Free Amped: A Kid Sensation Companion Novel by Kevin Hardman Page A

return the tape. If we did, we’d probably never have another opportunity to review the data it held. That meant that if we’d somehow overlooked something, that door would be shut forever.
    “If it is helpful at all,” Li said, apparently noting my mood, “I am copying the data so that the information will remain available for our use after we return the tape.”
    My outlook brightened considerably at that, and I couldn’t help thinking that – when this thing was all over – I was going to have to do something exceptionally nice for Li. He was basically turning into my hero as far as all this stuff was concerned.
    It seemed inadequate, but I thanked Li and Smokey for their help (especially the former), and then headed home.
    *****
    There was a visitor waiting for me when I walked into our house: Alpha Prime. Of course, I’d known he was there; I felt his distinctive bioelectric field even before I stepped inside.
    I shouldn’t have been surprised. As already noted, Alpha Prime was like a father to me, so getting a visit from him wasn’t out of the ordinary, historically. However, ever since Jim left, he’d been coming by roughly once a week, which was probably more often and more regular than his visits in the past. He never said it out loud, but I felt that Jim had probably asked AP to check up on me while he was away.
    He was sitting at our breakfast table, wearing ordinary street clothes – a t-shirt and jeans – instead of the regular black-and-gold uniform of the Alpha League. Even seated, however, you could tell he was a big guy (he topped out at about six-seven) and was all muscle. Tack on the fact that most women thought he had movie-star looks, and it was easy to see why he was hailed as the world’s greatest superhero.
    “Hey,” I said, stepping over to give him a hug. “How long have you been here?”
    “Not long,” he replied.
    “Well, if you were waiting for me, I’m sorry I kept you.”
    “It’s okay. I’ve been chatting with Esper.”
    Reaching out with my power, I felt Esper’s bioelectric field coming from her room. She had probably excused herself the minute she heard the garage going up – ostensibly to give me and Alpha Prime some time to chat together.
    “So,” he went on, “how was school this past week?”
    I shrugged as I began hunting through the refrigerator for something to eat. “Fine, I guess. Same as always: too much homework, not enough field trips.”
    He laughed. “Yes, I hear that’s a common problem in schools across the district.”
    I grinned and took out some cold pizza from a few days earlier. It still looked edible, so I tossed the last two slices on a plate and into the microwave while throwing the box into the trash.
    “Setting aside school, then,” he continued, “what’s been going on?”
    For a second I was worried that, somehow, he knew about Locke Infinite. Then the truth dawned on me.
    “She told you, didn’t she?” I asked. “Esper told you that I was asking about my past again.”
    “She may have mentioned it,” Alpha Prime replied noncommittally.
    “Well, the reason I ask is because no one will tell me anything. You all act like it’s some big secret.”
    “It’s not a secret per se. It’s just that there were a lot of bad things happening at the time, and coupled with the fact that we lost Vir… It was really a dark time for the League, so it’s just difficult for a lot of people to discuss. Plus, your records are sealed, so it seems to make more sense to keep quiet until the law says you’re an adult.”
    I gave him a skeptical look as the microwave went off. “Come on. We both know there isn’t going to be jack in those records.”
    “I can’t say, but just know that everything that’s happened up to now has been to protect you.”
    “So what you’re saying is that I’m capable enough to go up against supervillains, but not competent enough to handle the truth about where I come from.”
    “When you say it like