33 Cape High Mega Me, page 3
part #1 of Cape High Series
“Yeah, that’s what it’s from,” Rocco says.
“Does that mean we might have to deal with her?”
“Only if we get sent to work in the garden?” Carla offers. “I’m not exactly a gardener, you know. We should have brought Sunny, Sunny does a lot of gardening!”
“Ah, no, the gardening is taken care of,” Cosmic says, sitting very stiffly in his chair. It looks like he could leap out of it at any moment. “We were told that you would join our older nieces and nephews in their Cosmic training, and possibly go out on more simplistic rounds with us. Would you be interested in seeing what the Cosmics do around the universe?” he asks.
“What, like a cop show set in space?” I ask.
“I want to go!” Rocco says eagerly. “I’m purely villain on my planet, so I never get to do the good-guy sort of stuff. But are you more cops or supers?”
“They’re more cops,” I say. “You don’t get a good super show when they all go by the same name, you know that.” I dig my phone out, looking at it thoughtfully for a moment. I’m never, EVER going to admit it, but… you know, Kaden just graduated without thinking about it, and now he’s out in the real world, without the school to back him up…
“You look lonely,” Carla says, making me look up. “Do you want to call Jack?” she asks.
“NO!” I say, shoving my phone back into my pocket. “I wasn’t even thinking about him!”
“Then who?” she asks. “Want to call Morgan? I bet she’s in class right now, so if you call her, you’ll get all of them—oh, wait, think they’re watching us right now? HI EVERYONE! We miss you!” she says, waving at the wall.
“I wasn’t thinking about Morgan, either!” I protest. “I was worried about Kaden,” I admit. “He’s graduated, now, and he’s doing something huge, right? I mean, is he READY to do something big? He’s a huge bonehead, you know that.”
“Oooooh,” she says. “Yeah, but he’ll be okay! He’s got Bunny to watch out for him! And she’s got him to watch out for her, right? It’s not like we’re sending him out completely alone, either.”
“Yeah, Nico will probably keep an eye on us until the day we die, or he does,” Rocco says, playing with his phone. “He’s as good as said we’ll be able to follow each other if we go through the Hall, right? That means HE is going to be filming us—“
“Who are going into the Hall, but Kaden’s going into the Legends,” I say. “He’s our brother, Rocco. You know that. It’s… scary out there.” I look at the window, seeing that we’re well out of sight of the planet by this point. It ruins my melodramatic moment, but I’m just going to ignore that fact.
“He’s Kaden,” Rocco says. “He’s going to grow into his family line, you know that, right? His dad—well, BOTH dads, actually, are freakin’ terrifying in my eyes.” He reaches up, tapping his temple. “So focus more on what’s in front of us, and call him when we’re done.”
“Yeah, good point,” I say. “He’s just gonna be training on the island for a while, anyway. I mean, what could happen on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere?” I shrug it off and get my phone out again, this time looking through my apps for something to waste time with.
“So what sorts of rounds DO you plan to take the children on?” Dad asks Cosmic, looking interested. “Do you do a lot of jobs taking down criminal planets? I heard that Nico went into a gladiator ring on his last trip out here.”
“Ah, yes, that does happen, but the vast majority of our work is either assisting planets that are having difficulty or… well, dealing with unlicensed space vehicles. You would be shocked at how many people let their licenses expire,” Cosmic says.
“They’re cops!” Carla says. “I watched all of five entire MINUTES of a cop show, once—oh, but it wasn’t the regular cops, these were the ones that go out and check people’s fishing licenses and hunting licenses—those poor deer! What did they ever do to the hunters? But then Lance explained how there can actually be TOO many deer and they wind up overeating the area and starving to death, which is JUST as bad, if not worse, and—“
I look at the others, seeing that not ONE of them looks like they plan on stopping her. In fact, the Cosmic looks equally parts fascinated and confused. Do they even have deer in space?
Eh, if she’s talking, that means she’s not bored and bouncing around the ship, so I figure I’ll just let her ramble. I bring up the Technico game and get to work. I’m building myself a base.
