Little Boy:
"Vroom," I say, playing with my toy motorcycle. "Vroom! Vroom!"
My toy, jumping from the car door to the window, starts riding against the window. Doing a bunch of awesome tricks on the window, I almost drop my toy when a real-life motorcycle rides up to my parents' van.
The driver is a man wearing a purple and blue suit with blue goggles. On the motorcycle behind him is a woman with a white T-shirt and skirt.
"Awesome bike, kid."
He smiles and nods before driving off and leaving us in the dust.
"Scott," my dad yells from the front of the van. "Please, not so loud."
"Bu--But-But, it wasn't me."
SharpShot:
Driving between the cars, zooming and zapping past all the people, enjoying the cold wind in my hair, I push a button on the side of my motorcycle. A hidden compartment opens, and I reach in.
"Here."
Pulling out a radio, I give it to Ms. Justice.
"Thanks."
"There are dials on the top. You can--"
"Use them to switch to different channels. I know how to use radios. We have them in our hideout."
Holding tightly onto me with one hand, her one very soft and warm hand, Justice starts messing with the dials. She switches from channel to channel, trying to find anything about Number. For some reason, Justice stops changing channels.
"Wait a minute. I recognize this. This is a detective's radio. They're only issued to the city's police and detectives. I haven't seen a radio like this in a long time. How on Earth did you get one of these?"
"I have...some friend. Anyway, any mention of Number? Or a large gang of identical people looting stores or banks?"
Ms. Justice checks a few more channels before answering.
"Nothing. No mention of any large gangs, store break-ins, or bank robberies."
"That's a little unsettling."
I take a sharp turn and drive into a narrow, empty street before pulling over to the side. Ms. Justice gives me my radio back, and I put it back in the secret compartment.
"Maybe we should call it a night? There's no point in wasting any more energy on a wild goose chase."
"I guess," Ms. Justice answers, nodding. "I'll call the others and regroup. If we run into Number, we'll call you."
"Are you sure QuickShot will allow it? She didn't exactly seem too fond of me."
"I don't need QuickShot's permission for anything. She may be the leader of the OutCasts, but the final isn't always hers. Besides, she isn't fond of anyone."
When Ms. Justice says this, I think I see a bit of a frown, but it quickly disappears.
"She and SpeedBlade. Here. Let me try."
Ms. Justice reaches into her pocket and pulls out a black and yellow circle. She pushes a part of it, and that's when I see a cover sliding open. The circle turns out to be another radio. It beeps and flashes, and I hear a familiar voice.
"Ms. Justice," JumpStart shouts. "QuickShot! SpeedBlade! Hello? Is anyone there? Hello! Are you guys there?"
"Ms. Justice here."
"I'm here too, and SpeedBlade is right next to me. JumpStart, what's going on? Did you find something on the OutPost's computer?"
"No, and yes."
"No, and yes? What?"
"According to the two people in the small box who talk a lot-"
Ms. Justice places her hand on the radio and leans toward me.
"The small box JumpStart is referring to is our TV," she whispers. "And the two people? They're the new anchors. JumpStart and SpeedBlade...aren't exactly from here."
"Really? Where are they from then?"
"We made a pact never to ask."
Moving her hand, we listen to JumpStart as he goes.
"According to the two people in the small box who talk a lot, there have been a lot of blackouts throughout the whole city."
"He doesn't know what a TV is or what new anchors are, but a blackout he understands."
"He understands blackouts, and he's really close to understanding how the TV works. Now, please be quiet."
"Hundreds and hundreds of lights are all turning off. Suddenly and without warning."
"So?" SpeedBlade asks.
"So? That's the weird thing. The blackouts are forming a path as they occur. A straight path, leading to the Northern part of the city."
"Hundreds and hundreds of lights all turning off suddenly," I repeat. "Yup. It has to be Number. He must be siphoning powers to make more clones. But why?"
"JumpStart," QuickShot says. "If the path keeps going, where will it end?"
"Uhh. If the blackout keeps happening in a straight line, it reaches right about here. A person's house. Wow. That is one big house. It's practically a castle."
"A castle? Wait, the Northern part of the city? No way. It can't be?"
Rushing forward, I tap Ms. Justice on her shoulder.
"Quickly. Can your friend, JumpStart, find out who the house, or the castle, belongs to?"
"I already have. I checked the house's deed. The house belongs to someone named Rami. Soren Rami."
"Soren Rami? Dad."
Ms. Justice:
"Soren Rami? Wait! I know that name!"
"Number is heading to Soren Rami's house," SharpShot shouts. "And from the sound of it, he's bringing a whole army with him. We need to stop him. Come on! We're close by. We can get them in a few minutes!"
SharpShot starts his motorcycle. He prepares to take off, and I'm already wrapping my hands around him. However, before we can take off, QuickShot stops us.
"Wait! Don't go! Wait for us!"
"What?"
"Justice, listen to me. I'm still unsure whether we can trust SharpShot, but if he is telling the truth, and Number can copy himself with electricity, then you and SharpShot may be facing a whole army. You have a big heart, so I know talking you out of going is pointless, but please, just be careful. If you can, grab this, Mr. Soren Rami, and get out of there."
I look at the walkie-talkie as QuickShot asks me to be careful. Looking up, I see SharpShot looking back at me. Nodding, I bring the walkie-talkie back up.
"We'll be careful. I promise. Just get there as fast as you can."
"And you, SharpShot," QuickShot says, her voice changing. Now, it sounds like QuickShot is growling, like a guard dog. "I still don't trust you, but trust me when I say this. If anything happens to Ms. Justice, I will brutally and violently--"
I end the call.
"She...sends her support."
"Sure, she does."
SharpShot nods and kicks his bike off.