Free The Prospects by Daniel Halayko

around. “Who are these kids? And why does one have Captain Sonic’s rifle?”
    “They’re the Prospects.”
    “Oh, the losers Lady Amazing kept in the basement. How cute. I don’t remember saying you could take things from the staff research lab.”
    “Harry, one of them is trapped in there with the Iron Pirate.”
    Professor Photon adjusted his red goggles. “The keypad’s destroyed.”
    “Geez, you really are a super-genius. Did the dangling sparking wires tip you off?”
    “I don’t appreciate your attitude, Agent. What do you want me to do?”
    “Make yourself super-small and go through a crack. Or inject me with particles and send me in there.”
    Professor Photon tapped on the door. “I designed this door to be blast-proof and airtight to a molecular level. Nothing can get in or out.”
    “But a girl is trapped in there with him!”
    Professor Photon’s mouth, the only exposed part of his face, twisted. “The only other way in is the maintenance entrance, which is …”
    “We came in that way,” said Alex. “Come on.”
    Professor Photon tapped his watch. A stream of tiny glowing particles overwhelmed his body. His body grew until his head almost brushed against the ceiling and his shoulders went from wall-to-wall in the corridor.
    Each step from his huge foot made the floor shake. The vibrations got weaker when he and Alex turned around the corner.
    The sprinkler went dry.
    Only when Gale Force realized the battle was over did she feel soaked and frozen. Her t-shirt and sweatpants clung to her numb skin, which made her more conscious than ever of her flabby physique.
    Asura’s wet clothes hung from his skinny frame. He hugged himself and shivered. “Why do you have to make everything so cold?”
    “I make air molecules heavier. That makes things cold. That makes wind. I thought you knew science, Asura.”
    “Stop calling me that, Panda Bear.”
    “Stop calling me that, asshole.”
    He slung the sonic rifle over his shoulder. “Whatever, Jenny. We’re not wearing our stupid costumes and Agent O’Foul-up isn’t around.”
    “What are we supposed to do?”
    “As the smartest guy in the room, I say we clear out.”
    “What about Trista? She’s trapped in there.”
    “Well, if it had to happen to anyone else, that’d be sad. But she’s a …”
    Candilyn got on her hands and knees. Blood fell in a thick stream from her lowered head.
    Jenny crouched next to her. “Are you okay?”
    “I need a Band-Aid.” Candilyn put her head back. Her thin nose was flattened. A hundred small holes in the face of a footprint in covered her face.
    Vijay recoiled. “Oh, you ain’t pretty no more.”
    Candilyn moaned.
    “You’ll be fine.” Jenny helped her to her feet. “You heal fast. Come on, let’s get you to the ground floor.”
    “You get her there.” Vijay pushed past them. “I need a hot shower.”
    “Seriously? You’re abandoning us?”
    “If you were injured, we’d need two people to carry you, but Candilyn is light, so …”
    Vijay stopped talking when, far ahead in the corridor, Alex shouted, “Did that closet door move?”
    Vijay jumped behind Jenny. “Oh, crap, is that another Iron Pirate?”
    Professor Photon said, “Wait here.”
    Jenny looked ahead to see Professor Photon cover himself in silver swirling particles. He shrank to the size of a cockroach and ran under a maintenance closet’s door.
    Then she looked back at Vijay. “You’re hiding behind me?”
    “Sarge said always take cover.” Vijay fidgeted with the rifle’s battery. “Sure hope I can get this thing to shoot.”
    Candilyn spat blood. “You’re the worst superhero-wannabe ever, Vijay.”
    The closet door opened. Professor Photon stepped out, enlarged to the size of a professional basketball player. He had the back of a giant hand around Deon’s neck. “I assume this is one of yours?”
    Deon covered the dark wet patch that started on his tight costume’s groin and ran down both legs.
    Alex looked