Chapter 44

             Even though Zoey told them 11 AM, Cyndi makes sure to get up at 8, because she needs time to consider her options.

            She isn’t going to do too much make-up, that’d be weird and perhaps a sign that she’s worried. She can’t look worried, that’s a sign of weakness. Obviously doing her normal amount is fine. It’s her outfit that she needs to consider. Though, even this can’t be too much, or else it’d be another sign she’s worried.

            Zoey’s going through the same conflict at the same time. She doesn’t want to dress in a way that would give the impression that she has interest in Simon now that she knows he’s also The Spektrum. For that matter, she’s barely been able to process that fact because she also has to process how there’s two of them with this cloning business.

            One’s taken, the other’s evil, Zoey thinks as she sighs. Where is this bad luck coming from? Neeko’s not a black cat, she’s a black-and-white.

            But then Zoey looks at her ears and tail. They’re completely black, so she might in fact be the black cat in question.

            Meanwhile, Simon is completely unaware of the drama brewing and sleeps in until 9:30.

 

            Cyndi makes sure to leave early for Zoey’s, so that she can meet Simon first, since his house is a bit closer to Zoey’s house than hers.

            “Good morning~,” Cyndi says cheerfully as she and Simon meet at the corner.

            Cyndi goes right up to Simon and plants a big kiss right on the lips.

            “Whoa,” he says. “What was that for?”

            “Can’t I just kiss my boyfriend hello?” she asks.

            “Well, yes, I suppose so,” he says. “But you haven’t been the kind to.”

            “Well, that’s because we’ve always been at school,” Cyndi says as she takes his hand while they continue on. “But no one’s around now, so it’s fine. Now c’mon, it’s almost 11.”

            Cyndi pulls Simon along as she speed walks up the street.

            Simon and Cyndi look around as they approach the address. They spot the house with the staircase up to the porch, and that’s the one. They walk up the stairs but Zoey answers the door before either of them even knocks.

            “Good morning,” she says.

            “Morning,” he says.

            “Good morning,” Cyndi says with a big smile while holding tight to Simon’s arm. “Oh, what a… cute sweater.”

            Zoey wears a pink cashmere turtleneck that looks to be stretched out.

            She’s purposefully wearing something that tight on her, Cyndi complains in her head. Can’t believe she’s being so obvious.

            “Thanks,” Zoey says. “It was a bit chilly so I just threw it on. I like your shirt.”

            Cyndi wears a black long sleeve under her lightweight jacket.

            “Thanks,” Cyndi says back. “It’s a little small, so sometimes my bellybutton peeks out, but it’s all I really had right now. That’s okay, right?”

            “Yeah, it’s whatever,” Zoey says.

            “Y-Yeah,” Simon says, trying not to blush along with trying not to sneak peeks at Cyndi’s stomach.

            “Come on in,” Zoey says.

            She steps aside and lets Simon and Cyndi walk past.

            “Simon’s already met them,” Zoey says as she closes the door, “but these are my cousins, Seth and Jeff Takagaki.”

            “Hello,” Seth says from the arm chair at the same time Jeff says, “Hey,” while on the couch.

            “So, uh, Cuz,” Jeff says. “You promised to let us know what this meeting was about when everyone was here. What do Simon and his girlfriend have to do with that masked Spektrum showing up?”

            “Well first off, that masked guy is named ‘Siro,’” Zoey says. “And it’d be easier just to show you.”

            Zoey looks to Simon and nods, and Cyndi lets go of his hand to take a step back. Jeff raises an eyebrow, but then raises both eyebrows when Simon flashes silver to become, well, Code Silver!

            “Duuuude!” Jeff shouts.

            Jeff gets up off the couch and gives him a bro hug.

            “So you’ve been alive this entire time,” Seth says, also getting up.

            “In his defense, he didn’t know who I was,” Zoey says. “He only figured it out when you guys moved back and showed up at the New Year’s Eve party. Remember how we kinda messed up with our names?”

            “How you messed up,” Jeff corrects her.

            “The point being,” Zoey continues.

            “The point being,” Cyndi speaks up, “he can speak for himself.”

            “Yeah,” Silver says. “I was hesitant-”

            “He was hesitant because he wasn’t sure how to bring it all up,” Cyndi says. “Right?”

            “Right,” Silver says, looking at Cyndi with some confusion. “I know I took longer than I should have. I was planning on saying something after New Year’s, but Zoey changed her hair just as I was going to talk to her. I was looking for cherry red so I completely missed her.”

            “Oh, right, that was that weekend,” Zoey says as she touches her natural black hair in its pigtails.

            “So because you changed your hair, we wasted this whole month not knowing our friend was alive,” Jeff says.

            “Well excuse me,” Zoey says back. “I was kinda dealing with stuff.”

            “Right, breaking up with your boyfriend,” Cyndi says.

            “Yes,” Zoey says a little sourly. “But also other stuff.”

            “Wait, you told them about that?” Jeff asks.

            “I didn’t exactly mean to,” Zoey says.

            “Our math teacher, Mr. de la Rosa, thought we were together,” Silver says as he motions between him and Zoey.

            Cyndi sees the smug smirk on his face and scowls. He sees her scowl and clears his throat as he stops smirking.

            “How come we didn’t notice you were you?” Jeff says.

            “Well, it’s not like you would’ve expected me to be me,” Silver says as he turns back to Simon. “Just as I wouldn’t have expected any of you to be you if I didn’t already know you from before. Wait, does that make sense?”

            “For the most part,” Seth says.

            “Oh wait, I see it now,” Jeff says. “Your hair. It just stands up a little when you transform.”

            “Really?” Simon asks, looking in the reflection of the turned-off television.

            “Yeah, like there’s some static in it,” Jeff says. “Watch.”

            Jeff rubs his hands together and then touches Simon.

            “Ah!” Simon says as the static electricity zaps him.

            “See!” Jeff says. “His hair stood up.”

            “Yeah, that does look like it!” Cyndi says while ignoring that Zoey’s cousin just zapped her boyfriend. “I don’t think I noticed that, either.”

            “Same here,” Zoey says.

            “Yeah, it just took you sniffing him to realize it,” Cyndi says.

