Hero Academy

Chapter 9 : Brainwashing, Basements and Brawn

Defeating the Viper agents and taking radar was a bit of an anti-climax. Diana didn't want to jinx it, but it was pretty easy. The device had been hidden in a classified place under the guard of at least one Challenger and the agents had been interrogated. They weren't talking, but this wasn't a surprise.

Whatever Viper were planning seemed now null and void. Diana knew her parents were going on more missions, less emergencies and more of their own investigations. She didn't comment. These were real villains, not the ones on her in exercise books.

Aspen didn't make any more comments about the break-ins. Diana knew she should trust her, she had been vouched for but part of her was still suspicious. She didn't even knew who was vouching for her? But Aspen was still her friend, who lent her DVDs, helped her with her homework and tried to make a GPS device during lunch breaks. Diana just felt distant.

This wasn't helped by that fact that a lot of her classes were now separate to Oscars and Aspens. Oscar was in the sidekick class and Aspen in the handler's (of which she was one of the only two students). Diana tried to hang out with them at other times but even these were sparse as the work load increased. One of the classes they still had together was Science and it was on the day that there class was being watched by the head teacher that Diana finally found out the truth about Aspen White.

That week all their classes had been watched by Ms York, either to look at behaviour of the students or standards of the teachers. Either way Dr Astate wasn't in any danger, he was an extremely good teacher and good enough that people were actually interested in his classes. Diana had to admit that he was her favourite teacher. She thought that the lesson would go without a hitch, but naturally Lexi Cross had to stop that.

"Are you thankful to your dad, Aspen?" she asked as the students were filling into the class room.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Aspen shortly.

"Course you do," said Lexi, people were smiling next to her.

"Shut up, Cross," said Diana.

"I'm asking a question, just a question. Aspen, are you thankful to your dad? He was the one who got you into the school."

Aspen kicked Cross' stomach. She doubled over but laughed. She laughed. Aspen ran out of the room, crying. Slamming the door behind her. Diana could barely believe her eyes. Aspen had the thickest skin of anyone she had ever met. What had Lexi meant?

"Let's find her," said Oscar, glaring at Cross as though he wished he had lasers that came out of his eyes. Diana nodded vigorously. If Lexi had torn open one of Aspen's wounds then it was big. But before they could leave Astate and York came marching in and Astate told them to take their seats.

"Maybe she needs time to cool off," suggested Diana.

Oscar shrugged as an answer, Diana was keen not to get in any more trouble so took her seat. Oscar joined her and although Diana didn't want to truant right under the head teacher's nose her stomach was writing in worry for Aspen. Neither York nor Astate commented on the only empty chair, Diana was surprised most of the teachers had given up where Aspen was concerned.

Astate was going all out to impress the head teacher, the class were on their best behaviour for their best teacher. Diana listened to Astate beginning speech on gravitational fields, she was actually interested in it. Foolishly Diana glanced at Lexi Cross, she smirked back, a massive grin on her face. Diana bubbled and boiled inside.

She looked meaningfully at Oscar who nodded. He grabbed her hand and they both became invisible. Being as quiet as they could, Diana and Oscar slipped unnoticed out of the classroom as Dr Astate began his lesson. Once they were down the corridor and away from anyone's eyesight Diana let go of Oscar's hand.