Cape High Christmas: A Side Story (Cape High Series) (18 page)

"I do believe this will be my favorite fight, ever," Century says with a broad grin.

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, Vinny, we need to go to the den," Jack says. "Nico's handing out our gifts."

"I haven't even started my day yet," Vinny complains as he reluctantly follows Jack out of the kitchen.

"I will start it for you!" Voltdrain says cheerfully. "I do so like your kitchen, Vinny, it is a beautiful place."

"It is, isn't it?" Vinny says a bit smugly as they head for the den.

"I know Century already gave you his gift. You're coming out, regardless," Trent says, making them all glance up at the sight of Trent carrying Sandra into the den. "No more hiding, got it? We've already proven that nobody's shocked by how you look--or even cares," he tells her in a gentle tone as he puts her down.

"I care!" Jack says, earning a wrathful look from Sandra. "I think it's awesome."

"I think it's MORE awesome," Sunny calls from where he's half asleep on a couch.

"Go back to sleep, Sunny," Jack says.

"So what did you get us, Dad?" Zoe asks, already sitting on the ground next to Nico's chair.

"Well, I didn't get a big school item, or anything, I do that during my spare time," Nico says, picking up a rather small bag. He glances around, looking at the den packed with kids and adults. "I did a bit of... more specialized work," he says, pulling out a small box. "Piper, first," he says. "Piper, wake up," he adds. Her eyes flutter open and she looks at him blankly until the present is handed back to her. "For you, a power inhibitor bracelet, keep that on at night so you can finally sleep properly. Morgan, show her how to use it, would you?"

He pulls out another box. "Sandra," he says, handing it out. She opens it. "It's an illusion watch, so you can go out in public without blowing your cover," he tells her. "Once you actually start wearing your com bracelet, we'll install the chip in that, instead."

Soon they're each given a gift, usually something small but astonishing. Vinny stares at the small box in his hands. He slowly opens it, pulling out a small computer chip. "What is it?" he asks after a long moment.

"A computer chip," Nico says. "A very special chip, designed just for you--Zoe, if you would?" he says to his daughter. Zoe comes over, holding out her hand.

"Com bracelet, please," she says, holding out her hand. He hands it over without a word, watching as she takes it apart again, adding in the chip. "Eventually, this will keep you from ever having a backfire," she tells him. "Once the com bracelet hits a certain heat level--one past your usual capacity, it will automatically kick in and activate the security system. It isn't finished--in a few weeks we should be able to add the other half of the program," she says. "We're studying the space ship's green goo. Once we figure it out, we'll add it to the bracelet--but it'll probably mean you get a flower shooting out," she admits.

"So--" Vinny says.

"What happened to your mother will never happen to you," Nico says bluntly. "You might get coated, but it'll be worth it, I'd say. It's not finished, so you can complain if you want, but it's a step in the right direction."

Vinny stares at the bracelet, stunned to silence. He feels everyone staring at him, so he forces himself to speak. "Thanks," he says, looking up at Zoe and then Nico, "a lot."

"You're welcome," Zoe says.

"Now go start your day," Nico says.

"Yeah--yeah, I'll go do that," Vinny says, getting to his feet and looking at his com bracelet for a second in wonder. "Thank you," he adds, again, glancing over his shoulder at them, "seriously."

Voltdrain is waiting for him when he comes into the kitchen, and to Vinny's shock, the stocky Hispanic super hauls him into a hug. "I am so happy," Voltdrain says, tearing up. "This is more than I could have hoped for--I have seen the fear of backfire, I did not wish for you to have it, as well."

"I'll--um--see if I can get one for Flint, too," Vinny says, feeling a bit awkward, but not pulling away. "But we've got work to do, right?"

"Sí!" Voltdrain says. "Let us make the perfect Christmas dinner!"

Christmas Eve

The moon is high in the air, glinting off of his board slightly. Jack looks down at the house he's hovering above, a hesitant expression on his face. He actually hasn't been over to Marge's in a pretty long time. He feels a bit guilty about that fact, but it isn't exactly his fault. He's been traveling the world, looking for healers. But...

"We wondered where you were," Trent says from behind him. Jack turns, looking at his brother--and rolling his eyes as Trent drops down on his surfboard as if it was a bench. "Isn't that--" he starts out.

"Yeah," Jack says. "Marge's place."

