Super Powereds: Year 3 (122 page)

           
      
“Lies have a cost, and it’s cumulative every time you pay it, until one day, you wake up and realize that, even if you want to pony up again, you’re fresh out of the willpower to do it with.”

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“How bad?” Globe was calm, which honestly scared Joan more than if he’d been fuming or stomping about. Those were appropriate emotions for the situation. The way he radiated calm, though . . . it made her wonder just how deep the fury he had to be feeling ran.

           
      
“Bad. This Evers kid has reached out to the Sons of Progress, and they’ve been itching for a demonstration of force since the last time one of their rallies got broken up. I don’t know how many he’s managed to get together yet, but from the buzz I’ve been hearing . . .” Joan let the words fall away. She couldn’t think of how to possibly end that sort of statement, so she just decided not to.

           
      
“I had to deal with more than a few of their members back when I was active,” Globe said. “I know they hate Heroes, they see us as a tool used to repress other Supers, but they were also scattered and unorganized.”

           
      
“A lot has changed since you were a Hero,” Joan replied. “Now, they’re responsible for bombings, Hero ambushes, they’ve even sunk so low as to attack HCP kids, when they can find out their identity. The Heroes keep bringing them in, but there always seem to be more.”

           
      
“And now a horde of them are amassing in close proximity to Lander.” He was still calm, though Joan noticed his left hand tighten just a touch. She’d never seen what lurked under the leather glove and cloak sleeve; Joan had merely caught on that it was the more expressive of his two hands.

           
      
“That’s the thing though, they’re not gathering. Not yet. There’s definitely a job, but no one has been given a date. They just get told to wait until the call comes, and then they show up ready to rock. The only reason I know it’s connected to Lander at all is because I was able to trace the offers back to Nathaniel Evers.”

           
      
“I see.” Globe stood from the old recliner where he’d been resting, then offered his hand to help Joan up as well. “Thank you for your diligence in this. I know you must be frustrated to have been unable to flush out exactly what is being planned, but you’ve given us so much more warning than I could have ever hoped for.”

           
      
“What are we going to do?”

           
      
“The only thing we can, unfortunately. Keep watch, hope for the best, and continue trying to cut this miscreant’s legs out from under him before things escalate.”

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               “Let’s all thank Mr. Nicolo once more for taking the time to come and speak to us,” Dean Blaine said, beginning the round of polite clapping as Lenny retreated from the front of the room. “I’m sure most of you are now expecting to go into a shortened gym class, but there is something I must bring to your attention first: as you’ve all known for some time, your final exams are just around the corner. Most of you have also noticed that they are scheduled earlier than either of your previous year’s tests, and that is with good reason.”

           
      
Dean Blaine paused for a moment, enjoying the looks of wild speculation in some eyes and weary acceptance in others. Everyone loved the event as freshmen, but by the time their junior year rolled around, they often cursed the tradition for being established.

           
      
“The need for your early exams is due to two facts: for one thing, each class’s tests are very time consuming for your professors, and therefore, cannot be held simultaneously. As for why the junior class gets the earliest spot, well, that is because you will need the extra time after their completion to set up our yearly Freshman Carnival.”

           
      
To their credit, the students didn’t let out a series of groans. At least, not with their mouths. If eyes could be heard, though, then Dean Blaine would have been drowning in a sea of moans so great it would have sounded like a zombie invasion.

           
      
“Yes, the bulk of the work falls upon you lot to handle. We’ll be offering a bit more guidance than usual, since your class was excused from working on the carnival last year, but rest assured that this is a project you are responsible for, and it is just as important as any other HCP task you’re given. I urge you to remember what it was like being in those freshmen’s shoes, scared and uncertain of what lay ahead. Remember how much the carnival lifted your spirits and made Lander feel like a home. You incurred a debt that day, and the time has come to pay up. Now, please report to your professors, so they can assign tasks and committees for all the work that needs to be done.”

           
      
Dean Blaine watched with a slight smile as they dutifully headed over to meet with their teachers. Much as they might dislike the extra work, it would be good to get their minds off the final exams. At their stage, they were more likely to make a mental mistake than a physical one, and keeping them occupied helped cut those down.

           
      
Besides, Dean Blaine was a devout fan of Skee Ball and cotton candy. He was hardly going to let a year go by in which he didn’t get his usual fix.

225.

               “Alice, is everything all right?” Professor Hill’s voice stopped her as she headed for the door, another day’s Control class logged away. It was much the same as her teacher always sounded, empathetic and concerned. He treated all his students that way, but for the last few weeks, she’d been listening more carefully, and she thought perhaps he was a touch more caring when it came to coaching her.

           
      
“What do you mean?” Alice turned around, watching the rest of the class file out into the hallway. By this point, everyone had been held back after one class or another to work on an issue, so no one paid any mind to her being stopped. “I hit every target you set for me today.”

           
      
“Yes, you continue to demonstrate exceptional skill, but your focus seems to be slipping infrequently. In training, you can overcome such mistakes; however, during real tests, you might not be so lucky. Your final exams are just around the corner; I thought you might have some issue or worry that might be affecting you.”