CHAPTER TWO
*Cosmic Headquarters*
“So they’re just bringing in kids from that backwater planet?” the kid behind Chi’la mutters. “We finally get acknowledged as Cosmics, after all this time, and now they’re shoving a bunch of hicks in our faces, like ‘oh, you’re Cosmics, but you’re not as special to us as—‘”
“Finn,” Poj says, turning to smile fakely at him. “Would you shut up, already?”
“Oh, the big, bad, Vo’ka daughter has something to say?” Finn says, and the two move closer, their noses almost touching as they glower at each other.
“I will blow up your locker the moment you turn your back, bro,” Poj tells him, not about to back down even though she’s a foot shorter.
“I’ll blow up your FACE—“ and then he stops, because Chi’la is finally turning around. She cracks her knuckles.
“Shut it, both of you,” she says. “I doubt they’re sending the interesting ones, anyway,” she admits. “I mean, Uncle Nico’s got two—“
“Three!” Poj says.
“Yeah, but he wouldn’t send the little guy, you know?” Chi’la says.
“Most definitely not,” Poj says, and then pulls out her phone. “But we got new pictures of him! Look, isn’t he adorable?” she asks, shoving the phone screen towards Finn. Finn blinks at the sight.
“We’ve got a dozen of those in the nursery room,” he says, not understanding the obsession.
“But THEY don’t mess around with matter when they throw a hissy fit!” Poj says, in a tone that’s far too happy when saying that. “He’s just so cute.”
“You gotta admit, that’s not exactly cute, Poj,” Chi’la tells her. “Hysterical, sure, but not cute. I heard that last week he made everything turn blue.”
“Yeah, Sunny’s calling it his ‘Blue period,’” Poj says, laughing.
“But yeah, they’re not sending us one of the big ones,” Chi’la says, turning as an alarm goes off on the wall.
“Fully weaponized ship approaching—the planet of origin is…” a Cosmic says over the loudspeaker.
“It’s EARTH!” several of the others shout from all around the base.
“Earth,” the Cosmic on the loudspeaker says, his expression turning wry. “Of course it is. Stand down.”
“Forgive me, brother, but none of us stood up, in the first place!” someone yells, and the entire base starts laughing. “The exchange students arrive today! Do we know who they are sending? Will it be one of the Lerrestian children?”
“Not a chance!” Chi’la yells out to them.
“Well, at least that is a relief,” they reply. The students look at each other, and suddenly the tension rises by several degrees.
“Why are they worried about children?” another asks, looking worried.
“Are they sending that Trent guy?” Helena asks. Both Poj and Chi’la look at her, and she glares back at them, defiantly. There’s no love between the three, and it has very little to do with Helena’s past. Sure, the girls know about what happened with the Earthlings, it’d been a hot topic among the cadets for a while, but that’s in the past. They just don’t like her because she’s a pain.
The docking bay door opens, and a group comes through, led by one of the Cosmic Reds. “Your ship will behave himself, I hope?” he’s asking the people following him.
“He should,” a pale skinned one says. “If he doesn’t, we’re supposed to call someone that can take care of it.”
“Ah, the technopath,” Cosmic Red says.
“Nah, we’re supposed to call Reaper,” the darker skinned boy says. He’s looking at the students standing there, and his eyes are gleaming, oddly. “Are these our new classmates?” he asks.
“HI!” Carla says, appearing in front of Chi’la and Poj. “Chi’la! Poj!” she exclaims, hugging them both in a flurry that almost has the two spinning where they stand. She appears a second later in front of Helena, looking at her seriously for a moment before pointing at her. “I forgive you for trying to kill Trent,” she says, seriously. “He says hi, by the way! So does Emily!”
Then she moves from one student to the next, shaking hands and asking their names, their favorite foods, and what they taste like. Soon, much to the students’ surprise, they’re trying not to laugh. Poj and Chi’la look at each other, grinning slightly.
“They sent Carla,” Poj says.
“They sent Carla,” Chi’la agrees, and starts to laugh.
