“You promised your mom you wouldn’t be stoned for your graduation dude.” Tom said, smacking Mac on the back of the head.
“Dude, I’m barely buzzed. I’ll be fine.” Mac said.
“No, you promised.” Tom said.
“Fine, I’ll just get a teacher stoned.” Mac said.
“Get Mr Earl, he tried to flunk me last year.” Tom laughed.
“As soon as I see him, he’s going to be baked.” Mac laughed, as Tom stopped the van.
The two stepped out, almost tripping over their robes as they headed to the auditorium, following the crowd that was milling around the entrance. They weren’t late… Yet.
Lucky for Mac, Mr Earl was standing on the door, checking tickets, and supervising the students. The air between Mac and Mr Earl shimmered momentarily, as Mac transferred his mental state on to the science teacher.
“That’ll teach him.” Tom laughed, as they approached the door.
Mac laughed along, but cut off suddenly, clutching his head.
“Woah dude! Did you just see something?” Tom asked.
“Yeah… I’m gonna need another smoke.” Mac said.
<><><>
“Tom and Mac just walked in.” Matt said, pointing to the door.
“Oh, they made it? I’m a little shocked really.” Katie said.
“Yeah, I thought they’d be passed out on Tom’s living room floor.” Matt agreed.
“Still no sign of Mosley though. Surely he’s not going to miss graduation.” Kevin said, looking around the crowded auditorium.
“Wouldn’t put it past him.” Matt said.
“He’ll be here.” Katie assured them.
“Oh hey, it’s Dylan. I didn’t know he was a senior.” Kevin pointed.
<><><>
“Can’t believe Katie talked me into this.” Mosley muttered, as he sped along the streets on his motorbike. “It’s just some stupid ceremony. I graduate either way.”
He rounded the corner, approaching the school. “I could have been out hitting some douchebag criminal in the face. Instead I’m here. Oh well, there’s always tonight.” He continued, as he reached the parking lot.
”It’s going to be a long day.”
<><><>
“And know that this is not an ending, but a beginning…” Principal Holmes droned on, as the students fought to keep from falling asleep.
“I think I’ve heard this speech before…” Matt whispered, and Katie laughed. “It was totally on a TV show.”
“I know, but which one? Everyone has a graduation episode.” Katie agreed.
“I know, it’s kind of overdone. And then they play “Don’t You Forget About Me” or “Good Riddance” or something similar, and then the show is never as good as it was.” Matt said.
“Yeah. Remember The OC after they graduated?” Katie said.
“Ugh. Remember: Season 4 never happened. What about One Tree Hill?” Matt laughed.
“Everything went downhill when they killed off the one sane adult. That was before graduation.” Katie argued.
“What the hell are you guys talking about?” Kevin asked.
“Do you watch any TV?” Matt asked.
“I watch SportsCenter.” Kevin offered.
“Ugh.” Matt groaned. “Never mind.”
“… And though we have been through so much this year…” Principal Holmes continued.
He never finished his speech, as the roof tore open, and Redemption flew through the opening, Helix close behind.
“The year’s not over yet boss-man!” The Basher yelled from the main entrance.
“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me.” Matt said.
“We’re going to make it simple. We want the Brat Pack to reveal themselves, and nobody gets hurt. Much.” Firefly stood by the side entrance, a fireball in her hand.
“We need costumes. Now.” Kevin said.
“Helix is scanning for us. He’ll find us any second. I can’t cover us from that.” Katie said.
“We need to move. There’s got to be another door, right?” Kevin asked.
“Yeah, behind the stage. But we’ll get caught sneaking back there for sure.” Katie said.
“Dude, everyone is running everywhere. We’ve got cover.” Matt said, as he started to make a beeline for the stage.
“Mosley’s already on his way.” Kevin jerked his head in the direction of their teammate.
“No, he just ducked into the bathroom. What the hell?” Matt asked.
“He said he was going on patrol with Fisher after… Maybe his costume is under his robe?” Katie asked.
“At least something is turning out right for us.” Kevin said.
<><><>
“I hope nobody is trying to call for help. We’ve cut the phonelines, and Redemption here can intercept any cell phone transmissions. No-one is coming to help you.” The Basher laughed, as people bombarded him in the doorway, trying to escape.
“Hurry up Helix, I can’t see them in this crowd.” Redemption ordered.
“What have I told you about ordering me around?” Helix asked. “I’ve almost got a lock.”
“Hurry up.” Redemption ordered.
“I’ll find them when I’m good and… Did it just get all blurry in here?” Helix asked.
“What? Are you an idiot?” Redemption demanded.
“Man, chill out. Why do you have to be so angry all the time?” Helix asked.
“Are you high?”
“Maybe. Isn’t that one of the Brats’ power? I mean, he’s not as great as me, but it’s a pretty effective power.”
