Cape High Christmas: A Side Story (Cape High Series) (2 page)

"But I will!" Adanna says. "I'm definitely going to repay you for this," she adds stubbornly. "I'll make dinner for two weeks!"

"If you let me help, I'll agree to that," Amara says, smiling back at her. She waits until everyone is seated and starts the bus up, heading for their home. She watches as the kids--some towering over her--exit the bus (it rocks a bit when the Liberty boys get off.) The idea of heroes wandering her halls strikes her a bit abruptly--and is dismissed the next second. Adanna heads to the front of the group, looking slightly nervous.

"Welcome to our home," she says, motioning to the massive house. "For today you're all entered into the security system, but obviously you'll be taken out if you're a hero, later on. Follow me," she says, leading them all through the system and to the back of the house. The rumbling mix of snarls and growls has the group suddenly looking excited and nervous. "Okay, I know the zoo was a bit hard for some of you, so I should explain--all of these cats are either in rehabilitation, where they'll enter the wild soon, or aren't capable of surviving on their own. We go to great lengths to make sure they're all healthy and happy--since we can talk to them. So if you'd follow me, I'd like to introduce you to the... furrier half of my family," she says, leading them into the enclosure.

There are ornaments hanging from the ceilings and decorating the front parts of the cats' cages. The cats themselves have toys in their massive cages, and are playing happily. Adanna stops by each cage and introduces the cats. The kids watch in wonder as she gets into a tiny argument with one of the older cats. Sunny starts laughing. The others stare at each other, wondering what to do as Adanna finally opens the cage door and grabs the cat before it makes a run for it. "Everyone meet Melber," she says dryly as the Lynx jumps into her mother's arms. "Now we'll have hot chocolate and cookies in the play area, and um... call it done," she finishes.

"Not completely done!" Amara says as the group heads for the large area where the cats that get along come to play on a daily basis. The walls are painted with massive, beautiful murals of large cats (done by Ace, who has the grace to point out his handiwork--would that be called grace?) and there are massive, beautiful trees and flowers everywhere. Right in the middle of all this is a Christmas tree that's well over fifteen feet and covered in lights and decorations. Adanna looks at her mother.

"What do you mean, not completely done?" she asks.

"Well I arranged for a special surprise!" Amara says, giving her daughter a smile. "We're going to have Christmas pictures taken!" She claps her hands and her favorite professional photographer comes out with his group of people. "For you that are working I had your uniforms brought, and I called up Kim and got the rest of your sizes, so we all have special Christmas outfits for the shoot! Now! Everyone go get changed--the bathrooms are that way!" she directs them.

"But--I--" Adanna says, only to blink as her mama pushes a box into her hands.

"No arguments--I've wanted a new picture of you for YEARS,
k
itty, so consider this part of your payment," she says, pushing her towards the bathroom.

Amara just waits after her daughter disappears into the bathroom, not surprised as Nico walks over to her.

"She can't pay you back for this, you know," he says. "At least not at the moment."

"It's Christmas, Nico. Live a little--and go change, we want a picture of you in your uniform, too!" The disgruntled look on his face is so brilliant that she motions someone to take a shot of it.

Best Christmas idea, EVER, she thinks happily. And the children's families will love them!

"Next year I am DEFINITELY asking Papa," she hears her daughter complain. "HE never makes me wear pantyhose."

Advent Calendar - Day Two

"HOW am I going to beat that?" Lance demands, pacing in Vinny and Flame's front room, his fingers running through his hair and leaving it sticking up. "I have no chance of beating what Adanna did--and anything I try is going to look pathetic!" he says, shoving his hands up in the air.

"What were you planning on doing?" Vinny asks, lounging in his chair and watching his brother with amusement.

"I was--it even sounds stupid to me, man," Lance admits.

"Go on," Flame says, abruptly interested. He looks up from his comic book.

"Something like... um, this?" Lance shifts, turning into a dog, and starts barking out Jingle Bells. The two fire types are roaring with laughter before he even gets to the second verse. He turns back to human, giving them a disgruntled look. "What? I don't have a famous super villain dad with a cat obsession to fall back on--or even an ex-model mom!" he complains. "I haven't seen my mom in years," he adds, looking down.