            Jeff and Seth look at their cousin with side-eye.

            “It’s not a big deal,” Zoey says. “My cat senses enhanced my ability to smell and smell is a strong memory sense.”

            “That’s true,” Seth says as he and Jeff nod.

            “But anyway, to business,” Zoey says as she sits on the couch. “Now that we all know who we are, we need to discuss a lot of things.”

            “Yeah, Siro the masked copycat,” Jeff says as he sits back down.

            “Clone, actually,” Simon says as he lets Cyndi sit first. “At least, that’s what Zoey says he claims to be.”

            “You fought him?” Seth asks.

            “No, I confronted him,” Zoey says. “We talked and he said he was a clone. But he knew things that only Simon would know from our missions. He knew you were my cousins, that we went to New York to help Homeboy, then to Vegas with Tiger, and… What happened there.”

            “Tiger’s the guy who betrayed you, right?” Cyndi says.

            “I may have left some details out,” Simon says. “I wasn’t really sure how to talk about it.”

            “About what?” Cyndi asks.

            The room goes very quiet while Cyndi looks between Simon and Zoey.

            “Tyler Garrett, aka Tiger,” Zoey says coldly, “tried to seduce me. And when I refused his advances, he tried to force himself on me.”

            “Oh my God,” Cyndi says. “But someone stopped him?”

            “Yeah, Simon got there in time,” Seth says. “We really do owe you.”

            “No you don’t,” he says. “We all would’ve stopped him.”

            Cyndi starts to feel guilty being so passive aggressive towards Zoey and sees why Zoey is so attached to Simon. She went through a scary, almost traumatic experience and he was the one who saved her.

            “But who cares about Tiger,” Zoey says. “We need to discuss another issue.”

            Again, Simon and Cyndi explained their working theory.

            “That shooter wasn’t Zorb’s?!” Jeff blurts out.

            “But we have no idea if he’s actually going to target another Power Surger, do we?” Seth adds. “Otherwise he would’ve tried already.”

            “Well, to be fair,” Zoey says, “I didn’t do much as Catgirl after The Spektrum got shot. And you guys were still under the radar, though being at my school, that’s kinda changing.”

            “Yeah, another fight stopped but after school this time,” Jeff says, a bit braggadocios. “They’re starting to call us the Blackout Boys, or like, the Lights Out Ninjas.”

            “Because you keep frying the lights,” Seth says, “which costs the school time and money replacing them all.”

            “But it helps us keep our identities secret,” Jeff says.

            “So you didn’t decide on your costumes?” Zoey asks.

            “There’s no point to costumes,” Seth says. “It’d take too long to change our clothes completely, so we just make sure to have masks we can pull up from the neck.”

            “Maybe I should try to be simpler with mine,” Zoey says. “I did lose a lot of time adding my hoodie.”

            “Wait, you guys don’t change your outfits magically like Simon does?” Cyndi asks.

            “Nope,” Simon says. “Apparently I’m special.”

            “Some of my clothing changes,” Zoey says as she smirks at him. “But it’s just shorts and a tee, and that’s not really enough in winter.”

            “Well Spring will be here soon enough,” Simon says. “You’ll be able to get away with a shirt and shorts in no time.”

            Cyndi scowls at him again.

            “Y’know,” she says, getting her mind off the subject. “We should compare everyone’s powers and see if we can get a good idea why they’re so different.”

            “I’ll grab some supplies,” Zoey says as she hurries downstairs.

            Zoey returns with a poster board and a set of markers. She puts the poster board on the coffee table and draws a quick table chart, drawing little chibi style heads for herself, her cousins and all of The Spektrum’s Color Codes. She makes sure to have Silver smirking and Black frowning.

            “If I’d known we were going to do it like this, I would’ve brought my own art supplies,” Simon chuckles.

            “Would you have drawn yourself?” Zoey asks. “Or, selves.”

            “No, you did a good job,” he says. “They’re cute.”

            Zoey smiles while going to a black pen.

            “Okay, so,” Zoey says as she considers the rest of the squares. “Ability to change clothes, on a scale of one to ten. Seth and Jeff are both zero, because they only change their hair.”

            “Hold on,” Jeff says. “That should count for something.”

            “Okay, okay,” she says. “Ability to change appearance, one out of ten.”

            She crosses out “clothes” to put “appearance”, and then puts a “1” by each of them.

            “I’m a 5 because of my ears and tail,” Zoey says, “and because my hair and eyes change color. My clothes change, but within limits. And of course, Simon’s a 10 because all his clothes change, and even new clothes he adds. Spectralization, if I recall.”

            “Right,” Simon says. “And, while we’re at it, we should assume anything for me goes for Siro.”

            “Oh, right,” Zoey says. “Luckily there’s room still…”

            She grabs her markers, and beside each chibi Spektrum head, she draws a head for Siro, from Silver to Black. But this time, all five are angry like Code Black.

            “What’s the next category, though?” she asks. “We all have different powers, so how are we to compare them?”

            “Well that should be the category,” Cyndi says. “Your main powers.”

            “Right, like how I can make my skin metal while Jeff can produce electricity,” Seth says.

            Zoey rights down “Metal Skin” for Seth and “Lightning” for, well, Kid Lightning.

            “And your power should be that you’re part cat, and that comes with all sorts of… cat abilities…” Jeff says.

            “But what do I do for The Spektrum?” she asks. “He has the power to change colors, and each color has its own power.”

            “Put these down,” Simon says. “Strength for Silver, speed for Red, technique for Yellow, endurance for Blue, and submission for Black.”

            “I understand three of the five,” Jeff says. “What does ‘technique’ and ‘submission’ have to do with anything?”

            “They’re the five stats of the pro-wrestling game I created The Spektrum in,” he says. “Technique is wrestling technique, as in actual skill as a wrestler. Submission is for specifically submission holds. It’s related to technique, but also seems to power my grip strength.”

            “Oh yeah, you broke that rear view mirror with one hand,” Cyndi says.

            “When was this?” Zoey asks.

            “We were at a local scrap yard,” Cyndi says. “He was dead lifting old broken down cars and stuff.”

            “Wow!” Zoey says. “That’s really impressive.”

