60 - Got a Hold of Me Again

I woke up in a room…somewhere—I didn’t know where, but there weren’t any windows, and a fluorescent light hummed on the ceiling. My arms weren’t tied to the chair or anything, but the door was locked when I checked it. I banged on it a little. “Hey! Hey, I’m in here!”

No one answered.

I wasn’t in my Lab Assistant Panic Costume anymore; Tails sat on the floor next to my chair, which I flopped back into. If the villains had won, I was their prisoner under the TUEAS Building. And if the heroes had won? Was I their prisoner in the TUSSA-Cave?

“H-Hi Tails,” I said. My voice cracked slightly, and I wished I’d kept one of Rocko’s water bottles. "Did we…win?”

“Sort of. It’s hard to tell right meow,” Tails replied from her place on the floor. “TUSSA won. Fursona caught Iron Fist after they freed the assault team when he ran into them on their way back to us. Neither Dark Girl Anima nor Tearjerker could stand up to Punch, Grapple, Springlock, and Milo; the robots couldn’t hold them off either. TUSSA wasn’t in any shape to check out the lair, though. That place had Genius written all over it, and they never have untrapped lairs.”

“So if they won, we won, right?” I asked.

“Nya. You were a villain at the Episode’s end, and Lab Assistant Panic’s plan didn’t work. Or, more accurately, it could have worked if you hadn’t lost it. We’re waiting for TUSSA to finish their end-of Episode camera talk; then we’ll see what the System thinks.”

“Oh.” That made a lot of sense. I’d never finished an Episode as Lab Assistant Panic, so maybe getting knocked out as Lab Assistant Panic counted as a loss. After all, my faction wasn’t TUSSA when I was a villain, and it definitely wasn’t the SSS.

Screw those guys.

While I waited for the End-Of-Episode message, I debated what to do with Lab Assistant Panic. She was too dangerous to keep around. I’d had delusions of grandeur the entire Episode, from the moment I changed into her until the end. I hadn’t acted on them while I had control, but I still didn’t know what I’d tried to do after. Plus, the thought of it reminded me of Peter. I fidgeted in my seat while waiting for someone to tell me what was happening.

The only good news was that I was TUSSA’s prisoner, not the SSS’s. Who knew what those villains would’ve done with me?

No, I thought as I twiddled my thumbs and waited. Lab Assistant Panic wasdangerous. But the costume had special powers. Powers I needed access to. So I couldn’t get rid of it. I just couldn’t use it all the time. I needed a way to turn it off quickly.

A camera drone hovered in front of me, and I grinned halfheartedly. “Hi, fans. Remember, it’s Heroics 101 to do what you have to to stop the bad guys! Just don’t get your friends and neighbors hurt to do it, okay? Lab Assistant Panic is a bad example.” That ought to make Rocko happy.

[Episode Finished!]

[Investigative Episode: What’s the Plan, Man - PG]

[Penalties: 1x Rating Warnings - No Penalty]

[Episode Finished! +3 of each Style Point]

[No Decision! +2 of each Style Point]

[Role Focus: Cunning > Drama - Goal Met! +10 Focused Points]

[Alias - Understudy] [Archetype - Magical Girl] [Community Rank - 440/523]

[HP 4/7]

[Styles and Skills]

►Archetype Skill - Transformation Sequence

►Badass (lvl 0; 56) (Skill Roll Available)

►Cunning (lvl 2; 55) (Skill Roll Available)

► Inkling 1

►Drama (lvl 4; 24)

►  Hometown Heroine 1

► Bit-Part Barrage 1

►Flamboyance (lvl 3; 38)

►Signature Skill - Adaptive Armoire

►Stored Costumes: (Rainy Day)

►Flickerform 1

►Spotlight Strike 1

►Starwave Sail 1

►Grit (lvl 2; 23)

Before I could roll my skills, the door opened. I groaned; I wanted to know what I’d gotten. But Springlock and Milo crowded into the room. She glared at me briefly, rubbing her shoulder, and I winced. “What’d I do?”

Milo started interpreting as Springlock’s hands flew. “You punched Grapple in the face. Then you shot me with an air cannon. Milo and Punch beat you up, and we dragged your ass here. You’re in the TUSSA-Cave. We need to talk about this Costume.”

“Okay. What do you want to say?”

“That Costume—Lab Assistant Panic—is scary. If it gets too powerful, you’ll get branded a villain.”

“Yeah, but it gives me powers I can’t get anywhere else. I thought about it, and I can’t put it away for good, even if it’s…bad for me.”

“Just be careful,” Milo interpreted for Springlock. “It’s your decision, but understand the risks of letting that Costume get out of hand. In the meantime, we won! That means it’s time to celebrate! TUSSA Afterparty!”

That last bit was all Milo; I could tell by Springlock’s eye-roll and the smack to the arm he got. The two turned around and opened the door, nodding at Ikenga, who I hadn’t realized was still standing there. He nodded back. “Welcome to the TUSSA-Cave, Magical Girl Understudy. It’s good to have you back.”

“I’ve been here before,” I protested. But the sheer noise from the rec room proved the lie in that statement. Hephaestus, the Tokyexico City Student Superhero Society’s resident Genius, stood behind the bar, pouring an almost undoubtedly illegal drink for Punch. I’d drank back in my place with Bianca and before college with Peter, but this was a school function, wasn’t it?

The Genius waved me over and handed me another illegal beer, which I accepted. Pulsing music echoed in the TUSSA-Cave; a few heroes were pretending to dance, but most were standing around talking about their favorite Episodes. I avoided both the dance floor and the various conversations. Something felt off. Like eyes were on me. Distrustful ones.

Fursona sat in front of the Miss Pac-Man game, fiddling with the controls. They didn’t have a beer. “Hey,” I said.

