remained true apparently.


    Fortunately, Zack had learned of an alternate route towards the hallway of the frat house towards the previous library, and by extension, Max¡¯s trophy case. As Zack led Perry and Blake wordlessly through the frat house¡¯s long winding tunnels, he kept a sharp eye out for Scott. He hadn¡¯t seen his friend since he made full membership into the frat. He wanted to let Scott know he¡¯d spoken to Max on his behalf, and one way or another, Zack would find a way to get him full membership. It was the least he could do for his friend.


    ¡°Are you sure you know where you¡¯re going?¡± Blake said patiently.


    ¡°It¡¯s around here somewhere,¡± Zack said. ¡°I¡¯ve only been a member for less than a week, and the tunnels stretch between the buildings Alpha owns.¡±


    ¡°Great. Secret passages with frat bros. What could possibly go wrong?¡± Blake sighed.


    Five minutes later, Zack spotted the empty library which had once held a party not too long ago. The floors were spotless now, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the toothbrush-wielding plebes. Zack continued to scan the room for any sign of Scott, doubtlessly carrying cleaning supplies and a mop, but found none.


    ¡°It¡¯s up here,¡± Zack said.


    He started to move towards the stairs, with Perry and Bake right behind him. He hadn¡¯t moved up two stairs when Zack suddenly felt a presence behind him, one that wasn¡¯t Perry or Blake. He heard a hard voice behind him. Zack maintained his balance as he spun around to see Kaine, the burly frat president blocking Perry and Blake¡¯s path towards the stairway.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re old enough for this ride, junior,¡± Kaine said, looking down at Perry.


    ¡°They¡¯re with me, Kaine,¡± Zack said. He looked out to see three more fraternity members coming in behind him. Two were No-Neck One and Two. The other looked to be a skinny and greasy-haired sophomore whose face was locked in a perpetual snicker.


    ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Kaine said. ¡°But this area is prohibited. And if you didn¡¯t notice, we don¡¯t do tours.¡±


    Zack moved down the stairs, inserting himself between Kaine and Perry.


    ¡°That¡¯s cool. We¡¯ll just be five minutes,¡± Zack started to move past Kaine. The moment he did so, Kaine vanished, only to pop into existence several stairs above him, his muscular arms crossed as he stared Zack down.


    ¡°Not. Happening.¡± Kaine said.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°You wanna play it that way?,¡± Zack started to raise his voice. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just take it up with Max!¡±


    Kaine chuckled, but he didn¡¯t move. ¡°Max isn¡¯t in today.¡±


    Zack tried not to show his disappointment, but he could already feel Kaine reading his expression. Max had been his trump card. He was certain that, if Max knew the part would help fix his dad¡¯s armor, he would have probably lent it to him, no questions asked. Or at least, no questions asked given however much Zack was willing to tell him.


    But if Max wasn¡¯t up there¡­then Zack had no authority here.


    Zack gave a noncommittal shrug, trying his best to look unconcerned. ¡°Cool, cool. Any idea when he¡¯ll be back?¡±


    ¡°None at all,¡± Kaine replied, clearly enjoying every bit of Zack¡¯s disappointment. ¡°He¡¯s out of town on business.¡±


    Zack turned to look at his makeshift party. Perry¡¯s head pointed down, apparently analyzing the molecular make-up of the plush carpet at his feet. Blake¡¯s blue eyes met Zack¡¯s and narrowed. She¡¯d been keeping quiet up until now, letting him take the lead, but that moment was fleeting at best.


    Kaine followed Zack¡¯s eyes, his smirk breaking into a disgusting grin.


    ¡°Sorry to rain on your parade, Kestler,¡± Kaine said.


    The skinny guy brushed his hand forward. A small ball of energy drifted from his hand, darting from side to side like a firefly on a sugar high. The ball of energy, colored red and no bigger than a golf ball, gained velocity before striking Blake in the backside.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Zack said under his breath as he saw Blake¡¯s eyes start to change.


    Blake turned to the skinny guy, whose perpetual snicker had broken into a full-on laugh. Zack didn¡¯t need to see Blake¡¯s eyes to know they were glowing deep blue now. He had seen Blake let loose a powerful bolt of energy during Icer¡¯s attack, but it was nothing compared to this. The entire room started to shake as the lights started to flicker. Blake threw out both hands as a wall of lightning nearly as big as her burst from her hands. The poor supe didn¡¯t have a chance. Once thing was for sure - he wasn¡¯t snickering as the lightning blast lifted him off of the ground - and into the nearby wall.


    The skinny frat bro now looked like a contortionist, with his limbs sprayed in every direction. He looked to be breathing, but he also didn¡¯t look like he¡¯d be getting up any time soon.


    ¡°Okay, she can stay,¡± Kaine said with a chuckle. ¡°But the pipsqueak goes. Alpha is no place for the weak.¡±


    ¡°Are you freaking kidding me?¡± Blake growled at Kaine, fury in her eyes. ¡°Your whole frat is a place for weak little boys pretending to be men.¡±


    Kaine¡¯s face suddenly twisted into something hateful and red. His sneer made him look like one of the gargoyles hanging off the side of the building.


    ¡°On second thought, she can go too. She¡¯s not that hot,¡± Kaine said. ¡°And mouthy girls are such a turn-off.¡±


    Kaine started to motion towards No Neck One and No Neck Two. The skinny guy who tried assaulting Blake clearly wasn¡¯t going anywhere.


    ¡°You can see them out,¡± Kaine said.


    Blake started to assume a combat pose once more, but her posture seemed shaky. Rachel had mentioned her powers were a relatively new development. How much could she keep this up? Zack wasn¡¯t about to find out. Perry, for his part, stood right beside Blake, his arms locked with her. Zack wasn¡¯t sure what he would do in a fight, but Perry had made it clear - he wasn¡¯t going anywhere.


    Zack had to put an end to this before it escalated any further. He turned to Kaine, who was already walking back the stairs.


    ¡°I need something from the display case,¡± Zack said.


    He had to lay out all his cards on the table. He didn¡¯t know what that would accomplish. Kaine certainly wouldn¡¯t care, but it was his only move before things got worse.


    Kaine stopped. He turned back to him with a car salesman¡¯s smile. Zack knew he didn¡¯t like it, but what choice did he have?


    ¡°Well, why didn¡¯t you say so?¡± Kaine said. ¡°Step into my office¡­.but just you. Your friends can wait down here.¡±


    Kaine was already walking back up the stairs. Zack shot a wary glance to his two no-neck underlings.


    ¡°Can your buddies behave?¡± Zack questioned.


    ¡°They can behave,¡± Kaine said without looking back. ¡°Provided yours can.¡±


    Zack gave a hesitant look to Perry and Blake. Perry nodded and Blake gestured for him to follow.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Zack said before he too disappeared up the stairs following Kaine.

 Issue #30: Quid Pro Quo

    Kaine led Zack up a flight of stairs, turning just before reaching the set of stairs which would have taken him to Max¡¯s office. Tucked away in the corner was a somewhat smaller office, still spacious by most standards.


    As Zack entered, he realized Kaine had taken the large office and converted it into a dorm room, complete with a bathroom large enough to hold a Viking celebration by the looks of it. Zack scanned the walls of Kaine¡¯s dorm room, noticing several very scary-looking combat knives. Several hooks poked out of the wall, each adorned with a golden medal denoting Kaine¡¯s time in the Marines.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± Zack said, trying to make conversation.


    ¡°Yeah, well, don¡¯t get too comfortable,¡± Kaine said. ¡°We¡¯re here for business. What do you want outta the display case?¡±


    Zack turned to Kaine but he didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t know how much he could tell Kaine without arousing suspicion. And besides, he didn¡¯t like the idea of taking something from Max¡¯s trophy room without his express permission. Besides, for all he knew this was some sort of ploy to land Zack in trouble.


    Kaine seemed to read Zack¡¯s doubts. He pulled a large ledger-bound book from the desk adjacent to his double-wide king-size bed and opened it up.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the first one with this request, pal. Far from it,¡± Kaine said. He pointed to a scribbled record on the last page.


    ¡°Jack Mellows used the Horn of Blasaphast,¡± Kaine said. ¡°He found it, ahem, helped him perform better.¡±


    Kaine sat on his oversized bed, turning the page delicately as if he were reading Zack a bedtime story.


    ¡°Kurt Porter took the Intello Pills that Genius Man used,¡± Kaine said. ¡°He needed help on a physics exam, and tutoring wasn¡¯t cutting it.¡±


    Kaine turned another page.


    ¡°And most recently, Tim Duncan used the Time Staff to see two girls at once,¡± Kaine said. ¡°Without things getting too awkward.¡±


    Kaine slammed the ledger shut. He fixed a hard and knowing gaze on Zack.


    ¡°So despite what you might think, Kestler, you¡¯re not special. You¡¯re not the first request I¡¯ve handled, and you won¡¯t be the last,¡± Kaine said. ¡°And don¡¯t think just because you¡¯re tight with Max means you get special treatment. You. Don¡¯t.¡±


    Kaine growled at Zack. ¡°So once again, What. Do. You Want.¡±


    He reopened his notebook with his pen at the ready.


    Zack crossed his arms and turned his attention to Kaine. He had to make this fast. He didn¡¯t want to keep Perry and Blake waiting. Though Blake made it abundantly clear she could handle any trouble from Kaine¡¯s minions.


    Unless more frat minions turned up, uninvited.


    Things could get ugly down their quick.


    ¡°I want Amp¡¯s Power Amplifier,¡± Zack said. Kaine had started to jolt it down, but the pen in his hands stopped. He looked up to meet Zack¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°That¡¯s a piece of powerful hardware,¡± Kaine said. ¡°What do you need that for?¡±


    Zack shrugged. ¡°My electric razor broke.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you just try growing a beard instead,¡± Kaine said. He gestured to the knives on his wall. ¡°Or you could just use a straight blade. That¡¯s how real men shave.¡±


    Zack met his gaze. ¡°Who said it¡¯s for my face?¡±


    Zack¡¯s eyes briefly went down to below his waist.


    He knew the only way to talk to Kaine was to speak their language. Treat everything like a joke, and be sure to aim ten IQ points lower. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Dick and fart jokes work the best for this crowd.


    Kaine may have been a bruiser even without his teleportation powers, but at the end of the day, he was yet another Alpha poser just like everyone else.


    Kaine chuckled. ¡°How profane. We¡¯ll make a true Alpha out of you yet. Okay. The Power Amplifier it is.¡±


    ¡°So do you take debit card or am I going to have to run to the bank?¡± Zack asked with a sardonic grin.


    Kaine gave him a mirthless chuckle. ¡°Not so fast. You want this, you have to do something for me first.¡±


    Zack felt his arms go slack as he rolled his eyes, suddenly deflated. ¡°Why am I not surprised by a sudden quid pro quo?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the way of the world,¡± Kaine said. ¡°No one does anything for free.¡±


    Zack sighed and re-crossed his arms. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Kaine reached under his bed. ¡°This one is very¡­dear to my heart you might say.¡±


    He produced a magazine, one that was very old and very ragged. The pages were adorned with beautiful women, all in skimpy superhero costumes which left little if anything to the imagination. There were skin mags for superheroes, just like everything else.


    ¡°You know they got websites for that now,¡± Zack said. ¡°You gotta get with the times.¡±


    ¡°Ha. Ha.¡± Kaine said before reaching a certain page and handing it to Zack.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I feel comfortable touching that thing,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Just take it, and look,¡± Kaine said. As soon as Zack took the magazine, Kaine reached for two large free weights at the foot of his bed and began curling them towards his forearm.


    Zack saw a heroine from a bygone age. Probably twenty years ago given the style. Here, she wasn¡¯t much older than him. She had voluminous sandy brown hair wrapped in curls just above her shoulders. Her red domino mask matched her deep red one-piece leotard, which clung to her curvy body. The one-piece left little to the imagination, due in large part to her powerful hips and long legs laid bare by the costume, to say nothing of the rather large slit running down the one-piece, which displayed a tan and trim abdomen. Zack also noted a large medallion on the heroine¡¯s trim waistline.


    ¡°Great. Thanks for introducing me to your dream girl,¡± Zack said. ¡°But I¡¯m not really in the mood.¡±


    ¡°Take another look, wiseass,¡± Kaine said. Zack did as he requested. Something felt familiar. Zack paid special attention to her eyes. Despite her pose, she seemed too serious, despite the scanty nature of her costume. Her eyes seemed to bear into him.


    ¡°Holy shit,¡± Zack said. ¡°That¡¯s Amber Shaw.¡±


    ¡°Bingo,¡± Kaine said. ¡°Or as she was called back then, Miss Magnitude.¡±


    The name seemed familiar. Some sort of quake-powered heroine, from what Zack remembered. On a lot of teams. Made a lot of waves and then just disappeared before the decade was over.


    ¡°But then she traded her swimsuit for a pantsuit and forgot her place,¡± Kaine said, as he continued to lift weights. Zack decided not to challenge Kaine on his sexism. After all, he was after the Power Amplifier, just a debate on gender roles with a wannabe alpha male.


    ¡°Cool, cool,¡± Zack said. ¡°What¡¯s this got to do with me?¡±


    Kaine set the free-weights drop down to the floor.


    ¡°That device on her waist is the Magnometer,¡± Kaine said. ¡°It¡¯s the source of her power.¡±


    Zack remembered meeting Shaw in the Knightbrand armor. The HUD picked up something on her waist. It must have been her Magnometer going off.¡±


    ¡°She keeps it in her office. Sometimes she wears it, but I¡¯ve heard reports she takes it off at night,¡± Kaine said.¡¯¡¯That¡¯s what I want.¡±


    ¡°And just why do you want it?¡± Zack said.


    Kaine shrugged. ¡°Reasons.¡±


    Zack hadn¡¯t been forthcoming about his reasons for wanting the Power Amplifier. Still, grabbing the Magnometer carried risks, not the least of which was getting on Shaw¡¯s bad side. She already wasn¡¯t his biggest fan.


    ¡°Look, that Karen has fired too many shots at Alpha House in the past,¡± Kaine said. ¡°It¡¯s time to fire a few back.¡±


    He laid a hand on Zack¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You in?¡±


    Zack sighed. He didn¡¯t have much of a choice. He needed the Knightbrand armor repaired, and if this was the price he needed to pay, so be it.


    He nodded. ¡°Consider it done.¡±


    ¡°You can see yourself out,¡± Kaine said.


    At the foot of the stairs, he saw Perry and Blake waiting for him. On the other side, he saw No-Neck One leaning over an unconscious and heavily-breathing No-Neck Two. Blake sighed heavily.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t behave,¡± she said simply before she stood up and proceeded to walk away.


    Perry met his gaze. ¡°Sometimes, she scares me. Actually, it¡¯s all the time she scares me. Did you get it?¡±


    Zack sighed. ¡°Not yet. I have to do a job for them first.¡±


    ¡°Am I going to like any of this?¡± Perry asked.


    ¡°The less you know, the better,¡± Zack said, and for once, he knew for a fact he was right.

 Issue #31: Snatch and Grab

    Zack felt his arrival from the cold chill running down his back. He didn¡¯t hear the door open, nor did he hear any footsteps, but the sudden drop in temperature alerted him nonetheless. He turned to face the approaching supervillian, but saw no signs of him at first. It wasn¡¯t until he searched the apartment that he found him.


    He found Icer in the kitchen, with a beer in hand as always. He always wondered how Icer managed to slip into his house without so much as a peep from his neighbors.


    ¡°You never write, you never call,¡± Icer said without looking up. ¡°My feelings are starting to get hurt.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll live,¡± Zack said as he entered the kitchen. ¡°There¡¯s been some new developments in our case.¡±


    Zack figured the best way to handle this was to remain cool and professional. Don¡¯t give Icer any reason to believe this wasn¡¯t a standard operation. Icer, for his part, didn¡¯t seem too impressed either way.


    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Icer said in a neutral tone. ¡°Our case. That¡¯s very rich.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re unhappy with our arrangement, there¡¯s a nice cell at Highrock waiting for you,¡± Zak said. Icer grimaced, but he didn¡¯t raise any further objections.


    Zack continued, addressing Icer as he would any other subordinate. ¡°There¡¯s a person of interest. My dad needs something from her to¡­continue his investigation.¡±


    Zack could see Icer¡¯s eyes narrowing behind the mask. ¡°So why doesn¡¯t Daddy go and take this person in for questioning?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the evidence yet. We need to examine an item on their person in order to get evidence,¡± Zack said as he returned to center footing just in front of the sitting supervillain, who continued to drink his beer.


    ¡°And let me guess . . . ¡° Icer said, tipping the bottle forward to point it at Zack. ¡°You need me to steal this item.¡±


    Zack met his gaze. ¡°That would be correct.¡±


    Icer signed and leaned back in his seat. ¡°There seems to be an awful lot of subterfuge for this ¡®case¡¯ I¡¯ve been noticing. It seems very unbecoming for Knightbrand¡¯s, errr, brand.¡±


    Now it was Zack¡¯s turn to narrow his eyes. ¡°If you don¡¯t like getting your hands dirty, we have a wait-list of qualified villains we can slot in to take your place¡­at a moment¡¯s notice.¡±


    Icer regarded him for a moment. He wasn¡¯t sure Icer believed him, but he also knew Icer didn¡¯t want to push the issue either. For his part, Icer leaned forward in his chair.


    ¡°So who am I stealing what from?¡± Icer asked. Zack laid down the old photo of Amber Shaw he had found on the Internet. Icer took the photo and looked at it for a moment.


    ¡°Hmmm. Miss Magnitude, was it? Wasn¡¯t she on a team with your pops? New Extreme or something?¡± Icer asked.


    Was she . . . ?


    Zane never mentioned a team to his Zack. He always presented himself as something of a lone wolf. But Amber certainly had some familiarity with him. It was something he could check on later.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°That¡¯s not relevant,¡± Zack said. ¡°The Magnometer she keeps on her belt might be the key to busting this thing wide open.¡±


    Icer leaned back and crossed his arms. ¡°She¡¯s not going to part with it without a fight. And from what I¡¯ve heard, she can dish out quite a lot of pain.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, she¡¯s not going to know it¡¯s gone,¡± Zack said. ¡°She¡¯s retired now, having become the Assistant Dean. She keeps it in her office. We¡¯ll wait until she clocks out for the night. You¡¯ll insert into the office and retrieve without her or anyone ever knowing.¡±


    Icer didn¡¯t say anything for a second, before speaking up. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t your Dad just ask her for it? I thought they were tight.¡±


    Zack really didn¡¯t want to think about how tight his dad and Amber Shaw were. That was one mental image Zack didn¡¯t need locked in his brain.


    ¡°Not an option,¡± Zack said. ¡°This is a sensitive matter.¡±


    Emphasis on the sensitive part.


    Icer groaned. ¡°Not sure why you supes can¡¯t do anything the easy way.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t say anything. He knew Icer would comply, and he didn¡¯t need to force the issue anymore than he already had. He simply crossed his chest with his arms and waited for Icer to accept the mission.


    ¡°So when are we doing this?¡± Icer asked with a deflated sigh.


    ¡°Tomorrow night,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°That seems quick,¡± Icer shot back.


    ¡°You¡¯ll receive floor plans, schedules plus any other necessary data,¡± Zack moved on.


    ¡°I¡¯ll case the place tomorrow. I don¡¯t like surprises,¡± Icer replied. That seemed like the best option. He definitely didn¡¯t want anyone interrupting this mission.


    ¡°And you can do it discreetly,¡± Zack crossed his arms over his chest.


    ¡°Discreetly is my middle name,¡± Icer said with another swig of beer.


    Zack didn¡¯t say anything, save for a leveling glance at the supervillain.


    ¡°Okay, actually it¡¯s Marshall,¡± Icer said.


    ¡°Marshall?¡± Zack raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Family name,¡± Icer said as he stood up. ¡°We¡¯ll snatch this Magnometer tomorrow night. Shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°And if you need anything else¡­you know where to find me,¡± Icer said as he started to walk away.


    Zack turned to the departing Icer, ¡°Actually I don¡¯t.¡±


    Icer chuckled and pivoted towards him.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure your old man can find me if he ever cares to¡­¡± Icer said.


    Zack decided against taking the bait. He wasn¡¯t in a position where he could easily parade out the Knightbrand armor to convince Icer his dad was on the scene. He needed to play his cards just right to make this work. He decided the best course was to drop the issue entirely.


    ¡°See you tomorrow night,¡± Zack said. ¡°And have your phone on in case I need to contact you sooner.¡±


    ¡°Roger, over and out,¡± Icer said with a false salute before leaving the kitchen.


    Zack briefly panicked. Was Icer going to go out¡­the front door¡­wearing that? He started to follow Icer into the living room, only to see the supervillain had completely vanished.


    DId he just¡­teleport?


    Icer only had a small array of ice-related gimmicks, right? Had Zack completely underestimated the supervillain? More likely he had used one of his dry ice bombs to clear away a stealthy exit.


    Zack took a moment to calm himself down, as much as he could. Icer wasn¡¯t his problem. At least, not for the rest of the night. He had questions about the supervillain, ones which doubtlessly needed answers. The biggest was just where the supervillain stayed when he wasn¡¯t doing a job for Zack. Was Icer working other criminal gigs in Innshadow? And if so, were his crimes Zack¡¯s own responsibility, for bringing him here in the first place?


    But that could wait.


    Tomorrow he would acquire the Magnometer and then get the Power Amplifier from Kaine. With that, he could fix the Knightbrand armor with Perry¡¯s help and then¡­finally¡­get revenge on Dirk Saber for killing his father all those years ago.


    For now, Zack needed sleep. He walked to the nearby bedroom. By now, the temperature had thankfully returned to normal. With nothing else to do, he slid into bed and slowly dozed off without too much trouble.

 Issue #32: Long Overdue

    Zack woke up in a strange mood. He didn¡¯t know what to do. He would have to wait twelve hours to link up with Icer and hopefully steal Magnometer for Kaine. The more Zack thought about this, the more he disliked this deal. He had no love for Amber Shaw - whatever her past relationship with his father. Still, this distracted him from his goals. After all, he was here to avenge his father, not take sides in in-petty intercampus rivalries.


    Still, he needed the Power Amplifier to repair his suit, and with Max out of town, Kaine was the only one who could get it, it would seem. Zack didn¡¯t trust Kaine at all. He also wasn¡¯t sure what Kaine intended to do with the Magnometer. Simply putting it in one of Max¡¯s many display cases as a ¡°gotcha¡± to Shaw seemed juvenile beyond measure, and Zack couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Sigma Alpha possessed other designs for the device.


    It would also help if I even knew what the Magnometer did in the first place.


    Kaine said it was the source of her power, but just what was Miss Magnitude¡¯s powers?


    Zack sighed. He would drive himself insane thinking about this for the next twelve hours. He needed something to do. He didn¡¯t have class, or rather, he didn¡¯t have class with Dirk Saber. He supposed he could attend one of the several other classes he had signed up for. Then again, he hadn¡¯t gone to any other classes in the first week he¡¯d been at Innshadow U, and he didn¡¯t see the point in starting now.


    He considered wandering about aimlessly on campus. There was much of Innshadow he hadn¡¯t seen. However, Zack knew that would do little to ease his anxiety about what lay ahead. The only thing which could really distract Zack from the mission at hand¡­was another mission. What Zack needed was a sidequest.


    By the time Zack had left the shower, he had settled on one.


    He would find out just how Amber Shaw aka Miss Magnitude fit into his father¡¯s life. And he knew the perfect place to find out.


    The library.


    Zack finished getting dressed and then strode across campus. He passed the dorm rooms and the campus buildings. The architecture grew more sinister and Gothic the further he moved into the campus. A large concrete bridge spanned a wide walkway into a considerably more modern building at the center of the campus.


    Zack remembered that Scott Stephens had told him the old library had been taken over by Alpha House. The new library looked considerably bigger, so he guessed Innshadow had gotten their money¡¯s worth by the move to this place. Zack quickly power-walked over the bridge at a quick pace.


    He was on a mission after all.


    As soon as he entered the library, he saw a massive foyer span out before him. Twin sets of wooden stairs on his left and right lead up to the second level, while an elevator in the center of the room doubtlessly led down to the basement. A circulation desk staffed with several student workers sat in the middle of the room, with several rows of computers to the side. Zack began to peruse the room. There were several stacks of books on the first floor, but Zack gathered the bulk of the collection was housed in the second floor as well as the basement.


    Zack scanned some of the books on the nearby shelves. Most of them were on various superhero subjects - the history of superheroes, the economics of sidekicks, the challenges of married superheroes. These books seemed to be newer and perhaps more popular, given their newer conditions. Most of them hadn¡¯t even been checked out before, given the lack of a stamped due date on their interior cover.


    But Zack was getting distracted. He had a mission here, he reminded himself. He would not be so easily distracted the next time, he reprimanded himself, before being immediately distracted by a row of paperbacks on the next shelf.


    What surprised Zack about the paperbacks was how little they had to do with superheroes. All of them were fiction, and very few of them had anything to do with super-heroics at all. Many of them were from authors like Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Joe R. Lansdale, and Robert B. Parker. Zack wondered what purpose these books held.


    ¡°Can I¡­help you?¡± a hesitant feminine voice said behind him.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°No, I-¡± Zack started to say as he spun around to see Blake regarding him, one hand on her hip. She wore a short-sleeved gray cardigan along with a fitted black miniskirt. She regarded him warily.


    ¡°Blake?¡± Zack asked. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I work here,¡± she said as she started to rearrange the paperbacks.


    ¡°You¡­work here?¡± Zack said, as if he hadn¡¯t heard her right. She tossed aside his blonde hair to give him a hard look.


    ¡°Where do you think I met Perry?¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve always liked to read. And besides, books don¡¯t explode in my hands if I¡¯m not careful¡­unlike cell phones.¡±


    ¡°I . . . see,¡± Zack said. He had assumed Blake wasn¡¯t the reading type based on how transfixed she was with her cell phone when they first met, but that was before he realized she was trying to stop it from exploding in her hands.


    He was eager to change the subjects. ¡°What are these?¡±


    Blake gave him a strange look. ¡°These are called books. We have a lot of them in the library.¡±


    Zack rolled his eyes. ¡°I know what they are. I mean why are they here? They aren¡¯t about superheroes . . . as far as I can tell.¡±


    Blake gave him another funny look. ¡°You know, Zack, sometimes people like to read about things other than superheroes. That¡¯s why the library keeps a small collection of books for leisure reading.¡±


    She pulled a book from an author named Seanan McGuire and began to read it before putting it back with a sigh.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t have so much to do this semester I¡¯d spend all my time here,¡± she said.


    Zack nodded. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he read a book simply for fun. In fact, he couldn¡¯t remember the last time he did anything simply for fun.


    Blake turned her gaze back to him. ¡°So what are you doing here?¡± she asked him again.


    Zack turned to her. ¡°I¡¯m looking for information on my father.¡±


    Blake brought her finger to her chin and gave him a thoughtful look. ¡°That¡¯s going to be difficult. He¡¯s an Unaccredited superhero, right? So I don¡¯t know how much information we¡¯d have on him.¡±


    Zack shifted a bit uncomfortably on his feet. ¡°It¡¯s just him I want to know about. I also want to know about any connections he had to a heroine named Miss Magnitude.¡±


    Blake cocked her head at him as she briefly narrowed her eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­¡±


    Her reaction surprised Zack. Apparently Amber Shaw¡¯s superhero past was public knowledge. Zack gave a noncommittal shrug. It was not used trying to hide it now.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zack said, before giving Blake a pointed stare. ¡°But I could use some help narrowing down information on her.¡±


    Blake sighed and looked around, clearly looking for anyone else who could help Zack. Finally, she gave up, and said with some degree of resignation, ¡°Well, I guess we can give it a shot.¡±


    She walked over to the computers, with Zack reluctantly following her. She gestured for Zack to take a seat.


    Zack shrugged and took a seat, before looking back up at her.


    ¡°Should you be near a computer?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s just phones which give me trouble,¡± Blake said. ¡°But I can stand back if you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re fine,¡± Zack said as he opened up his computer. ¡°What am I looking for?¡±


    Blake looked over his shoulders. ¡°Innshadow Database Collection.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Zack said as he clicked on a small icon on the computer. In an instant, it expanded into a white window with several fields of information.


    ¡°Try putting in her name,¡± Blake said.


    ¡°Code name or real name?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°Code name,¡± Blake said from behind his shoulder.


    Zack did as instructed and struck the enter key. Several articles popped up. One immediately caught his eye.


    ¡°Said she had earth powers,¡± Zack said. ¡°So she could make like mini-quakes?¡±


    ¡°From what I read she could literally phase through the earth itself,¡± Blake said as she scanned the monitor¡¯s flatscreen. ¡°Made it really easy for her to sneak up on the bad guys.¡±


    Zack continued to read through the article, with Blake at his side. One name kept coming up though.


    ¡°Who are the Extremers?¡± he asked. He turned just in time to see Blake shrugging.


    ¡°Never heard of them,¡± she said.


    ¡°One way to find out,¡± Zack said.


    He clicked the article, and in an instant, he was greeted by the past, and a very different version than one he thought he knew.

 Issue #33: To the Extreme

    When Zack clicked on the article, he was immediately greeted by a newspaper article. The grainy color image unfolded before him. Zack immediately gawked at the computer screen.


    ¡°Oh my,¡± he heard Blake say. ¡°Those are some¡­fashion choices.¡±


    She was right. Knightbrand stood front and center, but it wasn¡¯t the armor Zack had stowed away in his basement. First of all, the helmet¡¯s face was open, revealing Zane¡¯s face for all to see. His father looked young - and not much older than Zack was now. The armor appeared different too - bulkier, with more high-tech touches than the stripped-down version Zack was used to. Knighttbrand¡¯s chest and muscle would put most bodybuilders to shame. By his side stood an equally familiar figure.


    Amber Shaw.


    Her Miss Magnitude costume appeared equally exaggerated, leaving little to the imagination. Her hair also appeared much bigger, and all and all Amber Shaw looked more like a model in one of those Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues he found in his Dad¡¯s basement once. Amber appeared equally young - about the same age as his dad - and probably still a good ten years younger than the picture Kaine had shown him.


    ¡°Your dad never mentioned this¡­ummm¡­phase?¡± Blake said, clearly looking at the costume choices.


    ¡°No,¡± Zack said. ¡°I never even knew he was on a team.¡±


    ¡°In his defense,¡± Blake said. ¡°If I was dressed like that, I would want to forget too.¡±


    Zack noticed another figure dressed in military fatigues, with equally bulging biceps. He wore a red white and blue bandanna along with a ripped sleeveless green vest and camo pants, all while holding a ridiculously large gun.


    ¡°I can zoom in on this right?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Yeah, just use Ctrl and then the Plus symbol,¡± Blake said. Zack hit the keys, zooming in on the military man¡¯s phase.


    ¡°Max¡­Mannn?¡± he said as he recognized the figure.


    ¡°The Sigma Alpha guy?¡± Blake asked. ¡°Figures. Everyone here looks like they¡¯re over-compensating for something.¡±


    Zack zoomed back out, only for his eyes to be drawn to a large African-American man standing behind Max. He wore tight-fitting armor along with massive shoulder-pads, which strangely left his stomach open, revealing a ripped six-pack.


    ¡°Nice to see belly shirts were in fashion for men,¡± Blake said. ¡°I guess that¡¯s some measure of gender equality.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t laugh, not when he knew that figure all too well. ¡°That¡¯s Roll Cage.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Blake said. ¡°And who is that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Rachel¡¯s dad,¡± Zack said.


    He watched as Blake peered at the screen.


    ¡°Really? I thought he was a cop or something,¡± she exclaimed.


    Zack nodded. ¡°He was a cop. Then he became a superhero.¡±


    He had to admit that made Rachel¡¯s father all the more intimidating when he was in high school. It was hard enough dating a girl whose father was a cop, but one who was a cop and a cape was stressful in equal measure. Zane always spoke highly of him though, and now he knew why.


    Zack saw several other figures in the picture. Two other superheroes - a man and a woman - but he didn¡¯t recognize them either. Which was probably for the best. Zack couldn¡¯t take much more surprises at this point.


    ¡°You see those two before?¡± Zack asked Blake. She squinted her eyes at them.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    ¡°They look familiar,¡± Blake said right before shaking her head. ¡°But I don¡¯t know who they are.¡±


    He looked back to Max Mann¡¯s ¡®roided-out army guy. ¡°Max Mann, Soldier of Fortune¡± the article read. He knew Max had some connection with his father. Obviously they were friends, but he never mentioned he was on a team with his father, much less Amber Shaw. Why had he withheld that last part? It seemed like something you¡¯d want to mention by way of explanation.


    He turned back to Blake, ¡°Is there any information on these guys?¡±


    Blake took hold of the mouse and hit the back button. She narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± she said. ¡°Looks like we have this screen and a stub and that¡¯s it.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°Does the stub have any other information?¡±


    Blake shook her head. ¡°Just that they broke over¡­.twenty-five years ago by the looks of it.¡±


    Zack was afraid of that. Another dead-end.


    ¡°Miss Magnitude was the only Accredited hero on the team,¡± Blake said. ¡°So that¡¯s why we knew about them at all. But these guys are just a foot-note in her biography.¡±


    Zack nodded. He stood up from the computer.


    ¡°Well, it was more than I knew before I came here,¡± Zack said. ¡°So I guess it¡¯s a start.¡±


    Blake appeared deep in thought, lifting her fingers to her chin.


    ¡°There might be one other place we could check,¡± she said.