            Cyndi realizes that while she was bragging for Simon, that only makes him better in Zoey’s eyes, which is not what Cyndi wants!

            Zoey writes down the phrases, strength, speed, et cetera.

            “Oh, we should also put your other powers,” Zoey says. “Other. Blue has his force field, and… What were the other powers?”

            “Red has Overdrive, which makes him even faster,” Simon says. “And Yellow has Analyze, which makes him even smarter. As for why those powers exist, I don’t know. Though, I suppose it doesn’t matter right now, I don’t even have those three.”

            “What? Why not?”

            “Again, I don’t know,” Simon says. “I think it has to do with why I don’t have Red, Yellow and Blue anymore. It could be something Code Black can do, or it’s another power I have for just being The Spektrum.”

            Zoey writes down a set of question marks for Black’s “Other” power.

            “No wonder you didn’t get back out there,” Zoey says. “You’re down to two out of five.”

            “Two out of five…” Jeff repeats as he looks at the chart curiously. “You said you ‘created’ The Spektrum?”

            “Well, I had an idea for a character that was able to change forms,” Simon says. “Thinking about it, I was kinda inspired by Mega-Man.”

            “So the power surge gave your original character life, but as you,” Seth says.

            “And you only imagined five?” Jeff says.

            “There are only those five stats,” Simon says. “I wanted each one to be the best in each stat.”

            “But why didn’t you imagine more of them?” Seth asks. “You only did the primary colors and- … Why was it silver and black?”

            “The Raiders,” Simon says.

            “Nice,” Jeff says as he offers a fist bump.

            Simon awkwardly accepts the fist bump.

            “You like the Raiders?” Cyndi asks.

            “Well I like them and the Cincinnati Bengals, but Tiger kinda ruined that. Plus they’re not very good overall. Do you like the Raiders?”

            “49ers…” Cyndi says.

            Zoey joins her cousins in giving a side-eye.

            “Well, better than the Patriots,” Simon defends.

            “Oh that’s true,” Zoey says while her cousins nod.

            “We’re getting off track,” Cyndi says. “And isn’t it a good thing The Spektrum doesn’t have a Code Orange, Green or Purple? Because if they did exist, Siro would have them, too.”

            “That’s true,” Simon says. “Oh but what about Computer?”

            “Who?” Zoey and her cousins ask.

            “He’s still not back, huh?” Cyndi asks.

            “Nope,” he says.

            “Who’s Computer?” Zoey asks.

            “It’s a voice in Simon’s head,” Cyndi says. “It apparently helps him with the Codes.”

            “You… have a voice in your head?” Zoey asks.

            “Let’s put that in ‘Other’,” Jeff says.

            “I could talk to Computer before I was shot and died,” Simon says. “But then he stopped talking to me after I came back. He won’t tell me what I have to do to get the other Codes back.”

            “Well that part’s obvious, isn’t it?” Seth says. “You train, with us.”

            “Yes!” Jeff says. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now a Battle Shonen!”

            “A what?” Cyndi asks.

            “It’s a Japanese anime and manga thing,” Zoey says. “But if we’re going to start training so that all of us are stronger, I need to change into something sportier.”

            Zoey hurries downstairs again, and returns in athletic sweatpants and her cat-ear hoodie.

            “So what’re you guys gonna do first?” Cyndi asks. “Jog around the block? Do push-ups in the backyard?”

            “Nope,” Seth says. “First, we’re going to get in a car. Then, we’re driving to our grandfather’s dojo.”

            “You guys have a dojo?” Simon says. “That’s so cool. All my family has is our garage, that we use for storage.”

            The group heads out, Zoey locking up behind them. They go down the stairs from the porch and up the driveway.

            “So nice of Reciprocity to get you guys a brand new 2006 Civic,” Zoey says to her cousins.

            “They got me the brand new Civic,” Seth says. “After all, I’m the one with a license.”

            “You guys are working with Reciprocity?” Simon says.

            “Well, yeah,” Jeff says. “How do you think we all got moved around? They helped Zoey and her parents get here to San Leandro, and moved our family up to Alameda from Santa Cruz.”

            “How else do you think we moved here?” Seth asks.

            “I suppose I should’ve thought of that,” Simon says.

            “I know you had a falling out with them,” Zoey says as she steps closer to Simon, putting a hand on his elbow. “But they’re not all bad. They did a lot for our families, and they’re doing good stuff alongside Homeboy in Brooklyn. You should try to forgive them.”

            “That’s easier said than done, sometimes,” Cyndi says as she gets between Zoey and Simon. “What’re the seating arrangements?”

            The seating is rather cut and dry. Jeff is shotgun, Simon sitting behind him, with Cyndi beside him, leaving Zoey to sit behind Seth. But even with this being the natural arrangement, Cyndi realizes there’s something very wrong with it: The seatbelt strap has to pass through the valley that is between Zoey’s mountains!

            Just don’t look too closely at it, Cyndi tries to mentally communicate to Simon.

            “If it makes you feel any better,” Zoey says to Simon as the car pulls out. “I don’t think Siro likes Reciprocity Inc. much better. He called them cowards. Except, he said it differently. He said it as ‘co-wards.’”

            “That’s definitely the Filipino accent,” Simon says. “What else did he say?”

            “Umm… I’m probably going to get it wrong, but it sounded like ‘la-hot nn bug guy.’”

            “Oh, well I meant more than just in Tagalog,” Simon says. “But that sounds like lahat ng bagay.”

            “Yes, that’s it!” Zoey says. “What does it mean?”

            “Everything,” Simon says.

            “Oh, duh,” Zoey says. “He said ‘everything’ right after.”

            “What was the context of saying that?” Cyndi asks.

            “Oh, uh,” Zoey says, a little nervous. “Well, first off, he’s under the impression you’re dead.”

            “Well that’s good then, right?” Jeff says. “We can surprise him and Zorb with the real Spektrum’s return.”

            “Yeah, that is good,” Simon says. “But after I get my other Codes back. I’m no good with just two.”

            “Part of why we’re headed to the dojo,” Seth says. “You’ll gain some experience training with us and maybe that can get you on track to getting them back.”

            “I hope you get Red back first,” Zoey says.

