Chapter 4: Headquarters

Vertigo, Nessa, and Phanta finally meet up at the base! Plus a twist at the end! The plot starts!

Vertigo

                As we shot down the elevator in the shaft of the S.H.O.V.E.L. monument I contemplated my actions. Sure, I’d practically advertized myself in the streets, and sure, I hadn’t even stolen much money, but did I really have to go to isolation for it? They didn’t even know I’d used my powers. I glared at my superior officer to my front right, then my adoptive father on my right side, and repeated the action. My father glared back.

                “It’s your own fault, you know,” he stated.

                “I- I know,” I replied, smothering a giggle. Even after knowing my father for years, I still couldn’t help but find humor in his appearance. He had eggplant purple rubbery skin so when he spoke his face remained quite stiff. It did not wrinkle when he smiled or anything. Many in the base thought it creepy, but out of respect for his achievements and for fear of his temper they treated him politely and with reserve. As far as I can remember, he’s never shown his true temper to me and I’ve definitely pushed some limits with him. Nessa and Phanta say I’m the luckiest girl in the base for that.

                “Your isolation will last a week, and then you’ll be grounded in the base as we reassess the damage you’ve caused. It seems the clerk you stole from kicked up quite the fuss and there’s even a police sketch of you that’s quite accurate. We’ll have to issue someone who specialized in villainy to make a bigger spectacle. Maybe have a hero issue a statement swearing revenge.” My superior officer, a specialized villain, started to turn, then was interrupted as the elevator stopped.

                The elevators dinged, doors sliding open, and we exited on the left side, following a zigzag pattern through the trap room. If we took a step off the path arrows or swinging axes would be released at us. After going the twenty-five foot path we went through the door and into the well-lit, yellow painted cafeteria. I immediately heard snickers among the younger generation of heroes and snide comments from the young villains.

                “Idiot, she didn’t even bring back a worthy amount of money-”

                “Already twenty and she hasn’t even specialized yet-“

                “Her and her friends-“

                I fumed. “Shut up! What if I don’t want to specialize? Switching from good to evil can be pretty fun, you know! I-“

                “Vertigo!” my father reprimanded. My mouth snapped shut and I stared ahead, blood heating my face.

                We left the cafeteria to the sound of somewhat muffled laughter and entered the pristine white main hallway. The first door on the left led to isolation, so we didn’t pass the multitude of doors lining the hallway that disappeared into the distance at a slight curve. My father put his hand on my shoulder and guided me into the room.

                “You know the drill; bathroom in the back, beds in the corner, meals twice a day, and so on. Do reflect on your actions this time, Vertigo.” My father clicked the door closed and left with the officer.

                I crossed the beige room to the beds, of which there were four, and laid down on a top bunk. It wasn’t really an isolation room since multiple people could fit in here in case a whole team got into trouble. My team had spent an ample amount of time in here over the years. In fact, a majority of pranks and penalty games had originated in this very room, so I’m really not sure what purpose it serves since apparently it only encouraged us. With such thoughts in mind, I drifted off to sleep.

*****

                A slamming door woke me up and I peered into the darkness.

                “Is someone there?” I asked.

                “Vertigo? It’s Phantom Paranoia,” the clear, calm voice belonging to my teammate cut through the darkness.

                “Hey, turn on the light why don’t you. What time is it?”

                I could hear her hand rubbing up and down the wall, searching for the light switch before finally flicking it on. It revealed a brown haired girl looking worn and coated in dirt. It took a moment to collect my thoughts. Phanta was the calmest and most efficient of us, so this appearance wasn’t exactly normal.

                “What happened to you? And I thought my day was bad.”

                “I decided to rob some random rich people but it didn’t really work out. Too much emotional manipulation, I suppose, so I practically caused myself to fail,” she sighed, sitting on the bunk below me. “I also passed out in front of the base without even making it in, although if I had there was definitely a possibility of passing out in the trap room.” She shuddered.

                “So the dirt is a good sign, I suppose.” I heard her lay down.

                “It’s lunchtime, by the way, and I’m going to sleep. Wake me when supper arrives, please.” With a groan she pulled the covers over her and I figured she must really be exhausted to not even take a shower or change.

                I sat there, thinking. There were educational books lining a bookshelf next to my bunk bed, from history to medical journals, but I decided to contemplate my actions for once. When the already specialized seventeen year olds insulted me, and even started insulting my teammates, it really drove the matter home. I felt as though a ragged edged lead block rested in my stomach and another weighed on my chest. Tears filled my eyes, but I wiped them off before they could roll down my cheeks. Heroes and villains couldn’t afford tears. Reputations to protect and all. I wondered when I’d even started to get behind everyone else in progress.