"You can ask for help with something, though," Vinny says. "You don't have to be related to them, right?"

"Well, yeah, but I don't exactly KNOW anyone other than our classmates, the teachers, and Nico--and I can't afford to pay Nico back, he made that one obvious."

"You don't have to--they're heroes, they LIVE to save the day," Vinny says, holding up his phone and waving it. "Or you can ask me--but I would put you on kitchen duty for a month in exchange."

"But who should I ask?" Lance asks, looking at the phone hesitantly.

"I know a certain hero that REALLY wants you on his team," Vinny says casually. "Sure, he wants all of us, but it gives you a bit of leverage--except it all depends," he admits. "How do you feel about moving south?"

"Century?" Lance asks.

"Century."

"What would I ask him to do, though?" Lance asks.

"Whatever you want, I bet."

Lance pulls out his own phone, looking at it for a long moment. "I gotta think about it," he says, heading out the door. He steps into the cool night air, looking up at the moon for a moment and wondering if a simple Christmas thing is worth signing over his career for. Like, he could just do the Jingle Bells thing and write it off as a joke gift, right? Those two thought it was funny! But this entire thing is turning into a... a really important gift to all of his brothers and sisters. He hadn't thought of it like that at first--it was just another crazy idea that Nico sprung on them, but after seeing the others staring in wonder at the cats, or posing ridiculously for their photos, it had become something more.

So... what does he do? What CAN he do? Vinny practically tosses the South Hall leader at him, saying he'll do whatever he asks--which is probably a lie, Lance decides. There's no way a Hall leader has time to goof off in their Christmas games. So it's better to give up on that idea, to begin with. Except...

He looks at his phone for a long moment, wondering if he dares. There is one thing he wishes that the school had. It's a silly thing, one that he's never mentioned to anyone, especially not to Nico, but he really thinks it could help. And it's something a Hall Leader could afford, really easily, right? So... he heads for the tree houses behind the gym, pulling himself up onto one of the platforms and scrolling through the contacts. After a second he finds Century's name, not because Century gave it to him, but because Nico adds everyone, automatically.

For a second he stares in wonder as the screen changes and Century, without a mask, stares back at him blankly. "Now, son, I'm not sure how you got this number--" the Hall Leader starts out.

"My name is Lance," Lance says quickly. "I'm going to be part of Vinny's team when I graduate Cape High. I'm an animal shape shifter--I can change--"

"Oh! Lance!" Century says, breaking into a grin. "I've got your stats, son, I know exactly what you can do. What can I do for you, my boy?"

"We're doing a Christmas Advent thing at our school, sir," Lance says, feeling nervous. "It's where each of us has a day where we need to do something for all the kids in the school. Adanna had yesterday--we got to tour her home's big cat area and her mom brought in photographers for Christmas pictures, and everything. Well, I'm broke and I don't have any real connections--and I COULD do the dog barking Christmas carols thing, but it's really stupid in comparison. So, um, I have the right to ask either two kids or one adult for help--as long as I pay them back somehow."

"And you came to me?"

"I was going to offer to, um, join your branch after graduation--that is if you want me. I'm only as strong as my most powerful form, which depends on if I'm in the water or on the land. Some of my brothers and sisters are a lot more impressive, you know?"

"I'll take it," Century says. "You underestimate both yourself and the attention you'll draw, son. You're exactly the type of cape I want on my team. Now what do you want in return?"

"It's sort of silly, but--well, I'm REALLY big on animals," Lance starts out, grinning slightly as the older man laughs.

"I would not have imagined," Century teases.

"Yeah, strange, huh? But there's a lot of importance to having animals near--and while I can pretend to be a cat, or a dog, or whatever, it's not the same as us having a pet. And since a lot of us were stuck behind glass walls, this might be a bit touchy at first, but I'd like to put a fish tank in the dorms--fish are an excellent way to promote peace and happiness," he says. "Except I have to have it by tomorrow. It doesn't have to be big, or anything--but if that's too much to ask, you know, 'cause of the time thing--"

"Son," Century says, "do you KNOW what my power is?"

"Um... not really?"