    She headed for the stairs, and Zack followed her. As he did, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling he was being watched. The problem was, there were too many possibilities. Zack spotted a thin man with jet black hair reading a paperback in a nearby chair, but he also noted someone browsing behind a nearby stack. If he was being watched, there were too many angles to keep track of. He chalked it up to nerves and followed Blake down the stairs.


    ¡°Is this the basement?¡± Zack asked.


    Blake flipped on a light switch. ¡°This¡­is storage.¡±


    Rows of boxes stretched out before the pair on metallic shelves. Some were books. Some were magazines. Some Zack wasn¡¯t even sure what they were.


    Blake walked down towards a row of magazines. ¡°When I need to unwind, this is my favorite spot. You never know what you¡¯ll find down here.¡±


    Blake ran her fingers over one of the shelves briefly before pulling down a box. She opened it up and pulled several flimsy items from the box before handing them to Zack.


    ¡°The Extremers,¡± she said. ¡°Issue One through Six.¡±


    Zack looked at the comic book before him, only to be immediately greeted by his father in the same dorky costume. Miss Magnitude appeared in his arms, wearing the same slinky costume she had on the cover, as the pair zoomed towards the reader.


    ¡°My dad¡­had comic books made about him?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°His team did,¡± Blake said. ¡°Lots of teams made licensing deals with media companies back in the day. It was a great way to get exposure and make a little money if the team was strapped to begin with.¡±


    Zack wanted nothing more than to read these comics all day, but he knew he had a mission to prepare for tonight. He turned to Blake.


    ¡°Can I check these out?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They are library-use only,¡± Blake said.


    ¡°I see,¡± Zack said, trying badly to hide his disappointment.


    ¡°But¡­I might be able to pull some strings,¡± Blake said, arms crossing her chest. ¡°If you come back later.¡±


    Zack¡¯s spirits immediately rose.


    ¡°Thanks, Blake,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Blake said, her arms still crossed, as she started to leave.


    ¡°Blake¡­¡± Zack said. Blake turned to him.


    ¡°Look, I didn¡¯t make the best impression with you, and I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zack said. ¡°I was just . . . watching out for Perry, but you two really are good together.¡±


    Blake seemed to blush a bit. She nodded and then moved up the stairs. Zack followed her.


    ¡°You know this would be a great time, Blake, for you to tell me you misjudged me,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°I would,¡± Blake said as she trotted up the stairs and came to perch at the circulation desk. ¡°But I still can¡¯t shake the feeling you¡¯re still a bit of a self-absorbed twat.¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± Zack said. ¡°I¡¯ll need to work on that.¡±


    ¡°You do that,¡± Blake said, with a jesting smile. ¡°Now, if there¡¯s nothing else, I need to get back to work.¡±


    Zack nodded and headed out the door.


    Who were the Extremers and why had his father never mentioned them?


    And just how did they factor into his murder?

 Issue #34: The Watcher

    Of all the places to hide, Icer liked the library the best. The setting provided him a peaceful escape from the toils of Knightbrand¡¯s operation. After ditching his costume and gear, Icer could simply find a corner of the library, grab a book off the shelves, and read for hours on end. He wasn¡¯t the only one. Icer observed several other working class stiffs, clad in overalls and John Deere hats, enjoying the air conditioning while parked with a good book in their hands. Likely the university library welcomed people from the community abroad to use the library, even if check-outs and computer access was largely restricted to actual, tuition-paying students.


    So it came as a major surprise when Zack Kestler strode into the library, looking rather lost. Icer quickly raised the cover of the Hap & Leonard book he¡¯d been perusing, He watched Zack banter with the blonde library worker for a bit and then head on downstairs. He didn¡¯t know what Knightbrand¡¯s kid was looking for. Maybe it was related to the case and maybe it was simply homework. It was hard to know with Zack Kestler, which was one of Icer¡¯s frequent complaints since becoming Knightbrand¡¯s confidential informant


    He expected the hero to be more organized. After all, he¡¯d been doing this for the better part of two decades by this point. Instead, Icer found himself being jerked around from task to task. Which in itself was nothing new. His father told horror stories about working with inconsiderate cops in his bid to go straight.


    And look how that turned out.


    Icer remembered his mission. This would be different. Everything would work out in the end.


    But it all hinged on Knightbrand holding up his end of the bargain. And therein was the problem. Knightbrand himself seemed erratic and scatterbrained, a far cry from the consummate professional his father had told him about. Was it simply a case of a public persona not matching the true reality¡­


    Or was something else going on here.


    Increasingly, Icer couldn¡¯t shake that it was the latter, but he had no idea what exactly that entailed. He sighed and turned back to his book. These thoughts weren¡¯t doing him much good except to raise his blood pressure.


    A moment later, Zack and the blonde re-emerged from the stairs. More banter. Zack left soon after.


    What was that about?


    Icer turned to see a young man staring intently at a row of books a couple feet behind the blonde and Zack. At first Icer didn¡¯t think anything of it. Lots of people looking at books in a library, after all. But the kid hadn¡¯t moved in several minutes, and he didn¡¯t seem to be looking at the books so much as through them.


    The moment Zack left, he left.


    Icer watched the young man go. He was small, with glasses and a mess of brown hair.


    Another tail?


    Icer shrugged and went back to his back. That really wasn¡¯t his concern.


    At least not yet it wasn¡¯t.


    ***


    Several hours later, Icer crouched in the shrubberies outside the Dean¡¯s office. They were particularly thorny and smelled of lilacs. Icer maintained his footing as he raised the phone to his ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m in position,¡± he told Zack. ¡°Looks like the janitor is locking up for the night.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Good,¡± he heard Zack from the other end. ¡°We are go. You are clear.¡±


    Icer didn¡¯t see his contact anywhere, but that didn¡¯t mean Zack Kestler wasn¡¯t waiting in the wings somewhere. He hoped he was. As much as Icer disliked the kid, he might need support, even though this should be a simple smash-and-grab. Then again, it was usually the easiest jobs that proved to be the hardest.


    Icer crab-walked towards the door, maintaining his crouched position. He held his right gauntlet to less than an inch from his mouth and blew the cold air onto the keypad of the Dean¡¯s office. In an instant, Icer could see the security code. He pounded in the correct sequence and then opened the door, moving into the office without any trouble.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m in,¡± Icer reported. ¡°What am I looking for?¡±


    ¡°The Magnometer. It¡¯s small and circular, looks high-tech, should fit onto a belt of some sort,¡± Zack told him. ¡°It will likely be located in the Assistant Dean¡¯s office.¡±


    Icer moved through the small office, past the empty receptionist¡¯s desk. Several potted plants dotted the path towards twin offices in the right and left of the small building. At first Icer wasn¡¯t sure which one belonged to the Assistant Dean.


    He chose the right path. The door was unlocked. Icer entered. It seemed rather wreckless for either Dean to leave their office unlocked. Still. Icer entered to see if there was anything of value or interest worth snatching.


    The moment Icer entered the office, he realized his mistake. The darkness immediately enshrouded him. He turned to the doorway he had entered from now looming several feet, then several yards away. He squinted suddenly as the doorway was miles away, a tiny dot on the horizon, as he floated in a sea of shadows. He started to sink, fearing he might drown.


    Icer now stood in the center of the office, near the entrance, with a perplexed look on his face.


    What had just happened?


    ¡°Are you planning on moving?¡± Zack asked from the other end of the phone.


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Icer said with a degree of uncertainty. One thing was for sure, he was not going back to that office.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he heard Kestler on the other end. ¡°We don¡¯t have all day.¡±


    Icer cursed to himself and began to get a move on.


    He moved towards the left office, which he confirmed was in fact locked. Icer blasted a nearby potted plant with a very small gust of ice. He removed a tiny icicle from the plant¡¯s branches and inserted it into the lock. After a few seconds of probing the lock¡¯s interior, Icer heard a click.


    He had unlocked the door.


    Icer entered the door. The room was brightly-colored, several pictures lining the walls. Icer moved through the office silently, looking for the item in question. He moved through the desk drawers, finding mostly just files and the occasional clutter of staples and loose paper clips. He slid the keyboard tray towards him. It felt heavier than he expected.


    ¡°Finding it yet?¡± Zack chimed in.


    ¡°Let me work,¡± Icer said.


    He laid on his back and stared up at the wooden tray. Icer reached forward and knocked on the tray.


    Hollow.


    Promising.


    Icer let loose another small blast of ice, this time creating a smaller icicle. Using the finer point of the ice, he popped open the false bottom of the keyboard tray. A small circular object fell out of the tray, and onto Icer¡¯s chest.


    The Magnometer.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Icer said.


    His triumph was short-lived. Icer heard a door click behind him. He looked up to see a pair of long legs move through the shadows.


    ¡°We got company,¡± Icer whispered over the phone.


    ¡°Who?¡± Zack said.


    Icer didn¡¯t need to know who the long legs belonged to. He knew instinctively who was coming to find him.


    ¡°Yes, Bob,¡± he heard her say. ¡°I have the reports ready. I just need to grab them from my I-Drive.¡±


    ¡°Her,¡± Icer whispered. ¡°It¡¯s her.¡±


    Amber Shaw was making a bee-line towards the desk. Icer struggled to move out from under the desk, but there was no way he could move out of the way in time before she got here.


    He was about to be made.

 Issue #35: Lovers Memory Lane

    A short distance from the Dean¡¯s office, Zack struggled not to panic. Just as Icer found the Magnometer, Amber Shaw showed up to get something. If Icer was caught, he¡¯d turn on Zack in a heartbeat, and his whole plan would go up in smoke, unless he could salvage this whole mess somehow.


    The cool air of dusk pierced Zack¡¯s jacket as he paced around the sidewalks, while trying not to look like a crazy person. Zack glanced around his surroundings. There was no one else in sight, so at least that wasn¡¯t a concern. A short distance away, the Dean¡¯s Office stood in view, already cascaded by falling shadows of evening.


    Icer clearly needed his help. He was close to being spotted, if he hadn¡¯t already.


    The problem was, what could Zack do?


    He could try to distract Shaw somehow. That seemed the better course of action. But how?


    Zack wandering into the Dean¡¯s office in the middle of the night would only raise more questions. He needed something better.


    He reached for his phone and called Perry.


    ¡°I need the Knightbrand armor,¡± he said.


    ¡°Zack. I¡¯m not sure if you are suffering from temporary amnesia or something, but I¡¯m working on the Knightbrand armor right this very second,¡± Perry answered calmly. ¡°It¡¯s down for repairs.¡±


    ¡°A situation has come up. Can I use the armor without it, you know, exploding?¡± Zack said.


    There was a pause on the phone.


    ¡°A true meltdown seems unlikely,¡± Perry said. ¡°But the battery life will be¡­unpredictable. A complete cease of function seems more likely.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to have to risk it,¡± Zack said. ¡°Send it now.¡±


    ¡°How do I¡­¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Never mind. I got it,¡± Zack said, removing the small brick received from his bag. It was his fault. He hadn¡¯t briefed Perry on how to send the armor. He hadn¡¯t briefed Perry on a lot of things.


    But that was a conversation for another day.


    Zack moved out into the open. The Knightbrand armor descended from the night sky like some sort of fearsome bird of prey, grappling onto his body as it covered him in steel from head to toe.


    He moved towards the entrance of the office. The Knightbrand armor already felt unwieldy and lopsided. He had trouble walking in it in the best of circumstances. He didn¡¯t know how his dad did it. Then again, maybe his dad didn¡¯t do that much walking. Maybe he only used the boot jets, only landing on the ground to stabilize before taking to the sky once more.


    Clad in Knightbrand armor, he walked into the office. He could see Amber Shaw in the HUD. He noticed her belt wasn¡¯t tripping his inner sensors any more. So unless something was still malfunctioning in his suit, it stood to reason the Magnometer was what had set off Knightbrand¡¯s alarm bells in the first place.


    Apparently Amber Shaw still carried it occasionally and kept it stowed away in her office. Is that way Kaine wanted it so badly?


    Those were questions for another day.


    ¡°Amber,¡± Zack said through the Knightbrand coms. ¡°We have to talk.¡±


    Amber turned to him, surprised. ¡°Zane? What are you doing here?¡±


    That is a very good question.


    What am I doing here?


    ¡°Do you have an update on your investigation?¡± Amber said. ¡°Have you found Icer yet?¡±


    Zack used the HUD to scan the room. A small targeting icon lit up on Icer, trapped under the desk like a turtle flipped over on his shell.


    This was not good.


    ¡°I have made progress. I have reason to believe he¡¯s close. I thought he might try something soon and¡­¡± Zack can¡¯t believe he was saying this. ¡°I wanted to make sure you were okay.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Was that too chatty? Apparently Dirk Saber thought he was chatty earlier. He knew his father was a man of few words.


    Amber Shaw regarded him for a while. She could see her gaze into his masked, steel face searching for something. Then she reached up and pulled a tie from her hair, letting her wild brown locks fall down to her shoulders.


    ¡°Is that¡­all you wanted?¡± she said with a smile.


    No. No. No.


    That is not what I want at all.


    He looked to see Icer had rolled over onto his side. He was slowly making his way out of the office. But given the awkward position he had found him in, Icer would need time to make a clean get-away.


    ¡°Maybe¡­?¡± Zack said, winching pain he said it.


    ¡°Well,¡± Amber said, moving close to him as she removed her black jacket and slung over a chair. ¡°I can work with maybe.¡±


    She removed the first button of her blouse.


    ¡°Amber,¡± Zack said. ¡°This is serious. Icer is going to make a move tonight.¡±


    ¡°I think we can take him,¡± Amber wrapped her arms around his waist. ¡°Do you remember Paris when we took down the Carver Brothers. I recall you were very¡­flexible¡­the night after.¡±


    I really, really don¡¯t need to know this.


    Instinctively, Zack broke away. Amber seemed to notice this.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± she said.


    Zack could see Icer slowly making his way to a nearby window. He needed to keep this going. Amber knew something was up. She drew in closer. Zack felt trapped. He said the first thing on his mind.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about¡­the Extremers,¡± he said.


    Amber¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°There¡¯s a name I haven¡¯t heard in a while.¡±


    She turned to him. ¡°You saw Max Mann didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s off-campus,¡± Zack said instinctively. ¡°Away on some trip.¡±


    ¡°No he¡¯s not,¡± Amber said. ¡°He never goes anywhere.¡±


    Zack raised his eyebrow. Then why had Kaine told him Max was gone? Had Kaine lied to him? Had this whole mission been a waste of time?


    Amber moved to the side of him, her arms crossing her waist as she leaned on the desk.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think about that. Having Max here wasn¡¯t my call,¡± Amber said. ¡°It was Weave¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°He said you would help him,¡± Zack offered.


    ¡°You know Max,¡± Amber looked away distantly. ¡°He says a lot of things.¡±


    They were silent for a moment.


    ¡°After what he did, it can¡¯t be easy to see him on the team, in a position of power again,¡± Amber said. ¡°Who knows how far our team . . . how far we . . . could have gotten . . . if he hadn¡¯t . . . ¡°


    What was this all about? What had Max done?


    He wanted to ask more, but he spotted Icer slipping out of a nearby window.


    ¡°I should go,¡± Zack said. It was so easy to slip back into that stoic mode. And this entire conversation had been so awkward and wince-inducing, Zack was eager to leave.


    ¡°You sure?¡± Amber said. ¡°You could stay . . . we could talk about the past . . . it wasn¡¯t all bad as I recall.¡±


    Her hand was reaching for her button again.


    ¡°Icer is out there,¡± Zack said. ¡°I need to find him before he makes his move.¡±


    Amber rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s the same old song with you. Duty before pleasure.¡±


    A red light caught Zack¡¯s attention. He needed to move now.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Amber. I have to do this,¡± he said.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Amber said, clearly disappointed. ¡°Just¡­don¡¯t shut me out. Not like last time.¡±


    Zack nodded. He awkwardly made it to the door and then blasted into the night. As he lighted into the air, he was ever so thankful he didn¡¯t explode. He turned back to see Amber Shaw watching him as he blasted into the night, a sad expression on her face.


    What happened between her and my father? And what happened between Max and his father?


    More questions. There were always more questions.


    ***


    Zack landed a short distance away in a treeline, dispatching the armor back into the sky. Hopefully it would reach Perry without raising any more questions.


    He had enough of those from Perry as it stood.


    When Zack reached his house, he opened the door, only for Icer to push the Magnometer right into his arms. He didn¡¯t look happy.


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± he said.


    Zack stood firm. ¡°I didn¡¯t know she was going to be there.¡±


    ¡°Not that. That whole conversation,¡± Icer said. ¡°I gotta say. You come by it naturally, kid. Awkward seems to follow your dad the same it does you.¡±


    Zack struggled to reply but Icer was already leaving.


    ¡°Just remember your dad knows I put my neck on the line for him,¡± Icer said. ¡°That was a close call tonight.¡±


    Zack nodded, but by the time he looked up, Icer was gone.


    Zack held the Magnometer in his hand.


    At least now he had leverage to get some answers from Kaine.


    But now it wasn¡¯t Kaine he was worried about.


    It was Max.

 Issue #36: Past is Prologue

    When Zack arrived at the Alpha House the next day, the air felt both stale and stifling. Zack knew Scott was somewhere about, probably cleaning some ungodly mess left behind by some mixer or party the Alphas had thrown, but still, the place felt gross and uninviting. Zack reached into his shirt packet and felt the circular weight of the Magnometer.


    Several frat brothers greeted him once he arrived. He nodded at them and briefly exchanged pleasantries. Zack observed his frat brothers¡¯ sleepy expression and dark circles. They must have held some wild parties again and this was the result.


    ¡°There he is,¡± boomed a voice from the top of the stairs.


    Zack glanced up to see Kaine standing triumphantly at the top of the stairs, his arm crossed, his expression strangely serene. Zack made his way up the stairs to meet him.


    ¡°Do you have what I asked for,¡± Kaine asked as he locked eyes with him.


    ¡°I do,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s conclude our business,¡± Kaine said.


    Zack followed the burly man up the stairs. When he reached the top of the stairs, he stopped. Kaine was clearly on his way to his office, or rather oversized makeshift dorm room. Zack had no desire to ever see the inside of that particular room again. More than likely, Kaine would show him another picture of Amber Shaw in her skimpy old costume, and Zack had seen enough of Shaw last night.


    ¡°What¡¯s the hold-up?¡± Kaine asked. Zack returned his gaze.


    ¡°I think I should give this to Max instead,¡± Zack said. He read Kaine¡¯s face, observing the momentary surprise before immediately recovering.


    ¡°Did you have a stroke last night or something?¡± Kaine asked. ¡°Max isn¡¯t here. You made this deal with me.¡±


    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Zack shrugged. ¡°I think I¡¯d like to talk to Max all the same.¡±


    ¡°Max isn¡¯t here, dumbass,¡± Kaine growled. ¡°Now do you want the Power Amplifier or not.¡±


    ¡°Oh I do,¡± Zack smirked. ¡°It¡¯s only a question how you want this¡­¡±


    Zack removed the Magnometer and brandished it in front of Kaine. He returned the Magnometer to his pocket.


    ¡°Or rather, how much your boss wants this,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Look, I told you. Max isn¡¯t here,¡± Kaine said. ¡°And you¡¯re not going to get a better deal from him. If you want something from the display case, you gotta go through me. It¡¯s how it works.¡±


    Zack paused to consider his words, but it was only a front. Zack had planned this all out. He¡¯d predicted Kaine¡¯s response to a tee.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll take my chances,¡± Zack said as he moved towards Max¡¯s supposedly empty office.


    Kaine teleported directly in front of Zack, blocking his path. His fists were balled at his side, his figure primed for maximum intimidation.


    Zack kept walking.


    ¡°You got some nerve!¡± Kaine said as he pulled back his fist for a punch.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Kaine!¡± came a voice from the shadows.


    As if on cue, Max emerged from just around the corner. Kaine¡¯s face immediately balanced a bit, but he recovered a few seconds later.


    ¡°Boss! What are you doing here?¡± Kaine said. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were due back yet.¡±


    Max glanced at Zack.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk in my office,¡± Max said. ¡°Thank you Kaine.¡±


    He only gave a courtesy glance in the big man¡¯s direction.


    ¡°But boss¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Kaine,¡± Max said once more, an edge of annoyance to his voice. ¡°That will be all.¡±


    Zack walked into Max¡¯s spacious office. He laid the Magnometer on Max¡¯s desk and then slumped into one of Max¡¯s plush leather chairs.


    ¡°Next time you want something, ask me directly,¡± Zack said. ¡°Or get it yourself.¡±


    Max returned with two gin and tonics. His expression remained warm and cordial despite Zack¡¯s obvious dig.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°From what Kaine told me,¡± Max handed him a drink. ¡°You came to him for assistance.¡±


    Zack regarded Kaine for a moment before he took a sip of the gin and tonic.


    ¡°Yeah, well, I just don¡¯t like dealing with middle men,¡± Zack said. ¡°Not when I can be dealing with you.¡±


    Max nodded. ¡°I understand that. I was off-campus.¡±


    Zack leveled a gaze at Max. ¡°That¡¯s not what my father said.¡±


    Max sat down his glass and returned the gaze. ¡°Your father keeping taps on me?¡±


    Zack leaned back in his seat and crossed his leg. ¡°Something like that.¡±


    He took another drink of the gin and tonic.


    Let Max draw his own conclusions. Zack kept his gaze on Max¡¯s youthful face. He gathered there was a much older, much more paranoid man beneath his chiseled and polished exterior.


    Still, if Max was disturbed by this turn of events, he didn¡¯t show it.


    ¡°Why exactly do you want this Power Amplfier in the first place, if I might ask?¡± Max said. ¡°Amp was quite a dangerous customer back in the day.¡±


    Zack chose his words very carefully. How much could he really share with Max? A couple of days ago, Zack would have considered telling Max everything. But after what he learned from Shaw, he wasn¡¯t really sure of anything now.


    ¡°I¡­we need it to repair some damage to my dad¡¯s armor,¡± he said.


    Max nodded, but then looked up with a confused expression.


    ¡°But why didn¡¯t he come to me directly?¡± Max asked. ¡°We are friends, after all.¡±


    Zack fixed a cool stare on Max as he drained his gin and tonic.


    ¡°Are you¡­friends?¡± he asked.


    Max¡¯s confusion deepened across the brows of his face. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Zack decided it was time to play his ace card. ¡°You want to tell me about the Extremers?¡±


    Max sighed and stood up, pacing across his spacious office.


    ¡°You finally heard about that footnote in our relationship, I see,¡± Max said as he itched his hair and moved across the office.


    ¡°I did,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°What all did you hear?¡± Max said, drawing his hands in his pocket as he started to glance at the various memorabilia in his office.


    ¡°Not much. Just that you were on a team together¡­and it didn¡¯t end well,¡± Zack twisted in his seat to face Max.


    ¡°Your father never was much for words,¡± Max said as he drifted over back towards the desk. ¡°But I suppose that sums it up.¡±


    ¡°So what happened?¡± Zack asked.


    Max returned to his seat and answered Zack¡¯s question with one of his own. ¡°Were you ever in a band, Zack?¡±


    ¡°No, I was more into sports,¡± Zack said with an air of impatience.


    ¡°Well, the Extremers were our band. It was our dreams against the world. But sooner or later, the world wins,¡± Max said.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Zack asked, once more. Max sighed.


    ¡°What happens in every band,¡± Max raised his hands to prepare for air quotes. ¡°Creative differences. We wanted to go in different directions. I wanted to take the team to take on investors and your dad wanted to stay private. It split the team and ended us before we even got our big break.¡±


    Zack considered this. It made sense. Zane wasn¡¯t much for sucking up to investors. He wanted to have a degree of control. That¡¯s why Zack was surprised to hear his father had even been part of a team in the first place. He was, after all, a bit of a control freak.


    His curiosity sated, Zack looked to the Magnometer on the desk.


    ¡°So what do you want with that?¡± Zack asked.


    Max shrugged. ¡°This is just a tit for tat. Shaw has been stonewalling me for months about my treatment. This will just get her attention.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°Well, I hope it works out.¡±


    He started to stand up. ¡°But I¡¯ll take that Power Amplifier now.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Max said. He led him out to the display case. Max popped open the glass and handed him the bulky metallic chunk known as the Power Amplifier. Zack really hoped Perry knew what he was doing. Otherwise this had been a huge waste of time.


    ¡°I appreciate our talks,¡± Max said. ¡°I know me and your old man had our differences, but what we want hasn¡¯t changed. I¡¯m still his best shot to turn this place around.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll tell him that.¡±


    Max hit his head. ¡°I almost forgot. I got you something.¡±


    Max quickly ran back to his desk and pulled out a small circular object, which he subsequently handed to Zack.


    It was a small coin, about the size of a silver dollar. It was gunmetal gray, and showed Max¡¯s head where George Washington or something President¡¯s profile usually sat. Above the profile read ¡°In Max We Trust¡±.


    ¡°That¡¯s cute,¡± Zack says. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a challenge coin,¡± Max said. ¡°We had him in the service. We got them when we did, well, challenging stuff. And I think pulling one over on that cow Shaw certainly qualifies.¡±


    Zack pocketed the coin.


    ¡°Thanks Max,¡± he said. ¡°I appreciate the gesture.¡±


    Max nodded. ¡°Give your old man my best. Maybe he and I meet up sometime soon, squash this beef.¡±


    Zack gave him a sad look, but he did his best not to show it. He simply nodded.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe.¡±


    And with that, Zack left Max¡¯s office. Outside he saw Kaine glowering at him like a schoolboy who¡¯d just been tattled on.


    ¡°Thanks for everything, Kaine,¡± Zack said as he trotted down the stairs. ¡°That went really well.¡±


    Kaine¡¯s face locked into a sneer, but he didn¡¯t respond. Instead he simply watched Zack go without a word.


    Zack felt the Power Amplifier in his pocket alongside the challenge coin. That conversation had gone surprisingly well, and for once, things looked like they were on the upswing.

 Issue #37: Whats My Condition

    Zack left the Power Amplifier with Perry, who for once, didn¡¯t ask questions. He simply took the device and went immediately to work. Zack took this as a good sign. In a few short hours, the Knightbrand suit would be repaired and he would be back on the hunt.


    He awoke that morning in a particularly good mood. The September sun continued to shine above, with the oppressive hotness slowly diminishing. The slight chill of the approaching autumn lingered in the air, but Zack didn¡¯t mind.


    It made for great sleeping weather.


    And Zack needed all the sleep he could get after the week he¡¯d been having.


    He almost considered skipping class today to sleep in but decided against it. He didn¡¯t need Dirk Saber asking questions, not that a student skipping class was too much out of the ordinary. Still, why even take the chance? Besides, if Dirk knew he was skipping, so inevitably did Rachel. Every time he opened his mouth he could feel her powers at work. Zack had no idea how to smooth things over with her.


    Other than telling her the truth, of course.


    Which just left Zack right back where he started with Rachel.


    Zack turned his efforts to class as he slid his books into his bag and headed out the door. The truth was, Zack looked forward to Dirk Saber¡¯s class. It hadn¡¯t been nearly as useless or as boring as he had dreaded. Were all Innshadow University classes like this? Maybe he should audit some more classes, or just show up for the classes he signed up for.


    He chided himself for that very thought.


    Dirk Saber is your enemy.


    This place is nothing but a means to an end.


    The problem was, Zack wasn¡¯t so sure these days if Dirk Saber was the one who killed his father. He had the skills and the gear, true, but not much coming up in terms of motive.


    Still, Zack could take comfort knowing he would soon know the truth. Once Perry was done repairing the Knightbrand amor, he could download the data logs, analyze them, and finally know if Dirk Saber had killed his father.


    The only problem was this left him with one ominous question.


    If Dirk Saber didn¡¯t kill Zane Kestler, then who did?


    Zack arrived for class and did his best to put that thought out of his mind, especially when he saw Rachel handing out assignments the moment he entered the gym matted-classroom. He took an assignment. She looked at him for a brief second before returning to her duties. Zack sighed.


    Well, at least she wasn¡¯t ignoring him anymore.


    Zack took a seat cross-legged on the floor as the lesson began. Dirk Saber led the group in early morning meditation techniques before continuing on to discuss how to deal with flying combatants on the ground.


    It was a particularly interesting discussion, given how Zack had seen both ends of the combat, both as a flier within his father¡¯s Knightbrand armor and a sidekick on the ground. The other students seemed equally engaged with Dirk¡¯s discussion, and before Zack knew it, the class was over.


    As the students slowly filtered out, Zack approached Dirk Saber, who himself was busy sorting papers and filing them into his satchel.


    ¡°I really should have Rachel do this,¡± Dirk said as he walked over. ¡°But she has class.¡±


    His dark eyes rose to meet Zack¡¯s. ¡°How are things between you two?¡±


    Zack shifted in his posture. ¡°They¡¯re¡­fine I guess.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Dirk chuckled. ¡°That means things are easier going really bad or just okay.¡±


    Zack squirmed once more at the thought of it. ¡°Probably more like somewhere in between.¡±


    ¡°Sounds about right,¡± Dirk said as he finished sorting. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    ¡°You got a couple minutes,¡± Zack gestured to him. ¡°I have a few things I wanted to run by you.¡±


    Dirk nodded. ¡°Sure. I have an hour to kill.¡±


    Dirk led him back to his office. Zack immediately took a seat while Dirk shifted a few papers off his desk before sitting down as well.


    ¡°How are you adjusting to your powers?¡± Dirk asked.


    ¡°I . . . honestly haven¡¯t done much with them,¡± Zack said, though he did remember using the javelin skills Dirk had taught him to clobber one of Kaine¡¯s goons on the Alpha roof. ¡°Though they have proved handy.¡±


    ¡°You sound like you¡¯re getting your head around them,¡± Dirk leaned back in his chair. ¡°It¡¯s a little hard. It¡¯s not like you can just shoot lasers out of your eyes or jump really high. You have to rethink how your body works and what you can do.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe Dad didn¡¯t tell me.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure that Zane doesn¡¯t know,¡± Dirk raised a hand in a half-shrug. ¡°Have you talked to him yet?¡±


    Not without a seance.


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯ll say,¡± Zack said. ¡°I just¡­don¡¯t know how he¡¯ll look at me now.¡±


    One more conversation I¡¯ll never have with my dad.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s a good guy,¡± Dirk responded. ¡°He might surprise you.¡±


    Zack nodded once more, still deep in thought.


    ¡°You know, my father always hated¡­hates the lottery. I think he;s afraid of winning it,¡± Zack said, remembering his father¡¯s least-favorite birthday gift. ¡°He would seriously tear up a lottery ticket as soon as he got one.¡±


    If Dirk was perplexed by this seeming non sequitur, he didn¡¯t show it. Instead, he simply laughed.


    ¡°Yeah, that sounds like Zane,¡± he said. ¡°Can¡¯t have it too easy, can he?¡±


    ¡°No, he can¡¯t,¡± Zack said. ¡°Because he wants to do everything by himself. He doesn¡¯t want to rely on anyone else¡¯s strength or skills - just his own.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that sounds like your dad,¡± Dirk said.


    ¡°I¡¯m just worried¡­he¡¯s not going to accept my powers,¡± Zack said. ¡°He¡¯ll see them as a cheat.¡±


    ¡°I think you need to give your father some credit,¡± Dirk said. ¡°I¡¯ve known Zane for a while now. He might be a bit of an oddball, but he¡¯s still your dad.¡±


    Zack nodded. The pain itself clawed to get out, but Zack kept locked on the inside, even as it tore his heart. He had become quite proficient at keeping it buried under lock and key, even if it hurt all the more.


    One more conversation I¡¯ll never get to have.


    ¡°Thanks . . . Dirk,¡± Zack said. ¡°I really needed to hear that.¡±


    He started to stand up. Dirk also began to stand up.


    ¡°Any time,¡± he said. ¡°Was there anything else?¡±


    Zack remembered the real question he wanted to ask.


    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± he said. ¡°Have you ever heard of the Extremers?¡±


    Dirk looked a bit perplexed, as if he was trying to recall the information.


    ¡°Yeah, wasn¡¯t that your dad¡¯s old team back in the day?¡± he said after a brief moment of pause.


    ¡°One and the same,¡± Zack said. ¡°I just learned about them.¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± Dirk said. ¡°You and your dad really have to work on your communication skills.¡±


    Understatement of the century.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to figure out why they split,¡± he said. ¡°I was wondering if it was around the time Max got sick.¡±


    Dirk was hunched over his desk. He suddenly froze in place and gave Zack and odd look.


    ¡°You mean Max Mann, the Soldier of Fortune,¡± Dirk said. ¡°He was on the team.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zack said. ¡°I guess him and my dad got into a fight of some sort. Not sure about what. I was wondering if it was when he got sick.¡±


    Dirk looked at him funny for another moment. ¡°Max Mann isn¡¯t sick.¡±


    Zack looked confused. ¡°But I talked to him. He told me he¡¯s dying.¡±


    Dirk stopped. And then started to laugh, his face broken in a wide grin.


    ¡°It¡¯s not funny,¡± Zack said in a serious tone.


    Dirk seemed to struggle to stop the laughter. Then he looked at Zack.


    ¡°Max Mann isn¡¯t dying. He¡¯s aging like the rest of us,¡± Dirk said. ¡°That¡¯s his big condition.¡±

 Issue #38: Come Clean

    Dirk¡¯s words rattled Zack all the way back to his apartment. He wanted information on the Extremers. Instead what he had learned about Max Mann that had him questioning everything.


    Maybe that¡¯s just what Dirk Saber intended.


    Perhaps now that Dirk knew Zack was aligned with Max Mann, he would seek to turn them against one another. Perhaps Dirk Saber was in Zack¡¯s head all along, and this was simply another one of his mind-games.


    Perhaps.