“We drew lots,” the paler teen says. He looks at them, seeing that they don’t remember him from their visit to earth, and lets out a dry laugh. “Ward,” he introduces himself. “We’re here to see what the Cosmics are really after.”
“Yeeeeah,” Poj says, frowning in thought. “Maybe they just want us to get along?” she offers.
“Wait, you’re the kid that gets bigger, right?” Chi’la asks, suddenly interested. “Not the big one that gets bigger, the short one. You want to spar, sometime?”
Ward looks at her. “Sure,” he says.
“Wait just one moment,” Finn says, shoving his way in between them. “If you think we’re going to let you expose our special fighting techniques to a complete outsider, you’ve got another thought coming,” he says to Chi’la. “It’s bad enough that you’re not even a Cosmic, but now you’re bringing in these backwater creatures, and treating them like family? YOU are not family!”
The group goes silent, and tense, as the other Cosmics-in-training turn to watch.
“So I shouldn’t learn your little tricks?” Chi’la says, her hands slowly clenching at her sides. “You think I NEED those tricks you’re so proud of? I’ve been in life-or-death matches—“
“Wait, wait, wait!” Carla says, starting for them.
“Carla,” Ward says, and she stops, looking torn. “It’s true, I’m not the strongest at my school, so I wouldn’t mind learning some new tricks, but you’re a jerk. I don’t want your tricks… but I’d be happy to learn YOURS,” he says, looking Chi’la in the eyes and holding out a hand.
She looks surprised, but grins a second later, clasping Ward’s forearm.
“He said himself, he’s not even one of the strong ones,” Finn mutters, glaring at them. “You’re dealing with their lower ranking trash—“
Ward turns to him and starts to grow. His hand comes out, grabbing the front of Finn’s uniform as he hauls him off of his feet.
“Ward,” the man that had come with them says, “put the alien down, please. That’s hardly a good way to make friends.”
Ward puts him down.
“Cosmic Cadet Finn,” Cosmic Red says. “Do you realize what you have said within the hearing of the entire Cosmic Fleet? You have disrespected our guests and Vo’ka’s daughter.” Finn jerks, looking around in shock. They’re now surrounded by full grown Cosmics, all of whom look either angry or disappointed. “Apologize,” Cosmic Red says.
“You’re one of the Reds,” Finn says. “You should understand! You guys don’t even like your REAL brothers! Why should I pretend to like someone brought in with no connection to the Cosmics, at all? They’re intruders!”
“They were invited by Meteor, himself,” Cosmic Red says, “And I love all of my brothers.”
“Oh, really,” half of the people around them say dryly.
“I just don’t, exactly, LIKE them all of the time,” Cosmic Red goes on, causing several of them to look away to keep from laughing. “There is a difference. You can love someone without liking them, and you can like someone without loving them. But REGARDLESS, as a Cosmic-in-Training, you must behave yourself. This is not some quick road to glory, Cadet Finn, we are not training you to pose dramatically for the applause of the audience—“
For some reason, all of the guests look away and clear their throats. “Sorry, sorry, do go on,” the adult says when Cosmic Red waits.
“We are training you to serve and protect the people of the universe. It is a very large universe and there are very few of us, in relation. It is a dirty, and often thankless job that we are raising you to do.”
“But we’re Cosmics,” Finn says, as if he wants to argue. “We can go anywhere, we’re the most powerful beings in the universe—“ This time it’s the Cosmics that look away, clearing their throats. “Okay, yes, there are the Sentient planets,” Finn says, begrudgingly. “It’s difficult to beat a sentient planet—“
“Ah, we have that one figured out, actually,” a different Cosmic volunteers.
“Then we ARE the most powerful beings in the universe!” Finn says, triumphantly.
“Was he not here,” Cosmic Red asks the others, “when we first met Nico?”
“I do not believe so, brother,” another Cosmic says. “Nor, apparently, was he paying attention when Nico and Superior were searching for their lost ship.”