                When I first came here I was a baby, which was unusual. Usually we’re raised and given general training in sub-bases across the country before transferring to a main base, however I couldn’t control my powers and needed someone immune to take care of me, my father. He adopted me when I was three since we really were like father and daughter. It also made forms and applications easier to fill out since he didn’t have to go through the commander at every turn.

                My goal until I was five and could control my powers was to be just like my father, a hero. After I was five and could be around people without making them so dizzy they were constantly vomiting, I met both villains and heroes. Some of the most fun people I’d met happened to be villains so my previous goals were confused, but I didn’t think about it much, aside from having noticed my father attempting to keep the villains from playing with me. I later learned that he’d probably saved my life a few times, but I was still torn between heroism and villainy. I figured that when I was given missions and assigned to a team I’d figure it out since before specialization you went on missions for both sides. My indecision might’ve been the beginning to how I ended up in this isolation room.

                With my team we did our missions, however we set ourselves up by constantly pulling pranks and not really associating with our peers. The pranks helped alienate us from the older generations and keeping to ourselves did the same with the younger. I suppose we just messed around.

                I sighed and grabbed a history textbook on Napoleon Bonaparte. I’d talk to Phanta in the morning and Nessa when we left isolation.

*****

                I stepped out of the bathroom after having taken a shower to see Phanta blow drying her hair while Nessa tried to talk over it.

                “Hi Nessa!” I called, waving. “What’d you do to deserve isolation?”

                “Set a forest on fire,” she called back. She was soaked, had sticks in her hair, and a cut on her leg. “I’m going to use the shower, too, so Phanta can tell you all about it.”

                “Okay, enjoy,” I said with a smile before turning to Phanta, who’d clicked off the blow dryer. “Well?”

                “She was taking her hero specialization test in which she was to save Blaine who got himself lost in the forest somehow. She accidentally set the forest on fire and didn’t even save Blaine, Sunny D did. He’s over on one of the beds.” She gestured behind her.

                “Hero specialization? Was it a spur of the moment thing? Because she never mentioned it to me.”

                “Yeah, Sunny was there and Squidink was all like, ‘Perfect opportunity!’ The adults who actually like us are trying to make opportunities for us, I noticed. It’s kind of sad.” Phanta sighed. I’d already told her about my thoughts from the previous day, so this was probably the result of her thinking.

                “Yup. Did you tell Nessa what I talked to you about?” I asked.

                “I told her and she agrees we need to shape up a bit. We are a little too old to be messing around, at least without specialization. Oh hey, Sunny was in a really bad mood and finally fell asleep, so maybe try to be quiet?”

                “Fine, although I’m always tempted to punch his smug face. Hey, has breakfast come yet?”

                “No, but it-“

                Alarms and flashing red lights tore through the room.

                “What the heck? I don't remember a drill being scheduled for today. I must not have been paying attention. After all, this is the most secure base in America!” I exclaimed, heading to the isolation door. As I started to pick the lock a voice came over the loud speakers.

                “Hello, heroes and villains! I am Super Demon Baby and I am officially taking over this base! All members of this S.H.O.V.E.L., this Super Hero Omnipotent Villainous Esthetic League, are to report to the cafeteria. Any who oppose shall be dealt with most severely and so will whoever made up that awful acronym. That means death.”

Author's Note

Any review is a great review! Oh and this was mostly made and edited between 12 and 2 a.m. so it might be a little rougher~

Reviews

[StarNinja]

This chapter could use some proof-reading. There were several sentences that sounded awkward. The part where the younger generations were chiding Vertigo in the yellow cafeteria lacked any narrational cues for me to know who was talking. It wasn’t until Veritgo’s dad said something that I realized Vertigo had said anything.

“I glared at my superior officer to my front right, then my adoptive father on my right side, and repeated.” Repeated what?

“What the heck? This is the most secure base in America!” What? Who says that? I think Vertigo skipped over a few lines here. Like maybe “What the heck? What’s going on?” Then Super Demon Baby makes his announcement and then Vertigo’s all like “How? This is the most secure yadda yadda yadda” Get what I’m saying? I just think her jumping right to that thought is a little far fetched. If she’s never heard that alarm sound before because it’s the most secure base in America, maybe she’d be a bit confused by the sound of it, or at least not recognize it. If she has heard the alarm sound before, then maybe it’s not the most secure base in America now is it? Just par for the course in a super powered world.

Oh, and Super Demon Baby has got to be the best name ever! Keep up the good work!

[SomeTypeOfArtist]

I really liked this chapter! It's good that we get to see where the story is beginning to go. This chapter also sets up a lot of potential for future development, such as the relationship between Vertigo and her father and the concept of right, wrong, and all the grey areas in between. The dialogue between the teammates was really good, too. Good job!