    The problem was. most of what Zack had learned from Dirk Saber lined up. Max Mann had been cagey about the specifics of his conditions. He had only said his condition was ¡°terminal¡±. In fact, Zack had said that part.


    There was a good chance Max had been playing him from the start. Zack felt so flustered, he barely noticed Perry sitting on the front steps of his apartment. He unlocked his door and then turned to his friend, who stood up from the front steps.


    ¡°Well,¡± Zack said. ¡°Is it fixed?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Perry said, without going into any more specifics.


    Finally.


    It¡¯s time to get some answers.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Zack said. Perry, for his part, didn¡¯t seem too happy.


    ¡°I found something else,¡± Perry reported dryly. Zack followed him into the apartment.


    What is it now?


    Zack sighed and undid the secret door towards the basement after a courtesy glance for Icer waiting in the wings.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Perry asked.


    ¡°Just wanted to make sure we weren¡¯t being interrupted,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°By who?¡± Perry questioned.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Zack said as he headed down the stairs. Perry, for his part, didn¡¯t offer any questions.


    The Knightbrand suit stood, fully assembled, in the middle of the limestone basement. Zack could see Perry had fixed the arm, which had felt stiff during his impromptu conversation with Shaw the night before. Zack shivered just thinking about how that conversation with Shaw went, under the guise of his father.


    Zack still couldn¡¯t take enough showers quickly to get over that.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the problem?¡± he asked Perry.


    ¡°This,¡± Perry said, tapping on the midsection of the armor.


    Zack didn¡¯t have to see Perry¡¯s fingers to know where he was pointing. It was a patched place in armor, more irregular than the other spots. Zack had become very familiar with the rigors of repairing the armor, at least on the surface. Perry was pointing to a very specific break in the armor, to the blade wound which had killed his father.


    Zack had patched it up to the best of his ability at the time. To the best of his knowledge, the piercing break hadn¡¯t cut through any of the servos or any working of the Knightbrand armor. He had managed to fix it on his own, without enlisting the aid of another. And for the most part, it had held together and passed the scrutiny of anyone who encountered Knightbrand on the streets.


    But Perry was different, and his microscopic vision caught the break right away.


    ¡°This rupture in the armor,¡± Perry said. ¡°Would have almost certainly been fatal.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    He turned back to Zack, and crossed his chest.


    Zack didn¡¯t know what to say. Internally, he cursed himself. All this time he worried about Perry using his powers to deduce his identity, he forgot to account for Perry putting it all together himself. Now he was in the very position he wanted to avoid.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill him,¡± Zack said, almost instinctively.


    ¡°But your father is dead,¡± Perry added. It was a statement, not a question.


    Zack froze. He was overcome with emotions. The surprise of Perry¡¯s query. The fear of rejection. The anxiety of the outcome. Finally, he went with the truth.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zack said. ¡°He is.¡±


    Perry didn¡¯t move. He didn¡¯t say anything for a long time. Then he started to proceed up the steps.


    ¡°Perry, wait¡­¡± Zack said.


    ¡°How can I trust anything you say?¡± Perry said before he was halfway up the stairs.


    ¡°Because you know me and..¡± Zack started.


    ¡°I did know you,¡± Perry said. ¡°And then you left. I don¡¯t know what came back in your place..¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zack said. ¡°I just didn¡¯t know¡­¡±


    Perry continued to move up the stairs, with each step a stab into Zack¡¯s soul.


    Zack needed to say something. He needed Perry to listen.


    ¡°I came home from football practice and found my dad covered in a pool of blood in the kitchen. When I got there, there was so much blood and I didn¡¯t know what to do,¡± Zack said.


    Perry stopped. He pivoted over to face him, but only so much.


    ¡°You call your friends. That¡¯s what you do,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°He told me not to tell anyone. It was literally his last words,¡± Zack said. Perry sighed and started to slowly come down the stairs.


    ¡°And when have you done anything your father told you to do?¡± Perry asked.


    Perry, as always, was right. From school sports to Sideclique, Zack had a habit of doing the exact opposite of whatever his father wanted.


    ¡°You got me there,¡± Zack said with a flicker of a smile.


    Perry made his way down the stairs and reached the landing. He looked at the suit before glancing back at Zack.


    ¡°And you came here to find his killer,¡± Perry said. ¡°You really think they¡¯re on campus.¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Zack said. ¡°But I didn¡¯t know you were going here. Or Scott. Or¡­¡±


    ¡°Rachel,¡± Perry said.


    Zack nodded. ¡°That goes without saying.¡±


    Perry put his arms across his chest. ¡°So how are you going to find who did it?¡±


    ¡°I have a suspect,¡± Zack said. ¡°I recorded him in a fight. I need the data downloaded and analyzed.¡±


    Perry began to pace around the room. Zack started to speak, but thought better of it. It was better to let Perry do his thing.


    ¡°But you¡¯re going to corrupt the data before you even remove it,¡± Perry said. ¡°And even if you did, you have idea what you are looking for. I mean, I don¡¯t even think you can spell algorithm.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­maybe true?¡± Zack said. He couldn¡¯t spell to save his life.


    ¡°So what you¡¯re really going to need is someone to get the data and run this program for you,¡± Perry said.


    Zack¡¯s eyes lit up.


    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Zack said with a smirk. ¡°You know anyone who fits the bill?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Perry said and started to walk away, leaving Zack dumbfounded.


    Perry turned around. His expression looked suddenly weary. Zack had forgotten how much shorter Perry was than him.


    ¡°I do know one guy. But he¡¯s not cheap,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Zack said with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s he cost? I did come into some money from my inheritance.¡±


    ¡°Total and complete honesty from here on out,¡± Perry said.


    Zack started to think about it. He had laid his cards on the table and this is where it got him. Perry was the only person who could help him. And now he knew his circumstances. He had a new ally - and more importantly, one person he could trust.


    ¡°Deal,¡± Zack said. He¡¯d read Perry on slowly. He knew most of the big picture stuff. After all, Zack had only left out that he¡¯d forged an alliance with a C-list supervillain, but surely, that part could wait.


    Perry clasped his hands. ¡°But Zack?¡±


    Zack raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, Perry?¡±


    ¡°Next time you want to go on a roaring rampage of revenge across the globe,¡± Perry said. ¡°A text would be nice.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Perry,¡± Zack said. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this in mind for next time.¡±


    And just like that, Zack remembered something he had forgotten two years ago.


    It was good to have friends.

 Issue #39: Old Flame

    Zack got up the next morning and didn¡¯t know quite how to describe how he felt. In the past, he had utilized the anger or sadness he felt about his father to power his motivation through his activities.


    It wasn¡¯t a perfect system, or even a great one. Sooner or later, Zack¡¯s grief and anger spiraled into a crash which left Zack tired and listless for days on end. All that changed when Zach came to Innshadow. At first, Zack figured it to be the light at the end of the tunnel - that he would soon find his father¡¯s killer and his mission would be over, whatever the outcome.


    Now Zack realized that wasn¡¯t the case. The lightness Zach felt in his soul wasn¡¯t his mission - it was his friends. Seeing them again brought something out in him that he hadn¡¯t felt in a very long time.


    Hope.


    Sure, things weren¡¯t perfect. His feelings for Rachel remained largely unresolved, even if the tension between them had somewhat subsided. And his mission remained incomplete. His father¡¯s killer was still out there, whether it was Dirk Saber or . . .


    Someone else.


    Still, Zack had been forced to tell Perry his secret, and so far, the world¡­hasn¡¯t ended. Dozens of superheroes had charged through his apartment door to arrest him. Everything remained on course.


    Perry would have the data logs analyzed by mid-afternoon. It was quite possible Zack would know the identity of his father¡¯s killer before the end of the day.


    True, there were more than a couple loose threads which infuriated Zack. Just what was Kaine going to do with Amber Shaw¡¯s Magnometer? And what about Max Mann? What was his role in all of this? Had he lied to him about his illness, which according to Dirk Saber, was nothing more than aging?


    Despite this, Zack¡¯s spirits continued to soar as he finished getting ready for close. The Knightbrand armor was now fixed, giving him a major ace in the hole. The data should provide some answers on his father¡¯s killer. Everything was going his way.


    Zack Kestler opened the door with a smile on his face, but that smile almost immediately faded when he saw who was waiting for him on his porch. Amber Shaw stood on the front stoop, just about to knock on his front door. Her hair was tied back into a bun, and she wore a dark jacket along with a salmon blouse and navy blue pants. Zack was ever so grateful her blouse was completely buttoned, and her jacket remained on her shoulders and not slung over a couch.


    ¡°Mr. Kestler,¡± she said. ¡°Can I have a word?¡±


    Zack¡¯s spirits immediately plummeted in an all-too-familiar crash, this time owing to anxiety in place of rage or sadness. He held the door open for her and beckoned the assistant dean to enter.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Kestler,¡± Amber said as she crossed the threshold into the apartment. ¡°This won¡¯t take long.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Miss Shaw,¡± Zack said. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    A multitude of possibilities ran through Zack¡¯s mind. Had she somehow connected him to the theft of the Magnometer? If so, how exactly had she accomplished that? Did something about their oh-so-awkward conversation give him away? Or had she somehow tailed Icer to this location.


    No way this is good.


    ¡°Is your father around?¡± Amber Shaw said, as she scanned the apartment, taking inventory of Zack¡¯s spartan¡¯s surroundings.


    ¡°Afraid not,¡± Zack said. ¡°But he and I don¡¯t talk that much. Our relationship is¡­complicated.¡±


    Mostly because he¡¯s dead.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Hell, that wasn¡¯t true. Zack and Zane¡¯s relationship had always been complicated. Zane could unravel any supervillain plot, but parenthood had proven just as challenging, especially once Zack became a teenager. The presence of the Sideclique provided a stabilizing element to his life, but he couldn¡¯t shake the suspicion that Zane was jealous of his friends and status in life, only adding to the tension.


    Amber Shaw turned back to him. ¡°If you see him, can you let him know I need to talk to him?¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°Sure, Miss. Shaw. Is anything up?¡±


    He put one hand in his pocket and waited for Shaw to respond, even though he knew precisely what was up. The thing was, how much did Miss Shaw know?


    ¡°Something very dear to me was stolen last night.¡± Amber Shaw said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Zack said with fake concern. He searched Amber Shaw¡¯s face for any sign of suspicion or doubt, but thankfully, he found none.


    ¡°I need to talk to your father. He tried to warn me,¡± Amber said. ¡°But I was a bit¡­distracted.¡±


    Oh man were you ever . . .


    Zack remembered how quickly Amber Shaw came onto him in his father¡¯s costume. Apparently, Amber Shaw and his father had quite the relationship, and Zack still felt sick to his stomach just thinking about it.


    Shaw continued, ¡°He warned me Icer might try something, but I didn¡¯t think he would be brazen enough to break into my office. Apparently I was wrong.¡±


    Zack nodded. He hoped Icer had disabled any security measures which could lead him back to him. The supervillain had proven competent and thorough, but still, this was one complication he didn¡¯t need.


    ¡°Well, in all likelihood, you¡¯ll probably hear from him before you hear from me,¡± Zack said. Shaw nodded.


    ¡°But I hope you find what you are looking for,¡± Zack said awkwardly as he moved towards the door to see Shaw out.


    ¡°There was one more thing,¡± Shaw said, prolonging the conversation once more. Zack tried his best not to sigh and turned back to him.


    He put most hands in his pockets as he pivoted back to face Amber Shaw.


    ¡°Oh?¡± he said, even as he secretly dreaded what was about to come next.


    ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to your professors,¡± Amber Shaw said.


    Already Zack didn¡¯t like where this was going. He was on good terms with Dirk Saber, but Amber had said professors plural, and he hadn¡¯t bothered to show up for any of his classes save for the one taught by his father¡¯s likely killer.


    Zack fidgeting uncomfortably at the mention of this. ¡°Is that¡­standard practice this early into the semester.¡±


    Amber Shaw gave him a rather piercing gaze. ¡°It is when you are such a high profile student.¡±


    ¡°And what did my, uhh, professors have to say?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Professor Saber has nothing but good things to say about you,¡± Shaw said. Zack tried to sound humbly surprised, even though this wasn¡¯t exactly news to him.


    ¡°Oh?¡± he said.


    Shaw turned to him. ¡°But none of your other professors can even recall meeting you, and you haven¡¯t turned in any assignments to any of them save for Professor Saber,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Zack said, sounding particularly deflated.


    ¡°However,¡± Shaw said. ¡°Saber did say you are dealing with a previously undisclosed power set.¡±


    Great. Does everyone officially know about this now?


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zack said. ¡°I¡¯m still getting my head around this.¡±


    Yet another detail in his complicated relationship with Zane Kestler, even with his father two years in the ground.


    ¡°I hope you know my door is always open if you want to¡­talk,¡± Amber Shaw said.


    Well, the last time I was in your office in the Knightbrand suit, the last thing you wanted to do was¡­talk.


    Zack immediately regretted that thought.


    ¡°Thanks Miss Shaw,¡± he said. ¡°I appreciate it. I¡¯m just getting my head around it.¡±


    ¡°You can call me Amber,¡± Shaw said with a small smile. ¡°And any time you want to talk, just give my office a call. The first year is tough for everyone.¡±


    ¡°Thanks¡­maybe I¡¯ll¡­talk you up on that,¡± Zack said as he finally saw Amber Shaw over to the door.


    ¡°And if you do happen to see your father,¡± Shaw said. ¡°Tell him I said hello.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Zack said with a warm smile as she walked out the door.


    Zack shut the door behind her and sighed. He hadn¡¯t learned anything new - other than he probably should attend some of his classes - but at least Icer was being blamed for the Magnometer theft.


    The bigger question was, what would Amber Shaw do about it?


    And what would the consequences be?


    Because, as Zack was starting to learn, there were always consequences.

 Issue #40: Revelations

    When Zack entered the Alpha House, he had little patience for the high-fives and fist bumps of his supposed frat brothers, but he endured them nevertheless. He didn¡¯t want to give the impression, or more likely suspicion, that anything was wrong.


    Even so, if Zack¡¯s hunch was right, there was a lot wrong going on.


    He saw Scott Stephens plunging a dripping mop into a bucket of water. He fought the urge to go and talk to his friend. He had lost touch with his best friend, even when he was just down the street. That tore him up inside. And he had told Perry the truth before he told Scott . . . and Rachel. He needed to make things right.


    But that could wait.


    First, Zack needed to find the truth, and he could get that upstairs


    Zack expected Kaine to try to stop him, but the burly gatekeeper was nowhere to be seen. With no one to stop him, Zack peered into the massive glass display cases, searching for signs of the Magnometer as walked towards his destination. Yet despite a thorough search, he saw no traces of the device anywhere.


    So whatever Kaine or Max had in mind, it was more than just sticking the Magnometer in a display case for all to see.


    Zack had a bad feeling about this.


    He walked into Max¡¯s office. Thankfully, Max was there, drinking a Scotch while looking through several papers. He looked up and smiled as soon as Zack entered.


    ¡°Zack?¡± he said, throwing aside the papers. ¡°You want a drink? Take a seat.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stand,¡± Zack said, his voice brisque and took the point.


    ¡°Suit yourself, ¡° Max simply shrugged before pouring himself another drink.


    This guy might have a problem.


    And he¡¯s about to have another problem.


    Me.


    ¡°What can I do for you, Zack?¡± Max said as he held his gin and tonic.


    Zack crossed his arms. ¡°Do you know Dirk Saber?¡±


    Max thought for a moment. He then took a sip of his drink and set it down.


    ¡°Yeah, I remember him. Dark Saber¡¯s kid, right?¡± Max said. ¡°Not a bad fighter, but doesn¡¯t hold a candle to his old man, if you ask me.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t want to get stuck going down another trip down memory lane with Max. He¡¯d be distracted asking questions. Maybe that was Max¡¯s intention even bringing up Dusk Saber in the first place.


    ¡°He told me you aren¡¯t dying,¡± Zack said.


    Max looked almost hurt by the remark. His head visibly rocked backward as if his words strung him like a bee.


    ¡°What a horrible thing to say,¡± Max said. ¡°I¡¯m wasting away up here, dying, and someone here says otherwise. What a terrible, horrible way to devalue a person¡¯s circumstance.¡±


    Zack wasn¡¯t impressed. He maintained a stoic, closed-off posture as he regarded Max.


    ¡°According to Dirk Saber,¡± Zack said, keeping his hands tightly across his chest. ¡°You¡¯re not dying. You¡¯re aging.¡±


    Zack searched Max¡¯s face, receiving his much needed confirmation. Max didn¡¯t flinch or react the way he did with the initial shock. Instead he simply shrugged.


    ¡°Well,¡± Max said. ¡°Why can¡¯t it be both? I took a dip in the Fountain of Youth and now its wearing off. And you know where aging leads, right?¡±


    Zack continued to regard Max. He knew the best strategy was the silent treatment. Spin Max up and watch him go. A thick silence slowly built up over the course of several awkward minutes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need this,¡± Max continued, jabbing a finger at Zack. ¡°I¡¯ve done plenty for this campus. I¡¯ve given all those kids down there a future. And if it weren¡¯t for me, Kestler, you wouldn¡¯t know your asshole from your elbow.¡±


    So much for the wise and benevolent mentor.


    Zack leaned on the table, bringing himself closer to Max.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zack said. ¡°How long ya got?¡±


    Max looked small and confused. ¡°W-what?¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Zack narrowed his eyes, but he kept his hands on the table as he hunched over, peering at Max.


    ¡°The doctors must have given you an estimate for how long you got. If the treatment worked, how long could you reasonably expect to live?¡± Zack said.


    Max looked away. ¡°In this business, aging is dying. I can feel myself slipping. I¡¯m not as fast as I used to be. I don¡¯t bounce like I used to. And don¡¯t get me started about how little action I get.¡±


    Zack exhaled a deep sigh. Max was almost certainly exaggerating. Even if the effects of the Fountain of Youth were declining, Max was still a fair distance away from death¡¯s door.


    Dude, you¡¯re thirty, not seventy.


    ¡°Answer the question,¡± Zack persisted, keeping his position locked on the desk like a grimacing gargoyle. Max began to squirm in his seat.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± Max gestured with one of his hands. ¡°If I use my powers, I could kick the bucket in about ten years give or take.¡±


    ¡°Ten years?¡± Zack said. He lifted his arms from the table only to put his hands on his face as if wiping a stain from his eyes.


    Which, in some ways, he was.


    ¡°It¡¯s a death sentence, i know¡­¡± Max started.


    ¡°My grandmother got cancer. They gave her five years to live,¡± Zack said. ¡°She only got two. And they gave you ten years.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only an estimate, and not necessarily an accurate one,¡± Max shot back.


    If I use my powers¡­


    Zack remembered Max had some sort of energy powers, supposed excess energy given to him from the Fountain of Youth. He looked back at Max.


    ¡°What happens if you use your powers?¡± Zack asked.


    Max said. ¡°It makes kind of a pew-pew sound, lasers come out of my hands.¡±


    Zack rolled his eyes.


    ¡°I mean what does that do to your estimate if you don¡¯t use your powers,¡± Zack said.


    Max started to fidget a bit, his eyes looking away.


    Zack considered what he knew so far. Max was dying. Ten years was a death sentence, even if it was more than his grandmother got. And regardless of what Saber or Shaw said, Max did deserve help. But his current evasiveness didn¡¯t sit well with Zack.


    ¡°Max, how long do you have if you don¡¯t use your powers?¡± Zack said, repeating his questions.


    Max continued to look away. His eyes darted all over the room. He seemed to look around Zack, desperately trying to find anyone else to talk to. But there was no one else in the room, save him and Zack.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± Max said again. ¡°The numbers change. It¡¯s not an exact science you know.¡±


    ¡°Roughly, how long do you have if you don¡¯t use your powers?¡± Zack said, repeating the question.


    Max gave him a sheepish look. ¡°Probably a little more than thirty years.¡±


    Thirty years?


    What would my grandmother have done with thirty more years? Hell, what would anyone do with thirty more years of life.


    Now Innshadow¡¯s actions made sense. Kinda. Their secrecy over the springs deep within this place struck him as weird. But Max Mann wasn¡¯t going anywhere. He had at least ten years to live. At least thirty if he didn¡¯t use his powers. Which is probably why they set him up with this cushy gig.


    ¡°I could go sixty years if I don¡¯t tax myself,¡± Max added.


    ¡°Sixty years!¡± Zack said.


    ¡°I know. It¡¯s not much,¡± Max said.


    Zack glared at Max, but he couldn¡¯t¡­even.


    He had more important things to deal with today than Max¡¯s vanity.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the Magnometer?¡± he asked. Max looked confused, but fear gradually replaced the blank expression on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m . . . I¡¯m not sure,¡± Max said.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, you gave me a challenge coin for snatching it,¡± Zack implored. ¡°Where is it now?¡±


    Max looked away. ¡°Kaine has it.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s he going to do with it?¡± Zack asked.


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m not sure,¡± Max said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not sure?¡± Zack raised his voice. ¡°I thought this was your plan!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Max urged. ¡°It was Kaine¡¯s. He¡¯s not happy with you threatening his position.¡±


    I never wanted his position. I never wanted anything to do with this place.


    That wasn¡¯t entirely true. Zack had wanted a relationship with Max. He saw him as something left over from his father¡¯s life, a long-forgotten family friend. But now he was quickly realizing some parts of his father¡¯s world were truly left long-forgotten.


    ¡°If I find Kaine, I¡¯m taking back the Magnometer,¡± Zack said. ¡°No good can come of it.¡±


    He didn¡¯t Shaw nosing around in his business, and the Magnometer had raised that particular possibility. Plus if Kaine wasn¡¯t going to parade it around like a trophy, that meant he probably intended to use it . . . to do what he wasn¡¯t sure.


    He just knew it wouldn¡¯t be good.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­probably for the best,¡± Max said, nodding along.


    Zack turned to go, but Max called out to him.


    ¡°Zack, my boy, you see why I did what I did, right?¡± Max said. ¡°My condition . . . I don¡¯t talk about it much . . . but you understand, right?¡±


    Zack turned and gave Max a piercing look.


    ¡°Yeah, I see, Mr. Mann,¡± he said. ¡°I see everything.¡±


    Max nodded graciously and leaned back in his seat. ¡°As long as you understand.¡±


    Zack understood everything. He saw everything about Max.


    And it disgusted him.

 Issue #41: Straight Talk

    After his atrocious meeting with Max, Zack saw things a lot clearer. He didn¡¯t need Sigma Alpha. Not really. The display case had come in handy¡­once. And even that came with a price Zack was still paying.


    Max Mann was a fraud, pure and simple. A vain old man holding onto his youth at any cost. Bob Weave and the rest of Innshadow staff offered him a way out - a cushy gig where he wouldn¡¯t have to use his powers - and he¡¯d wormed his way into the institution like a parasite.


    It didn¡¯t help that Max¡¯s right hand man Kaine made things even worse. While Max only wanted his youth back, Kaine actively sought power, using Max¡¯s display case of supervillain memorabilia for his own ends. Blake was right - Sigma Alpha was bad news, thanks in large part to its two custodians.


    Zack¡¯s own opinions on Innshadow University were largely mixed. He now saw he hadn¡¯t given the place a fair shot. He enjoyed his time with Dirk Saber, his father¡¯s maybe-killer, but he hadn¡¯t attended any other classes. Still, Saber and even Amber Shaw seemed largely determined to help him, even if he¡¯d gotten off to the wrong foot with both of them initially.


    Whatever Zack¡¯s feelings on Innshadow, he was positive the students and the staff didn¡¯t deserve to be caught up in the machinations of Max and Kaine. But ultimately, that didn¡¯t matter.


    Zack¡¯s mission was to find his father¡¯s killer. Everything else was secondary. Still, perhaps he could do some good here¡­like getting his friend out of this hellhole.


    Zack found Scott running a mop over what looked to be vomit in a nearby hallway. Zack hated the smell which permeated the frat house. And he hated that Scott had to clean it up every time. Kaine was never going to let him on-board, not when he had a dutiful underling with super-speed to clean up his messes every time.


    He tapped on Scott¡¯s shoulder. Scott removed two wireless earbuds from his ears and then looked at him. Zack scanned his friend¡¯s father, noticing his weary expression and the dark bags beneath his eyes.


    ¡°You look like shit,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Well, good to see you too, Zack,¡± Scott sighed and almost started going back to work.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Zack back-tracked. He hoped his attempt at levity would jostle Scott, not offend him. ¡°I just meant¡­you look tired.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my job. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Scott said. ¡°What are you doing here? You had something with Max?¡±


    Yeah, something alright.


    Zack wanted to tell Scott everything about Max. How he misled Zack about his terminal condition - aging - and when Zack called him out, he had only found a frail old man who was so afraid of growing older, he¡¯d do anything to stop it. He wanted to tell Scott all of this, but first, he needed to get him out of here.


    ¡°Yeah, I did but that¡¯s over now,¡± Zack said. ¡°When do you get off?¡±


    Scott looked away. ¡°I, uhhh, I don¡¯t know. Not until the work is done.¡±


    Zack remembered his trial, being stuck trying to clean a roof in the pouring rain, an unwinnable situation if there was one. Kaine liked to humiliate the pledges for his own amusement. Zack had managed to escape, but Scott was still trapped in his for the past eight months.


    ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± Zack said. ¡°You need a break. It will be good for you.¡±


    He reached out for Scott, only for Scott to shift away, moving with his mop as he continued to sweep the floor.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have another friend¡¯s night,¡± Zack said. ¡°You, me, Perry, Rachel. It¡¯ll be just like old times.¡±


    Zack could probably get Perry to help him out. Whether he could do so without Blake was another matter. And whether Zack could get Rachel to attend a friend¡¯s night was also another matter. Things were still weird between them. Still, Zack had to try, if only for Scott¡¯s sake.


    ¡°Yeah, just like old times,¡± Scott said, almost inaudibly under his breath. ¡°Before you left.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zack said, surprised by his friend¡¯s callous response.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Scott said, reaching for his ear buds once more. ¡°I gotta go.¡±


    ¡°This place isn¡¯t good for you,¡± Zack said, trying to be more forceful. ¡°And I think you know that.¡±


    Scott simply shrugged. ¡°Yeah? Well, it¡¯s the only place I got here.¡±


    Zack put his hand on Scott¡¯s shoulder. ¡°C¡¯mon. Let¡¯s go. Get you out of here. You don¡¯t need to be doing this.¡±


    Scott¡¯s eyes flashed fire at Zack. ¡°I do, Scott. I really do.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t,¡± Zack said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to prove-¡±


    Scott jerked out of Zack¡¯s grip. He held the mop in one hand like a staff while rubbing his face with his free hand.


    ¡°Trying to prove? That¡¯s rich. That¡¯s so rich coming from you,¡± Scott said with a mirthless laugh. ¡°But then again, you are rich.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Zack asked, wide-eyed.


    ¡°It means I¡¯m broke, Zack!¡± Scott said. ¡°You never asked how I ended up in a place like this when my parents couldn¡¯t afford anything beyond a trailer!¡±


    Zack knew his parents didn¡¯t have much, living in a double-wide trailer at the edge of town back in the day. Still, Scott Stephens was one of the most determined people Zack knew. It was a way for him to attend Innshadow University, he would find it.


    ¡°I just figured you¡¯d find a way,¡± Zack said. ¡°You mean there aren¡¯t any scholarships?¡±


    ¡°Scholarships?¡± Scott raised his voice. ¡°I¡¯m not Perry! Or Rachel! No one¡¯s coming to give me money. Not with my grades. This is the only shot I have.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a shot. You¡¯re not getting in here,¡± Zack said. ¡°You have to know that by now.¡±


    ¡°Not getting in here?¡± Scott sounded incredulous. His eyes went wild. ¡°Is that what you and Max talked about?¡±


    Zack tried to keep up with the conversation. He held both of his hands out defensively. ¡°What? No, I was just here on business.¡±


    ¡°Well, stay out of mine while you¡¯re at it!¡± Scott said.


    ¡°Scott, this isn¡¯t you,¡± Zack said. ¡°This place¡­it¡¯s weighing down on you with all these expectations¡­it¡¯s not you.¡±


    Scott sharply turned to Zack, angrily jabbing his mop handle at him.


    ¡°How do you know what¡¯s not me? You left!¡± Scott said.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry, but I had my reasons,¡± Zack said.


    Scott gave another bitter laugh. ¡°Yeah, I bet you did. You always have your reasons. Zack Kestler can do what he wants, and never face any consequence.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t know how to respond. Scott had seemed so chill when they first met, like he didn¡¯t bear him any ill will at all for leaving. But it was becoming quickly clear that was not really the case, and Scott had some anger burning within him all along.


    ¡°Look, if this is about money,¡± Zack said. ¡°I can lend you some. You don¡¯t need this place to pay the bills.¡±


    Zack should have known better, but he was desperately grasping at straws to get Scott to listen.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your charity, Kestler,¡± Scott said, putting his ear buds in once more. ¡°What I need is fo you to stay out of my life! God, I liked it better when you stayed gone!¡±


    Scott quickly put his ear buds in, gave him one last heated stare, and then went back to mopping.


    Zack sighed and left the Alpha House dejected. He couldn¡¯t help but feel he had let Scott down. He got a call from Perry soon after, reporting he¡¯d finished analyzing the data from the Knightbrand¡¯s on-board computer.


    ¡°And¡­¡± Zack said into his cell phone.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to like it,¡± Perry said. ¡°But there¡¯s no way Dirk Saber could have killed your father.¡±

 Issue #42: Black Box

    Zack raced home after hearing Perry¡¯s words. His concentration lay buried in hundreds of thoughts. Perry had finally analyzed all the data Zack had been gathering during his first bout with Dirk Saber.


    Dirk Saber wasn¡¯t the culprit.


    Then who is?


    Everything lined up so perfectly. Dirk Saber fought on a level few costumed heroes in the world could match. He knew Zane and worked with him in the past. He had even had the damn Omegium blades used to kill Knightbrand. And like many heroes, he hadn¡¯t worked with his father for at least a few years, and Zack suspected a falling out, similar to Max Mann¡¯s.


    Max. Mann.


    Zack couldn¡¯t think about the man he had cast as his family friend. He didn¡¯t know what bothered him more about Max right now. The duplicitous way he had used Zack to further his own lifespan, or the Sigma Alpha advisor¡¯s pathetic and feeble attempt to justify it. Zack didn¡¯t know which was worse.


    He only knew it didn¡¯t sit well with him.


    Dirk Saber, on the other hand, seemed chummy and downright relaxed around Knightbrand, sometimes comically so. It surprised him that his father never mentioned Dirk Saber much, but then again, Zane kept his superhero life and his private life effectively separate. The only time the two met was¡­


    When Max stopped by.


    Zack sighed. He still had a lot of baggage to unpack.


    But for now he had a more important mission - figure out who killed his father.


    Zack entered his house to see his armor splayed out in the living room with its chest popped open to reveal a dizzying array of circuits and synodes. A small cylinder colored in a flashing red-orange exterior had been pulled out of the armor. The cylinder itself sat plugged into Perry¡¯s PS5.


    For his part, his friend knelt behind the small flatscreen TV Zack never watched. Perry held a small screwdriver in his hand as he adjusted something behind the TV. Zack briefly considered asking just what he was doing, but quickly decided against it. Instead, his eyes fell upon the small fire-red cylinder at his feet.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a black box,¡± Perry said without looking up from the orange cylinder.


    Zack cocked his head. ¡°It¡¯s the wrong color.¡±


    Perry stopped and looked up. ¡°Most black boxes aren¡¯t black. They¡¯re usually this color. Makes them easier to spot, I guess.¡±


    Zack examined the cylinder, while making sure to keep it plugged into both the armor and the TV. Once again, he scanned the apartment, pacing about for signs of cold spots like a highly caffeinated ghost hunter. He really didn¡¯t need Icer showing up at inopportune moments like this one, but then again, he could always say he was simply repairing his armor, as with before. Icer seemed to buy it the last time.


    How Zack would explain Icer to Perry was another matter, and yet another complication he really didn¡¯t need right now.


    Still, the chilly supervillain thankfully wasn¡¯t here¡­at least as far as Zack knew.


    After another minute of watching Perry wordlessly work, however, Zack considered another question.


    ¡°This was inside my armor the entire time?¡± Zack said.


    Perry emerged from behind the TV, scrambling over to the PS5, which he activated. He looked as if he was about to sit down to play a game more than solve a murder case.


    ¡°Most armored heroes use them,¡± Perry said from his knelt position, controller still in hand. ¡°And it¡¯s not like your father gave you the rundown of his suit before¡­¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    His voice trailed off. Zack nodded somberly.


    ¡°No, I guess he didn¡¯t.¡±


    After a small private minute of grief, another thought popped into his mind.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the black box,¡± Zack said. ¡°Is there anything on it from¡­two years ago¡­around the third of September?¡±


    The day my whole world changed.


    Perry shook his head. ¡°Unfortunately, most of the older data on the box is corrupted. With some more time, I might be able to retrieve it but¡­¡±


    Zack sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Let¡¯s see what you found.¡±


    Perry nodded as the PS5 home screen came up. Using the controller, Perry toggled through several settings before finally activating one.


    In an instant, the screen showed a grainy image of a familiar campus building with a skylight window. Zack watched as the screen briefly blurred following a whirling click sound as the screen magnified to show two people fighting beneath the clear skylight window.


    Before his eyes, Zack¡¯s sparring match with Dirk Saber unfolded.


    Zack would as he ducked and blocked Dirk¡¯s attacks. He was surprised he lasted as long as he did in this fight. Another figure slunk into the footage, with a feminine figure Zack instantly recognized.


    Rachel.


