Free Sunny Daze by R.J. Ross Page B

really use a shower.  “Hey, Pan?  Can we use the shower?” I ask.
    “There’s a small lake that way,” Pan says.  “I hope you remembered to bring soap.”
    “Lake?” Jack asks, looking up.  “Not sure I can swim, but…”
    “Awesome,” Ace says.
    “You better be careful, Ace, you might get a tan,” I tease him.  Somehow, even with all our outdoor training, Ace is STILL pasty white.  How he manages that, I’ve got no clue.  My skin gets darker all the time.  Right now I’m probably even darker than Max, and Max is part Japanese.
    “Should we bring Cubby?” I ask.  I think it’s hot enough to go swimming, right?
    “That sounds good.  I have a few things to do,” Pan says.  He’s gone before I can ask him what he has to do, leaving Cubby looking at me.
    “Hey buddy, want to learn to swim?” I ask him.
    “After the bath, I say we call the truce off,” Jack says, stretching his legs out in front of him.  His eyes move over the group, catching each of us.  “I want to get this game started--there’s no way I’m going hero.”
    “Sounds good to me,” Max says, eating the last of his hotdog.
    It feels like the truce is already over, even before the trip to the lake.
     
    ***
     
    “Animals are drawn to water,” Hal tells the twins.  They nod, glancing around curiously and wondering if he’ll look away long enough.  For a while they’d been happy--their mother was back and they’d never seen anything as cool as an abandoned military base, it’s like living in a video game.  Unfortunately, reality came slamming back as soon as they saw the gun Hal brought up with them.  It wouldn’t surprise them in the least if he shot one of them through the head.  They only need one hostage, right?
    “Is there water around here?” Lee asks.
    “There’s a small lake to the north,” Hal says, pointing in the direction.  “We’ll head in that direction and lay the traps.”
    “Are they going to die?” Michael asks quietly, “You know, whatever we’re trapping.”
    “No, we’re going to use them for your mom’s experiments,” Hal says, starting north.  The two follow along with thoughtful looks.
    “She’s trying to make super heroes, right?” Lee says finally, looking to his brother.
    “Yeah, I guess.”
    “Think she can make us super heroes?” Michael asks.  “I heard that Cold Steel was made by a mad scientist!”
    Lee opens his mouth, about to reply, only to stop as they both hear a rebel yell and a loud splash.  The two look at each other before racing past Hal to the lake.  They stop several feet away, hiding behind trees and peeking out.  The light flashing off of metal skin almost blinds them.  They have to blink a few times to realize exactly what they’re looking at.
    The lake is full of teenagers--and one little kid.  But these aren’t just ANY teenagers, the twins realize.  That one closest to them is obviously Cold Steel.  He’s standing next to the water, washing off soap with a bucket.  Behind him, floating in the air above the lake is a guy that looks a lot like Maximum.  On the opposite shore is a massive waterslide.
    The twins look at each other, obviously thinking the same thing.  Tiny lakes in the middle of an empty forest don’t come with waterslides straight out of a giant water park.  They look at the guys sliding down, seeing an extremely pale one come down.  It has to be Dragon.  The little kid and the tan boy they have no clue about, but it’s obvious this is some sort of super villain convention. 
    They have to get out of here.  If an old normal guy is bad, a handful of super villains are WAY worse, right?  As a pair they turn and grab Hal, racing away as fast as they can drag the large man.
    They stop about a mile away, panting heavily.  “What’s going on?” Hal demands angrily.
    “There--”
    “Were--”
    “Super villains,” the twins finish together, still breathing hard, “an entire group of them!  That HAD to