“This place isn’t as dark as I expected.” Aperture said, as he helped Cobalt carry Shadowjumper’s motionless form.
“I know. They call it the Shadow Plane, but there’s light here.” Lee Richards replied.
The young heroes had been travelling in the Plane for what seemed like hours. The bleak, grey landscape was like an alien world. Visibility was low, anything more than a few hundred feet away disappeared into a fog of shadows, meaning mountain ranges and bodies of water were prone to sneaking up on the rescue party.
“Of course there’s light here, you idiot. You need light to make shadows.” Shadowjumper said.
“Idiot? Who’s the one who can’t move anything from the neck down?” Lee asked.
“If you’d like him to stay that way, I suggest you don’t break my concentration.” Cobalt said.
“Yeah dude, keep quiet. This is a new trick for Cobalt.” Aperture said.
“Not to mention, we don’t want to attract the attention of the locals.” Tide added, from the edge of the group.
“Those little bat things? Or the giants? Either way, we smoked them last time.” Firestorm turned back from the front of the group.
“You didn’t do anything to them last time. If not for the pretty one over there, Darktamer would have killed you. Twice.” Shadowjumper taunted.
“What did you say!?!” Firestorm’s fist ignited.
Mr Perfect grabbed his teammate’s arm. “Not now. We need to focus people. Cobalt, can you shut him up?”
“It took me twenty minutes to find a way to paralyze him without cutting off his breathing and heartbeat. I’m not sure we have the time, and I’d have to release him to be able to figure it out anyway.” Cobalt explained.
“Ok then. Aperture, you’ve still got out back door open?” Mr Perfect asked.
“The first portal opening is right where we came in. All I need to do is open this end, and we’re cool.” Aperture replied.
“And we’re heading in the right direction?” Mr Perfect turned to Shadowjumper.
“The area of the Plane that corresponds to Miami is at least another hour’s walk away. If the Boomers are alive, they’ll be there.” Shadowjumper replied.
“Awesome. Guys, I’m scouting ahead. Fissure’s in charge while I’m gone. Back in five.” Mr Perfect said.
“Try not to get eaten.” Shadowjumper laughed.
Mr Perfect rolled his eyes, before streaking off into the distance.
<><><>
“We’ve got vans coming. Eight blocks away.” Mr Universe said.
“Media?” Hyper Girl asked.
“I sure hope so.” Belle said.
“Ok guys, you know the rules. We’ll handle the press, you guys try not to say anything. And keep an eye on the prisoners.” Mr Universe ordered.
“Cal, you’re with us.” Belle said.
“What?” Cal looked surprised.
“Perfect left you in charge. And you’re D13’s leader, you need the practice. Just follow our lead.” Belle said.
“Prisoners. We’re all trapped. All prisoners. Stuck in this tiny cell.” Rose rocked backward and forward, dark energies crackling around her body, as it turned black intermittently.
“Is she ok?” Belle asked.
“She’s… I don’t know.” Balefire admitted. “She always gets a bit weird when she’s got more than one power. And when she keeps hold too long. I guess this is what happens when she does both at once… She’s usually fine when it wears off…”
“Ok. Try to get her to move over near the prisoners, behind the bulk of the group.” Mr Universe said. “Last thing the media needs to see is a teenager going crazy because of her powers. Stay with her.”
Balefire touched her friend on the shoulder, but Rose hit her hand away with a backhand slap that sent the teen tumbling. “DON’T TOUCH US!” Rose shrieked, as she returned to rocking and muttering.
LatX helped Balefire to her feet. “Are you ok?” Hyper Girl asked.
“Yeah… Just a little surprised.” Balefire looked shaken.
“Ok, new plan. Cal and Epic move the prisoners forward, and everyone stands over here instead.” Mr Universe said, as he floated forward a few feet.
The group of heroes shuffled around, just as the first news vans appeared around the corner.
“Here we go…” Mr Universe muttered.
“Mr Universe, Pete Sheldon, Salt Lake Tribune.” The first reporter said, pushing a tape recorder towards the hero. “What exactly transpired here?”
“Ben Olsen, Fox News. Another destructive super-hero fight?” The next reporter asked, his cameraman getting right in Hyper Girl’s face.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to point you, not towards the destruction, not towards the heroes, but towards the villains.” Mr Universe said, stepping aside, and pointing at the motionless bodies of their defeated foes.
“Is that…?” Sheldon trailed off.