On the ground, Mac laughed. “Well, that’s my part done. You guys had better move your asses.”
<><><>
“The door’s just through here.” Katie led Matt and Kevin backstage… Directly into Principal Holmes.
“What are you doing here?” Principal Holmes asked.
“We were… trying to escape.” Matt stammered.
“You were getting an academic award, and you’re this dense? Come on Appleby, I know what those guys want.” Holmes said.
“Sir?” Katie asked.
“I put the five of you in detention, and there’s a super-battle. Last time these guys attacked the school, Pixel was on the scene before I called the police. I’m not an idiot. Why aren’t you up there fighting them?” Holmes said.
“… We’re grabbing our costumes. Secret identities and all that.” Matt said.
“Of course… Hurry up then, who knows how long they’ll take to start killing people.” Holmes unlocked the back door and ushered them through to the parking lot.
<><><>
“Ok, that’s it. I’m going to start frying cheerleaders.” Firefly said, as she lobbed her fireball into a crowd of shrieking graduates. The girls ducked, covering their heads with their hands, but the fire never hit them, instead dissipating in midair.
“You’re a one-trick pony, aren’t you?” Firestorm was leaning against the wall, in full costume, a smirk on his face.
“Oh, I was hoping you’d be the first one to show his face.” Firefly said. “We’ve got a Brat! Let the hostages go!”
“Oh hell yes!” The Basher started charging forward.
“Crap.” Firestorm said, as he dove out of the path of the charging powerhouse.
“Now who’s a one-trick pony?” Firefly asked, as Redemption started divebombing Firestorm, who was forced to duck and weave to avoid being hit.
“Pretty sure it’s still you.” Firestorm said, as Redemption was tackled out of midair by Mr Perfect. “Cutting it a little close, aren’t you jock-strap?”
“I could just leave you to it if you’d like.” Mr Perfect quipped back.
“Not a chance in hell, freak.” Redemption flew directly at Mr Perfect, the two clashing in midair.
“The Fog has hit Helix already, I can take him. Have you got The Basher?” Belle asked.
“No problem.” Mr Universe replied. “Firestorm, have you got Firefly?”
“Does the Pope crap in the woods? I got her.” Firestorm said, advancing on his niece.
“Alright then. Let’s do this.” Mr Universe said, as he started gathering up the rows of seats with his powers.
“Do your worst.” The Basher said, cracking his knuckles.
“Will do.” Mr Universe said, as he began bombarding The Basher with chairs. The Basher, however, just shrugged off the attacks.
“Is that the best you can do?” The Basher laughed, before lowering his shoulder and charging at the hero.
“Have you been taking lessons from Rama?” Mr Universe asked, as he levitated upwards, well out of The Basher’s path, sending the villain crashing into the wall.
“Can Rama do this?” The Basher asked, as he leapt into the air, leaving a shallow crater where he kicked off the ground. He sailed up about ten feet, grabbing Mr Universe by the legs and pulling him to the ground, where he got him in a bear hug.
“I don’t know. I’ll ask him next time I’m in New York.” Mr Universe gasped, as he felt his ribs begin to crack.
“I don’t think you’re going to make it that far.” The Basher said.
“You’d be surprised…” Mr Universe said, as he used his powers to force the metal in his costume to push against The Basher’s arms, relieving some of the pressure.
“I wonder who can last the longest?” The Basher taunted.
“I’d say it’s going to be me.” Mr Universe said.
“And why is that?” The Basher asked.
“Because, despite your best efforts, I can still breathe.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” The Basher demanded.
Mr Universe forced a smile, as he used his powers to disconnect the pipe to the fire sprinklers, pointing it directly into The Basher’s mouth, causing the villain to begin coughing and spluttering, before letting go of Mr Universe, in order to block the water.
“And of course, I’m not about to be struck by lightning.” Mr Universe added, as he flew into the air again.
“Huh?” Was all The Basher managed, before Dylan unloaded at least 50,000 volts into his body, rendering him unconscious.
“Ok, get out of here.” Mr Universe ordered, and Dylan nodded, running out the side door.
Mr Universe turned to see Firestorm drop his niece with a punch, before turning the other way and seeing Belle do the same to Helix.
“Where’s Perfect?” Mr Universe asked.
Belle pointed to the sky. “They went that way.”
“I guess I’d best go help him, huh?” Mr Universe said, as he began to fly up.
Suddenly, there was a crash, as a tangled mess of bodies rocketed into the ground, sending concrete and floorboards flying.
When the dust cleared, Mr Perfect was standing over the broken form of Redemption.
“How’s that for a graduation episode?” Mr Perfect asked.