“Hey.” They ran from all the ghosts, but I didn’t see how they could escape without power-up circles. Sure enough, the ghosts caught up, cornered Miss Pac-Man, and ate the yellow circle’s last life. “Damn, I was so close to a high score!”

“Are we good?” I wasn’t sure.

“Yeah, we’re good. I almost high-scored, but you didn’t distract me or anything,” Fursona said. They looked at my face. “Oh, about the Episode? Maybe we should come up with plans in your Understudy Costume. It was a good idea to send me after the prisoners, but I really cut it close with Iron Fist, and I didn’t have any backup, and there’s no way I could fight him one-on-one. He’s way stronger than Theseus, and that guy wrecked me.”

I winced. I’d learned from the knife that in the minor leagues, the weapons hit harder—much harder than even the Orientation Episode. That whole Episode must’ve been toned down a bunch. Maybe even to little league levels. I’d put my sidekick—my friend—in the path of a full-blown minor-league villain and just left her there.

Peter had been completely wrong when he told me I couldn’t be a villain. I definitely could be.

“Hey! Underoos!” I looked over my shoulder as Punch walked up with Grapple in tow. Both were bruised, with dust and grime still covering parts of their costumes. More importantly, neither looked happy. Punch felt downright hostile, while Grapple looked more apologetic.

Punch downed his beer and crushed the red solo cup in one hand. “Your plan got us caught. Your costume almost got us all the loss. What the hell gives you the right to call the shots? You’re lower than us on the rankings!”

“Hey, chill,” Fursona said, standing up from their spot at the Miss Pac-Man machine. “Understudy didn’t come up with the plan. She just gave the information to Ikenga, and he came up with it.”

“Yeah, but she’s a villain!”

“No, she’s not.”

“Punch, I don’t think she is.” Grapple started, but a look from Punch shut him up. I could feel the irritation pouring off Punch, like a hot wind.

I looked over at Milo and Springlock, looking for backup, but they were busy at the pool table. I gulped. I was on my own. “I got the plans from your teammates in Superpower Ethics. Flare and The Crumb. You heard the same plan I heard from Ikenga, but he didn’t see the robots in there until it was too late.”

“Whatever, Underoos. I’ll be seeing you around,” Punch spat on the floor and stalked off.

“Hey, good hit back there. You’re no Punch, but if he gets over this, maybe he could teach you how to really do it, Underoos.” Grapple grinned a stressed-out grin and followed his twin.

“Don’t listen to them. They’re just upset you turned the Episode around, and they couldn’t,” Fursona said. “Why don’t you finish your—“

“Nah, I’m heading back to my place,” I interrupted them before they could continue. “I’m tired of all this.”

“Alright. I’ll walk you to the elevator in case someone’s revenge-minded.”

“The boys? They won’t do anything.” I stomped toward the TUSSA-Cave’s door, leaving my drink behind. “But thanks.”

We walked through the tunnels in silence. Fursona kept clearing their throat awkwardly, like they were dying to say something, but then they’d fall silent again. After the fourth time, I turned toward them. “What?”

“Nothing. Sorry. I just… never mind.” They shoved their hands into their kangaroo pocket. “Sorry.”

“Fine.” We got to the elevator, and I climbed on. “I’ll see you in class Wednesday, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Fursona said. Then they paused. “Shit. We missed our afternoon classes.”

“I’m not worried about that. I’m crushing mine.”

“Yeah. Me too.” The elevator door started closing as Fursona waved.

I rode up quietly and then sat down on my couch. I had two skill rolls, and I’d get to them soon. But not right away. I was too stressed out about Punch and Grapple’s anger, even though they’d probably cool down soon. And about something else. Something was bugging me about the Episode, but it took me a few minutes to put my finger on it.

It was the bots.

They weren’t Peter’s style, but Dark Girl Anima had said she wasn’t the supplier. I had to know for sure. I pulled out my phone and looked at the last message in my texts with Peter. I’d been asking him if he was on his way to our video call. He’d never responded.

I gulped, squeezed my eyes shut for a second, then opened them and started typing.

<Hey Peter. Checking in. How’ve things been? - Annie 4:14>

While I waited, I untransformed and stepped through the door to my apartment. The Algebra book was sitting on my coffee table; I swore under my breath and started working on one of the problems Su-Bin had shown me how to do.

<What do you want? Skip the small talk - Professor Panic 4:19>

I sighed, heart pounding. So that was how it was going to be? He wasn’t anywhere near as over this as I was if he couldn’t even text with me as Peter. Shit.

<Just got done with an Episode. Some robots glowed red. - Understudy 4:20>

<Do you know anything about that? - Understudy 4:21>

<Why would I know anything about that? - Professor Panic 4:21>

<You’re pretty untrusting sometimes - Professor Panic 4:21>

<I swore I wouldn’t seek revenge. It’s not me - Professor Panic 4:22>

<Is there anything else? If not, stop wasting my time - Professor Panic 4:22>

<No. Thanks. Bye - Understudy 4:24>

I put my phone away and grabbed Tails. I hated to think it, but it was a relief that Peter wasn’t the mysterious robot supplier. I hadn’t really thought he was, but I’d had to be sure.

[50 Badass Credits Used. Rolling Skill!]

[50 Cunning Credits Used. Rolling Skill!]

The Episode was over, I’d plugged Heroics 101, and Peter had…well, not filled me with confidence, exactly, but at least it probably wasn’t him. How would he get robots like that to Tokyexico City anyways?

[New Skill! Doom Ball: Get all your claws in on the beat-down, dealing massive damage to an opponent in melee]

[Skill Upgrade!Inkling -> Check the Script: Forgot your lines? Check the script for a hint]

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