Page 58 of Fanning the Flames

Otis reached for a button on the center console. “We’ve been trying to consult with Aura.”

A middle-aged Black woman with shoulder-length locs appeared onscreen. Aura, the Destine Super who could influence your mood.

“Thank you for returning my call,” Otis said.

“At least one of us knows how to return a phone call,” Aura drawled.

Laughing uneasily, Otis peered down the length of the conference table. “Let’s keep this professional, Sherrelle.”

“Oh, I’ll keep it professional. Lord knows all you want to do is keep things professional. Unless it’s at a hotel twenty miles outside of Destine. Then it can be all kinds of nasty.”

Mark nearly did a spit-take with his coffee.

“Sherrelle.” Otis gave another painfully fake laugh. “We’re dealing with one of your Villains. Let’s talk about Squawk.”

Aura grumbled to herself, then noticed the newcomers. “Is that Breeze there with Spark and Ice?”

“Yes. They’re?—”

“Well, bang my ass sideways. You really did form an alliance with your former Villains.”

“Not exactly,” Otis said as Darlene vehemently stated, “No.”

Aura waved a hand tipped with pale pink nails. “It wouldn’t be the first time. There’s that dude up in Canada who went from Villain to Hero. What’s his name? Bleep?”

“Blip,” Kade supplied.

“Yeah. The one who runs through walls and shit.”

“It’s a means to an end,” Otis said. “What can you tell us about Squawk?”

“Rude. Loud. His facemask has built-in sound dampening ’cause even he can’t handle his screams.”

“Seriously?” Mark laughed.

“Yup. Don’t try to fight noise with noise with him. He blocks it out.”

Darlene crossed her arms. “Does he usually work alone or with others?”

“Alone.” Aura pointed to her ear. “The screaming.”

“Why is he aligning with other Villains in Vector City?”

“My guess is ego. He likes money a lot, but he really loves having people afraid of him. This new faction is the perfect storm of assholes.”

“More than you know,” Otis said. “We’ve gotten word Big Quake has returned.”

“Big—oh, shit. That’s no joke. You get Squawk’s soundwaves with Big Quake’s ability to move earth, and that’s…”

“Oh, shit,” Zee finished.

Now the puzzle pieces were fitting together. “So Squawk can amplify Quake’s powers,” Joan said. “And Ether can cover what they’re doing. Why is Prowl in on this? What’s she contributing?”

“Prowl can go toe-to-toe with people up close,” Mark said. “The others aren’t known to be fighters.”

Joan nodded. “Good point.”

Otis glanced at their sidekick organizing the snacks. “Ward, why aren’t you taking notes?”

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