Talon cutter. Or anyone, anywhere, who takes advantage of a moment of inattention from you!”
Iridium saw Jet wince. She wanted to tell her that Lancer was just trying to scare them, that her dad said he was a washout who’d gotten dropped by a gangbanger because he was busy posing for a reporter. But she couldn’t, so she stuck her tongue out at Hornblower instead.
“I’m gonna rip you apart,” he hissed.
“I’m soooo scared,” Iridium responded, flipping a finger at him.
“Two volunteers!” Lancer bellowed. “My nephew and his skinny partner. Front and center!”
Iridium was genuinely startled when Hornblower grabbed her by the sleeve of her uniform and jerked her to the mat at the head of the class. “You’re the coach’s nephew?” she said.
“The three Taft brothers are the triple terror of criminals everywhere,” Lancer rumbled, like two avalanches colliding.
“I heard one of you was a dud,” said Iridium. “No powers,” she elucidated, when Lancer turned the color of tomato sauce.
“Little lady,” he said, “assume the defensive position.” He clapped his nephew on the shoulder. “Hornblower, why don’t you demonstrate that move we practiced at home for the class?”
“Sir?” Jet stuck up her hand. “Shouldn’t the partners be equal in size for an effective demonstration of the technique?”
“What’s your name?” Lancer snapped.
“Jet, sir.”
“Jet, shut your Shadow mouth and let the class move along,” Lancer bellowed. “When I want any of your snot-nosed opinions, I’ll ask for them! Is that clear?”
“Yes, Lancer, sir,” the class chorused.
Then, without waiting for a signal, Hornblower lunged at Iridium. He was twice her size, and he moved fast for a stocky kid.
Iridium didn’t bother trying to use any of the physical techniques she and Abbie had practiced. She stuck out her hand, called her power, and strobed Hornblower in the face.
He fell to the ground, screaming and clawing at his skin as he rolled back and forth.
Lancer grabbed Iridium by the back of her collar. “What in Christo’s name was that?”
“He attacked me,” said Iridium calmly. “I defended myself. Was that not the point of this lesson?”
“You take a good look at this girl,” Lancer said loudly. “She is
not
a team player. The hero in this room who gets paired with her come Third Year is as unfortunate as my poor … underpowered … brother, Boxer. You mark my words.”
To Iridium he hissed, “Get your ass moving. You’re going to the Superintendent’s office.”
As she was dragged off the mat by her uniform, Hornblower moaned, “I’m gonna get you back for this, Iridium! I swear.” His face was lobster-colored from sunburn, and his eyes were watering.
“Next time you try and threaten me, don’t cry like a little girl,” said Iridium. “It cheapens the moment.”
“Move!” Lancer shouted, dragging her out of the classroom. Iridium saluted to the students at large and was gratified when she saw Jet smile.
CHAPTER 10
JET
Dreams are just that—dreams—until coupled with the skills and training that we are gifted with at the Academy. You should each and every one of you be thanking your proctors and Corp for the ability to protect and serve that they have given you. I know I am, because my dream to serve a greater good is finally reality.
Celestina’s valedictorian address, Class of 2099
J et didn’t know she was screaming. Well, she didn’t know she was screaming in real life. In her dream, oh yeah, she was shrieking for all she was worth.
“Joannie,” the black thing that had once been her father said, “come out and give your papa a kiss.”
Jet … no, Joannie, she was Joannie, she was five and could barely make Shadow puppets on the walls … whimpered and shrank back to the farthest corner of her closet.
Outside the door, her father giggled. It was a wet, burbling sound that made Joannie think of the water in the big plastic jug whenever she
Iridium saw Jet wince. She wanted to tell her that Lancer was just trying to scare them, that her dad said he was a washout who’d gotten dropped by a gangbanger because he was busy posing for a reporter. But she couldn’t, so she stuck her tongue out at Hornblower instead.
“I’m gonna rip you apart,” he hissed.
“I’m soooo scared,” Iridium responded, flipping a finger at him.
“Two volunteers!” Lancer bellowed. “My nephew and his skinny partner. Front and center!”
Iridium was genuinely startled when Hornblower grabbed her by the sleeve of her uniform and jerked her to the mat at the head of the class. “You’re the coach’s nephew?” she said.
“The three Taft brothers are the triple terror of criminals everywhere,” Lancer rumbled, like two avalanches colliding.
“I heard one of you was a dud,” said Iridium. “No powers,” she elucidated, when Lancer turned the color of tomato sauce.
“Little lady,” he said, “assume the defensive position.” He clapped his nephew on the shoulder. “Hornblower, why don’t you demonstrate that move we practiced at home for the class?”
“Sir?” Jet stuck up her hand. “Shouldn’t the partners be equal in size for an effective demonstration of the technique?”
“What’s your name?” Lancer snapped.
“Jet, sir.”
“Jet, shut your Shadow mouth and let the class move along,” Lancer bellowed. “When I want any of your snot-nosed opinions, I’ll ask for them! Is that clear?”
“Yes, Lancer, sir,” the class chorused.
Then, without waiting for a signal, Hornblower lunged at Iridium. He was twice her size, and he moved fast for a stocky kid.
Iridium didn’t bother trying to use any of the physical techniques she and Abbie had practiced. She stuck out her hand, called her power, and strobed Hornblower in the face.
He fell to the ground, screaming and clawing at his skin as he rolled back and forth.
Lancer grabbed Iridium by the back of her collar. “What in Christo’s name was that?”
“He attacked me,” said Iridium calmly. “I defended myself. Was that not the point of this lesson?”
“You take a good look at this girl,” Lancer said loudly. “She is
not
a team player. The hero in this room who gets paired with her come Third Year is as unfortunate as my poor … underpowered … brother, Boxer. You mark my words.”
To Iridium he hissed, “Get your ass moving. You’re going to the Superintendent’s office.”
As she was dragged off the mat by her uniform, Hornblower moaned, “I’m gonna get you back for this, Iridium! I swear.” His face was lobster-colored from sunburn, and his eyes were watering.
“Next time you try and threaten me, don’t cry like a little girl,” said Iridium. “It cheapens the moment.”
“Move!” Lancer shouted, dragging her out of the classroom. Iridium saluted to the students at large and was gratified when she saw Jet smile.
CHAPTER 10
JET
Dreams are just that—dreams—until coupled with the skills and training that we are gifted with at the Academy. You should each and every one of you be thanking your proctors and Corp for the ability to protect and serve that they have given you. I know I am, because my dream to serve a greater good is finally reality.
Celestina’s valedictorian address, Class of 2099
J et didn’t know she was screaming. Well, she didn’t know she was screaming in real life. In her dream, oh yeah, she was shrieking for all she was worth.
“Joannie,” the black thing that had once been her father said, “come out and give your papa a kiss.”
Jet … no, Joannie, she was Joannie, she was five and could barely make Shadow puppets on the walls … whimpered and shrank back to the farthest corner of her closet.
Outside the door, her father giggled. It was a wet, burbling sound that made Joannie think of the water in the big plastic jug whenever she
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