    She was the referee for the bout. Yet another instance where his actions further alienated.


    He needed to talk to her. She was going to find out eventually, especially now that Perry knew. After all, she was one mind read from learning the whole thing.


    At least, that¡¯s what Zack told himself. Secretly, he knew he couldn¡¯t leave things this way, whatever the future held.


    He sighed and forced himself to concentrate on the matter at hand - this fight. He turned back to Perry.


    ¡°What am I looking for?¡± he said.


    Perry turned his head up at him. ¡°There¡¯s one major reason why Dirk Saber couldn¡¯t have killed your father.¡±


    His attention turned towards the screen as he paused the fight mid-blow, with Zack about to be launched over Dirk Saber¡¯s shoulder. Zack winced at the scene. It wasn¡¯t his finest hour.


    ¡°Dirk Saber is left-handed,¡± Perry said. Zack checked the footage. The blows had come so fast Zack didn¡¯t notice he was being grappled by Dirk¡¯s left hand instead of his right.


    ¡°He¡¯s a southpaw,¡± Zack said.


    He then turned to Perry with a shrug. ¡°But couldn¡¯t he just be ambidextrous?¡±


    After all, Zack noticed Dirk Saber launching several powerful blows with his right hand as well.


    Perry¡¯s eyes remained focused on the footage. ¡°It doesn¡¯t change the fact that he used his left seventy-five percent more than his right.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°But what¡¯s this have to do with my father?¡±


    Perry stood up and walked over to the patched portion of the Knightbrand armor. He ran his hands across the portion.


    ¡°The blow is almost certainly made with a right-handed weapon,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zack said. ¡°But it¡¯s Omegium, and aren¡¯t the blades Dirk Saber made from that substance.¡±


    Perry nodded once more. ¡°True, but that¡¯s one of Omegium¡¯s unique properties. It psychically molds itself to the user¡¯s desires.¡±


    Zack sighed. He didn¡¯t know that.


    ¡°So it could be just about anyone with an Omegium blade, right-handed or left-handed,¡± Zack sighed.


    Perry was quiet for a moment. ¡°That appears to be the case.¡±


    Zack stood up and paced around a bit, his hands running through his blond hair. He raised his hands above his head and tried to stretch out all the tension running through his shoulders.


    He had been so focused on who would use on Omegium blade he had completely overlooked why someone would use an Omegium blade. Perry was right. He did remember hearing this some place. Omegium was an alien substance. Holding it a trained weaponmaster could psychically mold it into any shape he desired - a rapier, a broadsword, a scimitar.


    And whoever had struck down his father had done so with a right-hand weapon.


    Perry stood up and looked at him.


    ¡°Well?¡± he asked. ¡°What next?¡±


    Zack brought down his hands and exhaled before turning to Perry.


    ¡°Thanks, man,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it wasn¡¯t better news,¡± Perry consoled.


    ¡°Well, it beats me chasing my tail,¡± Zack said. ¡°Let¡¯s get the armor back downstairs.¡±


    Perry began to unplug the black box from the PS5.


    ¡°What are you going to do after that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I think I owe someone an apology,¡± Zack replied as his thoughts immediately drifted back to Rachel.

 Issue #43: Dangerous Ground

    Papers. Papers. Papers.


    That¡¯s all Rachel saw on a daily basis. Fortunately, she¡¯d always been very well-organized. Otherwise she¡¯d be lost in a sea of tests, homework and quizzes.


    When Dirk Saber offered her this TA position, this was not what Rachel Ducane expected. She¡¯d been a straight-A student, and it helped that her father Roll Cage knew Saber back in the day. Rachel figured her job as a TA would consist of cleaning up the gym, or perhaps, going through Dirk Saber¡¯s extensive fighting routines.


    Instead, a job as Dirk Saber¡¯s TA was pretty much like any other job. Rachel had set hours and clear expectations. Saber made for a generally chill boss most of the time - that is, when supervillains weren¡¯t breaking into his office - and for the most part Rachel had settled into a routine.


    Then again, what was it Saber always told his class? Routines are the downfall of any hero.


    Good advice, but it was hard to follow it when the biggest danger facing Rachel at the copier machine was a paper cut.


    Still, death by a thousand paper cuts sounded preferable to thinking about her uncomfortable relationship to Zack.


    He¡¯d apologized . . . somewhat . . . and at least she wasn¡¯t intentionally spilling beer on him anymore.


    But Rachel couldn¡¯t deny a chasm had opened up between them. It had been there since the day he disappeared, and she¡­


    Rachel couldn¡¯t think about that anymore. The bottom line was that Zack had changed. Into what, Rachel wasn¡¯t sure.


    She just knew she didn¡¯t like it.


    Rachel finished copying several test materials, making sure they were correctly correlated. She then made her way down the hall to Dirk Saber¡¯s office. Class didn¡¯t start for at least another couple of hours, giving Rachel plenty of time to get everything ready.


    She found Dirk Saber in his office, grading papers. He rubbed his eyes as she entered with a stack of papers.


    ¡°Please tell me there aren''t any more of them,¡± Dirk said.


    ¡°Relax. These are blank,¡± Rachel said as she set him on his desk. ¡°But they won¡¯t be after tonight¡­¡±


    ¡°Ughh,¡± Dirk said. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me.¡±


    ¡°Relax, Professor,¡± Rachel said in a sing-song tone. ¡°This is only the first test. Just think of how many midterms you¡¯ll have to grade in a month¡­or finals for that matter!¡±


    ¡°Why did I hire you again?¡± Dirk looked up from the papers he was grading.


    ¡°My sparkling personality,¡± Rachel said as she sat down across from Dirk and balanced her head on her fist in an exaggerated thinking position.


    ¡°Ahhh, well, I might have to give your daddy a call about this so-called sparkling personality,¡± Dirk said.


    ¡°How long are you going to play the ¡®I know your dad¡¯ card?¡± Rachel scoffed.


    ¡°Until I think of a better comeback,¡± Dirk gave an exaggerated shrug.


    ¡°Oh you don¡¯t have one,¡± Rachel said. ¡°That is painfully clear.¡±


    Dirk looked up, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Are you reading my mind?¡±


    ¡°Oh I don¡¯t need to read your mind to know you don¡¯t have any game,¡± Rachel smirked.


    Dirk sighed. ¡°I hate this time of year.¡±


    He leaned back in his chair and stretched. Rachel tried not to notice his taunt biceps ruffle against his tight shirt.


    It was an occupational hazard working with Dirk Saber, no matter how much older he was than her.


    Dirk finished his stretch and then regarded Rachel for a minute.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Dirk trailed off.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Rachel said, mimicking him.


    ¡°How¡¯s things with Zack?¡± he asked. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Rachel looked away. ¡°You must be really grasping for straws if that¡¯s your comeback.¡±


    Still, Dirk persisted, leaning onto the desk with his arms folded. ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Rachel asked.


    ¡°Because if you¡¯re thinking about Zack, you¡¯re not here,¡± Dirk said. ¡°I need your head in the game.¡±


    ¡°Liar,¡± Rachel said. ¡°When is my head never in the game?¡±


    Dirk relented ever so slightly. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m also your friend and colleague and I¡¯m worried about you.¡±


    Rachel sighed.


    She didn¡¯t want to get into a verbal sparring match with Dirk Saber. For all their banter, the guy was as sharp with his words as he was his fists. And on some level, she knew he was right.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­I spent so long looking for Zack,¡± she said. ¡°And he just pops up back on campus like nothing happened.¡±


    Dirk nodded. ¡°Well, what does Zack say about it?¡±


    ¡°Not much¡­¡± Rachel said, and then immediately shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not true. He apologized. And I know I know that should be enough.¡±


    ¡°Then why isn¡¯t it?¡± Dirk said, fixing his eyes on her.


    Rachel leaned back in his chair and started gesturing with her hands. ¡°Because something did happen. I just don¡¯t know what yet.¡±


    Dirk didn¡¯t say anything for a minute.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s been two years since you saw him last,¡± Dirk said as he looked out the window. ¡°I suppose a lot has happened.¡±


    ¡°But what?¡± Rachel said. ¡°What happened that made him leave without saying a word?¡±


    Dirk turned back to her. ¡°Could be a lot of things, I guess.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what scares me. Not knowing,¡± Rachel said. Dirk gave a mirthless chuckle.


    ¡°We may be superheroes but we¡¯re still human,¡± Dirk said. ¡°None of us deal with uncertainty that well.¡±


    Silence enveloped them for a moment. Both seemed lost in their own thoughts. For Rachel¡¯s part, she wished she had the power to just make Zack tell her everything he was hiding. But she didn¡¯t have that kind of power, and even if she did, such a violation would be unforgivable.


    ¡°You two will figure it out,¡± Dirk said. ¡°You just need to communicate. He¡¯ll open up¡­when he¡¯s ready.¡±


    ¡°The voice of experience?¡± Rachel mused with a smile.


    Dirk shifted about uncomfortably for the briefest of things. ¡°Something like that.¡±


    Rachel started to stand up. She needed to get back to her rounds. She heard a noise outside. No, not outside she realized.


    It was coming from inside her mind. She was getting several impressions, loud enough for her track without much effort.


    Panic.


    Fear.


    Terror.


    As Rachel stood up, the ground seemed to give way below her. She struggled to steady herself on the desk, only to notice it was shaking too. Dirk launched from his chair to steady her. His touch ran a warmth through Rachel she hadn¡¯t felt in a long time.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she asked, confused.


    ¡°Earthquake,¡± Dirk said.


    ¡°In Illinois?¡± she questioned, but Dirk was already on the move.


    ¡°We need to get shelter,¡± Dirk said, moving towards the desk. Rachel grabbed him and yanked him back, right before the Omegium swords in his office fell from the wall and cleaved his desk in two. Dirk gave Rachel a grateful look.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said. ¡°I guess we¡¯re not staying here.¡±


    ¡°I guess not,¡± he said.


    They ran into the hallway, only to see it flooded with panicked students.


    ¡°Stay inside,¡± he urged. ¡°Find shelter and stay there.¡±


    His words seemed to calm some of the students, but many more rushed forward. Suddenly Dirk¡¯s words about routine seemed to make a lot more sense. The students here were all training to be superheroes, but caught off-guard in a rapidly changing environment¡­they were helpless.


    ¡°We¡¯re on the third floor,¡± Rachel said to Dirk. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here.¡±


    Dirk watched the crowds surge forward. He was completing the same morbid calculation in his mind. If the quake didn¡¯t kill them, the panicking students would. They could try to rush into another classroom and find a desk to hide in, but doing so would imperil them against the rushing tides of panicked students crashing through the hallways.


    ¡°This is really really stupid,¡± Dirk said. ¡°But I think it¡¯s our only option.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Rachel said. She turned to him, trying to get a fix for what he was thinking. Her concentration remained shattered. All around her the ground shook and students cried out. Before she could say another word, Dirk scooped her into his arms.


    ¡°When I say go limp,¡± he said. ¡°Go limp.¡±


    ¡°What are¨C¡± Rachel said, but before she say anything, Dirk raced towards the window with Rachel in his hands.


    ¡°Now!¡± he bellowed as he dived out the window. Amid the shattering glass and wind blasting through her face and hair, Rachel managed to remember her training and loosen her body within Dirk¡¯s grasp. She did all of this as she shut her eyes, just as the ground came racing towards her.


    When her eyes opened, she found herself and Dirk on the ground. She looked up at him.


    ¡°Never do that again!¡± she yelled as she scrambled to her feet.


    ¡°Next earthquake, I¡¯ll be sure to ask first,¡± he said as a shadow fell on his face.


    Unfortunately, Rachel¡¯s feeling of calmness proved short-lived. The ground beneath their feet continued to shake and groan. All around them Rachel heard panicked cries and screams. She looked to Dirk, her mind instinctively scanning his, but she all saw was the same fear and confusion that gripped her.


    What she didn''t see was the nearby wall collapsing in towards the, until it was too late. She raised her voice in a high-pitch yelled, but her warning proved too little, too late, as darkness overtook them both.

 Issue #44: Aftershocks

    So, Rachel, funny story¡­my father died and I¡¯ve spent two years chasing his killer, which led me here¡­which is why I challenged your favorite teacher to a fist-fight¡­and things went downhill from there¡­.


    It was a terrible explanation, and would only give way to an even worse explanation. Zack had to think of something better, and fast. He was walking at a brisk pace, and already he could see the large windows of the training building coming into view as Zack moved down the grassy hills of the Innshadow campus.


    What am I going to tell Rachel?


    The truth.


    That¡¯s the only thing he could tell her. The only thing that could even hope to repair the gap between them.


    But what exactly was he going to tell her?


    He didn¡¯t have a clue.


    About a hundred yards away, Zack could see the sun glistening off of the skylight of the training building. He really hoped Rachel was already helping out with a class. He wanted to get this over with. He didn¡¯t know what exactly he¡¯d say to her, but he¡¯d think of something.


    Probably.


    Hopefully.


    Maybe.


    The thought of having to wait some an hour or so to talk to Rachel didn¡¯t sit well with Zack at all. Already his heart was racing over the thought of the coming conversation. He didn¡¯t know if he could survive waiting outside the class for another hour or so. And who knew if Rachel would even give him the time of day?


    Things had been better between them, but Zack didn¡¯t want to presume she¡¯d be willing to hear him out.


    Given his erratic behavior over the course of this past week, it wasn¡¯t like he could blame her.


    I just need to get this conversation over with.


    His heart continued to pound within his chest the closer he came to the building. Every inch of him dreaded this conversation, but it needed to happen, for better or worse. He stopped to compose himself. His heart continued to beat at a heavy rate. Zack grabbed a guard rail, only to find it shaking too.


    In fact, everything was shaking, including the ground beneath him. Zack looked up at the training building. The roof-top windows of the skylight shattered, sending glass diamonds falling into the classroom below. The tall windows displayed lightning streaks cracks before tumbling down as well.


    What was happening¡­?


    Zack raced towards the classroom. He had to find Rachel. He had to make sure no one was hurt. Millions of thoughts race through his mind, but he pushed them all aside to focus on the mission at hand. All around him a chorus of shouts and screams filled his ears. Zack struggled to focus despite all the chaos surrounding him.


    He scoured the many students racing past him, trying to see if any of them were Rachel. But in a school full of superheroes, this was easier said than done. Some were trailing by at super-speed, while others were outright flying or leaping into the air.


    Rachel doesn¡¯t have those powers. Focus on her. Everything else will fall into place.


    Zack continued to move forward, pushing against the mass of superpowers racing all around him. It was chaos in the Promenade. What made everything so much worse was the indecision among many along the pathways. Most were racing away from the devastation as buildings crumbled beside him, but a few were racing towards them - like him - trying to offer any assistance their powers or training could muster.


    A few stood in shock, and others were so indecisive they stood in the center of the parkways, blocking the path as crowds surged in both directions, often colliding on the panicked streets.


    Zack crashed through the waves of people, being shoulder-checked a couple dozen times. He kept going. He was the quarterback in high school. He was used to getting tackled a time or two. He kept moving. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Zack rushed towards the training building. He scanned the crowds of evacuees rushing out of the building, many with scrapes and cuts, searching for any sign of Rachel. He looked up to the third floor of the building.


    Was Rachel¡­up there?


    That¡¯s where the classroom was. That¡¯s where Saber¡¯s office was. Zack briefly wondered how he would even get up there. He would have to fight against crowds of desperate, scared students up six stairwells.


    It¡¯s Rachel. I¡¯m going.


    He started to move, but a familiar voice cut through the chaos.


    ¡°Someone help!¡± he heard the cry. ¡°Please!¡±


    He pushed through the chaos, towards the sound of Rachel¡¯s voice. His heart continued to beat faster, even harder than it had on the Promenade when he thought about what he might say.


    Rachel never cried. She never screamed. Not even when watching horror movies. In fact, it was Zack who was prone to jump scares, not her.


    Something was wrong. Very wrong.


    Zack turned the corner to see Rachel standing amid the chaos. She looked alright. Actually, she looked better than alright. Her hair was a mess, but beyond that, she didn¡¯t have a scratch on her. Yet when she turned to Zack, her eyes were wide with an alien fear Zack had never seen before him.


    ¡°Please,¡± she said. ¡°Help him.¡±


    Zack had been so transfixed with Rachel he had failed to notice the body at her feet. Zack¡¯s eyes widened when he saw Dirk Saber encased in the rubble, in far worse shape than how Zack had found Rachel. Cuts and bruises ran down his face, and a large wall had fallen onto his sternum.


    ¡°He¡­he pushed me out of the way,¡± Rachel said.


    For Zack, it was the death knell of his stupid vendetta. The man he wrongly supposed to be his father¡¯s killer had pushed Rachel out of the way of a falling wall.


    How could I have gotten it so wrong?


    ¡°We¡­we have to help him,¡± Rachel said, still clearly somewhat in shock.


    ¡°And we will,¡± Zack turned to her. He searched her face. Rachel was a million miles away, and he had so much he wanted to tell her


    I¡¯ll tell her everything. After I save Saber.


    ¡°Let¡¯s lift this off him,¡± Zack told Rachel.


    Rachel immediately came after her daze. She leaned down and began to grip the massive slap on Saber¡¯s chest. Zack bent down and began to lift as well.


    Lift with your legs. Lift with your legs.


    Even with the two of them, it was clear the concrete wall was too much to lift between the two of them. Rachel stood up and scampered away.


    ¡°Keep lifting it!¡± she urged.


    ¡°Easier! Said! Than! Done!¡± Zack cried, questioning her sudden absence as he was left with all the weight of the slab in his hands.


    Rachel returned with a large metallic lighting pole which had fallen from the shock. She pressed it into the tiny opening produced by their vain attempt to lift the slab. Using it as a lever, Rachel pressed down, creating enough clearance to pull Saber from the wreckage.


    Rachel immediately checked his pulse. ¡°He¡¯s hurt, but he¡¯s breathing.¡±


    She looked up at him. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Why is there an earthquake¡­in Illinois?¡±


    Earthquakes.


    Zack looked around at the chaos around them. The rumbling in the ground was slowly starting to subside, but the panic continued.


    He surveyed the damage. Rubble scattered the campus. Half of the training building had collapsed in on itself. Zack saw other buildings with signs of damage in the distance. A cold thought pierced his brain.


    The Magnometer.


    He had assumed Kaine intended to put it on one of Max Mann¡¯s shiny display cases. Lord it over Amber Shaw and the rest of the college administration.


    The last thing he thought he¡¯d do¡­was try to use it¡­here of all places.


    To what end, Zack didn¡¯t know.


    He only knew one thing.


    This is all my fault.


    Zack looked down to see Rachel kneeling by the injured Saber. She looked up at him with piercing brown eyes.


    Had she¡­read my mind?


    ¡°What did you do, Zack?¡± she said, anger cutting through her voice.


    ¡°I¡­I¡­¡± Zack said.


    ¡°What did you do, Zack?¡± she raised her voice.


    Zack didn¡¯t know what to say. He didn¡¯t know what to do.


    He backed away as he saw more campus security filtering in with EMTs. Rachel¡¯s gaze never left him.


    Her words never left his mind.


    What did you do, Zack?

 Issue #45: Collapse

    Even as Zack moved through the campus, guilt hung around him like a rusted anchor hung around his neck. The tremors had largely subsided, but Innshadow remained in chaos. All around him, teachers and students raced around him, with cries and screams still echoing throughout the day.


    The acrid smell of smoke stung into Zack¡¯s eyes. At least it hid the tears building up inside.


    All of this was his fault.


    He had Icer steal the Magnometer for Kaine.


    And Kaine used it.


    Kaine¡¯s intentions remained a mystery. But the impact of his actions remained clear.


    Innshadow was in ruin.


    Zack¡¯s brooding was interrupted by his phone buzzing within his pants pocket. He picked it up slowly, hoping it wasn¡¯t Rachel. Her look of anger filled Zack with more shame than he had ever felt. He could still hear her words as they cut into him.


    What did you do, Zack?


    Zack breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was Perry instead. He held the phone to his ear.


    ¡°Perry¡­?¡± he said. ¡°Slow down!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t find Blake!¡± Perry¡¯s voice raised from the phone. ¡°She¡¯s not answering her phone and the entire library just collapsed!¡±


    ¡°Hang out,¡± Zack said. ¡°I¡¯ll get my suit.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s on its way,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t know how to send it?¡± Zack said into the phone.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that hard. I figured it out,¡± he heard Perry say impatiently. ¡°Now hurry!¡±


    Zack drew back into a nearby alley. With all the chaos around him, it was rather easy to disappear as the Knightbrand armor fell from the sky and wrapped around him.


    With the Knightbrand armor activated, he rose into the sky to survey the damage. Unfortunately, the view from the sky wasn¡¯t much better than the one from the ground. The smoke blocked much of his view, and Zack could now see a few of the buildings were actively on fire. Nearly every building on campus was damaged, and the current library looked to have it the worst.


    The entire front facade had collapsed in on itself, barring anyone from exiting. There were several students outside digging through the rubble, but even with super-strength and super-speed it would take them a while to break through the facade. Zack scanned the buildings for weak points. He thought about breaking through a wall to gain entrance but decided against it. If he applied too much pressure, the rest of the building may collapse.


    If anything happened to Blake, Perry would never forgive me.


    As it stood, Zack wasn¡¯t sure Rachel would ever forgive him, but he couldn¡¯t think about that right now.


    Think about the present, and who you can save. Everything else comes after.


    Zack spied a skylight window along the top of the library. He positioned himself just above the armor and then cut his propulsion boots. He dropped like a rock, but Zack was used to the sensation of freefall. He smashed through the window, landing on the third floor of the library. His legs bent as his posture surged forward, absorbing the impact in a classic superhero landing.


    Too bad no one was around to see it.


    His immediate view of the library was blocked by a series of fires. Zack really hoped Blake had made it out, but if she had, why wasn¡¯t she answering her phone? Maybe she had accidentally fried her phone in all the excitement? That was certainly a possibility given her powers.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Still, Zack couldn¡¯t discard the possibility she was still somewhere trapped in the library. He tried scanning the library for heat signatures, but the active fires popped up in his HUD, disrupting his readings.


    He searched the room for a fire extinguisher. If he could get rid of the fires, he could pinpoint any survivors. Unfortunately, he saw no sign of a fire extinguisher, and Zack realized it was probably the first thing any survivors would use to clear their way.


    One of the fires suddenly shrank down in a white burst. Zack scanned the room for movement but saw done. Another fire to his right also disappeared. He rounded the corner in time just to see the biggest fire blocking a nearby stairwell choke in a fury of bluish energy. Zack leaned down to examine what had taken out the fire. His armor registered a series of dripping, translucent chunks where the fire had once been.


    Ice.


    Does that mean¡­


    Knightbrand stood up and quickly scanned the room for heat signatures, but he found none. He didn¡¯t see any movement. With no other options, he raised the volume on his mic.


    ¡°Hello?¡± he asked. ¡°Is anyone here?¡±


    He received a response - just not the one he was expecting.


    ¡°Over here!¡± a feminine voice cried.


    His view no longer obscured by smoke or fire, he spotted a figure crouched along the floor. As he came closer, Zack soon realized it was two figures.


    Blake sat over an older gentleman wearing a sport jacket and light green shirt. Her hand was on his chest. Zack noticed the man¡¯s pale coloring and labored breathing.


    ¡°He¡¯s hurt,¡± Blake said as Knightbrand approached.


    ¡°We need to move him,¡± Zack said. He moved towards the man but Blake¡¯s free hand raised while her other hand remained on his chest.


    ¡°He has a pacemaker,¡± she said. ¡°My powers¡­they¡¯re keeping it going.¡±


    ¡°You can do that?¡± Zack said, but he immediately regretted adding that part. He was Knightbrand, after all, not Zack.


    ¡°If I concentrate,¡± she said.


    Zack nodded. ¡°They¡¯re EMTs outside. They can help. We just need to get to them.¡±


    ¡°And how are we going to get to them?¡± Blake¡¯s eyes never left the man.


    ¡°The same way I came in,¡± Zack said. He scooped up the man in his arms, while careful not to disrupt Blake¡¯s touch.


    ¡°Just concentrate,¡± Zack said. ¡°You can do this.¡±


    He really hoped Blake¡¯s powers wouldn¡¯t interfere with his own onboard electronics, but it was a risk that he¡¯d have to take. He reasoned so long as Blake kept her focus on the man and didn¡¯t touch his armor, he should be fine.


    Theoretically.


    Zack lifted into the air, with Blake¡¯s attention on the injured man as Zack tightly clung to them both. He felt the armor pull them both through the broken, frayed building as Zack blasted through the now-broken skyline and into the sky.


    He landed amid a crowd of people a short distance outside. Several EMTs rushed forward the moment he landed. Zack did his best to ignore the onlookers.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got him, miss,¡± one of the EMTs, a burly man in his twenties, said as he struggled to pry Blake¡¯s hands off the man.


    Blake reluctantly did so. She stood by Zack, watching as the man was carted away.


    ¡°My boss,¡± Blake said. ¡°He had a heart condition.¡±


    ¡°You saved his life,¡± Zack said. ¡°You did good today.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t need his onboard sensors to know Blake was blushing fiercely. She turned to him.


    ¡°Hold up - how did you even know I was here?¡± she said. ¡°The library was the first to get evacuated.¡±


    ¡°Perr-your boyfriend,¡± Zack said, struggling to correct himself. ¡°He told me where I could find out.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Blake said. ¡°I need to call him. I fried my phone. Again.¡±


    Zack turned to her. ¡°You should go see him. I¡¯ll let him know you¡¯re okay.¡±


    She nodded, and before she could turn to him again, Zack was already soaring back into the sky.


    He used his on-board com system to contact Perry.


    ¡°Blake¡¯s okay. She was at the library, helping a coworker,¡± Zack said. ¡°She¡¯s on her way to you.¡±


    ¡°Thank God,¡± Perry said. ¡°Are you on your way back?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Zack said. ¡°There¡¯s still a couple more things I need to do.¡±


    Over the course of the day, Zack pulled dozens of people from the rubble. He made sure every fire was extinguished. He spent hours patrolling the campus for any signs of trouble. He thought it would make him feel better.


    It didn¡¯t.


    By nightfall, Zack knew what would make him feel better. He soared towards the Alpha House at full speed.


    It was long past time his father and Max Mann had a nice long talk.

 Issue #46: Face-To-Mask

    Zack immediately heard the whistles and cheers as he entered the Alpha House. Several of his frat brothers immediately asked him . . . or rather Knightbrand . . . if they could have his selfie. He stormed by them, paying them no attention.


    Very on-brand for my Dad, he thought.


    What was not quite on-brand was his leaning stride. In his haste and anger, Zack had forgotten how awkward the armor could be to walk in. He struggled to take every step without topping over altogether. When he came to the stairs, he realized his conundrum.


    Screw this.


    Zack activated his boot jets and immediately blasted off, scorching the carpet in the process. He heard Scott immediately.


    ¡°Dammit, Zack¡¯s dad! I just vacuumed there!¡±


    Zack immediately regretted making more work for Scott, but he had more pressing things on his mind. Like having a one-on-one with Max Mann.


    He shut off his boot jets once he had cleared the railing and dropped like a rock to the third floor. He landed with a notable thud. He looked down to see he had left a considerable dent in the hard wood from his landing.


    Knowing his luck, Scott would be blamed for that too.


    He couldn¡¯t think about that now. He continued to Max¡¯s office. He opened the door to Max¡¯s office to see Max Mann sitting at his desk, with the contents of his liquor cabinet spread across his desk like a liquid buffet.


    He immediately raised a toast to him the moment Knightbrand lumbered through the door.


    ¡°There¡¯s the man of the hour!¡± he said.


    Zack expected more of a reaction to his so-called ¡°friend¡± showing up in such dramatic fashion. Then again, Zack didn¡¯t need the heads-up display to know that Max Mann was flat-out drunk, three sheets to the wind, wherever that expression came from.


    Max¡¯s eyes struggled to focus, his skin blushing fiercely from the surging alcohol content.


    ¡°Have a seat¡­have a drink¡­¡± Max said. ¡°My¡­uhhh¡­friend.¡±


    Zack crossed his arms and struggled not to move. It was all he could do to stop from toppling over.


    ¡°You¡¯re in a good mood,¡± Zack noticed.


    ¡°I¡¯m always in a good mood, Zane,¡± Max said. ¡°If that is your real name¡­¡±


    He started chuckling, and soon his growing laughter broke into an all-out wheeze.


    Zack sighed. This was getting him nowhere.


    He slammed his fists on the desk, shaking the drinks in the process.


    ¡°Hey, hey!¡± Max said. ¡°Go easy on the Barcardi. That bottle cost more than your armor.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Kaine?¡± Zack¡¯s voice boomed. ¡°He has to answer for what he¡¯s done.¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    What he¡¯s done?


    That¡¯s rich, Zack knew. Kaine and Max weren¡¯t the guilty ones here.


    But Zack didn¡¯t have time for self-pity. Lives depended on him stopping Kaine from using the Magnometer again.


    Even if he¡¯s the one he used it.


    ¡°What am I, his keeper?¡± Max said. ¡°He¡¯s probably face down in some co-ed¡¯s bed, if I had to guess. Ahhh, to be young again¡­¡±


    ¡°We were young once, weren¡¯t we¡­.Zane?¡± he said, putting particular emphasis on his name. ¡°Though I guess aging isn¡¯t much of a concern for you.¡±


    ¡°If Kaine uses that device again¡­¡± Zack started.


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± Max exploded. ¡°Can you imagine the lawsuits that will rain down on me! The liability! I¡¯m ruined! Ruined!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about you!¡± Zack said. ¡°I care about this campus!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s rich,¡± Max said. ¡°Coming from you¡­whichever you this is¡­¡±


    Zack realized he may have just broken character. Zane never cared much for Innshadow University before. Why should he know?


    Because lives were on the line.


    People had been hurt. People like Saber. Probably others.


    All because of me.


    Zack batted the self-pity away. That wasn¡¯t true. Kaine used the Magnometer. If he hadn¡¯t gotten it from Zack, he¡¯d probably have extorted some equally stupid freshman to steal it somewhere down the line.


    The important thing was stopping him.


    ¡°There¡¯s a way out,¡± Zack said. Max¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°You tell me where Kaine is,¡± Zack said. ¡°And I¡¯ll see what I can do for you.¡±


    Max eagerly reached for Zach¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯d do that¡­for me¡­after all I¡¯ve done.¡±


    Zack tried to give a noncommital shrug within the armor. ¡°What are friends for?¡±


    Max immediately slumped in his seat. ¡°But I don¡¯t know where he is.¡±


    Zack leaned in closer, while maintaining his balance. ¡°You tell me where he will most likely be. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±


    Max nodded in an overly diligent manner. ¡°I heard he and the boys are held up at the old Alpha House.¡±


    So he¡¯s not alone. This could be bad.


    ¡°How many does he have with him?¡± Zack asked.


    Max¡¯s eyes fixed on him. ¡°All of them.¡±


    The entire Alpha frat?


    That could be a problem.


    There were a lot of heavy-hitters in the Alpha frat. True, a lot of them were simply the case of big powers and big ego. Maybe they would stand down at the sight of Knightbrand.


    Maybe.


    ¡°I never meant for this to happen,¡± Max said. ¡°You have to believe me.¡±


    ¡°I believe you, ¡° Zack said, as he turned away.


    It might have been the only thing Zack believed about Max.


    Zack left the Alpha House soon after. Soaring back to his apartment, Zack thought about the details.


    He needed help. He needed a plan. He couldn¡¯t fight all the Alphas at once.


    Help was easier said than done. Saber was out of commission. And he wasn¡¯t sure if his friends would lend a hand if they knew the truth.


    He¡¯d talk this over with Perry. Come up with a strategy. It was the best solution.


    He landed just outside the apartment, making sure to exit armor mode. He opened the door to see Blake standing in the middle of the room, with Perry sitting off to the side wearing a sheepish expression.


    ¡°Blake!¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re okay.¡±


    Even Blake winced as he approached.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to be for long,¡± she said with an air of sympathy.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zack asked just as he heard the door shut behind him. He turned to see Rachel standing behind him.


    ¡°We need answers,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Now. What did you do, Zack?"

 Issue #47: The Truth Will Set You...

    Zack¡¯s heart stopped as the door slammed behind him. Rachel stood there, her eyes blazing at him.


    ¡°What did you do, Zack?¡± she asked.


    Zack didn¡¯t know what to say. He didn¡¯t know what to do. He stood, frozen in place.


    ¡°Rachel, I¡­I¡­¡± he stammered.


    He wanted to tell Rachel the truth. He wanted her to know everything. But not like this. He glanced at Perry for help. Perry stood by Blake and simply shrugged.


    ¡°They were very persistent,¡± he said.


    ¡°Saber is in the hospital,¡± Rachel continued.


    ¡°How is he?¡± Zack said, the image of Dirk Saber being pulled out of the rubble.


    ¡°As if you care,¡± Rachel said, her arms crossing her chest.


    ¡°Rachel!¡± Zack pleaded. ¡°I do care¡­look I was coming to tell you¡­I was wrong about Dirk. He¡­wasn¡¯t who I thought he was.¡±


    ¡°Who you thought he was?¡± Rache raised her voice. ¡°He¡¯s a college professor, not a serial killer!¡±


    In his defense, Zack never thought Dirk Saber was a serial killer¡­but he did think he was a killer. He had been wrong about that.