            “Why?” Cyndi says. “It doesn’t matter, as long as he gets any of them back.”

            “Yeah but Red was really good,” Zoey says. “He’s the fastest, so he can keep up with Siro.”

            “Or he could get Blue back and use his force field,” Cyndi says.

            Zoey knows Cyndi has a good point, but Zoey also saw Siro blur past her, for whatever attack he used on Hardwire that put him out.

            “Cyndi has a point,” Simon says. “Getting a third Code back is what matters, not what color.”

            Seth finds his way back to the freeway and heads back to Alameda. Jeff presses buttons to see what’s on the radio.

            There’s the sound of a record stretch, and then “JUMP JUMP!”

            “You should know, you should know that aaah! Kris Kross is not having anything today.”

            “Ohh…!” Zoey and her cousins let out, startling and confusing Cyndi.

            “Oh I know this,” Simon says.

            “We commence to make ya,” Kris Kross raps.

            “JUMP JUMP!” Zoey and her cousins say with the radio.

            “The Mac Dad’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!” they say again, Simon joining in.

            “Daddy Mac’ll make ya.

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Kris Kross’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Don't try to compare us, to another bad little fad,” Simon raps, “I'm the Mac and I'm bad, give ya something that ya never had. I'll make ya bump-bump wiggle and shake ya rump, 'cause I be kickin' the flavor that makes you wanna jump!

            “How high? Real high, 'cause I'm just so fly. A young lovable, huggable type of guy. And everything is to the back with a little slack, 'cause inside-out is wiggity, wiggity, wiggity wack!

            “I come stompin' with somethin' pumpin' to keep you jumpin'. R&B rappin' bull crap is what I'm dumpin'. Ain't nothin' sucker about Kris Kross, we all that. So when they ask, ‘Do they rock?’ Say ‘Believe that!’

            “JUMP JUMP!” the radio goes while Zoey’s cousins go, “Oooh!”

            Simon blushes slightly as he looks at Cyndi, who looks at him mostly in awe.

            “Wow!” she says. “You did great.”

            “Thanks,” Simon says with a smile.

            “Wait, are your eyes blue?” Zoey says.

            “What? No, they’re brown.”

            “Except right now,” Cyndi says. “They turned blue! Like, the blue in Code Silver’s eyes.”

            Simon looks in the reflection of the car window and sees his eyes are in fact blue. But then he blinks a few times and his eyes return to normal.

            “So you can pull off a partial transformation,” Zoey says.

            “I mean, if my eyes changing colors counts,” Simon says.

            Simon does grow a bit concerned that this is happening more and more, between both Silver and Black.

            “Quick, the second verse!” Jeff says.

            Simon’s eyes go blue again.

            “I like my stuff knockin'.”

            “Knockin'!” Seth and Jeff shout.

            “I love it when a girl is like jockin'.”

            “Jockin’!”

            “The D-A double-D Y-M-A-C.”

            “Yeah, you know me!” Zoey joins in.

            “I got you jumpin' and bumpin' and pumpin', movin' all around~, G! In the mix, I make you take a step back! They try to step to the Mac then they got jacked! To the back you'll be fortin' again, is that coincidental?”

            “And like you know it, don't be claiming that it's mental,” all four of them say, making Cyndi laugh in the middle.

            “Two lil' kids with a flow you ain't ever heard. And none faking you can understand every word.”

            “Word! Haha hahaha!” Jeff says, covering the background part.

            “As you listen to my cool, smooth melody, The Daddy makes you J-U-M-P.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “The Mac Dad’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Daddy Mac’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Kris Kross’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Uh-huh, uh-huh.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “The Mac Dad’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Daddy Mac’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Kris Kross’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Nooow,” Simon says, hair slowly transitioning to silver. “The formalities of this and that, is that The Spektrum ain't comin' off whack.

            “Aaaah!” Jeff and Seth say as Silver continues, “And for all y'all suckers that don't know, check it ooout.

            “Someofthem try to rhyme but they can't rhyme like this.”

            “Go! Go!” Zoey and her cousins add.

            “Someofthem try to rhyme but they can't rhyme like this.”

            “Go! Go!”

            “Someofthem try to rhyme but they can't rhyme like this.”

            “Go! Go!”

            “Someofthem try to rhyme but they caaan’t!”

            “Go! Go!”

            “'Cause I'm the spikkity spikkity spikkity, Spek, Daddy! Spikkity spikkity spikkity, Spek. 'Cause I'm the spikkity spikkity spikkity, Spek, Daddy. Spikkity spikkity spikkity, Spek. I make you wanna.

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “The Spek-trum will make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Cali Cat’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!” while Zoey smiles with a gasp.

            “The Surge will make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Uh-huh, uh-huh.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “The Spek-trum will make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Cali Cat’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “The Surge will make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Uh-huh, uh-huh.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “The Spek-trum will make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Cali Cat’ll make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “The Surge will make ya.”

            “JUMP JUMP!”

            “Believe dat!”

            “Okay, what song was that?” Cyndi asks, laughing.

            “Jump, by Kris Kross, obviously,” Simon says while laughing.

            Simon catches his breath and changes back to himself.

            “Where did you all hear this song before?” she asks.

            “This song’s from like ’92,” Jeff says.

            “Again, where did you all hear this song? We should’ve all been toddlers at the time.”

            “Stations still played it in the late ’90s, I think,” Seth says.

            “I heard the science parody from Bill Nye,” Simon says. “And then yeah the original song was like on the radio or something.”

            “You never heard the song?” Zoey asks Cyndi.

            “My mom’s never really been into hip hop, and didn’t let me listen to any. More rock ‘n’ roll, I guess.”

            “Oh I like rock,” Simon says.

            “Which bands do you listen to?” she asks.

            “I dunno, a few different ones,” Simon shrugs. “I don’t have any of their albums, though.”

            “That’s fine,” Cyndi says. “What bands, though?”

            Simon’s a little nervous.

            “My Chemical Romance,” he says. “Three Days Grace, some Disturbed, and I recently heard a song from Rise Against that was good.”

            “Wow, Three Days Grace is some heavy stuff,” Cyndi says.

            “Isn’t MCR kinda emo?” Jeff says.