“That is Darklight, Nightfall and Darktamer.” Hyper Girl said.
“The Order of Darkness.” Cal confirmed.
“You kids defeated the Order of Darkness?” Olsen scoffed. “Who the hell are you, anyway?”
“We’re the Brat Pack. We’re the Teen Dream Team. We’re The Dirty Baker’s Dozen. You… You’re welcome.” Mr Universe said.
“And I’m Hyper Girl by the way.” Hyper Girl piped up.
“Isn’t there more of you?” Sheldon asked.
“I’m glad you asked, Mr Olsen.” Mr Universe said. “Because as we speak, Mr Perfect is leading a team into the Shadow Plane. They’re rescuing the East Coast Boomers.”
“The East Coast Boomers are long dead.” Olsen said. “And I suppose your friends took Shadowjumper in with them?”
“He’s the only one who knows the way.” Belle said.
“And he’s the only one who can get in there in the first place.” Hyper Girl added.
“So, rather than handing him over to the proper authorities, your friends are now harbouring a known fugitive, who could escape at any moment, and leave them trapped in another dimension?” Olsen asked.
“Sure, everything sounds bad when you use that tone.” Mr Universe replied.
<><><>
The young heroes continued to trudge through the Shadow Plane, villainous guide in tow.
“I’m still not sure I get this lineup you’ve selected.” Cobalt said.
“I thought I explained it on the way in.” Mr Perfect replied.
“I know, but it just bothers me… Mr Universe is the most powerful of us. Surely he’d have been more useful in here, than out there talking to the media.” Cobalt said.
“And we wouldn’t have to stop him from trying to kill Shadowjumper every five minutes.” Tide added.
“Just because you want to screw him, doesn’t mean you have to put the rest of us down.” Lee argued.
Aperture laughed. “Don’t you guys watch TV? He’s dating Hyper Girl.”
“Yeah, we know. That’s why it’s so funny.” Lee smirked, as Tide began turning bright red.
“Back to the original question… This is a dangerous mission, but don’t forget, there’s three big-time villains sitting back in Salt Lake City. Rose didn’t look too good, what if she loses control of her powers, and lets them go back to their owners?” Mr Perfect said.
“Rose can’t let go of her powers. They stay with her, no matter what.” Cobalt commented.
“But under extreme circumstances…” Mr Perfect said.
“No, she’s tried. Sometimes she absorbs their personalities as well, and she hears them in her head. She tries to get rid of them, but nothing. She’s stuck with them for a while.” Cobalt explained.
“Wait… Right now, she’s probably the most powerful being on Earth… and she’s hearing voices?” Firestorm asked. “Mr Universe is a genius.”
“How was he supposed to know?” Tide spoke up.
“He could have asked…” Aperture said.
“It’s too late now. Let’s just hurry up and get this job done.” Mr Perfect said.
“Before it’s too late.” Fissure added quietly.
<><><>
A SWAT van rolled up, and a dozen police officers piled out, locking up the various depowered members of the Order of Darkness.
“Who’s in charge here?” The lead officer asked.
“We are.” Mr Universe said.
“Mr Universe? A little out of your jurisdiction, aren’t you?” The officer asked.
“We got an anonymous tip; we thought it best if we handled it. We’re the specialists.”
“No need to get defensive… You did good today kid. A little property damage is nothing compared to what those guys could have done if they weren’t locked up.”
“Finally, some gratitude. It’s about time someone didn’t want to tear me a new one.”
“Yeah, I watch the news too. Hey, where’s Mr- Oh my God… What’s happening to that girl?”
Mr Universe turned to see Rose’s pitch-black form rising above the ground, dark tendrils of energy carrying her ever higher.
“Balefire? What’s going on?” Mr Universe asked.
“She’s lost it. This level of absorption puts a lot of strain on her mind… I’ve never seen her this bad though.” Balefire said.
“Is she dangerous?” Cal asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Balefire said.
Nobody was quick enough to react, as Rose dove for the armoured SWAT van. The girl grabbed the side of the van and tore through its wall. A slight gesture of her hand, and the black energy she controlled snaked inside, lifting the unconscious forms of the Order of Darkness from their prison.
“Our bodies aren’t going anywhere.” Rose’s voice was different. Her pronunciation had changed, as had her tone and volume.
“Oh that’s not good. We’ve got to take her down quick. She’s invulnerable, super-strong, and she’s got that magic darkness crap. Got a plan?” Mr Universe asked.
