Fall of Heroes by Jeramey Kraatz Page A

back pocket—one of Gage’s inventions that emitted a nearly invisible cloud of knockout gas—and sent it flying toward Shade. But there was a small burst of light and a high electronic sound and then the Gasser was in pieces, shot out of the air by one of his mother’s laser pistols.
    â€œStill relying on that Uniband’s inventions, I see,” Shade said, stepping into view. She aimed her gun at him. “Is that the best you can do?”
    â€œYou’re one to talk,” Alex said, nodding at his mother’s weapon.
    Shade looked puzzled for a moment, and then realized what he meant. She looked down at the laser pistol and chuckled, holstering it.
    â€œYou’ve got a point.” Her eyes went silver. “But you have to admit I’ve been making the most of my abilities lately.”
    Alex noticed the movement beside him too late, and suddenly he was in the air. Photon held him by the coat. Alex started to focus a telekinetic blast, when the brainwashed Ranger smacked the back of his head, causing his thoughts to go fuzzy.
    â€œOw,” Alex yelped.
    â€œYou must be very desperate if this is your sad attempt at a last stand,” Shade said, grinning. “I expected more from you, Alexander.”
    â€œThe story of my life,” Alex muttered.
    Static crackled out of a walkie-talkie on Alex’s belt, followed by Bug’s voice.
    â€œEveryone’s out of the Gloom. We’ve got the Rangers. Retreat to the Rook.”
    Everyone froze, even Titan and Volt, who battled the other members of Alex’s team on the other side of the now-demolished area. They’d heard. Shade could probably feel the joy now surging through Alex’s mind. The mission was a success. They’d rescued the Rangers. Everything was going to be okay.
    Alex’s grin threatened to take over his entire face as he used the moment of surprise to wriggle out of his coat. He landed gracefully on the ground, in a crouch, and then stood tall, beaming.
    â€œWell,” Alex said, “I guess I wasn’t as much of a disappointment as you thought.”
    Shade’s lips peeled back, her teeth clenched so tightly Alex thought they might break.
    â€œYou’re decoys,” she spat.
    â€œImpossible,” Volt shouted from behind her.
    Shade’s eyes went silver. Photon rushed to her side and picked her up. Titan let out a sharp cry of surprise as his body flew off the ground under Photon’s powers.
    â€œWhat about—,” Volt started.
    â€œI can’t carry all of us,” Shade said. And then they were gone as Photon flew at incredible speed in the direction of the Rook.
    Volt turned to his son, a stunned and confused expression on his face. Alex held out one palm as he walked toward his father and poured all his excitement and relief into constructing a bubble of blue energy around Volt. The first time he’d ever created such a force field had been only a few weeks before, when his mother and father had shot rubber bullets at him in the name of power training. His father’s electricity had been unable to pass through Alex’s telekinetic powers—something Alex had not forgotten. Inside the sphere, Volt shot off a crackling arc of energy, but it bounced off the invisible bubble, lighting it up in sparkling blue as it ricocheted around. Finally Volt absorbed the electricity again.
    â€œNicely constructed, son,” Volt said.
    â€œLooks like she abandoned you,” Alex said, ignoring the compliment.
    The crashing against the museum doors grew louder. It was only a matter of time before the Deputies made it through, or scaled the walls with hooks and ladders. Alex didn’t worry. It wouldn’t be long now before Misty got there.
    â€œSo what are you going to do now?” Volt asked. “Kill your father? The public already thinks you’re in some way responsible for the disappearance of Lone Star and Lux—which isn’t