“People, people, why are we still standing here?” a new voice calls out. The group turns, parting as Vo’ka and Meteor make their way through the group. “This is a moment to celebrate! We are making new friends and learning about new cultures!” Meteor goes on, completely oblivious to the tension in the room. “You must be Mega!” he says to the adult. “It is wonderful to meet you. We were told by Ken that you and he are like brothers, as well!”
“We’ve been best friends for a pretty long time,” Mega agrees, smiling brilliantly. “This is my son, Ward,” he says, placing a hand on Ward’s shoulder. “He’s a size changer, like I am. This is Carla—“ he turns, as if looking for her, only for her to show up on his other side. “Where did she get to, this time?” he asks, turning towards her—only for her to rush past him. She lets out a yelp as he grabs her around the waist, hauling her into the air. She starts to giggle. “She is, rapidly, becoming one of the fastest supers on our planet,” he says, gently putting her down. “She’s also my son’s informal sister.”
“There are a lot of us, but not NEARLY as many as you guys,” Carla says, giving them a wide smile.
“And then we brought Rocco, who is one of our acting villains,” Mega adds as the other teen steps forward, right next to Carla. She nudges him with her elbow.
“We’re doing our introductions,” she whispers.
“They tried to start a brawl with us the moment we stepped off the ship,” Rocco says bluntly. “Don’t get me wrong, I like people, but are we REALLY going to let the fledglings come here?” He’s looking straight at Finn when he says that.
“You’re acting like a Liberty Boy,” Carla tells him.
“I know,” he whispers back. “Pretty good impression, right?”
“No, he’s right,” Ward says. “If they don’t want us to come, why are we here? We’ve got younger, more vulnerable kids back home that could have gotten hurt if that had happened to them.” He looks at Carla, as if checking on her, and she gives him a shrug and a grin, showing she’s fine.
“I forgive him!” she says.
“Is there something I’m unaware of?” Meteor asks, looking at the Cosmics. There’s a surprisingly serious expression on his face. They hesitate, looking at each other.
“Chi’la, did you start somethin’?” Vo’ka asks, looking straight at his daughters.
“Why would I be the one to start something?” Chi’la asks.
“She asked for a spar!” Poj rats her out.
“And he accepted!” Chi’la says. “That growing trick is going to be tricky, isn’t it? But I don’t think he’s as tough as that rock girl I met. Are you as tough as she is?” she asks Ward.
“Nah,” Ward says, “Sandra’s a tank. But yeah, it wasn’t Chi’la that was a problem,” he says, looking pointedly at Finn.
“We can handle the Cadets, Meteor,” Cosmic Red says. “They just need to come to an understanding. I’m sure that when they see what each group can do, things will work out just fine. There is… another issue you should be more aware of.” He looks at the docking bay. “They brought one of the special ships. They plan to leave it here until this is over.”
“Oh, fantastic!” Meteor says. “Is it Flora or Fauna? I really should go speak with them, regardless. Is Cosmic Balloon here? No, not you, the one that’s been doing the special classes,” he says to another Cosmic. “I am sure he will enjoy meeting his best student in person!”
The Cosmics barely manage to keep their expressions unreadable at this. “Red,” Vo’ka says, looking at the Cosmic who’s been guiding them so far. “Show them to their dorm rooms, make sure they’ve got everything they need, and then help them find the cafeteria for mealtime.”
“Yes, sir, Vo’ka!” Cosmic Red says with a salute. Only a few people notice the sneer that shows up on Finn’s face at this comment. No one points it out.
***
*Space*
“So… I must choose the faction that I join?” a certain Cosmic asks as he steps out of the rather short hut he’s been staying in for several moons. The people of this planet are very kind, and he has been having a wonderful time working with them. They’ve just finished wiping out all of the plant monsters that were devouring their plant life, with his assistance. They’ve also managed to start farming, again, and he stuck around to help with the very first harvest. It had been wonderful. Now, though, he’s finding out that things have changed drastically in his absence.
“We have a handful of them, but you wouldn’t fit in with a few of them—unless you can explode yourself, but I do not recall that being part of your abilities,” his brother says over the communication device. “Do you still enjoy playing music? You would be a fine Soloist!”