“Not really. Everyone, hit her with everything you’ve got!” Cal ordered.
The street became a warzone, as the heroes began blasting away at the leader of the Teen Dream Team.
<><><>
Talon’s vision was fading. It was growing dark, but she could still see Gene fighting off the dragon. He’d left Los Angeles to join her in New York, when she’d started the East Coast Boomers, it was only fitting that he had stood beside her in her final battle.
She could feel herself growing weaker, as the blood gushed from the mangled stumps where her arm and leg had been. Her body ached, and all she wanted to do was rest. But she fought on. If Gene was standing, someone had to bear witness to his fight. The Freak was one of America’s finest heroes. He deserved that honour at least. ‘A Boomer never fights alone.’ That was the team motto, ever since the original Boomers were formed in the 60’s. She had to hold on. She had to be there for her team-mate until the end.
The Freak fought on, raining blows on the dragon’s legs, his stony fists clashing on the beast’s steel-like scales. The two were at a stalemate. There was nothing the dragon could do to The Freak, but The Freak could also do no damage to the dragon. The dragon’s claws could not cut through rock, its jaws could not crush stone. The Freak ignored the dragon’s flames, and their strength was equal.
Talon shuddered as she looked at the dragon’s arm-like forelegs. Just minutes before, they had clasped her legs, and the dragon had seemed to laugh as it tore her apart like a wishbone, ripping her left leg from her body at the hip. It had followed up the move by biting her right arm off at the shoulder. A blow from The Freak had been enough to take its attention away from her. She was as good as dead anyway, and the dragon had dropped her like an old toy, and her body tumbled to the ground like a ragdoll.
She couldn’t help but smile, as she watched Gene pummel away at the much larger foe. The Freak was one of the strongest men in the world. There was no-one who could beat him in a fight. Not even this damned dragon that had killed his last surviving team-mate. There wasn’t an ounce of quit in the old hero.
“Holy crap!” Talon heard a distant voice, as the world spun around her.
“That’s a freakin’ dragon!”
“And look who’s fighting it!”
“Oh my god… Is that Talon?”
“Iaso, get to Talon, heal her if you can. Cobalt and Aperture, stay with Shadowjumper, the rest of you… I can’t believe I’m saying this… The rest of you… Let’s slay a dragon.”
Talon’s field of vision was filled with a pretty young girl, no older than eighteen. A simple black domino mask surrounded deep brown eyes, black bangs framed the mask, and the girl had a reassuring smile on her face.
“Ma’am, we’re here to help… Just relax.” The girl said.
Talon just nodded, as a warm feeling began to fill her body.
<><><>
“We have to do something!” Tom said, peeking around the corner at the battle raging on the street.
“Like what? We don’t have costumes. Or masks. There’re cameras out there.” Mac said.
“Cal had half his team getting the civilians out of the way. They won’t see anything.” Tom replied.
“Fine. The media aren’t a problem. The fact we don’t have any useful powers is. That’s why Ally put us here in the first place.” Mac said.
“They could use some luck…” Tom suggested.
“No good when you get vaporized by that shadow crap she’s tossing around.” Mac replied.
“Good point… Hey, what’s that?” Tom pointed.
Mac looked into the air, and saw a black bat-like creature the size of a large dog. “Crap! It’s one of those Black Swarm things. They missed one.”
The bat turned towards them and dove.
The teenagers ran into a nearby building. “What are we going to do?” Tom asked.
“This is the building we were in before right?” Mac asked.
“I think so.”
“Head upstairs. If we’re lucky, there’s still a first-aid kit up there.”
The duo rushed up the stairs, as they heard their winged pursuer crash through the front door.
“Quick! In here!” Mac pulled Tom through an open door, shutting it behind him.
A quick glance around the room and Mac found it. The first aid kit. He rushed to it and opened it up.
“Just what I was looking for…” He said, as he produced a vial of anesthetic, and a syringe.
“You’re going to stab it? How do you know that crap will work?” Tom asked, as Mac filled the syringe.
“It’s not for the bat. It’s for me.” Mac jammed the syringe into his arm as the bat charged through the door.
“What the hell are you doing!?!” Tom asked, as the monstrosity ran towards him, unsteady on its feet.
As it reached him, the building shook. A stray blast from the battle on the street below had struck the foundations, causing the entire building to tilt to the side, sending the bat, Tom and Mac crashing to the sidewalk. Somehow, in midair, Tom and Mac had managed to get on top of the bat, using it to break their fall.
