The OK Team 2 (11 page)

I would help, but I'm a little sore from another game of Hero Ball last night (the Flying Tigers lost – I almost scored a goal, but Octo-Pretty flung a tentacle in the way right on the line). The Gamer doesn't look too troubled, so I'm happy enough to let him do the work.

Torch is zapping the feet of a Gang member, making him dance in a corner of the superstore car park where we found them loading up a truck.

‘I still say you've got a dumb tattoo,' says the Gang member. Torch blasts flame at his feet and he breaks into a jig and yelps.

Logi-Gal outlined our strategy and established a Hero haze before going into this showdown. She's now standing over a dazed Hardware Gang member, lecturing him on why crime is an antisocial behaviour that alienates groups within society and, on a personal level, is destructive to the family and friendship network of those participating in crime. I think the semiconscious Hardware Gang member catches about one word in every five.

Cannonball is above our heads, showing us how comfortable he is with flying these days and still gloating after scoring two goals last night. Technically, he's watching for any Hardware Gang members we might have missed or for a bad guy team-up that might take us by surprise, but in reality he's posing as he flies so Kyle, his agent, can take promotional photos of an actual battle.

The Gamer is collecting flashing power-bananas from a turtle shell that is mysteriously zooming through the battle –
choom, beep, beep, bloop
– and all is going according to plan, until The Gamer's captives suddenly flex their arm muscles and the rope tying them up falls away like a flimsy paper streamer.

‘Cannonball! They're free!' I yell, but he's already seen it.

‘Did you see how easily they shook off that rope?' Cannonball shakes his head. ‘They've got to be on S.T.O.M.P.'

‘We don't know that,' I yell, but Cannonball's expression is one I haven't seen on him before – fear. He hovers and snarls, ‘I'll teach these S.T.O.M.P.ers what genuine power is. Kyle, make sure you get this! Let's fire the cannon!'

Then he karooms down towards the three bad guys, and in one motion swings a huge roundhouse right hand punch, connecting flush on the jaw of a Hardware Gang member.

The Villain makes a horrible sound, like somebody has let all the air out of him, then falls backwards, landing hard like a sack of spuds. He doesn't move.

Everybody stops fighting. Logi-Gal stops lecturing. The upright Hardware Gang members stare in disbelief. Silence descends on the car park. The Gamer creeps over, a couple of electronic sound effects dying behind him, and Torch stands silently, looking at the still form of the fallen Gang member.

Kyle's camera clicks.

‘Cannonball, what have you done?' The Gamer says.

‘That was a big punch for a Category 1 Villain, mate,' says Torch.

‘They're on S.T.O.M.P.,' says Cannonball. He turns to one of the Gang members. ‘Aren't you?'

‘What are you talking about?' the kid asks. He doesn't look much older than us. ‘Why'd you hit Kevin so hard?'

‘Because he was on S.T.O.M.P.,' says Cannonball nastily. He's short and stocky and only comes up to the kid's shoulder, but that's never bothered Cannonball.

‘What's S.T.O.M.P.?'

‘Yeah, right . . . As if you don't know, actor boy. It's a performance-enhancer that artificially boosts your powers.'

‘I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.'

‘So how did you shake off that rope then?' Torch asks.

One of the other Gang members shrugs. ‘Crap knots.'

The Gamer's face goes bright red. ‘Actually, I never have been any good at knots. Not called for a lot in gaming situations.'
Bloop
.

The Hardware Gang member still hasn't moved.

‘I'm calling the AFHT emergency number,' Logi-Gal says, pulling out her mobile phone. ‘And an ambulance.'

‘He was on S.T.O.M.P.,' Cannonball says, but his voice is trembling, and he sounds more little boy than Superhero. ‘Logi-Gal, I'm telling you, I was sure they were on S.T.O.M.P. You thought so too, didn't you, Focus? Kyle, stop taking photos!'