    Rachel took a step towards him, but this time she lowered his voice. She kept her steely gaze focused on him. ¡°When did you get so paranoid, Zack? What happened to you?¡±


    Zack looked away, not wanting to show her all the shame he felt. ¡°It¡¯s been a very hard two years.¡±


    Rachel exhaled deeply. Her posture remained closed off, but she kept her eyes on him. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±


    With no other option, Zack decided to start to finish. ¡°My dad¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold up!¡± Blake spoke up. ¡°Can we talk about why we just had a seven point earthquake in Illinois? If I¡¯d know it would be this bad, I¡¯d have stayed in California!¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Perry spoke up. ¡°We are sitting on a fault line. The Sandwich Fault Zone runs from DeKalb to Dixon.¡±


    Zack started itching the back of his neck. ¡°So maybe this whole thing was just coincidence?¡±


    ¡°A seven point earthquake strikes a college for superheroes?¡± Blake turned to him. ¡°Try harder.¡±


    ¡°And I read you when you showed up at Dirk¡¯s classroom,¡± Rachel said, backing up Blake. ¡°You were incredibly guilty. I could practically feel it. So how is any of this your fault?¡±


    With no other options, Zack wanted to come clean. He felt a pang of annoyance though, having wanted to confess his father¡¯s fate, only to be dragged into this piece of the puzzle instead.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Magnometer,¡± Zack said. ¡°It belongs to Amber Shaw.¡±


    Blake cocked her head. ¡°Why is Amber Shaw wrecking the campus? It seems like a really bad way to get a pay raise¡­unless she¡¯s an insurance adjuster. She¡¯s not an insurance adjuster is he?¡±


    Perry chuckled. ¡°No honey, she¡¯s not.¡±


    Zack spoke up, eager to avoid this tangent. ¡°Amber Shaw isn¡¯t the one doing all of this. It¡¯s Kaine.¡±


    ¡°Kaine who?¡± Rachel asked.


    ¡°I¡­actually don¡¯t know his last name,¡± Zack said, finally thinking about it. ¡°Or if that¡¯s not his last name¡­kinda weird.¡±


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Blake cursed. ¡°That Kaine? The creep from the Alpha House?¡±


    Zack nodded.


    ¡°How the hell did he get the Magnometer?¡± Blake continued.


    Now Zack knew he was in the corner. He squirmed a bit before finally coming clean.


    ¡°Because I stole it from him,¡± Zack finally said.


    The whole room erupted in a combination of shock, silence, and obscenities, mostly from Blake.


    ¡°You gave that sexist asshole an earthquake machine?¡± Blake said.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Zack could even himself buckle under Perry¡¯s microscopic vision. He turned to him, but Perry looked away in shame.


    ¡°If I had known you were going to do this¡­¡± he said quietly.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know, okay?¡± Zack said defensively.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t explain why you stole it in the first place,¡± Rachel said. She had been quiet up until now.


    Well, technically, I didn¡¯t steal it. Icer did.


    Still, he felt this wasn¡¯t necessarily the time or place to explain his current partnership with a C-list supervillain. That likely wouldn¡¯t have gone over good.


    ¡°He had something I needed,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°And you just decided to give it to him?¡± Rachel threw up her hands, angry.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know he was going to use it. Hell, I didn¡¯t even know what it actually did,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°It¡¯s an earthquake machine,¡± Blake shot back. ¡°You knew Miss Magnitude¡¯s powers. After all, she and your dad were real tight, as I recall.¡±


    Rachel turned to him. ¡°Why did this keep coming back to your dad?¡±


    ¡°About that¡­¡± Zack started, but Perry spoke up.


    ¡°I just wish we knew why Kaine was doing,¡± Perry said.


    ¡°He¡¯s crazy,¡± Blake said. She glanced at Zack. ¡°They all are.¡±


    ¡°No, he has to have an objective,¡± Zack agreed.


    Rachel sighed and then started to walk to the door. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I don¡¯t care why you gave a crazy bastard an earthquake machine or what he wants it for. I just want this to end.¡±


    She turned to Zack. ¡°You go to Amber Shaw. You turn yourself in. Or I¡¯ll tell everyone what I know.¡±


    ¡°Rachel¡­¡± Zack pleaded, but Rachel spun around.


    ¡°Don¡¯t Rachel me. The Zack I knew was a hero¡­or at least he wanted to be. He wouldn¡¯t let an entire campus get hurt just to soothe his ego,¡± Rachel said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what got into you. Hell, I don¡¯t know you at all anymore.¡±


    She turned to leave again. Blake and Perry started the same.


    ¡°Wait¡­guys¡­¡± Zack began.


    ¡°Turn yourself in,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Otherwise, my editors will be very interested in this story¡­and I¡¯m sure the campus police will pay you a visit for too long.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t know what to do. This was going bad. Very bad. But another thought crossed his mind.


    ¡°I have a counter-offer,¡± he said. The trio of former friends stopped.


    ¡°You want to negotiate?¡± Rachel spun around. ¡°People¡¯s lives are at stake!¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zack said. ¡°And they will continue to be until we figure this out.¡±


    ¡°The authorities¨C¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Can¡¯t handle this,¡± Zack said. ¡°Kaine¡¯s a teleporter. He¡¯ll be gone before they even show up. And I already talked to Max. He won¡¯t lift a finger to help.¡±


    Silence fell over the room.


    ¡°Innshadow can¡¯t stop this. They haven¡¯t been able to stop Alpha House for a while now,¡± Zack said. He looked at Blake. ¡°You said it yourself. They¡¯re out of control.¡±


    Rachel, Perry and Blake all paused and looked at one another before looking back to Zack.


    ¡°What do you propose?¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°We get the Magnometer back ourselves,¡± Zack said. ¡°I know where Kaine is.¡±


    The group was silent. Zack knew he had to sweeten the deal.


    ¡°Once I get the Magnometer back. I¡¯ll take it to Shaw and turn myself in,¡± Zack looked at Rachel. ¡°And none of you have to see me ever again.¡±


    The silence continued. Zack felt his insides churn.


    ¡°We¡¯ll think about it,¡± was all Rachel said before all three of them left, leaving Zack alone.


    Almost alone.


    Zack felt a familiar chill run down his spine.


    ¡°How much did you hear?¡± he said, turning to face Icer.


    ¡°Enough,¡± the supervillain said as he entered the living room, beer in hand.


    Where is he getting all this beer?


    ¡°This is getting complicated,¡± Icer said. ¡°I don¡¯t like complicated.¡±


    Zack shrugged. ¡°Well, you now where the door is.¡±


    Icer stepped into his path, and kept his masked face pointed at Zack. ¡°You said you¡¯re turning yourself in. Which makes me think you have a get-out-of-jail free card¡­if you rat on me.¡±


    Zack didn¡¯t lift his gaze. ¡°And here I thought there was honor among thieves.¡±


    Icer didn¡¯t move. ¡°We¡¯re not talking thieves. We¡¯re talking supes.¡±


    ¡°And you haven¡¯t had good experience with superheroes honoring their word?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Not in my experience,¡± Icer said.


    ¡°Hmmm. You should talk to someone about that,¡± Zack shook his head. ¡°Maybe see a therapist.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a therapist,¡± Icer shot back. ¡°I need assurances you won¡¯t rat me out.¡±


    Zack walked past him, purposely turning his back on him. He had enough of Icer¡¯s intimidation display.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m not going to rat you out,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll tell them I used my muscle memory powers to pick the lock and gain access to her office. I won¡¯t even mention you.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Icer said. ¡°Because if I even get a whiff of treachery on your part, I¡¯ll have to reassess your situation.¡±


    Zack spun around. ¡°You mind telling me what a whiff of treachery smells like?¡±


    But Icer was gone. Which was too bad. Zack was proud of that comeback.


    But he was finally alone. Now, Zack could face facts. He wasn¡¯t actually going to turn himself in. He would return the Magnometer to Shaw¡¯s office and then split.


    Dirk Saber wasn¡¯t his guy. There was nothing else keeping him on campus. He had made a mess of both the campus and his friends¡¯ lives.


    The easiest thing to do was move on, and resume the search elsewhere.


    And that¡¯s exactly what he intended to do.

 Issue #48: Decisions, Decisions

    Emotions raced and swirled around Rachel like a hurricane. She wished she stood in the eye of those emotions, finding some clarity or respite, however fleeting. Instead, she felt every one of them simultaneously, with no peace inside.


    Zack was the cause of all of this. He had stolen Amber Shaw¡¯s Magnometer and handed it over to the Alpha House. As a reporter, Rachel was well-acquainted with the fraternity¡¯s reputation for destruction and vandalism, but this¡­?


    Half of the campus was in shambles, while the other half struggled to return power and running water to Innshadow. And worst of all, all of it right back to Zack.


    That wasn¡¯t completely fair, Rachel knew. Zack didn¡¯t actually know the Alphas would use the Magnometer. But his actions still stabbed into Rachel. Because of Zack, Dirk Saber was unconscious with half a dozen broken bones. He may not have intended for this to happen, but he was a big reason why it did.


    After returning to the dorm room, both Blake and Perry gave Rachel a wide berth. She didn¡¯t need to be a psychic to know they were walking on eggshells, trying not to upset her more.


    It¡¯s a little late for that.


    Blake stepped forward and gingerly took a seat by Rachel, her hand on her shoulder. Perry nodded and left the dorm. After he left, Blake nodded at her and Rachel let her anguish out in a bitter sob before burying herself into her friend¡¯s arms.


    It felt good to cry.


    It felt good to let all the emotions out.


    After a few minutes of angry cries, Rachel had reached the eye of that hurricane, but she knew the feelings of anguish, betrayal and anger were far from beyond her. Perry re-entered the room a few minutes later and shuffled towards the two of them, hands in pocket.


    ¡°So what do we think about Zack¡¯s plan?¡± she asked.


    ¡°What plan?¡± Rachel said with a sniffle.


    ¡°To steal the Magnometer,¡± Perry clarified. Rachel shook her head.


    ¡°That¡¯s not a plan,¡± Rachel said. ¡°That¡¯s barely a mission statement.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s also his mess,¡± Blake said, her arms still wrapped around Rachel. ¡°I¡¯d rather he cleaned it up without involving us.¡±


    Rachel sighed. ¡°I hate to agree with him, but he has a point. He can¡¯t take on all the Alphas. I don¡¯t even think his father can. That frat is stacked with every kind of attribute you can slap a super on, and they¡¯ve all drank the Kool-Aid as far as I¡¯m concerned.¡±


    Blake moved away after a nod from Rachel, She crossed her arms and looked at her boyfriend.


    ¡°And we¡¯re supposed to take them on? I don¡¯t have that kind of juice,¡± Blake said. ¡°Can he just call his dad and have him, I don¡¯t know, bring in the Power Force or something?¡±


    Rachel heard Perry gawk a bit. Both Rachel and Blake turned to see Perry shifting uncomfortably in his seat. She saw impressions of panic running through his mind, but she quickly turned away. She didn¡¯t need to violate Perry¡¯s trust right now, and besides, the guy was always panicking about something.


    ¡°Zack told me he wasn¡¯t on speaking terms with his father,¡± Perry said meagerly. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s about to be on hitting terms with me if he doesn¡¯t get off his ass and fix this,¡± Blake said with a huff.


    That gave Rachel a small laugh. Even Perry chuckled.


    An uncomfortable silence followed. Finally Perry spoke up.


    ¡°So do we trust Zack enough to carry out this¡­.¡± Perry turned to Rachel. ¡°...mission?¡±


    Rachel once again gave a long sigh. Blake, unsurprisingly, was the first to speak up.


    ¡°I trust him as far as I can throw him,¡± Blake said. ¡°Or less. Not that I could throw him that far in the first place.¡±


    Perry nodded.


    ¡°Agreed. But he¡¯s our best shot at stopping this thing before it starts again,¡± Perry said. ¡°And more people get hurt.¡±


    Blake leaned on her hand, looking slightly glum. ¡°Sometimes I wish I had a boyfriend who didn¡¯t make sense.


    Slowly but surely, Rachel felt both pairs of eyes on her.


    She gave a long, drawn-out exhale.


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate Zack,¡± she finally admitted. ¡°I wish I could. It would make things a lot easier. But I don¡¯t hate him.¡±


    Her eyes fell on Perry.


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s been hiding things since he got back,¡± Rachel said.


    Perry only nodded. Blake sighed with frustration.


    ¡°I agree. He¡¯s been super-sus from the jump,¡± she said. ¡°Since he ditched me in the middle of a supervillain attack no less!¡±


    Perry nodded. He gestured to them both.


    ¡°Okay, with that in mind,¡± Perry said. ¡°Do we tell him that?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Rachel said very quickly. Both Perry and Blake turned to him.


    ¡°No,¡± Rachel said again, most sternly this time. ¡°I think we let him stew in it a bit.¡±


    ¡°Time is of the essence¡­¡± Perry began but Rachel raised her hand.


    ¡°I know, Perry,¡± she agreed.


    As usual, Perry was right, Rachel privately admitted to herself. But she¡¯d be lying if she didn¡¯t want Zack to feel at least some of the pain and heartache he had already put her through.


    Plus Rachel had threatened to turn him in already. The longer she left Zack to dwell on her answer, the longer he faced the possibility the law might come busting through his door any minute.


    She hated herself for being so petty. This was not who her father raised her to be.


    But she had been betrayed. Her mentor could hardly breathe thanks to his broken ribs. Her beloved college campus was fractured, perhaps beyond repair.


    And Zack started it all.


    Petty was the only game she had left.


    She wouldn¡¯t give into hate. But love?


    That wasn¡¯t on the table either.


    So petty she remained.


    ¡°How long until we let him know?¡± Perry said, slightly confused.


    ¡°An hour,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Make it two,¡± Blake immediately chimed.


    ¡°I knew there was a reason I liked you,¡± Rachel said. Blake smiled as the three friends sat together in a silence that, for once, didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable.


    Rachel reflected on the events that had brought them there. She still felt stabs of anger towards Zack and everything he had done.


    Why did he steal the Magnometer in the first place?


    What did Kaine have on him?


    And whatever the answer to that question, why didn¡¯t he come to his friends or help instead taking on all of this himself, and facing the consequences?


    Even after tonight, so many questions remained.


    The uncertainty made her frustrated, but the presence of her friends calmed her. She would dwell on that calming presence for as long as she could.


    And then, she would tell Zack their answer and they would fix this, and when they did¡­they both were going to have a good long talk about the secrets Zack was keeping from her.

 Issue #49: Ultimatum

    It occurred to Zack that he had never actually seen the inside of the original Alpha House. Most of his dealings had been in the old library, which Alpha House had seen fit to turn into their personal party pad. Even Max had his office up there. And of course, Kaine with his own crashpad.


    Zack knew Kaine wouldn¡¯t return to his office. nor did he have faith in Max launching any real effort to stop Kaine from using the Magnometer again. Max might even make a play for the Magnometer himself. At best, he would probably just sit on the sidelines and wait to see who came out on top.


    Either way, Zack couldn¡¯t trust Max.


    And unfortunately, Zack¡¯s friends couldn¡¯t trust him. Which meant he was all alone on this.


    Just like old times.


    He trotted up the stairs of the old Alpha House. It was a slender-built Victorian house. It didn¡¯t look too big or impressive. Zack had seen the facade when he first attended the mixer with Scott.


    What was that? A week and a half ago?


    God, it feels like an eternity.


    So much had happened since them, including his falling out with Scott. Add one more friend who hated his guts right about now.


    Zack understood now he wasn¡¯t good for people. His friends were better off without him anyway. At the very least, they¡¯d be safer.


    Or as safe superheroes-in-training could be.


    He just wished he hadn¡¯t screwed things up so bad with Rachel. One more regret he¡¯d have to live with.


    Zack entered the Alpha House. Once inside, he saw the place was packed with his Alpha brothers. The deep bass of loud music pumped throughout the entire house as Zack entered, pushing through the horde. Max wasn¡¯t kidding. It looked like the entire place was filled to the brim with frat boys.


    It smelled like it too.


    Zack pushed past several Alpha brothers, trying to ignore the smell of weed, stale beer and B.O. He pushed his hands deep within his pockets and nodded sheepishly to several of his Alpha brothers as he made his way deep inside. He didn¡¯t know what, if any, instructions Kaine had left with the other Alphas.


    He also didn¡¯t know if he wasn¡¯t on the invite list anymore.


    Fortunately, none of the Alpha bros paid him any mind. The place looked like more of a frat hang-out than a military operation, with various fraternity members leaning against the walls and railing, chatting up their pals and drinking beer. As he passed, he heard most of the Alpha boys recanting their actions during the recent earthquake.


    He wondered what they would do if they knew the truth about Kaine. Their beloved leader was out there causing those earthquakes . . . all because of him.


    Zack put the thought out of his mind. He looked for someone he knew. He didn¡¯t see Scott anywhere . . . which probably was for the best, all things considered. Failing to spot Scott or any friend, he nodded at the first Alpha he locked eyes with.


    ¡°Kaine around?¡± he asked gingerly, trying his best to act unconcerned.


    ¡°He¡¯s upstairs,¡± the Alpha said with a jerk of his thumb.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Zack replied as he back-tracked and shot up the stairs.


    He took one or two impeded steps, but had to squeeze by an Alpha making out with a co-ed on the top step. Zack sighed and kept moving.


    Zack heard Kaine¡¯s booming voice in the next room. He saw the leader surrounded by smaller freshmen - the same candidates he pledged with. He didn¡¯t see Scott with them. Most likely his friend was still stuck cleaning up a mess back at the old library, which was more or less the Alpha frat¡¯s public HQ.


    ¡°Hey Kaine!¡± Zack called to the big man in the center of the crowd. ¡°Start any earthquakes lately?¡±


    Kaine¡¯s expression immediately darkened. He shot a gaze elsewhere. Zack followed his vision to see No-Neck One and Two standing nearby. The two made a beeline towards him, but Zack quickly rushed through the crowd of Alpha brothers, nearly knocking a drink from someone¡¯s hand.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°Hey!¡± cried one Alpha.


    ¡°Watch it!¡± the one with the drink called.


    Zack kept moving through a sea of limbs and biceps. Behind him, he heard cries and shouts as Kaine¡¯s two goons had a lot less luck moving through the crowd given their bigger size. Zack saw Kaine start to move towards an unoccupied space, away from the freshman.


    Zack cleared the space with a leap, grabbing Kaine¡¯s arm in the process. He didn¡¯t want him popping away, teleporting to who-knows-where. Kaine spun around and met his gaze but Zack gestured to the baffled Alphas all round him. With that, Kaine shot free of his grasp and then gave a fake laugh, slapping Zack¡¯s shoulder with an equally insincere smile.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t see you there!¡± Kaine said.


    ¡°So are you gonna give me back the Magnometer?¡± Zac said. ¡°Or did we have to do this the hard way?¡±


    Kaine did his best to look confused. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. And even if I did, why would I give it back to you? A deal¡¯s a deal.¡±


    Zack flashed a grin at him as if Kaine had something funny. ¡°That was before I knew you were going to use the Magnometer to pretty much destroy the campus.¡±


    Kaine shrugged. ¡°Hey you know what they say? You can¡¯t make an omelet without breaking a few colleges¡­or something.¡±


    He then raised his voice. ¡°But Alpha House is still standing strong!¡±


    Rows of cheers boomed through the Alpha House, followed by several repeating ¡°A-L-P-H-A¡± in a rhythmic chant.


    Zack wasn¡¯t impressed. ¡°Just give it back and I¡¯ll leave it on Shaw¡¯s desk, no note, no explanation. She¡¯s already spooked. You¡¯ve made your point.¡±


    ¡°You think this was all about some Karen in a pantsuit?¡± Kaine said. ¡°This was about something so much bigger¡­and I¡¯m just getting started.¡±


    ¡°Wanna bet?¡± Zack stood closer to him. He was done playing. Kaine maintained his gracious attitude.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Kaine said. ¡°What Max was looking for¡­I found it. Great things await.¡±


    The way Kaine said great things brought a chill down Zack¡¯s back.


    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Zack said. ¡°You think Max is gonna reward you? Cuz right now he¡¯s not your biggest fan.¡±


    Kaine gave a dismissive wave of his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t need that washed-up hack. When I go under again, I have enough power to run this place.¡±


    Zack moved in closer. ¡°You do that again and this place won¡¯t be standing.¡±


    Kaine gave another chuckle. ¡°You think I care about this place?¡±


    He moved so close that Zack could smell his hot breath.


    ¡°Do you know how the Magnometer works? It makes you one with the earth,¡± Kaine said, his pupils large. ¡°What I saw down there will change everything. All these people haven¡¯t got a clue.¡±


    He pushed his face closer to Zack. ¡°You haven¡¯t got a clue.¡±


    Zack sighed. ¡°This is your last chance. Otherwise, I gonna bust this thing wide open.¡±


    Kaine drew back with a smirk. ¡°Actually you¡¯re the one who is all out of chances.¡±


    He raised his hands in a theatrical fashion. ¡°Gentlemen, it appears we have a false brother among us.¡±


    Boos filled the air. Zack suddenly felt very self-conscious as every eye fell upon him. The crowd drew away from him. Zack realized an attack could come from anywhere.


    ¡°Zack Kestler started this whole mess. He caused the earthquake,¡± Kaine said. ¡°He¡¯s no longer one of us. Which means we have an opening. First one to take him down gets dibs.¡±


    Several small freshmen stepped forward. Their eyes narrowed at him, their faces lined with disgust and anger.


    ¡°Look, guys,¡± Zack said. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this. I don¡¯t want to hurt you-¡±


    Before Zack could speak, he was toppling down the stairs. He hit the wooden floor with a thud. He started to regain his footing, only to be sent spiraling out of the front door. Before he knew it, he lay on the concrete, with Kaine towering above him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get in my way again, Kestler,¡± Kaine said, his arms crossed. ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t be so merciful.¡±


    Kaine disappeared. Zack¡¯s first instinct was to charge in and take the Magnometer, but he knew that wouldn¡¯t work, not with a whole frat of pissed-off Alphas waiting for him inside. He could get the Knightbrand armor, but he wasn¡¯t sure even the mech would sustain that kind of damage from two dozen amped-up Alphas ready to go.


    He was out of options. Dejected, he went home.


    ***


    Zack walked in to see Perry, Blake and Rachel waiting for him. He stood stunned.


    ¡°You look like crap,¡± Rachel said, her arms crossed.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡­uhhh¡­.tried to fix this mess,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°About as well as you¡¯d expect?¡± Zack said. ¡°You here to turn me in?¡±


    Rachel stood forward. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you, Zack. I just want an end to this mess.¡±


    Zack nodded. ¡°Yeah. I know. So do I¡­believe me¡­¡±


    ¡°So when this is over¡­we¡¯re going to have a long talk¡­and you¡¯re going to tell me everything,¡± Rachel said.


    Zack found his spirits lifting. ¡°Yeah¡­I will¡­¡±


    Perry gave him a slight smirk. ¡°So¡­how do you want to do this?¡±

 Issue #50: How Do You Make God Laugh?

    Zack, Perry, Blake and Rachel stood over Zack¡¯s tiny kitchen table, pouring over Rachel¡¯s laptop. They had pulled up whatever specs they could find about the old Alpha House, but there wasn¡¯t a ton to go on.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t there secret passages?¡± Rachel said. ¡°Couldn¡¯t we just get in that way?¡±


    Zack crossed his arms and sighed. ¡°From what Scott tells me, the staircases disappear at odd times. And as for the secret passages, they are there¡­but I don¡¯t know where.¡±


    ¡°I could read his mind?¡± Rachel offered.


    ¡°Whose?¡± Zack said with a hint of impatience.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­the advisor guy¡­Max something?¡± Rachel shrugged.


    ¡°Good luck with that. He¡¯s usually three sheets to the wind,¡± Zack said with a dismissive flick of his hand. ¡°And he lies through his teeth when he¡¯s sober.¡±


    Blake immediately sprang up. ¡°I don¡¯t hear you offering up any plans here!¡±


    Perry immediately raised his hands. ¡°We¡¯re getting too hot on this. We need to calm down.¡±


    Zack wanted to apologize. He looked at Rachel, only for her eyes to dart away. She avoided his gaze. She hadn¡¯t met his eyes all night.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we just¡­I don¡¯t know¡­talk Kaine down?¡± Perry said. ¡°I mean, what does he gain if the whole college collapses?¡±


    Zack sighed. ¡°Max isn¡¯t the college¡¯s biggest fan to begin with, and I¡¯m betting Kaine¡¯s no better.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but Perry is right. What¡¯s his game here?¡± Blake said. Rachel continued to plug away on the laptop.


    Zack realized they were right. What was Kaine¡¯s game?


    ¡°Last time I talked to him, he¡¯d clearly taken the crazy juice,¡± Zack replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m not reading a crazy person,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Been there, done that. I didn¡¯t like it the first time.¡±


    Zack looked at Rachel. Once again, she didn¡¯t look back. Instead she clicked through several scenic pictures of the landscapes around campus on the Innshadow website. One caught Zack¡¯s eye when he saw the nearby rivers and lakes which bordered Innshadow¡¯s property.


    ¡°Underground springs,¡± Zack said. ¡°That¡¯s what Kaine is after.¡±


    Everyone stared at him with a blank expression. An uncomfortable silence hung over the room.


    ¡°Come again?¡± Perry finally said.


    Zack sighed, wondering how exactly to parse this information.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story¡­Max wants to be young forever,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Wait wait, how old is this guy?¡± Blake asked.


    ¡°Like seventy going on thirty,¡± Zack replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to pretend that makes sense,¡± Blake said, but Zack continued.


    ¡°He thinks the underground springs will keep him young. He wants Innshadow to help him, but they haven¡¯t, mostly because his aging clearly isn¡¯t their top priority,¡± Zack said.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°I can see his point,¡± Blake said, flicking back her blonde locks. ¡°I¡¯m getting gray hairs just thinking about it.¡±


    Perry nodded. ¡°So Kaine cut out the middle man.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. He¡¯s getting the spring water using the Magnometer,¡± Zack said.


    Perry took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. ¡°So how is he causing earthquakes?¡±


    Blake cleared her throat. ¡°I read up on Amber Shaw. Her time as Miss Magnitude was intense. She was one of the top ten most powerful heroines of her time. She didn¡¯t just start earthquakes. She controlled the earth itself.¡±


    Perry fixed a serious look to Zack. ¡°And if he was off the slightest fraction, he could disrupt the faultline¡­or worse.¡±


    ¡°Why is there always a ¡®worse¡¯?¡± Blake sighed.


    Rachel finally spoke up. ¡°Great. So we know the motivation . . . and the stakes . . . but we still are no closer to finding a solution.¡±


    A dense silence once again filled the room. However, once again, Rachel spoke up, and this time, she met Zack¡¯s eyes.


    Rachel looked up. ¡°It¡¯s really just Kaine we have to deal with.¡±


    Perry looked up at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting about the dozen or so frat boys?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I fought them head-on,¡± Zack said, feeling the bumps and bruises from his bout with the freshman. ¡°It did not go great.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but they¡¯re still boys,¡± Blake said with a smirk.


    Perry gave her an odd look. ¡°Yes, as we¡¯ve established, they are boys who belong to a frat.¡±


    Blake¡¯s smirk grew into an outright grin.


    ¡°Why am I suddenly afraid?¡± Perry said. Rachel looked at her.


    ¡°That¡­just might work,¡± she said. Blake immediately turned to her.


    ¡°Hey no fair reading minds!¡± Blake said with a flick of annoyance.


    ¡°Sorry, force of habit,¡± Rachel smirked. Zack leaned on her chair.


    ¡°Do I get to know the plan?¡± Zack asked. Rachel spun around to face her.


    ¡°A diversion. One to lure the Alphas away,¡± Rachel looked up at him.


    Zack thought about it for a second. He really didn¡¯t want to take on the entire Alpha frat by himself, not when it had already gone poorly to begin with. He frankly wasn¡¯t sure the Knightbrand armor could handle all of them at once either.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zack said. ¡°What kind of diversion?¡±


    Blake pursed her lips. ¡°You just leave that to me . . . and Perry.¡±


    ¡°Yep, I¡¯m terrified,¡± Perry said. Blake gave him a mischievous look.


    ¡°Oh you should be,¡± Blake said.


    This could work.


    ¡°So I¡¯ll sneak back into the Alpha House, confront Kaine, and then grab the Magnometer,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Could we just call Scott and have him take it?¡± Perry spoke up.


    Zack almost kicked himself for not thinking of that sooner. With the rest of the Alphas distracted, Scott could feasibly just run in and grab it..


    The only problem was that he and Scott were not on the greatest terms. And Zack couldn¡¯t really blame him, the way he had treated him.


    ¡°Scott¡¯s really tied into Alpha House. He¡¯s trying to get a scholarship,¡± Zack said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to jeopardize that.¡±


    The silence returned once more. Zack broke it before the quiet could linger.


    ¡°So we¡¯re back to the original plan,¡± Zack said. ¡°I¡¯ll grab-¡±


    Rachel stood up. ¡°No, we will grab it.¡±


    Zack started to say something but Rachel hushed him.


    ¡°You¡¯ll need my help to locate any secret passages, remember?¡± Rachel said. ¡°I can read anyone who might know where they are.¡±


    ¡°It could be dangerous,¡± Zack said. ¡°Especially if we find Kaine.¡±


    ¡°Let him,¡± Rachel stood up and put her hands on her hips. ¡°You think Dirk Saber hired me as his TA because, what, I¡¯m just a pretty face.¡±


    Zack started to say something.


    ¡°Dude¡­¡± Perry said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t answer that,¡± Blake chimed in.


    Zack knew there was no point in arguing. So he simply sighed.


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s settled,¡± he said. ¡°Either way, this ends tonight.¡±


    Zack only hoped it was true.

 Issue #51: Lovers Quarrel

    Perry Adams followed his girlfriend Blake through the wrecked Innshadow campus. By then, a calm had fallen over the area. Rescue crews had largely completed their operations, scouring the black stone rubble for any signs of survivors. Still, much of the college lay in ruin. Entire classrooms were now deemed inaccessible, and there was already talk of delaying or even canceling entire classes indefinitely.


    The acrid smell of smoke still stung his nostrils as Perry passed the rubble of a nearby building.


    The couple continued to move through the ruins towards the Alpha house. Curiously, the entire Alpha Row region of the campus lay entirely untouched by the disaster. Perry wondered if Kaine had done this intentionally to use the Alpha Row as a staging ground for future operations, or if whatever lay beneath Alpha Row was simply beyond Kaine¡¯s interest.


    Either way, it made no difference as Perry and Blake arrived just outside the steps of the old Sigma Alpha HQ. Blake turned to her, her blonde hair blowing lightly in the wind.


    ¡°Are they watching?¡± Blake asked.


    Perry looked to see several frat members giving them the side-eye. None of them were particularly interested, but they were certainly aware of their presence to say the least.


    ¡°Watching may be an overstatement,¡± Perry said. He didn¡¯t see any of the frat members which had attacked Blake or him from earlier. Most of the frat boys loitering in the windows and steps looked to be the rank-and-file Alpha, who likely knew nothing of their leader¡¯s role in Innshadow¡¯s present state.


    ¡°Let¡¯s give them something to watch then,¡± Blake said with a wink. Perry looked confused.


    ¡°I don¡¯t follow,¡± he said.


    ¡°Do you trust me?¡± Blake asked.


    ¡°Well, of course I do-¡±


    Suddenly, Perry felt a stinging pain spread across his cheek as Blake slapped him. The blow was accompanied by a small tingle. Blake still lacked the control of her electrical abilities, but even still, one thing was clear.


    She¡¯s holding back.


    ¡°Who is she?¡± Blake demanded.


    ¡°Who¡¯s who?¡± Perry said, rattled and confused as his mind struggled to rapidly connect the disparate data points.


    ¡°You think I can¡¯t smell her perfume on your clothes right now?¡± Blake raised her voice even more. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what a hickey looks like?¡±


    Perry¡¯s hand instinctively went to his neck, though he was confused as to what his girlfriend was talking about. He wasn¡¯t seeing anybody else other than Blake. Hell, he hadn¡¯t seen anybody else period. Blake was his first serious relationship.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say anything?¡± Blake said, stomping her feet, her eyes flashing.


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Perry said. ¡°There is no one else.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me!¡± Blake cried. Her pupils disappeared behind a pale blue sheath as lightning shot from her fingers in all directions.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    What¡¯s happening? How do I calm her down?


    ¡°Blake¡­calm down¡­¡± he said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me to calm down!¡± Blake moved forward, towards him, her blonde hair starting to rise in the air.


    Apparently that was not the way to calm her down.


    She continued. ¡°I want answers! How long have you been seeing her?¡±


    Perry¡¯s mind raced for answers, but he took particular notice of Blake¡¯s hair, which raised in the air like a blonde tornado. Perry had seen his girlfriend angry plenty of times. Her touch blew up phones and torched computer screens. But her carefully-styled hair always remained the same. She had been experimenting with her static abilities, to some degree of success, though. Which meant she was concentrating in order to pull off this look deliberately.


    This was the distraction. A fake fight right outside the entrance of the Alpha House.


    Perry glanced to the side to see it was in fact working. The once-bored frat boys loitering on the steps of Alpha House now watched with rapt attention, eagerly chattering among themselves. Some of them emerged with the house carrying actual bowls of popcorn. Blake had succeeded in giving them a show. Perry just wished she had gone over the plan with him ahead of time, but he shook his head and tried not to smile. Blake always had a flair for the dramatic, and besides, his look of sheer terror after she slapped him probably sold the bit more than anything.


    Now it was his turn¡­


    ¡°Okay, you caught me. We¡¯ve been seeing each other for months!¡± Perry said. He heard the frat boys start to clap the moment he started to speak up. It was clear whose side they were on.