"You'll have your aquarium," he says. "Don't worry. Now I need to call your principal and work out the details, so why don't you go practice your song?"

"But I wasn't going to--" Century hangs up before Lance can explain how stupid the song idea is, again. He looks at his phone for a long second before racing to the gym, where Nico is. He gets there to find Nico already on the line with Century.

"Sure," Nico says. "But are you sure this deal is balanced?" he asks.

"Of course it's not," Century says, "but I'm going to fix that sooner or later. I'll need either your teachers or permission to come on campus to get it set up--I've got some boys building the tank now."

"I'll bring down a big enough portion of the wall for it to be easy to get in, if you provide the extra security."

"Agreed, now I'll just be back to work," Century says, hanging up.

"It's not a fair deal?" Lance says, feeling like he's been slapped.

"Of course it isn't," Nico says, turning to him.

"But I offered the best thing I've got, the ONLY thing--"

"That's why it's not fair, kiddo," Nico says. "Do you have any clue what a big hit you'll be as a cape? Little kids will ADORE you. You'll have fans all over the world, and Century knows it. No matter how big and impressive an aquarium he brings in, it still won't be equal to what you're offering. I could have told you that. But you don't need to worry about it--Century's pretty straight forward. He'll make a good Hall leader for you. And if you have any problems with him, well, Voltdrain will be your second in command."

Lance nods, a little light headed as the thoughts sink in. "Now, go figure out where the aquarium should be and clean it up," Nico orders him. "You're going to help set it up, after all."

The next morning an eighteen wheeler pulls to a stop outside the campus and the entire school comes out to watch. A massive tank, one nearly the size of a car, is pulled out of the back by Century in full uniform. It's a piece of art, made up of curves. Lance watches as the lasers of the security system flicker and go down.

"Well?" Nico says. "Tell the kids what you got them, Lance."

"Um, well, I thought we could use a fish tank," Lance says as they all stare in wonder. "So I asked my future Hall leader to give me a hand."

"It's a bit small," Century says as he lands in front of them, "but I plan on adding another later. Have you picked out where it's going?" he asks Lance.

"Yeah, this way," Lance says.

"And while we get this set up, Lance has a little performance for you all!" Century says over his shoulder as the rest of the tank is brought in by Voltdrain.

"But--" Lance says. He groans as everyone looks at him expectantly. "Okay, fine--but nobody records this, got it?"

"We can't make any promises!" Nico says with a grin. Every single phone on campus comes out.

Advent Calendar - Day Three

Really, she TRIES to avoid the hall leaders, Morgan thinks as she stares at her phone, but Lance started something when he brought Century in, and honestly she needs to have Mastermental's approval, even if she didn't ask for his help, right? Of course she could do something else--she'll probably fail horribly on her grade, or whatever it is they're getting for this, but...

She takes a deep breath and taps the screen of her phone. For a second nothing happens, which surprises her. Maybe he's refusing the call? If he's refusing the call that means he doesn't want to deal with her--before she can hang up, though, he appears on the screen in full uniform. "Sorry for the wait, Morgan," he says. "I was in the middle of cleaning up a small mess."

"I can call back--"

"No, no, it's taken care of, now," he says, smiling slightly. "I hope this is about being your chosen help for the Advent Calendar?" he asks. "I've heard a lot about that program, and I would be honored, if it is. How can I help you, dear?"

"I..." Morgan lets out a deep breath before looking around briefly. "Tomorrow is my day--and I know I should do something either showing off my powers, or something entertaining, right? But there's one thing I've ALWAYS wanted to do, and I think it'll make some of us uncomfortable, or whatever, but, well, this is my chance. Mastermental, do you think you can arrange for the school to visit a local orphanage? In uniform? Some of us will have to wear our lackey uniforms, but that's fine. I'll pay you back--I'm not sure how, yet, I mean we're pretty much agreed that I'll be unofficially working for you in the future, anyway, so I can't promise that--"

"That and what you want to do is more than enough payment, Morgan," he says. "IF," he goes on, "you're willing to let Hall TV add a few drones to the mix. Purely for the supers to watch, of course, we can't let the norms see our villains helping kids. That would ruin their reputations. They ARE going with you, correct?"