CHAPTER 11
RAMIFICATIONS

A
t school the next day, there is no sign of Frederick Fodder (Cannonball). Simon Fondue (Torch) and I shrug at each other across the classroom when his desk remains empty and at recess, Simon tells me that Frederick's little sister, Alexandra (Tomorrow Girl) says Frederick is refusing to come out of his room. He was crying for most of the night.

At lunch, I check over both shoulders to make sure nobody is watching as I log in to my
herohints.com
email account (Username: hazy_retina. Password: carrot_taco). There's an email from Logi-Gal: the AFHT reports that the Hardware gang member's condition is unchanged. Medical Hero Doctor Dazzle is working the case.

At least he's not dead, I think, sighing with relief. I log out and clear the browser history and cache, just in case another kid stumbles onto my Hero mail. I wonder what I'd be more embarrassed about – having my alter ego discovered by the library teacher, or having Simon discover I'd supergoogled Cyclone Tracy.

After school, we go around to Cannonball's house, still in our school uniforms, and ask if Frederick can come out and play. As though we're a bunch of nine year olds. His mum looks tired, but says it would be good for Frederick to get some fresh air. It takes more than twenty minutes, but finally a pale Frederick appears at the front door and is almost pushed into the street by his mum.

‘How are you, mate?' Simon asks.

Frederick shrugs. ‘Bad.'

‘Hey, we've heard about a new Hero café,' I say brightly. ‘It sounds awesome. Let's go check it out.'

‘Nope,' says Frederick.

‘But we need you to fly us up there. It's on top of a massive pillar.'

Frederick looks like his eyes are filling with tears. He shakes his head. ‘Nup.'

‘Come on, Cannonball,' I say, leaning in close. ‘It wasn't your fault. It will be okay. Let's fire the cannon to the café.'

‘The cannon is too dangerous.'

‘Well, that's certainly not true,' says Simon.

‘Cannonball, let's go to this new café,' I say. ‘We're meeting the rest of the team there. We can try to talk to Golden Boy or somebody from the Federation of Hero Types.'

‘Face other Heroes? No force in this world could make me go there, Focus,' he says, looking small.

Just then Alexandra arrives home with four of her friends from school. Even out of costume, we know who they are. They are walking in formation again.

‘Hey, Less-Than-OKers! Glad you're here,' Alexandra says. ‘Me and the Stars are about to rehearse some moves. You can be our audience. Wonder Wendy and Princess Pinkstar have written some new lyrics.'

Two of the girls strike a pose and start singing,

You might even see us

On Hero TV

Dontchya wish your heroes

Were hot like me

They high-five and giggle. Frederick shudders.

‘Café, here we come. I'll get suited up,' he says to Simon and me. ‘Meet you here in three minutes.'

Frederick dashes back into the house, ahead of the G
rl-Stars.

Simon looks at me. ‘So where do we get changed?'

I'm looking around Frederick's front yard. There are a few small shrubs, a letterbox and a pushbike. ‘There's never an old-style phone box around when you need one.'

We check nobody is watching and then get changed behind a wheelie bin. The glamour of Hero life. I notice that Torch has put the long sleeves back on his costume.

Cannonball's flying is surprisingly good given how shaken he is, and we're at the café in no time. It's on top of one of the two massive pillars that are the centrepiece of the Bolte Bridge, connecting the Tullamarine and West Gate freeways and the Princes Highway, to Melbourne's western suburbs and Geelong. The Bolte Bridge is often called ‘The Goalposts Bridge', because the two pillars look exactly like Australian Rules football goalposts, soaring into the sky. The new café is on top of the eastern goalpost, offering a view of the city skyline that non-Heroes would barely dare to believe. As usual, a glimmering Hero heat haze surrounds the actual café so it's invisible to drivers who happen to look up as their car sails between the goalposts, on the tollway far below. This café rocks.