    ¡°Months!¡± Blake cried, her eyes suddenly widening. ¡°Who is she?¡±


    Perry didn¡¯t know who this mystery woman was, to be fair. When he thought of the perfect woman for him, Blake checked every box. He looked over to see two familiar shapes moving through the shadows as Zack and Rachel took advantage of the scene to move up the nearby fire escape and enter the Alpha House.


    ¡°Rachel!¡± Perry turned back to Blake.


    ¡°Rachel!¡± Blake cried. ¡°You¡¯ve been screwing my roommate behind my back!¡±


    Perry did his best to give a noncommittal shrug, though secretly he hoped he was reading this situation right. Otherwise, his girlfriend would have every right to fry him on the spot.


    ¡°What can I say?¡± Perry said with a grin. ¡°She meets my needs without me having to ask. Perks of dating a psychic I guess.¡±


    Blake¡¯s hand flew out for another slap, but this time, she telegraphed it well in advance, giving Perry plenty of time to dodge it. She used the motion to briefly cover her mouth so the audience couldn¡¯t see her talking.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play this up too much, Per-Bear,¡± she said. ¡°Or we¡¯re really going to have some words later.¡±


    Perry did his best not to nod.


    ¡°We¡¯re over!¡± Blake said. ¡°My mother was right about you, you pathetic worm!¡±


    ¡°I was right all along. Dating a blonde was easy,¡± Perry said. ¡°Not much going on up there, right? I¡¯m surprised it took you this long to notice.¡±


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Blake cried, and this time she launched another strike. This one, however, was accompanied by a litany of lightning blasts that fell in every direction - including towards the Alpha House. Perry easily dodged the slap, but he turned to see the lightning flow towards the property behind them.


    Perry watched as one blast shattered a nearby lamp post, while the lights within the Alpha House flicked off and on - before staying off. If Blake was lucky, she might have just knocked out the power. In a building that old, it wouldn¡¯t be that hard. That¡¯s probably why the Alphas preferred the old library - the electric wiring was more spread out and less impacted by outages. But that was a luxury the Alpha House didn¡¯t have, shrouding in darkness.


    Hopefully it would make Zack and Rachel¡¯s job a lot easier. Regardless, it was up to them now.


    He turned back to Blake only to see her already storming down the pathway amid a sea of cat-calls from the Alpha House. She glared at them with her hollow, blue eyes and every frat boy went silent. Perry chuckled to himself and started walking the other direction.


    They¡¯d meet back at Zack¡¯s apartment, hopefully not without any lasting damage to their relationship.


    Perry gave one last look to the Alpha House, and silently wished Zack and Rachel luck before heading back.

 Issue #52: Infiltration

    Zack and Rachel crouched through the shadows as they moved towards the Alpha House. Zack did his best to not to notice the silent wreckage strewn all around campus. The quakes had subsided for now, but the smoke still stung Zack¡¯s eyes. Kaine had played him the entire time, used him to do his dirty work.


    Now, it was time for payback.


    Both Zack and Rachel were both clad in tight black clothing, allowing them to better blend in with the shadows. Despite the stealthy practicality of her attire, Rachel still looked amazing, with her tight black jogging pants and fitted running shirt showcasing her athletic form. Zack struggled not to acknowledge his attraction, but if Rachel picked up on it psychically, she didn¡¯t show it.


    ¡°There,¡± she said, pointing out from a nearby corner.


    Zack peered out from his hiding spot, tucked behind the rough concrete corner of a still-standing building. He could see the Alpha House coming into view. A half a dozen or so of his former frat brothers sat outside the Alpha House, chatting and loitering. It would be a hard fight but Zack might be able to take them, assuming they didn¡¯t call for back-up.


    He could definitely take them in his Knightbrand armor, but that meant confessing even more of his secrets to Rachel. It had been hard enough to do that during their last conversation, and he definitely didn¡¯t want to strain their relationship any more than he already had.


    Fortunately, he didn¡¯t need to. More Alphas soon made their way onto the front porch and steps, until Zack counted at least two dozen. They were all looking at something.


    Zack followed their line of sight to see Blake and Perry, fake-feuding on the sidewalk. At least Zack hoped they were fake-feuding. Perry looked terrified and confused out of his mind.


    ¡°Looks like the distraction is working,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Still leaves us to find a way in,¡± Zack replied.


    ¡°Up there,¡± Rachel pointed to a nearby fire escape. Zack scanned the windows for any signs of Alpha sentries, but he saw none. Nor did he see any better options, so he just nodded as the two of them moved forward.


    Lightning cast out of Blake¡¯s hands in the distance as Perry showed signs of getting into character.


    ¡°She¡¯s pretty good at this,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°She wanted to be a drama major,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Before her powers kicked in.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like her powers are slowing her down much,¡± Zack said, before turning to the fire escape and gesturing to Rachel.  ¡°After you.¡±


    ¡°Ever the gentleman,¡± Rachel gave him a slight smirk as she climbed up the fire escape. It was the closest thing to a smile Zack had received from Rachel. He tried his best to play it cool. The two of them quietly scampered up the fire escape, taking care not to alert the Alphas with their footsteps on the black metal frame. Within a couple minutes, they made it to the top window. Rachel opened it and crept in, with Zack right behind her.


    She turned back to him and raised her finger to her lips. As Zack slipped through the window, he could see the other Alphas less than a few feet away. The window had led to a back bedroom, but Alphas were strewn just outside of the house. He could spy several of their members drinking and partying in the hallway just outside. If any of them recognized him, a fight would break out in the middle of the Alpha house. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The light suddenly flickered. Zack looked up to see the lights dimming and then brightening before shutting off entirely.


    ¡°Looks like Blake¡¯s escapades did us a favor,¡± Rachel said, looking up.


    The two of them crept towards the bed room, now emboldened by the shadows. Rachel raised her hand suddenly. Zack moved inches away from her, so he almost ran into her back. Rachel turned to him and then pointed at a closet door. She slowly opened it and then pushed on the back of the closet, revealing a fake wall. She began to lift it, but Zack moved it quickly and helped her move the fake wall aside without making a sound. He then turned and shut the closet door, eliminating any evidence they had been there in the first place.


    ¡°How did you know this was here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Rachel turned to him before tapping her forehead. ¡°But they did. And I think all that booze helped me read even more.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re amazing,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Rachel answering, turning away. ¡°Now come on. This leads down to the tunnels.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the tunnels. Zack knew the system would run back to the old library, but he felt a pang of despair.


    Why did they want to go back to the library? Zack knew the Magnometer wasn¡¯t found in any of Max¡¯s display cases. Kaine likely knew Zack could probably get the Magnometer with a simple smash-and-grab, and given how tense things were between Kaine and Max, he likely didn¡¯t want to risk Max turning the Magnometer back over to Shaw and taking all the credit.


    Kaine would be smart about where he stashed the Magnometer. But just where would it be?


    The Alpha House seemed like a smart bet, but then again, he¡¯d be surrounded by drunk and high frat boys who could damage the Magnometer if they weren¡¯t careful. Even if Kaine kept it on his person, there¡¯d still be a risk some dumb bro would try to engage Kaine in an impromptu wrestling match. He wouldn¡¯t take the chance it¡¯d smashed in all the rough-housing.


    That left the tunnels as his smartest bet to keep the Magnometer. Not in the Alpha House. Or the Alpha HQ.


    But somewhere in-between.


    Rachel turned on her phone and began to use the flashlight to scan the darkness. Zack did the same. His eyes fell upon a rack of several items off to the side.


    ¡°That¡¯s just supplies,¡± Rachel said. Zack examined the rack.


    ¡°Not unless they use the Sword of Kid Achilles to unplug the toilet,¡± Zack said. Rachel turned and looked as Zack examined the equipment, raising an ancient shortsword.


    ¡°What is all this stuff?¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Superhero gear from retired members of the Alpha House,¡± Zack said. ¡°It¡¯s like a museum. You only see ten percent of their collection. The rest is kept in storage.¡±


    ¡°But why would they keep it all in here?¡± Rachel asked.


    ¡°Because the display case in the old library is filled with Max¡¯s exploits,¡± Zack said. ¡°This is all the memorabilia from the actual members of the Alpha House.¡±


    ¡°This Max guy must have some ego,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°You have no idea,¡± Zack replied. He fished through the gear. There were weapons, utility belts, throwing stars and a couple rings, with nothing organized in any particular order.


    Finally Zack found his hand falling upon a familiar round mechanism.


    ¡°I got it,¡± Zack said as he pulled up the Magnometer from the pile of assorted superhero weaponry.


    ¡°What was it doing here?¡± Rachel asked.


    Zack noticed the dust on most of the items. ¡°It¡¯s the place no one would look. We should go-¡±


    Zack started to turn into the shadows only to run headlong into another figure. The tall and lanky figure brandished a long electric light, revealing Scott¡¯s features in the darkness.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked, his eyes already narrowing with suspicion.

 Issue #53: Out of the Frying Pan...

    Rachel kicked herself for letting her guard down. Everything had been going so well. Alongside Zack, she had infiltrated the Alpha House. They had found and retrieved the Magnometer. They had nearly completed their mission.


    The only person who stood in their way was Scott.


    Rachel should have scanned the darkness for signs of a mind. Maybe she could have picked up on his thoughts before he found Rachel and Zack.


    Maybe.


    The truth was, Rachel had been far too distracted for that. Having Zack so close brought back a stirring deep within her belly she could hardly ignore. She only barely lucked out, happening on two frat bros so deep in their hard liquor she could pick the location of the passage behind the closet without much effort.


    Having Zack here reminded her of old times. In spite of everything he¡¯d done over the past week, he showed signs of old self, kindness masked with swagger. She wanted to reach out to him on the fire escape, but too much had happened and too much was riding on this. Maybe after this all was over they could find some patch of normalcy.


    Maybe.


    Scott approached them, wielding his electric light like a sword. Rachel didn¡¯t need to be a psychic to pick up the anger and suspicion dripping from Scott¡¯s mind.


    ¡°What. Are. You. Doing,¡± Scott said, repeating every word.


    ¡°We came here for this,¡± Zack said, holding up the Magnometer. ¡°It¡¯s what caused the quakes. Kaine¡¯s been using it this whole time.¡±


    Scott chuckled. Rachel could sense bitterness wash over him.


    ¡°Kaine said you might try something like this,¡± Scott said. ¡°I told him you wouldn¡¯t stoop so low.¡±


    Zack continued to reach for him. ¡°Buddy¡­¡±


    Scott jerked back. ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®buddy¡¯ me. We¡¯re not friends. Friends don¡¯t abandon each other for two years without a word.¡±


    Rachel felt Zack recoil, as if Scott¡¯s words were a dagger plunged into his stomach.


    Scott¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°And friends definitely don¡¯t plant evidence.¡±


    Rachel moved forward. ¡°Scott . . . that¡¯s not what¡¯s happening here. You need to hear him out.¡±


    Rachel felt Scott¡¯s eyes fall upon her. Regret. Sorrow. Bitterness. They all swirled within Scott¡¯s mind. Rachel knew how Scott felt about her. She¡¯d always known.


    But Scott never acted on those emotions.


    Zack was the one who asked her out. Zack was the one who studied with her all night. Zack was the one who stayed with her all night when her parents split.


    Rachel had thought she had lost that Zack a long time ago. Now . . . now she wasn¡¯t so sure.


    Scott just shook his head and let out a mirthless laugh. ¡°So he dragged you down into this mess with him. Figures. Zack has that effect on people.¡±


    ¡°Scott,¡± Rachel said. ¡°That¡¯s not fair.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    His eyes flashed at her in response.


    ¡°Fair?¡± he said. ¡°I bust my ass here, twenty four seven. All while you land TA jobs and cushy scholarships. And you have the gall to lecture me about fair.¡±


    ¡°Scott, you¡¯re never here,¡± Rachel stepped towards him. ¡°We¡¯re friends. We could have helped you. Friends are here for one another.¡±


    Scott shook his head, pointing at Zack. ¡°And when was he here for any of us in the last two years?¡±


    Rachel shifted uncomfortably. She felt Zack¡¯s eyes fall upon her, trying to get a read on her, searching for her next move. Rachel¡¯s eyes never left Scott.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± Rachel admitted.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s favorite phase,¡± Scott said. ¡°When they can¡¯t take responsibility.¡±


    Zack pushed forward. ¡°We¡¯re not planting this. We¡¯re taking it. After we turn this in, this will be over¡­.things can go back to how they used to be.¡±


    Rachel could feel Scott searching Zack¡¯s face. She knew there was some part of him that wanted to believe him. Scott wanted this to be real. Just like her, some part of Scott wanted to see the old Zack.


    But that part of Scott quickly retreated.


    ¡°Then tell me this. How did Kaine get this so-called earthquake device?¡± Scott said. ¡°Did he steal it?¡±


    Zack looked away.


    Scott made another chuckle, hollow and humorless.


    ¡°I see it now,¡± he said, looking from Rachel to Zack. ¡°You two are made for another. You¡¯re not complicated. You¡¯re compromised.¡±


    ¡°Scott¡­¡± Zack stated, but Scott gave a dismissive wave of his hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Kaine about your plot. Then I¡¯m going to tell Max,¡± Scott said. ¡°And then he¡¯ll see what a royal piece of shit you are . . . and always have been . . . ¡°


    Rachel moved out of sight. She let Scott continue his tirade, as her hands fell on the nearby Sword of Kid Achilles.


    ¡°Zack Kestler always gets what he wants,¡± Scott started to move away. ¡°But soon Zack Kestler¡¯s going to get exactly what¡¯s coming to him.¡±


    He started to turn, but before he could do Rachel dropped the hilt of the sword right onto the back of Scott¡¯s head. He dropped like a particularly large bag of potatoes.


    ¡°Rachel!¡± Zack cried.


    ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± Rachel said. She knew how to knock someone out without causing serious damage. It was the first thing covered in Saber¡¯s class. ¡°But we need to move.¡±


    The shock faded from Zack¡¯s eyes as he nodded.


    The two of them pushed back the way they came, the Magnometer in hand. They exited the closet door. Rachel noticed the Alpha bros were thankfully no longer in the doorway after they arrived in the back bedroom. She followed Zack down the fire escape, and back into the campus.


    ¡°That was close,¡± Rachel said as their feet hit the pavement.


    ¡°Very,¡± Zack turned to her. ¡°But you did good.¡±


    His eyes held a warmth Rachel hadn¡¯t seen in a very long time. There was so much she wanted to say to him now.


    But the mission came first.


    They started to move past the alleyway, with the Promenade already in view. As they did so, however, Rachel knew they were being watched. She could feel the semblance of a mind somewhere, but every time she reached for the psyche it was gone.


    She turned the corner to see a large bald man in combat gear. When she turned to Zack, she looked back to see the man completely vanish into thin air.


    ¡°You left without saying good-bye,¡± she heard a voice say. ¡°I¡¯m hurt.¡±


    She turned to Zack with a confused look. Only one thought coursed through his mind.


    Kaine.


    She steeled herself for an attack. They were about a block away from the Alpha House, having arrived at the adjacent brick building they¡¯d first used to survey their objective.


    ¡°At least I¡¯m not the only one that¡¯s hurt,¡± Kaine¡¯s voice boomed.


    Rachel continued to scan for any sign of a threat. Finding none, she started to move.


    ¡°Rachel!¡± she heard Zack cry. ¡°Watch out.¡±


    Before she could turn around, Rachel felt powerful hands fall upon her shoulders. She struggled against the grip, only to be propelled towards the wall. She remembered her face hitting the rough brick corner before everything went to black.

 Issue #54: . . . Into the Fire

    Zack watched in horror as Kaine loomed over Rachel. She had bounced off the building with a sickening thud, landing at his feet in a mess of tangled hair and blood.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Kaine smiled. ¡°I broke her.¡±


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Zack cried. Kaine only laughed.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, Zack,¡± he said. ¡°This is what we sports fans call an interception.¡±


    Zack felt his fingers instinctively grip the Magnometer in his pocket. Rachel was down. He had to help her.


    ¡°Give me the Magnometer,¡± Kaine said. ¡°And I¡¯ll let you get your girl to the hospital.¡±


    Zack meant Kaine¡¯s clear blue eyes. He didn¡¯t detect any lies. Still, he knew Kaine couldn¡¯t be trusted.


    All through this, Rachel didn¡¯t stir on the ground. She could have a concussion.


    Or worse.


    Kaine seemed to grasp Zack¡¯s mental arithmetic. He shrugged his shoulders, relaxing his posture in the process.


    ¡°Look, Zack, the longer this drags on, the worse it gets,¡± Kaine said. ¡°My best guys are tracking your friends¡­the ones who did that little song-and-dance outside the Alpha House¡­¡±


    Perry and Blake.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t get my hopes up,¡± Kaine said. ¡°They¡¯re probably dead.¡±


    Zack¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Dead¡­?¡± he said, surprised at the sudden escalation.


    Then again, why should he be surprised at this? Kaine had brutally attacked both her and Rachel, and left Rachel a bloody wreck at his feet. He was an ex-Marine who was perfectly willing to commit harm against fellow students, heroes or not.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mess around. The Magnometer is the key to everything,¡± Kaine said. ¡°And a deterrent is only effective if it¡¯s applied consistently.¡±


    Could his friends really be dead?


    Kaine shrugged once more. ¡°But you never know. Maybe one of them is alive.¡±


    ¡°But the only chance you have is if you give me the Magnometer,¡± Kaine said. ¡°I¡¯ll call them off.¡±


    Zack¡¯s mind raced at the options. Rachel needed help. If Kaine was right, Perry and Blake were beyond help. But he still had to try.


    But¡­


    No.


    Zack looked around at the smoldering wreckage in the distance. A once grinning gargoyle lay shattered on a lawn, its smile now a broken mess of jagged stone. All for Kaine and his fool¡¯s errand.


    ¡°They knew the risks,¡± Zack said. ¡°I¡¯m taking you down.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Kaine gave him an appraising smile. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve forgotten¡­you take me down and you go down too. Your hands aren¡¯t exactly clean here, bud.¡±


    Zack shook his head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what happens to me. We can share a jail cell for all I care.¡±


    ¡°Well, roomie,¡± Kaine said with a smile. ¡°I wish I could say I¡¯m disappointed but-¡±


    Kaine vanished from sight.


    Zack knew the strike would come soon. He had fought Kaine before and trounced him easily. This time should be no diff-


    Once again, Zack felt Kaine¡¯s hot breath on his neck. He pulled back his elbow to strike him in the neck, only for his elbow to bounce off of hard rubber. He heard Kaine chuckle. Zack twisted around, preparing for a roundhouse kick, only for Kaine to vanish the moment Zack¡¯s feet left the ground.


    Still in mid-air Zack¡¯s eyes fell upon Kaine reappearing at his side. He tried to move but he was helpless, still locked in the maneuver. Kaine launched a blow into his side, tossing him through the air like a rag doll. He fell to the ground mere feet away from the still-motionless Rachel. He managed to go limb at the last moment, preventing any serious damage, but his body still lay uncomfortably twisted like a broken action figure.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, Kestler,¡± Kaine stood over him. ¡°Your allies are down. And so are you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not completely true,¡± Zack said with some effort.


    He managed to grab the brick-like receiver in his pocket. Summoning the Knightbrand armor had its own risks. There¡¯d be no way to hide his identity once he finished armoring up in front of Kaine, but it meant saving Rachel, it was worth it.


    Zack began to punch the signal into the receiver, only for a powerful kick to his side to lift him up into the air. He fell down to the ground once more, the receiver scattering along the sidewalk.


    ¡°Calling for Daddy, huh?¡± he heard Kaine bellow.


    ¡°Not an option!¡± Kaine cried. Zack¡¯s eyes whirled around to spot the receiver a foot away. He quickly reached for it, but Kaine¡­or rather Kaine¡¯s foot . . . beat him to it.


    Zack could only watch as Kaine¡¯s massive size fourteen foot stomped on the receiver, smashing it into a million pieces.


    He found himself audibly gasping.


    The receiver, his sole link to the Knightbrand armor, now buckled and crumpled under Kaine¡¯s massive weight. He kicked aside the broken remains of the receiver as it was little more than an empty beer can.


    It wasn¡¯t just his only means of summoning the Knightbrand armor. It was an invention crafted by his father¡¯s own hands.


    It was one more link to his dad, now broken and shattered beyond repair.


    ¡°It¡¯s just you and me,¡± Kaine said as he appeared in front of him, grabbing Zack and raising him as he drew back his right fist.


    Zack used the gesture to regain his footing and balance. An eruption of spit exploded from his mouth, sending Kaine staggering back, cursing. Zack assumed a fighting stance and rushed forward trying to take advantage of his blinded foe.


    He surged forward, trying to work Kaine like a punching bag. His jabs bounced off of Kaine¡¯s ribcage with Zack¡¯s bruised fists the only sign of visible damage. Zack staggered back, realizing what he was up against.


    Kaine was covered in body armor from head to toe. He even had a neck guard, protecting him from the same maneuver he had tried earlier. In short, Zack realized there was no way he could easily win this fight. Kaine was protected from both blows and bullets, and given his teleportation powers, there was no way he could gain the upper hand.


    The only way to do any real damage was to land a blow to Kaine¡¯s unprotected face. He wasn¡¯t wearing a helmet, and Kaine liked to talk a lot, so he wouldn¡¯t wear anything that impeded his ability to gloat. It could be his downfall.


    Zack rushed forward, trying to bash Kaine¡¯s head in with his fist, but Kaine vanished every time he came into view. He soon realized how hard this was going to be. With Kaine¡¯s teleportation abilities, he could simply vanish every time Zack telegraphed a blow.


    He cast a glance down to Rachel¡¯s still body. She could be hurt. Or worse.


    Before Zack could move to help her, he felt Kaine appear behind him. He tried to twist around to face him, but Kaine moved too fast. His massive elbow curled around Zack¡¯s neck. Zack felt the pressure almost immediately as Kaine began to squeeze.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end this!¡± Kaine said.


    Zack¡¯s breathing came harder and slower. Darkness flooded in, faster and thicker until only the black remained.

 Issue #55: Second Chances

    Zack coughed up air in a violent fit. His hands jerked up, as if animated by a bolt of electricity. A fresh burst of oxygen entered his lungs, reinvigorating him. He struggled to remain upright.


    Why am I upright? What am I alive?


    Memories swirled through Zack¡¯s mind at a rapid rate. Kaine¡¯s arms wrapped around his throat, only growing tighter. His enemy¡¯s stranglehold slowly removed all air. Rachel lay on the ground, unmoving.


    Rachel¡­


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Kaine cried in his ear.  ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Confused, Zack pushed against his stupor and shoved off Kaine, putting some distance between him and the big armored man as he struggled to regain his footing.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know anything!¡± Kaine cried as he rushed forward. ¡°You hear me!¡±


    Zack knew he was in no position to fight Kaine. The former Marine, covered in thick body armor, had quickly overwhelmed both him and Rachel, using his teleportation powers to negate any fighting edge Zack could hope to win.


    As Kaine surged forward, Zack realized his situation was dire. Desperation was the only play he had left.


    This is going to suck.


    Kaine raced forward, his eyes red with anger. Zack didn¡¯t know what the man was ranting about. He only knew he couldn¡¯t let Kaine get ahold of him again. He reeled back and then dunked forward, his forehead colliding with Kaine¡¯s.


    Zack pushed backward as stars exploded before his eyes. The dizziness and blurriness slowly subsided, while Kaine stumbled to the side, yelling out obscenities.


    Zack waited for the stars to subside. Headbutts were always risky business, but at least Zack could prepare for the disorientation this time. Once the pain dulled, Zack raced forward, eager to put the few spare seconds he had gained to his advantage.


    He socked Kaine in the face, pushing around before he did it again. He brought his fist back, charging it forward to punch him one final time, only for Kaine to grab his arm, gripping it easily in his hand. With a bloody smile, Kaine thrust Zack over his shoulder, sending him toppling to the ground.


    Zack cursed his luck. In his state, he was no match for Kaine. The big man would beat him senseless, and then kill him. It didn¡¯t help that he was covered from head to toe in dense body armor.  Zack noticed that Kaine walked towards him with a lopsided smile.


    He isn¡¯t bothering to teleport. He¡¯s toying with me. He¡¯s cocky. .


    I can work with that.


    He waited until Kaine was in range. Just as his feet reached a few inches from his fallen position, Zack wrapped his feet around Kaine¡¯s Kevlar-encased legs and began to twist, shifting Kaine¡¯s momentum before he could react. Kaine plummeted to the ground, landing next to him with a hard thud.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Zack raised his free leg and brought it down on Kaine¡¯s midsection. He heard Kaine cry out in pain. The Kevlar might have protected him from bullets and most of his blows, but with enough momentum, Zack could still make an impact. He rolled onto his side, raising his torso up as he lunged over Kaine, his arm poised to strike only to see the big man completely vanishing from the street before he could move.


    He had teleported.


    Again.


    Zack turned around only to receive a sharp jab to his chin. Having regained his bearings, Kaine edged forward, laying blow after blow. Zack managed to block several of them. The muscle memory powers started to kick in, with Zack thankful for everything Dirk Saber had taught him. Still, one blow passed through his block, cacking one of his ribs as he grunted in pain.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, freak!¡± Kaine yelled, sending spittle flying into his face.


    ¡°Who you calling freak?¡± Zack said with a cough. ¡°You¡¯re the one popping all over the place like a coward!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a coward!¡± Kaine cried back. ¡°I¡¯m a hero!¡±


    Another voice rang through the streets. ¡°That¡¯s not what your commanding officer thought, was it?¡±


    Kaine immediately turned around, searching to darkness for signs of the voice. The evening sun had slowly given way to the rising shadows of night.


    Zack suddenly began to scan the street and sidewalk for signs of Rachel¡¯s body, but he saw none. Could she have limped away? Maybe she had gotten help.


    Not likely.


    The streets were empty. Any rescue efforts had ceased, and all the buildings around here were empty, deemed too unstable to serve as shelters for the many students left homeless from the recent quakes. If Rachel stumbled off, she¡¯d prove easy pickings for a stray Alpha. Which could only mean . . .


    ¡°You¡¯ve been a naughty boy, Carl,¡± her voice taunted from somewhere in the shadows.


    ¡°I told you that¡¯s not my name anymore!¡± Kaine cried once more.


    Zack wasn¡¯t going to wait around to figure out what was going on. He moved forward, shoulder-checking Kaine as he clipped him in the side. Kaine struggled to readjust his focus, but it was too late. Zack belted him two more times in the face, forcing Kaine to stagger backwards. Just as he did so, Zack saw a form move in the shadows.


    A trash can soared through the air before crashing into Kaine, knocking him to his feet. Zack gasped as he saw Rachel emerge from the shadows. A bloody cut raced down her cheek, leading to a particularly bruised lip, but she was still standing, and more importantly, she was still alive.


    ¡°Why did you get drummed out of the Marines again? Reckless disregard for the safety of others,¡± Rachel said, hands on her hips. ¡°I bet you never told your frat buddies you never even made it through boot camp.¡±


    ¡°Shut up bitch!¡± a defiant Kaine raised his voice.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a hero. You¡¯re not a Marine,¡± Rachel said. ¡°You¡¯re just cosplaying one.¡±


    Zack looked at Rachel, smiling. ¡°You had me worried.¡±


    Rachel turned to him, her hair a mess. ¡°I had to play possum if I wanted in his head. Though I don¡¯t even want to think about what I was lying in.¡±


    They turned their attention back to Kaine.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take out the trash,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°Just like old times,¡± Zack smirked.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you both!¡± Kaine cried, charging towards them right before vanishing once more.


    Rachel and Zack feverishly scanned their surroundings, waiting for the blow they both knew was coming.

 Issue #56: The Next Wave

    Blake watched as Perry lifted up Zack¡¯s welcome mat and retrieved a nearby key. He quickly inserted into the lock before unlocking the door, his eyes quickly scanning the neighborhood as he did so. He entered the apartment, with Blake right behind him. She shut the door and quickly locked it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we were followed,¡± Perry said. Blake nervously glanced out the window.


    ¡°I felt like I was being watched the whole way home,¡± Blake said. Her boyfriend nodded.


    ¡°Yeah. I felt it too,¡± Perry said. He gave a small smile.


    ¡°Maybe our performance was just that good,¡± he said. Blake returned the smile, even if she found Perry¡¯s attempt at confidence somewhat unconvincing.


    ¡°Yeah, maybe,¡± Blake said. She moved inside Zack¡¯s rather bare apartment and shivered.


    ¡°Would it kill Zachary to turn on the heat every once and while?¡± she said, hugging herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep you warm, honey,¡± came a voice from the shadows, one with chilled Blake¡¯s blood for a very different reason.


    From the shadows emerged one of the thick-necked Alpha goons that followed that Kaine creep. Blake didn¡¯t know his name. She wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he didn¡¯t have one. He smiled menacingly at her.


    ¡°Just one of you?¡± Blake said, trying to act unimpressed as she gave a cautious side-eye to Perry. ¡°You remember what happened the last time you pulled this shit.¡±


    She bit her lip, knowing full well how hollow her bravado truly sounded.


    Now who¡¯s unconvincing?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, girl,¡± the goon said. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of me to go around.¡±


    When she turned back, two goons, almost completely identical, stood in the space once occupied by one. In an instant, a trio consumed the space, followed by a quartet. Each goon looked slightly different - one had a bigger nose, the other a wide forehead, but every one of their eyes were locked on her.


    The sound of breaking glass echoed into her eardrums as she watched Perry leap into the forway, bashing one of the goons with a nearby wine bottle. The goon went down a pulpy mixture of purple and red.


    ¡°Blake, run!¡± he cried.


    That¡¯s not what I had in mind.


    She whirled around at her remaining assailants as she felt power course through her fingertips. Blake wasn¡¯t really good at aiming this power. Or controlling it for that matter. But when your enemies were dumb enough to be grouped together like this, she really didn¡¯t need to.


    ¡°Babe, get clear!¡± she yelled.


    A lightning bolt exploded from her hand, sending white sparks bursting through the room. Once her vision cleared, Blake looked up to see Perry standing in the midst of several fallen muscle, with all of Kaine¡¯s boys down for the count. She put her hands on her hip and smiled.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m getting a hang of this control thing,¡± she said.


    Perry, for his part, looked about as comforted as a cat in the middle of a dog pile. On closer examination, Blake noted his brown hair was slightly singed.  ¡°Speak for yourself.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re still alive, aren¡¯t you?¡± Blake smiled.


    ¡°Not for long,¡± another voice rose from below as one of the goons, apparently unhurt by Blake¡¯s lightning assault, drew up from his hiding spot just under the table and wrapped his hand around Perry¡¯s sternum. In his other hand, he held a broken wine bottle, which he pointed menacingly at Perry¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Stand down, sweet cheeks,¡± the goon said. ¡°If I see your fingers so much as twitch, I¡¯ll turn his neck into a Jack O¡¯Lantern.¡±


    Blake stood, paralyzed by fear. Her overconfidence had endangered Perry, the very last thing she wanted to happen. She started to fidget, but the goon called her bluff, keeping his broken wine bottle leveled with Perry¡¯s neck.


    With no other options, Blake felt her arms drop to the side.


    ¡°Good,¡± the muscle said. ¡°Now here¡¯s how things are gonna be-¡±


    ¡°You broke your wrist at some point,¡± Perry announced. his eyes fixated on his captor¡¯s thick arms. ¡°A sports injury, if I had to guess.¡±


    The goon didn¡¯t react. He just stared forward, his gaze never leaving Blake.


    ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t know how you got it, I would imagine,¡± Perry said. ¡°After all, you¡¯re just the copy, not the progenitor.¡±


    ¡°Hey, shut up, pal,¡± the goon said, pulling the broken bottle closer to Perry¡¯s neck. ¡°This copy can still cut your throat to pieces.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just interesting,¡± Perry said, keeping his eyes on the hand gripping the bottle. ¡°With every copy the physical injuries become more pronounced. I would imagine your progenitor¡¯s hand has completely healed. You on the other hand¡­¡±


    Perry gripped the large man¡¯s hand and brought it down on the table. The goon cried out, dropping the wine bottle in the process. Perry turned around as the man struggled to regain his grip. Doing so left him open to attack, however, as Perry slid in and hammered his fist into the man¡¯s protruding Adam¡¯s Apple. He crumbled onto the floor. Perry cast a wary eye to Blake.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think this place is secure,¡± Perry said. Blake rolled her eyes. Perry¡¯s grasp of the understatement was unmatched. Biting back a sarcastic comment, Blake moved her eyes to the door. She ran towards the exit, only to be blocked by a large shape.


    More muscle had arrived.


    It was hard to tell if anyone was the original. They all looked so much alike. One reached for her with a massive hand, but Blake wrinkled her nose and swore, blasting away the creep without much effort. Unfortunately, the moment she did so, his buddy fell upon her. She turned to see Perry already being tackled by two burly goons.


    It was over before it ever really started. Blake fell herself slammed against the refrigerator with such force that the wind knocked out of her. She didn¡¯t have any voice to plead for them to stop as two of them pounded into Perry¡¯s small frame, leaving him a bloody heap as he slumped to the ground next to him.


    Blake was out of juice, out of air, surrounded by enemies on all sides.


    ¡°What do we do now?¡± one of them asked.


    ¡°Make it look like an accident,¡± one replied. ¡°And turn up the heat.¡±


    ¡°So we can burn this place down?¡± a third raised his eyebrow.


    ¡°No, because it¡¯s freaking cold in here!¡± his buddy replied.


    Blake struggled to stand, hoping the two goons were distracted. She didn¡¯t have enough juice to fry both of them.


    One would have to do.


    ¡°Seriously,¡± the one on the left said. ¡°Why is it so cold in here?¡±


    ¡°Because of me,¡± a different voice entered the room.