           
      
Alice resisted the urge to tell him that she was distracted because now she had to get through every class knowing this man was secretly her uncle. With Professor Pendleton, it was easier. She could glower at him through the lectures and still focus on the material. For whatever reason, it hadn’t seemed like a good idea to tell Professor Hill that she knew his secret though. There was no singular thing she could point to as to why, and certainly no one had told her she wasn’t allowed to; it was just a feeling from deep in her gut. Two years ago, she’d have dismissed it as nonsense, but Alice had learned a lot from her Subtlety classes. Just because she couldn’t consciously put together the reason for secrecy didn’t mean some other part of her wasn’t ahead of the game. With no one else to depend on, she was at least going to trust herself.

           
      
“Well, you said it yourself. The final exams are next week, since we’ve got to prepare the carnival for the younger students after that. Have to make the grade if I want to get into the fourth year. That’s enough to stress anyone out.”

           
      
“I had a feeling that might be it.” Professor Hill walked over, and Alice marveled at how she’d never caught the resemblance to her mother before. His hair was dark, while she’d been blonde, and he hadn’t gotten the sparkling green eyes that Alice inherited, but his face was similar enough that, when she really looked for it, she could see many of her mother’s features in his handsome visage.

           
      
“Listen, Alice, strictly speaking, nothing is decided until the final exams are taken. It’s true that you still could manage to make some huge mistakes and tank your grade, but I think we both know that isn’t going to happen. Besides, you’ve been getting top marks in Control all year. So long as you keep your head on straight and do your best, there’s no way you won’t qualify to make it your major. Just relax; you’ve got a knack for this stuff. Trust your training, and you’ll be fine.” Professor Hill smiled at her, and Alice forced herself to smile back. He wasn’t lying; she really had been killing it at Control. It was what her powers were clearly meant for, and she’d never actually doubted for a moment that she could make the cut.

           
      
“Thanks. I’ll try to calm down. Guess I have to work on that anyway, for when I get in real fights. Can’t very well go into battle with the jitters.”

           
      
“I’ll let you in on a little secret: even the most experienced Hero in the world gets nervous before they go into the field. We never know what’s waiting for us, and a little fear is a healthy thing. Reminds us that we’re still mortal. You just have to learn to push through, to not let it drag you down. But you’ll get plenty of practice on that next year. And you’ll be free of a Subtlety course splitting your focus. That will make things much easier.”

           
      
“It sure will.” Alice gave her professor one last smile, then hurried out the door. Somehow, she’d let it slip her mind that, while she was taking both finals, she could only keep one of the courses. Control was the obvious choice. It was what she was good at, with the teacher who hadn’t been trying to get her to drop out from day one. Logic had a firm case for where her Hero career was heading.

           
      
If only she could quiet the damned pangs of doubt echoing from her gut.

*         
      
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“You know, up until I saw you standing there, lined up with all the other students, I don’t think I really believed that you’d made it in.”

           
      
A grin crested Roy’s mouth, and he spun around, only slightly surprised to see Lenny standing outside Melbrook Hall, puffing away on one of his cigars. The much taller boy clapped a quick hug on the agent, careful to avoid getting any ash on the street clothes he was adorned in.

           
      
“Didn’t think you’d be able to stop by, what with you being so ‘busy’ and all,” Roy said.

           
      
“Can the sass there, kid. Just ‘cause you got taller than me, doesn’t mean you get to be lippy. Besides, I really am busy. Of course, you’re not supposed to know why, which I assume means you’re well-informed.”

           
      
Roy quickly glanced around and confirmed that they were alone. Melbrook’s semi-remote location made it a pain for getting to class on time, but it definitely had some advantages. “Intramurals, right? Let me guess, you’re here to try and sign whoever comes out on top.”

           
      
“‘Try’ nothing. I hear there are two top-seeds this year, and I aim to walk away with contracts on both of them, and anyone else who happens to put on an unexpectedly good showing.”

           
      
“Two? Well, one is obviously Angela, and the other . . . shit, Brent is a senior, isn’t he?”

           
      
“Jesus, what the hell do I pay all these scouts for when a Lander junior already has the inside track?” Lenny knocked some ash from his cigar into a small box he carried around expressly to be ashed into. “Hank’s son versus Lander’s demon. Going to be a hell of a match. If you’re good, I’ll write down some play-by-play and email it to you later.”

           
      
“Damn. I was holding out hope we’d get to watch,” Roy admitted.

           
      
“Sorry, the Intramurals are pretty tightly closed off. It’s a chance for the top students to strut their stuff, but someone could also sell information on any weaknesses they show during the fights. I’ve got more clearance than some Heroes, and your dean had to pull strings to get me a seat.”

           
      
“Ohhh, so that’s how he got someone like you to talk to the class. I was wondering about that.”

           
      
“Favors; better than a bribe, and with the benefit of being legal. Speaking of . . .” Lenny put down the box full of ash and pulled out a flash drive from his coat pocket. “I’m paying one off now and giving you this.”