“Wow. That was lucky.” Tom said, as he stood up, helping his nearly unconscious friend to his feet. “What were you thinking?”
“My powers you idiot.” Mac mumbled.
“Oh yeah. That would’ve been a good idea.” Tom said.
Mr Universe landed next to them. “What are you idiots doing out here? Didn’t Pixel hide you?” He asked.
“She did, but one of those bat things chased us, so we went into the building, and Mac got high on anesthetic, and we fell out of the building and squashed the bat anyway.” Tom said.
“Mac got high?” Mr Universe asked. “I think I’ve got a plan…”
<><><>
Mr Perfect swooped down on the dragon, punching the reptile in the face.
“Kid, it’s no good. Damn skin’s tough as mine.” The Freak shouted.
“I know. But there’s one of it, and three of us hard-hitters. We keep it on its toes, whilst the blasters hit it with everything they’ve got.” Mr Perfect said.
“We’re trying. Nothing’s getting through.” Tide said, as she sent another high-pressure jet of water into the beast’s hindquarters.
“I think we’re just pissing it off.” Firestorm agreed, lobbing a pair of fireballs.
“Sir, we’re doing all we can… It just keeps absorbing our attacks. Perhaps a retreat is in order?” Fissure asked.
“No. We can beat this thing!” Mr Perfect said.
“Fissure, you think you know us so well? We’re the Brat Pack… Well, some of us. We don’t give up so easily.” Firestorm said. “Time to turn up the heat.” He unleashed an inferno at the dragon, causing the monster to turn around and return with his own blast.
The two faced each other for what seemed like eternity, neither giving ground. Their blasts equal in strength, neither able to get through to the target. Tide attempted to aide Firestorm’s attempts, aiming a powerful stream of water for the dragon’s mouth, but it evaporated a full foot away from target.
Eventually, the young hero could take no more. He relented, and was engulfed by the dragon’s fiery breath.
“Firestorm!” Iaso shouted, rushing forward.
Mr Perfect was in front of her, blocking her path. “No. You can’t get in there. Not while the dragon’s still breathing fire. Ben’s flame-resistant. You’re not.”
The rest of the heroes hit the dragon with everything they had, and eventually it turned its attention to them. The flames dissipated, and they could see Firestorm standing in the center of the smoking crater left by the blast.
“Is that all you’ve got?” He smirked, before collapsing.
<><><>
Rose laughed, as she blasted the various heroes aside, one-by-one. They were like insects, to one with powers such as hers. His. Theirs. She couldn’t be sure.
’I can’t believe the power we’re wielding!’
’You know we’re only using my powers, and Darktamer’s, right?’
’Only because my power is useless to us, this silly girl has no idea how to use it properly. It takes fine cont-‘
’Shut up, both of you. We’ll lose control.’
Rose shook her head. The voices were getting more powerful. She looked down on the street and picked her next target. Balefire. She claimed to be her best friend. She didn’t understand what she went through when she used her powers. How she couldn’t touch anyone. She thinks she does, but she doesn’t.
Rose tried to engulf Balefire in darkness, but her magical powers were blocked by Balefire’s own. Streams of light battled against the shadowy tentacles.
“Rose! You have to stop!” Balefire shouted.
“We have to do nothing!” Rose shrieked, as she flew in closer.
“Not so fast!” A blast hit her square in the chest. Rose was knocked back. She looked around to see Hyper Girl standing a few yards away.
Rose stopped and laughed at how few people remained to fight her. Hyper Girl and Balefire, Cal Richards, Mr Universe and Belle.
“This is all that’s left? There were a score of you before!” Rose cackled.
“This is all we need. Let’s do this!” Mr Universe cried, as he launched himself, and Cal Richards, directly at her.
In midair, Mr Universe let go of Cal, trusting his momentum to allow him to reach Rose, instead using his powers to gather debris to use as a weapon.
Cal grabbed Rose around the neck with one arm, and began pounding her in the face with the other hand, as Balefire’s strands began entwining around Rose’s legs.
Mr Universe pelted Rose with everything he could find. Hyper Girl blasted her with everything she had.
“There’s nothing you can do to stop us!” Rose shouted, grabbing Cal and throwing him at Hyper Girl and Balefire, forcing the two to cease their attacks to dodge out of the way.
“Belle! Hit it!” Mr Universe ordered.
