Free Steampunk Time: Cape High Book Seven (Cape High Series 7) by R.J. Ross

behind us.
    He looks that way, he looks at me.  "We came from that way," he says, pointing to the right of where I pointed.  "Don't bother to ask if I'm sure, I know where I've been, just not where I'm going--not in this time."
    'Oh.  Fine, we'll try your way this time."
    "So kind of you."
     
    ***
     
    There's a scowl on Superior's face as they wait outside the Hall.  Taurus Sr. went in five minutes before, leaving the two of them to lurk in the shadows, waiting for him to bring Mastermental out to talk to them. Nico gets the feeling that if it takes much longer, Superior will take off to find Mimic again.  "Why are you still here, anyway?" Nico asks him as it occurs to him how strange it is.
    "I can't be caught by Tatia again, if she finds out I'm still alive she might jump to all sorts of strange conclusions," Superior says, looking irritable.  "She might think there's an entire army of fake Superiors somewhere and blow up a dozen or so warehouses looking for them."
    Nico stares at him, the corners of his lips twitching before he bursts out laughing.  "Seriously?" he asks.  It's a terrible reaction, and his mental image of Summer is scolding him, but it's overthrown by the picture of Tatiana blowing up random warehouses.
    "Shut it, Nicolas, you're going to draw attention to us."
    "Right, I know, I know," he says, still snickering.  "Oh, man, I just--that's beautiful," he admits, shaking his head and fighting down his laughter.  "She's that type, huh?  How in the hell did you get a woman like that?" he asks his father.  Superior's face shows that he's not entertained by the question.
    "It's this way," they hear Taurus Sr. say.  They both go silent, slinking back into the shadows without even looking at each other.  "Look, I don't know what exactly to tell you--"
    "You can come out, Superior," Mastermental says.  Nico looks over at his father, a bit surprised, but Superior steps out of the shadows.  For a second a hint of surprise crosses Double M's face as he looks at the larger male.  "I take it time has been hard on you," he says.
    "Something like that," Superior agrees.  "We're looking for my son's granddaughter."
    "Nicolas has a granddaughter?  I just saw him a bit earlier, he's barely gotten all his teeth."
    Nico steps forward.  "Hello, Double M.  Nice mullet," he adds, taking in the long hair on the man that looks exactly like the one he knows in his own time--save the clothes and haircut.
    "It's not a mullet, those are short on top," Superior corrects him.  "He's just got a girl's haircut."
    "I'm... confused," Double M says, staring at Nico and completely ignoring Superior.  "I admit it's been happening more often lately, and your hair is different-- but haven't you already claimed your granddaughter?"
    Nico stares at him blankly.  "What?" he finally asks.
     
    ***
     
    The site where the Cape Cells is being built has been cleared, thanks to a machine that resembles the very weapon of mass destruction that got him stuck in it all those years ago.  This time, though, he was smart enough to set up a cloaking device around the area, making norms think it's still the empty field that it's always been.  Not that there are many norms in this area. 
    Techn ico--the oldest version--watches the machines spread over the area, breaking the dirt below them into cubes and moving it to the side before it can fall apart.  Another machine is mixing the concrete using the resources at hand--most of it gathered from the local dump the day before.  He checks his mental clock, readjusting it for the time zone and year they're in.
    "Mimic's out," he says, readjusting the program of the machines doing the work.  It's also about time the kids wake up, he adds mentally as he steps through the cloaking device.  A bird flies away, shocked by his sudden appearance, but he ignores it, starting to run.  Taking to the air is too dangerous when not a part of this time's Hall.  He heads for the campground, looking