    Blake gawked at the figure in the doorway. He was wearing a mask as well as a raggedy costume which hung from his figure. Two sleek high-tech gauntlets extended off either of his wrists. Blake hadn¡¯t seen this figure since the Promenade a little over a week ago.


    Icer.

 Issue #57: Cold Spell

    He knew something was wrong the moment the first quake hit. Aside from earthquakes being pretty freaking rare in the Midwest, Icer knew well enough to put two and two together.


    The Magnometer.


    Apparently the kid was using the device to make earthquakes. The whole thing must have been a grudge match against the school for some reason. And Icer had helped that little bastard Zack light the match in the first place.


    Look on the bright side, Rat. You¡¯re gonna be doing time with your Dad soon enough.


    All around him, the campus lay in ruins. Icer was good at sticking to the shadows, but even so, the large number of rescue crews and law enforcement officials made him feel uneasy.


    It¡¯s not my fault, officer. Sure, I stole the Magnometer, but Knightbrand told me it was for a good cause.


    Good luck getting that to hold up in court. Just like what landed his father in prison in the first place.


    Knightbrand¡¯s kid was proving to be a chip off the old block - treacherous and manipulative.


    Skulking about the shadows, Icer made his way back to Zack¡¯s apartment. Once there, he¡¯d lie in wait until the freshman entered the door.


    And then they would have words, and one way or the other, Zack would pay for setting Icer up to take the fall.


    Just like his father Knightbrand would pay for his own crimes.


    As Icer neared the apartment, he heard the unmistakable sound of glass shattering. Skulking in the shadows, Icer crouched through the bushes as he neared the small house.


    Maybe someone had beaten him to his revenge.


    Pity.


    Icer briefly considered leaving that very moment. After all, this was no business of his own. If Zack Kestler crossed someone, only to become crossed off by someone else, it was no skin off his back In anything, it was just one less loose end.


    Still, Icer¡¯s curiosity got the better of him as he peered into the apartment windows to see several burly men multiplying before his very eyes, and thrashing two of the apartment¡¯s occupants.


    Neither of which, Icer was disappointed to discover, were Zack Kestler.


    Instead, Icer immediately recognized the blonde girl as the student worker at the library. She seemed to be holding her own, slinging lightning bolts at her attackers, even if it was a losing battle at such close quarters.


    The other person looked familiar too - a small guy with glasses and a mess of brown hair. Icer had seen him before - at the library, peering out the bookshelves at Zack. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Icer wasn¡¯t sure how these two were wrapped up in this business with Zack. Maybe they were in on it. Maybe they were just innocent bystanders.


    Either way, it sucked to be them.


    Icer shrugged and began to push away. The bursting of furniture pounded into eardrums. He heard both the man and woman grunt repeatedly as the blows came. Icer continued to walk away.


    This was no business of his.


    Was it?


    Don¡¯t walk down my road, boy. You¡¯ll regret it.


    His father had told them before they sent him to lock-up this last time. Icer had done a pretty good job of ignoring that advice. Why stop now?


    Icer came to a halt and sighed.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± he said as he made his way back. When he entered the doorway, he heard one of the burly clones say ¡°Make it look like an accident.¡±


    That squared away that, whatever he had wandered into, these guys weren¡¯t on the up and up.


    By the time Icer moved through the doorway, it had already shattered from its hinges. He began to charge up his gauntlets. He didn¡¯t have much experience facing off with multipliers. He knew he just had to take out the original - most multipliers couldn¡¯t sustain multiple duplicates once they lost consciousness.


    The trouble was finding the original, which was about as easy as finding a needle in a sea of testosterone.


    Icer moved into the house. His presence was unnoticed, but not for long. He could already see the burly attackers shivering.


    ¡°Why is it so cold in here?¡± one of them asked, indignantly.


    ¡°Because of me,¡± Icer answered as all eyes fell upon him.


    The thick clone closest to him gave him a once-over. Most duplicates had the same brain power of the original, give or take a few brain cells. This one must not have had much processing power to begin with, because he stared at Icer for several seconds before formulating his response.


    ¡°Who are you supposed to be?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Tonight,¡± Icer said as he raised his right gauntlet. ¡°I¡¯m the freaking neighborhood watch.¡±


    Icer clenched his fist, firing an icy blast into the clone, sending him skittering back into a nearby cupboard with a heavy crash.


    The other clones reacted, struggling to reorient themselves to the sudden intruder. Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t much room to move in the already tiny apartment, leading the clones to practically trip over themselves trying to engage Icer.


    The supervillain felt no compunction to help them, so he launched several blasts at the legs of his attackers, freezing them to the nearby furniture. He then created a long sleek plain of ice, tripping several more clones in the process.


    Several clones struggled to stand up, only to fall back down. The resulting chaos gave the girl and her friend an opening to get back into the fight. The girl stood up and launched a blast of lightning, but the frenzied movement of her enemies made them difficult to hit.


    The clones began to yell and scream. Icer widened his eyes, realizing the original¡¯s strategy. He couldn¡¯t win this fight with skill, nor could he win this fight with sheer power. The only way the multiplier could win this fight was with sheer numbers, with dozens of clones suddenly springing into existence, writhing in a mass of limbs and torsos before emerging fully formed and ready to fight.


    ¡°I really wish I didn¡¯t just see that,¡± the girl said with a disgusted shiver.


    ¡°What¡¯s the maximum occupancy of this place,¡± the guy with the glasses asked.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re about to find out,¡± Icer retorted as fifty clones descended upon them.


    What did I just step into?


    Icer didn¡¯t have an answer as hundreds of muscular fists began to pummel into him at once.

 Issue #58: Variables

    Variables.


    So many variables.


    Perry did his best to stay out of the melee. The scene within the apartment had grown exponentially more chaotic with every new clone multiplied from the Alpha goon who had attacked them. The arrival of Icer seemed to turn the tide, if only to allow Perry and Blake to regain their footing, only for a flood of raging clones to now fill the small studio apartment. And that was just the tip of the iceberg - literally.


    Icer.


    Perry glanced at the supervillain, clad in a mix of icy blue and white, with portable metallic ice gauntlets covering each forearm. Perry narrowed his eyes, using his microscopic vision to examine the costume. It hung off the supervillain¡¯s skinny frame. In fact, if Perry had to guess, the costume itself was probably ¡°pre-owned¡±, given several small tatters and worn seams visible only to Perry.


    Just what was his motivation for helping them?


    Apparently Blake had similar questions. In the midst of dodging a nearby clone¡¯s haymaker, Blake turned over her shoulder to glance at Icer.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked, with a slightly venomous edge to her voice. Perry knew Blake still held a grudge for his attack on the Promenade, which left her reeling for a day or two.


    ¡°Never look a gift save in the mouth,¡± Icer shrugged as he blasted a nearby clone. ¡°Which is all this is.¡±


    Perry watched as Blake looked Icer up and down, her expression still skeptical to say the least.


    ¡°I think I want a receipt,¡± she said, before turning back to the chaos.


    On the surface, they looked like they were in good shape. Icer¡¯s gauntlets were an effective measure of crowd control, limiting the movement of the clones. It didn¡¯t hurt that Icer seemed to have some form of close quarters combat training himself. Perry observed Icer¡¯s fast jabs and tight posture, most likely learned from some form of police or military training.


    Blake, on the other hand, blasted away several clones at once as the lightning raged from her fingers. In the apartment¡¯s remaining light, his girlfriend looked like a Valkyrie out of Norse mythology, raining the sky upon her adversaries.


    A nearby clone made a grab towards Perry¡¯s throat. For his part, Perry was far from helpless. While he never quite had the physique of Scott or Zack, he still learned the basics of self-defense. He broke the grip with his attacker before scanning the clones¡¯ hands for signs of vulnerabilities. He spotted one to exploit - a fracture in the left hand, made even more pronounced by the cloning process.


    He snapped the attacking clone¡¯s wrist and then shoved him back. The clone fell to the floor with an anguished cry. Perry quickly leapt onto the nearby table - the only piece unbroken in the chaos - as he peered through the room for a better look.


    On the surface, it appeared they were winning. But the surface could be deceiving. With every new clone, their chances of making it out of this diminished.


    Blake¡¯s blonde hair fell limply over her shoulders. Perry¡¯s microscopic vision revealed unmistakable signs of fatigue. Sweat raced down the nape of her neck. Her breathing seemed more labored. As volatile and explosive as her powers were in this situation, Blake was still learning to control them, and using so much at once was taking their toll.


    Icer had similar limitations. The supervillain seemed more than capable on his own. Still, Perry noted a difference in power output when compared to his father, Freeze Ray. The latter was capable of freezing entire crowds if not vast structures solid. Icer lacked such firepower, or more specifically, ice power. His gauntlets were more of a stop-gap than anything else, and even with his combat training, he was clearly being overwhelmed.


    They were on borrowed time. Unless Perry found a way out of here. He watched as another clone appeared out of a disgusting and writhing motion of limbs and legs. Perry observed the motion. The Alpha¡¯s multiplication process had changed. When he first multiplied, it was smooth and noticed.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Now it looked like something out of a John Carpenter movie.


    It appeared Blake wasn¡¯t the only one in danger of being overtaxed by the battle. The multiplier must have been reaching his maximum output. He couldn¡¯t keep this up, not without enduring immense physical duress.


    Which should, in theory, make them easier to spot.


    Perry scanned the mass of clones before him. He began to peer inside them, trying to find the one with the least amount of injuries, relative to his clones. While the table gave him an excellent vantage point, it also made him a target. Another clone grabbed his ankle, but Perry was able to shake loose and kick the clone in his square head. He toppled over, but Perry knew another would pop up in his place soon enough.


    He continued his search for the original. He knew the original would be in the back, away from the carnage. He scanned the crowd once more, focusing on the bone structure of each copy. The original would have some signs of sport injury, but the damage would be healed over, unlike the hastily-duplicated clones.


    In a far corner, Perry found his man. He wasn¡¯t even fighting. He simply stood off to the side and yelled, apparently taking the position of his clones¡¯ football coach, urging his clones to attack harder and faster.


    ¡°Rip them apart!¡± the original cried, further giving away his position.


    A tactical genius, this guy was not.


    Perry also noticed the man was standing in front of the one unbroken window in Zack¡¯s once pristine and spartan apartment. Perry extended his finger and pointed at the original, tucked away in the corner of the building.


    ¡°That¡¯s him!¡± he said. ¡°Direct your fire there!¡±


    The man glanced up at Perry, looking briefly confused until realization replaced his face with something else.


    Fear.


    ¡°What?¡± he said. ¡°Oh shit.¡±


    Neither Blake nor Icer questioned Perry¡¯s command. They both turned and directed their long range attacks towards the corner of the room. The Alpha didn¡¯t stand a chance. A barrage of ice struck him, holding him in place seconds before a large lightning bolt sent him spiraling through the window.


    In an instant, every clone vanished, and the three of them now stood in the midst of Zack¡¯s wrecked apartment.


    ¡°Good call, babe,¡± Blake said with a huff, catching her breath.


    ¡°Yeah. Just glad it worked,¡± Perry said. He turned to where Icer had last been standing. ¡°Thanks for¨C¡±


    When Perry turned next, the villain was nowhere in sight. He had vanished from the room.


    ¡°Huh,¡± Perry said. ¡°I thought it was only heroes who did that.¡±


    ¡°Guess not,¡± Blake said. ¡°Why was he even here in the first place?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t got a clue,¡± Perry said. ¡°Maybe¨C¡±


    ¡°Perry,¡± Blake said suddenly. ¡°What about the others? We haven¡¯t heard from them.¡±


    Perry nodded. If the Alphas turned up here, it didn¡¯t bode well for Rachel or Zack.


    ¡°We should check on them,¡± Blake said.


    ¡°There¡¯s more Alphas out there,¡± Perry reminded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get as close as we can,¡± Blake said. ¡°See what we see.¡±


    See¡­


    Perry remembered the Knightbrand armor, still tucked away in the basement. Was it still there? Had the Alpha clones discovered it in the chaos? Or even more disturbing, had Icer¡­


    ¡°You go ahead,¡± Perry said. He didn¡¯t like splitting the party - the one cardinal no-no in D&D - but he had to make sure. On the other hand, his friends could be in danger, and every second he wasted could change the outcome. Sending Blake ahead was the best bet.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I have to do,¡± Perry said. ¡°You go ahead.¡±


    Blake gave him a worried look. ¡°Babe, I don¡¯t know-¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be long,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about this,¡± Blake said. Perry smiled and then leaned in closer. He kissed Blake, feeling the brief electric tingle of her lips - a quirk of her powers that excited Perry every time.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said as he pulled back.


    ¡°That,¡± Blake said with a smile. ¡°Is not how you get out of an argument.¡±


    ¡°Seems to have worked that time,¡± Perry said. ¡°Seriously, I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡±¡¯


    Blake nodded before walking out of the wreckage of Zack¡¯s apartment. Perry really hoped Zack had insurance for all the damage.


    ¡°Be careful, babe!¡± Perry heard Blake call as he opened the secret passage and descended into the darkness towards the basement of the house.

 Issue #59: The Calm Before . . .

    Rachel and Zack moved through the night, searching for any signs of Kaine. They had made it several blocks away from the Alpha House, and saw not a glimpse of their attacker. An uncomfortable silence lurked between them.


    Zack glanced over at Rachel. She seemed largely unhurt by Kaine¡¯s previous assault. Still, the dried blood on her forehead was concerning, and¨C


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that,¡± Rachel glanced at him.


    ¡°What?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Worry about me,¡± Rachel said bluntly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Bu-¡± Zack started.


    ¡°It looks worse than it is,¡± Rachel said.


    Zack knew better than to argue with Rachel about it, so he dropped the argument.


    ¡°Maybe he just gave up,¡± Rachel said, changing the subject.


    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Zack replied. ¡°We have the Magnometer. And besides, he said he was going to kill us.¡±


    ¡°Which means only one thing,¡± Rachel caught Zack¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°That he¡¯s going to kill us?¡± Zack raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°That he¡¯s trying to lead us into a trap,¡± Rachel said.


    Zack realized this to be true. The further they moved away from the Alpha House, the further they moved away from witnesses, even if most of those witnesses would be hostile to them. There were several blocks between them and Zack¡¯s apartment, and the area in between was largely evacuated.


    In short, it was the perfect place to spring an ambush.


    Zack looked to Rachel, trying his best to communicate his feelings without talking. They used to be so good at this. From the day they first met, Zack and Rachel had this bond which only grew with time. But two years of trauma and grief had changed all that. Zack had walled himself off from everyone to protect him, but if he wanted to beat Kaine and survive the night, he¡¯d have to bring those walls down once more.


    Rachel, for her part, seemed to understand enough. He couldn¡¯t be sure how much. She nodded at him, giving him a small smile that lit a warmth deep within his stomach. The pair turned and began making their way through the empty streets.


    Zack knew their opponent had an edge. In addition to being covered head-to-toe in tactical body armor, Kaine just had to wait them out. Sooner or later, they would let their guard down, he would strike, and then it would be over.


    Rachel and Zack, however, had an advantage Kaine didn¡¯t know about: their bond. As strained and broken as their relationship was, the pair still could use their connection against Kaine. By syncing their movements, the two could move through the streets as a unit, with Zack keeping an eye out for Kaine while Rachel used her telepathy to find any sign of Kaine¡¯s mind before he struck.


    After two more blocks of walking, Zack spotted a shadow, moving silently among the rubble on the rooftops above. He turned to Rachel, doing his best to communicate his thoughts without speaking them. She responded with a barely perceptible nod. The two kept their pace through the streets, not wanting to give their attacker any sign they had already spotted him.


    Midway through another step, Zack suddenly felt a shifting wall of muscle and Kevlar between him and Rachel. He immediately moved back, narrowly missing Kaine¡¯s left jab in the process. Kaine had teleported in between them, rapidly turning his attention to Rachel. But Rachel knew she would be the likely target in any attack. Instead, she simply dropped down, avoiding Kaine¡¯s attack for the time being.


    Zack moved quickly. Kaine had taken his focus off of him to target Rachel, whose quick maneuver had bought her a few seconds. That was all Zack needed as he leapt into the air, spinning around to deliver a roundhouse kick to Kaine¡¯s bulbous neck. In their last fight, he had judged Kaine¡¯s neck-guard to be the weakest part of his armor, and he had chosen to exploit this weakness yet again.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    The attack worked perfectly. Kaine coughed violently from the blow as he staggered back, reeling. This blow set up Rachel¡¯s counterattack as she raised her foot in a sharp high kick to Kaine¡¯s face. The big man, who hadn¡¯t even recovered from Zack¡¯s roundhouse kick, doubled back, with stars in his eyes. He thrashed at the two of them blindly, but Rachel dodged his first attack while Zack blocked the other.


    Rachel and Zack moved in for the attack. They knew they wouldn¡¯t get a second chance at this. The second Kaine regained his senses, he would vanish once more, recover, and then start his attack anew.


    And the next time, they might not be as lucky.


    Rachel followed up her high-kick with a judo chop to the neck. It wasn¡¯t nearly as damaging as Zack¡¯s round¨Chouse, but judging from the painful gurgling sound Kaine spurted out, it still had an effect. Zack delivered a powerful right hook to Kaine¡¯s face which sent the big man, now wheezing, staggering back. Rachel dropped down once more to trip the large man. The textbook maneuver had the desired effect, as Kaine topped over with a clattering thud.


    Zack immediately climbed onto Kaine and began pummeling the large man with all his might. until Kaine¡¯s face now resembled a squashed tomato. Zack didn¡¯t stop. He kept throwing blows into Kaine¡¯s bloodied face.


    ¡°Zack, stop!¡± Rachel urged, her hand catching Zack¡¯s.


    Zack turned to her, as if suddenly aware of her presence once more. He sheepishly stood up.


    ¡°He¡¯s out,¡± Rachel said, stating the obvious. The pair had beaten their attacker unconscious.


    The two didn¡¯t say anything. Zack wanted to, but he felt the walls of his mind returning to their natural state. Rachel seemed to sense this, and similarly drew away.


    ¡°What do we do with him now?¡± she said, changing the subject.


    Zack looked at their fallen enemy.


    ¡°Huh,¡± he said. ¡°You know, I never thought that far ahead.¡±


    ¡°Big surprise,¡± Rachel replied.


    They couldn¡¯t just leave him as he was. Kaine wouldn¡¯t be too happy when he woke up, and while they had beaten their enemy, they hadn¡¯t incapacitated him in any meaningful way. He would regain consciousness, sooner or later, and once he did, he would try again.


    ¡°We¡¯ll call campus security,¡± Rachel said, removing her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll say he attacked me. I have the bruises to prove it.¡±


    ¡°And then what?¡± Zack said, gesturing to the fallen Kaine.


    ¡°And then I defended myself,¡± Rachel put her hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯m Saber¡¯s TA. They¡¯re not going to question that.¡±


    It made sense. Zack had seen Rachel in action. She handled herself well in the fight. She had come a long way since their sidekick days.


    Rachel crossed her arms and regarded Zack for a moment.


    ¡°Should I turn over the Magnometer?¡± she said.


    Zack shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll turn in the Magnometer to Shaw,¡± Zack said.


    Rachel raised an eyebrow. ¡°You sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡±


    Zack shrugged and looked away.


    ¡°I just want this over,¡± he said. He wasn¡¯t exactly lying when he said he¡¯d turn over the Magnometer to Shaw. He would do it¡­as Knightbrand. Shaw wouldn¡¯t question it too much.


    And this whole nightmare would be over.


    Rachel called the campus police shortly after. After getting off the phone, she turned to him.


    ¡°Perry¡­Blake¡­¡± she said. ¡°Do you think¡­Kaine¡­.¡±


    Zack shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    He heard sirens in the distance getting closer and closer.


    ¡°You go,¡± Rachel said. ¡°I got this. Besides, you shouldn¡¯t be around when they question me.¡±


    Zack nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯re okay,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Call me the moment you know,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°I will,¡± Zack said. ¡°And Rachel¡­¡±


    Rachel meant his gaze. There was so much he wanted to say to her right now. But sirens continued to wail through the night, growing ever closer.


    ¡°You did good tonight,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rachel smiled. ¡°We did.¡±


    We did.


    It would have to be enough. Zack nodded at her before running into the night. He just hoped he wasn¡¯t too late.

 Issue #60: The Storm

    After leaving Rachel, Zack burst into a jog and then a sprint as thoughts running through his mind gradually became worries. Was Kaine just trying to get into his head, or were Perry and Blake really dead? Zack ran faster as the possibilities of what he might find at his apartment raced every bit as fast as his heart.


    He was only a block away as he rounded the corner when a jagged blast erupted to his side. Zack twisted around, trying to course-correct as an approaching figure came into sight. He gave a yelp as he lost his balance, falling on his ass. He looked up to see a familiar face encased in blonde hair.


    Blake had jumped back, and while she hadn¡¯t toppled over, she looked about as startled as a cat.


    ¡°Zack!¡± she said. ¡°I almost fried you!¡±


    ¡°I wish you would have,¡± Zack said. ¡°That would probably be the least embarrassing option. Let¡¯s not tell anyone that I freaked out.¡±


    ¡°Your frail masculinity is safe with me,¡± Blake said with a smirk as she helped him back to his feet.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Perry?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± Blake said. Zack immediately breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Where¡¯s Rachel?¡±


    ¡°Seeing Kaine ends up behind bars,¡± Zack said as Blake extended her hand to help him to his feet.


    ¡°So¡­we did it?¡± Blake said.


    ¡°It looks like it,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Then¡­it¡¯s over?¡± Blake asked. ¡°No more earthquakes interrupting my day job.¡±


    ¡°I think you can safely go back to your quiet, peaceful library,¡± Zack said. Blake gave a rueful shake of her head.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t love the danger,¡± Blake said. ¡°But it was a nice change of pace from the boredom.¡±


    Zack raised an eyebrow. ¡°You work in a library. I thought you liked boredom.¡±


    ¡°I work in a library because I like books,¡± Blake replied. ¡°That¡¯s how I escape boredom.¡±


    ¡°Touche,¡± Zack replied.


    ¡°So this Kaine asshole is taken care of?¡± Blake said, drawing her hair behind her ear with her right hand.


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s at least heading for jail,¡± Zack said. ¡°Whether he stays there is another question. But I can¡¯t see Max fronting a lawyer for him after all the damage he caused.¡±


    Blake regarded him for a moment.


    ¡°You don¡¯t sound too sure he¡¯s gone for good,¡± Blake said.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°He¡¯s a teleporter with questionable morals and a dubious military record,¡± Zack replied. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put anything past him at this point.¡±


    ¡°Lovely,¡± Blake said. ¡°I guess that¡¯s as close as we get to a clean-hey!¡±


    Blake was suddenly distracted by a student running by her. Zack suddenly noticed several students all running in the similar experience, many with their phones out.


    ¡°Where are they going?¡± Blake asked. It was surprising to see any crowd this late at night.


    ¡°Wherever it is,¡± Zack said. ¡°It has to be close to my apartment.¡±


    ¡°You might want to lower your expectations on what¡¯s left of your apartment,¡± Blake said, but Zack gave her a worrying look.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I left it with-¡± Blake¡¯s eyes widened as she caught Zack¡¯s worry.


    ¡°Perry,¡± they said in unison.


    Zack and Blake both sprinted, following through the streams of students. In the distance, Zack could see his apartment, but even against the night sky, it looked different. He could already spot several broken windows - that much didn¡¯t surprise him. Blake seemed to confirm the Alphas an attack on the premises. That¡¯s not what bugged him.


    The outside of the apartment looked strangely gray in the distance. The A-frame had been painted white, but the closer Zack came, the house appeared strangely colored in the shadows. At first, Zack thought his eyes were playing tricks on him in the night. He pushed against the crowd, with Blake right behind him.


    When he stepped to the front of the crowd, Zack realized his eyes weren¡¯t playing tricks on him. The entire house was covered in a crystalline substance colored grayish blue.


    ¡°Perry!¡± he heard Blake cry. He followed Blake¡¯s eyes to a solitary figure on the lawn, as still as a statue.


    Zack¡¯s heart raced when he saw the figure¡¯s still hair and glasses, all covered in a layer of ice. Perry stood, frozen in ice, his clothes and skin now covered in a chalky white substance. His glasses were covered in a dense layer of icy snow. His expression was unreadable behind his thick glasses, now covered in ice like the rest of him.


    No no no no no¡­


    Perry couldn¡¯t have been there long. Blake had just left him. He¡¯d be okay. His father frequently fought Freeze Ray, whose MO was freezing unsuspecting citizens. With the right medical attention, Perry would be okay. They just needed to get him out of here.


    Freeze Ray.


    He was in lock-up.


    But Icer wasn¡¯t.


    Zack¡¯s mind was racing. Icer¡¯s betrayal had come. He told himself he¡¯d be ready.


    He couldn¡¯t have been more wrong.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming, babe!¡± Blake said, running towards the frozen Perry.


    The earth groaned beneath Blake¡¯s feet as she ran towards Perry. Zack followed the source of the noise. It wasn¡¯t coming from the ground. The quakes were over, now that Kaine was behind bars, or soon would be.


    The house itself popped and moaned. It wasn¡¯t stable. Whatever Icer had done to his home, the sheer amount of ice was causing the modest A-frame to twist and curl with every step. Zack could already see the house starting to fall forward.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Zack yelled, grabbing Blake¡¯s arm before she could move further.


    The house finished its descent, falling forward with accelerating speed as it crashed onto the floor. Zack looked up in horror as the entire house collapsed onto Perry in a sickening thud of ice, shudders and broken skin. In an instant, Perry¡¯s body shattered before Zack¡¯s very eyes.


    ¡°No!¡± Blake cried in tears, but it was too late.


    Perry, like his house, was beyond all help now.


    He was gone.


    Zack thought he could tow the line, keeping his friends safe while pursuing his plans for revenge. But now Zack now saw how futile that assumption was.


    And Perry had paid the price for his mistake.

 Issue #61: Wreckage

    Zack stood in the wreckage of his life. The crowd was gone, so were the cops and paramedics. It wasn¡¯t like they could do anything for Perry, frozen solid and crushed between the weight of Zack¡¯s lies.


    How fitting.


    The authorities would bring in heavy machinery soon to clear out the wreckage of his collapsed and frozen house, but they had made it clear this was now a recovery mission. Zack knew this all too well. He had watched in horror as Perry, frozen solid, was shattered into a million pieces by his falling house.


    When the authorities returned, they would find Perry in pieces and likely have to scoop his scattered remains into a bucket. They would ship him back to his parents in Chicago, a sad and harsh end to a friend who only wanted to help.


    Blake had left shortly after it happened. Watching her boyfriend die in such a horrendous way was too much for her. She shouldn¡¯t be here to watch what happened next.


    But Zack would. And he should.


    That last part wasn¡¯t true. Zack should be crushed and buried under that house, not Perry. That would be justice.


    But Zack wasn¡¯t living through a revenge tale. He was living through a tragedy, or more specifically, his friends were stuck in a tragedy - the ones still alive anyway - and he was the bad omen that haunted their lives and brought ruin to all of them.


    It had only been a matter of time.


    Zack let the cold night air prickle his skin. It was only a fraction of the pain Perry felt as he was frozen solid and left to die. He gazed at the shattered and broken remains of his house, now a pile of jaunting wood and cold bricks, with one of his oldest friends similarly cold and fractured somewhere beneath.


    That wasn¡¯t the only thing lying somewhere beneath the wreckage of his life. Buried even deeper below the surface lay the Knightbrand armor. Zack had thought about trying to summon it, but he doubted the jet boosters could penetrate the fifteen thousand pounds of ruin atop it. Instead, Zack was resigned to his fate. The authorities would find it eventually, and then, they would have questions.


    Zack would be exposed for the fraud he was.


    Which was all Zack really deserved in the end.


    Liar.


    Somewhere deep within him, he heard Perry¡¯s voice chide him.


    You deserve to be under here, not me. I had a good thing going. Good grades, a girlfriend, my whole life ahead of me.


    Now I¡¯m a human jigsaw puzzle mixed with all of your shit.


    And yet, here you are, none the worse for wear. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Zack knew all of this was true. Once Shaw and the rest of the authorities figured out the truth of his identity, he would gladly take the punishment. Using another superhero¡¯s identity was a major crime, even if the hero was Unaccredited like his father. There would be consequences. Zack would take them. If he was lucky, they would lock him in a deep, dark cell somewhere far, far away from his friends.


    The icy bent frame of his front door glistened in the moonlight. Zack grimaced as he realized there was still one more task he would need to complete.


    He couldn¡¯t find his father¡¯s killer. That mission was over. The best he and Perry had accomplished was striking Dirk Saber¡¯s name from the suspects list, but that had left Zack back at square one. Zack¡¯s obsession with finding his father¡¯s killer had long since ruined his life.


    And now it claimed the life of one of his oldest and most loyal friends.


    There was no point in continuing this crusade before it claimed anyone else.


    But there was still one last drop of vengeance to be answered.


    Icer.


    He was still out there somewhere. Zack didn¡¯t know where. He never did quite understand where Icer went when he wasn¡¯t running missions for Zack. He probably frequented one of the many dive bars in a place like Innshadow, or perhaps to some low-rent motel on the edge of town.


    It shouldn¡¯t be too hard to track him down. And then he would make him pay for what he did to Perry Adams.


    If the police caught up with Zack before he got his vengeance, that was all the better. If there was any justice in this mess, Zack and Icer could share a jail cell - they were both equally responsible for killing Perry after all.


    But If Zack had his way, Icer wouldn¡¯t be going to jail. He wouldn¡¯t be going to the courts to plead his case. He wouldn¡¯t be going anywhere except the ground, buried in a shallow grave just like the horrid one he left Perry in.


    Zack would see to it, one way or the other.


    He had known that Icer would betray him sooner or later. That¡¯s what supervillains do, after all. He had never let his guard down around Icer. For all the banter, Zack knew exactly what Icer was and what he was capable of.


    Or so he thought.


    Zack surveyed the wreckage of his life. He crossed his arms and sighed. He felt as though he were trapped somewhere beneath the rubble, with broken pieces of his best friend scattered all around him.


    He knew Icer was capable of general chaos and mischief. He was certainly capable of outwitting supes on campus.


    But murder?


    And not just any murder. He had left Perry frozen and helpless for him to find. He had ensured Perry would survive just long enough to watch the house collapse upon him, killing him in the most horrid way possible with the maximum number of witnesses.


    That was beyond chaotic. That was premeditated depravity.


    Icer needed to be put down, one way or the other.


    And Zack would be the one to do it.


    He would leave here. He wouldn¡¯t tell Blake or Rachel where he was going. He wasn¡¯t on speaking terms with Scott after what happened at the Alpha House. Zack would find Icer.


    He would end this.


    And then he would pay for his own crimes, in that order.


    Zack turned around to see another figure approaching him from behind, his arm in a sling. Dirk Saber regarded him with a strange mix of sadness and kindness. He looked at the rubble behind Zack.


    ¡°What a mess, Zack,¡± he said. ¡°Or do you prefer Knightbrand now?¡±

 Issue #62: Aftermath

    Zack regarded Dirk Saber with caution. Even with his arm in a sling, Dirk Saber was still ranked as one of the best fighters in the world, and Zack knew he could still kick his ass if he wanted to. Instead, Zack did his best to play this casually, even as every alarm bell rang throughout his brain.


    ¡°How long have you known?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always suspected,¡± Dirk said as he rounded Zack¡¯s position, always keeping him in his focus. ¡°Something about Knightbrand just seemed a little . . . off.¡±


    ¡°What gave me away?¡± Zack shrugged.


    ¡°Honestly, nothing,¡± Dirk said. ¡°Someone sent in an anonymous tip.¡±


    Anonymous tip? That last part puzzled Zack. No one knew he was Knightbrand except for Perry.


    And he was dead.


    It didn¡¯t matter, Zack told himself. The only thing that mattered was finding Icer and making him pay.


    But that mission was in jeopardy, because Zack had serious doubts he could take Dirk Saber, even if the guy¡¯s arm was in a sling. Still, he kept his posture tense, ready for any attack which might come from Saber.


    ¡°So¡­what now?¡± Zack asked, maintaining a casual tone as if he were sitting in Dirk Saber¡¯s office.


    ¡°Now,¡± Dirk Saber said. ¡°You come with me and turn yourself in.¡±


    Zack gave a noncommittal shrug. ¡°Sorry, Dirk. That¡¯s just not in the cards right now.¡±


    Saber appeared mildly disappointed by this news. He reached for something behind his back. Zack spotted a small metallic slab in Saber¡¯s hand, shining in the moonlight. His eyes widened as the object slid down towards the ground, extending into a sharp and curved blade.


    Omegium.


    ¡°Wait, so I don¡¯t come with you, you¡¯re going to skewer me with your oversized fantasy sword,¡± Zack said. ¡°Seems a bit excessive..¡±


    Saber rolled his eyes. ¡°You know my reputation. You¡¯ll survive this. It won¡¯t be pleasant¡­blood loss and all¡­but you¡¯ll be able to stand before a judge.¡±


    ¡°Oh what a relief,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°Hey, you brought this on yourself,¡± Saber said.


    Well, at least we agree on something.


    Zack didn¡¯t say it. He needed to project confidence. Not because he was particularly confident he could take Saber. He just needed Saber to think he had the upper-hand, that he was the same mouthy kid who strode into his classroom a week and a half ago.


    It seemed like ancient history now.