Rose’s head exploded in pain, as Belle’s psychic scream filled her mind.
“We’ve got her!” Mr Universe shouted.
“You’ve got nothing fool. With this many minds in here, we can still function with this annoyance.” Rose replied.
“Minds, yes. But there’s still only one brain. And it’s about to go to bed.” Mr Universe said.
“What?” Rose shouted, as Pixel appeared behind her, Mac in her arms.
The air between the heroes and their enemy shimmered, as Mac used his own ability, transferring the effects of the anesthetic to Rose. The drugs that had almost taken him off his feet were all it took to put the smaller, less experienced girl down. She drifted gently to the ground, on a platform of metal, guided by Mr Universe.
“Uh… Mr Universe… Pete Sheldon again… Would you mind telling us… What the f*** just happened?”
<><><>
“Firestorm is stable! Let’s get out of here!” Iaso shouted.
“Sir, retreat is necessary…” Fissure agreed, as he used his power to tear a chunk of rock from the ground nearby, and throwing it in the dragon’s face.
“No, I’m telling you. We can win here.” Mr Perfect had his arms wrapped around the dragon’s neck, as he tried to choke it.
“Dude. We’re outmatched here. Let’s just get out of here.” Aperture said.
“No!” Mr Perfect shouted, as the dragon whipped it’s head back, throwing the hero from his choke-hold.
“Mr Perfect, your team-mates are right. You have to know when to fight, and when to run. We can’t win here. We need to retreat.” The Freak said.
Mr Perfect stared at the veteran superhero for a moment. “But… We never lose. We can’t quit.”
“Perfect… Come on. He already took me out of the fight. I could barely light a candle right now. Next person might not get off so easily.” Firestorm said.
“You’re quitting? You? What happened to ‘Don’t f*** with Firestorm’?” Mr Perfect asked.
“He almost died three times today. There’s nothing left in the tank. I’m done.” Firestorm admitted.
“I’ve still got plenty!” Mr Perfect dove in at the dragon again.
“We don’t though.” Tide said, as she backed away.
“Sorry sir.” Fissure said, joining her.
The dragon knocked Lee Richards down with a flick of its tail. The metallic man stood back up and charged back in.
“You’re a bunch of little girls! Let’s go!” Lee said, as he kept pounding at the dragon.
“No… They’re right. We need to go. Aperture get ready to open that portal. We’re going. Firestorm, how much can you handle?” Mr Perfect asked.
“What do you need?” Firestorm replied.
“The dragon can’t see we’re leaving. I need you to blind it.”
“You want me to do Pixel’s trick?”
“Only with real sparks. You up to it?”
“Damn right. Get ready to go.”
“Guys, fall back.” Mr Perfect grabbed Firestorm and flew at the dragon.
“You could have beaten it, couldn’t you?” Aperture asked Cobalt.
“I could have helped. I was stuck with this douche.” Cobalt said, pointing at Shadowjumper.
“Awww, you had to watch your friends get destroyed by a dragon? You’re useless.” Shadowjumper taunted.
“At least he can move his body.” Aperture retorted.
“He’s right. If I were stronger, I could have held this guy and taken out the dragon. We could be gone already.” Cobalt said.
“But you’re not. You’re weak. Useless to the world as a whole.” Shadowjumper continued.
Their conversation was cut short by Mr Perfect’s shout. “Open the portal! Let’s go!”
Aperture nodded and a hole opened in the ground before him. The heroes jumped through the hole and appeared where they’d begun.
“You know, hundreds of years could have passed out there.” Shadowjumper said.
“Or moments. We knew the risks.” Mr Perfect said. “Open the gate.”
Shadowjumper nodded, and the air in front of him tore open, revealing the street they’d left.
The party filed out, until only Aperture, Cobalt and Shadowjumper remained.
“Our turn.” Aperture said.
“No. Your turn.” Cobalt shoved his friend through the gateway, along with the villain he held. Cobalt seized the moment and charged back through Aperture’s portal, which closed as soon as Aperture crossed into the real world.
Cobalt charged at the dragon, rocketing through the air with his telekinesis. He landed on top of its head.
“I’ll show him useless.” Cobalt said, as he laid his hands on the dragon’s head.
He focused all his ability into the dragon’s mind. He began wiping everything. Tearing shreds through it. Memories, gone. Skills disappeared. How to stand? Forgotten. Basic function… No more. The dragon collapsed, as it forgot how to breathe, how to make its heart beat.
