HEROES III

Only Trust Family

The mission at the bank had been a complete success.

The burglars had been captured.

The civilians were safe.

And now Ava, James, Derek, Kennedy, Jersey, Lacey, Louise, Clarence, Shine, and Lena had returned to the Technical Department.

The moment they entered, something felt wrong.

Too quiet.

Too empty.

Derek immediately looked around.

"No."

His eyes narrowed.

"No, no, no..."

Louise frowned.

"What?"

Derek turned toward Doctor Hale's office.

Then stormed inside.

The others followed.

Doctor Hale was calmly reviewing files when Derek burst through the door.

SLAM!

Derek's hand hit the desk.

The old director nearly jumped out of his chair.

"Whoa!"

Derek leaned forward.

"Where did they go?"

Doctor Hale blinked.

"What?"

"My father."

"Mirabel."

"Schizzel."

"Kaiden."

"William."

"Where did they go?"

Doctor Hale adjusted his glasses.

"I don't know, young man."

Then he pointed a finger.

"And you'd do a man a favor and show some respect."

Derek immediately straightened.

The anger left his face.

"I'm sorry."

Doctor Hale nodded.

"Good."

A pause.

Then Derek sighed.

"I'm sorry."

Doctor Hale relaxed.

"Thank you."

Derek turned toward the others.

"This was definitely my father's idea."

Louise crossed her arms.

"Keeping us out of it?"

Derek nodded.

"Exactly."

Clarence rolled her eyes.

"Of course."

She mimicked Merson's voice.

"'They're younger. They should stay behind.'"

Several of them laughed.

Ava didn't.

"That's not right."

Shine nodded.

"So what do we do?"

Doctor Hale leaned comfortably into his chair.

"You do..."

He smiled.

"Nothing."

Immediately—

BEEP!

BEEP!

BEEP!

A loud alarm filled the room.

Everyone froze.

The monitors around the department lit up.

Emergency warnings appeared everywhere.

Doctor Hale's expression changed instantly.

"The High-Class Alert."

The room became serious.

Louise stepped toward a monitor.

"What happened?"

One of the technicians answered.

"Unauthorized powered conflict."

Another looked at his screen.

"Government-certified property."

A third technician looked shocked.

"Multiple enhanced individuals involved."

"Creatures detected."

Ava's eyes widened.

"Creatures?"

Kennedy immediately smiled.

"Bingo."

Jersey looked at him.

"Wait."

"What?"

Louise pointed at the screen.

"Scarlet Fox's people."

The room became silent.

Lena folded her arms.

"So they're making trouble again."

Doctor Hale nodded.

"And that's exactly why none of you are going."

Louise looked at him.

Then laughed.

"Oh."

"You were serious earlier?"

Doctor Hale frowned.

"Very serious."

Louise stepped forward.

"My father thinks we're dolls that need protecting."

She looked around.

"Let's prove him wrong."

Ava immediately slapped Louise's hand.

HIGH FIVE!

"Exactly what I was thinking."

Lena sighed.

"I really don't like this plan."

Everyone looked at her.

Then she shrugged.

"But if we're doing it..."

She smiled.

"I'm in."

Doctor Hale stood up.

"Nobody is going anywhere."

Everyone ignored him.

Doctor Hale pointed at Louise.

"Your father specifically said that if you came back..."

Louise raised an eyebrow.

"...Yes?"

"I should tell you to read a book and stay in your room."

The room erupted into laughter.

Louise yawned dramatically.

"Woooow."

"That's hurtful."

She walked around the office.

"You see, Doctor Hale..."

She looked around.

"The only person I listen to..."

Pause.

"...is Merson."

She looked left.

Then right.

Then dramatically threw her hands into the air.

"So where's Merson?"

Everyone laughed.

Louise continued.

"Oh right."

"He left."

"With some people."

"To some place."

"That you don't know."

Doctor Hale groaned.

Louise pointed at him.

"And I would've listened to you..."

"...but..."

She looked at the others.

Immediately they all shouted together.

"ONLY TRUST FAMILY!"

The technicians all jumped.

Doctor Hale buried his face in his hands.

"Oh dear."

Ava smiled.

"Family said go."

"Family wins."

Doctor Hale pointed.

"No."

"You cannot go."

"It's dangerous."

Ava raised her hand.

Immediately blue energy surrounded several technicians.

"Wait—"

The technicians suddenly found themselves pinned to their chairs by telekinesis.

"What?!"

Lena raised her own hand.

Doctor Hale immediately became stuck in his chair.

"Hey!"

"What is this?!"

Lena smiled.

"Sorry."

"Nothing personal."

Louise grinned.

"Don't worry."

She ignited fire in her palms.

"We're dangerous too."

The technicians exchanged nervous looks.

Kennedy looked impressed.

"Wow."

"We really crossed the line."

"Yep," Ava said proudly.

Then Jersey stepped forward.

He walked directly to Doctor Hale.

Doctor Hale frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Jersey smiled.

"Trust me."

Doctor Hale immediately looked concerned.

"That's exactly what villains say."

Everyone laughed.

Jersey's eyes began glowing.

Doctor Hale froze.

The room became quiet.

Jersey looked directly into his eyes.

"When you wake up..."

His voice became calm and hypnotic.

"You will forget this conversation."

Doctor Hale's eyes slowly glazed over.

"If anyone reminds you about this conversation..."

"You will tell them to forget it."

"And they will forget."

Doctor Hale nodded slowly.

Jersey smiled.

"Now."

"Go back to your duties."

Doctor Hale instantly fell asleep.

THUD.

Kennedy stared.

Then looked at Jersey.

"Dude."

Jersey looked up.

"Yeah?"

"Do you do that to me?"

Jersey burst out laughing.

"No, bro."

Kennedy narrowed his eyes.

"You hesitated."

"I did not."

"You totally hesitated."

Everyone laughed.

Jersey pointed at Doctor Hale.

"This is actually the first time I've done it in years."

He smiled proudly.

"And I'm honored that my first victim is..."

He looked dramatically toward the sleeping director.

"...the Head Director of the Technical Department."

Kennedy shook his head.

"You're finished."

"Absolutely finished."

Clarence clapped her hands.

"Alright."

"Focus."

Everyone turned toward her.

She opened a case.

Inside were communication earpieces.

She began handing them out.

Jersey looked at his.

"What are these for?"

Louise immediately sighed.

"There it is."

Jersey blinked.

"What?"

Louise pointed at him.

"I knew you were going to ask that question."

Kennedy laughed.

"I was waiting for it too."

Clarence shook her head.

"It's for communication."

She handed the final earpiece over.

"So we can contact each other."

Jersey nodded.

"Oh."

A pause.

"That's actually smart."

Everyone stared at him.

"What?" Jersey asked.

Lena laughed.

"Let's just go."

One by one they placed the earpieces in their ears.

The team assembled.

Ava.

James.

Derek.

Kennedy.

Jersey.

Lacey.

Shine.

Louise.

Clarence.

Lena.

Ready.

Waiting.

Then Ava smiled.

"Let's go prove the adults wrong."

The group grinned.

And together—

They rushed out of the Technical Department.

Straight toward the danger.

Straight toward Scarlet Fox's people.

And completely unaware that something far worse had just awakened somewhere else.