Part 28 (1/2)

”Ouch!”

I lurched back from the keyboard and rubbed the spot on my elbow where the computer had zapped me.

Water and electricity do not mix. I should have remembered that from my story on the Electric Eelinator.

”Stupid computer. I'm trying to have a breakdown here,” I muttered.

But the shock jolted me out of my sobbing fit. I took deep breaths and wiped away the rest of my tears.

Now was not the time to cry. The Fearless Five were in danger because of me. I had to do something to help them. And not just because they were righteous superheroes. I'd come to think of them as my friends these last few weeks. Even Fiera. And Striker . . . well, he was something more entirely. Much, KarmaGirl.

much more.

But what? What could I possibly do? I could call the police, but they wouldn't believe me, not without Chief Newman around to vouch for me. Morgana Madison had made sure of that. Anyway, Bigtime's finest would be no match for the Triad. They'd be slaughtered like newborn lambs. I couldn't handle any more blood on my hands.

I picked up my discarded Rubik's Cube. The only people capable of rescuing the Fearless Five were other superheroes. But I didn't know any superhero who would help me after what I'd done to the brotherhood. And I couldn't exactly go through the yellow pages and call them up. Where was the Serious Samurai when you needed him?

I let out a long breath. It was up to me now. There was no one else.

Oh, I had no illusions about myself. Not anymore. I was definitely not a superhero. I didn't have superstrength. I couldn't form fireb.a.l.l.s with my hands. I couldn't read other people's minds. I didn't have anything to rely on, except myself. A ball of fear knotted in my throat. I didn't think that I was strong enough, that I would be enough.

Malefica's cackle of triumph echoed through my head.

The ubervillain had threatened me, manipulated me, used me like a tissue, and then tossed me aside. I wasn't anybody's patsy. Not anymore. I slammed the cube down onto the table.

I wasn't a superhero, but I was seriously p.i.s.sed off. Malefica was going to pay for what she'd done to me and the Fearless Five. She'd made one major mistake and miscalculation. Everybody knew you didn't p.i.s.s off a Southern woman. We might look all sweet and nice and innocent, but every single one of us had a memory an elephant would envy and a mean streak to match. I was no exception. I never forgot, and I very rarely forgave.

”I am woman, hear me roar, Malefica,” I said. ”I'm coming to get you, b.i.t.c.h.”

KarmaGirl.

25.

The first thing I did was try to get the camera back online. I fiddled with switches and turned dials and pushed b.u.t.tons. Nothing. No sound, no video, no feedback. I couldn't see anything happening inside the factory, not even the evil tortures Malefica was subjecting my friends to. Perhaps it was better that way.

Since the camera was dead, I would have to do things on my own. I'd have to go in blind. I sat and thought for a minute. Then, I walked over to my desk, picked up a phone, and punched in a number I knew by heart.

”Talk to me.”

”You want blueprints of the Snowdom Ice Cream Factory so you can bust in and save the Fearless Five from the vile clutches of the Terrible Triad?” Lulu asked.

I could hear the disbelief in the other woman's voice. ”I know I sound a little nuts right now, but it's the truth, I swear.”

”Have you been drinking? Or were there pills involved?”

”No, I have not been drinking. Or popping pills.” That wasn't entirely true, but I was in no mood to confess to my growing dependence on aspirin. ”Listen up. I'm only going to tell this story to you once.”

I told Lulu everything. How I'd been kidnapped by Malefica, why I'd started digging into the Fearless Five's real ident.i.ties again, the battle at the park, my time with the superheroes, Malefica's dastardly plan. Of course, I left out a few pertinent details like the real ident.i.ties of the Fearless Five. However, I had no such qualms about unmasking Malefica, despite her threats that no one would believe me.

”Morgana Madison?! You've got to be kidding me, Sister Carmen. She's one of the most respected businesswomen in Bigtime-not to mention the richest. Why would she masquerade as an ubervillain?”

”Who knows? Maybe she's a thrill-seeker. Maybe her parents didn't love her enough as a child. Maybe she was dropped on her head when she was a baby. I don't really care what drove her to her life of crime. I just want to stop her and rescue the Fearless Five. Do me a favor. Pull up a photo of Malefica off the Internet and compare it to one of Morgana. That's all I ask. If you don't believe me then, you can hang up.”

Through the phone, I could hear Lulu pounding away on her computer. The typing stopped, and Lulu let out a low whistle.

”Well, well, well, as I live and breathe. h.e.l.lo, Malefica. Or should I call her Morgana Madison?”

”I don't know,” I said. ”There's some weird superhero-ubervillain etiquette about that I don't really understand. I'm sticking with Malefica. Or the b.i.t.c.h that must die. Whichever you prefer.”

”Meow!” Lulu purred. ”So Sister Carmen, what exactly do you need?”

”First of all, I need the blueprints for the ice cream factory. Get the originals from city hall if you can. I think Malefica tampered with the ones that Hermit found online.”

”Got it. What else?”

”I need you to see if you can find someone who used to work at the factory. Someone who remembers the layout, what kind of chemicals the workers used, what's the best way in and out of the building, that sort of thing.”

”Why?” Lulu asked.

”It never hurts to have too much information. I want to know as much as I can about the building before I go in.”

”Anything else?”

KarmaGirl.

”Remember your friend Jasper? I need some more supplies from him. As soon as possible.”

”Are you sure that's a good idea? From what you've told me, you almost blew yourself up the last time Jasper gave you some supplies.”

The memory of the fiasco in the park gave me another headache. I reached across my desk for my bottle of aspirin. I shook it. Empty. I'd grab some from the sick bay on my way out.

”I don't have a choice, Lulu. Not unless you've got a superhero or five up your sleeve.”

”Sadly, that's the one commodity I can't quite seem to get my hands on. I'm working on it, though.”

”Meet me at the Wolf 's Den as soon as you've got everything. It's an all-night diner that's about five miles away from the factory.”

”I know the place, but it will take me some time to get this stuff together. I'm not Swifte, you know.”

”How long?” I ground my teeth together.

Every minute, every second counted. I didn't know how long Malefica would keep the Fearless Five alive. My guess was not very long. Malefica would gloat for a while, then get bored with her prisoners.

After that-I didn't want to think about what would happen.