We are waiting for our toasted Heroic ham sandwiches and Super Shakes when the wind rises outside and my heart rate doubles. Sure enough, a familiar figure in swirling grey lands lightly outside the café's front door. Cyclone Tracy flicks her cape over her shoulder, shakes her hair, glides to the counter, gives her order, then breaks into a dazzling smile as she spots a couple of Superheroines two tables away from where we're sitting. She joins them and I realise I have completely lost track of my Team's conversation.

‘– got to stop blaming yourself, Cannonball.' Logi-Gal is pleading. ‘Yes, it was a terrible mistake, but you didn't mean to hurt him.'

The Gamer is unusually quiet, playing with a packet of sugar.

‘I should have checked. I shouldn't have assumed,' Cannonball says in a small and sad voice.

‘It's this S.T.O.M.P., man. We don't know if we're on a level playing field anymore.' Even Torch is continuing to support Cannonball, which is close to a first.

Just then a lemon sails from the other side of the room and smacks Torch in the shoulder. He swings around.

‘ELEPHANT HEAD! GET OVER IT!'

A few tables away, Cyclone Tracy throws back her head and laughs and I notice for the first time that she's not actually that much older than we are. Maybe sixteen or seventeen. That's still a few years older than me, but maybe –

‘– Focus? FOCUS?'

‘Huh?' I say, snapping back to reality.

‘Are you with us, fearless leader?' Torch's voice is dripping in sarcasm. A year ago he told me he didn't want to lead the Team, but now I'm starting to wonder.

‘Yeah, I'm with you. What are we talking about?'

‘There's only one subject, Focus.' The Gamer tilts his head at Cannonball. ‘Iron fists here.'

‘Steady, Game-Boy,' I say, and wonder why that joke has never occurred to me until now. ‘It was a mistake.

Unintentional. The kid he hit will wake up and it will all be okay.'

‘Or not,' says Logi-Gal. ‘Here comes Southern Cross and he doesn't look happy.'

Southern Cross approaches and sits down with us. A Triple A Hero joining our motley crew – I check to see if Cyclone Tracy is watching. She's looking our way and our eyes lock for a moment. I blush as I turn away.

‘How are you feeling, Southern Cross?' asks Logi-Gal.

‘I'm fine, thanks. Never better,' he says. ‘I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that the Hardware Gang member is awake. We're still doing tests, but it looks as though he should make a full recovery.' Cannonball slumps in relief. Southern Cross continues, ‘. . . although he has to get over a nasty and
unnecessary
concussion.'

‘I know. I know. I'm so sorry.' Cannonball nods weakly. ‘What's going to happen to me?'

‘There will be an inquiry,' Southern Cross says. ‘Level Ds simply aren't allowed to belt Category 1 crooks that hard. You know that, Cannonball. You might be de-caped, at least for a while.'

‘De-caped?' He looks up in horror.

‘Maybe. If I was you, and obviously I can't advise you because I am a senior member of the Australian Federation of Hero Types and any interference in the due process by me would be highly inappropriate . . .'

‘But . . .' says Torch.

Southern Cross leans forward and speaks very quietly. ‘But I would suggest you emphasise your fear that the opposition had shown signs of using S.T.O.M.P. It's your best defence, given everybody is so jittery at the moment.'

‘It's the truth,' says Cannonball.

‘Then it's an even better defence,' he smiles. He turns to me and his face is serious again. ‘Focus, this Knight-Hood Pact you recklessly agreed to is also a problem. Cannonball isn't the only one who could be de-caped.'

‘What do you mean? Why would I be de-caped? It's my mess to sort out. What's the AFHT got to do with it?'

‘Because this Bushranger and his gang are getting more powerful. Very powerful, and causing problems. None of us can step in because of you.'

‘Oh right. By “none of us”, you mean real Heroes. Unlike me.'

‘I mean powerful Heroes who would love to make this Bushranger problem go away, but currently can't because of a rush of blood that wasn't particularly mature for a rated Hero.'

I can't think of anything to say to that, so I shut up.

Southern Cross stands and almost manages a smile. ‘Chin up, little soldiers. Hey Torch, I hear you've got a cool new tattoo.'