Acceleration

Chapter 31: Post-Nemesis

"If X is negative, which way does the graph go?" Mr. Techard asked the group.

Erin was slumped so far in his seat that only his eyes peeked above the desk. A student raised her hand and was called on.

"Why does this stuff matter if we could be randomly caught in the crossfire of two super-speedsters and die?"

Erin groaned audibly.

"I agree with Mr. Evidrone," the teacher replied flatly. "Please don't ask irrelevant questions."

It was the first day back, and Erin was already on the brink of falling asleep. The thought of an evil doppelgänger consumed most of his headspace—he didn't need math taking up the rest.

The bell couldn't ring fast enough. Erin practically skipped to his second period, where Liz caught up to him.

"You seem giddy."

"We're not in math anymore—I'm ecstatic."

The pair walked past Charles, who was trying to sell what he claimed was a verified Hypersonic bootprint.

"Where did he get that?" Liz asked.

Erin laughed. "Hypersonic stepped on his hood when he was fighting Revnid."

Liz's laugh broke into a cough. She collapsed before she could catch herself, but Erin darted forward and grabbed her arms, stopping the fall.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Her only answer was another fit of coughing. When it finally ended, she wiped her mouth. Erin noticed the faint streak of red smeared across her finger.

"I have a cold," she said quickly.

Erin accepted her lie and helped her up. She wrapped her arms around him, her sudden warmth washing over him.

He thought up a lie of his own.

"You'll be okay."

***

The group gathered after school inside a large warehouse Jessica had bought with her own money, transferring everything from their old lab. Boxes were stacked along the walls, behind couches and beanbags Jess had dragged in. Huge monitors and computers filled a desk for mission communications, while a line of fabricators hummed against the far wall.

In the center of the room stood a mannequin wearing a copy of the Hypersonic suit, a spotlight shining directly on it.

Erin's mom rummaged through a mini-fridge, pulling out food for the group.

"Dude, the headquarters look awesome!" Tommy spun around like he was in a Disney movie.

"The headquarters?" Lisa asked.

Tom nodded. "The Hyper-Headquarters. Isn't it a sick name?"

"Why are you coming up with a name for a depressing situation?" Liz muttered, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. Erin kept an arm around her waist, hiding the fact that she was leaning heavily on him.

"Okay, Revnid knows where Erin lives. That doesn't mean this new place can't have a cool name!"

"New place?" Erin asked, easing Liz onto the couch. She gave him a tired nod of thanks and sprawled across the cushions.

"I have to live here so Revnid doesn't kill me in my sleep." He glanced at his mom. "Kill us in our sleep."

"Please refrain from talking about your evil twin," she muttered, setting plates of food on the floor in front of them. "It still confuses me."