Life Light by R.J. Ross

the head, “today is for you and Emily. Isn’t that right, Emily?”
    Emily nods, but there’s a confused look on her face as she looks at the doppelganger. “So we just jump from one piece to the next?” she asks.
    “No,” Superior says. “You jump from piece to piece trying to catch me,” he tells them, jumping onto the first of the floating hoops. “With two of you, I would suggest coming from two different directions, if you can.”
    Emily and Repeat look at each other before disappearing and reappearing on the hoop--Grandpa’s already gone. Taurus is watching with a huge grin. I don’t think he plans on going anywhere.
    “Now, since they are playing, shall we do something fun as well?” Tatia asks. “I have been told that you have a defensive mechanism!” she says to me. “Shall we see if we can’t learn to use it? We should do so before Felicia and Jonathan come for dinner,” she adds.
    “Duplicitous is coming for dinner?” Liz asks.
    “It is one of the reasons you came, is it not?” Tatia says. “She is looking forward to meeting Emily, as well,” she adds.
    “Um, can I make a call before we start training?” I ask. “I sent Trent and Jack on a mission last night. I’d like to check up on them.”
    “Yes, of course! It might take me a few moments to set up,” Tatia tells me. "Liz, you will help me,” she adds, grabbing my foster mom and pulling her down a hall. “We will be just down here, kitten!” she adds over her shoulder.
    “Okay,” I say. Suddenly I’m a bit worried. Tatia, as far as I know, is purely a tank, right? So how can she teach me how to use my attack? I look at my phone, speed-dialing Jack, since he’s fourth on my list of numbers. The first is the Central Hall ER, second is Liz, third is Emily, and then it’s him. I sometimes feel guilty about that line-up, but he just laughs at me when I mention it.
    “Hey,” Jack says. “How’s it going?”
    “We’re fine. Emily’s training with Superior out front. Did you and Trent go see the family, yet?” I ask, going straight to the point.
    “We did—Taurus's dad was right about the girl, she’s getting transferred as soon as all the paperwork on their side is done,” he says.
    “Thank you, Jack,” I say, sighing in relief.
    “She’s going to be... well, I’ll leave that for when you get home,” he says. “I miss you,” he adds more quietly. I hear laughter in the background, and he goes, “Shuddup you morons,” in a growl. It must be their break time. He tends to hang out with Max and Ace, who are the most likely to laugh at him.
    “I miss you, too, Aubrey!” Ace yells. “Hey, when are you going to dump the bolts for brains boy?”
    “When are you going to stop hittin’ on my girl, man?” Jack demands.
    “When she’s not your girl anymore,” Ace replies evilly.
    I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. It’s a bit flattering, even if I know that it’s just to get to Jack. Ace is a really nice guy, after all.
    “So if Emily’s training, what are you doing, Aubrey?” Max asks.
    “Grandma Tatia says she’s going to teach me how to use my defense ability,” I admit. “I have no idea how, but I’m going to go see what she’s got planned.”
    “Be careful,” he says. “Don’t hurt yourself, okay?”
    “I won’t,” I promise. “With both Liz and Tatiana overseeing, nothing should go wrong, right?”
    “I would hope so,” he says. “See ya, Aub.”
    “Bye, Jack,” I say as I hang up. Anything more would be too embarrassing to say when everyone is listening in. Jack isn’t the type to say the “L-word” in front of his fellow super villains. I’m actually a bit stunned he admitted that he missed me. It makes me happy. I have a little smile on my face as I head down the hall Grandma and Liz went down, stopping as I come to a large door. I push it open, looking in curiously.
    The room inside is a state of the art exercise room--one designed for tanks. There are massive weight