Pacific Station Vigilante (Book 2): The Negative Man [Stormfall] (7 page)

Chapter 9 –

Thursday Morning; West Pacific High School

**Kyle Wonderton**

I was freaking out; that was too close.  I couldn’t sleep and I needed someone to talk to.  I saw Becky Walker walking to school with a few friends and tried my best not to look like a creeper.  The last thing I needed today was to be detained by the police for stalking or what not.

It didn’t take long for her to spot me.  I saw her make up an excuse to her friends and as they kept walking towards the school, she double backed over to where I was.  “Kyle?  What’re you doing here?”

I couldn’t help but think I put her in danger by coming here.  “Becky, I ran into him early this morning.”

“Him?  Kyle, I don’t under-”  Then it came to her.  “The Negative Man found you?”

No point in sugarcoating it now.  “Yeah, I don’t know how he found me, but he did.  It was the scariest thing I’d ever seen.”

She took me by the arm and led me away from the school.  “C’mon, we need to go someplace safe to talk about this.”

“What about school?”  I heard the bell ringing in the background.  “Won’t you get in trouble?”

Rolling her eyes, “I’m smarter than ninety-nine percent of my teachers.  They should be lucky I show up as often as I do.”

We kept walking and didn’t stop until we got to the comic book store on Salt Water Cove we first met at.  Becky gave the glass door a few solid knocks.  The sign read operating hours of eleven to seven so I wasn’t sure why we were here.  I think she picked up on that.  “Diana gets here early.  She’ll open in just a second.”

I still felt exposed, out in the open like this.  He could be anywhere, anybody.  I know it was only a matter of seconds, but Diana didn’t open the door fast enough.  She let us in before she asked any questions, locking it behind us.  “Becky, it’s a little early in the day for gaming.”

“We’ve got a lot of problems Diana.  It might be best if we talked about this in the back.”

I was cool with talking to Becky, but I wasn’t sure about Diana.  “No offense, but how can we be sure she’s trustworthy?”

A very strange and ominous feeling came over the room.  That feeling put me under the impression that every part of my body was under some sort of extreme examination.  Nothing was hidden from anyone; all my secrets were available to whoever was doing this!  Could this be him?  Did The Negative Man have this strange power too?

As quickly as it came, the feeling was gone.  The world was no longer invading my body, my mind.  Across from me Becky looked on with eagle like eyes.  “The reason you can trust her is no one can hide a secret from me.  My power is psychic in nature.”

“Whoa.”  I was dumbfounded.  I’d encountered a few powered people in my life, but most of them had some physical gift.  What she’d just displayed was on another level.  “You know everything?”

She nodded her head.  “I don’t use it often, as it takes a lot out of me to do it and it invades people’s privacy.  I hope that little display tells you both of us are trustworthy.”

This definitely wasn’t the first time Diana had experienced this.  She was just standing there smiling like nothing had happened.  “Trust me when I say this; everything that happens here is for the betterment of the city.  There aren’t many safe havens, but this store is one of them.”

For whatever reason, that actually made me feel more at peace than being probed by Becky’s lie detector power.  Either way, I was here and I needed help.  “As I told Becky already, I ran into The Negative Man this morning.”

Diana threw her hand over her mouth.  “My God, how did you survive?  He’s not known for letting people get away!”

Becky encouraged me with a look to tell the truth.  “My name is Kyle Wonderton, son of the late John Wonderton.”

“The guy that owned Wonder-Tech downtown, right?”

“Yeah, the same guy Diana.”  I took in a deep breath, not only revealing who I truly was but my dad’s legacy.  “You also know him as The Dark Lion.”

The nice blonde lady fell back into a chair beside her.  “I can’t believe it, you’re really his son?”

“He is Diana.”  She put her hand on the confused woman’s shoulder.  “This makes the situation that much more dire.”

If only that was the only part of the bad news.  “The Negative Man, he figured it out.”  And then for my biggest blunder, “The only reason he found me was because I was doing something stupid.”