            Simon purses his lips, and both Cyndi and Zoey giggle as Cyndi pats Simon’s hand comfortingly.

            “I like lighter stuff, too,” he says. “Fall Out Boy has good stuff.”

            “Dance~, dance~,” Zoey sings. “We're falling~ apart~ to halftime. Dance~, dance~! And these are the lives~ you love to lead. Dance, this is the way they'd love,

if they knew how misery loved me~.”

            “Wow,” Cyndi says, impressed but also jealous and feeling inferior. “You have a really great singing voice…”

            “Oh, it’s not that good,” Zoey says. “You should hear Karina. She’s a great singer in multiple languages.”

            Jeff’s phone rings.

            “Speak of the devil,” Jeff says. “Er, I shouldn’t talk like that about my girlfriend, but it’s a favorite phrase of mine hey Karina, what’s up?”

            “Nothin’ much,” Karina says. “Was checking in with you.”

            “Oh, well we’re on our way to Jii-san’s dojo with Zoey and her San Leandro friends.”

            “What? Why?”

            “Long story that we’ll talk about in pers-”

            “Oh wait,” Karina says. “Is it about… The S-P-E-K-T-”

            “Are you kidding me?” Silver says.

            “Uhh…” Karina says.

            “Sorry, forgot to say you were on speaker,” Jeff says as he looks back at Simon.

            “Sorry, sorry,” Simon says, Silver’s hair and eyes disappearing to become his normal brown.

            “Are you okay?” Cyndi says.

            “I think,” Simon says. “I got caught up in the moment there. We’re having too much fun.”

            Zoey giggles while Cyndi sighs.

            “How is tennis practice going?” Zoey asks.

            “Good!” Karina says. “Marina’s destroying these boys.”

            “HRAHR!” just comes over the speaker.

            In Alameda, Karina sits on bleachers by the tennis court with Alicia and Chloe. Chilly as it is this morning, Marina is just fine in her blue tennis skirt as she bounces the tennis ball. She tosses it up and tracks it with her eyes.

            “HRAHR!” she lets out as she swings her racket!

            *THWAK* The tennis ball is launched at the other half of the court!

            “AH!” Doug lets out as he tries in vain to return it.

            “She’s like a jaguar,” Bobby says from the sidelines. “Or a leopard. Whatever jungle cat Tarzan fights in the movie.”

            “Yeah,” Mark says as he nods in agreement. “A sexy jungle cat.”

            “Hey!” Karina shouts at them. “We can hear you!”

            Mark and Bobby grumble in embarrassment as they shrink into their shoulders and walk to another spot on the sidelines.

            “We’ll be in Alameda soon,” Jeff says. “We’ll talk again after, yeah?”

            “Yeah, sounds good,” Karina says. “Bye~.”

            “Bye,” Jeff says before hanging up.

 

            The five arrive at the Takagaki dojo not too long after and pull into a spot in the middle of the lot. Seth and Jeff lead the way up to the front door.

            There are classes already in progress as the five walk in. They appear to be middle school age, but there are some tall standouts in the class.

            “Don’t worry, we can go to grandfather’s study,” Jeff whispers.

            Seth and Jeff lead the way around behind them, but obviously the teacher at the front of the room spots them.

            “Let’s stop here a moment,” the teacher says. “Bow and greet Seth-senpai and Jeff-senpai.”

            “Good morning, senpai,” the class bows.

            Jeff and Seth bow in return.

            “You don’t have to do this every time, Jordan-sensei,” Seth says.

            “And before you ask,” Jeff says, “we don’t have time to show you more of our moves. We’ll be doing some special training with our cousin, Zoey, and our friends.”

            “Wait, I’m training, too?” Zoey asks.

            “Well yeah,” Seth says. “Did you think you were just going to relax with Ojii-san?”

            “Maybe,” Zoey mumbles.

            “If you’re training, we’d love to see it,” Jordan says.

            “Oh, I dunno,” Simon says. “I’m not that good.”

            “I’ve never really trained, either,” Zoey says.

            “You didn’t train with your grandfather?” Simon asks.

            “No, my parents didn’t want me to,” Zoey says. “That’s why I was in gymnastics.”

            “Bay Island, right?” Simon says.

            “Right!” Zoey says. “You remembered! Though, I suppose you would, since-”

            “Ahem,” Cyndi says to purposefully interrupt. “Are we going to train in the study or out here?”

            “You’re so pushy today,” Zoey says.

            “What do you think?” Jeff asks Seth.

            “We should definitely go into the back room,” Seth says. “Sorry, everyone, but we will be doing some top secret training. Continue with your class.”

            “What kind of training could be top secret?” Jordan asks while the middle schoolers pout.

            Seth and Jeff lead the way and they pass through a door into a back room. Simon notices an older man, who must be their grandfather, sitting at a small table, facing the wall. Or rather, facing a picture frame.

            “This is a study?” Simon says as he looks around at the size of the room. “It’s half as big as the main room.”

            “Yeah, I guess calling it ‘a study’ isn’t really accurate,” Jeff says. “But it’s what we’ve always called it.”

            “Make sure to take your shoes off before stepping on the tatami,” Zoey says.

            Everyone moves to the side and pulls of their shoes before stepping up onto the elevated floor and the woven-straw mats. Their grandfather turns around as they walk over.

            “Kon'nichiwa, Ojii-san,” Seth says as he, Jeff and Zoey bow to him.

            “U-Um, hello, Mr. Takagaki,” Simon says as he and Cyndi nervously bow.

            “Kon'nichiwa,” he replies. “Daredesuka? <Who’re they?>”

            “Tomodachi,” Zoey says.

            “Did she just call us those little egg toys?” Cyndi whispers to Simon.

            “It means ‘friends,’ Cyndi,” Zoey says. “Tamagachi is a play off of that.”

            “If it won’t bother you, Ojii-san,” Seth says, “we were going to train. Our friend here-”

            “He is special,” their grandfather says.

            “You can tell?” Zoey says.

            Their grandfather nods.

            “Well, that saves some time,” Jeff says. “Now we won’t have to explain you’re The Spektrum.”

            “Nani?!” their grandfather blurts out. “Kare wa Za Supekutoramu desu!? Anata wa watashi ni itta hazudesu!!”

