Hero Academy

Chapter 10 : The Aftermath

Diana dreamed of thunderstorms tearing through her home, lightning striking it and rain spattering it like bullets. She dreamed of blonde girls with their brains' linked to machines and boys appearing and disappearing. She dreamed of red snakes and radar machines being carried by weapon wielding assassins calling her name.

She woke with a start and sat up to find herself in the school's nurse's office, a surprisingly large room with a dozen hospital beds in. "Viper," she said, "They've got the radar."

"We know," said Oscar dully from the next bed. Diana looked over to see him lying on the bed, pale with a black eye.

"You've been out cold for a few days," he said, "That was the Dark Assassin wasn't it? He took the radar, all the Challengers are trying to find him."

Diana tried to scratch her head with her right arm but realised that it was in a plaster cast. It hurt.

"Miss Standing," said York as she came through the double doors, "I am glad to see that you are awake."

"Miss York," she said, sitting up straighter, "What happened? Did Viper really get away with it?"

"I'm afraid so," she said, folding her arms, "I knew you and Mr Young had left class to talk to Miss White. Greenhood had informed me of Miss White's situation so I knew that you probably needed time to talk. When the alarm sounded, I remembered the defences being deactivated in the basement so I went there immediately."

"She arrived just after you were knocked out," interjected Oscar helpfully.

"The Dark Assassin and his fellow Viper agents escaped with the radar. I currently have every single Challenger looking for them."

Diana grunted and sunk down into her pillows. She was wearing pyjamas, her black hair knotted and thick white cast encasing her right arm.

"How were the defences deactivated? How did they even know where it was hidden?"

"You father made a very good decision to hide the radar under the school," said York. Diana stared at her and then shot a look at Oscar, "Ah, yes. I have informed both Mr Young and Miss White about your father and the Dark Assassin. He gave his permission," Diana relaxed, "I didn't think you'd be surprised, your parents may both be leaders but I am their handler."

Diana couldn't manage a smile, "How were the defences deactivated?"

"The most likely scenario is that Viper have managed to create some kind of device that is able to hack into a security mainframe. The second is that we have a double agent within our school," she sighed, "It wouldn't be the first time," she brushed her hair of her face.

"Where's Aspen?" Diana looked around and realised that she wasn't into the room. Then the memory came back, "On my word, she was shot."

"Miss White is in an actual hospital, private of course," said York, "Dr Astate took her there just after Viper left."

"Is she OK?"

"She is in a serious but stable condition. She hasn't regained consciousness yet and she lost a lot of blood. The Dark Assassin shot her in the wrist, her hand had to be amputated," Diana couldn't speak, "She is being fitted with a robotic prosthetic as we speak."

"She lost her hand! Oh my word," Diana vomited into a bucket next to her bed. York waited till she had calmed down and cleaned out her mouth before she continued talking.

"She is in excellent hands. Miss White had her prosthetic made by Mirrorman, another member of the Challengers. She should be in hospital for a week or so though," she unfolded her arms, "I need to go now, I am organising a search that spans the entire country."