"What was it like?" Trent asks as Jack sits down next to him. The board is holding almost a thousand pounds now, but it shouldn't drop to the ground thanks to his abilities.

"It... well, I was the top dog, so it wasn't that bad for me," Jack says. "But what do you expect when you toss up to a half dozen teenagers that don't know each other together? We didn't know how long it'd be until we were tossed into another house, or tossed into a group home--there are horror stories about group homes," he says casually. "It's no wonder things are tense, even with Marge trying her best. I swore I would wind up in Juvie sooner or later."

"So why come here?" Trent asks.

"Marge was the closest I came to a mom before Mom," Jack says, "and it's Christmas."

"Okay," Trent says, pushing off the board. "So what are we going to do?"

"We?" Jack asks. "This is all me, man--"

"We owe her, too," Sunny says from behind them. Jack turns, staring blankly at the twins.

"Dude, you made your SISTER carry you?" he asks after a second, seeing Zoe's arm wrapped around Sunny's waist.

"I'm a late bloomer," Sunny mutters, turning bright red.

"He'll be flying soon enough," Zoe says, giving Jack a dark look. "Besides, what's so new about him hitching a ride?"

"I know!" Sunny says, jumping away from his sister and grabbing Jack's board. He pulls himself aboard, grinning. "I'll just do this--now I'm making YOU carry me," he declares.

"Can I shove him off?" Jack asks his brother after a long, silent moment of staring at Sunny.

"Go for it," Trent says. "Maybe he'll learn to fly."

Jack pushes Sunny off the board without a bit of hesitation. They all look down, watching as the teen lands lightly on the ground. "I give it a month," Trent says. "Maybe two."

"Yeah, probably," Zoe says. "Grandpa thinks we just need to drop him from higher up."

"That can be arranged," Jack says as they watch Sunny head for the front door. "Sunny, you pain in the neck," he mutters as they all hear the knocking. They head down, landing in the front yard and waiting for the door to swing open. Gina stands there, dressed in an ugly Christmas sweater and holding a Christmas cracker in her hand. She looks at them blankly, her eyes widening as she sees how many are there.

"Marge? MAAARRRGGGEEE!" she yells into the noisy house. "We've got visitors!"

"Then let them in!" they hear Marge shout back.

"But one's a super villain!" Gina yells.

"Ja--Jack?" It's only thanks to their superior hearing that they hear that. Gina is quickly pushed aside and Marge barrels out, throwing herself into Jack's arms. "Jack!" she says. She hugs him tightly, getting the most gentle (and awkward) hug he can manage, back. "Oh! ZOE! SUNNY!" she says, looking around after a second. "Come here, you two!" she says, holding out her arms.

They head forward, hugging her almost as gently as Jack had. "Hi, Marge," Sunny says.

"How have you been?" Zoe asks.

"Better, now," Marge says. "And this is--" she says, turning to Trent with a curious look.

"My brother," Jack says, "Trent."

To Trent's surprise, she throws herself at him, hugging him as tightly as she had the others. "Thank you," she says. "I've met your parents, but I never got to meet you. I'm so happy."

"You're welcome?" he offers after a second. "He's a pain, but it's nice to have a brother I can whack upside the head when he deserves it," he adds with amusement.

She pulls back. "What are you all standing out here for? Come in! Come in! The party can go on for a little longer than planned!"

"We, ah, weren't planning on joining a party," Jack says. "We came here--well, I came here to give you something," he says, digging into his pocket. "It should help out, I think," he says, holding out a grubby looking packet.

She hesitates before taking it and peeking in. "Oh, Jack, this is too much--"

"No it's not," he says. "It's not nearly enough. You were the closest I got to a mom before I became a Liberty, Marge," he says, quietly, "You took care of me, even when I was being a punk. If I can help you take care of other kids, well, that's what I should do, right?"

Sunny and Zoe look at each other. "I'm going in," Zoe says. "I owe you a new TV," she adds, grinning at Marge as she walks right past them.

"Ah, can you wait for spring for my present?" Sunny asks. "It's a bit cold for what I'm good at."

"You don't need to do anything--" Marge says, only to turn as people start shouting from inside.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THE TV?" someone bellows.

"Oh no, she's not going to blow this one up, too, is she?" Marge asks, worriedly.