            “Ojii-san! Ojii-san!” Seth says as he calms Grandfather Takagaki. “Ochitsuku! Calm down! Yes, it’s him.”

            “He’s not the one on the news,” Jeff says.

            “It’s part of his powers to come back at least once,” Seth adds.

            “You can trust him, Ojii-chan,” Zoey adds.

            Grandfather Takagaki takes deep breaths, and nods, trusting in his grandchildren more than he is Simon.

            “You may train here,” he says.

            “Arigato, Ojii-san,” Seth says as he and the cousins bow again.

            Simon and Cyndi bow, too, and the five go to the center of the room.

            “Okay, so how are we doing this?” Jeff asks Seth. “Single elimination or round table?”

            “Actually, I was thinking more like a gauntlet,” Seth says. “Spek against each of us.”

            “Gauntlet?” Simon says.

            “What do you mean ‘gauntlet’?” Cyndi asks.

            “We’re going to be sparring, duh,” Jeff says.

            “Nobody said anything about sparring,” Simon says. “You guys said ‘training.’”

            “Well, yeah, but training through sparring,” Jeff says. “We’re not gonna waste time with push-ups and sit-ups.”

            “But we should stretch,” Seth says.

            Simon and Zoey stretch alongside Seth and Jeff while Cyndi takes a seat off to the side. They mostly work on touching their toes, both standing and sitting. They all realize their phones in their pockets get in the way, so they take them out and put them by their shoes.

            “Okay, who should be first?” Seth asks Jeff and Zoey.

            “Wait,” Cyndi speaks up, “are you sure… co-ed sparring is okay?”

            “I’m not sure about that, either,” Simon says.

            “Oh please,” Zoey says with a smirk. “You seemed okay when I grabbed your head with my legs.”

            Cyndi stares flatly at Zoey, and slowly looks at Simon.

            “She what?” Cyndi says just as flatly.

            “It was before we were together,” Simon defends.

            “But it was still while she was with Shaun, wasn’t it?” Cyndi says.

            “That is true,” Zoey says. “But it was in a sparring session like this, so it’s fine.”

            “Oh is that so?” Cyndi says, eyes sternly looking at Zoey.

            “Okay, we’ll save Zoey for last,” Jeff says. “Just in case Cyndi wants to fight her first.”

            Cyndi glares at him now while Zoey takes off her hoodie. Cyndi sees the tight black tee Zoey’s wearing and goes back to being upset at her for those melons.

            “We’ll coin toss,” Seth says as he takes out a quarter. “Call it.”

            “Heads,” Jeff says.

            Seth flips the coin and catches it to slap it on his other hand. Seth uncovers the coin to see…

            “Heads,” Seth says. “Go ahead.”

            “Yeees…!” Jeff says with a little fist pump. “C’mon, Spek, let’s see if you’ve still got it.”

            “If anything, take it easy to start,” Seth says. “Just spar as yourselves, no transformations.”

            “I don’t know if I can fight as just myself,” Simon says.

            “Nah, of course you can,” Jeff says. “You started doing that partial transformation stuff just from rapping. That means your powers have some kind of emotional connection, some kind of headspace you get into to be them.”

            “Headspace?” Simon repeats.

            “Yeah, headspace. Your mindset, how you feel. Try to feel like your Codes and you can be them without really being them.”

            “Okay, okay,” Simon says as he nods. “Be the Codes. Be the Codes. Be the Codes.”

            Simon remembers back to all his fights with Red, Yellow and Blue. Red in Vegas, Yellow in Colombia, and Blue in Brooklyn. He remembers how all those felt, and though he doesn’t notice it, his eyes flicker emerald green.

            “Okay, I think I’ve got it.”

            “Cool,” Jeff says.

            Jeff immediately thrusts a punch, and Simon swats it away. Jeff follows with more, back hand from the right and cross from the left, but Simon leans back almost like The Matrix.

            Simon comes back with a push then goes for the leg. He rolls Jeff to his shoulders but Jeff pushes him away. Simon keeps hold of the leg, eyes now flickering hazel. He yanks Jeff around by his leg, working to turn him over. Jeff kicks with his free leg and gets Simon to let go.

            Jeff spins up to his feet but Simon, eyes now flickering icy blue, tackles him back down. Simon tries to cover like a pin but Jeff pushes him away again. Simon rolls, eyes green, and he runs back to dropkick Jeff down!

            “OH!” Seth, Zoey and Cyndi say from what is now the spectating area.

            Jeff gets up quickly, brushing off his chest. Simon runs in again, but Jeff slips around him, staying close. Jeff pulls Simon back by his shirt and hits Simon in the back with a forearm. Simon staggers forward, arching and clutching his back. Simon’s eyes turn icy blue again then deep blue as he starts swinging hands. Jeff bobs ‘n’ weaves with the haymakers, then counters with a one-two palm strike combo to Simon’s chest.

            Simon stops advancing, the air in his body suddenly gone. Jeff kicks Simon’s left thigh then the right, making Simon kneel. But Simon catches the third kick meant for his stomach. His eyes turn hazel as he stands back up only to spin and drop at the same time. The momentum takes Jeff for a spin and throws him to the floor.

            Simon’s eyes change again, one dark brown and the other bloody red. He’s Code Black now as he grips Jeff’s ankle in his elbow and twists. Jeff kicks with his free leg again but Simon doesn’t let go this time. Instead, he pushes up on his left leg to get leverage, and arches his back to pull on Jeff’s leg harder.

            “Ow, ow, okay,” Jeff says. “I give. Let go.”

            Simon’s eyes return to their normal brown and he lets go.

            “Sorry,” he says as he catches his breath. “Guess it’s just an instinct now.”

            “My turn,” Seth says as he gets up.

            “I noticed your eyes,” Jeff says as he sits where Seth was. “Green eyes first, but they were also hazel, and icy blue.”

            “Wel, that’d be the three of them,” Zoey says. “Red had deep green eyes, and yeah, hazel describes Yellow. They were very light brown, so they might’ve been hazel. And obviously Blue-”

            “Had icy blue,” Cyndi says. “Yes, obviously.”

            How the Hell did she get to know his eyes so well? Cyndi grumbles in her head.