“What were you doing at Mr. Staley’s house?”

Apparently nothing escaped her power.  I very much needed to remember that.  “Let me start at the beginning.”  It would just save a bunch of questions.  “Right before my mom died, a family friend told me who my dad was and the reason he wasn’t with us.  That day, I learned so much about who I was and why I had these abilities.”

Like an experiment, Becky knocked what looked to be a high priced figurine off the stand beside her.  Diana looked mortified, but it was no problem.  I caught it before it even started its descent.  My new friend looked on impressed.  “You do have your father’s powers.  Plus you just saved me from having to shell out two hundred dollars for that thing.”

“As I was saying before Miss Walker interrupted us, my life seemed to make more sense.  It’s also when everything clicked and I truly understood how much trouble my dad was in with The Negative Man and The Aces.”

A customer knocked on the door but Diana didn’t even flinch in his direction.  “Is that when you decided to come here?”

“I wanted to, but I stayed until the very end with my mom.  It was only after she passed that I came to Pacific Station.  I was just a bit too late to meet my dad and give him a way to stop The Negative Man once and for all.”

“The folder, you dropped it when we were at Wonder-Tech.”  Becky closed her eyes, as if she was picturing something.  “So that’s why you went to Mr. Staley’s last night, thinking he may have taken it home.”

“That’s some gift you have.”  I couldn’t help but grin just a little.  “Yeah, the folder I lost is the key.  Some guy named Dr. Cooper researched a way to kill supers who become too powerful.  The research never states any names unfortunately, but I think his findings are linked to The Negative Man.”

Both girls stood up, like an eureka moment.  Becky grabbed me.  “We just need to go ask Mr. Staley for your folder back!  This is great news!”

It wasn’t that easy.  “I know you like the guy, but something about him makes me uneasy.  It’s almost as if he’s too laid back and understanding.”

“I used my power on him, without his knowledge of course, before I sold my father’s company to him.”  It must’ve been nice to be a walking polygraph.  “He’s as good as they get Kyle, trust me.”

“Not to change the subject you two, but what’s in the folder?  I’m guessing the path to victory is full of obstacles.”

I’m not sure how deep into my mind Becky went, for the truth about Dr. Cooper’s research was very dangerous.  I wouldn’t tell them everything, just enough to temper their curiosity.  “It won’t be pretty; I can tell you that much.  The Stormfall, which is the name of the event that’ll take place when the time comes, is like a nuke.  That’s why when I do what I need to do; I have to be in the middle of nowhere.”

“I don’t understand?”

“Becky, when an attack that breaks the sound barrier strikes a super operating at maximum capacity, all that energy needs to go somewhere.  It’s released into the atmosphere and comes back down in a deadly lightning storm.  If that were to take place in the city, there’d be nothing left.”

Diana put her hand over her mouth, her face pale.  Becky looked as if she was about to use her power on me again, like she knew I was leaving a portion out.  At the last minute, she changed her mind.  “Before we talk about this any further, let’s get your folder back okay?”

My mind was made up either way, but for the time I needed a few allies.  “Sounds like a plan.”

Chapter 10 –

Thursday Afternoon; North Terrace Airport

“Yeah, I’m here.  The flight was pretty smooth.”

Heather wanted an update, so here I was walking through the airport assuring my girlfriend I was okay.  She was happy to hear from me, which always makes a guy feel good.  “Don’t stay up there too long.  I’m not a fan of being apart, especially at this distance.”

Considering the weather here was overcast and looked like it could rain any minute, I didn’t really want to linger too long.  “As soon as I get answers, I’ll be on my way back.”

She told me she loved me and that someone was paging her.  It seemed Becky Walker was back.  I wished her luck and told her just to give her a visitor pass and let her roam free.  The girl was harmless and I would never admit it, but I liked the idea of having kids around with an interest in technology.  Maybe when my grand plan was revealed, she could lead the next generation of supers.  I was getting ahead of myself.

