The Distort Arc: Cape High Books 1-4 (Cape High Series Omnibus) by R.J. Ross Page A

ask.
    "I can't exactly come to pick up my kids with no visible way of taking them," Technico says.  "Besides, can you two fly yet?"
    "No.  But we can run," Sunny says with pride.
    "Good.  Flying will come soon enough."
    "It's kind of beat up," I complain as I get closer.  "And it smells like rust."
    "You complain, you make the next one," Technico says, opening the passenger side door.  "Who gets shotgun?"
    "I do!" Sunny says, since I'm too stunned at the idea of being forced to make the "family car."
    "So you know?" I ask.
    "That you're a budding technopath?  Yeah, I know," he says, leaning Sunny's chair down so I can climb into the back.
    "There's a hole back here," I say as I scrunch up in the back seat.  I can't help but stick my finger in the hole in the leather seat.  "You could have replaced the seat, at least!"
    "Over a hole."
    "Yeah, over a hole.  How do you know there's not bugs in it?"
    "If there are, squish them."
    "I'm not going to squish them!  Then the seat will be holey and covered in bug guts!"  Sunny is snickering, so I wait until he gets in to hit the back of his chair.  "It's not funny, you jerk.  You aren't sitting on a massive bug farm!"
    "You're right," he agrees.  "Your fault for not calling shotgun."
    "What kind of super are you going to be if you're worried over a little hole?" Technico asks, starting the car.  He doesn't say anything about seatbelts, but he kicks it up to sixty in ten seconds flat.  I put my seatbelt on and tell Sunny to do the same.  For some reason that makes Technico laugh.
    "If we get pulled over by the cops for driving sixty in a thirty miles an hour zone, you're going to be glad we have them on," I say, wondering why I feel like the parent all of a sudden.  "You're on parole, you shouldn't be risking it like this!"
    "Parole from the Cape Cells, not the norms system," Technico says.  "I have no records at all in that system.  And I really don't see anyone other than maybe America's Son pulling me over for speeding."
    "America's Son?" Sunny asks.
    "The picture perfect super hero," Technico drawls.  "The one that looks close to tears when he says 'truth, justice and the American way.'"
    "I've always liked America's Son," I say.  "He's not arrogant acting like Mega."
    "True," Technico agrees.  "Mega's a bit of a showboat.  But I've always had more trouble with the guys like America's Son than I have with the ones like Mega.  They're actually out to get rid of the villains entirely."
    "Max says--" I start out, only to stop as I realize what I'm about to say.  I see Technico glance at me in the rearview mirror.
    "Max?" he asks.
    "He's our friend," Sunny says, covering for me... I guess.
    "What's Max say, then?" Technico asks.  Somehow I feel worried by that question.  I hesitate too long, and I know it.  "Who, exactly, is Max?" he asks again.
    "Ah... he's a friend," I say.  "From school."
    "He likes Zoe," Sunny adds.
    "Oh, so your boyfriend?"
    "He's not my boyfriend!  He's just a friend!" I protest.  Who would have thought I'd be trying to protect Maximum just days after meeting him?  Not me, that's for sure.
    "So future boyfriend, huh?" Technico says.
    "Can we change the subject now?" I demand.  My face is bright red.
    "You know... it's probably not too smart to date a norm," Technico says.
    "Why not?  You dated Mom," Sunny replies.
    For a moment Technico seems stunned as he glances at Sunny.  "Your mom wasn't a norm, guys.  She was an elemental hero--one of the rarest types around.  That's why you've got her powers, Sun."
    And any hope of her not having lied to us our entire lives is gone.  Thank you, Technico.  Thank you sooo much.
     
    ***
     
    We pull to a stop at a large apartment building a little while later.  It looks empty, with absolutely no cars in the parking lot.  It also looks rather run down.  Probably because it's so close to the taped off area called the "Death Canyon."  I've heard about that area, but I've never actually