            “Why were you going for pins during the fight?” Zoey asks.

            “Duh,” Cyndi says. “He’s a pro-wrestling video game. Pro-wrestling’s all about pins, right?”

            “And submissions,” Simon says as he and Jeff sit with them. “I win and gain experience to unlock things by fighting like it’s pro-wrestling. Though, for Catgirl, it’d be different, because she’s a 2D fighter. They win by knockouts.”

            “So I guess I’ve been gaining points every time I fight and knock thugs unconscious,” Zoey says.

            “What game are you guys?” Simon asks Seth and Jeff. “I’m not familiar with lightning and metal skin being in Supreme Fighting King.”

            “We were playing EleMental,” Seth says. “You get to choose an element for your character, and then you run around in a Beat ’Em Up story, fighting thugs and boss characters.”

            “We were doing co-op mode, obviously,” Jeff adds. “Using compatible elements of lightning and metal for combos, but they’re of course great choices on their own.”

            “Three fighting games for four Power Surge members in California,” Cyndi says. “What’re the odds?”

            “That should be our team name,” Simon says. “Cali-Four-nia.”

            “Oh…” Seth and Jeff say with smiles coming over their faces.

            “That’s really clever,” Cyndi says with a smile.

            “Oh…” Zoey finally says. “Because the number four.”

            “Yes,” Simon says, chuckling. “Because the number four.”

            Simon puts up four fingers, back of his hand facing out.

            “That’s also a pro-wrestling thing, isn’t it?” Jeff asks.

            “Yeah,” Simon says. “The first faction in pro-wrestling: the Four Horsemen.”

            “Wait, like the Apocalypse?” Cyndi asks.

            “Well that’s what the name was based off of, but yeah. So we’ll be Cali-Four-nia.”

            “Cali-Four-Nya?” Zoey says, cat ears and tail coming out while she smirks.

            “No, just Cali-Four-Nia. One pun at a time.”

            Zoey frowns, but her ears stay up, giving away that she’s just pretending to be sad.

            “Ready?” Seth asks.

            “Yeah,” Simon says as his eyes turn hazel again.

            Simon watches Seth closely, but Seth doesn’t move. Seth is waiting for him to make the first move. Simon and Seth put their guards up as Simon starts circling. Simon lunges in for a leg but Seth avoids him with a side step, pushing Simon on as he passes.

            Seth pivots on one foot as he watches Simon roll. Simon’s eyes are green again and he runs right back in. He jumps but Seth sees that coming, and pivots to dodge the dropkick. Simon lands on his back, which definitely hurts. He stays low as he sweeps at the legs. Seth jumps it, then the second sweep. Simon jumps and clips Seth with the “enziguri” kick. Seth staggers and Simon’s eyes turn hazel as he gets up behind him.

            Simon grabs Seth in the “waistlock” and pops his hips to lift! Seth flails to force Simon to set him down. Seth grabs at Simon’s hands to pry them apart, but Simon rolls back, pulling Seth with him. Simon’s eyes change to deep blue as they roll all the way back to their feet, and he deadlifts Seth off the tatami!

            But Seth keeps focus on the hands and loosens the grip. He lands on his feet while Simon wobbles from losing hold. Seth turns and kicks up high! He clips Simon’s shoulder on the way up, then gets it on the way back down! Simon hits the tatami face first, but he pushes up to then lunge at a leg.

            Simon’s eyes turn hazel again as he slips under and curls back. Seth staggers as Simon pushes up with his core to finish rolling back again. Simon stands and pulls back on the leg, but Seth rolls through to bring Simon back down. Seth kicks with his free leg, getting Simon in the arm and shoulder. Simon legs go and scrambles away.

            Both stand up while Simon shakes out his arm. Simon and Seth circle each other again as they approach.

            Simon steps forward but turns his back to Seth. Seth can’t see the eyes change as Simon spins back around. Simon aims his elbow at Seth’s head, but to Simon’s surprise, Seth takes the hit! And uses that momentum to come back around with a heel kick that gets Simon in the head!

            “OH!” Jeff and the girls let out.

            Simon stays up, the icy blue eyes of Code Blue still active. He shakes it off and takes a step, as if to run off the ropes. He comes back but Seth side steps him again. Simon stops himself by grabbing Seth’s shirt and reeling him in! Simon’s eyes turn hazel again as he pulls Seth into another roll-up! Seth’s shoulders are down on the mat and Simon is on his back as he puts his weight on Seth’s legs to fold him up. Seth uses all his strength in legs and core to push Simon away, but Simon just stands back up.

            Simon watches Seth stand up and thrusts for the Flash Kick! But Seth swats that down to come back with BOTH hands to CHOP Simon in the chest!

            “Hey!” Cyndi says as Simon folds backwards.

            “Seth!” Zoey scolds. “Take it easy!”

            “I’m fine,” Simon grunts while trying to catch is breath. “I’m fine.”

            Simon manages to breathe as he sits up. Cyndi walks over and kneels beside him.

            “That was good,” he says to Seth. “Didn’t think you’d see the kick coming.”

            “Almost didn’t,” Seth says. “You’re switching through their styles just fine, but your stats stay mostly the same. I’m sure if that was actually Yellow, I wouldn’t have had the time to react.”

            “My turn!” Zoey says as she stands up.

            “I don’t know about that,” Cyndi says, helping Simon stand up.

            “Cyndi, I told you,” Simon says, voice still a little strained. “I’m good.”

            “It’s not that,” Cyndi says. “Though, I still don’t think you’re okay. I mean, if you’re going to be using your wrestling style, I… I just don’t feel comfortable with you grabbing another girl all over like that.”

            “But we have to spar,” Simon says. “How are we supposed to spar if-?”

            “It’s okay, Spek,” Zoey says. “I’d feel the same if roles were reversed. We won’t spar with your wrestling style.”

            “Thank you, Zoey,” Cyndi says.

            “To be fair,” Jeff says, “we wouldn’t really like seeing him touch all over our cousin, either.”

            Seth nods in agreement.

            “Ahem,” their grandfather speaks up by clearing his throat.

            “Oh, yeah, Jii-san, too,” Jeff says.