I hailed a taxi when I got outside.  The driver was a younger guy, and pretty chatty.  “Where to mister?”

“City Hall please.”  I figured that would be the best place to start to get info on John Wonderton and his time in this city.  Once I was able to access the city network, I’d be able to do my thing and get to the bottom of this.  “Does the city have a good wireless connection?”

He seemed appalled by my question.  “I don’t know where you’re from sir, but thanks to Smart Logic, our city is one giant hyper-speed network.”

Smart Logic, I knew that name.  It was a medium sized tech company, not unlike Wonder-Tech, yet it generally stayed within its reaches in the northwest.  Under my influence, Wonder-Tech was breaking grounds nationwide.  “Care to share anymore about this Smart Logic with me?”

MP, as my cabbie introduced himself as, was more than happy to tell me everything he thought I needed to know.  “They’ve been around for almost thirty years and have produced a few of the most brilliant minds the world’s seen.”

“Anyone I would know?”

He laughed.  “I’d hope so!  I mean, that company Wonder-Tech?  John Wonderton himself interned up here!”  How did I not know that?!  Wonderton did an amazing job of keeping many mysteries from me it seemed.  “Shame what happened to him a few months back.”

Without even realizing it, the cabbie gave me a huge lead.  “Instead of City Hall, can you take me to Smart Logic?  I’d love to see it.”

He put on his turn signal and made a quick U-turn.  “Sure thing, you’ll find it way more interesting.”  He made eye contact through the rearview mirror.  “What’s your name sir?”

“Jericho Staley, acting CEO of Wonder-Tech.”

He slapped the steering wheel.  “Son of a bitch, I thought I recognized you.  I just picked up the new Predator phone two days ago.  Love the upgrades by the way.”  Then his eyes narrowed.  “Not going to try and steal any of their secrets are you?”

Smart Logic’s?  No, but I hoped to get some information from them.  “No, you have my word.  I’m always interested in seeing amazing people at work.”

“I hope you didn’t take any offense to that.  People were talking after the whole gl-O-bal take over.  Some thought you might try to expand up here.”

“I’ve thought about expanding…”  Just not in the way he was probably thinking.  “We’ll see how the Predator keeps going.  You never can tell what’ll happen next.”

He pulled up to a very modern looking building.  Straight lines and abstract wall designs greeted me as I opened the door.  “Fancy looking place.”

MP rolled his window down.  “This place is the pride of North Terrace.”  He clicked the meter.  “That’ll be twenty forty-two.”

I pulled out to twenties and gave them to him.  “Keep the change.  I might need a driver again later and that’ll be incentive for you to be the guy.”

He certainly enjoyed getting the extra incentive.  “Here’s my card.  No need to even call the dispatch.”

I stashed MP Ness’s card in my jacket and waved him off.  Hopefully the next time I saw him, he was taking me back to the airport.  With much to gain and nothing to lose, I walked into the front door and was greeted by quite the scene.  Everyone was scurrying around like ants in a colony.  Did Wonder-Tech look the same, but I just never noticed it?

I approached the security check in and showed them my ID.  The guard immediately stopped me.  “Is anyone expecting you today from the front office Mr. Staley?”

“No, I just happened to be in town and wanted to see the place my mentor got his start, John Wonderton.”

The guard got a gleam in his eyes at the mention of his name.  “There’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.  You know who you should talk to is old Wayne.  Let me page him for you.”

I was pleased with the response I was getting.  Maybe this Wayne had been a friend and would have a lot of knowledge to pass on.  I was getting more anxious by the minute.

After a few moments of small talk, the guard pointed to an older man getting off the elevator.  His dark skin and blue glasses stood out against his stark white shirt and khakis.  He limped as he walked and the closer he got, the more grey hair I saw covering his head.

