The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book One: The Hero Revealed by William Boniface

directly to me, “that this card is very scarce, assuming that it exists at all. If it doesn’t exist, you will all end up on a wild-goose chase and will no doubt spend much of your parents’ money in the process.”
    “But what if it does exist?” I asked hopefully.
    “Then,” she answered, “if you find one, you will have found something that is very valuable indeed.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Straight to the Top
     
    It was three o’clock and school had just let out. All five of us Junior Leaguers had agreed to meet at the end of the day to plan a strategy. We were waiting for Stench, who as usual needed to use the bathroom right after class.
    While we waited, a large crate came floating up the sidewalk toward the school. It was only as it got closer that I saw it was being pushed along by an old friend of my dad’s, and a former member of the New Crusaders, the Levitator.
    “Hey, Lev,” I waved. “How’s it going?”
    “Ordinary Boy!” he said in surprise as he poked his head around the crate. “Good to see you. How are your mom and dad doing?”
    “They’re great,” I said, and then corrected myself.

    “Well, my mom is doing fine. Dad’s having a hard time getting back into crime fighting.”
    “Aren’t we all.” The Levitator laughed cheerfully. Even when he was down, he was still up—if you know what I mean. “It seems that all I can do for AI is deliver his products.”
    “What is this?” I asked, pointing at the enormous crate.
    “It’s a new vending machine for your lunchroom—courtesy of Indestructo Industries. Not that they won’t make a nice profit in the process,” he added. “It should be all set up for you kids by tomorrow. Take care!”
    As the Levitator made his way toward the school, Stench charged up to us with a determined look on his face.
    “We’ve got to find one of those cards,” Stench blurted out as he reached us. “For three very good rea-sons: A) because it’s valuable; B) because it completes our collection; and C) because it will really tick Miss Marble off.”
    “Yeah, did you see how she was practically daring us?” Tadpole fumed. “But we’re not even completely certain what we’re looking for.”
    “You heard O Boy,” Plasma Girl said. “He’s sure the card is of Professor Brain-Drain. Aren’t you, O Boy?”
    “I am,” I said, and it occurred to me there was a way to confirm it. “And I have an idea. But it means we’ll have to split up.”
    “Whatever you say, O Boy,” Halogen Boy volunteered.
    “Well, first, we should keep checking the card packs in the stores around the city,” I said. “Tadpole, you and Hal go check out the Cavalcade of Candy. They should have lots for you to sort through. In the meantime, Stench, Plasma Girl, and I are going to go right to the source.”
    “You don’t mean—” Plasma Girl started to say.
    “Exactly,” I confirmed. “The three of us are going to pay a call on Indestructo Industries. If anyone has an answer, it will be them.”
    We split into two groups and Tadpole and Halogen Boy headed in the direction of downtown. As Stench and Plasma Girl looked over my shoulder, I pulled out the Li’l Hero’s Handbook and looked up Indestructo Industries in the “Places” directory.
    With the address in hand, we headed off to the outskirts of town. It didn’t surprise us that Indestructo Industries was one of Superopolis’s most successful companies. We certainly bought enough of their products! But when we reached the address listed in the handbook, we couldn’t believe the sleek, shiny office tower that awaited us. As we walked up the main sidewalk leading to the building, we passed under the legs of the enormous statue of AI. On its shoulders was balanced a huge globe bearing the name of the company. It was impressive, but not more than I would expect for the greatest hero in Superopolis.

    INDESTRUCTO INDUSTRIES
     
Located at 777 Indestructo Boulevard in the heart of the Indestructo Industrial