Cobalt panted on top of the slain dragon. He looked around, and realized what he’d just done.
“That probably wasn’t my best idea.” Cobalt laughed, as he collapsed on top of the dead dragon.
<><><>
Aperture screamed, as the rift closed behind him. “Open it back up you son of a bitch!”
“Why? He tackled a dragon. Alone. He’s dead. Even if he survived, it could’ve been months by now. He’s dead.” Shadowjumper said.
“Not necessarily.” The Freak said. “There’re shipwrecks all around where we were. Cans of food. Fresh water.”
“I thought Miami was right next to the Bermuda anomaly… The Bermuda Triangle has been known to spontaneously open a portal to the Shadow Plane on occasion.” Shadowjumper explained.
“Let us back in!” Mr Perfect ordered.
“Can’t handle losing someone under your command? Some leader you are.” Shadowtamer taunted.
Mr Perfect grabbed the villain by the collar and held him up above his head. “I’m going to squash your face on that pavement. Your head is going to compress, and your brains will come out your ears. Or, you could open a gateway for us.”
“You wouldn’t dream of it. You’re going to let me go.” Shadowtamer said.
Mr Perfect lifted him higher, turned him around, and drove him down.
“NO!” Shadowtamer shouted, as he opened a portal in the shadow he was casting on the ground, moments before hitting pavement.
Cobalt tumbled through the hole, as Mr Perfect placed Shadowtamer on the ground, next to the gateway.
“Can’t believe that worked.” Mr Perfect laughed. “I knew you’d save yourself. Open a portal so you can escape. It’s nice to know you villains think I’m that badass though.”
<><><>
“The media took one look at The Freak, and completely ignored us.” Mr Universe complained.
“He’s big time, and has been for decades. Comparing us to him is like…” Hyper Girl searched for a simile.
“Comparing Sinatra to Britney.” Belle supplied.
“Metallica to My Chemical Romance?” Hyper Girl said.
“Woah. Not quite that bad. Maybe D13. Not us though.” Firestorm argued.
“Hey!” Lee Richards said.
“Guys.” Mr Perfect and Cal Richards both ordered.
Rose stepped outside, from a nearby building.
“I’m sorry.” She said.
“No sweat kid. You had no idea what you were doing.” Mr Universe said. “It was my plan, I should have asked if there were any problems.”
“I knew I might absorb some of their personalities if I held on too long. I know my limits.” Rose said.
“We all make mistakes.” Mr Perfect said.
“No, you don’t understand… I held on to Darklight way too long.” Rose argued, as a dark aura surrounded her. “I didn’t lose all his power.”
“So you’re super-strong?” Aperture asked.
“I had no idea you could keep their abilities permanently.” Cobalt said.
“I did…” Rose said.
“Me too…” Balefire agreed.
“How? Has it happened before? Is that why she’s already stronger than she looks?” Aperture asked.
“Guys, not the time or place. We’ll discuss it later.” Balefire said.
“Well, either way, you guys did well today.” Mr Perfect said. “Cobalt, I have no idea how you survived… How long was it?”
“Six months. I adapted. Fighting to survive really makes your powers stronger.” Cobalt said.
“I’m sure it would.” Mr Universe said.
“Well guys, it’s been fun… But we’d better head home. Our excuse to our parents will only last so long…” Aperture said.
“Yeah, we’d better split too. We’re only contracted until midnight.” Cal added.
The various young heroes said their goodbyes, and went their separate ways.
“So what’s next for you guys?” Hyper Girl asked.
“What do you mean?” Mr Perfect asked.
“Arachnophobia, Gauss, Order of Darkness… You keep moving up. So who’s next?” Hyper Girl asked.
“Whoever comes next, I guess.” Mr Perfect said.
“Yeah, next bad guy is getting his ass kicked, as soon as I can stand without swaying.” Firestorm joked.
“Well, I know what I’m doing next.” Mr Universe said, kissing Hyper Girl.
“And what’s that?” Hyper Girl asked.
“Spending the weekend in New York with my favourite girl.”
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Tom said.
“It’s kind of cute.” Pixel argued.
“It certainly sounds like a good idea…” Belle said, wrapping her arms around Mr Perfect’s neck.
“I’m with Tom. I hate couples.” Firestorm said.
The group laughed for a moment. “Well, I guess we should head home then… Except Mr Universe.” Mr Perfect said.
“I guess so. See you all at school Monday.” Mr Universe said.