            “In that case,” Zoey says. “Perhaps we can spar with strikes.”

            “Uh, I don’t feel comfortable hitting you with fists and kicks,” Simon says.

            “Then stay on defense while I focus on offense,” Zoey says with an overly sweet smile.

            “What?” Simon says.

            “I’m not sure that’s any better,” Cyndi says.

            But too late, Zoey rushes Simon with a jumping kick!

            “Hey!!” Cyndi shouts as Simon just barely puts his arms up to take the kick.

            Simon staggers back but gets his footing as Zoey lands. Zoey swipes at him and he steps back more, but then she crouches. She swings a rising right elbow, at him, but Simon manages to avoid it by centimeters. Zoey keeps going with a right jab, which gets Simon in the shoulder, then she spins for another jab that gets him in the other shoulder.

            The 10-hit combo! Simon realizes.

            Zoey goes for the third right jab, but Simon drops to avoid it and the following uppercut! His body trips Zoey up without even trying, and then he rolls over her legs to grab her in a waistlock.

            “Um, excuse me?!” Cyndi says.

            “Uhhm…” Zoey says.

            “Sorry!” Simon says as he unhands Zoey. “Like I said, it’s basically instinct now.”

            Zoey turns to her side and kicks at Simon! He barely catches her leg in time, and rolls with it.

            “Simon!” Cyndi scolds.

            “I’m holding her sweatpants leg!” he says as he holds Zoey’s leg up. “See? I’m holding the fabric!”

            Zoey is upside-down on her shoulders as she swats at the back of Simon’s leg.

            “Charlie horse!” he blurts as he starts falling over.

            Simon’s eyes turn green and he catches himself from hitting the mat. Her leg now free, Zoey gets up and reaches her leg up high. But instead of swinging it down in an ax kick, Zoey drops forward for a falling splits! She lands right onto Simon’s back!

            “Hey!” Cyndi shouts.

            “Clever,” Seth says as he sits with Jeff.

            Simon coughs as he again struggles to breathe. He pushes up and Zoey rolls off him, maintaining her splits.

            “You okay?” Zoey asks.

            “Yeah,” Simon says.

            Zoey sees his eyes are icy blue, so Blue toughened him up to take that hit.

            “Did you know I was going to hit you while you were down?” she asks with a smirk.

            “Yeah,” he says. “Just didn’t think it’d be like that.”

            Simon stands and stretches his back, then waves his hands to dare her to bring it on.

            “Oh you want more, huh?” Zoey smirks.

            Zoey shifts her weight and goes from a front-to-back split to a left-to-right split. Then from there, she somersaults to her feet and hits her fighting pose. Simon puts up a guard as she starts throwing jabs. He manages to keep up with her as she throws a jab and uppercut, but then she swings a heel kick! He gets his arms up but the impact makes him turn a little.

            I’ve gotta switch faster then that, he thinks.

            She throws another jab, which he blocks with Blue’s icy eyes, but he quickly changes to Red’s green eyes to hop over the sweep. But she moves right through that into the windmill double kicks! He drops again to roll under her as she moves through the air. His instincts as Yellow take over again, and he reaches an arm between her legs to roll her back like he did Jeff.

            “Simon!” Cyndi scolds again.

            “Just hold on!” he says as he reaches over to grab Zoey’s other leg.

            Simon turns Zoey over and quickly folds her legs. He puts the right foot behind the left knee and then folds the left leg to trap it. He then keeps that leg down by sitting on it side-saddle.

            “Hey!” Zoey says as she holds herself up on her hands. “Let me go!”

            “I don’t have to,” he says. “If this was a match, you could grab for ropes or the out-of-bounds area, and that would force me to let you go free, but this isn’t a match and there aren’t ropes.”

            Zoey bends sideways and starts smacking him in the chest!

            “Ah!” he blurts. “How are you bending that far?! Ow, stop!”

            Zoey keeps smacking and slapping him, and his arms try to keep up. He manages to grab her hand and holds it by the middle and ring fingers.

            “Okay, enough of that,” he says.

            “Let go of my hand,” Zoey says as she reaches with her other hand.

            “Simon, don’t hold her hand!” Cyndi says.

            “I’m not holding her hand, I’m holding her fingers,” he says. “If I was mean, I could pull really hard on them, or go after the elbow. You bending your spine at an inhuman angle actually made it easier to get at your arm now.”

            Zoey tries to pull away but Simon’s grip is as strong as his eyes are blue.

            “Well I’m pretty sure this constitutes a draw,” he says. “I’m not gonna let you up, but I’m not going to knock you out with a punch or make you submit. I could end this in a pin but I’m not allowed to.”

            Cyndi scoffs and pouts while Simon stands up. He helps Zoey up and she brushes herself off.

            “Y’know,” she says quietly to him. “You could be more considerate about how she feels, as her boyfriend. Imagine if it was the other way around and you were watching her wrestle with another boy.”

            Simon sighs, but nods, understanding what she means.

            Suddenly, phones start ringing. Simon, Zoey and her cousins go over to their shoes and pick their phones up. The ones ringing are Zoey’s and Jeff’s.

            “Hey, Chloe,” Zoey says while Jeff says, “Hey, Karina.”

            “Oh, good, we got them both,” Karina says, audible on both phones.

            “There’s a video online with the other Spektrum!” Chloe says.

            “Wait, of Siro?” Cyndi asks as she walks over.

            “It’s probably just video phone footage,” Jeff says.

            “That’s not possible,” Zoey says. “He showed up on the PE field, no one had their phone. And lockdown was put in effect before the fight ever moved to the main building.”

            “We know it’s not a cellphone video!” Karina says. “He posted it to YouTube on his own account!”

            “My clone has a YouTube account?” Simon says.

            Cyndi gets her phone and goes to the YouTube homepage.

            “I’m pretty sure this is it right here,” she says as she shows the others.

            Number one on the featured videos list, under the account named “SIRØ,” is a video with a thumbnail of the same slashed-circle symbol even more stylized, and with familiar gradients.

            “He copied Gary’s gradient idea from the tribute poster,” Simon says.

            “Quick, hit play!” Zoey says.

            Cyndi taps the thumbnail, and the video titled “HELLØ” begins to play.