Page 79 of Breathless Recruiter

“Wyatt Supreme.” He threw his hands in the air. Whatever he was trying to get at, it didn’t stop me from chuckling. He might be a genius, but he’d be laughed out of the League of Evil with a name like that.

“Anyway,” he said. “Have you come to meet the same fate as your beloved Discord? Or should I say, Dustin?”

“I know his name.” I glanced over my shoulder to Dustin, sleeping soundly. Seeing him restrained reminded me why I disliked scientists. First, I’d defeat Zaster, and then I’d rescue my boyfriend. “For a bad guy, you narrate a lot.”

He took a step forward with his hands above his head. With a quick glance at the floor, he growled and stepped back into the light.

“Screw it,” he barked.

I took several steps closer, ready to fight if I must. I waited for the robotic arm to come to life or for an army of mutant animals to appear. He clapped his hands together. The overhead lights turned on. At this distance, he appeared even more smug than normal. I had given Zaster the benefit of the doubt. I should have known he was a bad guy the moment he stole my Fudgy bar. It had been downright diabolical.

“My dear, Wyatt. You were the answer to all my problems.”

“You’re welcome.”

He ignored my comment. “What other secrets can I discover?” Zaster pulled his goggles over his eyes. “Shall we find out?”

“Wyatt.” I turned to see Dustin lifting his head off the table. My brave security guard had worry written across his face. “You need to run.”

No, not until I had dropped him off somewhere safe. Even as Zaster flipped back the side of his coat, revealing a gun, I stood my ground. Every leg muscle twitched, urging me to turn around and flee. Planting my feet, my fingers rolled into fists. “No,” I whispered. Today, I’d make a stand.

“His gun, it?—”

“Hush,” Zaster shouted. Don’t ruin my surprise. He swung about the futuristic weapon, the barrel glowing a bright red. It wasn’t like any rifle bank robbers used. It was easily twice the size of the one he used in the chemical plant. Was this what had gotten him laughed at by the other scientists? While they tried to create superpowers, he made a bunch of high-tech guns. Not very sciencey if you ask me.

“With your alien physiology, I can steal powers from supers.” Oh, that didn’t sound good at all. “And then inject them into myself.” Yup, definitely bad.

“Run,” Dustin shouted. It explained why a man with a sonic scream didn’t vaporize Zaster with his war cry. The mad scientist pumped the barrel of his weapon as the tip flared. If he had bested Dustin, a shot from his toy, and I’d be powerless to stop him. It might not be myoneweakness, but being rendered nothing more than a strong human might as well be powerless.

With a quick glance at Dustin, I spun about and gave his bindings another tug. If the tables were turned, he’d scoff at my demand. He’d have already launched himself at Zaster, bested him, and we’d be sharing a Fudgy bar. For Dustin, I’d risk exposing myself.

“Save yourself,” Dustin begged.

Fear grappled my heart and my pulse pumped hard enough for me to hear it in my ears. In the back of my head, Dustin’s voice the night of the launch echoed. “You’re not the only one who gets scared.” I’d save the day despite the fear.

Zaster laughed hysterically. “Wyatt Supreme, you can still run.”

“No,” I barked. “Heroes don’t run.”

22

BLAM.

I expected a bullet, not a lasso made of red energy. The beam sliced through the glass, destroying the walls of the lab as it sped toward me. I lunged to the side, barely escaping the lasso. Smashing through a wall, I put distance between me and Dustin. I didn’t want him caught in the crossfire. Without his abilities, there was no telling how Zaster’s gadget would affect him.

“You can’t run.”

“I’m not running.”

The light recoiled into the gun, and he shot again. BLAM. Falling to the floor, the whip of energy passed harmlessly overhead. I couldn’t get any closer without making myself an easy target. If I were faster or could teleport, he’d already be in handcuffs.

With another shot, I dove behind the robotic arm. I climbed to my feet, back pressed to the limb. Leaning back, I pushed it toward Zaster, hoping it’d offer cover while I got within arm’s reach. He fired again, the beam slicing through the limb in a shower of sparks. I flew low to the ground, shattering wall after wall as I circled Zaster. I’d have to leave a note for Ricardoabout the damage. Between Titan and now this crazy employee, I hoped he had insurance.

“Careful,” Dustin shouted.

As the beam of light rushed back into the gun, Zaster reached into the other side of his jacket and pulled out a smaller gun. Pointing it at Dustin, he shot me a smile. When an evil genius smiled, it didn’t bode well for the hero.

“No more cat and mouse. You want to save him; you know the cost.”

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