    ¡°If this goes down like this,¡± Saber said, brandishing his sword. ¡°I can¡¯t help you.¡±


    Dirk cracked his hands and rotated his chest as if he were stretching for a fight, even if it was one he wasn¡¯t particularly looking forward to. ¡°What¡¯s the alternative?¡±


    ¡°The alternative is that you stand down,¡± Saber said. ¡°Tell your story to a judge. I¡¯ll be by your side the whole time. Make sure you¡¯re represented well.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate the offer,¡± Zack said. ¡°I really do. But I got places to be.¡±


    Saber¡¯s demeanor seemed to shrug a bit. ¡°No, you really don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re going to beat me so bad?¡± Zack said in a mocking tone.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ¡°Partially,¡± Dirk said. ¡°But I don¡¯t think you understand the gravity of this situation. That anonymous tip? I was sent out to every superhero group and law enforcement agency in the tristate area.¡±


    Great. That¡¯s more heat I really didn¡¯t need.


    Still, Zack knew he¡¯d have to pay for his crimes sooner or later. This just made it far more sooner than he anticipated.


    But Icer still needed to pay for his crimes.


    ¡°And it¡¯s only a matter of time before it leaks to the media,¡± Saber said.


    Damn.


    That¡¯s one place Zack didn¡¯t really anticipate - the court of public opinion.


    Who the hell burned him? Perry was the only person who knew the truth, God rest his soul.


    Could it have been Kaine? Could Icer have somehow put the pieces together?


    ¡°What did this anonymous tip say?¡± Zack said, now honestly curious.


    Saber pointed his sword at Zack, ready to engage. ¡°You stole the Knightbrand armor from your father. Then you came here and stole the Magnometer. It was a good plan. The moment you arrived on campus, the PR machine was buzzing. Plus once you started the quakes there were plenty of money shots of Knightbrand helping out.¡±


    Zack snorted derisively. ¡°You think I started earthquakes for, what? Good vibes and a couple likes on social media?¡±


    Saber shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was a great plan. But it¡¯s functional. After a couple of months, you reveal who¡¯s under armor. Everyone loves a legacy hero. Pretty soon the superhero community has a hot new leading man.¡±


    Damn.


    Whoever sent that tip thought this through. That did sound pretty diabolical. Icer was questioning his motivations. He must have figured it out.


    And then killed Perry as retribution.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t steal the Magnometer for fame,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°But you did steal it,¡± Saber said pointedly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zack said. ¡°But it was for Kaine¡­¡±


    ¡°Carl Kaine, out of the Alpha House?¡± Saber raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°You¡¯re familiar?¡± Zack said.


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Saber said. ¡°I flunked him out of my class after he was too excessive with other students on the mat.¡±


    Yeah, that tracks.


    ¡°He made me steal the Magnometer in exchange for some Alpha tech to repair my suit after my scrape with Icer,¡± Zack said.


    Zack could see the wheels turning within Saber¡¯s mind. He was there, after all. He¡¯d seen it happen.


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Saber said. ¡°Let¡¯s say I buy this theory. Why does Carl Kaine want an earthquake machine?¡±


    Zack shrugged. ¡°He was pretty crazy last I talked to him. Said some shit about the underground springs.¡±


    Saber¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s bad. Those are¡­.inaccessible for a reason.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re real?¡± Zack said. ¡°And you know about them?¡±


    ¡°This is bigger than you, kid,¡± Saber said. His sword retracted, much to Zack¡¯s relief. ¡°But it¡¯s still your word against his. And you¡¯ve already admitted to stealing and alter ego theft.¡±


    ¡°Look, I know this doesn¡¯t look good,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t even cover it,¡± Saber said. ¡°I still have to take you in. I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s the only way.¡±


    Zack reached into his back pocket. ¡°What if I gave you the Magnometer? As like, a gesture of good faith? How much time would that buy?¡±


    Zack produced the Magnometer. Saber gave him a questioning look.


    ¡°I thought Kaine had it,¡± he said.


    ¡°He did. Past tense,¡± Zack said. ¡°I took it back¡­with some help.¡±


    Saber reached forward. Zack tensed as he did so, wary of any potential attack. Saber took the Magnometer with his one good hand.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t change your situation,¡± Saber said. ¡°I can buy you maybe ten minutes, if you¡¯re lucky. But the walls are coming down, either way.¡±


    Zack said. ¡°Thanks, Dirk. I appreciate it.¡±


    Saber turned to him. ¡°Don¡¯t thank you. You want my advice? Run far, far away from this mess and go crawling back to your daddy, and hope he can get you out of this mess.¡±


    For once, Zack wished that was an option. Though he doubted his dad would be that understanding given the situation.


    Zack watched Saber leave. He knew his professor was right. The walls were coming crashing down either way.


    He only had time to find one person. He could use that time to find Icer.


    Or . . .

 Issue #63: One Last Move

    Twenty minutes later, Rachel watched the police car pull away with Kaine in tow. Getting him in there had been quite an ordeal. He regained consciousness and actually lunged at the cop with murderous intent. Thankfully, all campus security carried power-dampening collars, which had been pretty much standard issue on super campuses nationwide.


    ¡°You think this is gonna hold me!¡± Kaine yelled. ¡°The fix is gonna get you!¡±


    The police seemed to buy her story for the most part. The two officers told her they got a lot of calls around Alpha Row,  and from what her psychic scans revealed, Kaine was well-known among their circles. Apparently there were numerous complaints against him, ranging from drunk and disorderly to domestic battery, but anytime the cops dropped by, Kaine had a habit of popping out of existence.


    Until now.


    The police had plenty of questions for him, going back to cases dating back years. For now, it looked like Kaine wasn¡¯t going anywhere, which was one less worry off everyone¡¯s back. For his part, Kaine continued to glare at her even as he was loaded into the squad car.


    ¡°The fix is gonna get you,¡± he said repeatedly. ¡°The fix is gonna get you.¡±


    He was still muttering it in the backseat of the squad car, as the cop clamped the door shut with a metallic thud and drove off. Rachel watched him go and sighed. As she watched the car pull away, Rachel breathed a sigh of relief there was one less psychopathic frat boy threatening her life.


    Before she could relax too much, however, Rachel¡¯s phone buzzed. She glanced at the Caller ID.


    Blake.


    ¡°Hello-¡± she answered, only to be greeted by a barrage of sobbing words she struggled to understand. ¡°Blake, slow down, hon!¡±


    ¡°Perry is dead!¡± the voice on the other end cried, clearly in distress. She tried to comfort her. In situations like this, Rachel could count on her low-yield telepathy to pick out images and thoughts, giving her a commonality she could use to comfort her friends.


    But wherever Blake was, she wasn¡¯t right in front of her.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± she asked. Blake continued to sob. She eventually answered ¡°Home.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Rachel said.


    Dammit. Rachel thought they¡¯d triumphed over Kaine, but he had said their friends were dead. Turns out that he was half-right, but that last part was cold comfort. What had happened to Perry?


    She kept moving in the direction of the Promenade, towards her dorm room. Rachel had been so sure Kaine was bluffing. After all, so much of his personality was rooted in lies. His military record, his resume, his image, all of it was a tale tale meant to intimidate or entertain his fraternity.


    Beneath that, Kaine was just a pathetic wreck of a man.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    She should really watch where she was going.


    Rachel nearly plowed into someone. Rachel cursed as she turned to see Zack in front of her. The spots around his eyes were moist. It was clear he had been crying.


    ¡°Zack,¡± she said. ¡°Blake just called. Perry-¡±


    He threw his arms around her. Rachel didn¡¯t object. She just his strong arms sweep her into a comforting embrace.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone,¡± Zack said, his voice choked with tears. ¡°I haven¡¯t said it aloud until now but¡­he¡¯s really gone.¡±


    Rachel had so many questions.  What had happened to Perry? She couldn¡¯t get a straight answer from either Zack or Blake.


    She pulled away from the embrace, if only to look at Zack¡¯s tear-streaked face.


    In spite of what had happened, these past few hours had felt like old times. A week and a half ago, Rachel would have sworn the old Zack¡­the one she knew in high school¡­was long since dead, replaced by a gloomy and manipulative impostor who had taken a wrecking ball to her life.


    But now¡­


    Rachel had come to realize that Zack wasn¡¯t dead and gone. He just buried, under what, Rachel still didn¡¯t know. But the important thing was, he was still there.


    He was still here, in front of her.


    Rachel laid on her hand on the side of Zack¡¯s face. His skin was smooth to touch, made wet by fresh tears. Zack raised his hand around hers, and the touch sent a jolt of warmth running into Rachel¡¯s fingers. The touch lingered for a few brief seconds before Zack moved his head down closer to hers before Rachel leaned forward.


    His lips pressed into Rachel¡¯s in a deep kiss. As they touched, Rachel felt the walls of Zack¡¯s minds begin to crumble and shatter. Images began to swirl through her mind in rapid succession.


    Rachel saw poor Perry. His skin was as gray white as concrete, covered in white-blue ice. Her mind screamed in anguish as she watched this Perry shatter into a million pieces when a large structure fell upon his frozen form.


    The image shifted. She saw another Zack, younger apparently, but not so different from the man before her now. This Zack walked into the kitchen of his old house. Rachel remembered the layout so well, right down to the crusty old couch off the side where they spent so much of their time making out.


    This younger Zack entered the kitchen. He walked aimlessly at first, with his bored gait, until something caught his eyes. He then began to run with a renewed sense of urgency. Rachel struggled with what triggered Zack in this vision, until the dream shifted. Rachel saw Zane Kestler, his father, lying on the floor with a deep bloody wound carved into the Knightbrand armor.


    He ran to him, and in his mind, Zack - and by extension Rachel - could hear the final words of Zane Kestler.


    Tell. No. One.


    Zack pulled away. The pain of reliving this memory was too much. The visions ceased as Zack ended the kiss, severing their connection. Rachel stared up to him, finally understanding.


    That¡¯s when Rachel saw they weren¡¯t alone. Approaching them, Rachel saw Miss Shaw walking towards him. She was flanked by actual superheroes. One wore a green cape over a white bodysuit while the other a form-fitting high-tech leotard. Rachel didn¡¯t recognize either of them, but their pose seemed extremely intimidating. Even in a school for superheroes, actual working heroes were a rare sight.


    ¡°I need you to come with me, Mr. Kestler,¡± Shaw said. Zack gave Rachel a sad look paired with a weak smile.¡±


    ¡°Good-bye, Rachel,¡± he said before walking towards Miss Shaw.


    Rachel had no idea what was going on. She watched as one of the heroes clamped power-damping cuffs on Zack¡¯s wrists before leading him away. In an instant, the group led Zack away, who silently moved alongside them without a word.


    Rachel was left alone, watching all of this. Her brief moment of clarity and understanding was shattered by even more questions.


    Even then, she could still feel the taste of his kiss on her lips.


    Zack¡­

 Issue #64: Interrogation

    Zack was first ushered into the Dean¡¯s Office. The two capes who had slapped the cuffs on him gave Bob Weave a nod as they shove Zack into a nearby chair. They then left the room. Shaw shut the door behind them.


    The two superheroes who arrested him looked strikingly familiar for some reason. The pair consisted of one man and one woman, with the man dressed in a green cape and the woman some sort of glistening high-tech leotard. If Zack had to guess, there were probably part of the tristate APB that Dirk Saber told him about.


    He really could use Dirk Saber¡¯s help right about now.


    ¡°Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say this is a very disappointing turn of events,¡± Bob Weave said, folding his arms on his desk.


    Zack regarded him for a minute. He was still getting over the pain of losing Perry, the shock of seeing everything else in his life crumbled at his feet and one last kiss with Rachel.


    That kiss . . .


    Damn . . .


    He needed to play this right. He needed for Perry¡¯s death to not be in vain. His father¡¯s killer was still on campus. Zack leaned back in his seat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say,¡± he said. ¡°I haven¡¯t even got my free phone call yet.¡±


    Weave shot a glance towards Shaw, who remained behind Zack. She crossed her arms, her posture tight and narrow.


    ¡°This meeting is more . . . informational in nature,¡± Weave said. ¡°To assess what charges may . . . or may not . . . be brought.¡±


    ¡°You guys haven¡¯t even read me the Miranda rights,¡± Zack shrugged. ¡°Seems very amateurish.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not cops,¡± Shaw strode forward. ¡°We don¡¯t have to read you anything.¡±


    ¡°Sure, hon,¡± Zack yawned. ¡°Everyone wants to be a cop until it¡¯s time to do cop things. Then you put on your cape and look the other way.¡±


    ¡°Your father tell you that?¡± Shaw glared at him.


    ¡°No, I came up with that one all on my own,¡± Zack said. ¡°It¡¯s a bit long. I¡¯m workshopping it.¡±


    ¡°Imitating a cape is a very serious offense,¡± Weave said. ¡°Even if the cape in question is your father.¡±


    ¡°Would a permission slip help?¡± Zack said. ¡°I think I have one from back in my house¡­oh wait . . . that¡¯s not going to work.¡±


    ¡°You got jokes, huh? A student is dead because of you,¡± Shaw said. ¡°Dozens more injured. The whole campus is in ruin. All. Because. Of. You.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Shaw,¡± Weave said.


    ¡°Seems like a pretty serious allegation,¡± Zack shot back. ¡°Do I get a lawyer, or is that all not in the cards for this ¡®informational¡¯ meeting?¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    The mention of Perry¡¯s death stung Zack, but he couldn¡¯t show it. Playing a smartass pissed off Shaw, forcing Weave to spend half his time managing her. It was his best play for now.


    ¡°Was it you in the suit¡­¡± Shaw glared at him. ¡°All the time?¡±


    ¡°It was,¡± Zack said. ¡°Though my dad never told me about . . . well . . . you know . . . ¡°


    Shaw shrugged derisively. ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t rate high enough to factor into your intelligence briefings.¡±


    Shaw looked at the door for a moment. She seemed distracted and off-her-game.


    Good.


    She turned back to Zack. ¡°Though I¡¯m surprised Zane hasn¡¯t made an appearance yet. He hasn¡¯t swooped out to rescue you. If anything, it looks like he¡¯s leaving you to dry.¡±


    Zack did his best not to look concerned. He knew the consequences the moment he decided to find Rachel instead of Icer. He had a chance to get out. He chose not to take it.


    ¡°You know my dad,¡± Zack said. ¡°He loves being unpredictable.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not him I¡¯m curious about. I¡¯ve had your father pegged for twenty years,¡± Shaw said.


    ¡°Can you please not use ¡®pegged¡¯ and my father in the same sentence?¡± Zack squirmed. Shaw rolled her eyes.


    ¡°You definitely inherited his devil-may-care attitude,¡± Shaw said. ¡°I¡¯m just wondering how far the apple rolled from the tree.¡±


    She kept her eyes on the door, as if she expected Zane to walk in any minute and chastise his wayward son.


    She¡¯s going to be disappointed on that front.


    Though, if Zack was really honest himself, he really hoped, against all reason or logic, his long-dead father really did walk through the door, even if it was to berate him for how badly he screwed all this up.


    ¡°So this was your plan all along?¡± Weave said, forcing Zack to turn his attention back to the older man. ¡°You hired Icer to cause chaos on campus so we turned over security feeds to you, then you used your access to steal the Magnometer and manufacture an even bigger crisis on the campus? One you could take credit for stopping.¡±


    Zack could see the logic in it. He wondered who this anonymous source was. Whoever they were, they knew a lot, even if they didn¡¯t know everything.


    Then again, it really didn¡¯t know how much this source knew or didn¡¯t know. At the end of the day, they didn¡¯t know his father was dead. They missed his central motivation for starting all of this.


    He could come clean, just like he had started to do with Rachel. He could tell everyone what really happened, finally explaining himself. Whether he was believed was another matter.


    But in the end, that would tip this hand to whoever really did kill his father. From where Zack sat, both Shaw and Weave had equal enough reasons to want Zane dead.


    Besides, all the good telling the truth did Perry.


    He still heard the cracking of Perry¡¯s cold skin when he closed his eyes. He hardened his features and looked Weave in the eyes.


    ¡°I think I want to talk to my lawyer now,¡± Zack said. Weave shook his head disdainfully.


    ¡°You¡¯re about to get your wish,¡± he said. Zack suddenly heard a knock on his door. Shaw got up to answer it. Zack turned to the door, curious if it really was his father.


    Shaw turned to him. ¡°Your ride is here.¡±


    She grabbed Zack by the wrist and led him outside by the cuffs. On the curb, Zack spotted a large prison transport flanked by several police officers armed to the teeth with Kevlar body armor and automatic weapons.


    When supes committed crimes, they didn¡¯t mess around.


    The one nearest him began to read him his rights as the door to the prison transport swung open. Another police officer took Zack by the hand, ushering him into the darkness until he was completely consumed by it.

 Issue #65: Great Things

    A gloom extended over the Sigma Alpha House. Scott found it in every corner, no matter where he mopped. His fellow Alphas drearily walked from one room to another, occasionally nursing stiff drinks. Every so often, he heard chatter of springing their leader Kaine from lock-up, but that¡¯s all it was¡­chatter. The same Alphas who loudly proclaimed their plans to bust out Kaine were later seen huddling around the mini-fridge with their tails between their legs.


    Someone needed to do something.


    But what?


    No one really knew.


    Scott sighed and continued mopping up the latest spill from one of his Alpha brothers. Though they weren¡¯t really his brothers, not when he hadn¡¯t even been sworn in yet.


    Still, without Kaine there, his job was a lot easier. No one was messing with him. No one was hazing him.


    In spite of this, Zack¡¯s mood was just as down in the dumps as the rest of the Alphas. He didn¡¯t know what the future of Sigma Alpha held, and with that, what his own future held. It didn¡¯t help that he had a splitting headache


    Thanks Rachel.


    And Zack.


    Just thinking of Zack brought a pain to his stomach. He cursed the day he had seen him in the Admissions and Records building. He thought seeing Zack again would bring a return to the good times of high school. Instead, his arrival had only brought bitterness, confusion, and ultimately, betrayal.


    Rachel, his first honest-to-God crush, had turned on him and whacked him in the back of head.


    Perry, one of his first friends from high school, was now spread out on the campus lawn somewhere. Scott didn¡¯t exactly know the exact details of how he went out.


    He only knew it was Zack¡¯s fault, in the end.


    Scott cast a wistful glance to the office at the top of the stairs. No Alphas ventured up there. No one had seen or heard from Max in days. The Alphas needed his wisdom and leadership. They were lost without it.


    He was lost without it.


    So Scott started to climb the stairs towards Max¡¯s office. Who was going to stop him? Kaine was locked up on charges for attacking Rachel. Scott knew the charges were false. Kaine may have been a jerk, but he was their jerk, and he was just defending the Alpha House.


    Zack was the real instigator. He had gotten to Rachel. He had probably gotten to Perry, for all the good it did him.


    But he didn¡¯t get to Scott.


    The word was, Zack had finally gone down for his crimes, heading for lock-up in Highrock where he belonged.


    But that didn¡¯t do Sigma Alpha any good in the present.


    As Zack reached the top of the stairs, he ran his hands across the smooth glass of the display case, looking at all the evidence of Max¡¯s conquest.


    He was the leader they needed. Zack had taken Kaine from them, but Max would know what to do.


    As Scott admired the display case, he noticed something was missing. Several things were missing, in fact. He could have sworn Amp¡¯s Power Amplifier was in the display case. He still saw several arrows as well as a sword. He subconsciously rubbed the back of his head, where Rachel had clobbered him with the hilt of Kid Achilles¡¯ sword. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    There was something else missing from the display case. There was a large chrome gun in the center of the display case. Who had it belonged to? Thrillian? No, that wasn¡¯t right. There weren¡¯t that many gun-wielding supervillains out there.


    A gentle stirring sound interrupted Scott¡¯s query. He turned towards Max¡¯s office. Someone was in here. The next voice sent a chill down Scott¡¯s spine.


    ¡°I think I want to talk to my lawyer now,¡± he heard Zack¡¯s muffled voice.


    Zack Kestler?


    Here?


    He thought Zack was locked-up, or about to be, like Kaine? Had his former best friend broken out already? And if so, was he targeting Max?


    It made sense. Zack was that crazy.


    Scott bolted towards the door of the office, mop in hand, ready to charge.


    Instead, he saw Max Mann casually sitting on his desk, with a glass of Scotch in one hand. In the other, he held one of his challenge coins. The top of the challenge coin glistened with advanced circuitry. As Zack entered, he heard Dean Weave¡¯s voice next.


    ¡°You¡¯re about to get your wish,¡± the Dean¡¯s muffled voice said through the receiver nestled within the challenge coin.


    Max, for his point, didn¡¯t seem too surprised to see Scott. He drained his Scotch and then clapped on the top of the challenge coin before setting it aside. Scott realized the challenge coin looked completely intact and normal now.


    Max turned to him. ¡°You must be here for the waste basket. It¡¯s starting to smell.¡±


    Scott was at a loss for words. He didn¡¯t know what the challenge coin meant. He was still wrapping his head around whatever was missing from the display case. With no other options, he went with his gut.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m not in a good place right now, sir,¡± Scott said. ¡°No one of us are.¡±


    Max turned away from him and began to pour himself another Scott.


    ¡°Zack was my friend. I knew him for a long time,¡± Zack said. Max continued to refill his Scotch, only to stop mid-pour. ¡°Or at least, I thought I did.¡±


    Max then produced another cup and poured some Scotch into it.


    Double-fisting? No judgment here, Scott thought. Now¡¯s the time to do it.


    ¡°My point is,¡± Scott said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do, and no one down there does either. We¡¯re¡­lost.¡±


    Scott was surprised when Max handed him the other Scotch.


    ¡°What was your name again?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Scott Stephens,¡± he said.


    ¡°Things aren¡¯t as bad as they seem, Scotty,¡± Max said. ¡°In fact, you could say, they¡¯ve never been better.¡±


    Scott gave the young man a questioning gaze. How were things better?


    ¡°With all due respect, Mr. Mann, Kaine-¡± he started.


    ¡°Is being dealt with. And so is your former friend Zack for that matter,¡± Max said. ¡°Which leaves several vacancies unfilled.¡±


    Scott soon saw Max narrowing his gaze at him.


    ¡°We¡¯re the strong, son,¡± Max said. ¡°This campus has seen what happens when you leave the weak in charge. Now we can show them a better way."


    Scott looked at Max and nodded. He drained his Scotch before wiping his lips with his sleeve.


    ¡°Mr. Mann, I¡¯m not even an Alpha. I¡¯m just a janitor,¡± he said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Max said as he set down his Scotch and laid both hands on his shoulders. ¡°Because I need someone to clean up this place. Are you interested?¡±


    Scott felt his spirit stirring. This was it.


    This was his moment.


    He nodded. Max Mann shook him vigorously.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to do great things together, kid,¡± he said. ¡°Great things.¡±


    Great things.


    Scott liked the sound of that.

 Issue #66: Unfinished Business

    The cold grip of strong metal stung Zack¡¯s wrists as the officer led him into the bowels of the transport. The transport itself wasn¡¯t much bigger than the interior of an RV. A crimson red light bathed the inside of the armored transport. Zack wondered if the red light had some power-sapping properties.


    Or maybe the color choice is just really bumming me out.


    The officer led Zack to a nearby slab, where he directed Zack to take a seat. Once on the hard slab, Zack watched as the officer clamped an additional set of cold power-dampening cuffs onto his ankles, which he chained to the seat. Throughout the process, Zack was aware he wasn¡¯t the only prisoner in the cab. Two other individuals also sat, already cuffed and ready to go. One was on his right, the other directly across from him.


    Zack tried to get a good look at his fellow inmates, but his view was blocked by the officer. When the officer finished, he moved away. Zack saw the other officer surveying his partner¡¯s handiwork as he leaned on the entrance of the cab. The officer nearest Zack joined his partner, leaving the cab without a word.


    A thick thud signaled the door was closed, sealing Zack off from the crisp night air.


    Zack turned to his right to see Kaine¡¯s face glowering next to him. Zack chuckled to himself. It made sense he¡¯d be here. After all, Zack and Rachel had taken him down mere minutes before everything came crashing down.


    ¡°Fancy meeting you here,¡± Zack said with a smirk.


    Kaine cursed under his breath.


    ¡°Maybe if we¡¯ll be roomies,¡± Zack continued. ¡°If so, I call top bunk.¡±


    Kaine didn¡¯t respond. Instead, his eyes gestured to a small blade in his open palm. He gave Zack a broken smile, fully displaying several cracked teeth.


    ¡°You¡¯re not gonna make it that far,¡± Kaine said.


    ¡°How¡¯d you smuggle that in?¡± Zack shrugged, trying his best to appear unworried by the obvious threat.


    ¡°I have my ways,¡± Kaine said.


    ¡°Well, good luck using it,¡± Zack said. ¡°You¡¯re cuffed, if that escaped your notice.¡±


    Zack knew the officers had kept the two of them far outside striking distance. They were cuffed a solid yard or so apart. Kaine could barely swipe the shiv in his direction while cuffed.


    ¡°Well, here¡¯s the thing about the power dampening cuffs. They work most of the time,¡± Kaine said.


    Outside, Zack heard several footsteps on gravel as the two officers made their way to the front of the prison transport. The two were moving towards the driver and passengers seat, respectively. A large wall separated them from the prisoners, with a small slot for the passenger officer to keep an eye on them.


    Kaine grunted as if holding his breath. For a moment, Kaine appeared as if he might pass out. His visage turned pale and strained. Zack watched with morbid fascination as Kaine¡¯s image started to flicker. He couldn¡¯t teleport, Zack said. These cuffs prevented that, right? Yet Zack couldn¡¯t deny what he was seeing.


    Still, Kaine didn¡¯t go anywhere. Even as he exerted himself, even as he flickered in and out of existence, he stayed still.


    Kaine gave a powerful exhale before smiling at Zack.


    ¡°Much better,¡± he said, brandishing his right arm, now completely from the cuff.


    The bastard did it.  He actually did it.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Which doesn¡¯t bode well for me.


    ¡°Now, where were we?¡± Kaine turned a menacing glare to Zack.


    Zack¡¯s eyes frantically darted to the top of the cab. The officers were just now entering the top of the cab. He could yell for help, but by the time they noticed, it would probably be too late. It would only take seconds for Kaine to slit his throat.


    That meant Zack had to handle this on his own. Kaine moved towards him, shiv in hand. Zack tried to calm his nerves and think about his options.


    What would Dirk Saber do?


    Dirk would analyze his opponent¡¯s stance. Zack watched as Kaine silently moved towards him, with one hand still free. Zack noted Kaine¡¯s posture was leaning forward, probably trying to maximize his reach while he was still cuffed to the seat. It gave Zack a window barely bigger than a second or two.


    One second more or less and Kaine would be on top of him.


    ¡°One Mississippi,¡± Zack said aloud. It was the only way for him to count the second accurately. Then he slammed his forehead into Kaine¡¯s face with all his might.


    Kaine rolled back as the prison transport suddenly rolled forward. He slumped back in his seat, down for the count, with the guards in the front none the wiser.


    Stars exploded in front of Zack¡¯s eyes from the impact. Even if his maneuver had been successful, it still hurt like hell, giving Zack the mother of all migraines.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± a voice called for the darkness.


    Zack suddenly remembered there was a third prisoner across from him. He struggled to concentrate on the voice, his nerves still reeling from putting down Kaine¡¯s latest attempted murder.


    A small man sat before him. He didn¡¯t look much older than Zack - maybe two or three years tops. His features were sharp and narrow. He had buzzed dark hair along with the rough beginnings of a six o¡¯clock shadow. He gave Zack a mirthless smile.


    ¡°Not that it did you much good in the long run,¡± the man said.


    His voice brought a chill down Zack¡¯s spine. He knew exactly who this was.


    Icer.


    He was sitting across from Perry¡¯s killer.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to pay for what you did,¡± Zack said. ¡°You son of a bitch.¡±


    Icer¡¯s face remained cold and dispassionate.


    ¡°I¡¯m not one who¡¯s going to pay,¡± Icer said. ¡°You were lying to me from the jump, Kestler. And now, it¡¯s time for you to pay up.¡±


    So that¡¯s why he killed Perry.


    He found out my secret, realized he wasn¡¯t getting any closer to my father, and killed Perry out of spite.


    Zack couldn¡¯t bring back Perry. He wished against all odds he could.


    But he could avenge his death.


    ¡°We have unfinished business,¡± Zack said.


    ¡°At least we agree on that,¡± Icer said.


    ¡°So how do you want to do this?¡± Zack said.


    Icer gave him another smile. In the red light, Zack could see something long and jagged emerging from his lips.


    An icicle.


    ¡°I¡¯m really going to leave a bad Yelp review. The guards really need to do a better job searching people,¡± Zack said.


    Icer ignored him. He began working on his cuffs, directing the icicle locked his mouth onto the lock. Zack scanned his surroundings for a similar pick. His eyes settled on the shiv by his side, dropped by the still-unconscious Kaine.


    He grabbed the shiv and began picking the locks on his own cuffs. He was mindful that Icer had a headstart on him, and given his criminal background, probably had an advantage when it came to picking locks.


    His first cuff dropped to the ground without much issue. He immediately began using the shiv to work on his ankle cuffs. He looked to the front of the cab. Sooner or later, the guards would notice, and the situation would become ever more complicated.


    By Zack¡¯s estimation he had less than three minutes before that happened, or Icer finished freeing himself.


    Three minutes to avenge Perry¡¯s death, possibly escape federal custody and leave Kaine to rot in prison.


    It seemed doable.


    Zack felt the final lock on his ankle cuffs give way. He looked up to see Icer starting to lunge towards him. He launched himself into the air, his hand still clutching Kaine¡¯s makeshift shiv as he prepared for his impact with Icer.


    This one¡¯s for you Perry.


    The red light of the cab flooded Zack¡¯s vision before everything went black.

 I Am Ron Hiatus...?

    I want to preface this by saying, when I got this idea, I had very little idea what web fiction was. I didn¡¯t even know what Royal Road was. I slowly pieced it together and did research on how to tell this storyline as a serialized fiction¡­and it was a learning experience.


    Overall, a very enjoyable one¡­but a learning experience nonetheless.


    In hindsight, I realized my expectations were wildly and naively unrealistic.


    I work as a part-time librarian/part-time freelance writer. Lately, I¡¯ve been focusing heavily on Seven Steps on Becoming a Superhero¡­but I really need to get back to my freelancing, and with several ghostwriting projects on the horizon, I felt this is probably the best time to step away from the web fiction to focus on those projects. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not sure how long it will take.


    Which is made all the more bittersweet since Seven Steps To Becoming a Superhero has just made it near the top of the Mystery section of Rising Stars.


    So here¡¯s some good news -


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">I am going to publish the first volume of Seven Steps to Becoming a Superhero on KU, tentatively called Super-School Is For Suckers. I¡¯m planning to have it released sometime this summer, with a brand-new prologue and short story included, called Rule Zero; Sidekicks Don¡¯t Count. These plans are all subject to change. I¡¯ll keep you posted on these plans in my newsletter, speaking of which¡­</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">I¡¯m going to start a newsletter for all Patreon subscribers (paying or non-paying). This will include news of my upcoming release (I should have at least two releases this year, maybe more), how the KU release is coming and generally what I¡¯m up to. I¡¯m planning to release it once or twice a month to avoid clogging the spam filters.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">If you haven¡¯t already, check out my other web fiction Isekai Override. It¡¯s more an experiment I¡¯ve been running for the Royal Road Community Magazine Contest. I¡¯ve been updating about a chapter a week. When it hits ten chapters, I¡¯ll see if there¡¯s a demand for it and go from there. Check it out if you haven¡¯t already.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">I¡¯ll keep my Patreon up and running. I¡¯m hoping to use any income generated there towards the KU release. For now, you can read the first 15 chapters of the next volume, Never Trust a Villain. I¡¯ll also plan on scheduling some monthly Q&As to keep up the interest. </li>


    </ul>


    I think that wraps up the announcement part. If you¡¯re able to, sign up for the Patreon. Every little bit helps, and enough support means I can stop ghostwriting and devote more time to Seven Steps to Becoming a Superhero. Even signing up for the free membership on Patreon will help me get the word out.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Thanks to everyone who has become a Patreon supporter, followed me on Royal Road or participated in an ad swap or review swap. For a first-timer, I¡¯d really lucked out with some incredible people helping me along the way.


    This is not the end. Seven Steps to Becoming a Superhero will return¡­one way or the other¡­

 The Bullpen #1

    Still on hiatus, but I thought I would sporadically post some behind-the-scenes information to keep interest. Will probably post some concept art next week so stay tuned...


    I was leaving for a family vacation to Tennessee and had plenty of time stuck in a car, so I bought a notebook and started hatching out ideas.


    The core concept came to me pretty early on in the trip, and I kept penning ideas and characters from there.


    I originally conceived of the story as a manga (hence the My Hero Academia connection). The problem was, I had worked on webcomics before I just didn¡¯t see any good way of monetizing that with my current income. So that led me to prose, which in turn led me to web-fiction . . . and now Royal Road. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    I briefly (okay, maybe not so briefly) flirted with the idea that Zack was a 90¡¯s hero sent to the present day via time dilation. Even in this interaction, the characters stayed mostly the same - it was just the plot that changed the most. However, I didn¡¯t feel like it ultimately had the legs that the first plot had, and I felt I could easily get bored with it.


    Icer was initially going to be called Amp, and have sound powers. However, I ultimately decided his ice powers could be more versatile in certain situations (like the ice cube trick in the beginning with the telepath). Amp still made a cameo as one of the villains vanquished by Max Mann, and the originator of the Power Amplifier Zack uses to repair his armor.


    I don¡¯t have a playlist per se, but if the first volume had an anime-style theme song, it would probably be Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd by Bring Me The Horizon. I¡¯ve included a link to the crazy awesome music video below.