Kevin exhaled slowly, as he stood up from his squat, his shoulders bearing a weight-bar. Sweat beaded on his forehead, as he struggled to hold it up without using his powers. There was no point being able to augment his strength if he didn’t have a decent baseline strength.
“Ok, you’re done.” Coach Milne said, helping him carry the bar over to the rack. “I don’t know why you’re pushing yourself so hard, you’ve got months until college starts, you should be resting.”
Kevin smiled, as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “I’ve gotta look good for graduation Coach.” Kevin laughed. “Besides, if I get lazy over summer, I’ll end up looking like you.” Kevin pointed at Coach Milne’s paunch.
“Watch it kid, you haven’t graduated yet.” Milne smiled. “You’d best hit the showers if you’re going to be in your next class on time.”
Kevin looked up at the clock. Ten minutes until the next class! He hurried into the locker room, leaving Coach Milne chuckling to himself. “Damn teenagers.”
Neither of them noticed the dark shape hovering at the window.
<><><>
“Are you sure you don’t want a ride home?” Katie asked, as she kissed her boyfriend goodbye.
“No, I’ll be fine. I need the exercise.” Kevin said between kisses.
Katie ran her hands over his torso, feeling his abs through his shirt. “I think you’re already in pretty good shape.” She teased.
“But I can always be better.” Kevin said.
“You can’t get better than Perfect.” Katie said.
“I can try.” Kevin said, breaking their embrace. “I should probably start my jog, before you use your feminine wiles to trick me into skipping it.”
Katie laughed. “Ok, call me tonight?”
“Of course.” Kevin said, before blowing her a kiss and jogging off in the distance.
A shout from Matt caused Katie to turn around and miss the flicker of something moving after Kevin in the shadows.
<><><>
Kevin jogged slowly on the spot, not wanting to lower his heart-rate as he checked the mailbox. Only one letter, from the school, addressed to him. He opened it as he jogged up the driveway, slowing down to a walk as he reached the doorway. Inside were tickets to his graduation ceremony for him and his parents. He tossed them on the kitchen counter before heading upstairs for a shower.
Moments later, the front door opened again, as a metal orb floated through the doorway, a thin arm with a claw-like hand dangling below it, and a camera on top of it. It sailed across the room to the counter, where it picked up the graduation tickets, the camera zooming in and focussing on them.
A noise from upstairs caused the drone to drop the tickets, before flying out the door, closing it behind.
Kevin headed down the stairs. “Huh.” He muttered. “Could have sworn I heard something.”
<><><>
Kevin laid back on his bed, as he talked on the phone. “Yeah, mine came today too. I can’t wait. Just one week and we’re out of there.”
The microphone that sat on his windowsill, almost invisibly, couldn’t pick up what was said on the other end.
“Yeah, Tom forgot to order tickets, so Ally’s gonna have to sit this one out. Fisher hasn’t been born yet, so he can’t really give the school ID to buy tickets, and we can’t pass him off as a relative… Him being black and all.” Kevin laughed. “So really it’s just the Power Trio… And you, of course.”
Again silence, as Katie spoke on the other end of the line. “I don’t know, it’s just what Matt calls us. Something about some website. But yeah, only the graduates are going to be there from the team. You, me, Matt and Mosley.”
More silence, before Kevin spoke again. “As soon as we graduate, we can go to full time heroing. We’re going to be the next West Coast Boomers, I promise.” Kevin paused as Katie spoke. “I know you’re moving to Boston. It was just an example.” Kevin rolled his eyes, as Katie started arguing.
The microphone retracted back into the drone, it didn’t need to hear this.
<><><>
Redemption laughed, as he mentally ordered his drone to return to him. The cybernetic enhancements his new Master had given him were coming in handy for more than just brute force. The same brain augmentations that allowed him to control his strength and flight gave him access to the control units in the drones, allowing them to act as his eyes and ears.
For days Redemption had been watching his enemy. Watching and waiting. Waiting for the moment Mr Perfect dropped his guard and showed a weakness. And that day was finally upon him. He finally knew when to strike.
“And you’re just going to do it alone?” Helix startled Redemption, causing the villain to spin around suddenly, to face his teammate.
“What?” Redemption asked.
“Just because they put a computer in your brain, doesn’t mean I can’t read your mind.” Helix said.
“I’ve warned you about that, freak.” Redemption stood up, towering above Helix.
“Sit down before I put you down. I’m here to help. You can’t take down the Brats alone, even if they’re not all there. You need the Assembly. And you need a plan. Fortunately for you, I have both.” Helix said.
“Why would you help me get my revenge?” Redemption asked.
“Because The Boss wants the Brats taken down, and we need to do it soon, before they can be full-time heroes. They’re too powerful for us to allow them free rein. They need to be put down.” Helix said.
“Well now. That sounds like a plan.” Redemption laughed.