When he got to me, he stuck his hand out.  “Mr. Staley, I’m Wayne Motts.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

His baritone voice was pleasing to the ears.  “It’s a pleasure for me as well Mr. Motts.”

“Please, call me Wayne.  I take it you’re here to talk about John?”

He cut straight to the chase, a very admirable quality.  “I am.  I had some business in North Terrace and wanted to see where my former boss got his start.  He never really mentioned his time up here curiously.”

The older man looked around and I guess he didn’t like how many people were trying to covertly eavesdrop on the conversation.  “Let’s go down to my basement abyss, more privacy to talk candidly.”

Sure enough, as I followed the man to the elevator and then down to the basement, he didn’t speak a word.  Only when the door shut did he speak again.  “If you’re here, then you know John’s deepest secret – that he was a powered vigilante.”

It wasn’t a question, he was stating fact.  “Yeah, I worked alongside of him during his time as The Dark Lion.”

“That was such a stupid name.  When he was making problems up here, the locals called him The Prowler.  Between him and that dumbass PJ Douglas, it’s a damn miracle I’m alive.”

This was far from the conversation I was expecting.  “So then you also know the truth about his death?  He was killed by The Negative Man in their fight at Waves Park.”

He reached under his desk and pulled out a newspaper.  “Still can’t believe the day this was lying at my front door.  I knew it’d eventually come, but damnit, that was one tough way to go.”

“Were the two of you close?”

That seemed to be a loaded question judging by his reaction.  “He dragged me into some shit back then.  Some clown named The Crimson Mask was making life hard.  Let’s call it a love/hate relationship.”

“Wayne, this might be an out of left field question, but did John ever have any love life?  And before you question me, I’ve heard rumors in Pacific Station of another super with abilities similar to his.”

“Shit.”  He put his head into his hand.  “Did John ever know?”

“He never mentioned a kid, so that’s why these rumors really sparked my interest.  I figured this might be the place to find out.”

Wayne took a seat and pulled out two shot glasses from his old metal desk.  Grabbing a handle of whiskey from another cabinet, he poured us each one.  “Need a little booze to tell this story.”

I tossed mine back with him, the amber liquid burning my throat.  “Phew, that’s good stuff.”

He closed his eyes and let the burn do its thing.  “This was almost twenty years ago, back when The Crimson Mask first made his appearance and I didn’t know John was a damn vigilante.  My neighbor Moriah took an interest in him and the two of them fooled around for a bit.”

He poured me another shot.  “That seems to be the start of every great love story.”

“Moriah was a foolish girl, but she believed in standing up and fighting.  Before I knew it, she came to my door one night and said she was pregnant.  By this time, I knew John was a super and was beside myself.  How could he be so foolish, you know?”

That was one thing I wasn’t willing to take a chance on.  Heather and I both agreed bringing children into this life wasn’t a wise move.  “I guess in the moment; consequences be damned huh?”

“I gave him an ultimatum, I told him to either tell her the truth about himself or disappear from her life.  I didn’t expect him to take the coward’s way out.”  He slammed back some more whiskey.  “A hero yes, but a piss poor man when he needed to be strong.  Years later, when Kyle started to show these damn powers, I had to be the one to tell Moriah and pick up the pieces.”

It was easy to see why this man was so bitter.  “Where did he go?”

He shrugged his shoulders.  “He stayed on here until The Crimson Mask was killed.  Afterwards, he slunk around the shadows for a few years before going to Pacific Station and starting Wonder-Tech.”  He closed the whiskey and put the glass back.  “I’m surprised he stayed around as long as he did before taking up that stupid cape again.  I thought maybe he was out of the game for good.”

Wayne had given me a lot of information.  A chance to look back into Wonderton’s life gave me so much to go on when it came to dealing with his son.  “I won’t take up any more of your time.  I thank you for being honest and candid with me.”

“It’s my pleasure kid.  If you find his son, if you’re even looking for him, tell him Uncle Wayne wishes he’d stay out of this life, just like he promised his mother.”