The boys burst out laughing. "She doesn't do that, anymore," Sunny says with a grin, heading for the house. "She's a technopath, like Dad. He'd say hi, if he knew we were here," he adds over his shoulder.

The brothers look at each other, and then at the house. "We could do a bit of handy work while we're here," Trent says. "It's an old house."

"Yeah, but it'd be easier just to toss them all out sometime and rebuild it," Jack says.

"Ma'am, is there a day sometime when you could take everyone out of the house?" Trent asks, pulling out his phone and bringing up his calendar.

"Wh--what?" Marge asks, looking a bit bewildered.

"You can take them all to the amusement park," Jack says, bringing out his phone and tapping on it. "Hey, Double M? Can I get a dozen tickets to Central Hall's amusement park for next weekend for Marge and her group? Yeah, Merry Christmas Eve to you, too," he says, making his brother laugh. "A show? Yeah, but not when the tickets are for. I've got a job--okay. Deal. Thanks. Got your tickets, you can pick them up at the front desk."

"Jack, you don't--" Marge says.

"She's going after the computer, next!" they all hear Sunny say, while laughing uproariously. "If you've got any tech you don't want her to mess with, you better run, now!"

"Are they terrorizing the kids?" Trent asks Jack.

"Sure sounds like it," Jack says.

"All the pieces are FLOATING!" they hear one of the kids say. "It's in my hair! It's in my HAIR!"

"I'll just go on in, then," Trent says, looking from Marge to Jack before leaving them alone. "Maybe I can save a few of them... probably not, though. I don't think I'm a match for two Superior kids," he adds under his breath. "One, maybe..."

Jack looks at Marge. "I was, ah, actually just going to hand the cash over and run," he admits. "I didn't plan on bringing an entire party of my own."

"I don't mind," she says, giving him a smile. "So you're happy?" she asks.

"Yeah," he says, "I am. Are you?"

"We brought in a new boy," she says, looking at the house. "He's... got a bad past behind him. Sometimes he lashes out. He reminds me of you, back when you first came here."

"Want me to talk to him?" Jack asks, his eyes narrowing.

"Only if talking is all you do," she says. "He needs to feel safe in this household."

"Yeah? Well so do the rest of the kids," Jack says. "Coddling one kid at the risk of four or five others is both ridiculous and dangerous," he goes on, looking her straight in the eye. "I love you, Marge, and you helped me, but it's about time someone tells you the truth."

She looks at him, a hint of hurt in her eyes. "Everyone needs to know they're loved, Jack."

"Being loved and being allowed to do whatever the hell you want are two completely different things," he says. He can't believe how much he's changed over the past year, or so, he thinks even as he heads into the house. "Gina," he says, "where's the new kid?"

"He's upstairs, in your old room," she says, snapping a picture of him with her phone. "Blurry," she complains.

"Turn the flash off next time," he says, a bit to her surprise. She clearly expected him to yell at her. He looks at her, hesitating. "You doing okay?" he asks.

"Are
you
feeling okay?" she asks him. "Did you fall on your head or something?"

He lets out a laugh. "Even that wouldn't do much, now," he says, heading gingerly up the loudly creaking stairs and for his old room. He pauses at the top, thinking about how small and breakable the place feels now. He shakes it off, heading for his old door and tapping a knuckle on it. The thin wood cracks under his touch and he groans, grabbing the handle and walking in.

"Wh--who the--" the kid on the bed says, sitting bolt upright with a magazine in his hand. Jack stares at him, a bit shocked.

"What are you, ten?" he asks.

"Cold Steel?" the kid asks. "You're COLD STEEL!" he says, looking excited. "Dude, what are you doing here? Are you going to kidnap me and turn me into a lackey?" he asks.

"She didn't say you were just a kid," Jack says, looking to see if Marge followed him.

"I'm not a kid! I'm the toughest guy in school," the boy says, glaring at him.

"So am I," Jack says, grinning evilly.

"No you're not!" Trent yells from downstairs.

"Shut up, man! Respect your big brother!" Jack yells back. He looks around the room, taking in the posters--there are at least two of him. "This was my old room, you know?" he says, walking around and taking in the changes. "Marge says you've been lashing out."

"She--she's just in this for the money! She doesn't care about me! She'll probably toss me into another home soon enough, and then it'll be the group home--"