NaNo2013: Speedster's Secret: Part 8

“Considering the lack of robots running around before the World  Sphere went missing?” The Other Luna pointed out, “It’s a logical assumption.”

“Yeah.” Speedster allowed, “Yeah it is.” She looked thoughtful but not too worried, “It’s not as big an issue as you’re making out though. Just because Buttnik’s Fused, doesn’t mean that he’s going to attack people or go after us. It really all depends on which version of Buttnik we got and how much the person he’s Fused with allows the Personality Contamination to take hold of them. I mean your brother’s Fused with your Fusion’s most dangerous adversary and yet bar that brief stint when you first Fused, you two have done little more than get into arguments. There’s been no serious attempts to take over the World, only a few Shadow Games and most of them aimed at other people and no, thankfully, attempts to brainwash other...what?”

“That last one?” Luna, the original one, looked apologetic as she took over, “I caught him at it a couple of months back, now I can’t work out if he’s doing it when I’m not looking or whether he’s stopped.”

“Great, so your brother might be building an army, got it.” Juliet groaned, “Okay, so maybe my point’s not quite as valid but I still have one, we’ve only got to worry about Buttnik if his Fusion lets the Personality Contamination make him into a tyrant. And let’s be fair about this, even if he does, in the current climate how would he possibly afford to do more than make a few robots out of junk?”

“Sell the bots, make a profit, build more.” Luna pointed out, “Or get a grant or a loan from somewhere.” She paused looking a combination of mischievous and actually concerned, “Rob a bank maybe?”

“Heh,” Speedster couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her at that idea, “Okay, at least if he robs a bank we’ll know what he looks like because his face’ll be plastered all over the news.” She paused, “So why did you panic when you couldn’t find me?”

“Because I know what Shade’s like with me and you’re this guy’s number one enemy.” Luna pointed out.

“Yes but he doesn’t know that.” Juliet reminded her, “And hopefully by the time he does, he’ll have gotten himself settled. Perhaps be willing to be a bit more sane about this. I mean as long as he’s not trying to take over the world, I’m quite happy to let him play with his robots. Who knows they might be useful.”

“And if he tries?” Luna asked, worried.

“Then I guess I’ll have to decide what I’m doing.” Speedster sighed, “I mean right now I only really keep myself between the Villain Fusions and their plans because it seems like a good idea to keep our heads down and I don’t want anyone getting hurt, them included.” She started pacing the living room, dropping her backpack as she did so, “If he tries, and I mean really tries, I guess I’ll have to do the same for him too. But it won’t be because I’m who I am, it’ll be because I can’t let him hurt anyone. Him being Fused is my fault, so I should be the one to deal with the fallout.”

“You won’t be alone.” Luna promised.

“Of course not, I have you guys.” Speedster grinned at Luna, even as she thought of ways to keep her friend out of the fighting. Living, breathing minions, Luna was an ace in the hole for. Robots who had no mind to play with and no way of feeling fear or being tricked by illusions... she couldn’t let Luna get involved and she WOULD ask Shade’s help if it came to it.

Even Michael’s evil self would find a way to protect Luna from the bots, if it meant that he could still fulfil any plans he had. She would just have to appeal to his pride and his greed. It wouldn’t be that hard.

“Anyway, this could all be moot.” Speedster pointed out, “Just because there’s robots around, doesn’t mean it’s Buttnik. It could be some random grunt from G.U.N. From their robotics department perhaps, or someone on the robotics and engineering course might have lost a project or two. I’ll worry about it when we have a bit more evidence of trouble. No point worrying till then.”

“I suppose.” Luna allowed, visibly trying to brush away her worries. “I was just worried. You don’t normally vanish off the face of the Earth. What were you doing anyway?”

“Treehouse.” Speedster grinned as Luna’s eyes lit up in realisation, “It’s nearly rebuilt. I’ll have to show you tomorrow or Wednesday.”

“Why not today?” Luna asked, a little confused and excited to see what her friend had been up to.

“Paint’s drying, the place smells to high heaven right now. Trust me, it’s not something you want getting up your nose.” Juliet’s grin made Luna even more curious than she was already, “Besides, you need to catch me up on what’s been going on around here besides the ‘bots. Have the others calmed down at all yet, or should I spend another week or two down there?”

“Considering we break up for the end of term in less than a week, if you vanish again I’m going to hunt you down and sit on you.” Luna grumbled at her. “You’re supposed to be coming to stay at ours over Christmas, remember?”

Juliet paused for a moment and then grew sheepish. She had forgotten about the fact she was supposed to be staying with her friends this Christmas. She hadn’t even really been thinking about the holiday despite the fact that it was less than a fortnight away now. Luna had offered her a place to stay months ago when it had become obvious that her uncle’s new wife had no intention of letting her spend any time hanging around the house for the holidays. She was still going to drop by, her super speed meant that she could be anywhere in the country on Christmas day and still make time to visit, but she had needed somewhere else to stay and Luna had decided that she wasn’t allowed to be on her own on Christmas Day so her house was not a viable option.

Speedster hadn’t really looked forward to being on her own for the holidays, but she honestly had been both surprised and amused by the sheer amount of effort Luna had put into ensuring not only that Juliet could stay with her family over Christmas but that she would have her own space and somewhere to hang out away from the family members that would descend upon the Roberts household over the three day period.

 Michael had seemed to welcome the idea too, which made her feel a little less like she was intruding. Shade had sulked, but then she knew him well enough by now to know that Shade was happiest when everyone around him was miserable. It probably had appealed to him for her to be stuck in her home, alone, during the festive season.

“And the others?” Speedster hesitated to ask, unable to help but wonder if they still wanted to punch her lights out.

“Mostly calmed down.” Luna shrugged, “Most of them have pretty much decided that it’s our problem and they don’t care as long as they don’t have to deal with it.” She smiled slightly, “Mako did say that she would help if trouble came and she could find a big enough stick and Gold is looking forward to a brawl, but then Gold always enjoys a brawl so I’m not sure if that’s an indication of ‘I can help’ or ‘yeay, an excuse to get in a fight.’”

Speedster just chuckled at that. Gold had fused with a rather excitable ‘young’ demon who had a bottomless pit for a stomach. Unless he was eating, and as far as she could tell he was always eating at the moment, he was looking for a good fight to get into. She had gotten into a sparring match with him before and had swiftly worked out that while he didn’t look particularly strong, it was better for her if she didn’t let him land a blow. He was fast and he was strong enough to injure her even with her increased durability.

Mako on the other had was powerful and looked it. She was built like a bodybuilder and was much, much faster than she looked. Mako couldn’t keep up with her, no one could, but the girl was the one who came closest to managing it. Mako wasn’t as good with hand to hand as she was though. The other Fusion had had fencing lessons and preferred to use a weapon rather than fight with fists and feet.

Not that she couldn’t if she wanted to, it was just that the only ones who could spar with her were members of the Club and even then she had to pull her punches with anyone but Gold. If she landed a punch at full strength on Juliet it took her a day or more to heal properly and she was the one club member who could bounce back the fastest from any injury.

“Oh, by the way, Bookworm’s back in town.” Luna grinned at her, changing the subject abruptly and looking rather happy about it.

Speedster blinked at her, confusion obvious for a moment before grinning back, “That’s great. So she’s all better, right?” She asked. She had been worried about Bookworm, who had had to go home after contracting swine flu a month or so ago. To hear that the smartest member of the Club was not only better but back on campus was a relief.